Title: When All Else Fails

Chapter: Seven

Disclaimer: Guess what! I bought them yesterday! They belong to me! No ... wait, that was a dream. Oops, never mind, guess they don't. I'll just borrow them for now, ok?

A/N: Ok guys, remember I have yet to see Daniel's descending, so don't send me any flames if I screw up, please.

XXXX

As soon as possible turned out to be less than twenty-four hours, seems Doc had put a rush on his results. He was fine so in the amount of time it took for him to get ready they already had a mission planned, the first place they would go was the planet Daniel had turned up on, even thought they figured that would be the last place she would be sent to. They were right, she wasn't there. When they got back to the SGC Jack requested to be sent out again, either with the same team or another. He got SG-1 again and they took off for P3X-247, Jack wasn't sure what the reason for him going to this place was, but he figured the higher ups knew what they were doing so went along with whatever their plan of action was.

Turned out she wasn't there either, nor was she at the next fifteen places they went to. By the end of three weeks the SG teams were back on their normal schedule, all except for SG teams 1, 3, 4, 6, and 8; they had been designated search teams. They continued looking, and it wasn't soon before they had gone to over one hundred planets with no positive results.

Almost two months after they had returned Jack was back in power, and though they had told him he was not to continue going with the SG teams to search he still snuck away with them when he got the chance. One planet that had figured out gate travel had said something about seeing a woman who looked different from the inhabitants of a certain planet, maybe it was her. But, when they went to check it out it wasn't, Jacks hopes were ones again squashed.

A month after that, three since Jack's return, they were ordered to stop searching, Sam was declared MIA. Jack refused to accept this, and though no teams were sent out for the soul purpose of finding her he made sure each SG team knew to ask and search upon their arrival and once again before leaving.

At the three and a half months mark he had all but given up hope, he was beginning to doubt that she had even descended. He figured, though, that if she hadn't she would come to him, to tell him to stop searching. That hadn't happened, so he kept a little glimmer of hope. There was the chance that they would one day find her; he hung on to that chance for dear life.

So, every day that he went into the office he wondered "is today the day she comes back?" and ever day as he left he wondered whether tomorrow would be that day. With each passing day his disappointment and doubt grew and by the fourth month he had little hope that they would ever find her again. Though, that didn't keep him from searching, he vowed that until they found her, or the day he died, which ever came first, they would search for her. No sooner would they stop, he would not admit defeat.

He wouldn't stop until she was home.

XXXX

"Morning, Daniel," he greeted his friend sleepily on the first day of month four, as he sat down with a cup of coffee in the commissary. "Got anywhere with that new rock of yours?"

"Artifact," Daniel corrected him, "It's an artifact. As a matter of fact, yes, I have gotten somewhere with it, it's Aztec in origin, I know that much from the writing, although much more advanced than any of the native cultures we've come across so far. I believe that-"

"Ahhh!" Jack said, holding up his hands, "No ... more..." he said, feigning discomfort, "please."

Daniel, obviously in a good mood, laughed at his friend. "Hey, you asked," he said, sipping his own cup of coffee.

"Yes," he agreed, "but, I figured you would know by now that when I ask how something is going, I usually don't really care."

"I know," Daniel said with a smirk, getting up from the table. "I need to go work on that 'rock', is what they pay me for, anyway."

"Don't forget briefing room at 0900 hours."

"How could I?" He asked, then after thought about his question backtracked, "No. Wait. Don't answer that."

Jack smiled, "Your rock and my paperwork awaits, Danny boy, hop to."

The younger man smiled and the two friends parted ways, one looking forward to the day the other ... not so much. He passed Teal'c in the hallway who smiled at him in his Jaffa way.

"Good day, O'Neill." Teal'c greeted him.

"Clearly you haven't seen the stack of paperwork on my desk, T." Jack replied, frowning. "Long day is more like it."

"I am sorry, O'Neill. I am to accompany SG-8 to the alpha sight today." A look of discontent passed through his eyes, Jack was surprised. "I am not looking forward to it." Teal'c confessed, frowning himself. "Perhaps you could find a reason for which my services would be required here on earth."

Jack laughed, motioning for Teal'c to follow him into his office. "Are you asking me to lie for you, Teal'c?"

"Indeed," he said, doing his head bow. "I am."

"Well," Jack sighed, opening the door and entering into his office. "I'll see what I can do, you're not really needed at the Alpha site, are you?"

"Indeed, my presence is not required." Teal'c told him, sitting down in a chair in front of Jack's desk.

Jack sat down as well and looked through the memos for the day (with his new job it was a requirement, no more ignoring them). "Hmm," he picked up one in particular, "we're expecting Bra'tac in a couple of hours, is there something you two need to discuss about the Jaffa rebellion?"

Teal'c thought about this, "I believe that he is bringing news from Rya'c."

"Well," Jack said, throwing up his hands. "There you go, I'll inform SG-8 that you will not be leaving with them. Until then you can go, I've got a lot to do. I'll send Bra'tac to you when he arrives."

"I give thanks to you O'Neill." Teal'c said with another nod of the head, "I, as the Tauri say, 'owe you one'."

Jack chuckled, "I'll hold you to that, T. Now go on before I change my mind."

Teal'c gave him a look that said, "I know you're joking, but I'm not going to take my chances" and quickly walked out of the room. Jack just laughed as he went, then got started on a long day of paperwork.

XXXX

Jack glanced at his watch with a yawn, it was already 2145, SG-8 would be leaving in any minute. Teal'c, along with Bra'tac had long since gone off to discuss some nonexistent news, with Jack's blessing of course. He sighed thinking that he should really get down to the control room and see them off, that was, of course, one of his never ending jobs as General.

Fifteen minutes later they left and five minutes after that Teal'c resurfaced in Jack's office.

"Thank you a-gain, O'Neill." Teal'c said, sitting down. "I am very grateful for your assistance."

"No prob," he replied. "So, how is Bra'tac doing?"

"He is currently sleeping in his quarters, awaiting our venturing to the surface tonight."

"Really?" Jack asked, "Where you going?"

"I have convinced him to a movie."

"At a theater?"

Teal'c nodded, "Indeed."

"Which movie?"

Teal'c smiled his half-smile, "Star Wars is playing at one of the smaller chain theaters tonight, along with many other sci-fi movies. We are going to view them all."

"Lucky him," Jack quipped, resting his elbows on his desk and leaning forward. "How's Rya'c?

"He is well."

Jack smiled, "You really go into detail, T."

Teal'c nodded, "I must return to my quarters, O'Neill. I am overdue for kel'no'reem."

"I thought you didn't have to do that anymore."

"Indeed, I do not." Teal'c told him, "It is, however, very ... relaxing."

"Oh, well, don't let me stop you then."

Teal'c gave him a slight bow, stood from his chair, and left the office. Jack watched him go, then with a sigh went back to his never ending pile of paperwork.

XXXX

It was almost 1800 hours, SG-14 would be back any minute and Teal'c was waiting with Jack in the control room for their return, as well as for Bra'tac to meet up with him so they could go to their movie marathon. SG-14 returned, and Jack sent them to shower and get checked up, but Bra'tac still hadn't come to the control room.

Suddenly a very loud "ouch" and then a string of curses captured both men's attention, immediately they looked to where Siler had been working on one of the computers, a wrench laid on the floor by his foot.

"Siler?" Jack asked, "You ok?"

The sergeant grimaced and nodded, "Fine, sir."

"Go on to the infirmary, Siler, you can work on whatever it was later."

"Thank you, sir." Siler said, then limped off in the direction of the infirmary.

"I swear," Jack sighed, "we should get him steel toed boots, his birthday is coming up, is it not?"

"Indeed, it is." Teal'c said, "It is his, as the Tauri say, 'over-the-hill' birthday."

"Ah," Jack said, "right. Guess I'll do that then."

"It is a good plan, O'Neill."

The sound of the 'gate being dialed came to their attention, and Davis' voice came stopped their conversation. "Unscheduled off world activation!"

"Who's currently off world?" Jack demanded.

"SG's 2, 6, 8, 9, and now 14." Davis said, "There's no IDC."

"Close the iris."

"Wait," Davis called out, "we're getting a code." He looked back at Jack with confusion on his face; "It's SG-1 sir."

Jack looked at Teal'c, "You're all on base, aren't you?"

Teal'c nodded, "Indeed, but Rya'c does have SG-1's code, perhaps it is him."

"Well, open the iris then."

Davis nodded and the iris swooshed back open, just as the 'gate finished dialing. The sparkling blue water of the event horizon went unfazed for minutes, leaving those in the control room waiting and the SF's standing guard in the 'gate room sweating. After awhile the event horizon rippled and a person cloaked in a long, tan robe (hood shadowing his/her face) stepped through.

Every gun in the room was instantly cocked and trained on the unknown person, the SF's ready to fire if directed to do so. Jack, in the control room, was ready to give the order to shoot if necessary and just as his voice came over the intercom the person in the cloak reached her hands (which were distinctly feminine) up and pulled back the hood, blonde hair sprang up and blue eyes darted around the room, she stepped forward.

The SF's, guns still pointed at her, held their breath. In the control room Jack-along with everyone else-gasped out loud. Jack was lost in his thoughts for a moment or so, until one SF turned around and looked straight at him. He shook his head, to rid it of shock, and quickly called over the intercom, "Stand down!"

With a sigh everyone in the 'gate room dropped their weapons, allowing the woman to come further down the ramp. Those in the control room quickly made their way down the stairs and into the 'gate room, shock still showing on their faces. When Jack entered the 'gate room he saw the same looks on every one of the SF's, who were all kept glancing between Jack and the blonde woman standing awkwardly in the middle of the 'gate room, arms folded across her chest.

He bypassed every one of them, heading straight towards the woman whose bright; blue eyes were locked with his. There was a soft expression on her face and a knowing look in the deep, shimmering blue of her eyes. He stopped right in front of her, barley an inch in between them and just stared into those eyes.

After minutes of just standing there (no one in the room making a sound or movement) he finally regained control of his voice and movement. A smile appeared on his face, then one mirroring his own appeared on hers. Before anybody in the room knew it she was in his arms, both holding on for dear life. They stayed in the embrace for what seemed like an eternity before breaking away (though, not completely, he still held her) enough to look at each other.

A tear rolled down her cheek and he gently wiped it away. Then, as if they were the only two in the room, he kissed her, deep and passionately.

There was a dead silence among the others in the room until they broke away, wherein catcalls and cheers ensued. The two participants looked at the group; large smiles spread across their faces, before looking back into each other's eyes, smiles somehow still growing. He pulled her closer, kissed her gently, then rested his forehead against hers, sighing happily.

Upon seeing this all the other occupants of the room filed out, whispering and laughing amongst themselves, all smiling smiles that were similar to the ones on the faces of the two causing all the commotion. Then the room plunged into silence, a long overdue, comfortable silence.

Jack could feel somebody watching him and turned around to see that Teal'c had found Daniel and they had made their way into the control room, both smiling like idiots. He gave them a look and Daniel rolled his eyes before he and Teal'c walked off, they were alone.

He turned back to her, ran a hand through her hair, and pulled her back to him. Their lips met in another deep, passionate kiss and when they broke away both were gasping for air.

Resting his forehead against hers once again, he caught his breath. After they had both done so he pulled back to look into her eyes, there were more tears forming behind them, and few falling. He cupped her face in his hands, and using his thumbs wiped them away.

"Sam," he whispered slowly, breaking the silence, before once again pulling her close to him.

She rested her cheek against his chest, sighed, and then looked back into his eyes. "Jack," she said softly, her voice thick and full with content.

She was finally home.

XXXX

A/N: I'm like grinning like an idiot at the moment, lol. Anyway, I figured it was 'bout time she came home. All will be explained in the next chapter (which, I have already started on). However, I will be out of town until Sunday afternoon, but I can work on the story while I travel. So, anyway, let me know what'cha think! I think that this has made its way to my favorite chapter, although, I'm sure the next one will as well.