CHAPTER TEN: RETURN TO NORMAL

"You're really not going?" Sam asked incredulously.

Janet looked across at her best friend, her eyes and facial expression the only answer Sam needed.

"It's the opportunity of a lifetime," Sam argued. "This could be our one shot at actually going to Atlantis, and you're really not going to go?"

"Sam…we've talked about this. I didn't come all the way back to earth just to be flung into a galaxy far, far away. I have responsibilities here," Janet replied.

"Yeah, but…I mean, you're not the CMO anymore," Sam reasoned. "I mean, you volunteered to step down and everything. We all just assumed that you'd want to go to Atlantis as soon as the ZPM was up and running."

Janet sighed and ran her hands through her hair.

"Geez Sam, make her feel welcome here, why don'tcha?" Cassandra stated ironically as she walked into the Fraiser kitchen, having caught the tail end of the conversation.

Sam rolled her eyes and glanced between her best friend and her surrogate niece. "That's not what I meant, and you know it."

"I know that Sam," Janet assured her.

"I just mean that you could get a lot of answers there," Sam said.

Janet nodded, knowing that on some level Sam was right.

"Yeah, I could. But then what? I don't need the answers Sam. I've got a lot of answers right here," she said, tapping the side of her head. "You talked to the Asgard. They said they couldn't help me, and…y'know, I'm okay with that. I can do a lot of good right here on earth Sam. And Atlantis…it's missing a lot of things. My family for one thing."

Sam had the grace to look sheepish at Janet's pointed remark.

"And besides, it's kinda cool being able to explain something technical to you, Colonel," Janet teased, grateful to see Sam's answering grin, both at the use of Sam's new title, and the fact that Sam was completely fascinated and baffled by the technology that Janet was beginning to share with them all. "I'm sure Elizabeth will take good care of the Atlantis crew. My life is here Sam. No matter how much Ancient Knowledge is being stored in my head."

It had been a hard decision, but Janet had declined taking back her position as the CMO of the SGC. Having the Knowledge of the Ancients in her head made things a little more complicated than her former life had been. She didn't think that allowing herself to be in charge of such an important medical facility was in the best interests of anyone at the SGC.

General Jack O'Neill hadn't been thrilled when Janet had turned down the offer, but he was grateful to have her back on earth and still on the base. She was now the Head of the Ancient Technology Research Team, and the personal physician of several members who had requested her as their primary physician. SG-1 was among those that she still attended to for pre and post-mission physicals, though anything that required more skill was turned over to Doctor Brightman, the new CMO of the SGC. Janet had assured the new General that she would be more than willing to help heal particularly wounded team members if it couldn't be done with their own technology. Healing people with merely a thought, while an incredible gift, was not something to be abused. Not to mention the fact that she ended up completely exhausted after healing someone.

Doctor Elizabeth Weir had been appointed as the leader for the Atlantis mission, and she'd practically begged Janet to join them when the team was set to go through to the Pegasus Galaxy. Janet had had to respectfully decline, no matter how curious she was to personally see the place she had so many memories of. Her place was with her family, and she would help the SGC in whatever way she could now that she had the Knowledge to help create better defences.

And regardless of the pressure put on her by certain political figures to provide offensive weapons, Janet would not be swayed to help produce weapons of mass destruction. She had her morals, and she lived by her oaths, and while the Knowledge trusted her to make her own decisions in regards to providing technology, it was in agreement with the doctor about defensive technology before offensive weapons.

Major Janet Fraiser had been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel two weeks after Sam Carter's promotion, and the women couldn't have been more thrilled with their new titles. General Jack O'Neill had relished the opportunity to promote the two officers, and he'd been immensely grateful when the President had allowed the ceremonies to go ahead.

For SG-1, things couldn't have been better. They had their doctor back, Sam had her best friend, Daniel was seriously considering letting Janet know that he was quite possibly in love with her, Teal'c knew he was in far better hands in regards to his Tretonin shots and his general health, and Jack had someone to verbally spar with again. Cassandra had her mother back, and life was just about perfect.

The simultaneous electronic chirps startled both women, and taking out their beepers, they glanced at one another and grinned wryly.

"Time to go save the world, I suppose," Sam said.

"Either that or General Jack wants donuts," Janet teased.

Sam grinned and grabbed for her car keys. Life was definitely just about perfect.

END