After almost two months of searching, the Tok'ra recalled Jacob and his ship. He dropped Daniel and Teal'c at the Alpha site and headed to wherever the Tok'ra were hiding.
Upon returning to the SGC, General Hammond told Daniel and Teal'c that they needed some time off. He also told them that the Prometheus would probably be back in a month or so. But Hammond had also said that the President had to okay the use of the ship for the search.
"I will certainly encourage the search." Hammond said, sitting at the head of the briefing room table.
"Thank you General." Daniel said.
"The President had ordered that we attempt to set up the supply site again."
"I was wondering how long it would take before they got that project running again." Daniel said. The project had been delayed after Sam and Jack disappeared.
"The supplies are ready; we just have to re assign some personnel." Hammond said, rising from his seat and stepping over to the observation window.
"General, will you inform us when the President has made his decision?" Teal'c asked.
Hammond nodded. "Yes son, I will."
"Thank you General."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The weather had been so strange lately. It would get into the nineties during the day and drop to just above freezing some nights. It had not rained for days, but it was looking overcast. So Sam had set up the tarps and buckets to catch the rain water. They had both been out in the hot sun working on separate projects when it started to sprinkle.
Sam ran inside the cave and shortly came back out in a tank top, boxer shorts, carrying a bar of soap. She was even barefoot. Jack smiled and considered joining her when the rain began to pick up. He jumped up and stripped down to a t-shirt and boxers. He threw his clothes inside the cave so they would stay dry. Not that he really wanted to put the sweaty clothes back on again. It started to pour. Sam yelped with delight and began soaping herself. Jack walked over to her. She was soaked. Her wet clothing clung to her body as she pulled her tank top up just enough to reveal her stomach. She soaped that and was trying to reach her back when Jack stepped in. He took the bar of soap from her. She pulled up her shirt and he soaped her back. Jack finished soaping her and then turned the bar on himself. She rinsed off and instructed him to remove his shirt. She lathered his back and returned the bar to his hand. She began twirling and dancing.
Jack finished soaping and called to her. "Carter"
She turned to look at him, hair slicked back; beautiful face dripping with moisture. It was the first thing either of them had said since the rain had started. He moved towards her, she had stopped dancing. The wet clothing revealed the shape and curves of her body. They clung to her like a second skin. She closed the gap between them and locked her lips with his. Jack did not pull back. They stood in each other's arms, kissing feverishly. The rain began to let up slightly. Jack pulled away first. "Wow" Was all he could muster.
Sam smiled. "C'mon. Let's go get dried off." She grabbed his hand and led him to the cave.
Jack started a fire while Sam changed into dry clothes. As soon as the fire was going, he went to change. When he emerged from the tent, Sam was preparing their meal. The sun was beginning to set, and the rain had stopped. The temperature was dropping; he hoped that all this moisture wouldn't freeze.
"The weather is crazy here." He said, sitting down in front of the fire. Sam set a MRE in front of him.
"It may have something to do with the size of the planet, the atmosphere, the velocity and shape of its orbit around the suns." She stopped and looked over at him. He was staring at her; she smiled. "I just like saying a bunch of technical crap to see the look on your face."
"I knew it!" He exclaimed, grinning.
"Although the days here do seem to be longer than on earth. Even with all the time changes."
They had adjusted their watches to a time relative to the planet, but kept earth time also to judge earth days. When they were on missions they always tried to visit planets in the 'day hours'. They had to adjust their departure times accordingly on several occasions.
"Jack"
"Yes Samantha"
"I miss Daniel and Teal'c"
"I know me too."
"We're family. Most people have no idea the things we have been through together. We have all been imprisoned, tortured, and mind stamped. Daniel has died, ascended, and come back to life. You and Teal'c have also died and been brought back by a sarcoughagus." She took a breath before continuing, "When Daniel ascended, I felt as though someone had cut out a part of me. I had this huge void to fill and never did until he returned to us."
"I know" Jack said simply. "I wasn't as compassionate with you as I should've been at the time, and I am sorry. But you know me; I am not really good with emotions." He paused, "Besides, I already had these feelings for you that I wasn't supposed to have. I wanted to badly just to hold you every time you were upset, but I couldn't"
He looked up at her and she held his gaze. "I understand now, but at the time I thought you were being an ass." She said smiling.
"Carter, I am an ass." He said taking a bite of his meal.
She smiled and began to eat her meal.
"Daniel and T are my family too; we're brothers as Teal'c would say." Jack said.
"Yeah, they're like extra brothers for me. Teal'c the much older big brother; Daniel the younger intellectual brother."
"You mean the geek." Jack said grinning.
Sam slugged him playfully in the arm. He got a mock hurt expression on his face and rubbed his shoulder.
"Who do you think they have running things while you're away?" Sam asked.
"I would say they probably roped Hammond into it."
She nodded, finishing up her meal. The temperature was dropping again. She was able to see her breath when they talked. She scooted closer to the fire and wrapped a thermal blanket around herself. Jack scooted closer to her and brought his blanket around both of them. He put his arm around Sam and pulled her to him. They sat and watched the flames flicker and pop in front of them. The light danced along the cave walls, casting shadows. Jack squeezed Sam's shoulder and nodded towards the tent. She nodded in agreement and got up from her place next him. They made sure everything was in place for the night and put out the fire.
They both headed for the tent and crawled into the sleeping bags. She curled up next him, lying on his shoulder in his arms. He pulled the thermal blankets over them.
"Good night Sam."
"Good night Jack"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Daniel unlocked Sam's front door and walked in. It looked exactly as Sam had left it. Daniel had been getting Sam and Jack's mail. They had been gone for nearly three months. He couldn't believe it had been that long since he had seen or talked to either of them. Daniel laid the mail on the kitchen island. The thought occurred to him that Sam may never return to her house.
The week they returned, Daniel and Teal'c cleaned out both Sam and Jack's perishable foods. Neither had had much; Jack's was mostly beer. Daniel had called to stop the newspaper delivery earlier in the day. He had also struggled with the decision to shut off all unnecessary utilities. Teal'c had convinced him that it would be for the best.
Daniel sat down on the couch and looked up at the pictures on the mantel. Pictures of Sam and her family; one of SG1; and Cassie, Janet, and Sam together. Daniel glanced over at the desk and noticed the picture of Sam and Pete.
Pete had called the SGC and Daniel several times after not being able to reach Sam. Daniel had to tell him every time that Sam was on a mission and could not be reached. Finally after two months, Daniel called Pete and told him that the Air Force had declared Sam MIA.
Daniel could remember the silence that had followed his statement. Pete had asked if Sam was MIA on Earth. Daniel said, "It is classified. I am sorry."
"Then there's nothing I can do?" Pete had asked.
"No, I am sorry."
And with that, Pete had hung up. Daniel hadn't heard anything since then. He had assured Pete that if Sam returned, Pete would be contacted as soon as it was cleared.
Daniel's cell phone began to ring. He looked at the caller ID and answered. "Hey Teal'c."
"Daniel Jackson, I have finished cutting the grass at O'Neill's home."
"Okay. Did you want to go get something to eat?" Daniel asked.
"Yes, I am in need of sustenance."
"Okay, I will come and get you. See you in a few."
Daniel shut his phone and rose from the couch. When he reached the door, he took one final look over the house before stepping out onto the porch; locking the door behind him.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Jack, do you remember when the other Carter, Dr. Carter came through the mirror?"
"Yeah, how could I forget the time in my life when there were two Carters?" He smiled.
"Daniel told me about the alternative reality he went to through the mirror the first time. He told me that Sam Carter and Jack O'Neill were engaged." She paused, "And the Carter from the alternate reality that came through the mirror was married to Jack O'Neill." She looked up at him. "Does that tell us anything?"
"It tells us that in both realities, it was Doctor Carter not Major or Colonel Carter."
Sam remembered when Dr. Carter had at first criticized her for joining the military. But she later realized why it was important for there to be a Major Carter instead of just a Dr. Carter.
"I know, but maybe this was inevitable. Maybe we were meant to be even though in this life we are forbidden to be."
Jack nodded. "It sucks" He said simply.
"Yeah, it really does. But the rules are the there for a reason."
"We have broken the rules before."
"Yes, I guess we have"
"We have both defied direct orders."
"That too"
"But this is court marshal material." Jack said.
Sam nodded. "Yes, definitely"
"So if we were to ever get rescued…" Sam trailed off.
"Things would get sticky." Jack said
"Do you think they will ever find us?"
Jack sighed. "I don't know. Sometimes I hope that they will come, but when I am lying with you; those cares escape me."
Sam blushed. He had actually managed to say something beautiful.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"This is the forty fifth planet we've searched between Jacob and the Prometheus." Daniel said pacing on the bridge of the large ship.
"Indeed. I would hope that this time, we will be successful in finding Colonel Carter and General O'Neill." Teal'c said calmly.
"I hope so. We don't have too many more options." Daniel paused, "How long before we reach the planet?" Daniel asked one of the technicians.
"Within the hour sir."
"Good"
Teal'c nodded.
The Prometheus had been traveling from planet to planet searching for the pair. They had already searched many planets. A few that did not have an operational gate. Time was running short. The Tok'ra had already recalled Jacob and the president was about to give up the search. But Daniel and Teal'c were persistent. They believed that Jack and Sam were out there somewhere and that if they kept looking they would find them. Hammond had granted Daniel and Teal'c's request for a leave from their normal SG duties to continue the search. Daniel was determined that they would find them. Although he was becoming weary. The frustration of so many negatives was getting to him.
"Doctor Jackson" The technician interrupted his thoughts.
"Yes?"
"We are in orbit around the planet."
"Good"
"We are scanning the surface for any signals." The technician pressed a few buttons. "General O'Neill, Colonel Carter please respond."
They heard nothing at first, but then the crackling of a radio and O'Neill's voice.
Daniel smiled wider than he had in months. They had found them.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Waking up on the planet O'Neill had named "Homer" every morning was becoming routine. They carried on as if this was the way life was to be. They had found an alternative food source (small animals and fish from the lake). A little over four months had passed here on "Homer". Their relationship had changed and grown into something more than friendship. The hope of rescue had started to fade.
"Good morning Samantha." Jack came up behind her and hugged her tightly. She had gotten up before he had and already taken a 'bath'.
"Good morning" she said laying her head back against his body. She turned her head and kissed his neck. He sighed. The air had slowly begun to warm as the twin suns climbed higher in the sky. There were a few clouds in the sky. Jack wondered if it might rain today.
Suddenly the radio crackled. Sam had just turned it on this morning to see if the battery still worked.
"General O'Neill, Colonel Carter please respond." The radio crackled. "Again, I repeat, General O'Neill, Colonel Carter please respond."
O'Neill sprang to life and scooped up the radio. "This is O'Neill."
"Sir it is good to hear from you."
"Where have you guys been?"
"It took us a while to find you. We are in orbit above the planet. Awaiting further instructions sir."
Affirmative, we will send up a flare to guide you in."
"Thank you sir."
"Thank you. O'Neill out."
"Carter, we're going home."
Daniel and Teal'c had both accompanied SG 3 and 6 to the planet to retrieve their friends. Daniel said something happened that caused the wormhole to shift and loose its lock. It was a glitch of some kind. Every time they dialed up after that, it worked correctly.
"We missed you guys." Daniel said walking briskly towards them.
"Indeed" Teal'c said following in a slower pace.
"We missed you guys too." Carter said hugging Daniel and Teal'c.
"How exactly did you find us?" Jack asked, slapping Daniel's back and giving him a hug.
"We enlisted the help of several friends. Eventually between the Tok'ra and the crew of the Prometheus, we found you."
"It's nice to know that we have some friends out there." Jack said smiling.
"Sam your dad was helping with the search, but the Tok'ra recalled him about a month ago." Daniel said.
"I am surprised they let you have him for that long." Jack said.
Daniel nodded, "Well, lets get you guys home."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The ride home was long but at least they were headed home. O'Neill was being debriefed while she, Daniel and Teal'c got reacquainted.
"So Daniel, anything new happen while we were gone?" Sam asked.
"No, not particularly." He said pushing his glasses up on his nose. "What about you? It must have been exciting having to fend for yourselves on that planet all the time."
"Oh yeah right, three months without at decent shower is so exciting."
"You've been with Jack too long." Daniel said.
She blushed; she didn't mean to take the comment as embarrassment it just happened. Daniel didn't seem to notice, although Teal'c raised an eyebrow.
"Is that the first order of business?" Daniel asked.
"Yes, definitely." She said, "I feel like I could stand under the shower for hours."
"Uh, you're hair is longer." Daniel said, trying to make conversation.
Sam nodded. "It's driving me crazy! I am going to get it cut ASAP."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx