Chapter 2.

Many years later -

"Sam? It's time."

Sam looked up slowly, tears glistening in her eyes. "Ok, Daniel. Just one more minute."

He studied her from across the room. She was still strong and lean and even though her hair was almost completely silver now, her eyes retained that same splash of brilliant blue that he remembered. She tried to smile but it didn't quite cover the veil of deep sadness that had settled around her.

"Take as much time as you need, Sam. They'll wait."

She nodded her head slightly and pressed her lips together as he moved silently across the plush carpet, closing the door behind him. Sam stood and moved a bit closer. With trembling hands she straightened his tie and smoothed his lapel one last time, her hand finally coming to rest on his.

He was still so handsome. Baal's sarcophagus with its torturous revival had produced hidden benefits; it had healed his body and slowed his aging to the point that he barely looked 10 years older. He had remained almost ageless while the years crept up on Sam, slowing closing the gap of years between them.

He looked so peaceful now that Sam caught herself waiting for him to open his eyes and smile. She closed her eyes against the reality that triggered her tears. Suddenly, after all these years they seemed to come so easily. "I know." She spoke quietly. "You don't want me to cry. No way for an officer to behave, I know. And I won't, I promise I won't. Once I leave here, I won't cry. You rest now, Jack and I'll be along soon, I promise." Tears crept down her cheeks again as she squeezed his hand. "Good night, Jack." She leaned over and placed a long, gentle kiss on his cheek and then brought the tissue to her eyes again, catching the moisture before it could fall. Her eyes moved around the room and then returned to his face, studying every familiar feature, memorizing every detail and finally moving across the room to the door.

Her hand reached out, surrounding the cold metal and pushing it open to the hallway. Daniel stood waiting and immediately moved towards her. "You can tell them to come in now."

Daniel lifted his hand slightly and a tall, solemn man moved reverently past them. "Come on, Sam, the car's waiting." His arm came up to guide her, but she pushed it away.

"No. I'm waiting for Jack." She stepped back inside the room and Daniel followed. She stood silently, stoically watching as the casket was closed and sealed. Daniel looked away, fighting back tears, refusing to lose his composure. If Sam could do this, so would he.

The tall man lifted the cascade of white roses into his arms and moved quietly past them, disappearing down the hallway. Daniel started to follow, but Sam caught his arm and he turned to her a bit confused. Then he saw the honor guard and watched as they filed silently into the room and gently unfolded the flag. They moved with precision - sharp, silent moves, draping and tucking until Jack was completely surrounded by the colors of his county. Daniel heard one soft click and their arms rose in a sharp salute while out of the corner of his eye he caught a sudden movement as Sam raised her arm with theirs.

She followed a step behind him and waited until he was inside the hearse before she slid into the black limo parked just behind. Barely seated, she called out to Daniel. He leaned down so that he could see her face and raised his eyebrows in a silent question. She nodded towards the car in front of her. "The flags."

Daniel looked up and realizing her concern eased in beside her. "It's ok, Sam, the honor guard has them."

She took a deep breath and watched as they placed the small flags on the car, a US flag on one side and a solid blue one with four stars on the other. Daniel grasped her hand and she smiled weakly as they pulled away, following Jack just as they always had.

TBC -