Flashbacks are in italics

Chapter 2: The Trouble with Blackjack

"With the howdy-do's done, let's get to the first order of business." George started and handed out folders to the Jack and Sam. "To cut to the chase, Colonel Carter will be returning to earth and the SGC as the Director of R&D. She will be continue to direct the four SG- science teams, all SG science officers stationed at the SGC and alpha and beta sites as she has already been doing for sometime now, in addition she will assume direction of all Area 51 research, and the R&D phases of the X-302 and X-303 projects, as of……..now."

Jack looked up surprised, both eyebrows arched. "Did I miss a memo, Sir?" Seemed like something you would discuss with the guy running the SGC.

George did not respond, he just smiled at Jack and continued on. "She will work from the SGC, but report directly to the office of Homeworld Security. She will be sharing this facility with you Jack, but she is not in your chain of command, that would be inappropriate." Jack cocked his head, narrowed his eyes and looked over at Carter for a clue as to what he might be referring. "And, Jack" he continued with emphasis "the President and I expect you to make this work. We want Colonel Carter back here with us. No offense Thor."

"None taken, General. It has been a great honor to work with Colonel Carter. I will miss working with her and I will miss her company. It will be….quiet without her. But, she is always welcome." replied Thor with the utmost respect.

George continued on with the official work "All the necessary paperwork for authorization is on your desk, Jack. Walter will have more for you in the morning, as to which floors, personnel, etc.. will be under Colonel Carter's jurisdiction. She will make an assessment of the state of the current facilities and the changes she would like made."

George paused to wait for the inevitable arguments and rantings of a certain Brigadier General to his right. Jack was looking through the folder in front of him. Although not actually seeing anything in the folder, more like trying to figure out what exactly had just happened in the last, looking at his watch, yep 5 minutes since he sat down. And, why exactly were Jacob and Thor here for this procedural meeting that had to take place at 9:00pm on a Friday night? He looked up at Carter, Jacob and Thor and he was finally about to formulate a question. But, George took his prolonged silence as permission to carry on. "As to the second order of business-"

Clearing her throat, Sam interrupted. "Sirs," she cut him off and stood, looking around the room addressing the three Generals and the Supreme Commander of the Asgard Fleet. She placed he hand on her father's shoulder to subdue him. "I beg your pardon, but I would prefer to address the second order of business in private."

Three objections were made simultaneously,

"Sammie, I really don't think-"

"Colonel Carter we agreed-"

"Colonel Carter we are all-"

"No." She cut them all off in no uncertain terms. In a typically respectful yet firm Carter way.

Jack sat stunned, thoroughly confused, he began thinking this must be some strange dream and if he looked down right now he would probably find that he was sitting here naked at this meeting. He took a quick look, just to check. Nope dressed, could be real, could be a foothold situation ...need more intel.

"Respectfully, if I may Sir." She held her arm towards his office, looking at Jack. Seeing as there were no more objections forthcoming – despite her being the lowest ranking officer in attendance - she was obviously in charge when it came to the second order of business and he should probably follow her to his office.

Sam walked in and he followed. He closed the door behind him and quickly went to sit in his chair, just to make it clear this was still his office. Meanwhile, she flipped the switch to make the window map now a one-way mirror so that those in the Conference room could not see in, but Sam and Jack could see the conference room. With that move, she could see the surprise on General Hammond's face, the aggravation on her father's and Thor merely sat watching his hands, patiently. What do Asgard think about when they are sitting around waiting, Jack pondered.

Sam and Thor had many discussions on the ramifications of their decisions over the years and he understood why she needed to do this alone. Jack needed his privacy. She turned around to Jack seated at his desk. His face flashed a brief look of concern, then confusion and back to classic carefree Jack, which he seemed to have trouble holding onto tonight. This was unsettling for both of them and only confirmed to her that Jack definitely needed to hear this without an audience.

"So…." He stated, inviting her to get on with it.

"Jack," now he was really worried.

"Colonel?" He tried to regain control.

"No Jack, this is not so much of a professional nature, as a personal one." Sam took back the reigns.

"Oh, I must have gotten the wrong impression, what with the 2 General's and Supreme Commander of the Asgard Fleet now seated in my Conference Room." He pointed to the window with the now pacing Jacob Carter, Hammond with his back to the window and Thor still patiently waiting and still looking at his hands. He looked back at her, "It is still my conference room, right?"

"Yes it is." She reminded herself to breath. "There is no way to sugar coat or prepare you for this, other than to say-"

"That you all made the best decision you could at the time, yes I have already been prepped by the President and Hammond – would you please get to the point." He pleaded irritably.

Sam took the two steps to his desk, biting her lip again, still clutching the files she had in her hands since she beamed in, and he just realized that her fiercely clutching white knuckles had never let go them. She stood in front of his desk and one at a time placed the 2 files in front of him. As quickly as she could as if ripping off a band-aid she stated "Jonathan Jacob Carter O'Neill….and Grace Danielle Carter O'Neill."

His mouth was open and his eyes never left hers as she placed the files in front of him. "And, a recent picture of them." She was looking back at him straight into his eyes, as if firmly defending every decision she had made on behalf of their children for the last 4 and half years.

He closed his mouth, looked down flipped through the files that contained official looking documents and records. Picked up the picture and studied every detail of the two children – then looked down at himself – still not naked, okay. Then back at the picture. There was a little girl with brown curly hair and dark eyes, and a little boy with very blond hair and blue eyes; both sweetly and shyly smiling.

"Well….Mrs. O'Neill, seems you have been busy in your spare time of scouring the universe for new technologies and saving our collective butts every other Tuesday." Hiding behind his sarcasm.

A small smile graced her lips, "Every Tuesday when you count the trouble Daniel gets himself into." He smiled briefly, and quickly his mind went to work putting the last 4 and half years together. She sat waiting patiently. She did not have to wait long.

"Which time?" he asked.

"Jonah and Thera."

"Oh yeah, guess I would have noticed otherwise."

"Yeah, timing is everything when you are pregnant, especially with twins."

He went back to piecing the puzzle and Sam thought back almost five years ago…

Jack and Teal'c decided the team really needed a trip to Vegas to lighten up and for a change of scenery after the time loop incident. Sam did not want to go, the whole Za'tarc incident and Martouf's death was still too recent, but Daniel would not leave her office until she agreed to go with them. So she caved and decided sitting by the pool and relaxing for three days could be a good thing. 3 days and 2 nights in Vegas – well more like 2 days, since the third day they had to be at the airport by 11am.

She didn't know what the guys did during the day, and didn't care either, she had enjoyed both days by the pool, reading until late in the second day when they came by to plan for that night's fun and the three of them threw her into the pool, then they jumped in and that is where they planned their last evening in Vegas.

Since they had taken in a show the first night, they decided to hit the casinos the second night. It was after dinner, she and Jack were playing blackjack while Daniel and Teal'c were off at the Roulette tables. She was doing very well and soon found herself flirting with Jack then somehow – she had managed to ask him to marry her. He grabbed her hand leaving her winnings and what little he had left on the table and within the hour they were married. For the time being, they agreed this one night was all they could risk for their marriage. In the morning they would part with a promise for -- someday.

"WAKE UP! WAKE UP! We have to get to the airport we're late!" Daniel screamed banging on Sam's door and he was heard banging on Jack's door next. Sam and Jack kissed one last time, their hands parted, and he returned to his room through the convenient shared door. They showered, packed and went to greet a panicked Daniel.

Neither ever mentioned it, their lives went on as before secure in the knowledge that they were bound for better or worse. Hoping no one would be the wiser, a risk both seemed willing to take.

She started to feel quite confident that they could do this. Then three months later on that godforsaken icy planet, the unimaginable happened. They were held captive, their memories were replaced, but their feelings were intact with no awareness of the rules keeping them apart. Enter JJ and Grace.

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Further explanation of Carter's whereabouts in Chapter 3, which will be up tomorrow.