Captain Carter took a deep breath as she ascended the steps to the Hansen home. A week had passed since Hansen's death and SG-1 were on downtime, giving her a chance to fly to Washington. With her was Colonel O'Neill, who reached up to rub her shoulder when she paused shakily.

"Hey, you don't have to do this," he murmured softly.

It was true; she had volunteered to tell Hansen's parents in person. General Hammond had been quite willing to send an airman or to simply call or write a letter, but that didn't seem good enough to Carter. Sure, she hated the man for all he was worth, which wasn't a lot, but he was worth something to his family. Mr. and Mrs. Hansen deserved to be told in person, to show that someone else actually gave a rat's tail about their son's death.

Washington was wet and grey, having rained the night before. Captain Carter was beginning to wonder why she was standing on the west coast of the country on her ex-fiancé's parent's doorstep. But she sucked in another breath, along with it, about every once of courage she could muster, and walked briskly to the door and rang the bell.

Not five seconds went by when a cheery voice called faintly, "Coming!"

Two locks clicked back and a door swung open. An elderly woman stood before them with a smile. "Hello, what may I do for you?"

"Mrs. Hansen?" Captain Carter asked tentatively, shifting and wishing this sort of thing didn't require dress blues.

The woman nodded.

"I…ahem…" It would be a lie to say she wasn't tongue-tied.

Mrs. Hansen frowned and squinted at her, taking a hesitant step forward. "Sa…Samantha?" she said questioningly in shock.

Carter gulped. "Ah…yes, ma'am."

"Why, we haven't seen you in years! What's all this about? And who's he?" Mrs. Hansen narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Colonel O'Neill.

Carter knew what must be running through this woman's mind: My boy's ex-fiancée is with THIS man? or Why isn't Jonas here with her?

"Ma'am, I'm Colonel O'Neill. Captain Carter's commanding officer. Pleased to meet you," the Colonel said with a small smile and a nod of the head.

"Oh!" The woman's expression brightened considerably. "Well, then, come in, come in! Samantha, you must tell me everything! Four years have gone by and my husband and I haven't heard a word about the engagement." The fragile form led them to her living room. "Bram? Oh, Bram, come down!"

Captain Carter paled. He never told her?

A man that looked old enough to be Carter's grandfather limped down the stairs with the help of an aid. "Gimme a minute," he said gruffly.

Mrs. Hansen frowned nervously. "I really wish you'd let us move our bedroom downstairs, Bram."

Her husband scowled. "I'm not an invalid, Mary. Now, who are these fine officers?" He straightened at the foot of the stairs, shakily fixing his oversized sweater.

"Bram, this is Samantha and her commander, Colonel O'Neill," Mrs. Hansen introduced.

"Samantha? Well it's about time! We assumed there wasn't going to be a wedding. Where's Jonas?"

Carter swallowed hard. She felt her CO's worried eyes on her, but she refused to meet them. "I'm…afraid that's what we're here about."