For all of my fans out there: my muse decided to give in to the many requests for chapters that covered what transpired during the three months that Jack was frozen in Antarctica. It has taken a few weeks, but…here you go. You'll have to go back to Chapter 27 as the chapters following it are now put into their proper place, chronologically. If you are getting to this, and realize that you've already seen the new scene that replaces the ending scene to "New Order: Part II," please just choose chapter 27 (or whatever chapters you haven't read) and go from there. (I also did it this way to illicit more reviews…or more accurately, help you to read the last part again, if you sped through it the first time…)

Okay, whether or not I get more reviews or more hits on this story, or it's posted in more C2s or whatever…I will feel like this story is more complete. Besides, by the end I felt like I had ignored some of the other major characters in the series, Janet Fraiser (who is NOT dead), Daniel Jackson, Jacob, and Teal'c. There is also a healthy dose of just about everyone else in the series.

So…on to whatever part of the story you haven't viewed at this time!

Rose Stetson

--

"Colonel, come in." Elizabeth said, packing her few personal belongings into a box. "How are you feeling?"

"Not bad. Haven't had the urge to go anywhere or build anything lately. And…my daughter arrived at 1813 hours today…"

Elizabeth smiled. "Well, you, your wife, and your daughter have been given a clean bill of health as far as the finest medical professionals on this planet are concerned."

"Well, what do they know!" He asked, sitting down. It had been a very long day, and he had been ordered out of the infirmary so that both Grace and Sam could get their much-deserved rest.

"The President asked me to extend an invitation to you. Dinner at the White House."

"Do you know what they're having? Or if I can bring my family?"

"I don't think I've had the chance to personally thank you yet."

"For what?"

"You risk your life over and over, and ask for nothing in return."

"Well, don't be fooled. I'm makin' a list."

"Well I doubt very much there's anything that could properly repay you."

"Are you goin' somewhere?" He asked, eyeing the cluttered office.

"As a matter of fact, the President has asked me to supervise the research of the Ancient outpost. It's gonna be a bit of a delicate situation, given all the various international claims already being made on the site."

"Sounds right up your alley." He said, the moment almost bittersweet. The few moments he had had to interact with the woman had been…well, they had been momentous.

"Yeah, well, much more so than this job."

"Does that mean Hammond will be coming back?"

"No. General Hammond is being promoted. He'll be overseeing all things relating to Earth's defense on behalf of the Pentagon and Washington – the SGC, the 303 program, the Antarctic site. Unofficially it's being called Homeworld Security."

"Any idea who we're gonna be stuck with?" He asked, somewhat leery about the people the Pentagon saw fit to inflict the SGC with. First, there had been Bauer and then Weir, two DRASTICALLY different people than Hammond, each with a great deal less experience than the man.

"The Pentagon has convinced the President that there is one man who could run the SGC and make it politically viable from an international perspective, despite the fact that he is part of the American military establishment."

"Do we know this…shrub?" He asked, waiting for her to mention that Bauer had been given command again.

"Well, you know him rather well…Brigadier General Jack O'Neill."

It took him a moment to register the name before his eyes widened and he sat up straighter. "Me!"

"Yeah, you." She said, chuckling.

"Brigadier…" He mused. "It's on my list."

"Congratulations."

"I should be clear…" He said, standing. "I'd like the promotion, paycheck and the parking spot. But I don't really wanna be in charge of anything. No."

"Well, sadly, all those things kind of go together. So I guess you have some thinking to do."

"Fortunately, I have the best thinker in the universe to help me." He said with a grin.

--

Sam, dressed in her dress blues, stood in the Gate room, holding Grace. She was shocked by the number and magnitude of the changes taking place. Jack was leaving SG-1. Dr. Weir was leaving the SGC. Grace joined the O'Neill family, and she was left watching the dust settle. It had been a good year, she realized as she watched Elizabeth walk up the ramp and begin the takeover ceremony.

"Although my time here has been brief, it has been without a doubt indelible. I will remember every one of you, and I thank you all for your hard work. I'm not one for long goodbyes, so without further ado it is with great pleasure I introduce you to your new commanding officer, Brigadier General Jack O'Neill."

Sam smiled with pride as the blast door opened to reveal her husband, dressed in his dress blues, shiny new stars on the shoulders. Grace gurgled, and Daniel reached over to take the baby from her. She looked at him with surprise, and he shrugged as if he couldn't help it.

"At ease. You all know how much I LOVE speeches, so I'll make this short. I wish I could say I didn't owe anything to anyone, but the truth is I wouldn't be standing here if it wasn't for the courage and support of each and every one of you. I hope I can be as good a leader as we've had in the past, and as good as you deserve.

"Hear, hear!" Daniel said, raising the baby's arms so that she waved at her dad. Jack's heart swelled with pride and he smiled at the baby who gurgled a little more loudly. The whole squadron chuckled at the priceless picture this created.

"The other reason I took this job was so I could do really cool stuff like this: it is with great pride that my first order of business as commander of this base is the announcement of the promotion of Major Samantha Carter to Lieutenant Colonel."

The color drained from Sam's cheeks in surprise. This wasn't supposed to be happening. Jack wasn't supposed to give her special treatment…

He motioned for her to join him up on the ramp. She looked at Daniel whose eyes showed a knowing look and she couldn't help but chuckle.

"And just for Lieutenant Colonel Carter's benefit, the President had a few words to say on the subject." He said, motioning for Walter to read the letter.

"I, President Henry Hayes of the United States of America, do inform Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter that Brigadier General Jack O'Neill had no influence on your promotion. It was submitted to this office before Major General George Hammond was relieved of his command."

Sam chuckled, and looked into her husband's eye as he pinned the new insignia on her uniform.

"Moreover, the President of the United States has placed special trust and confidence in the patriotism, integrity and abilities of Major Samantha Carter. Major Samantha Carter is promoted to the grade of Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force." Walter said, reading the more orthodox portion of the ceremony.

"Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter." Jack said, a distinct note of pride in his voice.

For the second or third time that day, there was applause received from the service men and women.

"Now, raise your right hand and repeat after me: I, insert name."

Sam got a teasing grin on her face. "I, insert name…"

All of the participants of the Stargate Program chuckled as Jack pretended to be put out. Sam smiled as she straightened and started again. "I, Samantha Carter…"