SG1 was queued up, ready to leave, in the Gate Room. At least most of them were there. Colonel O'Neill, Captain Carter, and Teal'c were impatiently waiting for Daniel to show up. An alarm and wormhole activation interrupted the Jack's rant. "Unscheduled Off World Activation! Unscheduled Off World Activation!"

"Who's off world?" General Hammond demanded of Sergeant Harriman.

"SGs 2, 3, and 6, sir! Receiving SG6's IDC, General!"

"Open the Iris."

The ring spit out two people, one of the shouting, "Close the Iris! Close the Iris! They're right behind us!" The General nodded in affirmation. Several staff blasts shot through the wormhole before the Iris was closed completely.

The two members of SG6 that had returned lay motionless on the ramp. Carter rushed to the closest one, a sergeant, and Jack hurried to the side of the lieutenant.

"Medical Team to the Embarkation Room!" Captain Carter yelled. "This one's pretty bad off." General Hammond rushed into the room just behind the medical team.

"Get Sergeant Thomas to the infirmary immediately. Stay, Captain Carter."

Colonel O'Neill helped the lieutenant up. "General, with all due respect, what the hell is she doing here?"

General Hammond ignored his 2IC's question and focused on the weary young woman. "Lieutenant Dumas, what happened out there?"

"Ambush, sir. Twenty Jaffa were waiting for us in the ruins. They got Jacobs right off and Major Reynolds took two in the chest getting us through the gate. No way he made it, sir. Thomas was hit right as we came through the gate."

"Are you injured, Lieutenant?" General Hammond noticed the young lieutenant was breathing heavier and grown very pale.

"I'm fine, sir… just fine." She clutched her side. "Request permission to sit down, sir…" She managed to get out before collapsing.

Jack caught her and laid her down on the ramp, pulling off her helmet and BDU jacket. "Damn it, Alexa! You've got a chest wound and stay to give SitRep. Idiot!" As soon as he saw the bleeding burn on her side, he pulled her into his arms. "We need a Med Team! Now!"

"Sorry, Colonel. Didn't hurt…" She mumbled as she lost consciousness.

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SG1's mission had been canceled at the request of Colonel O'Neill. The General didn't hesitate to grant Jack's request. The tall Colonel barely waited for the affirmative before he was out the door.

Sam Carter watched her CO as he sat by the bed of the young woman. He looked tired, no exhausted, and according to the nursing staff, he hadn't moved from her side since she came in ten hours earlier. What was so important about this Lieutenant?

Janet tapped her on the shoulder. "What are you doing down in the infirmary, Sam? I have a hard time keeping you here when you're hurt."

"Who is she?"

"Lieutenant Alexa Dumas. She was assigned to SG6 about a year ago. She's an anthropologist, but has had special ops training."

"I've got a message from General Hammond, but I don't want to disturb him. He looks like he might sleep soon."

"He's looked like that for about three hours now. Go disturb him."

Sam walked over to her CO and tapped him on the shoulder. "Yes?" He practically growled at her.

"Sorry, sir. But General Hammond needs to see you. He sent me to get you and make sure you get downstairs ASAP, sir."

There was a war in Jack's eyes between following orders and staying at the side of the young woman. His choice was made for him when she opened her eyes and looked up at him.

"Doc, she's awake!" The Colonel called out, sitting back down and taking her hand. "How ya feeling, Lexi? Better?"

"Ya sure you betcha. Feel like I don't have a hole in my side."

Jack kept a hold on her hand as Dr. Fraser ran tests on her. "You're a very sarcastic kid, aren't ya?"

"Get it from my dad. He's one crazy bastard, Jack."

"Happens sometimes. Nice to see you again. How long's it been?"

"Four years. Since Charl… the funeral."

"I need to go see General Hammond now. I'll come right back."

"You don't have to, Jack. You don't owe me anything."

A strange look came over her Colonel's face. Sam had never seen him look so… upset, and angry… at himself.

"I want to." He gave her hand an extra squeeze before getting up. "Lead the way, Carter."

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"Do you know her father, sir?" Sam asked the Colonel. He had been completely quiet in their walk to the elevator and she hated the oppressive silence.

"Yeah. I do."

Three words. It's a start. "She must mean a lot to you, sir."

"Carter, I don't want to talk. Leave it."

"But, sir…"

"That's an order." Jack walked into General Hammond's office, closing the door before Sam could follow him in.

"Sit down, Jack. We need to talk about this morning." Jack dropped into the chair in front of his CO's desk. "That can't happen again, Colonel."

"I'm sorry, General. I never thought it would see her come through that Stargate. Were you the one who brought her in?"

"Jack, she's a brilliant anthropologist with field training. She did over a year of special ops. She knows what she's doing out there. And I am ordering you to not make waves about this. She's here and staying here."

"Yes, sir. I understand. I doubt she'll want me around much anyway."

"Go finish up your paperwork before you do anything else. Dismissed." Jack saluted as he left the office.

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Alexa was asleep when Jack finally got done with everything and made it back to the infirmary. He dropped down into the chair left for him by one of the nurses. He was exhausted. No, by now, he was beyond exhausted and creeping into practically dead. Within ten minutes of sitting down, his eyes drifted shut, his head drooped, and his breathing slowed.

He came awake to someone poking him and saying. "Jack. Jack. Jack! Wake up will ya!"

"Can you be more irritating, Alexa?" He grumbled at the lieutenant in the hospital bed.

"If you want me to…" She paused. "Why'd you stay? Sleep here and stuff. You could have gone home and… watched The Simpsons."

"You're… important. You know that." Jack was always uncomfortable talking about his feelings, especially something like this.

"Wow, Jack O'Neill actually admitting emotions. Call the President. It should be a national holiday." Jack's face turned an angry red as he stood up and headed for the door. "Go ahead, Jack. Leave. It's what you're best at."

That was the last straw. "Do you want me to stay, Lexi! Just say the words and I will! I'll stay however long you want me to!"

"It's a bit too late for that! Where were you three years ago! Too absorbed in your own misery to notice anything going on around you!" Neither shouting Air Force Officer noticed the small group that had gathered at the doorway, drawn in by the shouting. Janet, Sam, and (mostly) Teal'c shooed them away as the yelling continued.

"He was my son!"

"And what was he to me? Nothing!" She sat up in bed while yelling this, much to the chagrin of Dr. Fraser. The young woman pulled herself together. "You've never been there, Jack. Don't start now."

"This time, I'm not going to leave." Jack walked back over to the bed. "You gonna give me a second chance, Lexi."

"Jack… I can't stand you as a father, but I might like getting to know you as a person."

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A/N:
Okay, it's kinda rough and i know where i'm going with it, just not right away. I don't know if I'm going to even continue posting this so, I really need some feedback from people. And some ideas for a better title maybe, this is just the working one. (But it does kinda have stuff to do with the story cuz several of the characters get second chances). Anyway, (sorry, I ramble sometimes), any reviews are welcome, even flames.
By the way, Daniel's going to play a big part in things to come :hint hint: and... well, that's it. Please review.