I love you guys!

Thanks for the awesome (and many) reviews! (hug) It was incredible!

I wrote as fast as I can... hope you like this chapter! (WarmTea, my beta, is on a road trip so this is unbeta'd. Any mistakes are my own.)

P.S :Sorry, it wasn't Jacob people.


Jack and Carter waited impatiently as the elevator deposited them off at the 28th floor. Outside the embarkation room, several Airmen were strapping on vests, preparing to run in.

"What's going on?" Jack demanded.

The 'kid' looked up. "Jaffa sir! Hundreds!"

Without asking any more questions, the two raced off for the armory. Minutes later, they were geared up and ready for battle.

Å

"NICE OF YOU TO JOIN US!" Daniel called as the two hurried into the embarkation room. The bodies of dead Jaffa littered the room. As he spoke another three ran through. Steady streams of Jaffa were coming through, three at a time.

"HOW MANY DEAD?" Jack yelled taking out two. "OUR PEOPLE THAT IS!" He looked over at the manual device that would close the Stargate but saw that it had been hit by multiple staff blasts.

"NONE SO FAR! TWELVE WOUNDED, ONE SEVERELY! MOST OF THE SG TEAMS ARE OFF-WORLD SO -"

Carter took down the next three Jaffa coming through. "SIR, I'M GOING TO SEE IF I CAN FIX THE IRIS!"

Jack nodded.

"DANIEL, HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN OPENED?" She yelled.

"23 MINUTES!"

"WAIT CARTER!" Jack ordered.

"WHAT?" She called dodging a staff blast.

"MARRY ME?"

"WHAT?" She yelled. This was a joke- right?

"MARRY ME!"

"SIR, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIRE FIGHT!"

"AND IF ONE OF US JOINS OMA'S FAN CLUB OR DAVY JONES LOCKER, I'D LIKE TO KNOW I GOT A YES FROM YOU!"

"SIR, DAVY JONES LOCKER-"

"CARTER! JUST SAY YES!"

"YES!"

She hurried out, stumbling over bodies as she went. Walter and Siler were working frantically in the control room. The blast door was closed so they couldn't see what was happening.

"COLONEL!" Walter shouted with relief, "The Jaffa disabled the computer system, we can't-"

Carter gently but firmly pushed past him and began typing frantically.

Å

"OUCH!" Daniel yelled slumping to the ground. Jack chanced a glance at him. His arm was bleeding profusely. Beside him, a Airman was helping him, also injured.

"GET YOURSELVES TO THE INFIRMARY!" Jack ordered.

"O'Neill!" Teal'c said gesturing to the Stargate. A thing that looked suspiciously like a Goa'uld shock grenade tumbled through. Jack fired at it but it appeared to be shielded.

"Oh crap."

Å

Carter typed in the code to have the blast door open. As it opened, she saw the 'bomb' on the ramp. Her fingers froze.

Jack... he was running up the ramp… he kicked it...

She clenched her teeth and continued to type rapidly. Finally, the 'error' sign disappeared. She released the keyboard and placed her hand on the palm scanner. The iris closed. A few more seconds and then the gate shut down.

Carter slumped back into the chair. "They really should pay me more."

Å

An hours later, Daniel was released into Teal'c and Jack's custody with strict orders to make sure he got plenty of rest and lots of liquid. Teal'c and Sam managed to shower and make themselves presentable. As Teal'c helped Daniel gather up his 'stuff', Jack pulled Carter into the first available room.

"Did you mean that?" He said without preliminaries.

She gave him an innocent look. "Mean what?"

"What you said in the gate room?"

She considered teasing him but the look in his eyes made her answer truthfully. "Yes Jack… I meant it."

He looked shocked. "Carter," He began slowly. "Why on earth you say yes?"

She laughed as a few tears came to her eyes. "For cryin' out loud sir," She began. "You're making me cry."

He came closer. "That's the last thing I ever want to do."

Their lips were almost touching...

Daniel strolled in, his arm in a sling. "Get a room you two," He teased.

"Daniel!"

Å

"Do we know what happened?" General Hammond asked over the phone.

Jack handed the phone to Carter who was waiting for it.

"Yes sir." She said. "It appears that this all started after SG-11 returned from P77-G25- A Goa'uld having infiltrated one of them. He disabled the computers system and then sabotaged the manual closing system. From there, he zatted the people in the control room and waited for the Jaffa to start pouring in." Carter hesitated then continued: "He was the only casualty sir. Major Dutch Kittn."

There was a loud sigh. "Good work… all of you."

"Thank you sir."

There was another sigh and then: "Oh Colonel, you've received the assignment you requested. The President would like you to assume command of the Alpha Site until such time we find a replacement or your two months is up."

"But sir-"

"You leave in a week… good luck."

And he hung up. Carter stared at the phone then slowly placed it back on its hook.

"Everything okay?" He asked.

She shrugged. "I… I got the job."

For a second, he looked puzzled then he got it. "You what?"

"The President and General Hammond have given me temporary command of the Alpha Site. I'll be relieved April 7th, my appointment starts in a week." She finished, not daring to meet his eyes.

Jack was quiet for a moment then slipped an arm over her shoulder. "After eight years… what's two months?"

She laughed. "Right sir." She straightened; relieved he was taking it like this. "Er… who's telling Dori?"

"Telling her what?"

She elbowed him. "About us."

Jack gave her an evil grin. "Why Carter… you, of course."

-

Earlier…

Dori started at the announcement. "Cass? What does that mean?"

The teen grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the room. "Come on… we need to go to the first floor."

"Cass-"

"Dori, now!"

The urgency in the girl's voice made Dorothy follow. Cassandra darted ahead, up what seemed like to Dori a million floors before bursting into a room filled with monitors and one middle aged man.

"Zeke, what's going on?"

"Jaffa invasion," He said shortly. "The danger looks to be gone- Colonel Carter got the iris closed- but you two should scramble. Go home… I'll tell your parents."

"But-"

"No but's kids… go on… now!"

Cassie nodded and pulled Dori along.

"Wait!" The latter shrieked. "Any dead?"

He hesitated then reached for the phone. A minute later, he hung up and looked at the teenagers. "No one dead."

"Is Jack injured?"

"No. Now shoo!"

Å

Zeke obediently passed on the message to Carter who thanked him for Jack for sending Dorothy home. Jack joined them several minutes later, with his forehead puckered. He didn't say a word until they reached the car.

Fastening his seat belt, he looked over at his 'almost' fiancée. "Carter? You wanna grab a bite to eat? We can get a hold of Dori… and that'll also be a good enough place to tell her."

"I'm not dressed proper-"

"We'll swing by your house."

She nodded and was silent. "What if she's against it?" She blurted suddenly.

"She won't be."

"But what if she-"'

"Carter!"

The Lieutenant Colonel took a deep breath then nodded. "Sorry sir."

"It's Jack."

"You're not retired yet sir."

He grinned impishly. "Not yet... soon."

She grinned back and smiled as they turned onto her street.

Å

Jack pushed the door open. "Rosie, I'm home…"

Dori came dashing down the stairs. "Jack, you're home! I was-"

She skidded to a stop. "Why are you dressed up Sam?" She asked suspiciously.

Sam straightened her backless black gown nervously. "We're going to dinner."

"We?"

"The three of us," said Jack. "Jack is one, Carter is two, and Dori-you is three."

"I can count Jack."

"You can?"

The teenager rolled her eyes. "What should I wear?" She asked, looking at Sam.

"Your green dress."

The teenager nodded. "I'll be back in ten."

The minutes seemed to drag by for the two Air Force officers. Jack had been dressed in two minutes, which was no surprise. Dori had gone nearly ten minutes over her promised time.

Finally, just as Jack was about to drag her bodily from her room, the teenager appeared.

She was wearing an ankle length, emerald green dress, which suited her darker coloring very well.

Jack stared at her for a moment then offered her his arm. "Well… may I escort you two women to dinner?"

Dori giggled and the two 'women' took an arm. "Lead the way dad… lead the way."

Å

Dori played with her potato before dropping her fork and looking at her father. "Okay, spill it Jack. Why are we here?"

"Ask Sam."

She directed her gaze at Sam. "Well?"

The newly promoted Colonel gave her a nervous smile. 'We uh… have… a surprise."

"What kind of surprise?"

"A… nice one… I think."

Jack glared at her. Dori gave them a shrew look then leaned back in her chair. "You are getting transferred to the Alpha Site?"

Carter opened her mouth then closed it. "Well, yes, but that's not why-"

Dori couldn't resist. "Okay, good. I was 'most afraid you would tell me you two were engaged or something like that."

Carter shot her CO a panicked look who was looking absolutely incredulous. "Why uh…" He began, trying to sound casual. 'Would that be so terrible? Us being engaged?"

She shrugged. "Dunno… but, I mean, well… you two married? That's just so… I don't know..."

Carter swallowed hard. "Oh."

Dorothy looked at each of the adults in turn then burst into laughter. "I'm kidding guys… Mazel Tov, Buenos luck… whatever."

"Really?" Sam asked. "You're okay with this."

Dori gave a shrug. "I suppose." Her eyes got a serious look in them. "Just…"

"Just what?"

The teen sighed. "As long as I don't have to call you 'Mom'."

Carter placed an arm around her. "No Dori… that you do not have to do."

She nodded and pulled away. "So…" She began. "Can we stop by and tell Cassie?"

Å

"They what? OH MY GOSH! DORI, WE DID IT!"

Dori placed the phone back to the phone and giggled at her friend's enthusiasm. "It's great… think Jack's buying her a ring tomorrow- wanna come along if he'll let us?"

"Duh!"

She looked at her watch and stifled a yawn. "Sorry Cass… I have to go to bed. We went to the ice cream parlor and we were there for ages. 'Sides, it's 11:00 P.M."

"Okay.. nighty night. Don't forget to brush your toothies!"

"Haha… night."

Cassie hung up her phone and looked over at her mother who was on the couch, reading the latest medical journal. "Hey mom… Aunt Sam's engaged…"

Å

In the living room of Jack O'Neill's house, the two adults were talking.

"My retirement is not effective until your return from the Alpha Site." Jack said suddenly. "Hammond called me after you hung up."

Carter stared. "What?"

"Joint Chiefs want someone military around that knows their business." He explained.

The blond headed Colonel nodded, her blue eyes thoughtful. "It makes sense… they can't have an 'SG-1' with only two members."

He sighed. "Yeah…"

She gave him a dazzling smile and scooted closer to him. "Let's not worry… we have seven days until I have to leave… let's not waste them."

"No ma'am," Was all he managed to say before he was cut off by Carter.

Å

By noon the next day, the entire base knew that the two were engaged and were planning to get married upon her (Samantha Carter) return to the SGC.

"The rumor mill's slowing down," Jack commented. "It used to be anything concerning me and Carter would be known with two hours."

Daniel smiled and sipped his coffee. "How come you guys didn't call?"

Sam frowned. "I left a message on your phone, your home phone, and your cell phone."

The archeologist fumbled with the little piece of plastic called a 'cell phone' and soon heard his best friend's voice talking excitedly. He closed it. "Right."

"I heard the joyous news this morning O'Neill," Teal'c said appearing with a heavily laden tray. "Many congratulations to you both."

"Thanks T." said Jack.

"Thank you Teal'c." Carter said, nearly simultaneously with her CO.

He inclined his head and began on the 'meatloaf' (if you could call it that).

"Jack!"

The General looked up as his 'daughter' raced towards him. "Slow it Dor… what is it?"

The girl gave him a wide smile. "Can… CassieandIgoringshoppingwithyou?"

"I uh… shopping?"

"Ring shopping," Daniel supplied helpfully. "She and Cassandra want to tag along."

"HA. No Dori."

"Jack…"

"No."

She sighed and plopped next to him. "Please?"

Å

"I need to work on my 'No's'," Jack muttered later that evening.

Dori and Cassie exchanged wide smiles. "C'mon Jack," Cassie said with a hint of laughter in her voice. "You're glad we came along… admit it."

"Never."

The two giggled. "This is going to be so much fun!" Dorothy enthused.

"Yeah," Jack muttered. "Fun, fun."

He drove into the jeweler's parking lot. "Okay… who's ready to go get a sparkling stone that'll make me go bankrupt?"

"ME!" They cried.

"I thought so."

Å

"Jack, that's so not her."

Dori looked at the ring Jack was pointing too. "Nah."

He sighed. "I'm never going ring shopping with you two again," He threatened.

"Better not," Agreed Dorothy. "Don't know if I could handle two mother's."

Jack gave his daughter a mock frown. "Behave little one."

Dori sputtered for a moment before her eyes widened. "Jack, what about that?"

It was a thin diamond circlet. Small diamonds and little blue stones were laid in a swirling pattern and in the middle…

"That's the seventh glyph!"

Dori now knew what a glyph was. "The seventh symbol?"

He showed her.

"Wow… it does look like it," Cassie and Dori agreed.

"We'll take it."

They exited the store an hour later, engagement ring in hand, and wedding bands in Cassie's custody.

Å

Carter hurried into her lab, intent on finishing her report. Normally, she would have finished it yesterday but… you know what happened.

So it was rather annoying to find a piece of cake on her desk, chocolate frosting smudging her papers. A note lay beside it.

"Carter, the cake's good.'"

She smiled and looked at it. Cake at 0800… with a shrug, she took a bite and began typing with one hand her report.

Another bite, another bite…

She was about to join her CO's praise in the delicious cake when her fork hit something metal wrapped in plastic. She pulled it out and unwrapped the plastic.

"Oh my…"

It was a ring.

She slid it on her finger. The stones twinkled in the light.

"You like it?" A voice asked from behind her.

"Like it? I love it."

"Cliché."

Carter laughed and turned around. "It's beautiful sir."

He gave her a small smile. "Glad you like it. Now, I'm off to listen to SG-7 tell me all about rocks… care to join me?"

"I'll pass."

He nodded. "Later."

Å

The next few days flew by for the 'O'Neill's' and Carter. As it was a weekend, they decided to go to the zoo. (Or, Dori decided, as she hadn't been there since she was three.)

"There is a zoo in Colorado Springs?"

The teen nodded.

"Cool."

They had fun, and Dori returned home with many souvenirs despite her dad's complaints that she was bankrupting him.

"But what a way to go!" She said cheerfully.

Carter tried to stifle a giggle- unsucessfully.

Å

The next day, as it was Sunday, Jack obligingly took Dori and Sam to the movies. (After four requests.)

"Do we have too?" Jack asked looking at the rows of movies showing. "We could see…Firewall whatever that is or… Curious George…"

The teen stared. "Jack, you've been saying I could watch this for the past two months!"

He looked at the large sign announcing that: "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was now playing!" and frowned. She took that as a 'yes' and ordered three tickets for it.

Jack was quiet through the whole thing, hardly touching the popcorn he had bought for himself. Dori, to keep him from wasting it, shared it with Sam.

As the credits rolled, Jack turned to look at his daughter.

"Dor… do you own the other three movies?"

She laughed.

Å

February 6th.

She had to leave tomorrow.

Carter slowly walked into her lab. It was cleaned up, projects passed along to other scientists, reports written… everything.

"Not often you see an empty desk here," Jack teased from the doorway.

She gave him a small smile. "Yeah, I suppose."

He came in. "What's the problem?"

She barely lifted a shoulder. "I'm leaving… tomorrow."

"Yes, you are."

The Colonel sighed. "Two months…"

"You can do it Carter. I won't pretend we won't miss ya- 'cause we will."

She smiled, her eyes filled with tears. "Yeah…"

He placed an arm around her. "Come on… why don't we put you in beddy so you wakey-wake tomorrow."

She snorted and the two wended their way down the hallway,

Å

"Chevron four encoded!"

Dori hugged Sam then stepped back. "Be safe Sam."

"I will. Promise."

"Chevron five encoded!"

"Yeah, Sam." Daniel said. "Be careful."

She embraced the archeologist. "See you later. Drop by if you have the time."

He nodded.

"Chevron six encoded!"

"Enjoy your stay at the Alpha Site," Teal'c said. She smiled and nodded.

"Chevron seven… locked!"

The event horizon shot out with a 'whoosh'. When it retreated, she started up the ramp.

"Carter," A voice said quietly. "Take care."

She nodded without turning around. They had said their good-byes earlier that morning. "Good-bye."

And she stepped through the Stargate.


This story has now reached the offical 'half-way through' point. At least, I hope so.

I hope you liked the chapter and...

Please review!