Sorry, I know this is like a week and a half late but stuff happened that I hadn't foreseen, thanks for the reviews and hope you like this chap.
Jack woke up to find a pair of blue eyes starring down at him, "Hey daddy you don't normally take naps."
"I know Seany," Jack said grabbing his son around the waist and lifting him up so Jack could sit up, "but daddy was very tired cuz he didn't sleep too good last night." Jack looked at Sean and realised that his floppy brown hair which had turned a sandy blonde in the summer sun now looked about 3cm shorter. His hair was normally quite long and just tucked neatly behind his ears but now it was cut quite close, just like Jack or Charlie's. Jack ran his hand through Charlie's now short hair, "What happened here?"
Sean looked at him and grinned sheepishly, "Uncle Danny gave me some candy and I gotted into my hair but he couldn't get it out so he took me to the hair cutter-offers."
"How many times have I told you not to play with your food?" Jack said glad to be dealing with something other than life and death and glad to think of something else for a few minutes.
"I know but Charlie said he'd stick it up like you and him have it."
"Oh he did did he?" Jack said smiling a devilish smile which made Sean shriek because he knew what was coming next as Jack began to tickle him relentlessly until Sean was breathless.
After he had stopped laughing Sean looked at Jack thoughtfully, "Daddy when's mommy coming home, I haven't seen her in ages and it's not fair that only grandpa gets to see her." Pouted Sean. Jack looked at Sean and realised that Sean deserved to know that his mom was ill.
"Mommy was looking after Grandpa Jake but he's all better now." Sean's face brightened, "But now mommy's very sick so she can't come home to us just yet even though she really really really wants to."
"Will she be coming home soon?" Sean said his voice almost a whisper.
Jack gathered his son up in a hug wanting Sean to know that he was loved no matter what happened but also feeling the need to protect his son from the fear Jack was feeling, "I hope so Sean, I really hope so."
"Good cuz me and Joey miss her." Sean said climbing off of the bed, "Oh and Uncle T said that I hadta wake you up cuz you gotta go and see aunt Jan and Charlie's waiting for you."
Jack looked at the time and realised it was almost 7pm, he'd been asleep for almost 8 hours luckily he did not have to get dressed as he had just collapsed on the bed and fallen asleep straight away. Jack went downstairs to find Joey playing with some blocks on the floor in the family room being watched over by the ever stoic Jaffa and Sean who was watching a video.
"T you ok to look after them for a while."
"I am indeed O'Neill; DanielJackson will soon appear from taking Cassandra Fraiser home as will the so called fast food." Jack shot his friend a grateful smile. "Charlie is waiting in the car."
Jack drove to the hospital and led Charlie to Sam's ICU room and waited for Charlie to go in and have some time alone knowing that this was what he needed whilst Jack went to find out if Janet was still around and if there had been any change to Sam's condition he should know about.
Charlie entered the room and stepped tentatively towards the bed, unsure of what to expect. She didn't look the same as his mom had looked when he saw her dead body in the SGC but she still didn't look good. Charlie sat on the chair next to her and hesitantly took a hold of her hand; he wasn't sure what to say or even how to feel. Somehow by seeing her this weak and vulnerable he knew she was going to wake up and get better and somehow he was sure that when she did get better life would be good again.
Charlie left her room after about 30 minutes having told her all about what was going on in his life and what they'd been up to since she ha been away. He left reminding her to fight because they all needed her home. He found his dad waiting in the chairs outside of him mom's room and was glad he was near by but had given him the space to do things on his own.
"You ok?"
"Yeah, you know what I really am. She's gonna be alright I'm sure of it." He said with a wry grin "I'll wait out here for you." Charlie said taking the seat his father had vacated as soon as he saw Charlie leave Sam's room. Jack looked at his son and was once again amazed by his strength, even when things seemed at their most bleak he could always look on the bright side of things.
Jack had been unable to find Janet but he had half expected that as she, like him, had to sleep and she also had Cassie to think about a how she was taking the whole thing. He had been able to find a nurse who was able to fill him on how Sam's condition had changed since he had been in that morning and found out that there was no change.
When Jack entered Sam's room she was still as deadly still as she had been that morning and her bruises seemed to be nastier colours but this time he was prepared for what he saw as he took his place next to her and gently grasped her hand hoping that it brought her some comfort. Jack had no more tears left to spill, he had cried more in the last 24 hours than he had during the whole of his adult life. Jack just stared at Sam willing her to wake up but to no avail and then a completely random thought entered his head.
"Sam do you realise that after all we've been through together, everything we've ever said and done that I've never said the three words that I've been dying to say to you almost since the moment I met you. Even after what happened between us on the night you left I still never got to say I love you, there you finally got the great Col. O'Neill to say something deep and meaningful and you weren't even around to hear me say it." Jack looked at Sam and saw the vacant look upon her face and could only hope that she was still in there to hear his words.
Jack shook his head unable to comprehend what he had done to deserve a life filled of loss. "It's not supposed to be like this Sam, I had it all figured out, I even went to see Gen. Hammond about it and I'll tell you he was not a happy camper…"
Flashback
Jack sat down in Hammond's office his mind still reeling from hearing what the rest of SG-1 had had to go through during their mission and also the fact that Sam would not be returning home as soon as he would have liked, he just hoped he was doing the right thing and that Sam would agree with what he was about to do. Hammond looked at Jack expectantly waiting for him to begin.
"Sir…" Jack said shifting uncomfortably in his chair unsure of how to begin. Hammond looked at him and chuckled softly to himself.
"Jack what's wrong?"
"Well I'm not getting any younger, you know how it is the knees are beginning to go and what with Sa…Carter" Jack corrected quickly, "…Carter being away I realised that I don't want my kids to grow up without at least one of their parents round." Rambled Jack
"Jack what are you trying to say?"
"I want to retire" Jack spat out
"Jack what's brought this on?" Hammond asked shocked, not having expected this from his second in command, Jack looked even more uncomfortable. "If it would help we can speak off the record."
Jack nodded but still didn't know if he should tell Hammond why he had decided to retire, "Ok, over the last few months Sam and I have become very close, and on the night she left we…" Jack trailed off with hand gestures hoping Hammond would understand from the look of anger on Hammonds face Jack knew he did.
"Jack do you know what this could do to both your careers if this got out" Hammond ranted, "Hell I should be reporting this at this very moment."
"I know that sir but I can't deny how I feel anymore, I care for Sam a lot more than I'm supposed to and I think she feels the same way about me."
"You think!" Hammond shouted so loud that Jack felt the whole base would have heard it, "So you're prepared to throw away your whole career over something you think major Carter wants, Hammonds voice softened a little, "I hate to say it Jack but she might not feel the same way."
Jack shook his head, "I know Sam sir, and I know how she feels and to be quite honest after spending all of this time with my kids I've finally realised what I missed out on when Charlie was growing up and don't want that to happen again."
Hammond nodded as he knew what it was like to miss out on seeing to ones that you love growing up. "To be quite honest Jack I'd be lying if I said that I hadn't seen this coming but the look on your face was priceless." Chuckled Hammond unable to keep his angry charade up.
Jack just sat there his mouth involuntary hanging open as he tried to process what Hammond had said. "I understand the way you feel son but are you really ready to give up your career; the Stargate?"
"I've had a good run but my luck can't last forever, I mean sure I'm gunna miss it but…" Jack shrugged unsure of what to say.
"Very well, but if you did want to stay on, in a purely part-time basis I may have a position for you." Hammond said coyly as he saw Jack sit up in his chair eager to listen, "I was going to get someone new in but as you already know the base and the way we operate it may work to everyone's advantage. How would you like to pick and train our new personnel, it would probably involve some off world missions to friendly planets with other SG teams to get them acclimatised to gate travel so you'd have the best of both worlds; lots of free time and occasional off world travel."
"So I wouldn't have to retire but Sam wouldn't be under my command?" Hammond nodded, "Sounds good sir, where do I sign?"
"I'll get the paperwork drawn up and we can talk more when it's all sorted." Jack smiled as did Hammond.
"Thanks sir, I don't think you know how much this means to me." Jack said as he left.
End Flashback
"So you see Sam you need to wake up because we finally got our 'happily ever after' even if it is a cliché I don't care, we're free to be together, your supposed to be one SG-1 I even recommended that you take command and I'll still be around to annoy you and who knows I might even get you, Danny and T to help me on the training exercises."
Jack stopped talking feeling utterly dejected and bowed his head in silent prayer to whoever was up there that they'd help Sam get better. Jack didn't hear the door open as he was too deep in thought but he did feel the person climb onto his lap and hug him.
"Don't worry daddy mommy's gunna be alright" Sean said as Jack hugged him back tightly, when Jack let go of him Sean turned round to sit on his dad's lap and look at his mom.
"Why does she look different?" Sean asked
"Mommy's very poorly so she doesn't feel very well at the moment but she should wake up later." Jack said and then he suddenly realised his son had materialised out of thin air, "Where'd you come from?"
"You've been in here for over an hour and I thought you might want some more time with her so I rang Daniel to come and pick me up and Sean came along too, he musta snuck in here whilst I was talking to Daniel." Charlie said.
Jack nodded, "Say n'night to mommy Seany." He said lifting Sean up so Sean could kiss her goodnight as he would do most nights.
"Night mommy, feel better" Sean said, Jack then did the same thing as his son and kissed her on the cheek as did Charlie. Daniel was waiting in the corridor not wanting to spoil the family's moment. Jack looked at his friend and smiled, "Thanks Danny I'll take them home now, why don't you stay here for a while I'm sure she'd love to hear from you I've probably bored her." Daniel smiled.
"Yeah I'd like that, Teal'c's looking after Joey and it looks like he's planning to stay with you until Sam gets better.
Jack smiled as he led his children away glad to have such a great family around him in his time of need.
Another chapter done, you may not here from me or a while cuz I've got my A/Ss soon so need to revise but I might get some time in for writing, hopefully. When I do get the next chapter done Jacob may be in it, possibly.