Okay... I can't even begin to apologize for the massive wait on this story... but i can blame on not letting me put this up a few days ago... lol... very very very sorry that my three loyal reviewers had to wait this long to get the LAST chapter of this story...

My thanks to nightpheonix, KurnelJack/Daft as Jack, and most importantly PyroDragon2006! love you guys to pieces!

on with the chapter!

Sam sat at the dinner table with her commanding officer, wondering what she could do next. Jack sat in a state of uninterrupted thought, almost zombie-like. Looking at the clock, Carter stroked his back.

"Sir…" she said softly. Jack shuddered out of it and looked depleted, but he looked a little bit better. "Sir?" she asked again. With a very small, faint smile, he answered back.

"I'll be fine Carter, I will…" his raspy voice answered. Sam grinned.

"That's good to hear sir," she said honestly. Sam was glad of his self-recovery and she was happy she could help. Stumbling around, Jack slowly got himself together. Sam left him alone to do what he had to do. She watched as she saw all of Jack O'Neill's systems come back online. The hole in him was very slowly filling. Carter knew he wasn't even close to the edge of the woods yet. That would happen when he smiled.

"Sir, I'll drive and don't argue," Carter ordered. Jack looked up at her and nodded meekly. Through his eyes was the torture of death and despair, but inside also lurked friendship and even hope.

Jack was realizing that other people had gone through similar experiences. Both Sam and Daniel had lost a parent or both and Teal'c had been banished, called a traitor to his family, and had almost lost his own son. Yet here he was, mucking around in the dumps. Jack was almost ashamed at defiling his son's image like he had. Jack shouldn't be sulking, but instead remembering Charlie for who he was.

"Hold on Carter, I'll be there in a second," Jack quietly excused himself. He walked over to his mantle and picked up a small piece of paper. Jack pocketed it and was ready to go.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

When they arrived at the SGC, Jack expected a whole slew of pity – something he did not need or want. He steeled himself against the world again. Sam saw him freeze up and almost slip back into the dark underworld of suffering.

"Colonel, you'll be fine. You need to talk to people, not clam up. We can help." These were not the comforting words Jack needed to hear, but he heard them. He realized that Sam was right. He needed to stop shutting himself into a box like that.

Jack nodded to her as she led him out of the elevator. The first person they saw was Daniel – the last person Jack wanted to see. Daniel had a tendency of pitying someone too much, but the young man surprised him.

"Hey Jack," Daniel said softly with a small smile. "How ya doing?"

Jack tried to smile, but it didn't want to show itself quite yet. He did manage a contorted smirk that Daniel interpreted as an attempt at a smile.

"Fine, yourself?" The colonel kept his head down, not wanting to look Daniel in the eyes.

"Not so bad. See you later?" Jack asked uncertain. After his experience with Sarah, he had learned that people didn't like him much after a shutdown like that.

Daniel managed another small smile. "Yeah, I'd like that Jack. See ya." With that, Daniel walked off. He kept glancing over his shoulder at Sam who was reassuring him that Jack was fine.

Some time later, the pair ran across Teal'c. He bowed his head.

"Good morning O'Neill. How was your rest?" Jack's soul snorted with amusement. Some of the questions that came out of Teal'c's mouth were… amazing… Yet his face still refused to comply.

"Not bad, yours?" Jack responded amicably.

"My kel'nor'eem was refreshing. Shall I dine with you later today O'Neill?" Teal'c asked. He already knew Daniel had asked.

"Sure, we can all have lunch at 1300 hours. See you then."

"Until then O'Neill." Teal'c bowed his head again and walked off Jack hadn't been very talkative, but that was okay. Sam could see the soul of Jack O'Neill pushing for freedom and it was almost there. The lunch date would be good for him.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Hey guys," Jack greeted with a small mope in his voice. Daniel grinned broadly as did Sam.

Jack looked suspicious, it was all he had enough energy to do and his tongue held no clever retorts to this setup. Out of nowhere, Siler appeared and behind him was a large camera apparatus.

Siler coughed to clear his throat.

"I, on behalf of the Royal SGC Committee, do hereby present to you…" He stopped and blinked for a second then continued. "A fish!"

A large silver platter with an even larger fish was brought out and laid on the table in front of Jack. This fish was enormous; it was probably a sea trout.

Curious, Jack carefully picked up the slightly slimy fish when it smacked him across the face. He was stunned and all of SG-1 had been watching. A square picture was brought to him.

Jack scanned the picture and saw that the camera had captured his very open mouth and shocked face captured forever as the tail of massive fish sideswiped him.

Jack's eyes widened and a smiled formed. Without realizing it, Jack O'Neill started laughing hysterically at this great picture. SG-1 cheered, they had their commander back.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Back in the locker room, Jack paused at his locker to reflect on the last week. On the top shelf inside his locker was nothing. Jack decided it would be a great place for the paper he had picked off his mantle earlier that day. It was a triumphant picture of Charlie holding a trophy and Jack hugging him, laughing.

Jack smiled as he remembered that day. Smirking now, Jack placed the fish picture beside the one of his son in hopes that good times would always be remembered.

With a firm shut of his locker door, Jack strode out into the SGC, ready to face the world (and save it) again.

Soooo... good finish? Yes or no? PLEASE i want to know!