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Sorry for the long wait... again, life is crazy!

Thanks to Sara Loughlin for beta'ing both this and the last chapter! You rule!

A/N: This chapter mainly centers on our Carter.

Hope you like it...

Alternate Reality

Carter gave General Hammond a stiff smile, and turned away, her hands tightly gripping the cup she held. Looking around the commissary, she saw the joy on the staff's faces as they had their impromptu feast, celebrating that their Sam was home... everything was all right for them. Plans were made to send her home... and not one person seemed to care that she was leaving.
She knew it was rather selfish- why should they? After all, they were technically the same person. Against her will, her gaze was drawn across the room to Jack O'Neill. He was talking to Sam and smiling at her.

Like he had forgotten their kiss.

"Colonel Carter?"

Carter started and looked up to see Teal'c standing there.

"Hey," she said quietly, "need something?"

"Are you all right?"

She nodded, automatically smiling. "I'm fine, Teal'c, thanks for asking."

The Jaffa was obviously not fooled. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he said quietly, "I will miss you, Colonel Carter."

She hesitated and then slowly wrapped her arms around him, Teal'c doing the same. Across the room, Jack watched them with an impassioned face.

"Sam!"

Carter glanced to see Daniel standing there. "Yes?"

"General Hammond wanted me to tell you that you can leave now." He winced at the coldness of his words. "I mean- you can go home now. SG-2 checked out the planet and confirmed they have a Quantum Mirror and are willing for you to use it."

She nodded. "Then I'm ready."

Å

"It's been a pleasure meeting you, Colonel."

She embraced General Hammond. "It was nice working with you again, General," she said sincerely. Janet and Daniel both gave her big hugs and whispered good-byes. Teal'c bowed. Carter looked up at the ramp and saw… herself… standing there, mixed feelings on her face.
"Good bye," Sam whispered, looking into her own blue eyes, "I'm sorry about all of this… I'm so sorry…"

Carter gave Sam a small smile. "Sam… me… I should be thanking you. This was… an experience… and while parts were definitely rough, I…" she trailed off. "Good bye, Sam."

Sam hesitated a second and then hugged Carter. "Good bye." She stepped back and let the Colonel pass. Carter stopped in front of the Stargate- her CO blocking the way.

"Colonel?"

Jack studied her for a moment. This was the woman he had slowly grown close to over the past weeks. The one he had kissed. The one he was going to resign for. After a moment, he stepped forward and embraced her. "Bye," he whispered. "We'll miss you, Dorothy… don't forget about us when you're back in Kansas."

"You're saying this is Oz?" Carter asked, shakily.

He gave her a small smile and then, to both of the Carter's absolute surprise, he kissed her- a short kiss that was bittersweet. Pulling away, Carter gave them a small wave and then disappeared into the wormhole.

The Stargate deactivated.

Our reality

Jack looked at his watch and frowned at Daniel. "Wouldn't she be back by now?"

"Jack," said the archeologist for the twentieth time, "it might take time… just relax. Be patient."

"Be patient?" Jack stood up and strolled over to Walter Harriman's side. "Anything yet, Walter?"

"No, sir."

"Are you sure?"

The long-suffering technician gestured to the gate. "You'll know, sir."

"Yeah," Jack muttered. "I s'pose I will."

Teal'c mutely offered him a doughnut from the plate he had taken from the commissary. Jack shook his head. "No thanks, Teal'c. But thanks."

The klaxons began wailing. All three men were at Walter's side a moment later.

"Who is it?" Jack demanded.

Walter whooped as he received the iris code. "It's Colonel Carter, sir!"

"Open it!" Jack yelled, already half way down the stairs. He was in the gate room as the iris opened.

No one came through.

Jack looked up at the technician who shrugged. Daniel and Teal'c stood on either side of Jack, all three men staring at the Stargate.

A minute ticked away… two…

Finally, the wormhole rippled and Colonel Samantha Carter returned home… at last.

SG-1 let out a breath as one. Jack slowly started towards his second-in-command. "Carter?"
She blinked back a tear. "It's me, sir."

He swallowed. "Decided to return to Kansas?"

Carter gave small laugh, "Yes, sir."

Jack was in front of her. "Welcome home, Sam,' he whispered, wrapping his arms around her.

She closed her eyes, holding back a few stray tears. "Thank you, sir… thank you." After a minute, she let go of him and turned to her other friends.

"I'm home."

Å

Hours later…

"She's clear, sir."

Jack nodded to Dr. Carmichael, dismissing him. Looking back at Daniel, he sighed and leaned back in the chair. "She's back."

Daniel had a small frown on his face. "Jack… doesn't she seem… well, different?"

"What do you mean?" the General demanded. "She seemed fine to me."

He sighed and shook her head. "Jack, she's obviously depressed."

"Why? She's home."

The archeologist wanted to shake his friend. "I don't know, obviously. Why don't you talk to her?"

"About what?" came the predictable response.

"Jack."

Jack rubbed his forehead. "Daniel, just say whatever it is that you want to say, okay?"

"Fine," Daniel took a deep breath. "Talk to Sam about what happened in that other reality."

"Who said that anything happened?" he demanded.

"It's obvious something did. The way that she looks at you… maybe, in that reality, you two were engaged and-"

"Stop there," Jack ordered.

"Remember the zay'tarc testing?"

"Like I could forget it," Jack mumbled. He saw the look on the archeologist face and began shaking his head, "Daniel, do not go there, I am not-"

"I am in agreement with Daniel Jackson, O'Neill," a figure said, moving to join Daniel next to his desk.

Jack didn't even look to see who it was; only one person would talk to him like that. "Teal'c… not you too."

The Jaffa didn't look repentant. "O'Neill, Daniel Jackson is-"

"Sir?" Carter interrupted from the doorway. "I-" she stopped on seeing her friends. "Oh, sorry, I can come back-"

The General didn't think he had ever been so grateful to hear his second-in-command's voice. "No, no, no," he said quickly, "now's fine."

She looked unsure but nodded. "Um, I was going to try to get a hold of my dad… I'm assuming he was told of my disappearance?"

"Yes," Jack answered wryly, "We'll call the Tok'ra, let them know what's up."

She smiled, "And I was wondering whether I might have any mission reports from the missions that took place during my absence," she began, "also all the scientific analysis's that… I… turned in."

Jack turned to his desk and rummaged through the files piled on his desk; he pulled out four. "Here ya go."

They had obviously not been read. A small smile flitted across her face. "Thank you, sir."

He nodded. "You're welcome."

She stood there for a moment, looking at him; she glanced at Daniel and then excused herself from the room.

"See, Jack?" Daniel demanded. "Something happened."

Jack was disposed to agree. Right behind Carter's ear, was a small and barely discernable hickey.

Alternate Reality

"Carter,"Jack began as he enteredthe familiar lab, "I thought I told you…" He trailed off and stopped in the doorway of his second-in-command's lab as he noticed what she was watching. It was security footage from General Hammond's office. As he stood there, the recording showed him storming out of the office; the camera followed him for a moment longer then froze, his face a picture of anger and disappointment.

"You were going to give your career up,'" Sam said softly, "For her."

Jack was quiet for a few long seconds. "Yes," he finally said, "Yes, I was."

She nodded and focused on her lab table, noting absently that all of her old projects were gone. "Oh." She fought back the tears that were threatening to overflow; she blinked and looked at her CO. "Did you need something, sir?"

Jack shrugged. "Just thought you might need to talk."

"I'm fine, sir."

"Not buyin' that crap, Carter," Jack assured her, "What's really goin' on?"

She turned around so fast, he instinctively moved back. "What's really going on?" Sam cried, "What's really going on? You were willing to give up everything for a chance with her! I've watched the security footage, heard the stories. You guys practically flirted the whole time I was gone!" She paused and took a deep breath. "If… if you had found the mirror…" she took another breath, her blue eyes looking into the brown eyes across from her. "Would… would you have let her go?"

Jack looked at her for a moment then opened his arms. "C'mere."

She hesitated and then returned his embrace. "I'm sorry," she managed to get out, as tears trickled down her face, and onto her CO's shirt. "I don't know what came over me."

"It's okay," he said quietly. "You've been through a lot."

She sucked in a breath. "Yeah." She pushed herself away, "I'm tired- I think I'll retire," she was nearly out of the room when Jack said quietly.

"Carter, if I had found the mirror… yes, I would have tried to get you back."

She paused in the doorway, nodded, and then vanished.

Our Reality

She was returning from her visit to Dr. Mackenzie (the good man had called her and asked to speak with her. Knowing she'd eventually have to go, she decided to get it over with) when she saw her CO.

"Sir," she said, noting his civilian attire. "Leaving?"

He checked his watch. "It's nearly midnight, Carter. I thought it might be time."

Carter nodded. "Of course, sir."

"Staying here?" he asked.

"Yes, sir," she said cheerfully, "Good night."

Jack stopped her as she turned to go. "Carter," he began, "How are you with this whole… switching thing?"

"Did Daniel ask you to talk to me?"

"That's not really the point," he mumbled. "But yes."

"I'm fine, sir. Thank you for asking."

"That's what friends are for."

She closed her eyes as a previous conversation was called to mind. Her talk with herself on the Prometheus.

"What if I quit the Air Force?" she asked, half unconsciously, "Would that change anything or is it just an excuse?

He hesitated a few moments, not sure whether he wanted to go there right now. "I would never ask you to give up your career."

"Because you don't feel anything for me?" she knew he did, but she wanted- no, needed- to hear the words. Confirmation… or otherwise, she needed to know.

"Carter." He warned.

Nothing. Just 'Carter'. "I'd let you go right now if I knew," she said softly.

"That easy?" He hid the hurt he felt at her being able to forget him so quickly.

"I didn't say it would be easy." She avoided his eyes. Be easy? It'd be one of the hardest things she had ever done. She had once listened to herself and tried to make herself happy with Pete- idiot that she was.

"Then what's stopping you if you really wanna know?" he asked.

"I'm trying."

"You deserve more," he said in a low tone. "Carter, I will always be there for you, no matter what. Believe me."

She looked down. Jack was about to leave when she caught his arm. "What if I don't want more?" she whispered, her eyes filled with unshed tears. "What if I do give up my career? Will that change anything?"

"Cart-"

"Sir."

They looked at each other for a long moment, each seeking their own answer.

"I guess," he finally said, not meeting her eyes. "It might." He swallowed hard and looked at her. He still didn't know why a smart, beautiful and sexy woman would have fallen for a grumpy, sarcastic and oldGeneral. He felt almost… guilty about it sometimes. She deserved so much better…

"I don't want better," she said quietly, almost reading his thoughts. "I want you, Jack."

And she kissed him. When she finally pulled away, Jack only had one question. "Did I give you that?" gesturing to her ear.

Carter touched behind her ear. "Yes, sir."

To say that he wasn't jealous of the other him would have been a lie. "Okay."

She gave him a shy smile. "Good night, sir."

"Good night, Carter."

YAY!

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