"Thank you Colonel, I'll let you know when we find anything." The detective said. He stood slowly, nodded goodbye to Daniel and Teal'c, and left quietly. As he walked out the front door of Carter's house, he couldn't help shaking his head in disgust. What was this world coming to, that a highly decorated Air Force General couldn't walk around Colorado Springs safely?
Before climbing into his car, Detective Roberts turned and looked back at the house. He couldn't help but feel sorry for the four people inside. The youngest woman had been hysterical when the emergency personnel had arrived. The medics had immediately checked her over since she was covered with blood, but the blood hadn't been her own. The other three obviously had some training. They had maintained their composure throughout the interviews, both at the scene and here at Colonel Carter's house. Yet, despite the Colonel's military training, Roberts could see that she was in shock. The whole situation was a terrible shame.
Sam, Daniel and Teal'c all sat in silence, each one lost in their own thoughts. The events of the past three days seemed almost like a dream. The surprise of seeing O'Neill walk into the gate room three days earlier paled in comparison to the realization that he was gone – for good this time.
"We should probably go." Daniel said, finally gaining the courage to break the deafening silence. "You need your sleep Sam; it's going to be a long day tomorrow."
At Sam's mechanical nod, Daniel and Teal'c both stood up and turned to leave. Suddenly Teal'c put his hand out and stopped Daniel mid-stride.
"Wha…?"
Teal'c cut off Daniel's question with his raised hand. Motioning for Daniel to stay put, the jaffa slipped out of the room. A moment later he returned, dragging a fighting Jackie along with him.
"Let me go Teal'c!" Jackie said, trying to pull away. With a soft grunt she landed on the couch. Trying to stand up and get away, she was stopped by Teal'c's hand, heavy on her shoulder. Realizing that fighting was futile she crossed her arms and sulked, making her look younger than her 24 years.
"What's going on?" Daniel asked, surprise written across his face at the struggle between Jackie and Teal'c.
"Jacqueline Nielson was sneaking out the front door."
"I wasn't sneaking Teal'c!" Jackie snapped.
"Indeed you were." He responded firmly.
"I was going out for a walk. Just needed some fresh air and I really didn't feel like socializing. So yes, I was trying to be quiet in getting outside, but I wasn't sneaking!" Jackie's glare would have made anyone else cower, but not Teal'c. "Forget it. I'm going back to bed."
Teal'c was reluctant to let Jackie stand up, but finally loosed his grip on her shoulder. However, he did not trust that she would not again attempt to go outside, so he walked her to the stairs and stood there until he heard her door shut.
"Come Daniel Jackson." Teal'c said, turning to look at Daniel. "We have overstayed our welcome."
The ticking of the clock in the front hall could be heard throughout the still house. Jackie was very glad that she had learned how to move stealthily from Jack. Quietly closing the front door behind her she slipped through the front hall and up the stairs. Careful to miss the squeaky step, she made it to the top of the stairs in silence. As she moved down the hall to her room, Jackie paused at Sam's bedroom door. The only sound coming through the door was the deep breathing of sleep. Without further hesitation Jackie moved to her room and quickly fell asleep.
The next couple of days Sam and Jackie spent their time planning the memorial service and tying up loose ends. Jackie had done most of the latter, knowing what needed to be done in D.C., leaving Sam to make the plans for the service. O'Neill's last wishes were to be cremated. Sam didn't like the idea, wanted an open casket service and a grave to visit, but she could not refuse O'Neill's last wishes.
Early Sunday morning, Sam and Jackie headed to the Cheyenne Mountain complex for the memorial service. As they pulled into the base, they were surprised by the number of cars that were already there, and the line of cars behind them waiting their turn to enter the base. Everyone coming to the memorial service was military, had to be since they were holding the service at the SGC. It looked like the whole SGC staff was going to be there.
Nothing out of the ordinary happened during the service. General Landry spoke first, followed by Daniel, Teal'c, and finally Sam. As Jackie stood next to the ramp listening to Sam speak, tears slid silently down her cheeks. Daniel quietly slipped his arm around her, hoping to offer what little comfort he could.
After Sam finished speaking, Daniel and Teal'c joined her in front of the active Stargate. Teal'c, who had been carrying the urn, handed it to Sam and joined Daniel in standing on opposite sides of the wreath sitting there.
A young sergeant stepped forward to the base of the ramp, lifted a bugle to his lips, and began to play 'taps.' As the solemn notes echoed in the gate room, Daniel and Teal'c lifted the wreath and placed it in the wormhole. Slowly the wreath sank into the event horizon and disappeared. Both men placed their fists across their heart and bowed their heads in the jaffa sign for respect. Straightening up, they stepped to opposite sides of the Stargate, allowing Sam to step forward with the urn.
A single tear traced a path down Sam's face as she came face to face with the shimmering blue pool of the event horizon. It had been this device that had first brought Jack, Daniel, Sam, and Teal'c together. Now it would separate them forever. With a silent goodbye, Sam placed the urn in the wormhole and watched as it too sank into the event horizon. Seconds later the wormhole disengaged as the final notes from the bugle echoed and died.
Nearly 30 people milled around Sam's house and yard. Sam was busy being hostess, Daniel was doing his best to carry on some semblance of conversation, and Teal'c was standing in a corner, the dark look on his face warning others away. Jackie sat in an opposite corner surveying all of this, wondering how they did it.
"Dr. Nielson?"
Jackie looked up at the bald man standing in front of her. Surprise crossed her face as the identity of the man standing before her registered in her mind.
"General Hammond?" it was Hammond's turn to be surprised. "What are you doing here?" Jackie realized how rude that sounded. "I mean…"
"It's okay Doctor, I know what you meant. You weren't expecting me to make it." Jackie nodded silently. "May I?" Hammond asked, motioning to the chair next to Jackie.
"Of course. And please, call me Jackie."
Hammond nodded.
"I talked to Jack the other day." Jackie looked shocked. Hammond smiled and continued. "He called me right after you offered him an earlier ride out here." Jackie's shock turned to concern, but only for a brief second before her face was unreadable. "The call was made on a secure line that only Jack and I knew about." Hammond paused. "Maybe we should take a walk."
"Sam why don't you go lay down, you've been going since early this morning. The guys and I can finish up here." Jackie said as she walked into the kitchen. She had just walked the last guest to the door, leaving herself, Sam, Daniel, and Teal'c alone. "We are more than capable of putting food away and straightening up around here."
Sam paused for a moment and looked at the three people standing across the counter from her. They all looked worried and extremely worn out. In fact, they looked a lot like she felt, minus the worry; after all, they were worried about her. Slowly she nodded, right now there was nothing she wanted more than to lay down and sleep. As she passed, Daniel reached out and laid a hand on her arm. She turned and looked at him. No words passed between the two, but they carried on a conversation. Daniel nodded and dropped his hand, allowing Sam to move towards her room.
Quietly Jackie, Daniel, and Teal'c began the work of cleaning up, each one lost in their own thoughts. A couple hours later they stood surveying the living room, having just finished their work. Daniel came over and placed a hand gently on Jackie's shoulder. She turned and looked at him, silently cringing at the sadness in his eyes.
"Thank you Daniel." She whispered, not quite sure why she was doing so.
Daniel nodded.
"Keep an eye on Sam, k?" Daniel responded.
"Yeah." Jackie nodded. "She won't be too happy tomorrow about Landry's order for her to stay away from the base until Wednesday, so give her a call tomorrow?"
Daniel nodded. Turning he headed out of the house. Teal'c paused for a moment next to Jackie, he seemed on the verge of speaking, but instead simply nodded at her and followed Daniel out the door. Jackie sighed loudly, as much as she liked those two, she was glad that they were finally gone. She really needed some time alone…alone with Sam.
Jackie paused at the top of the stairs. Silence once again reigned in the house, feeling almost palpable in its stifling nature. She closed the distance to Sam's door in just a couple of steps. Leaning in, she at first heard nothing. Then she heard it, the soft sound of a heart breaking. Reaching for the door, Jackie slowly turned the knob and eased the door open just a crack.
"Sam?"
Sam buried her head in her pillow, hoping that the younger woman would just go away and leave her to grieve alone. No such luck. Jackie quietly walked into the room and stood next to the bed. Sam could feel her presence and was surprised at how unobtrusive it was. She wanted so desperately to hate Jackie; after all, she was the one who had brought Jack to Colorado Springs. But the scientist in her, the logical side, reminded her that the sniper would have found him anywhere. At least this way she had been able to spend a few days with him before the end.
A sob escaped. Sam was unable to contain it. He was actually gone. At the slight sound, Jackie was no longer unsure of what to do. She sat down on the edge of the bed. Reaching over she gently placed a hand on Sam's shoulder. The contact surprised Sam, but again, was not unwelcome. The minutes passed with the two of them sitting there like that, no sound in the room except for Sam's grieving.
"He cared about you…very much." The quiet voice broke the silence.
Sam's head came out of the pillow. Her blue eyes, swollen from crying, were wide with surprise.
"What?" She stammered.
Jackie smiled, slowly, sadly. She should not be the one sitting here telling Sam this. He should be, but he wasn't. She knew by the look on Sam's face that she was now committed to explaining her previous statement.
"Jack…he cared about you."
"He cared about all of us." Sam responded defensively. "SG1 was always more of a family."
"True." Jackie nodded. "Daniel and Teal'c were like brothers to Jack. But, that's not what I meant." Jackie paused, searching Sam's eyes, she was going to have to come out and say it. "But you…there was something more there when it came to you. A special twinkle in his eye when he talked about you, or with you."
Sam closed her eyes. Her heart longed for the words and despised them. Why? Why was she telling her this now? Her heart was already breaking, knowing this only made it worse.
"If I could…" Oh god, what am I saying? "…go back…" Stop it! Stop it this instant Samantha Carter! "…things would be…" Oh, what the hell. "…different."
Sam opened her eyes. Jackie was looking at her with compassion and understanding. The tears began to flow again.
"I shouldn't have waited. I should not have allowed my fear to hold me back. I should have told him…" Told him what? What Samantha, what should you have told him? "Now it's too late. He's gone and I'll never have the chance again."
Jackie continued to sit there next to Sam as she slowly cried herself to sleep. When she was finally asleep, she stood up, pulled the covers up over her, turned her alarm off, and slipped out of the room.