"She doesn't really have to stay the night, does she?" Jack looked down at Dr. Moyer.

Dr. Moyer cocked her head to the side. "She has been living on an alien planet for four months. I ought to be quarantining her, but I didn't want to further traumatize her. That still doesn't mean I can release her. Not only do I want to get all her blood tests back, but I also don't want to be the one to explain that she would need to stay in guest quarters." Jack had no good argument for that. Colonel Jamison had taken over command of the Hammond months ago, moving into the commander's cabin. Sam's personal items had been sent back to Jack. When Jack had come on board a week ago to join the mission to rescue Sam, Colonel Jamison had offered the cabin to Jack but it hadn't felt right. Jack had opted to stay in guest quarters. "If all her bloodwork comes back with no anomalies, I should be able to release her in the morning."

Jack rubbed his neck. "Right, morning it is."

Jack moved back over to the corner housing Sam's hospital bed. "I couldn't swing your release, but I did get permission to smuggle in diet coke."

"Is it smuggling if you get permission?"

Jack appreciated her smirk and attempt at levity. "I could be lying about getting permission." She raised her eyebrows, silently questioning his backtracking. "Is there anything else I could get you?"

"Fresh fruits and vegetables." Sam gave him a shy smile as Jack's eyes widened. "I spent the last couple days living off bread and water."

"Healthy food, check."

"And a laptop?" Sam feared he would refuse her request to work. "I need to know what happened while I was down there."

He understood her desire to be sure her crew had survived her absence. "I'll be back before you know I'm gone."

Sam reached out, brushing the back of his hand with her fingers. "I doubt that."

His eyes softened as they locked with her eyes. "I missed you too."

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When Jack returned the next morning, he was carrying a stack of blue clothes. "Doc's releasing you so I brought you a uniform." He laid the bundle on the bed. "You've lost a bit of weight, so I wasn't sure about the size. Hope I guessed right but if I didn't, I can get somebody to use the fancy Asgard matter thingy to make you some more."

"Thanks." Sam picked up the jacket and did a double take. "Well, I can already see one issue." She fingered the star on the corner of the collar.

"That's not a mistake." Jack grinned as Sam's eyes widened. "Your promotion was in the works when you disappeared. It went through a couple weeks ago."

A shiver of pleasure ran through her. "Seriously?" Her beaming smile pleased Jack.

"You deserve it."

Sam's face suddenly fell. "Generals don't command the Hammond."

"No, they don't."

Sam swallowed. "What's my new assignment?"

"Look, we're three hours from a gate. We'll deal with details when we get back to the SGC. For now, how about you get dressed in your fancy new duds."

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Jack stayed in the hall as Sam stepped onto the bridge. This was her moment, and the bridge didn't need more than one General interrupting their work.

"General on the bridge." Everyone stood at attention, showing respect for their previous commander, who they had been working to release for months. Her rescue and the news that she was well had dramatically raised spirits across the ship.

"General Carter." Colonel Jamison gave her a smart salute.

"At ease Colonel." Sam kept her face neutral as she scanned the bridge. "You've got a great crew."

"Of that I am well aware." Colonel Jamison gave Sam a polite nod. "You ran a tight ship, and they have a great deal of respect for you. You've been missed."

"It's good to have you back, Ma'am." Captain Alms looked up from navigation, giving her a shy smile since she knew she was speaking out of place.

Sam patted Captain Alms shoulder. "Thank you, Captain." Sam scanned the bridge. "Thank you all for coming back for me, for doing your jobs so well, and for being an amazing crew. It was my pleasure to work with you for so long." She looked back at Colonel Jamison. "I appreciate the ride to a gate."

"It's not a problem ma'am." He leaned a little closer. "You were sorely missed."

"It's good to be home."

Sam made the rounds, thanking her former crew for their help in her rescue and saying her goodbyes. She made it a point to track down Lieutenant Mann, Captain Haynes, and Captain Ryans, needing to see with her own eyes that they were fine after their time on the planet. She'd spent months wondering if she would ever see her crew again and it felt good to have closure, even though she would have preferred to pick up her life where it left off. She knew it wasn't logical to think she could just step back into her old life. The universe kept spinning while she was gone and she did need to be debriefed, but it hurt to see so much had changed and she hadn't been part of it. It should feel good to know the program could get on in her absence, but it left her feeling a little hollow.