Chapter 25: Going Home Together

Sam watched the last rambling cart go through the Stargate to the new Cytheran Homeworld. Jack and Teal'c had been helping they Cytherans muscle the large ox driven carts through the Stargate. Meanwhile, she and Daniel provided verbal support and coordination as the heavy loads were transferred through the Stargate. The Cytherans had willingly accepted their help, but this last load had proven to her that the locals were just humoring them. Once she realized that, she finally figured out that the Tok'ra were also humoring her.

Jack had joined them a week ago. Since his arrival, Sam had noticed that her emotions were firmly back under her control and her temper had evened out as a result. She still didn't like Anise, but she no longer felt the overwhelming urge to kill her. At least, not often... and it was controllable. Regardless, she was able to avoid the woman by avoiding the Za'tarc tent. Anise didn't really need her help in screening the Cytherans anyway. Delek had taken her place in the Za'tarc screening tent with no fuss.

Sam had taken to coordinating the cargo screening and transfer after her outburst at Anise. It had the added benefit of putting her closer to Jack. But as they had worked side by side with the Cytherans it had become apparent that the locals didn't really need their help.

Her father and Malek were handling the administrative side with Queen Aphrodite and H'rak, her First Prime. Eliminating her need to see or even think about the queen. Even now, she could still feel the well of rage surge up with the thought of working closely with the goa'uld.

Sam pushed her anger away and forced herself to focus on the issue at hand. Her father had called her in to assist in the planning stages of the transfer. That stage was well and truly past. So, why was she still on Cythera overseeing the movement of these people?

Jack had made it clear his first day back on Cythera that he was not there to take command of the mission. That his presence was incidental to their condition and nothing more. He had insisted that she continue with the mission as if he wasn't there. He also refused to participate in any of the decision making. After a week, she knew better than to ask his opinion on anything to do with the mission. She appreciated that he didn't want to interfere with her command, but sometimes she felt like she could use his advice. Like now…

The mission was to help the Tok'ra move the Cytherans. The Tok'ra no longer needed their help. But the Cytherans were still in the process of the move. Should they stay and see the move to the end, even if they were in the way more than helping? Should they wait until the Tok'ra told them they were no longer needed?

She snorted to herself. Yeah, like Dad will tell me to leave. We don't see enough of each other as it is.

Sam sighed deeply. "Why are we still here?" she asked Daniel absently.

Daniel turned to her with a questioning look, "Here as in...?"

Sam grinned as she turned to her teammate and friend, "Here as in still on Cythera."

Daniel frowned, "I don't understand."

"I don't either... Let's go home," Sam stated. Decision made, she turned and waved to Teal'c and Jack. "Pack your gear. We are heading out as soon as I can inform my dad."

Teal'c nodded and Jack just smiled as he headed to the tent that was serving as their quarters. Sam radioed her dad to meet them at the Stargate to say good-bye, before heading to the tent to collect her own gear.

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Their trip home was remarkably uneventful. They cleared medical with only a warning from Janet to keep her informed. They completed the briefing with Hammond with a short summary of the plan for the move. The general didn't even ask why they were back before the move was completed.

Now, showered, changed, and free of the mountain, Sam felt at a loss. She had made it all the way to her car before it struck. She didn't really want to go to her house. She wanted to go home with Jack, but was too afraid that she would be imposing. After all, they had been stuck off-world for a week together. He might want some space. Hell, she SHOULD want some space. So, why was she fighting the urge to drive to his house and see if he was doing anything this evening?

A sharp knock on her widow startled her out of her thoughts. Sam turned to see Jack standing next to her car and she smiled automatically.

"Hey, Sam…" Jack said awkwardly. "I… uh… was wondering if you'd… ah… like to come to dinner… with me… yeah…"

Sam grinned, "I'd love to go on a date with you, Jack. Do you want me to follow you? Or would you prefer if we dropped my car home first?" she asked, still grinning at his shocked expression.

Jack seemed to recover quickly. "Car first, then food. I'll follow you," he replied, his confident grin back firmly in place.

Dinner was a quiet affair at one of the local restaurants. They talked about anything and everything. After dinner and as he dropped her at her house, Sam invited Jack inside for coffee. He hesitated for only a second before joining her. He wandered the living room, examining her shelves as she made the coffee.

"Ya know," Jack started when she brought him a mug, "I think this is the first time I've really looked around in here."

"Yeah?" Sam asked, "Why not?"

"Well, with Daniel and Teal'c right here, it seemed a bit crass to just ignore them in favor of snooping. Not to mention that as your CO I shouldn't want to snoop…" Jack grinned at her. "So… can I snoop?" he asked in his best little boy voice.

Sam laughed, "Snoop away. But I reserve the right to equal snoopage."

"You mean you haven't already snooped?" Jack asked in mock surprise.

Sam blushed, "Well… let's just say that I didn't get to look as long as I wanted… Daniel has the worst timing."

"That he does," Jack replied as he took a seat on the couch. "So…"

Sam smiled, "yeah… here we are… at home. So, what do we do now?"

Jack winced, "Well, I know what I want… but no idea how to get it without screwing up."

"Really? What do you want?" Sam asked evenly, hope shining in her eyes.

Jack took a deep breath and his gaze fixed on his coffee, "You… in my life… in any way I can have you."

Sam couldn't stop grinning, "And if I said that I wanted that in writing… legal and we seal the deal with jewelry?"

"Jewelry?" Jack asked confused. He finally looked up at her.

"Yeah, because if you try to back out of this, I want AT LEAST half your stuff," Sam said, with humor twinkling in her eyes. "So, what do you say Jack? Marry me?"

"What?... But…" Jack stuttered. "Really?"

Sam nodded still holding in her laugh, "Yeah."

"You're sure?" Jack asked again, still not quite believing her.

"JACK!" Sam warned.

"Alright… just checking. Um… aren't you supposed to have a ring and get down on one knee and all that?" Jack teased, finally letting his own smile play on his lips.

Sam finally let her laugh out, "Only if you want to play the part of the 'fair lady.'"

"Um… that would be a definite 'no.'" Jack back tracked firmly. "So… when would we…" he trailed off.

Sam grinned again, "Are you free this weekend?"

"Yes, but isn't this moving just a bit fast? I mean… we haven't even finished our first date," Jack stated.

Sam's smile changed from tender to hungry, "I've waited for years. We can't possibly move fast enough. Light speed is too slow. I want you to be mine and I want the world… the universe to know it." She fixed a fierce gaze on him and growled, "So the next time some alien tramp tries to lay a hand on you, I won't have to wait to kick her ass."

Jack swallowed, suddenly overwhelmed by the heat in her voice, "Saturday is good for me. What kind of cake?"

Sam leaned over, her face just inches from Jack's. She licked her lips, but still didn't close the distance, "So… yes?"

"Yes," Jack replied with a smirk.

"Good," Sam replied before she kissed him slowly and deeply. She finally pulled away for air and panted in his ear, "Double Fudge Chocolate…"

Sam moved slowly, standing up and pulling him with her. She ran her hands up the back of his shirt and pulled him into another kiss as she backed towards the hallway. Jack moaned softly into her mouth as she explored with her teeth and tongue.

"… chocolate… butter-cream… frosting…" Sam continued in between carefully placed kisses on his chin and neck as she led him to her bedroom. She finally stopped when the bed bumped the back of her legs. "…with Homer and Marge topping it off," she finished as she pulled him down on top her.

Jack pulled away from kissing her exposed neck long enough to shed his shirt. "You sure have planned it all out…" he observed, as he quickly shed his shoes and pants.

Sam shed her clothing just a quickly, pausing only long enough to give his naked body an appreciative glance. She settled him back down on top of her and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. "Years, Jack… Years of daydreams and fantasies." She smirked, "And I can't wait to try them all out on you…"

Jack moaned into her neck. He was hard and firm against her thigh. "You're going to be the death of me…" he said lustily in her ear as he nibbled on her neck.

"You complaining?" Sam said reaching for his nipple ring and giving it a tweak.

Jack moaned again at her touch, "No, Ma'am. Just making an observation."

Sam chuckled low and continued in a sultry voice, "Then observe how wet I am for you…"

"As you wish," Jack said as he kissed his way down her body, spending only a moment to suck on one of her nipples. His teeth gently pulled on the ring before continuing down her belly to her clit.

Jack gently tasted her sex and growled low in appreciation of her sweet taste. He licked and nipped the entire area before tonguing her deeply. Sam moaned in response and threaded her fingers through his hair holding him firmly in place as he slowly fucked her with his tongue, lapping up every drop of her arousal. Then he turned his attention to her clit and its enticing ring. He tugged on the ring with his teeth before his tongue attacked her clit, playing with the ring like a cat with a toy, batting it back and forth.

Sam was panting heavily under Jack's tender care, moaning and writhing in response to the touch of his mouth and tongue. "Please…" she panted, unable to form more than one coherent word. Her hands tugging him up, wanting more of him. Needing him NOW!

Jack responded by biting her clit one last time before settling over her once more and pushing his hard cock into her hot sex. He paused and let the sensation of her hot, wet center envelope him. It was almost too much. He looked down and found her face open and flushed with need. Her eyes sought his and widened as she registered the love and need in his own.

Sam wrapped her legs around Jack's waist and let her hand rove up and down his chest as he started to move. She found all his sensitive spots within reach and teased them with her fingernails. She pulled him down and fed on his mouth as he slowly fucked her. She wanted all of him. In her and on her. She needed to be surrounded by him.

Sam pulled Jack down low enough to suck on his nipple ring, pulling and kissing the small ring as he moved in her. He felt so good. He tasted so good. She felt everything and wanted it all. Then she was there and the wave of pleasure crested around her and she cried out in happiness and mindless with feeling.

Jack wanted to last all night, but the sight of her moaning and moving under him was too much. When Sam came screaming on his cock, he couldn't hold back. She pulled in over the edge and into oblivion.

Panting as Sam tried to catch her breath, she grinned when Jack finally moaned and rolled over. "Still alive?" she asked.

Jack chuckled, "I don't know. Get back to me later."

Sam laughed and cuddled up next to Jack more content then she dreamed she could be.

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Chapter 26: Epilogue

Janet knocked on General Hammond's doorframe, trying to catch his attention. The general looked up and smiled at her.

"Doctor, please come in." General Hammond put his pen down and set aside the folder he had been working on. "What can I do for you?"

"Well, Sir. I have my final results on the plant that SG-1 brought back from Cythera." Janet handed the general the folder and gave him a minute to peruse the contents before she continued, "I'm afraid that it's not good news. We just don't have the level of technology needed to understand exactly what the plant or its extract is doing to them. All our testing with various lab animals has confirmed what the Cytherans told us about the short-term effects of the drug. But none of the animals have shown the same long-term symptoms as Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter, not even the monkeys we have with naquadah. I'm afraid that helping them break this bond is beyond our capabilities at this time."

General Hammond nodded as he took in the information, "Thank you, Doctor. Any news from our allies?"

"No, Sir. The Tok'ra are interested in the research, but they are waiting for Anise to return to head up the study. The Asgard, as you know, have not responded yet to our initial inquiries." Janet gave the general a sad smile, "In light of this, I can't recommend that Major Carter return to field duty."

The general sighed, "I understand. Is there any way that she could make off-world trips if her expertise were needed?"

Janet to the time to consider the limitations of her friends' unique bond, "I don't think she needs to be limited to Earth. My concern is for when an unexpected delay could adversely affect her health. If Colonel O'Neill went with her, like on Cythera, then she could stay off-world for as long as necessary, but I'm afraid that without that condition, I couldn't authorize clearing her for off-world travel."

"Do we at least know how this 'thing' affects them?" the general asked in a subdued tone.

Janet smiled, "Yes. We measured their hormone and stress levels to test how this bonding affects them physically and found that after a 24-hour period, the level of their stress hormones become abnormally high. The longer they are apart, the higher those levels get. That level drops dramatically as soon as they come into contact with each other. Separating them is just not an option."

"Alright then, I'll let them know. Is there anything else?" the general asked gently.

"No, Sir," Janet said with a shake of her head.

"Then I want to thank you for all the time you've put into this. I know it hasn't been easy. Take the rest of the day. You look like you could use it," General Hammond told her gently.

"Thank you, sir. I think I will." Janet stood up and left with only one more glance back before she disappeared down the hallway.

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Jacob was overseeing the final transfer of Cytherans to their new Homeworld. Aphrodite's Jaffa had finished moving the Stargate into the hold of the ha'tak that the Tok'ra would use to remove it from the planet. This last group were all that was left of the Cytherans on their original world. Aphrodite was standing next to him greeting the last of her people and Jaffa to their new home.

Finally, Jacob noticed Anise and Delek arrive. They were to be the last ones through the Stargate. Right on cue, the wormhole snapped shut behind them. Selmak took control, "Good job, Anise. Delek. Malek is awaiting your presence on the pel'tak. I will join you when we are ready to depart."

"Of course, Selmak." Anise replied smoothly before departing, quietly herding the last of the Cytherans before her.

Jacob turned to Aphrodite, Selmak still doing the talking, "Queen Aphrodite," he said, taking her arm to escort her from the ship. "I hope your people flourish here free from the influence of the System Lords."

"I have no doubt of that, Selmak. I am more than grateful for the assistance of the Tok'ra. I hope that I can prove myself worthy of your trust someday." Aphrodite paused and turned towards him, "I wish that there was more I could do to help you with your fight. I feel guilty for staying safely behind with my people while your people risk themselves."

Jacob gave her a genuine smile, "You are doing much more than you think. You have given the Tok'ra hope. You have given us a future. Knowing that you and your people are safe here… protected… allows us to take those deadly risks that are so vital to win this war."

"I will still worry for you, Selmak. I have come to enjoy our discussions. I have even become fond of your host," Aphrodite replied with a sad tilt to her head. They continued towards the ramp leading into the city.

Selmak paused on the top of the ramp, "Then I will return to check on your people as often as I can to ease your mind."

Jacob regained control, "And I'll take extra care of Selmak. Until we meet again, your Highness."

"Until we meet again," Aphrodite said sadly as she released his arm and made her way down the ramp carefully, joining H'rak at the base.

Jacob gave her one last parting wave before closing the ramp and working his way to the pel'tak. He was sure of the future now. The Tok'ra would eventually be absorbed into the Cytheran culture. They would accept Aphrodite as their new queen. But first they would have to win this never-ending war.

Selmak had often complained privately that the war would never end, because the Tok'ra would then be without purpose. But with the death of Egeria, the Tok'ra had renewed their commitment to this fight; dedicated to ending the reign of the System Lords before they faded from existence. Jacob had argued that the war was nearing its end. That Anubis had all but decimated the ranks of the System Lords and all that remained was to defeat him. To find that one final weakness that would topple the half ascended goa'uld.

And for the first time, Selmak could finally agree. The end was near. Victory was close. It was time to begin thinking about the future. A future that turned the Tok'ra warriors into farmers and merchants. A future where death wasn't hiding behind the nearest doorway or around the next bend in the tunnel.

Aphrodite was the future. The future was now safe. Time to finish up the ugly business of war in the present.

"Take us home," Selmak ordered as Jacob reached the pel'tak. "We have a war to win."

END

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