At first, I thought this story was finished. Then, someone asked for more. Others said it ended in such a sad place. Well, given that 2020 has taken so much of our hope and changed so many of our dreams, especially at this Thanksgiving season, I decided to see if I could infuse a little more hope and positivity for the future in the ending. May you find connection to your loved ones no matter the distance. - RS

"What are we gonna do when Sam comes back?"

Jack was apparently resigned to my attempts at hopefulness. "I don't know. Cake is always good."

My mind latched onto the idea. "What? Like a party?"

Jack shrugged. "Why not?"

I bit back a comment about how Jack hadn't suggested a party when I came back from being ascended. "We could invite Janet. Cassie."

Jack's whole body tensed. "This would have been Sam's weekend to play chess with her. I can't decide if I'd be helping or hurting if I went to play instead. I mean, as far as I know, no one's told her..."

I couldn't tell if the weight on his shoulders was because he needed some way to connect with Sam if he was going to keep the faith or if he was dreading the idea of telling Cassie if things went south. Maybe it was both.

"You should go, Jack. Maybe don't play chess so she doesn't worry about Sam, but take her to a movie or something. Get both your minds on something else. Maybe a comedy."

Teal'c nodded his approval. "Indeed."

Jack seemed hesitant to get excited. "I'll check with Janet. For all I know, Cassie's got plans with her boyfriend this weekend."

"Oh yes, Dominic."

There was a reluctant smile on Jack's face. "Hell, he's a good kid. It's not every girl who has a mother, an aunt, and three uncles who could snap him in two with their bare hands."

Teal'c looked a little more pleased with himself than normal at that statement. Like he'd enjoyed staring the kid down as we all waited for Cassie to come down in her homecoming dress last fall, Sam and Janet having put the finishing touches on hair and makeup.

I didn't have a lot of experience with the concept of family, but it had been an evening just as full of love and banter as any of the meals I'd shared with Sha're, Skaara, and the little band of rebels I'd befriended on Abydos.

Jack cleared his throat. "So, this party for Carter... There's gonna be beer, right?"

I didn't get a chance to respond before the klaxons sounded. Unauthorized gate activation.

We were out of our seats before the sentence had even finished.

"We're receiving a message from the Prometheus."

Hammond nodded for the gate technician to okay the message. "Stargate Command, this is Colonel Ronson of the Prometheus, please open the iris. We have an injured crew member we need to transport to you."

Jack was already halfway to the gate room as Hammond responded to the message.

A couple airmen came through carrying a stretcher between them, a familiar blonde figure tucked beneath a gray regulation blanket.

"Carter." Jack looked from Sam to the airmen. "What happened?"

"Suspected concussion, but we could only run so many tests on board," one of them said.

"Still managed to save all our asses, though," the other added. "It's why Colonel Ronson wanted to get her home ASAP."

Overhead, we heard an announcement for a medical team to the gate room. In a matter of minutes, Janet or another member of her team would come screeching around the corner, prepared to assist.

Jack put his hand on the stretcher, as if to reassure himself Sam was really there, and her hand twitched. Almost like even unconscious, she could feel him there. Like she wanted to give him the reassurance he so needed.

I shared a look with Teal'c.

The resignation in his eyes told me he'd seen similar displays of affection which might have been overlooked without the knowledge we possessed.

As Janet's team took over with Sam, Jack turned to the rest of us. "I'm gonna go with Carter. Member of my team in the infirmary and all that."

We just nodded. Maybe it was what a good commander did, maybe it was just what he did, but where possible, he was there anytime any of us were injured.

"I translated something more from that tablet. Might help us find the Lost City. This might be the right time to update Hammond."

Janet's team transferred Sam to their gurney and started wheeling her to the infirmary. Jack's gaze followed them out the door.

"O'Neill."

Jack looked back at Teal'c. "Yeah, buddy?"

I waved between Teal'c and me. "We'll be fine. Call us when she can have visitors."

Jack's questioning glance turned to Teal'c, who gave a tiny bow of approval.

That was all he needed before the Colonel was out the door and catching up to the medical team.

I looked up at the control room. Hammond's face held a grim smile. She was back. But the impact on Jack's mood couldn't have gone unnoticed.

"Daniel Jackson, should we not begin preparations for the festivities?"

I couldn't help but smile. "Sure, Teal'c. Let's go."

As Sam walked in the door to my house, she leaned in and kissed my cheek. "Thanks for throwing the party, Daniel."

I just grinned. "We'll call this a housewarming-slash-homecoming party."

Her chuckle was silent, but merriment danced in her eyes anyway.

"Uh, Teal'c, Janet, and Cassie are in the backyard. I think Jack's barbecuing something..."

Sam closed her eyes as her smile broadened. "Let me guess, there's beer involved."

"You know Jack."

There was something a little different about the way Sam smiled after that. At peace, yes. Maybe even a little sad.

I caught her by the elbow as she tried to squeeze past me. "Hey, you okay? You seem different."

"And different's bad?" She seemed to genuinely want to know.

I shook my head. "Not bad, but you've been through a lot. From what you've told me, it's only natural you'd have a lot on your mind."

She shuffled her feet. "I did something a little crazy."

"On the ship?"

She shook her head. "When I called my brother after I got back."

"Oh?"

She looked out my back door at where Jack and Teal'c were talking over the barbecue, then she turned back to me. "He said he had a cop buddy he thought I'd get along with."

I blinked. All this time, I'd assumed Jack's feelings were reciprocated. If they weren't...

"And you said..."

Her gaze dropped to the floor, a mixed message if I'd ever seen one. "I'm going out with him next week."

I forced my lips into a smile. "Well, good. That's great. It's about time one of us got a personal life."

Her eyes seemed uncertain. "You really think so?"

I started walking to the back door and she followed. "I think it's safe to say everyone on SG-1 just wants you to be happy. If this guy does that for you, congratulations."

Her shoulders seemed more relaxed as she stopped by the kitchen counter. "Well, it's just a blind date. It's not like I'm gonna marry the guy."

She was laughing as she stepped out of the kitchen and walked out into the backyard.

I took another minute before following. Something told me things were about to get a lot more complicated.

Then again, if Sam moved on, maybe that would give Jack the freedom to find happiness himself. And frankly, they both deserved it.

"Daniel! Grab the cake on your way out, will ya?"

I rolled my eyes. "Jack, you realize you're in charge on the base and in the field, right? Not whenever we all happen to be in the same place."

"Oh, for crying out loud, Danny. Just grab the cake. I think it's in the fridge."

"Yeah, but it's my fridge, Jack. Besides, I don't remember having a party when I came back from the dead."

"Are you still on about that? Fine. You can keep the barbecue. Merry Christmas."

I brought the cake out to the group and set it on the outdoor patio table. "That Army surplus camp stove? That's really nice of you, Jack."

Jack grinned and raised his beer bottle in my direction. "Hey, only the best for my friends!"

Sam snickered from where she looped one arm over Cassie's shoulder. "Okay, you two, let's get to the part where we actually get to eat the cake."

Jack eyed Sam as if he wasn't sure he appreciated the interruption but wouldn't say anything to the guest of honor. "Yeah, okay."

He turned to the Jaffa beside him. "Teal'c, you heard the lady. Cut the cake."

Teal'c got to work on the cake as everyone kind of broke back into their little side conversations. Cassie telling Sam about her latest plans with Dominic. Janet telling Jack that maybe next time there was a barbecue, he should make sure there was chicken or salmon on the menu. Not just steaks and bratwurst. Even mentioning under her breath something about his cholesterol numbers. Jack grumbling something about whether she should be out in the sunlight.

I couldn't help but smile. It was good to have everyone back home. Where they all belonged. Maybe that was the best housewarming gift of all.

Teal'c offered me a piece of the cake he'd cut. "Is there something wrong, Daniel Jackson?"

I took a bite of the chocolate cake with vanilla frosting. "Nothing, Teal'c. Absolutely nothing."