Chapter 14 - Home

Maggie's eyes widened as she stepped out of the Odyssey, which SG-1 had just docked in its hangar at Area 51, and into the giant underground bunker. "Wow."

Sam grinned as she looked over at the woman. "Impressive, don't you think?"

Maggie nodded. "Yeah. I've never seen so much open space."

"Ironic for a woman whose only view from her bedroom was, you know, space." Mitchell quipped, earning a chuckle from several members of SG-1.

Jack leaned between Sam and Maggie and pointed at the exit. "Just wait until you see what's on the other side of those doors."

Maggie's eyes were bright with enthusiasm as she looked at the younger version of her father. "Is it another room like this?"

He shook his head. "I used to be black ops. You can't get me to spill my secrets."

Sam broke into a grin as Maggie turned pleading eyes to her. "It's true. If he doesn't want to tell you, he's not going to."

Jack straightened with pride. "Why thank you, Colonel. I'll take that as a compliment."

Sam rolled her eyes. "Just run up ahead. You know you want to."

Jack looked over his shoulder. "Hey, Jake, you gonna come with us?"

Jacob eyed Jack with a strange reticence. "I thought we were one step above prisoners here."

"Even prisoners get yard privileges."

Jacob eyed Sam, and she nodded. "He's right, but you don't have to run if you don't want to. You'll get to see it either way."

Though he didn't run, Jacob followed Jack and Maggie ahead of Sam and the rest of SG-1.

Somewhere between the memorial service and their touch down in Nevada, Sam had been relieved to see Jack relax around the twins. Maybe it had been admitting how strange it was to feel responsible for people who were technically around their same age, or maybe it had been admitting that they wanted the future these people represented. Something had fundamentally shifted in Jack's relationship with them, and it warmed Sam's heart.

"He hasn't looked this happy since Cassie was twelve."

Sam grinned over her shoulder at Daniel. "You're not wrong."

"You look happier, too."

She shrugged. "I know I should be worrying about what the IOA is going to say when we bring them back to the SGC, but for now, it's just good to be home."

"Holy Hannah!"

The exclamation caught SG-1 by surprise, winning a chuckle from Sam as she turned her attention back to where Jack was holding the door open for the dumbstruck twins.

And then there was the way Jack looked back at her in this moment with the twinkle in his eye that he reserved only for her.

Sam swallowed down the unexpected emotion that threatened to fill her heart to the point of bursting. "Yep. It's good to be home."

"Colonel Carter!"

Sam smiled as Bill Lee turned the corner and joined her and her middle-aged daughter in her lab back at the SGC. "Dr. Lee, it's good to see you."

Bill crossed his arms, resting the palms of his hands in his armpits. "So, is it true what they're saying in the science labs? The Asgard gave us all their technology?"

Sam eyed Maggie before she sighed. "Bill, the Asgard wiped themselves from existence. I don't think that's a cause for celebration."

Bill dropped his hands as the grin on his face faded. "No, no, of course not. All I meant was that I know a few scientists who are going to love getting their hands on that tech. It's awful what happened, but I mean, we're talking about the Asgard here. The database alone is going to propel us light years into the future."

Maggie snorted, and Bill turned to her as if seeing her for the first time. "Oh, uh, who's your friend?"

Sam blinked as she caught the way Bill's eyes seemed to roam over Maggie's body, currently clad in nondescript BDUs. Images of Bill treating a scientific convention like a singles' bar came to mind, and she wasn't sure how she felt about him turning his sights on Maggie. "Um, Bill, this is Maggie O'Neill. Maggie, this is Dr. Bill Lee."

Bill's eyes widened as he turned back to Sam. "O'Neill? Any relation to the General?"

Sam opened her mouth to speak, but Maggie cut her off before she could. "Very distant. He barely knows me."

Sam's eyes widened as she looked at her daughter. That seemed a little too natural for her liking. Had Jacob and Maggie been practicing what to say if someone asked about their relationship to Sam and Jack?

Maggie didn't seem to notice Sam's troubled look. "As for your thoughts about artificially accelerating the technological evolution of Earth with the information contained in the Asgard database, I feel fairly secure that the Asgard would have protected against such a thing."

Sam couldn't help but puff out her chest in pride as she looked for Bill's rebuttal. Talk about raising a strong daughter.

"Well, no, of course they would, but can you imagine what we could do with just one of those Asgard stasis pods?"

She raised an eyebrow. "We might be tempted to do exactly what the Asgard did—unnaturally extend life beyond reproductive viability. Life is as much about embracing the inevitability of death as it is about improving health."

Bill scratched his chin as he pondered what she was saying. "Yeah, no, I see what you're saying, but where do you draw the line? Antibiotics are good, but cloning is bad? I just—I don't—"

An alarm on Bill's watch distracted him for a moment.

"Everything okay, Bill?" Sam asked with a smile. She wondered when or if that confused expression on Bill's face would be anything less than amusing.

"Yeah, yeah." He looked up at Maggie. "Hey, you wouldn't want to grab a cup of coffee, would you? I mean, the mess hall coffee is terrible, but they make a decent pie and at least we can keep discussing ethics in scientific advancement."

Sam opened her mouth to interject, but before she could, Maggie shrugged. "Sure. Why not?"

Sam grimaced as Bill guided her daughter out of the room with one hand at the small of her back. That was a sight she wouldn't soon unsee.

A moment later, Jack filled the doorway, though his attention seemed consumed by the same sight which she'd seen leave the lab only a moment before. "Carter?"

"Yes?"

"Why is my daughter walking down the hallway with Bill Lee's hand on her back?"

Sam managed a placating smile. "They're getting coffee."

Disgust played on Jack's features as he looked over at her. "And she knows that's a date. . ."

Sam shook her head. "No idea."

Jack took another look down the corridor before he stepped into the lab. "I'm gonna shoot him."

Sam chuckled. "It's just coffee—in the mess hall—but if it makes you feel better, I was already planning on having a little chat with her when she gets back."

"Good."

She eyed him with amusement tugging at her lips. "You know, I would have thought you'd be happier about this than you are."

"What on Earth makes you think I would be happy about this, Sam?"

"You are, perhaps, the only father in the history of fatherhood who will ever get his wish."

"What wish?"

"That his daughter doesn't date until she's at least forty."

Jack groaned. "First of all, I'm not really her father. I just look like him. Second, this weird parental situation has only been in play for about three weeks. So, for all intents and purposes, she's an infant in this scenario. Which means, I have every right to shoot Bill."

Sam snickered. Some days, it was hard not to find her whole life absurd. "Okay, Jack, what's up?"

Still too distracted by Bill and Maggie's leisurely stroll down the SGC corridor, Jack blinked at her. "Huh?"

"You came in here, remember? Presumably with something to say?"

"Right. Uh, Jacob and Maggie are cleared medically. DNA tests match up with their story."

Sam eyed the General. "It's not like we really had any doubt, right?"

He shrugged. "Can't ever be too careful." He reached for one of the instruments on her lab table. "I called the President. Updated him about the Asgard and warned him about whatever political fallout these kids are going to have."

Sam rolled her eyes. "Do you know what would be nice? If us having kids—which, if we're technical, we didn't have—wasn't anyone else's business but our own, and certainly not a political hot button topic."

He gave her a wishful expression. "Yes, one can dream, can't they?"

She tensed. "Did you talk to the President about anything else?"

"Like?"

She swallowed. It had been over a week since they'd had the memorial service, and she almost couldn't believe that they'd actually talked about resigning. So much so, that she had yet to mention it again. "You know. . ."

"Like this?"

Jack handed her a formal notice typed on his letterhead. It was his letter of resignation. "You did it."

"I told you I would."

"Yeah, but. . ."

"Henry Hayes apparently wasn't surprised to hear either that you and I had kids in an alternate timeline or that meeting those kids would have one or the other of us resigning."

She blinked. "He wasn't surprised?"

"Apparently, Kinsey and Woolsey told him they suspected that we were inappropriately involved on his first day."

She groaned. "You're kidding."

He shook his head. "I wish I was."

He picked something up off of her lab table and turned it around in his fingers. "The President didn't go into it, but I figured he told me so we'd be prepared for any political fallout that might come our way."

"He didn't have to do that."

Jack put the item back on her desk. "No, he didn't. Still wanna do this?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

"Well, it will be a couple of weeks before my request goes through the proper channels, but President Hayes personally assured me it will be taken care of."

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. Where's Jacob?"

"Briefing General Landry on the Asgard Core. Apparently, he wants to go to Nevada to help our team study the thing."

Sam blinked. "Really?"

Jack nodded. "What do you think about Maggie?"

Sam shrugged. "I don't know yet. Part of me wonders if she won't want to go with Jacob because he's really the only family she has left."

"You don't think she'd be happy there?"

Sam grimaced. "I don't think she'd be unhappy."

"Those aren't the same things, Sam."

She nodded. "I know. Which is why I'm thinking she might actually want to go to Atlantis."

Jack blanched. "What?"

Sam shrugged. "You were right. Elizabeth Weir needs scientists. Causality wouldn't really be a factor if Maggie was in the Pegasus Galaxy."

"But her brother would be here."

Sam grinned as she pulled up some plans on her laptop. "Actually, I have a solution for that. I'd need Rodney's help for some of the calculations, but I'm calling it the Intergalactic Gate Bridge. Maggie and Jacob could visit each other whenever they wanted, but they'd also be free to live their own lives."

"This is because Maggie beat Teal'c when they were sparring, isn't it?"

Sam laughed. "You have to admit that kind of physical readiness would be a plus on Atlantis."

"You know I've got to walk a pretty tight rope between finding out whether Elizabeth would be interested in having someone from an alternate timeline and whether Maggie would want to join the expedition, right?"

Sam nodded. "I'm not suggesting that we intervene on either Jacob or Maggie's behalf. I'm just thinking that if they're presented with options, they might surprise us by their choices."

"You want me to get Elizabeth to offer her the job."

Sam shook her head. "I think Elizabeth needs to know there might be someone who has spent north of forty years studying the Asgard core. It's not the same thing, but there are similarities which could be beneficial. Besides, both she and Jacob speak Ancient fluently according to Daniel."

"Ran out of science things to teach them, I guess."

Sam ignored him though her lips lifted in amusement. "I don't want to get her the job. I just want to give her a chance at it."

"I seem to recall a certain Captain who took issue with her father trying to make her an astronaut once."

Sam tensed. "Yeah, well...that was different."

Jack didn't respond, only raised an eyebrow before clapping his hands together. "How about some lunch?"

Sam shook her head. "Jack, you can't go spy on Maggie."

"Who's spying? I just want tuna."

Sam closed her laptop. "Mm-hm..."

"Besides, if she falls in love Bill, she won't be able to go to Atlantis."

Sam scrunched up her nose at the image. "Oh, gross! There's no way—"

Jack's eyes danced with laughter. "And you thought I had a problem with it."

Sam playfully smacked his arm as she walked out of the lab with him. "Well played, General. Well played."

"Oh yes, Carter. Master strategist at work here."

She shook her head. "Stop stalling, General, and let's get that lunch before you wake up and find Bill Lee's your son-in-law."

Jack shuddered.

"You've got everything?"

Maggie chuckled as she looked back at Sam. "Yes, Mom."

Sam blushed. "Sorry."

Maggie zipped up her duffel bag. "It's okay. I kind of like it. Makes it seem like I'm not really so far from home."

Sam hesitated. "Are you sure you want to go to Atlantis? I mean, I know it was my idea, but ever since Elizabeth—"

Maggie put her hands on Sam's arms, trying to soothe her as Jack walked into the VIP guest quarters on the base. "Hey, I'm gonna be fine. Maybe it sounds silly, but after being cooped up in a spaceship my whole life, I'm looking forward to traveling. Besides, we'll keep in touch through the McKay-Carter Intergalactic Gate Bridge."

Jack shook his head. "You're going to have to explain to me how McKay got top-billing in the idea you came up with—one that you and Maggie practically built by hand."

"Credit isn't that big of a deal for me. The important thing is that we'll be able to dial to and from Pegasus without needing a ZPM."

It had been fun to get to know Maggie better as they worked on calibrating the gravity and other systems. Apparently, her daughter was a proficient cellist in addition to her considerable scientific and martial art talents. Though she hadn't realized that Bill had been asking her out on a date six months earlier, she'd admitted that she would love to take advantage of her newfound freedom to find the kind of love her parents had.

The highlight of the trip had to have been when they'd gated to a planet in the Pegasus galaxy before boarding the Apollo. Maggie's eyes had nearly popped out of her sockets at the rich planet life. She'd tried to take a photo to send to Jacob at Area 51, but they'd gotten beamed to the ship too soon.

Jack reached for Maggie's duffle and handed it to one of the SFs just outside the door. "John Sheppard's going to take good care of her, Sam."

Sam nodded. "I know, I just—"

She hugged her daughter. She may not have given birth to the woman, but apparently, that hadn't mattered much to her heart and mind. "Don't let McKay give you a hard time. He's smart, but not nearly as smart as he thinks he is."

Maggie chuckled. "I know. He seems to think it's a crime I'm going to be on his team without even a high school diploma, but even before her accident, Elizabeth seemed impressed with my skills. Colonel Sheppard was, as well."

Sam managed a nervous smile. "Well, it's not that you have no diploma. It's that Rodney figured out that you were my time traveling daughter for the future, so he discounts the work that the Pentagon and the SGC did to get you the credentials you deserve."

"I know, but even without my ability to keep up with the scientists on Atlantis, being able to read and write Ancient is a pretty good skill to have now that Elizabeth—"

That fear welled up in Sam's chest again, but Jack interrupted before she could say anything. "She's due in the Gate room in about ten minutes, Carter. Better wrap this up."

Sam nodded up at Jack. "Right. Well, good luck. If you don't like it, we still have that spare room, and we'd be happy to help you figure out what your next step is."

Maggie exchanged looks with both Sam and Jack. "No offense, but I don't think it's natural for any child to watch their parents in this phase of their relationship."

"Phase?"

Maggie nodded. "Yeah. The awkward we think we know where this is headed, but could you please remind me phase."

Jack's smiling eyes caught hers, and she blushed. "Okay, you might have a point there."

Maggie sobered. "Look, I appreciate everything you two have done. You didn't have to do it, but when Jacob and I got in that force shield, we knew we might be alone on this side. So, check in if you want. I'll never not want to hear how things are going in this version of the timeline. Just remember to cut yourselves a break. Live your lives, okay?"

There was a twinkle in her eye. "Maybe have a couple of kids you can make snow angels with or take fishing once in a while."

Jack cocked his head to the side. "Playing a little fast and loose with causality, aren't you?"

Maggie winked. "Just a couple of suggestions. No special reasons for them."

Sam rolled her eyes. "I should tattle about all this to Jacob."

Maggie giggled. "Yes, that's the only way I'd get him to the Pegasus Galaxy. He'd come to throttle me."

Maggie put her laptop bag over her shoulder before she reached up and hugged both Sam and Jack. "Be happy. I think that's all my parents would have wanted for you two."

As Maggie pulled away, Jack caught Sam's hand in his. "I think we can promise that."

Maggie gave a light wave, and then she was gone.

Sam exhaled, feeling like a part of her heart had just walked out the door. "I know we promised we wouldn't be in the gate room with her when she actually left."

Jack tugged her hand. "Come on, I know where we'll find the perfect view."

Pride, worry, and loss all mixed together as Sam and Jack watched out the briefing room window at the crowd gathering in the gate room. Jack put his arm around Sam's shoulders as the stargate activated with each chevron, and she reached across her body to hold his hand the way she had when her father had been dying.

"She's right, you know."

Sam nodded. "I know."

"It's the same reason I'm not in touch with my clone and why Jacob spent about five minutes at the SGC before he went back to Area 51."

"Yep."

"It's just—"

Sam turned a watery smile to the man who had given up his job for her. "Weird, I know."

His lips lifted into a knowing smile. "C'mere."

She wrapped her arms around his waist, her cheek on his shoulder as he held her.

The event horizon whooshed into being, and Sam held her breath as Maggie started up the ramp.

The woman hesitated a moment before she looked up at the briefing room and waved, as if she'd known they wouldn't be able to stay away.

Jack kissed Sam's temple. "I think she's going to be just fine, Carter. Just fine."

Maggie stepped through the event horizon, and Sam breathed a sigh. "I hope you're right, Jack. I really hope you're right."