Chapter 35

When the ship appeared on the other side, Jack was pleased that Sam's plan worked. It was night time, so he went up and scanned the area looking for the Jaffa slaves. Quickly the heat signatures gave him the exact location of the camp, and he found a place to park close to the tents where they were kept.

"Teal'c, Rak'nor, you know what to do." He said.

"Indeed," the two said at once, and he lowered the door for them to exit the ship. Stealthily, the two Jaffa checked tent after tent until when looking inside one they were surprised when they heard a name.

"Teal'c!" was whispered from one side.

"Master Bra'tac," Teal'c called recognizing his voice.

"You came," Bra'tac said standing from his position.

"Rak'nor came to Earth for help, General O'Neill's waiting on the ship, we can take you all to the gate."

"The ship, you said?" Teal'c nodded.

"We won't all fit."

"We know."

"Father," Teal'c turned around.

"Ry'ac." They hugged quickly.

"We don't have much time, the sun rises in two hours," Bra'tac explained.

"Ry'ac," Teal'c started. "Spread the word, tell the others to get ready and wait in the first tent closer to the containers."

"I will father," Ry'ac affirmed before disappearing from the tent into the next one.

"General O'Neill," Teal'c said over his radio

"Go ahead, Teal'c."

"I've found Master Bra'tac."

"That's great, how many people are we speaking of?" Jack asked.

"Four hundred and thirty-one," Bra'tac told Teal'c.

"Four hundred and thirty-one, O'Neill."

"Copy that. Tell them to slowly move to the first tent you and Rak'nor entered. We are currently taking a load to the gate, wait for us. Rak'nor will give you the location of the ship. We will need to make several trips; I can only take twelve at a time." Bra'tac grinned before he turned to men and women around him

"Come brothers and sisters, we haven't got much time."

They follow Teal'c and Bra'tac to the first tent and waited. Teal'c was looking outside when he spotted Rak'nor who waived his arm to let them know he was ready, in turn, Teal'c did the same towards Bra'tac. And Bra'tac guided the first group towards Rak'nor.

"Ready O'Neill," Rak'nor announced once everyone was inside the ship looking a bit shocked by it.

"Hang on," Jack said closing the door as he headed to the gate.

Once they reached the gate, he landed and opened the back door. Bra'tac walked out and headed for the DHD. While the gate was working, Rak'nor helped the people off the ship once the last one was fully out of it, he entered again, and Jack returned to the tent.

After close to forty trips back and forth, the sun was starting to rise, and the last group of Jaffa was being unloaded by the gate. Once the last one was down, Jack turned the ship towards the ship they were ordered to construct and smiled before he activated the weapons and the ship was no more.

He lowered the ship again and opened the back door to allow Bra'tac and Rak'nor get into the ship. Once his passengers were back on the ship, he dialed the intermediate planet before dialing the free Jaffa planet. They reached the other side, and Jack found a place to land.

"How are you feeling?" Jack asked Bra'tac as they looked to the outside where men and women were being helped.

"I am better. Thank you for what you have done O'Neill."

"You are welcomed."

Jack gave Teal'c time to talk with his family before they returned to Earth. Once back, he parked the ship and got ready to get home.

On Cairns, six weeks flew by, and the crew was looking forth to some time off. As he promised, as soon as Mike reached port, he sorted his bags and tickets and flew down to Sydney.

The lights were still on at the eight floor, and he smiled as he walked inside the building. Kate was reading a book when she heard a noise coming from the door. She stood up ready to attack when she heard the lock click and the door handle turn, she held her breath as the door was opened.

"Mike!" She screamed and after they hugged and kissed she punched him on the arm.

"Why didn't you call? You scared me!"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, I wanted to surprise you," Kate smiled and kissed him once again.

"How was your patrol?"

"Good, I'll go and put my bag in the bedroom."

"I was just about to go to bed," She said smiling.

"Well, it is getting late," he said.

Kate walked over and turned the lights off before they walked to the bedroom. While she moved to turn her bedside lamp on, Mike placed his bag on a chair and opened it. They changed and settled into bed, the moment they did, Kate grabbed Mike's hand and placed it over her stomach.

"She misses you," she whispered.

"I know I miss you both," He leaned over and kissed her.

"I miss you too, Mike."

"Let's get some sleep." He finished kissing her shoulder.

"Sounds good."

The next morning Mike drove Kate to Watson bay before he went to get some things he needed and getting back to the apartment get back to his painting of the nursery. The Saturday, they spent it on the shopping, they watched a movie and had lunch. To finish their day, they strolled along the waterfront. Sunday was a movie and relax day. Kate got lucky as Mike massaged her feet while she was reading.

"What would you like for dinner?" Mike asked later.

"Stir-fry. I bought the chicken breasts and noodles."

"Sounds good, I'll go and get dinner on then while you sit there and relax."

"Thanks, Mike. How's the nursery coming along?" Kate asked as she heard Mike moving around in the kitchen.

"Good. If all goes well, I'll be finished by tomorrow."

"And then I'll be able to see it?"

"Yes"

"I can hardly wait," She said smiling.

"I bet you can't," he grinned.

The next morning Mike leaned over and gave Kate a kiss like he always did before she got out of her car. "See you this afternoon, Mike," she said smiling.

"Ok, don't work too hard."

"I won't, love you."

"Love you too."

Mike watched her walk into the building; then he drove into town to buy a couple of things for the nursery before returning to Kate's condo. He spent the day finishing the last details of the nursery. By the time he finished, he couldn't stop smiling at it. Still grinning he walked out of the room and placed some calls while getting himself a brew.

Later that afternoon Mike drove to Watson bay in time to see Kate walking out the door of one of the buildings. She walked to where Mike parked as soon as she spotted him. Opening the back door, she placed her briefcase and hat on the seat before closing it and opening the passenger door and getting in, leaning to kiss Mike as soon as she sat.

"Hey, how was your day?" She asked, closing the door.

"Good, how was yours?"

"Good," Mike drove back to Kate condo and halfway through she yawned.

"Tired?" Mike asked

"A little, it's been a long day." She smiled. "How's the nursery coming?"

"It's finished," he smiled, and Kate turned towards him with a big grin.

"I can't wait to see it."

"I hope you love it."

"I know I will."

"What would you like for dinner?"

"Pasta"

"Sounds good to me."

When they reached home, Kate walked in a placed her hat and briefcase down in the first place she found since Mike was still pulling her hand towards one of the bedrooms. She frowned surprised since the door now had a little frame with the name Emma on it.

"Open it," he told her, and she did, walking inside.

"Oh! Wow! Mike, I love it!" She exclaimed as she looked around.

The top half of the walls were painted in a pale pink, there was a heart border in the middle, and the bottom part was coated with a deep pink. A bookcase filled with books and toys was built on a side, and different posters hang on the walls. The crib/bassinet had pink blankets and white sheets, and above the crib, the wall had "Emma's" name on wood safely attached.

Kate couldn't help but smile when she noticed the mobile attached to the crib was filled with boats.

Then she walked towards the changing table and noticed the diapers were all in place. She found other chested draws around the room and figured it was where she would find the clothes. And finally, she spotted a rocking chair that was placed looking towards the bay. Mike stood next to her, and she smiled.

"I love it, Mike," she whispered with happy tears in her eyes she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him.

"You think I haven't gone overboard?"

"No, it's perfect."

"Sure?"

"I especially love the mobile," Mike looked over at it then back to Kate

"I knew you would. Go check the bathroom," Kate frowned before she walked to it. Inside she saw a box that wasn't there before and looked inside it and laughed pulling a boat out of it.

"Mike, bath boats?"

"Yes, and yellow ducks … and other toys."

"Mike, you are going to be spoiling her."

"Why not? She is our first child."

"And if we have more?"

"Then, I'll do the same with them," he grinned, and Kate shook her head looking at the boat.

"I'll hold you to that," she grinned placing the boat back on the box and the box back in its place. Mike grinned.

"You do that. Hungry?"

"Yes! And I need to get out of this uniform."

"Then go and get changed while I'll get dinner on."

He kissed her before turning around and walking out of the bathroom. Kate smiled before she followed him out of the bathroom, she got changed as fast as she could since it was their last night together for another month.

Later that night, they watched a movie while Kate munched on her sweet and salty popcorn. Mike got his arm around her shoulder as she snuggled up to his side. When the movie was over, Mike told her to get changed while he took care of the rubbish and coffee mugs before joining her in bed. They kissed goodnight not too long after that and sleep reached them sooner than later.

The next morning, Kate kissed Mike before leaving for work, and Mike returned to Cairns in the afternoon. That night when Kate walked into her kitchen, she smiled when she saw a bouquet of red roses in a vase sitting on the bench with a folded note leaning against the vase. Kate picked up the note and unfolded it.

"To my loving wife, I'm going to miss you and Emma for the next month. See you two when I return, take care Kate, all my love. Your loving husband, Mike. P.S: I miss you both already,"

she read out loud what the note said before smiling and smelling the roses. She picked them and placed them in the middle of the dining table before walking down to the bedroom and getting changed out of her uniform.

The next morning, Childers left port for their four-week patrol while Kate was working at Watson Bay.