NOTE from the Phoenix: Once again sorry about not getting around to responding to all the wonderful reviews! I'll work on it when I get home, trying to respond to the 600 some odd comments is not always easy but I LOVE hearing from you guys so much that I want to respond and talk to you all! HUGS to readers!!!
There is only one chapter after this! I'm happy and sad, the same way I always am after the end of a long journey like this one! Thank you all again for coming with Jack, Sam, Ser'in, Tai, and myself on this adventure!
Chapter Thirty-one
"Ready?"
"Maybe just one more day?"
"Don't you think we've had vacation enough?" Jack asked with a sly grin.
"I suppose." Sam chuckled. "How long do you think it will take them to respond?"
"How long does it take to dial a Gate?"
"A little over two minutes."
"In that case I bet we see Daniel and Teal'c in five."
Sam laughed and stepped up to the DHD on the dry forested world. She dialed Earth and Jack reached out and pressed the activating orb in the center of the device. They watched the Gate spin and let the vortex splash out at them. After a few minutes Sam shut the wormhole down. The SGC's computers would tell them which planet was calling and if everything went according to plan they'd look into it.
"So..." Jack purred "what should we do while we wait?"
"I'm open to suggestions."
Sam put her arms around Jack's neck and pulled herself up for a kiss. They had been offered baths and new clothing from their friends here. The bleeding had finally ended and Sam felt truly healthy for the first time in weeks. Lost in the folds of their robe like clothing the pair's weight loss was less noticeable.
Jack ran his fingers through Sam's golden hair and just stared at her for a moment. She still flushed when he looked at her like that. She glanced down at the rings on their intertwined hands and smiled. Jack nuzzled her gently.
"You are so beautiful." Jack whispered. "I hope we have a daughter...although I'll have to spend the rest of my life making sure men like me stay away from her."
"Men like you? Brave, honest, and protective?"
"I was thinking more along the lines of foolish, conniving, and jealous."
Sam chuckled and shoved Jack's shoulder playfully. He stole another deep kiss and was starting to work his hands down her sides when the Gate suddenly sprang to life. They both jerked as though they'd been caught with their hands in the cookie jar. The pair laughed ruefully.
"It's going to take a while to get used to the idea that we're not doing anything wrong, isn't it?"
"Absolutely" Jack pretended to look at a watch on his wrist. "Hmmm...fifteen minutes, a little slow on the response time."
"It could easily be the middle of the night there."
"So?"
Sam laughed at the indignant look on Jack's face. As the vortex splashed towards them again they stood side by side and watched. Jack put his arm over her shoulders and she wrapped hers around his waist. They both held their breath as they waited to see who was coming to check things out and just how surprised they were going to be.
For a fraction of a second Jack didn't recognize the man who stepped out of the even horizon. It was the ease at which he carried the large P90 that threw Jack off. However the smile that lit up his face was pure Daniel.
"Sam!" Daniel cried ecstatically. "Jack!"
"Hey, Daniel." Jack smiled. "Miss us?"
"You could say that."
Daniel quickly unsnapped the strap that kept the weapon over his shoulder and set it down. Jack and Sam stepped up and met Daniel halfway as he rushed towards them. Daniel threw his arms around them both in a powerful bear hug. Sam laughed as Daniel kissed her cheek several times. He was like a puppy happy to see his family home after they'd gone on vacation.
"I always knew you two were alive somewhere" Daniel beamed. "Although I still can't believe you're back. I mean what happened? How did you get here?"
"Maybe we didn't," Jack pointed out "maybe we just look like Jack O'Neill and Samantha Carter."
"I don't need a DNA test to tell me who my friends are."
"Good." Jack smiled. "Nice to know we weren't forgotten."
"Never. Plus when I heard that the planet where I Descended was calling for no reason I knew right awa..."
"Damn it, Jackson, I said wait for the MALP!" A young Colonel with dark hair snarled as he stepped through the Gate.
Daniel made a face that Sam associated more with Jack than with the archaeologist. The irate Colonel was quickly followed by Teal'c and a striking woman with long black hair. Teal'c walked up to Jack and Sam and gave them a deep bow. Jack was about to return the gesture when Teal'c scooped him up into a hug that lifted him up off the ground.
"Oof! Easy Big Guy." Jack chuckled.
"I did not believe that we would be seeing you again." Teal'c said as he gave Sam a more gentle hug. "I am pleased to be wrong."
"Teal'c buddy...you have hair." Jack said.
"Indeed."
"Ahem." The Colonel interrupted.
"Right," Daniel went to make introductions "Jack, Sam, this is Colonel Cameron Mitchell. Mitchell this is Colonel Jack O'Neill and Major Samantha Carter."
"I have heard a lot about you both." Mitchell nodded but kept his hands on his weapon. "Pleased forgive me if I wait for further evidence of your identities."
"Cam, don't be rude." The woman snapped and then elbowed Daniel in the ribs. "Speaking of which..."
"Jack, Sam, this is Va..."
"I'm Vala." She interrupted as she held her hand out palm down to Jack.
"Charmed." Jack smiled as he took her hand and kissed it.
"Ooo, Daniel you never told me what a gentleman he is." Vala giggled and then turned to Sam. "Samantha if even half of what Daniel says is true, and I'm sure it is because he is the universe's worst liar, I just know we are going to be great friends."
"Any friend of Daniel's..." Sam smiled and suddenly found Vala's arms around her in a tight hug.
"So," Jack looked from Vala to Daniel "are you two an item..."
"No." Daniel snapped.
"Yes." Vala said at the same time.
"Better watch out, Daniel," Jack ruffled Daniel's hair "I already have the feeling that this one gets what she wants."
"I like you." Vala beamed. "Very observant."
Daniel went to roll his eyes and Jack noticed something wasn't quite right. He looked closer at his friend's face, trying to figure it out. In turn Daniel stared back at him expectantly. Clearly whatever was different Daniel had thought that Jack would have pestered him about it by now.
"Uh...Daniel?" Jack asked hesitantly. "What's wrong with your eye?"
"It's glass."
"Glass?"
"Prosthetic." Daniel clarified as he reached up and tapped on it.
"Other than not moving it looks real."
"Want me to take it out for you?"
"Good heavens no." Jack replied in horror. "How the hell did that happen?"
"I got hit up side the head with a staff weapon." Daniel shrugged. "Actually most of this side of my face is various plastics and metal under the skin."
"Some one hit you hard."
"They were angry." Daniel nodded.
"Very angry." Teal'c added.
"Who was it?" Sam asked.
"Ba'al's First Prime." Daniel answered.
"Nice." Jack approved.
"Daniel Jackson is being modest." Teal'c announced with a slight smile. "He is not sharing the whole story with you."
"Oh?" Jack raised an eyebrow. "And what part of this little tale is he hiding from us?"
"The reason behind the First Prime's anger." Teal'c said.
"Daniel?" Jack asked.
"I...uh...I killed Ba'al." Daniel replied with a bit of a flush to his cheeks.
"With his bare hands." Mitchell added with obvious pride.
"It wasn't with my bare hands." Daniel corrected modestly. "I had...uh...well it was kind of like a sword."
"You killed Ba'al with a sword?" Jack repeated in shock.
"It's a long story."
"I want to hear it!"
"And I want to hear where you two have been all this time." Daniel countered.
"Well, let's wait till the briefing, I'm sure General Hammond is going to want to hear about it too."
Daniel and Teal'c exchanged a pained glance. Jack felt his blood suddenly run cold as Daniel reached out and put his hand on Jack's shoulder. Sam moved closer and took Jack's hand, also expecting to hear bad news.
"I'm sorry, Jack, General Hammond died." Daniel said sadly. "General Landry is in command of the SGC now."
"Died? How? When?"
"Heart failure, nearly a year ago."
"Just after we went missing?"
"Just after?" Daniel repeated confused. "Jack, you and Sam have been missing almost three years."
"Three years?" Sam and Jack said in shock.
"Two years and ten months to be precise." Teal'c said gravely.
"I can't believe that..." Jack trailed off.
"Guys, I hate to break the reunion up, and once again I apologize for being skeptical," Mitchell spoke up "however, we should continue this conversation back at the SGC."
"I'm all for it." Jack nodded. "I want nothing more than to see Earth...get some french fries."
"I believe I owe you a beer." Sam chuckled.
"That you do."
"Jackson, dia..." Mitchell stopped as Vala poked him in the side. "Fine, I'll dial the Gate."
"Daniel, you are in so much trouble with this one." Jack smiled as Vala winked at him.s
"You don't have to tell me." Daniel sighed.
The Gate started spinning and Jack and Sam found themselves hypnotized by it. When the wormhole established tears streaked Sam's face. Going to take a step forward she almost passed out. Jack was already at her side and steadied her. He supported her and leaned in to whisper in her ear.
"Feels like a dream, doesn't it?"
"It does."
"Come on...let's go home."
Mitchell and Vala led the way through the Gate while Daniel and Teal'c lagged behind to step through with their long lost friends. Stepping onto the metal ramp at the SGC was like stepped back in time. There was a large collection of personnel waiting for them and upon seeing the original SG-1 united they broke into cheerful applause.
"You'd think we were heroes." Jack mused.
"Just missed." Daniel smiled. "Things haven't been the same around here without you two."
"You seem to have things under control, I mean the Earth is still here and all."
"I said they weren't the same, I didn't say we couldn't handle it."
"Good then you can handle my retiring."
"As long as we can still call on you for the occasional use of the Ancient gene."
Jack laughed and slapped Daniel on the back. A medical team along with Janet was waiting for them at the bottom of the ramp. Sam broke away from the others and exchanged hugs with Janet. The small doctor instantly put her hands on Sam's ribs and then looked at her disapprovingly, it was the doctor's instinct.
"Sorry." Sam said sheepishly.
"Don't be silly." Janet smiled. "I'm just thrilled to see you alive."
"I think some other folks still want a little DNA testing." Jack teased as he hugged Janet as well.
"We can do that, Colonel."
"Please, 'Jack'."
Janet looked back and forth between Jack and Sam and then hugged Sam again. The girls chuckled together. Mitchell walked up the group.
"Is General Landry here yet?"
"No," Janet shook her head "he's on his way."
"He's going to be pissed that Daniel just forged through and I brought you two back." Mitchell smiled. "However, something is starting to tell me that you're the real deal."
"Yes," Janet said in her business tone "but they both look in need of medical care."
The next four hours were just a blur for both Jack and Sam. They met with Landry and were assured that the Air Force was going to take care of them. They had officially been listed as MIA so return was not as legally difficult as it would have been if they had been declared dead. Jack insisted on retirement papers and was assured that they'd been drawn up.
It was getting late in the infirmary and things were finally settling down. Janet was still mucking around with various fluids and antibiotics, but at least their identity had been confirmed. Sam and Jack were sitting next to one another on one of the beds while Daniel and Teal'c sat on another one across from them. Everyone else had cleared out to allow SG-1 some privacy.
They swapped stories back and forth. The Goa'uld were all but gone now, however new threats were becoming more urgent as they expanded their travels into the galaxy. Jack asked Daniel to tell the story about killing Ba'al at least three time and enjoyed it more each time. They couldn't share everything right now, but it wasn't long before they felt reasonably caught up with one another.
"So, Daniel, how many times did you die while we were away?" Jack teased.
"I'll have you know that I managed to stay alive the whole time."
"That is untrue, Daniel Jackson." Teal'c retorted. "I believe that one time yo..."
"That doesn't count." Daniel interrupted. "My heart just stopped for like thirty seconds, it's not the same as dying."
"Sounds like the definition of death in my book." Jack chuckled. "At least some things around here haven't changed."
Everyone fell into comfortable silence. Jack moved so that he could wrap his arms around Sam and held her tightly. He sighed contently and kissed her neck. Daniel stared at them with a bright smile on his face and his right eye brightened with unshed tears. He looked about to just pass out from everything that had happened today.
"I see that you have chosen Ric'na rings." Teal'c noted suddenly.
"Ric'na rings?" Sam asked.
"Goa'uld trust rings." Teal'c clarified. "Do you understand their nature?"
"Uh...no." Jack admitted. "I just thought they were shiny."
"Indeed. However they have certain properties. They can only be removed by the person who placed them in position and if you spoke of a contract over them the penalty for breaking that deal is death. which the rings will enact."
"So they are harmless." Jack smiled.
"Harmless? Perhaps you did not understand me O'Neill."
"I heard you. I'd rather die than break my promise, so the rings pose no threat."
Teal'c gave the pair a shallow bow and a smile.
"I was wondering if those rings were what I thought they were." Daniel smiled brightly. "Congratulations to you both. Sometimes I wondered exactly what it would take."
Jack tightened his hold on Sam. She smiled as he nuzzled her with unabashed affection. Daniel shook his head sadly as he heard Vala make a noise of delight from her hiding place.
"I'm still not sure exactly how it happened." Jack said softly. "However I do know it took far more than it should have..."
"All that matters now is that you two are home." Daniel said seriously.
"Yes we are," Jack said as thought he hardly believed it "and it is true what they say."
"And what do they say?"
"There is no place like it."