"Sam got engaged in Season 8 Affinity, Hammond was no longer at the SGC, she was a and Jack was a Brig. General and not a Major and Colonel. Basic knowledge of the show and the ranks at least should be a requisite before even intending to write a fic."

As an Anonyms reviewer has stated above that I have the seasons muddled around and that would be why it is an AU story, it is based in the earlier seasons but with Pete.

Also for those who do not like my fic I would prefer you do not review or if you do to at least have the guts to give me a chance to defend myself to you privately instead of like this.

For every one else who has reviewed thank you so much! They are very welcome.

There was a SUV waiting for Jack and Sam at the surface to take them to both their homes and then to Peterson.

They went to Sam's house first as Jack's was closer to Peterson. Both of them got out and made their way to the house. Once inside Sam grabbed her mail and asked "Sir, is it cold this time of year in Ireland?" while pressing the button on her answering machine. There was one message from Mark, Sam's brother

"Hey Sam, I guess your off on some mission or something I was just wondering where you were, give us a call when you get a chance."

And a message from Pete,

"Sam! I really need to talk to you. Look you can't just expect me to sit
around and so help me God Sam I know you're there, just pick up the GOD
DAMN PHONE"

Sam tried to turn the message off but Jack stopped her.

"SAM I KNOW YOUR THERE. ANSWER ME YOU WHORE-" Jack deleted the message and looked at Sam but she wouldn't look at him. She turned and walked down the hall to her room, Jack not far behind.

She was packing her bag when he walked in. She knew he was there, she could feel his eyes on her.

"Did he ever hit you?" he asked. Sam froze, and when she didn't answer Jack already knew the answer. "Why didn't you tell anyone?" Sam ignored his question and continued packing. He decided to leave it for the time being, he had other things that he needed to think about at the moment.

They were out of the house within ten minutes. Sam locked the house then her and Jack walked back to the SUV and waiting airman. Their next stop was Jack's house.

Upon entering his house, Jack did his usual routine of flicking the answering machine on and putting the mail on the table next to the door. There were no messages on the machine so he moved on down the hall to the bedroom. Jack was a lot quicker at packing than Sam and reappeared only five minutes later with a bag in hand.

Sam was in the living room looking at the pictures on his mantle and wall. He came up behind her and she knew he was there but did not turn. "Who are they?" she asked pointing to a picture of a tall brunette wearing a sundress and a little girl that looked to be only four or five. "I've never noticed this one before."

Jack flinched but didn't answer. Instead he moved back to the door, "I'lltell you on the plane." She nodded and moved to follow.

When they arrived at Peterson the base CO appeared and both Sam and Jack saluted him, which he did back, before speaking "Hello Jack, long time no see." Jack shook the man's hand.

"You to Sir,"

"Well your plane is waiting over on the runway. It's ready to leave when you are." Jack nodded.

"Good, thanks" Jack said shaking the man's hand again.

"Not a problem Jack"

Both Sam and Jack moved to grab their bags. They thanked the airman and dismissed him before moving to the aircraft waiting for them.

When they were settled onboard the small plane and it had taken off Jack moved to the cockpit to talk to the pilot. When he came back he could see Sam looking out the window. He sat down opposite her at the table "I have a lot to tell you, if you want to know" Sam looked at him.

"You don't have to-" she started to say but he cut her off

"Yes I do, were going to Ireland 'for cryin' out loud'" he barked. "Hammond called me back because he received a call from my sister, Kristina, telling him that one of my siblings was killed in action." He looked at Sam but she just looked at him so he continued "Alex was one of my favourite siblings. The two of us were like to peas in a pod, as my mum used to say" Jack smiled at the memory.

Sam just looked at him. He looked so different somehow, happy.

When Jack snapped out of his daze he looked at Sam "Sorry" he mumbled.

"No need, you of all people know I do that a lot" she said, which made him chuckled but then he went serious again.

"Alex was the woman in the picture you asked me about earlier, and the little girl was her only child, and my goddaughter." He looked out the window and watched the sky go by. "Alex was Kowalski's wife. One of the hardest things I had to do was tell her that he was dead, but it was worse to not be able to tell her the truth" he looked at Sam. "It was just after I told her that he was dead when she found out she was pregnant with Cleo. She only got to be with her mother for five years, and never got to know her father." He turned to look out the window again.

Sam didn't know what to say, she'd never seen Jack like this. He was usually a very private person, and not in her wildest dreams did she ever think he'd tell her any of this. Sure, deep down she really hoped that one day when all this was over the two of them could get to know each other on a more personal level, but not now. He looked so sad you could see how much this was hurting him.

Sam reached out and laid her hand on top of his, and the two just sat in silence for a while.

The co-pilot stepped out of the cockpit to check on the two passengers. They had been flying for over four hours, and as he stepped out he found them sitting at the table playing cards.

"Sir, Ma'am," he said to get their attention. Jack looked up at him.

"Yes"

"We are just about to start flying over the sea; it will take another seven to eight hours to reach Shannon airport Sir. General Hammond also asked us to make sure both of you ate so there should be food in the mini-fridge at the bar"

Sam smiled at that, "Bless that man" she mumbled under her breath as the co-pilot moved back to the cockpit

Jack looked at her, "what?" she asked.

"Why do you keep saying that? You said it when we were on that planet as well."

She smiled "I don't know, it was always a joke with him and my dad, they used to work together"

Jack nodded and stood up and moved to the fridge. "So what do you want?" he asked "there's salad, fruit, jell-o, oh", he reached in and pulled out a plate, "Cake!!" he smiled happily at her.

She looked at him and chuckled, then stood up and moved over to where he was and looked into the fridge "sir I think we should leave that, we don't want to eat it now and then decide we want more later" she asked "do we?"

He made a puppy eyes at her and pouted "Ok!", which only made her laugh harder.

They grabbed some fruit and salad and sat down to eat. While doing so Jack told Sam some stories about what he and Alex used to get up to. At the end of one story Sam decided to ask the question that had been on her mind for a while

"Sir, how many siblings do you have, if you don't mind me asking?" Jack looked at her.

"I was wondering when you'd ask me that" he gave her that small smirk of his that gave her butterflies in the bottom of her stomach. "I'll make a deal with you. Actually no, we'll play a game, sort of like twenty questions. Ok?" she hesitated but nodded.

"Cool, ok I'll answer your question." He stopped to think "I have four younger brothers and five younger sisters" Sam just gaped at him, "you no if the wind changes you'll be stuck like that" he said sheepishly.

"Five years and I never knew you had family" she finally said after a minute "and that big one at that."

Jack laughed at that "Ok, it's my turned to ask the question," Sam nodded slowly; she had a feeling she knew what the question would be and was not looking forward to answering. "Ok, did Shanahan hit you?"

She looked down at her hands that were sitting on the table. Still looking down she answered "Yes" she whispered, she then stood and moved to go to the toilet.

TBC…

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