All things must come to an end.

Thank you to all who have taken the time to read this story, I do hope that you have enjoyed it. To all those who have taken time to leave a review, I give you an extra special thanks; you are what kept me updating this story.

CHAPTER 20

Four weeks after her birth, the doctors at the Academy Hospital deemed that Grace was strong enough to be transferred out of the NICU. So on a bright Wednesday afternoon Grace McKenzie O'Neill left the hospital and was transferred to the bases' infirmary. It seemed as if the whole base was present for the arrival of Grace into the infirmary. It was such a change that occurred; the place where most personnel spent after a mission gone bad was now the temporary home of baby O'Neill.

She spent two weeks at the base. When she came in she had weighed just over four pounds and had been off the respirator for over a month. Janet had said that at the rate baby Grace was going it would not be long until her parents could take her home. Now, two weeks later, Grace was well over five pounds (more like six) and was growing like a weed. She was still tiny though, having not gotten any longer than her original thirteen inches.

So now Sam and Jack were waiting for Janet to come in and give them the approval to take her home. Sam was holding the sleeping infant in her arms while Jack was sitting next to them. Janet walked up to them and took a look at the sleeping baby.

"How would you guys like to take your baby home today?"

"Really?" Sam asked.

"I don't see any reason to keep her here anymore."

"So we can go home today?"

"In an hour or so. That should give you enough time to brave the baby store again."

"Why? We bought everything that we need." Jack said.

"The clothes that we have for her Jack are too big. We need to get some preemie clothes and diapers for her."

"Not to mention you might want to pick up a car seat for her."

"Oh, we forgot about that didn't we?"

"Well daddy, we weren't planning on having her six weeks early. Come on, Janet will watch her while we go run that errand."

"Alright then Doc, we'll be back in an hour or so."

"Have fun. This is your last hour of freedom for awhile." Janet said with a laugh.

- - - - - - - -

Two hours, and three hundred dollars later, Sam and Jack returned to the base. They found most of the team there waiting to say goodbye to Grace and her parents. Sam was now officially on maternity leave for the next three months and Jack had taken a month off to spend with his new family.

Sam collected her daughter from her crib and placed her into her car seat which Jack then picked up. They hugged their friends' goodbye and then headed towards the elevator and eventually the surface. They walked towards Jack's car (a new Ford Explorer that he had traded his truck in for two weeks ago). After disarming the alarm Jack opened the door and placed his daughter in the backseat. He gave her a kiss before closing the door and getting behind the wheel.

The car ride home was a fun experience for Jack. As he drove Sam kept turning to the backseat to check on their daughter.

"Don't worry Sam; she'll be there then we get home in five minutes."

"I know. I just can't believe that we are finally taking her home."

"Me too; after all this time it just seems a little weird."

"Well, we're on our own now. Just you, me and our daughter."

"Good God Sam; what are we supposed to do?"

"Don't ask me. I never got this far the last time." She said. Her face changed when she realized what she had said.

"You okay Sam?"

"Yeah, just thinking."

"About Jacob?"

"Huh-huh; you're thinking about Charlie, aren't you?"

"Yeah; you know they would have loved her. Loved being big brothers."

"They're still here Jack. She may never have met them, but her brothers will play a very important part of her life."

"I know Sam. Now, let's get our daughter inside," he said as he pulled the car into the driveway.

"Alright there dad; sounds like a plan."

Jack got Grace from the backseat and carried her into the house. They were home.