Thanks to Loverustal for her beta work in this chapter!

For the third time, Colonel Samantha Carter, Commander of Daedalus-class ship (BC-304), the George Hammond looked at her watch. Damn, she was getting impatient. It had been more than six months since she'd been on Earth. Six long months without seeing her husband, Lieutenant General Jack O'Neill. The Chief of Homeworld Command, the love of her life and the man of her dreams.

Sam still felt herself blush whenever she thought of Jack as her husband. Too many times and too many things had happened to them until that precious moment had arrived. Regulations, aliens war lords, death, war, were unimaginable things for a normal human being to have to process. Even without being inside the Stargate Program and seeing what all of them had seen and experienced. 'Crazy, just plain crazy, 'Sam thought.

Two more hours until they reached Earth, she thought, looking at her watch again. They were ahead of schedule in fact. Jack only expected her tomorrow night but the treaty talks on P5X-890 had run unexpectedly smooth and fast. The Hammond was due back to Earth for its long overhaul and the crew's leave.

"Eager to get home, Ma'am?"

The question managed to get her out of her own thoughts. Her 2IC, Major Tyrone Franklin stood a little to her left, not too close, not too far, at the bridge of the Hammond. Both officers were standing and not in their usual chairs, looking out the window.

"You know I am, Franklin", Sam said in a low voice.

They had a good working relationship. Both having started serving on the Hammond at the same time. She knew that Franklin deeply cared about her welfare. Though she was not entirely sure if it was because Jack had ordered him to do so, or if he just simply cared. Several times her 2IC had reminded her that was time to call it a night, so to speak. Also that blue jello was not considered a meal for the entire day. Sam usually managed to get away with one or the other although lately it was getting harder to fool him. He was as stubborn as her husband. Yeah, they got along just fine.

"So are you going to beam directly to your house or the Pentagon?", Franklin asked. While inspecting a sensor that appeared in the meantime.

Sam bit her lip thinking. She had actually been debating about that herself for the past few minutes. For once they were ahead of schedule, so Jack didn't know she was arriving within the next two hours. In addition, she didn't know his working schedule for today. If he had any important meetings today, which probably he did. So the safest choice would be to beam directly to the house and surprise him. There was always the chance that he would work late and arrive even later. She was afraid she'd fall asleep and miss his arrival. Sam had missed him so very much, that beaming to the Pentagon was starting to have a much greater appeal than simply beaming home.

"I still haven't decided…", she said, her bottom lip between her teeth.

"Do you know his schedule for today?"

Franklin signed a form. Then having his hands behind him looked back into the space. It was a breathtaking view.

"Not really. We're not supposed to arrive until tomorrow night. So, no, I don't know what appointments he has for today and I…", Sam hesitated to continued.

"…You don't want to spoil the surprise by asking?", Franklin concluded.

"Yep…" she said blushing slightly.

The Major tried to disguise his chuckle at seeing his serious, and tough as nails commander blush like a teenager. He managed to only nod his head in understanding. He missed his family, too.

"We could contact Homeworld about other subject and try to find out if there are any pressing matters on the agenda for today? Just to be updated…", he tried tentatively.

"You know I don't use my position for that kind of situations, Franklin", Sam immediately said in a harsh tone.

Franklin regret the words immediately. Colonel Samantha Carter-O'Neill was an officer through and through. Her marriage to the chief of Homeworld Command although highly talked about through the grapevine, was never mentioned in official talks. Everyone knew they were married but no one spoke about the marriage. Only the President of the United States had that privilege, since he was the one that had given them special dispensation to marry. It was highly unusual and sometimes borderline surreal.

"Of course, Ma'am, I apologize." Franklin quickly said, trying to cover his mistake.

Carter remained in silence, also looking out the window at the vastness of space. After an excruciating five minutes of deathly silence between the two officers, she sighed briefly.

"You have command", she said. Leaving the bridge and heading to her quarters.

"Yes Ma'am", he simply said.

The corridors of the Hammond were busy, as everyone seemed to be eager to arrive back on Earth. Sam took her time arriving to her somewhat small accommodations. A single bed, metal desk with chair and a private bathroom. With just enough space for a shower, basin and a toilet, simple but functional. The only reminders of home were the two pictures she had on her nightstand, one of their wedding day, the other of Cassie. Her desk had her private computer. She briefly debated sending a single data burst email to Jack, asking if he had any meetings in next two hours. She immediately put that idea aside and started to change out of her suit to take a quick shower. The water was as hot as she could handle but it did little to relieve the tense muscles of her neck. When she shut off the water her skin was red, her long hair completely soaked and her mind still in overdrive.

"Dammit!"

With the towel around her body, she put her head between her hands. Sometimes she wished she had a normal life, a normal job where she didn't have to be months away without seeing her husband, touching, kissing, or making love to him. She really missed Jack. But no, that wasn't her life and she wouldn't have any other way. Dumping the wet towel to the floor. Sam put fresh underwear and another jumpsuit on. She then brushed her damped hair into a pony tail. Feeling more composed, she took another look at her watch. Forty-fives more minutes until they reached Earth. She had to decide. Quickly. Taking a deep breath, she picked up her card. Opened her door and headed to the bridge.