Epilogue

Jack took a deep breath of alien air and gave a sigh of contentment. He rarely managed to get off-world anymore given his retirement. Or kind of retirement. The President refused to release him completely. But his kind of retirement came with perks, namely that he got to live with Sam most of the time which he considered was no mean feat given her last assignment had taken her to another galaxy. It also provided him with the occasional jaunt off-world just like the current mission.

Ostensibly, he was there as Earth's representative but as the event was a naming celebration of Teal'c's grandson, there was a more underlying personal reason why Jack - and Sam - had wanted to be there. It helped that Teal'c, who still held clout with the Tau'ri as a prominent Jaffa leader as well as continuing to serve as a member of SG1, had pretty much insisted on the presence of his former SG1 team-mates.

The day had been filled with feasting and ceremony. Jack could swear that he had seen a tear in Bra'tac's eye when Rya'c had pronounced his son would bear the old warrior's name. Jack and Sam had spent time catching up with Daniel and Teal'c mostly. They had barely seen the guys between Sam's assignment to Atlantis and Jack being in Washington. But they had also taken time to talk with the other members of SG1, Cameron Mitchell and Vala; to reminisce about the old days. The day had ended with the Jaffa carousing. He could still hear them faintly in the distance and was grateful that Kar'yn had been thoughtful enough to place them in a house at the far edges of the settlement.

He had attempted to get to sleep but it had been a while since he had been off-world and he was too buzzed. Hence his midnight walk. Jack stared up at the night sky; it was a swirling mass of colour; every shade of purple flowing across the heavens. Pinpoints of light sparkled like diamonds on the dark canvas. He admired the beauty for a moment before his eyes started a search for a particular constellation.

He wasn't surprised to hear footsteps behind him or the arms that slid around his waist.

'Why Teal'c I didn't know you cared.' Jack quipped lightly.

Sam chuckled and pressed her face into his back. 'Sorry, only me. I can go get him if you're disappointed.'

He smiled at her teasing and turned in her arms to face her. 'Never.' He tilted her chin up and kissed her.

'Couldn't sleep, huh?' Sam smoothed her hands over his shoulders.

Jack shrugged easily.

'You should have woken me.' Sam protested gently.

'You were sleeping.' Jack replied.

She rolled her eyes. 'That was why I mentioned the waking me bit.'

'Smart ass.' Jack tapped her lightly on the nose, his eyes smiled down at her. He glanced back up at the sky. 'I don't get to do this enough.'

'Come off-world?' Sam inquired. She nodded fervently. 'I know the feeling.' And he knew she did; her roles were becoming desk bound, command and diplomatic positions in line with her rank. She rarely got to go off-world herself.

'I don't miss getting shot at.' Jack said as though he had given the matter considerable thought – which he had.

'Yes you do.' Sam laughed. 'And poking at the Goa'uld.'

'But they were so easy to poke.' Jack defended light-heartedly.

They fell into a comfortable silence. Jack tugged her closer when he felt her shiver and wondered if she should be outside. It was cool but not cold, and he held his tongue knowing she would only remind him that she was pregnant not ill as she had done when he had suggested she shouldn't attend the celebration.

Pregnant.

He could hardly believe it. They had left it to fate both believing that maybe given their ages and the damage their bodies had endured, that maybe a child wasn't in their destiny. The news that Sam was pregnant had stunned them both. It was the cherry on top of the cake as far as Jack was concerned. He was just so happy to be with Sam especially when he had come so close to losing her.

He found his mind wandering back to the year they had finally come to their senses. If Sam hadn't found the courage to question her impending marriage, hadn't found the courage to attempt to talk with him, Jack didn't kid himself; he knew it could have worked out so differently. In some reality somewhere it was probably the cop stood where he was with a pregnant Carter. Well, not right where he was because Jack was damned if he'd ever have agreed to let the cop go offworld but still. And the Jack in that reality was either dead or a complete moron, he determined harshly.

Jack still couldn't believe that he had come so close to letting Sam go because he'd mistakenly believed she would be happier without him - and boy, had she read him the riot act on that one. He had maintained that his actions had kept her safe though. Loving her so openly had led to her being targeted, and he just couldn't have gone there again. Jack shivered, remembering the fateful moment he had believed he had killed her.

It was in the past, Jack reminded himself. The future was what was important; the future and the here and now. His hands held her protectively.

'I miss this.' Sam murmured, her words a mumble against his chest. 'Watching the stars with you under an alien sky.'

He missed it too. They sat out and star watched on Earth but there was nothing like an alien sky. They'd begun with an alien sky after all.

'Can you,' began Jack.

'There.' Sam pointed upwards and immediately Jack made out the dog.

'Ah, it's good to see Toto is watching over us.' Jack said.

Sam sighed. He'd named it Toto on their wedding night. She had decided to call it Baloo. He figured naming their child was going to be an experience.

'Come on back to bed, Jack.' Sam kissed him lightly on the lips and eased away from his embrace. Her fingers caught his, and he let her tug him away. He glanced over his shoulder at the sky and the constellation. His lucky stars, Jack thought, and as he followed his wife inside the house, he thanked every one of them.

The End