Present Day

Sam took one last look around her house. She was feeling more melancholy than she thought she should be. But yet, this place had been her home. She took the picture, the one that didn't hurt her so much anymore and put it in the bag on her shoulder. It would be one of the first things that she unpacked when she got to Atlantis. Something to always remind her.

There were some loose ends at the SGC that she needed to deal with. Then there were all of the various good-byes and see ya laters that she had to do. Although she would miss the SGC and the people there, she was excited about Atlantis. She was eager to be starting a new chapter in her career, and in her life. She shut and locked the front door of her home for the last time, and made her way to the mountain.

oooooo

"Unscheduled Off-World Activation" Walter's voice rang out. "All clear, it's the Alpha Site."

Cam heard Walter's announcement and made his way to the gate room. He was especially curious, because the Alpha Site wasn't scheduled to touch base with Earth for a few more days.

"Doctor." Cam started, "What's up?"

"I need to speak with General Landry. We have a visitor."

"What kind of visitor?"

The doctor opened the notebook that he had brought with him, pulled out a picture and showed it to Cam. "Him."

"Yea, we need to get that to General Landry."

"Get what to me?" Landry asked. He was standing in the control room above them.

"This sir." Cam held out the picture so Landry could see who it was.

"He has sustained injuries that we can not take care of at the Alpha Site, sir." Their doctor said.

"Are you sure it's him?" Landry asked.

"As sure as we can be General."

"I'll let Dr. Lam know that she is going to go with you to the Alpha site." Landry said, and he walked away.

"Do we have any idea how this could have happened?" Cam asked.

"Colonel, he came through our gate 20 minutes ago. Once we assessed his injuries, and stabilized him as best as we could, I came here."

Cam nodded and left the doctor standing in the gate room. He went to get ready to escort the Earth medical team off world.

That is where he literally bumped into Sam.

"Whoa Cam. What's going on?"

"I uh… well… I have to go to the Alpha Site."

"What's going on?" Sam asked, with a touch of concern to her voice.

"It's complicated." He told her. "I'm sorry, I have to go."

"Cam…" Sam called out after him.

He turned and looked at her.

"I'll see you later." She said.

"Right Sam. I'll catch ya later."

The base was a buzzing. There was something going on and no one had let Sam in on it. Her curiosity did have the tendency to get the better of her, just as it had this time. Even though she was no longer under General Landry's command, she still needed to know.

She knocked on the door of his office, and after she was greeted was welcomed in.

"Sir, can I ask a question?"

"Sure Carter. What is it?"

"Why is there a medical team going to the Alpha site?"

Landry chuckled. "Colonel Carter, you are no longer under my command. I do not need to explain Earth's off world missions to you."

She was taken aback. She wasn't used to being told "it's none of your business" but that is exactly what General Landry had told her.

The look of surprise on her face made Landry chuckle a little harder. "Not used to being told no, Carter?"

She raised her eyebrows. "Not really, sir."

"We have a wounded man at the Alpha Site. We sent a medical team to bring him home."

"Oh." She said. "So why is Cam go…" Her voice trailed off. She looked at Landry. "Who is it?"

Landry took a deep breath. "It's General O'Neill." He looked at her to gauge her reaction.

"General O" she coughed and cleared her throat. "General O'Neill?"

"They should be returning from the Alpha Site momentarily."

"Unscheduled Off-World Activation" Walter's voice rang out. "All clear, it's Colonel Mitchell and the medical team."

Sam looked to General Landry. He winked at her. "Colonel, you are no longer under my command, remember?"

"Permission…"

Landry cut her off. "Permission granted."

Sam made it to the gate room in record time. She stood at the bottom of the ramp. When she saw Cam come through, her lungs pulled in a quick, sharp breath. She looked to Cam, and he nodded his head yes. She stood there, watching as Dr. Lam came through, and the tip of the gurney. Finally, he was within her view, and the breath she was holding escaped from her body.

"Sir." She said as she approached his bedside. She smiled at him. Tears threatening to overflow her eyes sparkled in the light. "You're alive."

"Yes, Carter."

Dr. Lam broke in, "We have to take him to the infirmary", and the medics started to pull him away. Sam walking right behind them.

That night, after the tests were run, and "Welcome Backs" were given, Sam and Jack finally had a quiet moment to themselves.

"I worked as hard as I could. I knew you were somewhere." She said.

"I know you did."

"What happened?"

"I don't know Carter. I came through the gate right after you. I saw one of those guys throw that… thing… and next thing I know, I am laying in a ditch on another planet."

"Why did you go to the Alpha site? Why did it take you two months?"

"I didn't have my garage door opener." He said. "As for the two months… I just had to help with a few things. That's how I got all these scars. Chics dig scars."

"Sir..." Her voice trailing off, stifling a laugh.

"I have a question for you." His face grew serious, "Did you get that assignment to Atlantis?"

Her face matched his. "Yes sir."

"Then how about you knock off all this sir stuff and call me Jack." And he grabbed her hand.