33
Two weeks later Sam went to San Diego to visit her brother and his family to celebrate her niece Karen's birthday. Jack took her to the airport and gave her a kiss before she left on the plane. A few hours later she arrived at Mark's house.
"Sammie, you made it"
"Hi Mark" they hugged and she stepped inside the house.
"How are you?"
"Good, you?"
"Good, come on through" and they walked into the dining room.
"Sit down; coffee?"
"Yes, thanks" Mark started preparing them some coffee.
"Where is the rest of the family?"
"They will be home soon" He passed her cup before sitting down.
"How's Dad?"
"You spoke to him last week Mark; he is fine and he got Karen a birthday present and I promised that the next time he is in town for a few days, I'll kick his ass out here" Mark laughed.
"You know, he out ranks you."
"I know, but I don't care."
"How are things with you anyway?"
"Good; I have been travelling a lot in the past few months. A least now I can take a long break and visit you guys."
"That's good to hear. By the way, an old friend of mine is here for the weekend."
"Mark, you are not going to play match maker are you."
"Ok, ok" he put his hands up in surrender and smiled. Then they heard the front door opening and the kids ran in and they stopped when they saw Sam.
"Auntie Sam, you made it!" Karen said.
"Of course I made it" she gives Karen a hug, then Joan her younger sister and then Brian, the youngest of the three kids.
They told Sam what they been had doing and how their schooling was going, every thing; they talked for hours. Later that evening, after the kids and his wife Laura were in bed, Sam and Mark stayed up, talking.
"Karen reminds me so much of Mom and you."
"Yeah I know what you mean. Every time dad sees her she reminds him of Mom."
"True and the talking; she gets that from you."
"Hey, I wasn't like that" he laughed.
"If you say so."
"I'm going to turn in; it has been a long day and it's going to be busy tomorrow."
"Don't remind me, a house full of screaming kids."
"You are going to love it."
"I know" they got up and hugged before Sam went to her room for the night. When she was in her room, with the door close and in bed, she called Jack.
"O'Neill"
"Hey"
"Hey, you made it there ok?"
"Yeah, I miss you."
"I miss you too."
"What is that noise?"
"Oh, that's SG2, Daniel and Teal'c. They are here having a drinking shots competition. We all get four cards each and who ever got the highest has to take a shot."
"What the poison?"
"Tequila" Sam smiled, trying not to laugh.
"How is Daniel holding up?" Knowing what he was like with alcohol.
"Good, he's only had two shots, Ferretti has had ten, well make that eleven, so far" Sam giggled.
"Sounds like I'm missing out on all the fun."
"Na, not really."
"Ok, if you say so."
"I better go and see what just happened, love you."
"Love you too, good night Jack."
"Night Sam"
They hung up and Sam put her phone on the bedside table and turned off the light before snuggling down under the covers, closing her eyes and thinking about Jack as she drifted off to sleep.