End
By Mickey
Status: Completed 11/28/2008
Spoilers: Minor ones for Solitudes, Meridian & Abyss
Content Warnings: Minor Language
Word Count: 1744
Author's Notes: At the end.
JANET
Cassie thinks I'm letting him go back too soon and I should keep him on light duty for a few more weeks at least. She's worried about him. It's been two weeks since "the incident" at his house. The rest of the weekend had gone well and had, blessedly, been uneventful. That first night rattled her though. She's scared that he, and these are her words, will "like totally freak out or freeze" if something triggers a memory. SG-1's first mission since his return is supposed to be a cakewalk. No indigenous life. No sign of the Goa'uld for centuries. The problem is, and Cassie knows this as well, that SG-1's missions, even the "easy" ones, often end with one or more members of SG-1 getting hurt. More often than not that someone is Jack.
I can't blame her for being concerned, but I can't hold the colonel back either. He passed the all of the psychological examines. Jumped through MacKenzie's "hoops", as he put it. Physically, he's fully recovered. He has regained his strength and enough of the weight that he'd lost that I'm satisfied he's eating properly now. I think part of her wanting me to postpone the colonel's return to active duty is for selfish reasons. She is missing her "Uncle" Jack. She misses Sam too, but they get together at least twice a month to play chess. Cassie usually winds up spending the weekend at Sam's at least once every two or three weeks. And Daniel. She misses him too. I don't blame her for wanting that time with Colonel O'Neill. He is very much a father figure to her and he benefits a great deal from the relationship as well.
As much as I'd like to, I just can't justify putting it off any longer. Medically speaking, there's no reason he can't go. Plus, he's getting antsy. He's anxious to go back through the 'gate, to get back into the fray. Mentally speaking, I think delaying his return, even if I could justify it, would do him more harm than good. For the most part, I believe him when he says he's dealt with what was done with him. I don't agree with the way he deals with these kinds of things, and if it were anyone else I wouldn't buy it for a second, but it works for him. He freely admitted he still has the occasional nightmare, but nothing too bad.
I had told him when he'd come over for a visit this past Friday, that MacKenzie and I had discussed it and that we were clearing him for active duty as of Monday. He looked so happy I really thought he was going to start dancing around the house. Cassie, on the other hand, looked pissed. Oh, she didn't say anything while he was there because she didn't want to bust the colonel's bubble, but I could tell I was in for an earful when he left. Boy did she ever lay into me. She still won't talk to me. I'm not worried though. She's a teenager. She'll get over it eventually. However, she did take the colonel's truck keys and refused to give them back until he promised to take her camping next weekend. He did without hesitation and she reluctantly gave him back his keys.
This ordeal has been extremely hard on all of us. He does look the best he has since before he got sick, but every now and then I still catch that haunted look in his eyes. I don't think he's completely over it; don't see how he ever really could be. But no matter what happens, we will always be here when he needs us.
Just like he is always here for us.
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JACK
For what seems like the millionth time is the past five minutes, I check my watch. Jonas is late. Again. Why does this not surprise me? I swear he's almost as bad as Daniel. I tap my radio. "Yo, Jonas," I say, "get a move on it."
I try to sound pissed, or at least a little irritated, but I just can't manage it. I'm in too good of a mood. It's been nearly two long months since I returned from my little sojourn to Ba'al's House Of Torture. I was supposed to be back on active duty a week ago, but after that little zone out episode at my place, Doc and The Quack decided I needed another week.
I considered arguing, of pleading my case to Hammond to let me go back last week, but I didn't. There was no way in hell Fraiser was going to give in and Hammond would only back her up. Probably would have threatened me with extra paperwork if I'd tried. Thanks, but no thanks. I had enough waiting for me when I went back on light duty as it is. I just finished the last of it yesterday morning.
I was just about ready to do a damn jig around Janet's kitchen when she told me I was finally getting put back on active duty. It's about damn time. Getting back to work is what I need right now, despite what Cassie thinks. I'll be able to bury what that bastard did to me deep in the recesses of my mind where I hide all the other crap I'd rather not think about again.
God, I can't wait. It's another empty planet, supposedly, with some "interesting" ruins. According to Carter, there may be naquadah there too. Hammond decided we needed a nice, quiet mission for my first trip through the 'gate, so we're off to P30-991. Boring as this will be for me, I really really hope the UAV is right this time and the only indigenous life forms are a few funky looking birds that are all, thankfully, smaller than the average house cat, a small herd of horse-like creatures and a few other assorted smallish critters.
I check my watch again. Christ! If I didn't know any better, I'd swear Daniel and Jonas were brothers or something. I tap my radio again. "Come on, Jonas shake a leg," I say just as he comes running through the blast door. He comes to a skidding stop not even eight inches from me. His arms pinwheel as he tries to stop himself from crashing into me. The scene is pretty damn funny, but I manage to keep a straight face as I scold him, without the usual bite behind my words, for being late and readjust his pack. I don't have to turn around to know that Carter is doing her damndest to not laugh out loud. Teal'c, I'm sure, has an eyebrow raised at the least. As I finish, I glance up to the control room. Hammond is getting a kick out of this too. Figures.
I really should be angry with Jonas for being late. Again. But I just can't. I'm just to damn happy to be home again. It's been a long and difficult climb out of the abyss Ba'al's treatment lead me to, but I did it with the help of my friends and family. I'm home now where I belong. Safe and sound and surrounded by the people I care about most in this world and who return the sentiment.
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HAMMOND
Although Jonas, Teal'c, and Major Carter have each gone on a few missions, some together some separate; since then, this is their first mission together in the nearly eight weeks since Jack came back to us. I can see the excitement in Jack's eyes as he waits not so patiently for Jonas Quinn. As per usual, he's late.
Jack taps his radio and says, "Yo, Jonas, get a move on it."
I'm not sure what Jonas' response is, but the look on Jack's face right now is comical. I swear I just heard him mutter something about Doctor Jackson. It's good to see him mention Daniel with a smile. Not to mention that he has actually referred to Daniel and Jonas in the same sentence without looking like he was ready to kill something.
Or someone.
Jonas, to be specific.
It's a start.
Several minutes later Jonas hasn't arrived yet and Jack taps his radio again.
"Come on, Jonas, shake a leg," he says just as Jonas comes running into the gate room. I can't help but laugh as Jonas nearly collides with Jack. Major Carter's hand flies to her mouth to stifle her laughter. I believe I've heard something about Jack warning the Major against giggling. Something to do with that little 'gate mishap several years ago that sent the two of them to a very cold part of the planet.
"It's about time, Mister Quinn," I say as he takes his position alongside his teammates. For a while, I was afraid the site before me was one I'd never see again. It was a sad thought and I'm glad things worked out so well.
Jack mumbles something as he straightens out Jonas' pack. His face is serious but I catch that look in his eyes, the one he always has every time he steps through the gate to some place new. A mixture of apprehension and excitement. To those who don't know him, he looks calm and cool. As if it wouldn't matter less to him if he ever stepped through that shimmering pool again. Those of us who know him know better. Sure, he's prepared for just about anything and takes his job very seriously, but he's also about as excited as a kid in a candy store.
The scene below gives me a sense of deja vu. I'm glad to see that Jonas seems to finally be finding his place with the team. I have to admit, even after Jack came to me about adding Jonas as his fourth, I had my doubts about whether Jack would ever accept him. He will never take Daniel's place on the team or in their hearts, but I'm glad to see he's making his own.
He finally finishes adjusting Jonas' pack. "Colonel O'Neill?"
His reply is a thumbs-up and a broad grin.
"SG-1, you have a go."
"Okay campers, you heard the man. Move it or lose it!"
As they walk slowly up the ramp, Jack turns and gives me his famous half-assed salute and I say the words I know they all, especially Jack, are waiting to hear.
"God speed."
THE END
END NOTES: Well, it's been a long nineteen months since I started this series, but it has finally come to an end. I hope you have all enjoyed reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing it. I loved looking into the relationships Jack has with the various members of his team and others in the SG 'verse.
I'd like to say a huge HUGE thanks to all of you who have stayed with me during this and those who have sent me all those lovely comments, I appreciate each and every one of them. Thanks!!!
I wanted to do another part from each of the team's PoV's as well as another one from Erin Grmek's, but I felt it was really time to end this. Anymore would have been just needlessly dragging it out. For those of you who liked the Jack/Erin sorta shippy elements in some parts of this and wanted more, fear not! I do have some ideas for a fic or two about them getting together. It may even spawn yet another series. Many thanks, as always, to Cyn for betaing this for me.