Author's note: Well here we are a quarter of the way through this one. I hope that you are enjoying it. You folks just squeaked out the extra chapter this week. If you want one next week I need to hear from you.
To my anonymous reviewers: Yalla (): Sorry it was even shorter before I started to get it ready. I will try to make them longer but I only have so much to say. ;) Sorry this one is a short one. I'll try to make the next one longer. NightCat() and Dp() Here you go more.
General Hammond stared at the red phone waiting for his answer. He'd been here for hours now, just waiting. Immediately after leaving Jack and Carter, he headed to the mountain to make a call to the president about the two children sleeping in Jack's house.
Now all he had to do was wait. On his desk sat both Sam and Jack's reports on the children and what they knew of their alternate selves.
Hammond smiled, he would have liked this other Sam Carter, she had spunk. Sadness washed over him at the thought of the deaths of her and Jack. Too many good people had died since this whole thing began, and he had a feeling that many more would follow. A heavy weight settled on his chest and the General felt very weary. Maybe it was time to retire and hand the reins over to another man. He quickly ran over the short list he kept in his head, and made a decision that simplified everything.
The red phone started ringing, jolting him from his thoughts. "Mr. President what have you decided. I have something else for you to ponder."
Jack paced the infirmary waiting for the kids to be released. He really didn't like having them here, but both children didn't seem to have the same problem. Sam reminded him that they lived here. To Morgan, this was much more of a home than his house.
The PA called them to the briefing room. After letting Charlie know that they were leaving, they left the infirmary together.
"Major, Colonel, I have news. You have been given permission to marry, but a few things have to happen. One, SG-1 will be revamped, two, Major, you will be moved to a new position of R&D and Colonel, you have been promoted to be commander of base operations." He held out his hand to Jack, "Congratulations, Brigadier General. Effective next month."
Jack took his hand, stunned. He had expected that one or both of them would have to leave the SGC. Dropping Hammond's hand, he turned to Sam in a daze and pulled her into his arms. "Sam, are you sure you want to do this?."
"Yes." Tears filled her eyes, but then she stepped back. They would do this for the children and maybe there was a chance that they could find some happiness together, if they could get past Daniel's death.
The General cleared his throat. "You understand that there will be talk about the two of you. I can't stop it and neither can either of you. I want no fighting." he waggled his finger at them.
"Yes sir," they agreed together.
"Now your leave begins immediately. Enjoy the time you have together." The two officers turned to leave when the General stopped them.
"Be happy. It's time to put things behind you. Daniel would have wanted it this way. Think about that." and then he waved them out.
They didn't look at one another as they left the room and returned to the infirmary. Charlie was waiting at the entrance, he looked up , afraid.
Sam opened her arms to the waiting teenager. "Everything is fine , you get to stay. Jack and I are going to get married immediately and then we will be a family. We will have a bunch of legal stuff, but everything should be fine. Your dad has some news."
Charlie hugged her back, "What?"
"Well it seems that I've been promoted. I'm now a General and in a month's time I will be in command of the SGC. Who would have figured?"
Charlie pulled away from Sam and hugged Jack. "That's great. I'm proud of you dad." Charlie stepped back, afraid he'd said the wrong thing.
Smiling Jack, grabbed the boy's shoulder, "Thank you, son." the word felt strange on his tongue, but it fit the moment.
Charlie smiled back, "Will I be able to go to school? I haven't been able to do that since we lost control of the planet." he looked at Sam and then Jack expectantly.
Jack put his hand on his son's back, "I don't know Charlie, we haven't thought that far ahead yet. Too many people may remember the other Charlie and what happened to him. There are still some things that need to be worked out. We are cleared to leave though. Morgan, let's go home."
The little girl hugged Janet, "I missed you. I'm glad that you're safe too."
None of the adults really knew what to say as the little girl skipped out of the door. Jack and Sam smiled, following at a much slower place.
As Jack and Sam drove down the mountain, Morgan had her face pressed against the car window amazed at the new world. Charlie had kept her inside until Jack and Sam arrived, and now she wanted to play. They passed by a small neighborhood park. "Mommy can we stop and play, please?"
Jack slowed the truck pulling over, "For a little while, but we need to get home. There are some things that we need to plan."
They climbed out of the car and Morgan immediately ran toward the climbing apparatus and slid down the slide. The two adults watched her, glad to see her so happy.
Charlie stayed beside them, but his eyes were on a group of boys playing 500 up. Jack watched his son and understood what the boy was feeling. "Why don't you ask to join them?" he nodded toward the game.
He shook his head, "No, I don't have a glove, and I know those boys. I don't know if they will let me play."
Jack studied the boys, trying to see if he recognized any of them from his Charlie's friends. "Who are they?"
Charlie named them off quickly and Jack spoke again, "None of them knew my Charlie. Besides, I have a glove in my truck. It's under the seat. Go and get it. Talk to them. You need to find a new life here. It's time to start Charlie." He handed him the keys and made shooing motions with his hands.
Sam stood beside Jack as they watched Charlie cross to the truck and then over to the boys. "Is this a good idea? What if they did know your Charlie?"
"This should be fine, Charlie's friends were all Air Force brats. He went to a school close to the base, that was where we lived. These boys aren't from there. You can just tell. I hope they will let Charlie play, it will be good for him. I don't think he's had much of a chance to be a kid for a while."
Sam had never been as nervous as she was watching as Charlie approached these boys. He never hesitated as he crossed the field to them, and Sam was very proud of him. She could not imagine what he had gone through, but she hoped that he would be able to find some semblance of peace with his new life.
But what Charlie showed the world was much different that what he felt inside as he approached the boys. He knew all of them well in his world, they had all gone to the same schools, played on the same teams and had crushes on the same girls. Charlie had always been one of their group, but now he was a stranger.
Stopping next to Calvin, the boy, with the bat he asked, "May I play, too? I'm new in town and I don't know anyone yet?"
The rest of the group came closer, "Who's this? What does he want?" Jimmy the tallest boy in the group asked.
Nodding to Charlie, Calvin said, "He wants to play with us, any objections?"
The others shook their heads, but Jimmy studied Charlie for a moment before shrugging, "I guess so."
Motioning to the outfield, Calvin said, "Head out with the others. It's five hundred up. A hundred points for a fly ball, fifty for a grounder. If it has bounced more than once it's dead.
Smiling, Charlie nodded, he knew the game, they always played it on Saturday afternoons at this park. Smacking the pocket in the glove, he got ready for the first hit. The first few were out of his range, but one came right at him low to the ground. Charlie caught it just before it hit the ground.
His next few catches were just as impressive. Before he knew it he was up to bat. Unsure what Calvin would do, Charlie approached him. "It's my turn up to bat, if that is all right?"
Calvin shrugged and offered him the bat, "Sure- uh what's your name?"
"Charlie, Charlie O'Neill. I live just over there. I'm new in town." Charlie took the bat.
"Really what school are you going to attend?" Calvin asked, getting excited, baseball try outs were this week and they could use another good player.
Rubbing the back of his neck, "We're not sure yet. We haven't looked into schools yet. I just arrived to live here."
Heading out into the field Calvin replied, "Well think about Central, we could use another good player like you."
One of the other boys, Mike called from the field, "You two stop gabbing and let's play ball. I have to go home soon."
"Sure thing," Calvin said, heading quickly out to the field. Charlie tossed up the ball and smacked it with the bat and for a while he was home again.
There another one bites the dust. Let me know if you liked it or loved it? ~Kelleth~