Author's Note: The last chapter was interesting to write. I almost left it out and just ignored Sara but then I realized that Charlie needed this. Thank you for all your reviews and birthday wishes. Now on with the show...

Back inside the truck Jack looked over at Charlie, "Are you okay?"

Charlie rubbed his arms, "Yes, no, I have no clue. I thought her words would hurt when she said them, but they didn't. I feel sorry for her, that house was just the same as it was when you left, wasn't it? She hasn't changed anything. She's stuck in that moment. She may not blame you, but she blames herself just like you did. That house is Charlie's shrine. She doesn't live there, she hides."

Studying the boy who he had taken his heart, Jack was so proud of him. He was so young but he'd experienced so much. He knew that Charlie would never lose his compassion like he had. With her kind words to others in pain, Sam had taught it to him. In another universe another Sam had made sure that Charlie never lost it even though he had lost everything and everyone.

He turned and looked at the house once more, "Well, hopefully she can find the courage to live again. It's hard Charlie, I know. I did it and maybe now, she can, too."

Charlie turned and looked at the house as well. It was a place that held many happy memories for both of them as well as sad ones. Jack turned away first, "Shall we head home now?" Jack asked as he turned the key in the ignition.

Turning to look at Jack, Charlie smiled as he said, "Yes, let's go home."

Without looking back, Jack drove away.

Sara O'Neill stood at the window watching them drive away. She had been cruel and she knew it, but it had hurt so much to see that boy standing there alive and breathing when her son was dead. He was her Charlie but not. The eyes were slightly different. The scar her son had got when he crashed his bike and cut his chin was missing and there was another one that shouldn't have been there on his cheek.

Now that they were gone, she found herself drawn to Charlie's room, opening the door, she entered slowly. Usually she only came in here to clean it was too painful otherwise. It was just the same as the day he died, nothing had changed, not even her.

Jack had moved on but she hadn't, not really. Before her father passed away he tried to get her to clean out the room, to give her son's clothes away, but she refused as though a part of her thought that he might come back to her someday. He had, but he wasn't her little boy any more and it was time to let Charlie go.

Crossing to the bed, she picked up a ratty stuffed dog and clutched it to her chest. She thought for a moment and then crossed to the closet and removed the boxes her father had put there. Choosing one, she began to gather the things that Jack had requested, the memories he wanted of their son, and placed them in the box which she set aside to take to him.

Then she emptied the clothes from his drawers. The time was right to let Charlie go. It was time for her to move on and continue living. As she carried the boxes to the car, she felt free just as Charlie would have wanted, the other boy was right.

Jimmy stood outside his father's study, now that he was here, he was afraid. Would his father believe him?

He wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans and knocked at the door. "What is it?" came the annoyed reply.

Slowly he opened the door, "Dad, it's me, Jimmy. I have something to show you. Can I come in?" he hated the tremor in his voice.

There was a silence and a heavy sigh, "Alright, come in."

Opening the door wider, Jimmy stepped into the room. The walls were covered with awards and framed articles. To Jimmy it was awe inspiring. His father had written these stories and he was proud of him, even if his father wasn't proud of him. Each time he came into the room, he couldn't help but stop and look around him.

His father's angry voice broke through his revelry, "James Wilson! I'm a little busy right now, can we get this over with?" His voice was harsh and Jimmy couldn't help but flinch at the tone.

"There's this new boy at school. I think he's a clone." His spoke so fast that even Jimmy could hardly understand himself.

Greg Wilson rolled his eyes, "That is the dumbest thing that has ever come out of your mouth and I have heard some pretty dumb things." he pointed at the still open door, "Get out!"

"No Dad listen, I have proof." he took the digital recorder from his pocket only to have his father grab it from his hand.

"Where did you get this from?" he studied the device, "You took it out of my drawer, didn't you?" he raised his hand to strike the boy.

Jimmy flinched back, "I'm sorry, but all you need to do is listen to the recording and you will see that I'm right. His father and mother talked about it on the porch and so did he. They called Charlie a duplicate and he looks just like this other Charlie who died. You wrote the article a few years ago. Please just listen to the tape."

Greg dropped his hand and pushed play. Jack's and Charlie's voices were heard and Sam's and Jack's after that. He listened to it again and then tossed the recorder on the table, "This is useless. There is nothing there. You are so naive. This is only rumor and conjecture, they admit nothing." he backhanded the boy and sent him sprawling to the floor. "Get out! I don't want to see you for a long time. Don't come in here again without my permission."

Jimmy got to his feet and backed out of the room. If all he had was rumors and conjectures than he would use them as such. If he couldn't destroy Charlie through proper channels, then he would do it through the back door.

Charlie crouched in the ready position at short stop. This was something new, he'd never played this position before, but he liked it. Usually he played first or third base. The ball was hit low and he rushed forward and caught it before it touched the ground and then he threw it to second to complete the double play.

"Good play Charlie. Everyone take five." The coach motioned for everyone to get some water from the bench at the side of the field. The boys gathered in small pockets as they walked. Charlie could hear them talking about him. He wasn't sure what they were saying, but Jimmy was at the center of it.

The only boys who seemed not to want to listen were Calvin and Mike. The two of them just shook their heads and told Jimmy he was being stupid. It was then that Charlie saw the paper in Jimmy's hand. Calvin grabbed at it and said, "You are sick. Give me that." Calvin missed the paper but Mike managed to get it while Jimmy's attention was on Calvin. He passed the paper to Calvin who looked at it momentarily and then crumpled it. "I hear anything else about this and I'm going to the principal."

Moving away from Jimmy, the two boys flanked Charlie and they headed to the bench where the water jugs were. Trying to sound uninterested, he asked, "What was all that about?"

"Nothing, just Jimmy being a jerk, like always. It's not true so don't worry about it." Calvin said pouring himself some water.

"I know, but if there is stuff going around about me, I'd like to know about it." he tried again. He had to make sure it wasn't about Cassie. He could put up with things about himself, but if Jimmy started on Cassie, Charlie decided that he would break him.

Calvin pulled the crumpled paper from his pocket and handed it to Charlie, "I understand that this is about your adoptive Dad's son. He was trying to tell us that you're this other boy's clone or something. That the Air Force grew you."

Charlie took the paper, it was a photocopy of an article about this world's Charlie's death. He couldn't help but breath sharply when he saw his own younger face staring back at him. "That's kinda funny. Me and this Charlie were named after the same man. Our Dads served with him, Charlie Kawalsky. He died a few years ago. Thanks for this, I'll remember it."

Coach Nelson called out, "That's it for today boys. The roster will be posted on the bulletin board outside the locker when you're done in the showers. You all made a good effort, but I can't have all of you on the team. For those who didn't make it, I have named three alternates. If there are any injuries this year, you will be called upon in the order you're listed." he nodded to all of them, "Thank you. Now off you go."

Charlie turned to Jimmy and watched him for a minute before he turned and followed the others.

Outside the locker room, the boys jostled to see who had made it onto the team and who had not. Usually, once their name had been found or not, they backed away and let someone else have a look. Charlie waited patiently for the crowd to thin.

His name was there listed as the starting shortstop. Charlie dropped his hand and turned to walk away when he was shoved from behind, "You think you're so cool, but you're a freak. No one believes me, but I know. I know that you are some kind of duplicate of Charlie O'Neill, that kid who shot himself, and I will prove it."

Charlie stared at Jimmy, unsure just what to do or say, so he just turned and walked away. This kid just wasn't worth it. If he did anything, he wouldn't have only his parents angry with him but Cassie as well.

Failing to get a rise out of the other boy, Jimmy yelled, "First you take my girl; then you take my place on the team, but you won't get away with it. I won't let you."

Never hesitating, Charlie walked away. The other boy's words meant nothing to him, he'd been through hell and back again. A punk like Jimmy wasn't going to upset him.

Seeing that words weren't going to work, Jimmy just followed him and saw that Cassie was waiting for him on the steps of the school. Charlie talked to Cassie for a moment and then she hugged him. Linking hands, they walked over to Jack's truck, Charlie helped Cassie inside and they drove off.

Watching them, Jimmy came up with a plan. He would just have to bide his time for the right moment.

The rest of the month passed quickly for them. The O'Neills managed to find things to do as a family and enjoy their leave before Sam and Jack had to return to work.

When their time was up, Sam headed into her lab. Her time was spent studying all the gizmos and gadgets that were brought back mostly by the new SG-1. With her experience, she was able to decided what was worth sending to Area 51 and what went into the garbage.

She found that she missed the gate travel and the adrenaline rush that came with it, but for now she was content to come home each afternoon to meet Morgan's bus and sleep beside Jack when he wasn't on the night shift. She had always feared being a mother, but now that she was one, all her fears were gone.

Janet's exams hadn't turned up anymore Goa'uld and the base relaxed, but now every person who entered the mountain had to have a quarterly check up, no matter where they served in the complex.

Jack took his place as the General. His first order of business was to assign Reynolds and Hailey to replace himself and Sam on SG-1. It took a few missions, but Teal'c and Jonas Quinn adjusted. It was a rocky start, but in time they were able to begin trusting each other and work effectively.

Life went on and everything seemed to fall into place for the new family....

There you go. More soon tune in tomorrow... Kelleth