Note : this takes place in the past

THE HERE AND NOW

CHAPTER II

- THEN -

" General O'Neill ? "

" This is he. "

" Sir, your presence is required at Saint Julia's hospital. "

" Excuse me? "

" It's your ex wife sir. She asked for us to contact you. "

" I'm on my way. "

Shara was in the hospital, hurt and bleeding internally. She was not going to survive. Her husband had died instantly but now she found herself wondering what of her daugther. After Charly died she never imagined herself loving another child with such strength, but it had changed and April had showed her how. And now she was having to say good bye to the little girl.

" Shara? "

" Jack… I'm glad you came. "

"What happened?"

" An accident ...a stupid accident. Some drunk driver... he is dead Jack... he died on impact…"

He knew whom she was talking about and he felt sorry for her. She had finally found some happiness after all the the hard years after Charly. She had finally been able to let go and move on and now it had all been taken away from her. All he could do was hold her hand and tell her it was going to be all right, but her eyes told him otherwise.

" I'm diying, Jack. "

" Shara you… "

" I'm bleeding internaly...the doctors can't stop it... I'm going to die. "

" God Shara I... I… "

He pulled away from her and looked away. He couldn't meet her eyes and she understood why. Jack had been trough hell and back but she knew that this hurt him more than anything else. He might not love her any more, but he still cares for her, he cares for every one that he has lost and a faint smile light up her face. Despite every thing Jack O'Neill is still a caring and loving man.

" Jack ... I... Aron had a daugther... a baby girl. "

" Oh God Shara I didn't… "

" I...please take care of her Jack. "

" Shara I... I can't I'm sorry I ..."

" Please Jack ... she dosen't have anyone. Aron's parents died, he has no other family members and dad can't take care of a little girl. "

" Shara I can't do this... I'm sorry but I can't. "

" Jack, I trust you. "

" How can you... God Shara what if i screw up again ? What if... Shara you know what happeend to Charly… "

" Jack it wasn't your fault and I know you learned from that awfull experience… Please Jack… "

The nurse walked in and Jack closed his eyes. In her arms she carried a small bundle and he knew that in her arms was April, the little girl Shara wanted him to take care of. The diying wish of a desperate woman. He couldnt do this. He nedeed some air, nedeed someone to talk to. Excusing himself he pulled his phone and dialed his friend's number. Maybe Janet could do something and Daniel, he neded Daniel here.

One hour later both of them arrived and were suprised to find Jack sitting on the waiting area, a far away look on his face. It was the look he got when he found some horrible news about one of his teams being hurt or lost, the same look of panic and fear he got when ever one of his friends was hurt.

" Jack? "

" Daniel... hey where… where is Janet? "

" She is talking to the nurses Jack. What's going on?"

" Shara... she was in an accident. "

" Is she ok? "

" She is dying. "

Janet's voice brought them back to reality and daniel closed his eyes. This was harsh. First his son and now his ex wife. Everything that had once brought Jack happines was slowly being taken away from him.

" Isn't there anything you can do for her? "

" I'm sorry... no her condition is to advanced… "

" God... what am I going to do?"

" Jack there's nothing you can do for her."

" Not her... the baby... April... her daugther s-she wants me to... take care of her. I can't I don't know if I can."

Thirty minutes later and they had all gone back inside Shara's room. The woman smiled and greeted them. Jack made the introductions and then smiled when he saw Teal'c enter the room. He and Janet, Daniel had meet Shara and were triying to confort and support their friend and the diying woman who had meant to much to Jack.

As for the General, they knew that his life was going to change and now looking at him with April in his arms they knew he was going to take her in. He was after all a good man, he wasn't going to deny Shara's diying wish.

" So you're all friends of Jack?"

" Indeed."

" I saw you once before... w-when Charly…"

" Yeah we were all there."

"You changed your hair color?"

She turned towards Janet who smiled and shock her head. She was confusing her with Sam. After the explanation, they smiled and laughed, Shara closed her eyes and smiled. Jack had accepted he was going to take care of april. He had good friends and was now a General, she could finally sleep and rest.

The nurse walked in and called it Shara had died with a smile on her face, but this didn't soften the blow. Thaking the child away from Jack, Janet smiled sadly as Teal'c and Daniel offered their support and silently promised him that they were going to be with him and help him trought this ordeal.

The next morning Samantha Carter arrived at the SGC with a smile on her face and a spring to her step. She was finally able to do what normal people did and she was enjoying every minute of it. She could finally talk to some one and cuddle next to some one at night, not spend nights alone in her house and go out and have some fun.

Walking towards her lab she couldn't help but feel that there was a diferent mood in the SGC. It was as if people were having a wake or something. She raised and eye brow and looked at the people around. They were looking as if some one had died and in their line of work perhaps some one had. She rushed towards the General's office, all the way mentally scolding herself.

She was out having a good time in Denver while the SGC could have been under siege or worse. She arrived at her destination and felt her blood run cold at the sight. Jack O'Neill was not in his office. In his place, a very serious General Hammond was on the phone the red phone. Her heart began to pund and she felt like jello.

" Ma'am?"

" Y-yes..."

" Are you ok?"

" I... I'm fine... I... were is General O'Neill ? "

" He has taken leave for a couple of weeks ma'am."

" Why?"

" Sam?"

She turned towards George who signaled for her to join him in Jack's office. As she walked towards the office she felt as if she was in a daze and began to prepare herself for the worst of news. Sitting down she looked at Hammond who smiled sadly at her.

" Sir what's going on?"

" I'm sorry we couldn't contact you sooner, but your cell was off and we didnt know were you were."

" I was in denver... sir what is going on?"

" I'm sorry to have to say this but Jack's ex-wiffe died yesterday."

" Oh my God..."

It was horrible, but she felt a sence of relief flood trough her and she mentally kicked herself. Shara was dead, that wasn't good but after all the scenarios that had flashed trough her mind she was relieved her team was ok. She closed her eyes. Of course they weren't ok. Especially Jack.

" Jack's taken a few days off while he makes arrangement for the funeral and SG-1 is on stand down."

" I see…"

" Daniel and Teal'c requested some time off. I could reassign you to another team or…"

" It's ok sir, I should probably see how they are doing…"

She was in Daniel's lab a couple of minutes later. She was suprised to see him working on some paper work. That was suprising enough to see him doing paper work since he was the one who usually had his paper work all done, so he could focus on his translations and such. Walking in she smiled and sat down beside him, raising an eye brow.

" So whats up?"

" Oh, hey Sam."

" You seem busy. I heard what happened. Anything i can do?"

" No I don't think so. Janet is with Jack handling April's adoption. Teal'c and I are doing the funeral arrangements."

" Wow… April?"

Daniel looked at her and was suprised to see the geniuin confusion on her face. He tought Hammond had told her. Seemed he didn't. He cleared his troath and explained everything, which left Sam roted to her seat. Jack was a General now. Did he really believe he could take care of a little girl? A huge rush of questions assaulted her mind and she closed her eyes triying to take it all in.

Daniel smiled. He had wondered the same thing a while ago. How was Jack supposed to take care of such a young kid specially when he was now a General. Taking a deep breath he continued to fill out the forms for the funeral home and wake preparations.

" How is the General going to handle this?"

" I don't know."

" Daniel!"

" What Sam? It was Shara's last wish before she died."

" This is huge! Why didn't anyone tell me?"

" You were unrechable. Besides, we got things handled."

" Still this is… well, huge."

Three hours later Janet and Jack finally arrived at the base and could relax. Another week and they would have April home which was freaking the General out even if Janet promised him that she would help him get April's room ready and he shouldn't worry about it.

At the base Sam's feelings were all over the place. Not only that but she had been feeling sick for about a week. Taking a deep breath she felt the room spin around and then she rushed towards the bathroom. She should tell Janet but with everything that had been going on, plus Pete having the stomach flu a couple of weeks ago she tought nothing of it. But now it was getting worse.

She wanted to blame it on the last couple of hours and the scare she had when thinking her team had died and then finding about the general and his new situation. But she couldn't hide this. She nedeed to tell Janet. If she were sick her team could be in jeopardy and maybe something was wrong with her. Better safe than sorry she tought.

Heading down to the infirmary she stoped when she heard Janet and the General talking. She didn't want to pry but she wanted to know what was happening.

" Sir, don't worry, ok?"

" Come on Janet, we all know I'm going to screw up."

" That's it and I beg your pardon, but Jack O'Neill, you stop that behavior right now! You think I was ready when Cassi came to live with me?"

She heard the General's soft sigh and Janet's soft voice conforting him. She felt a slight sting in her heart and it only increased when she saw Janet hugging the General to her and him just taking confort in her. Taking a deep breath she cleared her troath and they pulled apart.