Jack slept nearly fifteen hours once he finally made it back to his quarters, waking feeling more rested and relaxed than he could remember being in a long time. Deciding a certain ascended being may have had a hand in this, he wasn't quite sure if he wanted to thank Daniel or throttle him. He really didn't appreciate having his head messed with, after all, although he could hardly complain about the side-effects.
Climbing out of bed and stretching, Jack dressed quickly in his rumpled BDUs, then headed first for the showers, and next to the mess for a quick meal. Might as well follow through on Danny-boy's prescription before settling himself back in at the infirmary for another long session of nothingness.
Returning to the infirmary some time later, however, Jack was surprised to find a lot more than nothing going on. They were awake.
"You know, you used to sit by our bedsides night and day whenever something like this would happen before you became a General," said Daniel by way of greeting. Jack ground his teeth together.
"Nice to see you're up," he replied, a touch more sarcastically than he may otherwise have meant. "How are you all feeling?," he asked them all, this time more sincerely as he rocked back on his heels, burying his hands deep into the pockets of his unbuttoned blue BDU shirt.
"Our strength is returning, O'Neill" answered Teal'c, as he took another large mouthful of food from the tray balanced over his bed.
"Glad to hear it," Jack replied. Silence. "So...,"he trailed uncertainly, feeling suddenly isolated from these people, his closest friends.
"Are you here to debrief us, Sir?," asked Sam, trying to find a reason for his awkward visit.
"Wasn't planning on it, Carter," he replied honestly. "Last time I checked, you were all still soundly unconscious."
"So...you came to watch us sleep?," asked Daniel. Jack's teeth snapped together again.
"Ok, seriously, who died and made you smart-ass of the month?," Jack snapped.
"I believe it was your promotion to General which precipitated the change, O'Neill," replied Teal'c seriously. Daniel glared at him, while Sam smirked ever so slightly from her bed.
"So this is somehow my fault?," he asked sceptically, waving a hand at Daniel.
"Are you agitating my patients, General?," demanded Dr. Lam as she walked towards the group, levelling Jack with a stern stare.
"No, I...," he trailed as she eyed him suspiciously. "I just came to see...," he tried again. "I'll come back later," he said with a resigned sigh, heading for the door. Glancing back, he could see his friends returning to their meals, eyeing him questioningly, while Dr. Lam still stood watching him with an almost-glare in her eyes. He walked more quickly from the room, vowing to return later once Daniel had snagged some coffee and there weren't so many pesky medics around to interrupt.
It was just after midnight when General Jack O'Neill snuck back into the infirmary, checking first to make sure the coast was clear. Satisfied that the on-duty nurse was safely ensconced in her office filling out paperwork, Jack quietly snuck into the room, gently waking each of his friends in turn.
"Hey, get up," he whispered conspiratorially. He was met with a series of grumbles, groans, and at least one tossed pillow from Daniel. He was going to have to have a little chat with that boy, he told himself.
"What's this all about, Sir," mumbled Carter groggily.
"We need to talk," whispered Jack. Then, "Are any of you strong enough to move?"
Rearranging Dr. Lam's patients, Jack finally settled them all together on two beds, which he had pushed more closely together for ease of communication.
"What's this all about, Jack?," asked Daniel from his perch, repeating Sam's earlier question.
Jack sat down on the foot of the bed now shared by Sam and Mia, facing Daniel and Teal'c on the other. He fiddled with his hands for a moment before saying, "Ah, a lot's happened since you guys left a few days ago."
"Like what?," asked Sam, concerned.
"Well, for starters, General Hammond is retiring," he said. Daniel moaned.
"Jack, I know you have a hard time adjusting to change, but did you seriously just wake us all up for that? I mean, I for one think he's earned it, don't you?"
"Yes, Daniel, I do," replied Jack tersely.
"You're being promoted," inferred Sam numbly, turning a startling shade of white. Mia and Daniel both looked at her, surprised.
"Jack?," Daniel asked, looking for confirmation to his teammate's worst fears.
"Yeah," he answered bleakly, nodding. "Nothing's official yet, but Hammond felt compelled to warn me that I'm at the top of the list."
"But you can still refuse," said Daniel, concerned for his friends. He could only imagine how this would affect Sam...
"It's not that simple, Danny-boy," Jack replied.
"Why not?," Daniel asked.
"Bauer is second on the list." Daniel's jaw dropped, then snapped shut again quickly. Sam looked stricken, closing her eyes against the inevitable.
"Who's Bauer?," asked Mia, confused.
"Nobody you'd ever want to meet," replied Jack evenly.
"He's another General," Sam explained quietly. "He ran the SGC briefly four years ago. None of the changes he made were good," she said, shaking her head.
"Indeed," agreed Teal'c.
"So what happens now?," Mia asked.
"That's what I'm here to find out," Jack replied, gazing around at the assembled group.
"I'm not sure I really belong..." Mia began, but Jack cut her off.
"You're part of this family," he said, without needing to look for confirmation from the others. "What we decide here will affect you too."
"There doesn't seem to be much to decide, Sir," replied Sam softly, her face pale and drawn with resignation.
"I wouldn't say that, Carter," he replied gently, meeting her gaze. I don't want to do it. I really don't, he thought, desperate for her to understand.
"Uh, I hate to play devil's advocate here, but you wouldn't seriously hand over all Stargate related programs and research to Bauer, would you?," asked Daniel cautiously, snapping Jack's attention back to the conversation at hand.
"Whether I do it now, or later, it's bound to happen eventually," replied Jack, frustrated. "Even if I take the job now, I'm not going to live forever. Hell, I could be reassigned a year from now and we'd still end up with Bauer," he spat. "At some point, someone else is going to step in, Daniel. We can't keep it all in the family forever. And if it isn't Bauer now, it could just as easily be someone worse later on."
"So you're willing to give this all up?," asked Daniel.
For Sam, yes, Jack thought miserably, knowing what his duty would require of him. "You know, just yesterday I was accused of holding on too tight," Jack snapped instead, thinking of the other Daniel. "Maybe it's time that I do." I wish I could...
"I agree with Daniel Jackson, O'Neill," intoned Teal'c. "The Tauri will find no greater leader than yourself in the continued struggle to maintain freedom in this galaxy."
"I agree with Daniel and Teal'c, Sir," said Sam quietly, her gorgeous blue eyes moist with suppressed emotion. "Until we have a better idea of what we'll be up against next, your experience here at the SGC is an asset the Pentagon can't do without." Is that you speaking, or good ole' Uncle Sam...
"What about you?," he asked, turning quickly to Mia.
"Daniel said to trust you," she replied. "Your team thinks you need to do this. What do you think?"
Jack exhaled slowly, keeping his gaze locked on the teenaged girl. "I don't think I have much choice in the matter," he replied slowly, resignedly. Especially if my team agrees...
"Then that's what you're going to do," she responded, a note of sadness in her own voice. She understood. Somehow or other, Mia understood.
"All right, then," Jack said softly. "Now, what about the rest of you?"
"What do you mean?," asked Daniel.
"Carter," he said, facing Sam once more. Don't hate me forever. We'll find a way. "Do you still want the transfer, or should I kibosh it while I have the chance?," he asked gently.
Sam thought quietly a moment, staring absently at her hands. Finally she said, "I'll still take the transfer, Sir. I think I could use the break from active duty," she added, thinking of her recent ordeal, and the painful reminders the SGC would present of her life without Jack.
Jack nodded, painfully aware of what she hadn't just said, though somewhat relieved to find they could still communicate on this level. "Okay," he said softly, grudgingly turning away from her. "Daniel, what about you? Do you still have your heart set on Atlantis, or would you rather stay here as the thorn in a new Colonel's side?," he asked.
"You're seriously going to sign off on me going to Atlantis?," he asked, surprised.
"Like I said, I've recently been told I've been holding on too tight. If it's really what you want, I'll do my best to make sure you get it," Jack replied evenly. Just don't go and get yourself killed.
"Thank you, Jack," Daniel responded sincerely.
"Teal'c, what about you?"
"I have been invited to join the new Jaffa nation on Dakara," he replied. Jack nodded again, his heart heavy in his chest.
"I'll start the paperwork tomorrow," he promised, Teal'c bowing his head slightly in response. God, will they all be gone?, he though desolately.
"And you?," Jack whispered, facing Mia now.
"I – I don't know," she stammered.
"You're welcome to stay at my place," responded Daniel quickly. "I can have it arranged that the rent is paid for you even while I'm gone." Jack's heart clenched, knowing she would probably be most comfortable there...
"You may also chose to join me, Mia O'Neill, and join with the Hak'til," Teal'c said. At Mia's blank look he added, "They are a group of free female Jaffa warriors, led by one I admire greatly. You would be able to continue your training." Mia smiled warmly at her mentor in reply. Jack did his best to keep his breathing even. Not you too...
"Nevada is warm all year round," said Sam quietly, meeting the girl's misty eyes. "You're welcome at my place anytime you want."
Jack cleared his throat, unsure how or even if he could compete with Mia's other offers. If he even should. At last he said, "I'll always have a room for you, too," his voice gruff with emotion. Mia looked genuinely startled by the revelation.
"What happened to professional detachment?," she asked carefully, ignoring the confused stares of the others.
"Doesn't apply to fathers and daughters," he choked, realizing she was once again making him eat his own words. Tears spilled down her pale cheeks as she launched herself at him, wrapping her slender arms tightly around his neck in the biggest hug he could remember receiving in a long, long time. Gingerly returning the embrace, Jack couldn't help but notice from the corner of his eye that Daniel was beaming at them. Even Teal'c was smiling as Mia pulled away, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand and laughing shakily.
"Careful," warned Sam, wiping her own eyes. "General O'Neill has a rule against giggling." Jack shifted uncomfortably, mumbling something about broken ribs and Antarctica.
"So this is it?," asked Daniel. "The end of SG-1?" The question hung sombrely in the air for a breathless moment while everyone regrouped. At last Teal'c broke the silence, saying, "Did O'Neill not earlier describe us as a family?."
"The only family I've ever really known," replied Daniel thoughtfully.
"The only family I've ever really understood," added Sam with a wry smile.
"The only family I've ever wanted," chimed Mia.
Jack swallowed hard. "A damn fine second chance," he said at last, daring a quick glance over to Sam and Mia.
"Indeed," agreed Teal'c, silently observing his brother-at-arms. "I do not believe this is the end, Daniel Jackson."
"Me neither," he said with a grin, looking gratefully around at all his friends. Even Jack had to smile at that.
Dr. Lam had been warned that a career at the SGC would mean a life full of constant surprise and occasional peril. She had been prepared for the mission to save SG-1. She was prepared for many others to come. But nothing could have prepared her for the sight that met her the morning after SG-1 had first regained consciousness.
Walking into the infirmary, she could only stare in dumbfounded amazement at the two beds pushed together, five grown adults slumped over every square inch of the makeshift surface, all sound asleep. General Hammond rose stiffly from the seat he had taken an hour earlier, following a confused call from the surveillance room, startling Dr. Lam out of her bewilderment.
"You'd better get used to it, doctor," he advised. "In this line of work, our people form some pretty unique bonds. I doubt this is the last you'll be seeing of that," he added, smiling slightly as he left the room.
Taking one last look at her four convalescing patients and their commanding officer, she turned quickly toward her office, deciding the prudent course of action would be simply to turn a blind eye and act as if nothing out of the ordinary had ever happened under her watch.