Sticks and Stones - Chapter 18 - by Emma Nisbet (grnfield)

Jack was scheduled to leave for the Alpha site at the end of the following week. That gave him just enough time to help Nyan move into Daniel's house, get his basic affairs in order and lock up his house ready for whenever he would next return.

The day before he was due to leave he paid Nyan a visit and was pleased to see that the young man was starting to settle in nicely. He then delivered his truck, house keys and vital paperwork to Janet Fraiser for safekeeping.

He reported for duty on the morning of his scheduled departure and was pleased to see that Sam and Teal'c had arranged to be there at the SGC that morning. He was worried that they would be off-world and that they wouldn't have the chance to see them before he left. They'd been off-world a great deal in the last few weeks, SG-2 basically taking over and filling the void left by the absence of SG-1.

Jack felt a little guilty that he hadn't really managed to sit down with Sam and Teal'c to explain why he'd taken the training position at the Alpha site. He hoped they understood why he felt he couldn't lead a team through the gate any longer and that the loss of Daniel was the proverbial straw that had broken the camel's back.

When the time came to change into his BDUs, Jack found himself alone in the locker room. He sat for a short while in the quiet space and remembered, with fondness, some of the friendly banter that had gone on in the area between Daniel, Teal'c and himself.

"Good times," he thought to himself. He sighed before standing up to slowly get changed.

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Ten minutes later, when he turned the corner into the gate room, Jack was greeted by the sight of all five members of the 'new and improved' SG-2 standing by the ramp. The entire team had gathered to wish him well in his new venture.

As he walked towards them Ferretti stepped forwards. "Hey, Jack. We had to come and see you off, to make sure you didn't change your mind at the last moment. I've kinda got used to my team how it is now. You've trained those two well, Jack. If you train your new recruits to anything like the same standard then the Goa'uld of the future ain't gonna know what's hit 'em."

"Hmph," replied Jack. "Don't think I can take much of the credit for those two, Lou. The pair of 'em were trained long before I ever got my grubby mitts on 'em! Glad to see you looking after 'em though. You better keep that up too 'cos I'll be back and after your scrawny little Italian ass the minute I hear otherwise."

"Don't you worry about that, Jack. I don't think Teal'c'd take no crap from me anyway!" Lou laughed, slapping his former CO on the back. "Anyways, I'll let you say your goodbyes to the others. I just couldn't let you slope away without saying something."

"I appreciate that, Lou, I really do." Jack told him as Lou stepped aside to allow Jack to pass.

He greeted the other two members of SG-2 with a simple acknowledgement before he got to Sam.

She had a glimmer of excess moisture in her eyes but Jack knew from experience that the Major would shed no tears in public. She would probably wait until later that evening to do so in the privacy of her own home. He hoped that Teal'c would be there to offer her a shoulder to cry on and that she'd not suffer the upset alone.

"Major," he greeted her formally.

"Sir," she replied, grateful that he'd given her the formality to hide behind. "Good luck, Sir. We'll miss you."

"Me too, Carter. Me too," he agreed. "You stay safe, you hear me? I don't want to have to come and drag you out of some hell hole 'cos Ferretti's not looking after you like he should."

"I'll try, Sir," she promised. "Really I will. Do you know they've agreed that Teal'c and I will stay together and that we're now officially full members of SG-2?"

"I heard," Jack told her. "I think it's a good move. You know where you stand now. I never liked the idea of you being left hanging, not quite knowing where you belonged. I suppose that until they'd figured out what to do with me they couldn't really make a decision about what to do with the two of you."

"Yes, Sir, I agree. Please try and keep in touch, the best you can. I know you're going to be based mainly at the Alpha site but please, Sir, don't become a stranger to us," she pleaded.

"Hey, there ain't many stranger than me. You should know that, Carter." Jack joked, trying to lift the mood.

Sam smiled. "Yeah. I know that, Sir," she chuckled, then added more seriously, "…but you know what I mean."

"I do, Carter, don't worry." He squeezed her shoulder tightly with one of his hands. It was all the contact he could allow on the base although what he really wanted to do was draw her into a crushing hug and not let go.

She looked deep into his eyes and he knew that she understood. She gripped the wrist of the arm holding her shoulder and squeezed back briefly.

He nodded, dropped his arm and moved past Sam to speak to Teal'c.

"O'Neill," the large man said solemnly. "It has been an honour to serve with you over many years. We have overcome a great number of formidable obstacles together and I owe you my life many times over. I wish you 'Ral-tora kree' a wish of good luck in my language. Excel in the new challenges now set out for you and 'be safe' my brother."

With that the large Jaffa clamped his arm to his chest in a mark of respect and dropped his head.

"Amen to that," O'Neill said quietly, with a lump in his throat. He was pretty sure that was one of the longest speeches that Teal'c had ever directed at him.

He laid a hand on the warriors huge arm. "Look after 'em, T. Carter in particular, even though she won't appreciate me saying it. Ferretti's a good guy but you two are the only family I've got left. I don't want to lose either of you just 'cos I'm not there to keep my eyes on you."

"Indeed, O'Neill." Teal'c said. "I understand and pledge to continue protecting my Tau'ri brethren until the final breath leaves my body."

"You're a good man, Teal'c." Jack told him.

"Farewell, O'Neill." Teal'c finally said as he stepped back to stand next to Sam.

Jack turned and looked up towards the control room. He saw General Hammond looking down at them in the gate room and locked on to the older man's eyes.

The General held Jack's gaze for a moment or two. "Colonel O'Neill," came his voice over the comms. "Are you ready to depart? The Alpha site are expecting you round about now."

"Certainly, Sir." Jack called back. "Let's get this show on the road, General."

"Dial it up, Sergeant." George requested, smiling down at the assembled people with a fatherly look on his face.

"Yes, Sir." Walter replied and started depressing the appropriate buttons on his computer.

The gate spun into life and before long the wormhole was established.

The main bulk of people travelling through to the Alpha site went through the gate, taking with them the trunk containing Colonel O'Neill's personal possessions. He hadn't packed a great deal but he knew that the Alpha site was going to be 'home' for the foreseeable future so he'd packed himself a few certain items to make it more 'homely'. These were mainly photographs and mementos of his life with SG-1 and before that of his life with his beloved son, Charlie.

Soon only Jack remained and he walked slowly up the ramp. When he reached the top he turned to salute General Hammond, up in the control room. He felt his heart leap into his throat when the salute was answered, not only by the General but by all the five members of SG-2 who were standing to attention near the base of the ramp.

He broke the salute and turned swiftly towards the wormhole and the sudden frosty sensation that would mask any rogue tears that may have managed to escape.

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