AU: When an exploration mission goes way off the left field, Jack and Sam are left to patch up their lives. Will that door stay open?

Disclaimer: All recognisable characters are the property of MGM/Amazon. No copyright infringement intended. I am once again taking my favourite two Gaters for a walk in an Alternate Universe. Takes place after 5.05 Red Sky with some canon episodes skipped (overlooked) and others referenced.

Rating: Mature. No triggers.

The final instalment for this story. I hope it wraps up the loose ends. If you find any that I missed, please let me know in comments.

Epilogue:

Seven Weeks later - Sam's house - Sam Carter

Standing in my kitchen looking up at the massive hole left by the ring transporter, a near perfect circle with very little damage around the edges. The tarpaulin secured over the top casting a blue tint across my light-coloured flooring. I would have expected there to be pieces of tile, or gyprock fragments, maybe even a few collapsed roofing beams, but no. On top of that, they had somehow missed everything else. The only other thing was a fine layer of dust that had settled on the surfaces.

"What on Earth am I going to do about this?" I complained, motioning to my absent roof. Jack walked in moments later and stood beside me appraising the hole as if it were art. It had been seven weeks since we returned from Seattle. Unfortunately, we had no idea when the Air Force's already vetted contractors would be available, its perfectness potentially raising too many questions with any civilian contractors.

I had been staying with Jack since my place was considered unliveable. That and I didn't want to be alone. Living with Jack had been great, certainly nothing like I thought it would be. Jonas had been controlling, demanding and unreasonable. Having no other experience to pull from, I had been vehement in my arguments to keep our own houses.

"How about a skylight?" Jack suggested, his arms wrapping around my waist and chin resting on my shoulder.

"No."

"A spiral staircase?" He offered, his fingers moving under the edge of my top. "What do you think sweetheart?" He asked our daughter. "She thinks it's a great idea, Sam."

"She's only twelve weeks along, Jack, and has no idea what you are talking about." I replied with a snort and a shake of my head. We had only stopped by to collect a few of my things on our way to the base for my first ultrasound. To say that I was excited was an understatement.

"C'mon Sam, it'll be a centrepiece." His voice taking on a note of sarcasm laced optimism.

"Where would it go, Jack?" I asked as I turned to look at him in side profile. "There's nothing but… nothing up there." My single floored house didn't even have enough room in the roof space to call it an attic.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, maybe the observatory that I'm gonna build." He replied.

I snorted, "When are you going to find time for that? You aren't retired anymore." Reminding him that as of four weeks ago, he had been back on active duty as the commander of SG-1. Kicking arse, taking names and tormenting newbies. The General had given him a hard limit of six weeks to return to active duty. In true O'Neill fashion, he had halved that, returning only three weeks after our ordeal.

While I missed being out there, I meant what I said – that I would happily give that part of my career up to be with the only man I had ever loved. There were plenty of other ways to advance my career. I knew that the guys missed having me as well, but they were happy that I was happy. Keeping Jack happy was no longer an issue, and even if he never said so, he was keeping himself amused going through new recruits. So far, they had all been too green, too slow, too chatty, or too enamoured to be considered SG-1's fourth.

I had still contributed from time to time, just not through the Gate. We had less than thirty weeks to get everything prepared for the baby, and we didn't even know where we would be living. Both houses had their merits, but a part of me struggled with giving up the independence that having my own house created.

"I can fix that, you know." He once again raised the point. I sighed.

"No. SG-1 need you. Besides Hammond won't let you. Remember?" He snorted his displeasure at being denied retirement for the third time since being reactivated five years ago.

"Hey! I know, we can put a second story up there and fill it with…"

"Oh, hell no!" I interrupted.

"What? You didn't even let me finish." He complained, though I could hear the laughter in his admonition.

Turning to look over my shoulder, I smirked. "Jack, we are not building a second story on my house only to fill it with every kind of kinky sex toy you can think of." I replied, giving him The Look that said 'I know what you are thinking'.

His mouth dropped open surprised that I had known exactly what he was going to say. "Carter, I would… OK, you got me – no den of debauchery. Spoilsport." He grumbled. "How did you even know I was thinking that?" I smiled but didn't answer. Shadow Jack didn't have the same compunction about keeping secrets of that nature from me. But I wasn't going to tell him that.

"How about you let me get the first one out of nappies before you put a second one in here?" I admonished with a giggle, my hands resting over his on my belly. The morning sickness – in the afternoon – had been the only awful part about this pregnancy so far. My sister-in-law had aversions to strong smells and tastes, but I had had none of that. In fact, I was ravenously hungry all the time, and in more ways than just for food. To say that Jack was loving the last couple of weeks was an understatement.

"Where's the fun in that, Carter?"

"Fun?" I queried giving him an amused look, the one where I pursed my lips and tried not to laugh. What he failed to realise is that I already had a child. A soon to be 50-year-old little boy full of wonder and mischief. God forbid if our daughter took after him. I was doing well with the not laughing until he waggled his eyebrows. It was all that was needed to tip me over to full on laughing. "C'mon you, let's get to the base and see our little girl on the monitor." I said with a tug of his arm.

As we walked up the hallway to my front door, he nearly floored me. "Surely you've heard of the four under four challenge."

Coming to a stop just as he opened the door, I gaped, "The four under four… you've got to be kidding me. You want four children!" My exclamation probably not as oh-hell-no that it should have been.

He smirked and shrugged as we walked out to the car, closing the door behind us. "Why not, it's a nice even number. But if you're not keen on four, we could always make it six." He continued with a huge grin on his face. "Hey! That would give us our own hockey team!" He stated, clapping, and rubbing his hands together. I just shook my head and laughed.

"You are incorrigible." He laughed heartily at my non-negative response, his smile reaching beyond his eyes that made me wonder if I had just given him the green light for five more children. Somehow, I did not feel an immediate opposition to that idea. Six beautiful children with this man where I had never even considered having one with Jonas. What on Earth was wrong with me?

Then a light bulb moment hit him. His face lit up even more than it already was. "I know. We can install a rooftop playground with a spiral slippery slide."

Waiting until he was around the other side of the truck and what I thought was out of earshot, I replied. "Sure. We can do that."

"Really?" His face lit up.

"No." I grimaced at my silly agreeance being heard.

He huffed, "Look out kids, here comes Carter, the fun police." He complained as he fired up the engine in his beast.

"I have a better idea."

"Fire away, Officer Boring." He jibed. I rolled my eyes at his silly name.

"We sell it." I replied with a meaningful look in his direction. "After the roof is fixed." I added.

"We sell… Sam, are you sure? I distinctly remember a few weeks ago you were dead against selling." He reminded me of our first official argument since getting together. After taking a good look around, I realised that there really were not too many memories created there. It really was just a house. Most of my memories – happy and sad – from created at Jack's place. It had become central to SG-1's off base gatherings. Sure, it only had two bedrooms, but it would be big enough for a little while longer, then we could build an extension or buy larger. Hopefully in the same area.

Smiling at him, I replied, "Yeah, I'm sure, Jack. I like your neighbourhood." It was quiet and green, close to the mountain. An idyllic area full of nature without being too far from downtown Colorado Springs.

"Sweet." He replied with the smile I loved as he slipped his sunglasses on.

We spent the rest of the drive to base discussing and dismissing a variety of names for our five other children. The three boys and two more girls. Of course, being old fashioned, he erred on the side of Elizabeth, Patrick, Richard, Thomas, and Rosanne. My response was Lizzie, Paddy, Dick, Tom, and Rosie… OK, so Rosie wasn't so bad, the Beth was OK as a shortened version for Elizabeth. Jack chucked out my preferences of Niels, Tycho, Edison, Hypatia and Lucretia calling them crazy, weird, or too sciency. Of course, I had no intention of giving any of my children those names, but seeing his face was priceless.

"We could shorten Lucretia to Lucy." I offered just as we rolled up to the first security check in.

"True. But then my 'Lucy, I'm home!' stops being funny and just normal. Teal'c might get jealous." He replied as he produced both ID badges and nodded to the Corporal who let us drive through to the parking area without too much hassle.

"I know, how about Abigail? Wasn't that your grandmother's name?" I asked, realising that now I was talking about our little girl already on the way. While Jack had confirmed the existence of some family, the only ones he had spoken about in the last few weeks with any kind of familial affection were his grandparents. Abigail and Charles.

"Yeah. It was." He replied as he pulled up in his allocated bay. Placing his hand over my stomach, he said, "How about Abigail, little one? Do you like that?" The glow that appeared brought a wave of uncontrolled emotion, not just from me but from her. Elation was the only way I could describe it.

"Oh wow, that was a yes. That was a resounding yes." I replied on a heavy breath full of wonder, then the tears started. "Oh God, now I'm crying." I laughed and wiped my eyes. "Abigail it is."

"C'mon Mummy, let's go." He told me, I nodded and wiped more tears away.

SGC Infirmary - Jack

"Just lay back on the bed, lift your top and lower your pants. Good." Janet instructed as she wheeled over a machine that looked a lot more modern that I remembered.

"Janet, can we hurry this up please, because I really need to go." Sam complained while Janet put the gel on her stomach followed by the wand.

"I'll be as fast as I can. Whoa. How much did you drink?" Janet exclaimed as she moved the wand around trying to locate all the important parts but having trouble.

"I don't know. Two bottles I suppose. I was thirsty." Sam replied with a wince.

"Two of your water bottles?" Janet clarified and Sam nodded. "OK, so that was easily 1.6 litres. I am going to need you to go to the bathroom and let half out."

"Please tell me you are kidding, Janet?" Sam complained. If ever I needed more proof of her Napoleonic Power Monger ways, it was asking a pregnant woman to start peeing and then stop. "Sorry Sam, see how you go."

With a huff, Sam tried to sit up without getting gel on her top, batting my hand away when I tried to help and then stormed off to the infirmary bathroom. Janet busied herself with the machine and the bed, doing her best not to speak to me. Though her fiery looks of disappointment were not exactly inconspicuous.

"Alright, Doc. Spill it!" I ordered gruffly. I had had just about enough of her huffing and puffing, making, and remaking the bed and foot tapping.

She narrowed her eyes at me. "You better know what you are doing?" No Sir, no Colonel, just straight to the point Janet Fraiser.

"I do." I knew exactly what I was doing. It took me a while to get there, but I knew what Sam was giving up better than anyone. It was my name on her last personnel evaluation. My signature at the bottom of the page recommending her for a commendation after her decisive role in finally taking out Apophis – we think – and getting us home without any replicating Klingons. I mean blowing up a sun as a means of escape. Who does that? Carter does, that's who.

"Are you sure? Because not so long ago, you were being a complete-" She started a tirade that I did not let her finish when the sound of toilet flushing announced Carter's imminent return.

"Ass. I know." I said, giving her a look. Daniel had already had that chat with me. She merely nodded just as Sam walked back in looking a lot more comfortable. "Better?" I asked. She smiled and sighed with relief.

"Let's try again, shall we?" Janet asked. Sam nodded, reached for my hand, and scooted back up onto the bed with my help just as General Hammond walked into the room.

"Sir." We both greeted simultaneously, our hands separating out of habit.

"A bit late for that, don't you think?" He chuckled, making us both wince. "Continue, Doctor." He motioned to Janet. She nodded once before applying more gel and picking up the wand.

The General waited patiently while Janet moved the wand around confirming the presence of two legs, two arms, spine, lungs, skull, and variety of other things I did not hear, too focused on the screen and seeing Abigail for the first time outside of my head. I was mesmerised, just like the first time. This was my little girl. At some point, I had taken Sam's hand again, oblivious to the presence of our CO. It wasn't until Sam squeezed my hand that my concentration broke.

"Have you heard from my dad, Sir?" Sam asked. The General looked thoughtful for a moment, and I sensed the answer would not be what Sam wanted to hear. That last mission had been a doozy.

"Yes. Unfortunately, Jacob has been delayed after the Tok'ra's latest brush with the Goa'uld. He was sorry he could not be here." The General stated. "Many Tok'ra were lost." Many humans were lost as well but bringing that up again would not earn me any favours.

She squeezed my hand and swallowed, "I know." She replied. Lan'tash had been one of them, and despite the rush of jealousy I felt when – on his deathbed within the youngest of our SG team members – confessed his and Martouf's love for Sam, I knew better than to not pass the message on no matter how much it hurt to see her struggle.

"On the other hand, and the reason for my being here, I have some relatively good news for you Major." The General stated. "Firstly, you are officially a member of the Science Department directly under my command. Unfortunately, the transfer could not be back dated, however due to your accident and Doctor Fraiser's insistence that your current predicament is directly attributable to the antibiotics, and Colonel O'Neill's confession that he took advantage of you." I felt Sam take in a breath, getting ready to argue the second point, but a firm squeeze of her hand and a knowing look had her nodding mutely.

"What does that mean for her career, Sir?" I prompted.

"It means that she will be spared any other direct punishment except the transfer. Unfortunately, the effect of which will likely stall her career advancement." He responded to me before looking back at Sam. "Your rank will continue to be reviewed in line with key performance indicators, though without a position of leadership, it is unlikely to advance anytime soon." He concluded, then turned to me with a look that made me wince internally, though I remained calm on the outside. I would take whatever was coming.

"Colonel. Despite the overwhelming evidence that you did not have control over of the presence of, shall we say, the darker you. The JCS have deemed it necessary to place a Letter of Reprimand detailing a six month probation on your file." He stated, his face set with a stony look that screamed disapproval. "The on base house arrest part of the probation that was originally tabled has been rescinded for obvious reasons." He said motioning to Sam, who would be full term before that part of my punishment had run its course. "They have also agreed that only your hazard pay will be garnished during this period, rather than your full pay as per the original reprimand. This directive will backdated to your last salary payment date."

"Sir-"

"I am not finished, Colonel." He barked, making me shut my mouth.

"Your – or should I say his – conduct at the hospital, whilst closing another unsanctioned NID operation, has created a headache for the JCS. Having to explain nine dead and a one injured by your hand without having you charged for mass murder is proving a challenge. Luckily, the illegal nature of their operation, the remains of three reported missing psychiatric patients and the seizing of a Goa'uld Tel'tak has gone a long way to keeping you out of Leavenworth."

There was nothing I could say to that string of charges except that I would do it again if they threatened Carter or Abigail. Hammond's red-faced demeanour advertised his anger at the situation I had created. I dare say the JCS were giving him a very hard time right about now, and since shit flowed downhill, Hammond had rightly passed it all onto me.

"Should anything of this nature happen again, you can expect the full force of the UCMJ to be thrown at you. I expect you to keep that in mind before allowing baser urges to control your actions in future. Do I make myself clear?" He commanded with a look of barely contained fury.

"Yes, Sir." I responded swiftly, knowing that I just gotten away with a slap on the wrist for something, some many things, that could have and should have seen me facing a court marital, dishonourable discharge and jail time. The fraternization part of that being the lesser of all the evils I had committed.

"In addition, I expect that the two of you will make this…" He motioned at our hands and Sam's stomach, "…official. Preferably, before things start to show." Looking at Sam, I found that her eyes were not showing aversion to the order that we get married before she had a visible baby bump. We both nodded silently. "Good. As you were." He dismissed us quickly before leaving.

"Wow." Sam said taking a deep breath. "That went better than I thought it would. Are you OK, Jack?" She asked, her hand squeezing mine.

Smiling down at her, I responded, "Yeah. Surprisingly, I am."

"I can help financially, we won't be desolate." Her face displaying a worry that without hazard pay which made up the majority of our salaries, we would hit dire straits.

"I've got enough socked away, Sam. You don't need to worry." I consoled her. I had learned to live on a military pension after Charlie and never really stopped when I had been reactivated, funnelling the excess into an offshore account that I had maintained back in my black ops days as a safety net and never cancelled.

"Are you sure?"

"Very sure." I smiled, and looked down, lacing and unlacing our fingers together, not quite sure how to voice my next question. Hammond had made it clear what he expected from us but I firmly believed that a woman should be asked for her hand in marriage. Taking a deep breath, I looked at her and jumped straight into the deep end. "So, Carter. Marry me?" I asked. She smiled, reaching up with her hand to drag my lips down her hers. It was not as chaste as it should have been in a room full of cameras. Oh, yeah. This was heaven. Pulling back with a huge smile that screamed 'yes' million times over before she spoke.

"I thought you'd you'd never ask, Sir."

"Sir?"

"I kinda like it. Don't you?" Janet coughed somewhere behind us trying to cover up a laugh.

"Ummm, ahhh. Well..." I flicked my eyes to the still present doctor who was smirking up a storm, then back to Sam who was undressing me with her eyes. Damn woman would be the death of me. The truth was, I spent the first four years dreaming of her calling me Sir and the last twelve months hating it, ever since the room and coming home from the ice planet mines. I winced and looked at her. "Is yes the wrong answer?"

Sam smiled, "Yes is never the wrong answer, Jack. So, yes. Yes. Yes. Yes."

Author Notes:

OK, so "Yes" is the wrong answer when pertaining to the "We could built a roof top playground and slippery slide." discussion. Sorry Jack!

One final note on the lead up to Sam's ultrasound. "Let half out." These words were actually spoken to me by the radiographer when I had inadvertently consumed too much water on a very hot summer's day on the day of my 12-week ultrasound for my first child. My reaction was very similar to Sam's.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing it.