Thank you all for reading, reviewing - and I hope enjoying - this little story! Now ... on to more adventures.
"It is good to see you O'Neill." Teal'c's voice interrupted his thoughts and Jack lifted his head to see his Jaffa friend looking at him.
"Heya Teal'c," he smiled. "It's good to see you too."
"For what reason are you at the SGC?" Teal'c asked, falling in beside Jack as he walked down the long grey corridor of the Cheyenne Mountain complex.
"Hammond called. Said to drop by for a visit so we could chew the fat."
"Chew the fat?" Teal'c glanced down at his friend and lifted his brow. "And what is the real reason?"
Jack sighed. Teasing Teal'c was so much harder now that he'd caught on to most Earth idioms. "Thor requested a meeting. He wanted to give me an update about some treaties they'd signed with a couple of new planets. Nothing serious – but it was nice to see the little guy. He's invited Sam and Beth and me to visit Othalla. He told me the Asgard would love to see the baby."
"I understand. And how is my Goddaughter, Elizabeth O'Neill?"
"She's great! Cute as a button."
"Yes, she takes after Lieutenant Colonel Carter," Teal'c deadpanned.
"Hardy har," Jack replied. "But you're right, she does. She's going to be a beauty like her Mom."
"You are most fortunate O'Neill," his friend slapped him on the back. "But you did not bring her with you today?"
"No. Cassie is babysitting. She's going to take little Miss Imp to the park."
"I too am happy to babysit at any time," Teal'c offered. "I enjoy going to the park."
Jack grinned, imagining the reaction of the other moms, dads and kids to Teal'c playing at the park with his eight month old Goddaughter. The one thing he knew, though, was that his daughter couldn't be in safer hands than with the Jaffa. "Anytime Teal'c. Beth would love it."
Jack thought back over the last year and smiled. After the baby had been born he'd decided to retire. Both Sam and the General had argued with him, telling him he'd be bored in a week. But inside he'd known it was the right decision. He'd also known that being a stay-at-home Dad would mean he would be far from bored. In fact, he'd never had so much fun!
He'd missed a good portion of Charlie's childhood and he refused to do the same with Beth. He also knew that his time in the field had been drawing to a close anyway. He'd done his duty – more than should be expected of any one person – and now it was time to enjoy his life.
Sam had also made noises about retirement, but he'd put his foot down. She was too young and had too brilliant a mind and future. She had, however, insisted on being taken out of the field and now worked only in the labs.
She'd confessed that she couldn't bear the thought of leaving Beth without her mother, as she, Sam, had been. She knew there were no guarantees, but her chances of getting killed were much higher going through the gate. She had returned to work when the baby turned six months and so far seemed to be enjoying her work.
As for Jack – well, the President had thrown a fit when he'd heard he was retiring and had almost prohibited it. It had only been Hammond's intervention – and warning that a Jack forced to do something would not be an asset – that had allowed Jack to partially retire. He was still on reserve and had agreed to act as liaison to Earth's allies. He'd balked at the Tokra, but was happy to continue the relationship with the Asgard, the Nox (if ever they decided to get in touch) and other friendly aliens.
The small amount of work he did allowed him to keep his security clearance and to have access to the base. He figured he had the best of both worlds.
"Have you seen Lieutenant Colonel Carter?" Teal'c asked.
And that was another good thing. His wife had been promoted! He knew that one day she'd probably make General – and he would be the proudest person in the room when that happened.
"No, not yet. I thought I'd drop in on Daniel first and then go and invite her for lunch in the Commissary at noon. Why don't you join us?"
"I shall O'Neill," Teal'c bowed his head and stood as Jack hopped on the elevator. Once the doors closed he continued to stand there for a few seconds, until a slow smile appeared on his face.
"You have done well, my friend," he said. "You have done well." With that Teal'c headed towards his quarters to once more look at the photo album of his Goddaughter.
"Hey Danny!" Jack knocked on the door of his archaeologist and linguist friend. "Whatcha up to?"
"Oh hi Jack, what are you doing here?"
"I asked first," Jack grinned.
Daniel looked down. "Nothing much. Sg7 brought back some scrolls from their latest mission and I was attempting to translate them. It looks like they're nothing more than inventory lists of crops and other goods. Pretty boring." He pushed aside the documents and swiveled his chair around to face the Colonel. "So, what about you?"
"Oh, just here to say hi to Thor. He was giving me a report. I just thought I'd come by and see you."
"Glad you did. How's the baby?"
Jack sighed and rolled his eyes. "Is that all anyone cares about now? I guess I'm just chopped liver!"
Daniel grinned, knowing that Jack didn't mean it. If there was ever a proud father, it was Jack O'Neill. In fact, Daniel knew that Jack would spend all his time talking about his daughter if he could.
"She's good," Jack relaxed, smiling. "Cute! She can say Mama now."
"Not Dada?"
Jack frowned. "No, but I'm teaching her. All I get is a big grin."
"That sounds pretty special."
"It is." Jack wandered over to the table and leaned his back against it. "You guys should come over this weekend. It's supposed to be nice – we'll have a picnic!"
"Sounds good. Uh – can I – bring someone?"
There was silence as Jack stared at him. A moment later Jack straightened. "A woman?"
Daniel rolled his eyes. "Yes, a woman."
"Really?"
"Jack – it's no big deal. I thought I'd ask Captain Jeffries if she'd like to go with me, that's all."
"Captain – oh, you mean Nurse Laura Jeffries? The pretty brunette who always wants to take your blood pressure."
"Jaaack!"
"Of course you can bring her," Jack said, dropping the teasing. "You need to have someone of your own Daniel. You've been alone too long."
The younger man looked down, his expression getting serious. "Yeah, I know. It's – hard. I still think about -" his voice faded and he stopped. A second later he lifted his head. "But I see how happy you and Sam are, what wonderful parents you are, and I want that for myself. I don't know if she's the one – we've only been out for coffee once –but I want to try. But please -"
"Don't worry," his best friend interrupted. "I won't bug you – at least not when she's with you. In private, I won't promise anything," he grinned.
"That's fair," Daniel returned the grin.
Jack pushed himself off the table and headed towards the door. "But you have to name your first one after me!" he said, as he left Jackson in his office.
Daniel shook his head and then chuckled. He probably would name his first child – or at least his son – after Jack. He could think of no better name-sake than the man who had saved his life and his sanity on many occasions. As he put his head down, and his mind back on his translating, he had one last thought. Teal'c was going to be jealous. Maybe he'd give his son the middle name Murray?
Jack was whistling as he made his way to Sam's lab. He'd seen her just a couple of hours before and he knew he was a sap, but he missed not having her around all the time. She made his life whole – her and Beth – and he was happiest with his family around him. And thinking of Daniel and Teal'c – and Janet, Cassie and the General – he recognized they were his family too.
In the end, it had been an alien race – long dead – that had brought him the happiness he thought he would never feel again. He spared a brief thought for those aliens and then his mind returned to the present. He no longer spent his days adventuring through the galaxy. Now his adventures were much closer to home – and even more wonderful.
Sam was thoroughly engrossed in some piece of alien technology when he got to her office. He snuck up behind her and kissed her neck. She didn't even flinch.
"You shouldn't do that Dr. Lee," she said calmly. "My husband could come by."
"Funny!" her husband snorted. He watched as Sam turned around, a big grin on her face. "You thought you could sneak up on me, did you? Well sorry – my favorite CO taught me to always be on the alert for attacks."
"Attacks, eh?"
"Mmm hmm. So?"
"So what?"
"I'm alert and ready for that attack."
"Why Samantha Carter!" he said stepping closer and wrapping his arms around the woman he loved. "And you at work!" He leaned forward and gave her a gentle kiss – full of love and caring and just a tiny bit of passion. He knew he couldn't allow too much of that – not here, not now.
"Did you see Thor?" his wife asked a few minutes later.
"I did. He says to say hi and he's extended an invitation for us all to visit Othalla. I guess the Asgard are fascinated by babies – since they can't have any of their own."
"That's sad, isn't it?"
Jack's brows lifted. "I guess, although the thought of a pregnant Asgard is a little scary. And anyway, where would the baby come -"
"Jack!"
"Well, it's true!"
"I know but – I don't really like to think about things like that."
"About birth?"
"No, about Asgard and birth – and sex and – you know!" She regarded him with affection. This man never ceased to amaze and amuse and excite her. She couldn't believe how lucky she was to have him in her life. And with Beth – well, things couldn't be better.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Sam looked up to see an Airman with a crate in his arms. "What is it Airman?"
"Uh, Dr. Felger asked me to deliver this to you," he said. "He wasn't sure what to do with it."
"Uh – okay. Did he say what it was?"
"I believe it's some pieces of ancient technology that need to go into storage. He wanted you to look at it first Ma'am."
"Fine," she sighed. "Just leave it on the table." She waited until the Airman had left, closing the door behind him. "I wonder what it is. Knowing Felger it's a pile of useless stuff that he didn't want to bother with."
"You should send it back to him, make him deal with it."
"Yeah, I probably will. He tries to get out of doing some of the more mundane tasks around here – he was always passing them off to Chloe, until I put my foot down. I expect this is his subtle means of revenge!"
"He's a twit," her husband said bluntly. "Hammond should get rid of him."
"Sometimes I think he should, but there are moments when he demonstrates some brilliance. I just wish he wasn't so irritating!" Sam walked over and examined the box. "I might as well take a look."
Jack watched as Sam opened the top of the box. She frowned and reached in and pulled out an object that was covered by a thick cloth.
"What the heck?" she muttered as she put it down. With a quick movement she removed the cloth – to see the alien orb that had changed their lives.
She looked quickly at Jack – her eyes big – when suddenly she heard a sound. Both of them swiveled to look at the orb, which started to glow.
"Oh shit!" Jack muttered as the light washed over Sam and then him. With his last coherent thought – as the passion grew –
"Oh well – I guess Beth could use a brother or sister."
The End …. For Now.