A/N: Here we are, as promised... a short epilogue. I hope to have another story in the works before too long. Thanks to everyone for reading this one!

Epilogue:

Two weeks later...

As Sam geared up, getting ready to head to the gate room, she couldn't help but smile. This was going to be her first mission since returning to active duty, and she was excited. She was excited not only by the prospect of venturing off to another new planet, but also because she felt like going on this mission marked the official return to normality for her.

In some ways the last two weeks had seemed very long, and they had definitely been difficult at times. And Sam knew she wouldn't be where she was now, she wouldn't be doing as well as she was now, if it hadn't been for her friends and teammates. There was no doubt in her mind that Colonel O'Neill, Daniel, Teal'c, and Janet had all played a vital role in her recovery. Especially Colonel O'Neill.

If it hadn't been for him, Sam knew she would still be right where she'd been in the week following her release from the infirmary. And that wasn't a good place at all. But he hadn't let her stay there, and never would have. None of her friends would have. And that made Sam love them all more than ever, made her feel luckier than ever.

They had all been there for her, had all rallied around her in such a way that Sam wondered how she could have ever felt alone. But she knew that she'd been pushing them away at first, trying desperately to keep them at arm's length. And she knew now what a huge mistake that was. Because if it hadn't been for them... well, she didn't even like to think about it.

But again, no matter how much she tried to pretend that she was okay, that she didn't need them, they had known better, had seen right through her. And she was grateful for that. She was also grateful for the amount of time they'd all spent with her over the past couple of weeks, Colonel O'Neill even arranging for all of SG-1 to have some time off to spend with her. And Janet had been there as often as she could, too.

Yes, Sam knew she was lucky.

All geared up now, Sam made her way to the gate room, the smile still on her face. And as she found the rest of her team waiting for her at the foot of the ramp, her smile widened.

"Ready, Major?" Colonel O'Neill asked, and he, too, was grinning. In fact, so was Daniel. And even Teal'c had a smile on his face, one that could actually be recognized as a smile by someone who didn't know him.

"Yes, sir," Sam replied enthusiastically. And she really was.

"Good," Colonel O'Neill said with a nod, and Sam didn't fail to hear the sincerity in his voice.

Just then, the seventh chevron locked and the outgoing wormhole was established with a familiar kawoosh. They all turned to look up at the control room where General Hammond stood, waiting to see them off.

"SG-1, you have a go," the General spoke over the loudspeaker.

Colonel O'Neill gave him a casual salute and turned toward the gate. "Let's move out, campers."

Sam followed her teammates up the ramp and toward the gate. As they disappeared through the event horizon ahead of her, Sam paused and turned back, looking up again at the control room. Her eyes met those of General Hammond and he smiled and gave her a nod.

Smiling again herself, Sam faced the shimmering event horizon. She was ready for this. Even though she still suffered from the occasional nightmare, even though she still had to deal with some unpleasant memories, she was ready. Her memories and fears no longer dominated her life and Colonel O'Neill had been right -- she'd regained her sense of security and she'd taken back her life. And this was the final step to getting back to where she wanted to be. To where she belonged.

So, taking a deep breath, Sam stepped through the event horizon to join her teammates on the other side, where she knew they would be waiting for her.

The End.