EPILOGUE

A man and a woman sat in two beach chairs, holding hands across the space between them in the dusk of a beautiful Carolina sunset.

It was a long time before either of them spoke, but finally the woman broke the silence.

"I just have one question."

The man's stomach flip-flopped twice before settling enough to allow him to speak.

"What?"

"Been meaning to ask you since you showed up here, actually."

The man's nervousness ratcheted up to near panic, and his voice rose almost an octave as he repeated his question.

"What?"

"Have you been fighting?"

The man huffed a laugh, and his panic dispelled like a drop of food coloring in the ocean.

"Well, that's a long story…"

The woman looked at the man pensively for a moment before she responded with a wry smile.

"I think I have time for a long story."

The man smiled widely and naturally. "I suppose that's true…"

The pair stood then by unspoken mutual agreement and turned away from the ocean. They began to leave the beach behind them in favor of the house in front of them. The man started to explain why his nose was swollen and his knuckles were bruised.

It wasn't the only story told that night, and explanations for many, many things saw the light of day. Two souls were laid bare, and more words were spoken between two old friends than had been said in ten years. The sun was just rising on the horizon when both participants in the nocturnal catharsis fell into an easy sleep, holding on to each other for dear life.

XXX

Seven months later, four friends (three men and one woman), sat quietly enjoying a meal outside on the deck of a house.

Their steaks were charred beyond recognition as meat.

The sky threatened rain.

Mosquitoes buzzed menacingly around, especially bothering the largest member of the group.

It was just a tiny bit chilly.

In short, it was a fairly nasty day.

But somehow, despite the chill, the wet, the bugs, and the less-than-stellar food, the friends were smiling and laughing.

The silver-haired man rested a hand casually on the thigh of the woman as he leaned back in his chair. The woman's bright blue eyes danced with merriment. There was no trace of discomfort or nervousness between the obvious couple.

The youngest man was excitedly telling a story, but the others were only half listening.

"Don't you see? That's what we've been looking for all this time! If this translates like I think it will, we might finally find the key to Merlin's weapon! We might finally have the advantage in the war against the Ori!"

The grey-headed man responded with a sigh. "Daniel, you've said that about the last fifteen doodads that have been brought back through the gate."

"I know, Jack, but this time is different! I really think I've got something with this one!"

Jack grinned. "You said that last time, too."

Now it was the woman's turn to enter the conversation, and she addressed Jack and Daniel in turn. "Well, actually, I think he's onto something this time, too. Why don't you bring the device by my lab tomorrow and I'll have a look? Maybe we can figure it out together."

Daniel stuck his tongue out at Jack and jokingly sneered across the table at him before he answered. "Sounds like a plan, Sam. Thanks. At least someone here doesn't think I'm crazy."

Jack pointed a warning finger at the younger man. "I never said you were crazy, Daniel. I only said that you think every new rock is the next best invention of all time."

Sam stuck up for Daniel again. "Well, to be fair, a lot of the 'rocks' we've brought back from other worlds have proven themselves pretty damn useful…"

The largest member of the group chimed in now. "She does indeed have a point, O'Neill."

As even Teal'c sided against him, Jack relented. "Alright, alright…FINE. You guys go play with your doodad tomorrow. I'm planning on taking a nice long nap in my chair."

Sam pulled her head back and leaned away from Jack to give him an indignant look. "Don't you mean my chair?"

"Nope. I bought it. I can call it mine if I want to." Jack leaned back and smiled teasingly as he spoke.

"You bought it for me."

"That's hardly the point."

Daniel sighed and shook his head while smiling a smile that was a mixture of true amusement and barely restrained annoyance. He was tired of hearing Jack and Sam bicker about their damn chair. Sure, it was the most comfortable seat in the house, and they fought over it good-naturedly, but sometimes it got on Daniel's last nerve.

"Just let it go, Sam. Just let him take his nap. I guess that's what being retired is all about, huh? Sitting around, not doing anything, bothering everyone all the time…"

"Watch it, Daniel, or I'll kick your ass but good."

"Oh, I'm really scared, Jack."

"You should be."

"Whatever."

The table erupted in laughter at this last line, and the sound carried into the cloudy sky for several minutes before easy conversation resumed.

In short, it was a fairly perfect day.

---The End---

Coast Of Carolina
By Jimmy Buffett/Mac McAnally

Little roadside restaurant we artfully complain.
Groovy tells the waitress that his chicken died in vain.
Most every day goes by according to design.
I live this dream, but still it seems I have you on my mind.

From the bottom of my heart,
Off the coast of Carolina.
After one or two false starts,
I believe we found our stride.
And the walls that won't come down,
We can decorate or climb or find some way to get around
Cause I'm still on your side.
From the bottom of my heart.

I can't see the future but I know it's comin' fast.
It's not that hard to wind up knee deep in the past.
It's come a lot of Mondays
Since the phone booth that first night.
Through years and miles and tears and smiles
I want to get it right.

From the bottom of my heart,
Off the coast of Carolina.
After one or two false starts,
I believe we found our stride.
And the walls that won't come down,
We can decorate or climb or find some way to get around
Cause I'm still on your side.
From the bottom of my heart.

These days I'm up about the time I used to go to bed.
Living large was once the deal, now I watch the stars instead.
They are timeless and predictable, unlike most things that I do.
But I tell the wind and my old friend I'm headed home to you.

From the bottom of my heart,
Off the coast of Carolina.
After one or two false starts,
I believe we found our stride.
And the walls that won't come down,
Hell, we can decorate or climb or find some way to get around
Cause I'm still on your side.
From the bottom of my heart.
From the bottom of my heart.