Last chapter!

He walked up to the second floor apartment and stood in front of Jon's door. He almost turned around and left, but then he pulled the picture out of his pocket and looked at it. No, he had to do this. If Jon told him to go to hell – well, at least he'd tried. He reached out and tapped on the door.

He could hear someone walking towards the door and saw the peep hole darkening for a few seconds. Good, Jon was cautious, just like his old man – Jack smirked.

"Hi", Jon stood there, a quizzical look on his face. "I didn't expect to see you so soon. Everything okay?"

"Yeah – everything's fine. Uh – can I -?" he gestured with his hand into the apartment.

With a lift of his brows Jon nodded and stepped back. "Come in. It's rather humble I'm afraid."

Jack gave a lop-sided smile. "Better than some of the places I – ur we lived in when we - I was younger." He frowned, a little confused as to how to talk to the man across from him about events in his – their – past life.

"Yeah." Jon motioned for him to sit. "Coffee?"

"No, already had some."

"So what brings you here?" Jon sat on the chair across from him. "You said there's nothing wrong?"

"No – everything's good. We told Hammond and he's looking into things for us." Jack grimaced slightly, not really wanting to talk to Jon about his relationship with Sam.

Jon nodded but didn't say anything. He continued to look expectantly at the older man across from him. "Okay."

"Look", Jack sighed and put his hands through his hair. "I didn't know if I should – I mean, you can tell me to go to hell but -"

After a short pause Jon grinned. "I gotta say it's rather interesting watching you having trouble spitting something out."

"Interesting?"

"Yeah – it's like", he shrugged, "looking in a mirror."

"An old one", Jack said sarcastically.

"True." Jon grinned again but after a moment grew serious. "Just spit it out."

"Yeah, okay. Look, I got up this morning so I could go see Charlie", he said in a rush. "It's been a long time." He could immediately see the other man's face go hard, all expression leeching out of his face. "I thought – I don't know if you go on your own, but I wanted to see if you wanted to go with me this time."

There was silence in the room and Jack could suddenly hear all the noises in the apartment – the sound of cars outside, the motor in the refrigerator, the sound of a door closing down the hall. What he didn't hear was any sound from Jon.

Finally the other man spoke. "No. I don't go."

Jack frowned. "Never?"

"No."

"But – why not? I mean, I can understand if you wanted to avoid being there when I'm there or – Sara – but surely you go other times."

"No." Jon stood up and walked to the window. "I haven't gone. I didn't think -" His voice faded and he stood there staring out onto the street.

"You didn't think – what?"

Jon turned quickly, a look of – anger?, hurt? – no, Jack realized it was a look of despair. He closed his eyes, again feeling horribly guilty over having ignored this man since his – creation.

Jon laughed. "I'm just a clone Jack – I'm not really you. I didn't live that life. Charlie wasn't -", he paused and swallowed, "He wasn't really my son."

Jack surged to his feet. "Like hell he wasn't. What are you talking about? You did live those things. Don't you understand – you didn't come out of thin air. You were me – you lived every single second. You grew up in Minnesota and spent summers at Grandpa's cabin. You joined the Air Force and learned to fly. You met Sara and married her and you – you had a precious son who you loved more than anything in the whole world. You were me – and it's only when Loki decided to screw around that we became two distinct persons. You weren't suddenly created out of nothing."

"No – I was created from you."

"My point exactly. You are as much Jonathan O'Neill as I am – just a much younger, better looking one."

"Then why don't I have your life?" Jon asked softly. "Why don't I work for the Air Force? Why isn't Sam married to me, not you?"

Jack closed his eyes, not quite sure what to say. After a few brief moments he opened them. "Because the world wouldn't believe that you were me and as soon as we became two - there was only room for one of us in that life." He shrugged. "It wasn't fair what happened – but it was the only thing we could do."

"I know that", Jon said, sounding sad. He turned and walked back to the couch and sat down, a small smile on his face. "Of course I know – and don't think I blame you, because I don't. It's just – I've never felt like I deserve this life, that I'm not really you."

"You're not me – not now. You've become your own person with a separate present and future from mine, but you do share my – our past. And look, I can't tell you what to do now. I can't tell you to go see Charlie, but I think you should. I know it's a huge hole in your heart, just like it is in mine. In fact, you and I are the only ones that truly understand what it feels like to have lost him and to feel responsible for his death. And you know what? In some strange way that - helps. He was your son as much as he was mine so don't – don't lose that, don't lose him."

Jon sat watching him, his teeth working at his lips and his hands fidgeting with the arm of the chair. Jack watched, knowing exactly what was going through the other man's mind – which was rather eerie but, as he had said, also rather comforting.

"You really wouldn't mind?" Jon finally asked.

"What? You going to see Charlie? No – in fact I'd like it. I can't always be there for him and it would be good to know that you were."

"You don't think it will confuse him?" Jon smiled slightly. "Suddenly having two Dad's I mean."

Jack laughed. He hadn't really thought of that. "I doubt it. He was a pretty smart kid. He'll probably think it's great."

The other man answered with a broken laugh and leaned his head back. It was only then that Jack could see the tears forming in Jon's eyes. "I've missed him so much", Jon whispered. "I wanted to go – so many times – but felt like I didn't have a right to. I – thank you for this."

"Don't thank me", Jack answered, disgusted at himself. "It shouldn't have taken me this long to talk to you. I'm sorry that we all ignored you for so long. It wasn't right."

"It's okay", Jon suddenly moved and sat forward. "Although I'll probably make the most out of it for a while." He grinned. "Daniel must feel really guilty."

"You're gonna make him do something for you, aren't you?" Jack asked suspiciously.

"Hey, you would too!"

"Of course I would", he sighed and then stood. "Come on, let's go see Charlie."

It was as they were heading to the car that Jon stopped and turned towards Jack. "Uh – you don't think you could see about having Thor make a clone of Sam for me, do you?"

Jack stared at him, not quite sure if the younger man was kidding or not. It gave him rather a strange feeling, although he couldn't blame Jon for missing her. "Uh – I'll see what I can do", he finally replied, practically choking over the words.

"Great!" Jon was whistling as he got into Jack's truck.

"What are you thinking about?" Sam asked him later that afternoon. They were both lazing around the house, just enjoying being healthy and at home.

"Huh? Oh, I was thinking of Jon", he said.

"That was a nice thing you did", his wife told him. She sat down beside him and curled up, her head on his shoulder. "How did he handle it?" Jack had mentioned the visit to Charlie's grave with Jon briefly when he'd returned from the cemetery but hadn't said much. Sam had taken one look at him and had left it alone, knowing he was still dealing with the emotions of having visited his son after so many months. Now however he seemed more willing to talk about it.

"Oh – about like me", Jack gave a sad smile. "It was – emotional for him. This is the first time he's ever been."

Sam leaned forward and kissed him. "I love you Jack O'Neill."

He turned into her and held her close. "And I love you Mrs. O'Neill."

After a few minutes spent kissing and holding one another Sam finally leaned back. "Is that what you were thinking about?"

"You mean Jon going to the cemetery?"

She nodded.

"No – actually, I was thinking about you and Jon", her loving spouse told her.

"Me and Jon? Why in the world were you thinking that?" She looked at him suspiciously. "There is no me and Jon."

"I know that, but - he's in love with you", he said matter-of-factly.

"In – he is not!"

"Of course he is Sam. I was in love with you when Loki cloned him, and he has all the same memories and feelings as I did. In fact, he asked if Thor could clone you."

She stared at him in shock. "He was kidding, right?"

"I don't know. Maybe. Anyway, it might be a good idea. Your clone could be with Jon."

"No it's not a good idea", she told him. "Any clone of mine would have all the same feelings and memories as I do, right now", she informed him. "And I'm in love with you, not with Jon."

"But we're the same", he told her.

"No you're not. Not anymore. I would feel like I was robbing the cradle. I'm attracted to you, not to a 19 year old boy."

"Except he's really not 19 – he's my age, he just looks better." Jack sighed. "It seemed like a good idea at the time."

She snorted. "That's because it was thought up by the two of you! No, we'll have to figure something else out."

"It's going to be rather difficult for him. Inside he's a 50 year old guy with all the life experiences of one. He's not going to do well with some young girl."

He could tell by the look on his wife's face that she'd discovered a new mission in life. He couldn't help but grin. Jon may not get a Sam clone for himself, but she would do everything she could to make sure he was happy.

Jon O'Neill – you really don't know what's coming.

Epilogue

"Jack?"

"Hmm? What?" Jack was sitting on a lounge chair in the backyard, listening to music and reading a book. She brought him a drink and then sat in the chair beside him.

He put his book on his lap and looked at her. "What's up?"

"Nothing", she replied, taking a sip of her lemonade.

"Okay." After a few seconds he lifted his book and began to read again. It only lasted a few minutes when he sighed and put it down again. "Sam?"

"What?" She looked at him innocently.

"What is it?"

"Noth -"

"Uh uh", he shook his finger at her. "I can practically hear you thinking. I've known you for years Samantha Carter and I know when something is bothering you. So – what is it?"

She sighed and looked down at her drink, running her finger along the edge. "Uh – well, it's nothing really", she told him.

He frowned. "Hammond didn't change his mind, did he?"

"No."

They had heard back – finally – from the General. After many discussions and most likely some push back from the NID and others who had it in for the SGC or Jack personally, Hammond had informed them that the Air Force wasn't going to take any action against them for their relationship. They found out that Thor had given a statement, as had Daniel and Teal'c.

It did mean, however, that they would no longer be allowed to serve together on Sg-1. It was a sad moment for both of them, but Jack had been thinking long and hard about what he wanted to do and informed Sam that he was thinking of retiring anyway. They'd argued about it – fiercely – and it still wasn't totally resolved. For now, both of them were going to work on base and not do any off-world missions until it had been decided what direction they would take in their respective careers.

Jack continued to look at his wife, wondering what was going on. She was fidgeting, which wasn't like her – like him yes, but not like Carter.

"Jack – you remember on Terra, when we talked about having kids?"

He frowned slightly, trying to remember back to that conversation. "Uh, I guess, yeah."

"Well, now that we're home and you're healthy, I was wondering -"

"What?"

"Jack!" she exclaimed impatiently. "I want to know what you think about it."

"Think about what?"

She sighed in frustration. "About kids Jack. I want to know if you still think you might want any."

"Oh." He stared at her, wishing he knew what to say or do. Unfortunately his brain cells seemed to have frozen.

"You're telling me you don't want any aren't you?" she asked softly.

"No", he said quickly. At her look of disappointment he looked flustered. "I mean – no, I'm not telling you that." He could see the relief on her face. "I meant – I'm – do you want kids?"

"Only if you do", she answered.

Great – make him decide! Looking at Sam he realized that this was important to her. He thought about the idea of having a child – a baby – and it was terrifying. Not only did it bring up all sorts of fears about the possibility of losing another child, he also wondered if he'd be up to it. He had been in his thirty's when Charlie was born and now he'd be in his fifty's. Could he handle looking after a small child?

"Thor said you'll probably outlive us all Jack", Sam said softly, seeming to know what he was thinking. "You're as healthy as a much younger man."

He gave her a small grin. That was true – so – ah hell! He had never let fear get in the way of something he wanted in the past. Why start now. Suddenly the thought of having a child with Sam was appealing – no, it was more than appealing. It was – something he realized he really wanted.

"I want kids", he nodded.

"You're sure?"

He grinned widely and put down his drink. He then sat up and leaned towards her. "I can't think of anything I want more."

She grinned back and then leaned forward and kissed him. "I love you, you know."

"Good. It's important to love the father of your future children."

"Uh Jack?"

"Yeah? What?"

"Well – I don't just love the father of my future children."

"No?' he frowned, confused.

"No – I love the father of my – our present child." She put her hand on her stomach and grinned. "Congratulations Jack – you're going to be a daddy."

Jack suddenly thought back to that day they'd landed on Terra and remembered having felt like he was cursed. It was the third time he'd been stranded on an alien planet and he had wondered at the time, if someone was out to mess with his life. But now - with blinding clarity, he knew that getting lost on another planet with Major Samantha Carter, his second in command, the best soldier he'd ever served with, and the love of his life, had been the best thing that had ever happened to him.

The End

Thanks for reading and to all of you who took the time to review. On to my next story.

I may do a short sequel with Jon (although it may not be right away). I wanted to give him a Sam clone, but logically I just couldn't see how it would work. Still – I might change my mind or figure something out.