Title: Men in Black (Seventh in the Movie Series)

Author: Malinne

Email: malinne@sbcglobal.net

Status: Complete

Rating: NC-17 graphic sex, language

Summary: The O'Neill family goes into hiding to protect the children.

Spoilers: None

Classification: Sam & Jack. H/C, romance, establish relationship

Archive: SJ-NC17, SJD- yes

Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Stargate (II) Productions, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author. This story may not be posted elsewhere without the consent of the author.

Notes: Part of the "Movie Series". Reading the following is recommended, but not required to understand events in this story: "Booty Call", "Risky Business", "Body Heat", "Eyes Wide Shut", "The Astronaut's Wife", and What Dreams May Come.

Note: Special thanks to my friend Jo for helping to get me started with the plot when I `stalled out' after seeing that depressing and nameless episode in Season 7.

Part 1

Sam sat on the lounger, rubbing lotion into her deeply tanned skin as she watched Jack playing on the beach with their twins. She found it hard to believe they were five years old now. Everything surrounding her pregnancy, abduction by Ba'al and subsequent release, seemed like it had happened a million years ago. What was freshest in her mind was the terrifying night a little over a year ago when the NID had tried to take her children.

It had happened just after sundown; Jack wasn't home yet from a meeting with the Asgard at the SGC. Sam thought she heard his truck, but when she looked out the window, it was a van, which had pulled up across the street from their house. She had turned to go back the kitchen and finish dinner, when the twins had come running into the living room and each grabbed her by the hand. "Mommy…Mommy!" Jake had yelled. "Bad men outside."

Sam squeezed his hand. "No, it's okay, sweetie. It's just a car across the street."

Michaela was jerking on her hand and pleading, "No, Mommy. They bad… they want to take Jake and me away!"

Sam squatted down and hugged them both. "I don't know what's gotten into you two tonight. No more Peter Pan…I think Captain Hook has scared you. Tell you what—let me turn off the oven and I'll read you a Pooh story. How's that sound?" She freed her hands and turned toward the kitchen. The kids ran past her and hid behind the couch, just as the front door burst open and four men, dressed in black with masks covering their faces, rushed inside. "You two…get the kids," she heard one of them say. She glanced toward the twins and shouted, "Run!" then; turned to face the intruders.

Sam spun and kicked, striking the first man in the face and landing him on his ass. Grabbing the poker from the fireplace, she swung, hitting another man in the upper arm. The kids screamed and she chanced a glance their way. They were cowering behind the couch, Jake protectively holding Mike. Turning back to her assailants, she found the fraction of a second she had taken to check on her children had cost her dearly, a fist was coming straight for her head—she had no time to react. The blow connected with her jaw and sent her sailing backwards off her feet. It all seemed to be happening in slow motion— the terrible crunch of the fist connecting with her face, her body drifting into the air as the momentum of the blow carried her backwards into the corner of the room, and then falling…slowly toward the floor. Sam turned her head to look behind the couch, but her children were no longer there. Terror tore through her as she lost consciousness; her last thought being that the NID had her precious babies.

***

Slowly, Sam began to awaken. Her thoughts were muddled and she felt pain in her jaw. What was going on? Then she remembered. She jerked upright to scream for the children, but a tiny hand clamped over her mouth. She turned to see Mike and Jake sitting beside her, holding her hands. Jake gestured to be quiet, holding a little finger to his lips. Mike leaned to her ear and whispered, "It's okay…they can't see us, Mommy." Evidently this was true; she could see the men standing ten feet from her, talking about the fact that they couldn't find her or the children anywhere.

"The boss is really gonna be pissed at us for screwing this up. What the fuck is wrong that four trained agents can't capture a woman and two little brats? Where the hell did they go? People don't just disappear. The goa'uld don't have that ability, and from what I understand these harsi…something or the other, shouldn't either!" The man, who seemed to be in charge, picked up the poker from the floor and slammed it into the hallway mirror, sending shards of glass spraying across the room. He paused and pressed the earpiece of his headset a little tighter into place as he listened to some transmission. "Shit…we fucked this up big time, guys. We lost them. O'Neill is on his way home so we have to bug out, and now they know we're after them. Let's move back outside and take cover. I'm not giving up yet. When O'Neill gets here—get him out of the way. I don't care how. He's the expendable one in this game. Just get the woman and the kids. There's gonna be hell to pay if we lose them!"

Sam was trying to stay calm. But, how could they not see them sitting in the floor so close to them? Mike tugged on Sam's arm, wanting her to get to her feet. Jake rose with them, and they moved toward the open front door, slipping easily outside unnoticed. Jake pulled his Mom's arm to get her to lean down to him. "Mommy, necklace hides us." He said touching the blue stone necklace that hung around his neck. Lya, of the Nox, had given the three of them necklaces. Sam remembered, Lya had told her that if she ever needed her to simply grasp the stone and call out to her with her mind. Well, if she didn't need her now--she didn't think she ever would. Kidnappers, men who would kill Jack when he arrived home, were hunting her and her children. Closing her eyes, Sam squeezed the stone that hung around her neck and called out to Lya, pleading for her help and trying to convey what was taking place through her thoughts.

Suddenly, Sam felt a soft, warm hand on her arm. Opening her eyes, she saw Lya standing before her. She smiled and nodded at Sam, reaching down to caress the cheeks of the children. "Join hands with me." She whispered to them. They did so, and moments later they found themselves standing in General Hammond's office at the SGC.

He jerked his head up, startled by the sudden appearance. "What the hell? Sam, are you alright," he asked seeing the trail of blood from the corner of her mouth and the dark bruise forming on her jaw.

"I'll be fine, sir. I'll fill you in later, but right now we have to call Jack. He is on his way home and the NID is there. They'll kill him, sir!" Sam reached for the phone, but Lya placed her hand on her arm.

"That is not necessary, Samantha. I have sent Nafreyu for Jack. They will leave his vehicle and he will transport him back to the SGC. You are all safe." She smiled and patted Sam reassuringly on the arm as Jack and Nafreyu appeared beside them.

Jack pulled Sam into his arms; then stepped back to look at her, checking out her injuries. The twins who had been clinging tightly to Sam and Lya's legs, were now jumping up and down yelling, "Hi, Freyu!"

The General looked around at the group; picked up the phone and called Dr. Frasier to bring her medical bag to his office. When he hung up, he spoke. "I want the Doctor take a look at Sam. Then we'll get everyone together and someone can tell me what in the hell is going on here!"

Shortly, Janet had checked over Sam. Daniel had heard the news and come up from his lab, where he continued to work with translating alien text, rarely going off-world anymore. Teal'c, had he not been off with Bra'tac and Rey'ac, would have no doubt joined in as well. When they were all assembled, the General looked at Jack. "Now, care to tell me about this. Lya and Nafreyu came through the gate and vanished immediately. Next thing I know, you're all standing in my office."

"Sorry, George…I don't have clue either." Jack shrugged and turned giving Sam a questioning look.

"Four men smashed into the house this evening. My guess is they were NID." She reached out and took Jack's hand. "They were after the kids. I got knocked out, and when I woke up the kids were holding me in the corner behind the couch. It was like we were invisible—they couldn't see us. We heard them say that you were on you way home—and that you were expendable. Together we managed to get out the open door. Jake told me that the necklaces were hiding us. That's when I remembered what Lya had said about the necklace. I called out for her and she appeared; then transported us here."

Jack hugged her tightly; then squatted to pick up the twins. "Thank God, you are all okay. I just about wrecked the truck when Nafreyu appeared in the cab. He had me park it; then he brought me to you."

Sam glanced over at the children, "Jack, somehow…the twins knew they were coming for us."

Lya stepped forward. "General Hammond, if I may. I think I can explain." She smiled as he nodded for her to continue. "The necklaces allow you to contact the Nox when you need us. But they also serve other purposes. We have been using them to begin to teach your children the ways of the Nox. They must learn at a young age, that violence is not the only option. Nafreyu has been visiting the children regularly in their sleep. He taught them to use the stones to hide themselves, and they have learned to open their minds to sense the world around them. As they grow older, their abilities will also grow. With guidance, they will learn to use their gifts." She turned and looked at Sam and Jack before continuing. "I am sorry, that we did not inform you before communicating with your children. It is the Nox way that children learn from all elders, not just their parents. I must apologize that we did not seek your consent first."

Sam hugged her, "Lya, I am so thankful that you have taught them. We wouldn't all be standing here right now if it hadn't been for their ability to make us invisible."

Lya took Sam's hand. "You too, can learn to hide yourself, but I am afraid your abilities will be limited." Then she lifted her eyes to Jack, "I am sorry, but you will not be able to use the stone. This is the reason you were not given one on Numitor. Samantha can use the stone to activate genetic changes that Nirti made to her." She turned back to Sam. "There is much I have not told you. Nirti was preparing you. She had planned to augment your superior intellectual abilities with numerous other changes to your DNA. Had her experiments succeeded, and if you had not managed to escape, she would have created genetic mutations giving you many other abilities; then, she would have claimed you as host. As I have already told you, not all of these mutations were completely reversed. They allow you to use the stone and the power of invisibility, and you have passed these genetic mutations on to your children."

They talked for several hours, formulating a plan to keep the four of them safe from the NID. They didn't want to take the children off- world, but they knew that was the best way of the losing the NID… remove their means of pursuing them. Jack sat, quietly thinking to himself. Outside of their close circle of friends at the SGC, there was only one person he would trust with their lives, Jess, the friend who owned the vacation home where they had stayed in Jamaica 5 years ago. "I know someplace safe we can go," said Jack.

George broke in quickly, "Don't say anymore, Jack. It's safer if no one here, other than Lya and Nafreyu, know where to find you."

Jack nodded his agreement and turned to Nafreyu, "Can you do that `beam me up Scottie' thingy and take me to talk to someone?"

Nafreyu nodded, "I can take you anywhere on this planet that you wish to go, but the Nox cannot travel to other worlds without using a Gate." He stepped to Jack's side and gripped his arm, "Think about where it is you wish to go." Slowly, he and Jack faded from view.

While Jack was away, Sam was contacting Jacob. Fortunately, he was at the Tok'ra base and not on a mission. He came immediately to the SGC. After hugging his daughter, the business-as-always former general, got right to it. "Sam, what's this emergency, and how can I help?"

"Dad, the NID tried to kidnap us tonight. I'm assuming it was the NID— they looked and acted the part. They were going to kill Jack. They only want the three of us. We need a safe place to stay. Jack and I really don't want to take the kids off-world, but what choice do we have if the NID think they are harsesis…and that's the only answer I can come up with. They must have gotten into the SGC files somehow. We don't want anyone here to know where we've gone. If we gate to the Tok'ra base with you; then you can use a ship to transport us to the home planet we've chosen." Jacob nodded his head and Sam continued. "Prepare a ship for a long trip. We won't be bringing any personal belongings with us. We'll meet you tomorrow." She took a deep breath and sighed heavily.

Jacob pulled her into a hug. "Sorry, kitten. Seems like life never gets any easier. I'll be ready. Can I see my grandbabies before I go back?"

"Yeah, Dad. They're in the VIP quarters with Janet and a SF guard detail. I hope they are asleep by now." She hugged him again. "Thanks, Dad."

"For what, Sam. I'm just helping to keep my family safe," he said as he brushed back her bangs and kissed her on the forehead.

Sam smiled and squeezed him even tighter, nestling her head into his shoulder. "You are always there for us. Whether it's me or Jack… you're always there."

"Hey…as I recall you two went to hell and back for me and Selmac. So, don't talk about being there for someone, okay! Now…the kids?" Sam walked with him to check on the kids; then, saw him back to the gateroom for his departure.

Jack and Nafreyu returned an hour later. The plan was set. They would gate to Jacob; then have him deliver them to their new home. They would take none of their personal belongings. Jack and Nafreyu had stopped by the bank, closing out all accounts and withdrawing the cash.

***

No effort was made to hide their departure from Earth. The following morning, after Sam said a tearful goodbye to Janet they departed through the Stargate. The hands of the children held tightly between them, as the family stepped through the event horizon. If a mole was inside the SGC or had access to reports, they would know that the O'Neill's were no longer residents of planet Earth; and that although they gated to the Tok'ra, plans had already been made to transport them to a new home—a planet with no stargate. Once they had departed, Lya and Nafreyu returned to the Nox.

When they arrived at the Tok'ra base, Jack told Jacob their true plans. The trip was several days journey, but on the fourth day, the cloaked ship landed on the beach behind their new home in Negril, Jamaica.

***

That had been one year ago. Now, as she sat and watched her children play, she wondered if their lives would ever be normal. They appeared happy and unaffected by the abrupt change in their lifestyle. The resilience of children to adapt amazed her. They were content to spend their time with their parents and with the occasional visits from Lya or Nafreyu. They spent most of their time roaming the town with either Jack or Sam, or playing on the sand like two little sea urchins. Their bodies were so brown and their hair was bleached almost white by the sun—as was Sam's.

Life was harder for Jack and Sam. She was so lonely. She missed her work. Nothing here could compare to building a naquada generator, or dismantling alien technology to see what made it tick. But most of all, she missed Janet. She talked to the other women in town, but she couldn't identify with any of them. She missed her friend. Sam spent little time away from the house and kids. They didn't dare trust their care to anyone else given the circumstances.

Jack on the other hand, was breaking the monotony by doing a variety of things part-time around the village. He had helped with a building project at the docks. He sometimes helped out a new friend, Saban, when he needed someone to help crew one of his excursion boats. But his favorite job was playing Calico Jack in one of the shows that was put on for tourists on the beach. He only did it when the regular guy was off, but he had such fun doing it, and always came home afterwards like a true lusty pirate, home from the sea and looking for his woman. Sam liked it when he played Calico Jack.

***

She sat, musing…watching her family play and staring out at the empty ocean. She had once thought of this place as paradise. Her first time here she had told Jack she felt so free; now it was a sanctuary, but sometimes a prison too. She realized Jack was watching her, and forced a smile. But he knew from her expression that something was wrong. Standing and brushing off the sand, he walked over and sat down on the chair beside her. "A penny for them," he said.

Sam smiled at him and took his hand. "They're not worth a penny. Just feeling sorry for myself. And self-pity is pretty useless and wasteful. I've got better things to do with my time. It's just that sometimes…." She stopped as tears welled in her eyes.

Jack slid closer and wrapped his arms around her. "I know Sam…I know. I miss them all too." He kissed her on the forehead.

"I don't know what's wrong with me lately. I've been depressed. I think it's because a year has passed and we are still here, with no idea when or if we'll ever get to go home. The SGC has made no progress in finding out who was after the kids. I just want our lives back." She shrugged her shoulders as if trying to shake off her depression. "But enough of this…" She nodded toward the twins. "Right out there is the reason we're doing this…and I'll keep doing it for as long as it takes." She kissed him lightly on the lips. "Now, you stay here and watch. I'm going to build a sand castle with my kids… unless you want to help." She tugged on his hand as she stood.

"Nope, you go on. I'll sit here a while." He watched her as she bounced to her children and began laughing and playing with them. She was smiling and her voice sounded cheerful, but he could see that her smile didn't reach the corners of her eyes and light her face like it used to do. He had to plan something for her. She needed a break. Her birthday was coming up soon. What could he do to lift her spirits the most?

***

Part 2 Guests

Three weeks later, on Sam's birthday, all the arrangements had been made. Jack woke early and slipped downstairs to complete his plans. A short while later, as the sun was rising, he went back to their room to wake Sam. "Hey…sleepyhead. It's 0630 hours. Roll your ass out of that bed and let's get going. I've got a busy day planned for us," he joked with her.

Sam rolled over and grabbed a pillow, throwing it toward him. "Leave me alone and get out of my bedroom or I'll scream for my husband." She smiled and settled back into her pillow.

"Sam, get up and put some clothes on. Someone wants to see you."

She pulled the sheet up over her head. "Then let them in…the kids see me naked all the time."

An evil grin lit Jack's face. "Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you."

Sam heard him open the bedroom door, and then she heard shuffling noises. Okay…so what had the three of them cooked up for her birthday this time? She stretched, and as she did so the covers pulled down her body, uncovering her head and shoulders. She sat up in bed and opened her eyes. Holy shit! Daniel, Teal'c, Janet, Cassie, General Hammond, Lya and Nafreyu were standing there beside her bed. She jerked the sheet back to her body. "Oh my god! Oh my god!" She jumped up wrapping the sheet around herself and ran to hug each of them, tears streaming down her face. When she had greeted each of them, she turned to Jack. "You did this for me. Oh god, Jack. Thank you. This is wonderful." Pulling him to her, she pressed her lips tightly to his. He responded, parting her lips and deepening the kiss.

Breaking apart, he caressed her cheek. "Happy Birthday, Sam. Lya and Nafreyu brought them here. Now, they have no idea where `here' is. We won't mention where we live. All identifying information has been removed from the house. And they won't be going into town. Everyone is here today to visit and enjoy the house, the beach, and your company." He pulled her sheet back up as it slipped down partially exposing one breast. "Now, how about we get out and let you dress?" he kissed her again and they all backed out of the room. Just as the door was closing, two little cotton-tops came scampering into the room and jumped up on the bed, bouncing on it like it was a trampoline. "Happy Birthday, Mommy!" they both shouted. "Do you like our surprise?" Jake asked. "Daddy says these are our special family. But I don't remember them," said Michaela.

"They are our family, sweetie. And we'll all get reacquainted today. Go with Daddy and let me dress okay?" They jumped off the bed and ran to Jack, who scooped them both up in his arms. Janet reached back to shut the door behind them. "Janet, Cassie…wait. Stay with me while I get ready."

They stepped inside and Janet shut the door. Tears filled Sam's eyes as the three women embraced. "I have missed you all so much. I want to hear everything about what's going on at home and in the SGC." They talk for 30 minutes, discussing every imaginable subject and covering more things than any other three women could have discussed in a day. Sam finally stood. "I guess I better clean up and we can join the others. I'll be right back after a quick shower. Wait here if you want."

Cassie hugged her. "Sam, I think I'll go down stairs and see the twins."

Sam took Cassie's face I her hands and kissed her on both cheeks, before pulling her tightly to her. "You have grown into such a beautiful woman. I'm so proud of you, Cass. Go on then, and I'll catch you later. Don't let those two talk you into mischief." Cassie squeezed her tightly; then left the room to find the twins.

She turned back to Janet as Cassie closed the door. "Come in the bathroom. You can talk to me while I shower." Sam dropped her sheet and turned on the shower, testing the water temperature before stepping into the open-front stone shower. It was custom made and resembled a grotto with a waterfall more than a shower.

Janet pulled out the vanity bench and sat down watching her friend. Physically, she hadn't changed much. Still lean and muscled, but her skin much darker tan than Janet had ever seen her. "So…no tan lines I see!" she commented with a chuckle.

"Nope, not much need for a suit with just us here. Who's going to see me? I'm very comfortable with nudity around the kids and so is Jack. I don't want them all inhibited about it." She dipped her head under the water, rinsing the shampoo from her hair. It was long now…almost to the middle of her back, and a much lighter shade of blonde— obviously bleached by a lot of time in the sun.

"Sam, I have got to ask this as your doctor. I notice how tan you all are. Are you being careful of the sun?"

She stepped out of the shower and grabbed a small towel, drying her hair and wrapping the towel around her head, before grabbing another one the wrap her body. Of course, Janet…we bathe regularly in suntan lotion," she joked.

Janet stood, "Come here and sit down. I'll comb your hair out for you." Sam hesitated then smiled and sat down on the chair. She could stand to be pampered for once. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling as Janet toweled her hair. "Sam, I brought my med kit too. I want to check everyone out while I'm here." Sam just nodded in agreement. "I'm starting my assessment now. Tell me, how are you— really."

Sam stilled and sat with her eyes shut. Janet could see the tears as they began to roll down her cheeks. "I'm lonely Janet. I miss you…I miss my Dad…I miss everybody. But I miss our friendship most of all. I don't have another woman to talk to about anything. Jack tries to be there, but—it's not the same. I watch the kids, or Jack watches them so I can jog on the beach or go into town for a while." She opened her eyes and looked up in the mirror and into Janet's eyes. "But I'm not what's important here. I am doing—we are doing what we have to do to keep our children safe. And, I'll do it for as long as I have to do it!"

She heard a faint knock and the bedroom door opened slowly. Jack stuck his head around the door, a sheepish grin on his face. "I hope I'm not intruding. I knew you two would want to talk, but everyone is waiting for you downstairs." Seeing Sam's reddened eyes he walked on it and knelt down beside her, closing his hand and running the backs of his fingers over her cheek. "Are you okay?"

She leaned forward and kissed him. "Yeah…I'll be fine. Thanks. Go tell everyone I'll be there in five."

Jack left the room. Janet had to laugh as she watched Sam dress…she had sure changed from the old Major Carter. Sam pulled on black thong underwear and dropped a backless sundress on over her head. Then slipped her feet in a pair of sandals and announced, "I'm ready!" The old Sam would have felt naked, but this Sam was very comfortable and secure in herself. This forced isolation might have limited Sam professionally, but the down time had been good for her in other ways. Janet opened the door and they headed downstairs to join the crowd.

When they walked into the living room, Jake was sitting on the chair arm beside Teal'c firing questions at him. "What's on you head? Does it hurt? Uncle George doesn't have one, and his head is smooth like yours. Why doesn't he have one?"

Teal's looked up at her with a sparkle in his eye. "Maj…Samantha, your son is most inquisitive. I believe that he has already asked me more questions than your superiors asked me when I first came to the SGC many years ago."

"Just be glad it's Jake and not Mike interrogating you. She is relentless in her questioning," she laughed as she leaned over and tickled her son; then kissed Teal'c on the top of his head.

The day passed quickly as they all visited. Sam learned that her father was away on Tok'ra business, but would visit when he was back on Earth next time. Mark and his family were doing well. They all talked, had birthday cake and gave Sam her gifts. The twins ran upstairs when Sam began opening gifts. A few minutes later they came back down with a box they had wrapped all by themselves in powder blue tissue paper. As they scooted it to her, she looked inquisitively at Jack. He shook his head, "Don't ask me. They asked for the paper and told me it was a surprise."

Sam accepted the box and carefully opened it—a bit cautious of what might be inside. She slowly pulled back the lid and peeked inside. "Oh my god!" she exclaimed. It was a necklace, but oh what a necklace. It began with string of perfectly matched pearls probably 20 inches long. A blue diamond pendant in a gold setting hung from the center. "This looks real. Jack? Where did you get this? It had to cost a fortune."

"Sam, I had nothing to do with this." He turned to look at the kids.

They were bouncing up and down. "Do you like it, Mommy?" asked Jake. "It's beautiful like you, Mommy," said Mike.

She pulled them both to her, giving them both a hug and a kiss. "I love it, but where did you find something so lovely?"

They looked at each other and smiled, obviously proud of their gift. Mike spoke, "The dolphins found it for us, Mommy."

"Yes," added Jake. "We told them our Mommy needed something beautiful for her birthday and asked them to look for something in the ocean. They brought it to us. It was all dirty and yucky, but we read in book that told us what to mix up and clean it."

Mike chimed in, not wanting to get in trouble, "Freyu helped us, cause we're not supposed to get in the things under the kitchen sink without help,"

Jack shook his head. "Wait a minute…wait a minute here. You mean to tell me you actually talked to the dolphins?"

Jake looked up into his father's eyes. "Yes, Daddy. We talk to other animals too." Mike climbed onto Sam's lap and began playing with the necklace. "They talk back to us. Can't you hear them, Mommy?"

Sam kissed her on the forehead. "No, I can't sweetie. That is something special about you and your brother. You can do many things that no one else can. Remember, we talked about keeping these things a secret, so the bad men won't find out where we are." Jake climbed onto her other leg. "It's alright to talk about them to the people that are in this room right now. These people are your friends and family. And you can tell Grampa Jacob, but no one else. Understand?"

They jumped and ran toward the open patio doors. Yelling in unison, "Yes, Mommy. We're gonna play now."

The O'Neill's and their guests all moved outside to enjoy the day. They talked, swam, and played beach volleyball. As the sun was starting to sink, everyone gathered on the patio to say their goodbyes. Jack grabbed Sam's arm and pulled her up on his lap. "Now, for my present. Janet and Cassie are staying the night to take care of the twins. Lya and Nafreyu will stay too to make sure everyone is safe. You and I are spending an evening on the town. And I've rented a little bungalow over the water for the night. How's that sound," he asked waggling his eyebrows. Then he leaned his mouth to her ear and whispered, "You can scream as loud and as long as you want and not worry about waking the kids."

Sam responded with a kiss, biting his lower lip as they broke away from each other. In words reminiscent of another place and time, she whispered to him, "Are you ready for me, Ralphie?" and ground her hip into his groin.

"Stop that!" he growled at her, as their friends looked on and grinned.

"Why? Aren't you man enough to take it?" she teased and tormented him.

He jerked her back to lie across his lap and took her mouth in a deep kiss, pressing his tongue firmly to her lips until they parted and allowed him access. He swept his tongue through her mouth, and was met by her tongue, challenging his to continue the banter that just moments ago had been only verbal. He sucked her tongue into his mouth as he opened his mouth wider. Sliding her hand to the napped of his neck, Sam held him tightly to her. Their friends were chuckling as they watched.

Janet stepped up and tapped them both on the shoulder. "Hey, break it up you two. There are impressionable young people here," she joked.

George spoke in his slow Texas drawl, "Now…I'm gonna say something that I wanted to say to the two of you for the first 6 years I knew you…Get a room, people!" Everybody roared.

Their guests departed. Jack and Sam went up stairs to get ready to leave. "Sam…let's make this like it was the first time we were here. Remember what you wore?" She nodded. "Wear something similar, for me." She laughed as she dressed in her black thong bikini…every time she wore it, she thought of Urgo. Finishing up, she tied the scarf wrap around her waist to wear as a skirt. Jack wore khaki shorts and a tropical print shirt.

***

Once in town, they strolled casually through the streets arm in arm. As they wandered down one narrow sidewalk and heard music playing, they realized this was the little outdoor bar and grill where they had gone years before. Sam turned to Jack, "Can we…please?" she asked. He nodded and kissed her lightly. Little had changed…the music tonight had a distinct calypso rhythm instead of reggae, but the crowd looked the same--groups of college kids were listening to the music and dancing.

Sam stood swaying her hips beside Jack as she listened to the music. Suddenly, she bumped him solidly with her hip. "You wouldn't dance with me last time…so you gonna make it up to me now?"

He turned to stand in front of her and wrapped his arms around her waist, "As I recall, we did a dance of a different kind in a dark alley right after we left here. Wasn't that enough?"

"Nope, flyboy. I want both tonight!" she said rubbing herself wantonly against him, making no attempt to hide her movements from the rest of the crowd. One of the young men in the crowd caught her movements and winked at Jack.

"Okay, but can I eat something first? I'm starving." He pulled her to a table and seated her in a chair. He watched her as her eyes scanned their surroundings and the crowd. Something was different about her tonight. He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was some feral wildness in her eyes. She was prowling…and she was hungry. Soon a waiter arrived and took their order. While they waited, they had a drink and talked about the twins' development. About how they had both read almost every one of the books in Jess's library at the house. A year ago Sam had been reading them Captain Hook and Winnie the Pooh, now they were reading very detail books, journals and manuals that should be well beyond their capabilities.

Darkness was settling in. Tiki torches dimly lit the entire area casting a romantic glow over the bar, tables and dance floor. As Jack finished up the last of his conch fritters, Sam stood and took his hand. "You said you'd dance with me."

"But Sam—you can't really dance to this music. You just…kinda sway your body around." He complained, trying to renege on his deal.

She leaned over to whisper in his ear, but instead slid her had under the table and between his legs, grasping him firmly in her hand. "It's island music. You're supposed to just sway and rub each other to get in the mood. Now—dance or I'm gonna do something classical instead with my own rendition of `The Nutcracker'," she threatened him jokingly.

Jack sprang to his feet, lifting her up in his arms and spinning them around in circles as he moved onto the dance floor; then he slowly let her slide down his body. She melted against him, molding her curves into every dip and swell of his body. They moved as one to the music, as she rested her head on his shoulder, kissing and gently nipping the flesh of his neck. They danced together for nearly a half hour, Sam rubbing erotically against him and teasing him with her lips and mouth. She could feel his erection growing as she became more aggressive in her touching. "Remember what you threatened last time we were here?" she asked. "You told me that if I didn't stop what I was doing and sit down…that you'd fuck me right here." Jack slid a hand between their bodies and pressed the fabrics of her scarf and thong into her folds, grinning with delight when she sucked in her breath. She grinned evilly at him when the music changed and the goombay drums started to pound out their exotic and exhilarating rhythm. The college kids began doing body shots—not the same kids as before, but little difference could be noted.

Sam dragged him to the bar, "Please…come on. Like last time, okay? Me first again," she was almost pleading.

Jack lifted her to sit on the bar, gathering up his lime, salt and tequila while she stretched out. Then he turned to her and grinned. "Hold still." He dipped two fingers in the tequila and used it to wet the fabric of her bikini top directly over her nipples; then, he salted the fabric heavily. Reaching beneath the scarf wrap she wore tied low around her hips; he laid the slice of lime on her mound. He heard her whisper something under her breath, but ignored her, waggling his eyebrows as he stood up and poured the tequila into her navel. Placing his hands behind his back, the crowd began to cheer him on. He began with the breast closest to him, closing his lips over salt, thin fabric and nipple, sucking hard and rolling his tongue over the hard bud that was forming beneath his lips. Sam squirmed and her back lifted slightly, but the tequila didn't spill. Jack raised his head to move to the other breast, the raised nipple now clearly visible through the tightly stretched fabric. He covered it and repeated the process as she writhed beneath him. The crowd was wild. Jack swept his tongue through her navel and sucked the tequila into his mouth; then he moved to her hips, burrowing his way under her makeshift skirt. Sam involuntarily shifted her pelvis, causing the lime to fall into the small space at the apex of her thighs. He didn't hesitate, but delved deeper, trailing his lips and tongue over her flesh until at last, he had retrieved the lime. Jack stood up, the lime in his lips and leaned to kiss Sam. She kissed him hungrily, sucking the lime and his tongue into her mouth. Breaking away and propped his elbows on the bar beside her head, he looked down at her; she was flushed and panting. "Need a minute?" he asked, hoping she'd say yes so he could have a moment to calm the beast raging in his shorts.

"Nope! I'm ready," she said sitting up and jumping behind the bar to stand beside him. "Haul ass up there. It's your turn," she grinned. Jack climbed onto the bar and stretched out, the tenting of his pants obvious to anyone who wasn't blind. The crowd was clapping steadily and chanting as Sam gathered her supplies. The night air was filled with the sexual tension generated by this one man and woman.

Sam unbuttoned his shirt and spread it open; then dragged her nails across his chest before she leaned to lick each of his nipples, wetting them so the salt would stick. She winked at him, "Two can play this game." She said to him as she sprinkled the salt on his nipples. She slid her hands down his body to the waistband of his shorts; sweeping her fingers beneath the fabric she felt no elastic waistband. Ooooooh! He was going commando today. Slowly, she lowered his zipper a bit, not daring to go any lower lest the beast might escape. "Sam…uh…what you doin?" she heard. She looked up at his face and grinned as she laid the lime slice in the teeth of his partially open fly. Finally, she filled his belly button with tequila and crawled up on the bar straddling his legs as she had done before.

Jack lifted his head to look down at her. Sam crawled up his body, slowly, like a jungle cat stalking its prey. On all fours above his body, she leaned to lick and suck the salt from his bare nipples. The crowded yelled when they saw him jerk in response to the touch of her sensuous lips. She grazed the first nipple with her teeth before releasing it and moving to do the same to the other. Trailing her hot tongue down the center of his chest to his navel, she paused and glanced up at him, before beginning to lap the tequila from his navel like a kitten—a sex kitten. She caressed her hands up and across his chest as she delicately lapped the tequila, knowing she was torturing him with every touch of her tongue. Sam moved down his body, careful not to dislodge the lime slice. Bringing her face level with his fly, she used her lips to unfasten the button. Jack, jerked suddenly, he knew that with the restraint of the button gone, very little was keeping his hard cock in his pants. The crowd was growing louder. Sam grasped the lime that was resting in the zipper, making sure her teeth also caught the tab of the zipper so she could slide it the rest of the way down. Keeping her body low against his, she quickly moved to sit straddling his hips, her body and skirt sheltering him from view of the crowd. Jack felt his erection spring free of his shorts as she moved. Sam leaned forward with the lime between her lips and kissed him. Pulling back slightly from his face, she dropped the lime to the side and looked into Jack's eyes. He had never seen her eyes so dark, so wild with passion. He could feel her heart pounding where they lay, bare chest to bare chest, her bikini top putting little between them. She sat upright, her breath was ragged and she was flushed, rotating her hips against him, she dropped her head back and groaned, eliciting the same response from him.

The crowd was frenzied, screaming and clapping at what they hoped was about to occur. The drums were pounding feverishly in her head. "Sam?" Jack whispered, questioning her actions.

Sam looked into his eyes, her own eyes hooded in lust, as she slowly lifted herself and slipped her hand under the scarf skirt, she pulled her thong to the side and grasping his penis, still hidden from the view of others beneath her skirt, she rubbed it through her wet folds. Jack arched and involuntarily thrust up, beginning the penetration as the head of his hard cock pushed inside her. Slowly, she allowed herself to sink onto his length, before beginning a combination of rocking and rotating movements. Others stepped up to the bar getting tequila shots, as they continued to cheer Sam and Jack to completion. A young man offered Sam a tequila shot which she took and threw it back, loving the added sensation of the burn as it ran down her throat.

Another shot was poured and offered to Jack. He downed it. He had to chuckle…never would he have believed this night would end with him getting his brains fucked out in public, but…the thought really turned him on too—seeing Sam like this turned him on. He was pulled back from his thoughts as he realized Sam's movements were becoming more frantic. He slid his hands up her thighs and under the skirt to grip her hips; then flexing his knees slightly so he could prop his feet flat on the bar, he used the leverage of his thighs against her ass to help her ride him.

Jack started to slide a hand between her legs, but she slapped it away. "No…don't!" she panted. "Spread…your thighs a little. I…I need to be…riding lower." As he opened his thighs she settled in slightly between them, her clit now making full contact with his pubic bone. Within seconds she arched, throwing herself back across his thighs and gasping, a tiny squeal escaping her lips as she tried to be quiet. Jack thrust up into her one last time as she clamped down hard around him. She rotated her hips and pulled him over the edge as he whispered, "Jesus, Sam!" When she relaxed, she collapsed on his chest listening to the slowing beat of the drums and applause of the crowd as they cheered and patted them both on the shoulders.

One of the spectators, a young woman who couldn't have been over 21 years old, grabbed Sam's arm. "Oh, I hope I'm still like that too when I'm your age." Sam grinned and said nothing, just dropped her face into Jack's chest and chuckled.

"Hey…that tickles," he said. "Sam, uh…how are we gonna get off the bar without exposing me?

She lifted her head and bit his chin, a devilish grin across her face. "Help me." Rising up slightly onto her knees, he reached between them to slide his nearly flaccid penis from her body and slipped it back into his shorts. She moved the straddle of her thong back in place, and hopped off the bar, offering him a hand after she was down. They left the bar among the hoots and cheers of all there.

Jack threw his arm around her waist. "You realize that I can never show my face in there again now, don't you?"

She elbowed him. "Didn't know it was your face you were worried about everyone seeing!"

***

They drove through the town to the resort and parked Jess's truck. It was after midnight. Jack already had the key to their bungalow; he'd picked it up earlier in the day. They walked hand-in-hand out along the 200-foot walkway that ran from the dock to their room over the water. From the outside it looked like a grass hut, torchlight flickering through the open windows. Two chairs sat on the porch and a ladder ran down into the darkness toward the surface of the water.

Jack stopped her at the door and kissed her deeply. When they broke apart, she snuggled close to him and rested her head his with her chin on his shoulder. He felt her slowly take in a deep breath and then he heard a long sigh. He stroked her bare back, "Tell me what you're thinking."

She stood motionless for a second; then, hugged him tightly again before turning him and pointing to the sky. The dark sky was filled with thousands of sparkling points of light. "Look at that, Jack…just look at it! Ever wonder how many of those we've actually walked on? I'm still in awe of it." She walked over and leaned against the railing. "I miss it sometimes…not the danger and death, but the adventure."

He walked up behind her and slid his arms around her waist, rubbing his hands across her lower belly. "So…that's what all that was about back at the bar?"

She dropped her head back on his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me." She moved her head to rest her chin on her chest and laughed, "God! I can't believe I did that!"

Jack squeezed her tightly, kissing her on the back of the neck and sliding one hand down between her thighs, massaging her mound with the heel of his hand. "I've just got one question?"

"What's that?" she asked, pushing her hips back into his groin.

"Wanna go in this room and do it again?" He grinned devilishly and waggled his eyebrows as she turned in his arms to face him. Picking her up, he carried her into the room and put her on the bed, lying down beside her.

Sam lifted a hand and caressed down the side of his face; then moved her hand to rest on his shoulder as she stared into his deep brown eyes. "Make love to me." Jack kissed her gently on the lips; then moved to drop light kisses on her forehead, eyelids and cheeks. His hands slid lovingly over the curves of her body, unfastening her bikini top and moving onto the bottom. He untied the scarf and pushed the bottom over her hips. Wiggling out of his own shorts, he dropped them and his shirt onto the floor. Turning her so he was half lying on her body, he picked up her hand and kissed it then continued with a trail of kisses up her arm, pausing to lick the pulse points at her wrist and elbow. He moved his lips, continuing his path upward to her shoulder and finally to the pulse point beneath her ear. He knew he'd found the right spot when he felt her shiver and a whimper escaped her lips. Lifting his head to look at her face, he ran is fingers through her long blonde hair before leaning to take her lips.

Jack ran his tongue over them, outlining the contours. Her lips parted and her mouth opened to accept his tongue, as he brought his mouth down onto hers. Sam swept her tongue back into his mouth, suddenly hungry and needing to taste him. She caressed his teeth, roof of his mouth, the inner walls of his cheeks and finally his tongue with hers. Breaking the kiss, she hooked her free leg around him and rolled them so that she now lay on his chest with a knee between his thighs. She pulled herself up, intentionally rubbing her knee into his growing erection and laughing seductively when she heard him groan. She leaned and kissed him again, sucking his tongue rhythmically as she rocked, her hot wet core rubbing against his thigh. Taking his hand, she pulled him with her as she climbed off him and turned her ass toward him. On all fours she offered herself to him. "Please, Jack…"

His penis jerked and grew in length and circumference at her words. He crawled behind her and rose up on his knees. Sam felt him move to position himself at her opening, as he began to slowly push the throbbing head into her wet folds, she grabbed the footboard of the bed and pushed back, thrusting herself forcefully against him, sheathing him completely in her hot channel. The impact knocked him back to sit on his heels, Sam coming with him to sit on his lap. He growled loudly at the sudden assault of sensation. Sam stilled, taking short gasping breaths as her internal muscles spasmed around him, adjusting to his hard length.

Seconds later, she was recovered and bouncing up and down on him, his penis sliding smoothly into and out of her depths. Jack pushed her forward onto all fours again and leaned with her. Now, he knew what she wanted. He began forcefully banging his pelvis against her, driving as deeply and as quickly into her as he could. Sam moaned with delight and dropped her chest onto the bed, while spreading her legs slightly and pushing back more firmly into him, slamming herself into each thrust with a force equal to his. "Uh…uh…uh," he heard her groan as their skin slapped together. She was so incredibly wet. "Harder…" she managed to whisper to him almost breathlessly.

Jack gripped her hips, now jerking them back to meet him as he continued to pump wildly into her. She lifted herself onto all fours again and arched her back. Jack knew she was about to come. He slid a hand between her legs and began to stroke. Jack opened his mouth to speak, but only his own growl escaped at first. He tried again, "Sam… come for me." That was all it took…his words to nudge her over.

"Oh…oh…ohyes,yes,yes,yeeesssssssssssss!" she screamed as she threw herself back onto his cock, once again forcing him to sit. He felt her hot fluids running down his sac. The sensation grabbed him and tore him into his orgasm as well. He pushed her back to her knees and resumed pounding into her spasming channel until he was finally growing too limp to thrust. Exhausted and unable to support himself any longer, he fell forward onto her, both of them sinking to the bed; and lying breathless.

***

Jack awoke sometime later; he was alone in the bed. His eyes scanned the room, but he couldn't find her. He got up and checked the bathroom, but she wasn't there either. Movement caught his eye on the small balcony…the hammock was swinging. Walking to the doorway, he found her lying naked in the hammock. As it gently swung back and forth, she hummed some tune and gazed out at the stars.

Sensing his presence, she turned and smiled at him. "C'mere lover," she said scooting over and spreading out the blanket that covered the rope hammock. "Lie here with me a while." Jack crawled in beside her and she snuggled to him, putting her head on his chest as he wrapped an arm around her. "In case, I haven't said it today…I love you, Jack… more than I ever thought I would love any man." She traced her fingers unconsciously through the hair of his chest. "I'm sorry I've been so down lately. I can do anything as long as it keeps us together and keeps us all safe. You and the kids are everything to me. I just wish we could all have a normal life." She slid her leg across his thighs, her knee inadvertently nudging his flaccid penis.

"Well, I guess we are going to have to find ways to put a little adventure back into our lives." Jack said as she rolled on top of him and pressed her lips to his. This time there was no frantic urgency; the kiss was slow and sweet. Jack caressed the outline of her lips with the tip of his tongue; then gently requested entry to her mouth. Sam's lips parted and his tongue slid inside, taking time to taste the sweetness of her mouth. She ran her tongue along the inside of his lips, cheeks and across the roof of his mouth. She whimpered when Jack broke the kiss, but the protest ended when his lips touched the side of her neck, nipping and licking at the tender flesh. He moved his lips back to hers, kissing her more deeply as he sucked her tongue into his mouth, savoring the taste of her. His hands caressed over the muscles of her shoulders and down her bare back. He loved her back…he had always loved it. She had one of the sexiest backs he had ever seen. His hands continued downward, sliding over the cheeks of her bottom and gripping one in each hand. He slowly kneaded her flesh as he rubbed in a circular motion.

Sam pulled herself up to sit straddling his waist, bringing her breasts to his lips, she rubbed her nipples across his face. He licked and nipped gently at them as they dragged across his mouth, finally latching onto one. He circled the nipple with the tip of his tongue; then, feeling the areola pucker in response to his touch, he sucked it into his mouth. She arched into him, pressing her growing wetness into his waist. Jack moved a hand down the crease between her butt cheeks and into her wet folds. Her pelvis bucked forward and slammed hard against him when he fingered her. Jack chuckled at the low moan he heard escape from her lips.

Sam lifted herself up with her hands braced on his shoulders, pushing her hips down on his hand. Jack watched her face, eyes closed tightly and brow knitted in concentration. "Like that, do you?" he asked.

Still rocking against his hand, she answered without opening her eyes, "Uh huh. More please."

Jack wrapped his arms around her back and sat up, dropping a leg on either side of the hammock. Sam sat with her butt deep in the hole the hammock created between his thighs. He pulled her up onto his lap to sit with her legs wrapped around his waist, her mound now rubbing the head of his growing erection. He leaned his head to kiss her again, then, trailed kisses to her jaw. Jack kissed and nipped at her sensitive spot on her neck, and in response, she sucked his earlobe between her lips. He jerked his hips forward reacting to the feel of her hot mouth. Bending lower, he moved to kiss the breast he held cupped in his hand. Her nipples were dark pink nubs. Sam rubbed her throbbing wet core against the head of his penis, pressing it tightly between their bodies. "You better quit that." He warned.

"Then, you better put it someplace safe!" came her teasing response. Jack reached back to grab the large pillow and place it behind her on the hammock. She braced her arms on his shoulders and lifted her body to receive him, while he reached between them to guide his engorged cock home. Slowly, she lowered herself, savoring every sensation as he slid through her folds, stretching and filling her. It was exquisite torture as he took her centimeter-by-centimeter, finally coming to rest at the bottom of her channel. Jack parted his legs a bit more, thrusting up forcefully at the same time. Sam squeezed her arms tightly around him his neck and gasped into his ear.

"You okay?" he asked, a bit concerned by her loud cry.

"Oh yeah! I just love the feel of having you inside me. Nothing in this world…" she chuckled, "or on any other, compares to it. I don't know how to explain it." She curled the hair at the base of his neck in the fingers of one hand while the other hand caressed his back, marveling at the smooth lean muscles that shifted beneath his skin. She traced her nails down his spine to the small of his back, encouraging him to begin to move.

"You don't have to explain it…I know exactly what you mean." He said as he began to kiss her neck and shoulders. Gently he began to rock his pelvis, sliding his hard length to and from her wet core. Sam used her thighs to move with him, meeting his upwards thrusts with a downward one of her own. He gripped her hips tightly, assisting her movements and steadying her for his thrusts. Soon bodies were damp with sweat.

"Lie back." He told her as he lowered her body to the pillow he had placed behind her earlier. He unwrapped her legs from his waist and let them dangle over his thighs. "Lift up a little," he instructed, wiggling the pillow under her pelvis as she did so. Gripping her hips, he began to thrust again, the movement of the hammock and her incredible wetness allowing him to easily slide himself in and out of her depths.

Sam moaned with delight when several strokes hit her G-spot, she squirmed angling her pelvis to try and maintain the contact. She looked at Jack's face; his eyes were closed, as he was lost in the warmth of her moist heat. "Jack, I need you to change the angle a little. I can't support myself this way for long." He opened his eyes and slipped his arms under her knees. His eyebrows lifting slightly as he asked a silent question. "Better," she said. "Just a little more…" He shifted, never losing the rhythm of his thrusts, so that his arms rested on his thighs and her knees hung over his elbows. "Ah… Oooh!…yeah," She squirmed when he hit the spot. "Yeah… right there! Oooh…yeah. Oh my god! That's it." She moaned the last words, making him chuckle.

Jack used the sway of the hammock to help him move. This new position was good for him too, increasing the friction on the head of his cock. Sam was squirming at the overwhelming sensation. Reaching out her hands; she gripped the upper calves of his legs just behind his knees, using the leverage to pull herself into his thrusts. He pumped faster and harder, getting lost in the mingling of their need to be one. Sam released his legs and reached above her head, wrapping her fingers in the rope of the hammock as she began to writhe before him. Using the hammock to try and pull away from the unbearable stimulation. Jack held her thighs tightly to prevent her escape and continued on his mission, wildness in his eyes now driving him on.

She cried out in gasps, "Oh, Jack. Don't…I can't…not so… Oh God!… just…a little…more…I'm almost…" arching her back, every muscle tensing as she cried out. "OHMYGOD! YES! YES!" Again Sam pulled hard on the woven ropes to drag herself away from him, away from the onslaught that made her lose all control, but again, Jack held her tight and thrust deep, refusing to let her retreat until the final quiver of orgasm had racked through her body. He felt her finally relax, and as he began to move again, Sam clamped her internal muscles tightly around his throbbing length and began rotating her hips. On the third thrust, he came. His body stiffened as he fell back on the hammock. Sam seized the moment to climb up and sit straddling his hips, as she continued to rotate her pelvis and rock on his exploding cock. She felt him come, hot inside her, bathing her internal walls in his essence. Sam closed her eyes, committing every second of this experience to her sensual memories; then, she fell forward to rest on his chest. He pulled his legs up onto the hammock and Sam did the same. Jack wrapped his arms around her and stroked his fingers through her long hair. She kissed him on the chest, and in response Jack took a hand and pulled it up to his lips, turning it to kiss her palm; then laying it to rest on his collarbone. They lay wrapped together, swaying gently in the hammock.

Just before dawn they awoke, still lying naked in the hammock, wrapped in each other's arms. A faint golden pink glow lit the horizon. Silently they watched the first rays streak the sky and paint the waters that surrounded them in hues of pink and gold.

Jack was the first to speak. "I need a shower." He said kissing her on the forehead and sliding out from under her to stand up.

She grabbed his arm and stood beside him, putting her head on his shoulder. He heard her sniffing; then giggling. "Correction…we both need a shower. We smell like sweat and sex."

"Something wrong with that?" he joked. "I've got a quick solution," he offered. "Wanna try it?" Without waiting for an answer he grabbed her hands and jerked her to the edge of the balcony, pulling her with him as he jumped into the warm ocean waters below.

***

Several hours later they returned to the beach house. Janet sat in a lounger on the beach watching the twins and Nafreyu at the water's edge. Lya stood in the shade of the balcony, overseeing the beach and a vast expanse of the ocean.

Everyone came inside for lunch. Afterwards, the women walked up stairs. Janet needed to change clothes and return to the SGC. Sam hugged her. "I so wanted to spend more time with you."

"I know. It would be great to talk and catch up. Your kids are awesome. They are the sweetest most considerate children I have ever met. Well behaved and…" she tapped Sam on the head, "they've got Mom's head on their shoulders."

Sam just grinned. "Jan, come back soon when we can have some time together. Please."

She hugged her again, "I will Sam. I promise. But some private alone time with your man was what you needed this time. By the way…did you have fun last night?" Sam blushed slightly remembering the bar. Janet burst out laughing when she saw Sam's glow. "Oh my god! It must have been wild if the `old married woman' is blushing. Tell me about it next time okay. I'm sorry, but I have to go now. I'm already late."

In the living room, Jack gave Janet a hug and whispered in her ear, "Come back soon…she needs another woman to talk with." Janet just nodded. Then after a quick hugs for the kids and a long tearful hug with Sam, Lya and Nafreyu departed with Janet.

***

Part 3 Opportunity

Sam stood in the doorway, watching the children assemble some mechanized K-nex into a device that reminded her of the old Mars rovers. She grinned as they puzzled over why the satellite receiver they had put on top wouldn't rotate; it pleased her to see them work together and solve the issue. Within 10 minutes, it had been re- designed and was rolling across the rough terrain of the carpet with its dish receiver fully functional.

She didn't even know Jack had walked into the room until he slid his arms around her waist. "They remind me of another scientist I know," he joked.

She just smiled as she leaned back against him, "Not much of a scientist any more though...just wife and mother."

"Hey…don't say that like a put-down. You are as awesome at those two roles as you were at soldier and scientist." He almost slapped himself when he realized he had used those in the past tense. "Anyway… you are about to get some work. We've got company on the deck. The General is here with Lya."

She turned and followed him down the hallway. Hammond gave her a big hug and got right to the reason for his visit. "Sam, we need your help. The gate has malfunctioned. The dialing program isn't working. We haven't been able to send a team out for five days. Everyone there has had a crack at repairing it, but they can't do diddlysquat with it. We need your expertise."

"General, I'll be glad to help…but how? I can't go back the SGC." She glanced over at Jack, then, back to the General. "Do we have teams stranded off world?"

"Fortunately, no. The teams can dial in just fine. We just can't dial out. Now, I have an idea, but I don't know a lot about this, so I need your input. What if I get you a high-powered laptop and a direct satellite link on one of the Pentagon Sat COMM frequencies so you can work directly with the base dialing program from here?"

Jack watched her face. He knew she wanted to do it…needed to do it. Here was a chance to get part of her life back. She glanced up at him, as if asking his permission. He smiled, "You don't have to ask me. It's your choice. We should be safe. Everyone thinks we are living off world. It would be a nice opportunity for you to do something you enjoy."

Sam walked to him and slipped her hand up to caress the side of his face, "thank you." She turned to face Hammond, "Sir…if you can get me a secure link, I'd love to give it a shot."

Hammond laughed, "Okay, Sam. But…please, it's George."

She laughed, "I know. It's just that old habits die hard." They all laughed. It had been hard for all of them to give up the use of titles since Jack and Sam had retired. "George, I'll make you a list of what I will need to set up here. I left a lot of my old files and computer programs in my office at the SGC. If you can get them, I need them and copies of everything you have already tried to fix the problem."

Jack couldn't keep from grinning as he watched her. Sam's face was animated as she made the list of everything she would need to set up a computer lab in their home.

***

Two days later, shortly after dawn, the General returned with Lya and a huge crate of supplies. Sam greeted everyone with hugs. While Lya talked with the twins, Jack and Sam talked with General Hammond. "I'm sorry that I couldn't bring Sgt. Siler and a couple of his technicians with me to set this equipment up for you. But I know you are capable of doing it yourself."

Sam laid a hand on his arm to reassure him. "That's fine. It will only take a few minutes to set it up. The dish receiver is really pretty small and easy to manage. I'll take a look at the problem and what everyone else has tried to do to correct it. No promises, sir, but I'll do my best."

George patted her hand where it rested on his arm. "I know Sam. Now, you will have direct access to base computers. I've told staff that some hotshot scientist from Area 51 is going to run diagnostic programs remotely to try to fix this thing. So if the gate suddenly starts to try and dial out when you're working, no one will be surprised. Your PC can also be used to send encrypted messages to me, so you can keep me apprised of progress and ask for additional information or equipment if you need it." He leaned forward and whispered in her ear as Jack walked toward the deck to look at the kids and their Nox friend on the beach. "Sam, the other thing you asked for…it's on the bottom in a box tagged `optical'. I hope he enjoys it."

Sam kissed him on the cheek, "Thank you, George. I'm sure he will."

As she pulled back from him he took her hands, glancing up at Jack who had walked over to them. "We miss you both so much. I walked through the cafeteria the other day and overheard a conversation about you. Everyone misses you, wonders what planet you are on…if you are doing alright." He stopped and dropped his eyes to the floor, shaking his head. "I'd like to tell you we are close to catching whoever it was who came after you…but I can't do that. Everything we have looked into—the NID…every little unofficial or unsanctioned group we can find, has had no trace of any connection to what happened to you. The trail has gone cold. I don't know when…if, it will ever be safe for you to come out of hiding."

Sam bit her lip as she fought back the tears that tried to fill her eyes. The stress and strain of hiding, missing her friends, missing her life--was exacting a toll on her. She wanted her life back—but first and foremost, she wanted her family safe. Seeing her distress and her struggle to hold back the tears, George looked at Jack. "If you don't mind, can I sneak a peek at the children before I have to leave?"

Jack nodded, and as Hammond left the room, Sam fell into his shoulder, finally allowing her tears to flow. After a moment, she spoke, "Jack, I think if we are ever going to get these bastards, we're going to have to do it ourselves."

"What? Sam, what are you talking about?" He asked as he continued to stroke her hair and hold her close to him.

She pushed back. "I'm talking about drawing them out, and putting an end to this so our children can have a normal life and friends."

"Oh, honey. I don't know. It could be really dangerous. The kids are doing just fine."

"Jack, just promise me you'll think about it. Please?" She asked as she returned to his embrace.

General Hammond and Lya interrupted them. The twins, who had come in with them, ran to their parents. The General smiled watching them take the hands of Sam and Jack. "Jack…Sam. I hate to go, but I have to. For all anyone knows, I'm sitting in my office right now meeting with Lya. The SF's have orders that we are not to be disturbed, but I don't want to be gone too long and raise any suspicions. Good thing for us that the Nox don't need the dialing computer to engage the wormhole from our side, so they can still come and go as they please."

Sam interjected, "And that proves that the gate is not the problem. It is still working just fine."

"Right. Well, I need to go, people. Sam, contact me when you need me." He kissed Sam on the cheek and shook Jack's hand, both men embracing briefly before the General stepped away to stand with Lya. Suddenly, they faded from sight with Lya still waving at the twins.

Sam turned to begin the task of unpacking the crates and setting up the equipment.

***

It was late, dinner over and the children in bed, when Jack walked back into the family room to see how Sam was doing. He had bathed the kids and cooked dinner while Sam worked. He fussed at her when she hardly stopped to eat, but secretly it made him happy to see her so excited about something again. As he walked into the room it looked like everything was in order and ready to go. Only one box remained unopened in the middle of the coffee table. "Hey," he said. "What's this? Do you need me to bring it over?"

She stood and stretched, arching her back and massaging the muscles of her lower back. Walking over to him, "Tell you what. I'm too tired for anything else tonight. Carry it up to the bedroom for me and I'll open it there." He picked it up and followed her up the stairs.

"Where do you want it?" he asked.

Sam sat down on the side of the bed and scooted to the center. "Put it on the bed and come sit by me. Actually, this package is for you."

"For me? I didn't know the General was sending anything for me."

She grinned, "I asked for it. I figured he'd indulge me."

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his Swiss army knife and sliced the tape holding the box flaps closed. Sam watched as he opened the box and his face lit with delight—a telescope…even better than the one he had at home. He was like an excited child opening a present on Christmas morning. The box and packing materials were flung around the room as he pulled it out and began to assemble it. Suddenly, he stopped and turned to her. She sat beside him, legs folded beneath her, and a grin from ear to ear as she watched him. "You did this for me. Sam…I don't know what to say. Thank you. You are always so considerate. Taking care of my needs and the kids needs before you even think about yourself. Babe, I know the past fourteen months haven't been easy for you. I should be doing these things for you."

"Hey, flyboy…you have always told me you could teach me a few things about astronomy. Here's your chance."

He reached for her shoulders, pushing her back onto the bed, and pressing his lips firmly to hers. Suddenly, he paused and then broke the kiss, his eyes focused on the telescope. "Wow! It's got a Howie- Glatter laser collimator. Cool!"

Sam slid out from beneath him. "You play. I'm going to see if the shower massage will help my muscles." She gave him a quick kiss, and headed for the bathroom—laughing as she heard him continue to fuss over his new toy.

***

She took a long leisurely shower; then, dried her hair—it was too long. It took forever to dry if she went to bed with it wet. Jack was on the balcony with his telescope. When he saw her, he came back into the bedroom. "Sam, it's awesome. I don't know how to thank you for it. I love it."

She grinned, "If you really want to thank me, come give me a back rub. My muscles are killing me after leaning over all that stuff today."

He walked to stand behind her, admiring her long blond hair, which hung to the middle of her back. She smelled like lavender. Placing a hand on the muscles on either side of her neck, Jack began to massage through the thin, silky bathrobe. She leaned into his touch and moaned. "Oh, God! That feels so good. There…a little to the right. Yeah."

"C'mere. Lie down on the bed and let me give you a real massage." He led her to the side of the bed and reaching for her waist, untied her robe and let it fall to the floor. Sam caught the glint in his eye and the devilish grin as he slowly scanned her naked body from head to toe. "Jack…I'm too tired. Not tonight. I'm sorry, sweetie…it's just been such a long day." She smiled as he kissed her on the forehead and pushed her to lie across the bed face down. She heard the drawer of the bedside table open and remembered putting some scented massage oil in there a few weeks back. Jack crawled to sit straddling her thighs, and squeezed an adequate amount into his palm; then rubbed his hands together to warm and distribute the oil.

Sam drew her hair off her back and tucked it over her shoulder, not wanting the massage oil in her clean hair. She sighed at the touch of his warm hands as placed them flat on the small of her back and smoothed upwards along her spine with steady pressure, coming up to the base of her neck; then, circling out over her shoulders and back down the sides of her back. He pressed his thumbs into the muscles on both sides of her spine and massaged the muscles on either side of her low back with his fingers. Sam moaned with contentment.

After a thorough, massage of her back, Jack slid off her. "Turn over," he whispered softly, and she complied, blinking at him through half closed eyes. Warming more oil, he began to massage her feet and ankles, making sure to cover the favorite spots between and beneath her toes; then, he moved up to her calves. He lifted her lower leg, flexing her knee and propping her foot on the bed. As he rubbed, he marveled at the tone of the muscle there. She was not nearly as active as when they were going off world, but she was still in great shape. Jack hands moved on the massage her thigh, lightly trailing his fingers in a teasing pattern along her inner aspect. Her knee leaned to the side exposing her blonde bush…almost an invitation to further exploration.

Jack moved to lie on the bed between her knees, taking a moment to glance up at her face. Her eyes were closed, and a faint smile painting her lips. Jack kissed her lower belly, tracing patterns with his tongue as he twirled a finger through her curls. She lay motionless as he slid a finger lower, searching for her tender bud. A soft sound made him lift his face to look at her. Sam O'Neill was asleep…he was going down on her…and she had gone to sleep. He fought back a chuckle as he pulled himself to his knees, and leaned to press one more kiss to her mound.

After standing to turn back the covers, he leaned to pick her up and put her to bed. She opened her eyes and smiled as he scooted her around and laid her head on the pillows, "I'm sorry, Jack. I'll owe you one…okay?"

He leaned in and kissed her on the lips. "It's okay, I know you are tired." Jack stood and removed his clothes, dropping them in the floor beside the bed; then, he slid into the bed beside her and laid an arm across her waist. She turned her back to him and scooted closer, spooning into the contours of his body."

***

The next few days were spent at the PC running diagnostics, she had the results of the numerous ones that had already been run by personnel at the SGC, but Sam wanted to see for herself. Finally, she decided that she needed to dial the gate and see first hand what was occurring. Using her link to the base cameras she watched the gate as she entered coordinates. The dialing sequence began…only for the gate to rumble and groan to a halt. Again she delved into the programs and back-ups searching through thousands of lines of code. This time she saw something, deep in a subroutine of the dialing program. She wasn't sure what it was. The one thing she knew was that something about this seemed vaguely familiar. But what was it?

The following morning Sam was putting away the kids' toys before starting to work. When she picked up Mike's blonde Barbie doll, dressed in fatigues, it suddenly hit her. Felger…this was some variant of Felger's Avenger program.

Sam immediately sent Hammond an email. "Need to talk. Bring Felger's Avenger program software with you. Do not…repeat DO NOT…bring Felger. Will contact Lya and ask her to join you tomorrow."

Sam then grasped the stone around her neck and concentrated on Lya, trying to convey a non-emergent need to see her the following day. After a few minutes a feeling of calm and peace washed over her, she knew it was a result of contact with the Nox. She had succeeded. George and Lya would be coming.

***

Meanwhile, in D.C., the use of the COMM satellite had not gone undetected. A special group of NID agents were watching any and all communications going to or from the SGC. A frantic search began to determine who was using the satellite as a direct link to the SGC…and their base of operations.

***

The next day Sam was up early, she had rerun all of the questionable codes in the program, now she was sure, this was a variation of Felger's DHD virus. As the morning passed, and she waited impatiently for the General's arrival, she reminded herself of the time difference between Negril and Colorado.

Jake came running into the room, followed closely by his sister. They jumped onto Sam's lap, giggling and yelling. "Mommy, come play with us on the beach," said Jake.

"Yes, Mommy, please…play with us. You have been working and not playing for days now," added Mike. They stood and began tugging on her arms, trying to pull her toward the open patio doors.

Sam stood and let them drag her out. "Okay…okay. You win. Let's go play. What do you want to do?"

Jake was first to respond, "Take us out in the kayak. Please we love to go out on the water with you."

Sam smiled and ran her fingers through his blonde hair, staring into the brown eyes that were pleading with her to consent. "Sweetie, I can't. You know I can't take you both out by myself. Your dad would have to go with us and take one of you in his boat."

Mike squealed, "I'll go get Daddy then."

Sam grabbed her wrist to stop her. "No, baby. We can't. We need to stay close to the house today. Uncle George and Lya will be here soon. Let's just play on the beach."

***

An hour later, Sam lay in the hammock at the water's edge, watching the twins complete a sand castle. Finishing their masterpiece, they jumped to their feet and ran to their mother, one climbing into the hammock on each side of her. She sat up and kissed each on the head; then leaned back in the hammock as they snuggled in close with their heads on her belly. Brown eyes met blue and a message passage unspoken between the two youngsters as they grinned happily.

Suddenly, they heard a voice from the patio above them. Their father was calling to them in his usual joking tone. "Hey, you little sea urchins, tell that beach bum mother of yours that we've got company."

The kids bounced off the hammock and ran for the house giggling and screaming, "Did Lya and Freyu come too?" Sam followed them into the house.

Lya, who was hugging the twins, rose to embrace Sam. As she released her, a faint smile curled the corners of her mouth. Sam looked at her quizzically, but George stepped in line for his hug too. Lya stepped away, allowing George to embrace this woman who was so much like a daughter to him. "Sam, I didn't expect to hear from you so soon. I hope this is good news?"

"I think it is, General." She gestured toward the family room and they moved in to sit down as she continued to speak. "Do you remember when I helped Felger develop the virus that was supposed to scramble the DHD's on other worlds so they couldn't be used to dial out."

Jack chimed in, "You mean when that brown-nosing little weasel screwed up and shut down the entire gate system leaving Teal'c and I stranded with hostiles, and Daniel on a planet that was about to become Waterworld?"

George chuckled and nodded. "Yes, Sam. I remember. It may have been a few years ago, but I do remember it well. I turned out it wasn't the virus at all that shut down everything."

"Correct. Baal had modified the program and used it to fortify his position in an attack against the other system lords." Sam paused slightly, fighting off a shiver at the mention of that particular goa'uld. "Well, I found a line of code in the dialing program, buried really deep in a sub-routine of the gate diagnostics program—that line of code looks like Avenger… Felger's virus. That's why I wanted to look at the original software for Avenger. Did you bring it?"

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a CD and handed it to Sam. "Here you go. You are really lucky we were able to get it."

"Lucky?" asked Sam. "Why is that? Did Jay give you a hard time about it?"

"Sam, I forgot. You've been away a long time. Dr. Felger is dead. He died a year ago in an experiment in his lab. He was continuing to work on that plasma weapon…and he got it to work, but he incinerated himself and half the room in the process. Fortunately, this disk was not in there…it was locked away in my safe. It's too dangerous to have easily accessible."

Jack shrugged his shoulders, "Ah…gee…General. I'm sorry to hear about Felger. Everyone knows I thought he was an incompetent fool, but I hate to hear of anyone's death."

"Actually, Jack…Jay was a brilliant scientist. He just lacked the discipline to sit and work out all the possible variables before jumping off a cliff with one of his ideas." Sam said as she moved to drop the CD into her computer.

Jack looked puzzled. "Sam, I thought that the virus thingy only affected DHD's and that's what kept the SGC safe…cause we don't have one?"

"Well, yes and no. The original virus just shutdown the target gate on Baal's planet, but then he modified it, causing an automatic correlative update that was relayed from one DHD to the next until every gate had been impaired. Now, the SGC was not harmed because our dialing program is not linked to the DHD's. We have to make manual adjustments for stellar drift, while the gate system does that for itself through the periodic updates. If Avenger had been introduced directly into the gate dialing computer, the SGC would have been shut down also."

Jack scratched his head, "So...if this thing was locked in a safe, and Felger is dead…how did the dialing computer get the virus?"

"Jack, I'm not even sure it is Avenger…that's why I needed the disk." She sat on her kneeler in front of the computer and began clicking through programs. "Tell you what, the two of you go take a walk on the beach, shoot some pool in the game room, or something for about an hour. I think I can tell you by then if this is what I think it is."

***

Almost two hours later, Sam walked out onto the deck where the two men were talking and watching Lya play with the kids in the shade of the palm trees. As she stretched and rubbed her low back, she heard them talking about her. Jack was telling the General how excited she had been to be able to work again. Walking over to Jack, she took the glass of ice-cold lemonade from his hand. Taking a long, slow drink, she watched Lya and the twins vanish from site. Sam scanned the sand looking for footprints so she could track their movements, but she was unable to locate them. Then, she saw them reappear about 100 feet further down the beach. She grinned, and turned back toward Jack, handing him the empty lemonade glass. "It's Avenger!" she said.

"Sam, I don't understand. How can it be Avenger? That disk has been looked in my safe."

"General, I'm telling you it is, but it isn't Jay's version of it. It is a modification or the modified virus that Baal used."

Jack was staring into his empty glass and looked puzzled. "So it's Avenger, but it's not the one from the SGC. Where the hell did it come from then? And…"

Sam finished his sentence, "…how did it get into the SGC dialing program?"

"No…actually I was going to say…and, you drank my lemonade," Jack complained.

She elbowed him lightly and resumed the discussion. "I don't know how Avenger got in. That is something we need to find out, but for now. I can fix it—probably by tomorrow."

"Fine. Any suggestions of how to track the origins of this?" asked George as he waved to Lya that he was ready to depart.

"Give me time to look at that too, sir. I don't promise, but I might be able to narrow it down." She turned as Lya reached the top of the stairs.

The tiny woman smiled and touched Sam's arm. "Samantha, you have been practicing with using the stone. The message you conveyed was most clear and concise. The children tell me that the four of you have been playing a game to learn to use the necklace…'hide and search', I think they called it."

"Hide and seek, and yes, we have gotten quite good at it. Of course, the kids have always been more proficient, but I can hold my own now too."

Lya nodded. "They are learning well. You were watching when they were able to transport us a few moments ago."

Sam face showed surprise and amusement. "That's why there were no tracks in the sand…you didn't walk down the beach."

Again, Lya smiled and nodded.

General Hammond interrupted them, "Lya, I suggest we get back to the SGC before we are missed."

"I concur, General." She smiled at Sam and Jack, before taking Hammond's hand and the pair vanished from the room.

***

Sam spent the remainder of the day building the patch to isolate the virus and repair the program. She missed dinner, working straight through at her computer. Jack brought her a sandwich and some fruit salad, but it went virtually untouched.

When bedtime came for the kids, they both came running for kisses. Sam got up to go tuck them in, but Jake whirled about and ran toward the kitchen yelling, "I'll meet you in the bedroom."

A few moments later, as Sam and Jack were tucking Mike into bed, Jake walked in with a tall glass of milk in his hand.

"Jake, I'm sorry, honey. I've ignored you and let your dad take care of you. Are you hungry? Did you not eat dinner?" Sam asked as she ran her finger down the side of his face and cupped his chin.

"Yes, Mommy. I ate. This is for you. You didn't eat. You need to eat. It's important you know." His expression was so sweet and sincere.

Sam took the glass of milk and sat it on the table. "I will. Thank you. I've just been busy and I wasn't very hungry." She picked him up and tossed him onto the bed, jumping in beside him to tickle his ribs. Mike crawled from her bed and climbed into the middle of the fray. Soon Jack was there too. They tickled and rolled…and laughed.

Finally, Sam stood and pulled Jack up by his arm. "Okay…bedtime."

Mike went back to her bed, but turned to look at her father. "Daddy, promise us you'll get Mommy to drink her milk."

He grinned at her and flashed a glance at Sam. "I will, sweet pea. I get Mom to drink it. Now, go to bed." They shut off the light and left the door to the room slightly ajar as they went back downstairs.

When Sam sat back down at the computer, Jack handed her the glass of milk. "Jack, I really don't want that."

He raised his eyebrows and shook his finger in her face. "I promised. Do you want to make me a liar?" She started to protest, but he frowned and added, "Drink."

***

The next day Sam waited until she was able to contact General Hammond by email; then, she downloaded the patch and waited for the systems update to run. As she was waiting, she received another email from George. Stating that he thought they had a lead on an NID agent who had been planted inside the SGC a few weeks earlier. A young lieutenant, who had recently been transferred in from Washington to work communications, had not reported for his duty shift the previous evening. A security team was now trying to locate him.

Sam was deep in thought, mulling over the new information. She didn't even hear Jack walk up behind her, and his lips on her neck caused her to jump, spilling her coffee on her bare legs. "Son-of-bitch! That's hot. I didn't even hear you. You scared the shit out of me, Jack. Next time say something…will you?"

"Sorry, Sam. What's up? It's not like you to be that jumpy."

"No, you're right. I'm sorry," she said as she used the napkin to wipe the coffee from her legs. "The General says they have a lead on someone the NID put in the SGC a few weeks ago, but now he's disappeared…well, he just didn't report for duty yesterday. They're checking it out." She got up and refilled her coffee from the carafe, pouring a cup for Jack too.

"He's only been there for a few weeks, so that's probably how the virus got in, but that still doesn't address the question of how the NID came to believe the twins were harsesis. I thought maybe there had been a mole there for a long time passing on information—and I suppose it is possible that there is still someone else." She started to take a sip of her drink, but instead sat the cup down with a thud on the tabletop. "The question that remains is "why?"…What did they hope to gain by preventing dial-outs from earth?"

Jack stared into his coffee cup as he blew across the surface of the hot black liquid, "Sam…they're sick bastards. They don't do things for the same reasons that normal people do them."

A beep from the computer drew their attention. "It's loaded. Now I need to try and establish a wormhole." As she punched in the coordinates, Jack stepped up behind her resting his hand on her shoulder and watching the split-screen monitor as the camera in the gateroom showed the gate begin the move. The other side of the screen displayed the image of a very hopeful General and the control room crew. Finally, they heard the voice of Sgt. Siler, `Chevron engaged and locked' followed by the familiar `kawoosh' as the wormhole engaged.

Jack squeezed her shoulder when they saw the wormhole form. "You did it! I knew you could."

"Well, not necessarily…we connected to a gate, but is it the one I was trying to dial?"

As previously agreed, the General had a MALP standing by and ready to be deployed. Everyone, both at the SGC and in Negril, watched and waited with bated breath as the MALP disappeared into the shimmering pool at the head of the ramp. A few moments later, static appeared on the screen and quickly cleared to reveal the dunes and unusual sandstone formations of Vorash. Shouting and applause were heard in the control room as papers were flung in the air in celebration. The General turned to face the camera in the corner of the control room and, as if saying `well done', sent a salute to Sam. Although she knew he couldn't see it, she stood at attention in front of her computer and returned a crisp salute.

Jack smiled and waited patiently. Then, as her arm dropped back to her side, he pulled her into his arms, lifting her off the floor and swinging her around the room. "Well done, my little Major…well done!"

***

The O'Neill family spent the rest of the day playing together. Sam and Jack took the kids kayaking along the coastline, stopping for a picnic along the way. Mike and Jake demonstrated their new ability to teleport themselves and even had their mother trying to do the same, albeit not very successfully.

Sitting on the blanket beside Jack, Sam closed her eyes and gripped the stone, trying to move herself from his right side to his left. Suddenly, she was flipped onto her back on the blanket as she heard the laughter of her children—she had rematerialized on Jack's lap. He pushed her back and began tickling her, continuing until tears were streaming down her face as she begged him to stop. She was lying nose-to-nose with him when he finally stopped tickling. Softly, Jack kissed her lips, caressing his hand down her ribs and over her hip. The twins pointed at them and giggled; then, left to play at the waters edge, giving their parents some privacy.

***

Three men sat talking in a darkened office in D.C. The monitor on the desk was playing back the activation of the Stargate and the MALP's journey to Vorash. The man seated behind the desk was seething with anger. "It is repaired. Only Major Carter would have been able to identify the problem and repair it so quickly. The soul purpose of planting the virus was to draw her out, but the problem has been resolved—and we have nothing! Where is she?" He stood and slammed his fist into the flat screen monitor knocking it off the desk and into the floor. "This plan was supposed to force them to bring her back to the SGC. But now the gate is repaired and we have nothing—nothing to show for our efforts. I will be punished for this failure."

One of the other men spoke, "Sir, we are tracing the link on the COMM sat, I think we are close…one more transmission and we should be able to pinpoint the location. That is…assuming it was Major Carter who was using the link. We'll get them this time."

The larger man looked up at the others, the threat clearly visible in his eyes. "You will not fail me this time as you did when you attempted to take them a year ago. I will accompany you when you go for them!"

***

Part 4: Answers

After tucking the kids into bed and reading them a story, Sam was ready for bed. She was tired-- a good tired…one she hadn't felt in a long time. This was the first time in well over a year that she had felt mental fatigue. She smiled, thinking about the old days, laughing at the thought that her brain used to be in better shape.

She walked into the master bedroom and out onto the balcony. Lifting her arms over her head, she stretched; then closed her eyes and rubbed her hands over her face and tired eyes.

Silently, Jack stood in the bedroom watching her. The moonlight painted her dark tan skin with a golden glow that accentuated her light blonde hair and facial features. He quietly walked up behind her, and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I don't expect you to be perfect, but you always are—whether it's soldier, scientist or mother— you are the best." He leaned to kiss the back of her neck and shoulder. "I love you--now and forever."

She glanced over her shoulder at him, leaning into him and reaching back her right hand to touch the fabric of his red silk boxers where they covered his thigh. "Pretty nice words there, fella. Is that the pick-up line you use on all the island girls?"

He pulled her closer and smoothed his hand up the front of her robe to cup her breast. "Nope, I only use that line on the special ones— one special woman."

As he led her across the room toward the bed, she laughed, "So, I'm just supposed to let you sweet talk me and take me to bed?"

Jack pushed her down on the mattress and stretched out beside her. "Uh-huh…that's my plan." They scooted up, placing their heads on the pillows; then, he lowered his face to hers, brushing a feathery kiss across her lips.

She smiled at him, looking deep into his mahogany brown eyes, "Okay… I'm easy."

He leaned in for another kiss. Sam, using his forward momentum to her advantage, flipped him over her onto the other side of the bed, rolling with him so they landed with him flat on his back and her sitting on his pelvis.

An evil grin lit her face as she rotated her hips on his growing erection, laughing out loud when she heard him suck in his breath. Jack rubbed his hands up her thighs and under the tail of her robe, gripping her hips as he gently rocked against her. She wore nothing beneath the robe and he could feel her moisture and heat through his boxers. Opening the front of her robe, he smoothed his hands across her belly. So firm—a tight six-pack of abs, and just the smallest bit of roundness in the lower abdomen that added to her softness and femininity. A hand crept to her breast, first cupping; then, kneading and finally tracing circles around the nipple while the fingers of the other hand continued to trail abstract patterns on her belly.

Sam closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his warm hands. Jack seized the opportunity, pulling her to his chest and rolling them.

Sam slapped him lightly on the shoulder, "No fair… distract me, then take advantage."

Jack lay, half covering her body. He grinned, "Hey, I'm an old man…we have to take any opportunity that presents itself. Humor me." He scooted to settling in more comfortably. "Sam, relax tonight and let me do this…just let me make love to you."

Without speaking a word, Sam nodded her consent, earning a boyish grin as he again shifted his body.

Jack cupped her face in his hands and pressed his mouth to hers, parting her lips with the tip of his tongue, opening her mouth beneath his and marveling at the sweet taste.

Sam slid her hand up his arm and into the hair on the back of his head, pulling him closer. His musky scent filled her senses as his tongue continued to stroke hers, each velvety caress igniting the fires of desire within her; his tongue an insistent reminder of bliss that penetration would soon bring. Tiny feathery pulses shot to the apex of her thighs, making her squirm with longing and press into his growing erection. She felt a deep reverberating groan of desire pass from his mouth into hers.

His wandering hands found the open edges of her robe, sliding it effortless from her shoulders and smoothing it off her arms before returning to her body. Touching everywhere, he traced tiny patterns over her tanned chest and belly. Jack broke the kiss, and moving down to close his mouth over her aching nipple, making her pant with longing—a whimper of pleasure escaping from her lips as the sensitive bud hardened at his ministrations. His tongue circled her dark pink nub, and the rhythmic drawing motion made her purr from deep within.

Sam's hands moved to his shoulders, then upward until her fingers were woven through his short silver hair. She clutched his head to her breast, never wanting the feeling to subside.

Jack shifted and gently parted her thighs, lifting and opening her. His fingers stroked the inside of her knee and slowly crept higher until he covered her quivering mound with his hand. The warmth and moisture beneath his palm were insistent reminders of her growing need. Petting and stroking, Jack probed lower with two fingers, finally sinking them into her wetness.

Muscles clamped around his fingers with unbearable craving, as his thumb sought and found her tender bud. She bucked against his touch. Slowly he circled his thumb as his fingers moved inside her. Sam felt a scream building deep within her. Jack covered her mouth with his, as it broke free.

Sam pulled her mouth from his when he removed his fingers denying her release. With need darkened eyes she looked at him, "Jack, please. Finish it."

"No…not yet. Believe me, it will be much better this way. I promise… you won't be disappointed." He kissed her lips again, allowing her to suck his tongue deep into her mouth. When they broke for air, he moved to her neck, kissing, licking and nipping a path from one ear to the other; and finally kissing down the center of her throat, stopping at the small notch at the base of her neck.

Pressing his lips to feel her pulse point, Jack knew she had calmed sufficiently for him to renew his efforts without fear of immediately bringing her to orgasm. He sucked gently on the sensitive spot below her ear making her throw her head back to allow him better access; then, he moved down her body, licking a path from her throat to the middle of her chest.

Jack cupped her breast in his left hand, gently tracing his fingers across the velvety skin and watching the areola constrict and the nipple darken and harden. He lower his head to lollipop lick across the nipple; then, he withdrew his head slightly and blew across the moist nub...watching as the cool air made it tighten even more if possible. He moved to the other nipple, grazing his teeth across it and feeling the response with his lips as it drew into a hard pebble. He drew her nipple and areola into his mouth, working in a rhythmic massage with his supple, wet tongue. Sam arched beneath him, thrusting her chest forward as if trying to press more of her willing and wanton flesh into his devouring mouth. She whimpered, "I want you", and stroked blindly at his shoulders as he released her and shifted his position, coming to rest between her thighs.

He pushed her legs up, flexing and spreading her knees to reveal her folds and inner thighs glistening with her moisture. Jack closed his eyes and leaned his face lower, inhaling the heady scent of her arousal and feeling the heat that emanated from deep within her.

Sam arched, lifting her pelvis toward him in response to the delicate tickle of his breath on her sensitive flesh. Jack pushed her back down and careful spread her; then, blew more forcefully across her steamy folds. Hearing a soft whisper, "Jack, please", he held back still waiting for her to calm again.

Unwilling or unable to wait, Sam caressed a hand down her body as two fingers sought her clitoris. Jack grasped her wrist firmly and removed her hand. "Sam, soon honey. Just trust me and wait." She whimpered in protest, but removed her hand, curling her fingers into the fabric of the sheets.

Jack watched the rise and fall of her chest. When her breathing began to slow, he renewed his assault. Once again spreading her with his fingers, he lightly touched her clit with the tip of his tongue, laughing when she lurched upwards. Then he took it between his lips and began to alternately suck gently and circle it with his tongue.

Sam gasped and moaned at his touch. "Yes, yes..." he heard repeated over and over as he continued. He slid two fingers into her vagina and sought the tiny bundle of nerve fibers deep on her upper wall. Finding it, he began to massage. Within a minute, Sam was squirming over the bed, making it difficult for him to maintain contact. Her hands were closed in tight-knuckled fists gripping the satin sheets as she clawed and pulled, both trying to maintain the mind shattering contact and trying to escape it at the same time.

Jack could feel tremors beginning in her upper thighs. Releasing her, he rose to his knees and slipped off his shorts. He raised his eyes to hers, marveling at the depth of the passion he saw there. As he moved closer and lifted her knees higher, she smiled and pulled him forward into the cradle of her thighs. Shifting his weight forward, he thrust deep, burying himself in her hot, wet core. A groan of pure animal pleasure escaped his lips as the walls of her vagina closed around him and pulled him deeper. He began to move, pulling almost all the way out and thrusting back deep several times in succession, before settling into a steady rocking rhythm against her.

Sam's eyes fluttered and closed at the sweet pleasure as he invaded her body, stretching her and reaching to satisfy the need that only his hardness could fill. She thrust up hard against him, assuring that she had all of him buried deep.

His movement filled her belly with the sweetest pressure. He knew her body, and played it with practiced expertise. Sam writhed beneath him, her breathing shallow and gasping as she lifted her body to meet him, and undulated her hips with a total abandon to pleasure, making him groan at the increased friction.

Sam was thrashing her head from side to side on the pillow as she whimpered his name and begged him to take her now. Jack drove hard and fast, pumping into her silky wet depths. A tingling warmth began to spiral outward from his driving cock to every part of her body— down her legs, into the pit of her belly, and going up her chest only to ignite a path down each arm. It strummed through her veins, filling her until she stiffened as muscles convulsed. Her toes curled under; then splayed outward as he came hot and hard. The backwash of sensation left her gasping at the wild, sweet heat of his flesh deep inside of her.

Jack rolled to her side and gathered her into his arms.

***

As the morning sun was creeping over the horizon and into the bedroom, Sam was awakened by the tickle of warm breath on the back of her neck. Sam was spooned with her back to Jack's front, her head resting on his arm. His hand was smoothing over the skin of her belly, tracing light patterns. She giggled when his touch tickled.

"Well, took you long enough to wake up," he quipped. "I've been doing this for ten minutes."

She scooted back closer, rubbing her bare butt against his groin. "Don't stop now, flyboy."

He tightened his arm around her waist, pulling her back snugly against him; then, his hand began to once again caress her belly, trailing his fingers up her chest to cup her breast in his hand. He kneaded the firm warm flesh. Opening his hand, he rubbed circles over and around her hardening nipple, before taking it between his thumb and index finger to roll it there.

A faint tapping on the bedroom door disturbed them. Sam laughed at the conversation she could hear taking place in the hallway. "Do you think they're up yet?"

"I dunno know…they could be doing that kissy-huggy thing they do all the time."

"Well, I'm gonna knock again anyway."

Jack chuckled and looked at Sam, who just nodded. "We're awake. Come on in."

The door swung open and two giggling children ran into the room and stopped beside the bed. They turned to look at each other after seeing their parents spooned together in bed. "See…I told you so" said Michaela as she placed her hand on her hip and looked at her brother.

Jake glared at her, then turned to look at his dad. "Do you want us to go play in our room for a while?"

Jack laughed to himself, he had told them that a couple of times when they had interrupted at the wrong time. "Nope. Get up here with us." The words were barely out of his mouth when the two bounced onto the bed. Mike climbed in on the outside by her mother, and Jake on the side by his father. Jack and Sam turned onto their backs and the kids snuggled close.

Mike almost immediately dozed back to sleep. Jake turned over and noticed the sheet tented by Jack's erection. Slowly he lifted the sheet and peaked under. "Wow! Dad…that's the biggest I've ever seen. Will mine grow that big?"

Sam stifled a chuckle when she saw the shitty grin on Jack's face as he answered his son. "Only if you are lucky, my boy…only if you are lucky. Now, be quiet and go back to sleep."

Raising an eyebrow he turned to look at Sam who was giggling beside him. She slid her hand beneath the covers and down his abdomen, running her fingers around the shaft of his penis. "I've got to pee", she said as she climbed out the foot of the bed, turning her naked backside to Jack and making his cock jump.

Jack waited until the bathroom door closed and slid out of bed. He heard a faint "Daddy…" from one of the children. Turning back slightly, he saw that both were still snuggled in bed. "Uh, I have to pee too. Be right back." He tiptoed toward the bathroom door and his waiting wife.

***

A short while later, somewhat flushed and sweaty, but sexually satisfied, Sam and Jack returned to bed with their sleeping children. Jack snuggled in and stretched out his right arm as a pillow, which Sam accepted. Soon she heard his breathing even out, and she knew he was asleep. But her mind was far too active for sleep—questions were still unanswered. If the NID plant in the SGC was gone…where was he now, and what were they planning next? Finally, she drifted off to sleep.

***

Sam was the first one up. She had made coffee and emailed General Hammond to ask if there was any news on the NID agent who had been in the SGC.

Just as she was just ready to shut off the computer, Jack and the kids came down the stairs all yelling, "I'm hungry" in unison. Sam started to close the laptop when it beeped indicating the arrival of a new message. It was a response from the General. She clicked and read his response.

"We were able to locate Lt. Lewis, but I'm sorry to report that he is dead, the apparent victim of a car accident while traveling down the mountain. The car partially burned after impact, but Dr. Fraiser was able to do an autopsy since his burns were limited to his arms and forehead. He died of blunt trauma to the head, most likely the result of the crash. I'm sorry; we seem to have hit a dead-end again. Hammond."

Jack stood reading over Sam's shoulder, when she closed her laptop and slammed her fist down on the desk in frustration, he placed a hand on her shoulder and massaged gently. He leaned to kiss her on top of the head, "Someday, Sam. Someday." He took her hand and pulled her to her feet. "Let's go feed these hungry mouths," he said shrugging toward the kids.

***

In a small office in DC, a man jumped excitedly to his feet and turned to his boss. "We've got it! We know where they are. She just got another message from the SGC and we got the location. They're in Jamaica. The exact coordinates are printing out now."

His leader, a very large, muscle bound man, rose and smiled. "Excellent! You shall be rewarded for your efforts. I must report this to my superior. Contact the team. We leave in an hour! They will not escape me this time!"

***

The waves were gentle and the sun warm on their backs as Sam and Jack paddled their kayaks, heading home after spending most of the day on a small cay about two miles from their beach. Jake had his own small paddle and was `helping' his dad, while Mike was sitting quietly in her mother's kayak, playing with the seashells she had collected. The rocky cliffs that guarded the south end of their private beach were just coming into view when Jack spotted a boat running perpendicular to them about half a mile away. It was headed directly for the cove behind the north cliffs from their beach. He pulled his boat a little closer to Sam's, waving to get her attention; then, pointing at the boat speeding ahead of them. They both recognized its type immediately—NSW/RIB, naval special warfare/rigid-bottom inflatable boat. The kind used by Special Forces…and the NID!

Sam felt her heart in her throat. They had found them! The NID had found them! Found them unprotected on the open sea, and in small kayaks. Years of military training kicked in and she began to survey the area for refuge. She saw it just as Jack gestured…the old pirate caves of the cliffs. They were like a maze and would make an excellent place to hide. All they had to do was reach them before they were seen. Turning the kayaks to shore, both paddlers begin to dig deep, moving as quickly as possible to reach the shelter of the shore and the caves.

Jack glanced back to his left. Where were they? Too late…they had been seen and the boat was coming their direction. Jake turned and looked at his father, alarm evident in his young face. "Dad…Dad, it's the same bad men as at our house!"

"I know Jake. When we get inside the cave, I want you to climb out and take your sister. Go deep in the cave and do that invisible thingy you two can do. Understand?" Jake nodded and Jack continued, "Jake, take care of your sister. Your Mom and I will follow you in as soon as we can. But if we don't come for you in an hour…you have to take Michaela and leave. The tide will be coming in and the cave will flood. You can't stay there. Okay?" Getting no response he shouted, "Jake, do you understand me!"

"Yes, Dad. I do, but I'm worried about you. I can stay and help you."

"No, Jake. Do as I say and take care of your sister. If you can't find us afterwards, contact Lya. You can do that right?" Tears formed in the child's eyes as he nodded to his father.

Sam had given Mike the same instructions. She and Jack had formulated a plan, should they ever be forced to separate from the children. A tear caught in Mike's lashes, but she brushed it aside and straightened her back. She would do as her mother had instructed.

One hundred more yards…the cave mouth was insight. They were around the edge of the outermost cliffs and no longer in view of the RIB. Maybe…just maybe they were going to be able to slip inside unnoticed. Their hope was soon crushed as the boat suddenly roared around the corner, almost upon them. It's driver swung the boat around, creating a huge wake as the end of the boat whirled toward the bow of Sam's kayak. Jack heard the crack of fiberglass over the roar of the engines, as the front half of the kayak was broken off and washed toward him and the back half was rolled under by the waves. Panic gripped him. His wife and daughter were not in sight…had they been sucked under the RIB? He winced as its savage blades churned and ripped the water. Then he heard Jake screaming, "Daddy, there's Mike."

Just beside his kayak, the small girl was swimming in the water. Using his paddle to pull her closer, Jack lifted her to him and swung her across his lap. He turned and scanned the water looking for Sam, but she wasn't there. Seconds seemed like hours as his eyes searched across the surface for any sign of her, but still she could not be found. Harsh, cold reality crowded in on him; he had to get the children to safety—that was the priority—even at Sam's expense. He knew in his heart she would do the same if the tables were turned, but it made it no easier to leave her. With one last glance across the waves, he turned and dug his paddle deep, trying to reach the safety of the cave. The wake of the boat had pushed them much closer. Over and over in his mind he heard his own credo, "No one gets left behind", but he was leaving his wife. He tried to calm himself…he would be back as soon as the children were safe. But would it be in time?

He slapped the water harshly with the oar, venting his frustrations on it as the kayak slid into the mouth of the cave. Unloading the kids onto a rock ledge where they could safely reach the cave floor above the water line, he looked at Jake. "I remember, Dad." The boy said with a nod, and taking Mike's hand, the children vanished. Jack glanced over his shoulder as he tried to push the kayak back to the open sea. What he saw both terrified and relieved him. Sam was alive! The agents were hauling her over the side of the RIB, and she was giving them one hell of a fight. With her onboard, they turned their boat and headed toward Jack's position. Deciding it would be easier to fight them on land, he climbed on the ledge where he had just left the children and headed into the caves scrambling into the upper chambers and following the path his children had taken.

Minutes later he heard noises behind him, and knew they were following him. The murmur of voices echoed—Sam and a male voice. His blood boiled at the sound of a slap, Sam was probably making things difficult. The agents were moving closer to him. Now, he could distinguish words. He crawled through one of the tunnels that connected the room he was in to the chamber below, which held Sam and the NID. He crept slowly forward, silently cursing his knees for making movement more difficult. He was directly above them—less than four feet below him stood two of the agents. If the opening of the passage were a bit larger, he could drop from here onto them and take out one…maybe two, but others were very near, and the passage was much too small for him to fit through. The agents shifted position and he could see Sam. The leader held her, his fingers tightly tangled in her long blonde hair as he pulled her with him.

"You will call to them, woman! If you wish to live you will obey me!" He screamed at Sam as he pulled her face closer to his.

Suddenly, Jack had that niggling feeling he used to get off world when things weren't right. This guy didn't talk like an NID agent.

Sam opened her mouth and a self-satisfied grin spread across the face of her aggressor. He had won…she was calling to her family. Sam turned to face into the caves and lifted her hands to her mouth to shout. "Jack, he's Jaffa!" she screamed.

No sooner were the words out of her mouth than she was slammed mercilessly against the rough cave wall. "You will pay for you insolence, Tau'ri," he smiled as Sam crumpled to the ground. The movement of his NID team alerted him and he spun to face them. One man reached for his pistol only to be zatted once…twice. The Jaffa lifted his head and laughed at the other three. "Weak humans…know this, you have been deceived. I am Yatpan, captain-at-arms for my queen, Anat. You have served your purpose. I have used you to find this woman, who is responsible for the death of my queen. I will exact revenge upon her and her children. For that, I am sure to be rewarded and chosen as host for my maturing symbiote." With that he raised his arms and zatted the men in quick succession. He continued to fire until all that remained were empty footprints on the damp sand.

Jack watched the scene playing out before him, unable to do anything to stop it. He had to get down there where Sam lay. He moved quickly exiting the tunnel and circling back to the chamber below.

Moments later, when he entered the room, Sam was no place to be seen. His heart lurched…was she dead—zatted into oblivion by this poor excuse for a snake-hole? Screaming, "You filthy snake-headed son-of-a- bitch!" he threw himself at the back of Jaffa, knocking him to the ground. Jack stood, grabbing the man by the head and slamming his knee into his gut and symbiote pouch. He lifted his head to throw a punch, but the incoming tide swept him off his feet. The Jaffa recovered quickly, crawling to the higher ground of the cave floor and retrieving his zat. As he lifted his arm to fire, Sam suddenly materialized beside him and kicked his arm, knocking the zat out of his hand. He spun and kicked, striking her in the mid-section and knocking her to the floor, before turning back to finish Jack.

But Jack was on his feet, zat in hand. He fired twice in rapid succession, watching the Jaffa drop to the ground next to his wife. Scrambling over the body of the Jaffa, he reached for his wife and lifted her head, brushing her hair from her face. "Sam…Sam, honey. Talk to me."

Her eyes fluttered open, as her hands moved to cover her lower abdomen and a moan escaped her lips. "Jack…it hurts. It really hurts." Tears filled her eyes as he rocked with the pain, pulling her knees up toward her chest to lie in a fetal position.

Jack felt a hand on his shoulder and turned in defensive mode to counter an attack, but it was Jake. As he knelt beside his mother, Mike appeared with her hands on Sam's abdomen. "Daddy, it's bad. Mommy's bleeding inside. They're dying."

Jack turned as another surge of the tide entered the cave. How was he going to get out with Sam and the children? He couldn't leave them to carry her, and then come back…he wasn't even sure he could carry her out with the water so deep now. Dying…the kids had said she was dying.

Jake touched his arm. "Dad, we can help. Together Mike and I can transport us to the house. It's not that far."

Jack started to ask if they were sure, but decided he just had to trust in their abilities…he had no time—no options. So he nodded is approval. Picking Sam up in his arms, with Mike holding one of her mother's hands and Jake holding onto his arm, he nodded that he was ready. A moment later they stood in the living room of the beach house, his unconscious wife in his arms. "Kids, we have to get to the infirmary at the SGC, can you call Lya to help us?"

"That will not be necessary, Jack. I am here. I sensed that Samantha was injured." The soft-spoken Nox woman stepped to his side and began to run her hands across Sam's forehead.

"She was holding her belly and complaining of pain. The kids said she was bleeding inside. I guess they can tell, huh?" Jack was trying to remain calm, but an undertone of panic was evident in his voice.

"Please put her over there," she said indicating the sofa. Lya moved her hands to Sam's abdomen and held them there for several minutes. Opening her eyes, she gestured for the children to join her. "I need your assistance to repair the damage." One child stood on either side of Lya. They lifted their arms and closed their eyes. Jack remembered this—it was the way he had seen Antaeus and the others heal Lya when the Jaffa had stabbed her. They faded in and out, invisible at times as they worked their healing skills…skills Jack didn't even know the kids possessed. Finally, Lya raised her head and smiled. "We can return to the SGC now if you would like Dr. Fraiser to check her, but all is well."

Jack picked Sam up in his arms. "Yes, let's go." A moment later they stood in the middle of the infirmary. It only took a fraction of a second for a shocked Janet Fraiser to spring to action, directing Jack to place Sam on one of the beds. After a quick summary of what had happened, Janet ushered Jack and the kids out. "You talk to the General, and I'll check Sam, but I'm sure everything is fine. Lya has seen to that."

Fifteen minutes later, the details of what had happened briefly recounted to General Hammond, Jack headed for the infirmary accompanied by the General. As he entered the area, Janet was exiting Sam's cubicle. "She's just back from a CAT scan. Wait just a minute until they get her settled and you can see her. She's still unconscious, but from what I understand, it is common to sleep after being healed by the Nox." She smiled and placed a reassuring hand on the arm of a worried Jack O'Neill. "Jack, she's fine. They are fine… thanks to Lya. If hadn't been for her, Sam would have miscarried and might have died herself." Janet smiled when Jack jerked his head up and his mouth fell open…his expression said it all—he didn't know. "So, Sam hadn't told you she was pregnant?"

Lya and the twins had entered the infirmary. Jake grabbed his arm. "Mike and me knew it Daddy, but we were keeping it a secret." He smiled, seeming very pleased with himself. "Jake, when did Mommy tell you?"

"She didn't Daddy," chimed in Mike. "We just knew. When we put our heads on her tummy, we can hear them."

Janet turned as a nurse approached and spoke softly to her; then she looked at Jack. "She's awake. Do you want to tell her?"

A huge grin lit his face as he walked toward the cubicle. Sam, who was reclined with the head of the hospital bed elevated, smiled when he entered. "Hey there," he said shuffling his feet. "Everybody is okay. The kids are outside…well two of them anyway. The one you are carrying is fine too." He climbed up to sit beside her on the gurney, and leaned in kissing her on the forehead. "You scared me back there. I'm told I almost lost you…" He caressed his hand across her lower belly and then leaned to kiss it too. "And I almost lost you."

Sam looked puzzled, as she sat up straighter and began to visually scan him for injuries. "Jack…what are you talking about. Are you okay? Did he hit you in the head? What happened after the Jaffa knocked me out?"

He leaned forward, placing an arm on either side of her. "Well, your kick-ass, former special-ops soldier, husband kicked some major Jaffa butt!"

"Whoa…wait a minute, buster. As I recall, you would have been molecules floating on the ocean current if I hadn't kicked that zat out of his hand." She teased him poking a finger into the middle of his chest.

"Ouch…that hurts! Okay…okay…thanks to an assist from my former 2IC, the Jaffa is no more. We're all fine…and we…you are pregnant!"

Sam smiled as tears formed in her eyes. "I kind of thought I might be, but I wasn't sure yet. I was going to pick up a test kit in town."

Jack pulled her into his arms and held her gently. A light tap at the door distracted them; their friends were anxious to share the news. "May we come in too?" Janet asked, and was promptly waved into the room. She immediately went to Sam's side and hugged her. "This time. I'm going to be here for you throughout this pregnancy."

Jack chimed in, "Me too. I missed the last one. Wow…another baby. I wonder if it will be a boy or girl?"

Lya slipped quietly to the bedside. "There is something I must tell you both." Janet smiled, knowing what the petite woman was about to say—she had just received the CAT scan results. "Samantha, once again, you are carrying twins." She paused allowing the initial shock to sink into both Sam and Jack before continuing. " Children, born to you, will always be twins…one male and one female. This is another part of genetic changes made to you by Nirti. Each pair will share in the abilities of their older siblings." She smiled as Mike and Jake slipped in beside her.

Mike put her ear on Sam's lower abdomen. "We can hear them…what they are thinking…doesn't make much sense yet though. Guess cause they are just babies and not big like us."

Everyone laughed and congratulations and conversations began. Finally, Janet announced that her friend needed to rest and ushered everyone except Jack out of the room. Once they were out, he scooted himself around to sit beside his wife and recline with her on the pillows. As he put one arm around her, she shifted her position to lay her head on his shoulder. His other hand moved to cover her lower abdomen.

Sam felt his whiskers brush across her temple and she knew he was smiling. "What you smiling about?"

"I'm smiling cause I never thought I could be this happy…don't think I have ever been this happy." He paused and nuzzled his nose in the side of her head. "I'm married to the woman I fantasized about, but never thought I could have. I have two…no, make that four special children. And we have the best friends on earth…well, actually I guess I should say in the universe." He sat quietly for a moment. "So, are you ready to move back home Mrs. O'Neill?

***

FB welcome as always.