Part 3: Birth

I had stumbled into another world. Men swarmed around me, the dark green uniforms overlapping in endless waves. Daniel's grip on my arm was the only thing that kept me upright. Wolf. I turned my back to the swarming hordes, searching the rippling blue water for hope. He would make it. He would follow. My stomach was one solid mass of pain, waiting in impatient agony.

A sharp cry escaped me. First Teal'c, then Wolf stumbled through the gate, boots clanging loudly on the metal ramp. A shield slid shut with a bang, blocking the blue. With a whoosh, the gate shut down.

The swarm of men backed away to reveal a bald man in blue. I watched as Wolf clanged down the ramp to greet him. I vaguely heard voices. The world swooned in front of me and I felt suddenly dizzy. My fingers cramped around Daniel's arm and I cried out, legs melting beneath me.

The next thing I knew, I was lying in a bed. A small woman in white was standing at the foot of my bed. She looked up quickly as if sensing I was awake. She spoke to me, but I didn't understand.

"Lobo?" I asked. She looked confused. "Daniel?" I tried, hoping she would understand.

She smiled and nodded before scurrying away. My stomach cramped, hard, and I realized. The baby was coming. For a moment, I was elated. I was free, my child would be free. My child. But then, what if it was not Wolf's child? My heart flew into my throat. What if it was Hawk's child? Or Teal'c's? Or Daniel's? Maybe, if it was one of these three, they would care for it, but if it was Hawk's…

I decided, then, that I would do anything to protect my child. They would not kill it. I would make it worth their while to keep it, even if…

The small woman in white returned; followed closely by Daniel, Wolf, Teal'c, and a tall blonde woman. The blonde woman looked at me with wide, moist eyes. Daniel came to the right side of my bed, Wolf to the left. Daniel introduced me to the two women.

"Mayva, Sam." The blonde woman nodded and smiled gently. "Janet." The small woman nodded, looking serious. "Physician," Daniel said, gesturing to the small woman. I smiled politely at her. A woman doctor. Strange. Maybe she was just a midwife.

At that thought, the baby decided to make its presence felt once again. I cried out quietly, hands pressed to my stomach. The blonde woman looked shocked, Wolf and Daniel looked worried, Teal'c looked…, but the doctor sped into action.

Taking my pulse, Dr. Janet shooed Sam and the men away from my bedside. She seemed shocked for a moment, looking alarmed at the readings on the nearby machines. She started to bark orders, and white-suited men and women came pouring in from all directions.

I lost sight of Wolf and Daniel.

"Lobo! Daniel!" I cried, fear gripping me. There were too many people. They would take away my child. "Lobo!"

Dr. Janet tried to calm me, but I would not be calmed. I gulped for breath, the contractions coming faster and faster. She turned away from me, shouting through the confused din of beeping machines and talking nurses.

Daniel broke through the crowd, returning to my right side next to Dr. Janet. They spoke quickly in hushed tones. I quieted a little at the sight of Daniel, but my eyes still searched for Wolf.

Daniel spoke to me then, urging me to calm down and breathe.

"Lobo?" I begged, pain making my eyes water. I saw Dr. Janet look to Daniel for explanation. Daniel nodded at me and departed again without a word.

Before I could worry too much, he returned with Wolf.

"Lobo," I sighed, relaxing for the first time. He came to my left, Daniel on my right. Dr. Janet stood at the foot of my bed. She asked me something. I looked to Daniel for translation.

"Examination?" Daniel said, looking hopeful I would understand.

I looked to Dr. Janet and nodded. She smiled gently at me. I closed my eyes as my feet were placed in stirrups.

Another cramp hit, this one worst of all. I cried out and grabbed Wolf's hand, squeezing hard. Daniel grabbed my right hand, running gentle circles across it. Wolf looked worried, the crease in his forehead prominent as he stared with a frown towards Dr. Janet.

I pushed again as the cramp hit. Dr. Janet's voice came from the foot of my bed, sounding excited. I looked up at Daniel and he pointed at his head with his free hand. I closed my eyes and pushed again, a grunting scream emerging from past my gritted teeth.

The pain surged, and then passed suddenly. I panted, eyes still closed. Then I heard a baby cry.

My eyes snapped open, shooting to Dr. Janet. In her arms, she held a tiny, perfect, baby girl. My daughter. Dr. Janet wrapped her in a soft pink blanket and handed her to me. I released the men's hands, eyes only for my daughter. She was beautiful. She was his.

Tears of joy flooded down my face as her tiny eyes opened for the first time. Brown. Her eyes were warm brown like his, her skin pale and perfect, her hair a wispy light brown. She was Wolf's child. I looked up at him, smiling widely. He was looking at her, face filled with wonder. He knew she was his. I handed her to him.

Wolf took her gently from me, his large calloused hands cradling her close to his body. He looked up at me.

"Lona," I whispered. Her name was light-- a ray of light out of a dark time.

I heard Daniel mutter something to Wolf. Wolf smiled down at her.

"Lona," he said, playing with her tiny hand. He looked up at Daniel and said something, smiling softly. Daniel chuckled.

I cried out in surprise as another cramp hit. Daniel, Wolf, and I turned shocked eyes to Dr. Janet. Her eyes were wide in surprise, gloves half-off her hands. I cried out again.