TITLE: KALEIDOSCOPE - Part 1
AUTHOR: A. M. Richardson SPOILERS: Small references made to many episodes, up to, and including season 6. Set future season, both Daniel and Jonas are in this story. RATING: R CATEGORY: Action/adventure/angst CONTENT WARNINGS: Violence/implied sexual violence (rape, non-graphic) and the aftermath/miscarriage and the aftermath/language/ minor character deaths/genocide. PAIRINGS: Sam/other (Joe), Sam/Jack, and some Daniel/Janet - friendship/romance SUMMARY: Life's twisting kaleidoscope moves us all in turn. DISCLAIMER: All publicly recognisable characters and places are the property of MGM, World Gekko Corp. and Double Secret Productions. This piece of fan fiction was created for entertainment not monetary purposes and no infringement on copyrights or trademarks was intended. ARCHIVE PERMISSIONS: SJD – yes. E-MAIL: audrich08 @ aol.com AUTHOR'S NOTES: So many friends have read this, made suggestions and been such a help, that I feel as though it belongs to you all. Where can I start? Arrietty, Jara, Sarae, Rosemary, Sally R, Jenny L, and to Kat H for giving me the idea for a certain scene. *g* I must include a thank you to the Yahoo group Badfic, whose exacting reviews gave me a kick in the mik'ta regarding getting details correct. Huge thanks also to Hoo and all the friendly peeps over at the beta_site Yahoo group, which is an excellent place to go if you want to write, but haven't got a clue where to start. Like me. *g* BIG smooches to Tricia ('eagle eye') Byrne. Any remaining punctuation errors are there because I'm getting old and can't see the red marks anymore. Lastly, if it wasn't for this person, you would all be yelling; 'TRIPE!' half way down the first page. You taught me so much, thank you, Lyta.
This story is dedicated to Gran Menzies, who was full of endearing little truisms, and 'life's twisting kaleidoscope' was one of hers.
****** The Fall
******
The morning dawned crisp and bright on Samantha Carter's wedding day. Sam was standing in the middle of her hotel room surrounded by a bustling group of women she barely knew. The wedding planner, the florist, the hairdressers and their hangers on were all milling about, doing what they were being paid to do. There was also her soon-to-be mother-in-law and her soon-to-be sisters-in-law, who were her bridesmaids. There were three of them to be precise, all older, all married and all shrieking at the tops of their voices.
"I *so* need pain relief," she sighed and turned her attention back to her wedding dress, a flouncy lacy affair that right now, suddenly, she hated. The sleeves were long and had tiny buttons from the wrist to the elbow. She had managed the left sleeve by herself, but being right handed, she was now having problems. She tried to smooth down the skirt, but the lace was so stiff it was practically standing on it's own. Her chest felt very exposed and the neckline itched like crazy. What possessed her to buy this dress? It wasn't her at all. Oh wait, you didn't buy it, Joe did. The thought sounded so sarcastic in her head she felt herself turn pink with the embarrassment of such an ungrateful notion. Today was her wedding day and she was picking faults with Joe before they were even married!
Sam moved to sit awkwardly on the bed, but her thoughts were interrupted by a loud knock at the hotel room door. One of the shrieking women opened the door to admit her best friend, Janet Fraiser, and her adopted daughter, Cassandra, now a lovely young woman of eighteen.
Janet smiled and gave Sam a wink; "Hi, honey, where were you?"
Sam shrugged. "Wishing this thing had zippers," she indicated her sleeve. Janet chuckled.
"Here, let me," she began to do up the tiny pearls. "Oh, Sam, you haven't started on the back. Cassie, make yourself useful, please." Cassandra pulled a face at all the 'girlie stuff' but obediently plunked herself down next to Sam and began to button up the back of her dress.
"Oh, Auntie Sammie," Cassie began in a false whining tone; "I bet you wish you were in your jeans," she mocked. This drew a look from her mother.
Sam laughed, "No, my fatigues actually, they would go well with your blush pink." She smoothed out Cassandra's own flouncy frock and wondered for the 'nth time today why she had ever been talked into such a big wedding.
Of course, Joe Faxon had wanted the best for her, but the arrangements had been taken over by Joe's mother and father. "You always seem so busy, dear," was the stock answer Frances Faxon gave when Sam began to protest about them doing so much. Sam's own father was away so much as a member of the Tok'ra and her mother had died when she was twelve. Although he was coming to the wedding, her only brother lived on the west coast in San Diego. He had a young family of his own and she felt it wasn't fair to ask him to help. So, here she was. Big wedding, big reception, big dress. She even had big hair; Sam gazed ruefully in the dressing table mirror opposite her. Joe had playfully nagged her to grow it longer so she had had to obtain permission for the six weeks growing time. She had coped badly with 'in-betweeny hair' - too short to put up but too long to look professional. Now it was fluffed, backcombed and so stiff with hairspray she had trouble getting her headdress and veil over it.
"There," said Janet's soothing voice, "all done. Cassie, how are you doing?"
"Je suis finis," Cassie said triumphantly holding her hands to accept applause. Her mother inspected her handiwork. "Great. Now you can check on Daniel, Jonas and Teal'c for me, we need to ship out in ten minutes."
Cassie groaned, "Aw, their room is at the other end of this place!" Catching Janet's eye again, she intoned resignedly, "I'm going, I'm going."
"Meet us in the foyer!" Janet called to the retreating back as it disappeared out of the door.
Sam grinned at Janet. "You have her well trained."
Janet snorted. "Huh, ever since she's been away at college, she thinks she knows it all."
Sam smiled again. " Well, didn't you?"
Janet considered for a moment. "Well, I thought I did, but I was wrong. I wish I had been sensible like you and waited to get married. Maybe my marriage would have lasted longer than three years." Janet placed a comforting hand on her friend's arm. "But I'm sure yours will be a success," she finished rather hastily.
Sam nodded, but her eyes remained dull as she nodded down at her hands. When she looked up, she saw her friend's face appraising her with kind concern.
"I'm okay, honestly. I'm good to go!" Sam tried to grin away her doubts.
Janet wasn't to be fooled. "Having second thoughts?" Sam winced as Janet pushed the right emotional button. "Wanna make a run for it?" Janet whispered conspiratorially, eyeing the Faxon harpies.
Sam laughed quietly. "Absolutely!"
Janet nodded, "Would that be second thoughts or running away?" she asked.
"Second thoughts," was Sam's answer, her voice still low enough so that the conversation couldn't be overheard.
One of Joe' sisters chose this moment to shriek with laughter. Sam looked at Janet, who smiled a wide, false grin and hissed: "There just aren't enough people in this room." Without another word, Janet took Sam by the hand and manoeuvred her carefully to the bathroom, skirting her friend's frilly train. After positioning a bewildered Sam down on the closed toilet seat, she locked the door and propped herself on the bath ledge. She folded her arms and said simply: "Talk to me."
Sam shook her head. "It's fine, I'm fine."
Janet tried again. "Sam, *every* woman has doubts before their wedding; its natural." She paused to take in her friend's pale features. "Look, I know the last couple of years have been really tough for you, for us all. I'll let you into a secret; I wasn't surprised that Joe asked to marry you, but I *was* surprised that you accepted. I know you too well, Sam Carter. I did wonder if this was some sort of mis-placed, re-bound relationship, to atone for leaving him behind with the Aschen?"
Sam vehemently shook her head. "No, you know it's not like that. Joe *helped* me escape; he doesn't blame me for what happened. The Aschen didn't mis-treat him, too 'dirty' for them, I guess. Even Kinsey's crowing because he thinks they've opened negotiations again, after Joe was exchanged for the kosher co-ordinates." Sam paused to look Janet in the eye. "Actually, meeting Joe Faxon again was a bit of a catharsis for me."
Janet's eyebrows raised and she nodded for Sam to continue.
"I'm tired of playing the consummate professional. Look at where it has got me personally...Orlin, for example. Thanks to that little episode, I got my ass chewed off in Washington. Narim's dead, courtesy of Tanith. And then..." her voice tailed off as suddenly, she couldn't look at her friend.
Janet finished for her. "And then Daniel. I know... we're all getting used to it." She sighed.
Sam felt a pang of reciprocal concern. "I'm sorry, Janet, but losing him like we did, and then...I can't get my head around his return." Janet nodded. Sam abruptly felt a little self indulgent, mindful of her friend's own unassuming relationship with a certain bespectacled Doctor of Archeology.
Sam continued. "I'm trying not to show it. I try to be careful, not show the 'feelings'."
Janet giggled. "Mmm, me thinks if you had, a certain Colonel Jack O'Neill would have hauled your ass to a psych. evaluation quicker then you could say 'Urgo!' "
Sam smiled at the thought. "I know! He should talk." She paused, uncertain as to whether she should continue. "In fact, I tried to talk to *him*, but he wouldn't have it."
Janet's eyebrows rose again.
Sam took in Janet's intrigued expression. "I got nervous when Joe kept wining and dining me and buying me all those expensive presents. I tried to talk to him off-world – the Colonel, that is; I guess I wanted his approval."
Janet nodded for her to continue.
"He didn't want to know, in fact he was quite short with me." Sam chewed her lip as she remembered the awkward conversation on a cold, uninhabited planet. His gruffness had hurt her more than she cared to admit. Over the years, she had come to regard the Colonel as a friend as well as a colleague.
Janet coughed. "He has feelings for you, Sam."
Sam considered Janet's reminder of an enforced declaration made under duress nearly four years previously. This had scared the hell out of her and she had carefully kept her distance since then. Sure, there might have been 'feelings' between them once, but that was some time ago. So much had happened: a roller coaster of emotions for them both that had resulted in the two once close people drifting solidly into 'Colonel' and 'Major' mode. All this had served Sam to find solace in Joe's company. Joe was handsome, funny, charming, attentive and not Colonel O'Neill. O'Neill was caustic, stubborn and out-of-bounds.
Suddenly, there was a loud knocking at the bathroom door. It was Frances Faxon. "Are you all right in there, dear?" Janet started making faces causing Sam to giggle, but this was cut short by the wedding planner's nasal tones. "Miss Carter, Miss Fraiser, come along now; its show time!" she called through the closed door.
Sam couldn't help a feeling of dread forming in the pit of her stomach as she stood, and she briefly wondered if she was going to lose her breakfast. That would give them all something to gossip about. She would be five months pregnant before the wedding was over! Well, if Joe had his way she would be pregnant when she came back from their Hawaiian honeymoon. They definitely needed to talk more about kids and stuff.
The wedding planner was hustling them through the corridors. Since Clan Faxon was so huge, it had been decided to have the wedding at a large hotel in Denver that could accommodate all their needs. Again, Sam had a hankering after a quiet bash in Colorado Springs, and she suspected that her friends probably felt the same. She closed her mind off to the raucous chattering around her as they waited for the elevator that would take them to the foyer.
Sam studied her dress again. It was a nightmare confection of frills, as convoluted as her emotions. The thought suddenly struck her that she didn't know Joe at all. Yet here she was, barely three months after his proposal.
Here comes the bride. All dressed in white.
********
Jack O'Neill sat in his SUV parked in the hotel parking lot, nervously fiddling with the ribbons trailing from Sam's wedding present. Sam and Joe's wedding present. He studied the label. 'Congratulations Sam and Joe'. Joe and Sam. Samantha Faxon. Mrs. Faxon. He mentally shook himself. Was this JEALOUSY? Get a grip, O'Neill. She's your second-in- command - 2IC - off limits. Besides, its not like you ever had anything going, is it? It was a situation he had thought more and more about over the past few weeks.
He had been the first to notice that 'Ambassador Joes's' attentions were becoming more persistent towards Sam. She didn't seem to notice at first. The diligent Major was always buried in her work, concentrating on missions, being professionally distant. Then, Jack noticed a sudden change in Sam. She seemed happier than she had for some time. Jolly almost. She had begun to return Joe's affection, spending a little less time at the SGC, even going away for weekends. Well, that was a good thing, wasn't it? Hadn't he ordered her to get a life? Jack had come to the bitter conclusion that if he was honest with himself, he probably was envious of Joe the Smooth, but what could he do about it?
He supposed he was too damn old and too damn sour for Sam to show anything other than a platonic interest in him. That was fine. You didn't spend seven years working with a capable, motivated and optimistic person to not want the best for them. If Sam was happy with Joe, then so be it. Then why couldn't he get the 'Jonah and Thera mind stamp thing' out of his head? Why had he been such a jerk that night when Sam had tried to talk to him recently? She was not long engaged and seemed happy, but...? During a crossover on an off world watch, Sam had asked him what he thought of her getting married, and about Joe. He had brusquely cut off every one of her sentences until she had given up and curled herself up in her bedroll. He had wondered if she was crying, but he had known she wasn't. He had only ever seen her cry a couple of times; when they thought Daniel had died that first year, and after Jolinar. He had even politely refused her request to be an usher, inventing some lame excuse for being unable to stay in the hotel the night before the wedding. He was definitely a class A, could win prizes, all out *jerk*.
Jack shook himself again. 'Come on Jack, smile and be nice. Do it for Sam'. He sighed and climbed out of his truck with the neatly wrapped coffee percolator and made his way to the hotel foyer. When he entered the large lobby the number of people milling about struck him. Everyone was very well dressed: monkey suits and boutique frocks. An A-frame sign bore the legend: "The Denver Regent Welcomes Guests for the Wedding of Mr. & Mrs. Faxon." A flower-bedecked floor to ceiling double door obviously indicated the venue for the wedding, so he began to make a move toward it. Suddenly, Jack spotted Teal'c, Daniel and Cassie and gave a tentative wave. Daniel caught his eye and raised his hand. Cassie followed his gaze and came bounding over.
"Hi, Uncle Jack!" she smirked at her loud use of the familial term, hoping it would embarrass him.
"Hi yourself, Barbie!" Jack flashed back an equally cheeky grin, then suddenly bent down and kissed her on the cheek. "You look really pretty, kiddo, I hope I'm going to get a dance! Or will I have to duel Dominic?" Cassie's face turned a bright shade of crimson, and Jack had to smile at her innocence. But he still could not shake the black feelings that had followed him from the car.
"Maybe," Cassie stuck her chin out, and then grabbed his arm. "Come on, Teal'c and Daniel have to do the 'Places, Please' thing or Mrs. Faxon will start squawking again." Jack was dragged unceremoniously over to his other two teammates, who were dressed in formal tails, in keeping with their roles as ushers.
"Well, who would think – you could be twins!" Jack quipped, in a vain attempt to lift his mood.
"That would appear unlikely, O'Neill," Teal'c raised an eyebrow, glancing between himself and Daniel Jackson. "Dr. Jackson requires bi-ocular corrective lenses and I do not."
Daniel looked at Teal'c over his aforementioned spectacles. The *look* said it all.
Jack chuckled and turned to Daniel, "We've been working on his timing while you were gone – whadyathink?"
Daniel shook his head. "I think Teal'c has been sadly lacking in my steadying influence," he said, but not without a twinkle in his eye. "You and Jonas have ruined him."
"Speaking of the boy wonder, where is he?" said Jack. He had meant it to sound funny, but his humour was forced and he was aware that the comment had sounded sarcastic and condescending.
It was Daniel's turn to raise his eyebrow. "He's already seated, Jack, you're a bit late."
Jack glowered back and was about to reply, when Cassie broke in. "Here, I'll take that and put it with the others." She took the present from Jack's arms and scuttled off along the hotel corridor.
"What was that?" Daniel queried.
"Nuthin'. Didn't mean anything. I didn't sleep well. Is Jonas here with Lt. What's-her-name?" Jack's reply at least sounded contrite.
"Rush." Daniel appraised his friend. He took a breath and asked again: "You okay?"
"Sure, lets go find me a seat." Jack nodded to Teal'c and motioned for Daniel to lead the way, which he did, but Jack was aware that the younger man was watching him carefully. A seat was found for him near the back of the function room, which Jack was relieved about. He wasn't keen on weddings as a rule. In fact he wasn't keen on anything like this anymore. He was always painfully reminded of the family he had once enjoyed and then had lost: his son, Charlie; his wife, Sara. One lost by fate, the other by his own hand. Which was which? Sometimes he couldn't tell.
The wedding march broke through his thoughts and he followed the other guests by rising to his feet. Jack then realized he hadn't even seen Joe, and craned his head above the many other guests toward the front. There he was, standing with his...brother? Joe the Smooth. A movement to his right made him turn and his breath was stopped in his throat as Sam and her father, Jacob, processed down the aisle.
She was beautiful: an angel in white silk and lace. A fine veil covered her face, but even with that, even at this distance, Jack could see she was beautiful. He caught sight of blue eyes and blonde hair and a smile to melt his heart.
All he could feel was a profound and overwhelming sense of loss.
********
Three weeks later, Sam was glad to be back at work. She had enjoyed the honeymoon. Hawaii was gorgeous, the people friendly and the hotel luxurious. There had been the lovemaking of course. Very nice, satisfying. Until Joe had come along, she was beginning to feel like a celibate. However, on some nights, their lovemaking had felt more like just sex than anything else. "Well, there's nothing wrong with that," Sam giggled to herself as she ploughed through the endless emails that had been piling up in her in-box. Presumably due to her pre-wedding nerves, she had forgotten to set an out of office notice. There were quite a few messages asking for something to be done, another from the same person checking on how she was getting on with it, and a third saying where the hell was it. One thousand, eight hundred and seventy-nine e-mails must be a record, she thought and found herself wondering how Joe was coping on his first day back. She glanced at the telephone and wondered if she should call him. Last night had been spoiled by their first argument and this was weighing on her mind. After checking the time, she decided to delay the call until after the morning's briefing. A light knocking on the open door of her laboratory broke her reverie.
"Hello there, Mrs. Faxon." Janet smiled. This elicited a wince from Sam.
"Oh, don't call me that, I keep expecting Frances to jump out from behind me," she groaned.
Janet giggled, sharing the joke. "Mmm. Mrs. Faxon *senior* was kind of omni-present on the Big Day, wasn't she?"
Sam nodded. "I even went and hid in the ladies room during the reception, but she tracked me down. I thought she was gonna jimmy the toilet stall door to check that my dress wasn't wrinkled." Janet laughed out loud at this and the two friends regarded one another.
"So, how are you?" Janet asked in a more steadied voice.
"Fine," answered Sam in a manner a little too insouciant to be true.
"Just fine?" queried Janet. "I would have thought a newly married couple would be more than fine."
Sam smiled humbly. "Well, actually.... we had words last night. Nothing much. We slept in the same bed and all that..." her voice tailed off.
"Oh," was all Janet could manage. She smiled encouragingly. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Sam paused for a moment, the argument from the previous day sounding in her head; "The usual. And offspring, as in when are we producing any?"
Janet snorted, "You've only been married three weeks! You need time to get to used to that, believe me, I know."
Sam nodded. "I know that, he knows that. It's just...well. He said we mustn't wait too long because of my...age." She began to fiddle with a small chip on the side of her laboratory bench.
At this, the doctor pulled a face; "He said that? So much for the diplomat!"
Sam could sense her friend's anger and held up her hand in a placating gesture. "Don't worry, I told him he was a heartless bastard, etc."
At this, Janet giggled, "Does he have any bruising?"
Sam admonished her friend. "You shouldn't joke about that," but she grinned back. "Actually, I'm wondering if he has a point." Janet's eyebrows rose to encourage Sam to continue.
"Well, it's true I'm not getting any younger." She paused. "For a while, I never thought I would have the chance for a normal life, kids, house, dog, you know." Her fingers continued to fiddle with the flaw in the bench.
Janet nodded again, and Sam felt relieved she didn't have to explain the intimate details of her turbulent life over the past few years. She continued slowly. "I know you've run the tests to see if the Naquadah in my system would affect any children I would carry. I understand there could be a small risk." Sam propped her elbows on the bench, covered her eyes with her hands, and sighed. "But I was thinking, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing to try? I know my work is important and I wouldn't want to stop fighting the Goa'uld. But am I so wrong to want a piece of what I am actually fighting for?" she dropped her hands and looked questioningly at her friend.
Janet shook her head. "Of course not, Sam. But you know you have to be sure. You can't put kids back. They take over your life, empty your bank balance and come home with their navel pierced."
Sam chortled at the shared joke regarding Cassie and her new 'acquisition'. She paused. "I *am* sure that I want children, but I'm not sure I want them right *now*."
Janet looked at her friend seriously, and said slowly, "Ooookay, so what did Joe say when you told him that?"
Sam looked up unhappily at this.
"Aahh, hence the argument," Janet concluded. They sat in a companionable silence for a few moments, lost in their own thoughts. Sam glanced at the clock once more and jumped energetically off her stool. "Well, I'd better go, my briefing is in five minutes. See you later?"
"Sure. We'll talk, okay? Oh, Sam, don't forget your shot of Depo- Provera," the doctor called to the receding form as she made a move to follow her friend.
"Actually, Janet, I think I'll give it a miss," Sam replied over her shoulder, pausing by the lab door.
Janet stopped in her tracks and stared back, puzzled. "No contraceptive shot after what you just told me?"
Sam shrugged back, "Maybe, I'll leave this one to fate."
********
The pre – mission briefing started a little late as the assembled members of SG-1 and SG-6 all wanted to know how the new bride was, how married life was and how the honeymoon went. Sam did a good job of being pleasant and charming, but she could see Colonel O'Neill was wearing an expression of amused irritation. Instinctively she knew he wanted Business As Usual and that is what she intended to give him. There were very few women assigned to the SGC, although the balance had been improved somewhat in the past couple of years. Sam liked to think she was part of the process of re- dressing the skew. She had worked damn hard, in the lab, in the field *and* in battle. She didn't want to be equal to her male counterparts; she wanted to be better than them. Seven years ago, Sam knew she really wouldn't win an arm wrestling contest with Colonel O'Neill, but perhaps she could break his hand in the attempt. Their working relationship had moved so far from there, right until after her engagement was announced. She was no 'weak female', but surely he knew that after all this time? She wasn't sure as she took her seat. Her thoughts were pushed aside as she stood up at attention when General Hammond entered the briefing room.
"Good morning, people, at ease," he added, waving the military personnel back to their seats. The General's face looked especially genial. He was carrying some freshly prepared briefing documents that he divided in two and passed down the table. He nodded a smile at Sam as he sat down.
"I think that you are all aware as to why both SG-1 and 6 are here before you all ship out. We have had preliminary mineral analysis from SG-7 regarding PX7-253, which is indicative of rich Naquadah deposits. The boys up in Mineralogy are jumping up and down, I can tell you!" His joke gained a laugh from the company around the table, as much amusement was gained over comparing the ops teams to the 'geeky scientists'. Sam laughed too (even though she felt she should be defending her fellow 'geeks') and quickly stole a look at the colonel. He was glowering, with the open report that was receiving the full force of his glare. What the hell was wrong with him? Usually he never bothered with briefing reports, preferring to listen and ask questions instead. If she was hoping to catch his eye to share the joke, he didn't acknowledge her.
Sam returned her attention back to the conference. The encouraging analysis was prompting a swift move into the second stage of Resource Recovery Protocols. Basically, the powers-that-be were pushing for Naquadah powered fuel generators in view of the escalating worldwide fuel crises and the rare off-world element was much in demand. The General summarized this, mostly for Sam's benefit and then indicated Major Paine from SG-7 should continue.
"The natives from '253 are most certainly of Earth origin and their level of evolutionary advancement is equivalent to, say, Northern Africa of 200 years ago. The culture is African based, possibly Moroccan, indicating their ancestors were probably extracted through the Egyptian 'gate when it was operational. The people call themselves *and* their planet 'Amzawee'. They are friendly, willing to trade and there appears to be no Goa'uld influences other than the fact the people were originally displaced by them. Their commercial culture has not yet developed to the point of monetary exchange; trade is primarily based on the barter system. The Naquadah deposits mean very little to the people, as they find the mineral too hard to be malleable for their primitive industries. Gold and silver are much more highly prized, and Major Marx's personal stereo went down well!" Major Paine's assessment brought forth a round of chuckles and grins. "Basically, we have a Naquadah rich planet, with no evident Goa'uld presence."
The last statement was met with more grins until Colonel O'Neill's voice broke through; "Seems too good to be true," he clipped.
Major Paine cleared his throat. "I am simply stating our findings, as ordered, Colonel." He wasn't going to be shot down by the base curmudgeon.
Jack didn't miss a beat. "And I'm simply saying, when something seems too good to be true, it usually *is* too good to be true." He returned Paine's defiant look with a measured look of his own, practiced after many years and honed to a tee. Paine lasted less than a couple of seconds before he looked back down at his notes.
General Hammond coughed pointedly and shot Jack a 'leave it' look. He cleared his throat and soothed the atmosphere with his soft drawling tone: "Well, people, we'll all ensure we have our heads up on his one, just in case, won't we?" he added, with emphasis on the 'we' for Jack's benefit.
Sam listened to the exchange with a sinking feeling. Her CO was in a filthy mood, and Sam wondered how far she was responsible. But how could she be? She hadn't even been here. She did *not* need this on her first day back, and fervently hoped she did not do anything to annoy him.
When the briefing was finally dismissed she practically scampered out of the room only to be stopped by an annoyed; "Carter, er Faxon, a word before you gear up." She turned to face her CO, but then had the rather embarrassing duty to walk back into the briefing room and stand beside his chair, as he had not budged from his original position. He indicated with a curt nod that she was to sit next to him.
Sam slid into the seat one away from Colonel O'Neill. "Sir?" she queried evenly, but not without a certain sense of trepidation.
The Colonel cleared his throat. "So, how are you?" He looked her squarely in the eye.
"Great, thank you, sir."
"How was the vacation?" he continued.
'What is this, Twenty Questions?' Sam thought, 'vacation'? "Great, lovely," she added with a smile, realizing that her answers were falling into a repetitive, monosyllabic manner.
"Ready to get back to work?" Jack asked, his mouth tense.
"Absolutely." Okay, this was a script now, Sam thought. She lifted her left hand to smooth her hair, which was still long and wound in a tight knot at the base of her neck.
"Good." Silence. "No rings?" he nodded at her bare hands.
"Not on duty, and its still 'Carter', sir. Remember, I said I'm not changing it?"
"Oh."
Sam nodded lamely. "Shall we...?" she indicated the door, as if to say: Lets go before we start a real conversation.
"Be there in a minute, Carter. See you at the ramp." At this Sam nodded again and made her way toward the door feeling distinctly puzzled from the stilted exchange. It was her first day back; couldn't he have cut her some slack? She glanced around to see the taciturn colonel gazing at her retreating back wearing an unhappy expression.
Sam turned pointedly and continued toward the locker rooms, bemoaning asshole superior officers, husbands, and life in general.
********
Over the next few weeks, SG-1 settled into a familiar routine. Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter continued their roles as CO and 2IC. Teal'c accompanied them in between his missions to organize off-world ranks of rebel Jaffa. Jonas acted as the main anthropological liaison, with Daniel joining them occasionally as he adjusted to his life back on Earth. To the team, he appeared quieter than the Daniel they remembered. He seemed happy to share Jonas' workload and adopted the role of 'big brother' toward him, but Jack O'Neill could sense an undercurrent of sadness in his demeanor.
Prior to his Ascension, Daniel and Jack's relationship had become strained to say the least. Daniel had begun to argue with the Colonel over every decision involving ethics and morals, as he perceived them. In the early days, Jack rather enjoyed the verbal sparring, inwardly recognizing the need for a moral centre to the SGC's First Contact flagship group (although he would have never admitted it aloud). When Daniel's young wife Sha're had died under tragic circumstances, Jack had felt his loss keenly and ensured that the team closed ranks to protect the distraught man's sensibilities. However, in the final year before Daniel's departure, the atmosphere had often become heated and the debates had taken a bitter turn.
Now that Daniel was back, Jack was giving him space to adjust. He had been careful to avoid too much conflict, although their relationship was beginning to normalize. Jack had not been surprised that Daniel had moved in with the petite and caring Dr. Janet Fraiser; after all, his apartment had been packed up and the lease terminated several months earlier. They had always got along well, especially when Daniel was confined to the infirmary for one thing or another, which was often. However, he was amused that Daniel had made no progress whatsoever to find his own apartment, and, if truth were told, Jack was also pleased. He cared for his entire team more than he would ever admit. He was also acutely aware that there was too much pain and misery and broken dreams on this planet and all the rest. So, if someone found a little happiness, he was happy for them.
However, he could not fathom why he was making Samantha Carter's working life such a misery lately.
********
A few weeks later, Sam was pacing nervously outside the infirmary trying not to look like she was doing so. She had already checked Janet's office and she wasn't there. The duty nurses had seen her hovering and had asked if they could do anything to help. Sam had lightly brushed them off, trying to act like she had just dropped in to see her friend on a social call. This was *so* not a social call. For what seemed the hundredth time, she looked at her watch. If she was late, Colonel O'Neill would have her a...and there was Janet walking along the corridor, her arms full of files. Janet caught sight of her and smiled, only for the smile to die on her lips when she took in her friend's expression.
"Sam, what on earth's the matter, you're white as a sheet?" she asked in a concerned voice. Sam said nothing but steered the doctor through her office door, closed it behind her and dumped her off-world pack on the floor.
"Janet, I need you to be my doctor right now; I'm on a time limit here." Sam's voice shook a little as she studied the pack at her feet.
Janet plunked her files down on her desk and opened her hands, "Go."
"I think I'm pregnant, I'm pretty sure, I need you to do a test." Sam's words came out a run, her right hand nervously tapping her left.
"Really?!" Janet looked up, thrilled, but again gauging Sam's expression, nodded her head in a studied, professional manner. "Okay, what makes you think that you might be pregnant?"
"Well, I'm late...er, sore breasts, and I've had some stomach cramps. But I thought that was a sure sign that my period was due!" Sam replied, chewing her lip. "My last period was really light, so I thought I was going to make up for it this time, but when I didn't start, I put two and two together... this morning actually."
Janet held up a finger, "Did you say your last period was unusually light?" she asked, grabbing a planner off her desk.
"Well, yes. I thought so." Sam's face was puzzled.
"It might have been a little breakthrough bleed, "Janet continued, making marks on the planner, "You know, a small bleed even though the pregnancy is established? Sometimes it happens for the first couple of months."
Sam sat down quickly on Janet's chair. "Oh, God, does this mean I'm further along than a couple of weeks?"
Janet looked levelly at her friend. "Sam, what do you *think* you are, a week late?" Sam nodded.
"Well, you could be nearly nine weeks pregnant." Janet's words hung in the air.
Sam's could feel the blood draining from her face, "Nine weeks?" she whispered, shocked.
Janet turned to fish in the small supply closet she kept in her office. "Human gestation is measured from your last proper period; if you've missed two, that makes you coming up for nine weeks." She turned with a small rectangular box in her hand.
Sam could only manage an "Oh," and stared at the box Janet was holding. "Is that what I think it is?"
Janet nodded, "A pregnancy test," she replied. "Do you know how they work?" Janet pulled out the test to show her. "Take off the lid, pee on the spongy strip, and then bring it back here." She pushed the test back into the box and thrust it into unwilling hands. Sam stared at the box that Janet handed to her. "Sam, it won't bite you, just pop into the ladies and get on with it. I thought you wanted to know for certain?"
A nod. "Well, then go!" Janet gave Sam an encouraging pull out of her seat, then a push out of the door. She didn't have to wait long. In a few minutes Sam returned and unzipped a pocket of her BDU jacket. Gingerly, she handed a narrow white shape to Janet. The doctor took it carefully, removed the lid and examined the windows on the side. Two bright blue lines showed up clearly against the white.
"Sam, its positive – you are *definitely* pregnant." Janet looked expectantly at the agitated woman standing before her. There was no reaction. "Hey, I thought you would be happy about this. You knew that there might be problems getting and staying pregnant. You're married and trying for a baby, if I remember our last conversation concerning this."
Sam nodded, uncharacteristically silent compared to her normal ebullience. "Of course, I'm pleased," she said slowly, "I just wasn't expecting it to happen so soon."
Janet smiled kindly. "In my experience, it seems as though life has its own way of deciding when these things happen - my Mom called it; 'The Twisting Kaleidoscope'. You never know when it's your turn next." After watching Sam lost in her own thoughts for a moment, she broke through, "Have you had a chance to talk to Joe yet?"
"No." Sam shook her head, "He's in Washington, again."
Janet snorted, "It's a wonder you two ever got pregnant, judging by the amount of time you spend apart. Why don't you call him?" she nodded toward the telephone on her desk.
"I don't really have time," Sam pulled off her watch cover to check, "Damn! I'm late, and I've already had a warning this week." She bent down to pick up her discarded pack.
Janet started. "Wait. You've had a *warning*? *You've* had a warning? From whom?"
Sam sighed, "Colonel O'Neill." She waved off her friend's perplexed expression. "Janet, he had every right; I was late twice in a row. There was no excuse: I couldn't get myself to wake up. At least I know why I've been so tired lately." She deftly shouldered her pack and began to fasten the clips.
Janet realized what was happening. "Whoa there, Superwoman, what do you think you're doing?"
"Janet, please don't stop me. We know 'gate travel is safe for unborn children because Lt. Sharpe was five months along before she even realized she was pregnant, and before the lab got the tests right," she added, slyly.
"Yes, thank you so much for reminding me, *Major*." Janet crossed her arms across her chest with a bemused expression. "That is why I intend to take extra care of any more expectant mothers that come my way. I'm signing you off." Janet turned to pull some paperwork out of a tray.
Sam wasn't going to be outdone by Janet's doctor's orders persona. "Janet, I'm fine, honestly. I haven't even been sick. This is just a quick trip to check up on SG-7's mining operation on PX7-253. It was due to be SG-3, but Pooley's on paternity leave. I'll be back in two hours. I'm absolutely fine."
Janet said nothing, but continued to write.
Sam shifted her feet and tried another tactic. "Janet, please, don't write me off as 'the pregnant one' already. Let me do this, and I promise I'll be a good girl and let you run every test you want when we get back. Before lunch, even?" Janet stopped writing and Sam knew she had won. She so loved getting her own way.
"Okay." Janet's lips pursed. "But I want you back in my office as soon as your feet hit the ramp earth-side. Absolutely *the* minute," she added in a resigned tone.
Sam flung her arms about Janet. "Thanks!" she called brightly as she headed for the door.
"Sam." Janet's words stopped her short; had she changed her mind?
"Congratulations, *Mom*!"
Sam felt a sudden rush of pleasure at those simple words. She could not stop grinning all the way down the corridor.
********
Rounding the blast doors on level 28, Sam's grin faded rapidly at the sight of Colonel O'Neill waiting impatiently at the base of the 'gate ramp. O'Neill's body language screamed annoyance. His arms were folded tightly over his P-90 and his lips were pursed together so tightly they were practically bloodless. Teal'c stood off to one side, grasping his staff weapon. Jonas had suddenly found one of the ramp lights fascinating and Daniel was fiddling with his cammo shirt hem. Sam got the distinct feeling they had been experiencing 'Death by Pissed Off Colonel' while they had been waiting for her. She took a deep breath as she passed through the level 28 blast doors. The klaxons were blaring to indicate an open wormhole, and the 'gate aperture was glowing soft blue and white ripples.
O'Neill's eyes alighted upon her and narrowed. "Major, *so* glad you could join us." His tone was uncompromisingly sarcastic.
Sam swallowed, conscious of the control room team observing her third late appearance in as many weeks. "Sorry, Colonel, it won't happen again." Because I'll be off the mission list and doing your paperwork, she mentally finished.
The colonel was in an especially nasty mood. "Isn't that what you said the last time, Carter? Got a problem with timekeeping? Or was there something about 'Ship out at 0900 hours' that you didn't understand?"
"Yes, sir. I mean, no, sir. I mean, I apologize." Sam could feel a red flush creeping its way up her neck. Oh crap, here she was with fifteen years in the USAF, risen to the rank of major and she was being chewed out by her CO for tardiness. She glanced at the armory sergeant who was issuing her a P-90. He was deliberately not looking at her, drinking in every word.
Jack was not going to let it go, enjoying her obvious embarrassment. "Not good enough, Major; you're on report."
Daniel's voice interrupted; "Jesus, Jack, she's only ten minutes late." The Colonel swung around at the normally placid anthropologist with a poisonous look. "*Doctor* Jackson, I do not interfere with the archeological aspects of your work, therefore, I would appreciate it, if you would not interfere with decisions affecting my command. We're late people, let's not be any later."
With that, he turned abruptly on his heel, marched up the 'gate ramp and practically stamped into the swirling vortex. Sam kept her gaze on her P- 90, subconsciously feeling several pairs of eyes looking at her.
"You heard the Colonel," she heard herself speak out, "Let's go."
With that she marched up the ramp to back up her commanding officer.
********
By the time all of SG-1 had emerged, Jack had already issued some orders to Sam and she was heading off to the native village. SG-7 was not there to meet them as arranged. One of the villagers was waiting for them to explain that the SG team were busy blasting and were delayed. Apparently, a large blast had damaged some of their equipment and that the radios would not work. Jack ordered Teal'c and Jonas to the blast site to check out SG- 7's situation. This left Daniel and Jack to follow Sam to the village. There was an uneasy exchange of glances as the two men fell into step side by side. Daniel gazed at the back of Sam who was, by now, marching purposefully some distance ahead on the worn dusty path.
Daniel sighed quietly. Jack's bad moods were getting on his nerves. Sam was not the only one to be at the receiving end of Jack's temper, but she certainly seemed to be getting the worst deal. He had picked faults with her on almost every off world mission. Sometimes, his criticism had been justified; Sam had seemed distracted lately. Daniel had always thought of himself as a good reader of other people's inward emotions, and he felt that the new bride was not as happy as she should be with her situation. He very privately thought that this might be because she had married the wrong man, and that the man she should have married was at this moment stamping his boots into the ground and glaring at tweeting birds. Then perhaps they wouldn't both be so miserable, especially when they were together.
It was mid-morning on the planet and the system's binary suns were traversing their arcs across the horizon. Daniel glanced at the forest off to his right. It looked cool and inviting; a refuge from the arid conditions in the open. His cammo pant legs swished against the dry grasses bordering the path. He took a deep breath. "Hey, Jack, wanna talk about the 'gateroom incident?" 'Great Daniel, just great, subtle'.
Daniel actually *felt* Jack glaring through his sunglasses.
"No," he barked.
Adjusting his hat, Daniel continued. "I think you were wrong to bawl Sam out in front of us like that," He ploughed on regardless, carefully swatting at a cloud of gnat-like bugs that were bothering him.
Jack responded with nothing except the stamp, stamp, of his boots. He was creating dusty eddies that were swirling out behind him.
Daniel sneezed, then coughed. The dust and the bugs were getting to him. Jack, however, seemed completely unperturbed. Daniel continued again, "I think you should maybe chat to Sam off the record; there's obviously something bothering her." Oh boy, Jackson, your life in your hands.
Out of the corner of his eye, Daniel saw a muscle flicker on Jack's face. "Daniel, I've already told you; I do not need to justify my command decisions to you."
Daniel began to congratulate himself for eliciting a response. "I know, and I agree, to an extent, but well, this is Sam."
"*Sam*?" Jack practically spat the name out, "That would be Major Carter, USAF? Personnel subject to rules and regulations that you couldn't even begin to comprehend, Dr. Jackson. I retain the right to enforce discipline amongst my subordinates."
"Jack, we *are* talking about Sam here." Daniel stared at Jack in disbelief.
Jack's face twisted and he opened his mouth. Suddenly, he seemed to have a change of heart and he moved to stride away to the village.
"JACK!" shouted Daniel after him, his own temper rising with the dust.
Jack spun around, his sunglasses mirroring Daniel's face and walked back to face Daniel up. Saying in a low, controlled don't-screw-with-me voice; "Daniel, this conversation is over," he then turned abruptly on his heel and had covered 100 yards before the archeologist had the chance to think of anything else to say.
Daniel had raised his right index finger in order to reinforce his point. He regarded the elevated digit in resignation.
"That went well," he muttered to himself and began to follow.
********
Sam was relieved to reach the Amzawee village: it was getting hot, and she was out of breath. She pulled up her canteen, unscrewed the cap, and gratefully took a long swallow of water. Sam surveyed her surroundings, slightly familiar with the area having been here with SG-6 some four months previously.
The village was small – only covering two or three acres or so with simple wattle and daub one-storey dwellings. It did boast a small barter market and a village pump where the villagers would congregate and chat. However, the busy community that Sam remembered was quiet. Too quiet. A few older residents still sat outside their homes, but instead of smiling and waving at their visitors as they had on their last visit, they kept their gaze down.
Her guide from the Stargate muttered something about getting back to his family and disappeared down a narrow trail. As she replaced her cap on her canteen, Sam was struck by the absence of children. On the last visit, the SG teams had been surrounded by excited, babbling children begging candy bars and playfully stealing ball caps. Now, there was not a child to be seen. Sam began to feel distinctly uneasy and turned to check the Colonel's progress. He was only a short distance behind her, Daniel trailing at the back. She also noticed that as he read her stance, he quickened his pace, halting next to her.
"Carter, what's up?" his voice was steady as he removed his sunglasses. Despite her unease, Sam smiled inwardly. He always knew when something was bothering her, and she felt the recent tension between them evaporate a little. Sam nodded toward Daniel, indicating they should wait for him.
"Do either of you notice something odd about the village?" Sam asked, keeping her eyes moving and her hand resting on her weapon, her fingers flagged but readied.
Suddenly, their radios crackled to life; it was Teal'c.
Jack hoisted his vest radio closer to his mouth to reply, "We read you, Teal'c, report?"
"ColonelO'Neill, upon our arrival at the blasting station of SG-7, it appears the entire team is missing." There was a mutter of background talking. "JonasQuinn says the situation resembles that of the Marie Celeste?" Sam noticed Jack quirking a grin. He caught her eye and raised his to the heavens. He pulled the radio up further, "Understood, copy that situation here. Secure the area and report to the village entrance, ah," he assessed the position of the alien suns in relation to the Stargate, "South side."
"Understood. Over and out." Teal'c's precise reply responded and the radio silenced. Jack replaced his sunglasses and turned 360 degrees with his hand on his own P-90, carefully assessing the situation.
Sam could sense his unease and was relieved it seemed her assessment of the situation appeared vindicated. Something was definitely wrong. Why had the guide at the 'gate lied? Where was SG-7? And the rest of the villagers?
"Carter, where's whathisname that met us at the 'gate?" Jack asked, without taking his gaze off the distant tree line.
"He said something about getting back to his family and went off in that direction," she pointed around the village outskirts.
"Locate and interrogate, please, Carter." The order was precisely delivered.
Sam fought a sudden urge to salute. "Yes, sir!" she barked and moved off.
"Oh, Carter!" Her CO's voice stopped Sam in her tracks and she turned to face him, half expecting him to criticize her dusty boots.
"Sir?"
"Monitor comms., and...watch your back, " was all he quietly said.
This left Sam even more puzzled as to her CO's behaviour, but she nodded and turned smartly along the well-worn village path.
********
Jack watched her for a moment, and then turned to Daniel, ignoring his questioning look. "Daniel, start talking to the old folks; try to find out just what the hell is wrong with this place. I'm on a recce." Daniel nodded and turned away toward the nearest villager, but Jack didn't miss his small headshake and shoulder shrug. Jack knew Daniel thought he was being an ass, and in a small way he appreciated his attempts to help the situation, but he could not categorize his own feelings, let alone explain or justify them to someone else.
His thoughts went on an immediate back burner as he turned to the situation at hand. He watched Daniel gently speaking to one of the villagers who just seemed to smile and nod. The doctor moved on to an old man perched on a bench by the village pump, only to get the same reaction. Daniel turned to Jack and shrugged his shoulders, giving up his arms in an 'empty' gesture. Jack chewed the inside of his mouth for a moment then made his decision. He reached to his radio again.
"Sierra golf one niner, this is Sierra golf one team leader, code 5, repeat code 5, village south..." his call to regroup was interrupted by a very fast talking, agitated Jonas.
"No! Er...that's a negative, SG-1 team leader, er...a negative, Jack, you gotta see this! Problems...oh, er... over and out".
Jack sighed, Jonas may not be a bad shot for a civilian, and, okay, alien, but he sure as hell had no idea about radio protocols.
Jack spoke slowly into the radio mouthpiece: "Received SG-1, that's interesting. Are - you - in - immediate - danger?"
There was a crackling and a burble of a muted exchange, presumably between Jonas and Teal'c. Jack could picture the ex-Jaffa ready to snatch the radio off Jonas' jacket and beat him to death with it, but he probably only raised an eyebrow.
"No."
"Then, can you tell us where you are?" This time he rolled his eyes at Daniel who had overheard the exchange and was now standing next to Jack peering at him over the top of his glasses. He swore that man could convey so much with that one look, ascension, descension, whatever.
Jonas responded, "We're at a ridge south east of the village, there's a rocky outcropping above me..." While Jonas babbled on, Jack removed his mini scope from one of his BDU pockets and was following the directions looking for an area that matched the description. He interrupted Jonas: "Made you, Jonas, remain where you are. Teal'c, make sure Mr. oh-I-see-something-more-interesting-over-there stays where he is. Carter, are you getting this?"
Sam's clipped breathy tones crackled from his handset; she was obviously jogging, "Receiving you, sir, already on my way, estimate seven minutes to point."
"Roger that, ten minutes." Jack was satisfied that his 2IC had her wits about her, and felt a familiar feeling come over him; relief at her reliability, a little lacking of late. Thank God, she's pulling it together now, he grimly thought, as he headed away from the village along the same path Carter had used quarter of an hour previously.
********
Sam panted along a small worn path, her pack digging into her shoulders on every downward jolt. Trees sloped upward to her left and the village could be seen in the valley to her right. She focused her efforts on her hurried journey, trying to ignore the stitch that was nagging into her side. On the edge of her vision she saw two vague black figures hurrying towards her position from the tree line, and suddenly she was upon Jonas and Teal'c. The latter was obviously on high alert, his staff weapon clasped firmly in his hand.
"MajorCarter." Teal'c acknowledged, but Sam could see his attention was focused on roaming the area, wary of danger. "It appears the planet has been compromised by Ba'al, he has abducted SG-7 and is expected back with a contingent of his Jaffa shortly. The villagers are hiding in the caves behind us." He pointed to a large overhanging rock, although no cave entrance was visible.
Sam nodded, swallowing as she tried to catch her breath, supporting her left side and cursing her new physical weakness for a moment. "Does the colonel know about Ba'al?" she finally managed to spit out.
"No, indeed, I thought it prudent to maintain radio silence regarding that intelligence," Teal'c replied, studying her closely. "MajorCarter, are you well? You seem-"
Sam cut him off, "I'm fine, Teal'c. The colonel will be here any minute. What do the villagers want us to do?"
Jonas broke in, "They want to get away from Ba'al, that much is obvious!" he spluttered out.
"Are you sure, Jonas? We've tried to help people before that didn't want to be helped." Bitter memories of K'tau surfaced. Sam remembered all too clearly that the colonel was sure as hell pissed off on that planet.
"They're begging us, Sam! They took all of SG-7 and most of the young men and threatened the women that they would kill all the children if they tried to get help! We've got to get them out of here!" The young Kelownan was becoming increasingly upset. Curiously, Sam was reminded of the passionate Daniel in full flow.
"Where is...Droga...their Praetor, or whatever he was called?" Sam was following Teal'c's lead and scanning the skies on the lookout for death gliders.
"They killed him! In front of his wife and daughter!" Jonas gestured frantically to the caves, as if that would help the situation. He shook his head. "Bastards." Sam's surprise at hearing Jonas use a word she had never heard him say before was broken by Colonel O'Neill panting up to hear the tail end of Jonas' last exclamation.
"Hey! You could at least wait 'til I'm here before you start insulting me!" he puffed, but quickly sobered when he saw the serious faces in front of him. All three started talking at once, so he held up his hand and then pointed to Sam who quickly gave him a synopsis of the situation as she understood it, with much butting in from Jonas. Daniel finally caught up with the group and heard most of Sam's explanation. He tactfully pulled Jonas away from the 'soldiers' so they could plan their next moves.
The colonel was furious that the Amzawee who met them at the 'gate had not told the truth about the situation. Although, Sam knew his blustering and bad language had more to do with the missing SG-7 team members than a frightened civilian. He tracked quickly up to the cave with his team close behind.
The villagers shrank away at Jack's entrance, but some of the women recognized Sam and came closer. Daniel tried to find out who was in charge now that their leader was dead. An older man was pushed forward, obviously terrified. Jack began to demand information from the nervous man, which seemed to scare him even more. Finally Daniel intervened with a quiet: "Let me try, Jack." Both Daniel and Jonas were able to haltingly converse with the old man in his own language. He confirmed everything they knew already. The other villagers, mostly women, gathered around the group and as Sam looked at them, her heart began to rule her head when she saw the number of young children who were clinging to their mothers. Their eyes showed fear and hope. Fear of the horrors they had seen that day, and hope that these people from another world would make the bad men go away. She turned away from them to join the colonel and Teal'c at the cave entrance. They were discussing an evacuation plan.
"...and round up the old folks still in the village?" the colonel was saying.
Teal'c's response was straightforward in its brutal honesty: "If there is time, O'Neill. Our good fortune will run out, of that I am certain." Presumably the older villagers had been unable or unwilling to leave their homes.
Sam stepped up. "According to Daniel, the leader says the Jaffa gave no indication as to why they were here, although it's obviously for the Naquadah. They only know it is Ba'al's doing because the Jaffa said so, and that they would be back soon. That was around noon, yesterday, sir."
Jack nodded. "As far as I can remember, Ba'al didn't have a huge army of Jaffa like Osiris, et al., something doesn't add up..."
His words were drowned out by the scream of a low flying death glider flying right over the back of their heads. It banked 45 degrees and came about for another pass.
********
Jack sprang into action, "DAMN! They're looking for the villagers! Daniel! Jonas! Start to lead the women and kids along the tree line and get them through the 'gate ASAP! Teal'c, scout that ridge; I need to know if there's a freaking mothership around here. Carter, bring up the rear! GO!" His team scrambled into action; Teal'c bounding away, the others organizing the villagers into groups to make their escape. Before long, everyone had made the tree line and on Jack's orders, was using the undergrowth as cover to thwart the regular reconnaissance passes by the death gliders.
He could see Sam was helping some of the older women, keeping her head up to check they weren't being followed. He then saw her straighten at the sight of Teal'c who was now making his way rapidly toward the rear of the escapees. He hailed the colonel with frantic gestures as Sam urged the women to move faster.
"O'Neill! A Jaffa landing party is tracking us, they are now less than 2 klicks behind!"
Jack grimly nodded, "Heads up, people, gotta move faster now!" He pressed the terrified group ever onward, knowing full well if the Jaffa caught them, they would all be dead, or worse. The sound of shrieking, panting and the wails of children filled the air. "Daniel, tell them to keep the kids quiet, those bastards will make our position!" he ordered. Jack could feel sweat pricking the back of his neck as he assessed their progress. They were less than half a mile from the Stargate, but he was conscious of the sounds of heavy movements through the trees and knew this was going to be damn close. He ran his eye up and down the line. Jonas was doing a good job up front, driving the leaders on, a baby clutched in his arms. Daniel moved back and forth along the middle of the line, steadfastly urging the terrified people to safety in their own language. Teal'c was on alert; his staff weapon charged, protecting Sam who was also at the rear. She was carrying something...a child. He couldn't help himself. He dropped back a little.
Suddenly, staff blasts and splintered trees filled the air followed by screaming from the middle of the line. Any semblance of order disintegrated as the villagers ran this way and that, confused and scared out of their minds. Jonas and Daniel abandoned any attempt at a controlled retreat and bawled at the villagers to run as fast as they could to the 'gate. Jack could see Jonas was almost there and recalled he had a GDO. Good he grimly thought, some are going to make it. He saw Teal'c making off in the direction of the firing and briefly wondered if he would ever see him alive again.
Jack neared the end of the line when a huge explosion suddenly sounded overhead and he ducked as shards of tree trunks rained down on him. Almost immediately he was on his feet, calming the straggling villagers, mostly the older ones who were having difficulty keeping up with the headlong rush for refuge. They followed his frenetic pointing, staggering to the edge of the woods, their Stargate prize within sight. Jack was heading back, already looking for his 2IC. He jumped and scrambled over fallen branches, calling her name as loudly as he dared with Jaffa nearby. His heart was pounding in his mouth.
"Sam!"
Jack was rewarded by a groan and as he came nearer the sound, his pounding heart slumped. Sam Carter was pinned under solid looking tree matter. All that was visible was the back of a blonde head; her hair loose and her cap lost somewhere. He reached her just as another groan was made.
"Sam, can you hear me? Sam?" He crouched by her head and tried to check her over, but she was almost completely buried by the broken branches. Jack carefully began to peel off the debris when a small sound close by made him spin around, his gun up and aimed. A little girl of about four stood before him. Her straggly black hair was stuck with leaves, and her huge brown eyes were wide with terror. Her dark grubby face showed streaks from her eyes where she had been crying. This was the child Sam had been carrying when she was buried. The girl must have been thrown free, or Sam had pitched her to safety.
"Help her." Sam's quiet but clear voice sounded. Jack spun back from the girl and resumed pulling away the obstacles trapping his second.
Sam tried to raise her head, but could only manage an inch. "Sir, there's no time."
Jack moved more debris, conscious of the sound of advancing Jaffa, but mindful of not causing further injury. "Shh, Carter, we'll get you out, just hang on, that's an order."
Sam's blonde head shook slightly, still facedown toward the forest floor. "No. Can't move. Leg's broken. You'll never make it with me."
His hands stilled. Jack's mouth was dry, his tongue stuck. He tried a different approach. "Shut up, Carter! I'm gonna get you back to kick your ass! Don't forget!" He bent to continue his task, but the next words from his second in command stopped him dead.
"Jack. Please. Help her. Get her to her mother. There's no time for me." He stopped. He knew she was right. His heart ripped inside him. The moment he had been dreading for years was finally here. Make a choice. Duty before self. No failing force shields. No last minute rescue. Make a choice.
"I'll come back for you," he choked out. Sam could only nod and he knew she was losing consciousness.
"I'll come back, I promise," he whispered to her still form. A staff blast bolt whizzed past his ear forcing him to duck. Without another word he sprang from his crouch, grabbed the sobbing girl and made off for the Stargate without looking back.
********
How Jack got back to the SGC he never knew. Staff blasts and zat fire were exploding all around him as he pelted to the 'gate, held open by...Teal'c. The warrior had made it, but covered in blood. Both soldiers charged through into the wormhole and emerged earth-side to chaos, SGC style.
"Close the iris! CLOSE THE IRIS!" Jack had to bawl to make himself heard above wailing and sobbing as a medic wrenched the girl from his arms. Eventually he pointed to the 'gate and sliced a finger across his throat. He saw Sergeant Davies slapping his hand down on the palm scanner. The iris slammed shut, dulling the sound of heavy thuds that could be heard on the other side. Teal'c was immediately whisked off by a medic, leaving Jack alone at the top of the 'gate ramp.
General Hammond emerged from the turmoil and barked at him: "MAJOR CARTER?!"
The Colonel pushed his way pass the confused, wailing refugees and faced his own CO. He squared his shoulders and looked the General straight in the eye. "Sir! I had to leave Major Carter on the planet; she was injured, but alive. SG-7 are missing...request immediate permission to return for a rescue..." His voice tailed off.
George Hammond was staring at him with a searching look.
After a moment, Hammond nodded. "Understood, son, de-brief in one hour." The General turned to leave, and for a moment Jack saw his CO controlling his own face. He saw his personal shock and horror mirrored in another. He felt deeply buried emotions bubble to the surface and found he was short of breath.
"General!" Jack's voice cracked, still trying to make himself heard over the melee that was beginning to subside. "Request *immediate* permission to retu -"
Hammond swung back to cut in, his hand held up in acknowledgement. "I'll make that decision with you during de-brief, *Colonel*." Both men regarded each other silently.
A small white figure appeared at the General's side. Janet Fraiser swung a stethoscope about her neck and handed a clipboard to a nearby orderly. "Sir! Triage complete. Permission to move the less badly wounded to the holding areas on levels 18 &19?" She raised a questioning eyebrow at Jack but he waved her off.
"I'm okay," he mumbled, suddenly unable or unwilling to look Sam's best friend in the eye. Janet caught this and looked about. "Sam?" she asked, abruptly. Jack looked up at her and shook his head. He opened his mouth to speak but nothing would come. He felt the room begin to move about him.
The General gently answered the unspoken question, his face like steel.
"MIA."
Janet stumbled back and the General shot his arm out to catch her. Instinctively she grabbed on and gave him a horrified look. "Sir! I need to speak with you, immediately! In private."
Hammond regarded the normally unflappable doctor. He lowered his arm and then his voice: "Doctor Fraiser, can't this wait?"
Janet shot him a pleading look. "It's about Major Carter, there's a medical issue here on a need-to-know basis only, but I think perhaps Colonel O'Neill should be party." She glanced toward Jack who was still tense, as if the rescue mission was to be mounted immediately.
The General indicated the upper level with a short nod and moved off, Janet behind him. Jack took one last look at the titanium iris and turned to follow. The three officers quickly marched to the General's office two flights up, Janet all the while issuing orders to her medical personnel.
As soon as the door closed, Janet began in earnest: "Sirs, we've got to go back! We've got to get her!" her exclamation came out as a ragged gasp and she coughed in an effort to control her voice.
The General's reply was soft. "Janet, you understand we can't do that immediately. We can't go back without assessing the risk, you know that." He looked at his second-in-command to support his statement, but Jack carefully kept his gaze neutral.
"Yes, I do, but you don't know the full situation. We found out this morning...Sam's pregnant...Major Carter is pregnant. There are two lives at stake." Janet suddenly broke off and clamped her lips together.
Jack felt the floor drop away from his feet.
George Hammond's eyes were icy blue as they regarded her. "Let me get this straight, Doctor. You *knowingly* allowed a pregnant officer through the Stargate on a mission?"
Jack saw Janet take a deep swallow. "Major Carter informed me it was a routine meet-and-greet. She said she'd only be gone a couple of hours." He could see her eyes begin to glaze.
The General shook his head. "How many times has a M&G gone ass-up? The SG teams are all operational units. Even the researchers are combat-ready. What were you thinking?"
Janet voice was unsteady as she answered her superior officer. "In retrospect, it was wrong, sir. I – I'm sorry, I..." She looked sideways at Jack, but he kept his eyes fixed firmly on his boots.
Jack found he was having trouble keeping his breathing even. That morning's bawling out in the 'gate room was replaying in his mind.
//"Got a problem with timekeeping? Not good enough, Major; you're on report." //
She was pregnant. And she didn't say anything when he was being a complete bastard toward her.
His life had just gone to Hell. Again.
******** End of Part One
AUTHOR: A. M. Richardson SPOILERS: Small references made to many episodes, up to, and including season 6. Set future season, both Daniel and Jonas are in this story. RATING: R CATEGORY: Action/adventure/angst CONTENT WARNINGS: Violence/implied sexual violence (rape, non-graphic) and the aftermath/miscarriage and the aftermath/language/ minor character deaths/genocide. PAIRINGS: Sam/other (Joe), Sam/Jack, and some Daniel/Janet - friendship/romance SUMMARY: Life's twisting kaleidoscope moves us all in turn. DISCLAIMER: All publicly recognisable characters and places are the property of MGM, World Gekko Corp. and Double Secret Productions. This piece of fan fiction was created for entertainment not monetary purposes and no infringement on copyrights or trademarks was intended. ARCHIVE PERMISSIONS: SJD – yes. E-MAIL: audrich08 @ aol.com AUTHOR'S NOTES: So many friends have read this, made suggestions and been such a help, that I feel as though it belongs to you all. Where can I start? Arrietty, Jara, Sarae, Rosemary, Sally R, Jenny L, and to Kat H for giving me the idea for a certain scene. *g* I must include a thank you to the Yahoo group Badfic, whose exacting reviews gave me a kick in the mik'ta regarding getting details correct. Huge thanks also to Hoo and all the friendly peeps over at the beta_site Yahoo group, which is an excellent place to go if you want to write, but haven't got a clue where to start. Like me. *g* BIG smooches to Tricia ('eagle eye') Byrne. Any remaining punctuation errors are there because I'm getting old and can't see the red marks anymore. Lastly, if it wasn't for this person, you would all be yelling; 'TRIPE!' half way down the first page. You taught me so much, thank you, Lyta.
This story is dedicated to Gran Menzies, who was full of endearing little truisms, and 'life's twisting kaleidoscope' was one of hers.
****** The Fall
******
The morning dawned crisp and bright on Samantha Carter's wedding day. Sam was standing in the middle of her hotel room surrounded by a bustling group of women she barely knew. The wedding planner, the florist, the hairdressers and their hangers on were all milling about, doing what they were being paid to do. There was also her soon-to-be mother-in-law and her soon-to-be sisters-in-law, who were her bridesmaids. There were three of them to be precise, all older, all married and all shrieking at the tops of their voices.
"I *so* need pain relief," she sighed and turned her attention back to her wedding dress, a flouncy lacy affair that right now, suddenly, she hated. The sleeves were long and had tiny buttons from the wrist to the elbow. She had managed the left sleeve by herself, but being right handed, she was now having problems. She tried to smooth down the skirt, but the lace was so stiff it was practically standing on it's own. Her chest felt very exposed and the neckline itched like crazy. What possessed her to buy this dress? It wasn't her at all. Oh wait, you didn't buy it, Joe did. The thought sounded so sarcastic in her head she felt herself turn pink with the embarrassment of such an ungrateful notion. Today was her wedding day and she was picking faults with Joe before they were even married!
Sam moved to sit awkwardly on the bed, but her thoughts were interrupted by a loud knock at the hotel room door. One of the shrieking women opened the door to admit her best friend, Janet Fraiser, and her adopted daughter, Cassandra, now a lovely young woman of eighteen.
Janet smiled and gave Sam a wink; "Hi, honey, where were you?"
Sam shrugged. "Wishing this thing had zippers," she indicated her sleeve. Janet chuckled.
"Here, let me," she began to do up the tiny pearls. "Oh, Sam, you haven't started on the back. Cassie, make yourself useful, please." Cassandra pulled a face at all the 'girlie stuff' but obediently plunked herself down next to Sam and began to button up the back of her dress.
"Oh, Auntie Sammie," Cassie began in a false whining tone; "I bet you wish you were in your jeans," she mocked. This drew a look from her mother.
Sam laughed, "No, my fatigues actually, they would go well with your blush pink." She smoothed out Cassandra's own flouncy frock and wondered for the 'nth time today why she had ever been talked into such a big wedding.
Of course, Joe Faxon had wanted the best for her, but the arrangements had been taken over by Joe's mother and father. "You always seem so busy, dear," was the stock answer Frances Faxon gave when Sam began to protest about them doing so much. Sam's own father was away so much as a member of the Tok'ra and her mother had died when she was twelve. Although he was coming to the wedding, her only brother lived on the west coast in San Diego. He had a young family of his own and she felt it wasn't fair to ask him to help. So, here she was. Big wedding, big reception, big dress. She even had big hair; Sam gazed ruefully in the dressing table mirror opposite her. Joe had playfully nagged her to grow it longer so she had had to obtain permission for the six weeks growing time. She had coped badly with 'in-betweeny hair' - too short to put up but too long to look professional. Now it was fluffed, backcombed and so stiff with hairspray she had trouble getting her headdress and veil over it.
"There," said Janet's soothing voice, "all done. Cassie, how are you doing?"
"Je suis finis," Cassie said triumphantly holding her hands to accept applause. Her mother inspected her handiwork. "Great. Now you can check on Daniel, Jonas and Teal'c for me, we need to ship out in ten minutes."
Cassie groaned, "Aw, their room is at the other end of this place!" Catching Janet's eye again, she intoned resignedly, "I'm going, I'm going."
"Meet us in the foyer!" Janet called to the retreating back as it disappeared out of the door.
Sam grinned at Janet. "You have her well trained."
Janet snorted. "Huh, ever since she's been away at college, she thinks she knows it all."
Sam smiled again. " Well, didn't you?"
Janet considered for a moment. "Well, I thought I did, but I was wrong. I wish I had been sensible like you and waited to get married. Maybe my marriage would have lasted longer than three years." Janet placed a comforting hand on her friend's arm. "But I'm sure yours will be a success," she finished rather hastily.
Sam nodded, but her eyes remained dull as she nodded down at her hands. When she looked up, she saw her friend's face appraising her with kind concern.
"I'm okay, honestly. I'm good to go!" Sam tried to grin away her doubts.
Janet wasn't to be fooled. "Having second thoughts?" Sam winced as Janet pushed the right emotional button. "Wanna make a run for it?" Janet whispered conspiratorially, eyeing the Faxon harpies.
Sam laughed quietly. "Absolutely!"
Janet nodded, "Would that be second thoughts or running away?" she asked.
"Second thoughts," was Sam's answer, her voice still low enough so that the conversation couldn't be overheard.
One of Joe' sisters chose this moment to shriek with laughter. Sam looked at Janet, who smiled a wide, false grin and hissed: "There just aren't enough people in this room." Without another word, Janet took Sam by the hand and manoeuvred her carefully to the bathroom, skirting her friend's frilly train. After positioning a bewildered Sam down on the closed toilet seat, she locked the door and propped herself on the bath ledge. She folded her arms and said simply: "Talk to me."
Sam shook her head. "It's fine, I'm fine."
Janet tried again. "Sam, *every* woman has doubts before their wedding; its natural." She paused to take in her friend's pale features. "Look, I know the last couple of years have been really tough for you, for us all. I'll let you into a secret; I wasn't surprised that Joe asked to marry you, but I *was* surprised that you accepted. I know you too well, Sam Carter. I did wonder if this was some sort of mis-placed, re-bound relationship, to atone for leaving him behind with the Aschen?"
Sam vehemently shook her head. "No, you know it's not like that. Joe *helped* me escape; he doesn't blame me for what happened. The Aschen didn't mis-treat him, too 'dirty' for them, I guess. Even Kinsey's crowing because he thinks they've opened negotiations again, after Joe was exchanged for the kosher co-ordinates." Sam paused to look Janet in the eye. "Actually, meeting Joe Faxon again was a bit of a catharsis for me."
Janet's eyebrows raised and she nodded for Sam to continue.
"I'm tired of playing the consummate professional. Look at where it has got me personally...Orlin, for example. Thanks to that little episode, I got my ass chewed off in Washington. Narim's dead, courtesy of Tanith. And then..." her voice tailed off as suddenly, she couldn't look at her friend.
Janet finished for her. "And then Daniel. I know... we're all getting used to it." She sighed.
Sam felt a pang of reciprocal concern. "I'm sorry, Janet, but losing him like we did, and then...I can't get my head around his return." Janet nodded. Sam abruptly felt a little self indulgent, mindful of her friend's own unassuming relationship with a certain bespectacled Doctor of Archeology.
Sam continued. "I'm trying not to show it. I try to be careful, not show the 'feelings'."
Janet giggled. "Mmm, me thinks if you had, a certain Colonel Jack O'Neill would have hauled your ass to a psych. evaluation quicker then you could say 'Urgo!' "
Sam smiled at the thought. "I know! He should talk." She paused, uncertain as to whether she should continue. "In fact, I tried to talk to *him*, but he wouldn't have it."
Janet's eyebrows rose again.
Sam took in Janet's intrigued expression. "I got nervous when Joe kept wining and dining me and buying me all those expensive presents. I tried to talk to him off-world – the Colonel, that is; I guess I wanted his approval."
Janet nodded for her to continue.
"He didn't want to know, in fact he was quite short with me." Sam chewed her lip as she remembered the awkward conversation on a cold, uninhabited planet. His gruffness had hurt her more than she cared to admit. Over the years, she had come to regard the Colonel as a friend as well as a colleague.
Janet coughed. "He has feelings for you, Sam."
Sam considered Janet's reminder of an enforced declaration made under duress nearly four years previously. This had scared the hell out of her and she had carefully kept her distance since then. Sure, there might have been 'feelings' between them once, but that was some time ago. So much had happened: a roller coaster of emotions for them both that had resulted in the two once close people drifting solidly into 'Colonel' and 'Major' mode. All this had served Sam to find solace in Joe's company. Joe was handsome, funny, charming, attentive and not Colonel O'Neill. O'Neill was caustic, stubborn and out-of-bounds.
Suddenly, there was a loud knocking at the bathroom door. It was Frances Faxon. "Are you all right in there, dear?" Janet started making faces causing Sam to giggle, but this was cut short by the wedding planner's nasal tones. "Miss Carter, Miss Fraiser, come along now; its show time!" she called through the closed door.
Sam couldn't help a feeling of dread forming in the pit of her stomach as she stood, and she briefly wondered if she was going to lose her breakfast. That would give them all something to gossip about. She would be five months pregnant before the wedding was over! Well, if Joe had his way she would be pregnant when she came back from their Hawaiian honeymoon. They definitely needed to talk more about kids and stuff.
The wedding planner was hustling them through the corridors. Since Clan Faxon was so huge, it had been decided to have the wedding at a large hotel in Denver that could accommodate all their needs. Again, Sam had a hankering after a quiet bash in Colorado Springs, and she suspected that her friends probably felt the same. She closed her mind off to the raucous chattering around her as they waited for the elevator that would take them to the foyer.
Sam studied her dress again. It was a nightmare confection of frills, as convoluted as her emotions. The thought suddenly struck her that she didn't know Joe at all. Yet here she was, barely three months after his proposal.
Here comes the bride. All dressed in white.
********
Jack O'Neill sat in his SUV parked in the hotel parking lot, nervously fiddling with the ribbons trailing from Sam's wedding present. Sam and Joe's wedding present. He studied the label. 'Congratulations Sam and Joe'. Joe and Sam. Samantha Faxon. Mrs. Faxon. He mentally shook himself. Was this JEALOUSY? Get a grip, O'Neill. She's your second-in- command - 2IC - off limits. Besides, its not like you ever had anything going, is it? It was a situation he had thought more and more about over the past few weeks.
He had been the first to notice that 'Ambassador Joes's' attentions were becoming more persistent towards Sam. She didn't seem to notice at first. The diligent Major was always buried in her work, concentrating on missions, being professionally distant. Then, Jack noticed a sudden change in Sam. She seemed happier than she had for some time. Jolly almost. She had begun to return Joe's affection, spending a little less time at the SGC, even going away for weekends. Well, that was a good thing, wasn't it? Hadn't he ordered her to get a life? Jack had come to the bitter conclusion that if he was honest with himself, he probably was envious of Joe the Smooth, but what could he do about it?
He supposed he was too damn old and too damn sour for Sam to show anything other than a platonic interest in him. That was fine. You didn't spend seven years working with a capable, motivated and optimistic person to not want the best for them. If Sam was happy with Joe, then so be it. Then why couldn't he get the 'Jonah and Thera mind stamp thing' out of his head? Why had he been such a jerk that night when Sam had tried to talk to him recently? She was not long engaged and seemed happy, but...? During a crossover on an off world watch, Sam had asked him what he thought of her getting married, and about Joe. He had brusquely cut off every one of her sentences until she had given up and curled herself up in her bedroll. He had wondered if she was crying, but he had known she wasn't. He had only ever seen her cry a couple of times; when they thought Daniel had died that first year, and after Jolinar. He had even politely refused her request to be an usher, inventing some lame excuse for being unable to stay in the hotel the night before the wedding. He was definitely a class A, could win prizes, all out *jerk*.
Jack shook himself again. 'Come on Jack, smile and be nice. Do it for Sam'. He sighed and climbed out of his truck with the neatly wrapped coffee percolator and made his way to the hotel foyer. When he entered the large lobby the number of people milling about struck him. Everyone was very well dressed: monkey suits and boutique frocks. An A-frame sign bore the legend: "The Denver Regent Welcomes Guests for the Wedding of Mr. & Mrs. Faxon." A flower-bedecked floor to ceiling double door obviously indicated the venue for the wedding, so he began to make a move toward it. Suddenly, Jack spotted Teal'c, Daniel and Cassie and gave a tentative wave. Daniel caught his eye and raised his hand. Cassie followed his gaze and came bounding over.
"Hi, Uncle Jack!" she smirked at her loud use of the familial term, hoping it would embarrass him.
"Hi yourself, Barbie!" Jack flashed back an equally cheeky grin, then suddenly bent down and kissed her on the cheek. "You look really pretty, kiddo, I hope I'm going to get a dance! Or will I have to duel Dominic?" Cassie's face turned a bright shade of crimson, and Jack had to smile at her innocence. But he still could not shake the black feelings that had followed him from the car.
"Maybe," Cassie stuck her chin out, and then grabbed his arm. "Come on, Teal'c and Daniel have to do the 'Places, Please' thing or Mrs. Faxon will start squawking again." Jack was dragged unceremoniously over to his other two teammates, who were dressed in formal tails, in keeping with their roles as ushers.
"Well, who would think – you could be twins!" Jack quipped, in a vain attempt to lift his mood.
"That would appear unlikely, O'Neill," Teal'c raised an eyebrow, glancing between himself and Daniel Jackson. "Dr. Jackson requires bi-ocular corrective lenses and I do not."
Daniel looked at Teal'c over his aforementioned spectacles. The *look* said it all.
Jack chuckled and turned to Daniel, "We've been working on his timing while you were gone – whadyathink?"
Daniel shook his head. "I think Teal'c has been sadly lacking in my steadying influence," he said, but not without a twinkle in his eye. "You and Jonas have ruined him."
"Speaking of the boy wonder, where is he?" said Jack. He had meant it to sound funny, but his humour was forced and he was aware that the comment had sounded sarcastic and condescending.
It was Daniel's turn to raise his eyebrow. "He's already seated, Jack, you're a bit late."
Jack glowered back and was about to reply, when Cassie broke in. "Here, I'll take that and put it with the others." She took the present from Jack's arms and scuttled off along the hotel corridor.
"What was that?" Daniel queried.
"Nuthin'. Didn't mean anything. I didn't sleep well. Is Jonas here with Lt. What's-her-name?" Jack's reply at least sounded contrite.
"Rush." Daniel appraised his friend. He took a breath and asked again: "You okay?"
"Sure, lets go find me a seat." Jack nodded to Teal'c and motioned for Daniel to lead the way, which he did, but Jack was aware that the younger man was watching him carefully. A seat was found for him near the back of the function room, which Jack was relieved about. He wasn't keen on weddings as a rule. In fact he wasn't keen on anything like this anymore. He was always painfully reminded of the family he had once enjoyed and then had lost: his son, Charlie; his wife, Sara. One lost by fate, the other by his own hand. Which was which? Sometimes he couldn't tell.
The wedding march broke through his thoughts and he followed the other guests by rising to his feet. Jack then realized he hadn't even seen Joe, and craned his head above the many other guests toward the front. There he was, standing with his...brother? Joe the Smooth. A movement to his right made him turn and his breath was stopped in his throat as Sam and her father, Jacob, processed down the aisle.
She was beautiful: an angel in white silk and lace. A fine veil covered her face, but even with that, even at this distance, Jack could see she was beautiful. He caught sight of blue eyes and blonde hair and a smile to melt his heart.
All he could feel was a profound and overwhelming sense of loss.
********
Three weeks later, Sam was glad to be back at work. She had enjoyed the honeymoon. Hawaii was gorgeous, the people friendly and the hotel luxurious. There had been the lovemaking of course. Very nice, satisfying. Until Joe had come along, she was beginning to feel like a celibate. However, on some nights, their lovemaking had felt more like just sex than anything else. "Well, there's nothing wrong with that," Sam giggled to herself as she ploughed through the endless emails that had been piling up in her in-box. Presumably due to her pre-wedding nerves, she had forgotten to set an out of office notice. There were quite a few messages asking for something to be done, another from the same person checking on how she was getting on with it, and a third saying where the hell was it. One thousand, eight hundred and seventy-nine e-mails must be a record, she thought and found herself wondering how Joe was coping on his first day back. She glanced at the telephone and wondered if she should call him. Last night had been spoiled by their first argument and this was weighing on her mind. After checking the time, she decided to delay the call until after the morning's briefing. A light knocking on the open door of her laboratory broke her reverie.
"Hello there, Mrs. Faxon." Janet smiled. This elicited a wince from Sam.
"Oh, don't call me that, I keep expecting Frances to jump out from behind me," she groaned.
Janet giggled, sharing the joke. "Mmm. Mrs. Faxon *senior* was kind of omni-present on the Big Day, wasn't she?"
Sam nodded. "I even went and hid in the ladies room during the reception, but she tracked me down. I thought she was gonna jimmy the toilet stall door to check that my dress wasn't wrinkled." Janet laughed out loud at this and the two friends regarded one another.
"So, how are you?" Janet asked in a more steadied voice.
"Fine," answered Sam in a manner a little too insouciant to be true.
"Just fine?" queried Janet. "I would have thought a newly married couple would be more than fine."
Sam smiled humbly. "Well, actually.... we had words last night. Nothing much. We slept in the same bed and all that..." her voice tailed off.
"Oh," was all Janet could manage. She smiled encouragingly. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Sam paused for a moment, the argument from the previous day sounding in her head; "The usual. And offspring, as in when are we producing any?"
Janet snorted, "You've only been married three weeks! You need time to get to used to that, believe me, I know."
Sam nodded. "I know that, he knows that. It's just...well. He said we mustn't wait too long because of my...age." She began to fiddle with a small chip on the side of her laboratory bench.
At this, the doctor pulled a face; "He said that? So much for the diplomat!"
Sam could sense her friend's anger and held up her hand in a placating gesture. "Don't worry, I told him he was a heartless bastard, etc."
At this, Janet giggled, "Does he have any bruising?"
Sam admonished her friend. "You shouldn't joke about that," but she grinned back. "Actually, I'm wondering if he has a point." Janet's eyebrows rose to encourage Sam to continue.
"Well, it's true I'm not getting any younger." She paused. "For a while, I never thought I would have the chance for a normal life, kids, house, dog, you know." Her fingers continued to fiddle with the flaw in the bench.
Janet nodded again, and Sam felt relieved she didn't have to explain the intimate details of her turbulent life over the past few years. She continued slowly. "I know you've run the tests to see if the Naquadah in my system would affect any children I would carry. I understand there could be a small risk." Sam propped her elbows on the bench, covered her eyes with her hands, and sighed. "But I was thinking, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing to try? I know my work is important and I wouldn't want to stop fighting the Goa'uld. But am I so wrong to want a piece of what I am actually fighting for?" she dropped her hands and looked questioningly at her friend.
Janet shook her head. "Of course not, Sam. But you know you have to be sure. You can't put kids back. They take over your life, empty your bank balance and come home with their navel pierced."
Sam chortled at the shared joke regarding Cassie and her new 'acquisition'. She paused. "I *am* sure that I want children, but I'm not sure I want them right *now*."
Janet looked at her friend seriously, and said slowly, "Ooookay, so what did Joe say when you told him that?"
Sam looked up unhappily at this.
"Aahh, hence the argument," Janet concluded. They sat in a companionable silence for a few moments, lost in their own thoughts. Sam glanced at the clock once more and jumped energetically off her stool. "Well, I'd better go, my briefing is in five minutes. See you later?"
"Sure. We'll talk, okay? Oh, Sam, don't forget your shot of Depo- Provera," the doctor called to the receding form as she made a move to follow her friend.
"Actually, Janet, I think I'll give it a miss," Sam replied over her shoulder, pausing by the lab door.
Janet stopped in her tracks and stared back, puzzled. "No contraceptive shot after what you just told me?"
Sam shrugged back, "Maybe, I'll leave this one to fate."
********
The pre – mission briefing started a little late as the assembled members of SG-1 and SG-6 all wanted to know how the new bride was, how married life was and how the honeymoon went. Sam did a good job of being pleasant and charming, but she could see Colonel O'Neill was wearing an expression of amused irritation. Instinctively she knew he wanted Business As Usual and that is what she intended to give him. There were very few women assigned to the SGC, although the balance had been improved somewhat in the past couple of years. Sam liked to think she was part of the process of re- dressing the skew. She had worked damn hard, in the lab, in the field *and* in battle. She didn't want to be equal to her male counterparts; she wanted to be better than them. Seven years ago, Sam knew she really wouldn't win an arm wrestling contest with Colonel O'Neill, but perhaps she could break his hand in the attempt. Their working relationship had moved so far from there, right until after her engagement was announced. She was no 'weak female', but surely he knew that after all this time? She wasn't sure as she took her seat. Her thoughts were pushed aside as she stood up at attention when General Hammond entered the briefing room.
"Good morning, people, at ease," he added, waving the military personnel back to their seats. The General's face looked especially genial. He was carrying some freshly prepared briefing documents that he divided in two and passed down the table. He nodded a smile at Sam as he sat down.
"I think that you are all aware as to why both SG-1 and 6 are here before you all ship out. We have had preliminary mineral analysis from SG-7 regarding PX7-253, which is indicative of rich Naquadah deposits. The boys up in Mineralogy are jumping up and down, I can tell you!" His joke gained a laugh from the company around the table, as much amusement was gained over comparing the ops teams to the 'geeky scientists'. Sam laughed too (even though she felt she should be defending her fellow 'geeks') and quickly stole a look at the colonel. He was glowering, with the open report that was receiving the full force of his glare. What the hell was wrong with him? Usually he never bothered with briefing reports, preferring to listen and ask questions instead. If she was hoping to catch his eye to share the joke, he didn't acknowledge her.
Sam returned her attention back to the conference. The encouraging analysis was prompting a swift move into the second stage of Resource Recovery Protocols. Basically, the powers-that-be were pushing for Naquadah powered fuel generators in view of the escalating worldwide fuel crises and the rare off-world element was much in demand. The General summarized this, mostly for Sam's benefit and then indicated Major Paine from SG-7 should continue.
"The natives from '253 are most certainly of Earth origin and their level of evolutionary advancement is equivalent to, say, Northern Africa of 200 years ago. The culture is African based, possibly Moroccan, indicating their ancestors were probably extracted through the Egyptian 'gate when it was operational. The people call themselves *and* their planet 'Amzawee'. They are friendly, willing to trade and there appears to be no Goa'uld influences other than the fact the people were originally displaced by them. Their commercial culture has not yet developed to the point of monetary exchange; trade is primarily based on the barter system. The Naquadah deposits mean very little to the people, as they find the mineral too hard to be malleable for their primitive industries. Gold and silver are much more highly prized, and Major Marx's personal stereo went down well!" Major Paine's assessment brought forth a round of chuckles and grins. "Basically, we have a Naquadah rich planet, with no evident Goa'uld presence."
The last statement was met with more grins until Colonel O'Neill's voice broke through; "Seems too good to be true," he clipped.
Major Paine cleared his throat. "I am simply stating our findings, as ordered, Colonel." He wasn't going to be shot down by the base curmudgeon.
Jack didn't miss a beat. "And I'm simply saying, when something seems too good to be true, it usually *is* too good to be true." He returned Paine's defiant look with a measured look of his own, practiced after many years and honed to a tee. Paine lasted less than a couple of seconds before he looked back down at his notes.
General Hammond coughed pointedly and shot Jack a 'leave it' look. He cleared his throat and soothed the atmosphere with his soft drawling tone: "Well, people, we'll all ensure we have our heads up on his one, just in case, won't we?" he added, with emphasis on the 'we' for Jack's benefit.
Sam listened to the exchange with a sinking feeling. Her CO was in a filthy mood, and Sam wondered how far she was responsible. But how could she be? She hadn't even been here. She did *not* need this on her first day back, and fervently hoped she did not do anything to annoy him.
When the briefing was finally dismissed she practically scampered out of the room only to be stopped by an annoyed; "Carter, er Faxon, a word before you gear up." She turned to face her CO, but then had the rather embarrassing duty to walk back into the briefing room and stand beside his chair, as he had not budged from his original position. He indicated with a curt nod that she was to sit next to him.
Sam slid into the seat one away from Colonel O'Neill. "Sir?" she queried evenly, but not without a certain sense of trepidation.
The Colonel cleared his throat. "So, how are you?" He looked her squarely in the eye.
"Great, thank you, sir."
"How was the vacation?" he continued.
'What is this, Twenty Questions?' Sam thought, 'vacation'? "Great, lovely," she added with a smile, realizing that her answers were falling into a repetitive, monosyllabic manner.
"Ready to get back to work?" Jack asked, his mouth tense.
"Absolutely." Okay, this was a script now, Sam thought. She lifted her left hand to smooth her hair, which was still long and wound in a tight knot at the base of her neck.
"Good." Silence. "No rings?" he nodded at her bare hands.
"Not on duty, and its still 'Carter', sir. Remember, I said I'm not changing it?"
"Oh."
Sam nodded lamely. "Shall we...?" she indicated the door, as if to say: Lets go before we start a real conversation.
"Be there in a minute, Carter. See you at the ramp." At this Sam nodded again and made her way toward the door feeling distinctly puzzled from the stilted exchange. It was her first day back; couldn't he have cut her some slack? She glanced around to see the taciturn colonel gazing at her retreating back wearing an unhappy expression.
Sam turned pointedly and continued toward the locker rooms, bemoaning asshole superior officers, husbands, and life in general.
********
Over the next few weeks, SG-1 settled into a familiar routine. Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter continued their roles as CO and 2IC. Teal'c accompanied them in between his missions to organize off-world ranks of rebel Jaffa. Jonas acted as the main anthropological liaison, with Daniel joining them occasionally as he adjusted to his life back on Earth. To the team, he appeared quieter than the Daniel they remembered. He seemed happy to share Jonas' workload and adopted the role of 'big brother' toward him, but Jack O'Neill could sense an undercurrent of sadness in his demeanor.
Prior to his Ascension, Daniel and Jack's relationship had become strained to say the least. Daniel had begun to argue with the Colonel over every decision involving ethics and morals, as he perceived them. In the early days, Jack rather enjoyed the verbal sparring, inwardly recognizing the need for a moral centre to the SGC's First Contact flagship group (although he would have never admitted it aloud). When Daniel's young wife Sha're had died under tragic circumstances, Jack had felt his loss keenly and ensured that the team closed ranks to protect the distraught man's sensibilities. However, in the final year before Daniel's departure, the atmosphere had often become heated and the debates had taken a bitter turn.
Now that Daniel was back, Jack was giving him space to adjust. He had been careful to avoid too much conflict, although their relationship was beginning to normalize. Jack had not been surprised that Daniel had moved in with the petite and caring Dr. Janet Fraiser; after all, his apartment had been packed up and the lease terminated several months earlier. They had always got along well, especially when Daniel was confined to the infirmary for one thing or another, which was often. However, he was amused that Daniel had made no progress whatsoever to find his own apartment, and, if truth were told, Jack was also pleased. He cared for his entire team more than he would ever admit. He was also acutely aware that there was too much pain and misery and broken dreams on this planet and all the rest. So, if someone found a little happiness, he was happy for them.
However, he could not fathom why he was making Samantha Carter's working life such a misery lately.
********
A few weeks later, Sam was pacing nervously outside the infirmary trying not to look like she was doing so. She had already checked Janet's office and she wasn't there. The duty nurses had seen her hovering and had asked if they could do anything to help. Sam had lightly brushed them off, trying to act like she had just dropped in to see her friend on a social call. This was *so* not a social call. For what seemed the hundredth time, she looked at her watch. If she was late, Colonel O'Neill would have her a...and there was Janet walking along the corridor, her arms full of files. Janet caught sight of her and smiled, only for the smile to die on her lips when she took in her friend's expression.
"Sam, what on earth's the matter, you're white as a sheet?" she asked in a concerned voice. Sam said nothing but steered the doctor through her office door, closed it behind her and dumped her off-world pack on the floor.
"Janet, I need you to be my doctor right now; I'm on a time limit here." Sam's voice shook a little as she studied the pack at her feet.
Janet plunked her files down on her desk and opened her hands, "Go."
"I think I'm pregnant, I'm pretty sure, I need you to do a test." Sam's words came out a run, her right hand nervously tapping her left.
"Really?!" Janet looked up, thrilled, but again gauging Sam's expression, nodded her head in a studied, professional manner. "Okay, what makes you think that you might be pregnant?"
"Well, I'm late...er, sore breasts, and I've had some stomach cramps. But I thought that was a sure sign that my period was due!" Sam replied, chewing her lip. "My last period was really light, so I thought I was going to make up for it this time, but when I didn't start, I put two and two together... this morning actually."
Janet held up a finger, "Did you say your last period was unusually light?" she asked, grabbing a planner off her desk.
"Well, yes. I thought so." Sam's face was puzzled.
"It might have been a little breakthrough bleed, "Janet continued, making marks on the planner, "You know, a small bleed even though the pregnancy is established? Sometimes it happens for the first couple of months."
Sam sat down quickly on Janet's chair. "Oh, God, does this mean I'm further along than a couple of weeks?"
Janet looked levelly at her friend. "Sam, what do you *think* you are, a week late?" Sam nodded.
"Well, you could be nearly nine weeks pregnant." Janet's words hung in the air.
Sam's could feel the blood draining from her face, "Nine weeks?" she whispered, shocked.
Janet turned to fish in the small supply closet she kept in her office. "Human gestation is measured from your last proper period; if you've missed two, that makes you coming up for nine weeks." She turned with a small rectangular box in her hand.
Sam could only manage an "Oh," and stared at the box Janet was holding. "Is that what I think it is?"
Janet nodded, "A pregnancy test," she replied. "Do you know how they work?" Janet pulled out the test to show her. "Take off the lid, pee on the spongy strip, and then bring it back here." She pushed the test back into the box and thrust it into unwilling hands. Sam stared at the box that Janet handed to her. "Sam, it won't bite you, just pop into the ladies and get on with it. I thought you wanted to know for certain?"
A nod. "Well, then go!" Janet gave Sam an encouraging pull out of her seat, then a push out of the door. She didn't have to wait long. In a few minutes Sam returned and unzipped a pocket of her BDU jacket. Gingerly, she handed a narrow white shape to Janet. The doctor took it carefully, removed the lid and examined the windows on the side. Two bright blue lines showed up clearly against the white.
"Sam, its positive – you are *definitely* pregnant." Janet looked expectantly at the agitated woman standing before her. There was no reaction. "Hey, I thought you would be happy about this. You knew that there might be problems getting and staying pregnant. You're married and trying for a baby, if I remember our last conversation concerning this."
Sam nodded, uncharacteristically silent compared to her normal ebullience. "Of course, I'm pleased," she said slowly, "I just wasn't expecting it to happen so soon."
Janet smiled kindly. "In my experience, it seems as though life has its own way of deciding when these things happen - my Mom called it; 'The Twisting Kaleidoscope'. You never know when it's your turn next." After watching Sam lost in her own thoughts for a moment, she broke through, "Have you had a chance to talk to Joe yet?"
"No." Sam shook her head, "He's in Washington, again."
Janet snorted, "It's a wonder you two ever got pregnant, judging by the amount of time you spend apart. Why don't you call him?" she nodded toward the telephone on her desk.
"I don't really have time," Sam pulled off her watch cover to check, "Damn! I'm late, and I've already had a warning this week." She bent down to pick up her discarded pack.
Janet started. "Wait. You've had a *warning*? *You've* had a warning? From whom?"
Sam sighed, "Colonel O'Neill." She waved off her friend's perplexed expression. "Janet, he had every right; I was late twice in a row. There was no excuse: I couldn't get myself to wake up. At least I know why I've been so tired lately." She deftly shouldered her pack and began to fasten the clips.
Janet realized what was happening. "Whoa there, Superwoman, what do you think you're doing?"
"Janet, please don't stop me. We know 'gate travel is safe for unborn children because Lt. Sharpe was five months along before she even realized she was pregnant, and before the lab got the tests right," she added, slyly.
"Yes, thank you so much for reminding me, *Major*." Janet crossed her arms across her chest with a bemused expression. "That is why I intend to take extra care of any more expectant mothers that come my way. I'm signing you off." Janet turned to pull some paperwork out of a tray.
Sam wasn't going to be outdone by Janet's doctor's orders persona. "Janet, I'm fine, honestly. I haven't even been sick. This is just a quick trip to check up on SG-7's mining operation on PX7-253. It was due to be SG-3, but Pooley's on paternity leave. I'll be back in two hours. I'm absolutely fine."
Janet said nothing, but continued to write.
Sam shifted her feet and tried another tactic. "Janet, please, don't write me off as 'the pregnant one' already. Let me do this, and I promise I'll be a good girl and let you run every test you want when we get back. Before lunch, even?" Janet stopped writing and Sam knew she had won. She so loved getting her own way.
"Okay." Janet's lips pursed. "But I want you back in my office as soon as your feet hit the ramp earth-side. Absolutely *the* minute," she added in a resigned tone.
Sam flung her arms about Janet. "Thanks!" she called brightly as she headed for the door.
"Sam." Janet's words stopped her short; had she changed her mind?
"Congratulations, *Mom*!"
Sam felt a sudden rush of pleasure at those simple words. She could not stop grinning all the way down the corridor.
********
Rounding the blast doors on level 28, Sam's grin faded rapidly at the sight of Colonel O'Neill waiting impatiently at the base of the 'gate ramp. O'Neill's body language screamed annoyance. His arms were folded tightly over his P-90 and his lips were pursed together so tightly they were practically bloodless. Teal'c stood off to one side, grasping his staff weapon. Jonas had suddenly found one of the ramp lights fascinating and Daniel was fiddling with his cammo shirt hem. Sam got the distinct feeling they had been experiencing 'Death by Pissed Off Colonel' while they had been waiting for her. She took a deep breath as she passed through the level 28 blast doors. The klaxons were blaring to indicate an open wormhole, and the 'gate aperture was glowing soft blue and white ripples.
O'Neill's eyes alighted upon her and narrowed. "Major, *so* glad you could join us." His tone was uncompromisingly sarcastic.
Sam swallowed, conscious of the control room team observing her third late appearance in as many weeks. "Sorry, Colonel, it won't happen again." Because I'll be off the mission list and doing your paperwork, she mentally finished.
The colonel was in an especially nasty mood. "Isn't that what you said the last time, Carter? Got a problem with timekeeping? Or was there something about 'Ship out at 0900 hours' that you didn't understand?"
"Yes, sir. I mean, no, sir. I mean, I apologize." Sam could feel a red flush creeping its way up her neck. Oh crap, here she was with fifteen years in the USAF, risen to the rank of major and she was being chewed out by her CO for tardiness. She glanced at the armory sergeant who was issuing her a P-90. He was deliberately not looking at her, drinking in every word.
Jack was not going to let it go, enjoying her obvious embarrassment. "Not good enough, Major; you're on report."
Daniel's voice interrupted; "Jesus, Jack, she's only ten minutes late." The Colonel swung around at the normally placid anthropologist with a poisonous look. "*Doctor* Jackson, I do not interfere with the archeological aspects of your work, therefore, I would appreciate it, if you would not interfere with decisions affecting my command. We're late people, let's not be any later."
With that, he turned abruptly on his heel, marched up the 'gate ramp and practically stamped into the swirling vortex. Sam kept her gaze on her P- 90, subconsciously feeling several pairs of eyes looking at her.
"You heard the Colonel," she heard herself speak out, "Let's go."
With that she marched up the ramp to back up her commanding officer.
********
By the time all of SG-1 had emerged, Jack had already issued some orders to Sam and she was heading off to the native village. SG-7 was not there to meet them as arranged. One of the villagers was waiting for them to explain that the SG team were busy blasting and were delayed. Apparently, a large blast had damaged some of their equipment and that the radios would not work. Jack ordered Teal'c and Jonas to the blast site to check out SG- 7's situation. This left Daniel and Jack to follow Sam to the village. There was an uneasy exchange of glances as the two men fell into step side by side. Daniel gazed at the back of Sam who was, by now, marching purposefully some distance ahead on the worn dusty path.
Daniel sighed quietly. Jack's bad moods were getting on his nerves. Sam was not the only one to be at the receiving end of Jack's temper, but she certainly seemed to be getting the worst deal. He had picked faults with her on almost every off world mission. Sometimes, his criticism had been justified; Sam had seemed distracted lately. Daniel had always thought of himself as a good reader of other people's inward emotions, and he felt that the new bride was not as happy as she should be with her situation. He very privately thought that this might be because she had married the wrong man, and that the man she should have married was at this moment stamping his boots into the ground and glaring at tweeting birds. Then perhaps they wouldn't both be so miserable, especially when they were together.
It was mid-morning on the planet and the system's binary suns were traversing their arcs across the horizon. Daniel glanced at the forest off to his right. It looked cool and inviting; a refuge from the arid conditions in the open. His cammo pant legs swished against the dry grasses bordering the path. He took a deep breath. "Hey, Jack, wanna talk about the 'gateroom incident?" 'Great Daniel, just great, subtle'.
Daniel actually *felt* Jack glaring through his sunglasses.
"No," he barked.
Adjusting his hat, Daniel continued. "I think you were wrong to bawl Sam out in front of us like that," He ploughed on regardless, carefully swatting at a cloud of gnat-like bugs that were bothering him.
Jack responded with nothing except the stamp, stamp, of his boots. He was creating dusty eddies that were swirling out behind him.
Daniel sneezed, then coughed. The dust and the bugs were getting to him. Jack, however, seemed completely unperturbed. Daniel continued again, "I think you should maybe chat to Sam off the record; there's obviously something bothering her." Oh boy, Jackson, your life in your hands.
Out of the corner of his eye, Daniel saw a muscle flicker on Jack's face. "Daniel, I've already told you; I do not need to justify my command decisions to you."
Daniel began to congratulate himself for eliciting a response. "I know, and I agree, to an extent, but well, this is Sam."
"*Sam*?" Jack practically spat the name out, "That would be Major Carter, USAF? Personnel subject to rules and regulations that you couldn't even begin to comprehend, Dr. Jackson. I retain the right to enforce discipline amongst my subordinates."
"Jack, we *are* talking about Sam here." Daniel stared at Jack in disbelief.
Jack's face twisted and he opened his mouth. Suddenly, he seemed to have a change of heart and he moved to stride away to the village.
"JACK!" shouted Daniel after him, his own temper rising with the dust.
Jack spun around, his sunglasses mirroring Daniel's face and walked back to face Daniel up. Saying in a low, controlled don't-screw-with-me voice; "Daniel, this conversation is over," he then turned abruptly on his heel and had covered 100 yards before the archeologist had the chance to think of anything else to say.
Daniel had raised his right index finger in order to reinforce his point. He regarded the elevated digit in resignation.
"That went well," he muttered to himself and began to follow.
********
Sam was relieved to reach the Amzawee village: it was getting hot, and she was out of breath. She pulled up her canteen, unscrewed the cap, and gratefully took a long swallow of water. Sam surveyed her surroundings, slightly familiar with the area having been here with SG-6 some four months previously.
The village was small – only covering two or three acres or so with simple wattle and daub one-storey dwellings. It did boast a small barter market and a village pump where the villagers would congregate and chat. However, the busy community that Sam remembered was quiet. Too quiet. A few older residents still sat outside their homes, but instead of smiling and waving at their visitors as they had on their last visit, they kept their gaze down.
Her guide from the Stargate muttered something about getting back to his family and disappeared down a narrow trail. As she replaced her cap on her canteen, Sam was struck by the absence of children. On the last visit, the SG teams had been surrounded by excited, babbling children begging candy bars and playfully stealing ball caps. Now, there was not a child to be seen. Sam began to feel distinctly uneasy and turned to check the Colonel's progress. He was only a short distance behind her, Daniel trailing at the back. She also noticed that as he read her stance, he quickened his pace, halting next to her.
"Carter, what's up?" his voice was steady as he removed his sunglasses. Despite her unease, Sam smiled inwardly. He always knew when something was bothering her, and she felt the recent tension between them evaporate a little. Sam nodded toward Daniel, indicating they should wait for him.
"Do either of you notice something odd about the village?" Sam asked, keeping her eyes moving and her hand resting on her weapon, her fingers flagged but readied.
Suddenly, their radios crackled to life; it was Teal'c.
Jack hoisted his vest radio closer to his mouth to reply, "We read you, Teal'c, report?"
"ColonelO'Neill, upon our arrival at the blasting station of SG-7, it appears the entire team is missing." There was a mutter of background talking. "JonasQuinn says the situation resembles that of the Marie Celeste?" Sam noticed Jack quirking a grin. He caught her eye and raised his to the heavens. He pulled the radio up further, "Understood, copy that situation here. Secure the area and report to the village entrance, ah," he assessed the position of the alien suns in relation to the Stargate, "South side."
"Understood. Over and out." Teal'c's precise reply responded and the radio silenced. Jack replaced his sunglasses and turned 360 degrees with his hand on his own P-90, carefully assessing the situation.
Sam could sense his unease and was relieved it seemed her assessment of the situation appeared vindicated. Something was definitely wrong. Why had the guide at the 'gate lied? Where was SG-7? And the rest of the villagers?
"Carter, where's whathisname that met us at the 'gate?" Jack asked, without taking his gaze off the distant tree line.
"He said something about getting back to his family and went off in that direction," she pointed around the village outskirts.
"Locate and interrogate, please, Carter." The order was precisely delivered.
Sam fought a sudden urge to salute. "Yes, sir!" she barked and moved off.
"Oh, Carter!" Her CO's voice stopped Sam in her tracks and she turned to face him, half expecting him to criticize her dusty boots.
"Sir?"
"Monitor comms., and...watch your back, " was all he quietly said.
This left Sam even more puzzled as to her CO's behaviour, but she nodded and turned smartly along the well-worn village path.
********
Jack watched her for a moment, and then turned to Daniel, ignoring his questioning look. "Daniel, start talking to the old folks; try to find out just what the hell is wrong with this place. I'm on a recce." Daniel nodded and turned away toward the nearest villager, but Jack didn't miss his small headshake and shoulder shrug. Jack knew Daniel thought he was being an ass, and in a small way he appreciated his attempts to help the situation, but he could not categorize his own feelings, let alone explain or justify them to someone else.
His thoughts went on an immediate back burner as he turned to the situation at hand. He watched Daniel gently speaking to one of the villagers who just seemed to smile and nod. The doctor moved on to an old man perched on a bench by the village pump, only to get the same reaction. Daniel turned to Jack and shrugged his shoulders, giving up his arms in an 'empty' gesture. Jack chewed the inside of his mouth for a moment then made his decision. He reached to his radio again.
"Sierra golf one niner, this is Sierra golf one team leader, code 5, repeat code 5, village south..." his call to regroup was interrupted by a very fast talking, agitated Jonas.
"No! Er...that's a negative, SG-1 team leader, er...a negative, Jack, you gotta see this! Problems...oh, er... over and out".
Jack sighed, Jonas may not be a bad shot for a civilian, and, okay, alien, but he sure as hell had no idea about radio protocols.
Jack spoke slowly into the radio mouthpiece: "Received SG-1, that's interesting. Are - you - in - immediate - danger?"
There was a crackling and a burble of a muted exchange, presumably between Jonas and Teal'c. Jack could picture the ex-Jaffa ready to snatch the radio off Jonas' jacket and beat him to death with it, but he probably only raised an eyebrow.
"No."
"Then, can you tell us where you are?" This time he rolled his eyes at Daniel who had overheard the exchange and was now standing next to Jack peering at him over the top of his glasses. He swore that man could convey so much with that one look, ascension, descension, whatever.
Jonas responded, "We're at a ridge south east of the village, there's a rocky outcropping above me..." While Jonas babbled on, Jack removed his mini scope from one of his BDU pockets and was following the directions looking for an area that matched the description. He interrupted Jonas: "Made you, Jonas, remain where you are. Teal'c, make sure Mr. oh-I-see-something-more-interesting-over-there stays where he is. Carter, are you getting this?"
Sam's clipped breathy tones crackled from his handset; she was obviously jogging, "Receiving you, sir, already on my way, estimate seven minutes to point."
"Roger that, ten minutes." Jack was satisfied that his 2IC had her wits about her, and felt a familiar feeling come over him; relief at her reliability, a little lacking of late. Thank God, she's pulling it together now, he grimly thought, as he headed away from the village along the same path Carter had used quarter of an hour previously.
********
Sam panted along a small worn path, her pack digging into her shoulders on every downward jolt. Trees sloped upward to her left and the village could be seen in the valley to her right. She focused her efforts on her hurried journey, trying to ignore the stitch that was nagging into her side. On the edge of her vision she saw two vague black figures hurrying towards her position from the tree line, and suddenly she was upon Jonas and Teal'c. The latter was obviously on high alert, his staff weapon clasped firmly in his hand.
"MajorCarter." Teal'c acknowledged, but Sam could see his attention was focused on roaming the area, wary of danger. "It appears the planet has been compromised by Ba'al, he has abducted SG-7 and is expected back with a contingent of his Jaffa shortly. The villagers are hiding in the caves behind us." He pointed to a large overhanging rock, although no cave entrance was visible.
Sam nodded, swallowing as she tried to catch her breath, supporting her left side and cursing her new physical weakness for a moment. "Does the colonel know about Ba'al?" she finally managed to spit out.
"No, indeed, I thought it prudent to maintain radio silence regarding that intelligence," Teal'c replied, studying her closely. "MajorCarter, are you well? You seem-"
Sam cut him off, "I'm fine, Teal'c. The colonel will be here any minute. What do the villagers want us to do?"
Jonas broke in, "They want to get away from Ba'al, that much is obvious!" he spluttered out.
"Are you sure, Jonas? We've tried to help people before that didn't want to be helped." Bitter memories of K'tau surfaced. Sam remembered all too clearly that the colonel was sure as hell pissed off on that planet.
"They're begging us, Sam! They took all of SG-7 and most of the young men and threatened the women that they would kill all the children if they tried to get help! We've got to get them out of here!" The young Kelownan was becoming increasingly upset. Curiously, Sam was reminded of the passionate Daniel in full flow.
"Where is...Droga...their Praetor, or whatever he was called?" Sam was following Teal'c's lead and scanning the skies on the lookout for death gliders.
"They killed him! In front of his wife and daughter!" Jonas gestured frantically to the caves, as if that would help the situation. He shook his head. "Bastards." Sam's surprise at hearing Jonas use a word she had never heard him say before was broken by Colonel O'Neill panting up to hear the tail end of Jonas' last exclamation.
"Hey! You could at least wait 'til I'm here before you start insulting me!" he puffed, but quickly sobered when he saw the serious faces in front of him. All three started talking at once, so he held up his hand and then pointed to Sam who quickly gave him a synopsis of the situation as she understood it, with much butting in from Jonas. Daniel finally caught up with the group and heard most of Sam's explanation. He tactfully pulled Jonas away from the 'soldiers' so they could plan their next moves.
The colonel was furious that the Amzawee who met them at the 'gate had not told the truth about the situation. Although, Sam knew his blustering and bad language had more to do with the missing SG-7 team members than a frightened civilian. He tracked quickly up to the cave with his team close behind.
The villagers shrank away at Jack's entrance, but some of the women recognized Sam and came closer. Daniel tried to find out who was in charge now that their leader was dead. An older man was pushed forward, obviously terrified. Jack began to demand information from the nervous man, which seemed to scare him even more. Finally Daniel intervened with a quiet: "Let me try, Jack." Both Daniel and Jonas were able to haltingly converse with the old man in his own language. He confirmed everything they knew already. The other villagers, mostly women, gathered around the group and as Sam looked at them, her heart began to rule her head when she saw the number of young children who were clinging to their mothers. Their eyes showed fear and hope. Fear of the horrors they had seen that day, and hope that these people from another world would make the bad men go away. She turned away from them to join the colonel and Teal'c at the cave entrance. They were discussing an evacuation plan.
"...and round up the old folks still in the village?" the colonel was saying.
Teal'c's response was straightforward in its brutal honesty: "If there is time, O'Neill. Our good fortune will run out, of that I am certain." Presumably the older villagers had been unable or unwilling to leave their homes.
Sam stepped up. "According to Daniel, the leader says the Jaffa gave no indication as to why they were here, although it's obviously for the Naquadah. They only know it is Ba'al's doing because the Jaffa said so, and that they would be back soon. That was around noon, yesterday, sir."
Jack nodded. "As far as I can remember, Ba'al didn't have a huge army of Jaffa like Osiris, et al., something doesn't add up..."
His words were drowned out by the scream of a low flying death glider flying right over the back of their heads. It banked 45 degrees and came about for another pass.
********
Jack sprang into action, "DAMN! They're looking for the villagers! Daniel! Jonas! Start to lead the women and kids along the tree line and get them through the 'gate ASAP! Teal'c, scout that ridge; I need to know if there's a freaking mothership around here. Carter, bring up the rear! GO!" His team scrambled into action; Teal'c bounding away, the others organizing the villagers into groups to make their escape. Before long, everyone had made the tree line and on Jack's orders, was using the undergrowth as cover to thwart the regular reconnaissance passes by the death gliders.
He could see Sam was helping some of the older women, keeping her head up to check they weren't being followed. He then saw her straighten at the sight of Teal'c who was now making his way rapidly toward the rear of the escapees. He hailed the colonel with frantic gestures as Sam urged the women to move faster.
"O'Neill! A Jaffa landing party is tracking us, they are now less than 2 klicks behind!"
Jack grimly nodded, "Heads up, people, gotta move faster now!" He pressed the terrified group ever onward, knowing full well if the Jaffa caught them, they would all be dead, or worse. The sound of shrieking, panting and the wails of children filled the air. "Daniel, tell them to keep the kids quiet, those bastards will make our position!" he ordered. Jack could feel sweat pricking the back of his neck as he assessed their progress. They were less than half a mile from the Stargate, but he was conscious of the sounds of heavy movements through the trees and knew this was going to be damn close. He ran his eye up and down the line. Jonas was doing a good job up front, driving the leaders on, a baby clutched in his arms. Daniel moved back and forth along the middle of the line, steadfastly urging the terrified people to safety in their own language. Teal'c was on alert; his staff weapon charged, protecting Sam who was also at the rear. She was carrying something...a child. He couldn't help himself. He dropped back a little.
Suddenly, staff blasts and splintered trees filled the air followed by screaming from the middle of the line. Any semblance of order disintegrated as the villagers ran this way and that, confused and scared out of their minds. Jonas and Daniel abandoned any attempt at a controlled retreat and bawled at the villagers to run as fast as they could to the 'gate. Jack could see Jonas was almost there and recalled he had a GDO. Good he grimly thought, some are going to make it. He saw Teal'c making off in the direction of the firing and briefly wondered if he would ever see him alive again.
Jack neared the end of the line when a huge explosion suddenly sounded overhead and he ducked as shards of tree trunks rained down on him. Almost immediately he was on his feet, calming the straggling villagers, mostly the older ones who were having difficulty keeping up with the headlong rush for refuge. They followed his frenetic pointing, staggering to the edge of the woods, their Stargate prize within sight. Jack was heading back, already looking for his 2IC. He jumped and scrambled over fallen branches, calling her name as loudly as he dared with Jaffa nearby. His heart was pounding in his mouth.
"Sam!"
Jack was rewarded by a groan and as he came nearer the sound, his pounding heart slumped. Sam Carter was pinned under solid looking tree matter. All that was visible was the back of a blonde head; her hair loose and her cap lost somewhere. He reached her just as another groan was made.
"Sam, can you hear me? Sam?" He crouched by her head and tried to check her over, but she was almost completely buried by the broken branches. Jack carefully began to peel off the debris when a small sound close by made him spin around, his gun up and aimed. A little girl of about four stood before him. Her straggly black hair was stuck with leaves, and her huge brown eyes were wide with terror. Her dark grubby face showed streaks from her eyes where she had been crying. This was the child Sam had been carrying when she was buried. The girl must have been thrown free, or Sam had pitched her to safety.
"Help her." Sam's quiet but clear voice sounded. Jack spun back from the girl and resumed pulling away the obstacles trapping his second.
Sam tried to raise her head, but could only manage an inch. "Sir, there's no time."
Jack moved more debris, conscious of the sound of advancing Jaffa, but mindful of not causing further injury. "Shh, Carter, we'll get you out, just hang on, that's an order."
Sam's blonde head shook slightly, still facedown toward the forest floor. "No. Can't move. Leg's broken. You'll never make it with me."
His hands stilled. Jack's mouth was dry, his tongue stuck. He tried a different approach. "Shut up, Carter! I'm gonna get you back to kick your ass! Don't forget!" He bent to continue his task, but the next words from his second in command stopped him dead.
"Jack. Please. Help her. Get her to her mother. There's no time for me." He stopped. He knew she was right. His heart ripped inside him. The moment he had been dreading for years was finally here. Make a choice. Duty before self. No failing force shields. No last minute rescue. Make a choice.
"I'll come back for you," he choked out. Sam could only nod and he knew she was losing consciousness.
"I'll come back, I promise," he whispered to her still form. A staff blast bolt whizzed past his ear forcing him to duck. Without another word he sprang from his crouch, grabbed the sobbing girl and made off for the Stargate without looking back.
********
How Jack got back to the SGC he never knew. Staff blasts and zat fire were exploding all around him as he pelted to the 'gate, held open by...Teal'c. The warrior had made it, but covered in blood. Both soldiers charged through into the wormhole and emerged earth-side to chaos, SGC style.
"Close the iris! CLOSE THE IRIS!" Jack had to bawl to make himself heard above wailing and sobbing as a medic wrenched the girl from his arms. Eventually he pointed to the 'gate and sliced a finger across his throat. He saw Sergeant Davies slapping his hand down on the palm scanner. The iris slammed shut, dulling the sound of heavy thuds that could be heard on the other side. Teal'c was immediately whisked off by a medic, leaving Jack alone at the top of the 'gate ramp.
General Hammond emerged from the turmoil and barked at him: "MAJOR CARTER?!"
The Colonel pushed his way pass the confused, wailing refugees and faced his own CO. He squared his shoulders and looked the General straight in the eye. "Sir! I had to leave Major Carter on the planet; she was injured, but alive. SG-7 are missing...request immediate permission to return for a rescue..." His voice tailed off.
George Hammond was staring at him with a searching look.
After a moment, Hammond nodded. "Understood, son, de-brief in one hour." The General turned to leave, and for a moment Jack saw his CO controlling his own face. He saw his personal shock and horror mirrored in another. He felt deeply buried emotions bubble to the surface and found he was short of breath.
"General!" Jack's voice cracked, still trying to make himself heard over the melee that was beginning to subside. "Request *immediate* permission to retu -"
Hammond swung back to cut in, his hand held up in acknowledgement. "I'll make that decision with you during de-brief, *Colonel*." Both men regarded each other silently.
A small white figure appeared at the General's side. Janet Fraiser swung a stethoscope about her neck and handed a clipboard to a nearby orderly. "Sir! Triage complete. Permission to move the less badly wounded to the holding areas on levels 18 &19?" She raised a questioning eyebrow at Jack but he waved her off.
"I'm okay," he mumbled, suddenly unable or unwilling to look Sam's best friend in the eye. Janet caught this and looked about. "Sam?" she asked, abruptly. Jack looked up at her and shook his head. He opened his mouth to speak but nothing would come. He felt the room begin to move about him.
The General gently answered the unspoken question, his face like steel.
"MIA."
Janet stumbled back and the General shot his arm out to catch her. Instinctively she grabbed on and gave him a horrified look. "Sir! I need to speak with you, immediately! In private."
Hammond regarded the normally unflappable doctor. He lowered his arm and then his voice: "Doctor Fraiser, can't this wait?"
Janet shot him a pleading look. "It's about Major Carter, there's a medical issue here on a need-to-know basis only, but I think perhaps Colonel O'Neill should be party." She glanced toward Jack who was still tense, as if the rescue mission was to be mounted immediately.
The General indicated the upper level with a short nod and moved off, Janet behind him. Jack took one last look at the titanium iris and turned to follow. The three officers quickly marched to the General's office two flights up, Janet all the while issuing orders to her medical personnel.
As soon as the door closed, Janet began in earnest: "Sirs, we've got to go back! We've got to get her!" her exclamation came out as a ragged gasp and she coughed in an effort to control her voice.
The General's reply was soft. "Janet, you understand we can't do that immediately. We can't go back without assessing the risk, you know that." He looked at his second-in-command to support his statement, but Jack carefully kept his gaze neutral.
"Yes, I do, but you don't know the full situation. We found out this morning...Sam's pregnant...Major Carter is pregnant. There are two lives at stake." Janet suddenly broke off and clamped her lips together.
Jack felt the floor drop away from his feet.
George Hammond's eyes were icy blue as they regarded her. "Let me get this straight, Doctor. You *knowingly* allowed a pregnant officer through the Stargate on a mission?"
Jack saw Janet take a deep swallow. "Major Carter informed me it was a routine meet-and-greet. She said she'd only be gone a couple of hours." He could see her eyes begin to glaze.
The General shook his head. "How many times has a M&G gone ass-up? The SG teams are all operational units. Even the researchers are combat-ready. What were you thinking?"
Janet voice was unsteady as she answered her superior officer. "In retrospect, it was wrong, sir. I – I'm sorry, I..." She looked sideways at Jack, but he kept his eyes fixed firmly on his boots.
Jack found he was having trouble keeping his breathing even. That morning's bawling out in the 'gate room was replaying in his mind.
//"Got a problem with timekeeping? Not good enough, Major; you're on report." //
She was pregnant. And she didn't say anything when he was being a complete bastard toward her.
His life had just gone to Hell. Again.
******** End of Part One