This started off as kiddie fic on the Sparky thread on Gateworld and kind of snowballed!
Disclaimer: again, I don't own anything of Stargate grumbles.
"Unscheduled offworld activation!"
The call made John, who was strolling into the control tower, pick up his pace. Jogging swiftly up the stairs and into the control room he said "who is it? Do we have an IDC?"
He glanced across to Sam, who was standing ready at the technician's side. "Not yet," she replied.
"Wait," said Chuck, "we've got one coming in now."
John and Sam exchanged glances. "Well, whose is it," asked John impatiently.
Chuck looked up with an astounded look on his face. "Dr Weir's."
John started to dash down to the 'Gate, but Sam stopped him. With her hand still on his shoulder she spoke into her radio. "All security teams to the 'Gateroom!" Within seconds armed men poured in. With a glance at John, Sam turned to Chuck. "Lower the shield."
Chuck stared at Sam incredulously. "Are you sure? The replicators could have her codes..."
"Many times before we've encountered different versions of SG personnel either from the future or alternate universes. If that is the case this time I am not about to kill someone coming here for help."
Chuck nodded briefly and lowered the shield.
"Thank you," John said to Sam, before running hastily down the stairs. Everyone stared at the 'Gate with bated breath. You could have heard a pin drop. Why was Elizabeth, if it was her, taking so long? John was just starting to get worried when a tall, beautiful woman dashed through the 'Gate. Her long auburn hair swung around her shoulders as she took in the 'Gateroom, the 'Gate itself disengaging behind her.
"What's going on?" she asked. No-one could bring themselves to say a word. Elizabeth's gaze rested on John. Her expression abruptly changed, becoming one of shock and disbelief. "John?" she whispered, as though she didn't dare to believe her eyes. John was just about to respond when a small child stepped out from behind Elizabeth's legs.
"Mummy," she said, "why is everyone so angry?"
Elizabeth's gaze didn't leave John's face as she took the girl's outstretched hand. "I don't know," she answered lowly.
The child too turned to John. "And who's that man?"
"That," said Elizabeth, her voice betraying the composed look on her face, "is your father."
John stared down at the woman sitting in the isolation room below him. He could hardly believe it was her. And with a child... She sat still and upright in her chair, staring blankly at the wall, as though she was grieving. John could usually tell whatever was going on in her head, but now he couldn't be sure. His emotions, shoved down for so long, rose up rebelliously in an alarming confusion that assaulted his mind. How could she be here? She claimed not to know anything of the events that had destroyed her life, and yet how could she not? Despite his suspicions, he could not help feeling drawn to her, even more so than when she was originally in Atlantis. Loss can do that to a person. The love that he had not allowed himself to feel suddenly broke free of the bonds he had forced on it. It moved him, confused him, made him want to run down there and put his arms around her, whispering comforts in her ear... until he couldn't even think straight. Keller and Sam walked in, breaking into his thoughts.
"Hey," Sam said, "how are you doing?"
John spared her a brief glance before his gaze returned to Elizabeth's confused and alarmed face.
"I'm fine. So did the tests come back?"
Jennifer and Sam exchanged a look. Jennifer chose to answer his question.
"Yes," she said. "Everything matches. Blood group, DNA, iris, thumbprint... It's Elizabeth."
"So what are we looking at here, cloning?" John dreaded the answer to his question.
Jennifer sighed. "It's possible, but usually there are traces of the clone in the cells. They're barely perceptible, but there will often be tiny differences in the protein strands. Nothing that would effect the clone's appearance, but enough to spot on a scan."
John stared down at Elizabeth. "And let me guess, there aren't any?" Jennifer shook her head. "And the girl?"
Jennifer consulted her chart before answering. "Well, her DNA matches Elizabeth, so she's the mother..."
John turned to look at Jennifer, who had stopped mid sentence, staring at him. She looked as though she couldn't find the words.
John decided to say it for her. "I'm the father, aren't I?"
"Yes," Jennifer answered quietly.
"Or someone with your DNA." Sam stepped forward to join John at the window. "We think we're looking at a deviation from an alternate reality."
"But I thought the Stargate couldn't travel between dimensions..." John said.
"Well, that's what we thought, but bottom line is we're dealing with an incredibly advanced piece of technology and I doubt we've even begun to scratch the surface of how it can be used. In any case, she... Elizabeth won't respond to any more questions. She says she wants to talk solely to you."
John stared down at the mysterious woman. She had moved and was staring out of the window onto the sleeping city.
"Me, or me in another universe," John wondered. Suddenly Elizabeth looked up at him, as though she had heard him, her face full of emotion. They gazed at each other for a while then she turned back to the window. John couldn't be sure at this distance but he thought he saw a tear roll down her face before she turned away. "I'm going down there."
