Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of MGM Television, Sony Television, Double Secret Productions and Gekko Film Production. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author. No profit is intended or wanted for this story.
Act IV
"I wanna know what the hell is going on?" Hammond demanded, striding into the Infirmary. For more than two hours, he had been anxious to know why there were duplicates of his personnel.
Janet looked up from the clipboard she held, "I'm not sure how to... General, these two women are Major Carter and myself. I've tested fingerprints, retina patterns, brainwave patterns... Even Major Carter's old injuries are identical."
"What are you saying, Doctor? Clones?"
"No. Clones would be perfect copies with none of the wear and tear of the original source body. The Janet there," she nodded towards the silent woman in the second bed, "had the same scars on her knees that I do from a childhood injury. Both Sams have the same scars from various offworld actions, including the motorcycle accident she had last summer."
"Shape-shifters? Disguises?" O'Neill offered. "You know, like the chameleon thingies in Area 52?"
"No sir. These two," Janet gestured to the two occupied beds, "are not disguised. I believe they are the real thing."
"Mirror universe?" Jonas volunteered.
Janet shook her head. "I don't think so. There are none of the signature signs like odd EM readings."
"Sir," Sam sat up from her bed. "I know this is...strange. I can't believe it either. But, according to Janet...Doctor Fraiser here, she and I, well, your Sam, came through the Stargate from P4X-206 during the storm over four months ago. We didn't. We were thrown back."
"She recalled the lightning strike as they stepped into the event horizon." Janet nodded in agreement. "I think the wormhole split us into four different but identical individuals from the original."
"Whoa-whoa-whoa!" Jack held up a hand, shaking his head, "You mean like that old Star Trek with an evil Kirk and a good Kirk?"
Sam Carter walked into the Infirmary at that moment, "No sir. More like the one on 'The Next Generation' where Riker was split into two distinct people. The old one had...partial Kirks, if you will. Both Janet and I and our...twins are complete. Whole individuals."
The reclining Sam chimed in, "Yes, what must have happened was a weird side effect of massive energy spike into the wormhole. It's a one in a million thing.
"See, the wormhole breaks down physical items into their subatomic electrical charges. These are transmitted and reintegrated on the other end. A sufficient charge could result in duplicate energy patterns at either end of the tunnel."
Sam, the standing one with shorter hair, agreed, "Yes! So for the past four months, while Janet and I were here or offworld, these two, our twins, were trying to survive on P4X-206."
"Strangely, both Sams had injured ribs after that jump. Probably for the same reason..."
"We were both thrown out of the Gate?" the reclining Sam asked.
"That's what happened here. I also seemed to land on Sam too. I know that didn't help matters," Janet said. Sam just nodded.
"So, Sam and I..." the other Janet sat up, "we don't belong here?"
"No, I think you do. I just don't know..."
"Okay," Jack interrupted his second in command, "can we fix this? I don't think I can handle two Carters discussing wormhole physics. Not to mention two sadistic powermongers here in the Infirmary. No offense, Doc."
Both Janets glared at him.
From the bed, Janet asked, "What will happen with us? And..."
General Hammond shook his head, "I don't know. Major?"
Both Sams looked up to see Hammond looking at the standing woman. She responded, "I don't know what we can do, sir. Unless the Tok'ra have some experience with this phenomenon, I don't know if we can correct it."
The other Sam sat up straighter, "Wait a minute! Are you saying we're mistakes to be corrected?"
Sam came and stood by herself, "No. Not at all. But the situation is..."
Slightly mollified, the other Sam nodded, "It certainly is."
Janet crossed the room to stand between her patients. "I still have some tests to run before I release them. Can all this wait a couple of more hours?"
"Certainly, Doctor. Uh, Doctors," Hammond corrected himself. "We'll reconvene in the Briefing Room at 1800."
"Alright, you both seem to be in good health. A little thin but otherwise I have no reason to keep you here," Janet told her double and the other Sam.
"I suppose we're confined to the SGC?" Sam asked.
Janet nodded. "Until the general determines otherwise."
Her twin spoke up, "I guess we may as well report to the Briefing Room."
These were the first words she'd spoken since a brief outburst after the general had left the Infirmary. When told she wouldn't see Cassandra any time soon, she became hysterical before lapsing into a sullen silence.
"I'm sorry about earlier. I just miss her so much..."
Janet took herself in her arms, "I know. In your place, I'd feel the same.
"C'mon. Let's go see what the powers that be have to say and we'll go from there."
As the two women rose from their beds, Janet held out a hand. "Wait. Can't have you running around in open-backed gowns."
"Well, we can't wear what we came here in," Sam said.
"No. That'd draw almost as many leering stares as you both mooning half the SGC. Orderly?" One of the young airmen came over.
"Yes, Ma'am?" He stood stiffly, unsure of what to do in this kind of situation. Life in Oklahoma did not prepare him for this.
"Please get two jumpsuits and some slippers for our guests," Janet ordered.
"Right away, Ma'am," he replied. Saluting, he turned away. 'At least, if we have to have doubles of anyone, it's the two best-looking women in the mountain,' he thought as he left in search of the appropriate garb.
"I've briefed the President and the Chief of Staff. I also made it clear that I would fight any interference by the NID. I received their assurances that we will have control of the situation until, or unless, outside intervention is needed."
"Thank you General. Sam and I are relieved that we won't be lab rats for them."
The two duplicates were dressed in Air Force blue coveralls. There were no patches, badges of rank, or anything else to distinguish the outfits.
They were seated on one side of the table with Teal'c and Jonas Quinn, opposite the large observation window. The Sam and Janet who had returned with the rest of SG-1 sat on the other with Jack O'Neill. General Hammond took his accustomed place at the head of the table.
"Major Carter," Hammond looked at to his left. "I understand you've spoken to the Tok'ra."
"Yessir, I spoke to my father. The Tok'ra have never encountered such an event before."
"Love those Tok'ra. Always fonts of knowledge. No offense to your dad, Carter."
Both Sams nodded to Jack. "Now stop that! One of you at a time, not both. You'll give me a cerebral hemorrhage or something."
Almost as one, they said, "Sorry sir."
"Aahh-aaah! Stop that! I'd rather face that damned see-through assassin again!"
Sam looked at her counterpart, "See-through?"
"We just ended an emergency mission to save the Tok'ra. Survivors were brought to the Alpha Site and we had a run in with a..."
Hammond interrupted Sam. "Major, is this pertinent to the situation at hand?"
"No sir."
"Very well. Doctor Fraiser, do you have anything to add to your initial assessment?"
Janet shook her head, "No sir. Every test, including some preliminary genetic matches, confirm that they are us." Janet nodded at her and Sam's twins.
"So who's the real one? Or the real two?" Jonas asked.
"Both actually," Sam replied from across the table.
Her double concurred, adding, "Essentially the wormhole recreates matter based on the original pattern. In this case, Janet and I created two of each of us instead of one of each. I'm as real as myself." Sam nodded towards her double, her long hair falling forward. "I just have longer hair and a better tan," she joked.
"Well, any recommendations?"
Twin sets of blue-grey eyes met across the table. Both nodded. Hammond asked the woman to his left, "Major?"
"Sir, I'd like to look into this with..." She paused and smiled, "With myself. I don't know if we can reverse this but I think the two of us might find the answers more quickly."
"Like when your double came through the quantum mirror?" Janet asked from across the table.
"Yes. But, fortunately, I don't think we have the time constraints this time. Do we, Janet?" Sam looked to her left at the uniformed doctor.
"No. Every test indicates both pairs are stable on a cellular and even a molecular level. Of course, I want to run more tests. If I'm agreeable to that," she smiled at her counterpart.
Allowing herself to smile for the first time since seeing herself in the Control Room, Janet nodded.
"Very well." Hammond stood, "Major Carter, you both look into this further. And Doctor...Doctors, report to me as well. That's all for now."
"Uh, General? What about the rest of us?" Jack asked.
"SG-1 is off the mission roster for the time being."
"What? But Teal'c and Jonas and I can..."
"Jack, I don't like sending out undermanned teams unless I absolutely have to. Anyway, I need you with me in Washington the day after tomorrow. Meanwhile, go fishing. Play golf. Try and relax."
"Yeah, relax. With two of both of them..." Jack muttered.
"So, how is..." Janet cleared her throat, blinking several times. "How is Cassandra?"
The doctor had expected this question and looked at her double, "Good. Typical teenager. That little blowup over her birthday cake was nothing. I find myself apologizing to Mom for being a teenager."
Janet barked a short laugh. "Yeah, I know." She paused and combed back her longer hair, "But all the time I was lost, I... I..."
Janet took herself into her embrace as the once-lost Janet nearly collapsed in her grief. "Ssh. It's okay. We'll get through this."
Janet's sobs died down and she stood back. Looking at her twin, she said, "I know. It's just that... Okay. I'm okay."
"Are you sure? We can postpone this until you feel more up to it."
Janet shook her head, "No. I need to do something. Let's get these DNA tests rolling."
The two doctors turned to the task at hand. While preparing samples, the longer-haired Janet looked at the other Janet. "That was different."
"What was?"
"Once, back on the planet, Sam held me as I fell apart like that. I kinda got used to the difference in our heights whenever... Anyway, it was different being held by someone who's the same size."
"Just glad I could help," Janet said. Inwardly she wondered at the unfinished statement.
"Haven't had my hair this long since..."
"Anise," Sam finished for her double.
"Right."
"Well, I like it. I just found it difficult to work with offworld, especially when we'd be encamped for any length of time with no running water."
"I guess that won't be a factor for me. I mean, what are Janet and I now? You two are the real thing as far as the Air Force...hell, the rest of the world are concerned."
Sam glanced up from the diagnostic that had been run immediately after their return from P4X-206, "We'll figure something out. Don't worry."
"I'm not so concerned about that as much as Janet. She wanted to get back to Cassie so badly. Now she finds that she was never even gone." Sam hung her head, her longer locks falling around her face, "This could drive you nuts. Now I think I understand how the colonel feels when I get too carried away."
"Sam, we'll figure out something."
"I know. Just that Janet was so strong back there. She was always there for me. She only really broke down the very first day and I was close to joining her. Now to see how devastated she is...
"Okay, let's change the subject before I fall apart. What was that about an invisible assassin?"
"The Tok'ra were on the run. We got survivors back to the Alpha Site but an Ashrack came through wearing a cloaking device."
"An Ashrack? Like the one that killed Jolinar?"
Sam nodded and told her twin the rest of the story then concluded, "Janet was pretty tough there too. She only really seemed nervous once. I came into our quarters late and she was still up. We talked about what could happen and... She's a tough girl. Give her credit."
"Yeah, I know. I'm just... Okay, now I have a good one for you. Where's Daniel and who is this Jonas kid?"
That explanation was harder and took much longer.
Only a few hours had passed but Sam was beat. She stretched and moaned. Her double, staring at the monitor looked up, "Tired?"
"Yeah, after a four month 'vacation' I'm not used to working this hard." Sam smiled, her teeth white against her tan.
"Okay, it is getting late. Wanna grab a bite then I'll show where you can bunk down."
"Food sounds good. We ate like pigs in the Infirmary while your Janet ran tests on us. After weeks of Echo bird and fish, even commissary food was great. But I think I can find the quarters on my own. I guess they'll be guest quarters and not mine. Or, I guess they're yours."
"General Hammond has adjacent quarters for you and...your Janet," Sam replied with a smirk. The smirk turned into a smile, "I'll see if the Janets want to join us."
Shortly, the few people making use of the commissary were treated to the most unusual sight they could imagine. Two Sam Carters and two Janet Fraisers sitting at a table eating and talking.
The SGC was buzzing with talk about the Wormhole Twins, as they were being called, but few had actually seen them.
"It must've been rough," Sam said.
"Not as bad as being slave labor in someone's mine," the other Sam replied. "But it wasn't any picnic."
Janet nodded, "The constant storms were the worst part. I don't know if we were there during the hurricane season but it seemed like we were being hit by big storms at least once a week."
"Maybe it had to do with the three moons and their gravity," Sam suggested.
"After a few storms hit, I pretty much figured that was the case. And I think they were pretty constant. The trees had massive trunks at the base and I'm sure the root structure was expansive," her double replied.
Janet took a cookie, wrapped it in a napkin and put it in her lab coat with a "For later" before she asked, "Sam, do you think we can get back there?" Janet glanced at their doubles, "They are proof that those plants, at least some, have medicinal value."
Lightly scratching her head, Sam thought for a moment. "Well, if the fused part of the Gate was what held us up from returning and Sam freed that, I don't see why not. We could bring a naqada reactor to replace the DHD."
Janet looked up from her tray, she loved the variety of food available to them again and yawned. "I'm tired. I haven't worked this hard mentally in a long time."
"They, whoever they are, say that an hour's mental work is equal to three hours physical work," Sam said.
The other Sam nodded, "Yeah, I remember Dad saying that once. But I'm wiped out. So much has happened today. Where are our quarters?"
Sam told her double where they were sleeping and the two former castaways got up and headed out. They walked so close together, they were practically touching.
Sam glanced at her friend. "Weird day, huh?"
"Sad too. I was going to stay here tonight but I think I'll head home in a few minutes. I want to see Cassandra."
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Tell her I said hi."
"Come home with me. You can stay in the guest room."
"Oh! Oh! Twist my arm some more!" Sam said with a chuckle.
"I want to clear up some stuff in the Infirmary. That shouldn't take long. I'll probably be ready in an hour. I'll meet you in your lab and then drive us home."
"Okay, sounds like a plan." Sam watched as Janet left, a thoughtful look on the smaller woman's face.
The next morning, Sam brought the other Sam to the Infirmary. ("No, no problem. Just something we think you'd like to see.")
On entering, she saw her lover sitting on a bed next to Cassandra. "Cassie!" she shouted as she dashed across the room.
The teen was very good about being hugged so enthusiastically by this duplicate of her friend. Her mother and Sam had explained everything to her. She knew these two women were also her parents to all intents and purposes but she still felt awkward.
She masked it well.
The two women looked up at their counterparts, tears in their eyes. Janet finally managed to say, "Thank you. Thank you so much!"
"I really wish it could be more than just visits," Janet replied.
Sam looked up, her eyes awash in tears, "How? Why?"
"It was Janet's idea. She got the okay from General Hammond to bring Cass in. And then we just had to get the Teen Terror to agree."
"Hey!" Cassie said indignantly.
"I just had to promise she'd be out of here to see her Dominic," Sam added.
"SA-AM!"
The pseudo-reunion lasted for another hour and by the end Cassie was reluctant to see her new aunts leave. "I promise I'll come and see you," she promised, blinking away tears.
Cassandra's eyes weren't the only ones that were wet.
Lunch was easier. The afternoon shift in the SGC was already aware of the duplicates and many had seen them so there was far less staring and whispering.
Later in the afternoon, Janet looked up from the electron microscopic images. She rotated her neck to loosen it. Her twin saw that and came over.
Tanned fingers dug into tight neck muscles. Janet (either one) had a knack for massaging stressed and tired muscles.
The seated Janet moaned, "Ooh, that feels so good..."
Janet smiled and continued. The doctor's shorter hair brushed her fingers and she blushed as the sensation triggered memories of more intimate massages with her lover.
"Janet, I think... I don't want to but you might stop," Janet said.
"Huh? What?" She blushed beneath her tan as she realized her massage was becoming more like her memories than friendly. "I...I'm sorry."
"Don't be...too much. It felt wonderful but..."
"I know. We're straight."
"Yes, we are." Janet looked up at an identical pair of brown eyes, "Aren't we?"
Janet shook her head, "Not anymore. I mean, I don't know that I'll never be with a man again but..."
"Something happened back there, didn't it?"
Janet nodded, pale beneath her tan with her eyes locked on the floor, "Yes. Something wonderful."
"So you and Sam are..."
"Lovers," Janet confirmed. "And to tell you the truth, I wish it hadn't taken so long to figure it out."
"Wow. I...I guess I've been thinking..." Janet shook her head, "Wow. And don't worry, it's our secret."
"Thanks." The other Janet walked over to check a printout, leaving the doctor with her thoughts.
Janet sat there for several long minutes as she digested this latest, more private detail of life stranded on an alien planet.
The two Sams had been quiet for quite some time. Finally, Sam looked at her longer-haired twin and said, "Lately, especially the past few months, I've regretted that Cass interrupted us up at the cabin."
Sam nodded, "I know. And I'm so glad that Janet... I guess I've already said too much. I'm not much good at keeping secrets, am I?"
"Hey, if you can't trust yourself, who can you trust? I won't tell anyone else. Anyone. It's all between you and your Janet."
"And your Janet?"
Sam felt a pleasant tremor at the words but said, "She's not mine. I don't know that I even want...
"It's not gonna happen," she concluded tersely.
Several days later, Hammond and O'Neill returned from their meetings at the Pentagon. Meetings that went far beyond the original agenda.
With the rest of SG-1 and the other Sam and Janet in the briefing room, Hammond asked, "So is there any way to recombine the four of you?"
"There might be sir," Sam said.
He turned to the darker version of his officer, "Yes?"
"It probably wouldn't work and the danger..."
"We've discussed it, Sir," Sam broke in. "Unless you order us to try it, we'd rather not chance it. All four of us could die in the attempt."
"We'd rather live as...duplicates than kill all our selves," Janet said.
"Very well. I went into the meeting with the Chief of Staff and the Secretary with the assumption that the accident...whatever, was irreversible. Now, naturally we can't have two Major Sam Carters or two Doctor Janet Fraisers. At least not in the same facility. The confusion would be..."
"More than I could possibly handle," Jack said.
Hammond nodded. "Yes. It might prove too much for one facility, even one with such unusual happenings as this one. The discussion ranged from sending you to the Antarctic research facility, the Alpha Site, or even to Russia to act as liaisons. All of those have been vetoed by myself and the colonel here.
"The Secretary, and through him the President, left it to my discretion. Here is my proposal..."
Eight days after the briefing, Sam and Janet stood in a hangar at Peterson Air Force Base with Sam and Janet. To casual observers, the only difference between them was the length of their hair - after a week underground, their tans had started to fade.
"I guess this is goodbye," Sam said. "I'm going to miss you. You've become like a sister to me."
"Me too," Sam replied.
"Washington should be nice this time of year," Janet said. "The cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin and the Mall..."
"I know," both Sams said.
"Working on the Stargate Project at the Pentagon. Seems like a trip back in time," Sam said, a breeze tugging at her short ponytail.
"Not for me, love. I came from Fort Detrick by way of the CDC. I've barely even been in the Pentagon before," Janet said.
"And you'll be the first medical doctor working at that level of the project. Not bad," her twin said.
"Not as good as being the youngest doctor in the Air Force at ground zero for alien encounters," Janet countered.
"Cassie was serious about coming East to visit."
"Let us get settled in first. Then we'll see. You sure she won't be...offended by..." Sam said.
"Your lifestyle? Remember Paige?"
"Uh, yeah, I think so."
"You remember, Sam. Her friend at school," Janet said.
Sam nodded, "Yeah, I remember Cass talking about her."
"She came out and Cass was the first to defend her to the other kids at school," Janet said proudly. then, in a quieter voice, she added, "It, uh, happened while you were gone."
An airman came up, "Major? Doctor? Your flight is ready."
Sam looked at Janet and said, "That's us lover."
After mutual hugs all around, the two women walked across the tarmac to the Air Force jet waiting to fly them to Andrews.
"Kiss Cassandra for me," Janet asked. Sam and Janet promised they would.
"I'm going to miss them," Janet said, wiping an eye.
"I know one person who won't," Sam replied.
"Jack O'Neill."
"Right the first time." Sam led the way back to her car.
"So, would you like to go out to dinner sometime?"
"Janet, are you asking me out on a date?"
Janet just smiled.
The End
Note: Originally posted on 2/21/03.