Jack and Sam had now been married over a year. They had not given up on adopting, but the more time that passed, the more unlikely it was that they could adopt.
They tried to look at the positive things in their lives instead of dwelling on becoming parents. They would go for weeks without bringing up the subject of adoption.
Jack knew that Sam was taking the situation harder than he was though. He had had his chance at being a father, but he was beginning to feel that Sam would never get to be a mother.
Jack awoke one night to find that Sam wasn't beside him. He got up to look for her and found her sitting on the deck, crying, and he sat down beside her.
"Sam, what's wrong?"
"Do you remember Captain Garrison on SG-11?"
"Yes."
"She came to the base today to show everyone her new baby girl. I was so envious, Jack."
He pulled her to him as she lay her head on his shoulder and he hugged her.
"I don't know what to say to make you feel better."
"You know, I had never met a man that I wanted to have kids with until I met you. Then we get engaged and a few weeks later I lose the chance to ever get pregnant. I always thought I'd get the chance to have kids some day" she said as she sniffed. "I know I should be thankful for everything else that's good in my life and I am. I have you and Dad and Mark and great friends and a job that I love. But I had always looked forward to seeing what it would feel like to be pregnant and give birth and hold my own baby in my arms and watch my own child grow up."
Jack kissed her on the forehead. "We'll just have to keep searching, honey, that's all I know to do."
She wiped the tears from her face. "I need to get back to bed. I have an early mission tomorrow."
§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
A MALP had been sent through earlier to get a look at the planet that SG-1 would be going to, designated as P3X223. From the pictures the MALP was showing, they could make out old buildings and there were people milling around.
General Hammond advised them to be cautious.
The team waited for the Gate to be dialed and they stepped through the event horizon.
Looking at their surroundings and the clothing the people wore, Colonel Reynolds, Sam and Daniel felt they had stepped back to the time of the Civil War. A man came riding by in a wagon being pulled by a horse.
People stopped to stare at the strangers who had come to their planet.
Colonel Reynolds gripped his P-90. "Be friendly, but be ready for anything."
"Hello" Daniel said and smiled at one of the women and she returned the smile.
"Hello."
"You can understand me?"
"Yes."
"What is the name of your planet? Daniel asked.
"It is called Paltar."
Daniel went through the routine of introducing everyone and more people gathered around to listen as he explained that they were explorers from Earth.
The people looked at each other as one of the men stepped forward. "We have never heard of this place you call Earth."
"It is very far away" Daniel explained.
"You are the first ones we have seen to journey through the stone circle. We never knew what it was."
Sam spoke up. "It's a transportation device. We can go to many places."
"We would like to get to know you and your people" Daniel said.
"If you like, we can converse during our midday meal. Please, join us" he said as he motioned with his hand to follow them.
The team looked at each other.
"Okay. Couldn't hurt, I guess. Just don't eat anything you don't recognize" Colonel Reynolds cautioned.
Daniel walked beside the man that had done all the talking. The man reached out to hold the hand of the woman beside him.
"What is your name?"
"My name is Nigel. This is my wife, Enid."
Enid smiled at Daniel but didn't speak.
They sat down at a long table. Nigel stood at the end of the table as everyone became silent and he asked everyone to join hands as he lifted his arms, looked up at the sky and asked God to bless the food.
As the team talked with Nigel, they also took the opportunity to observe the people. They seemed curious but friendly to the team as they set different kinds of food in front of them.
Bread and several different vegetables were served. The food was simple but tasty.
Sam noticed children of all ages and a few of the women were pregnant.
"What kind of work do you do?" Colonel Reynolds asked.
"We are farmers and miners. Our women only help outside the home during planting season. Our summers are short but our winters are long. We must grow our food in the days that are warm so that when the harsh winter comes, we are ready."
"What kind of mining?" Sam asked.
"Coal. It is used to heat our homes. We have found another kind of ore that we do not know what it is so we have no use for it."
The team glanced at each other.
Nigel continued. "Several of our villagers are carpenters. They build our homes and do repairs."
"Is everyone paid wages for their work?" Daniel asked.
"Our wages are small but we have a bartering system and neighbor helps neighbor."
"Sir, I have not noticed any weapons" Colonel Reynolds stated.
"Our laws forbid anyone to carry a weapon except when hunting. We hunt rabbit and deer."
"So you have no crime?"
"Very little. Occasionally, a child will steal something but we leave it up to the parents to punish a child. We have strict laws that govern our village. When two adults disagree, we choose ten people to hear both sides of the disagreement and then everyone votes on what they think is best. Majority rules."
"Would you mind if we took a look around?" Colonel Reynolds asked.
"If you wish. Will you be spending the night?"
"I guess we will" the Colonel answered.
Nigel escorted the team as they walked outside the village. They came to one of the areas where coal was being mined.
"Here, let me show you" Nigel said as he picked up a shovel and dug up some of the soil. Teal'c knelt down and scooped some of it into his hand and he looked up at Colonel Reynolds.
"Naquadah."
Sam knelt down beside Teal'c to have a look for herself.
"He's right, sir, it is."
"You have seen this before?" Nigel asked.
"Yes. Naquadah is very valuable to us" Colonel Reynolds said. "We might be interested in getting some of this from you. We could exchange the naquadah for more modern ways to help your people."
Nigel smiled. "We must hear more. I will gather the elders together and we will discuss this possibility of exchange. If you are to spend the night, there is a vacant house that you are welcome to stay in."
Colonel Reynolds turned to Sam. "Major, you and Teal'c go back and check in with General Hammond. Let him know what we've found here and that we'll be spending the night."
"Yes sir."
After Teal'c and Sam returned, Colonel Reynolds and Daniel spent the rest of the day talking with Nigel and meeting other members of the village.
Teal'c went exploring by himself.
Enid invited Sam to spend the afternoon with her to meet some of the women of the village.
As they walked, the two women would stop and chat with Enid's neighbors.
"We must stop here" Enid said as she knocked on the door of a small house.
A pretty woman answered the door.
"Sam, this is my friend Astrid" Enid said as she introduced them. Astrid smiled at her and they went inside.
"I was just changing the boy."
"How are they?" Enid asked Astrid as she looked over at a bed where another baby lay.
"Very well. This one has just finished nursing."
Astrid put the baby in Enid's arms and she started to rock the baby back and forth. "I must explain. Two of our villagers, Eli and Ann, died recently when their house caught fire. It happened during the night, we do not know how it started. Since everyone was asleep, by the time the closest neighbors knew anything was going on, there was nothing they could do. Ann had given birth to twins, just the day before. Eli managed to get the babies out and handed them to a neighbor. He went back inside to get Ann. The burning roof fell on them before they could get out safely."
"That's horrible. So the children are just a few days old?"
"Seven days. Astrid gave birth just two days before the twins were born so she has kept them here with her to nurse not only her own child, but the twins as well. Some of the other women who are new mothers have been taking turns to come here during the day to help care for and nurse the twins."
Sam slowly walked over to the other sleeping infant.
"You may hold her if you would like."
Sam picked up the sleeping infant and looked at the face of a beautiful little girl. She had light brown hair, porcelain skin and long eyelashes. Her tiny fingers were wrapped around her thumbs as she held her hands under her chin.
"What's her name?"
"As far as we know, Eli and Ann had not chosen names. We are not sure who will keep them. All of us have children of our own so no one has willingly offered to take them."
Sam sat down on the edge of the bed as she stared at the baby.
"Are you married?" Enid asked.
"Yes."
"Do you have children?"
"No. I can't have children."
"I'm sorry."
"Jack, my husband, and I have been trying to adopt but we haven't had any luck."
Sam rocked the baby back and forth as they talked.
When it was time for them to go, Sam laid the baby back on the bed and her arms suddenly felt very empty.
The team ate with the villagers that evening. Later, Nigel led them to a vacant house and the team spread out their sleeping bags.
Sam tossed and turned but could not get the babies out of her mind. The next morning she went to find Enid.
Sam saw her talking with one of the men from the village and she smiled at Sam.
"Good day, Sam."
"Good day. May I speak with you?"
"Certainly."
Enid said goodbye to the man. They went into her house and sat down together at the kitchen table.
"I need to know something."
"All right."
"As I've already explained, my husband I have been trying to adopt but have not been able to. I gave a lot of thought last night to the twins. What are the chances that your people might let my husband and I take them? I know I need to talk this over with my husband first, but I would like to get some idea of what they might say, before we go home."
"I guess you would have to meet with the elders of our village and let them find out how much you want the children, what kind of parents we think you would be, and how you would rear the children, especially since they would be raised on a world that is far from ours."
"I understand."
Enid put her hand on Sam's and smiled at her. "I can tell you have a kind heart, Sam. Let me see what I can do" she said as she squeezed her hand.
The team gathered for breakfast and Sam told the men about the twins and her conversation with Enid.
"Are you sure about this, Sam?" Daniel asked.
"Well, I've naturally got to talk with Jack about it first. I think he would love it, especially after he sees the babies."
"Not to be so negative here, Major, but the elders of the village might not be so willing to turn over the children to complete strangers, especially since they would be raised on another planet" Colonel Reynolds added.
Sam looked down at the table. "I know. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high, but Jack and I have wanted a baby for so long and since I can't have one, I think this might work out perfectly for us and the twins. We could give them a good home."
"I agree Major Carter" Teal'c added. "You and O'Neill deserve this opportunity."
Sam smiled at Teal'c.
Just then, Nigel and Enid came around the corner of the building.
Enid smiled at Sam. "I explained to Nigel your interest in the children."
"The elders will meet with you and your husband" Nigel said.
Colonel Reynolds looked at Sam. "Major, if you would like to go home and talk with Jack, you have my permission. We'll stay here and discuss the naquadah."
Sam's face lit up with a smile. "Thank you, sir."
General Hammond stood at the bottom of the ramp as Sam came through the Gate.
"Major, is something wrong?"
"No sir, but I do need to talk with you."
They went upstairs to his office and Sam explained what was going on.
"Are you sure, Sam?" General Hammond asked.
"Yes sir. This may be mine and Jack's only chance to become parents. The children need a home. All of the couples on the planet have children of their own so no one has volunteered to take them. By our standards, they would be considered poor people, sir. They have very little but what they do have, they share with each other. They remind me of what people were like during the Civil War. Their only transportation is wagons and horses. We could offer them more modern ways of providing for themselves in exchange for the naquadah."
"Very well, Major. Run home and talk this over with Jack. You're dismissed."
"Thank you, sir."
§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
Sam entered the house.
"Jack" she called as she looked in the kitchen, then the bedrooms. She wandered outside on the deck to see him digging up a dead bush in the yard.
"Jack."
Jack turned around with a surprised look on his face.
"Sam, you're back already?"
"Just for a little while. We need to talk."
Jack gave her a kiss. "What's going on?"
Sam took him by the hand and they sat down in the chairs on the deck.
"You have to come back to the planet with me" she said with a smile.
"Why?"
Sam proceeded to tell him about the people on the planet, what had happened to Eli and Ann and the twins.
"They're both so beautiful, Jack, and they need a home. I wanted to see what you thought."
Jack hesitated for a moment.
Sam squeezed his hand. "Do you see a problem with this?"
"Not exactly, honey, I think it'd be great. I just don't want you to get your hopes up too high if they decide they don't want us to have them."
"I know, Jack. But we won't know until we try."
"Okay, let's do it."
Before they left to return to the planet, Jack took Jamila to stay with Mrs. Russell while they were away.
§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
General Hammond stood with Jack and Sam in the Gate room.
George shook Jack's hand. "Good luck."
"Thank you, sir."
The General watched as Jack and Sam disappeared through the event horizon.
They came down the steps as Jack looked around.
"Very different from what we're used to, isn't it?"
"Yes, very" Sam said as she grasped his hand.
They walked through the village on the way to Nigel and Enid's house. Some of the people waved and spoke to Sam.
Enid was outside getting water from a well. She saw them coming toward her and smiled.
"Hello, Sam."
"Enid, this is my husband, Jack."
"It's nice to make your acquaintance."
"Thanks. Nice to meet you too."
"I'm sure you're anxious to see the twins."
"Yes."
"Nigel has arranged to have both of you meet with the elders but two of them are at another village a little way from here and will not return for three days. We would like to take this time to get to know you better. Right now though, you can go see the babies. We will be having our midday meal in about an hour. Please come join us. Astrid will be coming so you can bring the twins with you."
Astrid was outside hanging wet clothes on a clothesline and Sam introduced her to Jack.
"Enid told me of your wish to have the twins. They are asleep but you can go on in. I will be in shortly."
They went into the house to find Astrid's two older children playing a game at a small table in the corner and her baby was in its crib.
They walked quietly to the bed. The little boy was on his side and the girl on her back.
Jack started to smile as he bent over and picked up the little girl. Sam picked up the boy.
"You're right, Sam, they're beautiful."
As Sam held the boy, he slowly opened his eyes. "He has brown eyes." She started to talk to the baby and he stared at her for a few minutes, then started to whimper just as Astrid came in the door. About that time the baby girl woke up in Jack's arms.
"They are probably hungry. It is time to nurse them."
Jack and Sam went outside to sit on the steps while Astrid fed the babies. In a little while she called them back inside.
"It is time for our meal as well." She placed the baby girl in Jack's arms, then the boy in Sam's. "Come. We will meet with the others."
They saw Colonel Reynolds, Daniel and Teal'c talking with Nigel and several other men as they approached them.
Colonel Reynolds peeked into the blankets to get a look at the babies. Daniel and Teal'c did also.
"They're so cute" Daniel said with a grin.
Sam smiled. "Yes, they are."
Everyone sat down at the large table as Nigel asked for everyone to hold hands as he prayed.
Several people that Sam had met, came by to see the babies and to wish them well as word had spread throughout the village of their interest in the twins.
Teal'c sat quietly beside Sam. "Major Carter, I have finished my meal. Perhaps you would like for me to hold the child while you finish eating."
Sam looked at Teal'c with a grin. "Why Teal'c, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were just itching to hold him."
"It has been many years since Rya'c was so young but I always enjoyed holding him."
Sam placed the baby in Teal'c's huge arms just as the baby awoke. The baby stared at him for several moments, then closed his eyes.
"Hey, Teal'c" Daniel said as Teal'c looked up from staring at the baby, and Daniel snapped his picture.
"What is that?" Nigel asked as he came to stand beside Daniel.
"It's called a camera. It takes a picture. Here, let me take yours and Enid's. Just stand right there and smile." They did as Daniel asked as Daniel snapped the picture.
"Now when I get these developed I'll show it to you."
Nigel and Enid looked confused.
Soon the meal was over and Enid and Astrid took the twins.
§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
Over the next few days, Jack and Sam talked with the people from the village and everyone watched as they interacted with the twins. The more Jack and Sam were with them, the more attached to them they became.
The next morning, the two elders returned from the nearby village.
That afternoon, Nigel told Sam and Jack to come with him to meet with the elders.
They went into what looked like a large meeting hall. There were six men and six women sitting around a large table. Nigel introduced Jack and Sam to each of them, then asked them to explain to them why they wanted to be parents to the twins.
Sam spoke up.
"Before we were married, I had to have an operation which took away my chance to have children. We've tried to adopt but that hasn't worked out. Jack and I love children and we've been very disappointed that we have yet to become parents."
One of the women spoke up.
"Jack, why do you wish to be a father to these children?"
"As Sam said, we can't have children of our own. Even before we were married, we knew we wanted to have a child or more than one. We tried several adoption agencies but it takes months and sometimes years before a couple can get a child. I had a son from a previous marriage but he died several years ago. I loved being a father and would like very much to have the chance to be a father again."
Someone asked "how do Earth parents educate the children?"
Sam spoke up. "Where we come from we have schools where we would send the children to learn from teachers who teach different subjects. It takes several years to get through school and during that time, the child would choose a vocation."
One of the women spoke up. "How do we know the children would be loved and cared for?"
Jack answered. "You only have our word. We would see that they are loved, disciplined, fed, clothed and educated.
"Do the men that are here with you know you well?" someone else asked.
"Yes they do" Jack answered.
"Perhaps we should speak with them to get an idea of your character before we make this decision."
Nigel stood. "You may wait outside."
In a few minutes Daniel entered the room.
"Please Daniel, sit down" Nigel said.
Daniel sat down in the chair that Jack had occupied.
"How well do you know Jack and Sam?"
"I've known them both for many years and I know them very well."
"Could you tell us about their character?"
"Jack is probably the most honest person I've ever met. He is fair and loyal, a true friend. I was around when his son died and I saw how upsetting it was for him. Jack loves children. Everywhere we go, children just seem to flock to him. Sam is intelligent, sweet and kind. She has so desperately wanted a baby ever since she and Jack were married. You could not find better parents for these twins. They would be very well cared for and very much loved."
"Thank you, Daniel" Nigel said. "You may go."
Teal'c came in next.
"O'Neill is a very trustworthy person. His bond is his word. He loves children and will go beyond the call of duty to help a child. He would be an excellent father. Samantha is very kind and thoughtful. She has great patience, which is a good trait for a mother."
"Thank you, Teal'c."
Next came Colonel Reynolds and the questions were asked of him.
"I have worked with Jack for many years. I know he loves children and I think he would be a very good father. Major Carter, I mean Sam, is a very sweet and caring woman. I urge you to give them this chance to be parents. You could not find another couple who would take better care of these children."
"Thank you" Nigel said. "Colonel Reynolds, would you send Jack and Sam back in please?"
Jack and Sam entered once more and sat down.
A man stood up who had remained silent throughout the question and answer session.
"My name is Thomas. I am the oldest of the elders of our village. From what your friends have told us, you would both be exceptional parents."
Jack and Sam looked at each other and smiled.
"We have never had a situation before as this one" Thomas continued. "For the sake of the children, this will have to be a unanimous vote. All of the elders will have to agree on whether or not you are to take the children. You may go, and we will remain to discuss these events. We will have an answer for you soon."
"Thank you" Jack and Sam said together as they stood to leave.
§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
Jack noticed how quiet and worried Sam looked that night after meeting with the elders. He stood up and held out his hand to her.
"Come on, let's take a walk." Sam took his hand.
They slowly walked in silence down the road that led outside the village and the moon was shining brightly.
"I have a good feeling about this, Sam."
She looked at him with tears in her eyes. "We've been disappointed so many times."
Jack let go of her hand and stopped walking. He held out his arms and Sam wrapped her arms around his waist.
"So, what are we going to name these two little people?"
Sam smiled. "What would you like to name them?"
"Homer and Marge" Jack said with a grin.
"No."
"Bart and Lisa."
"No." Sam giggled and she slapped Jack on his arm.
"Hey, you asked."
"We are not naming them after The Simpsons."
"Oh, Sam. You spoil all my fun" Jack said as he stuck out his lower lip.
Sam laughed even harder. "Pout all you want, but we are not naming them after your favorite cartoon characters."
"Okay. What do you suggest?"
"I'm not sure. Let's wait and see what happens tomorrow."
TBC