Chapter 9

Jack was having a blast, he couldn't remember the last time he had laughed as much. The food had been nicely burnt to a crisp, except Sam's oven cooked chicken. The day had been beautiful, SG1, Charlie, Janet, Cassie and Sam had come to his house for an impromptu BBQ.

Cassie and Sam were both getting used to each other again. In Sam's world she had been Cassie's mother for a short period of time. Sam found it quite strange that Janet was her mother here. Sam's Cassie had moved back to Hanka after some of her relatives had been found alive. Sam was glad this Cassie had no need to flea another home or lose another family.

Jack smiled at the antics of the group. Sam was sitting on the steps watching Cassie, Daniel and Teal'c play tag – a very funny sight. He left the BBQ to cool and went to sit beside Sam,

"You having fun?" He questioned.

"Oh yeah, those three are a hoot, Janet and Charlie have just gone to referee. Well actually Charlie's gone to join the fun and Janet is refereeing"

Sam giggled while she watched the group on the lawn then stretched. She was getting more uncomfortable everyday, being eight months pregnant did nothing for her back. She moved around a little more trying to get her muscles to pull in the right direction.

"Here sit down in front of me, I'll help" Jack said. She looked uncertain but his smile encouraged her so she moved between his legs.

Jack started to massage her back, Sam had decided she was in heaven, it was divine.

"Wow Jack this is amazing"

"Yeah?"

"Oh yeah, my Jack was completely useless at things like this"

Jack stopped momentarily at that comment. Sam turned to face him, as much as she could.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I didn't mean to compare"

"No it's ok, it's good to know that I'm different"

Sam turned again and Jack continued the massage while they both got so lost in their own world.

Sam leaned back against Jack, her mind going over the last few months. Things had been going great she really felt that she was developing a new family with this new SG1. They were funny, caring and really helped her through everything. However she needed something more. She was pulled from her thoughts when suddenly she jumped and giggled.

"What is it?" Jack asked.

"Do that again, with your hand. Here give me your other hand" She placed his free hand on her stomach, above what must have been the baby's feet.

Jack massaged the tight knot in her back and the baby kicked.

"Hey I felt that" Jack said laughing

"Yeah it's been kicking and moving a lot recently, try again" It happened again and they both laughed, totally oblivious to their friends watching from the lawn.

"They looked amazing together back home" Charlie commented.

"They are starting to see each other without seeing the person they lost" Daniel added.

"Oh I hope that they don't get hurt" Janet said, her sentimental side taking over.

"It is indeed good to have Samantha Carter back with us" Teal'c concluded.

Cassie stopped running, realising no-one was chasing her. She walked over to the grown-ups and followed their gaze to the two people on the deck.

"Mom does Jack love Sam?" she asked, almost surprised at the development.

Janet was pulled away from the couple to her daughter, she smiled.

"Yes sweetheart and Sam is in love with Jack. We just hope they don't do something silly to ruin it" Janet answered.

Back on the deck Jack was thrilled to feel the baby kicking so much.

"You've got a strong one there Sam" He said to her.

Sam froze, his words brought home her reality. The baby was not theirs; it was hers, as much as she wished it could be different. She pulled away from him desperately trying to hide the tears which were springing to her eyes. Sam knew, she knew she loved this Jack. Not as a reminder of her husband but because he was him. She could pick all the differences between the two and over the last month she realised that she loved him. She also had come to realise that Jack did not feel the same way, his last comment only confirmed that.

Sam got up and walked into the house not meeting his look as she left. In the lawn there was a collective sigh of annoyance.

"We spoke way too soon" Charlie summed up.

"What on earth has Jack said this time" Daniel added beginning to get aggravated.

"Sam you ok?" Jack said getting up and following her, "Did I hurt you" he continued anxiously as he walked into the house behind her

Sam was standing over at the fire place looking at the picture of Charlie next to her latest ultrasound picture.

"Sam what is it, are you ok, is the baby ok?" Jack was really worried now.

Sam could feel the tears starting to fall down her cheeks but she had to ask him the question, she needed to know.

"Jack if I wasn't pregnant would you want anything to do with me?"

Jack stood still, well that came out of left field he thought.

"eh…..I……of course Sam"

Sam turned to face him "No Jack think it over. I will give you access to the baby but I'm not asking for it I'm asking for me"

Sam turned back to the two pictures unable to keep watching him, unsure of his answer.

"Sam I don't understand why you are asking me this" he was genuinely confused.

Sam sighed "It's simple Jack do you want me for me or my baby to replace Charlie"

She could see the darkness covering his features as her words hit home.

"Get this straight Carter, no-one could replace my little boy and if you think for one minute that this is all I want then you really don't know me at all"

His face was almost touching hers and his anger was palpable to her, he was daring her to say something else. Sam knew it had been callous but she was also strong. She had to get this sorted before the baby came and she became dependant on anyone, especially him.

"I need to know Jack. So you don't want to replace Charlie, what do you want from us?"

Jack stepped back, his face going pale, the question sinking in. He began to walk away from her, he didn't know what to say.

"I don't know Sam" he finally said, annoyed at himself that he had no other answer.

Sam breathed deeply again "That's ok Jack but please think about it. I know what I would like from you now but none of that matters if you don't want it"

Sam moved passed him to the sofa and picked up her purse, she would call a cab from outside. Jack was still stunned standing in the middle of the room.

"I'm going to go, I'll talk to you later" she said quietly.

Sam walked over to the door and shouted to the garden, "See you later guys"

A quick glance was shared by all and Charlie shouted, "Wait up Sam, Teal'c and I will take you home"

Teal'c nodded in confirmation. Charlie and Teal'c gathered their stuff and ran over to Sam. The three left.

Daniel and Janet knew they had to go and sort out the emotional mess Sam had likely left.

Janet looked and waved at Cassie who had sat down in the garden with her drawing pad, she was fine for a good half an hour.

Daniel and Janet wandered into the house and found Jack standing beside the fireplace. He had taken down the pictures of Charlie and the ultrasound but seemed rooted to the spot almost unable to move.

"Jack are you ok?" Daniel asked his friend.

"Huh" was Jack's only response.

Daniel walked over to Jack and asked again, "Jack what's wrong?" he was almost spelling out every syllable

Jack finally seemed to pull himself out of his slumber,

"Nothing…..eh…..Daniel…..do you think I am using Sam's baby to replace Charlie?" He asked sounding incredibly vulnerable

"I honestly don't know" Daniel answered having thought for a while,

"I wouldn't have thought you would, actually I was more worried about you using Sam to replace well Sam" Daniel concluded.

"Huh" Jack responded looking extremely confused.

Daniel rolled his eyes, he hated explaining things to Jack.

"Ok maybe Sam is not so much worried about the baby but that you will stop spending time with her when it is out of her" Daniel tried.

Jack's eyes finally began to clear a little. Daniel looked to Janet for a little help.

"Jack, Sam is in love with you. Not just her Jack but you" she contributed.

There was a lull in the conversation. Daniel felt it was time to help Sam out a bit,

"Jack if you are still using Sam to get close to ah…Sam, she deserves to know"

"Yeah I know" Jack said resignedly and sat down on the sofa.

Finally Daniel thought, Jack might start thinking clearly.

"I don't know how I feel Daniel" Jack said once the others had sat down.

"Is that why she left" Daniel asked, needing clarification of the situation.

"Yeah, she said I had to think about it all. She said she would let me see the baby but she needed to know where I stood with her"

"She needs to sort it out before the baby comes Jack, she needs to know how it all turns out" Janet stated.

"We can't help you with this Jack. Think about what you want. Like she said you won't lose your chance with the baby but you could lose Sam" Daniel said

Both Daniel and Janet stood, planning to leave. Janet moved into the garden to collect Cassie and her things. Daniel lingered for a few minutes. He turned abruptly back to Jack,

"Jack if you don't want or love this Sam, don't string her along. She deserves more than that"