Ah, Finally, another chapter! Am coming up to my finals at uni at the mo, and it's a bit hard going. Hopefully I can give you at least two chapter today though, and here's the first...

p.s. Thanks all for being so patient with me!

Chapter 10 - Homeward bound

It was only another week before Teal'c came to visit. Daniel and Shau'ri had already been the week before, so the visit from Teal'c was expected. The news he bought, however, was both unexpected and unwelcome.

"O'Neill, Samantha Carter, I bring news."

"Hey Teal'c, buddy, what's up?" Teal'c dark eyes flicked to hers before taking a seat that Jack had indicated. A feeling of dread rose up through Sam's spine and she sat heavily beside Teal'c.

"There's a ship isn't there?"

"Indeed."

A heavy silence filled the kitchen and Jack refused to meet her eyes.

"It will leave the day after tomorrow at sunset."

As Teal'c rose and left, the silence stilled the house once more. It was a few moments before he realised that she was crying. Not the terrified sobs that fear had caused last time she had sobbed in his arms, but silent tears, tinged with sadness.

Encircling her with his arms, he tucked his face in to the space between head and shoulder and kissed her neck.

"You don't have to go."

"Yes, I do. Dad doesn't deserve to live his life thinking I'm dead. I must go back."

Closing his eyes in dread he kissed her again. God, he mused, this is going to be hell.

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Three weeks later

The ship rolled over the waves as Sam looked out over the horizon. In a regular frock rather than a crewmember's clothing, she felt much more at home on the ship than she had on the way to the islands. As warm arms surrounded her, she leaned back into his muscled chest.

"Hey, you." She had learned to love the way his deep voice rumbled through his chest as he spoke. Smiling, she replied:

"Hey."

"Whatcha looking for?"

"Land, I guess."

"You guess?"

"I'm starting to think that maybe I'm making a big, huuuge mistake." She turned in his arms and looked up at his serious expression.

"Sam, I lost a kid and….." He hesitated, glancing up at the horizon behind her. "I would never wish that on any man, let alone the father of the woman I love." Nodding in acceptance she pushed her face into the fabric of his shirt and inhaled deeply. Sea breeze, warmth and Jack. A stray tear slid down into the fabric and Jack tilted her head back up with a push at her chin. Giving her a soft kiss, he indicated that he needed to get back to steering. Slowly, he stepped away from her, and she turned again towards the fairly calm sea.

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Another few weeks later

The journey seemed over in a much shorter time than before. Swallowing as she clambered up to the jetty from the small rowing boat, she realised that The Lady Oma would be long gone. Turning, she saw the retreating form of the ship and sadness swept into her heart. Perhaps the happiness of her father would make the pain go away?

She walked from the jetty and to the street. It was only a few minutes before a squeal of "Samantha!" told everyone of her return to the town.

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Her father was more pleased to see her than she could ever have imagined. With tears in his eyes, he clung to her, telling her he thought she was dead. Just what she had expected. Even her brother was there. It seemed that her absence had made them work together in the search and had bought them closer together.

Glad that something good had been made of the situation, she gave a wan smile as her father pulled back. Shaking, she tried to speak, and found that she couldn't. Darkness claimed her as she felt her body fall.

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"The stress of such an experience, coupled with the excitement of her homecoming, sir, couldn't have done any good."

"I see. Thank you, doctor, for your help. You're sure that this is the problem?"

"Perfectly, sir, though only she, of course, can confirm it."

"Yes, yes. I see. Thank you."

The sound of a door closing hushed the voices. Blinking, Sam saw that she was back in her old room, the windows closed so that she couldn't smell the sea. Yearning for something familiar, she stood, ignoring the instant queasiness, and went to open the window. Leaning on the sill, she inhaled deeply, sadly taking in the scene of an empty horizon. The sea breeze and tinkling from the harbour below, however, eased her mind and told her she was back home. Yet she felt as if home was a million miles away, with a certain Captain and that damn smirk. Rubbing her face in her hands, she willed away the tears. The door behind her opened.

"Goodness, Samantha, what are you doing up?"

"Father, I'm fine, it was just all the excitement, that's all," she replied, remembering the doctor's words. Turning, she gave her worried father a smile. It seemed not to ease his worries however, and he tugged her back to the bed. She sat on the side.

"Now, Samantha, I do not want to upset you, however I….." he seemed to stumble for words for a few moments.

"Yes, father?"

"Did anyone hurt you?"

"In what way?"

"In the worst way, Samantha. Did they?" His expression was earnest, and Samantha knew it was important for him to know.

"No, Dad. One tried, but failed. The rest treated me well," she insisted.

"But one must have, my dear. One quite clearly harmed you."

"I assure you that no man did, father." She was puzzled at his insistence. Only she would know, as the doctor had said.

"Dear, you can't lie to me to protect me from such a thing. I'm afraid you are with child."

The world seemed to slow around her for a moment, as his words sunk in.

"What?"

"Who did this to you?"

"I assure you again, Dad, nobody hurt me."

"Samantha, the evidence says otherwise, I demand to -"

"He didn't hurt me." It was almost a yell, and her father stopped short, realisation dawning.

"Samantha, you're not telling me that…..that…."

"That what? That I fell in love with one of them? That I allowed him to do this?"

"He must have tricked you. He-"

"NO!…..No, he didn't. He was caring, he loved me. And I loved him." She lay a hand onto her stomach, as if to prove it. Her father withdrew to a seat a few feet away, shaking his head.

"A pirate?" He asked, and at her nod, his head fell into his hands.

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