"Hey Teal'c!"

"O'Neill."

"How are all the kids?"

"They are asleep."

A small smile passed over Jack's lips as he looked down from the observation booth into the isolation room below. After her operation, Sam had been put in the same room as her babies. The two incubators were lined along the right side of her bed. Jack noticed that someone had exchanged the little white knit caps that he first saw the babies wearing with a blue one and a pink one. Daniel was sitting - sort of - on a chair by the left side of the bed. His head was lying face down on the bed; one arm was flung over his head and the other one was resting by Sam's side; his hand interlocking hers.

"Shouldn't she be awake by now?" Jack asked, as he pulled a chair up and sat down beside Teal'c.

"It has only been an hour since the surgery ended."

Jack furrowed his brow and looked down at his watch, giving it a couple of taps. When Dr. Beckett had been talking to Daniel about the hysterectomy, Jack had been called away to a conference call that he really could not put off attending. He had felt badly about leaving Daniel, as the news had sent his already fragile emotions over the edge again. Fortunately Teal'c had been able to calm him down.

"Really? It seems like a lot more time than that has gone by."

"Indeed. Time seems to go slowly in circumstances like this."

The two friends sat quietly together looking down at the new family while they slept. Surprisingly it was Teal'c who broke the silence.

"DanielJackson is feeling extreme guilt over this situation."

"Ya think. He thinks the whole early labour thing is his fault and now with the … umm … you know," Jack blushed a little, finding it difficult to discuss Sam's hysterectomy, "umm with Sam's operation … he's in double guilt mode."

Teal'c just arched his one eyebrow, as he glanced over at Jack. "They will both need our support in the coming days."

"You gonna stick around for a while?" Jack looked hopefully at Teal'c. Daniel could really use the Jaffa's calming influence.

"I am not expected back on Chulak for another week and ColonelMitchell said that he and Dr. Lam might go ahead with the wedding in a few days."

"Good, I'm glad you're here. Maybe you could come over and have dinner with Sarah and me some night."

Teal'c bowed his head in approval. "It would be my pleasure."

They continued their vigil until Jack broke the silence.

"So … 'grandpa' … how is that new granddaughter of yours?" he smirked giving the Jaffa a soft punch in the arm. "I imagine Rya'c and Kar'yn are being kept busy."

A rare grin spread across Teal'c's face. "They are slowly adjusting to parenthood. Drey'auc is a very well behaved infant."
"Nice that they named her after your wife." Jack smiled He could sense the pride in Teal'c voice and face.

"I was very honored."

"So who does she look like? Hopefully not her grandfather," Jack teased.

Teal'c ignored Jack's comment and reached into the folds of the robes he was wearing and pulled out an IPod. "I have photographs. They are on this."

Jack gave him a bemused look as Teal'c handed it to him. "An IPod?"

"It was a going-away present from SamanthaCarter and DanielJackson. ColonelMitchell and Dr. Lam as well gave me a digital camera. I told them that I was not leaving forever but would return from time to time but they insisted. I have documented the child's life so far in pictures and video."

"Ahhh..." Jack scowled, looking down at the device. "You know, I have absolutely no clue how this thing works."

A dull ache in her abdomen was the first thing she was aware of. She desperately tried to open her eyes, but they were so heavy. Her mouth felt dry and there was a faint buzzing sound in her ears. The pain intensified and she felt a small groan escape her lips

"Sam..."

She heard someone say her name but she couldn't place the voice, as it was washed out by the buzzing that continued to echo in her head.

"Sam … are you awake? Can you open your eyes?"

Daniel … it sounded like Daniel. She opened her mouth to speak, but her lips seemed to be stuck together. And her eyes … why wouldn't her eyes open.

"Ohhhhh..." she moaned again, as another stab of pain overtook her, this one being more sharp and intense than the other one.

"Please get Carson." Daniel said to someone; his voice seemed to be clearer than it was before. Even though her eyes were closed she could tell that he was now bending down towards her. His lips brushed her cheeks and she felt his fingers run through her hair.

"Sam, can you open your eyes? … Sam?" She felt one of his hands grasp onto hers; the other one gently stroked her arm. Sam concentrated and finally managed to pry her eyes open.

"Hey … there's my girl," Daniel was smiling, but there was a look of concern on his face. He looked so tired. His beautiful blue eyes were red and swollen, as they gazed into hers. She tried to lift her hand to his face, but her hand would not come off the bed. She winced again and the concern in Daniel's face grew stronger.

"What is it Sam? Are you in pain?"

"Daniel," she finally managed to squeak his name out of her mouth, "h..hurts..."

"Oh baby … I know. The nurse went to get Carson.'' He reached over and brushed another kiss on her face.

Her mouth was still so dry and it was hard for her to form the words she wanted to say.

"D...dry.."

"The nurse left some ice chips here," He reached for a glass on the bedside table and placed a few small ones in her mouth, "Better?"

"Yes .." she started to say, but when she heard a soft mewing cry come from the other side of her bed, she let out a small gasp.

Daniel's tired eyes seemed to light up a bit, as he smiled down at her, "I think someone else is awake too."

He motioned her to turn her face, which took some effort on her part, but when she finally managed to, her eyes slowly focused on the two little bundles that lay before her.

Her babies.

Her and Daniel's babies.

A small pang of panic overtook her when she saw they were in incubators and that small wires and tubes were attached to their tiny bodies.

"So ... so small ... are … are they … OK...?"

"They're doing just fine luv," Carson replied, entering the room with a nurse close on his heels. The nurse went over to the little boy, who began to squawk and Daniel slowly moved away so Carson could reach Sam's side. "How are you feeling dear?"

"Sharp pains … hurts a bit," she said, taking her eyes off her babies for a few seconds to answer his question.

Carson checked the monitors beside her bed and then injected something into her I.V. "Just something for the pain." he said, looking at her with concern. "Samantha, do you remember what we talked about?"

A first Sam didn't say anything; her gaze was fixed on the nurse, who was now checking her little girl. Her memory of the birth and the subsequent complications that occurred after, flooded over her.

Sam turned her head to look at Carson. "You … you had to do it … didn't you?" she asked quietly.

"I'm afraid so … the damage was very severe..."

Daniel choked back a sob that was forming in his throat and Sam turned her head to look at him reaching out her hand for his, "It's OK Daniel … I'm going to be fine … isn't that right Carson?"

"The operation went very well ...you should be up and around in a few days and then you both have to get some rest as these two wee barnes are going to keep the two of you very busy..."

Daniel backed away from her. "My … my fault," he whispered.

"No Daniel … listen to me." She looked at him intently. "I was having problems even before I was pregnant … umm … with my ovaries. It was inevitable that this would happen."

"You … you never told me." Daniel looked down at the floor, his arms wrapped tightly around his body0

"No," a tear rolled down her cheek, "no I didn't – I should have. Carson scolded me for not telling you. I was so wrapped up in my emotions … I didn't consider yours. I'm sorry."

"I didn't know. We should have stayed on Atlantis … you would have been safe… you could have died … bled to death. You should have told me ... I could have killed you…"

"Daniel you must not blame yourself … I'm the one that insisted that we come. It's not your fault..."

Carson cleared his throat trying to get their attention. "I don't mean to interrupt but I really should examine you dear," Carson said, looking slightly embarrassed that he was infringing on their intimate conversation.

Daniel just nodded, tears streaming down his face and quickly moved towards the door, "I'll go wait … I'll go."

Tears were now overtaking Sam, as she called out his name, but he was already gone.

Jack and Teal'c watched the scene unfold below them, but they had the sound turned off, as Teal'c did not think that listening in on their conversation was appropriate. Jack agreed but he did admit to himself that he was more than curious about what was being said. He could sense something was defiantly wrong though when Daniel began to back away from Sam and then bolted out of the door. Carson came to the window control and was about to ask them to leave, but before he could say anything, Jack was rushing out with Teal'c close behind.

Jack ran down the stairs from the observation booth and even with his bad knees was able to catch up with Daniel, as he fled down the hallway towards the elevator.

"Daniel! …. Daniel hold up," Jack grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around.

Daniel tried to shove Jack away, but the general's grip on him just tightened. "Leave me alone Jack!" he yelled, "Please, Teal'c … tell him to let me go."

"You are upset DanielJackson."

"I'm just tired," he moaned, trying in vain to escape Jack's grip. "Jack please let me go."

"What's wrong Daniel?" Jack let him go, but gave him no room to get by him.

"Nothing … Carson had to examine Sam and I'm tired. I'm just going to catch up on some sleep."

"Bullshit!" Jack barked at him, "you haven't let Sam or those babies out of your sight all day and suddenly you're tired."

Daniel tried to move to pass by Jack again, but a strange familiar feeling overcame him and he fainted dead to the floor.
"Oh for crying out loud," Jack sighed as he looked down on Daniel's limp body.

Teal'c, who was puzzled at Jack's lack of concern for his former team mate, bent down to lift Daniel up of the floor. "O'Neill! DanielJackson requires medical attention."

"No need to panic Teal'c," Jack said shaking his head, "He's perfectly fine … those freaky aliens have him in their damned White Room."