"What is it?" he asked somberly.
Sam could hear the fear in his voice and wanted to reach out, to tell him it was okay – that he didn't need to worry. But the fact was, she didn't know how he was going to respond to her news.
"Well, you know that the Furlings believed that it was only those with Ancient blood that could understand them?"
"Yes, I know."
"And then we all thought that because I could understand them, that maybe it was humans, not just Ancients."
"Mmm hmm. We know this, Sam – so what are you saying?"
"Well, I kind of – I think – maybe the Furlings were right in the first place."
Jack frowned. "Sorry – I'm not sure what you're saying?"
"I think they were right when they said that it was people with the Ancient blood who could understand them. I'm not sure, but it may be that humans can't."
Jack was still frowning, and then he shook his head slightly. "But that doesn't make sense – it doesn't explain how you understand them. You don't have any Ancient blood in you."
"Well – actually I do," she told him softly.
"Sam? Since when? I know you have Naquada in your system – but as far as I know, you were tested and didn't have the Ancient gene."
"I don't," she told him, which caused him to look completely confused. She sighed – knowing she'd just have to spit it out. She closed her eyes briefly, hoping and praying he wouldn't be upset.
"At least I didn't," she told him, "but I do now – at least I have it in me – temporarily."
"Temporarily? What do you mean? Is it something to do with the healing device?"
"No." She took another deep breath and then turned on the bench to look directly at him. "It wasn't the healing device – it was us. Jack – I'm pregnant."
There was complete silence – and Jack sat there frozen, absolutely no expression on his face. Sam could feel her heart start to race, and her palms grow sweaty. She tried to swallow, but her mouth was completely dry. She was terrified and his non-reaction was making her even more frightened.
Then he blinked, and blinked again. "Pregnant?" he asked, still looking completely blank.
"Yes," she nodded. "I had started to suspect it, but the medic confirmed it when she examined me yesterday."
"Pregnant?"
She nodded. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "I know we didn't plan this."
He blinked and then let out a lungful of air, almost as if he had been holding it in. "But how?" he whispered.
She chuckled softly – although with little humor. "Uh - "
"No, no," he waved his hands. "I know how – I mean how? God Carter – I'm 70 years old."
"And I'm 55 – and that makes it even more unlikely," she pointed out. "It must have been the healing device."
"Pregnant?" he said, for the third time.
"Yes," she answered. "Are you angry?"
His expression finally changed at her question – but now instead of blank he looked confused.
"Angry? Why would I be angry?" he asked her.
She shrugged, feeling like she wanted to cry. "I – just thought – this will change things for us," she told him. "I mean – we'll have a child."
She watched, fascinated, as his expression began to change again. This time she could see his eyes crinkle at the corners, and his lips began to turn up.
"A child," he whispered. He then pointed back and forth between them. "Our child? We did this?" he asked.
She nodded, again trying to smile.
"Wow!" he answered, rubbing his hand over his eyes. "I gotta say, Carter, I wasn't expecting this!"
"You're upset," she said bleakly. Even if he wasn't angry, as he'd claimed, this had to have thrown him – and his plans.
"Upset? No – I'm just – I'm not quite sure what I am," he told her. It was only at that moment that he seemed to realize that she was looking frightened and upset. "Hey – c'mere!" he reached over and pulled her into his arms. "I'm not upset Carter – in fact, as soon as the shock wears off -"
At his words she lifted her head off his chest and looked at him. "Yes?"
His lips slowly turned up in a real smile. "As soon as the shock wears off, I think I'm going to surprise all the Furlings by getting up and dancing on this bench. They won't hear me of course, but I'll also probably yell and shout that I'm gonna be a Daddy again!" He pulled Sam closer and kissed the top of her head.
"Hey – are you okay?" he suddenly asked. "This must have been a shock for you."
"It was," she nodded. "I am past the age for this to happen so – yes, it's a shock. But – are you really okay with this?"
"Sam, I'm more thank okay. I think – once I can get air in my lungs again – I'm going to be really, really happy. But – how about you?"
"Me?" she lifted her head once more, and gave him a watery smile. "If you're happy – then I'm happy too. I mean – however you felt, I would still want this child – but knowing that you're okay with this -"
"Hey – I'm more than okay with it!"
Her face blossomed with a huge smile. "Good – because I'm so happy. Jack, we're going to have a baby!"
That garnered her a long and very satisfying kiss. The two of them were giddy now – excited by the reality of something they both thought they had missed out on.
"What are we going to tell everyone on Earth?" Sam suddenly asked. "My brother is not going to believe this!"
"Yeah – it'll be a bit tricky. Fortunately most of our close friends have security clearance. For the rest – well, we'll just have to say it was a miracle."
"It was a miracle," Sam said definitely.
"That it was," Jack agreed, softly. "This whole thing was a miracle, Sam. A few months ago life didn't seem to hold much for me anymore – and now look! I'm going to be with the woman I've loved for over 20 years, and I'm going to be a father again – but we're still getting a dog!"
"And a cat,"
"Yes, and a cat," he grinned. "And we'll get the house – but now we'll have to get one with a great back yard and in a neighborhood with good schools -"
"And room for the family to come and visit!"
"Teal'c and Daniel,"
"Cassie and her family!"
"Thank you," Jack said suddenly. "Thank you for still loving me, after all these years," he said.
"And thank you – for loving me, and forgiving me," she said softly.
"No – no more of that. We don't have anything to forgive. We both made mistakes – but in the end everything worked out. And look at it this way – we both had great success in our careers and we get to be together and have a whole life together. We are so lucky."
"Yes, we are! I do love you, General Jack O'Neill!"
"And I love you, General Samantha Carter! God – too many Generals around here."
"But soon we'll be just Jack and Sam."
"And the munchkin."
"Yes, and the munchkin," she smiled, and laid her head on his shoulder. "You really are happy?" she asked.
"Mmm," he answered, "thrilled. I still can't believe it! A baby! You do know we'll never hear the end of it from the guys and Cassie?"
"I know," she sighed. "But even that will be good. I can hardly wait to see them."
"Me too," he said softly. "I still can't believe this!"
Just then they saw one of the Furlings approach and they assumed it was time to head back.
A few minutes later they were walking, hand in hand, towards the bouleuterion. Jack was holding Sam's hand, swinging it back and forth as if they were children. Every once in a while he'd break into a grin – or start to whistle.
Sam's heart was warmed by his response – and she knew then she'd been silly to worry about his reaction. Of course Jack O'Neill would be excited by the prospect of a child. He was going to be a great father. God – she could still barely believe that the two of them were going to have a baby.
"How about Homer?" Jack suddenly asked.
"What?"
"Homer – for a name," he said.
"Homer! Jack, there is no way I'm going to name a son of mine Homer!"
"Uh - I was thinkin' about the dog."
She laughed and punched him in the arm and they continued to follow the Furling assistant, who probably thought they were crazy. At that moment, she couldn't have cared less. She was way too happy.
"Jack, Sam," Alethea came out of the Council chamber and greeted them. "I hope you had a good meal."
"The best," Jack grinned. "So, any news?"
"Yes indeed. The Council has agreed to ask the full Assembly to vote on the treaty with Earth. In the end all but Oulixes and Pyrros voted in favor."
"Do you think it will take a long time for the Assembly to decide?" Jack wanted to know. There was no way in hell he was going to sit through another session like the one this morning.
"I don't think so," she answered, "but it is impossible to tell. It goes to them tomorrow morning. I thought that this afternoon you might want to send a message to Earth, through the Stargate. That way, if the vote is finished tomorrow, you can go home."
"Uh – we'd like to go home tomorrow whatever the Assembly decides," Jack said. "You can send word to us through the Stargate if you want to go ahead with the treaty. Just – write it down."
Alethea bowed her head. "I understand – and I thank you for being as patient as you have been. I believe it would be fine for you to return tomorrow. I do hope, however, that you will be back! Your house will be waiting for you."
"We'd like to come back some time for a visit," Jack agreed, "although it probably won't be anytime soon." That caused Alethea to frown – but Sam to grin. The next year – hopefully – was going to be without any gate travel for her.
They arrived at the bouleuterion but instead of heading to the Council chambers, Alethea led them in an opposite direction. They traveled down a number of corridors, and finally down a set of stairs into what looked like the basement of the building.
"The Stargate is down here," they were told. A minute later they entered a dark and rather dank room – and there sat the Stargate.
"I am so happy to see that," Jack commented.
"I know. I just wish we could dial it up right now and go home."
"And go "splat", more like it," Jack reminded her.
"Yeah – true. Still, It feels like home is so close."
"Can we dial?" Jack turned and asked Alethea.
"Of course. Please feel free."
It took them dialing the gate three times, and then allowing it to shut down, before it started to rotate with an incoming connection.
"Good," Jack pumped his fist when the chevrons began lighting up.
"What is happening?" Alethea wanted to know. She had never seen the gate work before.
"They're dialing from Earth," Jack explained. "We don't have the IDC – uh – the device that lets us travel safely through the Earth's gate. But I was able to dial a few times – and I expect they're sending through a machine called a MALP in order to see who's calling."
A moment later the gate "whooshed" open – to be followed in a few seconds by the unwieldy looking MALP traveling out of the event horizon.
Jack walked up to it, and bent over and waved. "Hi everyone. Miss us?"
"General O'Neill?" the figure on the other end cried. At that Sam walked up to the MALP. "General Dooley," she said, "hello."
"General Carter," Dooley replied, sounding calmer but still bemused by seeing the two Generals. "How are you Jack? General Carter?"
"We're fine, Ron," Jack responded. "Really well, actually – although we miss Earth. You were told where we were, right?"
"Yes," Dooley nodded. "The Pentagon informed us, although we were getting worried. It's been a long time since we heard anything so they asked me to stand in for General Carter. But hey Jack, you're looking good," Dooley said, although in the MALP's camera it was hard to see too clearly. "We were told it was serious."
"Yeah it was – but I'm doing well now. The Furlings were able to cure me. Uh Ron, – we want to head home tomorrow, but we don't have an IDC. Will there be a problem?"
"No – we'll leave the MALP there and you can dial up and contact us when you're ready to come back. Of course I'm afraid we'll have to have security measures in place until we can determine that everything is fine."
"Yeah, we expected it. Hey Ron, can you do us a favor and inform Dr. Daniel Jackson – and send a message through to Teal'c with the Jaffa Nation and let them know we're coming home? And you can let the Joint Chiefs know as well, although by now I suspect they've given my job away."
Dooley nodded. "Of course. Dr. Jackson and Teal'c have been checking in regularly and I know how to contact them. They'll be glad to know you're coming home. And General Carter – how are you, Ma'am?"
"I'm doing well, General," she replied, "but like Ja – ur General O'Neill, I'm glad to be coming home. The Furlings have been wonderful, but we miss everyone."
"We'll be ready and waiting when you want to come through," Dooley told them. "See you soon!"
"See you," Jack and Sam waved, and then stepped back. A moment later the event horizon shut down.
"That was fascinating," Alethea said, still staring at the Gate. "Is it difficult – traveling by the Stargate?" she asked.
"No – it's just a matter of stepping through. The first few times are a bit disorienting, but after that you get used to it. Hopefully, one day soon, you can come and visit us."
Alethea gave Jack and Sam directions back to the house they'd been provided, since both of them were anxious to spend some time alone. Alethea had offered to have them come to her house again, but they knew they had a lot to talk about.
"I wish we didn't have to wait until tomorrow," Sam said as they walked along the street to their house.
"I know – I'm anxious to get home as well," he answered. "We have a lot to do!"
"Do?" she looked at him curiously.
"Mmm hmm. Retire. Move to San Diego. Buy a house. Buy -"
" – a cat and a dog."
"Other way around," he told her. "And we have to check out playgrounds and baby furniture – car seats. Hey, what kind of car do you have?"
"A small one," she told him with a grin.
"Then we'll have to buy a car – an SUV I guess. Something to take the kid around with all his hockey gear."
"It could be a "her", Sam pointed out.
Jack nodded. "We'll need a car big enough to take all her hockey gear around. And the dog will have to fit in the back as well."
He was silent for a moment and then looked at her. "Aren't you going to insist on room for the cat?"
"No – because cats mostly hate to travel. It will be a homebody."
"Like me," he smiled. "I plan to be a homebody as well. Maybe we should plant a garden?"
"Jack," she laughed, "aren't you getting a bit carried away?"
"Yes – and I love it!" he answered. He stopped, turned and grabbed Sam and swung her around. "We're going to have a kid together, Carter!" he laughed. "If that's not enough to make me get carried away, I don't know what is!"
She laughed with him and hugged him tightly. What had she done to deserve such a good man?
"How about "Puddy Tat?" she asked suddenly. "As a name."
"For the cat?" he asked.
"No silly," she answered, taking his arm and turning them towards the house. "For our daughter."