Because I made you all wait - here's another chapter! I hope you all enjoy and thank you all for the wonderful reviews!
The gate whooshed open and the blue of the event horizon sparkled in the early evening light. Reynolds and his team and SG1 all looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to call it. He looked at the blue – the 'wormhole' Sam had called it, although he thought it was too beautiful, too mystical to refer to it by that name. What it was, he knew, was his road home, his and Sam's. All he had to do was take a few steps and he'd be back – back to his home, to the place he could barely remember.
In the end they'd given the scepter to Bart. They'd found him standing in front of the Stargate, looking at it with both longing and indecision written on his face.
"Bart?" Janet had walked up to him and had put her hand on his arm. "What are you doing here?"
"Deciding whether I should go home Miss Janet", he'd answered. He looked at the woman he'd cared for for so many years and smiled. "I think it's time. I think you have others who will look after you now."
"Bart – you're my friend, you were my father's friend. I still need you", she'd answered.
"No – I think you'll be fine." He faced her fully, shame written on his face. "I'm sorry", he said. "I was jealous – jealous of O'Neill and the fact that you turned to someone else. Because of that I did something terrible and I don't expect you to forgive me, but I have to tell you how sorry I am."
"What did you do Bart?" she asked, looking frightened.
"I told James about O'Neill and the Carter woman. I knew he wanted her – wanted her land – and I told him." He looked over at O'Neill and the woman who were both staring at him and felt even more shame. "I can only tell you how sorry I am – it was wrong of me."
"Bart, come back. I need you and Jack and Sam are leaving. Please? I need my friends."
"Thank you for that Miss Janet, but it's time for me to go. You see, it's not just you – I'm homesick. I came here with your father, many years ago. I was his servant and had vowed to remain faithful to him – and I did", he said, sounding fierce. "I stuck with him through everything, even though he gave up on his world and his people. He came here because he was afraid – he was afraid of his brother and of fighting. He wanted to live in peace, that's all he wanted. Well, I was faithful to him. I stayed until he found that peace for eternity, but now I want to go home. Please, let me go."
"If that is what you really want Bart, then go. And know you have my gratitude for all you have done, and my forgiveness for these last few days."
In the end they'd given him the scepter and sent him on his way. He took it, unwillingly, but told them he'd make sure it got to those who would know what to do with it. "I will take it to the Council", he said. "Hopefully they will have learned by now that power is not about a symbol, but about wise and just leadership."
Janet watched sadly as the man who had been like a brother to her walked up the short steps and through the blue water. She gasped to see him disappear – she suddenly believed what Jack had told her as they'd come to this stone circle. For the first time she really believed that she was the daughter of a prince from another world. Turning to look at Charlie, she smiled. She might be that princess, but it meant nothing. No – for what she really wanted was to simply be Janet Henderson, a woman here on this world who was loved and who loved in return.
Shortly afterward they'd sent the alien prisoners. Bart had said he'd have people waiting, to ensure they were taken into custody and punished for their actions. Once the gate had shut down for good on the aliens Jack looked around. It was now their turn to go home.
So here they stood, he and his teammates and SG3 - ready to return to Earth. He took one more look around at this world – so much simpler than Earth in so many ways. He had said his goodbyes and his thank you's and now it was time to leave.
"Jack?" Daniel was standing at his side, ready as always to give the help and support his friend needed. Teal'c also stood close by, but Sam was the one he really needed. She was standing a bit apart, although she gave him an encouraging smile. He reached his hand out, and with only a bit of hesitation she walked over and took it. He frowned slightly, wondering if she still wanted this – now that they were returning home.
"It's okay", she said, squeezing his hand. "I'm just a bit nervous going home."
He suddenly felt badly. He'd been selfish, thinking about himself and forgetting all that she had been through. This had to be frightening for her as well. He held on to her tightly and finally looked at Reynolds. "Okay campers", he said. "Let's go home."
George had heard the gate activate and immediately walked down the stairs to the Control Room. He'd been anxiously waiting to hear from SG3, wondering what they'd discovered on the unknown planet.
"It's SG3 Sir", Walter confirmed. The gate kawooshed open and the two men watched and waited. "Walter?"
"I don't know Sir", the Sergeant replied. "We have a stable wormhole – I don't know why no one is coming through."
George could feel his heart begin to race. These were the times that made him wonder why he did this job. As much as he tried to maintain a calm exterior, inside he often worried about the men and women under his command. After losing two of his best officers, and friends last year he'd started worrying even more when things didn't go as usual.
Suddenly a body appeared through the horizon, followed quickly by three others. It was Reynolds and his team. The Colonel grinned up at the General and saluted, and then stood aside. Almost immediately Teal'c and Dr. Jackson appeared. When they too stood aside on the ramp the General slowly stood up, his eyes never leaving the blue, swirling horizon.
Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill stepped out of the wormhole, moving as if this was just a normal mission from which they were returning. The only difference Hammond could see was the way they were dressed, and the fact that they were holding hands.
The General's face broke into a huge grin and he slapped Walter on the back. The Sergeant had every bit as big a grin on his own face. "Yes!" said the General. He leaned forward and spoke into the mike.
"Major Carter, Colonel O'Neill, where the hell have you two been?"
The two officers looked up and both of them grinned back. Predictably it was O'Neill who answered. "Oh you know Sir, Carter wanted to take a look at some doohickeys! Did you miss us?"
At that George hurried over to the stairs and made his way down into the gate room. He walked quickly over to his two officers, who immediately stood at attention, their expressions now serious.
"God – it's good to have you both back. We thought we'd lost you!" He reached over and gave Sam a big hug. He let her go after a few moments and turned to Jack. "Colonel – it's good to see you!" He put his hand out but when Jack took it he pulled him into another fierce hug.
"Same here Sir", Jack said, remembering all at once his great affection for this man. "I'm sorry we're so late – we uh – had some trouble finding the gate!"
The General cleared his throat, slightly embarrassed by his emotion. "I look forward to hearing about all your adventures but for now you'd better get to the Infirmary to get checked out." He grinned again. "I think Doctor Frasier is going to be happy to see you!" He turned to the others. "Well done SG3, Dr. Jackson, Teal'c. This was a good day's work!"
He watched as all his people walked towards the Infirmary, laughing and joking as they went. He looked back up to Walter, who gave him a small salute. Yes, there were days that he was glad he did what he did. He slowly returned to his office, looking forward to hearing all that had happened to his people. He frowned suddenly when he remembered the picture of O'Neill and Carter coming through with their hands together. He sighed. He had this sneaking feeling things were about to change.
Sam and Jack arrived at the Infirmary followed by the others. A few of the nurses had seen them but the officers had held their fingers over their mouths, warning them to be silent. They'd received smiles and nods in return – and some of the nurses had followed, wanting to see Dr. Frasier's reaction.
"Siler, you should know better! How many times have you been in to see me just this month alone? You have to – what?" Frasier looked at the man on the table in front of her who suddenly looked like he'd seen a ghost. She whipped around, holding up her penlight as if it was a weapon. Were they being attack –
"SAM! COLONEL! Oh my God!" She dropped the penlight, which hit Siler on the knee, and launched herself at her friend. "Sam", she repeated. "Oh my God – where did you come from?" After practically squeezing the life out of her she then threw herself at Jack. "Colonel! Oh my God – it's so good to see you. We thought you were both dead. What happened? Where were you? Why did it take you so long to get back? Were you captured?" She stood back and looked at the two officers. "Were you hurt?"
"Janet!" O'Neill was laughing. "Slow down. We're okay and as to where we were, we'll tell you everything and it's good to see you too!"
Sam was giggling and went up to her friend and hugged her again. "It's so good to see you Janet. And no, we weren't held captive. It just took us this long to find the stargate."
"But you were okay?" Janet peered at her carefully, not liking how pale Sam was. "You weren't hurt?"
"Not me", Sam answered gently. "The Colonel was, although he's a lot better." As soon as she said these words Janet moved closer to O'Neill and began to look at him.
He sighed – this felt really familiar – and he was pretty sure he had never liked it. "I'm fine Janet", he told her. "I was injured a long time ago and I am getting better."
"What happened?" she asked. At that moment she seemed to realize the room was filled with bodies. Not only were SG3 and SG1 present, half the medical staff was here. "Okay everyone out!" she commanded. "Not you", she told the returned soldiers. "SG3 can go to examining room two. Lieutenant Rapson, take a couple of nurses with you and do their post mission check. Daniel, Teal'c, you can go to Exam Room three. "Nurse Delaney will check you out. Now you two – over there!" She pointed at the two tables over in the opposite corner.
Once the two officers were seated Janet approached them. "I'll have the nurses come and take your blood and do the routine tests, but I want to find out what happened. I'm going to send you both for some X-Rays as well." She sighed. "I know this is a pain but because you've been gone so long we have to do an extensive work-up. I'll also have to do a DNA test."
Sam reached out and took the Doctor's wrist. "No X-ray for me Janet", she said quietly.
"I'm sorry Sam, you know I have no choice -"
"Janet – I'm pregnant" Sam said quietly.
Janet stared at her, stunned. She blinked a couple of times, not quite sure how to respond. She opened her mouth to say something but instead licked her lips. Next she turned her head to look at the Colonel, who was looking down at his hands, which were resting in his lap.
"Are you sure?" she finally asked, not knowing what else to say at this point. She had a million questions but somehow knew now wasn't the time to ask.
"Yes, at least I'm pretty sure. I haven't taken a test or anything, but I'm starting to show so -"
"How far along do you think you are?"
"Uh – probably about 15 weeks."
"Okay – so – no X-rays. I'll have to do an ultrasound then. We might as well do one of the baby at the same time. Sam, have you seen a doctor, had any tests, anything?"
"No – where we were – it wasn't as advanced as here. It was kind of like living in the 19th century. I've been healthy though, other than a little morning sickness I haven't had any problems."
"Good. Well, I'll take some tests anyway and the ultrasound will give us a good idea of exactly how far along you are. Was there anything else? You said you weren't injured?" Janet decided that questions about the baby could wait until she could talk privately with Sam. For now she'd deal with the more immediate issues. She glanced once more at the Colonel, but he still wasn't looking up.
"When we were first captured I was knocked out, but I recovered pretty quickly afterward and haven't had any problems since then."
"Good. I'm going to have the nurse do some tests while I see to the Colonel." She smiled and reached forward and hugged her friend. "I'm so happy to have you back Sam – and you know I'm here for you."
Sam sniffed and nodded. "Me too Janet – and I know."
Janet frowned a bit as she headed over to the bed where Colonel O'Neill was sitting. She somehow knew this was going to be harder – he always was. She was dying of curiosity about Sam's pregnancy and wished she could ask both of them what was going on. Taking one look at the Colonel though, she knew she'd do better to keep her mouth shut!
"Colonel, it's good to have you back Sir."
He finally lifted his head and she was relieved to see the smile on his face. There was something different about him, she could see, but he didn't appear angry or upset. "It's good to see you too Janet", he said. "I – it's good", he finished. "I suppose you're going to poke and prod me now?"
"Sorry Sir, but you know the routine."
"Well actually – I don't really remember it", he said softly, looking at her carefully.
She frowned in confusion. "No?" What did he mean? She wanted to pursue it but decided it could wait until she found out exactly what had happened to him. "Sir, can you tell me what happened to you? Sam said you were injured."
He sighed and rubbed his hand over his eyes. "I don't remember Janet", he said again. "I'm afraid – I have some trouble remembering things."
"What kind of things?" she asked, suddenly worried.
"Most things unfortunately", he replied, his mouth twisted. "I actually only remember a bit of my life here on Earth."
"What?" she looked between him and Sam. "Sam? Is this true? What happened?"
"Yes, it's true Janet", Sam replied. "Sir, would you like me to tell her?"
"You'd better Carter", he grimaced. "You can explain it better than me since I only know what you told me."
"We were captured Janet, on P7K 5Z4."
"The planet you went to on your mission last year?"
"Yes, that's the one. Teal'c and Daniel came back to get help, but before they were able to return the alien commander – his name was Pasha – put something on Jack's temple. Wait!" Sam reached into her pocket and pulled out the metal disk she'd taken off of Pasha's body. "This is what he used. I don't know how it works but we should have someone in the science department look at it."
Janet took it and turned it over a few times but could see nothing on it that told what it did. "So, he put this on the Colonel's temple. What did it do?"
"It sucked my brains out Janet", O'Neill quipped, although from his pale color Janet knew that this wasn't a joking matter.
"Sir?"
"I don't know what it did Janet but that's what it felt like. I remember that part of it but after that I don't' remember anything. I think – it did something bad to my brain and kind of left me – like a vegetable."
Janet's eyes widened in horror. She looked at Sam, but the Major's expression only confirmed what the Colonel had said. "Sam?"
"That's – about right Janet", she said softly. "He appeared – brain dead. He was completely unresponsive. I only had a chance to see him for a moment before I was knocked out. The next thing I knew we were on a completely different planet, left in the middle of a desert, with no gate and no one around."
"Oh my God! And the Colonel?"
"She told you Janet – I was a vegetable." The Colonel gave a sickly smile. "Sam had to care for me totally for months."
"Someone came by and rescued us", Sam went on. "It was an old man by the name of Henry. He thought I was his long lost granddaughter so he took us in. He treated us well and we lived with him for months. During that time -"
"During that time Carter had to look after me like I was a newborn baby", Jack said in disgust. "She had to feed me and bathe me and change my diapers!"
Sam hopped down off her bed and made her way the few steps over to where he was sitting. She reached out and took his hand. "I told you – I was honored to help you Sir", she told him. "And you would have done the same for anyone of us."
Janet watched as her two friends looked deeply at each other. She knew that this must have been traumatic for both of them, so she was surprised when the Colonel gave a small smile and nodded, seeming to accept what Sam was saying.
"I didn't think he was going to get better", Carter explained, "but eventually he did. He started by regaining some muscle control and the ability to make sounds. His eyes", she closed her own for a moment, "his eyes were no longer dead, although he didn't really seem able to understand me and he couldn't talk. It really was as if" she looked at the Colonel apologetically, "it was as if he was an infant and he had to relearn everything."
"But you seem okay now", Janet said, surprised. "People can come back from an injury like you're describing, but I've never seen anyone come back quite so completely. Do you have any other symptoms other than being unable to remember?"
"Uh – I get tired more easily than I used to", he told her softly, "and sometimes I get – confused." He said that as if ashamed. Frasier reached out and gently touched his hand. "That's normal Sir", she told him. "I'm sure it will get better over time. I'd like to hear more, but for now I think I need to do some tests. I'm going to pull the curtains and I want both of you to get into gowns. I'm afraid this will take a while but it needs to be done. I may be able to give you some more information about what happened to you Colonel and I'd like to send this disk for analysis."
Both officers nodded, and if Janet was surprised at how easily O'Neill acquiesced she wasn't going to complain.
The tests took the rest of the day and by the time she was done both Jack and Sam were exhausted. It was as much from the emotional turmoil of the day as it was from the actual tests, but by the end they were both glad to collapse on beds in the Infirmary. Janet insisted that they both stay until all test results were in. Again, Janet was surprised at how little Colonel O'Neill complained. She couldn't help but think that his injury had made him gentler and less acerbic. She'd have to ask Sam if that was true.
"Janet?" The doctor looked up to see one of her patients standing in her office door, a hospital robe wrapped around her.
"Sam? You're supposed to be sleeping."
"I know I just – can I talk to you for a bit?"
"Of course, come in. How's the Colonel?"
"He's asleep. He was right when he said he gets tired more easily. This has been a rough day for him – hell it's been a rough few months!"
"Was he really as bad as you said?"
"You mean his injury? Yeah. It was awful Janet. I really thought his brain was irreparably damaged. He – it was hard."
"I'm sure it was." She reached over and put her hand on her friend's leg. "You know I'm here to talk whenever you need me."
"I know", Sam smiled. "I was honest when I said I was honored to be able to help him. It wasn't me that I worried about – it was him. I just hated to see him like that. It was as if he was dead, although he still kept breathing."
"It's a miracle he's as well as he is", Janet said. "I've never heard of someone coming back quite so well or so quickly, unless the technology somehow mimicked true brain damage rather than actually doing some real damage."
"Can it do that?"
"I don't know Sam – it's not something I've seen on Earth, but you never know. We've come across weirder things."
"But there's his memory?" Sam asked. "It's coming back, but very slowly."
"I don't know", Janet sighed. "I'll see what the tests say but I really have no idea Sam. We'll just have to wait and see."
"If he doesn't get his memory back, can he still continue" she made a gesture indicating the SGC.
"I don't think so", Janet said gently. "Depending on what happens – Sam, we just have to wait."
The Major nodded, having known already that it was too soon to say.
"Sam, can I ask you something? This is from a friend, not from your CMO."
"You want to know about the baby?" she asked, with a small smile.
"Well, yes. Did someone – were you – I mean, was this consensual?"
"It wasn't rape, if that's what you're asking", Sam said. She bit her lip, wondering how much she should say. "This is between friends?" she asked. "You won't report any of this?"
Now it was Janet's turn to look hesitant. She knew she had a duty to report anything untoward, but also knew her friend had been through a tremendous amount over the last year, and what she really needed was a friend.
"This is your friend Janet here", she finally said. "Not Dr. Frasier, not Major Frasier."
"Thanks Janet", Sam gave her friend a quick hug. "So – the baby. Jack is the father", she said simply. When Janet didn't speak, but simply raised her eyebrows, Sam continued. "He was slowly getting better, although I still thought of him as having the understanding of a small child", she explained. "At least he seemed happy. He could communicate a bit and started to feed himself and – look to his needs. I felt relieved that he was getting better, although in a funny way it was worse than when he was lying on the bed, staring blankly at nothing. It really brought home to me that he was – damaged."
"Oh Sam", Janet said softly. She couldn't imagine how difficult it must have been for her friend. "So what happened?"
"I came home one day and he was up – he'd been able to walk around. I hadn't known he was that much better. Later – when I helped him to bed, he looked at me – Janet, it was the old Jack, not the damaged child. I could see in his eyes the Colonel – the way he sometimes looked at me. It was the look of a -"
"Of a man?" Janet said softly.
"Yes", her friend answered simply. "I was so happy – so relieved. It – went from there and the next thing I knew I'd woken up in his bed."
"What happened then?" Janet asked, having a pretty strong idea of what Sam's thoughts would have been.
"I felt so guilty. I thought I'd taken advantage of him so I left. Oh, not for good", she quickly added, when Janet looked horrified. "I just needed to get away and figure things out. I'd really thought of him as a child Janet", she cried, trying to justify why she'd left. She still felt guilty over it though – even though she knew Jack had long forgiven her.
"And what about Jack?" Janet asked, pretty sure that this would have just about killed him.
"He – woke up and found me gone and so he – left."
"He left? Where did he go?"
"I don't think he had any idea where he was going either, so he just got on a horse and rode away. God Janet – he could barely walk or talk and he left across the desert because I'd hurt him so badly."
"But it looks like everything worked out. Did you find him?"
"No, at least not for a long time. He ended up getting shot – it's a long story and you'll hear about it all tomorrow. Anyway he was saved", here she grinned, "by a woman by the name of Janet. She was kind of your double! She looked after him and he got better under her care."
Janet looked at her carefully, hearing a bit of jealously in Sam's voice. She waited silently for the rest of the story.
"I thought he was dead", she said simply. "We looked everywhere but couldn't find him. I thought I was going to be there, alone, for the rest of my life." She looked up at Janet and gave a small smile. "And then I found out I was pregnant."
"God Sam, what did you do?"
"Do? I cried and then I rejoiced. Even if I'd lost him, I decided, I'd have a bit of the Colonel with me. I – I realized then how much I'd loved him."
"You poor thing", Janet moved over and put her arms around her. "I can't imagine how hard it must have been."
"It was", Sam agreed. "So I did something really stupid. I agreed to marry a man – James – just so I wouldn't be an 'unwed mother'. I told you, Mariscola was just like something out of the old west. I would have been shunned and my baby would have been labeled a bastard, so I decided I would marry. Fortunately I regained my senses and called it off. It was then that I found out the Colonel was still alive."
"What happened?"
"Well, he found the gate the same time I found him! We decided to come home but had to tie up a few loose ends on Mariscola. Unfortunately the guy who had done this to us in the first place showed up so we had to get rid of him and then we came home."
Janet knew there were a lot more details in what had happened to these two but just the little she'd heard made her want to whistle in wonder. "So – you haven't decided what to do about the baby or about the Colonel?"
"No, not really. I mean, I'm keeping the baby, there's no question of that. As for the Colonel, I think – I mean, I'm pretty sure he -" She stopped, not sure what to say.
"Sam, does he know the baby is his?"
"Yes."
"Well, he's been in love with you for years, and he loves kids. He's also the faithful type who would never run out on someone, so I'd say things will work out fine." She suddenly narrowed her eyes, looking at her friend. "That is if it's something you want. Sam – how do you feel about the Colonel and the baby?"
"I love him", she said simply, "and there's nothing I want more than to have his child."
"Well then", Janet grinned. "It' looks like you're going to get your wish."
"There's just one problem Janet", Sam said quietly.
The two women looked at each other, both knowing that things weren't as easy as all that. "I know Sam, but it will all work out."
"Will it?"
"With Jack O'Neill on the case? You can bet on it."