Cliff Simon Factoid: Cliff played Roman Nevsky in the 2017 film called Project Eden
JACK
I end up on the couch again. I'm sure after the baby arrives that we both will fit in her bed again. I want to ask her to move in with me, or maybe we can find our own place together. But I don't know how she'd take it. I am awake with my thoughts right now. I stare at the ceiling as I think through recent events.
She did not seem too excited about marrying me when I brought the topic up before. Maybe I am too old fashioned for her. I have had dreams of being married to her. Nothing would make me happier. Especially now with a baby on the way.
Today we have a meeting with General Hammond. Carter's future may very well be decided today. She and I haven't really had time to talk about what she wants for her job. Our entire past five days or so have been consumed with the baby and getting to know each other again.
I get up off of the couch and hear her in the shower. I poke my head in to say good morning.
"Good morning!" she replies, "I won't be too long."
"It's OK. Take your time. I'm going to take a shower in your guest bath," I said.
"OK, I know where to find you if I need you," she said, and I swear I heard her laugh.
We both get ready for the day. I have uniforms at work I can change into. She, on the other hand, does not have to wear one yet. She has not been reinstated, and as far as the world is concerned, she is still dead.
It's pretty odd to think that way, but it's true. Samantha Carter is dead. But, she is also in her own shower. I wonder if her death certificate has been delivered yet. Jacob had requested it be sent to Hammond. Maybe we'll know something today.
I wait for Carter in the kitchen. She has on a pair of her stretchy maternity pants and one of the shirts I picked out when we went shopping. It is a dark navy blue polo-style shirt. It really pulls the blue in her eyes out. She rounds it out with a pair of black flats. She looks up at me when she rounds the corner. She is stunning. I smile at her.
"What?" she asks.
"You are beautiful."
"I'm fat and pregnant."
"You are beautiful," I say again, a little softer. I walk to her and take her hand in mine.
Our eyes connect and we spend a moment in time looking at each other. I have always liked looking in her eyes. I see myself in her eyes. She grounds me. She knows me. She comforts me with a single look.
"I'll make breakfast. What would you like?" I ask her.
"How about just cheesy scrambled eggs?"
"Coming right up."
We enjoy breakfast together. I clean up when we are finished. I get all my clothes together, and put what I can find in the laundry room. I come back to the kitchen to find her still seated at the island bar.
"You ready to go?"
"You know, I could get used to having you around," she says with her megawatt smile that makes my whole body tingle.
"Well, Carter. You have just experienced the tip of the iceberg when it comes to having me in your life," I smile right back at her.
She looks over to me. I also like having her around. I hear her clear her throat.
"Do you think we should take separate cars?" she asks.
"Why?"
"I don't know. Appearances and all."
"We've already been seen together, and I escorted you in the building. And I was thinking while I was in the shower," I start to say.
"About what?" she asks.
"Well, legally, you are dead. You are no longer in the Air Force. So that means you and I, you know, maybe can really be together."
"I see," she says, and then just stares at me for a moment. I can feel her thinking. "Shouldn't we take one thing at a time?" she asks.
Um, what? She doesn't want to be with me? Ultimately I can't force her to do anything. I never have, and never want to. But the thought of my life without her in it is not something I would ever want.
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"Jack, the baby is on the way very soon. My house is not set up. Your house is not set up. This," she said, cradling her belly, "should be our priority. I don't think you and I have anything to worry about. My feelings for you haven't changed," she says.
A part of me felt relief. She still likes me. I feel as giddy as a teenage boy with a crush. Then I remember she excels at logical thinking.
"So you still like me, then?" I ask hesitantly. Just to be sure.
"I am still in love with you, Jack. I told you before. I can't stop," she says looking straight into my eyes.
I remember back on Schrodinger where she went missing. She and I were sitting out on the hill behind the palace watching the sunset. I remember her words to me, 'I have been in love with you longer than I will admit even to myself. I can't stop. '
I smile at her now. Things are very different since that sunset.
"I still have to change the battery in your car. I didn't get to it yet. Last time I tried to start it, it did start, but we had to jump it. The new battery is in the garage."
"I still can't believe you guys took care of my things like you did. And now I have to ask for help for everything. I feel, I don't know, like Doctor McUseless or something," she says, drawing a laugh out of me.
"Doctor McUseless? You are the furthest thing from useless. Do you want me to do it later, and I'll just drive this time?" I ask her.
"Ya, I guess. I do need an escort, after all," she says, rolling her eyes at the thought.
She looks at me, then walks up to me and gives me a hug.
"I do need a new car for Jacob. Maybe we can do that this weekend?" she asks.
She said 'we'. I like where this is going.
"I look forward to it," I say, leaning down to kiss her. "After you," I say, motioning for her to move to the door so we could go to work. Today will be another day of change. I just hope it's not too bad.
We get to work and I drop her off at the top entrance. I turn around to go park the truck down in the parking lot. I walk back up to meet her at the big door. She clips her visitor badge on her collar, then rolls her eyes again and smiles at me. I just smile back at her.
I escort her through both checkpoints and we make our way down to Hammond's office. We are a bit early, but maybe he can squeeze us in. I round the corner and knock on his open door. He is reading something and looks up.
"Colonel O'Neill, come on in. How are you? Is Doctor Carter with you?" he asks.
"She is right behind me," I say, and Carter pops her head around.
"Hi, sir," she says.
"Welcome back, Doctor Carter. Why don't the both of you come in and sit. Jack, please shut the door," he says as he gets up to close his other door.
"Me, sir? You want me here for this?" I ask him.
"Well, if it is OK with you?" he asks, looking at Carter.
"Oh, it's fine, sir. Are Daniel and Teal'c joining us, too?" she asks.
"Not quite yet. It depends on how this conversation goes."
I sit in the chair next to Carter. Her hands are already resting on her baby. Our baby. She looks a little nervous to me, but nothing out of the ordinary. Yet.
"Doctor Carter, as you know, your father agreed to have you declared Killed In Action. I received your death certificate on Friday," Hammond says, passing a piece of paper to Carter. I watch her read it.
"Well, this is odd. You sure don't see this every day," she says, trying to laugh, but not quite making it.
"Yes. I'm sure it is. Your father has entrusted me to your estate and care while he is off world. I can get you reinstated into the Air Force, still as a Major, but it will take some time for the paperwork to process," then Carter interrupts.
"Sir, thank you, but I'm sure I can handle my affairs now that I'm back."
"I'm certain that you can. But right now, you are dead. I've been working on getting this all legally reversed. The Colonel and the others have been keeping your other affairs in order. Your father wants me to get you reinstated as fast as I can."
I turn to Carter and watch her fidget in her seat. She looks like she wants to say something, but Hammond continues.
"Do we have any way of contacting the baby's father?" Hammond asks.
Oh boy.
Carter looks at him with questions in her eyes. He doesn't know.
"Sir?" she asks.
"The father of your child. Do you know if he will want to be a part of the baby's life with you on Earth? Or would you have any intention of moving off world to be with him? We will need to set something up either way," Hammond says.
Carter squirms in her seat some more, and I just keep my eyes on the foot of Hammond's desk closest to my own foot. The floor looks good. Polished concrete, perhaps?
"Um, yes, sir, he knows, but," she starts. She is trying so hard to not look at me. She looks at Hammond trying to find the words.
"But, it may be a little more complicated than that," she says, looking at Hammond. "He, uh," she stumbles over her words.
I am about to stick my food in my mouth. Hell, my entire fucking leg is about to be inserted into my mouth.
"He knows, sir," I say, looking straight at Hammond.
He stares at me, then looks at Carter, who is still trying to get comfortable in her seat. She is still looking at Hammond. Then Hammond looks back to me and seems to have realized the truth. He exhales, and brings both hands to his face, and wipes his eyes in frustration.
"When?" he asks, looking straight at Carter.
She is getting more uncomfortable, and looks like she is turning a million shades of red. But she doesn't take her eyes off of him. I am proud of her courage.
"The night before the mission where I went missing, sir," she says softly, not taking her eyes off of Hammond.
"Colonel O'Neill, please leave. Wait until I call you back in," Hammond says.
I look at Carter, and she is now looking at her hands on top of her belly. I reach over and touch her shoulder, and she turns her head to me.
"I'll be fine," she says quietly. I nod my head. Then I get up and leave Hammond's office. I wait in the hall for him to finish talking with Carter.
SAM
I watch Jack stand up and leave the room. I feel him touch my shoulder as I keep my eyes on Hammond. I have no idea what is coming next. I feel hot and flushed. And I can't get comfortable.
"Does Jacob know?" Hammond asks me.
"Yes. I told him."
"I trusted you two to act accordingly. I know how you feel about each other. And honestly, Sam, I think your saving grace right now is the fact that you are legally dead. Do you have any idea the mess you two have made for me?" he asks, a lot gentler than I ever imagined him when this day came.
And yes, I have imagined the day that Hammond would discipline me for sleeping with my boss.
"Yes, sir," is all I can get out. I try to keep eye contact with him, but I really let him down.
"Did you know you were pregnant when you went on that mission?"
"No, sir. It was far too soon to know," I say, squirming again. My back hurts in this chair.
"OK, aside from that, how is the baby? How are you?" he asks.
I feel myself lighten up and smile as I begin talking.
"The baby is perfectly healthy. All 10 fingers and toes accounted for. And it's a little boy," I say, beaming at Hammond.
"A little boy? Well, I'll be! Do you have a name for him?"
"Yes, sir. We named him Jacob James, after our two fathers."
I said 'we' in front of Hammond. He doesn't flinch. His face gives nothing away. So now he knows.
"Last name?" he asks.
"It will be O'Neill. I don't know, maybe one day I will..." and I trail off.
"Well, I'd recommend sooner than later on that. You didn't hear me say this, but this is one situation where you will be better off asking for forgiveness rather than permission."
I stare at him, and he stares back. Did he just tell me to get married? I already told Jack I didn't know how I felt about all of that.
"Sam. What do you want to do? Should I reinstate you? Should I put you in a vacant civilian science position here for you? Or do you want to go somewhere else? I need to know what you want," he asks.
I haven't really even had time to think about this. What do I want? I had always imagined retiring from the military. But, if I got a Federal job, I could buy back my military years towards my Federal retirement. I have known a few people who have done that.
The baby needs a stable parent. One who will come home every night, rather than going off-world for days at a time. I would have much more time devoted to science and research if I am not on an SG team. I could deploy as-needed. But a science position would open up a lot more doors for me.
"Sir, I think I need to discuss a few things with Jack. I mean Colonel O'Neill," I say, correcting myself quickly, and probably blushing a million more shades of red in front of Hammond.
"I mean, he and I should talk about this before I make a final decision. So for now, I guess we just get me back into the land of the living. Is that OK?"
He smiles at me.
"I understand, Sam. You have a lot of changes coming to you very quickly. Let me work on getting you alive again, then I will work on getting you your back pay. I will have the Position Description for vice Miller held for you just in case you want to apply to that. How does all that sound?"
"Sounds good, sir. Thank you. I'm sorry for letting you down. But I am not sorry about this outcome," I say, caressing my belly.
"Let me be very clear. A baby is nothing to be sorry for," he says staring me in the eyes, "Ever. I am just disappointed in the two of you, I guess. I'm glad you are back alive with us. I do need you to start working on your mission report. It sounds like there is a potential enemy out there. I want us to be prepared."
Disappointed. I disappointed him. I look down at my hands on my baby.
"Yes, sir, of course," I say softly.
"Alright, dismissed. And send Colonel O'Neill in, please."
"Yes, sir."
I get up out of the chair and have to grab his desk to steady myself. My whole body aches. This discussion about the Colonel and me, then my future, has drained me. I already need a nap. Hammond stands and watches me carefully as I stand up and turn for the door.
"You OK?" he asks.
"Yes, sir. I'm OK. Just tired and achy."
I take a few steps out, and Jack is leaning along the wall. I smile at him.
"He wants to see you. Alone."
I watch him inhale deeply before he stands straight in front of me. He looks at me strangely.
"You OK?" he asks.
"Ya, I'm fine. My back hurts. I'm going to have someone take me to see Janet."
"Stay. Hang on."
Jack pokes his head inside Hammond's door and asks if he could call someone to take me to see Janet. When he was done, came back out to wait with me.
"Do you need me to come with you?"
"No, I'll be fine. My back hurts, that's all. Thank you."
He lightly touches my hand with the backs of his fingers as we wait. I see Siler round the corner and he smiles at me. He walks to me and reaches out his hand to shake mine. I laughed and brought him in for a quick hug.
"Major. Doctor. Carter," he stumbles out.
"Nice to see you, too, Siler," I say.
"Colonel," Siler says, nodding at Jack.
"Siler. Take her to see Doctor Fraiser, please. I'll be down when I'm done," we hear Jack say.
"Yes, sir. You ready, ma'am?" Siler asks.
"Yup. Let's go," I say, looking at Jack.
Siler and I start walking to the elevator.
"I won one of the pools, ya know," he says to me. Great. The betting pools were on even when I was gone.
"You did? What one did you win?" I ask with a laugh.
"I was in on the chance you were alive. I picked the correct month and week of your return. Ten bucks," Siler says.
"Congratulations, Siler. That is one bet that I am glad turned out to be true. You can buy me coffee one day," I tell him as the elevator doors shut.
"Yes, ma'am," he laughs as he presses the button in the elevator.
We go a few floors to Janet's level. Siler says one more thing as the doors opened.
"I also won the other bet. I was closest to the date and year," he says.
I looked inquisitively at him with tons of questions on my mind.
"What other bet? Do I even want to know?"
"Probably not," he says with a grin as the doors open back up. He quickly got out and held the door open for me to waddle out.
I knew that bet was going on. Probably the rumor going around about me and the Colonel being together as a couple. It has supposedly been going on for years. It is sort of a joke now, even to me and Jack. But it looks like Siler won that one.
"Well, I can't say I'm not happy. Was that another ten bucks?" I ask.
"That one was $100. It's been pooling for a while now. I donated that money to Heart's Light," he says with a smile and spring in his step.
"Oh, wow, Siler. Thank you. I know that will help in many ways," I say with a smile.
He escorts me to a bed in the medical bay. I sit on the bed and wait for Janet or a nurse. Siler waits for me by the door. My back and feet really hurt. I wonder if that means baby Jacob is on his way.
JACK
"Come back in and sit, please, Colonel," Hammond says.
"Yes, sir," I say, after shutting his door again.
"I'm going to tell you the same thing I told Doctor Carter. You both disappointed me. What were you thinking, Jack?"
"Better to ask for forgiveness?" I ask with a smart-ass smile.
"Knock it off. I could have your ass in a sling, but I need to figure out how," he says, looking rather sternly at me.
"Sir?" I ask.
"She's legally dead right now. She went missing before any of us knew what you two did. I'm not even sure how any discipline could be brought to either of you," he pauses. He looks at his hands on his desk, then looks back at me.
"I have to let senior leadership know about this, Jack. This can't be hidden."
He sounds very grumpy with me. I probably deserve it. I do excel at making messes for him.
"No, sir, it can't. And I don't regret anything."
"Of course not, Jack. But you have created a mess I need to clean up. I might have to put something in your record. I just don't know right now. And I will tell you this once. I've already told this to Doctor Carter. You'd better do right by her, Jack."
I feel his eyes go through me.
"Sir?" I ask inquisitively again.
"I've known that family for decades. Don't screw this up."
"I'm trying not to screw it up, sir. But she's a bit, I don't know, can we say stubborn, at times?"
He laughs a little. Finally, a little lighter in the mood here.
"Yes, she can be. Now, get the hell out of my office and go to work. Jacob and Matta will be back at the end of the week. You have until then to catch up on your mission briefs."
"Yes, sir. And thank you," I say as I stand to leave his office.
END PART TWO