Jack sat in Daniel's office catching up with everything. Daniel had spent the majority of his days now translating numerous new found languages and making databases up for the scientists. They had this amazing so called new idea of creating a device capable of detecting and translating any language. Similar to what is used on Earth, but for a multitude of alien races. It was no small task.
"Wait didn't you make those tapes for new recruits?" Jack toyed with a few artefacts, remembering that Daniel had done something similar in the past.
"Yes Jack, you know this already." As much as he missed his friend, he didn't miss this particular part; the part associated with Jack's boredom.
"Yes, well then this should be a breeze." Jack laughed, knocking over the artefact he was playing with. "Oops sorry."
"Ha-ha, Funny. Seriously though, why are you here?" Daniel asked, snatching a different artefact from within his reach.
"Sam was called in about that new advanced race SG-12 encountered and Sam isn't feeling too good at the moment. Thought I'd do the husbandly thing and drive her." Jack spoke seriously sitting down opposite his best friend's chair, starting to swivel in it.
"Aha, yes I read about that. It seems promising." He said thinking over the facts in his head. "what's up with Sam?" Daniel grew concerned.
"Huh, yeah I'm sure she's fine. She's been over doing it a lot lately." Jack grew uncomfortable, he had nothing to do and he was bored. Very bored, he had nothing to do here. He already knew everything that had been going on, he spends more time reading reports these days then he does giving out orders.
"So how's things going with the Asgard? Have they made any new developments yet?" Jack had been pondering this question for a while. It had been some time since he had heard anything.
"Well no, Ran is still searching for a way to end the degradation. Since discovering the entire Asgard's consciousness is encrypted in that data box they gave us. He's been on a lone mission to resurrect his civilisation. I guess he hasn't had much luck, or we would have heard something by now." Daniel sighed. "Or at least Thor would have beamed in unannounced."
"He does that you know. Who knows perhaps I'll see Thor in my lifetime." Jack said hoping the fact Daniel could be right.
"Let's hope." He said.
There had been nothing else to say, and wasn't being entertained so Jack got up waved his hands goodbye and left in search of Mitchell.
This was one conversation he really wanted to have. When he caught up with a rather dishevelled sweaty looking Colonel, during an intense basketball game; he called him over for the intended brief chat.
Jack didn't have to talk much. Carter had already had the talk with him. The top brass wanted Cam to continue training future cadets. His experience in the field and the Sodan warriors made him an excellent choice. He was also second in command for the SGC and was to be in charge should Ferretti ever need a leave of absence. He was still recovering from that crash, during the Wraith superhive. It impacted his back quite badly limiting his field capabilities thus in turn his mental state.
Meanwhile, Carter had just finished the last of the paperwork. She had to sign of the last few bits over to Ferretti, close up any projects and work assignments for the remaining weeks. She felt exhausted; her muscles were achy and heavy. Carter had missions before where she had no sleep, or rest for forty-eight plus hours. And never felt as exhausted as she does now.
Keeping her word to Jack she headed down into the infirmary, feeling weaker the longer she paced. Walking through the doors she was greeted by one of the nurses, who pointed her into the right direction.
"Hey Sam how are you? I was hoping to chat before you left." Doctor Lam said enthusiastically, folding over a patient's file.
"You was?" Sam said confused although her face looked startled.
"We need to arrange a schedule for your routine check-ups after you transfer to Washington. I see from your file you've also missed the last two appointments." Dr. Lam started to get all intimidating like a school principle after being sent to the office.
"Oh yes, of course. I completely forgot about that. I'll set that up with you as soon as possible." Sam confirmed giving a weak smile.
"Is everything okay?" Dr. Lam grew concerned, remembering she had come to see her.
"Er yeah, everything... "Carter backed down seeing Dr. Lam had crossed her arms. "Erm... no actually, I haven't been feeling like myself lately. I'm feeling extremely exhausted. It doesn't seem to matter how much sleep I have either."
"That's no surprise I couldn't imagine it being easy, new job and finishing it off here. I remember when dad finished everything up, before his retirement. He mentioned it being a tough transition."
"Yes it has been tougher than my previous role changes. But still, I don't think I've been under anything I haven't dealt with in the past." Sam sat down on the bed next to Lam's office.
Seeing Sam sit down on a bed like this was definitely out of character. Dr. Lam stood up picking her stethoscope with her. She didn't like what she was seeing.
"Right then let's runs some checks. As I said, you missed your last two scheduled appointments." She stopped talking briefly as she listened to Sam's chest.
"Well your lungs are clear, Heart rate is fine, a little faster than normal, but given the stress you've been under I'd say that's fine. I'm going to take some bloods, I'll have the results later today. And we'll go from there. Your blood pressure is a little high too. Have you been sleeping okay?" Lam asked undoing the arm band.
"Yeah I think so, I've been getting to bed a little later than normal. I've been sleeping fine during the night, rarely waking; just seem to lack the energy in the mornings. I don't feel like I've slept is all. But I have." Carter added.
"If you're all finished here get some rest and I'll phone you when I have the results." Dr. Lam said confidently, placing a hand on Sam's shoulder for reassurance.
Dr. Lam walked away, calling a nearby nurse to draw bloods.
Thank you Carolyn. Oh - I'll have that schedule for you by the end of the week." Sam lifted herself of the bed, practically running out of the doors after the nurse gave her the nod she'd finished.
"No problem. That's what I'm here for, anytime." Dr Lam muttered to herself.
She could tell Sam wasn't up for talking much. They hadn't ever had a close relationship, unlike Dr. Frasier had had.
She had just got to her office, when she heard a familiar voice. Expertly poking her head through the door, she saw that Jack was sitting on her desk while chatting away to Ferretti. He knew she was behind the door, but he didn't give anything away. They had an uncanny sixth sense when they were near each other.
"Is that clear? You've been giving this command, because myself and the top dogs believe you can handle it, that you are now 'The Man'. It's time you start acting like the man." Jack said sarcastically, air quoting 'The Man' for effect.
"Yes Sir, Thank you Sir." Ferretti stumbled.
"Yes well, don't you let me down!" Jack said without looking towards Carter, waving her in to join them.
"Ah General Carter, I was just saying how Ferretti here is now 'The Man'" air quoting again. "He's doing all right wouldn't you say?"
"Yes Sir." Sam sniggered; she couldn't quite contain her laughter.
She remembered all too well when General Landry and Jack had given her this same exact talk when she took over at the SGC. She couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the man. He's been pushed for the top without actually having much experience in running an entire base, but he was the only man that had enough experience of the ins and outs around the SGC and the ranks. He was the only man for the job, if he'd believed in himself a little more he would be a fine commander indeed.
"Giving him the pep talk?" Carter said after composing herself.
"What it's tradition." Jack shouted in defence.
"Thank you Sirs, I think. Now if you don't mind I have a Negotiation team to brief."
General Ferretti didn't wait to be excused. He stood up, and took his leave confidently as it was expected of him.
"See I told ya' it works." he said pointing the very door Ferretti had run out from without being dissmissed. "Ready to leave." Jack asked seeing her yawn once more.
"Yeah I'm all done here."
O'Neill ushered Carter out of the door, making his escape topside to go home. The slower walk through the SGC was welcomed with yet another small pace as they were stopped by every personnel that had seen them.
News had spread fast over Jack's retirement. every new and experienced SGC personnel wanted to congratulate and thank him for everything he has done to protect and serve them. He was the programs most respected and recognised member. It is as though every, member knew what he looked like. Like a snapshot of him had been ingrained into every brain. on base.
Once they reached the car they had some privacy to talk.
"Did you make a visit to see Doc?" Jack asked, being reminded when she docilely tried to suppress a yawn.
"I did, she checked me over and everything is fine. she took some bloods. She's going to phone me later when she has the results. Which I'm sure will be more like tomorrow. She put it down to stress." Sam replied.
"Take-out?" He pondered.
"Yeah sure, surprise me."
He pulled into a local Chinese they have frequented often while here. Jack asked what Sam had fancied, double checking he had his wallet he jumped out of the car and headed to the restaurant.
They agreed that it would be easier to go back to their home near the base, instead of travelling back to the cabin.
As soon as he closed the door, Sam's phone started to vibrate in her pocket.
"General Carter..."
"Sam, Its Dr. Lam. I've got your blood results in..."
"That was fast!"
Sam was genuinely surprised. She honestly didn't expect to have this phone call forty minutes after leaving the base. Moving her phone to her left ear so she could hear better she asked.
"Is everything okay?"
"Sorry yes. Everything is fine. Your iron is a bit low, so I'd recommend you to get supplements. And there's something else." Dr. Lam hesitated, unsure what the reaction would be.
"There is. Nothing serious I hope..." Sam listened more intently she felt a little worried.
"I don't quite know how to say this... You're pregnant." Dr Lam said quietly. Whispering into the receiver so she wasn't overheard.
"Wait what. That can't be... I thought that I... Er... Erm..." Sam couldn't talk, she was in utter shock.
Her face became pale she felt the blood rush from her cheeks, her heart raced. She couldn't be sure if it was excitement, or fear, or shock. But she felt very uneasy.
"I ran the test twice; both times it's come back positive. By the HGC levels I calculated you are ranging between five to six weeks. Congratulations. I'd like to arrange an appointment for you tomorrow."
"Erm... Yeah, sure...Eleven?" She could barely talk.
"I'll fit you in. Make sure you get plenty of rest. We'll talk more tomorrow." Dr. Lam hung up the phone.
Sam couldn't believe it. She never thought that she would be able to have kids. Janet had told her so after the incident with Jolonar and then all the trauma she had experienced during the field, it lowered her chances considerably.
This was one conversation she never thought that she would have with Jack. She ran over it in her mind a mile a second on how to even broach the subject with him. After Charlie she wasn't even sure if he wanted kids. It wasn't a topic they had ever talked about. Given their jobs it would have been near enough impossible in the first place.
It was made quite clear the first time that Jack wasn't allowed to retire. It was Presidents Hayes expressed wish that he and he alone was to run Home-world security after General Hammond retired. It was then Jack gave his terms and conditions. he said that if he was to stay on then he'd be granted special permission to enter into a relationship with a subordinate and threatened to go AWOL if it wasn't obliged. Jack stated he'd go insane if it wasn't granted.
President Hayes had no problem granting that wish. He had known for quite some time about their relationship, ever since Kinsey had mentioned it. He had doubts but after witnessing first hand ho they are with each other, it confirmed his suspicions. President Hayes being a military man himself. He was familiar with the rules all too much. They were there for a reason. However, giving the highly classified nature of this program he knew how difficult it was for the SGC personnel to hold onto relationships. It didn't take much convincing that Jack and Sam both put duty above their own personal needs. he knew how they had felt for each other for years, it was an easy decision to make.
He was granted that, and accepted another term with ease, it was then when their relationship blossomed. At first there was an awkward stage of dropping the formalities, but it never lasted long. Only a couple of years later was she walking down the aisle on the planet they first realised they had feelings. Feelings they were not supposed to have. Obviously with the fall of the Goa'uld it was now an uninhabited planet. A few months later and the Asgard had decided on mass suicide, which abruptly put an end to that honeymoon period.
Her mind was so focused, simulating every conversation between her and Jack, how it could go? What his reaction would be? How she felt about it? Her mind was full of what ifs and contingency's to those what ifs. A plan and back ups to that said plan.
Her mind was in full on overwhelmed over-drive.
She didn't notice through the restaurants window, Jack had been handed their food. She didn't notice seeing Jack leave the dinky restaurant, him leaving the door open for a young family of four climbing up the steps below. Didn't notice he had walked across the car park or that even opened the door.
"Right that's food sorted... You okay?" Jack asked, seeing Sam not notice he got back to the car.
The light was dim in the car but it was plain to see her pale complexion. Her clammy hands obvious.
"Huh...Sorry. Yes I'm fine." She looked up at him, her eyes pleading with him to drop the subject. "Really, I'm just tired."
"Let's get you home to bed." He started the ignition, heading for home.
Jack understood full well something was up, but knew not to push her for answers, she always told him eventually, when she was ready to. He was concerned, something was up with her. Something she was keeping to herself. He couldn't make it out. But soon he would figure it out.
To be continued...
***Spoiler alert. next Chapter - SG-1 has a plan. but something is stopping them before its even started.
