Chapter 8

Sam awoke to a splitting headache and the sharp sent of smelling salts. She placed her hand on her left temple and flinched at what she suspected was a growing bruise. Gingerly feeling around the bruise, she realized it wasn't as big as the headache led her to believe. Sitting up slowly on the cot, Sam looked up just in time to witness Janet retreating through a cell door and watch it slam closed.

Beyond the bars, Janet joined General Hammond and Col. O'Niell. "Well, it's not like I haven't been hear before," Sam muttered, remembering when Jo'linar had first blended with her.

"Carter? That you?" asked O'Niell.

"Yes, Sir."

"And how can we be sure that you are yourself?" asked the General.

"You'll just have to trust me, Sir."

"Trust? Well I guess we can just unlock the door and throw it open." Said O'Niell sarcastically.

"I understand your hesitancy to do so, Sir. And given past history, it would be inadvisable to let me out and I don't expect you to until you're more comfortable with me being me. I can assure you, though, that I have not been blended with either a To'kra or a Goa'uld as I'm sure Teal'c can attest to. I can also assure you that I have not been taken over by another artificial intelligence like last time nor am I an android replica. I'm sure Dr. Fraiser can compare my brain wave pattern to the one on file to back up my claim to me being in control of my own body. Further more…"

"Carter," O'Niell said waving his hand.

"Yes, Sir?"

"You can stop. I believe you."

"Are you certain, Col.?" asked Hammond.

"Trust me, Sir. I don't know of anyone as long winded as Carter."

"Very well, but to be on the safe side…Dr. Fraiser, how accurate would comparing her brain wave patterns be?"

"Very accurate, Sir. And given the amount of times that Major Carter has found herself 'possessed', we have a lot of information to work with to verify that Sam is Sam. Besides, based on her blood work analysis, there is nothing foreign in her system."

"So, Carter, what is it this time?" O'Niell asked as Janet left to pull out all her data on Sam and get the equipment ready. "Did a poltergeist possess you or did your mind finally crack from all that intellectual weight that you like to carry around?"

"The first one, Sir."

"What? Carter, I was just kidding. You know…Funny ha ha." O'Niell raised his eyebrows in emphasis.

"Well, Sir I wouldn't exactly say she was a poltergeist, but you could say a spirit has inhabited my body."

"And who is she?" Asked Hammond.

Sam turned to Hammond trying to think how best to explain. Just tell him the truth, Sam.

Jenna, do you *mind*?

Well, you're still caged and all you've done is rant about past possessions.

I know you're frustrated, but I can't just snap my fingers and make everything just happen, okay?

Fine, Sam. But the sooner you say something the better. They're starting to look at you funny.

"Yo, Carter. Hello? You still with us?" O'Niell asked, a hint of concern showing through.

"Sorry, Sir. I got distracted by the little voice in my head." She hoped Jenna wouldn't end up irritating her too much before she kicked her out of her head. Jenna, do me a favor and try and focus on your memory instead of interrupting me. Trust me, I can handle this by myself.

All right, already. If it'll make you feel better I won't even listen in.

"Major, please explain," said Hammond interrupting her internal conversation. "What exactly is going on with you?"

"I don't know exactly how it happened," Sam said, glad that Jenna wouldn't hear what she would eventually tell the others, "but apparently I find myself host to the mind of a woman from a parallel Earth." Sam continued on to tell them about Jenna and what they discussed, only hinting at the initial confrontation.

"So you're saying that she's human?"

"As far as I can tell, I believe she is."

"If that's true," said O'Niell, "then how the hell does the mind of a woman from a parallel Earth, who is possibly human, find it's way into your head?"

"I don't know, Sir."

"You don't know, but you have an idea, right?" O'Niell emphasized raising eyebrows again.

"I don't have anything scientific in which to base this on," Carter said, getting up and starting to pace, "and it's purely conjecture on my part. Frankly, Sirs, I wouldn't normally go this route if not for the fact that I can't think of anything else…"

"Spill it, Carter." O'Niell ordered. He knew full well that she would continue to throw explanations out until she was blue in the face before she ever reached her point.

Sam stopped and faced Hammond then O'Niell. She paused then sighed, "With all do respect, Sir, this was not an easy conclusion to come to." Sam was again relieved that Jenna had decided not to listen. "In all honesty, I believe that the only way this woman could have traversed the barrier between this world and her own is that she had to have died." Jenna was most definitely going to freak.