AN: Whoppee. Season Six is coming to Sky One on 25/09. Can't wait. Oh, and in relation to this new chapter, um... well, not a lot to say really. Thanks for the reviews. I haven't done any chapters seen from the other side of the mirror (ie, the people back in the SGC) because that wasn't how I wrote the story. You get a lot of information about the other reality in Chapter 11 and the Epilogue, though, if that makes anyone feel better.

Chapter Ten (Ascension)

2002. Sam stared at the calendar on her desk and circled the date. 3nd January, 2002. She was still recovering from her New Year's hangover - SG-1, SG-2, Feretti's team, Janet, some of her nurses and a number of technicians had mistakenly got together in O'Malleys to celebrate the incoming year. Sam didn't think she'd drunk so many spirits in her life and was glad that they didn't have a mission scheduled for another couple of days, but part of her wished she could be doing something active to get her mind off the fact that she'd been in this reality for three months.

Three. Whole. Months.

With a sixth sense that was part training, part instinct, Sam knew someone had walked into her office. She turned her head to the right and smiled wanly at Colonel Forsythe. '' If you're coming to apologise again....''

If anything, his expression became even more contrite. In the early morning hours of 1st January 2002, she and Colonel Forsythe had examined their attraction too each other by a shocking amount of kissing. In front of everyone. Jack still wasn't speaking to her, which was probably part of the reason why she was feeling so low, but he wasn't to know that only yesterday she and Alex (that was his first name) had sat down and discussed how much of a bad idea it would be if anything like that happened again. He admitted he found her attractive, she reciprocated. He pointed out she was sorta-married, she pointed out that she sorta-liked the Colonel O'Neill back at home. He told her he was recently divorced and his ex-wife was remarkably similar in appearance to her, she said somehow, someday, she was going to go home and it would only be cruel to start anything.

And then there was the matter that, when that countdown had started, Sam had been painfully aware that the person she wanted to be locking mouths with was unavailable to her.

Sam's New Year's resolution? Never celebrate New Year with co-workers again. She was still getting amused smirks in the corridors.

'' No,'' he said, bringing her to the present again, '' but I'm still sorry. I was wondering if you'd like to get some lunch. Not just with me.'' She managed a slightly more genuine smile at his hurried tone. Clearly, she and Forsythe wouldn't be spending any time alone for a while yet. '' The rest of my team is going. We're hungry. And since, well, you know...''

He, of course, was also receiving the brunt of Jack's temper.

'' You don't have to live with him,'' Sam sighed, dropping what she was doing. Which wasn't a lot. '' Yeah, thanks.''

SG-2 gave her pitying looks. Hennersey gave Sam her blue jello, which only made Sam groan because it reminded her of the shots they'd downed. She picked at her meal and didn't really serve as an interesting eating companion, but everyone understood. She saw Colonel O'Neill sitting with Daniel and definitely not looking her way and found she was pouting.

'' That's attractive,'' Thake said, smiling.

'' Piss off. I saw you and your wife in the corner, as well, you know,'' Sam muttered nastily.

Thake smiled further. '' She's pregnant, you know.''

'' We know! God, we know!'' Hadley complained, clapping his hands over his ears.

Thake had apparently been boring the lot of them to tears with his wife's pregnancy. He appealed to Sam, his ex-CO. '' Three weeks pregnant,'' he said proudly. '' It's going to be a Fall baby.''

Sam couldn't help but feel cheerful for him. '' That's so great, Thake. Congratulations.'' It had obviously improved his mood considerably; she didn't think she'd seen him grin so much ever.

'' You know, I remember when you, she, the other you was pregnant,'' Hennersey said, sticking her little plastic spoon into her jello. '' You had the most bizarre cravings.''

'' Like what?''

'' Cheese and jelly on toast.''

Sam's stomach was revolted. '' Ugh!''

'' We went on a lot of joint missions while you, she, dammit, were pregnant. You refused to stay on-world until you started showing. It was kinda cute, the way he'd follow you around protectively. You kept trying to elude him but he'd always find you.''

'' Is this your subtle way of saying we should try and make up?''

'' Hennersey has subtlety down to an art form,'' Forsythe murmured, shooting his 2IC a piercing look. She blushed slightly but refused to be daunted.

'' You didn't notice the way she made you eat something on P2C 846 when you thought Hadley had gone missing, though, did you?'' Thake said smugly, glad to be embarrassing two of his team mates. '' Or the way that she...''

'' All right, Thake,'' Hennersey said through her teeth. '' Try not to let all my secrets go at once, will you?''

Forsythe was looking at her with a new appreciation. '' Guess I underestimated your powers, Captain.''

'' Guess you did,'' she said, pursing her lips and investigating the bottom of her jello cup.

Sam was looking back at Jack's table and saw that Daniel was packing away his things. '' All right. This may be my chance.''

'' May the force be with you,'' Hadley commented.

'' What?'' Forsythe demanded, looking down the table. '' Are you that much of a nerd?''

'' Hey, I heard you quoting Star Trek the other day. You can talk.''

That sure shut him up.

Sam approached Jack's table with about the same nervousness she usually had when she was about to jump out of a plane. She stuffed her hands in her pockets and stood next to him, shifting from foot to foot, waiting for him to look at her.

He didn't, just continued to eat calmly. He knew what was doing - the whole of the commissary was watching her make the first move and he was torturously denying her any response.

Three months ago, Sam and Colonel O'Neill would have never had enough of a personal relationship to ignore each other. Somehow, for some reason, she preferred it this way.

'' Jack,'' she began in a small voice.

'' I don't want to hear it.''

'' You've got to hear it some time.''

'' Not here.'' He got up, glared at her, and walked off.

Cringing, Sam followed him as the commissary turned their heads as one.

She followed him all the way into his personal quarters, whereby he slammed the door behind her. He clenched his fists at his sides. '' Okay, talk,'' he demanded.

'' I'm not sorry for kissing him, Jack.''

Jack's teeth clenched. '' That's a novel way to start an apology.''

'' I'm not sorry for kissing him, Jack,'' Sam repeated, firmly, undaunted. She wasn't going to be punished for something that, while a mistake on her part, he had no right to punish her for. '' I have no regrets about that. I regret you seeing it, I regret the rest of SG-1 and SG-2 and all those others seeing it. I've had no end of ribbing from Janet, not to mention the looks I'm getting in the corridors.'' Since she didn't think his expression could get any blacker, she hurried to explain herself, '' The state I was in, if I hadn't kissed him, I would have kissed you. And that would make both of us feel worse.''

His fists unclenched slowly. '' It still doesn't change the fact that you... you...''

He was searching for words but couldn't seem to find them. But Sam knew what he was trying to say. '' I what? Kissed someone you didn't approve of? Kissed someone who wasn't you? No matter how awkward the situation we've been put in, I'm not your wife. I know I look like her, act like her..''

'' Talk like her, smell like her, walk like her,'' he put in, laughing bitterly. '' Sam, I know I'm being unreasonable. I know that you were drunk. I know I'm not your husband, I know you are not with anyone back in your reality. I know all that. I just... I saw my wife kissing someone else. That's... all, really. And I thought... what if she was kissing someone else in your reality? The other me.''

Sam flinched at the jealousy that seeped into her blood. Was that ridiculous? Being jealous of herself? '' No. I'm sure she was at home, with Matthew.''

'' Whose home? Yours?'' His expression darkened. '' Or his?''

Since Sam's thoughts had been secretly running along the same lines, she found her voice softening. '' Do you really think they would do that to us?''

'' Sam, you have nothing concrete with him. For all I know, she hasn't told anyone she was married to me. He might think she wasn't with anyone.''

'' One look at Matthew and he'll know otherwise, Jack.''

Finally, his hands relaxed. '' You're right. There's no way he could be anyone else's son.''

'' And she'll have come clean with them all, of course. Colonel O'Neill and Hammond will have heard how I disappeared from the planet she sent me too. She'll have to have explained what happened,'' Sam continued, gradually watching as the tension and anger left his body. She was starting to feel relieved, probably because not only was she appeasing him but the things she was telling him were making sense to her as well.

'' Do you think they know the whole story?''

'' What do you mean?''

'' About why she left... me.''

'' Yes. Colonel O'Neill would want to know what could possibly make her take your son away from you.''

Very slowly, Jack sat down on the edge of his desk. His eyes were searching her face now. '' Sam, what do you think happened?''

This was the first time they had ever broached this topic. The first time he had initiated anything like it. She thought her words over carefully. '' I think someone on Earth was threatening Matthew.''

His eyes held hers for a moment. '' His life?''

'' Yes.''

'' Why would anyone do that?''

She shrugged. '' That's what I've been trying to find out. Dad agrees with me. I know that's not saying much, both of us are biased, but... I know what family means to you. Even before I came here and got to know you better. And I know myself. The only reason I would do something like that to you was if it was unavoidable.'' She stopped and bit her lip, waiting to see what he would think of that. It had taken her years to read most of Colonel O'Neill's very tight, controlled expressions because with him, mostly what he said had little to do with what was going on inside his head, but this was Jack. Jack, who was talking to Sam, which meant he was trying to be as honest as possible.

'' Up until you arrived, I would have disagreed with you,'' he began, slowly, thoughtfully. '' But, I don't know, perhaps being around you again has reminded me of all her qualities. Somehow, over the past two years, I'd transformed my wife, a woman I love very much still, into some kind of a pariah. She hated the idea of Matthew going through the Stargate. She was nervous enough about bringing him into the SGC for his check-ups, for crying out loud. If he was on base and there was an emergency, she'd go white as a sheet. The very idea that she would....'' He trailed off, knowing she got the message.

Hope was lining Sam's soul. She was so thrilled that he was seeing it in the light of someone who'd rethought the possibilities. He was seeing what she had seen from the very beginning.

Jack rubbed the back of his neck, which he did when he was particularly tense. '' It smacks of a cover-up, frankly. And I've seen a lot of those. Even now I'm worried that I was sent on that covert op as a cover up of a cover up. I mean, they could have chosen someone else to do it. Feretti, Bates, Macey all have the experience and Hammond knew they were loyal.''

Sam's ears pricked. '' Hammond? You think Hammond knew something?''

'' He never gave an opinion one way or another about Sam's disappearance. But he went above and beyond the call of duty to let me continue searching for her the length of time I did. Any other CO would have given me a couple of months then pointed out that she could be anywhere.''

'' Maybe we should talk to him.''

'' Maybe we should.''

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Hammond wasn't surprised to see them, was the first thought Sam had when the General opened the door.

'' General,'' Jack said, pulling his sunglasses off respectfully.

'' Please, Jack, Sam, it's George now.'' He backed up, let them come into his house. He patted Sam on the shoulder as she passed. '' I hope you're acclimatising all right after your unfair removal from your own reality.''

Sam, who had been in the General's house before, still looked about with interest. It had a decidedly female touch to it, which she put down to his late wife. He obviously hadn't seen fit to redecorate. '' Um, it's going... all right, sir.''

'' Take a seat, I was just doing some accounts.'' He switched off the TV in the lounge and shuffled papers about on the table, gesturing for Sam and Jack to sit on the sofa. '' Would you like something to drink?''

'' Er, no, thanks, George,'' Jack murmured.

Sam nearly winced. It just sounded wrong to her. But then, so had 'Jack'. '' Sir, we really need to talk to you.''

General Hammond smiled slightly. '' Down to business already?''

'' Yes, sir,'' Jack said, smiling briskly. '' We were wondering if we could ask you a few questions?''

'' Fire away.''

Jack looked at Sam, giving her the lead. He obviously didn't quite know how to put it either. '' Sir, the other Major Carter's disappearance, and the reasons behind it, are still a mystery at the SGF and, probably naturally, I'm curious about it. From my own personal experience, I would say the situation she put Colonel O'Neill in with regards to their son would be the last thing I would put him through. Unless, Matthew was under some kind of a threat.''

'' Do you have any proof of this?'' Hammond demanded, leaning forward.

'' Nothing but gut instinct, sir, though I have combed through SG-2s last mission reports and searched her office and lab.'' She felt Colonel O'Neill glanced at her at this last comment, but that didn't dissuade her. '' I was wondering if you'd... noticed anything in the days before she disappeared.''

'' Major Carter wasn't exactly her usual self during that time, Major. She'd been under some strain in the previous months. I was about to suggest she take an extended downtime to recuperate and spend time with her family.'' He raised his eyebrows at Jack, who winced. '' It was, however, too little, too late.''

'' She didn't speak to you? About anything in particular?''

'' No more than usual. I did call her in regarding one of her mission reports which had been unusually substandard. That was about four days before she left.'' He smiled. '' It wasn't really a dressing down, though. More of an attempt to get through to her. I believe she'd just thrown you out, Jack.''

'' Look, George...''

'' Jack, wait.'' Sam held up a hand midway through what she expected was an explanation of his marital difficulties. '' Substandard?'' She was never 'substandard'. It just wasn't in her. If anything, the more stressed she got, the tighter her reports became.

'' Yes. She'd hand-written a report for me. The content was fine...''

'' I don't hand write reports. Does she?'' Sam shot at Jack.

'' Never. You know how you are. That laptop of yours might as well be attached to you by umbilical cord. General, this report, what exactly was wrong with it?''

'' It was covered in inkblots. Like someone had shook a fountain pen over it. Is that significant?''

'' I need to see it.''

'' Sam?''

Sam shook her head at him, her eyes telling him 'later'. '' I suppose all of the reports are with General Thomas.''

'' One of the triplicate. You should have a copy yourself. Major Carter, Sam, is there something I've missed?''

Sam licked her lips, looked at them both. '' When I was in the academy, there was a particular method in which my friends and I would arrange to meet, er, against academy regulations. We'd check the notice board for any long messages and would dot over letters, forming a place and time. It wasn't very original.''

'' Shit,'' Jack commented, hands going to his face and rubbing. '' We've done that. In briefings.''

'' That's nice to know, Colonel. I suggest you get to the SGF, Major Carter. I'd like to know your findings.''

'' We'll keep you up to date, General. Come on,'' Jack ordered sharply, standing up and heading for the door.

'' Thank you, General,'' Sam said, smiling at him as she stood and started walking, backwards, towards the door. '' We really miss you.''

He nodded. '' As I miss the SGF. You'd better catch up, or he'll leave without you.''

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Jack drove at breakneck speed to the SGF, barely breaking at the check-in. He swore the whole way down in the elevator and beat her to her office, and her filing system. She slapped his hands away, told him to sit down in her chair and calm down before he burst a blood vessel.

'' Why didn't I think of that? Why?'' he was whispering.

Eyes flowing over the folders, she flicked through the last reports she'd filed with General Hammond, the fear that someone had got here before her highly prevalent in her mind. With relief, she pulled out the report and slapped it down on the desk. They leaned over it, shoulders pressed tightly together, eyes running over the scrawled lines, picking out the letters than had huge, blue ink blobs dropped over them.

C. O. L. O. N. E. L. F. S. I. M. M. O. N. S.

'' Simmons? Who's Simmons?'' Jack demanded, almost glaring at her. '' Sam?''

'' Oh shit, I should have known.'' It was almost funny.

But really, really not.

At all.