AN. Nearly finished guys. Just have to format the Epilogue after this, double and triple check for spellings and grammar, though I'm positive I've missed some. Sigh.

Chapter Eleven (Desperate Measures)

'' He's an asshole. A Pentagon asshole. He has connections with NID. He doesn't like the way Hammond runs things, says the SGC is a security risk just waiting to happen. The first time I met him was shortly after... um, well, I kinda brought an alien back with me.''

'' Orlin,'' Jack put in impatiently.

'' Yeah. Orlin. Simmons bugged my house, had people watching me. Then, January last year, he practically accused me of being some kind of alien harbouring traitor when SG-1 had been made to believe we had a fifth man in the team. God, then when I was kidnapped a few months ago,'' she rubbed her hands over her face, '' so that some damn millionaire, um, Adrian Conrad, could cut me open and see if he could be saved by my protein marker or whatever, Simmons was definitely somehow involved in that.''

'' You were kidnapped?'' Daniel exclaimed.

'' So this Simmons guy is nasty. What would he have on Sam then? What interest would he have in her?''

'' The only thing I can think of has to do with Jolinar. Perhaps Adrian Conrad wanted to cut her open.''

'' Matthew, Sam, why would he want Matthew?''

'' He has naquadah in his blood, from the symbiotes you both had. Maybe...''

'' Too many damn maybes,'' Jack muttered disgustedly, getting up and pacing the small amount of space in Daniel's living room area.

'' I'm sorry, Jack, but that's all I can manage at the moment!'' Sam said sharply.

'' Simmons,'' Daniel murmured, sitting back in the sofa, '' Simmons. Why do I recognise that name?''

'' There's a Lieutenant Simmons on base,'' Jack snapped. '' Daniel, now's not the time to play name games. So we have a lead. A clue.'' He pointed at the report on the coffee table. '' My wife was being threatened. She left Earth because she was afraid of something. Something this man knows.''

'' We could go see him,'' Daniel suggested.

'' Oh yeah, and let him know we know something's up. If he had the power to do to Sam what he did in her reality, then he could do that here. I'm not putting another Samantha Carter in danger.''

'' I can look after myself.''

'' Says the woman who got kidnapped to play guinea pig.''

Sam told herself firmly that he was overemotional and it wouldn't help her case if she shouted at him. '' Right, let's think about this. She used the Edora and covert operations missions to cover up her reason for leaving so that, to the outside, it would look like she was running away from a bad marriage.''

'' Check,'' Daniel said, reaching for his notepad and uncapping a pen. He started scribbling.

Jack continued to pace.

'' Right. But what I find difficult to comprehend is how, what with making the particle accelerator, she managed to create a dialling programme sophisticated enough to dial out and then delete itself, and find a window of opportunity in which to do it. If my marriage was supposedly falling apart around me, I was shattered from three months of all-nighters and had a son to look after and maintain a brave face for....''

'' Rub it in why don't you Major.''

'' Sorry, Colonel, just putting myself in her place,'' Sam said through her teeth. '' I'm just not sure I could do that by myself. If I didn't have help, then I'd have to have been planning it before Edora. Which means I could have been aware of the threat to myself or Matthew a month or more before Edora. Can either of you think of anything odd that happened? Daniel?''

'' I'm sorry, Sam, but I wasn't... exactly... myself then either. It was just after Sha're had died. And I was working on finding Kheb. The Harcesis child,'' he floundered, shaking his head. She noticed for the first time that his hair was sticking up all over the place, like he'd run his fingers through it several times. She imagined they all looked rather worse for wear. '' I couldn't tell you if anything was off with Sam.''

Jack knew he was the one everyone was looking to now and he was already shaking his head, his hands nervously fiddling with everyone they came near. He halted by a table lamp and absently played with some no-doubt expensive foreign statue. '' I thought everything was fine. Great, even. I thought we were happy.''

'' Simmons. Simmons,'' Daniel was heard to repeat under his breath. '' Oh, this is driving me nuts. It's not our Simmons. I've heard the name before.'' He closed his eyes. Then they sprung open, bright blue. '' Yes. I do remember. Colonel Frank Simmons. But that wasn't who he was then. He was Lieutenant Colonel Frank Simmons. He interviewed Major Kowalski when he had that Goa'uld in his head. Jack, don't you remember?''

Sam looked from Daniel to Jack and back again. '' He did?''

Jack was looking frustrated. '' I don't remember, guys. My best friend had just been snaked. I wasn't at my best. All I wanted was it out of him. I didn't care what they talked about with it.''

Something was niggling in the back of Sam's brain, something someone had said. Since the only conversation she'd had about Kowalski's blending was with Jack herself, that one time two months before, she ran through the conversation in her mind. '' You said... you said Kowalski started shouting things that nearly got you caught for lying in your reports.''

'' Yeah. On the ramp. He called out 'Ask your Colonel what the naquadah in his blood means - ask him what Apophis feels like on the inside. Ask his mate about Amounet's death'. Daniel, you remember? It was only me and you in the gate room. God, I remember that real clearly.''

'' It was a close one all right...''

'' No, no, no, no,'' Sam shaking, shaking her head and standing. '' Daniel, do you know if anyone else was present in the interview with Colonel Simmons?''

'' I don't know.''

'' Because if he was alone with the Goa'uld, it could have told him that you and she were hosts without anyone knowing.''

'' So? That was six years ago. Why would he wait all this time to use that?'' Jack demanded, leaning on the back of the sofa and glaring at her intensely.

'' Kheb. The Harcesis child,'' Sam said with the utmost confidence, as an idea began to form in her mind. '' A Harcesis child has the inherited memory of its parents. Jack, Matthew was conceived shortly after you were hosts. If Simmons knew that, then found out that if two Goa'uld hosts have a child then...''

Daniel's face suddenly changed with horror. '' Christ, Jack, someone like this Simmons person, NID, would think your son could be put to some tactical use, or medical or... or...''

'' I get the picture, Daniel.'' His hands went to clutch at his hair. '' Jesus Christ. Ah, Matthew's a real smart kid. I mean, really smart. Started talking early, whole sentences. He understood us, too. He was reading before he was walking. But all the books said children learnt at different stages, some earlier than others, and the Doc was our only medical consult because of Matthew's security level. I just thought... cause Sam's smart, he must have got her brains. What if this Harcesis thing is true? Dammit, why didn't she tell me?''

'' Because she left the clue behind. She thought between you, General Hammond, Daniel and the others you'd work it out. Perhaps there were other clues, but Simmons could have been in charge of the search crew that looked through her office and lab and they could have brought them back to him.'' Something occurred to her suddenly. '' I want to see the video tape. The one of her from nearly a year ago. She's got to have tried to tell you something.''

'' I've looked at that tape back to front, Sam, I would have seen something.''

Sam looked up at him, trying to show him that she understood the guilt he was feeling, that she didn't blame him for missing this. For two years, he'd been blinded by his emotions. Perhaps the other she had thought that the soldier in him would think first before acting, underestimating just how powerful Jack's feelings were when it came to his family.

'' I'll look anyway. A fresh eye and all that,'' she said quietly.

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

Perhaps unsurprisingly, that night they didn't get much sleep. They'd left Daniel's at two in the morning and when they'd returned home, the Colonel had gone straight to the drink's cabinet and poured himself a drink that made Sam wince. Then he'd sat down on the sofa, glanced at her as if to say 'you can't stop me', and steadily drunk his way down the bottle.

Since she didn't want to leave him, she sat down next to him, curled her legs up and watched him in silence. For maybe an hour and a half. Listening to the swallow of the alcohol, the light breaths of air as he breathed in and out, the clink of the glass against his teeth, against the rim of the bottle. Refilled and emptied. Watching his profile, she knew when his eyes grew heavy and she leaned forward, took the glass away from him, using both hands, one to hold the glass, the other to pull his fingers off it one by one. He watched her hands on his with the concentration of a man who simply didn't care what his body was doing anymore.

She took him upstairs, into his bedroom, and like last time, they shared the bed. Unlike last time, he clutched at her tightly, head buried in her hair and whispered, only moments before he feel asleep, '' I failed them.''

'' She should have told you,'' Sam whispered back. She didn't know whether he heard her, or whether he fell asleep before he could hear her fervent statement. All she knew was that just seconds later, the body behind her grew heavier, leaning on her back more, and that she was incredibly tired.

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

The videotape confirmed something Sam had thought. While Major Carter gave no more clues, Sam saw the moment that she accepted defeat. She paused the tape and nodded at it. '' See there? The way her shoulders slump and her head hit the bar. I know that look. She's just realised her plan didn't work.''

'' She allowed herself to get caught,'' Daniel stated as an idea dawned.

Sam nodded. That had been what she'd been thinking. '' To see if her plan had worked. I imagine she left Matthew with someone she could trust, came up with a foolproof cover story and got in the way of the search team.''

Jack, who was leaning against the wall, thumped his head back and stared up at the ceiling. '' The way I reacted to her... That was how she knew it hadn't worked.''

'' She should have told you, Jack. She just...'' Sam shut her mouth.

He pushed off the wall, suddenly twice as large and very, very threatening. '' Say it. Go on, Sam, say how she thought I would be the one person to vindicate her. To find this Colonel Simmons. To slam his head through a wall so that if he ever came near my family again he'd know what he was up against.''

'' Jack, it wasn't just you. General Hammond didn't think of telling you about the report until...''

'' We asked,'' he interrupted, not willing at all to give up his increasingly huge guilt trip. '' Until another reality Sam came through and slapped it into me that...''

'' Shit!'' Sam jerked upright. '' That's it. She found an alternate reality. She sent me here to help you. It must have been timed down to the last second. She found an alternate reality where as much as possible was similar,'' suddenly that triumphant smile in the gate room made sense, '' and used me as a tool to find out the truth. Sent me back just in time for you to grab me and take me back, this time knowing that you wouldn't let me go so easily.''

'' How would she have known that you'd get trapped here, though?''

Sam was at a loss. She found herself smiling - sometimes her imagination got the better of her. '' I don't know. Maybe that last bit's far fetched.''

'' Maybe she was relying on you to have an interest in the situation. Maybe she thought that you'd be brought back through to your reality and that she'd have a chance to explain it to you in the safety of Sam's reality,'' Daniel said, looking at Jack.

'' Yes, that makes sense. Of course, it worked out either way.''

Daniel jumped up out of his chair, went to eject the tape. '' We've got to tell someone. Now.''

'' Hammond,'' was all Jack said.

'' Hammond,'' they agreed.

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

General Hammond listened with increasing fury to the point when Sam thought her usually calm superior was going to break something. His Texan accent became heavier the more furious he became as mainly Daniel gave over the only evidence - the report and the tape - that they had.

'' - you kept this lie up the whole damn time, Jack?''

'' - that sounds like Major Carter all right.''

'' - yes, yes. That damned report. When I pulled her in, she didn't sound remotely concerned about it. And she kept staring at me. She knocked a sheet of papers off my desk. Saluted when she came in, when she left. It was, frankly, bizarre. She was making sure I remembered it. Two years too late,'' he sighed, dropping down on a chair in the dining room where he'd brought them all.

The set-up of this meeting was not lost on Sam. It was arranged remarkably like how it would be during a briefing - he was at the head of the table, with Colonel O'Neill on his left, Sam next to Colonel O'Neill and Daniel opposite.

'' And after we caught her, eleven months ago, General, she made sure she was always two steps ahead of us, but let us know what those two steps were. She was probably searching for an alternate reality mirror or searching for some safe place where she could talk to one, or all of us. It's possible she stumbled on the alternate reality mirror by accident, or some evidence for it, but used it to her advantage.''

'' So, General, any idea how we're going to get this creep hung?'' Jack said in forced jovial tones.

General Hammond smiled. And it was not a smile Sam would ever like to see aimed at her. '' Yes, actually. I have a very good idea. If you'll excuse me for a moment, I need to make a call.''

One call lead to an interview with the President, four First Class flights to Washington within the hour, four hotel rooms booked for the night and a really good reason for three members of SG-1 to be AWOL.

With somewhat of a surreal feeling, Sam followed General Hammond and Colonel O'Neill - for both of them couldn't be George and Jack in their dress blues - through the White House to the Oval Office, passing through umpteen security checks and security guards. The President greeted both General Hammond and Colonel O'Neill by their given names, shook their hands, greeted Dr Jackson and clasped Sam's hand for a moment longer, apologising for her 'misplacement'. Then they sat and got down to business.

While the solid evidence was minimal, it was clear the President was willing to believe anything presented to him by Jack and General Hammond. Phone calls were made, orders were issued, Sam and Daniel cast each other impressed looks while Jack and the General just looked justified.

It was also a surprise to the President that it had been decided Major Carter would be given no opportunity to go home. In fact, his exact words were: '' But I was under the impression that the mirror was irrevocably damaged on the other side, that Major Carter was unable to return home?'' The President's eyes narrowed. '' Which isn't the case. How interesting.''

That realisation led to yet another phone call. Summoning General Thomas to the White House ASAP.

SG-1 looked at their toes with glee.

Colonel Simmons. NID. General Thomas. No one was fooled into thinking that they weren't all linked in some way.

'' I'm going to have a chat with Simmons and Thomas. General, perhaps you'd like to join me when they arrive?''

'' It would be my pleasure, Mr President.''

'' As for the rest of you,'' the President raised his eyebrows at the three of them, '' I suggest you have the day off. We should have results for you by this evening.''

'' Yes, sir. Thank you, sir,'' Sam managed, genuinely prepared to do anything he wanted. Kiss his feet. Sharpen all his pencils. Dammit, she'd fetch him coffee for the rest of his life at this point.

They left the White House, silently happy. Words couldn't describe quite how happy Sam was, so she didn't speak.

They eventually sat down in a cafe, drank stupidly expensive coffee around a ludicrously small plastic table, with Sam and Jack looking outrageously out of place in their dress blues and Daniel slowly but surely crumpling his suit into its usual disarray.

'' I can't believe what just happened,'' Daniel managed halfway though this cup of coffee. He reached up and pulled his tie down further until the knot refused to budge anymore.

'' Ditto,'' Sam said. She reached across the table and touched Jack's wrist. '' Did you want to watch them interview Simmons and Thomas?''

Jack shook his head. '' Hammond's there. I'd only say something inappropriate.'' He turned his hand over, and clasped Sam's hand in his. '' Thank you.''

She squeezed. '' I'm sure Simmons got his crew in the SGF somehow. Hid things that would have helped.''

'' And I'm sure I was too blinded to see. I hope she'll forgive me, if we ever see her again.''

Daniel clinked his cup down, learning forward conspiratorially. '' Jack, we'll have free range to search for the mirror now, surely?''

'' And how many realities are there, Daniel?''

'' Must you be such a pessimist, Jack?'' he countered.

'' Both of you, shush. Let's just enjoy this moment for what it is. A triumph. Her name is cleared. She didn't betray you. If anything, she was the one betrayed. And we're clearing out Colonel Simmons and General Thomas in one fell swoop.'' Sam looked down at their clasped hands, the words Jack had said casting a shadow over her happiness, but she refused to look at the reality for the moment. '' Maybe he'll reinstate the General.''

'' God, that would be nice.''

'' And get rid of Forsythe.''

'' Jack!''

'' Kidding. I was kidding.''

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

Sam couldn't believe it. She was standing in front of her way home.

'' The President thought we'd maybe like to have it sent over,'' Hammond murmured, standing in the background, away from Sam and Jack who were staring fixedly at the slab of mirror. The one that they'd been assured was going off to Area 51 to be destroyed.

Sam felt something wet trail down her cheek. She wiped it away quickly. '' It looks different from the other one.''

'' It's a different design, that's all,'' Daniel said. '' The cave where we found it had the mirror broken off the wall. It transports you to the other cave where the mirror is embedded in the wall. It's so dark down there that you wouldn't be able to tell what's stone and what's the mirror. If it's not switched on, it doesn't even look like a mirror.''

Sam wiped at her other eye. '' How do you turn it on?'' she asked shakily.

Jack reached forward, ran his finger over what looked like a rock outcrop on the right hand side. The mirror sprung to life, an alternate reality image appearing on the other side. '' Do you know if the scientists in Area 51 were fiddling with it?''

'' I'm afraid I don't, Colonel.''

'' Then this might not be your reality,'' Jack whispered, looking at Sam.

'' We'll have to keep going through and finding out,'' she said in a determined voice.

Jack took her hand and squeezed. '' General? Permission for SG-1...''

'' Granted, Colonel. SG-2 will be accompanying you on each trip through until you find Major Carter's reality. The President has given the command that the SGF will be given an unlimited time scale to return Major Carter home, and get our own Major Carter and Matthew O'Neill back. You have a goal, Colonel.''

Jack smiled slightly. '' All right, people. Let's go kit up.''

SG-2 were ready and waiting when SG-1 returned. Forsythe nodded respectfully towards Colonel O'Neill, smiled at Major Carter and awaited orders.

'' We don't know what we'll find through there,'' Jack said, surveying the two teams who were gathered in the room the mirror had been transported to. Ironically, it was the same room it had been placed in in the first place. '' Goa'uld holiday planet or deserted site. The cave on the other side is dark, with only one route up to the surface, at least in the reality we're looking for. Major Carter and myself will be going through first, since we have the most experience of the planet we're looking for. Wait two minutes, then follow in pairs in two minute intervals.''

'' Yes, sir.''

'' If everything goes to plan on the other side, we'll meet on the surface.'' Jack looked to Sam who'd listened to every word he said intently. '' Let's go, campers,'' he murmured, still looking at her.

With a lump in her throat, nerves up to her eyebrows, Sam touched the mirror. She tried to analyse the feeling as best she could, but all she really felt was a tingle that ran from her head to her toes and when she opened her eyes she was in pitch darkness. She had enough sense to step away from the mirror so that Jack, who she could see on the other side, could come through.

He shook his head to get rid of the sensation. '' Wow. Weird, huh?''

She smiled faintly, weapon raised at the entrance she could see dimly. She flicked her flashlight on and aimed. '' That way.''

Jack was already sweeping his flashlight around the cave. '' Looks the same, at least.''

'' I suppose the ones that aren't my reality may have different rock formations, so that'll be the first easy give-a-way.''

Jack went first, his light leading the way as they began the steep climb upwards. They didn't talk - Sam, for one, was too nervous to, while Jack was either the same or was too busy concentrating on making sure the planet was safe to bring two teams on. He didn't like going into situations blind, and without the UAV and the MALP that was what they were forced to do.

Something crunched under Sam's foot and she winced, thinking along the lines of rock pieces, snail shells or larger, more revolting insects. She briefly flicked her flashlight down but instead of the options she'd immediately thought of, light was reflected back at her. With awful realisation, Sam's breath caught in her throat. It took her two tries to get her voice to work. '' Jack... Jack,'' she whispered creakily.

'' What is it?'' He swung around, nearly blinding her with the light.

She forced a hand up to cover her eyes. '' Look,'' she whispered, showing him the shards of glass. '' When... when you grabbed me. I dropped my flashlight.''

His own flashlight was already searching the ground, up and down the area of steps. Almost poetically, both of their flashlights landed on the discarded body of Sam's original light source at the same time.

She heard him swallow. '' Could there be a reality out there where exactly the same thing happened but with tiny differences?''

'' It's possible but...''

'' The chance that we'd open up on it straight away is more unlikely.''

'' Yeah. Maybe the scientists hadn't changed the reality.''

'' Maybe. It would be nice if we got a break, wouldn't it?''

'' It would be nice.''

Behind them, Sam and Jack could hear the next two working their way up. So they continued on.

Heart thumping because she was trying her hardest to crush her hope in case it was false, she followed Jack up and up, feeling sicker and sicker as the walls grew brighter and the distance lighter. They emerged and with a sucked in breath Sam took in a view that was identical to the one she had seen what seemed like yesterday. In the distance, she could even see the Stargate.

They waited until the rest of the teams caught up, Jack smiling proudly as every single pair pointed out the flashlight.

'' We'd better get a move on, hadn't we? The next place we've got to visit is an ally home world, since the codes will have been changed,'' Forsythe pointed out as he stuck his flashlight in a vest pocket.

'' Good point,'' Jack said, nodding. '' Any particular planet of preference?''

'' The Alpha site,'' Sam said with certainty. '' I'm sure we'll shock the hell out of whoever's monitoring it at the moment, but they'll have a code to get us, sorry, me home.''

They hurried to the DHD, with Jack and Forsythe still vigilantly searching their surroundings, looking for any possible threats. Sam dialled the co-ordinates of the Alpha site and watched, her heart leaping in her chest, as the Stargate activated.

'' Move out,'' Jack said, giving Sam a little push up to the platform.

One by one, they dropped through to the other side, shocking the hell out of SG-11 who were innocently playing cards at a table they'd dragged out of one of the temporary buildings.

Jack raised his eyebrows at them. '' Doing your duty excellently, I see.''

Major Ford leapt up, stammering, '' Colonel! Sir! We didn't know you were coming!''

'' No. That's obvious. Give us your GDO.''

'' Sir, yes, sir.'' He was handing it over obediently, before he thought to ask. '' Um, where's yours, sir?''

Jack chucked the GDO over to Sam, who nodded at Daniel to dial Earth. '' Oh, we're not from your reality, Ford. When was the last time you went home?''

'' We've been here for just over three months, sir. Extended mission. We're with a team of scientists.''

Jack looked at the four members of SG-11 pointedly. '' And where are those scientists?''

Ford smirked. '' Still in bed, sir. It is only half past seven, Earth time.''

'' Oh.''

'' Wrong reality, sir?''

'' Ask me later.''

'' Jack,'' Sam called as she engaged the GDO.

He came to stand by her. '' This is it, then, Sam.''

'' This is it, Jack.''

'' Guess we'd better go first. Don't want to scare the natives.''

She approached the wormhole with considerable apprehension. Stared at the amazing blue ripples, the event horizon. '' Sometimes I forget just how astonishing my life is,'' she whispered. '' But, sometimes, you know, I just wish it was normal.''

'' Normal is overrated.''

And in a repetition of the first time they'd gone through the Stargate together, Jack shoved Sam through.

With the Stargate there was no opening or closing of eyes, no allowance for the change in distance. One minute you were looking into blueness, the next the gate room. Staring at the familiar features, Sam walked down the ramp, waiting, waiting for a sign. Any sign. The medics rushed into the gateroom, the klaxons were whirling, red lights were blazing. All the same.

Jack appeared next to her, reached out to pull her to a halt as the defence team held their fire.

General Hammond marched into the gate room. '' At ease!'' he ordered.

Around them, a new call rang out.

'' SG-1 to the gate room. SG-1 to the gate room.''

The lump in her throat reaching mammoth proportions, Sam stared at General Hammond.

Hammond's eyes widened as, one by one, the members of SG-1 and SG-2 appeared behind her. '' Major Carter,'' he said, though, fixing his eyes on her at last, '' it's good to have you back.''

Sam closed her eyes.

Moments later, she heard running.

'' Sam! God, Sam, what happened? Where've you been?''

She opened her eyes to see Daniel running up the ramp, a broad grin on his face. He enveloped her in a hug.'' Daniel,'' she whispered. My Daniel, she thought, hugging him back.

'' Oh. And me. Hey, this is first time I've ever me another me.''

'' Me too.''

Sam automatically looked to Jack as the two Daniel's - a combination that could send terror through anyone's heart - struck up a conversation, but Jack's eyes were, of course, elsewhere. So, for the first time, Sam allowed herself to look around the room. She saw her counterpart, eyes wide and rapidly filling with tears. She saw Teal'c, God it was good to see him. And she saw the Colonel.

The Colonel.

Sir.

Who was staring right at her as if his eyes could swallow her whole.

'' General, I can truthfully say it's very good to be back,'' she replied, still staring at Colonel O'Neill. She wanted to run forward and throw herself at him, Sam found, somewhat surprised at herself. She'd also quite like to kiss him, as well. Kiss him so hard he would see stars. Suddenly, all that mattered was that, and for a moment, Sam's vision wavered in confusion as her heart pulled her one way and her common sense ground her feet to that ramp as if they were cemented there.

Later, she promised herself. Later. Later she would tell him what she'd only just realised for herself. That she loved him. That she felt like she always had.

'' Briefing room, people. I think some explaining is in order.''

There was nothing more bizarre than sitting opposite yourself, Sam thought ten minutes later, as she took her place beside her own, real Colonel O'Neill, next to Daniel, who was next to Teal'c. Everyone else crowded around in whatever seats were left.

'' A number of familiar and unfamiliar faces,'' General Hammond said, also looking faintly bemused.

'' Yeah,'' Colonel O'Neill murmured, leaning forward and raising his eyebrows. '' Boyd?''

Boyd grinned from down the end of the table. '' Colonel! Apparently I'm being pulled apart like spaghetti in this reality.''

Sam felt the blood leave her face at this crude imagery. God, that sounded suspiciously like something... '' I didn't tell you that, did I?''

Boyd, remarkably cheerful about this, simply grinned. '' Yes, you did.''

'' No, I didn't. When did I?''

She didn't notice Forsythe making an urgent 'no, no' gesture with his head and hand.

'' New Year's, of course.''

A number of people around the table, embarrassingly, snorted or laughed or did a combination of both, and lowered their heads. Sam felt the colour rush back up to her face. '' Jesus. Sorry, Boyd.''

General Hammond cleared his throat. '' Well, anyway, let's begin the briefing. We've heard this Major Carter's side,'' he gestured to his right where the long-haired Major Carter was sitting tensely in her chair, '' let's hear your side.''

'' All right. At Major Carter's suggestion, SG-2 and I gated to....''

As she told, in as little detail as possible, of how she got to the other reality, Sam couldn't help but be aware of everyone around her. Of Daniel sitting beside her, a stupid grin on his face, looking like he'd just found his long-lost twin, of Hammond nodding at her words understandingly, of Colonel O'Neill staring fixedly down at his fidgeting fingers. Jack sitting across her, his eyes roaming about the room, the other Sam Carter who kept swallowing hard and wouldn't look up. Teal'c - loyal, steadfast Teal'c who was being gawped at by the other realities SG-1 and SG-2. She could see it was making him uncomfortable by the disdainful looks he was giving them all.

'' Yes, everyone that's Teal'c,'' she snapped at them, interrupting her own briefing. '' Now stop staring at him like he's going to pull a zat on you and pay attention.''

Daniel beside her snorted at this uncharacteristic sharpness from her, but looked up and around in surprise as a number of SG-2 murmured a 'yes, sir' and Boyd and Forsythe grimaced and turned their attention to the front of the table.

'' Anyway,'' Sam continued, giving the lot of them a last scowl, '' the SGF was taken over by General Thomas and I was refused access to the mirror or the chance to talk to our more advanced allies who might know the location of another mirror.''

'' So what did you do for the three months you were in the SGF, Major?''

'' Initially, General Thomas put me back on SG-2 after a couple of weeks of acclimatising. SG-2 comprises of Captain Hennersey,'' Sam nodded at the captain, then the rest of the team, '' Lieutenant Thake and Dr Hadley.''

'' Are there civilians on every team?'' Daniel asked.

'' The SGF was originally an archaeological facility, Daniel,'' Jack said, speaking up for the first time. '' We have an archaeological branch and most teams, except the marine teams, have a civilian, either archaeological or a linguist.''

'' Really? What an interesting idea.''

'' Don't even think about it, Danny,'' Colonel O'Neill muttered.

'' Actually, Colonel,'' Forsythe put in, smiling slightly at Sam, '' I was the same as you. When I brought in by General Thomas to lead SG-2, I thought the layout of the teams was the worst feature of the SGF. But, as it turns out, it's probably one of the best. The civilians humanise the facility.''

'' I'll take it under advisement. Thank you, Colonel Forsythe,'' Hammond said peaceably, nodding at Forsythe. He turned back to Sam. '' SG-2, Major?''

'' Yeah. I led SG-2 for six missions before Green, who was on SG-1 with Colonel O'Neill, Captain Boyd, Daniel Jackson, went on paternity leave. After that, General Thomas decided that since Colonel O'Neill and I weren't actually married, though he'd made us live in the same house together, I could replace Green on SG-1.''

'' Basically, Thomas wanted the top Stargate scientist in the flagship team,'' Jack put in to clarify, '' as well as, handily, bringing in a colonel of his own choice to...'' He stopped, narrowing his eyes at Sam and the other reality Daniel as they groaned in unison. '' What? What was that?''

Sam cleared her throat and reached for her water. '' Nothing. Frog in my throat.''

Daniel was a little less tactful. '' Can we not have you spouting insane political theories, Jack? Particularly since they're worth squat now that General Thomas is being hung by the President.''

'' Wait, wait, is this the theory where I replace you?'' Forsythe jumped in, enjoying himself immensely. He grinned down the table at Jack.

Jack closed his eyes briefly. '' Don't tell me. Sam told you at New Year's. Damn, how much did you drink? You were still standing, at least.''

Cringing, Sam lowered her head to the table and refused to comment.

'' Major Carter, Colonel O'Neill, as amusing as your escapades outside the mountain are, we have a short period of time to discuss this matter and....''

'' Of course, General, I'm very sorry. It won't happen again,'' Sam said, lifting her head swiftly and taking in a deep breath. She would not be embarrassed, she would not be embarrassed.... '' I was put back on SG-1 as 2IC. We were sent on missions. Then Daniel found this text about alternate realities which Captain Spanin had brought back from a market especially for him.'' This time it was Daniel who started to blush. Both Daniel's, interestingly enough. '' Which made us think that there might be another mirror out there. We put in a request to Colonel O'Neill to revisit the planet, saying it would be useful to go for information and technological finds and so on.''

'' A request that went unanswered until shortly before Christmas. But we had a tight schedule, according to the General, so it wouldn't be viable until we had more time,'' Daniel said, pushing his glasses up his nose.

'' Damn!''

Everyone looked at Sam.

'' Major?''

She flushed and lowered her head. '' God, sorry, nothing.'' That dress! This was so childish, but, seriously, it was a great dress. She wondered if there was any way she could get someone to run back and... '' Just remembered something. Never mind. Um, Christmas came and went. We returned. A couple of missions. Mineral surveys. January. We went to see General Hammond. He told us about your messy hand written report.'' She glanced up through her lashes at Major Carter. '' With the code I did at the academy. The blobs over the letters that spelled out Colonel F. Simmons. Can I ask you a question?''

Major Carter nodded tersely. '' Sure.''

'' We're a little unsure of the timing. Did you use Edora and the covert op and the effect it had on your marriage as a superficial reason behind you disappearing, or did it merely delay you?''

Her counterpart lowered her eyes. '' It delayed me. I couldn't leave while Jack was stuck on... Edora, then I couldn't leave... because I'd thrown him out after,'' she clenched her teeth and forced the word out like it hurt, '' Edora. Then there was the Tollen nightmare. After that I decided I might as well leave. I didn't just leave the report, though. I had the surveillance tape of Colonel Simmons entering Kowalski's room to interview him. I hoped that would lead to you finding out that the one of him interviewing him was missing from the library.''

Jack shook his head. '' Simmons must have had someone on the crew because they didn't find anything.''

'' I also had a photocopy of Daniel's journal entry on the Harcesis child in my office at home.''

Sam raised her eyebrows at Jack, but his expression darkened. '' Someone was in our house, then, because I personally searched that office from top to bottom.''

'' When you caught me, eleven months ago, I saw that you didn't have a clue about what had happened. I thought maybe Simmons had got to the evidence I'd left.'' She leaned forward in her seat, staring at her clasped hands. '' So I made sure you were able to follow me after you let me go, after I'd convinced you I wasn't her. Then I stumbled on the alternate reality mirror and saw a chance. I... fixated on it, like it was the only opportunity I could see. If I could get you to follow me through, then I could talk to you, but I waited there for nearly a day. It was taking too long, so I went through the gate to Earth knowing I had to get rid of the other me or I'd be facing entrophic cascade failure. I figured you'd take her back, figure out she wasn't me, and then return. I didn't realise General Hammond's time had run out.''

'' That's what we figured,'' Jack murmured, looking at his wife's hands. '' Or rather, what Sam figured. We went to Hammond, who made a phone call, then we went to Washington and had a nice little chat with the President. Sends his love by the way. Then we found out Thomas had lied to him - he'd been informed the mirror was damaged on the alternate reality's side. He was pretty pissed off.''

'' Next thing we knew, Hammond was reinstated,'' Daniel continued, looking triumphant, '' our allies were being informed that they could drop by unannounced without wasting our time and money and the President sent the mirror over. Luckily, the scientists in Area 51 hadn't touched it, it was still set on this reality, and we went through.''

'' And here you are,'' Colonel O'Neill said, looking at Sam finally.

'' You didn't find the mirror on P4X 874?'' Sam said, biting her lip and avoiding the Colonel's gaze.

'' We searched that island from top to bottom, Major Carter. For several weeks. At one stage, we had half the SGC combing the area. We couldn't find the mirror.''

Sam frowned and looked at Major Carter. '' Couldn't you show them where it was?''

'' I tried to. I showed them the cave I thought it was in but because it had been turned off at the other end, the mirror just looked like the rock. At first I thought it was the wrong cave, then we searched all the other caves. We couldn't find anything. Except that damned flashlight, which we left there as a sort of marker in case... well, for you to recognise home by.''

Colonel O'Neill smiled shortly at Hammond, then looked at his counterpart. '' So for three months we've been waiting. Waiting for you to come home.''

'' And here you are,'' Daniel said triumphantly, spreading his hands wide. '' Have I said how nice it is to have you home, Sam?''

Sam rolled her eyes. '' You did have a me here, Daniel.''

'' I know, I know, but both of you were in the wrong reality.''

'' General Hammond, I don't mean to be rude,'' Jack began, impatiently tapping his fingers on the table, '' but I was wondering if it would be possible for me to see my son?''

'' Of course, Colonel, of course. Matthew has taken over one of the quarters on the base for the time that his mother and he have been here. Major Carter, perhaps you'd like too.'' Major Carter was already nodding and sliding her seat back.

'' The rest of you, feel free to investigate the base. Major,'' this time he looked at Sam, '' if you, Colonel O'Neill, Dr Jackson and Teal'c could join me in my office for a few minutes.''

Sam nodded, picked up a pen and let it dangle from her fingers. '' Yes, sir,'' she added to the chorus of agreements from SG-1.

'' Dismissed.''

Sam pushed back her chair slowly, watching as Jack followed his wife out of the briefing room.

Forsythe leaned over the table. '' The hair's gonna take some getting used too,'' he told her, grinning inanely. She couldn't believe she'd thought this man was a consummate professional. '' But it's growing on me real quick.''

'' Hey, she's married now,'' Sam pointed out, smirking.

He rolled his eyes. '' So were you. Kinda.''

'' Sorta, I believe was the word.'' She grinned at him. '' Go look yourself up on the base computer.''

'' See what ass I'm kissing?'' he added.

Sam's mouth dropped open in horror. Usually, she could drink anyone under the table - with the exception, obviously, of the Colonel and Teal'c. What had she drunk that night that had made her so loquacious? If the Goa'uld got a hold on it, Earth would never be safe. '' Jesus, Forsythe, you know I didn't make that name up for you. That was Jack's. And I didn't believe it, either.''

'' Go see your CO, Sam,'' he said, shaking his head pityingly at her. It was a damn good thing she was leaving that reality or she'd never be away from the ribbing.

Sam stood up, saw that Colonel O'Neill and Daniel were waiting for her and that they hadn't missed the exchange at all. Teal'c was standing just outside the door, and was he smiling, just slight? She smiled at them, slid her arm around Daniel's and squeezed, looked at Teal'c. '' Teal'c, you've no idea how good it is to see you.''

'' As it is to see you, Major Carter.''

Her smiled widened even further as she took in her real team. '' Are was going to see the General or are we going to stand around here all day?''

The General didn't appear to be in 'telling off' mode. He offered them all seats, which everyone bar the Colonel and Teal'c accepted. Hammond was positively beaming. '' Now, this is what I like to see. SG-1 back together again. I hope the last three months haven't been too difficult for you Major. I know things around here have been rather fraught.''

Sam nodded. '' I suppose things could have been worse, though it did seem rather hopeless at times.'' She looked at Daniel, and what she could see of Teal'c. The Colonel was behind her, leaning against the wall and she didn't want to draw attention to the fact that she was looking at him by turning around. '' I missed everyone like crazy, particularly, if you don't mind me saying, sir, you.''

From the look on his face, Hammond didn't. '' With Thomas as a comparison, you'd probably have missed General Vidrine,'' he said dryly.

Sam laughed. '' Exactly. How was the other Major Carter?''

'' Confused, hurt, lost, angry and upset,'' Daniel summarised.

Sam winced, looked at Hammond. '' When did she tell you the truth?''

'' Shortly after Jack locked her up and refused to let her see her son,'' Daniel murmured, looking down at his shoes.

All once, tension filled the air. Disapproval emanated from Daniel while behind her, Sam knew Colonel O'Neill was clenching his teeth.

'' It was an effective method of gaining the truth from an unwilling subject, Daniel Jackson,'' Teal'c put in loyally.

'' By denying a mother the right to...''

'' Dr Jackson, please. We've been through this,'' Hammond murmured depressingly.

'' Right,'' Sam said quickly, clearing her throat. '' Kind of the same approach the other Jack used, then.'' She'd glossed over the details earlier in an effort to shorten the briefing. '' I was locked up in the brig, interviewed firstly by the other Colonel, who flatly refused to believe I was who I said I was, then Daniel came in. Dr Fraiser verified who I was - in the other reality, Jolinar entered her through the back of the neck, not through the mouth and there some differences in broken bones and scars and things since Major Carter experienced a number of different missions on SG-1.''

'' So after that they knew you weren't her, then?'' Daniel queried.

'' Well, intellectually, everyone knew that. General Thomas certainly didn't care one way or another, but it took everyone else a while to adapt to the idea. I got the impression that Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter and Matthew were an integral part of the SGF. Everyone knew who they were - Matthew had to be brought in for check-ups to make sure there weren't any after effects of the naquadah in his blood... oh, have you had him tested? I mean, Jack told me that Matt's a bright kid.''

Hammond smiled. '' He certainly is. No doubt SG-1 will regale you with tales of how he broke into the SGC computers and caused havoc with the sprinkler systems, but that'll be for later. Major Carter did raise the Harcesis possibility and experts have been spoken to regarding his intelligence but all it seems to be natural. Jacob did come by and point out that both you and Mark starting reading, writing and talking earlier than most children. He's certainly not spouting Goa'uld.''

Sam smiled, relieved. '' Oh good. That means they can go home easily enough.'' She sighed, folded her hands on her lap. '' I guess it's all over then.''

'' Are you comfortable returning to SG-1, Major?''

She was slightly surprised. '' Of course, sir. I'm looking forward to it.''

'' Well, you'll have a week to readjust.''

'' Sure. Um, actually, Jack mentioned something the other day. While our realities are remarkably similar in some ways, the planets we have encountered have been different. The SGF has some technology we don't, and vice versa. If we keep the alternate reality open, for the time being at least, we could exchange info. I mean, I've been working a remote dialling computer here but when I got to the other reality, Major Carter was several steps ahead of me and I was able to virtually complete it. I'm sure there other situations which each side can use to their advantage.''

'' Good idea, Major. I shall speak to... the other Colonel O'Neill about it. Colonel? Do you have anything to add?''

This time, Sam decided it would be okay to turn and look at her CO. Since he was staring at her anyway, she met his eyes and shyly smiled.

'' Nothing to add, sir,'' Colonel O'Neill murmured. '' It's good to have Major Carter back, that's all. Anything else, General? We have unknown persons on the base and I'd like to see what they're up to.''

'' That's all SG-1. Dismissed.'' He nodded at them, then gestured at Sam to approach the desk. '' I've sent the order to have Jacob summoned. I know he'll want to see you.''

'' Thank you, General, I would like to see him too.''

'' Good. Without sounding redundant, Sam, it is good to have you back where you belong.''

This time, when she turned to leave, only Daniel was waiting for her. She closed the door behind her and embraced Daniel again, grinning across his shoulder. '' Man, you really did miss me.''

He drew back, put his hands on her shoulders and gave her a look of impossible weariness. '' Are you kidding? Jack's been like a bear with a sore paw for three months, Teal'c's not really the chatty type, and Major Carter has divided her time between your lab, trying to work out some way to get them home, and her son. Not that she wasn't nice, and all, but she wasn't you.''

'' Have you been on missions?''

'' No! Well, the odd dig, I suppose. Jack refused to leave while you weren't here, Major Carter only wanted to work on a way home and Teal'c sticks by Jack no matter what.'' He snorted. '' So, was the other Daniel, um, nice?''

'' The other Daniel was nice.''

'' You're not going to elaborate on that, are you?''

'' Captain Spanin?''

He shrunk slightly. '' Uh-oh.''

She giggled. '' That Daniel's going out with her. Anything you'd like to tell me?''

'' He's actually dating her? How did he manage that?''

'' I don't know. Ask Boyd. He'll know for sure. They're kinda best friends.''

'' Me and Boyd? Major Boyd?''

'' Well, he's a captain in that reality...''