Hello, I'm back. Frankly I'd be surprised if anyone was bothered reading this anymore. I feel so guilty for neglecting this story but I haven't been able to think of anything. You should see how many times I wrote and rewrote this chapter. I still don't think it's good enough but it was getting a bit desperate. So, on with the show.

Chapter 8

"Sam, Sam, Sam!" Begged Eve, her voice rising in desperation. One hand was wrapped around her distended belly whilst the other was fisted around Sam's shoulder. "Please wake up!" She barely managed to whisper before stifling a sob. She shook the sleeping Major with as much strength as she could muster before falling to her knees.

Sam blinked away sleep rapidly and adjusted her eyes to the dark. She leaned over to look at her clock and sighed. She put a hand over her eyes remembering where she was and wondering what had woken her.

"Sam?" The voice was weak and wavering, filled with so much sorrow that Sam's heart broke. She pulled the hand off her eyes and used it to lever her, and her heavily rounded stomach, into a sitting position. She swallowed back the faint acidic taste and roll of nausea that rolled up from her stomach. She leaned over the side of the bed and groaned.

"Oh no, Eve?" She took in her friends shaking form with a sinking feeling, this day had been inevitable. Bright green eyes stared up at her through a sheen of tears and sweat streaked chestnut curls.

"Sam, the baby..." a sob tore itself free and she shook her head in a determined fashion, "this can't happen to me. They can't take my baby. Please?" Her voice broke and she gazed pleadingly at Sam. She avoided the eyes that fixed onto her and called out for help. She didn't answer. Instead she swung her legs onto the floor and knelt beside the trembling, petrified woman.

"OK, we have to get you onto the bed." She used a coaxing tone of voice usually reserved for small children. Looping her arms underneath Eve's armpits she hoisted her into a standing position. It wasn't easy because Eve was in so much pain she kept trying to double over and curl on the floor again.

"Sweety, come on." With an immense amount of effort by both they managed to get Eve onto Sam's bed. She sank back on the pillows, face creased in pain as another contraction started. Sam leaned against the wall and wiped away the sweat that was beading on her forehead and threatening to trickle into her eyes.

"I'm going to get Talia." She said eventually, before adding "You'll be OK on your own for a minute."

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"...Yes Sir. I understand." Sighed General Hammond into the red phone. "I will Sir." He assured the President and placed the phone back into its cradle. He rubbed a hand over his face tiredly and sighed. He had just reported SG1 Missing In Action and it made his heart sink lower than it had in months. He exited his office via the door that lead into the main briefing room and stood in front of the window. The Stargate lay dormant as did the embarkation room, only a few soldiers guarded the entrances.

It had been drawing him to it every day like a magnet attracts metal. Through every briefing and debriefing he had fought the urge to keep looking at the large grey circle. He had been so distracted on several occasions that Doctor Frasier had started advising him to take some time off. As of yet he hadn't left the base since the day SG1 went missing.

Without warning a voice announced 'Incoming Traveler' and red lights began to flash. General Hammond tried not to rush into the control room. The technician on duty wouldn't meet his gaze which told him what he wanted to know.

"It's SG5 Sir." He tried to bottle his disappointment and let himself feel the relief that another team had returned home safely.

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Eve lay on the bed, head pressed into the pillows and legs apart. Talia stood at the end of the bed while Sam was stood next to it. Eve's arm was snaked round Sam's who was trying to bite back her own cries of anguish as her friend gripped harder.

"One more." Talia smiled in broken English, "Good, good."

"Come on Eve, you can do it. Just one more push." While Talia provided the odd bit of information Sam offered constant reassurance. The old woman kept smiling and repeating 'one more' over and over. When the final contraction hit her Eve couldn't help it, she screamed putting everything behind the last push. A baby began wailing.

"You have a baby boy." She was informed by Sam who watched Talia carefully tend to him. The grip on her arm tightened even more.

"No, I don't." She sobbed, "I want him so much and they're going to take him away." As she said this the heavy gold door swung open and three mist creatures slithered in. They merged with the shadows that were cast in the room, they were hardly visible at all apart from ruby coloured eyes narrowed into slits.

Talia couldn't do anything as they seized the tiny infant from her arms. Eve was even more helpless, drained of all her strength watching as her son was taken from the room. With a wild scream she buried her head in Sam and began to sob hoarsely. Even when the door was closed the little boys wails could be heard for a few minutes more and when everything was silent Eve began to cry even more.

"I want to go home." She whispered finally, "I want my husband and I want my baby." She was too exhausted to do anything other than lie and weep silently. Sam sat with her until the early hours of the morning when they both fell asleep.

If you have read this, thank you. It hasn't been updated for months. All I can do is grovel and beg forgiveness. As always, please review.

Coffee Bean

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