Part 20

Okay, so I've rewritten again! Got some feedback from Loriel who told me, as she always does, what did and what didn't make sense with the first version of this chapter. In other words she tells me what sucked and what didsn't! But being Loriel, she always said it in the nicest way possible! LoL! Well, apparently the end didn't make sense and it was too short and disjointed, so hopefully this is an improvement.

Hope you like.

~x~x~x~x~x~

"Okay, now push!"

"I don't want to push, it hurts!"

"That's okay, Colonel, you don't have to. Sam on the other hand does,"

"I don't want to push either!" Sam ground out, well aware that she was coming close to breaking Jack's fingers, but not really caring because at that precise moment, he was to blame for the fact that she was screaming in pain. Unfortunately, the fact that she could also feel his pain made her rethink things as her hand began to throb. She glanced at Jack, knowing that the pain in her stomach was reflected in his face and felt a slight bit sorry, that was until another contraction hit.

"Major, I really need you to push,"

"And I really need more drugs, but you refuse to cooperate, why should I?"

Janet raised her eyebrows. "Because I'm not the one with a baby's head sticking out of my-"

"Fine!"

"Aaaaahhhhhh," Jack and Sam squeezed each other's hands tighter, regretting it when the pain returned two-fold.

Sam, it'll be okay.

What would you know? Sam snapped. "Ahhhh!"

Shh, it's okay.

It hurts. God, Jack, it hurts so much.

I know, trust me, I do know. I always said I wanted to be really involved with the birth of any children I'd have, but this isn't quite what I meant. Sam laughed, but it soon turned into a noise of pain.

"Nearly there Sam, the head's completely out."

"It is?" she asked, amazed and Janet smiled.

"It is. Does daddy want to see?"

Jack nodded mutely and walked towards the bottom of the bed, Sam still clutching at his hand. "Wow."

"Okay, Sam, one last big push, okay?" Sam glanced at Jack and they exchanged smiles.

You're nearly a mamma, Sam. One more push and it all begins.

~x~x~x~x~x~

Daniel cleared his throat but it didn't seem to be making a difference. Jacob was still pacing, moving quickly two paces each way over the same spot. Daniel swore that he could see a hole forming in the carpet. Before they had even arrived, Jack had started to feel the pain of the contractions and it was lucky that Teal'c had happened along, or Daniel was pretty sure that he and Jacob would still have been struggling to help Jack to the infirmary.

"What's taking so long?"

Daniel resisted the urge to sigh or roll his eyes. Jacob had been asking the same question for the last four hours but Daniel hadn't wanted to answer. Sam's dad or not, the man was scary.

"I believe that human labour can take a lot longer than this, GeneralCarter."

"Yes, Teal'c I am aware of that, however my baby girl isn't anyone and I can't stand listening to this." He waved his arm, as if indicating the noise of Sam's cries that were emanating from inside the infirmary.

"She'll be fine, Jacob." The man sighed and turned to General Hammond as he joined them again. "Still no news I take it?"

Another cry of pain echoed through the closed door and Jacob winced. "Not unless you call that news."

"Relax, Jacob, she'll be fine,"

"I wish I could be so sure. But with the trouble her mother had giving birth to Mark, we thought we'd lose her. I couldn't stand it if-"

"She'll be fine."

Suddenly the noise stopped and they all stood, holding their breath until a piercing cry met the air. Without waiting for anyone to come and tell them, Jacob entered the infirmary, closely followed by the others and moved quickly to his daughter's bed. A smile broke out on his face as she came into view. She was sitting on the bed next to Jack, and bundled in her arms was his grandchild.

"Dad!"

Jacob smiled and moved closer to them, unable to keep his eyes of the baby in his daughter's arms. "It's beautiful, Sam," he looked up at her. "Just like her mother and her grandmother."

"It's a she, dad," Jack said with a smile and Jacob raised his eyebrows.

"She's beautiful, Sam," Daniel said with a smile. "Any idea on a name?"

Sam and Jack looked at each other and smiled. "Yes, Daniel, she has a name."

Jack smiled. "She's called Sha'uri,"

"Sha'uri?" Daniel asked, wonder evident in his voice. "You-you're calling her Sha'uri?"

Sam nodded and smiled as a tear trickled down Daniel's cheek. "Would you like to hold her?"

"I'd love to," Daniel smiled. "But I think her granddad gets to go first, don't you?"

"You betcha," Jack said with a smile, gently picking Sha'uri from her mother's arms. "Hey there, little girl." He turned to Jacob and carefully handed over Sha'uri before sitting back next to Sam and kissing her gently on the forehead.

"She's beautiful," Jacob said with awe. "She looks just like you did the day you were born."

"That's an O'Neill face, right there,"

Sam laughed and leaned against Jack as he and Jacob began to argue. Jack's thumb was rubbing against her cheek and she stared around the room; looking from her family to her friends; it was perfect, everything was perfect. The door suddenly opened and Sam grinned as Cassandra bounded into the room.

"Sam!" She moved straight to the bed and sat on the other side of her, reaching out to give her a hug. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Cassie," Sam smiled.

Cassie frowned and tilted her head to the side as if contemplating something. "You look different," she said with a smile.

Sam glanced at Jack before turning back to Cassie. "I look different? Different how?"

Cassie shrugged, "I don't know, just different." Sha'uri gave a cry and Cassie's eyes lit up. "Can I hold her?"

Sam glanced at Daniel, who was now holding his wife's namesake and smiled. "Of course you can."

As Cassie leaned over her and reached out for Sha'uri, she stopped and turned to Sam, her eyes wide. "Something's wrong," she whispered.

"What?" Sam sat up straight and looked at Cassie. "What's wr-ahhhhhhhh!" Sam clutched at her stomach and fell back onto the bed

"Everybody out!" Janet ran to the bed, making sure that everyone was being ushered out.

"I'm not moving," Jack said looking up at her, clutching at Sam's hand. Janet nodded and went to work.

Jack, what's happening?

Shh, it's okay.

No, it's not okay, why is it still sore?

Shh, you're fine, you're fine.

Who are you trying to convin- "Ahhhhhhhh!"

"For crying out loud, Janet, do something!"

"I'm trying, Colonel, now don't make me have you escorted out of here."

"I am not leaving her side."

"Then be quiet and let me work."

Jack turned back to Sam who was still writhing in pain on the bed, clutching at his hands. It'll all be okay, we'll be fine…

~x~x~x~x~x~

"I need to know that's happening in there, NOW!"

"Then yelling at me will not make a difference!"

"Stop it!" Both Generals turned to Cassandra. The girl was holding onto Sha'uri, tears streaming down her cheeks, and they were both silent. They glanced at each other and moved away from the others.

Jacob's eyes flashed yellow and General Hammond had to bite back the urge to jump away. "Jacob is in no state to talk at the moment, General Hammond."

Hammond nodded. "I realised that. Selmac, there is nothing I can do here but-"

"Jacob knows. But you are an old friend and that makes you an easier target for his anger."

The General nodded and sighed. "I know."

"I believe you should let Jacob into the room."

"I can't do that, Selmac. The Doctor needs to work on her and-"

"And if she fails, Samantha will die." There was a silence and Selmac smiled, before reaching into his robes and pulling out an object. "Let us enter, General Hammond." Hammond nodded and they all ran into the room, not all that pleased at what greeted them. Medical personnel were running all everywhere, but Sam was still writing in pain.

"Janet, what's happening?" Jack looked at Sam, his eyes frantic.

"She's- General, now is not the time for visitors!"

Jack turned to see the others entering the room. "Help her!"

"That's why I'm here, Jack," Jacob moved quickly to his daughter's side and raised his arm, the stone on the Goul'd device humming to life. "You'll need to let her go."

Reluctantly, but quickly, Jack let go of Sam and stepped away from her as tears slid from his eyes. He couldn't lose her, he wasn't allowed to lose her. "What's happening? Why isn't it working?"

"I don't know!"

"Then-"

The room was suddenly plunged into darkness and it was at that moment that Jack realised something. He wasn't feeling Sam's pain. There was pandemonium in the infirmary as Janet tried desperately to get some light, but everything stopped as a silver glow began to emanate from Sam's bed.

"Kly nyoha'ra Manat'maha,"

The words echoed through the room in a silent whisper as Sam's body began to float off the bed, bathed in silver light. No, Jack realised that the silver light was coming from her. She floated high through the air and stopped just below the ceiling. A moment later she was joined by another light and it took Jack a moment to realise that it was Nilke.

The two women stayed there silently for a moment, the silver light humming off them, reaching a crescendo of light until no one could see clearly. Jack closed his eyes and heard, as if in his mind, that his child was crying. Without stopping to wonder how he knew this, or how he knew where to go, Jack moved to Cassandra and gently picked up the child, shushing it back and forth as the light continued to grow. There was an eerie whine and as the word, "Manat'maha" echoed through the room, the light erupted and then disappeared.

Jack took a moment to regain his sight before turning to Sam's bed. It was empty.

~x~x~x~x~x~

End of Chapter 20

Okay, I know! *Kyi ducks flying objects* I had another ending all planned out, but I think I'm likely to use this one *Kyi ducks again*


There will be an epilogue and I did say the ending would hold for a sequel if it was wanted (I got shouted at by a reviewer last time for even asking and told one would be wanted! So assume so), Trust me, it'll all be okay in the end! PROMISE! ;-p (If you know me, you'll know that as much as I love cliff-hangers, I'm a hopeless romantic and I MUST HAVE a happy ending in the long run!)

Reviews always welcome, please don't shout at me! ;-p j/k