"You okay carrying her, Carter?" Jack asked as he fell back in step with
his 2IC.
Sam shifted the infant in the crook of her arm so she could soothe her with her pinky to suck on. "I'm fine, sir."
'Here. Hang on." He touched her shoulder so she would stop, and took her P-90 from where it hung behind her. "Better?"
Sam looked up at him and smiled, the kind of small grin that usually managed to effectively punch him in the gut. "Thank you, sir."
Jack nodded and slipped the weapon strap over his head so the gun lay at a diagonal across his back. Up ahead of them, Teal'c paused to turn back to them.
"O'Neill. There is a village just over the next hill. The inhabitants appear to be primitive by Tau'ri standards."
"Sir, I need just a minute before we get there," Sam said, kneeling on the ground as she pulled the blankets back from Lorelei.
"She make a mess?"
"Not yet, but I think I know what to do to make it... um... less of a mess," she said, grinning up at him.
Jack looked back to Daniel and Teal'c. "You two go ahead. See if you can ask around and maybe find Elspeth's family, or someone who knows them. Someone in charge."
"'Kay, Jack," Daniel said, lifting his hand in a wave.
Teal'c just bowed his head and turned to walk away with Daniel. Jack watched Sam as she dug through the various pockets of her ALICE vest, pulling out some of the first aid items. She unfolded a large gauze and plastic pad designed for absorbing blood in a trauma situation and worked at wrapping it as best she could around the little girl to form a short- term diaper.
"Good thought, Carter."
"Yeah, well, I'd rather do this than deal with a soggy blanket later."
Jack pulled a roll of bandage tape from his vest. "Here. This should hold it in place."
"Thank you."
He watched her as she worked on – to use one of her favorite terms – MacGyvering a diaper of sorts. Jack suppressed his chuckle. Maybe she needed some duct tape...
But her tight expression and intent focus drew his attention. She pulled her lower lip through her teeth with almost a vengeance, her forehead drawn together tensely. Jack crouched down beside her, watching her as she seemed almost unaware of his closeness. He tapped her arm.
"Hey. Carter. What's up?"
Sam glanced at him. "I was just thinking about the things Elspeth said. That she was an outcast. For us to take Lorelei so her sin wouldn't be her daughter's sin. What do you suppose all that meant?"
"I don't know, but I don't think I'm going to like it when I find out."
The way her blue gaze met and held his, as she barely dipped her chin, told Jack she felt the same way. Something didn't sit right. Sam turned her focus again on Lorelei and finished bundling her.
"You ready to move?" Jack asked, still crouched beside her.
"Yes, sir."
"Do you want me to carry her for awhile?"
Her eyes flicked in his direction, and a small smile tipped her lips. "You know, Colonel, if I didn't know better I'd think you're itching to hold her. You just don't want to admit it."
"I just thought you might be tired of—"
Before he could finish, Lorelei was in the bend of his right arm and Sam was taking back her P-90. He could have bristled, acted awkward, made some sarcastic remark... but all such thoughts just disappeared.
It had been years since he held a baby. There had been nephews and nieces since Charlie was an infant, but they were all much older now. The slight weight was familiar, bringing back flashes of memories. Sitting in the rocker at two in the morning, rocking and talking in hushed whispers so Sara could sleep. Lying on his stomach on the living room rug so he could be face to face with his son, who was just learning his arms could hold him up. Wiggling, squirming bundles of energy with no way to burn it off but to giggle, smile and dance.
"Colonel?"
Jack looked up, immediately locking gazes with Sam who knelt beside him. Her hand rested on Lorelei, but her eyes were on him. Silent communication moved between them, just as it had grown to be for them over the years, and they both stood. Side by side, they walked in the direction Daniel and Teal'c had gone.
As they took a turn in the path, Sam spoke to say she saw Daniel and Teal'c approaching. Daniel in the lead, his long strides eating up the distance. As they grew nearer, Jack saw Daniel's expression twisted into an angry glare. He marched up to them, his floppy had crumpled tightly in his fisted hand.
"Daniel..." Jack said slowly. "What's up?"
"You might as well just turn around now, Jack. No use wasting your time," he nearly shouted, his voice several octaves higher than any of them were used to hearing. "Don't take her anywhere near that village!"
"Whoa, Daniel. Take it easy," Sam said, touching Daniel's arm. "What happened?"
Teal'c reached them, his pace not quite as angry and fueled as Daniel's. He stood behind Daniel, the end of his staff weapon set on the ground, and his usual stoic expression on his face.
"Teal'c, care to explain?"
Lorelei fussed, and without much thought, Jack slowly and gently bounced his arm, swaying her back to silence.
"The inhabitants of this planet are ones of great conviction. When Daniel Jackson told them of the woman we found in childbirth, and the daughter which came from her womb, they were most adamant we should bring the child at once."
"And this is bad, because...?"
"Because, Jack, they want to kill her," Daniel shouted.
"What?" Jack and Sam said in unison, then glanced at each other.
"In this place, Elspeth and her child are outcasts," Teal'c went on to explain, and Elspeth's words whispered in the back of Jack's thoughts. "Her child was conceived outside the vows of marriage, and when she would not name the father, for fear of death for both of them, she was cast from the village to live in the wilderness."
"It's amazing she lasted as long as she did without shelter and care," Daniel said, his voice just barely below a shout now yet still heavily laced with anger. "Jack, if she had lived long enough for us to bring her here, they would have stoned her on the spot. Those were her options, banishment or death by stoning."
"Just because she got pregnant?" Sam asked, her voice shooting up an octave.
"I knew many older civilizations had strict beliefs when it came to religion, and the punishment for breaking the laws of the church, but my GOD, Jack. They want to kill her. We can't leave her here." Daniel had reached a state of livid frenzy, waving his arms in argument, thrusting his finger back towards the way they had come.
"We're sure about this?" Jack ventured to ask.
"Indeed, O'Neill. In fact, I believe they may come in search of the babe if we do not take our leave of this planet."
Almost on cue, the sound of multiple people pushing their way through the undergrowth came from down the trail.
"Sir..."
"Jack, we need to go..."
But before either Sam's or Daniel's words were out of their mouths, Jack pushed Lorelei into Sam's arms. "Take her and head for the Gate. Go!"
Sam and Daniel took off, Daniel's hand pressed to her back to help her along. Teal'c and Jack hung back enough to make sure their progress would go unhindered. Jack didn't want to hurt any of these people, but if it came down to one of them or one of his people getting through the Gate, his people won.
They managed to stay ahead of the hunting party. Just far enough ahead that Jack saw them, but hopefully their departure had remained unseen. There were at least three-dozen men making their way through the forest.
As they neared the Gate, Jack and Teal'c closed the space between them. Lorelei was fussing again, and Sam stood at the base of the Gate steps with the baby curled against her shoulder as Daniel dialed.
"Let's move it, Daniel!"
Just as Jack shouted, the hunting party crested the hill and shouted out for them to stop. He made out only a handful of words from the cacophony of cries, but 'devil' and 'sinner' and 'death' burned in his ears. The DHD's center glowed red, and with a familiar and almost comforting 'kawoosh' the Gate engaged.
"Move it, kids."
Daniel and Teal'c moved up the steps, and Jack moved beside Sam to follow. As they reached the top, a volley of crude arrows buzzed by their heads, and on instinct Jack wrapped his arms around Sam and Lorelei as they both jumped through the event horizon.
"Unscheduled Off –World Activation."
General Hammond stood from behind his desk and left his office, heading down the stairs to the Gate Control Room.
"Do we have an IDC?"
"Coming through now, General. It's SG-1."
"They left less than three hours ago. Open the iris and call a medical team to the Gate room."
"Yes, sir."
General Hammond left the Control area and headed directly for the Gate room. Two things made him nervous. Teams that came home later than they were supposed to. And Teams that came home early.
An array of armed soldiers took up their posts along the base of the Gate ramp in anticipation of whomever came through, on the off chance they were not friend but foe. The even horizon shifted, and Dr. Jackson came through with Teal'c right behind. They both stepped clear and stopped, turning back to the Gate. General Hammond assumed in anticipation of the rest of the Team.
What he saw next shocked him. Colonel Jack O'Neill came through, with Major Samantha Carter held against his chest in what seemed to be an almost intimate embrace. Her body was turned into his and her face turned away.
"Shut the iris! Shut it down!" Colonel O'Neill ordered.
A split second later, the Titanium iris swirled into place and the electrifying buzz of the engaged Gate silenced as the connection was lost.
General Hammond approached the ramp as the doors opened and Doctor Frasier came in, leading her team.
"Colonel, report. What happened?"
But Jack was speaking to Major Carter, his arms still partially around her and his hands pressed against her back. Her head was down, and she nodded as she spoke, but no one could hear what they said.
"Colonel, what is going on?"
Colonel O'Neill finally dropped his hold on his 2IC, just as Dr. Jackson said "Well, General. It's an interesting story."
Just then, a collective gasp moved through the Gate room as a soft cry rang out and Major Carter turned, a bundled baby in her arms.
Sam shifted the infant in the crook of her arm so she could soothe her with her pinky to suck on. "I'm fine, sir."
'Here. Hang on." He touched her shoulder so she would stop, and took her P-90 from where it hung behind her. "Better?"
Sam looked up at him and smiled, the kind of small grin that usually managed to effectively punch him in the gut. "Thank you, sir."
Jack nodded and slipped the weapon strap over his head so the gun lay at a diagonal across his back. Up ahead of them, Teal'c paused to turn back to them.
"O'Neill. There is a village just over the next hill. The inhabitants appear to be primitive by Tau'ri standards."
"Sir, I need just a minute before we get there," Sam said, kneeling on the ground as she pulled the blankets back from Lorelei.
"She make a mess?"
"Not yet, but I think I know what to do to make it... um... less of a mess," she said, grinning up at him.
Jack looked back to Daniel and Teal'c. "You two go ahead. See if you can ask around and maybe find Elspeth's family, or someone who knows them. Someone in charge."
"'Kay, Jack," Daniel said, lifting his hand in a wave.
Teal'c just bowed his head and turned to walk away with Daniel. Jack watched Sam as she dug through the various pockets of her ALICE vest, pulling out some of the first aid items. She unfolded a large gauze and plastic pad designed for absorbing blood in a trauma situation and worked at wrapping it as best she could around the little girl to form a short- term diaper.
"Good thought, Carter."
"Yeah, well, I'd rather do this than deal with a soggy blanket later."
Jack pulled a roll of bandage tape from his vest. "Here. This should hold it in place."
"Thank you."
He watched her as she worked on – to use one of her favorite terms – MacGyvering a diaper of sorts. Jack suppressed his chuckle. Maybe she needed some duct tape...
But her tight expression and intent focus drew his attention. She pulled her lower lip through her teeth with almost a vengeance, her forehead drawn together tensely. Jack crouched down beside her, watching her as she seemed almost unaware of his closeness. He tapped her arm.
"Hey. Carter. What's up?"
Sam glanced at him. "I was just thinking about the things Elspeth said. That she was an outcast. For us to take Lorelei so her sin wouldn't be her daughter's sin. What do you suppose all that meant?"
"I don't know, but I don't think I'm going to like it when I find out."
The way her blue gaze met and held his, as she barely dipped her chin, told Jack she felt the same way. Something didn't sit right. Sam turned her focus again on Lorelei and finished bundling her.
"You ready to move?" Jack asked, still crouched beside her.
"Yes, sir."
"Do you want me to carry her for awhile?"
Her eyes flicked in his direction, and a small smile tipped her lips. "You know, Colonel, if I didn't know better I'd think you're itching to hold her. You just don't want to admit it."
"I just thought you might be tired of—"
Before he could finish, Lorelei was in the bend of his right arm and Sam was taking back her P-90. He could have bristled, acted awkward, made some sarcastic remark... but all such thoughts just disappeared.
It had been years since he held a baby. There had been nephews and nieces since Charlie was an infant, but they were all much older now. The slight weight was familiar, bringing back flashes of memories. Sitting in the rocker at two in the morning, rocking and talking in hushed whispers so Sara could sleep. Lying on his stomach on the living room rug so he could be face to face with his son, who was just learning his arms could hold him up. Wiggling, squirming bundles of energy with no way to burn it off but to giggle, smile and dance.
"Colonel?"
Jack looked up, immediately locking gazes with Sam who knelt beside him. Her hand rested on Lorelei, but her eyes were on him. Silent communication moved between them, just as it had grown to be for them over the years, and they both stood. Side by side, they walked in the direction Daniel and Teal'c had gone.
As they took a turn in the path, Sam spoke to say she saw Daniel and Teal'c approaching. Daniel in the lead, his long strides eating up the distance. As they grew nearer, Jack saw Daniel's expression twisted into an angry glare. He marched up to them, his floppy had crumpled tightly in his fisted hand.
"Daniel..." Jack said slowly. "What's up?"
"You might as well just turn around now, Jack. No use wasting your time," he nearly shouted, his voice several octaves higher than any of them were used to hearing. "Don't take her anywhere near that village!"
"Whoa, Daniel. Take it easy," Sam said, touching Daniel's arm. "What happened?"
Teal'c reached them, his pace not quite as angry and fueled as Daniel's. He stood behind Daniel, the end of his staff weapon set on the ground, and his usual stoic expression on his face.
"Teal'c, care to explain?"
Lorelei fussed, and without much thought, Jack slowly and gently bounced his arm, swaying her back to silence.
"The inhabitants of this planet are ones of great conviction. When Daniel Jackson told them of the woman we found in childbirth, and the daughter which came from her womb, they were most adamant we should bring the child at once."
"And this is bad, because...?"
"Because, Jack, they want to kill her," Daniel shouted.
"What?" Jack and Sam said in unison, then glanced at each other.
"In this place, Elspeth and her child are outcasts," Teal'c went on to explain, and Elspeth's words whispered in the back of Jack's thoughts. "Her child was conceived outside the vows of marriage, and when she would not name the father, for fear of death for both of them, she was cast from the village to live in the wilderness."
"It's amazing she lasted as long as she did without shelter and care," Daniel said, his voice just barely below a shout now yet still heavily laced with anger. "Jack, if she had lived long enough for us to bring her here, they would have stoned her on the spot. Those were her options, banishment or death by stoning."
"Just because she got pregnant?" Sam asked, her voice shooting up an octave.
"I knew many older civilizations had strict beliefs when it came to religion, and the punishment for breaking the laws of the church, but my GOD, Jack. They want to kill her. We can't leave her here." Daniel had reached a state of livid frenzy, waving his arms in argument, thrusting his finger back towards the way they had come.
"We're sure about this?" Jack ventured to ask.
"Indeed, O'Neill. In fact, I believe they may come in search of the babe if we do not take our leave of this planet."
Almost on cue, the sound of multiple people pushing their way through the undergrowth came from down the trail.
"Sir..."
"Jack, we need to go..."
But before either Sam's or Daniel's words were out of their mouths, Jack pushed Lorelei into Sam's arms. "Take her and head for the Gate. Go!"
Sam and Daniel took off, Daniel's hand pressed to her back to help her along. Teal'c and Jack hung back enough to make sure their progress would go unhindered. Jack didn't want to hurt any of these people, but if it came down to one of them or one of his people getting through the Gate, his people won.
They managed to stay ahead of the hunting party. Just far enough ahead that Jack saw them, but hopefully their departure had remained unseen. There were at least three-dozen men making their way through the forest.
As they neared the Gate, Jack and Teal'c closed the space between them. Lorelei was fussing again, and Sam stood at the base of the Gate steps with the baby curled against her shoulder as Daniel dialed.
"Let's move it, Daniel!"
Just as Jack shouted, the hunting party crested the hill and shouted out for them to stop. He made out only a handful of words from the cacophony of cries, but 'devil' and 'sinner' and 'death' burned in his ears. The DHD's center glowed red, and with a familiar and almost comforting 'kawoosh' the Gate engaged.
"Move it, kids."
Daniel and Teal'c moved up the steps, and Jack moved beside Sam to follow. As they reached the top, a volley of crude arrows buzzed by their heads, and on instinct Jack wrapped his arms around Sam and Lorelei as they both jumped through the event horizon.
"Unscheduled Off –World Activation."
General Hammond stood from behind his desk and left his office, heading down the stairs to the Gate Control Room.
"Do we have an IDC?"
"Coming through now, General. It's SG-1."
"They left less than three hours ago. Open the iris and call a medical team to the Gate room."
"Yes, sir."
General Hammond left the Control area and headed directly for the Gate room. Two things made him nervous. Teams that came home later than they were supposed to. And Teams that came home early.
An array of armed soldiers took up their posts along the base of the Gate ramp in anticipation of whomever came through, on the off chance they were not friend but foe. The even horizon shifted, and Dr. Jackson came through with Teal'c right behind. They both stepped clear and stopped, turning back to the Gate. General Hammond assumed in anticipation of the rest of the Team.
What he saw next shocked him. Colonel Jack O'Neill came through, with Major Samantha Carter held against his chest in what seemed to be an almost intimate embrace. Her body was turned into his and her face turned away.
"Shut the iris! Shut it down!" Colonel O'Neill ordered.
A split second later, the Titanium iris swirled into place and the electrifying buzz of the engaged Gate silenced as the connection was lost.
General Hammond approached the ramp as the doors opened and Doctor Frasier came in, leading her team.
"Colonel, report. What happened?"
But Jack was speaking to Major Carter, his arms still partially around her and his hands pressed against her back. Her head was down, and she nodded as she spoke, but no one could hear what they said.
"Colonel, what is going on?"
Colonel O'Neill finally dropped his hold on his 2IC, just as Dr. Jackson said "Well, General. It's an interesting story."
Just then, a collective gasp moved through the Gate room as a soft cry rang out and Major Carter turned, a bundled baby in her arms.