"She appears to be in good health. Perhaps a little underweight by our
standards, but if I understand the mother's living conditions, I'd say
she's doing very well considering," Janet explained, seated at the
debriefing table with a brand new medical folder open in front of her.
"Do you have any reason to suspect she might be a danger? Speaking strictly biologically," General Hammond asked.
Sam sat silent, her hands clenched tightly together in her lap. They had returned with Lorelei and hour before, and she wanted to see her. She didn't understand the almost overwhelming need, but it twisted in her chest and made her tense and nervous.
"Not at all, sir. My only concern is feeding her at this point. We don't know what will be compatible to her genetic make up. Right now, we're putting her or an easily digestible newborn formula. We'll have to wait and see how she reacts."
Sam shifted in her chair, feeling hot and smothered. She needed air. Like a gentle touch on her shoulder, she felt his gaze move on her. Sam swallowed and glanced in Jack's direction.
He sat across from her, his tall frame bent forward over the table top, his hands clasped together loosely in front of him. But his dark gaze was on her. Watching her. Reading her. She knew it as well as if she were doing it herself.
One eyebrow arched. You okay?
She dipped her chin in an abbreviated nod. It was enough for him to see.
"What do you suggest we do now, Doctor Frasier?" General Hammond asked.
"Well, sir... in a way, this is a similar situation to when we brought Cassandra through. And yet, it's different. Lorelei will never remember where she came from, or this place, unlike Cassie. But she is, in all actuality, an alien. Whoever becomes responsible for her care should be made to understand where she came from and how she came to be here. It's an interesting situation."
"And one I intend to discuss with the President. But until such a time as a suitable home is found, we need to put her somewhere. The SGC infirmary is far from an appropriate nursery."
"Well, she should stay a little longer, sir. She is, after all, a newborn."
"Understood, Doctor. I'll let you know as soon as I have a temporary placement."
"Yes, sir."
Everyone around the table moved to their feet. Before Janet could leave the room, Sam managed to dodge moving chairs and departing bodies to catch up with her, touching her friend's arm.
"Janet?"
"What's up, Sam?"
"Could I visit Lorelei?"
Janet smiled. "Of course. I feel badly, because as young as she is she really needs that human contact, but I'm not exactly staffed to run a nursery."
"Thank you."
She walked with Janet to the infirmary and immediately moved to the makeshift bed they'd created on a cot in the furthest corner of the room, away from most of the hustle and bustle. A white curtain was pulled around to partially block the bassinet, and Sam slipped behind it, looking down at the sleeping baby.
Lorelei was all cleaned up now, better than Sam had been able to manage on the planet. She slept on her back, swaddled in a white blanket. Bright red lips pulled together into a heart-shaped pout, her chin working to suckle on something only in her dreams. Her skin was fair, with a rosy flush in her cheeks, and a soft downy layer of light brown hair dusted her head.
Something Sam didn't understand pushed out from her chest. A yearning she had never experienced before. She leaned over the bed and laid her palm over Lorelei's head, stroking the soft hair. Lorelei pulled in a deep breath, her body shuddering as she released it in sleep.
"She doin' okay?"
Sam knew he was there just an instant before he spoke, so his softly spoken deep voice didn't surprise her. Jack stepped behind her, close enough to look over her shoulder but not so close that any part of him touched her.
"She's sleeping. Isn't she beautiful, sir?"
"Yeah."
The heavy quality of his voice brought Sam's head up, and she looked over her shoulder at her commanding officer. His dark gaze was on Lorelei, his hands shoved into the front pockets of his BDU's. His arms worked in small motions, as if antsy.
He wanted to touch Lorelei...
Sam hid her smile by turning away. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, watching Jack with Lorelei while they were still on the planet had effected her. How, she couldn't quite define, but it happened nonetheless. The way he automatically began to sway his body when she fussed, so natural and easy. Sometimes she forgot that he had been a father, and seeing his ease with Lorelei, she was willing to bet he had been a great one.
She also remembered, with vivid detail, the way he had protectively pulled her and Lorelei to his chest as they stepped through the gate. Protecting them both from the meager attack. And he hadn't released her on the other side, not until he knew she had her bearings and that they both were okay. His hands had supported her, the effect of his touch not diminished by the heavy layers of material that kept his skin from hers. And he bent his head to look down at Lorelei, speaking softly and making sure they were fine.
"You can hold her if you want," Janet said from the edge of the curtain.
Sam looked up, and sensed Jack's single step backwards, creating just a little bit larger buffer zone between them.
"She's asleep."
"That's okay. Babies grow stronger and faster when they're held. Even if she's asleep, she knows someone is loving her."
Sam's chest pulled again, and her throat tightened. What was wrong with her?
"Go ahead. You too, Colonel. Feel free to pay as much attention to her as you'd like. In fact, it's time for her to eat," Janet said as one of the nurses came over with a small bottle of formula, handing it to her. "Would one of you like to feed her?"
Sam shook her head. "Oh, no. I couldn't. I've never... not even my nephew and niece."
"Well, then. Colonel, you win," Janet said, handing the bottle to Jack. "I'll have Amy bring in a chair."
"O...kay," Jack said, taking the bottle.
As the nurse went to retrieve a chair, Jack handed the bottle to Sam to reach for Lorelei. Sam stepped back as he deftly lifted Lorelei from the bed, setting her against his shoulder as she mewled softly, coming awake. Jan returned with the chair, sliding it behind the curtain, and Jack sat.
Minutes later, Sam was sitting on the end of the cot watching Colonel Jack O'Neill feed a baby. It was a surreal and silencing thing. She couldn't keep her gaze from his face. His features were relaxed, the smallest hint of a smile at the corner of his nice lips. He held her in the bend of his arm, high on his chest. Close enough to his heart that with just the slightest bend of his neck, he could press a kiss to her forehead if he wanted.
Lorelei's mouth smacked as she momentarily lost her suction on the nipple, and Jack chuckled. The sound sent a shiver over Sam's entire body. She licked her lips and swallowed hard before finding her voice.
"She's hungry, huh?"
"Sure is. I think Doc Frasier's gonna have to move her up to six ounces soon."
Sometimes, Sam thought she knew Jack better than anyone else she had ever known. She had learned to read his body language, anticipate his decisions, and sense his presence. He was a strategic genius, and an amazing leader. A man of few words, yet a man who could say a thousand things in a single glance. She knew, they had shared many a conversation that consisted of little more than a dozen words with everything else expressed in the very things not said.
Yet, she found herself amazed as this new Jack. A man who knew to stop and burp a baby half way through a bottle. Who knew just how to stroke her back in an upward circular motion to relieve the pressure and produce the soft, delicate belch. And who knew just how much formula a baby would eat.
"You're good at that," she said before her rational mind kicked in and told her to keep her mouth shut.
Jack looked up again, and their gazes held for two heartbeats longer than was prudent. "Yeah, well. It's been awhile. I'm rusty."
Before Sam could say anything, apologize for her lack of tact, Janet returned.
"I have news. We've found someone to take Lorelei."
Sam straightened and stood. Jack remained in his spot, Lorelei again asleep in his arms.
"Who?" Sam asked.
Janet looked at her for a long moment, then smiled. "You."
Sam's eyes popped wide and she stuttered. "What? Me?"
"I just spoke with General Hammond. He thinks it's a good idea. Lorelei is already familiar with you, even though she's not even a day old. That makes a difference. He has taken SG-1 off the mission schedule until we find a permanent home for her, and until then, you are her caregiver."
Sam slowly turned her head and looked down at Jack, or more at Lorelei, but she couldn't look at one without seeing the other. Panic collided with a giddy kind of happiness she couldn't explain. She crossed her arms over her body to try and rein it all in.
"She can go home today. I don't have any reason to keep her."
Panic just took over completely....
"Do you have any reason to suspect she might be a danger? Speaking strictly biologically," General Hammond asked.
Sam sat silent, her hands clenched tightly together in her lap. They had returned with Lorelei and hour before, and she wanted to see her. She didn't understand the almost overwhelming need, but it twisted in her chest and made her tense and nervous.
"Not at all, sir. My only concern is feeding her at this point. We don't know what will be compatible to her genetic make up. Right now, we're putting her or an easily digestible newborn formula. We'll have to wait and see how she reacts."
Sam shifted in her chair, feeling hot and smothered. She needed air. Like a gentle touch on her shoulder, she felt his gaze move on her. Sam swallowed and glanced in Jack's direction.
He sat across from her, his tall frame bent forward over the table top, his hands clasped together loosely in front of him. But his dark gaze was on her. Watching her. Reading her. She knew it as well as if she were doing it herself.
One eyebrow arched. You okay?
She dipped her chin in an abbreviated nod. It was enough for him to see.
"What do you suggest we do now, Doctor Frasier?" General Hammond asked.
"Well, sir... in a way, this is a similar situation to when we brought Cassandra through. And yet, it's different. Lorelei will never remember where she came from, or this place, unlike Cassie. But she is, in all actuality, an alien. Whoever becomes responsible for her care should be made to understand where she came from and how she came to be here. It's an interesting situation."
"And one I intend to discuss with the President. But until such a time as a suitable home is found, we need to put her somewhere. The SGC infirmary is far from an appropriate nursery."
"Well, she should stay a little longer, sir. She is, after all, a newborn."
"Understood, Doctor. I'll let you know as soon as I have a temporary placement."
"Yes, sir."
Everyone around the table moved to their feet. Before Janet could leave the room, Sam managed to dodge moving chairs and departing bodies to catch up with her, touching her friend's arm.
"Janet?"
"What's up, Sam?"
"Could I visit Lorelei?"
Janet smiled. "Of course. I feel badly, because as young as she is she really needs that human contact, but I'm not exactly staffed to run a nursery."
"Thank you."
She walked with Janet to the infirmary and immediately moved to the makeshift bed they'd created on a cot in the furthest corner of the room, away from most of the hustle and bustle. A white curtain was pulled around to partially block the bassinet, and Sam slipped behind it, looking down at the sleeping baby.
Lorelei was all cleaned up now, better than Sam had been able to manage on the planet. She slept on her back, swaddled in a white blanket. Bright red lips pulled together into a heart-shaped pout, her chin working to suckle on something only in her dreams. Her skin was fair, with a rosy flush in her cheeks, and a soft downy layer of light brown hair dusted her head.
Something Sam didn't understand pushed out from her chest. A yearning she had never experienced before. She leaned over the bed and laid her palm over Lorelei's head, stroking the soft hair. Lorelei pulled in a deep breath, her body shuddering as she released it in sleep.
"She doin' okay?"
Sam knew he was there just an instant before he spoke, so his softly spoken deep voice didn't surprise her. Jack stepped behind her, close enough to look over her shoulder but not so close that any part of him touched her.
"She's sleeping. Isn't she beautiful, sir?"
"Yeah."
The heavy quality of his voice brought Sam's head up, and she looked over her shoulder at her commanding officer. His dark gaze was on Lorelei, his hands shoved into the front pockets of his BDU's. His arms worked in small motions, as if antsy.
He wanted to touch Lorelei...
Sam hid her smile by turning away. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, watching Jack with Lorelei while they were still on the planet had effected her. How, she couldn't quite define, but it happened nonetheless. The way he automatically began to sway his body when she fussed, so natural and easy. Sometimes she forgot that he had been a father, and seeing his ease with Lorelei, she was willing to bet he had been a great one.
She also remembered, with vivid detail, the way he had protectively pulled her and Lorelei to his chest as they stepped through the gate. Protecting them both from the meager attack. And he hadn't released her on the other side, not until he knew she had her bearings and that they both were okay. His hands had supported her, the effect of his touch not diminished by the heavy layers of material that kept his skin from hers. And he bent his head to look down at Lorelei, speaking softly and making sure they were fine.
"You can hold her if you want," Janet said from the edge of the curtain.
Sam looked up, and sensed Jack's single step backwards, creating just a little bit larger buffer zone between them.
"She's asleep."
"That's okay. Babies grow stronger and faster when they're held. Even if she's asleep, she knows someone is loving her."
Sam's chest pulled again, and her throat tightened. What was wrong with her?
"Go ahead. You too, Colonel. Feel free to pay as much attention to her as you'd like. In fact, it's time for her to eat," Janet said as one of the nurses came over with a small bottle of formula, handing it to her. "Would one of you like to feed her?"
Sam shook her head. "Oh, no. I couldn't. I've never... not even my nephew and niece."
"Well, then. Colonel, you win," Janet said, handing the bottle to Jack. "I'll have Amy bring in a chair."
"O...kay," Jack said, taking the bottle.
As the nurse went to retrieve a chair, Jack handed the bottle to Sam to reach for Lorelei. Sam stepped back as he deftly lifted Lorelei from the bed, setting her against his shoulder as she mewled softly, coming awake. Jan returned with the chair, sliding it behind the curtain, and Jack sat.
Minutes later, Sam was sitting on the end of the cot watching Colonel Jack O'Neill feed a baby. It was a surreal and silencing thing. She couldn't keep her gaze from his face. His features were relaxed, the smallest hint of a smile at the corner of his nice lips. He held her in the bend of his arm, high on his chest. Close enough to his heart that with just the slightest bend of his neck, he could press a kiss to her forehead if he wanted.
Lorelei's mouth smacked as she momentarily lost her suction on the nipple, and Jack chuckled. The sound sent a shiver over Sam's entire body. She licked her lips and swallowed hard before finding her voice.
"She's hungry, huh?"
"Sure is. I think Doc Frasier's gonna have to move her up to six ounces soon."
Sometimes, Sam thought she knew Jack better than anyone else she had ever known. She had learned to read his body language, anticipate his decisions, and sense his presence. He was a strategic genius, and an amazing leader. A man of few words, yet a man who could say a thousand things in a single glance. She knew, they had shared many a conversation that consisted of little more than a dozen words with everything else expressed in the very things not said.
Yet, she found herself amazed as this new Jack. A man who knew to stop and burp a baby half way through a bottle. Who knew just how to stroke her back in an upward circular motion to relieve the pressure and produce the soft, delicate belch. And who knew just how much formula a baby would eat.
"You're good at that," she said before her rational mind kicked in and told her to keep her mouth shut.
Jack looked up again, and their gazes held for two heartbeats longer than was prudent. "Yeah, well. It's been awhile. I'm rusty."
Before Sam could say anything, apologize for her lack of tact, Janet returned.
"I have news. We've found someone to take Lorelei."
Sam straightened and stood. Jack remained in his spot, Lorelei again asleep in his arms.
"Who?" Sam asked.
Janet looked at her for a long moment, then smiled. "You."
Sam's eyes popped wide and she stuttered. "What? Me?"
"I just spoke with General Hammond. He thinks it's a good idea. Lorelei is already familiar with you, even though she's not even a day old. That makes a difference. He has taken SG-1 off the mission schedule until we find a permanent home for her, and until then, you are her caregiver."
Sam slowly turned her head and looked down at Jack, or more at Lorelei, but she couldn't look at one without seeing the other. Panic collided with a giddy kind of happiness she couldn't explain. She crossed her arms over her body to try and rein it all in.
"She can go home today. I don't have any reason to keep her."
Panic just took over completely....