Title: C5 Nine lives or is it three?

Disclaimer: This I don't own anything, except Laura, crap again.

Notes: This could have gone so many ways, mostly death, which is what Rini wanted but Angel Leviathan wanted a happy ending so here it is… sort of.

"…We're here… Quickly… Out the way… You can't go in there… This has got to come out… Main artery… Half her lung… Should be dead already… Shit… 200… Come on… Back… Compromised baby?... Deliver… Close her up…"

"Wake up… Hear me?... Love you… Baby is fine… Wake up…"

"How long?... Five days… Ventilator… Have to give up soon…"

Laura heard her name being said and she fought to open her eyes. Gazing through the blurriness she saw Teal'c talking to a doctor and he was clearly angry. She tried to say his name but the tube down her throat stopped her so she attempted to reach out to him but her strength failed her and her eyes closed again. She dreamt of blood, cars, Teal'c and a baby cried through it all. The last brought her awake with a start and her hand went to her belly to find it had decreased in size. This made her panic and, despite her lack of energy, Laura's eyes opened wide and she struggled to sit up. The ICU nurse came running over and pushed her back down, answering her unvoiced question.

"Your baby is fine. We were forced to deliver her early because you couldn't take the strain. She's in the special care baby unit."

Laura relaxed before she waved her hand at the tube in her mouth.

"I'll have go get the doctor and ask him if he thinks its ok," the nurse answered.

Laura eyed the nurse, who nodded and pushed the call button for the doctor. Knowing it would take time for the doctor to arrive Laura tried to ask where Teal'c was but the nurse kept drawing a blank, which made her irate and this was wearing her out. The doctor arrived to find a conscious but distressed patient sweating in an intensive care bed.

"What's happening?" he asked the nurse.

"She woke up and started struggling. I've roughly told her what has happened to her baby but that's it. She wants the tube removed," the nurse replied.

"Ok Major Keighley. Now I want you to listen carefully to me. You've had a very traumatic time. I'm not sure how much you remember but after to arrived at the hospital you went straight into surgery where we removed the piece of metal. It had sliced through most of your left lung as well as nicking one of your main arteries. Now your left lung only has two lobes and so is smaller than the right one, which has three lobes. We were forced to remove half of your left lung so you will never be able to do what you were able to do before because you will have less oxygen entering your system. This means we have to be very careful about removing your oxygen supply," the doctor was straight forward with Laura.

She tried to nod but winced when the line into her neck pulled before gesturing to her ventilator.

"You're very stubborn," the nurse said, shaking her head.

Laura made an affirmative noise and the doctor sighed before nodding at the nurse who held Laura's head whilst the doctor pulled the tube from her throat. The reaction made Laura cough and the nurse let her take some sips of water to soothe her sore throat which had had a tube down it for over a week. After the drink Laura noticed the difference in her breathing and it felt like someone wouldn't let her take a proper breath both inside and out. It almost felt cold when she took a ragged breath. She coughed again before croaking at the doctor,

"Where is Teal'c?"

"He is with your baby. He has only left your side to see your little girl," the doctor told her.

Laura smiled weakly,

"I was right."

"About what?" the nurse asked.

"She's a girl. We didn't find out beforehand and there was a bet on a work," it was all Laura managed before her breath failed her.

"We'll inform him that you're awake," the doctor promised.

"No need," the nurse muttered as the door swung open.

Teal'c walked in, noticed that the doctor and nurse were standing by Laura's bed and took two strides to be at the bed. Laura noticed he looked tired, and worried she reached for his hand which he took, relief showing on his face.

"I've missed you," she said softly.

The doctor coughed slightly and then said,

"We'll leave you to it, but you are not to wear her out. She needs her rest." The last was directed at Teal'c, who nodded his understanding. The doctor left and the nurse resumed her rounds in ICU, giving Laura and Teal'c relative privacy. Teal'c pulled up a chair to the bedside, never letting go of Laura's hand.

"You look exhausted. You've been skipping Kelnorem haven't you?"

"I could not leave you here when I was unsure whether you would ever wake up," Teal'c admitted.

"Well I'm awake now. How is she?" Laura asked, every fibre of her being wanted to hold her baby.

"Beautiful, just like you said she would be," Teal'c smiled slightly as he remembered his new daughter.

Laura smiled, content in the knowledge that her child was safe and well.

"I have not had to watch you by myself. You have many friends who have sat with you," Teal'c told her.

"Everyone came?" Laura was slightly surprised. "How long…?"

"It has been eight days since the car accident," Teal'c knew what Laura was asking. "I have to make a phone call."

"Why?" Laura frowned.

"General Hammond asked me to contact him when you woke up."

"You didn't know that I'd wake up," Laura pointed out.

"I believe there is a human phrase to describe the way the everyone acted. Hope springs eternal," Teal'c remembered.

"Ah yes," Laura agreed before yawning. "Sorry."

"Sleep. You need it. I will make the phone call," Teal'c stood.

"You get some rest too," Laura instructed.

Teal'c leant forward and kissed Laura softly, making her smile.

"Still the best way to go to sleep," Laura muttered.

"So you're saying that she can't come back to work."

"Not to active service. It would put too much strain on her and she would probably pass out from the lack of oxygen."

Laura blinked, the voices were waking her up.

"Even months, years down the line?"

"Not ever."

I know those voices, Laura thought, brain not engaged. Colonel O'Neill and… and… the doctor!

"Have you told her this?" Jack asked.

"No. There was no time earlier and I don't think it was the right time either," the doctor pointed out.

They're talking about me, Laura thought before registering what had been said.

"Oh God," Laura said out loud.

The two men turned to her.

"Keighley! You're awake! How you doing?" Jack smiled.

"Been better," Laura answered before sighing. "But it's just got worse hasn't it? I heard what you said."

"Major Keighley…"

"Laura."

"…Laura. I know this is something of a shock to you but it isn't all that bad. You still have your life, your husband and your baby," the doctor tried to make her feel better.

Laura's mind flashed back to what she had said about the pregnancy when she'd first found out '…not in the middle of my career..' and it felt the same.

"What about other stuff like looking after the baby and then when she grows and wants to run around? Can I keep up or will I be one of those fat people sitting on the park bench, unable to do what I most want to do, simply play with my child?" Laura felt her eyes grow hot but she refused to cry.

"You should be able to do all that. I simply think that you're job is too active and stressful for you now," the doctor told her.

"He has a point," Jack pointed out. "About the stress. I mean look at me. Grey hair before my time!"

Laura's mouth jerked into a sort of smile before she said,

"May I have some time to think about this?"

"Of course," the doctor nodded and ushered Jack out.

"Later," he called.

"Yeah," Laura answered distractedly.

Shit I can't take this, Laura thought before pushing back the covers. She struggled to pull her legs round to the floor and she was panting by the time she was standing. Gripping her wheelie drip stand she staggered to the door, taking pains to be quiet so she wouldn't alert the nurse. She reached the door when it whooshed open in front of her to reveal Teal'c.

"Laura! What are you doing?" he asked, hands going out to her.

"Did you know?" she asked.

Teal'c bowed his head slightly before answering,

"Yes but I have not known long. You should not be out of bed."

"I can't stay here. I need fresh air or just get out of this room. Please," she begged.

Teal'c stared at her before picking her up and gently putting her in a wheelchair. He pushed her from the room and towards the elevator. Laura sighed, closing her eyes, trying to fight all her emotions and thoughts. She barely noticed the elevator doors shutting but when they opened Laura frowned.

"Where are we?"

"I thought that since you are awol that we may as well use the time wisely," Teal'c answered.

Laura opened her mouth to ask another question when she heard a baby crying and saw a midwife walk past.

"Maternity! You brought me to maternity," Laura gaped.

"Good afternoon Teal'c," a woman greeted him. "Who is this?"

"This is Laura. My child's mother," he told the obstetrician.

"You don't look well enough to be here," she noted, taking in Laura's pale, sweaty skin.

"I couldn't take any more of ICU," Laura replied before asking. "Can I see my baby?"

"Of course but not for too long," the woman led the way into the baby unit. Pushing open the door she explained that their little girl was small and weak from being premature but Laura didn't care when she saw her.

"May I hold her?" Laura asked softly, stretching up in her chair to see.

"Ok but this will one of the only times she has come out of her cot," the doctor unlatched the side panel.

"I have not been allowed to hold her yet," Teal'c watched the doctor lift the slight bundle out.

"You can hold her as well," Laura managed before she lost the ability to speak when she held her baby.

The pale mocha skin contrasted with the bright blue eyes and Laura had never seen anything quite as beautiful yet, somehow, it got even better when a small hand poked out from the blanket. Teal'c let the fingers wrap around one of his fingers and Laura began crying.

"Are you feeling alright?" Teal'c asked.

"Look Teal'c, look at our little family. It's so perfect, she so perfect. We make good babies," Laura lifted her face to him, smiling before to passed the baby to him.

Laura wasn't exactly a small woman but against Teal'c their daughter truly looked tiny. Teal'c held the baby on his outstretched forearms, head cradled in his hands and Laura found the strength to stand and kiss him then the baby.

"What shall we call her?" Teal'c raised the question.

"I think we should mix your culture and mine," Laura answered.

"I wish to honour Daniel Jackson's wife Shar're," Teal'c told her.

Laura frowned, thinking.

"How about Lai're?"

"It's a good name," Teal'c nodded.

"It's gonna be good times from now on," Laura said firmly.

A few weeks later Laura was allowed to leave and go home with her baby. Teal'c was given time off work to look after both of them since Laura was still not back to full health and a young baby was too much for her to cope with but soon he was back at work. Laura often came into the SGC to visit her friends and colleagues and she always brought Lai're with her.

"Lai're is asleep," Teal'c stated, walking through to the main bedroom.

"Good," Laura sighed before starting to get changed for bed.

Teal'c wrapped his arms around Laura's waist from behind and drew her to him. She lent back and closed her eyes, relaxing. Teal'c looked up to the mirror in front of them to see Laura properly, and then he lifted his hand and traced the scar down her arm from the night out over a year ago. Laura opened her eyes and watched him move his fingers to the Caesarian scar running across her belly. Lifting her arm Laura cradled Teal'c's head against hers and gave him access to her last scar. Teal'c followed the white line around her ribcage and turned Laura around to finish it.

"You have all these because of me," Teal'c whispered.

"No," Laura shook her head. "Don't think that. It always comes in three's but now it's over."

Teal'c smiled and kissed her.

The End