AUTHOR'S NOTES: This story was written in March-April 2002, and, at the time, was the longest story I'd ever written. At the time, they were just filming Season Six, and there was speculation about who and what characters would be returning. This was one of my offerings.

Consequences

Part One

"Fifth Chevron, locked!"

"So, Jack, did Captain Forrester specify why SG-1 was needed at the Edoran research station?" Daniel's question was clearly audible even over the noise of the Stargate's motion.

"No, Daniel, he didn't." The reply was terse, and for once, Daniel took the hint and shut up.

Major Samantha Carter carefully faced the Stargate, keeping her expression perfectly neutral. Certainly, Edora had some less pleasant memories for her, but that was no reason not to maintain professional composure. The research station had been in operation for nearly eighteen months now, and if there had been anything to report before this, surely this call would have come earlier - wouldn't it?

Still, she wished that she didn't have such an uncomfortable churning feeling in her stomach.

The blue-white wave billowed out like spume from a blowhole, settling to the rippling pond-like surface, and Sam put her doubts and fears behind her, walking up the ramp at the 'go ahead' nod from her CO.

She glanced over the huge arc of the metal ring with its arcane symbols and alien technology and a smile touched her face. The kind of skill and knowledge it would have taken to develop this wormhole portal never ceased to stun or humble her. She might be the foremost technical expert on the Earth Stargate, but her knowledge paled in comparison to the people who'd built the Stargate system in the first place.

She took one glance back at her team, arrayed out behind her, and then stepped through the event horizon and into the wormhole.

Five years of experience travelling through the Stargate had developed an iron stomach in Sam, and some useful guidelines. If she had any choice in the matter, she never went through a Stargate backwards, with a migraine, or after a big lunch. Of course, when given the choice between her migraine and her life, she usually chose her life.

She emerged from the Stargate in a sunny Edoran glade, her team mates a moment behind her.

An assortment of people stood waiting for them in the glade. She saw Captain Forrester of SG-12 looking worried, a set of parallel creases marking his brow. Behind him were an assortment of people, SG-12, some of the villagers, and a couple of scientists from the research station. Dr. Vernon waved cheerfully at her.

Her team mates emerged from the event horizon, and the wormhole disconnected behind them. The Colonel stumped down the stairs. "Captain Forrester."

"Colonel O'Neill." The man saluted and promptly began babbling. "I'm sorry, sir, but I didn't know what to do and this isn't exactly in the manual they give you when you first start 'gating..."

"Forrester, I've just been dragged from my week of downtime blissfully watching the reruns of last season's hockey playoffs to come here. Why don't you start by telling me..." He trailed off.

Behind Sam, Daniel inhaled sharply. She knew how he felt. Her palms felt clammy and her breath caught in her throat. Carefully, she swallowed and felt her stomach – in spite of having eaten over three hours ago – pump in the urge to retch.

"Fair Day, Jack."

The Colonel's mouth moved, but it took a moment for sound to come out, "Fair Day, Laira." He looked from her to the child she carried in her arms. A toddler, not more than two years old; dark-eyed and brown-haired. Emotion flickered across his face, "And this is..."

"My daughter, Mia." the Edoran woman said quietly.

The child studied Jack's face with her pretty, dark eyes, unaware of the consternation she was causing in four hearts. One hand was firmly embedded in her mouth as she sized up the man before her. Then a smile broke out on the baby features and she twisted from her mother's arms and opened her arms to him, demanding to be held.

Like a man in a dream, the Colonel took the child from her mother, shuffling his P-90 to one side and settling her in the crook of his arm. "Mia..."

Daniel's hand touched her elbow, steadying Sam, and she met his gaze squarely, then turned to Captain Forrester. "I take it this is why we were called here, Captain?" She kept her voice quiet, but sensed the Colonel turn anyway.

"Y...Yes, ma'am. I...didn't know what else to do..."

As well he wouldn't.

In her mind she heard her father's voice from long ago: Your emotions come second to the task that must be done, Sam. If you can't put your emotions away, then the Air Force has no use for you. She'd learned that lesson well, and while her control was not always perfect, she had practised doing what she didn't want to do, saying what she didn't want to say when her superiors didn't give the leeway to speak her mind freely.

"You did the right thing, Captain," she heard herself say, and gave him a smile she didn't quite feel. Then she turned to meet the opaque expression of her CO and felt a cold hand squeeze around her heart. "Sir, we'll be at the research station for the next few hours." The Colonel would want time to discuss the situation with Laira without his team looking over his shoulder.

Was there a glimmer of regret in his eyes as he met her gaze for a long still second? If so, it was swiftly masked, and he nodded. "Very well, Carter." He turned, and with Laira at his side, walked away from his team down the path that led to the village.

End of Part One