As Janet examined the children, aided by the fact that they'd brought their medical files through the mirror with them, General Hammond had had SG-1 (minus Teal'c who was off world with the rebel Jaffa) paged to the infirmary.
C.J., who was getting restless and anxious to get out of the infirmary, had started to pace around, still carrying Trey. When SG-1 entered the room C.J. being paralyzed with shock at seeing Jack and Sam almost dropped Trey. Of all the scenarios he'd thought of the thought that he might see his parents again after five years had never crossed his mind.
"Are we in heaven?" Trey quietly asked his brother. Trey's out of the blue and unexpected question succeeded in pulling C.J. from his paralyzed state.
"What...? No, no we're not in heaven." C.J. hurriedly reassured his little brother. "Why would you think something like that?"
"Because Mommy and Daddy and Uncle Danny and Aunt Janet and Grandpa George are all here." This caused all of the adults to look at the two boys with a mix of confusion and curiosity.
"Look I know this is all very confusing, but you remember what we talked about right?"
"Yeah, but you never said Mommy and Daddy would be here."
"I know, I know and that was all my bad. I'll admit the thought that they might be here never even crossed my mind, but you just got to go with the flow, ok?" Getting a nod from Trey, C.J. turned to the adults in the room. "I guess it's time for an explanation now uh?"
"Yes it is. Why don't you start by telling us your names?" General Hammond suggested.
"Fair enough. My name is C.J. O'Neill and the half pint here is my little brother Trey." Looking at Jack and Sam," And as may or may not have figured out our parents are Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter." Done with his half of the introductions C.J. indicated for Shayla to take the floor.
"My name is Shayla Jackson," Shayla began, and then looked at Ryan who had once again attached himself to Janet's legs, "And that would be my little brother Ryan. I'm pretty sure you can figure out who our parents are."
While Shayla had been making her introductions C.J. had noticed how tired and worn out the two younger boys looked and decided it would probably be better to put the two to bed and move the discussion else where.
So about 15-20 minutes later the group minus the younger boys was sat around the briefing room table.
"All right so here's the deal, short version of this story is that two days ago the Goa'uld attacked earth. We kicked butt for a little while, but in the end we got our butts kicked. Since the Goa'uld had been able to dial in and block out escape to the Alpha site our families sent us through the quantum mirror for safety."
"And the long version?" Jack wanted to know. He was still trying to get over the fact that he and Sam had kids, even if it was in another reality.
"The longer version can get a bit complicated to explain." Shayla jumped in before C.J. could run his mouth off. Shayla was worried about how seeing his dad again was effecting C.J. "And I'm not really sure were to start."
"Why don't you start from the beginning?" Daniel suggested, he like Jack was trying to get over the fact that he and Janet had kids together, not that he wasn't thrilled. He and Janet had started dating a few months ago and Daniel had been hoping there might be a chance for more.
"Ok I'm going to assume that everything from the gate being found in Egypt to Daniel making it work, you going through to Abydos and killing Ra, etc. etc. all basically happened the same way here as in our reality." C.J. once again picked up the story. "But in our reality a few years after the program started, my parents were stranded off world for a few years, I don't really know any details about that.
I was born about a year after they were stranded and spent the first years of my life living off world. After finally being 'rescued' we moved to earth and not for lack of trying it wasn't until I was ten years old before Trey was born, had something to do with the naquada in our mom's blood. Two days ago the Goa'uld attacked earth and here we are. That's my side of the story, Shayla."
"Ok right my side. Basically a little while after Jack and Sam were declared missing and presumed dead my parents, after dating forever, finally got married. I, ironically, was born 24 hours and 35 minutes after C.J. Anyway mom and dad felt they had their hands pretty well full with Cassie, and me so decided two kids were enough. Of course when Cassie went off to college and I started to get a life outside the house, they got kind of lonely and thus Ryan was born, two months before Trey I might add. You pretty much know the rest."
"We were more than ready to stay and help defend the base, but when it became obvious that we were going to lose my grandpa Jake, just before he died, made me promise I would take care of and keep Trey safe."
"I also promised my parents the same thing about Ryan just before...before they died." Seeing that the events of the last few days were starting to catch up with Shayla, C.J. took a hold of her hand and gently pulled her into a comforting hug.
Still holding Shayla, C.J. turned and addressed the others, "I know that we're in no position to be making demands or requests and we don't want you to feel like you're obligated to take us in or anything. I'm sure there are other places we could go, but before you make any choices please take into account the fact that in most realities earth ain't doing so hot against the Goa'uld. And those two kids sleeping in the infirmary right know deserve the chance to grow up in a world free of the Goa'uld."
"Although I'll need to consult with my superiors, ultimately the decision will be up to you four." General Hammond spoke to Jack, Sam, Daniel, and Janet. Then to the kids, "In the mean time you two and your siblings are welcome to stay here on the base. If there's nothing else you're all dismissed."
"Thanks." Both C.J. and Shayla thanked the general, and then turned to leave with the others.
"Just out of curiosity what does C.J. stand for, if anything?" Sam asked C.J. as she walked out of the room with him.
"It's part of my initials. My full name is Carter Jacob O'Neill. When it came time to name Dad insisted that it was only fair to name me Carter, since I was just as much a Carter as I was an O'Neill."
The rest of the journey to the infirmary was spent with C.J. and Shayla receiving all kinds of questions about themselves and their siblings. Getting closer to the infirmary C.J. once again began to hesitate and slow his pace. As illogical as it was C.J. couldn't help it, in a way he'd always felt uncomfortable there, but these last five years or so he down right tried everything he could to avoid stepping foot any where near the place.
With their hands still linked Shayla gave C.J.'s hand a reassuring squeeze and also gave him a supportive look.
"Is everything alright?" Janet asked at seeing C.J.'s hesitation and the silent communication between the two.
"Yeah fine, it's just that the infirmary isn't exactly my favorite place to be. Nothing personal, I just don't...you know?" C.J. answered. "I don't have a whole lot of fond memories about the place." Excepting his answer they continued along their way.
"Wait before you go inside, there's one thing I'd like to know," Jack halted C.J. and Shayla, right outside the infirmary. "Something's been bugging me since this started. Before in the infirmary you said the thought of us" indicates himself and Sam, "Being here never crossed your mind and in the briefing room you mentioned Daniel, Janet, and even Jacob but not really about us. Why was that? I mean where were we these last few days?"
"You were both dead, have been for the last five years. Died about a month after Trey was born." The emotionless somber way C.J. said this wasn't what confused Jack, but the cold, harsh, accusingly anguish filled look that C.J. gave Jack, just before walking into the infirmary.
"What was that all about?" Jack directed his question to Shayla.
"Don't take it as anything against you personally, it's just that the you in our reality wasn't exactly his favorite person, he did something that really hurt C.J. And yes I know that you're not the same Jack, but you still have the same face, the same voice, and even a damn similar personality, which makes it hard for C.J. to distinguish a difference."
"Do you mind if I ask what it was that the other me did that was so bad?"
"It's not my place to say. You're going to have to ask him yourself if you want to know that." Shayla then walked into the infirmary, leaving the adults to ponder what she'd said.
While in the infirmary Trey, having a very short attention span, easily became bored and took to trying to escape at every chance he could get. To him it had become a game in a matter of hours he had managed to annoy the infirmary staff to no end. If there had been any doubt about his relation to Jack before, it was long gone by morning.
Ryan also became bored and tried escaping every now and then. Of course the fact that he was a younger spitting image of his dad and therefore had the same effect on women, helped him to charm and get the entire nursing staff wrapped around his finger. So much so that he even managed to make it out of the infirmary once or twice by morning.
So at C.J.'s persistents that there was no reason for them to be in the infirmary, the four children were moved into temporary guest quarters. It had hardly been 24 hours but already it was plainly obvious that the entire base had fallen in love with the kids.
Sam and Janet, along with others on base tried to keep them all entertained with games, toys, trips to the surface, and anything else they could think of. Watching the way Janet, Daniel, Sam, and Jack interacted with their siblings Shayla and C.J. had no doubt that they'd all be staying.