Chapter 2 – Introductions
Ten minutes later, Sam found herself holding a sleeping baby in her arms while watching her alternate form disappear through the mirror. Samantha turned a tear streaked face once she was back on the other side, gave one final wave, and shut the mirror down, leaving Sam standing there with more questions than answers. She gazed down at the brown haired little boy who slept peacefully; blissfully unaware of the change that had occurred in the last few minutes. "What am I going to do with you now?" she whispered to the child.
After assuring Samantha that an alternate version of the baby definitely didn't exist here, Sam had stood speechlessly by as Samantha hurriedly explained what was happening in her world and why she needed her son, JJ, out of it. She had gotten the basics about what the threat to the baby was and had quickly agreed to help, even though she knew it was going to be extremely difficult to explain this to General Hammond, much less her team. She was not relishing the idea of explaining to a certain Colonel most of all.
Gathering a deep breath, Sam shifted the sleeping baby so that his head was resting against her shoulder. She bent and picked up the bag that contained some things JJ would need for the week or so he might be here. Sam would return to this storage room in exactly one week and wait to receive a message from Samantha. Her counterpart was hopeful that her Jack would have been able to reach the Asgard and garner their assistance within a week's time. One way or the other, she had been determined to get a message back to Sam about the progress being made and to check on her 11 month old son.
Sam glanced once more at the mirror before leaving the storage room. She was deep in thought as she made her way to the elevators that would take her down to level 28; reflecting on all the things the other Sam Carter had told her. She had a feeling that she was going to experience another unusual week in her life here at the SGC.
-------
"Colonel, where is Major Carter? It is now 10 minutes past the appointed time for our briefing. It's not like her to be late," General Hammond grumbled. He had much to attend to today and was not happy having this briefing delayed.
"Not sure General," Colonel O'Neill answered his commanding officer. "She was meeting with the other eggheads up on level 12. Maybe they discovered something that will chance the course of the universe?" he added with a slight smile. He only received a frown for his efforts.
"If she's not here in 5 minutes…" General Hammond did not get to finish as Sam burst through the door. She had waylaid an SF in the hallway outside of the briefing room and pressed him into service as an instant baby sitter. He had regarded her with total surprise at being handed a baby but took it in stride. Truthfully, stranger things than being asked to hold a baby for a few minutes had happened in the course of his service at the SGC! He gazed down at the sleeping child and gently rocked him as he waited to be summoned inside.
"I'm sorry I'm late Sir," Sam addressed the General. "Something unexpected came up that I really think you'll want to hear about."
"Can't it wait Major? We are already late starting this briefing and I have many other matters to attend to today," General Hammond answered her.
"Actually sir, it can't wait," Sam pressed. She looked around the table at her team mates, who all gave her similar looks of puzzlement.
Hammond sighed. "Very well. Sit down and tell us what's on your mind." He swept his hand to the empty chair next to Daniel, indicating that she should sit down.
"I'd prefer to stand Sir, if that's all right with you," she answered. She had too much nervous energy to try and sit down and explain all this. At his nod, she took a deep breath and began. "Well, you see Sir, I was coming back from my meeting with the other scientists on Level 12. We were discussing the possible ramifications of the new dialing program I installed last week…"
"Carter! Just get on with it," an exasperated Colonel O'Neill interrupted.
"Sorry Sir," she answered quietly. Sam opened her mouth to continue but, looking around at the expectant faces, didn't for the life of her know how to explain this. "Well, I… you see,… um…"
"Major Carter, if you have something to share that is of more importance than your upcoming mission, I suggest you gather your thoughts quickly and proceed. Otherwise, the briefing we had originally intended to hold will now ensue." General Hammond was quickly losing his patience.
Jack narrowed his eyes at his 2IC. Something was not right. Samantha Carter was never at a loss for words. "Spit to out Carter."
She looked over at her commanding officer, slightly irritated with his curtness. Making a quick decision, she said, "Maybe it would be easier if I just showed you. Just a second."
The four men looked at each other in complete shock. This behavior was so unlike Major Carter. "I am beginning to think a visit to Doctor Frasier is in order here," General Hammond quietly stated. Four pairs of eyes followed her to the door and they waited for her return in silence.
Sam went to the door and stepped into the hallway, gathering up the little boy who had just opened his eyes. When he was safely in her arms, she stooped and picked up the bag with his things and made her way back into the briefing room. If she hadn't been so nervous, she would have laughed at the astonished looks she was receiving from all four men. Teal'c wasn't openly gaping as the other three were, but you could tell from his expression that he was just as surprised as the other men were.
General Hammond was the first to recover his voice. "Major Carter, what is the meaning of this? Why are you bringing a child into this facility without my knowledge?"
"And whose kid is he?" Jack added, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "I may not be very astute, but I certainly don't recall you being pregnant in the last few years."
"Sam?" was all Daniel had to say. She looked at him and saw immediate recognition of some sort. Daniel's gaze wavered between her, Jack, and the baby and she could tell by his expression that he saw a resemblance there.Teal'c merely raised an eyebrow and waited for her to proceed.
At the booming voice of the General, JJ began to whimper and tucked his head under Sam's chin. She bounced him gently, then reached in and pulled her dog tags from around her neck for the baby to play with. He instinctively grabbed for them and began to mouth the dangling tags, his attention diverted for the moment; although he continued to keep his head firmly tucked beneath her chin.
Watching her, General Hammond stood up and softened his tone; after all, he was a grandfather and didn't want to scare the child. "Maybe you should introduce us to this young man, and then proceed with what you need to tell us Major."
Jack had also watched the way Sam instinctively tried to calm the baby. She seemed so natural and relaxed with him. Warning bells were going off in his head but he had no idea what they were trying to tell him. Going for sarcasm, he said, "Please, Carter. I'm dying to know how this little blessed event happened. One of your alien suitors perhaps?"
Sam frowned briefly at him, then turned to the General. "General, I'd like you to meet JJ. Also know as Jonathon Jacob Carter," here she paused and looked directly at Jack, "O'Neill." She felt a moment of pleasure at the wide-eyed look of panic that flashed across his face as all eyes were now turned on him.
"Colonel O'Neill?" came the deathly calm question from the General. "Do you have something you need to tell me?"
Jack jumped up and stared at the little boy in her arms. What the hell was going on? "General, I swear, that isn't…it can't be…I never,… well, we never…Carter!" His arms flailed wildly as he tried to make a coherent sentence come out.
At the familiar voice, JJ turned from Sam to look across the table. A wide grin split his cubby little face and he bounced in her arms as he gurgled out an unmistakable, "Dada!"
------
TBC
