Chapter 4 – Getting to Know You
Sam was ready to take JJ and run from the infirmary. She had never been squeamish around needles before but, seeing the baby get poked and hearing his indignant cries was enough to melt her resolve to remain impassive. Amazingly, Jack was the one who held the baby with a firm grasp and talked soothingly to him as the blood was being drawn. Once Janet was finished, he looked over at Sam and noticed her pale face.
"Maybe you'd better sit down Carter. You're not looking too good."
"I'm sorry Sir, it's just that…"
"No need to explain. Sara had a hard time when Charlie got his shots. Must be that protective maternal instinct," he added with a grin.
Sam was stunned speechless by his comment. She had never really thought of herself as the maternal type. She was rapidly beginning to question that opinion however. Janet gave her a sideways glance, then stepped back from the still crying baby. "I'm all done for now. I'll run some tests and let you know what I find. JJ might calm down if you give him a bottle," she offered suggestively. "Sam, did his mother give any instructions on what he eats or drinks?"
Sam mentally gave herself a shake and came to stand by Jack. JJ held out his arms to her, his eyes bright with tears and his lower lip quivering uncontrollably. Sam gathered him in her arms and brushed a soft kiss on top of his head, rubbing her hand gently up and down his back. Jack smiled, amazed at how quickly his 2IC was adapting to being in charge of a baby. JJ grabbed onto her shirt and buried his tear-streaked face in it.
"Samantha said that JJ still takes formula. She left some in his bag. He pretty much eats regular food as long as it is mashed or cut up small. He's got several teeth already. Apparently, he really likes jello," she smiled over the baby's head at Jack, who returned the gesture.
"OK. Colonel, do you know how to mix up a bottle of formula?" the doctor inquired.
"I think I can handle it," Jack responded. "There are directions, right Carter?"
"Yes Sir. On the back of the container. There are bottles in the bag," she nodded to the bag at her feet while she continued to gently bounce the baby. JJ was getting quieter now that he was no longer being poked and prodded.
"I will endeavor to assist you O'Neill," Teal'c said from the edge of the curtained off area.
"Thanks T. Be back in a flash." Jack and Teal'c left the room, leaving Janet, Sam, Daniel and the baby.
"I'll let you know when I have the results Sam. It will probably be a few hours. JJ looks to be healthy so far though. Maybe you should get him something to eat after he has his bottle."
"I will Janet. And thanks," Sam added gratefully. Janet squeezed her arm, then moved forward to brush a hand across JJ's head. JJ would have none of that, though and pulled back from her reach. Sam shrugged apologetically at Janet, who tilted her head in quiet acceptance, then left the room. Sam sank onto the bed, surprised at how emotionally drained she felt at the moment.
Daniel came to sit down next to her. "You OK, Sam?" he asked quietly.
"Yes, Daniel. Just trying to take all of this in. It'sso odd,you know? I know he's not mine, but it just feels so right, holding him like this," she admitted. "He just seems like he's already a part of me. Does that sound strange?"
"No. I understand how you feel. I felt the same way about Sha're's child when he was born. Even though he wasn't mine, it felt like he was. I'm sure it's even stronger for you because, genetically, JJ is your son. He looks like you and, God willing, he'll act more like you than like Jack"
Sam gave him a crooked grin, "I guess so."
"Are you going to be OK with all of this Sam?" At her questioning look, he continued. "Well, aside from how strange this all is, JJ is yours and Jack's. I'm not blind you know…"
"Daniel, please," Sam pleaded. She was prevented from saying anything further as Jack and Teal'c came back into the room.
"Whew, this stuff is not the most pleasant smelling drink. I think old Doc Frasier should have offered you a sucker instead, little man," Jack stated as he crossed the room and handed the bottle to Sam.
"I think she gave the final one to you last week, Jack," Daniel said with a smile.
"Very funny space monkey," Jack frowned at his friend. He pulled up a chair and watched as JJ grabbed the bottle from Sam's hands. She turned the baby around so that he was now facing the rest of the group, then he leaned back against her chest and greedily sucked at his bottle, kicking his little legs every so often to some unknown beat.
"So what now?" Daniel inquired after they spent a few moments watching the baby drink from his bottle. "We just sit around and baby-sit for a week while some calamity is befalling his homeworld?"
"Yes, Daniel," Sam spoke up. "I promised Samantha that we would wait for word from her. The most important thing right now is to keep JJ safe."
"We don't even know what alternate reality the other Samantha Carter is from, Daniel. It would be a wild goose chase going through all the other realities trying to search for the right one. Besides, we don't want to risk going there and experiencing that tropical cascade problem." "What?" Jack asked as they all smiled at his mispronunciation.
"O'Neill is correct Daniel Jackson. To search for this other reality would be foolhardy. We must protect the child until such a time as our assistance is no longer required in this endeavor," Teal'c added.
Daniel nodded his agreement, then turned to Sam to ask the question that had been on his mind since Sam had revealed the baby's identity to them. "So Sam, is JJ's mother a Doctor like the other Sam Carter we met?" Daniel asked.
"No, Samantha is in the military; she's actually a Lt Colonel," Sam answered. The three men looked at each other in surprise at this, but said nothing.
"If she's in the military, and I assume the other Jack is as well, how did they, you know, get together?" Daniel was puzzled. In the other two realities they had encountered, Jack and Sam were together, but Sam was a civilian. It was the only way they could get around the military regulations that he could think of.
Sam glanced at Jack out of the corner of her eye, then kept her gaze on JJ as she answered. "She really didn't have time to explain everything but, apparently, she transferred to SG-4 about 3 years ago. Shortly after they were accused of being Zatarcs and Martouf died. She made Lt. Colonel last year, after rescueing Jack from Ba'al." She stole a glance at Jack to gauge his reaction. She could see the wheels turning in his head as he realized what she was implying: the other Sam and Jack had dealt with the feelings that had been revealed at the time of the Zatarc testing and not left them in the room.
"I don't get it, why would she leave after that? Was she angry at the rest of us for what happened to Martouf?" Daniel was puzzled as he hadn't been witness to the entire Zatarc testing episode, as Teal'c had been.
"I don't know Daniel. That's all she told me. I don't think it really matters in the whole scheme of things, do you?" Sam asked with an edge to her voice.
Daniel looked surprised at her tone. "Were you mad at us after that incident?" he pressed.
"No, Daniel," Sam sighed as she kept her gaze locked on JJ's head.
Teal'c intervened in the conversation. "What matters now is the welfare of this child. Have you considered where he will sleep Major Carter? I do not believe we have the facilities required to care for an infant in the SGC."
Sam and Jack looked at each other. They hadn't thought that far ahead. They would require other supplies as well; such as toys, more formula, and definitely more diapers. "I'll see if we can get a portable crib brought in. He can bunk with me here on base," Jack offered.
"That's OK, Sir. I can take him. I was planning on staying on base with him anyway," Sam commented. She really had grown quite attached to the baby and wanted to spend as much time as possible with him. In any regard, she'd promised Samantha. Softening her response, she teased, "Besides, you'll just keep him up all night watching reruns of the Simpson's."
"Well, that or hockey," Daniel added.
"Hey, who knows if the other me is performing his fatherly duties in that regard. I do plan to carry out my responsibilities to the fullest, you know. Why don't we take turns with him, Carter? That way, if he gets up at night, we'll each get to experience the joys of waking up with a baby."
"That sounds fine to me Sir," she acquiesced. JJ must have agreed because he took the bottle out of his mouth, smiled a sloppy grin at Jack, and then let out a loud belch.
"He is indeed your offspring O'Neill," Teal'c stated with a straight face. Everyone else laughed, including JJ. He was pleased to be the center of attention and let out a loud squeal of happiness. Upon hearing the happy squeal, any remaining tension among the adults dissipated.
Sam stood and passed JJ, who had started to squirm, over to Jack. "Janet says it will be a few hours until the DNA tests are complete. She suggested we take JJ to the commissary and get him something to eat. But first, he needs a change."
"And you're passing him to me for what reason?" Jack asked with a raised eyebrow, even as he took JJ from her.
"Well, first of all Sir, you have more experience in that department than I do. Secondly, I gave him his bottle, so you should have to take care of the after effects," she replied with a less than submissive grin.
"If I recall, I prepared that bottle for him," Jack rebutted.
"Actually O'Neill, I prepared the bottle. You were more inclined to read the ingredients off the canister and make comments about their scientific basis," Teal'c stated solemnly.
"Come on T, a little back up would be nice here," Jack complained.
"You are the CO here, Jack. Sometimes it falls to you to do the dirty work," Daniel added.
"Oh, for crying out loud! Fine, but you get the next one Carter. And I hope it's a doozie!"
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TBC
