(2 weeks later)

"My POV"

As the days went by, we got into a regular routine. During the day, Dr. Fraiser would come in and check on me…blood pressure, blood samples…things like that. I felt like a damned pin cushion. I'd moved into Jack's quarters so he and Sam would have their privacy…just between us though.

I finally got the cast on my arm off. I'd been practicing the guitar again, trying to building the strength up in my left hand. They'd heard me playing, but I wasn't up to playing a full song for them. I played mainly songs by The Ataris and Green Day. Even though it was loud, they seemed to like my playing.

My legs were getting stronger, but I still had to use crutches because they were weak. Jack and Sam had been helping me with physical therapy, but I was getting frustrated. I just wanted to be able to walk on my own again.

Sam and Jack always made sure that someone was with me at all times. If it wasn't one of them (which most of the time it was), it was Daniel, Teal'c, Janet, or Janet's daughter, Cassie. Now, she was cool. She was from another planet, but the only survivor of her village's destruction by the Goa'uld. I actually talked to her about what happened to me. But, I made her promise that she would never tell Jack or Sam…or anyone for that matter.

While I was stuck in the room, Jack made sure that I had plenty to do. Homework, he called it. Sheesh. I was so bored. According to Sam, I should be in at least the fifth grade. But, they quickly changed their minds…I was reading on an 11th grade level…doing college math and science. They said I was smart, but I didn't believe them. I'd been told my entire life that I was stupidDaniel brought me a book…The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien to keep me occupied…big book…really big book. It was cool. They said I was really smart for my age.

I hadn't been vertical in a while. They made me stay in bed the whole time because I was still so weak. When I had to pee, Sam took me. When I had to take a bath, Sam helped me. I was in the middle of "The Fellowship of the Ring" when they came back from off-world. I guess they thought I was asleep, because they were whispering when they walked in. I was supposed to be asleep anyway.

"Hey sweetheart." they said coming over to kiss my forehead.

"Hiya." I said smiling tiredly.

"Shouldn't you be asleep?" asked Jack.

"I was, but I woke up. What time is it?"

"About 4:30." said Jack.

"Whatcha reading?" asked Sam.

"The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Danny gave it to me."

"Damn. Isn't that a little advanced for a ten year old?" Jack said grinning at me.

"Just because you can't get through it doesn't mean she can't," said Sam, teasing him.

I giggled when he stuck his tongue out at her and they sat down on the couch in my room and Jack said, "Jessie?"

"Hmmm?"

Jack motioned for me to sit on the couch with them. "C'mere sweetheart."

I grabbed my crutches and slowly hobbled over, apprehensive because of the look in their eyes. I can't really describe it. Love, hope, anxiety…it was all there. Still not used to that.

"What's going on?" I asked, Jack pulling me onto his lap.

"Well," Jack cleared his throat "you know this is a military base."

"Well, duh." I said.

He looked at Sam wide-eyed. "Smart ass." He grinned, gently tweaking my ear. "Help me out here," he said to Sam.

She grinned. "What Jack is trying to say baby, and not very well," he stuck his tongue out at her again and I giggled nervously. "is that this base is very top-secret. What goes on here can never be known outside. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, you want me to keep my mouth shut when I leave. I'm good at that. I know about keeping secrets." The last said with a whisper. I looked away, not wanting to be reminded of my situation…again.

They both flinched. They knew what I was referring to. We don't talk about it because I don't want them to hate me. Jack tried to bring it up a couple of times, but I kept changing the subject so he dropped it. Sam turned my face back to look at her. "We know you can keep a secret, baby…and by the way, it's when we leave…not when you leave. But, anyway, we want you to know exactly what goes on here."

That caught me by surprise. "Really?"

"Yeah."

"Cool."

"That's exactly what I said." said Jack with a grin.

I frowned. "Why?"

"Because you're going to be part of our family and you need to know what it is we do."

"I already know that." I said.

"Yeah, but there's another family that you're gonna be a part of too." said Sam.

"What family?" I asked.

"SG-1." said Jack.

The phone rang. Jack sat me on Sam's lap and went to get it. "O'Neill." He listened for a few moments and walked back over to us.

"Come on." He turned around and patted his back.

"What?"

"Don't tell me you've never had a piggyback ride."

I looked the floor, suddenly finding my feet really interesting. I guess my silence gave him his answer.

"Sam, help her stand." he said softly.

Sam sat me on the bed and then stood, helping me stand up. "Come on. Up you go."

When I'd gotten my balance, she told me "Put your arms around his neck."

"I'll hurt him." I protested.

"No, you won't." she promised.

I put my arms around his neck from behind. "Now, jump up."

I jumped and ended up falling to the floor on my bad leg. I grabbed at my knee. I cried out in pain and gasping for breath.

"Breathe, baby, breathe." said Jack rubbing my back.

"Ow, ow, ow." I cried. I was working on cleaning up my language. They didn't like it and I didn't want to do anything to piss them off. Sam held me as he continued to rub my back until the pain subsided.

"Let's try this again." said Jack, kneeling with his back to us. Sam helped me and he grabbed both of my legs, brace and all. I moved my left arm down to his chest so I wouldn't hurt him. He stood and I flinched, my breath coming out in a hiss as he jostled my leg.

"You ok sweetheart?" he asked getting still.

"Yeah." I said as I felt a twinge in my leg. "I'll be alright. Hey, this is fun." I said trying to distract him.

It worked. Laughing, he carried me out of our quarters and down the hall.

We came to set of doors with a young guard on it. He gave me a strange look. Jack only nodded and said, "Open it."

The guard hesitated when he looked at me. Jack shook his head and sighed. "Call General Hammond. He should already be in the Gate room. This has already been approved."

(Baby, remind me to write him up)

(For what Jack?)

(For being an idiot and not listening to the announcements this morning)

(Jack?)

(Yeah baby?)

(You never listen to the morning announcements)

Sam and Jack both laughed at that. "She's got you there."

The guard turned to the phone. "Sir, Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter are outside the Gate room.." He listened for a few seconds. "Yes sir, she's with them."

Then he slid his card in and the doors opened. "This is what we call the Gate room." said Jack as he carried me into the room.

I saw Daniel, Teal'c, Janet, and General Hammond smiling at me. "Welcome to Stargate Command, Jessie." said General Hammond.

Jack set me down and leaned me against him so I could get my balance after my first piggyback ride. He threw his arms over my shoulders, locking his hand over his wrist in front of me…as if daring someone to try something.

Protective much?

"What is this place?" I asked quietly, afraid to say anything loud in the quiet room.

"You see that big ring thingy over there?" asked Jack, pointing.

"Yeah."

The ring started moving. I jumped and huddled against Jack.

Incoming wormhole

General Hammond spoke up. "Close the iris."

"It's alright. It's not going to hurt you." he said, squeezing me gently.

I reached over and put my hand in Sam's. "You're safe." she said. I might have been ten, but I felt smaller. But, for some reason, I knew that with Jack and Sam with me, I'd be safe. I relaxed a little.

"What's happening?"

"Just watch." said Sam with a big grin on her face.

(I dreamed this)

They both look at me in shock. "What?" asked Jack.

(This was in my dreams a couple of weeks before I came here)

They only nodded. I could tell they were freaked. Hell, I would be too if it wasn't actually happening to me.

"Hey! That's my birthmark!" I said in surprise, pointing to the first symbol on the gate. That earned me cocked eyebrow from Teal'c and a laugh from everyone else.

"I love this part." said Jack.

Whoosh

I jumped again. "What's that?" I asked.

Jack smiled and said, proudly, "That is the Stargate." He rested his chin on top of my head.

"What's it for?"

He looked at General Hammond and I knew he was asking permission for something. Apparently he got it because he said, "That allows us to go to other planets."

"Like Saturn?"

"Kind of. You notice Teal'c isn't exactly like us?"

"Yeah. He's got…what did you call it? Junior inside him."

They all laughed at that. "Yeah. He's from a planet called 'Chulak'. He's called a Jaffa."

We have a signal, General

"Who is it?" asked General Hammond, as Jack positioned me behind him, never losing contact.

Master Bratac, sir

"Did you know about this, Teal'c?" asked Jack, looking at him.

"I did indeed, O'Neill. I knew you wished to show Jessie the Stargate. So, with General Hammond's approval, I contacted Master Bratac and explained the situation. He is also bringing Rya'c."

Two people stepped through the Stargate. The older man looked kind of like Teal'c. He had the same symbol on his head, the only difference being he was white. The younger looked like a mini-Teal'c.

"Master Bratac." said Teal'c clasping the other man's arm with his.

The older man walked over to General Hammond and kind of rubbed the top of his head. "Hammond of Texas."

"Good to see you again, Master Bratac."

"Where is this 'Jessie' I have heard so much, yet so little, about?"

Jack moved a little and I tried to hide. "It's ok baby. He won't hurt you."

I wasn't going to move. The other man walked towards me. "Jessie. I am Bratac of Chulak. I am pleased to finally meet you."

I was getting tired of standing and I was starting to get dizzy again. It's kind of painful when you can only put your weight on one leg. I simply smiled at him and said, "Hello, Master Bratac."

"Polite child." he said. He must have sensed something because his eyes widened. He tilted his head and said "This one is special."

They all laughed, but Jack quietly said, "We know." I tilted my head up to look at him and he just grinned, kissed me on the forehead, and shrugged, "Well, we do."

I looked at Sam. "We do know," she said quietly, putting her hand on the side of my face.

Teal'c stepped forward. "This is my son, Rya'c. Rya'c, this is Jessie."

"Hello." said Rya'c.

"Hi." I said shivering slightly.

The phone rang, its' sound echoing through the room. General Hammond picked it up. "Hammond." He listened for a few seconds and then handed the phone to Janet. "Doctor."

"Fraiser." she said. She listened for a moment and then hung up. "Meet me in the briefing room in thirty minutes."

"Doc, what's going on?" asked Jack.

"I think we may have our answer to the main question." said Janet as she left the room.

Jack could tell I was getting tired. I leaned heavily against him again and he put his arms around me again. I'd been standing for about ten minutes and my body wasn't used to being upright. I was shivering even though it was warm in the Gateroom. I think I had a fever. Jack felt the shivers in my body.

"Baby, you okay?" he asked quietly.

"I don't feel so good dad." I said closing my eyes and shivering, not caring about the slip.

Jack smiled and picked me up tucking me against him. He kissed my forehead as I laid my head on his shoulder and tried to relax. "Hmmm…you feel kind of warm baby girl." He turned to General Hammond. "General, Jessie's not feeling well, so I'm gonna go lay her down and I'll meet you in the briefing room."

"Jack is she alright?" asked Daniel, worriedly.

"Yeah, she's just tired from all the excitement I guess."

"Ok. Take care of her and meet us there." said General Hammond.

Jack carried me back to my room. He laid me on the bed and whispered, "Sleep now baby." kissing me on the cheek.

"Ok." I said, letting myself relax. I shut my eyes as Sam, sitting above me, stroked my hair. That, above everything else made me doze. It was comforting in a strange way.

They both sat with me until I was almost asleep. The phone on Sam's desk came rang, jerking me awake.

"Mom…?" I sleepily asked. I opened my eyes and looked around. I was shivering again.

"Damnit, she was almost asleep." she said with a tight grin, getting up to answer it. "Carter." she growled at the phone. She listened for a few seconds and then hung it up.

Jack rubbed the hair from my eyes and put his hand on my forehead. "I think you've got fever." He reached for the thermometer tape and put in on my forehead. "Hmmm…" he said, looking at the tape. "Yep…you've got fever…102°" he sighed. "That's pretty high."

"Jack, they're ready in the briefing room."

"Call them back and tell them she's running a fever, so we're not going anywhere."

Sam picked up the phone. "Janet, Jessie's running a fever. It's going to be a while before we make it up there." She turned to Jack. "How high?" He told her and she told Janet. She listened for a few seconds. "Ok."

"What'd she say?" asked Jack.

"She's sending some Tylenol down for her to take. She said to bring her up after she takes it."

"Why do we have to move her now?"

"General Hammond's orders, Jack."

"Oh for cryin' out loud!" he exclaimed brushing my hair out of my eyes.

A few minutes later there was a knock at the door and Sam moved to open it. "Yes?"

"Dr. Fraiser told me to bring this for the child." said a male voice.

Jack spoke up. "Her name is Jessie."

"Yes sir I know. I'm sorry sir."

Sam took the pills from the nurse and shut the door. She got me a glass of water out of the small refrigerator in the room. Jack helped me sit up. I was still shivering. "Cold?" he asked. I nodded. I always got cold when I had fever. He wrapped the blanket around me and pulled me onto his lap. I lay my head on his shoulder and tried to go back to sleep. I was ten but I felt like a baby.

"That better?" he asked. I nodded. "Good girl. Now open."

I opened my mouth and he popped the pills in. He held the glass as I drank, sputtering slightly because I was still shivering. "Good girl."

"Sam, help us up."

She took his hand and helped him stand with me in his arms. "You ok?" he asked.

"I just wanna sleep, dad." I begged tiredly. Once again, I didn't care about the slip. I was so freaking tired.

He smiled slightly and kissed my forehead. "I know baby. We'll get you back here as soon as we're finished." He balanced me and said, "Lead the way, Sam." he said as we walked out of the room.