Author's Notes: Italics indicate person on other side of phone conversation


Her arm was hurting, her lungs were burning from the smoke, and her entire body was beyond exhaustion. Her husband pulled her first by her hand, next with his arm around her, until finally her legs gave way and he had to carry her. He did not care; he had an enduring strength that enabled him to carry her for extended periods of time if necessary.

She knew he would too. He loved her and would carry her to the ends of the world and back, if he had too. She loved him as equally and as intensely. Tears were streaming down her face because of her love for him and because he could not afford to allow his grief consume him.

Their closest friends had died so that they might have a chance to live. One chance was all they had with less than five minutes to go until the self-destruct would destroy the facility. One chance for them to escape this hell on Earth.

He gently set her down then quickly turned and activated the Quantum mirror. His fingers typed furiously on the keyboard making the images of the mirror blur from one image to the next. They were changing so quickly she couldn't keep up. Every so often the image would pause for a moment as he studied the readout on the computer screen. Then the images would rapidly flash by again.

"Damn!" he suddenly growled slamming his fist on the desk.

She was afraid to speak to him but the look in his eyes when he turned to glance at her told her what she needed to know. He turned away, quickly glancing at this watch before he punched a few of the keys on the keyboard. The image quickly returned to one that she saw moments ago.

He quickly helped her to her feet. The tears were streaming down his face.

"Be happy my love," he smiled resting his hand on her rounded belly. "No matter what!"

His lips quickly covered hers before she could speak. It was a brief, intense moment as he held her so tightly that she couldn't breathe then quickly pushed her towards the mirror.

The instant her hand touched the mirror, she was transported looking at him in the mirror. His lips moved but she couldn't hear his words. It did not matter; she knew what he said.

"I love you too," she wept just before the image flashed white then was gone.

Alarms suddenly sounded just as she felt sharp pains in her back and her abdomen. She collapsed in agony. The agony of pain…and grief.


Brigadier General Jack O'Neill was enjoying his bowl of Fruit Loops and cup of black coffee. Taking full advantage of his rank by having his breakfast in his office. He always found it a lot easier to do the tedious task of filling out requisition orders and other mundane paperwork while crunching away on his favorite cereal. And he always found it amusing to purposely leave coffee stains on the paperwork. That and the Fruit Loops always put him in a good mood for the day.

So, Walt, Jack's right hand man, always made sure Jack had his cereal before the onslaught of the day's tasks began. Hell, Sergeant Walter Davis was more than Jack's right hand man, he was the whole arm and then some! Without him, Jack would have resigned a long time ago. He never understood how General Hammond did the job. Not until Walt took a two week vacation. Then Jack realized how important the man really was and learned to appreciate him rather than give him a hard time. Well, Jack would still give Walt a hard time just not on a regular basis.

"Sir, here's the report for your first briefing of the day at 0900H," Walt smiled as he set the folder on Jack's desk.

"Thanks Walt. Whose team is it again?"

"Colonel Carter's, Sir."

Jack should have guessed at the thickness of the folder. Carter knew, when using a lot of technobabble in her reports, to add amendments on the side to explain the certain words in simple terms for Jack. Of course it was all a waste of time, Jack would never read the whole reports. He simply would look for what planet they were going to and why. Always hoping the reports would mention the discovery of new weapons of some kind.

Alarms suddenly sounded while Jack was reaching for the report and Jack's phone instantly rang. His hand quickly moved from the report to the phone.

"O'Neill," he answered quickly.

"Sir, the is Andersen in the security room. Level 29's sensor alarms just activated! There's activity in the room!"

"Hostile?"

"No, Sir! I've already called Dr. Warner and his team! They're on their way! Sir!"

"Yes, Anderson?" Jack asked, hearing the young Airman's excitement.

"Sir…a woman came through the mirror! Sir! It's Dr. Fraiser!"

Jack blinked in surprise.

"On my way!" Jack said.

After hanging up the phone, Jack ran out of his office.


The alarms were finally turned off by the time Dr. Warner arrived with his team. Although, he never imagined he would be heading down to level twenty-nine. He had no idea there was a level twenty-nine and thought Anderson misinformed him. But Anderson insisted and told the Doctor which door to use that would take him down to level twenty-nine.

It was a single staircase that led him down to a room. A top-secret room where the Quantum Mirror was kept. The same Quantum Mirror that was supposedly destroyed years ago. Warner wasn't expecting to see that.

Nor did he ever imagine he would be there to see one of his most respected colleagues, who was loved by all at the SGC, back from the dead!

Dr. Janet Fraiser was crying uncontrollably and appeared to be in a tremendous amount of pain. Her normally spotless white lab coat was splattered with bloodstains. Her left arm, which trembled at her side, was badly burned.

"Please…help me," she gritted through her teeth.

That's when Dr. Warner noticed where her right hand was resting and what she was actually doing while she sat there on the floor.

"How far along are the contractions?" he asked kneeling beside her and taking her pulse.

"My water already broke…the baby is coming. I'm only two weeks into the third trimester," she grimaced as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Please…save my baby…she's all I have!"

""You both will be fine," he assured her, signally the stretcher to be brought over. "Quickly!"

"DOC!"

"Yes," Warner and Fraiser said at the same time when General O'Neill burst into the room.

"Colonel O'Neill!" Fraiser exclaimed.

"Actually its, General O'Neill," he smiled proudly moving to help lift her onto the stretcher.

"Good Lord, what reality did my husband send me too!" she grimaced, then doubled over.

"Let's get her to OR one!" Warner ordered.

"What's going on?" O'Neill asked.

"Sir, your questions will have to wait until later! I have a premature baby to deliver! It can't wait, I don't want to risk losing both the mother and child!"

"Janet, you're married and a mommy…congratulations!" O'Neill smiled, as he assisted Warner's staff. "Who's the lucky guy?"

"Dr. Warner, can I have something for the pain?" Fraiser asked. "I don't think I can handle delivering a baby and putting up with Jack at the same time right now! Not after the hell I just went through!"

O'Neill smiled, "Nice to see some things remain the same in some of those alternate realities! Still full of spirit, just like our little Janet used to be!"

"Sir, please!" Dr. Warner protested.

"Right, let's get her to the OR," the General said then assisted Dr. Warner and his team as they carried the stretcher up the stairs.


Holy Hannah! Janet was alive! Sam didn't care if the woman came from an alternate reality or not! After more than six months the pain of losing her friend was still fresh in Sam's heart. But no longer, Janet was alive and in this reality.

Of course, Sam and her team were a bit confused. They thought the Quantum mirror had been destroyed. And they had no idea about level 29. It was only known that level 28, where the Stargate was located, was the bottom level deep within Cheyenne Mountain.

General O'Neill quickly filled them in on a few details about the mirror being held in a secret room just below the Gate on the chance that some good might come from it. The mirror was monitored from the security room in case something bad came through.

Only, something, or rather someone good did come. And in a few minutes that count was about to double.

Sam watched anxiously with the others from the observation room. Her, Daniel, Teal'c and General O'Neill stood as close to the window as possible. No one spoke. Instead they listened to Janet as she labored to bring her baby into this reality.

There was a collective sigh when Dr. Warner delivered the quiet, yet very alive baby and held her up for Janet to see. She smiled brightly threw her tears and was allowed to briefly hold her baby with her one good arm.

"Where does she get the energy?" O'Neill asked.

"Janet always had to keep ahead of guys like you, Jack," Daniel smiled. "In addition, to caring for her patients."

Sam laughed softly watching as Dr. Warner and his staff quickly and efficiently tended to a tiny baby girl, cleaning her then promptly placing inside an incubator and hooking her up to all kinds of monitors. Then Sam and the others waited anxiously while the Doctor tended to Janet's injuries.

They all had so many questions they wanted to ask Janet about her reality. Sam especially was wondering if she and Janet were even good friends in that reality. Curious about whom Janet's husband was, if she was in fact married and since the Janet in Sam's reality never got married.

Then Sam started wondering about Cassie. The girl, actually Cassie was nearly a young woman now at eighteen and in her last year of high school, had gutted it out for the past six months. Janet may have not been her biological mother but Cassie loved the woman regardless.

"Sir, before we tell Cassie, I think we should question Janet first," Sam dutifully informed O'Neill.

"Yeah, I was thinking the same thing," he sighed, narrowing his eyes.

"Right, this Janet might not know Cassie at all," Daniel said.

"She knew me, thought I was a Colonel," O'Neill said, never taking his eyes away from the commotion below. "Apparently, Janet's husband sent her here."

"Who is he, Sir?" Sam asked, trying not to sound too anxious.

"I haven't had the chance to question her yet," he smiled, glancing her way.

Sam and the others noticed Dr. Warner was finished and leaving the operating room. A moment later, he joined them in the observation room.

"Both Janet and her baby are doing fine," he reported. "I've given her something for the pain and a mild sedative to help her rest. My main concern is the baby. She'll have to be monitored around the clock."

"When can I question Janet?" O'Neill asked.

"Not for several hours. She's emotionally and physically exhausted from her injuries and from delivering the baby."

"Janet's one tough woman!" O'Neill commented.

"That may be, but she needs time to rest from her injuries. Ideally, I wouldn't allow you to question her until tomorrow," Warner continued. "However, I understand she may have information we need for the protection of Earth in this reality. At least, give her a few hours. Then you can question her, but for a limited time only."

"Ok, Doc. Call me as soon as she's awake," O'Neill said then left.

"Can we see her?" Sam asked, for herself as well as Daniel and Teal'c.

Both men were quiet, but they were her teammates, her friends, she could tell they were just as excited as her about Janet being in this reality.

"She won't wake up," Warner insisted.

"That's fine," Daniel quickly said.

Dr. Warner smiled, "Ok, but only for a few minutes."

A few minutes later, Sam and her team were staring down watching Janet sleep peacefully. Her ordeal, still unknown to them, didn't show on her face. The only evidence was her heavily bandaged arm that rested comfortably at her side.

Looking at her, one would never know of the grief Janet was going through. Sam was certain Janet would mourn deeply. The Janet Sam knew never hesitated to show her emotions. Janet was passionate, had a fiery temper, was compassionate and caring towards her patients and friends, and never, ever hesitated to flash that bright smile of hers. She loved life, her daughter, her friends, and her job.

Yet, in their line of work at the SGC, losing a fellow soldier was a part of the job. You expected it; you were prepared for it. But that didn't mean the loss of a friend didn't hurt any less. And while it hurt Sam like hell when she lost her best friend, she knew that Janet died doing something she loved and couldn't ask for her friend to have gone any other way.

Now, Janet was back. The atmosphere at the SGC was already buzzing with talk of her return. Everyone was extremely happy, Sam and her team included. There was even a soft, cuddly teddy bear brought in by one of the nurses to congratulate Janet on the birth of her daughter.

Sam moved quietly towards the incubator to finally see Janet's little girl. The infant was…tiny. Janet was a small woman, but this baby was so tiny, Sam was surprised it could even be alive. Of course, Sam wasn't a medical doctor; she had no idea about premature babies but was already determined to find out all she could.

"I wonder who the father is?" Daniel quietly asked, standing beside Sam.

"Could be anyone," Sam whispered with a smile. "Maybe you!"

"I doubt it. She has black hair," Daniel pointed out.

They both glanced at Teal'c.

"Maybe it's Teal'c," Daniel joked.

"That is highly unlikely," Teal'c replied. "The baby resembles her mother."

"Whomever he is, Janet loved him very much," Sam sighed getting a closer looked at the baby.

"What makes you say that?" Daniel asked.

"Daniel, you saw how Janet held the baby," Sam said turning to face him. "This baby is all she has left of the man she loves."


When Janet woke up, four of her closest friends were there smiling at her. Sam, Daniel, Teal'c, and Jack, how could she forget Jack. Actually, in her reality they were her closest friends. Judging by their anxious smiles, she must have been a good friend with them in this reality too. It was a joy to see them alive and well, considering everyone she knew in her reality was now dead, even her husband, the father of her baby.

"My baby?" she hesitantly asked.

"Doing fine," General O'Neill smiled. "Dr. Warner has his staff keeping their eyes on her at all times."

"Can I see her? I really need to see her again," Janet said, unable to stop the tears.

"Sure, Carter, guys, let's give her a hand," O'Neill ordered.

Sam helped Janet into a robe and they all helped Janet onto her feet. Everything hurt the moment she was on her feet but she didn't care. She had to see her little girl, to be certain with her own eyes that the baby was doing well. With the aid of her four personal assistants, Janet made it over to see her baby girl.

The baby was so small but Janet was expecting that. Being a doctor she knew exactly what to expect when a baby was born prematurely. Her little girl was hooked up to a ventilator because her immature lungs weren't developed enough to breathe on their own. She was also hooked up to a cardiorespirator monitor with a pulse oximeter, not only to regulate her heartbeat but to also measure the oxygen in her blood. Janet saw no feeding tubes in her baby's nose or mouth. Nor would the baby have those yet, she was too young. Feeding would occur intravenously as would any antibiotics.

Janet's tears flowed freely. It hurt to not be able to just reach down and scoop her baby up into her arms. Gentle hands caressed her back and helped her to seat in a chair that had quickly appeared behind her. When she looked up, she saw the concerned looks of her friends. And yet…they weren't her friends.

Again, the tears flowed. She couldn't stop them. She didn't even have the energy to try.

"You know Janet, I'm going to need them to mop the infirmary floor soon," Jack joked.

Anyone who didn't know Jack O'Neill might think that comment was rude. Not Janet. She smiled looking up at him. He sounded exactly like the Jack in her reality. He even had the same quirky smile.

Janet looked more closely at their faces and into their eyes. In each one of them Janet recognized and was familiar with those looks. Yes, she knew them and knew them well. And they knew her. Leave it to her husband to send her to a reality similar to their own.

"We're all a little curious about who the father is," Sam smiled warmly.

A reality similar but not the same.

Sam's comment was a harsh reminder that this reality was not Janet's. If they were all curious about the baby's father then Janet never met her husband in this reality. She already knew she was dead in this reality, otherwise he never would have sent her here. But the fact that he didn't come with her told her that there was a version of her husband in this reality.

"Yes, we are curious. But we also need to know what happened in your reality," Jack spoke softly. "No pressure, whenever you're ready. We can do it later if you like."

"Thank you," she sighed looking back at her baby. "But I would rather just get it over with."

"Are you sure?" Jack asked.

Janet simply nodded, never taking her eyes off her baby.

"Earth was under attack. The war with the Goa'uld took a turn for the worse when Anubis rose to power. He killed the System Lords, hunted down and killed the Tok'ra and Jaffa rebellion. Then he even managed to take on the Asgard, destroying them as well. With all of our allies dead and gone, there was nothing stopping Anubis from attacking Earth."

"We were able to stop Anubis, and even devised a weapon to stop the super soldiers," Sam mentioned.

"The Sam in my reality also developed a weapon in fighting Anubis' drones. Only it wasn't enough. There were too many of them. They attacked all the major cities, first from the sky then with ground troops. We tried to evacuate as many people as we could to the Alpha site before it was too late, not that it mattered. We knew eventually Anubis would find it, but the plan was that those survivors would scatter about the galaxy, in hopes that some of the human race survived."

"I had remained behind as long as I could. Planning on heading out with the final group. Colonel O'Neill, Sam, Daniel and Teal'c were the last line of defense at the SGC. However, we waited too long. The super soldiers penetrated the SGC. We were cut off from the Gate Room. Sam thought of the mirror only because she, my husband and Selmak had been working on the mirror. It was Selmak who figured out a way to determine if an alternate reality was safe for us to travel to or not."

"Selmak…you mean, Jacob?" Jack asked.

Janet sighed in relief as freshly formed tears welled up in her eyes.

"Yes," she exhaled slowly.

Janet squeezed her eyes shut. The memory of what happened in the tunnels was still fresh in her mind. The cries of her friends, as they died, the anguish in her husband's eyes and the tremor in his voice when he spoke to her as he carried her through the tunnels.

An involuntary shiver ran through her body as she hugged herself. A warm hand gently took hold of hers. Another set of hands rested on her shoulders. Opening her eyes, Janet saw Sam was holding her hand. Daniel and Teal'c both had a hand each on her shoulders.

"I watched you all die," Janet wept. "You held the super soldiers off long enough for Jacob and me to get away and make it to the mirror. You gave your lives to save us."

Janet sobbed uncontrollably.

"Let's get her back to her bed," Jack quickly ordered.

"No…I have to finish…I can't go through this again," Janet insisted wiping her tears. "Please!"

Jack slowly nodded, "Take your time."

"Jacob and I made it to the mirror. There was five minutes left until the self-destruct would activate. Jacob desperately tried to find a reality, much like he had done many times before. Only there were so many realities where Earth was occupied, gone or where we couldn't go together. Jacob managed to find one as time was running out …with less then ten seconds to go before the self-destruct detonated, Jacob shoved me hard towards the mirror. I couldn't stop my momentum…"

"Then you ended up here, in our reality," Daniel added solemnly.

"Wait…you mean Jacob…" Jack started to say.

"Jacob is…was my husband in my reality," Janet said, looking at her baby. "In the end, he could only save me and his baby."

Tears streamed down her cheeks. God, she wanted to hold her baby, to hold something of the man she deeply loved.

Turning back, she saw all of their faces and laughed softly through her tears.

"You all made those same exact faces when Jacob's and my secret was finally out. Jack you thought it was cool and joked that I was Sam's wicked stepmother. You were even quick to point out that I was a grandmother to Jacob's grandkids and never hesitated to call me granny. Teal'c merely smiled and raised his eyebrow, dutifully informing me how passionate a Tok'ra mate could be! Daniel, you were a good friend and were extremely happy for me. And Sam…you squirmed a little…ok, you squirmed a lot and looked extremely uncomfortable! The whole idea took some time for you to get used to. You and Jacob had quite a few long talks, in between the fighting and battling with the Goa'uld. We weren't so sure if you were going to come around or not."

"We were even afraid to tell you about the baby! But it was the baby that forced us to tell everyone about our secret because Jacob insisted we get married. Selmak, Jacob and I were afraid when we discovered I accidentally got pregnant. We weren't sure what kind of world the baby would be born into. We even debated about terminating the pregnancy. However, Jacob had already made up his mind. He wanted the baby. He told Selmak and me that the baby would give us hope. Hope that one day, she would live in a world free from the danger of the Goa'uld. That's when Jacob and Selmak started working on the Quantum Mirror…a last resort. But we didn't really plan on using it, not unless we could be together."

"Well, you and your baby are safe now," Jack smiled. "We might even be able to do something about Jacob!"

"Sir!" Sam exclaimed, squirming uncomfortably.

"Carter, who knows…maybe Dad was having a secret love affair with the Doc!" Jack continued. "For a Tok'ra, he did spend a lot of time in the infirmary!"

"Jack, he may not have either. We need to consider that possibility," Daniel added.

"What about the baby? Do we tell him about her?" Sam asked.

"I believe Jacob Carter should be informed," Teal'c finally spoke. "He has a right to know he has a daughter."

"But she's not really his daughter," Daniel said.

"What's the difference? That reality…this reality? The baby's here in this reality and isn't going anywhere!" Jack said.

"Shouldn't it be Janet's decision," Sam insisted.

Yes, it should be Janet's decision. But how can she decide? The grief was still fresh and not likely to fade anytime soon. Not to mention her head was spinning when they were talking around her. Or possibly it was the effect of the drugs in her system that was making her woozy.

But what she would give to see this Jacob, to hope he had feelings for her. There was the possibility that he may not want anything to do with her, but it was a chance Janet was willing to take. After all, Sam, Jack, Daniel, and Teal'c all seemed similar to their counterparts in her reality. Perhaps the same could be said for Jacob and Selmak.

"Jack, please…contact him," Janet requested. "I need to know…for my daughter's sake."