The huge vessel moved through space with deceptive ease.

The ship was called The Samantha Carter, and belonged to the Asgaard scientist Tyr. It was on a peaceful mission to study botanic life forms in the galaxy inhabited by the Tau'ri. He was also to make a stop off to give SG-1 and General O'Neill Supreme Commander Thor's regards.

Having gathered all the botanical life forms he needed, Tyr was preparing the Samantha Carter for its jump to hyperspeed when his console began to beep, telling him that it was picking up a distress signal.

Tyr traced the signal to a civilisation on a near-by planet.

After checking to see the planet wasn't included in the Protected Planets Treaty, Tyr moved The Samantha Carter into orbit and began to scan the civilisation. His scans showed that the populace had been destroyed. Their technology had been decimated, but their cities were otherwise left untouched.

The only piece of technology that remained intact was the instrument that was transmitting the distress signal.

Wondering what could have destroyed this civilisation so utterly, Tyr beamed the device aboard.

Once he had managed to play it through his own technology he discovered that it was not, as he had first thought, a distress call.

The first image that came up on screen was of a building. Suddenly a beam of light came from above and blew the building to pieces. The camera lingered on the smoking ruins for several seconds. Had Tyr been human he would have jumped back in shock when he saw the next image.

Samantha Carter's smiling face had appeared on the screen.

"Hi!" She greeted cheerfully, smiling her trademark billion-watt smile. "As I'm not entirely sure who will pick up on this, please allow me to introduce myself. I'm Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter, of SG-1. And I," she said, smiling proudly, "did this!" She waved a hand at the destruction behind her. "Well, time's running out, so I'd better just say – bye!" She grinned again and the screen went blank.

For several moments Tyr stared at his screen in horror and puzzlement. The people of the SGC were all friends of the Asgaard, especially Samantha Carter. He found it difficult to believe of her.

Tyr knew that logically, there was only one way to find out what was going on.

Before setting a course for Earth, Tyr scanned the surrounding planets. On four of them the destruction was complete. All four had the same message.

"SG-1 please report to the briefing room. SG-1 please report to the briefing room."

Sam was in her lab when the page came over the PA system. Daniel and Teal'c joined her in the corridor just outside the briefing room.

From the puzzled look on their faces she could tell they had no idea what was going on. She preceded them into the briefing room.

They found it darkened. Jack was sitting at the head of the table. On his right sat an Asgaard. From what she could see in the darkness Sam thought didn't recognise this one.

The Asgaard appeared to be arguing with Jack about something.

"There is no mistake, O'Neill." The Asgaard sounded quite heated, for an Asgaard.

"Oh yeah, 'cause you guys never make those." Jack retorted.

"I admit that the Asgaard have made mistakes in the past. But this is not one of them." The alien said.

Apparently neither Jack nor his guest had noticed SG-1 entering the room.

"Oh really?" Jack asked, deeply sarcastic.

"O'Neill!" The Asgaard actually snapped at Jack. "It was Colonel Carter in the recording."

"I don't care what you think you saw, I'm telling you it wasn't Carter!" Jack snapped back.

"With all due respect, O'Neill," the Asgaard paused, as if he were about to say something unpleasant, "you have been known to have a blind spot when it comes to members of your team." He paused again. "Especially Colonel Carter."

Sam felt Daniel tense next to her, obviously fearing for the safety of both the little grey alien and the Tau'ri-Asgaard alliance.

Jack just smiled and turned away from the Asgaard. "SG-1, come in, sit down." He ordered, his voice devoid of its usual warmth.

The team did as they were told; Sam taking a seat on the General's left, with Daniel sitting next to her.

Teal'c sat down heavily next to the Asgaard, who looked positively tiny in comparison.

Sam watched amusement flicker in Jack's eyes before he masked it.

"SG-1, this is…" he looked to the Asgaard, wordlessly asking him to introduce himself.

"Tyr." The alien supplied.

"I take it you know who they are?" Jack asked.

Tyr nodded.

"What's this about, sir?" Sam asked.

"Well, Carter. Seems you've been out doing a little demolition on the side."

All three members of SG-1 looked confused.

"Of what do you speak, O'Neill?" Teal'c asked.

"You'll see." Jack replied cryptically. He turned to the Asgaard. "Would you like to tell me when this took place?" He asked.

Daniel and Sam exchanged looks. It wasn't like Jack to keep them in the dark like this.

"I estimated that the damage was done approximately three weeks ago." Tyr informed him.

Jack turned to Sam. "Carter," He asked, his voice saccharine, "Where were you approximately three weeks ago?"

Sam ducked her head to hide her amusement from the Asgaard and remained silent.

"C'mon, Carter. Tell the nice Roswell Grey where you were." Jack said, smirking.

"I was with you, sir. At the cabin."

"There ya go." Jack told Tyr.

"Uh… What's going on, Jack?" Daniel asked.

Instead of answering his friend Jack stood and walked across the room. He picked up the laptop that resided on a desk in the corner of the briefing room.

He unhooked all the wires that connected it to the SGC mainframe and brought the laptop to the table.

"Play it through this." He told the Asgaard, who nodded.

When the equipment had been set up SG-1 gathered behind Jack to get a look at the video.

When he was sure that everyone, including Tyr, could see, Jack pressed play.

The screen went black for a few moments then it was filled by a shot of a building that had been set on fire.

Then Sam gasped as her own face appeared on the screen.

"Hi! As I'm not entirely sure who will pick up on this, please allow me to introduce myself. I'm Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter, of SG-1. And I," she smiled proudly, "did this!" She waved a hand at the destruction behind her. "Well, time's running out, so I'd better just say – bye!" She grinned again and the screen went blank.

"As you can see, this evidence proves that Samantha Carter-" Tyr began.

"Shh." Jack admonished.

The screen was once more filled with the image of Samantha Carter.

"Okay. Because this recording is being played through SGC technology you get extras." She smiled, but it was cold and flat and eerily familiar.

"RepliCarter?" Daniel asked quietly. Sam and Jack nodded.

"Let me guess who is watching this. Sam will definitely be there. And Daniel, Teal'c, and... Jack. Hi Jack." She smiled again.

"Hate bugs." Jack muttered.

"As you can see… Thor didn't destroy me. I could never allow that. Sorry I lied, Jack, but you would never have left otherwise, and Sam was right, I really can't kill you. I am sorry I had to lie to you though, but let's face it; you probably expected that anyway, didn't you? You never really trust anyone, do you?"

"Not bugs, no." Jack said.

"Anyway," RepliCarter continued, "We will keep destroying civilisations in your name until we get what we want. Samantha, you will come to us. And you, Jack, don't think we have forgotten you." She smiled again.

Sam and Jack exchanged glances. "We obviously have some issues to work through with both of you." She finished, smiling nastily. She reeled off the co-ordinates of the rendezvous planet. "There are rules. As there is no Stargate on this planet, you must come in a ship. You may bring others on the ship, but make sure you are alone on the planet. You may bring whatever weapons you wish, as they will be disabled upon your arrival. If you break either of these rules we will destroy four more planets. If one or both of you fails to arrive, we will destroy more planets, we will kill more people. I hope I am understood. You have three days to reach the rendezvous."

The screen flickered and then went blank.

"Whoa." Daniel said, exhaling heavily.

"What's all this 'we' stuff?" Jack asked as SG-1 resumed their seats.

"Are you gonna go?" Daniel asked.

"What choice do we have?" Sam replied, her voice hollow.

Jack's head snapped around to look at her. "You're doing it again." He accused. "Stop it." To forestall any further guilt from Sam he turned to the Asgaard. "I told you it wasn't Carter."

Tyr inclined his head. "I apologise." He said. Jack nodded his acceptance. "I was informed that Thor had disposed of this particular replicator. Evidently this is not the case."

"So how about givin' me and Carter a lift?" Jack asked the Asgaard.

"I will."

"What do you mean, you and Carter? We're coming too." Daniel said indignantly, "Right, Teal'c?"

The Jaffa inclined his head, "Indeed."

"Why?" Jack asked. "You won't be able to come with us."

"I just think we should be there in case there is something we can do." Daniel pointed out.

Jack thought for a moment then nodded his agreement. "Tyr, how long will it take us to get to the rendezvous?"

"Three days, O'Neill."

"Great." Jack said, sarcastically. "SG-1, gear up."

SG-1 rose and headed for the exit. After Daniel and Teal'c had left the room Sam turned to see Jack still seated at the table. "You not coming, sir?" she asked, as the Asgaard beamed out of the briefing room.

"I'll catch up." He told her. "Gotta let Walter know I'm going. He tends to worry."

Sam smiled weakly and left the room.

Sam was alone on the darkened bridge of Tyr's ship. The Asgaard having gone to 'rejuvenate'. She was sitting on the floor, the Asgaard chairs being far too cramped and uncomfortable, and she was staring out the front window at the countless stars zooming by.

They had been on board the Samantha Carter for two days and she was bored.

Tyr was not keen on showing her any of the ship's systems, she had exhausted all lines of conversation with Daniel and Teal'c and the few times she actually managed to locate Jack he seemed to be busy.

She had come to the conclusion that he was avoiding her.

This revelation about RepliCarter had put a strain on their tentative new understanding.

Sam thought back over the five weeks. Within hours of being beamed back into her bedroom Sam had gently broken off her engagement with Pete, who had shocked her by being very understanding about it. Sam still couldn't quite believe he hadn't been angrier.

After that she and Jack had a talk. Sam had put her foot down. No more avoiding the issue. No more 'leaving it in the room'.

She had managed to speak for a full two minutes before he told her to shut up. Privately Sam speculated that she had only gotten that far because he wasn't listening.

He told her to go home, think about it, and call him tomorrow.

She refused, telling him she was sure now and could they just get on with it please?

Jack sighed theatrically and picked up the phone.

Sam could remember the conversation verbatim.

"This is General Jack O'Neill out of Cheyenne Mountain, could you put me through to General Hammond please. Tell him it's urgent… George! How ya doin'?... I'm fine… Walter's fine… Uh, sir, I don't know how to say this, but… Carter's taken leave of her senses sir…" He turned to face Sam, his hand covering the mic. "He wants to talk to you." He told her in an exaggerated whisper, handing her the phone.

"General Hammond?"

"Jack tells me you've taken leave of your senses?" Hammond said, sounding oddly like he wanted to laugh.

"I think he's exaggerating, sir." Sam said. She paused, gathering her thoughts. "I just told him that I think we… that is… myself and General O'Neill…"

"Colonel, stop." General Hammond said, definitely laughing this time. "I've been waiting for this for a long time."

Sam's mouth dropped open in shock. "Waiting for what, sir?"

"Colonel, from the minute you walked into that briefing room it was obvious you were either going to kill each other or… something else." General Hammond chuckled. Sam blushed, making Jack grin.

"I have spoken to the President about this very sensitive matter. We decided that-"

"With all due respect, General, wasn't that a little premature?" Sam asked, causing Jack to grin all the wider.

"Overdue, more like it." Hammond corrected her. "I've been waiting at least four years for this, perhaps even longer. The fax will be through shortly, and the pair of you can decide where you want to go from here." Hammond hung up the phone, still chuckling.

Jack looked at Sam, raising an eyebrow as she hung up the receiver.

"He's faxing something." Was all she could manage to say.

As if on cue Jack's fax machine beeped and started printing.

Jack snatched the paper from the machine's out tray. "It's from the president. Dated a week ago."

"Let me see." Sam said, trying to snatch it out of his hand.

"Excuse me, Colonel Carter?" Jack asked, teasingly.

Sam narrowed her eyes.

Jack smiled at her and handed her the sheet of paper, on which was printed a special dispensation notice.

"I never imagined that would happen." Sam said, after she finished reading it.


Jack just grinned and stretched slightly. "So what were you sayin' when you interrupted me from my highly interesting paperwork?"

Sam looked up at him, smiling. "Shall we take that fishing trip soon, sir?"

They had gone to the cabin for a week. A very relaxing week. A week in which not much fishing was done.

Thinking back on their impromptu holiday made Sam smile.

"You know, it's not usual to be that fascinated by space after eight years." The voice carried all its usual cynicism, with a large helping of amusement.

"Why not? You are?" Sam retorted, turning to look at him. He was standing in the doorway, his face hidden by shadows, his hands in his pockets.

The scene was familiar to Sam.

"You okay?" Jack asked, stepping into the room.

"No." Sam admitted.

Jack sank down next to her, stretching long legs out in front of him.

"What's up?"

"Why have you been avoiding me?" Sam asked.

"Oh. That."

"Yes. That." Sam decided that two could play the monosyllabic game.

"I was worried you were pissed at me." Jack admitted candidly.

Sam almost gave herself whiplash. "What?"

"The whole… RepliCarter thing. I told you it was over and…" he spread his hands, "its not."

"Why would I be pissed at you for that?" Sam asked.

Jack shrugged. "I let her go."

Sam stared at him. "You're an ass, Jack." She said, smiling.

"Thank you." He said. After a pause he asked, "Why this time?"

"I thought you were mad at me."

Jack cocked his head to one side inquisitively. "You're nuts. Why?"

"It's my fault she's the way she is."

"Carter… Sam, we've been through this. She. Is. Not. You. Trust me, I know." He smirked, making her blush and smile back at him.

They sat in silence for a moment.

"We suck at this, don't we?" Jack asked.

"The whole relationship thing?" Sam clarified. He nodded. "Big time." She agreed.

"Y'know," Jack said conversationally, scuffing one of his boot toes with the other, "I always had a sneaking suspicion we would."

"You did?" Sam said, slightly panicked that he was ready to give up on them.

"Yeah."

Sam looked at him, he was grinning. "Ass."

"Yeah." He looked at her. "You finished being melodramatic?"

"Hey!"

He raised an eyebrow at her.

"Yes."

"Good. Let's go to bed."

"Jack! We're on a mission!"

"Not for another…" he consulted his watch. "Twelve hours. And I meant to sleep anyway." He said, rising and helping her up. "You've got a dirty mind, Colonel."

She narrowed her eyes at him, and preceded him out of the room.

When they reached the rendezvous point Tyr scanned the planet.

"Anything?" Jack asked, re-lacing his boots.

"There is nothing on the planet, O'Neill."

"Nothing?" Jack asked, puzzled.

"Nothing, O'Neill. The planet does not even appear to have the beginnings of a human civilisation. There is, however, a vessel in orbit. A large vessel." Tyr told them.

"Replicator?"

"It would appear so."

Jack looked at Sam. She had been uncharacteristically quiet since she had woken up this morning.

Jack had not slept at all. But now that they were here and it was time, he was okay. Sam, on the other hand, looked incredibly nervous.

Jack was aware that Daniel and Teal'c were also watching her closely.

He walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. She looked up at him.

"You okay, Sam?" He asked.

"I'm fine, Jack. Just…" She shrugged.

"We'll be okay, Carter." He told her.

She smiled. "Yes, sir."

Daniel and Teal'c watched as their friends shrugged on their military personas like cloaks. They noticed that their hands remained intertwined, however.

"So… what?" Jack asked. "We beam down there?"

"I am unsure." Tyr replied. "Perhaps-"

The Asgaard was cut off by a brilliant white light that engulfed Sam and Jack.

When the light faded Sam and Jack had gone.

"Now what?" Daniel asked.

"We wait." Teal'c replied.

"Oh great." Jack muttered. The room he and Sam had found themselves in was made of replicator blocks. They were obviously on board the replicator ship.

He turned to face Sam, "You okay, Carter?"

Before she could answer someone spoke using her voice. "Still, Carter? Holy Hannah, Sam, I would think you would have at least sorted that out."

RepliCarter stepped into the well-lit room.

Jack stepped forward, so that he was slightly in front of Sam. "RepliCarter!" He said, spreading his arms wide. "It's been too long. How are ya?"

"Jack. You look well." RepliCarter looked between Sam and Jack curiously. "Perhaps something has changed, after all." She smiled at Sam, "You are not as stupid as I thought."

Sam smiled back. "What do you want?"

RepliCarter ignored her and looked at Jack again. "I am sorry I had to lie to you, Jack. You see, I could not just… give up. It's not in our nature."

"Why'd you destroy those civilisations? Why'd you kill those people?" Jack demanded.

"I am a replicator." She said.

"I don't buy that." Jack said.

"They had no technology that was of any real use to you." Sam added.

RepliCarter smiled as if they were children who had just figured something out. "I, well that is… we… felt it would be the best way to get your attention, to make you come to us."

"We?" Sam said, sounding like she was working out where this is going.

Jack, however, was staring at RepliCarter in disbelief. "You didn't."

"She did." The voice was Jack's but it did not come from his mouth.

Another figure entered the room. Jack O'Neill, but slightly… wrong.

The walk was right and he looked and sounded the part, but the eyes were wrong.

Sam stared at the doppelganger.

"You thought I couldn't do it." RepliCarter gloated. "Even without the knowledge from your heads it would have been easy. I spent almost eight years studying him."

Jack glanced at Sam, smirking. "Studying?"

She threw him a mock-glare. "Like you weren't studying me?"

"Good point." Jack conceded, turning his attention back to the replicators. "So, you've made yet another Jack clone." Jack stepped forwards, and began to circle his double. "Good job." He said, nodding.

He came full circle and stood toe to toe with his doppelganger. "Carter, tell me somethin'."

"Sir?"

"Am I really this tall?"

Sam smiled, "Yes, sir."

"So…" Jack began. "She's RepliCarter, so what does that make you?"

"I don't know what it makes me…" His counterpart said, rubbing the back of his neck. "But it makes you pretty damn obsolete, don'tcha think?"

"No." Sam answered him.

"Well, you would say that now, wouldn't you?" Jack's duplicate shot back. "How's Pete?"

Before Sam could answer Jack asked, "Why are we here?"

RepliCarter took her Jack's hand and smiled. "We just wanted to make you aware of our existence."

"That's it?" Sam asked suspiciously.

Jack's double nodded.

"Oh, please." Jack muttered.

"You don't believe us?" His counterpart asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"No." Jack and Sam answered in unison.

"Very well, we will prove it to you." The replicators advanced on Jack and Sam, who backed into the wall.

The replicators raised their hands to their doubles' foreheads.

"I hate this part." Jack muttered to Sam, reaching for her hand.

11