Chapter Eight

He continued to stare at her back, unable to speak past the lump in his throat. He wasn't sure what he'd say if he could. Even if she forgave him, he wasn't sure he could forgive himself. He'd wanted Carter 2 to be the real one because she was different. She was emotional and sensitive and decidedly female. The guilt was choking him. He'd sided with one, not because she was particularly like the woman he knew, but because she was like the woman he wanted her to be. As much as he loved and respected Carter, he wanted to know Sam. Carter 2 exhibited all the qualities he wanted to get to see in Carter.

He felt an unfamiliar stab of jealousy at the thought that Daniel knew that side. Hell, Teal'c even knew that side better than Jack. But wishful thinking wasn't reality. He'd kissed one of them, a sparkling example of his ineptitude. Angry at himself, at Daniel for wanting to look around the planet in the first place, and at Carter for having successfully activated the machine without first determining what it was, he sped up, charging to the front of the group.

"We need to pick up the pace, Daniel."

He needed to get somewhere far away from Carter until there was only one of her and, hopefully, she would know nothing of his indiscretion.

His mood fueled his speed. Within a fairly short distance, Jack had surged away from the group. Daniel was trailing quite a bit behind them, adjusting his pack often, as he usually did when he was having trouble keeping up. Teal'c and Carter 1 were still together, halfway between Jack and Daniel. Carter 2 was struggling to keep up with Jack, but she was staying closer to him than to Teal'c. Jack paused and waited for the other to catch up.

"Teal'c, trade." He nodded at Carter 1. He knew it was probably a pathetic attempt to make up for his earlier obvious favoritism, but he thought trying to pretend that he was just dividing the time evenly might help. He refused to look at Carter 2 as Teal'c stepped toward her. He refused to look at Daniel and Teal'c as well. Undoubtedly they would recognize the distress in his face, in his eyes, and by that point, that only thing that was holding him together was the fact that no one knew he was falling apart.

Carter 1 stepped up to his side, saying nothing regarding his change of heart. When he began walking again, she stayed right with him, never falling a step behind. He knew it should be a comfort since he would never expect less from her. He glanced over at her, wanting to share a smile like he had with the other Carter. She looked right back at him, a blank, eager stare with no warmth whatsoever.

Cold fear took up residence in his heart, realizing he'd confirmed his fear - he truly didn't believe either one of them was Carter anymore. Whatever that machine had done, whatever it was meant to do, it had taken Carter away.

They stopped after an hour to rest and have some breakfast. Oddly enough the Carters chose to sit relatively close to each other. He told himself it was only a coincidence, but as he chose to sit several yards away from them, he noticed the odd way they were watching each other, glancing at each other. Daniel and Teal'c sat down near Jack and they warily stared at the women.

Teal'c nodded toward the Carters. "They seem to have calmed considerably toward one another."

"She's thinking." Daniel was picking at his food, the same way the Carters were. "They're thinking."

Jack shrugged and stuffed the rest of his breakfast in his mouth. "I hope they come up with something good."

A few minutes later, Carters' voices rang out in complete unison. "I have an idea."

Jack turned to Daniel. "This will be the brilliant idea, right?"

Daniel shrugged. "I just hope it's the same idea."

Teal'c looked worried. "I do not wish to witness another argument between them."

"One would hope that it's the same idea since they both came up with it simultaneously." Daniel furrowed his brow. "But since they don't have the same personality, it might be a stretch for them to arrive at the same idea at the same time."

An odd sort of comfort came over Jack as he looked back and forth between the two Carters. Such clarity and understanding were rare for Jack to arrive at on his own, but considering that it involved Carter, he decided he was the most likely of the three men to figure it out. "It's the same idea because they're the same."

"What?" Daniel looked like he thought Jack was completely insane. Teal'c shared a concerned glance with Daniel.

The Carters were grinning at Jack. He figured it was either forgiveness for his inability to distinguish between them or pride that he'd come to the same conclusion as them. Jack smiled back. "Does this mean you'll get along now?"

The Carters shrugged at one another.

"Jack? What's going on?"

"The machine didn't copy her or clone her, Daniel. It split her down the middle."

"How is that possible, O'Neill?"

Jack shrugged. "That's for Daniel and the Carters to figure out. All I know is they're both really her." He found himself grinning once again at the thought of two Carters, an entirely guilt-free thought since they were actually the same person. Both Carters rolled their eyes at him.

"This still does not explain why they do not appear to like each other." Teal'c was actually more intrigued by the idea that Carter hadn't been copied.

Daniel was catching on faster and took a minute to explain it while Jack walked over to sit closer to Carter. "There are two sides of her, Teal'c. There's Sam the woman and Major Carter the Air Force officer."

Teal'c nodded thoughtfully. "It would seem that she has unresolved internal conflicts pertaining to those opposing personalities."

"I think everyone does, Teal'c. You, for example, are exactly the same."

"I am not." Teal'c looked offended.

"One side of you is a strong warrior, like Major Carter. That part of you is strong and unemotional. Then there's the other side of you - the side that is a father and was a husband. You're able to love very deeply."

"O'Neill is the same."

"Yeah, I think that's what binds them together." He nodded at Jack and the Carters. "They both have that struggle. It's just one more thing they have in common."

"This should be a liberating experience for the emotional side of Major Carter."

Daniel was confused once again. "How so?"

"I believe the strong, unemotional side of Major Carter mostly has control. I believe the feminine side of Major Carter is often crushed behind military protocol."

"Which explains why Jack is so damn fascinated by her."

"Yes, it does. He does not get to see her often."

"I don't think he ever sees her." Daniel started to smile. "Maybe we should take the other Carter and give them some alone time."

Teal'c didn't smile. "I fear that will only serve to complicate their relationship further. And I also believe Major Carter will be greatly angered by such an action."

The pair looked over at the Carters. Jack and Carter 2 were laughing at something, but Carter 1 was glaring at Carter 2 again. "Yeah, Teal'c, she does seem to be a bit territorial about him, doesn't she?"

"Indeed."

The friends lapsed into silence, choosing to mull over their thoughts quietly while they watched the group before them.