Author's note: Ella is my creation. I introduced her as a friend of Daniel's in my one-shot story "Photograph." Their history was fleshed out in "Picture Book" and contiued in "Perspectives." It is not essential to read them as I summerize the relationship here, but you are welcome to.

Disclaimer: I own nothing here but Ella.

Set mid season 9.

Ella McPherson lay in her darkened bedroom. Unwanted tears occasionally leaked out of the corners of her eyes, trickling down to pool into her long red hair. Staring into the darkness, she rubbed absently on her abdomen. She hoped that there was some warmth working its way from her hands to her womb. Every other part of her felt cold.

Ella's husband, Dr. Alexander Portmanoy, was missing. He was an associate professor of physics at the local university. One week ago, her had learned that he was going to be a father. Now he had vanished. Ella imagined what her baby would say to her right now. Hey up there. Hey you! Mom! Where's that other person? That daddy person. You know, the tall, skinny guy who was so happy to hear that I was coming that he picked you up and spun you around until you thought you were going to throw up again. Where'd he go?

"I wish I knew," Ella whispered. Lying in their bed, Ella could detect her husband's scent. Alex's favorite soap mingled with clean paper and ballpoint pens. It was peculiar, but uniquely, wonderfully Alex.

Alex had called her yesterday. He had to work late. He told her that he loved her and that she was to eat a salad with her dinner. Somewhere on-line he had learned that pregnant women needed an abundance of folic acid. Ella knew that she should expect eight more months of medical advice. The hazards of loving a scientist. However, she laughed and promised she would eat well. She asked him to wake her when he got home. She went to bed early.

It was only when the morning sun slipped into her room that Ella realized she had slept alone. She walked around the small house calling for him. She called his cell phone but it went straight to voice mail. So she called Campus Security. Two long hours later, they called her back. Alex's office was locked tight. They had found his cell phone lying in two pieces under his car.

Feeling more scared every moment, Ella called the police. On the phone, they were less than helpful. After all, an adult wasn't officially missing for 48 hours. So Ella pulled out the biggest gun she had. She sharply informed the voice on the phone that her husband was a civilian contractor for the Cheyenne Mountain facility and they were both "close, personal" friends of Brigadier General Jack O'Neill, the former base commander. She had never understood what that title meant, but using it got the desired effect. If it was a slight exaggeration, she didn't care. The voice promised that an officer would be over soon. As soon as she ended that call, Ella called her real connection with the base, Dr. Daniel Jackson.

Ella and Daniel had known each other over half their lives. They had lived with the same hellish foster family when they were young. They stayed in intermittent contact until they reunited by chance in Colorado Springs. As adults, their relationship changed and they became lovers. That all changed when Daniel had been declared dead for over a year. After he returned from parts unknown, he had no memory of Ella. By the time they found each other, Ella had met Alex. Thankfully, Ella and Daniel were able to remain friends. She considered Daniel the only family that she had, other than her husband. At her wedding, it had been Daniel who walked her down the aisle. At this moment, Daniel was Ella's lifeline.

She cursed loudly when her lifeline went straight to voicemail. She was beginning to hate modern technology. Her message was short, just asking him to call when he got this. During the two hours she waited for the police, Ella called every friend that she and her husband had. Had anyone seen Alex? Had anyone talked to him? If they heard from him, would they please call her? Thanks. Over and over and over.

She wanted to keep busy. Her mind was trying to go in directions that she didn't like. Her sweet and kind and brilliant husbandhad just started a new weapons project for the military. Ella hated when he did weapon work. Alex's mood would turn very dark. As well, Ella had a healthy distrust for anything connect to the military. Weird things happened to people who worked for the Cheyenne Mountain Complex. She needn't look any farther for proof of that than Daniel. She didn't even know with any clarity what Daniel did for the government. She just knew that it was dangerous and classified and it made him disappear for weeks at a time. Hell, the man had come back from the dead. If that wasn't the definition of "weird" what was?

The offer had come in this week, a day after she'd told him about the baby. He was so happy about the child. They were both hoping for a girl. Alex had already priced starter chemistry sets. As being an associate professor did not pay all that well, the government contract was too well paying to turn down.

Finally the police arrived. So many questions…Where you and your husband having problems? Had you been fighting? Could he be having an affair? Are you? On went the interrogation. Stifling her natural temper, Ella answered every question. The police selected a photo of Alex and told her to call them if he didn't resurface within 24 hours.

Evening came. Ella knew that she should eat, but the idea of food turned her stomach. She took the phone into her room and lay down. Blindly, she punched Daniel's number. Voice mail. "Daniel, it's Ella." For the first time that day, she heard her voice crack. "Please call me. Something's wrong. Alex is missing." She clicked off the phone.

Now she lay in the dark. Waiting. She continued to rub her belly. "Alex," she whispered into the night, "please come home. We need you."

TBC