Sam's Hospital Room - Cheyenne Mountain 5 a.m.
The dark room glowed with only the lights from the various monitors situated around the bed, casting an angelic glow on the quiet features of the motionless patient. She looks asleep - like she could just open her eyes at any moment and his weary mind imagined her doing so - seeing those beautiful blue eyes again - then a terrifying thought made his hands convulsively clench; Maybe that sight was gone forever - never to see the bright intelligence gleaming and directed with love toward him. Darker and darker his thoughts went - when suddenly a brilliant, incandescent light shone beside him. He knew he was not alone. With a shuddering breath he straightened in his chair, and acknowledged his presence. "Thor. Here already?"
"Yes. O'Neill. I told you 'the Hammond' was a much faster ship than our previous design. How is Colonel Carter?"
"Not good. I'm sure Felspre and the others have filled you in." O'Neill's voice was hoarse with exhaustion.
"Yes. I have been told." The Gray figure moved closer and studied O'Neill before adding; "You should be resting O'Neill - you cannot continue without your rest cycle for very much longer."
"I can rest right here." He said briefly and then added, "They say she's dying, Thor." His tormented eyes studied the impassive face of the small being in front of him as if he was trying to decipher something in his features.
"At least you will have the child to comfort you." Thor responded quietly.
"Yeah. There's that." Jack's deadened voice answered.
Thor seemed uncertain and that was unusual - even in his tired state, O'Neill sensed the unease and raised his weary head, his dark, deep-set eyes studied the tiny alien commander.
"Thor, I'm really not in a mood to count any blessings -- I haven't given up on Sam - she has a way of fighting the odds and winning."
Thor seemed even more uncomfortable as his eyes blinked constantly and his hands fluttered indecisively until he finally spoke again, "There is something that I need to disclose, O'Neill and I am afraid that you will not take it well.
Jack studied the small alien and stood abruptly to walk to the door - his hand on the doorknob as if he made to leave. Then changing his mind, he swung back around and knelt down in front of the gray figure, his features contorted with the force of his accusation as he spoke,
"I'M NOT A MORON, THOR. I've been sitting here with nothing to do but think. It all makes sense now - the fleet of Asgards watching over us, the obsessive behavior, the constant monitoring." He paused and then added even more forcefully,
"You KNEW this would happen."
Thor nodded slowly before saying,
"We did have knowledge that Samantha Carter would very probably not survive this experience, O'Neill. That is why we've been monitoring her so frequently on our planet. We wanted to prevent the event but knew that the probability of us doing so was small."
Jack's fury laced his low voice; "You had NO RIGHT to keep this from us. You should have let us know what we were facing." He paused watching the aliens' stoic face and then continued, his face a mixture of fury and hurt at his apparent betrayal.
"I thought we were FRIENDS."
Thor's normally composed features reflected his own turmoil as he listened and watched Jack's hurtful anger build.
"SO, a year ago... did you KNOW you were sentencing her to death when you so blatantly made it clear that we were supposed to be a couple? DID YOU THOR? What gave you the right to play GOD?" Louder and louder Jack's voice grew as he began to lose control of his anger.
Thor stepped back from his rage, but answered hurriedly,
"O'Neill, I did not have this knowledge a year ago... this I swear. Ongoing research revealed this aspect later after your marriage. Upon learning it, my superiors made me swear an oath to not disclose this to you or Samantha Carter. I regret that I agreed to this."
O'Neill stood and backed away as he fought to regain control of his emotions, fearful of his own rage and what he might do to the small being.
Thor simply continued on in his attempt to assuage the situation, "I value your friendship O'Neill. You deserved to know and I did try to convince my superiors that you were strong enough to handle the knowledge, but they would not agree and maybe they were correct in their decision."
Thor's grave voice continued softly, "I'm sure you understand the danger of sharing any knowledge of the future - even the smallest details would have cause and effect' that could be disastrous. Already two Asgard scientists who have been involved in studying this data have committed suicide. The burden of knowledge was simply too great to bear. We now know that we should have destroyed the data as soon as we realized what it was but once again our conceit in our superior abilities have created an intolerable situation." Thor paused, his whole demeanor one of appeal, as he gazed upon the turmoil in O'Neill's face.
"I'm sorry." He finally added, his monotone voice very quiet.
Jacks' harsh voice grated, "Sorry doesn't cut it. Thor. I want you and your 'sidekicks' off this base as soon as you are able."
Thor simply blinked as he considered the emotional response.
"O'Neill, we must stay."
"Why must you? Oh! Right! The Child!" Bitterness flecked each word.
"Trust me O'Neill. "
Jack laughed cynically, his lean face full of fatigue, "Trust. I think that commodity's long used up."
Thor approached him slowly to place a small hand on Jack's arm. "It is vital that you... rest." and before O'Neill could answer, a small glow appeared under his hand as it moved to wave over O'Neill's face. The result was instantaneous, the tall man simply folded to the floor as almost in the same moment a brilliant incandescent light engulfed both alien and man and just as quickly it faded leaving only the patient alone in the dark room.
Thor's Ship, the Hammond, Earth's Orbit, Hours later
"Jack. Jack."
"WHAT?"
"Wake up."
"I'm awake Daniel."
"NO. You're NOT."
"YES. I AM."
"Nooo... You're not -- most people open their eyes when they're awake."
"Petty details." Jack's drowsy voice answered automatically, his brain still holding onto oblivion.
Finally, his grogginess cleared and awareness brought him completely to, as his confused eyes took in polished gleaming metal walls and ceiling; felt the slight vibration and heard the constant hum; all indicative of a spaceship. Realizing then that he was curled up on a tiny sleeping platform that was never designed to hold a six-foot plus body.
"How the hell did I get ...? Uhh... Am I where I think I am?" His sweeping gaze taking in a patiently waiting Daniel who stood over him with his ever present glasses at the very end of his nose.
"Take it easy Jack." Daniels' calm, melodious voice echoed in the chamber.
"Answer the question, DANIEL." Jack sat up quickly and felt dizziness overwhelm him before it slowly cleared; the sharp pain in his head did not dissipate, but rather seemed to worsen.
"You're on Thor's ship. He Uhh... brought you here evidently last night. Anyway, he came to me this morning and asked that I be here when you awoke, in case you were... uhh... upset with him."
Suddenly it all came back ... the last thing he remembered and he realized that Thor evidently had every reason to think that he would be 'upset'.
"Jack, he just wanted you to get some rest." Daniel said, seeing the anger building in his friends' face.
"Goddammit ... I CANNOT believe that little Bastar..."
He stood awkwardly as he stretched his kinked up back and ran a hand across his unshaved face.
"Come on Jack. He only had good intentions. "
"YES. Good intentions -- remember that the next time they render YOU unconscious, DANIEL."
Once again, dizziness overwhelmed him and he staggered and would have fallen if Daniel hadn't reacted quickly by grabbing his arm to steady him. Clutching his aching head, Jack breathed heavily, "Whoa... I feel like I've pulled an all-nighter with a keg of green beer."
"Are you all right?" Concern etched Daniel's face as he studied Jack. Normally Jack O'Neill slept like a cat - awake in an instant - fully aware and capable. This ability had been marveled at countless times. He was known for it. He shrugged off his misgiving even as he pondered what Thor had done to make Jack so out of it.
"I feel... a little strange, but I'm okay." Jack said slowly as he ran a shaky hand through his unkempt gray hair. Daniel knew he wasn't himself, as he hadn't shrugged off Daniel's supporting hand.
"Where is the sneaky little kidnapper?" Jack queried.
"He's... around." Daniel smiled as he realized that Jack's anger was evidently subsiding.
"How's Sam?" Jack asked as he massaged his temples, trying to relieve the eerily familiar sensation in his head.
"Two hours ago, she was the same." Daniel answered as he studied the distress Jack was in.
"Did you ever hear back from the Tok'ra?" He asked as he tentatively took a few steps around the room.
"Uhh... yes. Anise contacted me this morning. So far, nothing other than the offer to find a Tok-ra symbiote if desired."
Jack's scowl said it all in response to Daniel's news. With a quick hand motion, he started for the door, consciously ignoring his continuing discomfort as he directed Daniel, "Let's get out of here."
Upon entering the Control room of the huge Asgard vessel, they spotted Thor talking with a group of Asgards evidently in a deep discussion that kept them from immediately noticing their approach. Daniel's keen hearing thought he heard O'Neill's name mentioned before suddenly they all lapsed into silence and turned as one, to face their advance.
Thor separated himself from the group and stepped forward, his demeanor, as always, one of calmness as he studied O'Neill.
"Ahh... the usual suspects'..." O'Neill's blistering gaze moved over Felspre and the other technicians in the group before alighting back on Thor,
"Well, I'm waiting. What have you got to say for yourself?" O'Neill demanded pressingly, his deep brown eyes blazing with renewed anger, towering over the smaller Asgards with such menace that the rattled group behind Thor retreated back several steps involuntarily.
Thor, the Supreme commander, was braver and as yet unfazed by the General.
"I have a lot to say. O'Neill. We need to talk before you go back to the SGC."
Jack had been expecting guilt and apologies, so was brought up short by Thor's unexpected attitude. More alert than before, he raised his brows as he studied the Supreme Commander and then tersely responded,
"You've got five minutes. Thor. In those five minutes I expect to hear an apology for your abducting me AND a good explanation."
Thor blinked his large eyes and nodded his head in agreement.
"This way please." And led the two men to a room that contained a large table that suspiciously resembled in exact detail the SGC briefing room table. Thor took his seat at the head and waited as Daniel and Jack sat on his immediately right. The other Asgards moved quickly to take the other open seats.
"How do you feel O'Neill?" Thor asked a tinge of concern evident in his usually monotone voice.
Daniel looked at Thor in some surprise as he wondered at the question. He felt a sense of foreboding at the Asgards' unexplained behavior. Their secrecy was becoming increasingly unsettling.
Jack, being Jack responded antagonistically.
"EXCUSE ME! You absolutely take the cake, Thor... How do I FEEL!" His incredulous tone was biting as he continued, "Here's how I FEEL... I feel like I've been abducted, drugged and beaten about the head. THANK YOU so much for making me REST." Sarcasm oozed through every word.
Thor made to speak but before he could another Asgard entered the room moving fast - "Commander Thor, the SGC has sent an emergency communication requiring General O'Neill and Doctor Jackson to return immediately."
Simultaneously, O'Neill and Jackson pushed themselves up from the table their thoughts already focused on what possible situation laid ahead of them.
"Wait! It's imperative that we talk..." Thor said quickly, but O'Neill's fierce look quelled anything else he meant to say, as his harsh voice directed the Asgard ensign to beam them out.
For a long moment Thor didn't say anything, an unusual look of indecision in his face, before he gave the nod of approval to the Asgard ensign. The next moment O'Neill and Jackson were gone.
Silence issued as Thor sat unmoving. Finally Felspre spoke up - "Commander. Did we do the right thing?
Thor merely looked at him. Felspre continued, "We have to tell him."
Thor nodded, "Yes".
"And soon." Felspre added -- the urgency in his normally monotone voice apparent to all.
Back in the SGC - Briefing Room
Jack and Daniel materialized in the briefing room. Landry had evidently been speaking when they interrupted the meeting with their light show'. As soon as the light dissipated, Jack took in the situation; Doctors Lam and Emerson were standing as if readying to leave. Characteristically, Daniel rushed to speak first,
"What's the problem? Why were we summoned back?" His concerned blue eyes seeking out Dr. Lam.
Doctor Emerson spoke first; ignoring Daniel he addressed Jack,
"General O'Neill, the contractions have begun again and the fetal heart monitor is showing that the baby is in some distress. We're going to have to do the C-Section as soon as possible."
Years of discipline kept the impassive expression on Jack O'Neill's face as he took in the news that made him want to dissolve with worry. Instead, he walked over to the Doctors and asked quietly,
"Will Sam be able to come through this in her current condition?" His intense brown eyes searching first Dr. Lams' eyes and then Emerson's as if trying to read their innermost thoughts.
Doctor Lam took up the yoke and with as much reassurance as possible said,
"We'll do everything we can to see that she does General." Her concerned eyes found Daniel's and she tried to give both men a confident look.
"Can I be with her during the operation? We had planned on it before..." Jack lost the words as he remembered the joyful, yet meticulous way Sam had researched and shared with Jack all that would happen in their upcoming adventure' as she had called it. Her eager anticipation of the upcoming birth had been a marvel to him. Now, a piercing stab of sorrow went through him as he realized that Sam was going to miss the treasured experience.
He waited as the two Doctor's exchanged long glances and upon Doctor Lams' nod, Doctor Emerson spoke,
"Normally, I would say no, but I'll allow it on one condition. He paused and then with more authority continued, "IF I tell you that you have to leave - you will NOT question me - you will leave the room immediately. Do you agree to this term?" His sympathetic eyes watched as the General glanced at Daniel who nodded in support and then sighing, Jack then also nodded as he tersely said, "Yes. I agree."
Clearing his throat, Daniel spoke up haltingly.
"Jack, I'll be in the viewing room if that is okay...?"
Jacks' reaction was instant, nodding his head in assent,
"Yeah, Daniel, I'm gonna want you close." One long hand reached out almost involuntarily to grip the back of Daniel's neck and then just as quickly, released him. Daniel's throat closed with suppressed emotion as he felt Jack's fleeting grip of kinship and vowed silently to be there for him -- no matter what.
Impulsively Daniel moved closer to Dr. Lam; his soft voice barely audible to any but those closest to her,
"Carolyn, I' m glad that it's you in there with Sam." His somber face transformed by his sincere smile. Jack watching, saw for the first time the serious exterior of Dr. Lam dissolve as her own tentative, sweet smile appeared as she looked at Daniel.
General Landry cleared his throat as he walked around the table to stand before Jack. Clumsily, he gripped his arm in a gesture of support as he huskily gave his own well wishes. Jack nodded his thanks and quickly left the room with Daniel on his heels.
General Landry stopped his daughter from leaving,
"Carolyn, Contact the Asgards. You'll need to allow them access to the viewing room." She nodded, her professional exterior once again in place and then followed Doctor Emerson out the door.
End of Chapter 5 - Change Happens Again
