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P2R-N30 was a beautiful, grassy world- a nice change from the hot, sandy planets SG-1 had seem to be stuck with recently.
The local people were a fairly primitive race whose use of the native plants excited both Daniel and Carter who procured samples to take back to Earth.
While she was busy, she managed not to think of the infant back home, but that night, as she sat staring at their little fire, she couldn't help but think of Natalie.
"She's fine, Carter," Her CO said quietly. "Janet'll take good care of her."
The Major moved restlessly. "Walter couldn't keep her happy and he has a kid."
"He does?"
"Well, had a kid. He's 25."
"Ahh. Why do you know this?"
"He told me."
Jack could see through the flames that she was relaxing. "Watch the game last night?"
"I don't really like basketball, sir."
"Hockey?"
"Sir... you know this stuff."
"Carter... you can't worry like this every time you go off world," He said half sternly. "The kid will be fine... if something goes wrong, they know where we are."
Carter was on her feet. "I know," She said pacing. "I know."
"We go back tomorrow afternoon... a mere fifteen hours..."
"Nine hundred minutes, or fifty-four thousand seconds." She finished.
He bit back a laugh. "Yeah. Carter, go to bed."
"I... what, sir?"
"Go get some sleep... tomorrow will come faster."
"What about guard duty? I-"
"T and I will cover for you, now go."
She didn't budge. "Sir, Natalie is not going to prevent me from doing my job. I'll take the third shift if Teal'c doesn't mind being second."
Jack nodded, trying to look expressionless but couldn't help but think that she looked like a rebellious teen. "Okay, then. Night."
Carter seemed like for a second like she was going to object before disappearing into her tent.
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"Good morning, campers!"
Samantha Carter rolled over to see her CO's smiling face filling her tent. "Morning, sir. What time is it?"
"Half past eight- Earth time." He answered, handing her a mug of black coffee.
She sipped it, grimaced, and began rummaging through her pack. "Thank you, sir. Where's Teal'c?"
"Guy's kelnoreeming in his tent. He's got quite an audience."
Sam pulled the lone sugar packet out of a pocket and poured it into her coffee. "Local children?"
"They dig the tattoo."
She took another sip and smiled. "Better."
He couldn't help but smile back. "I was thinking… maybe we ditch this place a few minutes earlier and go check on Daniel?"
"Yeah!" She agreed. "Alone with my dad for a week? He's going to be a wreck when he gets home."
"Why's that?" Jack asked curiously.
"The Tok'ra don't have coffee, sir. To be honest, I'm surprised they allow him to remain... he can be such a bear."
"Teddy bear?"
"No."
"Is he really that bad?" Her CO asked.
She shrugged. "Maybe Selmak cured him of it." She sighed as her thoughts drifted back to a little violet-eyed baby on Earth. Jack instantly knew what the sigh was for.
"Carter… she's fine. I'm sure Janet has her under control."
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Janet had just placed Natalie down on one of the beds (with the railings up, of course) and was about to beg one of the nurses to keep an eye on her while she cleaned up when someone entered the infirmary. She stood at attention.
"General Hammond, sir!"
"At ease, Doctor," He said, somewhat amused at the picture she presented. The doctor's normally tidy hair was pulled out of its usual bun and hung down her shoulders, while her white coat had formula stains on it. She looked as if she hadn't slept in several days.
"Are you all right?" He asked.
Janet took a seat on one of the beds. "Sir, this is the first time Natalie has fallen asleep in the past twelve hours," She whispered, gesturing to the sleeping infant. "She doesn't seem to fancy me… or any of my staff."
General Hammond looked at her with pity. "She finally crashed?"
"Actually… no… not in the way you mean. I went through the security tapes and found some footage from the Urgo incident- the one where they were all singing 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat'? I played it several times, and she fell right asleep."
He smiled at her ingenuity. "Good work, doctor. Would you like me to keep an eye on the little angel while you change clothes?"
Janet snorted. Angel… "Yes, sir," She said quickly. "Thank you, sir."
She excused herself before he changed his mind.
Å
"We are most grateful that you have honored us with your presence… upon further discussion with my men, we have decided to accept your offer of an alliance. To prove our good feelings, we will have a feast in your honor… you will stay, will you not?"
Sam looked with dread at the elderly Harnain leader. Stay later? He was joking… right?
"Sir?" She whispered. He gave her a slight shrug and an apologetic glance before turning to face the elderly man, "We would be most happy to accept your…kind… invitation. We just have to contact our leaders and let them know we'll be staying a little later then planned."
"You will all stay?"
Jack looked rather uneasy as Othello (the leader) looked meaningfully at Carter. "Uh… yes… most likely."
He nodded with satisfaction. "That is good."
Teal'c moved slightly forward. "Major Carter can not stay, O'Neill, she has a child at home."
"…Carter… is attached?"
"Yes," She said quickly, hoping to discourage him.
He eyed her for a moment then shrugged. "No matter. O'Neill, you and your friend, Teal'c, will inform your leaders of our plans?"
Jack mentally groaned. Hammond was never going to let him forget this... "Carter has to go with us… she… uh… has to talk to our leader."
Othello's eyes narrowed. "Guards!"
Å
"Open it!"
The iris spun open and three figures dashed through. Once through, they stayed down, hands covering their heads as arrow and spears flew over their heads, until the gate deactivated.
General Hammond just shook his head and hurried down to the embarkation room. The team was slowly getting to their feet as he entered.
"What happened, SG-1?" He asked, stepping over a spear that had been thrown after his top team.
Jack looked at the red-faced Major. "Well… they wanted Carter."
"As in-"
"Yes," He said quickly.
General Hammond shook his head. 'Jack, this is the twentieth time you've come back from a simple mission under fire… you owe me fifty dollars."
Ignoring the looks of his amused and surprised companions, Jack dropped the bill into the General's hand.
"Good. Report to the infirmary."
Carter looked up at that. "Sir, I-"
"Natalie is in the infirmary, Major."
She smiled. "Thank you, sir."
Å
"Sam!"
Carter had never heard the doctor sound so relieved. "Hi, Janet. Where's-"
Janet pointed to the bed. "She's fine."
Sam gave her a big smile of thanks and hurried to the bed. Carefully transferring the baby into her arms, she half listened to her CO explain their various cuts and bruises. The doc cleaned their cuts and checked them over to make sure they didn't have any other injuries.
She finally dismissed them twenty minutes later. Jack and Teal'c hit the showers while Natalie and Carter went to the lab.
Å
Jack paused in the doorway. Carter sat on one of the stools, cradling Natalie and humming a song.
"Lookin' good, Carter."
She slowly looked up. "Hi, sir."
He eased into the room and took a seat next to her. "How is she?"
"Fine," The Major admitted.
"Told ya."
"Yeah… yeah, you did."
Jack was quiet for a moment. "Give her to me, Carter… you need to shower."
She looked at his face and sighed. "Yes, sir."
"That's not an order, Carter, it was a suggestion."
She nodded. "I know. But, Natalie likes you nearly as well as she does me, so she'll be fine."
"Nearly?" Jack protested. "The angel adores me!"
"But you haven't stayed up all night with her before."
He looked at her. "She isn't sleeping at night?"
Carter reluctantly shook her head. "I haven't had a full nights sleep in a week."
Jack held out his arms for the baby and she slowly transferred her into her CO's arms. "Why didn't you call me?" He asked. "I could have come over and watched her…"
"I know, sir," She said. "But you need your sleep too."
"I'm too old to sleep, Carter."
A little smile flitted across her face. "You're not old, sir."
He looked down at Natalie who was stirring in his arms. "You better hurry away, Mommy, or she'll be screaming for you… go!"
She kissed the soft forehead and left, her CO staring after her for several minutes.
This story is wrapping up too!
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