Chapter Three

Giving in to her first instinct whenever small babies were involved, Carter shoved herself away from the table and cowered against the far wall. "Augh!"

Everyone was dumbfounded, but Jack was the first to respond. He unfolded the blanket, gently wrapped the little girl up, and rocked her carefully in his arms. When he was done, he glanced at Carter, who was staring at him and the infant with huge, terrified eyes.

"I thought you liked kids, Carter."

"I like kids." She slowly slid against the wall until she was as far away from the baby as she could possibly be and still be in the room. "I hate babies."

Jack had always been good with kids and the baby's cries had died completely away. "How can you hate her? She's just a little baby."

"Babies frighten me, sir." She stayed where she was, pressed flush against the wall, hands outstretched against the concrete as if searching for a trap door. "I don't trust anything that appears helpless while managing to completely control everyone in comes in contact with."

As if to prove her point, both Daniel and Hammond had approached Jack and were conversing with the baby in childishly high-pitched, nonsensical words.

Teal'c was watching the interactions of the team silently while keeping his own distance from the baby.

Carter looked at Thor. "Where did you get a human baby? Take it back to its parents." She glanced at the baby, who at that moment was getting cuddled by the one man Carter herself wanted desperately to be cuddled by. It wasn't rational to be jealous, but she was. She firmly believed that there was no female in all of creation who deserved more than she did to be safe in those strong arms. And no one was ever going to convince her otherwise.

"I have to apologize for the irresponsible creation of this child by one of Loki's assistants." Thor's voice held a note of distaste, which was quite rare for the small creature.

His words caught Jack's attention, at least, the half of it that wasn't soothing the infant. "Isn't he in Asgard jail?"

Thor nodded. "He is unable to continue his cloning experiments. He does, however, have some loyal followers who have continued his research in his absence against the Council's wish."

Suddenly looking quite pale, Jack handed the baby to Daniel before slumping back in his chair. "Why do I think I'm not going to like this, Thor?"

"One of Loki's associates is Lofn."

Daniel looked up from the baby with the stupid smile intended to soothe her still in place. "Lofn, she's the Norse goddess of forbidden love." His stupid grin turned comical as he glanced between Sam and Jack. "She smiles on illicit unions."

Jack pretended he didn't notice Daniel's smile or words and addressed Thor. "What does that have to do with this baby?"

"Lofn also believed Loki's conviction that O'Neill represents a great step forward in human evolution." Thor shifted slightly toward Carter in what she perceived inexplicably to be an apologetic manner. "Lofn's research, however, centered on finding a suitable genetically advanced mate for O'Neill in the belief that the offspring of such a union would provide the answers our scientists have sought for many generations."

Carter slid down to the floor and buried her face in her hands. "This is not happening."

Jack was the only one in the room who somehow understood that her actions were not based in jealousy, but in an awareness of something more devastating. His eyes turned wary as they darted to the tiny girl in Daniel's arms. "Oh, god."

Thor continued in his unapologetic way. "Lofn's research established that Major Carter's genes, in combination with O'Neill's, would provide the necessary genetic advancement to resolve our dilemma." The hush that fell over the conference room at that statement was not at all comfortable, but Thor either didn't notice it or didn't care. "Although we do not approve of her methods, Lofn's ideas were correct and she was able to produce the genetic solution."

General Hammond, who was modeling a shade of red that Carter, under normal circumstances, would have feared indicated a massive heart attack, finally found words. "Are you telling me that one of your scientists produced a child with Colonel O'Neill's and Major Carter's genes without their consent?" His calm, quiet voice belied his obvious anger.

Thor nodded. "Lofn believed that O'Neill and Major Carter would not have willingly cooperated. I believe her assessment of the situation was correct."

"You still could have asked!" Jack wanted to throttle his ex-buddy, but he was pretty sure he was having a heart attack himself.

"It was the Asgard Council's decision that, although successful, Lofn's research materials should be destroyed after the corrected genetic structures were recorded in our cloning methodology."

Carter looked up from her hands, recognizing the detached scientific jargon. "What do you mean destroyed?" She didn't like babies, but she didn't like the way the SPCA destroyed unclaimed kittens either.

Thor turned to her. "The Asgard have no further use for the experimental subject, however, as your friend, I suggested that humans have complex moral issues surrounding the destruction of research materials. You may either choose to keep this human or I will return it to the ship for destruction."

Jack was on his feet in a flash. "Destruction? First you make us a baby without telling us and now you're going to pop in, show it to us and then kill it? What the hell is wrong with you?"

If Thor was alarmed by Jack's aggressive stance he didn't show it. "I did not have to even make you aware of its existence. I am offering you the chance to keep it."

Jack approached Thor, leaning in to the alien's face closely, and narrowed his eyes. "It is a baby and I would sooner see you and your entire race destroyed than my child."

Thor didn't blink. "You are then keeping the subject?"

The veins popped out of Jack's neck and, with Daniel's urging, Teal'c stood up to pull Jack away before he could tear Thor limb from limb.

Daniel's eyes turned softer as he stared at the baby, knowing it was Jack and Carter's daughter. He loved her. He felt like a dad himself. He peeked at Thor. "Thor, is she ok? Is there anything wrong with her? She's not unstable or anything, is she?" He was thinking of Jack's clone, the one that was doomed to die without intervention. He was the only one who could think straight enough to ask those questions.

"She is in perfect health."

Daniel looked at Carter, feeling her pain and shock. "When was she born?"

"The cells were gathered several months ago and joined immediately in Lofn's laboratory. The subject became viable at that time. It became cognizant and able to survive in an unprotected environment three Earth days ago."

A beep emanated from the side of Thor's chair. "My ship is needed in battle. I must have an answer regarding the destruction of the subject."

Jack tried to fight past Teal'c, still bent on killing Thor. "Well, she sure as hell isn't going with you!"

Thor disappeared in typical Asgard fashion without another word. Jack's homicidal rage left at the same moment, leaving him leaning heavily against Teal'c.

Hammond nodded at Daniel. "Please take that child to the infirmary immediately. I want her carefully examined."

Daniel stood up, cradling the girl in his arms. Jack and Carter both had a distant, vacant look about them. "Teal'c, why don't you come with me?" Teal'c nodded after making sure that Jack wasn't going to fall without his support.

Hammond left the room quietly, leaving two dazed officers alone in the room.

Jack somehow found his way to the wall beside Carter, sliding down to sit next to her. Neither spoke. Neither looked at the other. But when his hand reached between them to tangle with hers, she didn't resist.