You're just a small bump unborn, in four months you're brought to life
You might be left with my hair, but you'll have your mother's eyes
I'll hold your body in my hands, be as gentle as I can
But for now you're scan of my unmade plans,
A small bump in four months you're brought to life
A small bump in four months you'll open your eyes
Rori waited in her office for Dr. Keller. Danny had barely said a word on the drive over from the bank and they had all disappeared into Steve's office as soon as they'd gotten back to HQ. She had no idea what was going on in there, but her mind kept going through all the scenarios she could think of. They were still angry and, to be fair, they had a right to be. She'd betrayed their trust and she didn't know if they would ever trust her again. She didn't know how, but she would have to prove to them that she had learned from her mistake.
The bell on the front door rang, letting her know that someone was waiting in the small lobby outside the secured door that lead into their office. Rori glanced at the camera. It was Dr. Jennifer Keller.
Rori went and opened the door for the doctor. "Jennifer, it's good to see you," she greeted.
"Likewise," Jennifer said as she stepped inside. She glanced around the main office area. It was a pretty big room with doors to each of their offices, the small kitchen, and the conference room as well as an elevator that went down to the interrogation room, fondly known as the tank. "Is it okay to talk here?" Jennifer asked after a moment of taking in the large room.
"As good a place as anywhere," Rori replied. "I told them."
"How'd they take it?" Jennifer asked as Rori lead the way to her office.
"Well, there was shouting, anger, more shouting, and they've been in Steve's office since we got here," Rori said. She pointed to the chairs at her desk, "Have a seat."
"If you've told the guys, you might consider having them join us," Jennifer suggested softly. "I know John well enough to know that involving him now would go a long way to moving past it."
"Okay," Rori said. She was a little nervous about facing the them, but she knew Jennifer was right. So, she headed to Steve's office and knocked lightly.
"It's open," Steve's muffled reply came through the door. She pushed it open. Steve was in the chair behind his desk, Danny and Hank occupied the ones in front of the desk, and John sat on the end of it. "What's up?"
"Dr. Keller is here to discuss the results of the tests," she said. "I thought you guys might like to join us."
They didn't say anything, just followed her back to her office where the doctor was waiting. John introduced the guys to Dr. Keller after giving her a quick hug. There was a heavy tension in the room that no one could have missed. Rori could tell by the look on Jennifer's face that she was uncomfortable. Rori didn't blame her. Most people found their relationship awkward to start with, add in all the tension between them and you have a recipe for awkward conversation.
"What are we looking at? Hank says a tumor like that is fatal for the baby?" Steve was the first to speak up.
"It is," Jennifer said. "And, under normal circumstances, I would suggest that we could wait and see how the baby develops aside from the tumor, if you were willing. But I don't want to get your hopes up."
"What does that mean?" Danny asked.
"The sample I took yesterday confirms my concerns," Jennifer said. "The tumor is made up of Wraith DNA."
"Wraith DNA!" John asked. "From the bug?"
"Yes," Jennifer replied.
"Damnit!" John shouted as he put his fist through the wall.
"John!" Steve warned. He grabbed John's arms and locked eyes with him. "You need to calm down."
"You don't understand, Steve," John said. "This is my fault."
"No, it's not, it's mine," Rori said. "I'm the one that let my birth control lapse. I should have been more careful. If I was we wouldn't be in this situation."
"Now is not the time to lay blame," Steve said. He fixed John with a stern stare.
"What are you recommending?" Hank asked.
"Honestly?" Jennifer asked. She turned her attention to Rori. "I don't think your body is going to allow the pregnancy to continue."
"You think she'll miscarry because of the foreign DNA?" Hank asked.
"Best case," Jennifer said. "Eratis and Wraith DNA is adaptive."
"You don't think she could?" John asked. It was clear he didn't want to say what he was thinking, but Jennifer seemed to know exactly what he was talking about.
"I think it's only going to effect the baby," Jennifer said. "On that note, I'd like to take another sample."
"You just took some yesterday," Rori said. "Why another one?"
"Dr. Beckett has a few more tests he wants to run, just a precaution," Jennifer said. "Dr. Lawson, I understand your office is outfitted as an exam room?"
"It is," Hank replied.
"Do you mind?" Jennifer asked.
"Not at all, right this way," he said. They all followed him across the hall to his office.
"I have some equipment in the car, could you go get it?" Jennifer asked, holding a set of keys out to Steve. Steve nodded, took the keys and pulled Danny with him toward the door.
It didn't take long for them to get set up for an ultrasound so that Jennifer could take the samples. The guys watched the screen in anticipation. As soon as the baby appeared, Rori caught a light in their eyes. Their anger melted away, replaced by the peace she'd felt when she'd seen the baby for the first time. Except Hank, he had a sad look in his eyes. She knew that look. He shared it with Jennifer.
"What is it?" Rori asked as she looked at the monitor.
"The tumor has doubled in size since yesterday," Jennifer said. "I'm sorry, Rori, but it doesn't look like the baby is going to make it."
Rori stared at the monitor, at the little heartbeat fluttering away. Jennifer used a very long needle to take the sample of the tumor before taking another blood sample from Rori's arm.
"I hate to be the one to suggest this, but –" Hank started but Jennifer laid a hand on his arm to cut him off.
"You don't have to," Jennifer said. "That's why I'm here."
"What?" Steve asked. Rori had a feeling she knew exactly what they were thinking, and she wasn't okay with it.
"I'm going to suggest termination," Jennifer said softly.
"You can't just kill our baby!" Danny shouted.
"Daniel, none of us want that, but I'm not going to risk losing Rorianna for an unplanned pregnancy that's not even viable," Hank said. "We should terminate."
"We're not killing our baby," Danny snapped.
"I'm with Danny, there has to be a way, surgery or something," Steve interjected.
"After I was bit there were some – side effects," John said. "I think we should play it safe. I don't want to lose the baby, I don't, but I can't bear the thought of losing Rorianna."
"Are you crazy? Did you hit your head?" Danny snapped.
"Now who needs to calm down?" John asked. "Trust me, the Wraith and Wraith DNA is not something to mess with. I wish I had never exposed any of you to them."
Rori stared at the video of the baby Jennifer had left on the monitor as they continued to argue. The little heart fluttered away as if the baby was completely unaware of the chaos and turmoil surrounding it. The white glob of the tumor was almost as big as the baby's head now. Her heart broke because, even though she didn't want to face it, she knew the direction this whole thing was going. Her logical mind told her to listen to Jennifer, trust Hank, but her heart told her not to give up on the tiny baby.
"Stop!" she shouted to interrupt the argument that was still in full swing between the most important people in her life. "Jennifer, we need some time, do we have some time to think about this, talk about it?"
"It's hard to tell, we have no reference for what a Wraith tumor could do to you," Jennifer said. "I could give you twenty-four hours, maybe. I'll take these samples to Carson and get his opinion, but I feel like he's going to agree with me."
"Okay, we're not making this decision right now," she said.
"Rori, I want you to consider every element of this," Jennifer said. "Your baby is not going to make it. With the tumor growing this quickly, I'm afraid you won't either, even if it wasn't Wraith DNA."
"Rori, I think we should make the decision now," Hank said.
"Apparently, I'm the tie breaker and I need time to let it sink in," she said.
"Says the woman who knew about it weeks before us," Danny said. His hurt was still bubbling under the surface. Steve elbowed him as if to tell him to knock it off.
"I'll give you a little time," Jennifer said. "I am going to make a quick trip to Atlantis to work with Carson on this, I will be back tomorrow afternoon. If anything changes, anything at all, call General Carter right away." Jennifer set about putting away her equipment and storing the samples she'd taken. She stepped out and left them alone.
A silence filled the room and they all stared at each other. She was so afraid of what was going to happen. The weight of this whole thing could push them apart. She needed some kind of assurance. She needed to know that they were going to be there no matter what.
"Guys, I'm so sorry," she said.
"It's not your fault, we put you in a bad position," John said. "And seeing how we all reacted, I can understand why you didn't say anything."
"But, we are here, we will work through this," Danny said. "If there's one thing I've learned in my life it's that you can't let go of the people that matter." He gripped her hand. "You're not alone in this."
She nodded, but she felt like their entire future rested on her shoulders in that moment.