Chapter 2: Sam's News

The guys jogged down to the infirmary not quiet sure what could be wrong. Sam had just gotten back from a peaceful mission with a gaggle of science geeks, there were no fire fights, no Gou'alds, no plants, and no natives that even looked at her team cross eyed. When they arrived Sam was standing in the middle of the room wringing her hands. Janet came out shortly there after with a folder in her hands.

"Sam, would you like to go somewhere were we can go and talk in private?" She gestured towards her office. Sam looked up confused.

"No no, its fine. I mean they all know already, we're a team Jan." She gave a watery smile. Janet opened the folder and took a deep breath.

"Okay, we'll my tests show that you are about five months pregnant." She paused and looked up, shock registered on every face except Sam's.

"Yes Janet, obviously, is there a problem?" Sam was getting a bit exasperated, she had assumed when she got called down here that something was wrong and now it seemed that it was just a waste of a trip. Janet looked down at her report.

"No, no the tests are fine but I just wasn't sure if you knew. I mean we don't know what gate travel does to a fetus and it seems you hadn't informed General Hammond either so" She was cut off by said general entering the infirmary.

"Major Carter, would you please tell me what in gods name is going on?" His face was beat red and caused Sam to swallow nervously. The confusion, however, was evident on her face.

"Sir, I honestly don't know."

He raised an eyebrow. "You don't know how you got pregnant Major?"

She shook her head. "No sir, I know that I mean I am just as confused as you about what is going on here, sir." All of a sudden Sam's eyes widened in horror and turned to Janet. "Wait, when you said that you don't know what gate travel does you weren't kidding were you?" Janet shook her head. Sam turned back to the General. "Sir, I believe we have a situation."

Hammond barely contained an eye roll. "You had better believe it Major."

Sam sighed and shook her head. "No sir, I think there is a bigger problem. I don't think this is my reality. She looked around at the blank stares. "Sir I suggest that we continue this in the briefing room." Hammond nodded. Suddenly the unauthorized off world activation signal came on. They all made there way there in time to see the gate activate with a kawoosh. "No way." Sam breathed. "Sir, we need to debrief now." Hammond looked at Walter.

"Sir, it should just be SG5 checking in."

Hammond nodded. "Let me know if anything happens." He jerked his head towards the stairs.

000

Hammond sat down and took a deep breath. "Okay, Major Carter, please start from the beginning." Sam nodded.

"First of all your gate is off." She looked around, everyone's face was blank. "Okay, we'll do that later. Well sir this is definitely not my reality and it seems the differences started about three years ago. After Jolinar Teal'c became my pillar of support. The rest of my team withdrew and I was left on my own to deal with it. We really bonded and after I healed SG1 did too. A year after that incident I came to you and asked to be allowed to pursue a personal relationship with Teal'c. In my reality you and the President gave your permission and congratulations, it was a gift of sorts for pulling through. I think you knew what I was going to ask as soon as stepped into your office and had seen it coming." She chuckled slightly, the General always saw more than he let on. "SG1 was allowed to stay on as it was because Janet was pessimistic about my ability to have children because of Jolinar and our feelings hadn't changed our performance in three years. We didn't try but I secretly hoped that one day I would get lucky, and I did. About five months ago during my post mission exam Janet found high hormonal levels. I was informed six weeks later that I was expecting a son." She beamed, that had been her highlight of working with the SGC. "Our first contact was to the Tok'ra, because of their research and time with the Stargate they just had legions of information about gate travel and its interaction with a fetus. I was removed temporarily from SG1 and placed on purely scientific duty." She shrugged. General Hammond nodded and spoke up.

"Major, a few questions. Was there a quantum mirror on your last mission?"

Sam shook her head and frowned. "No sir, not that I noticed or touched. But we were there to investigate an Ancient device."

Hammond nodded. "Secondly you said, before, our gate was off, what did you mean by that?"

This time Sam smiled. "Well sir, when it engaged there was that kawoosh of plasma. That really shouldn't being happening sir, it looks like your gate isn't connected properly to the Ancient base world." Again with the blank looks. She smiled indulgently and continued. "I take that's another difference. Maybe year again we stumbled upon what the Asgard tell us is the Ancient planet zero, where they began, Delphi. It was an accident really, we traveled through a star and the extra energy boost pushed us farther than we had ever gone before." She sat up a little straighter as the excitement began to show in her face. "It turns out sir that the entire gate system is connected and controlled by a huge super computer, sort of." She grinned. "His name is Hermes. He is the avatar of the gate system, he oversees every single gate. It really is truly fascinating sir. Someone or something, we're thinking the Wraith, turned him off and for the past several millennia or whatever gate travel has been wrong or off so to speak." Relaxing slightly she sat back in her chair, hands crossed in her lap. "You haven't discovered Delphi yet apparently so you aren't dialed in properly." A smug air settled over her as everyone had there eyes glued on her in shock.

General Hammond shook himself a little, he had probably understood only half of what she was says but right now he had to put his priorities on order. He had to get their Samantha Carter back first.

"Sam that sounds fascinating but right now our first priority is getting you back to your right reality." She nodded sadly. "The rest of SG1 I want geared up and ready to head out in twenty minutes, you're going back to that planet and I want to know what happened." The men all nodded. "Dismissed."

000

Hammond and Sam watched as they guys departed up the gate. "Good luck SG1." Jack waved and the wormhole collapsed. The General turned towards Sam, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Major, I would like you to write up a report on this gate problem and the planet Delphi. The more the better Sam."

She smiled. "Thank you sir." As she wanted towards her lab a little bounce was in her step.