An: Bits and pieces of dialogue are recycled from "Secrets" in season two, in which we met Jacob for the first time. Thanks to the Yahoo transcript group for their hard work on the transcripts; thatmade it a lot easier for me. (moon-catchin (dot) net)

"So, pregnant, huh," Dad said as soon as they were out of earshot. "You know what that can do to your career. Particularly if you want to go into space."

Sam counted to ten before answering. She knew, better than Dad ever could, just exactly what this pregnancy had taken from her. "Yes, Dad, I know," she said, trying to keep her voice even. The last thing she needed was to give Dad ammunition to use against Jack.

"I just hope he's worth it," Dad continued. "That the baby's worth it. You've never exactly been the maternal type, you know, and I wouldn't want you giving up the things you love for something you've never really cared that much about. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be a grandfather. But I want you to be happy, too."

"I know, Dad," Sam said, sitting down on the bed. She ran a hand through her hair. God, she wished Dad could make up his mind. When she focused on her career he fussed over her lack of a personal life. When she had a personal life, he criticized how it would impact her career. "Anyway, even if I didn't want the baby, it's a little late to start thinking about that."

"Yeah," Dad said, sitting down next to her. "Obviously, for the next year or so, you're kind of stuck here. But after that … whatever it is you do in that mountain, deep space or no deep space, it can't be as exciting as the real thing. I'm talking about getting you into NASA, Sam. I'm talking about you actually going to space one day. It'd be more difficult with a kid, but you can do anything you put your mind to."

"What?" Sam asked, heart sinking. Oh, no. No. He wouldn't. He knew how she felt.

"You know Bollinger's an old friend of mine. Head of NASA? Sound familiar?"

"Please don't let this be going where I think it is, Dad," Sam said.

He ignored her. "I've been talking with him about you. I told him you've wanted to be an astronaut since you were a little girl. And that you'd given up—"

"I didn't give up!"

"Let me finish," Dad said, nudging her. "Given up waiting for the shuttle program to be reinstated after the Challenger disaster."

"Yeah, it was bad timing." Now was even worse timing—how could going up to Earth orbit on a shuttle ever compare with going to other planets through a wormhole? But she couldn't exactly tell Dad that. She tried to unclench her jaw.

"Yes, well, Bollinger's not the only guy I know at NASA," Dad went on, either oblivious to her lack of enthusiasm or trying hard to look that way. "I could talk to some people. You apply again, as an Air Force nominee, young lady, and I think you'll find NASA supportive."

"There's a waiting list a mile long." Sam crossed her arms over her chest.

"Not for you."

"Dad, you can't do that!" Sam said, holding on to her temper as firmly as she knew how. "I have never wanted you to interfere in my career. I want to earn my place, not get there because I'm General Carter's daughter. And you know that because I've asked you not to do stuff like this in the past!" Which was both true and the only one of her reasons she could tell Dad about why she didn't want NASA.

"You're telling me you don't want this?" And now Dad's temper was starting to show, too. "They know what you're capable of offering the Space Program, Samantha, they want you!"

"That's not the point!" Sam pushed herself up and started pacing, trying to think of any way she could to get through to him. "The work I am doing right now is very important to me. And I got here on my merits, not yours."

"It's not your dream." Dad watched her, frowning. "Is this about him? That black ops nutcase you're shacked up with?"

"Nutcase?" Sam snorted. "You don't even know him. And in case you've forgotten, you're the one who hit him, not the other way around. I wouldn't throw stones if I were you."

Dad ignored that outright. "I read his file and asked around when you were stationed here, and I didn't like what I heard. He's been in black ops almost his entire career, doing the kind of stuff nobody admits to even decades later. He's insubordinate, a loose cannon. After the hell Jonas put you through, you hook up with another guy from the lunatic fringe?"

"He is nothing like Jonas," Sam growled, giving up any pretense of courtesy. "And he's going to be a permanent fixture in my life from now on, whether you like him or not. He's also going to be a permanent fixture in the life of your grandchild, so I'd suggest you keep that in mind. You want to know what kind of man he is? Get off your damned high horse and get to know him. At the very least, talk with General Hammond. He knows what kind of a man Jack is, and I know you trust his judgment. Do you honestly think George Hammond would have a man like Jonas as his second in command?"

Dad shook his head. "Sam, George is only marking time until retirement. He's got another year to go, on the outside, before they put him out to pasture. Why bother rocking the boat?"

"Things change, Dad," Sam said. "General Hammond won't be retiring any time soon. You can ask him if you don't believe me. And he is most definitely not marking time." The very idea was ridiculous, even if he had been on the brink of retirement. And now that he was in charge of a front-line base—he'd gone to bat for his people all the way on up to the President, when needed. Even for Teal'c, who'd been an unknown alien at the time. He'd moved heaven and Earth to keep him not just out of the hands of the government's research facilities (though with Teal'c's permission, they were doing some limited research on him in the SGC under the watchful eyes of Janet), but on a front-line team. Sam shook her head.

"I don't care if he's some kind of saint, Sam," Dad said, changing his tactics. "I don't want you to have to give up your dreams because of him."

"I'm not," Sam said, ignoring the fact that it was a lie, just not in the way Dad thought it was. She shoved down all thoughts of her old spot on the top Stargate team. If Dad sensed any weakness or hesitation, he'd use it. "But my dreams have changed, Dad."

"So, now your dream is to sit at the bottom of a mountain and, what, analyze radar signals?" Dad looked at her, both eyebrows raised.

"I love my job," Sam said. She knew her folded arms looked defensive, but dropping them now would be more suspicious.

"Hey." Jack poked his head around the door, and Sam didn't know whether to kiss him for it or swear. "I got burgers and salad ready."

"Thanks," she said.

Dad shot her a look that said this wasn't over as he stalked out to the kitchen.