Take The Long Way Home by Oz Lovi
Summary: Sam goes missing during a mission and the consequences of her experience will change her life forever (and someone else's too).
Warnings: None yet.
Pairings: J/S (what can I say, I'm a Jack/Sam shipper, but I do write others too)
Season: Seven-ish Spoilers: Wee bit here and there from the whole series.
A/N: Here's the next chapter. I was hoping to have another one ready to go tonight, but I didn't realize how long it was going to take to type it. Another chapter will be coming very soon. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, it is so nice to get encouragement. Also, it seems that a number of you are hoping that somehow Kalan used Jack, or in some cases suspect it already. As I told some of you when I replied to your reviews, the answers will come very soon, so keep reading.
Take The Long Way Home
From Chapter 1: "I'll be here, Janet." Without even thinking about it she took the hand that the Colonel offered her, to help her off the exam bed.
When he looked at their hands it dawned on him that he'd offered her a hand without even thinking about it. "Feel like getting something to eat?"
Chapter 2
"I have a lot of work to get caught up on." She wanted to go, but she knew the projects in her lab were piling up and she didn't want to get snowed under.
"Tell you what," he said as they walked down the hall toward her lab. "I'll bring dinner to you."
As they entered her lab she smiled and said, "That would be good, but you don't have to, Sir."
"This way I can make sure you eat something." As he turned to leave she stopped him.
"Sir," she waited until he turned back toward her. As he looked at her she pulled her courage together and held out one of the pictures for him. "I thought you might like one."
Taking the picture with a small smile he quietly said, "I didn't think it was right to ask. If you wanted to share them I knew you would. Thank you, I'm honored," he said softly.
"You could've asked for a picture, Sir. I was already planning to give you one, but I wouldn't make you take it if you didn't really want it," she added quickly.
"No, I do want it." They stared at each other as an awkward silence filled the distance between them. Deciding to break the silence he said, "I should go get the food."
Sam nodded. As he walked down the hall she sat at her work table staring at her projects strewn across it. Her gaze wandered to the sono pictures in her hand. Lightly running her fingers over the image she smiled softly. She stared at it for a long time. Without even thinking about it she settled her other hand on the growing swell of her stomach.
As Jack walked into her lab he was mesmerized by the scene that greeted him. She was sitting at her work table staring at the sono pictures with her hand sitting lightly over her stomach and a small smile on her face. After a moment he shifted the tray he was holding and walked over to the table.
A sound, footsteps she decided, caught her attention. When she looked up the Colonel sat a tray of food down on her table. She realized she must have been staring at the pictures longer than she thought she had, since he was already there with the food. Good gracious, she thought looking at the pile of food he had. "How much do you think I can eat?"
At the amused grin she gave him he said, "I brought my food too."
"Good, I was starting to think you forgot I'm eating for two not five." She chuckled as she picked up part of a sandwich. "Who would have thought that I would be sitting here trying to do experiments while I'm thinking of how to set up a nursery at my house."
"It kind of gives you a different perspective on the world. When you're a parent you start thinking about how everything can be used to teach your kids, or how you can keep them safe from any evil out there." He looked thoughtful and then took a huge bite of food, trying to keep himself from saying anything else, yet.
"Do you have any advice?" Sam noted the twinkle in his eyes as she took a drink of her water.
"Don't let anybody tell you that you can't be a parent and an officer at the same time. The most dangerous creature is a mother protecting her young." Sobering slightly he added, "Don't try to do it all by yourself. All of us will be here for you, for both of you."
She smiled at him. "Thank you. I know you guys will give me a hand. I just wish…" She paused, realizing she was about to say something that was much better left as a thought in her head, for now.
He debated about whether he should ask her what she was going to say, but thought better of it. As he watched her eat her food he couldn't help the grin on his face. She ate her sandwich then went straight for the Jell-O before anything else he brought.
"Can I ask you something, Sir?" When she saw the 'why would I mind' look on his face she added, "Something personal?" At his slight nod she continued, "Have you ever…" She hesitated.
He set down his Jell-O. "Thought of having kids again?"
"Yeah," she said quietly. She watched the emotions displayed in his eyes as he thought about how best to answer the question.
"The answer is easy, it's yes, but the reasons aren't as easy." He made a point to look her in the eyes. "I would with the right woman, someone that I was in love with." He looked on as the realization of what he was trying to tell her showed in her eyes.
"Same here," she said very quietly. "You would be a great father." They stared into each other's eyes until a voice broke the comfortable silence.
Daniel walked into Sam's lab to see if she had eaten yet. "Hi guys." He noticed the way that they were looking at each other before they turned to look at him.
"Hi, Daniel."
"What's up, Daniel?" Jack asked.
"I was just coming in to see if Sam had eaten yet. Judging from the empty plates, I'm guessing so."
"We both did."
Sam looked at her friend, there seemed to be a question in his eyes. "We were talking about parenthood. Do you agree that it changes your view of the world?"
"I would think so, since you have to think of somebody other than yourself. You have to think of how things tech your kids how to be as an adult."
"Let me ask you then. Have you ever thought of having kids?" Sam waited as Daniel looked at her with a grin.
"If I had stayed on Abydos I would have. Now, if I meet the right woman I would like to."
Jack smirked at him. "You mean a petite brunette with an array of needles?" He and Sam grinned as their friend tried to avoid their eyes.
"Well, uh…"
They all looked up as the phone rang. Sam slid gently off of her stool and went to answer the phone. "Carter." She nodded as the other person spoke. "Sure, Janet, I'll be there in a minute." As she hung up she turned to the others, "Janet wants to see me for some test she just decided to do."
"Want us to come with?" Jack asked.
"Please do." She smiled as they followed her to the infirmary. Along the way Teal'c met up with them. As the team entered the infirmary she saw Janet shake her head, grinning. "What?"
"Somehow, I'm not surprised that everybody came with you." She motioned toward an exam bed. Janet and the others noticed that Jack instantly offered Sam a hand and she took it without either of them apparently thinking about their behavior. She glanced at Teal'c and Daniel, who seemed to share her thought.
"What is this test you want to do, Janet?" Sam asked patiently.
"Walking up to her with a needle and test tube she said, "I want to run a DNA comparison to make sure he did use a human for the baby's father." She smoothly slipped the needle into Sam's skin when she offered her arm. Pulling the tube of blood away she smiled. "I should be able to tell you in a day or so."
"Thanks, Janet." Sam slid herself off the exam bed before anybody had the opportunity to give her their hand.
-----
Everyone sitting at the briefing room table seemed to be staring at Sam. "You have a very happy look, Sam," Daniel commented as they waited for Janet to gather her files.
She smiled. "Thank you, Daniel. I am happy, despite how this came about," she said as she placed a hand lovingly on her stomach. "How will you handle the information about my 'condition', Sir?" she asked the General.
"Your pregnancy is becoming very obvious. Soon, even your uniform over shirt won't be able to hide it. At this time we're going to tell the senior officers as well as the SG team members. I will make certain they know that any rumors they hear are to be dispelled with the facts. I'm not going to let anyone run your name through the mud by insinuating that you did something inappropriate while on duty."
"Thank you, Sir." She gave him a genuine smile. "If we could, I'd like to tell my dad before the baby gets here."
"The Tok'ra told us where to find him." At the look on her face he added, "I didn't tell them why we wanted to talk to him."
Janet Waited until he was done before beginning her briefing. "I ran the DNA sequence between Sam and the baby, and it seems that Kalan was telling the truth. The father is a human, but there was something about the DNA that I couldn't put my finger on. With your permission, General, I'd like to talk to him." She noticed the set of Sam's jaw at the idea of him getting too close to her friend. "In person."
"Are you out of your mind?" Jack wasn't shy about his thoughts on this idea.
"I will take your team with me. If you'll agree, Sir," she added to the General.
"You're sure you need to do this, Doctor?" He was skeptical of the cooperation she would get from Kalan.
"If he'll let me, I need a sample of the genetic material he used." Trying to get her way she opted to give the some idea what she was looking for. "There is something that I'm concerned about and he can answer my questions." Seeing the worried looks on the faces around her she added, "It's not anything that's wrong, it's how he did this."
"I'll go with you," Sam said, not seeing the flash of annoyance her friends gave her.
"To be honest, Sam, I don't want you going off world until after you have the baby."
"Janet, I want to know what he did too. We've seen other pregnant women go through the 'gate."
"I'm not sure yet how soon you'll actually deliver. It wouldn't be good for you to go into labor with Kalan around. What if he tried to take you again, or the baby?" Janet's concerned gaze turned to the Colonel, as did everyone else's as he interrupted.
With a deep, quiet, even voice he said, "I'll break him in half if he so much as touches either of them."
"As would any of us," Teal'c added.
"I have to agree with Dr. Fraiser. I'll allow you to go, Doctor, but I want you to take SG-1 and SG-2 with you. Major, I want you here in the Control room in case they need any information from you."
"Yes, Sir," she answered the General soberly.
"If you would all like to stay, I've asked all the SG team leaders and our senior staff to a meeting to brief them on the situation." The General went to his office and made a quick call, then returned to his chair. He'd no sooner sat down than the other officers entered the briefing room.
Most of them took seats around the table, but others stood as they waited. Some of the team leaders exchanged questioning glances when they realized that only SG-1 had their whole team present and Dr. Fraiser was also there.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I will make this as brief as possible." The General waited as everyone turned to listen. "You're all aware that Major Carter was missing for a number of weeks. I'm sure most of you know that Mr. Kalan abducted her then tried to use her as a bargaining chip for trade with us." Seeing the nods of those around him he continued, "While held captive by Mr. Kalan, Major Carter was subjected to experiments. Due to these experiments she is now pregnant and will likely deliver in a matter of weeks. Dr. Fraiser, if you would please."
Taking a steadying breath she launched into the shortest explanation she could. "After her abduction, Major Carter was impregnated by a process involving the insertion of a large needle into her abdomen with a genetic sample Mr. Kalan insists was taken from a human male he met in his trades. Mr. Kalan has also indicated that the process he used is employed, with great success, to help infertile women on his word conceive. As we can see, it was successful in this case as well."
When she paused Major Feretti took the opening to ask what most of them were thinking. "Major Carter was only gone for a few weeks, how could she be due so soon?"
"It appears that she was injected with something to accelerate the baby's growth. At last check the baby was already the size of a four month old fetus, likely closer to five months now."
"Given the rapid development I felt it necessary to inform you all now. I want to make sure that you inform you teams of the facts before the rumor mill notices the obvious. If you hear any rumors I want you to report them to me and make sure that the persons spreading them learn the facts." He looked at each of the then said, "Major Feretti, I'd like to discuss a mission with you. The rest of you are dismissed." After the others rose to leave, the General turned to Sam. "Is there anything specific you would like to learn from Mr. Kalan?"
"If he told me the truth," she said quietly.
"Major Feretti, your team will accompany SG-1 and Dr. Fraiser to the planet to find Mr. Kalan. There are some questions that she would like him to answer. The rule of thumb on this mission is to keep the Doctor and Mr. Kalan in sight at all times. I don't want him to get the idea to try the same thing with her."
"Yes, Sir," Feretti answered. "Will you be joining us, Major?" He saw the disappointment on her face.
"No."
He nodded; it seemed like a wise idea. Glancing at the man sitting next to her he couldn't help but notice the quick glance he gave her along with a small grin. She returned it, but still looked disappointed at not going on the mission.
"Cheer up," Jack whispered.
"I'll try, Sir."
"When do we leave, general?" Feretti asked.
"One hour, dismissed." The General rose and then walked into his office. After he'd left Feretti stood and was about to leave when he saw Sam stand.
"Excuse me, but I'm going to go work on some projects." As she turned to leave, the edge of her over shirt caught on the chair, revealing how snugly her t-shirt was covering her expanding stomach. She quickly pulled her over shirt closed again.
Watching as she and Teal'c left the room, Feretti turned toward his friend. "Colonel, what is she going to do? I mean after the baby is born."
"She's already made her decision. It's up to her to tell people when she's ready."
"She told you though." It was supposed to be a question, but it didn't quite sound that way. "I'm just asking if you know."
Glancing at Daniel, who was quietly listening, he answered Feretti. "Yeah, I do know, Feretti." With that he headed out the door.
Feretti turned to Daniel. "You don't know yet, do you, Dr. Jackson?" This wasn't going to be easy for her, but he knew everybody would give her a hand. He just wondered if anybody actually knew what she was going to do.
"She hasn't told me. She started to tell us at lunch the other day, but we were interrupted by Kalan's message." Daniel shrugged then walked out of the room.
An hour later Sam sat in the Control room, waiting for her team to step through the 'gate without her. She knew it was for the best. Admittedly, she didn't want to give Kalan a chance to get a hold of her baby, but she felt left out. As they walked toward the event horizon the Colonel paused. Glancing up to the Control room, he locked eyes with her for a second before turning to step through.
A/N: I know, you didn't get to find out where the specimen came from yet. The next chapter should be up soon. That is where you will get your answers. Hope you like it so far. Don't forget that lovely little review button, and thanks for reading. Oz Lovi