A/N: This chapter's a bit angsty, you have been warned.

Chapter Eleven.

Sam slowly paced the hallway outside the infirmary; the Isolation room was just too small.

Janet had her change into a hospital gown - thankfully this wasn't the kind that opens in the back – she ran her hand over her belly in large soothing circles as she walked.

An airman strode through the corridor. He nodded and gave her a respectful "Ma'am." as he continued on his way. But Sam was sure his pace was slightly quicker than it had been.

"God this is so embarrassing." She grumbled.

"Sam you're having a baby, there's nothing to be embarrassed about, it's an incredible thing." Daniel chided gently.

"Indeed."

"Right." She said without conviction.

When the elevator doors opened Jack sprang out. Nearly barrelling over a passing airman, he sprinted down the passage. Rounding the first corner, he came to an abrupt halt. This section of the corridor was jam packed with SGC personnel. They were standing together in groups; Scientists, SG team members, technicians, but packed together wall to wall. Some were sitting, leaning against walls, others were standing, shifting nervously from foot to foot, but every one of them was quiet, only the occasional whisper could be heard.

Jack cleared his throat loudly.

The seated military personnel stood in respect.

"Sir, SG-1 is in the isolation room sir." Walter Harriman said, poking his head out from behind Siler.

"Walter?" Jack said in astonishment. Sgt Harriman had been off for lunch, and how the hell did he get here so fast. Jack had only just been called with the news that Sam was in labour and had ran all the way and yet here was Walter and maybe two dozen others, obviously waiting on news and also obviously too scared of Sam to approach the infirmary any closer. Wow, Jack thought, news really does travel fast around here.

"Don't you people have other things to do right now, other places to be?" Jack said.

There was a shuffling of feet but no one spoke.

"Ok fine," Said Jack in defeat, "just don't let Colonel Carter find out you're all out here and if she does, I didn't know about it, got it." He ordered. There were smiles all round and some quiet giggles as Jack made his way through the small gap the crowd of people created for him.

When he finally managed to get through he took off again without a backward glance.

Rounding another corner he saw her.

Sam was struggling to keep her breathing slow and calm as another contraction gripped her. She was bent over, her hands splayed against the wall for support. Her head dropped to lean on an arm as a groan escaped her.

"It's ok Sam." Daniel said, standing beside her and rubbing her back gently.

"I can't…ugh! It's getting worse." Sam's knees began to buckle again and she slowly slid down the wall onto her knees, her hands still out in front if her.

And then he was there.

Just as she reached the floor she felt his arms grip her shoulders. She opened her eyes as he turned her to face him where he knelt on the floor. He was smiling the sweetest, most tender smile she'd ever seen and his eyes held the deepest affection and concern for her.

He drew her into him, engulfing her in his arms. She gripped his upper arms tightly, resting her forehead on his shoulder and felt a soothing heat at the small of her back as he began a gentle massage there.

The contraction eased.

As the pain released her Sam raised her head from Jack's shoulder, looking into his eyes. Jack's warm eyes gazed back at her and he raised a hand cupping her left cheek.

Her eyes closed involuntarily at the contact and her head tipped into his palm.

"Hey Sam." Is all he said.

His voice was quiet and gravely and oh so tender. She so rarely got to hear that voice directed at her. The last time she'd heard it was when they sat in the observation room together as her father lay dying in this very room. No Wait!

His voice snapped her out of her trance.

It wasn't really this room was it? In this room Jack O'Neill would have held his grieving wife without restriction as she wept for her father.

She opened her eyes but didn't look at him. He wasn't hers, he was the other Sam Carter's and she thought she might crack if she looked at him.

She carefully removed her weight from him, his hand sliding across her cheek. Turning toward Daniel who was still behind her, she reached up an arm to him.

"Daniel, I think I need to go back in now."

Daniel saw Jack's head bow when Sam turned away from him but there was nothing he could do for him right now so he bent and helped Sam to her feet.

She was unsteady on her feet now and they both new the next contraction wouldn't be too far away, they were coming closer and closer together and lasting longer each time, so Daniel kept a grip on her arm as he lead her back into the Isolation room.

Jack watched her go from his position on the floor. When he'd seen her sinking to the floor in pain, he'd flown to her out of instinct and without thought had held her and she hadn't resisted, moving willingly into his arms. He forgot in that moment that this wasn't really his wife carrying his baby, but the reality came crashing back down on him when she sat up and turned away from him without meeting his eyes.

He rose smoothly to his feet and followed. His baby was being born and he wouldn't, couldn't miss it.

Teal'c, who was engaged in quiet conversation with Dr Frasier, looked up as he heard his friends enter. He noted immediately Daniel's firm grip on Sam's arm as he guided her toward the bed and the feint sheen of sweat on her flushed and somewhat sad features. He reached her bed as Daniel helped her up, in three long strides.

"ColonelCarter, how do you fair?" He asked gently, his voice reverberating in his chest.

Sam forced a smile and answered as she lay herself down on her side, facing them. She saw Jack enter the room and closed her eyes. "I'm ok Teal'c, just the contractions are leaving me a little tired now."

"That's normal Sam," Janet said from behind her back, laying a reassuring hand on Sam's shoulder. "Just use the time between contractions to rest. I'm just stepping out for a minute Sam, I'll be back."

Sam just nodded.

"Sam?"

She heard Jack's deep voice resound in her ear and she couldn't suppress the tremor that ran through her body. Just his voice had always had an extraordinary effect on her. But she refused to open her eyes, "sir?" she whispered.

"Here Sam, this might help." He said.

She felt something cold and wet touch her lips. Ice. It felt wonderful and she closed her lips over it, sucking on the moisture to help her parched mouth.

Daniel and Teal'c exchanged a glance and both men took several backwards steps in an effort to create some measure of privacy for their friends as they watched them.

They saw Sam eventually open her eyes and gaze into Jack's, the look on her face was unmistakable; adoration and the deepest of affection lit her eyes. The moment was brief and if her friends didn't know her so well they might have missed it, before the light left her eyes and her face paled as her features shifted to the neutrality she bore so well.

She released the ice and moved her head back, "Thanks sir." She said, but her voice cracked.

Jack too saw the now familiar expression on Sam's face. For that split second she wore the glow in her eyes that told him without words how much she loved him. And then he understood; she was just as much in love with her Jack as he was with his Sam, but she still didn't have the luxury of being able to freely express it.

Then she grimaced and moaned.

A/N: As per special request - Daniel hugs to Harm Marie : )