A/N: For Caroline O'Neill, thanks for the idea, hope you liked it.

Chapter Fourteen.

Jack had watched as Janet fussed over the baby, doing the various things necessary. He wasn't really paying attention, all his concentration centred on the tiny form of his daughter. He thought idly that it was wise of Janet to have made this small curtained off area within the isolation room for the baby considering the circumstances. He felt a twinge of anger in his gut. He wasn't angry at this Sam for kicking his ass out, on some level he understood. He was angry at the situation; that he couldn't hold her hand or support her as she struggled to have his baby; that he hadn't cut the umbilical cord and instead had been reduced to a bystander. He was angry for Sam too, both of them. For this one because she shouldn't have been subjected to this and for his wife because she'd been cheated out giving birth to her own child, at least he had witnessed it.

Finally Janet finished with the baby and placed her carefully back in the little plastic crib she had requisitioned. Immediately Jack moved, smoothly scooping his daughter back into his arms, she felt right there, and he sat down in the chair with her, gazing down into the infant's face.

With a small smile Janet approached them. "Sir, she needs to be fed now."

Jack looked up at Janet, his brows creased as his eyes shifted to the bottle in her outstretched hands.

"Sam said she wanted to breastfeed for the first few months." Jack's voice was quiet and gruff as he struggled to squeeze his voice through the emotions flooding him.

"I know Jack," Janet said tenderly, "but the baby needs to feed. This is the only way, we can't possibly ask…The act of breast feeding triggers the release of certain hormones; it creates a strong attachment between mother and child. We can't ask this Sam to do that knowing she has to leave the baby behind in four hours when she returns to her own world."

Janet was right; this Sam had been through enough. Jack reached out with his free hand and gripped the bottle. He remembered doing this with Charlie and surprisingly it wasn't that difficult to pick it up again.

"Like ridin' a bike doc." He said, a small but genuine smile spread instantly across his face as the baby began to suckle.

Janet smiled down at the sight of them together.

"It won't be too late for Sam to breastfeed when she gets back sir." Janet reassured him.

Jack looked up at her. "She missed the birth of her own baby." He said sadly. Lowering his head to gaze at his daughter as she fed, he continued softly. "She wanted this experience. So did I…I wasn't there when Charlie…I was gonna be here for Sam, with Sam, I promised, but even she couldn't be here." He confessed, shaking his head.

Janet didn't quite know what to say at this very private man's admission.

"She wanted to be the first person to hold our kid. Now she's not even the first to feed her."

"She'll understand sir, Sam's a strong person and she's bound to have already thought about this as a possibility considering the circumstances." She said.

Jack's eyes moved back to her. He gazed at Janet silently for a few moments before he nodded his head twice, "Thanks Doc." he whispered giving her a small smile and returning his attention to his baby nestled securely in his arms.

Janet recognised the quiet dismissal. Jack was done talking. She drew in a slow, cleansing breath before tuning away.

The newborn coughed and spluttered a little as she fed and Jack adjusted the bottle, gently coaxing her to drink again with small strokes on her cheek. She turned her head instinctively toward his touch and retook the bottle with a slurp. His chest suddenly hurt, but is was a sweet pain; he was here, his kid in his arms having her first meal, and even though he was sorry he couldn't share the moment with Sam, he couldn't help but revel in it.

Just as Janet's hand reached the curtain Jack spoke again.

"I have a little girl Doc." He said.

Janet turned to see a full smile on Jack's face, teeth and all. Janet had never actually seen a full smile from him before and she was astounded at the way his handsome face lit up. He was positively beaming, his joy breaking through. She couldn't help but grin back before drawing the curtain aside and slipping out.

After being held captive in the isolation room for an hour, Sam was allowed to rest in her quarters. Teal'c and Daniel had offered to stay with her but Sam wanted to be alone.

She lay on her bed. She couldn't believe what had just happened. Of all the strange things SG-1 had gone through over the years this had to rank right up there with some of the strangest. Exhaustion finally claimed her and she fell asleep thinking of the General; the scent of him when she had her lips and nose against his neck; the glorious feel of his arms around her that day in the 'gate room and the sound of his tender voice, low and rough in her ear.

Sam awoke to a gentle shake on her shoulder. It was Janet. Sam blinked at her sleepily.

"Hi honey," She said softly, "I have to check on you Sam, it's nearly time to go."

"Janet?" Unusually for her, Sam was having some trouble waking up and her sleep befuddled brain struggled to comprehend what was going on. "Time?"

"Come-on Sam I need you to wake up for me now ok."

Sam rubbed at her eyes and sat up, "Ow!" the slight pain woke her up completely, along with a flood of memory.

"Take it easy Sam, I'll just take a look at you. Teal'c and Daniel are outside." She said as she checked Sam over. "Everything looks great Sam though I'm not all that happy about letting you go off world." She said with concern lacing her voice.

"I know Janet but it's the only way and…I want to go home." Sam said tiredly.

Janet nodded her understanding and opened the door allowing Teal'c and Daniel to enter. "I'll see you in the 'gate room before you leave ok."

"That'd be great Janet thanks." Sam said desperately trying to rally her spirits.

"It is almost 2230 hours ColonelCarter, we must prepare to embark." Teal'c intoned.

"Right." Sam said, the soldier in her taking over again now that she had something else to focus on. She struggled a little to get out of the bed, but once on her feet she was surprised at how steady she was. "Let's get to the ready room."

SG-1 walked together down the corridor on their way to the 'gate room, Sam's movements slow and stiff. As they passed by the control room, Sam suddenly stopped. She told them to go ahead without her, "I'll catch up." She turned and headed into the control room and up the stairs to the briefing room.

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea she mused, but she had to know the truth. He was the only one who could tell her.

Jack strolled out of his office just as she arrived at the top landing in the briefing room.

He froze when he saw her approach. He'd only just left his daughter – my daughter he quashed the insane grin that threatened to escape – in the infirmary to sleep. Janet had had to practically forcibly remove the baby from his arms and kicked him out.

"Sir?" She began.

"Sam, shouldn't you be…" He indicated the 'gate room with a tilt of his head and a wave of his arm in the direction of the large window that overlooks the stargate.

"I just wanted to talk to you first… in private sir…if you don't mind."

"Sam," He began to protest, he really wasn't a talker, but Sam interrupted.

"Sir please…" She said faintly.

He looked at her a long time before finally nodding his head.

"Sir I…I just need to know. God this is awkward!" She huffed; she raised her eyes from where they were fixed on the briefing table to meet his. "Did you stop her?"

Jack blinked, his eyebrows creasing in confusion deepening the cleft between them. Sam swallowed, beating back the urge to run a finger tip across it.

"When you had the ancient repository downloaded into your brain a couple of years ago, on the cargo ship, Sam told you something, something important. Did you stop her?"

The light of understanding entered his brown eyes and his eyebrows shot up. He ran his hand through his hair and his lips turned up in the slightest smirk at the memory. "I tried, was gonna tell her I knew, figured she was gonna hand me the 'it was honour' speech and maybe throw in the 'really good friends' line, but…she didn't let me get a word in anyway." His smirk grew, she had placed her fingers over his mouth, silencing his words and he had let her because the truth was he really wanted to hear even though it scared the life out of him. "Serves me right for handing over command to her."

"You thought…?" Sam blurted in disbelief. She couldn't believe he hadn't realised what she was going to tell him. What if… "So she told you…?"

"Yep, she just spat it out." And then she had kissed him. It was one of the sweetest kisses Jack ever remembered having. It was quick and soft but it was real, no alien influence, no time loops she wouldn't remember, and that was what had made it so special – it was really them.

Sam nodded, "So you…you spoke to her about it after?"

"Once I remembered, yeah."

"Thankyou sir," She said turning away toward the staircase. Something else occurred to her then and she turned to ask without thinking. "So when did she break up with Pete, before or after the Asgard cured you?" Her eyes widened as she realised what she'd asked and her face reddened in embarrassment while he regarded her.

"Pete? Who's Pete?" Jack asked.

Sam froze. Oh my God!

Jack noticed her face go from flushed embarrassment to deathly pale. His first instinct was to reach out and steady her, he was a little afraid for her, she had just given birth.

She stiffened at his touch on her arm and he let her go. "I'd better go sir." She said her voice a little shaky. No one else would have noticed, she was good at hiding her feelings, but Jack knew her voice too well.

Her mind whirled as she continued down the stairs. The General had stopped her voicing her feelings out loud, and she had let him, why? There was no Pete in this reality, could that have had some bearing on the General's reaction to her when she had tried to tell him. He said he knew, but if he knew why didn't he confront her about after he remembered the way this one did? Because of Pete?

Sam left the control room and headed toward the 'gate room. She was going home.

Daniel and Teal'c stood in the 'gate room suited up and ready to go. When Sam joined them the chevrons started turning, though Sam still wasn't allowed her P-90 or combat vest, her ever-present Zat was once again strapped to her thigh. They would travel first to the Alpha site and then on to P3X 292 in order to avoid the black hole which lay in the direct trajectory between earth and the planet.

Janet came in just as Walter announced the encoding of the third chevron.

Teal'c stood before her, his eyes warm with affection. "Dr Frasier, I am pleased to have seen you again. Farewell." He rumbled low and bowed deeply before stepping out of her way only to be replaced by Daniel.

"I know this must be a little weird for you." He said as he took both her hands in his. "We'll miss you Janet." He hugged her tightly before joining Teal'c at the end of the ramp.

Janet and Sam both stepped toward each other. There was an awkward moment until Sam stepped closer and hugged her friend fiercely.

"Thanks Janet, for everything." She said. "I wouldn't have wanted anyone else to deliver my baby you know." Her voice was tight with the suppressed emotions in her throat.

Sam released Janet when the event horizon burst out of the stargate, a blue shimmering light filling the room, and headed toward the ramp.

Jack strode into the room, hands in his pockets. "Ok campers, this is it then." He had no clue what to say.

"It was an interesting experience O'Neill. Farewell." Teal'c said.

"Yeah, very interesting." Jack replied glancing at Sam who dropped her head slightly. "I'd say see-ya later, but…you know…" He waved his arm around.

"Goodbye sir." Sam rescued them from any more awkwardness. "Let's go guys." She said as she moved up the ramp, her team following her.

"Bye Jack." Daniel waved as SG-1 entered the wormhole, the surface rippling.

Jack drew a deep breath and released it sharply. He glanced at his watch 2235; they had to establish a connection from the planet to earth at precisely 2300. If anyone could pull this off it was Sam he thought. There was nothing more for him to do but wait. He turned away from the now silent Stargate and headed back to the infirmary.

SG-1 were in the control room, Sam at one of the consoles typing.

She rose from her chair relinquishing it to one of the technicians as Jack came bounding down the stairs.

"Almost time Carter." He said.

"Yes Jack." Jesus! Seriously how was he ever gonna get used to the 'sir' thing again. That and the rather playful and down right naughty side this Carter didn't seem to bother hiding around him. She was all business, professional Colonel around the other personnel but when it was just him and the team…Like that crack in the gym earlier. She knew exactly what effect that crack would have had on his fragile blood pressure too, not to mention the bruise he was now sporting on his shin. He'd seen this irreverent side of her before, but very rarely and even more rarely did she direct it at him. He'd always suspected it was there, she did share his sense of humour after all. Damn but he liked it! He wanted to see more of it; he didn't want it to stop. He wanted to know her, every part of her. He sighed.

"Jack!" The indignant tone of her voice dragged him out of his thoughts. "You weren't listening to a thing were you?" Sam accused. She noticed his eyes had glazed over, he looked deep in thought.

"I was." He replied defensively. "What?"

"Never mind." She said treating him to another unconcealed Carter smile. She was hoping he was thinking about her other self.

Jack swallowed, really she should have to wear a surgical mask or something at all times because he just couldn't think clearly when she did that.

"I've programmed the computer to start the dialling sequence automatically Jack. According to my calculations the wormhole should then establish at exactly 2300 and we should step through as soon as the event horizon stabilises." Sam said – again, seeing as Jack missed it the first time.

"Right, good." Jack said brightly, clapping his hands together. He gestured toward the door of the control room. "Shall we then." He allowed SG-1 to precede him to the 'gate room.

Just as they entered, the massive ring started grinding its way to the first chevron.

They stood silently for a time until Sgt. Harriman's voice came over the comm. "Chevron 6 encoded."

"Well see ya 'round Jack." Daniel said.

"No offence Daniel, but I hope not, these crazy universe things give me pounding headaches." Jack replied. Daniel chuckled.

"Farewell O'Neill." Teal'c said inclining his head.

"Bye big guy." Jack returned.

"Think about what I said the other day Jack, what have you got to loose really." Sam said.

One thing sprang to mind – Sam's friendship if she didn't feel the same for him as he did for her. But he just said, "Yeah, hey good luck with the…ya'know." He waved his hand in small circles in the general direction of Sam's abdomen. Damn he still just could not say it!

"The baby." Sam finished with an amused smile. "Thanks Jack."

"Chevron seven locked."

The wormhole thundered toward them and settled peacefully. SG-1 marched purposefully up the ramp and through the blue puddle

A/N: Thanks so much to everyone who has reviewed, seriously I'm speechless. Chocolate cake for everyone. And if you haven't reviewed yet, it's not too late, I'd love to hear from you.