Chapter Fifteen.
SG-1 stepped out of the 'gate together.
"So far so good." Said Daniel.
"Well at least we finally got here." Sam said as she searched the area with expert eyes, automatically looking for any signs of danger.
It was early in the morning on P3X 292, and dew still clung to the green grass at their feet as they moved toward the DHD a few metres from the Stargate.
The air was fresh and Sam took a cleansing breath as she appreciated the view. Flowers were blossoming in the vast fields and a heavy mist blanketed the mountains in the distance.
"I believe SG-7's camp is located beside those ruined stone structures." Teal'c said pointing to the right where the tops of tall buildings could be seen.
"When we get home maybe Jack will let us come back." Daniel said. No one wanted to voice the fact that they might not get home.
"We better get set up." Sam said and waved at Teal'c, who was carrying her laptop, to follow her to the front of the DHD.
She knelt slowly, cringing at the slight twinge of pain her actions elicited, "Teal'c give me your pack."
Teal'c dropped the pack at her knees and, removing her tools, she started opening the casing at the base of the dialling device.
She sat back on her heels when she was done, taking another breath of the cool air, her body was tired and sore.
"Sam? Everything ok?" Daniel asked noticing her pale, drawn features. What a stupid question, she'd only just had a baby four hours ago and here she was off-world. Only Sam, he thought to himself with affection.
"I'm fine Daniel, just tired. Teal'c hand me the laptop." Teal'c unzipped the black bag and withdrew the laptop passing it down to Sam. "Thanks." She said as she reached in the pack again pulling out various wires and clamps. "I'm going to connect the laptop to the DHD. I've programmed it to start dialling at an exact time so that the wormhole establishes at precisely 2300." She paused as she reached out and manipulated the inside of the DHD, making the necessary connections. She had become an expert at integrating human and alien technology. She sat back and brushed her hands on her thighs before she finished. "We need to step through the 'gate as soon as the vortex stabilises."
Teal'c helped her up and they all stepped as close to the 'gate as they could without risking vaporisation.
They stood silently side by side and waited until they heard the familiar grinding as the 'gate activated.
"How will we know if it worked?" Daniel asked, "Apart from the obvious," He amended placing his hand briefly on Sam's arm with a sheepish smile.
"If it works we won't be at the SGC, we should emerge back on the planet." Sam answered.
The vortex plunged forward and then settled within the stone ring and SG-1 stepped through.
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It was 2300.
Moment of truth.
Jack stood in front of the activating stargate, waiting for the puddle to form. Outwardly he was calm, even a little bored, but internally his stomach was clenched in a tight knot as he waited for SG-1 to return; as he waited for his wife to return.
He wasn't even aware that he was holding his breath when he saw the first faint ripples.
Daniel came through first followed closely by Teal'c and then Sam.
His eyes locked with hers as she continued down the ramp. They stood a foot apart.
"Jack." She said, a warm smile lighting her face.
He released the breath. Jack, she called me Jack, oh thank God! He knew it was her then. With one step he engulfed her in his arms and buried his face in her neck relishing her fragrance.
He raised his head to look at his other friends without releasing her, she wasn't complaining.
"Hey guys," He said, "Where ya been?"
"O'Neill." Teal'c greeted.
"Here and there Jack." Smiled Daniel.
Sam had noticed the difference in her body as soon as she'd stepped through the 'gate, but she just wanted to get to Jack, to be in his arms. Now that she was she did a mental check over her body.
She still had a belly, but it was smaller, soft and flabby. She felt tired, her legs were aching and she was sore in another, more sensitive place too. Whoa! Her breasts felt huge and tight against Jack's chest and rather uncomfortable.
The other her had given birth to her baby.
She'd missed it.
Jack felt the slight wetness on his neck and pulled back slightly. She gazed up at him with watery blue eyes and he understood that she knew. How could he explain it to her? How could he make it better? He didn't know, so he did the only thing he knew how to do, he moved his arms tighter around her, kissing her temple.
"I'm sorry Sam." He muttered in her ear.
The words Teal'c had spoken to her in the infirmary came back to her.
"Jack." She whispered into his neck. "I want to see our baby."
He cupped her cheek in a large, warm hand and looked into her beautiful eyes. "Let's go."
As they travelled down the corridors they were inundated with well wishes from the every person they passed. "Congratulations Ma'am" "Congratulations sir." Followed them every where.
Sam's grip on her husband's hand tightened, but there was no other outward sign of her feelings.
Jack looked at her face to see how she was taking things. Sam and he were always very private people, one of the things they had in common, and he didn't think she would like having such a personal thing as having a baby shared with the entire base. As it was she wasn't happy that the naquada in her blood meant she could never seek any medical treatment outside the SGC and therefore had to have the baby here. He decided he wouldn't tell her about the two dozen plus people stationed in the corridor during the labour, not that he was ever gonna.
She didn't look too uneasy or unhappy or like she was about to have every one of the well wishers scrubbing latrines. Jack watched her as she plastered a small smile on her face. It was a tight smile and it didn't reach her eyes, but at least she wasn't yelling.
The door of the elevator finally opened on the infirmary level after what seemed like an eternity to Jack. Sam tugged at his hand slightly and the four continued to move through the corridor.
There were several people milling about outside the infirmary when SG-1 approached. Silence descended when they were noticed but Jack didn't stop this time he kept moving with Sam, the other men following, into the Isolation room.
He swiped his card through the security lock and pulled Sam in as the doors opened and then he did stop, gaping at the sight around him. He heard Sam's gasp of surprise as she took in the room. There were pink streamers hanging from every available surface; balloons with bears and kittens on them, 'its A Girl' scrawled over them and flower bouquets lined one wall. Someone had hung drapes over the observation window.
"Wow!" Daniel said, he searched his vast vocabulary and figured this word fit best.
"Indeed." Teal'c agreed.
Daniel opened the drapes a little to see what was happening in the other room. "Whoa, ah guys."
The team turned at Daniel's call. There were three long tables in there now, each piled high with gifts, from pretty packages meticulously wrapped, to teddy bears, to haphazard packages with tape hanging off at all ends. Jack figured those belonged to the marines.
"Oh my God! Jack did you…" Sam began.
Jack raised a hand, "It wasn't me." He said. "I don't even know when they found the time to do this, I've been in here since…" He trailed off as he looked at her, fresh tears were rolling down her face. "Sam." He said cupping her cheek.
She turned into him. "I guess we had a girl then." Her lip trembled as she tried valiantly to suppress the sob that escaped.
Jack drew her to him. "Um guys could you…"
"Yeah sure Jack sorry, ah we'll be right outside." Daniel said hurriedly, he closed the drapes before he and Teal'c left the room closing the door behind them.
"She's beautiful Sam," Jack said gently, his voice becoming hoarse with emotion. "You ready to meet her?"
Sam nodded up at him.
He released her and led her to the small curtained off area in the corner of the room. Drawing the curtains aside he revealed the small cradle.
Sam approached slowly, her heart racing, and peered in.
There lay her daughter wrapped in a pink blanket, wide awake, her big blue eyes gazing up at her.
The biggest, most luminous smile lit Sam's face as she leaned in and scooped the child into her arms.
She laughed as the baby girl's finger tips brushed her mouth and she kissed the tiny fingers.
It was the nicest sound Jack had ever heard he thought, like the laughter of an angel. And then she looked up at him. Her eyes no longer tearful, but glowing with joy and love.
"Jack." She simply said and he gathered them both in his arms, threading his fingers through Sam's hair, he kissed her long and deep.
A/N: So Alternate Sam made it back. Oh and the streamers and balloons and stuff was a little sappy wasn't it? But i couldn't help myself : )