"General, are you telling us that you can…transform willingly?" Malcolm Berrett said.
Jack nodded. "Yes, Agent Berrett, that's exactly what I'm saying. It's not a full moon, uncontrollable urge to attack people kinda thing. I can decide when I want to change, and it's only in self defense. I don't attack people; I've never had the desire or even the need to." He said.
"But it doesn't mean that you won't, General. You need to understand that we have to keep the safety of the population in mind."
"Yes, I understand that, but I'm no threat to the population. If ya don't trust me send me to another planet. An uninhabited one." He said.
Berrett shook his head. "There's no need for that." He said.
"We hear that you and your…wife are expecting a child soon, is that true?" Don Kerrigan asked.
Jack nodded. "Now, was this child conceived before or after your transformation?" Kerrigan asked.
"Before. I was asked by two different members of the Tok'ra council to take a mission for them. I was placed in the Ori ranks as one of Adria's followers. When she found out I was there, I was captured. I honestly can't tell you what she did to me. The only thing I remember is the pain. That has continued to show up every time I transform. There's no way to tell what she did, my DNA's the same, and there's no visible signs of any tampering." He said.
"Well, we will allow you to return back to Colorado, but we will be keeping tabs on you." Kerrigan said. Jack nodded.
"Thank you." He said, heading out the door.
He headed up to his hotel room, checking himself over in the mirror. He needed a new pair of uniform pants; the ones he was wearing were a little loose. He was meeting with the president to discuss the plans for a Beta site, just in case something happened at the Alpha site. He adjusted his tie, pulling his coat on, and grabbed his service cap, heading down to call for a cab.
"So tell me Jack, how's the wife?" President Hayes asked, motioning for Jack to sit. He nodded.
"She's good, sir." Jack replied, settling into the couch. "Good, and please, it's Henry. I'm sick of titles." He said.
"I know the feelin s-Henry." Jack said. "Good. Now, I heard about your condition. What is this about? Werewolves?" He asked.
"If I recall, you didn't exactly believe it when you were briefed on the Stargate Project, meetin aliens, shootin people with ray guns." Jack said.
Henry smiled. "No, I didn't, did I? So, what is it all about? Did you just come across this?" He asked.
Jack shook his head. "No, sir, I was called on a mission by two members of the Tok'ra council. I took up a place in the ranks of the Ori followers, and I was found. The leader, Adria, took me, and tortured me. The only thing I can remember from the whole experience is the pain. That's it. She didn't leave any clues as to why she'd do it, nothin." Jack said.
Henry nodded. "I see. Now I've read your file, Jack. That's not the first time you've been tortured." He said.
Jack shook his head. "Nope. That makes…a lot. If you're just counting the people I think it makes five. But times, well it's a few times for Hussein, two for Nirrti, First had one, Adria had six, and Ba'al had a few…hundred." He said.
Henry raised his eyebrows, shaking his head. "I was tortured once, in Nam. But that much. You must be really lucky, or really strong." He said.
Jack shook his head. "I've never come out of those really alive. In fact, when I came back after Ba'al tortured me, I was off duty for weeks because I couldn't function. I couldn't handle it, never have." He said.
"Well, I'm giving you credit where credit is due, you've been through a helluva lot. I'm just glad you're settling down. And the air's buzzing about you and your wife having a baby, that true?" He asked.
Jack smiled. "Yeah, yeah it is." He said.
"Well, when she has the baby, make sure you let me know. I'd love to meet them." He said.
Jack smiled wider, nodding. "Of course." He said.
Sam tried to get comfortable, sitting on the couch and waiting for Jack to get home. It had been a week, a long, lonely week filled with girls, and now she waited for his return.
Cassie had gone out with Vala to get some things for the baby, and Sam sat, staring at the TV screen. Nothing good was on, so she shut it off, relaxing back into the couch when she felt another kick.
"Bekkah, settle down." She said, feeling the baby kick again.
She rubbed her stomach where she'd felt the baby kick, patting it when she felt the baby's foot against her palm.
Jack had just walked in the door of the house when his cell phone rang.
"Hello?" He asked.
"Dad, we're at the base. Sam's water broke, we're in the infirmary." Cassie said.
Jack dropped his bags, locking the house back up and jumping in his truck.
He prayed there were no cops around, and broke every land speed record trying to get to the base. He parked in his stall, jumping out of the truck and flashing his badge.
The SF nodded his head, smiling.
"Congratulations, sir." He said. Jack raced to the elevator, practically breaking the button as he jumped in. His thoughts were racing, going much faster than the elevator car, but when it dinged for the floor, he nearly ran over Siler trying to get to the infirmary.
"Sorry Siler!" He yelled, running for the infirmary door.
"They won't let us go in, dad." Cassie said. He scowled, looking over at Vala and Daniel.
"Why?" He asked. "Dr. Lam said the baby's breech, they've got to operate. Just after Sam came in she stopped breathing, and so did the baby." Daniel said.
Jack felt as though someone had reached inside his chest, grabbing his heart and squeezing it.
"They're in good hands, Jack, we just have to wait." Vala said, concern in her steel grey eyes.
He nodded, running a hand through his hair and over his face. Cassie turned to Jack, worry in her green eyes.
"C'mere." He said, pulling her into a hug. "Vala's right, you know. Sam's a fighter. This baby'll be just like her mom too." He said, placing a kiss on the top of her head.
"I don't want to lose them, dad." She said.
He nodded. "I know ya don't. We won't have to, they'll make it." He said.