See disclaimer in part I

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"Sir, please." Sam tried to keep her voice from breaking in front of the General. They were all standing amidst the swirling snow at the base camp near the foot of the mountain.

Hammond's lips tightened for a moment. "Colonel Carter, my decision remains the same. Until we know what the exact situation is up on that mountain, I do not want SG-1 joining the rescue efforts."

"General," Daniel broke in, putting a hand on Sam's arm and repeating what he'd said back in the SGC conference room. "I think we all know what we might expect up there, but SG-1 deserves to bring Jack home, however that happens. It's our right and our duty. I think we speak for all of us when we say we won't let anyone else take our place."

"That's exactly right," Sam said softly.

"I concur," Teal'c added.

"I understand how you feel. I feel the same way, but until the rescue team finds General O'Neill, SG-1 is to remain on stand-down." Hammond gave them all a look of sympathy and returned to the tent containing the control center of the rescue.

Daniel gave Sam an "I tried" shrug. She nodded gratefully and they went back to pacing the area waiting for news from the crash site.

Sam noticed a woman a few feet away doing the same thing. Pacing back and forth with a worried look on her face. The woman had dark, almost jet black hair and a very beautiful face with pale, porcelain skin and green eyes. She was also very, very pregnant.

Sam approached the woman and nodded to her when she caught her eye. "Hi. Sam Carter."

A look of recognition lit the woman's eyes and she almost smiled. "Colonel Carter. I recognize the name." She held out her hand. "Jessica Davis."

Sam knew she looked surprised. "Davis? As in Paul Davis?"

Jessica nodded. "My husband."

Sam gripped her hand a little tighter. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know Major Davis was married."

"Just over a year now." Jessica's lip trembled. "Our baby's due in a month. Paul was really looking forward to it. He couldn't wait to be a daddy."

"Hey," Sam said softly. "Let's not talk in past tense, all right?"

Jessica looked horrified. "Oh, I didn't realize… I didn't mean…"

Sam put an arm around her. "It's okay. Really."

Jessica gave Sam a penetrating stare. "General O'Neill was on that plane, too, wasn't he?"

Sam couldn't hold her gaze. She looked at the ground and nodded.

Jessica squeezed Sam's arm. "Well, until we know the fate of our loved ones, we're in this together, right?"

Sam looked to the top of the mountain, the aforementioned fate of Jack and Major Davis hidden from view. "I guess we are."

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