Never Say Never
Chapter 6
Sam had managed to avoid Cassandra, Doctor Carolyn Lam and most of all, Jack. That alone had been an exhausting stealth process. But with around two-thousand people occupying the ship, she managed. Besides, Jack was busy working out a strategy to enter the force-field umbrella without being detected. Sam should have been part of that priority project, but had convinced Hammond that McKay and his sister Jeannie were best for the job. She got no argument from Rodney.
Jack routinely spoke to Sam via her communication transmitter and she did the same. But whenever he attempted telepathy she blocked him, stating she couldn't head chat and do her job at the same time. For now Jack stayed out of her head, but she couldn't keep him away forever, especially physically.
Doctor Lam and Cassandra only glimpsed Sam's hasty passing-bys, of which she made sure to wave or smile. Each time she was informed to report to the infirmary Sam replied as soon as she had finished her next job. The larger BDU over-shirt was a dead giveaway of her condition. Not to mention the congratulations she got from folks she'd not seen in months, or worse the stranger looks she received from those she saw regularly. The pregnancy glow and double chin didn't help. She let down her shoulder length hair with hopes to conceal the obvious. Samantha Carter-O'Neill was pregnant.
While rerouting the crystal energy source then helping Walter with the Gate, Sam had to upsize her uniform twice. Her fast stretching tummy smarted and itched. Not to mention she ate and drank like two Teal'cs. She didn't want to think about how much weight she'd gained and was constantly exhausted. She caught a few catnaps, but they didn't help much. However, Sam's greatest fear had come true and it wasn't being pregnant.
Fifth was back! Sam had no control over his visitations. The first time, she was on her hands and knees between two engine compartments. One moment she was holding a green crystal and the next she was standing in a vast, dark void beneath a blue spotlight with Fifth facing her.
"It is good to see you, Samantha."
"Stuff it, Fifth. Where are my kids?" She took a threatening step forward.
"It is true what they say about the human maternal instinct. I always sensed yours would be unusually high, even for an Ancient. I was right."
"So help if you don't tell me, I'll-." She lunged for him, but since he wasn't physically present, she batted air.
Fifth chuckled. "Calm down, lover. They are safe. Although their whining grates my nerves."
"They're innocent children, Fifth, scared to death!"
"Ah, yes, death. It's inevitable even for Ancients, even for General O'Neill."
His attempt to misdirect her failed. "What must I do to get them back?"
"You always did get right to the matter."
She glared.
"It's quite simple, dearest Samantha." He stepped closer. "It's you I want."
"And you'll let them go?"
"Yes."
"What about Earth?"
"Earth will be consumed."
"By you or the Wraith?"
"The Wraith are but pesky fleas. We'll eliminate them. For now I want them to believe they are conquerors. And one more thing, Samantha."
"What?"
"If you tell O'Neill or anyone of our conversation, I'll not only kill your children, but everyone on your ship. See, I'm in your head and I know everything you think, say or do. I also know you are telepathically linked to O'Neill. You can no longer escape your destiny, Samantha. That destiny includes loving me, not Jack O'Neill."
"It will be cold day in Netu before that happens!"
"Perhaps, but then I've an eternity to make you love me."
"You can't force someone to love you, Fifth."
"That is where you're wrong." He transformed into Jack before her eyes. "I'll be with you always, Sam." He sounded like her husband.
With that, Fifth left her brain. Since then he'd popped in twice in the form of Jack. Sometimes it became hard to differentiate whom she was talking to. If Fifth could do that in her head what stopped him from impersonating someone in real life?
On his last intrusion Fifth told with Jack's voice, facial expressions and hand gestures the horrible things he'd do to their children if she didn't come to him. Fifth explained how he'd expedited her pregnancy and that within a few hours she'd give birth. He reminded her that the life of her unborn twins depended on her cooperation. Sam made up her mind as to the outcome of that bargain. And in order to see it through completion, she had to avoid Jack at all costs.
Spotting Cassandra Sam slipped into a vacant head. Shaking, she pulled herself to the sink and splashed water over her face, then looked at her pale complexion. She'd not vomited in hours because she'd entered her second trimester. Being an Ancient she knew that meant she'd deliver soon. Sam was amazed she'd made it this long without Jack knowing. The fact neither knew during this conception as they had with Grace and JJ was a blessing and a curse.
So much for the snip, snip and double knot on Jack's end. Worse, she'd less than a few hours before she'd give birth. She hoped she could endure the physical strain that normally took nine months for the average woman's body to prepare for. Exhausted beyond words, Sam just wanted to sleep.
In the beginning her pregnancy with Grace had appeared the normal nine months gestation. Well far as everyone else was concerned. By her fifth month, they knew something was wrong and Sam stopped off world activities. The SGC genetics specialists were dumbfounded that Sam was full-term. Needless to say, that would have started the SGC grapevine humming. Jack had been in secretive contact with Loki and arranged to meet him on another planet with a non-the-wiser Sam in tow. That experience had been another memorable event. Let's just say Jack learned keeping secrets was not in the best interest of their marriage.
Quarreling aside they discovered their unborn daughter had developed in two-thirds the gestation time of a normal human baby. That weekend they ended up at the cabin and Sam went into labor. Five hours later, Jack delivered their healthy baby girl, all seven pounds two ounces. They had no doubt what they'd call their gift from God, Grace.
Eighteen months later, Jonathon Jacob was born at five months gestation. Physically, Sam was in her third trimester. Thank heavens she had good muscle and skin tone. JJ weighed in at eight pounds ten ounces, breech! That's when Jack got the snip job. Each time they had to cover up Sam's short-term pregnancies. Now what?
Loki had concluded she'd gone totally Ancient with regard to bearing children, but believed her gestation period would hold at the five to six month period. Sam decided Loki was full of crap. No one knew the true gestation of full-blown Ancients and the original nine-month period had been scrapped with Grace and JJ. If Sam were honest she'd known that something really strange had happened with Cassandra because Sam had never been conscious of that pregnancy nor had she any strange reports of her missing from earth during the time of her abductions. The point was they were short time spans, days at the most.
Whatever Nirrti had done to Sam Fifth had perfected or defected. She prayed the twins were healthy and not freaks of Fifth's intrusion. Sam traced her fingers along her belly feeling the round protruding knob by her bellybutton. She'd looked around six month now and the little rascals were active. Twins. In the immortal words of Jack O'Neill, "Who'd a thunk?" Worse, she'd not even missed her last period. She was afraid for her unborn children and very afraid for Jack and the other kids. Afraid for the survivors of Earth whose sole existence rested on Sam.
"Mom?" Cassie tapped on the unisex restroom door.
"Be right out, hon."
"You were to have reported to the infirmary hours ago. Lam's about to send SFs after you."
"I know." Sam pulled herself together but her legs trembled. Her body was stronger than most but this pregnancy would drain her dry and the extra stress of Grace and JJ's abductions had taken their toll. "Please God, no matter what happens to me, take care of my husband and children. All of them?" She kissed her hand then pressed it to her belly and opened the door.
Cassie frowned at Sam, stepped inside and gently directed her onto the toilet seat. "Mom, I know this is hard on you, it is for all of us, but you've got to have that physical—" She reached out with her thoughts.
'Oh crap!' Cassie blurted in Sam's head. 'Does Dad know?'
"No and you're not telling him." Sam refused to mind-merge with her eldest daughter, nor let her know about Fifth. Too much at risk.
'Good decision,' Fifth said in her head.
"Soon as he touched you he should have sensed like with Grace and JJ." Cassie lowered her hand to Sam's belly, closed her eyes and concentrated. "Holy Hannah — Twins!"
"They're growing too fast, Cass." Sam sighed out with a quiver.
"Ya think? Man, when? I mean?" Cassie blushed like any other daughter who didn't want to think about her parents having sex.
"I think yesterday or maybe this morning." Sam wrung her hands. "And that's why I'm scared."
"Wow! That's impossible! Me, Grace and JJ I understand, but the conception and now this." She placed a physician's hand to her mother's extended abdomen and examined her.
"Freaky, I know." Sam shuddered. "I feel like Signori Weaver in Alien."
"I believe the babies are human, Mom."
"How do we know?" Sam searched her mind for an answer. "I never got sick this fast, never felt any of you kids moving within hours of conception. This is all wrong, Cass."
"I know. But maybe with each pregnancy you . . .um evolve. I read the report from Argos when dad rapidly aged and that couple gave birth in less than a day."
"Cass, they were infected with nanocytes."
"I know. We think that the Ancients were the first race to create nanocytes and the nanocytes might have eventually become part of the normal Ancient DNA."
"I don't have nanocytes, Cass." Sam insisted. "That was one of the first things I got tested for with Grace."
"But, Mom, what if the nanocytes appeared naturally and then went dormant, undetectable after you gave birth."
"Fine. Check that off your list of possibilities. Take some blood now. I can't risk being seen by your father until--"
"Until when?" Cassandra opened her medical bag and removed a syringe then carefully drew a vile of blood from Sam and pocketed it. "I'll get the lab on this ASAP." She snapped a band-aid over the needle mark on Sam's forearm.
"As long a I can. You know dad. He'll turn into a mother hen. If the crew saw that softer side of him, they might . . ."
"Lose respect?"
"No, it's just that," Sam nibbled her lower lip. "I don't think this is a case of nanocytes. There'd be traces of their existence. Like they'd leave a trail of bread crumbs for the birds."
Cass gawked at her astrophysicist mom's less than scientific analogy.
"Sorry, too many years of explaining physics to your dad. It all started with an apple." Sam grinned at the fond memory.
"Huh?"
"Forget it." Sam hugged herself and turned serious. "So you were saying?"
"Mom, what affects you affects me. If I can figure out why the Ancient DNA has speeded up your gestation cycle. I mean when Daniel and I want to—,"
"Yes?" Sam smiled softly. "Don't worry, Hon, you have my blessing, it's Dad's you have to gain."
"Yeah, tell me about it. I admit I'm grateful we have a crisis or Dad would have nailed Daniel with his deadly left hook by now."
"Give him time. And I strongly suggest you and Daniel come clean, not only about the secretive courtship and marriage, but about Daniel's oldest secret, no pun intended."
"Mom, why didn't you ever tell dad about Daniel?"
"Because when I found out I promised Daniel I wouldn't tell anyone, especially Jack. Daniel wanted Jack's respect and feared if he knew the truth, Jack would kick off SG-1."
"But Uncle George knew."
"Yes, well I assume General Hammond had his own reasons for not telling Jack, just like he never told us about our time-travel mission to 1969 until after it happened."
"I suppose."
"For the life of me I don't know why he didn't tell Jack twenty years ago. It'd be saving us an additional headache."
"I'm sorry, Mom." She dropped her gaze. "When it comes to his relationship with dad, well, Daniel thinks of dad as his big brother, not a father figure. He believes everything would have changed if the truth came out back then. Now after all this time, he feels pretty foolish confessing to dad that he forged his birth certificate."
Sam rolled her eyes. "Well the sooner he does it, the better it'll be. I know Jack and he'll get over it--eventually."
"Mom, Daniel's been lying about his age ever since he entered Harvard. He wanted to be accepted then, just as he does now."
"I know." Sam arched her aching back and yawned. "But it doesn't matter academically or where he is in his life now."
"I agree." Cassandra looked reflectively. "We want dad's blessing, Mom."
"Well, it'd have been nice to be invited."
"I know. We went before a judge. We intended to tell you guys then plan a church wedding. Your wedding was so beautiful."
"Which one?" Sam smirked.
"Oh, yeah, forgot. Guess three's a charm, huh?" The women held each other's smiling gazes.
The twins kicked and Sam came abruptly to her feet, holding her stomach. Her BDU's had grown tighter. She loosened her belt and yanked the black t-shirt outside of her pants.
Cassandra's gaze dipped to her mom's actions. "Your iron level has to be rock bottom, Mom, you need to rest."
"I will. I've been eating protein bars all day. You can't tell anyone not Carolyn or Daniel. Just believe me when I say we'll get the kids back. And although it'll be hard, I'm going to block Jack as long as possible."
"No piece of cake."
"Tell me about."
"Ya'd think he has a sixth sense or something." Cassie giggled.
"You are your father's daughter." Sam sighed her exasperation. "And Heaven help us, Grace is no different."
"Ya think." She grinned, hugged Sam then turned serious. "If Dad finds out he wouldn't let you on SG-1 or go after JJ and Grace."
"Like he could stop me!" Sam shoved to her feet and smoothed down her uniform. "Besides I don't think that'll be necessary."
Cassie rolled her eyes. "No wonder it took you guys a decade to get it on, well, besides conceiving me and Chuck of course. You're the most stubborn people I've ever known."
"Look in the mirror lately, Captain O'Neill."
"Quite changing the subject, Colonel, Ma'am."
"Okay, I concede that I respect and honor him and most often his decisions are right on. It's that 2IC mindset, I guess. But this time it's our family we're out to rescue." Sam gazed into the deep brown eyes of her oldest daughter. Physically Cassie was like Jack with her honey brown hair and that small vertical dent between her brows and the tiny cleft in her chin. Still she had Sam's mouth and nose, a dusting of freckles and mannerism. But she possessed Jack's verbal mouth especially cracking bad jokes and clichés, not to mention the mulish streak.
"Colonel, Captain!" Jack barked in his CO voice from the other side of the door. "We've got an emergency briefing going on! Think you could join us? Now!"
Sam drew an unsteady breath and flipped-off her 'merge' button with Jack.
"Oh!" she grimaced.
"What?"
"He's not happy a happy camper."
"So ya gonna be able to handle him?" Cassie winced, knowing her dad's short fuse.
"Been doing that for over twenty years." Sam realized the moment she opened the door Jack would spot her belly. No doubt he'd heard it through the grapevine or even determined her condition earlier. He was too Ancient for his own good. Sam resolved to stay strong.
'Carter!'
She straightened and shook her head at Jack's mental badgering. "Let's go." She opened the door to find him leaning against the opposite corridor wall, arms akimbo, glaring at her, but thankfully not at Cassie.
"General." Cassie saluted.
"Captain." Jack straightened into his military mode, then frowned at Sam.
"Um, I'll met you both upfront, Sir, Ma'am." She gestured with her thumb. "I spoke with Charlie, we're all to meet in the mess at 1800."
Jack nodded blindly. Sam did likewise.
Cassie glanced between her parents and gulped, hoping her mom could handle dad until her siblings were rescued. Knowing Jack O'Neill that so wasn't going to happen. Nope. Nada chance in Netu.
JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ
Jack was tired, cranky and royally pissed. Carter had avoided him steadily and stealthy for hours, especially telepathically. He'd never hit such a solid wall of resistance from her since they'd acquired their gift. If he didn't know better she had help. He'd suspected Cassandra but when Jack tapped into her head, he got a lot of confusion toward Sam. Nope, not Cass. Something was rotten in Denmark and it wasn't cheese. His gut suspected the worst-case scenario. Fifth. Maybe that's what Thor had meant about regretting what Fifth had done to Sam. Dear God in heaven, had Thor taken over her body? There was one way to find out, lie like a mother—well, ya know.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
"General Hammond has reinstated our posts with SG-1," he said in his intimidating CO voice.
"He what?" She gaped.
"You heard. The only difference is that I'll lead. You'll follow."
"I always do," she muttered beneath her breath.
Jack stared sharply at her. "Got a problem with the chain of command, Colonel?"
He could be such a jackass. Wait! Was he purposely pushing her buttons? She felt his internal prod and she silently screamed back. "Stay out!" Because she feared Fifth would hear.
"Something ya don't wanna tell me, Colonel?" Jack took two steps forward and eyed up his wife. When she felt his gaze linger on her rounder face she unconsciously arranged the blonde strands to mask the obvious.
"No. Not really." She forced a watery smile and motioned to follow after Cassandra. Jack's strong hands latched onto her shoulders and he gently but firmly steered her back into the head, then shut the door. The head wasn't meant to hold two people. Jack was literally in her face.
"Jack, we're wasting valuable time and—."
"We're about to enter Phase Two of OA." He was all military. "Thor transported the Daedalus, Nautilus, and Prometheus II into Saturn's rings. They've just joined us with full crews. Each ship is functional with fighters, F-302's, and caring a shit load of Marines and Army infantry, that includes land vehicles and cloaked, armored tanks."
Sam's eyes widened as Jack rattled off the mission. Dear God, if Fifth picks this up!
"McKay has setup three separate entry coordinates for Safe Harbor. He will transmit the codes for each ship. They will enter together and hopefully make it without being captured or destroyed by the Wraith. The O'Neill will stay behind. I'll lead the mission to Safe Haven aboard the Daedalus."
"Okay, I'll get ready." She attempted to get past him without her extended tummy making contact with his six-pack.
"You're staying here, Carter."
"Excuse me, sir?" She felt his sable-brown eyes access her, his strong Ancient touch breaking through her equally willful wall. At the same time, she sensed rather than saw Jack had lied about the mission. Why? What did he know? Good. She had to act and feel convinced he'd told the truth.
"That's an order." His fingers left her shoulderblades and began a slow seductive but designed trail down her arms then across her fuller breasts, that had yet to stop aching. She forced the wall higher in her mind, but her body betrayed her. Only a blind man wouldn't notice the extra weight and where it had settled.
"Jack, this not the time to be making out," she hissed as his hand gently trailed across her sensitive nipples and then through the loose BDU shirt cupped her breasts.
His half smile flat-lined. "Our kids are missing, Sam," he said with a tone of insult and injury, "Making out is the last thing on my mind."
She winced. "I know, I just thought." She shut her eyes as tears threatened. She would not cry. Jack hated when she cried, coz it made him feel helpless. "Why can't I accompany you?" She gazed up at him.
His dark brows arched into his silver hairline. "Well there's this rumor onboard that you, Colonel Carter-O'Neill are with child. That'd be a miracle, right? But I have to admit you've put some pounds." His right hand skimmed then halted on her firm rounded belly. The twins kicked. She heard Jack's breath hitch, saw his eyes dilate. Dang!
He didn't yell or give his oh duh look, instead he pulled her into his arms and nuzzled that curve of her neck, that was exclusively his, "I'm sorry, Sam. So fricking sorry!"
Sam clung to him and wept. She didn't know if she was happy or sad or a mixture of both. She didn't want him to feel guilty or sorry. "Please, Jack," she eased away and swiped her tears. "It's not your fault."
Now she got the 'duh' look. "No I mean, yes it is! And if you even think differently I'll never talk to you again!"
"Oh! Well that's a relief and no I didn't mean um, well I sort of . . . Geez, do you think we can sue the surgeon?" He rubbed his jaw then talked with his hands.
"I think it's that Ancient O'Neill DNA. Remember Loki insisted you get checked on a regular basis to be sure the vasectomy hadn't reversed itself. The Ancients DNA is strongly geared toward procreation and we went against that biological timeline. I should be able to have babies into my seventies."
"Yeah, guess we did, but you're not a baby factory, Sam, and with the pregnancies getting shorter and shorter it was too dangerous."
"I know, but I survived each time and I will this one too. We're going to have twins, Jack."
"What? Twins?"
"Yes." She smiled bravely.
"Crap! It's not even been twenty-four hours, Sam. You're big as—,"
Arms folded to her breasts, she delivered a cold glint.
"I mean," he cleared his throat. "This isn't natural even for an Ancient."
Sam wanted to scream he was right, but didn't. She touched his tensed whiskered jaw. "You need a shave."
"Sam?" his tone turned intimate.
She dropped her hand. "So when'd you know?"
"Oh, well, I didn't get to merge with your womb, but I suspected in the shower this morning before Thor dropped in." He ran a finger across his sensitive breasts, getting a rise out of her. "Um, they were already fuller."
"They were?"
"Hey, guys notice stuff like that. I love your tits, especially when you're pregnant and nursing."
"You sure do." She grinned, enjoying the temporary calm before the storm.
His brows did their sexy caterpillar dance across his brow and he leaned in for a kiss. Sam pulled away and crossed her arms. "You're not going to distract me, General. I'm going with you."
"Carter." He straightened to his intimidating height.
"Sir."
"You're not leaving this ship!"
"Like hell, I am!"
"That's an order, Colonel!"
"Screw you, sir." She gave him the finger.
"Already did!" He tossed back.
They stared each other down and Sam took the opportunity to escape the head. Jack followed as she stepped through a hatch into another corridor.
"Don't walk away from me, Colonel!"
"Don't treat me like a child, General!"
An airman approached them guardedly. "General, Colonel? General Hammond wants to speak with you both on the bridge."
"We'll be right there," Sam spoke for both of them.
"This isn't over, Carter." Jack growled in her ear as they turned to follow the airman.
"Whatever!" She shot back and knew he was scrunching his face, "Man, oh man, you'd think you were my husband or something—"
Jack stuck his fingers in his ears and started humming. Loudly!
Pain shot through Sam's lower back. No! Not yet. Labor pains. "Jack, I --," And all went black.
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Ship's Medical Bay: private delivery room
With Daniel and Teal'c at his side Jack watched while Doctor Lam and Cassandra worked on Sam.
"She's unconscious and fully dilated," Lam said to Cassandra. "She's lost a lot of fluids. BP's dropping, so are the fetuses. We've got to deliver them ASAP. No time for an epidural drip."
"For God's sake, do something!" Jack shouted trying to get to Sam. Daniel and Teal'c held him back.
"Dad," Cassandra said over her shoulder. "We're going to do an emergency C-section. I want you to try and mind-merge with mom. Tell her to direct more blood flow and oxygen to the babies."
"Okay, but I have to touch her." Jack broke through the wall of nurses to the delivery table, where Sam lied being prepped for surgery.
"Doctor O'Neill?" Doctor Lam blocked Jack and glanced at Cassandra for explanation.
"Please let him through. Trust my judgment, Doctor Lam."
"But?" Lam hesitated as a nurse scrubbed Sam's stomach.
"Doctor Lam, I'm an Ancient." Jack smiled slightly. "So's Sam. I delivered Grace and JJ and must mind-merge with Sam. It's the only way I can insure she and our babies will survive."
"Wow! That's not in either of your medical records." Carolyn exclaimed.
"Nope." Daniel explained. "There's a lot left out of those records. Now if everyone can give the General some room and silence."
"Thanks, Daniel." Jack acknowledged, and then said to Cassandra, "If all goes well, you won't have to perform the surgery. Just give me a few and prepare for a vaginal delivery."
"One minute's all we can spare." Lam explained.
"For an Ancient that's hours." Jack leaned over Sam's pale features. He placed one hand on her forehead, the other hand on her bare stomach. He shut his eyes and went to his happy place with Sam. He was surprised how they immediately melded. Something was wrong though. They weren't alone.
'Sam?'
'Jack? I'm so tired-afraid. Our babies!'
"Sam, focus on the task not fear of the task."
'Okay.'
"The patient's BP has returned to normal," a nurse said. "But the fetuses are still unstable."
"Jack, you must deliver them safely.'
'I'm trying, babe. Now concentrate. They need more oxygen. Can you do that?'
'Yes, I think . . .so.'
Moment's past. Jack tried to comprehend just where he was in Sam's head. Normally it was very organized but this was dark and cluttered. He sensed they weren't alone. He tried to see her face, but got nothing. Jack jolted as he felt intense rage and hatred directed toward him.
'Sam?'
'You wish! She is fighting to save her unborn children, your children. If you want her to succeed you will cooperate.'
'Fifth?' Jack went into defense mode, trying to block the alien. In the background, he was aware of conversations.
"She's still stable. Sam, can you hear me?" Doctor Lam asked.
"Ye-es," she answered weakly.
"The twins are breech. This will hurt, but I have to turn them."
"Do it," Sam said. "Jack, what are you doing?"
Jack couldn't answer.
Face to face with Fifth Jack was locked into a mental battle.
'There is nothing you can do to stop us,' Fifth said with a mocking voice. 'If you want your unborn brats and the two that I have returned safely, you'll not interfere. Understood?'
'What do you want?'
'I swear you are as dense as a tree, O'Neill. What I've wanted since the first time I merged with Captain Samantha Carter and fell in love with her. She has finally agreed to my terms.'
'Terms! What the hell you talking about?"
"That's it, Mom, keep pushing."
Jack heard Sam's pants and painful sobs. He felt her push one of the twins out of her womb, then heard her calling him inside his head and externally. He couldn't respond. Everyone thought he was helping but he was imprisoned inside Sam's mind by Fifth.
'How's it feel, O'Neill, unable to move, speak, frozen in time and space? Surrounded by family, by the woman you love, yet untouchable. That's the agony I suffered for years.'
'Like I give a rip! Sam loves me you heap of missing auto parts. And I love her. Nothing you ever do will ever weaken the bond we have with each other. Never.'
'Never say never,' Fifth mimicked Jack.
A baby wailed. Jack's child. Their son. He struggled against Fifth's invisible chains, felt the tethers loosen enough to give him hope.
"He's a boy, Mom, Dad!" Cassandra announced and then, "Okay, Mom, one more time. The second baby's crowning! Push!"
Jack grew stronger. 'I'm so outa here.' He snickered as he turned and walked away from Fifth. Love did conquer all.
'No!'
'Later, metal head!'
Jack released Sam's forehead and stared at her perspiration-drenched pale face. Her eyes were closed but she was smiling. "I'm here, babe." Jack reassured with a gentle hand squeeze. Sam squeezed back.
"Dad, you alright?" Cassandra asked with a worried expression.
Nodding, Jack got his bearings and spotted Daniel and Teal'c's concerned looks. "I'm back." He stretched out his arms, winked at his friends then returned to Sam as Doctor Lam delivered their last twin. This was the first time he wasn't on the receiving end of their children's deliveries. But considering the odd situation, he'd deal.
A nurse gave him his son and Jack smiled down at the small bluish bundle that was almost bald save for some fine blonde hair. "We've a son, Samantha."
Exhausted, but happy Sam smiled up at him. "Bond with him, Jack."
"Sure." He grinned.
He kissed the boy's cheek and felt the transfer of Ancient DNA growing between father and son. Purely instinctive, it was a strong tingling sensation that spiraled up and down his spine. Jack knew what he must do. He kissed his son on the mouth and breathed into him.
"What the?" Lam asked in shock.
"It's Ancient bonding," Daniel explained as he stepped forward. "He and Sam will exchange breath with both infants."
"But Sam's already exchanged air while the babies were in her womb."
"True, but this physical interaction strengthens that established bond. Don't worry this is the only time such intimate contact takes place between father and child. Without the initial bond, well," Daniel scrubbed his jaw. "It's complicated." He winced.
Jack lowered the baby boy into Sam's arms. "You're turn, hon." She nodded and stared at her son, speaking softly to him.
"He looks like you, Hon." Jack pointed at the sprigs of blond hair.
"Dad?" Cassandra handed over her baby sister. "She's just as healthy as he is."
"Excellent." Jack tried to forget the fear that gnawed his gut. Why did he feel the other shoe had yet to drop? Holding his daughter, he smiled into her beautiful face. Just like her brother, she was fair complexioned and blonde. "You're beautiful, princess."
"Jack?" Sam asked urgently.
"Here." He gently gave their daughter over then brushed Sam's hair from her face as she held both babies.
"You did good, Colonel." Jack smiled down at her and swiped tears from his eyes.
"Thank you, sir." Sam's eyes misted.
"Hey, we're going to be okay."
"I—I know you are. All of you."
"Sam, whatcha talking about."
"You know. Fifth told you. I have no choice." She kissed each of the whimpering infants. "Take them now." She insisted shoving them into his arms.
"Huh?" Jack tried to wrap his mind around what she'd said.
"You have to bond with them, Sam."
"No time, sir." She blinked back tears. "I don't want Fifth connected to them."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Plan A, Jack. There's no choice."
Jack suddenly remembered what they'd agreed upon over ten years ago the last time Fifth had messed with their lives. Crap, no!
"No plan A, Carter! It won't work." Jack took each baby from Sam's arms and handed them off to Cassandra and a nurse. He felt his heart ache with something he refused to acknowledge. Turning his head, he yelled at Daniel and Teal'c, "Sound the alarm. Full alert. Fifth's here!"
Daniel tripped the ship's alarm and opened his com to talk to the Bridge. Teal'c removed his zat and stood on guard.
"Please, Jack. I must go." Sam pleaded.
"No! He can take me!" Jack bent over and embraced her.
"Not your call." She pushed him away. Her cheeks washed with fresh tears. "It's what we do, Jack. We do the right thing for Earth."
"Fercry'outloud!" A brilliant white light encompassed the medical bay's delivery room. Jack reached for his zat but couldn't move. He helplessly watched as Sam slowly shoved upright into a sitting position. Staring into his eyes, she cradled his face with her trembling hands, then leaned in and kissed his lips. He could taste the salt of her tears, feel the heat of her mouth as she breathed into him, bonding for the last time.
"Forgive me? I will always love you, Jack. Forever and always."
The blinding light brightened then vanished. The last thing Jack heard was Fifth's mocking laughter. "She's mine now, O'Neill."
The screeching of the high alert alarm echoed throughout the ship. Dozens of armed Marines jammed into the birthing room. The medical staff thawed and looked about startled, confused. Jack stared down at the delivery bed's crumbled white sheets. Save for the bloody stains from Sam giving birth, the table was empty. His wife was gone.
"No!" He screamed.
A moment later Grace and JJ stood before him crying. Relieved, Jack gathered them into his arms while his heart grieved. Jack swore to God, that no matter how long it took, even if he had to march into hell, he would bring Sam home.
End of Chapter 6