Sam drove home hugging Jess and taking Arielle to the kitchen worrying about what Hammond was telling her team even as she stood there
"Arielle I have resigned from my job, this doesn't mean you have to leave you are welcome to stay but I will care for Jess" Sam said Arielle looked horrified
"You resigned because I not work here, Madame Carther please, I vill stay" Arielle said in her French accent,
"No it wasn't because of you I told my friends at work, they made me think how selfish I was being, my job was dangerous I may not have returned which would have left Jess on her own, no mum or dad and her other family doesn't know about her this way is best" Sam wiped her eyes not aware she had even begun crying
"Zen I will not change your decision" Arielle said hugging her
"Good, and please please please, I know you refuse, but now I don't employ you call me Sam, please" Sam begged
"Ok Zam" Arielle said happily
"And you are welcome to stay any time" Sam offered, Arielle grinned wiping a tear of her own
"Zhank you" Arielle hugged Sam, Sam smiled and rubbed her arm going to the lounge to play with Jess in the garden while it was still sunny, Arielle began tea knowing Sam would be angry but wanting to do it for her, the door bell went Arielle answered knowing Sam wouldn't hear it busy chasing Jess round pretending to be a monster Jess squealing in delight and running away on her little legs, Sam would catch her and tickle her until Jess managed to "escape" and the game would begin again.
Arielle opened the door to find 3 men on her doorstep, one who was graying, another with glasses and longish hair and the third who was big and black and wore a cowboy hat,
"Can I help you?" she asked recognising them in some of the pictures Sam had,
"Do you live here?" Daniel asked, Arielle nodded
"We are looking for a friend we thought she lived here maybe you can help Captain Samantha Carter?" Daniel said
"You are 'er team mate whO made 'er cry" Arielle said shutting the door slightly
"I will get 'er" she shut the door totally going inside and getting Sam. Sam went into panic mode,
"Help me tidy the front room" between them they did very quickly making Sam sweat slightly so on opening the door she was sweaty and flushed, with her female house guest she had never mentioned Jack and Daniel were making assumptions about Sam's sexuality still not believing she had a child it was impossible like Jack said they would have noticed, unlike Teal'c whose son was off world being looked after by his mother, Sam's would have been on earth and they were certain she had just been joking which made her resignation even stranger
Meanwhile Teal'c was wondering about the child screams he heard with his extra sensitive hearing.
"Sir, Daniel, Teal'c come in" Sam opened the door allowing them entry leading them to the lounge, Arielle had gone outside with Jess
"What can I help you with?" Sam asked coldly in the years she had known them they had never come to her house
"Hammond told us, your leaving Sg1 resigning why?" Daniel asked
"What you said is true I do work to hard, I am never around enough so I decided to change it" Sam said wondering if they still didn't believe her, but should she even bother trying to explain again after what they had said, it had hurt more than it should.
"So it's because of her" Jack said indicating the door referring to Arielle not Jess
"Who? Arielle, in a round about way" Sam said surprised if Arielle hadn't announced her intention to leave then Sam wouldn't have made the decision to leave she would have done what she always had but Arielle leaving with Jess's recent abduction made Sam resound to leaving.
"I am sorry, its just at first I didn't know you enough to trust you, then Jonas which was a big relief and then I just couldn't bring it into conversation" Sam said, she waited for them to say something nervously wishing she knew more about what they were thinking, she knew they had a right to be angry with her for hiding it for so long, there words had been right she had been a bad mother,
"Jonas knew?" Daniel asked surprised bringing Sam out of her deep thoughts
"No but he could have found out and made our lives very difficult" Sam explained, Daniel nodded if he had found out about Sam's sexuality he could have really used it to his advantage,
"And that's why you are resigning?" Jack checked, Sam nodded
"So work on Sg1 as a civilian" he suggested, Sam shook her head sadly, she had thought they would understand
"I can't do that Sir, you guys were right earlier I work to hard its no world for her wondering if I'm coming home or not we can be away so long I just can't do that," Sam explained then with a proud smile
"Do you want to meet her?"
"We already have Carter" Jack said gruffly, Sam looked confused
"Who Jess?" She asked wondering when they had met Jess
"Who is Jess I thought you said her name was Arielle?" Jack said sharing a confused look with Daniel
"The girl who answered the door is Arielle, I thought you would want to meet Jess" Sam said confused
"Jess, she is who you are leaving Sg1 for" Jack confirmed wondering what kind of house his 21c was running
"Yes I told you" Sam said exasperated "What did you think Arielle was my daughter?" She asked, looking at 2 astounded faces and a raised eyebrow
"You have a daughter?" Daniel managed to say, Sam nodded in disbelief
"I told you," She told them getting even more confused and angry until the penny dropped
"Oh boy, who did you think Arielle was?" She asked them trying not to smile
"I believe Daniel Jackson and O'Neill believe Arielle to be your lover" Teal'c told them, Sam started laughing sitting on the sofa for support
"Really" She said not believing it, Jack and Daniel both were a deep shade of red before Sam realised what had happened
"I said, what you don't believe me you think this is some sick joke of mine pretend I have a daughter to confuse you no, I wouldn't do that and I thought as my friends you would know that" Sam yelled, Daniel exchange a nervous glance with Jack
"I mean I know I was wrong to hide her from you but I had my reasons but when I do you tell me I'm a crap person and a crap mother well you are crap friends" Sam screamed going to the door to show them out, she turned to yell at them some more but found Jack sitting on the sofa head between his hands, Daniel giving her the puppy dogs eyes and Teal'c standing proudly as he had done nothing wrong, she felt her heart soften
"God Sam we are so sorry, I mean we trust you we our lives, I can't tell you how bad I feel" Daniel said genuinely, Sam looked to Jack expectantly.
"You have a daughter Carter how?" He muttered still in shock,
Sam blushed and Daniel made a choking sound, Jack realised what he said blushing too, Sam recovered first raising an eyebrow
"How….um… Sir, do you not know" she asked giggling lightening the mood as she realised she couldn't stay angry with him,
"I know how Carter what I meant was how do you have a kid, how did we not know about her?" he said, Sam looked away walking to the window to avoid eye contact afraid to see the disappointment in their eyes.
"Jonas, I got out pregnant he didn't know, if he did he would have come back and that wouldn't have been good. I told nobody wearing baggy clothes till I started showing, then took 2 months off going back to work only 2 days after despite being tired, that's how I got involved in the SGC in the first place as I was off active combat.
Arielle is a daughter of a friend who was the only one to know, she wanted to come to America and I needed someone to look after Jess , if I had taken the time off Jonas may have found out and come for her, I couldn't let that happen, especially when Jonas came to the SGC I was petrified he would find out, then after he died I was so use to not telling people it was just easier not to" Sam explained risking a glance at them, Jack shared a look with Daniel and Teal'c all thinking the same thing if Jonas wasn't already dead….
"What did he do to you Sam"? Jack asked needing to know what had made her so scared, Sam looked back away wondering if they would think less of her if they knew,
"Initially he was great, so caring, romantic and thoughtful, then he became violent he said it was a one off and he had lost one of his men so I stayed. It happened again and I forgave him, it got worse but I couldn't leave him he said he would change, it got worse and worse till one time I was actually hospitalised, that's when I found I was 2 months pregnant, and I couldn't let my child live that life so I left"
"Who knows about her?" Daniel asked
"Janet, General Hammond, Arielle, her mum and now you guys, I haven't even told my brother or my dad" Sam admitted, there faces changed from angry and hurt to slightly proud she trusted them.
"Can we meet her?" Daniel asked
"Sure I'll go and get her" Sam stood up, going to the door, picking her 2 and half year old daughter up and bringing her in
"Jessie meet your uncles, Uncle Daniel, Uncle Teal'c and Uncle Jack" Sam said, Jess hid in her shoulder shyly. Sam smiled as Jess crawled behind her back.
"Jess come on" a mop of curly blonde hair appeared over her shoulder then 2 blue eyes.
"Hello" Daniel said taking a small step forwards causing Jess to duck down and hide again, since her abduction she had been more wary of strangers even her mummies friends.
"She is a little shy" Sam explained, they nodded Sam sighed knowing should explain a little more about the events of her abduction
"Do you remember a few weeks back when someone was impersonating Charlie and tried to poison Nick and I said I hadn't been threatened, well I kind of lied somebody kidnapped Jess," Sam said nervously not knowing what to expect from her friends
"And you didn't say anything" Daniel said annoyed and concerned that his friend had gone through that without them
"I couldn't if anything it the kidnapping proves I can't come clean with her she could be used against me," Sam said convinced it was the right thing
"Carter, Sam whoever it was already knows about Jess" Jack warned
"Indeed" Teal'c agreed,
"They must have found out somehow, if you start telling people they will look out for you" Daniel reasoned, Sam nodded
"Your right I should phone my brother" Sam said wincing even as she said it, Jack's phone rang
"We have a mission" he said looking between Sam and Jess
"Hammond wants you to tag along for one last mission" Jack said looking sorrowful
"Janet volunteered to look after Jess" he offered, Sam looked at Jess
"Jess want to stay with Janet and Cassie for a bit?" Jessie nodded and smiled
"Cool" Jack lifted her off Sam's knee starting to tickle her; Jess started giggling hysterically,
"Uncle Jack stop" she cried, Jack stopped smiling at the fact she spoke and called him Uncle Jack
"Ok squirt" he said happily. Gaining confidence she looked round for someone else to play with picking Teal'c
"You're big" she said rudely,
"Jess" Sam admonished
"Sorry" she apologised not really meaning it, still marvelling at his big size
"Indeed Jess Carter I am big" Teal'c replied
"For a great many years I ate all of my vegetables" he told her watching her face light up in amazement and wonder,
"Wow" she said, not seeing the others trying to hide their laughter,
"Do you play horsy?" Jess asked boldly, Teal'c looked at Sam in confusion
"You be the horsy I be rider and sit on your back" Jess explained cryptically, Sam stepped in
"Jess I don't think that Teal'c really wants to play" Sam explained
"Aww" Jess looked really down,
"Where I come from children play a game would you like me to instruct you" Teal'c asked, Sam exchanged a nervous glance with Jack and Daniel all wondering and worrying about what games Jaffa warriors played with their children, while Jess nodded
"One warrior tries to catch the other" Teal'c said using his lightening speed to catch her and tickle her, Jess laughing
"Uncle Jack, Uncle Daniel mummy heeeelllpp" she cried Jack looked at Sam, with an evil smile of his own
"Mummy can't help cus she is being tickled too" he said tickling Sam who tried to get him off
"Jess help" she cried, Teal'c let her up so she could run to her mum's aid tickling Jack, Jack gave up and Sam swooped Jess up congratulating her for saving her. Jess smiled proudly.
"Ok Sam we leave in 4 hours" Jack added
"Carter we are going to pack we'll meet you back here" Jack said Sam nodded, Jess wriggling out of her grasp to hug her uncles goodbye, giving them a wet kiss each.
"Bye Jess" Daniel said going first
"Goodbye Jessie Carter" Teal'c said
"Bye monster" Jack joked seeing her indignant look that was so Carter
"I not a monster" She replied, Sam came up from behind
"He didn't mean it Jess" she told her, Jess nodded looking at suspiciously Jack slowly nodding her agreement
"Bye Jack" She said not giving him a hug or a kiss, still too annoyed with him, Sam smiled as Jack sulked, she was trying to work out who was the bigger child, each time coming up with her CO.
"Bye Jess" he said hugging her Jess refusing to co-operate, her arms folded, Jack shrugged
"We'll be back in an hour" he warned, Sam nodded already listing things to pack even as she waved goodbye figuring Jess would be the best to start with she climb the stairs into her loft, she chucked the case a small Disney princess one for Jess and the normal green bag for her,
"Jess can you get out the stuff you will need, 7 pairs of pants and socks, 7 pairs of trouser 11 t-shirts and 6 jumpers" Sam asked, Jess nodded taking her case into her room, while Sam quickly packed her own stuff. Hearing little noise from her daughter she went to check on her laughing at what she had found, Jess looked up at the sound of her laughter
"Jess what have you packed?" Sam asked
"Cinderella and Mulan but Belle was left out, and teddy, and dolly and whale and Barbie" Jess explained patiently, Sam nodded knowing Cassie had enough soft toys and Janet wouldn't want more invading his house
"Jess why don't you choose 1 the others can keep each other company" Sam explained simply, Jess thought about it picking up Mulan her princess dolly
"Ok" Sam said taking the doll and packing her daughters stuff for her Jess giving valuable supervision insisting she wouldn't wear that pink dress and packing what she thought were essentials like yo-yo, game boy, books, chocolate and tool kit. Sam trying to unpack as much junk as Jess thought she could sneak in. Finally she was done putting the case in her room so Jess wouldn't be as tempted to put more stuff in
The door went signalling that the guys were back, Sam went to answer it still protective of Jess.
"Hey" She said seeing her friends, picking Jess up
"Got your case Carter" Jack asked, Sam nodded pointing upstairs
"My room, um Sir could you" she asked having some difficulty with the girl attached to her neck
"Sure Teal'c want to give me a hand" Jack asked, Teal'c nodded they went up returning later Teal'c with Sam's big pack and Jack with Jessie's Disney princess one looking distinctly unhappy
"Don't think pink is my colour" Jack remarked seeing Daniel's grin
"Mine" Jess cried out seeing her case struggling against her mum's grip
"Jess, Jack is just carrying it for you and remember to share" Sam said reprimanding her daughter who scowled
"Sorry" Jess apologised it coming out forced and ungracious, Sam let it slide but gave her daughter a look that warned her it wasn't dropped.
They climbed into Sam's car as it had the seat for Jess, Jack drove, to Janet's where they left Jess under the capable guard of Janet travelling to the mountain,
They arrived at the briefing room taking seats round the table waiting for Hammond who entered seconds after
"At ease" he ordered Sam and Jack who had sprung to attention easing back into their seats on his order.
"Standard recon, details are in the folder," he said simply having a lot on and knowing Sg1 were pro's at this
"Yes Sir"
"You gate out in an hour" he ordered standing up, everyone reading the data the MALP had collected, then one by one they went to gear up ready, arriving in the gate room the gate activated with an incoming wormhole. In the control room Hammond spoke to the team on the other end
"Sg1 your mission had been scrubbed instead I need you to help an evacuation sensors showed a Gould ship entering the solar system" he ordered, then over the tanoy a medical team was ordered to the gate room and the base put on alert for incoming refugees.
Within 5 minutes they were embarking onto Nassia.