A/N: Thank you so much again to everyone whose given feedback for this story, it's really encouraging me!! This chapter's a little shorter than usual, but it was the best place to end it. Enjoy!
Chapter 6: In which SG-1 gets another shock, and a tough decision
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After some quick thinking and calming words by Daniel, SG-1 once again sat in conference with the Caradonian elders. After glaring stonily at the table for some time, Jack began to scrutinise the elders as they answered Daniel's questions, knowing that beside him, Tea'lc was doing the same.
"Daniel, I do not understand," Pelar, another elder, clasped his hands, frowning gently. "Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill have been greatly blessed by Cancuchar!"
"Ya think?" Jack practically sneered, silenced by a warning glare from Daniel.
"Jack..." he sighed. "Elders, please may you confirm for us that it was definitely the ritual of Cancuchar that caused Major Carter to be with child?"
"Why yes, of course," another answered brightly. "It is a great honour among our people to be able to participate in the ritual! Otherwise how would our generations continue?"
"Uh, excuse me?" Daniel stammered, his eyebrows rising as he looked round the elders in surprise. Jack and Tea'lc looked questioningly to the archaeologist. "Um, are you saying that this is the main way your women conceive children?"
"Yes, Daniel," Pelar answered again. "When couples wish to bear a child, they apply to the council to request the ritual, and if chosen to participate, are blessed with a child some months after. It is a greatly cherished opportunity!"
Daniel sighed in frustration, removing his glasses and rubbing his face briefly.
"Okay, that's, well that's very annoying that I didn't work that out a long time ago..." He muttered under his breath. "Do you understand how the ritual accomplishes this?" He turned back to the elders.
"Wait, wait," Jack squinted round the table in confusion. "Are you saying you don't have kids the normal way? There's just once a year when they all pop out at once?"
"Please understand," another elder interjected, "that is normal for us, Colonel. Is it not so on your planet?"
"It is not," Tea'lc replied; Daniel and Jack appearing to be having some trouble in working out precisely how to answer them, blushing furiously. "In our experience, children are conceived by the interaction of two parents at their choice at any time they so choose, and are born accordingly some months later."
"Thanks, Tea'lc..." Daniel spoke gratefully. "If I may, elders, do you know how the process occurs?" He looked round their faces beseechingly.
"We do not, Daniel," Kela spoke now. "This is the way our people have continued for countless generations. We do not question the ritual, we only appreciate the blessings it gives us. When a couple touches the stone with their hands together, they are blessed with a child. That is the way it is, has been, and always will be." He paused. "If I may, Daniel, we do not understand your apparent wish for this not to have occurred? Are Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill not pleased with the gift?"
"Woah, there, hold on a sec." Jack interrupted before Daniel could reply, with a puzzled frown. "How does this affect me? Major Carter's the one with child, here. I know I touched the doodah too, but - are you saying - "
"Why Colonel O'Neill, of course it does. You, as well as Major Carter, are the child's parent. That is the way of the ritual, you are both blessed!"
Jack sat in stunned silence. He could hear the conversation continue, but the words were muffled. He stared at the table, not seeing, not feeling, aware of nothing but the myriad thoughts flowing in his mind, incomprehensible. He didn't even know what he was thinking. This was impossible. He felt numb. Slowly, he became aware of Kela speaking.
"We are greatly sorry for any misunderstanding with your people, truly," Kela assured. "We believed the ritual would be a great gift to you, appreciated as it is by us. Colonel O'Neill, we perceived the love between yourself and Major Carter, and felt this an appropriate gift, to bless the friendship of our peoples. We cannot understand why you are not greatly pleased by the blessing."
All eyes turned to Jack for some reaction, but he was unable to reply. He just stared at Kela, open mouthed, turning slowly to stare at Daniel, unable to form any expression or words. Daniel, equally stunned by the revelation, blinked rapidly, mouth opening and closing as he tried to formulate a response.
"W-well, Kela, I, uh.. What you don't understand is, ah.. Uh, the... Our people, our leaders, have certain rules in place that we have to abide by. " The elders nodded as he took a deep breath, continuing. "One of those rules, is, ah, that it is forbidden for two people who work together in such a capacity as Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter to, ah, be involved in a... relationship." He concluded. Kela frowned, still puzzled.
"Yet their love is so apparent, they are not together?"
"No, we're not." Jack said flatly.
..--00--..
"Open the iris." General Hammond ordered, as Sergeant Harriman reported the transmission of SG-1's IDC code. He entered the gate room as the three men stepped through onto the ramp, each clearly deep in thought.
"Welcome back, people. What did you learn?"
Jack simply stood near the top of the ramp, gazing without focus at some indeterminate point on the wall. Daniel, unsure of what to say, stared at the General, shifting his feet nervously. Tea'lc stepped forward calmly.
"The Caradonian elders informed us that the ritual of Cancuchar was indeed responsible for Major Carter's pregnancy," he stated simply. Hammond nodded. "They were unable to impart any knowledge of how precisely the altar may have accomplished this," the Jaffa continued. "They also informed us that by participating in the ritual, Colonel O'Neill is in actual fact the father of Major Carter's unborn child."
General Hammond's jaw dropped in shock as he turned to look at the Colonel for some confirmation. Slowly, Jack's head turned, his eyes meeting Hammonds. The look those eyes told the General all he needed to know.
This would be a long debriefing.
..--00--..
"Wh...What??"
Sam felt as though she'd said that word an awful lot more than usual in the past day or so. Still confined to the infirmary, 'to be on the safe side', Daniel had come alone to tell her what they'd learnt.
What they'd learnt was that Jack O'Neill was the father of the baby inside her.
She thought she'd been thrown, shocked, dumbfounded by the fact that she was pregnant. This was something else. She'd always known Jack was wonderful with children. He loved them so much. And here she was, apparently carrying his child. Daniel's soft voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Sam, I'm sorry. I know this must be a lot for you to take in," he paused, squeezing her hand gently. He smiled apologetically at the woman he thought of as a sister. "I'm sorry we couldn't find out exactly how it worked, they just don't know. They thought it would be a wonderful gift for you and Jack."
"Yeah, I... Woah. Wow. I, I don't even know what to think, Daniel." She looked at him, eyes desperately searching for reassurance, guidance, something. Samantha Carter was not often this confused, and she didn't like it one bit.
"Major, Doctor," General Hammond called as he entered. He smiled at them both, and Daniel got up to give them some privacy, having some idea of the conversation that was about to take place. "Major Carter, I understand you've been fully informed of SG-1's findings?"
Sam nodded slowly.
"Yes, Sir."
"Good." Hammond paused, contemplating his next words carefully. "Major, I'm sure you understand that this situation leaves you in somewhat of a predicament." Again, she nodded understanding. "Now, I'd like to inform you of the various options available to you at this time. Of course, the most important thing for you to decide is whether or not to go ahead with this pregnancy. Now obviously, should you so choose, Doctor Fraiser has informed me the foetus can be terminated and removed with no complications, and you can return back to your duties as you recover." He waited a short time for Sam's reaction, as she frowned, nodding. "However, Major," he continued, "if it is your desire to go ahead with this pregnancy, there is no possibility of you keeping your position on SG-1." Her eyes widened slightly; she'd anticipated the possibility, but it was still a shock to hear and comprehend. "If that is the case, Major, you will be reassigned to on-base duties. An exact position has not yet been found, but there are many valuable ways you can still assist Earth's cause from right here."
"Sir, I.. I can't even -"
"I know, Major." He smiled reassuringly at Sam. "I understand this will be a hard decision for you. Take as much time as you need." He faltered briefly, reaching out and touching her shoulder gently. "Major, you have every right to make whichever choice you want. Come see me when you've decided, and we'll go from there."
"Yes Sir," she mumbled, dazed. She didn't notice him leave.
Have Jack's baby, but give up SG-1. Stay on SG-1, carry on fighting, but terminate Jack's child.
Sam was swamped by emotions, thoughts, desires, worries. Tears sprung unbidden to her eyes. How was she supposed to decide something like that?
TBC
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A/N: Again, I'm sorry not a lot happens there, but it's the best place to split as next chapter will be the decision. Ooooh! Anyway, that will be quite meaty, so I'm sorry this one's a bit shorter because of that! Thank you so much again for reading, and plase let me know what you think! I love hearing from you!!