"Sir, that IS a baby!" Sam almost yelled at him in complete shock - and daring him to protest.

"It can't be, Carter, it just CAN'T be…" he tried to argue with her. She was about to yell at him something not really pretty when they heard the piercing sound again – loud and clear. She just looked into his eyes – she glared at him - and he knew she was right.

"All right, it is a baby." He answered, equally as shocked now, no longer able to deny the fact that what they just heard sounded indeed like a baby. He knew it couldn't be but well… They all shared the same look – they would deal with what was possible and impossible later. Right then they had more important issue at hand.

"So – is it real?"

"One way to find out, Jack," Daniel told him, not really comfortable with the situation. It earned him one of those looks that could probably kill.

"Okay okay focus people – where are the cries coming from?" Jack asked. It was difficult to hear something in the wind but Sam just pointed one way and started to walk, not even asking for permission. Guys shared a look and went after her. Only Teal'c was being more than just cautious – he didn't like the situation at all.

It took them some time - but the cries were getting louder. They couldn't see much in the snow. Jack was pretty surprised by one thing – Carter's speed. She was few steps ahead of them and they couldn't keep up with her. Suddenly she fell down to her knees and practically disappeared from their sight.

"Carter!" Jack yelled, worried sick. They had no idea about what was down beneath the snow, beneath the surface – a lot could have happened in that one second.

"Sam!" Daniel added. They both started to run – well they tried with the snow-shoes.

"I'm here!" Sam cried back.

When they reached her they couldn't believe it. She was kneeling on the ground, deep in the snow, barely catching her breath – but there it was – a tiny little baby – wrapped in white furs, all red from crying, just like that on the snow. Logically it wasn't possible and yet there really was a baby there.

"Sir?" Sam asked, worried, unsure. What was she supposed to do? They didn't mention this in the rule book and it was something very unusual even for their job.

"Damn – just be careful!" Jack told Sam. She took off her gloves and picked the baby up along with the furs, quietly saying comforting words, trying to soothe down the poor crying child. It seemed to be pointless though. She was doing all she could but she knew she wasn't the mother this little one was seeking.

Teal'c was looking around them, just waiting for somebody to appear and kill them. Daniel didn't know what was happening but all he could think about was that this was not possible – it just wasn't. They were on a planet covered with ice and snow and there was a baby lying there just like that? Sure – with their luck – absolutely – why not?

"Sir…?" Sam asked, not entirely sure about what to do.

"I know I know!" He cried in frustration. "Teal'c, do you see anyone?"

"No, I do not, O'Neill. Not even footsteps. But it is very difficult in this wind – the snow is moving." The big man answered and they knew he was right. Whoever left the baby there didn't want to be found. Or wanted to kill the baby. They had no idea.

"I am not leaving the baby here, Sir." Carter told him firmly – very suddenly.

"And what do you suppose we do?"

"Anything, Sir…" Sam answered and Jack knew she was right. The small bundle kept on crying, most probably hungry, cold and scared.

Jack knew that sooner or later one of his softest sides would kick in – his overprotective father mode again. He kneeled down to Sam's level, looked into her eyes, then at the child and then it happened… he was in, deep – all the way in. He took off his gloves and nodded at Sam.

"Okay, Sam, okay… we need to protect it from the wind and keep it warm." He knew they were taking huge risk but they couldn't do anything else. They were not leaving the small child there to die in the snow. He knew it was most probably one of the biggest mistakes of his life but couldn't do anything about it – he couldn't help it.

Jack look at Sam and she nodded, she trusted him to do the right thing. He opened Sam's jacket and the hoodie she had underneath. He helped her to her press the baby to her chest. Then he zipped her back up. It wasn't very comfortable but the baby was pressed to her warm body and she still had rather good ability to move. For a moment Jack's eyes connected with Sam's again and he knew he was doomed. No way out now.

"We can't take the baby back through the Gate."

"What?!" Sam asked Daniel rather angrily.

"Sam come on! You were there when Cassie almost exploded! We cannot risk it again…"

"He's right, Carter."

"Do whatever you have to do, Sir, but I am not leaving without the baby." She told him and held the baby even firmly. Something in her had woken up and she was not willing to give up. All the guys knew what were women capable of while trying to take care of their children – they were not ready to argue with her – they had no chance to win the argument. Besides – they couldn'treally argue.

"Ideas?" Jack asked.

"Sir, we won't make it to the Gate on time. We already lost some time and the weather is getting worse faster than it should." She told him and really hoped he would figure something out because her brain was not working properly at that moment.

"Jack, what about the cave?"

"Cave?"

"Yeah, the cave you and Teal'c found – any chance of surviving there?"

"Maybe… The entrance wasn't that big… we would probably get a bit snowed in but with the right equipment you should easily find us later and help us to dig a way out."

"Us, Sir?"

"You think I'm leaving you here alone? With a baby? Especially now when we now somebody else is walking around?" He asked her disbelievingly. There was clearly the 'are you crazy or what?' question between those lines.

"Okay so… Daniel, Teal'c, give us your spare clothes and the thermo-blankets, just everything warm you have. We will need it."

"Sir, there are things in my pack we won't need…" Sam said – her voice thick with emotions. She didn't know what to think and what to feel – she was overwhelmed and not entirely herself. Something primal took over her actions and she had no means how to fight it.

So the guys started to unpack – and repack their back-packs. It was difficult in the wind which was getting stronger and also it started to snow again. After ten minutes Teal'c and Daniel were leaving with most of the things Sam and Jack would not need for surviving in a snow-storm. And Sam and Jack were a bit more equipped for the actual survival.

"Okay, so head back and dial out again later, the snowstorm should last about ten hours, give or take. Maybe you will manage to establish contact, Daniel, but maybe not, we don't know that. Keep on trying though. We have all the equipment on the base – you can find us if you locate the signal from our radios." Sam told Daniel and he just nodded at her. He noticed that the baby was quiet now. He could just hope it was a good sign.

"We'll manage, we'll find you and we'll figure out all we need. Just go now so you would make it." Daniel told them.

"Be careful, okay?" Jack said and both Daniel and Teal'c nodded.

"Take care of them." Daniel added as an afterthought and Jack just nodded back at him. This was so not usual situation they were trained for. And absolutely not something he had on his mind while thinking about this mission in the morning.

Guys resumed the original direction to the Gate, hoping they were on the right track. Jack helped Sam to stand up. He also helped her to adjust the baby under her jacket. It was not an easy task.

"Sir I can't walk really fast like this." She told him and he just nodded.

"We have time, Carter. Just hold the baby…"

"Okay, Sir, I can do that."

"Yes, you can."

"Lead the way…" She said and he just didn't know whether to walk in front of her, next to her or beside her. When she stumbled for about a fifth time he decided to walk next to her. She needed his help.

Sam had no idea about what the hell were they doing. She knew that this was a bad idea – actually piss-poor idea! Somebody had to leave the baby there, somebody had to be there – out there. They had no idea what was happening on the planet. Was it friend or foe? But how could anyone leave a baby like this? So it was most probably something bad and they were now part of it – that just could not end nicely.

And besides that – what exactly was going to happen? She was getting really scared. But she needed to focus so she put her thoughts aside – she didn't need those right then. Images of scared and practically dying Cassie got into her mind and she almost stumbled again. No – she would not allow that to happen – not again – not ever.

She was afraid the baby wouldn't be able to breathe under her jacket but it was the only way. She felt the movements but heard no more cries. Maybe her warmth calmed the little one down a bit. She looked at her CO and couldn't decide what to think. So many things were mixed in his features, she could tell he was angry and also sorry and also worried. He wasn't trying to hide it from her – maybe because he knew she felt the same… and that she could tell anyway.

The only thing on Jack's mind was one question – what the hell?!

His brain was trying to come up with a solution to this big freaking puzzle but he really couldn't. It could be a trap, like with Cassie. It could be a coincidence… maybe they just saved an innocent life, maybe the parents had died in the snow… and maybe there was something seriously wrong with the kid. He had no idea! But he knew the look on Carter's face – the kid was under her protection now and she would fight like a wild lioness for it. He knew that and couldn't really argue with it.

He just hoped it was all worth dying for – they had no idea if they would survive in the cave or not. But the cave was definitely better option than the temple. The little narrow entrance was speaking into their favor. But off-world they just couldn't be sure of anything. And surviving with a small baby in snow-storm lasting approximately ten hours? Yep, piece of cake, right?

They were not far from the cave when Sam stumbled. She nearly fell – but Jack managed to catch her. He had her in his arms, holding her, trying to steady her, minding the baby on her chest.

"Easy, Carter, easy, I've got you, I've got you both…" He told her, sensing her worries. She was getting more and more anxious and nervous from the situation. And she was getting seriously tired. It took her some time to get her breathing under control. Jack didn't release her from his arms and she was grateful for that – she needed his strength right then.

"We're nearly there, come on, you can rest there…" He told her and guided her in much slower pace to the cave. It was very difficult, the weather was really bad.

Teal'c and Daniel made it to the Gate. They were able to keep pretty fast steps – considering the wind and the snow. The wind was getting stronger and stronger and they both got a bit worried that they wouldn't make it on time. Daniel dialed the Gate while Teal'c kept on looking around.

"Are you okay, Teal'c?"

"I am well, Daniel Jackson."

"Freaking out?"

"No." He told him – absolutely calm and serious.

"I am not happy about this situation either, Teal'c. But it was the only choice." Daniel said though, knowing his friend was worried indeed.

"I am aware."

"Let's go home and get everything ready so we can come and save them tomorrow."

"I agree, Daniel Jackson."

Daniel nodded and sent their signal through. They were about to do some real tricky explaining. Oh he could hear the marines already! Leave it to SG-1 to go for a simple mission to planet where is absolutely nothing but ice and snow only to find a baby there. He could sense troubles already. Luckily Colonel Reynolds was in charge now and he knew that these things were simply happening to SG-1 on daily basis… Daniel was sure he would let them go through again with help.

"Let's go, Teal'c, I am seriously freezing here."

T. just nodded at him and together they walked through, both trying to suppress their worries and weird feeling they were having about the whole thing. Well, Daniel thought, they wanted to experience some pretty cool adventure with Jack out there with them – so Sam and Jack were now hiding in a cave with a baby - together – talk about quite an adventure indeed!