Alternatives

Photograph

Based upon Stargate: SG-1

Rating: PG

- EAR/RMI - Based upon the season three episode "Point of View." Takes place just after said episode in the established alternate reality and several months after in an alternate reality similar to the established canon -

- . - - - . -

George looked up from his desk as Doctor Samantha Carter walked into the pathetic remains of his office. He smiled at her. "Doctor, to what do I owe this pleasant visit?"

She took a seat in the chair on the opposite side of his desk. "I went to see Doctor Fraiser this morning."

Fraiser had only been around for a few days; she had replaced Doctor McKenzie, who was killed in the Goa'uld attack. "Right, our new CMO. How is she?"

Samantha smiled. "She's very sweet," she paused for a moment, and quickly added, "And she's a good Doctor."

George returned her smile. "Good." The smile had already faded from Samantha's face, betraying the darker emotions she was feeling. George's smile faded as well as he noticed. He didn't want to ask if everything was alright, because it was obviously not. "What's bothering you?" he opted.

She wrung her hands together for a second, trying to decide what she wanted to say. "This morning Doctor Fraiser told me that I was pregnant."

It took all his self control to keep his eyebrows on his face and his mouth shut. Once he succeeded in that, he tried to think of something encouraging to say.

"I just feel . . ." she tried.

George stood up, round his desk and put his hand on her shoulder. "You're not alone," he said.

She gripped his hand. "I know," she said as the tears started to drip down her face.

He crouched and put his arms around her, and she leaned into his embrace. "Really," he whispered.

- . - . - Several Months Later

"You wanted to see me, Sir?" Major Samantha Carter said as she walked into the Briefing Room.

George turned away from the window overlooking the 'gate room when she came in. "You got some mail, Major."

"Mail, Sir?" she asked, obviously wondering why a general in the United States Air Force suddenly became a postal worker.

He smiled. "Yes. It came in an interesting manor." He picked up a remote and pressed 'play' and a video of a storage room at Area-51. He glanced at Carter as she watched the surveillance feed. It showed the Quantum Mirror spring to life. Through it came one Major Charles Kawalsky. He smiled and waved a mock salute in the camera's direction.

He held up a small object, showing it to the camera, dropped it on the floor and went back through the mirror, closing it behind him.

George turned back to Carter, who was watching him. He handed her the letter. It was still sealed. No one felt that it needed to be read, seeing as how it had been delivered.

She examined it carefully, no doubt noticing that it was addressed to her in her own hand. She opened it and removed three pieces of paper. She glanced at two of them quickly and then handed them to him as she unfolded the third piece.

"Dear Major," she read aloud, "Congratulations, we're a mommy." Carter looked up at him with a shocked expression. After a moment, she turned back to the letter and continued to read it silently.

As she read, George looked at the two pages she handed him. They were pictures of a baby. He glanced at the back, which read a name, date, and age. It was an adorable baby, and looked to be average size, perhaps a little small, but healthy none-the-less.

"She didn't know she was pregnant when she came through the mirror," Carter said once she had finished reading.

George regarded her carefully. She dropped her hands and turned towards the window, overlooking the Embarkation Room.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

She took a deep breath.

"I haven't seriously thought about having kids in years," she answered in a distant voice.

"Maybe she hadn't either." George looked at the pictures in his hands and smiled again. He stepped up behind her and held his hand out in front of her, showing her the pictures. "But she wanted you to have these."

She turned to meet his gaze. "I keep thinking that there's a hidden message behind them."

George put his hand on her shoulder gently. "Maybe there is, but she may not know what's best for your life."

A sad smile graced her face. "You're right, Sir. Thank you."

"Anytime, Major," he dropped his hand and stepped back. "Dismissed."

- . - . -

Sam was putting one of the pictures in a frame when she heard someone step into her lab. She looked up to see Colonel O'Neill. "Good morning, Sir."

"Morning, Carter."

She set the picture upright on the book shelf behind her desk.

"Who's that?" he asked.

She smiled. "That's my baby."

He paused for a second, seemingly considering her answer. "What?" he asked in that tone which meant I have absolutely no idea what you just meant.

"Doctor Samantha Carter - you know the one who came through the Quantum Mirror?" she waited for him to nod before she continued, "had a baby. She thought I would want a picture."

He nodded slowly. "Who was . . . um?" He made several vague gestures with his hands. "You know . . ."

Sam thought how to phrase it for a fraction of a second. "Her husband was the father."

He nodded. "Oh."

She watched him hand awkwardly in the middle of her lab for a few moments. "Was that all, Sir?" she asked, throwing him a line.

He nodded, somewhat distracted, and started to meander towards her door. He paused at the threshold and turned back to her. "You wouldn't mind if I had a copy of that, would you?"

She smiled and shook her head. "Not at all, Sir. I'll make you one."

He returned her smile. "Thanks, Carter."

She watched him as he left, leaving herself a mental note to make a copy of the photograph for him. She glanced back at the photo, thinking.

It was possible.

They were.

Their baby was smiling in the picture.

Sam smiled to herself as she turned back to her work.

It was definitely possible.

- . - - - . -