Colonel O'Neill drove up to Carter's house late – SG-1 had been off world that day, and the infirmary was busy treating the aftermath of one of SG-6's adventures, so the team had waited hours for their post physicals. She was asleep in her "chair and a half" – something between an arm chair and a loveseat – when he got there, her head resting on one arm and her calves on the other.

He moved to the kitchen and quickly stuck the Chinese he'd grabbed in the fridge, but the floor creaked a little bit, and he knew she'd woken up.

"Sir?" she called.

"Yeah, Carter. Just a second." He pulled dinner back out of the fridge and stuck it quickly on two plates and took it to her. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired. She won't calm down," she said sleepily.

"She?" Jack asked. He handed her a plate, but she didn't sit up.

"Yeah – Janet got the amnio back. It's a girl." A small, vague smile crossed her face, and she started to gather a forkful of steamed rice.

"Is something else wrong?"

She shook her head. "I was just on my feet in the lab all day, that's all."

"They hurt?"

"I was hoping putting them up would help. Is it gonna be like this from now on?"

"Pretty much." He set his plate down and left for a second, returning with a chair from the dining room. He sat it under Sam's extended legs and gently took an ankle in his hands.

"Sir, you don't-"

"Shut up, Carter," he said softly, kneading and working the muscles in her ankles and feet. When he finished, her eyes were closed, her face serene, but it didn't last long. Pain flashed across her face as a hand flew to her slightly rounded belly.

"Ouch."

"I'm sorry, Carter."

His voice was hushed, solemn, and she rolled her head to glance at him. "For what, sir?" He just shook his head, and she pushed herself up to sitting. "Something's been bothering you for a while now, sir. Something that wasn't before. What's going on?"

"I just don't like to see you in pain," he lied. "You know that." He didn't think it was that obvious, but he was trying to distance himself from the baby before he ended up sorely disappointed. "You should eat."

Concerned, she leaned toward him. "Sir?"

"Don't push it, Carter," he answered with a sad smile.

"Did something happen off world?"

"No."

"Sir, please."

He scrubbed a hand through his hair. "Carter, I'm… I'm trying really hard to stay neutral here," he said. "I want you to do what's best for you."

"What does that mean, neutral?"

She made a face and put a hand to her stomach again, and he sighed. Every inch of him wanted to reach out and touch her, to feel the baby under his fingertips. He was falling for the little one, badly, and he needed to stop it. Losing one child was more than enough for a lifetime.

"It means… I should go, Carter." He stood and backed away a little, and she was immediately on her feet.

"What?"

"If you want, I'll call Daniel," he said, already heading for the door.

"No, I – I don't… I don't understand!" she cried.

"I'm sorry," he said again, and he pulled the door neatly shut behind him.