I've had a couple of requests to pick up the pace. Unfortunately, I think these chapters are kind of necessary for the story. If it's going too slow for you, maybe you should just wait a few days and read a little later, after I get to the action. Just a thought.

Thanks so much for your reviews. I loooooove them. Please send more! :D

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Jack made it back to the base early the next morning, stopping the elevator a couple of levels short of the control room to check on their guest. He was amused to find Carter leaned against the door of the guest quarters, peering in the window with her hand against the glass.

"What'cha doin?"

She jumped and stepped away from the door, obviously embarrassed.

"Sorry, sir. I was just…" She trailed off and smiled nervously, and Jack stepped past her to peek in the window.

"She still sleeping?"

"Yes, sir. General Hammond asked me to take her to see Janet when she gets up." She paused before adding, "You want to come along?"

Jack smiled and turned around, crossing his arms as he leaned against the door.

"If you want me."

He hadn't really meant the words to come out the way they did, but he certainly didn't mind the way it brought a slight blush to her cheeks as she tried to cover her embarrassment with a smile.

"Um…I'd like you to come, yes. And I'm sure Jade would like your company."

There was a light knock on the door behind him, and Jack jumped a little, turning to see the girl's face in the window.

"Can I come out?" she asked through the glass.

Sam pulled the card key from her pocket and opened the door, the young girl stepping out into the hallway and slipping her arms around Carter with a yawn.

"Good morning," she said sleepily, and Jack watched with amusement as Sam gave the girl an awkward hug.

"Um…good morning. You sleep okay?"

Jade nodded and combed her fingers through her hair, the loose waves sticking up at funny angles around her face.

"Yeah. Morning, Dad. Did Dr. Frasier give you guys the test results back yet?"

Sam shook her head and gestured for the girl to walk with her to the elevator. Jack rubbed the back of his neck and followed the two girls down the hall, noticing how they looked almost identical from the back, if it weren't for the hair and Carter's more womanly figure. Walking slowly behind her, Jack dared to let his eyes wander over Sam's curves, enjoying the way she fit snuggly into her BDU's, the slight sway in her walk, her shoulders back and head high, her hair just brushing the skin visible above the back of her collar…

"What do you think, Colonel?"

Jack blinked as Carter stepped into the elevator and turned to face him, and he gave her a blank look.

"Sorry, what?"

Jade laughed quietly, tossing her hair over her shoulders and slipping her hand into his. Jack glanced down at their linked fingers and raised his eyebrows at Sam, but she just shrugged.

"I asked if you think the General will let Jade leave the base, if the test results come back positive."

As the doors slid closed behind him, Jack held Sam's gaze and tried to convey some of what he was thinking.

If the test results come back positive…

He had been trying not to think about what was going to happen if it turned out the girl holding his hand actually was his daughter. It wasn't that he wanted her to be lying. In fact, Jack was fairly certain he'd be devastated if she wasn't telling the truth. Still, there were so many complications. What was he going to do with a nearly grown teenage girl, and how would he and Carter be able to keep any kind of professional relationship if they really did have a child together? Things were hard enough already, but knowing that they were going to be involved somewhere down the line would only further complicate things between them. And what would happen once they completed their mission? Would Jade ever be able to return home? If not, where would she live? Would she be able to lead any kind of a normal life? The questions spun around in his mind, and Sam gave him a reassuring smile as she pushed the button on the side of the elevator, her quiet way of letting him know that she understood.

"I doubt it," Jack finally answered. "At least, not for a while."

After riding up the rest of the way in silence, the three of them walked together into the infirmary, where Janet stood talking in a low voice to General Hammond. They ceased their conversation when Jack and the others stepped into the room, and Janet smiled warmly at Jade.

"Hey, there. How'd you sleep?"

The girl shrugged and shifted her eyes to the file in Dr. Frasier's hands.

"Fine. Are those the test results?"

Sharing a look with the General, Janet nodded, and Jack saw Sam stiffen slightly as they followed the doctor out of the infirmary and into her office. Jack shut the door, holding his breath as Janet dropped the file on her desk.

"Well, it looks like Jade is telling the truth, Colonel."

Thank God.

"DNA testing clearly shows that you and Major Carter are this girl's biological parents."

Wait...oh, crap.

Jack's relief was only momentary, as the implications of Janet's words hit him like a ton of bricks. Sam seemed a bit shocked, and she dropped down in the chair next to him, Jade kneeling next to her and gently petting her arm.

"I know," she said soothingly. "It's a lot to take in. Please don't be upset." She glanced up at Jack and scrunched up her nose with a sideways grin. "Told ya'."

Jack stared down at her for a moment, the gears in his mind sticking as they struggled to turn. Part of him was extremely excited at the thought of sharing this bright, beautiful creature with Sam, but the other part was rattling off a string of curses in his head, and he looked over at Hammond, feeling a little dizzy.

"So…what now?"

The General eyed the girl squatting down on the floor and sighed.

"Honestly, Colonel, I have no idea. I suggest you take some time to learn what you can from this young woman about what her plan is for preventing the destruction of the Asgard. In the meantime, I have a couple of phone calls to make."

Sam sat up in her chair, and Jack felt pained at seeing the distraught look on her face.

"General Hammond," Jade said, standing and stuffing her hands into her pockets. "There's one thing I'd like to mention here, and then I don't ever have to say it again, because it might be a little awkward for everybody."

Jack stifled a groan and eyed the door behind Carter, planning a quick escape if things got too uncomfortable.

"Go ahead," the General ordered.

"Okay. Well, you know I can't tell you everything about what's going to happen between Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill, but I can tell you this." She glanced up at the ceiling and furrowed her eyebrows, as if she were trying to recall a memorized line. "In my time, my parents were married and no longer working together. I know for a fact that there was nothing about my coming into the world that was against regulations." She seemed satisfied with these words, and she glanced down at Sam with concern.

"You okay, Mom…I mean, Sam?"

Carter seemed to be calming down somewhat, and she nodded up at Jade and pressed the girl's hand, both of them shifting their eyes over to Jack. The room suddenly seemed very small, and he began feeling a little overwhelmed, glancing back at the door and wondering how quickly he could dash out of it once they were dismissed.

"I appreciate your reassurances, Miss O'Neill," the General said, rubbing his temple with two fingers. "I'll convey them to my superiors."

Janet scooted forward in her chair behind the desk and shuffled a small stack of papers. "I have a few more tests to run, but I believe we can be reasonably sure that Jade is not a Goa'uld agent sent to destroy us."

The girl giggled a little, clearly the only person in the room who was pleased with the way things were going.

"Colonel," the General said sympathetically, taking Jack's attention away from his exit strategy. "I understand that this is…a bit of an odd situation, but I need to know if you and Major Carter can handle this, or if I need to take the two of you off duty for now."

Jack squeezed his eyes shut, wondering if maybe he could wish himself out of the room.

There's no place like home…

"Colonel?"

He peeked open one eye, but alas, the little copy of Carter still stared up at him, and now Dr. Frasier was looking at him like she was thinking of taking his temperature.

"Sorry, sir. No, there's no need for you to remove us from active duty. We can handle it, right Carter?"

She nodded and stood from her seat, taking a deep breath and trying to smile as Jade squeezed her arm and leaned against her shoulder. General Hammond bowed his head to rub his eyes, letting out a heavy sigh.

"I hope you're right, Jack."