Thank you to everyone who has taken time to read my story. The number of hits on Runaway Star just blows me away! I hope you are enjoying it.
I'm very grateful to all of you who take time to comment. I know it's not always easy, and I really appreciate it.
121
After Sam is settled into her room, Janet leaves to take Cassie to school.
"But I'm late already," the teen protests. "Why can't I stay?"
"Because the baby won't be here for hours, probably not until tonight sometime," Janet says. "You'll just be bored sitting here. I have to go to the SGC for a few hours. I'll pick you up after school and we'll come back."
Harder pains begin for Sam around mid-afternoon. The twenty minute interval shrinks to fifteen, then ten.
Dr. Pat nods after her last check. "Okay. We've got some progress. You're nearly five centimeters. The pains are going to get harder now, Sam. The baby's starting to descend, and that's going to add to your discomfort."
"No kidding!" Sam replies, as another contraction begins.
Jack slides onto the bed to support her, reaching around and letting her squeeze his hands. "Do you need to be higher?"
"No..." She growls deep in her throat, as the pain intensifies.
"Breathe!" he orders. "Breathe with me, Carter!"
Afterward, the doctor checks again. "A bit more dilation. Six now. Very good, Sam. Try and rest in between."
Sam nods and turns on her side, closing her eyes. Dr. Pat's and Jack's voices are a low murmur in the distance. A minute later, Jack sits carefully on the bed beside her, and gently massages her stomach. She doesn't open her eyes. After a few minutes he lies down with his face near her belly.
"Don't be afraid, Beanie..." Jack's voice is low and far away. "I know it's scary. It probably hurts a bit. But it's gonna be over in just a little while. You'll be with us... Mommy and Daddy are waiting for you. Mommy's working hard to get you here safely. I love you, Beanie. Don't be scared... don't be scared..." His voice fades as she smiles slightly and drifts into a doze.
122
Daniel hangs up the phone. "General Hammond says they've heard from the Tok'ra," he says to Sam. "Jacob is on his way, but it'll be five or six hours before he can reach a safe planet to gate in from."
Sam manages a smile. She is exhausted. The last contraction ended just a couple of minutes ago. It is early evening, and they are coming steadily, about six minutes apart, and lasting longer. Jack is sitting on the bed with her, rubbing her lower back.
"I hope this doesn't last six more hours," Sam says almost in a whimper.
"Me, too," Jack says to himself, as he tries to convey as much comfort to her as possible with his touch.
Daniel comes over and sits in the chair beside the bed. "Is there anything I can do? Can I take over for Jack for a while?" He is actually worried about the older man. All his earlier amusement regarding Jack's sympathy symptoms has evaporated as he is watching his friend grow paler and more strained, and just as exhausted as Sam. "Jack, are you okay?"
Sam looks up at her husband. "Take a break, Love. Go get a cup of coffee. Or something to eat. Daniel will take care of me."
"I'm okay..."
"Go!" Sam orders.
He rises obediently. "I'll be back in ten minutes."
"Make it half an hour," she says. "Daniel will be here with me."
Jack finds Teal'c out in the common room and sinks into the chair beside him. "How are you, O'Neill?" the Jaffa asks.
"Oh, just peachy."
"A peach is a fruit," Teal'c observes. "I assume that means you are well. However, you do not look well."
"I can't even imagine how this must be for Sam," Jack admits with a sigh. "If 'sympathy pains' are this bad, how do the real ones feel..." He leans back in his chair, closing his eyes. "If I fall asleep, wake me in thirty minutes."
"I shall do that, O'Neill."
He falls asleep immediately.
123
Free of pain for the first time in hours, he looks around the meadow, searching. Above him, the blue star casts sharp shadows across everything.
"Sam! Where are you?" he calls.
The meadow grass waves in the breeze. There is no answer. He scans the dark edges of the forest for movement or a flash of light. There is nothing. The meadow hasn't changed. At the foot of the hill, the star's reflection glitters in the water. He sits down and then stretches out on his back, contemplating the star and its bright wave.
"Still looks like a dolphin to me," he mutters. He closes his eyes and dozes...
"Jack."
He is awake at once. She is standing over him, smiling. He jumps to his feet and takes her hand, lifting it to his lips and kissing the knuckles. "I'm sorry this is so hard," he says softly.
"At least we're both getting some rest right now," she says, smiling. "Come and sit down."
They sink down in the soft grass. He sits behind her, with his long legs stretched out on either side, and his arms around her, and she lays her head back against his chest. They are both quiet for a while, taking in the beauty of the sky above them and the peace of the meadow and nearby forest.
"I love you," he whispers in her ear, nipping her earlobe and kissing her neck.
"I love you, too." She giggles. "That tickles. It feels good."
"You feel good." He lifts his head and rubs his cheek against her hair. "I was thinking we could get a swing set for Beanie. I like those wooden structures, with swings and slide—and other parts you can add to them as the kid gets bigger."
"Kinda rushing things, aren't you? Beanie's not going to need a swing for at least..."
"...a month," he finishes. "We can put one of those special seats on it. Sort of like a car seat." He stops because she is laughing. "What?"
"And maybe a Daddy-sized seat on there, too?" she teases. "For the big kid."
"Something wrong with that?"
"Not a thing. But I think a month is a little optimistic, don't you?"
"Well—maybe two or three months," he concedes. "As soon as he can hold his head up. Before summer's over for sure."
"All right. I'll go for that. But don't those things come in pieces? Who's going to put it together?"
"You're the genius," he points out. "I'll hold the baby while you put the swing together. Teal'c will come and help you."
"Ah. I see you've given this a lot of thought." She relaxes against him again.
"She'll need a clubhouse, too," he says. "Maybe a treehouse."
"Mark and I had a treehouse once. It was great—when I could have it to myself! I like that idea."
"Did your dad build it? Somehow I don't picture Jacob with a hammer in his hand."
"Oh, no. My mother built it. She was the hands-on person in the family. Dad would never have been home long enough to finish it. He was never home long enough to finish anything—that's why Mom learned to do all kinds of stuff for herself. She was actually very good with a hammer. And she could fix all sorts of things—broken bikes, small appliances."
"That must be where you get your mechanical ability," he says. "Deborah was your mom's name, right?"
"Deborah Claire. We talked about Deborah for a girl."
"Claire. You didn't mention her middle name. I like Claire a lot. Would you consider that?"
"Compromise?" she suggests. "Anna Claire?"
"How about Claire for the first name?"
"What would be the middle name?"
"I don't know. Have to think about that." Just then he feels her stiffen in his arms. "What is it?"
"...It's starting again... Stay here and rest, Jack..." Her body slips from his embrace as she fades from view.
"Sam..."
124
"Sam..." Jack startles awake. Teal'c turns toward him. "O'Neill?"
"How long?" Jack asks.
"Nineteen minutes," Teal'c replies.
He frowns. It seemed a lot longer in the dream. "I have to go back..."
Jack struggles to his feet, and stumbles with a groan, his arms going to his stomach. Teal'c's hands catch him before he can fall. He eases his friend back into the chair. O'Neill's face is white. "I have to go back to her," he says.
Teal'c nods and helps him to stand. Together they walk back toward Sam's room. After a few steps, Jack regains his balance and continues on his own. "Thanks, T," he says softly.
Teal'c gives a brief nod.
125
"Where's my daughter?" The demand echoes in the reception area.
Teal'c rises from his chair and approaches the desk. "JacobCarter."
"Teal'c! Where's Sam? Is she all right?"
"Sir..." the receptionist begins.
"I want to see my daughter!"
"This is General Jacob Carter," Teal'c tells the receptionist in a gentler tone. "He is Samantha Carter-O'Neill's father."
"Yes, sir," the receptionist responds. She reaches for her phone and punches in a number. After a moment, she speaks. "There's a General Jacob Carter here... Yes. Right away." She hangs up, glances at Teal'c.
"I will show General Carter the way," he says.
"Thank you," she breathes, relieved.
"Dad!" Sam exclaims, holding out her arms as he enters the room. Jacob crosses the room quickly, and enfolds her in his arms. "We didn't expect you here this soon," Sam says. "They said you were hours away from a safe gate."
"I took a chance on one of the former Tok'ra planets. Luckily it was still abandoned. How are you?" He steps back to look at her, and sees that she is breathing hard, her face flushed and damp with sweat and her hair plastered to her head.
"Oh... just peachy, as Jack says. The pains are about three minutes apart. Dr. Pat says I'm nearing transition."
"That's the tough part, if I remember correctly," Jacob says. "Where the hell is your husband?" he adds, looking around—Janet is there, and so is Daniel, but no sign of Jack.
"He's out talking to Dr. Pat. He'll be back in a minute. I'm glad you're here, Dad." She hugs him again, and as she does the next contraction begins. "Oh... oh... Daniel!"
Immediately Daniel is there supporting her and speaking quietly to help her control her breathing. She tries really hard not to scream because her dad is there, but the pain is just too much... and she cries out, calling Jack's name.
"Where the hell is he?" Jacob demands, turning, and finding himself nose to nose with Teal'c's unmoving presence.
The Jaffa takes Jacob's arm and leads him toward the door, and out into the corridor. "Where's Jack when she needs him?" he demands.
Teal'c shuts the door behind them. "You must understand, JacobCarter, that O'Neill is suffering also."
"What the hell does that mean?" he demands.
"O'Neill is experiencing the same symptoms that Samantha has had. Throughout the pregnancy he has had morning sickness and cramps for example. Now, he is having labor pains."
"What!? That's crazy!"
"Speak to Dr. Ferenc. She will explain it to you." Teal'c gestures to the attractive blonde woman in her fifties walking rapidly toward them.
"Teal'c," she says pausing. "Jack is in room 436. Go and make sure he stays there until the shot I gave him takes effect. Tell him not to worry. There's still time."
"Doctor." The Jaffa bows slightly. "This is JacobCarter, Samantha's father. Dr. PatriceFerenc."
She extends her hand. "General Carter."
"Doctor." He shakes her hand briefly. "How is my daughter doing? And what's this nonsense about Jack?"
"Sam is doing very well. Everything has gone without a hitch—at least from a medical point of view." She smiles. "First-time moms tend not to see it that way. But things are progressing normally. I estimate she is approximately an hour from delivering your grandchild."
"Well, shouldn't you be in there with her?" Jacob demands. "And why the hell isn't Jack in there?" Jacob, Selmak's voice interrupts. Calm down.
"Dr. Fraiser is there, and so is Daniel. My presence will not change anything at this point."
"And Jack? Teal'c says he's having labor pain!"
She nods. "It's called Couvade Syndrome. And it's actually fairly common. A substantial percentage of expectant fathers experience some of the same symptoms as their partner at some time during pregnancy." Jacob's eyebrows go up and Dr. Pat smiles. "Yes, most people are surprised when they hear that. I've known quite a few cases, but I've never seen one as severe as Jack's before."
"So this is a real...thing?"
"Oh, yes. It's quite real."
"Did I hear you say you gave him a shot? For the pain?"
"I gave him a low-dose injection of diazepam; it's a muscle relaxer and anti-anxiety medication. We've tried it before, and it's worked well to make the discomfort manageable. He should be functional in ten or fifteen minutes." She gestures toward the door. "Shall we go in and see how Sam is doing?" She pushes the door open.
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If I got the details of 'sympathetic pregnancy' wrong, I apologize. Also, I wouldn't have a clue if there's really any treatment for it. What I suggest in the story made sense to me, but I could be way off.
Again, I do not claim any medical training or knowledge beyond what I can find on the internet.