"Saeena! Saeena! Where are you?" Cassie ran upstairs, shouting for the young woman who had become her friend. "Saeena?"

"I am here Cassie", Saeena appeared in the doorway of her bedroom, laughing at the young girl. "What is going on? You sound excited."

"I am. It's so great Saeena, you'll never guess!"

"Hmmm – let me see? Bobbie Jamison told you he likes you?"

"No", Cassie rolled her eyes.

"You got an 'A' in math?"

"No. Well – actually yes, but that's not what I was going to tell you."

"Okay then – you found the brownies your Mom made and that she hid behind the bowls."

"No – did she really bake brownies? Oh good. I love brownies."

"Yeah – but don't you dare tell her I told you where they were."

"I won't. Cross my heart, hope to die", she said, doing the appropriate gesture with her hands. "Now for real Saeena – guess what I just found out."

"Come in and sit on my bed and you can tell me before you burst."

"Okay", the young girl practically skipped into the room and bounced up on the bed.

"Alright – now what has you so excited?"

"Well, you know Mom had to work late tonight? Well Sam came and picked me up from my lesson. We stopped on the way home and she bought me a donut and a milk."

"And you want a brownie?"

Cassie grinned. "I'm a growing girl."

This time Saeena rolled her eyes. "So you had a donut – is that what you wanted to tell me."

"No silly. It's what Sam told me."

"And what did she tell you." Cassie didn't notice, but Saeena's face had grown serious and her voice more subdued.

"She and Uncle Jack are getting married! Isn't that fantastic? We've all known they've been in love for a long time, but couldn't do anything about it because it's against the Air Force rules. But Sam said that because of the baby they're letting them get married. And she told me I get to be a junior bridesmaid! I'm so excited. They're gonna get married and have a baby. Aren't you happy for them?" She beamed at the alien woman, sure her happiness would be mirrored by her friend.

"Why wouldn't I be happy for them", Saeena said, a false smile on her face. "They'll have a perfect life with their babies and all their friends and family."

"Ye-es" Cassie answered, looking hesitatingly at Saeena. There had been something in the woman's voice that disturbed her, but she didn't know what. "Are you really happy for them?" she finally asked.

Saeena sighed and then dabbed her eyes. "I would be – if it wasn't for what they were doing to me."

"Doing to you?" Cassie looked puzzled. "But – they're your friends. I know Sam has come over to visit you and even Uncle Jack came with her on a few times. You even went out for dinner with them."

"I'm sorry Cas – I shouldn't have said anything. I know they're more important to you than I am. I understand that and wouldn't want to come between you." She allowed a tear to fall on her cheek and carefully wiped it away.

"What do you mean? You are my friend. I – they're not more important. I mean, I've known them longer, but you're like a sister to me. Can't you tell me what's wrong?"

"Cassie – you remember when I told you about my baby, and you said you'd help?"

"Yeah – you said the Air Force wanted to take your baby. I promised I'd help you Saeena, and I meant it. No one should be able to take your baby from you."

"Thank you Cassie", Saeena leaned forward and gave the innocent young girl a hug. "You're my only friend here on Earth. I'm so glad I can count on you. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"But you have Sam and Jack and my Mom. They'll help."

"Oh Cassie – don't you understand?"

"Understand what?" Cassie frowned. "What are you saying?"

"It's them – it's Jack and Sam – and even your Mother, although she doesn't know the truth so it's not her fault."

"Uncle Jack and Sam? What are you saying? What is them?"

Saeena sighed and again wiped her eyes. "They're the ones planning to take my baby."

"What? No way", Cassie laughed. "Not them. Believe me, I know them really well and they'd never do anything like that. It must be someone else."

"No", Saeena shook her head. "I'm sorry Cas – but it's true. You see – this baby", she rubbed her visibly pregnant belly, "is Jack O'Neill's?"

"What? No way", Cassie pushed herself back on the bed and shook her head. "There's no way it's his. He and Sam – she's having his baby. They love each other and they're getting married. I'm sorry, but you must be mistaken."

"I'm not honey. Please, just listen to me. Did your Mom tell you about Sam's pregnancy?"

"Just that it happened because of some alien and that it wasn't Sam or Uncle Jack's fault, even though it is their baby."

"That's right. Well, the same thing happened to me."

"What do you mean?" Cassie was looking frightened, not quite sure how to handle what Saeena was telling her.

"We were captured by the same alien", she explained. "He wanted to produce babies to use as hosts for the Goa'uld. I guess he decided that Colonel O'Neill's children would make good hosts so he – well, used him as the father."

"And that's why Sam is pregnant?"

"Yes – and also why I'm pregnant."

Cassie frowned, trying to understand. Suddenly her expression changed and she looked horribly upset. "What – do you mean that, that Uncle Jack – he's the father of your baby?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so." Saeena nodded and looked sad.

"But – does he know?"

"Of course. That's why he wants to take the baby from me. He says it's his and as an alien I don't have a right to keep it. It doesn't matter that it's my baby too – here on Earth it's what he says that matters."

"But – but he wouldn't do that", Cassie cried. "Not Uncle Jack. You must have made a mistake."

"I'm afraid not. You can even ask your Mother if they plan to take my baby."

"But – what about Sam? She'd going to have her own baby."

"Yes – but it turns out that she can't have children after this. It was lucky she even managed to carry this one. I guess she feels that the only way she's going to have more than one child is to take mine. Since it will also be her husband's child I guess she figures that's okay."

"No", Cassie stood up and faced the older girl. "I don't believe it. Sam and Jack wouldn't do something like this."

"Cassie – I'm sorry – I didn't want to tell you but – hearing that they were getting married made me realize this is going to happen. As soon as the baby is born they'll take it away from me and give it to Sam. No one will ever know that it's not hers. She's planning on pretending that she had twins."

"NO!" Cassie was confused and unsure of what to do. She trusted Sam and Uncle Jack – more than anyone in the world other than her Mom. But Saeena was her friend and – and they were planning on taking her baby. If what she said wasn't true, why would they take it from her? She wished her Mom was home.

"Look Cassie", Saeena said, as if reading her mind. "Why don't you ask your Mom when she comes home if Jack and Sam plan to take my baby? You'll see that I'm telling the truth. Although be careful. I've heard the story they're telling is that it really isn't my baby at all – that it's Sam's. But you and I know the truth, don't we?"

Cassie stared for a moment and then finally nodded. "What – what can you do?"

Saeena took a deep breath. "The only thing I can do is leave", she said. "I need to go away where they won't find me. Will you help me Cas? I need someone to help me and you are the only one I can trust."

"But I can't – Uncle Jack is my friend and so is Sam. What would they say?"

"They don't need to know", Saeena told her. "I know they're your friends but – what about me and what about my baby."

"It's Jack's baby too", Cassie objected.

"Yes, but he's already having a child with Samantha. And maybe later – after they know how much I want my baby, I'll get in touch and he can see it. He can still be the father, but I deserve to be its mother. Don't you believe that Cassie?" Saeena had her hand on her belly and her eyes were full of tears. She looked at the younger girl beseechingly. "Please Cassie", she whispered. "I need you."

Cassie was torn up inside, not sure what to do. But as she looked at her friend she knew it wasn't fair that they were taking her baby. "Will you – will you tell Jack once you're sure they won't take the baby?"

"Of course. I don't want my child not to know its father."

Cassie thought for a few minutes. "Okay, I'll help you. What do you want me to do?"

"Oh thank you", Saeena burst into tears and threw her arms around the frightened young girl. After a few minutes crying she finally calmed down. With a 'sniff' she grabbed a Kleenex and wiped her face. "You're such a good friend. Let's sit down again and figure this out." She waited until Cassie had again taken a seat on the bed and then crawled up beside her. "The first thing I'm going to need is money."

"So, is it true?" Janet swept into her office, her white jacket flapping around her like some kind of insane angel. "Tell me it's true!"

"Uh – you mean that Dr. Lee and I figured out the ratio -"

"Sam! Stop it. You know what I mean – now give!"

Sam grinned and set down the object she was studying. "You mean – did Jack propose to me in the gate room? Yes, he did."

"Oh my God! And you said yes, right?"

"No, I told him that I was holding out for a General and that -"

"Samantha Carter! Will you stop that and tell me what happened. I'm your friend, your buddy – and I'm dying to know all the details."

"Okay fine", Sam laughed and proceeded to tell Janet – almost – everything. There were some things that she wanted to keep between herself and jack.

"Ooooh – that's so romantic. In front of the gate", Janet sighed. "And the General actually saw you kissing? That must have been -"

"Embarrassing", Sam rolled her eyes. "But he was fine with it – just offered us his congratulations. I think Walter was thrilled and probably told the entire base."

"Yeah – I heard about it from Jenny Fernald, my new nurse. She'd heard it from Barry Weintraub – an Airman, who heard it from Johnny Samuels in the Commissary, who heard it from -"

"I get it!" laughed Sam. "Well, at least it will save us from having to send out an announcement."

"Does your brother know?"

"Uh – yeah. When I was in San Diego I went over for dinner. He was a bit – shocked – but took it rather well. I think he'll be happy to hear I'm getting married though."

"And your Dad?"

"That's one I'm not looking forward to", Sam admitted. "I don't know how he's going to react."

"Does he have any idea?"

"That Jack is the father? No, I don't think so, although he may have figured it out by now. I just hope he doesn't go ballistic."

"Poor Jack!"

"Oh yeah! I think he's been avoiding thinking about it."

"Well he'd better because I expect your Dad will be around sooner rather than later."

"I know", she sighed. "Oh well, at least there's nothing he can do other than rant and rave."

"And kill the Colonel."

"Yeah, there's that."

"Uh Sam?"

"What about Saeena?"

"What about her?"

"Are you going to tell her?"

"About Jack and me? I guess we'll have to. How do you think she'll take it?"

"It's hard to tell with Saeena", Janet sighed. "One moment she seems like the sweetest thing on Earth and can't do enough to help me. The next moment I get the feeling that she's not telling the truth and that there's something going on. But if there is, I would have no idea what. I mean, she has no money, doesn't know anyone here and – what would she do."

"Does Cassie still spend a lot of time with her?"

"Yes", Janet sighed. "I wish she didn't but how can I tell her not to. I mean, Saeena is living in our house so it would be weird. I just wish -"

"What?"

"Well, I kind of wish she was staying somewhere else. I feel mean about it, but I worry because of Cassie."

"I'm sure there's nothing to worry about, but if you want I can speak with Jack or with General Hammond to see about her moving out. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to have her come and stay with us."

"With you and Jack?" Janet asked, the surprise obvious. "I don't think so Sam. I'm afraid she resents the two of you, even if she pretends to be find with you and with the situation. Frankly I'd be worried. Look, I think it's best if she just stays with me. It won't be that much longer and – I do feel badly for her. I'd hate for her to think I didn't like her. She has no one at all here."

"I know – and believe me, I understand. I just wish she was willing to be open to people and to make friends. She'd be a lot happier."

"Any idea what's going to happen to her after the baby is born?"

"The General is planning to send her off-world, although he'll give her some choices. We've spoken with a number of our allies and a few of them have offered to take her in."

"And the baby?"

"It's our baby Janet – it stays with us."

"Of course." Janet smiled and leaned forward and patted her friend's leg. "Don't worry – everything will work out just fine. You don't need to worry about Saeena – you have enough on your plate – or should I say 'on your abdomen' to worry about anything else.

"I guess so", Sam answered, playing with the mystery object again. "Well, I had better bite the bullet and get this over with. Should I ask Jack to come?"

"It's up to you Sam", Janet answered. "Either way, prepare for Saeena to be unhappy."

"Will do", she sighed. "I'll talk to Jack and let you know when one or both of us is going to come over."

"Thanks Sam." Janet stood up and turned to leave. "And again – congratulations! I can hardly wait."

"Me either", muttered Sam after the door had closed. "In fact – why don't I call Jack and have him come over right now. He can help me with my experiment!"

And with that delusion in her mind, Sam bent her head and soon was back to work.