Daughter of My Heart, Chapter Thirty-Eight

[Set during Threads]

General Hammond saw her to the car. "Safe driving, you two. Call when you get in," he added, giving Cassie one more swift hug.

The Lieutenant Colonel pulled away from the Pentagon silently, navigating the streets of Washington with a single-minded concentration she had only ever seen her parents use on their work.

"Are you going to drive in silence the entire way?," she asked tentatively after about twenty minutes of nothing but the sounds of traffic all around. He frowned, glancing quickly her way before turning back to the road.

"I wasn't really planning on company," he replied with a shrug.

"It's just, it's a really long drive to not speak at all," she reasoned, eyes shifting uncomfortably toward the passenger window.

"What would you like to talk about?," he asked with a sigh.

"I don't know. Why are you transferring to the SGC?," she asked.

"You're kidding, right? You know about the SGC, and you can't guess why I might want to join?"

"I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with the Stargate," she confessed.

"How much do you know?," he asked curiously.

"Everything."

"Everything?"

"I came through the Stargate when I was twelve."

He blinked, frowning at the road. "Hanka," he said at last.

"That's right," she nodded.

"Wait a minute. That means you're Sam Carter's kid."

"And Daniel Jackson's."

"I didn't realize they were together."

"They have commitment issues."

He smiled at her assessment. "All right then. So your parents were both on the front lines for most of your childhood, and you resent that?"

"I actually understood what they were fighting for, right up until the day my dad died. The Goa'uld had already taken my entire planet from me, and then I lost another parent. Mom requested a leave from active duty so I wouldn't have to lose any more, but it was kind of too late."

"He came back though, right?"

"Yeah," she smiled. "He found his way back. But I'm still afraid every time he steps through," she confessed.

"I think I can understand that."

"So why do you want to join?"

"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, getting to travel to other planets. Not to mention that they seem to do a lot of good, out there."

"Do you have kids?," she asked.

"No. No wife either," he replied quickly.

"I guess it's different for you, then."

"Maybe. Or maybe you've just started to look at it the wrong way?"

She turned sharply to him, waiting. He sighed.

"All I'm saying is that from what I've read, your parents have done some pretty amazing things out there. And, sure, they've gotten hurt, and sometimes they don't make it home, but that doesn't change what they've accomplished."

"So what you're saying is that with the Goa'uld scattered and on the run, I should just be grateful that no one else will need to go through what I went through on Hanka?," she asked.

"That, and think of how much more open and connected the galaxy is now. I mean, we have a number of solid off-world allies, don't we? Entire planets that are safe for us to visit, to learn about, to build relationships with. You've got to find that at least a little interesting."

"I guess," she replied doubtfully.

"You guess," he scoffed. "I flew fighter jets for the thrill," he said. "But this, this I'm doing for what I could learn."

Cassie shot him a lopsided grin. "Isn't it customary on Earth to get your education first, then have fun?"

"Nah. That's just what parents tell their kids to keep them in school," he replied with a shrug. "I followed my old man into the Air Force as soon as I turned eighteen. I didn't even have a diploma in hand yet when I joined up. And I don't regret it for a moment. There is nothing quite like flying in all this world."

"And now that you've seen what this world has to offer, you're ready to learn about all the others?"

"Something like that," he grinned.

"On Hanka, all we had were farms," she said. "There were three villages that I knew of. Everyone worked in the fields. None of the kids went to school, because there was nothing school could teach us that we wouldn't learn better working alongside our parents. I had two older sisters and one younger brother. My sisters were already married, starting families of their own by the time Nirti's attack came. Nobody saw it coming. It was so far outside of everything we knew..."

"That wasn't in any of the reports," he said softly, quickly glancing her way.

"No, it wasn't."

A long silence fell over the car, until at last Mitchell asked, barely above a whisper, "Why tell me?"

"Because if you want to learn about other worlds, you need to learn about the people," she answered simply. "The galaxy isn't just one big adventure. It's a whole bunch of small lives playing out, sometimes understanding the stakes, most times not."

"You're very wise for someone so young," he observed after a moment. She smiled wryly back at him.

"I've already lived two lifetimes, Colonel. You don't get much more experienced than that."

Sam couldn't stop throwing up. Every time she thought of Daniel, of having to tell Cassie, she was violently ill again.

They weren't letting her out of the infirmary until it settled down.

Janet came to visit her, frowning as she took in the sickly grey pallor of her friend. "When was the last time you slept?," she asked, to which Sam could only shrug. Janet reamed her former staff out, insisting they find a way to help Sam get some rest. Finally, General O'Neill overrode their objections, gently kicking his wife out of the infirmary shortly after her triumph.

Sam had no idea how long she'd been out, but when she came to, Cassie was there, sitting by her bedside. She burst into tears at the sight of her daughter, heaving violently until there was simply nothing left to expel, and had to be sedated again.

Janet came back some time later, rather busily collecting samples. Sam tried asking what she was planning on doing, given her lack of clearance on base anymore, but threw up instead. Janet patted her arm reassuringly and left.

Her dad came back to visit, and she couldn't help but notice that he looked nearly as drawn as she felt. She wanted to ask what was wrong, but her over-taxed body had ideas of its own, and she passed out instead.

General O'Neill came down to visit a day or two later, closely followed by Janet, Cassie, and her dad, ordering the room clear. She sat up as best she could, trying to ignore the dizziness and nausea threatening to overwhelm her once more. Janet sat on the edge of her bed.

"I have your test results back," she said softly.

"You found something the base doctors missed?," she asked blearily.

Janet nodded, then smirked. "I have a bit of an unfair advantage, knowing your history as well as I do," she added smugly.

"What's wrong with me?," Sam asked weakly. It had to be some sort of alien virus she'd picked up on Dakara, maybe part of a booby-trap meant to protect the Ancient weapon. She'd felt fine before that.

"Sam, the tests are all conclusive. You're pregnant."

There was really no end to the vomiting after that.

Daniel sat in a diner he remembered from his youth, none of the occupants save Oma willing to speak to him.

He had a decision to make. Again.

Only this time, the stakes were higher. Anubis was after the Ancient weapon. If he captured Dakara, it would be the end of life in the galaxy as they knew it.

If he ascended, he'd have the knowledge and power to stop the Goa'uld, but not before the others stopped Daniel first.

If he chose to retake human form, he'd have the power to act unimpeded, but would no longer have the knowledge he'd need to succeed.

Or he could simply chose death.

As far as he could tell, it was a no-win situation.

"Have you decided?," Oma asked, not unkindly.

"I was going to ask Sam to marry me," he confessed. "Just after our daughter's high school graduation."

Oma stared at him blankly.

"None of this was really in my game plan," he spelled out.

Oma shrugged. "Would you have preferred the alternative?," she asked.

"No," Daniel sighed, knowing full well that by 'alternative' she meant 'death'.

"Your desire to make a difference is strong," she observed.

"It's what got me kicked out of the Ascended club last time," he replied.

"What's holding you back?"

"If I don't try to fight Anubis, nobody will," he answered simply. "The Goa'uld forces are too badly weakened, and the rebel Jaffa are not yet strong enough. All of Earth's forces couldn't even make a dent in this fight, and you, the Ancients, will adhere to your non-interference policy until the bitter end."

"So you think you can single-handedly defeat Anubis?," she asked softly.

"No," he snorted. "Not without the backing of the Others."

"You need to choose," she reminded him.

"I know," he sighed.

"For what it's worth, I think Samantha is a fine match for you."

Daniel smiled humourlessly. "Thanks."

Jim came in, smirking at them.

"Daniel?," Oma said, watching Anubis' ascended half mock them.

"Yes?"

"When you're ready, tell the Others what you choose." And with that, she flung herself at the half-ascended Goa'uld, locking him in a mortal combat that could never be won.

"I'm ready to go home!," he called out, not sure anyone would actually listen.

Thanks to Janet's diagnosis and careful ministrations, Sam was feeling much less ill than she had ever since returning from Dakara. Unfortunately, her dad wasn't doing so great.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?," she pleaded, holding his hand tight. He shot her a reminding look.

"You haven't exactly been yourself lately, kid," he replied evenly. "Besides, there's nothing anyone can do for me anymore."

"I can't believe you would push yourself into this..."

"For you, for the safety of this galaxy...Sam, it was worth the risk."

"What am I going to do without you?," she asked, voice wavering dangerously close to tears.

"You're going to raise my grandchildren right, not repeating all the same mistakes I made when you and Mark were kids."

"Dad..."

"Hear me out," he said, waving a hand to silence her. "No parent is perfect, Sam, but what I regret most is how much of your childhood I missed out on. Even after your mother died...Especially after your mother died," he corrected with a sigh. "I wasn't there enough. Cassie is an amazing girl, but she still needs you, Sam, probably more than you realize. And that baby," he said, pointing to her still-flat belly, "With or without Daniel, that baby will need you too."

"You think I should leave the Stargate program?," she asked.

"I think it's time you consider working from a civilian standpoint," he replied gently. "You have to understand, I would never ask you to give up the Stargate. But Sam, as long as you stay with the Air Force, they have the power to send you into harm's way. And your family needs you too much for that. Talk to Jack, or George, even. I'm sure they can arrange to keep you on as a civilian, take the risk out of your job."

"Dad..."

"Sam, I know it's not an easy decision. But even if Daniel comes back, and I hope to God that he does, you know as well as I do what kind of life that baby will lead if you both stay here in your current roles. Do you really want Cassie forced to raise her own brother or sister, as the closest next of kin? It's her turn for adventure, Sam."

"I know," she sighed.

Jacob gripped her hand tighter. "All I want is for you to be happy. All of you," he said sincerely. "I often wish I had more regrets with my career, and fewer with my family," he added.

"I think you were a great dad," Sam replied tearfully.

"I think you're very forgiving," he replied with a sad smile. "There's something else I want you to remember for me," he said after a moment.

"What's that?," she sniffled.

"If Daniel comes back...tell him he has my blessing. Always has."

"Dad..."

"I'm serious, Sam. He needs to know."

"Okay," she agreed tearfully.

"And Sam?"

"Yes?"

"I need to talk to Cassie for a bit. Alone."

Cassandra had never spent any time alone with Grandpa Jacob before now. Between his infrequent visits and wanting to catch up with everyone at once, and her continued discomfort around others with strong traces of Naquadah in their blood, they'd never really taken an opportunity to talk outside a group.

So it came as something of a shock when he requested to see her alone. Entering the infirmary, she could feel the familiar prickle and crawl goose-bumping her flesh. Only now, it wasn't as strong.

"Selmak won't last much longer," she whispered apologetically, and he smiled sadly to see her there.

"Neither will I," he said softly, motioning her closer. "You know, I've had the opportunity to see your dad a lot more the last couple of years than I have you," he said. "He told me about your work with his research."

"Did you want to read it?," she asked hesitantly, not really sure where this conversation was going.

"I already have," he confessed, smiling. "Daniel gave me a copy a while back."

"Oh."

"You know, I'm not big on history, but Selmak, Selmak said your work was inspired."

"Thank you."

"Daniel was very proud of you, too," he added, meeting her eyes. Cassandra nodded numbly, not quite ready to talk about her dad again.

"Cassandra, I know you have a natural dislike of all things Goa'uld, but I have a request to make," Jacob continued, taking advantage of her silence.

"Okay," she said, trying to stifle her sense of foreboding.

"Selmak is one of the oldest and wisest of all the Tok'ra," he said, "though we all share a similar genetic memory." Cassandra nodded, already knowing this. "I had Janet and Sam help me make this," he said, holding out a Tok'ra memory device. "It has everything I could remember from Selmak on it."

"I don't understand."

"The Tok'ra, as a race, are dying. No new symbiotes are being born, and the old ones, like Selmak, are at the end of their time. We have a long history, Cassandra, but because of the nature of our work, our infiltration and subversion among the Goa'uld, no one has ever documented any of it." Cassie's eyes widened in surprise. "I want you to have this," he said, pressing the device into her hand. "With the Naquadah in your own blood, you'll be able to activate it. It won't be a complete history, but it will be a beginning, a legacy of sorts. I think we deserve at least that much."

Cassie stared at the device, considering.

"Who knows?," Jacob chuckled weakly, "Maybe the other Tok'ra will even be persuaded to do the same, to allow a more complete record to be left behind." A coughing fit seized him, bringing Cassie closer to his side. She held his hand, waiting for it to be over.

"You don't need to decide right now," he continued, his voice chocked. "But if you're interested, I could put a good word in with the Tok'ra High Council for you. I might, anyway, in case you want the job later on."

"Why not ask one of the other Tok'ra to begin with?," she asked softly, fingering the device.

"The Goa'uld are in disarray, but are not defeated," Jacob replied. "Our operatives are still needed in the field. In the meantime, I've always liked the Ancient's idea of a repository of knowledge. We have so much we could offer the galaxy, even after we're gone. Countless lifetimes of knowledge and wisdom."

Cassie nodded, holding the device tight. "Dad would agree with you," she answered carefully.

"Yes, he would," Jacob said, smiling. "The history of a people is precious." Cassie nodded again, thinking somewhat ashamedly of her own incomplete history, everything she'd forgotten before she'd managed to write it all down. Jacob squeezed the hand still in his own. "You know, kiddo, whatever your feelings toward Selmak, we've always both loved you," he said, surprising her. "And we're both very proud of the young woman you've become."

"I never...I never disliked Selmak," she said, meaning it. "It's just the prickling..."

Jacob chuckled. "I wish you could feel it from this side," he said, smiling in spite of himself. "The Naquadah in your own blood could almost rival the Stargate itself." Cassie flushed.

"Still, I'm sorry if you, if either one of you, thought I didn't like you."

Jacob squeezed her hand again. "You're a good kid," he said. "And I know things are going to be a little crazy for a while, what with going off to college, and having your mom and the baby to look after. All I ask is that if you do decide to turn down this opportunity," he said, indicating the device warming against her hand, "That you send Selmak's legacy back through the Stargate for the other Tok'ra."

In spite of the remaining prickling sensation coming from Selmak, Cassie leaned in to hug her grandpa, even giving him a peck on his cheek. "I don't know when," she said truthfully, still awed by the very thought, "but someday, I will write your history," she promised.

"Thank you," he replied, smiling, and she knew she'd made the right choice.

He was gone two hours later, but judging by the curious glances thrown her way by the visiting Tok'ra, he'd lived up to his promise to make his wishes known to them as well.

Jack O'Neill was having a very bad day. Or was it week? He'd lost track of time, somewhere along the way.

Jacob Carter was dead, the last of his Tok'ra buddies heading back through the gate to whatever modicum of a retreat they'd been able to find after the last Goa'uld attack.

Teal'c and Bra'tac had returned to base with news that their informants had been mislead, and the planned attack on Anubis had failed in it's infancy. Anubis now had control of Dakara, Sam and Ba'al's Stargate program, and the Ancient weapon.

As the last of their Tok'ra allies stepped through the gate, the auto destruct was activated. With any luck, if they destroyed the base, the gate wouldn't be able to connect and Earth would be safe.

But he'd spent enough time listening to Sam Carter to know it would never be enough.

His last hope was Daniel. If Daniel had survived, ascended, whatever, Jack was willing to bet he'd find a way to help. The man had a knack for being in the right place at the right time to avert certain cataclysm.

As the timer counted down, Jack sent up a silent prayer. Any minute now, Danny. You can do this.

He held his breath, certain that everyone else in the control room, hell, everyone else on base, was doing the same thing.

Three seconds.

Two.

They weren't going to make it. This was really it.

And then, the countdown stopped.

"What the hell just happened?," Jack demanded, looking around.

"I have no idea, Sir," Walter replied, typing something into the computer. "The countdown just...froze. It should be working."

"Well, shut it down," Jack ordered, still wildly searching the room.

He had to be here somewhere. He had to have heard.

"Sir. What about Anubis?," someone asked.

"Good riddance, I hope," Jack murmured, taking the steps three at a time back to the briefing room, and his office.

Sam had managed to leave the base for all of three hours to mourn her father and Daniel before she was called back to work.

Cassie and Janet followed her in, regardless of their rather questionable right to be there. Sam was glad for the company, if not for the strange looks being directed their way.

Rounding the corner into the briefing room, Sam was faced with General O'Neill, Teal'c, Brat'ac, Lieutenant Hailey, and Colonel Osmond all waiting on her. Colonel Osmond, General O'Neill's replacement on SG-1, beamed.

"What's going on?," Sam asked wearily.

"It looks like he's done it again, Ma'am," Osmond said excitedly. Beside him, Hailey grinned.

"Who's done what again?," she asked, confused.

"Old Danny boy," General O'Neill clarified proudly.

"Is he here?," Sam asked hopefully, glancing around.

"No, but our self-destruct stopped itself a second before blowing, and all reports from Dakara state that Anubis' army is in disarray. The Jaffa are making quick work of the Kull warriors even now, as we speak."

"But what does that have to do with Daniel?," Sam asked, puzzled.

"Less than you might think," a voice called from inside the General's office. Sam zeroed in on it's origin, taking a step closer.

"Daniel?"

"Sam?," he asked.

Sam couldn't breathe. Janet and Cassie were at her side in an instant, keeping her upright on trembling legs as she stared breathlessly at the General's door.

The General, in the meantime, was impatiently crossing the briefing room, calling "Daniel! If that's you, get your butt out he...whoa!," he finished, grabbing the SGC flag from it's pole and handing it through the door.

"Thank you," Daniel said, grabbing the proffered fabric. He emerged a moment later, the flag wrapped tightly about his waist.

"Party?," he asked, looking at Jack.

"I don't know how you did it, but you did it!," the General said proudly, playfully grabbing the back of his head.

"It wasn't me," Daniel repeated. "Oma was the one to stop Anubis. She sacrificed herself to save us all."

"And the countdown?"

"Not me," Daniel confirmed. Jack blinked uncomprehendingly at him.

"Then who?," he asked. Daniel shrugged.

"Maybe the Others had a change of heart," he guessed, looking over to where Sam, Janet and Cassie stood.

Closing the distance between them, he pulled Sam and Cassie both into a huge bear hug. Sam wrapped her arms tightly about him, drawing him close as she closed her eyes and let the feel and smell of him reassure her that he really was here, safe, home.

"God, Daniel," she breathed, tears streaming down her face.

"It's all right," he said, letting go of Cassie to hold her more tightly. "I'm here, Sam. And I still remember everything."

Sam sobbed into his shoulder, not knowing what else to do. It was all too much to take.

"Take the day," the General said softly, taping Daniel on the shoulder. "The debriefing can wait."

"There's something I really need to do first," Daniel replied, glancing back to Jack. "If it's all right with you, General, I'd like to remove myself from active duty effective immediately."

"Out of second chances?," the General guessed, smirking.

"Something like that," Daniel sighed, brushing a kiss against Sam's hair.

"As long as you'll still be around to do your thing...," Jack countered.

"Of course. Just no more getting captured and shot at."

"Hm. Suit yourself," the General replied. "I always liked that better than a desk, personally."

Janet glared at him, while several other people present attempted to hide their smirks.

"Sam," Daniel said gently, putting just enough space between them to look her in the eye. His hand, so warm and sure, moved into place against her cheek, holding her close. "I know this isn't really the time or the place," he murmured with a self-conscious grin, "but I've learned that the here and now is really all we have." He lowered himself before her, more nervous than she'd ever seen him. "I love you, Sam. And I promise you, whether we have a day, a year, or a lifetime together, that will never change." He swallowed hard, while Sam held her breath, waiting. "Samantha Carter, will you marry me?," he asked at last.

The room was silent, though beside her, Sam could feel the excitement radiating from Cassie, and could hear the soft sniffling of her very romantic best friend.

Words failed her, so she nodded her ascent, pulling him back up to his feet, back into her arms, back where he belonged.

Someone started to clap, but she didn't care. All that mattered was that he was back, and this time, he wanted it to be for good. Her lips silently found his, telling without words how much she'd missed him, and how good it felt to have him here, now.

"Who wants cake?," General O'Neill asked loudly, breaking the moment.

"Me!," Cassie piped up happily.

"Oh, God," Sam groaned, quickly lunging for the nearest garbage to empty the contents of her stomach.

"Or not," Cassie sighed glumly.

"Sam, are you all right?," Daniel asked, concerned. Janet smirked. Nearly everyone else in the room exchanged glances.

"Yeah," she groaned, still leaning over the trash. "Just a little...pregnant," she said at last.

Daniel's eyes widened in surprise. "Exactly how much did I miss?"