A/N: As promised another chapter to make up for missing Tuesday of last week.
Chapter 7
Jack walked into the SGC at 0900 the following morning, intent on finding Sam so they could talk. The longer they waited to discuss her inevitable decision, the more of a division it could cause between them. He'd understand if she preferred to keep her distance after everything that had happened, but he needed to make sure she was alright first. As he entered his office, his steps faltered.
"Carter!" He said, surprised by her presence.
"I'm sorry, sir," Sam jumped to her feet, "I was waiting outside, but I got a little dizzy." She swayed slightly, effectively illustrating her point.
"Sit," he ordered, pointing to the chair she'd been occupying. Crossing the room, he filled a paper cup with water from the large dispenser in the corner then handed it to her before he asked, "Shouldn't you be in the infirmary?"
"Dr. Brightman let me out," she gave him a grateful half smile and took a sip. "But I'm under orders to have my hormone levels retested every two hours."
Jack nodded, not liking how pale she appeared. How fragile she looked.
"We need to talk—" they both spoke at the same time, Sam's statement ending with a 'sir.'
He motioned for her to go first.
"Did you mean what you said, sir?" she asked him, her eyes watching his face closely. "About supporting my choice, regardless of what I decide to do?"
"This is your decision, Carter," he replied simply, giving no indication of how he felt either way.
Sam studied him closely, her sharp gaze making him want to fidget. He knew she was appraising him, but he didn't understand why. He said he'd support her choice and he would. There wasn't much else he could offer to do until she made a decision.
"I already know I'm pregnant," she said softly, jerking him out of his own thoughts. "Dr. Brightman says it's still too soon, but I can feel it," she placed a hand over her abdomen and forced herself to meet his eyes.
Jack closed his eyes, feeling like he'd been punched in the gut. He kept telling himself what had happened to them was simply a violation, the extraction and insemination of nothing more than a group of cells that needed to be expunged. But hearing her say the words, he felt a new weight behind them.
Unscheduled Off-World Activation! Walter's voice announced throughout the base as the klaxons began blaring.
"What now?" Jack grumbled, reaching out a hand to steady Sam as she wobbled a bit when she surged to her feet before they both headed to the control room.
"Report," Jack ordered Walter as General Hammond also entered the control room.
"There's no IDC, sir," the Master Sergeant replied, "but we are receiving an incoming audio transmission."
"Tau'ri of Earth," a voice Jack recognized immediately filled the control room as Sam stiffened beside him, her face going even paler than it had been a few moments ago. "The Kisqua demand you respond at once," Cholti, the leader of the Kisqua growled.
"I'll respond," Jack growled, reaching for the microphone.
"Stand down, Jack," General Hammond ordered, snatching the microphone out of his reach and depressing the button allowing him to respond. "This is Lieutenant General George Hammond of Earth. You have some nerve contacting us after assaulting two of my officers."
"You will send the one ripe with child back to us." Cholti ordered. " The offspring she carries within her belongs to the Kisqua."
"Over my dead body," Jack snarled, feeling Sam shift closer to his side. Like hell he'd send her back there.
"Colonel Carter and any child she may or may not be carrying is a citizen of the United States of America and of Earth. She will not be sent to you via the Stargate or by any other means. Do I make myself clear?" Hammond growled, earning a nod of approval from Jack.
"Unacceptable," Cholti snapped.
The vehemence in his tone made Sam flinch, an unusual sight, but one that brought forth within Jack a fierce need to protect her.
"Permission to shove a Naquadria bomb up their collective asses," Jack growled, somewhat surprised to sense Sam's willingness to do the same.
"Denied," Hammond replied, although he understood Jack's anger. Depressing the microphone button again, he responded to the Kisqua leader. "Then we are at an impasse," Hammond said with more diplomacy than he felt.
"We are prepared to offer your world reparations in the form of defensive technology in exchange for the one ripe with child," Cholti said, as if what they were demanding was a simple exchange of goods.
"I am willing to discuss the potential of ongoing relations between our two peoples but not—"
"Failure to accept our offer will result in action brought forth against your world by the full force of the Kisqua fleet. You have one Tau'ri day to comply." With that final threat, the wormhole disengaged.
"Your preliminary report indicated the Kisqua were a technological superior race, correct?" Hammond asked Sam, his expression guarded.
"Yes, sir," she nodded, "What we saw of their technology easily matched that of the Asgard and the Nox."
"So that threat he just made–"
"It's very real, sir," Jack answered, sharing a worried glance with Sam.
"Colonel Carter," Hammond ordered, "have your team in the conference room in fifteen minutes. Walter, page Dr. Brightman. Jack, we've got a phone call to make."