Chapter 8

"There's no way in hell I'm handing Carter over to those bastards," Jack objected in a near shout, knowing he was flirting with insubordination but not caring. Hammond could court-martial him until the cows came home. He wasn't following the new Vice President's asinine recommendation to 'play along' until they came up with a better plan. President Hayes was currently off-world, attending a ceremony to honor Earth, which meant he was unreachable for the time being.

"Neither am I," Hammond assured him, casting a worried glance at Sam who sat virtually expressionless in the chair next to Jack. "The Vice President was only suggesting a possible course of action."

Truthfully, Hammond was having the exact same reaction to the Vice President's unhelpful suggestion; however, he needed to rein in Jack's fury before the man did something they'd all regret. President Hayes was due back in a few hours and would not be so inclined to negotiate with terrorists.

"Your Vice President is wrong," Teal'c interjected, a deep scowl on his face. "Such a tactic will only erode your negotiation power by showing a willingness to sacrifice one to save many."

"Exactly," Jack threw a hand out towards his friend. "Thank you."

"Be that as it may, I need options people," Hammond told them.

"Don't you think we need to know why they did it first?" Daniel suggested.

"We know why they did it," Jack gave him a sharp look.

"We know they wanted to create a child," Daniel said, "what we need to know is why your child," he pointed to Sam and Jack. "Forgive me for being blunt," he rushed out, "but if they're simply interested in producing a child with your ATA gene, then why do this to Sam at all? Why not just impregnate one of their own women."

Jack frowned but said nothing, reluctant to admit that what Daniel said made sense. He'd been so wrapped up in everything that had happened, he had failed to even consider the motivations behind it.

"If we can figure out the reason Sam was chosen," Daniel spoke hesitantly, "we might have more negotiating power than we think."

"It sounds like a logical place to start," Hammond rapped his knuckles against the table.

"Excuse me, General" Dr. Brightman spoke up, making both Jack and Hammond's gazes shift to her. "If I may, I believe everyone is ignoring the elephant in the room."

"Go on, doctor," Hammond nodded.

"The Kisqua have demanded Colonel Carter be returned because she is 'ripe with child'," Allison shifted nervously. "Wouldn't the most prudent course of action be to ensure Colonel Carter does not meet that description?"

Sam gaped at the woman.

"Excuse me?" Jack glared, unable to believe she would even suggest such a thing with everyone present.

"I thought you recommended against such an intervention at this time due to a risk to Colonel Carter's health," Hammond forced himself to remain calm. He needed to hear all of his officers' recommendations no matter how unsettling.

"I did; however, the situation is constantly evolving. Colonel Carter's most recent lab results indicate her Hcg levels are already climbing while her FSH and LH are beginning to fall. In a normal pregnancy, this would happen around the fourth or fifth week of gestation. While none of what's happened is normal, I can definitively say Colonel Carter shows the clinical signs of being pregnant."

Jack's entire world tilted at the news; his heart stuttering at the realization that Sam was, in fact, carrying his child. A mixture of emotions tore through him, guilt of course, but a sense of elation he hadn't expected. A child with the woman who stole his heart years ago. A happiness he had no right to feel. A possibility that he couldn't even consider. Sucking in a breath, he watched as Sam's hand landed on her stomach at the news. Her face was unreadable, but her eyes squeezed closed for a moment before opening with a harsh determination.

"Given this, I would feel comfortable proceeding with the termination of Colonel Carter's pregnancy," the doctor continued.

Sam gasped, her face a mixture of panic, anger, and fear. Physically jerking in her chair, she blindly reached out for Jack under the table, finding his forearm and gripping it tightly.

"If there's no child, then there is no reason for the Kisqua to demand your return," Allison urged her gently.

Sam shook her head, fighting the urge to scream. They wanted to take her baby. Jack's baby. They wanted to terminate it.

"No!" Sam surged to her feet. Turning, she found Jack's eyes. Pleading with him to understand.

"You heard Colonel Carter," Hammond found his voice first, "terminating the pregnancy is not an option."

"Yes, sir," Allison said softly, her eyes full of remorse.

"Give us the room," Jack ordered, his eyes locked onto Sam's face. He had the realization that he'd just given his superior officer an order, but brushed that thought aside as Hammond moved to follow everyone else out of the room. Given the circumstances, the man probably didn't even blame him.

"Sir, I'm sorry," Sam said once they were alone, her voice shaking as she fought hard against the emotions coursing through her. "I just…I can't do it." The first tear slid down her cheek.

"C'mere," Jack stood and reached for Sam, lightly grasping her elbow he guided her into his arms. For the first time since this entire situation began, he felt some semblance of relief as she collapsed against him.

At the feel of Jack's strong arms supporting her, Sam finally allowed herself to release the emotions she'd been fighting back. She felt Jack bury his face against her neck, holding her tightly and silently letting her expunge all her fear and frustration. For the first time since this whole ordeal began, she felt…safe.

"I'm sorry," Sam spoke again a few minutes later, her chin resting on the top of his shoulder.

"Don't be," He said gently, not letting her go. "I said from the beginning, I would support whatever decision you made."

"Even if I'm choosing to burden you with this?" She asked hesitantly, fixating her gaze on Jack's.

He pulled back to look at her incredulously. Was she serious? "Carter, while I'm still livid with how this all happened," he told her honestly, "our baby will never be a burden."

Sam sniffed as she looked into his warm brown eyes. Giving him a tentative smile, she accepted his answer. "This entire situation is a mess," she sighed, stepping away from him to compose herself.

"Tell me about it," Jack agreed, running a hand through his hair. Even without the Kisqua breathing down their necks, the situation was one gigantic ball of red tape.

"What are we going to do?" she asked, not needing to explain.

"I don't know…yet," Jack answered with a steely voice. "But I promise you this. No one is going to take you or our baby."