When she arrived at work on Monday morning she was asked to report to the General.
"Good morning Colonel Carter. Please take a seat."
"Good morning, Sir." she said and took the chair opposite the General.
"How are you doing, Sam?"
"I'm fine, thank you."
"I had a talk with Dr. Parish last week..."
"I figured." she answered and closed her eyes for a moment.
"Congratulations Colonel. Even if it was a little unexpected." he smiled earnestly. "We were looking forward to working with you on several projects. Most of them are now out of your business."
"I know, and I'm really sorry about it. Believe me. Honestly, I hadn't planned this at all, but I have to say I'm really glad it happened."
"So you are cared for, right? I mean, you don't have to do this alone, do you?"
"If you're trying to ask if the baby's father is in the picture, yes he is. And he is as happy as I am, but he doesn't live around here, so that's a bit complicated."
"If I can do anything for you, please let me know."
"Thanks." Sam nodded.
"But this is not the reason I called you. Last week I received a request from the SGC, obviously they need you. It wasn't urgent, just something about help with an artifact they found, no need to cut your leave short, but the request popped up again today. I haven't told them anything about your condition, but I know that General O'Neill received a request to transfer you back to the SGC today, too. I told them it wasn't in my hands and I would send you there to look after the artifact. Anything else would be your decision. Of course I have no intel about what General O'Neill will decide, he has to be informed about your condition rather sooner than later."
"Thank you, Sir. Believe me, he won't decide anything without asking first. And he already knows." She said, trying not to blush, but failed miserably.
Then it dawned in him: "Oh?... Oh!... I... ahm... I didn't know that."
"Not many people know and I would prefer to leave it like that for the moment."
"Of course, Sam. Again congratulations, to the General too. Your flight will leave from Nellis in about 6 hours. Have a safe trip. And let me know what's going on over there."
"I'll do that. Goodbye, Sir."
As soon as she was out she tried to call Jack, but obviously he wasn't able to answer her call. She remembered his complaints about a lot of meetings today. One with the president, so she stuffed her mobile phone back and got ready for her flight. She could always call him when she's in the springs.
2500 miles away Jack stood in front of the oval office. He had a meeting with the president in 5 minutes and was ready to take the opportunity to ask for retirement again.
The door opened and the president let him in.
"Jack, come on in. Do you want coffee or water?"
"I'd rather take a whiskey." Jack whispered to himself.
" What was it? " the president asked.
"Coffee please, Sir."
"Here you are. So Jack, there is something I wanted to talk about to you. I had a meeting with General Landry last week and they are yearning for Colonel Carter. Colonel Mitchell was able to get Daniel Jackson and Teal'c back to join him and he won't stop until Colonel Carter is back with them as well."
"No, that's not possible."
"Jack, look I'm not blind. I know how you feel about the Colonel and that you're not in the same chain of command at the moment. I assume your relationship has changed a bit from a professional one to something more? I'm sure that can be taken care of if she joins SG1 again."
"Thank you Sir, but that's not what I meant with 'No'. Your right our relationship has changed and there is something I wanted to talk about to you first. I again want to ask for retirement, Sir."
"I can't lose you, Jack. You're the only one around who's willing to say what he's thinking. I'm not ready for you to retire."
"But I am, Sir."
Henry Hayes took a deep breath.
"Look, with Colonel Carter back out there..."
"No, she won't be out in the field anytime soon, Sir."
"Why are you so sure of this?"
"Because she's not allowed to, Sir."
The president raised his eyebrows in a questioning manner.
Now it was Jack O'Neill who took a very deep breath.
"She's pregnant! That's why she won't be able to go out in the field, Sir."
"Holy Hanna, Jack!" Hayes didn't know what else to say.
And Jack only shrugged his shoulders and tried to hide a smile.
"Now I can see why you want to retire."
The president was aware of all that happened in Jack's past and knew that no one could keep Jack O'Neill away from his child.
"Ok, that mixes all my plans up, but I have an Idea. Listen..."
Tuesday morning Sam arrived at the SGC. It felt like coming home. She didn't know how much she missed it until she signed in and took the elevator down to the briefing room.
Daniel, Teal'c and Cameron were in the briefing room, waiting for General Landry to finish his phone call.
Daniel was the one to reach her first: "Sam! I'm so glad you're here, we really missed you." He gave her a hug and handed her over to Teal'c.
"Colonel Carter, it's good to see you. Welcome back."
"Thanks Teal'c, but you all know that I'm just here to have a look at the artifact, I'm not rejoining SG-1, right?"
"Sam..." Mitchell started and tried to talk her back in as Landry entered the room.
"At ease, welcome Colonel Carter, take a seat. Another visitor has just arrived, but I think we could still get started."
"So, what's this artifact about?" she asked.
"We found it on P3X-815 and in fact it's still there, it radiates an electromagnetic field. So we want you to have a look at it and tell us how to disconnect it to be able to get it home."
Sam went pale, she couldn't go through the gate, how could she talk them out of the idea?
"Ahm...no...I mean you have excellent scientists here that could have gone with you. Why me?"
"Oh Sam, we know you're the best, so why take a semi good one if we can have you?" Cam asked.
"But you can't have me."
"Sam, we know you're reluctant to come back, but it's just one mission to start with."
Before Sam could answer they all heard a really firm voice coming from the door say: "No!"
She needn't turn around to recognize this voice. What was Jack doing here and how long did he stand there?
"General O'Neill, welcome." he was greeted by General Landry.
Jack walked further into the room, greeted by a nod from Teal'c, Cam stood at attention and Daniel was about to say something to protest, he could see that.
Sam's eyes were fixed right onto the table before her. She didn't dare to look up.
Jack rounded the table to sit next to Daniel across from Sam. She looked at him from unter her eyelashes and saw a smile on Jack's face, just for a few seconds and then it turned blank again.
"Hey Danny boy."
"Hi Jack, what do you mean 'No'? Wouldn't that be Sam's decision? I mean we would love to have her back at the team, but this is first only for one mission."
"No!" he repeated. "And I think she also already said no, hasn't she?"
"But Jack.."
"Daniel!" he warned.
"Jack..."
Sam had to smile. Just like back in the old days.
"No, Daniel, stop it. It isn't even an option." and before he continues she checked with Sam to make sure it's ok what he was to say next. "Daniel, she wouldn't even pass the physical, so there's no point in arguing about it."
The briefing room went dead silent, all eyes on Sam.
Daniel again was the first one to speak again.
"Why wouldn't she pass the physical? She's not that long out of the field and in really good shape."
Jack looked at Sam to give her the opportunity to talk. It should be her who informs their friends about the changes.
"Because I'm pregnant, Daniel!"
