A few days later while Jack was away he hadn't much time to think about his team, but in these few moments he had for himself he became more worried about them forgiving him. He was pretty mean to Daniel, the man who saved Jack from suicide. He had to be, otherwise the young man would have looked right through this charade. Carter was a whole different story, though. Yes, they agreed that their brief interaction can't be anything more right now, because their work was too important to risk their career over this, but when she showed up at his home, trying to talk to him, he knew that he had to hurt her the most. If he hadn't cut her off like he did she would have found out the real reason for his behavior.
And now hidden in the bushes on some planet far away from home he saw his team step through the gate on their exploration mission. But it wasn't his team. Makepeace was leading Daniel and Teal'c into the woods, but where the hell was Carter? It was unusual for a team to go out with only three people. Carter won't still be on medical leave, would she? Jack was trying to remember why she was in the infirmary in the first place.
She came to Edora with Daniel and T, she was even talking to him. He thought back and was pretty sure she tried to tell him what they had done to get him home. It wasn't his finest moment, but he just slept with Laira and was in no state to think clearly, so he left Carter standing there, talking when he turned around towards Laira and asked her to come home with him. He can't explain how much of a relief it was when she declined, clearly she couldn't be pregnant, he lived a married life for a long time to know that it wasn't the right time of Laira's cycle for this to happen. Carter hadn't spoken another word to him and upon their return retreated immediately to the infirmary.
In the General's office Jack got his orders and was told by Hammond that for this mission to Tollana it would only be Teal'c and Daniel accompanying him. Something about Carter needing rest after working so hard in getting him back. He remembered her in the briefing room and later in his house. She looked too pale and much thinner than he recalled. But regaining weight and strength wouldn't take weeks. She should be able to go on missions with her team by now.
But this wasn't his only concern. He was here to hide the Asgard device that would be picked up by the mole from the SGC, surely it can't be Daniel or Teal'c and when Makepeace kneeled down to fasten his shoe he reached towards the DHD and hid the device in his jacket. Jack had every information he needed to bring down this group of people. Upon his return to the planet where they stayed an Asgard ship turned up to beam all the stolen technology back on board. Jack opened the gate and held the door open for the traitors, leaving them just two options. Getting caught by the Asgard or returning to earth and getting arrested. They all took the second opportunity. And when the last one was put in chains he asked Makepeace for another zip ties handcuff and put them on him. Hammond thanked him and the traitors were led out of the gate room.
Jack looked at his friends trying to find out how much amends he had to make.
Daniel cleared his throat. "So, just to uh, clarify, these whole past weeks, beginning with the appeal we made on Tollana in which I did a lot of hard work, by the way…I take it that it was all a scam."
Hammond tried to explain it a bit. "Within the last two weeks, the Asgard and the Tollan approached us independently of each other with evidence that we were stealing technology from them."
"We? The SGC?" Daniel wondered.
"Yes. The Asgard, the Tollan and the Nox were going to sever all ties with us. But we convinced them the theft must be the action of a rogue group from outside the SGC. They insisted that we apprehend them ourselves."
"So, you set that whole thing up on Tollana in the hopes that the mole would think you were one of them and approach you? And you didn't think you could trust us to help?"
Seeing Jack lost for words Hammond again took the opportunity to clarify. "We wanted to assure that your reaction to the Colonel's behavior was as it should be. And the Asgard insisted that Colonel O'Neill be the only one involved."
Jack shook his shoulders. "They like me." And then he got serious. "Look guys, all I said was because it had to look convincing. I know I might have hurt you, but I really didn't mean it. I argued with the General that I wouldn't do this without my team. Not without you. But the President insisted. He said it was the perfect timing, because I just got home and only had to pretend to want to go back there. In fact the General gave us all the time after this that we need to reconnect, and Daniel I'd like to have a talk with you, I know what I said won't be forgiven with just a 'Sorry'."
"We can do this, Jack. I think we even need to. Let's talk later. For now, welcome back."
"It's indeed good to have you back O'Neill. I can understand your actions and what you had to do. But there might be people that won't be as forgiving as I am."
"Thanks T! By the way, where the hell is Carter?" Jack wondered.
"I think she's in her lab, finishing up some stuff before her vacation."
"Vacation?" Jack echoed in disbelief. "Carter doesn't do vacation. What's going on?"
The other three men were exchanging glances, not sure how to broach the subject to Jack without telling too much. When no one spoke Hammond took the opportunity.
"Jacob is here and currently visiting his son, but when he comes back today he insisted on some father-daughter time. I think after Netu he tries to be earthside one or two weeks every few months to spend time with his children. You were gone for quite some time Jack, and we had to do some changes around here. Major Carter is no longer a member of SG1, she's not cleared for field work and won't be in the near future."
"WHAT? Are you kidding me? Why is she removed from my team without consulting me first? As her commanding officer I have a say in changes of my team." Jack was angry and maybe a bit fearful. He told Hammond their stunt could break up the team, but he wasn't prepared for the break to happen while he was still gone.
"Colonel, I was forced to make the changes due to medical reasons, you wouldn't have had a say in it even if you've been here." Hammond tried to explain without actually saying what this is about.
"She's in her lab you said? So I guess I will have a talk with her."
"Jack, wait! Please calm down before you go and just storm in there." Grabbing his forearm Daniel wanted to stop him, before he said more things he would regret in the end and had to add to his excuse list. But Jack was stronger and already on his way to her lab.
Leaving three perplexed men standing in the gate room. Daniel had hoped that Sam would have already left base for the day when he saw Jack stepping through the gate. They shouldn't have this confrontation here. Even if she wouldn't tell him immediately that it's his child, Jack would recognize a baby bump. In her fifth month of pregnancy there wasn't much to hide anymore. They should be somewhere else, the SGC is not a place for this conversation. Hammond sensed Daniel's fears while they made their way to the conference room.
"I too think that they shouldn't see each other again and with Major Carter's condition for the first time here on base. But that's how it's going to happen if she's still on base. I can tell you they won't be in trouble. They just have to figure it out and she has to forgive him."
He was staring in two pairs of surprised eyes. Teal'c and Daniel weren't sure what to answer.
"People, I'm old but I can still recognize love when I see it. And I know Sam from when she was still crawling around in her diapers. Who else would be the father of her baby?"
"You know?"
"Of course I do, son."
"Is that why you removed her from the team, that they won't be in the same chain of command?"
"Not exactly. I would have to remove her from active duty anyway. Pregnant women are not allowed on a front line team. But she became pregnant when she was still under his command, that won't change the regs. But the letter from the President giving them permission to pursue a personal relationship will."
Now Daniel was staring open mouthed at him, not able to say a thing.
"They will have to come to me to sort it out. We're not allowed to say anything, but I'm sure a push in the right direction won't count as interference when they're both being too stubborn."
"Then maybe I should head in the direction of Major Carter's lab to make sure they're not to be disturbed."
"That's a good idea, Teal'c."
Sam was so engrossed in her work that she hadn't noticed anything that had been going on in the gate room. She sat behind her desk with her view towards the entrance, but she hadn't seen Jack approach. As much as he could see from her she looked like at least she gained back some weight, she looked healthier. That made him almost more furious.
"Major, what exactly were you thinking, leaving the team without my permission?"
She twitched, first because she hadn't sensed anyone entering her lab and secondly she hadn't thought to ever hear his voice again.
"Sir!" Out of habit she stood at attention. Her belly was well hidden behind her high desk.
"At ease Carter, I'm just here to talk."
"Excuse me, Sir, but what exactly are you doing here? Last time I checked you were on Edora, playing happy family with Laira." She didn't mean to say that, but it still stung that he left to be with that woman.
"I'm not."
"You're not what?"
"Playing family. I didn't even see her when I gated to Edora. I just ran to the DHD and made my way to another planet. I was away, undercover to reveal a bunch of people working for Maybourne and find the mole in the SGC. I wasn't allowed to tell you. But you would know all this if you showed up in the gate room earlier. Like the rest of your team did!"
Trying to process what he just said she answered like on autopilot. "It's not my team anymore, Sir!"
Had he just told her that he's back, leading SG1 again and that he was only undercover on Hammonds orders?
"The hell it isn't Major!" Jack shouted, drawing attention from passing Lieutenants. Teal'c just reached the aisle and gestured to them to keep moving. He waited a few steps away from Sam's lab, ready to interfere if he thought Jack's behavior would upset her too much. "I order you hereby back on the team!"
Sam sighed and nearly whispered. "That's not how it works, Jack."
"Excuse me?" He asked, startled that she uses his first name. "Look, I know I said some really nasty things, but I had to. They were bugging my house and it had to be believable." He had to first try to get her to forgive him, otherwise there won't be a good basis to discuss getting her back on the team.
"Yeah, of course. And you couldn't let us know? Your own team? Your so called friends? We used to be like family. Before that shitty incident where you got stuck on a planet, playing house with that manipulating little housewife, while we were desperately trying to get you home." Her voice rose with every word she was saying.
"That's enough, Carter!" Jack shouted and cut her off. He knew he had screwed up, but that outburst was not what he was used to from her. She would never insult someone like this. And while he shouted he rounded the table to be closer to her and she instinctively retreated towards the back of the room. For the first time since he entered her lab he could see all of her. Seeing her black shirt stretch over her rounded belly he knew immediately that she was pregnant. That was what everybody meant when they told him she wasn't going to be back on the team anytime soon.
"Oh! I see you were quite busy too, Major!" Jack made an effort not to let show how much that hurt him. All her talking about getting him back, everyone telling him she worked night and day. Obviously she had time to get pregnant. Now he understood why it took her so long, three months he was stuck off world and she jumped through the beds. He was still contemplating the situation as her fist collided with his nose. He thought he heard it crack and looked at her, startled.
"You son of a bitch!"
She stormed out of the room and collided with Teal'c, who was about to enter as he heard the now physical fight. They shared a comforting gaze, where Teal'c told her that he would take care of Jack and she should go home.
When she left he saw O'Neill reaching for some tissues to stop the bleeding of his nose.
"That was probably not your finest moment, O'Neill. Let me guide you to the infirmary. I'm sure Doctor Fraiser will have a look at your nose."
"Thank you, T! Do you have any idea why she was this angry?"
"I have, but it is not on me to reveal this information. But I can say that I fully well understand and support her actions."
"Why? Everyone is telling me how she worked herself off to build that fucking device and a few weeks later she's visibly pregnant. Sure she had some time to get pregnant, it doesn't just happen without the fun part."
"You and I do know how it works, O'Neill. We already fathered a child."
"That's what I'm saying. I now understand why she won't be back on the team, but I don't understand why she's still pissed at me. I explained to her why I had to go undercover and why I couldn't tell you. I apologized for saying all that shitty things to her, but why would she care anyway if she's seeing someone."
"You don't know the half of it. Let doctor Fraiser take care of your nose and then you should have the talk with Daniel Jackson. You should try to get one person at a time to forgive you. This way it will be easier. Major Carter will be out of town with her father for the next two days. Maybe after that you can try another approach."
Jack was about to reply when Janet entered and half heartedly patched up his nose, she must have heard what happened and wasn't very courteous. He was lucky that the nose wasn't broken. He couldn't shake off the feeling that Janet was mad at him. She stopped his nose from bleeding right when the phone rang.
"That was Hammond, he wants to see you when you're done here."
"Am I done here?"
"Yes, you are. Don't forget to put ice on your nose."
"Is everything all right, Janet."
"I met Sam on her way out. I would say that nothing is all right here. She's my best friend, so if I have to pick a side I'd always pick hers. You're an ass Jack O'Neill and I hope you'll come to the same conclusion before it's too late."
He was left standing there, with his mouth wide open when the petite doctor turned around and left her infirmary. Janet couldn't believe that he really thought Sam would sleep with another man, shortly after their encounter and while she was working her ass off for him. Hopefully the General would put him back in place.
When Jack entered the General's office he was greeted by laughter.
"Honestly Jack, after you left the gate room I expected something like this." He pointed at Jack's nose. "I expected this for your return. But I thought it would be Jacob to break your nose for a slightly different reason."
"Why? You told me everything is going to be okay, they'll forgive me when they learned the truth about my mission and would know all I said was because I had to act this way."
"I did, but then I didn't know about Major Carter's pregnancy. God Jack, you went through this before. Dealing with a pregnant woman is not easy at all, but accusing her of sleeping with another man right after your return, that tops everything."
"What?..."
"You don't really believe that she slept with another man, do you? She was working so hard on getting the baby's father back, she nearly lost it. If Janet hadn't found her bleeding in her lab there wouldn't even be a baby to argue about."
Jack's blood froze in his veins. Was the General telling him that he was the father of Sam's baby? The mission to Netu is what, nearly six months ago? Her belly would speak for it. And had he just told him that Janet prevented a miscarriage? His head swirled and he got sick.
"Are you saying she's carrying my baby?"
"I have nothing to prove it, but I would bet a lot of money on it."
"I'll go to jail for this." He sighed, putting his head in his hands.
"Go, talk to her, son. And if this is your baby, don't ever let them go."
"I would even try if I'm not the father, but what about the regulations? We're in serious trouble if that's true. I wouldn't want that for her, Sir."
"You have nothing to fear, Jack. Let's say the President is a huge fan of both of you. Don't think about the regs when you're talking to her. They won't be an issue."
"I screwed up, Sir. On Edora. I'm not sure she will forgive me for this."
"She will, Jack. She'll understand, but you have to convince her. I know she's not an easy woman, she shut down after her mother died, with you guys it was the first time I saw her open up again. And now... I don't think pregnancy hormones make this any easier, but I believe in you two."
"At least one of us is confident."
"I am. But I know she's not home until Monday. Jake's going back to the Tok'ra Monday morning and Major Carter is expected back at work on tuesday. I'd say you should talk to her on Monday when her father has left. If I were you, I'd try to sort things out with her before facing Jake." Hammond smirked.
"Good idea, Sir. I guess I first have to have a talk with Daniel. And if he's ready to forgive me I'll face Carter after the weekend."
"Good luck, Jack. You can use all you can get."
So he leaves for his home. The first time in weeks he entered his home again, taking comfort in this. Daniel was going to show up in a few hours so Jack started cleaning. It was what helped him clear his head and concentrate on how to get his best friend back to believe in him. If he would think too much about Sam, the baby and the possibility of his paternity he would go crazy.
Exactly 1900 there was a knock on the door, Jack opened and saw his friend.
"Hi Danny!"
"Hi Jack!"
