Jack arrived at work unusually early, driven by the need to watch the interview with Samantha Carter again before making any decisions. He was fixated on the screen, his gaze drawn to her image. She bore an unquestionable resemblance to his late wife. Still, upon closer examination, he noticed subtle differences in her expression – a hint of command and authority that his Sam had not possessed. This Samantha had commanded a flying city and a spaceship, which explained the hardened demeanor he observed.
As Jack paused the image, his fingers traced the contours of her face.
"She isn't your wife," he muttered, shutting the screen.
However, the urge to see her in person grew stronger with each passing moment. He knew he needed to confront this alternate version of Sam to reconcile their similarities and differences.
Yet, there was another matter weighing heavily on his mind – Grace. They still lacked clarity on whether this Carter could return to her reality. The issue had been escalated to the President, and a decision loomed. Jack needed to prepare himself and his daughter for whatever outcome awaited.
With resolve, he picked up the phone and called Hank.
"I'm on my way. Hold off on sharing any further information until I arrive," he instructed. Hank acknowledged with a sigh, and they hung up.
Jack informed his secretary that he would take the rest of the day off, then directed his driver to Grace's school. It was time for a crucial and inevitably painful conversation.
Grace was taken aback when her father unexpectedly arrived to pick her up from school. She gathered her belongings and exited her class, finding Jack pacing outside beside his black SUV.
"Dad? What's wrong?" she inquired with concern.
"Hey, Grace. We need to talk. Let's go home," he responded, opening the back door for her.
Grace climbed in, and Jack followed suit. The drive home was silent, but Grace could sense her father's nervousness, his hand tapping anxiously on his knee. Upon entering the house, Jack mentioned he needed to change into something more comfortable before they could talk in the living room. Grace nodded, taking a seat and waiting patiently. After a few minutes, Jack returned and settled onto the couch.
"What's going on, Dad?" Grace asked again, her curiosity mounting.
Jack swallowed, gathering his thoughts.
"What I'm about to tell you is classified, but I trust you, and I'll try to explain it as simply as possible," he began.
Grace nodded, signaling for him to continue.
"I know your mother once spoke to you about alternate realities. Do you remember?" Jack inquired.
Grace nodded in affirmation. "Yes, an infinite number of ever-growing alternate realities, each existing and evolving concurrently with our own," she recited.
Swallowing hard by her very adult-like explanation, Jack acknowledged her response.
"Right, those were her words, most probably. The situation we have right now at the SGC involves one of those alternate realities," he explained slowly.
Grace furrowed her brow in confusion.
"Oh..." she murmured, trying to grasp the significance of his words.
Jack took a deep breath.
"Another Samantha Carter has shown up at the SGC," he revealed straightforwardly. "She isn't your mother. She's from an alternate reality, Grace, but she is a Samantha Carter," he clarified.
Grace's mouth opened to respond but hesitated and closed it slowly as a tear escaped her cheek.
"Sweetheart, I know this is hard, but I had to tell you," Jack said, reaching for her hand.
Grace wiped away her tears, trying to compose herself.
"Have you spoken with her?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Jack shook his head.
"No, we're going there now. I need to see her, but you don't. I think you shouldn't see her at all, but I want to take you with me," he advised gently.
Grace sniffled, nodding in understanding. "Okay," she agreed softly.
"She isn't Mom, Grace," Jack reiterated, his tone filled with reassurance.
Grace nodded again, her gaze fixed downward.
"Yeah," she murmured.
"I have a plane waiting for us, so can you pack? We'll leave after. I've informed your school that you'll be away for a few days. I don't know how long we'll stay in Colorado Springs. It could be one day or more," he informed her.
Grace slowly released his hand and stood up.
"I'll go pack," she said quietly before leaving the room.
Jack closed his eyes briefly, taking a moment to collect himself, before following his daughter. They packed swiftly, and soon they were on their way to the airport, headed to Colorado Springs, where another Samantha Carter awaited. Grace swallowed hard, bracing herself for what lay ahead. She felt her father would need her and was determined to be there for him.
Jack had asked Vala to look after Grace while he headed to the SGC, so she patiently waited for them at the airfield. Meanwhile, Jack changed into his beloved BDUs during the flight. Upon arriving at SGC, he was warmly greeted by the honor committee, comprising Daniel, Teal'c, and Mitchell. Their presence brought him relief in this uncertain situation.
"Hey guys," Jack greeted as he stepped out of the vehicle.
Daniel enveloped him in a tight hug while Teal'c's handshake bordered on the painful side. Mitchell greeted him respectfully with a nod and a warm smile. As they rode the elevator, Jack inquired about the current situation.
"How's she been?" Jack asked, referring to Samantha Carter.
Daniel provided an update, mentioning her seclusion in her room except for necessary check-ups at the infirmary due to her injured hand. She took all her meals in the room to avoid any encounters with the rest of the SGC staff.
"Any new intel?" Jack questioned, hoping for something more substantial.
Cameron hesitated before revealing a surprising piece of information.
"She told Vala they were married in her reality, General," Cameron said with a grin.
Jack turned to Daniel, surprised by the news.
"You and Vala?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow.
Daniel blushed, confirming the unexpected revelation.
"Seems so," Daniel admitted sheepishly.
"Vala Mal Doran appears rather pleased with the idea as she repeats that information multiple times," Teal'c added, his usually stoic expression softening with amusement.
"Right. But are there any actual updates?" Jack redirected the conversation, eager to focus on the task at hand.
"She told Vala that SG-1 no longer exists in her reality. Teal'c is running the Free Jaffa, and Cameron is training cadets. Apparently, I'm too busy being married", Daniel said with a sigh.
Jack tried not to smile as they approached Landry's office. They found him waiting for them in the briefing room.
"Hi, Jack. It's good to see you, although I wish it were under better circumstances," Landry said, nodding and firmly shaking his hand.
"Alternate realities, huh?" Jack muttered as he took his seat.
Dr. Lam joined them, presenting Jack with detailed test results on Colonel Samantha Carter.
"Here are the results of the tests on Colonel Carter. She's 47, single, and has naquadah and a protein marker in her blood. She was also blended with Jolinar. She matches your wife in almost every aspect except her career and personal life," Carolyn explained in a hushed tone.
"So, she's definitely a Samantha Carter?" Jack confirmed, scrutinizing the document.
"Yes, without a doubt," she confirmed.
"Alright. This issue is already at the president's level. Daniel, do you have any ideas?" Jack turned to Daniel for input.
Daniel hesitated, admitting his lack of experience in dealing with such matters.
"We could try consulting McKay," Landry suggested.
"Perhaps I should speak directly to her first," Jack proposed, rising from his seat.
"I'll show you where she's staying," Daniel offered, and the two men exited the room together, ready to confront the uncertain future.
As Jack approached the VIP quarters, his heart raced in his chest. Daniel stopped at the door, and the airman there saluted Jack.
"She's inside. Do you want me to wait outside?" Daniel asked slowly.
Jack swallowed, feeling a sudden surge of panic.
"Shit, I don't know if I can do this, Daniel," he admitted, looking at the closed door.
Daniel placed a reassuring hand on Jack's arm.
"She's a Sam, Jack, even if she's not your Sam. Talk to her," he encouraged.
Jack took a deep breath.
"Yeah. I guess you're right. Thanks," he said, trying to steady himself. With that, he knocked on the door and entered.
She was seated at the table, writing something on a notepad, and turned her head when she heard the door open. "Yes?" she asked, her eyes widening in surprise.
Swallowing hard, she got up and saluted him. "General," she said tensely.
Jack couldn't tear his gaze away from her.
"At ease, Carter," he managed to say, leaning back against the door for support more than anything.
Equally shaken, she discreetly placed a hand on the table to steady herself.
"How are you, Sir?" she asked, her voice almost faltering.
Jack tried to muster a smile but failed. "Fine," he lied.
Despite her nerves, Sam smiled. "That's usually my line, Sir," she remarked.
Jack's heart constricted in his chest.
"So, what brings you to our world, Colonel?" he asked, crossing his arms to hide his trembling hands.
Sam tried to appear composed.
"A Stargate, from what I can tell. I was doing some calculations to figure out how it was possible, but..." she trailed off in frustration.
"Nothing yet?" Jack inquired, looking at the equations and strange symbols scattered across the desk's pages.
"No," she admitted.
"Need a hand? Want me to call McKay?" he offered.
Thinking about the last time she had seen the scientist, Sam managed a half-smile.
"Rodney?" she asked, picking up her pen and fiddling with it.
Jack swallowed. She was nervous because his wife did the same thing when she was nervous.
"Yes, I'm afraid that's all I can offer," he said, studying her intently.
Carolyn had told him she was slightly older than his wife, but he could hardly notice, and the resemblance was uncanny.
"Do you still have the quantum mirror in Area 51?" she asked hopefully.
Jack shook his head.
"No, it was destroyed years ago. Completely destroyed. Presidential orders," he explained.
Sam sank into her chair. "Pity," she muttered.
"Missing your ship already?" Jack inquired curiously.
Sam's expression softened briefly. "Cassie, actually," she confessed with a tinge of sadness.
Jack's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"Oh. So, you've kept in touch with her?" he asked, intrigued.
Sam nodded.
"Yes. She's like a surrogate daughter to me in many ways, although she's very independent. She likes her space. She's finishing her internship and plans to join the Program. She wanted to go to Atlantis. At least, she did when I was there. Now, I'm not so sure," she explained.
Jack swallowed hard. "Surrogate daughter?" he repeated.
Sam cleared her throat.
"Yes, after Janet's death and... some changes in my personal life, Cassie and I grew closer again," she admitted. "She worries when I'm away for too long, although she tries not to show. I was supposed to return to Earth in a week."
Jack's heart skipped a beat. "Changes in your personal life?" he prodded gently.
Sam hesitated before answering. "Yes."
"Did you get married in your reality?" Jack asked curiously, although she had answered that she was single.
"No, I haven't," she replied, her tone tinged with frustration. "Why? Did I marry anyone here?" she muttered to herself.
Jack cleared his throat. "Does it matter?" he asked, his hand hidden under his arm, the wedding ring in his hand.
"But I married someone?" she pressed.
Jack swallowed hard.
"Why do you want to know? It could have been McKay," he teased, attempting to lighten the mood.
Sam's blue eyes widened in horror. "I could never marry Rodney," she said vehemently.
Jack felt a surge of satisfaction at her response.
"Why not? He always claimed you were very attracted to each other," he remarked.
Once they were married, he had warned McKay that if he made one more joke about Sam, he'd be sent to an unknown planet without a Stargate and left there for the rest of his days. The jokes stopped immediately.
Sam blushed. "McKay is an idiot," she muttered.
"Couldn't agree more," Jack said, running a hand through his hair.
Sam's eyes flickered to the ring on his hand, and Jack realized his mistake. Their eyes locked, and the room fell into silence. She was the first to look away, returning to the papers on the table.
"Well, I'm glad she was happy," she said in a low voice.
Jack felt a pang in his heart.
"She was," he admitted.
"When did you marry? Just out of curiosity?" she asked, still avoiding eye contact.
Nervously, Jack put his hands in his pockets.
"While I was between reassignments to Homeworld, and she was due to go to Area 51," he explained, "Hammond got the President to change the fraternization rules at SGC and the Program."
Sam turned her head like a whip, her jaw clenched tight. "He did?" she asked, her voice strained.
Jack nodded solemnly. She quickly returned her gaze to the papers, but Jack could see her hands trembling.
"Can I help you with anything else, General?" she asked, her tone now devoid of emotion.
Jack sighed, impressed with the change in her.
"No, unless you know how to return to your reality," he replied honestly.
Sam swallowed hard.
"Of course. Everything must return to its rightful place," she said, forcing herself to focus on her work.
Jack noticed her neck turning red despite the ponytail.
"Well, we'll be waiting for your genius, Colonel," he said, hand on the doorknob.
Sam continued to write, hoping he would leave quickly. The tears in her eyes threatened to spill over, and she fought to hold them back.
"Carry on then," Jack said, finally leaving and closing the door behind him.
As soon as he was gone, Sam dropped the pen and covered her mouth to stifle the sobs rising in her throat. She let the tears fall freely, closing her eyes in anguish. Why hadn't she chosen a reality where they weren't married? Why did fate continue to torment her with this cruel reminder? Hadn't she suffered enough in her reality? Sam buried her face in her arms, crying until no tears were left.
Jack struggled to breathe in the corridor as if the air resisted entering his lungs. He coughed, cleared his throat, and shook his head until he regained normal respiration.
"Shit," he muttered, oblivious to the concerned gaze of the armed airman nearby.
"Are you feeling alright, Sir?" the airman ventured, mustering his courage.
The General, looking as pale as a ghost, became aware of his presence only when another voice spoke up. Suddenly, Daniel appeared beside him.
"God, Jack, you're as white as a ghost!" he exclaimed, steadying his hand on Jack's shoulder.
"Yeah," Jack managed to say as they began to walk.
"Did you talk?" Daniel asked cautiously as they approached the elevator.
Jack nodded. "Yes. She looks and sounds just like Sam, Daniel," Jack said as they halted in front of the elevator doors.
Daniel cleared his throat.
"Yes, she does," he agreed.
The doors opened, and they entered, Jack leaning against one of the walls.
"She's trying to figure out a way to get back to her reality," he said, briefly closing his eyes.
"Oh... I imagine she's the only one who can figure that out," Daniel remarked as the elevator started to move.
"She didn't seem very convinced," Jack said, opening his eyes.
Daniel scratched his head.
"Have you considered the possibility that she can't? What if she's stuck here?" he asked slowly.
Jack swallowed, and the elevator doors opened. They exited and continued toward the briefing room.
"It's something that has been discussed. The President is considering that scenario, too," Jack said carefully.
Daniel silently nodded, giving him space. They entered the briefing room, where Landry emerged from his office to greet them.
"So, how was it?" he asked.
"Difficult," Jack admitted. There was no point in denying it; everyone there knew how much he had suffered from Sam's death.
"Any progress?" Landry inquired as the three men took their seats.
Jack shook his head.
"She was doing some calculations, trying to figure out a way back. She asked if we still had the quantum mirror in Area 51," he said, leaning back in his chair.
Daniel sighed. "Pity we don't," he remarked.
Landry placed his hands on the table. "So, what do you want to do, Jack? Wait?" he asked.
Jack sighed heavily.
"We don't have much choice here. She either figures out a way back to her reality, or she's stuck here. Ultimately, it's up to her. She's the genius, and I doubt McKay can help us, but we should contact him nonetheless. We have to explore every option," he said.
Landry nodded. "I'll prioritize contacting Atlantis," he said.
Suddenly, Jack stood up.
"Right, if there's nothing else, I'll leave. I need to get back to Grace," he said.
Landry and Daniel also rose.
"Are you staying at the same hotel?" Landry inquired.
Jack nodded. Since Sam had started working as a consultant for SG-1 and had to come to Colorado Springs, she either stayed at Vala's home or Daniel's. They had sold everything they had there. After she died, Jack prefered to stay in a hotel with Grace since Vala's house had only two bedrooms, like Daniel's.
"How did Grace take this news?" Landry asked carefully.
Jack cleared his throat.
"She hasn't said much, but she doesn't see her. We both agreed on that," he said.
Daniel decided to voice the question that had been on everyone's mind.
"Does this Sam know that you were married here, in this reality? Does she know about Grace?" he asked.
Jack almost stopped walking.
"She saw my wedding ring and eventually put two and two together. But she doesn't know about Grace, and I don't want her to know," he stated firmly.
Daniel and Landry both nodded almost simultaneously. Jack stepped into the elevator.
"Call me if anything new happens," he said.
And then the elevator doors closed. Both men sighed heavily and returned to their duties.
Jack observed his daughter in the hotel room, who appeared more vulnerable and young. She sat in a chair by the window, gazing silently outside.
"Grace, honey, I know this must be difficult for you. If you have any questions, feel free to ask, and I'll do my best to answer," Jack offered.
They opted to have dinner in the bedroom, avoiding crowds and politely declined SG-1 team members and Landry invitations. Father and daughter needed their space to process the unfolding events.
Slowly, Grace turned to her father. "Did you talk to her?" she inquired, her curiosity evident.
Jack nodded. "Yes, I did," he confirmed.
Grace nervously twisted her hands. "Is she like Mom?" she pressed further.
Jack cleared his throat, contemplating navigating this delicate conversation with his daughter.
"She resembles her, but she's not exactly like her, Grace. For one, she's older, and there are subtle differences," Jack explained cautiously.
Grace raised an eyebrow.
"Differences? What kind of differences, Dad?" she probed, shifting in her seat.
Jack toyed with his wedding ring, gathering his thoughts.
"Her voice, at times, sounds different, more...strained," he began, recalling their conversation.
Grace listened intently.
"Her hair is longer," he added.
"What else?" Grace pressed on.
Jack met his daughter's gaze.
"She isn't your mother, Grace," he finally asserted.
Grace swallowed, absorbing his words.
"Technically, she's a version of Mom—an alternate version. So, in a way, she could be considered Mom," Grace countered slowly.
Jack's eyebrows shot up.
"No, Grace, no! She isn't!" he almost exclaimed.
Grace swallowed again. She had mulled over this notion extensively during her time on the plane and later with Vala. The more she pondered, the more convinced she became. This Samantha Carter from another reality wasn't her mother per se, but she was still Samantha Carter—a version that could fit the description of Grace's mother. Grace reasoned internally that she could be her mother if she chose to be. She secretly hoped for that outcome. But for now, she needed to introduce this idea to her father with care and patience or risk alarming him further, as he seemed now.
Jack continued to shake his head adamantly, refusing to entertain the notion.
"No, Grace, absolutely not," he reiterated firmly.
Grace remained silent this time, merely observing him. She understood when to retreat and when to advance—a skill she had honed through learning chess with him.
"Forget that idea," he warned, pacing back and forth in the bedroom.
"Once you think about it calmly, Dad, you'll see it makes sense," Grace urged gently.
Jack persisted in his denial, shaking his head once more. "No," he insisted.
Grace watched him pace, her hands clasped behind her back.
"She'll return to her reality, and we'll resume our lives," he asserted as he continued his restless pacing.
Grace swallowed hard. "And if she can't?" she inquired softly.
Jack stopped pacing, his gaze fixed on the same window Grace had stared out of earlier.
"We'll deal with that if it happens," he replied tersely through gritted teeth.
Grace lowered her head, sensing the futility of pressing the matter further. Not now. She had already planted the seed of the idea in his mind. Now, she had to wait.
"Okay. I'm going to bed," she announced, kissing him.
Then she opened the connecting door and retreated to her bedroom. Despite the uncertainty, a small smile played on her lips as she slipped under the covers. She allowed herself to hope that perhaps this Samantha Carter wasn't the genius she was renowned for and that she couldn't return to her reality. Grace dearly missed her Mom. With a contented sigh, she closed her eyes and drifted asleep.
While Grace slept peacefully throughout the night, Jack could not close his eyes. His thoughts relentlessly returned to the idea his daughter had proposed. The notion excited and terrified him in equal measure.
"She isn't your wife," he repeated as if trying to ward off the unsettling thoughts. Yet, Jack knew that the seed of doubt had already been planted within him and would not quickly be dispelled. Grace wielded a mastery over persuasion, much like her mother before her. He felt defenseless against the persuasive onslaught of the Carter women, whether mother or daughter.
As the first light of dawn filtered into his hotel room, Jack resolved to shower and shave. He needed to return to the Mountain and have another conversation with this Samantha Carter. He needed to understand her intentions and unravel the mysteries of their connection in her reality. Without clarity on these matters, all the discussions and far-fetched ideas proposed by Grace would remain inconclusive.
Jack couldn't shake the nagging feeling that this Samantha Carter could no longer harbor feelings for him. It would abruptly end any further speculation or contemplation if that were the case. Determinedly, he prepared himself for the day ahead, bracing for the challenging conversation ahead.