LikeSteveMcQueenTwo.page

Like Steve McQueen.

by Mo Phillips.

Please make sure you have read the disclaimer before reading any further.

Part Two:

When the jaffa came they came in force and armed with zats and pain sticks. Jack and Sam sprang from the cell and attacked the first wave of guards with a ferocity born of the knowledge that they had to escape. Sam incapacitated two in the space of a second and a half before falling to her knees and shrieking her agony as the fierce orange flow of the pain stick radiated from her mouth and eyes.

"Cease your struggle, Tau'ri! Or, the woman dies!"

Jack froze in his attack on his third guard and put up his hands.

Sam was barely conscious, blood flowing freely from her burst mouth, when they were dragged into the main chamber on the ship a few minutes later. There were about a dozen people in the room besides assorted jaffa. It looked as if the goa'uld occupying the throne at the head of the hall had interrupted an audience with his loyal followers for this meeting. Jack's hands had been bound in front of him, a metal pole pushed between his elbows and his spine which his captors used to hold him back and push him to his knees in front of the dais.

"O'Neill." Apophis, looking hale and hearty, rose slowly from his throne, "It gives me pleasure to meet with you again."

He gestured to the two guards who held Sam's limp body by the arms and they dragged her towards the sarcophagus in the center of the room, a contingent of four men and a woman; in white, monk like, robes, moved after them. The woman bore a small, ornately carved box in both hands.

"Yeah, well. I'd like to say the same but that'd be a lie. Why the hell won't you just stay dead, you slimy --"

Apophis cocked his head and the guard on Jack's left struck him casually across the face, sending him sprawling. Jack spat blood as the guards hauled him back to his knees.

"Gods don't die, Tau'ri. But humans do. You will be silent or I will kill the woman."

Jack spat again, the gobbet of blood staining the front of Apophis' golden robe. The tyrant simply glanced at the mess and waited while a pliant young woman wiped it away with a cloth.

Behind him, Sam had been lifted and laid on her back on the lid of the sarcophagus, her feet dangling over the edge. She was groaning and moving slightly but was far from alert and able. The four monks each took hold of an extremity and, bowing their heads; they began a low, sibilant chant as their female cohort opened her box and removed two pieces of goa'uld technology.

Apophis was grinning lopsidedly as he stepped closer and jabbed his gold tipped index ginger under Jack's chin and forced him to look up at him.

"You hate me so much."

"It's the enslaving humans and trying to destroy our world thing, ya know?" Jack shrugged, "Give that up and I'm sure we could get along like a house on fire."

Apophis shook his head, "Why would I give it up when it gives me such pleasure? Do you have something else that would give me as much pleasure?"

Jack's face became an immobile mask as Sam's left boot landed by his knee.

"Perhaps..." Apophis stepped aside and gestured to the sarcophagus with a sweep of his arm, "Your woman?"

Jack didn't react to the sight of Sam, naked from the waist down. "She's not my woman," he said quietly.

Sam was fully awake now and fighting to loose herself from the iron grip of the four men who held her down. She shook her head violently, trying to dislodge the right palm of the woman from her forehead. The woman, ageless, blinded by cataracts, muttered the same verse as her male attendants.

"No." Apophis grinned, "From today she will always be mine."

"Don't touch her. I swear, if you touch her I'll rip that goddamn snake out of your head and make you eat the damn thing!" Jack tried to wrench himself loose of the three who held him. "Help her!" he appealed to the unmoving audience, "For God's sake! Some one, help her!"

Apophis kept smiling as he approached the end of the sarcophagus and held up his arms so that two girls could remove the lower part of his garment. His member was flaccid and white, like a creature kept too long in the dark.

"Jesus - no!" Jack screamed and almost broke free, falling again as the butt of a pain stick slammed into his temple. He was hauled back to his knees and this time a fourth guard reached over his skull and latched his fingertips into the orbits of his eyes, forcing him to keep his head up.

A jaffa came to Sam's head and pressed the blade of a knife to her throat, the razor edge drawing blood.

"Cease your struggle, Tau'ri bitch." He leaned down and hissed in her ear, "Accept your honor or your mate will die."

"No." Sam gasped and shook her head, "Don't do this. Please�" She raised her head and tracked the movement of the blind woman as she fitted a device similar to a hand device, without the wrist attachment, on one hand and picked up her healing device. "Please, help me." Sam's teeth chattered. The woman ignored her.

The two girls had manipulated Apophis to turgidity and now moved aside as he approached Sam. When he realized she was too far from him, a swift jerk of his head commanded that she be dragged down the sarcophagus lid towards him. For a brief second her left leg was free and she lashed out. If Apophis had not ducked back she would have sent him flying.

Jack was still struggling, fighting to distract Apophis from his goal - trying anything to delay his intent but his captors had him in too secure a grasp and all he could do was yell his frustration and fury.

Still the audience did nothing but observe expressionlessly.

"You will watch as I take your woman, Tau'ri scum. If you look away I will kill her, slowly." Apophis' hands played urgently at his crotch, "But," he gasped, "Before I do so, I will cut off your eyelids and break your neck so that you can neither turn aside nor close your eyes."

"Colonel..." Sam's voice was barely recognizable.

"Carter." Jack choked, "Oh god, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

She screamed as Apophis forced himself into her body and kept screaming until her voice failed.

"Carter... Carter. Oh, God, Sam." Her name was a litany on the colonel's lips as he was forced to watch her violation, "Hang on, Sam, just hang on." Tears soaked his face as Apophis crowed his pleasure and triumph, "I'll kill you for this, you sonuvabitch! I'll kill you, I swear!" Jack raged.

Sam was quiet now her body moving only in response to the goa'uld's thrusts.

The white robed woman murmured sibilantly as she waved the two alien devices over Sam's belly. Both glowed. The strange device emitting a sickly yellow glow as Apophis bellowed his climax. For a few moments he stood gasping and panting until the woman nodded and he stepped away.

"You bastard! You fucking, cold blooded, bastard. You're dead. Don't close your eyes, bastard, because when you open them I'll be there and�" Jack's tirade was cut short as a gesture from Apophis had one of the guards jab him with a pain stick.

"Sir," Sam was barely conscious but she saw him go down, "Colonel." She struggled to free herself from the acolytes but a shake of the white clad woman's head had them continue to restrain her. She slumped, unconscious.

"Take him away," Apophis ordered.

The next thing Jack was aware of was the smell of rust and blood and the sound of sobbing. He was lying on his back in the cell. He was still only for a second before rolling onto his belly and dragging himself to where Sam Carter was curled up in the dank corner of the cell.

"Carter. Carter." Jack pulled his battered body alongside her and pulled her into his arms.

She clutched at him in panic, "I thought you were dead. I thought you were dead," she sobbed.

He shook his head, "No. God, are you okay?"

Sam nodded, "They put me in the sarcophagus." She let him tilt her head to see that her face was marred only by her tears and distress.

"I don't understand." Jack frowned, causing the gash in his eyebrow to reopen and blood to flow freely down the side of his face.

"Sir - he told me- he told me that- that," she stammered to a dry halt.

"What is it?" Jack hugged her to him, ignoring the protests of his cracked and creaking ribs.

"The healer - she - I - they're going to heal you too then make us forget. Sir, he said they're going to let us go and we won't remember any of this."

Jack was silent for a while.

"Why?"

"I don't know. He didn't say."

"Dammit, Carter. There must be a reason."

"I know. I know that."

Sgsgsgsg

Selmak had moved part way through the story to stand at Jack's side. She had laid Jacob's hand on the younger man's shoulder and maintained a steady pressure throughout the duration.

"Well. The reason seems clear, colonel. I'm sorry. The woman you described, the woman in white, it sounds like she used a daa'umut to ensure conception. Apophis will come looking for the child."

Jack held his head in both hands and groaned. It sounded like the earth cracking open, "I remember now. When we got back to Earth I had rust under my finger nail. You know - a flake of rust. It drove me crazy until Carter made me go to the infirmary to get it removed. I couldn't explain where it had come from. I should have known then."

"No, Jack. It's not your fault," Selmak assured him. Jacob reasserted his dominance, "We'll kill the son of a bitch. Jack. I swear it."

"Jacob. I'm sorry."

"I told you when I first arrived that I knew you would have tried to protect her. I still believe that, Jack."

"I don't know ..." Jack shook his head, "I don't know how she's going to get over this. I don't know�"

Sgsgsgsg

"Major!" Karen leapt to her feet, her paperback book falling disregarded from her lap to the floor.

Major Sam Carter was standing by the desk outside the VIP room. She was wearing a rumpled, off white, tee shirt and a pair of light gray sweat pants and tennis shoes on bare feet.

"Hi. Janet said it would be okay if I went to the commissary," Sam said flatly, without looking at the nurse.

"Sure. Give me a second." Karen bent to retrieve her shoes.

"It's okay. I'm only going for some milk and cookies. I'll be back in five." Sam waved over her shoulder as she walked away.

Karen stood with one shoe in her hand, torn. Then she snatched up the receiver of the 'phone on the desk.

"Hello, doctor. Listen, Major Carter just got by me headed for the commissary...no. She seemed fine, said she would only be five minutes." Karen closed her eyes and listened, "Okay. If she's not back by then I'll call you back and go looking for her."

Sgsgsgsg

"Any more excitement?" Janet Fraiser had managed to wait fifteen minutes after that 'phone call before hurrying down to the VIP room to check things out for her self.

Karen shook her head, "No ma'am. The major was gone exactly five minutes and came back with her milk and cookies. She's still eating."

"Thanks, Karen."

Janet knocked lightly on the door before entering.

"Hey, Sam."

She was sitting at the table with a half empty glass of milk and a paper plate bearing a half eaten cookie and some crumbs in front of her.

"Hi." Sam started as if poked, "I wanted milk and cookies." She picked up the remaining half of the biscuit and gnawed on it half heartedly.

"So I heard. Did you sleep?" Janet perched on the adjacent chair.

"Some. I'm just going to lie down again though. I can't seem to shake this tiredness off." She frowned vaguely.

"It's your body's response to the shock and the stress, Sam. It'll pass." Janet laid a gentle hand on Sam's forearm and tried to get her to meet her eyes.

Sam avoided the doctor's warm, concerned gaze, "I hope so. I've got work to do."

"Take my word for it."

Sam nodded and smiled but her expression was distant.

"Okay. Well, I was just passing. Want to join me for dinner later?" Janet asked brightly, removing her hand from where it had lain unnoticed on Sam's arm.

"Sure." Sam nodded, rising and turning back to the bed.

Janet frowned, "I'll let you get some more rest."

Sgsgsgsg

Another twenty four hours passed. In the event Sam didn't join Janet for dinner or for supper or breakfast the next day. Instead she lay in the queen sized VIP bed in an apparently deep sleep.

Karen was persuaded to let Daniel sit with his friend for a couple of hours on the condition that he did not wake her. He was as good as his word and simply sat in the chair by the bed and read his book. A few hours after Daniel had departed Teal'c arrived and requested that he be allowed to stand vigil. He stood in the room beside the door with his eyes closed and his hands clasped behind his back. Then, at three in the morning, Jack O'Neill arrived. He looked like he hadn't slept for a week. Or eaten, for that matter.

"Sir? Are you okay?" Jake Thomas, Karen's substitute, asked, concern creasing his features.

"Yes. I'm just going to sit with her for a while," Jack answered hollowly.

A few minutes later Jake glanced at the monitor and frowned. Jack O'Neill was sitting in the chair next to the bed and his face was glistening with the tears that ran freely down his cheeks. Jake watched, transfixed for a few minutes but Jack made no move to dry his face. He simply sat, silently weeping. Jake switched off the tape. Rewound it and left it switched off until after the colonel left the room.

Sgsgsgsg

Sunday morning.

The base was subdued and had been for several days. From the sympathetic glances and polite, careful conversations the male members of SG1 had been on the receiving end of they realized that the news had gotten out. That the whole story was still un-broadcast became clear as Jack, Daniel and Teal'c breakfasted together. The commissary was busy but a neutral zone of empty seats surrounded the team's table. Finally Sergeant Davis approached.

"You drew the short straw, huh Walter?" Jack smiled humorlessly.

"I'm Norman, sir. Walt's on the later shift this week." The Davis twins were used to being mistaken for each other, "And, sort of, sir." Davis swallowed nervously, "What I mean to say, sir, is that we heard Major Carter isn't feeling so good. I just wanted to ask you to tell her that everyone misses her and we all hope she's feeling better soon."

"That's nice, sergeant," Daniel said quietly. "Sam will appreciate that."

"Thanks. Listen, sir. I know it's none of my business. None of anybody's business but we just wanted to let you know that we all think its okay."

Jack O'Neill was very very still. Teal'c tensed imperceptibly and Daniel held his breath.

"Uh, what's okay?" Daniel exhaled quickly.

"Well. You know." Davis shifted uncomfortably, "The major and the colonel --"

Jack lunged.

"Jack!" Daniel yelped.

"O'Neill!" Teal'c boomed.

"Sir!" Davis squeaked.

Jack pushed past him and strode out of the room.

"What did I say?" Davis blinked.

"It is a delicate matter, Sergeant Davis," Teal'c intoned.

"Regulations and all," added Daniel.

"Well, yeah, of course." Davis frowned, "But if Sam, I mean, Major Carter, is pregnant... I mean surely the situation has changed and they can stop pretending now?"

"How long do you think it's been going on, Norman?" asked Daniel

"Four, five years anyway. Everyone thought they'd go public when his knee finally gave out. Guess fate had other ideas huh?" Davis smiled.

"Yeah," Daniel nodded but couldn't muster a responding smile. "I guess."

Sgsgsgsg

"She's still sleeping, sir," Karen advised as Jack approached the room.

"Okay." Jack opened the door quietly and stepped inside. A moment later he reappeared and leaned over the desk to look at Sam's sleeping figure on the video monitor. He pursed his lips, glanced around the desk then stabbed a finger at the off button on the video recorder. Then he switched off the TV.

"Sir?" Karen frowned.

"Need a little privacy, lieutenant," he said gravely.

"Sir." Jake had told her about switching off the tape the other night.

"Why don't you go take a break? I'll take full responsibility if Fraiser finds out."

"Well..."

"Go ahead, Karen. Everything's fine here. I promise I won't leave your patient unattended."

The nurse finally nodded and headed away. Jack waited until she had disappeared from view before quietly reentering the guest room and locking the door behind him

"Never took you for a coward, Carter."

Contrary to the image that had been displayed on the monitor Sam Carter was not sleeping. She was sitting on the edge of the bed with her back to the door. She was wearing a tatty old gray MIT sweatshirt that was ripped at the neck and a pair of pristine white briefs. Her legs and feet were bare. She had pulled her clothing apart at her belly and had the snub nose of a hand gun pressed into her flesh to the right of her navel. She was staring at the gray cement wall opposite. Perspiration shone on her face and her hand was trembling.

Jack O'Neill crossed the room slowly, carefully, making no sudden moves. Noticing the jumble of wiring pulled out of the wall by the security camera, he lifted a chair and set it down in front of Sam and sat down. He rested his hands on his knees and sat back.

"What are you doing?" he asked calmly.

"I'm going to kill it," she responded firmly.

"Okay." Jack nodded. "Oh - wait. I see a problem with your plan. If you pull that trigger you'll probably blow out your spine. If you're not killed you'll be left crippled."

Sam shuddered. Then she shook her head, still staring at the wall, "Doesn't matter. I just have to get it out of me."

"Okay." Jack nodded agreeably, "Is the clip full?"

She frowned at that and struggled to focus her wide blue eyes on his. Her pupils were dilated and she looked lost and confused,

"What?"

"Is the clip full?" Jack gestured at the weapon.

"Why?"

"Because, after you've done killing yourself, I'm going to need to use the weapon."

Sam stared at him, her brows knitting as she struggled to make sense of the conversation, "Why?"

Jack smiled and leaned forward in his seat, "You don't think I'm going to let you go alone. Do you?"

Her wrist spasmed and the muzzle of the Berretta moved a little away from her abdomen, "What?"

"We go together, Carter. Or not at all." Jack shrugged.

Sam's composure crumbled and a fat tear slid down her cheek, "You can't. I can't..."

"I know." Jack leaned forward and carefully took hold of the muzzle of the weapon, "Let it go, Sam." He coaxed. The pistol slid from her suddenly slack grasp as her shoulders heaved, "Its okay. I'm right here."

Jack rose to his feet, quickly releasing the magazine which he dropped into one jacket pocket and checking the chamber before dropping the other half of the Beretta into the other pocket. Safety ensured, he pulled Sam into a fierce embrace. She came apart in his arms. All the pain and fear and shame that she had been bottling up pouring out of her now in a molten flow that scorched them both. Somehow, they ended up lying in the middle of the bed in a desperate press of bodies. Legs tangled, arms wound tight around each other. Sam's face was buried in his chest, her ear welded to the racing pound of his heart. Her breath and tears scalded him through the material of his tee-shirt but Jack cradled her head in one hand and held her in place.

The shaking and crying subsided after an eternity. Jack freed one hand to wipe at the mess of his face with his sleeve.

"I'm sorry." Sam's voice was ragged, as if her throat had been grazed by barbed wire.

"Don't be sorry. Don't ever be sorry." Jack hugged her tight, "Not for anything. Not for what happened here today and not for what that bastard did to you."

Sam rubbed her face against his breastbone and sobbed a little more. Jack dropped a kiss on the damp crown of her head.

"I'm sorry, Sam," he breathed. "Sorry this had to happen to you."

She chuckled mirthlessly, "Jolinar, alien energy probes, Apophis. Somewhere on my uniform it must say victim."

Jack rose onto his elbow causing Sam to turn onto her back, "No." He shook his head firmly, "It says survivor."

Although her face was blotched and swollen from the exertions of catharsis, her eyelids puffy and red, Sam Carter's azure eyes were clear and shining. Jack O'Neill, his face as ruined as hers, smiled.

"There you are." He sounded relieved, "Haven't seen you around for a while, major."

Sam smiled a little and shrugged, "Not quite been feeling myself lately, sir. Sorry."

"Don't let it happen again." Jack smiled and used the broad edge of his thumb to wipe away some of her tears.

"Thanks." She sighed tiredly, "I'm glad you're here, sir. I mean� I'm glad we're friends."

"We'll always be friends, Carter. We agreed, remember?" She nodded, her eyes drifting shut. "I don't know if this is the right time to tell you this�" He grimaced and trailed off.

"What?" Sam snuggled closer to his chest showing every intention of simply falling asleep.

"Pretty much every one assumes it's my kid."

Sam opened her eyes and gazed at him for a long moment, "Oh."

"Hammond knows that it's not. He knows we've stuck to the agreement we made with him. But�"

"Oh."

"Carter� Sam. It's okay with me if you want to leave it at that. As long as Hammond knows the truth we're okay. I mean with the Air Force and all."

"I� I don't know." She frowned, as if thinking about the idea hurt, and turned onto her side, curling up away from him.

Jack was way out of his depth but knowing that didn't stop him trying to help.

"Look, for your safety, it's probably best if as few people know the truth as is possible."

"What do you mean?" Sam looked over her shoulder as he sat up.

"If the kid is Harsesis how many people here on earth, let alone out there," Jack gestured at the ceiling, "will want a piece of him? You'd probably be safer if as many people as possible think that I knocked you up." She blinked at his choice of phrase. "You know what I mean." Sam nodded and turned away again. "Also�" Jack waited until she looked at him again, "� it'll do my reputation a power of good." Sam grabbed a pillow and swung it at him hard. Laughing, O'Neill jumped off the bed, snatched the pillow from her then bent to tuck it under her head, "Get some rest."

"Yes sir."

Jack turned to the sabotaged camera and squinted at the mess of wiring and clips.

"Sir?"

"Yeah?" He tugged the makeshift bypass free.

"I� would you stay? Just 'til I fall asleep?"

"Sure. Give me one second." He quickly crossed to the door, leaving the room for long enough to reactivate the monitoring station. Then he returned and sat on the edge of the bed to remove his boots. A moment later he rolled over and pulled her into a spoon and held her until long after she had fallen asleep.

Sgsgsgsg

Karen, returning a few minutes later, switched on the monitor, stared at the picture in disbelief and quickly turned it off again. After a moment she doubted what she had seen and turned it back on again. She studied the two immobile bodies in the bed for a long moment then grinned and turned the set off again. She studied the trace of Major Carter's vital signs on the PC screen and sat back, satisfied. She lifted the receiver,

"Doctor Fraiser? Everything's fine but I think you're going to want to come down here. No - there's no hurry."

Sgsgsgsg

A familiar voice. Pitched low, speaking soft unfamiliar words. Latin words?

Jack opened his eyes and frowned. He was warm and comfortable and the voice, pleasant as it was, was disturbing his sleep. He raised his head.

"Hey Jack." Daniel nodded as the colonel's face appeared over Sam's shoulder.

"Daniel? What the hell are you doing?" Jack groused.

"Reading." Daniel lowered his eyes to the yellowed pages in his lap.

"I know that. Why?" Jack kept his voice low realizing that Sam was still sleeping.

"I often read to Sam when she's in the infirmary." Daniel supplied.

"Oh...okay." Jack shrugged and lay back down. A moment later he popped up again.

"I gotta pee."

"She was pretty restless, Jack." Daniel shook his head.

"Then get over here and take my place."

"Uh� are you sure that's a good idea?"

Jack paused in his careful efforts to extricate his right arm from beneath Sam's cheek, "Oh for crying out loud, Daniel. We're just friends. You are a friend too so get over here and do your friendly duty."

Daniel blinked as he processed Jack's sentence then he shrugged and rose from his seat.

"Janet�" Sam murmured, moving restlessly as Jack finally managed to get up.

"No. It's me, Sam, Daniel. You're okay. Jack's here too." Daniel sat beside her and smiled softly as she opened one eye. "Is it okay if I stay with you for a little while?"

Sam nodded sleepily and reached for him as he lay down awkwardly.

"Relax, Daniel." Jack brought his boots around and sat on the edge of the bed at the archaeologist's hip. "All you have to do is hold on." Jack bent to lace his boots. "Carter's got the hard part to do, Daniel. All we have to do is be here."

"Have you been watching Oprah again, Jack?" Daniel asked, settling himself on top of the covers and covering Sam's hand with his own where it was curled on his stomach.

Jack sighed patiently, "What I'm trying to say�"

"I know what you're trying to say, Jack." Daniel let him off the hook, "Go pee."

Sgsgsgsg

Daniel had not moved a little while later when Janet Fraiser slipped quietly into the room. Absorbed in his book he didn't notice her until she sat on the other side of the bed. He lowered his book and watched as the doctor struggled to compose her expression.

"It's okay to be upset, Janet," he said quietly. She looked at him, startled by his frank regard, "In fact, I'd be worried about what kind of friend, never mind doctor, you were if you weren't upset."

Janet nodded and dashed an errant tear from her eye, "I hate it when she's hurt."

"Of course you do. You're her best friend." Daniel nodded.

"Oh Daniel�" Janet sighed but pulled herself up short. "Of course. But I'm also her doctor so I have to be� professional."

"Which is good. As long as you don't forget to be her friend too."

Janet nodded then frowned, "Last time I looked O'Neill was here."

"He had to pee. Actually� I should've gone before I let him go. Can you�?" His gesture asked if Janet would take his place.

After a second's hesitation, Janet nodded. "I'm on a break. If you could be back in fifteen minutes?"

"I think I can manage that." Daniel tossed his book onto the chair by the bed and began the process of moving himself out from under Sam's arm. When she began to wake, sobbing, Janet moved quickly to take his place. Pulling Sam into a tight embrace and murmuring comforts in her hair. After waiting for a moment to see that Sam settled, Daniel left at a trot.

Janet lay on her side with Sam curled up into her, her face buried in the soft part of the doctor's shoulder as she smoothed her palm in a reassuring circle on the major's back. Sam muttered something and pressed closer, slipping her left arm over Janet's hip and tightening her embrace.

"Sshh�its okay, sweetie. You're okay." Janet bent her head to press a light kiss against Sam's ear, "Sshhh now."

"I miss my mom," Sam said, her voice small and quiet.

"I know, baby. Of course you do." Janet soothed, stroking the hair away from Sam's ear and kissing her lightly again.

"I want my mom." Sam was barely awake.

"I know, Sam and I'd bet she would give anything to be here if she could." Janet blinked back her tears.

"Janet." Sam sobbed and clutched the smaller woman closer, "Janet."

"Oh, baby. It's okay. I'm here." Janet's heart broke and she began to sob too.

Sgsgsgsg

Having relieved his bladder, Daniel had decided to get a refill before returning to the A3 suite and had found his cohorts at a table in the commissary.

"Are you sure you're okay with that, Jack? I mean - isn't getting your direct subordinate pregnant a courts martial offence?"

Jack swirled the remnants of his coffee around his mug and shrugged, "Only if it happens to be true. Which it isn't."

"I guess." Daniel glanced at his watch, "Anyway, Janet needs to be back on duty in five minutes but Nyan just caught me out in the hall. He thinks he's come up with something important in the artifacts SG 4 brought back."

"I'd go back but Hammond wants me in his office in ten." Jack grimaced.

The two earth born men turned their eyes on Teal'c who returned their gaze implacably for a long moment. Then he inclined his head, "Then I shall take the next watch."

"Uh� it's not exactly like that, Teal'c."

"I understand, Daniel Jackson."

"No� I mean."

"The guy says he understands, Spacemonkey. Leave it alone."

"Jack�"

Daniel was still trying to persuade Jack that he did not think Teal'c did understand long minutes after the warrior had left for his post.

Sgsgsgsg

Jacob Carter was with General Hammond. He had changed out of his Tok'ra garb into a set of anonymous blue BDUs suggesting that he was planning on staying a while.

"It's as good a cover story as any, Jacob," Hammond said thoughtfully.

Jack had immediately filled the two generals in on the current round of speculation going around the base.

"Are you sure you don't mind, Jack?" Jacob asked.

Jack shrugged, "She's my best friend. Why would I mind?"

"It could be awkward for you. For you both."

Jack pursed his lips, "Look, it's just 'til the kid's born, right? Once Carter is safe we can let the truth be known. Or, at least enough of it to let her off the hook."

"And what about the child?" Selmak surfaced.

Jack was silent for a long time, thinking about the Beretta that was still a weight in his pocket, "Wouldn't you guys take him?"

Selmak nodded immediately, "Of course." Jacob blinked back into being, "It's my damn grand kid, Jack. He'd be as safe as I can make him with the Tok'ra."

"So, this isn't going to ruin her career. A coupla months and it's all over."

"I hope it'll be that easy, Jack." Hammond steepled his fingers, "Meanwhile, Major Carter is, of course, on indefinite medical leave. As such she will need to be replaced on SG1. You have 7 days to select a stand in."

"We can operate as a three man�" Jack began.

"That's not acceptable, Colonel. Not for the length of time we're looking at here."

Sgsgsgsg

Jacob tapped lightly on the wood frame as he opened the door to the VIP room. He entered and stood for a moment in utter astonishment as he took in the silent tableau. His daughter was fast asleep, curled up under the covers with Teal'c half sitting, half lying down beside her. The jaffa had Daniel's book in one hand whilst the other gently petted the blonde head pillowed on his stomach.

Jacob cleared his throat quietly causing Teal'c to lay down the text, "General Carter." He made no move to rise.

"Uh�Teal'c. How's she doing?"

"Major Carter has been quite disturbed. She seems only to sleep when in contact with some one she trusts. I am honored that she counts me as such."

The rumble of Teal'c bass, despite his lowered tone, disturbed Sam and she lifted her head, blinking sleepily, "What time is it?"

"Almost seventeen hundred hours, kiddo. You hungry?" Jacob folded his arms as he approached the bed.

Sam screwed her eyes closed and frowned, "What day is it? I've kinda lost track."

"It is Sunday," Teal'c supplied. "If you require it I will gladly bring you food from the commissary."

Sam grimaced, "Maybe later." She propped herself up on her elbows, "When did you get back, Dad?"

"A little while ago. I have a little less than twenty four hours before I have to go. Can your old man hang out for a while?"

"Sure. I don't know how much company I'll be though. I keep falling asleep on every one." Sam smiled ruefully, sharing a glance with her current bed mate.

Teal'c lifted one eyebrow a little and the corner of his mouth twitched. Practically a full fledged Jaffa grin, "I will go."

"Not on my account, Teal'c," Jacob said quickly.

"Not on your account, General Carter." Teal'c rose gracefully to his feet as Sam sat up, hugging her knees. "I shall return." Teal'c bowed fractionally to his team mate then vacated the room.

For a long moment father and daughter shared an awkward silence.

"I'm sorry, Dad." Sam sighed.

"Huh?" Jacob looked confused, "What for?"

"I don't know. Everything I guess." Sam rested her cheek on her knees.

Jacob, frowning intensely, sat on the edge of the bed, facing her, "You have absolutely nothing to apologize for. Jack told me what happened. Or rather he told Selmak. He didn't want to tell me."

"He tried so hard to stop� it happening, Dad. I thought they'd killed him." Sam held her head in her hands, golden hair spilling through her fingers.

"I know." Jacob nodded. He reached out and took one of her hands, "And I know you tried your damnedest too, Sam. There's only one thing that matters now." Sam lifted her head, blue eyes huge in a face that seemed all shadows and sharp edges. "You. Keeping you safe and well."

Tears welled and Sam reached for her father.

Sgsgsgsg

Tuesday.

"All I seem to want to do is sleep." Sam pushed her self up on one elbow in the bed.

Janet nodded but her lips were pursed, "I'd like to do some more blood tests, Sam. Of course it would help if you would eat something." Janet nodded at the tray she had brought with her.

Sam pulled a face, "I don't know if I could keep anything down."

"Will you try? For me?" Janet dimpled.

Sam rolled her eyes and nodded and Janet fetched the tray over from the table top. She set it down on the royal blue counterpane and sat down, careful not to tip the tray. The two women surveyed the moveable feast before them.

"Maybe the soup?"

Sam shook her head. Her lips tightly compressed.

"I think this is fish. I don't know what kind and I have no idea what the sauce is."

Sam shook her head more emphatically. She was looking distinctly bilious.

"Okay. Pudding?" Janet gestured to the yellow mass that lay quivering in the bottom of a shallow bowl.

"Gotta go." Sam shoved the tray into Janet's hands and scrambled out from under the covers. Her gait was less than steady as she made for the en suite. Janet ditched the tray on the floor and gave chase, finding her friend hugging the porcelain bowl and moaning wretchedly.

"This isn't fair..." Tears wet Sam's ashen face, "its bad enough I have to be...have to be..." She screwed up her face and forced the word, "pregnant..." from her mouth. "I have to get sick as well."

Janet rubbed Sam's pajama clad back between her shoulder blades in sympathy, crouching beside her.

"I know kiddo. You know, you may not believe this..." She paused as Sam retched emptily, "But I'm actually a little jealous."

Sam cut a disbelieving glance at Janet who nodded with a wry shrug. "I never took you for a masochist, Janet."

"Multiple syllables," Janet observed, "You must be feeling better. Come on. Back to bed."

She held Sam's arm and supported her back to the bed. She noticed the trembling in the taller woman's frame and the uncertain path of her feet.

"I'm getting a little anxious about your condition, Sam. You've already lost weight and you're a little dehydrated."

"I'm not going back to the infirmary," Sam interrupted as hotly as she could muster strength for.

"I know," Janet placated and held up the covers to shepherd Sam into a recumbent position, "But I'm going to put you on a glucose drip and I'm going to get Robin back down here to check you out."

Janet fussed about. She tucked the covers in neatly and removed the tray back to the table so that its odors would not offend Sam and send her rushing for the lavatory again.

"What did you mean?" Sam asked.

"Huh?" Janet pretended not to know what she was referring to.

"In the john. You said you were a little jealous."

Janet stood with her hands on her hips and looked at Sam from under her lowered brows for a long, thoughtful moment. Then she nodded to herself and came back to sit on the bed. She took Sam's long fingered hand in her own and studied the grasp for a minute before shrugging,

"You know I was married?"

"Yeah," Sam squeezed her fingers encouragingly, "You left him."

Janet nodded, "I never told you why."

"He was a pig. I got that."

Janet met Sam's eyes and her gaze was serious and pained, "He was worse than that. He was a jealous control freak."

"Sounds familiar," Sam said wryly.

Janet nodded," I know. Jonas was the same. I wanted to tell you about Jim when you told me about him but I couldn't bring myself..." Janet dashed a solitary tear from her cheek. "Hell. He can still do this to me and I haven't seen him for more than ten years."

"Tell me now," Sam urged.

"He wasn't exactly like Jonas. He never laid a finger on me except for the once. His weapons were words." Janet considered for a moment, "Well, maybe he was exactly like... anyway. The one time he did hit me... he got it into his head that I'd been cheating on him." Sam gripped her friend's hand tight. "It was after that that I left him."

"What happened, Janet?" Sam pressed.

Janet's face was white and stiff, "I was pregnant. A little boy." She took a deep breath, "He was still born at seven months after Jim knocked me downstairs."

"I'm sorry." Sam pulled the smaller woman into a tight hug, "I'm so sorry."

"No. You don't understand." Janet pulled away, "He didn't just kill our son, Sam. He took away all my babies. I was left unable to carry a child the damage was so severe." Janet wrapped her arms around herself. She was shaking.

"I'm so sorry." Tears slipped over Sam's lashes and slid down her pale cheeks.

"So, even though it's completely irrational," Janet stood up and took a few paces away from the bed, her spine straight and rigid, "I can't help but be a little jealous of you. I know it's crazy." Janet's eyes were over flowing but her voice was calm, almost indifferent.

"It's not crazy, Janet." Sam shook her head and swabbed the wetness from her face with both hands, "I'm sorry I put you through any of this. Look, if it helps you, Robin can be my doctor."

"Uh uh." Janet shook her head, turning back to face Sam, "No way. I'm your doctor, Sam. I didn't tell you this so that you would release me from my duty to you as a friend. I told you so that you would understand why I think you should carry this child to term."

Sam froze.

"It's an innocent, Sam." Janet spoke softly, "No matter whom its father is or how it came to be - the baby deserves a chance."

"I can't listen to this just now, Janet." Sam rolled onto her side presenting her back to the doctor who moved to lay a cautious hand on her shoulder.

"I know. I'm sorry. I just had to tell you, Sam. As your friend, not as your doctor. As your doctor I will follow your wishes."

Sam nodded and tucked her head down, pulling the covers up and effectively hiding herself from view.

"I'll be back in about an hour with the drip." Janet sighed and left the room.

Sgsgsgsg

Wednesday morning. 4 a.m.

Jack relieved Teal'c at midnight. When he arrived the Jaffa was sitting cross legged on the mattress beside his team mate in a light meditative state. He roused the moment Jack entered and they traded duties without a word. Sam was lying asleep on her back on the right side of the bed. Her right arm was lying on top of the covers, a drip inserted into her elbow. Jack sat on the edge of the bed and watched her sleep for some time, His eyes tracing the new lines around her eyes and mouth and the blue threads of veins exposed by the translucency of her skin. He could see the pulse beating in her throat and only its steady rhythm reassured him enough to set aside his anxiety for her. He rolled onto the bed beside her and drifted into a light sleep.

Thus it was that he awoke the instant her body tensed in its moment's prelude to the convulsion that seized hold of her as he bolted to his knees.

"Carter! Jesus!" He held her shoulders down in the pillows as her spine arched and her limbs thrashed.

"Warner's on his way." Jake burst in and helped Jack to restrain Sam. Her eyes were open but only the whites showed as the orbs had turned back in her skull. Blood from her bitten through lip splattered Jack's face.

He was gaunt and shaken when Doctor Warner arrived a few minutes later. Sam was lying quiet and still, her breathing stentorian and labored. Jake was clutching her wrist and monitoring her pulse intently.

"What happened?" Warner lifted Sam's eyelid and flashed his penlight in her eye.

"She suddenly went into seizure, doctor." Jake supplied anxiously.

"Okay..." A gurney, ushered by two nurses and an orderly, burst into the room. "She's stable for the moment, colonel, but I want her back in the infirmary. Now."

Jack nodded and climbed off the bed. He watched as Sam's limp, unresponsive body was lifted onto the trolley and swaddled in blankets. He grabbed his boots and followed as the medics and their passenger swept out.

Sgsgsgsg

"What's going on?" Daniel had taken the time to dress but had done so hurriedly. His tee shirt was on inside out and his BDU jacket was buttoned up incorrectly.

"I have no idea. She just started to convulse." Jack had his boots in his hand.

"What is happening?" Teal'c appeared as if out of nowhere. As ever he looked immaculate.

"We don't know yet," Daniel replied. "Put your boots on, Jack. This floor will chill you to your bones."

Jack nodded absently and bent down to obey Daniel's quietly spoken instruction.

"Is she all right?" General Hammond joined the team waiting just inside the door to the infirmary's main ward. Sam was being worked on in the bed in the far corner surrounded by a huddle of medical personnel. He was wearing an Air Force sweater over his pajamas.

"We do not yet know," Teal'c replied solemnly.

"She went into convulsions, sir," Jack informed him tersely, his eyes never leaving the other end of the room.

"Maybe we should wait outside, people." Hammond suggested as an orderly broke away from the bedside and retrieved the ultra sound scanner from its position near the wall.

"Colonel O'Neill." Bill Warner's voice floated out of the melee. He took off as if jabbed with a cattle prod.

"Doc?" A space had opened up for him at his elbow.

"The major asked for you." Warner nodded distractedly.

An oxygen mask obscured much of her face but Sam was clearly awake. Her complexion was pallid, tinged with gray, and her hair was plastered to her forehead but her eyes were open and clear, if exhausted. Jack grinned his relief and took up her hand bending at the waist to rest his elbows on the bed. He squeezed her hand.

"How ya doin'?"

Sam rolled her eyes, "Don't feel so good."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Jack straightened, "What's going on, doc?"

Although Jack had asked the question the doctor addressed his answer to his patient.

"Your potassium level suddenly bottomed out, major. You were a few seconds away from heart failure. I've given you potassium IV but you're not getting out of this bed until we figure out what caused your level to fall."

Sam nodded tiredly.

"How's the kid?" Jack asked. Sam's grip on his hand tightened painfully.

"We'll just see."

While they had been talking a technician had prepped the sonogram and now handed the head of the device to Warner.

"Can you tuck your pants down a little for me, major?" Warner asked. "This may be a little cold. Lindsay?"

Warner nodded to the technician, Lindsay, who squirted a blob of gel onto Sam's exposed belly. Sam flinched and Jack rubbed her fingers sympathetically. Warner swabbed the gel about a little with the transducer then pressed it into Sam's flesh and turned to the monitor. Lindsay fiddled with a few dials and knobs then:

"There we go," The doctor murmured his gaze fixed on the foggy image of the screen.

"Doctor..." Sam's voice shook.

A breath that no-one realized they were holding was released as a swooshing, tidal sound suddenly echoed through the cavernous room.

"Heart beat is steady." Warner smiled, "Everything looks fine, major."

Jack had not taken his eyes off the woman in the bed, "You okay?" he asked as she swallowed and closed her eyes. She nodded. He waited another second then turned to study the grainy image on the screen. "I think it's a boy. You think it's a boy, doc?"

Warner looked amused, "Do you want to know, major?"

Her eyes still closed, Sam shook her head.

"Sorry, colonel."

"That's okay." Jack shrugged, a lopsided grin plastered across his face, "It's a boy."

"Congratulations, sir." Lindsay smiled.

For a second Jack just stared at her then he grinned, "Definitely a boy."

Sgsgsgsg

Jacob Carter had arrived back in the SGC and met, immediately, with the male members of SG1 and General Hammond in the briefing room.

"As you are already aware; the rumors of Apophis' demise were, sadly, untrue." Jacob sat with his hands neatly folded at his waist, "We don't know how the hell he managed it but somehow, obviously, he survived the impact. Right now, he's keeping a really low profile. It's as if he's vanished. No one has heard of him for weeks now."

"He'll be up to something." Daniel observed, sipping from his steaming coffee mug as he joined Jack, Teal'c and General Hammond at the briefing table.

"Yeah," Jacob nodded tiredly. "That's a given."

"What about the Asgard?" Jack asked. He was leaning back in his seat, hands clasped at his waist.

"Thor sends his regards and good wishes to Sam but regrets that there's nothing in the Protected Planets treaty to give the Asgard any kind of jurisdiction in this matter. Also, the creation of a Harsesis is an internal Goa'uld issue so it's a double negative."

Jack pursed his lips and shook his head.

"Is there any good news?" Hammond asked.

"Well - as long as Sam is on Earth she's as protected from the goa'uld as any other citizen of the planet. If Apophis so much as enters the solar system the Asgard will be all over him like a rash."

"He has to know that." Daniel frowned.

"He won't stage an all out assault. He'll either bide his time or..." Jacob said.

"Send someone else. Someone not goa'uld," finished Jack.

"I'll assign twenty four hour protection to Major Carter any time she goes off base."

"Thank you," Jacob and Jack said at the same time.

"You know..." Daniel pondered, "Maybe we should try to take Sam off world. Maybe to the Nox."

"No." Jacob shook his head vehemently, "Apophis would destroy their world to get to the Harsesis. I know the Nox think they could protect themselves but he would commit his every resource to the battle. He'd vaporize the planet if they stood in his way."

"He has that much power?" Daniel asked.

Jacob nodded and bowed his head briefly as Selmak took control, "Don't under estimate the power of superstition, Doctor Jackson. How many times has Apophis died only to rise?"

"Yeah - that old resurrection trick. Knocks 'em on their ass every time." drawled Jack.

"It is true. Even the other System Lords will be awed by Apophis' return to vigor," Teal'c intoned.

"Great. A real energizer bunny." Jack sat up straight, "No way is Sam going off world, Daniel. Sorry. The SGC is probably the safest place for her just now."

"So, what? We're going to keep her locked up down here forever?"

"No, Daniel, once the Harsesis is delivered Major Carter will no longer be of any importance to Apophis," said Teal'c.

"You know I wish everyone would stop referring to it as the Harsesis. It's a baby. Sam's baby," Daniel said hotly.

"You're right, Daniel. I'm sorry." Jacob sighed. There was a moments silence in the briefing room, "Where is my daughter, George?"

"Back in the infirmary, I'm afraid."

"She's okay," Daniel added quickly as alarm flared across Jacob's features.

Sgsgsgsg

Sam was propped up in a mound of pillows, a drip in her right arm and a nasal cannula fixed in place. She was slumped slightly to her right, her eyes closed. Her pale complexion looked almost sallow against the pistachio colored pillow case. Daniel, Jack and Jacob stood in the entrance to the isolation room that Janet had had turned into a one bed ward in an attempt to give Sam some privacy.

"She's so thin." Jacob frowned, "What the hell's been going on Jack?"

"She's been having trouble keeping food down," Daniel supplied.

"Also her electrolyte balance was way off," Jack added. "Doctor Fraiser has her on a potassium drip as well as the usual glucose."

"Is she in any danger?"

It had escaped no-one's attention that Sam had not moved during their exchange. They were being quiet but all three knew that Major Sam Carter would normally - even lying injured or concussed - have reacted to them.

"Yes." Janet had seen the trio arriving and now joined them having finished with her other patient, "I'm sorry, Jacob. But yes. Even a normal pregnancy would threaten the mother by causing this level of anorexia. We've managed to re-hydrate her with the drip and she's getting some nutrition too but it's not enough. We don't know why her potassium level suddenly plunged or what effect the goa'uld device is actually having." Janet sounded like she was barely hanging onto her composure, "I'm sorry."

"It's all right." Daniel draped an arm around the small woman and pressed his cheek to her temple, "No one could be trying any harder to help Sam than you are."

"Thanks." Janet returned his embrace tightly then broke free, moving to the side of the bed and laying the back of her fingers against Sam's cheek. She sighed, "I just wish there was more..."

Selmak's fury flared in Jacob's eyes, "I will return through the Stargate with assistance as soon as I can." Jacob returned, "But first - can I have five minutes?"

Janet nodded and shepherded the others away.

Jacob studied his daughter for a few moments then sighed, his shoulders sagging. Then he straightened and moved to the right of the bed. He took Sam's cool fingers in his own and raised them to his lips,

"Hey, Sammie," He stroked a fall of blonde hair back from her eyes, "I don't know if you can hear me kid and I know you need your rest so don't worry about waking up if you can. I just want to tell you that I love you. I'm going away but I'll be back as soon as I can with help so just hang on." He swallowed, "Hang on, baby." He leaned in and pressed a warm kiss to her brow, "Hang on." He squeezed her hand then carefully laid it back in her lap, "I'll be back soon. I promise." He stepped back and stared at her, unblinking for a long moment, freeze framing a snap shot of her in his mind. Then he turned and left quickly.

Sgsgsgsg

"What help do you think you can bring, Jacob?" Hammond was seeing the Tok'ra off.

"Chevron six encoded." Davis' voice echoed over the tannoy, "Locked."

"Some one somewhere - either Tok'ra or Goa'uld - has experience of this situation, George. I refuse to believe that Apophis is the first Goa'uld to have tried something like this..."

"Samantha is a rather unique individual, Jacob. Are you sure?"

Carter neither nodded nor shook his head. "I'll get some sort of help, George. If the damn Tok'ra insist on staying on their high horses this time and it turns out they could help," Jacob paused and pursed his lips, "I'll quit. They can take Selmak outta me. I don't care. They have to realize that I can't let my baby girl suffer when there's a way to help her." Jacob's eyes unfocussed and Hammond waited politely for the internal conversation to end, "Selmak says she would regret the decision but agrees with me." His eyes flared, "Jacob speaks the truth. I too would be furious with the Tok'ra if they refused to give what aid they could."

"Don't do anything hasty," Hammond counseled.

"Chevron seven encoded - and locked."

"I'll try to find the blind woman, too. She might know something."

Hammond and Carter gripped hands tightly then nodded to each other. Carter took the ramp in long strides and vanished.

Sgsgsgsg

Robin Giggs, wearing a white coat over her blue BDUs and a shiny new SGC id on her pocket, stood beside Janet at the light box on the wall in Sam Carter's private room. Their patient had not stirred when they had arrived. They were studying a series of translucencies.

"It hasn't moved or altered in any way." Giggs tapped her immaculately manicured finger nail against the gray shadow on the film.

"No," Janet agreed, "But I still think it's responsible for the electrolyte imbalance."

"You may be right although it's not unusual for a pregnancy to set that off. Rare but not unusual."

"Treatment?"

"Keep doing what you're doing. Monitor the patient's condition closely." They turned to consider the patient, "Of course it would be a big help if we could stabilize the nausea enough that she could eat."

"Is it related?"

"Could be." Giggs shrugged, "But this kind of hyper emesis is far from rare so maybe not." She caught Janet looking at her skeptically, "I'm sorry. That's the best I can tell you."

"Thanks," Janet said dryly. Then she smiled apologetically, "Sorry, Rob. It's hard. Y'know. Being Sam and all."

"I know. How long has she been asleep?"

Janet looked at her watch, "Almost twelve hours."

"When she wakes up, give her this," Giggs scribbled on a prescription pad and handed it to Janet, "Leave it an hour then give her whatever she wants to eat. Excluding the usual suspects of course."

Janet smiled, "I think I can think of a few volunteers who would be happy to travel to the four corners of the earth to bring her anything she wants." She paused then grinned, "Maybe even further."

"That's right. You promised me a look at this Stargate."

"Let me just speak to the nurses then I'll be happy to give you the tour."

Sgsgsgsg

"You want what?" Daniel was sitting up on the edge of the bed.

"Cottage pie." Sam was awake but still supported by her pile of pillows.

"What the hell is that?" Jack clutched his head as if she had asked for a phoenix egg cooked in Yeti milk.

"Ground beef and vegetables cooked in a pie dish and topped with potato," Daniel described. "It's an English dish."

"Well okay." Jack nodded, "Think the commissary can handle it?"

Sam and Daniel pulled an identical face.

"Okay..." Jack narrowed his eyes and thought for a few minutes, "Ground beef huh?"

Sam nodded.

"I think I can handle that."

"You're going to cook?" Daniel looked shocked.

Jack nodded, "I can cook."

"Well... okay." Daniel nodded, "How long will it take?"

"Won't be ready before tomorrow,"

"McDonalds," Sam said quickly. "Big Mac, fries. Lots of fries."

"Daniel." Jack nodded.

"I'm on it." The archaeologist planted a kiss on Sam's cheek - surprising him self as much as her. "Ah - sorry?"

"No." Sam shook her head, a tinge of pink rising to her porcelain pale cheeks, "its okay. Kinda nice actually."

"Well." Daniel grinned and jumped off the bed, "Back soon." He shot out of the room.

"Kids today." Jack smiled.

"Yeah." Sam turned her head on the pillow, "You look tired, sir."

"Girl friend had me up all night." Jack shrugged.

"Girlfriend?" Sam grinned, "Anyone I know?"

Jack shook his head and moved to lean against the edge of the bed his hands shoved deep in his pockets.

For a few minutes no one said anything. Then Sam sighed and touched his jacket.

"Sorry."

"Huh?" Jack looked over his shoulder, "What?"

"For scaring you like that."

Jack turned to face her, "Hardly your fault." He took her hand and studied her long fingers, "How're you doing?"

"Okay," Sam answered.

He looked into her eyes and scrutinized their depths for a long moment then relaxed and smiled, "Well okay."

Sam closed her eyes, her lips thinning as she grimaced and shifted uncomfortably in the bed.

"Y'okay?" Jack frowned.

Sam opened her eyes and studied him for a moment, "I need to pee."

"Oh. Okay." Jack cast about the room looking for what, he wasn't quite sure.

"Bathroom's just down the hallway," Sam suggested.

"Shouldn't you get one of those bed pan things? I could get a nurse..."

"No. I... would you help me?"

"Sure!" Jack moved quickly to tug back the covers and hovered while Sam lifted her legs and turned so she was sitting on the edge of the bed. "Wait!" Jack held up his hand and vanished from the room so fast he left Sam blinking. A minute later he was back brandishing a pair of throwaway slippers and a green robe, "Here ya go."

He bent down and slipped the felt slippers on her feet, noticing how cold they were, then, he reached around her to help her pull the sleeves on. Sam slipped off the edge of the bed and straightened up carefully. They stood for a long moment, Jack's hands raised to grab her should she so much as look like she was going to fall.

"You look a little white."

"I feel a little dizzy but I'm okay."

"Well... okay. C'mon then." Jack folded her arm over his and turned to escort her from the room. They didn't speak for the minute or two it took to make the short trip. O'Neill noticed but made no mention of her frailty.

"Thanks." Sam opened the door and considered the large facility within. The stainless steel and pristine white porcelain gleamed immaculately.

"No trouble. I'll wait here. Just holler if you need me."

"Will do." Sam nodded and entered the room, tightening the belt on the robe as she pulled the door almost but not quite closed.

Jack assumed a parade at rest stance in the hallway, his hands loosely grasped behind his back.

Five minutes passed.

"Carter? You okay in there?"

"I need a toothbrush." Her voice echoed.

"Oh... okay." Jack looked around, "Can it wait?"

"I haven't showered for three days, colonel, and my breath could knock over a horse."

"I'll take that as a no, then." Jack looked again, taking a few paces away from his post. He spotted a young airman sitting on the edge of a gurney.

"Airman!" Jack hissed.

The youth's head jerked up, "Sir?"

"C'mere." Jack gestured.

"Sir? Doctor Fraiser told me to wait a half hour before --"

"Yeah. Sure. C'mere."

The smooth faced young man hopped off his perch and hurried over to Jack. His posture stiffening as he recognized the colonel.

"Sir!"

"Shh! You want to get us both in trouble?"

"Sir?"

"I need you to go to SG1's locker room and fetch a wash bag for me."

"Sir?" The boy frowned.

"Give me your hand." Jack demanded.

"Sir?"

"It's all right," Jack squinted at the name badge on the boy's narrow chest, "Johnson. Here..." Jack snatched a ball point pen out of Johnson's breast pocket and scribbled quickly on his palm. "That's the combination for the lock on my locker. The wash bag is on the shelf at eyelevel. You have three minutes."

Light dawned in Johnson's amber eyes, "This is a test, sir? Sir! Yes sir!" He snapped off a brisk salute then turned and sprinted away.

"One toothbrush coming up."

Sgsgsgsg

When Janet heard about Sam's excursion to the bathroom - which she did about five seconds after Jack had finished tucking the major back up in her bed - she went very, very quiet. She left the room as Daniel arrived bearing several large brown bags and did not return for an hour. By that time Sam was curled on her side trying to read a paperback novel.

"Janet." Sam studied her friend for a while before sitting up and laying her book down, "I'm in trouble aren't I?"

Janet nodded briskly. Her lips pressed together her eyes gleaming suspiciously.

"I'm sorry," Sam began.

"I specifically told you not to get out of that bed, Sam." Janet planted her fists on her hips, "I didn't tell you that for the good of my health. I didn't tell you that for the health of your baby. I told you that for your sake."

"I was okay," Sam tried to begin.

Janet held up a sharp finger, "I'll be the judge of that, major! You are less than 24 hours away from the brink of death. You are in no condition for gallivanting the hallways of the SGC..."

"I was hardly gallivanting, Janet. I had to use the bath room."

"I told you to ask for a bed pan." Janet scowled.

Sam had the grace to blush, "I know. But you know how much I hate those things."

"Yes. I do know. That's why I would never insist that you use one unless I thought you were being put at risk by getting up to go to the bath room!"

"I'm sorry. I never thought of that."

Janet deflated suddenly, "Sam, you have to be careful. This is uncharted territory. That whole potassium incident might just be a one off or it might be the start of a cascade failure of your major systems."

"I didn't think."

Janet sighed and came to the side of the bed, "I know how frustrating this is for you. But, please..."

"I'll follow your orders to the letter from now on." Sam promised. Then she made a cartoon salute which made Janet smile.

"You better. There are worse things than bed pans you know."

"You wouldn't!"

"Try me."

Sgsgsgsg

Three days passed. SG1 established a routine. Hammond had decided to leave the team on stand down until he and Jack O'Neill agreed on a suitable stand in for Major Carter. However, all three fit members of the team chose to remain on base rather than go to their homes. As she seemed to be sleeping okay now, without someone to hang onto, her team had divided Sam's day up between them so that she was only alone when she asked to be. Teal'c took the breakfast shift. He left the base at 4 a.m. every day and returned with a selection of the freshest fruits he was able to obtain at the local super market. These he presented to Sam at oh six hundred hours along with fresh made toast, a bowl of cheerios and a glass of whole milk. It took to the third morning for Sam to convince him to join her in breaking fast rather than watching her eat. Teal'c then tidied the breakfast dishes away whilst an orderly helped Sam wash and change her pajamas. When he returned he brought Sam's laptop and the sketches of a revamped naquadah powered generator that they had been working on together. Teal'c left the room whenever Janet or Robin or another medic came in to examine Sam or to draw bloods. Daniel would arrive at just after midday with a tray laden with Sam's lunch order and his own balanced precariously on one hand while he battled to keep a pile of books, notebooks and papers under the other arm. They would eat together - which sometimes took a really long time as both were prone to go off chasing down any idea that cropped up in conversation. Then Daniel would clear away the lunch things while more medical people did more medical things to Sam. They would then spend a couple of hours working on their own projects but bouncing ideas off each other. When the nurse came in at four and unceremoniously turned down the lights and lifted Sam's laptop out of her reach, Daniel would take the hint and clear off for nap time. Jack would appear in the early evening with a light supper and the funny pages and would proceed to crease Carter up with a series of scandalous and probably apocryphal tales from his youth. Janet was in and out all day both in her capacity as doctor and friend and would always come and wish Sam and however many guests she had at the time, good night before leaving for home.

Sgsgsgsg

17.30

The lights in Sam's room had been turned all the way down so the room was in darkness but for the strip of light coming in from the hallway through the slightly ajar door. Sam was lying half on her right side, turned away from the door, her breathing deep and regular. When she woke suddenly, her soldier's instincts screaming danger at her, she did not move. Her heart was pounding, blood roaring in her ears as the hair on the back of her neck stood on end - there was a goa'uld in the room. Not her father, she would know his presence blindfolded. Not Teal'c either, the tread was too heavy. A stranger. Sam lay very still forcing her breathing to remain steady as she listened to the soft footfalls come around to the right side of the bed. Something whined - an electrical hiss - and Sam reacted. Lashing out blindly, seizing hold of the intruder by the wrist. Sam caught a glimpse of unfamiliar goa'uld technology held in her attacker's left hand and saw only danger. She reacted viscerally, twisting the bones she held in an expert grip and rising up on her knees to subdue the intruder. There was a yelp of pain as bones snapped and the intruder tried to push Sam off with the hand holding the device. As it made contact with the skin exposed by the riding up of her tee shirt the device emitted an ear piercing shriek and a blinding flash of light. For a split second Sam was frozen in disbelief then she toppled face forward out of the bed to land in a crumpled heap on the floor. The intruder staggered then sank down, cradling her wounded arm against her breast and moaning quietly.

"What the hell happened?" Jack was only a second ahead of Janet who was, in turn, crowded by a pair of Beretta toting SFs.

"I only wanted to examine Major Carter. She attacked me," Anise spoke calmly although she was whey faced with pain.

"Sam? Sam, honey?" Janet was kneeling beside Sam who was face down on the floor, "What did you do?" she demanded angrily.

"Nothing. As I said, Major Carter attacked me."

"Doc?" Jack motioned the SFs back but not from the room and crouched across from Janet.

"Sam's unconscious, colonel, and there's head trauma."

Jake Thomas pushed his way past the guards and joined Janet.

"What's that?" Jack asked quietly, nodding towards the melted and charred lump of plastic and metal lying at Anise's feet.

"It's nothing. Just a scanner. As I said, I came in here to examine Major Carter. Suddenly she just woke up and attacked me. The device was damaged in the struggle."

"Did it shock her?" Janet demanded, checking Sam's unmoving form for broken bones.

"I think so."

"Get her out of here," Jack ordered tersely. "Have her taken care of and kept guarded."

"I must protest! I've come here at Selmak's bidding to try to help�"

"Save it." Jack dismissed Anise from his attention as she was escorted from the room.

"Jake, get a back board and more people." Janet was frowning as she measured Sam's pulse at her throat.

"How bad is it, Doc?"

"I don't know yet."

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Daniel, Teal'c and Hammond were standing by the nursing station near the door of the infirmary's main ward.

"The remains of the device do appear to be a scanner, General Hammond, one of more advanced design than I am familiar with, however." Teal'c turned the charred remains over speculatively.

The Tok'ra, Anise, was sitting up in the end bed of the infirmary's main ward looking somewhat pissed off. Her right arm was bound in a sling to support the damaged wrist while the symbiote healed it. A pair of burly SFs stood nearby.

"She did say Selmak sent her. She has to know how easily we can verify that," said Daniel quietly.

"She certainly used the correct iris code." Hammond pursed his lips. He turned as Jack arrived, "How is Major Carter?"

"Nasty bump on her head. Superficial burn on her belly." Jack sent a glower down the length of the ward and Anise turned away quickly.

"And?" Daniel pushed.

"Giggs is with her now. They think maybe the baby got hurt."

"Oh hell." Daniel took off his glasses and began to clean them furiously.

"She still sticking to her story?" Jack bit off his words.

"Yes, Jack. And I'm inclined to believe her. I can't think of a single reason why Anise or any other Tok'ra would want to harm Major Carter." Hammond sighed.

"I don't think she was after Carter."

"The Tok'ra have as much to gain from the existence of a Harsesis as Apophis does." Hammond frowned.

"Maybe they figured it'd be better to make sure there was no chance he could get hold of the kid."

"So they sent Anise to kill it before it can be born." Teal'c nodded as though the strategy made perfect sense to him.

"Even though, given that Sam isn't actually a goa'uld, the baby might not be a Harsesis? That's pretty harsh," Daniel said.

"You haven't forgotten, have you, Daniel, that these people have been less than entirely enthusiastic in their alliance with us?" Jack's voice was shaking with fury, "And that this person in particular has been happy to use us in not one but two of her experiments?"

"I haven't forgotten," Daniel insisted softly.

"Nor have I," Hammond added. "Nevertheless, I'm not inclined to make an interplanetary incident out of this. Anise is a guest of this facility and will be treated as such." Hammond held up his hand to forestall Jack's protests, "She'll have an escort at all times and will not be allowed to see Major Carter without Doctor Fraiser being in attendance." Hammond stared at Jack until he nodded acquiescence.

"I want to talk to her. Find out exactly what happened."

Hammond nodded, "That's not unreasonable. Doctor Jackson will go with you."

"I will?" Daniel looked startled.

Hammond and O'Neill engaged in another brief staring contest before Jack nodded.

"You will. Come on Teal'c. You might as well join the party too."

"I expect a full report in an hour, colonel." Hammond left.

Anise shifted in the bed, almost as if she was nervous, although her face was carefully composed into neutrality by the time the three members of SG1 arrived at her bed. Jack stood on her right, his hands in his pockets, his posture deceptively relaxed. Daniel halted on her left, his arms folded across his chest and his mouth set in a grim line. Teal'c stood at the foot of the bed and clasped his hands behind his back.

"Care to tell us what happened?" Jack asked lightly.

"As I have said, repeatedly, I went in to examine Major Carter and she attacked me."

"That's not exactly what you said." Jack shook his head, "You said she woke up and attacked you."

"Oh, man," Daniel murmured.

"What difference does it make?"

"So, you're telling us you can't see the problem here?" Daniel demanded.

"Are you not aware of the circumstances which led to Major Carter's pregnancy?" asked Teal'c.

"Yes, of course."

"And you still don't get why it was not a good idea for you to sneak up on Sam?" Daniel threw his hands in the air.

Anise said nothing.

"Let me spell it out to you." Jack took a step closer, "You're a goa'uld." He put up a hand to silence Anise's automatic rebuttal, "Major Carter had a goa'uld once and that's left her with the ability to sense them. She's lying asleep in a darkened room and her spidey sense - her goa'uld radar- is going crazy. She's pregnant, she's sick and feeling vulnerable�"

"I see," Anise conceded. "Perhaps it would have been wiser for me to wait for Doctor Fraiser to escort me to the room."

"I'd say that would have been a good idea."

"May I see Major Carter now? I can make some preliminary observations before returning for a replacement scanner."

"You know. I'd like you a whole lot better if you had asked how Sam was." Daniel sighed.

Anise looked momentarily confused, "Why should I ask when I can see for myself?"

"I give up." Jack shook his head and walked away.

"Among the Tau'ri it is customary to enquire after a person's well being. Particularly if you are responsible for causing them injury," Teal'c lectured.

"I see. Then - how is Major Carter?"

Daniel glanced at Jack's retreating back, "Not so good."

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Go to part three.

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