More Than I Want To Chapter Two

The inquisitive, explorer within Daniel wanted to start talking to the man or woman who held his life in the balance. The more rational side of him knew that it would be pointless. The cold feeling of what was about to come ran through him, just as it had many times before. Most times it had been another member of SG-1 that had come to his rescue, but that looked unlikely this time. Teal'c and Carpenter were injured and Daniel had no idea where Sam and Jack were.

He hoped that Sam was okay. He would probably never know now. He would never know how Sam's labour would turn out and whether the child she carried was a boy or a girl, or if it would ever even be born at all. For all Daniel knew, this could be the end of the entire SGC maybe even the Earth. No, he could not be that pessimistic. There was no point in being optimistic concerning his life, however. Daniel knew that in a few short minutes his life would be over after a great deal of pain.

Daniel did not want to die.

Daniel watched as the black-clothed alien in front of him slowly began to squeeze the trigger of his enhanced Zat tighter. The alien laughed as he did so, as did the other hostiles next to him and they all sounded male. The hostiles were not here to protect their planet from a suspected invasion they were a warrior race who would fight anyone, Daniel realised.

Daniel tightly closed his eyes as he prepared himself for what was to come.

He never felt the discharge hit him. Had the alien missed? Daniel opened his eyes slowly and there was no one standing in front of him. He looked down at the floor and saw the alien lying on the floor, blood pouring from his chest and slicking over the black uniform he wore. All of the other hostiles were on the floor, too. Daniel turned to look behind him and saw his saviour standing there smiling.

"Cavalry's here," Carpenter smiled, lowering the gun she held in her right hand. Her left hand was gently placed on her stomach, probably covering her wound. She moved carefully towards Daniel and handed him some ammunition from a trouser pocket. She appeared very pale and the blood staining her uniform was still wet. Her blood was not clotting enough to stop her wounds bleeding.

Daniel took the ammunition from the lieutenant and immediately re-loaded his gun. "A second later," he remarked.

Carpenter nodded slowly to avoid a dizzy feeling in her head. "Fraiser discharged any of us that can walk and hold a gun," she explained leading the others back to the infirmary. "From what we can gather, most of the base has been taken. The hostiles don't have the infirmary yet, so that's where we're taking an offensive from. Most of the weapons lockers are unobtainable and we can't get anywhere near to level twenty eight, so the armoury's out of the question. Fraiser's got Teal'c's radio, but I haven't been able to raise any SFs or guard posts."

"Any news on the control room?" Daniel asked.

"Negative. We have to find Colonel O'Neill or General Hammond. Any ideas?" Carpenter asked as they entered the infirmary.

Daniel paused in giving his answer as he took in all of the people around him. "Oh my God," he whispered. He had never seen so many casualties within the SGC before in his life.

Carpenter placed a comforting hand on Daniel's shoulder. "I know," she whispered, her voice thick with emotional and physical pain. "We need to find a commanding officer, to make a plan of what to do."

Without hesitation, or looking at the lieutenant, Daniel answered. "Jack still has his radio. Have you tried the off world frequency. If he's alive, he'll hear you." If he's alive - the words echoed through his mind as he realised what he said without even thinking.

Carpenter nodded, noticing that Daniel was still immersed in his surroundings. She grabbed her radio and spoke into it. "Colonel O'Neill, Lieutenant Carpenter here. Colonel, please answer. Over." She held her breath waiting for a reply.

X X X X X

Colonel Jack O'Neill could not believe that he was in this situation. Never in his wildest dreams could he have foreseen this. To be hiding in a supply-room with his previous second in command was one thing, but it was another to have that ex-2IC in labour while hiding from enemy hostiles.

"What are we going to do?" Jack whispered, more to himself than anyone else. He was not expecting an answer.

"I don't know," Sam groaned, her voice rising again.

"Carter, I know you're about to go through an indescribable event, but you have to keep your voice down. Okay?"

Sam managed to nod in the darkness, Jack's hand still on her cheek so he felt the movement of her head. He could also feel her face scrunch up in pain.

"Carter, it's gonna be okay," he promised. He had no idea how he was going to keep that promise, but he would somehow.

Sam nodded again without questioning him. They both jumped in shock as Jack's radio started crackling. "Colonel O'Neill, Lieutenant Carpenter here. Colonel, please answer. Over."

Jack grabbed his radio and whispered into it. "O'Neill here. What is the situation? Over."

"The base is full of hostiles, Sir. We've set up base in the infirmary. Some other personnel have turned up that can fight, but weaponry is minimal. Over."

"Control room? Over."

"Unknown, Sir. We have no contact with the control room or General Hammond, Sir. Over."

He knew that it meant he was the most senior officer people could get in contact with. Only certain SF guards had radios with them whilst on the base and if Hammond had not got orders out, it left O'Neill in charge of whoever had made it to the infirmary. "Carter and I are in a supply-room, near to the infirmary. We'd only just left when the attack started. We need back up and then we can assess the state of play. Over."

"Sir, on our way, Sir. Over."

Sam grabbed the radio off of Jack and spoke into it. "Hurry up," she growled. "Over."

"Sam?" Daniel's voice came over the radio.

"She's in labour, Daniel. Over." Jack replied, getting his radio back.

X X X X X

"Oh, boy," Daniel whispered as he released his own radio. He turned to look at Carpenter and she nodded before leaving the room, taking only one other SF with her. With her gone, Daniel's attention was brought back to the casualties. He could not believe that this much damage had occurred simply because SG-1 gated to a planet. Daniel had seen battles before, but never any like this in his home. Daniel turned to Janet as she rushed past him, seeing to her patients. "Anything I can do to help?"

Janet glanced up from her most current patient. She smiled briefly before returning her attention to the officer lying on the gurney in front of her. "Not really, Daniel. Unless you have a PhD in medicine."

"No."

"Then, I really suggest that you get out of the way. The room through there is for stable patients. If you're really desperate to help, go ask a nurse in there."

Daniel nodded to himself and then left the room. The second room was less hectic than the others. There were no fresh casualties being brought in and the room seemed calmer than the other. There were still too many people in the room, too many injured people. These people were his friends and the nearest thing that he had to a family and too many of them were injured.

He quickly spotted Teal'c lying on a gurney so Daniel headed over. "Teal'c?" Daniel whispered, not wishing to disturb any of the other patients.

Teal'c's eyes opened slowly. "Doctor Jackson," the Jaffa greeted.

"How are you?" Daniel asked.

"I was in a state of Kel'no'reem so that my symbiote could heal me."

"Sorry for interrupting," Daniel apologised. "The base is under attack."

Teal'c blinked slowly. "By whom?"

"The natives of P5T. They got through the iris somehow and have taken most of the base."

"If I were well I would aid in the battle."

"I know, Teal'c, I know. You just concentrate on getting better."

"I shall, Daniel Jackson."

Daniel watched as Teal'c closed his eyes, returning to his deep state of healing Kel'no'reem.

"Daniel!" Daniel heard Janet shout and he went running into the other room. Being brought into the room was Sam, aided by Jack and Carpenter. The other airman that had accompanied Carpenter remained in the doorway with the other few SFs that had made the journey to the infirmary, on the alert for any hostiles. Jack helped Sam up onto a gurney while Janet raced over. Sam's face was red and she seemed in a lot of pain.

"Sam, are you okay?" Daniel asked, rushing to be by his friend's side.

"What do you think?" Sam asked sarcastically as she glared at him. The contraction seemed to pass as her face softened. "Sorry," she apologised. "How's Teal'c?" she asked.

"He's, uh, he should be fine. He's just through there." Daniel answered her but he was looking at her right hand, which was holding Jack's tightly. His eyebrows rose slightly at seeing this.

As if Jack noticed Daniel's reaction, he released Sam's hand and moved a step away from her. Sam met his eyes as he moved away. "I should see to the base."

Sam nodded, a sadness covering her eyes as he left the room, Carpenter and Daniel close behind him. Soon, all that was left in the infirmary were Janet, a few patients, a few nurses and Sam. Even through the pain of each contraction, Sam kept an eye on the surrounding situation. There was a slower influx of patients now, which either meant that every SGC member was already here or dead. Or, now that Jack was out there leading the men the tide was starting to turn.

X X X X X

O'Neill and Daniel both fired their guns at the line of aliens running toward them. One by one each of the aliens fell to the floor. Without waiting a second, Carpenter and two airmen, ran past O'Neill and Daniel and past the fallen aliens, the remaining two airmen stayed at the end of the corridor, keeping watch. O'Neill and Daniel were not far behind. As he entered the control room, O'Neill watched as Carpenter shot the last alien standing in their way of getting to the control panels.

The control room had been reclaimed.

O'Neill sent two airmen up to the briefing room while he remained with Carpenter and Daniel in the control room. Carpenter got to work on the base computers, trying to get them back online and the other two kept guard.

As the two men silently watched out for any hostiles, Daniel found himself studying O'Neill rather than the approaching corridor. Daniel had never fully understood the relationship that existed between his two friends, but it was obvious that it was complicated and deep. Daniel had always been worried that O'Neill would hurt Carter in some way, shape or form. Daniel was now even more scared about this prospect. Carter had not had it easy in the past nine months. She had been adamant that she had no feelings for O'Neill. As one of her closest friends, Daniel knew that to be a lie. In the past nine months, Daniel had often wondered how O'Neill was dealing with events. Was O'Neill on Edora, lying about his feelings for Carter? Was he denying that there had ever been more than friendship? That there had only ever been lust between the two officers? Or was he there, mourning a broken heart and missing Carter?

Daniel had the feeling that O'Neill had spent the past nine months lying and that he still was. But then why was O'Neill keeping up the charade that he was still with Laira?

"Daniel?" O'Neill whispered and Daniel acknowledged him with a nod. "You keeping an eye out for any hostiles?"

"Yeah," Daniel nodded, turning his attention to the corridor. "Hey, Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"Is everything okay with you and Sam?" Although Daniel kept his attention on the corridor, from the corner of his eye he could see O'Neill turn to look at him.

O'Neill's gun lowered slightly as the colonel considered the question without his senses lessening. It depended on your viewpoint as to whether everything was okay between the two of them. They had shared a kiss just moments ago. He had kissed a pregnant woman and a woman that he loved. She would probably never speak to him again. He had taken advantage of a heavily pregnant, hormonal woman who had been led to believe that he was in a relationship with another. Not only had he taken advantage of her, in her eyes, O'Neill had cheated. She would never forgive him and he probably would not either. "I kissed her," he admitted. Before Daniel could make one of his usual comments, O'Neill explained. "She asked me to, wanted me to."

"Oh." It was all that Daniel could say without either of them taking their attention from the task at hand too much.

O'Neill knew that there was more to it than 'oh'. Daniel always had something more to say, always had something spinning around in his brain. "What do you mean by that? Oh - you took advantage of her. Or oh - I saw it coming."

"I meant - oh." There was a brief silence. "So what do you think about it?" Daniel knew that it was not subtle and this might not be the right time, but it was the only way he would ever get to the truth.

"What? It was a kiss, Daniel. It didn't mean anything."

"So you kissed a pregnant woman for no reason."

O'Neill glared at the other man, but his attention was on the corridor. "Whatever." O'Neill was unsure as to what was going on so he was not about to try and explain it to someone else.

"What does she think about it?"

"I don't know," O'Neill shrugged. "She went into labour so we didn't really get to discuss it."

"How do you think she thinks?"

"Daniel, we've got a job to do here. Can we please do it?"

Daniel was not deterred, knowing that they would hear anyone approaching this corridor and that there were two other SF guards at the other end of it. At least the hostiles' weapons were not quiet. "Why are you lying about being with Laira?"

"Daniel." O'Neill warned.

"I think you should stop. Tell Sam the truth. Trust me on this. Tell her. She deserves to know."

There was a long pause as O'Neill decided not to answer and Daniel thought it wise to give up. Their attention was brought to Carpenter who had just successfully managed to get the computers back online and the storm-doors up.

"Sir, we're back in control."

The men walked over to Carpenter and looked down into the Gate room. The Stargate was active and a large group of the alien hostiles were on their way through it. Once the last one was through the Stargate automatically shut down. O'Neill had no idea how long the base had been under attack, but he doubted it was within the thirty-seven minute window for an active Stargate. Either they had dialled a second time or they had the ability to keep a Stargate open for longer and some way of getting through the iris and their defences.

"Do you think that's all of them?" Carpenter asked.

"We'll have to check the base. Carpenter, go check the airmen upstairs while I contact the surface and see what they're up to. I want to know if any hostiles managed to get out."

"Yes, Sir." Carpenter then walked off, leaving the two men alone.

As O'Neill walked over to the phone, he whispered just loud enough for Daniel to hear. "She's moved on with her life and is having someone else's child. Nothing would come of me telling her the truth." He did not allow Daniel the time to answer as he picked up the telephone with a direct link to the surface.

X X X X X

While O'Neill remained in the control room, issuing commands over the radio he had to the few airmen that could hear him, Daniel headed up to the briefing room in search of Carpenter and the others. Daniel was puzzled when he came up the stairs to see Carpenter sitting at the briefing table. She was alone with her gun placed on the table and her head hanging forward. There was no sign of the other airmen.

"Nicola?" Daniel asked and she looked up. Her eyes were sad. "What's wrong?"

"The other two officers didn't find much up here. There's a lot of damage so it took them a while to look around," Carpenter explained. "Entry to General Hammond's office was blocked and it took them a while to get in. I came up just as they managed to. His office is … destroyed, really."

"And the General?" Daniel asked, fearing the answer.

Carpenter finally looked up to meet Daniel's eyes. "He's okay, but…" she trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

"What? What is it, Nicola?" Daniel asked, taking a step closer.

"There's a Major in there. She's dead."

"Did you know her?"

Carpenter nodded. "She was one of my best-friends at the academy. We always managed to keep in touch, no matter how far apart we were posted. I can't believe it," she whispered.

Daniel bent down on his knees and brought her into a hug. "I forgot to thank you for saving my life."

Carpenter pulled away from Daniel slightly and smiled a small smile. "Couldn't save everyone."

X X X X X

Sam opened her eyes slightly. She was so tired from the labour. She had been having weird thoughts for the past few hours, or however long she had been knocked out by the pain and stress of labour. She had relived a lot of memories through her dreams similar to the vivid waking dreams she had after Jolinar had departed her. Only the memories she kept seeing this time was when she had first told Janet she was pregnant.

*Flashback*

Sam hesitated before walking into the infirmary. She had to tell Janet, she had to tell someone. She really did not want to though. She felt embarrassed and slightly ashamed that someone of her age and intelligence had managed to get themselves pregnant through a one-night stand. She did not want anyone to know, she wanted to hide her indiscretion from everyone, but that would only work for a few months - then she would start showing. No matter how stupid Sam believed herself to be, there was no way that she could not keep the child that was already growing inside of her and with that knowledge in her mind, Sam also had to inform the base doctor of her predicament because no one knew how safe Gate travel was for a pregnant woman or the child. They had known other pregnant females to travel through the Stargate, but none had been human from Earth and they had all tended to be more accustomed to intergalactic travel.

"Sam," Janet said as she looked up to see her best friend standing in the doorway, "what can I do for you?" she asked.

Sam wanted to pause, to think about what she was about to do, but she knew that if she paused now she would never resume what she had to say. "I'm pregnant." Straight out. Blunt. To the point. No hesitation, no wasting time making conversation. Her secret was out now but there was no relief lifted from her.

"Excuse me?" Janet asked as she could not believe what she was hearing. About a month ago, Sam had asked Janet to get the morning after pill for her. It was not exactly part of Janet's job description and was not exactly easy to come by. The base had a quantity of the pill for emergencies occurring with female prisoners off world, but that would have to be documented and Sam wanted it kept secret. Janet had managed to get the pill from a local civilian doctor that she knew. Still to this day Sam had not admitted who she had slept with.

"I'm pregnant. Please don't ask any questions."

"You can't ask me that," Janet objected. "Who on Earth is the father?"

Sam really did not want to tell Janet the truth. The little girl within Sam came out and she did not want to disappoint someone who held a respect for her. She had to though. Janet would not give up until she knew and Sam needed her friends right now. "Some guy in a bar. The barman, actually. It was a one-night stand. No feelings, no love, but a child."

Half of Janet saw Sam as she would Cassie - a child who she wanted to chastise for being silly and not thinking about the consequences of her actions. The other part wanted to comfort Sam as a mother would comfort a child. Janet stood up and hugged Sam, feeling all of Sam's shame and confusion melt into her. "Honey, it's gonna be okay."

*End Flashback*

And it was okay, Sam realised. She had given birth, however long ago, to a child; a healthy little girl who slept soundly in her arms. Instead of elation, Sam felt sad. She could only assume it was because of how drained she felt from the labour and how with the absence of her baby and placenta within her womb, Sam's hormone levels were drastically altered. She could not help but keep thinking that her child had the wrong father. Some one-night stand man should not be the father of Sam's child despite the fact that her beautiful little girl who was so precious and tiny was perfect in every single way. Sam would not change her daughter for anything. The man Sam loved should be the father, but he was not, in fact he did not even love her.

Then why had he kissed her?

Sam was not sure why Colonel O'Neill had kissed her, but he had and she had responded. The colonel was in love with another, not her. Sam just had to try and forget about him, but it was difficult with all the hormones swimming around in her bloodstream.

There was a gentle knock on the door to the room. It was Daniel. "Hey, Sam."

"Daniel," Sam greeted with a weak smile. She had no idea what time it was or how long the battle had raged within the SGC. She had been informed that the base was safe again and that the hostiles were all gone. Sam's main thought on being told that was that it meant her daughter and her were safe.

"How are you?" he asked. "And your daughter?" He moved closer to her, peering at the bundle she held in her arms. The baby was peacefully sleeping and looked incredibly small and fragile.

"We're fine," Sam smiled with pride. "How's the base?"

"It's okay. A lot of damage, but we got rid of all the hostiles. There were a few fatalities, quite a few injuries. We're all okay." Sam nodded, obviously pleased. Daniel knew that he would regret what he was about to do, but he had to do it. Sam had only just awoken and she would not have thought about the earlier incident with Jack, Daniel surmised. He had to get her to realise the truth before she thought about it too much and would end up back at the beginning. "Sam, we need to talk."

"Right now? I just had a baby and the base has just been a warzone, Daniel, I'm sort of tired and I'm sure there are better things you could be doing with your time."

"I know and I'm sorry, but this is really important."

"Go on then."

"Jack told me about what happened earlier."

"Daniel, I'm really tired."

"Just listen to me, please." When there was no objection, Daniel continued. "For nine months now you've been denying feeling anything for Jack, saying that you don't miss him and that you don't care about him. For nine months I know you've been lying. You once admitted for caring about him a lot more than you were allowed to given your working position, then suddenly after sleeping with him you don't care anymore. I never bought it, Sam. Now that you kissed him you've proven it and you have to tell him."

"Tell him what?" Sam asked. She had been angry at first, not wanting Daniel to talk. Now she was tearful and upset. Why did he have to remind her of everything especially when she was in such a vulnerable state?

"Tell him that you love him."

Those words made the tears start to fall. She could not help it. She did love him, but there was nothing that could be done about it. Colonel O'Neill was in love with someone else and he shared a life with them. He even had a child with someone else. So often, Sam had hoped that the child she carried could be his so that he would return to her. "Yes, I do love him." It took all of her emotional strength to admit that she loved him. "But right now I care for him a lot more than I want to because I don't want to be in love with a man who loves someone else." She refused to take her eyes off the beautiful little girl that she held in her arms, hoping that seeing something so innocent and pure that she had such immense love for would protect her from the pain of Jack.

Daniel wanted to tell her the truth; he wanted to tell her that Jack was in love with her. He could not betray his best-friend's confidence. "Talk to him, Sam. Tell him." Sam looked up at him about to ask something. "I can't say anything more, just tell him."

With that Daniel left the room, leaving Sam on her own to her thoughts. She did not need this right now, she thought bitterly to herself. She did not want to deal with her feelings for Colonel O'Neill when she had just given birth, when she needed to be there for her child.

Daniel knew that this was exactly what Sam did need because he knew that Jack still loved her and that his relationship with Laira was all a facade. He just hoped that they were both clever enough to finally sort through things.

X X X X X

Colonel Jack O'Neill entered the infirmary. It had been a few hours now since they had managed to reclaim the base. The base was clear and no hostiles had been found either dead or alive even the one that Daniel had taken him to. The only bodies littering the floor were good old Air Force personnel with thankfully only a handful dead. There was no explanation as to where the dead hostiles had vanished to, or even where any survivors had disappeared. O'Neill could only figure that there was some sort of technology behind it similar to their other advanced technologies. O'Neill was on his way to check how Doc Fraiser was coping with the injuries.

"Doc," he called as he spotted the petite brunette.

"Colonel," she greeted, "how's the base?"

O'Neill nodded. "Cleaning up the mess as we speak. The General sent me down to get an update on our men."

"Of course, sir," Fraiser began before starting to list a load of numbers to O'Neill. He was only half listening to the doctor. He was taking in the information so that he could relay it to Hammond, but his mind was also drifting slightly. In a nearby room was Major Carter. He wondered if he should take Daniel's advice and tell her how he felt. Dare he risk it?

"And Teal'c is nearly fully recovered. I estimate another two hours of Kel'no'reem and he should be fighting fit."

"That's excellent news. If you'll excuse me," O'Neill excused himself.

"Sam's fine and awake as well."

O'Neill glanced at Fraiser unsure of why she was telling him that given that she was not likely to be a casualty. His only reason why she had was so that she could inform the General how Carter was. He nodded and left the infirmary. He paused at the door to Carter's small private room, thinking how lucky she was to be able to have some space given a lot of SGC personnel were also in the infirmary. Should he go and see her? He wondered.

Yes, he had to go and tell her, he decided in that moment. It was not that hard. Three simple little words. It was easy. He could tell her the truth. He could tell her what he had wanted to say for as long as he could remember. He loved her and she deserved to know. Whether she wanted him or not, she deserved to know the truth about how he felt and the truth about Laira. Nothing else mattered to him in that moment. Not her vulnerable state, or her being linked to the father of her child, or their possible future working environment, or regaining a friendship. Today's attack could have destroyed everything O'Neill held dear and telling Carter the truth could not destroy the base in which he stood.

He took a deep breath and reached for the door handle.

X X X X X

Sam stroked the side or her daughter's face and smiled. She was lying in the infirmary bed with Daniella in her arms. She hated to admit it, but she kept looking at her daughter and wishing it could be different. She wished that her daughter had a different father. It would never affect how she felt for her daughter but she still wished that it could be different. She was still very tired, but her brain seemed to be clearer than it had been for a very long time. Maybe the alteration of hormones within her was still affecting her.

She wanted the man whom she loved to be the father of her child.

The man she loved.

Colonel Jack O'Neill.

As she thought of him, the door opened revealing him. Sam had to catch her breath in shock.

"Hope I'm not interrupting anything," he said, with his adorable smile.

"No," she almost whispered.

"How are you?" he asked.

Sam smiled. "I'm okay. You?"

He bobbed his head a bit. "Tired. You probably are too." He stepped closer to get a better look at her daughter. "She's beautiful. Just like her mom."

Sam took her eyes from her daughter and looked at O'Neill. Their eyes met briefly before he looked away nervously.

"Carter, I … I need to tell you something." His hands would not stay still now, which told Sam that he was nervous.

"Okay," she sounded wary. "Is everything okay, Sir?" Her first thought that someone she knew had died from their wounds and that he had been sent to tell her.

"Please," he objected, "don't call me 'sir'."

Her eyebrows rose in curious wonder, no one was dead then. "Okay," she agreed.

"I-" he began before he was cut off by someone else entering the room.

"Sam! I got here as soon as I could. I swear it takes longer to get down here every time," Brad said, barely pausing for breath. "How are you? Is everything okay?"

Sam smiled at him. As she began to answer his many questions she glanced up briefly. Colonel O'Neill was gone.

X X X X X

Samantha Carter walked along the corridor and entered the control room. She moved to stand next to General Hammond and smiled at him when he glanced at her.

Hammond smiled back. "Glad to have you back on base, Major."

"Glad to be back, sir," Sam replied. Daniella was four months old now and Sam had decided to go back to on-base work. She and Carpenter would be sharing the duties of fourth member of SG-1 and taking it in turns to go off-world. The mission that SG-1 were about to leave on was Carpenter's mission, mainly because it was a six-month off-world mission and there was no way that Sam was spending that long away from her new-born baby. At the moment Daniella was in the infirmary with Janet. Sam, Daniella and Brad were still undergoing a lot of tests to make sure that everything was okay and today was the day for yet another mother and daughter check-up. Sam had left Daniella with Janet so she could see SG-1 off. She still wanted to feel like part of the team and involved somehow.

As Sam watched Teal'c enter the embarkation room, Daniel entered the control room.

"Sam," he greeted.

"Daniel. Heading off to P9R-78F?" The instant the sentence was said, Sam regretted it. It was one of those uncomfortable, pointless questions like when someone told you they had booked a vacation and you asked if they were going anywhere nice. Why would someone book a vacation to somewhere that was not nice?

Daniel smiled. "Yep. Approximately our level of technology except their medical technology is years ahead of ours."

"Six months to form a treaty with them, huh?"

"Well, the technology would be a great help and six months isn't that long."

"It's gonna be odd," Sam remarked. "You three gone and not here."

"You've got a new person in your life, Sam. You won't have time to miss us. We'll miss you tons though."

Sam smiled at her friend but was interrupted from saying anything by Colonel O'Neill. "Oh, Danny-boy!" he shouted up from the embarkation room. "You coming to P9R?" Sam looked down at the colonel and smiled at the mock-annoyed look on his face. She had seen him quite a few times since Daniella had been born, mainly after she had returned to work. Whenever SG-1 could, they would meet for lunch in the commissary, sometimes even Carpenter joined them. Of course, Sam still shared an office with the rest of them. She and O'Neill seemed to be getting on like they had done before. They were friends and teammates again. On a couple of occasions, Sam had wondered what O'Neill had come to tell her the day she given birth, but it soon vacated her brain. She watched as O'Neill then turned to Carpenter, who was standing behind him, and grinned.

"You better get going," Sam said and Daniel nodded.

"See you in six months, Sam."

Sam watched Daniel join the others. She could not describe the feeling that she had. It was beyond weird to see SG-1 gathering to leave the planet without her, especially for a six-month mission. Sam watched as the Stargate activated and her team walked through the wormhole.

She did not like this feeling at all.

X X X X X

"Hey, Janet," Sam greeted as she entered the infirmary. "Where is everyone?" she asked, referring to the fact that there was no one else present in the infirmary. It was odd to not see any patients or other staff in here. The only person other than Janet was Daniella, sleeping peacefully in her pram.

Janet approached Sam carefully. "I gave everyone a break."

Sam looked at her curiously, but accepted it. "Okay. Well, I'm here for more testing. Have you done everything on Daniella?"

"Sam, do you remember your high school biology?" Janet asked, holding a file in her hands.

"Uh, yeah. What's going on, Janet?"

"Here's a question for you. If one parent has the blood group B and the other A what are the possibilities for their offspring?"

"A, B or AB, depending on their exact genotype."

"So the offspring can't be O?" Janet asked.

"Correct. Janet, what are you talking about?"

"You're type A-positive and Brad is type O. Daniella is type AB. The only way for that to be is that her other parent has to be B."

Oh my God, Sam thought immediately. This was impossible. This could not be happening.

"Sam, do you know what I'm saying?"

Sam just stood there in complete shock. How could this be happening? She had spent the past nine months believing a lie. She did not see how this was possible. Sure, she had slept with two different men in as many days, but she had taken the morning after pill with the first and used a condom with the second. Not doubting the pill, Sam had come to the conclusion that something must have happened to the condom to cause her pregnancy. Had she been wrong all the time?

"Sam?"

"He's not the father," she whispered not wanting to believe what she was saying. She had been thinking that she would prefer Brad not to be the father and now he was not. She looked down at Daniella who was lying in her pram, oblivious to the new revelation concerning her parentage.

"Who is the father, Sam? I need to run tests."

"I think I should tell him before I tell you."

"Don't leave it too long," Janet warned.

That would be hard, Sam thought to herself, because the father has just left on a six-month mission to the other side of the galaxy.

X X X X X

The End.

Author's note: In my re-write, I have altered the blood types to match those in the "Stargate SG-1 The Ultimate Visual Guide" which gives Sam's to be A positive and Jack's as B negative.