A Different Circle (Pi R Squared)

I don't own either the Stargate or the familiar characters, and no profit is made from the story. There are excerpts from transcripts of various episodes from season 2 in this story. The transcripts were taken from thanks to tgeyer for the beta.

This is the continuation of the story started in Two Pi R, where a minor change in circumstances led to a major change for Sam and Jack. They're back on Earth and dealing with the change in their relationship, but there's unfinished business out in the galaxy as well as the ever-present threat of the Goa'uld. It starts towards the beginning of Season 2 of the show.

Chapter 1

Life's settling into a routine that should be foreign to me, but it's not. I've been back on Earth for a month, and I haven't been through the gate once. And you know what? I don't really miss it. There are things I do miss. Working with Jack is one of them. The actual getting shot at, not so much.

The pregnancy seems to have settled down – in fact from the moment we were captured, the morning sickness disappeared. Janet reckoned it was a side effect of the 'fight or flight' reflex. Whatever it was, I'm definitely not sorry.

There's no word from Char'ak. I hoped he'd be able to get the kids to us quickly – I mean, we destroyed Apophis. That should've meant that the twins would be safe for a while. Another Goa'uld's bound to take over his planets, but the one they're on is so worthless, it's not going to be high on anyone's list. At least, that's the theory. If anyone got wind of why Heka thought they were important, it might be a different story. It's not like I fully understand it myself. And I doubt it's anything to do with their gift for healing. Apart from the fact that helping Carys almost killed Jack, the Goa'uld have sarcophagi, so that can't be it.

When we talked to the twins afterwards – in the short time between the incident and our being taken – it seems their parents might've had an idea of the problems. Except for very minor ailments, they always both joined with the children, and the twins remember them being tired afterwards. I suppose it goes with being children that they forgot to tell us that before they tried it. Not that I'd change anything now, and I know Jack wouldn't. He's fine – sailed through the physical to return him to active duty – and when he's off duty, he's constantly busy too. We're looking for a new house. Mine's already up for sale, and the plan is to find somewhere big enough for the twins as well as the baby and us, and maybe some further additions. We haven't discussed that yet, but Jack's refusing to look at anything smaller than five bedrooms.

SG-1 seems to be working without me, although Jack's going through potential additions at a rate of one per mission. I know from Daniel that it's not just Jack – even he and Teal'c believe that none of those they've tested yet have been up to the standard of Sandy Joyce, let alone me. I almost kissed Daniel when he said that! But then he always does spot when I'm upset about something and often knows what to do about it. I've got to be a little more obvious with Jack, but I wouldn't have him any other way.

Colonel Jameson has been transferred out of the SGC. Officially, he was simply reassigned. Unofficially, he's the source of the leak that allowed my dad to know about the situation between Jack and me, and he was given the choice between a formal investigation or transfer. I've got to say that no one seems at all upset.

I'm in the lab, working on something SG-5 brought back from a recent mission, when I hear the alarm sound. SG-1 is off world with several other teams, and they're supposed to be evacuating a village that's under Goa'uld attack. Medical teams have already gone through, and I've been on the edge of my seat waiting for the gate to activate. I was in the control room, but was ordered to leave on the grounds that the baby didn't need me to be so tense. As if being in my lab makes me less tense. With the alarm goes my resolve not to get in the way. I rush towards the gate room, to a scene where it's instantly obvious that even my field training will be useful.

Jack comes through the gate as I arrive, a man over his shoulder. There's no gurney available, and the medics are all busy, so he puts him down on the floor. I rush to him, desperately hoping that the blood on Jack's clothes isn't his. I kneel beside him and he squeezes my hand in reassurance before standing to demand help for the man. I automatically feel for a pulse, and find none. I lean over to see if I can feel him breathing, and the next thing I feel is a sharp pain in my throat. I'm dazed, not sure what's happening. I come back to myself quickly, and stand to tell Jack that there's no point in getting a medic, when I'm gripped by a stomach cramp that would put monthly cramps to shame. And then … there's nothing.

I waken to Jack's face. I open my eyes slowly, focussing on his eyes.

"Hey," I manage.

"Sam. How ya doing?"

I think about that. I'm not sure what happened, and I say so.

"We were bringing in the refugees, and you doubled over and passed out. Janet did some tests, and it looks like everything's settled down, but she's worried that you were threatening to miscarry."

"But everything's ok now?"

"According to the doc." He strokes my face with his finger, and I close my eyes to concentrate on the sensation.

"Hey, Sam," Janet says, approaching the bed. "You gave us a scare."

"Sorry," I mumble.

"So, did has Jack told you what happened?"

"I was on the verge of miscarrying, but it's settled down now."

"In the simplest terms, yes. Beyond that, apart from the fact that your throat seems a little raw, I have no idea what caused it. So, I'd like you to rest for a few days – at least until I'm sure it's not going to happen again."

"Rest?"

"Yes, Sam. And I mean it. Bed rest. I'd keep you here, but as you can see, I need the beds. I don't want you to be at home either, in case there's a repeat. I've arranged a bed for you at the Academy hospital."

"But …"

"I know. You'll be bored, and you can't even take your laptop because the staff there don't have sufficient clearance. But this is important."

"I know, Janet."

Jack squeezes my hand again. "Sorry, Sam."

"Hey, it's not your fault."

"Well, it sort of is …"

"No. That … is our fault, if we're assigning blame. So, did the refugee survive?"

"No. By the time I got someone to look at him, he was dead."

I nod. "I didn't get a pulse when I checked. The last thing I remember was leaning over to see if he was breathing."

"Sam, there was blood on your lip, but no visible injury. Do you have any ideas?"

I shake my head. "Jack, you were pretty covered when you came through the gate – maybe I picked something up from you."

"Ok, look," Janet interrupts. "I'll leave you two for now. It'll be a while until there's an ambulance free to take you over. Call me if there's any change."

"I will, Doc.," Jack promises.

Jack closes his eyes for a second before looking closely at me.

"You sure you're ok?"

"Yeah. A little disorientated, but ok."

He sighs deeply. I really scared him, but he's not going to admit it.

"It's fine," I try to reassure him.

"Yeah, I know. It's just … things are so good, I keep waiting for … whatever's going to ruin it."

"Nothing's going to ruin it," I promise.

It's late that day when I'm finally transferred. Hammond needs Jack at the SGC, so I'm left alone in a private room, bored beyond words. Even sleeping without Jack is becoming increasingly difficult, despite it being a reasonably regular occurrence when he's off world.

Next day, after Janet's checked me over again, she offers to let Cassie come and spend time with me. She's been spending time in her Mom's office while she works.

Cassie's the best surprise we had when we got back. She's the only survivor of a whole planet, and she was supposed to be a Trojan Horse – designed to destroy the gate, but … she didn't. Janet's adopted her, and she's very fond of Daniel, attaching herself to him from the beginning. And he definitely didn't disappoint her when he insisted on staying with her when everyone expected her to explode. She's a good kid, and Jack's been spoiling her since we got back. I'm looking forward to her visit.

She comes in and immediately climbs up on the bed next to me to give me a hug, but before I can hug her back, she shrinks back, running from the room. I've got no idea what happened until over an hour later when Jack arrives. He looks worried.

"Hey, Sam. How's things?"

"Ok. But something's up with Cassie."

"I know."

"What? What is it?"

"Look, it's nothing, but we're going to have to do a quick test. That ok?"

"Test? What sort of test?"

"An ultrasound."

"But … why? Is it the baby?"

"Cassie sensed something – she thinks you're been taken over by a Goa'uld."

"What? No!"

"That's what I said, but …"

"Ok. Let's do it. We'll prove it's nonsense. Then can we go home?"

"Sure. I'll tell Hammond I need a few days."

"You can't, Jack. You're needed to help with the relocation. Just … let's get this over with. Ok?"

I know immediately that there's something wrong, but I don't believe them until they show me the scan, the parasite clearly outlined, spiralling around my upper spine. Jack's looking broken. I remember how he was when Kawalsky got infested, but that was different. Then the Goa'uld was controlling his actions. I'm still me.

Janet goes to report to General Hammond.

"Jack, I'm me. You know that, don't you?"

"I know, Sam. And we'll get it out of you. I promise …"

"Didn't work so well with Kawalsky."

For an instant, I wish I hadn't said that, but then I realise I'd only voiced what he was thinking. He's got my near hand clasped between both of his, but when Janet reappears a moment later, she's flanked by a security team.

"General Hammond has ordered that you be returned to the SGC under guard," she informs me.

"I'll be with her," Jack offers. "We don't need anyone else."

"I'm sorry, Sir," Janet counters. "But General Hammond specifically said that while you can accompany Sam back, the armed guard was not negotiable."

"But you said she needs rest."

"She does, but as long as the journey is short and smooth, I don't believe it'll cause harm to either her or the baby."

It's a nightmare. How can I have a Goa'uld in me? It doesn't make any sense at all. And I'm not aware of it. Kawalsky's Goa'uld wasn't mature enough to be in control the whole time at first, but it still made its presence known. I've felt nothing. Apart from in the gateroom, I haven't even had any blackouts.

I remember Kawalsky. I know that he wanted to die rather than be controlled. If that's what I've got to look forward to, could I wish for death, knowing what that would do to Jack and to our unborn child?