"The Rescue" by Karen

Title: The Rescue

Author: Karen

Email: kcafaro1@intrstar.net

Spoilers: Season 3

Sequel: Sequel to Eclipse

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Jack is captured by Apophis. Archive: Sam and Jack Relationship Archive, Heliopolis, any one else, please ask.

Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 is owned by Showtime Networks, MGM/UA, Double Secret, Gekko, et.al. The author has received no money for this story, and will never receive any for it.

Author's Notes: I have received requests for a sequel to Eclipse. This is it. Please send feedback.

*************************************************************************

It's so dark in here. I guess that's part of the torture. Keep 'em in the dark. Don't let 'em know if it's night or day. All in a day's work for your friendly neighborhood goa'uld.

I'm not sure how long I've been here. Gotta be a week at least. At least. God, I hope the others got away. If anything happened to them . . .I've gotta come up with a plan. Gotta get outta here. I've gotta . . .

*******

The SGC

"Sir, we've got to go back." Major Samantha Carter had to make General Hammond see reason. "We can't just leave him there."

"Major Carter, I understand how you feel, I don't want to leave Colonel O'Neill there either. I'm sending the MALP through. Then, if it's safe enough, I'll send Colonel McBride and SG-5 through to search." General Hammond sighed. "Sam, I understand how you feel. I want to get him out of there just as badly as you do. But we can't just go rushing in without knowing as much about the situation as we can. Dismissed."

"But, General," she started.

"I said dismissed, Major," General Hammond repeated himself.

"Yes, sir." Sam stood as General Hammond left the briefing room, then she sagged into her chair.

"Sam, we'll get him back." Daniel squatted down beside Sam's chair and put his arm around her shoulders.

"We will, indeed, Major Carter." Teal'c was as stoic as always.

There was a tap at the briefing room door. It was Colonel Doug McBride, CO of SG-5.

"Sam, they're sending the MALP through now. C'mon and we'll take a look at things." Doug was concerned about his friend, too. He'd known Jack for twenty-five years, ever since they were in high school together. The look on Sam's face when SG-1 came back through the 'gate without Jack had torn at his heart.

Sam stood and straightened her back, the military officer coming to the fore. "Very, good, Colonel McBride." She followed him to the control room where the feed from the MALP was now coming through. On the monitor they saw six Jaffa guarding the gate.

"Damn." Doug couldn't believe the rotten luck. There was no way they were going to be able to get through just yet, not with all those Jaffa guarding the Stargate. They'd be picked off like sitting ducks the moment they walked through the 'gate. And there was no way they were going to make a silent entrance through a Stargate.

As they watched, one of the Jaffa approached the MALP, looked at it, then shot it with a staff weapon, effectively cutting off the transmission.

"Shut down the wormhole," General Hammond ordered. "I'm sorry, Major, there's nothing we can do."

"Yes, sir." Sam's face was completely expressionless. She turned and left the control room.

Daniel and Doug looked at each other, then Daniel took off after Sam. She was walking down the hall, obviously operating on automatic. Daniel walked up beside her and put his arm around her shoulders, leading her to her quarters. He took her inside, closed the door, and locked it.

Sam walked over to the bed and sat down. She just stared forward, not saying anything, no expression on her face.

"Sam, we WILL get him back." Daniel couldn't stand to see her hurting so badly, yet unable, or unwilling to express it. He knelt in front of Sam and took her hands in his. "We will. It may take some time, but we won't give up."

"Daniel," she whispered. "I didn't get to tell him. There wasn't any time. I didn't get to tell him." Tears welled in her eyes. "I didn't get to tell him and now he may never know."

"Tell him what, Sam?" Daniel asked.

"I'm pregnant."

**********

Daniel comforted Sam until she finally fell asleep. He was in a state of shock himself. Jack captured by Apophis and Sam pregnant. He didn't think things could get any more complicated. They were pinned down on that planet for five days before they were able to get through the Stargate and back to the SGC. He was glad now that he hadn't known that Sam was pregnant. He didn't know if he would have risked her getting hurt trying to get back through the 'gate.

According to the little he'd been able to get out of Sam, she'd just found out she was pregnant from Janet right before they went through the Stargate on that fateful mission. She truly had not had time to tell Jack he was going to be a father again. He headed toward the infirmary to see Dr. Frasier.

"Janet, could I talk to you for a few minutes?" Daniel asked.

"Sure, Daniel." Janet looked tired, and her eyes were red. She'd probably been crying too. She led Daniel to her private office and gestured for him to close the door behind him. He did so and locked it just to make sure they weren't disturbed. They definitely didn't need anyone else hearing this particular conversation.

"You've talked to Sam, haven't you. She told you." Janet looked at him sadly.

"Yes, she did. How far along is she? She was so distraught she really couldn't tell me much." Daniel was very concerned about his friend.

"She's only about a month along. I tried to get her not to go on the mission, but you know how stubborn she is. I couldn't order her not to go without exposing things that others don't need to know."

"I thought all the female SGC personnel took birth control pills. How did Sam get pregnant? I know that she wouldn't deliberately not take her pills." Daniel was sure that Sam wouldn't take a risk like that.

"Remember that sinus infection she had?" At Daniel's nod, she continued, "The antibiotics interacted with the pills, rendering them ineffective. It was only a few days, but it was long enough." Janet sighed. "I warned her about that possibility, but you know how she and Jack are. They can't keep their hands off each other. I wonder how Jack will take the news?"

"If we can get him back in one piece from Apophis, I think he'll be thrilled. You know how he feels about kids."

"You've got to get him back, Daniel. For Sam's and her baby's sake as well as his own. She shouldn't have to go through all this alone." Janet really felt for her friend. "You remember how torn up she was when he was stranded on Edora. And they didn't have the relationship that they do now. It's going to be a hundred times worse." There was a knock on the office door. "Yes." Janet called out.

"It's me, Doug, can I come in."

"Sure, Doug," Janet answered. Daniel reached over and unlocked the door, letting Doug come in. "Close the door and lock it behind you."

"Hi, Daniel, how's Sam?" Doug asked after doing as Janet had requested.

"Not good." Daniel exchanged a glance with Janet. "Uh, Doug, if I tell you something, you have to swear that it won't leave this room."

"Sure, Daniel. You should know me well enough by now, to know that I can keep a secret as well as anyone, and better than most," Doug assured him.

"Sam's pregnant." Daniel dropped his bombshell.

Doug's mouth dropped open. "Did Jack know?"

"No. She hadn't had a chance to tell him before he was taken," Daniel said.

"Oh, man, this really complicates things. We've gotta get him back now." Doug started pacing in Janet's small office. "Isn't there anyone who could help us? The Tollan, the Tok'ra, maybe even the Asgard. Jack's got a good relationship with them."

Daniel smacked himself in the head. "Why didn't I think of that? All of them owe us favors. We've gotten their asses out of the fire more than once. They owe us. I'll get in touch with them right away." With that Daniel hurriedly unlocked the door and headed toward General Hammond's office with Doug following closely behind.

If the others would cooperate, they'd have Jack out of there soon.

***************************************************************************

"Tau'ri, have you decided to talk yet?" Apophis sneered. "You will tell us what we wish to know, or you will die."

"Death, been there, done that," Jack said sarcastically. The two Jaffa who held his arms shook him, causing his head to loll. He really didn't have the energy to fight them physically, but that didn't mean he would give them what they wanted.

Apophis raised the harakesh again, hitting Jack once more with the energy device. "You will tell me where the child is hidden." He stopped his attack for long enough for Jack to answer him.

"Can't tell you that Pops, wouldn't be sporting." And again he was hit by the force of the harakesh. "Hit me all you want with that thing, won't do you any good."

Apophis lost his temper and gave Jack a good old fashioned backhanded slap across the face, almost dislocating his jaw. It definitely did knock him unconscious.

"Take this one back to the cell. We will wait until his friends return to rescue him. Then we will get the information we seek." With a wave of his hand, Apophis sent his Jaffa to carry Jack back to the cell.

Reaching the cell, they unlocked the door and tossed his limp body in. Eventually he regained consciousness.

'Can't take much more,' he thought. 'Gotta get outta here.' Then he lost consciousness again.

***************************************************************************

General Hammond gave Daniel permission to contact the Tollan, Tok'ra, and Asgard. In his opinion, they did owe SG-1 several favors, the team having saved their butts in the past.

Daniel first contacted the Tollan. At first they were reluctant to get involved, but finally, he managed to persuade them that rescuing Jack was in their best interests. The Tollan offered to contact the Asgard, so that problem was solved. The only ones left were the Tok'ra. After receiving the coordinates of their new base from the Tollan, Daniel and Teal'c proceeded to the planet.

They were met by the Tok'ra immediately upon arrival and taken to Garshaw and the Council. The Tok'ra were sympathetic, but claimed they could not help. Daniel was his most persuasive, but they were adamant. In desperation he sought out Sam's father, Jacob Carter.

"Daniel, I'm sorry, but the Council's decision is final. I wish there was something I could do, but . . ." Jacob was regretful.

"Please, sir, hear me out. Apophis came through the Stargate about an hour after we did. We were sitting ducks. Jack saved us. He was taken while providing cover for Sam, Teal'c and me to get through the Stargate. He sacrificed himself for us."

"He was just doing his duty, Daniel. The duty he swore to uphold when he took his oath." Jacob shook his head. "He knew the risks."

"General Carter, there's more," Daniel took a deep breath before proceeding. "Sam's pregnant. Jack's the father."

"What? Is that why she's not here?" Jacob Carter was shocked. "How is Sammy? Is she all right?"

"She's torn up about it," Daniel said. "The man she loves, the father of her child, is being held by his worst enemy. How would you feel in her place?"

"What can I do?" Jacob wanted to help his daughter.

"Persuade Garshaw and the Council to help us. We've already lined up the Tollan and the Asgard. With the Tok'ra along too, there's no way Apophis can keep us from getting Jack back." Daniel knew that that was the only way they could rescue him.

Jacob's head lowered. When his head raised, Selmac was in control. "We will do what we can, Daniel. The Tau'ri have come to the aid of the Tok'ra in the past. It is only right that we should aid the Tau'ri in this." Then Selmac went to the Council chamber.

*********

Selmac persuaded the Tok'ra Council to send a ship to aid the Tollans and Asgard in the rescue of Jack O'Neill.

The rescue was on.

*********

Jacob Carter accompanied Daniel and Teal'c back to the SGC. He needed to see his daughter. Before he had blended with Selmac, he knew he hadn't been the best father. It was a little late, but as Selmac had reminded him, better late than never. Sammy needed her daddy, and he would be there. He also offered to coordinate the joint Tollan-Tok'ra-Asgard rescue mission. They would get Jack back, one way or another.

As they stepped through the Stargate at the SGC, he saw a blonde-haired blur racing toward him.

"Dad!" Sam cried, throwing herself into her father's arms. They hugged each other tightly.

"Are you all right, baby girl?" he asked in a whisper.

"I'm fine, Daddy," she whispered her answer to him.

"We need to talk," he said.

She sighed and smiled at him. "Yes, we do." Daniel had told him about the baby, but she knew that her Dad would not say anything to anyone else before he talked to her.

General Hammond entered the Gateroom. "Jacob, good to see you, again. I suppose your presence here means that the Tok'ra are going to help us?"

"Yes, George. Your Dr. Jackson is one persuasive young man." Jacob Carter nodded toward Daniel.

"Yes, if he wasn't so valuable on SG-1, we put him on permanent diplomatic duty," Hammond said.

"Dad, the Tollan sent a representative to coordinate their and the Asgard's role in the rescue operation." Sam was ready to begin planning the rescue. They needed to have Jack out of Apophis's hands yesterday.

"Yes, Jacob, we're meeting in the briefing room at 1100 hours," General Hammond informed him.

"Good, that'll give me some time to talk to my daughter beforehand." Jacob smiled at his daughter. Sam knew that smile from her teenage days. It was the "you've got some serious explaining to do" smile.

Sam took her father back to her quarters. It was the one place where it wasn't likely that they'd be interrupted.

"So, Samantha," he only called her that when he wasn't pleased about something, "how long have you and Jack O'Neill been together."

"About three months, Dad." Sam had learned from experience to just go ahead and tell her father the truth. It just saved a lot of time, because he always got it out of her eventually.

'Don't be too hard on her, Jacob,' Selmac said. 'Remember what it was like to be young and in love.'

'I remember young and in love, Selmac, but it doesn't include having an affair with your commanding officer,' Jacob retorted to Selmac.

"What did Selmac just say, Dad?" Sam asked.

"How do you know that she said anything?" He answered her question with another question.

"I can tell by the look on your face. Look, Dad, I know you're disappointed in me. I'm sorry about that, but Jack and I love each other. It took us a long time to find our way to each other, but it's been worth it."

"What about the baby? How did that happen? Did you get pregnant deliberately?" Jacob had to know the answers to these questions.

"The baby was an accident, but I'm not sorry it happened. If Jack . . ." She stopped there. She couldn't finish the thought.

"If Jack doesn't come back, you'll still have a part of him with you." Jacob nodded in understanding. "So you do want it."

"Yes, Dad, I do." Sam was definite about that. It was the only thing that was keeping her sane right now.

Now Jacob smiled. "So, I'm gonna be a grandpa again." He reached over and took his daughter in his arms. "I love you, Sammy, you have my support."

Tears sprang to her eyes, something that seemed to be happening quite often lately. "Thanks, Dad, I love you, too."

"So, let's go to that meeting and come up with a plan that's gonna get my grandbaby's daddy out of harm's way." Jacob released his daughter and opened the door. "After you, Major Carter."

"Thank you, General Carter." She grinned. Everything was going to be all right. She just knew it.

***************************************************************************

All the plans were made. The Tollan, Asgard, and Tok'ra ships would go to the planet, surrounding Apophis's ship. Luckily, according to Tok'ra intelligence, he had taken only one ship to the planet, too much for the Tau'ri alone to handle, but with the help of their allies, they should be able to easily cripple the ship from space. With Apophis's forces distracted by the assault from space, the Tok'ra would assist SG's 5, 6, 7 and 10 in the ground assault.

There was only one point of dispute in the planning of the rescue. Sam announced that she would be joining in the ground assault. That was quickly nixed by Janet, Jacob, and even General Hammond. She was so adamant, the general had to order her to remain on base due to her mental state. Janet and Jacob had privately conferred about Sam's pregnancy, and they were in agreement that she had no business anywhere near that planet. Sam was livid until Janet managed to talk to her privately about the risk to both her and the baby. She still wasn't happy at being left out, but she had at least accepted it.

*******

The three ships approached the planet cautiously. It was always possible that their information had been faulty or incorrect, but everything was exactly as it had been reported.

While the Tollan and Asgard engaged Apophis's mother ship, the Tok'ra ship landed and deployed the Tok'ra and SG teams. All of this had set Apophis's Jaffa in disarray. The little citadel where Jack was being held prisoner fell quite easily thanks to the help of the Tollan, Asgard, and Tok'ra. When they finally got inside, Apophis was nowhere to be found. Obviously he had decided to cut his losses and leave the planet via the Stargate.

While searching through the building, they encountered small pockets of Jaffa left behind by Apophis to keep the rescuers busy. Finally, they made it to the cell where Jack was being held.

Doug McBride and Teal'c were the first through the door. Jack was in really bad shape. What was left of his uniform was covered in blood, and the exposed parts of his body was covered in bruises. One side of his face was swollen and so bruised it was almost black.

"Oh, Jack, buddy, I'm sorry we couldn't get here faster." Doug was appalled at the condition of his friend. "Jack," he said, gently touching his friend's shoulder, "we're here to take you home."

"Sam . . .all right?" Jack could barely speak through his swollen lips.

"Major Carter is well, Colonel O'Neill," Teal'c assured him.

Doug radioed to the medics to come on in. "He's pretty beat up guys."

After the medics had field dressed O'Neill's wounds, they placed him on a stretcher against his objections. He insisted that he wasn't hurt that badly, but he was having some trouble breathing, indicating possible broken ribs. He was quickly overruled, and given a shot of morphine which knocked him out, ending his protests.

It was quickly determined that taking him directly back to the SGC was the best option, so, after the scouts had cleared the way to the Stargate, they used it to transport Jack and the rest of the SG teams straight back to base.

***************

"Incoming traveler. Wormhole is engaged." The lieutenant on duty then gave a whoop. "It's SG-5's signal."

"Let's just hope that they were able to retrieve Colonel O'Neill," General Hammond said.

Sam and Daniel heard the klaxons go off and headed straight for the gateroom. Just as they and Janet reached the room, Doug McBride and Teal'c stepped through the Stargate, followed by the medics carrying a stretcher holding Colonel O'Neill. Janet rushed forward calling for a gurney. Jack was placed on it and rushed to the infirmary, Sam, Daniel, and Teal'c following closely behind.

Janet made them stay out in the hallway while she examined him. The wait seemed to be interminable, but, finally, they were allowed inside to see Jack.

Sam went in first. She hadn't gotten a good look at Jack when he was brought in, they had rushed him through so fast. He looked terrible. His face was swollen and bruised, and bruises covered what she could see of his body. His ribs were bandaged and his left arm was bandaged. Apophis had really done a number on him.

"Jack," she said, bending over him. "Jack, it's Sam. I'm here, sweetheart."

He opened his eyes and saw her standing smiling over him. "Sam," he said. "You're all right."

"Yes, Jack, I'm fine. You're going to be fine too. When you're better you and I are going to go somewhere with a beach. We'll order those drinks with the little umbrellas and bask in the sun."

"Sounds like a plan, Sam." His voice was starting to fade. "Little tired now. . ."

"Rest Jack. I'll be here." Sam leaned over and kissed his forehead. She returned to the hallway to let Daniel and Teal'c have a chance to see Jack. They took a look in and saw him sleeping. It was enough. They knew that he would be okay now.

***********

The first week Jack was in the infirmary, he was a model patient. That was because he slept most of the time. The second week was a test of the medical staff's endurance: how long they could endure him in the infirmary. By the third week, Janet was glad to send him home with Sam. Let her try to keep him quiet while his broken ribs healed. He kept sneaking out of bed and ending up in places like the weight room, the lounge, and the mess hall.

Jack was glad to be home and away from the infirmary. He walked around the house checking everything out, making sure that no one had broken in while he was gone. Sam finally had to threaten to take him back to the infirmary in order to make him go to bed.

"Why don't you join me?" He waggled his eyebrows, giving her a leer.

She laughed, saying, "I really think that while the spirit is willing, the flesh may be weak."

"Try me," he said, grabbing her and pulling her down on the bed, wrapping his arms around her.

"Not with those ribs, flyboy," she told him.

"It's not my ribs that'll be doing the work." His hands were working their way up her shirt. Slapping at them, she managed to pull free. Holding his hands in her own she knew it was time they had a talk.

"We have to talk, Jack," she said.

He frowned. "This sounds serious."

"It is." Sam drew a deep breath. "I have something I need to tell you. I waited because you were too ill, but I can't wait any longer." She paused.

"What is it, Sam?" He'd hadn't seen her this nervous before. "Sweetheart, whatever it is, we can work it out."

"What would you say if I told you-" she stopped again.

"Told me what?" Jack became concerned now. "You're not sick are you?"

"No, not exactly. I'm pregnant," she finally blurted out.

"Pregnant? As in, having a baby, pregnant?" He looked at her like he expected her to grow two heads. "Are you sure?"

"Oh, yes, definitely. Janet confirmed it."

"We're having a baby? Really?" He seemed almost in shock.

"Yes, really."

Then a huge grin spread over his face. "We're having a baby!" Grasping her hands he gently pulled her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly. "How did that happen?" he asked once he had let her go.

"The usual way," she said, amused at his question.

"Real funny, Sam." He rolled his eyes at her answer. "I thought you were on the pill."

"Remember those antibiotics I was taking? They messed up my pills."

"Are you happy about it? I mean, this really changes things." He looked so worried.

She smiled. "I'm very happy about it. This baby is what kept me going while you were gone."

"Well, I guess we're not gonna keep this secret much longer." Jack looked worried. "For myself, I really don't care. But your career is just starting, this could ruin it."

"Things will work out. They have to." Sam did her best to assure him. "My career is important to me, and my knowledge about the Stargate is important to the military. I think we might be able to work something out, whether I stay in the Air Force or not." She reached up and kissed him. "Dad knows."

"He does?" Jack looked a little apprehensive. "Am I in any type of danger?"

"Not much." She looked at him seriously, then she couldn't help it, she had to grin. "He's happy he's going to be a grandpa again." She reached up and stroked his cheek. "Are you really happy about being a father again?"

"Yeah, Sam," Jack kissed the top of her head. "Not many people get a chance to fix the things that they've screwed up. I've got you and a baby. I'll get it right this time. I have to. I love you."

"We'll get it right this time." She smiled and snuggled into his arms. Jack yawned hugely, and she chuckled. "I love you, Jack. Now go to sleep."

"Stay with me?" he asked.

"You bet. You're not getting rid of me." Sam closed her eyes and they slept.

***************************************************************************

Epilogue

One month after Sam brought Jack home, they flew off to Hawaii. Sam kept her promise that she made Jack when he was in the infirmary. They ordered drinks with little umbrellas while they lay basking on the beach. And they came back married. It didn't matter to Sam whether they got married or not, but Jack wanted his kid's parents to be married. So they were.

When they told General Hammond about their marriage and baby, he was neither surprised nor pleased. There wasn't much he could do however. They had presented him with a fait accompli, and that, in Jack's opinion, was that. Jack offered to re-retire, but General Hammond didn't want that. He spent most of an afternoon on the phone with the President, then called Sam and Jack in. The President, who was, it turned out, a great admirer of SG-1, didn't want the team split up. So he made a special dispensation for Sam and Jack. SG-1 would go on as before.

It was a relief for Sam and Jack, as well as Daniel and Teal'c, neither of whom wanted SG-1 to be split apart. Janet did restrict Sam's Stargate travel during her pregnancy, since the effects on the unborn child were unknown. It was a concession she was willing to make as long as she was able to resume her regular duties after the baby was born, which happened one afternoon about six months after Sam and Jack's marriage.

Mary Katherine O'Neill was born at 5:56 am on October 25th. She weighed in at a whopping 8 pounds and 9 ounces, and was 22 inches long. Her daddy passed out cigars to all the nurses in the delivery room and gave Mary Katherine's mother six dozen long-stemmed red roses.

When Mommy and Daddy took their little Mary Katherine home, she was welcomed by her Grandpa Jacob, and her honorary uncles and aunt, Daniel, Teal'c, Doug, and Janet. General Hammond even put in an appearance, having finally gotten over being angry over the hassle Mary Katherine's parents had put him through.

As they all sat in the living room of Sam and Jack's home, Daniel said, "It's hard to believe that two years ago we would have never imagined that all of this would happen."

"Whaddya mean, Danny boy? I knew that this would happen all along." Jack sat back with a smug grin on his face, holding his baby daughter.

"And when pray tell, Colonel O'Neill, did you know that?" asked his wife.

"I knew the minute a certain blonde Doctor-Captain marched into that briefing room and challenged me to an arm wrestle, that my life was never going to be the same." Jack grinned and winked at his wife. "And I was right."

The End