Title: Mistakes and Consequences

Author: Montage

Email: mtmontage@yahoo.com

Rating: PG-13 for some language and (non-explicit) adult situations

Type: Shippy...is there any other kind? Sam/Jack

Archive: SJD yes…actually, anywhere, just let me know where it's at, please!

Summary: When Sam and Jack make a few mistakes, will there be a happy ending for them?

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or the ideas, I'm just borrowing them to release my creative juices and keep my muse happy!

Spoilers: Minor for season 7…I think that's it.

Status: Completed…unless I decide to add something and it doesn't add up to a whole sequel's worth…J

PLEASE send feedback…it's my first SG fic and the first writing I've done in ages…I'm kinda nervous and need all of the encouragement I can get.

Tons of thanks and hugs to Bren Ren...she braved reading my fic and did an excellent job in the beta department.

Mistakes and Consequences

by: Montage

Samantha Carter stared in shock at the tiny plus sign. A fear like nothing she'd ever known washed over her and she shook her head, blinking slowly as if she hoped to open her eyes and find it gone. It wasn't. It still stared her in the face, a reminder of her moment of weakness and stupidity. She was pregnant.

Unable to look at it any longer, Sam left the test stick on the dresser and began pacing her quarters. She buried her face in her hands in an attempt to clear her mind. It didn't help. Slowly, she lowered herself to the edge of the bed and raked her fingers through her short blond hair.

It explained a lot. How tired she'd been lately, and the fact that she had to fight not to heave every time she traveled by Stargate. The guys had been giving her a lot of concerned looks lately, but she simply smiled and went on about her business; hoping to God that what her logical mind had deduced wasn't the reality of the situation. Now that she'd seen the evidence, she wasn't sure what to do.

**********

Janet sat across from her best friend expectantly. She'd never seen Sam look so tired, and-given the fact that she was constantly depriving herself of sleep to work on some project or the solution to a world threatening situation-that was saying something. But today was different. This was something far more personal than a Goa'uld attack or problems with her latest modifications to the Naquedah generator she was tinkering with.

"Sam…?" She looked up from her feet, meeting Janet's concerned gaze, "What's wrong?"

"Janet, I…I did something stupid," she said, her voice barely audible, even in the small office.

"What is it?"

"You can't tell anyone. I have to sort things out for myself first, but I had to talk to someone. I need your support," Sam pleaded.

"Sam, I'm here for you, you know that. What's happened, are you hurt?"

"Only emotionally," Sam choked, "I'm pregnant."

Janet recovered from her initial shock quickly, "How? I mean, I know how, but…when?"

Sam took a deep breath, "About six weeks ago."

When she looked down once more and didn't continue, Janet tried to offer the support she'd asked for, "Well, I know it's probably going to be a surprise to everyone, but it certainly isn't the end of the world. You're a grown woman…" she stopped when Sam shook her head slowly. She waited for an explanation.

"The baby is Colonel O'Neill's." At Janet's shocked speechlessness, she continued, "We'd had pizza and rented movies at Colonel O'Neill's; it's kind of a tradition. Daniel and Teal'c left, they had further to go than I did, and it had started snowing. I stayed to help clean up. We'd had a few beers, but…I can't blame that; I almost wish I could, but neither one of us was drunk…" she stopped to collect herself. She didn't want to cry, she'd done enough of that already.

Janet waited patiently. She'd already figured out pretty much how the story would end, but she didn't want to rush her friend. It was obvious that she was distraught enough as it was without her being pushy.

Sam offered a small apologetic smile and continued, "God, Janet, I should have known better than to think we could just carry on as friends and teammates. At the time it didn't seem like a big deal, but I should have never stayed, I know that, now. I just have this blind spot when it comes to Jack O'Neill and…" the tears started to fall. All it had taken was saying his name and she couldn't hold them back any longer.

Janet stood and came around the desk, sitting on the edge of it in front of her best friend, "Sam, you don't have to tell me what happened…"

"It was perfect," she said with a sniffle. "We were picking up and he caught me looking at pictures on the mantle…"

**********

{Six weeks prior}

"They grow up too fast."

Sam jumped at his closeness, turning to find her CO staring fondly at Cassie's latest school photograph, "I'm sorry, Sir. I didn't mean to be nosy, I was just…"

"I wouldn't have them up there if I didn't want you to see them, Carter," he told her succinctly. His gaze roamed to a picture of Sara and Charlie he'd taken shortly before Charlie's death.

"You loved her," there was no question in her tone as she voiced her thoughts.

"I did," Jack said softly. He saw the hurt on her face and placed a finger under her chin to tip her head so he could meet her eyes, "Past tense, Carter. I still care about her, I always will, but it wasn't meant to last."

His 2IC turned away quickly. There was something about his eyes that made her knees weak, "I'm sorry, Sir. I was out of line."

"Damn it, Sam, don't 'Sir' me!"

She stepped back, stunned, "I…"

"You know for such a smart woman, you sure can be a little slow," he muttered.

"Sir…?"

"Ah ah! One more 'Sir' and I won't be held responsible for my reaction," he warned.

"I don't understand," she bit her tongue against the automatic addition of 'Sir' at the end of her statement and waited for his response. Her heart skipped a beat when he reached up to brush a stray lock of bangs from her forehead. The heat of his touch lingered even after his hand was safely back at his side.

Jack closed his eyes and shook his head, "Sam."

That was it? Just her name? He had to be the most frustrating man alive! "Sir, I…"

His lips captured hers quickly, leaving no opening for her to evade his kiss. She felt his arms close around her and couldn't even consider moving away. It just felt right. She wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.

Jack groaned softly, pulling his 2IC closer even though he knew he should hand her her coat and show her the door. Sam gasped and pulled away slightly. Great, she'd finally come to her senses. He prepared himself for a slap in the face, either literally or figuratively.

Sam stared at him, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. He wasn't her CO, not tonight. She'd deal with that in the morning. Tonight she needed the man she loved, and that was Jack O'Neill. His eyes opened slowly and she felt her knees start to go weak again. He looked confused and relieved at the same time, which made her smile even wider. Only Jack could make that __expression look so sexy.

"I told you I wouldn't be held responsible," he quipped lightly.

"Neither will I, Sir," she said mischievously.

He smiled at the invitation and kissed her again.

**********

"I'm not sure who took it to the next level, but I remember telling him I loved him and falling asleep in his arms," Sam finished softly. "When I woke up, he'd already left for work. He left me a voicemail telling me to take the day off. When I tried to talk to him about it, he told me it couldn't happen again and walked away. I've been avoiding him as much as possible since then; keeping it professional when I couldn't."

Janet sighed, "Have you told him yet?"

"No, and you can't either."

"You're going to have to eventually," her friend reasoned. She frowned, "Unless you're considering termination…"

"No," Sam said with a definitive shake of her head. "I know I have to tell him. Just…not yet."

"Sam, I have to ask- as your doctor- you're sure it's Colonel O'Neill's baby? What about Pete?"

Sam nodded miserably. "Pete and I always used condoms. With Jack I was just so caught up in the moment…neither of us was thinking clearly…we didn't use any protection." She gave her best friend a pleading look, "Janet, I don't know what to do. He obviously realized that I wasn't worth his career. Maybe I was just attractive to him when he couldn't have me…"

"Don't you dare say that, Samantha Carter. That man may be an infuriating ass at times, but he loves you. There's no way he could have lied about that, remember?"

Sam nodded, feeling the tears start to fall once more.

"I care about her…a lot more than I'm supposed to."

No, he couldn't have lied. But that was two years ago…this was now. His feelings for her could have changed.

"I'll take some blood samples, get a definite positive for you just in case." Sam nodded solemnly. "Sam, why don't you come over tonight? Cassie won't be home and I don't think you should be alone. We can order pizza and watch girlie movies."

"Thanks, I'd like that. I don't think I'm ready to deal with Pete just yet, and it's hard to avoid him at my house…he's pretty persistent."

********** Jack downed his sixth beer and tossed the bottle in the trash as he opened the fridge for another. He almost didn't hear the knock at the door above the stereo he'd cranked up. He groaned when he saw Daniel's car in the driveway, but grudgingly opened the door. The archaeologist's smile faded when he smelled the evidence of Jack's chosen activity for the evening. He stepped into the house without waiting for an invite, snagging the bottle from Jack's hand as he passed by.

"What's up, Danny?" Jack asked as he slammed the door and followed his uninvited guest into the living room.

"Well, I was going to see if you were up for going out for a late dinner…but I think you've already drank yours."

"Nah, just let me get my coat."

"Jack, sit down. I think we need to talk."

Jack flopped gracelessly into the nearby chair as Daniel sat down on the couch, "What about dinner?"

"Maybe some other time…when you don't smell like a brewery."

Jack scowled at his friend, "So, what did you need to talk to me about?"

"Sam."

"Carter?"

"No, my dentist," retorted the irritated archaeologist. "Of course Carter. I think there's something wrong with her."

Suddenly Jack felt very sober, "What? Is she okay? Where is she?"

"I don't know. As far as I know. And I have no clue."

It took a moment to process, but Jack finally gave Daniel an extremely annoyed look, "I'm really not up for it tonight. What the Hell is wrong with Sam?"

"I honestly don't know. I ran into her outside Janet's office today; she looked pretty upset and she'd been crying. I asked her what was wrong, but she just kept avoiding the subject and trying to convince me that she'd be fine. She took off before I could find anything more out. And Janet certainly wasn't talking."

"About what?"

Daniel shook his head, "Sam wouldn't say, and I got the distinct feeling that she just wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. I don't know what's wrong, Jack…but something is. That's just not like Sam. She's not easily stressed and doesn't just cry for no reason."

Jack nodded his agreement; "We can't help her if she doesn't want our help, though."

"What if she does and she just doesn't know how to ask," Daniel reasoned. "What if she's embarrassed…or scared."

Jack snorted, shaking his head, "I don't think so, not Carter. She can take care of herself."

"All I know is that there's something going on with her that's got her pretty damn upset and she's not saying what it is. Now, I've already made sure that she knows I'm there for her when she's ready to ask for help. I was hoping you'd do the same and maybe she'd talk to you, but apparently not, so I won't waste my time any longer," he stood and headed for the door, only to be stopped by Jack's hand on his wrist. "What?" he asked impatiently.

"It's not that I don't wanna help her, Daniel. I just…can't." When Daniel replied with only raised eyebrows and a slight shake of his head, Jack sighed loudly and stood up. "Things are complicated with me an' Carter. I don't think that I'm the person she needs right now. Hell, she's been avoiding me for weeks."

"I noticed you two seem a little on edge around each other lately. Did you do something to piss her off or what?"

"Now, why do you automatically assume I pissed her off and not the other way around?"

Daniel raised an eyebrow with a knowing smirk, "Okay, stupid question," Jack acknowledged, raking his fingers back through his hair..

"So, did you?"

"I might have. It's…not something I wanna discuss."

"Jack, you know you can tell me anything, right? I mean, I know you're not a big talker, especially where your feelings are concerned, but I'm here for you, I always have been."

"I know, and I appreciate it. I just…this is between Sam an' me. I don't think she'd want me to be telling you about it."

"Jack," he could hear Daniel's mind putting the pieces into place, "this all started the Monday after the last night we all got together here at your place. Come to think of it, I thought that it was odd that she didn't come to work on Friday. Did something happen after Teal'c and I left?"

"Daniel…"

The look on his face said it all. Daniel lowered himself back down onto the couch slowly, "Oh, God, Jack…have you two been sleeping together?"

"No…well," Jack sat once more as well, "not since that night."

Daniel removed his glasses and closed his eyes, rubbing the bridge of his nose, "And why not?"

"What kind of question is that!?"

"A perfectly logical one, especially if you did something stupid to piss her off!"

"All I did was what needed to be done! It was a mistake…we never should have let ourselves get carried away like that and I did my best to make sure it didn't happen again. I'm not going to risk Sam's career over some fling with her CO who happens to be almost twenty years older than her! Besides, she has Shanahan," he finished bitterly.

Lord, his best friend was an idiot, "You told her that?"

"Pretty much, yeah."

"'Pretty much' is not an answer, Jack. What did you say to her, exactly?"

"I told her it couldn't happen again."

"That's it?" A big…big idiot.

"Yeah, why?"

"Jack! You slept with her…you can't just tell her it can't happen again and expect to go back to the way things were! She loves you, you idiot!"

Jack sat dumbfounded for a minute, trying to remember through the alcohol-induced haze whether Daniel had been present for the revelation of their feelings two years prior. It took him a few eye blinks to realize that Daniel was still talking to him and he tried to focus on what he was saying, finding it extremely difficult.

"Jack! Jack!?"

"Huh?"

"You are emotionally retarded sometimes!" Daniel stood pacing the length of the couch. "That was a huge step in your relationship and you want to pretend like it never happened. Can you stop and think, for two seconds, about how you'd feel if the roles were reversed."

It was like a lightning bolt struck him in the head. The colonel's eyes widened and a moment later he stood and made his way to the front door, stopping only long enough to grab his keys.

"Whoa, there," Daniel snatched the truck keys from his hand and led him by the arm to the kitchen. "First, you are in no shape to drive. Second, it's eleven-thirty, she's probably in bed. I'm glad you finally pulled your head out of your ass, but I'm afraid you're going to have to wait until tomorrow to grovel at her feet begging for forgiveness." He sat Jack down on a bar stool and moved to the coffee pot. "Which is, by the way, how I suggest you fix the problem. You did screw up royally."

Jack dropped his head against the counter top with a moan, "I was only thinking of her. I don't want her to be tied to an old man like me for the rest of her life. She deserves better. Not to mention we'd be putting her career in jeopardy. God, I am such an ass…"

"This is me not arguing, but you can't dwell on that. Right now you have to worry about not getting your ass kicked when you try to talk to her tomorrow."

Despite everything, Jack smiled, "That's my girl."

Daniel sat down next to him with two steaming mugs, "You hope."

**********

Sam hadn't slept more than two hours total before ending up in Janet's living room with a glass of milk. Her friend and doctor had made her stay the night in Cassie's room, telling her that she'd make it an order if necessary. Sam was pretty sure she wouldn't have, but had no intention of incurring the redhead's wrath if she pushed the issue. So here she sat in one of Janet's nightshirts, watching the sun come up over the hills and wishing that it were a coffee cup in her hand as she tried to keep her eyelids up. However, she was well aware of the effects of coffee on her unborn child, and had sworn off the offensive drink until the baby was born. It was a good thing Daniel never had to worry about that problem; he might not survive the experience. Sam smiled at the thought and took another sip of her two percent.

She was going to be a mother. It was finally sinking in. She was going to have a baby. It wasn't exactly how she'd planned it. She probably would have waited a couple more years, and she'd always thought she'd be married before she had children. Sometimes life didn't work out the way you wanted it to. At least that's what her mother had always told her. Fresh tears welled up in her eyes. Her mother would never meet her grandchild.

"How am I gonna tell dad?" she wondered aloud. Her father would have Jack's head if she told him the truth. Then again, she'd never been able to lie to him, either. She pulled her knees up to her chest and leaned her head on them, wondering how her life had gotten so complicated all of a sudden. Of course the answer was simple. Jack O'Neill.

"Colonel Jack O'Neill," she corrected, the words tasting as bitter as they'd sounded.

"Cursing him already?" Janet asked from behind her with a yawn.

Sam looked up at her friend with tear-stained eyes and smiled sadly, "Just his rank," she replied honestly.

Janet offered a sympathetic smile, "I don't have to pick up Cassie until nine, you wanna grab some breakfast before you head home?"

"Sure. I think I'll head back to base after I change and work on some stuff. I don't want to be alone right now, but I don't really want to be with people either…that's kind of how I feel in my lab."

Janet nodded her understanding, taking no offense, "Let me take a quick shower and we can get going."

**********

Jack's head pounded as he slowly opened his eyes. The sun was shining brightly through the window as he'd been too drunk to think about shutting the curtains before falling into bed fully clothed. It had been happening a lot lately…the getting drunk. Ever since he and Carter had…oh God, Carter. He groaned and rolled onto his side, his head throbbing even worse when he moved it. Daniel had been right, he was emotionally retarded. How could he have been such an ass to the woman he loved?

Jack swung his legs over the edge of the bed and sat up. His stomach lurched and his vision blurred, but he shook it off and made his way to the bathroom. He didn't have time to be hung over, he had to get to Carter's house.

After a quick shower and some coffee in his thermos, he grabbed the keys Daniel had left on the counter and locked the door on his way to his truck.

**********

Sam had said goodbye to Janet and gone straight to the base. She took comfort in the familiar surroundings of her lab. She really couldn't concentrate enough to get much done, but it made her feel better to be doing something.

Her mind kept coming back to the same questions, however. How did she tell Jack about the baby? How would he react? What about Pete? She was beginning to feel sick to her stomach, although whether it was being pregnant or stressed that was to blame she couldn't be sure. When Daniel came to the door and asked her to the commissary for coffee, she gratefully accepted, hoping to take her thoughts away from the questions plaguing her mind.

**********

Jack knocked on the door to Carter's quarters for a second time before opening the door, "Carter?"

Opening the door wider, he walked into the room, scanning it for the woman who'd stolen his heart. He noticed that her room on base was as void of personal effects as his, having only what the military had provided. A quick peek in the bathroom told him she wasn't there. He'd already checked her house and her lab and she wasn't answering her cell, "Where to next?" he asked himself softly.

He was about to leave the room when a flash of white on the dresser caught his eye. At first, he didn't think anything of it…then his heart skipped a beat. He slowly reached out a hand to pick up what he recognized to be a home pregnancy test. The window had gone completely pink and was unreadable. Jack's mouth went dry as he remembered their night together. They hadn't used any protection. He hadn't even considered it, rationalizing later that she would have said something if she hadn't been on some kind of birth control. She'd been seeing Shanahan for quite a while, so he'd figured she was on the pill or something similar.

Jack tried to think logically, but his heart wouldn't stop racing. She was probably just being cautious. She probably wasn't even pregnant. And if she was, who said it was his. She and Shanahan had to have slept together. That thought didn't help matters any; in fact, it made him feel worse. What if she was pregnant…and the baby wasn't his, but Pete's. His stomach threatened to rebel at that thought.

"Sir, what are you doing in here?"

He was startled to see Sam standing in front of him. "The door was unlocked," he answered dumbly.

"Sam, are you okay?" Daniel appeared behind Carter, concern filling his voice.

"I'm fine, Daniel. I think Jack and I need to talk alone, though, if you don't mind," her eyes were on the offending object in Jack's hand.

"Yeah, sure, whatever you say. I'll be in my office if you need anything," Daniel replied, leaving a bit reluctantly. Sam closed the door quietly behind him.

"So," Jack said after a long, awkward silence, holding up the plastic stick. "What did it say?" Not exactly eloquent, but definitely to the point.

Sam walked to the edge of the bed and sat down, looking up to meet his gaze, "I'm pregnant, Janet confirmed it yesterday," she replied softly.

Jack's eyes widened slightly and then he looked away, "I see. What did Shanahan say?" Idiot, why the Hell had he asked that?

"He doesn't know. I wanted to talk to you first."

"Me?" his voice was filled with hope and Sam realized what he'd been thinking.

"Sir…Jack…the baby is yours…ours."

Relief flooded through him, followed closely by fear and guilt. He grabbed Sam's hand and pulled her to her feet, wrapping his arms around her tightly, "God, Sam, I'm so sorry. You didn't deserve the way I treated you, I hope you can forgive me. I didn't want to ruin your career…your life." He pulled away, brushing her hair back and looking into her tear-filled eyes, "You could do so much better than an old man like me. You deserve…"

Sam placed a finger to his lips to silence him, "I don't want anyone but you, Jack. I love you."

"I love you, too."

**********

Jack lay propped up on one elbow, watching the gorgeous blonde beside him intently. She sighed in her sleep and scooted closer to him. He slipped one hand under the covers and smiled.

Sam felt Jack's warm hand cover her abdomen and placed her own over it. She opened her eyes to find him staring back at her, grinning like a fool.

"Good morning, beautiful."

"'Morning," she replied with a stretch. Jack flexed his fingers slightly and she giggled, "Hey! That tickles."

"That was the idea," he laughed, placing a kiss on the tip of her nose.

"What?" she asked when he pulled back and continued to stare into her eyes.

"I can't believe I almost lost you," his __expression turned serious, his eyes sad. "I thought I could let you go, but I was wrong. A little piece of me died every day I tried to stay away. I'm so sorry I hurt you."

Sam squeezed his hand, still resting on her belly, "It's in the past. We have each other now; and our baby. Nothing will ever come between us again."

"What about the regs?"

"Screw the regs, I don't care. I'll get reassigned if it means I can be with you."

"I could retire. You shouldn't have to give up your job."

"Neither should you. Let's call General Hammond and see what we can come up with, okay? I'm sure he'll be happy to offer his advice."

"I could call the president right now…give him my resignation…"

"Promise me we'll explore all of our options first."

"Is that an order, Colonel?"

She giggled as his hand moved up her ribcage.

"Carter, have I ever told you what that giggle does to me?" Jack groaned.

"I don't believe you have, sir…care to show me?" she asked mischievously.

"You betcha," he growled as his mouth covered hers and his hand slid even higher.

To be continued…hopefully there's a sequel, my muse hasn't decided for sure yet. J Let me know what you think!