Mother Of All Dilemmas 2

A Growing Dilemma

by Dreuganlady

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asd/dreuganlady/mother02.php
Summary: Daniel fights to regain his life as his problems continue to grow

Hammond had called a meeting of all SG-1 members, Daniel included. The team-members sat in their usual places, except for Daniel. He still sat apart from the others at the end of the table.

Noting this, Jack sighed. It had been four months since their return from P91-607 or, as he continued to call it, "TV land" and Daniel was still having major problems getting over the events. 'No,' Jack corrected himself, 'rapes.' "Events" made it all too nice and clean.

Jack also noted that Daniel had not been off-world since then. He spent most of his time hiding in his office doing translations, cataloging artifacts and whatever else it is that he does. He seemed to be perpetually tired. More than once Jack had gone down to talk to Daniel and found him asleep on the couch in his office. He wasn't sure if he was still throwing up as much as he was a couple of months ago, but at times the faint smell of vomit seemed to cling to Daniel.

Sam, Teal'c and he had discussed this and decided not to add to Daniel's problems by telling Janet on him. They hoped it would get better with time. If not, they could always tell her later. Jack had also checked the sign-out log and knew that Daniel left the mountain only rarely. Jack looked over at Daniel. His newest behavior was as distressing as the others. Over the last week Daniel had started wearing oversized clothing. His clothes seemed to hang on him. At first Jack thought Daniel was losing weight from the vomiting. Then he noticed how long the arms of his shirts hung on him and realized he was wearing larger sized clothing. He looked as though he was wearing his older brother's clothes--just one more way for Daniel to hide.

Jack shook his head. He thought about calling Dr. Rust, the psychologist both he and Daniel had been seeing since the rapes, and letting her know about his concerns. But he and Daniel were just getting comfortable with each other again and--knowing Daniel--if he ever found out Jack had call the doctor it would set them back again big time. For now he'd wait and watch. Daniel was a strong man. He'd pull out of this like he had done a dozen times before. If it got too bad, then he'd call the doctor.

General Hammond's voice pulled Jack from his musing. "As you know, SG-14 went to P34-778 on a general recon mission. They brought back these pictures of some very interesting structures."

Hammond pushed a button. As the lights dimmed, a picture of a blue crystalline pyramid came up on the screen behind Daniel's head. Daniel turned his seat around so he could see the slide. Several smaller, crystalline pyramids of green, pink and violet were arrayed on the left side of the larger one. Steps led up to them. Each set of steps looked to be made of gold or silver, depending on which pyramid they led to. White marble statues of different animals lined both sides of the stairs. The next slide was a closer view of the blue pyramid and showed no seams in its construction. Hieroglyphics were carved into the wall. The next slide was even closer to the wall and again no seams were visible. However, there was a door. But it was closed.

"SG-14's archeologist, Dr. Asher, tried everything she knew and still could not gain entrance to the structure."

Daniel leaned forward in his chair to get a closer look.

Hammond continued, "Even though she is an expert in Egyptian hieroglyphics she stated she had never seen this form before. She suggested we let Dr. Jackson have a go at it."

Daniel squinted at the slide. The detail was fuzzy and hard to read. "I'm not sure I can decipher this from these slides, sir. Did they get any better ones?"

"No, Dr. Asher said the detail was not in sharp relief. It was smooth-edged and therefore did not photograph or film clearly. I was hoping you could go there and see what you could find out."

Daniel looked at the slide again. "Has she tried rubbings, sir?"

"Yes, and she found the edges were too smooth to get a good rubbing."

Daniel shook his head. "I'm not sure even if I go there I could decipher the text in a reasonable amount of time."

"I want you to try and see if you can. SG-1, you can have one week to work on this project."

"Excuse me, sir, but what is so special about this ruin that it deserves a week of SG-1's time?" Daniel turned his chair back around so he was facing the general.

That surprised Jack. Never in the past two years had he heard Daniel turn down an opportunity to engage in a mission that would clearly be archeology and not military. Things really were getting bad if a find like this couldn't coax Daniel from his hiding place.

"Dr. Asher feels there may be the potential for advanced technology, given the construction of the pyramids."

Sam spoke up, "Well, they certainly had some type of technology we don't have in order to build those pyramids out of crystal without seams. I'd love to get a look inside of one of those."

"I have never seen such a thing in my travels as first prime," Teal'c added. "I too would be interested in seeing what is inside of these structures."

Jack shot Daniel one of his lop-sided grins and then gently teased him, "Daniel, I would have thought you'd be chomping at the bit to get a whole week of exploration. Don't tell me you'd rather go off on a hunt for big honking space guns instead of translating a new language!"

"No, Jack I just--"

"Good, when do we leave, sir?"

General Hammond looked between the two men, then said, "You have a go at 0700 tomorrow." He rose from his chair and started to leave.

Jack watched Daniel's reaction. To Jack he seemed to get paler by the minute.

"General Hammond!" Daniel hurried his words before the others could leave the meeting. "I can't possibly go on an off-world mission right now. I've got too much work here on base to finish. Surely another linguist can work on this."

Hammond turned to face Daniel. Leaning over the table and resting his hands on it, he considered his response. "Dr. Jackson, it has been four months since your last off-world mission. Surely you're caught up by now."

"No, sir. With all the new items coming in from the different SGC units there's more every day that needs my attention."

Jack knew this was true, but it had never stood in Daniel's way in the past. He knew what Hammond was doing. He was in on the discussion with Dr. Rust and the general about Daniel's lack of progress in counseling. The doctor felt that finding an easy but interesting mission might be a way to gently get Daniel over his fear of going off-world or, for that matter, hardly ever leaving the base. Jack had started to despair of finding a suitable mission until this one came along.

"Dr. Jackson, I know how hard that last mission was on you. And I don't blame you for being a little gun-shy about going off- world again, but I'm afraid that if you continue to hide out here on base you will never be able to travel through the gate again."

"I'm not hiding," Daniel snapped back, unable to hold in his emotions.

"I'm glad to hear that, son, so tomorrow's mission is a go." Hammond again started to leave the briefing room.

Daniel shot up out of his chair. "General!" was all he got out before he grabbed the table. Swaying slightly, he collapsed back into his chair.

Sam reached him first. She checked him over. "He's unconscious."

Hammond hit a button on the wall next to his chair. "Medical emergency in the briefing room."

Jack wiped Daniel's hair back from his face. "He's really sweaty."

A few moments later Janet and two nurses entered the room. She went to Daniel's side and checked his breathing, pulse and pupils. As one of the nurses took his blood pressure, Fraiser said, "Tell me what happened."

Teal'c answered, "Daniel Jackson seemed very upset. He became pale and started to sweat. Then he stood up quickly, swayed, grabbed for the table and then fell back into his chair unconscious."

The nurse finished taking his blood-pressure and announced, "Eighty over fifty."

"That's a bit low," Fraiser said. She motioned for Jack and Teal'c to help her get Daniel onto the gurney.

Daniel started to regain consciousness. He tried to push up on his elbows, but was still too wobbly to do so and collapsed back down. Looking around, he was having a hard time focusing on anyone. Daniel's speech was a little slurred when he asked, "What going on?"

"You passed out, Dr. Jackson," Dr. Fraiser said as she pulled up one of the gurney's side-rails.

"I don't think so. At least I don't remember it." Daniel tried to raise up off the gurney again but Jack pushed him back down.

"Lie still, Daniel, and take my word for it, you passed out."

"Okay, Jack." Daniel closed his eyes and lay still. The room was moving enough already.

Janet directed her staff, "Let's get him down to the infirmary so I can run some tests."

***

Doctor Janet Fraiser had called them all to the briefing room to give her report on Daniel's condition.

"Well, it's no surprise that he is a little dehydrated. It seems he has been vomiting a lot over the last couple of months."

"I was worried about that," O'Neil remarked, then shot the rest of his team a look of 'Oh shit!'

Janet stopped her report and asked in a tone that meant he was treading on thin ice, "And just why didn't you think I should be informed about this?"

Jack swallowed and then said, "Well, I'm not the only one who knew. Carter and Teal'c knew, too."

Janet looked at the other two. Both Teal'c and Sam gave Jack a look of disbelief at his betrayal and then one that said it would be dealt with at a later time.

Sam said, "We knew he was throwing up, but I thought it was due to the psychosocial effects of the rapes and felt that Dr. Rust would be monitoring that and alerting you to any problems."

Jack piped up, "Yeah, what she said."

Teal'c just nodded his head and said, "Indeed."

Janet's look told them she wasn't buying it for one second. "What else haven't you told me?"

Jack answered, "He's been sleeping a great deal, wearing oversized clothing and not leaving the base for long periods of time."

Teal'c added, "He is most reluctant to go off-world. And he spends a great deal of time in the bathroom. It has been most annoying. Every time we are engaged in any activity he keeps leaving to go relieve himself."

Sam felt like she was betraying Daniel. "And I've caught him crying sometimes over nothing."

"Well, it all fits. Had you all told me these things sooner I could have examined him and made my diagnoses a month or two earlier. You may have thought you were helping Daniel, but you weren't."

Hammond leaned forward in his seat and addressed the doctor, "So just what is that diagnosis exactly?"

Janet looked down at her papers and composed herself for a moment. "Dr. Jackson is four months pregnant."

Jack let a whoop of laughter and the other's joined in. "Very funny, Janet. But what really is wrong with Daniel? It can't be too bad if you are joking about it." Jack felt relieved. He had started to think of all types of life-threatening illnesses.

Janet looked Jack in the eye and without a smile said, "No joke, Colonel. Daniel is four months pregnant."

Everyone stopped laughing and looked at Janet. Jack reacted first. "But that's impossible, he's a man!"

"Explain, Doctor," Hammond ordered.

"I don't know how, but the ultrasound I ran showed not only a four month fetus but a completely developed set of female organs in Daniel's pelvis. The birth canal seems to attach to the descending colon. I couldn't find a surgical scar. I asked Daniel about it, but all he would do is to turn his head away and not talk to me. I'm at a loss to explain it. But given the timing, I'd bet it happened on Tellusuris."

They all sat back in their chairs considering this possibility.

Sam jumped up and started to pace around the room. "Part of the scenario they were playing out with Daniel was for their sex channel, correct?"

"Yeah," Jack answered, not sure where she was going with this.

"What if the scenario was more than just raping him? What if getting him pregnant was also part of the show?" Sam looked over at Jack. "You said they liked to bet on the outcomes of the shows. What if the bet wasn't just about if he would be raped or who would be the first to rape him? What if the main bet was who the father of the baby would be?"

"Come on, Carter, I could buy that if it had been you they were using. But Daniel's a man," Jack said.

Carter shot him a look and said, "I know that, sir. But aren't you forgetting what Janet said she also found on the ultrasound? Fully formed female organs."

Teal'c spoke up, "That is most puzzling. How did Daniel Jackson obtain female organs? I am positive Dr. Fraiser is an excellent physician and would have noticed this before now."

Fraiser laughed. "Thank you for your vote of confidence. The information you and Major Ayawamat brought back when you returned shows that the Tellusurians are way ahead of us in the area of medicine. It is not hard to believe they were able to implant Dr. Jackson with female organs if it suited their purposes."

"Although I am interested in how this happened," Hammond said, "what I am more interested in just now is can the pregnancy be terminated? Pregnancy can't be very healthy for a man. Lord knows it was hard on my wife and her body was meant to bear children."

Janet paused for a second and then answered, "Yes, the pregnancy can be terminated, but it is a little late now that he is in his second trimester." She looked over and frowned at Daniel's three teammates. "But Daniel would have to make that decision. As for health problems, I don't really see any physical problems with his carrying the child."

Teal'c cocked his head, his face taking on a confused look. "But Daniel Jackson just passed out. That cannot be very healthy."

"Teal'c, it is not uncommon for women to pass out while pregnant. When you are pregnant there is a change in the blood volume due to increased need. When Daniel stood up too fast his blood pressure dropped. That caused him to pass out. Carrying the child is not the problem. Giving birth is a problem. The male pelvis is not meant to bear children. It is too narrow and the baby's head will not be able to pass down between the pelvic bones, not to mention the anus is not as elastic as the vagina is. So even if the child could pass through the pelvis, the damage to the anus would be tremendous. If Daniel decides to carry this child to term, then a C-section is the only viable answer."

"How's Daniel taking all of this?" Jack wanted to know.

Janet shook her head sadly. "He will not even talk to me about it. I was hoping one of you could try and get him to discuss it. He needs to decide immediately if he is going to terminate the pregnancy or carry it to full term."

Jack volunteered, knowing he had the best chance of getting Daniel to listen to reason. That being that he should terminate the pregnancy as soon as possible. "I'll go down and talk with him. Maybe he'll feel more comfortable with me, given our history together."

Hammond sighed in relief. "Thank you, Colonel. Meanwhile Captain Carter and Teal'c, try to make voice contact with Tellusurians and find out what the hell they did to my archaeologist. And under no circumstances are any of our people to go through the gate to that planet. Also contact some of our allies and see if they have ever encountered anything like this before. Dr. Fraiser, please help Captain Carter ask them if they have run into this before. They may have some medical information that could help you treat Dr. Jackson. Dismissed."

Jack headed to the infirmary. He really didn't have a clue as to how to broach the subject with Daniel, let alone help him make a decision to terminate the pregnancy, given Daniel's views on the sanctity of life.

***

Jack walked into the infirmary and headed back to the private room Janet had put Daniel in. He knocked lightly on the door before pushing it open. Daniel lay in the bed, facing away from the door. He didn't act as if he noticed Jack's arrival. Maybe he was asleep. Jack sat down in the chair next to the bed, thinking of what he was going to say to Daniel.

There were two sides to this dilemma. The first side was the fact that Daniel had never had a child before and now he had one on the way. Terminating it was something that Jack hated to suggest. Jack knew how precious one's own child could be. He had loved Charlie with all his heart and even if he could go back to before Charlie's birth, knowing what would happen, he would still choose to have Charlie. Charlie had brought such joy to his life that the few short years he had him were worth the pain of losing him. But Charlie had been Sara's son, too, and he had--and he guessed he still did--love her. Charlie had been an extension of that love. The other side to this was that the child Daniel carried was the child of rape, not of love. Jack shook his head. It was so strange to think of Daniel being pregnant. How would Daniel feel about this child? He didn't even know much more than the names of the men who had raped him. They had been contestants in what amounted to a game show. Hell, no one even knew which one was the father. Terminating it and getting on with his life was what was best for Daniel.

Jack whispered to himself as his eyes teared up, "Oh, Daniel, what are you going to do?"

Daniel turned over at the sound of Jack's voice.

"Gee, Jack, I just passed out. It's not the end of the world, you know."

Jack laughed, relieved that Daniel was starting to accept Janet's news. But then Daniel must have guessed that he might be pregnant and had had more time to process this than they had. He breathed a sigh of relief that he did not have to have that discussion with Daniel. "I know and I'm glad you're okay."

"Good. Now when did Janet say I could get out of here? I feel fine and I've got a lot of work to get done." Daniel sat up in the bed and faced Jack.

"She didn't say. But before you go running out of here I think we need to discuss what you are going to do."

"I'm touched. You've never been interested in what I was going to do before. It seemed to bore you. But since you asked, first I'm going to work on that tablet SG-9 brought back from P34-678. Then there are those artifacts from Nilgea, you know, P4-190 to catalog. And then if I get the time--"

"Whoa, Daniel. Slow down. I'm not talking about work." Jack's voice softened. I'm talking about the baby."

"Baby! Whose baby?" Daniel sounded genuinely confused by Jack's question.

"Your baby, Daniel."

"I don't have a baby, Jack. You know that. And with the way my love-life has been lately, with Shar'e missing, I'm notlikely to have one on the way. What are you talking about?"

"Daniel, you're pregnant. Surely Janet told you."

Anger washed over Daniel's face. "Yes, she tried the same joke and it wasn't funny then and it's not now." Daniel started to get out of bed, but Jack put his hand on Daniel's shoulder and gently pushed him back down.

"You're not released yet and we still need to talk."

"Okay." Daniel sounded leery of what Jack wanted to talk about. "Now that you've played your little joke, I have to tell you I don't appreciate it. Janet I can almost understand because she didn't know. But you of all people know how much Shar'e and I wanted a child. And after I confided in you about the miscarriage I'm hurt you'd play along with Janet."

"Daniel, it's not a joke. They did something to you on Tellusuris. Somehow they caused a complete and fully functioning set of female reproductive organs to grow inside of you."

Daniel started shaking his head, looking at Jack as if he were crazy.

"Yes they did and because of the rapes you're pregnant. I'm sorry Daniel, it's true."

Daniel pushed his way up from the bed, shoving Jack away from him. "They tried to tell me that shit on Tellusuris. I didn't believe them and I don't believe you. I'd know if I were pregnant."

"Daniel, look at yourself. You're wearing clothing too big for you. Why is that? You've been throwing up constantly for the past two months. Haven't you wondered why that is?"

"Jack, I happen to like my clothing a little on the large side. There's no crime in that. Lots of people wear clothes one size too big. As for throwing up, that's a result of the rapes. Every time I think of them I get sick. And so would you if you had had to endure that instead of getting to play solider."

Jack took in a deep breath and tried to calm himself. Daniel didn't mean what he said, he was under a lot of stress. "When was the last time you passed by a bathroom and didn't use it?"

"I didn't know you were so interested in my bathroom habits. Got a little kink going there, Jack?"

"Actually it was Teal'c who noticed." Jack tried to reason with him again. "Daniel, look at the facts. You're tired all the time, you sleep more than is normal. And you've got a bit of bump showing." Jack pointed towards Daniel's lower abdomen. With Daniel dressed in the right size of hospital scrubs a definite swelling was noticeable.

Daniel ran his hands down over his stomach and then quickly pulled them away. He snarled, "Who wouldn't be tired all the time? I have twice the work to do than the rest of you. I have translations from all of the SGC teams and I translate over half those brought back while my staff takes the rest. All of the artifacts they bring back need to be studied and cataloged. I have a department to run plus I'm on a first-contact team. And now you and Hammond want me to run off on some wild goose chase as if I didn't already have enough to do. As for getting fat, I'll admit I've gotten a little out of shape lately. but with all the work I have to do when do I get time to work out?"

Daniel stalked over to the door. "Don't be an ass, Jack! Drop the joke or don't bother coming around until you do. And you can tell Janet, Teal'c and Sam the same." With that said Daniel left the room, leaving Jack confused and upset over the conversation they had just had.

"Well, that went well," Jack said to no one, then left to find Janet.

***

After talking with Jack and hearing of Daniel's continued denial of his pregnancy, Janet called Dr. Rust to explain the situation to her and get her advice as to how they should proceed next with him. Then Janet asked General Hammond and the rest of SG-1 to meet her in the briefing room.

"I just got off the phone with Dr. Rust. She feels Daniel is using a defense mechanism called denial which is a psychological defense used by a person when they refuse to accept external reality because it is too threatening and overwhelming. For Daniel it is a way to cope with reality and still keep his self-image intact, that he is male and not female and therefore cannot be pregnant. When this occurs in women it is usually when pregnancy is simply not in the realm of possibility due to their situations in life or when it is inconsistent with their social roles and/or self-concepts. In Daniel's case it's because it is not consistent with his gender role and self-concept. Through denial, patients come up with alternative explanations for every symptom of pregnancy they experience. Some women will go through entire pregnancies and not realize they are pregnant until the actual birth of the child. Dr. Rust cautioned that when a patient is in denial for all or even part of the pregnancy it can have the gravest consequences for both mother and baby."

Hammond's forehead wrinkled with concern. "Just what are these consequences, Doctor?"

"Lack of prenatal care, complications from late-term abortions, poor nutrition for the developing fetus and the mother, untreated depression due to hormonal changes that sometimes leads to suicide. And in some cases the woman delivers the child at home alone which can lead to the death of the baby due to the mother's neglect. In Daniel's case, should he be alone at the time of birth, both he and the baby would die because of delivery complications. Thank heavens we know and that will not happen. He is already four months pregnant and has had no prenatal care. This could effect the health of both him and the child should he decide to carry it to term."

Jack spoke up. "Of course, he won't want to carry it to term. For heaven sakes, it the child of his rapist."

"That isn't your call to make, Colonel." Janet reminded him.

Sam said, "I agree with the Colonel. If it were me, I don't think I'd want to carry my rapist's child for nine months, then have to decide to keep it or give it up for adoption."

Teal'c spoke for the first time. "Perhaps that is true for you, Major Carter, but Daniel Jackson is a man of very strong convictions where the life of another being is involved."

Janet listened to Teal'c's remark. This made her realize an even more plausible reason for Daniel's denial in the face of medical evidence that he was indeed pregnant. "You may have something there, Teal'c. The very fact that Daniel holds all life in such high regard may well be the reason he is in denial. If he has to admit to himself that he is pregnant, then he will have to decide to carry the child of his rapist or abort it. Either decision is painful in its own way. He may not be able to face that so soon after the trauma of the rapes. By denying the pregnancy he can prevent having to deal with it. Dr. Rust also suggested he be confined to base under observation. She feels he is very fragile psychologically at this time."

Sam stood up and said, "Well, regardless of what the reason is, we need to find him and get him back to the infirmary. You said he left the infirmary, sir. Did he tell you where he was going?"

"No he just left in a huff. But it's a sure bet he'll be in his office working. I suggest we look there first."

***

After his confrontation with Jack, Daniel felt he needed time away from everyone. So first he went to the locker room to change into the new sweat clothes he had brought in with him and after a quick stop at his office for a box of work to take home he left the mountain. He stopped at the grocery store on the way home and stocked up on food and other necessities. Also stopping at the bank, he took out some money. Once home at his apartment he sat down at his computer and sent General Hammond an e-mail requesting an extended leave. He then unplugged his phone and turned off his cell phone. He turned the deadbolt lock. Jack did not have a key to that lock. What he really needed, he decided, was for everyone to leave him alone.

No one had been there to help him get over his parents' deaths. Hell, they had locked him in an office while they cleaned up the mess of his parents' accident and had forgotten about him until the night janitor found him alone in the dark huddled in a corner, staring at nothing, unaware of anything that was going on around him. He also got over Nick's abandonment on his own. And when the one foster family that had wanted him died in a plane crash, he'd gotten over their loss alone, too. Yes, when Shar'e had been abducted, Jack had been there--Sam and Teal'c, also, to a lesser degree--when he needed to be with someone. But, even so, he handled the largest part of his grief and anger on his own. He would do the same with the rapes; he just needed to be left alone.

Knowing Jack the way he did, and how he was likely to react to his departure, Daniel also sent an e-mail to a friend of his he had kept in contact with since his days at Harvard grad school. This would serve as a back-up plan should Jack and the others not respect his privacy.

***

It only took Jack a few hours to come pounding on his door.

Daniel ignored the pounding. He knew who it was and he wasn't in any mood for Jack at the moment.

"Daniel, you in there?"

Daniel continued to read the inscription on a vase he had brought home with him.

"Daniel, I know you're in there. Now open the door."

He never looked up from his task, tuning Jack out for the most part.

The pounding and yelling continued for a few more moments. "Daniel, if you won't open the door, I'll use my key."

He just smiled to himself and continued to read as he first heard Jack insert his key into the bottom lock, turn the knob and then curse as he realized the deadbolt was locked.

"Daniel, Dr Fraiser wants you back in the infirmary. She feels you need more medical attention. She never released you, you know."

Daniel paused in his reading to consider what Jack had just said. Dismissing it, he went back to his task. He felt fine. There was no reason to go back to the infirmary.

"Come on, Daniel. Open up or I'll keep pounding on your door," Jack threatened.

Daniel ignored him and continued to read as Jack pounded and shouted at him. He was used to Jack doing this and so it was easy to tune him out.

Finally Jack banged on the door one last hard rap and then shouted in frustration, "I'll be back with reinforcements, Daniel. Don't think you can hide out forever." After one last curse Jack noisily stomped away.

Carefully putting down the vase, Daniel walked over to a window that overlooked the parking lot below his apartment. He watched Jack get into his truck, slam the door and drive away. Boy, was Jack mad! But Daniel didn't really care. This wasn't about Jack and what Jack needed; it was about him and what he needed. And right now he needed to be left alone.

Sitting down at his desk he wrote out a short note, put it in an envelope, addressed it and dropped it on the kitchen table.

Daniel then walked into his bedroom, picked up the suitcase he had packed in case Jack continued to be pushy, and stashed his wallet in his pocket. He walked out of his apartment, got into his car and drove out of Colorado Springs, heading into the mountains. His old friend from Harvard had e-mailed back that the cabin he had offered Daniel use of several times previously was indeed not in use at the moment and Daniel was more than welcome to use it for the next few weeks. The key would be waiting at the realtor's office.

***

Jack came back two hours later with Sam and Teal'c. He banged on the door again.

"I'm back, Daniel. Open the door."

They waited as nothing happened. The door did not open, nor did they hear any sounds coming from inside the apartment. Jack stood there waiting impatiently, tapping his foot on the floor of the hallway.

"I brought Teal'c and Sam with me."

Sam moved closer to the door and then called out. "Daniel, it's me, Sam. Open the door and let us in. We need to talk to you." She waited a bit, then continued, "Daniel, honey, please! We are worried about you."

Jack had had enough. "That's it! If you don't open this door right this minute, Teal'c and I will break it down!"

"I do not think destroying Daniel Jackson's door will help matters, O'Neill."

"Well, he is not answering, so how else do you suggest we get in? He could have hurt himself by now or something else could be wrong. Don't forget what Dr. Rust said--he is emotionally fragile right now. Do you want to take that chance?"

Teal'c merely shook his head and then called out to Daniel. "Daniel Jackson, please open the door. I do not wish to do as O'Neill suggests and break your door."

They waited. When there was still no answer: "Okay, Teal'c, on the count of three..."

Sam held up her hands. "Whoa! What about trying your key?"

"Tried that the last time I was here. The little shit had the deadbolt locked and he never gave me the key to it."

"I know that," Sam said with as much patience as she could. "But what would it hurt to try again. Maybe he unlocked it since you were here."

Jack grudgingly pulled out his keys and tried the lock again. He turned the handle and pushed. This time, the door swung wide open. He held up his finger and said, "Not a word, Carter, not one word!"

She waited until he stepped into the apartment before shooting Teal'c a smug look. Smiling back, he nodded his head for her to precede him into the apartment.

They walked into the dark, quiet apartment as Jack called out, "Daniel! Get your ass out here right now!"

There was no answer. Fear shot through Jack. He motioned for the other two to search the rest of the apartment as he headed towards the bedroom. Returning to the living room, he met up with Teal'c and Sam. "No Daniel. Where do you suppose he went? He couldn't have been gone long. I can still smell fresh coffee."

"I'm not sure, sir, but I found this on the kitchen table." Sam held up a white envelope with Jack's name neatly printed on it.

He took it from her and opened it up. He read it out loud to them:

"Dear Jack,

"I knew you would eventually come around. I had just hoped it would take you longer. I need some time alone. Maybe if you had come by a few days from now I would have been ready to talk, but not now. It is just too soon. I am fine. I just need some time to think and get my head wrapped around the effects the rapes have had on me. I can't do that with other people around all of the time. I've always handled my problems on my own and I guess this time is no different.

"Don't worry I'll be back in a few weeks as good as new. Please respect my wishes and don't try to track me down.

"Daniel"

"Damn it. He's gone off by himself. We need to find him."

***

That had been late September and now it was December thirteenth. Jack paced back and forth in his living room. He spent most of his downtime worrying about Daniel. They had a temporary SG-1 member--okay, they had had a succession of temporary members to cover for Daniel while he was gone.

The doorbell rang. That would be Janet and Cassie, or Sam and Teal'c. They were all coming over to help decorate the tree. Jack was having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit, but he didn't want Cassie to miss out on her first Christmas. He opened the door to find Sam and Teal'c loaded with bags and boxes. He saw some boxes of ornaments sticking out of one.

"I have ornaments, Carter."

"Yes sir, I know, I've seen them. Just thought a few new ones might help." She kicked the snow off of her boots and came into the house followed by Teal'c.

Just as Jack started to close the door, he saw Janet and Cassie drive up. He slipped on his shoes and went out to help them in with all of the bags and boxes they were now pulling out of their car. He grabbed a handful of bags. Looking in one, he saw glass bulbs. "Janet, I have ornaments."

"I know, I've seen them." Janet and Cassie grabbed the remaining bags and boxes, and headed inside.

Jack stood out in the driveway and pouted a little, then followed them in.

He had already set up the tree and strung the lights last night. While he and Teal'c went out to the garage to get his boxes of ornaments, Sam, Cassie and Janet started making Christmas cookies with the dough Janet had made in advance and brought with them. Soon the smell of cinnamon-covered snickerdoodles filled the house.

Jack and Teal'c had successfully finished their mission and as Teal'c started the fire, Jack took drink orders and started to fix them.

Sam and Janet left Cassie in the kitchen to watch the baking cookies and went into the living room. "Janet, I brought some new ornaments," Sam said as she pulled them from the bags that sat in the corner.

Janet laughed. "So did we. I've seen Jack's ornaments, too!"

Sam and Janet put the first of the newer ornaments on the tree. The colonel and Teal'c entered the room, carrying drinks for everyone.

"Hey, they may not be new, but they have character." Jack's voice sounded a bit wounded.

Sam laughed. "That's one way to put it."

"They're ready!" Cassie's excited voice called from the kitchen.

They spent the rest of the day decorating the tree, eating cookies and wrapping the presents they had bought so far.

It was getting late and since it was Sunday and Cassie still had school in the morning, Janet had put her in Jack's guestroom to sleep until she was ready to go home for the night.

As Sam sat on the floor wrapping a gift she had bought for Cassie, she sighed. "I miss Daniel. He had such a ball last year when we did this. He was looking forward to helping Cassie learn about Christmas. I hope he is all right."

Jack sipped his Jack Daniel whiskey. "It's been a little over two months. Where could he have gone? We looked everywhere. Talked with all of his old archaeology friends. Hell, we even talked to the ones he didn't get along with. The general and I have pulled every string we know and we still can't locate him. He hasn't used his credit cards or accessed his account for any more money."

Sam finished tying a bow. "Well, thank heavens the SGC pays all of his bills automatically or he'd have lost his apartment. Did you feed his fish this week, sir?"

"Fish! He has fish? By the way, drop the 'sir,' Carter we're at home."

"Yes, sir--I mean Jack. And you know he has fish. You also know it is your turn check on them and feed them this week."

"I knew that. Don't worry, everything was handled."

Janet sat down next to Jack and sipped her red wine. "I hope he comes back soon. I'm really worried about his health and the baby's. He's 26 weeks along and has had no prenatal care."

Jack turned to her and asked, "Twenty-six weeks?"

"Six and a half months, sir," Carter automatically answered.

Jack shot her a look over his glass.

"JACK, I meant Jack."

He nodded his approval and asked, "Then why not just say six and a half months?"

"Because, O'Neill, it is a more precise way to track pregnancy with the average pregnancy for humans being 40 weeks'gestation."

"Teal'c, has Daniel been making you watch the Discovery Channel again?"

"Indeed, O'Neill."

A silence fell over the group. All of them were very worried about Daniel. Why had they not found him yet? How was he surviving on the few hundred dollars he had taken out of his account just before he left?

***

Daniel sat out on the porch in a large wooden rocking chair, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine that warmed his face. A blast of cold December wind whipped his hair as he snuggled deeper into the thick quilt he had wrapped around himself. He loved looking out over the snow-covered mountains from his cabin perch.

The stone and wood cabin--if that was what if could be called--had been built on a promontory that looked out over the valley and the mountains beyond it. The back deck he now sat on acted as a balcony that protruded over the hill side. The view was amazing. The cabin was nicely appointed with all the conveniences of home and in some case more than most homes. Daniel had made good use of the hot tub that sat on its own covered porch at the side of the house. He particularly loved the master bedroom on the second floor. It had lots of glass that also provided a fabulous view. Curled up in bed, he would be awakened by the sun coming up over the mountains. His friend William had done very well as an investment banker. As he looked around he asked himself if maybe he shouldn't have gone that route. No, he realized, the things he had seen and done really were worth more than the things money could buy.

He'd been up here for over two months. He made weekly treks down to the small town that sat in the valley below for supplies and reading material. The peace and quiet had been good for him. He had stopped throwing up and his stomach had settled down. He was no longer sleeping all of the time and he felt he had more energy than he had had since coming back to Earth from the planet Tellusuris. He still had to pee all of the time, but he was getting used to that. Maybe when he went back he should ask Janet to run tests to see if he might be developing kidney problems. Also, his nipples had become sore and he had to avoid bumping into things because they hurt. He really would have to go see Janet sometime after he got back.

Crossing his arms even more to keep out the cold, he was dismayed by his rounded stomach that was starting to get in the way. He had already resorted to wearing only sweatpants and oversized shirts he bought down in the valley. He finally had to admit it--he was getting fat. Well, sitting up here for a couple months doing nothing but reading, rocking and eating didn't help. He needed to start going for walks and getting back into shape.

He felt movement in his lower pelvic area. "Damn gas. Must be something I'm eating. It's getting worse," Daniel said out loud. After he had been here alone for a week he had started talking to himself. He guessed it helped with the loneliness. He rubbed his stomach and got up to go back inside. Christmas was only a week and a half away and it was time to leave as William and his family were going to use the cabin over the holidays. He'd have to leave them a house gift as a thank you. Time to get started on getting back in shape. He put on his boots and coat, then grabbing his hat and gloves, he left the house to take a brisk walk down the long driveway that led to the winding road the house was just off of.

***

On early Monday morning, Daniel was walking down the hallway. He had his nose stuck in a paper he had downloaded off the internet a few days before leaving William's cabin. It was about the similar linguistic roots of two very diverse cultures. He absently rubbed his stomach as he walked. It was itching again. It always seemed to itch anymore. Maybe it had to do with dry skin from being in the mountains for the last two and a half months. He had had to go to the quartermaster for larger pants and shirts. He needed to lose weight. He had already cut back on his eating during the last few weeks, but that didn't seem to help much. He'd look up Teal'c later today and set up regular training sessions. He dismissed the issue from his mind as something in the paper grabbed his attention. Coming to the elevator, he waited for it while continuing to read and absent-mindedly massage his stomach. The door opened and as he entered he noticed Jack was just coming out. "Hi Jack," he said, returning to his reading.

Jack whipped around at the sound of his name. "Daniel?"

Daniel looked up just as the doors started to close, a puzzled look on his face. "Uh yes. You were expecting someone else?"

"Damn it!" Jack hollered as the doors slid shut. He watched the numbers go down two floors and then stop.

Jack pushed the button repeatedly. Two floors down was Daniel's office. He'd corner him there and then call Janet.

Finally the elevator arrived and he hurriedly pushed the button for the correct level.

As he walked down the hall his anger fought with his worry. I'll make sure he is okay and then I'll kill him. And after Janet fixes him up I'll kill him again.

Not bothering to knock, he pushed open the door to Daniel's office. Daniel sat at his desk still reading.

"Daniel!" Jack barked.

Daniel jumped at the sound and spilled his coffee all over the paper. "Damn it, Jack, look what you made me do." He tried to wipe the mess up with tissues.

Jack grabbed him by the shoulders, pulled him up to his feet and with his face inches from Daniel's said, "Don't you dare ask what I made you do after what you did to us. Where the hell have you been for the last two and a half months?"

Daniel pulled away from Jack. "At a friend's cabin getting my head together. I left you a note."

Daniel we've looked everywhere for you. Looked up all your old friends in archaeology. They all denied having seen or heard from you."

"Well, that would explain it. William is an investment banker. We roomed together at Harvard."

Jack's mouth hung open with nothing coming out of it.

"What? You don't think I have friend that aren't geeks?"

"No, I mean yes. I mean..." Jack sputtered. "Forget that. Hammond and I pulled every string we knew and called in some favors trying to find your ass."

"Well, I'm sorry you did that, but I didn't ask you to. I left a note. I e-mailed Hammond, telling him I was going to use up some of my leave I never use. I'm not a baby, Jack. I can take care of myself. I've been doing it just fine since I was eight years old."

"Janet's been pulling her hair out worrying over you. Boy, are you going to get it when she finds out you'rr back. Which will be just about now." Jack reached across the desk for Daniel's phone. He called Fraiser and let her know Daniel was back.

"What was that about? I'm fine. See? No injuries." Daniel turned slowly around.

Jack looked at Daniel's bulge as his side-view was presented to him. "No, but you are 26 weeks pregnant."

"Not funny, Jack. It wasn't then and it's not now." Daniel sat back down at his desk, picked up a tablet and started scanning it.

"I'm in no mood for your denial at the moment, Daniel."

"And I'm in no mood for your sick sense of humor. I should have stayed at the cabin."

"Oh no, you--"

Janet cut Jack off as she and two burly corpsmen came sweeping into the office. "Daniel, thank heavens you are all right! Let's get you down to the infirmary so I can check you out."

"What is the matter with you people? I go away for a much-needed rest and you all act as if I went AWOL or something."

"Daniel, in you condition you should have been under my care. Not off somewhere getting rest."

Jack raised his eyebrow at her.

Seeing this, she told him, "You know what I mean."

Daniel stood up again, anger evident in his voice. "Yeah, well, after being gone for a while and getting some rest I feel much better. Something you and Dr. Rust failed to do for me."

Jack grabbed his arm and spun him toward him. "Daniel!"

"Well, it's true Jack."

Janet ignored the jab and said, "I'm not going to argue with you. Let's go, young man. Now!"

"Hell no! I've go work to do."

Janet motioned to the two corpsmen. "Gentlemen, please escort Dr. Jackson to the infirmary."

They moved towards Daniel who drew back his fist. Then he stopped himself as tears formed in his eyes. Daniel tried to stem their unwanted flow. "I'm sorry, Janet. I'm not sure what's wrong with me. I seem to get angry one minute and then I'm crying the next."

"I understand, Daniel. Lets get you checked out." Janet's voice carried the soothing tone she used when things were worse than they seemed.

The corpsemen each took hold of Daniels' upper arms and started walking towards the door. He allowed the men to lead him towards the infirmary. Jack followed behind.

***

"So, Dr. Jackson came back on his own." General Hammond sat down at the briefing table.

Teal'c leaned back in his chair. So far he had had no comments to make. He just listened.

"Yes sir," Jack said. "I came in this morning and he was walking down the corridor just as happy as you please, reading some article. He said, 'Hi Jack,' like he hadn't been missing for the last two and a half months."

"Where is he now?"

"Dr. Fraiser has him. As soon as he got to the infirmary, I notified the rest of you know he was back. And as soon as Carter gets in, I'll let her know, too."

"Did he explain where he was all of this time?"

"Yes sir, a cabin in the Black Hawk, Central City area. Belongs to a friend of his."

Hammond's eyebrows raised as his face took on a decided look of displeasure. "I thought you checked out all of his friends and associates in the archaeological community."

Jack hastened to explain, "I did. This friend is an investment banker he knew as a student. Who knew he had non-geek friends?"

Hammond seemed mollified for the moment. "How did he look?"

"Fat, sir."

Teal'c rocked forward. "O'Neill! That is not a very complimentary way to describe Daniel Jackson."

"No, Teal'c, but it's accurate."

***

Janet came and sat beside the bed Daniel was currently sitting on. "Well, you've lost weight and you're a little on the anemic side. I bet if I were to check your levels, your iron, folic acid and Vitamin B-12 would be low. So I'm starting you on maternity vitamins immediately."

Daniel's face hardened as he warned her, "Don't go there. What is it with you and Jack?"

"Daniel, you need to admit to yourself that you are almost 27 weeks pregnant. I showed you the ultrasound I just did. Do you honestly think this is a joke? That I'd carry it this far?"

"I'm beginning to think I don't really know you. So yes, maybe you would. I just never thought you could be so cruel. I'm leaving and in the future I'd prefer to see Dr. Warner. Maybe I can trust him."

"That's enough, Daniel." Jack's cold, hard voice cut across the argument. He walked into the room and over to Daniel. Grabbing his upper arm he pulled him off the bed. "Come with me. Now!"

"Colonel O'Neill, you can't just walk in my infirmary and abduct my patient." Janet was outraged.

"Normally I would agree with you, Doc. But this has gone on long enough and is putting my team and team member in jeopardy."

Jack hustled Daniel along to SG-1's locker room. Once inside, he locked the door. Pushing a very resistant Daniel over to the mirrors he stood behind him. Jack grabbed the front of Daniel's shirt and jerked. Buttons went flying as they gave way under the force. Daniel stood frozen in shock, his head turned to the side.

"Look at yourself, Daniel!" Jack ordered him.

Daniel still kept his head turned to the side.

Jack shook him hard and demanded. "Look! You can't hide forever, Daniel. You have to face it now or in a few months. Your choice. But I never thought I'd see you turn tail and run from anything. Guess I was wrong."

Daniel turned towards the mirror. He stared at his reflection. Bringing up a tentative hand, he touched his stomach.

"You are even getting changes in your nipples. Explain that away."

Daniel's other hand crept up to touch his right nipple. It was swollen and sore. He thought he even felt the bulge of new tissue underneath.

Jack held his breath. As he watched Daniel's face in the mirror he could see his emotions playing out just as plainly as if he could read his mind. Then something seemed to snap in his friend. Daniel sagged against Jack to the point that Jack was the only thing holding him up. Then the tears started.

Daniel gasped out between heart-wrenching sobs. "I'm pregnant!"

Jack gently lowered both of them to the floor. As he held Daniel, he rocked him, stroking his back and whispering calming words of comfort.

***

Janet was mad as a hornet. If Jack had any sense he'd stay clear of her for awhile. Daniel had had a complete breakdown. She had had to have him sequestered in one of the VIP rooms with around-the-clock nursing as a precaution in case he tried to hurt himself.

Standing in front of General Hammond's desk, Janet began her report to him: "Dr. Rust has been over from the Academy Hospital to see Daniel. So far, all he does is sit in his bed, rocking back and forth. He refuses to make eye-contact or interact in any way. Dr. Rust said he has withdrawn from reality. She hoped it was only temporary while he processed this latest trauma. But she could not be sure and made no assurances of when or if he would recover."

"Did she feel this was a direct result of the colonel's actions?"

"Some. But not entirely. She said this was a possibility no matter how he finally came to realize he was pregnant. All we can do now is watch him, keep him safe and wait for him to process this and come back to us. My main worry is getting him to eat. Right now is not the time for him to go without proper nutrition. According to the ultrasound, the baby is growing and is at the correct size for this period of gestation. So far, it's been Daniel who has been suffering from the malnourishment. The baby will take what it needs first, but if his food intake continues to be poor, then the baby's development will start to suffer."

Janet sat down in an office chair and put her head in her hands. She was tired. She'd been with Daniel off and on for the last two days.

"Doctor, go home get some rest. Your staff can take care of him for a few hours."

"I think I'll take you up on that. Call me if you need me."

"Don't worry. I'll direct the staff to call you immediately if any problems should arise. By the way, where is the colonel?" Hammond's voice changed from concern to anger.

"He's in with Daniel. He hasn't left him at all during this. I think he is suffering almost as much as Daniel is."

"I hope so. Maybe he'll learn not to rush in like a bull in a china shop one day. That type of behavior may be useful out in the field, but not when it comes to handling a situation like this."

Janet's anger softened a little. "I know it was ill-conceived on the colonel's part, but his heart was in the right place even if his head wasn't."

***

Jack had relieved the nurse for a while. He told her he'd stay with Daniel. Daniel had finally fallen asleep. Jack sat in the chair beside his bed. He should have thought before he acted. He regretted his rash actions, but regrets were useless now. This time, it was his fault Daniel was hurting.

Jack watched Daniel's face. He looked too young to have been through all he had in his short life. Daniel's face started to grimace. He was becoming restless. 'Nightmare,' thought Jack. He'd seen it often enough when they shared a tent. He stroked Daniel's face. His skin was so soft. Softer than normal and Jack knew what it usually felt like from having comforted Daniel back to sleep on numerous occasions. Jack wondered if this was the result of the hormonal changes taking place in Daniel's body.

"Jack!" Daniel jerked upright.

Jack quickly grabbed him before he could tumble out of the bed. Sitting on the side of the bed he held Daniel tightly and shushed him. "It's okay, Daniel, I'm here. You're safe now. No one can hurt you. It's okay. Go back to sleep." Jack repeated this over and over as he rocked Daniel.

Then he heard Daniel's muffled voice, "It will never be okay again, Jack."

Jack pulled back and took in Daniel's tear-stained face. The blue eyes looked back at him with recognition. "Well, welcome back, Dr. Jackson. I was afraid we'd lost you."

Daniel leaned back onto his pillows. "Jack, what am I going to do? I don't want to be pregnant at all. Especially not with the child of one of my rapists."

"I know. But it's too late for an abortion, so you'll have to have it. You need to decide if you want to keep it or put it up for adoption."

"There's no way I can keep this child. It wouldn't be fair to either of us. I don't think I could ever look at it and not think of the rapes. How would that affect a child? It's best to get rid of it and try to go on with my life. But I'm not sure Shar'e will understand. On Abydos the circumstances of the child's creation has no bearing on the child or its place in the family." Tears continued to stream down his face. "I'm sorry. I just can't seem to control my emotions anymore."

"No need to apologize. I think you have a good reason, don't you?" Jack handed him a box of tissues off the bedside table.

"Do Sam and Teal'c know?"

"Yes, and we will all be there to help get you through this. Remember, Daniel this is not your fault. And as your family we will be here when ever you need us."

Daniel gave a faint smile, then asked, "I guess the whole mountain knows about it?"

"Oh, yes. It's been the talk of the rumor mill for months. The SGC betting pools are going wild with this one. Will it be a boy or a girl, date of birth, weight, even name."

Daniel looked stricken for a moment as images of other betting pools on another planet flashed through his mind.

"Sorry. That was tactless on my part."

Daniel tried to smile again. "No, it's true. I'd better get used to it."

***

Daniel was released from the infirmary in time to go to Jack's for Christmas. Thank heavens for winter coats! When bundled up in his coat, he didn't look pregnant, just a little overweight. After the holiday he would be confined to the base. Explaining things to Cassie hadn't been too hard. Being from another planet and experiencing all that she had at the hands of Nirrti, she was able to accept the fact that a man could be pregnant. What she was having trouble with was Daniel's decision to give up the baby.

It was late afternoon on Christmas Day. All the packages had been opened. Sam had done most of Daniel's shopping, armed with a list and money. Janet had picked up Sam's gift for him.

Cassie was playing a new video game Jack had gotten her with Teal'c. So far she was beating him quite soundly. At first, Jack thought Teal'c was throwing the game. But after watching Cassie play, he wasn't so sure. While sipping their drinks, Janet and Sam were chatting away about some book they were both reading. General Hammond had stopped by for a couple of hours to exchange his gifts and then left to return to the home of his daughter's family to spend the rest of the holiday with them. Daniel had retired to the guest room for an afternoon nap. The festivities had tired him out. Janet said they would see more of this as the pregnancy progressed.

After Daniel had retired, Jack tried coaxing information about the sex of the baby from Janet. A little inside information couldn't hurt when he placed his bet. But in no uncertain terms she informed him about patient confidentiality. All she was willing to divulge was that, so far, Daniel had not asked about the baby's gender and therefore she had not even told him. She also lamented those "damn professional ethics." If it weren't for them, she could make a killing in the betting pools.

Jack went into the kitchen to start dinner. When it was finished, he called his guests to the table. "I'll go get Daniel," he said, "and then we can sit down and eat." Jack walked up the hall to the guestroom. Knocking lightly, he received no answer. He opened the door quietly so as not to startle Daniel. He knew that Daniel was still fragile after finally admitting to himself that he was pregnant. Jack didn't want the general or Janet down on his head should Daniel run into any problems.

The bed was rumpled and empty. Maybe he was in the bathroom. Jack glanced over towards the door. It was open and no sounds were coming from inside. Jack suddenly noticed how cold the room was. He'd have to check the registers in this room; the rest of the house was fine. Scanning the room, he found the reason for the temperature drop. Above the lock of one of the windows a hole had been cut through the pane and cold air was pouring in through it. Jack's heart froze. He looked around the bed more carefully. Finding a piece of cloth on the pillow, he picked it up and smelled it.

"Teal'c, Carter, get in here on the double!" he bellowed. Footsteps pounded down the hall. Teal'c entered first with Carter hot on his heels. Janet soon followed.

"What is it, O'Neill?"

"Daniel's been taken. He held out the cloth for them to see.

Janet took it and barely moved it toward her face before declaring, "Ether."

Jack nodded and pointed out the hole in the window. "Carter, search the room for anything that might help us find him. Janet, call General Hammond while Teal'c and I search the area outside."

Once outside, they could see clear tracks of two individuals. Both coming and going from the window. The tracks led to the street to where a car had obviously been parked.

Jack scanned the street. A cold icy snow was falling. Little bits stung as they hit his face. "Lets cover some of these tracks with tarps so we'll have a good set of tire tracks and footprints to analyze."

After they had gotten a couple of tarps out of Jack's storage shed, Jack told Teal'c, "You keep looking for any other clues. I'll go ask the neighbors if they saw anything."

Jack headed off to the first house.

***

Daniel woke up to find himself tied up and in the back seat of a moving car. He was currently looking at the roof of the vehicle. Twisting his head around a little, he was able to see the backs of the heads of two men who were in the front seat. The driver was the taller of the two with a short military-style cut of reddish brown hair. He was big and muscular with a thick neck. His companion was slightly shorter with the same short haircut, but his hair was almost black. He, too, had a thick muscular build. As this man started to turn his head around towards the back seat, Daniel shut his eyes and pretended to still be out. Maybe they would talk and he could get some information about who they were and why they had taken him.

"He's still out," he heard a rough, deep voice say.

A slightly softer voice commented, "Good. It's a lot quieter that way."

"How much farther to the safe house?"

"You just asked me five minutes ago, Phil. You sound like a little kid. Another twenty minutes or so."

So the passenger was named Phil. Daniel continued to listen to their conversation.

"There's a game on tonight," the one called Phil said, "and I'd like to see it, if you don't mind."

"Watch away after we get the cargo safely stowed. When they gave us this mission I didn't believe them. I thought they just didn't want us to know too much and made up some bullshit story. Who'd have thought it, a man pregnant. Some sort of freak, I guess. What I don't understand is why the brass would be interested in this."

Daniel's anger flared, but he pushed it down. He needed to use his brain, and anger only clouded his reasoning. So it was a military group that had taken him. Most likely the NID or another such organization he never heard of. He agreed with the driver. Why would anyone be interested in him?"

"Who knows? Our job is to sit on him until they come for him," Phil commented.

A little while later he felt the car slow down and then take a sharp right turn. He heard what sounded like a garage door activate, then they pulled into a lighted area. Again he heard the whirring noise of a garage door moving. He heard the doors of the car open, then his own door was jerked open and large hands grabbed his shoulders, pulling him out.

Daniel opened his eyes and looked around. They were definitely in the garage of a house.

"Look! Sleeping beauty is awake."

The driver held him under his arms as Phil grabbed his feet.

"Hey Dean, wonder who Prince Charming was?"

Both men laughed at their crude joke as they manhandled him into the house. Daniel ignored the comment, refusing to take the bait and provide them with new material to harass him with.

"Guess he's not telling even if we are asking. Damn, you're heavy." Dean grunted as he shifted Daniel to get a better hold on him.

They passed through a kitchen. It was bright and modern. Passing down a short hall they entered what Daniel guessed was the family room. It had white walls with a brownish colored brick fireplace at the end of the room. Comfortable furniture filled the room and a television sat against the far wall. They stopped for a moment while Dean brought his knee up under Daniel's back. He braced his body with it as he opened a door. They descended down a steep set of stairs to a partly finished basement. Walking through a door, they were in a room that obviously had been a storage room, but was now set up as a bedroom. Daniel was laid down on the bed. It looked like something out of the 1930s with its big, white, metal headboard and footboard.

Dean went to the foot of the bed. Taking Daniels leg, he attached a manacle to it that was chained to the bedframe. "Okay," he said. "It's like this: you are here for the duration. Don't give us any mess and we will take good care of you. Any problems and, well, let's just say that you won't like it. You'll stay chained to the bed. There is enough chain for you to move about the room and use the bathroom. It's behind that door." He pointed to a door on the wall opposite the entry door.
Phil asked, "What's your name?"

Daniel thought for a moment. He couldn't see any harm in telling them, so he answered, "Daniel."

"Well, Daniel." Dean took back over. "We can be good friends or bad. That's up to you. You have your very own TV and recliner. We heard you like to read, so we picked you up a couple of books. Make yourself at home. It looks like you're going to be here a little while."

Phil untied Daniel. After he was free Daniel sat up and asked, "So tell me, who do you work for and why was I taken?"

Dean just shook his head. "As to who, afraid I can't tell you that one. As to why, all I can say is what I was told. They want the both of you--you and the brat. Other than that, you know as much as I do. We'll bring you some food soon. Boss says you need to eat regular meals."

With that both men left the room. Daniel could hear two different locks being shoved into place. Daniel got up. His legs felt wobbly. He supposed it was from whatever they had used to keep him asleep. He walked around the room, taking it in. There was the bed and nightstand, and as Dean had informed him, a TV and recliner with a side-table. On it were the books the man had spoken of. Daniel picked one up. 'Figures,' he thought. This one was a western and the one still lying on the table was a romance novel. He dropped the book back down in disgust.

There were no windows and the room had a musty smell. He knew this was going to play havoc with his allergies.

Peeking into the bathroom, he noticed there was a shower, a small sink and a toilet, nothing else. Looking at the chain, Daniel walked over towards the door. He had plenty of slack and could easily reach it. Enough, in fact, that he could hold the chain up in his hands. He stood next to the door and waited, the chain held between his two hands. After a while he heard what sounded like bolts sliding back. He readied himself. As Phil came through the door, Daniel moved from behind it, wrapped the chain around Phil's neck and jerked back. The tray hit the floor.

"Get the key and unlock these chains now, or I'll break your neck."

Phil fumbled in his pocket, then before Daniel could react he brought his hand up. In it was not the keys Daniel had expected but the butt of a gun. The blow stunned Daniel, his grip loosening.

Phil pushed Daniel back into the wall, unwrapping the chain from his neck. He back-handed Daniel twice before a hand grabbed his arm and stopped him. Daniel slid down the wall, watching the two men argue.

Phil turned to look at Dean. "Get the fuck off of me. The little queer tried to choke me with his chain."

"I don't care if he succeeded. They want him and the baby in good shape and I'm not going to go down just because you were careless and underestimated him. If they show up and find him all marked up like that, there will be hell to pay. And believe me when I say you'll be the one to pay it. Now help me get him on the bed. They picked him up and carried him to the bed.

Phil started to dump him, but Dean hissed, "Carefully, you idiot. Want him to miscarry the brat?"

Phil cursed but then did as Dean directed.

Dean sat down on the bed next to Daniel. "Clean up that mess and get him some more food."

"More food! He already had his chance. He can go hungry tonight."

"Orders are three good meals a day plus the vitamins. Now get another plate."

Dean turned to look at Daniel's injuries. "Damn, boy, you trying to get you and your brat killed?" He grabbed Daniel's chin and turned his face from side to side. "The lip is going to swell and you are going to have a couple of spectacular bruises. That cut on your forehead worries me a little. Let me see your eyes."

Daniel complied. He was still stunned from the blows. His head was starting to hurt and he felt nauseous.

"How many fingers?"

Daniel looked at the hand being held up in front of his face. He tried to focus. "Two," he answered, his voice slightly slurred.

"That was what I was afraid of. It was only one." He put down his middle finger.

Dean left and when he returned he had a first aid kit with him. He cleaned the cut on Daniel's forehead. Daniel winced and pulled away as the alcohol pad touched the cut. Dean grabbed his chin again, holding him still. "I've got to clean this up. Now stop fighting me." Dean continued to treat the cut.

Phil walked back in with a new tray. Dean directed him to place it on the table next to the recliner.

"You asshole! Did you have to hit him so hard? Now he has a concussion."

"He surprised me."

'Well guess who gets to babysit him tonight? Wake him every two hours and make sure he is alert."

"But the game is still on."

"Well, that's too fucking bad. If you hadn't have hit him so hard, you could be watching it."

Dean turned to address Daniel. "Kid, come on, let's get you in the recliner and get some dinner down you."

Daniel wasn't sure that was such a good idea with the way his stomach felt. While he tried to eat his dinner of chicken and mashed potatoes, apple sauce and bread, he watched as the two men rearranged the room so he could reach everything but the door. So much for that plan.

New Year's Day came and went with Daniel ringing it in alone in his recliner, watching MTV. He had no idea what Dean and Phil did. They hardly showed up, except to bring him food. They'd stay and make sure he ate and took his vitamins. One time, after he had refused to eat they had taken his TV, leaving him alone with just the two books. He'd read the Western first. It was okay, but that left the romance novel. Finally, boredom forced him to pick it up and read it one night. That was it. He was hooked. Every week that Daniel was cooperative, Dean supplied him with new ones. Daniel would sit and read for hours, enthralled by the love stories. If he ever got out of here, that was one secret Jack would never get out of him. He'd have to read them covertly, tucked inside some old bookcover that Jack would never touch.

Finally, they gave him back the TV and he spent a great deal of time watching the Discovery Channel and History Channel. That helped with the boredom, but he was getting more depressed all the time. He seemed to cry over everything, whether there was a reason to or not. But it was old movies that were the worst. He'd sit in his chair, tears unabashedly streaming down his face as he cried over the sad parts. He had never done this kind of stuff before. Maybe Phil was right when he would tease him that he was really a girl, sometimes calling him Danielle.

Between being made to eat and the inactivity he was putting on weight. His clothes no longer fit and he was forced to wear what amounted to a hospital gown. At least these had backs in them. Phil, of course, referred to them as Daniel's dresses. It hadn't taken long for Daniel to figure out that Phil had a mean streak in him. He loved to torment Daniel when Dean was not in the room. He never left marks, but would pinch Daniel's nipples whenever he got the chance, grab parts of his anatomy and make lewd comments about them.

He would have lost track of the days if it hadn't been for television. Ironic that the thing that got him into this mess on Tellusuris was essentially the same thing that was keeping him sane on Earth.

The baby was becoming very active and kept Daniel awake at night, kicking and wigging around. Why couldn't it do this in the daytime? Why always at night?

***

Most of the SGC had been recruited into the effort to fine Daniel. The number of personnel who volunteered their off-time to help was impressive. General Hammond had never been so proud of his people. He walked over to the console in the control room. Leaning over to gaze at the gate, he thought of the first time he had met Daniel, a young man in long robes who smelled of something akin to goat. He had had his doubts then about the usefulness of the man. But the man had proved him wrong again and again. Hammond sighed, then looked over at the sergeant.

"Walter, I want to thank the staff for their hard work in looking for Dr. Jackson. It is gratifying to see how hard they have looked when one of their own is missing."

"Two, sir."

"Excuse me?" Hammond asked, his voice indicating confusion. "Two?"

Walter turned from the screen he had been studying to look Hammond in the eye. "Two, sir. Dr. Jackson and SGC's baby."

Hammond was taken aback for a moment. Of course, in a real sense the baby Daniel carried had no real second parent, so the men and women of the SGC had stepped up to fill that role, each in their own way. When news of the pregnancy had first gotten out, General Hammond had overheard a lot of crude jokes and remarks. But as time had gone on, he realized that there had been a change in language when he overheard his people discussing the pregnancy. Things such as, "I wonder what our baby will be, a boy or a girl?" and, "I can't wait until our baby is born." Of course, the betting pools were still going strong, but that was the way of life on a military installation. Bet on anything. He guessed it served as a way to relieve the tension.

"Sir?"

Hammond turned around to see Jack O'Neill, along with Major Carter, Teal'c and Doctor Fletcher entering the room.

"Any news on Daniel?"

SG-1 had been off-world for a mission and had returned two hours ago. Dr. Fletcher, a member of Dr. Jackson's department, was covering for him with SG-1. So far, the man had survived three missions--very impressive with an enemy as formidable as Colonel O'Neill. Hammond figured that if they ever got Dr. Jackson back, he would have to keep the young man in mind for another SGC unit. Now showered and finished with their after-mission checkups, they had arrived to attend their debriefing.

"No, Colonel, nothing. I've just about exhausted all of my resources over the last month."

Jack looked down at his feet. Hammond could see the strain the worry over Daniel was causing the colonel as well as the rest of the team. He wished he had a solution to finding Dr. Jackson and the baby.

***

One day in the middle of February, Daniel was reading when the lights went out. He heard the door unbolt and then a flash light turned on, searching the room for him. It came to rest on his face, making it impossible to see anything.

"Dean? Phil?" Daniel called out.

"No, Dr. Jackson, neither," a male voice responded, its tones melodic and cultured.

"Who are you?"

"That is of no concern to you."

"Then why are you here?"

"To check on you AND make sure you and the baby are safe."

"Why are you so interested in me and this baby?"

"Let us say we'd like to study the technology that allowed this to happen."

Daniel shifted in his seat, his hand still shading his eyes. "could you drop that light down a little? It is a bit painful having it directed into my eyes."

The light dropped a little. But he still could not see the person behind the light. "Better?"

"Yes, thank you. I don't see how you could figure that out by studying me and the child."

"Oh, we don't intend on studying either of you. I like to think of the two of you as trinkets to trade to the natives for their riches."

"You can't do that without the gate. And the SGC and would never agree to that."

"Let me worry about that."

"I doubt you are being very truthful with me. If you had the means to effect the trade, you would have done it by now."

"Dr. Jackson," the voice chastised. "And they call you a genius."

Daniel felt the bottom fall out of his stomach as he realized the answer. The baby kicked hard, aiming at his ribs as if it too understood the reason. "Of course! Wait until the birth and have two trinkets instead of one."

"Very good, Doctor. Maybe you are as sharp as they say."

"Do you really think I'd allow this and give this baby to you?"

"Why not? You don't want it, not the child of your rapist. You plan on giving it up for adoption. So just think of us as your adoption agency."

"No way in hell is that going to happen!" Daniel could feel his blood pressure shooting up as fear and anger gripped him.

"Yes, I'm afraid it is going to happen. You have simply no choice in the matter. Dean, come upstairs with me. We need to talk. Phil, lock up after we leave."

The light switched off, leaving Daniel in darkness. He heard footsteps leaving, then the door being shut and bolted. The baby continued to kick and squirm around. Daniel's hand went to his stomach. He started to rub it as he rocked and spoke soothing words to it, as well as to himself. "Don't worry, little one. You're safe. It will be okay."

***

Upstairs the new man talked with the others. "He looks good. Is he eating okay?"

Dean answered, "Yes, we are feeding him just like you said. I make sure he gets his vitamins daily and has everything he needs. The baby appears to be growing. He is gaining weight and the kid is very active."

"Good. That child is priceless. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

Phil sat back, his mouth closed in a smirk. Then he too answered, "Yes, sir."

A fourth man sat in a chair off to the side. He watched Phil and didn't like what he saw. This was a man who would follow orders only so long as he was afraid he would be caught if he failed to do so. He was bully and a pervert. Daniel Jackson would be in deep trouble if he were ever left alone with this man. "Simmons," the fourth man asked, "how much longer till we move him to Area 51? He can't deliver the baby here."

"The reports say his due date is April third. I say we move him one or two weeks ahead of this, Colonel. I'm putting you in charge of making these arrangements."

Maybourne nodded. He would indeed make arrangements for Daniel and the baby. All the NID had to do was wait until Senator Kinsey took control of the Stargate and they could open negotiations with the Tellusurians for their technology. Dr. Jackson and the baby would become the NID's bargaining chips. If anyone wanted another outcome, they would have to act soon.

***

Early March arrived. Daniel had talked Dean into getting a chess set, so they could play. He'd lost interest in television and the novels. He started spending much of his day sleeping while the baby was not as active. His back hurt a lot. He asked himself, 'Why would any woman go through this more than once?'

Dean made his move. Daniel had found to his pleasure that Dean was a good player and this made their games more interesting. Phil never came down when they were playing, saying it was boring and preferring to stay upstairs and watch whatever sporting event was on the television.

"So?" Daniel asked. "What do you think?"

"Ballard is not too bad, but why in the world would you choose Melburn as a middle name?"

"Melburn for my father."

"Poor guy! Does he at least go by Mel?"

Daniel made his move and then answered, "Professionally he went by Melburn. With the family and close friends it was Mel. He died a long time ago."

"Your mother still around?" Dean took one of Daniel's pawns.

"No. She died in the same accident as he did. I was eight at the time."

"That's rough for a kid. You live with your grandparents after that?"

Daniel moved his piece. "No. My only living grandparent was too busy to take me. So the State of New York raised me."

Dean studied the board and then asked, "So why Ballard?"

"It is my mother's maiden name. But I was also thinking of Shawn. It is Celtic and is a form of the name John. I have a dear friend named that."

Dean moved his queen. "How about if it's a girl?"

"That's easy--Catherine Claire. Catherine for a very special lady in my life, and Claire for my mother." Daniel moved and took one of Dean's knights.

"Damn! Didn't see that one coming. So this Catherine, is she your girlfriend or wife?"

Daniel sighed. "No. More like a grandmother. Because in a very real sense she gave me life, or at the very least she gave it back to me."

***

Daniel watched as March 1st came and went with no rescue in sight. The unknown man had come back one more time to check on him, bringing a doctor with him. Both Daniel and the baby were fine. Physically, that is. The closer his due date came, the more upset he became. He'd wake up at night from the same recurrent nightmare, crying out for the baby as some dark stranger ripped the child from his grasp. The closer it came, the more he fell in love with the child inside of him. It was his child. Did it really matter who the other parent was? He would love it and care for it as if it were Shar'e's child. In fact, if he got the chance, he planned on naming her as the birth mother on the birth certificate. Daniel lay awake, his hand on his stomach feeling the child within him move. He had taken to sleeping in the recliner as he could not breathe lying down in the bed. Being at a 45-degree angle helped.

The baby rolled over and gave him a few tentative kicks. He rubbed his stomach. "Hey, Little One. How's it going? We need to work on your days and nights. Too much late night partying for you."

His mind wandered to his teammates. Where were Jack, Sam and Teal'c? The question was not whether they were looking for him, but if they would find him in time to save Little One from the man who visited him both in his waking hours and in his dreams. The doctor had set his C-section for March 31st.

Daniel had given up on this whole male versus female argument he had waged with himself over the last few months. It really didn't matter anymore. He was Daniel and he was Little One's parent.

He fell back to sleep, singing an Egyptian lullaby he remembered hearing the women sing when he was a child.

***

Daniel woke up in the recliner and sighed. He snuggled down into the blanket he had pulled over himself last night. He heard the bolts pull back and saw the door open.

Phil came in. "Good morning! And how's the little lady today?"

Daniel scowled, but said nothing. It was the usual with Phil. He noticed Phil was empty-handed today. No breakfast. Daniel sat up in the chair. "So what do I owe the pleasure of your company to today?"

"Well, unfortunately for you--but not for me--Dean has been called away on another mission for which he is uniquely qualified. I'll be your host for the next few days."

Daniel groaned. 'This is not good,' he told himself.

"Well, now that it's just me and the missus, I expect a little payment for all the service you've received these last three months. I've had to go without for quite awhile to take care of you, and I expect you to repay the favor."

Daniel tried to get up from the chair. If it weren't so urgent that he get up, he'd find it funny watching himself climb to his feet. Once standing, he turned to face Phil. "Dean wouldn't like it if you did anything to endanger the baby."

"Well now, I'm not going to tell him and neither are you."

Daniel stepped back from the approaching man. "And just what makes you think that's going to happen?"

Because if you tell him, you're going to lose more than just that brat you're carrying inside of you. I've done some checking. I know about your team. That pretty little captain would make quite the nice plaything before she died. Don't you think?"

"I don't think you'll find her quite so easy to take. I've seen her take out better men than you."

"Not if I take her down with a well placed bullet from a sniper rifle first."

Daniel stepped back even further from the man. "You can't be serious."

"Taking care of you has kept me pent up in here for almost three months with only my hand as a relief. I think you owe me a little action while Dean is gone." Phil moved forward, catching Daniel by the arm before he could move out of the way.

Daniel pushed back at him, trying to defend himself. Phil back-handed him across the face, knocking Daniel hard against the wall.

Grabbing the front of his gown, Phil jerked and tore the material from Daniel's body. He manhandled Daniel towards the bed.
"Stop fighting." You're not going anywhere with that chain around your ankle."

Daniel closed his eyes in resignation after being pushed face first onto the bed.

***

Jack awoke suddenly as he felt the cold metal of a gun press against his head. His room was dark, but enough light filtered through the curtains for him to see the outline of a person standing over him.

"Don't move, Colonel. I'd hate for this to go off accidentally." The voice was muffled, as if something was being used to disguise it.

"What do you want?" Jack asked, his voice low and tense.

"Nothing, really. But I do have some information on something you want."

"And that would be..." Jack lay still, denying himself the urge to make a move against his unknown assailant.

"That would be one Daniel Jackson and one small bundle of--I guess you could say--joy."

Jack tried to place the voice. It sounded a little familiar, but with the muffling effect of whatever the man was using, he was finding it hard to identify.

"What do you know about Daniel and his whereabouts?"

"Enough to set you on the trail."

"Why would you tell me? How do I know your information can be trusted?"

Jack felt the gun press in a little harder. "You don't, but that's not my worry. As to why, let's just say I've done a lot in the service of my county and expect to do some more damn disgusting things before I'm done. But selling children into sexual slavery isn't one of them."

"So where are they?" Jack tensed up. He was afraid the man would leave before he could get this information or change his mind and blow Jack's head off. Jack wasn't fond of either possibility.

"Tomorrow morning, just after 0800, go on the net to a site called super-heroes.com. You will find a comic strip featuring an Indiana Jones type character. Read the strip. I'm leaving now. Please don't follow me and make me kill you. It would not help you and it certainly would not help Dr. Jackson." The gun pulled away from his head and he could hear the man's footsteps as he left the room. Waiting until he heard the door close, he rolled over and phoned Carter.

***

So far Dean had been gone for three days, three days of hell for Daniel. He lay in the bed, bruised and bleeding. During the night he had apparently wet himself. Phil had come in that morning and found the bed soaked. He had then beaten Daniel and left in disgust. Daniel lay on the wet mattress. His lower back pains were worse than usual. He supposed it was from lying in the bed too long, but he didn't have the strength to get up. Phil hadn't brought any food or water for the last two days and the bathroom just seemed too far to go so he just lay there and hurt.

By late evening he was having pains in his lower abdomen. He began to worry that he might be in labor. Phil had not come back and had apparently ignored Daniel's cries of pain and his yells for help.

He slept very little, the pains coming more regularly and with increasing intensity. With each new pain he dug his heels into the mattress and pushed up, trying to relieve the pain. Everything hurt, even his skin felt sensitive. He had finally stopped calling for Phil. He was so engulfed in the pain that he didn't even care anymore. Time became distorted view as hours and minutes flowed at the same rate of speed. Each pain seemed now to flow into the next. He was covered in sweat. If this was labor, then he finally understood the use of the word to denote the act of bearing a child. For this truly was labor, and the hardest he had ever done in his life.

Daniel had long since stopped crying out in pain. He just rode each new wave of pain out in silent torment. He began to think that if Phil didn't come back and help him, both he and his child would die in this dirty wet bed.

***

After Jack had called it didn't take long for everyone to assemble in the briefing room. General Hammond, Dr. Fraiser, Teal'c and Carter sat around the briefing table, both Hammond and Carter sipping coffee in an attempt to become fully awake. Janet always seemed to be able to wake up at a moment's notice. Perhaps her years of doing just that as a physician had given her that talent. Jack was pacing back and forth across the room. "That's all he said, and then he left."

"O'Neill, I do not understand how finding a net will help us rescue Daniel Jackson."

"Not a 'net,' but 'the net' as in the internet."

Teal'c nodded his understanding.

Hammond chuckled at the interchange, then became serious. "We need to be ready to move as soon as we verify if this information is accurate." He turned toward the SF standing at the door. "Get SG-2 and 3 called in and kitted up for a rescue attempt."

The young woman saluted the general. "Yes, sir." She turned and left the room to attend to his orders.

"Dr. Fraiser, can you give us your appraisal of what Dr. Jackson's condition might be, and what medical needs we should be ready for?"

"Well sir, he is--" She stopped speaking and looked at the calendar hanging on the wall. Doing some quick calculations she continued. "--approximately 35 to 37 weeks pregnant given the results from his last ultrasound. I had hoped to get a better due date by repeating it when he was further along. If he has had good care, then his needs will be minimal and we can bring him back to the base and run a few test to confirm this. If he has not been well cared for, or he develops health problems due to the pregnancy, we could be facing toxemia, infection, premature labor or internal hemorrhaging. I will need to take a number of medical supplies with me just to be on the safe side. The health of the baby also needs to be considered. If he is in premature labor or the baby is in distress, I'll need to be prepared for this also."

They continued to make plans while they waited for the appropriate time to go on-line. Teams were readied, medical supplies packed and helicopters and trucks prepared, depending on which would be needed. Time dragged on for SG-1 as the rest of the base prepared.

Jack was sure for them it all went too quickly. He looked at his watch. "It's show time. Carter, care to do the honors?"

She rose and walked over to a computer console. Sitting down, she quickly entered the URL Jack had told her about.

"We're in now. But this is just the front page for what appears to be an extensive website that includes hundreds of categories of superhero stories. What search term should we use?"

"Well, he did say Indiana Jones," Jack said. "Try some terms associated with him."

Sam tried 'archaeologist.' "Nothing."

Jack suggested, "Dig."

"No."

"Ruins."

"No."

"Geek."

"I'm not going to even try that one, sir."

General Hammond said, "Try Indiana Jones."

Jack asked as he watched Carter type it in, "With all due respect, sir, isn't that a little obvious?"

"Yes, got it," Carter yelled.

"Indiana Jones?" Jack asked, a bit miffed.

Hammond gloated just a little. "That's why I'm a general and you are a colonel."

They began reading the comic strip. Sam had to admit, it was pretty well written. They all realized at the same time that they had found their clue--the address of the villain's home in the story. The story was set in England, so Jack ordered, "Carter, check that street address out and see if it exists anywhere in the Colorado Springs area."

After a few keystrokes and what seemed like forever Sam spoke excitedly. "There's a match, and looking at the map of Colorado Springs, it's only about 30 miles from here."

"Let's get going." Jack was headed across the room towards the door.

"Hold it right there, Colonel. We need to finalize our plan and to do that we need intel. Get SC-2 in here."

Sam called Major Ferretti and asked him to join them in the briefing room.

***

SG-2 had staked out the house that was set in a suburban, middle-class neighborhood. There was no movement in or out of the house. They continued to do recon on it throughout the day. As Darkness fell, lights came on inside of the house and a man could seen walking around the living room. Beer in hand, he sat down to watch the TV. Ferretti radioed the other SGC teams with the information.

Jack radioed back that they were to hold their position. Jack and the rest of SG-1 would take the front door. Colonel Makepeace and SG-3 would take the back door, while SG-2 guarded the perimetor. Dr. Fraiser and her medical team were a short distance away, waiting for a signal to come in. Jack hoped they could take the kidnappers by surprise before Daniel could be hurt. He also hoped they weren't raiding some poor guy just trying to drink a beer and watch the game in his own home. He gave the signal and they moved on the house.

Teal'c was the first to reach the front door. He kicked it in with one blow. Jack covered him as Teal'c ducked inside, then he followed with Carter close behind. They could hear the noise of SG-3 doing the same from the back of the house. Rushing into the family room, Jack bellowed, "Freeze! This is the U.S. Air Force."

The man grabbed for a gun that sat on the coffee table, but he was too drunk and slow to beat Carter to it. She scooped it up before he could even get close.

Just as SG-3 burst into the room, Jack demanded, "Where is Daniel?"

"Daniel? Who the hell is Daniel and what are you doing, busting into my home? I don't give a fuck if you are Air Force. You have no right!"

Jack motioned for Makepeace to have two of his men guard the man, while Makepeace and the other helped search the house. They had searched the main floor and second story. Finding nothing, Jack looked over at a door in the family room's corner. "Where does that lead?" he demanded.

"Nowhere. It's just a closet." His words were a little slurred, but Jack had no trouble understanding him. He walked over to the door and jerked it open, his gun ready, and with Teal'c playing backup. Jack looked down the stairs at the basement below. "Pretty damn big closet. Let's go see what's in it." He motioned to Teal'c and Carter.

They descended the stairs carefully to watch for enemy fire or booby traps. At the bottom they looked around the area.

Finding a bolted door, Teal'c remarked, "I do believe we hit the jack-kettle."

"Jackpot, Teal'c." Jack jerked back the two bolts and pulled the door open. He entered the space and cursed when he saw Daniel lying naked in the bed before him. Daniel's hands were wrapped around the rungs of the headboard. His knuckles were white. He was straining, pushing up onto his heels and grunting in pain.

"Oh, shit! Get Fraiser down here now!"

Carter used her radio to call Dr. Fraiser. "Janet, we have him, but he doesn't look good. We need you now."

"On my way."

They approached Daniel's bed. It was covered in blood and wet with who knew what? Water? Urine?

Jack looked at the manacle on Daniel's ankle. The skin was bruised and rubbed raw. The bruises on Daniel's face were dark and purple. He had others on his arms and legs. Jack again cursed and left to go back upstairs. Once up there, he approached the man.

"Where are the keys?"

"What keys?"

Jack grabbed him by the throat and slammed him up against the wall. "Look, I'll kill you now if I don't get those fucking keys."

Phil's eyes began to bulge and turned towards the TV. There they were, lying on top,

Makepeace asked, "What's wrong, Colonel?"

"He's got Daniel chained naked to a bed down there, covered in blood and piss." Jack heard four men growl as they turned towards the frightened man.

Returning downstairs, he could see that Carter was already checking Daniel out. She'd gotten a cloth from the bathroom and had wiped his face clean. Jack gently took hold of Daniel's leg and removed the manacle.

Kneeling beside the bed, he turned Daniel's face towards him. "Danny, it's me, Jack. We're here now. You're safe."

Daniel stared right through him as if he didn't recognize him.

"Daniel, it's me, Sam."

He ignored her as another pain rocked his body. "He's in hard labor, Sir. I have no idea how long, but it seems like the time for this baby has come."

They heard people hurrying down the stairs. Janet entered the Room and took one look at Daniel and the scene laid out before her. "What fucking bastards did this?"

"The one upstairs at the very least," Jack told her.

"Let me look at him." She moved over to Daniel as Jack stepped back to make room.

"Daniel, can you hear me? How long have you been in labor? Come on, sweetie, tell me. It's important. How long has it been, Daniel?"

He turned from her as another pain hit. She gave up asking and began her examination.

Daniel heard someone asking him where he hurt and how long it had been. He ignored them as he drifted back into his own world of pain.

First she checked his vitals and his contractions. Then she slipped on a glove and slid two fingers up his rectum. Pulling her fingers free, she then took her stethoscope and listened to the baby's heartbeat.

"He is 100 percent effaced and 10 centimeters dilated. The baby can't move down into the birth canal any farther due to his pelvic bones. The baby's heart rate is slow and it is in distress. Daniel's lost a lot of blood and is very weak. We need to get the baby delivered now."

"Now?" That was General Hammond who had just entered the room.

"Yes sir, if not, we will lose both of them. We may still lose one of them if we are not lucky."

"Do whatever you need to, Doctor. We will help in any way we can."

Janet gave directions to two of her nurses who scurried out of the room on various missions.

"Is there a table somewhere?"

Carter gestured back towards the stairs. "Yes, a fairly good-sized dining room table. "

"You and Colonel O'Neill, go wipe it clean. Find towels and sheets and pad it with those. Teal'c, after I am done here I'll need you to help me get Dr. Jackson up to the table."

"I will await you orders, Dr. Fraiser."

"What do you have in mind, Doctor?" Hammond Asked.

We need to do an emergency C-section before we lose them both," she replied. A few minutes later she stood up and motioned for Teal'c to approach. "Please carry him upstairs to the table."

Teal'c lifted Daniel from the bed. Daniel moaned out in pain. He carefully carried Daniel up the stairs. By now, SG-2 had entered the home, leaving other units to secure the perimeter. They watched along with SG-3 as Teal'c carried Daniel past them towards the dining room. Angry eyes turned to look at a now-tied-up Phil. Phil sobered up fast as he saw the murderous intent in those eyes.

Teal'c carried Daniel into the room and laid him down on the table.

"Okay, Anna, get an IV going with an 18-gauge needle and normal saline. As soon as it's established, give him two units of red cells as fast as they can run in. Tina, you will be in charge of the baby once it is born. Don, you can assist me with the instruments."

Each nurse went about their jobs.

Jack asked, "What can I do, Doc?"

"Stand at the head of the table and keep him calm until we can get him knocked out. Sam and Teal'c, stand over there in case I need extra hands." Fraiser looked down at Daniel one last time. His blue eyes met hers and for a brief moment he seemed to recognize her and smiled. Then his eyes drifted up towards Jack's face. The recognition seemed to be gone.

Daniel was not aware of what was going on around him until he looked up to see Janet. He was sure it was a dream. He smiled at her. Oh look! There was Jack looking down at him from above his head. Off to the side was Sam. Where was Teal'c? Surely Teal'c rated a place in his dream, he mused. Janet was speaking, something about washing her hands. Why would she be washing her hands? Maybe it was dinnertime. He didn't feel very hungry right now, so he'd just tell her he'd pass. But he felt too detached to attempt to put the thoughts into words.

Janet and Don left to scrup in the kitchen before they put on surgical gloves. Tina and Anna attended to their jobs. Then after Fraiser and Don had returned, they went and scrubbed also.

Jack looked down into Daniel's eyes. The pain was plain to see. Sweat glistened on his skin. Daniel cried out once again in pain as he arched his back. Jack tried to soothe him, stroking his hair back from his sweaty face. "It's okay, we're here now. No need to worry, we'll take care of you. Rest, Daniel, it will all be over with soon."

He could hear someone talking. A hand brushed back his hair and a comforting voice broke through his haze of pain. Telling him it was all right now, they had him and would take care of him and the baby. Jack--yes, Jack!--had come. It would be all right now. No, he told himself, it was just a dream. Time slipped away from him again. He felt hands on him probing and touching his body. He tried to pull back, but another pain hit, this one more intense than the others. He cried out. He felt something cold enter his veins, then a warm sensation spread through his body. The pain died away and he felt himself driftoff. 'That was nice,' he thought, and then sleep took him.

***

A gowned and gloved Fraiser stepped up to the table. She looked at SG-1 and General Hammond over the top of her mask. "You may not want to stay for this."

Jack didn't move. Neither did Sam or Teal'c. The general excused himself to go out and wait with SG- 2 and 3.

"All right. Put on masks and gowns and don't touch anything in the surgical field."

Tina brought over the gowns and masks, helping each one get them on.

As they did that, Fraiser prepped Daniel's abdomen and pelvis with a Betadine wash. She took the scalpel Don handed her and made the first cut. Anna wiped the blood away with a clean cloth. As she worked, Jack felt fear well up inside of him for Daniel's safety.

Tina moved over to Frasier's other side, waiting with a large towel in her hands.

Fraiser talked to herself as he worked. "Come on, kid, where are you? There, I see a hip!"

Reaching in, she grabbed both feet and pulled. Working the baby's body back and forth she tried to free the head from the incision she had made. At last she pulled the baby free and she laid it onto the towel. Jack, Sam and Teal all waited, but made no sounds. Fraiser clamped and then cut the cord. Tina carried the baby into the kitchen to a counter she had prepared. She called out, "Captain Carter, could you come in here and give me a hand?"

Sam startled, then left to help.

Fraiser continued to work. "Colonel, go into the kitchen and get me a large bowl or pot of some kind."

Jack went into the room. He looked over at the nurse and Carter. As Sam held the child, the nurse used a hand-suction device in an attempt to clear the baby's lungs. Tears were falling down Sam's face as the baby refused to cry.

He jerked his eyes away and began looking for the requested item. Finding a large bowl, he left and re-entered the dining room. Just as he arrived, he heard a weak cry followed by a stronger one. Next, he heard the voices of nine men and women in the living room yell out, "Hooha!" followed by clapping and shouts of joy.

"Here, Doc." He held the bowl next to her as she finished delivering the placenta and dropped it in. This time, Jack looked the other way.

"O'Neill, are you all right?"

"Yes, Teal'c, just a little too much visual information over here."

Fraiser hissed. "Damn it! He's bleeding too much. The uterus has torn. I'm going to have to do a hysterectomy right here."

Tina and Carter entered the room. The nurse carried a small bundle wrapped in a clean towel. The baby continued its cries.

"Dr. Fraiser," the nurse said, "there was a good bit of meconium in the fluid I suctioned from his lungs. He is still in distress. We need to get him to a neonatal unit as soon as possible."

"General Hammond!" Dr. Fraiser called out.

The general rushed into the room.

Fraiser continued to work while she asked, "Can you arrange transport to the Academy Hospital? The baby is in distress and needs immediate care."

"You've got it, Doctor. I'll send SG-2 with them to provide protection for the baby and as an escort to the hospital."

Hammond and Tina left quickly. Sam moved over to Teal'c's side.

"Teal'c, get on your radio and patch me through to the neonatal unit at the hospital."

Teal'c nodded his head and called to the SGC unit monitoring that frequency. Soon he had a pediatrician on the phone.

"Who am I speaking with?" Janet asked.

A voice came over the radio: "This is Dr. Thomas. How can I help you?"

"Doctor Thomas, this is Doctor Fraiser of Cheyenne Mountain. I just did an emergency C-section on one of our people. The baby is in transport to you as we speak. The birth was about two weeks premature with a very long and difficult labor. The membranes may have been ruptured for over 24 hours. The baby needed resuscitation at birth, and a good deal of mecunium was present in the fluid."

"We'll be ready. What is the baby's name?"

"Baby Jackson. And thank you. I'll check in with you when I get done here."

Teal'c removed the radio.

"The hospital is getting ready for the baby. Now we need to worry about Daniel. He has lost a lot of blood. I've already transfused two units of red cells and Anna is giving him a dopamine drip to increase his blood pressure. But I've got to get this bleeding under control or we will lose him."

Anything else we can do, Doc?" Jack's voice wavered a little as he asked.

"No. Why don't you go out and wait with the rest of them."

As Jack, Sam and Teal'c entered the living room they pulled off their masks and gowns.

"Well, Colonel, what did we get? A boy or a girl?" Captain Gannon asked.

Jack looked at Carter. In all the worry about Daniel he hadn't asked what it was.

Carter's face lit up as she announced, "It's a boy!"

All four of the Marines said "Shit!" at the same time.

"What's wrong with a boy?" Sam asked, seeing their faces.

Makepeace looked at the other three then offered an explanation. "We bet in the pool that it would be a girl."

The general made a sound in his throat. Heads jerked his way as the marines realized they had forgotten their commanding office was in the room with them.

Jack groaned. "The cat's out of the bag now."

Jack wanted to laugh as he watched fourgrown macho marines move closer to one another in the face of their CO.

Hammond stared back, then broke into a chuckle. "As I understand it from Sergeant Siller, I was one of the very few who put money on a boy. Most of the others who did so were from the science departments."

Everyone looked at the general with amazement.

"What? You don't really think I'm that oblivious to what goes on in the SGC? Or, I might add, that you are that good at hiding it, do you?"

Sam grinned at the marines and said, "I was one of the others who bet on a boy. Anyone with a little knowledge of genetics had an edge in the betting. With a male-female coupling there are four possible combinations of the X and Y chromosomes, making two chances of an XX pairing, producing a girl, and two chances of an XY pairing, producing a boy.

But with the two parents being male the possible combinations are different. There is just one chance of XX. producing a girl, one chance of YY, a non-viable fetus, and--this is the point you need to remember--two chances of an XY pairing, producing a boy. So," she lectured, "for any viable baby it would be twice as likely to be a boy than a girl!"

General Hammond added, "Isn't a little bit of knowledge a great thing?"

***

A little over two hours later, Dr. Frasier came out of the dining room. By this time, Phil had been taken to the mountain to be detained and questioned. The baby had already departed, and an emergency unit from the mountain had arrived, waiting to transport Daniel to the infirmary. Everyone's eyes turned towards her.

Jack spoke first, "How is he, Doc?"

She collapsed into a chair. Exhaustion and worry marred her face. Blood stained the front of her clothes. "Not good. He's lost a lot of blood. He may have an infection starting. Given his condition, I'd bet money it was over 24 hours since his water broke. I just called the hospital and checked on the baby. He is in critical condition. We may still lose both of them."

As soon as the squad had Daniel loaded on the gurney and secured, they wheeled him out to the waiting rescue vehicle. Fraiser followed.

SG-3 also left to escort the ambulance to the mountain. Hammond wasn't taking any chances in case there was another attempt on Daniel.

Jack sat down, fear making his legs weak. Sam started crying. Teal'c pulled her into his arms and gently rocked her as she gave into all the fear and stress they had endured over the last few months.

Finally as her tears slowed down, Jack said, "Let's get back to the mountain and check on Daniel."

They left the military forensic team to do their job.

Next: Conduct Unbecoming