A Gift Of The Amazons 10

Mission's End 1

by John O'Connor

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asj/john/amazons10.php
Summary: Sam and Janet return to Earth to prepare the new ambassador for her post on Themyscira

Stargate Command - Day Nineteen - Midmorning

Jack O'Neill's face was twisted and flushed as he tried to process everything he had just heard. His Second in Command and the Chief Medical Officer were going to have a baby? He tried and tried to wrap his mind around that concept but kept the image in his mind was stuck on a fantasy he had of the two women together in a distinctly non-military fashion.

"Wha...? How...? Daniel? A little help here?" Jack turned to his friend desperately.

"Uh, well, Jack, I'm an archaeologist, not a...um, a OB-Gyn. I, uh, I don't..." Daniel Jackson's voice trailed off. He was clearly at a loss.

Teal'c was standing back towards the door of George Hammond's office, his amusement evident to those who had learned to read the Jaffa's facial expressions.

Also present were the two women who had ignited the little firestorm of surprise and disbelief, Samantha Carter and Janet Fraiser. Both seemed insufferably pleased with themselves.

"It's really quite simple, Colonel. Parthenogenesis..."

"Aaahh-aaah!" Jack yelled, waving his arms and stopping Janet from continuing her explanation. "Don't get all technical on me... I just wanna know I heard right. You," he looked at Janet, "are pregnant." Janet nodded with a big grin. "And you," Jack looked at Sam, "are the father?"

Sam's grin was as big as Janet's as she said, "No, Colonel. I'm the other mother." Sam couldn't help but rock on her feet in amused pride.

"Aaah! This is a freaking dream! It's gotta be! Even I know that two women can't... I mean, you don't have the equipment... It'd be like...like playing golf without clubs or balls!" His face went completely crimson as he realized what he said.

Sam's next statement wiped any erotic fantasy out of Jack O'Neill's head. "Colonel, sex isn't necessary in this procedure. Eggs are removed by a machine, spliced together, fertilized, and implanted. Simple as that."

"Well, that's a very abridged version of the process, but essentially the details are correct," Janet said.

"So...no..." Jack waggled his fingers and wiggled his eyebrows.

"Sir!"

"Jack!"

"Colonel!"

"O'Neill, I believe you have passed that threshold you have told me you were not to pass..."

"Colonel O'Neill, I believe this discussion is wandering into realms I'd rather not deal with in my office. If you don't mind," Hammond finally cut in. "The point is that Doctor Fraiser is pregnant and Major Carter is the other parent."

"Yeah, I gotta ask, General...how did this happen? I mean, did you approve...?"

"Jack..." Daniel said warningly.

"I was pleased to let them know that Washington had approved this procedure. For both scientific and diplomatic reasons."

"Washington approved...? Georgie W?" Jack looked lost at sea. "I mean if Slick Willie were still in office..."

"Colonel, the discussion is tabled for now. Any further speculation can be done after the business at hand is concluded. Let's go into the briefing room. There's someone you all should meet." Hammond led the way to the side door that connected his office with the briefing room.

Sitting at the table near the general's office was a woman busy pouring over a large file. Noticing the new arrivals, she stood, smoothing the dark material of her skirt discreetly. She was wearing a matching suit jacket and a light grey silk blouse.

"This is Elizabeth Anne Blish. She's been sent by the State Department to set up the permanent diplomatic mission on Themyscira. Ms. Blish, this is SG-1. Jack O'Neill, Daniel Jackson, and Teal'c. This Samantha Carter, de facto head of SG-13 and Colonel O'Neill's second in command for SG-1. And last, but certainly not least, is Doctor Janet Fraiser, our CMO and Major Carter's second on SG-13."

Shaking hands with all of them, the newcomer smiled and said, "It's a pleasure to meet all of you. Especially you ladies."

Exchanging questioning looks, Sam and Janet took their accustomed places on either side of the table. Jack slouched in his chair, trying to appear nonchalant but failing miserably. His eyes kept wandering towards his 2IC and the CMO. Daniel sat in his usual spot, his increasing tension over Jack's staring eyes barely noticeable. He had learned over the past few years to be less obvious in his reactions to his older friend's often irritating actions. Teal'c was his usual stoic self.

Hammond stood at the head of the table and began, "Ms. Blish, perhaps you'd like to give us the rundown on what's going on?"

"Thank you, General." She stood again. Almost as tall as Jack, she had dark eyes, and dark, almost black, shoulder length hair that framed her face. Her face and figure caused Jack to finally relax a bit as he had something else to concentrate on. "And, please, call me Beth.

"As you are all aware, Washington wants more formal diplomatic relations with off world cultures, especially those that might aid us against any alien incursions." Beth paused for a moment, looking at other two women seated at the table. "From all the reports SG-13 has submitted, both State and Defense believe Themyscira is an optimal candidate.

"I was selected from a relatively short list of candidates based predominantly on my experience. I spent two years as Charge' D'affaires in London and, more importantly considering Themyscira's cultural base, six years as assistant charge' in Athens. I am fluent in Greek, French, and Latin as well as conversant in several other Mediterranean dialects.

"Also, I have no close family ties here any longer. That was a major consideration of the Secretary's for this post."

She sat back in her chair and finished, "Now, I'm hoping to learn more about Themyscira from you two. Your reports were very thorough but I'd appreciate some first-hand accounts as well as your impressions of our new friends."

Sam took the initiative and spent the next few hours explaining and describing the planet and it's inhabitants. Beth's insightful questions were often more probing than any standard mission briefing Q&A, but with Janet's input, they managed to fill in most of the diplomat's informational gaps.

As the meeting wore on, Jack, Daniel, and even Teal'c showed signs of boredom and disinterest. The general called for a break and announced that, unless they wished to remain, the non-mission people could return to their other duties.

After a brief lunch in the commissary, Sam, Janet, and Beth Blish reconvened in the briefing room to finish the session. By mid-afternoon, they had exhausted the subject.

"The tricameral system they have is pretty intriguing. I am really looking forward to seeing how well it works," Beth said, stretching in her chair.

Sam, seeing the straining blouse, thought, 'Jack wouldn't be too bored now.' Janet nudged Sam a little roughly when she saw where her love's eyes were fixated.

"What?" Sam turned to Janet with an innocent expression. She leaned over and whispered, "I was thinking Jack O'Neill would be wide-awake right about now."

Janet snorted in agreement. "Oh! Excuse me!"

Beth chuckled, "Glad I'm not the only lady who lets out a snort laugh once in a while."

Sam stood and began to gather the files. "You know, when I started sending hard copy reports through every few days, I never imagined it would amount to this much paperwork!"

"Sneaks up on you," Janet commented, thinking of the mountain of paperwork that would be waiting for her at the conclusion of this mission. 'There are bound to be forms Warner won't bother with...'

"Thank you, ladies. This has been quite interesting. I'm really looking forward to going through the Gate tomorrow." Beth stood and looked out the observation window into the Gateroom. "Although, to be honest, I'm a little nervous."

"Nothing to worry about," Sam said. "Right Janet?"

Janet agreed, feeling more comfortable with being hurled through a wormhole across the galaxy.

"For your last night on Earth, how about coming over? We'll have dinner and you can relax and get out of this cave for a while," Janet offered. Beth had earlier mentioned that she arrived at the Cheyenne Mountain Complex two days before and hadn't left the SGC since. "You can stay over and sleep in a real bed, if you'd like."

"Oh, I don't want to intrude..."

Sam stood up, "Not at all. Hell, even my attempts at Hamburger Helper are better than three or four days of commissary food."

The new mothers left after getting Beth squared away with a driver to bring her into town. Heading in themselves, Sam and Janet were both silently grateful that they would be back in the semitropical environment of Themyscira as they drove through a snow-covered landscape.

"Uh-oh!"

"What?"

"Sam, I just realized, if Beth does stay over, where would she sleep?"

"The guest room."

"Sam, that's supposed to be your room. Remember?"

"Well, I'll just..." Sam drove in silence for a few minutes, slightly stumped. "How 'bout I offer to use the couch in the den? Or, we could 'agree' to double up in your bed for the night."

"God, what a stupid suggestion. 'You can stay over...'" Janet mimicked herself in a high falsetto.

"Quiet, it'll be fine."

Arriving at the house, Sam saw the garage door was open. "Someone's home."

"And forgot to close the damned door!"

"Aw Janet..."

"Sam, she's wasting heat. If Cassie had to pay for it, she'd be a little more careful..."

Sam pulled in next to Janet's Celica and got out. She hit the button for the automatic door. Nothing. She pushed it again and still no response. "Uh, Janet? I don't think Cassie's to blame."

"Oh God. See? This is why renting is better. Then the landlord would have to fix it." Janet glared at the mechanism near the ceiling, almost trying to scare the gears into working.

"Mom! Sam!"

Cassie charged into the garage and wrapped up both women in a big hug. Janet realized there were better things to do than stew over defective appliances and hugged her daughter and her lover.

"Mom? Shouldn't you be sitting down and resting? I mean, a woman in your condition..."

"Cassandra, we need to talk about your television watching..." Janet said with a laugh.

"No, Uncle Jack said..."

"Oh! Jack O'Neill! Why bother with OB-Gyns when we can consult the oracle of all things female..."

"C'mon Janet. He probably was kidding around and didn't think she'd take it seriously."

"No, Sam. He said pregnant women..."

"Hold it right there!" Janet said. "I'll tell you what's what here. But first, let's get in the house. It's freezing out here!"

"Go ahead, I'll close the door the old-fashioned way and be right in," Sam said as she grabbed a step ladder to reach the broken door opener.

"Don't get goofy and try to fix it. We'll call a repairman. Last time you fiddled with an appliance..."

"I swear, Janet. I'm just going to disconnect the drive train and pull the door down. Get inside. I know prolonged exposure to cold weather isn't good for pregnant women," Sam laughed. 'Or any women,' she added to herself.

In the living room, there was a big, slightly wilted floral arrangement on the coffee table next to a heart-shaped box of candy. Janet stopped and stared at it. "Cass? Something, or someone you wanna tell me about?"

"Nooo... Those came for you the other day. I've tried to keep the flowers watered," Cassie said.

"I thought you were staying at the colonel's house," Janet said.

"I stopped by here on the way to his house after school the other day and found these on the porch. I brought them in. I stop by everyday to check on the flowers," Cassie responded.

"Well, who would...?"

"Maybe Sam?"

"But she was off world with me..."

"Hey, who sent the flowers?" Sam said as she came in. "Hey! Chocolate candy!"

"I don't know," Janet said. "And leave that box alone! You'll spoil your appetite!"

"Yes Mother." Sam pretended to pout. "Wasn't there a card?"

"A card! Of course," Janet slapped her forehead.

"It's to both of us, Sam," Janet said as she looked at the little envelope. "It says, 'To the new mothers. The baby couldn't have a finer pair of parents. Good luck. Happy Valentine's Day, Jacob Carter and Selmac.'"

"How did Dad know? And how...?"

"Sam? When was Valentine's Day?"

"The fourteenth."

Janet slapped the blonde's arm, "I know that. What day?"

"Uh, Wednesday. Today is the nineteenth. It was five days ago. Why?"

Janet's expression was unreadable and Sam felt her heart sink. "Oh, I didn't get you... Oh Janet. I'm so sorry..."

"No, that's not it Sam. Think about it. Five days ago? What were we doing?"

"OH MY GOD! Our daughter was conceived on Valentine's Day? OH MY GOD!"

Janet pulled Sam to her and kissed her softly. "Thank you for the greatest Valentine in history. I love you."

"Oh, and I love you, Janet."

The two kissed again, much more passionately and Cassie shook her head and went towards the den.

"They are disgusting. I'm right there... In the same room... Jeez!

"Get a room!" she called back over her shoulder.

"Maybe Daniel can watch her for a few days," Janet suggested.

Sam just smiled and held her tightly.

Next: Mission's End 2