The Magic Of Miniskirts (Or Is It Minitunics?) 2
New Life
by Kata Avalon
URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/ask/kavalon/magic02.php
Summary: Jack embraces a whole new lifestyle
Colonel Jonathan "Jack" O'Neill was getting impatient. It was not an unusual state for him, especially in the SGC infirmary. He did not like being sick; add to that the fact that the smells and sounds of the place reminded him of the times he had laid on a bed, weak as a kitten and dependant on bloody machines to keep him alive, and he most definitely did not like infirmaries or sickbays.
Jack sighed. He had been sitting on the bed in nothing but his trousers and a tee-shirt for some time; waiting for that mini Marquis de Sade also known as Doctor Janet Frasier to come and tell him what was wrong with his stomach. He had been throwing up for a few days and had almost taken a swan dive the last time he had come back to the SGC through the stargate. They had been on a two-day mission to a quiet and rain-drenched planet. For once, there had been nothing more threatening than a water snake or two. Jack had spent most of the two days barfing in the bushes.
"She's taking a suspiciously long time with those test tubes," Jack groused.
"She probably just wants to make sure," Daniel commented from a chair near another bed.
"I wonder if you caught some type of alien flu virus?" Sam thought out loud. You could see that she was just itching to go and see for herself exactly what kind of bug they had brought with them. Frasier had ordered them all to stay in the infirmary, just in case they needed to be quarantined. Now that's a cheerful thought, Jack commented to himself.
"I am certain she will inform us of her findings as soon as possible," Teal'c announced, regal as ever as he stood by a wall near Jack's bed.
The petite doctor chose that moment to make an entrance.
"Find anything?" Daniel asked.
She nodded. "I'd like to talk with Jack first-alone."
The others looked worried, but their commander shooed them out. He wanted to find out what was going on and then get out of here.
"Now, shoot," he said, none too kindly, as the doctor pulled the curtains around the bed closed.
"Jack, you know I don't joke about my medical work."
Jack nodded. Janet had a wicked sense of humour on her off time, but she was always the professional on base.
"I also checked the findings three times." She took a deep breath.
"And?" Jack prompted. He was getting a bad feeling about this.
"You're pregnant," Dr Frasier stated.
Jack gaped at her.
"I don't know how, but there's a womb in the lining of your stomach. It's functioning pretty much as a woman's would, and there's an embryo growing inside. I'd say it's about seven weeks old and looks healthy. If you decide to carry it to term, I could do a caesarean. Jack?" Janet asked, just to make sure her patient was registering all the information, or at least most of it.
Jack thought about it all for a second, and yelled, "Teal'c!"
"I'd have thought it was Daniel," Janet mumbled.
Teal'c came running and yanked the curtain open, at the same time scanning the infirmary for any danger.
"You said it works only with women," Jack growled.
Teal'c actually looked mildly startled for a fraction of a second. "There have been tales of a few cases where a male recipient has become pregnant."
"Really? Could you-" Frasier began.
"Would you mind? We're having a family crisis here," Jack pointed out.
"Right. Before I go, what happened with those other known cases?" Janet asked Teal'c.
"They gave birth to healthy sons," Teal'c assured her.
"Glad to know. I'll leave you to your debate. Just let me know what you decide," she added before walking away to dodge any questions from Daniel and Sam or any others who might have heard Jack's yell.
Teal'c raised an eyebrow, looking inscrutable.
Jack sighed. He was really too old to be having such discussions, and he was definitely of the wrong gender to be having these worries. He did not have any doubts about his pregnancy, though.
"First of all, I'm a man. I wasn't designed to have children. Second, if we do have a child, what then?" he asked pointedly.
"I am not sure I understand the question. Do you not consider yourself a good father?" Teal'c asked. Jack knew his lover well enough to know he was genuinely confused.
"Well, an adequate one, I'd say," he admitted.
"And would you not welcome another child?"
"Err, I suppose so. Damn it, Teal'c, you're supposed to be the rational one in this relationship," Jack complained.
"I am being quite rational."
"Riiight, and how's-" Jack clamped his mouth shut. His stomach was churning again. Now he understood why Sara had been in such a crabby mood during the first weeks of her pregnancy.
"O'Neill?" Teal'c asked worriedly.
"Our offspring's just offering his own comments to the debate." After a few moments, his stomach settled.
Jack sighed. He did not really mind being pregnant; and the thought of a kid or two actually felt pretty good, but he did have doubts about the practical aspects of it.
He looked at Teal'c. Then again, he was not getting any younger. Why not take the plunge? He would probably kick himself the rest of his life if he threw this chance away.
"Where would we raise him or her?" he asked.
Teal'c smiled.
***
"Would you mind telling us how this happened? I mean, besides the obvious," Daniel asked. Jack had shouted for them to come hear the news. It had been quite spectacular; Sam was still in a bit of shock.
"You remember that mission me and Teal'c went on? To get the message from the Tok'ra operative?"
"Yes."
"The mission went without a hitch and afterwards, well, there was time for a more 'personal' mission," Jack explained.
Janet shook her head. Daniel turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow.
"I thought it was you," she whispered. Daniel looked surprised and confused at the mere thought. Janet shrugged with an embarrassed grin.
"And that's when?" Sam asked, gesturing towards Jack's stomach. The others had ignored the silent conversation.
"Yes. Apparently, the goa'uld larvae produce a kind of pregnancy aide that the jaffa use as lube. I thought it only works with women," Jack said dryly, glaring at Teal'c.
"Most of the time," the jaffa commented calmly.
"I'll want to hear more of that," Frasier said in her no-nonsense voice. "I'll also want a sample of it, just for scientific purposes. I haven't come across such a case before," she pointed out.
Teal'c nodded regally.
***
General Hammond stared at his top team. "Pregnant? By whom?"
"By me," Teal'c offered. Hammond's eyes got even larger.
"Not you?" he asked Daniel for confirmation.
"No, I'm pretty sure I'd be aware of something like that," Daniel snarled. First Frasier, then Carter, and now Hammond; why on earth did people assume he had been boffing Jack?
"Right, right. How could this happen?" Hammond asked Frasier, who was also present to provide medical expertise, though she did not feel like an expert in this.
"Far as I know, the 'pregnancy aide' provided by the larvae actually formed a womb in Jack's stomach lining. Then, with the help of material from both Jack and Teal'c, an embryo was formed. There had to have been something more to it, though," she said half to herself.
Hammond sighed. Why did these things always happen under his command? "Now, far as I remember these things, you'll start to show after five months. I'll put you on desk duty for now and on indefinite leave afterwards," Hammond offered, regaining his equilibrium.
"Thank you, sir. I'll probably resign shortly after that, but I'd be willing to help out now and then."
Hammond nodded.
***
Of course, the rumours started circulating on base. The SGC was a small community, and anything unusual, especially when it involved the SG-1, was worth talking about and speculating on. Daniel grew ever more frustrated and baffled as most of the people assumed he had something to do with Jack's desk duty and indefinite leave. A few were even bold enough to ask him of his plans. Daniel just about bit their heads off.
***
Jack lay on Teal'c. One of Teal'c's hands was caressing his back, and he felt drowsy after their earlier lovemaking session. The evening sun was shining into the bedroom, bathing everything in soft light.
"Are you sure Drey'auc wouldn't mind me staying with her?" Jack asked Teal'c's chest.
"Yes, she is aware and approves of such relationships as ours. She would also benefit from having another person living on the farm," Teal'c assured him.
Jack stretched and thought about the options. He really did not believe that staying on Earth was a viable option. Teal'c did not belong here; and if Jack stayed, the NID would start to look into his case sooner or later. Besides, there were other alternatives now.
But living on a farm? Repairing tools and buildings, collecting berries, fruits and other crops for winter, drying and smoking fish and meat, taking care of the animals... Actually, when he thought about it, it did not sound that bad. Jack had always liked to do things by hand. He was enough of a realist to know that his troubles would not be over; they would just changed. There would be bad crops, floods and the ever-present politics.
"What about you? What would you do?" Jack asked Teal'c. He rose on his elbows to look at his lover.
"I would prefer to stay with the SGC for now," Teal'c said seriously.
Jack nodded. Teal'c had been fighting all his life, and he truly believed in overthrowing the false gods. Jack thought about Charlie. The memories still ached. He would get to be there right from the beginning for this one, no going off on missions during the baby's first year. As the child grew, he could leave him (or her) with Drey'auc and go on missions with SG-1. If Teal'c thought Jack would be staying on the sidelines indefinitely, he was sorely mistaken. He knew himself; he could stay at home only for so long before going stir crazy.
"Just don't bring back a third spouse from one of those missions," Jack said, half in jest and half as a warning.
"Never," Teal'c stated. It was a promise and an oath.
***
Frasier made it clear that gate travel was off-limits for Jack for the next few months while the embryo developed, no exceptions allowed.
"None? But what if-" Jack asked as he was sitting on an infirmary bed again.
"No, whatever it is, the others will have to take care of it. By the way, you'll have to give up the weekly 'friendly' matches. And if Thor comes by to pick you up, I'll borrow a space shuttle and bring you back myself," Frasier added. Jack had an image of Frasier lecturing Thor and shuddered.
***
"So, what will you do?" Daniel asked. They were all four sitting by a table in a billiard hall / bar / steak house near the base of the mountain. It was a clean place with good beer, so many of the base personnel stopped by there after their shift. With work talk out of the way, it was time for the more personal issues.
"Leave Earth, move to the Land of Light," Jack said softly. He looked at his glass of orange juice. The ice cubes were melting.
"Are you sure?" Sam asked.
Daniel merely nodded. He had expected something like that.
"Ryac will be delighted to have a sibling, and our child would benefit from being part of a larger family," Teal'c said, sipping his Pepsi. The jaffa did not like beer that much.
"Not to mention the fact that the child's of mixed race, with two fathers for parents," Jack said ruthlessly. Sam grimaced. She had to admit he had a point.
"What about gate travel?" Daniel asked.
Jack shrugged. "I'm on paperwork duty for the next few months, no gate travel allowed as per Frasier's orders. Though I don't have much time for the paperwork since the doc's already checking me once a day, and she's talking of additional tests." He grimaced. "In a few months the baby should be able to handle gate travel with no problems."
"And you'll leave," Sam said softly. "SG-1 will be dismantled."
"It will merely change, Carter," Teal'c offered.
Sam shook her head. It would be more than that.
"Jack, have you really thought about this? Moving to the Land of Light?" Daniel asked carefully.
"Yep. No refrigerators, no freezers, no processed food, no TV." Jack sighed. "No ice hockey."
"No reliable news, only word of mouth," Daniel added.
"No modern medicine, except by the gate," Sam offered.
"I am certain he will have no problems," Teal'c stated.
"Don't worry, kids. I'll do fine, and if I do run into insurmountable problems, I'll just call for help."
***
Daniel stared at the papers in front of him. He should be glad for the opportunity to work on the stack of overdue work and join other teams on their missions. The operative words being "should be". He felt kind of bad that he was not.
"Hi, Daniel. You busy?" Sam asked. She rarely bothered to knock.
"I should be."
"Yeah, I know the feeling," Sam commented as she entered the office and shut the door. "Jack has turned in his retirement papers."
"So, it's official."
"Yes, we'll be getting a new colonel," Sam said as she removed a few books from a chair.
"It won't be the same," Daniel said half to himself.
Sam nodded. She checked the chair again before sitting down on it. You never knew what you could find in Daniel's office, or where.
"Sergeant Siler asked me to help him arrange a retirement party. Would you be willing to pitch in?
"Sure."
***
Jack's retirement party was a huge success. It produced quite a few tales of who had done what and/or with whom. Daniel's special punch was particularly popular. He refused to give out the recipe at any price. Unlike most of the guests, Jack stuck to non-alcoholic drinks. Frasier had put him on a healthier diet, and for once he did not complain. Well, not that much, anyways. One should always put up a token of resistance, after all.
"Hi, Jack. Quite a party, eh?" Siler asked with a hiccup.
"Oh, yes. Certainly something to remember... or forget," he added as he walked past a passed-out airman.
"Sho, you're moving in with Teal'c? Permanent like?"
"Yep."
"Well, good luck to you two." Siler almost collided with a table. "You two certainly fit together."
"Thank you." Jack watched as Siler zigzagged towards the buffet table. He had been a bit amazed at how matter-of-fact people were about him and Teal'c. After most of the people got over the fact that he was with Teal'c and not Daniel, that is. Apparently, there had been quite a few bets on him and Daniel.
***
"Good luck, Jack."
"Thanks, Danny," Jack said. He was dressed in civilian clothes, with a large knapsack on his back. He had sold most of his belongings and given away the rest. The house had been sold and the money given to charities. Most of his family was dead, so there had been few good byes to say. Sara had not been that surprised to hear that he would be moving to another country with a male lover. Teal'c had come with Jack to visit Charlie's grave and tell him of the baby.
"To heck with it," Daniel commented and hugged Jack.
"Come on, Danny, we'll see each other again." Still, Jack's eyes were suspiciously misty.
"It won't be the same," Daniel said softly as he moved away.
Sam moved to hug him. "I hope you'll be happy, Jack."
"I will be, Sam, I will be." Jack was certain of it. This felt right.
***
Jack stood up and massaged his back. His stomach had grown to be quite awkward. His balance was all wobbly, and the child was putting uneven pressure on his intestines. Half the time he could not be sure whether the kid was sitting on his bladder or if he really needed to pee. Still, it was incredible to feel the baby moving and growing inside him. He had not liked it so much when his breasts grew, only up to cup A if even that, thank god. Though Frasier had warned him of it; after all, he had to feed the baby somehow.
He sighed and lifted the half-full basket of berries. He walked to the next bush in the forest. Ryac was gathering herbs farther on. Teal'c had told him to keep an eye on Jack, and the young man took his duty seriously.
Jack had been surprised by how warmly Drey'auc had welcomed him. She had accepted him as Teal'c's husband and her equal in the family. Apparently such arrangements were not uncommon among the Jaffa. The pregnancy had taken a bit longer for her to get used to; but when they noticed that the usual herbal teas for upset stomachs and other various pregnancy symptoms worked on Jack too, things had become easier. His pregnancy became familiar, just another pregnancy in a society where few contraceptive methods were known, or effective. Jack suspected she thought of him as an honorary woman.
Jack grimaced as the baby kicked. He caressed his stomach and bent down to put the basket by a bush full of dark blue berries. They would soon have enough to last the winter.
"Ryac!" he shouted as he just remembered something.
"Yes, Jack?" The youngster jogged closer to him.
"Remember to dig up some worms for tomorrow's fishing trip."
"I will after lunch," Ryac promised.
Jack nodded, and they both returned to their gathering.
Jack checked the berries in his hand that he had just picked. He threw away a half-rotten one. Janet would be coming by the day after tomorrow to check up on him. She had tried to talk him into giving birth on base, but this was his world now. The child would be born here. Janet had been amazed to discover that he was developing the right parts to be able to give birth 'naturally'. They had talked about the pros and cons of it for quite some time. Finally they had simply decided to see if he could give birth naturally. If not, she would do the caesarean. Jack was not quite sure how he felt about that. Natural childbirth would probably be healthier and help with the recovery, but he knew the risks of giving birth on a field or in a field hospital. Oh well, he would worry about it when the time came. After all, everything could go without a hitch for once.
***
Hammond watched as SG-1 exited the stargate. Colonel Tabitha Panuk was doing quite well, but she was not Jack. The team was a competent one under her leadership, but not exceptional as it had been under Jack.
"Welcome back, SG-1", Hammond greeted them.
"Sir," Panuk greeted him.
"You can give your report later," Hammond cut in. "For now, I want a word with your team. It concerns their former commander."
Panuk nodded in understanding and left the gate room.
"It's time," Hammond said simply after Panuk was out of earshot. "Doctor Frasier left this morning. Do you want to gate out now or-"
"Immediately would be preferable," Teal'c said quickly.
Hammond smiled. He signalled the control room.
The general watched them leave. He sighed. Time to figure out how to explain this latest absence of his chief medical officer and the sudden leave of three fourths of his top team. Thank god for those creative writing lessons. He had known the courses would come in handy some day.
***
Sam and Daniel had trouble keeping up with Teal'c's long strides. Daniel was breathing hard by the time they reached Drey'auc's house on the outskirts of a small town. The simple log and stone house was in good repair. There was an orchard on the southern side of it and a pasture with a simple fence in the back. Daniel could see a few sheep and a mule grazing. He could also see a large river or lake farther off to the north.
"Your husband and the healer are in the orchard. The healer has put up a tent by the pear trees," Drey'auc announced to Teal'c as soon as they were in the front yard. The jaffa left his pack by the door after thanking his wife and walked briskly toward the orchard.
"Would you like some water?" she asked the others.
"Yes, please," Sam said as she sat down on a bench before the house. "Any idea how long it will take?"
"The birth began before sunrise. The healer said that the child should be born around noon," Drey'auc told her as she entered the house.
Daniel sat down beside Sam. "Glad you asked. I wasn't sure how she'd take it if I asked about such matters."
"I know." Sam looked up at the sky. It was almost midday already. "Looks like we got here just on time."
"Yep. Think Teal'c will stay here? With his new extended family?"
Sam shook her head. "He wants to fight the Goua'uld. I don't think he could settle down. Not yet anyway."
Drey'auc came back with an earthenware pitcher of water and two cups.
"Thank you."
"Is there anything we could help you with?" Sam asked as she poured their drinks.
Drey'auc shook her head as she sat on a stool. "I sent Ryac off to his friend's family, and everything is ready for the birth festivities. Now, we wait." She smiled.
"The hardest part," Daniel commented.
***
Daniel and Sam sat on the bench before the house, enjoying the sunshine and talking with Drey'auc. The event seemed to form a bond between them, a stronger and more familiar one than before.
Suddenly they could hear a cry-the wail of a newborn baby. They smiled.
"Certainly sounds strong," Daniel commented. "Wonder if it's a boy or a girl?"
"We shall find out soon enough," Drey'auc said.
It did not take long before Frasier walked around the corner to the 'terrace'.
"You got here just in time," she said as she took the cup of water Sam offered her.
"As usual. Well?" Daniel demanded.
Janet smiled. "It's a healthy boy. Both the baby and Jack are doing fine."
Drey'auc stood up with a smile on her face. "It is indeed a good omen for the firstborn to be a son." She walked inside the house to put the food out to be served.
"The first one?" Sam said bewildered.
"Well, the womb and thus the ability to have children's still there, so logically he could have more children," Frasier thought out loud.
"Several little jacks and teal'cs running around in the galaxy. I think I need a drink," Daniel announced.
"Me too," Sam said, and rummaged in her backpack. Daniel raised his eyebrows. "Twenty-year-old Scotch, merely for medicinal purposes," Sam explained as she took out a small flask and a mug. She poured a bit for each of them.
"To new life," Janet toasted.
"To new life," Sam toasted with her mug.
"May it be a bright one," Daniel added.
The End
