Chapter 24 – Destiny

"So?" Jack drew out the word in extreme interest.

They had turned over the placenta and umbilical cord to the Asgard the day of Isaac's birth. Sam and Jack having agreed to this ahead of time. They had however, insisted Sam be given a couple weeks to heal physically from the trauma of childbirth before Thor examined Isaac's genetic makeup.

When Kinsey had shown up, months ago. George, by prearranged decisions, had alerted Thor to listen in. They had trusted Thor to show up at the best moment having impeccable timing as usual.

"I find infant humans fascinating O'Neill. They are so very fragile." Thor told him. Jack was currently snuggling said infant against his chest.

"They are Thor, and human babies don't thrive without direct physical contact with other humans. They have been known to die from lack of touch and affection." Sam told Thor.

"This is why you objected to my people raising him ourselves." Thor surmised.

"Well yes, and that this is our baby." Sam said.

Jack flashed her a soft grin. Her momma bear side kind of did it for him.

"I will make note of that in our files should the topic come up again. We do not expect to have orphans to deal with but if we do, we shall be sure to… cuddle them." Thor told Sam who gave him an amused half smile.

"This is all well and good buddy but what did you find out? Is he going to help you here?" Jack said, waving his free hand vaguely while he frowned down at Thor looking vaguely perplexed.

"Sadly. No." Thor told them.

"No?" Jack said surprised.

"Isaac is a genetic leap forward O'Neill, but not enough of one to be our solution even though your particular combination of genetics was the right choice. Perhaps when he is an adult if he consents to another attempt." Thor said. What he didn't tell Jack and Sam was his time as well as the rest of his people's time was running out. There would not be another chance in all likelihood. Isaac Carter O'Neill would be a genetic advancement for the humans of earth, but he would not be the solution Thor was looking for.

"I'm so sorry Thor." Sam said and she genuinely was. Whatever trouble the Asgard had caused Jack and herself personally, she'd genuinely hoped their son would be the salvation Thor was looking for.

"As am I, Major Carter."

"Look, if there's anything we can do…" Jack told Thor.

Thor looked up at Jack and smiled slightly. "You both have done more than enough. More than should have been asked of you.

"It was nothing… really." Jack said, with a dismissive wave of his hand that Sam snorted at. Might have been nothing for him. He had the easy part.

"As this has not gone the way we hoped, I hope you can understand that I am needed elsewhere. Should you need me, feel free to use the communication device again." Thor said to them both.

"Stay safe Thor." Sam told him.

"And you as well Major Carter." He said kindly and with a flash, the three of them found themselves in the briefing room they had left a couple of hours before.

"Well people?"

Jack sat down and looked pensive. George tilted his head and gave Sam a questioning look.

"Even combining our genetics, it wasn't enough of a leap. He says perhaps when Isaac is an adult if he consents to more experiments they would try again." Sam told him.

"Carter."

"Sir?"

"I don't think he has enough time to wait for that." Jack said sadly.

"I don't think he does either sir." Sam agreed equally sadly.

"I'm sorry to hear that." George agreed. "What will they do?"

"He didn't say." Jack said thoughtfully and buried his face in his son's fuzzy light brown hair.

George sighed and looked down but he glanced at two of his best people. Her fingers rested lightly on his shoulder in support, knowing how hard Jack was taking the realization that a being who Jack deeply liked and respected wasn't going to be alive when his son was an adult. But that was how life was sometimes. Thor was very old. They couldn't expect him to live forever, could they?

Eventually this war would end. One of them would probably move on to another assignment. They would most likely get married and if it was while Sam was sill fairly young, possibly have another child together.

But right now they had a world to defend like it or not.

"If that's all people, you're free to go back home. Jack, I expect to see you on base, Monday morning sharp. Sam, you can resume light duty when you feel up to it."

"Thank you sir." They both said and left the room in a pensive mood.

AN: As I noted at the beginning this kind of wrote itself and leaves more questions than answers.

The answer, is, whatever you want it to be.