OVERALL OPINION This is about as much as TPTB will give us *without* actually giving us the real thing! We have hugs galore, a kiss, some angst and grieving, a wedding pic and the incredible acting talents of Amanda Tapping and Richard Dean Anderson all rolled into 44 minutes of shipper-heaven! AT is superb as the two Sam's--one confused and one grieving but both scientific, and RDA is just as brilliant with his confused yet compassionate portrayal of Jack. The only way this episode could have been *more* shippy, was if it was *our* Carter who got to hold/hug/kiss Jack throughout the episode instead of AU!Sam. (To try and minimize confusion, our Sam is always referred to as 'Carter'.)

1) Initial Meeting: Jack's calmly strolling through the Base to the infirmary, obviously in a good mood. His initial reaction to AU!Sam is complete bafflement/surprise/and a touch of amusement. It's his Carter... but the *hair*! He's thrown for a loop and this confusion is increased when she begins to speak, calling him 'Jack'. He repeats it, a little surprised by the lack of formality. AU!Sam is likewise having difficulty and emphasizes who she is, to which Jack moves further into the room a little, still smiling in a confused way, and agrees that yes, she is 'Sam'. AU!Sam then murmurs to herself about "never expecting this variation" before glancing up at him and all but whispering: "you're alive!". Now if he wasn't confused before, Jack certainly is now, especially when *Kawalsky* appears to his right! The plot thickens as Jack's confusion increases a moment later when AU!Kawalsky states that he's not meant to be alive in this reality any more than Jack is in his. The camera cuts to Jack who looks at AU!Kawalsky briefly before looking at AU!Sam, instinctively searching her out for an explanation. Instead, AU!Sam's expression has dropped at this, prompting AU!Kawalsky to murmur a "sorry Sam" even as she raises her gaze to Jack, noticing his confusion but unable to stop from whispering: "it's not the same with us here, is it?". Jack has no reply to this (he looks like he's still trying to work out why Carter's calling him 'Jack') and instead begs for an explanation.

2) The Video Tape Interview: SG1 are watching AU!Sam endure her video-taped interview at Nellis. As the interviewer once again prompts for an explanation, AU!Sam reaches the end of her patience and rubbing a hand on her forehead mutters a very Jack-like statement of: "oh for crying out loud!". The camera cuts to Jack whose eyebrows have all but left his face and follows his look to his Carter who's sitting behind him. Our Carter has the world's most 'ohmygod' expression on her face as her jaw rests on the table below her. At Jack's look towards her, she slants her gaze to him briefly, returning the look, before facing the screen again. As Hammond brings up the lights, Carter can't resist commenting: "oh my God... this is too weird." Jack, likewise, can't resist commenting and his reply is: "yeah... how about that hair?" Carter's response to *that* is a mildly dirty look as if to say: don't even go there. When Hammond states that AU!Sam and AU!Kawalsky are from an Alternate Universe, Daniel comments that it can't be the same AU he went to (There But For The Grace Of God) because: "... the Doctor Carter I met in the alternate reality, she's... dead." The camera cuts sharply to Jack then who's showing a mildly distasteful look on his face as Daniel states this. They all turn back around to listen to AU!Sam explaining the whole 'alternate reality thang'. As she begins to 'techno-babble', Jack closes his eyes and leans back in his chair, his head hitting the headrest, as if to say 'great... this Carter does that too!'/'it's Carter alright!'. When our Carter agrees with AU!Sam, Jack can't help but grin as he points out rather sarcastically that she just agreed with herself.

3) The Debriefing: AU!Sam, after an initial exchange with our Carter, immediately goes round to take a seat next to Jack. She looks visibly on edge, and frequently looks to him, as if waiting for him to do something/say something as she plays/fiddles with her wedding and engagement rings. Jack, likewise, is also uncomfortable but that's more than likely due to his whole confusion over the 'alternate reality thang'. Jack can't help but keep sliding looks between his Carter and the AU!Sam. When Carter and AU!Sam accidentally start to argue, Jack immediately jumps in to calm them down: "Ladies! Sam's! We're all in this reality together...", sending a brief look to AU!Sam as he says that. When AU!Sam and AU!Kawalsky ask to stay, AU!Sam quite clearly asks "that is, if we're wanted", looking pointedly towards Jack as she says so. Daniel clearly looks apprehensive at this, wearing an expression of 'oh boy... here we go' on his face. Silence fills the room as AU!Sam continues, stating that if this reality doesn't let them stay, after they (AU!Sam and AU!Kawalsky) have left everything and everyone behind, then she doesn't know any of them. Jack immediately pipes up at this, concurring and saying: "well exactly, you don't know any of us and we don't know you. For all we know, you could be her evil twin." AU!Sam's expression immediately falls at this and Jack, apparently realizing that he's just uttered a pretty nasty insult to her (if anyone else had said it, the effect wouldn't have been as bad), quickly tries to 'apologize' in his own way: "but then we'd be dealing with cliches and you know how I feel about those." And of course, gets confused and looks at his Carter with: "no, actually, *you* know how I feel about those." He stops quickly at that point, a look of complete confusion coming across his face that says: hell, even *I* don't know what I just said! Carter sends him a quick look that is almost a smile (her left cheek twitches) at this. As Hammond dismisses them all, AU!Sam stands quickly and leaves without a word after shooting a quick look to our Carter. In return, Jack watches her leave, before sharing a quick look with his Carter and then slightly shaking his head as if he can't really believe all that's just happened.

4) The Photo: AU!Sam enters her quarters and promptly moves over to the bed. Immediately after sitting she reaches into her breast pocket, removing a photo. After staring at it for a long moment, and gently stroking the photo, she props it up against the lamp and leans onto her side to stare at it, tears forming in her eyes. As the camera drifts from her to a close-up of the photo, we see that it is a wedding photo of AU!Sam and AU!Jack--the two had been married in their alternate universe. The photo shows AU!Sam laughing and AU!Jack holding her tightly from behind, preventing her from leaning forward too much as he likewise grins at the camera (if that ain't love in that photo then I don't know what is!). :)

5) Permission: Jack and Hammond are in his office, Hammond on the phone. After a moment, he hangs up and promptly tells Jack that "they can stay", obviously referring to AU!Sam and AU!Kawalsky. Jack notices Hammond's apprehension at this and comments on it, eventually quipping: "well the combined IQ of Earth might go up a few points having two Carter's around" and showing the respect he has for Carter's intelligence. They discuss it a bit further before Jack asks for permission to let the two AU!peoples know the news.

6) In AU!Sam's Quarters: A knock on the door interrupts a grieving AU!Sam and she tearfully, without averting her gaze from her wedding photo, tells them to "leave it on the table". Her visitor is in fact Jack who's naturally confused by this and queries it. She almost jumps to a sitting position at his voice, quickly explaining her statement as Jack then tells her the good news: she can stay. Her reaction is less than joyous at this (despite her whispered: "that's good") and Jack comments on that--glancing around the room in visible discomfit. This increases as she starts to cry again, turning back to the photo, before saying that she "never expected this" and that "it's so hard". Jack tries to understand and 'console' her but as he sits near her on the bed, she clarifies that she didn't just lose "a lot", she lost *him*. Three days ago she watched him die, trying to defend the Base and now she's here in "this perfect world" where he's "alive and safe" but he doesn't even know her! Jack tries to respond to this, stating that he "sort of" knows her, but AU!Sam disagrees, pointing out rather distraughtly that he knows *her* (Major Carter)... and he doesn't even see her that way. At this point Jack follows her gaze towards the wedding photo and it clicks for him--they were married and AU!Sam promptly confirms this suspicion. Jack's reaction to this news is basically: "ah". For an instant he understands her reactions towards him, but then the moment of comprehension passes and he's back to be being Confused-Jack. :) He looks away and she takes the opportunity to sneak glances at him before stating that "this makes you uncomfortable". Jack disagrees, responding truthfully with: "no... no, not at all... I just... I get confused...". An airman (female) interrupts them then by entering with AU!Sam's dinner and Jack firmly tells her to place it on the table, leave and close the door behind her. When she's left, Jack and AU!Sam exchange an uncomfortable look before she rises and heads to the table, rambling that she hasn't eaten a hot dinner in "forever". Jack watches and then glances away as she examines the plate briefly and disinterestedly before recounting one of her last memories of *her* Jack.

AU!Sam: A couple of weeks ago... we were celebrating our first anniversary... when we got the call that the Goa'uld ships had been spotted entering our solar system. We just left everything. You blew out the candles and I turned off the oven and... we just left. They hadn't hit Colorado Springs from orbit like most of the big cities so... the table must still be set...

Jack can't resist commenting on this, and gently quips that it must be "cold by now". AU!Sam sends him a small smile, whispering her agreement, and no doubt thinking that *her* Jack would have said something like that. Jack then rises, mumbling that he should probably go but before he can finish she moves quickly to stand in front of him, begging him to "stay". He tries to refuse, rambling a little before telling her that: "maybe I'm not the right person to help you". She shakes her head, tears rolling down her cheeks, and desperately disagrees stating: "yes, you are! You're the only one who can!" He glances away briefly at this, clearly unsure as to what he should do or say. She continues with: "look, I know you well enough to know that you don't have a clue what to say..." Jack's expression tells us that she's spot on with this description, and that he's more than a little surprised by it--it's like confirmation to him that yes, she *does* know him. AU!Sam then finishes with: "... but you don't have to say anything." A moment of silence follows before Jack shifts, opening his arms and saying "c'mere" and she quickly presses herself against him, holding him tightly. He's still a little unsure at first about the embrace but soon holds her close, stroking her hair. The camera also allows us a brief glimpse of the rings (wedding/engagement bands) on her left hand. Tears rolling down her cheeks, AU!Sam can't help but break down and cry as she whispers: "Oh I miss him." :(

7) Conversation In Hallway: As Jack exits AU!Sam's quarter's we can see her sitting at the table, presumably about to eat. As he begins to walk away he encounters his Carter and she promptly tells him that she took the "liberty of informing Major Kawalsky" that he could stay. Jack thanks her, commenting that he was about to do that. Jack is awfully 'quiet' in mood and can't help but stare at his Carter. When Carter states that she's going to see "Samantha", Jack firmly tells her that AU!Sam wants to be alone and that Carter should see her in the morning. Carter is a little taken back but accepts the suggestion in stride, bidding him goodnight and turning to leave. Jack then stops her, awkwardly asking her how she's doing with this whole "twin thing". Carter pauses and grins briefly before glancing away, dryly responding "do you have a couple of hours". Poor Jack, who's obviously just been put through the emotional wringer with AU!Sam, is still in 'help' mode and awkwardly answers: "ok". Carter looks like she can't believe he said that for a moment before frowning and likewise stumbling, explains that that was her answer. :) An awkward moment between the two ensues before Carter once again bids him goodnight and leaves. Jack watches her go before turning away himself, farewelling her belatedly and uncomfortably: "goodnight... Major?" It's almost as if he's not sure how he should call her now. Previously it's always been her rank or surname, her first name only used in extreme moments of their relationship, and suddenly he has this 'other' Carter around who's used to him *only* calling her 'Sam'... he's thrown for a loop and it shows.

8) Infirmary: AU!Sam is suffering from "entropic cascade failure" on a cellular level caused by there being two Sam's in one reality. If she stays, she will die. When Carter tries to state this, Jack quite firmly tells her that AU!Sam is *not* going to die. The implication is obvious... momentarily ignoring everything else (like the fact that she's his 'alternate self's wife'), she's still a 'Sam' and he's not going to let a 'Sam' die. No way. :)

9) The Briefing: SG1 and General Hammond are trying to figure out how to save AU!Sam and possibly her reality. At one point, when discussing the Asgard generator from *A Matter Of Time* Carter slips into her 'techno-babble' causing Jack to rub his eyes and drop his head. Not long after, AU!Kawalsky joins the briefing and states that if AU!Sam goes back, so does he. When the room falls silent and everyone looks at him, AU!Kawalsky promptly and loudly pronounces: "what, you think I'm going to let her go alone? She's my best friend's wife!" Jack immediately looks to Carter at this, just as she is looking at him, and they both share a brief look before glancing away, obviously uncomfortable with this revelation. Reluctantly, Jack then offers his services in the 'mission'. When Carter starts to disagree with Teal'c going Jack only has to twitch an eyebrow to get her to explain her point. Just a brief instance of their reputed 'silent communication' skills. :) When the briefing finishes, Jack promptly tells Carter to download whatever it is to the removable hard-drive and then meet him in the lab with 'herself'. His face twists as he refers to AU!Sam as if he's getting to the point where he's had enough of the whole 'alternate reality thang' and just wants life to go back to the way it was before... when he wasn't confused about his relationship with his Carter or with this new Sam and about to embark on a mission to a Goa'uld infested world. As he leaves, Carter murmurs a "yes Sir", obviously disturbed about something as well... no doubt the same thing.

10) In The Lab: The two Sam's are working on the generator with Jack commenting occasionally. As the Sam's go into a massive dose of 'techno-babbling'--finishing each other's sentences and speaking together--Jack has to interrupt with: "hey, hey, hey, hey! Are you Carter's going to be able to figure this out?" Their response is to simply grin and reply in unison with: "we'll figure it out!". At that point AU!Sam goes into another 'attack' causing both Carter and Jack to wince in sympathy pain.

11) Quantum Mirror 101: As Jack checks on Daniel and AU!Kawalsky's progress with the Quantum Mirror he is interrupted by the two Sam's entering the room, both grinning with the generator in our Carter's hands. They've fixed it, causing Jack to murmur a sarcastic: "already?". The Sam's then proceed to explain, causing Jack to hold up his hands and shout: "ah-ah!", cutting them off, before simply asking: "it works, right?". To prove so, AU!Sam simply switches the generator on and both Sam's grin broadly at Jack who suddenly seems a tad uncomfortable as he switches looks with each Sam... it's almost as if he's trying to tell himself that he's not seeing double... well, not really anyway. :)

12) Departing This Reality: As AU!Sam, AU!Kawalsky, Jack, Daniel and Teal'c prepare to leave for the alternate reality, Carter tells Jack that she'll be right here if he needs anything. Sending a look towards AU!Sam, Jack mumbles an "yep" type of agreement, before gathering everyone together at the mirror to 'ship out'.

13) AU!Kawalsky: It was this conversation in the alternate reality Base that mainly prompted SJ'er's to adopt Major Charles Kawalsky as our SJ Mascot and it's not hard to see why.

AU!Kawalsky: Carter's are pretty smart figuring that thing out, huh? So you and Sam, you never had a thing in your world, huh?
Jack: Sam is a Major in my world.
AU!Kawalsky: Yeah, I know--it's against regulations right. You two look pretty good together, let me tell you.
Jack: Kawalsky... during your special op's training, in your world, did they cover 'silence'?

AU!Kawalsky's comments--delivered with a smile no less--make Jack *extremely* uncomfortable since it's forcing him to think about the whole "relationship" situation when he *really* doesn't want to... at least, not right then. :)

14) Saying Goodbye: Jack and AU!Kawalsky are the first to say goodbye, AU!Kawalsky then saluting to Daniel and Teal'c. As he moves away, AU!Sam promptly takes his position in front of Jack.

AU!Sam: This is hard... goodbye for a second time.
Jack: It's the *first* time.
AU!Sam: It doesn't feel that way to me. You have to understand... my Jack has the same face, same voice, same hands...
Jack: Which brings to mind the obvious question... how could you marry such a loser?

AU!Sam's reaction to this is a bright grin and slight chuckle of laughter. One can no doubt assume that 'sense of humor' is the same as well between the Jack's, as is the 'Sam' ability for laughing at his jokes. She then turns and bids farewell to Daniel and Teal'c. Obliquely, Jack inclines his head towards the Daniel and Teal'c, gesturing that they leave. Once they have transferred through the Quantum Mirror, AU!Sam and Jack face each other again, AU!Sam's features beginning to fall as they silently stare. Slowly she reaches up to press her lips to his, kissing him. He responds and as she reaches up to hold him closer, the camera cuts to our Carter who is watching them through the Quantum Mirror. It's her turn to be completely confused now about what is happening and what the relationships should be as she glances down briefly before returning her gaze to the kissing couple. After a moment AU!Sam and Jack pull apart, leaving their faces only millimeters apart as they stare into each other's eyes. "You're really not him... are you?" is AU!Sam's first response and it is only just now that she can finally realize that her Jack *is* gone and that this Jack isn't the same one. Gently, but truthfully, Jack answers her: "no". She glances away briefly at this before facing him again, murmuring as her tears start again: "I just wish...". Cutting her off, Jack's reply is simple as he nods: "yeah". Pulling away from her he moves over to the Quantum Mirror, transferring back to his reality to where his Carter is waiting for him. As he pulls his hand away from the Quantum Mirror's surface, the Quantum Mirror disengages, our Carter looking at Jack. In the alternate reality, AU!Sam turns away, tears on her cheeks as the episode fades out.

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