It has been one year since he left Abydos, and Kasuf has followed Daniel's instructions and unburied the gate. If Daniel does not return to Abydos soon, Kasuf has been told to bury the Stargate forever ("Children of the Gods"). Hammond is convinced to send Jackson and Teal'c to Abydos to inform Kasuf that his daughter, kidnapped by Apophis and taken as his Goa'uld bride,has not yet been found. Colonel O'Neill and Captain Carter, though, are to fly to Washington, D.C. to receive medals for destroying the two Goa'uld ships in Earth's orbit ("The Serpent's Lair").

Dr. Jackson and Teal'c depart for Abydos and meet Kasuf, only to soon discover that Sha're has returned to Abydos herself. She is nine months pregnant with the child of Apophis -- and the child is to become Apophis's new host. Sha're is temporarily free from the control of Amonet, the evil Goa'uld who lives within her. If Amonet were to come forth from hybernation, the child would be stillborn.

Meanwhile, in Washington, O'Neill is confronted by a young reporter -- Armin Selig -- who knows a lot more than he ought to about the Stargate program. Jack denies everything, but later speaks to General Hammond and Carter about the matter. They do not believe anyone at the S.G.C. would leak the top secret information, and suspect others outside the project, such as Senator Kinsey ("Politics").

Also present in Washington is General Jacob Carter, Samantha's father, retired from the Air Force. Their relationship is somewhat strained, though Jacob obviously wants only the best for his daughter. In fact, he is trying to make her dreams come true: he's gotten her a shot at NASA, but Sam turns him down. Her work in "deep space radar telemetry," as she tells him, is important.

But Jacob also has some terrible news: he has terminal cancer, and will probably only live a few more months. He and Sam do not part under the best of terms.

On Abydos, Teal'c convinces Jackson to take advantage of the opportunity and bring Sha're back to Earth. Once she gives birth, Apophis will return and take her and the child away. Plus, Sha're possesses the knowledge of the Goa'uld within her.

As the three move to dial the Stargate, the ground begins to shake. A Goa'uld ship is landing on the planet. Believing it is Apophis, Amonet emerges briefly and takes control of Sha're. She goes into labor.

Teal'c and Daniel escape, taking Sha're to the nearby caves -- the same caves where they hid from Ra ("Stargate" the movie). Teal'c leaves to try and keep the Jaffa guards away from them (he has discovered that it was Heru'ur, not Apophis, who had arrived). Jackson delivers a baby boy, promising Sha're that he will one day save her. Upon the birth of the child, Amonet returns and Sha're is lost.

Teal'c emerges disguised as a Horus guard, and tells Amonet that Heru'ur has taken her child. He stuns her with a zat gun, and the two take the child to Kasuf to be hidden away.

In Washington, O'Neill has warned the reporter that he doesn't know as much as he thinks he knows, and that he shouldn't run the story. The reporter refuses, and is unexpectedly run down by a speeding car. "Bastards ..." is his dying word, as he stares up at a shocked Colonel O'Neill. O'Neill wonders if Hammond was responsible for getting the young reporter killed, that their government secret might remain kept.

Still disguised as a Horus guard, Teal'c brings his "prisoner" Daniel to the Stargate room, where Heru'ur awaits. Before they can make a play for the gate, it begins dialing for an incoming traveller. Heru'ur's guards stand ready to intercept, but as the Stargate activates, Teal'c pushes one into the engaging wormhole stream and kills him. O'Neill and Carter emerge through the gate, and engage in battle with Heru'ur and his soldiers. Heru'ur is defeated, and escapes through transport rings to his ship above.

The gate activates again. This time, it is Apophis. SG-1 hides in the shadows as Amonet emerges and rejoins him. She tells him that the child was taken by Heru'ur, and the two leave through the gate -- after Amonet has looked straight at SG-1, but not revealed their position to Apophis. Perhaps there is still hope for Sha're.