"Well�" Janet sighed, "I really wanted pizza tonight, anyhow."
Sam cleared her throat, "Sorry."
"I'll make a deal with you," Janet stared into the blackened ruin of her saucepan, "You don't cook, not ever."
Sam nodded miserably and scuffed her toe on the carpet, her hands jammed in her jeans pockets and her shoulders hunched.
Sam's eyes sparked hopefully, "Really?"
"Yeah, and you know how lousy I am with electrical stuff."
Sam smiled slowly and relaxed to return the embrace, "Then you don't do electrical stuff, not ever."
"Deal."
They shared a lazy kiss then Sam reached for the 'phone on the wall and dialed a number from memory, "You want extra cheese?"
Janet nodded and snuggled under Sam's chin while she ordered the pizza, "Get a veggie special for Cassie." She nudged Sam and whispered.
Sam nodded and finished the order, "Hey - I heard Luke Faraday got in a fight today," she said suddenly.
Janet leaned back, her arms around Sam's waist, and nodded, "That's right."
"Is he okay?"
"Yes."
Sam frowned, "What?"
"What did you hear?"
"Just that he went for some one in the commissary. Why?"
"He attacked Lieutenant Cambridge." Janet grimaced.
"Oh. Do you know why?" Janet nodded. "Why?"
"Apparently Cambridge was mouthing off. Luke didn't like what he was saying and when he wouldn't retract Luke went for him."
"It was about me, wasn't it" Sam said quietly.
"Yeah, you're not Cambridge's favorite person I'm afraid."
Sam shook her head, a resigned expression clouding her eyes, "I guess there will always be someone like him to turn the ugly truth into an uglier lie." She exhaled slowly and rested her forehead on Janet's shoulder.
"I guess." Janet turned her head and placed a kiss against Sam's ear, "Don't let it bother you."
"I'm not going to. I am going to kick Luke's ass though."
Janet laughed, "I warned him you would."
She took Sam's hand and led her through to the couch. Sam sat down and frowned as Janet shimmied her skirt halfway up her thighs. A pleased smile spread over her face though, when Janet knelt, straddling her.
"This is nice." Sam placed her hands on Janet's hips and accepted the open kiss that she offered.
A few minutes later, flushed and wide eyed, Sam broke out of the kiss and panted into Janet's neck,
"Cassandra will be home soon."
"Mm hm." Janet licked lasciviously at her ear and Sam shuddered.
"You better stop that." Sam choked.
"Okay." Janet began to nibble on the lobe playfully instead.
Sam squirmed, "Janet," she said plaintively, "Stop!"
"Okay." Janet sat up, her wrists resting loosely on Sam's shoulders, and smiled angelically.
Sam fought to get her racing pulse under control, "You're a minx, you know that?"
Janet grinned wickedly and nodded; sliding her hands down Sam's front to scrape her nails over the tips of her breasts. Sam narrowed her eyes and, with her hands under the curve of Janet's backside, yanked her forward so she toppled against her. Janet's eyes popped open and her jaw dropped as Sam squeezed her cheeks then pushed her hands under the tight creases of the bunched up material of her skirt and squeezed again.
"You shouldn't play with fire," Sam warned her voice dark and dangerous.
"Oh, God," Janet grabbed Sam's jaw in both hands and plundered her mouth, kneeling up so she was taller.
They snapped out of the kiss at the sound of a key in the door,
Cassandra took one look at their guilty, embarrassed, flushed faces and rolled her eyes, "Would you just get a room, already?" She tossed her bag onto the armchair and headed for the kitchen, "What happened in here?" She called as the acrid smell of smoke assaulted her senses.
"I tried to cook," Sam yelled then she laughed, "I'm outlawed from the kitchen from now on."
Cass came back and dropped into the arm chair, "That is so smart. I wish I'd thought of that!"
"Don't even think about it, missy." Janet climbed off Sam's lap and straightened her skirt. "I'm going to get changed. Would someone set the table, please?"
Sam watched her walk to the stairs, a soppy grin on her face. When she realized Cass was sticking her finger down her throat and making gagging sounds she tried to straighten her face but failed.
Sgsgsgsg
General Hammond decided that Sergeant Faraday had come back from his furlough too early and ordered him to attend anger management classes as well as continue his grief and survivor guilt related sessions with MacKenzie. Lieutenant Cambridge, to his consternation, found himself assigned to assist Lieutenant Esposito, the general's aide.
Sgsgsgsg
SG1 were meeting in the briefing room. SG16 had taken Hailey off world with them with the intent of trying her on for size. Word that Jack had failed to rile her with his quest for a height related nickname for her had percolated the entire base, increasing her standing, and her exemplary record as Major Carter's stand in made demand for her services high.
"We have a plan."
"Is it a cunning one, sir?" Carter asked guilelessly.
O'Neill blinked, "What? Oh� no. Well, yes but not�." He stopped talking for a moment and took a deep, cleansing breath, "As I was saying before Major HBO interrupted me, rudely, I might add. We have a plan. And yes," he added quickly, "It is pretty cunning. He narrowed his eyes and studied the impish expression dimpling Sam's cheek, "What's got you in such a good mood?"
"Dr. Liefursd�ttir signed off on me this morning, sir."
For a second the guys just looked at her then Daniel whooped and leapt out of his seat, cornered the briefing table like a NASCAR driver and swooped in to seize her in a hug.
Jack grinned, "Yay." He waited until Sam managed to break out of Daniel's enthusiastic embrace before pulling her to her feet and folding her in an affectionate cuddle, "Glad you made it, major."
Teal'c grasped her hand in velvet vice for a moment, his ebony eyes suspiciously shiny, and then he tugged her against the warm wall of his chest where he held her for a long moment. He stood back, his hand still gripping her's, "I too am pleased by your return to wellness, Samantha Carter."
Sam stood up on tip toe and kissed his cheek, "Thanks, Teal'c. Thanks, guys."
She looked at each of them in turn. Teal'c was still holding her hand like it was a fragile blossom, Jack was resting two fingers in the crook of her elbow while Daniel was rubbing her back gently, "I love you guys, you know."
"Yeah," Jack said peevishly, "You say that now but wait 'til we start getting old: Baldness, liver spots, incontinence, inappropriate conduct." He shuddered.
"But that's you now, Jack," Daniel said innocently.
Jack stared at him implacably, "As I was saying, we have a cunning plan. Apophis wants the Harsesis, right? Well, we give him what he wants."
"The Tok'ra are already spreading the rumor that one of the two bounty hunters he sent here, who we shot down, survived." Daniel explained.
"Spock's home world doesn't have a Stargate. We cruise over there in our cargo ship and wait for Apophis to turn up in his mother ship."
"Won't he know Speck's voice?"
Jack shrugged, "We'll cross that bridge if it comes up."
"It is likely that Apophis had no direct dealings with the bounty hunters. They would be unworthy of his attention."
"Cool."
"So, Speck will get himself ringed up to the mother ship so he can collect his blood money and�"
"Whammo."
"Uh� how exactly?"
"Jacob is working on that. As soon as he comes back we'll head out."
Sgsgsgsg
It was almost midnight when Sam arrived home that night. Janet was already asleep but woke when Sam dropped a shoe as she undressed.
"Hey, everything okay at the base?" Janet cleared her throat.
"Yeah, go back to sleep."
"No. Come and talk to me."
"It's late, Jan. Go back to sleep."
"I missed you today."
Janet moved onto her side and watched with unabashed interest as Sam stripped off, dropping her clothes in a pile on the floor, then tugged on a white tee shirt and briefs. Sam did not appear to notice the glint in Janet's eye as she dove under the covers and snuggled up.
"God! Your feet are freezing!"
Janet shrugged, "Love me love my ice cold feet."
Sam grinned and smacked a kiss on her lips, "Deal." She turned her attention to her pillow, starting her nightly ritual of pummeling it into the right shape.
"Sam�." Janet wheedled, tracing a fingertip down Sam's back.
Sam turned to face her and blinked at her, "Jan?"
Janet drew her fingers up Sam's arm, deliberately brushing against the curve of her breast.
"Do you want me to beg?" Janet breathed.
Sam swallowed and shook her head, "God, no." She lunged, sending Janet sprawling onto her back. She pulled up short of demanding a kiss, "Are you sure? I mean� I know you didn't want to until�"
"Shut up and kiss me." Janet growled.
A minute later their clothing was tossed out of the bed.
Their bodies slipped and slid, sweat slicked and salty, as they gasped and sighed. Soft voices hitched as half spoken whispers caught in throats tight with desire and need. Their heated flesh molded together until they broke apart to catch a breath. Then, they clashed and crashed together, surging and swirling like the changing tide. Palms chafed curves, finger pads pressed and danced, nails dug and scraped. Hurts were salved with tongues and warm, moist kisses. Sam's height gained her the advantage and she pressed her length to her lover's curves, their breasts flattened together as their legs plaited, thighs cleaved. Long fingers stroked Janet's flank and measured the spaces between her ribs, knuckles brushing the sumptuous curve of her breast. Sam caught an eager nipple in her teeth and nibbled. Her tongue rasped and flicked before she suckled gently as her hand wandered with intent, thumb brushing in the hollow of Janet's navel as she spread her hand over her belly, possessively. Dark sapphire eyes gazed unblinking into warm sable and a slow, loving smile curved her pale cheek. Her corn colored hair curtained as their mouths met and moved in a slow waltz. A slight lift of Sam's knee encouraged Janet to shift, her hips flattening and pelvis tilting as she opened trustingly. Sam's capable hand cupped her sex, letting the heat build before she stroked a finger down and into the smooth, slick channel. Finding moisture waiting she painted every burning place, her thumb stroking the soft hair, touching everywhere but where touch was most wanted. Sam's breath scalded Janet's throat, drawing out a scarlet hue, the scorch assuaged by a kiss or a swab of tongue as her hand moved with purpose below. Janet caught hold of Sam, palms on her cheeks, and drew her into a long, soul deep kiss. She shifted restlessly, breath held prisoner, as Sam raked her teeth down her throat and nipped at her shoulder. Then she bit her lip and moaned as Sam curled a finger inside her and stroked purposefully, seeking the place where Janet would be lost. Her hips lifted demandingly and Sam sent a second digit after the first, sweeping her thumb in an arc that barely brushed the ripened bud of her arousal. Janet trembled precipitously and Sam repeated the movement, this time making determined contact, she paused to press the edge of her thumb alongside the little nubbin as her fingers swooped and dived. Janet inhaled sharply and her back arched, her heels digging into the mattress as she pursued her release. Sam moved and brought her knee up so she trapped her hand and the extra pressure sent Janet flying. She cried and sobbed Sam's name like a mantra as her body seized and surged and grabbed at Sam's pervading fingers. Shuddering and stuttering inanely, Janet melted. Her body softened like warm toffee, relaxing as the tremors subsided then ceased. She found herself weeping earnestly, like a disciple discovering there really is a god. Sam shushed and soothed, stroking a calming hand up and down her back and curling her hair around her ear. Sam smiled when Janet's eyes began to focus again,
"Hey, there," Her voice was a gentle burr. "Are you okay?"
Janet hugged her fiercely, "God, yes. That was� that was�."
Sam smiled an ingenuous smile and shrugged modestly, "I'm glad you liked it."
Janet tumbled her onto her back and plundered her mouth, like a starving woman afraid the feast was going to disappear, devouring her sweet tumescent lips and succulent tongue with an eagerness that bordered on despair. Sam pushed her back when oxygen became an issue and laughed softly.
"It's okay, baby. Ssshh," she gentled. "Take it easy, now."
"I want to make love to you," Janet said urgently.
"You already did." Sam nuzzled in her hair and puffed a warm breath in her ear.
Janet lifted Sam's head with a finger under her chin, "I mean I want� I want you to feel that good."
Another grin sauntered across Sam's face, "Okay."
She lowered her head and they shared a gentle kiss as she guided Janet's hand down her body. She lifted her head quizzically as Janet shivered.
"It's okay," she said, seeing the anxiety starting to freeze Janet's features, "You don't have to, sweetheart." Sam drew their hands back up and kissed Janet's palm.
"I'm sorry. I don't know why but I'm� I'm a little scared, I guess." She screwed her eyes closed.
"You couldn't disappoint me." Sam rubbed the side of her nose against Janet's cheek.
"I know." Janet hugged her shoulders.
"Want to just make out for a bit?" Sam's eyes twinkled.
Janet chuffed and nodded, "I'm sorry. Do you mind?"
"Making out is good. I like making out."
Sgsgsgsg
Daybreak lacquered the bedroom with the gold of a gently warming sun when Janet drifted into consciousness. She was curled up next to Sam with her head resting in the hollow of her lower spine. A sheet covered Sam's legs and was wound about Janet's body. A lazy smile tugged at the corner of her mouth and she sighed and pushed a mess of umber hair out of her face. She raised herself to a sitting position, moving slowly and carefully. Sam was lying on her stomach with her arms on the pillow, bracketing her flaxen head, and was breathing softly and shallowly. Janet studied the long, lean planes of Sam's back, the slender yet strong breadth of her shoulders and the slim column of her neck. Almost without volition, her hand lifted and stroked the supple curve of her lover's backside. She removed her hand and waited but Sam did not stir. After a moment her fingers retraced their path and Janet caught her breath at the sensation of skin as soft as velvet under her caress. She shifted a little closer and bent to test the softness with her lips. She froze as Sam sighed and mumbled then sank back into slumber. Janet moved cautiously to her knees and leaned over Sam, she ducked her head down to taste her skin again then followed the trail of salty sweetness along Sam's vertebra. She scraped her teeth over the point of Sam's shoulder blade before planting open mouthed kisses back to the vee at the base of her spine. Sam inhaled sharply and rolled onto her side and stared at Janet, who, still bent over her, was flushed and breathing fast, her pupils wide and her lightly tanned cheeks stained with a blush of arousal.
"Well," Sam said in a low voice, "Don't stop now."
Permission given, Janet lunged up and seized a kiss, stunning Sam with the ferocity of her desire. Sam surrendered, falling supine and lifting her arms to embrace Janet, drawing her body up so that she was draped over the taller figure. She stroked her palm in long, smooth, soothing strokes up and down Janet's back until she relaxed.
Janet smiled shyly, "Sorry about that."
"It's okay. I'm just your plaything, anyhow." Sam smiled and nuzzled in Janet's hair, nipping at her earlobe. "I can think of worse ways to be woken up."
Janet laughed softly, "This feels like a dream."
Sam paused in her exploration of the juncture of Janet's jaw and throat, "Are you okay?"
"Oh, yeah," Janet grinned, "I'm good."
"Well�" Sam's eyes sparkled playfully, "That remains to be seen."
"I'm sorry about last night." Janet's mouth puckered regretfully.
Sam tipped Janet off so she landed on her back and leaned up on her elbow, "No, I didn't mean� I don't mean�."
Janet placed her fingertips over Sam's stuttering lips, "Its okay. I know."
Sam closed her eyes for a moment then smiled, "Sorry."
They met in an unhurried kiss that ended with Sam sinking back into the mattress as Janet trailed her mouth down her throat to follow the midline of her breastbone before setting up house at the apex of her rib cage. Sam giggled softly as Janet's breath tickled her. Janet fixed her in a serious gaze for a moment then smiled and returned to her study of the ivory skin papering that arch. Sam sighed and relaxed and ran her fingers through the loose tumble of Janet's sable hair, tangling it around her index and middle finger before letting it run away. Janet came up for another kiss, her eyes dark and serious.
"Tell me what to do." She was flushed, "Tell me what you like."
"You don't have to. Not if you're not ready." Sam cupped her cheek.
"I'm ready. I want you to feel what I felt last night. Help me do that." Janet shifted her knee so it pressed into Sam's inner thigh.
A slow smile meandered across Sam's face, dimpling her cheek and making her eyes shimmer and shine.
"There's no mystery, sweetheart. Just do what feels good."
Janet studied her eyes for a moment then, recognizing the truth therein, she nodded. After a moment she leaned on her elbow, turned her gaze down the length of Sam's body and, cocking her head on one side, considered.
After a minute Sam shifted uncomfortably, "I'm starting to feel like a science project," she muttered.
Janet whipped her head round, "Sorry!" She pecked a kiss on Sam's lips, "I got distracted."
"Just tell me you weren't thinking about your grocery list."
"I wasn't thinking about shopping."
Sam's spine arched and she let out a surprised gasp of pleasure as Janet's warm, wet mouth descended on the peak of her right breast and she began to suckle gently, her hand kneading the pliant flesh above Sam's hip bone. Sam choked and brought her hands up to loosely grasp Janet's hair as she began to alternately rasp the edge of her incisors over Sam's elongated nipple then lave it with her tongue.
"Oh� this is good." Sam's voice quavered.
Janet broke off her ministrations long enough to reintroduce their tongues in a brief interlude before she turned her attention to Sam's left breast, grinning in delight as she pinpointed the mole whose location had been the subject of a betting pool no one ever won. Now she traced the tip of her tongue around it and drew a wet figure of eight up over the curvature and back down around the areole. She played for a while, weighing each of the globes in her palms and testing the elasticity of the plump flesh by kneading and tugging at it with her fingers and mouth. Sam was humming tunelessly and shifting restlessly in the messed up sheets, her hands alternating between twisting the white cotton in her fists and combing through Janet's hair. She hissed through her teeth as Janet moved her body down the bed a little so she could blow in her navel. The taut skin of Sam's abdomen shivered and flinched as Janet traced a light fingertip over the still pink scar in her bikini line.
"This shouldn't still hurt." The passion darkening Janet's eyes transmuted into concern, "It doesn't does it?"
"No." Sam laid the back of her hand over her eyes and screwed up her face.
"What is it?" Janet eased back up the bed and stroked her fingers over Sam's jaw and cheek, "What's wrong, baby?"
Sam lifted her hand and waved it vaguely in the air, "I don't know." She frowned.
"Do you want me to stop?" Janet bit lightly at the point of her chin.
Sam caught her breath and she nodded, "Yes. I think� I think� I'm sorry."
Janet's head came up sharply and she blinked, "Did I do something wrong?"
"No." Sam was frowning intensely, "Its not you." A tear slipped out of the corner of her eye and fled into her hair.
"Sam?" Janet was appalled, "What is it?"
"I'm afraid." Sam's voice was hardly more than a whisper.
"Of what?" Janet tugged Sam over onto her side and tucked her in tight against her body, petting her hair.
Sam shuddered and she hid her face in Janet's shoulder, shaking her head.
"Its okay, baby, you can tell me." Janet's voice shook.
"I'm afraid to� to let go." Sam struggled to catch her breath.
"Let go?" Janet encouraged her with soft words and gentle caresses, "Tell me, sweetheart."
"I� Janet� I can't tell you," Sam sobbed.
"Yes you can. You can tell me anything. Don't you know that?" Janet smiled though her face was wet
"I� when he� I� oh, God," Sam broke into painful sobs, clutching at Janet desperately.
"Tell me. Please, just tell me."
"He� I� I�" Sam hiccoughed, her breaths short and sharp.
"Try to relax, honey. It's okay. It's okay." Janet soothed, her dark brows drawn tight by anxiety.
"I� when he� when he raped me�" Sam drew in a deep shuddering breath, "Janet� I." Sam swallowed, "Janet� I had an orgasm." Sam stopped breathing and fell perfectly still.
Janet's arms tightened around Sam and she pressed her lips to her temple in a long, hard kiss.
"That doesn't mean anything. Sam," Janet made her lift her head with a hand under her chin, "I promise. It doesn't mean that - in any way- you enjoyed what happened to you. Your body reacted reflexively to stimulation, that's all. It doesn't mean you liked what was happening, I promise."
Janet held Sam's rain soaked gaze with her determined, earnest, honest stare until Sam blinked and dragged in a deep breath.
"You promise?" Sam choked.
"I promise." Janet smiled and hugged Sam to her and planted kisses all over the side of her face, "I absolutely promise."
Sam abruptly went limp in Janet's arms, "Oh thank God," she mumbled inarticulately, "I thought� I don't know what I thought."
"I assume you haven't told Gunny this?" Sam shook her head. "If you had she would have told you that it's not an uncommon occurrence. Nor is this kind of anxiety about the significance�."
Sam lifted her head like her skull weighed a ton, "I've made you uncomfortable. I shouldn't have told you."
"You're right. I am uncomfortable but that doesn't mean you shouldn't have told me." Janet closed her eyes briefly, "I'm uncomfortable because I hate the thought that you were hurt. That you've been hurting all this time and didn't tell me." Janet paused to wipe the tears from her face, "God, I hate it when you're hurt."
"I'm sorry."
Janet, rendered speechless by the lump in her throat, shook her head and pressed her cheek to Sam's temple.
They lay pressed together until sleep stole upon them and eased them into its comforting embrace.
Sgsgsgsg
Janet was up first.
She extracted herself out from under Sam's heavy limbs and stood at the side of the bed, gazing down at the drawn, tired features of the still sleeping woman. Janet bent and laid a gentle kiss on her temple. Sam muttered and moved a little but did not wake. Janet tugged the disheveled bedclothes a little straighter, making sure Sam was covered top to toe before she headed for the shower. Sam was still sleeping when she finished dressing. Janet eased herself down onto the edge of the bed and stroked a strand of hair from Sam's face. Sam inhaled sharply and opened her eyes.
"Hi." She blinked, "What time is it?"
"A little after eight. I have to leave but I wanted to make sure you're okay before I go."
"I'm okay." Sam rubbed at her eyes and yawned, "I feel like I haven't slept."
"When are you due in?"
"Twelve." She lifted her hand and placed her palm along Janet's jaw, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Janet took hold of her hand and kissed her fingers, "I love you."
"I'm glad." Sam smiled and held Janet's hand under her chin, "I love you, too." She closed her eyes and snuggled back down in the bed.
Janet grinned, "Hey. Don't go back to sleep. Some one needs to go for groceries."
Sam's eyes popped open, "I knew it! You were thinking about shopping!"
Janet laughed a rich, throaty sound bubbling up as she shook her head, "I was not! I just thought maybe you and Cass could make a trip to Safeways before you come in to work."
"Okay, okay." Sam pushed herself into a sitting position, "What do we need?"
"There's a list on the refrigerator." Janet stood up, "If Cassie is going out later will you make sure she has her cell charged?"
"Will do," Sam nodded and scrubbed the heel of one hand in her hair.
Janet hesitated in the doorway, "You didn't tell me why you were late home last night."
"We're going after Apophis."
Janet came back to the bed and sat down heavily, "SG1?"
Sam nodded and took Janet's hand, "We're just waiting for my dad to come back with the mcguffin that's going to make the plan work."
"Are you going to go?"
"I have to."
Janet nodded her eyes troubled, "Okay."
"I have to Jan. Not just because I so badly want to kill that motherf�." Sam caught her breath and calmed the tremor in her voice, "It's my job."
"I know." Janet leaned on her hand and stretched to kiss Sam, "Just make sure you come back."
Sam nodded and hugged her knees as Janet left.
Sgsgsgsg
Jacob Carter stood at head of the briefing table and held up a pen sized device, orange and green fluids within it were kept separate by a glass partition.
"It's taken the best part of a year to manufacture this much. The Council agreed that Apophis is a big enough threat to use it on. All you do is depress the plunger - it's a kind of dead man's switch- the poison won't be released until you let go." Gingerly, Jacob replaced the poison in its safety casing which he closed with a sigh of relief, "Sorry, that stuff always makes me nervous."
"We're going to wipe out an entire ship load of jaffa?" Daniel shifted uncomfortably.
"Daniel," Jack said warningly. "They have a choice."
"Yes. But do they know that?"
"I'm a little uncomfortable with this, too." Sam admitted, "It feels too� sneaky."
Jack stared at the two scientists for a moment then shook his head, "Do I need to remind you, kids, that we're fighting a war here?"
"Word of Teal'c's rebellion has spread far and wide, Samantha," Selmak said, "The Tok'ra believe that those who still remain in service to the goa'uld have chosen their fate."
"Apophis would not hesitate to use such a weapon against his enemies."
"Which is kind of my point," Daniel shrugged, "I'd like to think we're different, better than him."
"Colonel, you'll try to reduce jaffa casualties but not at the expense of the success of the mission." Hammond decided on the compromise.
Jack nodded, "Yes sir."
"My ship is waiting on Paritha."
"We're not using ours?" Daniel asked.
Jacob shook his head, "There's still a no fly zone around the Earth. Don't worry; Ilenda is only about a day from Paritha."
"Oh."
"SG1, you have a go. Good luck people."
Sgsgsgsg
Ilenda, the home world of the bounty hunter Speck, was an arid ball of rock. Most of the surface was scoured by dust storms and baked at temperatures up to 60�C under the glare of twin suns. Only the Polar Regions were habitable by humans, barely. Jacob landed the cargo ship half a kilometer from a scrappy oasis and the party trekked to the shabby shanty town that clung to the edges of the waterhole. They arrived at nightfall and moved silently to a battered dome on the outskirts of the colony. The door creaked open and a young woman, recognizing Jacob; once he unwound the scarf from about his face and removed his goggles, let them in out of the grit laden wind.
"I thought this Shrek guy was one of the best?" Jack pushed his goggles off and took in the cramped, impoverished inside of the hovel, "I guess he spent it all on wine, women and song, huh?"
The floor was compacted dirt, the walls made of pre- formed concrete, patched here and there with corrugated iron. There were no windows. The circle of the dome's interior was divided in half by a crudely built sandstone wall that bisected it from twelve to six. The half SG1 now stood in was the living area, a hearth with a pot bellied stove at three o'clock. The door was at one o'clock. Beyond the wall were, presumably, a sleeping area and, hopefully, a bathroom. This half of the dome was filled with mismatched furniture that sagged and leaned tiredly. The only thing that was remotely clean and dust free was a goa'uld communication globe, the size of a basketball, sitting on a stand on top of a bow sided chest.
"Madlien, meet SG1." Jacob introduced them one by one to the slight, narrow shouldered woman. She was wearing a heavy, ankle length, long sleeved, woolen dress that had once been white but which had been stained a ruddy brown by the planet's permanently dusty atmosphere.
"Madlien is my host, I am Bijtra. The Tok'ra operative aboard Apophis' mother ship has just contacted me. The ship will enter orbit of Ilenda at high suns tomorrow."
"We just made it." Sam tugged off her scarf and shook the sand out of it.
"You are the daughter of Jacob Carter?" Bijtra asked.
"Uh, yes," Sam narrowed her eyes, her hand halted in its journey to rake through her hair, "Why?"
"I've been looking forward to meeting you."
"Oh?"
"Bijtra knew Jolinar." Jacob explained.
"Oh."
"It would grieve Jolinar to know the pain she has brought you." Bijtra took Sam's unwilling hand.
"It doesn't matter." Sam grimaced and extracted her hand.
"Hey, Bitya, any chance of getting something to drink?"
"Of course." The symbiote gave way to the host and Madlien left the main room.
Jack espied a metallic visor lying on the chest next to the communication orb. He grinned and pulled it on. It obscured his face and, when he spoke, distorted his voice, "Hey! You must get issued with one of these when you join the secret bounty hunters' club!" He pulled it off and grinned like a kid with a toy, "I've wanted one of these since I tried Buck's!"
"I wonder where he keeps his secret decoder ring?" Jacob smiled.
Jack flung himself into a rackety chair, "So - what is this place."
"What's left of a mining encampment. The miner's moved on when the trinium petered out. The people that are left are the old and the sick, those too poor to get off world."
"What was Speck doing here?" Sam frowned.
"He was born here, believe it or not."
"Uh� if the locals find out we killed him, won't they be a little - unhappy?" Daniel finished cleaning his spectacles and replaced them, "I mean what if we run into a relative?"
"We're not going to be here that long."
Sam and Daniel exchanged an uncertain look then turned to Jack who was fiddling with the visor which he was again wearing.
Sgsgsgsg
After settling a roster for guard duty SG1 had bedded down. Jack was absolutely motionless on his back on top of a pile of unfamiliar looking and smelling furs in the corner. Daniel had folded his long body up in the sagging armchair with his arms tucked in tight and his sleeping bag draped over himself. Jacob and Teal'c had disappeared into the gloomy night an hour earlier. Shortly after their arrival Madlien had disappeared into the night, returning after an hour. She was now sitting cross-legged on a cushion in front of the cold hearth.
"How long have you been here, Madlien?" Sam, fully clothed and booted, was lying on her stomach on a rickety camp bed, on top of her sleeping bag.
The waif like woman opened large violet eyes and regarded Sam solemnly for a moment. The she sighed and seemed to return to herself,
"My Mother sent me here when we heard that the miner's had left. There are always poor souls who need ministering to when that happens."
Sam frowned and sat up, crossing her legs and grasping her ankles in both hands, "Your mother?"
Madlein smiled, "Not my mother, my Mother."
Sam blinked, "I'm sorry, I don't understand."
"I am Du'ta."
Sam's back stiffened, "I thought you were Tok'ra."
"I am also Tok'ra. But my duties as a Sister of Du'ta come first."
Sam stood up quickly and crossed the room, getting as far from Madlien as she could without actually leaving. She crossed her arms tightly.
Madlien's face shadowed, "What is wrong?"
Sam shook her head. Her mouth set in a stubborn line, her eyes dark.
"What's up?" Jack O'Neill opened his eyes and sat up.
Sam gestured with one hand, "She's one of those Du'ta people."
O'Neill came quickly to his feet, his Beretta appearing in his hand, "What the hell is this? A trap?"
Madlien was frowning in confusion. She rose gracefully to her feet and held up her hands, palms facing upwards, "I do not understand."
"Daniel!" Jack barked, keeping his weapon trained on Madlien.
Daniel was on his feet in a heartbeat and at Jack's side a moment later, "What? What's going on?" He noticed that Madlien was still covered by Jack's aim, "Uh? Jack?"
"She's one of the people who helped Apophis." Jack growled, "We're out of here."
Madlien's eyes flashed and Bijtra took precedence, "I would never help Apophis!"
"Yeah, well, maybe you weren't there but some of your people certainly were."
"She was blind. She used a daa'umut to make sure he got me pregnant." Sam's voice was shaking with anger.
Bijtra stared at Sam for a long moment then Madlein slipped back into control, "Ah. You refer to Genau. She had no choice."
"I don't care. She helped Apophis. How can we be sure that you are not under the same duress?" Sam came forward a little but kept out of Jack's line of sight.
"You cannot, I suppose. But I am not. You must believe me or not. Go or stay. It is your choice." She picked a shawl up from the chest where it lay next to the long range communication device and began to wind it around her face and head.
"Where do you think you're going?" Jack demanded.
"I have patients to attend to. You are welcome to come with me, if you wish."
Jack watched her suspiciously for a moment then re-holstered his weapon, "What do you think?" He addressed Sam.
"I don't know. Dad trusts her."
"Maybe he doesn't know." Daniel suggested.
"She said she knew Jolinar. You got anything on that?" Sam shook her head. Jack thumbed the transmit button on his radio, "Jacob, come in." They listened to static for a moment, "Jacob, what's your twenty?"
"� way. What� me?" The transmission broke up badly.
"Yes. Get back here, Jacob. Now."
"Rog� hat. Out."
"I am going to the infirmary." Madlien held them each in a short, determined gaze for a second then headed for the door. It opened under her hand as Teal'c entered.
"We'll all go. Teal'c." Jack made a spinning gesture with his finger.
Teal'c did an unquestioning about face and gestured politely for Madlien to precede him.
The infirmary was about fifty yards from the dome. Light spilled out of the door as Madlien pulled it open, giving it a kick to shift it through the drift of sand that had built up.
"Where does the power come from for the lights?" Sam asked as SG1 stripped off their goggles and masks again.
"Wind turbines. It's the one thing we have plenty of. That and sand."
Madlien passed from the small vestibule into a long room with a low ceiling. There were a dozen beds arranged neatly at right angles to the walls. The all pervading dust had made it into the ward, coating everything with its reddish hue. The place looked as if it had been long deserted, stripped of all useful equipment and left to rot before being re-commissioned by someone with more enthusiasm than supplies. Cupboards lay open and empty, shelves stripped of all but a few packages of bandages that looked like they may have been wound around about the time of the American Civil War. All but the three beds nearest the door were empty.
Madlien immediately went to an elderly woman in the fist bed who lifted her hand and made a tremulous sound in her throat as she spotted the Sister enter.
"I'll go get Jacob. See if there's anything we can do here to help." Jack's voice was low.
Teal'c took up a position just inside the door as both Sam and Daniel unclipped their packs and moved immediately to offer their assistance.
In the bed beyond the old lady was a man whose frail, skeletal frame, tanned, leathery skin and sparse hair made it difficult to tell his age.
"Hi," Sam smiled. He tried to return her smile but it turned into a grimace of pain.
"Lester has a wasting disease." Madlien moved to take his hand, "He needs pain medication but we have run out."
Lester coughed, twisting onto his side and curling into a ball as he hacked dryly. The whippet thin dog that had been lying under his bed whined and stood up with its front paws on the edge of the bed and licked at his hand.
"We only brought emergency supplies. I can give you what we have but it won't last very long." Sam's eyes were shadowed as Lester moaned.
"Whatever relief you can give these people would be welcome."
Sam nodded and stooped to retrieve the first aid kit from her pack, petting the scruffy, thin coat of the dog.
Madlien moved to join Daniel at the bed side of a youth whose left leg was bound in a makeshift splint that was stained brown with old blood. A fever laid a sheen of perspiration on the boy's face. He was either asleep or unconscious.
"Don't you have a healing device?" Daniel demanded.
"No. The Order has so few of them. One could not be spared for this small a population." Madlien patted a damp cloth on the boy's unmoving face.
"Exactly how many people are there on Ilenda?"
"In this town? Perhaps thirty. As far as I know these are the last people on the planet." Daniel and Sam exchanged a look. "Every time the supply ship comes some one else manages to buy passage�"
"Excuse me? Supply ship?" Sam asked.
"We're on the Castor Tineste route. The captain stops by every three hundred days or so to trade for trinium."
Daniel shook his head like he had water in his ears, "I thought the trinium was mined out?"
"No, not at all. There's no longer enough to warrant a commercial operation but the people here continue to mine by hand. Ilendan trinium is particularly pure and fetches a good price at market. Of course, the trader gives the people stuck here a miserly sum for it but if he didn't come they'd be dead, so." Madlien shrugged, "Treska was injured in a cave in." She gestured at the unconscious youth. "If the mine had not been so close, he would have bled to death. As it is, I think he'll either lose the leg or his life."
"If only there was a Stargate�" Sam muttered as she gave Lester a morphine shot.
"These are antibiotics�" Daniel held up a foil package of tablets. He broke off as the door opened and Jack came in with Jacob at his back. As Sam stalked towards her father, her mouth turned down, he gestured for Madlien to follow him to one of the open cupboards and began explaining what all the stuff he was pulling out of his med kit was and how to use it.
"She's Du'ta!" Sam bit, stabbing a finger in Madlien's direction.
Jacob bit his lip, "I'm sorry, Sam. I didn't think you needed to know. I didn't expect that it would come up."
"Can we trust her?" Jack demanded.
Jacob nodded, "I believe so. Bijtra has been of assistance to the Tok'ra before. If I didn't believe she was trustworthy, do you think I would have ever risked bringing you out here?" Jacob addressed this last remark to Sam.
She chewed her lip in exactly the same fashion as her father had a few seconds earlier and regarded him solemnly, "I guess not," she said eventually.
"Okay." Jack relaxed, "Any other surprises we need to know about, Jacob?"
Jacob shook his head, his eyes on Sam's troubled countenance.
Sgsgsgsg
SG1 went out into the sandstorm that was Ilenda's dawn welcome to reconnoiter the village and the surrounding area. Daniel, escorted by Teal'c, was wandering the small township trying to strike up conversation with the occasional person they encountered on the rutted and pot-holed street.
"Not very chatty," Daniel remarked as the third rag bundled figure he had stopped rudely pushed him aside and carried on his or her way.
"These people have nothing. Perhaps they fear we are here to take what little they have from them."
Daniel shrugged and shaded his eyes against the harsh white light of the first sun with his hands as he watched where the native he had tried to speak to went. As the small figure disappeared into a dilapidated shed, Daniel trotted off in pursuit.
Teal'c caught up as he pushed open a plastic curtain and stepped straight into a mid nineteenth century saloon scene. Complete with leery locals nursing cheap hooch and a suspicious bar keep slowly polishing a glass behind a long counter. The person Daniel had followed turned out to be a skinny adolescent male with a scraggy beard and a filthy face, revealed as he dumped his outer wrappings on a stool.
"Hello." Daniel smiled ingenuously and approached the bar, nodding and smiling at the half dozen clients sitting at a number of tables. He did not appear to notice that the naked hostility in many of the eyes that regarded him was only held in check by the imposing presence looming behind him.
"Uh� can we get a drink?" He placed his hands on the bar top.
A pair of shot glasses appeared as if from nowhere and some amber fluid that smelt like gasoline was spilled into both. Daniel lifted a glass carefully and sniffed it cautiously. His eyes immediately watered and his head reared back. He was about to abandon the idea when he realized that all eyes were on him, expectancy heavy in the air. He took a deep breath and tossed the liquor back. He only stopped choking when Teal'c slapped him on the back. The saloon was awash with laughter at his expense. Daniel waved Teal'c off weakly and grinned good naturedly, wiping the tears off his face with his sleeve,
"That'll put hairs on my chest!" He wheezed. The bar keep, his wide grin exposing brown stained teeth, nudged the second glass forward. Daniel eyed it warily then shrugged and picked it up. An awed hush descended, "When in Rome; Salut!" He chugged the second shot. This time he was prepared for the fire in his throat and the lava in his belly and managed not to gag so violently, "What do you call that stuff?" he rasped.
"Grog." The bar keep chomped on a strip of dried meat, "You want some more?" His dark eyes no longer glittered with suspicion but with welcome.
Daniel shook his head quickly, "Uh, no! No, I think I've had enough." His smile was a little lopsided and it took him two attempts to climb up onto the bar stool, "So, tell me about yourself�?"
Teal'c eased away from Daniel's side as the bar keep succumbed to the archaeologist's charm and settled at a table nearby, uninvited by the elderly couple already seated there. They exchanged a look then the woman, her upper teeth all absent, leaned on the table,
"You're a jaffa." She said it like she was simply observing that he was wearing black boots.
Teal'c inclined his head, "I am."
Sgsgsgsg
Sam, meanwhile, was patrolling the ridge of dune that bordered the village on the north. She could see Jack about twenty yards ahead of her and a little further down slope. They were both fully kitted in desert camouflage and dust goggles, scarves wound around their faces in a vain attempt to keep some of the flying rust colored dust out. As the second sun rose, so did the mercury and, in a short time, their body temperatures and need for water followed suit. Jack turned and signaled to Sam and a few minutes later they met in the cover of a stand of scraggy trees. Jack unhitched his canteen and offered it to Sam who exposed her mouth long enough to take a swallow then recovered as he matched her actions.
"What do you think, Carter?"
Sam shrugged, "Seems quiet enough, sir."
"Yeah, let's finish our three sixty then get back to Spook's place." He bent his mouth to his radio, "Daniel, Teal'c, we're about done out here. How about you?"
He met Sam's eyes in a mutual expression of surprise as it was Teal'c's voice and not, as was more usual, Daniel's, that responded, "Daniel Jackson is conversing with the inhabitants of the town, O'Neill." There was a pause then he spoke more quietly, "He has bought everyone a drink."
Jack frowned at Sam then shrugged, "Yeah?"
"It has not yet occurred to anyone to ask how he intends to pay for the round."
Jack rolled his eyes while Sam grinned ruefully.
"We're on our way," he muttered sourly into the radio.
Sgsgsgsg
"Hi." He nodded to the bar keep who had moved eagerly towards him. "I don't suppose you have any Bud?" When the bar keep shook his head and offered the liquor bottle instead, Jack waved him off and turned to observe as Daniel began to wind down.
"I'd give him about another five minutes, sir." Sam joined him at the counter, smiling down at a ragamuffin child who tugged at her pant leg urgently. A young dog clung to the child's heel, its tail between its legs.
"Yeah, Teal'c?" Jack crooked his finger at Teal'c and moved off to meet him in the corner.
"Hi." Sam smiled down at the blonde haired little girl who was still tugging at her pants. Her heart shaped face was disfigured by a cleft lip, "What's your name?" The dirty faced imp only smiled shyly and hugged Sam's leg. "Okay, how about I tell you my name first?" Sam crouched down, her P90 cradled carefully against her body, "I'm Sam." She stuck out her hand, taking the little girl's grimy fingers in a light grasp as she blinked at her uncertainly, "That's how my people say hello."
"Lo." The kid lisped shyly, pushing a matted tendril of hair out of her bright blue eyes. She blinked and squinted, discomfort twisting her face. Her right eye was weeping slightly, the cornea pink and inflamed.
"Oh, hey, does your eye hurt, honey?" Sam took hold of the child's chin and tilted her head back so she could get a better view.
"Sss." The child nodded.
"Well, how about I fix that right up for you. Is your mommy here?" Sam looked around; no-one was paying the slightest bit of attention to the small child and her dog.
"Nnn." The girl shook her head and stuck her bottom lip out.
Sam reached to undo the clips holding her pack on her back, "Is she at home?"
The child shook her head again. Sam routed in her pack for a moment, pulling out the few items she had kept from her first aid kit, "Well, where is she?"
"Gn."
Sam stared at the little girl for a moment, "Gone?" The child nodded. "What about your daddy?" A shake of a small head and a philosophical shrug, "Who takes care of you, sweetie?" The child's pout deepened and tears threatened to overflow her big blue eyes, "Okay! Okay." Sam stood up, sweeping the girl up in her arms and moved to stand her on a vacant table. As she started to clean the grimy face, turned up to her trustingly, with a pad of lint and water from her canteen, Sam addressed the room.
"Who does this child belong to?"
No one answered. Jack and Teal'c had a barely conscious Daniel slung between them and were headed for the door.
"Carter, come on." Jack called.
"In a minute, sir."
"Carter!"
"I can help this child, sir."
Jack grumbled under his breath and handed Daniel off to Teal'c who left, dragging the drunken archaeologist out unceremoniously. Jack crossed to stand at Sam's shoulder,
"What're you doing?"
"She has an eye infection, sir. I'm going to give her antibiotic cream for it." Sam studiously concentrated on unmasking the angelic face that was slowly being revealed by her ministrations with a wash cloth.
"This is not what we are here for." Jack said quietly.
"I know that, sir. But we have a couple of hours before the ship arrives. Hopefully Daniel will be sober by then."
Jack chuffed, "He only had two. An hour of downtime and a couple of cups of coffee and he'll be fighting fit."
"Then I have an hour to find this kid's carer, sir."
Jack sighed and nodded. Then he turned his charm on the little girl, "Hey there, gorgeous. I'm Jack." He looked down at the chocolate brown puppy sitting at Sam's feet and widened his eyes in wonder, "Is this your dog? Wow, he's really smart lookin'. Is he a smart dog?"
Sam smiled to herself as the little girl nodded and reached for him and he unhesitatingly lifted her in his arms and began clowning for her benefit.
Sgsgsgsg
Daniel was seated in the armchair that had been his bed for an hour the night before, his head down between his knees, alternately clutching his skull and nursing his coffee cup, moaning softly and berating himself in a number of colorful languages. Teal'c had shoved the brew into his hands without ceremony as he had roused from his alcohol induced stupor. Madlien moved to offer him comfort but retreated as Teal'c glared at her balefully,
"His suffering is self induced. He has not earned your solicitude."
Daniel waved Madlien away as he swallowed two loose aspirin he retrieved from his pocket, "I'm okay." He gagged a little but managed to keep the medicine down, "I didn't think the local hooch would be so strong," he complained.
"You're up." Jack burst into the room in a blaze of suns light and a blast of grit and dirt, Sam on his heels, "Get your self filled with coffee, Spacemonkey. Maddy, how long 'til high suns?"
"Not long."
"Okay. Where's Jacob?"
"He was supposed to be here." Sam removed her goggles and stuck her head through the curtain that covered the doorway through to the sleeping area.
"Right." When Sam shook her head and shrugged, Jack toggled his radio mike, "Jacob, come in." He waited, "Jacob, this is Jack. Do you read?"
"The dust has a lot of trinium in it, sir. That's what's making reception so patchy."
"Did he say where he was going?" Jack asked.
"I believe he wanted to see the mine," Madlien said.
"If he went in the mine his radio signal is probably completely blocked."
Jack nodded, "Okay. Teal'c, you're with me. Carter, Daniel wait here. If the 'phone rings," He jerked his thumb at the communication orb, "Let the machine pick up."
Sgsgsgsg
Jack shaded his eyes with his hands as he tipped his head back to study the suns. The white sun was almost at noon while its smaller, redder brother lagged about an hour behind.
"High suns is comin'. Best get indoors." The youth Daniel had given his razor to, hesitated on his way from somewhere to the saloon.
"Thanks for the advice." Jack nodded, "Hey, what's your name?"
"Raif."
"Raif, my friend went to the mine a while ago and hasn't come back yet."
"I liked that toothpaste stuff Daniel gave Shira." Raif grinned, showing stained but even teeth.
"Show me the quickest way to the mine and you can have my toothpaste." Jack smiled, "Help me find my friend and I'll throw in a toothbrush."
"Deal." Raif stuck his palms together then held out one skinny, grimy hand to Jack who shook it firmly.
Sgsgsgsg
The communication orb buzzed slightly and a multi colored mist began to move on its surface.
"Apophis," said Sam dully.
"Right," For a second Daniel looked between the two women and the orb uncertainly then he snatched Madlien's shawl up off the armchair and tossed it over the ball as it began to glow. "Tell me he won't be able to see through that," he asked, worriedly.
"He will not. He will believe that the visual component is faulty." Madlien nodded.
"Good�."
Daniel broke off as a bass voice thundered through the device, shaking the walls, "Hunter Speck! Your lord awaits your presence!"
Neither Sam nor Daniel moved, both holding their breath.
"Hunter Speck! Respond!"
"You must respond. He will send a ship if no-one answers." Madlien whispered.
"We need to stall," Daniel suggested.
Sam nodded.
"I'll talk to him. Tell him Speck is on his way." Madlien offered.
Sam pursed her lips for a second.
"Speck! Respond!"
"Okay."
Madlien cleared her throat, "Sir? Speck is not here yet."
"Who are you?" the orb boomed.
"Sir, I am Hunter Speck's chatelaine. He has been delayed. Please tell your lordship that he expects to be here soon."
"Our lord will not be pleased."
"Hunter Speck asked me to tell your lord that he is willing to take something off the price as compensation for his time."
There was a silence, "Very well. We will remain in orbit until the suns set on your location."
The static hiss of the orb ceased and the light emanating from beneath the cloth faded.
"Good work," Sam told Madlien.
Sgsgsgsg
Sam was standing in the doorway of the dome, watching the movement of the shadows as the white star and the red straddled midday. High suns. Her watch told her that Jack and Teal'c had been gone for an hour. With a sigh she tried her radio again and again received no response. She ducked back inside the dome.
"I think one of us should go look for them." Daniel handed her his canteen.
Sam told a slug of tablet purified water and shook her head, "No. If we go we go together."
"Then let's go," Daniel urged.
Sam shook her head again, "No. We'll give them another thirty--"
The door burst open and Raif tumbled in, his ragged layers flying and his face flushed.
"Come quickly! There's been a roof fall!" He grabbed at Daniel's arm and tried to drag him out.
"Wait!" Sam barked. The boy froze eyes wide. "Tell me exactly what has happened."
Raif nodded, "We found Jacob in the tunnel that fell on Treska. The roof has come down again. Jack sent me to get you so you can help dig him out."
Sam had blanched but nothing in her expression gave away her distress as she nodded briskly, "All right. Show us."
Sgsgsgsg
"What were you doing in the mine anyway, Dad?" Sam asked.
When she and Daniel had arrived in the mine, Teal'c and Jack were carrying Jacob out of a side tunnel. The Tok'ra was unconscious and his right leg was hanging awkwardly.
"I was checking out the trinium deposits, Sam." Jacob was propped up in the fourth bed in the infirmary. He was pale and his eyes would not quite focus but his symbiote was already working on healing his injuries.
"Was it worth it?" Jack asked tersely, he was sitting on the edge of the next bed.
"No." Jacob smiled ruefully, "Sorry Jack."
"Well, while you were off having mountains fall on your head, Apophis arrived."
"Okay. I wasn't going up anyway and Teal'c can pilot the cargo ship. Apophis will ring down a guard detail; our man on the inside will be one of those guards. He'll help you disable the others�"
Sgsgsgsg
The ring transporter deposited two serpent guards, Hunter Speck and a woman with a squirming bundle in her arms and a wide strip of cloth masking her face, in a large chamber on Apophis' ship. A party of six other serpent guards fell in around the group and without a word they marched to the peltak deck. The bundle in the woman's arms mewled,
"Silence the child," growled the guard at her side.
"He's hungry." Speck's voice was distorted by his visor.
The escort guard fell away to take positions either side of the throne. The two who had ringed up from the surface stood either side of the visitors who now stood at the foot of the dais. Apophis, clad in gleaming white and gold, lounged on the throne, two young women fawning at his knee. He waved them off as one of the guards opened his helmet.
"My lord! The hunter Speck craves an audience."
"Loyal Chatra," Apophis smiled benevolently then inclined his head to acknowledge the bounty hunter, "Speck."
Speck made a small, lazy bow and gestured to the woman and her burden on his left.
"I bring you your son, my lord." A tiny frown marred Apophis' brow but was soothed as Speck added, "And, since he needed a wet nurse, I brought his mother too." Speck yanked Sam's hood down.
Blue fire flashed from Sam Carter's eyes as Apophis smiled, "I won't pay any more for the woman, Speck."
"She's a freebie."
Apophis' frown returned, "Remove your mask, hunter."
"Sure." The visor came off and Jack O'Neill grinned a manic grin, "Told ya not to close your eyes.
Apophis settled back on his throne and regarded the two humans with a perplexed frown, "What do you hope to gain by bringing my son to me? You are on my ship surrounded by hundreds of my loyal jaffa. You cannot hope to harm me or to escape."
"I have your son here." Sam held up the bundle in her arms which moved and made a small noise.
Apophis smiled coldly, "You hope to trade him for your lives?"
Jack spread his hands, "Sure, whatever. Major, why don't you show the man his kid? I believe he'll appreciate the family resemblance.
Sam nodded and took a step forward. She hesitated when Apophis bolted upright, his glance going to his guards.
"They are unarmed my lord," Chatra said.
Apophis nodded and gestured for Sam to come closer. She mounted the three steps on the dais and held up the bundle as he leaned forward.
"Uncover his face so that I may look upon my heir." Apophis ordered.
Sam showed her teeth, "He looks lust like you. Why don't you hold him?" She shoved the swaddled bundle into his unsuspecting arms.
"What is this?" Apophis hissed as large, limpid brown eyes looked up at him through long lashes and a wet pink tongue swabbed at a damp, black nose.
"Your real son - your Harsesis is dead." Sam's voice was a shard of ice, hard like steel and sharp like a blade.
"Just like you're gonna be in about five minutes." Jack added. Every staff weapon but one was leveled at them but Jack just grinned and wagged his finger, "You guys heard about what happened on Revanna?" For second the silence was deafening. "I'll take that as a yes. Major?"
Sam held up the poison in its pen-like packaging, "This is the bio-engineered poison that wiped out the attack on the Tok'ra at Revanna. I've already broken the seal. As soon as I release the poison it will spread through the ship and kill everyone who is carrying a goa'uld."
"They have no desire to kill jaffa," Chatra spoke up, "Only goa'uld. My brothers, the Tau'ri offer us freedom instead of death!"
"Kill them!" Apophis roared, shoving the shawl wrapped puppy into the hands of one of his concubines and slapping his palm over the crystal on his wrist, activating his personal defense screen.
"That's not going to save you this time, snakey." Jack sat down on the first step and leaned back, crossing his ankles.
"Kill them!" Apophis raged, apoplexy making the veins stand out on his neck.
"If I relax my grip the poison will be released!" Sam held the poison above her head.
"Brothers! Apophis is no god! Most of you know that in your hearts even if you dare not voice your doubt!" Chatra boomed, "We must leave the ship or die."
Apophis, his energy field sparkling, stood up from the throne and swept a furious glare around the room. Although most of the staff weapons in the room were still trained on the humans, no-one looked as if they were about to fire.
"I am your god!" He roared, "Destroy these minions!"
Jack sighed, "If he tries to leave the peltak we'll have to release the poison. I'd suggest that anyone who wants to go goes now."
"Brother Jaffa, join me." Chatra issued a small bow in Jack's direction then marched towards the exit. All but three of the guards on the deck and the jaffa at the helm went with him.
"Guys�" Jack stood up, "Apophis is going to die but you don't have to go with him," he chided, "Go. Go on, get out of here. Go home to your families."
Two of the last three guards looked at each other then nodded and left.
"Come on." Jack looked at his watch, "In two minutes we're letting the poison go. If you're still here you'll die. And it won't be pleasant."
"I'm not afraid, Tau'ri." The helmsman's chin came up.
"I know that. But you can't win this one--" Jack span on his heel as Apophis crept towards a side exit. "Not so fast snakey!"
"Your weapons cannot penetrate my shield." Apophis kept moving towards the hatch that led to his personal escape pod.
Sam moved quickly to interpose her body between the goa'uld and the hatch.
"You're not leaving here alive," she told Apophis quietly.
"Let him pass!"
The helmsman had lunged and now held a knife at Jack's throat. Jack rolled his eyes and nodded imperceptibly.
"See you in hell." Sam smiled and released her thumb's pressure on the spring loaded trigger and dropped the poison canister on the deck.
"You still have a few seconds." Jack choked over his shoulder.
The last guard fled but the helmsman did not let go of Jack until a spasm of fiery pain clutched at his lungs and his legs gave out. As he fell Apophis began to smile and straightened up behind his shield, his chin lifting and his eyes sparking arrogantly,
"I am a god." He breathed.
"For the last time," Sam shook her head and crossed her arms as Apophis paled and staggered, "No, you're not."
Sgsgsgsg
Sirens wailed and warning lights flashed as security force personnel rushed to the 'gate room to take their stations about the ramp. Up in the control room, General Hammond and Sergeant Davis both held their breath as they stared at the monitor that would tell them who was knocking at the door.
Davis relaxed, "Its SG1, sir."
Hammond nodded, "Open the iris."
The shield protecting the Stargate sliced open to reveal the shining, rippling pool of mercurial light that was the event horizon. For a few seconds the surface was unbroken then Daniel Jackson stepped through, a small, frail man leaning on him heavily. Teal'c was next, carrying a limp body whose left leg stuck out awkwardly. Jacob was next, leaning heavily on his daughter who had a small child on her left hip. Jack came last with a small brown puppy in his arms.
"Looks like they picked up a few strays, sir." Davis smiled.
Hammond refrained from commenting but leaned on the intercom button, "Medical team to the 'gate room." He straightened up, "I'll just bet the dog has fleas. Shut down the 'gate, sergeant."
Hammond arrived in the gate room at the same time as the medical team, lead by Janet Fraiser.
"Mission accomplished, sir." Jack scratched the puppy under its chin stepping out of Janet's way as she directed her people.
"Well done, Colonel. Who's your friend?"
"I don't know his name, sir but he was instrumental in the successful execution of our plan. He also belongs to the kid." Jack nodded to the little blonde girl who appeared to have fallen asleep on Sam's hip, a thumb in her mouth and her head tucked into the major's shoulder.
"And she would be? In fact, who are any of these people?"
"Uh� not exactly clear on that, general." Jack cleared his throat, "But they all need medical attention, sir."
"Bringing home the waifs and strays of the galaxy isn't in our remit, Jack."
"I'm aware of that." Jack nodded at where Daniel was leaning over a gurney smiling and talking reassuringly to Lester, "But you know how Daniel gets, sir." Hammond restrained a smile. "If it makes you feel any better, sir, we left behind another two or three dozen people. Jacob promised to go relocate them as soon as he's fit to fly."
Hammond and Jack stepped aside as the first gurney, bearing the unconscious form of Treska, with Janet measuring his pulse, was trundled carefully towards the infirmary. It was followed closely by the second gurney upon which Lester was sitting, staring about with eyes like saucers and clutching Daniel's hand to his thin chest. Jacob was on the third gurney, looking mildly embarrassed as Teal'c helped ferry him after the other casualties.
"We'll debrief in an hour, colonel." Hammond nodded and left.
Jack fell into step beside Sam as she headed out of the gate room, the girl still asleep in her arms.
"Nice work, major."
"Likewise, sir."
They exchanged a grin.
Sgsgsgsg
Sam was sitting in a chair next to an empty bed in a cubicle in the infirmary. Her head had tipped back as exhaustion had claimed her consciousness. Her small charge was curled up in her lap, also fast asleep.
Janet stepped through the curtain with a clipboard in her hand and stopped. She smiled and bent to lay her hand on Sam's shoulder,
"Hey," she said softly.
Sam blinked awake and sat up a little, "Sorry." She looked at her watch and grimaced, "I'm due at the debriefing."
"Are you okay?" Janet asked her tone professional but her eyes warm and a little anxious.
Sam smiled a slow smile and nodded, "I'm fine. We got him."
"Good. Who's your friend?" Janet took a step back and nodded to the sleeping girl.
"I don't know. No-one seemed to know her name and she couldn't tell me. She has an eye infection and�." Sam moved a little so that the child's head moved to expose the cleft in her lip.
"Okay. We can fix that. If you put her up on the bed you can go to your briefing."
Sam nodded and stood up. As she moved to place the girl on the bed she woke up and clung to Sam's neck, crying.
"Hey, it's okay." Sam soothed, "This is my friend Janet." She placed her hand on Janet's arm, "She's a doctor and she can make your eye all better."
The girl shook her head and buried her face in Sam's neck.
"Hey, sweetie," Janet said in a low, gentle voice, "Does your eye hurt?"
The girl nodded but did not look at Janet.
"Okay. Sam? Is it okay if I listen to your heart?" Janet withdrew her stethoscope from the pocket of her white coat and held it up.
Sam nodded immediately though confusion made her frown a little.
Janet just nodded and smiled, "Thank you." She placed the earpieces in her ears and the end of the scope against Sam's breastbone. She nodded sagely, "Would you like to listen, Sam?"
"Sure."
The child's curiosity grew as Sam let Janet place the earpieces in her ears and she listened dutifully for a few seconds then nodded and smiled, her eyes widening. The girl let go of Sam and sat on the bed, reaching for the stethoscope cautiously. Janet and Sam exchanged a glance as she let Janet fit the earpieces in her small ears. For a moment the girl listened to the thump of Sam's heart then she let the doctor redirect the scope to her blue clad sternum. Sam backed away from the bed slowly as the girl fixed her wide eyes on Janet. A minute later, as she thrilled to the sound of her own heart beat, Sam left the cubicle.
Sgsgsgsg
An hour later, Janet joined the debriefing, slipping into a seat next to Teal'c just as Jack was finishing his tale of their assassination of Apophis.
"Congratulations on a job well done, SG1. Doctor?"
"Jacob will be fine in a day or two, sir. Selmak is taking care of his injuries. Lester has end stage lung cancer exacerbated by bronchitis. All we can really do for him is make him comfortable and treat the chest infection. The boy with the broken leg, Treska, is in surgery at the moment. Doctor Warner believes he'll be able to save his leg. The little girl--"
"Did she tell you her name?" Sam interrupted.
Janet shook her head, "No, so we've been calling her Jane, Jane Doe. She has a simple eye infection which is already responding to treatment. I've requested a consultation with Doctor Ben Halliwell at the Air Force hospital, sir. He's one of the best cranio-facial surgeons in the country. There's no reason why Jane's cleft lip shouldn't be fully repaired."
"Very good, doctor. As soon as they are fit to travel the three Ilendans will be joining the rest of their people wherever it is Jacob has in mind to relocate them. SG1, as soon as all your medicals are completed you can leave. I'll expect your reports, in full, on my desk in forty eight hours. Dismissed." Hammond left the briefing room.
"I'm thinking pizza!" Jack slapped both hands on his stomach and stood up, "My place?"
"Sounds like a plan to me." Daniel jumped to his feet as Teal'c nodded his agreement.
"Major?"
"I haven't had my medical exam yet, sir."
"Later, then. You too, doc."
Sgsgsgsg
The aroma of coffee and toast filled the Fraiser house. The golden light of an autumnal morning spilled through the open drapes of the patio door. Sam, barefoot and wearing nothing but a white toweling robe, sat at the dining table basking in the un-seasonal warmth whilst she absorbed the Sunday papers. The house was quiet but for the ticking of the cooling stove in the kitchen and the sound of water running in the pipes supplying the shower in Janet's bathroom. Sam did not notice when the water shut off. Nor did she lift her head from her perusal of world news as Janet's light tread sounded on the stairs a few minutes later.
"Hey." Janet stood behind Sam's straight backed chair and bent to slide her terry clad arms down over her shoulders, placing a minty kiss on the soft skin behind her ear.
"Hey." Sam responded absently. Her eyes narrowing as she concentrated on the paper.
Janet maintained the loose hug for a moment then reached beyond Sam, pressing the soft weight of her breasts against her as she did so, to steal her coffee cup. Sam murmured something inaudible and turned the page. Janet's eyebrow lifted slowly and a small smile curved her lips. She took a sip of lukewarm coffee then sighed and replaced the mug, repeating her actions of a moment earlier only taking her time about it, watching Sam out of the corner of her eye. She was consumed by the news, it seemed. Janet nuzzled at the juncture of her jaw and throat for a moment then, without pre-amble, hitched up her robe and moved quickly to climb onto Sam's lap, straddling her face to face. Sam, cut off from her newsprint supply, leaned back in the chair and blinked,
"Hello."
"Hi." Janet smiled a slow burning smile and trailed the tip of her index finger down Sam's exposed breast bone, "We have the house all to ourselves"
"We do." Sam nodded agreeably, her eyes straying over Janet's shoulder, seeking the article she had been reading.
Janet's lower lip pouted a little and she shifted her hips to bring herself closer to the warmth of Sam's body,
"Sa-am."
Sam's cobalt gaze snapped to focus on Janet's melted chocolate eyes and a stunned smile emerged on her gently blushing face.
"Oh, hey." She cast her eyes down shyly only to find her attention caught by the caramel curves of Janet's breasts where they were pressed into the pristine white of her robe. She looked up quickly only to find Janet grinning at her impishly.
"See anything you like?"
Sam shrugged noncommittally and leaned forward so she could reach around Janet's small form to snag the paper off the table. Using more effort than was necessary she shook it out then folded it into quarters and fixed her eyes on the paper over Janet's shoulder. Janet held onto the lapels of Sam's robe during this process, her eyes widening as it looked like Sam was intent on completing her morning reading. After a few moments she pursed her lips and considered Sam's blithe expression, and then a smile unfurled across her face as realization dawned. She bent forward and snuggled against Sam's front with a contented sigh, tipping her head back and nuzzling beneath her chin. She trailed warm, open-mouthed kisses up around her jaw and began snacking lightly on the soft skin beneath her left ear. Sam cleared her throat and tilted her head to the right a little, still concentrating on the newspaper. Janet shifted in her lap and slid her hands up and over Sam's shoulders to wind them around her head which she tugged down until they were nose to nose, Sam's eyes straining to see the paper. Janet extended her tongue and traced the outline of Sam's mouth then poked at the gap that opened when Sam gasped. Sam ditched the paper and looped her arms around Janet,
"I get the impression you'd like me to leave the paper 'til later," she growled.
Janet rolled her eyes, they were still nose to nose, "What gave you that idea?" she twinkled.
"There were one or two clues�." Sam closed the gap between them and drew Janet into a deep, languid kiss.
Lips still locked, Janet stood up off Sam's lap and caught hold of both her hands, straightening up and tugging Sam to her feet.
"Where are we going?" Sam asked though she knew perfectly well.
Janet backed away, pulling Sam after her, towards the stairs. Sam rolled her eyes and looked back over her shoulder, pretending that she really wanted to stay and read the newspaper. Janet stopped walking but kept pulling until she had Sam's arms around her waist then stood up on tiptoe, looping her arms around her neck and reaching for a kiss. Sam capitulated, wrapping Janet up in a tight embrace and falling into the kiss she offered. When they broke apart they were both smiling and flushed. This time, when Janet drew her towards the stairs with one hand, Sam followed eagerly. They paused half way up for another kiss then Janet giggled and took off, yelping as Sam swatted at her behind and gave chase.
She caught up in the bedroom. Janet was waiting at the foot of the bed, grinning like a kid and dancing from foot to foot, her hands on the knot of her belt. Sam halted just inside the door and smiled,
"You changed the bed."
Janet nodded happily. Sam lowered her brows and stalked towards her, catching her around the waist and walking her backwards until her legs hit the edge of the bed. Janet shook her head and wormed out of Sam's embrace,
"Uh uh." She wagged her finger at her and danced out of her reach.
Sam frowned, perplexed, "What?"
"This morning is about what you want," Janet said breathily. She tipped her head towards the fresh, folded back sheets, "Get on the bed."
Sam's chin came up reflexively, "What if I don't want to?" She folded her arms.
Janet sighed and said softly, "Please?"
Sam knelt up on the mattress and crawled to the middle of the bed before lounging on her back, propped up on her elbows with her ankles crossed,
"Okay. Now you've got me where you want me what are you going to do about it?"
She challenged.
Janet stood at the foot of the bed and slowly, her head lowered so that she was looking at Sam from under her bangs, pulled the knot in the belt of her robe loose. She tossed the cord at Sam who, mesmerized, gathered it into her hands. Janet did a little shimmy and her robe fell open, revealing a strip of perfectly tanned flesh. She rolled her shoulders and the robe opened a little more giving Sam a glimpse of paler curves. Sam licked her lips; her eyes darkening to midnight blue as Janet shrugged out of dressing gown, letting it fall to the floor. She watched as Sam's gaze roved over her body and she shifted on the bed, uncrossing her ankles and swallowing dryly. Naked, Janet climbed onto the bed and crawled up Sam's still clothed body. On her hands and knees, Janet lowered her head and curled her tongue around Sam's ear then nibbled on the lobe. Sam's hands came to rest on her waist and she made a contented noise in her throat as Janet trailed her mouth along her cheek, licked the end of her nose and traveled to the other ear. Sam smiled as Janet sat up and loosed the belt of her robe, slipped her hands under the terry cloth and slid her palms along her ribs, exposing her slowly to Janet's intent scrutiny. Janet smiled as Sam's nipples puckered under her gaze, causing Sam to chuckle softly,
"See what you do to me?"
She reached up and pulled Janet down so she was draped over her and began to kiss her thoroughly, rolling over so that Janet ended up underneath her long, limber form. After a few minutes, Janet broke out of the kiss and caught her breath, stopping Sam's hand in its journey south and bringing it to her mouth for a fond kiss. She shook her head as Sam quirked a questioning frown at her.
"You first." Janet breathed.
Sam's frown turned real and a cold tremor raced down her spine.
"It's okay, sweetheart. It's only me." Janet soothed, chafing the shiver out of Sam's back with long, firm strokes of her palms. "We can stop any time you want."
Sam hid her uncertainty in the crook of Janet's shoulder, "I don't know if I can."
"You trust me, don't you?"
"Yes, you know I do." Sam's frown deepened.
"Then trust me to do this for you, baby. Please?"
Sam lifted her head. Her eyes were glacier blue, shot through with a combination of fear and embarrassment. Her face was taut, brows drawn together. She was tense, shivering; her shoulders jacked up to her ears.
"Is it too soon?" Janet asked softly, stroking her thumb along Sam's cheekbone, "I didn't mean to pressure you, I'm sorry." She pressed a kiss to Sam's temple and hugged her tight.
Sam shook her head, "No. It's okay� just� can we take it slow?"
"Of course," Janet smiled and kissed her between her eyes. "And we will stop the second you want to, okay?"
Sam smiled weakly and nodded, resting her forehead against Janet's. For a few minutes they rested like that.
Then, with only the barest exchange of words they began to make love. Janet let Sam have complete control, doing only what she wanted, prompted by the way her body would tense or relax, the catch in her throat or the hiss as she sucked in a sharp breath through her teeth. Sam's robe joined Janet's on the floor as they rolled and twisted on the bed, pillows tossed about or pressed into use under knees, heads or backs, the covers falling to the floor. Through the rush of her pulse in her ears, Janet was vaguely aware of the lamp on her bedside table taking a tumble but the thought evaporated as Sam turned her onto her stomach and laid on top of her, parting her legs with a questing knee and sliding her hand between her hip and the mattress to seek out the damp curls between her legs. Janet arched her back as Sam's fingertip made contact with her quivering flesh and she smothered a moan in the pillow under her face as Sam pressed her hand deeper, sliding two fingers inside her body; the heel of her hand bearing against her burgeoning bud. Janet turned her head, seeking Sam's waiting lips. Their mouths merged, tongues thrusting together in mimicry of the movement of their bodies. Sam pressed her hips deeper, her body pushing Janet's pelvis down against the unyielding bed, her fingers delving deep as Janet began to shudder and quake, a mewling, drawn out sound of need escaping the kiss as her internal muscles spasmed once then surged. A cascade of rapture loosed from her center and tumbled like a tsunami out to her extremities before rolling back like the waves of an incoming tide. Sam planted open mouth kisses on the freckles on her shoulders, body-boarding until Janet twisted onto her back, her limbs flopping loosely as if she had been deposited on a sunny shore by the surf. She caught her breath and hooked her arms around Sam's neck and they grinned at each other.
"Hey." Sam's eyes sparkled.
"Hey." Janet caressed her face with the back of her fingers.
Sam rested her weight on one elbow and caught hold of Janet's hand and carefully kissed the tip of each digit before placing an open mouthed kiss in the center of her palm.
"I love your hands. Did I ever tell you that?"
Janet shook her head. She wriggled a little and tugged a crease out of the sheet under her back before she crooked her knee and hooked her foot over Sam's calf and, with her free hand in the blonde hair at the nape of her neck, drew her down for a leisurely kiss.
"I thought you were supposed to go first?" Janet whispered in Sam's ear a few minutes later.
Sam lifted her head and grimaced, "I thought you'd forgot about that."
"Sam� I� this is great. I love this. I just� it's not fair on you." Janet spoke softly, her voice a salve on the aching bruise on Sam's psyche, "I love that you make me feel so good. I just want you to feel good too."
Pain flooded Sam's bright blue eyes and she ducked her head to hide her shame in the pillow next to Janet's head, her breathing ragged and shallow. Janet embraced her, wrapping all her limbs around her and holding her shuddering frame in the velvet vice of her body. She shushed quietly and murmured gentle endearments in Sam's ear until she relaxed, her fear assuaged by the hypnotic quality of Janet's voice and the tension in her limbs melting under the warmth radiating from her body.
Sam sighed and turned her head, "I know I'm being stupid."
"No, you're not." Janet demurred, "But if it is too soon you should just tell me. You don't need to distract me."
"Busted," Sam closed her eyes and snuggled into Janet's neck, "Sorry."
Janet laughed softly, "Oh, sweetheart. You just don't get it do you?" Sam lifted her head and shrugged helplessly. "I would do anything for you," Janet declared softly, "I would walk naked down the street if you asked me to. I'd sleep on a bed of nails for you, I'd� I'd� well, I� you know I hate snakes?" Sam nodded. "Well, I'd snuggle up to a whole tank full of them if you needed me to."
Sam had an "Aw shucks - me?" expression on her face.
"I love you," Janet said firmly. "I love you," she repeated, "And I want to make love to you. But it doesn't matter to me if you never let me. It only matters to me that you are happy. If the thought of me inside you makes you�."
"It's not you," Sam said quickly, "It's me. And I do want you inside me. I want it so bad." She broke off with a mirthless laugh, "You know what I'm scared of?"
Wordlessly, Janet shook her head.
"I'm afraid that when you touch me� like that, that all I'll feel will be him." She screwed up her face, "God. I'm sick of him being in my head. I thought if I killed him he'd be gone."
"Then let me take him away, baby." Janet urged gently, "Please?"
Sam nodded, her lower lip trembling querulously. Janet smiled like she had been granted a boon and smoothed the tremor from her mouth with her forefinger before drawing her down into a soul deep kiss.
Gentle hands smoothed and chafed the supple skin of her back and sides, fingers as soft as sable brushed the ripe curvature of her breasts and painted tender caresses from the firm curve of her backside to the crown of her head. Janet shifted restlessly and urged Sam to draw her body up the mattress a little then she ducked her head to catch an anxiously straining nipple. She drew the dark flesh into her mouth and suckled gently then with increasing urgency as Sam began to pant, grinding her pudenda against Janet's hip. Janet swapped breasts and squeezed the firm rounds of her backside, causing Sam to lose her rhythm and moan in Janet's hair.
"Sam." Janet gasped, "Sam." Sam blinked at her, trying to focus on her face as Janet jerked her chin up towards the head board.
"What?" Sam shook her head as if to try to clear out the fog of arousal.
"Up," Janet prompted, her hands tightening.
"Huh?"
"On your knees," Janet demonstrated by reaching over her head and grabbing at a slat in the head board.
"Are you sure?"
"Get up here."
Sam rose up on her knees and considered the wooden head board then Janet's supine form.
"Don't do the math," Janet growled, "Just get up here."
Sam nodded and shuffled up the bed. She reached to grasp the top of the head board and knelt up as Janet shifted and slid beneath her. Sam looked down and bit her lip anxiously as Janet's dark head appeared.
"Hey, lady," Janet quirked her brows at Sam and adopted a gas jockey attitude, "You want I should change the oil while I'm down here?"
Sam laughed and shook her head then caught her breath as Janet used her thumbs to unveil the lush, ruby red flesh around the opening to her body and lifted her head to lick firmly from stem to stern. Sam squealed and writhed as Janet nipped at her inner lips with gentle incisors then suckled each in turn as she tested her ripeness with the pad of one thumb. Sam whimpered and rested her forehead on her hands as Janet's thumb eased into her body to the first knuckle and paused. Sam moved her hips demandingly and felt Janet grin as she crooked her thumb and pushed it rhythmically against the elastic flesh gripping the digit. Then she withdrew her thumb and sent her tongue to repeat the motion. Sam tasted of melted butter and honey and Janet groaned as she pursued this nectar, pushing and probing with her mobile tongue while Sam danced above her. Janet pulled back, licking her lips greedily and considering her feast. Sam's head fell back on her shoulders as Janet latched onto the exposed tip of her clitoris and squeezed it oh so gently between her lips. Sam stilled abruptly, quivering and groaning as Janet repeated the action. The third time she did it she carefully, slowly reintroduced her thumb and stroked it to and fro. Sam's orgasm arrived like a sudden summer storm, thunder rumbling through her bones and lightening coursing along the pathways of her nerves while warm rain washed from her eyes. She clung to the head board until Janet pried her fingers loose and urged her to the mattress. Sam sobbed and curled into a ball, her eyes screwed tight shut. Janet retrieved the bedclothes from the floor and covered them both. Curving herself around Sam, she wrapped her in her arms and kissed her shoulder three times then laid her head on the pillow.
Ten minutes passed before Sam relaxed and straightened her limbs. She sniffed and leaned up on one elbow to retrieve a handful of tissues from the night stand. She blew her nose a couple of times then sighed and turned over. She lay down so they were face to face and smiled tremulously.
"Sorry," she apologized.
Janet sighed and closed her eyes for a moment before shaking her head and smiling ruefully. She laid her palm along Sam's jaw and smoothed the edge of her thumb across her lips.
"Are you okay?" Janet whispered.
Sam nodded and a grin ambled onto her face.
"Well good." Janet moved across the bed and drew Sam's head down so she was pillowed under her chin, "I'm glad."
Sam wriggled a little until she was comfortable then closed her eyes as Janet rearranged the blankets. They settled down, their breathing easing into the same pattern. Janet's eyes opened as Sam's voice, small and sleepy, asked a question,
"Can we really get a pet snake?"
Janet grinned, "Absolutely not."
Sgsgsgsg
The sound of feet clattering up the stairs roused Janet in time for her to be glad she had rescued the covers as Cassandra burst through the open door and bounced onto the bed, Dog leaping up after her and licking enthusiastically at Sam's face as she blinked awake.
"Cassie�." Janet grumbled, trying to push Dog off the bed whilst at the same time maintain her dignity by clutching the sheet across her chest. "I thought you weren't coming home until after lunch."
"Mom," Cass rolled her eyes, "It's almost two o'clock!"
Janet's eyebrows shot into her hairline and she turned and reached for the alarm on the bedside table. She and Cass noticed the broken lamp at the same time.
"Don't tell me," Cass pressed her palms over both ears, "I don't need to know."
Sam, still face down, pulled a pillow over her head.
"Did you guys stay in bed all morning?" Cass asked, agog.
"Not all morning." Janet shrugged, "Did you have lunch?"
Cass shook her head, "Lisa's mom offered but they were having veal."
"I hope you weren't rude to Mrs. Dearbont." Janet grimaced.
"Mom." Cass rolled her eyes.
Janet loosened Sam's grip on the pillow and lifted up one corner, "Pizza Hut?"
Sam rose up on her elbows and grinned, "I knew there was a reason I liked you."
"I'm going to turn the shower on," Cass tucked Dog under her arm, "If you are not both dressed and downstairs in fifteen minutes, I will go without you." Cass crossed to the bathroom.
"I think she's trying to tell us we stink," Sam said philosophically.
Janet leaned over and whispered in Sam's ear, causing her to giggle and blush.
"Do I need to throw cold water over you two?" Cass re-emerged from the bathroom, Dog on one hip a fist on the other.
"I'm going to remind you of this one day, young lady." Janet scowled, "Now, throw me my robe and skedaddle."
Cass tossed her head then grinned and flounced out.
Sgsgsgsg
The 'gate was already open, Jack O'Neill idling on the ramp while Daniel tightened the straps fastening his sidearm to his thigh, when Sam tore in, jamming her baseball cap on her head.
"Sorry, colonel." She strode up alongside him.
"No worries, major." Jack smiled a relaxed, easy smile. Then his eyes narrowed as he considered her face. His smile morphed into a grin, "Some one got lucky last night."
Sam's head whipped round, "What?"
"You, you're positively glowing, major."
"Uh, sir, I� uh�." She had turned an engaging shade of pink.
"It's good to see." His grin softened back into a smile and he gestured to the glowing puddle, "Ready to go play in the mud?"
Sam stared at him for a moment, then the tension that had bolted up her spine in reaction to his remark, ebbed, "Ready as I'll ever be."
"Then let's do it. Daniel, are you ready now?"
Daniel and Teal'c mounted the ramp and the four of them stood abreast, ready to step through together.
"I was just stalling for time, Jack. I didn't want the new girl to get in trouble for being late her first real mission."
Sam grinned at her team mate.
"Enough, already," Jack took hold of one each of Sam and Daniel's elbows and shoved them into the event horizon.
"It is good to be whole again, O'Neill." For a split second a glimmer of white enamel showed between Teal'c lips then he, too, was gone.
"Yes. Yes, it is." Jack sighed and smiled and stepped into the worm hole.
The End.
End notes:
I really, really hope you enjoyed that.
All grammatical accuracies are entirely due to the good offices of Holy Mother Grammatica and Ms. Nitpicker whose websites I haunted all through the writing and rewriting (and rewriting and rewriting�.) of this novel. Any inaccuracies are entirely my own doing.
I went with American spellings, despite being British, as Stargate SG1 is an American show, despite being filmed in Canada.
I have tried to stick to canon as far as possible but I realize that I have used some fanon assumptions too. It was not me who named Major Griff Hank for example, nor me who first named Cassandra's dog Dog. I have no clue who I was reading when I first came across those and other fan additions to what we know from the show but, whoever it was, thanks.
Other stuff - like the TDC - I made up!
Please do not be shy about letting me know what you think of this story. I need constructive criticism so I can improve as a writer, so do not hold back for fear of hurting my delicate writer's ego!
Thank you for taking the time to read "Like Steve McQueen".
Mo Phillips.