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Title: "Coming Home pt 12b"
Author: elfcat255
pairing: Sam/Janet
rated: PG-13
spoilers: Nope
Warnings: nope
Summary: as usual I pick up from the last chapter..see a pattern to my writing.
AN: Dude!..when I complain they speak!...when I put the two parts of this chapter together it will be over 7000 words..geez..yay!
AN 2:okay folks...only one more chapter to go after this one.. I could have kept going but there's still some things I have to work out...hopefully I'll have it up before the weekend is over...so Enjoy!
As Sam rested her chin on Janet’s back, their bodies still intertwined; she began laughing softly.
“What?” Janet’s question sounding muffled since her mouth lay against Sam’s shoulder.
“This is so cliché; we’re basking in the warm afterglow,” Sam replied trying to hold back the giggle she wanted to make.
“Shhh…it was amazing; I’m not moving yet,” Janet informed her.
A few moments passed and Sam spoke up again, “Can we move now?”
Janet bit her lover’s shoulder, “Owww…what was that for?” asked Sam.
“Payback,” was the reply.
Sam lifted her head, pulling back just enough to make out the red mark on Janet’s shoulder where she bit her earlier, she placed a kiss on the spot, “Sorry…I barely left a mark,” she said softly.
Janet’s body shook as she chuckled.
“Can we move now?” sounded in her ear after a couple of minutes of silence.
“Why do you want to move so badly?” Janet finally asked.
“Because the sun’s coming through the back door and hitting me in the eyes,” grumbled Sam.
Janet slowly unwrapped herself from Sam’s body and moved aside allowing Sam to turn around then sit next to her.
“Why didn’t you say that to begin with?” asked Janet as she reached around, grabbing a pillow to lie on.
“Because we were basking in the afterglow,” replied Sam with a wide smile; the pillow hit her in the head.
This started another round of laughing and tickling, ending up with Janet pinning her love to the cushions; Sam laughed and yelled, “Truce!”
Janet smirked at her, but stopped the assault and climbed off Sam, stretching out next to her pillowing her head on her lover’s shoulder, “You were just afraid I’d win,” she said smugly.
“No…if we kept going it would end up where the last fight did,“ Sam remarked, “besides I’m hungry.”
As if to prove the point, her stomach growled loudly, “See.”
“Oh all right…shower first then breakfast,” said Janet, sitting up and placing a kiss on Sam’s lips.
“Okay…I’ll go get the water warmed up,” Sam told her, sitting up and returning the kiss then rising from the floor. On the way out of the living room, she jumped up and pulled Janet’s pajama bottoms from where they landed on the ceiling fan.
Janet laughed at her antics, “Good throw,” she said.
“Thank you,” replied Sam with a grin and a little bow, turning she jogged up the stairs.
Janet watched her disappear and then sat quietly, finally allowing the tears she had been holding back since their lovemaking to fall from her eyes. They were not sad tears; they were happy tears because after all that happened to Sam she was returning to normal.
Sam did not know the doctor had watched her sleep most of the night. Janet could not help it; every time her lover had moved Janet would wake to make sure she was not having a nightmare. Finally, as the sky began to lighten the doctor lay back to doze off, she had barely been napping when Sam began her little sneak attack.
“Water’s ready!” yelled Sam from upstairs.
Janet wiped the tears from her face and stood up; “On my way!” she called back and then walked out of the living room and up the stairs to join Sam.
**************
After a long shower involving much giggling and hand slapping away from body parts( most of the slapping was to Sam’s frisky hands), the two returned downstairs to the kitchen where Sam readied the coffee while Janet began preparing them some breakfast.
The doctor watched as her lover pulled things from the fridge, the whole time humming a little tune. When the coffee finished perking, she poured two cups, handing one to Janet before she added the extras in hers‘, still humming.
“What are you humming?” she asked taking a sip from her cup.
“Hmm…oh, it’s something Daniel sang to me when I was trying to sleep one night,“ replied Sam as she sat at the island.
Janet nodded, “He told me about a lullaby he sang to you; he said that Share taught it to him,” commented the doctor.
“Hmm…must be the one then, it’s stuck in my head,” Sam told her, peeling a banana and then taking a bite.
Janet watched her eat the fruit, giving her a wistful smile; she turned back to finish the eggs, once done she plated them and carried the plates to the island setting Sam’s before her. Sitting down they began eating; after a few minutes Janet looked up and spoke, ”Can I ask you a question?”
Sam glanced up; she nodded and took another bite of food, “Mmmuh.”
“Did you eat at all while you were gone? I mean Daniel looked thinner but you’re positively gaunt Sam; he told me Meg didn’t let anyone starve in her kitchen,” said Janet as she watched Sam’s face turn red.
“Umm…I ate…sometimes, I had other things on my mind,” Sam said, pulling apart a piece of toast and popping it in her mouth.
“Like how to get home and finding Teal’c and Jack?” asked Janet.
“No actually…Daniel found them and he also talked Meg into helping us escape; I had my hands full trying to find the crystals from the DHD,” replied Sam, “So…I may have skipped a few meals.”
“I’d say more than a few sweetie, you really need to learn to not let things take over and keep you from taking care of yourself,” admonished Janet.
Sam sighed, “I know…and I will…eventually; lesson learned though. Do you want to hear the rest of the story today?” she asked.
“If you want to tell me…sure,” replied the doctor.
“Yeah…I think my telling you helped, I actually slept last night…no bad dreams,” Sam told her.
Janet smiled; she knew that already. They stopped talking and finished their meal. Sam helped her tidy up the kitchen and they soon went into the living room; straightening up the cushions from their earlier antics, Sam stopped for a moment, “What day is it?” she asked.
“Tuesday,” replied Janet as she picked up their sleepwear.
“When is Cass supposed to be back?” asked Sam, as she threw pillows back against the couch.
“Not until this weekend,” Janet told her, “Why?”
“Can we keep the living room like this? I mean if you want to we can sleep upstairs; I just like stretching out on the floor though and it’s bouncy,” Sam said, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
Janet laughed, “Sure…but you really want to keep it like this so you can have more room to roll around,” the doctor gave her lover a sexy grin, “admit it.”
Sam moved to stand before the doctor, wrapping arms around her waist, “Busted…again…drat,” she whispered in Janet’s ear then placed a kiss below it.
“Okay you have a story to finish, no starting that now,” said Janet, but she pulled Sam’s head up to give her a kiss, breaking it off she looked into her love’s eyes, “we have plenty of time for that later.”
Sam blushed, “Okay…I’ll hold you to that,” she said softly, a playful grin on her face.
They held each other for a few moments then broke the embrace to finish straightening the living room. Once finished they lay on the floor, Sam propped up against the couch with Janet lying next to her, head resting on her lover’s shoulder, an arm thrown around her waist.
“Let’s see…I guess I pick up where I left off…..”
********************
A gentle shake to her body woke Sam up from her nap; she opened her eyes to see Daniel kneeling beside the cot.
“Hey Sam…how are you feeling” he asked, rising to sit on the cot next to hers’.
She pushed herself up onto her elbows, “Better…what ever that stuff is that Meg uses works great, there’s hardly any pain in my back and the cuts are healing up nicely,” she told him running a finger over one of the marks on her inner arm.
“Good…because we’re going to need to move soon; I found Jack and Teal’c,” he told her smiling.
“How are they?” she asked sitting up on the cot.
“A little worse for wear but in good shape; I couldn’t talk with them much, the guards watch the mine slaves really close during meal time,” he said.
Sam looked closely at Daniel’s face; she could see the bruise along his jaw and he had a cut over one eye, “What happened to your face and where are your glasses?”
“Oh…the guards like to bully me during evening meal; as long as I don’t fight back it’s over pretty quick, but last night one got a little carried away; my glasses were broken,” he told her, “I’m okay though.”
Sam gave him her best Janet look, “Really?”
“Yeah…I’m fine,” he assured her, “So…I’ve been asking questions.”
That made Sam grin; of course, he finally found the time to start digging up information, “What have you found out?”
“Well…these people have been visited by the Goa’uld; in fact that’s one of the reasons why they live underground now and why the guards were treating Teal’c so badly,” he began.
Sam listened as he gave her a quick rundown of all the things he had discovered, from explaining where the weapons they were shot with came from to the class system used by the Mahri, which is what they called themselves. He told her Jarvis’s family were the hereditary rulers of this community but there were others scattered across the planet, each having there own underground towns. The towns traded with one another, hence the caravan they were part of when traveling here.
She held a hand up, stopping his ramble, “Has Jarvis shown back up?”
Daniel nodded, “He was at the mid-day meal; why?”
“How did he look?” she asked.
“Like he’d lost a boxing match…kind of racoonish,” he said.
Sam grinned, “Good, wonder if he’s ready for round two?”
“Sam…taunting him could get you killed,” Daniel informed her.
“Oh…he doesn’t want to kill me Daniel…in fact I’m sure he’d like to see me suffer before that happened. Besides, after what he did to me and what Meg told me he has done the bastard deserves anything done to him. I’ll be careful though; I plan on going home,” she said smugly.
“Please Sam, I don’t want to have to carry your body home to Janet,” Daniel said his voice growing quiet.
“Oh believe me…that will never happen, I made her a promise Daniel and I keep my promises, especially the ones made to her,” Sam told him standing to squeeze his shoulder.
“Okay…oh…I found us a way to escape!” he said all excited.
Sam walked away to begin pacing back and forth, stretching her legs, “Really…tell me,” she said.
“Meg travels once a year with one of the caravans to gather herbs for cooking and medicines and it’s not that far from the gate were she does it. She always takes several slaves with her, so she’s agreed to take us when she goes this next time; which will be within the next five days,” Daniel said smiling, he was proud of finding them a way back to the gate.
Sam stopped, she turned towards him, “We may have a slight problem,” she said.
“What problem?” Daniel asked a confused look on his face.
“Jarvis asked me how to make the stone ring (she made an air quote motion with her fingers) work; Do you remember seeing a DHD before you were shot?” she replied.
Daniel thought for a few minutes, shaking his head he answered, “No.”
“Do you think Meg would know?” she asked, walking over to sit beside him.
“Probably…we can ask her; I have to go help with the evening meal soon, she should be there,” he replied.
“Good…umm…do you think you can find me some clothes to put on?” she said, “I can’t do much wrapped in a blanket.”
“Oh…yeah, I can send one of the boys with something for you to change into,” her friend said, “in fact let me go do that before we have to start getting the meal ready.”
“Thanks,” Sam said as he rose from the cot and walked towards the door, disappearing down the hall.
Sam waited and sure enough a few moments later Korin ran into the room, his arms full of clothing. He skidded to a stop next to her, letting the clothing fall to land on the cot.
“I did not know what ya needed so I grabbed a lot,” he spoke his breathing heavy from the run.
Sam grinned at the boy, “I’m sure I can find something to put on in this,” she said sorting through the clothing.
“I’m ta show ya back ta tha kitchen when yer changed,” he told her, bouncing in place.
Sam picked up a skirt, tossing it to the side she nodded to the fidgeting boy. Finding a sleeveless top and a pair of pants from the pile she rose walking over to the screened off area, “Give me minute and we can go,” she told him, disappearing behind the screen.
Untying the blanket, she threw it over the screen, taking a moment to check over the cuts on the front of her body. She was not normally a vain person but some of the cuts were definitely going to leave scars; grumbling a few choice swear words she pulled on the homespun pants. They fit loose but the drawstring solved that problem, tightening it she then pulled the top over her head, it was a little short but she did not mind.
Once clothed she walked back to stand before Korin, “Well…I’m ready, lead away,” she told him.
Korin began to run then stopped, forcing himself to walk as they left the room, this made Sam smile. He led her down the hallway past several rooms until Sam could hear the sounds of many voices, exiting the hallway they came into the kitchen, which bustled with activity as the evening meal was readied. Showing her over to a table next to the far wall, she sat down while he ran off to finish his work.
Sam looked around the room, watching as the slaves worked. She could see Daniel at a far table with whom she assumed was Jared and Korin, carving slices off a huge slab of meat. Daniel looked up and spotted her, giving her a small wave he went back to work. She grinned, he seemed to be in his element, ‘Never figured him for the domestic type,’ she thought. She made out Meg’s small form weaving between tables as she oversaw the work; the old woman spotted Sam and made her way over to sit at the table with the woman.
“Well…yer looking good; how do ya feel?” she asked, picking up a pitcher sitting on the table, she poured a cup of water and pushed it over to Sam.
Sam picked up the cup, taking a sip, “Much better, thank you,” she replied.
Meg nodded, “Ya feel up ta helping out?” she asked, motioning towards the bustling kitchen.
Sam laughed loudly, “Oh, I don’t think you want me to help Meg; I tend to be a walking disaster area in the kitchen,” she told the old woman.
“Can ya peel vegetables?” Meg asked cocking an eyebrow at the still chuckling woman.
Sam nodded; “Well ya can be useful then,” Meg said and rose to pick up a bowl from a nearby table. She returned to place the bowl before Sam, along with a small knife, “Here ya are, that will keep ya busy for a little while,” Meg remarked and walked away to check on the meal’s progress.
Sam laughed but picked up the knife and began peeling the tuber-like vegetables. The activity in the kitchen picked up as slaves began taking trays of food out. She soon made short work of the vegetables in the bowl and sat watching as the kitchen slowly emptied; leaving her alone in the large room. She sighed, drumming her fingers on the wooden tabletop, rising up from her seat she walked over to the doorway everyone disappeared through.
Following the hallway, she soon came to another doorway, where she heard more voices; she peeked her head around the corner discovering the main dining hall. Staying in the shadowed alcove she watched as Daniel and the boys flittered back and forth between the tables, refilling cups. She saw what Daniel said earlier about bullying as a man tripped him and he barely kept the pitcher he carried from emptying onto the floor. After a few well-placed cuffs, he rose from the floor, walking over to stand against the wall. Sam frowned, he said he could handle it but still, seeing her friend being beat on made her angry.
A voice called out and Daniel moved to walk towards the head table. Sam stood on her tiptoes, but could not see what he was doing from where she stood, not wanting to draw attention to herself, she settled back into the shadows as the hall quieted down. She heard Daniel’s voice, unable to make out what he was saying but she knew the tone though; it was his lecture mode. Sam watched as the people sat quietly hanging onto his every word, when he finished they broke out in applause and then began rising from the long tables. She quickly left the alcove and walked back to the kitchens to wait at the table once more.
Slaves began entering the kitchen carrying platters with leftover food, placing them on one of the long tables they would exit again. Soon the table filled with trays as more were left; she saw Daniel enter with the boys in tow, they grabbed plates and stood in line to have them filled then came over to where she sat, Daniel placed a plate in front of her, giving her a nod with his head.
“Eat,” he told her then pulled up a short stool to sit beside her. Korin and Jared shared the chair across from her, both digging into their food.
Sam picked at her food, “Daniel I really need to ask Meg about the DHD,” she said, toying with a piece of bread. A serious look from him made her finally pick it up and take a bite.
“Ask me about what?” said Meg as she appeared at Sam’s elbow, startling the woman.
“Damn, you’re quiet,” muttered Sam, that remark earned her a slap to the back of her head. Sam looked up at the old woman, rubbing the hit spot, “Hey.”
“Watch yer mouth there are young ones present,” admonished Meg.
Sam mumbled an apology as Daniel and the boys covered their mouths to hide grins. Meg pulled a stool up to sit next to the four as they ate, ”What did ya want ta ask me?”
“Daniel told me about you helping us leave but we may have a problem,” Sam began; she went on to explain as best she could about the DHD and why they needed it to work and without it how difficult it would be for them to leave.
Daniel spoke up, “What about dialing manually?”
“No power source,” replied Sam, picking up a piece of meat with her fingers and taking a bite.
Meg thought quietly for a few moments, “Ay…tis such a thing not far from tha ring,” she said.
“Can you remember if it is in one piece?” asked Sam.
Jared chimed in, “It is hollow; I looked in it the last trip we made with Meg,” he told Sam.
Meg gave the boy a look, “It was open, I didn’t do it,” whined Jared.
“Da…darn,” Sam said eyeing Meg, “we need those crystals; there’s no telling where they are or if they are still in one piece,” she finished.
Daniel’s face took on a thoughtful look as he tried to remember something, “Meg didn’t you tell me it was this community that drove the snakes away?”
Sam muttered, “Guess that part will always be the same.” Daniel nodded at her comment.
“Ay Daniel…was Jarvis’s great-grandfather who chased them away; why?” the old woman asked.
“That means the crystals must be around here somewhere, surely he saw them use the DHD to leave and then pulled it apart thinking it would keep them from coming back,” Daniel said rather cheerfully, glad to have remembered the fact.
“But this place is huge Daniel, where could he have put them; if they still exist,” Sam said sighing.
“We’ll just have to look for them then,” he said.
“Ay…Korin can show ya around ta search for them, the little scamp knows all tha hidey holes in tha keep,” Meg said, looking at her grandson, who just smiled, nodding his head fast.
“But won’t we be stopped by the guards?” Sam asked giving the old woman a confused look.
“Not if ya are running errands for me and besides Korin is well known among tha men, they will not question ya if he is with ya,” claimed Meg.
“Meg can I have a sheet of paper? I need to send Jack a note, telling him what we have planned,” Daniel asked of the old woman.
“Ay…Korin, fetch tha box from my room,” she said to the boy who left from the table in a flash.
“Five days…five days to find several power crystals in a keep no telling how huge,” grumbled Sam.
“Hey…we’ve faced worse odds,” Daniel said trying to cheer her up.
“Yeah…right,” Sam said toying with the food left on her plate.
Korin soon returned, jogging up to the table carrying the wooden box containing Meg’s supply of paper; he placed it before Daniel and then climbed back in the chair, nudging Jared over so he could finish his food.
Daniel opened the box, taking out the ink and quill along with a few sheets of the paper. Sam watched as he dipped the quill in the ink and began writing a short note to Jack. Once finished he blew on the wet ink until it dried then folded the paper up into a small square, handing it to Jared.
“Can you slip that to Jack in the morning?” he asked the boy.
Jared nodded, “Yes…I can do that; if I hide it in a loaf of bread the guards will never know,” he said grinning at the idea.
“Here now Daniel, draw me a picture of what tha crystals look like; I can search tha storerooms during tha day,” spoke Meg.
“Good idea…do one for Korin too, in case we have to split up,” Sam interjected.
Daniel nodded and then drew out rough sketches of what the power crystals where shaped like, blowing until the ink dried, he handed one to Korin and then Meg.
“Now…ya need to be off ta sleep; we have much ta do tomorrow,” Meg told the four as she rose from the stool to oversee the kitchen clean up.
Daniel looked at Sam’s plate, “Is that all you’re going to eat?”
Sam nodded, “I’m just not hungry Daniel.”
He shook his head but knew better than to try to push her into eating; it would just make her angry, “Fine…but when Janet yells at you for losing weight I‘m going to say I told you so.”
Sam stuck her tongue out at him; this action made the two boys sitting across from her giggle and that earned them a funny face from Sam. Still giggling the boys slid out of the chair, picking up the used plates, they took them to the washroom. Daniel walked along beside Sam as they left the kitchen; she walked with her head bowed, mumbling something to herself.
Daniel bumped her shoulder with his, “Hey Sam.”
She looked up, bumping him back, ”Hey Daniel.”
“Don’t worry…we’ll find the crystals, you’ll be home before you know it,” he told her as they walked.
Sam sighed, “I know…but what if we don’t; It’s not like I can build a generator this time, there’s not any advanced technology lying handy for me to throw something together you know.”
“Positive thoughts Sam…positive thoughts; didn’t you tell me you had a promise to keep?” he said raising an eyebrow at her.
“Yes…but…” he stopped her before she could finish; “No buts…your only thoughts should be about finding those crystals and getting home, right?” he said.
“You’re right…positive thoughts,” she said and then gave him a smile.
Just then two bodies ran past them, ducking into the doorway to their left, “Ah…the scamps have beat me to the clean water,” Daniel said, shaking his head and laughing.
Sam joined him in the laugh, “You go get cleaned up, I’ll meet you in the room; two more doors up, right?”
“Yeah…see you there,” he told her then entered the door the boys had run into.
Sam walked on down the hall until she reached the room where they slept; strolling over to her cot, she saw the covered jar on the bench. Picking it up she discovered Meg’s healing salve, looking at the half healed cuts on her arms she decided to put some more on what she could reach. Moving to stand behind the screened area, she pulled off her clothing and began rubbing the cream into the cuts on the front of her body. Before long she heard Daniel and the boys enter the room, sticking her head around the screen she called out to Daniel.
After making sure Jared and Korin were in bed he walked over, “What do you need?”
“Can you put this on my back and the back of my legs,” she asked.
“Sure Sam,” he said taking the jar from her and moving around to stand behind her, “you know something?”
“What?” she asked looking down at him as he knelt to put the salve on her legs.
“I could start making some rather crude remarks about your nakedness, I’ve seen you without clothes so much this mission,” he said trying to hold back a laugh.
“You start doing that and I sic Janet on you,” she replied giving him a grin.
“Riiiggght gotcha,” he remarked.
He stood to spread the creamy salve on her back, “This is looking really good Sam,” he said, “you might have a few scars but not many; this stuff works great.”
He finished and she pulled her clothes back on, “I know…we have to take some back for Janet to analyze; she‘ll love it,” she commented.
They walked back around, going to their cots. Sam looked over at the large lump on the cot next to Daniel’s smiling she asked, “Do they always sleep like that?”
Daniel nodded, peering down at the two boys, making sure they slept. He went to sit beside Sam on her cot, “Did Meg tell you about Korin’s mother?” he asked keeping his voice low.
Sam nodded, her face blanking over; “Well the same thing happened to Jared’s; Meg raised the two of them together,” he told her.
Sam’s brow developed a furrow, as the look on her face grew serious, “Why is Korin a slave if he’s Meg’s grandson?”
“It’s that whole class thing again; because his mother was still a slave when she went missing that automatically made him one too. Meg earned her freedom after her daughter was born or else she would have been born free. It’s complicated I know,” he said seeing the confused look on Sam’s face now.
“What about his father? Is he a slave too?” she asked.
Daniel thought for a minute then he spoke, “Jarvis is his father Sam.”
“Then that means…” she began.
“Yes…following the hereditary line it means Korin is next to rule here unless Jarvis has other sons and according to Meg there are none but Korin,” Daniel whispered.
Just then the tiny old woman walked into the room, interrupting their conversation; she walked over to where the two boys slept, pulling the blanket up around the sleeping figures. Once that was done, she glanced over at Sam and Daniel.
“Ta bed with ya…I need yer help in tha morning boy,” she said shaking a finger at them.
“Yes Meg,” he said moving to his own cot. Sam could not help but giggle and this earned her a glare from the old woman.
“Now that yer up and about ya will help too girl,” Meg told her with a smirk and turning she walked out of the room.
Sam laid back on the cot, ”Oh brother,” she whispered.
She heard laughter from Daniel’s cot, “Night girl,” he said in between laughs.
“Night…boy,” she replied but laughed along with him.
The two soon drifted off to sleep, knowing they had much to do in the next five days if they wanted to make it home.
********************
Sam paused in her story telling, she glanced down to see Janet fighting to stay awake.
“Hey you…I know I can’t tell a story like Daniel can but boring you to sleep, that’s a new low even for me,” she said giving Janet a little shake.
“No…you tell it just fine,” she said yawning, “I guess I didn’t sleep very well last night.”
Sam used her free hand to lift up the doctor’s chin until she could look into her eyes, “Did you watch me while I slept?”
A blush rose on Janet’s cheeks, “Yes,” she whispered.
Sam leant down placing a kiss on her love’s forehead, “Then take a nap, the rest of the story can wait until you’ve gotten some rest,” she said softly.
“Are you sure?” asked Janet, trying to fight back another yawn.
“Yes…I’m almost done anyway, sleep I’ll finish when you wake up,” Sam told her.
“Okay,” was the sleepy response as Janet snuggled up closer to Sam’s body.
Sam held her close as the doctors’ breathing evened out and then pulled one of the blankets over the two of them; leaning her head back, she closed her eyes, soon joining Janet in sleep as she too dozed off.
Author: elfcat255
pairing: Sam/Janet
rated: PG-13
spoilers: Nope
Warnings: nope
Summary: as usual I pick up from the last chapter..see a pattern to my writing.
AN: Dude!..when I complain they speak!...when I put the two parts of this chapter together it will be over 7000 words..geez..yay!
AN 2:okay folks...only one more chapter to go after this one.. I could have kept going but there's still some things I have to work out...hopefully I'll have it up before the weekend is over...so Enjoy!
As Sam rested her chin on Janet’s back, their bodies still intertwined; she began laughing softly.
“What?” Janet’s question sounding muffled since her mouth lay against Sam’s shoulder.
“This is so cliché; we’re basking in the warm afterglow,” Sam replied trying to hold back the giggle she wanted to make.
“Shhh…it was amazing; I’m not moving yet,” Janet informed her.
A few moments passed and Sam spoke up again, “Can we move now?”
Janet bit her lover’s shoulder, “Owww…what was that for?” asked Sam.
“Payback,” was the reply.
Sam lifted her head, pulling back just enough to make out the red mark on Janet’s shoulder where she bit her earlier, she placed a kiss on the spot, “Sorry…I barely left a mark,” she said softly.
Janet’s body shook as she chuckled.
“Can we move now?” sounded in her ear after a couple of minutes of silence.
“Why do you want to move so badly?” Janet finally asked.
“Because the sun’s coming through the back door and hitting me in the eyes,” grumbled Sam.
Janet slowly unwrapped herself from Sam’s body and moved aside allowing Sam to turn around then sit next to her.
“Why didn’t you say that to begin with?” asked Janet as she reached around, grabbing a pillow to lie on.
“Because we were basking in the afterglow,” replied Sam with a wide smile; the pillow hit her in the head.
This started another round of laughing and tickling, ending up with Janet pinning her love to the cushions; Sam laughed and yelled, “Truce!”
Janet smirked at her, but stopped the assault and climbed off Sam, stretching out next to her pillowing her head on her lover’s shoulder, “You were just afraid I’d win,” she said smugly.
“No…if we kept going it would end up where the last fight did,“ Sam remarked, “besides I’m hungry.”
As if to prove the point, her stomach growled loudly, “See.”
“Oh all right…shower first then breakfast,” said Janet, sitting up and placing a kiss on Sam’s lips.
“Okay…I’ll go get the water warmed up,” Sam told her, sitting up and returning the kiss then rising from the floor. On the way out of the living room, she jumped up and pulled Janet’s pajama bottoms from where they landed on the ceiling fan.
Janet laughed at her antics, “Good throw,” she said.
“Thank you,” replied Sam with a grin and a little bow, turning she jogged up the stairs.
Janet watched her disappear and then sat quietly, finally allowing the tears she had been holding back since their lovemaking to fall from her eyes. They were not sad tears; they were happy tears because after all that happened to Sam she was returning to normal.
Sam did not know the doctor had watched her sleep most of the night. Janet could not help it; every time her lover had moved Janet would wake to make sure she was not having a nightmare. Finally, as the sky began to lighten the doctor lay back to doze off, she had barely been napping when Sam began her little sneak attack.
“Water’s ready!” yelled Sam from upstairs.
Janet wiped the tears from her face and stood up; “On my way!” she called back and then walked out of the living room and up the stairs to join Sam.
**************
After a long shower involving much giggling and hand slapping away from body parts( most of the slapping was to Sam’s frisky hands), the two returned downstairs to the kitchen where Sam readied the coffee while Janet began preparing them some breakfast.
The doctor watched as her lover pulled things from the fridge, the whole time humming a little tune. When the coffee finished perking, she poured two cups, handing one to Janet before she added the extras in hers‘, still humming.
“What are you humming?” she asked taking a sip from her cup.
“Hmm…oh, it’s something Daniel sang to me when I was trying to sleep one night,“ replied Sam as she sat at the island.
Janet nodded, “He told me about a lullaby he sang to you; he said that Share taught it to him,” commented the doctor.
“Hmm…must be the one then, it’s stuck in my head,” Sam told her, peeling a banana and then taking a bite.
Janet watched her eat the fruit, giving her a wistful smile; she turned back to finish the eggs, once done she plated them and carried the plates to the island setting Sam’s before her. Sitting down they began eating; after a few minutes Janet looked up and spoke, ”Can I ask you a question?”
Sam glanced up; she nodded and took another bite of food, “Mmmuh.”
“Did you eat at all while you were gone? I mean Daniel looked thinner but you’re positively gaunt Sam; he told me Meg didn’t let anyone starve in her kitchen,” said Janet as she watched Sam’s face turn red.
“Umm…I ate…sometimes, I had other things on my mind,” Sam said, pulling apart a piece of toast and popping it in her mouth.
“Like how to get home and finding Teal’c and Jack?” asked Janet.
“No actually…Daniel found them and he also talked Meg into helping us escape; I had my hands full trying to find the crystals from the DHD,” replied Sam, “So…I may have skipped a few meals.”
“I’d say more than a few sweetie, you really need to learn to not let things take over and keep you from taking care of yourself,” admonished Janet.
Sam sighed, “I know…and I will…eventually; lesson learned though. Do you want to hear the rest of the story today?” she asked.
“If you want to tell me…sure,” replied the doctor.
“Yeah…I think my telling you helped, I actually slept last night…no bad dreams,” Sam told her.
Janet smiled; she knew that already. They stopped talking and finished their meal. Sam helped her tidy up the kitchen and they soon went into the living room; straightening up the cushions from their earlier antics, Sam stopped for a moment, “What day is it?” she asked.
“Tuesday,” replied Janet as she picked up their sleepwear.
“When is Cass supposed to be back?” asked Sam, as she threw pillows back against the couch.
“Not until this weekend,” Janet told her, “Why?”
“Can we keep the living room like this? I mean if you want to we can sleep upstairs; I just like stretching out on the floor though and it’s bouncy,” Sam said, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
Janet laughed, “Sure…but you really want to keep it like this so you can have more room to roll around,” the doctor gave her lover a sexy grin, “admit it.”
Sam moved to stand before the doctor, wrapping arms around her waist, “Busted…again…drat,” she whispered in Janet’s ear then placed a kiss below it.
“Okay you have a story to finish, no starting that now,” said Janet, but she pulled Sam’s head up to give her a kiss, breaking it off she looked into her love’s eyes, “we have plenty of time for that later.”
Sam blushed, “Okay…I’ll hold you to that,” she said softly, a playful grin on her face.
They held each other for a few moments then broke the embrace to finish straightening the living room. Once finished they lay on the floor, Sam propped up against the couch with Janet lying next to her, head resting on her lover’s shoulder, an arm thrown around her waist.
“Let’s see…I guess I pick up where I left off…..”
********************
A gentle shake to her body woke Sam up from her nap; she opened her eyes to see Daniel kneeling beside the cot.
“Hey Sam…how are you feeling” he asked, rising to sit on the cot next to hers’.
She pushed herself up onto her elbows, “Better…what ever that stuff is that Meg uses works great, there’s hardly any pain in my back and the cuts are healing up nicely,” she told him running a finger over one of the marks on her inner arm.
“Good…because we’re going to need to move soon; I found Jack and Teal’c,” he told her smiling.
“How are they?” she asked sitting up on the cot.
“A little worse for wear but in good shape; I couldn’t talk with them much, the guards watch the mine slaves really close during meal time,” he said.
Sam looked closely at Daniel’s face; she could see the bruise along his jaw and he had a cut over one eye, “What happened to your face and where are your glasses?”
“Oh…the guards like to bully me during evening meal; as long as I don’t fight back it’s over pretty quick, but last night one got a little carried away; my glasses were broken,” he told her, “I’m okay though.”
Sam gave him her best Janet look, “Really?”
“Yeah…I’m fine,” he assured her, “So…I’ve been asking questions.”
That made Sam grin; of course, he finally found the time to start digging up information, “What have you found out?”
“Well…these people have been visited by the Goa’uld; in fact that’s one of the reasons why they live underground now and why the guards were treating Teal’c so badly,” he began.
Sam listened as he gave her a quick rundown of all the things he had discovered, from explaining where the weapons they were shot with came from to the class system used by the Mahri, which is what they called themselves. He told her Jarvis’s family were the hereditary rulers of this community but there were others scattered across the planet, each having there own underground towns. The towns traded with one another, hence the caravan they were part of when traveling here.
She held a hand up, stopping his ramble, “Has Jarvis shown back up?”
Daniel nodded, “He was at the mid-day meal; why?”
“How did he look?” she asked.
“Like he’d lost a boxing match…kind of racoonish,” he said.
Sam grinned, “Good, wonder if he’s ready for round two?”
“Sam…taunting him could get you killed,” Daniel informed her.
“Oh…he doesn’t want to kill me Daniel…in fact I’m sure he’d like to see me suffer before that happened. Besides, after what he did to me and what Meg told me he has done the bastard deserves anything done to him. I’ll be careful though; I plan on going home,” she said smugly.
“Please Sam, I don’t want to have to carry your body home to Janet,” Daniel said his voice growing quiet.
“Oh believe me…that will never happen, I made her a promise Daniel and I keep my promises, especially the ones made to her,” Sam told him standing to squeeze his shoulder.
“Okay…oh…I found us a way to escape!” he said all excited.
Sam walked away to begin pacing back and forth, stretching her legs, “Really…tell me,” she said.
“Meg travels once a year with one of the caravans to gather herbs for cooking and medicines and it’s not that far from the gate were she does it. She always takes several slaves with her, so she’s agreed to take us when she goes this next time; which will be within the next five days,” Daniel said smiling, he was proud of finding them a way back to the gate.
Sam stopped, she turned towards him, “We may have a slight problem,” she said.
“What problem?” Daniel asked a confused look on his face.
“Jarvis asked me how to make the stone ring (she made an air quote motion with her fingers) work; Do you remember seeing a DHD before you were shot?” she replied.
Daniel thought for a few minutes, shaking his head he answered, “No.”
“Do you think Meg would know?” she asked, walking over to sit beside him.
“Probably…we can ask her; I have to go help with the evening meal soon, she should be there,” he replied.
“Good…umm…do you think you can find me some clothes to put on?” she said, “I can’t do much wrapped in a blanket.”
“Oh…yeah, I can send one of the boys with something for you to change into,” her friend said, “in fact let me go do that before we have to start getting the meal ready.”
“Thanks,” Sam said as he rose from the cot and walked towards the door, disappearing down the hall.
Sam waited and sure enough a few moments later Korin ran into the room, his arms full of clothing. He skidded to a stop next to her, letting the clothing fall to land on the cot.
“I did not know what ya needed so I grabbed a lot,” he spoke his breathing heavy from the run.
Sam grinned at the boy, “I’m sure I can find something to put on in this,” she said sorting through the clothing.
“I’m ta show ya back ta tha kitchen when yer changed,” he told her, bouncing in place.
Sam picked up a skirt, tossing it to the side she nodded to the fidgeting boy. Finding a sleeveless top and a pair of pants from the pile she rose walking over to the screened off area, “Give me minute and we can go,” she told him, disappearing behind the screen.
Untying the blanket, she threw it over the screen, taking a moment to check over the cuts on the front of her body. She was not normally a vain person but some of the cuts were definitely going to leave scars; grumbling a few choice swear words she pulled on the homespun pants. They fit loose but the drawstring solved that problem, tightening it she then pulled the top over her head, it was a little short but she did not mind.
Once clothed she walked back to stand before Korin, “Well…I’m ready, lead away,” she told him.
Korin began to run then stopped, forcing himself to walk as they left the room, this made Sam smile. He led her down the hallway past several rooms until Sam could hear the sounds of many voices, exiting the hallway they came into the kitchen, which bustled with activity as the evening meal was readied. Showing her over to a table next to the far wall, she sat down while he ran off to finish his work.
Sam looked around the room, watching as the slaves worked. She could see Daniel at a far table with whom she assumed was Jared and Korin, carving slices off a huge slab of meat. Daniel looked up and spotted her, giving her a small wave he went back to work. She grinned, he seemed to be in his element, ‘Never figured him for the domestic type,’ she thought. She made out Meg’s small form weaving between tables as she oversaw the work; the old woman spotted Sam and made her way over to sit at the table with the woman.
“Well…yer looking good; how do ya feel?” she asked, picking up a pitcher sitting on the table, she poured a cup of water and pushed it over to Sam.
Sam picked up the cup, taking a sip, “Much better, thank you,” she replied.
Meg nodded, “Ya feel up ta helping out?” she asked, motioning towards the bustling kitchen.
Sam laughed loudly, “Oh, I don’t think you want me to help Meg; I tend to be a walking disaster area in the kitchen,” she told the old woman.
“Can ya peel vegetables?” Meg asked cocking an eyebrow at the still chuckling woman.
Sam nodded; “Well ya can be useful then,” Meg said and rose to pick up a bowl from a nearby table. She returned to place the bowl before Sam, along with a small knife, “Here ya are, that will keep ya busy for a little while,” Meg remarked and walked away to check on the meal’s progress.
Sam laughed but picked up the knife and began peeling the tuber-like vegetables. The activity in the kitchen picked up as slaves began taking trays of food out. She soon made short work of the vegetables in the bowl and sat watching as the kitchen slowly emptied; leaving her alone in the large room. She sighed, drumming her fingers on the wooden tabletop, rising up from her seat she walked over to the doorway everyone disappeared through.
Following the hallway, she soon came to another doorway, where she heard more voices; she peeked her head around the corner discovering the main dining hall. Staying in the shadowed alcove she watched as Daniel and the boys flittered back and forth between the tables, refilling cups. She saw what Daniel said earlier about bullying as a man tripped him and he barely kept the pitcher he carried from emptying onto the floor. After a few well-placed cuffs, he rose from the floor, walking over to stand against the wall. Sam frowned, he said he could handle it but still, seeing her friend being beat on made her angry.
A voice called out and Daniel moved to walk towards the head table. Sam stood on her tiptoes, but could not see what he was doing from where she stood, not wanting to draw attention to herself, she settled back into the shadows as the hall quieted down. She heard Daniel’s voice, unable to make out what he was saying but she knew the tone though; it was his lecture mode. Sam watched as the people sat quietly hanging onto his every word, when he finished they broke out in applause and then began rising from the long tables. She quickly left the alcove and walked back to the kitchens to wait at the table once more.
Slaves began entering the kitchen carrying platters with leftover food, placing them on one of the long tables they would exit again. Soon the table filled with trays as more were left; she saw Daniel enter with the boys in tow, they grabbed plates and stood in line to have them filled then came over to where she sat, Daniel placed a plate in front of her, giving her a nod with his head.
“Eat,” he told her then pulled up a short stool to sit beside her. Korin and Jared shared the chair across from her, both digging into their food.
Sam picked at her food, “Daniel I really need to ask Meg about the DHD,” she said, toying with a piece of bread. A serious look from him made her finally pick it up and take a bite.
“Ask me about what?” said Meg as she appeared at Sam’s elbow, startling the woman.
“Damn, you’re quiet,” muttered Sam, that remark earned her a slap to the back of her head. Sam looked up at the old woman, rubbing the hit spot, “Hey.”
“Watch yer mouth there are young ones present,” admonished Meg.
Sam mumbled an apology as Daniel and the boys covered their mouths to hide grins. Meg pulled a stool up to sit next to the four as they ate, ”What did ya want ta ask me?”
“Daniel told me about you helping us leave but we may have a problem,” Sam began; she went on to explain as best she could about the DHD and why they needed it to work and without it how difficult it would be for them to leave.
Daniel spoke up, “What about dialing manually?”
“No power source,” replied Sam, picking up a piece of meat with her fingers and taking a bite.
Meg thought quietly for a few moments, “Ay…tis such a thing not far from tha ring,” she said.
“Can you remember if it is in one piece?” asked Sam.
Jared chimed in, “It is hollow; I looked in it the last trip we made with Meg,” he told Sam.
Meg gave the boy a look, “It was open, I didn’t do it,” whined Jared.
“Da…darn,” Sam said eyeing Meg, “we need those crystals; there’s no telling where they are or if they are still in one piece,” she finished.
Daniel’s face took on a thoughtful look as he tried to remember something, “Meg didn’t you tell me it was this community that drove the snakes away?”
Sam muttered, “Guess that part will always be the same.” Daniel nodded at her comment.
“Ay Daniel…was Jarvis’s great-grandfather who chased them away; why?” the old woman asked.
“That means the crystals must be around here somewhere, surely he saw them use the DHD to leave and then pulled it apart thinking it would keep them from coming back,” Daniel said rather cheerfully, glad to have remembered the fact.
“But this place is huge Daniel, where could he have put them; if they still exist,” Sam said sighing.
“We’ll just have to look for them then,” he said.
“Ay…Korin can show ya around ta search for them, the little scamp knows all tha hidey holes in tha keep,” Meg said, looking at her grandson, who just smiled, nodding his head fast.
“But won’t we be stopped by the guards?” Sam asked giving the old woman a confused look.
“Not if ya are running errands for me and besides Korin is well known among tha men, they will not question ya if he is with ya,” claimed Meg.
“Meg can I have a sheet of paper? I need to send Jack a note, telling him what we have planned,” Daniel asked of the old woman.
“Ay…Korin, fetch tha box from my room,” she said to the boy who left from the table in a flash.
“Five days…five days to find several power crystals in a keep no telling how huge,” grumbled Sam.
“Hey…we’ve faced worse odds,” Daniel said trying to cheer her up.
“Yeah…right,” Sam said toying with the food left on her plate.
Korin soon returned, jogging up to the table carrying the wooden box containing Meg’s supply of paper; he placed it before Daniel and then climbed back in the chair, nudging Jared over so he could finish his food.
Daniel opened the box, taking out the ink and quill along with a few sheets of the paper. Sam watched as he dipped the quill in the ink and began writing a short note to Jack. Once finished he blew on the wet ink until it dried then folded the paper up into a small square, handing it to Jared.
“Can you slip that to Jack in the morning?” he asked the boy.
Jared nodded, “Yes…I can do that; if I hide it in a loaf of bread the guards will never know,” he said grinning at the idea.
“Here now Daniel, draw me a picture of what tha crystals look like; I can search tha storerooms during tha day,” spoke Meg.
“Good idea…do one for Korin too, in case we have to split up,” Sam interjected.
Daniel nodded and then drew out rough sketches of what the power crystals where shaped like, blowing until the ink dried, he handed one to Korin and then Meg.
“Now…ya need to be off ta sleep; we have much ta do tomorrow,” Meg told the four as she rose from the stool to oversee the kitchen clean up.
Daniel looked at Sam’s plate, “Is that all you’re going to eat?”
Sam nodded, “I’m just not hungry Daniel.”
He shook his head but knew better than to try to push her into eating; it would just make her angry, “Fine…but when Janet yells at you for losing weight I‘m going to say I told you so.”
Sam stuck her tongue out at him; this action made the two boys sitting across from her giggle and that earned them a funny face from Sam. Still giggling the boys slid out of the chair, picking up the used plates, they took them to the washroom. Daniel walked along beside Sam as they left the kitchen; she walked with her head bowed, mumbling something to herself.
Daniel bumped her shoulder with his, “Hey Sam.”
She looked up, bumping him back, ”Hey Daniel.”
“Don’t worry…we’ll find the crystals, you’ll be home before you know it,” he told her as they walked.
Sam sighed, “I know…but what if we don’t; It’s not like I can build a generator this time, there’s not any advanced technology lying handy for me to throw something together you know.”
“Positive thoughts Sam…positive thoughts; didn’t you tell me you had a promise to keep?” he said raising an eyebrow at her.
“Yes…but…” he stopped her before she could finish; “No buts…your only thoughts should be about finding those crystals and getting home, right?” he said.
“You’re right…positive thoughts,” she said and then gave him a smile.
Just then two bodies ran past them, ducking into the doorway to their left, “Ah…the scamps have beat me to the clean water,” Daniel said, shaking his head and laughing.
Sam joined him in the laugh, “You go get cleaned up, I’ll meet you in the room; two more doors up, right?”
“Yeah…see you there,” he told her then entered the door the boys had run into.
Sam walked on down the hall until she reached the room where they slept; strolling over to her cot, she saw the covered jar on the bench. Picking it up she discovered Meg’s healing salve, looking at the half healed cuts on her arms she decided to put some more on what she could reach. Moving to stand behind the screened area, she pulled off her clothing and began rubbing the cream into the cuts on the front of her body. Before long she heard Daniel and the boys enter the room, sticking her head around the screen she called out to Daniel.
After making sure Jared and Korin were in bed he walked over, “What do you need?”
“Can you put this on my back and the back of my legs,” she asked.
“Sure Sam,” he said taking the jar from her and moving around to stand behind her, “you know something?”
“What?” she asked looking down at him as he knelt to put the salve on her legs.
“I could start making some rather crude remarks about your nakedness, I’ve seen you without clothes so much this mission,” he said trying to hold back a laugh.
“You start doing that and I sic Janet on you,” she replied giving him a grin.
“Riiiggght gotcha,” he remarked.
He stood to spread the creamy salve on her back, “This is looking really good Sam,” he said, “you might have a few scars but not many; this stuff works great.”
He finished and she pulled her clothes back on, “I know…we have to take some back for Janet to analyze; she‘ll love it,” she commented.
They walked back around, going to their cots. Sam looked over at the large lump on the cot next to Daniel’s smiling she asked, “Do they always sleep like that?”
Daniel nodded, peering down at the two boys, making sure they slept. He went to sit beside Sam on her cot, “Did Meg tell you about Korin’s mother?” he asked keeping his voice low.
Sam nodded, her face blanking over; “Well the same thing happened to Jared’s; Meg raised the two of them together,” he told her.
Sam’s brow developed a furrow, as the look on her face grew serious, “Why is Korin a slave if he’s Meg’s grandson?”
“It’s that whole class thing again; because his mother was still a slave when she went missing that automatically made him one too. Meg earned her freedom after her daughter was born or else she would have been born free. It’s complicated I know,” he said seeing the confused look on Sam’s face now.
“What about his father? Is he a slave too?” she asked.
Daniel thought for a minute then he spoke, “Jarvis is his father Sam.”
“Then that means…” she began.
“Yes…following the hereditary line it means Korin is next to rule here unless Jarvis has other sons and according to Meg there are none but Korin,” Daniel whispered.
Just then the tiny old woman walked into the room, interrupting their conversation; she walked over to where the two boys slept, pulling the blanket up around the sleeping figures. Once that was done, she glanced over at Sam and Daniel.
“Ta bed with ya…I need yer help in tha morning boy,” she said shaking a finger at them.
“Yes Meg,” he said moving to his own cot. Sam could not help but giggle and this earned her a glare from the old woman.
“Now that yer up and about ya will help too girl,” Meg told her with a smirk and turning she walked out of the room.
Sam laid back on the cot, ”Oh brother,” she whispered.
She heard laughter from Daniel’s cot, “Night girl,” he said in between laughs.
“Night…boy,” she replied but laughed along with him.
The two soon drifted off to sleep, knowing they had much to do in the next five days if they wanted to make it home.
********************
Sam paused in her story telling, she glanced down to see Janet fighting to stay awake.
“Hey you…I know I can’t tell a story like Daniel can but boring you to sleep, that’s a new low even for me,” she said giving Janet a little shake.
“No…you tell it just fine,” she said yawning, “I guess I didn’t sleep very well last night.”
Sam used her free hand to lift up the doctor’s chin until she could look into her eyes, “Did you watch me while I slept?”
A blush rose on Janet’s cheeks, “Yes,” she whispered.
Sam leant down placing a kiss on her love’s forehead, “Then take a nap, the rest of the story can wait until you’ve gotten some rest,” she said softly.
“Are you sure?” asked Janet, trying to fight back another yawn.
“Yes…I’m almost done anyway, sleep I’ll finish when you wake up,” Sam told her.
“Okay,” was the sleepy response as Janet snuggled up closer to Sam’s body.
Sam held her close as the doctors’ breathing evened out and then pulled one of the blankets over the two of them; leaning her head back, she closed her eyes, soon joining Janet in sleep as she too dozed off.
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