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Title: "Coming Home pt 13"
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: Okay so I thought this would be the last chapter..but that shows me not to second guess my own muses...so there will be another chapter and probably an epilogue.(and I really didn't want to end on 13..bleh)
AN 2: Ignore my mistakes in this one..but let me know if you catch any big ones..I'm just in a bleh mood today...had to struggle to get this one to a halfway decent stopping point...hopefully I can get the next one done sometime tommorow....enjoy!
Janet woke from the nap first; she glanced up from her spot on Sam’s shoulder to see her lover’s head tilted back against the couch, her mouth slightly open. Janet grinned, ‘Well it’s only fair she did it to me first,’ she thought. Sitting up slowly as not to wake the sleeping woman she reached a finger up to trail it across Sam’s nose. No movement; she did it again, still nothing. Janet shook her head and then ran her finger lightly over Sam’s upper lip; all that did was make her mouth close. The doctor grumbled and then tried brushing her fingers along Sam’s neck, thinking that surely it would cause a reaction, nothing. She sat back making a huffing noise.
“What are you trying to do?” asked Sam.
Janet looked up, Sam had one eye open and a grin on her face, “I was trying to wake you like you did me this morning,” grumbled the doctor.
Sam opened both her eyes, sitting up she stretched arms over her head, causing her back to pop loudly, “Janet…it takes more than that to wake me up…you forget I have to sleep off world with the guys all the time. Sleeping through their snores is an art form not to mention all the practical jokes Jack tries. Besides, I wasn‘t sleeping very hard anyway,” she informed her lover, reaching over to grab onto her, pulling her into hug. “However, you’re easy to wake up…I think it has something to do with you being a doctor,” mused Sam.
“Well you have a point there; I do sleep lightly,” replied Janet, “So…how do they wake you up when you‘re sleeping soundly?”
Sam laughed, leaning back taking Janet with her until they were against the pillows again, “If I told then you’d use it on me all the time,” she told her.
“Tell me…or I tickle,” Janet said holding her hand over Sam’s ribs.
“Okay…okay I’ll tell; but I might as well finish the story then,” Sam said trying not to laugh.
“Okay then finish it…wait...let me go to the bathroom first,” replied Janet, unwinding herself from Sam’s hold, “be right back.” She rose from the floor to disappear out of the living room.
While Janet was gone Sam got up, going to the kitchen she fixed them something to drink; leaning against the island she mused over what she was about to tell Janet.
‘I know she said she was fine with me killing Jarvis but will that change when she finds out how I did it? Now that she knows I killed him I can’t skip over that part,’ she shook her head trying to clear the dark thoughts from her head. Hearing the bathroom door open she walked back towards the living room, meeting Janet as she walked past the kitchen doorway.
“A beverage for you pretty lady,” Sam said, handing her a glass.
“Why thank you,” Janet replied.
They walked back into the living room together and went back to the pillows, this time Janet sat against the couch while Sam lay down, her head resting in the doctor’s lap. Once settled Sam began talking again, “Okay…waking me up huh…well this is how Daniel does it….”
************************************
Daniel tried to wake Sam up the next morning, he shook her shoulder but all that accomplished was her rolling over onto her side. He shook a little harder; this earned him a few mumbled words. He tried again this time speaking to her along with the rough shake, “Sam…Sam…time to get up.”
More mumbled words answered his call; finally, he decided to resort to playing dirty, “I hate to do this but you asked for it,” he said wetting a finger.
Not two seconds after he stuck the wet finger in her ear she bolted up from the cot, “What tha…” she cried out, swatting at her ear.
Sam heard him laugh and she whirled around on the cot, “Dammit Daniel…that was gross!”
Holding his sides Daniel wheezed out, “Sorry…Sam…but you wouldn’t wake up…had to do it.”
“You so need to think of a new way to wake me up that’s getting old…gross and old,” she muttered rising to stand next to the cot.
“Well how does Janet wake you up then?” he asked after finally controlling his laughter.
Sam stretched her arms up, twisting her body to loosen up the kinks from sleep; she winced when her ribs protested, “She doesn’t…I’m usually awake before her and when I’m not she lets me sleep,” she replied smugly, “What time is it?”
“I have no clue; being underground kind of does that to you, I just wake up when the boys tell me to get up,” he told her, “Come on we have work to do before we can start looking for the DHD crystals.”
Sam began following him from the room but stubbed her foot on one of the cot legs, “Ow dammit…I wish I knew what that bastard did with my boots,” she grumbled and then limped after Daniel.
When they reached the kitchen Daniel went to work at pulling bread from the oven, Sam stood in the doorway watching the kitchen bustle with activity; she felt like a sore thumb not knowing what to do to help. The problem solved itself when Meg walked up to stand before her.
“Well…can ya stir?” the old woman asked looking up and grinning at Sam.
“Yes,” replied Sam with a grin of her own.
Meg led her over to one of the large cauldrons filled with bubbling porridge, she stuck a paddle-like spoon in the mixture and stirred it a few times, “Now…ya do it,“ she told Sam and then walked away to check on the other slaves progress.
Sam watched her walk away then took hold of the paddle, she began stirring the mixture a few times, ‘Damn…she really is stronger than she looks, this stuff is thick,’ she thought trying to find a steady rhythm to the stirring process. Before long a thin sheen of sweat coated her body as her arms began to tire and her ribs started aching, Sam looked around for the old woman but did not see her anywhere. Glancing over in Daniel’s direction she saw him look towards her, she quickly mouthed, ”Help!” motioning him over with her head.
He let Jared take over from him and quickly walked over to her, “Problem?” he asked smiling at her.
“Don’t be a smart-ass Daniel, this is harder than it looks; especially with cracked ribs,” she growled at him.
“Dammit Sam…what where you thinking?” he said taking over the stirring.
Sam moved to stand bent over, hands resting on her knees, “I wanted to help, just didn’t think it would be that hard to stir,” she told him, standing up with her arm holding her left side.
“Go help Jared and Korin with the bread; let them pull it out of the oven, you can stack it,” Daniel told her.
She walked over to the ovens where the boys were pulling loaves out using another large paddle this one much longer though. Jared turned towards her with the tool and called out, “Catch!” tossing a loaf at her. Sam caught the hot bread, juggling it between her hands then dropped it in a basket sitting on the floor.
She eyed the grinning boys, “No wonder they call you two scamps; well what are you waiting for?” she made a motion with her hands telling them to start tossing.
For a while, she had a steady rhythm going, catching hot loaves and dropping them into baskets, when one was full another boy moved it away to place an empty one at her feet. Sam was doing a great job until someone grabbed her by the elbow, causing her to miss a throw from Korin.
“Hey! What tha…” she yelled, until she saw it was Meg who grabbed her.
Another boy took her place as Meg pulled her over to the table to sit down, “What are ya doing?” the old woman asked.
“I was helping with the bread; why’d you pull me away?” Sam said looking up at the tiny woman from her stool.
“Because Daniel told me why ya moved from tha porridge ta tha bread; are ya daft woman? I didn’t spend all that time healing ya up for ya ta hurt yerself again,” Meg admonished her, with a shaking finger.
Sam started to speak but Meg stopped her with a look and a question, “Would yer Janet let ya do it?”
Sam sighed, “No, she wouldn’t; but catching the bread wasn’t hurting me,” she said with pout.
“Grab my hand,” Meg told her holding out a hand.
Sam took hold of the hand and Meg said, ”Now pull me towards ya.”
Sam tried, but the tiny woman never budged; “See yer weak as a babe, now sit and do not move,” scolded Meg and then she walked away, leaving Sam gaping like an idiot.
‘She’s Janet fifty years from now I just know it,’ Sam thought, but now that Meg made her sit down, she was feeling a little dizzy. “Must be the heat…yeah it’s the heat Sam,” she said to herself.
***********************
Sam paused in her telling when she felt a hand run under her t-shirt to rub along her left side. She looked up to see Janet with a frown on her face, “What?”
“Your ribs…we’ve been…and I’ve lain on…” Sam stopped her words by reaching a hand up and placing it over Janet’s mouth.
“Hey…I started that remember and you cuddling up to me makes me feel better, besides they don’t hurt that bad now, just a few twinges; nothing I can’t handle,” she told her lover, removing the hand after Janet kissed her palm.
“I still want to check them out, take some x-rays,” the doctor told her.
“Yes Dr. Fraiser; now can I finish the story?” asked Sam.
Janet nodded, but did not move her hand from its position on Sam’s side as her lover began the story again, from where she was interrupted.
******************************
Sam sat there with her elbows propped on the table, chin resting in her hands, watching as the kitchen started to calm down as the meal was taken out for serving. Daniel soon walked over to sit with her, he carried two bowls with a loaf balanced on top of one of them, sitting one in front of her, he then sat in the opposite chair.
“Rat,” muttered Sam, breaking the bread in half.
“Was she right?” he asked raising an eyebrow.
“Yes…but you’re still a rat,” she grumbled, tearing a smaller piece of bread off and taking a bite.
“Fine…if I’m a rat then you’re a mule,” Daniel remarked as he began eating his food.
Neither one said another word for several minutes; they just sat eating their food until Sam reached out, pushing the other half of the bread towards Daniel. He poured a cup of water and slid it over to Sam. A few more minutes passed and they both looked up at the same time, speaking; Daniel saying ”Sorry,” and Sam saying “Thank you.” This made them grin but they just nodded to one another and continued with their meal.
“So why aren’t you helping serve?” Sam said, starting conversation again.
“Morning meal is help yourself; the bigger meals are at mid-day and evening. Meg usually has me cleaning by now,” he told her.
Sam laughed at her friend; “What?” he asked looking confused.
“You…this,” she said motioning a hand at the kitchen, “I didn’t know you were this domestic.”
Daniel gave her an odd look, “I’m just making the best of a bad situation; I mean compared to some of the things we’ve been through this is a piece of cake…” his voice trailed off when he saw her face blank over and then grow serious.
“For you it has been maybe…” she did not complete the sentence but rose from the stool and walked out of the kitchen rather quickly.
Daniel sat there a frown on his face, “Damn Daniel…you did it again…stuck your damn foot in your mouth,” he muttered to himself.
Before he could get up to follow after her Jared and Korin entered the kitchen, their shoulders burdened with an empty cauldron; they set it down and quickly walked over to stand before Daniel.
“I gave the message to your friend Daniel,” Jared told the frowning man.
“Ah…well done Jared; did you have any problems?” Daniel asked, still worried about Sam.
“No…we did it just like Jared told ya, hid tha note in a loaf of bread; tha guards never knew,” said Korin, chiming into the conversation.
“Ay it was easy,” Jared said smiling, “he told me something to tell you too.”
“Oh really…what did he say?” Daniel asked eager to hear news from his friend.
Jared’s face scrunched up in concentration as he tried to remember the exact words; his face brightened as he recalled it, “He said to tell space monkey he was going to kick his butt the next time he saw him, for not obeying orders and to tell Carter not to do anything stupid.” Jared looked at Korin to see if he got it right, his friend nodded enthusiastically.
“He seemed pleased with tha message though Daniel,” Korin supplied.
Daniel chuckled, that was Jack all right; threaten him harm and tell Sam not to pull any crazy stunts, typical Jack.
“Good boys…well done, now see if Meg has anything else you need to do before we get started on our little scavenger hunt,” he told them.
They gave him and odd look and he just shooed them away; he had to go find Sam and then apologize for being an idiot. He watched as they picked the cauldron up again to take to the washroom, when they left he rose and walked in the direction Sam had, hoping she had not gone very far.
*********************
Sam did not go far, in fact, her quick steps carried her back to their sleeping room, and she sat down on her cot, staring at the far wall. Tears welled up in her eyes and her shoulders began to shake as silent sobs racked her chest. ‘Damn Daniel…he just had to say something stupid,’ she thought.
It was not as if she would be able to forget the things Jarvis did to her easily, the scars left from the cuts would never let that happen. She just felt sick to her stomach thinking about what he’d done to her and to the untold others over the years; she had faced all kinds of situations when captured by Goa’uld but never from a human being. The loathing she held for the man, frightened her. Laying down she curled up on her side, tears rolling across her face as she tried to come to terms with that feeling. Sam knew given the opportunity she would never let him do that to her again or to any other woman if she could help it, that thought frightened her also.
She heard footsteps enter the room, coming to a stop next to her cot and then a hand was laid on her shoulder, squeezing it softly.
“I’m an idiot Sam…can you forgive me?” asked Daniel softly.
“Depends,” she replied.
“On what?” he asked sounding confused.
Sam rolled over to lie on her back, looking up at him she said softly, “If you can forgive me for thinking the thoughts I’m having right now. I hate him Daniel and if given the chance I just might kill him.”
Daniel nodded his head, taking her hand he pulled his friend up into a sitting position then knelt down, gathering her in his arms. Daniel could feel her body shake with sobs as she agonized over the statement.
“Of course I could forgive you Sam; hell if I could get my hands on him I’d probably do the same thing; you have every right to hate the man. I wouldn’t think anything less of you for it,” he told the crying woman, “now come on, be strong…don’t let this eat you up, we have job to do if we want to get home; promises remember?”
Sam pulled back from his arms, she wiped the tear streaks from her face and nodded, “Promises…right; if I have to build a damn windmill to power the gate we’re going home Daniel,” she told him a small smile on her face now.
“Good…now come on we have crystals to search for,” he said rising from the floor and pulling her up.
On the way back to the kitchen he told her about Jared’s success with the note and Jack’s message sent back with the boys; this made her laugh and shake her head, “That’s Jack for you; but would he really kick your butt?”
“I don’t plan on giving him the chance Sam,“ he replied grinning at her.
They walked into the kitchen to discover Jared and Korin sitting down, eating their morning meal. Meg sat on a stool beside the two boys and turned to face the pair as they walked up to the table.
“Here now…after these two finish their meal ya can start yer search; I’m going ta let ya do this instead of helping with tha mid-day meal Daniel. However, I will need tha three of ya for evening time,” she told them; looking up at Sam she added, “ya need to take it easy girl, ya will be no help ta yer friends if ya run yerself ragged.”
Sam sighed, “What is it with everybody trying to make me slow down? I can do this Meg.”
“Ay…so ya say; but come with me, I need ta bind yer ribs,“ she told Sam, climbing down off the stool and motioning for the taller woman to follow her.
Sam followed the tiny woman through a doorway off to the side of the kitchen, after a few minutes they came to a closed door; Meg opened it and led her into the room. Sam looked around; this was definitely Meg’s personal quarters. A low cot like the ones in their room was along one wall, while several shelves, full of books and various objects, covered the other walls; Sam assumed they were personal keepsakes. A desk sat in one corner, its top covered in loose sheets of paper. While Meg gathered what she needed to wrap Sam’s ribs, she walked over to glance at the papers on the desk.
Picking a sheet up Sam tried to decipher the spidery handwriting. A throat clearing caused her to turn around, to find Meg watching her, “Sorry…just curious,” she said apologizing.
“Ay...come here now and let me do this,” Meg told her.
Sam put the paper down to walk over and stand before the tiny woman, she pulled off her top and stood while Meg wrapped a length of cloth around her ribs, also covering her breasts, flattening them.
“Don’t you think that’s a bit much?” Sam asked as she flexed making sure the bandage was not too tight.
“Jarvis asked about ya last night girl,” Meg commented, “I told him ya had died from yer injuries.”
Sam looked down at the tiny woman, “Thank you, I was wondering if he had asked about me,” she said softly.
“Ay…and with ya wandering around tha keep I thought best ya be disguised; yer lanky enough to pass for a boy with yer bosom tied down, as for yer hair…a little charcoal dust will solve that problem,” Meg told her, walking away allowing Sam to put her top back on.
The old woman returned with a small pot of black dust, “Now bend down and let me put this on yer hair,” remarked Meg. Sam leant over, covering her face to let the woman dust her hair with the mixture. Once finished Meg told her to shake her head a few times, Sam did this and stood up, she sneezed a couple of times as the dust floating around her settled. Meg stood back to check out her handiwork.
“Ay ya make a fine dark haired boy Sam, a little thin but that can’t be helped; tha dust also make ya look more like one of my kitchen slaves, especially after I’ve made em clean tha fire pits,” she said grinning, “This should help ya make yer way around tha keep with less trouble,” remarked the old woman.
“If I don…“ Sam sneezed, “sneeze my head off,” she completed with another sneeze.
“It will pass, now we’ve a search ta begin,” Meg told her, turning to leave the room with Sam not far behind her, rubbing a hand across her face.
The two women walked back to the kitchen, when they entered into the room Daniel looked up from where he sat and did a double take, “Sam?” he asked, looking confused, he thought it was her but without his glasses it wasn’t sure.
As she grew closer, he stood, squinting and taking in Meg’s handiwork. His friend had left the room but a much different person returned. She now resembled a tall lanky boy, her chest was flat and her hair was a dingy grey color; not to mention her face and arms were streaked with smudges, making her look like she’d been climbing around in a dust bin.
Sam spun around in front of him, “Well?”
“It works,” he told her grinning.
While Daniel checked over Sam’s disguise the two boys disappeared to soon return, they stopped a few feet from the teammates, their heads close together, as they talked with each other. Daniel glanced over to see Korin nod his head a few times, to whatever Jared was saying. Coming to an agreement the two boys looked up at Daniel.
“I’m going with you Daniel and Korin will go with Sam,” the boy told them.
Sam and Daniel gave each other looks, “Well I guess that’s that then,“ Sam said, “let’s go Korin.”
Korin grinned at the tall woman and led her away while Jared took hold of Daniel’s arm dragging him off. Meg watched the pairs leave, sighing she walked off to oversee the start of the mid-day meal and then begin her own search through the storerooms.
The better part of the day passed; the two boys led their charges over the keep, checking as many room as possible with no results. As the time neared for evening meal, each pair made their way back down to the kitchen. Sam and Korin walked into the bustling room to find Daniel and Jared already there, they were just beginning to pull a slab of meat from over the fire pit.
“Any luck?” asked Daniel of Sam as he carried one end of the pole.
“No…just a lot of dusty rooms; you?” said Sam brushing her dusty clothing off and following him to the table.
Daniel began carving slices off the slab, “Well…there’s always tomorrow; positive thoughts Sam…positive thoughts.
“Yeah…I’m going to wash this stuff off me,” she said running a hand through her dirty hair, “be back in a little bit.”
Daniel watched as she walked out of the room, head bowed and shoulders slumped. Sighing he went back to work, letting it take his mind off the disappointment he felt also.
A short time later Sam returned to a much quieter kitchen, she ran a hand through her wet hair, slicking it back. Not wanting to stay in the kitchen, she ventured down the hallway to stand in the alcove leading into the main hall; just in time to see Daniel fall to the ground, the platter he carried clattered to the floor. A man stood over him, placing several well-aimed kicks along his body.
Sam’s fists clenched and she frowned, ’Damnit Daniel…fight back!’
After a few minutes the man stopped and Daniel crawled up from the floor, picking up the dropped food and platter, he made his way to the doorway where he found Sam hiding, “What are you doing here...if someone sees you…” he began.
“Why don’t you fight back?” she whispered.
Daniel began walking towards the kitchen with her following, “Because if I did it would just be worse Sam…they want you to fight back; gives them an excuse for further beatings,” he told her as they entered the kitchen where he fixed a new tray of meat to carry back out. “Now stay here…if one of the guards spots you they’ll pull you out into the hall and then Jarvis will know you’re alive,” he told her, “and yes Meg told me about that.” He said when she gave him a confused look.
Sam watched him leave and then went to sit at the table to wait for the meal to end; she laid her head on her arms, closing her eyes she drifted into a light sleep.
The sounds of people entering the kitchen woke her from the nap a short time later. Rubbing her hands across her face, she watched as the same routine from the night before played out. Before long, Daniel and the boys joined her at the table bringing their food with them. Sam picked at the meal on her plate, not feeling hungry at all. After a glare from Daniel, she began eating just to make him happy.
Meg soon joined them; sitting on a tall stool she looked at their silent faces, “Here now why are ye all so quiet?”
“We had no luck today Meg; did you?” asked Daniel.
“No…tis only the first day of searching though, “ she told him.
“This place is huge, we‘ll never find them,” grumbled Sam, as she pulled apart a piece of bread, tossing the bits back on her plate.
“We haven’t searched the entire keep yet Sam,” Jared said, trying to get his new friend out of her funk, “there are still the upper levels to go over, we might find them there.”
“Thanks Jared,” she said giving him a smile; this made the boy duck his head, a blush rising on his cheeks.
“Well… ya best finish eating and then off ta bed with ya,” Meg told the four; she looked at Sam, “did ya re-wrap yer ribs after washing up?”
“Yes Meg…I did,” Sam told her.
“Good,” the old woman remarked, then left them to finish her work before she too could sleep.
*****************************
For the next three days they followed the same routine; Meg helped Sam to disguise herself and the two boys led them into new sections of the keep, searching everywhere for the crystals. With no luck in finding them yet, Sam was beginning to think she just might have to build that windmill.
Korin and Sam were walking down a hallway on the uppermost level on their way back to the kitchens when Sam noticed a closed door they had not checked.
She walked up to the door, trying the handle to discover it locked. Korin appeared at her side and she looked down at him.
“What’s in here?” she asked the boy.
“That is Master Jarvis’s quarters,” he told her, “he keeps it locked at all times.”
Sam’s hand dropped off the handle and a sick feeling washed over her, “Okay…let’s get back to the kitchen,” she said pulling Korin away from the door. As they walked away she could not help but glance back, ’It’s the only place we haven’t looked; they have to be in there,’ she thought. Shaking her head, she followed Korin, paying close attention to the route he took back to the kitchen. She had a plan, but she knew Daniel would not like it... not at all.
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: Okay so I thought this would be the last chapter..but that shows me not to second guess my own muses...so there will be another chapter and probably an epilogue.(and I really didn't want to end on 13..bleh)
AN 2: Ignore my mistakes in this one..but let me know if you catch any big ones..I'm just in a bleh mood today...had to struggle to get this one to a halfway decent stopping point...hopefully I can get the next one done sometime tommorow....enjoy!
Janet woke from the nap first; she glanced up from her spot on Sam’s shoulder to see her lover’s head tilted back against the couch, her mouth slightly open. Janet grinned, ‘Well it’s only fair she did it to me first,’ she thought. Sitting up slowly as not to wake the sleeping woman she reached a finger up to trail it across Sam’s nose. No movement; she did it again, still nothing. Janet shook her head and then ran her finger lightly over Sam’s upper lip; all that did was make her mouth close. The doctor grumbled and then tried brushing her fingers along Sam’s neck, thinking that surely it would cause a reaction, nothing. She sat back making a huffing noise.
“What are you trying to do?” asked Sam.
Janet looked up, Sam had one eye open and a grin on her face, “I was trying to wake you like you did me this morning,” grumbled the doctor.
Sam opened both her eyes, sitting up she stretched arms over her head, causing her back to pop loudly, “Janet…it takes more than that to wake me up…you forget I have to sleep off world with the guys all the time. Sleeping through their snores is an art form not to mention all the practical jokes Jack tries. Besides, I wasn‘t sleeping very hard anyway,” she informed her lover, reaching over to grab onto her, pulling her into hug. “However, you’re easy to wake up…I think it has something to do with you being a doctor,” mused Sam.
“Well you have a point there; I do sleep lightly,” replied Janet, “So…how do they wake you up when you‘re sleeping soundly?”
Sam laughed, leaning back taking Janet with her until they were against the pillows again, “If I told then you’d use it on me all the time,” she told her.
“Tell me…or I tickle,” Janet said holding her hand over Sam’s ribs.
“Okay…okay I’ll tell; but I might as well finish the story then,” Sam said trying not to laugh.
“Okay then finish it…wait...let me go to the bathroom first,” replied Janet, unwinding herself from Sam’s hold, “be right back.” She rose from the floor to disappear out of the living room.
While Janet was gone Sam got up, going to the kitchen she fixed them something to drink; leaning against the island she mused over what she was about to tell Janet.
‘I know she said she was fine with me killing Jarvis but will that change when she finds out how I did it? Now that she knows I killed him I can’t skip over that part,’ she shook her head trying to clear the dark thoughts from her head. Hearing the bathroom door open she walked back towards the living room, meeting Janet as she walked past the kitchen doorway.
“A beverage for you pretty lady,” Sam said, handing her a glass.
“Why thank you,” Janet replied.
They walked back into the living room together and went back to the pillows, this time Janet sat against the couch while Sam lay down, her head resting in the doctor’s lap. Once settled Sam began talking again, “Okay…waking me up huh…well this is how Daniel does it….”
************************************
Daniel tried to wake Sam up the next morning, he shook her shoulder but all that accomplished was her rolling over onto her side. He shook a little harder; this earned him a few mumbled words. He tried again this time speaking to her along with the rough shake, “Sam…Sam…time to get up.”
More mumbled words answered his call; finally, he decided to resort to playing dirty, “I hate to do this but you asked for it,” he said wetting a finger.
Not two seconds after he stuck the wet finger in her ear she bolted up from the cot, “What tha…” she cried out, swatting at her ear.
Sam heard him laugh and she whirled around on the cot, “Dammit Daniel…that was gross!”
Holding his sides Daniel wheezed out, “Sorry…Sam…but you wouldn’t wake up…had to do it.”
“You so need to think of a new way to wake me up that’s getting old…gross and old,” she muttered rising to stand next to the cot.
“Well how does Janet wake you up then?” he asked after finally controlling his laughter.
Sam stretched her arms up, twisting her body to loosen up the kinks from sleep; she winced when her ribs protested, “She doesn’t…I’m usually awake before her and when I’m not she lets me sleep,” she replied smugly, “What time is it?”
“I have no clue; being underground kind of does that to you, I just wake up when the boys tell me to get up,” he told her, “Come on we have work to do before we can start looking for the DHD crystals.”
Sam began following him from the room but stubbed her foot on one of the cot legs, “Ow dammit…I wish I knew what that bastard did with my boots,” she grumbled and then limped after Daniel.
When they reached the kitchen Daniel went to work at pulling bread from the oven, Sam stood in the doorway watching the kitchen bustle with activity; she felt like a sore thumb not knowing what to do to help. The problem solved itself when Meg walked up to stand before her.
“Well…can ya stir?” the old woman asked looking up and grinning at Sam.
“Yes,” replied Sam with a grin of her own.
Meg led her over to one of the large cauldrons filled with bubbling porridge, she stuck a paddle-like spoon in the mixture and stirred it a few times, “Now…ya do it,“ she told Sam and then walked away to check on the other slaves progress.
Sam watched her walk away then took hold of the paddle, she began stirring the mixture a few times, ‘Damn…she really is stronger than she looks, this stuff is thick,’ she thought trying to find a steady rhythm to the stirring process. Before long a thin sheen of sweat coated her body as her arms began to tire and her ribs started aching, Sam looked around for the old woman but did not see her anywhere. Glancing over in Daniel’s direction she saw him look towards her, she quickly mouthed, ”Help!” motioning him over with her head.
He let Jared take over from him and quickly walked over to her, “Problem?” he asked smiling at her.
“Don’t be a smart-ass Daniel, this is harder than it looks; especially with cracked ribs,” she growled at him.
“Dammit Sam…what where you thinking?” he said taking over the stirring.
Sam moved to stand bent over, hands resting on her knees, “I wanted to help, just didn’t think it would be that hard to stir,” she told him, standing up with her arm holding her left side.
“Go help Jared and Korin with the bread; let them pull it out of the oven, you can stack it,” Daniel told her.
She walked over to the ovens where the boys were pulling loaves out using another large paddle this one much longer though. Jared turned towards her with the tool and called out, “Catch!” tossing a loaf at her. Sam caught the hot bread, juggling it between her hands then dropped it in a basket sitting on the floor.
She eyed the grinning boys, “No wonder they call you two scamps; well what are you waiting for?” she made a motion with her hands telling them to start tossing.
For a while, she had a steady rhythm going, catching hot loaves and dropping them into baskets, when one was full another boy moved it away to place an empty one at her feet. Sam was doing a great job until someone grabbed her by the elbow, causing her to miss a throw from Korin.
“Hey! What tha…” she yelled, until she saw it was Meg who grabbed her.
Another boy took her place as Meg pulled her over to the table to sit down, “What are ya doing?” the old woman asked.
“I was helping with the bread; why’d you pull me away?” Sam said looking up at the tiny woman from her stool.
“Because Daniel told me why ya moved from tha porridge ta tha bread; are ya daft woman? I didn’t spend all that time healing ya up for ya ta hurt yerself again,” Meg admonished her, with a shaking finger.
Sam started to speak but Meg stopped her with a look and a question, “Would yer Janet let ya do it?”
Sam sighed, “No, she wouldn’t; but catching the bread wasn’t hurting me,” she said with pout.
“Grab my hand,” Meg told her holding out a hand.
Sam took hold of the hand and Meg said, ”Now pull me towards ya.”
Sam tried, but the tiny woman never budged; “See yer weak as a babe, now sit and do not move,” scolded Meg and then she walked away, leaving Sam gaping like an idiot.
‘She’s Janet fifty years from now I just know it,’ Sam thought, but now that Meg made her sit down, she was feeling a little dizzy. “Must be the heat…yeah it’s the heat Sam,” she said to herself.
***********************
Sam paused in her telling when she felt a hand run under her t-shirt to rub along her left side. She looked up to see Janet with a frown on her face, “What?”
“Your ribs…we’ve been…and I’ve lain on…” Sam stopped her words by reaching a hand up and placing it over Janet’s mouth.
“Hey…I started that remember and you cuddling up to me makes me feel better, besides they don’t hurt that bad now, just a few twinges; nothing I can’t handle,” she told her lover, removing the hand after Janet kissed her palm.
“I still want to check them out, take some x-rays,” the doctor told her.
“Yes Dr. Fraiser; now can I finish the story?” asked Sam.
Janet nodded, but did not move her hand from its position on Sam’s side as her lover began the story again, from where she was interrupted.
******************************
Sam sat there with her elbows propped on the table, chin resting in her hands, watching as the kitchen started to calm down as the meal was taken out for serving. Daniel soon walked over to sit with her, he carried two bowls with a loaf balanced on top of one of them, sitting one in front of her, he then sat in the opposite chair.
“Rat,” muttered Sam, breaking the bread in half.
“Was she right?” he asked raising an eyebrow.
“Yes…but you’re still a rat,” she grumbled, tearing a smaller piece of bread off and taking a bite.
“Fine…if I’m a rat then you’re a mule,” Daniel remarked as he began eating his food.
Neither one said another word for several minutes; they just sat eating their food until Sam reached out, pushing the other half of the bread towards Daniel. He poured a cup of water and slid it over to Sam. A few more minutes passed and they both looked up at the same time, speaking; Daniel saying ”Sorry,” and Sam saying “Thank you.” This made them grin but they just nodded to one another and continued with their meal.
“So why aren’t you helping serve?” Sam said, starting conversation again.
“Morning meal is help yourself; the bigger meals are at mid-day and evening. Meg usually has me cleaning by now,” he told her.
Sam laughed at her friend; “What?” he asked looking confused.
“You…this,” she said motioning a hand at the kitchen, “I didn’t know you were this domestic.”
Daniel gave her an odd look, “I’m just making the best of a bad situation; I mean compared to some of the things we’ve been through this is a piece of cake…” his voice trailed off when he saw her face blank over and then grow serious.
“For you it has been maybe…” she did not complete the sentence but rose from the stool and walked out of the kitchen rather quickly.
Daniel sat there a frown on his face, “Damn Daniel…you did it again…stuck your damn foot in your mouth,” he muttered to himself.
Before he could get up to follow after her Jared and Korin entered the kitchen, their shoulders burdened with an empty cauldron; they set it down and quickly walked over to stand before Daniel.
“I gave the message to your friend Daniel,” Jared told the frowning man.
“Ah…well done Jared; did you have any problems?” Daniel asked, still worried about Sam.
“No…we did it just like Jared told ya, hid tha note in a loaf of bread; tha guards never knew,” said Korin, chiming into the conversation.
“Ay it was easy,” Jared said smiling, “he told me something to tell you too.”
“Oh really…what did he say?” Daniel asked eager to hear news from his friend.
Jared’s face scrunched up in concentration as he tried to remember the exact words; his face brightened as he recalled it, “He said to tell space monkey he was going to kick his butt the next time he saw him, for not obeying orders and to tell Carter not to do anything stupid.” Jared looked at Korin to see if he got it right, his friend nodded enthusiastically.
“He seemed pleased with tha message though Daniel,” Korin supplied.
Daniel chuckled, that was Jack all right; threaten him harm and tell Sam not to pull any crazy stunts, typical Jack.
“Good boys…well done, now see if Meg has anything else you need to do before we get started on our little scavenger hunt,” he told them.
They gave him and odd look and he just shooed them away; he had to go find Sam and then apologize for being an idiot. He watched as they picked the cauldron up again to take to the washroom, when they left he rose and walked in the direction Sam had, hoping she had not gone very far.
*********************
Sam did not go far, in fact, her quick steps carried her back to their sleeping room, and she sat down on her cot, staring at the far wall. Tears welled up in her eyes and her shoulders began to shake as silent sobs racked her chest. ‘Damn Daniel…he just had to say something stupid,’ she thought.
It was not as if she would be able to forget the things Jarvis did to her easily, the scars left from the cuts would never let that happen. She just felt sick to her stomach thinking about what he’d done to her and to the untold others over the years; she had faced all kinds of situations when captured by Goa’uld but never from a human being. The loathing she held for the man, frightened her. Laying down she curled up on her side, tears rolling across her face as she tried to come to terms with that feeling. Sam knew given the opportunity she would never let him do that to her again or to any other woman if she could help it, that thought frightened her also.
She heard footsteps enter the room, coming to a stop next to her cot and then a hand was laid on her shoulder, squeezing it softly.
“I’m an idiot Sam…can you forgive me?” asked Daniel softly.
“Depends,” she replied.
“On what?” he asked sounding confused.
Sam rolled over to lie on her back, looking up at him she said softly, “If you can forgive me for thinking the thoughts I’m having right now. I hate him Daniel and if given the chance I just might kill him.”
Daniel nodded his head, taking her hand he pulled his friend up into a sitting position then knelt down, gathering her in his arms. Daniel could feel her body shake with sobs as she agonized over the statement.
“Of course I could forgive you Sam; hell if I could get my hands on him I’d probably do the same thing; you have every right to hate the man. I wouldn’t think anything less of you for it,” he told the crying woman, “now come on, be strong…don’t let this eat you up, we have job to do if we want to get home; promises remember?”
Sam pulled back from his arms, she wiped the tear streaks from her face and nodded, “Promises…right; if I have to build a damn windmill to power the gate we’re going home Daniel,” she told him a small smile on her face now.
“Good…now come on we have crystals to search for,” he said rising from the floor and pulling her up.
On the way back to the kitchen he told her about Jared’s success with the note and Jack’s message sent back with the boys; this made her laugh and shake her head, “That’s Jack for you; but would he really kick your butt?”
“I don’t plan on giving him the chance Sam,“ he replied grinning at her.
They walked into the kitchen to discover Jared and Korin sitting down, eating their morning meal. Meg sat on a stool beside the two boys and turned to face the pair as they walked up to the table.
“Here now…after these two finish their meal ya can start yer search; I’m going ta let ya do this instead of helping with tha mid-day meal Daniel. However, I will need tha three of ya for evening time,” she told them; looking up at Sam she added, “ya need to take it easy girl, ya will be no help ta yer friends if ya run yerself ragged.”
Sam sighed, “What is it with everybody trying to make me slow down? I can do this Meg.”
“Ay…so ya say; but come with me, I need ta bind yer ribs,“ she told Sam, climbing down off the stool and motioning for the taller woman to follow her.
Sam followed the tiny woman through a doorway off to the side of the kitchen, after a few minutes they came to a closed door; Meg opened it and led her into the room. Sam looked around; this was definitely Meg’s personal quarters. A low cot like the ones in their room was along one wall, while several shelves, full of books and various objects, covered the other walls; Sam assumed they were personal keepsakes. A desk sat in one corner, its top covered in loose sheets of paper. While Meg gathered what she needed to wrap Sam’s ribs, she walked over to glance at the papers on the desk.
Picking a sheet up Sam tried to decipher the spidery handwriting. A throat clearing caused her to turn around, to find Meg watching her, “Sorry…just curious,” she said apologizing.
“Ay...come here now and let me do this,” Meg told her.
Sam put the paper down to walk over and stand before the tiny woman, she pulled off her top and stood while Meg wrapped a length of cloth around her ribs, also covering her breasts, flattening them.
“Don’t you think that’s a bit much?” Sam asked as she flexed making sure the bandage was not too tight.
“Jarvis asked about ya last night girl,” Meg commented, “I told him ya had died from yer injuries.”
Sam looked down at the tiny woman, “Thank you, I was wondering if he had asked about me,” she said softly.
“Ay…and with ya wandering around tha keep I thought best ya be disguised; yer lanky enough to pass for a boy with yer bosom tied down, as for yer hair…a little charcoal dust will solve that problem,” Meg told her, walking away allowing Sam to put her top back on.
The old woman returned with a small pot of black dust, “Now bend down and let me put this on yer hair,” remarked Meg. Sam leant over, covering her face to let the woman dust her hair with the mixture. Once finished Meg told her to shake her head a few times, Sam did this and stood up, she sneezed a couple of times as the dust floating around her settled. Meg stood back to check out her handiwork.
“Ay ya make a fine dark haired boy Sam, a little thin but that can’t be helped; tha dust also make ya look more like one of my kitchen slaves, especially after I’ve made em clean tha fire pits,” she said grinning, “This should help ya make yer way around tha keep with less trouble,” remarked the old woman.
“If I don…“ Sam sneezed, “sneeze my head off,” she completed with another sneeze.
“It will pass, now we’ve a search ta begin,” Meg told her, turning to leave the room with Sam not far behind her, rubbing a hand across her face.
The two women walked back to the kitchen, when they entered into the room Daniel looked up from where he sat and did a double take, “Sam?” he asked, looking confused, he thought it was her but without his glasses it wasn’t sure.
As she grew closer, he stood, squinting and taking in Meg’s handiwork. His friend had left the room but a much different person returned. She now resembled a tall lanky boy, her chest was flat and her hair was a dingy grey color; not to mention her face and arms were streaked with smudges, making her look like she’d been climbing around in a dust bin.
Sam spun around in front of him, “Well?”
“It works,” he told her grinning.
While Daniel checked over Sam’s disguise the two boys disappeared to soon return, they stopped a few feet from the teammates, their heads close together, as they talked with each other. Daniel glanced over to see Korin nod his head a few times, to whatever Jared was saying. Coming to an agreement the two boys looked up at Daniel.
“I’m going with you Daniel and Korin will go with Sam,” the boy told them.
Sam and Daniel gave each other looks, “Well I guess that’s that then,“ Sam said, “let’s go Korin.”
Korin grinned at the tall woman and led her away while Jared took hold of Daniel’s arm dragging him off. Meg watched the pairs leave, sighing she walked off to oversee the start of the mid-day meal and then begin her own search through the storerooms.
The better part of the day passed; the two boys led their charges over the keep, checking as many room as possible with no results. As the time neared for evening meal, each pair made their way back down to the kitchen. Sam and Korin walked into the bustling room to find Daniel and Jared already there, they were just beginning to pull a slab of meat from over the fire pit.
“Any luck?” asked Daniel of Sam as he carried one end of the pole.
“No…just a lot of dusty rooms; you?” said Sam brushing her dusty clothing off and following him to the table.
Daniel began carving slices off the slab, “Well…there’s always tomorrow; positive thoughts Sam…positive thoughts.
“Yeah…I’m going to wash this stuff off me,” she said running a hand through her dirty hair, “be back in a little bit.”
Daniel watched as she walked out of the room, head bowed and shoulders slumped. Sighing he went back to work, letting it take his mind off the disappointment he felt also.
A short time later Sam returned to a much quieter kitchen, she ran a hand through her wet hair, slicking it back. Not wanting to stay in the kitchen, she ventured down the hallway to stand in the alcove leading into the main hall; just in time to see Daniel fall to the ground, the platter he carried clattered to the floor. A man stood over him, placing several well-aimed kicks along his body.
Sam’s fists clenched and she frowned, ’Damnit Daniel…fight back!’
After a few minutes the man stopped and Daniel crawled up from the floor, picking up the dropped food and platter, he made his way to the doorway where he found Sam hiding, “What are you doing here...if someone sees you…” he began.
“Why don’t you fight back?” she whispered.
Daniel began walking towards the kitchen with her following, “Because if I did it would just be worse Sam…they want you to fight back; gives them an excuse for further beatings,” he told her as they entered the kitchen where he fixed a new tray of meat to carry back out. “Now stay here…if one of the guards spots you they’ll pull you out into the hall and then Jarvis will know you’re alive,” he told her, “and yes Meg told me about that.” He said when she gave him a confused look.
Sam watched him leave and then went to sit at the table to wait for the meal to end; she laid her head on her arms, closing her eyes she drifted into a light sleep.
The sounds of people entering the kitchen woke her from the nap a short time later. Rubbing her hands across her face, she watched as the same routine from the night before played out. Before long, Daniel and the boys joined her at the table bringing their food with them. Sam picked at the meal on her plate, not feeling hungry at all. After a glare from Daniel, she began eating just to make him happy.
Meg soon joined them; sitting on a tall stool she looked at their silent faces, “Here now why are ye all so quiet?”
“We had no luck today Meg; did you?” asked Daniel.
“No…tis only the first day of searching though, “ she told him.
“This place is huge, we‘ll never find them,” grumbled Sam, as she pulled apart a piece of bread, tossing the bits back on her plate.
“We haven’t searched the entire keep yet Sam,” Jared said, trying to get his new friend out of her funk, “there are still the upper levels to go over, we might find them there.”
“Thanks Jared,” she said giving him a smile; this made the boy duck his head, a blush rising on his cheeks.
“Well… ya best finish eating and then off ta bed with ya,” Meg told the four; she looked at Sam, “did ya re-wrap yer ribs after washing up?”
“Yes Meg…I did,” Sam told her.
“Good,” the old woman remarked, then left them to finish her work before she too could sleep.
*****************************
For the next three days they followed the same routine; Meg helped Sam to disguise herself and the two boys led them into new sections of the keep, searching everywhere for the crystals. With no luck in finding them yet, Sam was beginning to think she just might have to build that windmill.
Korin and Sam were walking down a hallway on the uppermost level on their way back to the kitchens when Sam noticed a closed door they had not checked.
She walked up to the door, trying the handle to discover it locked. Korin appeared at her side and she looked down at him.
“What’s in here?” she asked the boy.
“That is Master Jarvis’s quarters,” he told her, “he keeps it locked at all times.”
Sam’s hand dropped off the handle and a sick feeling washed over her, “Okay…let’s get back to the kitchen,” she said pulling Korin away from the door. As they walked away she could not help but glance back, ’It’s the only place we haven’t looked; they have to be in there,’ she thought. Shaking her head, she followed Korin, paying close attention to the route he took back to the kitchen. She had a plan, but she knew Daniel would not like it... not at all.
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