![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Author: elfcat255
Title: "Purpose pt 18"
pairing: Sam/Janet
rated: PG
spoilers: Nope
Summary: working up to the big event
AN: okay..I thought I'd be able to wrap this up in one more chapter but no..the muses have more to say so...there will be another one...*sigh*...I think I'm procrastinating..I don't want to end this one either...*pout*...sorry no replifraiser in this one..she's being shy.
I have nothing planned to do today but sit here wrapped in my blankie typing so..off I go....
The closer it grew to the end of her shift the more times the doctor would glance towards the phone on her desk. Shaking her head, she realized this would happen; give her partner a new project and Sam would wrap herself up in it forgetting everything else. Grace would probably be just as bad, considering the whole goal of the project was for her benefit. Janet continued filling out paperwork and waited to see of she would have to get Beth to drop her off by the house after all.
Exactly ten minutes before the shift ended the phone rang; picking up the receiver, she heard the voice of her partner rush out an apology, no greeting just a fast ramble of words. Smiling and trying to control the laugh she wanted to expel, Janet interrupted Sam’s apology speech, “It’s okay Sam; I knew this would happen you don’t have to apologize. I told you Beth could give me a ride home,” the doctor told her partner.
Janet listened as Sam rambled on about getting wrapped up in setting the equipment up and Janet interrupted her, “Hey…stop…you can tell me all about it when I get home; I’ll see you in a little while…okay?” and on that note Sam stopped babbling, telling Janet goodbye and she’d see her soon.
Hanging up the phone, Janet sighed, she had talked with Warner and he agreed to perform the biopsy tomorrow; her part in the making of the new replicator would soon be over. The good thing about having the procedure done though was it would give her some time off to hang around the house while Sam and Grace worked; the bad thing, it was going to hurt to walk for a couple of days.
Shuffling the papers on her desk, she put them in a neat pile; straightening the rest of her desk, she rose from the chair, grabbing her purse from the drawer. The doctor walked towards the door she stopped, removed her lab coat and replaced it with her jacket then turning out the lights and closing the door behind her she went to find Beth. Twenty minutes later they pulled into her driveway; Beth looked at the controlled chaos around the house, “You two having a garage sale this weekend?” she asked motioning to all the miscellaneous items filling the driveway.
“Ah…no, Sam is rebuilding a motorcycle during her exile from the base; it’s covering the floor of the garage right now,” Janet told her thinking quickly.
Beth nodded, she knew about the Colonel’s love of motorcycles, “Well that explains why you needed the ride home then; she’s working on it now isn’t she?”
“Yep…now I get to drag her away to eat,” Janet replied giving her friend a grin. She told Beth thank you and goodbye and then climbed out, waving as the car backed out of the driveway.
Walking along the stone pathway to the front porch Janet glanced over at the contents of the garage, just about everything that had been in the room was now outside, except for the Indian. Shaking her head the doctor chuckled, Sam would never leave her baby outside no matter what they were doing. Reaching the door, she pulled out her keys and unlocked it, entering the house. After setting her purse on the side table in the foyer, she hung up her jacket and then made her way to the door leading from the house into the garage. She opened the door discovering the garage now filled with a jumble of equipment; stuck over in one corner was Sam’s motorcycle, a tarp thrown over it to keep it safe. The pair had their backs turned to the door; one knelt on the floor, sautering wires onto a panel while the other stood above her, hands full of loose wiring.
Janet cleared her throat, both turned their heads to look towards the sound; Grace smiled at the doctor from where she knelt on the floor and Sam gave her a little wave with her wire-filled hands. Janet knew it was Sam because of the puppy dog eyes she made at the doctor as she shrugged in apology.
Janet walked up to her partner and gave her a quick peck on the lips, “Please tell me you plan on covering the stuff in the driveway before it gets dark,” she commented.
“Oh…yeah…we’ll do that as soon as we get this wired up,” Sam told her.
Janet glanced at the floor, “Is that what I think it is?” she asked eyeing her partner.
“Yes…it’s one of the portable naquada generators,” Sam replied meekly; when Janet started to say something else she cut her off, “we couldn’t hook all this up to the house’s electrical supply, we’d be paying that bill forever if we did,” Sam told her quickly.
“Good excuse then…but please be careful with that thing,” Janet told the two.
“There is no cause for worry Janet; I shall regulate the power output,” Grace stated looking up at the doctor.
“As long as one of you knows what they’re doing I guess its okay,” remarked the doctor.
That earned her a grin from Grace and a raspberry from Sam; chuckling the doctor started to walk back into the house and then turned back, “Sam did you eat today?”
Before Sam could answer her Grace spoke up, “No she did not.”
Sam kicked her twin with a foot, turning to Janet, she shrugged, “With all the excitement in moving stuff I forgot; what ever you want to fix or order is fine with me,” she told her partner.
“Chinese?” Janet asked, raising an eyebrow at Sam who nodded enthusiastically.
“Can I have extra dumplings and egg rolls? For lunch tomorrow,” Sam added quickly when Janet gave her a stern look.
“Fine…but if you don’t eat them up I’m throwing them out,” Janet told her sighing.
“I will make sure she eats Janet,” Grace said from the floor and then turned back to her work.
“Thank you Grace; I’m going to change, I’ll come get you when the food arrives,” she told Sam and left them to finish working.
Sam watched her leave and then turned back to look down at Grace, “What are you my babysitter?” she asked the double.
Without bothering to look up Grace replied, “I promised her I would watch over you while we worked on this; you have a tendency to forget things like eating and sleeping when you are focused on a new project.”
“But I’m at home,” Sam said kneeling down to look at the connections the replicator just finished.
Grace turned her head, smirking at her twin, “Like it will make a difference,” she said tapping a finger on her temple.
Sam sighed, “I don’t think it’s fair that you can remember stuff I forgot and aren't you slacking since you forgot to remind me to eat?"
Shrugging her shoulders in apology Grace took another section of wire from Sam’s hands, beginning the sautering process again, "We are more similar than we realize;I too became engrossed in the project."
By the time Janet returned to pull Sam away they completed the job and now the generator sat on the worktable, wires ran from it to another group of equipment stacked against the wall; their consoles lit up with multi-colored lights. Everything was now ready for the next step, which would be Grace’s job.
Picking up a tarp from the floor and handing it to Sam, Janet pointed towards the garage door. Sam motioned for Grace to follow her and the doctor gave her partner a confused look, “Won’t that be a bad idea for her to go outside with you?”
“Oh we already solved that problem. She changed back to her form before we got home and the neighbors saw us cleaning out the garage; of course, they had to be nosey,“ Sam said grinning.
Standing before Janet the replicator held out her hand, “Hello…my name is Grace, I’m Sam’s sister from Vancouver,” she recited, smiling at the doctor.
Janet shook her head laughing softly, “Scoot…get that stuff covered so we can eat before the food gets cold,” she told them making shooing motions with her hands.
The pair slipped past her to go out through the house and Janet walked back to the kitchen to set up their food. Before long she heard the front door close and Sam walked into the kitchen, as she passed the island she tried to grab an egg roll from a box. Janet smacked her hand and pointed to the sink, her partner moved to wash her hands and then finishing held them up showing they were clean. Janet grinned at her as Sam sat down and began eating her food.
“Where’s Grace?” she asked.
Sam looked up, “The garage,” she mumbled around a bite of egg roll.
Raising an eyebrow Janet shot her a look, meaning Sam should continue. Swallowing her food, Sam explained, “She has to absorb the neutronium to create the chips she needs for the raw material needed to make the new you.”
“How long will that take her?” asked the doctor.
Shrugging her shoulders Sam replied, “Should take her most of the night and then we just need the samples from you to start.”
Nodding, Janet picked over her food, “I should have those for you tomorrow; but you’re going to have to go with me to the base in the morning to drive me home after the surgery,” she told Sam.
Sam’s head flew up, ”Surgery? What surgery?”
“I asked Dr. Warner to take a bone marrow biopsy; made up a story telling him I needed to know if I was a match for my cousin,” Janet told her partner.
Sam’s face clouded over, “Why?” she asked, her tone growing worried.
“There’s nothing to worry about,” the doctor said recognizing the tone in Sam’s voice, “it’s a simple procedure and it won’t take long; but I will be home for a few days until the soreness wears off.”
That was not good enough for Sam, “Why?” she asked again.
Sighing, Janet looked at her, “Because bone marrow contains the best sample for DNA that’s why; I could just give you blood and hair samples but we want to make sure this works…right?”
Sam did not answer her but sat thinking for a few moments, finally she spoke, “If you think it’s the best idea…I’m just not thrilled with you having surgery.”
The doctor reached across the countertop, grasping Sam’s hand, “I’ll be fine,” then she grinned at her partner, “actually I’m looking forward to it, gives me a couple of days off and you have to be at my beck and call.”
Cocking her head Sam gave a short laugh, “Like I’m not anyway,” she replied, smiling at her partner and gripping her hand tight.
Janet threw a dumpling at her, Sam caught it in her mouth before it flew past her, “Thanks,” she said with a grin as she chewed the morsel.
Shaking her head Janet chuckled and they continued with their meal. After finishing their dinner and clearing away the take-out boxes, the pair ventured to the garage together to check on Grace. Opening the door, they found the double sitting in the middle of the floor, her eyes closed. Surrounded by several simple form replicators; she had one hand merged with a block of the neutronium and the other hand held over the floor, chips clattering into a pile as they formed and fell from her body.
Sam and Janet watched as the simple form replicators gathered the chips and carried them to a space along the far wall, where they stacked them, layer upon layer. Grace opened her eyes, looking up at the couple, “I will be finished by morning,” she stated.
“So we have enough material then?” Sam asked her twin.
“Yes…there is sufficient quantity to complete the new human form replicator,” replied Grace.
Janet spoke up, “I’ll have the DNA samples you need tomorrow afternoon; when do you want to scan my brain patterns?”
“Before I begin the final process,” Grace told her, “once the template is constructed I will merge with her, transferring the data from my pathways to her pathways.”
While the trio carried on the conversation, the spidery simple replicators completed their duties using up the chips Grace produced and now they stood waiting for her to create more. She let more fall from her hand and they collected them, skittering away quickly.
“Well we’ll leave you to work then“, Janet said, tugging on Sam’s arm; she was watching the replicators scurry back and forth with a look of fascination. Janet knew if she let her, the woman would stay in the garage watching them work all night and interrupting Grace with questions. Grace nodded, smiling as Janet now pulled Sam from the room, leaving her to finish her work.
Once the door closed Sam whined, “Why did you pull me out? I wanted to watch them build the wall up.”
“Because you would keep distracting her from what she needs to concentrate on that‘s why,” Janet said giving her partner a shove towards the living room, “besides you can pester her tomorrow.”
Grumbling to herself Sam walked into the living room and plopped on the couch, her lower lip sticking out. Janet sat down on the other end of the couch, staring at her partner she turned bringing her legs up, stretching out until her feet lay in Sam’s lap, “Stop pouting and rub my feet if you really want something to do,” she told her partner as she lay back on a throw pillow.
Sighing loudly Sam pulled the shoes from Janet’s feet and began massaging the arches with her thumbs, “I’m not pouting about that, it’s just now that I’ve helped her set up the power supply there’s really nothing else for me to do; the rest is up to her.”
“Well…there is one thing we haven’t thought about you know,” Janet told her.
“What?” Sam asked as she continued the foot rub.
“What are we going to do with two exact copies of ourselves? I mean if they go back to the base then Jack will know what we did, but then again if Grace does not show up, he will know something is up as well. Have you thought about that?” mused Janet.
Sam groaned letting her head fall back to lay on the couch, as she stared at the ceiling she spoke, “No…I haven’t figured that part out yet; I guess I need to talk to Grace about what she wants to do.”
“Uh huh, might be a good idea,” Janet said.
Moving Janet’s feet from her lap Sam stretched out beside her partner on the couch, snuggling up against the doctor and the back of the couch. She let her head lay on Janet’s chest, arm thrown across her waist. Janet dipped her head down to place a kiss on the blonde locks resting on her and then made a face, “Pheww…you smell like burnt wire and dust,” she told her partner laughing softly.
“Well you smell like antiseptic…want to share a shower?” asked Sam raising her head to grin at her partner.
“Go start the water,” replied Janet matching the grin with one of her own.
Sam pushed herself up until she hovered over her partner, lowering her body she placed a soft kiss on Janet’s lips, letting the doctor draw it out longer as they savored each others lips; pulling back she slipped off the couch and jogged up stairs to start the shower. Janet lay there for a few moments then rolled off the couch; walking down the hallway to the garage door, she opened it slightly and peeking in she saw Grace still hard at work, the little replicators scurrying about her. Looking up Janet saw that the wall was now a third of the way covered with metallic chips. Grace opened her eyes, seeing the doctor’s head peeking in she smiled at her.
“We’re turning in for the night…early day tomorrow; if you need anything it’s the first door on your left at the top of the stairs,” Janet told her, returning the smile.
Grace nodded and then closed her eyes once more; Janet closed the door then left to go upstairs and join Sam. If the replicator had not been so involved in processing the materials needed, she might have picked up the sounds of water running along with much giggling and then later the soft moans and cries as the couple shared their bodies in a slow bout of lovemaking. However, she had one goal in mind, creating her own companion; it was all that occupied her thoughts now.
*******************************
The beeping of her alarm woke Janet the next morning, untangling herself from the octopus-like grip Sam had on her smaller body the doctor sat up on the edge of the bed and reached over turning the alarm off. Stretching her arms over her head, she yawned, blinking the sleep from her eyes she turned to gaze down at her partner’s still sleeping form. Sam had pulled the pillow into the spot she once laid and now curled around it, a dreamy smile on her face. Brushing the hair away from Sam’s forehead the doctor leant down and placed a kiss on it; this made Sam mumble something and squeeze the pillow tighter.
Rising from the bed, Janet made her way to the bathroom to begin getting ready to go to the base. Once finished with her morning routine, the doctor dressed in a pair of comfortable sweats and glancing towards the bed, she left their room to venture downstairs. She was not able to eat or drink anything due to the procedure scheduled later that morning but the smell of coffee brewing would rouse Sam from her sleep now that she no longer lay in the bed with her.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs Janet saw the garage door open and the light in the kitchen was already on. Her curiosity got the best of her and she walked towards the open door; standing in the doorway, she gasped at the sight before her. The entire back wall of the garage now shimmered from the metallic tiles lining it, walking slowly towards the construct Janet watched as the wall rippled with movement, throwing little reflective glints across it.
Glancing around she realized Grace was not in the room, pulling her attention away from the wall Janet turned to go back to the house and walked into the replicator who now stood behind her. She let out a little squeak and stepped back, “Grace…what did I tell you about sneaking up on me?”
“To make more noise when I walked; I apologize for startling you,” the replicator said.
Reaching up to pat the double on the arm Janet said, ”It’s okay,” turning back to face the metallic wall, “so…I’m guessing you’re finished with the first step.”
“Yes…now all I need are the samples you promised and then the next step can begin,” Grace told her.
Janet nodded and then turned back around, “Let’s go to the kitchen; I need to start the coffee up so Sam will wake up. While we wait on her you can scan me,” Janet said, walking towards the door.
Grace followed the doctor to the kitchen where she sat on one of the stools as Janet readied the coffee maker; once the liquid began brewing the doctor came and sat down next to her.
Taking a deep breath Janet looked at her,”Alright…how are you going to do this?” she asked.
“If you would just give me your hands I can begin; there will be no pain just a slight feeling disorientation,” Grace replied holding out her hands to the doctor.
Janet took hold of the replicator’s outstretched hands, she felt a moment of dizziness and then blinking she found herself in a large empty space filled with faint light. Grace appeared next to her and Janet looked up, “Where are we?” she asked.
“A section of my neural pathways set aside to contain your feelings and memories,” stated Grace.
“Where are Sam’s memories?” the doctor asked, growing curious.
The room changed and Janet found herself looking up at a huge wall, scattered across it were images from Sam’s life; ranging from her childhood up until the time Fifth kidnapped her. Janet saw many images of herself and her partner, memories she recognized as some of the happiest times of their relationship, including several of their most intimate moments. She looked at Grace’s face, seeing the wistful look upon it, “If this is what you have to go by no wonder you want someone to share your life with,” the doctor said softly.
“Yes…I truly wish to experience the joy the two of you feel in having each other in your lives,” Grace said sighing, “Are you ready to begin the scan?”
Janet nodded and the room changed back to where they first appeared. Grace turned to face her, taking the doctor’s hands in her own, “Close your eyes and relax; let your mind settle focusing on your life with Sam…the good and the bad,” Grace told her.
Janet closed her eyes, relaxing her body and gathering her thoughts until she was breathing calmly, images of times shared with Sam playing through her head like a TV movie, she nodded her readiness and then felt Grace’s forehead touch her own and then nothing.
***************************************
The smell of coffee permeating the air slowly roused Sam from her sleep; stretching her body across the bed, she yawned and blinked rapidly trying to wake up fully. Rolling off the bed, she stumbled to the bathroom and a few minutes later returned to sort through the dresser for something to put on; pulling on a t-shirt and boxers she stretched again and then made her way to the stairs, the pull of the brewing coffee leading her downstairs. Upon reaching the bottom, she saw the door to the garage open, curious she began walking down the hallway towards it but when passing the kitchen caught sight of the two figures sitting at the center island and pulled up short. Standing in the doorway she watched as Grace and Janet sat quietly, the double had Janet’s hands in her own and her head pressed to Janet’s forehead.
Not wanting to disturb them, she continued on to the garage. Her reaction matched Janet’s as she walked up to the shimmering wall. However, unlike Janet she reached a hand out to touch the wall. The chips skittered away from her hand, creating an open space and then a simple form replicator emerged next to the opening; it made a screeching noise and Sam pulled her hand back, letting the opening close. The replicator perched on the wall, waving its forelimbs at her.
“Okay…okay…no touching…sorry,” grumbled Sam as she backed away from the wall.
After a few more screeches and clicks, the spidery form merged back into the wall and Sam watched as the chips rippled. Shaking her head, she turned to go back to the kitchen. Upon entering she found Janet rubbing her temples and Grace sitting quietly, walking over to her partner Sam gathered her in an embrace, “Kind of stings doesn’t it?” she asked placing a kiss on Janet’s head.
“Just a little bit,” Janet replied, looking up at Grace, ”Did you get all you needed?”
“Yes...thank you Janet; now once I have the DNA samples I can begin the final step,” the double told her.
Janet leaned back in Sam’s embrace, “Well I’m scheduled to have the biopsy done at seven and since it’s now six I think we need to get ready to head to the base,” she sat up, pulling away from Sam to turn and face her, “do you want some breakfast?”
“Nah…that would be mean making you cook when you can’t eat, I’ll just have some coffee…on the other side of the room, “ she added upon seeing the grimace pass over Janet’s face.
“I shall return to the garage to prepare for your return,” Grace stated and then rose from the stool exiting the kitchen and leaving the couple alone.
Sam broke away from the doctor and went to fix her morning drink, leaving Janet to sit at the island, arms propping her head up. Sam turned back around and seeing the look on Janet’s face asked, ”What’s wrong?”
“Nothing…well okay something; I just keep trying to figure out what we’re going to do with them when this is all over,” the doctor said sighing softly.
“I may have come up with an idea, but I need to check on some things at the base first and then talk to Grace about it. Don’t worry it will work out fine,” Sam told her partner.
“Are you going to let me in on this little plan of yours?” Janet asked, growing curious.
“All in good time my dear…all in good time,” Sam replied smugly as she walked past her partner heading upstairs to get ready to go to the base.
Janet watched her walk out of the kitchen; “Now why does that answer worry me?” she mused and then rose from the stool to finish getting ready herself.
Title: "Purpose pt 18"
pairing: Sam/Janet
rated: PG
spoilers: Nope
Summary: working up to the big event
AN: okay..I thought I'd be able to wrap this up in one more chapter but no..the muses have more to say so...there will be another one...*sigh*...I think I'm procrastinating..I don't want to end this one either...*pout*...sorry no replifraiser in this one..she's being shy.
I have nothing planned to do today but sit here wrapped in my blankie typing so..off I go....
The closer it grew to the end of her shift the more times the doctor would glance towards the phone on her desk. Shaking her head, she realized this would happen; give her partner a new project and Sam would wrap herself up in it forgetting everything else. Grace would probably be just as bad, considering the whole goal of the project was for her benefit. Janet continued filling out paperwork and waited to see of she would have to get Beth to drop her off by the house after all.
Exactly ten minutes before the shift ended the phone rang; picking up the receiver, she heard the voice of her partner rush out an apology, no greeting just a fast ramble of words. Smiling and trying to control the laugh she wanted to expel, Janet interrupted Sam’s apology speech, “It’s okay Sam; I knew this would happen you don’t have to apologize. I told you Beth could give me a ride home,” the doctor told her partner.
Janet listened as Sam rambled on about getting wrapped up in setting the equipment up and Janet interrupted her, “Hey…stop…you can tell me all about it when I get home; I’ll see you in a little while…okay?” and on that note Sam stopped babbling, telling Janet goodbye and she’d see her soon.
Hanging up the phone, Janet sighed, she had talked with Warner and he agreed to perform the biopsy tomorrow; her part in the making of the new replicator would soon be over. The good thing about having the procedure done though was it would give her some time off to hang around the house while Sam and Grace worked; the bad thing, it was going to hurt to walk for a couple of days.
Shuffling the papers on her desk, she put them in a neat pile; straightening the rest of her desk, she rose from the chair, grabbing her purse from the drawer. The doctor walked towards the door she stopped, removed her lab coat and replaced it with her jacket then turning out the lights and closing the door behind her she went to find Beth. Twenty minutes later they pulled into her driveway; Beth looked at the controlled chaos around the house, “You two having a garage sale this weekend?” she asked motioning to all the miscellaneous items filling the driveway.
“Ah…no, Sam is rebuilding a motorcycle during her exile from the base; it’s covering the floor of the garage right now,” Janet told her thinking quickly.
Beth nodded, she knew about the Colonel’s love of motorcycles, “Well that explains why you needed the ride home then; she’s working on it now isn’t she?”
“Yep…now I get to drag her away to eat,” Janet replied giving her friend a grin. She told Beth thank you and goodbye and then climbed out, waving as the car backed out of the driveway.
Walking along the stone pathway to the front porch Janet glanced over at the contents of the garage, just about everything that had been in the room was now outside, except for the Indian. Shaking her head the doctor chuckled, Sam would never leave her baby outside no matter what they were doing. Reaching the door, she pulled out her keys and unlocked it, entering the house. After setting her purse on the side table in the foyer, she hung up her jacket and then made her way to the door leading from the house into the garage. She opened the door discovering the garage now filled with a jumble of equipment; stuck over in one corner was Sam’s motorcycle, a tarp thrown over it to keep it safe. The pair had their backs turned to the door; one knelt on the floor, sautering wires onto a panel while the other stood above her, hands full of loose wiring.
Janet cleared her throat, both turned their heads to look towards the sound; Grace smiled at the doctor from where she knelt on the floor and Sam gave her a little wave with her wire-filled hands. Janet knew it was Sam because of the puppy dog eyes she made at the doctor as she shrugged in apology.
Janet walked up to her partner and gave her a quick peck on the lips, “Please tell me you plan on covering the stuff in the driveway before it gets dark,” she commented.
“Oh…yeah…we’ll do that as soon as we get this wired up,” Sam told her.
Janet glanced at the floor, “Is that what I think it is?” she asked eyeing her partner.
“Yes…it’s one of the portable naquada generators,” Sam replied meekly; when Janet started to say something else she cut her off, “we couldn’t hook all this up to the house’s electrical supply, we’d be paying that bill forever if we did,” Sam told her quickly.
“Good excuse then…but please be careful with that thing,” Janet told the two.
“There is no cause for worry Janet; I shall regulate the power output,” Grace stated looking up at the doctor.
“As long as one of you knows what they’re doing I guess its okay,” remarked the doctor.
That earned her a grin from Grace and a raspberry from Sam; chuckling the doctor started to walk back into the house and then turned back, “Sam did you eat today?”
Before Sam could answer her Grace spoke up, “No she did not.”
Sam kicked her twin with a foot, turning to Janet, she shrugged, “With all the excitement in moving stuff I forgot; what ever you want to fix or order is fine with me,” she told her partner.
“Chinese?” Janet asked, raising an eyebrow at Sam who nodded enthusiastically.
“Can I have extra dumplings and egg rolls? For lunch tomorrow,” Sam added quickly when Janet gave her a stern look.
“Fine…but if you don’t eat them up I’m throwing them out,” Janet told her sighing.
“I will make sure she eats Janet,” Grace said from the floor and then turned back to her work.
“Thank you Grace; I’m going to change, I’ll come get you when the food arrives,” she told Sam and left them to finish working.
Sam watched her leave and then turned back to look down at Grace, “What are you my babysitter?” she asked the double.
Without bothering to look up Grace replied, “I promised her I would watch over you while we worked on this; you have a tendency to forget things like eating and sleeping when you are focused on a new project.”
“But I’m at home,” Sam said kneeling down to look at the connections the replicator just finished.
Grace turned her head, smirking at her twin, “Like it will make a difference,” she said tapping a finger on her temple.
Sam sighed, “I don’t think it’s fair that you can remember stuff I forgot and aren't you slacking since you forgot to remind me to eat?"
Shrugging her shoulders in apology Grace took another section of wire from Sam’s hands, beginning the sautering process again, "We are more similar than we realize;I too became engrossed in the project."
By the time Janet returned to pull Sam away they completed the job and now the generator sat on the worktable, wires ran from it to another group of equipment stacked against the wall; their consoles lit up with multi-colored lights. Everything was now ready for the next step, which would be Grace’s job.
Picking up a tarp from the floor and handing it to Sam, Janet pointed towards the garage door. Sam motioned for Grace to follow her and the doctor gave her partner a confused look, “Won’t that be a bad idea for her to go outside with you?”
“Oh we already solved that problem. She changed back to her form before we got home and the neighbors saw us cleaning out the garage; of course, they had to be nosey,“ Sam said grinning.
Standing before Janet the replicator held out her hand, “Hello…my name is Grace, I’m Sam’s sister from Vancouver,” she recited, smiling at the doctor.
Janet shook her head laughing softly, “Scoot…get that stuff covered so we can eat before the food gets cold,” she told them making shooing motions with her hands.
The pair slipped past her to go out through the house and Janet walked back to the kitchen to set up their food. Before long she heard the front door close and Sam walked into the kitchen, as she passed the island she tried to grab an egg roll from a box. Janet smacked her hand and pointed to the sink, her partner moved to wash her hands and then finishing held them up showing they were clean. Janet grinned at her as Sam sat down and began eating her food.
“Where’s Grace?” she asked.
Sam looked up, “The garage,” she mumbled around a bite of egg roll.
Raising an eyebrow Janet shot her a look, meaning Sam should continue. Swallowing her food, Sam explained, “She has to absorb the neutronium to create the chips she needs for the raw material needed to make the new you.”
“How long will that take her?” asked the doctor.
Shrugging her shoulders Sam replied, “Should take her most of the night and then we just need the samples from you to start.”
Nodding, Janet picked over her food, “I should have those for you tomorrow; but you’re going to have to go with me to the base in the morning to drive me home after the surgery,” she told Sam.
Sam’s head flew up, ”Surgery? What surgery?”
“I asked Dr. Warner to take a bone marrow biopsy; made up a story telling him I needed to know if I was a match for my cousin,” Janet told her partner.
Sam’s face clouded over, “Why?” she asked, her tone growing worried.
“There’s nothing to worry about,” the doctor said recognizing the tone in Sam’s voice, “it’s a simple procedure and it won’t take long; but I will be home for a few days until the soreness wears off.”
That was not good enough for Sam, “Why?” she asked again.
Sighing, Janet looked at her, “Because bone marrow contains the best sample for DNA that’s why; I could just give you blood and hair samples but we want to make sure this works…right?”
Sam did not answer her but sat thinking for a few moments, finally she spoke, “If you think it’s the best idea…I’m just not thrilled with you having surgery.”
The doctor reached across the countertop, grasping Sam’s hand, “I’ll be fine,” then she grinned at her partner, “actually I’m looking forward to it, gives me a couple of days off and you have to be at my beck and call.”
Cocking her head Sam gave a short laugh, “Like I’m not anyway,” she replied, smiling at her partner and gripping her hand tight.
Janet threw a dumpling at her, Sam caught it in her mouth before it flew past her, “Thanks,” she said with a grin as she chewed the morsel.
Shaking her head Janet chuckled and they continued with their meal. After finishing their dinner and clearing away the take-out boxes, the pair ventured to the garage together to check on Grace. Opening the door, they found the double sitting in the middle of the floor, her eyes closed. Surrounded by several simple form replicators; she had one hand merged with a block of the neutronium and the other hand held over the floor, chips clattering into a pile as they formed and fell from her body.
Sam and Janet watched as the simple form replicators gathered the chips and carried them to a space along the far wall, where they stacked them, layer upon layer. Grace opened her eyes, looking up at the couple, “I will be finished by morning,” she stated.
“So we have enough material then?” Sam asked her twin.
“Yes…there is sufficient quantity to complete the new human form replicator,” replied Grace.
Janet spoke up, “I’ll have the DNA samples you need tomorrow afternoon; when do you want to scan my brain patterns?”
“Before I begin the final process,” Grace told her, “once the template is constructed I will merge with her, transferring the data from my pathways to her pathways.”
While the trio carried on the conversation, the spidery simple replicators completed their duties using up the chips Grace produced and now they stood waiting for her to create more. She let more fall from her hand and they collected them, skittering away quickly.
“Well we’ll leave you to work then“, Janet said, tugging on Sam’s arm; she was watching the replicators scurry back and forth with a look of fascination. Janet knew if she let her, the woman would stay in the garage watching them work all night and interrupting Grace with questions. Grace nodded, smiling as Janet now pulled Sam from the room, leaving her to finish her work.
Once the door closed Sam whined, “Why did you pull me out? I wanted to watch them build the wall up.”
“Because you would keep distracting her from what she needs to concentrate on that‘s why,” Janet said giving her partner a shove towards the living room, “besides you can pester her tomorrow.”
Grumbling to herself Sam walked into the living room and plopped on the couch, her lower lip sticking out. Janet sat down on the other end of the couch, staring at her partner she turned bringing her legs up, stretching out until her feet lay in Sam’s lap, “Stop pouting and rub my feet if you really want something to do,” she told her partner as she lay back on a throw pillow.
Sighing loudly Sam pulled the shoes from Janet’s feet and began massaging the arches with her thumbs, “I’m not pouting about that, it’s just now that I’ve helped her set up the power supply there’s really nothing else for me to do; the rest is up to her.”
“Well…there is one thing we haven’t thought about you know,” Janet told her.
“What?” Sam asked as she continued the foot rub.
“What are we going to do with two exact copies of ourselves? I mean if they go back to the base then Jack will know what we did, but then again if Grace does not show up, he will know something is up as well. Have you thought about that?” mused Janet.
Sam groaned letting her head fall back to lay on the couch, as she stared at the ceiling she spoke, “No…I haven’t figured that part out yet; I guess I need to talk to Grace about what she wants to do.”
“Uh huh, might be a good idea,” Janet said.
Moving Janet’s feet from her lap Sam stretched out beside her partner on the couch, snuggling up against the doctor and the back of the couch. She let her head lay on Janet’s chest, arm thrown across her waist. Janet dipped her head down to place a kiss on the blonde locks resting on her and then made a face, “Pheww…you smell like burnt wire and dust,” she told her partner laughing softly.
“Well you smell like antiseptic…want to share a shower?” asked Sam raising her head to grin at her partner.
“Go start the water,” replied Janet matching the grin with one of her own.
Sam pushed herself up until she hovered over her partner, lowering her body she placed a soft kiss on Janet’s lips, letting the doctor draw it out longer as they savored each others lips; pulling back she slipped off the couch and jogged up stairs to start the shower. Janet lay there for a few moments then rolled off the couch; walking down the hallway to the garage door, she opened it slightly and peeking in she saw Grace still hard at work, the little replicators scurrying about her. Looking up Janet saw that the wall was now a third of the way covered with metallic chips. Grace opened her eyes, seeing the doctor’s head peeking in she smiled at her.
“We’re turning in for the night…early day tomorrow; if you need anything it’s the first door on your left at the top of the stairs,” Janet told her, returning the smile.
Grace nodded and then closed her eyes once more; Janet closed the door then left to go upstairs and join Sam. If the replicator had not been so involved in processing the materials needed, she might have picked up the sounds of water running along with much giggling and then later the soft moans and cries as the couple shared their bodies in a slow bout of lovemaking. However, she had one goal in mind, creating her own companion; it was all that occupied her thoughts now.
*******************************
The beeping of her alarm woke Janet the next morning, untangling herself from the octopus-like grip Sam had on her smaller body the doctor sat up on the edge of the bed and reached over turning the alarm off. Stretching her arms over her head, she yawned, blinking the sleep from her eyes she turned to gaze down at her partner’s still sleeping form. Sam had pulled the pillow into the spot she once laid and now curled around it, a dreamy smile on her face. Brushing the hair away from Sam’s forehead the doctor leant down and placed a kiss on it; this made Sam mumble something and squeeze the pillow tighter.
Rising from the bed, Janet made her way to the bathroom to begin getting ready to go to the base. Once finished with her morning routine, the doctor dressed in a pair of comfortable sweats and glancing towards the bed, she left their room to venture downstairs. She was not able to eat or drink anything due to the procedure scheduled later that morning but the smell of coffee brewing would rouse Sam from her sleep now that she no longer lay in the bed with her.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs Janet saw the garage door open and the light in the kitchen was already on. Her curiosity got the best of her and she walked towards the open door; standing in the doorway, she gasped at the sight before her. The entire back wall of the garage now shimmered from the metallic tiles lining it, walking slowly towards the construct Janet watched as the wall rippled with movement, throwing little reflective glints across it.
Glancing around she realized Grace was not in the room, pulling her attention away from the wall Janet turned to go back to the house and walked into the replicator who now stood behind her. She let out a little squeak and stepped back, “Grace…what did I tell you about sneaking up on me?”
“To make more noise when I walked; I apologize for startling you,” the replicator said.
Reaching up to pat the double on the arm Janet said, ”It’s okay,” turning back to face the metallic wall, “so…I’m guessing you’re finished with the first step.”
“Yes…now all I need are the samples you promised and then the next step can begin,” Grace told her.
Janet nodded and then turned back around, “Let’s go to the kitchen; I need to start the coffee up so Sam will wake up. While we wait on her you can scan me,” Janet said, walking towards the door.
Grace followed the doctor to the kitchen where she sat on one of the stools as Janet readied the coffee maker; once the liquid began brewing the doctor came and sat down next to her.
Taking a deep breath Janet looked at her,”Alright…how are you going to do this?” she asked.
“If you would just give me your hands I can begin; there will be no pain just a slight feeling disorientation,” Grace replied holding out her hands to the doctor.
Janet took hold of the replicator’s outstretched hands, she felt a moment of dizziness and then blinking she found herself in a large empty space filled with faint light. Grace appeared next to her and Janet looked up, “Where are we?” she asked.
“A section of my neural pathways set aside to contain your feelings and memories,” stated Grace.
“Where are Sam’s memories?” the doctor asked, growing curious.
The room changed and Janet found herself looking up at a huge wall, scattered across it were images from Sam’s life; ranging from her childhood up until the time Fifth kidnapped her. Janet saw many images of herself and her partner, memories she recognized as some of the happiest times of their relationship, including several of their most intimate moments. She looked at Grace’s face, seeing the wistful look upon it, “If this is what you have to go by no wonder you want someone to share your life with,” the doctor said softly.
“Yes…I truly wish to experience the joy the two of you feel in having each other in your lives,” Grace said sighing, “Are you ready to begin the scan?”
Janet nodded and the room changed back to where they first appeared. Grace turned to face her, taking the doctor’s hands in her own, “Close your eyes and relax; let your mind settle focusing on your life with Sam…the good and the bad,” Grace told her.
Janet closed her eyes, relaxing her body and gathering her thoughts until she was breathing calmly, images of times shared with Sam playing through her head like a TV movie, she nodded her readiness and then felt Grace’s forehead touch her own and then nothing.
***************************************
The smell of coffee permeating the air slowly roused Sam from her sleep; stretching her body across the bed, she yawned and blinked rapidly trying to wake up fully. Rolling off the bed, she stumbled to the bathroom and a few minutes later returned to sort through the dresser for something to put on; pulling on a t-shirt and boxers she stretched again and then made her way to the stairs, the pull of the brewing coffee leading her downstairs. Upon reaching the bottom, she saw the door to the garage open, curious she began walking down the hallway towards it but when passing the kitchen caught sight of the two figures sitting at the center island and pulled up short. Standing in the doorway she watched as Grace and Janet sat quietly, the double had Janet’s hands in her own and her head pressed to Janet’s forehead.
Not wanting to disturb them, she continued on to the garage. Her reaction matched Janet’s as she walked up to the shimmering wall. However, unlike Janet she reached a hand out to touch the wall. The chips skittered away from her hand, creating an open space and then a simple form replicator emerged next to the opening; it made a screeching noise and Sam pulled her hand back, letting the opening close. The replicator perched on the wall, waving its forelimbs at her.
“Okay…okay…no touching…sorry,” grumbled Sam as she backed away from the wall.
After a few more screeches and clicks, the spidery form merged back into the wall and Sam watched as the chips rippled. Shaking her head, she turned to go back to the kitchen. Upon entering she found Janet rubbing her temples and Grace sitting quietly, walking over to her partner Sam gathered her in an embrace, “Kind of stings doesn’t it?” she asked placing a kiss on Janet’s head.
“Just a little bit,” Janet replied, looking up at Grace, ”Did you get all you needed?”
“Yes...thank you Janet; now once I have the DNA samples I can begin the final step,” the double told her.
Janet leaned back in Sam’s embrace, “Well I’m scheduled to have the biopsy done at seven and since it’s now six I think we need to get ready to head to the base,” she sat up, pulling away from Sam to turn and face her, “do you want some breakfast?”
“Nah…that would be mean making you cook when you can’t eat, I’ll just have some coffee…on the other side of the room, “ she added upon seeing the grimace pass over Janet’s face.
“I shall return to the garage to prepare for your return,” Grace stated and then rose from the stool exiting the kitchen and leaving the couple alone.
Sam broke away from the doctor and went to fix her morning drink, leaving Janet to sit at the island, arms propping her head up. Sam turned back around and seeing the look on Janet’s face asked, ”What’s wrong?”
“Nothing…well okay something; I just keep trying to figure out what we’re going to do with them when this is all over,” the doctor said sighing softly.
“I may have come up with an idea, but I need to check on some things at the base first and then talk to Grace about it. Don’t worry it will work out fine,” Sam told her partner.
“Are you going to let me in on this little plan of yours?” Janet asked, growing curious.
“All in good time my dear…all in good time,” Sam replied smugly as she walked past her partner heading upstairs to get ready to go to the base.
Janet watched her walk out of the kitchen; “Now why does that answer worry me?” she mused and then rose from the stool to finish getting ready herself.
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