Title: Chicago Heat
Author: Sarae
Rating: T
Summary: Sam and Janet are involved in a charitable benefit featuring the music from Chicago.
Spoilers: Set in season six, but tiny spoilers only for Prometheus
Status: Complete.
Author Note: I just couldn't let this idea go after I watched "Chicago". Blame Rosemary for egging me on. Seriously, I want to thank Rosemary for her unflagging encouragement and for her fantastic beta reading. :-)
Disclaimer: Stargate Sg-1 and its characters are the property of Stargate (II) Productions, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author. This story may not be posted elsewhere without the consent of the author.
Chicago Heat
© 2003 Sarae
Chapter 1
Sam had completely forgotten about the AF8 when Janet walked into her lab that morning. Almost a year earlier, Janet had talked her into joining a group of other female Air Force officers in putting on a dinner theater production to raise money for a local charitable foundation for girls. After several months of preparation, the group of 8 women performed a collection of Rogers & Hammerstein songs for a crowd of 250 patrons and diners at a local nightclub. Though Sam had extreme anxiety and serious doubts about the success of the endeavor, she agreed to participate because she liked the charity that would benefit and she welcomed the challenge of trying something completely different. Because the event had been so successful (the group had raised over 2000 for the charity), they'd all agreed to try and make it an annual event. However, less than two weeks after it happened, Sam had completely put it out of her mind. She'd had way too many other things to think about.
So, when Janet arrived and announced that the group had met the previous week while she was off-world, Sam was surprised. Janet informed her that they had already chosen a theme for the show and that music had already been assigned. The group had chosen the music of Chicago the movie as their theme and had selected 8 numbers from the musical to perform. Sam was usually out of the loop on all these meetings because she was so often 'out of town' and unable to make the meetings. To that end, the group had paired her with Janet for a duet and had given her a solo. This would be her first solo and so her heart beat a little faster when she heard the news. Janet informed her that in order to avoid needing to make several group rehearsals and avoid extensive choreography, she had been asked to do the solo. Sam reluctantly agreed.
Sam and Janet made plans to go and see the movie that had just won the Academy Award for best picture so that Sam could familiarize herself with the music. Janet also provided her with an audio-taped recording of the music for both numbers and gave her the rehearsal schedule for the next month. Finally, Janet gave her an appointment reminder card from a local costume shop that had agreed to provide rental costumes for the performance. Then, like a whirlwind, Janet was gone and Sam was left to ponder her fate. She had little time to think about the upcoming show because she was in the middle of an experiment and Jonas was waiting for the results of the tests she was running. So, assured that she would learn more from viewing the movie with Janet the next evening, she put her assignment aside and returned to her task.
"I have to sing what?!" Sam exclaimed as she and Janet left the theater that evening.
Janet cringed slightly before replying. "Hey, don't get so upset. There isn't one song in that movie that wouldn't be a bit embarrassing to perform. It's for a good cause, it's once a year and it's not like anyone who knows you will be watching. I managed to pick two numbers which require minimal choreography and will require less rehearsal time on your part."
Sam thought back to the previous year and found herself agreeing with Janet. They had managed to put the whole thing on without anyone else at the SGC finding out. She felt confident they could accomplish that again this year. The only other SGC personnel involved in the project was Lt. Adriana Haman, a lab technician in the physics lab and she didn't want any of her co-workers to know about the show either.
"Yeah, but Janet…" Sam said, still feeling a bit exasperated and having some definite second thoughts about her continued involvement with the project. "That's Chicago? That's what it's all about? I had no idea. I mean, I've heard All That Jazz before…but that's really all I knew about it. I had no idea what the musical was about or what any of the other songs from it were like. I would never have agreed to do this."
"Sam, you would have been out-voted. So, you would've been left with the same choice you have now…either buck up and go through with it…or back out and leave us to find someone to replace you," Janet said, having anticipated Sam's objections and responding in a way she thought would appeal to Sam's sense of duty. "We're all pretty busy arranging the musicians and costumes, getting tickets printed, reserving the club, arranging rehearsals and what not. You'll only have to learn your music, practice a few times with me, have a costume fitting and show up at one or two group rehearsals. We've tried to make it as easy as possible for you because of your workload and schedule. We could recruit someone to replace you, but it would be difficult."
Sam shook her head a few times but didn't say no, so Janet continued, "Look, Sam, you can do this. It's a performance. That's why you told me you wanted to do this last year. You wanted to try something completely different, something that would push you way outside your comfort zone. You were excited that you could be doing something to help out others in the process. What has changed? The content of the music?"
Sam continued to shake her head as they walked. "Most likely the costumes we'll be wearing too," she said as she stopped and turned toward Janet. Then speaking much quieter, almost whispering, she said, "I'm not exactly a full-figured woman, Janet. That song really doesn't suit me."
"Well, who does it suit?" Janet asked. "There are ways to fill out costumes to maximize what you have," Janet said and then winked before resuming her stroll toward the car. "Loosen up, Sam. Have fun with it. You'll be great."
Sam didn't say another word. She didn't speak when they got into the car and she didn't speak during the drive back to her house. When they finally arrived back at her house, Janet pulled the car up to the curve and shifted it into park. "Well?" she said, looking at Sam with a twinkle in her brown eyes, "What's it gonna be? You in…or do I have to go dig up another performer?"
Sam looked at the list of songs and those who had been assigned to perform them again. She thought about what Janet said about loosening up and having fun with the performance. She'd been thinking about it during the entire drive home. She finally swallowed hard and shook her head in the affirmative. "Yeah, I'm in," she said and rolled her eyes at seeing Janet's very self-satisfied grin. "Don't get too excited about this, Janet. You never know what will happen between now and then. I was lucky to be here and off-duty for last year's performance."
Janet gave a little chuckle and then responded, "This from a woman who faces life and death situations on a regular basis. You can face down the Goa'uld with a P-90 and not bat an eye, but if you're asked to sing a song with some saucy lyrics in front of a group of strangers, you panic and start looking for the exit. How do you think I feel? It's not like my song is all that flattering."
"Well," Sam said, "at least I will get it over with early in the show. Our duet is the finale, but I don't mind that song so much."
"You'll like the other song too, once you get to know it a little better. Seriously, Sam, this is your opportunity to let it all hang out. If you really go for this, it will be great. Let those inhibitions go. Let the wild side that hides beneath that reserved exterior break free…"
"Yeah, yeah," Sam said while holding up her hand and interrupting Janet's 'sermon' as she opened the door to get out of the car. She turned back and ducked her head down as she closed the door to the car. "See you tomorrow?"
"Yeah," Janet said, "I'm on at the infirmary tomorrow. See you then."
Sam returned Janet's smile and waved as she put the car into gear and drove off.