"Sam?" Janet's voice sounded odd on the phone and Sam found herself frowning.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Cassie just brought home a note from her teacher. It says, 'I would like to meet with you and your partner at your earliest convenience.' "

"Partner?" Sam wrinkled her forehead. "What, is that the new PC? You say partner instead of boyfriend or whatever so you don't offend anyone?

"Well, I don't know, but you are as much her parent as I am. I wanted to see when you would be available before I call her."

"Oh, um, tomorrow I'm supposed to meet with some scientists at Area 51 to discuss some of their theories on quantum physics and Tollan technology…" She had to resist rolling her eyes - the team was very gung-ho, but sometimes she didn't think they wanted her there just to check their work. "Let me see if I can clear it with General Hammond. I'll call you back in a bit."

"All right. Oh and Sam, don't forget, 14 is off-world this coming week. Should be lots of fun in the infirmary in the wee hours."

"My bag is already packed."

.

Sam fidgeted in her chair, worried about what Cassie's teacher might have to tell them. Was she causing trouble? Was there a bully? Was she suddenly falling behind? She bounced her heel nervously as she and Janet waited for Ms. Hightower to call them in.

Janet eyeballed Sam. She looked like a goody-two-shoes teenager called in to the principal's office. She could just picture a teen-aged Samantha sitting there, blonde hair everywhere and pale face smudged with ash, waiting to explain why the science lab had gone up in a puff of smoke. The image tickled her and she tried unsuccessfully to suppress a giggle. Sam looked at her in surprise - was she so worried about Cassie that she'd cracked?

"Sorry, Sam." Janet managed between giggles. "I was just picturing you in high school. I bet you were quite a handful." Sam, focused on the imminent talk with Cassie's teacher, just stared at her as if she'd lost her mind.

Still pushing down the giggles, Janet laid a hand on Sam's knee and stilled the bouncing heel. Sam was obviously too concerned to be amused. "It's ok, Samantha Carter." She patted the knee her hand rested on. "Whatever your child has gotten into, we'll get through it." She always found Sam's reaction to being reminded that Cassie was hers entertaining. In a way, it was very true - Cassie saw Sam as more than just hero, she had picked her as an earthly role model, and took delight in science and exploration. Today's reaction was better than ever, as the usual dose of pride in her little scholar seemed to be replaced by the thought, "Oh god, she could be capable of anything." Janet could hardly contain the laughter that bubbled up at the sight of Sam's eyes growing even larger with panic.

"Janet!" She shooed away the hand on her knee. "You're not taking this very seriously."

"You're taking it seriously enough for the both of us." At the glare she received, she added, "Like I said, whatever it is, the three of us will get through it together. It can't possibly be that bad."

"I sure hope not." Sam mumbled to herself. As she did they heard the thud of a heavy wooden door followed by the click click of heels coming down the hall toward them. Sam swallowed hard.

.

Ms. Hightower closed the classroom door and took a seat at her desk, smiling hesitantly at the two women seated across from her. "Thank you for coming. I'm glad you were able to come in so soon."

"Well Ms. Hightower, you have us worried. We just want to make sure that Cassandra is adjusting all right." Janet said with genuine concern.

"Call me Kyndra." She looked to the two women expectedly.

"Janet Fraiser, we met a few months ago?" Kyndra nodded slowly, seeming to remember vaguely. They both turned to Sam, but she was apparently too nervous to speak. "And this is Samantha Carter. I adopted Cassandra, but Sam's just as much her parent as I am. I thought it best that she be here too."

Kyndra nodded again. "I'm glad you both came. Janet, I know that you are active military. I didn't realize that Cassie was adopted, so maybe that explains it a little."

"Explains what?" Sam croaked, finally getting her voice to cooperate.

"Listen, I don't have a problem with people doing what they want. I mean, I totally support you." She gestured toward the two of them. "It's your life and I hate that some people are so disapproving."

They both looked at her for a moment, then turned to each other in confusion. For several seconds they looked to each other silently, trying to work out what the teacher was trying to say. Finally they gave up and turned back to her.

Janet spoke. "I'm sorry, what is this about? We thought Cassie was in trouble of some sort."

"Oh, no, no - Cassie isn't in any trouble, but I'm afraid she's been saying some things that could get you in trouble if they get back to the base."

Both women found that notion rather absurd, and for the moment, they had absolutely no reply to it.

"Maybe Cassie just doesn't understand, what with being adopted and all - I mean if she didn't grow up with the military, she's probably never even heard of Don't Ask Don't Tell."

"Don't Ask Don't Tell?" Sam practically laughed the words out.

"What on earth has she been saying?" Janet asked, mildly amused herself. Clearly Kyndra Hightower was confused.

"I… I don't understand. Doesn't the military discharge people for even the suspicion of being gay?"

"Gay?" both women asked in unison. Sam was beginning to feel a giggle fit coming on. Cassie wasn't in trouble at school, so life on earth was right again. And someone thinking Janet was gay was downright hilarious.

Janet turned to her chuckling companion and narrowed her eyes. "This is going to be all your doing isn't it?" Her mock anger couldn't hold and she joined Sam in her chuckling. "Please, Ms Hightower, tell me what my child has been saying that would make you think we're partners?"

Kyndra started to speak, but was so befuddled by the reaction of the two women that she simply closed her mouth again and attempted to regroup.

Sam suddenly realized what Janet had just said. Wait a minute, how did I get involved with this being gay thing? She found herself sitting up in her chair. "Hey, who's calling me gay here?"

Janet backhanded her knee lightly. "The note! Remember, the note said 'you and your partner'." Sam looked at her, undecided on how she felt about that. "What? I brought you because you are her other parent. I didn't even think about it that way." Janet was once again enjoying the look on Sam's face and trying very hard not to laugh.

"So, you two aren't a couple, or...?"

"No!" Janet answered, still amused. "No, now please, what did Cassie say?"

"She talks about her 'mothers' - she is obviously very proud of her 'two moms' when she talks to the other kids. I'm sorry, I just, I knew her mother was in the Air Force, so…"

Sam considered for a moment, still serious. "Well, that's true. I mean, Cassie doesn't call me mom, but I've known her as long as Janet has and… we've been through a lot together." She heard Janet quiet and looked to her; their eyes held for a moment. "I… I guess I am her other mom." She had never thought of it in exactly those terms before. Sam bowed her head and Janet knew from the small muscle contractions around Sam's jaw that she wouldn't be saying anything more for a few minutes.

Janet slipped her hand into Sam's and it was accepted gratefully. She knew no one at the base would believe any accusation that they were gay. Sam was her best friend, and the one that brought Cassie to her, and right now Cassie's other mother was thinking about some very heavy things. Sam took Janet's hand in both of hers and squeezed gently. Satisfied, Janet turned her attention to Kyndra. "The truth is, Cassandra's parents were killed in an accident. Sam saved her life. Adopting Cassie more or less meant that I adopted Sam too, in a way. The two of them are thick as thieves."

Ms. Hightower was completely taken aback at the reactions of the two women - she had expected something a little different out of this meeting. She'd never had to tell a couple that their child had outed them before - well, technically, she still hadn't - but she didn't think it would be a pleasant affair. What she really hadn't been prepared for was all the giggling. The sudden somber feeling in the room was far closer to what she had focused on getting through.

"So, you are ok with her calling you both mom in public? I didn't want to say anything to her without knowing what you wanted."

Sam shrugged and looked to Janet.

"Of course! For her, it's the truth. I don't want to give her a complex, having to refer to us in a different way than she thinks of us. We are her parents, even if we aren't a couple." She joined her free hand to the three already in Sam's lap. "No one on the base would think that we are gay. They know Cassandra, and they would know exactly what she means. Just… let her say what she feels."

"Thank you, though." Sam's voice came out quietly. "I'm glad you were considerate enough to tell us. I do really love my job." She offered the teacher a small smile.

.

Janet climbed into the driver's seat and started to crank up the car, but changed her mind. She sat back and joined Sam in her quiet reflection. They sat for a few minutes before Sam finally spoke softly, still gazing off into the distance.

"I feel the same way you do, about the adoption… I mean… when you adopted Cassie, instead of her becoming your responsibility, I felt like you became mine to care for just like she is." She turned to Janet, her look utterly honest. She wasn't looking for a reply, she was simply sharing her truth.

Janet kept her eyes on Sam's, conveying the same openness to her best friend. "I'm really glad that Cassie calls you mom too."

Sam looked down with a small laugh. "I'm still not quite sure I'm worthy of being called anyone's mom, but I do like the idea."

"Sam?" Janet reached out and took Sam's chin, encouraging her to look back up. She looked Janet in the eye again. "You are so worthy. You gave Cassie love and hope when her whole world fell apart. You drew her out of her shell, showed her that she could still feel happiness." Sam's eyes began to water. "You saved her, more than once. You saved her from her world, you saved her from her despair, and you even saved her from us. You could have been killed, Sam, and you went back to her anyway. If you aren't a mother to her… well then I don't know who is."

Sam squeezed her eyes shut and tried to move away from Janet's hand before the tears started to fall, but she was too late. She felt the hot tears stream down her face, and felt Janet gently wipe them away. "Face it, Samantha Carter. She may have my last name, but she's as much yours as she would be if you had given birth to her." Sam opened her eyes again and tried to smile. Unable to speak through the tears, she covered Janet's hand with her own and leaned into the touch. Janet smiled at her and continued. "I love that you are her other mom. You're my best friend, and god knows I need your help. She's going to be a teenager soon, and I am not doing that alone." At that, Sam couldn't help but laugh.