Dancing Through The Gate: The Next Generation

A companion to Lee Davies' "Dancing" Series. Takes place at the end of "Dancing Through the Gate-" preferable to have read both "Jack and Sam Vs. Ballroom Bootcamp" and "Dancing Through The Gate" prior to reading this story. Must have read the latter to understand some of the pretext of the series.

The knock on the door forced a very pregnant Sam to have to struggle to get off the couch. She finally reached the door, groaning with the frustration of restricted movement.

"You'd better be worth it, kid." She muttered as she looked through the peephole.

Nicholas and Elena Kosovich stared back at her. In an instant, the door was opened and Sam threw her arms around them both. "Oh my gosh! What on Earth are you doing here?"

"It's SO good to see you!" Lena exclaimed with a chuckle.

"You have NO idea! I've been ordered out of the base until this baby's born."

"Ouch."

"Ya think? So, really, what are you doing in the Springs?"

"We've moved here." Nick said as Sam ushered them into the living room.

"What?"

Lena stole a glance at her husband before answering. "My eternally optimistic husband thought we should be closer to the base in case the fate of the planet should ever find its way into his hands again."

"It's not as if you protested."

Lena rolled her eyes. "You've got to be kidding, right? What was that about…NOT before these boys are born?"

"Hey, nobody that I know has managed to even try to make you do something you didn't want to do and lived to tell the tale!"

She shrugged, turning her attention back to Sam. "He's got a point there."

"See."

"Nicholas, was that an inflated ego I heard?"

"No, darling. Because I know that if you even suspected one, it would be deflated with the number of daggers that you're shooting my general direction."

Sam chuckled. "When did you get back?"

"About two hours ago. We drove straight over from Denver International Airport."

"You must be exhausted! Have a seat! I'll just call my husband."

"Oh, don't bother. Daniel knew when we'd be in."

"Daniel?"

"Yes. We're subletting his apartment. Apparently, he's actually moved in with Janet."

"Yes, Teal'c and Jack helped him get his things in while Janet and I supervised."

"I'm so glad we just got here now." Nick whispered.

"Look, Jack's seriously not going to let me keep you here without letting him know. I've got to call him. And JANET!"

"And Cassie." Came Nick's amused response.

"Actually, she's at UCLA at the moment, but I could call her. I'm fairly certain she'd be on the next flight over."

"No, I don't think that's necessary." Nick said with a chuckle.

"What's she studying?"

"Astrophysics, actually." Sam said, a proud smile shining on her face.

"Really? I'm sure she'll be brilliant."

"Oh, yeah…" Sam chuckled. "Apparently one of the…supplementary textbooks is my book on Wormhole physics."

"Are you kidding? It wasn't classified top-secret by the Air Force?"

"No…I wrote it in a way that would be thought of as…theoretical, which, makes it more plausible deniability for the program. Someone says something, they point to my book and say that it hasn't been proven yet."

"Classic!"

"Yeah." Sam rubbed her distended abdomen. "Do you want something to drink? We have water, hot chocolate, caffeine free 'coffee…'" She said, using her husband's much-used air quotes to mark the word.

"Water sounds good." Lena said, with a smile.

"Okay. Nick? Unfortunately, we do still have beer in the house, as my husband finds it necessary to cook every dish with it…something about killing any living thing that could possibly be considered harmful to us…I think it's just that he likes beer."

"No thanks."

"You sure?"

"Yes, thank you."

"All right."

She returned a few moments later, two glasses of water in hand. "Now, I'll just call my husband and see just how fast his truck is capable of moving."

She began dialing, and then smacked her forehead with her palm. "On the other hand, I know exactly how long it will take him to get here since he took my bike! That man!" She said, rolling her eyes.

"Okay…" Nick said, with a tiny gulp. "Remind me not to get in her way…"

"Nick, you don't have to worry about her…women's solidarity movement."

"Ah, I forgot. I should just remember that you'll always take her side."

"Yes, dear."

"Duly noted. I'll stay out of your way…you, Sam AND Janet."

"That would be wise."

"I pride myself on my deductive reasoning skills."

"Uh huh…just keep telling yourself that."

"Well, Daniel hadn't told either Jack or Janet, so they've decided to leave him behind and bring Teal'c over for a little get-together. I would offer you the chance to lie down in the guest room, but I'm fairly sure that they'll be here within a matter of minutes."

"Oh, don't worry about us." Lena said, chuckling. "I was expecting this. Besides, I've had a hard time actually sleeping lately."

"Tell me about it."

"Just as long as you leave me out of it!" Nick said, standing.

Both women just chuckled. "I didn't mean that literally, Nick, sit down."

"Just as long as I don't have to hear about weird…bodily functions."

"No, I save that for Jack. He is, after all, the one who did this to me." Sam retorted.

"Okay, being the only male at a pregnant women's male-bashing party does NOT seem like the healthiest occupation at the moment."

"It's not…which is why we're not male-bashing."

"Good."

"We're bonding."

"And the few months that we were at Cheyenne Mountain…Ballroom Bootcamp…that was…"

"It takes a long time for women to bond."

"I see…"

"Besides, at Ballroom Bootcamp, you two were too concerned with getting Jack and me together, and I was too consumed with my feelings for him for either of us to REALLY bond."

"Okay…changing the subject! So…how 'bout them Yankees?"

Both women just chuckled.

--

"So, Lena, how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, Janet."

"Really? Because moving could cause undue stress to yourself and the twins."

"I know. That's why we didn't officially move…we're just renting a furnished apartment to help out a friend."

"And I did what little heavy lifting was involved." Nick added, not wanting to be on the doctor's bad side.

"What did your doctor say?" Janet continued.

"Janet…my doctor is here in Colorado Springs. I tried seeing a doctor in New York, but I'd feel more comfortable here. Among my friends…practically my family."

Daniel put his arm around his fiancée. "Janet…they're adults. Let's let them make their own decisions, okay?"

Janet shrugged Daniel's arm from her shoulders. "I'm going to help Sam and Teal'c in the kitchen."

"Ouch." Nick said, sympathetically.

"She does that every time I try to calm her. Suddenly, she becomes frigid."

"Have you tried being a little more supportive?"

"More supportive? Do you call painting the nursery three times without complaint, rubbing her feet and back without fail, reporting the minute I even think she's about to call my name…do you call THAT supportive?"

Lena looked at Nick, wincing slightly. "I'm not that bad, am I?"

Nick looked at her, a nervous smile playing on his lips. "No, you're not that bad."

Lena studied him. "Not that you would say anything if I was…"

"Lena, I…"

Tears welled up in her eyes as she heaved herself off the couch. "It's okay…I…I've been demanding." She said, as she followed Janet into the kitchen.

"I'm sorry…" Daniel said, sighing.

"Daniel, it's not you…trust me." Nick said, closing his eyes in defeat.

"If I hadn't been complaining about Janet…"

"No, Daniel, this goes WAY deeper than that. Lena wants me to go see my mum…only I don't think this is exactly the time for her to go gallivanting across the globe. I thought that maybe bringing her here would help get the need for 'family' and 'togetherness' out of her system, but…it's only made it stronger somehow."

"Look, Nick, maybe it's one of those things where if she had a deadline- a plan- it would suffice." Daniel offered. "I doubt she expected you to run off to Australia with her this close to her due date."

"Thanks." The Aussie said, a distinct note of understanding and gratitude in his voice.

"You're welcome."