Sam lay back and looked up at the ceiling. She could hear the sound of the coffee machine in the kitchen, the smell slowly reaching her nostrils and she inhaled deeply. She could also hear the hushed tones of her best friend on the phone, she presumed to Daniel by the snippets of the conversation she could make out. Words like Ass, your friend and stubborn made her think Janet was giving Daniel the lowdown on why she was currently camped out on Janet's couch. When she heard Janet say bye she tuned out, she didn't need to hear the whispered I love yours among her friends. When Janet appeared a few minutes later she was carrying a tray which she placed on the small coffee table to Sam's right. Sam turned to look at the contents of the tray and couldn't help but smile. Between Daniel and Cassie, Janet now had a wide stocked of ice cream, candy and generally sugar-loaded treats.
"Coffee and sugar overload, just don't pass my name and number onto your dentist." Janet smiled as she sat on the couch at Sam's feet.
Sam gave Janet a half smile before shuffling to sit up. Janet passed Sam the coffee cup and she took it gratefully, wrapping both her hands around it.
"So, Daniel said he hasn't heard any news about Jack since he got back. He saw Teal'c and he sends his best to you all. Ry'ac's doing well, apparently married life suits him." Janet said as she picked up the tub of mint choc chip ice cream and two spoons.
"Ry'ac's a good kid," Sam added as she placed her cup on the table and took the spoon Janet was holding out to her.
Janet opened the ice cream as she moved to sit beside Sam.
"Let's drown our sorrow in ice cream, coffee and sugar," Janet commented as she dug her spoon into the ice cream tub.
"Thanks, Janet. I know you have better stuff to do then put up with needy friends." Skimming her spoon around the edge of the ice cream tub to scoop up all the half melted ice cream.
"That's what friends are for, you never have to thank me for that." Leaning in and nudging Sam's shoulder with her own.
They sat in silence both seeming lost in thought as they ate the ice cream. When the tub was empty Sam started to laugh, Janet giving her a quizzical look.
"There's an extra hour in the gym Monday to get rid of that. What's next?" Picking up a packet of what looks like Peanut butter M&M's. "Who on earth eats these?" Turning the packet around as she examined the ingredients.
"Cassie mostly, but Daniel does have the odd packet." Watching as Sam ripped open the packet and poured a couple into her palm.
Janet watched as Sam devoured the whole packet, tossing the empty wrapper on the coffee table.
"Well, they can't be that bad then." Laughing as she watched Sam pick up her coffee and take a drink.
"Hey, I eat rations on a daily base's, plus some stuff I don't want to even admit to when we get stuck somewhere. They may just become part of my new emergency supplies from now on. I can just imagine Jack's face when" stopping when she realised what she was saying.
Sam's eyes clouded over, the tears she has held at bay for days now gathering in the corners. Janet reached over and prised the cup out of Sam's hands before the vice-like grip she had on it could shatter it. Without hesitation she wrapped her arms around Sam and hugged her tightly, Sam's walls breaking as she melted into her friends embrace. Encompassed in Janet's arms Sam let the fear, the torment, the aching need for news lose. It started with quiet crying, tears streaming down her face, yet it morphed into body racking sobs. Janet just held her, stroking her hair and rubbing her back. She didn't even attempt to offer words of comfort, there was none. After all her training and years in the Air Force, she knew it didn't end well every single time. She had seen first hand how many different ways search and rescue missions could go. This wasn't Jack's first rodeo. He had been MIA so many times his file for that alone was inches thick. The fact he had a file was a good sign, he had always came back, always pulled through somehow. Janet sat rocking Sam as the sobbing eased, her body finally worn out from crying. Janet knew since the news of Jack's disappearance had first been announced she hadn't slept a wink. That's was nearly five days ago now, and the human body could only take so much. Sam's was at breaking point, her body finally giving in to the need to recharge and rest. Janet wasn't sure how long they had been sat that way, Sam tucked against her chest, when she looked down to make see Sam was asleep. She gave a sigh of relief, she was starting to wonder just how far Sam could push herself before she literally, and figuratively, broke. Sam had refused to leave the base, wanted to assist in some way, stay close awaiting news, waiting for his return. It was Janet that had ordered her off base, knowing if she hadn't done it then some general somewhere would have had her escorted off. Janet knew everyone on base would do whatever the could do to accommodate Sam, especially with Jack MIA. Yet higher up the chain didn't know the bond that's were forged inside the SGC.
Janet sat watching her friend sleep, something she had done on many occasions, normally when Sam was lying in one of the infirmary beds under her care. She was just considering how to get out from under Sam while making sure she stayed asleep when she heard a key being inserted into the front door. She instantly started to panic, hoping that whoever was coming in would not enter like they normally do and shout they were home. Both Cassie and Daniel did it, which on any normal given day wouldn't have been a problem, yet right now it was. Janet did her best to wriggle out a little quicker so that whoever was coming in wouldn't call out. She was only half successful, making it halfway out from under Sam when Daniel's voice rang through the house. Janet quickly covered Sam's ears attempting to block out Daniel's voice at the same time as she stroked her cheek with her thumb. Sam shifted slightly, her eyes fluttering open as she tried to focus on her surroundings.
"Shhh, Sam, it's okay. Go back to sleep." Janet said soothingly as she saw Daniel enter the room.
Janet shot Daniel a dirty look as she tried to soothe Sam back to sleep. Sam sat upright and rubbed her eyes, as Daniel came over and sat down beside Janet.
"See if you can get her to settle again, she hasn't slept in days." Looking at a Daniel before standing up. "Sam, I'll get you a drink, warm milk maybe." Exiting the room as Daniel shuffled over next to Sam.
"Hey you, come here." Opening his arms and pulling Sam to his chest.
Sam went willing, her eyes filling with tears again as Daniel wrapped his arms around her. Daniel still had on his green BDU shirt and pants, he hadn't bothered to change when he left the base, more so when he heard Janet had practically dragged Sam home with her.
"It's okay, Sam. Jack's a tough nut, he'll back soon enough. We've been through worse. Sure he's just pissed off some locals somewhere and they've locked him up. Jack does have a habit of doing that, and he normally dragged us right along with him. Remember when he accidentally told that local village chief on 892 his daughter was ugly, then said women on earth looked way better before looking over at you. He had us chained to a wall for a week and a half for that." Feeling Sam half smile against his chest as she dug her face deeper into his chest.
"You smell like him a little," Sam mumbled against his shirt before rubbing her nose against the green material.
"Base laundry detergent, I didn't get changed before leaving." Looking down at Sam as she snuggled closer to him.
Sam was just drifting back to sleep when Janet entered the room carrying a mug with steam drifting off the top. Daniel lifted his hand up to stall her before she spoke and disturbed Sam. Janet tipped toed over and looked down at Sam, her best friend now using her teammate as a pillow. Daniel studied Sam for a few minutes, noting how her eyes looked sunken with dark circles around them. She also seemed to be even thinner than she was normally.
"She's taken it hard again, pushing herself beyond her limits. " Janet's commented as Daniel brushed Sam's bangs from her forehead.
"Doesn't she always. She was like this after Endora, and again with Ba'la. The only difference is she can't blame herself this time." Shifting slightly so Sam's head was now more on his lap than on his chest.
"Oh yes, she can. She has said several times if it wasn't for the conference she would have been on base, so you guys would have been in rotation as a team. You would have been the team going instead of SG-9." Watching as Daniel somehow managed to remove Sam and his shirt from his lap at the same time.
Sam was still gripping his shirt as Daniel tucked the throw around her after bringing her legs up to join the rest of her on the couch. Janet just stood back and watch Daniel take care of Sam, his teammate, his surrogate sister, his friend. When he was happy she was settled and not going to wake in the next few minutes he stepped away and turned to Janet, his hand reaching for her as she stepped closer. Janet took his outstretched hand and moved closer, Daniel automatically tucking her to his side and kissed the top of her head.
"So how have you been? This can't have been easy for you either." Turning to face Janet as he now wrapped both arms around her and bent to kiss her.
Janet welcomed the kiss, her arms coming up to wrap around his neck as the kiss grew more intimate. Janet broke the kiss first, smiling as she glanced at Sam and then inclined her head towards the lounge doorway. Daniel looked at Sam again before walking towards the door, Janet still tucked against his side. When they got to the kitchen Janet stopped and cuddled back into Daniel, his arms instantly going around her to hold her close.
"I missed you." Looking up at Daniel as he tucked some stray hairs back behind Janet's ear.
"I missed you too." Kissing first her forehead then peppering kisses on her face until he reached her lips.
The kiss was slow, reacquainting each other with both the touch and taste of the other person. Daniel had one hand on the back of Janet's head while with the other, he had managed to slip it up under the hem of Janet's white blouse, his fingers grazing the skin just above her pants. With Daniel's shirt now wedged under Sam, all he had on was his black tee shirt, which Janet's now had her hands under. His back muscles seemed to ripple and shift under her touch, making her do it all the more as she stroked up and down his back.
"If we don't stop now, poor Sam, or Cassie even, may get an eye full if they come in." Janet managed to say rather Horsley as Daniel's fingers wrapped around her bra strap.
"Mhhh, maybe we should save this for later then." Making sure he rubbed his groin against Janet before untangling his hands from under her blouse.
"Tease," Janet added as she dragged her short nails down Daniel's back before moving her hands clear of him.
"When's Cassie due in?" Looking up at the clock on the wall.
"About 5 I think she said. Something about study group, or something like that. She said she'd phone if she was going to be late. Coffee?" Janet's asked as she turned to push the button on the front of the coffee maker.
Daniel stepped away and took a seat at the breakfast bar, all the while watching Janet as she made coffee. No sooner had she set the steaming mug on the counter when they both jumped at the strangely scream that rang through the house.
"Jack." Sam screeched as she bolted upright, beads of sweat and tears both mingled together on her face.
Daniel and Janet both went running into the lounge, Daniel getting to Sam just before Janet's did. Daniel sat down in front of Sam and reached out to her, placing his hand on her lower arm.
"Sam, it's me. You're okay." He said, his words breaking through Sam's sleep clouded brain.
"Daniel, where is he?" She managed to rasp out looking directly at Daniel.
"I don't know. SG-7 and eleven I think were geared up and ready when I left the base. I'm sure if there is any news we'll be the first to know." Wrapping an arm around Sam's shoulder.
"I need to get back to base, see if there's anything I can do." Going to stand up but being held in place by Daniel.
"Sam, you know you need rest and food. We'll all go back tomorrow morning," holding his finger up to stale the protest Sam was about to make. "Or earlier if there's news." Feelings Sam sag back into the couch.
"I'll go make a start on dinner, you two have a catch-up. Sure you can tell her all about the mission, dig, thing, you just went on." Janet called out as she exited the lounge to go prepare dinner.
Daniel sat and told Sam all about his trip out with SG-16. How amazing the planet was and how well preserved the ruins they were in were. He managed to drag some info out of Sam about her conference, how things were progressing nicely while she was tucked away in some corner of the Galaxy fighting bad guys. They were joined halfway through chatting when Cassie came in. Cassie automatically wrapping herself around Sam's free side and hugging her.
"Jack's going to be just fine, he's too badass to not be," Cassie informed both Sam and Daniel as she squeezed Sam's arm.
They all continued to talk until Janet called through that dinner was ready. With some persuasion from Janet, Daniel and Cassie, Sam managed to eat half her dinner before pushing the plate away. They all watched as she stood and cleared her plate away before heading into to the lounge. They heard the TV coming on and the theme tune start for a show they were all very familiar with. Sure enough, when they had all finished and joined Sam, she was curled up on one side of the couch, Daniel's shirt balled up as a makeshift pillow and her eyes fixed on TV watching The Simpsons. Cassie snuggled in with Sam, both of them falling asleep within the hour.
"Shall we leave them, or wake them up for bed?" Daniel asked as this whole parenting thing still eluded him.
"Wake Cassie, gently. Don't want her waking Sam up. Leave Sam, don't want her awake until at least tomorrow hopefully." Watching as her daughter and best friendly cuddled up together as they slept.
Daniel managed to wake Cassie and they all retreated to bed, leaving Sam where she was. Daniel was sure he hadn't been asleep long when he woke to the annoying ring of a phone. He groped around in dark for his glasses before opening the phone.
"Daniel Jackson." He yawned into his handset. "When? Okay, we'll be there soon." Closing the phone and looking at a dishevelled Janet beside him in the bed.
"They found him." Looking up at the open bedroom door where Sam now stood completely terrified.