"Damn," Janet set the phone back in its cradle.

"Problem?" Sam asked from her seat on the couch.

"Not really," Janet replied. "I've got to change my shift at work tomorrow is all. Warner's got to leave early, so I'm doing 1030hrs to 1830hrs. I wanted to get out early so's we could all go swimming again."

"I can still take Cass," Sam said. She was spending two weeks on R&D at the SGC while they all waited for a broken bone in Daniel's foot to heal, so she had much more predictable working hours.

"I know," Janet said miserably. "I just wanted to be there too. She's doing so well, isn't she hon?" she brightened at the thought.

Sam smiled widely. "She sure is!" she agreed enthusiastically. "I can't believe two weeks ago she couldn't swim at all."

"It's thanks to you," Janet told her. "You're amazing with her. She stopped being scared about two minutes after she got into the water with you."

"With both of us," Sam reminded her. "You've been there all the time too. I'll miss you tomorrow, baby," she said.

"I'll miss you too," Janet said. "You know how much I love the sight of you in a bathing costume!" she grinned.

Sam grinned back. "You'll just have to wait until we get home. Maybe I'll give you a special show later in the bedroom?"

"How about a quick preview now?" Janet's voice became husky.

Wordlessly, Sam took her hand and led her to the stairs.

SGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSG

"It was incredible Mom!" Cassie shrieked as she ran into the kitchen the next evening, her hair still wet from the swimming. "I did two whole lengths of the pool, Sam didn't have to help me once. Sam says tomorrow she'll help me swim underwater. And after that she's gonna show me how to dive. It's real exciting. I love being in the water now." She hugged her mother excitedly. "Can I go tell Grandma how well it's going? She said she wanted to hear all about it."

Janet smiled and nodded. "Sure you can," she said. "Dinner'll be ready in 20 minutes," she called after her departing daughter.

"I'll be back by then!" Cassie called over her shoulder.

Sam smiled as she took in the sight of her lover. "Hey," she said softly, stepping forward and taking Janet in her arms. She kissed her tenderly. "I've missed you today," she said. "I've hardly seen you since this morning."

"Busy day," Janet said. "I've missed you too. And it sounds to me like I missed a fun time at the pool."

"She's a natural," Sam smiled. "And she really loves it too now, she's not just doing it to prove a point to that Susie Kendrick."

"Every kid should be able to swim," Janet said.

"Every dog too, huh, Gus?" Sam grinned as she leant down to pet their dog, thinking back to the previous weekend when he had escaped from his leash and plunged into a muddy pond as they were walking him.

"This is great," Cassie said, as she took another mouthful of dinner.

"How is your Grandma?" Sam asked.

"She's great, she's real excited about me learning to swim," Cassie replied. "Oh, I nearly forgot. She asked if you could go over sometime Sam, help her get something down from the attic. Said it's a bit heavy for her."

"Sure I can," Sam said. "I'll go after dinner, if that's okay Jan?"

"Of course it is," Janet replied. "You can go while Cass and I clean up, okay Cass?"

Cassie nodded, smiling.

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"Samantha!" Ella Kominsky beamed with pleasure at the sight of her friend. "You didn't have to come over tonight, I told Cassie there was no hurry."

Sam stepped forward into the hallway and kissed Ella on the cheek. "It's not a problem," she said. "Anyway," she grinned, "this way I don't have to do the dishes. I've left Cassie on duty with her mom!" She looked over at Ella, who looked more tense than usual. "What's wrong, Ella?" she asked. "Are you okay?"

Ella smiled. "I'm fine," she said. "Really. I've just been reminiscing."

"About Lionel?" Sam asked gently.

"About Lionel," Ella agreed. "We had such a good marriage. I'm so lucky to have married him. But sometimes I miss him."

"Of course you do," Sam said. She put a warm hand on Ella's arm. "It's okay to miss him," she said.

Ella smiled. "You're sweet," she said. "You and Janet. And darling Cassie too, of course. I do miss him. But I'm very fortunate to have found a new family, and you all mean the world to me."

"And you to us," Sam hugged her. "You've transformed Cassie's life. She loves having a grandma."

Ella brightened. "Well, that's why I wanted you to come over," she said. "There's something I want Cassie to have. But it's a bit heavy for me to lift these days. It's a wooden box," she explained. "Lionel made it. It's oak. He made it..." she hesitated and took a deep breath.

"Take your time," Sam said gently.

Ella smiled gratefully at her. "He made it for our child," she said in a quiet voice. "When I was pregnant." She saw Sam looking quizzically at her. "I lost the baby," she said. "When I was five months' pregnant. I never got pregnant again," she tried to hold her voice steady. "But I could never bring myself to let Lionel throw the box out. It's a kind of toy box. He spent weeks making it, carving patterns into the top, sanding it down, staining it. Making it perfect. But we never used it. I'd like Cassie to have it. Lionel would have loved Cassie. And I'm sure he's watching from ... somewhere. And he'd be real happy for her to have it. Do you think she'll want it?" Ella asked Sam.

Sam's eyes glistened with emotion. "She'll love it," her voice cracked. "Are you sure you want to give it away?"

Ella smiled. "I'm more than sure," she said. "It would give me such pleasure to see her using it. Lionel was always making things, usually from wood. He was a real craftsman. He made this," she gestured to the wooden rocking chair that took pride of place in her living room. "It took him months, he got such little free time from work. It was the best gift I ever had."

"You're a wonderful person," Sam said. "Cassie'll treasure it I know. I'm so sorry about the baby, Ella."

Ella looked up at her. "You never really get over it, you know," she said in a quiet voice. "Sure, you move on, but you never forget."

Sam nodded understandingly. She hesitated for a moment, but knew that Janet would want her to comfort their elderly friend. "Janet lost a baby too," she said softly. "When she was married. He was... he was a bad man. He hurt her, and she lost the baby. Lost her womb, too," she had never spoken to anyone else about Janet's loss and found it hard to put into words. "She knows how you feel."

Ella's eyes filled with tears. "I'm so sorry," she said. "I didn't know."

"She doesn't like to tell people," Sam said. "But I know she thinks about the baby. A lot. More so since we adopted Cass," she mused. She smiled wistfully. "But at least we have Cassie. We have a family. And one day I hope I'll have our babies. Janet is a wonderful mom."

Ella hugged Sam. "So are you, Samantha," she said, "so are you."

SGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSG

"Did you see her face?" Janet asked Sam later that night.

"Whose?" Sam said. "Cassie or Ella? They were both thrilled, weren't they baby?" She took Janet's hand. "I told her about the baby," she said quietly. "I hope you don't mind. I just wanted her to know she wasn't alone. When she told me about her and Lionel's baby."

Janet kissed Sam softly. "I don't mind, hon," she said. "Ella's part of the family now. It's easier to talk about these days. Now that I have you. And Cassie. Now I'm so happy. Happier than I ever imagined," she kissed her again. "Even though I can't have babies, I can't imagine being happier than I am right this moment."

"You know I love you just as you are, don't you?" unwittingly Sam traced Janet's hysterectomy scar. "Every inch of you?" she shifted in the bed so that Janet was fully in her arms.

"You don't mind that I can't have babies?" Janet peered at her anxiously.

Sam looked at her, running her hand gently down Janet's soft cheek. "I'm sad that you can't," she admitted. "I'm sad for you. I'm sad that our kids won't have your beautiful eyes," she looked deep into the chocolate orbs. "But as long as I have you. And I know from Cassie that it doesn't matter about blood, not in the least. I couldn't love Cass any more if one of us had given birth to her."

Janet nodded. "You're right," she said. "Cassie's amazing. Anyway," she smiled, letting her fingers tangle in the hair at the base of Sam's neck. "Maybe one day you'll have babies. And then," she said, "they'll have your eyes. You don't know how stunning you are Sam. You'll have beautiful babies."

"We'll have them together, huh?" Sam said. "I'll need you with me every step of the way, Jan."

"I'll be there," Janet promised. "Every second."

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"What in the hell do you mean, another two weeks?" David Richmond shouted down the phone. "You promised me Ernie. You said you'd have papers for me by today."

"It's not as easy as it sounds," Ernie said defensively. "It's not like I can put pressure on. These people are dangerous. We have to take it slowly. What's the rush, anyway?"

"I need to catch a 'plane. Hire a car. And I can't do that as me. You tell your contacts that I'll pay another grand if you can get the papers to me by next Friday. See if that has any effect."

"I'll do what I can," Ernie promised. "I'll call you."

SGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSG

"A swimming gala?" Ella sound surprised. "But you've barely been swimming for a month!"

"Nearly two months, Grandma," Cassie told her. "And I'm real good now. Just ask Sam. The school says I can compete at the gala. Will you come watch? It's next Saturday."

"Of course I'll come!" Ella said, "you just try and stop me! I'm so proud of you Cassandra. You've worked so hard."

"I just want to beat Susie Kendrick," Cassie grinned. "Show her I'm as good as she is."

"You're better than she is," Ella told her. "You don't need to make people feel bad to make yourself feel better."

"I love you Grandma," Cassie said as she left the house on her way to harangue Janet about taking her to the mall.

SGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSG

Sam sat stock still, her knuckles white as she gripped the seat. Janet saw the look on her face and smiled fondly. She prised one of Sam's hands from the seat, and held it tenderly. "She's gonna be fine, Sam," she said with a smile. "Look, she's smiling!" she waved at her daughter as she took her place in the line-up.

Sam smiled sheepishly. "I know," she said. "I just want her to do well."

"She'll be great, won't she Ella?" Janet turned to their friend on the other side of her, and was amused to see that she looked almost as serious as Sam.

"Yes!" Sam shouted with delight, as she stood up, her fist in a triumphant salute. She grabbed Janet and swung her round excitedly.

Janet laughed. "She came fifth," she reminded Sam. "Not first."

"Fifth out of twelve is amazing!" Sam declared. "Anyway," she gave an evil grin. "See that one there in the purple? That's Susie Kendrick. She came eighth. Our little girl beat Susie Kendrick. Eight-and-a-half weeks ago she couldn't swim at all. I'm so proud of her."

"You'll come too, won't you Ella?" Sam demanded, as she told Cassie and Janet that she was taking them out to dinner to celebrate Cassie's success. "Please?"

"I'd be delighted to come, Samantha," Ella said.

Cassie grinned with delight.

SGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSG

Three weeks later, Sam groaned as she rolled out of bed at the ungodly hour of 0500hrs. She had to be at the mountain at 0600hrs for a high-level briefing, and she found it harder than usual to leave her warm bed. Her throat felt scratchy and she had the beginnings of a headache. "Great," she thought to herself. "Gotta brief the new Chief of Staff on the Stargate, and I'm catching a cold."

She shuffled disconsolately to the bathroom, taking care not to wake Janet. Janet had only returned from the mountain at 1100hrs the night before, and wasn't expected back on base until 1200hrs, so she wanted to let her sleep as long as possible.

By 1120hrs, the intense briefing was over, and Sam escaped to the relative peace and quiet of her lab. Her head was pounding and she just wanted to curl up in bed. Preferably with Janet, she thought. She smiled weakly at the thought.

"Is something amusing you flygirl?" a voice called from the doorway.

Sam looked up to see Janet standing in the doorway, a wide grin on her face. She smiled back. "Yeah," she admitted. "I was thinking about you. In bed," she tried not to leer at her lover.

"Hold that thought," Janet said. "I finish at 2000hrs. By which time I trust you'll have warmed the bed for me?" she winked saucily. She looked more closely at Sam. "Hey, sweetie," she said, "are you okay? You look kinda pale."

Sam shook her head. "I'm fine," she said. "I think I may be catching a cold. Nothin' serious. I'm just missing you, I feel I've hardly seen you these past few days. Feel like I'm neglecting you."

Janet stepped forward and brushed the hair from Sam's eyes. "You never neglect me," she said in a soft tone. She put a hand to Sam's forehead. "You feel a little warm sweetie. I think I should take you to the infirmary, check you over."

Sam shook her head again. "I'm okay, really, just a sore throat. I've taken some Tylenol."

"Well you should be in bed," Janet said firmly. "Your briefing's over, right?"

"Yeah," Sam agreed.

"You go home then, put yourself to bed. I'll be back later to check on you," Janet was firm.

"No, really, I should finish these calculations," Sam motioned to her desk.

"You want me to make this official? Confine you to the infirmary?" Janet's voice had an edge to it.

Sam smiled, and put her hands up in surrender. "I'm going, I'm going," she said.

"Want me to find someone to give you a ride?" Janet asked.

"No," Sam said. "I'm fine, really I am. I can easily drive. I think I'll be feeling great after a couple of hours' rest. By the time you get back, Dr Fraiser," Sam grinned wickedly, "I'll be fully revitalized and all ready for you."

"I'll hold you to that," Janet's voice was sultry. She pulled Sam into a hug. "You take it easy, huh?" she said.

"I swear," Sam said, as she collected her jacket.

SGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSG

Sam's heart was light as she drove home. She felt lousy, but she knew it was temporary. She mused on the countless delights of living with Janet. Sometimes she wished Janet wouldn't fuss so much when she was sick, but a small part of her liked it that Janet noticed, and cared, about how she was feeling. And she wasn't too busy, a few hours in bed to get rid of the headache, and she'd be all ready for Janet when she came home. Cassie was staying the night with her friend Lottie, so they would have the house to themselves.

Sam got wearily out of the truck as the electronic door to the garage reclosed itself. She leant briefly against the truck, trying to decide whether to bother to take her gun out of the glove box, or to leave it until the next morning. She had better take it in the house and lock it away, she decided. Even though Cassie wasn't there, she still felt she should make the house, and garage, as safe as possible. Just as she put out her hand to open the door again, she felt an overwhelming pain in her ankle as she was struck from behind.

Sam hadn't realized that David Richmond had broken into their garage, and was waiting for her, or Janet, with an iron bar in his hand. As soon as he saw the tall blonde exit the truck, he lashed out wildly with the heavy bar, slamming against Sam's ankles with a vicious blow.

Sam felt her left ankle shatter, and screamed as she crumpled to the floor. She looked up to see what had happened, and saw the angry face of her lover's ex-husband as he loomed over her. "You broke my jaw, you bitch," he said icily. "Then you broke my nose." He kicked her hard in the ribs.

Sam screamed again as she felt her ribs crack. She panted with the agony of the dual blows, trying to keep control of her stomach as the pain overwhelmed her.

"Like it rough, do you?" he yelled at her. "You stole my Janet from me, you disgusting dyke. She was perfectly happy with me before you tempted her away."

Sam gritted her teeth against the pain. "She hated living with you," she said, her voice hoarse. "She left you months before we met. Before she moved here. You abused her. You're a monster."

David screamed with fury, and brought the iron bar down on Sam's leg again, this time shattering the bone in her lower leg.

Ella looked out of her kitchen window. She had seen Sam's truck returning to the house. "She'll come get you any moment now," she told Angus as he nuzzled at her legs. "You know she doesn't like to be without you in the house." She smiled at the affectionate creature.

Sam lay in a heap on the cold concrete floor, the pain of the last attack having tipped her into unconsciousness. David Richmond stood over her, yelling obscenities, seemingly unaware of her unconscious state. Finally he stopped, and slumped against the wall. "She'll come back to me," he whispered. "She'll come running back. Once you've gone. She needs me." He dragged Sam's limp body to the back of the truck. He lowered the tailgate, and unceremoniously hauled Sam up, slinging her carelessly onto the back of the truck. He felt in her pocket for the keys, and covered her loosely with a tarpaulin he found in the garage. "They'll never find you," he growled. "And then she'll come running back."

Ella looked up out of her window as she saw the garage door opening once more. Sam must have come home to pick up something, she decided, and was heading back. Only she turned the opposite way to usual, so clearly wasn't going back to work. She looked more closely. That wasn't Samantha at the wheel! It was a man she didn't recognize. He had a look of pure fury on his face. Ella's blood ran cold. "Stop!" she shouted, pointlessly. She ran to her back door and ran down the drive, a panicked Angus at her feet. She yelled after the truck, but to no avail. Angus shot off down the road like a bullet, barking furiously. Ella ran to Sam and Janet's house, and pounded on the door, but there was no reply.

Something had happened, Ella realized. Running back into her house, she grabbed the phone. "Put me through to Dr Fraiser," she demanded as the call was answered. "It's an emergency!"

"Fraiser," Janet answered the ringing phone.

"Janet?" Ella said. "Oh thank God. Janet, something's happened. I've just seen Sam come back to the house."

"I know," Janet said. "It's okay, Ella. She just had a cold. I sent her home to sleep."

"No," Ella said. "She came back, but ten minutes later her truck left again. It was headed for the highway. And some man was driving. He looked real pissed. And there's no answer at the house. Janet, I'm frightened he's taken her."

Janet felt sick.