A/N: Um… Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated?
Chapter 25: Recovering
True to word, Janet woke her at the end of her shift. While still nowhere near peak health, Sam felt refreshed enough to lead the way to the SUV. She'd packed a weekend bag the previous night and it was already waiting in the truck from the morning. She let Janet run the conversation, merely inserting appropriate comments from time to time.
Sam was still awake when they pulled up outside of Janet's home, and she drew back a little as she followed Janet up the familiar walk. It would be the first time she and Cassie had seen each other since her transformation, though Sam reminded herself that it hadn't been all that long ago that Cassie had met a slightly older version of her child self.
"Mom?" called an easily recognized voice from the kitchen as Janet entered.
"We're here," Janet announced, giving Sam an encouraging smile.
Cassie appeared in the doorway, drying her hands on a dishtowel. The teen grinned, all but bounding across the room. She knelt in front of her. "Sam?" she asked.
"Hey Cassie," Sam told her, smiling warmly and holding out her hands. Cassie wasted no time in enfolding her in an enthusiastic embrace. Sam groaned softly. While the headache was suppressed since the Tylenol and nap, it was still there. Immediately, Cassie pulled back.
"What's wrong?" the teen asked, suddenly concerned. Janet placed a hand on the girl's shoulder.
"It's ok Cass, Sam's just feeling a little under the weather, she had to come home from school early." Janet explained.
Cassie was suddenly all caring concern, reversing a role that Sam had played for the girl from time to time over the years, quickly seeing Sam settled on the sofa with a blanket wrapped snuggly about her and a plate of food in her lap. She continued to hover throughout the meal, looking worried when Sam barely touched hers, as her brief spurt of energy ran out. Cassie only relaxed slightly when Janet seemed unconcerned and merely suggested they all watch a movie. The teenager took a seat next to Sam, and not long into the show, Sam leaned companionably against the girl. It wasn't all that unusual though it was typically Cassie leaning into Sam.
Fortunately, Sam had seen the movie before, because she fell asleep. Janet shooed a sleepy Cassandra to bed after the movie, and the movement and loss of warmth roused Sam. "Hey sleepy head," Janet greeted, grinning as Sam rubbed her eyes and yawned, the yawn changing to a muffled cough. Janet studied her thoughtfully. "How's the ear?" she asked.
"Still hurts," Sam admitted sleepily, unconsciously rubbing it. Janet smiled ruefully and held out the thermometer. Sam took it and obediently placed it under her tongue, snuggling back down under the blanket as she waited for it to beep.
"Hmm. Still running a slight fever," Janet pronounced, having taken the thermometer and exchanged it for oral syringes of more medication. This time, Sam made a face as she took the doses, sitting up reluctantly from her cozy nest with another yawn.
"Bleck," she stated emphatically, handing back the empty syringes and taking the glass of juice her friend offered sympathetically.
"Sorry Sam," Janet apologized. "It's the only way to get the doses small enough for your size. They just don't make tablets in these doses." Janet tidied up the living room, giving Sam some time to sort herself out, and then held up the little dropper. "I put your bag in the guest room, if you want to go get ready for bed, I can meet you upstairs. You look just about done in."
Sam sighed. "I am. I don't understand it, all I've done is sleep most of the day," she complained, as she pulled herself to her feet, still wrapped in the throw blanket.
Janet smiled in understanding. "Your new body doesn't handle things as easily as your adult body does. You have fewer resources to fight with. On the other hand, you should be feeling better in no time now. Children are more resilient."
"Well, as long as it's soon," Sam grumbled on her way out of the room.
She found her bag as promised, and exchanged her clothing for the now familiar too-large t-shirt. It felt good to brush her teeth, even though it was a stretch to reach the faucet. She'd had to climb up on the closed toilet lid to do so, missing the little step stool she'd come to depend on at the house she stayed in with the Colonel. She met Janet on the way back, and got comfortable on her side in the bed so Janet could put the drops in.
"Goodnight," Janet told her as she stood in the doorway after turning out the lights.
"Night Janet," she replied, a brief smile touching her lips as she noted that Janet hadn't shut the door all the way, leaving it cracked likely in habit as a mother. She snuggled down into the bed and sighed, sorely hoping that Janet was right and that she'd be feeling better very soon.
The next morning, Sam awoke early, slightly confused as to where she was and what had woken her. Soft voices and the rustling of people just waking and getting ready for the day reminded her that she was staying with Janet and Cassie while Jack was in D. C. Pushing back the covers, she got out of bed and stretched. The headache was gone though she still felt slightly fuzzy headed and her ear still ached. She thought about a shower but then decided she wanted to see Cassie off.
She found both Cassie and Janet in the kitchen. Janet was just putting on a pot of coffee and Cassie was just finishing up a bowl of cereal. As predicted, while Janet smiled warmly, Cassie positively glowed at Sam's appearance. "Are you feeling better Sam?" the teen asked.
Sam smiled, running her hand though her no doubt disarrayed hair. Cassie took on a look like someone that had just seen something adorable. Sam covered her discomposure by taking a seat across from the girl and sliding the newspaper Janet had left on the table toward herself. "Well, I don't feel one hundred percent yet, but I do feel better," she admitted. "Actually, I'm a little hungry," she added, looking at the nearly empty cereal bowl in front of Cassie. Looking excited at something to do, Cassie jumped up, dumping her own bowl in the sink then opening cabinets seemingly at random. Janet shared a knowing look with Sam behind her daughter's back. Sam suppressed a smile, hiding her amusement in the paper.
Unaware of the shared glances, Cassie continued to bustle about on her mission. "Do you want some cereal Sam? Or maybe some toast will be better," the teen mused.
"Cereal is fine," said Sam, and then shot a look toward Janet, who was preparing her mug. "And maybe a cup of coffee? Decaf of course." she added hopefully, widening her eyes and trying her best pitiable and pathetic look. After all, everyone seemed to think she looked absolutely adorable now; it had to be good for something, right?
It was not to be. Janet Fraiser apparently had nerves of steel. Sam stifled a sigh as her friend gave her a narrow look while Cassie cheerfully poured cereal, oblivious to the silent contest of wills going on at the table. "Juice," the woman said with authority, rising and suiting words to actions, opening the fridge and removing the juice carton and retrieving a glass on her way back to the table. "You need fluids Sam," she said in explanation.
"Coffee is fluids," Sam argued, knowing the argument was already lost, but feeling it had to be said, logically at least.
Janet ignored her, concentrating on pouring and placing a tall glass of orange juice in front of her, then deftly snagged part of the paper from Sam. Eyeing the large glass of orange juice, Sam sighed quietly, knowing she'd be expected to finish the entire glass, doctor's orders. She wasn't sure if it was a relief to know that this at least had not changed. If she'd been sick or injured in her adult form, Janet likely would have treated her, or anyone else under her care the same way. A slight smile tugged at her lips. Well, there was always Daniel. They'd gotten rather good at smuggling contraband to one another without being caught. Most of the time that is. "Cassie," Janet said as she sat back down, "You need to hurry, or you'll be late for school. Did you remember to feed the dog?" she added.
Cassie rolled her eyes at Sam where Janet couldn't see, sliding the cereal bowl and milk in front of Sam. "Yes, mom," she said. Sam lifted the paper up to hide her face.
Outside, the dog started to bark, followed by the sound of a horn. Cassie looked startled. "Don't worry," Janet said, shaking out her section of the paper, unsurprised. "I'll let the dog in."
"Thanks mom!" Cassie said, giving Janet a quick hug. "Bye!" she called, grabbing her book bag off the kitchen chair and dashing out the door, pausing to call over her shoulder, "Bye Sam!"
"Bye Cass!" Sam said with a grin, the teen's boundless enthusiasm mending her disappointment over Janet's refusal to cave on the coffee..
"Come home straight after school," Janet called.
"Yes mom!" came the response as the car horn sounded again and the front door slammed. Janet chuckled. Outside, Homer kept barking, and Janet stood up with a sigh, moving to open the door.
Sam slid off her chair as Homer charged in and danced around her, not recognizing her in her current state. "Hey mutt," she greeted, and Homer decided he liked this new little person. Sam played with the dog for a few minutes, and then dragged a chair over to the sink so she could wash up. She caught Janet watching her over her section of the newspaper and shrugged helplessly as she hopped down. Homer trotted a few circles around her playfully, but when she didn't make any more moves toward him, he trotted off and started attacking one of his favorite toys in the corner.
"Your meds are on the counter over there," Janet indicated with her head, peering over the top of her paper, "We can do your drops after you've had a chance to eat. The thermometer is over there too." Sam wrinkled her nose, but dutifully collected the pre-filled oral syringes, popping the thermometer in her mouth with a smothered sigh as she headed back to the table, medication in hand.
The thermometer beeped, and Sam pulled it out. "99.8," she announced. Still standing, she quickly swallowed first one, then the other of her medications, making a face and washing them down with the glass of orange juice.
"Good," Janet commented, and Sam heard the newspaper rustling as her friend set it down. "Do you mind coming over here, I'd just like to take a look in your ears to see how the antibiotics are working."
Sam looked dubiously at the otoscope the doctor held, then put her juice glass back on the table, suppressing another sigh and went to stand in between Janet's legs, turning her head so her friend could put the scope to use. She flinched slightly, but noted that the tenderness was less today. "Looks less inflamed, feeling better?" Janet asked, withdrawing the scope, and Sam nodded. "Good, then I think we'll keep things as they are. Let me just take a quick listen to your chest, and you can finish your breakfast."
The impromptu medical exam over, Sam retired to her paper and bowl of cereal, pouring the milk that Cassie had thoughtfully left in reach. After breakfast, Sam helped Janet clear the table, and the two went out to the living room. Janet put in Sam's eardrops, and Sam put on the news while Janet booted up her laptop to work on some reports. Originally, Sam and Cassie would have been at school, and Janet at work. It was more than a little awkward for Sam knowing that she couldn't be away from the SGC on her own. General Hammond had insisted they both take the day off, and Janet had agreed that Sam would rest better at the Fraiser's than in the infirmary, especially since there was no reason to keep Sam there.
The rest of the day was spent unremarkably quietly. Sam watched TV, read some journals she'd packed in her bag, and took a nap in the afternoon. When Cassie came home, they made dinner and watched another movie. Sam took her meds at intervals during the day, and by the end of the day, was beginning to get the timing and dosing down so that she felt that Saturday she could be independent with taking them without Janet prompting. She still needed help putting in the ear drops, but figured she'd much rather ask someone to put them in for her than have Janet tell her it was time to take them like a child.
Despite the restful pace of the day, Sam was still quite spent and more than ready to go to bed before it was barely nine. If Janet found it unusual, she chose not to say anything though Cassie looked a little worried when she glanced at the clock after Sam announced her intention to go to bed. Still, the teen hugged her just as tightly as usual.
Saturday, Sam felt more refreshed, and only the slightest ache lingered in her ear. She coughed experimentally and was pleased to note her chest barely rattled. The house was quiet, and on impulse, she grabbed fresh clothes and headed to the shower. Cassie had a tendency to use up a lot of the hot water if she got to the bathroom first. The cascading water was luxurious, and Sam probably spent longer than necessary under the hot spray. Even still, the house was still silent as she got out and dried off, changing into the fresh clothing. Janet and Cassie were still asleep as she padded down the hall in her socks, and Sam wasted little time climbing onto a chair, then the counter, so she could dig out some coffee. She grinned as she located a bag of decaf grounds behind the regular ones in the cabinet, quashing any guilty feelings in the thrill of her early morning clandestine mission literally under Janet Fraiser's nose. Kneeling on the counter, she reached down a filter, then a mug and leaned over the sink, putting water into the carafe, turning on the pot. She sat down on the counter, waiting eagerly for the coffee to brew.
Janet found her there several minutes later, a steaming mug in hand, and a blissful smile on her face. Her five year old face of innocence must have helped, because Janet didn't say anything and only narrowed her eyes at her friend as she dropped the paper on the table, but Sam saw her eyes take in the package of decaf grounds and shake her head slightly as she opened the fridge, pointedly taking out a carton of orange juice. Janet crossed over to where she sat, and Sam leaned out of the way to give Janet access to the cabinet over her head, watching as Janet pulled out another mug, and two glasses. She poured herself a mug of coffee then two glasses of juice. Sam accepted a glass of juice, and slid down off the counter, collecting her medications on the way to the table. She knew Janet was keeping a watchful eye on her as she drew up the doses, and would say something if she had the amounts wrong. Janet only nodded though when Sam met her gaze, so Sam quickly swallowed the doses, washing them down with a few generous swallows of juice.
Looking up, Sam turned at a shuffling footstep and grinned at the sight of a slightly disheveled Cassie. The teen mumbled a good morning and snagged the juice carton and a glass, plopping into the seat opposite Sam and dug the cartoon section from the paper. Janet and Sam exchanged smiles. Cassie wasn't much of a morning person, especially not on weekends.
"Who wants pancakes?" Janet asked, rising, and opening cabinet doors.
"Sounds good," Sam answered, getting up as well. "Can I help?"
Janet looked down at her, "Are you sure you feel up to it?" she asked.
"I feel a lot better today," Sam told her honestly.
Her friend looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded. "Ok then, can you get the milk and eggs from the fridge while I get the griddle out?"
"Can we have bacon too mom?" Cassie asked, nose buried in the comics, but proving she wasn't completely ignoring the conversation.
"Got it," Sam replied, balancing the package on top of the eggs and closing the door with her hip. She dropped the syrup bottle on the table on the way to the counter, depositing her load, and climbed up to kneel on the chair next to Janet. Her friend casually leaned over her to reach down a bowl and placed it between the two of them, and Sam started to crack eggs.
The kitchen soon filled with the smell of frying bacon and pancakes. Cassie dragged her nose from the comics long enough to reach over Sam to get plates and steal a piece of bacon. Janet swatted at her with the spatula and the teen retreated with a shriek to set the table. Homer added to the chaos by running around in circles and cheerfully trying to trip anyone he thought might be holding bacon until Janet ordered him out into the backyard.
Preparations complete, they settled around the table, and Sam found herself rather hungry, surprised by her sudden increase in appetite. Janet looked pleased by the amount she'd eaten when they cleared the table. After breakfast, Cassie put on cartoons, grinning at Sam's quizzical expression. "Don't you remember Sam?" she asked, "You used to put these on for me when I first came here," she said, and Sam grinned to realize Cassie had put on the old classic Roadrunner and Bugs Bunny cartoons.
"Hey, I think I remember this one," she said.
"What are you two watching," Janet asked, and the two erupted into giggles. Janet rolled her eyes, making them laugh even harder. Leaving them to their own devices, she left, returning a short time later with a short stack of board games and puzzles. The cartoon immediately forgotten, Cassie pounced on the pile with a childish squeal. Caught up in the girl's enthusiasm, Sam shared a grin with Janet, and turned her attention to the selection, offering her own opinion. Janet ducked into the kitchen returning with sodas and snacks for everyone by the time Cassie had narrowed down the choices. They spent the better part of the day watching TV and playing board games and assembling a large 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle only to discover to their dismay that the puzzle appeared to be missing several crucial pieces, and had a few pieces to another puzzle mixed in for good measure.
While Sam hadn't taken a nap after their lunch of sandwiches, she had settled back a few times during the puzzle to watch Cassie and Janet, watching quietly rather than participating. She smiled when she caught Janet watching, or would offer a suggestion or joke that Cassie was trying to force pieces that didn't go if she caught Cassie frowning over her. She felt much better today though, if mildly irritated at times. Still, her friends couldn't help feeling a little concerned. It could have been worse after all; she could have been stuck with Jack. Unable to go out and leave her home alone, he'd have been climbing the walls and getting on her last nerve.
When the subject of dinner came up, they all unanimously decided to order out, since after all their plans had called for a much more active day. A rather energetic debate ensued, but pizza won out two votes to one over Chinese.
Janet and Cassie were in the kitchen when the doorbell rang. Without thinking, Sam got up from the couch. "I'll get it," she called, crossing quickly to the door. That was fast, she thought. With a frown, she realized that they hadn't gotten any money out yet, and with a quick decision, Sam decided she'd treat everyone. "Coming!" she called to the shadow behind the window, as she spied her backpack sitting next to the table by the door. Rummaging quickly, she found her little moneybag in the bottom of the bag. Pulling it out, she pulled out the credit card she'd tucked in there a few weeks ago, next to her SGC ID, behind a handful of bills and coins that were more typical of a child her apparent age.
Standing on tiptoe, she unlocked the door. "Here you go," she said, handing the man the card. The man blinked in surprised confusion.
"Hello sweetheart," he said, holding onto the pizzas, "Is your mommy home?" he asked.
Sam frowned. "My aunt is in the kitchen, she said I could get the door," she added.
"Well I need her to sign the paper sweetie, so just be a good girl and go get her now ok?" the man said stubbornly.
Sam sighed, and turned from the door, to find Janet already entering the living room, Cassie on her heels. She met Janet's quizzical expression with a helpless shrug, and Janet seemed to take in the situation immediately. Retrieving her purse, Janet quickly handed the deliveryman a few bills, telling him to keep the change. Taking the pizzas, she shut the door, and leaned against it with a sigh.
Sam put her credit card away with a resigned expression wondering what had possessed her to keep it. She looked up as she heard Cassie giggling and noted Janet also looking amused. "What?" she demanded. She could use a joke.
"I guess he's never seen a five year old use a credit card before," Cassie explained. Sam blinked, and slowly a smile started to spread on her face.
"I bet he'd be even more surprised to see me drive a car," she replied innocently.
"Oh god no," Janet exclaimed. At that, the three of them dissolved into helpless laughter until they could barely stand.
"C'mon, let's eat before that gets cold," Sam said when they'd finally regained some semblance of control.
"Good plan," Janet agreed, straightening.
"Mom, can we go to the mall tomorrow?" Cassie asked on the way to the kitchen.
"Sure, if Sam feels up to it," Janet replied.
"Oh, I think I can manage," Sam agreed. "In fact, I think I feel well enough to drive."
"Oh, hell no," said Janet.
"Just testing."