Sam came too slowly, feeling as though a herd of elephants were stampeding through her head. Her stomach roiled viciously and she was grateful as unseen hands rolled her swiftly to her side and held a bowl under her chin as she retched violently.
Sam knew without even having to look that the hands she hadn't yet seen belonged to Janet. Janet's hands stroked her forehead gently, applying a cool washcloth to her overheated skin. The same hands rolled her back onto her back, and stroked her tenderly on the cheek. One of the hands took up one of her own and held it lovingly. She couldn't work out what was happening with her other hand, her other arm. It seemed to be tied down somehow. She grunted and tried to move it; white hot pain lanced through her and she cried out.
Another of those hands applied oh-so-gentle pressure on her shoulder. "Try not to move," a voice said quietly. Janet's voice. Sam was sure now. "5 milligrams," she heard the voice again, but this time Janet wasn't talking to her. The pain lessened, and she started feeling hazy again, and knew she was about to fall to sleep. She felt Janet's lips on her forehead. "Sleep, baby," the voice came again. Sam obeyed.
Over the next four hours, whenever Sam awoke Janet was there, holding the basin, rubbing her back, whispering reassurances. It was midnight, and the fifth time that Sam woke that she started to feel less confused and vulnerable. She risked opening her eyes, and whimpered involuntarily, even though the lights were dim.
"Hey," Janet said softly, her warm chocolate eyes looking at her tenderly. "Feeling better?"
"bit," Sam croaked. "Water?"
"Just ice chips for now, baby," Janet spooned a few into her mouth. "Soon, I swear."
"You okay?" Sam couldn't understand why her voice was so weak.
"Am I okay?" Janet asked. "Yes, sweetie, of course I am. It's you that's been through the wars. Sleep a bit more if you can, Sam."
"What about you?" Sam asked. She reached out shakily and touched Janet's cheek with her unimpeded arm. "You look all-in Jan."
"She's gonna sleep now, aren't you Mom?" Sam heard Cassie's voice.
"Cass?" she asked.
"Hi Sam," Cassie approached the bed, and kissed her other mother on the cheek. "You're looking better."
Sam tried to smile, wincing as the bruising on her face made itself known. "Tell your Mom to get some sleep," she said to Cassie.
"She will," Cassie said firmly, and gestured toward the second bed in the room. "Mom promised me that she'd sleep when you did, once the worst was over. I'll be here if you need anything, Sam."
"No need," Sam said. "I'm fine Cass."
"Whatever," Cassie said, dismissively, reminding Janet of the girl's teenage years. "I'm stayin', so you might as well get used to it. But you have to sleep, or Mom won't lie down."
"'kay," Sam said, and shut her eyes and tried to even out her breathing.
"Very convincing, Sam," Janet said with a smile. "I'm just gonna sit here for a few minutes. Once you really are asleep, I swear I'll go to bed."
SGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSG
The next time Sam awoke, she felt a different hand holding hers. "Cass?" she whispered.
"Are you okay, Sam?" Cassie asked. "D'you want me to get Mom?"
Sam shook her head. "Let her sleep," she said. "Jus' want you to tell me the truth. Is she okay, really?"
Cassie squeezed her fingers. "She really is, Sam, I swear. She's tired, sure, but she's fine. Lam gave her a quick check-up, blood pressure, all that. And she's okay. They're both okay."
Sam's eyes shut again. "Good," she said, "that's real good."
"You want some water?" Cassie asked. "Mom said you could have some next time you woke up."
"Oh God yes," Sam's eyes opened again.
Cassie lifted her carefully so that she could drink from the cup she proffered. "Not too much," she said. "Mom said just half a cup to start with. You can have more soon."
Sam nodded as Cassie helped her to lie down again. "You're a good kid," Sam said. "Where's Annie?"
"She's in your quarters, sleeping," Cassie told her. "She's fine. I told her to go home, but she wouldn't, she wanted to be near."
Sam nodded, her eyes closing again.
SGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSG
"How long do I have to have this damned thing strapped to me?" Sam grumbled, two days after her operation.
"Just until tomorrow, Colonel," Carolyn Lam told her. "And then I'll change it to an ordinary sling."
Sam huffed.
"And before you ask," Lam smiled, "tonight."
"Huh?" Sam asked.
"I'll let you out of here tonight, assuming all goes well today. I'll release you to your quarters for two more days, as long as Janet is with you. After that, if you behave yourself, you can go home."
Sam grinned. "Sorry, it's nothing personal. It's just..."
"You hate being trapped in the infirmary?" Lam supplied, a grin on her face.
"Yeah," Sam admitted. "Don't think I'm ungrateful, though. Jan!" she smiled widely as her very pregnant lover appeared at the doorway.
"Hey, baby," Janet smiled back at her. "How's she doing Carolyn?" she asked Dr Lam.
"She's starting to get antsy," Lam told her, "which is always a good sign. Are you going to be around for the next day or two, Janet? If you are, I'll release Sam to your care in your quarters until the end of Thursday. Then you can both go home."
"I'm not leaving the mountain until Sam does," Janet said firmly.
"That's settled then," Lam said, and with a small wave left Sam's room.
Janet approached the bed, and kissed Sam thoroughly.
"Well hello," Sam said with a smile. "Now that's what I call a welcome."
"I missed you," Janet said.
"You've only been gone a couple of hours," Sam said. She grinned at Janet. "I know," she said. "I missed you too."
"The baby missed you too," Janet pulled Sam's hand to her belly.
Sam smiled widely. "He's awake," she said delightedly, as she felt the baby moving around energetically.
"Just wanted to say 'hi' to you Sam," Janet smiled. "She wants you to know how glad she is you're okay."
"I'm so sorry, Jan," Sam said.
Janet took her free hand in both of hers. "I've already told you Sam," she looked deep into her eyes. "It wasn't your fault. You saved Siler's life, you realize that? In fact, wait there," she instructed, and disappeared from Sam's room, returning less than a minute later with the biggest bouquet of flowers Sam had ever seen.
"They're from Siler and his wife Julia," Janet said. "And there's a card, too."
"Can you open it for me?" Sam asked, gesturing to her strapped arm.
Janet opened the card and passed it to Sam.
Dear Colonel Carter,
There aren't enough words for me to convey how grateful I am to you for what you did. I know Sylvester's always hurting himself, God knows I'm used to him coming home banged up. But this was different, and if it hadn't been for your bravery I hate to think what would have happened.
I'm so sorry that you were hurt, and I do hope you are fully recovered real soon. Sylvester tells me that you and Dr Fraiser are expecting a baby. I hope one day that baby realizes how lucky he or she is to have you both as parents.
My gratitude to you always.
Julia Siler
Sam's eyes filled with tears, and she wordlessly passed the card to Janet. Janet read it and was similarly moved. She kissed Sam tenderly. "I'm so proud of you, sweetie," she told her. She pulled herself together. "You still want me to cut your hair, Sam?" Janet asked.
Sam plucked ruefully at her damaged locks. "Yeah, can you honey? It's okay here, in the infirmary, but I'll feel real stupid, walking around the base like this."
"Sure, Sam," Janet replied. "How about I just even things up, and then we can take you to the salon when you're out of here? I'm not the world's best with a pair of scissors, I can only do basic styles."
"You'll be fine," Sam reassured her. "It can't look any worse than it does now. Okay, just stop me looking ridiculous, and I'll have it cut at the salon soon. I was thinking," she said, "I might go real short again. It was easy to look after."
"Whatever you want, baby," Janet said, fingering her hair sadly. "You'll always look beautiful, however you have your hair."
"I'm sorry, Jan," Sam said. "I know you liked it long. I can grow it again some time."
"I don't care about your hair, Sam," Janet's voice hitched. "I was just thinking ... how close it came to..."
Sam took her hand. "It didn't, Jan," she said. "I'm fine. Anyway," she tried to distract Janet with humor, "think how much I'm gonna save on shampoo."
"Kiss me," Janet said, in a small voice. So Sam did.
