"I can't move..."

Sam opened her eyes, and looked over at Jack, who was still in bed beside her – although his eyes were open and he was definitely awake.

"What?"

He looked at her, his nose bruised, but the swelling had gone almost completely.

"I'm sore..."

"Well, you did take quite a fall yesterday..."

"I didn't hurt so much yesterday."

She smiled.

"Oh, sure. Laugh at my pain..." he pouted, running his hand along his side. Every muscle in his body ached – including the little ones that ran along his ribs. "Why don't you just get up and kick me while you're at it?"

She scooted closer, running her hand along his side as well. It was morning, and the sun was shining brightly through their curtains – heralding a beautiful day in the makings.

"You'll feel better if you get up and start moving around, you know."

"No I won't... I'll be miserable." He knew she was right, of course. He just didn't want to move at all.

Sam slid her hand along his belly, her fingers playing delicately with the spattering of hair that ran from his chest along his stomach and disappeared under the blankets. He sighed, closing his eyes and enjoying the touch – her touch soothed like nothing else ever could.

A movement of the heavy weight that was resting by his hip was all the warning he had, and it wasn't anywhere near enough. Before his eyes opened and he'd had a chance to bring his hand up Jaffer was proving to him that his touch was equally wonderful. The big lab pounced on Jack, licking him ruthlessly from his forehead to his chin – although he did avoid his nose.

Jack sputtered, turning his head into his pillow to avoid being too slobbered on so early in the morning, and Sam laughed at what was a daily ritual. Jaffer was ready to get up, so he figured it was time for Jack to get up as well.

"I can't move..." Jack reminded Jaffer, pushing him away blindly, his voice muffled in the pillow.

Jaffer either knew that and didn't care, or knew that and figured it was going to make it that much easier for him to come out on top in the morning's contest. Either way, he didn't let up on his assault, and Jack was literally forced out of bed, rolling away from Sam and Jaffer both and falling off the side of the bed, pulling all the blankets with him.

"I'm up, I'm up..."

He threw a scowl at Jaffer, who was sitting on the bed looking at him cheerfully, and then another at Sam, who was cuddled up against the black lab, now, her hand caressing his silky shoulder.

"That's not fair, you know?"

"He's your dog, Jack..." She reminded him, reminding him as well that he was the one who spoiled him and allowed him to have his way – and therefore all this was his fault. She never spoiled Jaffer. Oh no, not her. Well, maybe sometimes...

"I'm going to go shower."

"Take your dog out first."

"He looks pretty comfortable where he is." Besides, it was cold outside, and Jack was warm. He didn't-

Jaffer hopped off the bed, coming over and wagging his tail. Oh yes, he needed out!

"Some day..." Jack said, scowling again, although there was no denying the love in the hand that came down and ran along Jaffer's neck and shoulder. "You're going to make a pretty rug..."

Sam grinned and pulled all the blankets back up onto the bed, then got up herself.

"Want me to let him out?"

"Nah, I got it." He wrapped his arms around he, still a little sleepy, but not much – really, he hurt more than anything else, and the only thing that was going to fix that was a warm shower and then moving around a little – or maybe sprawling on the sofa and doing nothing. It was Saturday, after all, and he didn't have to do anything. Anything but this. He kissed her softly; smiling when Jaffer rumbled a growl deep in his throat, reminding him that he really needed out and there wasn't a lot of time for romance just then.

Sam smiled, too, and pulled away.

"I'll make coffee."

"Sounds good."

They all left the bedroom, and Jack headed down the hall, following Jaffer. Sam, however, stopped at the guest room and put her ear against the door, listening for a sound that Ian might be awake. She didn't hear anything, though, and opened the door just a bit, peeking her head in to check on him.

He was sound asleep, his blankets on the floor and his pillow at his feet, but apparently unconcerned about any of that. She smiled, and snuck into his room silently, pulling the blankets back up and covering him, but leaving the pillow where it was so she didn't disturb him. His soft, even breathing never changed, and she quietly shut the door behind her as she left. He needed his sleep, and there was nothing on the day's schedule that gave her any reason to wake him up. He could sleep himself out.

She headed for the kitchen. Coffee sounded great.

"How is he?" Jack asked. He'd see her stop to check on the cadet – although he'd left her to do it alone instead of going in as well – just in case Ian was awake. He didn't think the boy would be comfortable with an audience, but he knew that Ian wouldn't mind Sam checking on him nearly as much as he might Jack.

"Asleep."

"Lucky him."

Sam smiled, and kissed him again.

"Stop complaining, and go take a shower. Then, if you're still sore, I'll give you a rub down."

That was too good an offer to refuse. He reminded her that Jaffer was outside – like she could forget – and headed for the bathroom.

OOOOOOOOO

When Ian finally woke up, it was light in his room and the lights weren't on. Which told him that it was morning. Although his empty stomach and full bladder suggested it might be later than that. He stretched, feeling refreshed and ready to get up, and rolled out of bed, looking at his watch. Then looking again, because it couldn't possibly be right.

1:30?

He'd slept until 1:30?

"Holy shit..."

No wonder he was hungry and it felt like he was going to pop at any minute. He couldn't remember the last time he'd slept so late. Rubbing his head – his stitches were beginning to itch like a mother, and although he knew it meant they were already healing, it was still annoying – he opened the door and headed for the bathroom, praying there wasn't anyone in it, because he really had to go.

There wasn't. Whew.

He took care of that pressing need, and then went to see where everyone else was.

OOOOOOOOO

Sam looked up when he came into the living room and smiled.

"Good morning."

"Afternoon," Jack corrected from where he was stretched out on the sofa, looking as though he'd been transplanted there permanently.

"Good morning." It had to be morning, somewhere, right?

"Slept well?"

Ian nodded, feeling a little foolish still about the night before, but determined not to let it embarrass him too much. Sam had told him it wasn't something he should let bother him, and he was going to try and do just that.

"Like a log."

"You were snoring like a logger sawing that log." Jack told him.

"I don't snore."

"Yes, you do."

"I do not."

"Sam, tell him he was snoring..." Jack said, turning to look at her. "The whole house was shaking... I thought sure it was an earthqua-"

"Bullsh-crap." Ian said, smiling and then cutting off his automatic curse and switching it over to something a little more acceptable. "I've never snored in my life."

"I thought a 747 was crashing in the backyard..."

"I don't snor-"

"Or a train was rumbling through the hallway..."

"Sam..."

"Hmmm?"

"Tell your husband that unless he wants to end up in a snowdrift headfirst, he'd better stop picking on me."

"Bring it on, cadet," Jack said, still not bothering to do more than lift his head. He didn't hurt nearly as much as he had when he'd woken up, but he was more than a match for some young kid. "I'll even tie an arm behind my back."

Sam laughed.

"Before you two decide to destroy the house, go get something to eat," she told Ian. "There's plenty of soup – or find something else, if you'd rather."

"Soup's fine." Ian said, turning towards the dining room. "Want some, Jack?" he called. "You'll have to go put your dentures in, but I'll be happy to put some in the blender if you can't find th-"

A pillow came at him, hitting him in the back of the head.