Needless to say, Janet had been more than a little shocked when Sam turned up at her door with her twins in tow. She was even more shocked when she hugged her and felt the small bump on Sam's belly, indicating the baby inside. But nothing compared to the shock she felt after Sam had sat with her on the couch in her living room and poured out the whole story. She had known that Sam and Pete had their problems, but never thought that Sam would have stayed in an abusive relationship. And as for the kids…
"You mean, they're ALL General O'Neill's? Even the little one? Oh, Sam…"
"I know, Jan, I know. Once was stupid enough, but twice? I dunno, there was just something about him. He looked…broken, I guess. Like a part of him was missing. So, when he asked me to stay, I just couldn't turn around and walk out of his life without a second glance."
"Sam, does he know?"
Sam looked at her toes, curled up underneath her, in the same way that she used to sit with Janet years ago, before Pete had come along and ruined her life.
"No, Jan. I can't tell him. It would ruin his career, he'd have three kids that he never wanted to deal with, and especially after Charlie, I couldn't do that to him. And I don't think I could handle his reaction."
"Oh, Sammy. You have to tell him. Aside from the fact that they're his kids, and he has a right to know, you know he'd never react like that. You've seen how he is with kids, Cassie… He'd probably be rejoicing. Sam, are you sure you're not just scared of how Pete would react?"
"No…maybe. I don't know Jan. All I know is I've kept it from him for over two years, three if you count the time I was pregnant. And now I'm pregnant again. I think I'm afraid he'll hate me. Or that he'll feel obligated to me or something. I don't know."
Just then, the doorbell rang. "Oh! I forgot! Daniel's here. We're going out for dinner… I'll cancel, tell him something came up."
"No, Jan, go ahead. Wait, since when are you and Daniel seeing each other for dinner? Outside of the base?" Sam grinned as a faint blush came over the small doctor's face.
"Well, at your retirement party actually. I was intending to tell you, but you were, as I now realise, otherwise engaged. Then, you left, moved, and we lost touch. I guess I never got around to telling you." Sam sighed wistfully, regretting the lost years. "Go! Have fun! And tell Daniel…tell him I missed him and I'm looking forward to seeing him soon. We all have a lot of catching up to do."
"Sam's in town? When? Why? What? Hold on… Just tell me everything."
"Daniel, breathe. She finally left him. She's back, and I think it might be for good." Janet proceeded to tell Daniel everything – they had long passed the stage where secrets were impossible to keep, and she knew Sam would forgive her. And, if some of the information just happened to reach a certain General in the aftermath, well, Janet could hardly be held responsible, could she? Stopping only for Daniel's repeated "what's" Janet told him all the details – the babies, the beatings, and ended with "And, if that lousy piece of scum doesn't get arrested, then I'll take him down myself for what he did to her. Men like that…" She didn't finish the thought, but it was okay. Daniel knew how her ex-husband had treated her, and knew that if Jack felt the way about Pete that Daniel did about Janet's ex, then Pete would soon find himself in a world of hurt. "I just hope she's okay. I mean, she seemed so different. Harder, colder. Like she was afraid to let me in. But at the same time, she was so vulnerable. I've never seen Sam like that. She was always so sure of herself, now it's like she's not even comfortable in her own skin. And those babies…"
"Shh, Jan, it's okay" Daniel consoled Janet, worried too about his friend, and knowing that pretty soon, he was gonna have to deal with a very irate Jack O'Neill…