Chapter Eight
It's A Hard Knock Life

Author's Note: It takes one patch of ice, a steep trail, and a backflip to end up in bed for a month with a hard neck brace. Ack-it's getting better though...anyways here is some more for my wonderful, patient readers ;)

Disclaimer: If I owned Stargate, well, it'd be a whole different then it is during this season.

Spoilers: S7 Fragile Balance

"Get up! Sam, come on, move it." A sleepy voice grunted as a shove hit Sam on the back. "It's time for school. Mommmm, (yawn) told me to make sure you were up."

"Yeah, mmhmm, I'm up, yeah." Sam spoke back unconvincingly. Obviously she did need some of that sleep Janet was talking about.

"GET UP!" Cassie yelled once more, and she shook her. The impact took Sam by surprise though, and she ended up in a heap on the floor.

"Dammit Cassie! I was up! You didn't have to push me." Sam yelped as she nursed a bruised elbow. Looking at Cassie's back turned to her, she rolled her eyes, and got up off the floor. "I'm coming."

"Nice to meet you Samantha, Daniel. We're very sorry to hear about your home in California, but we will do everything we can to help you fit in here for the time being." Katherine Wrigley, Colorado Springs Senior High school principal, said to the two nervous subjects standing in front of her. "Cassie and your Aunt have both told us a little bit about you, and I have arranged spaces in a few classes that you may be interested in. Daniel, I hear you are a history buff, and I took a look at your school records. There's an opening in AP World Cultures if you would like to take it. Samantha, I hear you are quite the Madam Curie of modern day. A part-time college professor, who is anxious for you to join his class, heads our science department. Are there any other interests either of you have?" the woman asked nearly breathless after her small de-briefing.

"Do you offer any language classes?" Daniel asked, for he was hoping to add Japanese to the long list of languages he spoke. "I want to take Japanese."

"Well, we do offer an introductory class. Our district doesn't quite feel the need to endorse our Japanese language program, but we have the Intro course at least. Are you interested?" Mrs. Wrigley said back to Daniel. He nodded his head. "Well, I will add you to Mr. Shin's roster then."

"Uh, one more thing, uh, Mrs. Wrigley. What kind of clubs do you have?" Sam asked although Cassie had filled her in for the most part.

"We have our language clubs, drama, SADD, National Honor Society, Student Council, Community Service Corps, and there are many more. I just can't name them all." The older woman chuckled at her loss of words. "Do you play any sports?"

"Eh…" the question had caught Sam off guard. She had run track at the academy, but she didn't know if her skills were as sharp as they used to be. "Um, I did track a few years (a few, hah, how about ten?) ago." Came her weak response, as the principal seemed to brighten up a bit.

"Oh! How fabulous! We are always searching for recruits for our team! I'll let the coach know that you want to join!" Mrs. Wrigley said as she lost herself in an excited bustle, and hurried off to her office. A middle-aged woman sitting behind the front desk took over from there.

"So, here are your schedules. Do you need help getting' to your class? I can get someone to walk you down." The woman said lazily.

"Oh, no that won't be necessary Ms.-"

"Lambe."

"Oh. Then no thanks Ms. Lambe." Daniel spoke hurriedly and very Daniel-ishly as he pulled Sam down to the hallway.

"Hun, did you do your homework yet? I want it done before midnight for once." Ellen said to Jack, as he stood dumbfounded in the hallway. Homework? Hammond had not mentioned that he was required to complete this. Crap.

"Um, what homework Mom?" he replied in an all-too-sweet voice. This would be a good tactic to figure out what kind of work the woman was talking about here.

"Oh, I don't know. What about your algebra, or that essay you need to write for English class? Jack, come on. You know what to do-get to work." He walked cluelessy up the staircase, which was in front of the main entrance. Turning down the hallway, he stopped when he reached a room with all kinds of sports cars and truck posters on the walls. There were two windows adjacent to a medium sized twin bed, and a matching oak bureau was directly to the right of the doorframe. He did a quick survey of his surroundings before flopping onto the bed with a loud straining noise from the mattress. He put his hands behind his head, and lay down to look at the ceiling. He was pleasantly surprised to see scattered amounts of those glow-in-the-dark stars decorating it. Charlie had always wanted them, and secretly he was quite fond of them himself. He lay on the bed for just a few spaced-out minutes before he heard Ellen walk into the room.

"Uh, Jack, what are you doing in Ryan's room?" she asked. "I thought I told you to do your homework…?"

"Eh, well," Jack struggled for words. Damn she got him right between the eyes, how could he wing this one now? "I was tired, and I…just wanted to see if you noticed." He replied with his most innocent smile.

"I noticed. Homework. Now!"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm going." He muttered as he shuffled into the room closest to the one he had been in. Obviously, it was his. He didn't think there was anyone else in the house that had a license plate that said, "Bite me" on it hanging on the wall.

"Hon, we are going to pick up your exchange student tomorrow afternoon. Just got the call." Ellen's voice drifted upward. Finally, T was coming-he didn't believe he could bear much more of this lifestyle without someone who knew just how weird it felt sympathizing with him. Not that Teal'c was prone to sympathizing.