Chapter 5: A Day in the Life
Sam sat at her desk silently regarding her letters. It was a nice dark mahogany desk with intricate Jaffa designs and they were nice letters. Ray'ac was going to the bimonthly meeting of the Allies; she was sending him with a bundle of letters to be delivered. One for General Hammond, one for General Landry, one for the President, one for Janet, one for Cam and of course one for her father. They each included a copy of Kamala's birth certificate and a small portrait of her at 3 months old but ranged on the levels of intimate details. Writing them she realized how much she missed her old friends and family yet she couldn't bring herself to regret moving here to raise her daughter. Sitting back and closing her eyes Sam allowed the sounds of her new life to wash over her. The clatter of pots and pans combined with idle chatter could be heard faintly from the kitchen, the constant murmur of activity following Kat around, bending, sweeping, folding, scrubbing, putting away. The best sounds though floated up through the balcony from her garden. She could hear her daughter giggling along with Teal'c's gentle rumble. Karenna had the day off so Teal'c had offered to watch their daughter while Sam took a personal moment to finish her letters.
Sam smiled, leaned over her new desk and sealed all the letters. "Kat!" Her trusted personal assistant, maid, guide, and friend entered Sam's room brushing her dark hair back into place. She and Jon were expecting their second child, she was moving quickly into the second trimester and Sam had moving her duties to less demanding ones.
"Miste?"
Sam stood and crossed the room. "Would you mind delivering these letters to Madse Ray'ac. I would like for them to return to Earth with him."
Kat smiled and nodded. "Of course." She wiped her hands on her apron, took the letters and tucked the letters securely into her robes.
"Thank you." Sam smiled graciously and watched Kat head down the staircase before making her way over to the closet.
On the left side were all of her clothes and on the right were all of Teal'c.
Fingering her Battle Dress Uniform longing Sam moved over to her collection of summer robes. Selecting a light yellow under dress made of a satin like fabric and a cream linen robe Sam moved back towards the vanity. She pinned her hair up and grabbed her favorite shawl before following the sounds of laughter down the stairs and behind her home.
Slowing her silent stride she unlatched the gate and found Teal'c tickling Kamala with the leaf of a feather like plant. She continued to try and sneak up on them, smug in her knowledge of her skill she didn't see Teal'c tense slightly or she would have considered herself warned. With less than two feet she began to contemplate what sort of victory dance she would be performing. Abruptly Sam found herself lying in Teal'c's arms three feet above the ground in a perfectly executed dip. With a laughing smile he reached down to capture her soft lips with his. Behind them Kamala sat in the terrace giggling and clapping her hands. Offering a small kiss Sam disengaged herself from her husband reached for their daughter. It turns out that no matter what distant galaxy you traveled too babies smelt like babies.
Sam held soft, cuddly Kamala close and she could smell the baby-ness of her daughter. Nuzzling her daughter she felt Teal'c's fingers work their way past her linen robe and into the depths of her satin under dress.
"Samantha?"
"Hum?" She rested her head against his shoulder as his fingers deftly warmed her body.
"I will be going with Ray'ac this time."
Sam stilled. "Why?"
"Bra'tac is bringing a vote before the council as we speak, it would refigure the Jaffa government to follow one trusted leader who is in turn aided by a council of advisors." Sam sunk her head down against the warmth of her baby.
"And he is petitioning for you to be the first." Teal'c inclined his head. Turning around she unwrapped herself and Kamala from his warmth.
"Fine." Feeling a rumble in the opposing chest Sam looked up to see her husband laughing at her pout. "Yeah Teal'c that's great, just keep laughing. See if I don't just change the locks on you, I hope your laugh can keep you warm." With that she stalked away leaving Teal'c on the terrace chortling even louder.
She had refused to see him off but said a quick prayer (to whatever deity was truly there..) when he left. Busying herself in the nursery, which always smelled of a strange but sweet combination of cinnamon and vanilla, she didn't hear Bra'tac enter. He watched her ease naturally into the role of supreme mother for a moment before clearing his throat. Swiveling around her confusion was clear but soon replaced with a smile and she moved to embrace him.
"Bra'tac. How are you?" He returned her hug and promptly made his way over to pick Kamala up from where Sam had placed her down to play.
"Alive." Both adults chuckled for a moment. The honorary grandfather settled himself in the old wood rocking chair Sam had brought from earth because her great-grandfather made it, even though someone would always poke fun at its true reliability or lack there of. Sam continued to clean and organize her daughter's room. Folding outfits, pickup toys, straightening the crib, she was moving and she found peace in repetition of the small tasks her new life presented daily. Finally settling in on the large foot stool by the rocking chair Sam tucked her hands in to the large robes sleeves and smiled.
"What brings you out here so early?" Bouncing Kamala on his knee he refused to meet her eye or answer her question.
"I wish to put a vote before the council."
Sam sighed and wrapped her arms around herself even more tightly knowing exactly which issue he wanted everyone to vote on. No one really asked Sam her opinions on politics, besides Teal'c of course, but she didn't mind that hadn't been her job on Earth. Yet here was one of the most respected leaders of the new Jaffa world asking her permission to drastically change his government. He was trying to steal her husband.
"What would you have me say?"
The older man looked up.
"Yes."
Sam shook her head and began pacing.
"His daughter is barley half a year old and you really want me to sit here and say I'll encourage him to take longer, harder hours so he can play savior again? What have you been smoking?" Bra'tac sighed heavily, he had known this was going to be her reaction yet he had still held out hope against it.
"The Jaffa need him." Sam looked up and made eye contact for the first time in their debate.
"I need him." She sucked in a deep breath. "Kamala needs him." Bra'tac shook his head sadly and Sam's faced took on a shocked quality. "No one needs him more than his family." She shook her head. "I can't do this now. He has just left and I can't have this hanging over my head for a week. I'll think about it, I promise." The older man nodded sadly as Sam made her way over to him and took the now sleeping baby out of his arms towards her crib. Bra'tac nodded knowing this was his cue to leave.
That night Sam brought Kamala's crib into her own room and she could see it just outside the layer of gauze that protected her from the harsh realities of the outside world at night. Yet tonight for the first time ever her other half was not here to warm her, so for the first time in a year she silently cried herself to sleep.