Chapter 4: New Perspectives
"I know they're too big, but they've got to fit a lot better than what you're wearing now," Janet told her, handing her the bundle of clothing they'd packed. The cargo pants and black t-shirt had belonged to an eleven year old Teal'c a few months ago. Since they'd expected her to be about the same age, the sizing had seemed appropriate. Now, they would be much too large, but as Janet had said, anything had to fit better than her current outfit. Everything but her t-shirt had slid off just about, and even that was in danger.
"Thanks," she told her friend, taking the clothing gratefully. Janet turned her back, giving her some semblance of privacy. Sam quickly shed the ill-fitting garments and donned the smaller set. She looked down at herself and laughed, making Janet turn back around. Impulsively, she spread her arms out wide. "Look at me Janet. I'm so small… and I'm swimming in this outfit!" she said, partly in amusement, and partly in wonder.
Janet cocked her head to one side, arms crossed and studying. "Swimming at least, not drowning like you were before," she decided after a moment of consideration. "Here, we better roll up your pants legs before you trip," she said, bending to do just that.
Surprised, Sam watched her friend as she got down on one knee in front of her, deftly rolling up her left pant leg. "Yes mom," she said with mock meekness as the woman finished the one and started on the other, her words making the doctor pause and look up. With Janet kneeling, their eyes were on almost the same level.
"Sorry Sam," Janet apologized, her cheeks warming slightly. "Habit I suppose." Impishly, she reached out and finished the second before standing up again. Sam found it an odd feeling to be looking up at her friend when standing. Janet looked down at her for a beat, wearing a half grin, and then suddenly crossed to the pile of gear, bent down, and grabbed something, tossing it at her. Sam caught the lightly thrown item easily; shaking it out to reveal the shirt that went with the outfit she was wearing. She grinned as she realized someone had taken the time to put SGC patches on the sleeves.
"You'd better put that on, it will be dark by the time we reach the gate, and it already feels colder," Janet told her with teasing sternness. "I'm going to tell the guys you're decent."
Sam smiled, shrugging into the too large button down shirt. "Yes ma'am," she responded cheekily, and Janet gave her a knowing look and answering smile as she walked away.
Even with the shirtsleeves and pant legs rolled up, Sam knew she looked ridiculous, so she couldn't help but look down at the ground shyly as the guys re-entered the clearing.
"Whoo, Carter, we better see about requisitioning you some new uniforms when we get back to base, those certainly won't pass inspection!" Jack commented lightheartedly, and Sam looked up to find him standing in front of her, relaxed, hands casually resting on his P-90.
"Definitely not regulation," Daniel added, his pose equally relaxed, arms crossed on his chest as he pretended to examine her critically.
"Indeed not," Teal'c added, unable to fully hide his amusement.
Sam rolled her eyes as the teasing assaulted her from unexpected quarters. "Oh fine, laugh all you want, can we go now?" she asked to change the subject.
Staring down at her feet, Jack merely commented, "No shoes?"
Looking down too, she wriggled her bare toes in the grass. Tilting her head back up, she gave an apologetic half shrug. "They're way too big, sir, I'll probably fall on my face if I wear them."
He nodded. "We'll have to have Teal'c carry you I guess," he determined. "That ok with both of you?" he asked, looking from one to the other.
"I would be honored," Teal'c agreed readily.
Sam looked back down at her feet and sighed. It wasn't exactly the way back home she would have chosen, but she really didn't have much choice. "Yeah, ok," she said.
"We'll put the rest of your gear on the FRED," Jack told her, looking at her discarded vest and weapons. Sam hadn't even tried to see how any of those fit yet.
Instinctively, Sam wanted to protest giving up her weapons, even as Teal'c handed over his staff weapon so he could kneel down in front of her. Instead, all she said was "Yes, sir," as she wrapped her arms and legs around Teal'c. She realized that she'd never be able to handle the kick the P-90 put out at her current size. It would knock her flat, and who knows what she'd hit. She thought she could handle the Zat, but she needed both hands to cling onto Teal'c's back. The Colonel was right, but she couldn't help but gaze longingly at them as Daniel gathered up her loose gear.
The trip back to the stargate was unremarkable. Daniel dialed the gate, and signaled once he'd sent their iris code. Teal'c carried her through, and Sam found the trip familiar despite her new size.
The General waited for them at the bottom of the ramp, his eyes immediately seeking her out. Sam saw his eyebrows climb in surprise.
"Major Carter?" he asked hesitantly.
"It's me, sir," she reassured him quickly. Teal'c came to a stop in front of the General, but made no move to put her down. The General's eyes darted to the Colonel, clearly seeking an explanation.
"There was a bit of a glitch, sir," Jack supplied. "Something about a power surge," he added with a helpless shrug.
For his part, General Hammond barely blinked. "Very well, we'll have a full debrief once all of you have cleared medical."
A chorus of yes sirs joined her own, and the group moved to follow his command, but Sam could feel his eyes and the eyes of the security team on her as Teal'c carried her out of the room. In fact, there were a lot of surprised looks greeting them and her in particular on their way through the familiar hallways.
In the infirmary, Teal'c gently set her down on an empty bed, taking the one next to hers. Daniel and Jack took the other nearby beds. The scientists were led into another room as Janet pulled the curtain in Sam's cubicle.
Janet had planned ahead it seemed, and had taken pains to have smaller sized equipment on hand. Sam's post mission examination was no less thorough than normal.
"Well?" Sam asked, as Janet finished, making notes in her chart. Janet looked up and smiled.
"Everything checks out," she told her. "Aside from a bit higher ratio of muscle mass than is usual for a child this age, you are exactly like any other healthy girl of five."
"So, I can leave?" asked Sam hopefully.
Janet frowned thoughtfully. "Well, to be honest I'd feel more comfortable if we kept you here overnight," she said, and at Sam's crestfallen face, added hurriedly, "Of course I see no reason you can't go to the debriefing and get something to eat before you come back here," she allowed.
Sam brightened, and Janet switched tracks. "Why don't you wait here for me, we can check and see if I have anything in the back closet that will fit you better than what you are wearing. After the Colonel came back with you three from P35-437 the first time, I decided it would be a good idea to keep some more clothing on hand in smaller sizes. After all, it wasn't the first time we've had smaller guests here," she explained.
In perfect agreement, Sam waited until Janet had her own post mission performed, and then followed the other woman to the closet. The rest of SG-1 had already finished their post missions, and likely headed for the showers. With any luck, by the time she found something else to wear, the showers would be ready for her. The two women quickly sifted through the potential items, finding a pair of blue jeans that looked like they'd fit, and two t-shirts. One was plain pink, while the other was gray with the words "My dad's in the Air Force!" stamped on them in navy. They also managed to find socks, underwear and a pair of shoes that were only a little bit too big.
"Those should do for now, but you'll have to get more things soon," Janet decided, running a critical eye over the meager selections, and then back over the closet's contents as if looking to see if they'd missed anything.
Sam shrugged, gathering up the things they'd found. At least these things would fit, and she'd look a bit less ridiculous. "We're going to need a lot more, if I'm to be starting school next week." Sam shook her head over the idea.
"First day of kindergarten?" commented Janet, unsuccessfully hiding her amusement.
Sam groaned and shared an incredulous look with Janet. "Crazy huh?" she asked. "I thought it would be hard playing a middle school student, but now it feels even more far-fetched." Janet smiled, dropping a hand onto her shoulder and giving it a gentle sympathetic squeeze.
"You'll manage," the woman told her. "Now why don't you and I go hit the showers?" she suggested, looking down at her friend. Sam was again struck by the new change in perspective.
On the way to the locker room, Sam was greeted with more double–takes and curious looks, but a few people greeted her by name or rank. Obviously, the SGC rumor mill was already spreading the word about just who the little girl was that had come back with the rest of SG-1.
Opening her locker, Sam realized she needed Janet's help to reach her shower kit on the top shelf. The showerheads seemed a lot further away than she was used to as well. Looking at her now small, childish hands as they washed and dried her body with familiar ease, Sam kept feeling like she was looking at herself with the eyes of someone else. It was her body, but it was also not. Everything from the way her skin felt to the absence of familiar curves and… other things, kept making her feel like she wasn't in her own body despite the signals from her brain telling her otherwise. It was a very strange sensation. Janet didn't seem to mind that Sam was taking longer in the shower than usual, nor that she spent an inordinate amount of time afterwards in front of the body length mirror, studying her reflection. She'd never really considered herself vain, but the transformations she'd just undergone had her wavering between curiosity and amazement.
Still though, she had a briefing to attend and after drying off, Sam quickly dressed, tugging the first t-shirt she grabbed over her head. The gray t-shirt and jeans were an almost perfect fit and Sam knew they could use the sizes as a starting point to expand her wardrobe. It was going to be weird not needing a bra for a while though. The shoes were a little loose, but she tightened the Velcro straps until they fit better. She was definitely going to have to make new shoes a priority. Velcro was for kids!
"I'm ready," she announced, jumping up from the bench and found Janet watching her with a curious expression on her face. Sam recognized it instantly as the one the woman wore whenever Cassie did something particularly sweet, especially when she'd been younger. "Don't even say it!" Sam warned her, crossing her arms across her chest threateningly, oblivious to the lack of effect her gesture now had. "Don't even think it!"
Janet tried to look innocent, and with a huff, Sam led the way out of the room, ignoring the looks she garnered as she walked down the hall. Catching up easily, Janet fell into step beside her friend. "You have to admit Sam, it's going to take some getting used to, for all of us," she said, voicing some of the thoughts Sam had already had.
Sam glanced up at the doctor's face and softened. "I know," she said, acknowledging the importance of the other woman's words and the unspoken apology.
Since they were the last to arrive at the post mission briefing, everyone turned to watch them enter, and Sam was suddenly self-conscious, frozen in the doorway. A cough from General Hammond redirected everyone's attention and Sam unfroze long enough to dart over to a nearby empty chair and scramble up into it. She quickly realized that the chair was much bigger than she remembered, and her head barely cleared to top of the table. It was very disconcerting, but Sam pushed the feeling aside. Arriving at a quick solution, she tucked her legs up under her, raising her up a few needed inches. It still felt very strange, but at least she didn't feel like she was about to slide under the table.
"Major Carter, Doctor Fraiser," the General greeted without batting an eye, too much of a leader and a gentleman to make any comment on Sam's unorthodox seating arrangement. "Shall we begin?" he asked instead.
"Well, General, as you can see, the mission was a success but we'll have to make a few modifications to the plan," Jack started off, getting right down to the point.
Looking thoughtful, Hammond nodded. "So, you think you will still be able to go ahead with the mission?" he asked.
Daniel answered. "Providence has a kindergarten class. We'll just have to change the class Sam is enrolled in, but it should still work."
"Major Carter," Hammond asked, "Are you in agreement that the mission is still possible?"
Sam looked at each of her teammates, and back to the General. "Yes sir, I am," she tried to say confidently, but her voice sounded childish even to her own ears.
"Actually," spoke Daniel, "I've thought about it, and it might work out even better. I'll be teaching kids in Sam's class and the first grade, and that will let us be more in contact with each other in a way that won't raise suspicions," he pointed out.
Teal'c looked thoughtful. "I believe this misfortune will in fact be to our advantage," he stated.
Everyone nodded, and the General addressed his next question to Dr. Lee. "Doctor, what caused this? You told me that you would be able to make the Major appear to be twelve years old, eleven at the youngest." His tone was level, with no hint of accusation, merely curious.
Dr. Lee scratched the side of his nose. "Well, uh, you see there was a bit of a power surge, and we lost most of our recording equipment. Colonel O'Neill wouldn't let me go back in until the smoke cleared," he explained, unable to hide a faint look of disappointment. "Until then, I won't be able to say what happened, or even if the device is undamaged," he admitted. "I'd uh, like to take a team back to the planet," he asked.
"Noted Doctor," Hammond said. "Dr. Fraiser?" he prompted.
During the exchange, Sam had been busy fiddling with her pen, marveling in the dual and conflicting feelings it gave her. Holding it was familiar, but her small hands found the length and weight awkward. Her handwriting was going to take a distinct dive into the illegible until she got used to it. As Dr. Fraiser made her report, sharing her findings with the rest of the group, Sam's thoughts caught up with something Dr. Lee had said.
Straightening, Sam interrupted the current conversation. Oblivious to the looks of surprise she received, she blurted out a question. "Dr. Lee, are you saying that the device might be damaged? That I might be stuck like this?" she asked, rising up on her knees and waving her hands to indicate her now smaller state. The rest of the group looked startled. Obviously they too had been caught up in events and salvaging the mission to think about what the smoke and fried equipment might also mean in the long run.
"Uh, well, actually, I don't know yet," the man admitted reluctantly.
"Sir, permission to accompany Dr. Lee and his team back to P35-437," she requested, turning to face the General.
His answer shocked her. "Negative," he said.
"But, sir," she protested, readying an argument, but the General forestalled her with a raised hand.
"I'm sorry Major, but Dr. Lee will have to head the mission on P35-437. You are too important to the Providence mission for anything else," he stated in a way that was clear he would not be swayed. His features softened as Sam was unable to hide her feelings about his denial. "I understand your concerns, Major. When your first mission has been completed, I will be happy to reconsider, but until then, your mission to Providence School must be your first and only priority." He waited, giving her time to absorb his orders and make any argument. When she only nodded, looking back down at her pen, he looked around the table. "Is there anything else? No? Then this meeting is dismissed."
Sam's thoughts were in a daze as everyone around her stood and left. She looked up as the rest of her team surrounded her, and took in their quiet and concerned faces.
"You ok Sam?" Daniel asked.
She nodded automatically, and then said with more surety than she felt, "I'll be ok, it's just a lot to take in," she admitted.
Jack didn't look convinced, but he didn't push the issue. Instead, he suggested, "Everything is better with a little… pie," he finished. "Commissary?"
She couldn't help it, a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Ok, sir," she decided.
He looked pleased, bouncing slightly in place. "Good," he said, clapping his hands together once. "Let's eat."
A/N: Sorry for the delay! But I had to finish my taxes, and all I could think about was itemizing, exemptions, additions, subtractions, deductions, add the amount in box b to line 3 and divide by the amount on line 66a etc. And then, today was so beautiful.. I got started on a little yard work. And really, now, I should be in bed, but here I am, posting this next chapter for you. So be sure to tell me how wonderful I am. (wink wink, nudge nudge)
Anyway, for those of you who have missed updates on Sammy and Dragon… they are both fat, and had a blast today with all the windows open. I also discovered that the catnip I planted last year came back up on it's own, so they both had a good wallow in it when I brought them a few sprigs. Here's to spring!