Next morning, Sam woke up with her head on top of Jack's chest and her belly also all over him. He was quietly sleeping with an arm around her back. She looked at the time and saw that she still had some minutes before her alarm started to beep. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the closeness.
When the alarm beeped, Jack immediately shut it down. Sam moved her head and looked at him with sleepy eyes.
"Hi", she said.
"Hi yourself", he said with a smile.
"I really have to go pee", she said starting to move.
"Okay", Jack said stretching his back.
Inside the bathroom, Sam thought about the previous day. She still felt like crap. It had been a terrible day at the Mountain and today she had all those letters to write to the parents who had lost their sons in battle. Without never knowing how they really died. She closed her eyes and covered her face with both hands. And that's how Jack found her, minutes later. Seated in the toilet.
"Are you feeling alright, honey?", he asked kneeling and putting both hands on her knees.
She shook her head, not moving her hands.
"It's okay, Sam, I've got you", he said. Putting his arms around her shoulders.
She let her head drop in his shoulder and finally she cried. She cried for her lost soldiers. For all the lives that had been taken so early during her watch. And she cried for her. From not being strong enough to control her emotions in front of the men and women she now led. For not being perfect.
Slowly, the tears stopped and she regained control. Sniffling she kissed Jack's neck and grabbed his arms.
"I'm okay", she said getting up and picking her panties and shorts.
Jack also got up. His face was a map of worry.
"Are you sure?", he asked.
"I'll be", she said. Splashing her face with cold water.
"Are you staying home today?", he asked leaning on the doorway.
"No, I've got things to do at the base", she said starting to undress and opening the taps of the shower.
"You need to rest, Sam", he said.
"I'll rest later. First I've things to take care of", she said stepping inside their walk in shower.
"Do you want me to drive you?", he asked.
"Yes, actually that would be very nice", she said surprising him.
"Ok…ay", Jack said indeed surprised.
"If you don't have other plans, of course", she said washing her hair.
"No, none whatsoever", he said. "And do you want me to drop you there and pick you up later?", he asked starting to undress also.
"Yes, please", she said getting out of the shower and grabbing a very large towel.
"Fine. I'll have a quick shower and then we can have breakfast with Jake and then go", he said.
"Okay, I'll get dressed", she said.
Jack quickly showered. She was already wearing her maternity uniform.
"I'm going to get Jake while you get dressed", she said.
"Right", he said tossing the towel to the floor.
She gave him a quick glance and left the room. Blushing. She found that Jake was already awake and playing with his toys.
"Hi baby", she said giving him a kiss. She avoided picking him up now because of her back pain. And because he weighted like a damn truck.
"Mama", he said getting up.
"Are you hungry? Let's have some breakfast!", she said.
He sprinted to the hallway and right to the stairs. Sam had to rush to catch him. He already managed himself in the stairs but both she and Jack liked to be careful. Once on the kitchen she helped him get to his chair.
She took the milk from the refrigerator and in the meantime Jack appeared. He kissed his son's forehead.
"Hi, champion. Want some pancakes?", he asked.
"Yeah…Cancakes", Jake said smiling.
Jack started to take what was needed and was doing pancakes in no time.
"Want some?", he asked to his wife.
Sam was drinking her tea, trying to do something with her son's rebellious hair.
"Sure, thanks", she said.
In the end, all the family had pancakes for breakfast. Jack got Jake dressed real fast and they were in the Escalade in no time.
"Ready to drive mommy to work?", he said putting his sunglasses.
"Yeah", Jake said smiling. This wasn't his usual routine so he was more than happy to be in the car with his mom and dad.
"Right. Let's go then", he said taking the SUV from the garage and driving to the Mountain.
The drive to Cheyenne was silent except for the babbling from Jake. Jack could sense Sam's tension as they approached the base. They passed the first security check point and Jack parked in front of the main entrance. Sam put one hand on his thigh.
"Thanks. I'll send you a message when I'm done", she said and put her hand on the door handle to opened it.
"No kiss?", Jack asked taking his sunglasses.
Sam blushed slightly and looked around. He did the same. There was no one in the parking lot.
"We're alone", he said.
Sam looked again and leaned forward to kiss him. He grabbed her chin and captured her mouth in a deep kiss. Her nails dug into his thigh. He angled his mouth, forcing her lips apart. Not that he had to force her that much, as her lips parted willingly beneath his. His tongue swept into her mouth, running along her teeth, probing deep into the recesses of her mouth.
She abruptly broke the kiss, panting.
"This…This isn't the place", she said trying to breath normally.
"We're just kissing", he said with a smile.
"More like mouth to mouth breathing", she said getting out of the car.
Jack started to laugh. Sam opened the back door and gave a big kiss to her son. If her eyes could kill, Jack would be a dead man at that moment. Instead he just watched her get inside the Mountain. Then he drove back home. With a big smile on his lips. Without him knowing, Sam entered the first elevator also smiling.
A smiled that disappeared as soon as she reached the control room. Her 2IC was already there.
"Good morning, General", Harriman said.
"Good morning, Colonel. How are things?", she asked.
"SG-14 went earlier to recover the bodies. No contact with the enemy. They already returned safe and sound", he said.
"Good. I'll be in my office writing the letters to their families", she said going to her office.
"Yes, Ma'am".
She spent the entire morning writing condolences letters. And trying very hard not to break down and cry. Although she was alone in her office she didn't want to repeat what had happened the day before. After the last letter she decided to talk with Lisa. She found her in her office, typing.
"Hi, do you have some minutes?", she asked from the doorway.
Lisa stopped typing and invited her in.
"Sure. Come in General", she said.
Sam entered and closed the door.
"How can I help? Are you feeling better?", Lisa asked.
"A little. Not very much. No", Sam finally admitted.
Lisa nodded.
"Okay. You do know that what happened yesterday was perfectly normal? You're pregnant. In your third semester. Your mood swings are running wild as well as your hormones. It's something you can't control and what happened was a real though situation", she said.
"Rationally I know all that. But I can't run this base if I'm being controlled by hormones, Lisa. That suddenly decide it's normal to start crying in the control room. I'm the CO of this base. And I'm a woman. You know very well the scrutiny that I'm under", Sam said sighing.
"I know. And that's why I recommend, as the CMO of this base and as your doctor, that you should reduce your work hours here at the Mountain. Pass the load to Harriman. He can take it. Came two a three days a week, during the afternoon. Sleep in the morning. Rest more. You need, your body needs and your baby also needs it", she said.
Sam lifted an eyebrow.
"Is that your professional opinion?", she asked.
"It will be my medical recommendation, yes. So you can discuss with your superiors and start implementing as soon as possible. If you don't I'll do it for you", she warned.
"Ah…Doctor Bloom. Are you threatening me?", Sam asked surprised.
Lisa put both hands in her desk.
"I'm warning you General, as CMO of this base what my health assessment of the CO will be. So take care of it or I will", she said in a serious tone.
"Okay. No need to go all ballistic on me", Sam said getting up.
"I've started to learn that you don't take my advises seriously unless they are backed up with serious force", she said with a smile.
San looked at her for some time.
"Are you sure you never met a doctor called Janet Frasier?", she asked.
Lisa had already heard about the legendary Janet Frasier.
"No, never had the honor", she said.
"You are a lot like her", Sam said.
"Is that good or bad?", Lisa asked curious.
"Both actually", Sam said leaving.
Lisa smiled and returned to her medical reports.