When she arrived home that night, Sam expected to find everyone already asleep except Jack. Instead as she moved from the kitchen to their living room, Jack was indeed there watching TV but so was Jake. A basketball game apparently. Grace was seated in another couch by herself. Reading.
"Hi", Sam said after getting no recognition from her arrival.
Three heads moved in sync and looked at her.
"Hi honey! You're home already?", asked Jack looking surprised to his watch.
It was 2030. She usually arrived around 2330 or, on goods days, at 2200.
"Yeah, managed to get out earlier", she said not moving from the doorway.
"The Nuggets are winning", Jake said with a smile.
Sam had the vague recollection that those Nuggets were the basketball team from Colorado and not what she usually fed them.
"Really? So that's good…?", she asked with a tentative smile.
"Yeah mom, they're our team", Jake said rolling his eyes and looking at the screen again.
Of course she would know that if she spent more time at home. Sam felt a sudden headache develop as her shoulders tensed. She looked at her daughter who had gone back to her book. Sam noticed that she was reading 'Matilda' from Roald Dahl and sighed. It was suited that her daughter should be reading about an exceptionally gifted young girl who, despite learning to read classic books at the age of four, is completely ignored by her own family. Talk about expressing sarcasm through a book's choice at the age of six!
"Of course they are", Sam said automatically.
Jack in the meantime had got up and was by her side.
"Want to grab a bite?", he asked kissing her on the lips.
"I need to shower first", she said with a smile. And maybe go quickly to the fire range and empty an P-90 just to unwind.
"Okay. I'll wait for you in the kitchen", he said. Giving her a light slap on her ass as she moved to the stairs.
Her shower took longer than usually as Sam let the pouring hot water work on her tensed muscles. She finally closed the tap and grabbed a towel. After patting herself dry, she dropped the towel and looked at the mirror. Naked. She was now 44 and still worked hard to keep her body in shape but the signs of her two pregnancies were there. Her breasts were no longer firms and perky like they used to be. They had loose some volume although Jack still liked them very much. Very much indeed. Her weight was back to her pre-being pregnant with Grace and her muscles were also back. Not SG-1 muscles but Pentagon's muscles.
"Not so bad", she said out loud.
She started to dress and suddenly felt a pair of eyes on her. Moving her head, she saw that Grace was in the room. Looking at her.
"Hi honey", she said pulling her sweatpants up.
"You told me that when you were home you would tell me the story about the Alkesh. Are you going to tell me now?", she asked with defiant blue eyes, the same color as her mother.
Sam played a little with her wedding ring.
"Okay. I'm going to eat something. I can tell you downstairs", she said leaving the room.
Grace followed her like a shadow. Before going to the kitchen Sam put her head in the living room where Jake was still watching the game.
"Jake, I need to tell you guys some important things. So come to the kitchen", she said. More ordering than asking.
Jake knew that tone and got off the couch.
Jack was already in the kitchen when Sam entered, Grace on her hells and Jake quickly following. He looked up surprised.
"Something wrong?", he asked as he took the lasagna out of the microwave.
Sam took a plate and a fork, seating on her usual chair.
"No, I'm about to tell them what really I do at the Mountain. What we did when we worked together during SG-1. So maybe they understand a little better why I have to stay at work so late. And to answer Grace's question as I promised", she said looking at their daughter.
Jack put the lasagna on her plate.
"Okayyyy…", he said raising an eyebrow. "Do you think it is safe to tell them?", he asked.
Sam started to take bits of the lasagna and ate them. Jake and Grace had sat also around the table and were, for once, very quiet looking at their parents.
"They're cleared to enter a top secret facility of the country. Maybe the most secret. They understand very well that they can't talk about anything they see in there with anyone. What I am about to tell them is the same. You know that, right kids?", she asked looking at both of them.
Both nodded silently.
"See?", she asked looking now at her husband.
"Okay then", he said crossing his arms.
Sam eat a little bit more and then put her plate aside. She looked down at her wedding ring and thought how when she was in SG-1 the thought of being married was just a dream. She smiled.
"So you both know that I work on an underground base run by the Air Force. The work there is classified for a reason. Inside that mountain is a device called Stargate that very few people know about its existence. This device was built by an ancient and highly advanced civilization known as the Ancients who sought to explore the vast reaches of space", Sam said with a voice like she was in the Academy giving a lecture to her students.
She stopped and looked to her children who were both staring at her.
"Any question so far?", she asked.
They both shook their head.
"Okay, like I was saying, this civilization built the Stargate as a means of instantaneously traveling between different planets. The Stargate itself is a massive circular ring with symbols representing various celestial bodies engraved on its surface. The Stargate operates on a principle known as "wormhole physics." By dialing a specific combination of symbols on the Stargate, one can establish a stable wormhole connection between two Stargates located at different points in the universe. This allows for near-instantaneous travel across vast distances that would otherwise take hundreds or thousands of years using conventional means", she said looking at them while speaking.
Jack grabbed an apple. He always got lost at this part.
"Do you want an apple to show them?", he asked offering her one.
Sam smiled and shook her head.
"I know that this is too technical for you. But simply put, the Stargate allows us to travel to other planets. That's what we did while both your father and I were at SG-1. And uncle Teal'c and Daniel", she said.
"So you can travel to other planets?", Jake asked with his eyes very opened.
"Yes, we can", Sam said.
"And there's oxygen in those planets? Have you been to Mars?", he asked again.
Sam slowly shook her head.
"No Jake. We've never been to Mars actually", she said looking to her husband for confirmation.
Jack just shrugged his shoulders. He didn't remember the names of the planets at the time of the missions. Now? He couldn't care less. But he was pretty sure they hadn't been in Mars.
"We've been at other planets, Jake. Much, much far than Mars. And the majority of them had oxygen yes", she said.
"So what happened to the Ancients?", Grace finally asked.
"Ah that. Well their civilization eventually declined. Over time, various other civilizations, such as one called the Goa'uld, discovered and used the Stargates for their own purposes. The Goa'uld is a parasitic race posing as gods. They have the appearance similar to small snakes and they enslaved many human civilizations, using the Stargates to maintain control over vast territories", Sam explained.
"Yeah, I called them snake-heads", Jack said with a bit of a smile.
Sam gave him a warning look while Jake smiled widely.
"Snake-heads! Yeah, I like that, dad", he said.
"I know, right?!", Jack was grinning to his son, ignoring Sam's furious stares.
Grace elbowed her brother.
"Shut up. I want to know the rest", she said clearly annoyed.
"All you need to know is that long ago the Goa'uld learned how to infest and possess the Unas, another species native to a distant world, and learned to operate the Stargate on their planet and left. The Goa'uld are violent, arrogant, and parasitic. They are ruthless in battle, and will annihilate that which they cannot enslave or control" she said with a serious voice.
"So they are bad, mom?", Jake asked.
"They are very bad, Jake. When they stumbled upon the primitive humanity, they discovered that we make excellent hosts, and enslaved them. So to them we are just hosts and slaves. We're disposable. And they will kill all of us with no problem. So we had to fight back and destroy them. To survive", Sam said.
"Have you fought them, mom?", Jake asked slowly.
"Yes, I did. And so has your father", she answered.
"When?", Grace asked immediately.
Sam took a deep breath.
"When we opened the Stargate on Earth, the Stargate Command – it's the name of the Program where I work - was plunged into the middle of the galactic power struggle. The first trip through the Stargate sent a team to Abydos, a planet peopled by the descendants of Ancient Egyptians. The Abydonians slaved in the mines and worshipped Ra as their god for thousands of years. Your father and uncle Daniel helped free the people by destroying Ra and his starship in orbit. Ra was the most powerful and feared of all the Goa'uld System Lords. After his death, things changed and we went on numerous missions through the Stargate", she said looking at her husband.
"Did you also went on missions, mom?", Jake asked.
"Yes, I did. With your father, uncle Daniel and Uncle Teal'c. We were the first team. SG-1", she said with a smile.
"But you weren't married?", Grace asked looking at them.
Jack smiled.
"No, Grace we weren't. That was a long time ago", he said.
"But why? You didn't like her?", she asked looking at her father.
Jack suddenly coughed and Sam looked at him with an amused expression.
"Yes Jack, please answer your daughter's question", she said.
Jack actually blushed a little and cleared his throat.
"Yes… I mean no. At that time, I was your mother's commanding officer. We couldn't have a relationship. It was forbidden by the Air Force", he said drinking a glass of water.
"That's not what Grace asked", Sam said with a smile.
Jack gave her a murderous look.
"Don't push it", he said. Starting to feel suddenly hot.
She moved her lips in a silent kiss and smiled.
"So what's an alkesh?", Grace asked shifting her attention to her mother.
"Oh it's a Goa'uld mid-range bomber. It can travel through hyperspace and is equipped with a ring transporter and cloaking capabilities", she explained.
"A ring transporter?", Jake asked making a funny face.
Sam passed a hand through her hair. It was time to end the explanations. Things were getting too technical and too detailed.
"They function similarly to Stargates, transmitting a matter stream over shorter distances, for example between a planet and a ship in orbit", she said.
Then she stood up.
"So I believe you now have a lot more information about what I do in the Mountain and why sometimes I've to be there longer. We're not alone in the universe. There are indeed aliens and they're not friends like they appear in the movies you see. They are the villains. Sometimes much worse than that. And we work very hard to get rid of them", she said.
"And of course we can't repeat a word your mom said to anyone. ANYONE!", Jack said in a serious tone.
"No one would believe us anyway", Jake said getting out of his chair.
Grace continued seated, in silent.
"Any more question, Grace?", Sam asked looking at her very quiet daughter.
"Are they here on Earth? Those Goa'uld?", she asked.
"No, honey. We killed almost all of them many years ago. You don't have to worry about them anymore", she said caressing her blonde hair.
"Yeah, Grace. They're gone. And they aren't coming back. We totally kicked their asses", he said with a smile.
"Jack…", Sam warned.
"We did", he said shrugging his shoulders.
"Okay, it's time for bed", Sam said.
Jake had already left the kitchen and Grace slowly followed his steps. As soon as they were alone she turned to her husband.
"So Jack, about your daughter's question…", she said grabbing his shirt.
He shook his head.
"No, no, no", he said several times.
She put her hands around his waist trying to look him in the eyes but he kept averting them.
"Ah so that is your answer? No, you didn't love me?", she asked. Moving her hands to his ass.
"That's not what I said", he quickly added. Looking at the ceiling but without avoiding a smile.
She started to kiss his neck. Slowly.
"So what did you say?", she asked. "I'm curious".
"I'm not going to win this, am I?", he asked still not looking at her.
"Nops", she said moving her body against his. Hard.
"God", he moaned.
"Not yet", she said continuing her kisses.
"Humm…mom…dad?". Jake's voice made Sam let Jack go.
"Yes honey?", she asked turning around.
"Aren't you going to tuck me in?", he asked.
Sam put one hand in her husband chest shoving him aside.
"Of course, honey. Let's get you into bed", she said putting a hand in his shoulder.
Sam climbed the stairs with her son and entered his room. Jake was already in his pajamas and quickly got inside his bed.
"So mom…We are safe right?", he asked as Sam pulled the covers up to his chin.
Sam began to think if it had been a good idea of telling them about the Goa'uld.
"Yes, Jake. They are gone. You don't have to worry about them or any other alien. I'm not letting none of them getting pass me and harm you or your sister. And your dad would never allow that either. So both of you are pretty safe", she said giving him a kiss in his forehead.
"You promise, mom?", he asked. Grabbing her hand.
She held his hand tight.
"I swear to you, Jake. No one will get you or your sister", she said.
"Okay", he said turning around and closing his eyes.
Sam gently caressed his hair for some time and then left him alone, closing the door. She hesitated a little in front of her daughter's bedroom door but finally she entered. Grace was already in bed but with the light on. She was reading her book.
"Hi honey", she said from the doorway.
"Hi", Grace said putting the book on her nightstand.
"So do you have any more questions about what I said in the kitchen?", she asked.
"No, not right now", she said pulling her comforter.
Sam finally entered the room and sat on her bed.
"You know you're safe, right Grace? No one will hurt you?", she asked.
"That's a big assumption. There are several ways of hurting a person", she said looking at her mother.
Sam swallowed. Her youngest child was definitely more complicated than her oldest. She was so like Sam that her heart ached.
"I know Grace. And is someone hurting you right now?", Sam asked although she already knew the answer.
Grace looked down, avoiding her mother's eyes.
"I think we both know the answer to that question", she said in a low voice.
Sam bit her lip hard.
"And is there anything I can do to change that?", she asked. Trying desperately not to cry.
"I'm just a kid. What do I know?", she said turning around and closing her eyes.
Sam also closed her eyes. Letting the tears fell. Grace wasn't going to see them anyway. She gave her a gentle kiss in her bare arm and got up.
"Sleep well, Grace. I love you very much", she said leaving her room.
After some minutes alone, Grace also whispered "I love you too, mom". Then she fell asleep. Dreaming with imaginary snake-heads that were trying to get inside their house through the doors and the windows to get them. But were instantly killed by her mother. All of them. Every single time.