A Hundred Days

by Arcturus

URL: http://www.stargateslash.com/asa/arcturus/hundredd.php
Summary: None
Info: My thanks as always to Oxfordshoes2 for the beta.

Day 15

"You miss him." Janet stated as she placed the coffee down next to Sam's computer.

"Yeah."

"Is this a problem?" Janet asked, concern in her voice.

Sam looked up from her calculations then and encountered soft brown eyes appraising her. "No." A small unidentifiable shiver travelled her body. "No, of course not," she said more firmly; did Janet think she had romantic feelings for the colonel? As quickly as Sam had broken off from her work, she returned to it, effectively dismissing the doctor from her mind.

Janet watched as Sam went back to her computer. Already she could see the major was pushing herself too hard, not looking after her basic needs. Well, as her physician and friend, the brunette vowed she would ensure Sam got through this in one piece; and if something more came of it, all well and good.

Janet knew that Sam was straight, hell there had been that big fracas with Jonas Hanson; the rumors that flew round the base regarding the two officers of SG-1 left her in no doubt. So all she could do was admire from a distance and pretend to herself that friendship was enough.

Day 20

Janet had spent the weekend with Cassie, enjoying some real bonding time with her daughter. Shopping, a movie and takeout on Saturday had been followed by a lazy Sunday morning, glorious brunch and an afternoon stroll around the local park. They had ended the weekend curled together on the couch watching a dire video that Cassie had found in one of the cupboards. Janet had not laughed so much in ages.

So as she stepped into Sam's lab on the Monday morning she was in a good mood. "Hey Sam, how was your weekend?" she offered brightly.

"Hmm? Oh hi Janet..." Sam managed, her mind obviously still fully engaged on the screen in front of her.

Janet shifted automatically from friend to doctor as she noted the pale features, the slight shake in Sam's hand. "Did you spend all weekend here again?"

"Yes, so much to do, I have to keep focus."

"When was the last time you slept?" Janet's tone slightly harder this time, causing Sam to look up. The blonde frowned, trying to remember the last time she had actually laid down in her bed properly. "A couple of hours here and there. I'm fine."

Janet's raised eyebrow emphasized her disagreement, but Sam was not ready for the doctor's next comment. "From today you will spend at least six hours in every twenty four away from the lab resting, or I pull you from the project."

Sam's full attention was now on the petite woman in front of her. Didn't the doctor realize how important this was? "What?!" she gasped. "Janet, you can't make me do that."

"Yes Sam, I can."

The major's anger rose quickly, "Oh and I suppose you're going to have an SF escort me to my quarters?" she snarked.

"No, Teal'c actually."

"Why? Why would you do that when you know how important this is?" Sam felt the adrenaline course through her body, heard the sharp anger in her voice and really didn't care if she upset the doctor.

Janet refused to be fazed by her friend's hostility. "Because you won't take care of yourself; if you get sick, the colonel will never get home."

Sam went back to staring at the screen in front of her, willing the anger to abate. "Fine. Tell Teal'c to come by at midnight."

Janet stood for several long moments waiting for further comment; but she realized that Sam had dismissed her from her thoughts already. She turned and left the lab, wondering if this was the end of their friendship.

Day 24

It was Friday and Janet had the weekend shift; on base until Monday morning. As she plowed her way through essential paperwork her mind drifted to Sam. She had studiously avoided the blonde's lab for the last four days, hoping the elapsed time would let the major see that she was only trying to help. Janet understood the task ahead was huge, but if Sam were to be successful, someone needed to look out for her; and Janet had the authority to do it. She hated having to pull rank, but she knew it would be the only way. It hurt her to think though that Sam may not ever forgive her. She was drawn from her musings by a knock on the door. "Come."

Teal'c entered and stood in front of her desk with his hands clasped behind his back. He bowed in greeting. "Doctor Fraiser."

"Teal'c; what can I do for you?"

"I am concerned about the arrangement with Major Carter," he said.

"Why? Isn't she complying?"

"Major Carter has indeed left her laboratory for the required six hours every night."

Janet nodded for him to continue. "However, she insists on taking her laptop to her quarters and the light is never extinguished. I do not believe the major is resting as you instructed."

Janet felt the anger rise in her. What was Sam trying to do? Drive herself into the ground? Fine; if the major wanted to play dirty, Janet was a match for her. "Thank you Teal'c. Would you be able to escort Major Carter here to the infirmary tonight?"

"I do not think she will come voluntarily Doctor Fraiser, but I am able to do as you ask."

Janet smiled warmly at the Jaffa; she could see his concern for his teammate and knew he would do anything to protect Sam from herself. He bowed and exited the office, leaving Janet to contemplate her tactics.

***

Sam looked up from her work when she felt Teal'c's presence. She didn't have to look at a clock to know it was 0000; the Jaffa's timing was impeccable. Her laptop was already powered down and it sat to one side with a sheaf of papers that she intended to work on in her quarters. Closing the last of the applications on her mainframe computer, she began to gather her things together. As she approached the door, Teal'c bowed slightly. "Major Carter; Doctor Fraiser has asked me to accompany you to the infirmary," he stated.

Sam halted. "Why?" she demanded, quickly shifting into defense mode.

"I am unaware of her reasons, I am merely carrying out her request." Well, it was almost the truth.

"And what if I don't want to go to the infirmary?" Sam managed, trying not to let Teal'c see her quickly rising temper. He merely inclined his head and raised an eyebrow.

"Fine," she stormed while turning and heading for the elevators with her laptop grasped tightly under one arm. Teal'c fell in step behind her but remained silent.

***

Janet glanced at the clock and prepared herself for the confrontation she knew was imminent. The blonde whirlwind strode round the corner and came to a stop a few feet in front of the doctor. "What the hell is this about?" Sam spat.

Without answering Janet ran an appraising eye over the major and held out her hands. "Give me those things please."

"Not until I know what's going on," Sam said, clutching her laptop to her chest with both arms.

"We've had this discussion Major. As you seem incapable of following my orders I have prepared you a bed here." Janet indicated a closed off cubicle to her right. "You have five minutes to hand me your laptop and get changed or as of tomorrow morning the particle beam generator project will go to someone else."

"There is no one else here with the knowledge," Sam clipped, trying to keep her voice even.

"All the more reason for you to comply then," Janet answered. She folded her arms and waited, watching the blonde struggle with the implications of her words. She knew Sam would not give in easily, but her quick assessment had already rung alarm bells in her head; the major was on the verge of exhaustion.

The tears of frustration welled so quickly that Sam could not keep them from falling. She thrust her laptop at Janet and disappeared behind the curtain in an attempt to gather herself together. She had to admit that she was beyond tired, but the nagging guilt she felt at O'Neill being left on the planet was overwhelming. He would want to know that they had worked tirelessly to bring him home. She couldn't let him down, and being dragged away from the lab felt just like that. The less time she was there, the more time he was away, the more they drifted apart as a team. She was responsible for bringing him back and she would do everything humanly possible to make it happen. No one gets left behind. Why were the people she trusted trying to thwart her? Why couldn't they see the urgency?

The air around her stirred and brought Sam from her musings. Opening her eyes she met Janet's soft gaze. It was then that she realized that far from calming herself she was more agitated than before. Her hand was gripped tightly round the bed rail and tears coursed unchecked down her face. "Why are you doing this?" she cried, with less venom than before.

"Because I will not see you destroy yourself and any chance we have of getting the colonel back. You are too valuable to everyone to put yourself in such physical danger. I would be negligent in my duty if I allowed it to happen."

Although her tone was softer than before, Sam could clearly hear the steel beneath the words, and while she understood the doctor's concerns, she was still angry at her tactics. "How long to you intend to keep this up?" she managed.

"For as long as I need to," Janet replied.

Sam snatched up the clean scrubs that were on the bed and exited for the bathroom. When she returned three minutes later, Janet was still there. Without further comment, the blonde pulled back the sheets and climbed into the bed, turning to face away from the doctor, so she would get the message. Sam closed her eyes and waited to be alone. "Do you need something to help you sleep?" Janet asked.

"No," Sam snapped back. She just wanted to be left to brood, to feel angry and desperate and hard done by. The curtain swished behind her and she gave into her tears again. She didn't remember falling asleep.

Day 25

When Sam woke she was disoriented, unsure of her location. It took her several moments to realize she was in the infirmary and then the reality of her situation hit her. She glanced quickly at her watch and was dismayed to see the time: 0753. Shoving back the sheets she stormed angrily into Janet's office. "Why didn't you wake me?" she demanded.

The doctor had the hardest time keeping her professional demeanor at the adorable sight before her. Sam Carter, dressed only in scrubs, freshly woken, with flushed cheeks, hair akimbo and a dangerous pout. "You didn't ask me to," Janet managed in a neutral voice. "Perhaps your body is trying to tell you something," she added more sharply. She was rewarded with the office door slamming as Sam exited; she winced.

Of course Sam would never admit that Janet had been right. As she sat in her lab after showering and finding coffee, she felt more invigorated and motivated; she also found that the calculations she had been struggling with the previous evening seemed easier on her brain. *Damn.*

Sam put up a little protest when Teal'c arrived on the Saturday night, but a small part of her brain had begun to acknowledge that her friends were indeed looking out for her and that uninterrupted sleep – as opposed to cat napping - was actually good for progress and not a hindrance. Not that she would ever admit that they were right, it was so much easier to scowl and behave rudely; her father had taught her that.

Day 26

At a little after 2300 on the Sunday night, Janet entered Sam's lab. The major was still tapping away endlessly on her computer, pencil shoved behind her ear, notes scattered across the desk. However, the doctor noted that there was a little more color in Sam's cheeks and that her hands did not tremble as they had the week before. "If you promise me you will sleep, I'll allow you to go back to using your quarters," Janet said.

Sam looked up from her work, unable to keep the small smile of appreciation from her lips. "Thanks Janet, I know I've been unreasonable about this." Sam broke the eye contact, feeling a blush rise up from her neck, "It's just that I have to get this done, the colonel deserves to be back as soon as possible; I need..."

"I understand Sam." Janet interrupted. The doctor laid a hand on Sam's arm, smiled warmly and left.

Sam frowned. What did Janet understand? Did she think that Sam needed to get the colonel back because of feelings she had for him? Sam didn't like that thought. Couldn't Janet see that she had to do it out of duty? This was her commanding officer; he was someone she respected and admired. Not someone whom she had feelings for.

Her mind wandered a bit further – so if not the colonel, then who? Who was Sam attracted to? She knew she shouldn't go down this path, knew it ended in emotions that were off limits. Quickly she turned back to the computer screen, willing her mind away from dangerous thoughts. She was rapidly absorbed in calculations again.

Day 31

It was Friday night and Janet began to clear her desk ready for the weekend. Sam was still on her mind, and although the major had complied all week with the doctor's orders, Janet didn't think it was enough. Steeling herself for another fiery conversation, she left the office and headed for Sam's lab. She felt her determination increase as she watched her friend from the doorway. Sam was still too pale, her eyes were dull and her huddled disposition spoke of too many hours at the computer. "Hey," Janet offered, entering the lab fully, "How's it coming along?"

Sam sighed and took the opportunity to stretch her cramped muscles. "Slowly," she replied, an air of despondency about her.

"You planning on staying the whole weekend again?" Janet asked.

"Yeah... need to keep at it."

"Sam, I'm still worried about you, you really need to take a longer break, you've been at this non-stop for a month now."

"I've done what you asked, why can't you leave it at that?" Sam snapped, unable to temper her irritability.

"Because I'm your doctor. I want to see you over at my place no later than 1900 tomorrow night. Bring your sleeping stuff and a change of clothes."

"Janet, I can't afford the time to leave the base."

"It's not a request Major. You know the consequences." Not willing to get into another 'discussion' about it, Janet turned and exited the lab.

The unfortunate coffee cup on Sam's work bench took the brunt of the blonde's anger, shattering satisfyingly as it connected with the wall. Sam slammed her fist onto the surface, trying to reign in her temper. Was Janet really trying to destroy all hope of getting O'Neill back?

Sighing heavily, Sam glanced at her watch - 1812, time enough to finish inputting the data that would construct a virtual picture of the device.

Sam ignored Teal'c when he came at midnight and the Jaffa did nothing to encourage her from the lab. In fact, he just stood in the doorway silently observing her; it was unnerving. Finally succumbing to his silent disapproval, Sam looked up and said, "Janet has ordered me off base tomorrow, so I figure I can spend a couple of more hours here tonight. Can you come back at 0200 Teal'c?"

Teal'c inclined his head and bowed slightly; Sam was sure she saw a twitch of amusement on his face. "As you wish Major Carter," he rumbled, and then he was gone.

Day 32

Good to her word, Sam had abandoned the lab at just after 0200, but was back again a little after 0545, determined to get as much done as possible before going to Janet's. Throughout the day she toyed with the idea of ignoring the edict from the doctor, but each time she came up against a wall; Hammond would not be able to override Janet's order and someone else – Felger? Lee? - would have to take it on. She shuddered at the thought. Pushing the boundaries as much as she could, Sam left the mountain at 1915; it was half an hour to the doctor's house.

***

Janet looked at her watch for the umpteenth time, 1927 and still no sign of the major. She would give her until 2000 and then she would place a call. Did the blonde think that she could ignore an order? Well, clearly she did. Tamping down on her irritability, Janet went to the kitchen to check on dinner. Cassie looked up from the magazine she was reading, an amused smile on her lips. "It's not like it's a date or anything mom," she teased. "Sam will be here, she won't risk defying you, she's seen the size of your needles!"

Her daughter's words hit closer to the mark than she liked, and Janet berated herself for confusing work and desire in her head. The practical decision to get Sam off base had been easy, but Janet knew that ordering her here had an ulterior motive; she wanted to spend some quality time with the blonde to help get her own growing feelings into perspective.

Finally there was a knock and before Janet could move, Cassie sprung from her seat and ran to the door. "Sam!" she squealed as she threw herself at her hero. "Mum was getting worried that you weren't gonna show."

Despite her tetchiness, Sam couldn't help but grin at the young girl's enthusiasm. The major's smile quickly disappeared though when she saw Janet standing in the hallway, arms folded, face stony; Sam's irritation at the doctor's orders surfaced again, she wouldn't let Cassie distract her from that. "Sorry I'm late, I had to wait for the program to save, or I would have lost the whole day's work. If I hadn't had to leave it wouldn't have mattered," she practically spat.

"Well, you're here now," Janet growled in return. "Dinner's not quite burnt." She turned and stalked back to the kitchen, leaving Sam and Cassie alone. "Wow, mom's really pissed at you!"

"Cass!" Sam admonished, "Where did you learn language like that?"

The teen just looked at her incredulously, "I do go to school you know. I may be an alien but I'm learning."

Sam watched dumbly as Cassie followed her mother into the kitchen. Realizing that coming to Janet's was an incredibly bad idea, Sam sighed at her predicament, dropped her duffle in the hall and went to face the music.

They ate mainly in silence. Cassie, aware of the vibe between the two adults, wisely concentrated on her meal. Janet simmered quietly, casting glances at the major to ensure she didn't just push her food round the plate. Sam's agitation did not recede, although she was grateful to eat something that didn't taste like cardboard. Not that she would ever admit it.

As the meal ended, Cassie stacked the plates and exited with relief to load the dishwasher. Sam fiddled with her water glass, unsure of how to break the tension in the room. Janet had no such worries. "You know, you might be mad at me, but Cassie doesn't deserve your hostility. She's really been looking forward to seeing you. Maybe you could do the decent thing and stop feeling so hard done by. Would it take that much effort?"

Not looking up Sam mustered, "Sorry."

They descended into silence again, the clatter of china and cutlery the only noise. Thankfully Cassie reappeared a short time later and Sam seized her chance. "So Cass, what do you want to do tonight?"

"I brought a new movie the other day, wanna watch it with me?"

"Sure," Sam replied, smiling, movie watching was not so strenuous...

It had taken a mere fifteen minutes of the film to send Sam to sleep, her head lolling on the couch, her face finally free of the earlier tension. Cassie was too engrossed in the onscreen action to notice and Janet spent the time watching the blonde, which of course did nothing to help reign in her feelings. Infuriating as the major was, Janet couldn't help admire her tenacity and passion; and her long legs, capable hands, smooth skin, strokeable hair, kissable lips...

"Hmm?" Sam jolted awake at Cassie's touch, looking confusedly at the teen while she got her bearings. "Sorry Cass, must have dropped off for a minute there."

Cassie snorted her amusement, "Uh, film's finished Sam."

Janet watched the blush creep up Sam's face, trying unsuccessfully to hide her smile. "Guest bed is all made up for you, we'll see you in the morning."

Sam went to protest but caught a look on Janet's face that made her reconsider. Standing and stretching, she conceded, "Okay, I guess the couch isn't the best place to sleep. Night Cass." She pulled the teen into her for a hug.

Janet wanted for that moment to be her daughter. She watched the major disappear into the hall and up the stairs, all the while frantically trying to get a grip on her emotions.

Sam made quick work of readying herself for bed; and as she slipped under the cozy duvet a small part of her brain thanked Janet for being so insistent. Before she could take that thought any further, she was asleep.

Day 33

Sam was woken by movement beside her. She blinked her eyes open to see Janet placing a mug on the nightstand. She shifted and was rewarded by the doctor looking over. "Morning," Janet smiled, "I brought you some herbal tea."

Sam frowned at the thought, "No coffee?" she managed, voice still scratchy with sleep.

"I think your caffeine intake is way too high. At least while you are not at the mountain we should try and keep it down."

Sam exhaled her disagreement. "Cassie wants to know if you'll come to the mall with us."

"Shopping?" the blonde blurted.

Janet couldn't stop the smile, "No Sam, kite flying. What do you think?!"

"Couldn't I just stay here and..."

"Work?" Janet interrupted. "No."

Not wanting to get into an argument, the doctor headed swiftly for the door. "Breakfast will be about ten minutes."

Sam had no time to protest.

***

As Janet spread the Chinese takeout across the table, Sam had to concede that the day had been great. They had wandered in and out of the shops, laughing and giggling like three schoolgirls, Sam becoming more and more animated and relaxed as the hours had worn on. The tension of the past weeks had drained quickly from her and she began to concede that Janet had been right. Besides, Sam hadn't realized just how much she had missed the doctor's presence in her social life. Yes, today had been a good day.

This meal was very different from the previous evening, filled with laughter and conversation. It wasn't late when they finished, barely turned 2100 but Sam yawned widely and wondered at her own fatigue. Janet smirked, "Early night for you major, I believe you're due on base at 0600."

"I think I'll take a shower first," Sam said, standing to stack the plates. The table was soon cleared and Sam said her goodnights before heading to the guest room.

A couple of hours later, Janet secured the house and made her way up the stairs. She paused outside Sam's room and listened for several moments. Rationalizing that if the major was awake she could say she was checking on her health, Janet opened the door quietly and stepped inside.

Sam was definitely asleep. She had kicked the covers off and was laid mainly on her front, one arm curved up by her head. Her right leg too was bent upwards, supporting some of her weight. She was dressed in a light blue tank top and gray sleep shorts. Janet swallowed audibly, the description was perfect; they were very short and her eyes roamed up the long length of leg to where the material started; the curve of Sam's ass cheeks was very prominent. The tank top had ridden up slightly too, exposing toned abs and a perfect back. The doctor stood and admired for many long minutes. Finally able to get her emotions in check, she glided silently to the bed, pulling the covers back over the sleeping figure. With her heart hammering hard, Janet leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on Sam's temple.

Day 34

Sam sat in her lab humming. The previous two days had been a real boost for her and she felt more invigorated than at any time since the events on Edora. The virtual model was complete and the process of gathering the materials had begun. The lab next door to Sam's had been cleared, boxes and crates had started to appear there and Sam's hope was that the working thing would be ready in under six weeks.

"Someone sounds happy." Janet said from the doorway.

Sam looked up and smiled. "Hey Janet. Yep, I'm hoping to start building this afternoon."

The doctor moved into the room, scanning over the strange objects that littered the work bench. As she rounded the furniture she looked up, only to find she was being scrutinized by those deep azure eyes that captivated her so much. There was a hint of a sparkle in them, something Janet had not seen in a while. Sam ducked her head as the now familiar blush rose up her cheek. "Thanks for the weekend, I had a great time."

"I'm just sorry I had to order you to come," Janet said. "I'm going to insist you take that time every weekend from now."

She watched Sam stiffen, felt the blonde move into defensive mode; was she preparing for another battle? "Only if I can spend the time with you." Sam muttered. "And Cass," she added somewhat belatedly.

"You know you are always welcome at our place Sam," Janet smiled, trying vainly to tamp down on the warm joy spreading through her body.

Sam reached out and laid her hand on Janet's arm. "Thanks," she smiled; and then her mind was back on the computer.

Day 39

Unlike the previous Saturday, the hours slid by incredibly slowly for Sam. She seemed to be looking at the clock every ten minutes, willing the hands to move faster. The base, as usual at the weekend was quiet and even Teal'c was not around, having taken the opportunity to go and visit Rya'c. In fact, she had seen nobody all day - something that didn't usually bother her. However, the construction of the beam generator was almost as slow in the real world as it had been in the virtual one.

She threw the wrench disconsolately on the floor and stood up, stretching out her cramped muscles. The clock read 1745 and Sam decided to call it a day. If she drove slowly, she wouldn't be at Janet's too early.

***

Janet peered out of the upstairs window as she heard the growl of a bike on the road. Doing a double take at the rider, she turned to read the clock: 1837. She smiled, shook her head and finished applying the small amount of fragrance to her neck; she didn't want anything too overpowering.

Cassie had let Sam in by the time the doctor made it down the stairs and the teen was already setting up the chess board and bombarding the blonde with her latest escapades at school. "Coffee?" Janet said, a now familiar warmth spreading through her.

Sam looked up and smiled a Sam smile. "I thought it was herbal tea while I was here?" she laughed.

"Well as a reward for you being early, I thought you might prefer coffee."

"Thanks that would be great; looks like I'm going to need my wits about me." Sam nodded at the chess board and took her seat across the table from Cassie.

The evening slipped by quickly and before she knew it Sam was being prodded awake on the couch. She had lasted nearly forty minutes of this movie. "Tomorrow's an early start Sam," Janet said, "We're going to head up into the mountains for a picnic."

Sam nodded and smiled, "Okay, hint taken. Night Cass." She pulled Cassie to her for a hug and then did the same to Janet. The doctor wondered if Sam felt her shaking.

Day 41

Sam tried to focus on the electrical circuit before her; but her mind kept wandering to the previous day. The weather had been glorious and the three of them had set out early for the national park. Janet, organized as ever had packed a picnic and the Frisbee. They had hiked away from the more populated areas, eventually finding a sheltered spot with little passing foot traffic. Sam and Cassie had investigated the stream and the surrounding woods looking for evidence of wildlife. The food was comforting and tasty, and the afternoon was spent lazing in the sun and throwing the Frisbee for the dog. For the first time that Sam could ever remember, she had been somewhat reticent about coming into work. *Wow*

Shaking herself from the glow of the weekend, Sam settled to the task at hand. The colonel had been gone well over a month now and progress was slow. Another long week loomed over her.

Day 65

*Why won't the stupid thing budge?!* Sam cursed under her breath, repositioning her grip on the screwdriver to get better leverage. Without warning, the stubborn piece of metal she had been trying to pry out from the generator core pinged free and the screwdriver shot forward gouging into her left hand. "Shit!" she yelped, dropping the offending tool and grabbing at the injury to try and quell the pain.

"Major Carter? Are you alright?" Bill Lee asked, coming over to steady her. She nodded, not trusting her voice and carefully lifted her right hand up. The blood flowed freely, spilling between her fingers and onto the floor. One of the technicians appeared with a first aid kit and Sam reluctantly yielded to his insistence. "This is going to need stitching Ma'am," he said.

Sam flinched as the dressing tightened on the wound and nodded in acceptance. "Bill? Will you be okay here for a bit?"

"We'll be fine, just go," the scientist assured.

***

Sam sat on the edge of the gurney and waited to be seen. The infirmary was fairly quiet, but Siler had recently arrived with yet another electrical burn and Janet had indicated she would be a few minutes. Sam cradled her hand to her chest and tried to distract her mind from the pain by running a checklist of progress on the generator.

Eventually Sam heard the familiar click of heels and was relieved to hear the doctor's calming voice. "Let me take a look then," Janet said, tugging to undo the neat dressing. Sam tried to pull her hand away as fresh agony radiated up her arm, but was stopped by the doctor's firm grip. "Please Sam, stay still, the quicker I can treat it, the better for you."

"Sorry," the blonde winced. "Really hurts."

Janet stilled at the confession and looked up to Sam's face. She was pale and had started to shake. Quickly calling for a nurse to help her raise the head of the gurney, the doctor insisted Sam lay back so if she fainted she wouldn't fall. The cause of Sam's condition was soon revealed. The screwdriver had torn a deep gash in the back of Sam's hand, and by the amount of blood there was, Janet surmised it had nicked one of the veins. She could see bone too. "Alright Sam, this is going to need some fairly extensive work; I'll have to do it under a local anesthetic. I'm going to wrap it again now so we can get you into some scrubs. Okay?"

The blonde nodded, not opening her eyes. Janet issued instructions to the nurse, while she began to gather together the equipment she would need. Five short minutes later she was back with her patient, who had been moved to one of the single rooms. The doctor set to work immediately, offering a running commentary to the major as she went.

Sam let Janet's soothing voice wash over her, amazed at how it calmed her. Local anesthetic was such an odd thing; she could feel sensations in her hand, but no pain. Her mind wandered. Memories of recent weekends spent with the doctor and Cassie pushed at Sam, begging for detailed analysis. Now was probably not a good time, she idly thought but it didn't stop her brain. She acknowledged that the anticipation of her days off was becoming more of an issue. Sometimes as early as Thursday she found herself gone from whatever she should be concentrating on; away on an adventure with the petite brunette and her daughter. Sam knew that while she enjoyed Cassie's company immensely the teen wasn't the reason for her frequent lapses into fantasy land. For that was where her mind wandered to, and lately she had been shocked at some of the thoughts she'd had. They involved Janet; sometimes with clothes, sometimes without.

Sam shivered involuntarily, causing Janet to pause and look up. "You okay?" she smiled.

Sam swallowed and nodded dumbly, her voice suddenly deserting her. Several seconds passed as their eyes locked, appraising each other and then Janet returned to her work.

***

It had taken the best part of an hour to stitch Sam's hand and now as the anesthetic wore off it throbbed mercilessly. Because of the extent of the damage, Janet had insisted on a sling and so Sam's progress back in the lab was severely hampered. The brunt of her short temper was borne by the other scientists working to build the generator and they were mightily relieved when 1800 hours came round and they were able to leave for the night. Sam stayed. Sat on a high stool, she surveyed their progress. It was over two months now since they had returned from Edora. She wondered how O'Neill was adapting to being on the planet; probably very well, he loved the rugged outdoor life.

A gentle hand on her knee brought her from her thoughts and she looked up to find Janet watching her. "Sorry, just thinking about the colonel; seems so long for anyone to have to wait for a rescue. It will be great to have him back."

Sam saw a look pass across the doctor's face but it was gone before she could identify it. Janet said, "I'm sorry Sam; it must be so hard not having him here." She paused then, smiled wistfully. "I'm sure he knows you will do everything in your power to bring him home."

Before the blonde could reply Janet continued, "Now, you need to rest tonight; shall I escort you to your quarters?"

Sliding gratefully from the stool, Sam nodded, trying to keep the grimace of pain from her face. They walked in silence to the elevators and then to Sam's room. Stopping at the door, the major turned to Janet, "Thanks for patching me up," she said softly.

The answering smile was short and resigned, "Just doing my job." Janet sounded almost desolate.

Sam frowned at the doctor's tone. "Are you okay Janet?" she asked.

Rubbing at the back of her neck and swiping her other hand across her forehead, the smaller woman nodded, "Just tired I guess." The sudden surge of emotion she felt caught her off guard and she turned towards the elevators again. "Well night Sam, see you tomorrow. Don't forget I need to check that hand before you start work."

Sam watched the doctor walk away, aware at the loss of comfort she felt. Moving into her room, she undressed quickly, downed the painkillers she had been given and crawled into bed. All in all, it had not been a good day.

***

Janet headed for the surface and her car. It had been misguided of her to think that she was getting anywhere with Sam and now the crushing reality had her on the verge of tears. Sam's confession that she had been missing the colonel had really dug into the doctor's heart. *Stupid, stupid, stupid,* she berated herself as she drove away from the mountain. Still, there was only one more day until the weekend. She would just have to put a lid on her emotions; she didn't want to lose Sam as a friend.

Day 66

Sam arrived in the infirmary a little after 0700. Warner greeted her and guided her to a bed so he could check the wound. "Where's Janet?" Sam asked.

"She phoned in sick this morning," the older man replied.

Sam frowned, her anxiety for her friend rekindling itself. Janet was never ill. "Is she okay?"

"Said it was something she ate. Very disturbed night I hear. Guess she'll be back fighting fit on Monday." Warner said as he peeled away the dressing.

Sam closed her eyes as the sting of air touched her newly exposed wound. The first thing to pop into her head – selfishly she thought – was whether she could still spend her down time at the doctor's place the next day. She berated herself for it, trying instead to understand why Janet wasn't in work; she had her doubts as to the validity of Janet's illness. She wasn't sure why.

Day 67

Sam had been unsuccessful in raising Janet on the phone and despite leaving a number of messages had not had any replies. Her mood was dark as she worked on the generator; she had admitted to herself a while ago that the weekends in the doctor's presence where what kept her motivated. Feelings she knew she should not have, plagued her. Sometimes she thought Janet was interested too, but she didn't trust her own ability to gauge the doctor's emotions.

Sam wondered if she should drive round anyway, but decided against it; if they'd wanted her to go, someone would have called. Surprised at how tearful she felt, Sam doubled her concentration and set herself the task of finishing the fine tuning of the generator before the end of the weekend.

Day 69

For the first time in six weeks, Sam had spent all weekend working. It was the only way she could keep her mind from the petite doctor. She glanced at the clock, 0714, stood, stretched and headed out to the infirmary. She calculated that she had managed a meager eleven hours sleep since Thursday night; and that sleep had again been full of images of Janet. Sam smiled a bit as she walked; those dreams had been good - highly unlikely, but nevertheless wonderful.

Janet sat at her desk and tried to drum up some enthusiasm for work. The stomach bug she had nursed over the weekend had cleared up and she was back to eating light food. However, missing a whole weekend with Sam had left her tetchy and short with everyone she had so far encountered. Wearily pulling up the latest infirmary records on her computer, the doctor hoped for a quiet day.

Five minutes later Janet was interrupted by a knock on the door. *So much for quiet.* "Come," she said, not looking up from the report she was reading. She heard the door open, then close and someone settle in front of her desk. "Hey, how are you?"

Janet raised her head to be met with blue eyes and a soft smile. "I missed you on the weekend," Sam continued.

"Sam," Janet smiled. "I am so sorry. I can't remember the last time I was that ill. I thought it might have been something I ate in the commissary on Thursday, but it turned out to be a bit of a vicious bug."

"I tried to call..."

"Yeah, Cassie was with a friend all weekend; I couldn't make it to the phone though. Sorry."

Sam was momentarily floored by Janet's remark. They had been going to spend the weekend together, alone? She knew she shouldn't read anything in to it; but she could hope couldn't she? "Well as long as you are better now. Maybe we can make up for it next weekend?"

Janet shrugged non-committally; Cassie would be home and all hope of having a heart to heart with the major was out the window. "How's your hand?" Janet asked.

"Sore." Sam confessed as she processed the doctor's reaction to her question. *Definitely nothing other than friendship then.* She knew she needed to get her feelings under control before she said or did something that jeopardized what was between them now – Sam couldn't afford to lose Janet.

"Let me take a look." The doctor rose from her chair and exited the office to guide Sam to a bed. Snapping on some gloves and slipping into doctor mode she was suddenly aware of the fatigue exuded by the major. A small spark of anger fired as she asked, "Did you work all weekend?"

Sam studied the patch of grease on her BDU's studiously, not daring to look up. "Yeah, I did."

"Why?" Janet's voice was hard and sharp.

Sam shrugged, "Nothing better to do." Her attempts at lightening the conversation were in vain. She could feel the anger roll off of Janet as the doctor worked on releasing the dressing. "I can't trust you to do anything, can I?" she snapped. "Jeez Sam, how many times do we have to have this conversation?"

Sam made no reply; she guessed whatever she said would be wrong. When she heard Janet draw in a measured breath though, she knew she was in a whole load of trouble. "Have you been using this hand?"

It was hardly a question that needed answering; the state of the wound spoke for itself. The blonde nodded, not daring to look up. "There were some things that I couldn't do one handed..."

"Lay back," Janet gritted. Sam obeyed; her eyes anywhere but on the doctor. She felt the sting of antiseptic and the pull of her skin as the gash was patched back together. "Stay there," the next command was barked; Sam did as she was told, closing her eyes to try and gain some calm.

"Right Major, this airman will escort you to your quarters, where you will remain until I say otherwise. Is that clear?"

Now Sam looked up and was met by hard, angry eyes. Unable to maintain her gaze, Sam stood, turned and headed for the door. The SF walked a few paces behind her as they made their way through the base. Once she was alone, Sam looked round for something to vent her anger on. *How dare Janet humiliate her like that?* She kicked out at the desk chair, sending it clattering onto its side. Closing her eyes in the ensuing silence, Sam tried to calm herself; she wasn't going anywhere so she might as well make use of the time. Slipping off her boots, she lay on the bed and closed her eyes, ordering her scattered thoughts so she could process them. She didn't get far before she was asleep.

***

It was gone 1800 by the time Janet was able to think about visiting Sam. SG-6 had come in hot just after 1145 and she had spent the rest of the afternoon patching them up and briefing General Hammond. She was surprised then when the SF that stood guard outside the major's quarters confirmed that he had not been disturbed by the occupant. Janet thought Sam would have at least demanded a couple of times to leave for the lab. She knocked softly, but received no reply.

The room was dark when she entered, but the light from the corridor enabled her to see the outline of Sam on the bed and to locate the small bedside lamp. She switched it on, which caused Sam to turn over so she faced the wall, still sleeping. Janet wondered if the only times she would be able to appreciate the blonde fully was when Sam was unaware. She hoped not. After closing the door, the doctor moved back to the bedside. "Sam," she called softly. When she got no reply she tried slightly louder. Eventually Sam rolled onto her back, throwing her good arm over her eyes. "Hmm?" she managed.

"I just came to see that you were okay."

Sam registered Janet's voice and tensed, their last encounter fresh in her head. "I'm fine," she insisted, not moving her arm from her face.

"Sit up then so I can check you over properly."

Sighing heavily Sam shifted so she leaned against the wall. She was reluctant to meet Janet's eyes. "What's the time?" she asked, wanting to keep the conversation away from anything remotely personal or emotional.

"Just gone 1800," Janet replied as she concentrated on Sam's pulse.

"Really? – can't believe I slept that long." The confession was out of her mouth before Sam had time to think about it. She felt the doctor still beside her and waited for the tirade. It didn't come and in the end her curiosity got the better of her. The disappointment on Janet's face though was nearly her undoing. "I thought we had an agreement Sam."

"Sorry," was all she could muster in return.

"Yes, well, one day sorry isn't going to be good enough." Returning quickly to her professional demeanor, Janet pulled a syringe from her bag. "I'm going to give you a sedative," she said.

Willing her rising temper under control – she really did not need another argument with the doctor – Sam nodded, "Okay. Maybe tomorrow I'll have better luck with the generator."

"Maybe tomorrow I will let you back to work. You won't be near the lab until I've cleared you." Janet pressed the liquid into Sam's arm, rubbing at the spot afterwards. "This is not going to happen again."

Sam watched Janet's movements, seeing the controlled anger nearly break through. She sighed, shifted down again and rolled over to face the wall. As she closed her eyes she heard the door click shut and the sting of tears caught in her throat.

Day 88

Sam made her way up the steps to Janet's house, without any enthusiasm. It had been a shitty day, and all she wanted to do was curl up and sleep. The tests on the generator were stalling; her inability to work out how to maintain an even flow of power grated on her seriously frayed nerves. She knew she wasn't going to be good company; in fact, if she'd been thinking rationally she would have stayed on base and not inflicted her mood on anyone else. As it was, when it came to Janet, Sam's ability to think rationally was seriously impaired.

She shivered in the rain as she waited for the door to be answered. Since her injury things had been more strained between the two of them, Janet never quite able to step out of her role as doctor and just be Sam's friend again. Maybe it had been like that all along, but Sam had managed to persuade herself that it was more than duty on Janet's part that led to the invitation to Sam to spend weekends with company. *Who was she kidding?* Sam mused miserably.

Despite Janet's cooling over the last few weeks, Sam had not been able to tamp down the feelings she had for the doctor. The problem was she had no idea what to do with them, the box she tried to lock them in, springing open whenever she encountered the feisty brunette.

The door opened and Janet stepped aside to let her in. "Hey," the smaller woman smiled, "you okay?"

Sam nodded, trying consciously to push her dark mood away, "Just tired," she managed, gratefully stepping into the warm.

"Well dinner's nearly ready," the doctor said as she preceded Sam into the kitchen.

The thing was, Sam had no appetite, despite the aroma that assaulted her senses. "I'm not really hungry," she sighed. "In fact I think I'm just gonna go to bed."

Janet stopped stirring the pot on the stove and looked over at the blonde. The vulnerability she saw took her breath away, but as usual, to keep her emotions in check Janet let the doctor in her take over. "You should try and eat something."

"I said I'm not hungry," Sam gritted, trying to keep her voice even.

"Fine," snapped the brunette, "You know where everything is."

Sam wanted to cry. She also just wanted to share with Janet the loneliness and despair she felt right then. Instead she turned and headed up the stairs to the guest room. She was asleep minutes after sliding between the sheets.

***

Janet finished locking up and moved upstairs. She regretted her earlier sharp words, but wasn't sure how to put things right. All she knew was that she wanted to take Sam in her arms and tell the blonde how she felt. Now was not a good time though; Sam needed to concentrate on getting the colonel home.

Although she had been sure at the start about Sam's attraction to O'Neill, she now doubted that was true. Despite their recent disagreements, Janet sensed that Sam's feelings towards her were growing. She knew the major had issues with regard to emotional attachment; she also knew their interaction over the last weeks was not helping.

Janet stopped outside Sam's room and carefully pushed open the door. She could see a mop of blonde poking over the top of the duvet and nothing else. Stepping silently to the bed, she looked down at her sleeping friend. Janet loved this time, all the tension of long hours and impossible odds had drained from the beautiful face and Sam was serene in sleep. The doctor wanted to touch. Not in a medical manner, but seductively; to caress the soft skin, run her fingers through the silky hair. *Oh god.* Closing her eyes she drew a deep breath. When she opened them again it took her a second or two to realize Sam was awake. The intensity of the blonde's gaze unsettled her and she was briefly unsure how to respond. "Just checking you were okay," Janet managed, her well rehearsed clinical detachment slipping too easily into place. "I'll see you in the morning."

Sam heard the door shut and felt a warm tear escape down her cheek. Closing her eyes, she drifted quickly back to oblivion.

***

Day 101

Sam stood and watched the colonel say his goodbyes to Laira. He did not seem that happy to be going home and that hurt. She had worked herself to exhaustion for him and he had yet to say 'thank you'. Turning away from the scene to regain her composure, Sam's mind wandered back to Earth.

This achievement meant that she no longer had an excuse to spend time with Janet; and that, even more than O'Neill's indifference, stung her hard. The last two weekends had been strained and difficult; Sam's inability to talk about her feelings led to misunderstandings and tension. So the inevitability of lonely days once more stretched before her and right then she didn't know how she would deal.

***

Eventually the team made its way back to the gate and Earth. There were celebrations in the gate room at Jack's safe return and Sam took the opportunity to slink off to the showers. Feeling sorry for herself was not in Sam's nature, but today, with everything that had happened, she couldn't help it. With the debrief not scheduled until the following morning, the blonde changed quickly and headed to the surface. After three months of hardly being anywhere other than the mountain, she suddenly couldn't leave fast enough.

She rode home - to her own house. A place she had visited infrequently in the past weeks. Sam parked the bike and made her way onto the porch. The stillness of the place did nothing to lift her mood and she wandered through the rooms disconsolately. The fridge was bare and the cupboards yielded a tin of soup and a bottle of whiskey. Wondering briefly if it was a good idea, Sam located a glass and settled herself on the couch with the TV remote and the alcohol. She couldn't remember the last time she had been drunk - probably not since her Academy days. Still, maybe a good bout of wallowing in self pity was what she needed. She poured a large measure and took a substantial gulp, feeling the heat course through her body. Flicking the television on, Sam pulled her feet under her and began to channel surf.

***

Janet was concerned. Sam had not been for her post mission check; in fact no one had seen her since SG-1's arrival back on Earth. The doctor knew that the last few weeks had been hard on the blonde, and she also acknowledged that her own behavior towards the major hadn't helped. Unable to deal with her desires in a rational way, Janet had hidden behind her professional mask and ignored Sam's muted pleas for anything more. Now that it was all over, Janet wondered at the wisdom of her actions. She called the entrance to confirm her theory; Sam had signed out nearly two hours ago.

Finishing up as quickly as she could, Janet headed to the surface and her car. She needed to set a few things right with Sam and the sooner it happened the better it would be.

She stood on the porch of Sam's place, waiting for the door to be answered. The major's bike was in the driveway, so Janet knew she was in. She knocked again and heard movement behind the door. Somewhat relieved, she prepared herself for the confrontation.

Sam ignored the door the first time someone had knocked. It appeared though that whoever it was wasn't going to leave. Standing a little unsteadily, she entered the hallway and flicked on the light. She fumbled briefly with the lock before pulling the door open. Janet was not who she was expecting to see. Sam scowled slightly, before managing, "Hi Janet, what can I do for you?"

"I just came to see if you were okay. You left kind of suddenly," the doctor said as she followed the retreating back into the den.

Sam shrugged indifferently, "Didn't seem to be any reason to stay."

Janet noted the bottle on the coffee table. "Are you drunk Sam?"

The blonde considered for a moment and then shook her head. "Not yet," she grinned.

"Sam, you know with everything you've been through recently alcohol may not be..."

Sam's smile disappeared quickly, "Have you come to give me a lecture on my health?" she asked, "Because if you have, maybe you want to leave now. I'm not interested."

"No. Sorry. I just..." The doctor blew out an unsteady breath, "We need to talk Sam - about us."

The blonde studied the smaller woman intently, trying to guess what there might be to discuss about 'them.'

"Do you have another glass?"

Sam frowned at the question, her mind taking a second or so to catch up. "Um, yeah. Let me get it for you."

Grateful for something to do, she exited to the kitchen for the tumbler. When she returned, Janet was still standing in the same spot. Sam poured a generous slosh into the glass and passed it to the doctor. "Here, please, sit."

Their fingers brushed together in the exchange and Sam almost jumped at the charge of electricity she felt. Still, she would not let her mind down that route; that was surely not Janet's intention. Sam sat back on the couch and watched the doctor sink into the easy chair.

Janet studied Sam closely, trying to pluck up the courage for her confession. What would happen if Sam rejected her outright? Could she deal with that? Would they still have a friendship? Taking a fortifying breath, Janet made up her mind; she could not go on like this, and whatever the consequences she had to tell Sam how she felt.

She took a sip of the whiskey, shuddering at its bitter taste, and began. "Sam? You know I have feelings for you don't you?"

There was no reply, so she plowed on, "I mean not just friendship, deep emotional feelings. In fact I think, no, I know I love you. I understand that you don't feel the same and there will probably never be a time when you do. But you know? I just had to tell you. I can't walk around with this inside me anymore. I hope that we can still be friends, but I really understand if you don't want that to happen. I know I've been hard on you recently, but you have to know it's only because I care about you so deeply and I would be devastated if something ever happened to you. Sam, I..."

So intent was she on getting everything out before she lost her courage, Janet had not heard Sam rise from the couch. Her words were cut off as in one fluid motion Sam straddled Janet's legs, and lowered her lips to kiss the doctor's. The breath stilled in Janet's chest as she was overwhelmed by the sensation of Sam Carter so close to her. The taste was intoxicating and she pushed forward to gain more contact.

Eventually Sam pulled away and fixed her gaze on Janet's face, a slow smile creeping onto her lips. "Wow," she whispered, "I've been wanting to do that for a while."

Sam shifted a little, the small grin turning into a proper Sam smile as she watched Janet try to process what had happened. Janet raised a shaking hand to her lips, tracing them in disbelief. At last she looked up at the blonde and returned the smile, her eyes full of relief and realization. "Really?" she managed.

Sam nodded, raising a hand to stroke Janet's cheek. "Yes, really."

"Oh."

"Is that a good 'oh'?" Sam asked, suddenly unsure of herself.

Janet nodded, still unable to string more words together. The silence drew on and Sam couldn't keep quiet any longer. "So what now?"

It was Janet's turn to lift her hand to the face before her, the tips of her fingers smoothing over soft skin. She raised an eyebrow and grinned, "Now? Now you kiss me again..."

Sam turned her head slowly and brushed her lips against the palm that caressed her cheek. Getting to her feet, she grasped Janet's hand and pulled her from the chair, cradling the smaller woman in her arms. Dipping her head low for another kiss, she felt Janet's hands slide under her shirt, sending sparks of electricity coursing through her.

Janet moved away slightly, looking up into dancing blue eyes. "You know, Cass is away on a field trip this weekend. We have the time all to ourselves."

Sam's answer was to tug Janet back towards the bedroom, her eyes never losing contact with her new lover. They tumbled to the bed and with mutual unvoiced consent began to unbutton clothes and explore the treasures beneath. Sensual fingers found curves, lips nipped at tender spots and the silence was punctuated with appreciative gasps and whispered 'I love you's'.

All the trepidation of the last one hundred days began to melt away with soft caresses and intimate touches; touches that were no longer angst filled and doubtful, but ones shared between lovers. Lovers who would nurture and trust the love they had found together over the next one hundred days and beyond.