Work And Home

by Janet's Penlight

URL: http://www.stargateslash.com/asj/jpenlight/workandh.php
Summary: Janet makes a call and Sam makes a request.
Info: For the third annual International Day of Femslash!

Janet Fraiser hummed a little tune as she huddled behind a crate of medical supplies to avoid the flying bullets. She looked down at the baby in her arms, wondering how it could sleep through the gunfire. It was the last of her patients for the day and she was ready to get off this creepy desert planet. She and her medics had managed to tend to all the sickly villagers, but it had been close. Raiders loomed about the edges of the settlement, itching to get their hands on the valuable vaccines and supplies, and maybe a nurse or two for good measure. SG-3 was out on the perimeter, with SG-1 guarding the tents inside. Janet had last seen Daniel out herding civilians while Teal'c, Sam, and the Colonel tried to chase off the raiders.

There were bulletholes in the tent. Janet watched the dusty air spiral in the bullet-shaped sunbeams pouring in. The raiders must have projectile weapons, she realized. No SG team member would be sending bullets into the medical tent.

After a few moments of calm Janet stood and swaddled the baby in a thin cloth. The infant was a small one, a newborn really. It was squirmy and fit so nicely in the crook of an arm. Janet smiled despite the shouting and scuffling outside. She looked around for the baby's mother, wondering where she had run off to. The mother herself was just a girl; she looked barely older than Cassie. Janet's smile faded just a bit at that thought.

It was hot in the olive-drab tent, and they were down to their tank tops, working fast under pressure. Janet struggled to remain patient in the thick desert air. Another round of snapping gunfire made her heart squeeze and she stood back to lean against the bulletproof supply crates. The baby jerked awake this time and she tried to cover its ears against the painfully loud racket. She hoped the baby's mother made it. She hoped the raiders would disappear.

Once the uproar seemed to be over for good Janet could hear the girl's voice outside the tent and the reassuring sounds of SG-1 returning. She stepped out to return the baby and get the day wrapped up. The dust was settling and the coast was clear. Teal'c caught her eye and nodded in greeting, impossibly serene after a firefight. She nodded back, a sign that all was well.

She saw the Colonel swinging his rifle in annoyance, sweat dripping down his face. Sam hung beside him, face shining, gun in her grip. She was all aflush with adrenaline and she was flexing her hands in her fingerless gun gloves, looking for all the world like she was enjoying the game. Sam faced her, eyes hidden behind her shades and the scraps of her bangs. Her hair was getting long. It was almost to her shoulders. As her hair skirted her collar, she skirted regulations. A faint smile hung on her lips. She cradled her gun in one arm the same way Janet held the baby.

Janet relaxed, feeling fine. Good Sam. The very sight of her made an iffy situation seem easier. She felt aware. She was running her eyes along the horizon, over the sandy ground, along the holster strap around Sam's thigh. Her insides jumped in a very different way then. She felt the weight of her own sidearm on her hip, looked down at the baby in her arms. Her skin prickled despite the heat. She felt ripe for the picking.

The team broke apart and wandered about on patrol while SG-3 took down the tents. Sam remained in the shade, breathing deeply in the wind. Janet looked away, searching for the nervous young mother. She let Sam watch her. She could feel her gaze, could feel her eyes on her. Then she knew how she must look, her tank top tight and damp, dog tags hanging in her cleavage, loose strands of hair caressing her cheek. A little creature cradled in her arms.

Maybe it was the heat. She took a moment in her surroundings, aware that Sam had appointed herself as her protector. She could almost feel Sam's hand tighten on the grip of her gun. Sam stood there in the dirt, gorgeous and ready to kill.

---

Back at home that night there was a storm, ice everywhere, lines down. The power was out. Janet arranged candles on the coffee table and hoped to get sleepy enough to go to bed. Cassie was away spending the night with a friend. They were probably wide awake at this late hour, shrieking with giggles, all flashlights and sleeping bags. Janet would prefer the day just end.

Sometimes it was like this after a hectic day, especially days involving gun battles and civilians, doctoring in a tent under the protection of soldiers. At the end when she was back at home in the quiet she could feel the day leaving her, like the last drops of a powerful drug wearing off. It would get better, but the process would be rough.

The candles glowed nicely and had a delicate scent. They were a gift from Teal'c, handcrafted with the wax of native Chulak bees. She thought about all the things she'd brought home from work over the years.

She tried to wrap herself in a blanket but it proved too confining. It was warm enough in the house, toasty even. She shrugged it off and let it fall to the floor. She stood. Janet did not mind being alone and rarely got lonely. Tonight, though, there was something about the sound of the sleet spattering on the window, the darkness, the absence of her daughter, something that made the house seem too big.

It was late but she couldn't sit still, couldn't forget. She thought of the blowing dust and of SG-1. She thought of Sam, of the tight strap around Sam's thigh. She remembered the straining pulse in her belly as she held the squirmy baby in its swaddling and felt Sam looking at her. The flickering candlelight and the whistle of a gust of wind slamming through the eaves outside triggered a shiver.

She grabbed the phone and hit the speed dial.

"Carter."

"Hey. Whatcha doing?"

"I'll be right there."

"Oh thank god."

"I know, huh."

The line died and Janet dropped the phone carelessly. That was a conversation, technically. She smiled and shivered again, and it was so good. Better than gunfire in a glistening desert. Better than running for the Stargate and diving into the watery blue promise of safety.

From the familiar background hum over the phone line she could tell Sam was in her lab. At midnight, on a weekend. After a full day, a very crazy day. Another reminder that she was different, that they were different.

She would have liked to stare eagerly out the window but it was all fogged up. She didn't know what to do. The roads were icy but she didn't worry. At the flash of headlights she took a breath and closed her eyes. She threw open the door just as Sam came bounding up the stairs, her steps so sure despite the ice.

Janet shut the door against the cold. Sam barely had her jacket off and hung up before she was wrapped in Janet's embrace. She snuggled against her, head on her shoulder, pouring heat into her.

"Power's out," Sam commented helpfully, her mind traveling lines, through circuits and transformers.

Janet raised her head, found Sam's cold ear and placed her lips against it. "I needed you."

"I'm here," Sam said as Janet pulled back to look at her. Sam had that same faint smile on her face. Janet brushed her long bangs back, ran her fingers slowly through her hair. Sam would no doubt be cutting it back soon and she wanted to enjoy the silky locks. Her hair was so cool from the night air, sprinkled with raindrops where tiny ice crystals had melted. Sam closed her eyes and sighed at the touch.

Janet kissed her lips lightly, just a greeting. Sam returned it, pulling her body against her own, and there was no looking back. They fell into a rhythm, opening up, tasting each other. Janet let loose. She had been on fire all day and she knew Sam wanted to feel it. She kissed her mouth and felt her respond.

She barely noticed when Sam picked her up, arms around her middle, and set her securely on the back of the couch. She settled her there and concentrated on kissing her, taking a breath whenever she could. Unable to pull her closer, Janet wrapped her legs around her waist. She tried to grip her clothes in her hands, but they kept traveling around, wanting to feel her body everywhere. Somehow they coordinated, tongues shoving.

Janet moaned. She was pressed against Sam's body so hard. Her hips hurt like hell, straining to hold Sam in her clutches, but that was kind of nice. At the sound of her voice Sam pulled back to take a breath. She embraced her more securely and dove in to cover her warm neck with kisses. Janet ground against her, leaning back, feeling delirious from Sam's eager lips. Sam was so good, knew just how to drive her crazy. It overcame her and she moaned some more. The house was empty and she knew Sam loved to hear it. She liked evidence, she liked results. Sam groaned against her throat and held her body.

After a moment Janet ran her hands back into Sam's hair and kissed her luscious mouth. Still aching from the effort, she hopped down to the floor. Sam made sure she had to rub against her a little more in order to do so. She was chuckling low in her throat and it made Janet flush hot. She made use of their proximity and went to work opening Sam's pants. She could feel her breaths in her hair, her lips and the tip of her nose grazing her forehead. A button, a zipper, a belt buckle, and her shirt came loose and parted at the edge. Janet's fingertips found their way to her trembling belly.

With no time wasted Janet slipped her hand down the open front of her pants, moving past the thin band of her panties, and expertly finding her goal. "Ohh," Sam purred against her hair, barely making a sound. Janet closed her eyes, seeking sensation. Sam's thigh pushed against her own as their legs tangled.

"You are ready for this," Janet whispered, licking her lips.

"Ung huh," Sam burbled. She was almost shaking now, one hand planted hard against the couch to keep her upright. "Yes," she continued, her voice straining.

"Come on," Janet whispered, bracing her knee against Sam's. Together they lowered to the floor, Sam going to her knees, still pressing against Janet's insistent hand.

Janet caressed her, using her free hand to tease open her shirt and explore the lace edge of her bra. She leaned in to place her lips to Sam's neck, then her collarbone. All the cold was gone and her flesh was burning. Janet kissed her skin, felt lace on her lips, nuzzled the curves straining the fabric. She gave her a nip and heard her squeak in surprise. "Sorry," she whispered.

"No, no..." Sam sighed. No, it was okay. She pulled Janet closer and leaned against her, another involuntary purr building in her throat. She felt the shape of Janet's hand through the crotch of her pants and covered it with her own.

Janet held her close. She rested her lips against Sam's soft skin and whispered her name. All three syllables. She felt her fingers slipping, felt Sam writhing in ecstasy. It was almost too much to bear. She always loved the part where Sam relaxed against her, buried her face against her throat, and held her. She could almost hear her mind going blank. With a mind like Sam's, the process is complicated.

"Didn't even get our clothes off," Sam mumbled, lips brushing her jawline.

Sometimes it just works out that way. Janet stood, feeling Sam's hands slide down her legs as she did so. She stepped back, looking down at her where she knelt on the floor, her clothing all askew and her bangs in her eyes. Slowly, feeling refreshingly mellow, she put her hands to her own body. She loosened the drawstring holding her pants around her waist and let them fall. Then she scooped off her shirt, almost shivering as Sam's eyes traveled along her bare skin. With a hint of a tease she let her fingertips trace the waistband of her panties before nudging them down and off.

Janet was quite aware that she had just stripped before the bank of large bay windows there in the living room. They were all fogged, the simple condensation a curtain against the dark outdoors. She was for Sam and Sam alone. The blanket she had tossed on the floor earlier seemed to beckon, and she reclined invitingly upon it.

Sam got the idea and stood up. She let her rumpled shirt fall away and pushed her trousers past her hips. Janet's eyes glazed. Sam smiled faintly down at her, seeming not to realize that she was a goddess. Her hair shone in the flickering candlelight. She shed the last scraps of her clothing and let Janet see. Finally she approached her, balanced over her, and lowered herself into her arms.

It could have been a reward for a job well done, having Sam in her arms, stroking the full length of her back with her hands. Sam's smooth hair tickling her cheek, her ear available for stray thoughts, her breasts and belly pressed up against her own. She thought they should probably reward each other more often.

---

As days end, nights pass, and it's all relative. This night was a long night on an empty planet. Sam sat with her team around a campfire, passing the hours until daylight, waiting to make the hike back to the Gate. None of them wanted to sleep. It was early evening back home and they had their own special species of jetlag.

The hours went on. The planet was very dark. There were no moons and the atmosphere was not clear enough to let through much starlight. So they sat around their small fire like four points on a square, waiting and talking. Usually Sam enjoyed her team's downtime banter. Daniel was an endless source of entertaining trivia, Teal'c had lived true adventures, and she had to admit the Colonel made her laugh. Tonight, though, it wasn't really banter that was going on. Something went crooked. Maybe someone was in a bad mood and it was contagious, but she hadn't noticed until now.

It was times like this when she realized the company she was in. She knew each of them inside out, even the dark back corners, and every now and then they ended up there. It was probably Daniel who started them down that road, blurting out something or another about Sha're. The Colonel would have then added something surprisingly profound about the nature of commitment and sacrifice, and Teal'c would have backed him up with a knowing grunt. Then before Sam knew it she was watching them reminisce about their lost wives like the gruff, stoic veterans that they were.

With a polite silence Sam got up, stretched her legs, and went out to walk the perimeter. She hated listening to them when they got like that. When it got serious. When she had absolutely nothing to add. What could she possibly have to say?

They were like knights in legends. Tragedies. Daniel in all his grief for Sha're, knowing she was stolen and violated in every way. Teal'c, who could not be with Drey'auc as she struggled under Goa'uld rule. The Colonel, whose marriage had ended the moment his son pulled that trigger. It made Sam ill. She winced in the darkness, thinking of the pain her friends endured and she couldn't really share. Who was she? For all anyone knew, she was just a geek.

It wasn't yet 0400 Colorado time when they stepped back into the gate room. By the time they got cleaned up and changed, had their physicals and left a report for General Hammond, the sun was rising. It was a frosty fall sunrise.

Sam was immensely relieved to step into the warm, cozy house. As she made her way to the kitchen she heard the shower going upstairs - Cassie getting ready for school. Janet looked up as she entered the kitchen. Sam returned her friendly smile.

"Good morning," Janet greeted her. She looked sleepy, hair pulled back in a haphazard ponytail, nursing her steaming coffee. God, she was even reading the newspaper, so perfect.

"Morning," Sam answered, grabbing her up in a tight hug that made her giggle.

Janet pulled back and looked up at her. "Coffee?" she offered, clearly not awake enough to think of much else.

"Maybe a little. Gonna try to get some sleep soon." She accepted the hot mug and took a taste. It was genuine Janet recipe coffee, hot, black, no cream, no sugar, no nonsense. Just right.

"So, how was it?" Janet asked, always curious to hear about the latest mission.

"Eh, fine," Sam shrugged. She stared into her mug, watching the dark swirl. "We didn't find anything good. We just sat around. It was a long night. They started talking about their wives..." She trailed off, not needing to elaborate.

"Oh," Janet sighed. She knew the drama. She smiled comfortingly as Sam raised her eyes. She was magnetic. Sam let go of the night and relaxed. She put her cup down and stepped closer, watching Janet's sweet little face. She focused on her lips, kissed her without hesitation.

It was something she loved about Janet, how she always got into it. She kissed her back like it was the greatest thing in the world. Her lips were blazing hot from the near-boiling coffee she had been sipping. Sam tried not to push it too hard, not wanting to get too sexual so early in the morning. Janet wouldn't be up for that. She'd save it for later.

Eventually she left Janet to finish her coffee and get ready for work. Sam changed into some sleep clothes, wandered into Janet's bedroom and sat on her bed. She still thought of it as Janet's bed even though she had been sharing it a lot lately. It made it seem so much more appealing. She was tired, couldn't keep the slump out of her shoulders. As her soldier side shut down she relaxed and felt her eyelids droop.

As she collapsed into the pillows she was vaguely aware of Janet's presence, and then she heard the shower going. Through a sleepy haze she heard the hairdryer. She thought of her men. How was it that she had the privilege of listening to her lover brush her teeth, but they didn't? It was hard not to hurt for them, but then, they were grown men. She could trust them to handle it, and she would just stay nearby.

She listened to Janet putting herself together. Little sounds. There were the accessories: watch, nametag, pager. The bed was so comfortable and she was so tired. She had just begun to drift off when she felt Janet sit down next to her. She opened her eyes and saw Janet smiling down at her, all dressed and ready to go.

Sam couldn't help smiling back. "You have no right to make that uniform look so sexy."

"I have every right."

Sam laughed.

"You can court-martial me when I get home," Janet promised. She reached out and ran a couple of fingers through her hair. Sam leaned into the touch and closed her eyes. "Get some rest. We'll stay up all night."

Sam opened her eyes and nodded. "Don't ever let me take you for granted."

Janet looked steadily at her, as cool as always. "I don't think you do, judging by how happy you make me."

Sam didn't have a reply, so she just gazed sleepily up at her. Janet leaned down and kissed her lips, two or three times, soft as a cloud. She touched her shoulder as she stood up from the bed. "See ya," she said.

"See ya," Sam answered. She sucked her lip into her mouth and tasted Janet's lipstick as she watched her leave the room. It made her feel dreamy and she dozed, letting herself enjoy her downtime. She heard the door opening downstairs and Janet hollering "your hair looks fine, go get in the car." Sam snickered into the pillow. She was so proud of that little doctor.

It was just another day. Sometimes she couldn't believe her luck.

the end

Author's Note: Thank you for your friendly feedback.