Sam parked in the driveway, making sure not to block Cassandra's car, and let herself into the house. She paused at the threshold and listened. There were no tell-tale signs of life, but she knew. This was not an empty house. She could feel Janet upstairs. There was no scientific basis for it, no explanation for how she could feel someone. But one thing Sam had learned since she started sleeping with Janet that there were some things science couldn't explain. Like why her heart would speed up just because of a touch at the base of her neck. Or why seeing Janet smile made her feel like she had accomplished something wonderful.

She took off her shoes and walked upstairs barefoot. She stripped down to her panties in Janet's bedroom, pulled on a 'Property of the US Air Force" t-shirt and slipped under the blanket. Janet was wearing a long, silk nightgown and the material felt cold as it whispered against Sam's legs. Sam looped her arms around Janet's waist and spooned against her back.

Janet whimpered against the pillow and put her hands on Sam's wrists. "You're cold," she whispered.

Sam kissed the back of Janet's neck through her hair. Janet squirmed against Sam's embrace and sighed. She murmured and then looked over her shoulder. "Did you want to fool around?"

Janet's hair was down in her eyes, all a-mess from sleep. When she blinked, her eyelashes caught a few of the light brown strands and moved them like a breeze through a curtain. Sam brushed the hair out of Janet's eyes and shook her head. "I'm too tired."

"Good," Janet said. She rose onto her elbow and stretched far enough to kiss Sam's lips. "I'm glad you're here, though."

Sam smiled and kissed Janet's cheek. "Go back to sleep."

Janet stretched out and Sam's hand slid over her belly. They settled against one another, Janet bending her knees to give Sam room behind her. Janet was asleep in the space of a few deep breaths. Sam closed her eyes, but all she could see was the small hut in the village SG-1 had just left.

Four hours earlier,

Sam stood in the doorway of the small house, P-90 at ready. The Jaffa had swept through the town like a tornado, taking some people prisoner as potential hosts and killing the rest. SG-1 had the unenviable task of rounding up any survivors they found and relocating them to a safe planet.

She had a feeling about this house, like she did whenever she entered Janet's home. It wasn't empty. "Hello?" she said. "It's all right. You're safe."

There was no answer. She dropped to a crouch and peered under the furniture. She found nothing in the front room and stepped through a narrow doorway to what seemed to be a bedroom. She didn't have much time to explore, however, as the woman was attacking her as soon as she was through the door.

"Don't you touch her!" the woman howled. She pummeled Sam with fists and elbows, throwing her weight behind each punch. Sam restrained herself from punching the flailing woman and grabbed her wrists. She raised both hands over their heads and pushed the woman away with her own weight. "Take me!" the woman said. "Take me instead!"

"Relax!" Sam said. "Calm down. We're not going to hurt any of you. We're here to help."

"Marlena," another woman said. Sam and the woman, apparently Marlena, both turned towards it. The second woman was crouched next to the bed, her face stained with tears. She was gripping the blanket with her fists and gestured at Sam. "Her clothing. She is not Jaffa."

Marlena frowned and looked at Sam for the first time. She swallowed and pulled her hands from Sam's grip. "You are not Jaffa? What are you doing here?"

"We're trying to help your people. Relocate them to a world where you can get medical treatment, food... where you won't have to worry about the Jaffa raiding your village again."

Marlena looked at the other woman and left Sam's side. "Do you hear that, Rae? Never again." She tenderly cupped Rae's face and then looked at Sam. "Take us. Please."

Sam was still taken aback at the tender display. She said, "Come on. I'll take you to the Stargate."

Marlena helped Rae stand, clasped her hand and walked past Sam and into the main room. "It's our home," Rae whispered, leaning against Marlena's arm. Marlena stroked her lover's arm and kissed her temple. She pulled Rae close and whispered something in her ear. Sam couldn't hear what was said, nor did she try to.

When Marlena pulled back, she kissed Rae's forehead and then turned to Sam. "We're ready to go."

Sam nodded. "Right this way."

~

She woke to find herself alone in bed. She sat up and rubbed her eyes, pushing her hair back and focusing on Janet at the vanity. She had changed from the nightgown and was wearing her slip and a dark blue skirt. It was one of her half-dressed appearances that always gave Sam a thrill. She wasn't naked, wasn't dressed, she was casual and unashamed.

Sam sat up and stared at the curve of Janet's spine, the strong plains of her shoulder blades beneath the smooth material of her slip. She was applying eyeliner and hadn't yet noticed the movement on the bed.

"Hey," Sam whispered.

"Morning," Janet said without turning. "You were sleeping well."

Sam smiled and slipped out from under the blankets. "I had a nice teddy bear to snuggle with." She wrapped her arms around Janet from behind and kissed her ear. "Shower free?"

"Cassie just got out."

Sam groaned. "Cold shower, then." She slipped her hand down Janet's ass and said, "Too bad I didn't earn this one."

Janet smiled and wiggled her hips. Sam chuckled and pulled off her t-shirt as she went into the bathroom. Janet stilled her hand, frozen in the process of applying make-up, and watched Sam strip. She watched until the shower door slid shut and blocked Sam from her view. She smiled at her reflection and whispered, "Five years. That still makes me hot."

"Good to know," Sam called from the shower.

Janet chuckled and finished her make-up.

~

Sam joined Cassandra and Janet at breakfast. Cassie had her History book open between her and Janet's plates. Sam got a plate of eggs and bacon - she'd sleep with Janet just for the breakfasts - and joined them. Cassie looked up as Sam sat across from her. "Spend the night again?"

"Mm-hmm," Sam said.

Cassie looked back down at the book without comment. She grumbled and said, "I hate this stuff. Stupid dates and generals."

"Hey," Janet and Sam said together.

Cassie growled. "Sorry. No disrespect to General Hammond. But... look. Couldn't I be doing some chemistry or something that really matters?"

"History matters," Janet insisted. "Those who don't learn, doomed to repeat. Remember that whole quote I gave you?"

"Sam," Cassie said. "When was the Battle of Waterloo?"

"1815," Sam said.

Cassie stared at her for a moment and then slapped the book shut. "I hate you guys."

Janet opened the book again and gently poked the page with her finger.

Cassie huffed and bent over the book again. Janet caught Sam's eye, smirked and gave her a wink. Sam tried to hide her smile behind a piece of bacon.

When breakfast was over, Cassie gathered her books and shoved them into her backpack. "One of these days, I'm going to find something you don't know and then I'll be laughing."

Sam said, "Have a good day at school, Cassandra."

Cassie kissed Sam's cheek. When she bent to kiss Janet, Janet said, "No texting Mark in class."

"They confiscated my phone last time. Won't make that mistake again."

"Drive safe," Sam said to Cassie's back.

Cassie waved as she left the house. Janet gathered her and Cassie's dishes and carried them to the kitchen. "What was all that about?" Sam said.

"She got a B on a History test," Janet called back. "It's got her a little worried, but not enough to actually study."

Sam got up to refill her orange juice, which was only half-empty. She set the glass on the counter and looked at Janet. She was wearing her uniform, an apron protecting the front from any errant splashes as she loaded the dishwasher. She glanced over her shoulder and spotted Sam watching her. "What?"

"Come here."

Janet frowned and abandoned the dishes momentarily. She walked over and put her hands on Sam's shoulders, looking up into her lover's face. "Hi," she said with a smile.

Sam bent down and kissed Janet's bottom lip. She sucked it into her mouth and brushed her tongue across, tasting her lipstick before retreating. Janet pressed against Sam, her fingers curling at the base of Sam's neck and scratching the hairs there. She moaned and mimicked Sam's caress with her own tongue, a light brushing across Sam's bottom lip.

They didn't part, but Janet's lips left Sam's and moved to rest against her cheek instead. "What brought that on?"

"Last night, I saw a woman try to throw herself in front of a Jaffa to save her lover."

"God. What happened?"

"Nothing. It was me. She just... thought I was a Jaffa. But she threw herself at me. Begged me to take her instead."

Janet lowered her voice and bowed her head. She pressed her lips to Sam's neck. "You've seen that kind of thing before," she whispered.

"Yeah, I know. But they were lovers. I don't think I've ever seen love like that."

Janet kissed Sam's pulse and said, "Yes. You have. Every day, Sam."

Sam pulled back and looked down at Janet. "You would?"

Janet nodded slowly and closed her eyes. "And you would. I know that. I've always known that, Samantha."

"It sounds so melodramatic to say it out loud. To say you would... die for someone else."

"That wasn't so bad," Janet said. She smiled and touched Sam's cheek. "Now we should get ready for work."

Sam nodded and stepped back. She kissed Janet's forehead and said, "I'm going to finish my breakfast."

"Okay. Will you give me a ride to work?"

"Mm-hmm."

Sam slipped away from Janet and headed to the dinner table. She sat and picked up her fork. Before she could take another bite of her eggs, however, Janet said, "Sam?" She turned to see Janet watching her from the doorway. "Love isn't all jumping in front of bullets. It can be simpler." She bit her bottom lip, raised her eyebrows to make sure her point had gotten across and slipped back into the kitchen.

Sam smiled and looked down at her plate. She poked the scrambled eggs with her fork and whispered. "Yeah. It can be as simple as rides to work and scrambled eggs."

end