Author: Geonn

Email: neil_j_miser@yahoo.com

Rating: R

Pairings: Sam/Other, Sam/Janet (slightly)

Category: Drama, Angst

Website: www.realmoftheshadow.com/geonn.htm

Disclaimer: These folks don't belong to me. I stole them from MGM's toybox without asking their mommies for permission. I promise to return them more or less unscathed.

Spoilers: "The Tok'ra"

Archive: Yes, just let me know where it'll be.

Thanks: To Hl for the banner and support :-D

Notes: I know how bad I am at labeling, but this is not a DeathFic. No matter how bleak things look, this is NOT A DEATHFIC.

Summary: Janet can't deal with Sam's new relationship.

Chapter One,

That night, Janet didn't sleep. She tossed and turned for a bit and finally, at close to five, climbed out of bed and took a shower. Cassie would be cranky about having no hot water, but that was tough. Janet fingercombed her hair in the shower and stepped out feeling less refreshed than when she'd started. She sighed and got out of bed, dressing in a pair of old sweats before heading downstairs. She went to the kitchen and grabbed two slices of bread, wrapping them in plastic before sticking them in her fanny pack. She checked to make sure she had everything she needed.

In the entry hall, she grabbed one of the baseball caps Sam left at the house and twisted her hair into a ponytail, threading it through the back as she slipped it on. She opened the door and stepped onto the front porch. The sun was just starting to come up and the street was bathed in gold, the trees and hedges casting extra-long shadows on the driveways and lawns. She hugged herself against the chill, decided she didn't want a jacket, and started her jog.

Her house was three houses away from the corner. She paused at the cross-street, eventually deciding to go right. It wasn't the shortest route to her destination, but it was more scenic. After half a mile, she broke away from the street and dipped into a small forest. The ice that had clung to the branches during the night was melting, each tree becoming it's own individual rain cloud. She kept to the barely-noticable trail that she had been pounding out for the past five years to avoid being 'rained' on.

Fifteen minutes later, give or take, she made it to the duck pond. Her heart was pounding, her skin sheened with sweat and her sweatshirt was clinging to her. She tugged on the collar and dropped onto a bench, fishing the bread from her fanny pack, along with the red-and-white package she'd stowed there in the hopes Cassie wouldn't find it. She opened the cigarette pack and tapped one out, balancing it on her lower lip and leaning back against the bench.

"Those things'll kill ya," a voice said, making her jump. She turned and saw a man approaching. He was wearing jeans and a leather jacket, smiling politely. "Of course... if you don't light them..." He sat on the next bench over, slumping and planting his heels on the ground in front of him.

"I'm a doctor," Janet explained, taking the cigarette from her lips and blowing. The cold morning air caused her breath to plume out, as if she had fooled her body into thinking she was smoking. "I know what these do, that's why I didn't light it. And, by the way, the only company I'm looking for are the ducks."

The man shrugged. "No problem. But, ah, I'm not trying to pick you up or anything if that makes a difference. I'm a priest." She looked at him in disbelief, but he pointed behind them. A church did indeed stand a block away. "I usually take confessions in the afternoon, but... if you need someone to listen, I won't judge."

Janet shook her head. "I really don't think it'd be your kind of story."

"You might be surprised."

She sighed and looked him over again. "You're not going to leave me alone, are you?"

He laughed and said, "Might as well spill your guts."

She rolled her head on her shoulders. "It involves a lot of stuff you guys," she motioned at the church, "tend to frown on. Premarital sex, lesbians..."

The priest raised an eyebrow. "I'm clergy. Not dead." He chuckled. "I said earlier, I'm not here to judge. Just tell me what's wrong. It may help more than you know."

She looked down at the remains of the bread in her hands and smiled. "I guess you could say the whole thing was my fault. It all started about a month ago during an...

--

...emergency situation!" the SF called. "We have casualities comin' through the Gate!"

Janet handed her clipboard to one of the nurses she'd been briefing and hurried towards the corridor. Who was off-world? SG-4 and the group of scientists who had been trailing along with them. SG-12 was investigating the crash of a UAV. SG-8 had come back earlier that morning... As she approached the elevator, the doors parted and Major Jacoby of SG-4 appeared. He was limping, his uniform torn and bloody. She immediately ducked under his arm, wrapping her own arm around his waist and supporting him. "Major," she said, directing him towards the infirmary. "What happened?"

He shook his head and grit his teeth. "Damn nerds... lookin' at rocks, pickin' up stinkin' artifacts..." He shook his head in disgust. "The floor gave way. We fell into the basement of the temple."

Jacoby coughed and stumbled a bit, allowing Janet to support most of his weight. She spaced her feet a bit further apart, putting her free hand on his stomach. "Easy, easy," she soothed. "Just a few more steps."

She led him to one of the free beds and helped him up, immediately scanning his uniform. The leg was ripped badly and she gently peeled apart the two halves. The flesh below was torn and raw, pebbles and dirt imbedded in the skin. "Did I break it?" Jacoby asked, wincing as she probed the wounds.

Janet offered him a gentle smile. "No. Just a few scrapes."

Jacoby rested his head on the pillow and sighed quietly. Janet was about to begin dressing his wounds when the klaxon sounded again. She sighed and looked up at her patient. "Looks like it's going to be a long day."

---

Janet peeled off her rubber gloves and tossed them into the trash bin, picking up a convenient glass of water and downing it. It had been almost six hours since Jacoby had come through the Gate. In that time, three members of SG-12 had been moved from critical to stable condition. The fourth member had died off-world. She rubbed her forehead and checked her watch. Her shift had ended three hours ago. She shook her head and moved towards her office. Blissful paperwork...

She was halfway to her oasis when she heard her name being called. "Doctor? There's a visitor upstairs for you!"

Glancing at the nurse, Janet said, "Cassandra?"

"No, it's someone else. A woman, your age... black hair?"

Janet frowned. "Okay... uh, I'll be right there, I suppose." Again, she checked her watch. With paperwork and the mysterious visitor, she was never going to get off.

Her mind raced as she rode up in the elevator, trying to figure out who was visiting her at the mountain. One of Cassie's teachers? A neighbor? Bill collector? Process server? Publisher's Clearinghouse? She was smiling when she stepped out of the elevator, offering a polite hello to the SF on-duty. She was about to ask where her visitor was when she head, "Well, well, well. You *do* live down there!"

She turned, scanning the parking garage before her eyes landed on another woman. She was petite, her dark hair cut close to her head. The other woman was a few years older than the last time they'd seen each other, but Janet had no doubt about who it was. She held her arms out for a hug and said, "Jewels?!"

The other woman extended her arms and said, "In the flesh, munchkin!" They ran to each other and hugged, laughing as they did so. The SF on duty watched with a slight smirk, chuckling before going back to his copy of Entertainment Weekly. Janet released the other woman and said, "What are you doing here?" Her voice had inexplicably regained it's slightly southern accent. It always happened when she was around family.

"I can't visit once in a while? C'mon, Jannie! What are you doing buried in a mountain?"

Janet laughed. "Once in a lifetime thing. I couldn't pass up. I would've taken this job if I had been forced to move to Siberia... or to your house."

"Hardy-har," Julia snickered, then playfully slugged Janet's arm. "So. You ready for a crazy night on the town?"

Janet deflated. "Oh. Um... well, I have a lot of work to do down there. Medical emergencies, paperwork... I'll be late getting done."

"Oh." Julia sighed and ran a hand through her short, pitch-black hair. "Maybe tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow's bad, too."

Before Julia could complain, the elevator doors opened and Samantha Carter stepped out, tugging at her leather jacket and rolling her neck stiffly. She waved at the guard, quickly scribbling her name on the sign-out sheet. She was making her way to her car when she spotted Janet and slowed down. "Hey, Janet," she said, glancing at her friend's companion. "What's up?"

"Sam," the doctor said. "This is my sister, Julia Reynolds. Jewels, this is Major Samantha Carter, my best friend and partner-in-crime."

Sam raised an eyebrow. "Aw, I'm touched. Best friend..." She winked at Janet, then shook Julia's hand.

"Were you on your way home?" Janet asked, an idea forming.

"Uh-huh. Why, what's up?"

Janet took hold of Sam's arm and said, "Samantha. My dear, beautiful friend... Would you mind taking my dear, dear sister out for a night on the town? I'd hate myself if I forced her to sit in a hotel her first night here."

"I wouldn't want to impose," Julia started.

"I'm really beat..." Sam argued.

Janet shushed them both. "Come on... I'm sure you guys'll have lots to talk about. It'll be fun, I promise!" She looked imploringly at Sam and softened her voice. "Please?"

Sam sighed and checked her watch. "Have you eaten?"

"No, actually, I haven't..." Julia said, shooting Janet a look that said, 'I WILL get you for this.'

Janet grinned. "Excellent! Have fun and don't keep her out too late, Sam." She released Sam's arm and the unwilling dinner companions moved towards the rows of cars. "I'll see if I can get off-duty tomorrow, Jewels. Okay?"

Janet stepped back into the elevator, waving good-bye. She caught Julia glaring at her and mouthing something decidedly unsisterly as the doors closed on the surface. Janet leaned against the wall of the elevator and sighed. "I'm just trying to make sure she has a good time," she argued to her shadow. Guilt could wait. Paperwork had to be done now... hours upon hours of mind-numbing paperwork. "Why'd she have to show up *today*?" Janet asked as she waited for the elevator to carry her back into the bowels of the mountain.

---

"Early meeting is always good."

Sam looked up, frowning slightly. She had just pulled into the parking lot of O'Malley's, Janet's sister riding next to her. She released the seat belt and asked, "What do you mean?"

Julia smiled. "Early meeting. Y'know, for when you want to ditch me." She winked. "It's okay. I won't be offended... Janet kind of shoved me onto you."

"I don't mind, really," Sam said. "All I had waiting for me at home was a repeat of 'ER' and some reheated mac and cheese. I'm actually happy to be out."

"Oh, c'mon," Julia said, climbing out of the car. "You don't have someone sitting at home waiting for you?"

Sam blushed. "I did, one time. He turned into a megalomaniacal power monger. There... hasn't been many more after that."

"What guy doesn't turn into that?" Julia laughed. "Are you paying or am I?"

"You," Sam said definitively. "*You're* the tagalong here!"

Julia laughed and held up her hands. "You've got me. I'll pay. It's the least I can do to repay you for letting me ride in this beautiful car." She ran her hand down the side and shook her head. "This really is a beauty, Sam."

"Well, thanks. And I'd be more than happy to let you pay. Shall we?" she asked, indicating the restaurant/bar. As she followed Julia up the walkway to the front door, she was surprised to find herself on the verge of having a good time. If she wasn't careful, she might actually enjoy this evening.

---

"So... Reynolds."

"What?" Julia asked, squinting as if she could barely hear.

Sam could barely blame the woman; the bar *was* noisy. She raised her voice and said, "Your name is Reynolds, not Fraiser?"

"Oh! Mm-hmm," Julia nodded, taking a sip from her beer. She licked her lips and leaned back. "Yep. Married a guy when I was twenty, divorced him when I was twenty-one. Kept the name."

Sam nodded. "Ah. So... I suppose you knew Janet's ex?"

Julia rolled her eyes. "You mean The Chipmunk? Yeah, I knew him. Bastard came on to me at their wedding..." She sighed and leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "He had these big puffy cheeks and an overbite. Oh, and his hair was brown. Hence the nickname." An evil glint came to her eye and she asked, "What else do you want to know about Janet?"

---

Sam wiped the tears from her eyes and said, "You cannot be serious!"

Julia nodded. "Hanging from a pole in her closet, books hanging from her shoelaces, dangling there. Just trying to get taller." She laughed again and said, "She's always been embarrassed about her height. Even though she and I are pretty much the same size now."

"Well," Sam shrugged. "You *are* her older sister and she's the same height you are. Maybe the books *did* work."

"Maybe," Julia snickered. She sighed and finished her beer, rolling the edge of the empty glass around the coaster before meeting Sam's gaze. "I'm having a really great time."

Sam nodded and admitted, "I am too. Definitely don't miss TV and microwave dinner."

Julia laughed. "Well, I'm glad I rate above Marie Callender."

"Healthy Choice, actually," Sam corrected.

Julia checked her watch and groaned. "Oh, my God. It's after ten. You want to call it a night?"

Sam motioned towards the corner. "Or... we could play a game of pool. Feelin' lucky?"

"A what?" Julia asked.

"Pool!" Sam repeated, pointing at the pool table.

"Oh," Julia said, following her gaze. "I'm awful at pool."

"Great!" Sam smiled. "Rack 'em up."

"Rack what up?" Julia asked.

Sam laughed evilly. "Oh, I'm going to *loooove* playing you!"

---

Julia leaned on her pool stick and looked over the table. "So... what just happened?"

Sam shook her head, eyes wide with disbelief. "What happened is you *hustled* me!"

Julia laughed evilly. "And I *looooved* playing you. Rack 'em up, Carter. I'll give you a chance to win back your paycheck."

---

Julia shook her head and said, "I cannot believe it's after midnight."

"Sorry I kept you out so long," Sam said, leaning back in her seat. Janet's house was completely dark, so maybe the doctor was already in bed. Or... maybe she was still at work. Either way, Sam was reluctant to leave Julia's company. "We should do it again sometime while you're in town."

"That'd be great," Julia said. "It'd be very nice. I'd like that."

"I should let you go in," Sam said.

"Yeah," Julia said softly. "Thanks for keeping me company tonight." She leaned across the console and pecked Sam on the cheek. Sam turned at the last second, her lips slightly brushing across Julia's. Both women paused and looked at each other, their faces a few inches apart.

"I've wanted to do that since the buffalo wings," Sam whispered.

Julia blinked and said, "You shouldn't have waited." She pressed her lips to Sam's once more. The blonde moaned and ran her hands through Julia's black hair, cupping the back of the shorter woman's head. After a few moments, they separated and returned to their neutral corners. Sam coughed and rubbed the back of her neck. Julia smiled and said, "Well."

"Do you still want to get together? Maybe... tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow would be great," Julia said, her eyes sparkling. "I would love to get together tomorrow."

Sam exhaled and said, "I was so worried that you would-- I mean, I've never had a very good gay-dar and... well. I'm just... glad."

Julia grinned. "I'll call you. Okay?"

Sam nodded. "Okay. Sounds good. Okay."

Julia kissed Sam on the cheek once more before she climbed out of the car. As she walked to the front door, she stumbled and had to lean against the garage door to steady herself. Sam chuckled and whispered, "You still got it, Carter."

---

Janet was leaning against the fridge, freezing in a t-shirt and boxers. She sipped her coffee and idly wondered where Julia was. Surely she couldn't have stayed out with Sam this long... She checked her watch and went to the kitchen table, sitting down and unfolding the previous morning's newspaper. She was on the second panel of Garfield when the front door opened and Julia stumbled in, smiling and muttering the words to some old song.

"Hey!" she said, seeing Janet. "You waited up for me?"

Janet stood, refolding the paper. "I did. Where were you?"

"Oh," Julia shrugged. "Sam took me to a bar and we played pool and... well... We kinda lost track of time."

"Lost track of time," Janet muttered. "You met someone didn't you?"

Julia's eyes sparkled a bit. "I... think I might've."

Janet pursed her lips and said, "Well... don't make any plans with them for tomorrow evening. I want to take you out for a nice dinner, let you see Cassandra, the whole nine yards. Sound good?"

"Well," Julia said, trying to hide her initial panic. "Um, what about Sam? I mean, you owe her dinner after dumping me on her tonight."

"Yeah," Janet agreed. "I'll call and see if she's busy."

"Let her know that I want her there," Julia added quickly. "I just... want to make sure she knows I'm not sick of her yet."

Janet nodded. "No problem."

She kissed her sister on the cheek and wished her a good-night. Then they both went upstairs, shutting off lights as they went. As Julia lowered herself onto the mattress in the guest bedroom, she peered out the window and thought about Samantha Carter. Oh, the possibilities...

---

"Did you know?"

Janet frowned, knocked violently from her reverie and turning to face her companion. "Know what?"

The priest shrugged and looked out at the ducks. "That your sister liked women. That this Sam liked women. Were you trying to set them up?"

"No! No, I didn't... didn't know. It was just luck, I guess. Dumb luck. Stupid, dumb, ignorant luck." She sighed and shook her head. "Where was I?"

"I think you were about to tell me about dinner with Sam and your sister."

Janet nodded. "Right. Dinner." She tossed a scrap to a duck as she returned to the story.

Chapter Two,

Julia put on a light-blue blouse, a pair of black slacks and a charm bracelet she hadn't worn since she was sixteen before examining herself in the mirror. She wanted to look good for Sam, but not so good it would pique Janet's interest. She teased her hair a bit, but there was only so much a person could do with short, curly hair. She decided she looked good enough and began working on her make-up.

There was something about Sam... something in the way her eyes twinkled or the way her lips curled when she smiled. Julia found herself wondering what would happen in four days when her vacation was over. Would she and Sam keep in touch? Maybe form a long-distance romance? She sighed. "Cross that bridge when we get to it," she told her reflection. She finished with her lipstick and looked at her reflection. "Let her try to resist me." She winked at herself and went to meet Janet and Cassandra downstairs.

She was halfway to the door when she lost her balance and fell forward, hitting the edge of the bed with her knee. "Damn it," she hissed, sitting up and squeezing her eyes shut. "Not tonight. Don't let me do anything stupid tonight..." She clenched her teeth and felt her body ease slightly. "Good girl," she told herself, readjusting her slacks and picking herself up.

---

Sam met them at the restaurant, an expensive place where the men are required to wear jackets and where men like Jack O'Neill fidgeted their way through the entire meal. Janet sat on one side of the table with Cassandra, while Sam sat next to Julia. They made idle chitchat as they waited for their dinner, laughing and joking with each other. Sam felt Julia's hand on her thigh, squeezing gently, and smiled. "So, Julia," she said, turning to face the other woman. "How long will you be staying in Colorado Springs?"

Julia's smile wavered. "Uh... a week."

Sam's eyes widened. "Oh. Oh, that's... not very long."

Janet didn't notice the subtext of the exchange. "I was planning to take Cassie to the zoo this weekend. If Sam wouldn't mind, it would free me up to show you around..."

"The zoo actually sounds nice," Julia interrupted. "You know how much I love animals, Janet."

"And I haven't been to a zoo in ages," Sam said. "If you don't mind me inviting myself."

Janet raised an eyebrow. "Wow. We're becoming a regular three musketeers."

Cassandra argued they were *four* musketeers, whatever a musketeer was, and Janet started a discussion on other classic Dumas novels. Janet did a passable imitation of the Hunchback of Notre Dame from the Disney movie, which led the conversation towards other Disney films. Halfway through a discussion about the sheer brilliance of "Oliver & Company," Sam politely excused herself and headed for the bathroom. She turned on the sink, cupping her hands under the cold spray and splashing some on her face, careful not to ruin her mascara. The door opened and she turned to see Julia standing in the doorway. "Hey," she whispered.

---

"Wait," the priest interrupted. Janet turned to him. "How do you know what happened in the bathroom?"

She shrugged. "Jewels told me when everything came out in the open. It's not verbatim, but..."

He held up a hand. "Okay. Just curious. Please, continue."

Janet paused. "Where was I?"

"Um..." the priest waved his hands. "You said Sam was dabbing her face, then the door..."

---

...opened and she turned to see Julia standing in the doorway. "Hey," she whispered.

"Hey," Julia smiled. "I wanted to tell you that I was leaving, but... well, it's not an easy thing to reveal."

Sam turned back to the sink. "I should've known it wouldn't work out. I-I..."

Julia put a hand on Sam's shoulder and said, "Hey. I don't just go around kissing every beautiful blonde I come across. I didn't want to hurt you. I thought we could just enjoy the week and we'd deal with my leaving when we had to."

Sam shrugged. "I just... I should've known you wouldn't stay around." She smiled. "We haven't even been out on a real date yet. It's not like we're in a deep relationship." She sighed and straightened, looking at Julia's reflection in the mirror. "A week, you say?" Julia nodded. "Well, then, it'll have to be the best week we've ever had." She looped her arm through Julia's and led the shorter woman out of the bathroom.

---

Julia couldn't help but gasp as the giant brown blob roared towards her. She was balanced on a half-inch ledge, her hands pressed against the freezing cold glass. The walrus paused, it's gray whiskers flickering at her for a moment before it turned and darted up towards the surface once more. Julia craned her neck, watching as the creature swam towards the shimmering brightness above. "Wow," she whispered. "It's amazing..."

"Sure is," Sam said, standing next to Julia on the ledge. Janet and Cassandra were still above-ground, watching the walruses from above. Sam and Julia had taken advantage of a 'sea-floor view.' Sam stepped back from the glass, putting a hand on Julia's shoulder and prompting the other woman to get down as well. A quick examination showed her that they were alone in this part of the aquarium. "Hey," Sam said, resting her hands on the smaller woman's hips. "This is the first time we've been alone all day."

Julia smiled. "It sure is. Are you enjoying the zoo?"

"Hmm," Sam said. "I'm enjoying *you.* You sure you have to leave in a week?"

"Yeah," Julia sighed. "Stupid work and responsibility."

Sam brushed a stray lock of Julia's hair out of her eyes. "You straightened you hair," she noted. "I like it. When'd you do it?"

"Stayed up late last night," she grinned. "Do you really like it?"

Sam brushed her lips over Julia's forehead. "Oh, yeah. I like it."

Tilting her head up, Julia asked, "Are you going to kiss me?"

"Thinking about it," Sam snickered.

Julia sighed. "Y'know, Janet said you think too much." She rose onto her tiptoes and pulled Sam's head down. They kissed softly, their lips dancing over each other. Sam closed her eyes, leaning into the kiss and running her hands down to cup Julia's rear. The shorter woman chuckled into Sam's mouth and pressed against the blonde's front. Sam was about to break the kiss when she heard something that made her heart skip a beat.

"Whoooooaaaa..."

Both women turned, moving apart quickly. Cassandra was standing at the entrance of the aquarium, her body frozen in mid-step. Her eyes were giant, her jaw hanging open as she looked from one woman to the other. "What... are you guys doing?"

"Cassie," Sam said, forcing a smile. "Hey, h-how long were you standing there?"

Cassandra chuckled, "Long enough to see you playing suck-face with my aunt!"

Julia hid her smile behind her hand and Sam cleared her throat. "Um... Cass, we were just..."

"She asked if I had ever had my tonsils removed and I couldn't remember." Julia shrugged with a grin. "So she was checking."

Sam threw the woman an 'I'm-not-amused' look and crouched in front of Cassie. "Cass... hon, we were just being friendly. I... really like your aunt. I like spending time with her. And... well, when two people enjoy each other's company..." She closed her eyes and thought, 'My God. Most parents have the sex talk at the zoo because a kid sees two gorillas going at it.' She exhaled. "You can't tell your mom about this. I just... I don't think she'd understand. Okay?"

Cassie frowned, then shrugged. "No biggie... our little secret, right?"

The girl held up her pinkie and Sam twisted her own little finger around it. "Our little secret," she said, lifting Cassie's hand and breaking their link. Pinkie swear... Sam had taught it to the girl within her first three months on Earth.

"I don't see what the big deal is," Cassie said. "You guys were just kissing..." She started back up the ramp that would take her to the surface, then turned. "Oh. Mom wanted to know if you guys wanted hot dogs. She's in line right now."

"Sure," Sam nodded. "One with, uh, mustard and relish."

"Yeah, everything," Julia said. When they were alone, she pursed her lips and asked, "What was that about?"

"What was what?" Sam asked, looking back at the walruses through the glass.

Julia motioned to the spot Cassandra had been standing. "The whole 'don't tell Janet whatever you do' thing. Are you that scared she'll find out about us?"

Sam shrugged. "Not... not *scared*." She sighed. "Janet is my best friend. I'd hate for something like this to come between us."

"Something like this?" Julia repeated.

"I didn't mean it like that. It's just... well, if you were staying more than a week, sure, I'd be willing to risk Janet knowing about us. But... you're not. You're leaving. So... I'd prefer to not take a risk on a relationship that isn't going anywhere."

"I'm leaving Colorado, not... not dying!" Julia chuckled nervously, her eyes sad. "Is that all you see this as? Just... some fling?"

Sam weakly shrugged and argued, "Didn't you?"

Julia shook her head. "Unbelievable. Bye, Sam... I'm gonna go get my hot dog."

Sam caught up with her half-way up the ramp. "Wait! Where are you going? Let's talk about this."

"Talk is what you do in a relationship. That's not what we have, right?"

Sam tugged on Julia's jacket and said, "I don't want Janet to know because it's dangerous for me. Air Force, remember? It could mean my career, a job I love and... That's why I don't want anyone to know. It has nothing to do with my feelings for you, Jewels."

Julia tensed at the nickname, then exhaled and shook her head. "I don't know..."

"I don't want to lose this week... I want to spend every spare second with you. Please, Julia..."

Finally, Julia relaxed and shook her head. "I bet you can sweet talk anyone, huh?"

Looping her arm through Julia's, Sam grinned. "Only the special ones, babe. Only the special ones." They started walking up the ramp and Julia wavered, nearly collapsing. She grabbed the rail and looked sheepishly at Sam. The blonde smiled and said, "Nice to know I can still make women weak in the knees." She wrapped an arm around Julia and led her the rest of the way up the ramp.

---

The week passed swiftly.

---

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," the priest said. "What do you mean 'the week passed swiftly'? That's kind of a sell-out way to go, isn't it?"

Janet shrugged. "It was a week-long secret relationship. They didn't tell me everything they did and I didn't really pry for details." The sun was beginning to clear the sky and she shook her head, tapping her unlit cigarette on her knee. "Besides... unless you wanna sit here all day..."

The priest shrugged and leaned back. "I apologize. Please, continue with the story."

---

The week passed swiftly. The day before Julia's departure, she and Sam had managed to get away for a romantic dinner, just the two of them. When they finished their meal, they stood on the front porch, their arms acting as chains binding them together. "What time?" Sam asked quietly.

"Two-thirty."

"You gotta go?"

Julia nodded against Sam's chest. "Yep."

Sam sighed deeply and brushed Julia's hair. "I don't want you to go."

"I have to," Julia laughed.

Sam stepped back. "Come home with me."

"What?" her date asked, surprised. "You... mean come home..."

"To my bed." She kissed Julia softly and said, "I want you. I want you to know how much this week had meant to me. We can tell Janet you got drunk and fell asleep on my couch, we can tell her anything. Hell, we can tell her that we made love all damn night if you want. Just please, please, don't let me go home by myself."

Julia shuddered and kissed Sam, her lips trailing down to the blonde's chin. After a long moment, she wrapped her trembling fingers around Sam's hand and said, "Okay."

"Really?" Sam asked, eyes widening.

"Take me to your bed, Samantha."

They walked down the driveway, climbing back into Sam's car and driving off.

---

"Ahem," the priest coughed. "I assume you weren't planning to go into... details?"

Janet closed her eyes. "God, no."

"Just checking." He motioned and again asked her to, "Continue."

---

The next morning, Janet made an early call to General Hammond and got permission to allow Julia into the base for a few minutes. Her access was limited to the elevators, the corridors and the Med Center. When she went to the guest room to tell her sister the good news, however, she was surprised to find that her sister wasn't there. The bed was still made, which meant that Julia had definitely not slept there. She turned slowly, looking down the hall as if the answer could be found there.

Finally, she went downstairs to call Sam and ask if she'd seen the wayward Fraiser offspring. She reached the bottom step just as the front door opened and Julia entered, smiling giddily. "Where have you been?" Janet asked, hands on her hips.

"I've been everywhere, man, I've been everywhere," Julia sang. She chuckled and headed upstairs. "I'm going to catch a few more Zs."

Janet frowned and repeated, "Where have you been?"

Julia turned. "Sam and I got drunk last night. I slept on her couch, 'cause her house was closer. It's not the greatest couch in the world, though, so I'd like to catch a quick nap before my flight."

"Wait," Janet said. "I... had plans. I was going to show you where I work. I got clearance and everything."

Julia shrugged. "I'm sorry, honey. I've been here a whole week."

"Yeah, and I saw you for maybe three hours of it. I'm sorry I shoved you onto Sam when you showed up, but I had things to do. You didn't have to cling to her every damn sec-- What's so funny?"

She shook off her chuckles and said, "Nothing, Jannie. Nada. Can I go sleep, please?"

Janet sighed. "Fine, sure. Whatever."

Julia's eyes brightened and she said, "Hey. I'm sorry, Janet. What do you say I make it up to you? I'll come back in two weeks for another visit and we can reconnect then."

"You can do that?"

"Yeah," Julia nodded. "I'm sure gonna try."

---

An older man crept towards the lake, taking a seat at a bench a little farther down the banks and pulling a paperback book from his sweater pocket. Janet sniffed and looked at her watch. "It's getting late."

"I hate to miss the end of the story."

Janet scoffed. "I'm not a freakin' cineplex."

The priest nodded. "I understand. It's just... that happened, what, three weeks ago, if my math is right. And you're sitting here today faux-smoking a cigarette. Something tells me that the real problem happened during Julia's second visit."

"You got that right," Janet sighed.

---

Janet grabbed the plate off the table and dumped it's contents into the trash. Third night in a row, she thought. Third night. As she was cleaning the rest of the plates, the front door opened and Janet looked up, frowning at what she saw. Julia and Sam stumbled in, both of them laughing and trying to sing some drinking song. Julia saw Janet and cleared her throat. "Uh-oh, Sam. We've been busted."

"Don't be mad at her," Sam said. "I ambushed her, it totally wasn't her fault."

Janet picked up the third plate and dumped it as well. "Like it wasn't her fault last night when you invited her to watch DVDs."

"I invited you, too," Sam argued.

"Or," Janet continued, ignoring Sam's argument. "When you mentioned a dance club she just *had* to get to and she rushed out the door." She threw the bag in the trash can and turned to face the two women. "Look, I don't have time for this. Julia, just... just go home, please. This extended vacation was a bad idea."

"Janet...," Julia started.

"I'm sorry I talked you into it."

Sam stomped and said, "JANET! Listen to her!"

Janet finally stopped. Julia covered her face, then turned to Sam. "You're sure? You're not... drunk?"

"No," Sam smiled. "Tell her. I don't want to cause problems between you guys."

"Okay," Julia sighed, shaking her head. "Um... Jannie. The reason Sam and I have been spending so much time together is... because we have been dating."

A line appeared between Janet's eyebrows. "Dating?" She turned to Sam. "Who have you been dating?"

"Each other," Sam said, directing her gaze to Janet's apparently very-interesting shoes. "I-I've been dating your sister. And I might be f-falling in love with her." She looked up at Julia, the older Fraiser girl's eyes betraying her surprise at this admission. "I haven't felt this way about anyone in a long time."

Janet couldn't process this. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. You and... and Sam? Are dating each other? Romantically? Have you... have you k-kissed?"

"Um," Julia cleared her throat. "Do you remember that night during my first visit when I didn't come home?"

"Whoa, you... uh," she chuckled. "You spent... the night at... Sam's..."

Sam was busy taking note of Janet's walls. They were highly intriguing. Finally, Janet continued. "You and Sam had sex?"

Julia glanced at Sam. "Your friend Samantha and I made love. Several times. We... I love her, too."

Janet walked to one of the kitchen stools and pulled it out, climbing onto it. "I... think... we... should start from the beginning on this."

Sam rubbed the back of her neck. "Okay. Do you... remember that medical emergency the day Julia showed up?"

---

"That was last night," Janet sighed. "I didn't even... I never got to sleep last night. And now, here I am, spilling my guts to a priest." She sighed and rubbed her thighs. "I should go."

"Wait, wait... didn't you want advice on this situation?"

Janet shrugged and leaned forward. "I don't know. I mean... I don't know if I'll be able to accept my sister and Sam. Together..."

"Why not?"

"Why," Janet repeated, chuckling. "It's... weird. I've known Sam for three years. I've known Julia forever. And the idea of the two of them sleeping together... making lo..." She closed her eyes. "It's just weird."

The priest touched his lip. "Okay. Why do you keep referring to it as just sex? Your sister and Sam both said they were in love. There *is* a difference, you know."

Janet shrugged. "I don't know. I just don't think they belong together."

"Why not?"

Janet laughed. "You sound like a freakin' shrink."

"Why would you say that?" the priest said, smiling slightly.

After a long moment, Janet said, "I feel awful because, deep down in my heart... I'm jealous." She exhaled, sitting up straight. "I'm jealous. I..." She shook her head and said, "I can't believe I just said that."

"It makes sense. You just said you've known Sam for three years. The way you describe her, it's almost like you idolize her. Brilliant, beautiful, outstanding... And now, someone - not just any someone, but your own sister - has come in and stolen her from you. Right out from under your nose. You feel cheated.

"On the other hand, you may be jealous of Sam, too." Janet turned quickly and he laughed. "No, I don't mean you're secretly in love with your sister. But you *do* love her. And Sam is taking up all of her time."

Janet cleared her throat. "Can we go back to that... secretly in love with Sam part? I'm not gay."

The priest stood and stretched his legs. "I'm not labelling you, Janet. Just pointing out the facts in your story."

Janet stood as well. "You think... I may have these feelings for Sam? What good does that do? She's dating my sister!"

"I didn't say it would be simple," he shrugged and stuck his hands into his pockets, walking back towards the church.

"Hey!" Janet called. "What's your name?"

He turned and called "Matthew!"

Alone again, Janet looked out over the lake and exhaled. The day had started and she was only slightly closer to an answer than she had been the night before. She checked her watch and started to jog back towards home.

---

Julia woke up, surprised to find the house quiet. 'Maybe Janet decided she didn't want to hang around and went to work.' She dressed quickly and headed for the bathroom, making it halfway down the hall when her knees locked up and her body tensed. "Oh, God," she whispered. "Not now..." Her entire body began to tremble and she felt herself falling forward, hitting the carpet like a dead weight. She continued to shake, her arms tucked to her sides and her legs flopping uselessly behind her. She curled into a ball and threw up, praying the entire time that Cassie was at school and wouldn't walk in on this...

Chapter Three,

Janet pulled off her fanny pack and laid it on the entry table. "Jealous," she muttered. "Ridiculous."

She headed upstairs, wondering if she could take a quick shower before her confrontation with Julia. As she neared the top of the stairs, however, showering became the least of her worries. Julia was sprawled in the upstairs hall, unconscious. Janet knelt next to her sister, trying not to panic. "Jewels?" she asked, lightly tapping her sister's cheek. "Jewels, honey, wake up."

Julia managed to open her eyes and focused on Janet, smiling vaguely. "Damn," she whispered. "I didn't want you to find out."

---

Sam rarely got a chance to visit the Air Force Academy Hospital that took up a third of Janet's time. The last time she'd been in the building, she had been under the influence of Jolinar. She shuddered at the memory of threatening Cassandra. But this time would probably create memories that were just as bad or worse... She searched for Janet, finally finding the petite brunette in the emergency ward, still dressed in sweats and a baseball cap. She was ordering her nurses around nonetheless, a force to be dealt with in any outfit. Sam approached and put a hand on Janet's shoulder.

The doctor turned, eyes locking on Sam for a moment. That was all it took for her resolve to crumble. Her eyes filled with tears and she said, "Sam, something's wrong with my sister." She collapsed into Sam's arms and the blonde caught her easily, holding her tightly. "It's okay, hon. It's all right. Shh, shh, it's okay..."

She led Janet to a chair in the waiting area and pulled off her friend's hat. "What happened? Was it a car accident?" She remembered Julia's problems with coordination; nearly collapsing on more than one occasion.

"No," Janet whispered, leaning forward and covering her face. Sam drew circles on Janet's lower back, waiting until her friend was ready to continue. Finally, Janet explained, "Julia has a brain tumor. She... they think it was caused by some work she was doing a few years back on some dangerous chemicals." Sam closed her eyes. Julia was a civilian doctor, employed by the Department of Defense. Her work had brought her into contact with various chemicals, including compounds used in biological warfare. The years had added up and a brain tumor had formed. "It's inoperable... th-they can't get to it. Julia knew about it and didn't tell me."

"Why?" Sam asked.

Janet shrugged. "She wanted to live in peace... for a few days. She wanted to say good-bye to me so I wouldn't see her like this." She shook her head. "What she must've gone through staying with us... what she must've had to hide."

"I'm sorry."

Janet frowned, trying to figure out what Sam had to be sorry about. "For what?" she finally asked.

"For taking her time away from you. For... for spending so much time with her. You could've had all this time with her and--"

"Shush," Janet interrupted. "I know I acted like an idiot last night and I feel stupid about that now. You made her happy. Happier than I've ever seen her. And I think I spotted you leaving the base at a reasonable hour once or twice." She sighed. "You two are good for each other," she said, mentally adding, 'No matter how sad it makes me that you're taken.'

Sam shuffled her feet, then said, "What... are the symptoms?"

Janet shrugged. "Headaches, seizures, nausea, vision or hearing problems... uh, balance problems."

"Goddamn," Sam hissed. "She fell down a couple of times. Stumbled. I... I should've known something was wrong."

Janet put a hand on top of Sam's. "There was nothing you could do, Sam. Just... will *you* promise me to be careful when you're working with naquadah?"

"I--"

"DON'T say you already are," Janet snapped. "I'm losing my sister and I won't lose you, too. Please, Sam, promise me."

"I swear," Sam said, embracing Janet.

They held each other for a while, then Janet pulled back and said, "Oh, my God. You... you were in love with her. God, you're losing her, too."

Sam brushed Janet's cheek. "It's okay."

Janet took Sam's hand and stood, pulling her down the hall. "She's not supposed to have visitors, but... c'mon." She dragged Sam down the hallway, ignoring the nurses she passed. Finally, she pushed open a door to reveal a sleeping Julia Reynolds. "Jewels," she said softly, releasing Sam's hand and going to her sister's bedside. "Julia. Hey, honey. Wake up real quick..."

"Doctor said I should sleep," Julia said groggily. She turned her head and raised her eyebrows. "Also said I shouldn't have visitors. Janet, are you going against doctor's orders?"

"I'm as shocked as you are," Sam interjected.

"Shush, both of you," Janet said, stroking Julia's hair. "I'm going to leave you two alone now." She kissed Julia's forehead and whispered, "I'm so happy you found someone that makes you glow like this."

Julia scoffed, "It's the painkillers."

Janet left the two women alone and Sam took Julia's hand. "Are you okay?"

"I'm as fine as I have been," Julia said, rearranging herself on the bed. "Hearing loss... lack of balance. I guess this explains everything you were wondering about, huh?"

Sam frowned and said, "Does the tumor make it impossible to talk about anything other than yourself?"

"You should talk!" Julia laughed. She stroked Sam's hand and said, "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For lying. For not telling you." She brushed her face and shook her head. "You deserved to know. Especially after you told me you l-loved me. It was wrong."

Sam shook her head. "You were afraid of how I'd react." She sighed and rubbed her neck. "I probably would've treated you with kid's gloves. I'm... awful with death. But now, all that matters is that we don't waste the time we do have. Will you stay with me until... whenever we have to part?"

"That sounded a lot like a marriage proposal, Sam."

Sam shrugged and said, "I don't want to miss a second with you."

Julia grinned. "Sam. You and I have had a great relationship. And I'll treasure the memories we made... well, until I have to go. But you deserve someone who can give you something long-term."

"I want you," Sam insisted.

"I know, honey. I know. But... I think it would be best if I went home and you found someone here to take care of you. Someone... well, I'll let you figure it out." She chuckled and laid her head down on the pillow. "I'm tired."

"You rest," Sam said, standing slowly. "I'll be here when you wake up." She kissed Julia softly and walked out of the room, letting the door close quietly behind her. Janet was pacing in the hallway outside, chewing on her thumbnail. Sam sighed and said, "We have to contact the Tok'ra."

---

Jacob Carter looked down at himself and smiled. "Y'know, I've forgotten how comfortable this stuff can be." He was wearing a sandy-yellow sweater and a pair of blue jeans, the picture of a retired General. The average observer would never have guessed he had a symbiote in his head keeping him alive. He wrapped an arm around Sam's shoulders and said, "Where's this person you want me to meet."

"She's in here, Dad. She has an inoperable brain tumor and I thought maybe the Tok'ra would be able to help her."

Jacob's smile wavered, but he nodded. "I'll see what we can do. No promises though, honey."

They walked together into the hospital, where they found Janet. She was much more together than the last time Sam had seen her; well-rested, showered, dressed in her uniform and almost chipper. She smiled as they approached and extended a hand to Jacob. "Sir, thank you for coming on such short notice."

"Not a problem. I just hope we'll be able to help."

Janet led them to Julia's private room, where she had been moved after her condition improved to stable. She was awake, watching "The Price Is Right" on television. "Hey, they still have Plinko?" Jacob asked, indicating the set.

"Yeah," Julia nodded. "They never seem to play it, though. Mostly stuff like "Hole-In-One" or the one where they have to switch all the prizes." She smiled. "Julia Reynolds. I'm Janet's sister."

"Jacob Carter. Sam's father."

Julia raised an eyebrow. "Father?"

"Yes," Sam said. "He just wanted to talk with you about something."

"Well, I guess it's okay. Janet won't let me out of this bed, so I'm free for interviews."

Jacob pulled up a seat and clasped his hands between his knees, leaning forward. "Julia, we need to know if you can be trusted with some... top-secret information."

Julia glanced at Sam, who nodded reassuringly. "Well. I mean, I was cleared for my work at the DOD. What is this about?"

"We might have a way to remove your brain tumor, but there's some..." He glanced at Sam and shrugged. "Side effects."

Frowning, Julia crossed her arms over her chest. "They told me it was impossible. There aren't-aren't even experimental procedures they'd try. I know. I asked. I asked everyone."

"This isn't experimental, Jewels," Janet said. "It's worked."

"A year ago," Jacob explained, "I was on my death-bed. Dying of cancer. No hope. I took the risk."

Julia looked at Sam and Janet. "What is this, some kind of cult thing? S-some infomercial? I'm not interested in praying to Buddha or Allah or anything like that. I did the whole church thing and it didn't work."

"Or maybe it did," Sam said softly. "Julia, this could be what you've been waiting for."

"Someone else is dying," Jacob said. "Far away from here. If you agree to help them, they will help you. You'll both live on, healthy as ever."

Julia pursed her lips. "I don't know. What are the side effects you mentioned?"

Jacob shrugged. "We can't really go into that until you've been cleared."

"You can't be cleared until you agree to go through with it," Sam added. She had checked with General Hammond and he had only agreed to allow her into the facility if she agreed to remain at the Tok'ra base.

Julia rolled her eyes. "Great."

"I did it. Sam's gone through it once, although admittedly it wasn't by choice. Hundreds of people in the past have also gone through with it."

"Please, Jewels," Janet said, taking her sister's hand. "I don't want to lose you."

"Is there a chance I could die? Or end up worse?"

Jacob exhaled. "There's a chance you could die."

Julia chuckled mirthlessly. "And I'm kind of in that boat already, aren't I?" She held up her hands and said, "Okay. What do I have to do to get clearance?"

Sam smiled and held back the urge to whoop.

---

Julia pulled at the drab green jumpsuit, then looked at Sam's identical outfit. "You wear this everyday?"

Sam smiled. "It's my work uniform. More comfortable than a real Air Force uniform."

"That's true." Julia sighed, craning her neck to see further down the hall they were walking down. "Guards posted at every door. Every door shut and locked. I feel like a criminal."

"Ve moost protect our secret frum enemy spies," Sam said, her voice dripping with an awful Boris Badenov impression.

Julia chuckled and wrapped an arm around Sam's waist. "I'm going to miss you."

"You'll see me," Sam promised. "You'll be around." They stopped in front of a huge door, two guards watching them carefully. "Are you ready? Because this is... something entirely unlike what you expect."

"Ready," Julia said.

Sam swiped her card and Julia stepped into the room, eyes widening when she saw the massive stone ring at one end. "Wow. What is this thing?"

"This is the Stargate I told you about," Sam said.

Someone above them said something over the intercom and the ring exploded in blue light. Instead of backstepping like most people do, Julia stepped towards the ramp. "Wow," she breathed. "And this thing... it removes tumors?"

Sam laughed. "No, not exactly. It's going to take us to another planet."

Julia turned. "Another planet?"

"It's safe," Sam promised. "I swear. I've done it dozens of times. Janet's done it a few times herself... I'll hold your hand the entire way."

"I feel safer already," Julia grinned.

Jacob and Janet entered the Gate Room. Jacob's sweater and jeans had vanished, replaced by the standard brown tunic and slacks of the Tok'ra. Julia raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. "Is she ready to go?" Jacob asked.

"I am," Julia smiled. "A little scared, but..."

Sam took Julia's right hand, while Janet took the left. "We'll be right here with you, Jewels."

Julia closed her eyes and stepped forward. The initial blast of cold propelled her forward and she felt like she was falling. She tightened her grip on Sam and Janet's hands, wondering if they were really there (even after she opened her eyes, she could see nothing). She tumbled, spun, catapulted, roared, zoomed, fell, collapsed, rose and plummeted dozens of times before she was spit out on the other side. She released her anchors and fell to her knees, her entire body shaking.

"Jewels?" Janet asked. "Oh, God, she's having a seizure!"

"Ms. Reynolds," a deep, resonant voice asked.

But she couldn't respond to them. She hugged herself tightly, trying to will the seizure to stop, but to no avail. She fell face forward into sand and found herself choking on it. 'My God. They brought me to an alien world to die...'

---

"Julia... Jewels? Ms. Reynolds? Which would you prefer?"

She groaned, unable to see anything. "Jewels," she said softly. She couldn't feel anything. Was she dead? "Where am I? Am I dead?" she asked the unfamiliar male voice.

"No," he chuckled. "You are fine. But you need rest. I have control at the moment."

"Control?"

"My name is Kerew. I was in the middle of a mission when my host was assassinated. You have saved my life, Jewels. And I yours."

Julia smiled. "My tumor. It's gone?"

"Indeed. It took several hours, but I was able to deconstruct it. Do you feel strong enough to wake?"

Julia winced, taking inventory. Finally, she nodded. "Yes, I am." She opened her eyes and raised her head. Sam and Janet were there, as was Jacob. In the entrance of the room stood the woman Garshaw. Julia licked her chapped lips, then leaned back on the tablet that served as a medical bed. "I spoke to him. In my head. His name is Kerew."

"It's your name, too, Jewels," Sam said. "You're joined with him."

"Forever," she said softly. She turned to Janet and said, "You've been doing this for three years?"

"Yes. It feels so good to finally tell you that."

Julia smiled. "I'm a Tok'ra operative now. How much does that pay?"

"Not enough," Jacob chimed in, smiling. "Ready for an orientation?"

"Could it wait? I... still want to get used to a stranger riding shotgun in my body."

Jacob nodded. "No problem. Let's give her a minute." He led Janet from the room, but Julia put a hand on Sam's shoulder. "Wait. Sam, I..."

"It's okay," Sam said, tears in her eyes.

"No, wait," Julia sat up. "I don't think it would be possible to carry on a relationship when I'm... like I am. I've never been too good at long-distance relationships."

"Yes, I-I agree," Sam said softly, her eyes beginning to overflow with tears.

Julia kissed Sam's cheek. "I don't want you to be alone. I... want to know you're happy. After all, you saved my life."

"Happy?" Sam asked.

"When we were younger, I had this Marvin the Martian doll. Janet was... furious that I got it and wouldn't speak to me. Well, except to say 'Can I have Marvin?' So we were at odds until one day I found Marvin's head was missing." She reached out and took Sam's hand with a smile. "I don't want you to get decapitated, Sam. So I'm warning you. Janet was so mad because she's jealous of what I have."

"Jealous?"

"You told me about your feelings for Janet the first time we slept together. You assured me that they were in the past, but... they aren't. You fell for me because of how similar I am to Janet. Sure, after a while you got to know me and you fell for me. But you saw Janet's eyes instead of my eyes. Her hair, her voice... her height. Our relationship began with me as a substitute Janet."

Sam brushed her cheek. "You're not mad?"

"No, of course not. But... since I'm stuck here and you're stuck there, you might as well be happy."

Sam sighed. "You're giving me to your sister."

"It saves me having to shop at Christmastime."

Sam laughed. "I will miss you. So much."

"And I'll miss you. Now go... I want to get some rest. I apparently have a big mission to finish for Kerew." She kissed Sam gently and said, "I'll always remember our time together, Sam."

"I'll cherish it, Jewels. Thanks for this talk."

"Tell Janet she better appreciate you. Or I'm coming back and stealing you away from her."

Sam laughed. "Good-bye, Jewels."

"Good-bye, Samantha."

---

Janet rested her head on Sam's shoulder and tossed a scrap of bread at a duck. It had been six weeks since Julia/Kerew went on their first mission for the Tok'ra and the SGC hadn't heard anything since. Hammond was certain it was just a matter of security, but Janet couldn't help but worry. Sam had told Janet of her conversation with Julia and they had agreed to take baby steps towards a relationship. Sam kicked at a spot on the ground in front of the bench and said, "You come here a lot?"

"Mm-hmm."

"It's beautiful," Sam whispered, looking into the sky. She tightened the arm she had around Janet's shoulder and said, "Are you cold?"

"Sleepy," Janet said, smiling. They had spent their first night together, but hadn't done anything more than talk. It was much too soon for Sam to move on and Janet understood completely. Sam rubbed Janet's arm and said, "We should go soon, anyway."

Janet sat up. "I have to do something real quick. Wait for me?"

"Of course," Sam said, tearing off a crust and holding it out to a wary duck. Janet slipped off the bench and hurried towards the church where Matthew, the priest had gone. She pushed open the ornate doors, stepping inside the heated building. Several worshippers were in the pews, but she saw no priests. She slowly made her way to the front, lighting a candle for her absent sister and scanned the room again.

Finally, she spotted a priest exiting one of the confessionals. She made her way up to him and smiled. "Hello. I'm... looking for one of the priests here. His name is Matthew... something. I'm... it might be his last name."

The priest frowned. "I... I'm sorry. There is no Father Matthew here."

Janet looked around. "No one named Matthew?"

"I'm sorry. Is there something I could help you with?"

"No," Janet said. "No, that's okay. Thank you."

She walked slowly towards the front of the church. No Father Matthew? What could that mean? Maybe an angel? Come to her in human form to guide her where to go? Surely those things only happened in the minds of television writers. But... if there was no Father Matthew... perhaps the man at the lake had been a visitor. Her guardian angel. A spirit. Something had to explain the man she had spoken to-- Her train of thought was broken when she ran into someone's back. "Oh! Oh, I'm terribly sorry, I wasn't paying... you!"

Father Matthew turned, smiling sheepishly and replacing his mop in it's bucket. "Hello."

"You're not a priest," she said, looking at his t-shirt and jeans.

"What, you're gonna spill your guts to a janitor?" He smiled and said, "Hope there's no hard feelings... I mean, I'm not pious, but I do hear a lot of the things said in here. How'd the entire thing work out, anyway?"

Janet sighed and ran a hand through her hair. Finally, she smiled. "Splendid. Everything is... splendid."

"Glad to hear it." He resumed mopping and Janet left the church. She met up with Sam at the bottom of the stairs. The sun was shining in full force now, prompting the human race to get a move on and start the day. "Hey," she said, wrapping an arm around Sam in a tight hug.

"Hey. What were you doing in there?"

"Seeing my guardian angel," Janet smiled. "C'mon. Let's go home." She took Sam's hand and led her down the street, swinging their joined hands.

End