Chapter 15
When Kris and Janet left Dr. Boson’s office, after setting their next appointment, they decided to stop in and see how Delsie was doing. They found Taran already there visiting her wife. She was sitting on the side of the bed holding Delsie’s hand. Kris sat in the chair while Janet stood behind with her hands on her wife’s shoulders as the four of them talked.
[I’d like to tell them,] Kris told her wife.
[Are you sure?]
[They’re our closest friends and they’ll be happy for us. And if… Well, they’ll be there for us…]
Janet understood what Kris meant and gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze. Kris reached up and took one of her wife’s hands in her own.
“We’ve got something we’d like to tell you,” Janet said.
“What is it?” Delsie asked.
Kris exchanged a looked with her wife before answering. “I’m pregnant.”
“I knew it! I knew something was going on with you two last night,” declared Taran. She got up and hugged them both. “Why didn’t you say anything last night when we asked you about it?”
Janet let out a small sigh. “We told you the truth when we said they’ve been having some trouble making our DNA compatible. We’ve been trying to have a baby for a couple years,” said Janet.
“Because of my alien DNA Janet’s body kept rejecting the fetus. She’s had four miscarriages. And my body just doesn’t seem to like the idea of being pregnant. It keeps wanting to treat the fetus like an infection. This is the second time around for me,” Kris explained.
“And the last,” Janet said softly as she squeezed her wife’s hand.
“But we’ve never made it this far before.”
“How far along are you?” Delsie asked.
“Four and half months.”
“You’re not even showing.”
Kris let out a bark of laughter. “You should see me without my clothes on.”
“That privilege is all mine, my love,” Janet replied.
~~~
That night Kris got up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. On the way back to bed she experienced a sharp pain that dropped her to her hands and knees. “Janet!”
Janet woke up and rushed to her wife who was curled up on her side in the middle of the floor. She took Kris’s head into her lap. “I’m right here, sweetheart.”
“It hurts…”
“Are you having contractions?”
Sweat popped out on Kris’s forehead, arms, and chest. She nodded.
“Remember to breathe slow and deep.”
Kris tried to take a slow, deep breath.
“That’s it; just like that.” She placed her hand on her wife’s belly. [Now clear your mind and focus. Relax all the muscles in your body. Slow breath in; release the tension with each exhale.]
With Janet’s help Kris was able to focus. After a while she was lying flat, totally relaxed, and breathing regular, deep, cleansing breaths. The contractions had stopped and there was no more pain. She opened her eyes and looked up into Janet’s brown eyes. Janet was cradling Kris’s head and smiled down at her. Kris didn’t miss the concern in her wife’s eyes.
“How do you feel now?” the doctor asked.
“I’m okay. Thank you.”
“You’re the one who did it, love.”
“You guided me.”
Janet smiled. “Can you get up?”
Kris nodded.
“We need to get you to the clinic.”
“I know.”
They got dressed and went to the clinic.
Lettie Boson was contacted and came in immediately to examine Kris. During the exam Janet stood next to the table holding Kris’s hand.
“Okay, you can get dressed now, Kris,” Dr. Boson said before stepping out of the room.
After getting dressed Kris and Janet joined Lettie in her office. Boson wasn’t as optimistic as she had been that morning.
“I have to tell you, I don’t understand how you were able to stop the contractions. If you were any of my other patients I don’t believe you’d still be pregnant.”
“Kris is only 19 weeks. How much longer do you think she’ll be able to carry the baby?” Janet asked.
“I don’t know. We’re in uncharted territory here.” Lettie locked eyes with Kris. “No more work for you. Someone else will have to teach your classes. This pregnancy, and whatever it is you’re doing to keep it going, is taking its toll on you. You’re going to have to take extra good care of yourself. Good nutrition, lots of rest, no stress, plenty of relaxation.” She then smiled at the couple. “Pamper yourself – doctor’s orders. Now go home and get some sleep.”
“Thank you, Lettie,” said Janet. The couple left the doctor’s office. They were about to leave the clinic when Janet turned to her wife. “I want to take care of something. It’ll only take a minute.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Kris watched as Janet went into her own office. While she was waiting Dr Boson came out of her office. Kris waved the doctor over. “Dr. Boson, I have a question for you.”
“Sure, Kris, what is it?”
“As far as physical activity, just how far do I need to cut back?”
“Nothing strenuous. Walking is a good choice for keeping active.” The doctor paused as she took in the expression on her patient’s face. “What is it you’re concerned about?”
“What about making love?”
“You don’t swing upside down from a chandelier, do you?”
Kris smiled. “Not too often.”
“Kris, there’s no reason for you and Janet to avoid making love. An orgasm is not going to jeopardize you or the baby. Just let ‘gentle’ be your guide word as far as your body is concerned.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Dr. Boson left.
Janet returned from her office a moment later.
“Are you ready?” Kris asked.
“I sure am. Let’s go home and get some more sleep.”
~~~
In the morning Kris was woken up by a kiss on the forehead. She opened her eyes and saw her wife smiling down at her. “Mm, morning.”
“Afternoon would be more accurate.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope.”
“Why didn’t you wake me up sooner?”
“You needed the sleep, especially after our trip to the clinic in the middle of the night.”
Kris’s stomach chose that moment to announce it was also awake with loud growl.
Janet chuckled. “I have the solution for that. Sit up,” she told her blushing wife. She then placed a tray across Kris’s lap.
“Breakfast in bed?”
“Well, lunch in bed.”
“Why?”
“Because I love you.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”
“I’m taking some time off.”
Kris stopped and looked at her wife. “Janet?”
“I’m taking a leave of absence. Except for keeping my promise to Delsie and Taran to deliver their twins, I’m not seeing any patients.”
“Why?”
Janet looked her wife in the eyes. “Because some things are just more important.” [My place is right here with you, beloved. No matter what, we’re going to get through this together.] She reached up and wiped away a tear that made its way down Kris’s cheek.
[I love you so much more than I know how to tell you.]
“I know. My job is pampering you. And making sure you take good care of yourself, so eat your vegetables.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
~~~
Janet and Kris didn’t really do much for the next four days. In the meantime, SG-1, particularly Jack, was beginning to wonder just how long it was going to take to find what they’d come to Jidiri to find. They’d already been on Jidiri six days and had no clue what or who they were looking for. Not surprisingly, Jack was the most impatient of the group.
“This place is really getting to me. Everyone is so… nice,” he groused.
“Actually, I like it here. I’ve met a lot of very interesting people,” said Sam.
“I agree. Do you realize there are people here from not only other planets but from other times as well?! This place is a utopia!” exclaimed Daniel.
“There are many people with different backgrounds and yet there is total peace and harmony,” observed Teal’c.
“There’s only so much peace and harmony I can take. Everyone split up. We can cover more ground that way. I want to find this Guardian as soon as possible so we can go home. If you think you’ve found anything use your radios. Otherwise see you back here tonight.” With that Jack marched out the door leaving the other three behind.
The other three went their own ways and planned on having a pleasant day while keeping an eye out for the Guardian. Sam ran into Cayden while she was out walking.
“Are you enjoying your stay with us, Major Carter?” he asked.
She smiled. “Yes, I am, Cayden.”
“Good. Please, just let me know if there is anything I can do to make your stay more comfortable.”
“Actually, I was wondering if I could speak to someone and discuss some of the advancements you’ve made in the medical sciences – specifically parthenogenesis.”
He smiled. “The best place to get such information would be at the clinic. I’ll take you there.” He walked her to the clinic where he spoke to someone. “Just have a seat, Major Carter. Someone will be with you shortly who should be able to answer any questions you may have.”
“Thank you, Cayden.”
“You’re welcome. Have a good day.”
A couple of minutes later Dr. Boson came out. “Major Carter?
The blonde stood. “I’m Major Samantha Carter; you can call me Sam.”
“I’m Dr. Lettie Boson. I’m one of the doctors here. I understand you’re a visitor here and have some questions about some of our medical procedures.”
“Yes, I do. On Earth, where I come from, we haven’t advanced as far as you have with reproductive medicine and we haven’t been able to achieve parthenogenesis. I’d like to see how you’ve accomplished this, if possible.”
“Come with me.”
~~~
Sam and Dr. Boson talked for quite a while.
“It sounds like it’s practically full proof,” Sam observed.
“Not by any means,” sighed the doctor. “Don’t get me wrong. It’s made such a big difference for so many couples. Infertile heterosexual couples and female couples can now have children. One of the toughest riddles was figuring out how to make things work for the male couples. But still, there are cases that can just break your heart. Usually the difficult cases are the ones where the couples are not of the same race. Sometimes the DNA just isn’t compatible enough.”
“I can only imagine how difficult it must be in those cases.”
“Those are the cases I get. The majority of the cases are handled by the couples’ regular doctors. The tough cases are referred to me or one of the other doctors that specialize in difficult cases. So when we do succeed it’s a big win, but it’s heartbreaking when we don’t.”
~~~
While Sam was talking with Dr. Boson, Kris was also at the clinic visiting Delsie and Taran. Delsie was getting very impatient to have the twins. She had been in the clinic for almost a week and was actually two days past her due date.
It came time for Kris to head home. Janet had been out running a few errands when Kris went to visit with Delsie and she wanted to get home before her wife did, so Kris said goodbye and left. She didn’t get very far. Kris was only a few feet down the hallway when Taran came flying out of the room.
“Kris!”
“What?”
“I think Delsie’s in labor.”
Kris grinned. “Well, it’s about damn time,” she said with a chuckle. She took in Taran’s panicked expression. “Calm down, Taran. I’ll send someone in and I’ll go get Janet.”
“Thanks.”
Kris stopped at the nurses’ station and told them about Delsie, and then headed home. It was only a short walk.
~~~
Janet had arrived home before Kris. She was a little surprised to find that Kris was not at home, but through their bond could sense that everything was fine with her wife. In fact, she could tell that Kris was in a particularly good mood. She suspected that her wife was at the clinic visiting Delsie, so she thought she would go to the clinic and check on her patient anyway. She headed out of the house. The doctor didn’t get very far when she saw someone stop and stare at her from across the way. That person moved slowly towards her, eyes wide open in disbelief.
“Janet?” asked the woman from her past. “Is it really you?”
“Sam? Oh, my god.”
~~~
Chapter 16
Kris was almost to the house when she saw Janet faint a few feet from their front door. She ran to her, but a tall blonde got to her first and was kneeling next to Janet looking very concerned. Kris recognized the blonde from Janet’s memories, but right at that moment she didn’t really care who Sam was or why she was there.
“What happened?” Kris demanded.
“I don’t know. She just fainted.”
Kris picked her wife up and carried her into the house. She carefully laid Janet on the couch and quickly ran a clean dishcloth under the water. She kneeled next to Janet, laid the cloth across her forehead, and held her hand. “Come on, Janet. Wake up now.” [I’m right here, love.]
Janet’s eyes opened and she looked at her wife.
“Hey there. Want to tell me what happened?”
She let out a deep breath. “I thought I saw Sam.”
[You did, love.] Kris tilted her head towards Sam who had followed the couple inside the house.
Sam gave Janet a half-smile and waved.
“I’m seeing things,” Janet said.
“No. But I know how you feel, Janet,” said Sam. “I thought you were dead.” There was a lot of emotion just barely held in check in her voice.
“I am– I was. I guess we were both surprised.”
“That’s putting it mildly.”
Janet took another deep breath and let it out as she sat up and put her feet on the floor. “How did I get in here?”
“I carried you in,” Kris said.
Janet gave her wife a concern look. “You know you’re supposed to be taking it easy.”
[I’m alright, love.] “I know. I was careful.”
The doctor looked up at the blonde. “I guess we’ve a got few things to talk about.”
“You think?!”
“I hate to spoil your plans, but I was just on my way to let you know that Delsie finally went into labor.”
Janet couldn’t keep from grinning. “Well it’s about damn time.”
Kris returned her grin. “That’s exactly what I said. Anyway, your presence is requested, Doctor.”
Janet sighed. [I was not expecting this. I can’t deal with this right now.]
[It’ll be alright. I’m right here beside you, beloved.]
The doctor stood. “I’m sorry, Sam. We’ll have to talk later, perhaps tomorrow. I have to go deliver a pair of twins.”
“Can I come along?”
“I don’t know how long I’ll be. It could take all night.”
“I don’t care.”
“Alright then.”
Sam walked on one side of Janet while Kris walked on her other side.
[You really should get some rest, honey,] Janet told her wife.
[I’ll get some rest at the clinic during the wait. I’ll be fine.]
~~~
At about 2:00 in the morning the twins were born. Both mothers and babies were doing fine. Sam had radioed in to the colonel that she may have found something. She also told him that she wasn’t coming back to the house that night but that she was perfectly safe and sound.
Kris and Janet headed home around 2:30 with Sam in tow. Kris’s back ached and she knew her wife needed to talk to the blonde, so she took a hot bath and soaked for a bit, giving the other two some privacy.
Janet got herself and Sam something to drink and they sat down in the living room. She looked at the blonde, feeling her stomach do a flip-flop. “So, where do we start?” she asked with some trepidation.
Sam just looked at her for moment. “What the hell happened, Janet? I thought… we all thought, you were dead. You were hit by a staff blast. It was all caught on video.”
The doctor took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Well, I was killed, but someone with more advanced medical technology was able to resuscitate me and heal my wounds. I woke up here on this planet. I have no idea how I got here.”
“I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you, too, Sam. And Cassie. How is Cassie doing?” Janet asked, certain that her daughter had excelled at whatever she’d decided to do with her life.
“As well as can be expected under the circumstances. She misses you. I’ve always been her friend, but you’re her mother. I can’t replace you.” There was a long pause.
“How did you get here?” Janet asked.
“Thor came to the SGC and told us that SG-1 had to go through the stargate to retrieve something. He couldn’t tell us where or when. He said the colonel had the information downloaded into his mind by the Ancients’ repository of knowledge.”
“Didn’t the Asgard remove all of that information?”
“Apparently everything except for the stargate address. It has something to do with some prophecy of the Ancients. Thor also said we’d find something we’d lost. I’m betting that’s you, Janet.” She paused. “You have to come back with us.”
Janet stood up and started pacing.
“I know General Hammond would welcome you back at the SGC. Cassie needs you… I need you, Janet… I love you.”
Janet paced for a few more seconds and then finally stopped. She stared at the fireplace instead of looking at Sam. “No,” she finally said quietly.
Sam couldn’t believe what she’d heard. “What do you mean ‘no’?”
“I mean I can’t go back. At least not right now.”
“Why not?”
“Because I can’t go without Kris, and right now she’s needs to be here.”
“What does she have to do with any of this?”
Janet took a deep breath a looked at Sam. “She’s my wife.”
Sam was stunned… and hurt. It took her a several seconds to gather herself. Tears welled in her eyes when she finally spoke. “I see. I guess it didn’t take very long for you to move on.”
The doctor couldn’t miss the pain in the blonde’s voice. She saw the tears in Sam’s eyes and sat next to her on the couch. “Actually, it took me quite a long time,” she said quietly, trying to make Sam understand.
“You’ve only been gone seven months!” Sam said accusingly.
It was Janet’s turn to be stunned.
“Sam, I’ve here over five years.”
Both women were silent for a while.
Sam, who was much more comfortable when working on a scientific problem or figuring out a puzzle, started thinking out loud. “Okay. Obviously time has passed at different rates for us. Thor did say this planet was a special place. And Cayden said he knew to expect visitors when the stargate appeared – indicating there’s not always a stargate here.”
“Cayden told Kris that Jidiri had no need for any planetary defense, that it’s perfectly safe.”
“Then perhaps it’s the planet that appeared when it was time for us to come here. If Jidiri is normally on a different plane of existence it would explain time passing at a different rate, and why there’s no need for planetary defense.” Sam stopped and shook her head. “Anyway, why did you say she needs to be here?”
Janet let out a sigh before answering her. “She’s pregnant with our child, but it’s a high risk pregnancy. There have already been complications. Even with the advanced medical help available here the odds are against us. On Earth…” she shook her head as her voice trailed off. “We’ve been trying for two years to have a baby. This is our last chance.”
Even though Sam was hurt that she had ‘lost’ Janet a second time, she was still the doctor’s friend. Their friendship had lasted seven years. Her heart went out to Janet. “I understand, and I hope everything turns out okay.” It was obvious that Sam was sincere.
“Thank you.” Janet yawned. “I think it’s time to get some sleep before the sun comes up. You can stay in the guest room.”
Kris came out of the bedroom to get something to drink. Dressed in her pajama bottoms and a tank top, instead of the usual loose fitting pants and pullover shirt, it was obvious she was pregnant. “Sorry to interrupt,” she said.
“Actually, you’re not. We were just going to turn in.” Janet stood, and walked over to her wife. “How does your back feel?”
“A little better.”
Janet took Kris’s hand and started to lead her to their bedroom. “Let’s see if a backrub will help.” At the bedroom door she stopped and pointed to the guest room door (Kris’s old room). “That’s the guest room, Sam. If you need anything just let me know.”
“Thanks. I’m sure I’ll be fine. Good night.” Sam paused. “It was nice meeting you, Kris.” Although sincere, the sadness in Sam’s voice could not be missed.
“Nice meeting you, too, Major.”
~~~
Janet gave her wife a nice backrub that took care of the residual soreness. She then lay down next to Kris who then rested her head on the doctor’s shoulder.
“Mmmm, that felt good. Thank you.”
Janet kissed Kris’s forehead. “I like making you feel good.”
Kris’s hand began to wander across her wife’s body until she cupped a breast. She teased her wife’s nipple which became hard. She then bent her head and teased the other with her mouth through the material of Janet’s top, eliciting a quiet moan.
[I like making you feel good, too.]
After a few moments Janet stopped Kris. She pulled Kris’s head up to look into her eyes. “Not that I don’t want you, my love, but Lettie said no strenuous activity.”
Kris smiled. “It’s alright, Janet. I asked her. She said an orgasm wouldn’t hurt me or the baby. She just recommended we avoid swinging from the chandelier for the duration.”
The doctor smiled up at her wife. “Well, damn. So much for that idea.” She caressed Kris’s cheek very lovingly. “There’s never been anything wrong with tender and gentle.”
Kris dipped her head and kissed Janet, who slipped her arms around her wife. Kris reached down to the hem of the doctor’s top and started pulling it up. The doctor broke their kiss just long enough to slip her top off over her head. Kris kissed her way down Janet’s throat, pausing at a sensitive pulse point, but she didn’t take too long before continuing on her way. She stopped her journey and spent lavish attention on Janet’s breasts. The moans and whimpers escaping from her wife’s throat were turning Kris on. She trailed her hand down to the waistband of Janet’s pajama bottoms and carefully slipped her hand inside the pajamas. Janet let out a quiet gasp.
“You’re so wet.”
“That’s what you do to me,” Janet replied.
Kris removed her hand.
“Don’t stop!”
“I’m not. I just want to get these clothes out of the way.”
With Janet’s pajama bottoms removed Kris replaced her hand and gently caressed her wife’s slick folds as she sucked on her breasts. It was obvious from Janet’s ragged breath, the volume of her moans, and the way she clung to Kris that she was very, very close to coming. Kris claimed Janet’s mouth with her own in a deep, passionate kiss just as her wife came. They were still kissing as Janet came down from her climax. She was panting when they finally parted.
“You take my breath away,” Janet panted.
Kris smiled and then laid her head over her wife’s heart. Janet ran her fingers through the dark, silky hair.
“Have I ever told you how much I love listening to your heartbeat?” Kris asked.
“No, but you do it a lot.”
“It centers me… it’s hard to explain.” [It has something to do with our bond… I can’t really explain it in words.]
[I think I understand what you mean.]
[Your touch – whether it’s my body, my heart, my mind, or my soul – makes me… better.]
[I know I feel things with you I’ve never felt before. I know you’re as essential to me as breathing. You’re my beloved.]
Kris noticed Janet’s heart rate was approaching normal. She turned her head and starting trailing kisses down her wife’s torso. She dipped her tongue in and out of Janet’s belly button.
“Where are you going?” Janet asked.
Kris glanced up at Janet as she trailed her lips and tongue over a hip bone. “I want to taste you.” She took her time relishing her wife. When Janet neared her climax again Kris slipped a couple of fingers inside her and sucked on her clit. Janet’s thighs closed around Kris’s head and her muscles clamped down on the fingers inside her. She came crying out her wife’s name.
Afterwards they lay on their sides facing each other. Janet caressed Kris’s cheek and gently kissed her.
“I think you have entirely too much clothing on, my love.”
~~~
Chapter 17
Janet helped her wife remove her pajama bottoms and tank top. Kris lay on her back and Janet molded her body to Kris’s. The doctor propped her head up on her hand and studied Kris’s body as she gently caressed it.
Kris closed her eyes and let out a soft moan as her breast was gently fondled by Janet. “Mmmm, that feels good.”
The doctor dipped her head and gently teased the nipple with her tongue. After making love to Janet, Kris was already quite aroused and didn’t need much attention from her wife to climax – something Janet was well aware of. She kissed her way up from Kris’s breast to her mouth. As they kissed Janet’s hand slipped between her wife’s legs. Her caresses were designed to be both calming and satisfying. The doctor guided Kris through a gentle yet very satisfying orgasm.
Kris softly sighed her wife’s name as she came. She opened her eyes halfway and looked up at Janet. “You’re amazing, love.”
Janet kissed Kris’s forehead. “Get some sleep, beloved.”
Kris was asleep as soon as her eyes closed.
The doctor lay on her side next to her wife with her hand on Kris’s growing belly. Despite the late hour, sleep came slowly to her. She was concerned about some of the changes she saw in Kris’s body, such as her ribs becoming more noticeable instead of less so. And then there was the arrival of Sam and SG-1 to contend with. Eventually sleep claimed her as well.
~~~
Both Janet and Sam got up before Kris did. Janet fixed lunch and set it out on the table. They sat down to eat.
“Is Kris going to join us?” Sam asked.
“She’s still sleeping. I’ll make sure she eats when she gets up.”
As they ate, Janet was reminded by Sam that she would have to report her discovery to O’Neill. After they finished lunch Sam finally radioed the colonel. She didn’t tell him what or who she’d found, but that she thought he needed to see for himself. She also recommended that Teal’c and Daniel come with him too.
“Trust me, sir. You’re going to want see this for yourself.”
“Alright, Carter. We’ll be there in about an hour.”
“Yes, sir.”
Shortly after that Kris woke up. She dressed and then left the bedroom. She found Sam in the living room and Janet in the kitchen.
“Hey, sleepyhead.” Janet gave Kris a quick kiss.
“Hey. Why didn’t you wake me?”
“I figured you needed your sleep. What do you want to eat?”
“What did you have?”
Janet told her.
Kris had to suppress a shudder as a wave of nausea overcame her. “Ugh, I don’t think so.” She swallowed hard. “Why do they call it morning sickness when I get it at all times of the day and night?”
The doctor looked at Kris with some concern and touched the back of her hand to Kris’s forehead to check for a fever. “I don’t know, honey. How about I fix you some soup and crackers, okay?” At Kris’s nod Janet brushed her fingers through her wife’s silky hair. “Go on and get comfortable on the couch. I’ll bring it to you.”
Kris again nodded. She went out to the living room and sat on the couch. She could sense a lot of tension coming from Major Carter. She didn’t know what it was about exactly, nor did she have the energy to delve into it right then. Fortunately, Janet joined them after only a few moments. She brought the soup and crackers which Kris was able to eat. While she ate Janet brought her up to speed about the time differential between Jidiri and Earth. The tension coming from the blonde made a lot more sense to her then. Sam hadn’t had time to deal with her grief yet and to move on. To her, Kris was competition for her woman – at least a part of her felt that way. It was obvious Sam was intelligent enough to know better, but until she came to a resolution regarding her feelings for the doctor there would be a tension between her and Kris.
A few minutes before the other members of SG-1 were to arrive Kris started to feel sick to her stomach. She politely excused herself and headed to the bathroom. When Kris didn’t come back out Janet went to check on her. Janet found her wife throwing up her lunch. Janet kneeled next to Kris and rubbed her back until the dry heaves stopped. Kris brushed her teeth and rinsed her mouth out with mouthwash. Janet then helped Kris into the bedroom where she lay down on the bed and curled up on her side.
Janet sat on the side of the bed and rubbed her wife’s upper back. “This has happened before, hasn’t it?” she asked.
“Just a few times.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“It’s just morning sickness. I’ll get it under control. I didn’t want to worry you any more than you already are.”
“You’re my wife; it’s my job to worry about you.”
“Janet, they’re here,” Sam called from the other room.
“Go on; I’ll be okay. Just let me rest for a few minutes. I’ll be out in a little bit to meet your friends.”
“Are you sure?” Janet asked.
“Yes. Go.”
Janet leaned down and kissed her wife before going out to the living room.
Sam went outside to meet the men of SG-1.
“Okay, Carter, what’s the big surprise you have for us?” asked the colonel.
“I think I found part of what we came for – the something that we lost.”
“What?”
She was grinning from ear to ear. “Let me show you, sir.” She went to the front door of the house, opened it, and indicated for them to enter.
The three men entered and then came to a standstill and stared at the woman standing in the center of the living room. After a few moments of stunned silence there were hugs and explanations exchanged. Sam explained the time differential. Then the colonel made his pronouncement that Janet would have to return to the SGC with them.
Janet’s quiet and simple response seemed to register with everyone except the colonel. “No.”
O’Neill’s reaction was delayed, but finally the doctor’s answer sunk in. “What?”
“I said no, Colonel. I’m not leaving Jidiri.”
“Why the hell not?”
“I have my reasons.”
“Well, I’m sorry, Lt. Colonel, but you’re in the Air Force, and I’m ordering you to return with us to the SGC.”
“Actually, Colonel, I’m no longer in the Air Force. I’m officially dead. I was killed in the line of duty. My dead body was transported to this planet where I was revived. I have since made a new life for myself here, and there are other things I have to take into consideration now.”
“Like what? Are you taking into consideration things like your daughter Cassandra and how she needs her mother?”
Janet’s expression went cold.
Kris, who’d been keeping track of what was going on through their bond, figured it was time to join the proceedings.
[It’s alright, love, I’m right here.] Janet and the colonel were staring each other down so he didn’t even notice Kris when she approached and stood next to the doctor. “Why don’t we all have a seat?” Kris suggested.
Janet turned to her wife. “How are you feeling?”
“Better. Let’s get everyone something cold to drink, and then you can introduce me to your friends.”
“Okay.”
Kris and Janet went into the kitchen to get drinks for everyone while Sam and the others got settled. Janet carried the tray of lemonade into the living room. Kris sat in the overstuffed chair while Janet passed out the drinks. Sam, Daniel, and Teal’c sat on the couch. The colonel was too keyed up to sit, so he was pacing in front of the fireplace. After passing out the drinks Janet sat on the arm of the chair Kris was sitting in.
“Kris, you already know Sam. This is Dr. Jackson – Daniel, Teal’c, and that’s Colonel O’Neill.” Janet paused. “Everyone, this is Kris Fraiser… my wife.”
Daniel smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kris.”
“Indeed, it is an honor,” Teal’c said as he gave a nod of his head.
The colonel came to a stop and stared. “Your what?!”
“My wife.”
“But you can’t marry a woman!”
“Actually, by the laws and traditions of my homeworld and of this world, I assure you we are married, Colonel, and have been for over three years,” replied Kris.
“And this… this relationship is the reason you’re willing to turn your back on your career? On your daughter Cassie?”
Kris knew the man had pushed her wife too far. She could feel the anger radiating off of Janet in waves.
Janet stood and marched up to the colonel defiantly. “What you derisively call ‘this relationship’ is my marriage. I am not ‘turning my back’ on anything, I’m fighting for something. I’m fighting for the health of my wife and life of our unborn child. So, Jack, you can go fuck yourself. Now get out of my home.”
Jack was left speechless.
Daniel was the first to stand. He grabbed hold of the colonel and started to lead him out. “We’ll be going now, ladies.”
Teal’c followed.
“Janet, you know he–”
Janet cut Sam off with an upheld hand. “Sam, I don’t want to hear one word in defense of him right now.”
The blonde nodded. “Is it okay if I come back later?”
“Of course it is. Make sure Daniel and Teal’c know they’re welcome as well.”
“I will.” Sam left.
~~~
It didn’t take too long for SG-1 to arrive back at the house they were staying at.
Jack rubbed the back of his neck. “I guess I didn’t handle that too well.”
“No, Jack, you didn’t,” agreed Daniel. “In fact, you screwed it up pretty bad. If I were you I’d stay clear of Janet for quite a while.”
“Carter, can you help me smooth things over with the doc again? You two are close friends.”
Sam shook her head. “I don’t think so, sir. Not with this. You’re just going to have to give it some time and let her get over it.”
“If she does,” added Daniel.
“If Dr. Fraiser is the one born again in life from the prophecy Thor spoke of, then it is most likely that Kris Fraiser is the Guardian we have been sent to find,” observed Teal’c.
Daniel got excited. “That’s right! Thor said, ‘Earth’s Guardian and mate will be born again, of the heart and in life. They are a phoenix. They become as one.’ So if Dr. Fraiser is the one born again in life, then Kris, her mate, is Earth’s Guardian.”
“Then we’ll just have to convince them to come home with us,” said Jack.
“There’s no way you’re going to get them to go until after Kris gives birth,” announced Sam.
“Why not?”
“Janet said it’s a high risk pregnancy and even with the more advanced medical technology here on Jidiri the odds are not on their side.”
“Then we shall remain until Kris Fraiser gives birth,” declared Teal’c.
Jack groaned.
“Look at it this way, sir, maybe Janet will forgive you by then.”
“Thanks a lot, Carter.”
~~~
Chapter 18
Kris and Janet had another appointment with Dr. Boson. She expressed some concern that Kris’s blood work was still showing increasing levels of antibodies and white blood cells. And, like Janet, she really didn’t like the fact that she was losing weight instead of gaining.
“If things continue the way they are I’m going to have to insist you go on bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy. In the meantime try eating several small meals a day. Even if all you can tolerate is something as bland as oatmeal. We’ll supplement your nutritional needs with injections that Janet will administer.”
“Why injections?” Kris asked.
“Because if you take them orally and then throw up they won’t be doing you much good, will they?” Lettie answered.
“I see your point.”
“Okay, I want you back here in four days to check your weight and blood work again, unless anything else comes up, in which case you should come in immediately.”
Janet and Kris stood to leave.
“Janet, could you wait a minute, please?” Lettie asked.
Kris stepped out as Janet remained.
“I don’t know how much longer Kris will be able to carry the baby. With the pregnancy now in the 20th week there’s slim chance of viability.”
“Not much of one,” Janet said quietly.
“No, you’re right. The longer she can sustain the pregnancy, the better the chances are for the baby. I just wanted you to know that I have the neonatal unit on alert. If anything happens, they’ll be ready for you and Kris.”
Janet’s eyes watered. “Thank you.”
Lettie nodded. “Now go spend some time with your wife. I’ll have the supplements delivered to your house this afternoon.”
~~~
Janet sat on the edge of the couch, bent down, and kissed her wife’s forehead.
Kris opened her eyes and smiled. “Hey.”
“Hey, baby. What do you want for lunch, love.”
“Fresh air.”
“What?”
“Let’s go to the park.”
“Kris, you’re supposed to be taking it easy.”
“I know that, Janet. I’m not suggesting anything more than a lazy picnic in the park. I just want to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine. I can rest on a blanket on the grass as well as I can here on the couch. Please. You heard what Dr. Boson said. I want to go while I still have a choice.”
Janet didn’t miss the pleading in her wife’s voice. She gave Kris an understanding smile. “Alright. I’ll get everything together and we’ll go to the park.”
“Thank you.”
Janet got the picnic lunch together and placed it in their basket. She then grabbed a blanket and a small pillow. Of course she didn’t let Kris carry anything as they walked to the park. Janet spread the blanket out under their favorite tree. After they were done eating Janet leaned against the tree and cradled Kris in her arms. The sound of Janet’s heartbeat beneath her ear lulled Kris to sleep.
That’s how Sam found them. “Nice day for a picnic,” said the blonde as she approached.
Janet smiled and nodded. “Yes, it is,” she said.
Sam then realized Kris was asleep. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize she was asleep,” she said softly.
“It’s okay.” Janet looked down at her wife and brushed some hair away from Kris’s temple and caressed her cheek. “I don’t think a marching band would wake her right now.”
“Is she okay?”
Janet took a deep breath and let it out. “That depends on your definition of okay.”
“Janet, it’s only been seven months for me since you were… killed… and I can’t sit here and pretend and tell you that I can just flip a switch and change the way I feel about you. I still love you… but I’ve always been your friend, and I still am. I’m here for you as your friend.”
The doctor smiled. “I’m glad. Thank you, Sam.”
The blonde nodded at the sleeping woman. “You’re worried about her. I can tell.”
Janet took another deep breath and nodded. “Yes, I am.”
“What’s wrong?”
“We don’t know how much longer her body can sustain the pregnancy. If she were anyone else she would have already miscarried.”
“What do you mean?”
Janet let out a sigh. “I guess I should start from the beginning. First off, Kris is only part Human. She has a mixture of alien DNA, so there was some difficulty in making our DNA compatible.”
“Is that why you said you’d been trying to have a baby for couple of years?”
“Partly. I don’t know if it’s a result of her mixed heritage of not, but she’s infertile. She has no ova. So when they were finally able to make our DNA compatible they fertilized six of mine. I miscarried the first four.”
Sam was shocked to hear what the woman she loved had been through. “Oh, my god. I’m so sorry, Janet.”
“My body kept rejecting the alien DNA.” Sam couldn’t keep the frown off her face and Janet saw it. “What is it, Sam?”
Sam hesitated but answered. “I’m sorry, Janet, but I can’t believe someone who cares about you would put you through all that, that she would even ask it of you.” The blonde lowered her eyes. “I never would have,” she added softly.
Janet realized Sam misunderstood the situation. “Sam, you don’t understand. Kris didn’t ask anything of me. The baby was my idea. I want this.”
The blonde was clearly surprised. “All the years I’ve known you and I never knew you wanted to have a baby.”
The doctor gave the blonde a small smile. “I never did.” She then looked down at her wife. “But I want hers,” she said lovingly.
Sam had to swallow the lump that formed in her throat.
After a few moments of silence Janet continued. “Since I couldn’t carry the baby we decided to have Kris try. The problem is her body just doesn’t seem to want to be pregnant. We had to trick it into getting pregnant. She miscarried the first time at 11 weeks. This is her second pregnancy.”
“Can’t they fertilize some more eggs if she miscarries this time?”
Tear welled in Janet’s eyes. “I can’t ask her to go through this again, Sam. Her body is fighting the pregnancy like an infection. Her white blood cell count is climbing every day; she’s developing antibodies; she’s losing weight instead of gaining; she’s throwing up half the time; she’s only 20 weeks along and she’s had contractions on four different occasions that would have resulted in a miscarriage if she hadn’t been able to stop them; and she’s getting weaker and weaker every day.” A single tear slid down Janet’s face.
Even in her sleep Kris sensed her wife’s distress. Her body tensed and her breathing increased as if she were experiencing a bad dream. Janet caressed her wife’s cheek, kissed her forehead, and then laid her own cheek on top Kris’s head.
“Shhh, it’s okay, love. I’m right here.” [Just relax, beloved.]
When Kris settled down Janet dropped another kiss on her wife’s forehead.
“You said Kris was able to stop her contractions. How?” Sam asked.
“Due to her alien heritage, and training in what she calls the mind-skills, she’s able to have some conscious control over her body in ways that we don’t. And she’s able to heal much faster than Humans if she enters into a healing meditation.”
“Like Teal’c’s kelnorim?”
“It’s similar, yes.”
“So that’s what you meant when you said if she were anyone else she would have already miscarried.”
Janet nodded.
“She’s literally been keeping the baby safe by force of mind over matter.”
“Yes, but at a cost to her own health. As long as she’s pregnant she can’t go into a healing meditation to heal herself – it would lower her heart rate and respiration to a level too dangerous for the baby.”
“I had no idea what you’ve been going through. I’m sorry.” Sam paused. “I’m sure if the colonel had known–”
“No, Sam. I’m not ready to deal with him yet.”
Sam knew when to retreat. She nodded. “Okay. Then let’s talk about something else.” She paused, not really sure what to talk about. “So, how long have you known Kris?”
Janet smiled. “We met the day I arrived here. She’s actually one who revived me. She found my body near the wreckage of her ship. She revived me and healed my wounds.”
“Her ship?”
“It had crashed. Apparently whatever or whoever brought me to this planet also brought her ship here. P3X-666 is on the opposite side of the galaxy from where they were flying. She said that all of sudden there was a planet in their path; it seemed to appear out of nowhere and they crashed – here.”
“They? She wasn’t alone?”
“No. Her wife Lena was with her. Lena’s injuries were just too great. She died a few hours later. There was nothing we could do.”
“Oh. So you two weren’t…”
“No. We were just friends. It was over a year before either one of us ever went out on a date, and that was with other people. But eventually I realized what was right in front of me.” Janet smiled at Sam. “At least it didn’t take me seven years this time. I’m learning.”
Even Sam had to smile at that. “And you got married.”
Janet grinned. “Yep. I never thought I would after the last time.”
“Well, considering what you told me about you ex-husband, I don’t think you can hardly compare him to Kris.”
The doctor looked at her wife. “You’ve got that right.”
Kris woke up. “Did I hear someone mention my name?”
“Hey there, sleepyhead.”
Kris opened her eyes to see her wife gazing down her very lovingly. Before she was able to say anything, Kris grimaced.
“What’s wrong, love?”
“Your daughter has decided to turn my spleen into a punching bag.”
“Oh, so she’s mine when she’s acting up, huh?”
“Oh course,” Kris said with a smirk.
“Then why do you get to pick out her name?”
“Because it’s my spleen.”
Janet chuckled. “Well, I guess that’s fair.”
“You’ve picked out a name?” asked Sam.
Kris moved off of Janet and lay on her side next to her wife facing the blonde. “Yep.”
Janet knew Kris’s lower back was aching so she started rubbing it for her. “And she won’t tell me,” the doctor playfully complained.
“Well, it’s not like you’ve told me what her middle name is going to be,” Kris countered.
Sam looked at both women like they were crazy. “I don’t believe this! How can the two of you not tell each other the names you’ve picked out for your daughter?”
They smiled at Sam. Then Kris sat up so she was facing her wife. She took Janet’s hand in hers, giving it a squeeze. “Actually, I didn’t want to say anything before now because I’m aware of the point of minimum viability, too.” She lifted Janet’s hand and kissed it. “Picking her name was very easy. She’s to be named after her mother – her name is Elyssa.”
Janet looked surprised but touched. “And she’s to have your name as well – Kay,” she said with a smile. She looked over at Sam with a smile. “Well, Sam, you’re the first to know. Our daughter’s name is going to be Elyssa Kay Fraiser.”
“Elyssa Kay?”
“Janet’s middle name and my last name before I changed it to Janet’s,” Kris explained.
“But I always thought your middle name was Elizabeth.”
“That’s what everyone assumes,” Janet replied.
“How come I never knew your middle name?”
“Because growing up I never liked it.”
Kris looked at the blonde. “Don’t feel bad, Major. She didn’t exactly tell me either.”
“Then how–”
“Did I know?” Kris looked at her wife. “I take it you haven’t told her everything yet?”
“Well, she knows you’re not completely Human.”
Kris looked at Sam again. “I have… some abilities that Humans don’t, Major.”
“Please, call me Sam. Janet said you’re able to have some control over your body and can speed your healing process.”
“Under certain circumstances, yes. I can also communicate telepathically through a mind-touch.”
Sam looked surprised. “You can actually read somebody’s mind?”
“It’s a bit more complicated than that. It takes effort, and it’s not something that’s done lightly.”
“Can you do it against somebody’s will?”
Kris frowned. “Yes, but not only is it unethical, it’s extremely unpleasant for both parties.”
The blonde looked at Janet. “So I take you let her read your mind… and that’s how she found out your middle name?”
Janet could see the concern on Sam’s face. “It’s not quite what you’re thinking, Sam.” She looked at her wife. [We need to put this in terms she can understand and relate to… computers maybe.]
~~~
Chapter 19
Kris looked at the blonde. “Think of the mind like a computer. All of Janet’s knowledge, ideas, and memories are like files. It’s not like my computer connected to hers and read all her files. We simply shared selected files. And Janet herself had control over which of her files were shared, just as I had control over which of my files were shared.” She smiled. “I just happened to find out her middle name when one of the things she chose to share with me was a memory of her mother in which her mother addressed her by her full name. I don’t think Janet even realized at the time that she’d let her secret out. Anyway, does that make it any clearer for you?”
Sam nodded, but it was obvious that the gears were turning in her head. “You told the colonel that by the laws of this world and of your homeworld that you and Janet are married. May I ask what is your homeworld?”
“I’m not sure I should answer that.”
Sam was clearly confused by Kris’s answer. “What do you mean?”
Kris closed her eyes and let out a sigh. “So you didn’t get to this part.”
“No, I didn’t,” Janet said wearily.
“I think we ought to go home and have this discussion there.”
Janet nodded in agreement. Sam helped Janet gather everything up and carry the stuff back to the house. Janet and Kris walked arm in arm on the way back to the house. Once at home Kris started to help Janet put things away but Janet quickly stopped her.
“Uh uh. You’re feeling woozy. I want you on the couch with your feet up. And you need to eat again. I’ll bring you something as soon as I get everything put away.” She gave Kris a ‘wife’ glare rather than a ‘doctor’ glare – which was even more effective.
“Yes, dear,” Kris replied with a smirk and left the kitchen.
Even Sam chuckled as Kris made her way to the couch. “Wow, I guess you’ve got her trained,” she said jokingly as she helped Janet put everything away.
“Actually, no.” Janet frowned. “She gave in too easily.” She fixed a small plate of food for Kris.
Sam followed Janet out into the living room. “Hey, wait a minute. How did you know Kris was feeling woozy?”
“I… she let me know.”
“When?”
Janet didn’t know how to answer and the blonde could tell something was up. “Okay, what’s going on?”
Kris was the one to explain. “Remember that computer analogy I used?”
Sam nodded.
“Well, using the same analogy, things are different between Janet and me since we’re married. It’s like we have a permanent link between our computers. Either one of us can increase or decrease the bandwidth at will at any time. And the link cannot be broken, except by death.”
“So you two can communicate telepathically with each other?”
“If we both choose to do so, but it’s more than that. It’s a bond that goes much deeper than can really be described. I can tell how Janet is feeling both physically and emotionally without asking, unless she chooses to block it from me, which she can. She can tell what I’m feeling unless I choose to block it from her. There is still privacy for the individual. She can’t tell what I’m thinking if don’t want her to any more than you can. She or I could forever block all thought and feeling from each other completely, and yet the bond would still provide an awareness of the other. At the other end of the spectrum is what happens when we both open the link wider. Not only can we communicate and tell how the other is feeling, it’s possible to actually feel what the other is feeling.”
“Sam, I actually know what it feels like to feel the baby move. I’ve felt it as if it was happening to me,” said Janet.
“I… Holy Hannah… I don’t know what to say. That’s incredible.” After a few moments she spoke again. “And that’s what you wanted to tell me here at the house instead of at the park?”
Kris let out a sigh. “No. You asked me about my homeworld. I’m not sure I should tell you anything about it, because Humans aren’t supposed to meet anyone from it, from your viewpoint, for about another 110 years. And it is even longer before any Human actually goes there.”
“You’re saying you’re from the future?”
“From your future, yes.”
“But is it our future or an alternate future? I mean if this planet doesn’t exist in our reality on a regular basis then it’s possible it is crossing through different realities.”
Kris shook her head. “Already considered that. Everything here, including us, has the same quantum signature. We’re all from the same reality.”
Sam sat back, lost in thought. “So there’s a lot you may know but can’t tell us because of the time paradox.”
“Temporal mechanics is always a pain in the ass.”
The blonde shook her head as if to clear it. “Just don’t tell the colonel. He’ll be bugging you for the scores to every Super Bowl until, well, until your time.”
“Well, it’s not something we’re going to solve right now,” said Janet. “And you still haven’t eaten, honey.”
Kris looked at her wife. “I really can’t, Janet. I won’t be able to keep it down if I do.”
Janet gave her a look of concern but nodded. “Okay. Lettie had the supplements sent over. I’ll give you an injection.” She took the plate back into the kitchen. She came back and gave her wife the injection. Janet then sat on the couch and had Kris lie down with her head in her lap. Kris was asleep in only a few minutes.
~~~
Sam became Kris and Janet’s permanent house guest. She helped Janet around the house and kept her company while Kris slept – which she was doing more and more. Daniel and Teal’c took turns visiting on alternating days. The colonel knew he wasn’t welcome and stayed away.
A month after the confrontation with Colonel O’Neill, Kris was napping in the bedroom. Janet had given her an injection about half an hour earlier. Janet and Sam were sitting in the living room talking and drinking lemonade. Sam was still trying to convince Janet to let Jack apologize to her. All of a sudden Janet froze and turned pale.
“Janet, what is it?”
“Something’s wrong.”
She put her glass down, got up, and ran into the bedroom. Sam was on her heels. Janet found Kris on the bed having some trouble breathing and running a high fever. “She’s burning up! We’ve got to get her temperature down. Sam, go start filling the bathtub with tepid water and then come back and help me get her into the bathroom.”
Sam ran into the bathroom, started the bath, and then came back. She and Janet got Kris up out of the bed and into the bathroom.
“Hold her steady for a moment,” Janet said as she removed her shoes.
The doctor stepped into the tub and then they eased Kris into the water with her wife holding her from behind. Janet dipped a washcloth in the water and then squeezed it out over Kris’s throat and chest. From where Sam kneeled at the side of the of the tub she helped to cup water over the overheated woman.
“Come on, baby, fight it. You can do it. Breathe… breathe nice and slow. Come back to me, love.”
Kris opened her eyes halfway and tilted her head so she could look up at her wife. “Come back?” She tried to take a deep breath. “Where did I go?” She couldn’t keep her eyes open.
Janet kissed Kris’s forehead, as a way to gauge her fever as much to express her love. “You’re running a high fever, honey. We’re trying to get you cooled down.” She continued to squeeze water from the washcloth over her wife’s chest.
After a while Kris started to feel cold. “I’m c-cold.”
“Sam, get the medkit from our bedroom. It’s in the closet.”
The blonde hurried into the bedroom and returned with a hard plastic case. “Is this it?”
“Yes.” Janet opened it and took out the scanner. She scanned Kris and read the results. “101.2. Okay, it’s time to get you to the clinic, honey. Help me get her up, Sam.”
They got Kris up and out of the tub. Janet asked Sam to go ahead to the clinic and tell them she was bringing Kris in and to have Dr. Boson notified. Janet and Kris both changed into some dry clothes and started for the clinic. Kris was still rather out of it and Janet had her arm around her wife steadying her.
Meanwhile, Colonel O’Neill had decided it was time to finally bite the bullet. It was time to face Janet and beg her forgiveness. He saw Janet and Kris on their way to the clinic. He wasn’t a doctor, but even he could see Kris wasn’t in the best of shape and had lost weight since the last time he’d seen her.
Kris wavered. “Janet…”
Jack saw Kris was about to go down so he rushed over and scooped her up in his arms. “Where to, Doc?”
Janet gave him a look that indicated she was still irritated with him but was grateful for the assistance. Jack nodded, indicating he knew that they still had things to work out, but understood that taking care of Kris was the primary issue at the moment.
“This way,” Janet said, and led the way to the clinic.
Jack carried Kris into the clinic. “Got an emergency here,” he called out.
Dr. Boson was waiting them. “In here.”
Directed by Dr. Boson, Jack laid Kris down on a gurney before stepping out of the room to wait with Sam. Kris’s temperature had spiked again so Lettie and Janet packed cold compresses around her to cool her down again. Kris opened her eyes once her fever broke.
“Hey, honey,” Janet said as she brush some hair back from her wife’s forehead.
“Hey. Guess I got lost again.”
Janet nodded. “Your fever spiked again.”
Dr. Boson stepped up. “You certainly are making things interesting, Kris. We’re going to have to keep a very close eye on you from now on. I’m afraid I’m going to have to admit you. You’re on bed rest for the duration.”
Kris merely nodded. She then closed her eyes and went to sleep.
Lettie looked at Janet. “I assume you’re going to want to stay with her.”
“Absolutely.”
“Why don’t you go on home and get your things while she’s asleep. I’ll make sure the staff knows to make up a second bed in her room for you.”
“Thank you, Lettie.”
~~~
When Janet exited the treatment room Jack and Sam both jumped up from their seats.
“Janet?” Sam asked.
“Her fever spiked again on the way here.” She shot the colonel a look. “Thank you for your help.”
Jack simply nodded. “How is she?”
“We were finally able to break her fever. Lettie is admitting her and putting her on full bed rest for the duration of the pregnancy. I’ve got to go home a get some things together.”
“I’ll give you a hand,” offered Sam.
“Thank you.”
“May I come by and see how she’s doing tomorrow?” Jack asked with genuine concern.
Janet didn’t have the energy to be mad at him so she nodded yes before leaving.
At the house Sam helped Janet pack some things for the stay at the clinic. Janet explained that she would be there with Kris until the baby was delivered. She then told Sam she was welcome to stay at the house in the meantime.
~~~
Chapter 20
The next day Taran and Delsie brought the twins by for a few minutes and to offer their support. SG-1 also came by. When Janet finally agreed to talk with, or rather listen to, Jack, the others kept Kris company.
“Look, Doc, I’m sorry. I’m not proud of the way I handled things. I respect you, Doc; I always have.”
“Apology accepted. I just don’t have the energy to stay mad, and I have more pressing concerns right now. But make no mistake, Jack, I love the woman in that room,” she said pointing to the door of Kris’s room, “like I’ve never loved anyone else; she is a part of me, and she will always be my first priority. Don’t you ever forget that.”
“I won’t. Maybe if I’d remembered to keep my priorities straight I wouldn’t be divorced,” he said quietly.
She turned to head back into Kris’s room.
“And, Doc?”
Janet turned back to look at him.
“She’s lucky to have you.”
She gave him a small smile and shook her head. “I’m the lucky one, Jack.”
~~~
Even with being in the clinic on full bed rest and with an IV providing constant nutrients Kris was losing the battle. She was getting weaker and weaker every day.
Three weeks after she’d been admitted Sam came by for a visit. She found Kris asleep. A nurse sitting with her told Sam that Janet had gone to the cafeteria to get something to eat. Sam went to the cafeteria and joined Janet. They were almost done eating when Janet suddenly dropped her fork.
“Oh, my god!”
“Janet, what wrong?”
“Kris!”
They both up and ran to Kris’s room and were shocked by what they found. There was a team of doctors working on Janet’s wife, led by Dr. Boson. There was what could only be described as a large pool of blood staining the sheets between Kris’s legs. Dr. Boson handed off what was obviously the baby to a couple of doctors who placed it in a portable incubator and raced out of the room with their precious cargo.
“Get her to OR2, stat!” ordered Dr. Boson.
“Lettie?”
Dr. Boson paused only long enough to give Janet a quick answer. “I know exactly what your questions are. I’ve got to go in and stop the bleeding. Other than that I don’t have any answers for you right now, Janet.”
Janet swallowed and nodded in understanding. With that Dr. Boson hurried on her way. Sam accompanied Janet to the waiting area. Janet couldn’t sit still and constantly paced. Sam made the excuse of going to the bathroom to slip out for a moment to radio the rest of SG-1 and let them know what had happened. They all came running, literally, and showed up in a matter of minutes. Janet acknowledged their presence but still just paced.
The colonel called Sam over. “So what do we know?”
“Nothing about the baby yet. They had to take Kris into surgery to stop the bleeding.”
“What are the chances the baby will make it?” asked Daniel.
“I don’t know. On Earth, with advanced neonatal care, 25 weeks is considered the point of minimum viability, but with very little success.”
“How far along was Kris?”
“Less than 28 weeks. The medical technology here is more advanced than on Earth so maybe there’s a chance.” She shrugged. “I don’t know.”
About 40 minutes later a doctor came out to the waiting area. “Dr. Fraiser?”
“Yes?”
He spoke to her quietly for a few moments and then left. Janet just stood there without moving.
Sam got up and went over to her. “Janet?” When Janet didn’t respond Sam got concerned. She walked around in front of her friend. “What is it, Janet?”
Janet finally looked up at Sam with watery eyes. “The baby’s heart stopped before it was born. They’ve tried everything possible to revive her, but because the placenta was torn free in utero she was without oxygen too long.” She spoke with the dispassion of a doctor, but her expression was that of a grieving mother.
When Sam reached out and took Janet in her arms the tears flowed freely. The men obviously knew something was wrong. Daniel caught Sam’s eye and silently asked was it was. Sam silently mouthed back that it was the baby.
“Aw jeez,” said Jack.
It was a couple of hours later when Dr. Boson came out. “Janet?” She pulled Janet aside and spoke with her. Janet knew Kris was still alive because of their bond, but Lettie let her know what had happened. “I’m afraid the bleeding was caused by some tearing of her uterus. I’m afraid there was nothing else I could do, Janet; I had to remove her uterus. I’m so sorry.”
Janet shook her head. “I’d never let her go through this again anyway, Lettie. This was the last time no matter what.”
“She’s going to be under for a few hours yet, but you can sit with her in recovery when they get her settled.”
“Thank you.”
Janet let the others know that Kris was going to be okay and then went to sit with her wife.
~~~
Despite what Dr. Boson had said, Kris woke up not long after Janet joined her in recovery, though she was very groggy. “Beloved…”
“I’m right here, my love.”
“S’ry about the baby… I tried…”
“Oh, honey, I know you did.”
“I’ll do better… next time… pr’mise…”
Tears started rolling down Janet’s cheeks. “Shhh… Don’t worry about that right now. You have to focus on getting better. Can you enter into a healing meditation? Can you do that for me?”
“Fuzzy… need your guidance…”
Janet took her wife’s hand and placed it over her heart so Kris could feel Janet’s heartbeat. [I’m right here, beloved. Just relax… remember slow, deep breaths. Concentrate on healing yourself.]
When Kris’s heart rate dropped below a certain point an alarm sounded, bringing Dr. Boson and some nurses rushing in. “We’re losing her!”
“No. It’s alright,” Janet assured them. “She’s entered into a deep self-healing state. See – her pulse and respiration are steady, just very slow.”
Lettie turned off the alarm and stared at Janet who was holding her wife’s hand and running the fingers of her other hand through Kris’s hair. It was the least worried she’d seen Janet in months. With a silent gesture she excused the nurses. “If Kris is able to enter into a self-healing state then why didn’t she do so before?” she asked.
“Because it lowers her heart rate and respiration so low that it would have been detrimental to the baby,” Janet explained.
Dr. Boson looked at the readings again. “I see what you mean. Do you know how long she’ll be like this?”
Janet shook her head. “No, I’ve never seen her this ill before.”
“Okay. We’ll get her moved back into her room. I’ll let you know as soon as we have her settled.”
~~~
Janet found SG-1 still in the waiting room. She again told them Kris was going to be alright and that she was going to stay with her wife. The men left, but Sam hesitated.
“Are you sure everything’s alright?” Sam asked.
Janet nodded. “She woke up briefly. And she’s finally able to enter into a healing meditation. She’ll be okay now.”
“Did you tell her about the baby?”
“She already knew.” Janet swallowed past the lump in her throat. “She promised she’d do better the next time.” She closed her watery eyes and sat down.
“I thought you said this was the last time you were going to try.”
Janet let out a sigh. “I would never allow her to go through this again, but she wouldn’t hesitate to do it for me if I’d let her.” She opened her eyes and looked up at Sam. “I didn’t have the heart to tell her they had to remove her uterus.”
Sam sat down next to her friend. “I’m so sorry, Janet.”
A nurse came out. “Dr. Fraiser? Your wife has been moved into her room. You can go in now.”
“Thank you.”
~~~
After a full day in a healing meditation Kris was doing much better. The monitoring equipment signaled the change in her vitals, so Janet was smiling down at her when Kris opened her eyes.
“Hey.”
“Hey, honey. How do you feel?”
“Better.”
Janet looked at the monitors. “Your vital signs are certainly looking better. Do you think you can tolerate some light food?”
Kris nodded.
“Good. I’ll be right back with some lunch then.” Janet kissed her and left.
~~~
When Janet returned with lunch she found Lettie in the room drawing some of Kris’s blood for some tests. Dr. Boson was clearly surprised at how quickly Kris was recovering. “If you keep improving at this rate, I may consider letting you convalesce at home sooner rather than later. Enjoy your lunch,” Lettie said before leaving.
Janet sat on Kris’s bed facing her with the bed table between them and they ate lunch together.
“Janet?”
“What?”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too, honey.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Oh, baby, you have nothing to be sorry for. We always said that if it was meant to be it would work out, and if it wasn’t, then that was okay, too. We said that no matter how things worked out that it would be okay.”
Kris took a deep breath and slowly it out. “I know… I just wanted to make it happen for you.”
“I know that, love. And I know just how hard you tried.” Janet pushed the table away and moved closer. She reached up and caressed her wife’s cheek and gazed into those impossibly dark eyes. “As long as I have you I have all I’ll ever want or need. You’re my heart and soul…”
“My beloved,” they whispered in unison before kissing.
A few moments later there was a knock on the door. Janet and Kris released each other and looked over to see all of SG-1 standing in the doorway.
“I hope we’re not intruding,” said a smiling Daniel.
“No; come on in,” said Kris.
“We just wanted to stop in and see how you were feeling,” Sam said.
“I’m feeling better. Thank you.”
“Kris Fraiser, it is good to see that you are much improved today.”
“Thank you, Teal’c.”
“Any idea on how long you’ll be in here?” Jack asked.
“Not yet, but hopefully not long.”
“But even after you are released you’ll still have to take things easy for a while,” Janet pointed out. “Your body’s been through a lot.”
“I know, but I’ll need to get back into shape. And I need to get back to my students.”
Janet gave her wife a stern look. “We’ll talk more about this later.”
~~~
Two days later Kris was released from the clinic. Janet stayed at home with her wife for three days, but because Kris was being good about not pushing things too hard the doctor went back to work.
Kris spent most of her days slowly getting her body back into shape by doing a lot of stretching. But she had lost some muscle mass and as a result she simply wasn’t as strong and didn’t have quite the stamina she did before. She really needed some good old-fashioned workouts to build up her strength and stamina. But Janet was still worried and didn’t want Kris going to her school yet.
Sam was still their houseguest and was Janet’s other set of eyes, keeping watch on Kris to make sure she didn’t overdo things. Sam was also the voice of the colonel. She was supposed to convince Kris and Janet to come back to Earth with them.
~~~
Chapter 21
Sam told Kris about Thor and the prophecy that brought SG-1 to Jidiri. That, and the fact that they believed it referred to Kris and Janet.
“Interesting theory, but I see a couple of problems with it.”
“What?”
“Well, first off, your prophecy, or any prophecy for that matter, doesn’t take into account free will. What if I choose to stay right where I am? I have seen and combated things more vile and evil than you can possibly imagine, and I did it for more years than anyone at your SGC has been in uniform. My own uniform bears the rank of admiral. As they used to say in your time, ‘I’ve done my bit for king and county.’ I deserve the right to retire and live in peace with my wife. Secondly, I’ve been through the files of the SGC. They record Janet’s death in the line of duty. There is nothing in them to indicate she ever returned. Surely if we were meant to return with you to the SGC Janet’s remarkable return from the dead would have been noted in the files, as was Dr. Jackson’s when he returned from ‘life as a non-corporal being living on another plane of existence.'”
“Wait a minute. How did you access the SGC’s files?”
“I simply downloaded them from my ship’s memory core.”
“Why would our files be in your ship’s memory? I mean no offence, but it’s possible that not all our files would be shared with your world.”
Kris let out a sigh. “You don’t understand. My homeworld may not yet be known to Humans in your time, but my wife Lena and I made our home in Montana where she grew up. We were both in the Allied Fleet.”
A look of comprehension finally crossed Sam’s face as she sat back. “Dare I ask just how far in our future you’re from?”
“500 years, give or take.”
Sam closed her eyes and started rubbing her temples. “And you’re sure there’s nothing that indicates Janet returned after her death?”
“I’ve reviewed the files. There’s no mention of her at all after her death. There is one file I never accessed though.”
“Why not?”
“My security code would not allow me to access it,” Kris said with frown.
“Then maybe that file is the one that indicates Janet returns,” Sam argued.
“You don’t understand; there’s no way my code should not have been able to access the file.”
“If you don’t have clearance–”
“That’s just it, Sam, I do have clearance – the highest clearance there is.”
“Hmm. Is it possible the file was damaged or corrupted when your ship crashed?”
“It’s possible. The Phoenix file was a fairly large one.”
“Did you say Phoenix?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Thor said, ‘Earth’s Guardian and mate will be born again, of the heart and in life. They are a phoenix. They become as one.’ I understand you have your own opinions about prophesies, but you have to admit there are a lot of coincidences if nothing else. Janet was dead and revived – ‘born again in life.’ You lost your first wife – ‘born again of the heart.’ And you told me yourself how you and Janet are connected, a bond that can’t be broken except through death – ‘they become as one.’ And now the one file you couldn’t access on the SGC is a file name Phoenix – ‘they are a phoenix.'”
Kris just looked at Sam. “And all this is supposed to make me leave the life Janet and I have made for ourselves here and go back to Earth some 500 years in my past and become a Guardian of Earth based on some vague alien prophecy?”
Sam sighed. “Well, when you put it that way…”
Kris gave the blonde a tired smile. “You’re right about one thing, Sam. I did lose my first wife. When Lena died you have no idea how close I came to dying too. Janet’s love has given me a new life. She’s my heart and soul. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.”
“And if she decides she wants to return home?”
Kris pinned Sam with a look. “This is our home.”
Janet came in the front door with a concerned look on her face. “Honey? What’s wrong?” she asked as she immediately crossed the room and knelt in front of Kris.
Kris closed her eyes and took a slow, deep breath. She opened her eyes, her expression softening as she gazed into Janet’s dark, brown eyes. “Nothing. I was just telling Sam that Jidiri is our home.”
Janet smiled and reached up to cup her wife’s cheek. “Yes, it is,” she said with a smile. She rose up and kissed Kris very lovingly.
Sam had to look away and swallow around the lump that suddenly grew in her throat. It hurt to think that Janet might really elect to stay on Jidiri rather than return to Earth. Despite the time she’d spent with Janet and Kris, she was still struggling with the fact that Janet was with someone else.
~~~
After dinner, while Kris cleaned up, Janet and Sam went into the living room. Janet confronted her friend about whatever it was she had said or done that had upset her wife so much.
“Alright, Sam, what did you say to Kris just before I got home?”
“I-I simply told her about the prophecy.”
“What prophecy?”
“The one Thor told us about. The whole reason we came to Jidiri.”
“That’s not all of it, Sam,” Janet said with certainty.
“I asked what she would do if you decided to come home.”
Janet’s eyes flashed with anger. “I am home.”
“Janet–”
“Sam, my place is with my wife, and Kris is happy here. I won’t leave Jidiri unless it’s something she wants to do.” She abruptly stood up and walked into the kitchen. She slipped her arm around Kris’s waist. [Come for a walk with me. Please.]
[Anything for you.]
Sam was surprised when Janet and Kris silently walked out the front door arm in arm.
~~~
“So, you care to tell me what brought on your sudden desire to go for a walk?”
Janet sighed. “Sam…”
“Ah. Well, she hasn’t had five years to deal with losing you and to move on.”
“It’s not that exactly.” She paused. “Do you remember what you said about Jidiri when we first arrived here?”
“That it seemed too good to be true.”
“But it’s turned out to be exactly as advertised.”
“Yes, it has.”
“I love it here.”
“So do I, Janet.”
“Sam said she told you about the prophecy.”
“Yeah.”
Janet stopped and moved to face her wife. “I want you to know that I have no intention of leaving Jidiri unless you want to.”
Kris reached up and tenderly cupped Janet’s cheek. “And rest assured that my place is by your side… wherever that may be, beloved.” She leaned in and they kissed.
~~~
Sam wasn’t around when Janet and Kris returned home. They retired to bed early that night.
After leisurely making love Kris rested her head on Janet’s chest, listening to her heart. Janet carded her fingers through her wife’s dark, silky hair.
“Janet?”
“Hmm?”
“I need to go back to work.”
Janet smiled. “I wondered how long it was going to take you to bring it up.” She paused for a beat. “I’m concerned that your strength and stamina aren’t what they used to be.”
“And they won’t be if I don’t start actively pushing myself.”
“I know. Just promise me you’ll do it right, Kris.”
“I will, love.”
~~~
In the morning Janet got up early, letting Kris sleep. She wanted to fix breakfast for her wife since Kris was going to go to the school. Sam, who must have come in sometime after they’d gone to bed, got up while Janet was setting the table.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning. Go ahead and have a seat. I’m going to go wake Kris.”
Janet returned, with Kris in tow, after only a couple of minutes. The three women started eating breakfast.
“I’m going into work today, Sam, would you care to join me?” Kris asked.
“You might enjoy yourself, Sam,” said Janet. “Kris teaches at the martial arts school.”
“Sounds interesting. Sure.”
~~~
The first class of the day included some of the youngest students. When Kris stepped into the room discipline went out the window amongst shouts of “Uzhinn! Uzhinn!”
Kris couldn’t keep from smiling even as she gently admonished them for breaking form. They all crowded around her trying to hug her at the same time. She finally got them to settle down and then she introduced Sam to them.
“Have you all been practicing and meditating like you have been taught?”
“Yes, Uzhinn.”
“So how many of you can avoid the stings of the practice remote blindfolded?”
No hands went up.
“Uzhinn?”
“Yes, Tala?”
“Is it really possible?”
“Is what possible?”
“Is it really possible to avoid being stung by the practice remote when one is blindfolded?
“Yes, Tala, it is. In fact, not only can you successfully avoid the sting of the practice remote, as you progress you will be able to handle at least four remotes at the same time. However, you will only be able to do so when you are calm and at peace within yourself. When you get frustrated or angry you will not succeed.” She looked at all of them. “So, with that in mind, it’s time for all of you to continue your lesson with Chuzu.” She nodded at Chuzu to go ahead and continue the class. Kris and Sam stepped out of the room.
“So what are these practice remotes the kids were talking about?” Sam asked.
“I’ll show you.” Kris led the blonde into another smaller room. She retrieved one of the remotes which looked like a pencil-sized laser pointer. She turned it on and it began to hover.
Sam’s eyes widened and she smiled. “Some kind of anti-gravitational field I take it.”
Kris nodded. “I’ll put it on the lowest setting.” It started to move around Sam in a completely random pattern. Suddenly it zapped her with a mild static discharge.
“Whoa!” she exclaimed out of surprise rather than any pain.
“The idea is to not be where the next zap will be.”
“I get the picture.”
Kris let Sam play with it for a few minutes. Sam managed to avoid a couple of zaps, but got stung the rest of the time.
“There’s no pattern to its movement or the timing of the zaps.”
“No, there’s not.” Kris turned it off.
“And you expect those children to avoid this thing blindfolded?!”
“In fact, they will before they can graduate to the next level. It’s actually far easier for a child than it is for an adult.”
“Why?
“Because children still believe that anything is possible. Adults have already decided it’s impossible.”
Sam thought about it for a moment. “I think I see your point.”
~~~