The Vacation by John O'Connor Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Stargate (II) Productions, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author. Rating: PG-13 to R. Part 2 The rental car cruised along the shoreline. Cassie was too excited to sit still in the backseat as she craned her neck trying to catch sight of the blue Gulf water between the condos and hotels lining the side of Old Highway 98. "How much longer until we get there?" the young girl whined. Being raised in a rural village on the planet Hanka, she had never seen any body of water larger than a pond and was naturally excited to see and feel the ocean for the first time. "Cassie, please just calm down. Sam just told you we're almost there," Janet said from the front passenger seat. "Look out, Sam! Jeezus!" Sam swerved around a suddenly stopped SUV and looked at her friend, "Janet, I think you need to take your own advice. I'm doing fine. And Cass, it's only another mile or so east." "Sam, for my sake and the sake of my daughter, please keep your eyes on the road," Janet said. 'Why do all Air Force people think they are in a jet when they get behind the wheel?' Janet thought, conveniently ignoring her own Air Force rank. Sam pointed ahead, "Cass, see that tall white building on the right? That's the place." Cassie leaned over between the two older women and looked with wide, excited eyes. "Wow! What floor are we on? Are we on the top floor?" "No, short stuff. We're on the 7th floor. But, it's got a great view of the beach and the Gulf," Sam said. Quickly pulling off the road and cutting off a slow-moving truck (to the accompanying blare of the truck's airhorn and Janet's sharp intake of breath), Sam turned into the condo's parking lot and quickly found the assigned parking space for the condo. Cassie reached for the door handle and said, "I'm going right down to the beach! This is great!" "Not so fast, young lady," Janet said as she turned around to look at her daughter. "We are all going to unload our luggage and the put it all away in the room. Then we can go down to the beach. That was the deal. Remember?" "Yeah, but it's not fair. Deals in Colorado shouldn't work in Florida!" Cassie replied, haplessly trying to circumvent the plan she and her mother had worked out the night before. Then they had agreed no playing until clothes were put away, beds were made, and the kitchen cleaned. The three of them began to unload the trunk onto a luggage cart that Sam found near the elevator. Once that had been accomplished, they wheeled the cart to the outdoor elevator and went to the 7th floor. Cassie admired the western view through the glass sides of elevator car. "What's that?" she asked. "The bridge? That's the Mid-Bay Bridge, it connects us with the mainland. It's also a hurricane evacuation route," Sam explained. "Don't worry, it's not anywhere near hurricane season," she added to calm the sudden apprehension in Cassie's eyes. Cassie kept lagging behind to look over the rail at the view when they reached the balcony that led to all the apartments on their floor. Janet finally had to put her foot down. "Cassandra! Get over here and give us a hand or you are not, I repeat not, going to the beach today. At all! Do you understand?" Reluctantly leaving the railing, the young teenager moped over to the cart and said, "Yeah, I understand." "Cheer up kid," Sam said as she unlocked to front door. "As soon as we get unpacked, I'll race you to the water. Okay?" "Okay," Cassie replied listlessly. The condo's door led into the living room. It was separated from the kitchen by a breakfast bar. There was a washer/dryer combo unit in a closet in the sizable kitchen. The living room opened onto a balcony overlooking the beach. The balcony could also be accessed from the master bedroom. There were two full baths in the short hall separating the two bedrooms, the one next to the master bedroom also connecting directly to the bedroom.. This was on the left as the women entered, opposite the kitchen. As they went into the bedrooms, Sam was surprised to see only two beds. There was a queen-sized in the smaller room and a king-sized bed in the larger, master bedroom. "Uh, I guess the general redecorated when his kids grew up," Sam said. "I'll sleep on the couch so you can both get a bed." As she turned to eye the couch near the patio doors, she muttered, "There used to be twin beds in that room!" "Sam," Janet said as she pulled her friend back around. "That's not necessary. Cassie and I can share a room." "No, Janet, I told Cassie she could have her own room. And you can take the other. I don't turn in early or sleep very late anyway," Sam said. "Sam, you can sleep with me," Cassie offered, her pouting spell forgotten. "Thanks kiddo, but that bed'll be a little cramped for two of us," Sam chuckled. "Sam, you can sleep with me. That bed is more than big enough and that couch doesn't look to comfortable for more that a quick nap." Janet smiled at her friend and continued, "You don't snore, do you?" "I don't think so. I stayed up all night once and didn't snore at all," Sam said, quoting an old comedy bit from before her father's time. "Alright then. Let's get unpacked and get down to the beach. C'mon, people!" Janet grabbed her bag, mimicking General Hammond. As the two adults were putting things away, Sam said, "Thanks Janet. I really wasn't looking forward to sleeping on that couch." "Hey, what are friends for? Anyway, I'm off duty and I am not going to treat you for spinal injuries not incurred in the line of duty," Janet joked. "I'll look in on our little hellraiser," she finished as she put her empty bag in the closet. Sam, still unpacking, said, "Doc, you're too damned organized!" Janet smiled and walked down the short hall. A few minutes later, she returned and said, "She'll be ready in a minute. I'm going to change into my suit." Sam, still trying to sort shirts, shorts, and underwear, said, "Oh, I'll leave in a second." "Don't bother," Janet said pushing the door closed before she pulled off the blouse she wore on the trip. "This'll only take a minute." Pulling off her slacks, she continued, "It'd be kinda silly to be embarrassed if we're going to be sharing a room for this long." Sam watched as Janet stripped off her bra and panties. 'The doctor does keep in shape,' Sam thought as she pulled her eyes away from Janet's naked back and began to remove her own clothes. 'I'm surprised she doesn't have a boyfriend.' "You know," Sam said over her shoulder, "this is the first time I've seen you in the all-together. Usually it's the other way around." "Yeah, and I'm patching a wound or checking for an infection," Janet said as she turned and glimpsed a small series of scars that stood out whitely against the skin of Sam's stomach. She remembered stitching that particular wound closed shortly after they had met at the SGC. She felt a tremendous urge to reach out and run her fingers along the scars. She even felt her arm begin to lift from her side. A loud teenager outside the door saved the doctor from a potentially embarrassing moment. "I don't want to have to tell you again," a young voice called on the other side of the door. "Let's go!" "Keep your shirt on, short stuff! We're almost ready," Sam yelled back at the closed door. Sam pulled the thin straps over her shoulders an eyed herself in the mirror above the dresser. "Well, what do you think?" Janet looked at her friend in the white swimsuit. It was cut high on the hips, low in the back and showed some cleavage. All in all, quite an eyeful. Janet realized she was staring and, clearing her throat, said, "You'll be turning heads." Sam looked at Janet in her similarly cut blue suit and remarked, "If the front was any lower, we'd only be allowed on a beach in the south of France." Janet turned red and tried to adjust the tight material over her breasts. "Hey, I was kidding. It looks fine. And you look great too," Sam tried to reassure her friend. Both women smiled and grabbed robes and towels. "Let's go, Doctor," Sam said as she held the bedroom door for her friend. "Why thank you. What do you usually tip doorwomen? Well, it doesn't matter, I seemed to have left my pockets in my other suit," Janet said laughing. The laugh turned into a yelp of surprise when Sam snapped her towel at Janet's butt. "Hey!" Janet yelled as her hand moved over the injured area looking for damage. "You could put an eye out," she joked. "Wow, an eye there? That'd be something to see," Sam laughed. Cassie stood by the door with her arms folded and looking very stern. "Are you two going to clown around all day or are we going to the beach?" the girl asked. "Alrighty then, let's go!" Sam replied. As Cassie made a beeline for the elevator, she added, "That girl is spending way too much time with Jack." Janet only smiled. After laying their towels down on the pure white sand, Cassie ran into the surf screaming with delight. Sam and Janet both laughed along with their little girl and followed her into the warm clear water. After several minutes of horsing around in the water, the adults walked back to the towels. Janet looked at Sam and commented, "You are awfully pale for someone who's outdoors as much as you are." "Yeah, well, we don't exactly have the time to sunbathe while on a mission," Sam replied. "Well, I don't want you getting burned, or worse yet, sunstroke. Let me put some block on you," Janet said as she rummaged in her new beach bag. Finding the sunblock, she told Sam to roll onto her stomach. Then, Janet began to spread the lotion over her friends exposed flesh. Sam purred as she felt Janet's strong yet gentle hands on her skin, "That feels wonderful." Janet applied a protective layer on Sam's back and her legs before making the woman roll over. "Do you want me to do your front?" Janet asked. Sam raised an eyebrow and said, "I think I can handle that myself." Janet, still not catching on to her gaffe, said, "Okay, now you do me." "Why Doctor, I didn't know you were that kind of woman!" Sam said with an amused look on her face. "I, uh, no, I meant, oh damnit! You know what I meant!" Janet scolded her laughing friend, embarrassed. "You're beautiful when you're angry," Sam quipped. "Now roll over." As Sam began to apply the sunblock to Janet's back, she marvelled at how comfortable she had come to feel around Janet and Cassie. With family and friends who have children, she always felt like she was an intruder. With Janet and Cass, she felt like she belonged. It was a wonderful feeling. As she began to work on Janet's legs, she remembered when she had been Jolinar's involuntary host and the threat the Tok'ra had made against Cassie. Sam paused and looked at the young girl romping in the surf and felt a wave of guilt wash over her, just as the Gulf waves were washing over the laughing teenager. Janet looked over her shoulder when she felt Sam's hands tremble on her thigh. The look of pain on Sam's face created a tightness in Janet and she asked, "What's wrong? Can I help?" Sam shook her head, looked at Janet, and said, "No, just some painful memories of Jolinar and how I treated Cassie and everyone else. I guess I shouldn't feel guilty since I had no control but that doesn't make me feel any better." Janet sat up and put her hand on Sam's shoulder, "No, you shouldn't feel guilty, but you do anyway. That's what makes you special to Cassie and me. She doesn't hold any grudge against you, she knows first hand what the Go'auld are, even the Tok'ra, and how they use and manipulate people. She loves you. That will never change." Sam smiled as she blinked back tears, "Thanks Janet. I'll be better in a minute." She placed her hand on Janet's and gave it a slight squeeze of reassurance. Janet smiled back and thought of all her friend had been through since joining the SGC. She knew Sam wouldn't trade that for anything in the world, but Janet still could see the effects on the other woman. She was so happy that Sam was part of Cassie's and her life. It was good for her. 'And us,' Janet thought. Cassie came charging up to the two and had to show them some shells she had found in the sand. As she bent over, water dripped off her long hair onto Sam and Janet. "Hey!" both women yelled in unison as cold water dribbled on their bare skin. Cassie, undeterred, said, "Hey, look at these! Aren't they cool?" As Sam and Janet oohed and aahed appropriately, Janet was relieved to see Sam was back to her usual cheerful self. After another couple of hours of laying in the sun and playing in the water, the three of them returned to the condo to clean up for dinner. Cassie went into her bathroom and soon the sound of running water could be heard as she began to shower. Sam looked at Janet and said, "Flip you for it." Janet graciously said, "Go ahead, Star Jockey! I'll just sit on the balcony and enjoy the view." "Star jockey! Right, I'm a regular James T. Kirk," Sam said as she peeled off the wet swimsuit. Janet stood there for a moment looking at Sam before she walked out to the deck. Sitting down in one of the plastic chairs, she found her thoughts returning to the major in the bathroom. 'What's with me lately?' Janet thought. 'I've been alone too long, I guess.' Sam stood under the warm spray, washing off salt and the remains of the sun block, her thoughts turned to the image of Janet standing naked in the bedroom earlier. She could also still feel the strong, sure touch of the doctor as she applied the sunblock. As she dried off, Sam thoughts ran along similar lines to Janet's. 'Why am I obsessing over Janet? Think of some of the young studs on the beach.' That didn't seem to work, whenever she tried to think of the lifeguards or any other men on the beach her thoughts drifted back to Janet. "I need a drink," she said to her reflection in the foggy mirror as she wrapped a towel around her. Opening the door and striding into the bedroom, she yelled, "It's all yours, Janet!" She tossed the towel on the bed and stood in front of the closet as Janet walked into the bedroom from the balcony. On seeing Janet's reflection in the mirror on the closet door, she made a grab for the towel to cover herself. Just as her fingers touched the damp cloth, she realized that it was stupid to be ashamed of being naked in front of Janet. Janet stood mesmerized again by the sight in front of her. When Sam made the grab for the towel, Janet wrenched her eyes away from Sam's admittedly sexy back. By the time Janet was in the shower, her thoughts were again centered on Sam. 'I've seen her naked dozens of times,' Janet chided herself. 'Why is she getting to me?' Janet suddenly felt the urge to quench the unexpected heat she felt building within her. That would be like admitting she felt more than friendship for another woman. 'This just can't be. I've been married before. I have sex with men, not women. This is just a momentary aberration,' she thought. Instead, she turned the hot water down and stood under the cold stream as long as she could stand it. Finally, she got out of the shower and, after drying off, went into the bedroom. 'Sam's neat and tidy, I have to admit,' Janet thought as she looked over the room. The towels and the swimsuit were both on chairs on the balcony. She heard voices out there and realized that Cassie and Sam were sitting on the balcony outside the living room door. Janet pulled on a pair of blue jeans and a white t-shirt and walked out on the balcony. The breeze was coming off the water and felt wonderful. Sam handed her a glass of wine which she quietly accepted. Sam asked, "So, anywhere in particular for dinner? There are plenty of good seafood places along the highway here." "Huh? What?" Janet dazed response caught Sam's attention but before she could ask about it, Janet said, "Anywhere , I guess. You've been here before. What's good?" "There are a lot of new places but Bud's Oyster Bar across the highway is good. We can walk over there. There's also a Winn-Dixie next to it and we can pick up some groceries for breakfasts and lunches at least," Sam said noticing that Janet wouldn't meet her eyes. "Sounds good to me," Janet said as she sipped her wine. "How 'bout you, honey?" Cassie was staring at the Gulf intently but managed to say, "Whatever." Sam groaned and then chuckled. Janet finally looked at Sam and smiled with her but said, "Young lady, I was hoping for a more definitive answer." Cassie turned to the adult women and said, "I don't really care, I'm starved!" Sam stood and grabbed the empty glass off the glass-topped table and led the way back into the living room. Janet drank the rest of her wine and went in. Cassie was the last to leave the balcony, setting the tone for the rest of the trip. As the three walked across the highway, Janet warned Cassie, "Remember to be careful if you ever cross this road by yourself, okay?" Cassie rolled her eyes and said, "Aw Mom, I'm not a little kid! I'll be okay." Janet wrapped an arm around Cassie's shoulder and gave her a half-hug, saying, "It's just that I love you and want you to be safe." Cassie couldn't stay in her seat in the restaurant, there was too much to look at. Fishing nets, ship warning lights, mounted fish, and other assorted nicknacks found in seafood restaurants. When she finally sat down with Sam and Janet, she was confused with all the choices, never having been in a restaurant of this type in her near-three years on Earth. Finally, she settled on the seafood platter after Sam recommended it. "It has a little bit of almost everything, Cass," she explained. Janet ordered the shrimp platter and Sam had the cajun yellow fin. When the food came, Cassie held up a fried ball of dough and asked, "What is this?" "Oh that's a hushpuppy. They're great!" Sam explained. Cassie didn't look too sure but, following Sam's example, she ate one. After a moment she exclaimed, "These ARE great! Can we get extra? I only got two." After paying the check, the three of them walked next door in the little plaza to the grocery store. They loaded a shopping cart with milk, soda, cold cuts, bread, snacks, and anything else they could think of for the condo. While heading back, Cassie asked about going for a swim. "Can I, mom? Please?" Janet shook her head and said, "I'm sorry sweetie, but I don't want you in the surf after dark. It's dangerous." "Aaaww! I'll be really careful!" the teenager declared. Sam intervened, "Why not use the pool? It's open until at least 10." By that time they were in the elevator and Cassie was amazed by the lights along the Mid-Bay Bridge to the west. Janet tapped her on the shoulder, "A-HEM! How does that sound?" "Wha..? Oh, the pool, well I guess it's alright," Cassie said. Once inside the condo, Janet said, "Go change while we put these things away." Before they were finished putting up the food, Cassie was back and ready to go. "Can I go now?" she pleaded. "Yes, but be careful. Do you want one of us to go with you?" Janet asked. Sam looked at her as Cassie said, "Weelll, I guess so, if you really want to." Sam touched Janet's arm and, catching the doctor's eye, said, "Go ahead, sweetheart. We'll probably just stay up here." "Okay! See you in a little while!" The whirlwind spun out the door with a whoop and dashed for the elevator. "Sam, was that wise?" Janet asked. In lieu of an answer, Sam led Janet to the balcony and pointed to the pool. They could easily see lots of young people and only a few adults down there. "She'll be fine and this will give her a chance to be with people her own age," Sam explained. "Now how about some more wine?" Janet nodded and went back to the kitchen saying "First things first, let me get the rest of the groceries put away." Soon enough, the two friends were sitting on chair and leaning forward on the railing. Sniffing the salty air, Sam said, "This brings back memories of family trips down here. I always loved this place." "It's beautiful," Janet admitted, "for a built-up tourist area. I always liked the rocky coasts of northern California. It's so peaceful there." They talked until Cassie came up from the pool. She sat with them for a while before yawning widely. "Someone is tired," Sam teased. Janet added, "No wonder, someone was too excited and hardly slept at all last night and only took a short nap on the plane." Cassie didn't respond to their jibes but did give in and kissed them both good night. Soon after Janet stretched, and covered her mouth as she yawned. "I guess I was a little excited last night too. I'm going to bed. Which side do you want?" "Dealer's choice," Sam responded. "I'm going in anyway, myself." After turning out the lights in the kitchen and living room, Janet entered the bedroom to see Sam pulling off her jeans. Again she stopped and just looked at the long, supple legs. Shaking her head, she asked, "Do you want air conditioning or the balcony door open for fresh air?" "Fresh air," Sam said unhesitatingly. Soon, they were both in their nightwear and lying under the covers. Janet listened to the distant sound of the surf, "I can understand why the New Agers record these sounds, it's so soothing." "Yeah, I will sleep great tonight," Sam responded. After some more idle chitchat, Sam drifted off and Janet lay awake recalling glimpses of Sam's bare flesh. 'Damn! I can't get her out of my head,' she thought. She also realized she was feeling aroused again. After tossing and turning several times, she gave in and rolled on her side away from Sam. She slipped her hand under her pajama bottoms and began to stroke herself. After a few minutes, she quietly came to images of Sam. Laying there listening to the surf, Janet felt confusion and a trace of fear. 'Am I becoming a lesbian? How could that be? I like men.' These thoughts and others chased each other through her mind until sleep claimed her. Behind her, Sam lay awake wondering. Janet wasn't quiet enough and her low moans woke up her bedmate. Sam knew exactly what had happened but she had no idea who the target of Janet's desires was. 'I may have to see about hooking her up,' the blonde thought before falling into a dream world where she and Janet chased each other's naked bodies on the beach, laughing. (c) John O'ConnerComments May Be Mailed Here