X-treme Convention 
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.

Part 3

"Ms. Reese, in episode 105, you were out of phase and
could pass through walls and doors.  What kept you
from falling through the floor?"
Yolanda Reese squinted into the darkened audience at
the questioner then nodded, "I was wondering how long
it would take until that question was asked..."  The
audience chuckled along with her.
She walked across the stage, decorated with a fake
Ring and some other props making it look like some
alien lab.  All the props had been supplied by Bridge
Studios.  The production people were really making an
effort to make the con memorable.
"To tell you the truth, I don't know.  I asked and
they told me they'd get back to me and here we are. 
Now, Major Monroe would have some gobbledy-gook answer
involving dimensional ratios or some such garbage but
I'm just not sure.
"Next question?"
"Yes, I was wondering..."  A young brunette stood near
the front and took the proffered microphone, "What's
the relationship between you and Doctor Cole?  In a
very short time, you two seem to be very close."
"Me?  Or Monroe?" Yolanda asked with a smile.
"Uh, Monroe, of course," the girl answered with a
small giggle.
"Well, Stacy and Lucy are colleagues.  Best friends I
suppose.  It's not been said in the studio but I'm
hopeful there will be more developments in the next
season."
From the back came a shout, "Are they lovers?"
"Uh, well...I don't know if...the network, even a
cable one, is ready for that."
"What about Xena and Gaby?" came another shout.
"Please.  I'm happy you're all so into the show, but
can we stick to the method we've been using?  It's
worked pretty well the past day and a half.  Okay?
"Now, before I go on to the next question, I suppose I
need to talk about this.
"The show is about humans exploring the universe, not
their libidos...  Well, except for, maybe, Colonel
Danning."  The crowd laughs.  "I wouldn't mind if
Stacey got some action but I don't think it'll be with
the good doctor.  Okay, next question?"
The Q&A session went on for another forty minutes.
Sam's mind wandered back to the evening before.  
* * *
After walking in and seeing her best friend cuddling
with the woman on the stage, she had gone to the
Turtle and parked herself at the bar, drinking for
several hours.
Around 8, Sam left the Turtle, went to the restroom
right outside and splashed water on her face.  Then
she headed towards the other end of the hotel where
the con was going on.  She had promised Cassie she'd
be there for the cocktail party.
When she got to the rooms, there were already a lot of
people inside.  She moved into the room, went to one
of the mini-bars set up and got a beer then went in
search of her friends.
"Sam!  Over here!"
Sam looked and saw Cass with her new friends.  "Hey,
Short Stuff!  You been having fun?"
"Oh yeah!  This is great!  I'm having a blast.  I'm so
glad you and Mom brought me."
Sam returned the teenager's hug as she greeted Jim,
Krista and Mina.  Looking around, she saw one of the
twins looking at some props on display near the back
wall and the other looking over the various displays
of hors d'oerves.
'How do they tell which one is which?' Sam thought.
"You seen Mom?" Cassie asked.
Sam started then shook her head, "No.  Not recently." 
At least that wasn't a lie.  It had been several hours
since she'd seen the lovely nude backside of her best
friend in bed with another woman.
Lovely?  Did she just think of Janet's ass as lovely?
Before Sam's thoughts got any more confused, Jim
asked, "So Sam, you a football fan?"
"Uh, what?  Football?  A little I guess."  Sam shook
her head, "Sorry, you caught me offguard.  Yeah, I
like football.  Not a rabid fan or anything."
"Any particular team?  Broncos or someone else?"
"I guess if there's any team I would root for it's the
Redskins since I lived in the DC area for several
years."  Sam smiled, "Lemme guess, you're a Packer
fan?"
"What gave me away?" Jim laughed.
Krista snickered, "Might be the Green Bay pin, the
Packers lanyard, all the damned shirts...
"At least he left the Cheesehead hat at home," she
said to Sam.
"What about you Krista?"
"Me?  Lifelong Packer fan.  Since before Jimbo here
even moved to Green Bay.  His family came to town
from..." she shuddered exaggeratedly, "Minneapolis. 
Damned Vikings.  I had to take him under my wing in
grade school and teach him what he needed to know so
he wouldn't get his ass kicked."
"She did a great job," Jim added.  "Thanks to her, I
live, eat, and breathe the Pack during football
season."
Sam smiled and decided this party would be fun after
all.
About an hour later, Cass said, "Sam!  Look!  Mom's
here..."
Sam looked up to see Yolanda Reese coming in behind
her friend.
"Holy shit!  That's Yolanda Reese!"
"Cassandra!" Sam said sharply.
"Sorry," the teen replied in a small voice.  "It's
just that..."
"That's okay.  Hey, I'm going to the ladies room. I'll
see you guys later."
Sam left through another door.  She wasn't ready to
deal with the concept of Janet having sex with a
woman.  And she definitely wasn't ready to see that
woman either. 
She found herself in Bartholomew's watching hockey
news on the big screen TV and drinking some excellent
single malt scotch.
After about an hour, Janet came in, looking worried,
"Sam?!?  Where have you been?  I tried to call you
earlier but..."
"I guess I turned muh phone off.  Sorry."
"Are you drunk?"
"Not yet.  Mebbe soon."  Sam rubbed her eyes,
"Oops...mebbe I yam..."
"Come with me.  We're going to get you food and some
non-alcoholic beverages.  I don't want Cassie to see
you like this."
"Cass..." Sam hadn't considered the teen seeing her
plastered.  "Oh God."
"Sam, what is the problem?  What's wrong?"
"Nuthin's wrong, Jan."
Janet looked as Sam, she knew the woman beside her and
knew she'd talk when she was ready.  "Okay.  Let's
just go and get some dinner."
"A’righty," Sam replied as she slid off the stool. 
"Thanks Jenny," she said to the bartender, leaving two
loons on the bar.
"Four dollars for a tip?"
"She's good," Sam smiled, winking.
Janet rolled her eyes.  "Okay, the car's out here.
We're going for a drive then, when your head's
clearer, we're eating."
On the way out, Sam said, "I talked to the man'ger at
th' Tur'le earlier.  She's not related to wha's-her
name.  But everyone keeps asking."  Sam looked at
Janet hard, "Ya know?  You kinna look like her too..."
Later, when Sam's head was slowly pounding, they
returned to the room.  She had eaten and kept the food
down, the Gatorade Janet made her drink helped
rehydrate her and the aspirin seemed to keep her head
from being too painful.
But when it came time to go to bed, Sam stared at the
other bed.  The one Janet and Yolanda Reese had
shared.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing."
Sam sat on her bed and held her head in her hands.
"Janet?" she muttered between her fingers. 
"Yes?"
"I'm...I'm sorry.  Thank you.  I don't deserve you.
I'm a rotten friend."
Janet laughed, "Yeah, you got that right!"  Then,
seeing Sam was serious, she said, "Sam, there's
something wrong.  I know you.  You can tell me.  But I
also know you enough to know you'll tell me when
you're ready.  Just go to sleep.  We'll get breakfast
tomorrow and go from there."
"You are a good friend.  You're my best friend."  Sam
stood, holding her head - sudden movements were the
only real time she felt the pain - and hugged the
shorter brunette.  "I love you."
"Sam, let's get some sleep.  Cassie will be along
bright and early for breakfast."
Sam lay down but, even with all the alcohol she had
consumed, did not fall asleep.
* * *
Back to the here and now, Sam looked up and saw the
stage emcee, a British fan with his own X-treme
costume, come out to thank Yolanda and to introduce
the next guest, Doug Anderson.
Sam whispered to Cassie, "I'm going to out for a bit.
You gonna be okay?"
"Sure, I'll hang with Ashley, Allie, and Mina.  That
okay?"
Sam patted her leg and quietly left the room.  She
wanted to see Janet and, if she got the nerve, ask
about what she'd seen the afternoon before.  But,
before she had a chance, she came face to face with
Yolanda Reese.
"Oh, excuse me!" Sam said as she tried to get out of
the star's way.  Up close, she could see why Jack
O'Neill kept going on about her after he returned from
Bridge Studios.  And why Janet...
"No, it's my fault.  You must be Sam.  Janet told me
about you.  You both work with Jack O'Neill at NORAD?"
"Uh, yeah.  We do.  He's my C.O."
"Must be nice to get out of uniform for a change,"
Yolanda said with a smile.
"For you too," Sam replied.
"I'd love a chance to chat with you.  Maybe we could
meet later?  There's the Foggy Dew next door?"
"Uh, well...I guess so."
"Great!  How 'bout six?"
"Okay, sounds good."  What was she doing?  Meeting her
best friend's...  What?  Lover?  For drinks?
"I may be a little late, depends on how the autograph
session runs."
"I understand," Sam nodded.  "See y...see you then."
* * * * * *
As Sam made her way to the room, her thoughts were a
jumble.  She still couldn't get the image of Janet
lying naked on their bed.  In the arms of a TV star. 
A female TV star.  
And her mind's eye kept focusing on the doctor's
nicely curved, bare ass.
Now, less than twenty-four hours later, she was
meeting the female TV star for drinks.  Was the woman
a player?  If she hit on Sam, that'd be the only
explanation.
And what made her think this actress was going to hit
on her?  Maybe the woman wanted to know more about
Janet...  Or Jack?
As she fumbled with her key card, Sam wondered for the
umpteenth time why she came up here in the first
place.  She could be home, safely working in her lab
and getting a lot more relaxation than she had
since...  Well, since yesterday afternoon.
* * * * * *
Janet walked down the corridor outside the dealer's
room, glancing inside quickly.  She was sure Sam was
somewhere around.
Entering the room, she saw several people at the
various tables looking over the various stills and
other "Wormhole X-Treme" merchandise.
There was a table with various free US Air Force items
available, lanyards, keychains, pins...  She grabbed
some lanyards to replace the strings around their
necks that held their con badges.
Across the way, she saw a table covered with stuffed
animals.  She'd noticed this before and was curious
what the deal was.
Going over, she saw the table was staffed by four
young women in lab coats and fatigues with some
homemade badges.  Two wore camo floppy hats decorated
with small stuffed animals.
"Hi!  Wanna adopt a stuffy?" said a girl with AJ on
her name tag.
"I guess.  What's it all for?"
"Michelle Charters," the girl started then sighed
dramatically, "is a big fan of stuffed animals.  So,
in her honor we decided to start collecting them to
give to area children's hospitals and children's
wards."
"What a great idea!" Janet said.  "So, what do I have
to do?"
"Here, just fill this out and for a modest fee, you're
name is attached to one of these poor 'homeless'
stuffies.  Kim?  You have those extra tags?"
Another young woman looked up from a smaller table
behind the big table, "Almost.  Just putting the last
stamps on them."
"Or," another of the 'medics' whose badge said
Shatterpath interjected, "you can bring your own
stuffies.  The more the merrier.  They just have to be
new - no hand-me-downs or anything."
Janet nodded, she understood the need to avoid the
potential sanitary problems with old, used toys.
"I think I'll do both."
"Great!" a young redhead whose tag read Kat replied
happily.  "It's all tax free.  We can even give you a
receipt for your own taxes if you'd like."
"And, I have a few friends somewhere around here that
I may have to coerce into this too."
"That's fantastic.  We'll take any and all help," Kim
said, waving an ink stamp dramatically.
After leaving the Stuffy Guard table, Janet went to
another and looked at some 8x10 shots of Lannie.  The
woman had been such a help to her, both for the
physical release (Janet blushed slightly at her own
thoughts), but even moreso at listening.  Even though
nothing was resolved, Janet felt so much better after
getting all that off her chest.
Definitely getting a picture of hers signed. 
A young couple came up to the table to look at some of
the other pictures.  From the slight accent, Janet was
sure they were from the southern Midwest.
"John, is Nick Marlowe gonna be here?"
"No. Sorry, Trace.  He doesn't do cons.  But Doug
Anderson is and I think Raymond Gunne will be too."
Janet glanced at them out of the corner of her eye.
She'd seen them around the con.  Young and in love.
She sighed inwardly, she really missed that.
As she moved on, she heard Trace say, "John!  Why do
want a signed picture of that...woman?"  
Looking back, she saw he was holding a black and white
of Michelle Charters.
"Tracy, why do you want one of Marlowe?" her boyfriend
countered.  They both laughed at themselves and Janet
walked on, a more audible sigh coming from her this
time.
Down the side corridor to the Minori Rooms, she saw
Cassie and her new friends.  "He-ey!  Having fun?"
"Yeah, Mom.  Thanks a lot.  This is so cool."
"Seen our favorite major around?"
"She took off after Yolanda Reese was on.  Said she
was going out for a bit.  Want me to call her?"  Cass
held up her cell.
Janet shook her head, "No, it's not that important.
Just curious."
"Okay.  We're gonna go grab something to eat then get
in the autograph line.  We missed lunch."  Cass
started to move away then stopped, "Wanna join us?"
"No.  Go have fun.  We'll meet up for the dinner
later. Okay?"
"Yeah.  Uh, Mom?  Can I bid on something in the
auction tomorrow night?"
"Got any money?" Janet teased.
"Uh, about thirty dollars..." Cassie replied in a
quiet voice.
"Thirty?!?  We gave you almost a hundred yesterday.
Did you go to the mall again?"
"NO!  But the stuffed animal collection..."  Cassie
motioned towards the dealer room.  
From where they stood, they could see the Stuffy Guard
table.  The young couple Janet had seen a few moments
before were there now.  Apparently John had done
something good as Tracy had her arms wrapped around
him.  Janet had to smile at the scene.
"Never mind.  We'll discuss it later."  Janet knew
she'd never bring it up except to tell Cassie how
proud the girl made her.  "Go eat.  If you see Sam,
just tell her I'll see her later."
"Okay, cool."
Janet gazed in the small, glassed-in room where the
auction items were on display.  There were props,
signed photos, signed scripts, and even signed uniform
items.  What in particular did her daughter have her
eye on?
"Excuse me," came from behind her.
Janet turned to see a young woman about her height
with an armload trying to juggle a key.  
"Can I help?"
"Oh great!  Thanks.  If you can just hold this plaque
and..."  The girl, her name tag said Michelle, handed
Janet a couple of items and managed to unlock the door
to the display room.  Turning around, Janet saw she
had a Marine Corps lanyard for her badges and a
baseball cap from the Make-A-Wish foundation.
"Thanks a lot."
"Michelle, are all these for the auction tomorrow?"
"No.  There's a series of silent auctions through out
the con.  There are sheets over there for silent
auctions."
Janet went over and looked at the sheets.  Several had
bids from Cassandra for signed collectors cards and
other memorabilia.
Remembering how much Kim had wanted a 'real' phaser,
she began to understand Cassie's fascination.
Then, smiling, she considered she had her own personal
souvenir of the weekend.  Just needed to get a picture
signed.
Then, whistling tunelessly, Janet went off to the mall
to pick up some stuffed animals too.
* * * * * *
Sam sat at the Foggy Dew's bar nursing a pint of
Canadian.  She still wasn't sure why she was here.
What if this Reese is a player?  What if the
actress...?
Sam glanced up and knew she'd soon find out.  Yolanda
Reese walked in and waved.
"Hi, Sam.  I can call you Sam?"
"Hi yourself.  Sam is fine."
"Please, call me Lannie.  All my friends do.  So what
are you drinking?"  
"Canadian draft," Sam said.
"Sounds good."
After getting her draft, Lannie suggested they sit at
a booth.  Sam agreed and they moved away from the
small early evening crowd.
"This place can get busy in the evenings but it's
early yet," Lannie said. "So, how's the con been for
you?  Enjoying yourself?"
Sam nodded, "Well, I...  To be honest, I was curious
more because of Jack O'Neill's involvement in the
early days...  I don't really watch the show or..."
"Yeah, I know what you mean.  If I wasn't on it, I
don't know if I'd bother.  We're trying to change
that...  You know, make the show more serious.  It's
kinda goofy now."
Sam smiled. "And jiggly."
"Yeah, they do like scantily dressed alien women..." 
Lannie smiled and nodded her head, "Not that I'm
complaining."
Sam looked up sharply, surprised at the woman’s
openness.
"It's no big secret up here.  I've been out for a
couple of years now.  In a place like Vancouver,
there's not a lot of room to stay in the closet if you
like going out and doing things."
"Oh, I see.  Is that why your response to an early
question was so ambiguous?"
"Yeah, I'd like to open the doors to gays on TV.  It
helps in the real world.  That's not a problem is it?"
"No.  Not for me.  I really don't care what someone
does or who they...  As long as it works for you – and
no one gets hurt - that's all that matters."
"Thank you," Lannie said in a quiet voice as she
placed her hand on Sam's arm.  She smiled and withdrew
when she felt the blonde stiffen slightly.
"I'm sorry.  I'm not trying to come on to you.  Not
that I wouldn't love to see..."  Lannie shook her
head, "Sorry.  Sometimes I don't think before I talk."
Sam managed a weak smile, "That's okay.  I know what
you mean."
"Okay, cards on the table.  Sam, I think you are a
beautiful, sexy woman.  I would love to ravish you
within an inch of your life.  But..."
Sam waited silently, secretly pleased that this woman
desired her.
Before more could be said, a waitress came up, "Need
anything?"
Sam nodded, "Two more please."
"Thanks, Sam."
"My pleasure, Lannie.  So, uh, you left off at a
'but'?"
"I know you were in the room after Janet and I..."
"What?" Sam sputtered, somehow, amazingly, without
spewing any of her beer.
"I saw you in the mirror.  I waited to see what you
would do.  I guess I didn't expect you to just walk
out..."
"Did you expect me to join you?" Sam asked, an angry
subtone in her voice.
"No.  Not that it wouldn't have been fun, but no.  I
expected you to scream or yell or...  I don't really
know what."
"Sorry I disappointed you!"
"Not at all.  But I wanted to talk to you about
this...thing.  Janet and I...we met here early
yesterday.  We got to talking and eventually you came
up in her conversation.  Meanwhile, my gaydar was
pinging big time.
"I took a chance and we had a wonderful, fun,
one-time-only romp."  Seeing the angry look on Sam's
face, Lannie held up her hand, "I didn't take
advantage of her, if that's what you're thinking.  We
both knew, at the time, that it was a one-time thing. 
That doesn't make it any less important to me.  
"If things were different, I could easily fall in love
with Janet.  But, our careers - especially yours, our
homes, just about everything says no."
"Okay.  So your point is that you and Janet had a
one-night...or afternoon stand.  And that means what
to me?"
"Sam, you really have no idea?"  Sam just looked at
the other woman.  "She's in love with you."
"Wh...what?" Sam asked in a whisper.
"Yesterday, when we...  She called out to you. Twice."
"I...I'm sorry..."
Lannie smiled, "No, it's okay.  We talked for a while
afterwards.  She really does love you.  I was just a
convenient..."
"She loves me?"
Lannie smiled the smile that had legions of fans at
her feet.  "Yes."
"But, I never even knew she...  I'm not that way..."
"Maybe not.  But Sam, I think everyone, even my
ultra-macho costar, is bi to one degree or another.
"Regardless, what Janet and I had was special.  But
what you have is even more special.  A thousand times
more special.  You have her heart." 
Sam sat there speechless. Lannie sat quietly,
wondering if she had helped or hurt the relationship
between these two beautiful women.
Finally, she glanced at her watch and said, "Sam, I'm
sorry if anything I said upset you.  That was not my
intention.  Not at all.  And please don't blame Janet
for anything.  She'd probably kill me if she knew what
I told you.
"I have to go.  I want to freshen up before the
banquet tonight.  I..."  Lannie stood up, "Maybe I'll
see you there.  Thanks for the beer."
Sam nodded, her face expressionless as Lannie made her
way out of the bar.
A few moments later the waitress came over with a new
pint, "She ordered it for you."
"Thank you," Sam managed to say.
"Is...is everything okay?"
"I don't know..."  Sam shook her head.
 (c) John O'Conner
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