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After stepping back through the gate and handing over the cure for the Ori plague, Janet wasted no time making her way home. She trusted her colleagues to take over the task of distributing the cure. Besides, the General had readily dismissed her when she told him what she had experienced the past few days.
The trip to another reality had been eye opening. It had been very lucky they ended up in a reality where they could get a cure for the illness that was plaguing the planet, and being away on mission she always tried to focus on the task at hand. But. being in a world where she no longer existed and seeing what that had done to the people she held dear, had been devastating. A part of her had wished she could stay and be there for them. For Cassie who had lost another mother. And for Sam. They had only met briefly and had only been able to exchange a quick hug and a few small words. It hadn’t felt enough, because in those moments she felt Sam's grief, it was evident in the way she had held on just a second too long, as if letting go meant losing her all over again.
Janet har tried to reassure her that in another reality she gets to be happy. But she wasn’t certain the message had been properly understood. And then she had to leave.
It was unfair that in some realities the people she loved were not given happiness. It made her even more determined to make the best of her life here. In her reality. Where happiness wasn’t a lost moment, but still around. And she needed to go home and reassure herself that it was still real.
***
She pulled into the driveway and sat there for a moment longer than necessary. The house was quiet, dark except for a faint light from inside. Then she exhaled, pushed the door open, and stepped out.
Quietly, she made her way inside, easing the door shut behind her. The familiar stillness wrapped around her almost immediately. She felt her shoulders relax as she took in the unmistakable sense of home. It was definitely not something she could take for granted. Not something she could assume would always be there.
Padding down the hall she saw a stream of light coming from the bedroom. It made her smile, knowing she was close. Gently pushing the door open she saw them on the bed.
Sam looked up almost immediately and smiled. “Hey, stranger,” she said, her voice warm and a little tired.
Janet let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “Hey… how are we doing?” she asked, stepping closer.
She saw the baby shifting slightly against Sam’s chest, small and impossibly peaceful. Janet sat down beside them, her hand moving almost instinctively, gently stroking the baby’s back.
”I feel like I should be asking you,” Sam said, her eyes softening as she studied Janet more closely. There was something there, something melancholic, more wistful than usual.
Janet huffed out a quiet breath, something between a laugh and something heavier. “I’m… happy to finally be home.” Her voice wavered just slightly despite her best effort. As her fingers continued their gentle motion over the baby’s back, her eyes began to sting. The reassurance of the moment, the warmth, the quiet, the steady presence of the life she had, was almost overwhelming.
Sam’s expression shifted immediately. “Hey… honey. Tell me,” she said softly.
That was all it took. Janet swallowed, her hand still resting lightly against the baby as she tried to steady herself. And then she told her. Told her about the reality where she had never gotten to experience this. Where Cassie was abandoned again and where Sam was left alone.
Sam listened and took Janet’s hand before she spoke.
”I know it feels like you probably abandoned them again. But you’re home now. We are here. We are all safe and I know it’s little comfort but there are… theoretically infinite realitie and we can’t live in all of them. We can’t fix all of them.” Her thumb brushed lightly over Janet’s hand. “But we can be here. Now. Where we belong.”
”You’re right,” Janet said. ”I just… I missed you.”
Sam smiled, softer now. “We missed you too.” She shifted slightly, glancing down at the baby. “And someone else definitely did.”
Janet let out a quiet laugh, some of the tension finally easing as she rearranged herself more comfortably beside her.
“How is she?” she asked, her voice lighter now.
“Perfect,” Sam said without hesitation. “Obviously… Also loud. And demanding. And very opinionated already.”
Janet smiled, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to Sam’s lips.
“Sounds like someone I know, then.”
Sam raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
Janet just smiled, settling in beside her, her head resting lightly against Sam’s shoulder.
“We talked to Cassie earlier,” Sam added after a moment. “She aced her midterms. She said they were a big group of people that were going out to celebrate tonight. But Im sure you'd still have time to call her quickly if you want. It's still early there.”
”No, I'll be fine,” Janet said, settling in, "I'll call her tomorrow. Right now I just want to enjoy being here with you and our adorable little baby” she said, smiling and leaning in to give Sam another kiss.
”She is adorable isn’t she?” Sam smiled. ”You should have seen earlier today, when we had just had breakfast she did the cutest little thing…” Janet continued to listen to Sam telling her all about the day she had had. It was comforting hearing her voice and feeling her warm body against her own. She found herself finally completely relaxed. She was home.