A Gift Of The Amazons 4

Questions

by John O'Connor

URL: http://area52hkh.net/asj/john/amazons04.php
Summary: Sam and Janet find there's a lot to learn while they begin to explore the Amazons' world

Themyscira - Day Two, morning

Janet opened her eyes and saw Sam's head pillowed on her breast. Running a couple of fingers through the silky golden hair, she smiled as she recalled the previous night.

'Must be something in the air,' she thought with a smile. 'That's the only explanation...'

She felt a tired tingle inside of her as she tried to count the number of orgasms she had enjoyed. She lost track early in the evening.

"Doesn't matter anyway," she muttered.

She could still taste Sam. Taste the long, wet, passionate kisses they traded between orgasms. Tasted the essence of the woman from the wonderfully long time they feasted on each other. 'It was almost like we had been choreographed,' the doctor thought.

Laying there holding her lover, Janet thought of the time they'd been together. It was less than a year since they had first made love in Florida. In that time, they had gone from best friends to lovers. After the initial intense, couldn't-keep-their-hands-off-each-other phase, they had fallen into a comfortable though still incredibly passionate relationship. They still desired each other intensely all the time. Janet knew Sam treasured their time together just as she did, whether they were making love, or just sitting on the couch getting caught up on the eternal paperwork of their jobs, or being a family with Cassie.

Janet smiled at the thought of her family. Because something said last night put it all in a new perspective for the young doctor. She hadn't dared to give any thought to her future with Sam. It was partially fear that this could all be gone tomorrow. But it was also just something they never seemed to get around to talking about, almost as if it were a given that they were together. The contradictory nature of this situation was not lost on Janet.

'But now,' Janet thought. Lifemates, Diana had called them. Janet realized she liked that. Just as the sound of the word lover when she and Sam had first begun their explorations of each other, lifemate sounded beautiful to her.

"My lifemate. My mate," she whispered as she stroked the short blond hair. "My love."

Janet had never felt the way she did about Sam. She never thought she would feel this way. While they had learned to control their passions, she found her emotions were more difficult. She loved the woman sleeping in her arms more than her own life. She knew it with every fiber of her being. And it seemed to grow everyday.

Laying there feeling Sam's heartbeat against her ribs, and Sam's soft exhalations on her breast, Janet could think of nowhere she'd rather be.

Unfortunately, the reverie was broken when Sam's watch beeped insistently from the bedside table. The blonde groaned and tried to burrow into Janet, causing the doctor to giggle.

"Time to get up, Sam," Janet said as she gently shook Sam's shoulder.

"Don' wanna," came the muffled response.

Just then, Janet's watch went off and Sam finally lifted and shook her head. Janet giggled again as the short blond hair tickled her bare skin, barely brushing her nipples. "Stop that! We have to get up," Janet protested.

"Wha...? Where... Oh yeah," Sam muttered. Then she glanced up and smiled, "Good morning, Beautiful!"

"So, do you want to clean up first?" Janet offered.

"Uh, yeah. I suppose so."

Sam crawled off the bed and stood naked in the morning light. Janet looked up at her lover. "God, you are so beautiful," she said as she reached towards Sam. Then she said, "Go. Get cleaned up before I pull you back here and ravish your body..."

"Ooo. Sounds like an offer?" Janet shook her head determinedly. "Okay. Wanna join me? Save water, bathe with a friend?"

Janet again shook her head, "No. We'd never get out of here. It's not like we can call in sick..."

"That was fun," Sam said, remembering the day several months before.

It was before the holidays while Sam still had her own place. She slept with Janet the night before, as she had so often since their return from Florida months before. Neither she or Janet had any pressing duties and they both called in sick, Janet on her phone and Sam on her cell phone several minutes later.

"We did have fun after you got Cass off to school," Sam said.

"Sam?" Sam turned to see Janet with a look of concern on her face.

"What, sweetie?"

"Do you think Cassie's okay?"

"She's with Jack. And I'm sure Daniel's close by too. She's probably having a blast! Why?"

Janet shook her head, "It's nothing. Just that I have only been off world a handful of times since I took her in."

Sam laughed, "Janet, you've only been off world a handful of times period!"

"What if she takes up fishing?" Janet said, pleased at the quick flash of fear in Sam's eyes.

"No, no. He wouldn't do that... Would he?"

"Sam, it's still winter. Where would they go?" Janet laughed and Sam realized she was being kidded.

"Besides, he's probably planted in front of his TV with ESPN or something," Janet added. "Now, go get cleaned up or I'll go!"

Sam considered the woman before her. "Maybe you better go first. You've got a bad case of bed hair..."

Janet looked in a nearby wall mirror and squeaked at the sight of her hair looking like a Hallowe'en fright wig. She jumped up and ran for the bathroom. Sam's laughter (and admiring eyes) followed her nude figure out of the bedroom.

Jack O'Neill's house - Day Two, evening

Jack O'Neill rocked back on the couch, roaring with laughter. "These guys kill me!" he declared.

Sitting in Jack's family room that evening were three people closer to him than most of the rest of the world, Daniel Jackson, Teal'c, and their young guest.

Daniel smiled slightly. He was not a big Three Stooges fan but he did find Jack amusing when he let go. Teal'c, sitting in one of the recliners merely raised an eyebrow at the strange actions of his friend.

The guest of honor, Cassandra Fraiser, was definitely puzzled. What was so funny about the antics of three strange looking guys on TV?

"Jack?"

"Yeah, Cass," Jack replied, wiping his eyes.

"Why is the bald guy called Curly? Shouldn't that be the other guy?" the teenager asked.

"No, that's Larry. See, Curly's name is a joke because he doesn't have any hair," Jack explained badly. Then he looked at Teal'c and asked, "Right, Curly?"

Teal'c raised his eyebrow again and regarded Jack much like an entomologist would look at an interesting species of bug.

"Okay, I guess I see. But why are these guys funny?" Cassie asked.

"What is it with women and the Stooges?" Jack cried in exasperation.

Themyscira - Day Two

Soon, Janet returned wrapped in a sheer white robe and said, "Your turn." Her hair was hanging wetly as she toweled part of it.

Sam looked at her a moment longer before heading for the bathroom herself.

Later, they headed for the diner, as Sam jokingly called it. Janet's hair was still damp so she left it hanging loose around her face rather than pinning it up as she did while on duty in the Mountain. Sam definitely liked it loose.

Stepping into the low white building, they saw several members of SG-13 sitting at a large table. Janet led the way to the serving area and she and Sam were given platters with a wide variety of foods piled on top. Taking a mug of spicy tea each, they joined their crew.

Unconsciously taking roll, Sam saw Captain Harding, Commander Davis, and Lieutenant Cavanaugh, as well as Jennifer Crue were present. 'Mainly our marine, and senior officers,' she mused as the other civilian, Ashley Rand came in. Sam knew she couldn't say anything this morning since she had not specified when they should get together, an oversight she wouldn't let recur.

Sam considered the make up of her team. Liz Harding was a tall blond, her long hair usually pinned up much like Janet's while on duty. Marcy Davis was graced with a fiery mass of red curls but without the typical pale complexion most redheads seemed to share. Their sole Marine representative, Mavis Cavanaugh, was a tall black woman with striking features. Jennifer Crue was the shortest one on the team, even shorter than Janet. She was a relatively care-free girl with more than a trace of Hispanic blood from her mother's side, which might explain why she loved sociology. Ashley Rand was undoubtedly the most exotic, and arguably, the loveliest member with her Hong King/British mix giving her short, black hair and slightly almond-shaped, green eyes. Her father had been in the RAF and her mother was a nurse which did nothing to explain the woman's interest in engineering.

A chorus of good mornings circled the round table. As Sam dug into what looked like pink scramble eggs, she considered her team and what they needed to do. Thankfully, she and Janet had discussed some of this while they were going over personnel records. Sam's private briefing with Hammond had helped delineate goals for SG-13's mission as well.

Lieutenant Moore, the other African-American on the team, and Ensign Greene, a dark Mediterranean beauty, walked in shortly after Sam took her first bite of the spicy egg thing. 'Not bad,' she thought. She glanced at her lover to see Janet sniff the pink food before she tried it.

"C'mon Hawkeye, it'll put hair on your chest," Sam teased.

Janet smiled and put the food in her mouth. She looked at the questioning stares and realized no one else caught the reference to "M*A*S*H". 'God. How young was this crew?' she moaned internally.

"Well, when Lieutenant Morgan gets here, we'll get started. Any idea of how long she'll be, Lieutenant?" Sam asked Lieutenant Moore.

The young, black woman shook her head, her curly hair jiggling. Swallowing, she finally said, "No Ma'am. She was up and out before I was..."

Laughter jerked their attentions to the entrance. Walking in, Diana said something to the tardy officer and the girl blushed. She hurried over to the table when she realized her crew were all staring at her. Diana headed for the serving area.

"Uh, s-sorry, Major. I, uh, I got sidetracked this mor...I wanted to take a walk and got..."

"It's okay, Lieutenant. Don't worry about it," Janet said as Sam turned and looked at her.

"Janet..." The look in Janet's eyes stopped Sam from saying more, but she was going to have a word with her about who was in charge of this unit.

"Ladies, I hope you all slept well. Terri, I hope you like the pastries," Diana said as she joined the group, placing a platter before the still-flustered young girl.

As the group exchanged pleasantries and finished their breakfast, Sam thought about options to fulfill the parameters of the mission. Most of the women here did not specialize in any particular fields like she or Janet had. Only the civilians had any real specialization.

Diana started the discussion by saying, "Mother has asked me to inform you that we are entirely at your service. Anything you require, anywhere you wish to go, simply ask. Major?"

"Thank you, Diana. That takes care of my first few questions. I'd love to take a look at your technical centers. I'm sure Janet would love to see your medical facilities. As to the rest..."

"Uh, Major?" Terri Morgan raised her hand like a student, taking advantage of Sam's pause.

"Yes, Lieutenant?"

"Well, I was thinking... Since I studied... Maybe I could go through their library or whatever... I could, um, try to learn more about their, uh, history and..." Her voice trailed off as she stared at the half-eaten pastry before her.

"Good idea." Sam's encouraging tone caused the young woman to look up with a slight smile. "I like your initiative." Sam couldn't help but wonder why the poor girl was so introverted but quickly turned her attention back to the mission. She suddenly understood Janet's taking such a reassuring role with the woman. It brought back memories of Cassie's first days on Earth after the incredible trauma of seeing everyone she knew or cared about killed as pawns in a galactic chess match.

"Jennifer, you're a sociologist. Would you do your," Sam smiled, "sociology thing?"

The group all chuckled as the young woman nodded, her even, white teeth gleaming against her swarthy complexion.

Sam looked over at the other civilian, Ashley Rand. "Ashley, you have a grounding in electrical engineering..." Sam stopped at the collective groan from the table. "What? Oh. God, pun definitely not intended. Anyway, Ashley, perhaps you could check out their power facilities?" Smiling, the girl nodded, her almond-shaped eyes glinting with humor, her short-cropped head gleaming darkly in the bright morning light.

"Okay, anyone have any preferences?" Sam asked.

Within a short time, it was decided that Carla Greene, the young ensign, would check into the Amazons agriculture practices, having grown up in a small southern Illinois farming town. Mavis Cavanaugh, with her intensive Marine training, seemed a natural to look into their military and civilian defenses. Lieutenant Moore offered to look over the city's infrastructure, having some background in civil engineering. Marcy Davis would travel to the nearby port by hover, a natural for a Naval officer, to study their maritime practices. Elizabeth Harding, the young Air Force captain, would spend most of her time in the central governmental chambers, having experienced Senate life at her father's knee as a child.

Diana led them out of the dining chamber after calling for guides who had volunteered to escort their long-lost cousins around Themyscira.

Sam took a moment to take Terri Morgan aside for a little chat.

"Lieutenant, I was impressed when you spoke up at the table. You really helped get the ball rolling," Sam said.

The young woman looked down and muttered something.

"I'm sorry? What was that?" Sam asked.

"I, uh, I said I hope I don't, um, disappoint you, Major," the brunette said in a quiet voice.

"To be honest, I was ready for that. Janet, Doctor Fraiser, urged me to bring you on this mission. So far, you've done pretty well." Sam paused and smiled as she added, "For a raw rookie."

Terri grinned and glanced at Janet. "She did? I didn't even know she knew me..."

"Janet knows everyone in the SGC. And most of the NORAD people upstairs," Sam said, missing the look in the girl's eyes.

The group separated to investigate this unusual world. Sam stopped Janet and Jennifer Crue.

"Sam, if this is about earlier at the table..." Janet began.

"No, Janet. I was going to say something but I know you would never step out of line. Forget about it. But do me a favor please. If you get a chance, find out where the men are. This seems pretty weird," Sam said. "You too, Jennifer. See what you both can find out."

"Way ahead of you, Sam," Janet smiled. "I'll try and get a look at medical records and anything else I can get my hands on."

"Major, I presume you want us to be discrete?" Jennifer asked.

"Yes, please. No need to antagonize our hostesses with unwanted questions. The explanation could be something simple," Sam nodded. She smiled thinly, "Like a reverse Taliban..."

"But you don't think so..."

"No Janet. I really don't."

~~~

Late afternoon found Janet sitting on a bench in the courtyard near the fountain. She had found out some amazing things and couldn't wait to tell Sam. It could be the break through they had been looking for in the war against the Goa'uld.

Wrapped up in her thoughts, Janet didn't see Terri Morgan come up until the girl cleared her throat.

"Oh, Terri. Hi. Have a good day?"

The girl adjusted her rimless glasses as she nodded. "Uh, Doctor, can I sit down?"

"Of course. Is something bothering you? Tell me what it is," Janet urged her.

Terri looked at Janet. Then she leaned over and kissed her, the girl's tongue thrusting into Janet's mouth. Stunned for a moment, Janet accepted the kiss before pushing the girl away.

"Terri...I, uh, I don't think..."

"Oh God!" Terri cried as she started to rise. Janet grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to the bench. "No, please, let me go. I'm sorry. I..."

"Terri, calm down. Just take it easy. Why did... What's..."

The young girl buried her face in her hands, sobs shaking her thin frame. Janet wrapped her arms around the woman and comforted her until her tears slowed and finally stopped.

"Are you okay?" Terri nodded. "Want to talk about it?" The brunette nodded again. "Well, good thing I'm a good listener," Janet said with a gentle smile.

"I'm sorry, Doctor. You're just so nice and Major Carter told me you requested I go on this mission and I have these feelings... Oh God! I didn't mean..."

Janet, knowing full well how the military thought about such things, had caught the partial admission. "Terri, don't worry. I don't care about that. Alright? I'm actually flattered that you find me attractive but...I'm already spoken for."

Terri looked up at Janet through tear-stained glasses. "You won't...?" Janet shook her head.

"You want to talk about that?"

"I don't want to get into trouble..." Terri said. She saw friendship and understanding in those gorgeous brown eyes and knew she could talk to this woman. "I've always been more interested in girls than boys, I guess. I used to sneak peaks at my brother's 'Playboy' and 'Penthouse' when I was a teenager. Once I got into ROTC, I had to try to ignore my feelings. I've been pretty good about it too. Most people just think I'm shy and leave it at that. When we got here, and seeing all these beautiful women... And then Major Carter told me you went out of your way to help me... Well, I guess I assumed too much." Terri stopped, smiling sheepishly.

"Terri, I am flattered. But I think, if you want to explore that part of yourself, there is a beautiful woman here who is more than a little interested in you," Janet said.

"Who? Diana? But she's... And I'm just a..."

"Terri, she is interested. Don't question it. And don't sell yourself short. You're a beautiful, intelligent young woman. Okay?"

"So, if I did..." Terri hesitated. "If Diana is interested, would it be...? What if someone finds out?"

"Terri, just go. I'll talk to Sam and we'll... Well, we'll cover for you. Now go wash your face. Can't let a princess see you all weepy, can we?" Janet joked.

Terri shook her head, a huge grin plastered on her face as she headed for her quarters.

~~~

After the team had eaten, Sam called everyone together in the front room of the quarters she shared with Janet.

"Before I begin, I have an idea. Since we have two civilians here and Janet and I are pretty informal anyway, how about we dispense with the formal ranks while we're here? Any objections?" Sam asked. She scanned the faces of the other officers and only detected a trace of concern in the Marine's visage. "Lieutenant Greene?"

"No, ma'am. I guess it'll just take some getting used to..."

"Alright then. Just call us Sam and Janet. Okay?"

Nods all around the room showed everyone's willingness to drop the formal designations.

"Okay, anyone have anything to report yet? If you'd rather wait until you've had more time, by all means wait. We've only been here a day..."

Marcy Davis cleared her throat, "Uh, Maj-...I mean Sam? I'd like to request a chance to sail with the crew of one of their runabouts. It'd be a four-day trip to one of their island research stations and back. I think it'd give me a better understanding of how their maritime operations work."

"Sounds okay to me. If you have any qualms, don't hesitate to tell me though. That goes for any of you. Yes, Mavis?" Sam acknowledged the suddenly interested Marine.

"Marcy, is this a military ship?"

"Well, more like a combination merchant marine/coast guard but, yeah, I guess so."

"Sam, request permission to accompany Marcy?"

Sam nodded, quietly relieved that they'd be paired like a buddy system. "Yes, I like that idea. Matter of fact, if anyone wants to go on any far-ranging trip of any kind, I'd feel more comfortable if another of us was along. At least until I feel... Well, until I... Well, those of you with off world experience understand," Sam said. The two civilians nodded.

"Okay, anyone else have anything? Terri?"

The youngest member of the team fidgeted and cleared her throat. "Well, I haven't really had a lot of time to... There's a lot in their library and it might take some time to go through it all but..." Terri took off her glasses, breathed on the lenses and began to polish them.

As Sam was about to move on, Terri quickly said, "There is one thing...the mythology and literature is not only Greek. There are large mixes of Roman, Egyptian, Norse, Mayan, and some groups I'm not familiar with...well, not yet." The last was said quietly, like a personal dare.

"What do you mean?" Jennifer asked.

"I think the Amazons had other peoples brought here after they were first left on this planet..." Terri offered. "But, I need to do more research. There's just so much to go through."

Jennifer nodded, "That might explain some of the things I've noticed. Mind you, I'm no expert on archaeology or architecture but my brother loved it and some rubbed off... There seem to be traces of non-Greek influences in the buildings and statuary. What Terri said could explain that."

Sam nodded, "Good. Keep digging. Jennifer, any ideas on what we have to offer these people? Presuming they have something worth trading."

"They do," Janet said, clearly anxious to say her piece. But she held her hand up in acknowledgment of the fact that she had agreed with Sam to let the others talk first, as a teamwork/morale booster.

"I'm not sure, yet, Major. Uh, Sam," Jennifer smiled, catching her slip.

Carla Greene raised her hand, "I don't know that they have all that much agriculturally over us. But, I haven't really had much chance to look things over."

Sam nodded and looked at Allison Moore and Elizabeth Harding. The Air Force officers both shrugged. Allison then said, "The infrastructure is well-concealed. I need to get into the bowels of the city to really assess anything. They are very concerned with the esthetic affect of their structures though."

Liz Harding said, "Their council wasn't in session today. I think they'll convene tomorrow, possibly the day after. It is a definite matriarchal society. The queen, Hippolyta, is a cross between a figurehead like Elizabeth II and a prime minister. She does derive her position from her bloodline but can be removed, and one of her daughters put in place, if it is deemed necessary by the council. The council seems to have most of the political power. Sort of an adaption of Plato's ideas."

"Thank you, ladies. Ashley? Anything to report yet?" Sam didn't want to push, knowing engineers didn't like to commit to much too early, but she did want everyone in on the discussion.

"Well, the propulsion system on the hovers seems pretty straight forward. Just angled air blasts like the Channel hovercraft." Some blank looks caused her to add, "In England? You know, across the Pond?" The blank looks were replaced by self-deprecating chuckles and she continued. "The hover capability itself...well, I need more time."

"Okay, that's why we're here for a couple of weeks. At least we don't have to camp out..." Sam smiled. "As for myself, I'm going to one of their solar farms tomorrow. From what I've discovered so far, they can generate enough energy to power this city for a month from a single day of clear skies. Between their high capacity solar cells and the storage batteries I was told about, they haven't had anything remotely like a black or brownout in centuries... I guess we'll be working together a little, Ashley."

"I look forward to it, Major. Uh, I mean, Sam," the young woman said smiling.

Sam looked around, specifically ignoring Janet just to irk her love, "Anything else? Anyone have anything to add?"

Janet practically leapt off the couch, "Yes! I do!"

Sam smiled. Janet was only this eager when it was something monumentally important, or when they were passionate. "Yes, Janet. I know you've been restraining yourself. Go ahead."

"I think I found... Wait, let me start at the beginning. I was in the Amazon's main medical facility here in the city. Their chief scientist, Paula, showed me around. Half the equipment they use, I don't recognize. Well, not yet." She smiled, her eyes promising she would know everything before she left the planet.

"Some passing comment by one of the researchers caught my attention. She said something about her daughter finally learning how their ancestors stopped the Snakes long ago. The Snakes are a reference to the Goa'uld. I asked Paula and what she told me..."

Janet was on her feet, pacing in her excitement. "She told me how they defeated the Goa'uld and ensured they'd never be back. And...

"Paula said it could work for us too!"

Next: Some Answers