O'NEILL* & CARTER AROUND THE LAKE

~ δ γ Δ √ ∞ ≡ ⃜ ℜ Å ≡ ℷ ~

ℷ

"I really miss not being able to go home to Minnesota."

"Sir, if the General knew you felt like that he'd probably schedule you in a weekend."

"Well its not that easy."

"Oh come on Sir, you know the General, his people come first. If he knew you really wanted to go home, he'd find a way to make it happen."

"I can wait. I was just saying. How about you, have you got any plans."

"Well my fathers put his dibs on my next leave. He said hes got some nice surprise in store. He won't let me in on it. I've got no idea where we're going but I think it might be off world somewhere."

"Yeah Jacob, hes a good man. He likes the adventurous outdoors. Sounds good."

"I'm hoping so. I actually look forward to our little trips away. Its nice to be able to spend time with him."

"Good on you."

"So you're definitely not leaving then. You won't be leaving .. ..The SGC?"

He remembered when he'd first looked at himself, Other self, right after discovering first hand Harlan's synthesising technology. The terrible failings of loss of self. Realising that all of himself was now an Other. That all of an Other was now himself. In the dark he fell apart. He felt a pain and it was sharp, sharp, sharp. The feeling, ouch, being blown up into many tiny pieces. Being turned into liquid and poured out over the side. Waking up in 'the cold of space' without a hook, a line or sinker. Sink me!!

Don't worry Carter, one of us isn't leaving. Just not this one. He had the semblance of sadness. He was looking across the lake at the oversized bonsai. He really wasn't trying to count their leaves, it only seemed as though he was. Cogito ergo sum.

"No I'm not leaving, I promise you.. ..I wouldn't leave you Carter."

We wouldn't leave you, either of you.

"Sir I just saw the water ripple over there."

And I also I heard every word you just said.

"Where?"

"Just over there."

He stood there scanning the dark waters. Life was good, well it was getting better. He was certain they'd be lakes like this on his new Home-World. He wished he could take Carter there to show her the raw beauty of the place. They really did need to come up with a name for their new planet, personalise the place.

He picked up a couple of flat stones from the water's edge, and threw them at the lake, dead weight.

"You know theres an art to that."

"To what?"

"To what you're doing."

"Really?"

"Yeah really."

"Show me then."

Carter went and stood next to him. She looked round the ground for exactly the right type of stone. She found what she wanted. Took the stance of a Venusian, and skilfully began skimming her selection across the lake's surface. "Three, ha excellent."

He was laughing at her. "Three, that's a wish for me. Oh so that's what you're doing."

"Of course it is, what are you doing?"

He launched his flat stone across the pools reflective angle. It was a good one. It hopped.. ..three, four, five, six.. ..plop.

"Ahh, I was just waking up the fish that's all."

"You're great at this."

"Practice. Minnesota Carter, theres lots of water there."

It really did sound like a wonderful tranquil place.

"Carter do you ever wish everything could just change?"

"Change? How Sir?"

"I don't know, just everything not be the same. Different."

"I don't know that's.. .. that's a difficult one. I'm not sure, I'd have to think about that one."

"How would you feel if you suddenly discovered you couldn't go back to The SGC. You couldn't go back to doing the things you've always done. How would that strike you?"

"What? What Sir, you mean if I was badly injured in battle?"

"No Carter I don't mean that! Nothing like that, don't even say that. I just mean.. ..I don't know, em, say they closed the mountain down or something."

"Something? Oh gosh Sir, I don't know. I've never ever thought about that. I know for a fact I'd find it very, very difficult. I don't know what I'd do with myself. I'd probably get reassigned, though to be truthful I don't think I'd be happy taking up a new assignment after this. It would just be.. ..they'd be no.. ..no comparison."

"Yeah I know what you mean. I know what you mean. Travelling the stars, the moons, the planets, suns.. ..it's a winner every time."

"Yeah, more than that Sir. Travelling up there, with the best group of friends you've ever had, Jack* it's a non topper!"

"I hear ya Carter. I hear you. That's what makes all the difference in the world. Ha, the Universe. Come on."

He was like a big kid showing a friend a secret hideout.

He began their slow stroll around the calm and pretty little lake.

"What kind of trees are those Sir?"

There was a thin forest of what looked like junior redwoods boxing off the north side of the lake from the rocky hillside behind.

"Don't know, but I bet you could build a great tree house up there."

"Something else you used to get up to in Minnesota?"

"Oh yeah, and not that long ago either."

That was funny, they were both laughing.

"So you're definitely not.. ..leaving?"

"No Sam. Everything's fine. Nothing to worry about. I was just asking.. ..that's all."

Making their way around the lake they passed by a small clump of bracken bushes. Major Carter caught her khaki pants on a spear of broken branch, ripping them from thigh to knee. "Ow. Oow!" She leapt back as the sharp end poked into the side of her leg. "Ouch." It scratched her.

The Colonel* rushed over and seeing her bending in pain hugging her leg, knelt down, brushed her hands away, and began examining her.

"Let me see."

"I don't think its deep Sir, it just nicked me."

"Yeah, its not so deep. Can you walk alright? Or I can carry you."

"Come on Sir, its only a little scratch."

"Okay."

He tried to close the tear in her khakis but that wasn't going to happen, they had been ripped beyond repair.

"We're going to have to get you a change, are you sure you're okay?"

"Fine Sir."

Whether he was seduced by the warm feel of her smooth bare leg or influenced by all the talk of feelings, he was roused and unable to restrain himself. As he slowly stood up he took a step into her leaving very little space between them.

His heart beat lively. He stood unmoving right in front of her, his eyes closed shut and wanting to ask her. She was taken aback but there was something wrong, she knew that. He opened his eyes on her and she was staggered to see the best of the afternoon sunlight touching the face of his soul. Yes definitely, he was most positively real. She was swamped by feelings.

Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her longingly. Surprised and unsure she responded passionately. He came about and quickly stepped back, recomposing himself.

"Oh Carter I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I don't know what I'm doing. Please forgive me. I'm sorry. I slipped."

"That was a very pleasant slip Jack*, nice landing. And Colonel*, Sir, yes I do forgive you."

"Thank you Major."

He withdrew away from her, placed his hands in his suit pants pockets and began to look for closure in his attempt to remove the pale green moss from the top of the spongy peat beneath their feet, with the heel of his shoe.

"Sir?"

He looked up at Major Carter with his pain and half closed eyes and as assuredly as possible, "its alright Sam. I promise you by the end of today everything will be back to normal."

The heat from his words washed over her and moved her deeply.

"Yes Sir." If you insist.

"Come on, its time to get back. Lets go and meet up with Teal'c*. See whats happening at the plant."

"Plant Sir?"

"Nine eight niner, well.. .. Altair."

~ Ґ Ω √ Ξ γ λ μ   ⊇ ∪ ⊎ ℜ Å ~

:: Mission Accounts ::

© Richard Dean Anderson all rights reserved June 2006