This is an oldie…both because it was the first of my SG-1 stories and because it was set way back when Carter was still a captain. I've broken it into chapters and given it a quick look-over, but otherwise left it pretty much as I wrote it—which looks to be sometime in 2005!

Disclaimer: Purely for fan purposes; no copyright infringement intended.

Carter Smiled

Carter smiled as she maneuvered the MALP up the Gate ramp. Ahead of her, Colonel O'Neill had just stepped through the Gate whistling. She could imagine his off-tune song picking up on p8F-365 right where it had cut off here on Earth. The whistling was a good thing. It meant that her CO, who tended to act as though 7-day scientific survey missions were the bane of his existence, was reconciled to this one. Maybe even looking forward to it after their last several death-defying missions. She knew she was. But then spending 7 days under an alien sky studying things never before studied by anyone on Earth was something she always looked forward to, even when the Colonel didn't whistle going through the Gate, but especially when he did. Things were so much simpler if the Colonel was happy, she thought as she followed the MALP through the Gate.

O'Neill's whistle greeted her on the other side. She could see Daniel and Teal'c already headed off in the direction of their proposed base site. "Couldn't wait to get started," O'Neill nodded after them in explanation. "I thought I'd hang around and see if I could walk you home." Carter knew behind the easy banter the Colonel wasn't laughing. He took the safety of his team very seriously. There was no way he would have left her to get to camp alone, even though you just couldn't get lower than the threat assessment of p8F-365.

"That would be nice, Sir," she said with a grin.

He motioned her forward. "After you, Captain."

The day couldn't have been better. The Colonel was in a good mood. All sorts of new and exciting discoveries awaited them. Fall was just coming to p8F-365 and the weather was perfect-

"Fishing weather," O'Neill announced as though finishing her thought

"Did you bring your gear, Sir?" she asked him, trying not to sound too hopeful. If he had, there was a good chance the rest of them could get some work done without having to take turns babysitting in order to keep him from hanging over their backs asking distracting questions and messing with their sensitive equipment.

"You bet. Don't worry, Carter. I'll be a good boy and stay out of your hair," he answered. She cringed. Well, he wasn't stupid, and she was almost certain he had to really work at it to be as annoying as he often proved to be when he considered a mission boring. She suspected it was his way of keeping them on their toes. He was giving her accusing glances, and she figured she might as well fess up.

"Sorry, Sir. You read my mind...think we've been together too long?" It was just something to say, but when he didn't answer right away she knew she had done it again. His playful attitude was gone, replaced by a quiet intensity that hardened his features and always left her feeling guilty and confused.

"Not long enough, Carter. Not nearly long enough," he finally commented as he pulled ahead of her. She shook her head. Honestly why did the man have to be so difficult? What had set him off now? Did he think she wanted off SG-1? She would rather cut her leg off than give up her place under his command, and he had to know that. Had he just gotten tired of walking at the MALP's slow pace and wanted an excuse to speed up for a while? Or was it something more? She bit her lip. The something more that most of the time she convinced herself was just in her mind and other times was so tangible she imagined she could see it filling the room around them.

Please not that. One day, when she was already fuming over something he had done or said, she thought she would just burst out with it. "Do you have inappropriate feelings for me, Sir?" and then it would be out between them...or not. The colonel had a knack for avoiding answering uncomfortable questions. But, what if he didn't? What if he said yes? Or what if he turned it back on her? What could she answer when she really didn't know herself? She seemed to ask herself that question more than once every time they went through that Gate together, and only when he was at his most infuriating was she ever sure of her answer. Lately though, even then, she was still left confused about how she felt about him. Maybe they really had been together too long.

Right before they drew in to base camp, he let her catch up with him. "You're in charge of setting up camp, Captain. However it's going to work best for what you need to do. It's your show."

"Thank you, Sir." A nod and he was off. Not a word about what had went on back there so she was left to wonder if anything had gone on back there at all. By the time camp was set up, he was itching to get to the fishing, and she was itching to get to her samples. He was whistling again when he headed off to the river running just northwest of the camp. She knew he would keep the camp well within view and check in via radio throughout the day, but they were free to get to work. Her good humor returned, and she shook off her frustration with him. "It's all in your mind, Carter," she assured herself as she got started.

The next day and a half was one of the most relaxing times the team had ever spent together. The work went well, the results were promising, and the Colonel kept them supplied with more fish than she cared to eat. It was late afternoon on the second day when she realized he hadn't been whistling when he had sauntered off for an afternoon walk, and he had checked in by radio twice as often as the day before. It worried her and not just because she was afraid he was already getting bored and would soon be acting like a three year old on a long road trip. She trusted his instincts, and something was definitely setting off his alarms. She scoured the landscape. Everything seemed just as safe and secure as it had when they'd first arrived. She glanced at Teal'c. He met her eye and gave a slight shrug. "I do not know, Captain Carter. I have not seen anything untoward."

At which, Daniel piped in, "Me either, but something's sure bothering him." Ok. So they could all read her mind. Maybe they had all been together too long.

The Colonel joked, fished, and took "walks" around the camp through another day, his eyes constantly wary and watching. They did what work they could while watching him grow more and more agitated. It came more as a relief than a surprise that evening when he announced in his I-am-the-Colonel-and-I-don't-want-to-hear-it voice that they were packing up and getting out of there in the morning. Even Daniel didn't bother to put up a fight.