He sat at his desk feeling the mind numbing boredom take hold. This kind of boredom was becoming all too familiar. This kind of boredom made him long for the boredom of the old pre-mission team briefings. The ones where one of his teammates would babble on endlessly about something or another. The kind of boredom that was usually rewarded with a trip through the 'gate. Or at least a slice of cake from the commissary.
This new boredom had no reward. No light at the end of the proverbial tunnel for this brigadier general. This kind of boredom was silent. The kind of silence that makes you realize how loudly clocks actually tick, the kind of silence that turns a man into a frustrated, leg jiggling, artist. Yes, artist. His only outlet anymore were the doodles that he drew between each endless meeting after meeting.
He did still hear from the old mountain occasionally. Too bad he left the SGC too efficient. Too bad they had all gone their separate ways. Too bad the planet was mostly safe. Too bad she was in another galaxy. And still in his chain of command. Suddenly he felt like a dinosaur. There was no room for him anymore. No place for him. No guarantee that…
*BEEP BEEP* He pushed a button that lit up on his phone.
"Yes?" He said a little too gruffly.
"You have a video conference call, sir."
"Thanks, Sargent." He clicked the icon and opened the chat screen. The little red light on the camera came on as he double clicked on the encrypted link.
"Hello, Sir." Her blue eyes blinked at him as astonishment widened his.
"Hello, Carter."