Timeline: AU, Not too distant future, after season seven.
Author's Note: I wrote this over eighteen months ago and only recently started working the story again. Basically Janet's alive, Pete isn't, Jonas stayed and Hammond stuck around. By the way, the story flicks from the character's present to a few weeks before this story. You'll keep up, trust me !
Rating: M – low-level language, medium level violence, adult themes & sexual references.
A female voice.
"So how are we going to tell him?"
Pause.
A male voice.
"I still haven't figured that out yet."
Pause.
"We're going to have to tell him soon."
Pause.
"He's probably figured it out already."
Pause.
"Quite possibly."
Pause.
"Probably."
Pause.
"He won't be happy that we have hidden it from him."
Pause.
"He'll probably be pissed actually."
Pause.
"Probably."
Pause.
"We'll figure it out when we get off this planet."
Pause.
"Probably a good idea sir."
O'Neill peered into his electronic telescope that was resting on a snipers tripod, poking through a mossy outcrop that both he and Carter were hiding behind while conducting reconnaissance on P3D-477. So far, they hadn't discovered anything of significant value on this lush, rain forest covered planet except for rather irritating and persistent mosquitoes. Oh, and a Goa'uld outpost settlement. Carter was looking through a similar device. Approximately three kilometres to their left in a similar hide was the other half of SG-1; Daniel Jackson, Jonas Quinn and Teal'c. They too were maintaining a similar surveillance detail on the facility.
"Teal'c you copy?" spoke O'Neill into his radio.
"I read you O'Neill," came the electronic reply into his earpiece through the teams secure radios.
"See anything?"
"Affirmative. I see a Goa'ld outpost in the middle of what appears to be a lush, moist tropical planetoid."
Carter couldn't repress a smile while O'Neill shook his head slowly.
"You fell for that one, sir."
"Yeah, I know. But he is getting better isn't he."
O'Neill activated both his radio and his trademark sarcasm.
"Yes, good one. Didn't see that one coming."
"I have no movement at our location, O'Neill. It appears they are either in lock down or the building is un-occupied."
O'Neill nodded his head in silent agreement as he listened.
"Roger that."
O'Neill rolled off his stomach and elbows and onto his back whilst reaching for a chocolate bar in his right hand pouch of his ALICE vest. He used his other hand to take his cap off and muss his hair.
"Hungry Carter?"
Carter held her left hand out in reply without taking her eye off their target.
"For chocolate, always sir." she said.
O'Neill snapped his bar in half and placed a sizable portion in Carter's extended hand. God that is a superbly shaped hand, he thought. Her nails, whilst not long were perfectly maintained, her skin smooth to the touch. It was the same left hand that in secret, O'Neill had placed a one-caret diamond ring on when he asked her to marry him.
Naturally, she was speechless.
He proposed to her just after they returned from their previous mission to P2S-411. He had carried the engagement ring with him during the whole mission, not daring to leave it anywhere for fear of someone finding it or even worse, losing it. Thankfully, the trip wasn't one of their usual missions that turned pear shaped at the earliest opportunity. After the tireless mission debriefs with General Hammond and the special-forces intelligence team, then the endless medical checks with Doc Fraiser, he was finally able to get Carter alone.
"Hey Carter?" he asked quizzedly.
"Yes sir?"
"Do you need a lift home?"
"Ah, no sir. I was going to continue looking at some of the readouts from the samples we obtained during our last trip."
O'Neill shook his head vigorously.
"C'mon, Carter. Leave the books. I need to discuss something with you."
Carter looked at him then looked at her bench. He was right; there was nothing here that couldn't wait until tomorrow. And besides, the Colonel had that look on his face. It was a look she had seen before, usually when he wanted to discuss things that were not for the base.
"OK, sir. Give me a minute to get changed."
O'Neill rocked on his heels and toes; giving her that smug I was right look he was so good at giving.
"Right. I'll um, go wait outside."
As O'Neill closed the door to Carter's office, Hammond approached.
"Ah, Colonel. I'm glad you're still on base. I need you to meet me in the conference room in fifteen minutes; dress blues. We have a V.I.P. on the way in for a tour and presentation." O'Neill dropped his head with great theatrics and then brought it back up.
"Yes sir. Who's coming to dinner?"
Hammond smiled, scaring O'Neill greatly.
"The president, Jack. So you had better shave."
Hammond turned to on his heels and headed back the way he came, calling over his shoulder.
"And tell Major Carter. Blues for her too."
Carter's office door opened, its occupant slipping a leather jacket over her shoulders as she stepped through the framework.
"Tell me what?"
Shortly afterwards, O'Neill and Carter walked down a corridor towards the main conference room, adjusting their newly attired uniforms. As they entered, one of the flight sergeants called out.
"Attention."
O'Neill quickly raised his right hand at right angles to his forehead, acknowledging the call to order with a crisp salute.
"As you were."
As the two officers looked around they both noticed the number of people, both in uniform and civilian suits in the room; standing in a rough semicircle and all eyes looking at them. There was a large platter of refreshments on a serving table; complete with an enlisted airman dressed in whites.
"What's going on?" whispered O'Neill without moving his lips.
"Don't know but smile and play nicely," replied Carter using the same technique.
O'Neill stepped forward to Hammond, who was standing next to their Commander in Chief, the President of the United States.
"Mister President," greeted O'Neill cordially, shaking the hand of the commander in chief.
"How are you, Jack. I continue to enjoy reading your off world mission logs. You really know how to keep it together," gushed the president as he pumped O'Neill's hand.
Jeez, prez. Keep it together.
"Thank you, sir. You remember Major Samantha Carter,"
"Of course, Major Carter. How is it you manage to figure out all this alien technology is quite beyond me," he smiled as he too shook her hand.
The president turned to Hammond, a wiry smirk creeping onto his face.
"Shall we put them out of their misery?"
"Yes sir. I think we shall."
Hammond turned to the crowd.
"Ladies and gentleman, both terrestrial and sentient beings. May I please have your attention?"
With Hammond saying that, O'Neill noticed the other three members of his team standing at the front of the gathering. Teal'c, Jonas and Daniel were looking very sharp and sophisticated in Armani. Behind them stood a smiling Jacob Carter, dressed in formal Taree clothing. What are they up to?
"We are gathered here in this facility to present to two of our most respected members of our military; albeit our special forces who very rarely receive the recognition they richly deserve not only here at the SGC but also around the world."
Hammond turned his head to face O'Neill and Carter.
"Today, we shall rectify that problem." Hammond then turned to the President.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, the President of the United States. Mister President." Hammond took a couple of steps back to a small table with paper scrolls and other ornaments as the crowd politely clapped.
O brother.
The President stepped forward to the vacated podium.
"Thank you General. Since this program started ten years ago, it has been the single most talked about black ops program ever. It has caused two administrations both headache and wonder. Today, it is my extreme pleasure to not only represent the government but also a grateful world populus. Some may murmur about the clandestine work that is done here but quite frankly, there was no other way to do this sort of operation. So without further ado, we shall get on with the presentations. "
The president held his hand out to Hammond and accepted one of the paper bound scrolls.
"Attention to orders," called Hammond.
The assembly came to attention, the civilians included. The President continued.
"For dedication above and beyond the call of duty, in the face of extreme peril and the risk of great personnel injury. Whilst off world on a planet designated P4D-988, Colonel Jack O'Neill; Offworld Team 1, Stargate Command, United States Air Force Special Operations Command – led a team of four operatives through a highly motivated and numerically superior force of alien troops. His unit, though greatly overwhelmed were able to penetrate said forces and destroy their command facility; hence protecting not only themselves but also an unarmed special force's technology investigation and logistics team. For his actions, I hereby present Colonel Jack O'Neill the Air Medal, with oak cluster for valour. Colonel O'Neill entered the service from Illinois."
The audience started clapping as the president attached the decoration to O'Neill's blouse and then shook his hand. O'Neill smiled for an official photo and returned to his position.
"Also, for dedication above and beyond the call of duty, in the face of extreme peril and with actual personal injury. Whilst off world on the planet designated P4D-988, Major Samantha Carter; Offworld Team 1, Stargate Command, United States Air Force Special Operations Command – participated within a team of four in an operation through a highly motivated and numerically superior force of alien troops. Her unit, though greatly overwhelmed were able to penetrate said forces and destroy their command facility; hence protect not only themselves but also an unarmed special force's technology investigation and logistics team. Major Carter, who had been injured during the engagement, was also instrumental in accomplishing contact with the S.G.C. through a severely damaged dial home device; which inturn provided a safe escape route for the S.G. teams. For her actions I present Major Samantha Carter the Air Medal, with oak cluster for valour and the Purple Heart for injuries received during the same assignment. Major Carter entered the service from California."
Once again, the audience started to applause, O'Neill included. Carter accepted her awards with a salute, smiled for the official record and returned to stand next to O'Neill. The crowd's cheer subsided and a smirk stretched across the president's face.
"Ready for phase two, General?"
"Yes sir," Hammond replied as he returned to the small table to fetch more accroutments.
"Ladies and gentlemen," continued the president, "I appreciate your patience. We have more accolades for these two. Colonel Jack O'Neill, step forward and face your peers."
O'Neill did as ordered, standing in front of the assembly with his back to Hammond and his shoulders to the president.
"For your continued dedication to duty, not only sacrificing your personal life by returning to active duty but also commanding and leading S.G.1 to some of the most perilous tasks ever accomplished by a special forces team. This has been a long time coming. Colonel O'Neill, from this day forward, you have been relieved of command of off world team 1."
The assembled crowd drew in a breath of surprise and a murmur of anger while O'Neill maintained a stoic face, anger and disbelief starting to boil up inside him.
"Colonel Jack O'Neill, after a period of six weeks leave you will assume the new position of Commanding officer, Stargate Special Forces teams; and hold the new rank of Brigadier General. Congratulations, General O'Neill."
O'Neill, for once, was speechless. He could feel his toes and his fingers going numb from the shock. He shook the hand offered by the president whilst looking at the smiling Hammond, who started taking O'Neill's silver eagles off his uniform and replacing them with a single five pointed star. The congregation started to applause again. He turned at look at Carter, a happy tear welling in the corner of her eye as she clapped.
"Thank you, Mister President," stammered O'Neill at his articulate best. Once the new emblems were attached to his epaulettes, O'Neill and the president posed for the photo. The president smiled again and took another scroll from Hammond then cleared his throat to obtain everyone's attention.
"Major Carter, step forward please," called the president.
"Ha ha, Carter," murmured O'Neill as she walked past.
Carter assumed the same position that O'Neill had taken, standing to rigid attention. O'Neill stood at parade rest next to Hammond, who handed him a small package and winked as O'Neill examined the small package.
"Major Carter, for your continued and unswerving ability to effectively lead troops into combat situations which would scare us mere mortals to death and for your unparalleled scientific field knowledge; I promote you to Lieutenant Colonel and after six weeks leave you are ordered to assume command of Stargate off world team 1. Congratulations Colonel Carter."
Later that evening, when the hubbub and the backslapping and the consumption of food and alcoholic beverages ended, O'Neill was finally able to give Carter that lift home he promised. The rain that had persisted for the last three days through Colorado was continuing, providing a cold bite to the night. As O'Neill pulled into Carter's driveway, Carter broke the silence.
"Well General. Can the Colonel buy you a drink?"
O'Neill snorted a laugh in response as he opened his door.
"The general would love it if the Colonel bought him a drink."
Carter collected her uniform from the rear of O'Neill's S.U.V. and they walked together to the front door. Carter unlocked her door and turned on the lights as she walked into the house. O'Neill closed the door behind him and walked through to the living room after Carter.
"Beer or bourbon Jack?" called Carter from the kitchen.
O'Neill was looking at the new silver eagles on Carter's tunic.
"I think bourbon on this momentous occasion," he replied as he drew his finger over her name badge.
O'Neill sat and looked at the decorations and devices on her blouse. Carter was now beginning her fourth row of ribbons, an achievement that would have done anyone proud. Three of the awards were adorned with a star each, denoting a second citation. On the left chest flack were her silver aviator wings, with two stars denoting that she was qualified on both fixed wing and rotary aircraft. Beneath that were her parachutist wings, with one star denoting she had parachuted into combat six times, a remarkable accolade for a female air force officer. O'Neill smiled at the memory of walking past an army lieutenant general at the White House a year earlier with Carter. The senior officer nearly walked into the wall when he saw the decorations and qualifications Carter wore on her blouse.
"Look good don't they?" said O'Neill as Carter handed him his bourbon on the rocks.
They raised their glasses and toasted.
"To promotion," she suggested.
"Well deserved," finished O'Neill as their glasses chimed.
That is good bourbon.
Carter placed her glass on the table and started to light her fireplace. As her back was turned, O'Neill checked his pockets. Yep, it's still there. O'Neill looked around, the lights were dimmed, the rain was starting to become heavy again and the fireplace was starting to emit a crimson glow. The ambience was right.
It's the perfect time.
"Sam, before you turn around, close your eyes. I have a surprise for you."
Carter placed her gas lighter on the mantle as she stood up.
"So this is the reason you wanted to take me home, eh."
You're about to find out.
O'Neill approached behind her and got down on one knee. He opened the case, making sure the diamond gleamed.
"O.K. Sam. Turn around."
Carter turned around, expecting O'Neill to be at the same level as she was. She was momentarily disorientated seeing him a lot shorter than normal.
Jack, you've shrunk.
What are you doing on your knees, are you O.K.
What on earth have you got in your hand?
Oh my god is that what I think it is.
C'mon eyes, focus. What are you doing blurring?
Oh my god, it's a ring.
Oh my god, I'm crying.
"Jack..," she croaked, her voice refusing to continue.
O'Neill's eyes glistened, a tear forming in the corner of his eye.
"Samantha Carter, will you do me the honour of marrying me. Of being my wife, my lover, my partner, my soul mate for the rest of our lives."
She looked into his eyes, the sincerity was blinding, and the emotion overflowing and it was the moment that Carter secretly dreamed of for a long time.
"Yes. Oh god yes," she cried and dropped to her knees in front of him, enveloping him in a smothering embrace, sobbing into his shoulder.
And for the next ten minutes, they did nothing but hold each other.
"Hey, General. Something is moving down there," advised Carter.
O'Neill returned from his reminiscing and rolled back over onto his stomach so he could look through his binoculars. As O'Neill adjusted his eyepieces, Carter activated his radio.
"You see that, Teal'c."
"Affirmative, Colonel Carter. It appears to be a Goa'uld serpent patrol. The Goa'uld at the front right side would be the detail leader."
"Suggestions?"
"We have their bearing. Let them move off into the forest, surveil them and take them out. They won't be taken prisoner."
"Understood. Surveil only at this stage. We still don't know what they're doing here, we need Intel. We'll pack up and join you on their left flank in twenty minutes. Carter out."
"Very well." Teal'c signed off and looked over at Jackson and Quinn.
Quinn was already packing up their tripod and glasses while Jackson was monitoring the patrol with a smaller, handheld pair.
"Any deviation, Daniel Jackson?" asked Teal'c as he picked up his staff weapon and inserted his radio earpiece back into his ear.
"No. Still heading into the woods along that path."
"Let us go then," summoned Teal'c.
"Yes, lets," smiled Quinn.
He too had activated his earpiece for silent comms as he activated the P.T.T. on his radio.
"Colonel, we're on the move, taking the right flank."
"Acknowledged. We're on the left about one click to the rear," Carter whispered into her set as she and O'Neill crept along a higher trail, discreetly following the serpent patrol.
Carter had her P90 assault rifle at point, using the weapon sling to keep the firearm rigid so she could maintain a better firing arc. O'Neill had his zat gun in a loose weaver stance as he moved slowly through the undergrowth. They maintained their surveillance of the goa'ulds for the next twenty minutes when abruptly the patrol came to a sudden and ceremonial stop, standing directly in front of an unusual, stone pillar.
These serpent patrols know nothing about being quiet when they move, frowned O'Neill as he and Carter moved behind a large deciduous fern. O'Neill and Carter closed in slowly and dropped behind yet more, dense fernery.
"What on earth are they doing?" whispered O'Neill whilst undoing one of his utility pouches.
"Besides that pillar, I can't see anything around," murmured Carter as she reached for her electronic binoculars, scanning the immediate area.
Her eyes focused on the enemy patrol ahead, the binoculars providing her with excellent vision with a digital bearing and distance.
"You guys on," called O'Neill quietly
"Roger," whispered Jackson.
"We've come to a stop for some reason. They're standing in front of some sort of stone pillar. About two clicks in and we're about…"
Carter used combat signals the answer O'Neill's silent question.
"One hundred meters from them; to the left and rear."
There was the briefest of pauses.
"Be there in five," advised Quinn.
"Roger that," answered O'Neill.
O'Neill continued to look at the patrol with Carter right next to him.
"I'd give a dollar to find out what they are doing," said Carter quietly.
O'Neill nodded in silent agreement, reaching into his pocket.
"Chocolate, Carter?" he replied holding out another bar.
Carter held her hand out.
"You certainly know a girl's weakness, sir."
O'Neill fixed her with one of his trademark cheeky grins and replied.
"Of course. Works on you all the time."
Carter cuffed his shoulder as he finished.
"Just remember you're my guest on this mission, buster. I'll get my team to kick your butt so just watch yourself."
O'Neill gave her a mock salute.
"Yes ma'am."
Yes ma'am. I remember the last time he said that to me.
"Good morning Sam."
Carter opened her eyes. The rain from the previous night had dissipated the sun bright and blaring through the bay window in her bedroom. After O'Neill's announcement, Carter knew that everything in the world was going to be O.K. During the night they unleashed a passion on each other that had been smouldering away for the last ten years; the realisation of that passion leaving them falling asleep with O'Neill spooning Carter's body, wrapping his arms around her; enveloping her in a protective embrace. Jack now sat on the end of her bed wearing a white t-shirt, pair of blue jeans (how unusual) and his dog tags. In his left hand was a glass of orange juice, in his right hand was Carter's smooth leg. He placed the glass carefully on the bedside table as he started to slowly massage the toned feminine calf in his clutches. The top of the doona was draped just over Carter's hips, exposing her entire fair, freckled back and showing the side of her breast. He leaned over and kissed the small of her back, just above her buttocks as Carter stirred.
"Morning," she replied a little groggily. "What time is it?"
"A little after nine. You looked zonked so I let you sleep," he smiled as he continued to rub her exposed leg.
Carter moved her left hand from under the pillow and moved her glittering ring with her right hand. She wore a smile on her face as big as the moon, as she moved her gaze from the ring to O'Neill.
"Hey buster, you had better stop touching me like that. My fiancée might come in and he won't be at all pleased," she teased.
He fixed her with that devilled smirk of his.
"Yes Ma'am."
Carter wrinkled her nose a'la 'bewitched' as she lifted herself off the pillow, letting the doona fall off her completely and smothering O'Neill in a passionate embrace, kissing him fully on the lips. Her exposed chest crushing into his shirt.
"I love you Jack O'Neill."
O'Neill looked into her eyes and whispered into her ear, just before nibbling her lobe.
"I love you Samantha Carter. Let's get dressed, eat, pack a bag and get out of here. We've got a month, and it's beautiful at the lake."
Carter closed her eyes as he continued to concentrate on her ear and said deliriously.
"Only after we make love."
"Any ideas?"
"Negative General O'Neill. Whatever they are doing does not make sense."
"Daniel, Can you read the writing on the device they're trying to use?" called Carter through her radio.
"Both Daniel Jackson and Jonas Quinn are looking through their binoculars now but are not having any success in reading the script. Jonas Quinn has suggested zating the Goa'uld so that we are able to obtain a closer examination."
O'Neill looked at Carter who simply shrugged a shoulder and raised an eyebrow as the radio spoke again.
"I was only kidding," came Quinn's hushed voice, rather defensively.
Carter whispered to O'Neill,
"I think that's the way to go sir. They don't know that we're here and the element of surprise is on our side."
"Your show Carter. Your call," answered O'Neill softly as he watched the Jaffa.
Carter thought for a moment then nodded as she activated her radio.
"Teal'c - you, Jonas and Daniel approach the group from your side. Get as close as you can, then zat them. We'll cover the path to make sure that no one surprises you."
"Very well Colonel Carter," answered Teal'c.
Teal'c looked at the rest of his detail, who were both in the process of double-checking the settings on their zat pistols. They silently nodded to each other and moved forward, zats at the ready. Five minutes later, Teal'c, Quinn & Jackson were ready to take out the Serpent guards. Daniel gave a silent double click on his radio, their code announcing they were ready. Carter gave him a single click, their 'go' code. All at once, the forest was alive with blue electrical charge, closely followed by four solid 'whumps'.
"Clear," came Quinn's voice on the radio.
Carter and O'Neill emerged from their vantage point and joined the rest of the team with the downed Goa'uld.
"Nice shootin', Tex," complemented O'Neill as he moved the Goa'ulds weapons away from the fallen bodies. Quinn and Jackson were already reading the ancient text.
"Thank you O'Neill," replied Teal'c, scanning the vicinity for movement trying to figure out who Tex was.
Carter moved next to Jackson and Quinn.
"Well?"
Jackson shook his head. Quinn was consulting his P.A.D.D.
"Not yet. It has Goa'uld basics but there are some hieroglyphics here that would belong with ancient Egyptian texts. It mentions 'birth of an infant world' but swap the syntax it would mean 'a new beginning.'"
"Great. Does it go underground? Is it connected to anything?" asked O'Neill.
Jackson shrugged his shoulders with a 'who knows' look on his face as O'Neill drew his survival knife; starting to scrape the base of the pillar. Jackson drew his knife and began digging opposite to where O'Neill was. After ten minutes of effort, the base was exposed. No conduits or technology was present. The stone appeared to be a simple pillar, not some miraculous Goa'uld device.
"Great, we've found a totem pole," exclaimed O'Neill, holstering his knife in disgust.
"And we stunned a serpent patrol for nothing," finished Quinn.
Carter looked at Teal'c, hoping for some ideas on this little mystery. She found none. Teal'c finally spoke,
"It is most unusual. Similar pillars are used for many of our marriage ceremonies. But the variation of the symbols does not make sense. Nor would a serpent patrol attend the site as they did." Teal'c would never admit it, but he was confused but was enjoying the irony of the situation.
O'Neill looked at Carter.
"Maybe they were checking out their local hangout for the buck's night?"
Quinn chirped up.
"Or looking for a quiet getaway while on patrol for a lucky lady?"
Carter and O'Neill sat in O'Neill's S.U.V. as the vehicle made short work of the hilly highway heading towards O'Neill's mountain hideaway in Minnesota. Carter slept as she lounged in the comfortable leather passenger seat, her sock covered right foot resting on the dash, left hand firmly holding O'Neill's right hand as he drove the vehicle with the other. She wore faded blue jeans, a deep blue thin-strapped singlet top under a black unbuttoned shirt, its sleeves folded up to the elbows; her Colorado hiking boots on the floor under the glove compartment. O'Neill still wore his trusty jeans, white tee shirt and burgundy anorak, his trademark sunglasses covering his eyes. He looked over to the sleeping Carter and smiled.
I am truly the luckiest man alive. She is so beautiful, strong in both temperament and mind. An absolutely remarkable woman.
O'Neill slowed the midnight blue four-wheel drive as he approached the gravel road that ultimately led to his property. He activated the S.U.V.'s indicator and turned the vehicle left. As they started to bounce along the corrugated surface, Carter opened her eyes, slightly disorientated.
"We're nearly there," advised O'Neill.
Carter nodded her head silently.
God it's beautiful up here.
O'Neill slowed the vehicle down and stopped at a non-descript gate. He pulled a tagged key out of the centre console that was lying next to a half consumed bottle of spring water.
"Would you like to do the honours with the gate my precious," he smiled.
Carter smiled in return.
"But my dearly beloved. I have no shoes on," she replied sweetly, flexing her toes on the dash as evidence; rubbing his leg and fixing him with a bigger smile.
O'Neill looked down on his leg at the hand that was starting to arouse him and smirked wickedly.
"Alright, I'll entertain ya," he finished.
As O'Neill opened his door, Carter slid over into the driver's seat. He opened the gate and Carter drove the G.M.C. forward, allowing O'Neill to secure the gate behind her. Shortly after they set off again down the track, this time with Carter at the wheel.
"Welcome to Casa de O'Neill Sam," he gestured with his hand.
"This entire block I've kept as virgin forest. Would you believe National Parks actually pay me to keep the land like this? Quite a few bison, deer, wolves and an occasional bear wander through the bush. They rarely come through to the clearing mind you."
Carter looked around as she directed the vehicle down the track, parking at the side of the luxurious cabin, under its own roofed parking bay. They both disembarked and walked towards the lake.
"This looks absolutely fantastic Jack," she gushed, taking in the natural beauty surrounding her.
"I can understand why you come here any chance you get."
O'Neill slipped his arm around her waist, threading his thumb into one of the belt loops on her jeans for support. Carter rested her head on his shoulder, allowing O'Neill to rest his head on top of hers.
"Yep. It ain't bad is it? This is my piece of paradise and it is a privilege to share it with you."
"That isn't as dumb as it sounds," said Jackson after some thought.
"Of course it isn't," retorted O'Neill. O'Neill looked at the others.
"Well, is it?"
Teal'c caught onto the conversation.
"Maybe it is the right of passage ceremony called Cor-ra-jey. They may have come out to this location to initiate one of their new warriors. "A new beginning" may mean the juvenile leaving the apprenticeship of his teacher and becoming a Jaffa warrior, usually ending in a celebration that included wine, food and other just pleasures. If it is indeed Cor-ra-jey the totem is rather small and not of a size associated with such a ceremony."
Quinn had a look of bewilderment of his face, a look normally reserved for O'Neill
"Whoa, that was way out of my depth."
Carter looked bemused at Quinn's discomfort, but noticed the reminiscing, de-javu look on Tealc's face.
"O.K. Let's get some footage of the totem and while they're unconscious; obtain some D.N.A. samples and a photo of their forehead tattoo," ordered Carter as she seized command of the gossip session.
Teal'c and Jackson went to work with the totem while Carter and Quinn started collecting D.N.A. O'Neill took a digital photo of each serpent guard as they lay prone. Finally, the work was done and Carter signalled for them to leave and head back towards the outpost. Teal'c had the lead, followed by Carter, Jackson, O'Neill and finally Quinn.
"So, Jack. Are you planning to come on more operations with us?" asked Jackson.
O'Neill smiled at the question.
"Well I don't know, Daniel. I do like to get out into the open air sometimes, go walking through the woods with my buddies and sometimes if I'm lucky, cause some mayhem to round the day out."
Carter shook her head lightly at the sarcasm.
"But to answer your question. No. Carter is the boss of S.G.1 and I am more than confident in her abilities," finished O'Neill.
"Besides, if I keep coming out on tours, nothing will get done at Cheyenne, the other teams will get jealous and next thing you know Hammond will want to start coming out too."
"Yes," said Teal'c in his stoic voice. "That would be unfortunate."
"Are we there yet?" teased O'Neill changing the subject as they trudged along.
"My goodness, this is the middle of nowhere isn't it?" said Carter as she sat on the porch swing, nursing a glass bottle of beer in her hand, enjoying the cool night breeze. The chorusing of crickets tried in earnest to drown out their conversation. Frogs were joining in too. The swing affixed to the porch slowly rocked back and forth as the couple looked over the small field and over the moonlit lake. The night was illuminated with stars, a cloudless night causing the temperature to drop. Carter shivered slightly as a gentle breeze blew, causing her to draw her feather quilt up to her chin. O'Neill took a slow draw on his beer, his right arm draped over Carter's shoulders.
"It ain't that cold is it?" asked O'Neill.
Carter fixed him with a devil smile.
"It is when you've got this on underneath," she replied as she quickly dropped her doona, revealing her naked body.
O'Neill nearly choked on his beer as Carter started to laugh.
She is a wanton woman and I love it.
All they had done for the last two days for feed their carnal desire for each other. O'Neill had never imagined that Carter was a person who possessed such sexual desires and was able to express those desires without fear or favour. Carter looked at him seductively, as if reading his thoughts.
"You bring out the woman in me, Jack. I never thought I could feel the way I feel about anyone. It amazes me that you were right under my nose for so long and that we denied ourselves this feeling, this ability for total and complete happiness."
O'Neill smiled at the memory of the conversation, as he hiked through the dense shrubs behind Carter, admiring her form. He could feel the electricity coursing through his body whenever he saw her, smelt her, touched her...
"Are we clear ahead?" radioed Carter to the distant Teal'c who had moved ahead in large strides to commence forward observation further up the trail.
"Affirmative. No signs of activity."
"Roger. Jonas, any signs of pursuit?"
"All clear Colonel."
Carter took her hand off the radio.
"That makes a change," remarked Jackson.
"Humph," moaned O'Neill.
About two hours later, the team made it to a small clearing they were using as a staging area about a kilometre from the gate. S.G. 1dropped their packs and sat down, exhausted from the hike, the atmosphere thinning as the afternoon turned to evening. It made the going tough. Teal'c and Jackson started drinking from their canteens while Quinn poured some of his over his face, rubbing the running liquid around his neck. Carter dove for a M.R.E.
"What's the plan Colonel," asked O'Neill as he chugged on his canteen to wash down a biscuit he just consumed. Carter looked at the stargate then looked back to her team.
"After we're rested and got ourselves together, I'll attempt a dial home. I think two days on this planet is long enough. Besides, any longer and General Hammond will start wondering what we're doing."
"Sounds good," admitted Jackson.
"So, Sam. What's on today's agenda?"
O'Neill had just finished cooking a sumptuous breakfast consisting of eggs, bacon, lamb chops, mushrooms and hash browns. Washed down with roasted coffee. Carter set her coffee mug down on the wood table, wiping the corner of her mouth with a napkin.
"Today's the day we have to go back to civilization."
O'Neill grimaced at Carter's words. He knew the day was coming but, quite frankly, he didn't want to go back. Carter looked into O'Neill's blue eyes and whispered.
"I don't want to go back either. I don't want this to end, ever."
O'Neill stood from the table and kneeled next to Carter, taking her hand in his.
"Neither do I. I can honestly say that I have not felt like this in a long, long time. I want it to continue for the rest of my life."
"But how can we? Once Hammond finds out, this will all come to a sudden end."
Carter looked down at the slate tiled floor then back at her fiancée.
"We shall go see him once we have returned to Cheyenne O.K.?"
Carter looked into his eyes, wiping a small tear from her eye.
"O.K. sounds good."
"Perimeter is secure Colonel Carter," radioed Teal'c standing near the dial home device, scanning the clearing. O'Neill stood behind Teal'c with his back to him, doing the same from the other side through his shaded sunglasses. The General activated his radio.
"Come on down kids."
Within a minute Carter, Jackson and Quinn left their base camp and jogged to the gate. Teal'c started dialling Earth's address when O'Neill noticed a movement of bushes adjacent to where their forward base was established. O'Neill squinted.
"Aw crap. That doesn't look good,"
Teal'c turned to where O'Neill was looking.
"It appears to be another serpent patrol O'Neill," advised Teal'c as he moved around the dial home device.
"O yeah."
O'Neill triggered his radio.
"Move Carter. Contact at your four o'clock."
Carter turned around to where O'Neill was looking. They then broke out into a flat sprint.
"Hurry up the dialling Teal'c," she called as she flicked the safety off her P90 as she looked behind her shoulder. O'Neill had already made his weapon 'hot' and was crouching down facing the advancing Goa'ulds trying to present the smallest profile to his enemy, his weapon firmly in his shoulder, waiting to fire. The Goa'ulds had moved out from the shrubs, six targets in total. Teal'c had finished dialling, the gate starting it whirlpool effect; and was standing behind O'Neill levelling his staff weapon.
"C'mon c'mon c'mon!" shouted O'Neill.
The serpent guards were dropping into a firing position. Carter, Jackson and Quinn saw O'Neill and Teal'c were ready to fire and bolted to their left making sure they were out of the line of fire.
"Go sir," buzzed O'Neill's radio.
Without hesitation O'Neill opened fire with his P90. Teal'c joined in with his staff weapon, selecting their targets carefully despatching three Goa'ulds before they tried to return fire. The returned fire was panicked and inaccurate, not what they usually expected from highly trained serpent warriors. By now the wormhole was established, the blue silver water effect settling as if it belonged at the lake surrounding O'Neill's cabin.
Carter's group approached the gate's ramp and crouched on either side of the wormhole. Carter immediately started to return fire at the embedded Goa'ulds. Quinn and Jackson fired from the other side.
"Come on down General," called Carter through her radio between controlled firing bursts. O'Neill and Teal'c ceased firing and ran for the gate, crouching whilst running in a zigzag pattern. Carter looked over to Quinn and Jackson.
"Go, go, go," she shouted. Quinn and Jackson looked at each other. Jackson nodded once and went for the gate, disappearing into the wormhole. Quinn stood up and started his withdrawal, firing the occasional burst. Teal'c and O'Neill joined Carter at the ring. Teal'c continued through the watery field as O'Neill stopped next to Quinn, turned, and started to fire another burst. Quinn nodded to O'Neill, signalling his P90 needed a new magazine. O'Neill waived him on immediately. Quinn jumped through the abyss. Carter shouted out.
"I'm out," as she ejected her spent magazine ripping a fresh clip from her vest.
"Go. I'm right behind you."
Carter fed the new magazine into her gun, cocked the firing mechanism and squeezed off a burst as she leapt back to Earth. O'Neill stood and gave a sustained burst, emptying his P90 as he stepped back to join Carter and the others.
"Sayonara chaps. It's been a slice."
O'Neill jumped through the wormhole and transformed onto the ramp at Cheyenne Mountain, his friends coming to a unceremonial halt after reforming.
"That is becoming a habit."
The comment came from Jackson. He was sitting on the edge of the stargate's ramp, panting, trying to relieve the cramp that was working its way through his ribcage. O'Neill walked down the ramp as he flicked his weapon's safety catch and ejected his spent magazine.
"Now, now Daniel. If it didn't happen you would grow suspicious and wonder what the hell was going on," stirred O'Neill as he spun the empty clip in the air and caught it. Carter took off her hat, ruffled her hair and rubbed her aching neck.
"I think the General should partition the other General to have padding installed on the ramp so we don't injure ourselves when we're trying to dive for our lives."
"I agree," spoke up Teal'c.
"Amen to that," chimed in Quinn.
The fire door opened and in strode General Hammond. He smiled at the weary and exhausted S.G. 1.
"Welcome home S.G. 1,"
"Thank you sir. More frequent flyer miles were logged without huge incident," advised O'Neill.
Teal'c raised his eyebrow. Jackson blinked. Quinn scoffed a laugh.
"Sort of," added Carter.
Hammond smiled.
"No doubt. Debrief in thirty minutes."
To be concluded...
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