She was back with him and her usual team and it was heaven for all of them. The usual sparky back and forth had started before they had even made it out of the locker room but quietened the moment they entered the gate room. It was obvious to everyone that they were biting into their tongues to not say a word, big smirks threatening to break their faces in two as they watched the gate lock.
The first thing he felt when they stepped through to the other side was the humidity. Over half the world was covered in a tropical style rainforest and along with it came twice daily rainfall, scorching heat and unbearable humidity. The other downside being they would be here for three days. Three days of this and he knew he would be itching for his cool office again.
Heading off towards the coordinates they started in their usual pace loosening their formation as they moved onwards. Parrish frequently stalled them bending over to look at something or sending them into a frenzy when he vanished, a brief gasp the only clue to his disappearance.
They struggled somewhat the plants closing in on each other the further they walked tangling in their legs. Producing a machete he hacked the occasional plant back keeping his eyes trained around him. Glancing around he looked at the huge trees as wide as a small car and heights which made seeing their tops impossible. They looked magnificent, deep rich, brown bark covered in thick red vines, as thick as his arm twisting around their bodies up into the canopy, splatterings of red and green leaves surrounding them. The huge, bright flowers speckled around them, vivid shades of yellow and blue leaping out against the greens. His artist eye was going in overdrive committing to memory as much as he could trapping the textures and colours with the smells.
Passing a spiky plant spread over several feet on the ground he was careful to point it out but knew the bright blue tipped traps would be hard to miss especially given the large teeth like protrusions along its edge.
"My goodness this looks like a variant on a Nepenthes rafflesiana....no need to push!" He glanced back in time to see her push him away her hand firmly planted on the back of his pack as she moved him along. Biting his tongue he tried not to laugh knowing his outbursts had begun to wear on her nerves as well.
Feeling the need he continued to watch her, turning back every now and again. He knew there was something wrong when she slipped further down the group the longer they walked although none of them were fairing well in the heat. Michaels was already drenched in sweat his cap darkened around the edges, Stackhouse's face was flushed from effort and heat, the front of his shirt soaked and Parrish was a funny shade of red and looked ready to faint, his breathing nothing more than huffs and heaves.
Handing over point he dropped his pace to come up beside her watching each team member as they passed him. Within seconds of him reaching her she answered his unasked question.
"Heat I can deal with, cold I can sort of cope with, humidity not my favourite thing in the world," raising his eyebrow at her sudden outburst he tried to speak again, thankful she let him speak this time.
"Didn't you spend almost an entire year in the Amazon?" The huff of breath shocked him as did the break in her words as she spoke trying her hardest to breathe around the words.
"Yes, and that is the only reason I was chosen for this mission. You get used to it after a while. Took about a month before I could breathe better, another two before I stopped noticing the never ending humidity as much. Dr Andrews would have been better." He tried to hide his scowl turning back when he heard her laugh.
"What?"
"Nothing. Never seen you react like that about an archaeologist. It's normally certain biologists and certain physicists." Her laugh was lower this time as though her breath was shorter.
"The man has an ego that rivals McKay's." Glancing over to her again trying to hide the scowl at the thought of the two men, he watched her hunch more and more the weight of the pack seeming to push her down. Seeing how far ahead the others had gotten he looked to her again before making his decision. "Michaels! Take five." Looking back to her he smirked as she rolled her eyes at him settling against a moss covered rock.
The fact of the matter was that even he was finding it difficult. Even under the canopy of the trees he had felt the searing heat of the sun sapping his energy. He had found them all unable to continue their normal group conversation only a few minutes after they had begun their hike, the heated air pressing on them making them unable to speak. As much as he had believed he was in shape carrying his heavy pack in this heat made him feel like a new recruit again and he never wanted to feel like that again.
Pulling out his water he took a mouthful watching her do the same. He watched her turn pulling her shirt over her head catching the briefest glimpse of skin. She received a few wolf whistles until the t-shirt she had on underneath was spotted. The whistles were quickly replaced by a groan that made both him and her chuckle, an amused smirk finding itself plastered to his face.
"Do you know you have an evil laugh?" Stackhouse piped up from where he was leaning against a tree several feet away, his gaze dancing between her and the trees. Her laugh became harder rushing out of her faster than she could breathe.
He knew he was staring watching every move she made but he found her too enticing to pull his eyes away. The way she laughed with her whole body, her whole face lighting up. Seeing her place her things back in her pack, each item having a specific home he was impressed. Methodically she refastened the drawstring and clasps taking her time the process a clear routine. She was obviously more organised than some of the others they had worked with and he found himself quickly glad that they weren't all like her.
It took a moment before he realised she had caught him watching her. Smiling she picked her pack back up swinging it quickly back into place over her vest not once removing her eyes from his.
"Let's get moving people. We've got a lot of ground to cover." As he began to speak he slipped back to the front of the group turning to watch her waiting for her to spot their slightly slower pace. Catching his eye she smiled in thanks to which he responded with a courteous smile. In truth it hadn't been entirely for her, they all needed to move slower.
The further they got the harder it became. Large Buttress roots cut across their path making them veer this way and that over and over adding more and more time to their journey. Curtains of rich green moss draped down from vines and tree branches walling in around them the further they walked. Bushes and shrubs littered the ground their large waxy leaves gripping their boots as they walked passed.
"Would you look at that? The strength of the lianas forming almost a monkey ladder formation holding up the..."
"Very interesting Doc but we need to move. We've got a lot of ground to cover. You want somewhere dry when the rain comes in don't you?" The heat was bearing down on him, the thicker air making it more difficult to breathe, to move. The urge to run, to find a clearing where he could see the sky and breathe deep had been squashed more times than he could count.
"What! Yes of course, Major. I can always travel back. This place is just so...." A chorus of snickers and chuckles went out mixing with the twitching and skittering sounds that surrounded them although nothing other than a few tiny flying bugs had been seen.
Another hour of hiking, hacking their way through the dense plants and trees, ignoring Parrish's spluttering they made it to the location they needed. The information the database had given mentioned an underground habitat that belonged to another race like the Ancients. Since Woolsey had deemed it of low importance only a small team had been sent with her to investigate. All he could see was a slightly sunken mud patch in the ground the faint edge of a stone peaking through on one side. It didn't look promising but then they never did at this stage.
Leaving her with Parrish he scoured the area indicating Michaels one direction and Stackhouse another. Everything around him was overgrown spreading out without a care leaving many trip hazards and the like. He almost stepped into a very large mud puddle his eyes taking time to adjust to the changing light under the canopy. He only just noted the change in the ground colour halting his foot midstep. Scanning around he watched huge purple flowers snap shut as he passed sending a thick orange dust outwards clouding the air.
It didn't take long until he found a flatter area just a short distance away from the site of the habitat. Aside from a few plants and a barrage of dead leaves and vines the ground was virtually clear, an almost solid wall of plants and trees surrounding it. Radioing Stackhouse and Michaels he was happy with their assessment of the surrounding area calling them back to help set up the camp. Stackhouse and Michaels returned soon after Parrish twittering away a few steps behind them.
"Michaels start clearing the ground but leave the vines at the far side they could come in handy. Stackhouse will you clear the near side keeping big bush as the outer edge." He looked to Parrish expecting some Latin jargon about what the plant was but chuckled when he noticed the utter concentration as the man stared at a tree nearby. Checking his watch he was satisfied that they would get the job done and the camp set up before the rain was due to come in.
"Parrish! Go and get Merry for me." He watched Parrish skitter away hearing his voice as he began calling to her. He couldn't stop smiling at his choice of words, the phrase sounding more demanding than he had intended. Shrugging it off he unclipped his pack beginning to pull out the supplies they needed checking each item off mentally.
He heard their footsteps before he saw her. He had spread the three of them around the camp attempting to get the majority of the work done as fast as possible. Michaels was still hacking back several large leafed plants tossing the leaves and branches over to the far side of the camp, Stackhouse was pulling equipment out of a pack his eyes meeting hers, smiling when he noticed her watching. Stackhouse whistled to him only noticing when he turned his head that he had already seen her. Quickly he tied off the rope he was working on, brushing his hands down once he finished. Walking over to her he couldn't help his smile as he looked her over. She looked the picture of innocence stood with her weight on one leg holding the straps to her pack until he looked in her eyes. Her heated gaze was watching every move he made looking him over from head to toe. She looked into his eyes blushing slightly before looking away to Parrish who came up beside her blabbering on about something he had seen.
"This is just a paradise. This is what th Amazon must have been like before we started to……"
"Why don't you show me the site and everything you're going to need?" He knew he was cutting in on the man but his rambling was becoming incessant.
He followed them back to the site taking in everything they said about what they needed and how much work they had. He watched Parrish practically jumping up and down in excitement over the pieces he wanted to study. The man's usual gibberish swam over his head for the most part. He smiled in amusement turning to find she was doing the same.
"The room itself is
around twenty by twenty five feet. I think I've narrowed it down to
a small area where the stairway leading to the opening actually is.
There seems to be something interfering with the scans so I'm only
seeing a vague picture at best."
He watched her walk around
the area she needed digging out glancing back up to be sure of his
interest. He found her voice slightly hypnotic sure that the heat was
making it sound softer than usual.
"How long?"
"Give me one person and the majority should be dug out by this evening."
"OK. How does Michaels sound?" Her big smile was all the answer he needed. Heading back to the camp to pass on the news he knew the big man would get his own back for this one.
After three hours of digging they were starting to make some head way. Sitting at the edge of the camp he had watched them work smiling when he saw dirt flying up in the air seemingly aimed no where. Zoning out briefly trying to find some vague respite from the heat, he heard Michaels speak bringing his attention back to them. She was stood on the edge of the pit drinking her water slowly staring down at the pit below. Even from this distance he could see she was watching Michaels work. The man's shirt had been tossed out of the pit a while ago leaving him working bare chested in the heat. He couldn't help but smile when he saw her shake her head slightly looking down at her feet. It seemed he wasn't the only one having his head messed with by the heat. Her face made him laugh as she pulled at her top the fabric clinging back to her as she let go.
"Sir, when do you need us back to camp?" Even over the radio Lorne could hear the desperation in the poor man's voice.
"Not for some time Stackhouse. How is it going?" The amusement in his voice was probably more than obvious but he knew how Parrish could be.
"Fine, sir. The Doc has found some interesting things and talked a load of stuff that I have no understanding of but otherwise secure."
"Don't let him wander too far and head back at the first sign of trouble."
"Copy that, sir. Does it count if I make the trouble?" He laughed so hard at the younger man he almost doubled himself over. Knowing the two men he knew they would be returning shortly.
Busying himself with finishing the last few preparations for the night time within the camp he was finally happy that they had a good defensive position should they need it. He was sure it was the humidity but something felt off about the place. In the few hours they had been there only a few insects had been seen but the noises from the things that surrounded them seemed to be running on constant coming nearer at times only to disappear off into the distance. Not knowing what they were he played on the cautious side and kept vigilant knowing eventually that their curiosity could win out.
It was sometime later when he noticed the dark heavy clouds beginning to fill the sky. The air had begun to feel different and he had to lean far out of the camp to see through the thick canopy to the sky above. Deciding the easier option was to go get them than to try to the radio he quickly headed out. He had only just made it to the pit when the first few drops began to fall. Reaching the edge he shouted to them both catching their attention instantly.
"Time to head to camp guys. The downpour is coming." Even as he spoke his eyes were kept firmly on the sky.
The words had barely left his mouth when the heavens opened pounding the heavy rain down on them. The pair quickly started moving much to his delight their tools tossed out as they began to climb. The big raindrops were landing hard on his back running down the neck of his shirt, tracing down his back.
Water was filling the pit quickly just passing her ankles as she began to climb. Pulling Michaels up the last of the part of the pit he turned seeing her hand slip on the dirt sending her crashing back into the pit. He would have chuckled at her cursing up a storm if he didn't want to be out of the rain as fast as possible. Reaching out his hand he was glad she spotted it, quickly taking hold allowing him to help pull her out. The moment her feet touched the ground they took off at a run taking the short distance quickly.
By the time they reached the camp they were all completely drenched. The rain was heavy but warm making the air thicker and harder to breathe. He watched her look around the set up of the camp her eyes taking in every small detail. Bunks had been set up surrounding an open area, the tarps high above holding the rain back. The hard pattering created an odd sound to the pittering of the rain hitting the plants around them.
Her pack had been settled next to a bunk on the right side of the camp near to Parrish keeping the two scientists surrounded by military. He walked into the main section of the camp watching Stackhouse and Parrish staring blankly ahead before he followed their line of sight. Seeing her stand up right her loose hair falling out of her hands down to her lower back his mind went blank. Mentally shaking himself he walked further into the area tossing out newly filled bottles trying to ignore the stirring feeling he got around her.
They all settled down to eat what Stackhouse had made for them each taking their time. The rain didn't seem to be letting up any time soon the heavy drops seeming to fall faster as time went on.
"Hey Parrish, why is it that you don't listen to orders like Merry does?"
"Well I just, I mean I see but I erm...I don't...." Parrish was trying to babble around the mouth full of food he was trying not to choke on.
"When you've had a military upbringing it's hard to shake it regardless to the years that have passed." He raised an eyebrow to her comment catching the glimpse of the brief shared look between her and Michaels. The man obviously wanted more.
"My Mum passed away after I was born so my Dad raised me the same as my brothers. In a family like mine it meant I was raised as a soldier. The whole family cousins, uncles, everyone is in the Air Force."
"Where are your brothers stationed?" The words seemed to slip out of his mouth his curiosity getting the better of him.
"Well you gave one of them a lesson in flying a jumper at the beginning of the week."
As the words left her mouth he couldn't hold in his shock. He knew exactly who she meant. Both Luke and his older brother had come with the highest recommendations and took to the jumpers like a duck to water more so than a lot of the other military members with naturally occurring ATA gene. He had spoken openly about his brothers both here and otherwise but never once mentioned a sister. Looking at her he knew there was a story there but something in him stopped him from asking.
"So you're one of those Briggs?" The wide eyed look Stackhouse was giving her mirrored his own feelings shock knowing the family reputation all too well.
"Yeah," Watching her put down her food turning her face to look at the camp's entrance he panicked thinking they had upset her. "When is the rain going to stop?" she asked her eyes focussed on the distant trees. He took it for what it was, a polite way of asking to change the subject. Choosing to leave it be he followed her eye line staring off as she was for a moment.
"There's a least an hour left." Following her movements in the corner of his eye he watched her pick up food continuing to eat. The faintest rustling kept his attention at the entrance a moment longer before he turned back to his own food. He felt the deep resonating sigh from her lifting his head in time to see the others all share a look one that he couldn't quite read. As fast as he spotted it they moved on bringing the conversation in another direction.
"When the rains stops head back out to the site, Parrish can go off wandering with Stackhouse again. It should be around five hours before the next rain storm comes in." She was half listening to him he could tell just like the others still buried within their own conversation but the moment he gave her a time frame her eyebrows shot up. The protest was written all over her face. "I know it isn't much but the weather system here is predictable in a small way. Ironically this is the dry season." Seeing the small shake of her head with the classic Merry smile he knew he had lightened her mood a little.
Looking over to her he discovered she was watching him over the edge her cup. He could have sworn he had seen her blush but he wasn't sure. Her face was already rosy from the heat so he dismissed it not wanting to think too much into it. She confused him keeping him constantly baffled by his own thoughts. He couldn't understand it. Normally he was cool and calm, finding clear thoughts and problem solving easy but not recently. Taking a deep breath of the luke warm air he picked his cup of the ground glancing around at the others. It was only then he noticed a lull in the conversation. Surprisingly it was Parrish who piped up grabbing everyone's attention.
"So, what is your name short for?"
