The Tegan Chronicles

Too Busy for Love 1

Tegan's life had been nuts since they'd returned from the encounter with Hek'tu, with the whole disappearance of SG4 and Nirrti infiltrating the base and in the end killing Shadow. She pulled into the driveway and shook the thought from her head. They'd had a small memorial service for him, it was time to move on. A week had passed, and she was no closer to her goal. Of course she had her reasons, or excuses. Work, Janet, work, Janet, she shook her head again and pulled the keys from the ignition. She wasn't going to think about Shadow, or the night she'd cried herself to sleep in Janet's arms. She wasn't going to think about anything but the task ahead.

The next morning Janet stood in the doorway to Tegan's lab, it was just after ten am, which meant she'd been busy earlier with physicals. "I tried calling you last night."

Tegan nodded but continued her work, turning the knob on the side of the microscope ever so slightly.

"They said you went home." She knew Tegan hadn't been home since Shadow was killed.

"I was busy."

"You didn't answer your mobile either."

"It died." Did the battery dying five minutes before she got to base count? She glanced to her desk where it was charging and then buried her face back in the microscope.

"You didn't return my call, I left a message."

"I know." She wasn't going to flat out lie, and she'd already said she was busy.

"Does this have to do with…?" Janet looked to Shadow's bed still lying by the desk.

Tegan looked up. "No, I'm fine. I'm just busy."

"Alright." She looked at her tired eyes knowing she hadn't slept. "I'm not going to push, but you know I'm here for you."

"I do." Tegan offered a soft smile before burying her head again.

Two days later Janet looked up as Tegan stepped into the infirmary. Concern marred her features as she drew her attention. "Hey?"

"Hey." Tegan smiled noting the look. "I'm fine, just looking for Dana."

"She's in the main lab running a few tests."

"Thanks."

"Tegan?" Janet stopped her before she could get through the double doors.

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to do dinner tonight?"

The left corner of her mouth pulled down. "Can I take a rain check?"

"Sure." Janet shrugged. She wondered briefly why she couldn't, but her attention was quickly averted when Julie called her name.

"Are you sleeping?" Janet asked the next morning as she slipped her pen light back into her pocket.

Tegan nodded.

"Hmmm." She didn't really believe her. "How many hours?"

"Enough."

"I think you should see –"

"It has nothing to do with him Janet. I'm fine, really." She gave her a small smile.

Janet sighed, and accepted it as the truth. "Alright, you're cleared to jump."

"Thanks." Tegan swung her legs off the side of the bed and stood.

"When are you due back?"

"Two days."

"Friday?"

Tegan nodded.

"Want to get together maybe go catch an action flick or something?" She knew Tegan would wrinkle her nose over a romantic comedy, though she thought that's what she could use.

"I…" Tegan raised her eyebrows.

"You're busy?"

"Yeah."

Janet looked at her for a minute, she wanted to grab her hand, but they were out in the open in the infirmary. "As long as you're not holing yourself up in the house."

"I'm not." Tegan smiled. "I promise. Now, can I go?"

"Yes, but… be careful."

"Always."

"Rise and shine campers!" Jack's voice bellowed as Tegan stepped out of the tent she shared with Sam rubbing her eyes. "How'd you sleep Kiser?"

"Like a baby." She'd taken first watch. "I didn't even hear Sam snoring."

"I don't snore." Sam punched her shoulder lightly, pushing past her.

"I've heard you snore Carter, you put me to shame."

"You don't snore in you're sleep Jack, and if you do you've got some smelly ass breath." Daniel poured a cup of the black sludge that was sitting by the campfire.

"Whatever are you implying Daniel?"

"He is implying that you are full of flatulence." Teal'c pulled his staff weapon from its resting place against a tree.

Jack feigned horror at the comment.

"Give it up Colonel, you're not fooling any of us." Tegan grinned.

"Let's pack it up, I want to be home in time to watch the Simpsons."

"How'd the mission go?" Janet stepped around the corner, having saved Tegan for last as usual.

"We saw lots of trees."

"No people?" Janet already knew the answer from doing Daniel's physical.

"Nope, just trees."

Janet nodded, noting silently that Tegan was looking a little better than she had before the mission. The occurrence was odd, but she didn't think too much about it as she continued her post mission physical.

Janet looked up as Tegan and Sam walked into the mess hall together. She started to throw her hand up and wave them over when she realized they were too engrossed in conversation to notice. Tegan was laughing heartily at something Sam had just said. Janet wondered when the last time she'd see such a large and genuine smile on Tegan's face. It had to have been over a month ago.

"Hey." Sam approached with her tray. "Can we join you?"

"Sure." Janet smiled as Sam slid into the chair across from her.

Tegan stepped behind Sam and sat beside her so she was catty corner to Janet.

"You look tired." Janet glanced at Tegan who took a bite of the chicken club sandwich she'd picked up.

Tegan chewed what was in her mouth and gulped down half a glass of water before responding. "I'm sleeping, Doc."

Janet nodded as Sam shot a look Janet couldn't read to Tegan. "At least you're eating."

"Yup." Tegan sat her almost empty glass down. "How's Cassie handling things?"

"She misses him, when she knows you're off world and he should be sleeping with her. Otherwise I don't think it's really hit her."

"Maybe it's a good thing he was only a part time dog for her." Sam pointed out.

"How about you?" Tegan looked carefully at Janet.

"He really was so well behaved I barely knew he was hanging out in the office when you were off world."

Tegan could see the sadness in her eyes and astutely said, "I miss him too."

Janet nodded, and looked at her empty plate. "I should get back to the infirmary so Dana can go to lunch."

Friday afternoon, Janet walked into Tegan's lab, as she was about to head out. "Hey."

Tegan had already changed out of her uniform in favor of a pair of faded jeans and a long sleeve blue t-shirt. She was pulling her snowboarding jacket on over the outfit, and smiled.

"Do you have plans tonight?"

"Sorry, I do. Dana didn't tell you?"

"No." Janet frowned lightly.

"Yeah, I've got a cram packed weekend."

"Would it make a difference if I pulled out my corset and riding crop?" Janet watched Tegan's right eyebrow climb toward her hair line as her smile grew.

"Uh, um." Tegan shook her head. "I'm really, really busy."

"Cheating on me?"

"No." She didn't even hesitate. "Who'd even want me?"

"Everyone, I've seen how people look at you."

"No they don't." Tegan replied with sincere modesty.

"They do, trust me."

"Ok, but why would I want them when I've got you?"

"You really don't want me to answer that question." Janet's voice held a hint of self berating.

"I love you, Janet Fraiser, doctor, US Air Force Major, mother, pain in the ass CMO." She grinned before continuing. "You're sexy, and smart…"

"Not as smart as you."

"And smart," Tegan repeated. "You keep me on my toes. And I love all five foot two inches of you. You, and no one else. I'm just really busy, that's all."

"Ok, guess Cassandra and I will do pizza and a movie."

The only real time Janet had spent with Tegan in the last two and a half weeks was during her pre and post mission physicals. Despite the conversation they'd had where Tegan had assured her she wasn't cheating, Janet was having a hard time fighting the green monster. Every time she'd asked Tegan out, she was always busy. Mostly she had plans with Dana or Sam, and once or twice Janet found out it was plans with both. Then there was the night she couldn't come to dinner because she and Teal'c were doing something, and two nights in a row that she and Daniel had something going on. She was really starting to get a complex.

"Hey." Janet walked into Tegan's lab.

"Hey." Tegan looked over the dead squirrel like animal she was dissecting.

"Yum!" Janet pointed.

Tegan grinned from behind the surgical mask she wore, a precaution she always took when working with plants and animals from other planets.

"Speaking of," Janet continued. "Dinner my place tonight?"

"Sorry," Tegan clicked her tongue. "I've got plans tonight."

Janet frowned. "You've always got plans anymore. What is it this time? Is Colonel O'Neill helping you wash your hair?"

"Very funny." Tegan shook her head. She hated keeping secrets from Janet.

"How about this weekend?"

Tegan blew out a burst of air puffing out her mask.

"What are you blowing me off for?"

"I'm not blowing you off Janet; I've just got lots of stuff to do."

"What kind of stuff?" She knew she shouldn't pry, but this was Tegan; Her Tegan. "Maybe I can help."

"Thanks for the offer, but I've got it." Tegan pretended not to have heard the first question.

"Alright." Janet looked down at her shoes for a second. "I should get back to the infirmary."

Tegan laid her forceps down and pulled her mask off. This wasn't going to work out. What good would it do if she put every waking minute away from work into this project only to have Janet leave her in the end. She sighed and stripped her latex gloves off tossing them in the biohazard bin.

After washing her hands she called Sam's lab.

"Carter."

"Hey Sam, I appreciate all the help you've been."

"Ok?"

"I don't need your help tonight, or Friday. I, uh, need to spend a little time with Janet."

Sam laughed. "I understand. It'll give me a little more time to work on this reactor."

"Good, just don't work through the night."

"Look who's talking." Sam shook her head before hanging up the phone.

Janet spoke coolly from behind her desk before Tegan could. "Can I help you?"

"I guess I deserve that." Tegan looked at her boots.

"Deserve what?"

"The cold greeting."

"You are standing in my doorway, which means you need something." Janet sighed. It was her normal greeting for most other people, not Dana, or any of SG1, but most everyone else.

She could easily say never mind and walk away, but that would just lead to problems later.

"Tegan?"

"Sorry." She looked up at Janet. "I was wondering if the invitation was still open for tonight?"

"I'm cooking. I've got to feed Cassandra."

That wasn't really an inviting response. "Guess I'll just wash my hair then."

"I was just saying I'm not doing anything special. I hadn't planned on anything special when I invited you, just thought we could have dinner like old times."

"With Dana."

"And Cassandra."

"I'd like that." She smiled. "Think you could clear your calendar for Friday night?"

"Sure, what'd you have in mind?"

"I don't know? There's that sappy romance playing at the Cineplex downtown."

"You want to see a sappy romance?" Janet eyed her cautiously. "What'd you do with the real Tegan?"

"I tied her up and locked her in the broom closet, so are you game?"

"Yeah. Dinner's at six-thirty."

"Thanks."