After a quick shower, I headed my lab to fill my rucksack for the mission. It had been a while since I went for a scientific and historic expedition so I was at bit of a loss at what to pack, but after an hour of fumbling around and repacking my pack three times I had finally finished and had all the kit I thought I might need, along with a few medical supplies and ration packs because knowing our luck something just had to go wrong.
With little over an hour to go I quickly popped down to the armory and checked out my weapon so it was ready to collect on our way to the gate room. As the guys and I had to share the changing rooms (which I still think is a bit strange, after all this time) we had to come up with a deal, they could have the room until thirty minutes before it was time to depart but after that the room was women's only. I did have complains about it now and again, but well, tough. It's not like they have to do much to get ready is it? And just like clockwork, at 0830 Jack, Daniel and Teal'c strolled out of the changing room all dressed and ready to go.
"All yours Major" Jack said while fumbling with his remaining buttons on his shirt. Looking sharp and brisk Jack looked up at me as I walked down the hall towards them. You could always count on him to look smart, even in his greens. His creases were sharp and never had ladders, his boots were bright and shinning and even his rank slides were perfectly positioned. I know it's sad and completely unprofessional to think but it kinda made my heart skip a beat when he looked so smart and commanding. Daniel on the other hand did try his best but his creases were never straight, his lapel was wonky and he always managed to have a scuff on his boots, and Teal'c? Well Teal'c still couldn't be trusted with an iron.
Feeling slightly ashamed at my thoughts about Jack I quickly adjusted my sight to the floor. My god, they must all think the floor is my favourite thing on the base! "Thank you, Sir" I mumbled, still embarrassed as I quickly made my way to the door only to be stopped by a warm but rough hand on my arm which immediately gave me goose bumps. I knew whose hand it was just by that.
"You okay Carter?" Jack asked, his warm brown eyes just staring into mine. He always had a look of confusion but wonderment when he looked at me, I never knew why. His hand slowly slipped away from my arm leaving it cold and abandoned and almost immediately the goose bumps came back.
"Yes Sir" I replied a bit stronger than before, looking him in the eyes. I could see Teal'c and Daniel in the corner of my sight giving concerned looks to one another, it was sweet that they both cared about me so. Even the slightest bit of worry and they were at my side making sure that I was okay, that I was safe. I'm glad that these three were my team mates, that they were my friends and my family.
With the slightest of nods, Jack looked at the floor and back up to meet my eyes once again, with the same look of confusion. "Okay" he muttered "we'll meet you by the gate" he said a bit louder and started to walk back down the hall I just came. Daniel and Teal'c nodded in union and slowly made their own way down to the gate room. With a sigh I pushed open the door to the changing room and began to change into my greens. With my uniform ironed and my boots polished, I'd say I looked just as good as Coronal O'neill did, if I do say so myself. Putting my baseball hat in place, I took one last look in the mirror before heading out to grab my P60 and meeting the team in the gate room.
As we all stood close to the stargate ramp feeling the wind flow down through the room, I felt a sense of freedom, a rush of power. I place the cap on my head ensuring it was tight enough for that when the wormhole finally opened it didn't go flying off.
Daniel turned towards me, cleaning his glasses on his black shirt which we wore under his green top. "You got everything you think we'll need?" He asked still looking down.
"Everything I can think of" I replied just watching him in amusement as he squinted at his glasses to make sure they were clean, then finally putting them back on. The wind from the Stargate setting up made Daniels hair do a funny dance making me even more amused. After six years of being here Daniel still never wore a baseball cap, he would have rather worn the helmet they gave us when we first started. God knows why we get away with not wearing them, we were the only team not too.
We all stared at the Stargate as the final two chevrons lit up, after all this time we never got tired of seeing it, of it making our hearts leap into our throats and giving us butterflies in our stomach from the excitement of being able to go through that wormhole. It got to me every time I watched the horizon ripple like a lake on a bright, windy day.
As a rush of wind hit us nearly throwing our caps across the gate room all of us looked away from the bright tidal wave coming towards us, the sound deafening us for a minute. Absolutely beautiful and I was able to walk through it almost every day, with my team, my family. I felt amazingly blessed as the Coronal said 'ready?' to us all as we walked up the ramp side by side towards the beautiful horizon.
