Part 2

"So, they caved on the price and I bought it. I sign the papers tomorrow."

"Hey, kids. What's up?" Jack O'Neill settled down next to Daniel in a chair at the table informally recognized as SG1's in the cafeteria of the SGC, putting his tray in front of him and immediately digging in.

"Jack. 'Morning'." Daniel looked up from his breakfast, and back down again. "Do you think these really are eggs?"

The Colonel looked down curiously at Daniel's plate and shrugged. "Said so on the menu, but you never know. Personally, I think the oatmeal's a safer bet." He gestured with his fork at his meal and then took a bite. "Yeah, definitely safer. So, what's up? Looked like you were in some sort of serious discussion."

Daniel looked down at his meal suspiciously, finally pushing it away. "Sam bought a house."

"Really." The Colonel grinned. "Congratulations, Carter. Nice to know you actually have a place off base that you can dump your stuff. Even if you don't live there."

She bristled, annoyed at his assumption that she wasn't going to follow through and actually live in her house. Considering that he had started the whole business of her "getting a life" and consequently her buying a house, uhh, even if he didn't know it, precisely, he still shouldn't assume… yeah. Anyway.

"I do intend to live there. I like it; I bought it; it's mine." When the Colonel looked up at her, somewhat surprised by her tone, she added, for emphasis, "It's a great house."

"Uhuh, I'm sure it is. Whatever you say, Carter." He looked up from his oatmeal, staring suspiciously at Daniel.

"Hey. I did not do a thing. Nothing. Totally innocent here. I haven't even seen the house. But Sam says you have. "

"Excuse me? I've seen her house? I don't think so."

Sam reacted. "I -- jeez, Daniel."

Oh yeah, that was articulate. She rubbed the bridge of her nose, trying to regroup. It wasn't actually Daniel's fault that he'd dropped the bomb she'd been carefully trying to avoid mentioning to the Colonel concerning the fact that she was now literally… well, almost literally, living in his back yard. She hadn't mentioned to Daniel not to mention her latest start to the Colonel.

She sighed, remembering all the carefully -- ok, maybe not finalized -- but nearly-there ideas she'd had to make the idea more palatable to her CO and consigned them to the dustbin of "what ifs" that littered her life.

"Carter?"

She shrugged. "You have seen it, but I didn't mention it because, to be honest, I never expected the deal to go through. I bought the Victorian on 19th by your place; the one when we were picking up beer for your party for the SGC last month you pointed out when we drove by. The one you called the 'wicked witch of the west'. That one. So, actually, you have seen it. Sort of. "

The Colonel looked at her, cocking his head, and then back down at his breakfast. "You do know that it's avocado, orange and purple inside and the electrical system is shot to hell."

"Yes, of course I do. I bought it. "

He looked up from his oatmeal, smiling. "Good choice, Carter."

Huh, well who knew what that meant. He was the Colonel, after all, and so indecipherable at best, but at least he didn't seem to be objecting to the idea that she moving into his neighborhood, not that he actually had any control over it. Where she chose to live was one of the few things the Air Force didn't control right now about her life and -- whoah. She liked being in the Air Force, so where did that thought come from? Time to get a grip, obviously.

"Like your style, Carter, and your courage."

"Sir?"

He grinned. "Well, you also must know that it's haunted. Had that reputation for years. That's why it hasn't sold before now."

He paused for effect and then continued, gesturing with his fork. "Ghosts, Goa'ulds, goblins and yucky stuff after it gets dark. Lots of fun; especially after midnight, when the goblins awake, as every really informed person knows is true. You can count me in for help. I've always wanted to meet a goblin."

She raised her eyes, and grimaced, acknowledging his tacit acceptance of the location of her new house by his house through what were really bad jokes.

"Thanks, sir. I promise that if I need some help with goblin gutting I'll be sure to ask."

"No problem, Carter. Just let me know."

She sighed and then thought again about the conversation. "How did you know it was purple, avocado green, and orange inside and needed a complete electrical overall?"

He grinned. "Considered buying it myself after Abydos. Those ghosts you have in residence were just too scary."

"Cute, sir."

He smiled. "I aim to please."

Yeah, right. Sure he did.

TBC…