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Around the regs
Chapter Two: Trap
Watching one's six.
Colonel Jack O'Neill was very much aware of the double entendre.
It was a task of his job he took great care of, as he felt the responsibility for his team and the Cheyenne Mountain Complex every moment. As the Commanding Officer, it was his job to ensure that nothing happened to his team, so he always had Daniel's, Teal'c's and Sam's back.
But, unlike with Daniel and Teal'c, Jack was very much aware that, much like everything else, it was all different, where Carter was concerned. Because watching her six was more than a job, it was something he did – and liked doing – quite literally in every meaning of the word. It was a pleasure, although a pleasure he tried not to indulge in too obviously. She was a keen observer and with their unusual connection could always feel, when he was watching her, so he only had few opportunities, where he could indulge himself. So Jack wasn't about to let a good opportunity pass by unused.
Which was, exactly, why he had taken residence up in the control room, insisting on staying, even though Carter had claimed, he must have more important things to do. How she got the idea that paperwork could even remotely compare to watching her repair the Stargate's data processor, he had no clue. Then again, she couldn't see, what he was seeing right now.
Which was, Carter stuck waist-deep in the large, closet-like mainframe that took up most of one wall of the control room, trying to get down to the damage that had caused the processor to malfunction in the first place. Only her legs, her feet and her, well, six were still visible, while she bent and flexed to wriggle past the cables within the processor. The light of her flashlight flickered from the rather big hole, where she had dismantled a maintenance panel and had disappeared in the bulky machine.
And while she grunted occasionally, most likely enjoying the challenge the processor was providing, Jack was left with a spectacular view of her backside without having to fear any repercussions. From time to time he would feel guilty ogling her up and down like this, but then he told himself, he was only watching over her, so he would spare her the stares of others. As contradicting as it sounded, Jack was pretty sure she didn't mind him looking, but wouldn't be fond of getting drooled on by every SF entering. And by now, Jack had scared away three SF's, two Captains from other SG teams and, astonishingly, four scientists with well-placed, withering stares.
Behind them Chief Master Sergeant Harriman worked on the Stargate's controlling computers without having so much as glanced in their direction. Upon seeing that Jack would stay, the Sergeant had deemed it out of his hands, had concluded that he wouldn't need to check on Major Carter and had turned his attention to his actual job. But, apparently, he was the only one able to look away from Carter's, admittedly, tempting six.
Jack felt his gaze getting drawn in to her almost magnetically and by now already beyond the point where he only admired her beauty, his body was beginning to tense in a betraying way. Seeing her long legs shift, when she turned within the processor and her BDUs tighten over her six when she stretched, he had to use his whole strength to keep his thoughts from running away.
"Carter? You done soon?", he asked grouchily.
She arched her back and her black tank top rode up, revealing a patch of pale skin at her waist. He almost groaned out loud. Well, he had no one to blame but himself. After all, he had insisted to stay, knowing quite well in what mess he would get himself.
"Not sure, sir.", her muffled voice replied from the inside of the processor. "I haven't found…"
She trailed off suddenly and he perked up immediately. Honestly, he had been against her crawling into that… thing in the first place. The moment General Hammond had approached her to have a look at the processor acting up and she had announced her brilliant idea, he had seen her get electrocuted before his inner eye. He had argued with her about half an hour, but she had finally shut him up with admitting that, essentially, there was no other way to find out what was wrong with the processor short of opening it up and have a look inside. And of course, being their resident computer genius, she had to do that. So he really had no choice but to comply with it. But he'd only agreed to it, when she had explained that she would cut off all power flow and would not be in any danger. He still didn't trust the whole situation, another reason, why he'd stayed, but he was placated enough to let her prevail. Still, just because he gave his okay, didn't mean he was okay with her working surrounded by high charged electricity…
"AHA!", she announced triumphantly all of a sudden and Jack's attention was picked. Normally, this meant she had found whatever was wrong. He opened his mouth to question her, when suddenly a shower of high-lit, sizzling sparks of electricity flew from the hole she was encompassed within. Crackling sounds reverberated through the control room, almost drowning out the yelp coming from her and the dull thud when something banged against something within the processor, what Jack highly feared to be her head.
"Carter!", he yelled surprised, surging up from his chair and rushing over to her.
The sparks died down, but he didn't get an answer from her. Jack rushed over to the intercom and ground out through gritted teeth: "Medical team to the control room! Sergeant Siler to the control room! I repeat…"
He had left the intercom behind and slid back over to Sam once more, before Sergeant Harriman had even processed, what had happened. The Chief Master Sergeant wisely stayed out of the way, wary of the medical team that had to arrive any moment.
Jack didn't even spare him a side-glance. He crouched down and peered into the dark hole of the processor.
"Carter?", he called out worried.
"I'm fine, sir.", she replied, sounding slightly groggy.
Fine, my ass, he growled inwardly. Of course, she was not!
But before he could answer with some well-chosen words, the Napoleonic power monger and her team stormed into the control room, Sergeant Siler only slightly behind them. Jack stood up upon seeing them, turning for the medics, who were dumping their stuff in the middle of the control room.
"Colonel!", Janet addressed him immediately. "What happened?"
"This thing…!", the Colonel growled displeased, while motioning toward the processor. "Just exploded into sparks with Carter still in it."
Janet gulped and then bent down to ask into the hole her legs were sticking out: "Sam? You alright?"
"Yes.", Sam's muffled voice answered and just like the first time, Jack didn't believe her for a second.
"Can you get out?", Janet asked next.
"No.", Sam admitted. "I'm stuck."
The Colonel growled, very audibly. What did she mean, stuck?!
"Major Carter.", Siler cut in, stepping up next to the good Doctor. "Did you separate the processor from all power sources, before you started your examination?"
"Of course!", Sam huffed indignantly from within the processor, obviously affronted someone could even suspect her to have forgotten.
"Well, Carter, from my point of view, it's still getting electricity from somewhere.", Jack drawled angrily.
"I know, sir.", she said. "But I don't know how that's possible! It shouldn't do anything anymore!"
"Major Carter.", Siler took over once more. "The controlling computers are connected to the processor. Did you take them off electricity?"
"Yes.", Sam insisted.
Puzzled, Jack turned to Siler. "But Walter was just working on them!"
Siler turned around astonished and saw Harriman nod to Jack's words. Simultaneously, the other Sergeant and Sam inside the processor groaned.
"What?", Jack asked, piqued that all those geniuses knew what was wrong and he had no clue.
"There has to be something wrong with the wiring.", Siler concluded. "If Major Carter has disabled all power flow to the processor and the connected computers, then my guess is that some pins have been switched, when the processor has been set up and it is still able to power itself up, because it's not functioning in the way it should…"
The Colonel's face grew more and more stormy and heated with every word the Sergeant ushered, making him finally trail off uneasily. Oh, Jack just knew, there was someone responsible for that! And God help this scientist, when he would get his hands on them!
"Any chance to get it off the power?", Jack all but growled.
Siler hesitated. "Well, we would have to disassemble the whole thing to see, where it's wired wrong…"
"How long's that gonna take?", Jack inquired.
"Um… hours… at best.", Siler admitted.
"Oh, for cryin' out loud!", Jack groaned. Even he knew that they couldn't leave Carter in that thing that long. She would get fried sooner or later, when another electrical outburst would hit. And Jack was pretty sure that another one would come. It was just the way things worked for SG-1…
"Sir, we could…!", Siler began, but Jack effectively interrupted him. "Ah! Don't wanna hear it now! Just get my 2IC out of her misery, before this thing causes some damage Fraiser won't be able to fix!"
Siler nodded and crouched down next to Sam's legs. He took a flashlight light from his utility belt and shone it towards her. Jack tapped his finger against his arm, waiting impatiently. For a second there was silence, while Siler seemed to assess the situation. Jack started tapping his foot on the concrete. Then Siler started talking to her, but Jack couldn't hear a word, because of the processor being in the way. And Jack began pacing. Then Siler's head disappeared into the processor. Jack stopped, his eyes glued to what was happening. Siler shifted, stretched and bent, but finally he emerged back out, looking resigned.
He stood up and turned towards Jack. "Sir, I'm sorry, but Major Carter's watch has tangled in the cables, trapping her arm. She can't undo it, because she has no room to move, and unfortunately, I couldn't help her. I couldn't reach her. We need someone taller…"
"Oh, swell…", Jack answered, rubbing the bridge of his nose exasperated.
"Sir, maybe you should try.", Janet suggested.
Jack's head shot around. Was she kidding him?! Under no circumstances should he be the one to be trapped with Carter in a tight spot with half the base looking! He knew she needed help and, for the love of all, he would do anything to be the one to come to her rescue, but he still was aware that this was a decidedly bad idea…
Janet shot him a stern look. "Sir, as far as I know, and I have access to the personal files, we don't have many men taller than you are on the base."
Shit, Jack cursed inwardly. She was probably right. Teal'c might be the only one about his height and he was currently accompanying Daniel on some archaeological excavation on PX-godknowswhat…
"Oh for cryin'…!"
Jack bent down and stuck his head into the processor. He saw Carter's flashlight hanging down from a cable, shining directly into his face. He squinted his eyes, but wasn't able to see anything of his 2IC against the light.
"Carter?", he called out.
"Yes?", she answered weakly.
Hearing her to be in obvious discomfort, he really had no chance. He sighed. "I'm comin' in…"
He shifted to lie on his back, next to her legs, and then used the hole's edge to pull himself into the processor. Immediately he was greeted by a stray spark that sizzled past him. Hm, cozy.
He pushed up with his legs and wary of all the cables around him, maneuvered upwards. When he reached the damn flashlight, he yanked it out and threw it down, hearing it clamber over the control room's floor with satisfying clanks.
Now he was without light, but after a short moment his eyes adjusted and he could look at Sam. As expected, she was right beside him. Her left arm was dragged upwards, stretched in a manner that had to hurt, he could tell just from looking, and, indeed, her watch was entangled in cables, keeping her arm stuck high up in the processor. In contrast, her head was pressed down by a part of the metal encasing that had come down, weighing down on her left shoulder.
Jack winced sympathetically at seeing her state.
"Sir…", she said surprised upon seeing him. "What are you doing here?"
Carefully, he tried to move over to her and felt his hip bump against hers. She grimaced slightly, when the movement jostled her jammed shoulder.
"Well, apparently, they needed someone like me to do the job.", he announced.
Sam snorted weakly. "Siler's too short?", she asked.
"Yep.", he answered. "He couldn't reach you."
"I noticed.", she said.
Jack reached up, but still failed to get to her watch. "Well, looks like we're gonna have to squeeze tight, too.", he stated dryly.
"Whatever you need, sir.", she complied.
Grunting, Jack tried to maneuver around the cables and the metal encasing blocking her shoulder to get closer to her. Seeing, what he was trying to achieve, Sam reached towards the back of the processor with her free hand and splaying it against the cold metal, she pushed backwards, trying to give him space. Jack ducked through under her hand and managed to get under her, carefully pushing himself up with his still free feet, trying his best to not think about the fact that he was now practically sliding up her chest…
He succeeded in getting so far that he was able to look straightly onto her neck, but then the metal coating prevented him from climbing any higher. He brought one of his hands up and pushed it out of the way. He didn't get it completely out of his way, so he still had to operate around it, but at least Sam was mostly freed from it. Sighing in audible relief she slumped forwards, when she was finally relieved from the pressure digging into her shoulder… and fell right against his chest. Jack froze in his tracks, when her head landed on his shoulder, her breath blowing down his neck.
"Um… Carter?", he whispered insecure. Could the others hear, what they were talking about in here?
"I know, sir.", she murmured back, right into his shirt above his collarbone. "I'll stand up immediately…"
But her attempt was so weak, that he almost chuckled at it. "You know, Carter?", he grinned. "Better stay put as you are. Gives me more room to move."
"Yes, sir.", she agreed.
He shifted slightly under her, hoisting them both up a bit and thus managed to get his legs profusely entangled with hers. For a moment he wondered, how that might look from the outside, but was relieved from any speculating, when Janet's voice yelled: "How's it going, Colonel?"
The good Doctor had to raise her voice to reach them within the metal encasing and with the whole space covered by his large body, Janet couldn't really poke her head in. Which was probably why she still sounded completely oblivious to what was going on in the tight space of the processor…
"I'm workin' on it!", he shouted back. "Gimme a bit time!"
With a bit of twisting around, he got his arm around Sam and reached up to her captured hand. With his fingers only grazing her wrist, he began disentangling her from the cables. It took quite some time, but finally he heard a snap and suddenly Sam fell down onto him, her whole weight landing on him. In an automatic reaction, he caught her and together they banged against the back of the processor, his head knocking painfully against the moderately hard metal.
Jack became instantly aware that he had probably ripped something important with his fall, because immediately, sparks erupted all around them. In a reflex, Jack grabbed onto Sam and tried to curl in around her, to shield her from the electricity flying all around them. He distinctly felt his abused knees smash into the outer encasing of the processor, pain dancing through them instantly, and heard Janet call out worriedly. Sam winced against his chest and held onto him. But luckily, they weren't hit by the electricity, merely got a few minor shocks from stray sparks that left their arms and legs tingling for a second.
After a moment, everything was over and Jack and Sam were left in an eerie silence, their heavy breathing a suddenly harsh contrast.
Jack lowered his head, until he felt his mouth brush her ear. "You alright?", he asked concerned. She lifted her head in response, until her nose and mouth came into contact with his jaw. "I'm fine, sir.", she stated. "Just exhausted. And my shoulder hurts."
"Yeah, I figured.", he chuckled. Slowly, he moved his legs down again, practically hearing his knees protest with the strain he'd put them under.
"Colonel? Sam?", he heard Fraiser call out from the outside worried.
"So, you wanna get out of here?", he inquired, speaking right into Sam's ear.
She sighed, which sounded more like a wince. "Gimme a second?", she asked. "Need to gather some strength…"
"Take your time.", he agreed. Then he yelled for Fraiser: "We're fine! Still need some time, though!"
Fraiser probably answered something, but Jack felt his attention taken from the good Doctor the moment Sam reached around him, grabbing onto the back of his shirt and hugging him close. She sighed relieved and he could almost imagine her close her eyes. It was an almost habitual reaction to embrace her back, tucking his head down into the crook of her neck, pulling her intimately close to him.
"Thank you…", she said.
"Any time.", he answered sincerely.
He indulged for a moment in her scent wafting all around him, before their situation knocked onto their little bubble. He had to get them out of here, because they were still in imminent danger of getting electrocuted.
By now, he was pretty sure, Sam was only half-conscious anymore and wondered, how much she'd really gotten hit with. Slowly, inch by inch, the Colonel worked them down, trying to get them out of the processor. He had to go slow so they wouldn't get tangled in other cables, but finally he could see the light. He used a hand to pull them out by holding onto the hole's edge, but he didn't want to take the other off of Sam. But then he could feel additional hands grab onto his legs to pull, probably Siler and a few of the male nurses. Holding onto Sam, Jack let them pull him out of the hole and tried not to smile at the picture they would undoubtedly get to see, when they would emerge: him in a tight embrace with his 2IC, who was by now lying sprawled on top of him. He couldn't care less right now. Sam had needed his help and for her, he would do about anything…