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Enjoy!
Evening of the same day / Council Room / End of diner:
In an unladylike manner, Sam pushed her empty plate away.
S: (with a smile) It was delicious.
J: Looks like it, yeah…
With the tip of his finger, he indicated to his 2CO that some sauce was left at the corner of her lips. Embarrassed, she wiped it off.
S: Sorry. (she adds, as if to justify herself) I was famished.
"J: Note to self: scratch "steak" from the list of my possible reincarnations. Too dangerous. Although… Being eaten by Carter… Here I go again!"
T.A: We are going to hand you a pass to be able to access the Dome any time of the day or night.
"S: Even at night?! Ok, I grab a dessert and hop!"
J: Daytime should be enough. Right?
He threw an heavy glance to his Major.
"J: I know what you're thinking about, cutie. But, sorry, I don't like it so much when you have dark circles under your eyes."
"S: Oh, he can be SO annoying, always reading my thoughts! You'll pay for that, old man. I won't miss you at your next nap."
"D: I'd give a lot to know what those two are thinking about right now." (Fut: We can!)
"T: Indeed, that meal was delicious." (Fut: Teal'c… always totally off!)
S: Yes, Sir.
D: Tell me, Tsun: why is there such a heavy guard around the Dome? Isn't the Shield a planet propriety?
W.D: (obviously uncomfortable) Yes, of course it is. But for a few years we've been experiencing… problems.
J: (taking his eyes off Sam) Problems?
A.N: Even if most of our citizens look at Aras as one of our old legends they honor with a few rites through the year, it still exists a hard core of "believers" who don't really look at it the same way.
S: Believers?
T.A: They call themselves Aras' children.
"J: Not really original."
T.A: They follow the old traditions and still revere the ancient cult places that we deserted long ago. The Shield of Aras is a very important monument to them.
A.N: Until now we only had experienced minor troubles, but their new leader seems to be more… radical.
W.D: (starts to sound annoyed) He advocates a return to old traditions for all and this even by the mean of violence if necessary.
A.N: (with a sad sigh) Two moons back, they attacked a little group of researchers in the North. Nothing too bad thankfully, but since the news of your arrival spread out, tension went up a notch.
T: And why is that, Councillor?
W.D: (getting more agitated) They're scared that you will "profane"- it is their word - the Shield, and that Aras will strike us with a malediction.
"J: Oh 'cause now there's a malediction in the air?! Why doesn't anything goes according to plan with us? There's so much drama going on every time that you'd think we're in a TV show!"
Facing their guests' silence, the Supreme Counselor reassured them with a smile.
A.N: But don't be worried: the Dome's guards are well trained, you're safe.
"SG-1: Yeah, sure… That's what they all say." (Fut: I know it's weird: they have common thoughts.)
An hour later / SG-1's apartments:
Sitting around the "kitchen" table (which they didn't use anyway since all their meals were brought to them already prepared… lucky bastards!), our four accomplices exchanged their daily impressions (called by O'Neill the "post sleepies debriefing"). Teal'c confessed to be more than satisfied with his tour, assessing that in case of a fight, they would rather have the Centaurians as their allies.
S: (curious) What kind of weapons are they using?
T: From what I've been able to observe, they possess two different kinds. The ones used by the guards and any other person supposedly in contact with civilians are similar to our Zats, though slightly more powerful. The other weapon is deadly and seems to produce particles allowing to disintegrate human flesh. It is rather impressive to see.
J: (to Teal'c, pointing to Sam with a move of the chin) When you talk like that you start to sound like her. (after a moment of thinking) That is pretty scary.
Playfully teasing the young woman like that, Jack tried with his usual dysfunctional way to make her understand how sorry he was he had hurt her the previous day. That he was just a sorry bastard. A "special Jack" gently accepted his mute apology.
S: (with a teasing voice) So … You are scared of me?
Facing a blunt attack, Jack raised an eyebrow.
"J: Oh you want to play it like that, huh?"
"D: I can't believe it… they're flirting! Aren't they? And in front of us on top of it!"
J: Not as much as a complete check up at the infirmary… but not far from it.
S: (faking to be offended, with a smile) What? I am shocked, Sir.
J: Honestly, Carter. You blew up a sun! That's enough to chill out anybody!
With that subtle reminder, Sam let laughter escape her lips.
D: Hmm… Far from me the idea to stop such an interesting exchange…
"T: That's what he is doing though…"
D: But I discovered a few things that should interest you, as I was translating the inscriptions on the Dome's walls.
J: (to Sam) It had inscriptions?
S: (she smiles at him) Erm… yes: the Dome was covered with those, Sir.
J: It was so small I thought it was decorum! (to Daniel) And you can read that?
"D: I'm gonna start regretting when Sam and him weren't speaking to each other anymore: he was calmer."
D: (black glance at Jack) Anyhow. I was able to translate that Aras was most likely an Ancient who decided to offer his protection to this world.
J: And how is that? I thought your little friends didn't like to interfere in "human affairs".
D: Erm… that I do not know yet.
J: Convenient…
D: On the other hand, a certain… Pozis – if my translation is correct – is mentioned.
J: (mocking smile) We don't doubt that!
S: ("stop-bothering-Daniel" look to Jack) Pozis?
T: A minor Goa'uld. I heard about him when I was a child. But I have never met him, or even crossed path with one of his Jaffas.
D: Apparently, Pozis would have been chased from Centauris, and that partially thanks to Aras.
J: Nice guy. Ok, I know all this is probably very exciting for you. A brand new Ancient and a Goa'uld… thrilling! But why is that supposed to have any interest to me?
D: (raising his eyebrows with annoyance) I am fairly worried that Pozis might still be out there, somewhere, waiting for Centauris to lose it's Shield?
S: You think that after all that time he would still be around?
T: Goa'ulds have a rather spiteful nature, Major Carter.
"The others: No kidding?!"
Jack was thoughtful for a moment.
J: Carter… Did you bring that little toy Jacob gave us not long ago?
S: Sorry Sir?
J: You know, that ... planetary scanner.
S: (surprised) Oh. Yes.
J: (hesitating) What? That's not it?
S: Yes, it is Colonel.
J: Then what's up with the face?
S: (with a smile) It's just that I didn't thought you were listening.
D: You should know that when it's you speaking, Jack always listens… (Jack throws him a deadly glance) … Because you're so clever!
T: Indeed I think that a scan could reveal the position of possible threats and so give us an undeniable tactical advantage.
"D: How can he make sentences so long without taking a breath?"
J: You do that Major. Scan.
S: Yes, Sir.
On that, Sam left the room. With a frown, Jack threw a glance full of incomprehension to Daniel.
D: Erm.. Jack, you just told her to scan.
T: So this is what Major Carter is going to do.
J: (standing up as well) I meant tomorrow! The lake's not on fire! (he leaves)
D: (to Teal'c) On the other hand… if we're surrounded, wouldn't it be better to know about it as fast as possible?
T: Indeed.
Carter's room:
Jack was about to knock on the door when this one, probably detecting his presence, slid open by itself. He stood there, hand in the air, still about to knock.
"J: Heh… Technology…"
He walked in with hesitation.
J: Carter?
"J: Feels like 'déjà vu'…"
S: Here!
"J: At least this time she's awake. Too bad."
She was sitting on the bed, her eyes frowning over what Jack thought of as a game boy.
J: Time to turn in, Major.
S: (without looking up) I'm almost done, Colonel.
J: Carter…
S: The parameters are a bit more complicated that I thought at first, but I think I'm starting to get the hang of it.
J: Sam…
Her first name had escaped him in an amused sigh. With her back facing him, Sam froze. Was that tenderness she'd heard in his voice?
"S: I have to stop taking my dreams for reality. I'm probably very tired… yeah that must be it."
J: (trying to get back to a less sensitive ground) Erm… You know I didn't mean for you to do it now… the scan. It's late and…
S: (with an impatient move of her hand) I know, I know. But I was too excited to use the scanner.
J: In that case… Good night Major. Don't stay up too late.
He spun around, leaving her with her toy.
S: Colonel…
"J: Damn! And I thought I was already back in my bed!"
J: (with a tired sigh, turning toward her) Listen, Carter. I'm really not in the mood to hear you detail that… stuff back and forth so …
S: It doesn't work.
J: Huh?
S: (looking back at him now) The scanner seems… jammed.
Not really knowing if he should leave her on that simple fact or patiently wait for her to solve the problem, Jack simply stood there, playing the tip of his foot on the floor.
J: (in his beard) Bet it's that damn shield.
S: Of course! That's it, you're right!
The colonel looked up at her. The spectacle of her shimmering gaze and her famous smile, as usual made him lose his train of thoughts.
J: Great… About what?
S: (with an amused smile) About the shield. It's what's jamming the signal.
Seeing that she didn't told him everything yet, he motioned for her to continue.
J: And…?
S: That's pretty bad news, Sir.
J: (same move) Because…?
"S: Can't he guess by himself a bit?"
S: Because we can't know if there are ships circling above us, and if yes how many!
J: Too bad.
"S: Did I hear right?"
S: How's that "too bad"?!
J: Listen Carter. No need to pull you hair out about that: there's a shield covering aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall the planet. We can sleep tight don't you think?
S: You're right.
J: I should hope so!
S: Goodnight, Sir.
J: Right, see you tomorrow.
Sam sighed with relied as he left. She collapsed on her bed.
"S: How is it that our relationship became so complicated? Though I must say that if I only had professional feelings for him, it would make things easier. Sure, it's not the famous Jack O'Neill who would get all worked up with stuff so stupid… I wonder what he's doing right now."
Jack's Room:
Without knowing it, he had taken the exact same position as his 2CO on his bed.
"J: Only 15 days left and I'll have to call her Mrs Shanahan. Mrs Samantha Shanahan. Seriously doesn't sound right! Though Mrs Samantha O'Neill, that's already better!"
Brutally sitting up, Jack frantically ran a hand through his hair, trying to chase that thought out of his mind. The picture that the Carter from the mirror had taken with her. The one of "their" wedding. Was it when all this had started?
"J: Pff… yeah sure, try to convince yourself! You fell for her right when she walked in the briefing room that first day… Well right before you knew she was ANOTHER scientist. Though, science with Carter… "
J: RHAA!
With a frustrated groan, Jack stood up and went for a good (cold) shower, just to clear his head before going to bed for good.
J: The night's gonna be long…
I know, action's coming around slowly but I promise I'll work on that in the next chapters! It's gonna move, let me tell you that!
Will Jack sleep more than two hours? Will SG-1 finally succeed in copying the shield's technology? Will Teal'c keep on his efforts to have more than 2 lines per chapter? All this you will (maybe) discover it in the next chapter!
PS: Please, reviews! :D