The usual alarms sounded as Atlantis made their scheduled dial in. Cam walked into the gate room, knowing that something more than data arrived today. He'd met Major Lorne on his last trip to Atlantis and liked the guy.
As he waited for the major to arrive, Cam thought about his week. He had two missions scheduled for the next few days and, barring complications, would head back to New Mexico after they were completed. Deanna had bought the stereo system he recommended, fussing about the price as she did so. Cam buried a grin. She fussed simply to pick on him, and he knew it. Their plans for his quick trip to New Mexico included installing the stereo system in her house, cooking in her kitchen while Danny and Marissa manned the grill, and taking long walks. It was all very domestic, and Cam found he liked to share the little things with Deanna.
Lorne appeared through the gate with two large bags slung over his shoulder. Cam stepped forward. "Welcome to Earth, Major."
"Thank you, Sir." Lorne stepped off the metal ramp. "It's good to be here."
As they walked out of the gate room, Cam searched for something to say. "Only two weeks back?"
"Yeah, and then three weeks on the Daedalus to get home."
Cam's eyes slid toward him. "Home, huh?"
Lorne grinned. "It grows on you."
"That's what I've been told." Cam led the way toward the infirmary.
"Permission to speak freely, Sir?"
"Granted," Cam said without thinking.
Lorne stopped in the hallway and faced him. "What's this I hear about you and Deanna Chandry?"
Cam blinked and felt his jaw drop open. He knew gossip traveled fast. Only Daniel knew how serious his relationship with Deanna had become, but the entire base knew that Cam had a new woman in his life. Most speculated on the various female members of the SGC. "How on Earth did you hear about that?"
"Oh," Lorne said, his eyes narrowing as he grinned again, "little thing about her dad being my mom's brother."
Cam's head started hurting. "You're the cousin?"
"Yep."
"And your mom's 'Aunt Paige?'"
"Yep."
"Oh, boy." Cam turned and began walking again. "She told me she had a cousin in the military, stationed overseas. I just assumed she meant Iraq or Afghanistan. Somewhere like that."
"Not Atlantis?"
"No."
"Imagine my surprise when I got an email from her, telling me all about you." Lorne shook his head ruefully.
Cam laughed. "Yeah, that had to be weird." He glanced at Lorne again. "Okay, this is weird." Before either man could respond to that, a cell phone rang. Cam fished it out of his pocket and glanced at the caller ID before answering. "Danny?"
"Get to New Mexico." Danny's voice sounded weak. Panicky.
"Whoa, hold on a minute." Cam frowned as Lorne's head came up. "What's going on?"
"There was an accident. Deanna's hurt. Bad. They're taking her into emergency surgery right now."
"How bad is bad?"
"She coded right after they got her here." Danny drew in a ragged breath. "She's still alive, but they're working on her."
Cam stared at Lorne for about ten seconds as he tried to breathe. He wasn't supposed to get phone calls like this about Deanna. She had a safe job, worked in an office and greenhouse. He was the one who drew the hazard pay and gunfire. The few seconds of shock passed, and Cam took off at a dead run. He heard Lorne speaking behind him and ignored the man. Cousin or not, this was Deanna.
Cam rounded a corner and saw Daniel and Vala up ahead. "Make a hole!"
Vala flattened herself against the wall, and Daniel frowned as he ran past. "Cam?"
He didn't answer and knew they would follow him if only to figure out where the fire was. In the briefing room, Cam peeked through the plexiglass window and saw that Landry wasn't on the phone. Rather than knocking, he just burst into the room.
Landry jumped slightly. "Colonel Mitchell?" he asked, slightly irritated.
"Sir, I apologize for barging in like this, but I need a really big favor." Cam tried to calm his heart and breathe normally. It had nothing to do with his run to the office. Hearing Danny's panicked voice tell him that Deanna might die without him there made breathing a difficult proposition.
Landry stared as Lorne, Daniel, and Vala entered the office. "Well, out with it, son."
"I need some time off and a chopper down to New Mexico."
"Any particular reason?" Landry asked.
"My. . . ." Cam glanced over his shoulder and realized he'd have to be completely honest with Landry to get this request granted, no matter if Vala over heard. He covered his mouth with his hand and forced his heart rate to slow. "My girlfriend was in a severe car accident. They don't know if she's going to make it."
Landry blinked. "Girlfriend? Is this a serious relationship?"
"Very." Cam looked at Lorne this time.
Landry nodded. "Okay. I'll have a chopper waiting for you."
For the first time in his life, Cam Mitchell wanted to hug the man. "Thank you, Sir." He nodded to Lorne. "I'll be ready in ten."
Lorne accepted the invitation with a nod. "Yes, Sir."
Vala started speaking, but Daniel shushed her. Cam appreciated that. He didn't want to answer inane questions about his girlfriend when she might be dying somewhere without him. Ten minutes later, his duffel bag in hand, he found Teal'c and Sam waiting with Daniel, Vala, and Lorne at the elevator. "Guys."
Sam gave him a sympathetic look. "Daniel told us."
"Indeed," Teal'c added. "Please pass along our regards, Colonel Mitchell."
Cam nodded. "Thanks." Minutes later, he and Lorne sat silently in a chopper bound for Holloman Air Force Base in southern New Mexico. Cam stared at the ground passing below them and sent a silent prayer toward heaven.
oOo
Danny met them in the hospital lobby. Cam had texted him when they landed, and he led them to a private waiting room. Then, he turned. "Evan, didn't know you were back."
Lorne glanced at Cam briefly. "Just got back. Didn't know the colonel and Deanna knew each other."
Wanting to give the cousins the courtesy of a short greeting, Cam waited until Danny looked at him. "What happened?"
"She fell asleep." Danny shrugged. "I've never known Deanna to do something like that, but it has been an interesting few weeks. I know she's not sleeping well, and she's been on edge lately. I guess it got to her. She fell asleep at the wheel and strayed into another lane, clipping the car there. The other driver doesn't want to press charges-thank God. He's pretty shaken up about the whole thing. His car ran into a guard rail. Deanna's flipped and went down a ravine."
Cam rubbed both hands over his face. Deanna probably hadn't slept well since he left New Mexico. No. Cam stopped that train of thought immediately. He knew that she understood the pressures of his job. He let out a deep breath. "Has she said anything to you about stuff missing or strange events?"
Danny frowned. "She said that she's been forgetting to turn the computer off in the office at night. Which, now that you mention it, is strange since she's very OCD about her desk. She turns that computer off every night."
Cam watched the man puzzle that out in his head and sat down in a chair with a sinking suspicion. A few days ago, he'd been talking to Deanna when she reacted to something in her room. He'd heard the forced cheerfulness in her voice. She'd put on a happy face for him, not wanting to worry him.
Lorne sat down next to him. "Sir, what's going on?"
"I'm not sure, yet." Cam shrugged. "Let's see how things go."
Lorne accepted that and sat back in his chair. Cam admired the man's calm demeanor and wished he could replicate it. After all, the hospital staff would frown if he started running laps around the halls to relieve the tension building in his stomach. Before he could dwell too much on the thought, the waiting room door opened. Marissa charged through and directly into Danny's arms.
She hugged him fiercely. "Danny, I'm so sorry!" After a moment, she touched his face. "How is she?"
"I don't know."
Cam stood, along with Lorne. Marissa turned and made her way to Cam, giving him a quick hug. "I'm glad you're here. She'll need you." She noticed Lorne. "Friend of the family?"
Lorne blinked, still surprised at her familiarity with Danny. "No. I'm a cousin."
Marissa reached out and shook his hand. "Marissa Richman."
"Evan Lorne."
"Nice to meet you, but I wish it was under better circumstances." She moved back to Danny's side. "I spoke with my boss. I'm here until we get word."
Danny pulled her back into a hug, and Cam turned his back to give them some privacy. Lorne followed suit and grinned. "There's a lot Deanna didn't tell me."
Cam appreciated his subject change. He glanced at Marissa and Danny still wrapped in each others arms. "Imagine my reaction to seeing Danny burn steaks on the grill because that particular lady appeared."
Lorne's grin widened briefly. Then, he sobered. "Dee's gonna pull through this."
"I know." Cam frowned at the wall. "I just hope I don't have to ask for an even bigger favor to make that happen."
Lorne touched his shoulder and left him brooding in the corner. With Deanna in surgery, he had nothing to do but think. For the first time in his life, he realized what his mother went through when his dad lost his legs. And when he crashed over Antarctica. If he lost Deanna. . . . He refused to finish the thought.
~TBC
