A/N: This one takes place a few months after Atlantis is found and resting safely on it's new planet and Carter has become the new leader of Atlantis. Thank you for the reviews and all those reading.
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Stargate Atlantis, Stargate SG1 or it's wonderful characters.
Spoilers: Probably Everything SGA & SG1. If you are worried it may be better not to read – sorry.
On the timeline: SG1 Seasons Over, SGA Season 4 – Missing
10 - Comfort
"Hey, Cam, how are you doing," Samantha Carter called in greeting as her grinning image appeared on a monitor in the control room at the SGC. General Landry had informed Cameron earlier in the day that Sam would be dialing in to speak with him that evening. Cameron had spent the day wondering why. Why had she not relayed the message through General Landry or sent an email? She could've even had him paged to the control room during her initial dial-in and spoke with him then.
Cam had lost Colonel Samantha Carter as a team member right after Atlantis had been found and settled on their new home planet. Everyone was relieved to hear Atlantis had been found, but saddened that it wasn't without bad news – Dr. Elizabeth Weir had sacrificed her life in an effort to save Atlantis. Her heroics had helped Sheppard's team procure the ZPM power necessary to sustain the shield around Atlantis until they could safely land the city on the new planet.
Sam had been given the Command of the Atlantis base.
Cameron grinned back at Sam, her smile too infectious not to. "Hey, I'm still mad at you for breaking up the band," he said in mock anger.
"It had to happen sometime, Cam. I couldn't let a base command pass me by, especially Atlantis."
"I know, I know, but now you have Jackson lobbying every day to go there too. I'm getting too old to be picking a new team. At the moment I'm down to Vala being the only loyal one of the bunch." Although Cameron was teasing her, he was exasperated at the amount of time and effort it was going to take to get a cohesive team together.
"It'll come together for you, just give it time," Sam said in sympathy.
"Yeah, Yeah, so why the cloak-n-dagger routine? What did you need?" Cam asked, ready to dispense with the small talk and satisfy his curiosity.
"Yeah… ok… I have a favor to ask. One of our expedition members had a bad off world experience and requested to come back to Earth for some R&R at home," Sam explained. "I've already cleared it all with the SGC and General Landry. A transport leaves out of Peterson tomorrow and I have her on it. She'll report back to the SGC in a week. She's already on the Midway Station doing her mandatory 24 hour layover." Sam relayed this all very succinctly.
"What do you need me to do?" Cameron prompted, waiting for the favor. He'd do anything for Sam and she was aware of that, but he knew it had to be important for her to ask.
"I want you to watch out for her once she gets to the SGC. Just make sure she has what she needs and that she gets to Peterson for the transport tomorrow." He watched Sam look down and gather her thoughts before looking back at Cameron.
"Her first major hostile experience off world was a little more than she was ready for. She hasn't slept that I know of, although she keeps claiming to be okay. She and Teyla were taken hostage by the Bola Kai, a group of warriors not known for their mercy… I just want to know someone is looking out for her when she gets there."
"Not a problem, Sam, I'll take care of her," Mitchell promised.
Sam knew he would, that's why she'd asked him. "I'll shoot you an email later, I have to run now. Thanks for doing this for me, Cam. Good luck with finding new band members," she said with a smirk on her face.
"Gee, thanks," he said as he watched her signal someone to shut down the gate.
"Hey, Sam," he called quickly, "what's her name?"
"You met her once during a post mission physical when we were here on a mission, Dr. Jennifer Keller," she said.
Cameron quit breathing as he stood stunned.
"Do you remember her?" Carter continued.
If Carter noticed his stunned response she didn't let it show and Cam tried to school his features quickly. "Like I said, I'll take good care of her for you."
"Thank you, Cam," she said while she indicated for someone to shut the gate down.
Walter spoke up, "She's due to dial-in a couple hours from now, sir."
"Guess no conversation between galaxies can be private," he thought to himself as he wandered out of the control room.
Two hours later Cameron was again pacing in the control room. Walter didn't ask any questions, for which Cameron was thankful for. He was sure Walter wondered about his concern and involvement, but Cameron was trying not to think too deeply about that and was grateful Walter didn't ask.
If anyone were to ask Cameron what he'd done for the last couple of hours he'd be hard pressed to give an answer. He'd attempted to eat in the mess hall, but there wasn't much in the offering after the dinner hour other than sandwiches and coffee. He'd also been to his room and back, but surely none of that had taken more than an hour.
Cam's pacing ceased as he heard the familiar grinding begin as the Stargate moved to it's first chevron. He heard Walter announce the offworld activation with Dr. Keller's IDC as he made his way down to the Gateroom relieved…she was almost there.
His eyes watched the puddle, and he held his breath unconsciously as he waited for Jenn to arrive. He heard feet on the grating the same moment he saw her appear and let out his breath just to take it in quickly again at her appearance.
As Jennifer moved down the ramp she noticed that the room was quiet and there were only three Marines in the room… and Cameron. She should've known he'd be waiting for her. She gave him a smile, but couldn't keep the small quiver from her lips. The relief at seeing him was great and she fought down the overwhelming emotion of relief.
Cameron watched her move slowly down the ramp, favoring one leg. As she came closer he watched her smile, acknowledging she'd seen him, but it only emphasized the bruising on her cheeks and the split in her lip.
He couldn't help but smile back at her, as she came to stand in front of him. Despite her smile he saw that she indeed looked as if she hadn't slept in days. In fact, she looked like hell.
"Walter," he called up to the control room unable to take his eyes off Jennifer.
"Yes, Colonel."
"What time is that transport tomorrow?" Cam asked.
"0800, sir," Walter called back down after checking a document in front of him.
"Put me down for it too," he instructed, he was still trying to fill the hole Carter had left in his team and knew General Landry had been trying to get him to take some R&R.
"Yes, sir," Walters replied, a small smile on his lips that went unnoticed.
Jennifer tried to stop him, setting her bag down at this point and laying a hand on his arm, "Cam, you don't need to do that." Feeling his arm beneath her hand gave her such a sense of relief. He was real and he was there.
"Nonsense," he said smiling, "I'll get to spend more time with you and I can just shoot down and visit my folks once we get there. When you come back this way I can hitch a ride back." He tried for nonchalance, but in reality there was no way he was letting her out of his sight after seeing her like this.
She gave him a smile that said she knew, but was grateful.
"Let me show you to your quarters for the night," he said, grabbing her bag and leading her out of the Gateroom.
"So…" Cam felt at a loss for words. How do you ask how someone is when you can plainly see they're not alright? He tried the obvious, "How are you doing… really?"
"I'm fine Cam… really. I just need a good dose of home after the last couple of days, that's all," she said trying to reassure him.
"I get that. Does your dad know you're coming?" he asked.
"Sam said she had a message sent to him, but I wanted to email him tonight so he doesn't worry."
She sounded so weary to Cameron's ears, like she was forcing her words out. He paused in his walking and reached for her hand when she didn't seem to notice him stop.
Jennifer turned to him with confusion in her weary, blood-shot eyes. Cameron wished they were somewhere more private. He wanted to lift her in his arms and carry her the rest of the way. She looked so exhausted he wasn't sure how she was standing.
"When was the last time you slept?" he asked quietly.
Jennifer looked down at their still twined hands, not wanting to answer his question or have him see it in her eyes. When she saw the rope burns and cuts on her now exposed wrist she tried to pull her hand away. It only brought Cam's attention and she cringed at the expletive that left his mouth in a hiss.
When she looked up she saw in his eyes the anger he was trying to hold in. She knew it wasn't directed at her, but those who'd held her captive. More than that she was sure his anger had to do with the fact that there was nothing he could do about it. A small smile came to her lips thinking about this man wanting to protect her from a galaxy away. Jennifer lifted her other hand and placed it on top of their tangled hands, exposing the injuries to her other wrist.
"They tied us up and held us in a cage," she whispered as she looked back up at his face. The anger was now joined by sorrow and regret.
"I am fine," she reassured him, trying to erase the pain on his face. "Sheppard's team came for us, just as we knew he would. More importantly, I wasn't alone out there and because of Teyla… we lived."
Cameron closed his eyes for several moments taking a deep breath in and letting it out. He didn't even want to think about her not living. Watching her step back through the Stargate to go back in a week was going to be even harder than he thought.
Cameron cleared his throat, "Let's go," he said as he turned and headed back the way they'd come.
He hadn't let go of her hand so she had no choice but to follow him. "Where are we going?"
"You're not staying here tonight. We'll grab some of that take-out food that's so lacking in your galaxy and then we're going to my place for the night," he said very matter-of-factly.
When she slowed her steps he turned slightly towards her and she saw the need in his eyes and heard it in his voice. "I need to know what happened to you. If you aren't up for that it's okay. We can watch movies or football. We can talk 'til the transport tomorrow… you can even sleep, but I want you close right now…please?"
She nodded her head knowing that the tears clogging her throat wouldn't allow her words. She felt like a child who, after being hurt, was able to hold it all in until she reached her mom. Jennifer had been able to hold it all in, despite the looks and inquiries from her staff. She'd even been able to hold it all in while on Midway with Evan. But now, looking into his eyes, she just wanted to let it all go.
Cameron watched her eyes begin to pool and knew she wasn't going to make it to his house. He pulled her around the corner so they were out of the main hall to the elevator and on a side hall to one of the housing wings. It wasn't complete privacy, but it would have to do. He set down her bags and pulled her to him, folding her in his arms, and let her cry.
He stroked her hair and tried to soothe her with words, but his closeness and warmth were both her undoing and then, before too long, what did soothe her. "Sorry 'bout that," Jenn said pulling back slightly, not remembering fisting the front of his shirt while crying onto his chest. She felt the rumble of laughter from his chest and looked up into his eyes.
"I'll take any excuse to hold you close, darlin'. Would prefer it wasn't 'cause you're hurting, but again… anytime and for any reason." Cam was relieved to see a little more life in her eyes. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Now, let's get out of here," he said, while lifting her bags off the ground and steering them toward the elevator.
They ordered pizza once they arrived at Cameron's apartment. He gave her the short tour before settling on the couch next to her. She told him her story as simply as possible, wanting to be done with it before the pizza arrived. As she recounted the events he moved closer and took her hand. She'd found the gesture as comforting as it was thrilling. She still marveled at what emotions this man could stir in her, despite their short acquaintance.
Jennifer explained how Colonel Carter had taken over when Jennifer had returned from New Athos. She seemed to know exactly what Jennifer would need to get past this and be ready to resume her duties. That was probably what made her a good leader. She'd sent Major Lorne with Jennifer to Midway Station to keep Jennifer from being alone if she finally fell apart. She'd made all the arrangements for her to visit with her father. Sam had given Jenn just enough time away to analyze and process what had happened to her, but not enough time to become use to Earth and it's safety and desire to stay.
Jenn hadn't let herself think of how desperately she needed to see Cam until she'd walked through the gate and seen him. He'd been such a balm to her aching soul. She wasn't sure how she would've coped had he not been there. Now she just wanted to savor every moment she had with him like they had in the past… enjoying each other's presence.
Later, sitting on his couch with an empty pizza box in front of them, Cam looked deep in her eyes and seemed to make a decision.
"You need some sleep and that transport leaves in eight hours," he said checking his watch. They'd only gotten to spend a few hours together, but he could see her need for rest and healing.
"Come on," he said, pulling her to her feet. "Go get ready for bed, I'll clean up out here," he nudged her toward his bathroom.
After she came out, dressed in t-shirt and sweats, he claimed his bathroom to ready himself for bed also. When he came out he found her sitting on his couch, one of his pillows in her hand.
"I don't think so," he said interrupting her thoughts. "You'll be sleeping in my bed tonight. I'll take the couch," he finished more forcefully when he saw her about to protest.
Not waiting for an argument he took her arm and led her back into his room and grabbed a pillow off the bed for himself.
"Cam," she called quietly as she watched him turn to leave.
Cameron turned back to her, waiting for her to speak.
"I… um… I have trouble sleeping." She looked down at the floor, embarrassed at her admission. "I see their painted faces every time I close my eyes." She looked back up to find him only a step away. "Did I mention that they paint their faces like a caveman version of Kiss?" she smirked, trying to lighten the mood and the emotions crossing his face. "Can I ask you to stay with me?"
Cameron felt his heart hurt for her fear and jump a little at her need for him. Without a word he stepped forward and engulfed her in his arms, pulling her in close and hugging her to him. He'd been wanting to hold her close since they entered his apartment and now that he had her there he knew why he'd hesitated. He wouldn't be letting her go tonight.
He pulled back slightly to look down at her. "Sweetheart, you'd need a restraining order at this point. Now there seems to be a tradition that we are overlooking here." He waited for her smile before continuing, "I see you know what I'm talking about."
"Yes," she smiled up at him, "there is the obligatory goodnight kiss."
"Yes, ma'am." Cameron pulled her in tighter and, mindful of her split lip, kissed the corner of her mouth, then moved on to the tip of her nose before setting a final kiss on her forehead.
He then settled the two of them in his bed, so that he could hold her all night, her head upon his chest. He couldn't think of a better way to spend what little time he had left before the transport in the morning.
Jennifer took a deep breath allowing the scent that was uniquely Cameron to wash over her senses as her body finally relaxed and gave in to sleep, the first she'd gotten since being captured.