Just again, welcome Stargate SG 1´s Cameron Mitchell on another guest appearance!
There´ll be one ore two more short chapters, but then a longer one again - promised ;-)
* * *
„You could really have stayed at my house for the night!"Sethra insisted. "With the Boogeyman already sharpening his claws to gut me ?" Cameron chuckled. "Thanks, Seth, I prefer the barracks!" She sighed. "Why am I always surrounded by such pigheads, huh ?" "I´ll take you to the car", he offered. She threw him a wry look. "Cam, this is ridiculous." He smiled back. "I don´t care, girl." She shook her head, but didn´t contradict him further. They left the place where they had celebrated her birthday and headed towards the end of the road, where she had parked her car. "So you´re still with Mr. Evil ?" he asked. She nodded. "Yup." "When are you going to tell me what´s the matter with that guy ?" She laughed. "At the day you´re going to tell me about these top secret projects and missions you´re always on!" "Come on, Seth, you know I can´t !" She laughed again. "The same goes for me, man." "Oh come on!" They had reached the car and he looked at it, surprised. "New one ?" She nodded proudly. "Something I presented myself with for my birthday", she muttered. He eyed up the big van. Not that she would have needed such a big car, but it somehow fitted.
Finally, she turned to him. "You´re sure you don´t want me to give you a lift ?" she asked. He nodded. "Yeah. I´d like to walk for a while now." "Alright." She looked up to him. "What´s wrong ?" she asked out of a sudden bad feeling. He looked gloomy. "I´ll have to go on a mission again for some time", he answered. "Abroad ?" she asked. He nodded, though hesitantly. "Yeah. Kind of." She frowned at that comment, but didn´t press the matter. "For long ?" "Around five or six weeks at least." She sighed. She might not know where he went or what he exactly did there – but she knew that he had almost every time risked his life when he had went for one of these missions. "Don´t let me down!" she whispered. He chuckled, but it didn´t sound happy. His fingertips slipped carefully down the side of her neck, over a fresh looking bitemark at her neck, assiduously hidden under the hem of her shirt. "If he ever does any harm to you, I´m gonna kill him." All of a sudden, his voice sounded strangely grave and serious. Still, she tried a smile. "You know, that´s exactly what he tells me every time I leave for a workout with you." They hugged for a moment. "Get back in one piece, will you", she begged. A sad smile answered that. "I´ll do my best." The fingers of his left hand still touched her cheek. "Take care, Seth, promise me." She grabbed his hand. "You sound like you´re not coming back!" "I´ll do" he assured her, but it didn´t sound believable. He shook his head. "I´ll do", he repeated. "I am sorry. It´s just messing with my head this time." He relaxed a little. "Don´t worry." She softly squeezed his hand. "Don´t let me down!" she repeated. He smiled. A moment of silence followed.
"He doesn´t really appreciate what he´s got", he suddenly stated. Then he lowered his head.
It took her completely by surprise. His kiss was soft - but clearly intended. Admittedly, it was the most gentle kiss she had gotten for a while.
"Take care." He left, turning her back on her. He didn't look back. She stared at the friend´s back, unable to move or talk. Simply stunned.
She watched him disappear around a corner. Then hurried to get into the car.
Realization hit her two streets later. Cursing under her breath, she stopped, desperately searching for a bottle of water in her sports bags. She found one and opened it to moisten her hand and lips, trying to wash his scent away. Take care, he´d said – unwittingly passing her death sentence. Victor would slash her. Getting the scents of her friends all over here from the hugs and kisses on her cheeks was one thing and surely annoying enough. Tasting Cameron of all people on her lips – well, the mere imagination made her lose nerves. A miracle alone that he hadn't been there waiting for here outside the bar. Another thought shot through her mind. What if he had witnessed…
She squealed, for some seconds overwhelmed by panic. Then tried to relax. If he´d have witnessed, he wouldn't have hold off.
He would have killed Cameron first, letting her witness that, and her right after that. Or maybe not. Or not directly after that…
Well, there was still a more than big chance to die on the evening of her thirtieth birthday.
When she found that he wasn't there when she arrived at home, she hurried to get under the shower and stayed there for quite a while. Better go get rid of anything possibly annoying.
* * *
She didn´t worry that night as he had told her that he didn´t know how long that job might take.
She didn´t worry too much the night after that. He didn´t show up every night. She was used to that as she was used to wake up and find herself alone.
On night number three, she started wondering where the stray had disappeared to again.