NON PALPABLE MATE:
CH11 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It seemed that the very next day, the other half of our problem would be easily solved as well, because the rest of SG-1 gated in for a surprise visit.
Cam and I waited together at the same platform that Cam arrived at all those weeks ago. I was going bananas and I found that I could only take a breath deep enough to calm down when Cam put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. We were going to do this, we really were. We were going to make it official. I smiled at him as the room went orange, and SG-1 was standing in front of us.
We all grinned at each other, except for Teal'c, who expressed himself with his eyebrows most of the time-those were some happy caterpillars.
"Hey, guys!" I greeted everyone.
"It's good to see you, Nick, it's been a long time!" Daniel hugged me firmly, just as I hugged him back. "Mitchell, you're looking better." They shook hands.
Cam hugged Carter like Daniel and I hugged, and though I knew they were friends from way back, and their relationship didn't go beyond that, I still felt that flare of jealousy. Our hug was more quick. And I clasped arms with the big guy happily, as did Cam, but more subdued.
"So, what are you guys doing here?" I asked, as we left the room and stepped into the afternoon sun. "Not that I'm complaining, it's really good seeing you all in person." I added quickly.
"We thought it was time for a visit," Carter said. "It's been almost half a year, and with Cam here already... It's not bad timing, is it?"
"Of course not! Actually..." I scratched the back head. "It's perfect timing on your part."
"Really?" Daniel looked a little surprised.
I glanced at Cam. "Yeah, but we can talk about all that later. How long do you plan on staying?"
The three of them shared a look. "If it's not to much trouble, we thought that since Cam's coming back tomorrow, that we could leave together?" Daniel suggest.
"Sure," I said in my surprise at subtle request, but I couldn't help but glance at Cam again. Tonight was our last night together for God knew how long, and we were going to do some pretty private things that were sure to last us a while, I guess that couldn't happen any longer. I tried not to let my flash of disappointment show, because I was happy to see everyone again. I had to focus on something other than Cam for a while.
We arrived at my abode. They'd been here briefly before, but since that was a while ago, I briefly explained the layout, and when we crossed paths with Rook I ask him to ready a few rooms for our guests. He nodded his assent before parting from our group.
It was a little past noon, and after asking about food, we decided to go to a small cafe in the town square, that made great sandwiches. We sat at a table outside, and after we each ordered and we were served by a girl with red hair and freckles, we filled the air with chit-chat; what had been going on these last several months on the two worlds. Innocent talk, and I found that I was a little too happy in the safe zone. At this rate, we'd never get around to the weight that was on Cam's and my shoulders.
After Lunch, Daniel, Carter, and Teal'c went to their made-up rooms and settled in. I took the opportunity to grab Cam and drag him to a dark corner. As much as I would have loved to be doing others things with him there that had no talking, we couldn't keep avoiding it. After much whispering we decided that we would tell the others at dessert.
Cam went to catch up with Carter and Teal'c, so that left me with Daniel, which I didn't mind at all. I'd missed my best friend. We found ourselves in the library, of course, Daniel naturally migrated there, and I didn't mind it either. It was something that we both had in common. I also liked watching him work, and helping him when I could, and the talks that we had in-between. He was always ready to learn more about a new culture and language, and I felt proud that I was able to help him learn these things-because this was now my culture and my language.
"Okay, spit it out." Daniel said suddenly, looking at me over the rim of his glasses.
I looked at him, startled. "What?"
"You heard me." He sat up from his hunched position over an open scripture. "Just because we haven't seen each other in a while, doesn't mean I can't read you like any other book." He said pointedly.
"Ouch, Daniel." I had to admit that that hurt a little, I must have been letting my thoughts filter across my face.
He just raised that brow at me. "Tell me what's going on, or I'm going to have to call Teal'c in here."
I held up my hands. I could try to talk around it until dinner, but we both knew that'd never work. And maybe it was better this way. He was my best friend, he'd be happy for me, right? I wasn't going to assume he'd react like the way that I thought Cam would when I told him. Daniel was very understanding, he'd want me to be happy no matter what. Heh, what did that say about me when I believed that Cam would be disgusted and Daniel understanding? I shook the thought away, that was not something that I really wanted to think about right now; there were more important things afoot.
A took a few deep breaths, preparing myself. Thankfully, Daniel let me take my time, but I was sure that was the case only because he knew he already broke me; he was nice like that. I could just imagine Jack being the exact opposite.
"Okay," I nodded. "There is something, but we wanted to tell the team together."
"Right." He agreed like he already knew. "But you're gonna tell me first." He smiled at me; it was a pleased smile, an almost shark-y smile.
I looked at him sideways. "I don't want this to mess up our relationship, Daniel." I told him hesitantly, and while it was true, I was stalling and Daniel knew it too-like he said, I was an open book to him.
He gave me a look. "Stop stalling," he hit me to the quick like I had predicted.
"Fine." I grumped. I took one more breath before I plunged in, face first, "Cam and I are together." -belatedly, I hoped he didn't slap me for some reason, even though I knew for a fact that he wasn't a homophobe.
He looked at me blankly for about three seconds before I could see the light bulb go off behind his eyes. He looked at me in astonishment. "You and Mitchell are a couple?!"
I silently nodded my head, tense, and on guard.
After that he just looked at me. After a minute or so, it started to become unnerving.
"You're the one who beat it out of me!" I defended myself, indignant.
"Okay..." He said after another long moment. "Just had to wrap my mind around it," he made a wrapping motion with his finger.
"So... that's it?" I asked, not wanting to get my hopes up if he was just going to kill them with a delayed reaction.
He nodded, not taking his blue eyes from me. "Of course, this is totally unexpected, and maybe under any other circumstance, I would never believe it-but hey, sometimes the unexpected happens. So, I guys you guys grew pretty close while he was here, huh?"
I twiddled my thumbs. "Actually..."
"Actually... What?" He said, not sure if he wanted to know the truth or not.
"There was this big yearly ceremony, the Itre, that happened, and there was alcohol... we were sort of drunk when it happened." Daniel looked at me in astonishment, his mouth agape, but I ploughed on, "But then we talked about it and stuff, and found out that were mated." I mumbled to a stop.
"Did you just say that you're mated?!" Daniel demanded.
I quickly shot a look around, even though I knew that the library was empty at the moment.
"Do you two even actually likeeach other?"
"Of course!" I cried, and jerked to my feet. I looked down at him with betrayal, hurt, and anger that he could doubt something that was this serious and important to me. "How could you even say something like that?!" I glared down at him, my eyes flashed, and with shock I realized that I actually wanted to hit Daniel-but I held back, and I was glad that I did when I looked back.
He looked up at me, his eyes steady behind his glasses. "Good." I looked at him with confusion. "I didn't want to hurt you, Nick, but I thought it would be good to be sure that you two are really serious about it."
I sat back down in my chair, and slumped, suddenly feeling exhausted from being wound so tight these last couple of days. "We are," I told him quietly.
"I happy for you, Nick," he told me. "No one deserves it more than you."
"I'm glad your okay with this, Daniel." I said, not even trying to hide the relief I felt. "But do you think that Carter and Teal'c with feel the same?"
"If they're even half the people you think they are, they'll be happy for the two off you."
"Great!" I smiled at him. "It'll be easier to tell them now that I've told you."
We finally let the library and convened in the dinner hall for our dinner. We stepped through the archway, and Cam, Carter and Teal'c were already seated. We all looked at each other in a moment of silence, and they expressions on everyone's faces told each other that they had all heard the news. I sat down with a sigh of relief; it turned out that Carter and Teal'c broke Cam down into a confession just as Daniel had done. And the three of them were happy for us. I smiled at Cam, and everyone else.
"I think that it's awesome that you guys are together!" Carter beamed at us, and the corners of Teal'c's lips turned upward a millimetre or two into a smile.
"Thanks, Colonel." I said after all of our food was dished out. "We were really nervous about telling you guys, but I guess we made a big fuss for nothing."
"What of O'Neill?" Teal'c intoned, seeming a little to ready to crush our relief under his bog fists.
"Uh, yeah, sure. Cam's gonna tell General O'Neill when he gets back." I told them like it was already decided.
But it was obviously news to Cam. "What?!" He sputtered in his drink at this announcement. "I am?!"
"Of course, dear!" I went back to my meal promptly.
Carter laughed. "Buck up, Cam, it's not like the General has ahold your manhood!"
"Wait!" Daniel chimed in, "That's exactly what Jack has."
Cam glowered at up the rest of Dinner.
I was happy nonetheless.
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