Watching and Waiting

Nate watched Jon follow Colonel Reynolds out of their room. It wasn't fair, Jon had practically an all access pass and he was stuck here in this little room. They'd been in quarantine for a week before being moved to the SGC and there seemed to be no end in sight.

Rolling over onto his stomach he pulled out a photograph from under his pillow. Charlie smiled back at him dressed in her black karate gi. She had given to it him before their fight, when she left from sniper school he said some things he regretted now more so than the moment he said them.

Closing his eyes he tried not to remember but it came back to him.

Charlie stood outside the pool where they'd spent so many mornings together.

"I'm leaving tomorrow. General Shark contacted me last week. There was a surprise vacancy in the class and so she asked me if I wanted to go now instead of the new year and I jumped at the chance. Then I'm going straight to Miami for Christmas, so I won't see you for a while."

Nate stared at her confused. "What do you mean? You're leaving? Why didn't you tell me? I mean this is huge for you and I'm happy for you but I would have liked a heads up."

"Why?"

Nate stared at her trying to figure out if she was joking. "Because I care about you and I-" Burying his hands in his hair, Nate shook his head. "Do you really not get it? We are in a relationship and that means we share information and emotions. Most of all we talk, meaning both of us, not just me."

Charlie stared at him in horror. "Just when should I have told you? When you were studying for your math midterm or when we were heading off to our last swim meet? Or during my brown belt exam? I didn't want to distract you."

Agitated, Nate paced back and forth, trying to figure out what to do or say without destroying this fragile relationship and Charlie in the process. Finally, he decided that retreat was the best option. "I need to think, will you meet me later today for lunch?" Reaching out Nate, grabbed her hand.

Charlie shook her head. "I'll try but I have a lot to get done."

Then she was gone and Nate didn't get a chance to say goodbye.

She didn't show up for lunch and now Nate had no idea where Charlie was or even if she was alive. He'd asked his mother what she knew, but no one was telling her anything either.

Getting up he began to pace the room, trying to figure out what he'd say, or do, to make up for his blunder. He had totally forgotten the Number One fact about Charlie – she was a functional mute with an obsession on Warfare and… wait a sec? Martial Arts.

Maybe just maybe he'd get out of here in time to see her next test. Getting in her 2nd Dan (wth…) in… what was it again, ah, yes. Karate. He wondered, just how good was she? Knowing her obsessions and assorted Dan ranks, she was probably good enough to be an Hand-to-Hand Instructor.

Nate sat down and his desk and began writing a letter just in case her didn't make it through this.

Cassie moved around level 16, the cushion between NORAD and SGC. After they had been cleared on the Prometheus, they were beamed down to their isolation. It was only SG-3 and the four of them, Nate, Haruka, Jon and herself.

Passing Nate and Jon's room, she entered their makeshift dining area. The other six were already dishing up. They had to prepare all their own food and there wasn't a great selection. Once this was over she'd never eat mac n' cheese ever again.

Nate stopped with his food halfway to his mouth, frowning at it before lowering his hand. "Mom have you heard anything about Charlie? Has she been moved to isolation yet?" His hand began to shake as he frowned holding his head.

"No need for it. She and a few others were in the middle of nowhere for a week before people started to get sick. They have standing orders to stay there," the woman shrugged. "But it's not like you didn't know that, do you."

His breath came out in short gasps, but he forced out the words. "I know it's just…Mom?"

Nate's eyes rolled back and he fell over. "Nate? Arashi?" Horror froze the usually even-tempered woman. "Arashi!"

Cassie went to his side and closing her eyes she used her power hoping to heal him. She couldn't let him die. He was her friend and she wasn't going to loose anyone else, but no matter what she did the sickness was more powerful and that alone told her it wasn't natural.

Using the last of her strength she tried one more time, and then she knew blackness.

Jon didn't know what to do. First Nate and then Cassie fell to the floor. Reynolds had slapped the alarm and and hustled Nate off to isolation and Haruka had followed like a specter while Jon stayed with Cassie.

Cassie had come around a few minutes later and Jon had helped her tight. "No more healing. Something about this sickness is rotten. I saw what happened to you. Please don't heal again. Reynolds said it isn't permanent, the sickness will come back and you'll be worn out. I don't want you to fall ill too." He held out his hand helping her to her feet. "Come on let's check on Nate. He's in isolation down the hall. They'll probably move him to the infirmary, but we'll see what Dr. Lam decides."

They entered the observation room for find Haruka a ghostly reminder of… Jack more than ten years ago, as she stood outside of her son's room in observation, hands pressed to the glass and cursing the creator before starting to pray.

Dr. Lam entered through a door in the far side,that lead from a back staircase to keep exposure down. She shined her light in Nate's eyes and shook her head. "He's been infected but I have no idea how. You are on separate air from the rest of the SGC, there is no way he should be sick."

"He will get better won't he, I mean you can cure him?"

"Sam and her team are working on a cure. If anyone can figure it out she can." Carolyn's eyes softened. "I understand General, but I'm doing all I can. I'd like to move him down to the SGC and put him with the other patients."

Haruka shook her head. "No, please leave him here. I will come in there and watch after him. I mean you have enough to worry about. I'll use a hazmat suit, I promise but don't take him from me."

Caroline nodded. "As long as he remains stable I'll leave him here, but if anything changes…"

Days passed and Nate didn't get worse but there wasn't any improvement, then he was joined by Reynolds and the rest of the SG-3. Shockingly the sickness left Cassie, Jon and Haruka alone. It was up to them to take care of those who were sick.

The walls began to close in on Jon. He had to keep a close eye on Cassie so she didn' t heal anyone. He'd caught her a few times lowering one of the sick's fever or warming them if they were chilled. Cassie had collapsed again when she exerted herself too much.

Shuffling along in his hazmat suit, Jon entered the sick room. Dr. Lam was there checking on the patients and he saw Cassie at Nate's side. She swayed and collapsed.

Jon raced to her side, picking her up from the floor, giving her a little shake. "Cassie?"

"Sorry Jon, I had to keep Nate alive he was slipping away from us. I couldn't let that happen, I didn't want to lose someone else. I hurts too much."

Jon wanted to rail on her and forbid he to heal anyone else but the words stuck in his throat. He didn't want to lose Cassie but if they lost any of the sick, she might slip away from him in totally different way.

Jon picked her up and headed for the decontamination showers so he could send her off to bed. Once she had collapsed, she always needed sleep.

The showers drenched them and then there was the whoosh of negative air pressure being built, keeping their contaminated air in the isolation room. Jon helped Cassie out of her suit and the scooped her up in his arms and carried her down the hall.

Haruka met them on her way to the sick room. It was time for her shift. When Haruka saw Cassie, what color she had left disappeared. "Is she all right? She did it again didn't she?"

Too tired to even speak Jon nodded. "I don't have the heart to stop her. I think it would crush her soul if I forbid her to use her skills. She loves people too much and it will kill her to lose them."

Haruka brushed Cassie hair back from her face. "Take her to bed and you get some rest too. I'll watch over the sick for a while."

"I'm just putting her to bed and I'll be right back."

Jon nudged open the door and laid Cassie down on the bed and then decided that Haruka was right and climbed it with her.

If you want to read more of this story you can go to my website I have two more chapters posted there. Just Google my pennam. You can also follow me on facebook (you want my page not my profile) to get updates other than here. (Like when I begin post on my site, usually two-three weeks before I post here.) There used to be a link on my profile but it seems to have disappeared. This is won't let you post outside links in the story that's why the address isn't here.

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