Disclaimer: At the beginning.
Spoilers: All over the place.
Chapter Seven (Shades of Grey)
Colonel Kiss-Ass (otherwise known as Colonel Forsythe) was an attractive man in his middle to late thirties. He had greying temples, but otherwise had a head full of short, black hair. His eyes were a sharp green, his mouth was sent in a permanently tense line. He didn't voice an opinion about women in the Air Force, nor scientists, as Sam had half expected him too, but it was clear he disapproved of the whole of SG-1.
The mission briefing was brief and filled with military short terms as both colonels tried to out-tactic each other. Considering they were just going to check out a recently vacated Goa'uld military site (well, for Daniel, thirty years was recently), the air of battle that pervaded the briefing room was rather unnecessary. Sam kept catching her ex-subordinates' eyes and giving them smiles of encouragement but it was clear that they weren't too keen on their new leader either. Still, they were all Air Force. They would accept, because that was what they were trained to do.
Colonel O'Neill gave his locker a vicious kick once they'd reached that relative safety. Saying nothing, he unlocked it and began to change.
Boyd raised his eyebrows at everyone else, avoiding Colonel O'Neill as best her could.
'' That was... pleasant,'' Daniel stated, watching the Colonel carefully. He glanced at Sam, raised his eyebrows. '' You know Forsythe?''
She shook her head. '' No. Hammond would never have approved someone who was so obviously territorial.'' Considering Colonel O'Neill was pretty territorial himself, it would have been like throwing two tom cats in a cage and watching them duke it out.
Daniel was muttering things to himself, changing clothes. '' I just can't believe things are going to hell like this. I can't believe there's nothing we can do about it.''
Sam stared into her own locker, frowning slightly. Was there nothing they could do about it? Hammond had resigned in order to protect the rest of the SGF, but whose idea had it been to replace him with someone like General Thomas? It was possible, of course, that the Joint Chiefs were bringing in someone who would follow the SGC mission objectives to the letter - Hammond had always used his own common sense when it came to procuring new technology. Sam knew there were people above Hammond who had been pressuring him to make the SGC more productive.
'' Major Carter?''
She jerked upright and smiled at Boyd briefly. '' Sorry. Be there in a tick, guys.''
'' See you all in the gate room, then.'' He and Daniel left, talking in low voices.
Colonel O'Neill seemed inclined to linger, half turned away from her, staring into the bottom of his locker. '' What did you think of him?''
'' Forsythe?'' She smiled. She didn't think it would be appropriate of her say she'd thought he was attractive. '' He disapproved of us.''
'' Of Daniel?''
'' And me, I imagine. One of the top scientists on the front line? Tut tut tut.'' She closed and locked her locker, wandered over to stand next to him. As usual when she was standing above him, she had this tingling urge to put a hand in his hair. It was funny - ever since she'd met him she'd started to have this thing for men with grey hair. Even movie stars lost their appeal if they didn't have distinguished tufts of grey at the temples. She had a really big thing for Richard Gere at the moment.
'' Did you see the way he kept looking at you?''
Sam raised her eyebrows. '' No. I didn't. I'm sure you're just, er, over reacting.''
'' No. I know when men are checking out my... you.'' He winced in a big way. '' I was going to say wife. Sorry.''
'' It's really not your fault.'' She looked down at the band of gold around her wedding finger. He'd given it to her only the night before, casually tossing it onto the kitchen table. She'd wanted to ask where something so obviously antique had come from but decided that could only be awkward. After all, if it was something of sentimental value, she'd always wonder if he was holding her to anything. Then again, if he'd picked it up from a junk store, she'd feel ridiculously cheated. It was a no win situation.
Colonel O'Neill seemed to find something funny. He reached out, snagged her hand, and ran his finger over the fake wedding ring. '' Does this make you awkward?''
'' A little bit.''
'' It seems cruel to make you wear it when you're not married. Are you superstitious?''
'' No. Scientist, remember?''
'' How could I forget? You chant the Periodic Table in your sleep.''
She'd heard that one before. Mornings off-world had been full of humorous stories of what each team member did as they slept. It had been something to put Daniel at ease. Early on, when he was still searching for Sha're, he'd had nightmares in his sleep a lot, woke everyone up. In an effort to make him less uncomfortable, Colonel O'Neill had informed everyone that Sam whispered the Periodic Table in her sleep. She, of course, had countered that he snored loud enough to wake the dead. Teal'c had pointed out that the dead couldn't be woken by mere snoring, but he did add that he'd noticed the leaves on the trees had shook each time the Colonel took in a breath. It had become one of many SG-1 traditions, one that she missed, actually.
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Though, technically, Colonel O'Neill, as 2IC of the SGF, was in charge of the mission, it was clear Colonel Forsythe wasn't going to be taking any orders. Tensing his jaw and talking through his teeth, Colonel O'Neill managed to maintain a level head and it seemed almost as if they were working together rather than butting their heads over every little thing.
Initially, they argued over how the teams would be split. Colonel O'Neill argued for a simple SG-1, SG-2 split, whereas Colonel Forsythe seemed to want to jumble them up for some unfathomable reason.
In the end, Colonel Forsythe took Sam, Thake and Boyd with him, leaving Colonel O'Neill with the two doctors and Hennersey.
The planet was essentially deserted. The Stargate was situated in a park sized clearing, directly north of the gate was the Goa'uld fortress, empty but still in good condition. All around the clearing was mile upon mile of dense forest with overgrown but still visible roads branching, claw-like, from the clearing. In the distance, Sam could hear animals calling out to each other, and large, ferocious-looking birds swooped overhead, cawing loudly.
The perimeter had to be checked before the teams would enter the stronghold, which was the job Forsythe had bagged for them. It had also been the reason he'd argued for leaving the non-military doctors with Colonel O'Neill. His team was going to check out the main entrance, allowing the doctors to confer over origin, date and so on. Obviously, Forsythe had no patience for that sort of thing.
As they marched quietly around the perimeter of the clearing, Sam peered into the depths of the forest thinking that she was glad there were two teams on this mission rather than just the one. The four members of SG-1 alone on the planet for one night, maybe two, just didn't appeal. There was safety in numbers, after all.
Sam didn't notice that Forsythe had dropped back with her until he spoke.
'' I've looked over the list of planets you gave the General.''
He had? Sam glanced at him and tried to keep her expression neutral. '' Was there anything useful that you could see, Colonel?''
'' I'll need some clarification on certain details before I can decide. Would 0800 on Friday suit you?''
'' Er... sure, sir.''
He nodded swiftly. '' Come to my office, then.''
'' Yes, sir.''
It was with some relief that she watched him strike out ahead again.
Perimeter secure, the walls of the fortress also investigated, the muddled team made their way to the south end of the stronghold where Colonel O'Neill was waiting impatiently. As Forsythe barked at the doctors to explain what they'd found, the Colonel raised his eyebrows at Sam to see if anything unusual had happened. She mouthed him a 'later' and he left it at that.
Unfortunately, on first assessment of the stronghold (which brought back really unpleasant memories of Goa'uld motherships for Sam), everything that could have been useful had either been destroyed or removed. The crystals that formed an intricate part of their technology had been removed from all wall points. Still, the place was huge and by the time the teams had covered every floor and every room, checking for new technology, it was already late afternoon.
'' Safer to spend the night in here,'' Colonel O'Neill decided. '' UAV suggested there are some large carnivorous animals in the forest that we might not want to meet late at night.''
'' Agreed. I suggest the front entrance room.''
Colonel O'Neill nodded. '' Pack up, then, campers. Double watch tonight.''
Dutifully, the rest of the team packed up what equipment had been used to detect electrical output, radiation and any other possible emissions Goa'uld technology would produce, while Daniel and Hadley, still chatting amicably away, rolled up their sheets of paper and packed away their notebooks and cameras.
Daniel caught up with Sam almost immediately as they trailed down levels and happily told her all about the fortress they were going to spend the night in. While she was enjoying his enthusiasm (it was just so damn normal), she couldn't help but watch Colonel O'Neill's tense interaction with the equally tense Colonel Forsythe.
Their meal was eaten mostly in silence, with the odd patter of talk between Daniel and Sam, Daniel and Hadley, Thake and Colonel O'Neill. Noticeably, the other members of SG-2 kept rather quiet. Boyd, who was apparently a family friend of Hennersey's, kept glancing at her in a worried fashion as she sat quietly on Forsythe's left.
Through no manoeuvring of their own, Sam and Colonel O'Neill got third watch together. She awoke to find him looming over her, coffee in hand, finger over his lips. She sat up, aware that two other people were shuffling into their sleeping bags, and took a mouthful of hot coffee before she got up.
The temperature had taken a decided dip and she did up the buttons of her shirt, picked up her jacket and weapon and followed Colonel O'Neill to the front entrance. Too late, she realised she'd forgotten her hat but decided not to bother the others while she fumbled around in the dark for it.
Sam perched on the end of a giant lion's paw and, with one hand on the barrel of her gun, sipped the coffee, her eyes hungrily searching out the visible land in front of her.
'' Creepy place.''
'' Too many trees, sir?''
He smiled, sat on the other paw, his eyes following the same route as hers. '' My tree complex is apparently universal. Or would that be uni-reality?''
She smiled.
'' So what did he say to you?''
'' I have a meeting with him Friday morning. Wants to hear more details about the planets I've visited.''
'' Now why would the leader of SG-2 want to do that, then?'' he wondered sarcastically.
Somewhere in the distance something howled.
'' Now that was creepy,'' Sam murmured, feeling goosebumps rise up on her arms. She glanced at him and found herself comfortable, for the first time, in his presence. '' What's up with Hennersey, do you think?''
'' The same thing that bothers you when you get a new CO, I imagine.''
Sam thought about that for a moment, smiled, and lowered her head. '' Ah. I see. Proving herself. How could I forget?''
He grinned easily. '' Can I ask you something? You didn't meet the other me like me and Sam met... now that sounded weird, but never mind... how did you meet?''
'' Second mission to Abydos in 1997. I was transferred from the Pentagon as a Stargate expert.''
'' Same as my Sam, except, well, she transferred earlier. Do you know anything else? About the other me?''
Sam swallowed, telling herself it was only natural that he was curious. '' I know that he was recently separated from his wife, Sara. He didn't like me initially because I was scientist and, though he swears this isn't true, and a woman. He didn't want me on his team. I found out later than shortly before the first mission to Abydos... his son shot himself with his father's sidearm.'' She licked her lips, her eyes flicking to him and back to the forest. He'd closed his eyes.
Slowly, Colonel O'Neill nodded, asking her to continue.
'' He was selected to go on the first mission because of his, er, state of mind. It was supposed to be a suicide mission, after all. But they used the bomb to blow up Apophis's ship, Daniel stayed behind with Sha're, promising to bury the Stargate once the others returned, which he duly did. Colonel O'Neill returned home but, then, in 1997 the Stargate reactivated and he was called out of retirement by General Hammond. The beginning of the story.''
'' You said he didn't like you - I'll bet that didn't last long.''
'' Oh, no, we grew to be friends after I saved his ass a few times. But then...'' She made a face and put her cooled coffee tin on the ground by her feet. '' Well, suffice to say, after a couple of years of really touch-and-go stuff, we're back to normal now. As normal as things in the SGC get.''
'' What do you mean?''
'' Which bit?''
'' I thought you and... him weren't having a relationship.''
'' We're not. That's part of the problem.'' Oh well, might as well talk this out with someone. Even if she couldn't ever, ever talk to the real person she wanted to discuss this with. '' The thing is... we were kinda forced to air our feelings about each other in front of an audience before we'd even contemplated telling each other.''
'' How?''
'' Through zay'tarc testing?''
'' The Tokra lie detection thing?''
'' Yeah. Well, everyone in the SGC was tested to make sure none of us were Goa'uld assassins. Colonel O'Neill and I came up positive - they thought we were zay'tarcs. It wasn't until it was nearly too late that I realised we'd missed out rather pertinent parts of our reports because they suggested... a more than fraternal relationship between myself and my CO. We were re-tested in front of Teal'c, Janet and Anise and, let's not forget, the security cameras, admitting as little as we could get away with, which wasn't much.''
'' Ah.''
'' Yeah.'' She blew out a breath. '' So we avoided each other like crazy, well aware that Hammond probably knew and that we were walking on egg shells even though we hadn't done anything.''
'' You weren't willing to just... ignore the frat regs?''
'' I was tempted too.... even seriously considered it on the odd occasion,'' namely a certain person's invitations to go fishing, '' but... I'm his 2IC and I always thought that the frat regs were there for a reason. If anything, this experience has taught me that. Work and personal lives just don't mix well. Maybe when the war is over...''
'' Does the war seem like it's gonna end any time soon, Sam?'' he asked gently.
She glared at him. '' Look, I'm trying to deal with this in the best way I can...''
'' I can see that, and I understand, really. But I've seen it from the other side. It can work, Sam, and it does.''
'' You can still say that now?''
'' I can and I do. There's nothing worse than regret, Sam.''
'' It's different here. You met before. She wasn't directly under your command.''
'' As 2IC of the base, she most definitely was. There are ways and means. I know for certain Hammond wouldn't remove you.''
'' And you?''
He looked down at his boots. '' Well, maybe it's about time I retired anyway.''
'' See, I don't think so. I couldn't imagine the SGC without you, and you love it there.''
'' Sam, I loved... love being a father. I love being a husband. When I was married to Sara, the job came first. The second time round, things were different, are different. I was already considering retiring to spend more time with Matt before Sam left. I'm sure your Jack has thought about it, and if you were an option, I'm sure he seriously considered it.''
'' But...''
'' Sam, probably the best person to talk to about this is him. You know that.''
'' He's not exactly handy at the moment, Colonel.''
The right corner of his mouth quirked. '' That's all up to you and Daniel, isn't it?''
She looked at him sharply. '' So you've sorted that out in your head, have you?''
'' Took me a while.''
'' We should have been more sensitive.''
'' You're the one trapped in an alternate reality.''
'' Trapped suggests that it's horrible here. It's not horrible. It's just... not home.''
He reached out, brushed his fingers over her shoulder. She could barely feel it, but the knowledge that he'd reached out warmed her. '' Didn't I promise you we'd go shopping?''
'' Er... kinda.''
'' Right. Must do that. Think I keep repressing it.'' He shuddered. '' Shopping for women's clothes is a scary business.''
'' Done it a lot, Colonel?''
'' Sam went on this kick shortly before we were married, dragging me everywhere. Said she was testing me. If I could handle shopping with her then we were going to be okay, or something.'' He shook his head. '' Women.''
Sam giggled. '' Shopping is the one thing I do without any logic. I don't know why. Actually, that's not true. It was my mom. She was a crazy shopper too. I guess girls pick up habits from their mothers.''
'' Oh, for crying out loud.''
