Part 2: Late Night Visitor

Click.

What was that? My eyes snap open. Someone is downstairs, breaking into my house. What time is it? Glancing at my digital alarm clock next to my bed, it shows 02.47. Robbers these days!! Can't they pick a decent time to do their thing? Any time when I'm not sleeping? I'll show them who they're messing with.

Hesitantly, I leave the warmth of my bed and head towards my closet where the rock-solid baseball bat rested. I've always wanted to use one of these, I guess now it's the time. By the sound of the footsteps, the intruder is getting closer. Gripping at the bat tightly with both hands, I wait next to my door.

The door opens slowly, concealing my body from the intruder. As soon as I see a head, I swing the bat hard. The next thing I know ... I am pinned down on the floor by a familiar figure. The moonlight from my bedroom window shines on the intruder's face.

"Carter, what on Earth did you do that for?" he hisses.

Yep, it's the Colonel alright. Asking the obvious question when I'm the one who's supposed to ask the question.

"Me? Oh you know ... just doing my job as a good citizen, cracking the head of an INTRUDER." I hissed at him back and then add innocently, "What about you?"

"Uh ... yeah right. Sorry, my mistake."

He gets up and offers his hand to help me, I take it and pull myself up. I put my hands on my waist and wait for his explaination, I must admit that I'm not a nice person when I have my sleep interrupted. He looks at me uncomfortably.

"You might want to put something on first." he says sheepishly. I look at the state of my choice of sleeping clothes, a tank top and baggy pants. At least he finds me attractive in these, or else he wouldn't ask me to put something on it. I feel a little bit cold now, the night air is breezing through the open windows. So, I walk to my bed and sneak under the blanket, can't be bothered to do anything else.

"Carter?" he's confused by my actions.

"Look Sir, it's …" I look at the clock, "02.52 in the morning. If you want something from my place, just take it and leave. If you want to drop something, put it on the table and leave. Don't forget to lock the door on your way out. I'm just going to resume my dream and I'm willing to pretend that none of this is happening if you do it quietly." As much as I love to have him in my house, I love my sleep more right now. I pull the blanket up to my neck and am ready to doze off. Ahhhh, the magic of my comfy bed is working right now, I close my eyes.

"Carter." His voice is much closer now. I open my eyes to see a pair of brown eyes just inches from me, he's sitting on the edge of the bed and leaning towards me. His hands are on the bed, trapping me in between while supporting his position.

"What?" I put a pleading tone in my voice, I really need this sleep.

"I brought your picture with me." He gets this playful childish atmosphere about him that makes him forgivable for whatever he has done.

"You broke into my house to bring the picture you're so eager not to give me?" I smiled weakly, still overwhelmed by the urge to sleep.

"Err ... yes?" he says not-so-confidently.

"Why don't I buy it?"

"Because you know me too well?"

"I sure do."

He smiles sadly and then I realise that something is wrong, "What is it?" I ask.

"I came to tell you that ..." he hesitates.

I stretch my hand to his face and stroke it gently, "Go on."

"Remember when I said that I don't want to keep any secrets from you?"

I nod my head.

"I'm going away for a while."

That surely gets my full attention, sleep is no longer on my mind now.

"What are you saying?"

He strokes my cheek.

"Maybourne showed up at my house earlier."

Damn that man, why can't he just leave us alone.

"What did he say?"

"Kinsey has a new plan, I have to go for a while."

Who else? That creep doesn't know when to stop.

"And you trust Maybourne on this?"

"He might of been a pain in the ass when he was still in the NID, but he's a decent man in his own way. I trust him."

He's right. Maybourne is actually an 'okay' guy once he quit the NID, he did help us twice, with my kidnapping and Teal'c's problems.

"How long?"

"I don't know. I told Hammond, he said that I should request a personal leave for some time and just disappear. Go to where Kinsey's men won't find me."

"And where is that?"

"I don't know yet. But you can't tell anyone about Maybourne. Not even Teal'c and Daniel. Someone might be watching."

He's going away.

"And I might not be able to contact you when I'm away. It's too risky."

Unconsciously, my hand moves from his face down to his shirt and grabs it tightly. I don't want him to go, ever.

"Hey, I'm not going to hide, I'm going after Kinsey. Finish all this once and for all ...", he takes a lock of my hair and plays with it, "... and come back to you."

His eyes pierce down to my heart, showing that he meant what he said. He has his own problems and I don't want to be one of them.

"I will be waiting."

I know that he has to go, more than anything I understand his decision. I've worked with this man for years, his attitude never fails to upset people on and off-world. Kinsey is a dangerous man, he has the power and the money.

"Thanks. I don't want to go without you knowing the real reason why."

He lowers his head and kisses my forehead. My heart aches, I want more. I put my hands around him and pull him close.

"I will be waiting." Once again I say it. To let him know about my feelings and to reassure myself that he will come back.

to be continued

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