The Colour of Pain Chapter 10
A/N Apparently nightshift has been put back so here's a new chapter and don't say I'm not good to ya…
**
Sam tapped her pen off the desk in irritation. The programme she'd left running on her computer over lunch hadn't completed the calculations she wanted and it looked as though the error message had popped up soon after she'd left the lab because the damn thing was insisting it was only 2% complete. She needed those calculations to move on to the next stage and now she'd have to wait at least another hour, maybe even two. She sighed in vexation. If she didn't know any better, she might think this was Janet's doing.
**
Even as she knocked on his office door, Sam still had no idea of what to say.
"Come in!"
She felt sick and realised her palms were sweaty and her mouth dry. She had to swallow several times before she could make herself open the door. He had his back to her, looking through a filing cabinet.
Jack O'Neill? Filing? He must be bored!
Sam resisted the inappropriate giggle impulse and tried not to think about "The Loop". She opened her mouth, still not exactly sure what she would actually say…
"Hello."
The expression on his face when he turned around made the visit worthwhile, in Sam's opinion.
Boyish delight.
"Come in, Carter come in!"
That's what it was. Boyish delight. He had a wide selection of smiles and evil smirks, sure, but this was the one that always made Sam's stomach flip. He didn't look his age normally but this expression made him look like a kid who'd got the toy he really, really wanted from Santa. Sam was aware she was still standing in the door, staring at him.
"I… just thought I'd come and say "hello", Sir."
He was grinning like the Cheshire Cat now.
"And you have. I hope you're not leaving already, I have a mass of paperwork I need help avoiding."
Sam closed the door and sat down. Sure enough, both his In and Out trays appeared to be overflowing.
"George keeps insisting that reports can't be filed on the floor. Apparently it's not military!"
Sam laughed dutifully.
"If I may suggest… Maybe you should request more filing cabinets, Sir."
He blinked in mock surprise.
"Do you think it would help?"
He tidied up his desk a bit so he could lean his elbows on it. Actually, Sam observed, he just piled all the files to one side, where they balanced precariously. She saw them fall in her minds-eye and hoped she wasn't there when it eventually happened. That was a lot of paper…
"So, what can I do for you Carter?"
Ah. What could he do? How could she broach the subject? Should she even try? What if she got Janet into trouble? Sam decided to keep to the safe road, for the moment.
"Well, Sir… I've realised I don't actually recall thanking you. In fact, I know I haven't."
He looked confused.
Adorable.
"Thank me? Well, ok, "thank you" accepted. I mean, you're welcome… But I'm sure you'd have made it home by yourself."
"No, I don't think so somehow, Sir. If they hadn't finished me off, I'd have been dead within a half an hour anyway."
"Okaaaaay… You're not talking about me walking you home last night, are you?"
Sam was pretty sure she looked as confused as him now. But probably not as adorable. And hopefully not as boyish.
"I'm talking about P3X-686, Sir. You saved my life and I never thanked you."
Now he was going a little red and his voice turned gruff.
"Don't mention it, Carter, it was nothing."
But he looked pleased, as well as embarrassed.
For a few moments, the silence between them was awkward, neither of them knowing quite how to fill it. But Janet's words at lunch had piqued Sam's hope, as well as curiosity. If the Colonel had coped with scars, maybe, just maybe, he could help her do the same. She realised she was shaking.
"Sir, I… I wanted to ask you about… something…"
"Ask me whatever you want, Carter."
She hoped he wouldn't regret his choice of words in a moment.
"Scars."
**
"Scars."
Jack O'Neill felt his stomach drop and it wasn't a pleasant sensation.
"Physical or emotional?" he asked, trying to buy some time.
She looked upset and he guessed she'd spotted his discomfort. So much for Poker Face Jack.
"Look, it doesn't matter, Sir, forget I asked. I'm sorry…"
She jumped out of her seat, heading for the door.
"No! Don't go, Sam!"
She probably only stopped at the shock of him using her first name, he knew. He almost never did that. He also knew this might be his first and last shot at getting her to open up and if this was what it took… He'd been through far worse, as he was about to tell her.
"Physical or emotional?" he asked again. "Because I have both in abundance."
Suddenly alarms started blaring loudly all around them.
"UNAUTHORISED INCOMING WORMHOLE!"
"Damn! Hammond's off and I'm Officer of the Day. Wait here, I'll probably be back in a few minutes. Ah, crap!"
As Jack jumped up, the files perched on the edge of his desk fell to the floor. He ran to the control room and arrived just in time to make it to the window to see the wormhole "whoosh" into existence.
"Any signal?"
"Its SG-7, Sir. They're a hour early."
"Open the iris."
Jack waited till the wormhole closed before hitting the intercom button.
"SG-7, welcome home. Report to the infirmary. Debrief in one hour."
He hurried back to his office, but wasn't surprised to find Carter gone. She wasn't in her lab either and when he checked with security, he discovered she'd just signed out.
Damn that woman!
He couldn't leave till his shift ended and the next watch commander was in place, which, according to his watch, wouldn't be for another 4 hours, 23 minutes and 12 seconds.
Eleven.
Ten.
Nine…
**
Great. He'd managed to get everyone worried now. He'd gone straight round to Carter's place as soon as he could get away, but she wasn't there. Just in case she was ignoring him, he'd banged on the door for nearly five minutes solid. The three different neighbours, who threatened to call the police if he didn't leave, did not appear to be impressed by his Eagles. One little old lady had archly told him that military men were the most violent partners, or so she heard. He stood there in stunned silence as she slammed her door.
"She's not my partner and I'm not violent, dammit!"
Hmm... Maybe I should take up yoga or Tai Chi or something…
On his way out to his truck, he'd called Janet and Daniel to see if either of them knew where she was. Unfortunately they didn't, nor did Teal'c who was over at Daniel's at the time. Neither were they fooled by his insistence that everything was ok but since no-one knew where to look for her, there was nothing anyone could do. They were under strict orders to call him and let him know she was ok if she turned up though.
**
End of Chapter 10
A/N - The usual, please review…