Ok, here it is, chapter two.
Same disclaimer as in chapter one, and again, thanks to NG for the beta
work.
Also thanks to Rural for the encouragement.
Chapter 2
Fall was setting in and it was a dreary day in Colorado Springs.
Sam shut off her car and looked up at the cold raindrops splattering on her windshield. One more time she thought of how much she would have liked to stay at home today, curled up in her nice warm bed with the covers up over her head. She gave an exasperated sigh, mentally shook herself into Major Carter mode, gathered her belongings, and headed for the check in point.
Once she had signed in and said her good mornings she headed for the elevator down to level 11 where she would once again go through the routine. Always routines. Sam had the feeling that this was going to be one of those days. One of those long, tedious, uneventful, routine days. Well, it couldn't all be action and adventure.
#######
After heading down to her lab and depositing her briefcase beside her desk she decided to head over to the mess hall for some much needed caffeine.
When she arrived Daniel was already hovering over the freshly brewed pot.
"So, how many cups have you had so far this morning?" Sam lightly ribbed Daniel as she walked up beside him.
"Not enough" he replied with an animated yawn, as he handed her a cup.
"Thanks" Sam said with a smile that just had to be forced at this hour of the morning.
"Anytime Sam"
Daniel turned and wandered off to get back to whatever translation he had been slaving over for who knows how long.
Just as Sam was adding the cream and sugar to the coffee she heard the unmistakable sound of her Colonel shouting expletives out in the hallway. By the time she reached the scene Daniel was sputtering apologies to Jack and his hot coffee covered BDU's. Jack didn't say a thing. He was steaming, in more than one way, and his face was so red he looked about to explode. He looked up at the crowd that had accumulated out in the hall, gave one of the dirtiest looks imaginable, then turned on his heal and strode rapidly down the hall.
Sam glanced up at Daniel, who looked completely helpless at the moment, gave him a sympathetic look, then hurried down the hall towards the Colonel.
"Sir?"
No answer.
"Colonel!"
No answer, and he picked up his pace.
Sam sped up to a sprint and pulled the last card she had.. "Jack". Not a shout like the others, but not quite a whisper either.
Jack stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face her. He was in no mood for this, for any of this today.
"Not now, Carter."
Then he looked down, not wanting to see whatever expression may be playing across her features at the moment.
"Sir, please. Are you ok?"
"What do you think Carter?" he said with about as much sarcasm as he could muster at the moment. "I need to go change". And he turned again.
"No, no you don't. First you're coming with me to the infirmary where Janet can check out those burns. That coffee was pretty hot." Sam said with determination.
Jack looked back up a bit surprised. "Uh huh. Now you're giving me orders?"
Sam wasn't standing for the argument. Instead she gently took him by the arm and said "Come on Sir. Let's just go get this taken care of." Then lead him off to the infirmary.
He went without complaint.. Lost in thought the whole way.. Hardly bothered by the scalding coffee.
########
"Ok Doc, am I free to go now?"
"Yes Colonel, but remember to use that salve three times a day for at least a week" She gave him 'the eye' and emphasized, "I mean it!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'll be a good boy lest you try to take off after me with your needles." There was a bit of humor in his tone of voice now. Janet was pleased. His previously foul mood was uncharacteristic, even for a Jack O'Neill who'd just been doused with coffee.
Chapter 2
Fall was setting in and it was a dreary day in Colorado Springs.
Sam shut off her car and looked up at the cold raindrops splattering on her windshield. One more time she thought of how much she would have liked to stay at home today, curled up in her nice warm bed with the covers up over her head. She gave an exasperated sigh, mentally shook herself into Major Carter mode, gathered her belongings, and headed for the check in point.
Once she had signed in and said her good mornings she headed for the elevator down to level 11 where she would once again go through the routine. Always routines. Sam had the feeling that this was going to be one of those days. One of those long, tedious, uneventful, routine days. Well, it couldn't all be action and adventure.
#######
After heading down to her lab and depositing her briefcase beside her desk she decided to head over to the mess hall for some much needed caffeine.
When she arrived Daniel was already hovering over the freshly brewed pot.
"So, how many cups have you had so far this morning?" Sam lightly ribbed Daniel as she walked up beside him.
"Not enough" he replied with an animated yawn, as he handed her a cup.
"Thanks" Sam said with a smile that just had to be forced at this hour of the morning.
"Anytime Sam"
Daniel turned and wandered off to get back to whatever translation he had been slaving over for who knows how long.
Just as Sam was adding the cream and sugar to the coffee she heard the unmistakable sound of her Colonel shouting expletives out in the hallway. By the time she reached the scene Daniel was sputtering apologies to Jack and his hot coffee covered BDU's. Jack didn't say a thing. He was steaming, in more than one way, and his face was so red he looked about to explode. He looked up at the crowd that had accumulated out in the hall, gave one of the dirtiest looks imaginable, then turned on his heal and strode rapidly down the hall.
Sam glanced up at Daniel, who looked completely helpless at the moment, gave him a sympathetic look, then hurried down the hall towards the Colonel.
"Sir?"
No answer.
"Colonel!"
No answer, and he picked up his pace.
Sam sped up to a sprint and pulled the last card she had.. "Jack". Not a shout like the others, but not quite a whisper either.
Jack stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face her. He was in no mood for this, for any of this today.
"Not now, Carter."
Then he looked down, not wanting to see whatever expression may be playing across her features at the moment.
"Sir, please. Are you ok?"
"What do you think Carter?" he said with about as much sarcasm as he could muster at the moment. "I need to go change". And he turned again.
"No, no you don't. First you're coming with me to the infirmary where Janet can check out those burns. That coffee was pretty hot." Sam said with determination.
Jack looked back up a bit surprised. "Uh huh. Now you're giving me orders?"
Sam wasn't standing for the argument. Instead she gently took him by the arm and said "Come on Sir. Let's just go get this taken care of." Then lead him off to the infirmary.
He went without complaint.. Lost in thought the whole way.. Hardly bothered by the scalding coffee.
########
"Ok Doc, am I free to go now?"
"Yes Colonel, but remember to use that salve three times a day for at least a week" She gave him 'the eye' and emphasized, "I mean it!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'll be a good boy lest you try to take off after me with your needles." There was a bit of humor in his tone of voice now. Janet was pleased. His previously foul mood was uncharacteristic, even for a Jack O'Neill who'd just been doused with coffee.