The next morning Carter woke up to her alarm clock blaring her 4 a.m. wake up call.
As she did every morning, she rolled over in bed and fumbled around the darkness until she hit the off button.
Sitting up in her bed she pushed the covers back and set her feet on the carpet below.
For a moment the prospects of the day seemed as dim as the room she sat in, but then something gave her a surge of hope and energy at the same time and she woke up—with out so much as a cup of coffee or a nice hot shower...her mind was crystal clear...and she knew what she needed to do...
By 0500 Carter was on her way down the elevator, coffee in hand, and ready for what laid a head of her.
The doors opened and she was bounding down the corridor with a noticeable bounce in her step. Crossing the intersection leading to O'Neill's office she pulled the papers from her coat and unfolded them in her hands.
"Hey Sam." Daniel said walking up behind her, coffee and papers over loading his arms. "We're all in the briefing room...something's up." He said walking down another hall and turning when she didn't follow him. "Sam? You commin?"
"Uhmm, yeah I'll be right there...I just have to drop this...report off in General O'Neill's office first."
"He'll be in the briefing room-"But she wasn't listening, she already disappeared down the hall. He shook his head and sipped his coffee, then continued to the briefing room.
O'Neill's office was dark and silent as Carter opened the door and slipped in, walking slowly around the room and behind his desk. She placed the papers in the middle of his desk and set the paperweight on top of them.
Standing back from them, she smiled, knowing things were falling into place...
With a quick nod of her head she was closing the door behind her and walking to the briefing room down the hall.
IN THE BRIFING ROOM...
O'Neill sat at the head of the table, where General Hammond once sat. But now, it was his place...his seat...his command chair...
Daniel entered, the usual balancing act between his coffee cup and the mess of papers spilling out of his arms.
"Daniel," O'Neill said as he leaned forward on the table. "You seen Carter?"
"Sorry I'm late Sir." Carter said walking in and taking the chair opposite Teal'c who sat at O'Neill's right.
He stifled the smile that fought to break across his face as she sat next to him obviously disheveled from her morning commute.
"Alright, now that the whole gang is here..." He said leaning back in his chair. "I'm sending an SG team to lend support to the Tokra on Merinah—that's where they put their new base at for the time being. There's no immediate threat—the Gouled took off about two days ago but their defenses are crippled and they need medical transport. Carter—I'm sending you along with SG-13 and 15; secure the site, send the wounded back through to the infirmary. Daniel, I'll need you here to work out the temporary living arrangements for the injured...Teal'c you'll be tagging along with Carter..." He said looking to the papers in front of him to make sure he covered everything. "And that's it...Carter, Teal'c you head out at 0600...get geared up and take care of any last minute whatevers..." He said standing. Upon which Carter jumped to attention. "I told you to stop that." He said dismissing her gesture and heading for the door.
Carter relaxed and looked over to Teal'c. "I'll meet you in the gate room Teal'c I've got a few things to tie up before we head out." She said walking out.
Once in the hall she saw O'Neill stepping into the elevator. When he caught sight of her he pushed the door open button and held it for her until she was inside.
They stood facing the doors, each with their arms crossed over their chests.
Looking straight, O'Neill looked down to his feet and then back up to the wall. "Come back in one piece?" he asked.
"Yes Sir," she said still staring at the wall.
A moment later the doors dinged open and she was walking down the opposite hall from him toward her lab. He watched her for only a fraction of a second before turning toward his office.
He wanted to talk to her, to know what she had decided...who she had chosen. Not knowing for sure was going to drive him nuts, and now she was going off world...it would be a few days before he knew...
Flipping on the lights as he entered his office, O'Neill sighed as he crashed into his chair behind his desk and leaned on his elbows, his face resting in his hands. He looked below to his desk, expecting to see his daily schedule from Walter, but instead he saw something much better...
He had to blink a few times to let his eyes focus on the paper below him. Then, as he picked it up in his hands, realizing that he wasn't hallucinating, he smiled again...the smile that only she brought out of him...
He leaned back in his chair and let it all sink in.
"Oh yea..." He thought. "THIS I can do..."