Chapter 2
A/N: hey sry the first one was so short I promise this one will be longer. Please r and r, and I know there are people out there who don't review. But if you don't review how can I know that you like it and want more, or that you hated it and think it's a terrible story line. Whatever your thoughts are I would please like to know.
Disclaimer: what they aren't mine?.. drat
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Last time…
They were going back today and everyone knew who would be waiting for them at the end of 'that' ramp. She could only hope the debriefing would be short, so she wouldn't have to spend any more time with 'him' than necessary. She couldn't be blamed for her actions if she did…
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Now…
As they approached the gate, Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter went to the MALP, after Teal'c had dialed the gate, to contact the SGC and tell them they were sending it back through. The gate opened with its usual cheery whoosh and she couldn't help but think it was mocking her. She activated the MALP so she could communicate via video link with the base. She plastered a smile on her face and prepared herself speak with the General.
"Carter?" the disembodied voice of General O'Neill issued from the MALP, "anything to report?"
"No, sir," she said getting a bit of a lilt in her voice, "as you would say 'trees, rocks,… tell me again why we had to come 'here' to see this?"
He shook his head even though he knew she couldn't see him, she was picking up on him way too much. "Very funny Colonel," he teased, "come on home."
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Back at the SGC…
As they stepped onto the ramp and the gate shut off behind them she couldn't help but notice him smiling at the end of the ramp. –Damn him doesn't he know what that smile does to me- she thought.
Colonel O'Neill, no General O'Neill now, but she guessed she'd always think about him like that as 'her' colonel. Why was it she always called him that? By his rank that is, 'colonel' before, 'general' now, or 'sir'. But never Jack, why was it she just couldn't say that?
Perhaps she was afraid that if she did it might bring up some things in the back of her mind that were better left buried. After all she shouldn't be thinking about him that way, she'd moved on, she'd decided that she'd accept Pete's proposal, even though Pete didn't know it yet, but still. She was marrying him. And she was happy with that… right? Well, as happy as she could be given that Jack no longer cared for her. At least that's what she thought, after all, if he did care for her he would've said something before he let it go this far… right? Lord knows, she'd given the man every opportunity short of groveling.
This thought process took only a fraction of a second before she stuffed the thought into the proverbial safe-box in the back of her mind along with all her other insecurities about 'that' man. As she strode confidently down the ramp with Daniel and Teal'c on her heels.
Her brief loss of composure and the flash of emotions across her features were not lost on the rest of her team. But, unlike Teal'c and O'Neill who would keep quiet about it, Daniel decided that he'd have to corner her later and find out what was going on before she made a decision that she might come to regret.
After Sam's succinct and one-sided (brownie points if you can guess who's side the convo was coming from) conversation at the base of the ramp, she headed to the infirmary for her post-mission exam, allowing the guys to have first dibs on the showers. After all, they needed it more than her and she had a whole 4 hours before she had to report to the conference room for debriefing. She could do whatever she wanted, short of leaving base of course. That would simply be too much trouble.
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4 hours later…
She was working in her lab when Daniel came by to pick her up on the way to the debriefing. They walked in a somewhat companionable silence towards the conference room.
She knew that he was just waiting for an opportunity to confront her. And she was doing her best to not let him get that opportunity anytime soon. The less he knew the less she thought about it. Some things were just better left buried. Or so she thought.
She steeled herself as they neared the briefing room. –all I have to do is get through this- she thought, -then I can go home and take a nice hot bubble-bath before I go to Pete's.-
She had called Pete earlier to let him know she was back 'in town', and he had invited her over for dinner. She had thought she heard a female giggle in the background just before she hung up, but it must've been her imagination running away with her, after all she had been being a bit paranoid lately…
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Does Pete have another woman? Will Daniel ever get to talk to Carter? And will Jack continue to be silent?
A/N: hey people I still need ideas for the briefing, I was stalling with this one can you tell? And I still need to come up with a title that's fitting but everything I think up falls short, see if you can help me out here if you have any ideas k?