Catch you on the flip side

Author: Gillian Slater

E-mail: LeoricGS@aol.com

Rating: PG -13

Teaser: Carter, whilst experimenting with materials gathered from an alien world finds an ancient coin which triggers a spontaneous OBE. Problem is, she can't end it.

Disclaimer: As always, these characters do not belong to me, they are the property of the show's creators, and I'm borrowing them for my own sinister purposes...

Part Two

Not a bite. Not even a ripple. Jack knew his game was up. Yes indeed, the few surly bass he was certain still inhabited the lake had caught on quickly this year. Well, he'd just have to try some new field tactics he'd been perfecting. He fingered the grenade at his belt with a sly grin.

A vague whisper through the trees caught his attention briefly, and a breeze ruffled the brim of his fishing hat, threatening to lift it right off his head. Jack anchored his hat with one hand, setting his rod carefully onto its stand with the other.

Turning, he started back up the bank, peering suspiciously around. His military poker-face was immediately back in place, Sam noted, her ethereal consciousness floating a few paces behind him. He probably expected to be ambushed any second, it was just like the Colonel, although admittedly his unfailing attention to detail and uncanny ability to pre-empt a surprise attack were properties that had made him the only man in the world fit to lead SG-1.

I know you can't hear me, sir, but if you could just call up General Hammond and ask him to go check on me…

"I know you're here!" Colonel O'Neill called out in an authoritative voice, "So you can just come on out and we'll either talk it through peacefully or… not." He continued to scan the surrounding vegetation for any signs of movement, pulling a pistol from the waistband of his jeans.

Thanks anyway, but I'd rather you didn't shoot me, sir.

Jack fell silent, listening so intently that when the sudden, shrill tones of his cellphone's jingle pierced the idyllic calm of the lakeside he leaped a good foot into the air. Sam could barely contain her amusement as the Colonel tucked his pistol back into his pants and seized his phone, cursing bitterly.

"What!?" he barked, his hand moving to his forehead in exasperation. "Oh, hi Daniel." He lowered his tone, curbing the tirade he obviously had planned for the person who had startled him. "What's up?"

Sam watched as he paced around his immediate vicinity. She desperately wished she could hear the other end of the conversation.

"Aw, you know Carter, Daniel. She's probably too wrapped up in her experiments to even hear her phone. Well, I'll try her on mine and get back to you, okay?" He pressed the button ending the call, then tapped in the digits of Sam's number and waited for the ring.

"Come on, Carter. Pick up, pick up… Oh, where the hell are you?"

I'm right here. Sam pointed out in a defeated voice. O'Neill whirled about to face her.

"Who was that? Who's there?" he demanded. Stunned, the invisible mind of Samantha Carter moved in closer to the Colonel.

You… you heard me?

"Yeah… err, I'm officially confused here. Care to let me in on the joke?"

It's me, sir, Carter. I'm… having an OBE.

"All right, all right, don't rub it in. I got qualifications of my own y'know…" The being that was Carter chuckled.

No I mean an out-of-body experience. My consciousness is here while my actual self is back at the SGC.

"And you did this why?"

I didn't do it, sir, it was done to me.

"By whom?"

Not who, sir, what. You remember that naquida-microscope?

"You're telling me a microscope did this?"

No, sir, the thing I was looking at with the 'scope: some sort of coin Daniel picked up from P3X-663. I've figured out that it takes my consciousness to the presence of any person I actively think about.

Jack's forehead furrowed in thought briefly, then smoothed as a lopsided grin spread across his face.

"Thinking about me again, huh?"

Argh! Sir, I just…

"Calm down, Carter, it's called teasing, and it's commanding officer's prerogative."

Sam was glad that the Colonel couldn't see her face at that moment, since she was positive that it would be flushed with the embarrassed heat she felt, even in her lack of physical presence.

"So…" O'Neill continued, the gentle smile remaining, "How do you reverse this… OHP thingamajig?"

OBE, Carter corrected, I don't know sir. My physical self is still back in the lab. I was hoping maybe you could call someone at headquarters and get them to... slap me or something.

"Seriously? Damn, I wish I could be there to see that." His boyish grin widened as he took out his cell phone again.

"Hi, can you get me Dr. Frasier? Hi, Janet. Listen, could you find Major Carter?"

The conversation began to fade from Sam's mind as her presence rose above the small patch of Minnesota the Colonel loved so well.

Colonel, it's working… I'm going back.

Jack paused and glanced up towards Carter's retreating voice. He raised his hand in a wave. "Right behind you, Major."

End of Part Two