Author's Note: Sorry this has taken so long! Unfortunately, I had a whole lot of exams and I've spent a long, long time studying for them. Hopefully this chapter might make up for that!

Cheeky.

Chapter Eighteen:

I yawned slightly as I peered at my computer screen. I blinked a little and kept typing. Hopefully my report would be done soon. There was just so much I had to add, and it was getting to be epic in length – sort of a novel on its own.

Before I could add more to it though, my phone rang. I can't say I minded the interruption. "Carter." I answered.

"Ma'am, you have a call from the outside." A voice told me. "Would you like it put through?"

"Who is it?" I asked.

"A woman called Jessica Mitchell."

Jessie was calling? "Oh, put her through."

"Shannon?" Jessie asked after there was a click in the line.

"Hey, Jessie." I greeted warmly, happy to hear from her. "How are you?"

"Oh, good, good." Jessie said absently. "I happy to get hold of you, you know. Where have been for the past month? All the people at this base keep telling me it that you were un-contactable. Even your mother wouldn't tell me where you were!"

I chuckled softly and remembered my cover story. "I was out in the field, if you must know." I said. "Collecting data."

"Whatever." Jessie said. "I'm not going to ask what data, because you have the potential to bore me to death, no offence. You know astrophysics just isn't my thing."

I laughed. "Yeah, I know."

"So…" Jessie said after a moment. "Any cute military officers at that base of yours?"

"One or two." I said, knowing she was about to pump me for details.

But then when the questions didn't come, I got worried. "You're not going to ask what they look like?" I asked.

"Oh, sure." Jessie said, but she sounded tense and distracted.

"Jessie, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, really." Jessie said. "Just a little distracted today."

"Jessie." I said firmly. "Something's wrong. What is it?"

"I so did not want to do this on the phone, okay?" Jessie said. From her tone of voice I could almost see her gnawing on her lip like she did when she was nervous. "You are going to hate me."

"What, have you still got my favourite boots or something?" I said. "Whatever it is, don't sweat it. If I haven't missed it by now, you're safe."

"It's not that." Jessie said. "It's about Alec."

"What's up with him?" I asked, confused and beginning to realise something really was up. "Is he okay?"

"He's fine." Jessie said. Then she paused and took a deep breath. "We were really, really drunk, okay? And I know that's not much of an excuse, but we were. And I'm sorry, but I kinda like him, so I didn't stop him and then it was too late…and then I realised and…and…" Jessie babbled.

"Jessie, what happened?"

"I slept with Alec." She said in a rush.

There was a tense silence and I could see Jessie on the other end of the phone, cringing. She sounded so upset and guilty. And, despite the problem, compared to what I had been facing lately, this wasn't all that serious. Besides, I hadn't though about Alec in weeks. I've always been a firm believer that if you really care about someone, they'll always be in your mind. Guess that's thanks to my parents.

"Oh, Jessie." I said. "That's okay."

"What?" she snapped on the other side of the phone. "Aren't you supposed to yell at me or something? Tell me you hate me? You should, I'm an awful friend."

"I think you feel guilty enough for the both of us." I said. "Besides, I'm not sure I like Alec that way anymore. It, I don't know, feels kind of like I've gotten over a crush. Kinda nice, but never serious."

"So you don't hate me?"

I laughed softly. "No, I don't hate you Jessie. But can I ask you a question?"

"Anything." She said it with such feeling that I couldn't help but smile. "Do you really, really like him?"

Jessie let out a breath in surprise at the question. "Yeah." She breathed. "Really, really."

"And does he like you?"

"Yeah, I think he does."

"Then we don't have a problem." I said. "Although, I will get some of my friends to help beat him up if he cheats on you." I added, somewhat jokingly.

There was a brief silence as my words sank in. "So, we're still friends?" Jessie asked hesitantly.

"Yeah." I said. "Just don't do it again, okay?"

"Oh, I promise!" Jessie blurted out quickly. Then she paused. "You know, Shan? You really are amazing."

"Thanks." I said, not sure of what else to say. If only she knew the truth.

"You get any vacation time up there?" Jessie asked after a moment.

I thought it over. "Probably not for a while. There's kind of this big project that I'm working on."

"Oh, no problem. I've got exams soon anyway." Jessie replied. "But I'll come up and see you as soon as I can, okay?"

"I'll hold you to that." I said. "And don't be scared to call!"

"I won't." Jessie said. "I guess I'll talk to you soon then."

"Definitely."

"Bye Shan."

"See you Jessie."

I put the phone down and couldn't help but laugh softly. I know it's a weird response, but I felt more amused by the conversation than upset. "What's so funny?" asked a voice from the doorway.

"Normality." I replied. "Although, I am beginning to feel a bit like I'm living in a soap opera."

"Yeah?" Beth said, coming over and flopping into a chair next to mine.

"Well, my father came back after everyone thought he was dead, I discovered I'm half alien and I just discovered one of my best friends has slept with the other one." I said.

Beth laughed. "You call that normal?"

"It's more normal than fighting body-snatching aliens everyday and travelling through wormholes!"

"True." Beth agreed. "What ever happened to that guy you were seeing?"

"Who, Alec?" I asked, surprised.

"Yeah." Beth answered. "You going to go see him, or what?"

"Well you see, that's the thing." I said. "He's kind of the guy that my friend was sleeping with."

"What?" Beth snapped. "Are you for real?"

I grinned. "Yep. I'm not upset much or anything, though. I'm not sure I ever liked him that way."

Beth shook her head. "Only you, Carter." She said.

I raised an eyebrow, but she just grinned unrepentantly at me. "So, how's your love life then?" I asked.

"My love life?" Beth echoed. Then she gave a reproachful look. "You'd know the answer to that if you hadn't been off gallivanting for a whole month."

"Sorry." I said, still grinning widely. "I'll try not to do it again. Now spill."

"I'm sort of going out with Dr. Malone. Conner was on that training camp with us."

"The other archaeologist? Of course." I replied. "How long has this been going on?"

"Just under two weeks. We went on our third date last night."

"Is it serious?"

Beth blushed. "I think so." She said. "I've been floating on a cloud for days."

"That's great." I said. "But I thought you liked Mac?"

"Mac?" Beth looked at me in surprise. "Nah. I mean, he's gorgeous and everything, but…he's just a friend."

Then Beth blinked. "Oh, you'll never guess what happened!"

"What?"

"You know Miles? Dr. King, the chemist?" Beth asked me, but she didn't stop long enough for an answer. "Well, he's just gotten together with Brian. You know, Dr. Singer?"

"You're kidding!"

"No! I didn't even know he was gay until he told me. I always thought he was keen on one of the nurses!"

I laughed. "Dude, I'm not going away again! You miss out on way too much gossip!"

"Well, I've got some gossip you might want to hear." Said another voice.

I looked up to see Daniel walking into my office. "Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop. But is Miles really going out with Dr. Singer?"

"Uh huh." Beth nodded. "I caught them necking in his lab."

"Huh." Daniel said. "Go figure."

Then he pulled a chair over and sat down. "You can't spread this around, okay?"

"They won't hear it from me." I said.

"Me either." Beth added.

"Well, I think Jack is going to ask Sam to marry him."

"No way!" Beth exclaimed.

"You'd think they'd come and talk to me!" I said. "I haven't heard a word!"

"Well, if what I think is true, you can probably expect something soon!" Daniel said excitedly.

"Really?" I asked, a warm feeling blossoming in my chest. Were my parents going to get married? This would be perfect for me – and I loved the idea that they still loved each other enough for that. Although, considering their commitment to each other anyway, the actual marriage part was probably more like icing on the cake.

"Yep."

"This is so cool!" Beth exclaimed.

Before I could say anything else, however, my phone rang again. I picked it up. "Carter." I answered.

"Dr. Carter, I was wondering if I could have a word." The General said on the other end.

"Sure." I said. "I'll be right there."

"Good." The General replied. "By the way, have you seen Doctor Jackson? I wanted to talk to him as well."

"Oh, he's here with me. I'll tell him."

"Great. See you soon, Doctor."

"Will do, General." I said and put the phone down.

"Sorry guys." I said to Beth and Daniel. "Gossip time is over for now. The General wants to see me and Doctor Jackson."

"Well, I guess I should get back to work. I'll come and see you later, okay?" Beth told me.

"Definitely." I said.

We all left the room together, with Beth turning in the opposite direction to walk towards the archaeology labs. As she disappeared around a corner, Daniel turned to me. "Did the General say what it was that he wanted to see us about?" he asked.

"I'm afraid not." I said. "But it should prove to be interesting, given our track record."

Daniel chuckled. "You make it sound like its fun all the time."

"Well, I don't know about you…" I teased.

"God, you sound just like your mother when you say that." Daniel groaned. "I swear, sometimes, I don't know who was worse – Jack or Sam. They both had that same urge to get into trouble just to see if they could get back out again."

"You make them sound like children."

Daniel just looked at me. I laughed. "Okay, Dad maybe. But can you really describe mom as a child?"

"Oh, yeah." Daniel said after we entered the briefing room and catching my mother poking her tongue out at my father. Way to make a point, mom.

Daniel and I shared an amused laugh before we both burst out laughing. "What?" Dad asked. "Is there something amusing here?"

"Perhaps they have seen you recent behaviour." Teal'c said.

I grinned. "Private joke." I told them.

Before Dad could ask for anymore details, however, the General walked in. He looked slightly harassed and tired, as if he had been wrestling with a large problem all morning. "I'm glad to see you all." He said. "We've got a problem."

"Another one?" Dad asked.

The General just gave him a look that didn't need words. Wisely, Dad kept any future wit to himself. "Certain people are getting rather curious about the large city we now have sitting on the Antarctican continent – especially since it magically appeared only recently."

"Oh." I said. "I forgot about that."

"I thought you might have." The General said with a small smile. "No need to apologise either, Dr. Carter." He interrupted as I opened my mouth. "I can't say it was the most important thing on my mind either."

"So what are we going to do about it?" mom asked.

"That's where I thought you could help." The General said.

Everyone turned around to look at Dad and me. I turned to look at him myself. "What do you think?" I asked, already having thought of a suggestion and knowing dad would have thought of it too.

"We'll need more fuel." He said. "But I think I know where to find another cell."

We both turned back to the others and smiled sheepishly as Daniel asked dryly, "Anyone care to fill the rest of us in?"

"Sorry." I said.

"So?" Mom asked.

"We move the city." I said. "But not on Earth. We put it on the alpha site."

"That way it will be close enough to help defend Earth if we need it to, but be somewhere no prying eyes can find it." Dad explained.

"But won't that leave Earth vulnerable?" The General asked.

"A little." I answered truthfully. "But I have a plan for that. I know of a planetary defence system that could be built quite easily given our current resources that should take care of that problem."

"How long would it take?" the General asked.

"Three months." I said. "Baal won't be back for at least that long considering the losses his army took in the latest attack and Anubis is gone."

The General nodded thoughtfully. Then he smiled. "You have a go." He said.