Title: Stranded - So Damn Hot
Author: Lt.Kara.Thrace
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Jack/Sam
Genre: Romance/Humor
Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply.
Archive: Sure, just let me know first.
Summary: The team is split up when a lightning bolt strikes the gate while they are in the wormhole returning home.
Author's Note: I have fixed the GDO, DHD error and tried to make this chapter more realistic. The other chapters are in progress. I welcome constructive criticism it helps make my stories better so please review.
After eating Jack had taken to pacing back and forth for some reason. He kept this up until it got to hot and he was glistening with sweat and even his hair was sodden, "Sam why does it get so damn hot here?"
"It's a desert climate."
"No I meant why out of all the planets in the universe did we end up on one the worse ones? Why couldn't we have ended up on a nice green planet with well grass, rivers and lakes?"
"Murphy's law?" she suggested, "you'd better sit in the shade for a while or you'll be really sorry when you have a sunburn later."
"Alright," he walked over to a tree and sat in the shade slowly lying down and stretching out on his back, "What about you? You're not immune if I'm not."
"I suppose you're right," Carter walked over and leaned against the tree, "You think we should look around a little bit further from here?"
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why not? I mean we could find food or maybe a village."
"A village on this planet? Ha! No and besides if we go too far and someone comes looking for us..."
"They wouldn't be able to find us," Carter finished.
"Daniel, Teal'C what progress on the location of Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill do you have to report?"
"We have narrowed the planets that they could be stranded on to about two hundred."
"How were you able to get this so soon?"
"Well since the time needed for repairs was greatly overestimated, by the time we got back almost all systems were up and running. Dr. Frasier allowed us laptops while we were in the infirmary."
"Good but can it be narrowed down any further? Two hundred is a lot of planets to search."
"I'm afraid not general. You see if we tried to narrow it down any further we run the risk of missing the right planet, I made a list for you sir." Daniel handed a long printout to General Hammond.
"I'll start sending teams to these planets as soon as I can."
Teal'C cut in, "We are once again requesting permission to return to duty sir."
"Tell you what I'll consult Dr. Frasier and if she thinks that you're fit for duty you can return to duty otherwise you will remain here and continue working with lieutenant Williams. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir."
The sun was sinking down towards the horizon at an alarmingly fast rate. "Jack we haven't made any means of shelter and nightfall will be soon."
"Why do we need shelter when it's so hot here and probably won't rain?"
"Did you ever pay attention in any class?" Carter sighed, "In desert climates it can get extremely cold at night." Jack was seemingly not paying any attention, "Were you even listening?"
"Hmmm…oh what?" Carter shook her head in disbelief, "What should we name this planet? Oh and I did know that I am just tired."
"What?"
"Now who's not listening? I said what should we name this planet?"
"I heard you but don't you think that shelter is more important that naming this planet?"
"I want to name the planet," he responded stubbornly, "It'll only take a minute."
When he got no response he decided to make her give in by looking really sad, Carter sighed, "Oh all right name the planet if it's really that important to you and then we can get on with making some shelter." She knew that Jack wouldn't have given up. He could be as stubborn as a mule when it suited him, "So what do you want to call the planet?"
"First do you have any ideas?"
"No. You're not telling me that you don't even have one idea for the name are you?"
"Well I do have a couple of ideas but one in particular…"
"Are you sure they're fit for duty because if you're not sure you could keep them out of the field for a little longer."
"They're going to be fine general. All the bites have healed and even the itching has stopped. There's no reason to take such measures sir."
"Very well but I have been wondering one thing Dr. Frasier."
"What is it?"
"That green goop you put on their bites what exactly was it?"
She mischievously smiled, "Liquefied pickles."
"What?" General Hammond was incredibly confused.
"I put it on them for two reasons. To stop them scratching and to make them believe it would help. You see general the human mind is a powerful thing I thought that they might actually think it was working and think the itching was gone but evidently they were too amused at how each other looked and skeptical for it to work on them. That and I couldn't find anything that would actually help them."
"I see. I'll let them go back to duty then." He turned to leave.
"Wait general one more thing."
He turned, "Yes?"
"Don't tell them what the goop was or they'd never forgive me."
"No problem, your secret is safe with me." He left the room.
"That's the name you had in mind?" Carter was in disbelief and staring at Jack as if he were insane.
"Yes why, what's wrong with it?" Jack demanded.
"First of all who would want to call a planet Sahara when it is already taken by a desert on Earth?"
"I would, next reason."
"Well it's just a bad idea to name a planet that when there is already a similar place named that, think of the confusion," Carter snapped.
"Whoa clam down no need to lose your temper over it and I thought of it cause both places are similar."
"Sorry."
"Now if you have any better ideas I'd be delighted to hear them," he challenged.
"…"
"I knew it, Sahara it is then."
He was smirking and Carter knew well enough when she had lost, "Alright you've won."
"Good news, both of you have been declared fit for duty by Dr. Frasier."
"That's great now we can help actually search for Jack and Sam right?" Daniel asked hopefully.
"Yes you'll be working with Sg-2 until they are found."
"Yes sir."
"You'll need to report to the briefing room at 0900 and until then you should both get some sleep."
"0900 sir?"
"Yes."
"But that's hours away and we don't even know if they ended up on the same planet and…"
"I know that you don't want them to have to spend a night out there but I have no choice. Most of the teams have arrived back from missions recently and are in no condition to safely conduct the search. That is the end of it, get some rest." General Hammond left the room.
The sun was beginning to set, casting hues of orange, purple and gold across the sky. Jack had stopped piling palm leaves for padding to make sleeping more comfortable (palm leaves was about all they had to use for a shelter) and was looking out to the horizon, "Sam come look at this," he called to her.
She continued piling leaves and didn't look up, "Is this just another trick? You're not going to throw me in the water again are you?"
"No it's not a trick just come here I really think you'll want to see this."
Carter decided to trust him and walked over, "You were right it's beautiful."
"See I wasn't playing another trick on you. Once was enough, besides I got wet too." He slipped his arm around her shoulders drawing her closer to him. She relaxed and lay her head on his shoulder, at the same time surprising Jack by putting an arm around his waist. They stood and watched the sun sink slowly out of sight plunging them into darkness, "I just remembered I have a lighter in my pocket, we can have a fire."
He pulled out his lighter and looked at it oddly, "What is it? What's wrong?" Carter asked.
"I don't have any marshmallows. It's just not right having a fire without roasting marshmallows Sam." He paused, "It's tradition you know."
She would have laughed but she sensed that it was not the time or place for that, "Well at least we can have fire."
"I know but…"
"Forget about the fire then."
"...?" Carter silenced him with an unexpected kiss.
TBC
