Chapter 3
0800 rolled around too soon for Sam. She had barely slept in anticipation of her new assignment. CO of SG-1. Her first command. OK, her first REAL command. She had led SG-1 offworld before, but never as 'herteam'. Part of her was exhilarated and another part was terrified. She knew she could do the job, but she had usually had the Colonel as backup. It wasn't right, going out there without him. She was going to miss him – for more reasons than one…Now where did that come from? She stamped down that line of thinking and shook herself.
"Pull yourself together, Carter. He has faith in you. Now all you need to do is have faith in yourself."
She squared her shoulders and marched into the gateroom. The rest of her team… that really sounded strange…'her team' was already there. Kempson was looking decidedly green, but attempting to put on a brave face. General O'Neill was standing at the foot of the ramp talking with Daniel and Teal'c. Upon seeing her, he left off his conversation and moved towards her. She stiffened to attention, causing him to glare.
"Carter, I mean it. Stop doin' that. I'd hate to have to bust you before you even get command." The light in his eyes belied his words. Their eyes locked for several seconds and she saw his feeling of loss at not being able to go with them. The gaze held just a moment too long and she saw something else there. Concern? Fear? Affection? She couldn't put her finger on it, but something else was definitely there.
"Any additional orders, sir?" She grinned, breaking the moment.
"Just be careful. I know this PX…..whatever is uninhabited, but just watch your six. It wouldn't be the first time something slipped up and bit us in the …mikta. Report in tomorrow by 1400 hours and let me know what's going on." He softened his voice and spoke. "Keep an eye on Kempson. He's green, but his daddy is somebody big. Keep him with you, if you can."
Yes, sir," Sam replied. She was equal parts excited and sad. She waited for the General to get the ball rolling by ordering the gate to be dialed. He didn't disappoint and started the process going by nodding to the technician. As the seventh chevron locked into place, he reached out and touched Sam's arm.
"Be careful," he whispered. "Come back soon! I'll miss being with you out there" He turned on his heel and walked out of the gateroom as the wormhole erupted.
Sam looked after him a moment before turning and leading her team up the ramp. She looked to the observation booth and gave a quick salute. "I'll, er…we'll miss you being there, sir," she whispered back and stepped through the gate without another word, followed closely by 'her team'.