Many thanks to you all for reading/reviewing. (grin)
Thank you Sara for beta'ing both this and the last chapter!
And, I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Oh, EXTREMELYsorry for the delay. I lost my chapter so had to re-write it.
Well, cheers!
Carter managed to lose her CO for a moment by asking him to get her a cup of coffee. He obliged and she hurried ahead. "Grace!" She hissed entering the lab, "You need to-" She stopped short. The lab was empty.
Carter groaned and carefully sat down. "Grraaaccccee..."
The little girl's head popped out from under the desk." I hafta go," She whispered, "I'll be back."
"Grace!" Sam hissed. "Grace!"
She was gone.
"What was that Carter?" Jack asked.
"Nothing sir!" She quickly assured him. "Nothing at all."
"Methinks the lady doth protest too much," He quoted.
She dug her spoon into the blue jello goblet. "There's nothing quite like this..."
Jack gave her a look of mock disapproval." Carter, you are obsessed with that stuff."
She shrugged. "Sir... you just don't understand."
He shuddered and looked at his pie. "Pie is the way to go."
She looked around for another spoon then gave in and offered him hers. "I bet you've never had a bite of this before."
Jack hesitated a second before swallowing the bit. "It's..."
"Blue?" She offered.
"Yeah."
She grinned. "So, how was it?"
"It wasn't... that bad." He admitted. "So... how's the leg?"
Carter shrugged. "It's alright, but I don't think I'll be running any races soon."
He gave her a small smile. "I..."
She listened to him talk for a few minutes about the Simpson's (how they went from races to the Simpson's she wasn't sure). Just as she was about to take a sip of her now cold coffee, she saw the little girl standing behind Jack. She slowly set her cup down. Grace's head was cocked and she was mouthing something.
"What?" She mouthed back.
"And I-" Jack stopped. "Carter?" He asked turning around. "What is it?"
She closed her eyes. Grace was gone. "Headache," she said only partially lying. "I think I'll go back to my quarters."
"Need any help?"
Grace poked her head around the doorway and nodded vigorously. Sam stared at her for a moment then turned back to her CO.
"I... I think I can manage, thank you sir."
He shrugged. "I have to go by there anyways."
She stopped. "Who told you to follow me?"
"I..."
"General Hammond or Janet?"
Jack eyed her for a moment then decided it wasn't worth denying. "Both."
"I'm fine!"
"Of course you are."
She took a deep breath then sighed.
Å
"Did you hear?"
"What?"
"About Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter?"
The newcomer, a young female SF, looked eagerly around the whispering crowd. "What did I miss?"
"Major Carter... got... PUMPKIN pie!"
She gasped. "MAJOR CARTER?"
The cook nodded vigorously. "I was just sittin' here, tendin' to my own business when she comes a'hobblin' in here and then she asks me for blue jello... and pumpkin pie! Now we all know that pumpkin pie is Colonel O'Neill's favorite dessert. Dr. Jackson likes coffee and chocolate cake while Teal'c likes 'em all."
The SF shivered. "You think they are-"
The doors opened and in strolled Daniel Jackson, his head buried in notes. The room instantly quieted. He automatically walked to the coffee maker, poured himself a cup with one hand, then left, oblivious to the uproar that issued after his departure.
Å
She had to admit. Colonel O'Neill wasn't that bad of a watchdog. He allowed her to slide her cards and pick the route she wanted to go, even up a small flight of stairs.
Outside the door, she finally allowed him to help her. She was exhausted... climbing those stairs had worn her out more then she liked to admit. Jack slid the card, opened the door and let her hobble in. As the door swung closed, a little girl slid through.
"Just made it!" She whispered.
Jack spun around. The little kid that had been at Carter's house was here. She was tiptoeing over to the bed... and then took a seat right next to it on the cold floor.
Å
Carter thought she had heard a whisper but didn't want to look. She HAD to be hallucinating... right?
"Wrong," A voice chirped as she sat down. "You CAN see me."
"How?" Two voices asked simultaneously.
Å
Daniel hurried into Sam's lab. He knew exactly where she had put the folder of 'stuff' for him. He grabbed it and turned around too fast, sending him sprawling to the floor. With a groan, he began picking up all of his papers. As he reached under the desk, he pulled out a picture. A large rainbow graced the white paper, the colors vibrant, the drawing well done. To his surprise, the crayon marks were still fresh. He stared at it for a minute longer then packed it up with his papers.
Å
The two stared at each other. "You can see her?" They demanded.
"'Course you can." The girl said, standing up and shaking her curls.
"How?"
"Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies."
Jack stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. It went right through her.
"Child molestation," She said with a saucy shake of her head.
"I've seen her before sir. When... when I was on the Prometheus." Carter said slowly.
"And you're telling me this... NOW?"
"I thought I was hallucinating!"
Grace sighed. "I'm still hungry Sam..."
"You can't eat!" Jack objected.
Grace, barely noticeably, touched a silver bracelet on her wrist. "Wanna bet?"
Carter, with a slight groan, sat up. Taking careful aim, she tossed a pillow at the little girl. It hit her then fell to the floor.
"How'd you do that?" Jack demanded.
"I'm the coolest?"
"Grace..."
"It's for me to know and you-"
"To find out." Carter finished. "It's no use sir. She won't answer any direct questions."
"Like Urgo..."
Grace grimaced. "I am NOT Urgo."
"But you COULD be made from the same technology."
"Then how come I'm solid?" she demanded.
"That's why you had me get the pie." Carter said.
Jack looked disappointed. "The pie wasn't for me?"
Carter began shaking her head but Grace cut it. "Actually, it was."
Carter stared at her. "It... was?"
She nodded.
"Who else can see you?" the Major asked.
Grace stared intently at the both of them. "Anyone who wants to... who believes..."
"What?" They asked simultaneously.
She giggled. "I thought it sounded nice."
Sam sighed. "What is it with people and riddles?"
"Riddles?" Jack asked.
"Well, meaningful sayings that don't make any sense."
"I believe those are called-"
"I know sir," She snapped.
Å
Daniel was seated in his lab, staring at the picture when Teal'c entered.
"Hey Teal'c," He said looking up, "Whatcha been up too?"
"Assisting Major Peters remove her items from her lab."
Daniel's brow furrowed. "She's leaving?"
"She is to have a child."
The archeologist smiled. "That's nice."
Teal'c inclined his head. "What is it you hold Daniel Jackson?"
Daniel showed it to him. "I found it in Sam's lab."
"Then is it not the property of Major Carter?"
"No... I think it fell out of my folder. But look," He said gesturing to the paper, "The crayon marks are still fresh."
"Indeed."
"Well?" Daniel prodded.
Teal'c raised an eyebrow.
"What do you think?"
"It is most unusual that you have taken up an amusement that usually belongs to Tau'ri children."
"I didn't draw this."
"Perhaps someone on the base has brought their children with them."
Daniel shook his head. "Look," He said pointing to the corner. "See those tiny little letters? They say Grace. No one on base has a girl whose name is Grace."
Å
"So, what do we do Carter?"
She looked up. "Report ourselves to Dr. Mackenzie?"
"You're not crazy." Grace said firmly.
"How did you get on the Prometheus?" Jack demanded.
The girl started. "Om-" She stopped. "I have to go." And before they could stop her, the little girl had pulled open the door and dashed down the hall.
The two stared at each other in disbelief.
Grace is up to pranks in the next chapter...
I hope you liked it and...
PLEASE review!