Chapter 18 by Abbot and Natters
Daniel's POV
Everyone sort of staggers into the house. It's hilarious. Janet hangs back, holds my hand as Cassie and Teal'c usher the lovebirds in. Cassie gives me that knowing glare I used to get from my ex's dads before she too vanishes inside. Teal'c bows, and closes the door behind him.
"Alone at last?" my Janet manages to whisper as she wraps her arms around my neck.
"Yes. Sharing a bed with me tonight?"
She kisses my lips, rocks from foot to foot in a parody of dancing.
"Nuh-uh. No impropriety tonight. You know the rules."
I sigh, put my arms around her waist and spin her before pulling her close. She always was so...dominating. Always made negotiation fun. I leaned down, kissed her neck and shoulder.
"Are you suuuuuuuuuuuuuuure?"
I could feel her shudder, tense. A little gasp.
"Daanieeeeeel. No."
"No?"
"No."
I shrugged, grinned, let her go and made for the door. I had to struggle not to laugh as she protested. She caught up, a few brief moments of affection, and we walked through the door arm-in-arm.
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Sam's POV
Daniel and Teal'c head off wordlessly to the spare room when we get back to Janet's leaving me to limp into the front room, which is as far as my blistered feet are gonna take me for now. The Colonel insisted he could make it to the other spare room on his own. How come he gets a room on his own and I don't? Not that I mind sleeping on the fold out bed in Cassie's room, but… what was that crash?
"Oh fer crying out loud!"
I might have known. I suppose I'd better go and make sure he's okay. Janet's tucking Cassie in and I have to go upstairs at some point. Each step feels like I walking on crushed glass as I limp up the stairs. I can hear more muttering from the bathroom.
"Colonel?" I call softly as I knock. "Are you alright sir?"
"Just peachy Carter."
"Sir, do you need any help?"
"No! No. Thanks. Night Carter."
Fine. I give up. "Good night sir." As I enter Cassie's room I hear the shower start and it hits me why he didn't want any help. Could my evening get any worse?
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Jack's POV
"Colonel?Are you alright sir?"
"Just peachy Carter," I managed to grumble, massaging my bruised shin.
"Sir, do you need any help?"
"No! No. Thanks. Night Carter."
I start stripping down, turn on the shower. I'm covered in sweat, some puke. It's mostly the watery stuff...well, mostly the beer coming back up. I hadn't eaten anything. I'm gonna smell like shit tomorrow, but hey...at least I feel better. More sober.
Definitely more sober as I get a nice, solid bitchslap from the absolutely frigid water. It's ice cold. I bite down on more cursing, knowing that Carter is probably waiting for me right outside the door. So, I grit my teeth, shove my face into the slowly warming torrent, and take it like a man. Suffering is good for the soul, right?
I stand there a few moments, just getting my bearings and working the cobwebs out. Man, Carter was beautiful. She had every guy at the wedding going after her. But, due to the regs...hey, what am I supposed to do? Let her flush her career over me? I'm just an old soldier. She deserves better.
Wash as best I can, throw on my pants, weave and dodge as my beery demons chase me to the spare room. I don't so much crawl as flop into the bed, and lay there. My head swims, and all I can think about is Carter. Not much of a change there. The wouldas, the couldas, the shoulda beens. Nothing I can do now, just another in a long, long litany of screwups.
Sleep didn't come fast enough.