Chapter 27 by Abbot & Natters

Sam's POV – 40 minutes later

For the past half hour, my skin has been irritated. I feel like I want to crawl out of my skin. Maybe I'm slightly allergic to something here? That's all I need, an embarrassing rash covering me from head to toe.

"Carter, Teal'c, come in," calls the Colonel's voice over the radio, and goosebumps rise up on my arms, increasing the prickly sensation.

"Carter here, sir," I reply as steadily as I can.

"Hey Carter. Whatcha doing?"

I blink in surprise at the casual tone in his voice. He must be bored. Did he forget to pack the extra batteries for his Gameboy again? "Olmas is demonstrating their hydro-electri-"

"Ack! I'm getting enough technobabble from Danny-boy."

"I'm looking at an advanced water wheel sir. It is approximately eighty percent more efficient than those we use on Earth to generate electricity."

"Cool. Keep up the good work Carter."

"Yes sir."

"O'Neill is weary of DanielJackson's artifacts," states Teal'c.

"Yes. Give them another twenty minutes and we'll have lunch."

Maybe I can take a shower. That should help. Do they even have showers here?

"Olmas? Would it be possible for me to take a shower or a bath when we have lunch, I mean, the mid-meal?"

"A shower?" she asks and my heart drops.

"We immerse ourselves in water to clean our bodies."

"Ohh, you mean, cleansing. Yes, I will lead you to the designated place. It is private. Is that suitable?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"Are you well, MajorCarter?" asks Teal'c.

I might have known he would notice my flushed appearance. "I am, Teal'c. I think after that hike yesterday and last night's… incident I just need to clean up a little."

He nods his head and turns back to Olmas' explanation as I take notes.

Jack's POV

Damnation, this is quite possibly the most boring expedition I've been on in a long, long time. Space Monkey is all excited, going here and there, trying to translate everything. He says it's Germanic, which says to me...German. I'm sorry, but I just don't care. I go for the radio, since I forgot spare batteries for my GBA. Olmas seemed real impressed with it too...while it worked. But I used up all the batteries at breakfast, like an idiot.

"Carter, Teal'c, come in."

"Carter here, sir."

I'm glad to hear her voice again. She sounds a little off, but happy enough. I pass it off to the static or something.

"Hey Carter. Whatcha doing?"

"Olmas is demonstrating their hydro-electri-"

"Ack! I'm getting enough technobabble from Danny-boy."

Daniel rolls his eyes. He's having a grand old time, looking at rocks, and writing, and more rocks.

"It's not technobabble," I hear him mutter.

"I'm looking at an advanced water wheel sir. It is approximately eighty percent more efficient than those we use on Earth to generate electricity."

Oh, eighty percent. Sounds impressive.

"Cool. Keep up the good work Carter."

"Yes sir."

She sounds rather pleased with herself, like a puppy you just patted on the head. Yeah, definitely a little odd, but the last few days have definitely been a little odd. Wedding, fertility ceremony, awkwardness...hell, we've already filled our quota for sexual tension this year.

"Hey Danny, want to grab some chow in about half an hour?"

"Sure, Jack. "

He goes back to making rubbings and recording notes. I start thinking about delicious...MREs. Yum. But at least I get to eat with Carter, right? Christ, it's like I'm thirteen again. Can't get her out of my mind.