Technical Sergeant Colby, over fifty years old, and Staff Sergeant Manning, about forty, accompanied Jack O'Neill and Charles Kawalsky to the elevator. On their way, Jack and Charles saw the door of the device open. Captain Galvez, in blue shirt, tie, and pants, got out of it, followed by a lady. In her fifties, blond hair, blue eyes, glasses, an elegant blazer covering an elegant dress, and a leather briefcase. No wedding ring. Captain Galvez gestured towards the corridor where Jack and Charles were walking. "Please, this way, Doctor Carter," he invited.
The two groups met and exchanged greetings. Carter gave a polite smile, which distracted Jack. He kept glancing at Carter walking away until he reached the elevator. Manning pressed the button. O'Neill, still obsessed with the corridor, was caught red handed by Carter when she turned a little for some reason. Jack waved while Charles and the sergeants were getting into the elevator. Carter chuckled. Funny dude, she thought. She spoke to Galvez. The captain looked towards the elevator and said something to his guest. Jack entered the cabin a second before the door closed.
"What?" he said as Kawalsky was staring at him in a strange way.
"Forget it, Jack. You have zero chance." Kawalsky chuckled.
"Why?" O'Neill responded, sounding ready to take up the challenge.
"Don't you recognize her? She's the former astronaut and now…" Kawalsky's voice trailed off because he had actually no idea what the woman was doing today.
Sergeant Colby helped, "She's the Head of R&D at Warren Horizons, sir."
"Definitely not your type, Jack," Kawalsky concluded and giggled.
Jack's smile vanished. Too bad she was one of those eggheads... Still... She seemed nice... Anyway, Jack would never know as the chances that they could meet again were very low...