This is the re-write of "Reply", which I thank Maggie Eaton for the beta-ing of this.
I don't own Stargate, but I wish I did; I'd keep it on the air.
Colonel Jack O'Neill tromped along in the boggy conditions of P3X-678. It was a chilly planet and the rain fell in sheets from the dark grey clouds in the sky. It hadn't been raining when they came through the 'Gate, but fifteen minutes into the expedition the heavens seemingly open up and dumped buckets on them.
Carter stayed behind at the SGC, as ordered by Dr. Frazier. She was battling a bad case of bronchitis, and the cold would only make things worse. She looked miserable, the poor woman. She coughed all of the time, and wheezed. She hadn't helplped herself much by spending all of her time in the lab. If Frazier hadn't already sent her home, O'Neill would convince her to leave, but of course not without a good "I'm fine." speech.. But, in the end, she always listened to O'Neill and not just because she had to. She wanted to.
Daniel and Teal'c followed behind O'Neill, careful not to slip in the almost liquid mud, especially since Daniel was accident prone. Colonel O'Neill was not in a good mood today. He'd kept to himself, and this was a cause for concern. He didn't seem angry or agitated but a little disheartened. He was probably just tired, sore, and grouchy.
"Jack, may we take a breather? We've been going for six clicks." Daniel was beginning to slow down a bit and his body was beginning to shiver from the bone-chilling rain. His chestnut hair was slicked to his face, his glasses were fogged and droplets of water dripped from the frames. Teal'c drained the water out of his Gortex© hood. His bald head was shining from the water and his staff weapon had mud caked on the end of it.
"Let's head for the tree line. That'll hold a little of the rain off." Jack turned right, heading for the edge of the forest, Daniel and Teal'c in tow. There were a few fallen logs at the edge of the forest, the bark grey with vivid green moss in spots. Jack picked a spot that was distanced from the others then pulled a ragged piece of legal paper from a pocket on his vest. It was a single piece of yellow paper folded crookedly, as if it was written in a hurry. He opened it cautiously; if Sam had ever had something to say, she'd say it to his face. He'd read it three times already, and it was even better each time he read it.
Sam had given him the note when he stopped in to see her before the mission, and with a nervous expression, she handed it to him. He'd given her a confused look, his eyebrow raised when she said to open it later.
Sorry for cutting things short. I do need to talk to you later. Stop by when you get back. It's important.
O'Neill furrowed his brow. He already had an idea of what she wanted. He needed to talk with her too. There'd been that "elephant in the room" since she'd shown up on his doorstep three days ago.
He jumped as he heard knocking at the front door. It opened to reveal a pajama clad-major, who was wearing a pair of sweatpants, a hoodie, and a pair of flip-flops.
"Oh thank god." She looked shaken; that wasn't a type of state Carter would normally be in. She stepped inside; her sandals clapping as she walked. He led her to the living room, both taking a seat on the couch.
"I'm sorry, sir. I couldn't think of anywhere else to go." Carter confessed. She took a deep breath, "And you said you'd be there if I needed a shoulder."
If she needed it. He remembered the promise he'd made to her. It held true. When he got back, he would go see her, and gets things on the right track.
"Jack." O'Neill jumped as Daniel poked him in the arm, "you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's get moving, there are a lot of trees to see."