THANK YOU for reviewing/reading! I really appreciate it!
Things have been SO hectic around here... so many apologies for my slower then usual updates!
Oh, and thanks to my beta for beta'ing this, for sending my 'misplaced' chapter, and to Reshma (I hope I got your name right!) for sending me chapter four!
Anyways, I hope you like this chapter!
Our reality.
Sam looked around the familiar restaurant she and her team had gone to so many times and sipped her diet soda. "So, tell me about this reality."
"What shall I tell you?" The Jaffa asked.
"About the base, the Goa'uld."
He inclined his head. "Very well. O'Neill leads the base. Colonel Carter is leader of SG-1-"
"I'm head of SG-1?"
"Indeed."
She grinned widely. "What about the Goa'uld? Is Apophis still your 'bad' guy?"
He shook his head. "We have a more formidable enemy- Anubis."
"Anubis?" She questioned. "He's not on the Goa'uld census."
"No."
"Who is he?"
"A Goa'uld half ascended."
"Ascended... like Oma Desala." She half asked, half stated.
"Yes."
She sucked in her breath. "Doesn't sound pleasant."
"No."
The waitress came up and handed them their food. Sam hastily grabbed her knife and cut herself a bite size piece of steak. She leaned back and smiled. "The only decent food I've had in a while."
Teal'c smiled and turned his attention to his own food.
They finished their meals minutes later and reluctantly left. Teal'c drove to 'her' house and parked outside.
Sam bit her lip and opened the door. A few steps brought her to the gate. She unlatched it but made no move to move.
"Is something wrong, Major Carter?"
She gestured to the house. "This is. My house is just the same but the flowers are different..." She trailed off. "Sorry, I guess it's really starting to sink in now."
Teal'c stood there quietly, allowing it to 'sink' in. She finally gave herself a little shake and moved on.
Once inside, she checked her mail (mainly junk mail, a few bills), and then crashed on the sofa. She had been planning on exploring the house but a wave of exhaustion washed over her.
Teal'c waited until she fell asleep before moving into her kitchen and going through the fridge. He emptied it of certain expired items and called Daniel to tell him what grocery staples the Major needed. He then searched for a light blanket and placed it over the tired woman before moving into the 'spare' room that served as a den of sorts to meditate.
Alt. reality.
Carter felt the same surprise when she noted that her civilian clothing was the same as 'hers'. She quickly changed and then followed Teal'c out to his vehicle.
He was mercifully quiet on the way to O'Malley's. Carter closed her eyes and tried to repress a giggle as she heard 'Star Wars' playing.
Apparently some things were the same.
Teal'c gave her a quick look and saw the smile on her face.
Good.
As they pulled up in front of O'Malley's, they noticed Jack was all ready parked outside the building.
"How did you get here so fast, Colonel?" She asked stretching.
He shrugged. "Was in my civvies in a minute, took a shortcut here… you owe me dinner, T."
"Did I not say if we left at the same minute, O'Neill?"
Jack scowled. "Close enough."
Daniel drove up and found a spot. He was holding a sheaf of papers, studying them avidly. As he reached the group, Jack leaned over and pulled it away.
"Nope, you're not going to read through dinner again."
Daniel blinked. "It's lunch time, Jack."
"Whatever, Daniel. I'll give it back if you've been a good boy and not bored us to death."
"Jack…"
"No."
The archeologist sighed then smiled at Sam. "Hey, how you doin'?"
"I'm fine," She said automatically.
Daniel nodded. "Are we going to stay outside all day or go in?"
Carter smiled. "In... I'm starving."
As Teal'c opened the door, she stepped in, wondering if their suspension had lifted. She mentally calculated in her head and realized that today; they would now be free to enter O'Malley's.
She was grinning widely at her menu when Jack finally asked why the heck she was smirking her butt off.
"I was?" She asked. "I didn't even know I was-"
"Grinning like a Cheshire cat?"
"Yeah."
"I was just thinking that we're unsuspended today," She explained. "I mean… after that brawl we had and then the first day we were allowed back in, Daniel had to start another fight so… it's been nearly four years."
"Brawl?" Daniel and Jack questioned. "What do you mean?"
"The armband incident."
They stared at her puzzled.
She looked confused for a second then gave them a small smile. "If you haven't met the Tok'ra, you wouldn't have worn the armbands…" She stopped. "Which wouldn't have led to the zay'tarc incident."
"What?"
The Colonel shook her head. "Never mind… ready to order?
Jack nodded. "Ladies first."
After they ordered, Jack noticed she was looking rather thoughtfully at the pool table.
"Wanna play?" he asked.
She gave him a 100-mega watt Carter smile. "I'd love too."
Å
"Wow."
Carter counted the twenties and pocketed them. "Sure you don't want to go double or nothing?"
"Had enough," The man grumbled. "You cleaned me out."
She smiled and turned to his companion. "You in?"
"Nah."
She turned to face Jack, a challenging look in her eye. "Sir?"
He hesitated then nodded. "Sure."
She turned back to the pool table, a wide grin on her face.
15 minutes later…
The entire bar watched breathlessly as Carter sank the shot. Jack slowly made his move. A groan intermingled with cheering went up as Carter flashed them a triumphant smile.
"Where did you learn to play pool?" Jack demanded.
"Waitressed a bit at a bar."
"Your dad let you?"
She ignored him.
"You ready to go?" Jack asked looking at Daniel.
He shrugged. "Yeah, I suppose." He checked his watch. "We've been here for over three hours..."
Jack checked his own watched. "Quarter past 3." He shrugged. "T-Murray?"
"Indeed."
Carter grabbed her jacket and headed out the door.
Our reality.
Sam sat up slowly; sleep still clouding her mind. She yawned and slid off the couch. Stealing a glance through the doorway at Teal'c, she saw he was still absorbed in his kelnoreeming. She slipped down the hall to the bedroom.
Her bedroom.
Feeling like an intruder, she stood in the doorway looking around. The room was similar in decoration- she might have done the same.
Teal'c found her standing in front of the closet, staring at her clothes.
"Is something the matter, Major Carter?"
"I can't use her stuff," She said suddenly. "This isn't… my stuff. I can't just-"
"Major Carter," Teal'c said firmly. "I have known Samantha Carter for many years. I may say with complete certainty that she would be insisting that you make yourself at home."
"Really?" She said quietly.
He hesitated before saying: "Would you not do so yourself?"
She nodded.
"Then go. Do so. She will not object."
Sam gave a hollow laugh. "No, I guess she won't…. considering she'll never come back here."
Teal'c barely touched her shoulder then left the room. Sam looked after him, shrugged, then went to take a shower.
Å
Sam shook her damp hair and sighed. Comfortably attired in a white tank top and blue jeans, she headed barefooted into the living room.
Teal'c wasn't there.
She smelled coffee and followed it into the kitchen. Teal'c handed her a cup as she walked in. She sipped it cautiously.
Spoonful of sugar, a packet of creamer…
Just the way she liked it.
She gave Teal'c a watery smile, touched that he knew how she liked her coffee.
"O'Neill will be here at approximately 2000. He will bring substance with him."
She nodded and took another drink of her coffee. "And Daniel?"
"O'Neill will most likely convey him here."
"Good."
Teal'c let her finish her coffee before saying: "O'Neill suggested that you might wish to go shopping for more clothing until such time you feel comfortable wearing Colonel Carter's clothing."
She slowly nodded her head. "I'd like that… but I don't have any money and I can't use her money."
Teal'c felt that it was useless to point out that it looked very much like there was no way for her to return home so that, technically, it was now her money and inclined his head. "O'Neill has given me a card which you may use to purchase supplies until matters are… settled."
"I'm ready then."
He looked down. "Will you not require footwear?"
She smiled. "Yeah, thanks."
She returned minutes later with sandals. "Ready."
"Good."
Alt. reality.
Carter didn't say anything as they stopped in front of her house. It was the same one as she had back on Earth. She silently opened the door and stepped out.
"The flowers are different," She said quietly. "Pretty colors."
Daniel gave her a small smile. "You gonna be okay?"
She turned and faced him. "Yeah… yeah, for now."
Teal'c gave her an approving nod and SG-1 entered 'her' house, together.
I'm trying add a little action into the next chapter... honest! Dear old Pete makes an appearance, etc.
Many, many thanks to my beta Sara Loughlin for beta'ing this for me!
Well...
Please review!