Author's note: Here's chapter 3. I'm sorry for the delay on this. I started working in a local call center on April 28th, and this is the first chance I've really had to sit down and write. I had this chapter about three-quarters of the way done before I started working, and just let it sit for a bit more than a month before finishing it just now.
Stargate SG-1: Infinities, Chapter 3
By: TheGateNerd
Captain Samantha Carter's viewpoint
After I saw Tim's smile slip slightly, I realized that some of what I had just told him may have resonated with his own experiences. I glanced at my watch, and noticed that this man had put up with me for close to three hours. Ouch. Good thing Catherine had told me that she really didn't expect us to get much work done today. Oh well. I look again at Tim, and noticed that he seemed to be thinking about something. "Hey," I put a hand on his shoulder to get his attention. He looks at me questioningly. "You were nice enough to listen to me for the past three hours. It's my turn now." I give his shoulder a squeeze.
I saw a relieved expression flit across his face before it settles into a self-deprecating smile. "You sure? I've got probably as much to get off my chest as you did." His smile slips again. This time, it gets replaced with a lost expression. "Here goes, then." And what comes out is amazing. This incredibly intelligent man, who had appeared to be so confident, really wasn't. He told me about all of his school experiences, not being to really make friends, about the expectations that come with being, literally, a genius. By the time he'd finished, tears were standing in his eyes. Turnabout being fair play and all that, I gave him the same gentle hug he'd given me earlier. As his hug had done for me earlier, my comforting embrace stripped away what was left of his own control, and Tim broke down and wept on my shoulder. I just sat there and moved my hand up and down his back to sooth him. Shortly, the weeping subsided, and he flashed me a smile that looked much like I suspect mine did after I'd cried on his shoulder. "Y'know, we look like we got into a water balloon fight or something," he commented with a wry chuckle, pointing out our soaked shirts.
I laugh with him, "Good point," I giggle, then turn serious. "Thank you, Tim." I start.
Tim McFadden's viewpoint
Good, I made her laugh. Then she actually thanked me for soaking her shirt. Of course, I had let her soak mine. But, I felt so much better after opening up to this woman that I had to stop her from feeling that she owed me something. I held up a hand. "No, Sam," I say gently, "I should be the one thanking you. You were the one having a bad day, and not only did you let me give you an ear and a shoulder, you got me to open up to you, which I don't do very often. We both came into this in need of finding a friend, and I'm hoping that's what has happened here."
To her credit, Sam didn't even think about it. She just gave me a mega-watt smile and hugged me. "We already are friends," she whispered into my hair. Then she pulled back and got a slightly mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "So, how about we do what friends do and go have dinner?" She asked.
I look at my watch, then do a rather exaggerated double-take - purely for Sam's benefit, of course. "Dinner, indeed!" I huff, with a mock-stern look on my face, and an amused twinkle in my eyes. "We've been at this for the better part of seven hours now. I hope Dr. Langford doesn't mind us not getting any work done."
Sam just rolls her eyes and grins, "Catherine and I talked when I got here. I got the distinct impression that she was hoping I'd let you give me a shoulder and an ear." Her grin turns into a soft smile, and her eyes get slightly misty. "And I'm really glad that I did. Otherwise, I don't think you'd have let me get to know you," she sniffs. "I think that's the most important thing that happened here today. I already had a few friends here. You, however, needed a friend very badly, and now I'm here for you," she finishes. Then she puts her arms around me and just holds me. I return her embrace, thinking, Sam, you don't know how right you are.
End note: I think Chapter 4 is going to pick up three years later, with Tim being called into the same briefing in Children of the Gods that Sam was called into. The intervening period of time will probably be covered in assorted flashbacks. Unless I get reviews telling me otherwise, that is... With my work schedule, chapters will be coming out maybe twice a week, possibly once a week if I decide I want to get some Diablo II gaming in before I go to work.