13.

Sam finished the last of her sandwich and took a sip of diet coke.

The Colonel seemed to be in a good mood again, which helped with her plan, although he had been quiet, for him.

She felt like she'd been given a third chance, and she was not going to miss yet another opportunity. Daniel and T were gone, their SGC backup wouldn't arrive until tomorrow morning, and, so far, the nothing was going on at the site. All in all, it meant she had some downtime with the Colonel. And what better way to spend the time than go fishing? She was not going to disappear into work again. Besides, there was nothing to do except wait.

"Sir, I was thinking…" She stopped and swallowed. This was going to be more difficult than she thought.

He grinned. "Really." He cocked his head. "You sure the ribs are getting better?"

"Yes, sir." Ah jeez. She really needed to get to the point.

He got up and started bussing the dishes. "Sam."

Her never called her Sam anymore. Not ever. It was always Carter. She waited.

He turned away and put the dishes in the sink, turning on the water to rinse them. "I'm sorry about this."

"What? About what?" There was suddenly a black pit in her stomach. Oh man, she hoped he didn't know what she thought - that he was an amazing man, fascinating and ...

"About this situation."

"I don't know what you mean, sir."

He continued. "A mission on Earth is different than out there." He glanced out the window of the boat. "I just mean…well…the two of us here alone, even though we were ordered to be here, could be cause for gossip because we're on Earth. I'll make sure that it's understood that this is just business as usual."

She stared at him. The thought hadn't even occurred to her. She finally commented, "Innuendo's pretty common in the military, sir. The gossip doesn't matter."

He looked grim. "It does to me. I know I don't say this very often, well, possibly never, but you're an excellent officer, Major. I won't let anything get in the way of your career."

Jeez, what did she say to that? She didn't even know how she felt about it. She felt a warm glow and slightly nauseated at the same time. So, he thought she was a good officer. Coming from him, she felt a surge of pride. The Colonel had really, really high standards. On the other hand, what else was he telling her? Was it an indirect way of turning her down? Had he figured out how she felt about him when she wasn't even sure what she felt? That would be horrible, embarrassing, and just really unspeakably not good. For anyone.

"Carter?" He paused, clearly concerned at her lack of response. "Look, I didn't mean that to be sexist or anything. I know you can take care of yourself and your career. But as your CO, I do have a say in things. I just wanted you to know I've got your back."

She had to say something or he was going to completely misunderstand. "Thank you, sir. Your opinion means a lot."

He looked tremendously relieved. "Okay then." He cleared his throat. "So, we need to monitor for emissions until SG3 relieves us. If you show me the process, we can -"

She was relieved herself that they were back on solid ground again and that he'd turned the topic to something she understood. "Actually, sir, we don't need to monitor it."

"We don't?" There was suspiciousness in his tone.

She grinned. "No. While you were gone, I programmed … well… anyway, the point is that the laptop is now automatically set to alert us to any activity and it's also hooked into the SGC monitoring equipment, so if they pick up something we don't, we'll know right away. So we don't really need to monitor anything, just keep the laptop nearby." She paused, apologetically. "We do need to stay on the boat."

He looked totally flummoxed, which she thought was really strange.

He swallowed. "Okay, so what … I mean, uhh… any thoughts on activities for the next 20 hours?" He shook his head. "I didn't mean that the way it sounded."

She grinned. He was totally flustered. It was really amusing, and would be even more amusing if she wasn't totally flustered herself. She said, sympathetically, "I know what you meant, sir.

"There's nothing we can research related to the mission until we check out Butler Wash and Daniel and T get back. So…"

"So?"

She swallowed. OK, time to get to the point. "You could teach me to fish."

"What?" He looked stunned.

She hurried on. "I mean, it's not really necessary or anything. I'd understand if you're not interested in… well… there's only a few more hours of light, and I know you like to fish alone at your cabin. I just-"

He broke in. "Carter, it's fine." He swallowed. "In fact, it's a great idea. I – uhh. Yeah. I mean I brought all the fishing gear, so why not use it? Nothing wrong with that, is there?"

She thought that his last comment was directed more at himself than at her, but she answered anyway, grinning. "Not that I can see, sir. So?"

He rubbed his hands through his hair, staring at her. "Yeah, sure. Let's go fishing."

Three hours later, the data was in. She loved fishing. Loved it. It was absolutely fabulous. Well, she backtracked on that. She didn't really care for actually doing it herself, but she loved… ah, jeez… wrong word… liked the effect it had on the Colonel.

He was relaxed in a way she'd never seen him before; cheerful and helpful, teaching her technique, filling the time with quiet, comfortable contemplation of the wilderness around them and then really bad jokes.

And his hands… she could watch his hands for hours and never get bored; when he was carefully setting up the rods and reels, casting, when his hands were on hers explaining technique.

OK, that was a thought best left alone or, she admitted to herself, to be savored later.

But the way he relaxed was mesmerizing. She'd never been able to live in the moment the way he could, the way he was showing her how to live today. She always thought ahead, planning her next move, the next challenge. He was able to stop and appreciate the moment.

Like now. His feet up on the bannister, his head back with his sunglasses covering his eyes, he really wasn't fishing per se, although his rod was up and his line in the water. He was completely open in a way physically she'd never seen on missions. There he was careful and tightly controlled, powerful and determined. Decisive. Here, today, he was … ah, jeez, she'd never really understood how attractive he was until she'd seen him so approachable and accessible.

"Carter, look." He glanced at her and took off his sunglasses and pointed.

The sun was setting on the rocks, creating an orange glow that stunned her, an exact reflection in the now black shadowed water below. She blushed and wondered if he knew that she'd been staring at him and not the scene.

She responded quickly. "It's amazing."

He grinned back at her. "Yeah, it is. And so are you."

She stared at him, shocked. He rubbed his hands on his eyes and then through his hair. "Sorry. I just meant that I never thought you'd like fishing. It's not really your style."

She risked the truth. "It is now, with the right company."

His expression was unreadable.

She broke in. "I just meant that …well… it's been fun to explore something different. Thank you."

He said nothing, staring at her. She was afraid that she'd gone over the line, caused him concern. But he finally just commented, "You're welcome," and looked out at the sun slowly setting again, saying nothing more.

She watched it slowly set as well, silent herself.

The sunset finally gone, and the starlight just beginning, the Colonel got up and started cleaning up his fishing gear.

"So, what's for dinner, Carter?"

As a joke it wasn't much, but he was trying.

She grinned, following his lead. "I made lunch. Dinner's on you. There must be something left from that huge pile of stuff you bought."

"Carter, sandwiches do not count as cooking."

She shrugged. "They do in my life."

He grinned. "Must be a tough CO you have there."

"You have no idea."

He raised his eyebrows. "Really."

She stood up, helping him with the gear. "Oh yeah. Lousy hours, pay's not great, and he expects me to save the world on a regular basis."

He grinned. "So a real bastard, huh?"

She stared at him, smiling. "No. Not at all."

He blew out a breath, silent. She couldn't decipher what it was she saw in his eyes.

"Okay, so as the not real bastard but difficult CO, I think ordering… suggesting… that a compromise for dinner is in order. I'll make the last of the steaks and some potatoes on the grill, because I'll be damned if Reynolds gets all of them, and you can make some of that green stuff you like so much."

She cocked her head. "It's called a salad."

He smiled. "Yeah, that."

"Sounds like a deal."

sjsjsjs

It was a perfect night. Dinner had been under the stars on the upper deck, the moonlight sufficient to see without using the invasive lights of the deck. They'd talked; not about missions or work – just exploring a bit, not too much, about where they'd been stationed, who they knew in common. It was great.

But it was getting late. The Colonel took a last sip of his beer, and stared down at her laptop, next to her.

"So…anything?"

She shrugged, acknowledging the end of the evening, but reluctant to give it up. She got back to the point. It was a mission after all.

"No. I think we're fine for now."

His expression was unreadable. "Yes, we are."

She swallowed, suddenly unable to say anything.

He picked up some of the dishes and headed into the main cabin. "So, Carter, interested in a game of chess?"

She cocked her head and then grinned; so maybe there could be more to the evening than she thought. "You're on."

Sam relaxed against the pillows on the couch. Her bruises were bad, but healing quickly, and although the game was interesting, she was not at her best. She was going to loose, anyone with half a brain could see that. The Colonel was a killer strategist.

It had been a wonderful day. She put her ankle up on the couch and smiled at him.

"Your game. I concede."

He looked up from the chess board, surprised.

"Really?"

"Yeah. "

She sipped the last of her beer and settled back. "Is this what you do in Minnesota?

"Fishing, chess…"

He started putting the chess pieces away. "Well, yeah, but there I just normally play with myself."

She grinned.

He looked up at her and then cocked his head, embarrassed, realizing what he'd said. He raised his eyes to the ceiling. "Get your mind out of … wherever, Major."

She laughed. "Yes, sir."

He swallowed. "I didn't mean that the way it sounded."

She grinned. "I know."

She got up from the couch and walked over to him. It was an insane thing to do, but what the hell. She leaned over and kissed his cheek. It was brief, and minor and no one could possibly read anything into it- she hoped.

The Colonel's look was unfathomable, his eyes dark.

She decided to risk the truth. "Thank you for the day. If it was anything like being at your cabin, I'm sorry I missed the opportunity."

"Maybe sometime, Sam." He looked away, out at the night.

She looked away herself, recognizing that it was a question they may not ever answer.

She repeated the phrase. "Maybe".

She swallowed and turned away, turning back to the practical. "I have the laptop, so if anything comes over the wires, so to speak, I'll let you know. Otherwise, I think we can both get a decent night's sleep."

He turned, and glanced her way, acknowledging the change in topic.

"Good to know, but leave it with me. I'll take watch." She was going to argue, but he stared at her knowingly. "We've got a ten click hike on our hands tomorrow, and your ankle needs the rest."

She grimaced. He was right about the ankle, and she felt some satisfaction in the idea that this time she was going to be on the mission tomorrow.

She gave him the laptop and started to turn away towards the bedrooms, but he stopped her by standing and touching her arm.

"You really liked fishing?"

She smiled at him. " You betcha. It was the best."

He expression was unreadable. She decided to leave with her dignity and sanity still intact. But she'd be damned if she called him 'sir' this time. They were on Earth. She could risk it.

"Sleep well, Jack. The monitor will wake you if there's any problems. Good night."

She left the Colonel in the living area and headed off towards the shower, thinking about the night.

sjsjsjsjsj

She was drying her hair when she overhead the Colonel talking to someone.

"Damn it, Daniel, I told you to meet us at the Butler Wash site. That's an order."

A pause.

"Put Teal'c on." Another much longer pause. "He did what?" The Colonel sighed, clearly exasperated. "Of course he did." A pause. "Yeah, right, sure he was."

There was silence. The Colonel had clearly cut the conversation.

She wandered into the living space, concerned, but not wanting to invade. "Is everything all right?"

The Colonel rubbed his eyes and then glanced at her, his expression closed down. "Apparently, because he's on Earth, Daniel's forgotten there's a chain of command and thinks he can do whatever he damn well pleases."

"So… business as usual."

She risked the joke, wanting to break his mood. They'd had a great night and she didn't want to lose the feeling of warmth.

He looked ready to grump at her, and then backed down.

"Indeed." He raised an eyebrow, imitating Teal'c. "And Teal'c agrees with you, by the way. Also told me that he couldn't stop him either."

"What's Daniel doing?"

"He's headed back to the SGC to speed up the translation. The meeting with Saunders was a bust, no, worse than a bust. Daniel thinks that the man has translated the tape and that whatever was on it is even more important now that someone else knows the contents." He paused. "I told him to leave it, that he and Teal'c were needed at Butler ignored me."

She grimaced.

He sighed, agreeing with her. "Yeah. I hate missions on Earth."