A Few Days Later

Major Carter had been the unlucky winner of a trip to Colonel O'Neill's home one bright and early morning. When he failed to show for the briefing – and answer the calls to his home phone, cell phone, and pager – SG-1 was sent to go hunting for him. Daniel and Teal'c had volunteered to search the base rather quickly, and she was left to pay his home a visit. She could only hope he wasn't there.

No such luck; his truck was parked in the driveway. He had to be there.

She rang the doorbell once, and waited. There was no answer, and she rang again. Irritably, she knocked on the door and called, "Colonel? Colonel, it's me, Carter."

Not even the distinct sound of tiptoeing away caught her ear. Carter contemplated the possibility of using the emergency key her CO had given her as one of the team. Maybe he slipped in the shower and hit his head or something, and wasn't able to answer the door or any calls?

That thought made the decision. She worriedly pulled out the key and unlocked the door, entering slowly. Despite her righteous cause, she still felt like an intruder.

"Colonel?" she called. There were no signs of activity in the living room or kitchen – the TV wasn't on, no dishes laying around. No Colonel O'Neill either.

She traveled down the hall towards the bathroom and bedrooms, her mind galloping through possible scenarios and her body tense. If the Colonel had been abducted, wouldn't there be signs of struggle? If he had left on his own, willingly, wouldn't he have told somebody?

The hall bathroom and single bedroom were empty, both as still and silent as the kitchen and living room. Just one more room to check, and then the yard, if necessary. Carter approached what had to be the master bedroom. The door was very much ajar and she needed only to give it a little push to allow her comfortable entrance. But the sight she saw within the room denied her any comfort.

Clothes lay rudely scattered on the floor, obviously ripped off impetuously, but for what reason? (She did not want to contemplate the obvious possibility.) The sheets on the bed were rumpled and array; there lay the Colonel, buried to the neck in them except for his legs from the knee down.

He seemed to be the only one in the bed. With a quiet sigh of relief, Major Carter approached the bed smartly, ignoring the clothes on the floor that she was walking on. She shook O'Neill's shoulder, and whispered vehemently, "Colonel!"

Horrified, she realized she had spoken far too soon, for there were two people buried to the neck in bedcovers.

Please don't wake up! PLEASE don't wake up! her mind screamed. She stood there, frozen, as O'Neill rolled over, eyes creaking open with a classic "oh fer cryin' out loud, what now?" look on his face. In a flash his eyes opened wide at the sight of her.

"Carter?" he said hoarsely, obviously trying to keep the shock from his voice – and failing.

Major Carter was somewhat aware that her mouth was moving, but the only sounds she heard were the screaming in her mind. She was sure she wasn't doing that out loud, right? Right? She stopped, pleasing herself by shocking herself into acuteness, and took control of herself. In seconds she fed herself information: she had not said anything yet, screaming or otherwise. Colonel O'Neill was fine, but naked in bed with a woman.

Suddenly, loathing and hatred hit her like lightning. It was all coming together; the confusing conversation about Pete, abruptly dropping her off. He was trying to get rid of her. But he didn't have to get rid of her to sleep with whoever was under those sheets. It hit her: Guilt. He was feeling guilty – why he was feeling guilty for dating that woman, she didn't know – but if she dated Peter Shanahan, then he wouldn't need to feel sorry about dating someone, too.

"You bastard!" she shouted, her anger making her forget herself.

"Carter," he said quickly, as his lady friend woke up, "just let me explain."

"Explain what?" she demanded. "The real reason why you want me to date Pete? Or why you couldn't have at least given me the courtesy – the respect of letting me know you don't give a damn about me, instead of letting me find out!"

"Jack, what's going on?" the nameless woman demanded, too, equally angry, if that was possible.

Quietly, he murmured to her, "Cheryl, you should leave. You shouldn't have to see this."

"You're damned right I shouldn't have to," she snapped. "Unfortunately, I'm as naked as the day I was born and I don't have my car. I won't get dressed in front of her, or you, for that matter, you asshole."

Fury boiled harder. Carter wasn't the "her" – it was that woman that was intruding! It was she, Major Carter, who had been betrayed!

"I'll get you a cab," he said. He dismantled the sheet that was most solid in color and texture – the less see-through – and covered himself as he stood. "You don't need to pay."

"I should be getting a freaking limo for this," she snarled. "I'm not some cheap screw you can get as a replacement for whoever she is."

"You're right. I'm sorry, Cheryl, I –"

Carter whirled around and fled, the anger bitter in her mouth and body. Her chest felt heavy with the angry and betrayal, but she stalked off, just the same, ignoring Colonel O'Neill's calls of, "Carter! Wait! Carter!"

"Sam!"

Her name in his cry stopped her cold. "How dare you?" she hissed, turning to him. His guilt- and worry-filled eyes did not call her anger and pain to cease. "How dare you use that on me now? You want to replace me? You want me gone? Fine! Take a good look at me now, Colonel, because this is the last of me you'll ever see!"

She turned and ran, out the door, to her car. The man, of course, tried to follow, but tripped over the sheet he held around his waist. It wasn't possible for her to get it in gear any quicker; by the time he had pulled the sheet from under his feet, she was driving down the street.

The minute she turned the corner, her conscience attacked her. "What was I thinking?" she shrieked suddenly. "I'm resigning because of him? What the hell was I thinking?" She took several deep breaths. It's okay, she thought to herself. You haven't done anything yet. So just don't resign. If he confronts you on it, just act like it was your plan all along to frighten him.

But how could she continue working with him after this? And what about Daniel and Teal'c? They were the closest thing to a family she had, except for Dad, and if she was honest, O'Neill was, too. Damn it, after what he said and did, she still loved him.

DAMN it.