"Okay, so how many do you have marked to look at?" Daniel asked and Chris showed him the paper work. They had just sat down in his car, ready to find her an apartment. He looked over her 5 selections, and pointed at one of them. "That one is only a few hundred yards from a railroad. And it isn't in the greatest area. I wouldn't recommend it." He said and she nodded, marking it off her list.
"I wasn't too keen on that one anyway." She said. "What about the others here?"
"Well, I don't know about the apartments themselves, really, but the areas are definitely good. So, now we just have to decide which one to see first."
"Well, this one is closest. How about it?"
"Sounds good." He said and started the car. It was a nice spring morning and they enjoyed the beautiful drive. Trees were coming alive, flowers were starting to bloom, and the sky was an awesome blue. For all the planets he had been to, Daniel still liked Earth the best. He looked over and saw Chris staring out the window, a dreamy look on her face. She obviously was enjoying it, too. She looked nice today, in khaki pants and a dark green sweater. It was still cool out in the mornings, so she also had a light jacket to go over her until it warmed up. They arrived at the complex and got out, looking around.
"Not bad." She said, looking at her surroundings. They walked into the front office and spoke to the woman there.
"Oh yes, Apartment 144." She said with a sigh. "This way, please." Chris looked at Daniel briefly, who just shrugged to her and followed the woman. " The apartment is approximately 1100 square feet, with two bedrooms/two bathrooms, a private deck, and all appliances. First and last month rent is due upon signing the lease and a $1000 deposit is also required." She said.
"Do you allow pets?" Chris asked and the woman shot her a deep frown.
"We do not." She said haughtily and Chris nodded. They reached the apartment a few moments later and the woman showed them around. Daniel kept trying to catch Chris's eye to see what she was thinking, but she was politely listening to the woman telling her about the rules of the complex. Finally, she left them alone to talk.
"What do you think?" he asked. The apartment was nice, with a roomy but complicated layout. Everything was up to date, though, and he would have agreed if she wanted to take it.
"No." Chris said immediately.
"Why not?" he asked.
"I don't like it. Too many rules and regulations, no pets, and I am looking for a landlord who isn't snobby. I can't stand snobs!" she said. "Come on, lets go tell her."
They looked at the other three apartments with the same results and Chris was starting to feel a bit depressed. As they drove away from the last one on her list, she scratched it off and sighed.
"Don't worry, you'll find something. No sense in rushing it." Daniel said and she nodded.
"I know. I am far too picky, though. Nothing is ever per-Daniel! Look!" she said and he saw a "For Rent" sign up ahead. They followed the small road down to an even smaller road and eventually came upon a small house nestled back in the woods. Getting out, they looked around. It was secluded slightly, with no other houses visible, but certainly some nearby. There was a small, one car garage detached from the house, which had a nice, homey feeling to it. There was even a swing on the front porch. Walking up, they knocked on the door and stood back as a small, older woman came out.
"Hello. How can I help you?" she asked.
"Um, I saw the "For Rent" sign and was wondering if I could look at the place."
"Oh, of course!" the woman laughed. "I just put up the sign yesterday. I was just getting a few last things out of here. Please, come in." she said and Chris and Daniel walked inside. The living room was much more spacious than the outside let on, with solid oak floors and even a stone fireplace in the corner. "The fireplace works, but it would need to be cleaned first. Of course, the house has central heating and air conditioning, so you wouldn't have to use the fireplace. There are two rooms in the back, one master and one guest. They each have full bathrooms, too. Here is the kitchen. The appliances aren't brand new, but they aren't terribly old, either, and they work well. Gas stove. And there is a back deck." She said and they walked through the sliding glass doors. It was nearly the length of the house and was a couple of feet off the ground. The back yard was vast and Chris was glad to note that it was already fenced in. "Rent is reasonable, and I only require first months rent up front. Utilities are left to you, but it never seems like they are very high. My Ben made sure that the place was insulated very well." She said with a saddened face. Ben, they had gathered, was her recently deceased husband.
"Everything looks good. Would you allow pets?" Chris asked. It was obviously an important point for her.
"Yes, I suppose that would be alright, as long as they don't destroy the house all together." Karen, the woman, said. Chris beamed at Daniel, who chuckled.
"When could she move in?" he asked and Chris suppressed a squeal of excitement.
"Oh, well, you could move in any time after this week. I still have to get a few more things out." Karen said, happily.
"What about a lease? Or deposit?" Chris asked.
"Oh, I'm not worried about any of that, unless you want a lease. As long as rent is on time every month and the place doesn't burn down, I am fine."
"Oh, well, that sounds fine to me!" Chris said happily, beaming at Daniel even more.
"So, how much stuff do you have to move in?" he asked as they drove away.
"Only a few things: my bed, a couple of bookshelves and desk. I need to get pretty much anything else, like furniture, etc. I have always rented furnished apartments before now." She replied. "Oh, but I can wait for that until I am in there. I asked Karen about painting and she said that it would be fine with her."
"So, you plan on this being fairly permanent?" he asked carefully.
"I certainly hope it will be." She said. He smiled to himself and drove back into town. They decided on having lunch at a small deli and settled down with some soup and sandwiches.
"So…"
"So…"
"Where does your family live?" Daniel asked and saw her look away, infinitely sad.
"My mom lives in Tennessee near where I grew up." She answered. "How is your sandwich?" she asked, changing the subject quickly. He respected her wanting to talk about something else, so he went along with her. They ate and talked for a couple of hours, enjoying the now warm afternoon and each other's company. Eventually, Daniel asked if she would like to go for a walk at the park and she agreed, pleased. He paid (much to her protests) and they walked down the street to the local park, where they ended up walking and talking for another couple of hours. They stopped and sat by a small band that was playing and singing popular songs. A small group had already claimed the spots closest to the band, but they were content to sit a few feet away and talk some more. Daniel was amazed at how easily he talked to Chris. She was so relaxed and intelligent. They talked about nothing important, but she was able to debate with him on small things, easily keeping up with him point for point. He laughed for the first time in a long time and soon found himself sitting closer and closer to her. He looked up, noticing that the sun was beginning to go down. He also saw that the band was just starting a new song and there were a few couples up and dancing. Standing, he offered her his hand.
"May I have this dance?" he asked and she smiled up at him, accepting his hand and he pulled her close.
What day is it? And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive
I can't keep up and I can't back down
I've been losing so much time
Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to lose
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you
All of the things that I want to say just aren't coming out right
I'm tripping on words
You've got my head spinning
I don't know where to go from here
Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to prove
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you
There's something about you now
I can't quite figure out
Everything she does is beautiful
Everything she does is right
Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to lose
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you
and me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to prove
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you
What day is it?
And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive
Daniel held her close as he swayed them back and forth, feeling her heartbeat against his chest. He couldn't help but close his eyes, reveling in the feel of someone, especially her, in his arms. She soon laid her head on his shoulder, hoping she wasn't making him uncomfortable. He gladly let her, though, and pulled her just a little tighter to him. They finished the song, barely noticing as the band faded the song out.
They finally stopped dancing, but Daniel didn't just let her go just yet. He pulled back slightly and looked into her eyes. She looked back at him and smiled softly. Heart racing, he leaned back in and gently kissed her lips. He broke it quickly, but he saw her break out into a wide grin after and he felt like he hadn't overstepped his boundaries, at least. They started to walk back to the car in silence, but he took her hand and held it lightly in his own, larger one. She accepted it and said nothing, gripping his hand back loosely. They got in the car, Daniel of course opening her door for her. He got in and grinned at her. They made small talk on the way back to the base and he offered to help her move her things into the house the next week. She happily accepted his offer and asked if he thought Sam might be willing to go shopping with her. He just laughed and thanked her for not asking him- he wasn't very good at those things- and said he would be happy to ask her. They made it back to the SGC far more quickly than either one was happy with and he walked her to her room. They stood in the hallway and said goodbye. Right before he left, he leaned in and kissed her again, this time just a little deeper and longer. She smiled at him again and watched as he left, smiling to herself. She opened her door and went inside, clicking on the light and nearly jumped out of skin when a dark voice spoke to her from the corner.
"So, having fun I see." Kinsey said and she frowned.
"Kinsey! What are you doing here?" she asked, angry and still jumpy from her fright.
"I could ask the same thing of you. You are supposed to be digging dirt on these people so that they can finally get thrown out of here and into jail where they belong!" he snarled, "Not making out with them like some stupid teenage girl." She felt her face flush at that, but also felt her anger rising.
"Look, Kinsey, I am –"
"That is Senator Kinsey to you, missy."
"Whatever- and don't call me 'missy', I am not a child!"
"You sure are acting like one! When are you going to finally get around to doing what you are here for?"
"I thought I was! I have already saved the budget over half a-"
"Oh, who cares about the budget?! What are you doing to get those…those people out of here?" he yelled.
"Get out of my room, Kinsey! You will receive your report next week like you always do and, until they do or show me something to warrant their removal, SG1 is staying right here at the SGC. Now leave or I will have the guards escort you out." She hissed, inches from his face.
"Fine. I am leaving. But I expected better from you, Chris."
"That's Dr. Artanis to you, Senator." She growled and opened the door to shove him out. He walked out on his own, but turned at the last minute, before she could slam the door.
"I do expect something better in your next report, Chris, or I am afraid you will have to be reassigned….and things were going so good with that Doctor Jackson of yours…" he said coolly and she slammed the door, nearly smacking his nose in the process.