Interruptions
A/N: This chapter marks the longest story I've ever written now. Fragile was 18 chapters. I'm rather proud of myself now. It's becoming more and more difficult to write about Vala and Mitchell, as I've been watching a lot of Farscape in the last few weeks. Seeing Ben Browder and Claudia Black in Stargate is now weird. But I enjoy it all the same.
Chapter Nineteen
Sam and Vala were in the women's locker room, gearing up for their 'rescue Mitchell' mission. Sam looked down at her left hand, at the diamond Jack had placed there, mere hours earlier. It may be dark in Australia, but not in Colorado Springs. Sam sighed and slipped the ring off her finger. She pulled off her dog tags, and slid the ring onto the chain, placing it back over her neck.
"What's that?" Vala asked.
"My dog tags." Sam replied.
"No, not the dog tags, what you put on the chain with them." Vala replied.
Sam pulled the chain out from under her clothes. "It's a ring."
Vala inspected it closely, then looked up at Sam suspiciously. "This is an engagement ring, isn't it?"
Sam grinned. "Yes."
Vala's face split into a grin as well. "Sam! Why didn't you tell me?"
Sam shrugged. "It didn't seem like an appropriate time. We're worrying about Cam, not getting excited about me."
"We can do both! Look, I'm doing both right now!" Vala tried to suppress the grin, but failed. Then she gave Sam a huge hug. "Congratulations!"
"Why congratulations?"
Sam and Vala turned. Daniel was standing in the doorway.
"Do the words 'women's locker room' mean anything to you Daniel?" Vala asked.
"Yes, you'll notice I'm not actually in the room." Daniel replied. "So, why congratulations?"
"Sam's getting married!" Vala squealed.
Daniel grinned at Sam. "Really?"
Sam nodded.
Daniel, ignoring the fact about women's locker rooms, walked over and enveloped Sam in a hug. "Finally." He said.
"Finally?" Sam asked.
Daniel pulled back, still grinning. "He finally asked you."
Sam frowned in confusion.
"Daniel, stop confusing my fiancée." This time it was Jack in the women's locker room. "It isn't nice."
Daniel turned, and grasped Jack's hand, shaking rigorously. "Congratulations." He turned to Sam. "Both of you."
"Yes, well, let's celebrate after we've rescued Mitchell."
"You're coming with us, sir?" Sam asked. Some habits never die.
Jack raised an eyebrow. "'Sir'?"
"I'm sorry, let me rephrase. Are you coming with us, Jack?" Sam placed a lot of emphasis on his name.
"Yes Samantha, I'm coming with you." Jack grinned.
"Well, I hate to interrupt, but we should be going. Landry'll get irritated if we're late." Daniel's voice brought both Sam and Jack back to the present.
"Yes, let's. Then when we get back we can celebrate, and eat cake." Jack led the way out of the room. Sam shook her head and followed.
Daniel glanced at Vala, who raised an eyebrow at him. He sighed and stuck out his hand. Vala smiled and placed her hand in his. Together they walked to the gate room.
"Well, let's first find Teal'c, then locates and rescue Mitchell." Jack was directing. "Daniel, Vala, go to the village, see if they know anything about whoever took Mitchell. Carter, you're with me. Stay in radio contact. Move out."
Daniel and Vala disappeared off to the village.
"So, Jack, what's the plan?" Sam still had trouble calling him Jack, especially while they were off world and she was once again his subordinate officer.
"Find Teal'c, rescue Mitchell, go home, eat cake, make love to you." He replied.
Sam stared at him.
"Simple really." Jack shrugged, then grinned at Sam. He gave her a gentle kiss.
"Simple." She replied weakly.
"Okay. Teal'c." Jack said, pulling away from Sam. He looked around. "You know, Teal'c was always the better tracker than I."
"O'Neill. Colonel Carter."
"Although…" Jack smiled and turned to Teal'c. "T! How's it going?"
"Colonel Mitchell is currently being held in a small building just beyond the edge of the village." Teal'c answered. "He is being held by a woman. I am unsure as to why she chose to capture Colonel Mitchell."
Jack sighed. "Can you take us there?"
Teal'c answered with an inclination of his head. "It is this way." He turned, and Sam and Jack followed him towards the village.
Situated just outside the village was a tiny hut. According to Teal'c, this was where Cam was being held. As the small group watched, a woman, tall, brunette, and very thin, exited the hut. She glanced around, then left, striding towards the village.
"Okay, Teal'c, follow her. Stop her from coming back. Sam, you and I are going to bust Mitchell out of there."
Teal'c inclined his head, then left, discretely following the woman.
"Okay, let's move." Jack smiled at Sam. She smiled back.
"Let's." She agreed.
They ran towards the hut, and Sam picked the lock. Entering the room of the hut, she realised that it must have been a while since Cam had last had a shower, or bathed. Or something.
"You took your time."
Sam turned. Chained to a wall, wearing nothing but his, now rather grimy, boxers, was Cameron Mitchell.
"I was on holiday." Sam replied, amusement glittering in her eyes.
"Don't. just… don't, say anything." Cam said.
Sam suppressed a smile as she unchained him. "I suppose I should of have thought to bring spare clothes. Seeing as you're always losing your pants." She chuckled.
"Yes, very funny." Cam said. "Let's get out here. I'm so ready to go home and sleep."
"And shower." Sam added.
Cam glared at her.
"Just saying."
Jack didn't say anything when Sam exited the hut followed by a scantily clad Mitchell.
Sam was still trying not to laugh. "We should call the others and go home." She said.
Jack nodded, then grabbed his radio. "Teal'c, what have you got?"
"It appears that the woman has purchased some garments. She is still in the village."
"Roger that, we'll meet you there."
"Understood."
"Daniel? Vala? Got anything?" Jack asked.
"Nothing." Daniel replied. "These people haven't a clue about anybody who comes through the gate. They just don't care."
"Okay, meet up with Teal'c, yeah? We'll meet you there."
"Okay."
"O'Neill out." Jack stowed his radio into his vest pocket. "Well, let's go."