24th December 2005
Cameron glanced at the man in the car next to him. "So, who's Dr McKay and why is he a prick?"
John shifted in his seat. "Don't wanna talk about it Mitchell"
"Well then why say it Shep? You could have just emailed 'got some leave over Christmas, mind if I join you?'"
John glared at the road ahead of them. "Please drop it Cam"
He raised a brow. "Ok"
They sat in silence for another twenty minutes.
"Um, so this Grace. You're with her?"
"What?! Uh, no"
John looked at him. "You sure?"
"Of course I'm bloody sure"
"You sounded pretty affectionate on the phone Cameron"
"I worry about her"
"Ah"
"What the hell does 'Ah' mean?"
"It means you talk to her like you're together, you worry about her and, from what I remember, she's hot. AND you invited her for Christmas"
"That makes no sense Sheppard"
"It means why..aren't…you…with…her Cam?"
"I mentioned the blatant insanity right?"
John snorted. "Yeah, and?"
Cam gripped the steering wheel. "And her job is even more fucked up than ours, she's away more than I am, she has no desire to be with anyone least of all me and….."
The other man prodded him.
"Hey! And uh, I'm pretty sure she hasn't turned twenty-two yet"
"Bloody hell Cam"
"Yeah, tell me about it"
"That is awesome"
"What?!"
"For fuck's sake Mitchell, you always were too uptight about shit like this. Her lifestyle fits well with yours, she'll understand when you disappear for days at a time or have to cancel plans last-minute, and she's young and hot. Imagine Landry's face at the next event"
"And the inability to stay in one place for longer than a week? I know I'm often called away last-minute or gone longer than expected but at least I come home to the same place each time. She's not what I want, not like that. And I'm sure I'm not what she's looking for either"
"You're a stubborn asshole"
"Bite me"
John tapped his fingers on his knee. "So, whats her job?"
"Jesus, will you drop it?"
"Nope"
Cameron exhaled. "She hunts monsters"
"Excuse me?!"
"Monsters Shep, fucking demons and vampire's and werewolves"
"Bullshit"
"Nope"
"Really?"
"Yep"
"And you know this for sure?"
"Unfortunately yeah" Cam shifted slightly. "You remember when I hit Vegas before I joined the F302 training?"
"Yeah?"
"I was attacked, one night leaving a bar. Picked up a women who turned out to be a succubus"
"A what?"
"Succubus. They disguise themselves as hot women, pick up human men and then kill 'em. Grace was tracking her, she saved my life"
"And you had wild sex with her 'cause you were so fucking grateful?"
Cam growled quietly. "I got bit, infected with her poison. It makes you uh, you know"
John laughed. "Oh God, I hope that's true"
"Of course it's bloody true! You think I'd make up shit like this? If you don't, you know, within an hour of being infected you die"
"So she saved your life by having sex with you?"
"Yep"
"Cool"
"Cool? That's it?"
"Cam, we visit other planets by going through a giant backwards flushing toilet and fight aliens. Sometimes we have sex with them too.."
"Jesus Shep"
"…I can't see our world being any less fucked up than the rest of the galaxy. Kinda makes sense really. Maybe these, uh, monsters are descended from some aliens that came here centuries ago?"
"Huh"
"What?"
"That actually makes sense John, congratulations"
"Fuck off Mitchell"
Cam sat back on the couch, full of dinner and pie, and took a swig from his beer. John dropped down beside him. "I never have to eat again"
Cam snorted and watched his Mother place a plate of cookies on the table and sit in the armchair next to his Father's. "Mom, no more food, please"
She smiled at him. "I know both of you neglect to eat properly Cameron and this is the only time I get to feed you"
"We're not dogs Momma"
John grinned.
She frowned at him. "Did your Father tell you about the terrible disappearances Cameron?"
"Disappearances?"
She nodded. "Three in the last two weeks. It's an awful business, especially so close to Christmas. The last one was poor Hank Wilson"
Cam raised his brows. "Hank? Bloody hell"
"Cameron!"
"Uh, sorry Mom. What happened?"
"No one rightly knows dear. But poor Hank's boy saw it happen, it's got him all messed up"
"Now Wendy…"
"Hush Frank. He says his Daddy's ok because he's with Santa"
"Santa?"
Wendy Mitchell nodded. "He said he saw Santa take his Daddy and drag him up the chimney"
Cameron looked at John who widened his eyes. "Bloody hell"
"Cameron!"
Christmas Day 2005
"Fuck" Grace mumbled around her gag and squirmed against the ropes binding her to the chair. She widened her eyes at the brothers who were bound back to back opposite her.
Dean shook his head and pulled at his own restraints. Sam was breathing through the pain of having his fingernail pulled off.
She squeezed her eyes shut. Of all the ways she could have died this was not what she had envisioned. "Fuck!" And then she stilled her movements, ears straining at the voices drifting through the closed kitchen door. She made a little muffled squeal and began trying to push her chair across the floor, then swaying from side to side.
The brothers watched her and she rolled her eyes, gesturing to the door with her head before attempting to jump up and down in her chair.
"Mrs Carrigan?" Cam smiled at the woman stood in the doorway with her husband, John shuffling beside him.
"Yes dear?"
"Um, I'm Cameron Mitchell, Wendy and Franks's son. They asked me to call by and invite you to their yearly Christmas Day drinks"
"Oh, how lovely dear. Thank you, please tell them we'd be delighted"
"Great. Starts at 1900"
"Oh, a military man" She smiled "They must be very proud"
"Uh, yes. Thank you"
She nodded at him. "Well, we'll see you later"
He peered at her. "That's a very pretty necklace M'am"
Her hand fluttered to her chest. "Oh why thank you Cameron. A gift from my husband" She patted the man's hand.
Cam nodded. "A friend of mine has one just like it. She said it was a one-off, made for her Mother by her Father"
John tensed slightly beside him.
Mrs Carrigan raised her eyebrows before smiling at him. And that smile was really beginning to piss him off. "Well, you know these pretty young things, always full of tall tales"
"I never said she was young, or pretty"
"Cam?" John shifted.
There was a crash from the kitchen. "Grace?!"
Mrs Carrigan sighed. "Oh dear, and you're such a nice young man" Then he was being yanked into the house, front door slamming behind him, John being thrown against the wall.
"You're very strong Mrs Carrigan"
"You shouldn't get yourself mixed up with young ladies with questionable morales Cameron. It is bad for your health" She slammed him into the coffee table and he knelt on the floor wheezing, trying to force air into his lungs.
"Dear, perhaps you should check on the sacrifices. They're gutsy little ones"
"Of course dear"
"Sacrifices?!" He forced himself up on his feet as John tackled her from the side. She threw him off.
"Shit!"
There was another crash from the kitchen and Mr Carrigan flew through the kitchen door, knocking down his wife. Two men followed close on his heels and then everything, well, it got pretty fucked up.
He looked at her as she untied the gag from around her neck. "You stabbed Mrs Carrigan with the Christmas tree"
She looked at him and grinned. "Yeah, cool huh?"
One of the other men snorted and the other, taller, man glared at him. "It's not funny Dean"
"Why not?"
He glared at them. "Because it's Christmas Day and some crazy arse pagan god just ripped out my fingernail and we had to kill them with their own Christmas tree. Only us"
"Aw come on Sammy, don't you think it's kinda ironic"
"No Grace, it's just fucked up"
She looked at Dean. "I vote we get him drunk, and then laid"
He grinned at her.
"No"
She looked at Cam. "No?"
"No, at least not until you tell me what the hell is going on. And why I just helped you kill my parent's neighbours with" he gestured to Sam "their own Christmas tree, which is fucked up"
"Aw come on Cam, chill out a little. Let's go grab a beer. We're not expected back til 1900"
He glared at John. "Chill out?!"
"Hey, you must be Colonel Sheppard" Grace smiled at him and held out her hand. "I'm Grace"
John stepped forward and shook it. "John" He held out his other hand, necklace swinging from two fingers. "This your's?"
Grace clapped her hands together. "Oh yes, thank you" She turned and lifted her hair. "Do you mind?"
As he fastened the necklace around her throat Grace pointed at the other two men. "The giant grumpy one is Sam, the pretty one is Dean"
"Hey!"
"I'm not pretty!"
John eyed him. "Actually, you kinda are"
"Dude!"
Grace turned and grinned at Cameron, who was blinking at John, mouth hanging open. "Cameron that is not attractive. Now, are you coming for a beer or not?"
Boxing Day, 2005
Colonel Mitchell sat up and groaned, he was too old for an evening of beer with tequila chasers. Flashes of last night appeared before his eyes. "Shit"
"Oh you're awake" Grace stood and moved away from the table where she'd sat drinking her coffee. "Do you want one?" She waved her mug.
"I want a fucking time machine"
"Why?" She poured a coffee from the pot.
"You bloody well know why"
"I don't see what the problem is Cameron, personally I found it very enjoyable"
He glared at her and grabbed the mug, pulling Grace into his lap. "We can't all be as uh, open as you Princess. I also have a career to think about"
"Don't worry Mitch" Cam looked up as John stepped out the bathroom, towel slung low on his hips. "I'm not telling"
Cameron closed his eyes and leant his head on the wall behind him, exhaling slowly. "Shit, shit, shit"
"Gee thanks Mitchell"
He snapped his eyes open, scowling at his friend. "Why the hell did you never say anything John? We've been friends for years, we, I mean we used to pick up women together"
"Wow, bet you were a force to be reckoned with when you teamed up" Grace wiggled out of his grasp and pulled on her shoes.
"And just where do you think you're going Princess?"
"My work here is done. Now I have places to go, evil, creepy things to kill" She grinned at him. "The room is paid up until tomorrow. Have fun"
"Grace!" He pointed at her. "Don't you dare"
"Don't I dare what?"
"Fuck off again. We need to talk"
"No we don't Cameron. However you and John do" She grabbed her bag and went on tiptoes to kiss John goodbye.
"Bye sweetheart, be careful ok?"
Grace nodded and turned on her heels.
"Don't I get a kiss goodbye?"
"No, you're being a prick..again"
John snorted as the door shut behind her.
Cameron rubbed his temples "You're a stupid fucking bastard Sheppard"
"Thank you Cameron"
The other man clenched his jaw "You're gay?"
"Bi"
"Right"
John rolled his eyes and moved across the room. Cameron blinked up at the man straddling his hips, then struggled to push him off. John didn't budge. Cam swore quietly.
"And Dr McKay?"
"We were together, exclusive. Until he fucked two of my marines"
"Shit"
"Yep"
"What the hell kind of base you running out there Shep?"
"In general terms? A happy and relaxed one. We're pretty much out there on our own Mitch and people need to be able to take time out, relieve frustrations, find a little comfort"
"By having sex with everyone else?!"
"Hmm" This may not have been a good idea. With Cameron trapped under him, his body radiating warmth, John was starting to remember why he'd never let himself touch the other man before. He was too tempting.
"Sheppard?"
"Shut the fuck up Mitchell" Then he was dipping his head, running his tongue over the sensitive flesh of his friends throat, nipping along his jaw, brushing his lips lightly over Cameron's mouth. John moaned quietly. The man started to struggle underneath him again.
John leant back, whimpering a little at the loss of contact, of taste. "Cameron" he growled "You need to relax"
"Relax!" He squirmed again "Jesus John, stop. Get the fuck off"
"No"
"John!"
"No, don't want to"
"Stubborn fucking bastard"
"That's horny stubborn fucking bastard to you"
Cameron hissed in a breath. "I'm really not sure this is a good plan John. Especially with Grace gone"
"Right because with her here you can pretend it's just a night of wild threesome sex and you in no way just want a man to fuck you senseless"
"Shit" Breathed Cam. He felt his cock harden and John hummed quietly, rolling his hips into it.
"I never thought I would get to have you Cameron but the way you responded to me, my touch, last night told me everything I needed to know. You're like me Cam, you want both, as long as they're hot and willing you're happy to screw them into the ground" He smirked at him. "Or to be screwed"
Cam's eyes clouded over, lust glazing the startling blue. "Shit" he whispered.
John pressed his lips to Cameron's "That's it baby, just give in to it. I'm gonna make it so good for you I promise" Cameron whimpered and John pushed his tongue through his parted lips, stroking over his tongue, sucking it into his mouth.
Cameron pushed him back and attempted to glare at him, the effect being slightly lost due to the blown pupils and quick pants that gave away his desire. John smirked at him. "Wipe that smug look off your face Sheppard" Cam shifted "Look, I'm pretty sure I never wanted in a guys pants before"
John raised a brow. "And yet your cock is saying otherwise Cameron" He purred and ran a finger up his friends hard-on, revelling in Cam's quiet growl.
Cam rolled gently under John and nodded.
John moaned as he swept his tongue over Cam's, enjoying his warmth. He had no idea when he'd get to do this again and have the luxury of time and privacy too. He wanted to taste all of him, touch everywhere. Cameron's hands slid into his hair, gripping him, pulling him in tighter to his body. "Fuck" muttered John.
He pulled back again and, licking his lips he ran his eyes over the other man's cock, now completely hard and leaking slightly at the tip. He growled and wrapped his hand around it, gently pulling on the skin, dragging it slowly up and down. Cameron shuddered. "John"
"Oh yeah, you're going to enjoy this baby. I'm pretty outstanding, if I do say so myself" He leant in and brushed his lips over Cam's. "Haven't had a gag reflex for years"
"Shit"
"Hmm" John slid down the bed. Placing his tongue at the base of the cock in front of him John ran it up the sensitive underside, lapping at the drops of pre-cum forming at the head and running down Cameron's length. Cam groaned and gently rested his hands on John's shoulders. Opening wide John wrapped his mouth around his cock, sucking and licking he took his lover in until he felt him hit the back of his throat. Tracing his tongue along the underside again he pulled back then sucked the man back down. Hollowing out his cheeks and sucking John gripped Cam's thighs and nodded gently.
"Crap" whispered Cam, and thrust gently. Moaning as the man under him thrust harder into his mouth John could feel his own cock swelling, balls tightening. The taste of him was overwhelming. As soon as he felt Cameron swell in his mouth he pulled back.
Cam growled. John ran a slick stripe across his hip bone, nipping gently "Next time Cameron, I want you to cum when I'm inside of you today"
Cameron shuddered and rolled his hips, gently bumping John's nose. Rising back over Cameron he gently shoved on his shoulders until he was laid out on his back, head propped on the pillows. Drinking in the sight of him, all flushed skin and dripping cock, John moaned and pushed the heel of his hand into his own crotch. "You're not good for my control baby" Then he flicked off the towel round his waist.
Cameron closed his eyes and swallowed.
"Look at me Cameron"
As he opened his eyes Cameron's cock jerked and more liquid rolled from the tip, dripping down onto his stomach. "Glad I please you as much as you please me" John bent his head again, unable to resist lapping up more of his taste.
"John" warned Cam.
He grinned up at him and shifted, settling between strong thighs, pinning their cocks between them. Rocking slightly John leaned down for another taste, tongue delving into his lovers hot wet mouth. Moaning at the sensations John ground down further onto their cocks, the beautiful feeling of friction sending sparks of pleasure across his nerves. The man under him squirmed and muttered into his mouth. John raised his head and looked down questioningly.
"You need to stop that John" panted Cam.
"Hmm, yeah me too" He gently circled his hips once more then pushed himself back up to a kneeling position "Hands and knees Cam"
"No"
"What?"
"No John. You want this? I have to see you"
John frowned "It'll hurt more this way the first time"
"Doesn't matter"
"Cam.."
"John, please. Don't you think you owe me?"
"Fuck"
"Yes, this way"
John growled "Fine" Reaching for the lube he'd dropped on the bed earlier, unnoticed by Cam, he clicked open the lid and poured some over his hand and down between his friend's legs.
"John?" The uncertainty was back.
"Baby, you got your own way once, believe me you're gonna thank me for this in a little while"
"Shit"
"Relax Cameron"
John slid his mouth back down over Cameron's cock, it was only half hard now which was understandable. As his tongue swirled around the velvet skin he began to feel it swell again in his mouth and Cam let out a little moan. John pushed one finger between his arse cheeks and slid inside his lover, groaning at hottightwet. His lovers breath hitched and John felt him tense around his finger. Sucking hard and curling up to brush the man's prostate he was rewarded with another spurt of pre-cum and his name ground out from above him.
Sliding in a second finger while Cam was still coming down from John locating his prostate he groaned again and rewarded his lover with another wiggle of his fingers.
"Shit John, stop"
His cock slid free of John's mouth. "Did I hurt you baby?"
Cameron attempted to even out his breaths "Yes, no, shit yes but stop doing that if you still want me to wait. Jesus"
John smirked at him. "Say hello to your prostate Cameron" He curled his fingers and Cam cried out his name. "One more, won't be long till I'm in you, I promise"
"Hurry the fuck up John"
He growled quietly and forcefully pushed in a third finger "Quick enough for you honey?" Cameron cursed him out and writhed on his fingers, but his cock stayed swollen, twitching and leaking over his stomach. John made a little approving noise and twisted his fingers gently, then slowly scissored them out. Cam quieted and took a shaky breath, clenching and unclenching around him.
"That's it Cameron, take your time, explore how it feels" John moved inside of him again, another slow twist, gentle stretch.
"God John, I can't..it's like…shit"
"Sshh, it's ok" John pressed a kiss to his stomach and gave Cameron another burst of pleasure to combat the burn.
"Now John, please" Cam whispered.
John groaned with pleasure, he pulled his fingers out, rolled on a condom and grabbed the lube, slicking himself up.
Sliding an arm under Cameron's hips, slightly raising them, John tapped into his last shred of control and slowly, inch by agonising inch, pushed his way into his lover and friend.
Head bowed over Cameron's body, John clenched his jaw and waited, allowing the man below him to adjust. Muscles fluttered around his cock. "Cam" he ground out.
A hand brushed down his chest and he looked up into Cameron's darkened gaze, the stunning blue nearly lost to pupils blown wide. "I'm ready John"
Cameron wrapped his legs around John and gripped his arms. Growling John pulled back and thrust deep into him, tongue laving the sensitive skin on his neck, teeth nipping over his shoulders and chest. As his cock relentlessly thrust over the other man's prostate John lost himself in the amazing realisation that he was fucking Lt Colonel Cameron Mitchell, and it was pretty damn good.
30th December, 2005
Lt Colonel John Sheppard pottered around Cam's kitchen, putting away the dinner things, enjoying his last night of relative normalcy. He pulled open a drawer, trying to find where the cutlery was stowed and raised his brows. He grabbed a postcard from the top of the pile of papers, it had a picture of the Eiffel Tower on it, turning it over he grinned at the words written there.
"John?" Cam was propped in the doorway, frowning at him slightly.
He held up the postcard. "She writes to you?"
"Um, yeah"
"You keep them?"
Cam shifted. "Yeah, I um, couldn't really bring myself to chuck them. You never know if…." He trailed off and shuffled his feet.
"Hey" John held out his other hand and Cam pushed himself off the door frame, walking over to him and standing between his legs. John wrapped his free hand around the back of Cam's neck. "You like her?"
"I, uh, shit, I uh, think so. Hell, I don't know" Cam stepped back, pulling away and taking the postcard. He turned it over in his hands. "I just know that I'm the only one apart from the Winchesters she stays in touch with and she could be gone so easily you know. One little mistake, one too many reckless plans. Like those fucking Carrigans. They were gonna sacrifice her, for fuck's sake, and eat her. I mean, what the fuck"
He ran a hand over his face. "And I know they're not the worst of what those guys go after" Cam looked at John. "But it's not the same as uh, you. I like you too. Shit, I sound like a girl"
John snorted. "Cam, you think too much. You like her, she obviously feels something for you otherwise she wouldn't stay in touch, keep coming back. I like her too"
"Um, what?"
"So I don't know her as well as you but what I've seen I like. Maybe it's something we should consider?"
"You make as much sense as she does"
John rolled his eyes. "I'm about to ship back out to a galaxy far, far away Cam. And you're the leader of a gate team that manages to get itself captured on a scarily regular basis. Grace hunts monsters for a living. Maybe between the three of us we can all find a little time for each other. Give each other some comfort, somewhere to come home to without promises of something that's impossible"
"Um, really?"
"Yes Cameron. And, you know, I have no idea when I'll be back next so this means I can allow myself a little comfort out there too, without worrying about betraying you"
"McKay?" Cameron growled.
"No Cam, don't be a dick. But there are others that may offer"
"Huh"
"What?"
"She's gonna find this highly amusing"
"And that's why we like her Cameron"
New Years Eve, 2005
Lt Colonel Sheppard stood at the bottom of the ramp at the SGC and tried not to look too smug. Half an hour ago he'd been dragged out of an empty corridor and shoved against the wall of a storage cupboard while one Lt Colonel Mitchell went to his knees and gave him a rather awesome blow job. Especially considering the man had only been doing them for a week.
"Are you ready Colonel Sheppard?"
He turned to look up at Walter in the control room, Mitchell stood behind him, looking slightly ruffled. He grinned. "Dial it up Walter"
Stepping through the gate to Atlantis he was met by a rather tired looking 2IC. "You look like shit Lorne"
"You look disgustingly happy and relaxed Sir"
"Thank you Major"
"Never leave me again"
"Uh, excuse me?"
"If you do I shall be forced to hang Dr McKay from a balcony. There may also be some kind of killing spree involved"
John snorted. "What's he done now?"
Twenty minutes later Colonel Sheppard took a sip of his coffee and propped his feet up on his desk, awaiting the arrival of Dr Rodney McKay. His door chimed.
"Come in"
His door slid open and Dr McKay stalked in. He huffed at him. "While it's great to see you back in one piece Colonel I really don't have the ti…"
"Shut up Rodney"
"Excuse me?!"
"I said shut up Rodney" John smiled at him. "Now, while I realise that you are in fact a genius and the fate of all our lives is held in your rather talented hands I feel I must remind you that this does not give you the right to speak to people in an insulting and condescending manner"
Rodney gaped at him.
"I have already received several complaints about your behaviour which is, quite frankly, beginning to ruin my lovely post-vacation mood. So, if you can curb your smart mouth I would be so grateful"
"Uh…" McKay pointed at him. "Oh my god you had sex!"
John took another sip of coffee. "Yes, I have had sex before Rodney. Very astute of you"
Rodney spluttered. "No I mean…."
"Now, if you don't mind I have some paperwork to catch up on. I'm sure you're eager to get back to what ever little project your currently working on Dr McKay"
"Little!"
"You're dismissed"
"Dismissed!"
"It means you can leave Dr McKay"
Rodney glared at him and stormed out the office.
"Uh Sir?"
"Yes Major?"
"What did you DO on vacation?"
"I helped kill two pagan gods of winter with a christmas tree and had lots of great sex"
"Ah"
"Uh Sir"
John raised a brow. "Yes Lorne"
"Can I come with you next time?"
John smirked at him.
(Nearly) One year later
Lt Colonel Mitchell slammed his locker door shut and leant his head against it. "Fuck"
They'd just finished the debriefing from the complete fuck up that had been the last mission. He had no memory of it but apparently he'd just spent fifty odd years trapped on board a spaceship whilst the rest of the universe had come to a stand still. Teal'c had steadfastly refused to reveal what had happened in those years or pass on any information he'd learnt during them, but Cameron highly doubted he'd have been able to not talk about the people he'd left behind. In fact, he was pretty sure he would have been a stark raving lunatic after the first year. Just the thought of being trapped there made his chest tighten.
"Colonel Mitchell"
He jumped and spun round. "Oh Teal'c. Uh, everything ok?"
The Jaffa inclined his head and held out a piece of card. Cam swallowed and took it from him. He turned it over in his hands, the familiar scrawl almost faded to nothing on the yellowing card. "Shit" He whispered.
"I was unsure whether to hand this over to you Colonel Mitchell but I made a promise to the man who came to me on our final night on the Odyssey. We became good friends, we would meditate and speak of those we missed. I believe he was concerned about her well-being at the beginning of our mission, he spoke of her often. As well as the others who he left behind"
Cam closed his eyes. "Shit"
"Cameron?"
He snapped his eyes open, surprised at the informality.
"Love can be represented and felt in many different ways, as long as there is kindness and understanding there is nothing that can be considered 'wrong'"
Cam blinked. Did Teal'c just make quotation marks with his fingers?
"I understand that your world, whilst superior in many ways, can be unaccepting of certain situations and I shall never speak of this to anyone. I merely hope that you can find some happiness Cameron, and you can only do that if you truly open your heart and your mind"
Teal'c smiled at him, Cam's mouth dropped open. "Good luck Colonel Mitchell"
And then he was alone in the locker room, grasping the postcard in his hand and staring open-mouthed at the door. Someone cleared their throat. "Uh, Cam?"
He blinked and the two men in front of him swam into focus. Major Lorne frowned at him. "You ok Mitchell?"
"Uh…" He looked at the postcard.
"Cameron?" Colonel Sheppard stepped closer. "What's wrong?"
"Teal'c…"
"Yeah?"
"He…smiled at me"
"Really?"
"Yeah" Cam blinked dazedly again. "And he did little quotation marks" Cameron demonstrated.
The other two men looked at each other.
Sat in the passenger seat as John drove his car back to his apartment Cam turned the past few months over in his mind. He'd called Grace the day after John had left and explained what they'd discussed and asked her if she'd be happy to give it a try.
She'd laughed "Cameron I'm happy to give anything a try, you know that"
"Princess, be serious for once"
"You're serious enough for all of us Cameron"
"Grace?"
"Ok"
Then three months later John had emailed him, looking for his blessing to approach Major Lorne and Cam had given the ok. It was a little strange to think of him with someone else but he had no right to deny John any scrap of comfort he could find out there. And then Evan had started emailing him aswell and Cam had a sneaking suspicion he was being slowly eased into something that was probably going to freak him the fuck out but you know, in for a penny, in for a pound.
Evan's emails were warm, funny and gave an excellent insight to a side of John that Cam had never seen, and, despite the strange feeling of panic that he couldn't quite ever get rid of, Cameron began to look forward to hearing from him. John must have realised this through his messages because the next thing Cam knew he was calling Grace and asking her to come home for a few days to meet Evan.
And then somehow he'd found himself in a surreal, semi-relationship with two fellow Air Force officers and a hunter. If he didn't think about it too much it was fine, at night when none of them were there and there was no alien invasion to distract his thoughts he had quiet little freak outs that he never spoke about. Well, until he'd gone batshit crazy trapped on the Odyssey and apparently spilled his guts to Teal'c.
And the Jaffa was right, he was concerned about Grace, they all were. The day before John and Evan were due to return to Atlantis she'd gotten a phone call. Her conversation had been muted and they'd watched her pace up and down the hall from their seats in Cam's living room, but when she'd turned to them the bright smile was in place.
"As wonderful as this has been I'm afraid I'm going to have to love you and leave you guys"
John frowned. "What's wrong Grace?"
She waved a hand dismissively. "Oh just the Winchester's, always getting themselves in trouble" She disappeared down the hall and came back a couple of minutes later with her bag.
"Princess, why do I get a bad feeling about this?"
"Because, Cameron, whatever you do down in that mountain of yours, deep space radar telemetry my arse, has made you pessimistic and incredibly paranoid"
"Grace…"
"I'll call soon" She dropped a kiss on Evan's cheek. "It was lovely to finally meet you. Keep John of trouble" And then she was gone.
Four months later there'd still been no call and she wasn't picking up. Heart sinking he'd emailed John and Evan, and they'd begun planning another vacation.
"Cam?"
"Cameron"
He shook his head. "Uh, yeah?" They'd stopped at a red light and John had turned to look at him.
"Any word?"
"Um, about what?"
"Jesus Cam. Grace, remember her? Any word?"
"Oh, uh, no"
John cursed quietly. "Six months, no contact. Maybe…"
"No"
"Cam.."
"No John, I did not just survive fifty years trapped on a bloody spaceship to come home and find out that….." Cameron ran shaky hands over his face. "Shit"
"Fifty years!"
Grace stood in front of Sam, fists clenched, trying to not step back in the face of his anger. "Sam, don't do this. You can't listen to her. She's the bad guy remember?"
Ruby sat on the bed behind him, half-dressed, and with a cruel smirk on her lips.
"She's helping me stop them Grace, can't you see that? You saw how powerful I've become"
"It's not your power Sam, it's theirs. It's fucked up and evil, and it's twisting you. Please, Sammy…" Her head flew to the side as the flat of his hand connected with the side of her face.
"No one calls me that" He roared "No one but…." He panted, sweat dripping down his face.
"Dean" She whispered. "Your brother Sam, what would he say…"
"He wouldn't say anything you stupid bitch because he's in hell!"
Grace turned and placed her hand on the door knob. "Ok Sam, you go do whatever you think you have to do. I'm getting him back"
He chuckled darkly. "We couldn't save him before and we can't now. We failed Gracie, YOU failed"
She slammed the door shut behind her before he could see her tears.
Two days later
Grace kicked the door of her motel room closed behind her and dropped her bags on the bed. Digging out the bottle of tequila she'd bought at the gas station she lit a cigarette and took a pull. Her phone beeped.
"Shit" Pulling it out of her pocket Grace sighed as the voicemail symbol blinked up at her. Putting it on speaker and hitting the call button she wandered over to the mirror, God, she looked like shit. Dark circles under her eyes, her normally tanned skin pale, Sam's mark still showing up in dark contrast against it.
"Grace" His voice floated around her room. "Sweetheart, it's John. We're really worried about you. Ev and I are at Cam's, please just call one of us or just a text if you don't want to talk. Please"
"Shit"
Grace chewed on her lip. She'd separated herself deliberately from Cameron. Once she'd gotten to Bobby's and he'd explained what was happening, that Dean had five months before it was game over, she'd known it was going to be a fucked up, heartbreaking time and she hadn't wanted to involve him. So far she'd managed to keep the darker side of her life hidden, making light of what she did, only telling him the stories of her successes.
And when Dean had gone she'd resisted the urge to run home (home!), curl up with him and forget. She needed to keep going, keep researching, keep chasing down leads. And now with Sam gone completely off the deep end it was even more important for her to stay focused. Grace eyed the tequila bottle. Oh yeah, you're doing a great job of that Gracie.
She whirled, pointing her gun at the man stood in front of her. "Who the fuck are you?"
"I am Castiel"
She rolled her eyes. "Care to elaborate Castiel"
He tilted his head. "I do not care to however I believe in this situation it would be appropriate" He eyed her gun. "That will not hurt me"
"Yeah, well it makes me feel better"
"I do not understand"
Grace sighed. "Look can we get on with whatever this is. I'm trying to have a nervous breakdown here"
He looked at her blankly then nodded. "I am Castiel"
She rolled her eyes.
"I am an Angel of the Lord and I bring you a message of hope"
Grace laughed for the first time in months.
Cam's phone beeped.
'Never laugh at, or try to out drink
an Angel. Coming home when the
world stops spinning'
"What the fuck?"
Grace dropped her phone down the toilet and grinned, swaying slightly. Probably not a good idea to talk them right now.
But Dean was coming back, and they had a new kick arse ally, and she could go home. Rest, prepare, that's what Castiel had said. There was a fight coming, a big one, but there was hope.
The next night
She dumped her bag on the floor and looked over at them.
"So, how was your summer?"
Cameron hissed. "Where the fuck have you been?"
"Around. Is there beer?" Grace moved towards the kitchen, looking up at Evan as he blocked her way "Beer first Evan"
He glared at her and tipped her head to the light. "Who the hell did that?"
"Did what?"
"That big fuck off hand shaped bruise Grace"
She rolled her eyes. "I fight monsters Ev"
"It looks pretty human to me Grace"
Grace sighed. "I may have had a little disagreement with Sam about his shiny new friend"
"Sam? As in Sam Winchester?!" John growled. "I'll fucking kill him"
"While this wonderful display of testosterone is highly entertaining I'm a little thirsty. And possibly in need of a shower"
"Sit..Down"
She looked at Cam. He pointed at a chair. "Now"
"Bossy"
"Sit down!"
Evan gently shoved her. "I'll get you a beer hon"
"Fine" Grace curled herself in the chair and took the offered beer. "Thanks"
They stared at her.
"I'm not about to explode or anything. Relax"
John ran a hand through his hair. "Where have you been sweetheart? And a proper answer this time"
Grace shifted. "You know I have no idea where you lot go either? I'm pretty sure you know more about me than I know about you. I don't see what the big deal is"
Cam leant forward. "The big deal, Princess, is that we've all been in touch these past six months whereas you seemed to have dropped off the face of the fucking planet. And I know you've been ignoring my calls because you used the same number to text me yesterday"
"Stupid tequila"
He glared at her. "I know this isn't exactly conventional" He waved his hand round the room. "But that doesn't mean that you matter any less to us, that we don't worry. You scared the crap outta me Grace"
"Right, sorry"
"And?"
Grace took a gulp of beer. "The phone call I got last time I was here was from Bobby. He's an old family friend and he also pretty much raised the Winchester's while their Dad was off on his little quest for revenge. They'd turned up on his doorstep looking for help. Dean only had five months to live"
"What?"
"Five months to live John, it's a simple statement"
He narrowed his gaze. "And they knew that how?"
"Bollocks, this is going to get really complicated"
"We'll try to keep up"
"Great" She sighed and shifted. "Seven months before that Sam had died, killed by, well, that's an even more complicated story. Anyway he died, Dean freaked out, made a deal, sold his soul, Sam lived again"
"Sold his soul? I don't think that's possible hon"
She pointed at Evan. "This is my life, my job, I know what I'm talking about. And believe me when it comes to shit like this anything is possible if you're prepared to pay the price. There's something called a crossroads demon, you bury a box with specific items in, at a crossroads, and it appears and offers you a deal. It gives you whatever you want, in exchange you sign your soul over to hell. And no good deed can cancel it out, it doesn't matter if you've saved the world and it's baby several times over, when you die you go to hell and tortured for all eternity"
"Usually you get ten, maybe even twenty years left on Earth to enjoy whatever it is you've asked for. As long as they get you eventually it doesn't really matter to them, they live forever after all. But Dean's different, he and Sam are supposed to be really important, play a big part in the fate of the world. Their souls are highly prized. He got a year"
"Then what, he drops dead?"
Grace shook her head. "The demon sends its hounds after you, they tear you apart, causing unimaginable pain and then they drag you down to hell"
"Grace, are you…um, this just sounds, well"
She smiled at Cam. "Impossible, ridiculous?"
"Um maybe. Hey!" Cameron rubbed his side.
John glared at him. "So this is where you've been? Trying to save Dean, break his deal?"
"Smart too" She murmured.
"Grace?"
She nodded. "Not that it made any difference"
"He's gone?"
"Yeah"
"Baby, I'm so sorry"
"It's ok, he's coming back"
"He is?"
"Yep, an Angel told me"
Major Evan Lorne rolled over and cracked open his eyes. Cameron had gone and bought a new, and bigger, bed after their last visit and Evan was pretty sure he could happily live out his days in it. The mattress in his quarters was going to feel like pure torture for the first few nights back in the city. He raised his head and grinned. Grace was still sleeping, sprawled out on her stomach, her body unconsciously filling the extra space where Cam would usually be.
She murmured, body shifting slightly under the sheets, head turning on the pillow so she was facing him. Her eyes were still closed, brow furrowed. He sighed and trailed a finger lightly over the yellowing bruise on her face. It appeared that they'd managed to hook up with someone who led an even more fucked up life than they did. He idly wondered if there was a way he could just pack her and Cam up and take them back to Atlantis.
"Penny for them Major?"
Grace was smiling sleepily up at him.
"Shit sorry hon, did I wake you?"
She shook her head. "Bad dream" she poked him. "So?"
"Sorry, most of my thoughts are classified these days"
Grace rolled her eyes. He grinned at her and opened his arms, dropping a kiss to the top of her head as she curled into him. "Bad dream?"
"Pretty normal for hunters, we see um, a lot"
"Wanna talk about it baby?"
"No" She shifted. "Where's the others?"
"John's attempting to run a military base via e-mail and Cam's doing a store run"
She huffed against his chest and wiggled in closer before tipping her head back to nip at the underside of his jaw.
"What you doing Grace?"
"Trying it on Major. Is it working?"
Evan grinned. "Maybe"
Grace wrapped her hand around him. Evan hummed quietly. "How about now?"
"I don't know, I'm pretty tired"
"Uh huh" Smooth, slow, tortuous strokes. "That'll be all that filthy sex you had last night"
He groaned and his dick twitched at the memory. Her thumb swept over the head, collecting the little beads of liquid that had already formed there. "Play fair Gracie"
"That term does not belong in any sexual situation" She slightly twisted her wrist. "It's every man…" Her grip tightened. "and woman…" Her other hand cupped his balls, rolling them gently. "for themselves" Evan rolled his hips gently and pulled her up to face him. Pressing his mouth against hers he thrust slowly into her grip and slipped a hand between her legs. Grace hissed and pulled away.
He growled quietly. "We hurt you"
"Don't be ridiculous Evan. I'm merely a little sensitive still, probably much like your arse is this morning"
Evan glared at her. "It's not funny Grace. Causing you pain is not what does it for us"
Grace glared back. "And you didn't, dumb arse flyboy"
"Hey!"
"Now, am I getting my morning sex or not?"
"Not"
She pouted up at him.
"Not gonna work baby"
John padded into the kitchen in search of coffee and grinned at Evan. "It lives"
Lorne flipped him off. "You try bottoming for two Air Force Colonels and see how you feel"
He frowned. "Did we hurt you Ev?"
The other man rolled his eyes. "No, but I feel like I ran a marathon, then took on a hive single-handed"
Cam snorted as he carried a bag of shopping over to the counter. Evan folded his arms across his chest.
"Laugh it up Mitchell but it's your turn tonight"
"No fucking way"
"Coward"
Cam grinned at him. "Grace still sleeping?"
Evan shrugged. "She grabbed a shower then I banished her to the guest room while I changed our bed. She's wiped out"
John raised his brows. "That's not like her, usually its us calling for a time out. She's disgustingly fit"
"It wasn't just last night John" Evan tilted his head slightly "I think the past few months have taken more of a toll than she's admitting to. In the cold light of day she looks like shit, all pale and dark circles under her eyes. Nightmares too"
"Crap" Cam grabbed a cup of coffee and sat at the table. "Stubborn bitch"
"No more than any of us"
"Yeah" John ran a hand through his hair "Shit, Ev and I need to head back tomorrow too. I'm starting to think both of us being away at the same time is not a good idea"
Evan rolled his eyes. "Please, Teyla does your job so much better than you"
"Fuck off"
Cam chuckled and took a sip of coffee. He tapped his fingers on the table. "I might try to talk her into coming with me to Kansas for Christmas this year. With you guys going tomorrow and me off there the day after she'll be on her own. And she did say she was going to take some time out" He grinned "Mom will be in heaven too, someone to feed and look after"
John raised a brow. "It sounds like Grace's worst nightmare"
"What sounds like my worst nightmare?" They watched her make her way to the coffee pot, laptop tucked under her arm.
Cam glared at John. "We'll talk about it later"
"That sounds ominous Colonel"
He eyed her. "What's the computer for Princess?"
"Gonna do some research. Heard something on the news that might be a case"
"You're supposed to be taking time out Grace"
She rolled her eyes. "I've already called Bobby. He agrees with me, he's contacting any hunters who are in the area" Grace sat and clicked open her laptop.
John leaned over to take a look. "What you doing?"
"Hacking the coroners files"
"That is highly illegal Princess"
"As are many other things Cameron, this being by far the least of them"
"The least of what you've done, or what can be done?"
Grace looked at him. "A little of both but nothing to concern yourself with" She clicked on a photo and grinned. "Love it when I'm right"
"What the hell is that?"
She looked at John. "It's a dried up brain"
"Well, this isn't disturbing at all. What does that?"
"Wraith"
John spat out his coffee. "What?!"
Grace eyed him curiously. "Wraith. Are you ok?"
He shifted, steadfastly ignoring the other two men who were glaring at him. "Uh, yeah fine. Thought you said something else"
"What?"
"What?"
She rolled her eyes. "What did you think I said?"
"Um, not important sweetheart. So what do these Wraith look like?"
Evan raised a brow at Cam who shook his head. Grace pretended not to notice.
"They look like normal humans until you see their reflection, then they're all rotting flesh and bad breath"
"And they eat brains?"
"Zombies" Evan grinned "Ow!" He rubbed his shin.
Grace glared at him. "Not Zombies. They're raised from the dead by a spell or by Death, and are merely violent and cannibalistic, with no rational thought or survival instinct. Wraith are supernatural beings who feed on brain fluids to survive, actively seeking out hunting grounds that disguise their presence" She tapped the screen. "Like psychiatric asylums"
Cam raised a brow. "Why there?"
She shrugged. "A few reasons. They like the taste of dopamine, usually injecting it into their victims through a spike in their wrist, but psychiatric patients are already pretty dosed up making them like candy and no one believe's them if they start ranting about monsters because they're all certified insane. And if a sane person is being fed from by a Wraith people start to notice a change in their behaviour, it's all the dopamine in their system, it causes them to become emotionally unstable with their innermost fears and issues eventually beginning to surface in hallucinations"
"Huh. So they don't kill you straight away?"
"Nope. It's an inefficient way of feeding"
"And you hunt shit like this?"
"Yep"
"How do you kill them?"
"Silver knife through the heart"
"Right, of course"
The next day
After seeing the guys off and promising Cameron she would rest, and not do a runner, Grace settled in on the couch with her laptop and a pad of paper. She typed 'Wraith' into the search box. The usual flashed up; supernatural, myth, legend, spirit. She frowned and rewrote 'Raith', nothing, she tried 'Waith', jack shit. Chewing on her lip she ran a search on Lt Colonel John Sheppard. "Hmm"
He had the usual record, a similar career path to Cameron's, except for the months spent in Antarctica. Grace tilted her head at the screen, sending an obviously gifted pilot to Antarctica sounded a lot like punishment, something you'd do if you couldn't actually fire them. She raised a brow, he was listed as currently serving at Cheyenne Mountain, which was where Cameron was based.
Grace made some notes then typed in Major Evan Lorne. Again, a similar background, his path occasionally crossing that of the other two pilots. He had been recruited to Cheyenne Mountain before John and Cameron, yet they both appeared to hold a higher position than him. She tapped her pen against the pad of paper. After her little search on Cameron all those months ago Grace knew trying to get any further into the military base's system would set alarm bells ringing, and probably have several highly trained security teams banging down Cam's door.
She furrowed her brow, Antarctica was setting off little bells in her mind. Cameron's crash! Grace grinned and rolled her shoulders. 'Antarctica military base, unusual'. Her eyebrows rose as the search results scrolled down her screen. 'Strange lights, influx of military personnel, UFO's, military flight testing'. She sat back and looked thoughtful. "Huh"
Typing in 'Mutual UFO Network' Grace jotted down a number and went to grab her phone.
Lt Colonel Cameron Mitchell looked up as the door to his office opened. He raised his brows. "Thought you two had finally buggered off back to your own galaxy".
John flipped him off. "They're just airing out the gateroom. SG-7 seem to have filled it with smoke"
Cam snorted. "Think they're gunning for the title of craziest SG team. I'm getting a little nervous, O'Neill won it ten years in a row"
Evan grinned and dropped into a chair, he tapped his fingers on the arm. "I think Grace picked up on our little slip yesterday. Or should I say John's little slip"
"Hey! Like you weren't surprised when she said Wraith"
"Of course I was but I managed not to cover the table in my coffee"
John glared at him. "I don't see what the problem is Ev, she's not exactly gonna find anything out is she?"
Cameron cleared his throat, they both looked at him. "First of all, no arguing in my office, you're ruining my pre-christmas mood. Second, Evan might have a point. She may not find anything just by surfing the net BUT she seems to be very good at picking up patterns, researching, putting things together. She also appears to have no morales when it comes to hacking government systems. Now, I know she's not stupid enough to hack into the SGC system but she found me no problem a couple of years ago, and all she knew then was my rank and name"
He tipped back in his chair. "Think about our pasts, our records, where we've been and where we are listed as serving now"
"Bollocks"
"Exactly"
Christmas Morning 2006
Colonel Cameron Mitchell thrust up between her wet, swollen lips, finally breaking their eye contact as his slid shut and his body tensed. "Fuck, fuck, fuck" he whispered. Grip tightening in her hair he pushed himself as deep as he could get into her hot, wet, sinful mouth, and shot ribbons of cum down her throat. "Fuck" Dropping his body back down on the bed, he took a shaky breath and untangled his fingers from her hair.
She hummed and ran gentle swirls over him, cleaning off the last of his taste. Sitting up in the spread of his legs, Grace licked her lips and smirked down at him. "Merry Christmas Cameron"
"Uh huh"
"Are you dead?"
He rolled his eyes and opened up his arms. "C'mere Princess"
"Oh my god, you're a snuggler!"
Grace let out a little squeal as he shot forward and grabbed her waist, pulling her back down, and rolling them. He hovered over her and grinned.
"No need to look so smug Colonel"
"Pretty sure there is Princess" He brushed his lips against hers. "Thank you, and Merry Christmas"
She wiggled slightly under him. "You're welcome, and where's mine?"
Frank Mitchell huffed and glared at his newspaper as a muffled squeal sounded from upstairs.
"Now, now Frank Mitchell there is no need to get your briefs in a twist"
He raised a brow at his wife who was standing at the counter mixing waffle batter. She turned and smiled at him. "We were just the same, sometimes still are" She winked at him.
He placed his paper on the table. "Wendy, just what has gotten in to you?"
"It's Christmas Frank, and they're young and in love"
He snorted. "One of them's young, the other should know better. Ow!" He rubbed the back of his hand.
Wendy waved her spoon at him. "She may be young Frank but there's something a little sad about her, a maturity that doesn't belong there. And, I haven't seen our son this happy and relaxed since his accident so you will be nice"
Frank took a sip of coffee and absently rubbed the spot where the wooden spoon had struck. "Never said I didn't like her Wendy but how happy do you think Cameron will be when she decides she'd rather be with someone her own age hmm?"
His wife rolled her eyes and poured the batter into the grill. "He is a grown man Frank, I am sure he knows what he is doing" She turned and leant against the counter, looking thoughtful. "Grace and I had a nice chat while you two were out last night. I don't think she is going anywhere. If anything I'd be more worried about her if Cameron ever walked away"
Both of his brows rose. Wendy nodded.