CHAPTER 12
IN THE NORMAL UNIVERSE……
Carter mostly, had been searching the Mirror for the past three days. Every so often some one else looked, but either Ford or Carter was always there looking at the Mirror to see if they saw anything familiar. Hammond was going to give them two more days then they had to give up or maybe have someone else keep looking. It was a little over midday when Carter found it.
Ford was helping with the search, but having more trouble than Carter since she kept bringing it up higher involuntarily which put it higher than Ford could see since his body was taller than hers.
"Carter. That's the third time you have gotten out of my range of site."
"Do you have to remind me of how short my body is."
"I didn't say you were short. Your body height is fine. I just came from a taller family. Hey wait there! I think that's it." he said looking at the Mirror.
"I think I found it!" Carter announced.
"What makes you think that Major?" Colonel O'Neill said walking up.
"I've been trying for three days Colonel. Everywhere I've came across has never came up showing this planet in the background. This has to be it."
"I think they've been looking longer than we have."
"What makes you say that." Carter said. She set the device aside.
"A feeling and the look on that Carter's face. Let's go take a look."
"Let me get your trunk." she said. She had placed the coat on the trunk earlier when the heat got to much. "Teal'c, Daniel. If it's the right universe, the we won't be coming back. It was an honor serving with you."
"Same here." Ford said.
Teal'c nodded and gave them the Jaffa handshake while Daniel just gave the basic one.
"They're coming through." Daniel said.
"What?" Carter said looking up. Another Ford and another Major Carter came through after touching the Mirror. Ford was carrying a large trunk and a long black coat.
"Quick question should clear this up! Did you get to this universe by going through the Stargate? And before you ask, ignore the way we sound."
"Okay." O'Neill said. He looked them over and then looked at the other Carter.
"Yes. Colonel Ford and I were on our way home and then we somehow ended up in the wrong universe." Major Carter said. Colonel Ford was standing next to her, seemingly protective like.
"We're home." the mixed bodies couple said.
"Okay. Since I've seen and so has….both of us has seen the side effects of having the same person from an alternate universe in the same universe, I suggest that you both get whatever you need and go home quickly. General O'Neill is anxious to see you."
The Carter in Ford's body explained in quick detail what would happen if they all stayed together in the same universe to long. The Major with Colonel Ford agreed that it would be best if they leave quickly. They said their goodbye's and touched the Mirror. Once in there universe, they all waved goodbye and then turned off the Mirror. Carter turned off theirs and then sat down on the trunk.
"Thank god that is over."
"No kidding." Ford said running his hand through his…her hair. It felt nice and he tried not to think about it.
"So." O'Neill said dragging out the word. "What happened Major?" he asked looking at Major Carter's body.
"Can you wait till the debriefing sir." Carter said. Jack and the other's looked at Ford's body now realizing what had happened.
"How did this happen?" Daniel asked pointing between the two of them.
"More importantly, how long have you been like this?" Jack asked with a certain tone, but a hidden lace of anger.
"Three days, maybe four." Ford said. "Can we go home?"
"Daniel dial. Everyone else pack up." Jack said with a crack in his voice. He had to cough a few times as he walked away.
"He's laughing at us." Ford commented.
"What makes you think that?" Carter said picking up the coat and trunk.
"I've watched you guys for…what….I think seven years. I know what I'm seeing. He thinks this is funny."
A certain smile crept across her face.
"Well, it was in one way."
"It's SG-1 sir." Siler said from the control console as the gate opened and the GDO signal came through.
"Open the Iris." Hammond commanded as he left to greet them.
As they stepped through the gate Hammond ordered the soldiers to stand down.
"I see that the Mirror worked." he said.
"Yes it did sir." O'Neill said. "Permission to leave."
"In a hurry Colonel?"
"Yes sir." he said quickly.
He mulled it over a moment and then let him leave.
"Thank you sir." he said almost rushing out. As the door closed they heard the Colonel lose it. His laugh was heard through the lower level.
"You were right." Carter said.
"Major?" Hammond asked looking at Ford's body.
"We'll explain later." Ford said. Hammond turned to look at Carter's body in equal surprise.
"Permission to go to see Janet?"
"Permission granted."
They nodded and started to leave.
"Wait. What is that trunk Major?" Hammond asked.
"It's Ford's personal things sir. We ended up in his universe for several moments." Carter said. "I'll explain that too later sir."
"I have things I want you to personally see sir. A couple of airmen can take it to the briefing room if you will." Ford said.
Hammond nodded and a couple of airmen took it from her shoulders.
Down in the infirmary, Janet was having a little trouble keeping a straight face. The rest of SG-1 stayed out. Ford and Carter were sitting on the same bed.
"So how do you feel?" she asked Ford shining a light in his…Carter's eye's she reminded herself.
"I can see you think this is funny." Ford said grimly.
"No. Okay maybe a little."
"A little? O'Neill barely made it out of the gate room. He was heard over the entire lower section!" Carter said.
"I doubt he was heard that far Sam."
"Should I know anything about what happened on those three days you were together?"
"Janet!" Carter exclaimed.
"What? I'm your Doctor. It's not like you've not done something I probably haven't seen or heard about."
"For the record. We did nothing. We were very professional." Ford said calmly.
Janet cracked up at the remark.
"What?" he asked.
"That was a bad way of putting it Ford." Carter said.
"You're right there." he said seeing Janet was still laughing. She had to sit down to keep from falling.
"I'm sorry." she finally said as she wiped her eyes.
"Look are we okay?" Ford said.
"What's the hurry?" Janet asked.
"For me, I feel this has been a invasion of privacy. Sure I always wanted to go out with Carter and maybe one day marry if possible, but feeling her physically like this was not something I was ever thinking about."
"Same here." Carter said.
"Everything the same?" Janet asked surprised.
"Well, except the marry part. That's thinking too far ahead at the moment."
"So you've already dated then."
"We've been in each other's bodies for over three days Janet. I think that qualifies as being past the dating part." Carter exclaimed.
"You ladies finished yet?" Jack said coming in.
Ford cleared his throat and then put on his best lady voice. It sounded almost like a lady voice.
"Why yes Colonel. Us ladies are almost finished." he said putting a hand just under his neck and blinked his eyes.
Carter laughed so hard she fell off the bed. Janet managed to stay in her chair just barely. Ford kept looking like a giddy girl, and was succeeding well since he was in Carter's body.
O'Neill walked away thinking that they had all went crazy. It wasn't till he made it to his office that he laughed as well.
"That was an incredible job of acting Ford." Janet said finally being able to talk and breathe.
"That look on the Colonel's face was priceless." Carter said getting off the floor. "I only wish I had a camera."
"Thank you. Thank you." he said making a slight bow while still sitting. "Seriously now. Can we go?"
"I've got to wait for the blood results, otherwise you can leave."
"Good. Let's go Carter."
"I've…."
"Got nothing to do. We stay together until we have our own bodies back."
"It's personal." she said gesturing to Janet.
"I'll be in the briefing room then. That's the only place I'm going."
"I'll be there soon."
As Ford left he did a quick look around. Before coming back over seeing no one was around. "I can't believe I'm going to say this but, I now know what that mood swing problem you women have is like. Carter can…whatever." he said leaving.
"He didn't?" Janet asked surprised.
"Oh yeah." Carter said. "Janet, this never leaves the room. Never."
Ford didn't heard the rest as he left. He was in the room for around twenty minutes as he sat in the briefing room looking at the stuff he had brought in the trunk. Luckily Carter had left the coat since it had the keys. Hammond came in as Ford was looking through it.
"Major Carter?"
"Try again sir."
"Ford. I figured Janet would be able to do anything so I have that device of Mechello's on route to be brought here as requested. It will arrive tomorrow morning."
"Another night. Oh brother." he mumbled.
"What was that?"
"Nothing sir. I wanted you to see these. I told Carter, before we body swapped, that these would clear up in doubt, if there was any, that I did come from another universe. These are the first six seasons or years if you want to call it, of the SG-1 missions." Ford said setting the DVD boxes down.
Hammond picked it up the first season and looked at the cover before opening it. Interesting was all he said as he sat down. O'Neill and the others came in taking there seats. Jack picked up one of the seasons and looked it over.
"What's this?"
Everyone at the table took a different one, not knowing they were all different.
"Those are the six years of what SG-1 has been doing on DVD. They're the show from my universe." Ford said.
"We can look at these later. I want a report of what happened with you two after you left." Hammond asked he said putting the box down.
For the next two hours, Carter and Ford explained all that they had to do up till they got the Mirror. The part where they had to take three days to get back to the SGC, they left out, purposely. Carter informed him that what happened on those three days was nothing that needed reporting or ever was going to be.
"Are you sure?" Jack asked being humorous.
Carter and Ford both gave him a dirty look. Carter's face had a worse look since it was a female face. Ford somehow managed to give that look only women could give a man.
"I'll take as a no." he said sinking in his chair as he covered his face partially with his hand.
"Alright then Major. I'm glad you made it back safe."
"If not all together." Jack muttered. Carter looked at him with a glare. Since Ford was sitting next to him Ford smacked his arm.
"Ow!"
"Keep it up Colonel. I'm this close to losing it." Carter said to him.
"As am I." Ford said but his trouble wasn't the situation. It was a mood problem.
"Major." Hammond said cautiously.
"Sorry sir. I can't even begin to tell you want I've been through or what this feels like."
"I hopefully never will. I'll need a written report. I'll give you a week to finish it. In the morning you'll be able to get back in your own bodies and then we'll go about our normal business. Dismissed." Hammond took the DVD boxes to his office for them to look at tomorrow.
As they all left the room, Ford had the trunk taken to his room along with the coat. He tried but the coat was too heavy even for Carter's strength.
O'Neill was in his office getting ready to go home when Carter came in.
"Hey Fo…Carter. What's up?"
"Ford showed me something which he put in that trunk of his. I even brought it with me. You can't deny this." she said pulling out a particular signed photo from her shirt. She figured if she was in her own body, the photo would have shown through her shirt, but Ford was used to wearing baggy like shirts.
He looked at the photo of himself in normal clothes.
"So. It's a picture of me. But I don't remember having it taken like this."
"Read the signature." she said leaning on the desk.
He read where it was signed by a Richard guy. The part where is said MacGyver made him looked startled for just a moment.
"So what does it say?"
"I don't know this Richard guy."
"Forget that. It's the other part that made me know you've been up to something. You are MacGyver."
"Since when Major? MacGyver's a very smart man. He knew how to do things I can only dream about doing."
"Then why do you carry a Swiss army knife?"
"I always carry one."
"What about the Duct tape? MacGyver was never without Duct tape." Ford said entering the room. "Once I noticed the picture of you was missing, I came here when I didn't find you in your office Carter. Not surprised though."
"That would mean that you're not really a Colonel."
"No Carter, he is a Colonel. I figure he got tired of the Phoenix Foundation, a guy named Murdoc, and a pestering friend named Jack Dalton. After that…I don't really know."
"This is all nice and interesting conversation, but I'm not him, just as there was another version of a Colonel in that other universe that was Ford as the Colonel and me as the General. I'm not him."
"Okay Colonel. How about if I show General Hammond this?" Ford said pulling out season one of the MacGyver series. "It's certainly enough to make him think and possible find answers if he calls the Phoenix Foundation."
Jack looked at the DVD box and fidgeted. "This is blackmail. What do you want?"
"Me nothing. I was helping Sam." he said taking the box back. "I plan on hiding this where no one will find it. I don't blackmail, friends anyway. I just wanted to see if you would admit it."
"I wanted to see if it was true. All those times I talked and you told me to get to the point and you knew everything I was explaining. That hurts."
"Yeah."
"Goodnight." Ford said leaving.
"Well Colonel. I still respect you despite not telling anyone. I will continue to serve you as I always have. This secret will stay with me sir. As I said, I just wanted to see if it was true. I figure you must have a good reason for not explaining your past. Though I want to know why when you feel like talking." she said taking the photo back. "Goodnight sir." she said leaving.
O'Neill watched her leave and didn't leave till a few hours later.
Morning came along with bird's singing outside. The sun was on Ford's face and he was enjoying a leisure drive in the rising sunlight. He had the top down on the Mustang convertible and was listening to a oldies song on the radio. He turned to look to the right as he watched a dog ran by. He was really enjoying the moment when a buzzing noise ruined everything.
"Hey Ford. You awake." he heard from the door.
He rubbed his face thinking he'd need a shave when he remembered he couldn't do that. Not in this body anyway.
"Oh man that's right."
"Ford?"
"I'm awake. Is that body swapping device here yet?"
"Yeah. It came in early."
"THANK GOD!" Ford yelled. He opened the door seeing O'Neill.
"You might want to get dressed." he said looking at him…her.
Ford looked down seeing he was in pajamas. Nothing reveling, but it wouldn't be proper. He closed the door and grabbed the normal dark green clothes. He opened it back up and told Jack to lead the way.
"So. What's it like being a woman?"
Ford shook his head with that oh my God look. "I can't believe you asked that!"
"Well?"
"I'm not saying a word! I promised Carter that I would not talk."
"C'mon. You must have something to say."
"Yeah. I do. It's I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT IT." Ford then threw his hands in the air and walked away.
"Something wrong?" Carter said coming behind him. She showed up a few corridor's later.
"O'Neill had the nerve to ask what it's like being a woman."
"And?"
"I told him off in a polite way."
Carter nodded.
"Guess you're still feeling the…"
"Don't go there."
Hammond was waiting for them in the lab standing next to the machine. Teal'c, Daniel, Janet, and Jack were waiting.
"How…never mind. Let's get this over with." he said grabbing one side of the handles.
"I agree." Carter said grabbing the other side. There was a buzzing noise and then it went quiet. "That's better, somewhat."
ABOUT TIME!!!!!!!
"AAHHH!!" Ford yelled suddenly as he let go. "Damn it Herc! To loud!"
"You okay son?"
Janet was coming over when Ford held up his hand.
"I'm fine. Oh my head. Hercules yelled and it made my head hurt. I'll be fine."
Hercules took over to explain when they started asking questions.
"When the unfortunate mishap of the body swapping took place I became part of both of their minds. I could not do anything except watch for those few days, but for me it was torture. I was existing, but unable to do anything."
"Is everything okay now?" Janet asked.
He nodded then Ford took back over. He whispered something in Janet's ear and she went over to Carter who was rubbing her right wrist.
"Let's go look at that." Janet said leading her out.
They left with everyone wondering what happened.
"Remember me telling you about blowing the front out of that Hummer following us a few days ago."
"Yes." Hammond said.
"I fired the gun. I think I fractured her wrist slightly. She didn't think she could shoot straight enough to not hit the vehicles behind them."
They didn't seem to happy with that, but didn't say anything about it.
"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm hungry. It's nice to have my taste buds back. Excuse me sir."
When no one objected or said anything he left for the mess hall.
"He say anything?" Daniel ask.
"That question we talked about. No. He avoided it." Jack said. "Like the plague."
"Understandable."
Ford was enjoying the steak, mashed potatoes, A&W root beer, and a few vegetables when Daniel came in with Jack and Teal'c. Carter came in a moment later with her hand bandaged up. As Carter was getting something Daniel sat down in front of him. Teal'c sat down next to Daniel and started his meal. Jack was asking Carter something since they hadn't showed up yet.
"So Ford. Feeling better?" Daniel asked.
"Much better. Carter's sense of taste was totally different from what I like. She likes fish, I can't stand fish. Unless I cook it a certain way."
"Anything else? What about her eye sight. I know yours are better."
"Yeah. She has great eye sight, but mine is much better. I eat a lot of carrots. I don't like popcorn."
"You eat carrots when you watch movies then?"
"Yeah. Movie's, TV shows, such as or was this here." he said motioning around. "I had one month of stakeout duty once. Came back and spent I think it was…oh what was it….say five hours watching the episodes I missed. The wonder's of recording. That was years ago. I have since seen the show's better with the DVD's."
"What was it like to have a different taste?"
"I tried a piece of pecan pie and Carter told me she really didn't like that type. When I bit into it, I almost gagged. I was going to have some this morning, but they didn't have any."
"How's her strength compared to yours?" Daniel said while drinking coffee. At least that's what Ford thought it was.
"That's got to be a joke. She has a lot of strength, but nothing compared to what I have. She was really surprised when she found out how much power I had. Almost hurt me once." he said taking a drink. The pop mug was running low and he added another pop can to it.
"Anything else feel different?"
"A lot of things. It was a interesting experience."
"And?"
"And what?"
"Well, unlike Jack who wanted all the…other details. I wanted to know the other stuff you can say."
Ford rubbed his face in disbelief. "Good grief. I never….you're the last one I thought that would even ask that question?"
"What question?" Carter said sitting down next to Ford. Everyone else noticed this. Well, Jack and Daniel anyway. They shared a glance that the other two noticed.
"I saw that."
"Saw what? What are you talking about?" she said picking up her fork.
"You'll never guess what these two want to know? Oh wait…are you part of this Teal'c?"
"I most certainly am not." Teal'c said from the end of the table.
He had moved over when Jack sat next to Daniel. Ford figured it was to see how he and Carter reacted.
"I know now." she said in a upset tone as she dropping her fork and crossing her arms. "O'Neill here was asking what I thought it was like to be a man. A real one."
Ford couldn't help but laugh. Jack and Daniel cracked up momentarily. Ford had a little more trouble getting it under control. She was still upset with them but it was apparent not with Ford.
"What did I say?"
"It's not what you said, it's how you said it Sam. He asked me the same question, I told him nothing as promised."
"I was joking on that last part." Jack mentioned before Carter spoke.
"Neither did I." she said picking her fork back up. Then she looked at Daniel. "You even asked?"
"He didn't ask the…private questions. Just simple okay questions." Ford said looking at his finished plate.
"Like what?" she said in a demanding tone.
Jack and Daniel stayed put eating but being quiet. Teal'c had finished his meal and was listening with the intent he wasn't listening.
"How are taste were different, our eyesight, strength. Though that's one question that really didn't need to be asked."
"What's that suppose to mean!"
"I wasn't being mean Carter. Our strength is measurably far apart. Our taste are completely different. You warned me about that pie and when I couldn't eat it you tried it and being in my body you got to see what it was like. Our eyesight is close, but I know mine's better. No offense."
"I'd have to see it to believe it." she said sarcastically.
"You did Carter." Jack said.
"I know I did Colonel. I just have a…."
"Jealousy problem." Jack suggested.
"No!!! Okay…maybe. After all those test Janet did on everyone over the years, she told me I had the best eyesight out of everyone on the base. Now Ford does." she grumbled.
The three men looked at Ford and he looked at them and shrugged. He wasn't smiling either.
"You're not proud of that?" Jack asked.
"What's to be proud of? So I see better than the rest of you. Big deal."
"What prescription is your eyesight?" Daniel asked.
Ford thought a moment trying to remember when he last had a eye exam. "Hmm…..it was 20/15 in the left eye and 20/14 in the right eye. I'm not sure why. Probably the herbs and carrots I eat."
Carter had finished her meal as did the others a few minutes later. Hammond had ordered them up to the briefing room after having breakfast.
"Right at the moment the other teams off world have been doing geological and planetary surveys. So far they haven't encountered any resistance. You were scheduled to have a mission in a few hours, but seeing what two of you have been through, I'm giving you all the day off. Another reason is so that Ford can find a home somewhere in town. I can't allow you to live here at the base forever."
"As far as I can remember, I haven't left the base in this universe since getting here." Ford said as he cracked his neck. Carter must have slept on two pillows or something he figured. His neck really felt different as he continued to rub the kinks out of it. "I'd like to go and take a look around. Thanks sir."
"Good. Unless you all have pressing matter's, one or all of you can help him find something. With the exception of Daniel. Some of the people from Gia'as came in last night asking for your help with a lab they discovered. I told them I'd have you there in the morning."
"No problem. I'm not much of a house shopper anyway."
"Anything else we should discuss before I send you on your way?"
"I advise that you keep those DVD's under close supervision sir. They have some sensitive material in them that you wouldn't want out. Oh…um hey remember when you…..well SG-1 was going to go to….you'll see it in the video, but the gate activated and a piece of paper came through that had O'Neill's handwriting on it. It said something about don't go."
"Yeah I remember that. That was years ago." Jack said.
"If you ever wondered about the future, one of the….episodes….tells what would have happened if you did go through. It wasn't pretty at the end. I thought it was sad, the future part anyway."
"Tonight's movie night then." Jack said with a perky voice. "That is if we can look at them sir."
"Only if you do it here Colonel. I've looked over the descriptions of some of the episodes and they gave a good summary of things you've all done. I might even join you."
"Cool General. We'll save you a seat."
He asked again if there was anything else and when no one spoke he dismissed them. As they got up, Daniel said goodbye and walked out as Jack wrapped a arm around Ford.
"A home by the lake. That sounds good doesn't it?"
"No Jack. I don't like the houses by the water. Too many insects."
"You're worried about bugs?"
"I hate bugs. I hate bees. I seriously despise and fear spiders. I prefer….let's go look around."
"You coming Carter?" Jack asked.
"Sure. I need to go home and do a few things anyway."
"Teal'c, you coming?"
"I am."
"Sweet. Let's get this show on the road."
After they got off base, they took Jack's truck since it could hold more people. Ford looked through the paper's and made a few calls. He found a few nice places. O'Neill took them to a few places by the lake side. As nice as they were, Ford did not like them. He knew it was so Jack could get a place closer to a fishing area. They spent several hours looking, but after taking Carter to her house. Ford found a house he liked just a block and a half from Carter's house, ironically.
"You like this one?" Jack said as they got out. It was a two bedroom, two bathroom, living room and kitchen in the middle of the house. The garage had room for two vehicles.
"Yeah. It's perfect. Even has room for an extra car."
"Or truck." Jack suggested.
"I'm not a truck fan." Ford said. "Unless it's a semi. But that's too big for anything I need."
"Why? Trucks are great!"
"This coming from a guy who used to drive a Jeep. I have to admit though, I thought that Jeep was cool. Why did you get rid of it?"
"Jeep? What Jeep? Oh…that Jeep. Ah, engine gave out." he said, then muttered, "And other things."
Ford gave him a strange look and dropped it. "Oh well."
"Which one of you is looking to buy the house." a lady said getting out of a blue sedan. A Chevy from the looks of it. Some red head with a bag and clipboard. She introduced herself as Cindy.
"I am." Ford said briefly glancing in her direction. Teal'c had a hat on that O'Neill gave him saying fishing is life. "I won't need a tour. I'll take it now. How much?"
"No tour hey." she said. "Not often someone just buys right away like that. What made you make what it so quickly?"
Carter could easily tell she had a flirtatious sound to her voice. Jack was paying attention to her somewhat. Teal'c just stood watching.
"Location and has the space I'll need. I can work with this. How much?"
"Well, the price of rent is.."
"No. I want to know the full price." he said finally looking at her.
"Two hundred thousand. If you can give that much right now, I'll exclude the taxes." she said still flirting slightly.
"Deal." he said pulling out his checkbook. "Let's get the paper work over with and then I can start what I need to do."
They used Jack's hood to sign the paper's and make the payment. She continued to flirt even up to the end of the agreement. Carter didn't show it, but she was jealous. When she noticed that Ford was either completely oblivious to her or was either ignoring it, she relaxed. It had been awhile since she personally had anyone care for her in a relationship way. Carter only hoped that nothing ever happened that made them break up. After three days if staying together, she got to know Ford, personally, as to his lifestyle anyway. They had little else to do except talk on the three day trip.
"The house is yours." she said giving him a card. "If you ever need anything, give me a call."
She gathered her stuff, gave him the keys, and then drove off.
"Did you even notice what she was doing?" Jack asked.
"Who? Carter? Ah….not really. Why?" Ford asked thinking he did something wrong, possibly as he looked over at her a moment. "What happened?"
"That women was ready to throw herself at you Ford." Jack said surprised he didn't see it.
"What woman?"
"That red head, Cindy I think." he said.
"She did indicate her name as such O'Neill." Teal'c said.
Ford's face was completely showing he had no idea what they were talking about.
"You really have no idea?" Carter said thinking Ford either really was lost or was trying to look lost on purpose for her. She hoped the first.
"There was a red headed lady here….?" he said pointing at the ground.
Yes there was. She was, as O'Neill said, was almost throwing herself at you.
"Really." Ford said scratching his head as with Herc's help the memory of the lady came into his mind. "I guess she was a red head, and it was a she. My mind was on what I was going to do with the place. And the car I want."
"Are you talking to us or yourself?"
"Hmmm? Oh myself Jack. Or Hercules anyway. I remember signing papers and giving a large check to a real estate person, beyond that I didn't notice who. My mind was on other things."
"I'm guessing you've never been really hit on by a woman before." Jack said slowly.
"Ah…no comment." Ford said with a tone that underlined him wanting the subject dropped.
"Well, now what?" Jack asked changing the subject. Carter didn't know what to make of what Ford meant. That could mean a number of things, some of which she figured she find out later if he talked about it.
"I'll get furniture and other things later. Right now, I could go for something to eat."
Since it was getting near dark, they went back to the base to eat and watch the DVD's. Ford suggested they watch one episode in particular.
"Which mission would that be?" Jack asked as they took the elevator down.
"Title's not important, but you should remember it easily. It's called Window of Opportunity. Three month's it took to get out of that time loop though." he said tapping his lip with a finger as he smiled wickedly.
"What loop?" Carter asked.
"NO!!" Teal'c and Jack said in unison.
"Not that one." Jack said with a order tone. "Definitely not that one."
"Why Colonel? What are you hiding?" she asked.
"I know why." Ford chuckled.
"And you'll keep quiet if you know what's good for you!" Jack said glaring and stabbing him in the chest a few times.
"I'll have to see this." Carter said smiling. "What was it called again?"
"You aren't watching it Carter! No one is. I've got to get that before anyone sees it." he said getting off the elevator quickly. He ran off as they got off.
"This should be good."
"We'll never see it now. You should have kept your mouth shut." Carter said not happy.
"I told the General to look at the that one in particular when we left. I had a note placed on the season in particular. He's got to have looked at it by now."
"Really? Can't wait to see what he thought."
General Hammond was smiling when O'Neill came through the door.
"Any luck Colonel?"
"Sir?"
"On getting Ford a home."
"Ah. Yes sir. Can I see those DVD's sir?"
"What for?"
"I just wanted to check something out."
Hammond looked at him a moment then opened a desk drawer. He pulled them out and placed them on his desk. O'Neill looked through them quickly as the others came in.
"Heard you found a house Ford."
"Yes sir. Just a couple blocks from Carter's house. I got the address here." he said handing over a piece of paper.
"There's a disc missing sir?" Jack said looking up from one of the boxes.
"I know Colonel. I watched one of the episodes earlier. By Ford's request I might add. It was…..interesting. Considering the fact of what was going on, I can see why you did some of those things."
"Oh no." Jack muttered. He then gave Ford a mean glare.
"What? Everything you did wasn't all there. I thought the resignation part was the best." Ford said smiling. He could swear Jack's eye twitched. "They couldn't put everything that happened in those three plus months in a hour show."
"Can I see that sir?" Jack said seeing Hammond was holding the DVD.
Hammond handed it to him and he left the room. Considering O'Neill's wishes and orders they watched a few different episodes instead. It ended up being a good laugh. The episode dealing with meeting the Ashen the first time was really interesting for them seeing as it was a future that was never going to happen.
For the next couple of months, everything was routine. They were attacked as usual by the Goa'uld, but managed to not get caught again. Things were turning out well. Ford managed to get his house fixed the way he liked it. Carter and Ford started seeing each other more, off base. Since they were busy a lot they had little time for actual dating, but seeing as they worked at the same place, usually on some projects together, they went with it. They stayed serious on the job and slightly serious when they weren't. Jack and the other's were very protective of her at first when they found out, but was glad to see her happy and didn't do anything to jeopardize it.
The missions continue in the other chapters after this one and will hopefully be up soon.
