CHAPTER 6 – MORE THAN SHE BARGAINED FOR
Sam was waiting for them in the jumper bay when they returned and she looked quizzically at the bright open expression on Nicole's face, and the excitement that radiated there, across her features and buzzing just below the surface. And wondered just what had put it there.
"John? Care to explain to me why you are taking civilians for joy rides in space... hmmm?" She spoke a little in jest, but John sensed an edge to her words and wondered if perhaps he had overstepped his boundaries a little.
"Wasn't a joy ride Sam... I wanted her to see what we do out here – what makes this home to us. A little something you'll be interested to file away in that extremely intelligent mind of yours... she has the gene."
Sam's eyesbrows rose. "Ok... so I'd say that tips the scales a little. I've just been on the radio with the SGC. They're no closer to finding out how she got here – they're adamant that there is only the two working gates, the one at the SGC and the one in Antarctica. But the gene? That changes things... gives us a whole new perspective on just what might have happened. Ah... Rodney is going to have a field day with this piece of information!"
"So, Colonel Carter? What are you intending to do with me? Now that I've somehow managed to breach national security, are you going to 'silence' me?" She only half spoke in jest and John huffed a laugh, watching her slightly tense posture. Hands fisted on extremely trim hips and eyes sparking – no longer warm treacle.
"We don't 'silence' people Nicole – you've been watching too many movies... perhaps a little reprogramming Sam?"
At Nicole's startled look, Sam gave John a warning one. "Stop teasing her John. This is serious. Her future is on the line here, and I'm not talking about her life – I mean her future on earth. If she were to return, she would have to take up a new profession and it would be unlikely that you would be allowed to publish... ever. That is as far reaching as their power would be. They would ensure that anything you attempted to write or publish, would be squashed down so deep and if something did come to light, you would be immediately discredited as a crackpot. That would effectively be the end of your career."
They both watched the anger that bloomed in Nicole's eyes and her cheeks flushed pink. "That is ridiculous. You just effectively told me that this is not a movie. Hell, this is worse than a movie. My life, as I know it – ceases to exist if I go back to earth? Kill me now..."
"I know it seems harsh Nicole, and I can sympathise. I chose this – John chose this. This is where we want to be and what we want to do. You have been dropped into this and you have choices taken away from because of that. I'll do what I can from my end, but you're up against the US government on this one and your choices will be limited. I'm sorry. But given that you have the gene, that opens a whole new chapter with which I can negotiate with. You up for that?"
John had moved in behind her and Nicole could feel the warmth of his body, not touching but just there. Offering comfort of a sort, but not what she needed right now. She needed answers, and as a journalist, she would find them. Any way she could.
"What do I do now, Colonel Carter? Tell me that? What are my options? I am an intelligent woman, I understand the implications of my appearance here. I understand that you need to find out how I came to be here and whether this breaches any sort of security you have firmly in place. But understand me! I won't be held a prisoner. If I stay, it will be because I decide to stay. Are we clear on that? Take a message back to your damn superiors... it will be up to me!"
She whirled around, leaving the lingering warmth that John's body had afforded and stormed out of the jumper bay. Not really sure where she was going, but knowing that she needed to blow off some steam and clear her head. She would normally photograph about now. Use all of that passion and energy and put it into taking stunning photographs, and if she couldn't do that for now? Then exercise. Run herself into a puddle somewhere... somehow, so that she could come to terms with the crossroads her life had come to right now. She recalled that during the quick foot tour, Colonel Sheppard had shown her a training area, a gym. Lose herself on the treadmill, run off her demons. Then make a decision.
And she did just that. While jeans were not the most suitable attire for running, she at least had on sneakers and tank top, and tossing all of that hair into a ponytail she easily set the treadmill for a comfortable pace and began the routine of working up a sweat and purging herself of her demons.
So immersed in her own thoughts, she failed to see the Colonel standing in front of her for some time and when she finally registered his presence she almost missed her beat and fell flat on her face. His hand sneaked around and lowered the speed on the treadmill, and she noticed that he held both a towel and a water bottle in his other hand, and at the moment both of those items looked more than a little inviting.
He didn't speak, just watched her as the speed wound down and she was breathing easily and running lightly, warming down the muscles that had been running at full capacity for almost two hours. Two hours? Her eyebrows quirked upward as she registered the time on the treadmill and met his amused eyes. Ok, so that is why he stands here with a peace offering of sorts... must have thought I was going to blow a gasket or something... As the treadmill slowly stopped, she reached out a hand, grasping the towel he offered first and wiping it non too gently across her face and back of her neck, then reaching up she pulled out the elastic that secured her ponytail and let the curls cascade back over her shoulders. His eyes followed their path and one hand reached out to push one of the curls aside that had gotten stuck on the strap of her tanktop, and the feel of his light, seemingly casual touch felt like fire – a fire that she refused to acknowledge.
Next came the water and she gulped in relief. The air here was different... and she had to push down a laugh at that thought. Of course it was different – a hundred light years away from normal, it wouldn't be anything but.
"So... some of that anger burned itself out yet? I do the same... when things start to overwhelm me, I run. It's like the miles purge the bad out of you, the pounding of your feet form some random rythym in your head and everything you do becomes revolved around that rythym."
She looked at him in surprise, but chose not to answer. Those were her reasons for running also and she hadn't heard it voiced quite like that by another person. It sounded... right, when he said it.
He reached down at his feet where she noticed for the first time, there sat a duffle type bag. His voice was gruff now as he handed it to you.
"A change of clothes in there... and something else I thought you'd appreciate."
Surprised and more than a little curious, she opened the bag and joy reached up immediately and washed over her face. She reached down first and ran a hand over her beloved cameras, then that same hand reached out and touched his arm, lightly.
"Thank you. They are an extension of me... without them? It's like my arm has been cut off. So, still 'no photo' policy... or can I sneak in... just a few?"
He watched with curiousity as the passion sparked in her eyes, and he wondered what it would feel like to be on the receiving end of that passion. And decided he kind of wanted to find out.
"Click away sweetheart. If and when you go back to earth, they'll be confiscated – the photos, not the cameras... but why deprive you for now. Sam has allocated some quarters for you while you are here, and as I said, there's a change of clothes and some toiletries in there, and I've got Teyla rounding up a few more personal bits and pieces to make your stay as comfortable as possible. I'll introduce you to my team – Ronon you've met. Dinner... would be a good time to get to know everyone."
"Oh, I want to go and photograph so badly... but I think a shower is probably the first and foremost, so if you could show me where I'm staying?"
She slung the duffle over her shoulder and waited for him to move ahead so she could follow. He turned back briefly.
"I can vouch for sunset around here... photo wise. More than just a little stunning. Sun sets a little later here, so maybe after dinner I'll show you a great place to take your shots."
Before he turned back she quirked her eyebrows at him. "Still flirting with me Colonel Sheppard?"
"Trying... is it working?"
"Not yet... but keep trying. Some things need a little more work than others..."
"Yeah... the good things..."
She smiled and followed him out of the gym.