The Virus

Chapter 10

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She woke to the creaking of the bed across from her. She was surprised to find Colonel O'Neill's eyes on her face. She gave him a smile but he didn't return it, just continued staring. Uncomfortable she shifted beneath the blankets and brought her hands up to tuck under her pillow. Why was he staring like that?

"Are you okay Sir?" She whispered. She wasn't sure if Daniel was still asleep in the cot on the other side of her CO.

"No." He grunted out and turned onto his back with his hands behind his head. "Daniel's already up." For the millionth time in her life she wondered if he could read her mind.

"What's wrong Sir?" She asked. He made a noise in his throat but didn't answer. She would have loved to stay lying in the cot for longer but now that he wasn't speaking to her she felt incredibly uncomfortable. She dragged herself into a sitting position and stretched her arms above her head before sliding her legs over the side. It was then she chanced another look at her grumpy CO and found his eyes watching her every move. She looked down at the tank top and shorts she had slept in and back up at him.

"I actually think you might kill me one day." He sat up and swung his own legs over the side of his cot before stomping out of the tent in a huff. She wasn't quite sure what had just happened so she just stared out the tent after him in shock.

"Do you want a coffee?" Daniel poked his head in and she gazed at him for a moment not comprehending his words. "Sam?" He stepped in. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine," she shook her head to clear it. "Coffee would be great, thanks." Daniel hovered near her obviously knowing something was wrong but unsure whether he should pry. "I'm fine." She told him again, this time with a smile. "Someone just woke up on the wrong side of the bed." She gestured to Colonel O'Neill's bed.

"Ah yes, I saw that look on his face. What'd you do?" He chuckled.

"Nothing." She sighed. "I'll get dressed, you go make me that coffee okay?" Daniel gave her one last concerned look and then headed out.

She dressed quickly and shoved all her gear into her pack and made the cot bed so that her area was tidy. Before heading out for coffee she made the boys beds too and it wasn't until she finished tucking in Daniel's covers that she realized what she was doing. She wasn't just tidying up, she was avoiding. She didn't want to go out in case she had to face Colonel O'Neill, which was stupid really. She hadn't done anything to make him angry so she had no reason to hide away from him. She felt her own temper flare slightly at the thought and decided she deserved to have coffee and a big breakfast since she had skipped dinner the night before, he could go and sulk somewhere else if he was still grumpy when she reached the 'mess tent'.

The moment she entered the tent the Colonel left. Daniel shrugged and pointed to the fold-out table and chairs. There was a steaming bowl of porridge and a coffee mug. She sat down gratefully.

"You were certainly right about Jack." Daniel told her and sat across from her with his own coffee mug.

"Mm hmm," she responded between mouthfuls.

"Maybe he's in pain from yesterday's climb." Daniel mused aloud. She kicked herself for not thinking of it sooner. That was definitely a possibility. Although that had nothing to do with her… it might explain his grumpy mood in general. As she drained the last of her coffee Colonel O'Neill re-appeared in the tent entrance. She looked over cautiously.

"Uh… Carter… A word?" She put her mug down and stood up. Maybe she would finally find out what the hell she had done wrong.

"What's up Sir?" She fell into step beside him.

"Let's take a walk." He sounded less grumpy and she felt herself relax slightly beside him.

"Yes Sir."

"Ugh, can you… drop the Sir for five minutes. This is kind of personal."

"Oh… sorry S-" she bit her tongue before the sir slipped out. They walked in silence a fair way from the camp and once they were out of sight he finally spoke.

"I need to…" He stopped walking and ran a hand over his face. "I can't…" He stomped his foot in frustration. "For crying out loud." Before she could speak or even move he had tugged her over to him. She stiffened in surprise her eyes widening in shock. He shifted her closer still and it was then she finally realized what was happening. He was going to kiss her. He was going to fucking KISS her. She immediately wound her arms up and around his neck because he looked so damn unsure of himself when she had stiffened in his arms. The moment he felt her hands at his neck she felt him also relax against her. He lowered his face and then when his lips were tantalizingly close he pulled away slightly. "Is… are you okay?" His eyes held hers and she felt a bubble of laughter rise to her throat and before she could stop it she was laughing. She started laughing so hard tears sprung to her eyes and she had to hold him just to stay upright. "Not… quite what I expected…" He muttered but he was smiling.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…" She gasped out and managed to squash down the remaining laughter until her teary eyes were steady on his. "Seven fucking years and you ask me if I'm okay?" She had her hands fisted in his shirt and before he could speak she reached up on tip toes and pressed her lips gently against his and then stepped back. "Never, ever ask me if it's okay to kiss me again!" She grinned.

"Carter… Sam…" He still seemed unable to speak so he stepped forward and his hands cupped her face. He bent and really kissed her. It was a fierce kiss, teeth clashed and tongues duelled. She felt herself being backed into the nearest tree and his body pressed hard against hers. She had the fleeting thought that she might still be dreaming but then they broke apart, panting and out of breath and she realized this was real.

"We are in so much trouble." She reached her arms back up and around his neck and pushed herself off the tree. She didn't care though. Right now she didn't care about the trouble they could get into. Hell the world had pretty much ended – that was a good enough excuse in her books.

"Yes, yes we are." He gazed down at her and she felt a blush rise to her cheeks. She couldn't believe she had finally kissed him. She desperately wanted more but knew that things were going to be complicated enough if anyone found out they had even kissed. "I think… it's time I spoke to General Hammond." He bent down and placed a tiny kiss on her nose before resting his forehead against hers. "We have waited too long already." Anxiety filled her at the thought of telling General Hammond. Sure things may be different at the moment… they couldn't exactly be court-marshalled right now but… He shushed her and chuckled. "Stop overloading your brain Carter." He pulled away but she refused to take her arms from around his neck and instead rested her cheek against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her holding her close.

"I don't want to lose you." She whispered.

"I'll just carry on as a civilian." He told her seriously. "Things are different now."

"Things are more confusing now than when we were on Earth! At least there was clear cut rules… which told us no."

"Let's cross the bridge when we get to it okay? I'm talking to Hammond whether you like it or not. I'm done. I'm well over and done with this crap. I'm not going to go through the pain of trying to keep my hands off you!" She tilted her head up to look at him and found they wore matching grins. Maybe, just maybe things would be okay.

TBC.