by ALC Punk! and Ryuu
Chapter Twelve: All's Well That Ends Well
"One more day," Teryl said with a relieved sigh, sitting down across from Sam in the mess.
Sam looked up from the notes she was jotting down about the hand device. "Huh?"
The other woman laughed. "One more day, Sam. We get to go back to Earth tomorrow for glorious shore leave, remember?"
"Oh yeah." Sam grinned. "It'll be nice. Daniel's already planning to spend the first day camping out at his favorite coffee shop." She put her notes aside. "Got anyone waiting for you back home?"
Teryl shook her head. "Just family. My little sister's expecting her first baby in three months. I planned to drop in." She took a sip of her coffee and shuddered faintly. "How about you?"
"Sort of..." Sam replied, flushing. "It's a little complicated right now."
"Aren't they always?" Teryl replied, laughing.
"Some more so than others," Sam muttered under her breath.
"Really?" Raising her eyebrows, Teryl lounged back in her chair. "Do tell."
Sam considered for a moment. She and the other team leader had grown to like and respect one another over the last three weeks. But she still didn't feel comfortable discussing her sex life. "Maybe later." She set her hand device down and leaned forwards, "But let me ask you something... Do you ever stop feeling lonely, when you sleep alone?"
Looking away, Teryl's smile slid away. "No. But if there's someone to go home to..."
"Yeah." Sam toyed with the stylus. "That's what I thought."
"But, be glad, you're going to see him tomorrow."
"Oh, I definitely am." A smirk flitted across her lips.
Teryl smiled and held up her mug. "To family, ifriends/i..." her eyes twinkled, "and glorious, glorious shore leave."
Sam returned the toast. "Hear, hear."
"So, had any fun on your off-world missions?"
"Not really, no." Unlike the one before their reassignment, the two missions SG-1 had been scheduled for had been quiet and routine. It had been a nice break. Even if strangely odd to come home not to the SGC but to the Alpha Site. "You?"
"We had one bad moment on our second mission." She shook her head. "Some natives took exception to me being in charge."
"Ah." Making a face, Sam nodded. "Been there."
"Luckily, my team is good. We made it back without too much trouble. And I even brought the naquadah with us."
"Good job, Colonel."
"Why thanks, Colonel."
The two women shared a smile.
"Am I interrupting?"
Sam turned to smile at Daniel. "Not at all. Have a seat."
"Dr. Jackson." Teryl saluted him with her mug.
"Colonel Riker," Daniel replied pleasantly.
She chuckled. "If Sam's allowed to call me Teryl, you certainly are."
He slid into the seat next to Sam. "Then I'm Daniel." He looked askance at his own coffee and pushed the mug aside. "So, tomorrow!"
"Yep." Teryl raised an eyebrow. "So... join in the girl talk, Daniel. You got anyone at home?"
He flushed. "Well, I was thinking of, erm, seeing if Sarah wanted to go out to dinner or something."
Sam chuckled. "How sweet!"
Daniel made a face. "And what about you, Colonel Carter?"
"Well, I was going to see if Cassie wanted to do something-she said she'd have the weekend off."
"And that's all?"
"Yes."
"Uh-huh." Smirking, Daniel waved a hand, "So, you won't be going on a date with a not-retired man who we won't name."
"Daniel."
"Sam."
Teryl chuckled, "You two remind me of my niece and nephew." She tilted her head to one side. "So, who besides me is going to buy a bunch of things we can't eat here?"
"Coffee." Daniel shuddered, "Lots and lots of it."
"I'll take that as a yes." Teryl shook her head, "I should have known better than to ask the renowned Dr. I Mainline Coffee Jackson if he was -"
She was interrupted by the sirens going off and the announcement over the intercom, "Unscheduled off world activation!"
Daniel and Sam were up and out of their chairs, heading for the door before Teryl realized it. She followed on their heels, surprised to find herself interested. She hadn't been one to crowd into the control room, before. But SG-1 seemed to do it naturally.
The three hovered near the back of the control room as Colonel Pierce directed operations. "Who is it?"
The Lieutenant looked up, "It's SG-15, sir. Coming in hot."
"Right. Let them through."
The recently-minted iris slid open smoothly. It had been one of the modifications the General had suggested for the Alpha Site along with the teams. SG-15 came running through, weapons fire following them. One stray shot smashed into the wall nearby, and Teryl winced. Someone wasn't going to be happy about that.
Then the iris slid closed, and a moment later the wormhole disengaged.
Colonel Lambert gasped for breath and gave his team a quick glance, clearly ticking everyone off a mental checklist, then managed to straighten up and salute Colonel Pierce.
"Sir. We ran into a bit of an ambush on the way back, but SG-15 is all accounted for."
"Goa'uld?" Pierce asked.
"Yes, sir," Lambert nodded. "Permission to get my team checked out for injuries?"
"Of course. Dismissed, SG-15."
The weary team tossed off a series of salutes as they filed off in the direction of the infirmary. Teryl shook her head, clearly reminiscing about a few too many similar entrances for herself and SG-17.
"You think it's bad to be the team coming in, but it's not much easier to just watch, is it?" Sam remarked softly.
"No." Teryl glanced up at her. "But it's worse when you know it's iyour/i team in danger, really."
Daniel sighed. "It's never easy to see your own in danger."
"No." Sam looked away, "I suppose it isn't."
"Sam."
"It's all right, Daniel." She tried to smile.
Teryl looked between the two of them, "I'm sure I'm missing something here."
"It's nothing," Daniel explained, then continued, "So, how's the packing going for your trip home?"
"Real smooth, Daniel."
"I try."
Teryl chuckled, "It's going well, Daniel."
"Good, good." He shoved his hands into his pockets, "I think I'm going to go find Jonas."
"0745 tomorrow, Daniel!" Sam said with a smile.
"Can't wait," he replied with obvious delight. He gave her and Teryl an ironic salute and walked off.
Teryl glanced at her watch, then looked speculatively at Sam.
"What?"
"I have some free time and some energy to burn. You want to spar for a bit?"
Sam grinned. "You think you can take me?" she challenged, half-jokingly.
"Maybe." Grinning herself, Teryl gestured, "Want to find out, Colonel?"
"I could use the workout."
They continued on to the gym, exchanging friendly barbs about their prowess until they were standing on the mats, bodies limbered by a quick stretching session. Slowly, they circled, each watching the other for a moment. Then Sam lashed out, feinting carefully. Teryl blocked, then returned a jab.
Another exchange of blows and then they began in earnest. Every punch was countered, every kick blocked until Sam pulled a move Teal'c had taught her, sliding inside the other woman's defence and smashing her palm underneath her jaw.
She danced back as Teryl went down and rolled back to her feet quickly.
"Not bad."
"Thanks."
Sam didn't wait for her to attack again, she dove back in. This time there were missed blocks on both sides. Sam took a fist to the jaw, spun around and clocked Teryl with her elbow. As she hit the mat, Teryl foot-swept her, and they wrestled on the ground for a moment before Sam had the other woman pinned down.
"Give."
Releasing her, Sam rolled off and got to her feet again. She held out a hand to Teryl, the Colonel took it, and she hoisted her up onto her feet.
"You're holding back, Riker."
"In your dreams, Carter."
Sam crooked her fingers at the other woman. "Let's do it."
The free-for-all changed, becoming more violent as the two women sparred as if in actual battle. Ferocity fueled their blows and blocks, kicks that could knock off heads (at the right angle) slammed into flesh, the sound echoing in the gym. By the time a minute was up, they were both panting. Two minutes, and Teryl succeeded in knocking Sam to the ground, followed her down, and pinned her.
"Give."
They broke apart and got back to their feet. Sam moved first, shoulder smashing into the other woman, and they tumbled to the mats again. It took less than ten seconds for her to pin Colonel Riker, and she held on, ignoring the sweat crawling down her face.
"Give."
Sam flopped backwards onto the mat, panting.
Teryl managed to push herself into a half-sitting position and shot Sam a tired grin. "You are good. Teal'c teach you all that?"
"Teal'c, J-General O'Neill, Bra'tac..." Sam caught her breath and sat up, "several super-soldiers, a few jaffa ambushes..."
Teryl snorted. "No one could ever say we live boring lives, huh?"
"Not by a long shot." Sam rolled her eyes.
The other Colonel chuckled. "Think Teal'c would be willing to teach me a few moves? They could come in handy next time we manage to piss off a System Lord."
"Sure. Knowing him, he'll decide to take the opportunity and punch some new moves into my body." Sam winced, "I'll talk to him, see if we can set up a training schedule for when we come back here."
"Thanks." This time, Teryl stood first, and held out a hand. "I may even get the rest of my team interested in the idea."
Sam let out a tired chuckle, "Teal'c's Jaffa Self Defense Courses. He could make a mint."
"Hey, he could bankroll the SGC for a year."
They both chuckled as they left to hit the showers.
"...and aside from a few minor injuries, mostly from SG-15's adventure yesterday, I would say that the first three weeks of this project have been a success, sir," Colonel Carter said, looking briefly at Colonels Lambert and Riker who nodded agreement.
"SG-15 is more than ready to go back into the field as soon as Major Golden's wrist heals, sir," Lambert added. He smiled. "No clue how she handled dialing the DHD with a fractured wrist, but it saved our hides on that mission."
Colonel Riker grinned. "SG-17 was more than happy to get some shore leave, sir, but a week's R&R will have them ready to go again."
"And you're all settling in at the Alpha Site?" Jack asked.
The three colonels nodded.
"There are a few kinks to work out," Teryl said, "but I think we'll be able to accommodate another three teams there easily."
"Good, good." The General made a notation on his legal pad, then looked at them, "Anything else to add?"
A chorus of no's.
"Dismissed, then. Walter?"
The aide-de-cranky-General bustled up. "Your call to the Pentagon can go through at any time, sir, and those recquisitions for the mess hall only need a signature, Sergeant Lewis looked them over himself."
"Less paperwork." He sighed.
"Sir?"
Jack blinked. One of his Colonels had stayed. "Carter."
A slight smile tugged at her lips. "Have you eaten lunch?"
"Carter, I'm not even sure I had breakfast."
"Uh, you did, sir." Walter glanced between them, "But it was a long time ago."
"SG-1 will be meeting for lunch in about half an hour, if you'd like to join us." She smiled at Walter, "You're welcome, too, Sergeant."
"Thank you, sir."
"Walter, can you go get me those forms? I'll finish them up before lunch."
"Yes, sir!" Walter saluted cheerfully and bustled off.
Sam smiled over at Jack. "So, I'll be seeing you in half an hour?" She took a quick glance at the closed door, then leaned in to kiss him.
He sighed and reached up to take hold of her hand. "God, I've missed you, Carter."
She smirked. "My place or yours?"
Jack smirked back, standing and putting his arms around her. "Well, your place is closer, but I think I have the bigger bed." He leaned in and returned the kiss.
"Decisions, decisions," she said, grinning. She kissed him again and pulled back, fishing in her pocket and pulling out his yo-yo. "I kept meaning to thank you for this."
He took it, "Really?"
"Yeah." She glanced towards the door, leaned in and kissed him very quickly, then stepped back. "Kept me from being bored while on watch."
Jack snorted, "And your fabulous brain didn't?"
"There's only so many things I can think of." A smirk crossed her lips, and she opened the door. "I'll see you at lunch, sir."
"Carter."
She glanced back in. "Sir?"
"I'm glad you're back."
"Me, too."
A shaft of sunlight made its way through the window, managing to somehow beam right into Jack's eyes. He groaned softly and put his hand over his eyes, then began the mental self-assessment that most people do on first waking up.
Arms? Check. Two of those.
Legs? Yep. Also got a pair, complete with bum knees.
The usual aches and twinges brought on by a life that was generally too exciting? Jack groaned again. Oh yeah. Big check on that one.
A warm and naked Samantha Carter sleeping snuggled against his back? Jack blinked. Okay, that was a new one.
He suddenly woke up more and turned, cuddling her against him. She protested sleepily at the abrupt movement.
"Jack..."
"You're here," he said, staring for a moment before bending to kiss her forehead.
"Course I'm here," she grumbled drowsily. "You told me to stay."
"I did?" He did?
"Yes." Her hand smacked at his arm. "Go back to sleep."
"Er, Carter..."
"Jack." Her tone was suddenly very clear. And very irritated. "It's not even eight. If you get out of this bed, I'm going home and you won't see me until the next time we're back from the Alpha Site."
Damn. Decisions, decisions. He kissed her cheek. "I have to pee."
"But you'll be back?"
She still hadn't opened her eyes. "Definitely."
"That's allowed then."
Jack was washing his hands before it occured to him that Samantha Carter was sleeping in his bed. Okay, so it had been made evident. But this, this meant... things like stability. Committment. I'll be there for you, as that song Cassie liked to sing said. He shivered, wondering if it was suddenly cold, or if that was terror creeping along his nerves.
"Hey." She was now standing in the doorway of his bathroom, staring at him.
"Hey."
Sam stepped in and stretched up to kiss him, turning him so he was suddenly outside the door. "Now I need it." The door closed, then opened again a moment later, and Jack accepted the toothbrush and paste she handed him. "Use these."
Jack looked at them, then at the closed door. He kicked at it. "Carter?"
"What?" she called through the door.
"This whole sleeping over thing... it's going to be a regular occurrence, right?"
Water ran, and he thought he heard the toilet flush.
"Carter?"
The door was yanked open, and she eyed him, her toothbrush in one hand. "What?"
"You'll be here tomorrow."
She blinked. "Was planning on it, yeah."
"And the next day?"
She was starting to give him that 'I love you but I'm worried that you've lost your mind' look. "Yes?"
Jack caught his breath. "And the day after that?"
"And every day until I go back the Alpha Site, Jack," she answered, smiling.
He couldn't stop the enormous grin that broke out over his face. "Cool."
"Jack?"
"Hrm?"
"Brush your teeth."
"That can wait," he informed her, hands settling on her waist.
"It can?"
"Yup." And then he kissed her.
Hrm. Maybe he should brush his teeth.
"Carter?"
"Jack?"
His hands slid along her sides, exploring gently. "After I brush my teeth..."
"Yeah?"
"Can we go back to bed and not get out of it again for the rest of the week?"
She chuckled, kissing his cheek. "You can pretty much count on it."
f-
Well. If you got this far, congratulations!
We hoped you enjoyed the show.
Final Notes Lys: This was begun one night with a throw-away joke I made about Daniel teasing Sam about the Prometheus experience in Grace. Surprisingly, it snow-balled. About midway through what is now chapter two, I realized we had something, didn't know what, thought. Imagine my surprise when towards the end I took a wordcount and we were over 30,000... Quite a few of the things in here are stuff we've bitched about to each other regarding the current season and characterization. And, well, we think Sam is damn cool.
Ryuu: This is what you get when two scary Sam-fangirls write fic together. We hope we've done her proud and we hope we've done our duty by the rest of SG-1 as well.