Revisiting Hell
Katmellie

Category: Future Story
Season: any Season

Revisiting Hell

Things were defiantly different in his life, the once very active life traded in for a cosy little spot in Minnesota. The reasons behind his retirement were nothing special, apart from Hammond finally decided it was his time to cash in his chips and...he didn't get along with Hammond's replacement. From the moment they were introduced, they were nearly at each other throats, arguing over the littlest things like splitting up teams. What was so wrong with just leaving them how they were? Everyone was used to each member of their team and then that stupid General walks through the door, and decides none of them were working well together. They'd saved the planet on numerous occasions, if he remembered right and everyone got along. Being part of a team for seven years, there had to be some friendship involved or they would have split up earlier. He didn't get much of a send off because...well he didn't tell anyone, just left a note on his desk and his resignation on General Up-His-Ass desk. No one had tried to fine him and he really didn't want them too either, from his current knowledge they were all still working there, but he couldn't blame them for that. Daniel and Jonas were so in love with the place, they probably didn't remember what the outside world looked like, other than their mission's off-world. But that didn't compared to being on the surface, getting away from their hell to the fantasyland above, where they weren't being threatened on a daily basis's, being told they were going to be wiped out. Teal'c couldn't really leave the SGC, his fight was still to free his people and if he was to leave, it would be to his son and Bra'tact. And Carter...well, she loved her work too much and she was in her dream job, which was something he would never want her to give up on. Some would say he was hiding out from the world, making his own fantasyland, pretending there was only himself, his cabin and a lake, and the evitable question as to whether to get a dog or not. They didn't need him and he didn't need them, although there were the odd days when he wished they were all together again. Sometimes he would get a letter from Cassie, telling him about everything that was going on, begging him to go visit her and everyone because they all missed him. Looking at her letters sometimes, he felt that he should go, drop by out of pure chance of them being out and then he could say he tried. It just wouldn't be right to go see them, not after the way he had left them without saying a proper goodbye. He still had his house there in Colorado Springs, everything probably covered in dust or some burglar had stolen it all. Nothing there, matter to him anymore, nothing would get him to go back there, even though Thor had accidentally beamed him up once and dropped him off back at his house. They'd probably try and kill him if he went back anyway, angry with him because he left and because he hadn't kept in contact. What was the point anyway? They would be off-world most of the time and he would be busy being...bored out of his mind. Often he found himself looking to the sky or to the stars, wondering if they were out there on one of those stars, getting their butts kicked around by some system lord. But then he would remind himself that it would be the other way round, Carter wouldn't take any shit from them like she hadn't taken any shit from him. She could be a real fighter sometimes, always able to come out of situation with a smile or at least in one piece. Maybe if he had stuck around, things might have turned out different but she wouldn't have had time for him, she didn't even have time for herself some days. Even if she managed to tear herself away from her lab, to go on a date or something, the SGC would follow them wherever they went. Always worrying that the next phone call, was going to be from the SGC, calling her back to save the world without...him. Resting his rod against his tackle box, he got up and went into his cabin, retrieving himself a beer from the fridge. Opening the bottle over the kitchen counter, he looked over the mail he'd brought in earlier, after his ten-mile run, just to dump it on the kitchen counter. Mostly it was bills but the pink envelope that contrasted with the other letters, was no doubt Cassie's monthly report, on everything that he was missing out on. Reporting in on whichever boy it was she was seeing now, telling him on Daniel's latest injury and other things that she could thing of. Sometimes they turned out to be over ten pages long, if he tired reading all the volumes of the 'Reader's Digest', he'd probably do it quicker than reading one of her letters. Not that he didn't enjoy reading them, there was just too much detail on one thing, just like some of the reports he used to get off Carter or Daniel. Picking the letter up, he made his way back out onto the dock, opening her letter while juggling with his bottle of beer. This month's letter didn't feel so thick; no doubt she was probably getting stuck for things to write to him about. Settling into his chair, he placed his beer on top of his tackle box, pulling out the letter from its girlie envelope.

        Hey Jack,
                Hope ya okay and everything, things round here have been a little hectic lately. General Up-His-Ass has had mom working double shifts again, and for no reason at all. Sam and the others have been at the base none stop, even Sam's complaining about spending too much time in her lab. Daniel got some time away the other day, but that was because he's broken his leg and isn't much used at the base.
        I wished you were here Jack; things aren't fun anymore since you left, and none of them are anymore. That General works them all to the bone, never giving them a break to breath or anything. Sam's thinking about taking some time off, going some where aboard like Australia or something. She said I could go with her, if I wanted to go and if Mom said yes, but I'm sure she will. 
        Mom said the other day, that at one time she used to enjoy going into work but now all she wants to do, is get away from the place. She said the one thing she looked forward to, be your monthly physical, and actually I think it's your whining she misses. The only thing keeping that place running, according to mom, is that some day, the old goat will retire or they defeat you know who. 
        Things didn't work out between Mike and me, but that's all behind me now. I've been seeing Pete for the past week and I really like him, he reminds me of you in some ways. He has your sense of humour; Sam even said so when she met him at the weekend.
        Jack, please come back. They need you more than you think, General Up-His-Ass isn't gonna last long as long as your around. Things would be a lot easier if you were there. Surely there's some way you could get rid of him, and I don't mean what ya thinking. You can't shoot all your problems away, and you shouldn't have a gun either.
        Please Jack, just come for a few days that's all I'm asking. It's been years since I've seen you, and...they're all still pissed with you as well, you should really come and sort it out. I'm not even allowed to mention your name to them; depending on what type of mood they're all in.

                Anyway, not much more I can tell ya, so I'll leave it as that.   
                Love Cassie

Folding the letter back up, he looked over the pond, watching the sun shimmer over the water. It was one of those days when he really wanted to see them, still not able to adjust to life by himself again after being away from them for five years. His hair was greyer than ever, probably the same colour as Santa's beard if it wasn't for the odd pecks of black, to contrast it against. God knows what they were like if he had changed so much, even the thought of Carter actually thinking about going on holiday, was a little far fetched for the Carter he knew. Shaking his head as he pushed himself out of his seat, stuffing the letter into his pocket and picking up his beer. Maybe it was time for him to go see them, he didn't want to live with the fact, the people who he thought of as family, would have a grudge against him for not saying goodbye. And with all this mess at the base, someone should have sorted it out. People were supposed to have a happy work environment, if they wanted to get hundred percent out of people. But he would have to see for himself; sometimes Cassie could go a bit over the top when she was telling him things. If he believed nearly everything she was writing, he would have been having kittens with most of the things she wrote about her two-minute boyfriends. So maybe he ought to go sort his house out, it wouldn't hurt anyone if he were to drop by say...tomorrow. Cassie would surely be home it being a Saturday today, she was always in until about seven o'clock and then she was over at some party, some kid from school was having. It was regular as clockwork with her, knowing when she would be home, what time she got up in the morning and when not to disturb her. Sighing he went into the house, picking his phone up out of its cradle, swapping his beer for his tin of phone numbers. He sat down at the table, tipping the scrap pieces of paper out onto the table, searching through them for Fraiser residence number. Finding what he needed, he dialled the number in carefully, not willing to have to explain to someone he got the wrong number. It rung about three times until someone answer the phone. "Hello, Janet Fraiser" He swallowed hard when he heard her voice, that woman could still make him quiver, just the thought of her holding a needle made him have nightmares. "Erm...Is Cassie there, please?" There was some shouting in the background; probably the good doctor calling up to Cassie to tell her, some lad was on the phone for her. Luckily she hadn't recognised his voice, or if she did, she wasn't going to ask him about it, thinking that he just sounding a lot like him.

"Cassie Fraiser"

"Hey, Cassie. It's Jack" He had to hold the phone away from his ear, the shrieking of his name back down the phone, was probably enough for even some System Lord to have heard, somewhere out there in the universe.

"Cassie, calm down. I don't want to have to talk to Janet, so keep your voice down okay?" "Sorry, Jack. But I haven't heard from you, apart from your letters. Did you get my letter?" "Yeah, got it this morning. Look, I'm gonna be coming down for a few days. But I don't want you to say anything to the others, okay? Might be easier if I just turn up out the blue" "You're just saying that, so they don't have time to come up with a battle plan. Oh, Jack. It's gonna be brill to see you. When you coming down?" "Hopefully tomorrow"
"Great" There was some shouting in the background. "I gotta go, Jack. Were meeting Sam at the Mall. I'll see ya tomorrow some time" "Yeah sure. Have a good time. And don't be telling on me" "I won't. Bye Jack"
"Bye Cassie"

Hanging up the phone, he dropped it down onto the table, running his fingers through his hair. If he could he would ring back up and cancel, not really believing that he had just agreed to go down there for a few days. Signing his life away was not on his top things of agenda for today, today was supposed to be...Saturday, another day full of excitement and joy that was so irresistible, they should make it a national holiday. A day in the life of Jack O'Neill...boring. Hell was one of places he had not be wanting to revisit until the day he died, and he was sent there for all the lives he took and lies he had told to his loved ones. But that was only for there own safety and for his as well.

Pulling up outside his house had an eerie feel to it; the place didn't look any different than from the last time he had seen it. The garden was a little over grown, but nothing a few hours of sorting and tidying up wouldn't cure. If he didn't know any better, he would say he'd just came home from a day at the base or something like that. He noticed the odd neighbour or two, staring at him from across the street and peeking through their net curtains, trying to see who had turned up at his house after so long. The only thing that matter was he was home, in a way. Slipping the front door key into the lock, he unlocked the door and let the door swing open, watching the light flood into the hallway. As an after thought, he quickly typed in the security code before the alarm went off, didn't want to bring any more attention to himself today. The house smelt musty, stuffy with it not being lived in for so long. He opened a few windows, letting the house air itself out while he went to check the rest of the house. It amazed him that he wasn't walking in a foot of dust, or he wasn't walking into comb webs like in all those horror movies. Opening the door to his study, he found there to be some files, lying opened over his desk, one of those things he forgot in his hast to get away from General Up-His-Ass. That would be something else he'd have to add to his list to do, drop the files back off at the base, hopefully he wouldn't have to pay a fine for out standing files. He was sure he could sweet talk his way back onto the base, there were still some of his things that he had forgotten, hopefully being stored away somewhere. Sighing he looked at his watch, judging that he might as well get it over and done with, see the looks of disappointment on their faces. He just hoped Cassie hadn't told any of them, or invited them all over, so they would all be there when he came over. Sorting his house out could wait till tomorrow; it wasn't as if he had to rush off somewhere.

Pulling up outside the Fraiser residence, his attention was drawn to the motorbike that sat in the driveway, next to the family van that belonged to the Doc. The day he chose to visit and she was there, he was going to kill Cassie if he found out, she'd told her he was coming. Taking a deep breath, he pulled the keys out of the ignition, opening his door to get out. Shutting the door to his truck, he slipped his sunglasses on into place, wiping his hand down his freshly grown goatee. Something about having facial hair made him feel wiser somehow. Shaking the thought out of his head, he crossed over the road, shoving his hands into his jeans, letting his shirt flap open into the breeze. He'd never felt so scared in his life, not even being face to face with death had made him this scared. Well, except for the time when Carter had got stuck behind that force field thingy. With each step he took, his paced slow to an almost snail pace, pulling himself up the rail to get up onto the porch. Clearly he could hear voices and music on inside, clear signs that they were home and there wasn't any going back anymore. At first he hesitated when he raised his fist to knock on the door, but quickly he knocked it before he made a getaway for his truck. Walking a bit away from the door, he took the time to collect himself together, preparing himself for the chance that she may answer the door. Maybe if he jumped over the railing, he could hide in the brushes and then run away. Cursing himself he turned round as they opened the door, they were laughing at whatever had been said. Thanking his lucky stars, Cassie turned to look at him, immediately running to him to embrace him. Now if he'd known he get this sort of welcome, he would have come a lot more sooner. He couldn't help but smiled, picking her up slightly off the ground as he gave her an affectionate squeeze before putting her back down. "Jack! I'm so glad you're here! WOW! You look great with that goatee, how long you had it?" She was smiling that amazing smile, the one that almost had the same affect that Carter's did. "Whoa...slow down there kiddo. God, you've grown so much since the last time I saw you. Your almost eye level with me" Pulling her into one more hug, he sighed wondering if it was going to be this easy with the rest of them. There was so much he had missed, to think the last time he saw her, she was just about up to his shoulder. Before he knew it she was dragging him into the house, shutting his only way of escape behind them. "MOM! SAM! COME HERE! YOUR NOT GOING TO BELIEVE WHO IT IS" Looking round, he tried to see if he could still escaped, break out of her hold and run home. Round the corner into the small hallway that led into the kitchen, he gave up on his hope of escape and willing let her pull him. Taking off his sunglasses, he looked to the two women who were climbing all over the window seat, trying to reach the top of the curtains from the look of it. They turned round at about the same time, their smiles quickly disappearing when they saw him. "Hey, Carter. Doc" They just stared at him, both of them almost falling off the window seat together, clinging to one another like they'd seen a ghost or something. Well he had been trained to turn himself into a ghost, almost appearing as if he had disappeared off the face of the earth. Managing to just get round the dining table, Janet slipped for a moment, grabbing onto the counter, never breaking eye contact with him. "Erm...Colonel. It's...good to see you" Janet took a quick glance at Carter for minute, checking to see if she was all right. "Err..." He smiled at Janet, avoiding eye contact with Carter, already feeling the death glare being focus on him. "You bastard!" Carter grabbed her jacket off the back of a chair, quickly storming out of the room, towards the front door. Looking down at the floor, he stamped his foot, thinking about taking off after her. Turning to go after her, he took a couple of steps before he found her coming back towards him, her rage evident on her face. For a man who was wasn't scare of much, not even on his wedding day was he this scare, he was so not enjoying the look she used to give Jaffa, being directed at him. "You leave without saying goodbye to any of us! Leaving us to deal with an asshole of a General! You come in here and all you can say is Hi!" Okay, so he'd seen her angry before, he could deal with it even if it did scare the crap out of him. The once loving look in her eyes was replaced by anger and hatred. Taking a step away from her, scare that she would swing for him or poke him in the chest again (it really hurt). He could feel Cassie clinging onto his arm, whether to pull him out of the way when Carter swung for him, or to stop him retaliating, he didn't know. "Carter, I'm sorry. But if I had stayed any longer, I would have been put up on charges for assault. The guy really gets up my nose and..." He was startled when she poked his chest again, pushing him further backwards into the room. Still coming towards him like she was going to kill him or something. Maybe he should have stayed in bed that morning, come when she wasn't pissed at him. 'Yeah, when ya dead and buried' he thought to himself. She poked him again, almost knocking both him and Cassie over into Janet. Frowning at her, he rubbed over his chest where she had poked him. "Get's up your nose?! You should try putting up with his crap on daily basis like me! Do you know what its been like without you? We need you and you've been sat on your butt everyday, fishing in your god damn pond!" She at least had stopped poking and pushing now, resting her hands on her hips. But still glaring at him as if he was no better than the dirt on her boot. This wasn't about him leaving without saying goodbye, this was about the argument they had the week previous to him leaving without saying goodbye. This time he took on the attack, poking her in the shoulder; he pushed her backwards towards a kitchen cupboard. "HEY! I don't just fish...I go running time to time, well every morning for a matter of fact. Although I did spend all yesterday fishing after I got off the phone with Cassie" He closed his eyes as soon as he had said it, even without looking he could tell the teenager was getting the glare from Carter. What it matter to her anyway? If he remembered right, when he left, she was all touchy feely with some science geek she met. Speaking volumes that she had gotten over him and was moving on with her life. Opening his eyes, he looked to Cassie and to Janet, smiling to both of them as he put his sunglasses back on. They didn't need to see them argued, sure it was another reason why he'd left and had no contact with them, except for Cassie, but it wasn't the main reason. "Carter, this is not the time or the place for this. I didn't come here to start World War three with you. I'm here to sort my house out, get my things that I forgot at the base and see my friends. If you can't let the past lied then that's fine with me" He turned towards Janet and Cassie behind him, both of them using him as a barrier between themselves and Carter. "If any of ya wanna see me, I'll be at my house till Thursday. I'll see myself out" Janet smiled at him when he said it, so at least she wasn't trying to kill him or anything. Turning back to Carter, he quickly squeezed pass her, not wanting to set her off again. If things could only be different... Getting into his truck, he shook his head at how things had gone. At least it wasn't anything like the argument they had, when they were in her lab. He'd gone in there on the best intentions, going to tell her he was leaving, only he didn't get a word in edge ways. She wouldn't shut up on how great this...Malcolm...Mallow...something guy was, and how much fun she had when they went out the night before. Things started going bad from there, always arguing or not talking to one another for a week, until he disappeared. It hurt that she carried on like that, knowing the way that he felt about her and still carried as if he was one of her girlfriends or something. Telling him all the details on how the meal was, how good he looked and anything else those girls talk about. Turning the key in the ignition, he pulled his seat belt into place, setting his truck into drive before pulling away from the kerb. So he had been a little jealous, but he hadn't said anything about it. He just wanted her to be happy and if this Colombo guy did it for her, well then he was happy for her. If she wanted some nerdy guy, who probably knew as much as she did about something, then that was fine by him as long as he didn't have to know all the details. But there wasn't much of a problem there, five days and then he would be gone again. Leaving them all to get on with their lives without him, not knowing whether he was alive or not.

He'd woken up as soon as the sun had come through his living room windows, the sunlight playing over the room and over his face. When he'd come home last night, all he could do was lie on the couch, watching some boring film about a man who was widowed and no doubt got the woman at the end. Every film was the same, boy meets girl, boy falls for girl, boy spends his entire lively hood on girl and then boy and girl disappeared into the sunset. It was such a clich it wasn't worth mentioning. Somewhere in his dazed of watching the film, he heard Cassie leave him a message on the answer machine, saying she was sorry about what happen and that she didn't know Carter was coming over or she would have said something. It was his own fault really; he should have known that things wouldn't be that easy. She was mad, he was sick of hearing of whathisface and they were mad at each other. Carter was too much like himself, too bone idle to let something slip and be forgotten, and too intelligent for her own good, something he didn't have. They'd always be regrets where she was concerned, whether he should have done this and said that. The only thing that was good in his life, apart from Charlie and Sara, and he'd let it slip away like everything else. Making himself breakfast, he stretched his neck, pouring the milk into his fruit loops. It must have been about seven in the morning, judging by where the sun was in the sky, pouring light into his house. Shovelling a spoon full of fruit loops into his mouth, he choked at first, quickly spitting them out into the sink. The milk tasted awful like it had gone off or something, but that couldn't be possible as he only brought it a few days ago, bringing it from his cabin fresh as a daisy. Tipping the contents of his bowl into the sink, he picked the milk carton off the side, smelling it he found he'd been prcised in his estimate. The milk was off probably when he left it in his truck the day before in the sunshine. Throwing the carton in the bin as he picked up his keys, he slipped on his running shoes, tying them up before he locked up the house. Jumping down every two steps, he walked down his driveway, stopping at his truck to grab his sunglasses and wallet. Not really looking where he was going, he shoved his wallet into his pocket of his jogging bottoms and then put his sunglasses on, looking up he found the last person he wanted to be there. She looked pleasantly happy, well happier than yesterday. Probably had a very nice time with her 'boyfriend' last night. Shaking his head down at the ground, he walked to the end of his driveway, standing just a few feet away from her, while he stretched up against the wall of his driveway. She moved to stand by the wall, looking off somewhere down the deserted street with her hands in her pockets. Taking as if he should start the conversation, he just looked at her for a moment before turning his back to her, motioning for her to come with him. Looking out the corner of his eye, he could see her there like she had been countless times before, walking by his side as they went into battle or just was a casual walk round the perimeter. "What ya want, Carter? If it's a fight, were not open till noon for the argumentative's of the world" She dropped her head to look at the ground, pulling him, by his arm, to a full stop and turned him to look at her, holding him in placed with her hands on his forearms. She stood there for a moment, staring down at the ground, still holding onto his arm. For the first time, he noticed she was dressed in her BDU's, probably coming to see him straight from the mountain, but shouldn't she be there instead of standing in the street with him. "Sir...I'm sorry about yesterday. I shouldn't have gone off at you like that. It's just everything at the base has been a bit hectic the past week" He placed a hand on her shoulder; she looked up immediately as if she had been scared to death or something. Removing his hand he noticed she relaxed a bit, taking a step back away from him. Was it that bad that he couldn't do a simple friendly gestured, putting his hand on her shoulder? Shoving his hands into his pockets, he returned to walking towards the market with her walking beside him again. If he was right in assuming that she was supposed to be at the base, and she was playing at being AWOL, then she was really going to be in trouble when she got back. "Carter, I'm assuming by the way your dressed, you should be at the base and yet you're here. You know your asking for trouble, don't ya?" He was pulled to a full stop again, pulling him not to friendly to face her again. The look on her face was of worry, something he hadn't seen since...the whole armband situation. "Sir, I don't care about the base at the moment. I want to be back on good terms with you. Work isn't going anywhere, but you are and I don't know when I'll next have the chance to say how sorry I am, for the way I treated you before you left and yesterday" Rubbing the back of his head, he lean back against the fence behind him, trying not to get one of the pointy bits stuck anywhere unpleasant. She licked at her lips nervously, running a hand through her hair, closing her eyes for a moment or two, the worry look on her face being replaced by a neutral face. It didn't matter anyway; he could still tell she was nervous, whatever for he had no idea, through her eyes. "Carter, everything's fine between me and you. It's just...things haven't calmed down from the last time we spoke, before I left I mean" She nodded her at him, shoving her hands into her pockets, rocking back and forth on the ball of her feet. Why did he get the feeling, he looked just like that when he did the same thing? "Carter, we can talk later if ya want. I've got to go for my run and get some supplies, and you've got to get back to the base before he notices your missing" Her shoulders fell visibly as she turned to walk back towards his house, where her car was parked at the end of his driveway. He couldn't help but feel sorry for her, having to go back to the base, the place was once the best place in the world and now it probably hell to work in. He knew from the moment he thought it; he was being a bad influence to even suggest it to her. Getting off the fence, he jogged after her, standing in front of her to block her going any further. "Carter, if you really want to talk to me so badly. Why not just go home, get changed into your civvies and meet me at my place in twenty? Okay with you?" Her face lit up in an instant, smiling at him with the thing he'd missed most while he'd been gone. She nodded her head at him, an almost spring in her step as she headed to her car walking backwards. "I'll see you then, sir" He raised an eyebrow when he saw her turn and run to her car, getting in like her life depended on it. He shook his head to himself, turning to set out what he was supposed to be doing that morning. It was kinda was weird, yesterday she would have more than happily ripped his head off, but today she was back to normal. Well as normal as she ever got with not having a mug of coffee in the morning. He'd never understand her even if he had a lifetime to study her, one minute they wanted to kill whoever created you and then the next they wanted to thank them. Women were one thing Jack O'Neill would never ever, including every man on the planet and in the universe (and every parallel universe), understand how a woman thinks or does what she does.

By the time he gotten back to his house with his shopping, she was already sat on his doorstep, her car park in the driveway. He smiled to her as he passed her up onto the porch, juggling with his shopping bag until she took it off him, and opened the door, granting them access to his house. Taking the bag from her, he led them into the house, closing the door behind her when she came inside. If he remembered right, she hadn't been over to his house that many times, only on the odd occasion when he was sick or he needed a lift into work. But even then she hadn't really been inside, always dropping off his medicine at the doorstep, never coming inside his house. As if she was to take a step inside, the house would swallow her up or something. Shaking the thoughts out of his head, he placed the shopping bag on the kitchen counter, packing things away into their new home in his kitchen. She was stood in the doorway, unsure whether to come in for minute before she took a seat on one of the stools. Flicking on the kettle, he dropped his wallet and sunglasses on the side, kicking off his trainers into the hallway, making a loud thud when they hid the wall and then the floor. Looking down at his top, he smelt it before pulling it off, heading towards his bedroom. "Make yourself at home. I'm just going to have quick shower and I'll be back with ya" He didn't wait for her answer, closing his bedroom door behind him, throwing his t-shirt in the laundry basket, which was soon followed by the rest of his clothes. Jumping into the shower, he turned the water on as far as it would go, shuddering as the cold water hit him before it turned super hot. Leaning up against the wall in front of him with his forearms, he let the water run down his front and his back, washing away the grime he created from his run. Standing up he rubbed his face, rubbing that extra bit over his goatee with his eye closed. Even with the sound of the water, he could hear her walking around the rest of the house, her every foot step, echoing through the house. Sighing he grabbed the shower gel, squeezing some onto his hand before rubbing it all over his body. Turning off the shower, he climbed out grabbing a towel from the rail, drying himself down before wrapping it round his waist, walking out into his bedroom. He stopped when he could hear music playing somewhere off in the house, she certainly was making herself at home, going through his CD collection. Smiling to himself he got himself some clean boxers and a pair of sock out of his chest of draws. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he quickly put his socks on and then his boxers, throwing his towel in the general direction of the laundry bin. Opening his wardrobe he took his bagged black jeans out, slipping them on over his boxers, finding them to be a little loose round the waist since the last time he'd worn them. Raising his eyes brows to himself, he rubbed the back of his neck, looking for his belt around his bedroom before remembering it was lying over the back of the couch. Taking whatever came to hand first; he slipped his shirt on, opening the door of his bedroom, to be assaulted by the smell of coffee and bacon. Greedily he smelt at the air, shuffling his way down the hallway into the living room, almost falling over his feet when he went down the steps into the living room. Looping his belt through the loops on his jeans, he went into the kitchen to find her stood over the stove; flicking the bacon over and pushing something else round the pan. Clearing his throat so she would know he was there, he picked up what he presumed was his coffee; she'd done for him. "How do you like you bacon, sir? Crispy?" He nodded his head to her, moving round to look over her shoulder at the bacon and scramble eggs that lay in the pan. She certainly been busy while he was in the shower, he hadn't on counted on her making breakfast for him. Maybe the evidence in the sink was enough for her to work out, he hadn't had any breakfast that morning. "That'll do, Carter" Taking one of the stools round the centre kitchen top, he leaned back on his stool and grabbed himself a knife and fork, while she lay his plate in front of him and her own in front of herself. Finishing off the remaining pieces of egg, he finally realise he looked like a slob, his shirt wide open and his jeans slipping down from his waist. Standing up, he did his belt up before taking his plate to the sink, putting it on the draining board for later. "So, Carter...how's things been with you? Still seeing what's his face?" Turning round he found her stood behind him, he moved so she put her plate on his, buttoning up the buttons on his shirt, except for the top three. Sitting back down on his stool, he finished off the remains of his coffee, watching her over the rim of his mug, sitting back down on her stool. "Err...things have been alright, except for work of course. And things didn't work out with Eric" Eric? Where the hell had he gotten Malcolm...or Colombo from?" Shaking his head he got up off his stool, noticing that she had made a pot of coffee instead of using his instant stuff. Making himself another mug, he topped up her mug, placing the pot between them. She kept picking at something on the worktop, seeming awfully nervous or on edge about something. Licking his lips, he rested his head on his hand, leaning onto the worktop with his elbow. "I'm sorry to hear that, I thought from what you told me that things were great at the time. Like you two would be marry by the end of the year or something" Folding her arms on the worktop, she rested her chin on top of them, looking at her coffee and then at him. It was almost like she was child, the way she was looking at him, looking awfully cute...he shook his head, sitting up straight. Sipping at his coffee, he wiped at something that was sticking into his hand, to find nothing there on the worktop. Raising his eyebrows, he looked at the bottom of his hand, to find it covered in bits. Wiping his hand on his jeans, he shook his head, noting to himself that spring-cleaning was coming early this year. "Sir, I never meant to hurt you, you know?" He frowned at her, giving her his full attention. "The whole thing with Eric was great until the part when you left, it kinda went all wrong from there. General Kizior was rubbing it in all our faces when you left, especially me and the guys, putting you down in front of anyone who would listen, which isn't many by the way" Leaning forward onto the worktop, he rubbed at his face, scratching at his goatee when his fingers came to rest on it. "Yeah well, that guy will have a fit tomorrow. I've got to take some files I found back to the base and pick up some things. You wouldn't know where my things were put, do ya?" She frowned for a moment before nodding her head, sipping at her coffee. Who would of guess she wanted to kill him yesterday, and now she was as good as an angel? Women, he'd never understand them.

After about lunchtime, they'd finally worked out she had gone AWOL, Daniel had rung and told her to get back to the base as quick as possible. Soon after that she had left, promising that she would bring the rest of them round the next day. Things were a lot more relaxed between them, when they were sorting out his things, which of it he would take back with him to his cabin, what bits she fancy having and stuff that was going in the trash. Most of the things she wanted were his astronomical books, never one for reading something other than science books. They'd spent a lot of time laughing, talking about some of changes General Up-His-Ass had made and telling of some the stuff he'd missed out on, but had been informed by Cassie about it. He hadn't told her that part, he'd relished in hearing her tell him and the look on her face when she was telling him. It was as if he retired, and there hadn't been anyone standing in the way, she had come home from base and was telling him about her exciting day, while they sat having dinner together. Something he had often dreamed about after receiving one of Cassie's letters, dreaming that it was her who had told him about Daniel and Jonas's argument over some artefact or about how Daniel had managed to nearly kill himself with his ink pen. He had no idea what he was going to do for the rest of the day, with Carter's help he had managed to get everything tidily packed away, waiting to be taken to their new locations. All he could do was sit on his couch, looking at the empty shelves around him, thinking how empty the place felt without all his stuff in it. There were some really nice memories he had of the house and everything that went with it. Some drunken nights he and Daniel had shared, introducing Teal'c to earth television and the night he introduced Jonas to his three malt whiskey, he was feeling under the weather that night that was why Jonas had managed to get it out of him. Looking at the clock, he noticed that Cassie would be coming out of school soon, maybe that was something he could do. Save her little legs from walking all the way home today, giving him something to do and give him a chance to actually talk to her. Picking himself up off the couch, he picked up his keys off the side, slipping his feet into his boots, pulling the laces as tight as they would go. Some things never changed, the way he liked to dress, to keep his place as tidy as possible and the way he liked his boots to be tied up. Locking his front door, he jogged down to his truck, quickly he got in it, turning the key in the ignition for the truck to roar into live. Reversing backwards down the driveway, he pulled his seat belt across his chest, securing it into place before racing off towards Cassie's school. It felt weird for him to be driving through the town, seeing some things had changed, the odd shop being replaced or had a changed of name. A lot had certainly happened in Colorado while he was in Minnesota. It was too quiet for him in his truck, the only sound being the engine of his truck and the sound of the tires against the tarmac. Flicking through his CD collection at the side of him, he selected a CD at random, injecting it into the CD player. Just as the CD was starting up, he pulled up outside Cassie school, amazed to have driven there in such short time. He stared at the CD player for a minute, grabbing his phone from his glove compartment. When had he brought a Who CD? Sending a brief message to Cassie, telling her he was waiting outside for her if she wanted a lift home, he watched some kids begin to come out of the school just before the bell rung inside and then there was a swamp of kids, running as fast as they could to get away from the place. Sighing he started tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, watching some kids cross the road in front of his truck. He started to wonder what Charlie would be doing if he were still alive, being a Jock or Geek but which ever it was; he wouldn't care as long as he was happy. Sometimes he would think if Charlie was still alive, would he had gotten involved with the Stargate or carried on in Special Ops until he deicide to retired, if he would have ever met Carter and the rest of them? He bowed his head for a moment, rubbing at the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. The passenger door opened abruptly before Cassie jumped inside, throwing her bag onto the back seat. He looked up at her and smiled, turning the key in the ignition and set off towards her house. Just getting out of there without running anyone over, he looked across at Cassie, watching her sort through his CD collection. "What ya doing?" She looked up for a moment at him, smiling that mischievous grin of hers before climbing into the back for a moment. Rolling his eyes, he put all his concentration back onto the road, pulling up at a stop sign as she climbed back through. Within a second of her climbing through, the music was changed from something he could recognise to the blaring of drums and guitars as the song began. "That's better. Jack, you should really get up to date with music. Whatever you just had on went out years ago" Frowning he drove on, looking at her through the corner of his eye. That girl had no taste in music, The Who were a classic band of their time; she just didn't get it because she was from out there. In no time he pulled up outside her house, turning off his truck as he got out, shoving his keys into his pocket, joining Cassie on the sidewalk. Looking at the driveway, he found both the good doctor's and Carter's car sat in the driveway. Following Cassie up onto the porch, he couldn't take his eyes off her car, why wasn't she back at the base? Had something happen to her? Shaking his head to himself, he closed the door after him, following Cassie into the kitchen to find Janet and Carter sat round the dining table. "Hey mom. Sam. How come your not at the base?" She said pulling opened the fridge, giving him a beer and taking a juice for herself. Both women had their backs to them; not knowing that he was there, only that Cassie was back from school. Twisting the lid off his beer, he dropped the lid on the counter, swigging at it while he moved to stand behind the two women. They were both giggling with one another, keeping their faces out of view. Frowning he moved to take a seat at the head of the table, they finally noticed he was here; both giving him a lazy wave, and he finally noticed why they had been hiding their faces. "God! What happen to you two? You both get into a fight or something?" They both had bruises over their faces, something that looked like dried blood in Carter's hairline and a very painful cut to the Doc's lip. They were both laughing again, leaning up against the other for support. Cassie took the seat opposite him, shrugging her shoulders at him, looking between Doc and Carter. When they seemed to calm down a little, Carter reached out for his hand, placing it in her own, she used it to wipe at the bruise on her face, which started to smudge on her face. "It's quite amazing what you can do with make up these days, ain't it? The General had some top brass come round, looking at the base today, and well...we couldn't let the opportunity pass us by. We wanted to get off base and he wanted us to look presentable, which we don't" They both started laughing again, nudging each other with their elbows. He couldn't help but smile and shake his head, pulling his hand away from Carters face, taking a swig out of his beer. Shaking her head, Cassie finished off her juice, getting up from the table to put it in the bin. Taking some things out of a cupboard, she slung her bag over her shoulder, heading off to somewhere in the house. "Call me for dinner, I'll be doing my homework upstairs. Jack, you staying for dinner?" Looking to Janet for the answer, he sat back into his seat, resting his arms on the table in front of him. She nodded her head, picking up their mugs and plates, taking them to the sink. "Sure, Cassie" He could hear her running up the stairs to her bedroom, shutting the door to her bedroom. The house was in silence until they could hear the thudding that her speakers made against the floor, blasting out the music as loud as they could. Janet returned to the table, placing a mug of coffee in front of Carter before sitting back down next to her with her own. He was about to say something, when he heard the front door open; three sets of footsteps came into the house before the door was shut again. One of the men was grumbling away to him self, he could tell they were men by the sound their feet, made when they took step. Looking up to the small hallway, he saw Daniel followed by Jonas and Teal'c come into the room. "...swear that man does it on purpose. He knew that we needed some more time to decipher that artefact, what he go and do? Sends it off to Area 51 with the other stuff, he never gave us time to look at. Its getting stupid now" Daniel opened the fridge, sticking his head inside while he dug around inside for something. Jonas stood by the counter, gob smack to see him sat there, looking back at Jonas with a smirk on his face. Teal'c simply nodded his head to him, taking a seat next to him at the table. Taking a swig from his beer, he leaned forward onto the table, watching Daniel shaking his head to himself as he took a seat opposite to him, taking a swig from a bottle of water. Daniel looked up at him and spat out his mouthful of water, all over the table and its occupants. "JACK! When did you come back? Why haven't you phone me? Where in god's name have you been?" Carter got up from the table, wiping her face with her hands; she looked down at the table, picking up both mugs of coffee and his nearly empty beer. He smiled at her, watching her go to the kitchen, telling Jonas to go seat down before he fell down. "Yesterday. Because there's signal up there and you would have been busy. Minnesota. How ya been Daniel?" Daniel smiled at him, taking a sip from his drink without spitting it out over everyone. Looking down at the table, he found another bottle of beer being placed there by a hand, a very nice hand that so belonged to Carter. Sitting back down in her seat next to him, she gave Janet her freshly made coffee, Jonas and Teal'c both had a bottle of juice each and Daniel got a glared for her now wet look. He couldn't help but chuckled to himself at the sight of her, and the thought that SG-1 and the good doctor were actually sat round a table again.

Dinner ended up being done by the pizza delivery man, all of them too tired or couldn't be bothered to cook, which was when they all decided to put something in to get some pizzas. They'd been sat in the living room, both Doc and Carter sprawled over the couch, sharing a pizza between themselves, Teal'c was sat in front of the fireplace, not sharing with anyone (he'd took to eating comfort food since Jack had left). Both Jonas and Daniel were sat in front of the couch, sharing a pizza while they talked about some artefact, and him and Cassie were sat together, flicking food at each other. Who said when you grow up, that you actually grew up mentally? Looking round the living room, he smiled to himself, thanking which actual real god had kept his family safe and a live. Every now and then, he would find his eyes glued onto Carter, watching her every move, listening to her laugh like he'd done a million times before. It was different now though, because he could look at her now and not feel guilty for doing it, nothing holding him back from going over there and kissing her on the cheek. Shaking his head to himself, he pushed himself up onto his feet, climbing over Cassie and other legs that got in the way, heading off to the downstairs bathroom. Coming back from the bathroom, he rolled his sleeves down and fastened them into place. They all looked up to him from where they sat, waiting for him to say something or do something. "I'm gonna get going. I'll see you guys in the morning when I pop onto the base for a bit" Carter was on her feet in seconds, quickly putting on his shoes and grabbing her coat. Raising his eyebrows at her, he looked at her and then at the others, trying to find out why she was suddenly leaving as well. "I've got to as well, sort out things for tomorrow" Everyone turned as much as they could, looking at her from all angles and round corners. "What? I'm tired and I've probably got a lecture to put up with tomorrow from misery guts" Everyone shrugged at the same, he shook his head, waving to all them one last time before disappearing out the door with Carter following him. Sighing he took his keys out of his pocket, getting into his truck to watched Carter reverse backwards down the driveway. She gave a slight wave to him before driving off down the road, turning off somewhere down the road. Shutting his door, he put the keys in the ignition and turned the key, putting his seat belt on. Shaking his head, he put his truck in drive, looking behind him as he set off home, to his very empty home except for furniture and memories.

Getting onto the base was easier than it had been when he had an ID pass, as soon as the airman had seen who was in the truck; they just raised the barrier while giving him a salute as he drove through. It was kind of weird the looks he had received when he got out of his truck, the people who were chatting in the car park just stood there blatantly staring at him while he got into the elevator. He felt as if he was a really important person, a celebrity or a VIP, the way he was being treated. Funny how people treat you when you've been away for so long, maybe he should do it more often or see if they'll let him take a P90 with him, getting rid of another of his troubles who was trying for Presidency that year. They didn't need anyone like Kinsey getting into the White House; there were enough problems as it was without him adding to them. The elevator doors opened in front of him, the hallway was almost deserted except for a few people who were rushing off somewhere. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he made his way in the direction of Carter's lab; she'd told him that she'd help him find his things. They'd been shoved into some storage closet on level 16; god knows which one it was in as there were about six storage closets on that level. Something was a little off about the base, it was quieter than he remember, normally you could hear someone laughing or people chatting about something on this level, the geek level as he had dubbed it to himself. Turning into Carter's he found a young lady sat in front of her computer, typing away to her hearts consent, flicking from the screen to her notebook on the side next to her. Looking round the room, he noticed it had changed somewhat; there was none of Carter's things anywhere, none of the picture she usually kept on the side or on her filing cabernet. "Err...excuse me. Do you know where I could find Major Carter?" The young lady didn't stop, just kept typing away while she looked at something in her notebook. What ever it was with this science lot, they all had it. He'd never been able to work out, how Carter or Daniel could type something while they were reading something else. He tried it once and ended who writing a load of nonsense, not to mention his grammar had been something he wasn't proud of at the time. Moving further into the room, he looked over the young lady's shoulder, reading something that foreign to him. More of that Carter language she could understand and was unable to explain to him. The woman was unaffected by his presence, even this close she should have been able to feel his breath on her neck as he peered over her shoulder, to read whatever she was doing. Gently he tapped her on the shoulder, she jumped round as soon as he'd touched her, grabbing onto the side for balance. "Whoa...hold on. I didn't mean to scare you, I did tried getting your attention before" She rolled her eyes at him, sitting back down on her stool, taking a few deep breaths. Sighing at the relief of finally getting her attention, he shoved his hands into his pockets, looking about the room again. "Erm...what did you want...?" He smiled offering his hand out to her; she took it and shook his hand. Shoving his hand back into his pocket, he carried on looking about the room. "Jack O'Neill. Most people round here know me as Colonel O'Neill, but I'm retired now so it doesn't matter" The young lady gasped, jumping off her stool again, covering her mouth with her hand. He looked her up and down, thinking whether he should know her or from her reaction, was there a Jaffa standing behind him that he hadn't seen. She was shaking a little, sitting back down on her stool again, but he was almost certain she probably be jumping off it again. Shaking her head, she straighten her uniform, trying to make it look like she was comfortable but from years of experience, he could tell she was nervous as hell. "Erm...What did you want, Colonel...I mean sir...no, err...Mr O'Neill?" Rolling his eyes, he took his hands out of his pockets, placing them on his hips. She was trying her best to smile at him, but whatever she did it came out cheesy. "I was wondering where I could find Major Carter? This is still her lab, right?" Shaking her head she stood up off her stool, gesturing him to follow her out into the corridor. Rubbing a hand over the back of his neck, he followed the young lady back down the corridor, from where he'd just come from and passed the elevator in the opposite direction. "The General moved her some months ago, sir. Something about her not being grateful that she had a lab or something. I don't know all the details because I've only been here for a few months, sir" He nodded his head at her, following her into another lab to find Carter, bend over some equipment, welding or whatever she did. Nodding his head as thanks to her, the young lady left, almost tripping over herself before running off somewhere. Taking out one of the stools under a workbench, he sat down behind her, playing with something he found on the side, after a while Carter finished up what she was doing, non-the wiser to him being there. She turned round and almost fell backwards, if it wasn't for the table behind her. "How long have you been there?" Looking at his watch, he shrugged putting whatever it was; he'd been playing with, back where he found it. She shook her head at him, pulling off her gloves and threw them on the side. "How did you know my lab was here?" Getting up off the stool, he shrugged his jacket off, lying on the side behind him. "A young woman, who's in your old lab by the way, showed me here after I interrupted her. How come you got moved? She said it was something to do with not being grateful for your lab or something" She rolled her eyes at him, rolling up her sleeves of her shirt. Shaking her head she walked off into the corridor and then off down the corridor, back the way he'd just come. He quickly followed her, his long strides nothing compared to her short strides. "It's nothing, it doesn't matter now anyway. Let's find your stuff, you can give back those files and then you can get out of his hell hole, while you still can" From the sound of her voice, she wasn't to pleased about the whole thing with her lab, which he would probably end up asking Daniel about later or Janet. He was almost sad that he had already given in the files, if he'd kept them a while longer it would give him a reason to keep her company for while longer, after they had found his stuff. Well he could always go down and see General Kizior, and have some unfriendly words with him. They had to be a good reason for him to move the best scientist they had from her lab; into some dinky thing they called a lab. It was smaller than her old lab, so how she got all her stuff in there, he'll never know.

They'd found his stuff in the first closet they'd looked in, a bit obvious with his name written on the side of it. Somehow he had managed into talking her to have lunch in the commissary with him, he was regretting as whereever they went, everyone was pointing and whispering about him. Probably wondering what he was doing back and how he had managed to get on the base without Kizior finding out. But he was sure it wouldn't be long until he found out and came storming in there to find him, having lunch with the very beautiful Major. She kept playing with her food, pushing it around her plate and then pushed it round the other way, not really interested in her food. If he didn't know her as well as he did, he would assumed she hadn't been to bed for at least two weeks, remembering how she'd looked the last time she'd done it. Whatever he had them doing, it was draining her of all her enthusiasm and joy for work, that he had come to love over the years. There was no way this was a happy working environment, people seemed to be half asleep around him until they saw him and then it was like someone had stuck a syringe of Caffeine in their arms, all of them brightening up in seconds. Or maybe they had just drunk some coffee and it was just starting to kick in. Shaking his head, he finished off the last piece of his lasagne, pushing his tray to the side, clearing some room in front of him. Leaning down onto the table, almost lying on it, he looked up into her eyes, smiling at her while he moved some of her hair out of her face. "Hey, what's up?" She sat back in her chair, pushing her tray to the side like he had done before. Folding his arms in front of him, he just watched her as she rubbed the back of her neck, looking round the room to avoid his gaze. "I'm fed up of this place. I just want to run as far away as possible and never come back, not even if the world was about to be invaded by the G'ould would I come back here" Sighing he shook his head, looking down at the table in front of him, cursing the General for whatever he had put these people through. Abruptly he stood up from his seat, taking off down the corridor towards the elevator, quickly marching down the corridor. Half way down the corridor he heard someone running up behind him, a quick glance over his shoulder and he found it to be Carter. He stopped in front of the elevator, looking at the swipe card reader that was preventing him from going any further. Turning to Carter, who stood behind him, he pointed to the reader, not saying a word to her encase she tried to stop him. She dug into her pocket, retrieving the swipe card, handing it over to him without hesitation. Swiping the card in the reader, he slipped it into his pocket, nodding his head as thanks to her before walking into the elevator, when the doors had opened up for him. Pressing the button for the gate level, he gave her a little wave as the door shut on him, closing him off to the world until they opened on the gate room level, granting him access to where that son-of-a-bitch would be. The doors opened up in front of him, the corridor was very much like all the others, hardly anyone except for a few personnel. Shaking his head to no one in particular, he climbed the stairs to the control room to find him stood there, talking to Jacob about something. Putting on the best front that he could find, he tapped him on the shoulder, waiting for him to turn round and face him. The look on the guys face was priceless, going as white as a sheet before he shook himself of his trance. "Colonel O'Neill or sorry, Mr O'Neill. How may I ask, did you get into this facility?" All he could do was smile at the man, holding his hands firmly behind him, both of them itching to thump this guy and beat the living daylights out of him. They could at least wait a few minutes, if his mother had taught him something; it was to deliver a punch discreetly or was that a newspaper. "Well, General. I came to return some files I found and collect my stuff. Oh and something I forgot to give you before I left" Dropping the charade of his smile, he hit him right the jaw, knocking him backwards towards Jacob, who just move aside letting the man fall down onto the floor. Shaking his hand by the wrist, he looked round at everyone who was applauding, none of them bothering to help their leader up. Looking down the General, he was defiantly not fit for duty, his lip was cut and he was out of it, not moving or anything. Flexing his hand a few times, he turned and left the control; a few people patted him on the back. Taking Carter's card out his pocket, he swiped through the reader, surprise to find Jacob standing by his side. "Hey, sir. How's life going?" Jacob chuckled to himself, patting him on the back as they stepped into the elevator. He couldn't believe how much his hand hurt; did the guy have a metal jaw or something? "A lot better now I've seen you, Jack. I just hope Sam hasn't tried to kill you yet, she swore she would kill you if she ever saw you again" Looking down at his chest, he patted it to make sure there wasn't any injuries or anything broken. "Nope, guess she didn't keep her word. Although she did have a little go at me the other day" Jacob nodded his head at him, patting him on the back again as the doors opened to showed Carter, standing there with a smiled on her face. There was quite a crowd behind her, all of them applauding him while he stepped out of the elevator. Shyly he smiled at them, dismissively waving them away, walking towards the commissary, where he had left his stuff. He had to make a quick escape before General Up-His-Ass woke up from his nice little nap. "Sir, did you have to hit him? Couldn't you kill him instead? Push him into the event horizon before it closed?" He looked at her over his shoulder, shaking his head at her, entering the commissary to get another round of applauds off people. Placing his hands on his hips, he looked round at each face before grabbing his box and walking back out. Swiping the card in the reader again, he handed it back to Carter, stuffing his box under his arm. Looking down the corridor behind her, he noticed it was like it was before, not deserted but with people chatting as they walked together and everyone was smiling again. Even Jacob and Carter were smiling, she had been smiling more than she did earlier when they searching for his things. "Well, Carter I'll see you later when you bring the guys over. Jacob, you more than welcome to come too. And with that I bid you farewell, as am going home to shove my hand in the freezer for half hour" The best timing ever, the door slid opened behind him and he stepped inside, pressing the button for level 11. Waving to them both as the door slid close. When the doors had sealed and the elevator began its journey, he shook his hand again, flexing it a few times while he watched the numbers above him. The doors opened again and he quickly changed over to the other one, joining a few others who were going up to the surface. Looking behind him, he found the other occupants smiling at him, obviously already heard what happen just a few minutes ago. No could say that the grapevine was slow, they could work wonders some days getting gossip round the base quicker than lighting. As soon as the doors were open, he made his escape to his truck, dropping his box in the back, before he got in and drove home. Nursing his hand as much as he could, but still trying to keep it moving. If only he made sure, he'd made a proper fist then he wouldn't be in this trouble.

Looking at his hand, his knuckles were red with raged, being used for something they weren't supposed to be used for, hitting someone square on the jaw. Shaking his hand one last time, he stirred the sauce with his other, feeling like a child using his left hand. Letting the spoon rest against the edge of the saucepan, he lifted the lid on the pasta, watching it simmer nicely away to itself. Turning round, he checked over everything that he had laid out. Six bowls and culturally on the dining room table, six glasses, a selection of wine for Carter and Jonas, and a case of beer for the men, and for the lady if she drank all of her wine and Daniel's. Walking through the dining room into the living room, he went straight to his stereo, bending down to sort through his CD's: he had gotten out of the garage. Something shiny underneath the entertainment cabernet caught his attention, just barely sticking out but enough for him to notice. Moving the box a side, he pin the case down by its corner, using the weight he was putting on it to pull it out. Picking it up, he found it be a CD 'The Greatest Hits from Films'. Raising an eyebrow, he opened it up and popped the CD into the player, setting it off as he got to his feet and went back into the kitchen to check on his sauce. He stopped for a moment, remembering the song from somewhere, one of the girlie flicks that Sara had dragged him to see, promising he'd like it because there was a fight, which wasn't much just the odd punch and then they were broken up. But some unknown he knew the words to it, and feeling a bit pleased with him self for today's events, he was going to treat his invisible audience to his singer voice. Running back into the living he pressed the skip back button, running back into the kitchen as the song started up again.

Let's Overload

He nodded his head in time with the music, finding himself to be stirring in time with the music as well.

I can hear your heels clicking on the sidewalk Beating to the rhythm of my heart caught up in you You're the only one I want

Moving round the kitchen, he looked up the clock and noticed that they'd be there soon. Opening the fridge he took out the bottle of white wine, he'd brought for Carter on his way back from the base.

I follow you home every night
Just to make sure that you get there all right Baby it's true
Can't think of anything but you

Smiling to himself, he untwisted the cork from the bottle opener, smelling it before throwing it in trash. It smelt fruity but she said she liked it that way, something he had caught on to when they had been discussing alcohol with Jonas. Telling which were good drinks to try, and then arguing about what they thought was the best drink of all time.

And what I need baby
Is a little bit of sympathy?

Placing the bottle of wine on the table, he poured himself a glass of red; Daniel wouldn't mind if he had a bit, he had brought it with him in mind at the time.

You got me on my knees
I burn throughout the night
And I can't live without your love
Won't you help me cure this Overload
Won't you help me cure this Overload

Quickly he drained off the pasta, equally sharing it out between the six bowls and then shared the sauce out between the bowls. He stopped when he heard a car pull up out front of his house, throwing the pans into the sink for soak with everything else he had used that night, he ran and checked through the side window that it was them that had pulled up. Jumping down into the living room, he stopped the CD, changing it for one of his classical ones, giving the place a comfy feel to it. The doorbell rang just as he got to the top of the steps, taking a moment to straighten himself out; he opened the door to find them all standing. All of them were smiling at him, grinning almost and even Teal'c was smiling, showing just enough teeth as well. Rolling his eyes at them, he pushed the door wider, letting them all come in. Shaking his head at them, he closed the door behind them, nodding his head as a greeting to Jacob. "Glad you came, Jacob. Beer?" For a moment, Jacob bowed his head to the floor and then looked up at him with a genuine smile. "Sure, Jack. Just make sure it's none of that foreign stuff that Sam, tries to palm me off with" Running a hand through his hair, he went to the kitchen to the fridge, taking out two beers. He turned round to find Carter stood on the other side of the counter, leaning down as she looked at him. Raising his eyebrows at her, he twisted the lids off the beers, throwing them both in the bin. "Carter, if you keep looking at me like that, someone gonna get the wrong impression" She tried her best to hide her amusement, turning round to face the others as they sat down at the table. He stopped for moment watching her, she actually seemed happy for some reason; they all did in their own little way. It took him punching out his ex-shitty CO to get them all to smile? Daniel and Jonas came in, taking two of the dishes each and took them into the dining room. Juggling two beers and two dishes, he followed them into the dining room; Jacob quickly took the beer away from him when he was placing a dish in front of Carter. They were all sat round the table before he sat down, he found himself to be at the head of the table, Carter to his right and Daniel to his left. It felt as if he was in a briefing, he chuckled to himself, digging into his pasta. "What's so funny?" He looked up to find them all watching him, spoons or forks in mid air waiting for his response. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he took a sip from his beer, shaking his head at them.

Looking up at the ceiling of his bedroom, he watched the sunlight, slowly move across it. From what he could tell, from the position of the sun and the clock on his nightstand, it was about 0532 in the morning and he couldn't sleep anymore. He'd had a great time the night before, going over old times with them and some of the new times they had had without him. They'd left about ten o'clock, leaving him and Carter by themselves until she decided to leave. He had came close to actually carrying out the thoughts that had been going through his head, taking her into his arms and having his way with her. But for the life of him, he was either too scared or too nervous to do anything, except pack the dishwasher while she told him about visiting Mark and the kids when she had some leave next. Rolling onto his side, he stared at the clock for a while, watching it changed numbers before he got out of bed and stumble into the bathroom. Moving his neck side to side opened the cabernet and took his toothbrush out and toothpaste. Brushing his teeth, he took in his appearance, looking at his greying chest hair and facial hair. He must have been kidding himself, if he thought that Carter still wanted him after all this time. It must have been about five years since the Zac'tarc incident, but people can changed over time and people move on like she did with Eric. Wherever he had gotten Malcolm from he'd never know; must have been that guy at the gas station he met once. Shaking the thoughts out of his head, he rinsed and spat into the sink, wiping his mouth with the hand towel. Having a quick wash, he dressed ready to go out for his morning jog, relishing over the memories of the night before. It seemed like old times again, the same old banters, same old jokes with some new ones thrown in for good measure and their good old company. Something he would miss again when he went back to his cabin tomorrow. But at least this time, he would honestly try and ring them once in a while, see how there getting on and that. Checking his woolly hat was on right in the mirror, he made his way down the hallway, picking up his keys off the side before he left the house, locking the door behind him. Using his porch steps to stretch a little, he watch some lady walking her dog on the other side of the road, almost having to pull the dog down the side walk. Smiling he shook his head, switching to stretching his other leg, thinking how the dog was having its own little mutiny against his own. He stopped stretching, letting his leg fall from the step. Turning round he watched the dog until it was out of sight, disappearing behind the next-door neighbours hedge. He had it; he knew how they could rid of General Kizior for good. It would take all the trust that he had formed with his team and the base personnel to pull it off, but the end result would be General Kizior. Digging into his pocket, he pulled his keys out, briefly looking at his watch as he ran over his lawn to his truck. He knew she would be at Fraiser residence this time in the morning, seeing Cassie off to school and then would take her time getting to work with Janet, blabbing away to herself. He flung the drivers door open, slamming it shut as he started the engine, dropping it into gear and quickly drove like a craze idiot over there. Pulling up onto the driveway, he quickly got out of his truck, shoving his keys into his pocket, jumping up the steps onto the porch. The front door opened when he reached the top, Cassie was saying goodbye to someone, closing the door behind her. "Cassie, don't you dare close that door" She jumped aside as he drove for the door, pushing it out of her grasp to gain him entrance to the house, kicking it shut behind him. Running into the kitchen he found both woman to be sat at one of the kitchen counters, having their breakfasts and drinking coffee. They looked up to him when he entered the room, their conversation forgotten like yesterday. "Carter. Doc. I've got an idea" He took a deep breath calming himself down, looking down on the counter he saw someone's coffee, without thinking he picked it up and down it, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. They just both looked at him, leaning onto the kitchen counter, both dressed ready to go to work. Pulling off his hat, he dropped it onto the counter while he violently rubbed at his hair, no doubt making it all stand on end. "Okay...how d'ya both fancy playing mutiny?" Slowly they turned and looked at each other, Janet shook her head at Carter before turning back to face him while Carter got up and came round to his side of the counter. She had that amused look on her face, her hands on her hips, looking at him and then at Janet. "Are you feeling okay? I know that pasta tasted kinda funny last night, but it tasted all right..." He held up his hand to her, shaking his head while he took a step closure to her. "Carter, now think for a moment. What would the big brass have to do, if General Kizior was to lose control of the SGC?" She looked blank for a moment, just standing they're looking at him until it looked her eyes were smiling at him. Leaning back against the counter behind him, he folded his arms over his chest, both of them turning to look at Janet when she cleared her throat. The poor woman had no idea what was going through his and Carter's heads, but at least him and Carter were on the same page. They both shared a look between themselves; she broke it when she went off into the fridge for something, leaving him to explain it to the good doctor. Leaning onto the counter in front of Janet, he became eye level with her, resting on his forearms. "Doc, if the whole base mutiny against the good old General, and he lost controlled over everyone and over the entire base. Then the top brass would have to remove him from command and replace him with someone else, he wouldn't be able to retake command of the base" Her eyes lit up with every word he said, a smug grin formed on her face when she took a sip from her coffee. He stood up straight when someone placed a bottle of juice in his hand; standing at his side was Carter, smiling at Janet and then at him. "I knew there was a reason we kept him around. That mind has got so much unbelievable information in it, it's amazing he even has room for even more" He smiled at Janet twisting the lid off his bottle of juice, taking a sip from it he turned away from her, leaning back against the counter next to Carter, looking at her through the corner of his eye. Smiling to himself he looked down at the floor, chuckling to himself while folding his arms in front of him, resting his bottle on top of his forearm, holding it steady with his right hand. If only he had came up with that ages ago, none of this would have happen but what would the point of that have been. He would be doing paperwork, regulations would be stopping him even if they weren't now, and she would probably still be seeing Eric. Taking a sip from his juice, his smile wash away with it when he swallowed. Placing his drink on the counter behind him, he fished his keys out from his pocket, quickly walking away from them to the front door. "Where you going?" He didn't bothered to stop, just carried on going to the front door, feeling like he was trapped in some way. "I...gotta go. Ring and tell me how the mutiny goes" Quickly shutting the front door behind him, he jumped down the steps two at a time, jogging over to the safety of his truck in the driveway. Just as he was opening the door to his truck, he heard the front door open and footsteps come down the steps of the porch. He climbed inside the cab of his truck, shutting the door while he put the key in the ignition. "Sir! You forgot your hat!" Looking at her stand there on the other side of his door, holding his hat up so he could see, he turned the key in the ignition, turning the engine on and pressed the button for his window to wide down. She smiled at him taking another step towards his truck, holding the hat out for him to take from her. Carefully he took it from her, nodding his head as thanks, putting his hat on the dashed board in front of him. "You not gonna help us with this mutiny?" He shook his head, moving in his seat into a comfortable position, straightening his t-shirt out. Clutching at the steering wheel, he looked at the car in front of his before looking at her. "Nah, I cause enough trouble yesterday. I don't think I could have the blame for a mutiny over my head as well. But you'll do find by yourselves, if everyone feels the same way you guys do then it should be over quicker than you can say Jaffa, Kree" She smiled patting her hand on the edge of his door, turning back to go into the house, giving him a wave over her shoulder. Reversing back down the driveway, he looked up at the house, cursing himself for being so weak. Shaking his head he drove back to his house in complete silence, taking his time instead of being in a mad dashed like he had been lately. He was thankful and regretting that he was heading back to his cabin tomorrow, if he spent any more time in her company he didn't know what he'd end up doing. She'd move on from him and he should have done the same, although he was sure that he wouldn't find love again. He was fortunate that he had found love twice in his life, a third time was just pushing it in his books. So it would be back to his routine, fishing, running, wallowing and then more fishing and running.

The end