Chapter Text
"Carter!"
Sam was so focused on the naquadah reactor in front of her that she started at the sound of her name.
Colonel O'Neill was yelling over the welding torch she was using. She hadn't even noticed him come in.
How long had he been trying to get her attention? she wondered sheepishly.
She set down the torch and pulled off her helmet.
"Sir, hi!" she greeted him, turning to see him framed in the doorway behind her. "How's Daniel?"
The last time they talked, he was on his way to the infirmary to check on him.
She could feel her hair sticking to her head where the helmet had flattened it. She fluffed it with her fingers self-consciously to make herself more presentable.
"Oh, he's going to be fine," the colonel told her. He glanced over her shoulder at where the reactor was laid out on the bench. "What are you doing?"
She followed his gaze to the reactor. "Uh, I'm getting ready to do a detailed analysis of the decay rate of naquadah within the reactor," she explained. "It's really quite amazing that, unlike plutonium, naquadah actually has a–"
She realised she'd gone off on a tangent when he cut her off with a dramatic groan.
"I'm on vacation!"
She turned back around to face him, offering him an apologetic smile. "Yes, sir," she agreed.
"So are you," he reminded her.
"I know," she agreed. "It's not that I'm happy that Daniel's in excruciating pain or anything like that, but I've actually been looking forward to an opportunity like this for quite some time."
The colonel screwed up his face like it pained him to hear her admit this. "You know. Maybe it's just me, but I thought that when one actually got some leave, one actually left."
He gave her a pointed look, as if daring her to argue with him. It was true. It was right there in the name.
As usual, she couldn't help breaking into a grin at his teasing.
"Look, Daniel's recouping, Teal'c is off world visiting his kid somewhere," he continued. "Personally, I have a date with a little lake in Minnesota where the bass grow" – He opened his arms wide to show her. – "that big."
He had to be exaggerating. There was no way the lake behind his cabin – or any lake – had fish that size.
"Really," she said sarcastically.
"Oh, yes!" he assured her. "What I am describing here, Carter, involves a very special element."
She gestured to her equipment. "This is fun to me, sir," she told him.
"Well, if playing with your little reactor sounds better than exploring the lakes and natural beauty of northern Minnesota, there's not much I can do," he allowed.
The way he'd included her in his plans was so smooth that it took her a moment to register. Then she wasn't sure if she'd understood him correctly. It never would have occurred to her that going with him was an option.
"Was that an invitation … sir?" she checked.
"Nothing wrong with that, is there?" he asked her, confirming, to her relief, that he had meant it how it sounded. "A couple of coworkers – friends, if you will – fishing. It'd be fun."
The idea that he would actually want to spend time with her, alone, outside work was flattering. They never hung out like that, just the two of them. Probably for good reason.
"Wow," she said with a smile. "I appreciate the offer, sir. Really. Sounds great …" But she couldn't. Could she? No. It would be a bad idea. Very bad. Completely inappropriate. "... but I should …" She gestured vaguely at the reactor, hoping he would get the message without her having to spell it out.
His smile dimmed and she worried that she'd made things awkward between them. But he quickly recovered his composure. "No sweat. See you in a week, and, by all means, have fun."
With that, he strode back out, leaving her alone again.
She was telling the truth when she said she was looking forward to experimenting with the reactor. But if she was being really honest with herself, the reason she was planning to work through her leave was because she had nothing better to do. Her dad was off somewhere in the galaxy. She'd considered visiting her brother, but it was too short notice for him to get the time off. Or so he said. Which meant her choices were to find a project to keep her busy until she could get back to work or sit at home alone all week, doing nothing.
She could take a trip somewhere by herself, like him. But she'd never been someone who enjoyed exploring new locales on her own. It felt ... aimless.
Maybe the colonel was right. She'd never been to Minnesota before. It could be fun. A chance to get to know him a little better. To observe him in his natural habitat. As a coworker and friend.
There really was nothing wrong with that.
She should take advantage of his offer while it was still on the table.
Before she could talk herself out of it, she jogged out into the hall after him.
Jack hadn't set out to invite Carter to his cabin when he stopped by her lab. It just ... slipped out. He'd only gone there to say goodbye. But then she started talking about that damn reactor, and he'd felt bad for her, stuck here squandering her precious time off on more work. And he'd already asked Teal'c and Daniel to come fishing with him, so it was only fair that he extended the offer to her as well.
It wasn't that he was looking for an excuse to spend time with her outside work. Alone. In a remote location. Because that would be wrong. So wrong.
All things considered, it was probably for the best that she'd turned him down. Even if he was a little disappointed.
He was halfway to the elevator, humming to himself as he thought about finally getting out of this place for a while, when he heard her call after him.
"Colonel!"
He stopped, turning to see her standing in the hallway behind him. Her face was flushed and she was slightly out of breath, like she'd run to catch up to him. He tried not to notice how good that looked on her.
He watched her expectantly, waiting for her to share whatever was on her mind. He didn't want to assume that her rushing after him was in any way connected to his invitation. She probably just forgot to tell him something. Like about that damn reactor.
Now that she had his attention, she hesitated, like she was rethinking whatever she was going to say. "Um, have a good time!" she told him.
It wasn't what he was expecting. For a second there, it really felt like she'd come after him to tell him she'd changed her mind. Just in case she was still on the fence about it, he decided to try to sell her on the idea one last time.
"Land of sky blue waters? Loofahs. 'Ya, sure, you betcha, snookums.' Mosquitoes. Home of the loons …"
"Okay," she agreed, interrupting him before he could go on.
The word caught him off guard. "Okay?" he repeated, trying to figure out if she could have meant something else. Like 'Enough, already' or 'Please, for the love of God, stop.' It wouldn't be the first time he'd heard that.
"Yes," she clarified. "I would like to go to your cabin with you. Sir," she finished hastily.
There was no mistaking her meaning this time. He stared at her, speechless. He really didn't think she would take him up on his offer. He wasn't sure he would have been brave enough to make it if he did. But it was too late to take it back now. And even if he could, he wasn't sure he wanted to. Not now that she'd accepted.
"You won't regret it," he told her.
And he meant it. If she was going to come along with him as his guest, then he was determined do everything he could to ensure she was comfortable and that she had a good time.
She flashed him a nervous smile, like she wasn't entirely convinced she wasn't making a mistake by agreeing to this.
He felt the same way.
"So, what's the plan?" she asked him, to break the tension between them. "What time do we leave?"
"I still have a few things to do, so why don't you put all that away and head home to pack?" he suggested. "I can pick you up there in an hour or so. Let me know if you need more time."
"Sounds good," she agreed. "See you then."
He turned to go. "Ya, sure, you betcha," he said, waving to her over his shoulder as he continued on down the hall towards the elevator.
He wasn't lying when he said he needed to finish getting organised himself. He was going to have to bring more fishing gear, and he might have to reconsider some of the clothes he'd already packed when he didn't think anyone was going to be around to see him this week. He should probably clean the inside of his truck, too, before he asked her to get into it. At least throw out some of the trash.
One week alone in the woods with Carter, he mused as he stepped into the elevator. This just might be the best worst idea he'd ever had.