The Times That Weren't - Chapter 6

[alvericff]

Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate: SG-1, I am only playing in the world.

Previously: Ch1 | Ch 2  | Ch 3 | Ch 4 | Ch 5

The Times That Weren't - Chapter 6

USS Odyssey, Ori Galaxy, June 2007

Sam held her hand up to the comm in her ear as she heard Cam up on the bridge.

"Sam? Can you take command for a bit, I'm gonna pass out now." Very funny, Cam, where's that chuckle damn it!

"Marks, get internal doors open right now, I want the elevators back online as well!" she cried. Major Kevin Marks snapped to the task, his hands flying over the consoles as he worked to override the command sequences the Replicators had changed. Sam ran to the intercom panel and stabbed down the ship-wide broadcast button. "This is Colonel Carter, Medics to the bridge as soon as those doors open!" she ordered and moved to the door and banged on it to get the attention of the fire team on the other side. "Captain, cut me out of this room!" She heard the acknowledgement and went back to the Asgard Core to work on getting the hyperdrive back online.

"Colonel, I've got the doors open, and we're being hailed by one of the Ori ships." Marks turned to face her. "They're asking what they should do." Sam paused and looked at him incredulously. He shrugged.

"Tell them to go home. We'll call them later." She turned back to the core again and opened the panel at the front to work on the control crystals. "General Landry can deal with them now."

Fifteen minutes later she'd regained control of the hyperdrive and set the ship on course back to Celestis. Binder's team outside finished cutting through the door and she stepped out along with Marks and handed the captain her weapons.

"Marks, get to the bridge, I'm going to the infirmary." She'd had enough of the spotty updates from the medics, she had to see Cam for herself. She ran through the ship's corridors and up an elevator until she got to the infirmary, slapping the door access button she walked in to see the medics crowding around a bed with machines and carts pushed into the available spaces around them. "Holy Hannah!" she exclaimed and stopped a nurse who was sorting IV bags for possible use later and asked for an update.

"We found him slumped in the command chair, I have no idea how he managed to make it to the bridge from the cargo hold, he shouldn't be able to walk. He took a Hell of a beating, several severe lacerations, almost as if the assailant was wearing armoured gloves, broken ribs, hairline fractures in a few more and in his right arm and leg, bruises in places I'd never seen before. His left eye is swollen shut and someone should really tell him not to punch things made of metal, his hands are a mess. Basically he went ten rounds with a meat tenderiser and I think he lost." As the nurse spoke Sam caught glimpses of Cameron through the press of medics, his shirt and trouser legs cut open, an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose, his hand hanging limply at his side. It looked frightening, but the beeping from his heart monitor was steady and the rise and fall of his chest seemed strong. She sighed, feeling some of her tension draining away. Cam was one of the toughest men she'd ever met.

"He's not dead, so as far as I'm concerned he won. I bet he'll be trying to escape by tomorrow." she said softly trying to convince herself of her high spirits as much as the nurse, who chuckled while picking up one of the IV bags she'd prepared.

"That's what Dr. Lam's note read when we opened his medical jacket. 'Restrain patient if necessary'." At that Sam had to smile and even laugh.

Stargate Command, June 2007

Cam caught up with Sam as she walked down the corridor to the briefing room. All of SG-1 had been summoned and he had no clue as to why. She smiled as he sidled up to her and bumped her shoulder lightly.

"Hey Cam? Feeling better?" she asked. He had been pretty badly injured in that fight with the replicator Marrick on Odyssey, he was still tender and stiff in some places, but it had been a couple of weeks now and he was itching to at least go off-world again. He was dying for just a simple recon mission.

"I'm back to 100%, Sam," he lied, "just want to get back out there," that was the truth, "think that's what this meeting's about?" He looked at her inquisitively and she shrugged.

"I have no idea, I'm afraid." They were getting to the briefing room doors when they ran into Daniel and Vala coming from the opposite direction. "Hey guys, don't suppose you have any idea what's going on?" she asked them. Daniel shrugged with his hands in his pockets.

"I think your Government is going to reward us for ending the Ori threat. I'm hoping for precious metals or jewels myself." said Vala, to which Daniel rolled his eyes and pursed his lips.

"That's not how this works, Vala." he said in exasperation, obviously this was a conversation they'd had before. The four filed in to see Teal'c standing by the window looking down over the Stargate, he turned and bowed when they walked in and greeted him, he smiled at each of them warmly. They each sat down in chairs around the table to wait for General Landry, talking about what might be happening, Cam reiterated his hope that it was a recon mission, the idea of which Teal'c reacted favourably to. Vala once more explained her wish it would be a grand reward, much to Daniel's continued and growing irritation. Landry walked in presently and the two Air Force officers stood immediately to attention until he sat himself down, at which point they seated themselves again.

"I have good news and bad news." Landry intoned looking at each in turn. He turned to Teal'c, Vala and Daniel on one side of the table before speaking again. "The President has decided to award you three the Medal of Freedom, in secret of course, for your part in ending the Ori threat." Vala was grinning and elbowing Daniel in his side, he had to slap down on her wayward arm as he closed his eyes at the pain in his ribs.

"Is this Medal made of precious metals?" Vala launched in with questions to the General, when he replied in the negative she asked another, "Is it encrusted with jewels then?" Again he told her it wasn't, that in fact the medal wasn't of any particular value at all except symbolic. Vala looked a bit put out. "Does it come with an additional cash prize or other remuneration?" Daniel was now trying to shut her up as he noticed that the general's patience was waning.

"It comes with the thanks of a grateful nation, Vala." said the General. To which Vala muttered under her breath about how could a nation which had no idea what happened be at all grateful. Daniel and Teal'c merely stated how honoured they were.

"What's the bad news, sir?" asked Cam in an attempt to change the subject as it looked like Vala was about to start asking more questions about the so-called reward.

"The bad news, Lt. Colonel Mitchell, is that both you and Lt. Colonel Carter are being promoted to full Colonels." He stood up and both he and Sam instantly followed suit, only then did they notice Chief Harriman had come up the stairs behind them and walked to the General handing him two sealed envelopes. Sam looked at Cam nonplussed and he too was showing his surprise. Across the table Daniel was grinning at them and Teal'c was smiling and nodding his approval. Vala was looking excited, giving them both thumbs-up gestures. Until a curious expression crossed her face.

"Why is this bad news?" she asked.

"Because now I'm gonna have to sign out forms in triplicate just to go to the head, Vala." Cam joked about his expectation of an increase in paperwork to which Vala gave a silent 'oh'. Sam grinned at him.

"There will be an official ceremony later this week." Landry announced as he handed an envelope to each of them, smiling and congratulating them.

"Sir, could I request that Sam be the one to pin the birds on my shoulders?" Cam asked softly much to Sam's surprise. She could feel the heat in her cheeks rising and the look in his eyes when she turned to him to find him staring at her didn't help her thundering heart.

"I have no objection, son. Carter?" Landry raised both eyebrows at her.

"Ah, yes, I'd be happy to, sir, as long as Cam does the same for me." She smiled at Cam's sheepish grin and Landry nodded with a smile.

"That's settled then. Congratulations, Colonel Mitchell, Colonel Carter." He shook each of their hands.

Austin, Texas, January 2009 (alternate timeline)

Cam killed the engine of his Mustang as he arrived at the house in the suburbs of Austin which he jokingly referred to as 'anti-home'. Sometimes he would chuckle to himself as he pictured this house and his house in Colorado Springs annihilating themselves in a brilliant flash of heat and energy if they ever somehow came into contact with each other. Stepping out of the car he spotted his neighbour and her son walking towards him and he groaned inwardly to himself. Outwardly he put on a pleasant smile and leaned against the roof of his car, waving to them in greeting.

"Afternoon, Mrs. Robertson, hey slugger." he said as he gave the boy a thumbs up. He liked the kid, but his mother always seemed to try and use him to get to Cam. The boy waved happily at him and ran around the car to look at it from different angles.

"Please, Cam, how many times have I told you, it's Heather." She smiled coyly at him and he squirmed slightly. He had very little intention of calling her Heather. He was sure she'd take it as some sort of invitation.

"Right, right, sorry. How are you two today?" He smiled at the boy, but had to turn his gaze to Heather as she was moving around the hood of the car, running her hand along it while watching him suggestively. Oh boy. Trouble.

"We're going to see a movie about a guy who can bring characters from books to life in the real world! Do you wanna come with us, Cam?" asked the boy as he ran around the back of the car and grabbed Cam's wrist.

"You're welcome to come, Cam, I'd like it very much." said Heather in that tone of voice he could only cringe at. If it had just been the kid he probably would have gone, he liked spending time with the boy, but not if he was going to have to endure his mother.

"Ah, sorry, but I just got back from a long drive." He eased the boy's grip on his wrist and walked to the back of his Mustang, opening the trunk. "Was in California checking out a 1970 HEMI 'Cuda in an auction." The boy's eyes lit up at the mention of the muscle car while Heather crossed her arms slightly. "Went up to see my girl too." he said, definitely for Heather's benefit.

"Your girlfriend who works out of state." she said icily. He made a point to smile when he nodded at her. "You know, you and I are in the same boat, Cam, Jeff spends so much time off shore on the oil rigs I hardly ever see him."

"Yeah, I know how you feel, which makes every moment I can spend with her that much more important to me." he said, throwing his duffel over his shoulder, closing the trunk and ruffling the boy's hair before walking around Heather. "Enjoy your movie now, tell me if it's any good, okay, kiddo?" He waved at them and quickly entered his house. He did not miss the little glare Heather was giving him there at the end. He fished in his duffel for his 'team' phone and dialled Daniel's number. Dumping the duffel he waited until the archaeologist picked up and said hello.

"Jackson! I'm gonna propose to Sam. Gotta do it." He heard Daniel chuckling on the other end.

"Well it's about time, but why is it 'gotta'?" asked his friend.

"'Cause I love her... and 'cause I think my neighbour is gonna jump me soon if I can't prove to her I'm in a relationship." he explained and Jackson started laughing, so he moved to the kitchen and started checking his computer for activity around the house and with his handlers. Everything seemed normal.

"This is the neighbour who's been throwing herself at you since you arrived?" asked Daniel, his voice filled with amusement. Cam confirmed it. "The one who's married." Laughter burst out from the phone and Cam sighed, seeing his friend's logic.

"Crap. You're right. Still, I'm gonna do it. I want to do it even if we have to hide it." He paused for a moment in consideration while Daniel told him he thought it was a fine idea. "Daniel, would you be my best man?"

"Of course, Cam, though I think Sam's going to want me to give her away. I suppose I could do both." said Daniel light-heartedly.

"Just be careful in case Sam asks you to be maid-of-honour too." he said, laughing.

Rosarito, Mexico, February 15th, 2009 (alternate timeline)

Sam woke up to the sound of the surf. Waves crashing against the beach, the cool breeze through the windows bringing the sound of sea birds and playing children. The first thing she noticed was that she wasn't alone, very much not alone. Her head was lying in the crook of an arm, resting against a muscled shoulder, her own arm was draped across a slender, but well-toned chest. She noticed the platinum band on her ring finger and everything came back to her and she smiled happily, snuggling closer to the body she was pressed against. She got married yesterday, on Valentine's day, on a beach in Mexico, Daniel had given her away, it felt right. She heard a moan, felt it rumbling in the chest she rested against and the hand attached to the arm under her head moved up the bare skin of her back in a long slow caress to squeeze her shoulder gently.

"Morning, Mr. Carter." she teased, and received a yawning chuckle in return.

"Mornin', Dr. Mitchell." The voice still husky with sleep made her shiver in pleasure and she smiled broadly as her husband leaned his head over and gave her a quick peck on the lips.

The three travelled to the resort town on the Pacific Coast using the aliases Daniel had arranged for them, while a little pecuniary persuasion a few weeks before had been enough to have the local civil authorities draw up the matrimonial paperwork in their real names. So on the desk in the other room of their suite were several pieces of perfectly legal documentation stating that Cameron James Mitchell and Samantha Louise Carter were now man and wife. It made her smile. If only they could declare it to the world, but when they had to go back to the lives thrust upon them by the U.S. Government they'd have to hide it away.

"We came down to Mexico to make sure we wouldn't be hassled 'bout the names on the license, not as if we're gonna declare it to the federal, state or locals when we get back, right?" He looked at her and she nodded. "Didn't get married for them. Did it for us."

"How did you know that's what I was thinking about?" She propped her chin on his chest and looked at him searchingly, he turned his head towards her and grinned.

"You kidding? I can hear the gears whirring in that big brain of yours from a mile away. And it's always a safe bet you'll be thinking about the most complicated thing around at any given moment, even at this hour of the morning." He ran a hand through her hair as he spoke.

"What time is it anyway?" She let her cheek lean against his chest and enjoyed the feel of his fingers. He shifted slightly and looked over at the clock on the bedside table. He cleared his throat in surprise.

"Even at this hour of the afternoon." he corrected himself and she grinned. He pulled her up to lie on top of him, wrapping his arms around her and she tucked her head into the crook of his neck, kissing the skin there gently. "I love you, Samantha Carter." She smiled and lifted her head to look into his eyes.

"I love you too, Cameron Mitchell." They kissed again, softly and slowly, both of them sighing happily. She caressed his cheek with light fingers and again she noticed the ring now gracing her left hand. "I love these rings, Cam. They're beautiful. I'm going to hate taking it off when I go back to Seattle."

"I'm gonna wear mine on a chain around my neck, make sure it's always over my heart." He grinned.

"You're such a hopeless romantic." She smiled.

"Mmm-hmm. When you're literally betting that your love will survive a time paradox you have to be." At the reminder of his promise at Jack's cabin she grew serious and looked into his eyes. She'd done this several times and she'd never ever seen any doubt in him. It gave her strength. A strength she found herself depending on.

"I believe you." she said softly.

Stargate Command, October 2009

The sound of a throat clearing startled Sam from her intense contemplation of the sensor data being displayed on her laptop as she sat in her lab. She looked up to see Cam leaning against her door frame, dressed in his civvies, looking rather nervous, which was unlike him. She frowned slightly. She wondered what could be causing her friend to look so uneasy, she couldn't remember anything that might have happened in their latest recon missions, or heard any news that might have given him pause. She glanced down at the screen of her laptop at the mission logs from the Hammond's search of planets on the Tok'ra list, which was proving less than fruitful, but none of this should be cause for any distress with Cam.

"Hey Cam, you heading out for the evening?" She looked at her watch and saw it was after 1800 hours, certainly not late by her standards, but technically the evening. He looked at her for several long moments before clearing his throat again and rubbing a hand across his chin. Okay, this nervous Cam was creeping her out.

"Ah, yeah, Sam. I was wondering if perhaps... you'd like to join me... for dinner. There's a nice Italian place in town and I know the chef... he'll make us up something special." His voice was hesitant at first, but grew stronger, by the end he was looking at her straight in the eye and the look she saw there had her frozen. It was that same look. From her dream of that time on Odyssey. That look he gave her just before he told her he... Holy Hannah. It was true, it was all true. They weren't dreams! Her mind was racing, going a million miles a minute and her heart was pounding so hard in her chest she was sure her lungs were turning to jelly from the concussive force, it would explain how hard it was for her to breathe just then. She watched his eyes a moment longer before she had to look down and she knew as soon as she did that it was a mistake. The shuffling of feet from the door brought her eyes back up and Cam was half turned away, a hand rubbing the back of his neck and a rueful smile on his lips.

"Cam, I can't-" she began, but his eyes again stole her breath away when he looked at her. This time dominated by a sadness and resignation. It wasn't a look she ever wanted to see in his eyes.

"It's okay, Sam," he smiled sadly, "you're right. Just..." He seemed at a loss, he turned to look around her lab for a moment before turning towards the door. "I'll see you tomorrow." He walked up the corridor towards the elevator, leaving her suddenly shuddering with painful breaths, an ache in her heart so acute it made her dizzy. She ran a hand through her hair and realised it was shaking. What had she just done? How could she have just... She'd just run away from him like in the dream. Not. A. Dream. It happened! Accept it! She wracked her memories of their time aboard that ship, and one thing stood out. One thing above everything else. Cameron Mitchell loved her.

She stood up and ran for the door. Skidding out in the hall she dove around the corner towards the elevators and waved an airman out of her way with a glare. Her pounding feet following the line on the ground that would take her to him. She realised now that he wasn't just asking her out for dinner. They'd gone for dinner together lots of times, both with the team and just the two of them. He wasn't asking her out to dinner. He was asking her to love him. She saw the elevator in the corridor up ahead as she rounded the last corner, saw him walking in and pressing a button on the panel, he wasn't looking up, he was just staring at his hands as he fiddled with his keys. Call out to him! She couldn't find her voice. The doors were closing, she was almost there. Dr. Lee came around the corner in front of her and she was sure they were going to collide, but he stopped just in time when one of the file folders he was carrying dropped out of his grasp to spill on the floor behind him. She turned sideways hoping beyond reason she had just enough time to slip through the doors before they closed and she did, running into Cam at full steam and slamming him bodily into the back of the car, pinning him against the wall, he looked confused at finding a breathless, flushed Sam pressed up against him, breathing against his neck, her hands resting against the back wall on either side of his waist.

"Sam?" he breathed, confusion, hope and wonder all mingling in his voice.

"Ask me again, Cam. Please!" she whispered into the skin of his neck, pressing her temple against his cheek. Hesitantly his hands came up to rest at her elbows. He cleared his throat, pushed her back slightly so he could look into her eyes and searched them for moments before he spoke.

"Sam, do you want to go out to dinner with me?" he asked, and again the look in his eyes betrayed what the question really was and she couldn't help the slow smile which spread across her lips.

"Yes." she whispered, but that wasn't enough for her now, she leaned forward again and found his lips with her own, melting against him as he wrapped his arms around her back. They didn't even notice the elevator doors open behind them. Didn't notice Vala and Teal'c staring at them for long moments until a knowing smile creased the raven haired woman's mouth and Teal'c turned towards her.

"Does this not mean that Daniel Jackson owes you a considerable sum of money, Vala Mal Doran." The Jaffa's tone might have sounded unperturbed to anyone who didn't know him as well as Sam, but she could definitely sense the amusement in it as she smiled against Cam's lips and leant her mouth away for an instant to look up into his eyes. She saw him grin and roll his eyes and she kissed him again.

"It certainly does, Muscles." Vala agreed as both alien members of SG-1 stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the living quarters level, pretty confident they knew the couple behind them would be making another stop before exiting the base as indicated by the only other button currently lit on the panel. "And let me tell you what he's going to be buying for me..." The doors closed as Vala was describing the plasma television soon to be installed into her quarters and Sam and Cam continued to explore each others lips behind their seemingly unconcerned teammates. The doors opened again to find Daniel reading a report held in one hand drinking from a mug of coffee held in the other. "Hey Daniel!" He looked up in consternation at the voice he heard only to scowl even harder at the scene taking place behind the owner of that voice and his Jaffa friend who nodded at him in greeting.

"Oh, for crying out loud! I'll take the next one!" he groused, and Teal'c merely nodded, bowing slightly and reached across to press the button to close the doors, Vala grinned and waved at him.

On to Chapter 7