The Ninth Chevron - Chapter 6
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Previously: Ch 1 | Ch 2 | Ch 3 | Ch 4 | Ch 5
The Ninth Chevron - Chapter 6
Stargate Command, June 2007
He was frowning in his sleep. His brows were turned down right against his closed eyes and small lines had formed between them, his lips were drawn a little tightly, the corners curving down. She caught a little movement and glanced down at his hand. It was clenched into a fist, grasping the sheet between the fingers, shifting involuntarily. Her eyes flicked up again and she caught the tiny shake of his head. She closed her eyes a moment and raised her hand to his forehead, drawing her fingers lightly over the skin. His breath came in a tightly through his nose and she froze, afraid she'd woken him, but there was no other change. Why had she done that anyway? Why was she doing it again? Her fingers moved on their own across his brow and pushed some of his short fringe back. Whatever had caused her to do that it was having an effect on him. His forehead had smoothed, his breathing had softened, his hand had unclenched. She sighed, bringing her hand back resolutely to her lap as she sat on the stool by his bed.
The nurses had all said 'thank you' for the macaroons she had made, Cam had allowed each of them one, and only one. They described him holding the bag protectively to his chest as he dispensed them and it just sounded so funny she couldn't help but giggle. Carolyn had been forced to confiscate the bag, she'd told her earlier, or he would have eaten them all by now and he shouldn't be eating so much so soon after an injury. Sam hoped Carolyn wasn't just helping herself to them. She had made them for Cam after all. She needed to know what he thought of them, so she could tell him what she thought of his.
He'd been so badly injured by Marrick aboard Odyssey, they'd treated him in the ship's infirmary and he'd been unconscious most of the way back to Earth. She had to admit she'd been worried for a while. When she looked down she found her hand over his, unaware she had moved it. She pulled it back again to her lap. She really didn't want to wake him. He needed rest. She nearly jumped at the small groan that escaped his lips as his eyes fluttered open. He was frowning again, and it looked slightly adorable. Her breath hitched when she realised what she'd just thought. Stupid crush. He must have heard it because when she looked up again he was watching her, his blue eyes gentle, a soft smile on his lips.
"Hey." she said softly with a smile of her own.
"Hey yourself." he replied rather scratchily. She reached for the water cup by his bed and held it for him so he could drink from the straw. He nodded to her when he was done. "The macaroons were good, Doc stole them from me."
"I know." she consoled him. "She'll give them back, she promised me." She smiled again.
"I like how you used dark chocolate. Thanks for baking them for me, I know it must be tough to get it right not liking them yourself." His eyes were sparkling, which set off a little alarm in her head but she squelched it. "I'll give you my Grandma's recipe, I'm sure you can do it justice." Her eyes widened in response. She didn't know what to say. "Course you should wait until I get injured again to make 'em." She frowned and he chuckled lightly. "I don't wanna push you into making them or anything, I know you're not fond of 'em." She sighed deeply. The insufferable man.
"I'd be happy to make them for you when you're not injured." she offered and he raised an eyebrow. Her eyes widened in realisation of what she said. "I didn't... mean... I just..." She gritted her teeth and closed her eyes. "I don't want you to use it as an excuse to get beat up or shot!" She lowered her head and could feel the heat of her skin. Insufferable man. She heard him chuckling and looked up to glare at him. "Shut up!" She poked him lightly in the ribs and he grimaced. That will teach him.
"I know, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you think that," he looked at her and his eyes seemed bluer than she'd seen them before, "but I'd like to use it as comfort food, you know?" She had to smile at that. "Something I can look forward to when I'm stuck here." She sighed and nodded.
"I would be honoured to use your grandmother's recipe." She had to return his smile, it was so child-like she could barely stand it. "What?"
"She'd love to hear you say that." His eyes were sparkling dangerously again. "Maybe some day, huh?" She felt a slight tug somewhere deep inside.
Stargate Command, August 2007
She ran a hand along the lab bench and sighed. She wasn't making this easy for herself. She'd left this place before, why was it so much harder now? It felt completely different this time. She couldn't fathom why. She was going to Atlantis, she should be so excited, she was excited, but not how she thought she'd be. It felt... she couldn't put it into words. She had to believe in herself it was time. Believe it for herself. She sighed, remembering the day the rest of SG-1 had been informed, it was not supposed to have happened that way, she was supposed to have been able to tell them herself, to tell Cam herself. Instead Woolsey had told them in the middle of the debriefing of the trip to Pegasus from which she'd just returned. In the moment it happened she couldn't believe he'd done it. Everyone had been stunned, then excited, they'd congratulated her. Everyone except Cameron. He'd been silent. Seriously, dangerously... silent. He'd mustered up the words eventually, spoken the usual platitudes, but something was terribly, horribly wrong. She had been furious with Woolsey. When she looked at General Landry after the meeting broke up she knew he was furious too.
The next day she'd heard that Cam had nearly gotten himself put on report for disrespecting the General. She'd been off base when it had happened, but Walter had said it was bad. Very, very bad. The General had ordered him to take the rest of the week off and he'd stormed out. Daniel had been seriously worried, going after him to make sure he got home. Vala, of all people, had called her to tell her that she thought Cameron was going to do something stupid. When she'd called Teal'c to find out more he'd simply told her Cam would be better left alone for a while. She'd listened to him, but maybe she shouldn't have. Maybe she should have... what? What could she have done? This was completely unlike the Cam Mitchell she knew. Respect for the chain of command was a part of his DNA practically, she'd had no idea what could have set him off. Not until she'd figured it out later, but she hadn't actually spoken to him while he was on leave, and after he came back she felt as if she'd missed her chance completely. When he returned he came to see her to explain that he wasn't angry with her, but with the IOA. He told her he understood what a huge opportunity this was for her. She wished at the time he had been angry with her, he'd had a member of his team taken from him without the chance to do anything about it. She hadn't even talked to him about it first. When she realised that, when she remembered the way things had been when he first took over SG-1, she'd felt so ashamed to have done that to him. He should have been angry with her, she was angry with herself after all.
Now it was the last day and she'd barely spoken to him since. She passed by her chair where her dress jacket hung from the back. She found the eagle pinned to one of the shoulders, running a finger over it. She remembered the look in his eyes as he'd pinned those eagles on her epaulettes, like he was filled to bursting with pride and honour. It had meant so much to him. Just two months ago. Two months since she'd pinned the eagles to his epaulettes as well. When she looked into his eyes as she snapped the stud of the eagle to fasten it, he looked as if he couldn't believe it, as if he was living a dream, and the feelings that had stirred up within her were hard to describe. She'd been unable to calm down at all the rest of the day, her mind would drift off at random and she'd see his eyes again in her mind, looking at her, those intense, clear blue eyes.
"My best day." The voice from her door startled her and she spun around. He leant against her door frame, his face so serious, his eyes so intense and dark.
"What?" she asked in confusion.
"When I pinned those on your shoulders. My best day. I've never done anything more satisfying, that made me feel prouder." His voice was low and soft and... frightening.
"Come on, Cam, you can't mean that." She smiled, but it fell from her lips immediately when she saw the look of pain which flashed across his eyes. "Cameron..." He looked down and she couldn't speak. The words wouldn't come.
"You know I think you're the best officer I've ever served with." His voice was barely above a whisper.
"I know." She could feel her eyes stinging.
"You know I'm certain you'd succeed at anything you set your mind to. No doubt in my mind." His eyes were fierce, the faith she saw in them was overwhelming.
"I know." Of course she knew these things. She was having trouble breathing.
"You know I'd never want to hold you back from-" He was clenching his jaws and balling his fists, moving from the doorway he walked into her lab a few steps before stopping and facing some equipment on her shelf, staring at it intently. "-from what you had to do. From doing what is best for you." He looked at her for just a split second and the look of fear in his eyes nearly made her knees buckle. She'd only witnessed it for a moment, he'd been living with that for two weeks? Her heart started pounding hard in her chest.
"I know that, Cam." She took a step towards him only to stop when she saw her hands were trembling slightly.
"You know..." He was looking at her shelves again, his jaw struggling with forming the words. "I think you belong on SG-1, your home is SG-1. With us... with..." Again just the briefest flash of his eyes and she was nearly undone.
"I know. Cam," she was about to take another step, but he had moved back to the door, one hand on the frame as he faced away from her, looking over his shoulder, she could only whisper the last, "I know."
"I won't give up, give you up." He walked out her door, her room shrunk, imploding on itself, she took a shuddering breath and had to hold up a hand to her chest at the sudden ache she was feeling.
"I know." she said, to herself more than anything. Several moments passed before she could straighten up and look around again at her surroundings. She picked up her jacket from the back of the chair and put it on, folded a last item of clothing into her case and closed it only to find Teal'c at her door when she turned around. As good-byes went, her farewell with the Jaffa warrior was heartfelt but easy, so she almost flinched when she saw Cameron leaning against the door to the 'gate room as she walked there with Teal'c. He just shared a look with the Jaffa who glanced her way before bowing his head, he walked inside, taking her case, leaving her staring into Cam's blue eyes for several moments. "Cam, I'm not..." She shook her head, unsure what she wanted to say, unsure what she was even feeling. She looked at him again to see him holding something out to her. It was the largest macaroon she'd ever seen, easily four inches across, and wrapped in cellophane. She couldn't help her eyes beginning to water and her lips trembling as she reached for it and held it to her chest.
"I know you don't like them, that's why I only made the one, but-" He was interrupted in mid-sentence when she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face against his shoulder. He sighed and wrapped his arms around behind her, holding her tightly, resting his chin on her shoulder. "If you fall, Sam, I will be there to catch you, I swear. No matter what. I will move Heaven and Earth. Remember the last time I caught you?" She nodded into his neck. "I used a ninety thousand ton battlecruiser to do it. I'd do anything for you, Sam." She was gripping the back of his BDUs in her balled up fists. "I mean it."
"I'll come back, Cam, I promise I will." She pulled away and looked into his eyes, seeing absolute faith reflected in them.
"I know." He let her go, and every instinct she had was telling her that single act had been the hardest thing he had ever done in his entire life.
Charleston, South Carolina, March 2009 (alternate timeline)
They walked down the tree-shaded street, little more than an alley in truth, nestled in the southern end of the Charleston Peninsula. She could smell the scents of Charleston Harbour as she looped her arm with Cam's and leaned against him slightly. He'd been quiet the last few minutes as they got closer to the town house owned by his grandmother in another timeline, he'd checked and she owned it in this one too. Sam thought maybe the familiarity was getting to him. Familiarity combined with the certainty the woman they were about to see would not know him at all.
"Cam?" She gave his arm a squeeze as he turned to her. "I don't hate macaroons." He raised his eyebrow. "It was the medication I was on, and when Carolyn clued me in and I tasted one again I loved it, but... I didn't want you to think I was... Urg I don't know what I was thinking. Just that I wanted to make you understand without having to persuade you." He was smiling in that way of his that set off her alarms. "What?"
"I know." he said softly and her eyes widened. "Doc Lam told me. I don't know why you didn't want to tell me but I figured you would eventually."
"You knew? Then why haven't you said anything?" She was leaning away slightly looking at him askance.
"'Cause it was fun teasing you about it, offering you Grandma's recipe, getting macaroons from you that you'd obviously enjoyed yourself." That grin on his face was irritating and she reached up to pinch his cheek. "Ow ow ow!" He grabbed her hand and kissed her fingers before leaning down and kissing her. "Thank you for telling me." She sighed and leant her head against his shoulder.
"You've been quiet. Are you worried." She felt him sigh and he let his cheek rest against the top of her head.
"I know she won't know me. She might not even recognise the name Mitchell, but my Grandma is a true Southern gentlewoman. She will see us if we call on her." He let go of her hand and put his own back in his pocket while they continued walking. They stopped in front of a brick town house with shutters and gables painted in a lustrous white, on the second floor above the door there was a long balcony which stretched along the side of the building. The door itself rested at the top of several small steps with antique ironwork banisters on either side, painted in the same black as the door itself. A heavy brass knocker took a place of prominence in the center of the door. Cam stepped up and used it then moved down to stand by Sam again, taking her hand. After a few moments the door swung inwards and the head of a young twenty-something girl poked out to inspect them, looking them up and down. Sam looked at Cameron and saw the recognition in his eyes.
"Yes? May I help you?" the young woman asked of them before a voice could be heard from inside that made Cam freeze beside her.
"Who is it, Maddie? Is it Mrs. Deveaux?" The voice held authority and certainty. Someone sure of themselves and their place. The young woman looked at them in apology for a moment before turning her head back inside.
"No, Miss Routledge, I don't recognise them myself." She turned back to them and was opening her mouth when the voice returned.
"Well do find out, child. Visitors shouldn't be kept waiting." Cam couldn't stifle a grin at that and the woman was rolling her eyes with a sigh.
"My name is Cameron Mitchell," he began, then indicated Sam, "and this is my wife, Samantha." It still gave her goosebumps to hear him call her his wife. "We were wondering if Miss Routledge could spare us a few moments of her day. It's possible she may remember one of my kin from before the war. A Stephen Mitchell, he lived in this area for a while." The girl nodded and asked them to wait, a short muffled discussion occurred behind the half closed door which picked up when the name 'Mitchell' was mentioned, and became more excited when the 'Stephen' was added. They were ushered into the small foyer which led off to the sitting room to their left and held the staircase up to the second floor beyond it. A tall, slender woman with fine white hair held tightly with hair clips, came in from the back, the kitchen it seemed, as she was drying her hands with a dish cloth, which she handed to the young woman. Her features were sharp but elegant, her green eyes piercing and canny. She looked long and hard at Cam for several moments before giving them both a small polite smile.
"How do you do, I'm Emily Routledge. You said your names are Cameron and Samantha? May I call you that?" They nodded at her enquiry. "And you're related to Stephen Mitchell?" She held out a hand to Cam which he took and shook, and afterwards doing the same with Sam.
"How do you do, Miss Routledge. Yes, ma'am, he was my first cousin, twice removed, my grandfather's cousin. They played together as kids back in Boston." he explained their cover to her and the elderly woman nodded with interest.
"Yes, I knew him. I knew him very well. Please, come in to the sitting room." She lead the way inside the comfortable space, bathed in the subdued light from the window, mostly shaded by the trees in front of the house. Several antique chairs surrounded a Dutch style coffee table and she indicated a small settee across from a large chair which she sat in herself. Cam had already been moving towards it, obviously familiar with it. She offered them tea which they accepted and she asked the young woman, Maddie, to fetch some.
"My Grandpa told me stories about him, but they covered only until just before the war. We were passing through Charleston this weekend on holiday and Samantha," he looked at Sam fondly, "reminded me that he used to live here for a spell. That he spoke of a Miss Routledge, whom he was courting at the time." She could see the old woman's eyes misting over slightly. "I'm sorry if this is difficult, Miss Routledge, but we don't know much of what happened to him after that. My Grandpa was stationed in Norfolk just before hostilities began and they lost touch." The old woman nodded several times in silence until Maddie came in with a plate of macaroons, Sam couldn't help but smile, Cam looked at them oddly.
"Please, help yourselves, we baked them for the church meeting tomorrow, there are plenty to go around." She was obviously taking the time to compose herself and Sam reached over to take some, handing one to Cam who hadn't made a move. When he smiled at her softly and took a bite of it his eyes were shimmering.
"He wrote about your macaroons." Cam said softly, his voice laden with emotion. "He was right." Emily Routledge raised a hand to cover her mouth as she blinked her eyes rapidly. Sam looked at her in alarm and both she and Cam were getting up, but the old lady waved them back down.
"I'm sorry, please forgive this old woman her lack of propriety." She breathed in and out to calm herself as Maddie returned with the tea and looked at them in alarm, she came in hurriedly and put the tea service down. "I'm fine, Maddie, I'm fine." She was quiet again until the young woman left. "You're correct, Stephen was courting me. He was a fine man, set to become an officer in the Navy. An aviator. His father died at sea before the outbreak of the war in Europe. He was in the Merchant Marine. No one knows what happened to him. Just a distress signal before his ship disappeared in the Arctic Sea. Stephen's mother was devastated." She was looking down at her hands, fingers rubbing together. "Stephen came to tell me that he had to return to Boston, that his mother needed him, but that he would return. I didn't find out what happened until months later. The airplane he was on, crashed in the Atlantic, just south of Massachusetts. I nearly went mad. To lose her husband and then her son right after? I can't imagine how much worse it was for Mrs. Mitchell." She closed her eyes and Cam was doing the same. Sam took a hold of his hand and lifted it to her lips. When Emily Routledge spoke again there was a quality of sadness in her voice which was undeniable, they turned to look at her and saw her green eyes sparkling from within unshed tears. "When I look at you, Cameron. I see him clearly. The resemblance is very strong." She turned towards Sam as a tear rolled down her cheek. "Please take care of him, Samantha, if he is anything at all like my Stephen then I know he is a very good man." Sam nodded her head, unable to speak.
Charleston, South Carolina, July 2010
She was looking down a narrow street with trees overhanging the road, making it seem more like an alley. The houses on either side were made of brick and lined with wooden shutters and balustrades on their balconies, built at the turn of the previous century. She'd never been here, but she remembered it. She remembered that gate which led to the house with the brass lanterns on either side of the green door. She remembered that covered driveway which ran next to the house with blue shutters. She remembered it clearly now.
"Deja vu?" Cam asked from beside her and she nodded, her eyes wide with disbelief. "So you remember the trip we made here in the alternate timeline." She nodded once more gripping his arm a little tighter. "Don't pinch my cheek this time when you tell me about your non-dislike of macaroons, okay?" She laughed and reached a hand to his face with an evil grin and he chuckled and leaned out of her reach.
"You've been teasing me this whole time. You deserve a little face stretching." She settled for elbowing him in the ribs. They'd returned from Praxyon the previous week and briefed Generals Landry and O'Neill on what they'd found. Jack told them he was going to discuss things with the President and to assume there would be a mission and they would be on it, but that they deserved a break after five months off-world. Cam decided it was time for Sam to meet his family. Sam had already met his parents and they were overjoyed to see her again when they visited the farm for several days. Cam had made a big deal about how she was supposed to ask her Mom for her permission since she had refused to get down on one knee after he recovered from his gunshot wound. She was amazed he could tease her about things that happened while he had a bullet lodged in his chest. He'd also made a big deal about her apologising to his grandmother for not liking macaroons, which now it seemed was all an act to allow him to tease her some more.
She'd woken up the last morning they'd spent on the farm in pain, similar to when she, Cam and Daniel had dreamt of their Christmas Day flight in the alternate reality. As best as she could guess, assimilating the memories from that timeline was... difficult. The connection to the Deep Core was obviously still in effect to some degree, perhaps because they were travelling through the Stargate when the timeline was revising itself. "Did you dream about it too then?" He nodded. "Were you... in pain when you woke up?" He looked at her and nodded once more. She sighed. "Do you think we'll remember everything eventually?" He stopped under one of the trees and embraced her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. She smiled slightly and buried her face in his neck, grasping the back of his shirt in her hands.
"I'm sorry, baby, if I could keep you from reliving that, I would." She shook her head and pulled back to look at him.
"I'm not worried about that, Cam. I've faced my own death so many times that it doesn't get to me like that." She looked into his eyes as his brows furrowed. "I'm worried about you reliving it. Seeing me die, not just hearing it described." She pulled her arms in and cupped his cheeks with them. "I'll be here if you do, Cam. I'll be right here." He nodded and she kissed him deeply. A surreptitious cough from an older gentleman passing by walking his dog broke them up. He smiled at them slyly and they had to chuckle to themselves before Cam took her hand again and led her to the brick walled house with the black door. This time when Cameron knocked the response was almost immediate. A melodious voice called out they were coming, before dropping into a slight contretemps with another voice, detailing how they were perfectly capable of opening the door to their own home, especially to greet their grandson. The door swung inwards to show beaming features at once familiar and never before seen.
"Cameron, my dear!" An old lady with elegant features immediately enveloped Cam in thin arms and planted kisses firmly on both his cheeks. He was chuckling to himself at the typical treatment. The woman turned her eyes to Sam and they softened and the smile which creased her lips was warm and heartfelt. "You must be Samantha, he's told me all about you, child." Sam hoped to God he hadn't or he'd be up on several Federal felony charges. Sam soon found herself wrapped in the woman's arms with her own cheeks being kissed. "You're just how he described you, dear. Lovely." Sam smiled and reached into her bag, producing a small decorative cloth pouch, tied with ribbon and handed it to Emily Mitchell. "This smells like... Cameron, did you give Samantha my recipe?" Cam was looking at Sam in surprise and she simply grinned at him.
"Uh, yes ma'am. Sam makes me macaroons when I have to spend time with the docs." he said as they were ushered inside and Maddie poked her head out from the kitchen and waved to Cameron before disappearing again. Emily's features screwed up in concern at the mere thought of her grandson being injured. She must be remembering hearing about his crash.
"Oh, Cameron, I know you love flying but I wish you could find a safer job. You're in the Air Force too aren't you, Samantha? Cameron tells me you're a scientist." She was opening the bag and fishing out a macaroon, looking critically at the texture and finish before taking a bite and beaming enthusiastically at Sam. "Cameron, have you-" Sam held up her hand showing the ring Cam had given her. "Oh my! I'm so happy! Maddie! Cameron's found her!" Cam couldn't help chuckling at the excited cries from the kitchen. They were ushered into the sitting room and Sam found herself gravitating to the settee she remembered before actually being directed to take a seat. "Oh, I want to hear everything, understood? Cameron says you met at the Academy, Samantha," at that moment a frown developed on the older woman's brow as she scrutinised Sam for a while before turning to Cam, "are you sure, Cameron? Isn't this the girl you met at the barbecue in McLean when you turned eight?"
"Huh?" Cameron looked at his grandmother askance.
On to Chapter 7