As Time Passes By Chapter 3 - The Middle East
Chapter 3 - The Middle East (1991)
Summary: Sam and Jack meet again, this time half way around the world.
Rating: K+ (I think - nothing bad here, really)
A/N: I am so so so so sorry this has taken so long to get up. My muse decided to take a little trip, and leave me behind. I really have been wanting to get this finished, and I finally got the inspiration. So far, I'm planning on one more chapter (for sure), maybe two. I haven't decided on the second one yet. I think it depends on if my muse behaves. (Come on, it's MY muse…what are the chances? lol) And hopefully the next won't take as long, since I actually had it started before I started this one!
The animated chatter of off-duty airmen and soldiers filled the mess hall when Lieutenant Colonel Jack O'Neill entered. This wasn't his first time in combat, and with his experiences, it certainly wouldn't be the last.
Jack entered the chow line, filled his tray, then turned and scanned the crowd. He was supposed to meet his team here, after the briefing he had just gotten out of. So far, he hadn't seen any sign of them. He was making a second pass over the room when his eyes found a short mop of blond hair.
'Nah,' he told himself. 'What are the odds that she'd show up in my life again?' Besides, there were plenty of blondes in the world. He was shocked when the fair head turned and a pair of familiar blue eyes met his brown ones. He almost laughed when Samantha Carter's eyes widened in stunned recognition.
She was surrounded by what he figured were her flight members. They continued to laugh and joke around her, not noticing she had stopped. It didn't seem to faze them when she quit going along with the bantering. And it barely registered when she excused herself and left the table, once she'd allowed enough time for him to eat.
Sam felt his eyes follow her out the door of the mess hall. She couldn't explain why, but she wanted their conversation to be private, just between them. She could only hope he would realize that, and come after her. A few minutes later, he did. He rounded the corner of the mess hall to find her waiting for him.
"Lieutenant Carter?" Jack asked, emphasizing her rank.
"Yes, sir!" Sam responded, at attention.
"Fancy meeting you here, Carter." Jack smiled. "How've you been?"
"Good, sir, thank you. It's good to see you, too, sir." She chuckled.
"Care to share the joke?" Jack asked.
"Well, sir, think about it. We've met three times, and two of those three times have been in another country. I just think it's funny."
"You're right, that is funny. Although I think it may also be a testament to how often I'm out of the country."
"Very true, sir." Sam gave him an appraising look. "How have you been, sir?"
"Oh, can't complain, other than wishing I got more time at home with my family. But, what are you going to do, right?"
"Right. I'm guessing I shouldn't ask what you're doing here…"
"Not any more than I can really ask, and still expect a response, lieutenant."
"Touché."
"So, you been here for awhile?" Jack asked her.
"A couple of months. I've been doing a bit of flying," Sam answered with a grin.
"I'll just bet you have," he answered. "So, what's next for you, Carter?"
"Well, sir, once I've had my fun here, I'll be headed back to school for my Master's, and then, who knows?"
"Back to school, because you really need to get smarter, right?" Jack teased, grinning.
"Absolutely, colonel. You know what they say: if you've got it, flaunt it!"
"Right," Jack drawled. "Don't forget, lieutenant, I've seen your file, or at least the one at the Academy."
"We'll just keep that information between you and I, won't we, sir?"
"My lips are sealed." Jack smiled.
The two officers talked about what they could in their lives. They talked about the last part of her time at the Academy; the time he'd been able to spend with his wife and son; how her brother was still barely speaking to her; how she was trying to avoid having her father "grease the wheels" for her. It was hard enough to be taken seriously as on officer, between being a woman and being a scientist.
Finally, Jack seemed to realize how late it was getting. He was disappointed, because he was greatly enjoying their conversation. He hadn't been wrong all those years ago: Sam Carter was, indeed, a heartbreaker, and she had the heart and mind to go along with it. 'Someone is going to be a very lucky man some day.'
"Well, lieutenant," he said with a wry grin, "as much as I would truly enjoy keeping this going, it's getting late. And, unfortunately, I have a mission to prep for."
Sam looked at her watch. "Oh, wow! I didn't realize how late it had gotten. I've got some prep of my own to get done. I'm sorry to have kept you so long, sir," she added.
"Bull! You didn't keep me, Carter. I was a willing participant," he laughed.
Sam smiled, "If you say so, sir. Sometimes I have a tendency to just keep running on about not much of anything."
Jack's expression darkened slightly, even though he tried to keep his face from showing it, at the thought that someone had put that idea in her head. His protective instincts reared up.
"Sam, don' eve let anyone tell you that you talk too much, or you ramble, or you don't know what you're talking about. You have an amazing mind; I'm glad you've shared some of it with me."
Sam could feel the blush from her toes to her hair at his words. No one had ever shown that kind of faith and confidence in her. She didn't know what to say, at first.
"Sir, I…I don't…you have no idea what it means, for you to say that. Wow! What can I say, after that?" Sam could feel the tears forming behind her eyes, and she tried to blink them away.
"Just smile and say 'thank you'. You deserve it."
Sam was treated with a full-blown Jack O'Neill smile then, and she almost couldn't breathe at the sight. She found herself meeting his with a smile of her own. Now, it was Jack's turn to have breathing trouble.
"Thank you, sir. It means a lot to me."
Jack caught himself. "You're welcome, Carter. Any time."
"Which direction are you headed, sir?"
Jack pointed. "That way."
"Well, I'll leave you to it, then. Good luck with your mission, colonel. I hope it goes well."
"Thank you, lieutenant. Good luck on yours, too. Fly straight, and all that good stuff."
"Thank you, sir."
Each of them headed for their own part of camp, wondering if and when fate would bring them together again.