Fic: Fluorescent Adolescent (3+4/4)
Parts 1 + 2 here
Chapter 3
“I’m sorry, General, there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with him,” Carolyn tried to explain for the umpteenth time.
“I just can’t accept that, Doctor! One of my finest officers is now a hormone-ravaged teenage boy, spending day and night in his quarters playing video games!”
It was true. It had been a week and Cam had left his quarters only to eat in the commissary, and only then when Sam had gone to drag him out.
“General, if I may?” Sam cut in. Landry nodded, seemingly relieved to get out of this never-ending argument with Carolyn.
She cleared her throat, “Sir, he’s bored,”
Landry huffed, “We all know he’s bored, Colonel. What do you suggest?”
“Sir, he wants to go on missions. Through the Stargate, Sir,”
There was silence.
“Colonel, I hope you know there are rules about minors, however - qualified, going through the ‘gate,”
“I do, Sir, but we’ve done it before. And if we just take him on a simple recon mission, he’ll be in no danger.”
Landry sighed and bowed his head in resignation. “SG-1’s leave ends tomorrow. There’ll be a briefing tomorrow morning at 0900 for a recon mission scheduled for the day after tomorrow. Get him to the briefing and he can go.” He stood up, prompting Sam follow suit. “And the two of you can work on sorting out this mess.” He left, leaving Sam and Carolyn looking despairingly at each other.
……..
“Why don’t I get a gun?” Cam whined as the rest of SG-1 received and checked their weapons.
“Because, Colonel Mitchell, you are 13 years of age,” replied Teal’c, looking down at the scrawny boy in front of him, “And are not of age to carry weapons.” Cam scowled back up at him.
When they’d had the briefing the previous day, it was the first time his team had seen him in his current state. They’d had a week’s leave so Teal’c had gone to Dakara, while Daniel and Vala had gone on two completely different vacations, honest. The site of their adolescent team leader had caused a confused pout from Daniel, a fit of laughter from Vala, and an amused raised eyebrow from Teal’c.
Sam could only smile at the team’s reactions. And Cam’s scowl in response to them. He’d almost had another paddy-fit but a warning glare from Sam had stopped him, and he’d settled for a sulk instead.
Now they stood in front of the Stargate ramp, watching it spin and the chevrons lock in place.
Sam, as designated leader of SG-1, stepped through the event horizon first, closely followed by a slightly nervous Cameron.
On the other side, lush green fields spread in every direction. Sam turned to see Cameron looking around in awe. He must only remember a few details from his time at the SGC. And apparently, what to expect on other planets wasn’t part of it.
Vala, Daniel and Teal’c stepped through the gate together and the wormhole collapsed, the crackle barely covering their sniggering. Sam gave them a warning look and they stopped quickly. She seemed to have been doing that a lot lately.
“Ok, there’s a settlement over there,” Cameron pointed to a collection of buildings a few miles off and started down the dirt track towards it. After some stifled giggles, the rest of the team followed him in silence.
……..
When they reached the buildings, there was no sign of life. Well, there were no people, but all the signs of people were there. Market stalls left abandoned, food still on tables, dust still hanging in the air from recent activity.
Cam held up his fist and the team stopped instantly. They aimed their weapons at windows, doors, corners, looking for signs of movement.
Suddenly there was an energy blast from behind a market stall, missing the team by about a metre. Before anyone could react, Cam had grabbed the zat gun from Sam’s thigh holster and fired it at the attacker. A body slumped from behind the stall.
“Woah,” Sam was impressed, but there was little time for praise as more energy fire rained down at them. Daniel got hit, and slumped to the floor, unconscious, but still alive. Teal’c reached down for his Daniel’s weapon.
“Colonel Mitchell!” He threw the gun to Cameron, who caught it and started firing, taking down more attackers than the rest of the team put together. Except maybe for Teal’c.
The firing stopped eventually. The other side had taken too many casualties.
“Drop your weapons or you will be destroyed!” Came a harsh voice from the roof of a nearby building. They obliged and raised their hands into the air.
A group of big men appeared and grabbed them by the arms. They put bags over their captives’ heads and dragged them away.
…….
“Sam?” A small, far-away voice brought Sam into consciousness. It was dark. Very dark. A blurry young face swam in front of her, then gradually becoming more defined as she blinked.
“Cam-” she tried to sit up but her head almost exploded and she collapsed back down again.
“Sam, try not to move. You hit your head. Hard. Very hard. Well, you didn’t hit it, they did. Hard-”
“Ok, Camz, I get the idea,” She opened an eye and regarded the boy, “They didn’t hurt you, did they?”
“Not much,” he replied, moving his arm behind his back. Sam frowned.
“Camz?” She reached out for his arm and he reluctantly showed her. He’d ripped a strip from his t-shirt and tied it around it, but the gash was still obvious. It looked bad. Trust Cameron to not make a fuss.
“Where are we?” she asked, changing the subject. If this young Cam was anything like the adult Cam, she knew how stubborn he could be about needing help.
“Some kind of cell. Its solid walls and a metal-bar door,”
“How long have we been here?”
“About three hours I think. I don’t really know, they took my watch.”
“General Landry should send a search and rescue team through when we miss our four-hour check-in.” Sam propped herself up on her elbows and Cameron helped her lean up against the wall.
“Where are the others?” Sam suddenly realised Daniel, Teal’c and Vala weren’t with them.
Cam shrugged, “I guess in another cell? I haven’t heard anything so I doubt they’re being tortured-”
“CAM!”
“What? It’s happened before,” Cameron sighed and leant back next to Sam.
They sat there like that in silence for a few minutes, and then Cam cleared his throat and looked over at Sam.
“Sam?” his voice squeaked and he blushed when she looked at him weirdly
“Are you Ok, Camz?”
“Yeah, I’m fine…” he shook his head and tried again, “Sam, I just wanted to tell you something.”
“Go on,” she urged. He looked very embarrassed about something.
“It’s just- well, I- when I’m and adult again-well, I-” he made a frustrated grunt and hit his head back against the wall.
“Camz, what’s the matter?”
“Sam, you a very attractive woman, and I really like you,” he spoke fast, but politely.
Sam was silent for a while, regarding him with wide eyes. Where was this going? No, she thought she knew.
He continued, “And I’m sure, when I’m older, and you’re not older, that is- if I get changed back, and don’t have to- grow up again- not that I wouldn’t want to if you were older than me…” he was getting worked up and frustrated.
Sam touched his shoulder and he relaxed slightly under her touch. “Camz? Are you trying to ask me out?” She tried desperately not to smile.
He looked at her, eyes wide, red face, he looked terrified, “I- I-um-” he stammered, “Yes?” he finally managed to squeak out.
Before Sam could respond there was a clang of metal and a scraping sound. Cam jumped to his feet and ran over to the bars of the cell to see who was there.
A big man dressed in animal hide appeared at the bars and snarled down at Cameron.
“Representatives from your world have instructed us to let you go,” he spat out at them, his voice low and gravely. Full of loathing.
“Really?” Sam asked, struggling to get to her feet. Cam rushed over to help her up.
The man didn’t respond to her question. That would be more than his job’s worth. Instead he just unbolted the door and walked off, apparently expecting them to follow.
...---...
Chapter 4
“General, it appears that the occupants of the settlement nearest the Stargate had been overcome by those from the next village along the valley,” Explained Daniel.
They’d got back through the ‘gate a few hours ago after being rescued by SG-5. Sam and Cameron had been treated in the infirmary. Sam had mild concussion while Cameron needed six stitches in his arm. The rest of the team had somehow got off with just a few scratches and bruises.
“Well, SG-5 seemed to have gotten a better reception than you, I have to say, and have struck a mutual friendship with the new residents. If you hadn’t started a gun-fight, I’m sure you would have been greeted with open arms-”
“They shot at us first!” Cameron shouted, standing and pointing at the General.
“Son, you may be 13-years-old, but if you can persuade me to let you through the Stargate, you can respect me as your commanding officer, and be the Lieutenant Colonel you claim still to be!”
Cam went red and sank back into his chair, “Sorry, Sir,” he was more than aware of his teammates’ eyes on him.
“Sir, I’ve been thinking about the device Mitchell touched,” Sam broke the silence.
“Go ahead, Colonel,”
“Well you see, Sir, if the device has the ability to decrease the age of the user, it stands to reason that it also has the ability to increase the age.”
“And are you telling me you have found how to do this?”
“Yes, Sir, I believe I have. Well, theoretically at least,” Cam sighed and rolled his eyes. Sam ignored him, “The combination of buttons Colonel Mitchell pressed must have caused an energy beam at the correct frequency to disrupt his body chemistry, somehow changing his cell structure, dramatically reducing his physical, and mental age,”
“Hey-” Cam started.
“Now, I suspect that if he touches the same combination of buttons, but in reverse order, he should be restored to his proper age,” Sam sat back in her chair to let the plan settle in Landry’s mind.
“Do it,” he said after a few seconds. He stood up and Sam followed suit. When Cam stayed sitting, Sam shot him a glare and he rolled his eyes again and stood up.
…………
“Ok, this should work,” Sam said, busying herself around the small box she’d placed on a desk in her lab. Watching her from a distance were Daniel, Teal’c, Vala and Carolyn. They all looked nervous, hoping this would work, and mentally, if not actually, crossing their fingers. They were all holding facemasks.
Sitting on a chair opposite her with his elbows on the table, was a surprisingly calm Cameron.
“If this doesn’t work, could I actually get younger? He asked in awe, imagining the havoc he could cause being a small child.
Sam glanced up at him briefly. “Theoretically, yes. But only if you get the combination wrong,” she suddenly looked worried and narrowed her eyes at him, “You do remember the combination, right?”
Cameron rolled his eyes again, “Yes!”
“Ok, it’s ready,” Sam stood back from the table, giving Cam room. She turned to the small audience, “There will probably be a lot of smoke, and so I’d put the masks on… and prepare to leave the room if necessary. The suction fans are on, but just in case,”
Cameron jumped down from the chair and stood in front of the box. He flexed his fingers, cracking the knuckles. Then he rolled his head from side to side and lifted each leg in turn, “Here goes,” he reached forwards, getting his fingers into place to press the buttons. Mumbling to himself, he pressed button after button.
“There,” he stood back. There was a silent pause than a dense cloud of bluey-purple smoke billowed out of the device, enveloping Cameron. The foul-smelling smoke continued spreading outwards towards the team, and then began thinning out. There was a heavy thud as Cam hit the floor.
“Ok, clear!” Sam called, stepping forward and kneeling down next to him. Carolyn rushed forwards, med-pack in hand and crouched next to the fallen form of an adult Cameron Mitchell.
“Cameron? Are you Ok?” She asked, lifting his head onto her lap. He coughed and opened his eyes.
“Wow!” he smiled up at them, “I spend a whole week as a teenage boy and only now I get my wish?” he grinned at their shocked expressions and climbed to his feet.
“Well!” he said, clapping his hands together, “Hope you didn’t miss me- as me, that is,”
The others looked at each other and smiled.
“You were a most amusing child Colonel Mitchell,” replied Teal’c with a smile, “Very much the youth of the man you became,” he bowed his head and walked out of the lab, hands clasped behind his back.
“What did he mean by that?” Cam stood, bemused at the Jaffa’s statement. His friends exchanged looks and excused themselves, muttering something about smelly smoke.
Only Sam remained with him, and she looked amused by something.
“What?” he asked, crossing his arms and doing a perfect impression of Daniel’s eyebrow-furrowing-and-pout look.
Sam laughed then looked curious. “Do you remember everything that happened when you were- younger?”
Cam grinned, “I think so. Why?”
“Do you remember when we were in the cell, and you-” she cut off, blushing slightly.
“I-What? Sam?” he seemed to be enjoying this.
“You asked me, if, when you were older, if I’d-”
“Carter?” he leaned towards her, “Are you trying to ask me out?” A wide smile took over his face.
Sam narrowed her eyes, “I really hate you sometimes, Cam!” she laughed
Cameron drew her into a big hug. She hugged him back, relaxing into him. She was glad her theory was right, she didn’t know if she could handle the moody little Cam for much longer. They stayed there for a while then she drew back.
“One question,”
“Hit me,”
“Why ‘Camz’?”
Cam blushed a little, “Hey, I was 13. I thought the ‘z’ made me cool,”
Their laughter echoed around the lab until Sam touched Cameron’s shoulder.
“Come on, let’s get something to eat,”
Cam looked down at the hand on his shoulder and shook his head. He reached up to grab and remove it gently from his shoulder. But he didn’t let go.
“Let’s go,” He agreed, smiling.
END