�Are you just going to stand there dripping all day or are you going to come in?�
Major Carter�s voice jerked me out of my thoughts and I as processed her words I realised my shirt, skin and hair were all still soaking wet.
�Sorry.� I mumbled abashedly as I stepped further into the Major�s quarters, a trail of water droplets behind me. �I think I�m ruining your carpet.� I spoke up timidly as I looked behind me and, to my surprise, Major Carter simply laughed.
�Believe me, it�s handled worse than a few drops of water.� She laughed, before taking me by the hand and half leading, half dragging me into the bathroom and poking me in the chest jokingly. �Off with it.� She ordered bluntly and I faltered, the words shocking me out of the slight daze I had been in.
�Wh�what?� I asked, my brow furrowing and the Major smiled, almost giggling.
�I said off with it.� She grinned, a mischievous glint in her eyes, �You said it yourself, you�re dripping on my floor.� She mock-glared before continuing in a softer tone, �Really, Quinn, you can�t sit in those damp clothes all night.�
�Ah�right�� I stammered, suddenly catching on to the Major Sam�s thought process, and I quickly obeyed, pulling the damp shirt over my head. I saw the Major flinch as her eyes were drawn to a jagged scar on my right shoulder and I fought not to flinch as she ran her hand over it gently. �It�s from when I got shot, I told you about it before.� I alluded to my previous conversation in the infirmary and the Major nodded gently.
�Yeah�� She replied quietly, apparently lost in her thoughts and I shrugged off her hand, suddenly self conscious.
�You don�t have to look at me if it bothers you that much.� I was appalled to find myself almost on the verge of tears.
�Oh, Quinn�� Major Sam sighed, moving her hand up to my face and cupping my chin. �You know that�s not how I feel.� She said firmly and I nodded, trying desperately to pull myself together.
�What�s happening to me?� I asked hoarsely, my grey eyes meeting her shimmering blue ones.
�Withdrawal, remember?� Sam�s voice was firm, keeping my focus whilst her hand on my cheek kept me grounded and I nodded again, a little more shakily this time.
�R-right.�
�Come on�� Major Sam ruffled my hair playfully, placing my damp tee shirt on a radiator and then leading my back into the main living area. �Colonel O�Neill said he hasn�t shown you television yet.�
*-*-*
It wasn�t until I woke up that I realised I must�ve fallen asleep but for some reason I didn�t panic, feeling oddly safe even though I wasn�t completely sure where I was. The sound of a voice quickly caught my attention and I opened my eyes, a female face slowly coming into focus.
�Major��
�We�re off duty, you can call me Sam.� The female spoke and I slowly remembered where I was.
�Sam...� I corrected, pausing briefly and licking my lips nervously before speaking in a somewhat questioning tone. ��I�m in your lap.�
�You fell asleep.� The Major stated, as if this explained everything, �I mean, you managed to watch about five minutes of the documentary on dogs but�� The Major trailed off and shrugged.
�But�� I began hesitantly, �I�m in your lap.� I was still trying to get my head around the fact itself, let alone figure out why I wasn�t moving.
�Well, Janet said you needed your rest, it would have been irresponsible to wake you.� Sam replied with a smile and I yawned as I managed to stand up before staring at the floor and murmuring shyly;
�Thanks, Sam. I�m sorry I wasn�t very interesting company.�
�Hey.� Major Carter laughed, �Company with you is nothing if not interesting,�
A knock on the door caught the attention of us both and I hastily retreated to the bathroom, pulling my shirt back on.
�Am I interrupting something?�
I frowned at the sound of the distinctive voice, it was familiar, but I couldn�t think of whom it belonged to and I hastily stepped back into Sam�s quarters wanting to reassure myself that this new person wasn�t going to be a threat to either of us. I had learned to relax around most of the people at Stargate command but instincts are hard to override and there was always a chance that a stranger could be dangerous.
�General!� Sam�s voice was shocked and she quickly snapped to attention, putting me even more on edge and I stared, with grey eyes, at the short, bald man trying to figure out as much as I could about this��General�.
�At ease, Major.� The man smiled and immediately I felt some of my suspicions dissipate. It was foolish, I know, but something in the man�s demeanour hinted that he wasn�t dangerous and I dared to let my guard down a fraction.
�Quinn, this is General Hammond.� Sam beckoned me forward and I moved to stand beside her.
�You look better than the last time I saw you, son.� The man smiled, extending his hand in what I had come to learn as the greeting here. �Yes...� He smiled wisely, �We have met before.� And I cursed myself internally for letting my confusion show on my face.
�I recognise your voice.� I replied when I saw Sam and General Hammond waiting for me to speak, adding �Sir.� For good measure.
�General Hammond came to visit you when you first arrived here.� Sam supplied, explaining why the voice sounded familiar.
�I�I don�t remember, Sir.� I admitted and the General smiled kindly.
�That�s not surprising. You weren�t the picture of health.�
�Is there something you needed, Sir?� Major Sam asked, perhaps noticing that the conversation didn�t seem to be going anywhere.
�Colonel Murray has requested that Quinn join his team. You know I don�t let just anyone out into the field with my men, I wanted to have a little chat with him first.� General Hammond replied and I tried not to panic at his words. �Relax, Son, it�s not a test.� The man joked and inwardly I breathed a sigh of relief before tensing again as he added, �Those come later.�
*-*-*
�We don�t normally house alien refugees on the planet for a long period of time.�
The General�s choice of conversation opener as we began the walk back to his office was hardly one which filled me with confidence and I found it hard to force out my reply past the lump that had suddenly appeared in my throat.
�Yes Sir.�
�At first, we thought you were Jonas Quinn but when Doctor Fraiser examined you we soon found that wasn�t the case. We were planning to send you back to your own universe but once we found out what that was like�� The General trailed off and I simply nodded, assuming I was supposed to understand what he was trying to convey. �And then, before I have chance to look for a suitable planet for you to live on, I�m getting calls saying how valuable you�re becoming, how quick you are at learning and then before I know it everyone�s taken a liking to you.� General Hammond continued as we entered the lift before turning to look at me with a serious but proud expression on his face. �You�ve tried to make yourself useful and I appreciate that. I also understand how hard it�s been for you to show the initiative you have. That�s the sort of personality we look for in our agents.�
�Thank you, Sir.� I replied, somehow sensing that the older man had more to say.
�But�� He continued as we stepped out of the lift and into another corridor. �Personality isn�t everything.� He said firmly, his voice and mannerisms taking on a serious tone. �Colonel Murray has high standards about who he lets on his team but, in the end, I�m the one who makes the final decision and I need to know you aren�t going to put any of my men in danger when they go off world.�
�I understand, Sir.� I responded, making eye contact for the first time to show that I truly did understand what he was saying and why he was saying it. As much as I didn�t like it, I had far more understanding of military thinking and logic than any of the other topics the Earthlings talked about like feelings or general culture.
�We have a series of psychiatric tests to perform and then we need to do a formal physical assessment.� The General explained before softening his expression somewhat. �Relax, son. It�s not as bad as it sounds, we do these to everyone.�
That put me at ease a little. At least I knew that if the same tests were performed on everyone then I figured they wouldn�t be deliberately trying to catch me out and that allowed me to relax a fraction as the General finally stopped walking and knocked on a door.
*-*-*
The voice that invited us to enter didn�t sound cold or threatening and, when I got to look at the man to whom the voice belonged, he didn�t appear cold or threatening either.
�Hello, Quinn.� The man extended his hand in greeting, �My name is Doctor Hutchinson.�
�Hello.� I replied quietly as I shook the offered hand, trying to pick up anything about the psychiatrist that I could use to my advantage. He certainly wasn�t what I had been expecting to see, nothing like the white coated, stern faced scientists I had grown up around. This man was dressed in his own clothing, similar to the civilian clothes I had been issued with, and his demeanour was friendly and relaxed.
�Would you like to take a seat?� Doctor Hutchinson gestured to an empty chair in front of his desk as General Hammond left the room. I didn�t want to sit down, I was nervous, I wanted to stay standing but I recognised that this was a suggestion and not a genuine question so I seated myself.
�Okay.� The Doctor smiled calmly, pushing his glasses back up his nose. �I hear you�ve been attending therapy sessions with Doctor Mackenzie, how are they working out?�
�Um, okay, I suppose.� I mumbled, trying to figure out what the Doctor wanted to hear. When he simply indicated for me to continue, I shrugged and added, �We�re from�different backgrounds, it�s hard to explain some things to him.�
�I�ll bet.� Hutchinson replied and I relaxed a fraction in my seat. This didn�t seem too difficult. �And you feel as though you�ve settled in here?� He asked and I frowned in confusion before asking tentatively;
�Settled in?�
�You know�got to know the place? Got used to being here�� The doctor trailed off as a look of comprehension settled on my features and I nodded.
�Yes, Sir. I like it here a lot.�
�You don�t have to call me �Sir�.� The dark haired doctor explained, ��Doctor Hutchinson� is fine. I want you to feel relaxed here, we aren�t trying to catch you out or trick you, there aren�t any right or wrong answers, just, say what you feel.� The man finished with another smile and I fought to keep my expression neutral.
What I felt was that he was lying, obviously there were wrong answers I could give or else it wouldn�t have been an assessment, would it? Deciding it wouldn�t work in my favour to mention this, I simply replied �Okay, Doctor Hutchinson� and tried to give the impression of being relaxed.
�So, we�ll start with a little word-association.� Hutchinson leaned forward as he spoke, his arms resting on the table. �I�m going to say a word and I just want you to reply with the first thing that comes to mind. Alright?�
The task sounded incredibly strange and pointless but ultimately harmless and I nodded to signal that I understood.
�Okay, first word�� The psychiatrist mumbled to himself as he flicked though a small handful of cards before announcing, ��Anger�.�
�Um�� I paused for a second trying to think of the best thing to say before I remembered that the responses were supposed to be spontaneous and I quickly blurted back, �Anger� before looking expectantly at Hutchinson.
�Ah�Quinn.� The Doctor gave a small, nervous laugh as he rubbed the stubble on his chin with one hand. �It�it has to be a different word, okay?�
�Right.� I replied quietly and the doctor smiled before beginning the procedure again.
*-*-*
�Yeah, I always though those things just looked like blots too.� Colonel O�Neill sympathised as we stood side-by-side in the elevator.
�I did try. I said one looked like a puddle.� I explained as I recounted my experiences of the tests I�d been subjected to.
��Atta boy.� The Colonel punched me on the shoulder playfully. �Even more reason for us to go out.� He grinned smugly and I scowled in good humoured frustration.
�How come you can�t tell me where we�re going?� I asked, even though I knew the answer I would receive.
�Because, Kiddo, it�s a surprise.� Colonel Jack replied pointedly, playfully cuffing the back of my head. �Now quit asking because I ain�t telling you.�
The �ping� as the elevator doors opened cut off any reply I might�ve made and I startled a little in shock when I saw Sam and Teal�c waiting near the entrance to the SGC. �You�re both coming too?� I asked hopefully, feeling a grin spread across my face as they both nodded in reply. Not only was I being allowed outside again but Sam, Teal�c and Colonel Jack were coming with me.
�Do you know where we�re going?� I asked both of them, smiling excitedly when Teal�c nodded but the smile quickly faded when he began speaking.
�Indeed. However, we are both under strict instructions not to disclose that information to you.� I didn�t even try to persuade the Jaffa otherwise, instead turning to Sam and asking;
�Can I have a clue?� as we started walking.
�Honestly, you�re like a kid trying to guess his presents on Christmas Eve, just relax.� The Colonel chuckled.
I had no idea what half of his sentence even meant but I nodded, shifting my gaze to the floor and mumbling quietly. �Sorry, Sir� before looking upwards slyly and asking, �Is it to get food?� which produced exasperated but amused groans from all three members of SG1.
*-*-*
Despite my love of Earth food, even the most diverse culinary establishment couldn�t have amazed me to the degree in which this �department store� did. Colonel Jack had to physically move me away from the doorway where I had stood, frozen in awe, from the minute we had entered.
�Hey, Kiddo, you in there?� He joked, snapping his fingers in front of my face.
�I�uh�.yes, yes Sir.� I stammered out, reluctantly glancing at the Colonel for a second before scanning back over the expanse before me, not wanting to take my eyes away from the huge array of items.
�Here. This is yours.� The Colonel caught my attention again, this time by pushing a wad of paper into my hand and I frowned at it for a second before my stunned brain realised what I was holding.
�Currency�� I didn�t realise I had spoken aloud until Teal�c nodded.
�It is the accumulation of the money you have earned for your services to the SGC.� He explained.
�Minus food and lodgings.� Sam said with a smile and I nodded, briefly dazed by this development before I managed to pull myself together and, even though a selfish part of me didn�t want to, I held my hand out to Colonel Jack.
�You should take this back.� I spoke past the lump in my throat. �I don�t deserve it.�
�Think of it as paid training and repayment for all those translations you helped us with.� Sam explained, pushing my hand back towards my chest.
�Believe me, Kiddo, the authorities don�t like giving money away in the slightest. If they thought there was even a slight chance you didn�t deserve this cash there�d be no way you�d be holding it right now.�
�Now, come on, don�t you want to spend it?� Sam prompted and I nodded, walking a few steps forward before stopping and turning to my companions.
�I think I have everything I need already.� I mumbled, �Is there something that the SGC requires?� I asked tentatively and Colonel Jack exchanged brief glances with Sam and Teal�c before sighing.
�The SGC requires you to have a little bit of fun.� He said, clearly attempting to keep his voice light. �Come on, there must be something you�ve seen that you want.� He prompted, quickly adding �Not food related!�
I closed my eyes as I tried to think of all the new technologies and inventions I�d come across during my time on Earth before finally coming to the memory of one of my earliest and most moving encounters with Earth culture and I finally, admitted in a nervous whisper. �Music.�
��What did you say?� Sam asked, tilting her head to one side and I fought the urge to lie and say �nothing�. What if it wasn�t an appropriate thing to spend money on? What if I should�ve have picked something more productive? Still I swallowed my nerves and tried speaking again, this time projecting a little more volume into my slight trembling voice.
�In Jonas� office there was a device that played music. Like the one in the car but it was��
�A CD player?� Sam prompted and I nodded, relieved she had understood.
�Quinn clearly desires to become more acquainted with�hip hop and rap.� Teal�c stated, drawing annoyed glances for the rest of SG1 while I simply scratched the back of my neck as I stared at the floor and mumbled.
�Um, sure Teal�c�.Whatever you say.�
*-*-*
�You�ll be needing some of these too!� Sam beamed as she dropped a handful of what were labelled as DVDs into the rapidly-filling trolley, I couldn�t believe that after only half an hour I could have chosen so many things, or that I had the money to pay for them all. What I had first found to be daunting and confusing was actually incredibly fun after a while and I was sure I was filling the SGC�s �requirement� as I scanned for something new to look at.
�I hope that-�
�Star Wars is in there, Teal�c.� Sam assured the Jaffa, hastily adding, �All 6 of them.� when the Jaffa raised a questioning eyebrow.
�Colonel O�Neill said they had a book section!� I signalled to the Colonel talking on his mobile phone before grinning excitedly at Major Sam and Teal�c. �Can we look, please? I memorised all the ones I have.� I pleaded.
�Sure thing, we�ll-� Major Carter quickly fell silent as Colonel O�Neill strode quickly towards us, any traces of fun or levity wiped from his face.
�We gotta go.� He snapped abruptly, not even stopping walking to speak to us and I saw Sam and Teal�c exchange worried glances before we fell into step with the Colonel.
�What�s the situation?� Sam asked and I could see the Colonel visibly compose himself before he replied.
�That was Hammond. SG2 have just come back from P4X-378. They found evidence of a goau�ld there.� He explained.
�Who?� Teal�c asked, verbalising the question I had been thinking. The Colonel�s next sentence was only a word but I felt all the breath rush out of me and my body freeze in shock as he replied.