Missing
By: shiny rosie
CATEGORY: Angst
SEASON/SPOILERS: Season 9 “Beachhead”
WARNINGS: None
AUTHOR’S NOTES: Challenge 18 of sg_challenges.
AUTHOR’S WEBSITE:
http://shiny-rosie.livejournal.com/
He shifted uncomfortably in his chair and flexed his fingers
against the smooth surface of the briefing room table. He could hear the others
moving around him, getting coffee, organizing papers, chatting about the
briefing they’d just finished, even some quiet laughter from a passing tech at
something Mitchell said. What ever the joke had been he’d missed it.
Just another day at the SGC, but somehow he couldn’t quite find the familiar
rhythm this morning. Something was off, out of balance and he couldn’t seem to
find his footing. What the hell was wrong with him? Here they were on the brink
of disaster like they’d never been before. If there was ever a time to be
focused it was now. He should be in his element. This (to quote a certain
General he knew) was “what we do”.
His gaze drifted to the empty chair to his left for what felt like hundredth
time since he’d sat down. He sighed and brought a hand up to his eyes; trying
to scrub away the remains of the headache he’d had ever since he’d woken up in
the Prometheus’s infirmary three days ago.
A light touch on his shoulder made him look up sharply; for one irrational
second sure who he would find there. Instead he found Sam looking down at him,
her forehead crinkled in concern.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” She said in a low voice and he silently
thanked her for not drawing the attention of the others. “You OK?”
“Yeah.” He forced himself to look at her face instead of the chair she was
leaning against. “Just a little tired. Late night.” It wasn’t exactly a lie.
Truth be told the four and a half hours of unbroken sleep he’d gotten last
night was the best he’d slept since the Beachhead but still… She looked at him
hard but all she said was,
“Lets grab coffee during our down time this weekend.” It wasn’t really a suggestion
and he sighed. He should have known she’d see right through him. She always
did.
“Sounds good.” He said. Meaning it, mostly, “I’ll give you a call tomorrow
afternoon.” She seemed satisfied and with a squeeze of his shoulder she was
gone.
He took a deep breath and pushed away from the table. As he stood he realized
he was alone in room. He let himself look at the empty chair one final time.
Without really meaning to he reached out and ran his fingers over the arch of
the back; the fabric was rough against his skin. Then he turned and walked out
of the room without looking back.
** The End **
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