DISCLAIMER: Yeah, the SG-1 guys are all property of MGM, World 
Gekko Corp and Double Secret productions. This is all in fun, no 
infringement on copyrights or trademarks was intended. All other 
characters, ideas, etc., herein are copyrighted to the author. 
TITLE: Lost
AUTHOR: Rowan Darkstar 
EMAIL: rowan_d1@yahoo.com 
WEBSITE: http://rowan_d.tripod.com/ 
RATING: (G) 
CATEGORIES: Angst, Missing Scene
LENGTH:  300 words


Written for the GateShip Wednesday Shorts "Rite of Passage" 
Challenge


"LOST"
by 
Rowan Darkstar (rowan_d1@yahoo.com) 
Copyright (c) 2005  



He never has to look long to find her.  She is predictable.  The 
break in pattern sparks his concern.
 
He has looked in the right place twice, he just didn’t see her.  
The lights are off in her lab, and she’s sitting on the floor in 
a shadowed corner.

"Carter?"

Her awareness is visceral.  She sniffs, shadow shifting.  "Sir."  
Her voice is dry and thready.  She’s been crying.

"Hey."  His voice loses all command.

He crosses the lab and sinks beside her, knees protesting.  They 
are shoulder to shoulder as he leans against the wall.

"You all right?"  He doesn’t know what else to say.

She nods, looks at her lap, but the question makes her cry.

He should tell her everything will be all right.  But he doesn’t 
know.

The pain in her voice hurts his chest.  "It’s just...I know she’s 
not mine.  She’s Janet’s.  Janet’s her mother, and she’s the best 
mother I could..."  She trails off, sniffs, swallows.  "I should 
be down there taking care of Janet.  And I have, and I will, but 
I just..."

He reaches out with thumb and forefinger and pushes back the curl 
at her temple.  "Hey," he says again.  "You love that little 
girl.  Just because you’re not her mother, doesn’t mean you’re 
not her *family*."

Carter shades her eyes, crying again in the darkness.  He wraps 
his arm around her, and she lets him lead her head onto his 
shoulder.  He cradles her neck, rests his mouth in her hair.

Her tears slow.  Her pain doesn’t.  She meets his gaze for a long 
beat in the silence, eyes so blue in the glare from the hall.  "I 
have to go help Janet."

He winces.  But he lets her go.

He listens to her footsteps as he remains in the dark.

*****

rowan_d1@yahoo.com