Promotion and Celebration! - [Carson/Cochraine]

[Rob Underwood]

Though he was still stiff and sore, and certain movements seemed as
though someone was jamming a red-hot, fiery poker through various
parts of his body. But nonetheless, Ki was finding himself restless;
eager to get up and get moving. But until he had a proper uniform, he
was going nowhere. Especially since he was called to a meeting with
General O'Neill. But Aiden was solving the problem, fortunately...

He was flipping through one of the magazines she'd left to him; trying
not to twitch between anxiousness and small twinges of aches and
pains. So when the knock sounded, he practically shouted "Come in!"
as he tossed the magazine onto the table as he levered himself out of
his chair.

Ellie cracked open the door and peaked around it. "Hi. Are you decent?"

"Never. But you won't see my underwear." He grinned at her blush as
she slipped past the door. "How are you?"

"Much better than you are. We only had one intruder get into R & D,
and he got trounced quite thoroughly just past the door. I think
there are some prior football players in Security. But you..." She
looked him up and down "... you just have to be a hero, don't you?"

Ki’s grin grew decidedly lopsided. “Well, it wasn’t like I *meant* to
get wounded, y’know. I just linked up with the response team as their
native guide, so to speak.” He shrugged as if to say ‘what can you
expect’. “Besides – I have a reputation as an adrenaline-fueled
Jay-Sock ninja to uphold.”

Ellie snorted disdainfully, her lip curling. Just like every other
meat-monkey Navy SEAL she’d ever ran into. It was a good thing he was
cute, and charming, or she’d never even speak to him beyond what was
required by duty. Of course, he wasn’t *stupid*, per se… “I ran into
Aiden along the way. She asked me to do a favor for her, since she
was packing up for her TAD-“

“TAD?”

“Uh…” She racked her brain for the non-Navy term. “TDY?”

“Oh. Right. So – favor?”

Stepping out into the hallway, Ellie brought the Service Blues on
their hanger, and the utilities on another hangar, each still in dry
cleaner’s plastic. “I believe she said you had an appointment, and
you needed a correct uniform?”

“Awesome!” Ki dived for the blues, and stripped the plastic off of
them. His nametag, skill badges and ribbons were all correctly
placed, except… “Uhm. I think you got the wrong uniform…”

“Nope.” With a small, mischievous smile, Ellie proffered a framed
document with the other hand. “I have paperwork to prove it!”

Ki took the frame, his eyes growing wide as he sank to the bed. “Holy
sh-“ he broke the expletive off in her presence, and substituted
“-crap! Are you serious?” When she nodded vigorously with a smile
that broke into a full-blown grin as she bounced on her toes, hands
clasped behind her back, he jumped to his feet as well. “A
meritorious promotion? I’m not due for Captain’s Board for almost a
year! Ha!” He scooped her into his arms and pirouetted her once; but
put her down quickly when the pain in his side warned him of the
consequences of too boisterous of an activity. “Thank you so much –
this is the best news in the world, from the best *person* in the
world!”

“Really?” She worked an arm up to nudge her glasses back up on her
nose, but didn’t pull out of his embrace.

“Yes, really.” She wasn’t pulling back, he’d noticed – instead, she
was gazing up at him with a look that was very… sweet. Lovely, even.
“In fact, would you be willing to go out to dinner with me tonight to
celebrate?”

“Assuming your meeting with the General allows it – yes. I’d be…”
Ecstatic? Thrilled? “…delighted.” she decided on. “And since you
are the promotee, and in very poor condition to drive, I shall pick
you up at seven tonight.”

“I love decisive women, Lieutenant. It’s a deal.”

“No, it’s a *date*, Captain.” She pulled back from his arms,
regretfully. “Now, you need to skin a cat and get under those
railroad tracks.” She paused, and gave a deliberately slow, curved
smile. “Sir.”

He paused in the process of stripping the uniform off of the hangar,
and studied her for a moment. “I don’t outrank you by that much, now.
And even though you’re smiling – quite prettily, I might add – will
the rank cause an issue?”

“Hell, in my world, you’re *still* a Lieutenant – you just added
another bar to show you’re fully trained.” She opened the door and
paused just before exiting. “And no – the rank doesn’t make a
difference to me – as long as you know what orders you’re supposed to
follow…”

She stepped out of the door, and closed it with a quiet giggle. The
look on his face was priceless…


Capt. Malachi Cochraine
CO/Combat Spec
SG-5

and

Lt j.g. Elizabeth Carson
R&D
SGC