Title: Falling

Author: helsinkibaby

Fandom: Stargate SG1

Pairing: Carolyn Lam/Agent Barrett

Rating: PG

Word Count: 415

Spoilers: The Fourth Horseman

Notes: For demon_faith, who needed a hug.

“You look like hell.”

Only when the words are out of his mouth, hanging in the air between them, does Malcolm realise that they might not be the wisest thing he’s ever said. He’s left in no doubt of that when Carolyn lifts her head to look at him and gives him a withering glance that reminds him of the look his Great Aunt Martha would wear whenever she came to visit his family.

Still, he stands by his words. She does look like hell – dark circles under her eyes, pale cheeks and furrowed brow, and he’s sure her lab coat used to fit her a hell of a lot better than that.

And she’s certainly never spoken to him in the waspish and oh so Great Aunt Martha like tone that she uses when she tells him, “If that’s your idea of a line, you’re going to die old and alone.”

Quickly deciding that unconditional surrender is his only option, he holds up his hands, palms facing her. “I hope not.” He inserts just enough humour into his voice to make it sound like he’s not being flip, sighing inwardly with relief when something – a smile? – tugs at the edges of her lips.

But only for a moment, then she’s looking down, flipping through her files again. “I’d ask why you’re here, but I already know… and I’ve told you, we’re no nearer to finding a cure and you coming here…”

“I’m not here for that.” Malcolm takes a step towards her, then another. “I’m here to see how you’re holding up.”

She laughs at that, bitterly, almost hysterically. “I’m fine. Hundreds of thousands of people are dying, there’s no cure in sight, my father is sick and I can’t even tell my mother…” She stops abruptly, covers her lips with her hands. He sees her shoulders rise and fall with quick deep breaths, and that’s enough for him.

Closing the distance between them, not caring that they’re in her office and anyone could walk in, he pulls her into his arms and holds her tightly. Her arms hang limply for a second, then wrap around his waist, holding him as if he were the only thing in the world she could hang on to. He couldn’t breathe too well, but he didn’t mind in the least.

“It’s going to be ok,” he whispers. “We’ll get through this.”

Honestly, he doesn’t know if that’s true. But when he holds her, it’s easy to believe.