Disclaimer: Yadda, yadda, yadda... What would we do without 'yadda, yadda, yadda?'
A/N Part III in 'The Relationship Series...' Can I possibly title it better than that? (Sarcasm alert! Big time!)
The wormhole of the Stargate kawooshed into the room, and the five individuals gathered at the bottom of the ramp leading up into the blue swirl of lights smiled, but had that look of saying 'goodbye,' too.
General Hammond was the first to speak. Colonel O'Neill,
Dr. Jackson... we'll see you tomorrow morning. Until
then...
Jack grinned as his commanding general spoke the words he
was soooo familiar with. ... we have a go... Yeah, I kinda
figured on that.
Hammond sent the Colonel a slightly sour look. You and
your sarcasm... It's going to get you into trouble one of these
days.
But not on...
Jack paused, then glanced towards Sam.
Where are we going again?
I'm not saying it if you can't bother to remember it,
she said, just as stubborn as he was dense about speaking the
official number designation of his and Daniel's destination.
Okay, okay!
Jack said, giving in easily after her
gentle chastisement. Of course, he would always give in easy
where Carter was concerned. It's P4R-113... Who gave it a
dumb name like that, anyway?
I did,
Hammond told them.
Daniel spoke up for the first time. And on that happy
note... Jack, the Stargate won't stay on forever if we don't go
through it sometime soon...
Jack said in a testy tone of voice, Daniel, we have
thirty-eight minutes, by Carter's calculations...
You do, I swear,
Carter said.
Jack gave a shrug of his shoulders under the black vest he
was wearing. There, ya see?
We're wasting time,
Daniel said in a sing/song
voice.
Hey!
Jack retorted, sounding pissed as hell but not
really pissed at anyone. The crux of that problem was that he
knew that his team members knew that he was just playacting for
their personal benefit... Ah, hell, when had they all gotten to
know him so well? If Conners hadn't broken his leg like he
had, we wouldn't be going on this... this...
Expedition,
Daniel filled in for him.
Whatever,
Jack said. Then, he finished his first
sentence without missing a beat. We wouldn't be going on this
expedition at all, so keep your shirt on about leaving,
will ya? There will be plenty of time to dig around in that old
ruin we're going to investigate, don't you worry.
The truth
of the situation was, though, that Jack didn't want to leave Sam
and Teal'c behind, and was dawdling on purpose so that he could
put off leaving for as long as possible.
That is, until Daniel reached out and grabbed a fistful of
Jack's vest in a surprisingly tight grip. He pulled Jack forward
up the steps to the ramp. See you guys tomorrow morning...
Come on, Jack.
When had Danny-boy gotten so strong? Jack wondered. He
tripped up the steps, and was glad that Daniel had such a tight
grip on his vest, as that grip of his was the only thing keeping
Jack from falling on his face. See ya tomorrow!
he called
in a strangled tone of voice, but was forced to follow Daniel up
to the active 'Gate.
Sam giggled (something she had taken to doing lately), and
said, No worries! We'll be fine... We have big plans for the
next day, after all!
Teal'c gave a rare Jaffa smile. If you can call lunch
plans 'big plans' MajorCarter.
I'm gonna tell Janet that you don't think lunch with us
is 'big plans,' Teal'c,
Sam retorted. She'll poke you
with her extra long needles made only for Jaffa next time we have
to go to the Infirmary.
That may be the next time I see her,
Teal'c
regretfully said. I must miss our lunch date today, and ask
for a storm check.
Sam grinned. That's 'rain check,' Teal'c,
she
said.
Teal'c answered, I know. DanielJackson has been
instructing me on Earth idioms and customs. I merely wished to
'keep you on your toes,'
he said, still grinning that almost,
not-quite-there Jaffa smile.
Sam's smile was much larger. We'll miss you, then,
Teal'c. But maybe Janet will go out to lunch with me for
a change, instead of going with me to the Commissary.
Jack butted into the conversation. Have fun, wherever
you go, and think of us as we eat our MREs!
But Daniel had clearly had enough, and was itching to get
going. 'Miles to go before we sleep,' and all that, Jack,
he reminded. We're off to excavate... See you all tomorrow
morning!
Bye!
came out a chorus of voices. Teal'c's voice
rumbled under the other farewells.
Later!
was all that Jack had time to squeak before
Daniel had propelled him into the 'Gate. In no time at all
(three or so seconds, Jack thought to himself), they were in the
balmy atmosphere of P4R-113. Jack was already mentally calling
it 'that damned Daniel planet,' in his head.
The Stargate disengaged behind them with a snap. They stepped down the Stargate steps, and moved fluidly through the surrounding brush towards the path that would take the two to the ruin that Daniel so wanted to excavate. Though, they still had a half-hour walk in head of them.
Daniel didn't waste any time speaking up, now that they were
officially alone. Okay, Jack,
he said. Just how long
has this dating Sam thing been going on?
Jack nearly choked. This what?
he grunted in
Daniel's general direction.
Daniel rolled his eyes. Here we are, the only two people
on a totally deserted planet, all alone, just the two of us...
You better tell me what I want to know, or I might refuse to make
supper tonight, and make you cook, instead.
Then he did a
double take. Better yet, I'll make you help me with all my
excavating, and tell Hammond that you were less than helpful if
you don't... So, what's it gonna be?
Jack righted himself after Daniel let go of his vest.
Damn, Daniel, do you think...
And don't change the subject,
Daniel retorted.
I'm onto you... Teal'c told me that you do that all
the...
Teal'c doesn't know everything...
Jack started to
say.
Daniel cut him off. He knows enough.
He skirted a
rose bush and its prickly thorns that was growing at the side of
the path, then continued. So, what's it gonna be,
Jack?
Threaten me with something other than just making supper,
Daniel, or...
I'll tell Hammond about you and Sam if you make me do
it,
Daniel immediately affirmed.
Jack's brows rose to his gray hairline. Damn, you're not
kidding...
No, I'm not... And I know that you would do just about
anything to keep me from hurting Sam's career... even if it's not
true, and you're not dating her...
Okay, okay! But not one word, ya got that?
Jack
replied.
Daniel sighed. You also know that I would never do
anything that I know would hurt Sam, either, Jack... Your secret
stays on this planet, and I'll never mention it again if you just
tell me, so that I can get over this wondering, but not being
absolutely sure thing that I have going...
Six months,
Jack said, whispered really. Since
that...
That movie about the Challenger disaster?
Daniel
finished for him.
Hey!
Jack said in some surprise. How did you know
that?
Daniel suddenly grinned. Because me and Teal'c planned
for that little outing of yours ahead of time... We each agreed
to say that we couldn't go with you so that...
Jack looked at him in amazed appreciation. So that I
would have to ask Carter...
It was Teal'c's idea,
Daniel told him. He's the
one who saw that Za'tarc test of Anise's, and knew how you felt
about each other.
And I trusted him not to say anything!
Jack glared
at the surrounding weeds in contempt.
And he didn't,
Daniel said. I guessed when he
'didn't say anything.' Geez, Jack, give me some credit, will ya?
I can make deductions on my own, ya know, and I've known
you and Sam for...
Too long, apparently,
Jack decisively stated.
You two..?
Daniel asked then. How to put
it..?
he mumbled to himself. Then, in a louder voice, he
asked Jack, How serious is this thing between you two? I
mean, I'm part of the team... I need to know what to
expect.
Mine and Carter's relationship has had no affect on the
team as a whole, so...
Jack began to defend.
Daniel interrupted him. I know, I know... But even you
have to admit that the team has gotten ten times better at what
we do over these last six months.
It was the last thing that Jack expected to hear.
So..?
he prompted.
So,
Daniel complied to his prompt. How
serious?
Jack sighed in defeat, then told his friend,
Very.
Very serious?
Yes, Daniel, now can we drop it, okay?
No way,
Daniel smirked. How serious is 'very
serious?'
Jack sighed again. As in, I would have already asked her
to marry me, but we have those dumb regulations to deal
with.
Wow. That's serious,
Daniel announced.
Yeah. Now shut up, will ya? And if Hammond ever hears
one word about this...
Oh, Hammond already knows,
Daniel said in a totally
blasé tone. Or, at least, he suspects.
Jack stopped walking along the path so fast that Daniel ran
into him. He what? How do you know all this when I
haven't heard..?
He didn't tell me directly, but to me through Janet...
That way, he can deny everything if push comes to shove on
this...
If push comes to shove,
Jack repeated, I'll
retire...
But that won't be necessary,
Daniel confirmed. As
I said, things couldn't be better, and I told Hammond so...
through Janet...
So Janet knows, too?
Jack asked. When Daniel nodded,
he continued, What..? Did she see something, or hear
something that..?
She's known ever since she met you guys that day at the
Chelsea Street Mall,
Daniel diffidently answered. She's
not dumb, you know, and...
Cassie,
Jack said, then, in another defeated voice.
I bet it was Cassie. Honestly, that girl is so tenacious that
I would want her on the team if she were any older... She
reminds me of Carter...
Hey, you too?
Daniel inquired then in a bright voice,
happy to have his own feelings about Cassie confirmed. It's
that same single-mindedness...
Yeah, I know what you're talking about,
Jack told
him.
Daniel glanced his way. Yeah, I bet you do,
he said,
showing that he really did understand. Anyway..,
he said
with a shake of his head. You two... um... sleeping
together... or anything?
Daniel!
Jack exploded. Too personal,
don'tchathink?
But Daniel didn't back down in the face of Jack's sudden
anger. It wasn't a surprise, really... He had never been one to
bow down to Jack's louder words, not since he'd met the volatile
man. Well?
Geez! You gotta know everything, don't you?
Yeah, I do,
Daniel agreed. I'm that way... You
know... tenacious.
Have you been taking lessons from Carter, too?
Jack
sarcastically asked.
No,
Daniel deadpanned back. Cassie's been
teaching me. So?
Jack closed his eyes in distress. This is not
happening, he told himself. But he opened his eyes to see
Daniel expectantly watching him. He did his best to avoid
Daniel's gaze, and actually succeeded for a whole thirty seconds,
but Daniel was... tenacious. All right!
Jack said.
Yes! Now will ya shut up about it already?
Daniel slowly grinned. Thought so,
he said with a
certain amount of satisfaction in his voice. You've been way
too nice these past few months not to...
Hey!
Jack harshly said. Enough! You're talking
about Carter, here!
I remember,
Daniel protested. How can I
forget?
What you're suggesting can be taken as really dirty...
You just remember that, too!
Jack demanded.
It's not dirty!
Daniel instantly protested as well.
It's... it's... really cool,
he finally admitted,
remembering the one year that he had been married.
Yeah,
Jack solemnly said then, reminding them.
But, no matter how 'cool' it really is, a court-martial squad
of goons can pervert it faster than a System Lord can
gloat.
Court-martial... Is that all you can think about?
Daniel asked.
I better think about that!
Jack told him. I have
Carter's career to think about, too, whenever I get
bored!
What about your own career?
Jack grimaced. If it's a toss up between mine and
Carter's careers, I don't give a hoot in hell about my own job...
But Carter has so much more to lose than I do that...
No, she doesn't,
Daniel said. Not really. You
both have the same thing to lose, and that's a priceless thing to
lose if you ask me.
Jack was rather surprised that Daniel could be so romantic
at times. And what do we have to lose, Daniel?
he asked,
his voice positively dripping with sarcasm despite Daniel's
romantic leanings.
Daniel rolled his eyes, as if this should be obvious to
Jack. You have this whole 'together' thing to lose, Jack!
And that's worth... It's worth more than gold! More than...
than anything!
Jack stared at Daniel. When did you get to be so
wise?
God, if I could have Sha're like you have Sam..!
Daniel burst out.
Daniel!
Jack's voice whipped over his friend. Do
not say that out loud, ever, do you understand me?
Jack!
Daniel shouted, and held his head. God!
Why are you being like this?
Like what?
So damned soldierish!
Daniel said at last. Any
one can see that what you and Sam share is a good thing, not
something that needs to be hidden and...
I'm hiding it for her protection!
Jack harshly bit
back. And you will do the same if you care one whit about
what happens to Carter!
I care,
Daniel insisted. I care more than you
know. Sam's as much a sister to me as she is...
Then keep your mouth shut,
Jack ordered. And if I
have to order you to, I will.
You don't have to,
Daniel assured him. I can see
how much this is affecting both of you...
It's not affecting us or our jobs at all,
Jack
interrupted.
Yes, it is!
Daniel insisted. If anything, you've
gotten better at your jobs, and I will say as much if I
ever...
Say nothing!
Jack, you don't get it, do you?
Daniel inquired.
I 'get it' just fine,
Jack negated. What worries
me is that the military is sure not to 'get it' at all! It will
only see two people in violation of a strict fraternization
policy that I happen to agree with in about every other instance
than ours, so...
Daniel flatly said, You're wrong.
Excuse me?
Jack asked, vibrating with his anger for
another moment before it started to seep out of him at Daniel's
intense expression.
You're wrong,
Daniel repeated. Hammond's as
military as a man can be, he respects those regulations, too, and
he hasn't said a thing to me... Has he spoken to either you or
Sam about any of this?
Jack had to concede that Daniel had a point. No.
Daniel gave a gesture that clearly said 'There ya go'
without him saying a word. So... What's it like?
Daniel
finally asked.
Slowly, Jack smiled. It's good,
he answered.
Daniel grinned, too. Yeah?
Very good!
Jack said then, his smile growing wider.
Should have done this ages ago.
Yes, you should have,
Daniel muttered in agreement.
Then he threw his arm over Jack's shoulder in a rare show of
brotherly affection. And I'm really glad that you finally
did,
he said, and squeezed.
Sequel: Do You Want Fries With That?
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