Here is a new fic from Jackie, posted on her behalf by me - Flatkatsi. Now, a few answers to all those questions everyone always asks. Yes, it is Sam/Jack romance - be patient. Yes, there is lots and lots of hurt Jack, and neither Jackie nor I make any apology for that. It was written over a year ago and has already been archived elsewhere, so yes you may have read it before, and therefore no part of the plot will be changed regardless of suggestions in reviews. And lastly - and this one is mainly my gripe, not Jackie's, because it recently happened with one of my stories - if you think you know what is about to happen please keep it to yourself. Don't be like one of those people who stood outside the Star Wars movie and said "Gosh - fancy Darth Vader being Luke's father!" and spoil it for everyone else. If you feel the burning need to see if your theory is correct, please send a private email and ask. I will see it, even though they go to Jackie, and answer.

Whew! - now that's all over - on with the story.

Soldiers of Misfortune – part 1

The Colonel was the first to exit the gate, quickly checking for any signs of threat, closely followed by Teal'c and Major Carter, who fanned out and waited for the all clear sign. Daniel came down the steps a little behind them as usual. It was meant to be milk run, pick up samples, and check out the immediate area and back – except plans have a habit of going astray, especially for SG1.

xoxoxoxoxo

The planet was arid and dusty; it appeared to be lifeless. The Colonel looked around with distaste, his eyes squinting in the bright light, before he donned his dark glasses.

"Okay kids, let's make this a quick one huh?" He grimaced and moved them out.

Sam and Daniel exchanged smiles. The idea of remaining on this desolate planet was certainly less than appealing, but a little fun could be had at the Colonel's expense perhaps?

The thought was that Jack never really seemed to pay much attention in the briefings, unless there were signs of civilization or Goa'uld, and then only in so much as it affected the mission, so Daniel decided to have a little fun. He gave Sam a wink before speaking.

"Hey Jack, do you want Sam to collect the samples on the way to the ruins?"

Give Jack O'Neill his due, he didn't break stride.

"Ruins?" he muttered, searching his mind back. 'Surely there were no ruins. Nothing mentioned was there? Simple mineral and sample run – wasn't it?'

"I can get some on the way as well as from around the ruins," said Sam, playing along.

Teal'c had caught the wink that Daniel had given Sam. He knew exactly what was said in the briefing, he also knew that O'Neill, despite giving the impression of not paying attention, would also. He decided to play neutral.

"What ruins, Daniel?" asked Jack, his hopes of a hit and run fading by the minute as he searched his memory of the briefing … had Daniel and Carter attended a different one from him? There was a good hockey match on that night and he wanted to watch it live for a change.

"Err, approximately fifteen err, clicks," said Daniel, struggling with the military mileage in his head.

The Colonel stopped and turned to face Daniel.

"Fifteen clicks?" he echoed, "I suppose in this direction?" and he waved his hand to indicate the way they were already traveling.

Daniel thought for a moment. Jack hadn't bitten like he'd thought, in fact; the older man seemed way too calm about it.

"Oh err," he muttered.

"Okaaaay, Daniel, if it's so far we'd better march," decided Jack and he turned back around and picked up the pace.

He'd spent his life reading people and situations. The ability had saved his life many a time and he wasn't going to be taken in by a novice like Daniel.

Daniel hadn't moved. "Uh Jack," he called, but Jack didn't halt, causing Daniel to put a spurt on to catch him up. Carter and Teal'c followed close behind.

Carter nudged Daniel. "Tell him," she mouthed quietly as she drew abreast of the archaeologist.

Daniel grimaced. "You."

"No, you."

Jack could hear the exchange. 'Let's see how long they keep it up,' he thought and lengthened his stride.

Twenty minutes of dust had been eaten before Sam called out, "I'll take some samples here, Sir," hoping it would be brought to a head.

"Knock yourself out," said Jack with a wide grin. "So Danny-boy," he said, emphasizing an Irish accent, "What are these ruins you're so keen to get at?" As he spoke he removed his sunglasses to fix Daniel with a stare.

Sam bent down in haste, trying to hide her face as she worked, and listened.

"There's none," mumbled Daniel, blushing.

"Sorry me-boy," said Jack, facing him and lifted one hand to his ear, "Didn't quite catch that. The ears are as bad as my memory lately."

"I said there's none." Daniel raised his voice.

"No ruins eh? Bet you're disappointed we can't go on that hike then?" said Jack with a wolfish grin.

Sam stopped digging and picked her head up in alarm. The Colonel was quite capable of making them hike that far for fun.

Daniel thought wildly. "Sorry, got my planets mixed up. The ruins must be somewhere else," he finished lamely.

Teal'c stood watching his friends. He still had much to learn about Tau'ri humor. The Major and Daniel Jackson obviously weren't enjoying this very much.

"Are you sure? I mean, you never mix your planets up. In fact, I'd bet you can name all of them and what you found since dot one."

"Mistakes happen Sir," called Sam, trying to break it up with a peaceable rescue.

"They sure do Major," drawled Jack. He looked around squinting slightly in the bright light. "Well let us depart; we can do a semi-circle around for your samples Major. I'm sure Doctor Jackson here will help, if he remembers how to that is." With that he put his glasses back on and moved out.

"I just got off lightly didn't I?" asked Daniel when Sam joined him.

She nodded her agreement as she shouldered her pack.

"Perhaps Daniel Jackson, O'Neill will resume you later," said Teal'c from the rear.

"Oh, I hope not," gulped Daniel. Teal'c's phrasing somehow added menace to it. "I don't like to be resumed," he said hurrying after Jack.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

They made frequent stops for samples, making good time with Daniel helping Sam. Odd groups of strange straggly trees were dotted here and there and Sam took some samples from them as well.

They were on their way back to the gate when there was a rumble in the distance.

"You hear that?" asked Jack, stopping suddenly.

"Thunder?" suggested Sam.

"Earthquake?" offered Daniel.

"Spaceship," stated Teal'c, and they turned to look at him.

"Must be a big one," said Jack "Hope it's not Goa'uld."

"Should we check it out? I mean it's strange. The Goa'uld wouldn't normally land a big ship on a deserted planet, would they?" asked Sam.

"Unless they know something we don't," said Jack.

Daniel frowned. "Couldn't it be potential friends?"

"Or not," replied Jack dryly. "Only place around here it could be coming from is behind that ridge west of the gate," he added, pointing into the distance.

Daniel weighed up the distance. "And if it goes?"

"Well, we'll have worked up an appetite," shrugged Jack.

They hadn't been moving long when something appeared in the distance.

"Head up kids, we got company coming," said Jack. He removed the safety from his gun, the others following his lead.

It took several minutes for the object to get close enough to identify it as a small ship. It stopped about a hundred feet away and landed. The ship was nothing like they'd seen before, not even Teal'c, but one thing was certain, it was very quiet - nothing to account for the rumbling they'd heard earlier.

Jack felt the tingle of danger creeping from his neck. Something certainly felt not right here.

It was another couple of minutes before a ramp extended from the ship and the door opened, revealing two people as they disembarked.

The aliens could have been mistaken for humans, until they got close. Their eyes gleamed strangely yellow, the cast of their skin an odd blue. No bigger than Carter, they stood side by side.

Daniel stepped forward to greet them, despite the frown that Jack gave him.

"Hello, my name is Daniel Jackson. We are explorers from another planet." He paused, waiting for a reaction.

Jack fought the urge to raise his gun, his gut instinct was screaming at him.

Daniel spoke again "We mean no harm. This is Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter and Teal'c." He motioned his hand as he spoke.

"You are soldiers?" said one suddenly, with a peculiar smile on his face.

Daniel fought the urge to shrug. "Well, only two of us, but we come to explore. We mean no harm, we wish to make friends."

The alien whom had spoken looked to the other "Soldiers?" he repeated to his companion.

"We come in peace," said Daniel.

Jack wasn't sure exactly what happened next, one of the aliens brought his hand up with something in it and wham. The lights went out.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

tbc