Author's note: This story is actually based on another story called "Twelve Days" by jadedgirl. Hope you like it.

O'Malley's Bar and Grill was the perfect place for an a member of SG12 and a lab assistant to hang out, relax, and enjoy a burger. TV screens hung from the ceiling, locked on ESPN. Locals were sitting around the bar, sipping beer and bragging about this and that. Smoke and country music permeated the air. There were even a few couples dancing in the open area.

"This place reminds me of the neighborhood pub my dad and uncles frequented when I was a girl." Chloe remarked as she and Emerson entered the joint. She was wearing jeans and a flannel shirt. "I love coming here after a stressful week. Do you play pool?"

"Yea, but you never struck me as being one to like pool."

"I love pool. Why don't you get us a couple beers while I go check out some balls and cue sticks?"

As soon as a pool table opened up, Chloe laid the balls down in the formation and waited for Emerson to come back. "Ready to get your ass whipped?" She asked.

"You wish, Woman. Stand back and let a real man show you how it's done. Stripes or solids?"

"I'll take solids. There's just something about that eight ball that just seems to bring me good luck."

"Maybe that luck will change tonight."

"I don't think so."

"I'll have you know that among SG12 and SG13, I'm considered the First Prime of Pool."

"All right. Let's see what ya got. Why don't you go ahead and break?"

Emerson had a nice break and landed both the 9-ball and the 7-ball into the corner pockets.

Chloe assessed the situation. "Not bad, not bad. But check out this action." She studied the table for a few minutes before making her move. She knocked three balls into one side pocket.

"Whoa! How did you do that?"

"I'd tell you, but it would involve, oh what is that term, oh yea, techno-bable. Besides, if you knew my secrets, it would be a lot harder for me to cream you."

"How on God's green earth could science have anything to do pool?" Emerson asked as he shot another ball into a side pocket.

"Physics is nothing more than the study of movement. You know, I once saw this movie where a high school science teacher ended up coaching the football team. At first, they couldn't score a touchdown to save their lives, but the teacher used the laws of physics in his game plans, and the team went to the play-offs."

"Yea, like that really would happen." Emerson scoffed as he shot two more balls down.

"Sounds like you should have paid better attention in science class. Most of the word problems we had dealt with sports."

"All right, all right. You've made your point. Just take your damn turn."

"No need to get all feisty at me. If you can't handle the sparks, get out of the lab."

"Sounds like someone is getting little to big for her britches."

Chloe took a swig of her beer before taking her turn. "I know you're looking at my bum. Stop it."

"Get over yourself, Chloe."

Chloe knocked the last of her balls into a side pocket. "Point. Set. Match. Good game, Joseph?"

"Yea, good game." They shook hands. "All that fun kinda made me hungry. Let's get a couple burgers."

"All right, and you've gotta try their chili fries."

"Sound good to me." They headed over to one of the raised tables and climbed onto the stools.

They had no idea that they had been watched by two scientists in the corner. "Just look at them, Simon. It's enough to make any sane person totally sick. Just watch the way that Emerson is shamelessly flirting with her."

"You're not jealous, are you, Felger?"

"No, of course not. It's just that Emerson is so good looking and charming. I bet he's just using Chloe."

"Why are we even here, anyway?"

"To make sure that he doesn't try anything with her."

"Well, maybe she wants him to try something. He is what most women would consider hot. Besides, since when have you been so interested in Chloe's personal life?"

"I care about her. You know, she's more than just an assistant to me. She's a good friend, too. I'm just looking out for my friend."

"I'm not buying that, Jay. I think you're attracted to Chloe."

"No, I'm not." Felger chuckled.

"Yes, you are. Admit it."

"I am not."

"Really?"

"Really. I'm in love with her."

Just then, they heard Emerson and Chloe laughing over at their table.

"So you want to just sit here and be tortured?"

"It's better than sitting alone in my apartment."

"You really need to get a hold of yourself, Jay. You were never this crazy when you had a thing for Major Carter or Anise."

"I was never in love with either one of them. I had a crush on Major Carter, and I had the hots for Anise. But I never felt this strongly about anyone before. I can't help but think it's the real thing."

"Hey, didn't Chloe have a crush on you?"

"I don't know. But even if she did, that was all before Joseph entered the picture." Felger said his name with total disgust.

"You should have made your move when you had the chance."

"I didn't know how I felt back then. I thought about putting the moves on her right after Major Carter and I got back from P5S-117, but I could never quite muster up the courage."

"So instead, you hit on Anise? That's a sure fire way to win her heart."

"Anise just seemed like less of a risk. Her rejection was less painful than Chloe's would have been. When Major Carter rejected me, it dampened my spirit. When Anise rejected me, it injured my pride. If Chloe rejected me, it would break my heart. I love her, Simon."

"I know you do, but right now, your precious Chloe is dating another guy that's better looking, more charming, and frankly, treats her better. Like he said, he could get any girl he wants, and he wants Chloe."

"I know. To her, I'm just her clumsy, ill-mannered, crazy looser of a boss. You know how she's always making fun of me. Remember how much fun she had watching me crash and burn with Anise?"

"Yeah, unrequited love sucks, doesn't it?"

"Totally. I remember when it was just the two of us in that lab. Those were the days. But now, not only has Emerson noticed her, but I think I saw a couple members of SG6 eying her in the commissary last week. Why would she want me when she could have almost any guy on the base. I bet even Dr. Jackson has flirted with her a time or two."
"Good one, Chloe, but try this one on for size: Little Johnny asks his mother how old she is. Her reply is, 'Gentlemen don't ask ladies that question.' Johnny then asks his mother how much she weighs. Again the mother's reply is, 'Gentlemen don't ask ladies that question.' The boy then asks, 'Why did daddy leave you?' To this, the mother says, 'you shouldn't ask that' and then sends him to his room. On the way to his room, the boy trips over his mother's purse. When he picks it up, her driver's license falls out. The boy looks it over and goes back to his mother saying, 'I know all about you now. You are 36 years old, weigh 127 pounds and daddy left you because you got an 'F' in sex!!!'"

Chloe laughed so hard, she almost choked on her burger. "Oh Joseph, that is just downright wrong." She said when she finally caught her breath. They both calmed down their laugher, looked at each other and smiled. "Joseph, I am having a great time tonight."

"So am I, Chloe." Emerson laid his hand on Chloe's.

"Come on, Jay. Let's go before they notice us."

"All right." Felger said as he reluctantly took one last look at his assistant and followed Coombs out the door.

"Listen, Joseph, you're a great guy."

"And you're a great girl."

"You're not making this any easier." Chloe wriggled her hand out from under Joseph's.

"Oh." Emerson realized what Chloe was trying to say. "You're still in love with Felger, aren't you?"

She sheepishly nodded her head. "I'm really sorry, Joseph. I tried to move on, but I can't. I feel really terrible about doing this to you. You've been incredible, and one day, you will make some extremely lucky woman very happy. I'm just sorry that I'm not going to be that woman."

"Don't worry, Chloe. I wasn't really looking for anything serious in the first place. Besides, I'm in love with someone else, and you seem like one of the few nice girls left in this world, so a one-night-stand was out of the question. That only leaves an evening of clean, innocent fun."

Chloe heaved a huge sigh of relief. "I am so glad I didn't get your hopes up or hurt your feelings."

"So I take it you feel better about things now?"

"Oh, yea. So, since you know who I'm in love with, I think it only fair that you tell me who you're in love with."

"All right, but you've got to promise not to tell anyone."

"All right. I promise."

--

A few days later, Simon Coombs had just sat down in the Commissary and started eating his lunch when he felt someone hovering over him.

"Hey, Coombs. Mind if I join ya?"

"Oh. Hi, Joseph. You can go ahead and sit down, but I'm not responsible for what happens."

"What do you mean?"

"Felger's not too happy about the fact that you asked Chloe out. And if he comes in and sees you sitting here, he's likely to get testy, if you know what I mean."

"Why should that matter to him? It's not like he's interested in her or anything."

"Oh really?"

"He is?"

"Yea, big time."

"So why was he going after Anise? That doesn't make sense."

"Since when did Felger make sense?"

"Good point."

"Anyway, you and Chloe are an item now, so I'd keep an eye on Felger if I were you."

"Actually, she and I are just friends. We thought there might be chemistry between us, but the other night proved that theory wrong. It kinda felt like I was out with my sister. Besides, she's still hung up on Felger."

"She is? I thought she got over him a long time ago."

"Nope. I don't think she'll ever get over him. She spent most of the evening just talking about him."

"So Felger is madly in love with Chloe, and Chloe is madly in love with Felger, but neither one of them thinks they stand a chance with the other."

"That's right."

"Sounds like they need a little help. Don't you agree?"

"Oh, yea."

"Did I hear something about Felger and Chloe?" They heard a woman's voice come up to them. It was Major Carter. "I usually don't get involved in the personal lives of my scientists, but I can't help but think of what a cute couple those two would make. I started noticing a thing or two when I was working with them on that virus."

"Well, you two are scientists. How about a little experiment?" Emerson suggested. "Let's see what would happen if Felger and Chloe suddenly found themselves alone together in a romantic setting. A little candlelight, a love song or two, and maybe even a bit of pale moonlight might lower some inhibitions. I happen to know the perfect place: Café Amore."

"This is all a great idea, Joseph," Carter remarked, "but how do you intend to get them to go there. Felger might go for the whole blind date thing, but I don't think Chloe would. She seems much too sensible for that kind of thing."

"We could set it up as a group date." Coombs suggested. "Emerson, you could be Chloe's 'date', I could probably get Liesel, my new assistant, to be my date, and Carter, would you mind being Felger's 'date'?" Coombs made the appropriate gesture with his fingers.

"I'm not sure that's such a good idea, seeing as Jay used to be attracted to me. Wouldn't that just frustrate Chloe?"

"Or maybe it would give Felger a chance to prove to Chloe that he really is over you. Because right now, he only has eyes for her."

"All right, I'll go see if Felger would be interested. But remember, I'm only doing this for Chloe."

"Of course." Coombs reassured. "I'll also see if Liesel wouldn't mind helping Chloe get ready. I think they're become fairly good friends."