Red Jell-O
Pairing: Sam/Martouf with Sam/Jack UST
Word Count: 1205
Rating: PG
Summary: If Blue Jell-O means Sam/Jack, what does Red Jell-O mean? Jack is about to go totally wacko, and seeing Sam with Martouf isn't helping.
Jack was taking this loop off.
He'd spent the last twenty loops trapped in Daniel's office, and he was about to lose his mind. He needed a break. He'd tried to take a nap, but couldn't. Who knew that going to bed early on a Sunday evening would come back to haunt him? He wanted to take a walk outside, but Hammond had confined him to the base.
Most of the lunch crowd had already come and gone when he arrived. He'd long since grown tired of the mystery meat hamburgers and wilted lettuce.
If I have to have the same lunch over and over, why couldn't it have been pizza or build-your-own-tacos?
Since it would all start over in a few hours anyway, he went straight for the desserts. Pie, pudding, and blue Jell-O on his tray, he scanned the room. Two SFs sat in one corner, talking about the previous day's football games.
Good thing this happened on a Monday, or they wouldn't have much to talk about.
They weren't the only ones taking advantage of the news that the day was looping. Tucked in a corner with their heads close together sat Major Carter and Martouf. Dishes with remnants of red Jell-O lay forgotten as the two whispered intently.
It was just plain bad luck that the Tok'ra operative had been on base this particular day. In fact, the Tok'ra had collectively been experiencing a lot of bad luck lately. First, some of their operatives get turned into Zark things. Then their base gets shot up by Zarks from the SGC -- more death.
And just when they thought that everyone was safe, Anise -- or was it Freya? Probably Freya. Whoever it was, she's the one who turned out to be it, and now there's no one left who wants to study her brain.
Shortly after that little mess had been cleaned up back in Tok'ra town, Martouf had returned to the SGC for some reason, and now he was stuck here.
Jack stole another glance at Carter before choosing a seat facing the door, with his back to the red Jell-O people.
Jacob was probably worried sick about his daughter. Jack felt a little bad about that. His little break meant nothing to the people of Earth and Carter-only-knew how many other planets, but out there, it was ten more hours that Jacob wouldn't hear back from his little girl. Jack earnestly hoped that by some fluke, Jacob was out on assignment and was none-the-wiser.
He took a couple of bites of blue Jell-O and grimaced.
When did I start liking this stuff?
He thought about that for a moment.
Was it Urgo? Was it the enhanced sight and smell of Carter and raspberry Jell-O?
He pushed the blue stuff away and took a big forkful of pie. Coconut cream.
Sorry, Jacob. I need this break for my sanity. If I'm sitting here letting myself think deep thoughts about blue Jell-O, then I'm too close to the edge.
In a few bites, it was gone. He looked at the pudding, then craned his neck to see that the tray line had been cleared.
Great! Now that they've taken away the last of the soggy fries, I get hungry.
Jack brushed the crumbs off his plate and started making designs with the ketchup.
Maybe they'll make me a sandwich or something. There's no point in prepping for dinner, we're not going to be here very long. . . Or there's fruit.
He was about to stand up when he heard Carter's laughter. He'd have to walk by their table to get to the fruit cart.
Or walk around the long way, which would be ridiculous!
He decided to add some mustard to his plate art.
At the beginning of the next loop, I'm going to drag her out of here and ask about what she said in that room. Didn't she mean it?
He hated to admit it, even to himself, but seeing the two of them together was just wrong.
Working relationship, military ranks. What time is it? In just over three hours, I'm going to ask her. Or I'll just kiss her and gauge her reaction that way.
That made him feel better.
Yeah, this thing with Marty is just an innocent flirtation. She probably figures no one will even remember -- so what's the harm? She shouldn't be stringing him along, though. Doesn't it occur to her that I'm remembering it, and it's just weird?
For the second time, he was about to stand, but Teal'c walked in the door.
"O'Neill, we are awaiting your assistance."
"Forget it. I'm taking a break."
"For what purpose?"
"For the purpose of saving what little brain power I have left." He nodded toward the now giggling Carter. "But that's not helping."
"Are you referring to Major Carter?"
"She should have been the one stuck. She and Daniel would have this thing solved by now."
"Does it bother you that she is kissing Martouf?"
"Kissing?" Jack turned around, then snapped back to face Teal'c. He muttered a curse. "There goes that plan."
"What plan, O'Neill?"
"Oh, nothing. Two weeks ago, she-- Well I guess those feelings didn't run so deep."
Jack stood and began walking out of the room.
Vending machines. Rec room.
Forced to wait for the elevator, he had no choice but to let Teal'c on with him when it arrived.
"Were you not aware of Major Carter's dilemma?"
Jack was trying to ignore the tall alien's query. "I don't want to talk about it, T."
Maybe I can go to the surface and make a run for it. I must be losing it, or I wouldn't even be having this conversation.
But Teal'c was persistent. "You know that she cannot have lied about her feelings. She cares very deeply for you, but she knows that such an attraction cannot come to fruition. She has chosen to 'move on.'"
"That is more than I wanted to know." Jack stepped off the elevator.
Rec room or armory?
Unable to decide, he stopped a few feet away from the elevator and turned back to Teal'c. "How do you know, anyway?"
"When Martouf returned alone after the remembrance for Anise, I inquired as to the reason."
"You just asked her?"
"I asked Dr. Frasier."
The elevator door opened to reveal the Doctor herself.
Did Teal'c plan this?
"I don't want to know, but you'd better tell me."
"Pardon, Colonel?" Dr. Frasier looked quite surprised to be addressed this way.
"Colonel O'Neill would like to know what Major Carter told you about the gelatin." Teal'c clarified for Dr. Frasier, leaving Jack even more confused.
"Teal'c, she told me that in confidence. If I tell Colonel O'Neill now, he'll remember, but I won't remember that I told him."
"I believe it is important that he know, Dr. Frasier."
"Hello? I'm right here."
Dr. Frasier nodded her head. "You know, she's always liked red Jell-O. She said that since she could never have the blue Jell-O, she might as well give the red a chance. I think she likes red quite a bit."
Am I the blue Jell-O?
Jack knew that he was, and that for now, there was nothing he could do about it.
Copyright 2006 Allie O'N
Stargate and Jell-O belong to other people who aren't me.