The Plan
Disclaimer: Only mine is mine.
A/N: This is just a fun little story! It would never happen…but that's why they call it fanfiction, right? Right.
It's set eighth season-ish…but they are still colonel and major. I didn't change their ranks or anything. Short reference to "Entity" and "Divide and Conquer."
Slightly AU because Janet's still alive and He-who-I-will-not-name (David Deluise's character) doesn't exist. And cause their ranks didn't change.
Part Two Tomorrow!!
ENJOY!!
Jack heaved a sigh as he circled the copse of trees again. The rest of his team was setting up camp and he had volunteered to "secure" the perimeter. It was the perfect excuse to get out of dinner duty and tent set-up. Or at least he thought it was.
He heard Carter's laughter drift through the leaves as Daniel told some amusing anecdote. He could practically see the three of them going through the motions of dinner and shelter, all the while talking, and joking, and laughing. When they had all split up to do an initial search of the area earlier none of them had found anything that screamed danger…so they weren't being as careful as they normally would be. He was still nervous however…and he knew Carter was too, as her laughter died off quicker than it did when she was relaxed.
SG-1 never got easy planets. They always got the ones with snakeheads, or prisons, or memory-altering devices, or evil legos, or nasty primal beings, or DNA changing machines, or…Jack stopped his thoughts. It would take him days…weeks…to recount all the really bad planets his team got saddled with. But, more often than not, their little trips through the gate ended in blood, pain, and death. Sometimes the deaths were him and his team.
Lord knows, he had lost count of how many times Daniel had died. 'Someone up there must really like the spacemonkey.' Jack thought idly, hearing Carter's quiet laughter again.
Carter.
She had died too. He'd also done something to her that he had never done to anyone on his team before. He had killed her. Four years ago she had been infected by some electrically scary alien entity. He had zatted her twice. He told himself that he had no choice; that Carter would have wanted it that way. But…Jack knew that if Carter had really died…it would be over. Everything would come crashing down. He would quit the SGC. Hell…he may have even quit life.
But…she hadn't died. The entity saved her when he couldn't. Jack shuddered; the memory of her blue eyes losing their light haunting him to this day. 'If I didn't care so damn much…' Jack shook his head. He could not think about that. Would not think about it.
Teal'c had also died a few times…though far less than the rest of SG-1. The big guy was tough. He was also very good at hiding his emotions. Jack snorted. 'Yeah right.' He thought. 'He hides all his emotions except when he's right. Then he gets smug.'
Jack jumped as a twig snapped behind him. He had been carelessly wrapped up in his thoughts. Before his brain had a chance to realize that it didn't feel like danger. He whipped around, P-90 raised and the safety off.
Carter's eyes widened slightly and she took a step back, hands raised. "Whoa, sir. I thought you heard me coming." Her voice was measured, but he could tell that she was amused. She was the only person able to sneak up on him on repeated occasions…and she knew it.
"Obviously not." He growled, no real anger in his voice. Letting his gun fall back into place on his vest he mock-frowned at her. "Young lady, aren't you supposed to be setting up camp?" he drawled.
She rolled her eyes in a very insubordinate manner. He didn't care. Like he would write her up for anything. 'When hell freezes over.' He mused. She smiled. "Yes, sir. That's why I came to get you. We're about ready to eat."
Jack raised his eyebrows and looked at his watch, then at the long shadows cast by the dying sun. "Only took you an hour." He replied in typical sarcastic fashion.
"Yes sir." Her eyes glinted. "It would have gone a lot faster if someone," she cleared her throat pointedly. "Had helped us."
"Who is this someone you're referring to, Carter?" he walked beside her as they headed for camp. "Not your commanding officer, by chance?"
She smiled. "Oh no, sir. You were very busy scouting the perimeter." She looked around exaggeratedly. "Find anything…sir?"
"Why, Carter…" he looked at her, an exaggerated display of hurt in his face. "Are you suggesting that I intentionally took watch to get out of…camp duty?"
"No sir." She frowned and shook her head. "Never. Of course not." She smiled and he grinned back at her.
They broke through the last line of trees and entered the clearing they had claimed as "theirs." Daniel was sitting on a log, idly poking the fire their MREs were heating over. Teal'c sat next to him, straight back as ever.
"Did you discover any disturbances, O'Neill?" Teal'c asked, raising his eyebrow.
Damn that subtle Jaffa sarcasm. "No, Teal'c. I didn't." Jack smiled at his friend to let him know his short tone was in jest.
"That is indeed a good thing." Teal'c gave a little grin and settled his eyes on the fire.
"Maybe you scared off whatever big baddie was lurking out there." Daniel quipped, sparing his friend a glance before turning back to the heating dinner.
"Ha." Jack scrunched his nose at the archaeologist and plopped down on the log opposite the two men. Carter sat beside him and carefully removed her P-90 and her vest. He raised his eyebrows. "Major?" he teased. He was in the mood to lightly prod her buttons. Not push, mind you…just prod. Lightly.
"Sir?" she questioned stretching her legs in front of her and arching her back slightly in an attempt to stretch her muscles.
"Relaxed much?" he gestured to her abandoned gun.
She rolled her eyes again. "No sir. But, if we are attacked…all I have to do is grab it off the ground." She said. She demonstrated and eyed him; just daring him to say something.
"Right. Always the vigilant…you." He frowned at his lack of dramatic ending and she laughed.
"Yes sir." She smiled again and gave him that look. You know that look that made her eyes glow with warmth and her nose to scrunch slightly. Her eyes full of understanding, amusement, appreciation, and that special hidden something. The look that she held especially for him…and he had no idea.
"Okay." He nodded. He broke eye contact, fearing that he would accidentally give something away, and looked at Daniel. "How long till dinner, Danny-boy?" Jack also took off his vest and gun and shot a pointed look at Carter when he heard her muffled chuckle.
"Uh…now." Daniel carefully dished out their portions and handed out the mess forks.
"So," Jack said taking a bite of the bland MRE. "Anyone else feel a little--,"
"Apprehensive? Like this is too good to be true?" Daniel interjected, talking around his own mouthful.
"I was gonna say jipped." Jack swallowed and stared down at the "food." He really hated this stuff. But, then again, you would have to be crazy to like MREs. "But…apprehensive works too."
"I believe General Hammond has intentionally given us this assignment as a reward." Teal'c said, shoveling a large forkful of the blah food into his mouth.
Sam nodded, swallowing her own mouthful of food before speaking. "Like a vacation without an actual vacation."
"Huh?" Jack asked, narrowly avoiding dropping half the contents of his mouth.
Sam rolled her eyes and suppressed another laugh. He was too cute…even when he almost gave them all a glimpse of his "see" food. "He's giving us a break sir."
"Oh." Jack looked down sheepishly, wiping the back of his hand over his mouth; making sure he brushed away any stray MRE.
"Sounds like something he would do." Daniel agreed, staring at Jack strangely. 'I swear…that man is really four years old.'
"Indeed." Teal'c inclined his head and set his empty bowl aside. Teal'c waited patiently while the rest of the team ate their dinner. When all rations had either been finished or abandoned they sat around enjoying the flickering firelight in their dark surroundings.
"So…who gets dish duty?" Jack asked. He had a feeling he already knew.
"You." Daniel said immediately. Apparently, they hadn't gotten over the whole 'setting up camp' thing. He knew Carter would have spoken up just as quickly, but she was trained not to talk to a CO like that. Even if he wasn't your average CO.
Jack looked to Teal'c for help. Teal'c merely shook his head and smiled. "I concur with Daniel Jackson."
"Me too, sir." Carter interjected quickly. Her tone was light and playful. "Fair's fair." She shrugged when he gave her a look that clearly said, 'Not you too?'
"Fine." He sighed dramatically and pulled off his ball cap, ruffling his hair. Sam bit back a smile, instead turning her attention to the fire. He looked absolutely adorable when tufts of his hair stuck up in opposite directions. He too stared into the fire and, against his better judgment, he knocked her shoulder teasingly with his. The brief contact was enough to send zings of…something rushing through him. "Wanna help?" he asked playfully.
"Is that an order?" she scrunched her nose and met his eyes.
Jack grinned. "Maybe."
She groaned and squeezed her eyes shut. "But I did them last time." Her voice held the right amount of whine without sounding too whiny.
Jack smiled again. "You don't wanna help your tired, old colonel?"
"You're not old." She answered automatically. He wasn't. At least…not to her. But, still…she really shouldn't have said that.
"Sucking up, are we, Carter?" he was determined not to show his surprise and…pleasure that she didn't think he was old. He pushed those selfish thoughts aside.
"Maybe." She mimicked his earlier answer. She glared teasingly at him and he returned it happily. After a moment he raised his hands in defeat. "Alright. I give. You don't have to help."
Sam smiled. "Yes sir." She saluted.
"Heh." He mock-grimaced at her and made to stand up.
"Wait, sir. Before you…clean," she smiled when she got the expected sarcastic response. "We have to figure out the sleeping arrangements."
"Do you even need to ask that?" Daniel asked, sarcastically incredulous.
"Huh?" Jack asked again.
"It's gonna be the same as always…isn't it?" he looked between his three team members. "Me and Teal'c. You and Sam."
Jack noticed the slight shift in tone when Daniel said, "You and Sam." It went from fake exasperation…to subtly suggestive. Sam noticed too, if her quiet cough and shift in position indicated anything.
Jack shrugged, staring hard at Daniel. He was trying to convey his warning nonverbally. Keeping his voice very casual he said, "Sure. Why not? Carter?" he asked. She nodded her head, suddenly very interested in her boots.
"Right." Daniel nodded in a sarcastic 'sure, I believe you' gesture.
Teal'c gave Daniel an almost imperceptible nod and Daniel snapped his fingers as though suddenly having an epiphany. "Hey! I've got a great idea!" Sam swallowed a groan. The man next to her was less successful, letting his own noise of 'uh oh' pass from his lips.
"What?" Sam asked narrowing her eyes in apprehension.
"Let's play a game." Daniel smiled happily.
"I believe that that is an excellent suggestion, Daniel Jackson." Teal'c piped up, smugness glinting in his eyes. Double uh-oh.
Sam and Jack exchanged a glance, then looked back at their friend. "What game?" Jack asked, knowing he would regret it.
"Truth or Dare." Daniel's happy smile grew wider and…guiltier.
"I am unfamiliar with this game, Daniel Jackson." Teal'c's voice boomed.
"Oh, it's simple Teal'c." Daniel turned to his friend. Sam and Jack rolled their eyes and exchanged another glance that clearly said, "This is so rehearsed."
"First, you choose one of us." He pointed to himself, Sam, and Jack. "Then you ask us, 'Truth or Dare.' We choose one and you answer accordingly."
"Accordingly?" Sam and Jack asked at the same time.
"Yes, Daniel Jackson. I do not understand." Teal'c asked loudly. Big, scary Jaffa he was…actor he was not.
"Well, if I chose truth you would ask me any question you could think of and I would have to answer truthfully." Daniel explained.
Sam hid a smile. She remembered playing this when she was a kid at sleepovers. She didn't mention that you could lie and nobody would know.
"And if I chose dare you would tell me to do something. I would have to do it." Daniel finished, grinning.
"This sounds like an amusing game, Daniel Jackson." Teal'c nodded slowly. "Shall we play, O'Neill? Major Carter?"
Colonel and Major sighed, shrugged, and said, "Fine." at the same time.
Daniel blinked a few times at the synchrony. This was going to be easier than he had thought. And by the pleased look Teal'c gave him…he was thinking the same thing.
"You've both played before, right?" Daniel inquired.
"Oh yeah." Sam raised her eyebrows for emphasis. "Try every party or sleepover I ever went to."
Jack tried to imagine Carter as a little girl; braids, big blue eyes, and bunny slippers. He bit down hard on his tongue to stop the laugh that the mental picture had brought. Instead, he nodded. "Once or twice."
"Good. Who's going first?" Daniel looked around expectantly.
"I will make the first attempt." Teal'c said. He paused, furrowing his brow. He was clearly "deep" in thought. "Daniel Jackson!" he boomed, making up his mind. "Truth or dare?"
Daniel looked genuinely startled and shot Teal'c a 'what are you doing' look. Teal'c merely smiled. "Uh…dare." He said without thinking. Teal'c's eyes lit up. "No, wait! I mean truth! Truth!"
Teal'c's eyes dimmed a bit, but a mischievously smile still spread across his lips. "Have you ever had romantic feelings…for O'Neill?"
Daniel's eyes widened and his mouth dropped open, spluttering. Sam cracked up and fell backwards off the log. She held her hands over her stomach as she gasped for air, still laughing wildly. "Ow, ow, ow!" she moaned as she sat back on the log, clutching her sides, trying to stifle her laughter. She failed. Miserably.
Jack just sat on the log, dumbstruck. What the hell kind of question was that? What the hell was wrong with Teal'c? Jack turned to look at Carter and saw her bent over her knees, trying to get a hold on her composure.
"NO!" Daniel shouted, waving his arms in the air. "Oh God! Never! No! No way! Yuck! Gross!"
"What are you, twelve?" Sam asked as she watched him struggle to find better words than 'Yuck' and 'Gross.'
Teal'c smiled and inclined his head. "Very well, Daniel Jackson. I believe your answer is the truth."
Sam glanced over at Jack and saw that his eyes were closed and he was muttering something. His expression looked like he was trying very hard to not shoot both of them. Instead, he said, "You see why the sleeping arrangements are always the same?"
Sam cracked up again. Daniel looked mortified. "Jack! I would never! I mean, you're…you're…ew!" Daniel reverted back to grade school language and Jack's eyes snapped open.
"Ew?" he questioned.
"No, sir." Carter jumped in. She was having far too much fun to end the night with the colonel and Daniel fighting. "You're not ew. That doesn't even make any sense." She had not meant for the words to be anything more than a peace treaty, but she felt herself begin to blush. Something like triumph flicked through Daniel's eyes. Jack looked at her.
He would never tell her that that mundane comment meant a hell of a lot to him. He would play it off. "Thank you, Carter! See, she doesn't think I'm ew."
"Probably because she's a she!" Daniel said.
"Gee. I hadn't noticed." Jack replied. Sam blushed further. What the hell was wrong with her? It was just his usual sarcasm.
"Guys!" Sam raised her hand and was mildly surprised when they fell silent. "You wanna stop arguing so we can keep playing?" she looked between the two. When they both nodded after a moment, she sighed in relief. She really didn't want the evening to be ruined.
The night air was refreshingly crisp and the smell of burning wood was comforting. The cool air in her hair and the warmth on her face and hands were a pleasant contrast to each other and she felt more at home than she had in a long time. She was with her best friends, lightyears from earth, and playing truth or dare. She was having fun. And the way the firelight glowed warmly in the colonel's eyes didn't hurt much either…
'Stop it!' she shook her head slightly to clear it of those thoughts. No such luck, He looked so…strong and reliable sitting there; hands clasped in front of him, legs spread casually, a warm, thoughtful expression in his eyes. He looked safe. He was safe. Safe for her, that is.
Feeling her eyes on him he looked up. The muddled expressions in her eyes startled him. He usually didn't see his second without control of her emotions. He didn't mind it, though. He liked knowing that she wasn't a jaded officer. She would never be, if he had anything to say about it.
The firelight was reflected in her eyes; blue turning almost gold in the flickering warmth. He could see her happiness in them as well. Happiness mingled with content and comfort and ease. He knew that she was happy sitting here with the three men who knew her life story; and, in turn, knew theirs. Something else was in her eyes too. 'Sadness.' He realized, having seen that same expression in his own eyes whenever he thought about the possibilities…He inwardly shook his head.
He looked back up into her eyes and saw acceptance mixing with the sadness and hopefulness. Resigned acceptance. He wanted to reach out to her. He wanted to kiss her until neither could breathe. He wanted to tell her that he loved her.
He wanted a lot of things. But, he knew this want was different. In fact…these were needs. He needed to be around her. Needed to know she was safe.
But, she blinked and the prism of emotions was gone. She smiled at him, laughter dancing in her eyes. She unconsciously shifted closer to him and turned back to Daniel.
"I'm next." She declared, mischief resonant in her tone. She thought for a second. "Teal'c, truth or dare?"
Teal'c pondered her question for a moment. "I believe I will choose truth, Major Carter."
"Aw, T!" Jack exclaimed. "Big man! You took the easy way out."
"I do not believe so, O'Neill. The truth is often more difficult to face than any potentially embarrassing action." Teal'c bowed his head at the end of his explanation. Jack blinked, opened and closed his mouth several times, before frowning and looking into the fire again.
"Oookay." Sam blew upwards trying to get some stray hairs off of her forehead. "What's the deal with you and Ishta?" It was the only thing she could think to ask. She had also expected Teal'c to pick dare.
Teal'c looked slightly taken aback and had the grace to smile embarrassedly. "We are courting."
A resounding "oooh!" went up from Jack and Daniel, which Sam soon joined.
"T man!" Jack said, a verbal clap on the back.
"Hey, lover boy!" Daniel applauded.
"Aw, Teal'c." Sam crooned as girly as she could. Resounding laughter from all four lifted up to the sky. They quieted a moment later.
"My turn." Daniel said. He turned an evil smirk onto Jack. "Jack. Truth or dare?"
Jack didn't like the look in the archaeologists' eye. Something told him he was screwed no matter what he picked.
After a long hesitation, Jack sighed. Knowing he was damning himself, he opened his mouth. "Truth." He silently pleaded with Daniel not to do anything stupid.
"Really?" Sam asked. When he raised an eyebrow at her she shrugged. "Nothing. Never mind."
"Truth." Daniel repeated. He recognized the look in Jack's eye. 'Sure, Jack…' he thought, grinning madly. 'I'll go easy on you…for now.' Laughing wickedly in his head, Daniel cleared his throat. "What do you think of Sam's eyes?"
"What?" Sam and Jack asked at the same time, staring at Daniel. The man just smiled and waited for his answer.
Sam glanced at Jack, but quickly looked away. Jack also glanced away guiltily. "Ummm…They're blue." He muttered.
"Duh." Daniel said. "I asked for your opinion, Jack. Not fact." Daniel resisted the urge to laugh. "Sam, at least let the man look at them."
She was gonna kill him. She really was. Glaring angrily at him she turned to look at the colonel. Her expression softened and he searchingly met her gaze. Something flashed in his eyes and Sam blushed. 'Why the hell am I blushing?' she wondered.
Jack looked into her eyes, so many words fighting to get out. But, he couldn't say any of them. It could ruin both of their careers. Hers more so than his. That was what worried him. He didn't want to jeopardize her professional future…even if it meant damning their personal one.
He was going to kill Daniel for this.
TBC
A/N: Part 2 up tomorrow!! Please R&R!!