A/N: Part 2. In case you missed it, Part 1 took place in 1998, eight years ago.

Not necessarily fluffy, but . . . well, like the show, it could be. I'm thinking we're going to span a few years with this chapter. Thank you for all the great reviews for the first part of this story, After Hours. Remember, leave me an email address if you review so I can properly thank you.

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After All

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February, 2006

Daniel poked his head into Teal'c's quarters, hoping his teammate would be 'home.' He'd tried the gym, the commissary, and this was his last option. He'd knocked softly, just in case his friend was meditating. After a long minute he'd tried the handle and found it unlocked. So . . .

"May I be of assistance, Daniel Jackson?"

Startled to hear the deep voice come from behind him, Daniel jumped back. "Uh yeah. I mean, yes." He stepped aside to allow the former First Prime room to enter the room. "I, um. I was looking for Sam. You haven't seen her, have you?"

"I have not."

"Hmm. Well. Okay." Daniel scratched his head, slightly puzzled.

"Is there some problem?"

"Problem? No, no problem. It's just . . ." He glanced up at the larger man. "She just blew out of here kind of suddenly tonight, and I thought . . ."

"Perhaps she had a prior engagement."

"Yeah. Maybe."

Teal'c slipped a button-down shirt over his tank top and waved Daniel out. "If you are concerned, should we not check on her?"

Daniel nodded. "Yeah. Great. Great idea." But, he wondered as he followed the Jaffa to the elevators. Was this a good idea? Where the heck was Sam? As far as he knew she wasn't seeing anyone . . . God he hoped not. Jack was in Washington, he'd told Daniel that just yesterday. He said he'd be tied up in meetings all week, in fact. As they signed out, Daniel bit back a sigh. He'd hoped that they'd work it out, somehow. Thought that after that last team trip to the cabin after Jacob's death . . . but he hadn't seen any signs. Lost in thought, Daniel stared out the window into the darkness as Teal'c drove them off of the mountain.

SJ•SJ•SJ•SJ•SJ•SJ•SJ•SJ•SJ•SJ•SJ•SJ•SJ•SJ

The flickering blue lights dancing on the tightly pulled curtains told Daniel that someone was home, and that someone was watching television. A very unSam-like activity. And for that reason, he was suddenly reluctant to ring the bell. Sure, Sam had the right to see anyone she wanted, but . . . damn it. As inconvenient as the long-running attraction between his two closest friends had been for him, he really wanted to–

"Daniel Jackson, please ring the bell."

Teal'c solemn command jarred Daniel from his mental debate and he, despite his growing discomfort, jabbed his finger at the button. When a decidedly male voice shouted for him to wait a second, Daniel exchanged glances with Teal'c and then quickly moved to place the larger Jaffa between himself and the door.

Crap.

He ignored Teal'c's curious look as his thoughts spun out of control. Sam was seeing someone else.

Crapcrapcrap.

Even as his agitation grew, Daniel was aware of how like Jack even his mental voice sounded.

Frantically he grabbed at Teal'c sleeve. "C'mon. Let's go. This was a bad id–"

"Daniel?"

Too late.

The front door opened and light spilled out into the darkness. Daniel peeked around Teal'c to find Sam, her long hair free of her habitual ponytail and backlit by the hall light, eyeing him curiously. She glanced from Daniel to Teal'c and back again, her brow knitting in concern.

"Everything okay at the base? What's going on?"

She waved the men inside, but before Daniel took a step the male voice shouted again, this time in loud protest, "Oh, no way!"

Daniel froze, then backpedaled. "Uh. No. Um, I'm good." He looked up at Teal'c pleadingly. "We're good, right Teal'c? We'll just–"

"Daniel." Sam reached out and grabbed Daniel's sleeve. "Don't be silly. Come inside, it's cold out here." She turned and stepped into the house, dragging Daniel after her. Teal'c followed silently and closed the door behind them.

Again the man in the living room muttered and swore, and again Daniel tried to leave. "Really, Sam. We're sorry to interrupt. It's just that you left so suddenly, but now I see . . ." He waved a hand toward the living room and nudged Teal'c, trying to convey his desire to get the hell out of here as soon as possible.

"Sam?" The male voice came closer. "Honey, who's at the . . . Daniel!"

"Jack?" Daniel felt his jaw drop open. He blinked again, certain he was imagining . . . "Jack!" Daniel stared open-mouthed at Jack. The voice coming from the living room hadn't sounded like the Jack O'Neill he knew.

"Daniel?" This time when Jack spoke Daniel realized the difference. Jack's voice was hoarse and rough and he sounded rather congested. The combination made his voice deeper.

Teal'c nodded to Sam and Jack. "O'Neill it is good to see you."

Jack stepped around the still shell-shocked Daniel to clasp forearms with Teal'c. "You too, big guy." He sneezed violently, barely turning away in time to avoid spraying them all. "Damned cold," he muttered, but exchanged a decidedly loving glance with Sam.

"Uh . . . Jack," Daniel began, still surprised to see the man who was supposed to be on the other side of the country. "Weren't you in meetings all week?"

"Damned cold. Called in sick." He shot Sam another warm look then winked at Teal'c. "Can't risk infecting the Joint Chiefs." He shooed them toward the living room. "C'mon in. The game's on TiVo, so we can . . ."

"Game?" Daniel found his voice and turned to Sam who was returning with a beer for him and a soft drink for Teal'c. He studied her closely.

Sam shot him a grin and her eyes sparkled as she answered. "Yup, 'game.' Hockey in fact."

"Hockey? You're watching . . . hockey?"

"Daniel." Sam sighed patiently, with the air of a woman who has explained this more than once. "It's not hockey, it's the Olympics."

"Ah. Right." Well, that was clear as mud.

She waved them all inside and waited for Jack to sit before joining him, tucked closely to his side. Daniel's eyes widened as Jack's arm came around her shoulders to give her a brief squeeze. He watched as they exchanged a long look, leaving him, as they always did, to wonder at what they were communicating. Finally, Jack broke away from Sam's gaze to look at Daniel.

"Daniel," he gestured toward the chair they usually considered 'Daniel's chair.' "Have a seat, take a load off, whatever."

Daniel sat automatically, noticing that Teal'c seemed unfazed by the revelation that two of their friends were . . . involved. His mind raced with questions and, as usual, they all tried to tumble from his lips at once.

"When did you, I mean, how . . . why didn't I . . .," he waved toward where they sat cuddled together. "How . . . Cassie never . . . Teal'c, did you know? How lon–"

"Daniel." Jack's voice was as wry as his expression as he lifted a finger to stop the flow of questions. He glanced again at Sam and then waved a hand toward the television. "Are you going to talk or are you going to watch?"

Jack's eyes twinkled as they held Daniel's, and for the first time in years Daniel could see true contentment shining there. He'd much rather talk, but . . . he knew his friend. Giving Jack a pleased smile, he took a long swallow of his beer and pivoted in his chair to face the television. He knew absolutely nothing about hockey, or the Olympics, but . . . well, that wasn't the point, was it? And, if Daniel found his gaze sliding occasionally from the action on the television the action on the couch, well . . .

- -

End.

Afterword: I'm an Olympiphile of the first order. I love to row (summer) and I used to speed skate (short track). I am the undeniable queen of the TiVo for two weeks every two years, summer or winter. I watch everything. I so wanted to work in a Jack comment about Curling, but hockey fit better.

I hope you had fun with this. Go World.