Chapter 4: Oh, Danny-Boy!
Disclaimer: You know the drill.
A/N: Okay, so in this chapter, Daniel screws up. WooHoo! It's still Sam/Jack, though. It's very mild, but warning and age limit still apply.
Thank to all who reviewed!
ENJOY!!
Daniel sat at the briefing room table, tapping his fingers against its polished surface. Sam was sitting next to him, telling General Hammond about their latest mission. It couldn't exactly be called a success…in fact, it was probably worse than a failure. He knew Sam was tailoring her speech eloquently to make it what had occurred sound small and meaningless.
SG-1 was supposed to have been finalizing a trade agreement with a possible ally. Everything had gone just great…until one of the other world's dignitaries took a special liking to Sam. He had cornered her last night while the board was discussing whether or not they should agree to sign the treaty. She had tried to decline him politely, but the guy couldn't take no for an answer.
He had grabbed her and shoved her against the wall. She fought back, easily overpowering him. If there's one thing you don't want to its piss off Sam Carter. If there's another thing you don't want to know it's for Jack O'Neill to find out. He had come down the corridor looking for Sam when he saw her throw the guy off of her. He called her name and she turned her head. The guy took the opportunity to kick her feet from under her.
Sam had landed with a thud. The guy tried to get on top of her to pin her down, but he was suddenly being pulled backwards. Jack had reached them and grabbed the bastard's collar, yanking him away from his 2IC.
The details got a little fuzzy after this. Both Sam and Jack had yet to explain to Daniel and Teal'c in full what had happened. He knew that, left to their own devices, they would never talk about it. The alien ambassadors had kicked them out the door with a half-assed, embarrassed apology and told them never to come back.
All he knew was that Jack had beat the guy to a bloody pulp with Sam looking the other way. Literally. Sam hadn't even looked at her CO since their…discussion last night. 'Yeah.' Daniel thought ruefully. 'Discussion. A nice, big shouted discussion that ended with Sam bunking with me and Jack with Teal'c instead of the usual arrangements.' Daniel couldn't help but be reminded of an old married couple where the woman kicks the man out of bed and onto the couch.
"And that's all that happened?" Hammond's voice broke through Daniel's thoughts. Evidently, Sam had finished her report. Daniel glanced over and saw her studiously studying the table. She couldn't actually lie and Daniel knew that she was looking for a loophole. However, her silence seemed to speak volumes as the general turned to Daniel.
"Dr. Jackson?" the question went unspoken, but he knew that Daniel understood.
Daniel shrugged and spoke in a carefully even voice. "As far as I know."
The general's eyes turned to Teal'c, who raised his eyebrow in return. "I believe that this is how the events of our mission transpired, General Hammond."
"Yes, sir!" Jack broke in suddenly and loudly; obviously bored and anxious to leave the tense atmosphere he and Sam were sharing. The general looked at him, surprised. Realizing how loud his voice was, he cleared his throat and looked down at the pen in his hands. "I mean, yes sir. That's what happened." 'Officially.' He added in his mind.
The general eyed the team like he knew perfectly well that they were hiding something from him, but let it go. "Alright, people. I want you all to report to the infirmary. You're dismissed." SG-1 nodded and gave various affirmatives and stood as the portly man left. Normally, they went to the infirmary before ever stepping foot in the briefing room, but SG teams 9 and 10 had come back pretty worse for the wear. Janet couldn't spare anyone to check over the seemingly healthy SG-1.
"Hey, Janet." Sam said as her friend walked into the infirmary, looking harried and exhausted.
The small doctor gave Sam a small, but bright smile. "Hey. How're you feeling?"
Sam shrugged. "Fine."
Janet eyed her suspiciously. "The general mentioned that you were assaulted during your last mission?"
Something flashed in Sam's eyes, but it was gone before Janet could identify it. "Not really. Colonel O'Neill stopped it before it got too far." She spat out the last sentence as though it tasted awful.
Janet frowned. "Sam? You okay?" she noticed the change in her friends' attitude immediately. Normally, when she mentioned the colonel she would blush or try to fight a small smile. Now…she was angry.
"Yeah, it's just…" Sam trailed, looking around the room. She was glad that she had opted to wait for Janet after her initial check-up. The boys had already left. Sam shook her head. "You know, it just pisses me off that he doesn't think I can take care of myself."
Janet fought to hide her smile. Sam's ignorance was adorable. "Sam, Colonel O'Neill knows you can take of yourself. After watching you kick alien-butt for the last three and a half years…how could he not?"
Sam shrugged and ducked her head. "I could have handled the situation."
"I know. He knows that too." Janet held up a hand as Sam made to interrupt. "Sam, you have to understand…seeing anyone attack you…it sends the colonel into a rage."
Sam's mouth snapped shut in confusion.
Janet chuckled slightly. "Sam, he can't help that he defended you. He--," Janet broke off, knowing she was in dangerous territory. This conversation was volatile; especially on base. Sam seemed to catch on, though, for she looked around hurriedly to make sure they were alone.
"Janet." She hissed. Janet tried to look contrite, but only managed to start laughing again.
"Right." Janet said after composing herself. "We'll continue this some other time."
Sam shook her head and headed for the infirmary door. Her friend had a tendency to be…less than subtle. She pushed open the door, still lost in her own thoughts, and ran smack into Daniel. Grabbing the door for support, she looked up at her friend, eyes wide.
"Sorry, Daniel." She smiled sheepishly. "I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."
Daniel smiled warmly. "No problem." Sam nodded and made to go around him when he placed a light hand on her shoulder. "Sam…you know Jack didn't--," But Sam cut him off.
"Daniel." She said warningly, sounding just like Jack.
"But, Sam--," he tried again, but she stopped him.
"Don't, Daniel. I know he was just trying to help, okay?"
'No, it's not okay.' Daniel protested inwardly. Instead, he said, "Okay."
As he watched her walk away, he shook his head. Sam really didn't know. She didn't know just how much it scared Jack to see her on the floor with that man on top of her. She didn't know how, if left to it, he would have killed the bastard that had tried to hurt her. Hell, he'd kill anyone who tried to hurt her.
"Daniel!" Janet's surprised voice broke through his thoughts. She was standing in front of him, clipboard hugged to her chest, smiling widely.
Daniel matched her grin. "Hey, Janet."
After a moment of awkward silence where they continued to stare at each other Janet spoke. "So…what's up? Can I do something for you?"
Daniel paused, not sure how he should bring the mission up. He knew that Janet and Sam were close…so Sam might have told the doctor something that she had not told him or Teal'c.
"Maybe. Sam didn't happen to tell you…anything….about the last mission, did she?" Daniel shoved his hands in his pockets and watched Janet consider him before answering.
After a moment she gestured to Daniel that she was leaving the room. "I have to drop off these reports to General Hammond. Walk with me; we'll talk."
Daniel nodded and motioned for Janet to go ahead of him. She smiled graciously and waited until he fell into step with her. Quashing the flush rising in her cheeks, she kept her eyes in front of her. "She didn't tell me much. I'm pretty sure you know just as much as I do." She said as he pressed the button for the elevator.
Daniel waited for her to continue. Janet waited until they were in the elevator. "All she said was that she was angry that the colonel thought she couldn't take care of herself."
"That's not why Jack did it." Daniel said as he watched the red numbers fly by. He knew he would start babbling if he looked at the woman beside him.
"I know." Janet sighed. Those two were so…she shook her head. "I tried to tell her, but she refuses to believe me. I think she's just scared of what it would mean if he did it for any other reason."
"Me too. Jack's scared also." At Janet's questioning look he continued. "He's scared of what it could mean too. He's also scared that he pushed her away."
Janet snorted. "That's stupid."
Daniel looked at the doctor in amusement as they stepped out of the elevator. "I know."
"The whole situation's stupid." Janet said seriously.
"Yes, it is." He didn't need to ask what she meant. Everyone on base could see how the two officers felt about each other…except possibly the two officers themselves.
Janet turned to Daniel as they entered the control room. "Did they even talk to each other for the rest of the mission?"
It was Daniel's turn to snort. "If you call the loudest shouting match in history 'talking.'"
Janet's eyebrows rose in shock. "They fought?"
"Like an old married couple." Daniel confirmed.
"Geez. He must have really pissed her off. It would take a lot for Sam to argue with her CO. Even if she knows he would never court martial her."
Daniel nodded his agreement. Leaning against the wall he shook his head. "Janet, you should have seen the way Sam and Jack were going at it last night. I didn't think they would ever stop."
It wasn't until he saw Janet's eyes widen in horror and heard his own voice echoing around the room, did he realize that he wasn't just leaning against the wall…he was leaning against the base intercom button. And he had just said something that, if not previously privy to the conversation, would sound very…compromising.
"I—I mean," Daniel stuttered, trying to rectify his lapse in judgment. "What I mean to say was--," he was cut off as Janet grabbed his arm and yanked him off the PA button.
"Get off of that!" she hissed as all eyes in the control room turned to look at him. He also heard the tell-tale sound of footsteps as General Hammond stomped down the steps into the room.
"General, sir." Janet snapped to attention.
"At ease." He said dismissively, his attention focused on Daniel. "Dr. Jackson! What is the meaning of this?" In truth, Hammond knew all about the shared feelings between his two officers. If he could, he would make the frat regs disappear…but that wasn't up to him. 'Yet.' He finished in his head.
"N—nothing, General!" Daniel quickly tried to assure him. "I just meant that they were fighting." He looked to Janet for help.
"He's right, sir." Janet nodded. "We were talking about their argument and Dr. Jackson leaned on the intercom…and…well, sir…the rest is history." She finished lamely, looking at her shoes.
Hammond fought to keep a smiled off his face. "Very well. Doctor, you're report." His eyes glowed reassuringly as he took the papers from her. He turned to Daniel, the same warm look still in his eyes. "Be careful where you stand from now on, son."
Daniel nodded, too embarrassed to speak. His head snapped up when he heard a very pointed cough. Standing in front of him was a very red, very angry Major Carter. She raised her eyebrow in question and pursed her lips.
"Sam! I'm sorry, I know what that sounded like and I--," he was cut off by an angry shout from outside the door.
"Daniel!"
Daniel cringed at the tone in Jack's voice.
He was so screwed.
TBC
A/N: Please R&R!!