Sorry this has taken so long! The last couple of months have been terrible in RL, and and on top of everything else, while trying to clear files out of my old computer so that it will keep running, I accidentally deleted this whole chapter and its back-up, necessitating a complete re-write! The original was longer, but thought I would post this much, and save the remainder for the next chapter. So, this is a fun chapter, suspense in next. Enjoy!

Chapter 4

The next evening found the team taking some time away from base for a welcome dinner for their distinguished trainees and their "Cadre" at one of SG-1's favorite restaurants, the "infamous O'Malleys Steakhouse," as Jack had termed it. His announcement brought a whoop of delight from the nearby SGC personnel.

Admiral Phillips, who was standing next to Daniel and General Darshkevich, puzzled aloud, "Infamous? Why is it infamous?"

Daniel looked chagrined as he explained that SG-1 had been banned from returning to the restaurant after a fight during the "arm-band fiasco."

"Ah, the Tok'ra armbands," Phillips replied. "I read that report. Handed you a bloody mess on that one."

"You've read the report?"

"You're surprised, Dr. Jackson? I asked for reports on SG-1 after I was given clearance. Always good to learn everything you can about your command and one's new commander."

"It doesn't surprise me that you have access to reports; it's just that I'm surprised Jack would let you see that particular one."

"We have total cooperation, no?" Darshkevich interjected. "Of course we can read the reports!"

"You've read it, too?" Daniel was now very shocked. Very un-Jack like...

The General broke out laughing. "Dr. Jackson! No! That's why we have lieutenants!"

Daniel and Admiral Phillips watched Darshkevich move away, shaking his head and still laughing.

"Some of us prefer to do our own research, heh?" Phillips winked at Daniel. "Never know what little detail may come in handy. Hope Colonel Carter challenges him to a game of pool tonight."

He and Daniel shared a laugh.

O'Malleyswas jumping that night, providing everyone a generous dose of pure Americana. There was a Country and Western band playing in the bar area, some good poolgames going in the pool hall, and, of course, the excellent steak dinners for which the restaurant was best known.

Jack, Daniel and Teal'c were sitting at a table situated such that it offered a good view of both the pool hall and the dance floor. Jack pushed back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other and sipping at a beer as he watched two of his charges trying to learn a line dance.

"Some things are just universal, huh?" Daniel observed, nodding his head toward Darshkevich, who had given up the complicated steps long ago to two-step with a dark-haired woman he recognized from the SGC. "Aren't you concerned he's having a little too much fun out there?"

"Nah, ol' Darkside, he's a stand-up kind of guy."

Daniel's head jerked around, shocked and open-mouthed, he stared at Jack. "You mean to tell me you like the Russian?"

"Supposed it had to happen sooner or later," Jack took another casual sip of his beer.

"General Darshkevich and O'Neill have much in common," Teal'c opined.

"Really?" Daniel looked surprised. "Wasn't he the head of Russia's NASA?"

"Yeah," Jack answered. "Former test pilot. One time Cosmonaut himself, I believe."

"Indeed."

"So it's the whole pilot-warrior-brother thing?"

"I don't know what you mean, Daniel," Jack replied, then suddenly sat upright and yelled toward the pool hall. "Hey, Meatsauce! Watch your wallet next game!"

Daniel swiveled around to see what was happening, and saw General Mitsuro Takeiholding a pool cue at a table where Sam was playing. Mitsuro looked back quizzically at O'Neill, while Carter shot him a glare that could kill. Mitsuro laughed, saluted with the cue, and leaned over, carefully preparing to break. Unbelievably, the breaking shot sent all the balls rolling to pockets.

"Fancy that," O'Neill leaned back. "Looks like Carter has met her match."

Two days later, Daniel found himself an observer at the firing range, where Teal'c and Sergeant Siler were instructors for "Goa'uld Weaponry 101," as Jack had termed it. He, Jack and Sam were in the rear of the room, Jack leaning casually against the rear wall. The trainees clustered around a table that displayed zats. Teal'c stood in the front, in full Jaffa warrior armour, even the helmet, holding his staff weapon straight at his side. He looks menacing, Daniel thought with a shiver. Siler stood off to Teal'c's left, near the table.

"The weapons before you are those commonly used by Jaffa serving the Goa'uld," Teal'c began. As he was speaking, some of the men started picking up the zats and examining them. "I bear a staff weapon, which fires an energy blast from the tip. It can also be used in close combat as a club or as a pugil stick."

Teal'c paused and twisted the staff weapon, suddenly turning downrange toward the targets and firing. The flash and noise caused some of the men to jump. Daniel turned back to Jack, catching him with a grin on his face.

Teal'c turned back, stood at attention again, and resumed his speech. "The weapons on the table before you are Zat'ni'katels. They fire an energy pulse, which on the first shot will stun an adversary."

The trainees were still turning the zats over in their hands, looking at them. A couple of them had found the button that made the weapon expand. Suddenly, there was a bright blue flash, and Siler crumpled to the floor. The room went still. Teal'c had not even flinched.

Daniel felt Jack jerk suddenly upright. He winced, realizing what particular memory the accidental shot must have brought to his friend. Daniel was afraid to even look at Jack, but turned anyway. To anybody else, Jack might have looked only slightly wide-eyed, but that very look gave him away to Daniel.

Then there was a loud clatter, accentuated by a loud click,as all the zats were dropped back onto the table. The room went absolutely silent again, as if everyone held their breath.

"The second shot kills," Teal'c continued, "...and the third shot obliterates." The room remained deadly silent as the students took in the implication. "Fortunately, these training zat'ni'katels have been modified to only discharge once, and no other will discharge for several minutes."

It was Jack who broke the ensuing silence. Turning to Sam he said softly, "Thank you Ma'am, for the re-fit."

"Actually, sir, it was Siler's idea."

"Huh. Saved by his own ingenuity."

Jack moved forward, giving Daniel's shoulder a squeeze as he brushed past him, letting him know he was all right, and went to Siler, who was starting to revive, giving him a hand up from the floor. "You okay, Siler?"

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir," Siler grabbed Jack's offered hand and stood with his help.

Jack turned slowly and looked seriously at his trainees, who were still silent and looking very embarrassed. Starting in a very quiet voice, he said, "Perhaps it would be best, until you are completely informed of how these weapons work," then ending in a shout, "to not touch anything!"

Jack glared at them, looking at each in turn, then moved back to his place at the wall, muttering to Daniel "Sheesh!" as he went by. As Jack resumed his slouch against the wall, Daniel gave him an enquiring look, but Jack just shook his head, which Daniel knew meant to leave it alone.

Meanwhile, Teal'c was giving the trainees his own glare. "Perhaps you should step back from the table, and we will continue."

As one, they all stepped back. The lesson continued.

"Ya know," Jack said in a low voice, so that only Daniel and Carter could hear, "maybe we should just move up the training schedule and get all these guys to Tango. They're just itching to get off-world."

Daniel looked over his shoulder at his friend, knowing it was Jack's way of lightening the mood, and decided to go with it. "They are? Or is it you?"

"Well, there's that."

"Besides, I haven't finished the training scenario I'm writing."

Jack groaned.

"Oh, it's a good one. See, an SG team comes back with an object they think is new technology, but they've misinterpreted..."

"Boring!" Jack interrupted. "How about something exciting?"

"But you haven't even heard it yet!"

Jack only snorted in reply, a hint of a grin on his face.

"And I suppose youhave an exciting scenario up your sleeve?"

Jack didn't answer, just crossed his arms and remained leaning against the wall. Daniel stared at his friend a few moments. "You do. You have something planned."

Jack just smirked.

TBC