Hey all, so, I am feeling a little sheepish myself. I know I said I was going to aim for Thursday or Friday and then the very next week I appeared to flake. I actually had some unexpected training to do and it set me back an entire week. On a more important note, thank you all for the reviews and faves!
Disclaimer: you already know what's mine
Chapter 4
The Broken Clock is a Comfort
"That's what I think," Jack O'Neill said, brows lifting.
Jack held Daniel Jackson's gaze as he popped his fork into his mouth. Taking a moment to chew up his food and swallow, Jack added decisively, "That goes for all of you." He made a sweeping motion toward Sam and Teal'c for good measure.
The furrow in Daniel's brow grew deeper and he and Sam shared a bemused look as their waitress arrived with a refill of soda for Jack and an ice tea for Daniel. "Can I get you anything else?" The young blond with the tight ponytail asked the table in general.
Daniel responded with a "No, thank you," and a polite nod. His words were followed by three similar responses from his companions.
Jack began to speak again after the girl walked off. "Well, that is except for Teal'c of course. Teal'c has a life, what with all the kelna…"Jacks words trailed off for just a second. "Meditation and all," Jack finished instead, apparently giving up on saying Kelno'reem.
You would think that after the four years Jack had known Teal'c, Jack would know how to say Kelno'reem, which made Daniel question if Jack was pretending he did not know what the word was or if he really did not. Daniel would bet it was the former, especially when he believed he had heard Jack say it at some point.
Teal'c stoic as usual, simply lifted his brow further under his hat at Jack's customary dryness.
"But you two," Jack went on, using his pointer finger to indicate Daniel and Sam, "You two? You two need a life. Or lives," he corrected after a moment of silence..
Steak on his plate forgotten, Daniel's brow furrowed as he opened his mouth. Uncertain how that they had gone from the topic of their upcoming combat first aid training to everyone's extracurricular lives or lack thereof.
"This does not count," Jack verified with a slight tilt of his chin.
Daniel waited for a moment to make sure Jack did not have even more of his own special brand of wisdom to impart. Or rather, to make sure he wouldn't get cut off the moment he opened his mouth. "Exactly how does the topic of our upcoming training lead to Sam and I needing lives?"
"You two are the type that gets excited about taking a class," Jack summated. Daniel and Sam shared another look, which prompted Jack to speak again. "Especially you," he accused, eyeing Carter.
Sam finally spoke up, "I never said I was excited about our training. I am just surprised they haven't insisted we all undergo some form of Tactical Combat Casualty Care training or at least, some of us before now."
"Some of us do have some training," Jack countered.
"Yes, we all have basic first aid and can pack a wound, use a tourniquet, and do CPR, but some surgical skills and advanced trauma care could prove invaluable."
Surprised, Daniel questioned, "Surgical skills?"
Jack spoke at the exact same time, "They're going to teach us to do surgery on each other?" the tone of Jack O'Neill's voice somehow making it sound like Carter was talking about performing heart surgery on the battlefield.
Sam's attention passed between them both and she shrugged, apparently ignoring Jack's tone. "It is unlikely, but they could. I haven't seen the course overview, but minor surgical skills are part of the AIT that is standard for 18 Delta and 68 Whiskey MOS's. I would certainly be willing if they offered it to me."
"Really?" Daniel questioned, uncertain why he did the second the word came out. He was not questioning Samantha Carter's willingness to learn, that was not a surprise at all. He just had not really thought about what their training would entail. It made sense command would want them to have the most optimal training with the combatant situations they sometimes found themselves in. After all, sometimes they came under heavy fire and getting to the gate was not always an option. General Hammond and Doctor Frasier had said in their briefing this morning they would all receive some AIT or advanced individual training.
Sam simply nodded, "Yeah. I mean, we never know when we might need them. Or when we could get cut off from a gate and be in need of serious medical attention. There is only so much we can do."
"Excuse me if I am wrong but isn't 18D NATO coding for Special Forces Sergeant Medic?" questioned Jack.
Carter nodded, "Yes."
A thoughtful look slipped across Jack's face before he shrugged dismissively, "Don't we already have SF medics in the program?"
Again, in the same conversation, Daniel found himself scrutinizing Jack O'Neill. The man might sound annoyed and difficult, but he couldn't imagine Jack being adverse to anything that meant saving their lives. Even if that meant learning to remove a bullet or two.
"Yes, but not all the teams have one. Actually, most of us don't. It would be nice to be able to help people with serious injuries rather than apply pressure and hope for the best," Sam explained.
"I see," Jack said. His attention shifted to Daniel, and stayed there. "Some teams get a medic, we get an Archaeologist."
At one time, Jack's comment would have left Daniel wondering if the older man meant his backhanded words as an insult or not. On certain occasions Jack's barbs still momentarily got him. Not this one however. All Daniel gave him was an expressionless look.
When Daniel did not take the very obvious bait, the older man simply lifted one brow. "I guess we will find out next week," Jack said.
XXXXXX
Blushing hotly, Addison gave Cole Bennett the dirtiest most disbelieving look she could muster. "I did…." her mouth snapped closed when she realized there was absolutely nothing she could say. No matter how she attempted to defend herself, she would only add fuel to the proverbial fire.
"That's what I thought, miss mouth. You parked your father's truck right in the middle of my living room. Ain't that right?" Cole finished off with a look at her father.
Colonel Addison Palmer simply chuckled. When Addy sent an accusatory look in her father's direction, he just shrugged and said, "Well?"
She gave her father one last glare before she returned her ire to the man who seemed determined to rehash one of the most embarrassing moments of her life.
"It was not my fault!" she defended, despite knowing she had just given him what he wanted. She had never driven a stick before that day.
"Oh, Addy, why?" Sarah Bennett said from her place across the table. The skin around her warm hazel eyes crinkled with amusement and a touch of sympathy. She shook her head.
"You were driving weren't ya?" the grey-haired man countered as if reading her mind.
"Yes, but…"
Tsking at her, Cole shook his head, blue eyes twinkling. "Didn't I ever tell you, butts belong in your pants, not coming out of your mouth."
Despite her attempts to keep a straight face, Addy laughed. He had told her many times in fact.
"'Side's, that's like saying my tractor put itself in the barn before we left."
Scowling at him, she scrunched up her brows dramatically. "That is the point. It basically did." She had started out just fine then simply forgotten where the brake was….
"Really?" Cole Bennett asked, sceptical. 'Why don't you tell me how that works?"
"I.." she began, her voice heavy with meaning. "Forgot," she began again in the same tone. "Where the brake was," the last coming out much more quickly. She gave the older gentleman a big toothy smile.
"Uhunh," Cole said skeptically, despite the amusement in his gaze. If it were possible to die of embarrassment, humiliation, mortification and or discomfiture Addison, was absolutely, unequivocally certain she would have that day. The driveway at the ranch came down a small hill as you reached the house. Her father had kept telling her to hit the break, but she had panicked; all she could see were the giant windows that ran along the front, watching the trucks reflection in the glass.
The ranch house also had the unfortunate circumstances of being built into the side of a hill, this meant the front door and windows her on ground level there was no porch to impede her progress either. Subsequently, the front third of her father's F-350, had ended up inside of Mister Cole Bennett's house.
Addison shook her head, laughing. She pulled her napkin from her lap and slid her chair back, "Now. If you will excuse me, I am going to the bathroom." Addy stood, holding Cole's mischievous gaze. "I'll be right back," she said as she pushed her chair in. She turned, giving the busy restaurant a cursory glance as she made her way to the restroom, remembering the events of that day .
XXXXXX
Daniel made his way toward the bar, tab in hand. Brows growing close as he scanned the check, he retrieved his wallet from the back pocket of his dark grey dockers with the other hand. Putting the cash the others had given him inside, he pulled out a credit card. He needed cash and had no plans of going to the bank two days before Christmas. Shopping tomorrow was going to be nightmarish enough, something else he wouldn't have left this long if he had had time. He ignored the part that was right there to tell him, he could have made the time if he hadn't been keeping himself as busy as possible lately.
He could not believe he had gone to Ruby's last night and judging by Grace's reaction, she could not believe he was there. She had not been rude but she was not friendly like she used to be either. He knew she had to know and it had become awkward very quickly, he had only stayed about as long as it took for him to eat his piece of pie.
He had almost made excuses when Sam suggested they all go out to dinner tonight. He stopped himself knowing he would bury himself in the stack of mission notes on his desk. Daniel dismissed the thought before it could go any further, his attention passing over the busy lounge. When Sam suggested dinner he had figured one of the numerous Mexican restaurants or pizza places in The Springs, not one of the busier family restaurants. The latter had been Jack's idea and he apparently had an in with the owner who had made sure they had gotten seating.
Daniel stepped around the end of the bar, his attention drifting around the space dismissively again. It moved to the cash register just a few feet away and stopped, shooting back toward the entrance to the bathrooms, his heart already pounding.
Daniel's steps slowed to a stop. It was her. Another patron moved between them, hiding her from his view just long enough for disbelief to take hold and make him doubt his eyes. It took less than a second for the person to move, gifting Daniel another view. All he could do was stare as a lead weight settled into his stomach.
She hadn't seen him yet, but Daniel couldn't seem to move. Caught somewhere between wanting to and his body not cooperating, Daniel stayed rooted to the spot.
She looked toward the bar as she made her way past it, a bright smile curved the edges of her lips and all thoughts of moving vanished. Daniel had forgotten just how beautiful she was when she smiled like that. The edges of his own lips twitched upward a fraction as her smile grew. She looked down, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. Daniel had caught those same silky strands, brushing them back from her face as he kissed her.
His stomach tightened more, the smile slipping from his lips as reality came back to him. There was a time when this particular smile would have made what was going on in her head a mystery he would contemplate.
She looked up and saw him, her blue eyes went wide, before he could think more. The smile on her lips freezing in place for half a second before it melted away. The color drained from her pale cheeks and she slowed to a stop. Daniel stood there, still unable to do anything besides stare at her, a vice like pressure squeezing his chest.
"Daniel," she questioned, hesitantly, confusion filling her eyes. They dropped from his, fixing on his chest. She glanced back up at him, the confusion giving way to something else in her expressive eyes. Hurt and anger flashed through their depths before they lowered once again.
"Addison," he said haltingly. Neither of them moved. Daniel opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. At the same time, he took a step closer without realizing it, willing her to look at him again.
"There you are," someone said drawing Daniel's attention from her.
"Sarah," Addison said, hoarsely. Bringing Daniel's gaze back to her, just in time to see the look of relief that flashed across her face.
"Aren't you going to introduce me?" the older woman with dark curls and hazel eyes asked. A curious look marking her features as she watched them.
Addison's attention returned to him but she didn't meet his gaze, "Daniel Jackson," she began, eyes never lifting past his chin. "This is Sarah Bennett."
Daniel dragged his attention from Addison, he looked at the older women again, taking her extended hand for a quick shake.
"Sarah Bennett, this is Daniel Jackson." Her voice drew him back to her just in time to catch her attention darting from his face, the appropriate greeting dying on Daniels tongue.
"I was just coming to find you," the older woman explained. "We are ready to go."
"All right," Addison said with a nod, before she went on to explain, "There was a line in the bathroom."
After a second of silence, the older women's gazes passing between them, she said, "All right."
She took a step back and started to walk away leaving them alone again.
"Sarah," Addison called. "I'm coming."
Her attention lifted again, but not enough to meet his gaze and she took a step.
"Addy?" He enquired softly. A feeling akin to panic slamming into him. He took a halting step and lifted his hand slightly, wanting her to wait. To look at him again.
She did stop moving, her eyes lifting to his hand as if she knew. "I jus..I wa.." She finally gave him what he wanted, bringing his stammered words to a halt. Gone was the uncertainty and anger of moments, it had been replaced with something far worse: indifference. She shook her head as she stepped past him, leaving him to watch as she walked away.
Addy managed to only hold up her mask of indifference until she stepped past him. The knot that was tightening around the mass in her stomach tightened more. Addy tried to, at least, look outwardly calm as she made her way toward the waiting Sarah. A feat Addison was not finding so easy as she met the older woman's searching gaze. Addison gave a wane smile when she reached her.
As Sarah fell into step beside her, Addy turned her head just enough so she could see him. He was still standing there watching, and her stomach twisted violently. Addy looked forward again.
The time it took her to say goodbyes and get to the door could not pass quickly enough for Addison. She never was good at hiding what she was feeling, and even without that fault, Sarah Bennett was far too perceptive. Her keen eyes had stayed with Addison, her mind working out things Addison did not want her too. Addy could plainly see Sarah wanted to ask questions but kept them to herself, that was a fact for which Addison Marie Palmer was thankful.
The Next Day
"What are you doing here?" a voice asked drawing Daniel's attention. He looked up to find Sam Carter leaning in the doorway to his office, a friendly smile on her face.
Daniel took off his glasses, folding his arms over his chest, his brow wrinkling. "I decided to come in and go through the rest of these mission notes," he lied. Well, not entirely but it was not quite that simple. "I could ask you the same," he said, given the fact SG-1 had been told they were off for the holiday weekend and not to report until Tuesday, per Hammonds orders.
Sam stepped fully into the doorway. "I wanted to go over the data from PX336 again," Sam explained. PX336 was a remote planet on the outer edges of the solar system they had recently discovered. It had experienced an extinction level bond event at least two and half millennia ago; that turned the climate from verdant to arid rapidly; killing of life and drying the land out. The ruins they had found there were vast, from what Daniel could tell they had been advanced but apparently not advanced enough to save themselves.
"You're still going to be there Monday, right?" she asked, interrupting his thoughts and redirecting the conversation to Christmas.
"Yes," Daniel said.
She stepped back, wrapping her hand around the door casing. "I'm going to go grab my stuff and get out of here," Major Carter said. "See ya, Monday."
"See ya," Daniel replied, watching Sam disappear.
His attention dropped back to the notes on his desk. He had requested a team and a one week expedition to learn more about PX336 but as of yet he hadn't been approved. He also knew Hammond would approve it eventually, but If Sam's theory that the bond event had not been naturally occurring but the direct result of Genocide, Daniel suspected his request would be granted sooner rather than later.
He really had not been planning on coming in today. For once he truly had not. Though there was still two SG teams and staff on hand, they were only here for emergencies. Hammond had suspended all gate travel until after the holiday. Daniel had planned to do some research at home in his own library and go get Sam and Jack and Teal'c each gifts. For the last two years, Sam had invited them all over for Christmas and for those two years, Daniel had taken small gifts with him. It was the polite thing to do, though he had questioned more than once why he bought anything for Jack. Cranky and Crusty, he couldn't just be appreciative. Brows lifting, Daniel was absolutely certain that was not going to change this year. Why then was he sitting in his office, buried in research going through yet more notes about various planets and the cultures found there.
He had not slept hardly at all last night, he could not stop thinking about her. Maybe it wasn't even thinking about her so much as the heavy weight that had settled into his stomach and wouldn't seem to leave. He had wanted to see her bad enough he had gone to Ruby's the night before, but he had not been prepared for actually seeing her. Despite knowing, she most likely hated him, he had not been prepared for how it had felt.
He had not asked Grace anything even though he had wanted too, but now…. Now that he had seen her, he did not. He knew she was angry and hurt that morning but… Daniel pushed his chair back from his desk reminding himself he shouldn't have expected anything else. Not that he really had. She had every right to be angry or even hate for that matter. Despite not wanting things to have gone the way they did, he had slept with her, he reminded himself. And then… and then, his stomach turned at the idea, he had told her they… that his life was complicated… too complicated.
The image of her last night when she had started walking away filled his head. He had thought he could handle the condemnation or anger, hatred even but she wouldn't even look at him. Then she had.
"Hey," the same familiar voice as before said, "are you doing all right?
Daniel met Sam's searching gaze, "Yeah." Daniel knew where the question was coming from and he guessed he had the answer to the question he had had last night: had his companions witnessed what happened at the restaurant last night? At least Sam had.
"You could come have lunch with me?" Sam offered, watching him perceptively.
"Thanks," Daniel said, "But I want to get these notes sorted through."
For a moment Daniel thought she was going to push, but in the end she said, "Don't stay here too long, ok?"
"I won't."
xxxxxxxxx
Samantha Carter made her way down the corridor from Daniel's office, a messenger bag over her shoulder. Her steps slowing, she turned around and headed back down the corridor.
Sam had no idea what was going on. She supposed Daniel could have some form of a life outside of Stargate Command and SG-1 that none of them knew about. Whoever that girl he had been talking to last night or rather not talking to was part of it. Daniel had left the table in a normal mood, he had come back in an entirely different one and had appeared to not be able to leave fast enough.
Sam reached Daniel's door again, knocking on the casing as she stepped inside. "Hey," she began. "Why don't we help each other out," she said, slipping the messenger bag strap over her head. "You help me out and I'll help you." Moving deeper into the room, she went on, "I don't want to spend the entire day cooking and pouring over this data," she lied. That was exactly what she had been planning to do, had been looking forward to doing. "And I'm sure you have other things you'd rather be doing," she added, nonchalantly.
For half a second she thought Daniel was going to turn down her offer but he did not. Sam pulled the folders from her bag, placing one on the table, she opened the other to reveal a large geographical map made from a drones aerial survey.
I hope you enjoyed! Thanks for reading!
