Transported 4
By Oonagh
Disclaimer: Still not mine.
Author's Note: More reviews! Thanks so much.
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O'Neill finally stopped standing staring at his subordinate and sat down to stare at her instead. To say he was shocked would be an understatement. Carter never paid him compliments, not like that. Not that he was complaining, mind you. O'Neill was pretty certain he could get used to it. He just wished he knew what brought it on. Maybe it had been their orientation speech the day before. O'Neill grinned at the memory of the tough Commander Lambert reluctantly giving the speech, which had obviously been written by a psychology major with no idea of military life. Commander Lambert had, with a suspiciously straight face, advised his victims that,
"Honesty truly is the best policy. No team can truly act as a cohesive unit if all the members are not open and honest with one another. To this end, during the weekend if you feel something express it to your team mates. You'll be amazed at the difference this can make!" O'Neill had interrupted proceedings at this point by laughing out loud at the conversation that flitted through his head.
"Hey Carter!"
"Yes, Sir?"
"You've got a really cute butt and great legs."
The thought made him laugh again. Yup, that would make a difference all right. O'Neill snorted.
Looking at Carter's sleeping form O'Neill reluctantly decided that Carter had probably paid no more attention to the orientation briefing than he had and that her slip-up was probably due to tiredness. O'Neill's mind finally left Cater and focused on their current situation. He was still as puzzled as he had been before his sleep. He hoped Carter was having more luck than him at coming up with a solution. She probably is too. I've always said the woman works even in her sleep. With a small grin O'Neill shifted to a more comfortable position and settled in to await the dawn.
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Daniel Jackson breathed a sigh of relief as he set foot over the door of the dull, grey, tent-like building the Air Force had set up as their HQ on this planet. This had easily been the worst night of his life – including the times he'd been captured, tortured and killed. Night time orienteering would have been bad enough but night time orienteering with a confused and rather irritated Jaffa was pure hell on…well P5X 392. Teal'c was puzzled by the whole idea of teambuilding and, Daniel had learned, believed it a waste of time that could be better spent fighting the Goa'uld. And Daniel couldn't bring himself to argue with the alien when he pointed out that SG1 was already a team and, therefore, teambuilding was unnecessary. Deep inside Daniel agreed – as far as he was concerned nothing, short of imminent death, justified being awakened at 02:15 and sent out into the cold without coffee. But now he was home – or as near as, anyway – and Daniel could already visualise the cup of hot, steaming, revolting coffee he was going to make himself as soon as he rested for a while. So it was with a smile on his face that Daniel Jackson finished the exercise, stepping into the well lit main hall.
"Aha. Only one remaining team still out now." Daniel jumped slightly at Commander Lambert's strident voice and then he grinned wider. Only second last? They'd done better than he'd thought. He looked around to find Jack and gloat – the other man had placed money on Daniel finishing dead last. He quickly scanned the room and then looked around more slowly, slightly puzzled.
"Teal'c, do you see Jack and Sam?"
"No, Daniel Jackson. They do not appear to be here." Daniel frowned.
"Commander Lambert, have you seen Jack and Sam? I thought for sure they'd be here to gloat." As he spoke, Daniel continued to look around the room.
"Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter have not yet returned."
"What? You mean they're last?" Daniel's voice rose in disbelief. A marine standing nearby snorted.
"So, looks like SG1's not all it's cracked up to be. Last and second last. Way to go!" Daniel tensed but otherwise ignored the interruption.
"Commander, we need to go and look for them. Something must have happened."
"Relax, Doctor Jackson. It's a little early for panic. There's still an hour to go before they break the 'slowest ever' record. And if all I've heard about SG1 is true there's nothing out there that the Colonel and Major can't handle."
"But Jack and Sam would never be last. I don't think either of them has ever come last at anything in their lives."
"There's a first time for everything, Doctor Jackson." Commander Lambert walked away, leaving a very uneasy archaeologist behind him. Daniel turned to Teal'c who raised an eyebrow.
"While I do not believe it is likely that O'Neill and Major Carter would finish last I am forced to concede that it is possible, Daniel Jackson." Daniel shook his head but realised that, for the next hour at least, there was nothing he could do but wait, and hope.