"Whatcha doin'?"
Rebekah looked up, barely stopping herself from rolling her eyes, as Marina plopped into the chair next to her. She'd been writing in the journal Daniel had given her, something that always made her think of him and still managed to help her work out her story frustrations. At this moment, however, her biggest frustration was her nosy friend. "Hi, Marina. I'm writing. What are you doing?"
Marina just grinned. "Wondering what you're doing here when you've 'had plans' the last four Fridays in a row." She made air quote with her fingers and sighed. "No date with Mr. Hottie?
"It's Doctor Daniel Jackson, and we aren't seeing each other." Rebekah didn't stop herself from rolling her eyes. "I don't know how many times I have to tell you that."
"Honey, you can tell me that all you want, but it won't change what the rest of us at the writers' group sees." Marina paused long enough for the waitress to deliver her meal. "That man is smitten. And, by the looks of it. . . .Did you just say Doctor Jackson? He's the hottest medical doctor I've seen in years!"
Rebekah snickered, almost choking on her coffee in the process. "I'm surprised it took you that long to catch up. And, no. Doctor of Archaeology, Anthropology, and Linguistics."
"Multiple PhDs?" Marina's eyes kept getting wider. "You really know how to pick 'em!"
Rebekah didn't even deign that with an answer. She merely went back to writing even though her train of thought was completely broken. Marina had a point about how attractive Daniel was, but neither of them had mentioned anything about turning their friendship into anything more. They'd met for dinner almost every Friday evening since she dropped her books on his toes, and he was faithful to attend all of her writing clinics. In that time, both of them had become comfortable with one another, and last week's little interruption had done nothing to slow down the flirting going back and forth. Daniel had been reading over her shoulder—something Rebekah typically hated but found she could tolerate with him—and he'd been trying to correct her grammar. When she told him she'd worry about it later, he had happily made himself comfortable with correcting it for her. That dissolved into a playful argument which resulted in both of them having pen marks on their hands from the entire affair.
"Earth to Rebekah!" Marina's playful voice brought her out of her thoughts.
"What?"
"I asked what you're working on." Marina motioned toward the journal with her fork. "You've been staring at that page pretty intently for the last. . .oh. . .five minutes or so."
Finally admitting she wouldn't get any more work done, she closed the journal and set aside her pen. "I was brainstorming."
"For your original piece?"
"Yeah." She ran a hand over her face. "I haven't started writing yet because I want to have everything in order."
"So, you're planning this one as obsessively as all of them?"
"Of course."
"You never answered my question about Dr. Hottie." Marina never looked up from her plate even though she smirked.
Rebekah let out an explosive sigh. "He's out of town."
"Business?"
"No, actually." Rebekah grinned. "A colleague's wedding. He invited me to go along, but I couldn't get the time off work."
That threw Marina for a moment. "Daniel asked you to go to a wedding with him? And you're not dating?"
Even Rebekah knew how unlikely that was. She shrugged. "Yeah."
"You really need to get your head out of those romance books you write. You've got a real life one sitting right in front of you, and you're not taking any chances!"
"Marina, you know it's not that simple!"
"It is that simple!" Marina decided to be serious for once, leaving behind all the jokes and innuendo that she could put into her statements. "Listen, Beks. In the five years I've known you, you've never looked twice at a man who didn't play one of your favorite characters on TV. You've never even let one who did ask you out distract you from your life. Now, one has come along who is incredibly attractive, a touch mysterious, and very interested in you. What are you doing about it? Sitting there writing in a journal! Do you see my problem, here?"
"And what happens if I decide to date him?" Rebekah asked quietly. "What happens if, a month from now, I figure out I'm in love with him and he's not even interested in me like that?"
"He wouldn't have asked you out if he wasn't."
"He's a friend." Rebekah met Marina's eyes. "When we go out to dinner, we meet somewhere and share the bill. That's what friends do."
"And yet he invited you to go to this wedding with him."
"He was being nice."
Marina snorted. "Keep up the good work lying to yourself."
"Excuse me?"
"Rebekah, listen." Marina touched her arm, using her full name instead of the irritating nickname that usually came out of her mouth. "Take it from your past experience. Being alone is great, being with someone is better. Being with a guy who treats you the way Dr. Hottie does is best."
"You don't have a clue how he treats me."
Marina smirked. "I see how he is when he's here. Usually by the time I arrive, the two of you have coffee. He watches every move you make, takes notes, and hangs on your every word. He's older than you by. . .what? Ten years? Guys like that hold the door for you, let you go first, treat you like a real lady instead of someone to share their bed. He looks you in the eye when you're talking and doesn't seem to think anything of hanging out after your clinics just to talk to you. Do I have it right?"
Rebekah stared at the cover of her journal, not wanting to admit that Marina had pretty much described how Daniel treated her. "Maybe?"
"Maybe?" Marina shook her head. "Years from now, when you look back and realize how blind you were about this whole thing, don't blame me for not telling you." She got up and stalked off to the ladies' room.
Rebekah continued to stare at the cover of her journal as she absorbed Marina's words. Her friend was pretty adamant about this, very serious and not at all like Rebekah was accustomed to hearing her. And she was right. Rebekah hated to admit that, and it caused her stomach to clench. She was thirty-five years old, single, and very tired of society wondering why she wasn't seeing anyone. Most of the women in the writers' group had, at one point in time or another, tried to set her up with one of their friends. They had the best of intentions, but Rebekah simply wasn't interested in a stable relationship. She'd had that in the past and had failed at it.
But Daniel was different. He had been different from the moment Rebekah met him. They'd connected, and Rebekah looked forward to the time they spent together. Tonight, just before Marina had arrived, she'd been missing Daniel's presence and wondering if she should have found a way to go to that wedding. But that would have created more problems as Daniel's friends would have started asking questions. Instead, she sat here, miserable and lonely.
Marina returned a few moments later, catching her as she slowly opened the journal back to the page she'd been using. "Hey. You okay?"
"No," Rebekah admitted.
"Look, I'm sorry I lost it." Marina slipped back into her chair. "I just. . .I want to see you happy and I think you and Daniel have a chance."
Rebekah tried to smile, but her friend's words had hurt more than a little. Marina knew what Rebekah had gone through in the past. They hadn't known each other then, but Rebekah had told Marina about her failed marriage and how devastating it had been on her. Even now, she doubted any man when he told her how good she looked. The fact that Daniel's compliments were usually quiet, heartfelt, and sometimes not even verbal didn't matter. She just had a terrible time believing that men found her attractive.
"You know what you need?" Marina again interrupted her thoughts.
"Chocolate?"
"A makeover."
"A what?"
"Yep." Marina grinned. "When does Dr. Hottie get back?"
"S—S—Sunday." Rebekah couldn't help the stutter. The suggestion had blindsided her, and she was still trying to figure out how Daniel's return date had anything to do with this proposed makeover that Marina had in mind.
"Perfect!" Marina pulled out her cell and dialed a number from memory. A few moments later, she grinned. "Hey, Sarah! How are you? Good, I'm good. Listen, I need a favor. I've got a friend here I'd like to treat to everything. . . .Yeah, that's right. . . .Hair, mani, pedi, facial, the works. . . ." She turned to critically eye Rebekah. "Let's just say a full makeover. . . .Actually, I was thinking tomorrow if you can fit it into your schedule. . .Oh, you don't? What about next Saturday?" She listened for another moment. "That works. Next Saturday it is. Her name's Rebekah, but it's going on my tab. . . .Thanks, Sarah, you're a lifesaver!"
Rebekah waited until she hung up the phone. "What are you doing?"
"A favor." Marina looked her in the eye. "There's nothing wrong with a little pampering now and then, and I think Dr. Hottie will love it. Besides, I told you on your birthday your gift would be big, and I never followed through."
"A makeover?"
"And. . .?" Marina grinned. "It's gonna be great!"
Marina's excitement was contagious, and Rebekah couldn't stop the grin that wanted to form. Instead, she just rolled her eyes as it escaped. "I just hope this isn't a huge mistake."
~~O~~
Monday morning, Daniel headed for the SGC control room. He'd been neck-deep in paperwork from Las Vegas when Walter called him about a priority communique from the Hammond. Now, he sighed. He'd been looking forward to this contact with Sam, to hearing from her and confirming their plans for the weekend. Instead, he got to tell her that things had gone south yet again and then break the news that a former colleague had been arrested.
Vala, freshly returned from the Land of Light, bounced to his side. "Hello, Daniel."
"Hey." He let her hop onto the elevator ahead of him and then punched the button for Level 28. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he eyed her. "You look well."
She tossed her head. "I am well. You look like you haven't slept."
"That's because I haven't."
"Why not?"
"Oh, let's just say things went sideways. Like they always do." Daniel reached out and snagged her arm when she left the elevator and turned the wrong direction. "Remember the wedding we were all going to while you were with Keret? Well, it turns out that it didn't end as well as it should have."
Vala blinked. "Bride got left at the altar?"
"No."
"Bride left the groom at the altar?"
"No."
"Someone showed up who had problems with them getting married?"
"No."
"They eloped?"
"Would you just let me finish?"
"Sorry."
"Anyway, as I was saying, the wedding didn't end as planned." He held up a hand to stop her from commenting. "The wedding went great, vows were exchanged, the bride was beautiful, the groom never happier, and the reception fantastic. But, as they were leaving the wedding, the police showed up."
"Noise violation?"
"Murder charges."
Vala blinked at that. "Against. . .?"
"The groom."
"Oh, dear." She frowned. "Did he do it?"
"McKay?" Daniel actually snickered. "Believe me, as much as I don't exactly get along with McKay, I can't ever imagine him actually murdering someone in cold blood. He's arrogant and absolutely frustrating, but he's a good man. He wouldn't have done something like that."
"So, you're trying to figure out who would have had a motive to frame McKay for murder?"
"Exactly." Daniel stopped just outside the control room. "Listen, I spoke with McKay while I was there. He knows Sam's coming in with the Hammond this weekend, and he knows we had this team bar-b-que scheduled with her. He was adamant we not tell her anything until after she arrived on Earth and that we go ahead with our plans. I don't like it, but it's what he wants. In the meantime, we're gonna keep working to clear his name and figure out who's behind this."
Vala nodded mutely, and they resumed their walk up the stairs. After a few seconds of silence, she bounced again. "So, anything else happen while I was gone?"
"Like what?"
"Dinner with Rebekah, maybe."
Daniel stifled a groan. After Jack found him and Rebekah more or less flirting in the coffee shop the night of Kavanagh's murder, news had gotten out to the rest of SG-1 that he was "seeing someone." Vala had been relentless in her quest to meet Rebekah and had been disappointed when he refused to introduce her to them.
Fortunately, Sam saved him from having to reply. She grinned when his face appeared on the screen. "Daniel!"
"Hey, Sam." He sat down in the chair as Vala hovered over him, waving at Sam. "How's things?"
"Good. We're on schedule to be home in three days."
"That's good, 'cause we have plans for you on Saturday evening." Daniel rolled his eyes when Sam actually snickered. He knew from experience that Vala was trying to tell Sam something without interrupting him. He turned. "Would you like to say something, Vala?"
"Yes." The dark-haired woman grinned. "Sam, Daniel's seeing someone!"
Sam's eyebrows rose. "Really?"
"Yes!" The admission was out before he could stop it. He sighed and gave Vala his patented look of irritation. "As I was saying, we've got plans. Jack wants to do a team dinner, so we're meeting at my place."
Sam's smile widened. "That sounds great. So, who's this mystery woman?"
At that moment, Daniel seriously contemplated shooting Vala with a zat. "She's. . .uh. . . ."
Vala took over. "According to Daniel, she's incredible!"
"I didn't say that!"
"No, darling, you wouldn't." Vala patted him on the shoulder.
Sam interrupted them, her grin staying just as wide as before. "And Vala knows this how?"
Vala waved a hand. "General O'Neill," she crowed. "He apparently found them together and said Daniel looked 'happy.' Daniel later told us that they'd had dinner a few times."
Sam's eyes turned toward Daniel. "I'd love to meet her."
"Of course you would," he muttered.
"Hey, bring her on Saturday." Sam shrugged. "We could get to know her a little better and ease her way into the 'family.'"
"It's not like we're. . . ." Daniel stopped speaking when Sam held up a hand. As soon as the grin disappeared from her face, he knew that duty had called. "Take care, Sam. We'll see you later this week."
A few moments later, the screen went dead. Daniel stared at it for another long moment. He missed Sam, more than he'd thought he would. She had become his sister over the years, and he missed working with her.
Vala finally straightened. "There. Was that so hard?"
Daniel frowned, trying to follow her line of reasoning. "Was what so hard?"
"Inviting Rebekah to the team dinner."
Refusing to answer, Daniel stood and headed back for his office. He had too much work to do to think about what the two female members of SG-1 had just done to him. When Jack had let the tidbit about Rebekah slip out, everyone had been interested. Teal'c and Mitchell had dropped the subject, but Vala had been persistent. And he knew Sam would be just as persistent. With a sigh, he glanced at his watch. Rebekah was at work for another three hours, and then he'd call her.
Decision made, he set aside his personal life and went back to the mounds of paperwork on his desk. He had a friend in jail, and he intended to see him cleared of all charges.
~~O~~
Saturday afternoon, Rebekah stared at herself in the mirror and had the sinking suspicion that she'd just made a horrible mistake. Not that she could change it, but her stomach clenched. She ran her fingers through her newly-cut hair, letting herself critically assess her new look.
Marina had appeared right on time that morning, dragging a half-awake Rebekah to the salon. While they waited, Rebekah told her friend about her latest dinner with Daniel and his invitation to the team bar-b-que at his place. She rolled her eyes when Marina immediately insisted that she go after her makeover, and Rebekah had to hide the sly grin that formed as a way to get back for all the teasing.
The morning and early afternoon passed in a lazy fashion as Rebekah relaxed enough to enjoy the day. While waiting, she and Marina perused books of hairstyles and picked one that both liked. Now, however, Rebekah wasn't so certain. Her hair had been quite long before, but it now fell to just past her shoulders at the longest. Layers fell around her face in a flattering manner, and she liked how easy it was to style. But she worried about the reception she'd get today. After all, she hadn't exactly told Daniel about this belated birthday gift. Then, she rolled her eyes. She was overthinking things and making a bigger deal out of it than it should be. Giving herself a firm mental shake, she reached for her purse and keys, thankful she'd had the forethought to insist on driving.
Marina, who had also undergone her own transformation, grinned. "You look amazing! And if Dr. Hottie can't see that, then he's not worth your time."
"Thanks, Marina." She let her irritation color her voice just slightly, knowing it would always be like this between the two of them. Sliding behind the wheel of the car, she shrugged. "I guess the hair was a big change, and I'm just. . . ."
Marina reached over and ran a hand through the newly shortened locks. "It suits you."
The two women fell silent, and Rebekah let herself get lost in her thoughts as she drove. The night before, Daniel had given her directions to his house, and she'd memorized them as she debated whether or not to even accept his invitation. He admitted that the team he worked with both in the past and in the present would be there, that they were all like family, and that they all wanted to meet her. She wondered exactly what he'd told her about them and then realized that it likely didn't matter. General O'Neill, the man who had interrupted them just before Daniel went to that wedding, had likely teased Daniel a time or two. While Rebekah hadn't had a chance to do much more than meet the guy, he seemed to have a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.
Marina finally broke the silence. "Um. . .where are we going?"
Rebekah grinned at her. "If I'm going to this bar-b-que, then you're coming with me."
"What?" For a moment, her irrepressible friend was shocked. "No. No, no, no! Take me home. It was an invitation for you, and I don't want to intrude!"
"Marina, relax! It's not like it's just me and Daniel. His entire team is going to be there." Rebekah glanced over to see genuine concern on her friend's face. "Besides, if I had to do the makeover with you—which I thoroughly enjoyed—then you have to go to this with me. I promise I won't do anything to embarrass you so long as you just be yourself."
Marina gave her a doubtful glance. "So, I can call you 'Beks?'"
"No."
"Aw. . .but you said I could be myself!"
"Besides that."
The two women continued to bicker the rest of the way to Daniel's place. Rebekah pulled up outside the modest single-story home, seeing a well-maintained lawn and smoke from a grill rising from the back yard. Various vehicles, including Daniel's Jeep and a large pick-up, lined the narrow street. Rebekah's heart immediately started pounding again as she gave herself a quick once-over. Today, she wore a white blouse and jeans, the bright blue scarf draped around her shoulders adding just a touch of color. It was casual but elegant, and she wondered if she should just keep on driving. Movement in the front window told her she'd been spotted, and she realized there wasn't any way to get out of this.
A glance at Marina revealed that her friend was just as uncomfortable with the idea. Rebekah sighed. "Look, if you're really not happy with this, I can take you home."
"Would you come back if you did?" When Rebekah didn't answer, Marina nodded. "That's what I thought. Let's go. It's just a bar-b-que, right? What could happen?"
Rebekah shook her head as she opened her door. "Famous last words!"
The two women left the car behind and walked slowly up the drive. They heard some laughter from the back yard and shared a nervous grin. Rebekah idly wondered why Marina was so nervous about this and then decided she must have felt like she would intrude on a special event. Deciding that wasn't the case, she knocked on the door and waited to see what Daniel's reaction would be when he answered.
A huge African man wearing a hat answered the door, staring blankly at them. Marina's head tipped back, and she actually sounded shocked when she spoke. "Whoa! Big fella!"
The man raised an eyebrow at her in a very eloquent move. "Can I help you?"
Rebekah took over before Marina stuck her foot in her mouth. "I'm Rebekah Jacobs. I was looking for Dr. Jackson?"
The man's mouth tipped up in a small smile, and he suddenly seemed a bit more inviting as he stepped back. "You have arrived at the correct address, Rebekah Jacobs. Please, come in."
Feeling more than a little out of place, the two women walked through the door. The hallway stretched from side to side, opening on the left into a fairly large living room. Rebekah caught a glimpse of two women, one with thick black hair and one with blond hair, before Daniel bounded around the corner. "Rebekah, hey!" He stopped and blinked. "Wow! Uh. . .you look great!"
As Marina nudged her arm, Rebekah grinned. "Thanks." Her hand automatically went to her much shorter hair, and she forced herself to stay in place rather than bolting out the front door. "I hope it's okay if I brought Marina with me."
"Of course." Daniel motioned behind her. "I see you've met Murray."
The big man nodded, making it seem more like a bow than a nod. "It is my honor to make your acquaintance, Rebekah Jacobs."
"Thanks." She tried to smile, but the guy was just too intimidating to her.
Daniel didn't seem to have any compulsions about the man, though. He led Rebekah further into the house, pointing and introducing people as he did so. Vala Mal Doran, the woman with black hair, bounced over to shake her hand and thank her for coming. Rebekah instantly knew that she'd found Marina's doppelganger even if the women looked totally different. They had the same outgoing personality. Air Force Colonel Samantha Carter was a bit more reserved, shaking Rebekah's hand and welcoming her with a smile. Fellow Colonel Cameron Mitchell grinned and also shook Rebekah's hand, but his focus shifted to Marina within seconds.
Sam, as she insisted on being called, pulled Rebekah over to a chair as Vala shoved a bottle of water into her hand. "So, Rebekah, Daniel tells me you're a writer?"
With that opening, Rebekah began to settle into the group. She kept an eye on all the people, feeling a bit overwhelmed but thrilled when Daniel came to her side and joined her conversation with Sam. She gave him a smile and breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe these people weren't as intimidating as they seemed. Besides, if she was going to be friends with Daniel, she needed to get to know those who made up his "family," as he called them. Determined that she could get through at least one meal with them, she allowed herself to get caught up in conversation and just ignore her natural tendency to hide. Based on the smile on Daniel's face, it was worth it.
~~O~~
With Cassie outside and making certain Jack didn't completely char the meat, Daniel took a few moments to sit down next to Rebekah. He was still absorbing the change in her, amazed at the drastic difference. She'd told him that Marina was taking her for a makeover that day, but he hadn't expected something like this. She really looked great! Her hair had been highlighted to bring out the natural red tones, and it framed her face perfectly. The style wasn't too modern, either, something that Daniel appreciated. Her bright blue scarf with a pale pink pattern tracing its way through it only highlighted the changes, and he grinned when Sam caught him openly staring.
Knowing that there would be a lot of teasing after Rebekah went home, Daniel gratefully slipped outside when Cassie called for him. The college sophomore glanced at Rebekah but didn't say anything when Daniel joined her in convincing Jack that not everyone liked their meat black on the outside. By the time he got back inside, Sam and Vala had coaxed Rebekah into helping set the table.
For just a moment, he watched the women work and thought over the events of the day. SG-1, both past and present, could be a bit overwhelming to an outsider. But something else was going on. Every time he told Rebekah how nice she looked, whether during dinner or like he had when she first arrived, he saw this frisson of doubt begin to make its way into her eyes. It seemed like she didn't believe him, and he suddenly wondered what had put that idea in her head. She was a beautiful woman, and he'd finally admitted just how much he liked her. Still, her doubts about herself almost reminded him of himself back before he ascended. Back then, he felt like he hadn't done anything to contribute to humanity and that the world would, possibly, be better without him. Years later, he was able to look back and realize how self-centered that actually sounded. He had made a difference, in more ways than one. Yes, he'd lost so many people he cared about, but he had learned to move on from those losses. He'd had good friends to nudge him in the right direction and keep him from slipping back into the depression that had dogged him since Sha're's death.
But what about Rebekah? She clearly hadn't had the same encouragement in her life, and he often got the feeling she didn't quite know if she could trust him. Daniel understood that, but it went deeper. This wasn't just about her self-esteem. Deciding that he could do something about it today, he figured he would make certain she knew exactly where he stood on her new look.
The women had finished setting the table, so, when she passed by him, Daniel reached out and snagged Rebekah's hand. Pulling her into the kitchen, a nice public room but currently unoccupied, he grinned. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure." She glanced behind her, realizing that she wouldn't be missed. "What's up?"
Rather than releasing her hand, Daniel held on to it to keep her close. "You okay?"
"Yes."
"Good." He met her eyes. "I meant what I said earlier. You really look wonderful."
A delightful flush colored her cheeks, and her free hand went to her hair. "Thanks." She shrugged. "It was Marina's idea, and I'm still wondering if I made a colossal mistake."
He reached up and brushed his fingers through the lock of hair that lay across her forehead. "Not a mistake," he said softly as he tried to allow her to see how he really felt about her in general.
Her flush deepened as she apparently saw what he wanted to get across. She straightened just a bit. "Good."
Daniel held her gaze for another long moment before bringing up a topic he hoped didn't send her running for the hills. "Listen, Jack kind of said some things about us that I wanted you to be aware of."
"That we're seeing each other?"
He blinked. "You know?"
"Vala let it slip." Her eyes dropped, and she stared at their joined hands. "I won't lie, Daniel. The idea is a bit scary given my past." She looked up at him. "But, I'd like to find time to talk about the possibility."
"Good." He would have said more, but sudden footsteps interrupted.
Cassie bounded into the kitchen. "Hey, Daniel, Jack's wondering where the. . . .Whoops." She stopped and blinked, looking from Rebekah to Daniel and back.
He felt Rebekah stiffen, but she didn't step away from him. Choosing to take her lead, he simply met Cassie's eyes. "Jack's wondering where. . . .?"
Cassie shook her head to clear it. "The platter for the meat is at. The steaks are done."
"Oh, right!" Daniel reluctantly let go of Rebekah's hand and found the large plate he'd set out for the meat once it finished on the grill.
Cassie glanced between the pair. "Sorry about interrupting." She ducked out of the kitchen before either of them could say anything.
Rebekah leaned into Daniel's side, nudging his arm with her shoulder. "Should I get used to interruptions like that?"
He grinned, the tension broken by her wry glance. "Probably."
A few minutes later, Jack O'Neill came through the door with the main course for their dinner. The group noisily settled at the table, Rebekah seated next to Daniel while Marina stayed close to Mitchell. Daniel watched the pair as they all but ignored everyone else. Maybe having Rebekah's rambunctious friend around was a good thing. A quick glance at the woman next to him told him that he'd made the right call in inviting her. Sam and Vala dominated her time, leaving Daniel, Jack, and Teal'c to watch the women and shake their heads.
This was what family was about.
~~O~~
In a car down the road, a man watched Rebekah and Marina enter the house and smiled. This was good. Very good, in fact. He sat in place for a long time, thinking over the possibilities. Women were great motivators for men, and Rebekah was clearly oblivious to the surveillance. She would be a wonderful tool for him to use.
When he finally drove away, he failed to notice the dark eyes that watched out of a window and the grave expression on the face of a man sworn to protect the life of another.
~TBC
