AN sorry it's been a while. I don't have another exam until the 24th (energy, control and continuity – oh joy!) So I'm hoping to get a couple of things written this week. One chapter for this and one for TGO. So, enjoy.
Chapter 9 – A Step In The Right Direction
The only response to Daniel and Janet arriving together in the kitchen next morning, both sporting satisfied, sleepy smiles was a slightly raised eyebrow from Teal'c. Cameron and Jonas, the only other occupants in the room said nothing.
Grabbing a bowl from the cupboard, Daniel slumped in a chair at the table and began concocting his usual cereal mega-mix from everything that was in reach. Janet was just taking the milk from him when Sam arrived in the kitchen, still in last night's clothes. The conversation died at the sight she made. Her hair sticking up from where she had slept on it with gel in; smudged makeup and a thoroughly miserable expression.
Cam grabbed a slice of toast for her as she sat beside him.
"You alright Sam? Late night?" He smirked, but she didn't pick up on his innuendo and simply nodded and smiled weakly at him. The smile disappeared from Cameron's face. "You have any classes today?"
"Three O'clock."
"Well, that's good. You'll have time to have some aspirin, coffee and...wash your hair." She finally gave him a genuine smile. It was brief it he decided he dared push the issue. "What happened last night? You thought this guy was something else and then he turned out to be just another asshole?"
"Yes!" Her vehement response made The three men sat with her to jump away slightly. Realising he was actually talking about Jonas, Sam shook her head and quickly tried to cover her mistake. " I mean...no, Jonas is...fine. He's fine."
"Ok." No more was said on the subject as each concentrated very hard on their own food for a few moments.
A few minutes later, Carolyn passed through the kitchen in a veritable whirlwind - fully dressed, grabbing a bread roll and calling a general 'good morning' on her way to the front door. The door shut behind her with a snap.
"Five, four, three, two, one." Sam looked at Jonas curiously. What is he counting for? "zero." Cam threw himself out of his seat, grabbing his jacket and shoving his feet into his shoes before there was another snap as the front door closed behind him. Sam looked quizzically at Jonas again.
"You knew that was gonna happen?" Jonas looked around the table at the four faces gazing at him.
"Well, yeah. It happens every other morning. Carolyn goes jogging and Cameron always hesitates,then follows. I thought you guys'd noticed."
"No."
"Oh. Well, I'm quite observant. It's a weird knack I have."
Daniel was looking at Jonas with a look of supreme jealousy. Janet elbowed him and he shut his mouth.
Sam had forgotten all about her earlier troubles until footsteps on the stairs announced Jack's arrival. She stared at his back as he pulled his leather jacket on, studiously avoiding looking in their direction. Pulling out his car keys he opened the front door.
During this time, Daniel and Janet were having a furious argument in mime. Janet violently gesturing in Jack's direction and Daniel trying to persuade her to leave it be. The argument stopped at the sound of the door opening as Janet shouted.
"Jack?" He did not turn to face them, but paused in leaving the house.
"Yeah?"
"Daniel could use a lift. Do you mind?"
"Isn't Daniel capable of asking for himself?" Jack's voice held sarcasm but without the humor. Janet eyed Daniel meaningfully and he sighed.
"Sorry Jack. I had my mouth full. I could really use a lift into town. Could you drop me off on your way?"
"Sure Danny. How long do you need?"
"Oh, I'll be ready in a couple of minutes." Daniel bent down to mutter dangerously in Janet's ear before he left to get ready.
"You owe me one."
She gave him a brilliant smile.
"You can count on it."
SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1
Jack drove along the main road that round around the side of campus, through a busy shopping district that was almost entirely choked with other students.
The car windows were wide open. He had hoped that the extra noise of the wind billowing around the interior of the car would discourage Daniel from making conversation. All it had done was make Daniel sneeze almost continuously in between hurried phrases that Jack hadn't really been paying attention to. He really wasn't in the mood for idle chat with their resident geek-meister.
Daniel continued valiantly to try and engage Jack in the conversation, fully aware that the man was paying him little or no attention whatsoever. He sighed, breaking off and deciding to try getting a response, with a slightly different approach. One that put him in significantly more danger of being on the receiving end of Jack's sizable temper.
"Hey Jack, what's going on with you and Sam?"
Jack turned to face him, his expression somewhere between bafflement and incredulity. Daniel stood his ground staring Jack straight in the eye until a light in the periphery of his vision drew is attention and he turned to see the lights ahead turn ominously red as Jack showed no sign of slowing- still gaping in Daniel's direction.
"Jack, the lights!" Turning at the last second, Jack slammed his foot onto the break and Jack's precious 1965 Mustang Shelby screeched to a stop. Jack and Daniel both took a moment to gather themselves before Jack began swearing at the smell of burning brake blocks that floated through the summer air. He was never, never driving Daniel anywhere in his car again. It was much too dangerous for both him and his baby.
The lights changed back to green and Jack cleared his throat before tentatively touching the accelerator and setting off along the long street again. After a moment's thought he decided ignorance was the best policy.
"What makes you think anythings going on with me and Sam?" He knew that after his near-fatal reaction to Daniel's initial question, this wasn't likely to wash, but he could hope...
Daniel had been silent since the car had restarted, blinking to make sure he couldn't see his life flashing before his eyes, he focused again on Jack. He honestly hadn't thought beyond the outright query he had made in a desperate attempt to get Jack's attention and now, had no idea what to say.
"Well, I dunno...you seemed...off, this morning and I was wondering if it had something to do with you guys' argument last night."
"What makes you think we had an argument last night?" Yup, ignorance is bliss.
"I uh... I went to the bathroom, and I heard you uh—your voice was raised and then Sam came back into the house after her date with Jonas and I dunno, I guess I thought maybe you two had had some sort of disagreement." He paused for breath, then added quickly "I didn't listen so...it's just ---I'm going out on a limb here..."
"Yeah, You kinda are huh Danny boy?" Jack's tone made it clear that he didn't buy Daniel's 'not listening in' story. Daniel winced, nobody called him Danny boy. He had always hated the song anyway. Jack continued "Listen, Just to satisfy you little curiosity here, not that its any of your beeswax. We had ...a disagreement. Let's just leave it at that."
Daniel left it at that, for a whole 50 yards.
"Well, are you gonna try to make up with her. Surely, whatever you guys were..." he managed not to say 'fighting' "...disagreeing about couldn't be so bad as to ruin your friendship."
"Friendship? Daniel, I've known her for a few weeks. That's it! I obviously don't know her very well, I'm not the kind of guy she would usually hang out with and it's not like neither of us have other friends who we can actually get along with. As far as I'm concerned, it's no big loss to me or her."
Daniel listened. Despite how harsh Jack's words sounded, Daniel was nothing if not perceptive. He could see that Jack was not as happy with the situation as he made out. He was angry about whatever had passed between him and Sam, but Daniel could see he was also hurt.
If Janet was right about his feelings for the pretty physics student then nobody had more power to hurt Jack than Samantha Carter.
"Jack, just don't hate her for the sake of it. Promise you'll think about trying to make things up with her. It would be easier for everyone else if we didn't have to skirt 'round you guys."
Jack would have like nothing more than to make up with Sam, but after what she had said, he couldn't see how or why she would want to. Heck, if he could, he would erase everything he had done last night. But he couldn't and Daniel was right - it wasn't fair for the rest of the group to deal with their animosity.
"Listen Daniel, I promise that we can manage to be civil to each other but beyond that..." Daniel sighed with relief. He had somehow managed to get to some vague conclusion of this conversation with all of his limbs attached and Jack in a good mood. Maybe Janet was right.
"That's all I ask Jack." It was a step in the right direction at least...
"Ok. So, where do you need dropping off?"
"Huh?"
"In town. Where do you need to go?"
"Oh--" shit. "Just somewhere near a bus stop please." Janet was so going to have to reimburse him his bus fare back to campus.
AN Sorry it's been a while guys. Hope you liked...please review. Next chapter - Sam and Janet's conversation.
