Chapter Twelve: No Competition
The SGC

"I. Want. Carter. Back."

Both of Jack's teammates pretty much ignored him until he punctuated the idea by slamming his breakfast tray onto the table. "You two not getting along?" Daniel asked wryly.

Jack just glared at him, since he could hardly actually answer. How could he tell him that no, it wasn't that they weren't getting along, it was that they were getting along a little too well? That she was everything he loved about Carter (okay, almost everything – Carter with a P90 was absolutely drop-dead sexy) with none of the negatives? No court martial, no worrying about ruining her career, no awkwardness from the last eight years of creeping closer and running away.

Working on the problem, diving into Carter's toys, had been good for her. With her brain occupied, she'd been more cheerful, more... playful. Teasing, at times. They were good together, easy, and he would swear up and down that he wasn't the only one who felt the draw.

There was just that one teeny, tiny, little problem.

She was married to his best friend. Crap.

"I would just like to point out," Daniel went on, "since this never, ever happens to me, that there is actually a universe out there where I won the girl."

Jack seriously considered punching him again, but settled for a different tactic. "And I would just like to point out," he countered, "that she'd never met me."

"It would seem that it cannot be considered winning when there is in fact no competition," Teal'c put in.

Daniel chewed on that for a long moment, composing himself with a sip of his coffee. "Thank you both," he said finally, "for helping to keep my ego in check like the good friends you are. And by that, I clearly mean... Way to kick a guy when he's down."

Okay, yeah, Jack was an ass. And he was just about to try and apologize when the other man glanced up, abruptly set his coffee down, and got to his feet. "Well, that's my cue."

"Daniel-"

But the other man was already gone, and it didn't take Jack long to realize that it wasn't his fault. Carter – Sam – whoever – was heading for the line to pick out her usual selection of coffee and fruit. She headed straight for their table.

"Have a seat," Jack invited.

"Oh, no, thanks. I'm headed back to the lab." The smile she shot him was absolutely dazzling. "But you will come get me for lunch, won't you? You know how I forget."

"Yeah, sure."

He watched her go, the civilian clothes showing off her curves to a tee. When he turned back to the table, however, he realized he had a stupid grin plastered on his face. And that Teal'c had missed nothing.

"I would advise you, O'Neill-"

"Not to get my hopes up?" he interrupted dryly.

"Indeed. Though their experiences may differ, their characters remain the same. I do not believe this Carter would be unfaithful to Daniel Jackson. And if she were, she would likely suffer that guilt for the rest of her life."

"Yeah," Jack grunted. "I know." Taking one last, long sip of his coffee, he set the mug on his tray and pushed to his feet. "I want Carter back, Teal'c," he repeated. "Yesterday."