Sticks and Stones - Chapter 21 - by Emma Nisbet (grnfield)
When the three friends awoke the next day they vowed not to spend the day being maudlin. Jack said that he wanted to fish and Teal'c immediately, metaphorically turned his nose up at that.
Jack objected and jokingly told him to 'take a hike' to which Teal'c merely answered, "I believe I will, O'Neill. I found our walk of yesterday most enjoyable and am eager to explore this locality in many of the other directions. By what time am I required to return?"
Jack looked enquiringly at Sam who shrugged and said, "Up to you, Sir. I've got a book and I'm staying here to read it."
"OK, T." Jack said. "Lets say you get back here by 1700 hours."
Teal'c nodded his acknowledgement. "That will give me many hours, I will cover much ground in that time."
"Yeah," agreed Jack. "You know, if you're gonna be gone all day you might want to take something with you out of the fridge. You can't just go rustling up the local wildlife round here for a quick snack, it's much easier to take sandwiches."
Teal'c raised one eyebrow at Jack, obviously unable to decide whether the Colonel was making fun of him.
Sam took pity on the large alien and told him to follow her into the kitchen. She quickly made him a stack of sandwiches and packed them in a backpack along with a couple of bottles of drink, two apples, an orange, a pack of potato chips, some crackers, M&M's and a packet of Oreos.
"Carter," Jack called from the doorway where he was standing, leaning on the doorframe. "That'll do. He's going out for a couple of hours, not a few days. There's no chance of a blizzard at the moment so stop weighing the poor guy down."
"Sorry, Sir." she said automatically.
He gave he a stern look. "Saaam?" he said, dragging out her name deliberately.
"Sorry, Jaaack." she replied, knowing what he meant without him having to say it.
"That's better, now come on, let the poor guy go. I've got fishing to do." He pushed himself off the doorframe and went back outside.
"Many thanks, MajorCarter." Teal'c said to Sam, bowing to her as he did so. "I will see you at 1700 hours. I bid you a good day."
"See you later, Teal'c." Sam said, giving his huge bicep a friendly squeeze.
He followed Sam from the cabin and walked purposefully away, slinging the backpack over his shoulder as he went.
"See ya, T." Jack shouted at his retreating back. Teal'c raised an arm in acknowledgement but kept walking.
"Just how far do you reckon he can get and still be back here for five o'clock?" Jack asked Sam.
"Oh, I dread to think," she laughed. "…but I bet it'd be further than both you and me put together."
Jack chuckled, "That's kinda what I was thinking too. I betcha he gets back at exactly 1700 as well. Not a minute before, not a minute less."
"I'm not taking you up on that one," Sam laughed again, "I'd be guaranteed to lose. You going to get any fishing done today or are you just going to hang around here?
"Kinda depends on what you had planned." Jack told her. "I can always fish later if you prefer."
"I was thinking that I'd take my book to the dock and keep you company, that's if you don't mind?" She looked at him hopefully.
"Of course I don't. I'd be glad of the company." Jack said with a small smile. "Ladies first," he said, motioning towards the dock with sweeping gesture of his arm.
Sam rolled her eyes and walked past him, down towards the lake. Jack grabbed two chairs and took them with him as he followed her.
"Here you are, make yourself comfortable," he said. "I'll be back in a few minutes, I've got to get my fishing gear out of the boathouse over that way." He pointed at the little wooden shelter a little way around the small lake.
Sam sank into the chair and rested her book on her knee. She looked out across the water and let the peace and quiet settle over her.