CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Four weeks later, SG-1 was finally slated for their first off-world mission since Sam's temporary demise. Jack's wound still itched, and Daniel's biceps scar was still bright pink, but otherwise they were as fit as the proverbial fiddles.

They were scheduled to head out to P4X-something or other that afternoon, but as Jack sat at his desk at 0930, he was bored. The hours were dragging by slower than Minnesota molasses in January, and Jack prayed for some sort of distraction to help the time pass.

He didn't have to wish for long.

A knock on his half-closed office door got his attention, and the voice that followed it focused that attention completely on his visitor.

"Sir?" called Sam.

"Yeah. Come on in, Carter. Sit down," answered Jack.

"I heard you wanted to see me?" asked Sam, as she settled into a chair opposite Jack.

Jack nodded. "I did."

Sam waited, but when Jack said nothing more, she finally nudged him a little. "May I ask what about, sir?"

Jack blinked. "Oh, right. I just wanted to make sure you were a hundred percent for today. That's all."

"I'm fine, sir."

"Ok, then."

Sam's eyes narrowed. "Is that all, sir?"

Jack hesitated. "Actually… no."

"Sir?"

"I want to talk about the restaurant."

"Sir?"

"You did a hell of a job there, Carter. Can't argue that. But you let your emotions take control of you, and I can't have that."

Sam stared at her CO in astonishment for a moment before responding. "Permission to speak candidly, sir?"

"Always."

"That thug deserved what he got, sir."

"Carter?"

"And it's not like you wouldn't have done the same thing."

Jack blinked, clearly confused. "You lost me, Carter."

"You're talking about when I KO'd the second shooter, right? After he was on the ground?"

Jack laughed. "Oh, hell no, Carter. That you can do any time. Might not be technically kosher, but you'll never hear me complain about it."

"Then what exactly are you talking about, sir?"

"Before that. You were angry, and that's fine, but you can't let that interfere with your judgment, and you did. Teal'c kept his head, and that saved our collective asses. I need you to keep yours when we're out there." Jack's head motioned vaguely in the direction of the stargate.

Sam's eyes blazed fire for a second, and Jack knew he'd struck a nerve. He might well outrank his 2IC, but when that anger that had taken hold of her in the restaurant was turned on him, he could be beaten in a heartbeat. He was in trouble, and he knew it. Carter's lips pressed together in a thin line and it seemed like she didn't trust herself to speak. Her hands gripped the armrests of her chair until her knuckles turned white. Jack was suddenly very glad his desk was between him and Sam. He honestly thought she might hit him, but she merely sat stone still and stared him down. Finally, Jack's voice cut the quiet with a tone that could've frozen lava.

"Something you want to say, Carter?"

"Yes, sir." Sam's voice was as bitter as battery acid, but Jack didn't flinch. He stood up from his chair, placed his long fingers on his desk, leaned forward, and raised his eyebrows at his 2IC.

"And?"

Sam stood, too. She met Jack's gaze fearlessly. "You're one to talk, sir."

Jack blinked. "Excuse me?"

"I said, you're one to talk," repeated Sam.

"What is this about?"

"Teal'c."

Sam spat the word at Jack, and it hit him like a bullet. He closed his eyes for a second, then opened them and stared right through Sam.

"Carter…"

"You know I'm right."

Both male and female voices were venom now, and neither Jack nor Sam blinked. Their eyes held for what seemed like an eternity, but finally Jack backed down.

A victorious smirk fought to control Sam's lips, but she suppressed it. Jack looked hard at the floor for several seconds, then looked again at Sam.

"Alright, fine. Yeah, you're right, ok? Happens to the best of us."

"That it does, sir."

"So how about we just agree to do our best?"

Sam mused over this for a moment, then shrugged. "Fair enough, sir."

"So, we're good, then?"

"We're good, sir."

"Sweet."

And it was. Sam snorted a small laugh at Jack's catch-word, and Jack chuckled back. Both of them knew that judgment often got cloudy in the heat of battle, and that nothing could ever completely prevent that, but they were both grateful that they were never alone when war came crashing down around them. They had their team, and that counted for more than enough.

XXX

Sam was gone ten minutes when another knock sounded on Jack's door.

This time, it was Daniel.

He poked his head around Jack's doorframe and smiled.

"Hey, Jack. Mind if I come in?"

Jack shook his head. "Seeing as you're already here… no."

Daniel grimaced. "Yeah… well… anyway. Just came by to make sure you were ok."

"Why wouldn't I be ok, Daniel?"

"Well, you know, with everything… it's been busy these last few weeks, huh?"

Jack smiled patiently. "I'm fine, Daniel. Thanks for your concern."

Daniel nodded. "Yeah. Ok, then. I'm going to run by the commissary. Want anything?"

"No. I'm fine."

"Ok, see you this afternoon, then, Jack."

"Ok."

Daniel turned to leave, but Jack called him back before he could reach the door.

"Oh, but Daniel?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you ask Teal'c to stop by if you see him?"

Daniel stared hard at Jack for a moment before nodding silently and finally speaking.

"Alright."

"Thanks."

"You sure everything's ok?"

"Just peachy, Daniel."

"Ok."

Daniel's expression told Jack that he didn't entirely believe him, but that he'd take Jack's words at face value for now. Since their little excursion to the restaurant from hell, SG-1 had formed into a cohesive unit again, and Daniel saw no reason to challenge that at this point. He'd pass along Jack's message, and deal with any consequences of it later.

XXX

It was nearly noon before a third knock roused Jack from a stirring daydream involving girls in bikinis on bass boats, but this time Jack didn't need to look to know who was at his door.

"Come on in, T," he called out.

The Jaffa leaned his massive frame around Jack's door seconds later.

"O'Neill," said Teal'c. "Daniel Jackson said you wished to see me."

"Yep."

"For what purpose did you summon me?"

Jack grinned. "Cut the formality, T. It's just me. Just got a favor to ask, is all."

One Jaffa eyebrow hit the roof, and Jack couldn't help but grin wider at Teal'c's expression.

"And what is this favor you require of me, O'Neill?"

"Didn't I say cut the formality?"

Teal'c inclined his head but said nothing, clearly waiting on Jack to explain himself. Jack stared back at Teal'c for a moment, then chuckled.

"Alright, fine. Be that way."

Teal'c continued to stare at Jack wordlessly, and after a moment, Jack sobered to a state of deadly serious.

"I need you to take point on this one."

Teal'c's eyebrow had settled back into its usual place, but it hit the ceiling again at Jack's words.

"I'm injured, T. Doesn't make sense for me to be out front this time."

The eyebrow lowered, conceding the point.

"Do you understand what I'm saying, Teal'c?"

Teal'c met Jack's eyes squarely, and the men regarded one another in silence for a very long moment. Neither man moved a muscle as the clock on the wall echoed in the office.

Finally, Teal'c dipped his head once in Jack's direction. His eyes never broke contact with Jack's, and his movement was slow and deliberate. Jack nodded back in much the same manner, then broke into a toothy grin. Teal'c's trademark smirk was in place almost immediately in response.

"Thank you," whispered Jack.

Teal'c bowed his head again and was gone.

XXX

The mission to P4X-906 was boring beyond all imagination for everyone but Daniel, who spent the entire time attempting to capture digital images of every single engraved artifact on the planet and jabbering like a chimpanzee about how the language on the rocks appeared to be a derivative of ancient Inca.

Jack, Sam, and Teal'c spent most of their time shooting bored looks at each other and attempting to act interested, but they failed miserably.

By the time they were scheduled to leave the planet, three-quarters of SG-1 was tired, cranky, and hungry. The conversation as they marched to the gate was of only one thing.

Dinner.

"We could get take out," suggested Sam.

"I could go for take out," agreed Jack.

"How can you guys think about food at a time like this?" asked Daniel. "I mean, these writings could indicate that the Goa'uld colonized this planet long before we originally thought! And…"

Teal'c interrupted. "I also believe that take-out would be an acceptable meal this evening."

"You guys are unbelievable!" groused Daniel.

Jack laughed. "Oh, come on, Daniel, you've got to be hungry."

"Well, yeah… but…"

"But what, Daniel?" asked Sam. "You want to go in with us for take out or not?"

Daniel scratched his head. "Oh, I don't know. What kind?"

"I don't know," replied Sam. "Colonel, Teal'c? Any ideas?"

Jack rubbed absently at his chest as he answered. "Anything but Mexican."

"Indeed," agreed Teal'c.

Sam giggled in spite of the seriousness of their answers as Daniel dialed the gate.

Her laughter was infectious, and when SG-1 crossed the event horizon back on Earth, all four of its members were laughing uncontrollably.

No one asked why, which was just as well.

SG-1 ate dinner at Jack's house that night after clearing their post-mission physicals and showering in record time.

They had Chinese.

XXX

THE.


END.

Thanks to everyone who stuck by me through this story. You mean the world!