Jack and Daniel

Jack O'Neill was sitting at the bar in their usual watering hole and asked "What took you so long?" as Daniel slides onto the bar stool next to him. He had a platter of buffalo wings and a Bass Ale.

"I got a lift from Siler. I'm surprised you made it."

Jack tapped his phone beside his glass and said "My ankle monitor."

"Anyway, his wife called and he had to stop at the store for something. I was waiting in the car and there was this magazine, Cosmo or Cosmopolitan."

At the precise moment the bartender strolled by, looked at Daniel and raised an eyebrow.

Daniel continued "Is that what women really want?" and grabbed one of the buffalo wings.

Jack thought for a moment and said "It's like those fishing magazines filled with expensive poles, fancy jigs and lures and the average guy just uses a bamboo pole and puts a worm on a hook."

The bartender placed a Cosmopolitan in front of Daniel whose mouth was on fire. He looked a tad confused but considering the molten hot and super spicy chicken he took a long swallow. He thought the cranberry juice was refreshing. He upended the glass and the bartender placed another one before him. Daniel smiled.

"Jack, have you ever noticed our enemy, you know the Goa'uld were over dressed and our allies were...ah… naked? How do they walk around like that?"

Jack thought the change of topic odd. That drink must have gone straight to his head. "Well, they don't have any" O'Neill made a hand gesture "You know."

Daniel was alternately eating another buffalo wing entirely encased in blue cheese dressing and a sip of his second drink. "Oh wait, what about the Tollan?"

"Allies? You really think they were allies, they didn't even like us. On top of that - boring clothes."

"Yeah, they did wear clothes. Then there's the Tok'ra."

"Less fancy Goa'ulds."

"Don't let them hear you say that." With that Daniel finished the drink.

"Slow down, grasshopper." Jack was still on his first draft, no must be his third, those wings were hot.

Unfortunately the bartender took that as a cue and within minutes placed a green creamy concoction in front of Daniel. Jack glared at it and then glared at the bartender who just hunched his shoulders.

"Then there's the Nox." Jack added to the list of allies with one he actually liked.

"The guys with the twigs in their hair?"

"They wear clothes. Daniel your premise is shot to hell."

"I've wondered about the Furlings."

"That one's easy - no clothes - fur." Jack pushed the glass of green alcohol and cream away from Daniel and asked the bartender for a glass of water for his friend.

"Hey Jack, did you hear...Sam's engaged?" If Daniel hadn't been slightly tipsy he'd never be so cruel to bring that up.

"She showed me the ring." Jack ground out between his teeth. He didn't have to pretend around Daniel.

"Really?"

"Is it on her finger? I didn't think she was sure."

"You might be too late to the dance. What the hell were you waiting for?"

"I wasn't waiting around, waiting for something better to come along. You know our circumstances. I've always felt my hands were tied. And in time she would eventually find someone better. I tried at times not to be too invested so it wouldn't hurt."

"That work?"

"No."

They both brooded for a while. Somehow Daniel got a hold of the Grasshopper and was well on his way finishing it. There was a large pile of bones on the platter that once held the scorchingly hot wings.

"Do you think the fact that Sam loves you makes her a little less intelligent in your eyes?"

"What?" Jack had to process that. "Maybe a little crazy. Could we not talk about this and anyway you've got that all wrong. She's brilliant and she's got a great career ahead of her." O'Neill said.

"Man does not live by bread alone. A career isn't everything."

O'Neill thought it's about all I've got.

"You've been telling her to get a life and this…" Daniel waved his hand. He obviously was not thrilled with Sam's choice.

"Yeah." Jack said flatly, he felt it was his fault. He pushed her in this direction.

"You need to…" Daniel was about to offer advice.

"I can't"

"You don't want to?"

"Didn't say that."

"You know you've trusted her with everything but not with your heart.

You forced her to make a very poor decision."

"Maybe it's what she needs right now." Jack said.

"You really don't believe that."

"Maybe. No, I don't."

"I thought last year was awful. What could happen next?" Daniel asked.

"Eh! Don't say it."

"Jack, do you think Siler could pick us up? I don't feel so good."