AN: Training looms ever closer... and my BETA has 2 stories to review so...

The SGC likes to promote from the ranks but sometimes that's not always possible. A new Major makes a profound tactical error his first... and last day on the job.

"Bro… that's so… not cool…" – Episode 11

"Well sir?"

Jack turned to his second who was holding a clipboard with a checklist on it. "Well what?"

"Think Hammond will be happy with the Pentagon's choices?"

"God I hope so. It takes forever just having Danny read them in. The less people we reject the better." Jack grumbled which made Sam smile in amusement.

"Yes sir." She agreed, her blue base uniform matched her teams. She had no idea Jack picked blue so often simply because he liked the color on her and frankly it got Danny his share of dates with the nurses too.

"All right people" Jack said raising his arm and his voice as he walked to the middle of the haphazard line to get the attention of the group in front of him. "Each of you have been given the opportunity to serve on an elite team of specialists."

"Sir isn't this a scientific facility?" One of the recruits piped up.

"It is Major, however we are also the base of operations for a specialized advance unit in the field." Sam corrected him. She had separated slightly from where she'd been standing off to the side with Jack earlier.

Siler and Teal'c stood together near the training equipment, Daniel off to the other side where chairs were set up for their introduction… at least the ones that passed the basic assessment from Teal'c and his accident prone sidekick.

"Each of you," Jack continued, "Will be assessed today for mission readyness. You will see our hand to hand experts first," He indicated Teal'c and Siler who waved in a friendly manner. "Then your marksmanship will be assessed by Major Carter here and finally Dr. Jackson will read the finalists into the program. Should you fail any single portion of the assessment today you will be dismissed without orientation. Is that clear?"

The men and women in front of him all said 'yes sir' together.

"Good. Good luck all of you." Jack said. "Teal'c?"

"We are ready O'Neill." The large Jaffa told him.

Jack slapped his hands together and rubbed them. "Then get to work people. If your last name starts with A through M see Mr. Teal'c and Master Sergeant Siler. If your last name starts with N through Z go to Major Carter first. Dismissed." Jack told them.

The line of twenty recruits broke apart with about half of them heading towards Teal'c and Sylvester to get the stuffing knocked out of them. The other half moved towards the small range Sam had set up on the other side of the room. Jack followed her.

Two hours later Sam and Teal'c had switched candidates. Sam noted with amusement that those coming from Teal's class looked worse for the wear but neither Teal'c nor Siler who was as tall and lanky as Jack had so much as broken a sweat.

At the end of four hours about half of the candidates had been disqualified. The remaining ones were shuffling tiredly to where Daniel was sitting looking bored.

One of the guys who failed Teal'c and Siler's assessment walked back over to Sam who was standing about four feet from Jack.

"Thank you Major for considering me." He said and held out a hand.

Sam nodded and shook it. "Don't feel like you aren't a good solder Major Batifoler." She said with a smile. "Teal'c is very exacting in his requirements."

"Well there's certainly an upside to not being chosen."

"Oh?"

"Perhaps you would like to have lunch with me?" He said with a charming smile.

"Oh, um… I don't…" Sam stammered as she pulled her hand away. Neither she nor Batifoler caught the death glare Jack gave the younger man.

"Ah, well, thanks anyway." He said casually and turned and walked away. He joined another candidate who had washed out.

"What did she say?"

"She's seeing someone." He told his friend and shrugged. Why else would she turn down a date?

Siler and Teal'c had overheard the exchange and watched Jack stomp off to Daniel.

"Did he seriously just ask Sam out right in front of Jack?" Siler asked quietly, his eyes wide. He'd seen Jack's glare. That kid would have been a grease spot if Jack had anything to say about it.

"Indeed."

"Bro… that's so... not cool…" Siler breathed.

"Indeed not."

"I mean even if they weren't… you don't ask someone out in front of their CO." Siler swallowed.

"Major Batifoler possibly has a wish for death."

"Yah think?!"

On the other side of the room Daniel was explaining to the remaining candidates that they needed to sign a three twelve before he could read them in. Jack was sitting in a folding chair at the back, arms crossed staring down the Batifoler kid as he left the room.

Daniel gave Jack a questioning look as he pushed his glasses back up his nose but all Jack did was make a get on with it hand motion.