Adrienne heard the key in her front door and glanced at her watch, puzzled. It was 11:35, strange that he was coming over so late. She'd given Daniel a key a while ago, and he wasn't afraid to use it, but usually he would call or at least come over at a reasonable time. He couldn't have been more polite about it, a direct contrast to his habit of bursting into her quarters, but off base, this behavior was out of character.
Worried, she made a face and stuffed the next batch of laundry into the washer.
She heard him come in the door, the sound of his movements ones she recognized, looked forward to hearing everyday. He didn't say a word, so she just finished what she was doing before heading out to investigate.
"Hey shug," she greeted cheerily, trying not to start right in with the worry. Knowing that he didn't remember her mistake, her slip, her moment of weakness, had made the entire incident more bearable, but she had caught herself hovering a little more than usual.
Someone had to take care of him after all.
As she walked back into her small kitchen, glancing in his direction she noticed he looked exhausted, wearing torn jeans, a gray t-shirt and his leather jacket, his hair a bit of a mess, a perfectly gorgeous mess.
Dear God Daniel, she thought, why do you do this to me?
"Hey, hope I'm not interrupting anything," he said with a wave. Smiling, she showed him the basket in her arms, shrugging her shoulders.
"Just laundry night," she replied, "because you and I are oh so interesting in our free time."
Laughing, he set his computer bag on the kitchen counter, walking over to the fridge, opening the door and rummaging around in its contents. Grabbing the clean dish towels from the top of the basket, Adrienne shoved them into the drawer by the sink, slipping back out of the kitchen to keep cleaning. She poured out the laundry onto the sofa and looked back over her shoulder to shout into the kitchen.
"Are you looking for anything in particular because I'm pretty sure that I got nothing you'd eat? It's only a weekend at the apartment with that merde we got comin' up so I just bought my food," she yelled, thinking to herself that she almost bought a few bags of chips and a package of Oreos, just in case he showed up...in the hopes that he would show up.
Next time Addy, she thought, make sure to buy them next time.
"So, I take it I should keep a stash of junk here," he said from the other side of the door, making her heart race at the thought.
Yep Indy, stash of food, clothes, some shampoo; there's really no reason that you ever need to leave at all...
"More or less," she replied as she began to fold her laundry, not bothering to hide her smile, "So, to what do I owe this late night visit?" she asked in addition, trying to keep it natural. She had to admit that things had gotten a lot less awkward lately, less awkward than one would imagine after sleeping with one's boss in their arms for a few days, having him pretty much die in front of you, confess your undying love for him, kiss him on the lips when you think he's dead and then have him sit right up talking to you like nothing happened.
All perfectly normal.
"Boredom," he answered standing from the fridge a flavored water in one hand and a bag of carrots in the other, walking them out to the small table. Adrienne peeked up to see what he had taken and couldn't help but laugh.
"Those aren't Cheetos," she noted, Daniel peering at her over his glasses.
"I plan on pretending," he replied smartly. Setting down his snack, Daniel walked over to grab his computer bag, opening it, and rummaging through as he popped a carrot into his mouth.
"You do realize that it's Friday, nearly midnight, and you're going to sit at my table, eat my carrots and work. Couldn't you do that in your own apartment?" she teased, but she was happy he was here; she was always happy when he was around, whether or not they were together.
Well, really together.
That's what this was, wasn't it? Together?
Why was her life so damn complicated?
"I could, but then I'd miss all of our witty banter," he countered, swallowing the carrot with a silly grin on his face, "Besides, you're working."
"Housework doesn't count as work," she said as she rapidly made progress on her pile of laundry. Daniel looked over her, smiling as he watched her fold.
He'd miss her too if he stayed at home, not just the banter.
I just like being around you Ad; I don't wanna be apart...
"Actually, I wasn't working, I was going to read something," he explained as he pulled out a book, waving it at her, "despite popular belief I can relax." She made a face and squinted, trying to read the title of the book and couldn't make it out completely, but knew it was definitely non-fiction and looked work related.
"Does it have vampires?" she asked.
"Nope," he replied.
"Zombies?" she continued.
"No," he responded.
"Dragons? Spaceships? Lightsabers? Magic?" Adrienne listed every last element that she deemed necessary for enjoyable literature, giggling as she did, since she already knew his answer.
"Negative to all of the above," he said quickly, eating another carrot to hide his smile.
"Are you learning something?" she changed her tactic.
"Of course," he smirked, knowing what was to come.
"Then that's not relaxing," she stated.
"So, based on that logic, it's not relaxing when you translate those Roman inscriptions you smuggle in from dig sites, or when you sit at the Art Museum translating mirrors," he argued, Adrienne already shaking her head as she grinned brightly.
"That is QUITE relaxing. It's ancient world soaps. Days of our Togas," she played.
"Nerd," he retorted, heading for the sofa.
"Ya ain't got any room to talk shug," she replied and began to run the laundry to her room, chuckling to herself as she left.
God I love you Daniel...
When she returned, she noted that he had taken over the sofa and was happily reading his boring book so she plopped down beside him, throwing her feet across his lap and clicking on the television. Without hesitation, he adjusted for her, laying his arms across her legs and pulling them closer to him, as he scoot further into the furniture, holding her to an extent. Finally comfortable, she flipped through the channels, trying to find something to watch, glancing over at him out of the corner of her eye, reflecting on how strange this all was now.
When she had started this job, she was pretty certain that he hated her and to be fair, she wanted him to shut up and pretend she wasn't there nearly 90% of time.
Now, here they were, sitting on her sofa together, like they were supposed to be right here, doing just that.
Her heart told her they were; she loved him more than she had ever loved anyone else in her life. She couldn't say a word, however, to anyone, ever, even if he felt the same which she wasn't sure if he did. Based on their conversations alone Daniel had long given up on any type of personal life, living and breathing his work at the SGC, the idea of a relationship being, like was her own situation, the last thing he was thinking about.
So why was he here?
With her?
Every single night he was free?
Cuddled up on their sofa like they were together.
"What?" he asked looking up from his book, feeling her eyes on him, Adrienne quickly shaking her head to dispel the hope working its way through her.
"Nothing," she answered and continued to flip through the channels, settling on some program on the history channel about World War Two. Grabbing a sofa pillow, she fluffed it quickly, shoving it underneath her back, leaning back the rest of the way onto the sofa, feeling that she was being watched.
Shaking his head, his finger tucked lightly in the book, he watched her little ritual with a smirk on his face.
"I catch heat for reading non-fiction and the first thing you switch it onto is the History Channel," he stated, nodding in the direction of the television.
"It's good background for me to fall asleep," she defended herself, lying through her teeth, trying not to laugh.
Back to normal, she thought, god I missed this...
"Sure..." he answered, unbeknownst to her, feeling exactly the same.
I can do this, he thought, I can still love her and be her friend.
This IS doable.
Trying not to think about what he could do, how he might make a relationship between the two of them actually work, Daniel turned his attention back to the text, making sure not to let go of her for a minute.
Apparently though, this night, she wasn't kidding about using the very long program on Hitler as white noise, as she was out cold in less than an hour. Daniel, however, was so enthralled in his book that he only noticed she was asleep when he heard the remote hit the floor.
"Literally anywhere," he laughed to himself, "the woman has a gift."
"Ad?" he asked, looking over at her, but she just rolled over to her side, tucking her arms and body to the back of the couch. Laughing, he shook her leg gently, again calling her name.
"Ad?"
"I'm not asleep," she mumbled.
"Go to bed. You're sleeping on my sofa," he ordered, pushing her legs from his lap and onto the floor.
"My sofa. Ya just squat 'ere," she replied, setting her feet onto the floor, stumbling slightly as she did. Daniel tried to contain his laughter, although he was sure she'd heard him.
"Do you need help?" he asked, getting ready to stand and help if needed.
"Imma big girl, I dink I cahn 'andle it," she scowled, regaining her composure before handing him the remote and leaning over to hug him goodnight. Groggily she dragged herself to her room, grabbing a blanket and pillow from the bed and walking it back out to him. An evil grin on her face, she threw it over his head, covering Daniel, book and all.
"Ya know ya ridiculous righ'?" she said to him as he pulled the blanket off of himself and stood to make his sleeping area.
"Why do you say that?" he asked right back, fluffing the pillow.
"Because we've slept in da same bed more times dan I cahn count, yet ya insistin' on cramming yourself on dat ding," she explained, wondering.
They hadn't discussed very much since the incident, as she was now calling it; he hadn't said one word about lying so close to her, in her arms. Figuring that he was still embarrassed by it all, she had let it go, but that small part of her that just wanted to know, wanting to see if there was just a tiny chance, made her ask.
Just come lay with me Daniel…
We used to do it before….
What happened?
This is why I am so scared and uncertain...
"I haven't been sleeping well this week, I'll wake you."
Adrienne made a face, of frustration and concern.
"Not like that," he said shaking his hand to correct himself, "I've been antsy, getting up to pee more than normal, get myself a glass of OJ, stuff like that. It happens sometimes, probably just the weather."
She didn't looked convinced, in fact, he couldn't decipher what look was on her face.
Did she want him to come to bed with her?
I'd like to hold you this time, just hold you while you sleep...
"Besides it just doesn't seem appropriate, you know, with you being engaged to Ronon and all," he added quickly as he crawled under the blanket, just in time to block a second pillow being launched at his head. Knowing she was out of ammo, he peeked out again, making himself comfortable and reaching again for the book.
It's not appropriate anymore Ad, he said inside, because I'm in love with you, and I want to crawl into that bed and kiss you and make you mine...
Just laugh at my bad joke and let it drop.
"Whatta 'bout da air mattress?" Adrienne offered, pointing to the hallway where it was stashed at the bottom of the linen closet. She had bought it months ago just for him and he had used it for all of a week. Daniel put the book down once more, glancing back up at her.
"Too lazy to inflate it," he admitted, grinned, and covered his face back with the book.
"Your choice," she said and trudged back to bed, smiling to herself at his endless chivalry.
It made it that much easier to hide her feelings.
Secure in the knowledge that he was here, again, like old times and that everything was alright, she crawled into her own bed and shut off the light, falling asleep in mere moments.
When she awoke the next morning, she tossed off the covers and made her way down the hall to the kitchen, shouting over toward the sofa.
"Hey, ya want hot or iced coffee?" she asked, yawning and willing herself awake. Adrienne hated mornings, in fact, Daniel needed to start getting up and making the coffee if he was going to be over here so much; he'd done it before.
He wasn't a morning person per se, but was awake enough to make coffee and a full course meal for breakfast and she hated him for it.
Well, sorta, it was kinda nice when she did wake up to breakfast.
Stop being in love with your boss Addy.
Surprisingly, there was no answer, and she stopped dead in her tracks, peering into her living room.
"Daniel, it's 10 a.m., there is no way ya still asleep," she said as she walked over to the sofa, a part of her hoping that he was still asleep so she could do something evil, but he wasn't there, everything was neatly folded on the sofa with a note on top.
Jack texted this morning so I had to dash. NOT work related, so don't even start. Very funny, will fill you in later. If you ever wake up. I'm not hopeful.
Daniel
Adrienne made a face, disappointed he was gone. She hated when he did that, dashing off only leaving a note; it made her worry like crazy, even more so now.
Sighing, she trudged back over to the coffee maker.
It was only 10 a.m., insanely early for a Saturday in her opinion and she didn't need to be at Sam's till seven, so she sat down at the counter and made a list of errands she had been putting off, since it appeared she was going to be alone today.
"What happened to ya Addy?" she muttered, chugging her cup of cold coffee, wishing for the first time that she wasn't going to be taking care of things solo.
The best part about mandatory weekends off was that Sam had scheduled them in such a way, when she could, where they could all get together and hang out in peace, such as could be considered peace given the friend circle of which Adrienne Rowan was now a part.
This weekend, Sam declared a girl's night, an event that the Cajun had planned on attending once her errands were complete, ordering her husband out of the house and banning all other males from the premises.
Her errands taking longer, and being far more boring alone as she had anticipated when she got Daniel's note, Adrienne arrived just as Jack was leaving.
"You just watch Sam, I'll get us in there!" Jack yelled over his shoulder from the coat closet, the front door sitting wide open. Sheepishly, the archaeologist stepped through, unsure as to what she was walking into as Jack shut the door peering down at Adrienne.
"Hi Jack…" she trailed, still feeling weird about calling him that, despite Daniel insisting that she STOP calling him general, being that she was a civilian.
"Hey Dr. Perky, come on in, I was just being kicked out of my own house," he waved her over, his tone more playful than she had originally interpreted, Adrienne heading into the living room as directed.
Maybe he didn't hate her...
"Oh I'm sure you guys'll get in, but don't you think it will look just a bit strange..." Sam's voice was shouting from the kitchen, Adrienne was completely confused.
Where in the world were they going or trying to get in to?
Was this what Daniel's note had meant, because the few times he had texted her today had been very cryptic stupid messages like he was up to something.
"We've got that covered. We're taking Torren," Jack replied smartly.
A door shut, the fridge it sounded like, and Sam walked into the living room as Jack was putting his coat on laughing.
"And you still don't see how odd the whole thing'll look? Four grown men, four, taking one three year old child!?" Sam was saying, though barely able to keep a straight face herself, hands on her hips, shaking her head.
"Six grown men. Sheppard and Ronon are going too," Jack responded, not even bothering to suppress his laughter as he grabbed his wallet from the table, strutting over to his wife, whose eyes were rolling like mad, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her lightly on the lips.
"At least you know we'll behave if the kid is around. Trust me," he said, giving her that evil look of his.
"That doesn't always bode well for me…"
The general raised his eyebrows.
"Uh huh, keep revising history there Carter…"
Sam rolled her eyes, again.
Starting for the door, Jack seemed to be dancing, or at least making some poor attempt as Adrienne heard a wine bottle being opened from the other room. The front door shut behind the departing member of the O'Neill family and Adrienne spun back around to see Vala waltzing out of the kitchen, her red yoga pants and tank top complimented perfectly by the bottle of pinot and a fistful of glasses.
"I got three," she said, "who else is coming?"
"I think Jen said she would try to swing by. Teyla's taking advantage of my husband's insanity to go get a massage and I can't say that I blame her," Sam replied, grabbing a glass from Vala's hand, seemingly not as amused as said husband, reaching to pass the second to Adrienne.
"Do I even want to know what insanity they're all up to?" Adrienne asked.
"Daniel didn't tell you?" Sam asked, giving her a funny look.
"No, why would he?" she answered quickly and defensively.
Not you too Sam, she thought, her heart racing in her chest, I'm a shitty liar but not totally transparent am I?
"Oh, no reason," she continued, "Jack's taking Teal'c out for his birthday. It's 112 or something like that." Adrienne laughed, not only at the idea of celebrating a 112th birthday, but now understanding Daniel's note from earlier and his text about where he could find over-the-hill decor that they could write in an age themselves.
"Yeah, I have no idea why Jack counts, Teal'c can't even remember. Anyway, he's taking him, and the rest of the boys to Chuck E Cheese."
Adrienne couldn't help it, erupting into laughter before Sam had even finished, glad that Vala hadn't begun to pour just yet. An image of Teal'c, no, even better, an image of Daniel in a ball pit, Jack and Teal'c having thrown him in amongst the screaming chaos of children, popped into her head in an instant. Unable to contain herself she put the glass onto the coffee table and sunk to the floor, tears in her eyes.
"See," Sam said, "you probably have the mental picture that I had when he told me. And so they don't look like sickos, they're taking Torren. To top it off, I'm fairly certain that Jack is gonna have a large plush mouse come out and sing to Teal'c, possibly with birthday cake."
Adrienne roared even louder, not thinking about Jack or Teal'c at all, now the scenario floating through her head one in which Daniel was throwing a tantrum at a target shooting game, screaming and shouting about trigger inaccuracies.
She really should take him to Chuck E. Cheese herself.
That could provide endless amusement, maybe he'd win her one of those dumb stuffed toys, and after they could get some ice cream, rent a movie, cuddle on the couch like last night only closer...
Stop it Addy, stop having fantasies about Daniel...
"I hope they at least win the little booger a good prize," Vala added, grinning, as she sat down and poured herself a glass, passing the bottle to Adrienne. Finally getting up from the floor, Adrienne crawled to her knees, wiping her eyes and pulling herself to the sofa, still trying to compose herself before pouring. Laughing herself, Sam looked like she had something to say, but was interrupted by the ringing of the phone, sipping a touch of wine quickly before standing to answer.
"To be a fly on the wall," Adrienne said to Vala, who had herself taken a position on the loveseat.
"I know and you should have gotten here when I did; Jack was so proud of himself for thinking of this little scheme, he bought a party package for them, and who knows what that entails. I kinda feel bad for Teal'c," she replied, sipping and shrugging.
"He loves it, I'm sure." Adrienne answered, Vala chuckling.
Daniel would look pretty damn funny with the mouse singing to him...
CUT IT OUT...
"Ok ladies, that was Jennifer. Carolyn needed her to stay and run some tests, so it's just us three for the evening," Sam informed them as she exited the kitchen, making a beeline for her glass.
"More booze for us," Vala declared joyously.
Adrienne nodded in agreement, peering over at the clock so she could pace herself and actually be able to get home. She could call a cab, she thought she had enough cash on her, but then again if she had to she could call Daniel…
He is NOT your boyfriend, idiot, no matter what fantasies you're concocting right now.
Adrienne sighed, Vala peeking over at her suspiciously. The Cajun shook her head, not wanting to explain, taking a sip from her glass as she relaxed back on the sofa.
"So, I have to admit that I was inspired by Jack's childishness. Instead of our usual movie night, I thought we'd play a game," Sam announced, much to her guest's surprise, still standing sipping her wine.
"A game, like what?" Vala inquired, her gaze darting between Sam and Adrienne. Before anyone could say anything further, the general grinned, racing down the hall and returning with a large selection of games, setting them down on the sofa beside Adrienne and kneeling on the floor in front of them.
"All of them?" Vala asked, reaching out to see what was brought.
"No," Sam grumbled, "But I have a few choices, we can pick whatever sounds most appealing."
Mischief in her manner, she started with the top of the stack, flashing each box at her friends.
"Monopoly?" she asked the group, Vala shaking her head.
"I don't like to add and drink," she explained, pointing to the stack, "Next."
"Life?" Sam moved on, "No real adding here…"
"It's sexist. You have to get married first, have kids, play the little woman, whatever," Adrienne chimed in, "No."
Sam rolled her eyes at her two friends, but didn't say a word, "Battleship?"
"Two player," Vala answered this time, "And too much like work."
"Wait, we can B4 a Lucian ship?" Adrienne questioned, "Since when?"
"You guys are IMPOSSIBLE," Sam sighed, ignoring their argument over how exactly one fires weapons from the larger destroyers, "Scattergories?"
"I only play that with Daniel," Adrienne stated, forgetting herself for a moment.
Oh that sounds great Ad, she scolded herself internally, you're possessive over a board game.
"Why is that?" Sam asked her, smirking, of course.
"Because we don't play in English, or any single language for that matter. It gets too confusing," Adrienne responded quickly, a true enough answer, but they did have a series of inside jokes and other things that she didn't want to explain.
"Why am I NOT surprised?" Sam said with a tone, one that made Adrienne's stomach drop, setting that one aside too. That only left one box in her hands, small and colorful, garnering a face of displeasure with the general, one that Vala's picked up on right away, smiling.
"What's that?" Vala asked, "I've never seen that box before."
"It's called Zobmondo, some game that Jack bought a while ago. It's just a series of questions of would you rather do stupid choice A or stupid choice B. The group decides on the best option and that's how you score points," Sam explained, her eyes rolling.
"Screw points, are the questions funny?" Vala continued, glancing over at Adrienne for support, but the Cajun just sipped her wine, waiting to see how this would play out.
"I guess so, I mean there's a food category that's just gross, but some of them are funny," Sam replied.
"Let's play that," Vala said quickly.
"Adrienne?" Sam asked.
"Oh I don't care; anything's better than laundry," she responded, slightly disappointed they wouldn't be playing for points.
Adrienne liked to win.
Especially against Daniel.
She wondered what he was doing right now.
Maybe she should text him.
Get a grip Addy.
Setting the other games aside, Sam pulled the lid off the box in order to remove a deck of cards and a multicolored die, sitting crossed legged at the coffee table right on the floor.
Vala did the same on the other end, and Adrienne scooted into the floor on the side, moving her phone so she could see if he were to text her without being noticed.
"Ok, even if we're not doing points, there are six questions on each card. One of us needs to roll this die and that will determine which question is to be asked," Sam explained.
"For a dumb game, you sure know the rules pretty well," Adrienne commented without thinking.
"When you love someone you learn to deal with their little quirks. Even if some of those quirks are playing dumb childish board games," she said as she smiled. Flushing, Adrienne went to answer without thinking, again, talking about Daniel's proclivity for breaking coffee machines and how she always had an extra on hand, but paused, realizing her mistake.
He's not your boyfriend Addy, no matter what you may want.
Not paying her friend any mind, Vala grabbed the die and rolled as Adrienne began to sip her wine quickly, hoping Sam too had ignored her near slip.
Might as well enjoy, she thought, and try not to think about him tonight.
Like that's gonna happen…
Adrienne glanced down at her phone.
There were no messages.
"Red," Vala declared, making Adrienne peek up. Sam pulled a card, making a funny face as she read it silently in advance.
"Would you rather wake up nude and unharmed in a public park and have no idea how you got there OR expecting a costume party, dress as a giant banana for a black tie affair and have to stay the whole night?"
"Naked," Vala spoke up, Adrienne immediately choking on her wine.
"No," she argued, "half of the fun would be solving the mystery of how I got there."
"X-rated Scooby Doo," the Cajun joked, trying to speak between gasps.
"And what would you do Miss Perfect? The banana one?" Vala fought back.
"Of course. Could just imagine how much fun you could have in a banana costume?" Adrienne answered, "How about you Sam?"
"I have to go banana, I'm not a fan of public nudity," the general answered, returning the card as Adrienne started to laugh again.
This is gonna be fun, she thought, clearing her throat to explain her outburst of giggles.
"I just got the best mental image of Sam addressing the IOA in a banana costume..."
Sam chuckled, she had a point, those damn stuffed shirts, Richard Woolsey would have a total heart attack. Still laughing, she handed Adrienne the cards, procuring the die from Vala and rolling it herself.
"Blue," Sam called.
Taking a quick sip of wine, Adrienne peered at the card and read.
"Would you rather not be able to tell time OR not know left from right?"
There was a sputter, Vala throwing her hand in front of her face to catch the burgundy spray before she started choking, laughing uncontrollably.
"Addy can't do either," she said, wiping her mouth and putting her head in her hands.
"Imma pass a slap atcha Vala," Adrienne answered swiftly, cutting her eyes at her friend, Sam already waving her hand in front of her face, forcing her throat to swallow.
"She's right. You've never been on time for a meeting, or anything, ever and whenever you have to pass something left or right, you go back and forth until Daniel corrects you," Sam teased, wiping the corners of her eyes as she took another side.
Not amused, Adrienne shot glares at both of her friends, her dark eyes giving their warning.
"I'm gonna read another one," Adrienne said, she sipped her wine again and pulled a second card, but she was starting to laugh. Cajun time, Daniel called it, and as for left and right, he liked to remind her that given she was just a swamp monster that it was expected that she didn't pick up on all normal human behaviors.
Stupid Daniel, and his stupid smart ass mouth.
"Addy?"
"Right," she said shaking her head, "The card. Which I'm holding in my LEFT hand," she shook it in the air for good measure, "Would you rather marry someone you've never met before, then remain married and faithful for five years OR never marry at all?"
"Never," Sam spoke up quickly.
"This coming from the married woman," Vala tilted her head.
"No, this coming from the one who could have and didn't until I could have what I wanted," Sam answered simply. It was so sweet and honest it gave Adrienne a little pang in her heart, both of appreciation and jealously.
Maybe she would just have to be patient herself, maybe there was hope for them.
Don't think about Daniel, for one damn night, she fussed internally, turning to Vala for an answer.
"It's only 5 years. I can do that and then I'd divorce him and collect, what's it called?" Vala asked, shrugging.
"Alimony?" Adrienne suggested.
"Yeah that," she said, "you Addy?"
"Never," she answered and her response was so quick and so curt that her friends moved on. Adrienne was glad for it, her thoughts still lingering on certain people she had vowed not to think about tonight.
Because Indy, you're the exception...
STOP IT…
Why are you thinking about MARRYING Daniel?
Trying not to look at her friends, or look at her phone, Adrienne grabbed the die and rolled yellow, Vala happily drawing a card.
"Would you rather go for a week without food OR without sleep?" she read.
"Sleep," Adrienne shouted immediately, "I work for Daniel, I'm preconditioned," she joked, sipping some more wine.
Ok, so thinking about him to pick on him is acceptable, and Sam was agreeing, laughing and nodding.
"Sleep," Sam answered, "because I have no idea what that is anymore."
"With you ladies," Vala answered, "Sleep, but that's only because I like food too much. This planet knows how to eat," and with that she stood, noticing empty wine glasses, and dashing to the kitchen to grab another bottle and refill.
Adrienne, peeked down at the floor, her phone flashing. Worried about how it might look, or what might be said to her were they to catch her texting Daniel, Adrienne peeped up, noting that Sam was reading a few cards, taking out ones that she guessed were the disgusting food questions based on the look on the general's face. Taking the chance, Adrienne grabbed the gadget, reading the message.
I was gonna text you a picture but they're are too many good ones. I can't stop laughing.
The Cajun smiled, shooting off a reply as Vala pranced back into the room.
If there is a stuffed mouse and singing involved for ONE second, I expect video.
"More Addy?" her friend asked, an open bottle in her face.
"Why not?" Adrienne replied, peering to see an "Of course" was her answer, slipping the phone carefully under the table.
The game continued like this for a while, each of them ganging up on one another and Vala refilling the wine glasses as if there was an endless supply of libations. Adrienne had no idea how much she drank, but at one point when they got the question as to whether they would want to look like an idiot or talk like one she got the mental image of Woolsey and starting laughing uncontrollably, nearly tipping her glass onto the floor.
"Some people are stuck with both," she tried to explain but was still laughing too hard to make the right words come out to justify her hysteria.
She was gonna have to call a cab.
Or Daniel.
No, she thought, I'm definitely calling Daniel, especially after his last text.
Giggling, she peeked down at her phone, her finger lightly tapping the screen.
Jack fits on the Merry-Go-Round. And yes, I have video.
Adrienne laughed harder.
About an hour and a half later, still playing and drinking, Daniel's sidekick was pretty tipsy with Sam close behind. Adrienne had no idea how Vala could hold her liquor so well, but she was, happily pouring and drinking as if she were enjoying a diet soda rather than a glass of wine.
Leaning forward, stumbling forward really, Sam grabbed the die from the coffee table, pushing herself up carefully to toss it back, the small plastic cube landing on blue. Finishing her current glass, Adrienne pawed forward for the tie dyed box, pulling the next card to read.
"Would you rather be really smart and really boring OR really dumb, but funny and entertaining?"
Vala began to laugh, "You mean, be Daniel or be dumb and funny?"
Adrienne was shocked by Vala's interpretation of the question, dropping the card as she shot an evil glare in the direction of her friend.
"Ya take dat back," Adrienne spat angrily.
"Addy, it was a joke, I'm kidding," Vala insisted but was laughing harder at Adrienne's protest, as her friend's face got redder and the vein in her forehead actually began to rise slightly.
"Kinda…" she added, a sly smile on her face.
"He's nah borin, ya take dat back!" Adrienne shouted, her accent no longer covered as she began to sit forward more on the sofa, staring Vala down.
"Wow Addy calm down, how much have you had to drink?" Sam asked, placing her hand onto Adrienne's shoulder, looking over at her but laughing a little herself.
"Arrete toi," Adrienne ordered as she spun her head to glare at Sam, "dat's an awful thing ta say bout 'im. Why wud ya even kid like dat? Ee's nah borin, y'all don know 'em like aye do! Ee's, ee's...wonderful," Adrienne spat out drunkenly, quite drunkenly Sam noted, reaching out her hand as a sign of good will.
"Adrienne, it's a game, we're just playing; why are you getting so upset?" she asked, unable to understand why Adrienne was reacting so viciously to something that was clearly a joke.
Unless…
Oh no, she'd been right...
Watching her friend's face carefully, Sam saw Adrienne sniff in slightly, allergies maybe, maybe not and reach to refill her glass, spilling a little onto her hand. Vala reached over to help her wipe off the excess, but Adrienne shooed her away, jerking back, those dark eyes of her still fixed on Vala. Her interest peaked, Sam didn't say another word to her or answer the question, just rolled blue on the die, deciding to read the next question herself.
"Would you rather have a one night stand with a stranger OR your best friend?"
Of course this HAD to be the question, Sam thought, regretting that she read out loud before scanning it in advance.
Vala answered first, not to Sam's surprise in the least, answering as she expected, "Stranger, that is WAY more fun!"
"I married mine," Sam stated carefully, "that's easy," reaching for the die as Vala glanced over at Adrienne for an answer, but the Cajun didn't move.
She didn't blink.
She didn't say a word.
"Just say it," Vala goaded, "we know what your answer is."
"Then let's pick another card," Adrienne replied, having calmed her accent, scooting forward to reach for the box and giving Sam the silent signal to roll the die. Picking up the small cube, Sam started to roll, to take the pressure off of Adrienne, but squeezed the plastic around her palm, her curious nature starting to take over.
"Addy, it's just us, would you?" she asked, sugaring her voice so slightly, just wanting to hear what she was starting to suspect was true...
"Fine, best friend, next cahd," Adrienne answered quickly, looking down at her hands.
Ok, Sam knew that was going to be the answer, but there was something else...
"Wait," Vala said as she pulled the box from the general's hands, setting it down lightly, one eye peeking over at Sam, "What about best friend versus, hmmm... Ronan? You know him well enough and he's the best looking man on base. Hell, you went to dinner with him, so you must think he's hot."
"Dat's nah on dah cahds," Adrienne replied, her heart beginning to race, accent back to being uncontrolled.
"I know, answer," Vala countered.
It's mutual, she thought, Addy's fallen for him too...
"Best friend," Adrienne said quickly, trying to reach again.
"Best friend versus Skarsgard?" Vala asked a third variation, testing girl talk giggles, pushing limits.
"Vala, enough," Sam started to defend Adrienne a bit, sensing her apprehension, sensing her answer.
It would be Daniel, no matter how Vala phrased it, the answer would always be Daniel.
"I wanna hear her answer," Vala challenged, glancing over at Sam, but she just grabbed the box, pulling out another card.
"Ok, let's get another blue question, that's what we were at right?" Sam asked rhetorically, not allowing anyone time to process the question, much less answer.
"Would you rather find out on your wedding night that your spouse is 10 years older than you OR an ex-con?"
Safe question, the general thought, in fact she was fairly certain Vala had to have a story about some former flame and their criminal history.
"Fifteen," Vala responded, her answer taking Sam off guard.
"What?" Sam asked, a look of confusion on her face.
"It's fifteen years," Vala clarified.
"The card says ten," Sam reread the card, confused but Adrienne looked panicked and Sam felt like a fool, wondering what in the world Vala could be referring to that was making Adrienne so nervous. The normally feisty archaeological assistant began to bite her lip, her hand started to shake, so much so that she had to set the wine glass down on the table.
"Addy and Daniel are fifteen years apart, not ten," Vala smirked as Adrienne lost all of the color in her face.
"Dammit Vala, leave her alone," Sam fussed as she peeked at Adrienne, again, the confirmation of her theory coming to life in front of her. Remaining silent, Adrienne reached down and tried to sip her wine, her glass still trembling.
The Cajun put the glass down a second time.
Oh my lord, Sam thought to herself, Vala and Jack have been right, this entire time, I was right, I hoped but it was a fantasy there's no way...
"It's fifteen. I just wanna know if that bothers Addy at all, if that's why she hasn't told him, because I'm fairly certain that it doesn't bother Daniel in the least," Vala explained, looking over at Adrienne and then the bottle of wine, reaching to pour herself another glass.
Adrienne paused, her deep foreboding eyes, slightly bloodshot it seemed, darting back and forth between her friends, trying to formulate her answer, but the wine had dulled her senses to the point of no return.
Instead, she just began to cry, gathering her knees up to her chest, and sobbing loudly.
"Addy!" Sam shouted, leaping up from where she was sitting, having never seen the woman break down like this before, "Vala didn't mean it..." she shot a glance at Vala, hoping she had some semblance of sympathy or at least regret for making Adrienne cry.
"Addy, come on, I'm just messing with you..." Vala added and came over as well, wrapping her arms around her friend's shoulders, "I know you want him, because he damn sure wants you, and one morning you're gonna come staggering outta his room, and not because you two fell asleep watching a movie..."
But that wasn't what was going through Adrienne's head, Vala knew, Sam knew, and this was just proof, Vala's attempt at humor only making the archaeologist sob harder.
"Vala, just shut up, you're not helping," Sam scolded, scooting closer to Adrienne, rubbing her back and trying to lean over to her face so she could hear.
"Adrienne, it's ok. He's a very attractive man; we understand," Sam tried to calm Adrienne down, not wanting to force her to admit anything. The sobs subsided slightly, Sam pulling away as the woman she was comforting did as well. Finally, Adrienne got control of herself, deep, hurt brown eyes gazing up at her.
"It's nah dat, I donna just, I donna wanna," Adrienne sniffed in deeply, wiping her eyes, "it's, I, I love him."
"I knew it; I knew you two were sleeping together," Vala declared as she backed up, "All that BS about him being your "best friend" and you two just "fell asleep" and you two've been going at it this entire time!."
"I'm nah like dat, are ya listenin' ta a gahdamn thing I be sayin'!?" Adrienne was screaming and sobbing, Vala leaning back against the sofa satisfied, looking like she was going to say something else. Shaking her head in warning at Vala, Sam took a deep breath and leaned in closer.
"Adrienne, you've had a lot of wine tonight and we're all just babbling, we know what you really mean," Sam assured her and continued to rub her back lightly to get her to calm down.
Don't Addy, possibly sleeping together here and there is one thing, but being in love, falling in love with him, you can't, you just can't.
This is just the kind of thing the IOA is looking for, more fraternizing, more reasons to have officials nosing around here to make sure this hadn't become a romantic free for all.
She and Jack had been warned, and that aside, she wasn't sure if Daniel's heart could take it if this didn't work out.
Or worse, if something were to happen to Adrienne.
If she thought he had been lost to them before, with what the general was witnessing from the very professional woman who she never would have thought to be the type to even date, Ronon had been a huge shock, if he felt for Adrienne was she clearly felt for him…
Which, given Daniel's actions as of late, she was pretty sure he did...
"Nah, stop patronizin may. I donna wanna to hop into bed wit 'em. I love 'em. I'm IN LOVE wit 'em. I love 'em more dan I 'ave eva loved anyone in my entire life. I said I'd neva, eva fall for anyone, but I did, and it's him, and I love Daniel so much..." Adrienne interrupted her own speech, leaning into her knees again sobbing.
And there came the words.
This wasn't an act, this wasn't the wine, Adrienne meant this; she was in love with Daniel, madly by the looks of it. Flashbacks of dinner conversations flooded her head, what Jack had said about Daniel being so overprotective of Adrienne on missions, about how much time the two of them spent together, many times overnight, the way Daniel had acted in that meeting where they had tried to dissolve Adrienne's position.
It was him too, no ifs, her slight uncertainty from before vanishing. They were in love, both of them, not the interest that she had thought Daniel might have in the Cajun woman, but love.
Oh no, she thought, I didn't mean for them to...
Friends, yes, best friends even, but this? Quickly sobering at the disaster that was unfolding in front of her, she pulled Adrienne into her arms, directing Vala with her head and some careful mouthing to go get a glass of water.
"And what Adrienne?" Sam asked, trying to get the entire story, "What happened? Are you two together? Have you guys..." she asked, not wanting Adrienne in her drunken state to describe any kind of sexual encounter with Daniel, but feeling that she needed to know exactly what was going on between the two archaeologists.
"No, we haven't had, I can't, I just -" Adrienne sobbed now even harder, "I ain't even told 'im because I can't…"
She can't what, Sam wondered, confused, as Adrienne cried like she had never seen. What was wrong, had they tried, had he done something to hurt her. Daniel was so hard to read and had mourned Shar'e for so long Sam really had no idea as to whether or not he could actually love someone like that again and if anyone would know, it would have to be Adrienne.
Which had to be why she was crying, because Dr. Adrienne Rowan was a brilliant woman, one brilliant enough to figure out that being with Daniel would be a lot more complicated than being with anyone else.
How had she missed this?
"Can't what Addy?" Vala asked, her tone from earlier changing, the requested glass of water in hand, placing it gently on the table.
"Vala don't," Sam warned still hugging Adrienne tightly, fearing what Vala had in mind.
"Addy, yes you can. Are you worried about those IOA assholes canning you like they tried to do, what, a month ago? We'll cover for you guys, I've already told you, he loves you, he'd do anything," Vala stated simply, but Adrienne didn't leave Sam's arms, peeping up her head only.
"Ya don't undastand…" she choked out, tears streaming down her face, "He deserves betta…"
"Than you?" Vala asked, shaking her head, "Addy, you're the best thing that's ever happened to him, and I'm counting myself as something that happened to him."
Adrienne just shook her head, letting it drop back down, Vala walking over to the wall by the bar window, picking up the phone and dialing.
"What are you doing?" Sam hissed as her friend rolled her eyes, receiver to ear.
"Calling Daniel to come get her. He knows she's been drinking."
"Vala, you can't do that to her! Not while she's like this!" Sam shot back, trying to be quiet as Adrienne's sobs were subsiding.
"Look, he's gonna notice if she doesn't answer and then race over here anyway," Vala replied, cocking her head back and forth as if she was waiting for him to answer.
"What do you mean gonna notice?"
Smirking, Vala pointed to the coffee table, Adrienne's phone peeking out from underneath.
"She's been texting him all night. They can't go five minutes apart. Whatever the reason she can't whatever, it's not because he doesn't feel the same, that's for damn sure," Vala answered, looking back at the wall as someone must have answered the phone, "Hey, no it's not Sam. Yes, it's me. What?! Why do you always assume...never mind. You need to come get Addy. No, she's fine, but she shouldn't drive home. I swear she's alright. I didn't do anything to her, dammit Daniel!" Vala shouted angrily as she glared at the phone, "He hung up on me!"
Annoyed and walking the phone back over to the kitchen, Vala glanced over at Sam and Adrienne to tell them what he had said, but Sam was just holding her finger to her mouth.
"She's calm now; I think she might have passed out," Sam whispered, laying Adrienne down gently against the love seat.
"Well, he's coming, and I have a feeling it won't take long," Vala said as she poured herself another glass of wine, taking a seat on the soda.
"He does, doesn't he?" Sam asked, "Really love her?"
"Oh yeah; you should've seen him on the last mission. When she disappeared, he completely fell to pieces," Vala replied, "I'm not sure what would have happened if she'd've been hurt."
"And when he brought her back from rescuing SG-14. He was holding onto her like his life depended on it," Sam shook her head and continued, "I wonder if either of them have any idea that the other is just a lost as they are?"
"She's more like him than she cares to admit. My bet is they're both scared. We know how he is, but there's something about Addy, something she won't discuss when it comes to men and I don't know why," Vala answered softly, peering over at the sleeping Cajun woman propped up against the furniture.
Torn between her job and her love for her friend, Sam gazed down at Adrienne once more, thinking to herself that as pleased as she was that Daniel might have a chance at happiness, she wasn't quite sure if they would ever really get that chance.
Standing to clean up their mess, the party effectively over, she wasn't surprised to hear a knock on the door less than ten minutes later.
"Do you wanna ask him how fast he drove to be her knight in shining armor?" Vala quipped as she went to answer the door, Daniel pushing past her gruffly the moment the panel swung open.
"Vala, I swear to God -" he started to yell as he scanned, but found what he was looking for, beginning to walk over to Adrienne briskly when Sam intervened.
"Daniel, calm down, she had too much to drink, it's nothing. Just leave her car here and she can come get it tomorrow. It's late anyway. Are you alright taking her home?" Sam asked, trying to get him to stop panicking, stop behaving like this.
Vala was right; Daniel was ready to rip off heads if anything had been done to Adrienne, and those heads of target were those of his friends.
He does, she thought, dear god what have I done...
"Of course," he looked at Sam as if she just asked him the most ridiculous question ever spoken.
"How was the party?" the general asked, changing the subject. Daniel was too riled up and she wanted him calm before he took her friend out of here, in love with her or not. There was a breath, it worked, Daniel composing himself as he sat carefully at Adrienne's leg, gently placing a hand onto her shoulder.
"It was hysterical, I'm sure Jack'll fill you in. Teyla came to get Torren about an hour ago but they just kept playing. Jack must have spent hundreds on tokens; I couldn't stop him. When I left, Teal'c was wearing an inflatable crown on his head, complete with a matching staff," Daniel answered, calmer, but not taking his eyes away from Adrienne.
"Ad, can you wake up a bit?" he nudged her gently.
"I'm nah asleep," she answered.
"Where have I heard that before? Can you get up?" he asked sweetly. Adrienne tried to stand and made it almost all the way up when she stumbled forward, Daniel deftly catching her in his arms, holding her close and protectively to his chest.
"Ok, ok, I see why we only drink at your apartment now," Daniel commented, more to himself than anyone else, picking her up into his arms, heading for the door, Adrienne muttering about being able to walk herself, for him to put her down at once. Sam heard him whisper something in French, cajun French it sounded like, Adrienne replying with what she could have sworn was "ya can be my pilla Indy, ya comfy."
Grabbing Adrienne's backpack and phone, a message from Daniel still on the screen, Sam followed him, opening the front door. She dashed ahead of him to get the door to his Jeep, making it there just before he did. Struggling, Adrienne wasn't a small woman, her strong athletic build most likely making her heavier than she looked, Daniel refused her help other than the open door.
It was killing Sam, he did love her, it was so obvious, and there was nothing she could do to help, nothing.
Daniel, why did you have to fall in love with Adrienne?
"Thanks for coming," Sam said as he closed the door, peering in to make sure that Adrienne was safely in her seat, "Sorry we called you away from the party."
"It's alright, I think they were considering bar hopping or something next, so this got me out of that," he said as he smiled.
"Make sure she drinks a lot of water," Sam said and reached out to hug him. Accepting her offer, he hugged her tightly, the general trying to hide her concern, squeezing his upper arm as he backed away.
"I will. Let's keep our fingers crossed that she doesn't puke on the way back," he joked, walking around the other side of the Jeep. Biting her lip, Sam returned back to the door where Vala was waiting and they waved goodbye, watching him back carefully out of the driveway.
Jeep out of sight, Vala turned, handing Sam back her wine glass, a satisfied smile on her face.
"Completely in love," Vala declared, waltzing back into the house.
God Daniel, if she's right, please be careful. I'm not sure how long I can cover for you, Sam thought, sadly, as she closed the door behind her, a part of her worried about far worse things than their superiors finding out.
"You wanna call Jack?" Vala asked as Sam followed behind, heading for the TV.
"Not yet," she said with a sigh taking a seat, "Let them have their fun."
"If you can, they deserve to be happy," Vala added, taking a quick sip, "Both of them."
"That they do," Sam muttered, hitting power on the remote.
When they arrived at his apartment, Daniel suddenly wished he had taken her to her own, given that it was on the ground floor. Hoping he didn't have to carry her up a flight of stairs, he walked over to the passenger door, opening it and reaching inside.
"Come on Ad, we're here," he said, gently pulling her upright. She was a little better after the thirty minute drive over here and thankfully hadn't gotten sick.
"Ya came ahn rescued me," she muttered drunkenly, "my 'ero."
He laughed, any control of her Cajun accent was completely gone at this point, tossing her arm around his shoulder. It was a risk he knew, trying to get her to walk but she was able to take a few steps before faltered again.
"Adrienne, remind me to start setting a limit for you," he fussed as he leaned down, lifting her into his arms to at least get her across the parking lot. It was a struggle, but they made it to the door of the complex in one piece. He set her down at the entrance, keying in his building access code before looking over at her again.
"Ad, I can't carry you up the stairs, ok? Can you make it to the elevator at least?"
"Yea…" she grumbled staggering forward, "Ya dinna afta babysit me," she added as she stumbled again, Daniel rushing to catch her.
"I didn't?" he mocked, pulling her to her feet.
"I 'ate ya," she muttered as she jerked her arm back.
"I know," he replied, though he was practically carrying her to the elevator. He was concerned a neighbor would see and think that Adrienne was being taken advantage of, and he quickly decided that if anyone were to see them he would just say that Adrienne was his girlfriend and it had been girl's night and he was supposed to come in get her if she had a few too many.
It was close enough to being true…
And he was fairly certain that she wouldn't deny it either.
The doors opened, Daniel leaning over to pick her up again, but she shooed him away.
"I gah it," she spat, stepping forward.
"Ok," he agreed, hoping that was true as he followed, Adrienne mumbling something about Sam being angry and not understanding.
"You just drank too much," he said as the elevator started up, "It happens. Sam's not mad at you."
She paid him no attention and kept talking.
"And of all gawhdam people, VALA, VALA, 'ad ta figure it out. Wha da 'ell, I mean, I be such a shitty liar ahn she BEEN convinced that ya do too ahn I ..." Adrienne began to babble again, incoherently.
"Figure what out?' Daniel asked as the doors opened, the archaeologist extending his hands to lead his assistant to the apartment.
"Nutin'," she grumbled, staggering to his door, "Imma learn ta shut my big damn dumb mouf."
Shrugging, and having no idea what in the hell she was going on about, Daniel raced ahead to his door, unlocking it and leading her inside, straight to the bedroom.
She needed to crash, and soon.
He took her to the bed, guiding her to sit as she continued to mutter about Sam and talking too much, running back to lock up for the night. When he returned, she was where he left her, her legs crossed yoga style as she sat on his bed, her shoes tossed over in the corner of the room.
"I'm sahrry…"
Shaking his head, he opened up his dresser looking for pajamas, settling on a sweatshirt and sweatpants that should keep her warm.
"Don't be sorry. You've had WAY too much to drink, it's no big deal. Let's get you to sleep," he assured, walking the set over.
"Just donna 'ate me…"
"That's not possible," he said laughing, "Ok, I can help you step into these, but I'm kinda hoping that you can get those off yourself," he pointed to both sets of pants, the jeans she was wearing and the sweat pants in his hand.
"See, and dat be where ya confuse me. Ah ya bein' dat chivalrous man dat I wanna dink dat ya ah or ah ya just so repulsed by da idea of me dat ya don't wanna touch me?" she said, slamming herself back onto the bed and beginning to undo her jeans.
"You do NOT repulse me; you're babbling nonsense," he said, his heart racing at her words because she didn't repulse him, not in the least, in fact he'd spent his entire evening daydreaming about her instead of focusing on the party.
Hell, he'd texted her the entire damn evening, a fact NOT missed by Jack.
There was a wiggle, breaking his train of thought, and he saw that she was stuck with her jeans on her legs. Reluctantly, he reached out, pulling them off the rest of the way.
"Here," he offered the sweat pants, but she was crawling on all fours to get under the covers, in, dear lord, thong underwear.
Why did she do this to him?
"Adrienne, put this on," he handed her a t-shirt he saw sitting in the pile of clean clothes beside the bed he had yet to put away, "you have wine on that one."
"Indy I be fine, coo, go do whatcha gotta do or whaeva. I be a grown woman and I cahn deal wit myself drunk. I was fah a LONG time before ya," she was trying to act like she didn't need him, but she really did, drunkenly ripping the shirt from his hands and tossing it onto her lap. He saw her reach to her sides and pull the shirt she was wearing off over her head and Daniel turned quickly, realizing that she was sitting there in a bra.
He kept his back turned waiting for her to tell him he could turn back around, which considering the insanity floating around in his head, he hoped was soon.
"Are you alright? You're not gonna be sick or anything? I can get a bucket, or do you want some water?"
"Nah, I be good."
"Ok," he said, turning around to see that she had indeed dressed herself, full sweatsuit and all, "If you're alright, then I'm gonna go crash on the sofa," he told her as he got a blanket and pillow from the bed to head to the living room. She didn't answer, oddly enough, and he turned to go, when he heard a sound that sounded like she was crying.
"Ad?" he asked behind him, concerned.
"I fine, jus' go away," she sobbed, wiping her face as she dashed under the covers.
Confused, he walked back over to the bed, standing beside where she was lying.
"I'm not "going away" if you need something. Do you need something? Just tell me…"
"Nah, I'm, I be ok, alrigh," she muttered as she sniffled in.
"Ok, then I'll be out there in the morning with some aspirin and water. Go to sleep."
Despite her assurances, she kept crying, quietly, like she was trying to hide it from him but she was too intoxicated to do so effectively. Sighing, he set the pillow and blanket back down on the bed, sitting down on the edge and placing his hand on her calf.
"Adrienne, stop. You're crying over nothing," he assured her, "just go to sleep."
"It's not fair, it's jus' not fair," she cried harder.
"What's not fair?" he asked, still totally lost.
What in the world had happened at Sam and Jack's?
"That just when I thought dat I gah my life figured out, I jus screw it up again," she muttered, pulling herself into a ball.
Daniel sat there for a second, wondering what she was talking about; what in the world had she screwed up. Regardless, she was clearly very upset, very drunk and very upset, and he didn't feel right leaving her here.
This really was becoming a cruel joke, one he was uncertain if his heart could take much longer.
Sighing out, Daniel removed his shoes, standing and undoing his jeans and shucking them to the floor. He unbuttoned his shirt and tossed that to the floor as well, pulling back the blankets and getting into bed with her.
"Wha ah ya doin'?" she asked, rolling over to face him.
"Going to sleep, which is what you should be doing," he answered with a frown.
"I donna need ya to sleep with me," she argued, now frowning at him.
"I want to sleep in my own bed," he replied, though he wasn't sure why she didn't seem to want him there, "Am I allowed to do that?"
"Yeah, I just dinna wahn ya to be 'ere because ya be dinkin' I canna handle myself…"
"You can't," he laughed, turning his back to her.
"Cooyon," she muttered, rolling back to do the same.
"Goodnigh Indy," she said after a pause, "Dank ya for coming ta my wescue."
"Anytime," he whispered back, hoping that despite the fact that he wasn't tired that he might be able to go to sleep.
Adrienne sat up in bed, rubbing her face, noting that she was in a large US Air Force sweatshirt and matching sweatpants.
"What tha?" she muttered, confused, realizing only then that she wasn't in her bed.
And then she remembered.
"I don't have Blackberry tea," Daniel said from the door, in his pajamas as well, a smirk across his face, "But I have water and crackers."
"Did I puke?"
"No," he shook his head, "Ramble in Swamp Monster for a good hour before falling over, yes, but no puking."
"Gah," she said, starting to stand and grabbing her head in pain, "I was a damn cooyon last night…"
"I was wondering," he replied as he approached, offering the water, "you were going on and on about Sam being pissed at you for something."
The Cajun shook her head, grabbing the water from his hand but diverting her gaze.
"Just running my mouth is all. When I drink too much I tend to run my mouth and cry. I know for a fact that I did both last night."
She drank the water.
"Well you were crying, a lot. I didn't know if I should have done anything," he admitted, taking a seat beside her.
"Nah," she whispered, the memory of the night before coming back, "You were good," she paused, remembering that he had reached over after she continued to cry, pulling her into his arms, "Sorry to be so, well, not me."
"We all have our moments," he said as he passed the crackers over.
"Some less graceful than others," she muttered in reply, popping a saltine into her mouth.
"It wasn't bad, I swear, otherwise I'd remind you of it. Often. I've learned that I need to keep ammunition with you," he teased, hoping to get her to smile.
It worked, Adrienne grinning as she nibbled a little more.
"Well, I had an agenda for today since we only have a weekend off before a one day prep and a mission on Tuesday and that presentation on Thursday…"
She frowned at him, knowing where this was going.
"...But, I didn't know if you wanted to see video footage of one of your bosses making a complete tail of themselves."
"Bring the footage to a sick damsel in distress?" she asked, biting her lip.
"You were never in distress ya know? You told me that more than once," he said as he stood, watching her make herself comfortable in his bed, cross legged, bundling up for the afternoon.
"I was gonna run errands and then head to base after I showed you."
"We gotta get my car…" Adrienne made a face feeling badly; she really had needed him last night.
"I know," he replied, "I already have that taken care of. The new plan is embarrassing photo and video, lay around, watch TV, order pizza, veggie healthy no fun personal size for you, then head to Sam and Jack's, get your car and drive to base."
"What about your errands?" she asked, now feeling worse.
"Fortunately for me, last year, Sam hired me an assistant, so I can goof off all day and make her take care of everything on Monday."
"Cooyon," she laughed, Daniel raising his eyebrows before going to fetch his computer.
"I'm sure Daniel's got some pictures on his phone; he was snapping away like crazy, but it was it was great. I'm glad we got to take him out. The big lug acts all quiet, like he doesn't care about anything but he likes having a good time," Jack concluded his tale, stuffing some eggs into his mouth.
Sam simply laughed, reaching for another pancake, "Well I'm sure 'I'll hear all about it over the course the next week at work."
"How was your night?" Jack asked, "I never even got to talk to you. You were sleep when I came home."
"Sorry, I was tired. Addy left early and then Vala didn't stay much longer, took a cab back, refused to stay. I just decided to take it easy for the evening, and then turn in," the general explained as she topped her breakfast.
"Yeah we heard about Addy," Jack laughed, "Apparently she was five sheets to the wind and Daniel had to come and babysit her."
Sam shook her head, "Yeah something like that. Though I blame Vala; she was refilling when no one was looking."
Jack shook his head as if he didn't believe her taking another bite of his breakfast.
"Jack hypothetically speaking," Sam now said, taking the risk, toying with what she had thought about all evening until she had gone to sleep, and this morning since she had woken up time, "What would happen if two civilians within the base to started to see one another romantically."
"Nothing, they can just see one another romantically. The only regulations there are against fraternization are between the military personnel. In fact military personnel could even date alien personnel, technically speaking, since the alien personnel aren't sworn into the military. You know that, why are you asking?"
Sam sat back in her chair, ignoring her meal for a moment.
"No, I do, but hypothetically speaking what if these two civilian personnel worked in the same department?"
Jack stopped chewing, peeking up at her.
"You mean like Daniel and Dr. Perky?" he asked, his wife pursing her lips.
"Not necessarily…" she muttered, Jack not buying it.
"Don't play coy with me," he said with a smile, "Daniel was on that damn phone all night long acting like he was taking pictures but he wasn't. He was texting Little Miss Archaeologist all night long and THEN he left early to take her home."
"So…" Sam said with a shrug.
"You're saying they're together."
"No," Sam corrected, "They aren't, really. I was just wondering, hypothetically speaking, what would happen if they were."
"Hypothetically speaking," Jack answered, sitting back in the chair as well, "Richard Woolsey can't stand her for some reason, probably is all those holes in her head, but he doesn't like her and doesn't like having to pay her salary. That's problem one."
Sam sighed out, not liking where this was headed.
"Two, they're on the same team, and after the, well, Daniel's last little in-team indiscretion and our marriage, we're under more scrutiny than usual…"
"I know," Sam muttered, reaching for her fork, "I was just asking."
"And three," Jack added, Sam no longer curious, "He's a total trainwreck when it comes to women. Complete and total."
"Fine," she muttered, "I'll…" she paused, deciding not to mention Adrienne's outburst last night, "I'll keep an eye out and talk to them if I see anything."
"Didn't say that," Jack said with a smile, "If they are, they are. Let 'em!"
Sam frowned, completely confused.
"Why the hell not? Screw Ratface and his rules, I like Dr. Perky. She's good for him; might actually straighten him out a bit."
"So, if we find out that they're…"
"Yep," Jack interrupted, scooping up some more eggs, "We're not gonna say a damn word."
"Fine by me," she replied, smiling, wondering what the two were doing at that very moment.