Daniel shivered, reaching instinctively to pull up a blanket when he realized two things instantly.
One, he was in his BDUs and laying on top of the blanket and not underneath it.
Two, he was holding Adrienne tightly in his arms, her body turned to face him and her lips gently resting at his neck.
And then he remembered, all of it, the intruders earlier today, the closet, her words, his words and how he ended up here curled around her in her bed.
He turned slightly, not wanting to let go of her in the least, to check the time. Her alarm clock noted that it was nearly 3:00 a.m. and he had come to her room at little after 9:00 p.m.
He was starting to be able to fall asleep like her now...
"Indy?" she whispered, wriggling in his embrace, "What time is it?"
"Late," he whispered back, "Go back to sleep."
"I'm cold," she muttered, Daniel now letting go of her and sitting up. He stood from the bed, walking over to her closet to grab a blanket, turning with the item in hand and saw her standing at the foot of the bed, shucking her clothes to the floor. In a sports bra and what looked to be biker shorts, Adrienne pulled back the covers and crawled into her bed, clumsily. Laughing to himself, and noting she was barely awake, he brought the blanket with him just in case her comforter wasn't enough, pausing to remove his own BDUs. He shucked them to the floor, kicking them over to the corner and crawled back in with her. Without hesitation, she curled right back into his chest.
"You stayed," she breathed out, Daniel kissing the top of her head.
"Don't I usually?" he teased quietly as Adrienne huddled impossibly closer.
"Not like this," she turned her head up to kiss his lips. They kissed slowly in the darkness before Adrienne pulled away breathless, curling into him again.
"No," he whispered, "Definitely not like this."
'You haven't run away yet," she muttered.
"And I never intend to…" he answered as he held her tighter, "go back to sleep. I love you."
"I love you too…" and she was asleep in moments, Daniel lying there, holding her and watching her breathe in and out slowly. He wasn't tired anymore, his brain racing a mile a minute, replaying the events of the past twenty four hours.
They now knew this wasn't an isolated incident, that whatever Anubis was planning did involve getting onto base, and to them. It added another layer to the already here and there threats they had encountered over the past year due to the power vacuum left by the defeat of the Ori, a vacuum that now it seemed Anubis was here to fill.
And, on top of that, Adrienne now knew how he felt about her, and everyone had been right. She felt the same.
So he lay here, in the dark, holding her in a way he never had before and never wanting to let go.
He saw a flash of light, peering over to notice that he must have set his cell phone on her nightstand, as it flashed with a message. Trying not to disturb her, Daniel leaned over, grabbing the gadget and tapping the screen.
Are you alright? I haven't heard from you all night.
It was Sam, who had sent the message a little after midnight.
And Daniel hadn't answered, because he had been lying here holding Adrienne all night. He sighed out, sending off his reply.
Yeah, I'm fine. Passed out from stress exhaustion I think. That's all.
He went to set the phone aside, when it buzzed in his hand. She must still be up, which, in all honesty, he would have been too, were it not for Adrienne.
Damn distracting Adrienne.
Funny, he didn't really mind.
Is Adrienne alright?
He didn't think about it when he responded, not for a moment.
She's fine, asleep.
He wrapped his arms around her again, setting his phone on the other side of her on the bed and nuzzling into her when it buzzed again.
Are you with her?
"Shit," Daniel muttered, slipping away from Adrienne who was thankfully sleeping soundly again. He leaned over, kissing her head before sitting up on the side of the bed to answer.
What in the hell would he answer?
Yes Sam, funny you should mention that, she's sleeping in my arms right now.
And, yeah, I'm in love with her so fuck the rules?
He had worried about Sam finding out more so than anyone, given her position, so much so that, were Daniel to ever break down and tell Adrienne how he felt and if she actually felt the same, he had tried to plan out exactly what he would say to Sam. In fact, Daniel had envisioned the conversation in his head at least a hundred times…
Sam, I have something to tell you.
Sure Daniel, what's up?
Adrienne and I are together. Like a couple together. I'm in love with her.
That's great Daniel; I'm so happy for you guys. You're fired.
He had hundreds of other versions too, ones that included her being sent to Area 51, the reconstructed Gamma site, the Delta site and one nightmare where she was betrothed to Ronon to gain the trust of what was left of the Saetadan people, people that they couldn't even have contact with until Atlantis was fully operational once more.
They were all stupid scenarios of course, but he still worried that if this all blew up on the wrong day, any one of those could come true.
He instead decided to go with a safe response that wouldn't give away too much.
Yeah, she was shaken up but nothing some zombies couldn't fix. She passed out like clockwork.
Sam, and well, hell, everyone knew that Adrienne forcing Daniel to watch horror movies that she slept through was a normal thing, so he was hoping that would be enough to keep her at bay.
Alright, well, come to my office in the morning. We need to discuss next steps. Try to get some rest.
Daniel smiled.
It worked.
Take your own advice. See you in the morning.
Setting his phone back on the nightstand he reached again to hold Adrienne, kissing her head once more before hunkering down on the pillow.
Adrienne awoke and reached out only to discover that she was alone in bed. Confused, and beginning to wonder if it was all a dream, she sat up, rubbing her eyes when she saw one of her bright pink post-it notes stuck to her nightstand.
Had to meet with Sam. Text me when you wake up.
"Guess I didn't dream it," she muttered aloud, wondering, though, still, if she had dreamt it and he had just stayed over, as he would do. The one clue to it not being a dream was the spare blanket tossed across her comforter, the one she vaguely remembered him getting for her in the middle of the night, before they had started kissing again.
"Dad of all of the times to leave me, here I am, stuck and I don't even have you to talk to. Just remember, if there's such a thing as an afterlife, you and I are gonna have words for making me have to deal with all of this alone," Adrienne muttered under her breath, standing from her bed.
In the past forty-eight hours Adrienne Rowan's life had turned upside down. Forty-eight hours ago she had stood from her bed, barely, her back screaming in agony before slapping an ice pack on her back, using the only thing she had to tie it in place, and limping to the lab.
And then Jonas Quinn had shown up with a head.
And then a body.
And then the base was infiltrated.
And then Daniel had shoved her into a closet.
And then he told her, well, yelled at her, that he loved her.
And then he had marched to her room and kissed her.
And now they were…
Hey I'm up.
She texted, having no idea how to answer that last thought.
Did you sleep alright?
She frowned and then smiled. Guess that was whatever this was now, subtle changes? Sweet concerned message rather than cutting right to the chase?
Wonderfully.
She decided to test the waters, see what his reply would be.
Me too.
"Ok, so I really didn't dream this," she whispered, sitting upright and crossing her legs in her bed.
Sam ok? Did something else happen?
The response was fast.
No, but I can fill you in over breakfast.
Adrienne stood from the bed, heading straight for her shower.
I'll meet you at the commissary after I get out of the shower.
She texted quickly, stripping down and setting the phone on her bathroom counter. There was a quick buzz, one that Adrienne assumed just said 'ok', but she peeked over instead, noting the message, in fact, did NOT say 'ok.'
IOA ordered a full sweep of the base. All non-operations personnel need to vacate for a couple of days.
Adrienne frowned, confused. She was about to ask about breakfast when her phone buzzed again.
I'd like to take you to breakfast, if that's alright?
"Wow," she said, standing there, "This is new…"
She couldn't resist.
Like a date?
She stood there, a smile on her face as she awaited his reply.
Exactly like a date.
"Damn Indy, you were not kidding," she muttered as she started the shower, slipping in with a smile.
"Lettin' your girlfriend know that we gotta skedaddle for the suits to do what we've already done?" Jack joked as Daniel stared at his phone, wondering what her reply would be. There was no reply, so he hoped that meant yes and that he would just show up at her room ready to go. He looked over at Jack, who stood there with that smug grin on his face.
"Look, I'm glad you have rejoined the human race, I am, but keep it quiet," Jack whispered, "Nearly everyone knows that you slept there last night, again, and I can't keep covering for adult slumber parties."
"Jack, we've been over this," Daniel replied. He remembered Jack's words, but, kind supportive words or not, Jack might have to make some decisions that Daniel didn't want made and he didn't want to put his friend in that position or have someone at the IOA level ship the love of his life across the country.
"Daniel, we know you sleep at her place and vice versa," Jack said, sharing one tidbit of information that Sam had leaked in their last 'What is going on with Daniel' conversation. Jack didn't know they were having damn adult slumber parties before the Kasuf incident and had just about choked on his beer when his wife informed him of that. That was a clear indicator that his good buddy was up to no good; who in the hell sleeps at their assistant's place almost every weekend and isn't getting laid.
"On the sofa. We're just good friends," Daniel argued, standing his ground, lying through his teeth.
"Come on, you and her aren't?" Jack asked, trying, yet again, to get Daniel to admit what Jack knew to be true. Men don't do things that they hate, like dance, to music that they hate, like rap, with their grubby paws all over a woman if they aren't getting any.
Sam had told him about that little incident too, that Walter had on tape.
That just went against nature.
"Who are you texting right now?"
Daniel just stared at him.
"Fine, I take that back. Dr. Perky's pretty great. If you're not, you're an idiot," Jack shook his head and changed his expression to one of false politeness as he made his way back to their guests.
"I'm not an idiot actually," Daniel muttered to himself, "Slow at times, yes, but I'm not an idiot."
He peeked down at his cellphone one more time to see that Adrienne still had not replied.
Had he scared her?
"She kissed you back, so just go down there," he coached himself again, heading to pick her up.
Adrienne stood at her dresser, wrapped in a towel, her wet hair dripping down her shoulders debating on what to wear.
"This is silly," she finally spat out, "Daniel doesn't care what you wear."
Trying to bring herself back to a place of sanity, Adrienne selected a pair of jeans, walking over to her closet to grab a blouse when there was a knock at her door.
She smiled, pretty sure she knew who was there, given that everyone else had probably already left base or were being used to accompany the IOA suits through their inspection.
Thankfully archaeology never had to do that type of dog and pony show, just different types of dog and pony.
"Come in Indy,' she shouted, "You know the code!"
She heard a few beeping sounds, and her door opened, Daniel entering her room in a tshirt and jeans and what seemed to be his satchel, overstuffed, ready to leave it seemed. He paused, staring at her and she laughed.
"Daniel, are you ok?"
"I just, sorry, I shouldn't have barged in…"
"So that's what it took?" she chuckled, "A near death confession and a kiss and suddenly you understand boundaries."
Daniel frowned.
"Shut the door," she laughed, "I'm just glad you came in jeans because that answers my question."
He did as asked, still frowning at her but unshouldering his bag and walking over to her desk. Adrienne grabbed a black top from her closet, laughing as she reentered her bathroom.
"I got your computer," he shouted, "and your latest two composition books, those clicky highlighters and your purple pens.'
"Thank you!" she shouted back, "You really think they are gonna spend that much time in the lab?"
"I have zero trust in them at all," he replied, "So I tried to cover my bases. Also, you are insanely protective of office supplies."
"Touche shug," she laughed as she emerged, shoulderless black top, jeans and barely any make-up.
God she's gorgeous.
Daniel paused for a moment, making her laugh and blush, shaking her head.
"Stop being weird."
"What?" he said, but she laughed again, walking to her desk to pack up a few essentials into her backpack.
"The way you're looking at me," she said in barely a whisper, packing her things as he laughed, walking up behind her and wrapping his arms around her shoulders.
"Then is this ok?" he asked and she turned, reaching for his waist.
"Guess I didn't dream it?"
"Nope," he replied, leaning in to kiss her gently, but quickly, pulling back, "But they're going to start knocking on doors so we need to get moving."
"You're the one distracting me…"
"Fine," he joked as he returned to his bag, "Get your ass movin' Ad. No cajun time."
She flipped him off, finishing her packing before standing back and taking a look at her quarters one more time.
"I should leave smelly unwashed running clothes," she stated as she pointed at her hamper, "Just to make a point."
"I think that's a solid plan,' he laughed as they left her room, headed for the elevators.
Jack sat in the gateroom as the IOA men interrogated poor Walter in the briefing room and snooped around the gate as if they had any idea at all how the damn thing worked.
"Jackasses," he grumbled, leaning back in his desk chair and throwing his feet up on the console, wincing as he did.
"You're getting too old for that anymore," he cursed himself, pulling his legs down slowly as he caught movement out of the corner of his eye, familiar movement, a walk he knew headed to a certain vehicle he also knew. Smiling, he turned his attention to the parking lot security camera, where Daniel, and, wouldn't you know, Dr. Perky, were walking straight to his Jeep.
Together.
To leave base for a mandatory 48 hours.
While her souped up little classic Beetle was parked on the other side of the lot.
"Uh huh," Jack muttered, rolling his eyes, "I told him so."
He heard a sound, and saw poor Walter scurry off, his wife standing with that IOA asshole, explaining what they had already done, the security detail before he made some smug remark. Jack wanted to leap up, jump to Sam's defense, but he didn't because not only would she kill him for doing just that, but she handled all of that bullshit so very well.
She was the best leader the SGC had had since General Hammond.
God he loved her.
He watched the IOA contingent disappear through the exit and waited a moment before speaking.
"Meeting done?" he asked as she signed, signalling they go to her office.
He loved that too, her office, with their name on the plaque.
She shut and locked the door behind him as he entered, walking straight to her 'secret stash' as Vala had put it, removing two wine glasses and a bottle of something he knew would be European.
"I take it you shut that snotty Weasley man up?" Jack asked, kissing Sam gently and backing up, taking the glass of wine from her hand.
"His name is Woolsey, not Weasley," she corrected, reaching down for her glass of wine and sitting at her desk. Laughing, Jack tossed his jacket over the back of the chair across from her.
"Have you looked at that man?" Jack asked, "I think I'm pretty close to the mark. But it wasn't just him anyway, it was that little UN liaison weasel too. Two different weasels," he clarified as his wife giggled.
"For now, though they are still sweeping the entire base and, well, Rodney is losing his mind," she replied, "So, I'm just going to let him rip into them."
"This is why I love you; a woman not afraid to use her resources," Jack said as he sipped the wine carefully.
"So, how did your meeting go?" she asked and took a sip of her wine. Not that she wanted to talk about work all of the time, but she could never resist her husband's recap of a meeting; it made reading the report the next day much more entertaining.
"Just like I said it would. They're halting that stupid Destiny crap until we hit the three year mark. It's like they were all living in a Sci-Fi movie or something. Even if we gated over there, we have no idea what in the hell we'd be gating into, and they finally listened to sense. In the meantime, between the Anubis mess and that cloning crap of Rodney's, we have plenty of things to worry about, but nonetheless they still want to go down to nerdville and see what in the hell Daniel and his girlfriend have been up to which is going to send Daniel right over the edge because he's not even allowed to be there when they do," Jack said, setting down his glass and shaking his head.
"I just hope that and this stupid sweep can keep Woolsey out of my office and out of our collective hair," she said sincerely, a part of her still wondering if Hammond or even Landry had to deal with as much garbage. She knew Jack had when he was in charge for a brief spell, but Jack also enjoyed toying with people like Woolsey and other bureaucrats and Sam just didn't have the patience for ignorance like her husband did.
Taking another swig of wine, Jack swallowed quickly, pointing his finger at her, having something else to say.
Sam looked at him strangely, wondering what else could have possibly gone on in that meeting, one that she was very thankful to have avoided, so she waited for him to compose himself, sipping her wine.
"I think Daniel's banging Dr. Perky," Jack said finally and Sam fell forward, spraying wine into her hand as she shot it up to her face. Trying to compose herself, she swallowed what bit was left in her mouth, grabbing for a napkin to wipe her face.
"What!?" Sam asked as the wine dribbled down her chin, one hand wiping herself frantically while the other was signaling for Jack to keep talking.
"I think that Daniel is sleeping with his assistant, like you said he might, in all of your hypothetical situations? I think you're right and they're hooking up," Jack restated, in a more adult fashion, well as adult as her husband was going to be about such things and Sam shook her head, knowing that he wasn't understanding her question.
"I heard what you said Jack, I want to know what makes you think that," she inquired.
"Welp, after our good old buddy decided to attack the base, Daniel decided his best course of action was to spend the night in her room," he and Sam laughed.
"I know," Sam answered with a grin, starting to drink her wine again.
"Samantha Carter O'Neill, you foxy little minx, you know something..." Jack said and Sam smiled at her husband coyly.
"Maybe…"
"Did he tell you? What did he say?"
"He didn't say anything," Sam admitted, taking a breath, "She did. Indirectly. Remember Teal'c's birthday? When Addy had a few too many?"
"Yea…"
"She ended up sobbing in our floor about how much she loved him…"
Jack shook his head, "That proves nothing," he noted, "Women fuckin' love him for some damn indiscernable reason."
"But you didn't see him when he came to get her," Sam added, "He was a complete wreck, protective, and I swear he kissed her or something when he put her into his Jeep."
"Daniel? Our space monkey?"
"And then Vala…" she teased, sipping her wine.
"Vala what?"
"After Lucentum," Sam started, hating to gossip but also unable to resist, "Well, she told me that she got Addy to drop the knife right before they were beamed up by reminding her of what she said at our house."
"And…"
"And…" Sam added, "Daniel heard her."
"I would like to reiterate my earlier statement," he replied, "Not shocked. Women love him."
"To which he swore Vala to secrecy because he feels the same way."
Jack's jaw dropped.
"No shit…" he sighed out, "So it's not just…"
Sam shook her head.
"Nope," she said with a smile, "He hasn't said anything to me yet but you should have seen him this morning. He was a complete nervous wreck, kept looking at this phone, avoiding talking about her," she chucked, sipping again, "It was honestly adorable."
"Ugh," Jack answered, "Don't call him adorable."
"Which brings me back to my hypothetical from a few weeks ago," she continued, "If they are, we let them? After all, we played that game for a while ourselves," Sam added, waiting for Jack's answer and he shook his head.
Sam leaned forward a bit on the table, pushing the wine glass aside.
"And if they are, no one really knows and obviously it's not interfering with their work so we leave them alone? Can we cross that bridge when we get there?" Sam asked, wondering what she really would do if it did become a problem. What would Woolsey say? He had been trying to do away with Adrienne's position since day one.
Jack, however, didn't respond, just drank his wine, starting to think to himself that maybe he was just hoping that Daniel finally found someone that made him happy.
"Yeah, we cover for them," Jack agreed, an evil grin on his face, "But not until I get him to admit it to me first."
Shaking her head, and knowing this was an argument she wouldn't win, Sam just sipped her wine, taking a moment to relax before Woolsey called again.
"Two mimosas please," Daniel said as soon as they sat at the patio table, before a waitress had even come around.
"Meeting was that great?" Adrienne asked, laughing, as Daniel shook his head.
"Let's just say that I grabbed as many things as I could as fast as I could and changed passwords to everything I left behind," he replied, Adrienne frowning.
"No matter where you work in the government, it's all the same."
"I hope a mimosa was ok, sorry, I just assumed," he added as Adrienne smiled.
"It's perfect shug, thanks."
Daniel smiled, as two lightning fast mimosas arrived at the table.
"What would you like?" he asked sweetly as the waiter stood to take their order.
"Eggs, scrambled, with cheese, onions, peppers, tomatoes, whatever other vegetables you grill at breakfast," Adrinne asked politely as Daniel chuckled.
"The waffle platter, eggs over easy," he ordered, Adrienne frowning, the waiter jotting down their order and darting off again.
'Remember that part about me investing myself in this,'' Adrienne joked the moment their server stepped away, "Maybe we start thinking about our health? A little bit? I like having you around."
"How about I only cheat when the IOA is driving us crazy?"
Adrienne shook her head, "So, in other words, this is a losing battle?"
He laughed, shrugging and sipping his drink as she did the same.
"Be thankful you slept through it," he answered, finishing his glass in an instant, "It took everything in my power to let Sam handle it."
"She is capable," Adrienne noted, Daniel nodding as he went to flag over another server.
"Oh I know," he replied, "But it was more the insinuation that she wasn't that angered me. She's like a sister to me, and one of the most brilliant people I have ever met. I hate how they talk down to her."
"Which is why we are friends," Adrienne noted, as Daniel frowned at her.
"Friends?"
"Or not…" she ventured, Daniel smiling.
"I don't really spend the last twenty fours hours with regular friends like we have…"
"Fair enough," she smiled, sipping her mimosa as he shrugged, Adrienne deciding not to push it.
"Another please?" a waitress was there before any more awkward silence passed between them, Daniel nodding and handing over his glass.
"You really must be pissed," Adrienne joked as her friend, boss, boyfriend, whatever the hell he was now, shrugged.
"And honestly Ad," Daniel said with a sigh, "Worried. It seems like so long ago now, but it was not even two days ago that I told you everything about Anubis. And, now, you're in even more danger than before."
Adrienne sighed, understanding what he meant, and how that very worry was the most likely explanation for his odd behavior, despite his feelings, their feelings.
Daniel was worried about her becoming a target, while Adrienne was prepared to fight to make sure that he himself wasn't.
"What's her plan?" the cajun asked, as another mimosa arrived for Daniel, who seemed eager to down it. He started to drink that one as quickly, but Adrienne knew him and knew that wasn't a great idea, reaching for his hand gently and slipping her fingers between his. He took the silent message, lifting his fingers to intertwine with hers.
"Revisit worlds with a connection to Anubis, check in with allies, but she really wants to continue with things going as normal as possible, in the hopes that we can quietly find out what is going on," he said with a sigh, squeezing her hand gently.
"In other words, she's sending Vala without permission?" Adrienne said with a soft smile that Daniel returned.
"Precisely," he affirmed, "She and Ronon left sometime in the wee hours of the morning."
"And our poor stupid government thinks it's just our resident alien staff taking some R & R to see their families…"
Daniel nodded, pulling his hand away to sip his mimosa. Adrienne did the same. Their food arrived, Adrienne being much hungrier than she realized, reaching eagerly for her fork. Daniel paused for a moment, looking like he was going to say something again, before laughing and reaching for his fork.
"What?" Adrienne asked.
"This is supposed to be a date," he replied as he cut his waffle, "And what are we talking about?"
She laughed.
"I mean...we are both sad sad workaholics," Adrienne replied, "That's how this all started anyways."
"I'm just glad it did," he admitted quietly, gazing up at her.
"Me too," she agreed as she took another bite of her breakfast.
"They said 48 hours and I sent EVERYONE HOME," Sam complained as Jack stood in her doorway shrugging.
"I mean, we can leave things as they are, let folks use the time off," he ordered, "Let people that want to take the R&R take it and let the workaholics get back to it?"
"I should have had Rodney in the first meeting, would have saved me some trouble," Sam noted, peering down at her computer, "Who would have thought I would ever be thankful for his big mouth?"
"Maybe we should just add reporting to the IOA to his regular duties," Jack joked, "Save us some headaches."
"That's an idea," she agreed, reaching for her phone as she peered at her screen, "I'll start calling supervisors first, see what we can salvage. And Daniel will be happy, they didn't even go to his lab. Actually," she paused, hanging up the receiver and grabbing her cell phone, "I'll call him first and deliver the good news."
"That one's mine," Jack requested with a smile, reaching into his uniform to produce his own phone.
"Jack…" Sam warned, "Leave them alone…"
"No Sam, I'm gonna make him eat his words," Jack laughed, "And today is the day."
"Remember Woolsey…" she added, knowing this was a fight she was not going to win.
"I'm not gonna let Weasel find out," Jack said, "I just want to rub it in Daniel's face that I was right, again, and that of all of the women in this universe he fell for that punk rock nerd jock you hired to kick his ass back into gear. That alone makes this all hilarious."
Sam signed, reaching for the receiver to her desk phone again, as her husband walked slowly out of her office, cell phone in hand, texting with glee.
Rodney ran the rats out. You can come back to work. They didn't even mess with your space, you can thank me later.
He waited, knowing that Daniel was pretty good at responding to texts, which given his aversion to Earth-based technology, Jack was sure he could attribute to Dr. Perky.
Thanks. We were concerned that we'd need to redo our entire schedule for the next two weeks.
"I bet 'we' were Daniel," Jack said aloud, Walter peering up from the console curious. An idea in his head, Jack, peered over at the gate tech before replying to his old friend.
"Got any lab footage from the past two days Walter? Daniel's lab?"
"Only the standard footage sir," he replied, "Is there something in particular you're looking for?'
"Notice anything…" Jack led, peering down at his phone again, "Unusual?"
"Such as…"
Jack paused for a moment. What did he want Walter to find? Hand holding? Kissing? His good buddy tossing that woman up onto their center table?
Nah, Daniel was too smart for that.
"Nevermind, just, let me know if you see anything questionable down there, ok?"
"Yes sir," Walter replied, confused, cutting his eyes back to his work.
Jack, however, turned his attention back to his phone.
Save Sam a call and tell your girlfriend too.
"Let's see what he says to that…"
I'll tell her.
"Ha!" Jack shouted out, "Second time no denial! I'm gonna catch you yet!"
Feeling victorious, Jack marched out of the observation room, Walter staring at him in confusion.
"So we can head back?" Adrienne asked, as she sat back in her chair, full.
"Yeah, that's what Jack said," Daniel replied, as he finished his drink.
"No more Indy," Adrienne scolded, Daniel laughing lightly.
"The meal only comes with two, I didn't plan on exceeding," he noted, "So does that come with this new territory?"
Adrienne frowned, "Sam pays me to look out for you, in case you forgot."
He laughed, as their server arrived with the bill, Daniel reaching for his wallet as Adrienne began to reach for hers.
"Date," he reiterated as he slipped his card in the billfold, the server leaving without comment.
"That doesn't mean the man pays," Adrienne noted but Daniel was shaking his head.
"But it does mean the asker does," he noted, "And I asked."
"Fine," she relented with a smile as Daniel's phone buzzed again, her companion texting back quickly.
"Shit," he said the moment he set the phone done, picking it back up and peering at the screen.
"Shit what?" she asked.
"Jack," he replied with a sigh, shaking his head, "He's not gonna give up."
"On?"
Shaking his head, Daniel turned the screen so Adrienne could read the messages.
Save Sam a call and tell your girlfriend too.
I'll tell her.
"He calls me your girlfriend all of the time," she said with a shrug, "So, what else is new?"
"He's gonna interpret my reply, or lack of an argument, as something," Daniel explained as Adrienne frowned.
"Oh, yeah…"
"Exactly," he answered as the check came, Daniel quickly signing it before peering over at her, "Wanna head back? Or do something else?"
"Are you trying to avoid Jack?"
"Maybe," Daniel admitted, Adrienne laughing.
"Well, you know my failsafe, and I'm sure there's some new zombie knockoff on TV or something…"
Daniel sat for a moment, thinking, when he felt a hand on his, making him smile.
"No," he said, "We had a schedule so let's just head back, is that ok?"
Standing with a smile, Adrienne pulled him to his feet, leaning in to kiss him softly.
"Of course it is."
Jack was waiting outside of the lab.
"How was your date?" he asked smugly, Adrienne trying to hide her rapidly blushing cheeks as she coded herself into the lab, Daniel stopping and facing Jack.
"Are you sure no one went in here?" he asked.
"Not a soul," Jack assured, "So you and Dr. Perky can carry on doing whatever nerd things you do in between cuddles."
"Thank you," was all Daniel said in reply, Jack snickering as he left.
"Is he?" Adrienne asked as she unloaded her computer and items back onto her desk.
"It's only gonna get worse Ad, I'm sorry," Daniel answered, "Forgot to list that in my reasons you should run for the hills screaming: Jack will harass us until the end of time."
"Oh joy," she laughed, "Vala and Jack."
"At least Vala's gone on a mission," Daniel noted, "Gives us a few days reprieve." He unpacked a few items from his own satchel, before pausing looking over at Adrienne.
"Maybe we should tell him."
"Excuse me?" Adrienne asked, shooting a look over at him.
"Hear me out," Daniel said, walking over to her desk and dragging the center chair on the way, "He and Sam…"
"Lied their asses off for years and nearly got demoted because they ran away to Vegas," Adrienne noted, "I've heard the story."
"Which makes him the perfect person to have in our corner," Daniel argued, but Adrienne remained unconvinced.
"He hasn't said anything so far," Daniel added, "I mean, joking, yeah, but no one actually takes him seriously."
"So far?" Adrienne noted, "Shug, it hasn't even been twenty-four hours."
Daniel cut his eyes away, continuing to unpack his bag.
"Daniel," Adrienne pushed, "What aren't you telling me?"
"Nothing, you're right, we just keep quiet," he agreed quickly, hearing steps in his direction.
"Nuh uh Indy," she said, peering over shoulder and into his face, "Invested now? Spill."
"I have a…" he stumbled, "I'm transparent, at least when it comes to Jack. He figured it out before I did."
"I'm listening…" she goaded, leaning against his desk.
"The mission where we found that ZPM? P5R something? The one Jack crashed…"
"Yes…" she said with a smile.
"He just," Daniel muttered, "He called it. No joking around about us sleeping together, he was serious. He told me that I was in love with you, and…" he paused for a moment, "He was right. I didn't say anything, admit anything, even to myself, but, he was right."
Adrienne bit her lip slightly.
"That was a while ago," she noted, as Daniel shook his head, seemingly embarrassed.
"I know," he said softly, reaching for her hand, "I just didn't know what to…"
Adrienne shook her head, squeezing his fingers quickly.
"Who would? It's not like we planned it," she assured softly, "I just don't want to lose this, any of this. I've worked so hard."
"I won't let that happen," he promised, "No matter what."
She nodded softly, heading back to her desk. Daniel stood, peering over to see if the cameras were angled in such a way that maybe he could do something to assure her physically when there was a ring, the phone on the wall, Daniel frowning but walking over to answer.
"Archaeology," Daniel answered the phone.
"Why are you answering your phone?"
It was Jack on the other line so Daniel answered a smartass question with a smartass remark.
"Because I was standing beside it," he replied, rolling his eyes and wondering why Jack wasn't getting back to his own uninterrupted work.
"Where's your girlfriend?" Jack continued.
"Adrienne's busy, getting back to our work that was interrupted," Daniel answered, forgetting himself for a moment, "and she's not my girlfriend," he added quickly, half tempted to admit it right there.
No, you're not lying Daniel, she's not your girlfriend. She's your soulmate. See, no lie.
From her desk, Adrienne made a face, most likely catching on to who was on the other end.
"Sure, listen, leave her a little love note or kiss her goodbye or whatever; I need you on something," Jack requested, Daniel making a noise into the receiver.
"Is there more blowout from that meeting? Jack, I've got things that I'm trying to get accomplished down here, which is hard enough as it is on this back and forth mess that Woolsey keeps pulling on us," Daniel protested, hoping that he could at least get back to the next section of the database.
"No, it's geeky crap from Area 51 I need you to look at. Get your ass up here," Jack ordered, hanging up the line. Knowing he would just be fighting a losing battle, Daniel walked over to Adrienne's desk, peering at her screen.
"Well, he's either decided to corner me or Woolsey has presented us with more bullshit," he sighed out, "Either way, can you focus on this section here. I think with that we have a better chance of finding something we will all find useful."
"On it shug," she happily chirped, "Also, I'm thoroughly enjoying the random swearing lately."
"Ha, ha," he grumbled, heading out of the lab to meet Jack.
Sam was sitting in her office just about to pick up where she left off with her own work when the red phone rang and her heart started to race, like it always did when that phone rang.
Reaching for the phone, she brought it to her ear cautiously, hoping that another attack from Anubis or worse was not the news to be relayed by the other side.
"O'Neill," she answered professionally.
"I never get tired of hearing that," Jack said on the other line and Sam softened her tone a bit, thankful that if bad news was to come, it was to come from him.
"Jack, why are you calling the emergency phone?" she asked, not really wanting to know. Jack had way too much fun with his power despite his years of military behavior and more than anything liked to play with said power. She secretly thought it was hysterical, but would never admit it to him and now more than ever hoped that he was calling for one of those more idiotic reasons.
"Because, as I stated earlier, I'm going to try to get Daniel to admit that he's doing the horizontal mambo with his lackey, and I need a good way to make him admit it," Jack explained, as if using government resources to satisfy his curiosity was perfectly normal.
Sam made a noise into the phone.
"I said to leave them alone," she stated, knowing full well that not only hadn't he listened to her earlier today, but that he had no intention of listening to her now.
"I take it you're not gonna help then?" he asked, sounding disappointed.
"No honey, I'm not," she replied, "I have a to-do list as long as my arm, and a good number of staff that are too angry to come back today."
"Dammit, you're no fun," he said and hung up, just as Daniel was knocking at his door.
Jack stood, adjusting his jacket, trying to look official and not like he was snooping before walking over to open the door.
"Took you long enough," Jack said in greeting.
"You do realize I'm on the bottom floor and, I had to leave Adrienne a list of things to do in my absence," Daniel rolled his eyes at his friend and Jack smiled.
He could comment now, of course he had to leave notes for Adrienne, probably when and where they were meeting for their next whoopie session, but it was best he waited.
"Alright, so those assholes at Area 51 sent this crap over and said it's time sensitive so I need you to read it and tell me what it says," Jack ordered as he walked Daniel over to a table.
Making a face the moment he noticed that this had nothing to do with Anubis or anything else Daniel had been working on these past few weeks, Daniel rolled his eyes at the complete waste of time in front of him before glaring back at Jack.
"You could have sent this down to the lab where Adrienne and I could have finished it in about half the time it took for me to come up here, sit here alone, do it and then head back down," Daniel said, pulling out the chair and removing a legal pad from his messenger bag.
Not responding, Daniel did as he had asked, Jack smiling as his friend sat, taking the bait.
"There you are, talking about your little sweetheart again," Jack began his taunt carefully, "You know you got along just fine for years without her."
"Yea, I did," Daniel said, "but I get along better now with her," he replied coolly, starting to read and write things down on the pad.
Biding his time, Jack decided to back off for a while and let him work, planning to try a different angle later. He'd gotten Daniel up here, alone and cornered, which was phase one of his plan but at this point Jack was still waiting to start on phase two.
About an hour into the task, as he himself went through stack after stack of mission reports, Jack had an idea. Trying to act casual, he stood from his desk, glancing over at his friend, who hadn't made so much as a sound or sent one text message to the chickadee downstairs.
"Hey, I'm going to go get some coffee or something, do you want anything?" Jack asked, walking over to the desk now noting that Daniel was working furiously, obviously in a hurry to get out of there.
I bet I know why, Jack thought, he's trying to get back downstairs to her.
"No, I'm good," Daniel muttered, not looking up, flipping to the next page in the stack.
Perfect, Jack thought to himself and headed down the hall to the elevators that would take him to his wife's part of the Pentagon.
"Good afternoon Dr. Perky!" Jack shouted as he sauntered into the lab. Adrienne had her headphones on looking at a calendar layout when he shouted and just about fell into the floor with shock, ripping off her headphones, peering back at him.
"General you scared me to death!" she shouted, putting her hand over her chest.
"Jack, not General. And what happened to that karate stuff of yours? Aren't you supposed to kick my ass or something?" he asked, making a face at her reaction.
"I try not to as much, it's usually Daniel that jumps out and tries to scare me," she said.
"And we wouldn't want to punch our loverboy, would we?" Jack said quietly.
"Sir?" Adrienne asked, trying to act innocent.
"Nevermind. I need your Ancient-Goa'uld translating doohicky," he said.
"It's not a doohicky, I mean, it's not a separate tool or anything, it's an iPad app I created, right over here, would you like me to show you how to use it?" Adrienne asked as she rushed over to her desk to get the iPad. Grabbing the tablet, she hurried back over to Jack, opening the case and tapping around the screen.
"Here's the icon," she said hoping to be helpful to one of the many people around here who after all of this time still didn't seem impressed with her, "just tap here. What are you trying to translate?" she asked curious as to why he was down here but asking for her help, especially since he had summoned Daniel.
Unless that was part of his plan and she was playing into it.
She, however, didn't know Jack well enough to come up with anything clever, so she decided to play along.
"English to Space Worm," he replied. Trying not to make a face at his word choice, Adrienne selected the right option, turning the screen to show him where to enter the text.
"Just type here, and hit enter like a normal keyboard. Sir, can I ask why you need to do this; since Daniel's busy I would be more than happy to help you with whatever," she offered, determined to get to the bottom of his strange behavior.
"Jack, and nope, gotta do this myself. I'm gonna use Daniel's computer over here, so you just carry on with whatever you were doing," he replied, shooing her away with his hand and walking over to Daniel's desk.
Still confused, and not wanting to annoy the big boss, Adrienne just shrugged and put her headphones back on, determined to make up for lost time and not to worry about Jack O'Neill's unexpected visit.
About thirty minutes later Jack returned to his office but Daniel didn't even notice, still enthralled in his task, not even giving his old friend as much as a wave.
Jack's phone was ringing, so he took the call, having to put off his scheming for a while longer and it was important, of course, meaning he would have to put his little plan on hold until he took care of real work. He was annoyed; if Sam had agreed to help she could be down here filling in for him, but no, she had to be a stick in the mud and make him be the one to figure out whether or not Daniel was finally recognizing that females actually existed.
Frowning at the occupied archaeologist, Jack stepped out for the stupid meeting, with his favorite person Robert Idiot Woolsey, running around the Pentagon for a few hours, returning back by two thirty, two full hours of perfect harassing Daniel time completly down the drain.
When he finally stepped across the threshold to his office, Daniel was still there, foregoing food even though he knew his friend surely hadn't eaten.
Perfect, Jack thought, not only is he still here but he's already proving my point by skipping lunch, he's rushing to get back to Dr. Perky because heaven forbid the woman eat a meal alone.
Running his plan through his head, Jack opened his email slowly, cutting his eyes over at Daniel.
"Asshole!" he shouted aloud and that, as he had hoped, got Daniel's attention.
"What now?" he asked without turning around, knowing full well that it was going to be more work for him and not Jack. Smiling, the general hit print, grabbing the document from the printer and stood, walking it over to Daniel.
"More bullshit from those cretins; it says you need to do this first," Jack explained as he hastily handed Daniel the sheet of paper. Frowning, he took it and scanned the document, quickly glaring back at Jack.
"Goa'uld text usually doesn't begin with the words TOP SECRET," Daniel stated sternly.
"Probably someone being a smartass, just do that first, alright," Jack said and went back to his desk as Daniel turned to the document, beginning to start the translation.
"Really Jack? Really?" he said moments later.
"What, does it say something important?" Jack asked, trying to hide his excitement.
"Besides the fact the wording is horrendous and sounds like an uneducated buffoon it reads 'I know you are knocking boots with Dr. Excited' which I am sure you meant to read Dr. Perky," Daniel said, rolling his eyes.
"Well?" Jack asked.
"Well what?" Daniel replied.
"Are you?" Jack continued and Daniel stood from the table.
"Look, this just says the same thing over and over, and it's nothing, not a damn thing anyone would really care about other than me and Addy. Send it back, I'm gonna go do some real work," he said standing from the table and heading for the door, Jack grabbing his arm and pulling him back.
"Daniel, I get it ok. I won't say a word. Are you and Dr. Perky a thing?" Jack asked more sincerely, Daniel biting his lip and pulling away.
"Yeah."
"Like having a good time kind of thing or I need to prepare for a backlash kind of thing?" Jack pushed further, watching Daniel's face, preparing for the answer he knew was coming, that he and Sam knew was coming, and yet he was still shocked by it nonetheless.
"Option two."
"How serious are we talking Daniel?" he now inquired, his mind already racing for solutions. His old friend, his friend for so long, finally looked up at him, with a look in his eyes that Jack hadn't seen in years...
"Serious enough where I need you and everyone else to cool it so I don't lose her. Serious enough where it would be great if you could find out any and all loopholes in the dating one's subordinate regulation. Serious enough where," he paused, taking a breath, "where I'm standing here, admitting that you were right."
Ok, yeah, Jack thought, that's serious and Robert Woolsey just might hit the ceiling. He hadn't been keen on hiring Daniel an assistant anyway and this would just add fuel to the fire.
"I love her," Daniel continued, "I didn't even know I could feel like that, like this anymore. I didn't really care but she...she's like this miracle."
Jack nodded, stepping forward to shut his office door, lest anyone hear their conversation.
"When?"
Daniel shook his head, "I dunno, yesterday, technically, but Jesus, you and Vala were both right. We've been acting like a couple for ages, so I really don't even know how to count or when to count. I just know that yesterday is when I finally told her."
"And then spent the night with her," Jack added, but Daniel shook his head.
"No, not like you think," Daniel corrected, not wanting any assumptions for one second to be made about Adrienne, "She's everything to me, and I just held her, all night."
Jack sighed; this really was more than he expected.
"Is she worth it?" Jack asked the only other thing on his mind, that if this were to completely collapse in on him was it all worth it. He really hadn't taken the time to get to know Adrienne, Sam seemed to like her but was really too busy to know her either, this woman who had apparently stolen the heart of one of his dearest friends.
"More than anything," Daniel answered without hesitation, Jack nodding in reply.
"Ok, I'll see what I can do," the general muttered, patting his old friend on the shoulder before turning to head back to his desk. Daniel didn't say another word, just shoved his hands into his pockets and left the office, leaving Jack with piles and piles of more useless bullshit. Turning to his screen he started to check email when he paused, opening a different folder instead.
Pentagon Personnel Regulations and Code of Conduct
Adrienne noticed movement out of the corner of her eye and after her little episode with Jack earlier today was paying better attention, but it was Daniel so she slipped her headphones to her neck smiling.
"Well, I'm glad that didn't take all day. I'm just about finished with the early expeditions section. What did the boys upstairs need?" she asked, looking back at what she had been writing.
"Jack needed to act like an ass, that's all," Daniel replied, his heart still pounding in his chest from his conversation with Jack.
"About us?" she said, "He came down here about an hour after you left wanting to use my iPad and your computer. He was translating something," she said, confused.
"Uh huh, he sure was," Daniel walked over to his own computer to see where Jack had left the iPad, English translating still reading 'I know you are knocking boots with Dr. Perky' and erased the message, walking the iPad over to Adrienne.
"Don't let him play with that. Think of it like Vala and any electronics. Same idea," he instructed, handing it to her and she laughed, not questioning, tucking it back into its case.
"Ad?" Daniel opened his big mouth, again, before he could think, her perfect dark eyes glancing up at him.
"You ok?" she asked, reading his face, dammit why could she read him so well.
"Jack knows," he spat out, coming to the conclusion that the rest of the conversation and how exactly Jack got it out of him could and should be omitted.
"And?"
"And he's not gonna say anything, to anyone," Daniel replied, "Except probably Sam but I mean, that's to be expected."
"Does he think I slept my way onto the team?" she asked now, quietly. Of course that would be her concern.
"No," Daniel assured her, "No, he just thinks I'm a lovesick puppy that doesn't know what he's doing."
Adrienne laughed, "Well that's accurate."
Daniel frowned, "See if I take you on another date then smartass."
"My my," she joked, "Aren't we touchy."
"Well," Daniel continued, "he's gonna make sure that you don't lose your job, get shipped off anywhere. So, until then, we keep this quiet?"
"That was my plan all along, if this happened," Adrienne agreed, shrugging, "Remember our elevator fight? The whole woman in a man's job thing? I still see it here. It's better, but Sam has to do twice the work to prove herself, she's even complained to me and Vala about it. Being with you? It could end my entire career."
His face dropping, Daniel looked to the floor.
"We don't have to," he offered, "We can just go back to the way it was before."
"I didn't say that," she shook her head, "I love you too much to go back to the way it was before."
He stood there in silence, and Adrienne jumped up, walking over to the camera and standing on her tiptoes, shutting it off, before walking back over to him. She reached her hand gently for his face, bringing his gaze to meet hers.
"You're worth the risk," she whispered softly, leaning in to kiss him. He reciprocated, kissing her slowly and tenderly in the lab before pulling away.
"I love you Adrienne," he murmured, "And I promise, we'll figure this out. Jack will figure this out. I trust him."
She nodded, leaning into his chest as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Have you eaten?" she asked as he held her, "You've been gone all day."
"Yeah, I need to eat but can we go back to my apartment, grab something on the way?" he answered, pulling away.
"Of course," she agreed, walking back over to her desk when she felt him peering over her shoulder.
"Nice work," he commended and she smiled, shutting down the computer.
"I slept well," she said with a wink, "It's amazing what I can get done with some sleep."
He chuckled, understanding exactly what she was saying and walked over to the camera, turning it back on.
Sam was just making coffee when she heard her office door open. Standing back from the small table, she tapped the start button on the machine, turning to see who had entered.
It was Jack, a smug grin plastered across his face.
"Daniel caved," Jack continued and Sam laughed.
"I told you to leave them alone," Sam said, repeating her new mantra.
"Well, I was right, sorta. They're not just screwing though, they're together together. Daniel wants me to help him find a way to keep her around," Jack said as he took a seat in the chair across her desk.
"After everything Adrienne went through to get this job, and the way Woolsey is always looking for a reason to cut her, I understand them keeping tight lipped," Sam said as she stood, the machine clicking to a finish and her body ordering her to caffeinate it as soon as possible.
Pouring herself a cup, she could feel eyes on her and glanced back, noticing Jack looking at her.
"Well, when we get this straight and I make sure Woolsey isn't going to ship her off, I plan on rubbing it in his face. A lot," Jack turned and headed back for the counter. Sam just smiled.
She was right and she'd already worked out what she would tell Woolsey.
Without Daniel, he wouldn't even have a job at all. That in and of itself should give him more leeway than others, especially since if they were together it was not affecting their work in any way that she could see.
"I expected you would have already," she joked, taking a seat in her desk chair.
"He just looked so," Jack paused for a moment, "love struck. I mean, Sam, I've known the man for years and I have never seen him like that before."
"I know," Sam nodded, "Which is why I was so worried. I still am. But, then again, doesn't he deserve happiness? He's been through enough."
Jack sighed, "He does. Though, Dr. Perky…"
"Adrienne, honey, her name is Adrienne," Sam smiled, teasing.
"I know her name Sam and again, I think I've hit the mark with that one pretty good too," Jack countered, "She's just...unique."
"That she is," Sam replied with a laugh, "Trust me, the woman I saw on that blog was never someone I thought Daniel would fall for."
"Me neither," Jack agreed, "Me neither."