Chapter 5: Homeward Bound… Too Bad It's Not That Easy

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After awhile, Sam finally managed to fall asleep (after Jack began to get frustrated and Teal'c tried singing her a weird Gou'ald lullaby he had learnt on his home planet) and had unknowingly placed herself in Daniel's arms; the two were now hugging each other tightly, Sam leaning into him cozily. Teal'c looked out the window.

"It has started to become quite dark," he commented.

"How will we get Daniel Jackson and Samantha Carter home?"

"Daniel and Sam, Teal'c, just call 'em Daniel and Sam. And we are still allowed to drive after dark."

"It seems to be very dark."

"I know, it's… 9:30." Silence followed.

"Just one more corner to go around and we'll be at Dan's place," Jack suddenly stated, and he was true; no sooner had he said this did they turn the corner, and Daniel's place was the first thing they saw. Jack rolled the car to a stop.

"Okay, Teal'c, I'm taking Daniel and putting him up there while you stay here and look after Sam, okay?" Teal'c nodded.

"That I shall do." Jack quickly got out of the car and opened the door closest to Daniel. He then slowly proceeded to pull him out.

"Jesus… get Sam off of him, would you?" Teal'c pulled Sam up to him and she jolted awake just in time to see Jack taking Daniel away through the window.

"Where is Jack taking Danny?" she asked, staring at them with a mixture of anger and sadness.

"Do not worry, Major… Samantha," Teal'c corrected, swallowing.

"Jack is just making sure Daniel gets into his house safely."

"Yeah, Danny really dunk a lot tonight," Sam said blankly. "He might pass out on his way over there." She looked up at Teal'c and gave him a brilliant smile.

"Teal'c, let's play a game," she suggested. Teal'c thought quickly to himself. What harm could it do?

"Alright. What game do you wish to play?" Sam's eyes twinkled mischievously.

"Stargate…?" Teal'c couldn't help but smile.

"Alright, we shall play Stargate."

"Yay!" Sam shouted in glee.

"'Kay, I'll be Major Carter, and you can be Teal'c." Teal'c nodded.

"Okay."

"Teal'c, Teal'c!" Sam yelled. Teal'c was slightly taken aback.

"Major Carter, what is wrong?"

"The Gou'alds are after us! You take care of those ones while I dial!" Teal'c suddenly realized this was the game and nodded, playing along.

"Yes, Major Carter. Hasten, they seem to be advancing on us…"

"I'm trying my best, Teal'c, but… aargh! I've been shot!" She did a bizarre impersonation of someone being hit by a bullet and Teal'c let out a great 'ha' as she fell backwards onto his lap. She began to laugh madly, and for the first time ever, Teal'c allowed himself to join in, and they both laughed deeply into the night air. Teal'c didn't remember laughing so much in his entire life (if truth be told, it was probably the first time he had ever laughed so enthusiastically in his entire life). Soon, though, they both stopped, and Sam gazed up at him steadily with an unblinking focus, her startling-blue eyes taking in every aspect of his face. Teal'c smiled down at her.

"That was a very amusing game," he stated.

"Yeah, thanks for saving my life." They both grinned before Sam sat up, looking into his dark eyes.

"Teal'c, you know, ever since I met you, I've always been so comfortable with you. Like I've known you my whole life, but we're only here together now." There was a pause.

"You… do?" Teal'c asked slowly. Sam nodded.

"And Teal'c, I think… it has something… I dunno, I guess I've always thought of you as my older brother." A dreamy look washed over in her eyes.

"My older, protective brother." She looked up at him, smiling, and suddenly threw her arms around him. Teal'c was taken aback, but then slowly placed his hand on her back and stroked it slowly.

"My older, protective brother," she mumbled sleepily, and before Teal'c knew it, she had fallen asleep against him. He looked down at the bundle atop of his body and was about to stroke her hair when he heard a voice.

"Sorry I took so long; never let Daniel drink alcohol ever again." Teal'c looked up to see Jack approaching. He looked through the slightly open window and a smile actually cracked his face.

"What, did she latch onto you too?" he asked, and he made his way round to the driver's seat.

"She has fallen asleep. I do not know what to do," Teal'c replied, looking back down at Sam. She shifted against him and sniffed, before getting even closer.

"Just keep her like that," Jack said, pushing the key into the ignition and starting the car.

"Maybe if we're lucky enough she'll be quiet all the way until her house. Getting her in there, however, is another matter entirely." As they drove off, there was silence in the car, until Teal'c spoke.

"If someone is drunk, do they mean what they say?"

"Hmm? Oh, um, depends what type of a drunkard they are," Jack answered, rubbing his temple. "When some people are drunk, complete crap pores out of their mouth, while with other people they can say nothing but the truth." There was a pause.

"What type would Samantha be?" Jack looked at him through the rear-view mirror.

"Dunno-never really seen her drunk. Why? What did she say?"

"Nothing of interest, I am just curious."

"Well, judging by her behavior, she's the 'back-to-being-a-teenager' type. Tries to recapture her youth and can't control herself. Is in love with the world, and experiences both sides of the extreme."

"Is what she says the truth?"

"Honestly, Teal'c, I have no idea. Maybe." Before they knew it, they had arrived just outside of Sam's place.

"Okay, plan is I take her up there while you watch the car. You see any thugs try to steal this baby and you sock 'em one." Teal'c nodded curtly.

"Yes." He blinked. "Sock 'em… one?"

"Punch them in the mouth," Jack explained, and Teal'c nodded again.

"Oh. I understand." Jack reached out for Sam and carefully pulled her off of Teal'c, and tried as gently as possible to pull her out of the car, but she woke up and looked around. When she realized she was being taken away from Teal'c, she threw a fit.

"No!" she shouted, struggling and reaching out for Teal'c.

"I want to stay with Teal'c!"

"Well, you're going to bed and sleeping the alcohol off," Jack replied, and managed to drag her onto the curb. She kicked out at him.

"I want to stay with Teal'c!" she shouted.

"You can't stay with Teal'c!" Jack yelled back. "Now come on…"

"Teal'c!" Sam shouted, and her hand wildly reached out for him, tears welling up in her eyes. Teal'c considered her for a moment. Although he did remember what Jack said, he couldn't help but feel touched by this display of emotion.

"It is okay, Samantha," he said soothingly. "We shall see each other again soon." Sam burst out crying and Jack sighed.

"Oh, God, not again," he whispered, and he attempted to pull her up. She, however, fell back to earth with a thump.

"Come on, Sam, go inside," he wailed, and Sam looked up at him, tears streaked across her face.

"I don't want to go home. I want to stay with Teal'c."

"Oh, for crying out loud…" Jack stood up straight and looked into the car.

"Teal'c, she's impossible," he said. "She won't go anywhere without you."

"What is your proposed plan of action?

"Look, I hope you don't mind me asking this," Jack approached slowly. "But maybe if you stayed with her for the night…"

"I?" asked Teal'c incredulously.

"I'd be with you, of course," he added hastily. "It's just… it looks like she's become very attached to you. And if you don't go with her, she's not going to go at all." Teal'c thought for a moment.

"I do not mind," he said finally, and Jack clapped his hands together, grinning from ear to ear.

"Seriously?"

"Yes."

"Oh, Teal'c, you… finally, maybe some progress will be made." Teal'c speedily got out of the car and sat with Sam while Jack locked everything up, then they all made their way up to the house, Sam swinging on Teal'c's arm happily.

"Yay," she mumbled continuously, a drunken grin on her face. When they got to the door, Jack turned to Sam.

"All right, Samantha, where are the keys?" he asked slowly and clearly.

"Where are the keys to the house?" Sam stared up at him blankly.

"I don't know," she replied in the exact same tone and pace. Jack groaned quietly to himself.

"Sam, why must you be so difficult?" She slid out of Teal'c's grasp and fell to the ground, still staring up at him.

"I don't know," she repeated. A smile began to form on her lips. Jack looked at Teal'c, a helpless expression on his face.

"What are we going to do?" Jack asked.

"Make a mental note never to take her to Sandeyo Bar ever again," he replied and Jack smiled, despite himself.

"At least she would have a good time," he commented. "But honestly…" He looked down at Sam to see that she had fallen asleep again.

"Drunk people seem to sleep a lot," Teal'c stated as Jack knelt down beside her.

"Yeah, that's so they can build up their energy so when they wake up they can start shouting at us and crying again." Jack then proceeded to search for Sam's house keys in each and every one of her pockets of her *very* tight jeans, while Teal'c watched on, extremely entertained. Only until he got to the final, back ones did he find them.

"Jackpot," Jack whispered, pulling them out, and he unlocked and opened the door as quickly as he could. Sam woke up just as Jack let Teal'c in.

"Oh God, not again," he uttered. "Come on, Sam, you're home now. Get inside."

"Where's Teal'c?"

"He's inside, where you should be. Now come on, get in." Sam looked up at him.

"Only if you carry me," she said, and Jack heaved a sigh.

"Okay," he decreed, and he lifted her up carefully into his arms and took her inside.

"Teal'c, I'm taking her to bed," Jack whispered. "Close the door, will you?" Teal'c did so while Jack made his way over to Sam's bedroom. Kicking the door open, he carried her inside, and she smiled up at him.

"Dan… Danny is my… my other brother, Teal'c is my older brother and you… you are my hero." She continued to smile as her eyelids began to droop, and Jack stared down at her for a moment, before nodding, unable to say anything-his throat was oddly constricted. He laid her down across the bed and pulled the sheets over her before slowly walking away. Just as he reached the door, he turned and gazed at her.

"And you are my savior," he uttered, before shutting the door and leaving.

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A/N: Sam is definitely older then Daniel, but let's say they forget in their… drunkness (my vocabulary sucks). My friends really hated most of this chapter, but then again, they're not exactly 'fans' of Teal'c. Poor Teal'cy.