A Traditional Stakeout
by Layton Colt
Jack, Sam and Daniel are asked by the NID, to go on a stakeout and their cover stories cause a little . . . tension.
Author's Notes: Apologies to anzibanozi, but Happenstance is going to be awhile. I have most of it plotted out, all the ending and everything. But the first part of part two has me stuck, once I can come up with a way to explain how the two different worlds (Voyager and Stargate) are connected, things should go smoothly. Until then, I'll be working on this and Painful Echoes.
Part Two: Home Sweet Home
Jack cast a quick look in the rearview mirror. Daniel was fitting into the role of rebellious son quite nicely. He was sitting in the back, wearing the headphones loaned to him by Cassie, and reading the reports on the missing items provided by Maybourne.
Sitting in the passenger seat, 'Samantha' was watching the scenery, and avoiding meeting his gaze. Neither of them was very happy with him at the moment. This whole mission had put them all on edge.
Something about it just didn't sit right with Jack. The NID had already tried to get at this guy and couldn't. Granted, they were simply unable to do it quietly. A senator disappearing would cause questions, and the NID wanted this situation handled quietly. They weren't even going to press charges against Kinsey or Carlisle as long as they got back what they were missing.
The two men were too prominent, too popular to be 'taken care of' in the usual manor of the unscrupulous NID.
Pushing aside his worries, Jack pulled into the driveway of an expansive cabin. "Wow," Jack said quietly.
The cabin was not what he'd been expecting. It was nothing like his small vacation home, there were no logs. This place was built like a mansion.
Daniel pulled off the headphones and leaned forward. "Wow," he echoed.
"Are we sure this is the right place?" Sam asked in disbelief.
"Well, Jack is supposed to be a millionaire. It makes since we'd have to stay somewhere nice," Daniel reminded.
"'Nice' is not how I would describe this place," Jack said as he got out of the car.
The cabin was gorgeous. It was white, with green vines climbing up the walls, and beautiful gardens surrounded the walkway.
"Okay, kids, let's go." Jack went around to the trunk and opened it up.
"Come on now, Jack, I know she's a little young for you, but isn't calling your wife 'kid' a little disturbing?"
Jack paused and turned to glare at Daniel. Daniel's sole mission on this trip seemed to be to annoy the hell out of him.
"Alright then, Samantha, why don't you head on inside? The wives of millionaires don't help with the luggage."
Sam was about to protest but Jack continued, "And neither do said millionaires when they have strong able bodied sons to do it for them."
It was Daniel's turn to glare. "Jack . . ."
"You call your father 'Jack?'" Jack demanded.
"What can I say? You're eccentric, you don't like having someone as old as me call you 'dad.' It makes you feel even older."
"Just get the luggage," Jack said sweetly. "I'm going to take your step mother inside."
Jack put his arm around Sam and led her to the house. Daniel glared after them, and muttered to himself as he picked up the first of the suitcases.
The two made their way up the walkway, and Jack deftly unlocked the door. "Should I carry you over the threshold?" Jack asked.
Sam turned to him and smiled unkindly. "We're supposed to have been married for ten years -- the thrill is gone." With that she pushed past him into the foyer. Her black heels echoed on the clean white tiles, and her eye was instantly drawn to the large staircase. It wound up, twisting towards the second floor.
Jack stepped up beside her. "Well, this place sure beats Hotel 6," he said quietly.
Sam nodded and headed into the next room. This one was more lived in. There were clean blue couches resting atop a plush blue carpet. Vases were place around the room, housing small colorful flowers. Her attention was drawn to the window, she frowned and stepped forward. She could see the blue Mercedes still parked out in the driveway, but what caused her concern was the woman talking to Daniel.
"Sir?"
"It's not 'sir' while we're here, remember? Call me Jonathan."
"Okay, Jonathan, you might want to come see this."
Jack came up beside her and cursed when he saw where she was pointing. "Meredith Carlisle," he said. "We weren't ready to introduce ourselves."
"Well, it's too late for that now. We'd better get out there."
Jack nodded. Daniel looked like a deer caught in the headlights. He was fighting to hold onto two suitcases and keep the shoulder bag from slipping too far down. And Meredith was standing about as close as anyone could get.
As he flew out the door, Jack took a moment to asses the woman. She had long black hair, slicked back into a pony tail, and she was wearing a white jumpsuit with an open collar. According to the file on her, she was forty- three-years old, but she looked closer to thirty.
"So how long are you planning on staying?" he heard her ask.
"A week or two," Jack called out. Drawing the attention away from a stuttering Daniel.
Jack and Sam slowed their pace, trying not to look rushed, and came to stand beside Meredith. Jack offered his hand, "Hi, I'm Jonathan Michaels."
Meredith smiled, and her gaze roamed over him in a blatant leer. "Meredith Carlisle," she smiled. "I was just talking with Daniel, he said he was here with his father, but you couldn't possible be him, you must be his brother."
Jack beamed at her. He'd known it wasn't believable. His smug expression slipped away as he saw Carter hide a smirk. Okay, so maybe the woman was just flattering him -- it was working. "Nope, I'm him. This is my wife," he said drawing Sam closer to him. "Samantha."
Meredith smiled at Sam, this smile held less warmth than the one she had aimed at the two men. "Pleased to meet you," she said holding out her hand.
Sam took her hand, and eyed the woman warily. Maybourne had tried to pass her off as stupid, but she was sure she saw intelligence shinning out from the intense green eyes.
"Well, since we're going to be neighbors, it's only right that we should become friends," Meredith said with a smile. "How would you like to come over for dinner tonight? I'm sure my husband would be glad to meet you."
Jack smiled falsely. This was going way too easily. Things never fell into place like this for him. "We'd love to," he agreed instantly. "Though, I don't think Daniel will be able to make it tonight."
Daniel looked up, pulling the shoulder back up a little more. "No, I'm afraid not. I've got a term paper to write."
Meredith turned towards Daniel. "What are you studying?" she asked.
"Psychology," Daniel said. Daniel had wanted to say he was studying linguistics, but Jack had decided that would arouse too much suspicion in the senator.
Meredith seemed to lose interest at this point. "Oh, well, I'm sorry you'll be unable to join us. But I'm glad that you two will be able to come. Is seven o'clock alright with you, Jonathan?"
"Seven will be fine," Sam answered quickly. "We'll see you then."
"Right," Meredith said. "It was nice meeting you."
Jack watched as Meredith made her way back to her own cabin. And then he grabbed the rest of the bags from the trunk and slammed it shut. "Alright, let's get back inside before we have a run in with the good senator as well."
The three made their way inside. Once Daniel entered, he allowed the luggage to drop to the tiled floor, and closed the door. He glanced around the room, taking in the chandelier hanging high above him. "Really nice place," he whispered.
"Daniel?" Jack prompted.
"Yes?" Daniel asked as he started to look around.
"What was Meredith talking to you about?"
Daniel frowned. "I think she was hitting on me."
"What? She was hitting on you and you actually NOTICED it? She must be pretty obvious if even you picked up on it."
Daniel shot Jack an irritated look. "I mentioned that you bought the cabin on a whim. By the looks of it, a 2 million dollar whim. She immediately wanted to meet you. She definitely wants to recruit you to help out with Carlisle's reelection."
Jack nodded. "Right. Let's set up this equipment, we've got to show you how to use it before we head off to the party."
Daniel nodded. "What are you going to do while you're there? Are you going to look for the items?"
Jack shook his head. "No. I just want to look around, get a feel for what kind of people the Carlisle's are. I'm hoping to get another invitation."
Sam smiled brazenly. "Oh I don't think that will be a problem, sir. The way she was looking at you, I'd be shocked if she didn't give you another invitation."
"It's 'Jonathan,'" Jack corrected. "What the hell are they going to think if you keep going around calling me 'sir'?"
"Better that than having them overhear you call Sam one of your 'kids,'" Daniel said pleasantly.
"Daniel, I swear, one more comment like that and . . ."
"And what?" Daniel asked cheekily. "You'll ground me?"
Jack's eyes darkened. "You are going to pay when this is over. Right now, I have to be nice to you. But when we get back to the SGC, you will suffer."
Daniel didn't look very concerned. "Sure, Jack. Whatever. But don't forget, I'm just trying to get into character. You told me to act rebellious, and to be sarcastic."
"What I told you, Daniel, was to just be yourself," Jack snapped. "You already have arrogant little brat down pat."
"Guys!" Sam interrupted. "Behave, will you? We're supposed to be a *happy* family. We're not supposed to act like the Bundy's."
Daniel frowned. "Who are the Bundy's?"
"Oh for crying out loud," Jack groused. "Don't you ever watch T.V.? The Bundy's? Married with Children?"
Daniel stared at Jack blankly. "I'm sure it's a very entertaining program, but I have better things to do with my time."
"Guys," Sam said again. "Play nice. Let's get this equipment set up, okay? We only have two hours before we're expected at the Carlisle's."
Jack and Daniel nodded reluctantly, and together they started to set up the equipment.
to be continued . . .
Jack, Sam and Daniel are asked by the NID, to go on a stakeout and their cover stories cause a little . . . tension.
Author's Notes: Apologies to anzibanozi, but Happenstance is going to be awhile. I have most of it plotted out, all the ending and everything. But the first part of part two has me stuck, once I can come up with a way to explain how the two different worlds (Voyager and Stargate) are connected, things should go smoothly. Until then, I'll be working on this and Painful Echoes.
Part Two: Home Sweet Home
Jack cast a quick look in the rearview mirror. Daniel was fitting into the role of rebellious son quite nicely. He was sitting in the back, wearing the headphones loaned to him by Cassie, and reading the reports on the missing items provided by Maybourne.
Sitting in the passenger seat, 'Samantha' was watching the scenery, and avoiding meeting his gaze. Neither of them was very happy with him at the moment. This whole mission had put them all on edge.
Something about it just didn't sit right with Jack. The NID had already tried to get at this guy and couldn't. Granted, they were simply unable to do it quietly. A senator disappearing would cause questions, and the NID wanted this situation handled quietly. They weren't even going to press charges against Kinsey or Carlisle as long as they got back what they were missing.
The two men were too prominent, too popular to be 'taken care of' in the usual manor of the unscrupulous NID.
Pushing aside his worries, Jack pulled into the driveway of an expansive cabin. "Wow," Jack said quietly.
The cabin was not what he'd been expecting. It was nothing like his small vacation home, there were no logs. This place was built like a mansion.
Daniel pulled off the headphones and leaned forward. "Wow," he echoed.
"Are we sure this is the right place?" Sam asked in disbelief.
"Well, Jack is supposed to be a millionaire. It makes since we'd have to stay somewhere nice," Daniel reminded.
"'Nice' is not how I would describe this place," Jack said as he got out of the car.
The cabin was gorgeous. It was white, with green vines climbing up the walls, and beautiful gardens surrounded the walkway.
"Okay, kids, let's go." Jack went around to the trunk and opened it up.
"Come on now, Jack, I know she's a little young for you, but isn't calling your wife 'kid' a little disturbing?"
Jack paused and turned to glare at Daniel. Daniel's sole mission on this trip seemed to be to annoy the hell out of him.
"Alright then, Samantha, why don't you head on inside? The wives of millionaires don't help with the luggage."
Sam was about to protest but Jack continued, "And neither do said millionaires when they have strong able bodied sons to do it for them."
It was Daniel's turn to glare. "Jack . . ."
"You call your father 'Jack?'" Jack demanded.
"What can I say? You're eccentric, you don't like having someone as old as me call you 'dad.' It makes you feel even older."
"Just get the luggage," Jack said sweetly. "I'm going to take your step mother inside."
Jack put his arm around Sam and led her to the house. Daniel glared after them, and muttered to himself as he picked up the first of the suitcases.
The two made their way up the walkway, and Jack deftly unlocked the door. "Should I carry you over the threshold?" Jack asked.
Sam turned to him and smiled unkindly. "We're supposed to have been married for ten years -- the thrill is gone." With that she pushed past him into the foyer. Her black heels echoed on the clean white tiles, and her eye was instantly drawn to the large staircase. It wound up, twisting towards the second floor.
Jack stepped up beside her. "Well, this place sure beats Hotel 6," he said quietly.
Sam nodded and headed into the next room. This one was more lived in. There were clean blue couches resting atop a plush blue carpet. Vases were place around the room, housing small colorful flowers. Her attention was drawn to the window, she frowned and stepped forward. She could see the blue Mercedes still parked out in the driveway, but what caused her concern was the woman talking to Daniel.
"Sir?"
"It's not 'sir' while we're here, remember? Call me Jonathan."
"Okay, Jonathan, you might want to come see this."
Jack came up beside her and cursed when he saw where she was pointing. "Meredith Carlisle," he said. "We weren't ready to introduce ourselves."
"Well, it's too late for that now. We'd better get out there."
Jack nodded. Daniel looked like a deer caught in the headlights. He was fighting to hold onto two suitcases and keep the shoulder bag from slipping too far down. And Meredith was standing about as close as anyone could get.
As he flew out the door, Jack took a moment to asses the woman. She had long black hair, slicked back into a pony tail, and she was wearing a white jumpsuit with an open collar. According to the file on her, she was forty- three-years old, but she looked closer to thirty.
"So how long are you planning on staying?" he heard her ask.
"A week or two," Jack called out. Drawing the attention away from a stuttering Daniel.
Jack and Sam slowed their pace, trying not to look rushed, and came to stand beside Meredith. Jack offered his hand, "Hi, I'm Jonathan Michaels."
Meredith smiled, and her gaze roamed over him in a blatant leer. "Meredith Carlisle," she smiled. "I was just talking with Daniel, he said he was here with his father, but you couldn't possible be him, you must be his brother."
Jack beamed at her. He'd known it wasn't believable. His smug expression slipped away as he saw Carter hide a smirk. Okay, so maybe the woman was just flattering him -- it was working. "Nope, I'm him. This is my wife," he said drawing Sam closer to him. "Samantha."
Meredith smiled at Sam, this smile held less warmth than the one she had aimed at the two men. "Pleased to meet you," she said holding out her hand.
Sam took her hand, and eyed the woman warily. Maybourne had tried to pass her off as stupid, but she was sure she saw intelligence shinning out from the intense green eyes.
"Well, since we're going to be neighbors, it's only right that we should become friends," Meredith said with a smile. "How would you like to come over for dinner tonight? I'm sure my husband would be glad to meet you."
Jack smiled falsely. This was going way too easily. Things never fell into place like this for him. "We'd love to," he agreed instantly. "Though, I don't think Daniel will be able to make it tonight."
Daniel looked up, pulling the shoulder back up a little more. "No, I'm afraid not. I've got a term paper to write."
Meredith turned towards Daniel. "What are you studying?" she asked.
"Psychology," Daniel said. Daniel had wanted to say he was studying linguistics, but Jack had decided that would arouse too much suspicion in the senator.
Meredith seemed to lose interest at this point. "Oh, well, I'm sorry you'll be unable to join us. But I'm glad that you two will be able to come. Is seven o'clock alright with you, Jonathan?"
"Seven will be fine," Sam answered quickly. "We'll see you then."
"Right," Meredith said. "It was nice meeting you."
Jack watched as Meredith made her way back to her own cabin. And then he grabbed the rest of the bags from the trunk and slammed it shut. "Alright, let's get back inside before we have a run in with the good senator as well."
The three made their way inside. Once Daniel entered, he allowed the luggage to drop to the tiled floor, and closed the door. He glanced around the room, taking in the chandelier hanging high above him. "Really nice place," he whispered.
"Daniel?" Jack prompted.
"Yes?" Daniel asked as he started to look around.
"What was Meredith talking to you about?"
Daniel frowned. "I think she was hitting on me."
"What? She was hitting on you and you actually NOTICED it? She must be pretty obvious if even you picked up on it."
Daniel shot Jack an irritated look. "I mentioned that you bought the cabin on a whim. By the looks of it, a 2 million dollar whim. She immediately wanted to meet you. She definitely wants to recruit you to help out with Carlisle's reelection."
Jack nodded. "Right. Let's set up this equipment, we've got to show you how to use it before we head off to the party."
Daniel nodded. "What are you going to do while you're there? Are you going to look for the items?"
Jack shook his head. "No. I just want to look around, get a feel for what kind of people the Carlisle's are. I'm hoping to get another invitation."
Sam smiled brazenly. "Oh I don't think that will be a problem, sir. The way she was looking at you, I'd be shocked if she didn't give you another invitation."
"It's 'Jonathan,'" Jack corrected. "What the hell are they going to think if you keep going around calling me 'sir'?"
"Better that than having them overhear you call Sam one of your 'kids,'" Daniel said pleasantly.
"Daniel, I swear, one more comment like that and . . ."
"And what?" Daniel asked cheekily. "You'll ground me?"
Jack's eyes darkened. "You are going to pay when this is over. Right now, I have to be nice to you. But when we get back to the SGC, you will suffer."
Daniel didn't look very concerned. "Sure, Jack. Whatever. But don't forget, I'm just trying to get into character. You told me to act rebellious, and to be sarcastic."
"What I told you, Daniel, was to just be yourself," Jack snapped. "You already have arrogant little brat down pat."
"Guys!" Sam interrupted. "Behave, will you? We're supposed to be a *happy* family. We're not supposed to act like the Bundy's."
Daniel frowned. "Who are the Bundy's?"
"Oh for crying out loud," Jack groused. "Don't you ever watch T.V.? The Bundy's? Married with Children?"
Daniel stared at Jack blankly. "I'm sure it's a very entertaining program, but I have better things to do with my time."
"Guys," Sam said again. "Play nice. Let's get this equipment set up, okay? We only have two hours before we're expected at the Carlisle's."
Jack and Daniel nodded reluctantly, and together they started to set up the equipment.
to be continued . . .