The Problem With Eavesdropping
PART 4

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JACK'S POV
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The discussion was not going well.

"For crying out loud Carter, you're still injured!" I say with finality, yelling at my 2IC
lying tousled and pale in an infirmary bed. Several nurses turn and glare at me. I
haven't had much sleep lately- I glare right back at them.

We had been back from our lovely little 'simple' recon mission for 12 hours now.
Luckily, those NBA rejects didn't bother to come after us and we were able to make
it back to the gate in pretty good time, all things considered. Carter kept fading in
and out on us and I was starting to get more than a little worried. Turns out she had
a slight concussion in addition to her other assorted injuries. She had refused
Teal'c's offer at carrying her and so our final 5 miles were done at a much slower
pace than I would have liked. But seeing as there were no baddies nipping at our
heels, I let her set the pace.

I had insisted that Carter go through the gate with me, as I was more than a little
concerned with how the whole wormhole cold-thing would affect her battered body. I
would have been more than happy to be wrong that time- but I wasn't. No sooner
had we stepped foot on the metal grating than Carter crumpled against me like a
puppet without strings. I had ordered Daniel to run ahead and tell Doc that we
were coming, so Frasier and her nurses were instantly at our side.

"Sir, all I have is a couple of busted ribs, some assorted bruises, and a simple broken
arm." She holds up a pristine white cast for emphasis. "Janet just wants to keep me
overnight for observation, but I'll be free to go home tomorrow."

"AND a concussion." I add. I hold a hand to stop her from interrupting. "Which is
primarily the main reason you are being held overnight Captain." I can pull rank
when needed.

Carter has the good graces to look mildly chagrined. "You know as well I do Sir that
it was just a mild concussion and Janet is just playing it safe."

"And I can't agree with the good doctor and play it safe as well?"

"Sir, with all due respect, you're always the one who grouses at the nurses and
insists you can heal perfectly fine at home."

"That's right Carter. AT HOME. We wouldn't be going home now would we?" I
suddenly freeze and do a damn fine impression of a deer in headlights as I realize
how that sounds. Carter looks mildly amused and cocks her head to one side as if to
say, 'Well how are you going to talk your way out of this, Sir?'

"What I MEAN, is that DANIEL and I are going to be heading over to O'Malley's
tomorrow night and you Captain are in no condition to drink." Ha! I pulled that off
quite nicely. Doesn't matter that most likely Danny nor I would drink either.

"I don't have to drink Sir." Carter counters.

"Actually you can't drink. You're on pain meds."

"I won't drink Sir."

"That's good. 'Cause Doc would have my head if you drank while concussed and
freshly released from the infirmary."

"I won't drink Sir." Carter says again. Suddenly I realize what she's doing.

"Would you stop that?!" I say louder than I should. "24 hours ago you had the
stuffing beaten out of you Carter! You need to rest and heal! Besides, have you
looked in a mirror lately? You look like a poster child for the affects of spousal
abuse." I'm not pulling my punches here but Carter seems to take the whole thing
in stride.

"Thanks for reminding me that I won't be going on a date anytime soon Sir." She
says drolly, lightly touching her swollen cheek. The entire left side of her face is
awash in brightly colored bruises. They look even more impressive now that my sight
has returned to it's original 20/20. Luckily she really hadn't broken her cheekbone.

"It doesn't look *that* bad Carter." I say feeling more than a little guilty considering
she received all these injuries trying to protect me and Daniel.

"Sir, this isn't an off-world mission that requires me to carry a zat or defend Earth
from invading Goa'uld. I know I'm not going to be medically cleared for any of that
until my arm and ribs heal and frankly Sir, I can use the time to get caught up on
some experiments I've been meaning to run." Sam takes a deep breath, shifts
uncomfortably and continues.

"But, I can help you and Daniel Sir. I want to help." Carter is looking at me
beseechingly with those wide blue eyes of hers and I absently wonder if she and
Daniel talk about the best ways to get me to cave. Maybe they took lessons from
Sara.

"Colonel," Sam continues, "without really knowing us all that well, Kira Meyers has
helped us out on more than one occasion. This is our chance to return the favor,
and I want to be there."

Damn.

I hate it when Carter uses my own sentimentality against me. Hell, Kira saved
Jacob's LIFE a couple months ago, no wonder she wants to be part of this. I shake
my head in defeat and throw up my hands.

"Fine Carter, you can come." I concede. She grins as best she can with a mouthful
of swollen cheek. "BUT, you're staying in the truck. There is no way I'm risking the
wrath o' Frasier by allowing you to be jostled incorrectly in a crowded bar."

"I'll consent to that." She says agreeably.

"You'll be on Com- Daniel will be on Point and I'll be the guy to scare the crap out of
a couple of punks."

"Sounds like a plan Sir." I can see Carter's eyes begin to droop and decide it's best
to let her get some rest. "I'll pick you up tomorrow afternoon Carter." I say as I
start to leave.

"What about Teal'c Sir?" She asks snapping her eyes back open.

I turn back around. "Teal'c actually was looking forward to playing the silent big guy
in our little production. Considering how guilty T feels over what happened to
Sha're, I think he's taking Kira's safety extremely seriously. He wanted to part of
this as well, but recognized that he isn't exactly er.. built for undercover ops. A 6'4
ex-Jaffa doesn't exactly blend with Colorado Springs nightlife!"

I see Carter attempting to smile again. She really needs to stop doing that- it's kind
of creepy.

"Considering SG-1 won't be going off-world until you're healed Captain, Makepeace
asked me if it was ok to borrow Teal'c for a week or so. Seems the Jarheads could
really use someone who can understand Goa'uld and being the pig-headed marines
that they are, don't believe any of the linguists we have on base can keep up with
them. They leave tomorrow morning."

"Not much downtime." Carter whispers. She's rapidly succumbing to Doc Frasier's
happy juice and I should go and let her rest.

"You know Teal'c. He's not happy unless he's kicking some Goa'uld butt. Besides,
Junior will let him know if he should slow down. I did tell Makepeace that there
would be hell to pay if Teal'c isn't returned in perfect condition." Sam nods.

"You should get some rest Captain." I order as her eyes drift close on their own
accord.

"Yes, Sir. 'Night."

"Good night Carter."

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DANIEL'S POV
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"How are you doing Daniel?" Sam's voice asks into my not so conspicuous earpiece.
At least I don't think it's very subtle. But then again I have a hat on, so maybe it
really is hidden better than I think.
"It's filling up fast in here." I say mumbling into my collarbone. Luckily no one is
really paying me much notice. Dressed in a Colorado Avalanche's baseball cap, black
t-shirt and well-worn Levis, I'm pretty much blending in just like Jack thought. Feels
weird to be wearing contacts though. Jack insisted i needed them for the "role". Sam
says I look like quite the lady-killer.
Well that's just swell.

"Heads up Danny." Jack says a little too loudly in my ear. "I see Kira and a bunch
of kids getting out of taxis."

"Showtime." I whisper to no one in particular.

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Only one chapter/part left! And *man* is it going to be funny. Trust me.