Day Three: Jack____
(This part written by Layton Colt)
Daniel is watching me warily. I grin at him. Give him a little finger wave. His eyes narrow.
Oh yes. Be afraid, kid. VERY afraid. You mess with the MASTER and you WILL be hurt. He thinks he can humiliate me? Cheating? Innocent little Daniel CHEATING? Damn right. No way he could beat me otherwise. Not ME.
He was the one that was supposed to end up in his boxer shorts humiliated. Not me, certainly. I just wished I'd remembered Unexpected Daniel fact #458. He was a card dealer--at a casino. One with shaky ethics. So they taught him to cheat. And like everything, Daniel picked it up easily.
It took Daniel drinking four beers to acquire this particular fact--and unfortunately, I'd had even more. So, that night is really more a haze than anything else. I vaguely recall watching Daniel shuffle the cards like a pro--and then asking where he had learned.
My grin grows wider. Daniel shifts in his chair. You never should have told me that, Daniel. And more importantly, you NEVER should have tried to cheat on me. I will, however, make full use of his skill the minute we're back. He can't cheat on me--but me helping him cheat on Ferretti and the guys is another matter entirely.
They'll never see it coming. I'll be rich. Daniel will give me all the winnings, and in return, I won't get revenge on him by any of my usual means. I won't tell him this yet. It's fun to watch him so nervous. He's much too cocky these days--so it's good to know I can still get a reaction out of him. Let him sweat it out for the next few days.
I tap my fingers on the arm of the chair. The ship is still on auto pilot-- but I'm supposed to sit here and make sure nothing goes wrong. Carter is in the corner, cursing up a storm as she arranges those pretty little crystals. I'm guessing she's doing something important, and not just color coordinating, but all of the blue ones are lined up in a neat little row-- so I'm a little suspicious she may just be as bored as the rest of us.
"So you want to play cards, Jack?" Daniel asks suddenly.
I turn to look at him. "With you?" I say unenthusiastically. Never again, Danny boy.
Daniel grins. The first time since our little conversation yesterday. "Well, yes," he says. "I figured you'd want a chance to redeem yourself after that awful display the other day."
He's playing with fire and he knows it. He hasn't figured it out yet has he?
I move my gaze to Teal'c, who is kneeling beside Carter watching us both interestedly. They *can't* know that Daniel was a card dealer. Not if I want to make any money off of him. They'd stop me. Damn do-gooders.
That of course does mean I'll get no vindication for my humiliation, but I'm hoping all the money Daniel will win me, and the season hockey tickets I plan to buy will console me sufficiently.
Daniel's a smart guy. He has to have realized already that there's a reason I haven't told anyone what he did. And he knows me just well enough that he might have guessed what that reason is.
"I don't think so," I say at last.
He raises his eyebrows. "Why not? Afraid I'll beat you? Afraid to lose to the master?"
Oh you are SO going to get burned. "No. I'm just sick of cards."
Daniel's grin is slightly unnerving. He's up to something. Well, he's not going to get one over on me again. Try all you want, Daniel. But I'm on to you now.
"Sick of cards, Jack?" he asks sweetly. "Really? So soon? That's too bad. Because there isn't anything else to do."
"Oh I'll think of something," I tell him smoothly. There's a tiny crack in his composure. Ah ha! He isn't completely sure of himself. He may think he knows what I'm planning--but he doesn't KNOW know.
Daniel pulls the deck of cards out, and flashes me a smile. He flips them from one hand to the other. I narrow my eyes. He's taunting me. He's ACTUALLY taunting me. Careful, Danny boy. You're playing with the big boys now. And you're getting SO far in over your head.
"Sam, Teal'c? You guys want to play something while Jack watches over things?" Daniel calls behind him.
I stiffen. No way I'm I sitting here why they all go play.
Carter smiles and turns around. "Actually, yes. As long as there's no stripping involved, I would absolutely love to."
"As would I," Teal'c says.
E tu, Teal'c?
"Diamonds are supposed to be a girl's best friend," Carter says, as she grabs her water bottle off the counter and takes a drink. "But I swear the next one I see is going to be introduced to my P-90."
We all nod cautiously. Carter can be scary.
"Right," Daniel says. Then he turns to me, all innocent blue eyes and a careless grin. "You don't mind, do you, Jack? Seeing as you're sick of cards and all?"
"No," I ground out. "Not at all. Have fun."
Carter and Teal'c lower themselves beside each other on the floor and Daniel walks over to join them. "So what are we playing?" Carter asks.
Daniel turns to look at me as he answers. "I was thinking 'Go Fish.'"
That boiling blood thing? NOT just a poetic idiom.
I turn to look out the view port as they begin to play. I hope he realizes-- this IS war. I still have every intention of using him to make money at Ferretti's Friday night poker games--but I'm going to have to teach him a little lesson in humility first.
I barely register that I've returned to Mr. Burns's mode and already my lips have pulled outwards to a smirk. You're going to get what's coming to you, Daniel.
"Go fish," Daniel announces proudly--his voice just that little bit louder than usual. For my benefit, I'm sure.
Laugh it up, Daniel. You'll get yours.
Thirty minutes later, after listening to round after maddening round of 'Go Fish' I'm dangling from the end of my very short rope.
"Oh, Daniel," I sing song. "Can I see you for a moment?"
He doesn't look up. He's examining his cards. Teal'c and Carter are both glaring at him. He's winning. Has in fact, won every time. I have to hand it to him, Daniel is nothing if not versatile. Who knew you could cheat at Go Fish?
"Just a minute," he says distractedly.
"Now, Daniel," I snap.
He holds up his index finger. Then places his last two cards, a pair, down. He quickly counts his sets of four. "I think I won," he grins.
He has twice as many as Teal'c and Carter together.
"Daniel," I growl. "I know you're extremely busy, but if you don't mind?"
"I'll be right there," he tells me. He smiles at his unhappy fellow players. "Better luck next time, guys," he tells them.
Carter has a look on her face that has me thinking she's daydreaming about her P-90 again. Something tells me, that this time, it isn't the crystals she's using it on.
He walks over and slumps down in the co pilot's seat beside me. "Jack?" he asks.
"Daniel," I say with a grin. Okay, a smirk.
He makes a motion with his hands. "You wanted something?" he reminds.
"Just what do you think you're doing?" I ask.
"Well, I WAS playing Go Fish. Now I'm talking with you."
"That attitude is going to get you into trouble," I growl.
I'm going for menace with the growl, but the grin he gives me tells me it was ineffective.
"Well, you would certainly know about that," he nods.
"Don't push me, Daniel. I'm older and bigger and meaner," I snap.
"I notice that 'wiser' is conspicuously absent from that assessment."
That's IT! I stop myself from strangling him just in time. The warning glare from Teal'c helped. Pissy about losing to an archeologist at cards or not, Teal'c isn't about to let me get away with strangling Daniel. I wonder briefly if he would let me slap him upside the head.
"You will pay for all of this," I whisper. "You know that."
Daniel leans forward. "You were the one who goaded me into playing, Jack," he whispers back. "I tried to spare you the embarrassment, really, I did. But you were asking for it."
"I didn't ask for you to cheat," I hiss.
"And I never said I did."
"Are you saying you didn't?" I demand.
He grins.
Oh he SO did.
"You're supposed to be the honest one," I snap.
"Why, exactly?" he asks me with innocent curiosity.
"Because . . . you're . . . you're you."
"Jack," he says with a smile. "Do you remember the first time we met?"
Of course. "What about it?"
Daniel shakes his head, still grinning. "If you want a rematch--I'm ready any time."
"There will be a rematch, Daniel," I say darkly. "You can count on it."
TBC--next part by FCOL.
(This part written by Layton Colt)
Daniel is watching me warily. I grin at him. Give him a little finger wave. His eyes narrow.
Oh yes. Be afraid, kid. VERY afraid. You mess with the MASTER and you WILL be hurt. He thinks he can humiliate me? Cheating? Innocent little Daniel CHEATING? Damn right. No way he could beat me otherwise. Not ME.
He was the one that was supposed to end up in his boxer shorts humiliated. Not me, certainly. I just wished I'd remembered Unexpected Daniel fact #458. He was a card dealer--at a casino. One with shaky ethics. So they taught him to cheat. And like everything, Daniel picked it up easily.
It took Daniel drinking four beers to acquire this particular fact--and unfortunately, I'd had even more. So, that night is really more a haze than anything else. I vaguely recall watching Daniel shuffle the cards like a pro--and then asking where he had learned.
My grin grows wider. Daniel shifts in his chair. You never should have told me that, Daniel. And more importantly, you NEVER should have tried to cheat on me. I will, however, make full use of his skill the minute we're back. He can't cheat on me--but me helping him cheat on Ferretti and the guys is another matter entirely.
They'll never see it coming. I'll be rich. Daniel will give me all the winnings, and in return, I won't get revenge on him by any of my usual means. I won't tell him this yet. It's fun to watch him so nervous. He's much too cocky these days--so it's good to know I can still get a reaction out of him. Let him sweat it out for the next few days.
I tap my fingers on the arm of the chair. The ship is still on auto pilot-- but I'm supposed to sit here and make sure nothing goes wrong. Carter is in the corner, cursing up a storm as she arranges those pretty little crystals. I'm guessing she's doing something important, and not just color coordinating, but all of the blue ones are lined up in a neat little row-- so I'm a little suspicious she may just be as bored as the rest of us.
"So you want to play cards, Jack?" Daniel asks suddenly.
I turn to look at him. "With you?" I say unenthusiastically. Never again, Danny boy.
Daniel grins. The first time since our little conversation yesterday. "Well, yes," he says. "I figured you'd want a chance to redeem yourself after that awful display the other day."
He's playing with fire and he knows it. He hasn't figured it out yet has he?
I move my gaze to Teal'c, who is kneeling beside Carter watching us both interestedly. They *can't* know that Daniel was a card dealer. Not if I want to make any money off of him. They'd stop me. Damn do-gooders.
That of course does mean I'll get no vindication for my humiliation, but I'm hoping all the money Daniel will win me, and the season hockey tickets I plan to buy will console me sufficiently.
Daniel's a smart guy. He has to have realized already that there's a reason I haven't told anyone what he did. And he knows me just well enough that he might have guessed what that reason is.
"I don't think so," I say at last.
He raises his eyebrows. "Why not? Afraid I'll beat you? Afraid to lose to the master?"
Oh you are SO going to get burned. "No. I'm just sick of cards."
Daniel's grin is slightly unnerving. He's up to something. Well, he's not going to get one over on me again. Try all you want, Daniel. But I'm on to you now.
"Sick of cards, Jack?" he asks sweetly. "Really? So soon? That's too bad. Because there isn't anything else to do."
"Oh I'll think of something," I tell him smoothly. There's a tiny crack in his composure. Ah ha! He isn't completely sure of himself. He may think he knows what I'm planning--but he doesn't KNOW know.
Daniel pulls the deck of cards out, and flashes me a smile. He flips them from one hand to the other. I narrow my eyes. He's taunting me. He's ACTUALLY taunting me. Careful, Danny boy. You're playing with the big boys now. And you're getting SO far in over your head.
"Sam, Teal'c? You guys want to play something while Jack watches over things?" Daniel calls behind him.
I stiffen. No way I'm I sitting here why they all go play.
Carter smiles and turns around. "Actually, yes. As long as there's no stripping involved, I would absolutely love to."
"As would I," Teal'c says.
E tu, Teal'c?
"Diamonds are supposed to be a girl's best friend," Carter says, as she grabs her water bottle off the counter and takes a drink. "But I swear the next one I see is going to be introduced to my P-90."
We all nod cautiously. Carter can be scary.
"Right," Daniel says. Then he turns to me, all innocent blue eyes and a careless grin. "You don't mind, do you, Jack? Seeing as you're sick of cards and all?"
"No," I ground out. "Not at all. Have fun."
Carter and Teal'c lower themselves beside each other on the floor and Daniel walks over to join them. "So what are we playing?" Carter asks.
Daniel turns to look at me as he answers. "I was thinking 'Go Fish.'"
That boiling blood thing? NOT just a poetic idiom.
I turn to look out the view port as they begin to play. I hope he realizes-- this IS war. I still have every intention of using him to make money at Ferretti's Friday night poker games--but I'm going to have to teach him a little lesson in humility first.
I barely register that I've returned to Mr. Burns's mode and already my lips have pulled outwards to a smirk. You're going to get what's coming to you, Daniel.
"Go fish," Daniel announces proudly--his voice just that little bit louder than usual. For my benefit, I'm sure.
Laugh it up, Daniel. You'll get yours.
Thirty minutes later, after listening to round after maddening round of 'Go Fish' I'm dangling from the end of my very short rope.
"Oh, Daniel," I sing song. "Can I see you for a moment?"
He doesn't look up. He's examining his cards. Teal'c and Carter are both glaring at him. He's winning. Has in fact, won every time. I have to hand it to him, Daniel is nothing if not versatile. Who knew you could cheat at Go Fish?
"Just a minute," he says distractedly.
"Now, Daniel," I snap.
He holds up his index finger. Then places his last two cards, a pair, down. He quickly counts his sets of four. "I think I won," he grins.
He has twice as many as Teal'c and Carter together.
"Daniel," I growl. "I know you're extremely busy, but if you don't mind?"
"I'll be right there," he tells me. He smiles at his unhappy fellow players. "Better luck next time, guys," he tells them.
Carter has a look on her face that has me thinking she's daydreaming about her P-90 again. Something tells me, that this time, it isn't the crystals she's using it on.
He walks over and slumps down in the co pilot's seat beside me. "Jack?" he asks.
"Daniel," I say with a grin. Okay, a smirk.
He makes a motion with his hands. "You wanted something?" he reminds.
"Just what do you think you're doing?" I ask.
"Well, I WAS playing Go Fish. Now I'm talking with you."
"That attitude is going to get you into trouble," I growl.
I'm going for menace with the growl, but the grin he gives me tells me it was ineffective.
"Well, you would certainly know about that," he nods.
"Don't push me, Daniel. I'm older and bigger and meaner," I snap.
"I notice that 'wiser' is conspicuously absent from that assessment."
That's IT! I stop myself from strangling him just in time. The warning glare from Teal'c helped. Pissy about losing to an archeologist at cards or not, Teal'c isn't about to let me get away with strangling Daniel. I wonder briefly if he would let me slap him upside the head.
"You will pay for all of this," I whisper. "You know that."
Daniel leans forward. "You were the one who goaded me into playing, Jack," he whispers back. "I tried to spare you the embarrassment, really, I did. But you were asking for it."
"I didn't ask for you to cheat," I hiss.
"And I never said I did."
"Are you saying you didn't?" I demand.
He grins.
Oh he SO did.
"You're supposed to be the honest one," I snap.
"Why, exactly?" he asks me with innocent curiosity.
"Because . . . you're . . . you're you."
"Jack," he says with a smile. "Do you remember the first time we met?"
Of course. "What about it?"
Daniel shakes his head, still grinning. "If you want a rematch--I'm ready any time."
"There will be a rematch, Daniel," I say darkly. "You can count on it."
TBC--next part by FCOL.