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*****
Daniel and Teal'c stood at the base of the ramp in the 'Gate room, geared up and ready to go. Jack walked in, stuffing his radio into his vest pocket, MP5 hanging loosely from its strap.
"Ready to go, kids?"
Daniel turned to the control room window and pointed, exasperated. Through the window, they could see Sam sitting at the main console, typing furiously and smiling periodically.
"She has remained there for some time, O'Neill," Teal'c contributed.
Jack sighed,
"Hey, Carter, let's go!"
"Just a minute, Sir…" came Sam's voice over the microphone.
"NOW, Carter! You can play when we get back!"
Daniel looked over at him, surprised at his tone. Teal'c mimicked his expression by simply raising an eyebrow. Sam froze at his words, then shut down the program and bolted for the door, arriving in the gate room in a matter of seconds. Jack pointed at the ramp, before pointedly walking his team members up the ramp at a brisk pace.
"You have three hours, Colonel," General Hammond announced. The only sign that he'd heard was a small wave just before he stepped into the event horizon.
*****
It took them an hour to walk over the rugged hills, following a winding, stony path to a small village hidden deep in the valley. On approaching the buildings, Daniel began to mutter excitedly,
"The architecture appears to be similar to the English Victorian age. And it seems we've arrived in the middle of some kind of festival!"
He gestured to the strings of lanterns across the narrow street and the bundles of evergreen branches piled to one side. A group of people were playing flutes and pipes further down and some people were even dancing in the street. Daniel approached them cautiously.
"Hello, we're peaceful explorers from a planet called Earth."
The music stopped and people gathered around them.
"Hello," Daniel tried again.
"Hi folks!" Jack added, with more of a grimace than a smile.
"Where did you come from?" one man asked.
"From a planet called Earth. We came through a device known as a stargate. My name is Daniel, and this is Jack, Sam and Teal'c."
"My name is Sabit. I'm on the council." He glared at them all as if this was really important. When he got no sufficient response, he continued.
"What do you want?"
"We'd like to get to know you, learn more about your culture and things like that," Daniel responded enthusiastically.
Jack sighed. 'Here we go again,' he thought.
*****
Two hours later, they were sitting at a long wooden table, heaped with food and jugs that, they could only assume, contained wine. Sam was giggling at Teal'c for no apparent reason, which caused Daniel and Jack to stare at her.
"Carter… what's up with you?"
Sam lapsed into another bought of giggles.
"I believe she has been drinking more alcohol than she should, O'Neill," Teal'c offered an explanation. Jack looked at his own glass and was surprised to find it nearly empty.
"Okay, kids, I think it's time to wrap it up here and head back to the 'Gate," Jack ordered as he stood up from the table. Daniel stood up as well and wavered unsteadily. Jack reached out to him and grabbed his arm.
"Come on, let's get out of here."
The trip back to the gate was uneventful, apart from the occasional smothered giggle from Sam and Daniel tripping over a large stone he hadn't seen and splattering both himself and Jack in mud from head to foot. Teal'c was helping Sam along when she strayed drunkenly from the path, if 'helping' was the right word for it. By the time they got to the 'Gate, Jack was in a thoroughly bad mood and the other three were lagging behind to avoid him.
*****
Much, much later that day, they sat around the briefing room table, Sam looking very subdued. She'd had a good talking to by Janet and General Hammond and was feeling a little embarrassed. She hadn't really meant to drink that much, but she was so tired recently and worried about… stuff. She sneaked a look at her CO. He was avoiding her gaze, frowning harshly at the table instead. She mentally sighed. They were all annoyed at her; she knew they were, with the possible exception of Teal'c, of course. Even the General was giving her stern glances. She slowly sank down in her seat.
"…so there wasn't really much to look at, Sir. Nice people, good food, fun party. Don't you think, Carter?" O'Neill finished. Sam went red and mumbled something in the way of an apology.
"Okay, Colonel. I think we're done here. Please all of you remember that it's Christmas Eve tomorrow and all missions have been postponed until the 27th, unless there's an emergency."
Teal'c stood up and addressed General Hammond,
"I would like permission to visit my wife and son, General Hammond, during this festive occasion."
"Permission granted. Dismissed."
Jack, Daniel and Teal'c left, talking about their plans for the next few days. Sam hung back, and finally followed General Hammond into his office.
"Something I can do for you, Major?" the General enquired.
"Uh… yes, Sir. Umm… I was wondering whether it would be possible for me to arrange a little something for tomorrow, for Christmas."
The General looked at her for a minute, before replying,
"Considering your behaviour today, I should be saying no, but I trust you, Major Carter, and I trust that if I give my permission, you will have this cleared up and out of the way by the 27th?"
A huge smile lit up Sam's face.
"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir!"
With a nod from Hammond, she left the office, feeling much happier than she had been when she went in. She smiled to herself quietly. Now she knew how to get the Colonel to speak to her again.