Well, I know that I haven't written in a long time, but here I am! Chapter four all ready and rearing to go.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Stargate, or the characters, or even the alternate realities, or the space time continuum theories or . . . I only own the plot. Thank God that I own SOMETHING!
SPOILERS: Slight Third Season, "Seth"
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Cathain, 'cuz it was her initial idea that started this chapter. Thanks for all your help Cathain, I couldn't have done it with out ya! Love you!
A/N: Check the last chapter for more information if you don't understand the character names. I'm still using the same ones! Except for Marshal being A.R. Teal'c, that is.
*~*~*
"I cannot believe this is happening to me," Dr. Carter mumbled underneath her breath as she slouched down in the seat.
"What was that, Dr.?" Jack asked.
She sat rigidly up, replying, "Umm. . . I was just saying what a nice neighborhood you have."
Jack looked at her strangely, suspicions that he had never felt before rising up in him.
"Thanks. . . I guess."
An uneasy silence pervaded the truck.
"So. . . " Jack began, "You're an archaeologist?"
"Yup." A.R. Sam nodded. "You're a colonel?"
"Yup." Jack looked to the road for the turnoff to his house.
This is going to be a long night, they both thought.
The truck-ride to Jack's house hadn't been full of conversation, but Jack felt that something needed to be done to break the ice. Before getting out of the truck in his driveway, Jack turned to a very bored Dr. Carter.
"Look, I know that this is going to be hard for you to. . . well, sleep here tonight, so I propose before we hit the sack, how about some dinner?"
Dr. Carter perked up, her interest suddenly sparked by the word food. None had she had since her breakfast that morning at the SGC back home.
"Dinner sounds wonderful! Where are we going to go?"
Jack put the car in reverse, placing his arm on the back of Dr. Carter's seat as he turned to look out the back window, "I know this fabulous place that serves the best steak this side of Colorado. . ."
*~*
It's going to be a long night, Sam thought.
All A.R. Jack had been talking about the entire time was Dr. Carter that, A.R. Sam this. Her looks, her talent as an archaeologist, her scientific genius that she also possessed . . . he wouldn't shut up!
"Jack!" Sam pulled the car over to the side of the road and turned forcefully in her seat to face her mentally-stressing passenger. Her breath came out in short rasps, the pent up anger from her and Dr. Carter's unfinished battle earlier beginning to radiate from her.
A.R. Jack gave a patented Jack O'Neill what-did-I-do-now look that made Sam laugh out loud, all her stress seeming to melt away.
"I'm guessing that you're tired of hearing me talk about Dr. Carter?"
"Yeah."
"Sorry."
"It's okay," Sam pulled out into the road, continuing the journey to her house, "Let's just get one thing straight. I do NOT want to hear another word about Dr. Carter!!"
"Yes, ma'am!" A.R. Jack gave a mock solute, making Carter laugh again.
"You know, you're really funny. How can you love Dr. Carter?"
A.R. Jack looked over at her, catching her passing glance.
"You're right, I DON'T want to know."
"I think I'm going to like spending time with you; you're easy-going," A.R. Jack opened the car door as they stopped in front of Sam's home.
"Hey," Sam leaned on the roof of the car, "You wanna have some fun while you're here?"
"What'd you have in mind?" A.R. Jack jumped back in the car.
"Well, I know this great place that you can get a good steak and a rack of pool at the same time. . ."
*~*~*
"Teal'cs, would you guys STOP staring at each other?" Daniel threw up his hands exasperatingly. The last hour of silent staring had finally gotten underneath his skin.
"Yeah, come on you guys! How long can one Jaffa stare at another? That's a rhetorical question and requires NO answer," A.R. Daniel pushed Daniel's point. He too wanted to the staring to stop.
"I am sorry, Daniel Jacksons. I did not know that it caused you such agony," Teal'c said sarcastically, a surprising trait in the normally stoic Jaffa, turning to A.R. Teal'c to give him a gesture that looked A LOT a wink.
"Well, we're tired of hanging out here at the base, so Daniel and I are going to dinner. If you guys want to come. . . " Daniel was cut off by Teal'c's upraised hand.
"That is all right, Daniel Jackson. Teal'c and I will be fine by ourselves here in the base. The food in the commissary is not as bad as you of the Tau'ri make it out to be," Teal'c waved his hand in such a way that apparently meant dismissed.
The Daniels looked at each other, shrugging, but heading to the elevators.
"Catch you tomorrow, Teal'c!" Daniel said to his friend.
"I'll see you tomorrow as well, Teal'c. I'm going back to Daniel's apartment with him after dinner," A.R. Daniel tossed over his shoulder as the door closed behind them.
Teal'c looked to A.R. Teal'c. "Shall we go to the commissary, then?"
A.R. Teal'c was silent, but he then replied, "Are we allowed off base?"
"Yes, but not under our regular names. I normally go under the name Murray. We must also wear head coverings to cover our symbols. Why do you ask, my friend?"
"I was listening to the Daniel Jacksons' conversation, and I heard that they were going to a restaurant where they serve a good steak. What is this steak?"
"I believe that it would be a most excellent idea to try out," Teal'c bowed slightly to his friend, then led the way out of the debriefing room, turning the lights off as they left the room.
*~*~*
O'Malley's wasn't very crowded at 21:00, but it was enough to notice that there was a large group of twins in different areas of the restaurant.
Sam and A.R. Jack were in the far corner playing pool, with Sam winning by a long shot. Dr. Carter and Jack were at the bar chatting about everything that could be talked about. Murray and 'Marshal' enjoyed their steaks at a nearby table, speaking of their pasts, reminiscing about experiences, occasionally throwing in a Jaffa joke that they knew. Daniel and A.R. Daniel, on the other side, chatted lightly of the Sams, past digs they had been on, cultures of other worlds they had experienced, the latest Unas communication tips, the list of things that they talked of went on, and on.
None of them knew that the others were there.
~
Billiards didn't seem to be A.R. Jack's game, and he knew it.
"8 ball in the corner pocket," Sam cheered as another perfectly executed shot went in. She turned around, her hands on her hips. "I believe you owe me another 20 bucks, Jack."
"Instead of paying up the money," A.R. Jack's hand went up to stop her protests, "how about I treat you to a dinner of some of those steaks that you so infamously recommended to me?"
"Sounds good!" taking the offered arm, as they strolled to an empty table.
The waitress took their orders, and left them to their own devices. A.R. Jack played with a salt shaker, while Sam fiddled with her napkin.
"You played a great game of pool over there," A.R. Jack said, pointing with his thumb to the pool table they had just vacated.
"Thanks. It helps when you've taken highly math courses in addition to every science imaginable. You weren't so bad yourself," She smiled at A.R. Jack who returned her smile.
"Do you do this kind of stuff with Colonel O'Neill?"
Sam stiffened, apparently this question hit a soft spot in her heart. The reaction she gave was exactly the one he had been looking for. He'd promised Jack to find out how Sam really felt about him.
"No. We can't. The regulations. . ."
"Forbid it. I understand. Trust me, we have the same ones in our reality," A.R. Jack leaned back in his chair.
"Why do they cause a problem for you? Dr. Carter's a citizen! Unless. . " Sam looked curiously at him.
"No, it's not what you're thinking. I know Dr. Carter's a citizen, but that's not the problem for me. You see, there's this Doctor back at our base, who's in love with Daniel, except Daniel thinks that he's in love with Sam. . . "
Sam reached out her hand to pat A.R. Jack's. She looked sadly into his eyes, understanding the pain of being in love with someone, but no being able to be with them
~
"I met Daniel on a dig at Giza. We were working on a pyramid that had no hieroglyphics in it, when. . ." Dr. Carter looked up from her drink into Jack's bored face, "My conversation's obviously not very stimulating, is it?"
Jack's head snapped up, as if he had been in a trance.
"No, it's not that. . It's just, all you've talked about since we got here is Daniel this and Daniel that. I'm beginning to wonder if you're trying to hide something from me. Are you?"
Dr. Carter looked down into her drink, using the little stirrer to make a wave. She seemed very preoccupied in her thoughts, debating whether to tell Jack or not.
"Earth to Dr. Carter. Earth paging Dr. Carter. Come in, Dr. Carter, do you read?"
Dr. Carter laughed as she looked up into Jack's comical looking face.
"Okay, okay! I was thinking about Jack," Dr. Carter began, "Now don't look so surprised because you knew there was something going on between us when Major Carter and I got in that big fight earlier today. He's all I think about anymore. I just don't know what to do!"
She toyed the diamond engagement ring on her ring finger, her thoughts completely lost to Jack.
"Hey," Dr. Carter's slightly tear-stained face looked up at him, "It's okay to love Jack. The only thing you have to take care of is Daniel."
"But what if Jack doesn't love me? What if he only wants me as an object of conquest? What if. . . "
Jack put a supportive arm around Dr. Carter, smiling inwardly since he had completed his half of the 'get-information-out-of-the-carters' deal.
"I bet you're starving after all those drinks, and the heavy talking we did. How about we lighten up the mood with some steak, and maybe a piece of cheesecake after dinner? I don't know about you, but I ADORE cheesecake," Jack smiled down at Dr. Carter.
"Beware Jack. Considering the mood I'm in right now, I might want FIVE pieces of cheesecake," Dr. Carter took the offered arm, and they walked to the dining area not far from the bar, taking seats on the opposite side of the pool table.
~
"Tell me something, Daniel," Daniel asked of his dinner mate across the table from him.
A.R. Daniel looked up from the steak he was cutting furiously. "Sure, shoot." His attention then tuned back to his piece of dead cow that antagonized him.
"Why are you with Dr. Carter?"
The fork was half-way to A.R. Daniel's mouth when he stopped. "I love her. And she loves me."
"Are you sure on that?"
A.R. Daniel put his fork down. "What do you mean?"
Daniel bunched his fingers together to form a pyramid, he studied them intently, unsure of how to begin.
"Well. . . from what I see, she seems to be really interested in Jack. And you, well, you don't seem to care that much for her," Daniel looked up into the enraged face of his friend, "but. . .," he hurriedly tried to correct his mistake, "that's just from my point of view. I can't truly say how you or Dr. Carter feels since I barely know either of you.
Daniel sat in thought for a few seconds.
"That sounds REALLY ironic to me. Hey, Daniel? Are you okay?"
A.R. Daniel leaned back in his chair, carefully chewing a piece of his steak. After a long pause, and a few swigs of beer, he finally spoke.
"You're right."
Daniel leaned so far back in his chair that it looked like it was going to fall over.
"I am?!" He squeaked.
"Yeah. I don't love her. I mean, I do love her, but just not the way that I should. You see, there's this Doctor back on base. . ."
". . . that you've been in love with for some time, but you just don't know what to say to her. Trust me, I have the SAME problem," Daniel finished, laughing with his friend.
"Hey, Sam's been teaching me how to play pool. You wanna see who's better?"
"Are we going to bet?"
"If you want."
"Well, I'm in!"
The two Daniels shook hands and walked over to the pool table.
~
Located near where two men were playing pool, a loud burst of laughter came from the Jaffas' table, an unusual occurrence in any reality.
"Let me tell the next joke, my friend," Murray said to his dinner partner.
Marshal inclined his head slightly, indicating that he should go ahead.
"A Serpent guard, a Horus guard, and a Setesh guard meet on a neutral planet. It is a tense moment. The Serpent guard's eyes glow. The Horus guard's beak glistens. The Setesh guard's nose drips," Murray and Marshal burst out once again into laughter.
Their sides hurt so much that they didn't even notice two men walk up to them.
"Murray? What are you doing here?"
"Daniel Jacksons! We wanted to get off the base and spend some time together before MARSHAL," Murray nodded his head in Marshal's direction, hoping Daniel would get the hint (he did), "has to go back home tomorrow."
"Oh. Well, in that case. . ." A.R. Daniel looked to Marshal, "do you guys want to join us for a round of pool? We just finished our game."
"Don't remind me!" Daniel groaned. He still couldn't get over the fact that he had lost to himself.
Murray and Marshal looked at each other to confer.
"We would most enjoy a game of 'pool' with you," Murray stood up.
"Murray, do you even know how to play?" Marshal asked as they walked to the pool table.
"No, but I'm sure that I cannot be worse than Daniel Jackson already is," Murray whispered.
Marshal shared a quick laugh with Murray before the took up their sticks and laid down some money for a bet.
~
Sam looked up from her almost finished steak to where four men were playing pool.
"Hey, those guys over there look A LOT like our Teal'cs and Daniel Jacksons," She pointed in their direction with her knife.
A.R. Jack turned his head to where Sam pointed.
"Yeah, you're right," he said nonchalantly, turning back to his steak. Suddenly, his head jerked up, and his eyes met Sam's, revelation sparkling in them, "THOSE GUYS ARE OUR TEAL'CS AND DANIELS!!!"
A.R. Jack jumped up out of his seat, Sam following suit, and nearly flew to where the men were playing pool.
"Jack?! What are you doing here? And Sam?" Daniel had glanced up carelessly and seen them approaching.
"I think the appropriate question is, what are YOU doing here? That goes for you as well, Murray and . . ." Sam's voice trailed off.
"Marshal."
"Marshal," Sam finished her sentence, hands on her hips.
"Daniel and I were just having some dinner here and decided to play some pool," A.R. Daniel explained.
"The Daniel Jacksons heard us laughing at a joke that I had told. Our table is not far from where we are now," Murray began.
"They came over and questioned of us the same thing you do now. When asked to play a game of 'pool' with them, we replied yes. That is where you find us now, Major Carter," Marshal finished.
"Well. . . it's not like it's a crime for you guys to be here, anyway," Sam apologized, "I guess I was just startled to see you here."
"I agree with Sam," A.R. Jack said, putting his hand on her shoulder, "It's rare that you ever get off the base. . . Marshal."
Marshal nodded. "I believe those folks over there are staring at us."
Everyone turned to look.
Dr. Carter and Jack, who had been staring at the group, stood up and walked over.
"Hey! Surprised to see all of you here," Jack said. He looked toward to Sam, who was quite close to A.R. Jack. Sam had the look of a killer on her face.
"Doctor," Sam said, acknowledging her with a head nod.
"Major," Dr. Carter responded, also nodding.
"It's getting late, Sam," A.R. Jack grabbed her arm and steered her to the door, "I actually want to get some sleep before going home tomorrow."
"That's a great idea! We'll all go home, NOW!" Jack maneuvered a very peeved Dr. Carter to the door also.
The Daniels, Murray and Marshal followed suit, each getting into their cars, finding out that the whole group had parked next to each other.
Sam stopped Jack before he got in his truck.
"I want to thank you, sir."
"What for, Carter?"
"For agreeing to have Dr. Carter in your home. I'm afraid that if she had come home with me, the other Jack would've been mad at me tomorrow because I killed her," Sam shrugged sheepishly and turned to her car.
"Hey, Carter. . ."
"Yes. . ?" Sam faced Jack hopefully.
"Drive carefully, okay?" He touched her hand briefly, then closed his door.
He drove off into the night.
"Good night, Jack. . ." Sam whispered in the dying quiet.
A.R. Jack leaned his head out of the car window.
"You coming, Sam?"
She jumped, startled by the sound of his voice.
"Yeah. . ." jumping in her car, and turning the key, she gave A.R. Jack a smile of reassurance.
He smiled back, faintly touching her cheek with his fingertips. He immediately jerked his hand back if he had been scarred, and the ride back to Sam's house continued in silence.
It's going to be a long night, Sam thought.
*~*~*
This chapter turned out WAY different from what I expected, and also WAY longer. My muse just had a rampage, I guess. I'm pretty proud of myself, though. My longest chapter EVER!!! REVIEW!!!! Thanks!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Stargate, or the characters, or even the alternate realities, or the space time continuum theories or . . . I only own the plot. Thank God that I own SOMETHING!
SPOILERS: Slight Third Season, "Seth"
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Cathain, 'cuz it was her initial idea that started this chapter. Thanks for all your help Cathain, I couldn't have done it with out ya! Love you!
A/N: Check the last chapter for more information if you don't understand the character names. I'm still using the same ones! Except for Marshal being A.R. Teal'c, that is.
*~*~*
"I cannot believe this is happening to me," Dr. Carter mumbled underneath her breath as she slouched down in the seat.
"What was that, Dr.?" Jack asked.
She sat rigidly up, replying, "Umm. . . I was just saying what a nice neighborhood you have."
Jack looked at her strangely, suspicions that he had never felt before rising up in him.
"Thanks. . . I guess."
An uneasy silence pervaded the truck.
"So. . . " Jack began, "You're an archaeologist?"
"Yup." A.R. Sam nodded. "You're a colonel?"
"Yup." Jack looked to the road for the turnoff to his house.
This is going to be a long night, they both thought.
The truck-ride to Jack's house hadn't been full of conversation, but Jack felt that something needed to be done to break the ice. Before getting out of the truck in his driveway, Jack turned to a very bored Dr. Carter.
"Look, I know that this is going to be hard for you to. . . well, sleep here tonight, so I propose before we hit the sack, how about some dinner?"
Dr. Carter perked up, her interest suddenly sparked by the word food. None had she had since her breakfast that morning at the SGC back home.
"Dinner sounds wonderful! Where are we going to go?"
Jack put the car in reverse, placing his arm on the back of Dr. Carter's seat as he turned to look out the back window, "I know this fabulous place that serves the best steak this side of Colorado. . ."
*~*
It's going to be a long night, Sam thought.
All A.R. Jack had been talking about the entire time was Dr. Carter that, A.R. Sam this. Her looks, her talent as an archaeologist, her scientific genius that she also possessed . . . he wouldn't shut up!
"Jack!" Sam pulled the car over to the side of the road and turned forcefully in her seat to face her mentally-stressing passenger. Her breath came out in short rasps, the pent up anger from her and Dr. Carter's unfinished battle earlier beginning to radiate from her.
A.R. Jack gave a patented Jack O'Neill what-did-I-do-now look that made Sam laugh out loud, all her stress seeming to melt away.
"I'm guessing that you're tired of hearing me talk about Dr. Carter?"
"Yeah."
"Sorry."
"It's okay," Sam pulled out into the road, continuing the journey to her house, "Let's just get one thing straight. I do NOT want to hear another word about Dr. Carter!!"
"Yes, ma'am!" A.R. Jack gave a mock solute, making Carter laugh again.
"You know, you're really funny. How can you love Dr. Carter?"
A.R. Jack looked over at her, catching her passing glance.
"You're right, I DON'T want to know."
"I think I'm going to like spending time with you; you're easy-going," A.R. Jack opened the car door as they stopped in front of Sam's home.
"Hey," Sam leaned on the roof of the car, "You wanna have some fun while you're here?"
"What'd you have in mind?" A.R. Jack jumped back in the car.
"Well, I know this great place that you can get a good steak and a rack of pool at the same time. . ."
*~*~*
"Teal'cs, would you guys STOP staring at each other?" Daniel threw up his hands exasperatingly. The last hour of silent staring had finally gotten underneath his skin.
"Yeah, come on you guys! How long can one Jaffa stare at another? That's a rhetorical question and requires NO answer," A.R. Daniel pushed Daniel's point. He too wanted to the staring to stop.
"I am sorry, Daniel Jacksons. I did not know that it caused you such agony," Teal'c said sarcastically, a surprising trait in the normally stoic Jaffa, turning to A.R. Teal'c to give him a gesture that looked A LOT a wink.
"Well, we're tired of hanging out here at the base, so Daniel and I are going to dinner. If you guys want to come. . . " Daniel was cut off by Teal'c's upraised hand.
"That is all right, Daniel Jackson. Teal'c and I will be fine by ourselves here in the base. The food in the commissary is not as bad as you of the Tau'ri make it out to be," Teal'c waved his hand in such a way that apparently meant dismissed.
The Daniels looked at each other, shrugging, but heading to the elevators.
"Catch you tomorrow, Teal'c!" Daniel said to his friend.
"I'll see you tomorrow as well, Teal'c. I'm going back to Daniel's apartment with him after dinner," A.R. Daniel tossed over his shoulder as the door closed behind them.
Teal'c looked to A.R. Teal'c. "Shall we go to the commissary, then?"
A.R. Teal'c was silent, but he then replied, "Are we allowed off base?"
"Yes, but not under our regular names. I normally go under the name Murray. We must also wear head coverings to cover our symbols. Why do you ask, my friend?"
"I was listening to the Daniel Jacksons' conversation, and I heard that they were going to a restaurant where they serve a good steak. What is this steak?"
"I believe that it would be a most excellent idea to try out," Teal'c bowed slightly to his friend, then led the way out of the debriefing room, turning the lights off as they left the room.
*~*~*
O'Malley's wasn't very crowded at 21:00, but it was enough to notice that there was a large group of twins in different areas of the restaurant.
Sam and A.R. Jack were in the far corner playing pool, with Sam winning by a long shot. Dr. Carter and Jack were at the bar chatting about everything that could be talked about. Murray and 'Marshal' enjoyed their steaks at a nearby table, speaking of their pasts, reminiscing about experiences, occasionally throwing in a Jaffa joke that they knew. Daniel and A.R. Daniel, on the other side, chatted lightly of the Sams, past digs they had been on, cultures of other worlds they had experienced, the latest Unas communication tips, the list of things that they talked of went on, and on.
None of them knew that the others were there.
~
Billiards didn't seem to be A.R. Jack's game, and he knew it.
"8 ball in the corner pocket," Sam cheered as another perfectly executed shot went in. She turned around, her hands on her hips. "I believe you owe me another 20 bucks, Jack."
"Instead of paying up the money," A.R. Jack's hand went up to stop her protests, "how about I treat you to a dinner of some of those steaks that you so infamously recommended to me?"
"Sounds good!" taking the offered arm, as they strolled to an empty table.
The waitress took their orders, and left them to their own devices. A.R. Jack played with a salt shaker, while Sam fiddled with her napkin.
"You played a great game of pool over there," A.R. Jack said, pointing with his thumb to the pool table they had just vacated.
"Thanks. It helps when you've taken highly math courses in addition to every science imaginable. You weren't so bad yourself," She smiled at A.R. Jack who returned her smile.
"Do you do this kind of stuff with Colonel O'Neill?"
Sam stiffened, apparently this question hit a soft spot in her heart. The reaction she gave was exactly the one he had been looking for. He'd promised Jack to find out how Sam really felt about him.
"No. We can't. The regulations. . ."
"Forbid it. I understand. Trust me, we have the same ones in our reality," A.R. Jack leaned back in his chair.
"Why do they cause a problem for you? Dr. Carter's a citizen! Unless. . " Sam looked curiously at him.
"No, it's not what you're thinking. I know Dr. Carter's a citizen, but that's not the problem for me. You see, there's this Doctor back at our base, who's in love with Daniel, except Daniel thinks that he's in love with Sam. . . "
Sam reached out her hand to pat A.R. Jack's. She looked sadly into his eyes, understanding the pain of being in love with someone, but no being able to be with them
~
"I met Daniel on a dig at Giza. We were working on a pyramid that had no hieroglyphics in it, when. . ." Dr. Carter looked up from her drink into Jack's bored face, "My conversation's obviously not very stimulating, is it?"
Jack's head snapped up, as if he had been in a trance.
"No, it's not that. . It's just, all you've talked about since we got here is Daniel this and Daniel that. I'm beginning to wonder if you're trying to hide something from me. Are you?"
Dr. Carter looked down into her drink, using the little stirrer to make a wave. She seemed very preoccupied in her thoughts, debating whether to tell Jack or not.
"Earth to Dr. Carter. Earth paging Dr. Carter. Come in, Dr. Carter, do you read?"
Dr. Carter laughed as she looked up into Jack's comical looking face.
"Okay, okay! I was thinking about Jack," Dr. Carter began, "Now don't look so surprised because you knew there was something going on between us when Major Carter and I got in that big fight earlier today. He's all I think about anymore. I just don't know what to do!"
She toyed the diamond engagement ring on her ring finger, her thoughts completely lost to Jack.
"Hey," Dr. Carter's slightly tear-stained face looked up at him, "It's okay to love Jack. The only thing you have to take care of is Daniel."
"But what if Jack doesn't love me? What if he only wants me as an object of conquest? What if. . . "
Jack put a supportive arm around Dr. Carter, smiling inwardly since he had completed his half of the 'get-information-out-of-the-carters' deal.
"I bet you're starving after all those drinks, and the heavy talking we did. How about we lighten up the mood with some steak, and maybe a piece of cheesecake after dinner? I don't know about you, but I ADORE cheesecake," Jack smiled down at Dr. Carter.
"Beware Jack. Considering the mood I'm in right now, I might want FIVE pieces of cheesecake," Dr. Carter took the offered arm, and they walked to the dining area not far from the bar, taking seats on the opposite side of the pool table.
~
"Tell me something, Daniel," Daniel asked of his dinner mate across the table from him.
A.R. Daniel looked up from the steak he was cutting furiously. "Sure, shoot." His attention then tuned back to his piece of dead cow that antagonized him.
"Why are you with Dr. Carter?"
The fork was half-way to A.R. Daniel's mouth when he stopped. "I love her. And she loves me."
"Are you sure on that?"
A.R. Daniel put his fork down. "What do you mean?"
Daniel bunched his fingers together to form a pyramid, he studied them intently, unsure of how to begin.
"Well. . . from what I see, she seems to be really interested in Jack. And you, well, you don't seem to care that much for her," Daniel looked up into the enraged face of his friend, "but. . .," he hurriedly tried to correct his mistake, "that's just from my point of view. I can't truly say how you or Dr. Carter feels since I barely know either of you.
Daniel sat in thought for a few seconds.
"That sounds REALLY ironic to me. Hey, Daniel? Are you okay?"
A.R. Daniel leaned back in his chair, carefully chewing a piece of his steak. After a long pause, and a few swigs of beer, he finally spoke.
"You're right."
Daniel leaned so far back in his chair that it looked like it was going to fall over.
"I am?!" He squeaked.
"Yeah. I don't love her. I mean, I do love her, but just not the way that I should. You see, there's this Doctor back on base. . ."
". . . that you've been in love with for some time, but you just don't know what to say to her. Trust me, I have the SAME problem," Daniel finished, laughing with his friend.
"Hey, Sam's been teaching me how to play pool. You wanna see who's better?"
"Are we going to bet?"
"If you want."
"Well, I'm in!"
The two Daniels shook hands and walked over to the pool table.
~
Located near where two men were playing pool, a loud burst of laughter came from the Jaffas' table, an unusual occurrence in any reality.
"Let me tell the next joke, my friend," Murray said to his dinner partner.
Marshal inclined his head slightly, indicating that he should go ahead.
"A Serpent guard, a Horus guard, and a Setesh guard meet on a neutral planet. It is a tense moment. The Serpent guard's eyes glow. The Horus guard's beak glistens. The Setesh guard's nose drips," Murray and Marshal burst out once again into laughter.
Their sides hurt so much that they didn't even notice two men walk up to them.
"Murray? What are you doing here?"
"Daniel Jacksons! We wanted to get off the base and spend some time together before MARSHAL," Murray nodded his head in Marshal's direction, hoping Daniel would get the hint (he did), "has to go back home tomorrow."
"Oh. Well, in that case. . ." A.R. Daniel looked to Marshal, "do you guys want to join us for a round of pool? We just finished our game."
"Don't remind me!" Daniel groaned. He still couldn't get over the fact that he had lost to himself.
Murray and Marshal looked at each other to confer.
"We would most enjoy a game of 'pool' with you," Murray stood up.
"Murray, do you even know how to play?" Marshal asked as they walked to the pool table.
"No, but I'm sure that I cannot be worse than Daniel Jackson already is," Murray whispered.
Marshal shared a quick laugh with Murray before the took up their sticks and laid down some money for a bet.
~
Sam looked up from her almost finished steak to where four men were playing pool.
"Hey, those guys over there look A LOT like our Teal'cs and Daniel Jacksons," She pointed in their direction with her knife.
A.R. Jack turned his head to where Sam pointed.
"Yeah, you're right," he said nonchalantly, turning back to his steak. Suddenly, his head jerked up, and his eyes met Sam's, revelation sparkling in them, "THOSE GUYS ARE OUR TEAL'CS AND DANIELS!!!"
A.R. Jack jumped up out of his seat, Sam following suit, and nearly flew to where the men were playing pool.
"Jack?! What are you doing here? And Sam?" Daniel had glanced up carelessly and seen them approaching.
"I think the appropriate question is, what are YOU doing here? That goes for you as well, Murray and . . ." Sam's voice trailed off.
"Marshal."
"Marshal," Sam finished her sentence, hands on her hips.
"Daniel and I were just having some dinner here and decided to play some pool," A.R. Daniel explained.
"The Daniel Jacksons heard us laughing at a joke that I had told. Our table is not far from where we are now," Murray began.
"They came over and questioned of us the same thing you do now. When asked to play a game of 'pool' with them, we replied yes. That is where you find us now, Major Carter," Marshal finished.
"Well. . . it's not like it's a crime for you guys to be here, anyway," Sam apologized, "I guess I was just startled to see you here."
"I agree with Sam," A.R. Jack said, putting his hand on her shoulder, "It's rare that you ever get off the base. . . Marshal."
Marshal nodded. "I believe those folks over there are staring at us."
Everyone turned to look.
Dr. Carter and Jack, who had been staring at the group, stood up and walked over.
"Hey! Surprised to see all of you here," Jack said. He looked toward to Sam, who was quite close to A.R. Jack. Sam had the look of a killer on her face.
"Doctor," Sam said, acknowledging her with a head nod.
"Major," Dr. Carter responded, also nodding.
"It's getting late, Sam," A.R. Jack grabbed her arm and steered her to the door, "I actually want to get some sleep before going home tomorrow."
"That's a great idea! We'll all go home, NOW!" Jack maneuvered a very peeved Dr. Carter to the door also.
The Daniels, Murray and Marshal followed suit, each getting into their cars, finding out that the whole group had parked next to each other.
Sam stopped Jack before he got in his truck.
"I want to thank you, sir."
"What for, Carter?"
"For agreeing to have Dr. Carter in your home. I'm afraid that if she had come home with me, the other Jack would've been mad at me tomorrow because I killed her," Sam shrugged sheepishly and turned to her car.
"Hey, Carter. . ."
"Yes. . ?" Sam faced Jack hopefully.
"Drive carefully, okay?" He touched her hand briefly, then closed his door.
He drove off into the night.
"Good night, Jack. . ." Sam whispered in the dying quiet.
A.R. Jack leaned his head out of the car window.
"You coming, Sam?"
She jumped, startled by the sound of his voice.
"Yeah. . ." jumping in her car, and turning the key, she gave A.R. Jack a smile of reassurance.
He smiled back, faintly touching her cheek with his fingertips. He immediately jerked his hand back if he had been scarred, and the ride back to Sam's house continued in silence.
It's going to be a long night, Sam thought.
*~*~*
This chapter turned out WAY different from what I expected, and also WAY longer. My muse just had a rampage, I guess. I'm pretty proud of myself, though. My longest chapter EVER!!! REVIEW!!!! Thanks!