Author's note: I didn't want to focus on the battle scene in the beginning of the story, since this one isn't about the battles... when battles are important, I love to be detailed! As for timeline, This story has Jaffer at about a year and a half old, and that makes it about two years after Campers! which will be commented on sometime during the story
...................
"Could you please tell me why it's possible for you to find time for us to go to Jack's, but you can't find time to come meet my parents?"
Daniel sighed, but made sure that Sally couldn't hear that over the phone.
"I didn't want to miss meeting your parents, Sally." He told her, softly. "I couldn't help it. I was wrapped up at work and couldn't-"
"Daniel." She stopped his excuse, and Daniel closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, tiredly. He was sitting at his desk in his office, rubbing the bruise on his hand that the P-90 had left. It always left a bruise. Daniel couldn't seem to get a callous like Jack and Sam both had.
"I'm sorry, Sally. I really am."
She sighed, and he heard it, and was sure she was going to chew him out. But she surprised him.
"Fine. I'll come with you to Jack's. It'd be nice to see them."
"I'll come and pick you up."
"I'll believe it when I see you here..."
She hung up, and Daniel looked at the receiver for a long moment before he finally rested it in the cradle. Yeah, he deserved that, but it didn't make it any easier to handle. Daniel sighed again, and rested his head in his hands. He should have just stayed in bed that morning.
.................
"Daniel?"
He looked up and saw Sam at the door to his office, and looked at his watch. He'd been sulking at his desk for almost an hour and hadn't even realized it.
"Sam. Hi." He tried to smile, but it fell flat, and Carter noticed it immediately, of course. She walked into the room and crossed over to sit on the edge of his desk.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Even he didn't believe that. Sam didn't buy it for a second. She leaned over and put her hand on his shoulder. Daniel wondered why he suddenly felt like crying.
"Sally?"
He nodded.
"She's mad at me. Wants to know why I can find time to spend with my friends but not with her and her folks..."
Carter didn't know what to say. It had to be tough on Daniel since he couldn't tell Sally what he actually did for a living, and couldn't explain to her that there was a good reason he spent time with his friends. Although being shot at was definitely not Sam's idea of quality time.
"Want me to talk to her?" Sam offered.
He shrugged, looking up at her with his sad blue eyes. "I don't know what you could tell her that I haven't tried, Sam," Daniel said, hopelessly. "She's upset, and there's nothing I can do about it, short of telling her the truth – which, of course, I can't do. I just have to hope she gets over it. Maybe Jack's little get together tomorrow will do the trick, who knows?"
"What little get together?"
"He didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
He told her about Jack's offer to have Sally and the others over the next day, and watched Sam's expression, wondering if he had just gotten Jack in trouble, since it was obvious O'Neill hadn't discussed it with Sam. She didn't seem upset, though. Instead she smiled, and nodded, squeezing Daniel's shoulder gently.
"It sounds like a good idea." She said. "Are you sure it was Jack's?"
That made Daniel smile, as Sam had known it would. She was good at making Jack smile when he needed it, and Daniel was no problem compared to some of Jack's worst moods.
"Why don't you come home with me, Daniel?" She didn't like the thought of him going home and sitting around, brooding. Daniel was too good-natured for that. "We can have a nice dinner, and maybe watch some old movies..."
He visibly thought that over, but shook his head. "I don't think so, Sam. I'm pretty tired. I... I'm going to go home and get some sleep." He smiled again, and it was a little better than the first attempt. "Thanks, though."
"If you change your mind, give me a call," Sam said, leaning over and kissing his cheek, then hopping off his desk. "I'll have my cell phone on."
"Thanks."
He watched as she left, wondering what he'd done to deserve friends like her and Jack then sighed and stood up. He'd go home, get a bite to eat, a shower, and then go to bed. Tomorrow would be a better day, right? It couldn't be any worse, that was for sure.
........................
"I'm worried about Daniel..."
Jack shifted the phone over to the other ear, freeing his right hand to open the door and let Jaffer back inside. The black lab whuffled Jack happily, then headed over to his food dish, which O'Neill had filled while Jaffer was outside, and started eating noisily.
"Sally?"
"Yeah."
"Did he invite her over tomorrow? Do you know?"
"She's coming. But she's still upset with him, and it's got him upset."
Yeah, Jack could believe that.
"I'll fix him, Sam," Jack promised, reaching for his keys.
"He doesn't need to be fixed..."
"Sure he does. I'll see you in the morning, okay?"
"Jack..."
"Sam..." He grinned, knowing that she was undoubtedly giving him a look, even though he couldn't see her. "Don't worry, Sam. I'm all over it."
"That's what I'm afraid of."
There was a chuckle, and the phone went dead, and Sam looked at the receiver for a long moment, then leaned back in the tub once more and closed her eyes, trying to relax again.
Jack looked down at Jaffer, who looked back up at him, still chewing his kibble.
"Want to go for a drive?"
The black lab headed for the door.