Settling for Cake
Chapter 1
Jack stood in the bakery, his eyes glazed over. He had started out looking for a cake, but somewhere along the line he just spaced out.
Thoughts were tumbling through his head. He always got the cake when SG1 had a get together. Cake was his thing. But why in the hell did he tell Daniel that he'd pick the cake up this time. He felt like he was picking out his own casket.
"Can I help you with something Sir?"
The lady behind the counter pulled Jack from his reverie.
He looked up startled for a moment, being caught off guard. Then sighed and nodded in affirmation and went back to examining the cakes in the cooler display.
"I'm looking for something for about 20 people," he stated.
"Well then you'll probably want a half sheet" replied the flower dusted woman while pointing at a cake of that size.
"What's the occasion?"
Jack almost choked on his answer, "An, uh, an engagement party."
"Oh that's just wonderful," came the woman's cheery reply. "Would one of these do?" she asked as she gestured toward a row of half sheets decorated in various colored trims. "Then there would be plenty of space for me to write in congratulations to the bride and groom to be."
Jack's heart thudded painfully in his chest as he pondered his decisions and decided he hated every one of the cakes. In fact, he thought, he may never eat cake again.
Keeping his mask of calm firmly on his face he indicated that, "the white one with the blue trim will do just fine".
As the woman maneuvered the cake out of the display case she questioned, "So what are their names?"
Jack looked up blankly. "Names?"
"Yes, the bride and groom's".
He gritted his teeth, forced a smile and replied tersely, "Sam and Pete".
"Sam and Pete? Oh, that's very interesting," said the woman as she blushed a bit.
In a tone that was not much louder than a whisper he corrected himself, "Samantha", and withheld the sigh that tried to come out after he uttered her name.
The woman giggled a bit and muttered something about how he'd really had her there for a moment as she expertly inscribed "Congratulations Samantha and Pete" onto the cake with blue icing.
After the cake was boxed and paid for Jack stepped out of the bakery, offending item in hand, and glared into the setting sun. Pulling his shades down he headed out into the parking lot towards his truck resisting every urge to smash the cake into the ground.
Jack arrived at Daniel's apartment the agreed upon half-hour early and handed him the still unscathed cake as soon as he opened the door.