Take a Chance on Me - Chapter 14

Sam looked everywhere for Jonas. They were scheduled to leave in two and a half hours and they still had equipment to pack. She was just heading to the commissary again to see if she had missed him earlier, when she caught sight of him getting off the elevator. There was a big smile on his face and he was. strolling? She'd never seen anyone but Colonel O'Neill "stroll" through the SGC before. Nearly everyone walked in a decidedly purposeful manner, usually on urgent business of some kind.

And, did he look a bit, um, rumpled? Sam wondered. then dismissed the thought. Jonas couldn't be that stupid. Colonel O'Neill would kill him.

"Morning, Sam." Jonas said, grinning as he walked by her. A lingering scent caught her attention as he stepped past - a rather feminine scent; oranges and something else. It was vaguely familiar. And then she knew, she just knew.

"Jonas!" She called out, her voice tense. She grabbed his arm and cornered him against the wall. "Please tell me that you didn't spend the night at Rayne O'Neill's place last night." Two engineers coming around the corner made a hasty retreat. Sam looked heavenward and sighed. She took Jonas' arm and half guided, half dragged him down the hallway to his office. "Great, now the whole base will know. Those engineers gossip more than the nurses." She grumbled.

A very surprised Jonas was pushed into a chair, Sam hovering over him. "What were you thinking! I told you that it wasn't a good idea to get involved with the colonel's niece. And. I don't know how things are done on Kelowna, but this is way beyond getting involved." She stood facing him accusingly.

Jonas held his hands up in acquiescence. "Whoa, Sam, it's not what you think. We didn't, I mean. nothing happened."

"Nothing? How much of nothing?" Sam pressed.

"Well, she *did* kiss me when I left." Jonas got a dreamy look on his face for a moment, then replied, "But that's all. Sam, she was upset last night and asked me to stick around a while. We fell asleep - that's all."

Sam sat down in a chair opposite Jonas and heaved a sigh of relief. "Okay, I believe you. But for your own safety, go change your clothes before the colonel sees you and for heaven's sake, go take a shower. I'll go see if I can distract the colonel for a while. Maybe he can help me load the equipment." She stood up and walked to the door.

Jonas looked after her, not quite sure how to feel. She'd treated him as if he'd committed a crime. Even if something *had* happened, what right did she have to do anything. He was a grown man and Rayne was his. what? Girlfriend? Friend? Non-committal make-out partner? He supposed that was as close as he got at the moment. But he planned to change that as soon as he got back to Earth. But for now, he guessed that he better do as Sam ordered. If she got this upset, he could only imagine how upset the colonel would be.

Jonas hurried to the locker room and, opening the door, ran right into Nurse Rush's boyfriend. Literally. Jonas took a step back and looked up into the Marine's face. The man had a good four inches on Teal'c and was built in much the same manner - and he had a friend. He grinned down at Jonas. "Hear you've got yourself a new girlfriend."

How on Earth did. then he remembered the two engineers in the hallway and he felt the color drain from his face.

"Uh, actually, Colonel O'Neill's niece and I are just friends. Really." Jonas stammered.

"His niece, huh? Wondered about that. Well, you don't have to worry about me kicking your ass anymore." He clapped Jonas on the shoulder, making him wince with pain.

Jonas let out a small sigh of relief.

"Cause the colonel's gonna shoot you." The marine chuckled and walked off with his buddy, leaving Jonas alone in the locker room.

"I hope Sam found a way to distract the colonel. Otherwise there's no way I'll make it off that planet alive."

************* Jonas rushed into the gateroom, barely making it in time. He'd just finished packing and spent the entire walk down there trying to avoid the stares of people as he passed. He wondered what the term "dead man walking" meant. He wasn't sure that he wanted to find out.

"Nice of you to join us." Colonel O'Neill remarked.

Jonas glanced at Sam, who looked slightly harried. She gave him a half- smile. He hoped that it was an indication that he would at least survive the week.

"Move out, campers." Jack said as they stepped through the gate.