"What's up, Colonel O'Neill?" Ben asked, walking down the hall with Jack.

"I need to talk to you about something," Jack said. "In my office, where we won't be overheard."

Crane was suddenly nervous.

"I haven't said anything to anyone-"

Jack shook his head, realizing Ben thought he was going to get chewed out. Jack had no intention of doing that. This wasn't the cameraman's fault, after all.

"You didn't do anything, Ben," he assured him. "I just have a... delicate matter, and I need to discuss it with you."

"Um... okay."

What could he say, after all?

They were silent the rest of the way to Jack's office. The only sound was the clicking of Jaffer's claws on the concrete floor of the corridor. Jack held the door of his office open and gestured Ben through it, then shut it and walked over to sit on the edge of his desk, looking at the cameraman – who was still nervous, despite jack's reassurances. He well remembered the last conversation the two of them had had in this room, and it hadn't been pleasant.

"Doctor Fraiser has a daughter."

"I didn't touch her."

O'Neill smiled.

"I know."

Ben realized he'd been pretty quick to jump to the defensive, and he smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry."

"It's okay." Jack crossed his arms over his chest. "Cassandra Fraiser is seventeen, and barely that. She's sweet, adorable, and I've known her since she was a little girl. She's like a niece to me. Almost like a daughter to me."

"I can understand that," Ben told O'Neill, wondering what that had to do with him.

"Apparently, she's had a look at you, and has decided you're cute."

Ben flushed, pleased.

Jack scowled.

The cameraman realized that it wasn't something he should be preening about just then, apparently.

"Sorry."

"I have it on good information that Cassie's going to ask Emmett Bregman to introduce the two of you."

"I'd like to meet her, Sir." Ben said. "If she's as great as her mom is-"

"She's seventeen. And if you do anything out of line with her, I'm not going to be happy."

Ben paled.

"I didn't mean it like that, Colonel." He told Jack, hastily. "I don't... I mean, I wouldn't dream of trying anything with a minor. Especially with one that I just met." And one that had such connections! "I was just thinking that she must be someone special..."

"She is someone special..." Jack said. "And I don't want her to know that we had this talk. How old are you?"

"Twenty one."

Well, that wasn't such a terrible age difference.

"You're not as big of a jerk as I took you for originally, Ben," Jack said. "And I respect the way you came and apologized to me. I like that in a man. But I won't allow Cassie to be hurt, and that means I can't have you leading her on. No big, toothy smiles. No innocent touches. No long looks across the room. Nothing like that, okay? You meet her, you say hi, and you pretend she's one of the guys. Unless you're gay."

"I'm not gay."

"Well... just treat her like she's 90 years old and has no teeth. Understand?"

"I won't do anything you wouldn't approve of, Colonel." Ben told him, nodding.

"Good. Because I'm beginning to like you, and I'd hate to have to kill you..."

"Um... thanks..."

"Okay. Any questions?"

"About the girl?"

"Yes."

"If I like her, can I start dating her when she turns 18?"

"If you like her, you can start dating her when hell freezes over."

"But you just said you liked me." Ben protested. "I'd-"

Jack smiled.

"What she does when she's 18 is her own business, Ben." He told the cameraman. "If you've a mind to try to ask her out then, then it's up to her – as long as you remember to treat her like she's my daughter, with all the repercussions that come along with that."

"Yes, Sir."

"I'm glad we had this talk."

"Um... yeah."

"Have you had lunch?"

"What?"

"Lunch." Jack said. "The meal between Brunch and the after work snack? Have you eaten?"

"Uh... no."

"Why don't you come with me and have lunch with me and Sam? Emmett snuck off – and I'm sure he's on his way to the infirmary, so we probably won't see much of him for the next hour at least, and there's no sense in you going hungry, right?"

"Sam? You're wife?" Ben shook his head. "I probably-"

"She doesn't know what you said, and I won't tell her." Jack assured him – again. "Just behave yourself around her."

"Um... okay..." He couldn't think of a way to get out of the invitation without pissing O'Neill off, and he didn't want to do that. "Lunch sounds good..."

Jack smiled, well aware of how nervous the man was, and headed for the door with Jaffer at his side.

"Let's go. I'm starved."