Chapter 2

Jack jumps out of his truck and walks to the other side. He's dressed casually. Jack grins, opening the passenger's side door for Maria. "Here you go my lady." Jack offers her his hand.

Maria smiles brilliantly. "Why thank you." She admits to herself that he is charming. She takes his hand and steps down and away from the door.

Jack supports her back with on hand and shuts the truck door with the other. "You're welcome. I must say you look stunning." He can't help but notice the blue silk dress that hangs loosely over her skin.

Maria blushes when he opens the door for her. "You know Jack you've told be how beautiful I am three different times, this morning in three different ways."

Jack looks down at her and smiles. "I have?" Maria grins at him. "Well then it must be true!"

Maria giggles, making Jack feel warm inside. "You have. Honestly Jack, you don't have to lie."

Jack frowns at her as the waitress quickly seats them. "I'm not lying. And whatever makes you think am I, is wrong."

Maria's face flushes with embarrassment. "Oh, sorry. So what are you getting?" Maria sits across from him in the small booth.

Jack sits down and opens the menu. "Well, let's see. Pancakes, eggs, Sausage, bacon, and a waffle!"

Maria looks at the menu her eyes wide at his large order. "Okay." Surely he couldn't eat all of that by himself.

The waitress stands in the corner and grins, and then walks over. "And you ma'am?"

Maria looks up. "I think I'll have water and a cup of fruit."

Jack frowns. "Is that all?" Jack studies her for a moment; she's too thin for his comfort. "Add some eggs to that Wanda." Maria frowns and gets ready to protest. When Wanda nods and walks off. "You need some protein in the morning."

Maria frowns and then laughs. "Always in charge Jack?"

O'Neill nods and grins. "Yeah, something like that."

Maria laughs. "I can't fault you for that. Sometimes, I'm giving a tour of the museum and kids go everywhere."

Jack grins. Kids had a tendency to do that. "Fun..!" Jack watches as Daniel, Sam and Teal'c walk in to the IHOP. Jack tries not to drop his jaw at the site of his team walking in. Wanda looked a little distressed too. "So, how was work this week?"

Maria smiles. "It was good. I didn't drop anything."

Jack laughs. "I take it that's a bad thing!"

"Yes, it is. God we almost dropped a Monet last week. The curator bit my head off!" Maria says sounding a little frightened.

Jack frowns. "What happened?"

Maria sighs. "Someone moved a box and I trip it was horrible. I drop a pot from Africa a few months ago. I have to pay it back."

Jack laughs. "It's okay. I dropped one of Daniel's artifacts last year. He wasn't happy with me."

Sam sits at the table with Daniel and Teal'c and begins laughing. Daniel looks at her. "What is so funny?"

Sam, closest to the Colonel's table, can't help laughing at his comment to Maria about breaking one of Daniel's artifacts. "Oh he just told her he dropped one of your artifacts."

Daniel laughs and looks at Sam. "What did she say?"

Teal'c looks at Daniel and cracks a smile. "She said, she would have bitten his head off."

Daniel laughs, and then looks at Sam. "That's good. I like her. Let's hope he doesn't ruin it!"

Sam nods her head agreeing. Facing the parking lot, her eyes widen. "Oh NO!"

Daniel looks at her. "What?" Sam slaps at him and points outside. Daniel spies Janet and Hammond walking with Cassie. "That's not good."

Sam nods. "No it's not. How did they find out?"

Teal'c looks at Sam. "I did not believe it was a secret Major."

Janet Fraiser notices Sam's look. "General do you think this is wise?" Fraiser looks at Hammond who is accompanying her.

Cassie looks at her mom. She was told to keep quiet. Walking into the restaurant she waves at Jack, who smiles back at her. Hammond grins. "It's Fine Doctor relax."

Janet glares at Cassie. "We don't want to disturb him."

Cassie nods. "Okay, Mom. Isn't she beautiful?"

Janet studies the woman from the side. "Yes she is."

Hammond agrees. "I see the rest of SG-1 had the same Idea." He laughs.

Fraiser grins. "Actually sir, the Colonel told Daniel to come."

"Oooooooo." Cassie says hearing her mothers comment.

Fraiser scowls at her daughter. "You, keep quiet. And don't tell Maria about it."

Cassie nods. "I won't. I promise!"

Jack notices Maria staring at Daniel over his shoulder. "Okay, why do you keep staring over my shoulder?"

Maria giggles. "Well, I think I see one of my favorite authors. So I can't help, but stare. But I don't think it's him, because this guy looks a lot different."

Jack turns around, and sees only Sam, Daniel, and Teal'c. Jack knows it's not Teal'c. Jack turns back and laughs hard. "He's one of your favorite authors?"

Maria shakes her head. "No he just looks like him, mine has long hair."

Jack laughs again and turns around and looks at the table. "Guys you've been busted. Daniel she knows who you are and she likes you!"

Daniel lowers his sunglasses in surprise. "Are you serious?"

Jack looks at Maria, who nods her head. "She's serious. You guys might as well come join us. Of Course if Maria doesn't mind?"
Maria looks at Jack sheepishly. "No I don't mind if you don't."

Jack stands up and moves to the other side of the booth after Maria slides down. Jack smiles. "Well then I'll introduce you." Jack smiles. "This is my second in command Major Samantha Carter."

Sam slides into the booth across from Maria. "Hi, it's nice to meet you."

Maria nods. "Of course, you too. I didn't realize he had a 2IC."

Sam laughs. "You know your military jargon."

Maria nods. "My step Father was a Marine."

Jack smiles, that was one more then he knew about her. He was sure they would quiz him later. Jack looks at Daniel. "Maria this is Daniel."

Maria looks at Daniel. If she could she would stand up. "It's nice to meet you Dr. Jackson!"

Daniel beams. "It's nice to meet you too!"

Maria looks at Jack and smiles really big. "I didn't know your Daniel was this Daniel or I would Have Stayed two Saturdays ago."

Part of the statement annoyed him. She was smiling that was all that mattered. Jack looks at Teal'c who is moving a Chair to sit at the end of the Table. "And this is Murray!"

Maria looks at Teal'c for a moment. "Forgive me, but Jack he doesn't look like a Murray."

They all look at her. "He doesn't?" The Three ask her. Jack looks at Maria. "What does he look like?"

Maria shrugs. "I don't know, Vigore."

Teal'c looks at her. "I do not know this word."

Daniel laughs and looks at Teal'c. "Vigore is Italian for Strength."

Teal'c tilts his head and smiles. Jack grins at Maria. "Can't keep any secrets from you can I?"

Maria shrugs. "I don't know. You can try. I'm not that smart."

Daniel smiles, doubting her statement. "Murray's real name is translated to English as Strength."

Maria looks surprised. "Really, that's interesting."

Daniel nods. "So Maria what do you do?"

Maria smiles. "I'm an Art Historian at the Denver Museum of Art. I do cataloging, histories and Children's tours."

Daniel smiles, he found the stuff and she showed it to the public how ironic that Jack likes her. "Interesting."

Maria shrugs. "Jack thought you would think so. Many people find it boring, I love it though."

Jack smiles. "That's great though."

Maria laughs and looks at Sam. "How long is he going to be like this?"

Sam looks at Maria quizzically. "What do you mean?"

Maria sighs. "Always in control."

"Probably until the day he dies." Sam answers.

Maria smiles. "He'll never die; if he did he wouldn't be in control."

Daniel laughs. "That's Jack for you."

Maria smiles. "Really?"

Jack beams and wraps his arm around her. "Yeah, control isn't something I want to give up easily."

Hammond watches the Colonel. "That was interesting, did you catch that she knew who Daniel was." George asks the Doctor.

Fraiser nods. "She must have read one of his books." Fraiser shoots Cassie a stop staring look.

Cassie groans. "Mom! I'm not going to do anything."

Hammond laughs. "She must be something, if the whole team likes her." Janet nods her head in agreement.