"So...? What happened last night?"
She looked up from the experiment she was running, to see Daniel and Teal'c filling the doorway of her lab.
"Not what you think," she replied, grinning mischievously.
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "And what would that be?"
They sat on the opposite side of her desk, Teal'c manoeuvring awkwardly with his crutches, and she hastily saved the document on her laptop, lest some computer disaster should occur when she was momentarily distracted by her not entirely unexpected visitors and she should lose half an hour's work.
"Can't you guys go and pester Jack? I have tests to run."
"O'Neill is trapped in a meeting regarding expenditure and is not to be disturbed," Teal'c informed her.
"Ouch."
"Indeed."
"So...?" asked Daniel after a beat of contemplative, sympathetic silence.
She chuckled. "Daniel..."
"What? You can't tell me that if Janet was still with us you wouldn't be sharing every intimate detail with her. We're simply, uh, acting in the spirit of the very dear departed."
His eyes were slightly over-bright as he finished, but for once Carter found the grief that normally rose to take over her throat on the mention of the Doctor's name was absent, in its place a soft and thankful smile. Daniel had an uncanny knack for saying things, that in other people's mouths might have sounded wrong, rightly.
"I guess you're right..."
"Good."
"There's nothing much to tell though, really..."
"Samantha," Teal'c assured her, her name sounding odd when issued from his lips, "We can assure you that nothing you reveal to us will leave this room."
She looked from one face to another and laughed again. Who'd have figured Teal'c for a gossip queen? "Jack took me out for a very nice meal. It was good fun... and we're going out again on Friday."
"That's it?"
She smiled. "That's it."
Daniel surveyed her shrewdly. "Uh-uh. That's not it. Not it by a long shot."
She blushed. "We may have kissed," she muttered before adding quickly, "Slightly."
"Slightly?"
"Slightly... more than previously..." she whispered, nearly mute with embarrassment.
Teal'c touched Daniel's arm lightly. "Daniel Jackson, I believe we are embarrassing Colonel Carter. If she is not willing to tell us the details of further exploits with O'Neill then I believe it is tactful to let dormant canines recline."
"Sleeping dogs lie," Carter said, a smile breaking out on her still red face. "And thank you Teal'c."
"Besides," the Jaffa continued, "I believe O'Neill will be more forthcoming after concluding his meeting regarding expenditure. He is often... excessively communicative after such a gathering."
Daniel snorted with laughter at Sam's indignant expression. "We don't mean to pry Sam. We're just interested. Can you not see it from our point of view? We've been your friends for eight years."
She squeezed the archeologists hand, feeling guilty. "I understand. And... well, you are prying but I can see why you're doing it. But there really is little more to say. We had coffee, kissed, and then Jack went home."
Daniel was waiting for O'Neill in his office when he finally escaped his meeting.
"Jack."
O'Neill screwed his face up. "Daniel. Don't you have something to be doing?"
"Technically, no. I'm on downtime, having a broken wrist."
O'Neill ignored the momentary stab of guilt. "Well, I do have work. If you're wanting the full details of everything that happened last night, go and pester Ca-Sam."
"I already did. She's working on an experiment."
O'Neill sighed. "She shouldn't be. I told her to take it easy."
Daniel smiled ruefully. "When does Sam ever do that? Besides, we were embarrassing her."
"We?"
"Me and Teal'c."
O'Neill sat down heavily in his leather chair. "No wonder."
"Did... everything go alright?" Jackson asked, concern beginning to edge his words.
"Everything was... great..." O'Neill replied, the ghost of a smile touching his lips.
"Only Sam said you went home after the coffee and–"
"And what?!" O'Neill exploded, the frustration of the day finally being unleashed. "You expected us to have sex?"
Daniel visibly flinched. "I never said that–"
"No. But I think it's fair to say you implied it!"
"You didn't then?"
"For cryin' out loud Daniel! It was our first date!!"
"Well, technically yes, but you and Sam have known each other for eight years... it's not as if you've only just met and fallen in love."
"Daniel, I still have to concentrate to not call her Carter! She's called me sir twice without thinking. Now is... not the right time. We have to get used to the situation." He paused, considering his next words carefully. "I want it to be perfect," he added softly, "She deserves perfect. Now would... not be perfect. It'd be rushed."
Daniel was silent for a while. "I'm sorry Jack."
The older man hunched his shoulders impatiently. "Oh, don't be. I know I'd think the same if I was sitting where you are." He sighed. "Besides... she makes me nervous. You know how nerves can... act as a passion killer."
Daniel found he was grinning. "I'm glad she makes you nervous. You should be nervous. She's–"
"Way smarter than I am. I know. She's out of my league Daniel."
"I wouldn't say that."
"I know that. Hence nervousness, hence desire for perfection. I... I don't want to lose her."
You won't. Daniel knew his words were pointless and left them unsaid. "Where are you going Friday?"
"To see something at the theatre."
"Really?"
"Don't sound so surprised. I'm not quite as uncultured as I look."