(A/N: Okay, in my opinion this chapter isn't very funny…like I said, I wasn't sure where to go with this story, but you all seem to be enjoying it so far so I hope this is as good as my previous attempts)

Thank you so much for all the reviews. Very nice, I'm pleased with the response immensely, you've all helped put Selmac in a very good mood. Hopefully she'll work for me now.

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It had been a while since Major Paul Davis had walked the familiar halls of the SGC under some pretense of business or another, and he had to say he'd missed the place. His entire life revolved around it, as did the lives of nearly two hundred other people, weather they were Military or civilian.

It had taken him a few visits, but a content fondness for the base and the people who worked there had rapidly developed within him, even after he had made up his mind so many years ago that it was more or less a waist of his time to constantly pour for hours on end over every bit of information that the Stargate program provided.

General Hammond had, in his own unique way, convinced him otherwise after his first two or three visits to the underground of the Cheyenne Mountain. And Paul never failed to secretly thank the man in his ponderings on every return trip.

It was the environment, also. There was something in the air. Something in the behavior of the personnel you were overcome with upon entering the lower and more secured levels…something.

You couldn't realize it unless you were involved in some way, and that was the best part of his job. He got to observe and interact with every part of this grand facility each time he was there.

Eight years. Paul was nearly bewildered with the thought. Officially, the program had initiated ten years prior to that very morning, at least according to the Pentagon. But to him it had started with the establishment of SG units and research projects, with all the factors that went in to the exploration of other planets and the trauma and celebration that permeated each successful and unsuccessful mission.

Paul smiled at his almost uncharacteristically emotional thoughts. Sometimes the enormity of the program overwhelmed him. He tried to compose himself a bit as he paused along the route to his primary destination to take in all the changes and constants that he had missed with his lengthy absence.

He stopped in the doorway of one of the many research labs and watched the scant group of people working fluidly inside, indeed a lulling process, but somehow comforting.

"Major Davis" a bemused but friendly sounding Lieutenant greeted him from where she sat at one of the stations placed against a corner of the bustling room, "We haven't seen you around in a while"

It was a loaded statement, more of a question really.

The rumor mill must be in swing. Otherwise his presence here would have gone pretty much unrifled with curiosity from the intent scientists and officers who were now trying to seem as if they all weren't leaning in just a little more, distracted from there work to here his reply.

He decided not to play their game of subtleness, seeing as how he wanted to check in on a few more places before heading to General O'Neill's office.

General O'Neill…how…disturbing. As soon as he'd heard the news (from General Hammond no less) his first response had been to laugh. Just the thought was incredulous. But his humor soon turned to fear once Hammond had explained that Jack O'Neill truthfully was going to be in charge of the place.

The President had to be having medical problems…O'Neill would settle for nothing else than to be in charge of a psychiatric institution. By the time he was through with command, it'd most likely be legal for CO's to use the Stargate as a fishing hole when they couldn't get downtime.

He could already see it: an overworked O'Neill lounging in a beach chair on the ramp of on activated Stargate, tossing a fishing line through and asking Colonel Carter what bait was good for catching a Tokra…

But Paul was supposed to be thinking about something else at the moment, "Okay, Captain, recite the latest gossip column for me"

She didn't even have the grace to pretend not to know what he was talking about before instantly diving in to the impossibly over exaggerated brew of a story that had no doubt been boiling to the point of burnt by the time of his arrival.

"Well, Sir, it turns out Colonel Carter is in love with Doctor Jackson who was threatened this morning by General O'Neill to keep his distance while Teal'c used his staff weapon to kill Pete Shanahan because he was tired of listening to the General complain about him, only to find out that Doctor Jackson really loves Kerry Johnson who despises Colonel Carter for distracting General O'Neill." She took a breath but wasn't finished, "When actually, it's Doctor Jackson who loves Colonel Carter, and Teal'c who has feelings for Ishta but believes he is obligated to be a father figure for the Colonel and General O'Neill mistook those obligated feelings and has decided to plot with Doctor Jackson against Teal'c"

He was not spared a moment to digest this information before another scientist in the room piped up indignantly.

"That's not true, it's Doctor Jackson who loves Ishta and General O'Neill who feels like the father figure"

"You're entirely wrong, Ishta is not even part of the equation, it's Jacob Carter who Kerry Johnson has a thing for and that's why she's upset with the Colonel…"

"Jacob Carter? No, it's Teal'c and that Tokra, Anise…"

Paul wisely backed away from the barrage of now arguing scientists.

So, it was back to the O'Neill/Carter thing again…well wasn't this going to be an enjoyment?

Paul had learned long ago that you do not report everything you know that is going on at the SGC to your superiors. Not if you wanted to collect good on the betting pool.

General Hammond would hear about this, though. And the two of them would sit in his office pretending to be upset for the extent of a minute before excusing themselves from work to do some special ops around the base and get in on the latest bet.

Even the president was so inclined to ask Hammond to have him place some money on the SGC's wagers now and then.

And that, Paul theorized, was probably the sole reason the President had for putting O'Neill in charge…

As Paul continued towards his goal, he found his way blocked by a hoard of personnel all crowded outside of Daniel Jackson's office and creating amicable discussions in every direction making it wishful thinking to be able to hear yourself in your own mind.

Looks like Teal'c got beat to the punch this round…

Using his rank on this rare occasion where he could get away with it, Paul worked to the front of the large gathering, grateful that there didn't seem to be any Colonel's around. Particularly grateful that there wasn't a certain Colonel around…

"Major…umm…Major Davis, so glad you're, uh, you're here" Daniel muttered in that distracted, intense way of his as he divided his attention amongst everyone who was crammed in front of his desk offering their cash.

"What's the wager?" Davis asked, slightly guilty with how easy that phrase came to him…it was Hammond's fault that he had gotten into this habit…or so he told the Joint Chiefs who also occasionally enlisted his services to place bets during the rare years when they also found out about the hubbub in the Mountain.

"That, um, that depends…" Daniel began, writing fiercely in the ledger that was splayed before him, "What have you heard?"

Davis had to rack his brain for a moment. He was still a bit rusty, not having used the gossip code in a while, and trying to distinguish in his head what the Captain had babbled to him.

"Ummm…something about the General yelling something inappropriate at Carter?" he hoped that was the correct translation.

The Doctor spared him a look for the briefest second, "Okay, then the wager is: when, how, and will both or one of them do something about it in the near future…and who will be around to witness it, if anyone"

Oh, there'd be witnesses around…

Whatever sneak Daniel hired for one.

And…

"Put me down for tomorrow morning, 1200 hours, a discreet chat in the commissary followed by a talk at his place after shift…and Major Paul Davis will be witness along with whoever you've got working for you" Paul decided.

He had Daniel's full attention now, "Well, since you already planned on…doing it yourself, why not, uh, why not make a little extra money and…and be my spy?"

Davis only grinned in response.