Chapter 2
Jack had had so much paperwork to complete, that by the time Friday came around he was just about ready to enjoy the break afforded by the timely visit of one Ambassador Kaytan and his entourage from Venastras. The only drawback from that, was having to wear his dress blues for the occasion.
Jack made his way down to the control room still fiddling with his tie. Daniel was already and waiting, dressed smartly in his suit and tie, and Sam was in her dress blues too, but unlike him, she seemed more comfortable wearing them. Jack pulled at the tie one more time, and Daniel slapped his hand away, straightening it for him.
"God Jack. After 30 odd years of being in the Air Force you'd think you'd be used to wearing this by now," Daniel grumbled in frustration.
Jack brought his hand up to tug at the tie again, and then thought better of it when Daniel glared balefully at him. He glared right back with a pout, willing his fingers to stay still at his sides.
"I prefer to wear BDU's Daniel. And we don't wear this all the time unless you happen to work somewhere like the Pentagon. This is my base, my rules. I hate ties!"
Sam smirked and Daniel rolled his eyes, but was saved from further fuss when the gate started spinning and one by one the chevrons lit up and locked onto the address. The Ambassador was arriving.
The iris closed with a swirl and only when Walter confirmed that it was SG-7's IDC, did General O'Neill give the order for the iris to be opened.
The Trinium shield spiralled away from the open wormhole and Jack, Sam and Daniel took up their positions at the foot of the ramp.
"No touching Jack!" Daniel reminded him.
"I know!" Jack replied in exasperation. What was he, a kid? He grumbled to himself.
Sam sniggered and turned away when Jack looked down his nose at her, yanking on the front of his jacket to straighten it up and rolling his uncomfortable neck inside the collar and tie.
She pulled herself upright too and stood tall, facing the gate, completely unperturbed by Jack's regal glare.
The wormhole rippled and Jack could hear Daniel mutter under his breath. 'So the party begins!'
Jack turned slightly to raise an eyebrow at his friend before he brought his eyes back to smile benignly as SG-7 and the party from Venastras as they walked down the ramp. The attendants' eyes roamed the room, but Ambassador Kaytan kept his eyes on Jack and his welcoming party. SG-7 melted into the background and made their way to the Infirmary for their check ups.
Ambassador Kaytan was pleased and more than a little relieved to see that the Jaffa was missing from the welcoming party. The sober alien had made him feel uncomfortable back on his home world and the Jaffa had obviously felt the same, hence his absence. Jack had excused him after hearing of his discomfort in their presence, saying that at least one of them could escape with good reason.
Kaytan approached Jack with a huge smile. Keeping his hands well hidden in the folds of the long loose sleeves hanging from his folded arms.
He reminded Jack of the old pictures of a Chinese Mandarin, namely the one in a film of which he couldn't recall the title, for the minute. Robert Donat played that part he did remember. Ironically that was his last performance. This guy did remind him of Donat to some extent, his clothes were of similar design but rather dull and more coarse than silk.
A discreet cough from Daniel brought him back from his wayward musings.
Jack jumped slightly but turned it into a greeting when he realised he'd lost it for a minute.
"Ambassador Kaytan. Welcome to Earth! Jack O'Neill," Jack smiled, introducing himself rather nervously, and all the while willing himself not to reach out his hand in greeting. "You know Daniel Jackson and Colonel Carter of course."
"General O'Neill. It is indeed a great honour to finally meet you in person." Kaytan bowed humbly.
"Oh, the honour is all mine, I'm sure!" Jack replied with an easy smile and a tentative bow too.
He made a sweeping gesture with his hand, being careful to avoid all contact as Daniel had warned him. He certainly didn't want to find himself unintentionally 'married' to the guy.
He led the way and the Ambassador followed, trailed by his entourage then Daniel and Sam.
They all arrived in the briefing room and Jack motioned for them all to take a seat. All the emissaries from Venastras were seated along one side where they would be isolated from his team; there'd be no touching that way. Jack as usual sat at the head of the table with Sam and Daniel on his right.
"So, lets get down to business shall we..." Jack stated with a smile.
Funnily enough, Jack found himself enthralled by these people and was quite happy to chat over strategies and other tactical warfare statistics and facts. He was actually enjoying the exchange of ideas. It was Daniel who felt left out of things, as Jack and Sam were in full flow regarding the topic of conversation to which Daniel had little or nothing to add.
They had some refreshments, brought along by Walter and which the Venastran's partook with curious faces. Although denying the taste was peculiar, they ate the confection and drank the coffee without complaint.
The time flew past and soon Daniel called a necessary halt to the proceedings, announcing that their time had overrun by two hours already and that it was obvious that perhaps they needed to get together at another time, suggesting that perhaps they arrange a meeting on their home planet to continue the discussion.
Jack's eyes lit up at the prospect of going off-world and could have hugged Daniel there and then if it wasn't for the fact that he didn't want to appear to 'favour' Daniel in their eyes or set any new rumours scurrying through their own very over-active grapevine. He restrained himself with the dignity befitting a General and led them back to the gate-room.
Jack ordered Walter to dial up PZ52 918 which was the given designation for Venastras.
The gate swung into action and they all stood silently watching as the chevrons engaged. The huge plume of matter exploded into the room and settled again within the confines of the gate.
Ambassador Kaytan had enjoyed talking with Jack immensely and showed his acceptance of this strange human custom by offering his hand to Jack.
"I offer you the hand of friendship Jack O'Neill of the Tau'ri."
Jack glanced sideways towards Daniel who nodded his approval.
"Then, Ambassador Kaytan of Venastras, I accept your generous offer," Jack returned with a ready smile.
He took the hand and shook it, but Kaytan's grip was limp and cold and Jack quickly repelled a shudder from the contact. He kept his smile from slipping even as the Ambassador had trouble hiding his surprise at the heat from the contact. Jack surmised that the resultant shock between them was mutual.
He'd never realised that these people would feel so cold when their generosity and nature had seemed so warm. He released the hand as quickly as protocol allowed and resisted the urge to wipe his palm down the side of his pants, because he had spent too long under military discipline to actually insult the man. Yes, he could be diplomatic, he smiled smugly to himself. Daniel should be proud of him.
The emissaries bowed low and all of them clasped both hands to their foreheads and bowed again. Daniel, Sam and Jack followed likewise, once Daniel had prompted Jack with a low growl to follow suit.
There was a collective sigh of relief from all three of them when the wormhole finally swallowed the travellers and then closed down.
Jack stood looking down at his hand with a frown.
"Jack?"
He looked up into Daniel's concerned blue eyes.
"You okay? You...er...look a little lost," Daniel queried, puzzled over what Jack might be thinking.
"No...em...yeah. I mean, I'm fine. I'll em...just go and wash up and change," he stumbled over the words, waving the offending hand in the air between them, his eyes still glued to it. It still felt...strange; ice cold and yet it seemed to burn with an invisible heat. If this is the reaction they get every time they touched, then no wonder it's sort of taboo to do so in their culture. He couldn't stop the shudder of revulsion that ran through him this time round.
He left both of his friends staring after him but all he wanted to do was to wash his hands to rid himself of the feel of that cold, cold flesh against his.
"Is he okay?" Daniel asked Sam after a minute or two while they still stood rooted to the spot facing the exit through which Jack had disappeared a moment ago.
"I guess so. Maybe the Ambassador had sticky fingers from those doughnuts?" she suggested as she moved away with a shrug.
"Ah. Could be I guess. I think I'll go check on him anyway."
"You do that Daniel. I'm gonna go get changed. See you later!" she called over her shoulder as she walked from the room towards the elevator.
Daniel took his time walking up the steps to the briefing room and eventually towards Jack's office where Jack had yet to arrive.
Instead he sat down at the conference table to wait for his friend to return.
Several minutes passed and Daniel began to wonder whether he should go looking for Jack but the man in question walked in wearing his blue BDUs looking far more comfortable and happier than he had the last time he'd seen him.
"Daniel? Got nothing to do?" Jack asked with a sarcastic smile. He was feeling good over the negotiations and was looking forward to going off world next time to meet them.
"Ah...yeah. Are you okay Jack?" Daniel asked, though he could see Jack was looking better now. "Only you looked a little...I don't know...um... distracted?"
"Who me? Nope! I'm fine!"
"Good. Great. Well, I'd better get going and write all these notes down on the computer. General Hammond will need a copy I suppose?"
"Yeah sure. As always. Are you sure you're okay? You look a little 'distracted' Daniel?" Jack said with a smirk, turning Daniel's words back on him.
Daniel snapped out of his reverie and smiled with reassurance.
"Yeah. Fine. I'm okay," he confirmed and hurried to the door. "So long as you are?"
"Daniel!" Jack growled. "I'm fine! Go...do whatever!" he ordered with a shake of his head and a wave of his hand. He was fine. No problem.
TBC