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Daniel kept conspicuously quiet for the remainder of the meeting, too aware of the looks he was receiving from the others. He swore he would knock Jack's grin off the minute they retreated into the hall.
Sam ended up saving Jack from Daniel's revenge. As the team filed into the hall, Sam moved quickly to Daniel's side.
"What happened in there?" she asked, touching Daniel's sleeve.
"Nothing. It's nothing."
Sam shook her head. "It sure didn't seem like nothing. Are you going to be all right for the remainder of the mission?"
"Pure thoughts, Daniel," Jack interrupted. "That's the key."
Sam's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about, Colonel?"
"Private matter. Daniel made me promise not to say anything about it."
"Are you ill, DanielJackson?" Teal'c intoned.
"No, I don't think so. Look, let's just finish up so we can go home, okay?"
Sam and Teal'c seemed reluctant to let the matter drop, but they turned and led the way from the meeting hall. Jack and Daniel followed in silence.
The Monnoran moons shone high overhead as the team headed to their quarters. Daniel lagged behind, not wanting to try to explain what had happened in the meeting and wishing he could just disappear for about a month.
Of course Jack realized that Daniel was falling behind, so he slowed down to walk with the archeologist.
"Some meeting," he began.
"Jack, don't even start."
"You know," Jack continued as though not hearing Daniel's warning, "the worst part is that I feel like I'm watching something that I really shouldn't be watching. Like I'm a peeping Tom. Of course it's hard to miss it when it's being played out right in front of you. Kind of like a public peep show."
"Jack, I'm warning you."
"Maybe you could charge admission. You know, put up a little booth with a curtain in front, and charge by the—"
Daniel stopped. "Stop! Please, Jack! This is difficult enough without your childish preoccupation with my—" He clamped his mouth shut, very aware of Sam and Teal'c's proximity. "Never mind," he mumbled. "Let's just get to our quarters. I'm tired."
They trudged along in silence, lulling Daniel into almost believing that Jack was done for the night. He was premature.
"Looks like I was wrong," Jack finally said.
Daniel knew he would regret asking, but he knew that if he didn't the colonel would find a way to say it anyway. "Wrong about what?"
Jack stopped and gave Daniel a once-over. "Wrong about you not being a screamer."