Chapter 2

Ok, Jack thought to himself, maybe the Doc does have a soft side.

Three weeks after the incident in the infirmary, Jack was sitting in his new hot tub on his back deck. It was late fall, so it was pretty cold out, but the hot tub was a steamy 100 degrees. He could get used to this.

Jack had picked up a six-seater hot tub, so there was plenty of room to stretch out. For now, he was lying comfortably in the lounger spot, completely stretched out and having the water jets tickle his toes and his lower back. His knee felt pretty good too.

He took another sip of his beer, only to realize he was out. Now all I need is a supermodel to go fetch me another. Hey, a guy could dream couldn't he? Rebecca Romajin-Stamos… He smiled contentedly.

"Jack?"

Jack kept himself from groaning. He recognized that voice anywhere. "Yes, Spacemonkey?" he asked as he opened his eyes.

Daniel Jackson stood at the edge of the tub, near his feet. "When'd you get this?"

Jack sat up a bit in the lounger. "Yesterday. Finally got it warm enough to hop in." He raised one eyebrow in a manner that would have made Teal'c proud. "What are you doing here?"

Daniel looked over the bridge of his glasses at Jack. "It's Team Night, Jack. I'm driving tonight, remember?"

Jack groaned and smacked his hand against his forehead. "D'oh!" He looked back at Daniel. "Is everyone waiting in the car?" He started getting up, collecting his beer bottle.

"Nope, I stopped to get you first. I'll go instead and call Sam while you get dressed." Daniel tossed the towel sitting on the patio chair at Jack and slipped inside the house.

Jack toweled off quickly, and walked in to hear Daniel on the phone. "Yeah, I found Jack in his new hot tub." Daniel glanced at Jack, hearing him come in. "We'll just need a few minutes."

"Shit, shower and shave, all in 15 minutes," Jack pronounced proudly.

Daniel groaned. He really did not need to hear that.

Major Samantha Carter eyed the target carefully. One mistake would end this mission prematurely. She knew her physics calculations were flawless, but it was her physical prowress that the shot was banking on.

"Hurry it up, Carter. I'm going to have to retire before my turn."

Sam's face changed from intense concentration to something of a predatory smile. Oh, she'd shut him up alright.

She shot, and the black eight ball plunked right into the corner pocket. She stood up straight to smile at her Commanding Officer and held out her hand. Jack glared at her, rummaging through his pockets and slapping a five dollar bill into her hand.

"Jack, you really gotta stop talking shit like that. I think it makes her play better," Daniel intoned before taking a pull of his beer.

"Thought you weren't drinking tonight, Spacemonkey," Jack pointed out, trying to forget that his 2IC had just beaten him again.

Daniel tried to look casual and shrugged. "T said he'd cover me."

"Only because I know that you are incapable of operating a motor vehicle after consuming one alcoholic beverage, DanielJackson," Teal'c stood in the corner, chalking his own pool cue.

Sam and Jack snickered loudly at Daniel's expense. It was true, after all. Daniel responded by glaring and taking another long pull at his beer.

"So, what are we doing next week, sir?" Sam asked. She had fun beating him, but she would make it up by buying him another beer with the money she had won off of him.

Jack shrugged. "Ready to go home already, Carter?" he asked.

"No, sir. Not while you still have money. Sir," she added with a big grin on her face. Jack grimaced as he realized he was almost out of money for the night.

"I believe that MajorCarter was pointing out that it is your turn to host next week, O'Neill," Teal'c said.

"Beer and movies?" Jack suggested with a shrug.

Daniel perked up. "How about we get to try out the hot tub, Jack?" he asked hopefully.

Jack looked at the beer that was held precariously in Daniel's hand. "I don't know if I can trust you to hang onto your drink in there," he pointed out. Daniel looked embarrassed and firmed up his grip on the bottleneck.

"We should really invite Cassie and Janet, sir," Sam pointed out.

"Hey, I don't know if I have that much room," Jack protested. He liked the Doc alright, but he liked to keep Team Night a team thing.

"Jack, the thing seats six," Daniel pointed out.

"And one Jaffa equals about two," Jack retorted, and then looked around quickly to make sure that no one had overheard them.

Daniel didn't back down. "If two people six in the lounger you can fit seven."

"Okay, fine!" Jack threw his hands up in the air, knowing he was stuck. "But you guys bring the beer," he grumbled.