Way #15 -- The Relocation

Daniel woke up with a start, but realized the noise that startled him was only the wind in the trees outside. He cast a wary gaze about his tent, and reached for his glasses. Checking his watch-- 7:24-- he wondered where his bunkmate had crept off to. The last few morning-stunts Jack had pulled had been pretty elaborate, and Daniel was starting to develop a paranoia. A very well-founded one, of course. Once Jack got something new in his head to entertain himself with, it wasn't likely anyone could persuade him away from it. For a man with a habitually short attention span, he sure could focus when he wanted to.

Daniel wriggled out of his bag and got up slowly, carefully scanning the ground. This particular planet was home to an abnormal number of insects, and yesterday Jack had been hinting at a plan to set them lose in the tent. Fortunately, Daniel couldn't spot anything crawling in the dimly lit space. He shuffled around a bit, going over the whole tent just for the sake of his peace of mind. Then he settled down again to go back to sleep.

But for some reason he couldn't. He laid there for a little while, gazing up at the plastic roof of the tent, which undulated in the breeze at him. He had a weird feeling something was off. About ten minutes later he gave up trying to sleep, and decided he'd just start the fire up for breakfast. He dressed and grabbed his boots, unzipped the tent, stuck his head out into the chilly morning air, and stopped.

"Uhm . . ."

Inhabiting the clearing just outside for the campfire and the other tent was, instead, a very large bush. Daniel pulled his shoes on hastily and crept outside, head ducked low, looking around cautiously.

Trees were packed densely around him on all sides. They were unfamiliar. He clearly was in the heavier part of the planet's forest, with the other tent nowhere in sight. They did not pitch here last night.

Walking around the area slowly, he noted there was nothing else here but his tent, no equipment, not even footprints. Lots of trees and bushes and some bugs. Barely enough space for his tent as it was between two trees.

He frowned and went back over to his tent, leaning down and examining the stakes that anchored it to the ground. How on P49-K1L did Jack . . . ? Wouldn't there be drag-marks, or . . . something? And surely he would have woken up? Admittedly Daniel was a heavy sleeper but that was ridiculous.

Sighing, he ventured out a bit farther, hoping it wouldn't take long to catch sight of where the real camp was. It couldn't have been far. Line-of-sight in the trees, however, was seriously depleted, and it didn't matter if Daniel was twenty miles away from camp or twenty paces, it all looked the same to him. Sighing in irritation he returned to his tent, not wanting to wander too far and lose track of it all together.

Sitting with his legs sticking out the tent-flap, Daniel pondered his options.

"Brilliant military minds," he grumbled sarcastically, as he mentally went over the supplies he had in his tent. His backpack was in here, with its emergency rations and water, and most of the junk he had brought with him. His sleeping bag. Clothes. Jack's sleeping bag. Pillows. He was going to have to pack all this up and trek out of here, wasn't he?

Daniel jumped a little, and jerked to look to his right, but it was the slapping-sound of the trees again. He added testily,

"Oh, so brilliant."

Wasn't this somewhat endangering to his welfare? He really was alone out here, probably in the middle of nowhere on an alien planet. Sam and Teal'c might not even know-- didn't Jack care about the possible dangers? Some Jaffa could suddenly arrive, some unknown animal could try to eat him, he could get . . . covered in bugs or something . . .

Daniel yelped and jumped to his feet when a crackling sound came from right behind him, followed by a scratchy, loud voice.

"Dan-yol! You just gonna sit around all morning or what?"

Glaring at the radio attached to his pack, he grit his teeth. Ok, why didn't he think of that sooner?

The slightly staticy voice came again,

"Hellooo? Knock-knock, Danny."

"I'm telling Sam about this, I hope you realize. I'm sure this goes against the rules somehow," Daniel announced tersely into the walkie.

"Oh, Daniel. I'm sure half of what we do everyday goes against the rules."

"Half of what you do, anyway."

"Touché."

"Jack, did it ever occur to you that this might be dangerous to me? To be left out here like this?"

A pause, and then,

"I told you this already, Daniel. I promised none of what I did would ever be stupid enough to risk you."

"I know that's what you said . . ."

"You don't believe me?"

He chewed his lip in thought.

"I do. But your definition of danger and mine might be slightly different."

"Ah, the linguist's mind at work," Jack's voice mused.

"The mind that's also telling me you had to have had help on this," Daniel commented.

"May-bee . . ."

"How'd you talk Teal'c in? I can't imagine Sam going along with this."

"You'd be surprised the sort of criminal mind Carter keeps hidden behind that sweet facade," the Colonel's voice came amusedly,

"But, ah, I'd never reveal my accomplices."

"Jack."

"Daniel?"

"Could you maybe get me out of here now?"

Some laughter, and then Jack replied,

"You really think I left you in the middle of nowhere?"

Daniel took a glance about the trees around him.

"I was considering the possibility, yes."

"Maybe I should tone it down next time," Jack said. Daniel looked up, a bit startled. The Colonel stood a few feet away, walkie in hand.

"Hi," Jack greeted. Daniel sighed and answered,

"I wouldn't be against toning it down."

Jack gestured to behind him.

"C'mon, let's get you your coffee. Camp's about twenty feet to the left."

Daniel looked to the area he had gestured to in surprise and frowned.

"You're kidding me."

"Nope. Carter and Teal'c and probably having a good time listening in."

Daniel clicked on his walkie and said quite seriously,

"I'm considering this an act of traitorism."