A/N: Yes, this took me somewhere near forever to update. I'm aware of that. I feel guilty, if that's any consolation. . .

Seriously, though. I want to thank all the reviewers for this story. I'm humbled at how many people reviewed, I'm glad you all enjoyed it so much. :o) This is the second-to-last chapter, I feel this story's gone on long enough, heh. Anyway, thanks again, all. ;o)

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Way #80 - Covert Operation

Somewhere, in the middle of a forest, in the middle of a previously unknown-planet, a small circle of people were sitting on fold-out chairs around a camp fire. They had thin tree limbs stuck into the orange flames, and peacefully conversed, their voices blending with the sounds of crackling from the fire.

"This food item appears entirely void of nutritional content," Teal'c observed as he read the list of ingredients on the back of the bag of marshmallows.

"That's the point," Jack said, voice slightly muffled from food.

"The pinch of carbon probably adds a little nutritional content," Sam speculated as she tried to blow out her flaming marshmallow.

"I believe it would be unwise to consume these 'mushmellows'," Teal'c said, almost nervous sounding.

"They're not that bad, Teal'c. At least try one," Daniel suggested. Teal'c eyed the bag very warily.

"He's right. They're way safer than MREs, T."

"Very well. I shall sample one," Teal'c relented. He took one from the bag and stuck it to the stick, and then mimicked the others' behaviors, sticking it towards the fire.

"Good. Don't get it too close, just enough to toast it, not incinerate it," Daniel instructed.

"Unless you like them that way," Carter added, eating her burned candy with sticky fingers.

"Eeew," Jack opined, giving Sam a disgusted look.

"They're good!" Sam protested.

"You can munch on a bag of briquettes next then."

Samantha stuck her tongue out at him, grossly displaying burnt sticky marshmallow, giggling. Jack drew back like it was a hideous chewed up insect.

"Fer cryin' out loud, Carter, you sure are picking up bad habits around us."

Sam finished her marshmallow and gave him a sly smile.

"Sorry, sir. It seems your complete lack of civil behaviors is highly contagious."

Jack snorted.

"Huh, right. Like it's all me. These other two aren't exactly the best influence in the universe, either."

"I take offense to that, O'Neill," Teal'c calmly informed him as he roasted his marshmallow.

"Who has the bag?" Daniel asked. Jack leaned down and tossed the marshmallows to Daniel.

"I didn't mean any offense by it, but you've got to admit, nobody here strikes me as an ideal role model."

Daniel affixed a new mallow to his stick and put it into the camp fire.

"That may be true, O'Neill, yet I believe there to be many redeeming qualities our unit has that you easily overlook."

Jack grinned at the Jaffa.

"Ah, Teal'c, ever the optimist. You're right. Heck, we've saved the planet more times than the average person, so we must be doing something right, huh?"

"I like to think so," Daniel agreed.

"Gimmie another marshmallow," Sam told Daniel, grinning at him. He smirked, picked the bag up, and she skewered one with her stick.

Teal'c was staring at his roasted mallow, still on the stick. He sniffed it and hesitated.

"Just . . . just eat it, Teal'c. Trust me. It's good."

"I do trust you, O'Neill. My difficulty lies largely with the fact that this particular human delicacy resembles an insect on my homeworld."

"Really?" Jack asked, peering at his own skewered food.

"Taj'an grubs," Teal'c specified.

"Uh huh. Thanks for the mental image."

The smoke from their fire twisted and climbed, as if an endless ladder leading directly up into the sky. The stars were all out by now and they crowded in that dark abyss as an overwhelming melee of light. Looking up, Jack knew them well, from many points in the galaxy.

"It does not taste of Taj'an grubs," Teal'c announced, now slowly chewing on the marshmallow stuck to the limb.

"That's a relief."

"I told you they weren't bad," Daniel said.

"Indeed. I find the taste to be most agreeable."

Jack smiled. He pulled off his mallow, tossed his stick aside, and popped it in his mouth.

"I could think of worse ways to wrap up a day of work."

Daniel nodded in quiet assent. Carter poked the fire with her stick.

"What time should we get started tomorrow, sir?"

Jack shrugged.

"So long as it's no later than ten-hundred. There's no need to rush at this point."

"I wish to consume another mushmellow," Teal'c requested. The bag was passed around to him.

"That's good," Daniel murmured.

"Hm?" Sam looked to him.

"Having time, I mean."

"Oh, yeah. It's nice when we don't have to rush because somebody's trying to kill us," she agreed.

"Carter," Jack said in a warning tone, giving her a stern look.

She sighed and tapped the logs with her stick,

"Knock on wood, that is," she said indulgently in the Colonel's direction.

"Thank you."

"What is the purpose of that?" Teal'c wondered.

Jack gestured,

"Too many perfectly good missions wasted by someone going and jinxing our good luck is all."

Teal'c raised a brow, but chose to not pursue it further.

"I guess if I'm really lucky, I might even get some actual sleep off world," Daniel commented casually.

Jack chuckled, somewhat evilly, gazing at the team-mate sitting opposite from him, firelight flickering.

"That's what you think, is it?"

Sam waved her burning stick around a bit.

"You have been pretty relentless, sir. I think it's been at least three or four months since you've . . ." Carter searched for the right words. Daniel jumped in for her.

"Launched the campaign to drive Daniel Jackson insane?"

"Either that or turn him into a paranoid insomniac," she grinned.

"Well I have to be fair, Carter. I'm the type of man who keeps his word. I haven't reached 100 yet."

Sam gave him a doubtful look.

"You've really been keeping track? It seems like it should have been that many by now."

Jack shook his head.

"Nope, not quite."

"I don't suppose there's any chance you'd consider quitting early?" Daniel asked wearily.

Jack smiled, watching the shadows leap and dart across the other man's face.

"That wouldn't be fair. I still have a few surprises left for you, Danny. I don't think you'll wanna miss out on them."

Carter grinned and poked the fire, causing it to flare up a little and sputter.

"Can I watch?" she asked, smirking at the poor victim-to-be beside her.

Jack leaned back in his chair, casting his gaze skywards, and carefully worded,

"You'll have to sit this one out, Major. It's gonna be a strictly two-person situation."

Sam raised her brows, glancing to Daniel. The archeologist didn't respond at first, but then he started,

"Wait-- what? It is?"

"I'll say no more," Jack murmured quietly, looking very focused on his star gazing. Daniel glanced back to Sam and shifted uncomfortably under her intrigued smile.

Night was peaceful on that world. The team finished eating far too many marshmallows, eventually put out the fire, and went to their respective tents to sleep.

After the short and unceremonious preparations for bed, each crawled into their own sleeping bag, and Jack switched off the flashlight.

For a while they laid there and said nothing. Daniel listened to the quiet sounds of the forest, and smelled the smoke still on their clothing. He let his mind drift gently over the memories of the day for a while.

Eventually, as he felt himself starting to drift off, he spoke.

"Jack?"

There was a mumble and Jack shifted in his sleeping bag.

"Yeah?"

The voice came right beside him. It was very dark on this world, though, and he could barely see an outline next to him, let alone an expression.

"What are you planning on doing this morning?"

There was a quiet chuckle.

"Telling you would defeat the purpose of a surprise, now, wouldn't it?"

Daniel propped his head up, leaning on his elbow.

"I guess. I just . . . well . . . I was a little concerned . . ."

"It won't be horrific, I can promise you that."

"No, that's not what I meant."

"Oh."

A slight pause. Daniel continued.

"I mean, there are certain things . . . things I'd prefer the entire SGC to not catch wind of. That might be considered inappropriate."

"Aaahh."

"That might be mutually jeopardizing to careers, I mean."

Another pause.

"I don't think there's any danger of that," Jack murmured.

"Mm?"

"I can be very covert when necessary," Jack explained.

"Oh . . ."

"When the situation calls for it."

"Yeah . . ."

"And then there is the matter that we're largely alone here."

Daniel blinked in the blackness, trying to see more than an inky outline of Jack's head.

"Usually just SG-1 on these trips. Which has no problems keeping to itself when needed."

"True . . ."

"So there's really just one thing it comes down to."

Daniel raised a curious eyebrow.

"What's that?"

There was a span of silence and Daniel wondered if Jack was going to answer. Suddenly, though, he felt breath on his skin and jumped a little in surprise. The figure loomed over him so that the entire world was swallowed up and he couldn't see a single thing. But he could feel.

Hot breath whispered in his ear slowly;

"It comes down to which one of us will wake up first."

Daniel swallowed and took in a breath. The figure distanced itself and returned to its position beside him and then remained still.

Daniel laid there a while. He had a feeling that falling asleep wasn't going to be easy tonight.

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