Right Time and Place by Betty Bokor
Sam/Daniel. Jack and SG-1 share a celebration off-world.
Spoilers: All seasons, including 9.
Disclaimer: The Stargate original characters belong to MGM/Showtime, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Film Corp. This was written strictly for the purpose of entertainment. No attempt at copyright infringement has been made.
Right Time and Place
Chapter 3
"Together as in a couple?"
"Yep."
"How do you know? I mean, sometimes I hear some rumors, but-"
"Too many hours in a bed in the Infirmary faking sleeping to avoid being poked with more needles."
Sam laughed. "What else do they think?"
"Let's see. About you, most people think that you've been with Jack forever, almost from the beginning. They have a catalog of moments when they noticed a sign." Sam couldn't stop a burst of laugh. "Then, there's a smaller group that puts us together, 'the science twins' I heard them call us once." Sam laughed again. "And finally there are smaller groups that have paired you up with Teal'c, Walter Harriman, Paul Davis, even Jonas Quinn. Lately, they've added Cameron. There are also some Pete die-hard fans, and people who would have loved to see you with Martouf."
Sam sighed at the fond memory of Martouf. "Well, what do they think about you?" she asked.
"As I said, there's us, now there's Vala with me, then there are small factions that see me with Teal'c-"
"Teal'c?"
"Yep, and Paul Davis, too, and Jonas, and Cameron, and-"
"Are you serious competition for me?" she joked.
"Only in two fronts. I think there are more people that imagined me with Janet than you with her; but then there are also those who thought Janet was with Jack." Sam was amazed; she had heard things, but this was too much. "However, you'd have a very bad time convincing many people of the Sam-Jack thing if they belong to the Jack-Daniel fan club," he smiled.
"Jack and you? You're serious?"
"Oh, yeah, it's a very numerous group. Every time I woke up in the infirmary and Jack was holding my hand, I could see the smiles in some of the nurses' faces."
"We've all held your hand, Daniel. Even Teal'c."
"Thus making the respective fans happy,"
"Wow."
"What I still don't understand is why people could believe that Jack would abandon a long life of heterosexuality for me. I mean, many already think I'm homosexual, but Jack?"
"Does it bother you what others think?"
"No. I think sexual preferences are something very personal and I respect them all. I don't think they make any difference as to who you are. I don't care what anyone thinks of me. Jack and I had a very close relationship, especially in the past, in the first years after Abydos. Something changed later and I still don't know what, but if it makes people happy to think we were together, I don't care. As long as it didn't hurt his career."
"Do you think the rumors about Jack and me hurt mine?" Sam asked.
"I don't think so. You've proven yourself beyond any rumor. Your career is going great and that won't change."
"I hope."
"I'm certain," Daniel replied with conviction.
"Well, this surely is an interesting night," Sam said changing positions again.
"Yeah, but it won't be among our best dates ever, eh?"
"How would your best date go?" Sam wanted to know.
"I like the idea of cooking for someone I care about, spending time fixing the meal before she gets there, thinking about the possibilities, playing the night in my mind."
"That sounds good. I was thinking that I'd like to be taken to a nice restaurant for dinner, but your idea sounds better, to have someone cooking for you, thinking of you while they do it… I cannot cook; you know that. It seems to me like such a special gesture that someone can spend time doing it for me. What would you fix?"
"Let's see. I would start with cantaloupe and prosciutto, as an appetizer. I love the mix of the sweet flavor of the melon with the salty taste of the ham."
"I've never tried that. Actually, I'm not sure I've ever tried prosciutto."
"You have to try it. I'll fix some and I'll invite you. You can also try fresh figs with brie, another awesome combination."
"We should stop ordering take-out and let you cook more often," Sam laughed. "What else would you fix?"
"Maybe a good grilled fillet mignon, with no sauce, just salt and the pure flavor of the meat, and a good salad to go with it, lettuce, tomato, corn oil, all very soft not to interfere with the taste of the beef."
"I'm already hungry. What do you have for dessert?"
"Something very sweet, with a good glass of champagne. It could be pumpkin cubes in syrup-"
"Where would you get that?"
"There are some specialty stores, that bring foreign foods. You then put Chantilly cream –very sweet milk cream– on them and you have an intriguing flavor."
"You have to promise me that you will fix that for me. You owe me after I chose you tonight," she joked.
"It's a deal. When we go back home, I'll cook for you. Now, you have to tell me about your best imaginary date."
"Well, I've changed to the home cooked meal now. Then, you know what? I'd like men to be more formal once in a while. They take you out to dinner on the same jeans they wear all week. I love men in tuxedos. They look finished, different than their daily selves."
"One of my foster mothers used that term, finished. She used it to teach her teenage daughter how to get ready to go out on a date or to a serious meeting. She wanted the right combination of clothes and shoes, even handbags. Then, there was the light make-up and the right accessories. I was near eleven and I thought the whole thing was kind of scary. I surely hoped I wouldn't have to go through that to go out on a date. Then you grow up and find out that shaving every day is even worse."
Sam smiled. "At least you don't have to wax your legs."
"Ouch! Don't want to think about that!"
"Tell me!" They both laughed.
"Going back to our conversation," Daniel said as he stopped laughing, "you're right. Formal dressing is appealing to me, too. The idea that someone took extra care and considered the night special. That black evening gown you wore at the dinner with the President the last time, that is a perfect outfit. Elegant, feminine, not too revealing-"
"You noticed?"
"It was hard not to notice, Sam. You looked wonderful."
"Thank you!" she said with a smile and patting his arm.
"As you said before, no need to thank me. It's the truth."
"I'm not used to compliments like that. Most of the time I have to wear my uniform."
"Well, I'm glad I have the chance to see you without it now and then." When he noticed how it had sounded he hastily added, "I mean, wearing something different." Sam chuckled and he was sure that both of them were blushed deeply.
"I understand, Daniel. The truth is you are a very good looking man, too, and I notice you the same way you notice me."
"But you probably don't have inappropriate thoughts-" He sighed, "I did it again, eh? I'm sorry."
"Hey, I do too. Now and then. I can't help it. We're so close all the time-"
"I know."
"Like now," she said shyly. "We're here alone, and it's hard not to think how close you are and how not very dressed you are," she smiled softly.
"Seriously?" She nodded. "Well, if it's confession time, I'll have to admit the appearance of your nightgown has me very intrigued," he said with some remorse.
"The whole situation creates the effect," Sam offered.
"Yeah, but I've thought that if we ever went beyond what we have now, we wouldn't do it just because some aliens made us do it. We would do it because it was what we wanted and had planned for it to happen."
"You've thought about it, too?"
"Does it surprise you?"
"No, not really, now that you said it. Actually I've been feeling kind of jealous of other women close to you."
"Really? I think I felt that way with Pete. Jack, I would have survived. I care too much about both of you, but Pete, he definitely got me deep. That day when you accepted his proposal and I had just been zatted, I felt completely betrayed."
"I'm sorry."
"For goodness sake, Sam! It was not your fault. There was nothing between us that could warrant my feelings of betrayal. It was all in my mind and that's when I started thinking. It reminded me of all the feelings that had rushed through me when I fist saw you on Vis Uban."
"That's why you asked me that question?"
"Yeah. I had the feelings and no memories to tie them to."
"Well, now we can decide what to do on our own. Are we still up for that dinner when we go back?"
"Sure. Would you wear your black dress?
"If you'd find your tuxedo."
"Done. It's a date. Tomorrow after work, at my house."
"Sounds good! Let's try and have some sleep now. Good night, Daniel."
"Good night, Sam."
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"Ah, you cannot tell me that, Danny-boy. You can't tell me that you spent the whole night with Carter, both dressed as you were, we all were, and nothing happened."
"Nothing happened, Jack. Why would I lie to you? We talked most of the night."
"I was not given a chance to talk," Jack replied with sarcasm.
"You were not spending the night with your best friend. If you had been with me, nothing would have happened either," Daniel said trying to look serious.
"Very funny, Spacemonkey."
Just then, Sam approached the door of Daniel's office and said, "I'm going home, now. I have to prepare for tonight."
"What's tonight, Carter?" Jack asked turning around to face her.
"A scientific departments' heads meeting, Jack. Would you like to join us?" Daniel said from behind him.
"I'm afraid I'll have to miss such an interesting occasion." Jack answered. "I have a plane to catch in less than three hours."
"Okay, sir. I hope you have a good trip."
"Good bye, Carter. See you next time."
"Who are the heads of the departments?" Jack asked as soon as Sam had left.
"Well, Sam is the head of the Technological Research and the Wormhole Physics Departments. Doctor Lee heads the team for Newly Acquired Technologies. Doctor Lam is in charge of the Medical Team and Doctor Warner heads the Surgical Team under her command. Doctor Brightman takes care of the Biological Research Team. I'm in charge of the Departments of Historical Research and Linguistics. Nyan heads the Archeological Team under my-"
"Stop, that's enough! I'm sorry I asked. Should have read the memo about that. Are they all meeting tonight?"
"No, only a couple."
"Great. I hope you have fun. I'm going to take a long shower and then I'm on my way. See ya!"
Daniel said good-bye to Jack, turned off the lights, and locked his office. He had some shopping to do. After all, good filet mignon and fresh figs are sometimes hard to find.