Chapter Four
Major General George Hammond looked up from his paperwork when Buffy entered his office and shut the door behind her. The two weeks that their three visitors had been on his base had passed quickly. They took everything calmly in stride and did not try to interfere with base operations.
They appeared to spend most of their time researching a way home. It seemed that they would be with them for a while since they had not found a single lead yet.
Not that he was unhappy about that. The three young women had brought a breath of fresh air to the base. Laughter seemed to follow them, something which was precious these days since Apophis was once again regaining power. Thankfully, he was too busy conquering his rivals' worlds rather than attacking Earth.
The laughter aside, George truly liked and trusted the three women. Trusted them enough that when there was even no fingerprint evidence on them, he allowed them to roam the base without an escort. They knew which parts they were still restricted from and stayed away from them. From what he had gathered about their life back home, they respected the rules because they understood the need for secrecy and security. He had no misgivings, however, about whether they'd break those rules if they felt threatened or believed that their help was needed.
With those thoughts in mind he asked, "How can I help you, Miss Summers?"
"I don't want you to think that we don't appreciate everything you've done for us," she said quickly. "You know, with the shelter, the food, and the help and all."
"But?"
"You said we weren't prisoners."
"You're not," he said confused.
"We've been here two weeks. Two weeks inside this base," she said. "You do know that there are no windows here, right?"
George smiled as he realized what she was talking about. "You're free to go topside whenever you wish. Your I.D.'s will get you back in the mountain."
Buffy sighed. "It's more than that. We need… Well, we want… It's just."
"Miss Summers, you can ask for anything."
"We want to go off the base."
"Excuse me?"
"Go off-base. Do normal girl-stuff like window shopping, being around others who aren't military," she said, trailing off uncertainly.
"I'm afraid I can't allow that."
"Why not?" She asked, a slight pout forming on her lips
"Thus far we have been able to protect you from a section of our government called the NID. I have kept your true identity secret in order to do this, but I can't ensure your safety if you leave this base."
"General, we know what it's like to be in danger," Buffy said with a roll of her eyes. "We can protect ourselves."
"These aren't demons that you'll be able to sense. They are human beings with a nasty agenda who will employ any means necessary to take you into their custody."
"But we're going stir crazy. We need a night out away from this base," Buffy cried.
After a moment, he said, "I'll allow it only if you'll go with an escort. They'll be in civilian garb so as to not draw attention."
"Can it be SG-1?"
"Why?"
"I like annoying Jack and he'll absolutely hate this."
George allowed a small smile to appear on his lips. Buffy seemed to take special delight in teasing his second in command. Barely a day went by that Jack wasn't in his office complaining about it. He found it gratifying to know that Jack may have met his match. "Consider it done," he replied.
"Yes!" She said, jumping out of her chair and running out the door. Only to pop her head back in a few seconds later. "Thank you."
"You're quite welcome," he replied with a chuckle before returning to his paperwork.
XXXXXXXX
Jack dropped his head onto his folded arms that rested on the table. General Hammond had graciously allotted money to the women for their trip off base and they had taken advantage of it. He never knew that shopping was a sport for women. Sara had never been this crazy about it. But Buffy, Faith, and Dawn seemed to take it to new heights. What was scarier was they claimed that an old friend of theirs was the true power shopper.
He raised his head and looked around at the numerous bags that surrounded them "I don't understand why you needed so many shoes."
"Because they're shoes," Buffy said with a snort.
"That's not a reason," Jack argued. "I own three pairs – sneakers, dress shoes, and my combat boots. Those are the essentials."
"We only bought the essentials," Dawn said.
"You each bought six pairs!"
"And they're all essential. Each shoe serves a very specific purpose. We got everyday shoes, work shoes, boots, the comfy flip-flops, and the all important strappy heel to go with The Dress."
"The Dress?" Daniel asked, jumping into the conversation.
"Oops," Buffy said, her expression akin to a deer caught in headlights. "Didn't mean to say that out loud. Can't tell you anything more."
"Carter, do you understand any of this?" Jack asked, looking over at her. He caught the sheepish look on her face. "You do?"
"Sorry, sir. It's a girl thing," she replied.
"Oh, for cryin' out loud."
Faith just grinned at him before looking at Buffy. "So where to next? I think we've finished up here."
Buffy took a drink of her iced mochaccino. "We need to go to Sam's house."
"My house?" Sam asked in surprise. "Why?"
"To change, of course."
"For what?"
"To go out," Buffy said simply.
"Go out where?" Jack asked suspiciously. He had a feeling he wasn't going to like this.
"Clubbing," Buffy said slowly. She didn't know why they were surprised by this.
"Hammond just said to take you out," Jack said hotly. "We did. You've been shopping. Time to go back to the base."
"Oh, huh uh," Dawn said. "Part of the deal was clubbing. We need it, trust me. If we go much longer you'll have three crazed women on your hands."
"She's right. We ain't askin' for much . Just the chance to release some steam."
"Is that not why we spar?" Teal'c asked.
"Partially," Buffy said. "But that's just to burn off our extra energy we have from being slayers. This is more of a, a…"
"Sexual release," Faith supplied.
Buffy shoved her slightly. "No, but close."
"I still don't get it," Daniel said, looking at the three women a slight blush on his cheeks.
"You will later, trust me."
XXXXXXXX
Daniel watched the sea of bodies move to the music from his seat at the bar. He had never fit in with this type of crowd in college and he sure as hell didn't fit in now, despite the women's efforts. They had made a quick stop at both his and Jack's places to make sure they were 'appropriately' dressed.
Buffy had found the oldest, most worn pair of jeans he owned at the bottom of a drawer. They were soft and hugged his body. Dawn found a similarly old blue t-shirt for him to wear. He had beefed up some since the last time he had worn it and so it felt clingy. He had been highly self-conscious about it, but Sam assured him that he looked fine. And judging by some of the looks he had been receiving she was more than right. Of course, it only served to make him even more nervous.
He looked over to see how Jack was handling things. At outward appearance, he looked very relaxed leaning against the bar with a Guinness in his hand. But Daniel could see that Jack was keeping an eye on both the exits and their charges.
Daniel decided that Jack had been the lucky one in the clothing department. His khakis and button down shirt were loose fitting, but he still managed to look stylish. He would smile rakishly at every young woman who checked him out. It never deterred him from his true job, though.
"Daniel Jackson, why have you not joined the dancing?" Teal'c asked, returning from his sweep of the club.
"Why haven't you?" He replied a little sourly.
"I already have. Faith insisted on one dance."
Jack looked over at him and asked. "How was it?"
"A most unusual experience. The song had an evil beat," the large man said loudly over the noise.
"Wicked beat, Teal'c. Wicked," Jack corrected with a grin before taking a drink of his beer.
"Why have neither of you joined them?" Teal'c asked.
"I, uh, can't dance," Daniel confessed.
"I can, I just don't," Jack said shortly.
Teal'c looked at Daniel. "Buffy Summers informed me that you would say that and asked me to assure you that it would not be a hindrance."
"She did?"
"I believe her exact words were – 'Tell book boy to come play and I will not take no for an answer.'" Teal'c said, the corner of his mouth curling very slightly.
Daniel sent Jack a pleading look. "Maybe I should find Sam."
"Sure, she's out there dancing with them," Jack said with a grin. He gave the archaeologist a push towards the dance floor. "Go on and play. You need to release some…."
"Don't you dare say it, Jack," Daniel said with a glare, which only caused Jack's grin to get bigger.
"They are waiting," Teal'c reminded him.
He clenched his teeth together and waded into the sea of bodies toward Sam and the other three women. He could do this. All he had to do was convince himself that this was just a ritual to do to ensure a friendship with a new civilization.
One look at his destination quickly banished that thought. While Sam had dressed in a simple, flowing skirt and top, and was even dancing fairly conservatively, the same could not be said about their visitors. They were dressed in clothing that was so tight it could have been painted on and revealed a lot of skin. As for the dancing, well, it seemed that they more undulated to the music rather than any sort of dancing he had seen.
Realizing that this was a mistake, he turned to leave by was stopped by Dawn's firm grip on his arm. She pulled him into their group and looked helplessly down at her. "I don't know how to dance," he said.
"Not a prob," she said with a brilliant smile. "We'll show you how."
He apprehensively looked around at everyone on the dance floor. "But…"
"They don't matter," she said firmly. She stepped up close to him and wrapped her arms around him. In his ear, she explained. "Dancing should never be about them, but about you. Close your eyes and feel the music. Let it show you how to move."
He pulled back and looked at her in disbelief.
"Trust me," she said.
With a sigh, he closed his eyes and tuned his senses to the music. After a moment, he understood what Dawn had been saying. He could feel the music in his body. The rhythm began pulsing through is veins and something inside him released.
"See, wasn't so hard," Dawn said.
He opened his eyes and was startled to realize that he was dancing. Sure, his movements weren't as graceful as theirs, but he was moving to the beat. A flush crept up his neck as Faith pressed against his back. But he finally saw why they had said they needed this. It was liberating.
XXXXXXXX
"Well, Danny-boy, I must say I'm impressed," Jack said, slapping his shoulder as they walked to their vehicle they had borrowed from the base. "I never knew you had it in you."
"What?" Daniel asked, enjoying the cool air compared to the heat inside.
"Just didn't pin you as the dancer type."
"I'm not," he said. Trying to divert the attention away from himself, he said, "Sam was out there more than I was."
"What's that supposed to mean, Daniel?" She asked in mock hurt.
"Nothing, just you…" He gave up, recognizing the teasing look in her eye.
"Don't worry," Buffy said. "Next time Jack will join us."
"Oh, I don't think so," Jack protested, unlocking the doors.
"Oh, but you will," Buffy said, climbing in. "Even if I have to drag you out there myself."
"Like you could," Jack scoffed.
"Hello, super powers," Faith said, making her way to the back of the Suburban.
"She has a point," Sam said with a grin.
"Shut up, Carter," Jack said irritably.
Once everyone was in and seatbelts buckled, Jack started the vehicle and headed back to the base. Even though he would vociferously deny it if asked, the night out had been good for his team. He hadn't seen Daniel and Carter smile this much since…. Well, never. Teal'c even managed to look relaxed in a way that only he could do.
It was because of this that he felt it would only be gentlemanly of him to escort them back into the mountain. They had no sooner switched elevators on Level Eleven when an alarm began ringing and a disembodied voice said, "Security team to the gateroom! Security team t…" Then the voice was abruptly cut off.
"Crap," Jack said, pushing the sixteen button.
"What's going on?" Buffy asked, all business.
"I don't know," Jack said. The elevator opened and everyone got off. They followed Jack down the hall. He swiped his I.D. card and they entered a room lined with screens. Through the security feed they could see what was happening in the gateroom.
"Oh my god," Dawn gasped. "Buffy, isn't that a…"
"Fyarl," the slayer finished grimly.
"A what?" Daniel asked.
"Fyarl," Buffy repeated. "It's a demon."
