Insanity
"Good afternoon, Dr. Jackson," the elderly woman said, smiling gently at the young, slightly flustered looking man.
"Please, Mrs. Jenkins, call me Daniel," her neighbor responded, smiling in return. He was a shy and quiet young man, and, although he kept odd hours, Martha Jenkins found herself liking the boy.
Dr. Daniel Jackson, doctor of archeology, had moved in a little over a year ago. Mrs. Jenkins had watched him move in; the few boxes of belongings all looked either ancient or brand new. She had met his friend- Colonel Jack- grey haired and handsome, yet cocky. That was the only friend the young man seemed to have, and, even then, how good of friends could they be? An Air Force Colonel doesn't exactly meld well into a civilian consultant's social life.
Daniel juggled the books in his arms clumsily as he tried to unlock his door. He had just managed to turn the handle as his cell phone rang. Scrambling to set down the books and answer the phone, Daniel's door didn't close completely, and Mrs. Jenkins could not resist temptation. She peeked in the crack and listened intently.
"Daniel," Doctor Jackson answered the phone, leaning wearily against the wall.
Martha felt a flush of embarrassment and looked around guiltily before resuming her eavesdropping.
"Jack, I already told you! I'm fine! Quit worrying about me. He didn't mean to hurt me."
Hurt him? Had one of those mean Air Force thugs been picking on that poor young man?
"Okay, so at first he was going to eat me, but we got over that, right? I mean, the rope burns on my wrists were really my fault. I'm the one who jumped in the water to escape."
Martha's eyes widened in alarm. Surely she had heard wrong! Maybe it was a figure of speech.
"Yah, out of the frying pan and into the water. Ha ha. Real funny, Jack. Look, I know you were worried about me, but I handled the situation."
Yah, you go, Daniel! Show those bullies who's in charge! Martha smiled proudly.
"Okay, so you did kinda save me from the giant lizard, uh, Unas, guy. But that doesn't give you the right to tell Hammond I can't be allowed on other planets without you!"
Martha's smile turned into a perplexed and shocked gape.
"Yah, I know, Jack. I'm sorry you had to shoot Rothman."
Mrs. Jenkins gulped.
"Yah, Jack. I'll see you tomorrow. Yah, a nice quiet planet this time." Daniel laughed aloud.
Alarmed, Martha tentatively touched the door handle.
"Okay, not quiet, just... Not life threatening, huh?"
Mrs. Jenkins' hands were shaking as she pulled the door closed.
"Yah, see ya, Jack." Daniel closed the phone and shook his head wryly.
As the door latched with a quiet click, Martha decided her husband was right. It's the quiet ones you've got to worry about.
