Disclaimer: Stargate SG1 and all affiliated characters do not belong to me. I'm only borrowing them, and am making no money from this. Just having some fun.
AN: As all of these are stand alone, the story is marked as complete, but may be added to from time to time as I have more ideas. My thoughts for a Jack chapter didn't work, but I'm still thinking on a setting for that or other possible ideas. Enjoy and cheers!
POV: Sam
Episode reference: No particular episode, somewhere in mid S7
No ships but friendships, canon compliant, reviews and suggestions for other chapters welcome.
Unexpected Warrior
By Lady Callista
Chapter 3
It had become a joke between them over the years, especially as it got harder and harder to tell that Daniel wasn't military, wasn't really a soldier.
He'd learned the parlance first, unsurprisingly. He'd gotten sick of having to ask about acronyms, or terminology, and used some military manuals to give himself a crash course. It had taken him longer to learn the hand signals, partially, she suspected, because his attention was often wandering and not focused on whoever was leading the way.
He knew ranks within a few months though, and had learned military protocols and procedures and regulations, although given how often he still didn't follow them she suspected that had been more so he'd have the knowledge when him and Colonel O'Neill argued, or when he wanted to make a point to General Hammond.
He'd learned how to joke with the marines about a year in, around the same time he'd earned their respect, and by year three had stopped being surprised that soldiers would listen and look to him in a combat or emergency situation. Hell, she had been surprised by it the first time it happened, although only because she hadn't realized it wasn't just SG-1 who knew and understood his worth.
Sam knew exactly what those soldiers saw in him, why they had no hesitation in standing shoulder to shoulder with a civilian, or in trusting him with their lives.
She knew because she saw it now, as SG-1 advanced slowly through the gaudy and confusing hallways of a Goa'uld mothership.
His hands were certain and sure with the P90 he held to his shoulder, raising it automatically as she crossed in front of him to leapfrog into the next alcove down, turning automatically to watch back the way they'd come as the others moved into position as well. When it was his turn he moved quickly, automatically walking in a way that kept his aim as stable as possible, sliding into an alcove and keeping his focus forward, knowing the others were now watching his six.
He didn't slouch, didn't amble with his gaze on the floor, but kept his head on a constant swivel, his gaze raptor sharp behind what she knew was his third pair of glasses this year. When he sharply raised his arm, fist closed, everyone froze instantly, hearing the rhythmic pounding of Jaffa boots and ducking further back into their alcoves and the cover they provided.
No warrior watching them now would suspect he wasn't really a soldier.
She's not sure if Daniel would be pleased or horrified by that fact. He'd definitely be shocked.
She knows it won't last long.
They'll get back to base, and he'll fold in on himself again, the distracted and guarded posture of someone who had always been a geek in a world of jocks. She saw it in too many of the civilian scientists not to recognize it.
Or Plan C, which they're currently on, will just make this snafu worse, and he'll start arguing with the colonel on what Plan D should be, absolutely convinced he's right and hell bent on convincing everyone else.
But for now, she's once again in combat with him and knows that she trusts him as much as any soldier she's ever worked with.
It won't last long, but for a brief time, she really does forget that Daniel isn't military as they advance down the halls.
