Okay, clearly I wasn't done with a oneshot and thought some of the 'events' leading up to chapter one needed to be explored. So, here is a story told out of sequence entirely on purpose because I like stories told out of order. Lot of Daniel angst and idiocy for the next two chapters. Apologies in advance.


"Daniel," Sam acknowledged as she glanced up from her laptop when she noticed her friend's silhouette fill her doorway. "Can you just give me a minute? I am almost done -

"Sorry, Sam, this can't wait," Daniel replied in agitation, advancing into Sam's office without proper invitation. He began pacing in front of her workstation, his hands finding his pockets absentmindedly.

Sam glanced at her computer, then back up at her companion. She just gave a half-hearted shrug and propped her chin on her fist. "Okay. What can I do for you, Daniel?"

Daniel was still pacing, shaking his head, before coming to a dead stop. He took his glasses off and pinched the bridge of his nose while squeezing his eyes closed as tightly as humanly possible. When he relaxed his tense posture, he eyed the lieutenant colonel hesitantly. "Has Vala seemed, I don't know, off to you?"

Sam raised her eyebrows in amused disbelief. "This is what couldn't wait?"

Daniel waved away her incredulity and pressed on. "She has been remarkably…" He trailed off, grasping for the word before settling on, "subdued, the last few days."

"Subdued? Vala?" Daniel let his words hang in the air while Sam contemplated the behavior of her friend and coworker. She shook her head ruefully. "Sorry, no. She seems like the same old Vala to me."

Daniel sighed and his shoulders visibly slumped. "I was afraid of that," he muttered to himself. He dropped himself unceremoniously into the chair in front of the counter. "Teal'c said the same thing. So did Cameron. Nothing out of the ordinary. Which can only mean one thing."

Sam tipped her head in curiosity. "And that is?"

Daniel put his glassed back on and adjusted them slightly. "She's mad at me," he exhaled sharply.

Sam tossed another look at her computer screen before responding. All she could come up with was, "Well, no offense, Daniel, but that never seemed to bother you before, so why is it different this time?"

Daniel was visibly alarmed by her words. "It doesn't bother me," he countered.

Sam peered at him, entirely unconvinced. "Then why are you here?"

Jumping to his own defense, Daniel exclaimed, "Because, in the past when Vala was mad at me, I usually understood why. I knew how to handle that. This came out of nowhere. One day, she was her usual distracting and ridiculous self, then the next she was…" He trailed off, appearing lost in thought now, most likely recounting his own perspective of the last few days' events. It did little to help Sam watch him stare into space.

"She was what, Daniel?" Sam probed, breaking his silent reflection.

"Sorry," he apologized distractedly. "She came in the other day, sat down, and did her work. Barely said a word but was completely pleasant the entire time. Not the fake pleasant she uses when she is throwing a fit. It was completely genuine. She was so… helpful. We even managed to finish a translation that has been baffling me for weeks. And she's been like that for days."

Sam could not help the look she gave him. Without saying a word, she was telling him he sounded downright insane. "Vala's been pleasant so obviously she's mad at you? Sure, makes complete sense," she droned sarcastically. Leaning forward, she stage-whispered conspiratorially, "Daniel, did it ever occur to you that maybe she's just making an effort?"

He shook his head adamantly. "See, I knew. I knew you would say that. Of course, it occurred to me, Sam. Except, according to the rest of you, Vala has been completely normal." He paused. "Well, normal for her. So, why is she treating me differently than you guys?"

Sam smirked. "You know, for someone who says he isn't bothered, you're making a good case to the contrary." She threw her hands up, completely at a loss. "I'm still failing to see how this proves Vala is mad at you."

"She's treating me like a coworker," he grumbled.

"She is your coworker," Sam pointed out. Daniel remained silent, rolling his eyes at the obvious statement, but looking more forlorn that he ought. Sam eyed her screen as if she were looking for answers but found none there. She contemplated the evidence carefully. "But," Sam began slowly after a moment, "she isn't treating you like a friend." Daniel looked at her hopefully, watching as the pieces were finally falling into place. Sam continued, "No more friends and coworkers. Just the coworker part. And so, obviously… Vala is mad at you."

Daniel nodded woefully, though, he was grateful that someone finally got it.

"Holy Hannah, what did you do?" Sam exclaimed.

"I don't know!" Daniel cried, throwing his hands out in frustration. "I told you, normally I understand why she's mad. Vala is many things, but subtle is not one of them." Daniel sighed deeply. "I'm completely out of my depth here. Whatever it was, it was big this time."

"Have you tried talking to her about it?"

Daniel shook his head. "No, not yet. I wanted to see if my theory lined up with the evidence first."

Sam could not argue with that logic. "So, now that your theory is confirmed, are you going to talk to her?"

Daniel shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I suppose I should. I'm more than a little worried about what I'll find when I do though," he said more to himself than her as he stared into space.

Sam sighed, shaking her head. "I'm sorry. I wish I knew how to help."

Daniel gave her a small smile as he scratched the back of his neck. "It's okay. I appreciate you listening, even if all it did was prove what I was afraid of."

"Oh, for crying out loud," came a disembodied and obviously exasperated voice.

Daniel snapped to attention. His eyes darted around the room. "Jack?"

"Daniel." The voice came from Sam's computer.

Daniel glanced back and forth between the back of the laptop and the colonel. Sam grinned sheepishly. "I tried to tell you I was busy."

Daniel circled the counter to find Jack O'Neill on a full-screen video conference with Sam. Jack gave a little wave. Daniel's already sour mood took an even sharper downward turn. "Hi, Jack," Daniel spoke with forced politeness.

They watched Jack lean back and cross his arms over his chest, everything about his body language screaming smug. "Hello, Daniel."

"I take it you heard all that?"

"Oh yeah," the older man confirmed nonchalantly.

"Of course, you did," Daniel groaned.

Sam bit her lip to stifle a laugh. Turning her attention back to the screen, she started to speak to her former CO. "Sir, maybe we should-

Jack held up a hand to stop her. "No way, Carter. You're not hanging up on me now. This might be the one time I know more than both of you and I'm going to enjoy it."

Daniel eyed the older man dubiously. "Excuse me?"

"Just ask her out already!" Jack exclaimed.

Daniel began to sputter, and Sam once again tried to hide her amusement by looking away. "N-no. Nonononononononono, that is not

"Oh, shut up, will ya?" Jack interrupted causing the other man to freeze. Jack sat forward abruptly. "That is exactly what it is, and you know it."

Sam had to admit she was a little disappointed she didn't come up with that herself. She of all people should understand what that is like. She spared a glance at Daniel. He held a finger up in protest and his mouth was hanging open in an unfinished thought. Looking back at Jack on the monitor, she gave him an appreciative smile before quashing it again.

Daniel began shaking his head vehemently. "First of all, have you met Vala? Secondly, we work together. I would expect you of all people to understand," he added bitterly.

Jack raised a challenging eyebrow, but he was not about to take Daniel's venomous bait. "Last I checked, you're still a civilian. C'mon, Daniel. You two have been doing this dance for ages, and it sounds like Vala's given up on waiting for you to finally get your act together. Dollars to donuts, she's trying to move on."

Daniel went to object again, his frustration gaining momentum. "Landry would never - and the potential conflict of interest is – I don't – I would never - no, no, you've got this all wrong -

"Well, then I guess you better get used to being "coworkers", Danny boy," Jack interjected, already tired of his friend's inability to finish a thought.

Daniel grew incredibly quiet. Sam watched Daniel discreetly as the wheels turned in the archeologist's head. A second or two passed. The fiery frustration seemed to die down. "I, um," he stumbled, "I have to go. Nice seeing you, Jack." Daniel disappeared before the older man could reply.

Sam watched him go before turning back to the man on her screen. "You old romantic," she teased lightly. "Do you think he'll take your advice?"

Jack shrugged a solitary shoulder. "Has he ever?"

Sam gave him a knowing smile. "When it counts," she replied.

"Yes, well. Time will tell, won't it?"

"Yes, sir."

"So, are we still on for fishing this weekend?" he asked with a waggle of his eyebrows.

Sam blushed and rolled her eyes. "Yes, sir."

Jack smirked. "He's not here, anymore, Carter. You can drop the 'sir'."

"Force of habit. Sir," she replied cheekily, extra emphasis put on the last word.

"Tease," he grumbled, even though he could not keep his dopey grin at bay.

Sam just laughed lightly. "Bye, Jack."


There we are. A bit of Daniel confusion and a bit of Jack and Sam because OTP.