Inescapable: Chapter 6

AN: Disclaimer and all in Chapter 1. All righty kiddies, short again. Oh, forgot to say that the song in Chapter 4 was 'Cannonball' by Damien Rice. Sorry about that. And I apologise if I said anything about Threads last time - hope I didn't give anything away. This is hopefully a bit lighter than the last.

"Is your cranium well, DanielJackson?"

Daniel looked up from his notes and looked at Teal'c in confusion. A moment, doing what he does best – translating Teal'c speak into English and he realised he was borrowing and morphing Jack's phrase 'how's the head?'

"Fine." Well, it was now. A day later. It had been touch and go for a while yesterday though.

"I am glad," Teal'c said with his eyebrow angled as he walked into Daniel's office.

Daniel sat back in his chair and decided he should use the Jaffa's impromptu visit to see if he could get any information on what had happened after he passed out at the party. Jack had been avoiding him since and Daniel wondered if he even remembered the conversation they had in the wee hours of the morning.

"So, what went on at the party after I coped out?" Daniel asked with an innocent smile. Teal'c's lips twitched.

"You wish to know what happened between O'Neil and PeteShannahan," Teal'c stated and Daniel looked back at him sheepishly. The eyebrow went up. "I have no knowledge of O'Neill's private exchange with him but I believe it had something to do with the argument he and Colonel Carter had later that night."

Daniel leaned forward with a tepid interest. "Jack argued with her again?"

"No, PeteShannahan and Colonel Carter."

"Oh," Daniel replied pensively. "What did they argue about?"

"O'Neill."

"Really?" Daniel tried to sound surprised. "And?" Teal'c tilted his head and his eyes seemed to be asking 'And?' in return. Daniel shook his head in frustration. "What did you hear?"

"I would not feel comfortable disclosing such private information about Colonel Carter's personal life."

"Teal'c!" Daniel shot out of his seat and muttered something about 'insufferable Jaffa morals' and headed for the door.

"Perhaps you should ask Colonel Carter herself," Teal'c suggested, turning to see Daniel just stop outside the door, scowling at him. Teal'c's dimples began to show as he grinned at Daniel. Daniel hurried away with a roll of his eyes.

"Jesus!" Jack roared, holding his nose as Daniel slammed into him around the corner. Too preoccupied with his own pain he didn't notice that the collision had sent Daniel sprawling ungraciously to the floor.

"No, Jack," Daniel said with irritation, gritting his teeth at his own pain. "Just me." Daniel winced as he picked himself up.

Jack's eyes shot to Daniel from atop his cradled nose. He glared at Daniel, hard, not appreciating the joke. "Lost your Dust-Buster, Jackson?" Jack spat, now rubbing his nose and checking for blood. It was Daniel's turn to glare now.

"If you hadn't been avoiding me maybe this wouldn't have happened," Daniel retorted, rubbing his backside. Jack almost growled at him and Daniel threw his eyes up at the glare he was still receiving.

"I am not avoiding you." Jack said firmly, grinding out the words, daring Daniel to argue.

Of course, Daniel would have to argue. "Are too."

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Am n- Daniel!"

Daniel flinched at Jack's shout and the way his body shook with anger. He flew an 'oh boy' eyebrow up, wondering exactly how fast he could run. Daniel watched Jack's eyes slip shut, tightly. His fists balled till his knuckles turned white and even though Daniel's brain was screaming insanely for his feet to carry him away, very, very far away, he found he could only stare in awe at how red Jack's face was getting. A low guttural sound started in Jack's belly and clawed its way up to his throat where it erupted in the most ear piercing, savage bellow Daniel had ever had the misfortune to hear – and he had heard Mariah Carey sing.

Jack held his particular ear-splitting note for longer than Daniel expected he could. Jack apparently had very fit and very large lungs. Suddenly Daniel fought the urge to chuckle. Best not to provoke him any further though. Maybe his death would be a quick one.

"Jack I…"

"Don't!" He pointed a stiff finger at Jackson. "Daniel," Jack took a slow, deliberate breath. "If I hear the words, Carter, Pete, engagement, denial, love or my feelings come out of your mouth in any way, form or matter - I will dismember you. Slowly."

Daniel nodded dumbly. Satisfied he had sufficiently shaken himself of his rock-duster's antics, Jack took a step to go before he really did harm the man.

His foot was hovering mid air, in his second step when he heard, "S-sir?"

"Oh for cryin' out loud!" Jack yelled, throwing his hands in the air and not needing to turn to know Carter was standing behind him with big doe eyes trained on his back. He set his foot down steadily and marched on. "Talk to the hand, Carter!" He called back defiantly as he retreated, waving a hand in the air above him as he did.

I know, nothing resolved yet… I like to turn a lot of corners when telling a story. Hehe. Feedback?