Inescapable: Chapter 6

AN: Disclaimer and all in Chapter 1. Okie dokie, must apologise again for any spelling, grammar mistakes etc., unfortunately I'm no English expert, ironically I'm studying Information Technology and even after 4yrs of that I know very little about it, so please, try to have tolerance with my English skills! I had a fight with the email addresses in the quick editor so sorry they look so strange -i'm not used to this thing!

"You think maybe I should…" Carter suggested, pointing in the direction Jack had just escaped.

Daniel's eyebrows rose slowly and his eyes grew. He leaned his head a little to the right. "I wouldn't advise it."

"Right," Sam said, nodding, still a little stunned.

"Did he say?"

"Yup."

"And you knew?"

"Uhuh."

"So..."

Daniel walked towards Sam and said, "Go do some thinking, Sam."

Carter arched an eyebrow and opened her mouth as Daniel walked on past her. She took a breath and closed her mouth abruptly as Daniel's footsteps grew quieter. So, she had heard what she thought she heard. Did it really mean what she thought and how did Daniel know? Was Jack O'Neill really in love with her… and for that matter, who was she truly in love with?

Daniel's right, I have a looooot of thinking to do, she told herself as she strode off towards her lab.

Jack felt like screaming when he finally reached the comfort of his office. Today had been a really bad day. He exhaled at length and stretched his legs out underneath his desk, crossing them and his ankles. A knock at the door, made anger tingle up his spine. Walter walked inside.

"Sir, you have-"

"Walter?"

"Yes, sir?" Walter asked apprehensively.

Jack laced his fingers, leaning into the back of his seat and rested his hands on his lap. He inclined his head and pursed his lips, squinting beady eyes at the soldier standing nervously before him. He parted his lips and asked, "What does the sign on my door say?"

Walter frowned and answered, "General Jack O'Neill, sir."

Jack scowled at him and snapped his wrist at Walter. "The other sign, Sergeant," he clarified, thinking Walter was trying to be a smartass.

Walter looked helpless, now aware what the General had been referring to. It wasn't that he hadn't seen it, it was just he assumed it was a joke.

"Do not disturb, sir," Walter offered, speaking of the oddly shaped piece of card taped to the door that looked suspiciously like the remnants of a file folder. It had those words scribbled furiously in capital letters with a lot of unnecessary exclamation marks, all in Jack's handwriting.

"And would you say I'm disturbed?" Walter's lips quirked just slightly and Jack bolted upright with a finger trained on him. "Careful!" He warned. Walter cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, General, but you really need to read your emails - there are a few issues that need your attention." With a strained smile and a bow of the head, Walter turned and left.

"Issues," Jack grumbled into the silent room. "Does he not think I have enough already?" Jack relented and tapped his keyboard, bringing the screen to life and entering his inbox. He sighed when he saw a string of unread mails. He opened a blank document.

If I can figure out a way to screw this heap of circuits up bad enough I can put this off for a while, Jack thought, hitting random keys. His attention was drawn to the 'f' keys at the top of the keyboard - something weird always happened when he pushed them.

Sweet, I'm getting better at this technojunk! All right, what'll it be, f12?

An eyebrow shot up, and he danced his head, left to right, deciding.

Too easy, f1? It does have a question mark on the key itself… could be interesting.

Jack hit it. An irritating noise reached his ears as the computer processed what he'd done. A moment of anticipation then the little paperclip guy, that he had spent days trying to get rid of, popped up in the corner, a speech bubble above his maddening little eyebrows. It asked: 'What would you like to do?'

He typed 'kill Daniel Jackson' in the field and pressed return. He grumbled in dissatisfaction as it returned a list that started with 'delete a file'.

Nuts.

Just as he was about to press another 'f' button, he was alerted to a new mail. Daniel. Jack almost didn't want to read it, but it was a distraction so he went ahead and opened it.

From: "Jackson, Daniel, Dr." spacemonkey(a)sgc.gov

To: "O'Neill, Jack, General," theman(a)sgc.gov

Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 16:01:45

Subject: Idle thoughts…

General,

Technically this isn't talking so your warning doesn't count momentarily. Nevertheless, I won't use the aforementioned words, just in case. In keeping with my new task - to update you on the gossip - I thought I should let you know of an argument between a genius, blonde, Colonel and a stubby cop. Word is the argument had some pining, grouchy General's… emotional opinion of said Colonel as the main topic. Anyone you know? Have a feeling Teal'c knows what went on but is being tight lipped about it.

Maybe my female team-mate could shed some light on it for me…

Have a nice day,

Daniel.

Jack clenched his jaw as he finished reading and hit the button to reply while lifting his phone and hitting an extension. He held the phone between his ear and shoulder as he began to type.

From: "O'Neill, Jack, General," theman(a)sgc.gov

To: "Jackson, Daniel, Dr." spacemonkey(a)sgc.gov

Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 16:04:21

Subject: Re: Idle thoughts…

Daniel,

I'll let you choose the first limb if you just keep your busy little ass in that lab. If you talk to Carter, I'll start with your tongue and make my way down.

And I do not pine!

Jack.

"Teal'c. My office. Now."

I blame no sleep for this chapter... or lack thereof.