Little Pieces of Her Heart
by Sarai
A/N: Chapter Three, more soon. Please R&R as always.
Chapter Three
Three weeks later…
Daniel, writing some notes in Sam's lab as she examined the contents of a Petri dish, looked up as he heard the sound of footsteps approaching.
"Good morning campers." Jack clapped his hands as he entered the room, startling the both of them. He grinned unapologetically as the nib on Daniel's pen split.
"Jack," said Daniel with a terse smile. "To what do we owe the pleasure?" He threw his pen into the bin before turning to look incredulously at his beaming friend.
"Well Dannyboy it may have escaped your notice but one year ago today was my first day as commander of this base." He leaned over the table. "And, we're all going out tonight to celebrate." He looked pointedly at Carter. "The four of us."
Noticing Sam's carefully schooled face and continuing silence Daniel frowned.
"That sounds great Jack. Sam?"
She jerked her head, turned on a falsely brilliant smile and said, "Sure, General. Count me in."
"Good. Tonight at 8. O'Malley's. Don't be late."
He smiled slyly, wagged a finger and sauntered out of the room.
Daniel shook his head, amused, but still a little confused by Sam's reaction. "Err, can I borrow a pen?"
Sam's base phone rang. She sprang up to answer it. "Sure there's one in the draw."
Daniel got up and walked around the desk. Opening the draw he rooted around for a pen. Instead his hand fell on what was indescribably a rolled up ball of paper. Amused, Sam was always a bit of a neat freak, especially where her lab was concerned, he pulled it out noticing with a frown the official-looking SGC letter headed paper. Checking to see she had her back to him, and feeling not a little bit naughty, Daniel unfolded the paper. He looked up in surprise, at the doorway, to Sam and then back at the paper. He smiled.
O'Malley's was perfect for them. The noisy backdrop meant they had no qualms talking about work, whilst the juicy, rare steaks were the best in Colorado. The evening was going well, particularly considering the undeniable tension between the General and his 2IC. They sat opposite each other and Daniel couldn't help but notice how often they caught each other's eyes. He glanced over at Teal'c before coughing loudly, breaking the pair out of one such moment.
Jack cleared his throat, sitting back in his chair. He knew Daniel had been watching him but he didn't care. Jack couldn't help but notice how beautiful his 2IC looked tonight. She was dressed casually in tight blue jeans, boots and a cream sweater. Her hair fell enticingly over her forehead and Jack's fingers itched with a desire to brush it away. Lacing them determinedly on his stomach he took a deep breath. It was harder than he thought to begin.
Silence descended on the table as they looked at him, sensing he was about to say something important.
"Kids, I've brought you here for another reason. Apart from the whole celebration thing."
He paused, trying to find the words.
"I'm…leaving the SGC."
There was a stunned silence. The three members of SG-1 stared at him. Slowly his words began to sink in. Daniel spoke first, or at least, tried to.
"You're…leaving? But why Jack...? To go where…?"
This was easy enough.
"They want me at the Pentagon, doing Hammond's old job. Head of Homeworld Security." He huffed. "I'll be a desk-pusher. But it's an important job and it does leave me free to do other things." He glanced at Sam, whose eyes were fixed on the table. "And let's face it Dannyboy, I was always pretty ham-fisted when it comes to making decisions at the base."
Daniel spluttered but it was Teal'c who responded first.
"Who will be the new base commander?" His face was blank, a slightly baffled expression in his eyes, but he was ready to support the man he looked on as a brother.
"You're not seriously telling me you're ok with this T-?"
"Daniel! It's not as if I haven't been there long enough, for cryin' out loud!" Jack was watching Sam's face carefully. "The new guy is Hank Landry," he said to Teal'c, "friend of mine actually. Good guy."
At that moment Sam sprang up from up suddenly from the table, pushing herself away from it and almost making her chair fall backwards. She avoided looking at any of them, instead running quickly out of the restaurant.
Jack was torn, go after Carter or give her the space she clearly wanted. Daniel watched him carefully. Leaning forward he urged him on quietly.
"Go after her Jack. She's upset. Don't you think you've given her enough space, up until now?" Jack raised his head, looking first at Daniel, then at Teal'c.
"Colonel Carter needs you O'Neill." His tone reminded Jack of when Teal'c had cornered him in the locker room whilst Carter had been stranded aboard the Prometheus.
Jack stood, leaving as quickly as Sam.
Daniel sat back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. "Finally."
Teal'c smiled. "Indeed."