Chapter 15

"Huh." Daniel closed his cell phone and stared at it blankly for a few seconds.

"Is there a problem, DanielJackson?" Teal'c had tried his best to discourage Daniel from calling O'Neill and Colonel Carter. He felt the two should be left in peace to sort out what had been ignored for far too long.

"No, no. Not really . . . it's just strange. Jack said 'Sam said yes' and then he told me not to call back and hung up on me." Daniel's tone was almost plaintive as he looked at his phone. Suddenly his head snapped up and he turned sharply toward Teal'c, almost bumping into him.

Teal'c reached out and steadied his friend, eyebrow raised in silent question as he took in the expression on Daniel's face. Daniel was at the beginning of what O'Neill referred to as "Daniel on a tear." All Teal'c really needed to do was get out of his friend's way and listen patiently. Daniel would spill the answer and more.

Daniel waived his phone in a frantic gesture. He was really building up steam. "She said yes! Jack said, 'She said yes.' Don't you see?" Teal'c didn't alter his expression. He waited for it. "Don't you see! Sam said yes! Jack must have asked her to marry him!" Daniel paused, suddenly horrified. "Crap. I must have called right when he was asking her. Crap. Jack's gonna kill me."

Dismay at the possibility of interrupting the long awaited proposal was displaced by Daniel's ever growing excitement. He reached over and slapped Teal'c on the back, a wide grin plastered across his face.

"Jack finally did it, Teal'c. He finally got his head out of the sand and proposed to Sam! 'Bout damn time, too. I was beginning to wonder if the two of them would ever get it together. It's only been staring them in the face for the past 8 years! I gotta call General Hammond, he's gonna want to know about this."

Daniel flipped open his phone, ready to make the call, but Teal'c stayed his hand. "Do you think that is wise, DanielJackson? You do not know for sure that O'Neill has proposed to Colonel Carter."

Daniel gazed, dumbfounded, at Teal'c. "Oh, c'mon Teal'c. What else could it be? 'She said yes.' What else could that be? Jack only said it because he knew it would drive me nuts. It has to mean he proposed and she accepted."

"If O'Neill has proposed, I do not think he would appreciate you calling to inform General Hammond of such a personal event."

Daniel shrugged. "That's why we're not going to tell him! Listen, General Hammond called me before we came up here and told me to keep him informed of anything that happened while we're up here. He's got some serious money in the pool and he wants inside information. Besides, he said he'd cut me – " Teal'c raised an eyebrow in question, "us" Daniel amended, " . . . he said he'd cut us in, if we gave him the heads up."

Teal'c removed his hand from Daniel's arm in concession, but said, "I still do not approve of this." Inwardly, he sighed, nothing on this earth was going to stop Daniel and he knew it.

"S'Okay, Teal'c, Jack'll never know." Daniel flipped open his phone and hit the speed dial for General Hammond. "General Hammond, please. It's Daniel Jackson. Project Bluebird."

Daniel waited a few minutes, absently walking in circles as he waited for the General. "This better be good, Dr. Jackson. I have the Joint Chief's waiting."

"General, Teal'c and I left them at the cabin alone for a few days. I just called to check on them and Jack told me 'She said yes' before he told me not to call him back and then hung up on me. General, that's gotta mean he proposed. Jack proposed and Sam said yes." Excitement was bubbling through Daniel.

"They're at the cabin alone? That's good news, Son. But, are you sure he proposed and she accepted?"

Daniel's smile dimmed just a bit. "Well, no, but that's what it's gotta be General. What else could he have meant?" Daniel rolled it around in his head again, looking at the angles. Could Jack have meant something different? Nope, nothing. "No, General, I'm positive. He had to have meant he proposed and Sam accepted. I'd stake my life on it."

"That's not much, Doctor, since you always come back from the dead. We're talking money here, Son. A lot of money. You'd better be right. Keep me informed of any other developments."

The line went dead and Daniel again stared at his phone. "Crap. I hope I'm right."

Teal'c nodded gravely, "Indeed," but continued to stare at Daniel.

"What?"

"Project Bluebird?"

"Yeah, well that was General Hammond's idea. I can't exactly call and tell his assistant it's about Jack and Sam, can I?"

Teal'c kept his eyebrow raised. Daniel caught on, "Oh, Bluebird, like Bluebird of Happiness. It's their chance to be happy, so General Hammond thought it was appropriate."

Teal'c dropped his eyebrow and nodded, "Indeed."

General Hammond hung up the phone from Dr. Jackson and immediately dialed the SGC. "Sergeant Harriman please. It's General Hammond."

Walter picked up, "Harriman."

"Walter, put me down for another thousand and put Dr. Jackson and Teal'c in for five hundred each. They'll both pay in when they get back."

"Yes, Sir. Sir? Is this insider information? Are you aware of new developments?"

"Walter, I'm not at liberty to discuss any potential developments. You may put yourself down for any additional amount you would like, but you are not to speculate with anyone. Is that clear?"

Walter sighed. Sometimes it was a real bitch being in charge of the pool. "Yes, sir. Crystal."

"Good. I'll see you in a few weeks during the routine tour."

Walter hung up and pondered the call for a few moments. General Hammond must be on to something if he was laying down an additional Grand. The man had to have inside information. Besides, they were up a the cabin. Walter smiled to himself, hoping General O'Neill and Colonel Carter were getting their act together. Oh, yes, he'd be upping his own bet – quietly for now.