Chapter 2: Break feast with SG1
Colonel O'Neill walked into the commissary and looked around while taking in the smell. Thinking to himself that even base chow was better than MRE's. Jack spotted his team minus Carter at their usual table as he got in line for break feast. While in line he almost grabbed a blue jello for Sam. The colonel saw her enter so he went ahead and got a piece of apple pie instead. Once Jack had his fruit loops and pancakes he went to sit with his teammates.
Sergeant Sophia Rogers was counting down "3..2...1 Eat!" she said as all the base personnel present placed their bets. Today was Teal'c and Staff Sergeant Nantz's weakly eating contest. Teal'c had the sergeant 3-2 currently. The loser had to watch the winners favorite T.V. show marathon style. Ron was determined to win this time "I Love Lucy" was wearing him thin. The colonel just smiled and bumped Daniels shoulder" I put $20.00 on Teal'c, did you place a bet?" he asked.
Ron shot his CO a dirty look then continued eating the stack of pancakes and beacon in front of him. Teal'c gave a slight nod of thanks without stopping. Daniel almost lost his grip on the dusty old book he was reading. "Jack! I could have dropped this very old tome." he said in a frustrated tone. "You can read that in your office..this isn't a library" Jack replied waving his spoon around in the air. Daniel sighed and readjusted his glasses. He went back to reading only to interrupted by his friend again. "You didn't answer my question Space Monkey, did you place a bet? You could win enough money to take Janet out on a date." Jack said with a devil may care smile.
Sophia tried to stifle a laugh failing miserably. Daniel marked his spot and put the tome down. He knew between Sophia and Jack there'd be no peace. Then there was Teal'c and Ron's constant noise. "No Jack," he started "a wise man once said, I only gamble with my life not my money." Daniel replied then continued "and me and Janet aren't dating…" he finished. The surrounding tables along with Jack smile politely knowing better. "what about last week Daniel? You can't tell me that dinner at Ponderosa wasn't a date." Sophia said with mischief in her eyes.
"Ah ha! I knew it! Malcolm so owes me $40.00!" Daniel sputtered a bit then gave Sophia the look of death. "That wasn't a DATE! I lost a bet with her, that's all." he countered. "So you are a betting man. What was the bet Danny?" Jack asked bumping Daniel once again. By this time Major Carter arrived and sat across from her CO. "Have I missed anything Sir?" Carter asked in a glum mood. "Yep, Space Monkey and the Napoleonic power monger went out on a date.., hey Carter. What's wrong? You look like someone broke one of your doohickeys."
Jack asked changing from boisterous to concerned quickly. Sam's mood wasn't lost on her team members. Even Teal'c and Ron paused briefly before continuing. "Where's your blue jello, I went through and there was 4 left." Jack asked. Sam's eyes betrayed her by looking over at SG11's table. "Major Rollins took the last one again for spite. She doesn't like me at all." she said with a sad sigh. Daniel was glad for the change in topic but not at the expense of Sam. "What's she have against you? Your always respectful to everyone." he said. "there is Felger Daniel.., but he is right Carter. What gives with her." Jack asked looking over his shoulder at SG11's table.
He saw Col. Martin Edwards look away making some kind of comment to his team. "Remember P3X403 sir, the Unas and Chaka." Sam replied to her CO. "ah yes, what a lovely vacation spot. Have you spoken to Chalk lately Daniel?" Jack responded hoping to get a smile from Carter. Sam didn't even crack one although Daniel did pinch his nose in frustration. Jack refocused on his lovely 2IC face seeing the hurt in her eyes. "What about it? Col. Edwards would have got us killed if it wasn't for Space Monkeys linguini expertise." he said getting a smirk from her. "I'm a linguist and Doctor of archeology not a cook, Jack!" Daniel said rubbing his head. Jack merely held two fingers up to everyone smiling.
Daniel of course was oblivious as always. "that's to bad, you could have cooked Janet super one night" Sophia chimed in. Sam smirked again brightening a bit more despite her mood. "IT WASN'T A DATE, I lost a bet and that's it. I won't say anymore." By this time the whole room was watching with amusement at SG1's normal antics. Many of the women were already gossiping about Daniel and Janet's non-date. The whole base was going to a buzz about this latest development. "well, now that your non-date is settled we can move on. I'll find out what the bet was about latter. Did you take her toys away from her or something?" Jack asked Carter. She looked down at he food and sighed. "No Sir. Major Rollins is jealous of my position. She thinks I'm not qualified to be on SG1 for some reason." she said knowing full well what the reason was.
The major believed that Jack and her were in a physical relationship. There was a small group of women that was jealous. Sam overheard the conversations and it wasn't by accident on their part. "So she makes your life hell whenever she can huh. Maybe I need to make it clear to everyone that you earned your spot on SG1 through brilliance and being one hell of a solider." he said just loud enough for the surrounding tables to hear. Major Carter blushed lightly at her CO's praise but dreaded the gossip that would surely follow.
The eating contest came to an abrupt close at Sergeant Nantz's curse "Damn it, not again!". You could hear whoops of victory along with the moans of the losers. Teal'c in an uncustomary show of humor stood up and bowed then sat once again. "I will go easy on you Sergeant Nantz, we shall watch Mister ED instead." he said to Ron. He groaned as his head hit the table repeatedly. There were some chuckles as money exchanged hands.
Sophia looked back at her teammate seeing that the glum mood was fading. Smiling she placed her hands under her chin and fluttered her eyelashes. "I think she's jealous because we have the four most handsome men on our team. Don't you agree Sam?" Sophia asked fluttering her eyelashes again. Sam blushed more not knowing what to say. Jack burst out laughing along with Sgt. Nantz. Teal'c raised his eyebrows while Daniel shock his head holding back his laughter. The whole room soon followed in the laughter except for SG11. They had finished their meal, then followed their CO out the doors. There was bad blood between them ever since P3X403, mostly from SG11.
With the mood lightened up the team ate and talked about nothing in particular. Samantha however was a bit taken back at the colonels friendliness. Their non-relationship as it was took a downward spiral a few months back. They had an argument one weekend regarding Pete. Up until now they only spoke to one another unless it was absolutely needed. Sam ran through the many possibilities that might cause this change. One being that he forgave her and still cared. Was that to much to expect after what she said to the man she truly loved.
Jack was thinking along similar lines. He was hoping that Samantha got his message of 'I'm Sorry'. He hated that regulations stood in their way. Then the cop came in and swept Sam off her feet with a false face. Jack knew she was bound to be hurt badly. He could smell trouble before it hit. The potato head was trouble with a capital 'T'. Jack refocused on his team. They were all laughing and acting like they used to. Carter and him were interacting like they use to. Although Carter seemed to be holding back a bit, may she had some doubts Jack thought.
He did see her eyeing his apple pie. "Tell you what Carter, since Major Jealous stole your blue jello I'll share my pie with you." Jack said to her. The rest of his teammates got a stunned look on their face. Sam was taken back as well. Her response mirrored the rest of the team. "Sir, that's your favorite desert. You go ahead and eat it, I'll be okay. Lebo will have more blue jello latter on." she answered despite the butter flies in her stomach. The colonel must really be serious about letting bygones be bygones. "we'll share it then, 'Son amour a' chaque bouche'e'" he said without thinking. Everyone of his team members gave him a blank stare but Daniel. "What? Do I have something on my BDU's?" Jack asked looking down at his uniform.
Sam looked at Daniel with a questioning look. "ou' avez-vous appris a' parler francais si courament?" he asked in French. Jack coursed internally realizing his mistake of speaking in fluent French. He scratched the back of his head in a stalling tactic. "High school of course. How else was I going talk to those lovely young French women?" Jack answered in a half truth. He had a natural ability with languages. "Right Jack, fluent French right out of high school." Jack ignored the others looks returning to Carter. He pushed a fork over to her "Creuser dans Samantha" Jack said in perfect French just to rile up Daniel. "merci monsieur" she answered in broken French reaching for the fork. Jack smiled because Sam finally got the message. Daniel looked at Sam with equal surprise. "I took French in school only because I had too. I remember enough to get me by." she said in between bites.
Teal'c nodded in approval. "Sergeant Nantz, shall we begin watching the talking equine." he asked. "Mize as well get the torture over with now. I'll get you next time." he answered. Sophia smiled a soft smile knowing that things were going to be alright for now. The only problem was how to get rid of that idiot cop she thought to herself. She went to get up and leave but was asked to stay. The colonel needed to talk to her about something before their debriefing in an hour.
Jack watched Carter turn the corner then turned to Sophia "I need you to do me a small favor" he began. Immediately red flags went up for Sophia. Just about every time she did a 'favor' for her CO it back fired on her. She crossed her arms while giving the colonel a death glare. "I promise that there'll be no backlash this time." he swore holding his hands up in defense. "You said that last time remember. If I recall you hid a certain comic book in one of Dr. Jacksons books I was returning for which I got the blame." she said tapping her foot. "That was funny...not you getting the blame that is. I swear its simple..." he spoke being cut off "then there was the time you somehow switched SG3's MREs for all Macaroni." Sophia reminded him leaning in a bit. A few airman saw them and hurried on past not wanting to incur her anger.
"That was funny to... except for you getting drenched in yellow Gatorade." Jack added quickly. Sophia poked her finger in his chest "you still owe me a trip to the beauty parlor for that. It took 7 showers to get clean. That Gatorade was meant for you and deservingly so" she finished. "Please do this for me Sergeant, Its very easy and safe. All you got to do is get Carter out of her lab 20mns early so I can leave her a surprise." he explained. "Just get her out early before the debrief, that's it, you swear." she asked for confirmation. "Scouts Honor, that's it." he said. "Okay, I'll do it..but! If there's any backlash you'll be the one showering in Gatorade, understood." Sophia replied jabbing her finger back in his chest. "Okay, deal! Just make sure she's out and thank you." the colonel said. Sophia started walking away then stopped "and colonel, your too mischievous to have been a Boy Scout." she said and walked off. Jack threw up his hands "Why don't anyone believe I was a Boy Scout. Hell I was an Eagle Scout! I feel like Rodney Dangerfield NO RESPECT!" Colonel O'Neill went back into the commissary whistling the Simpsons theme.