AN: I'm soooo sorry I didn't update straight away, what a cliffhanger. Could I be anymore torturous…?
I'm sorry; my heart just hasn't been into writing these past few weeks.
Oh and did I say the days that drew up to It.? I meant day.
Shh I just mean that this is the day of the 'indiscretion'
…
"Great day" Jack O'Neill spoke aloud in a cheery tone as he pulled on his leather Jacket and glanced in the mirror. He normally didn't care about his appearance, choosing comfort fabrics over neat lines; he might as well when he was only going to change into his uniform as soon as he got to work. But today was different.
He wasn't over dressed or particularly 'neat' but he'd worn jeans instead of pants, a tighter shirt than he was used to and his favorite jacket that won all the looks.
Nothing special about today, SG1had a mission… that and for the first and possibly only time a certain major had requested a favor. She'd pulled apart her engine in an attempt to repair her own car, only to find it needed a replacement part that had to be sent away for.
Normally she would have just taken the motorcycle but Siler had it, for reasons she refused to divulge to him. Daniel had spent the night at the base, Janet as a first had the day off and Teal'c was still offworld, so this just left him.
Though the thought would never cross Jacks mind that this wasn't a coincidence, as far as he knew people just didn't meddle with things like his relationship with his 2IC on.
It equally didn't occur to him that he'd picked an outfit that looked determined to draw attention.
Once satisfied that he had everything and there was absolutely nothing left for him to procrastinate with, he moved towards the door. He seemed pleased with himself as he closed the door, before the phone rang.
He hesitated, he wanted to go, he'd gotten this far… but what if it was Carter.
He grumbled as he ran back to the phone before the mystery caller hung up.
"O'Neill" he spoke in a vague attempt at greeting. He was puzzled by the reply.
He recognized the voice but couldn't fathom why they would be calling. But after a long pause the reason became horrifically clear.
"How?" he choked as he stood rigid holding the receiver in place.
"I bet she did" he muttered in disdain as he tightly gripped the kitchen bench.
"No I … I know, I didn't mean… look I'm sorry but I…" he sighed in frustration as he listened to a distraught lecture " look I'm sorry but I really have to go, I'll see you at the funeral" he barked before hanging up. He instantly regretted it, hesitating in thought about calling back before deciding against it.
He sighed, leaning against the kitchen bench in thought as he tried to overcome this blow.
After a long moment, he ignored whatever it was he was feeling and left.
…
Sam opened the door before Jack even knocked, she looked excited.
He took in what she was wearing and didn't bother hiding the lingering gaze at the delicate embroidery just barely covering the cleavage that the short sleeved sweetheart cardigan exposed.
She was even wearing a skirt to match.
He almost smiled when she failed to hide her blushing cheeks, but instead just turned towards his car muttering words of lateness.
Sam stared at him in frustration. She hadn't expected much but he could have done something.
Light chitchat would have been nice, possibly a joke or two. But no, all she got today was an inappropriate look and an order. She followed none the less, locking the door behind her. She thought about checking the mail before they left but he was already waiting in the car.
With a heavy exhale she climbed in, buckled and waited for him to start the car.
Nothing.
He seemed to just be sitting there, she'd thought he might have been waiting for a car to pass them so he could avoid an accident but the road was vacant, as was his expression.
He had that stoic look that she'd seen before and it almost ruined the appeal of the way he looked today.
"Something up sir?" she asked without thinking that it was the first thing she'd said. He didn't say anything, just tilted his head so it almost looked like a nod but then started the car.
…
Daniel looked at his watch as he felt his stomach growling at him. It was twelve already, this was curious. He'd expected Jack to come annoy him by now. He rubbed his eyes, book marked his page and stood up intent on finding out why, that and he was hungry.
Sam walked in just as he was about to walk out.
"Oh hi" he smiled in greeting, she grinned and pulled a tight lipped smile briefly before handing him a small rose pin.
"Happy Valentines Day…for the other day" she replied as she pinned it to his chest.
"Thanks, you know you didn't have to get me anything"
"I know but you didn't get anything and I felt bad that I'd forgotten. That and it gave me a reason to leave the lab other than hunger" she smiled and he frowned. He had a curious look that told her of his thoughts that this was suspect.
"What?" she played innocence
"Nothing, I was actually just going to get something to eat" he spoke as he watched her, still holding the look.
"Good then you can come eat with me" she smiled, stuffing her hands in her pockets nervously
"Not eating with Jack?" he asked not caring to hide the grin at that
"Uh I don't think Colonel O'Neill's in a very chatty mood today" she offered as explanation and he raised his eyebrows.
"Did something happen this morning?" he inquired and she sighed
"He didn't say anything" it came out in a spew of words. Daniel looked at her expectantly but she didn't pick up on the look.
"And? I don't know what that means Sam, he's always quiet"
"True, you're probably right, it just seemed like something was wrong" she sighed as they started walking in the general direction of the cafeteria.
"Hmm, well he hasn't tried to bug me yet" he shrugged "maybe he just woke up on the wrong side of the bed"
"You think?" she asked and Daniel smiled
"I don't know but I know someone who can find out" she looked at him expectantly "Teal'c is due back at three"
"And if that doesn't work we can always ask him on the mission tonight"
…
Teal'c stood waiting patiently at Jacks quarters. The door was open but Teal'c wasn't one to be intrusive.
"What do you want?" Jack called as he bounced a baseball off the wall, it didn't really bounce but rather thudded against the wall and fell back with just enough force to reach him from where he lay on the bed.
"Daniel Jackson requested I see you" Teal'c replied as he entered
"What's that?" he asked pointing to the roses in Teal'cs arms.
"I believe they are called roses O'Neill"
"I know that, what are you doing with them?" he asked sitting up
"They are for you O'Neill" he explained handing them to him
"You brought me roses?" he stared wide eyed.
"Roses are the customary gift to give on the day of valentine are they not?"
"Yes but Teal'c…"
"Has this day not recently passed?" He asked and Jack tilted his head "Sergeant Harriman explained this when he requested I bring them to you" Teal'c explained
"Oh so they're not from you" he sighed with relief
"He further explained that the rose is traditionally given by a person who harbors affection for one"
"Right, so who's Walter delivering for?" he asked picking up the card in the roses, it read: Happy Valentines Day, sincerely anonymous. "Carter" he muttered after reading the card.
"The sender was anonymous O'Neill?" Teal'c queried with his usual eyebrow raise
"Come on Teal'c, who else writes sincerely when they're being ambiguous?" he explained but Teal'c remained vague "okay maybe you but you didn't send them now did you?"
"I did not" he tilted his head
"There see, it was Carter. Now what did Danny boy ask you to see me about?" Jack asked propping himself up against the bed post.
"Daniel Jackson believes you are not yourself today, I am equally concerned for your wellbeing as most of your words carry disdain."
"They do?" Jack played but Teal'c held his expression "Daniel hasn't been down here, how would he know?" Teal'cs facial muscles never moved "right, well whatever you've heard big guy, I'm fine" he assured him "you can tell Daniel that if I wanted to have a heart to heart I would have"
"You do not wish to discuss what is disturbing you O'Neill"
"Nope"
…
P3X904 is a ghost planet, Jack had decided. No people, no animals, no FISH!
"This bites!" Jack declared finally, throwing the string to the side "Carter, how much longer is that thing going to take?" he yelled getting up from the waters edge and over to her side.
"I don't know sir, why don't you go bother Daniel?" she sighed as she looked up from the large machine that appeared to have once been the main power supply for this abandoned town.
"he's doing that trance thing where he gets all excited, mutters gibberish for a few hours and then pees his pants over a pattern in dots" she laughed looking up at him "dots Carter, dots!"
"Sir, what do you usually do when we're working?" she asked sitting up
"Search the area with Teal'c" he shrugged "it's just not as much fun when Teal'cs not here"
"Come on sir, I'm sure you don't need Teal'c by your side to do that" she smiled
"I don't, I've done that. There is nothing around here for a three mile radius" he grinned drumming his fingers against his gun.
"Well Teal'c will be coming with us after the next check in tomorrow, he just needs Janet to finish post and pre mission protocol so she can clear him for a second mission. Can you entertain yourself that long sir?" she asked in what could only be described as a tone that talked down to him.
"No Carter I Can't!" Jack snapped definitely not taking her comment lightly. Sam winced, regretting her words.
"Sorry sir, I just… I'm really busy sir" she tried and he grumbled in response
"2 hours Carter, it'll be dark soon and I want you rested to take second watch" he ordered
"Sir I'll be fine, this is a deserted planet any…" she began when he cut her off
"That's an order, Carter!" he snapped
"Yes sir, two hours" she nodded turning her attention back to her work as he walked off in Daniels direction. It wasn't two minutes later before she heard Daniel complaining and Jacks load, grating ordering.
"Yep, something's up"
--- Next Chapter is shift change---
Sorry it's not a thrilling chapter. The next definitely will be.