Jack should be happy, he knew that much, and yet all that he actually felt was apprehension; an apprehension that he was releasing by way of his fingers drumming on the arm-rest of the pilot's chair. He was captain of his very own Al-kesh now yet he was not happy.
"O'Neill?" Teal'c queried, directing his eyes at Jack's moving fingers.
"Sorry, T," he apologised, pausing in the drumming for a few seconds and then without conscious thought, began again. When he realised his mistake, Jack gave a large sigh and studied the burly Jaffa. "Teal'c, do you ever think that some things are just too complicated?"
"In what manner, O'Neill?" The Jaffa did not take his eyes from the console in front of him.
"Take this mission as one. A simple diplomatic mission, turned into Goa'uld attack, fighting, shooting and my new hot ride."
"It is over now, therefore no longer complicated."
"I guess." There was a pause before Jack continued. "But then there are other times when things are supposed to be hard, but they aren't. Doesn't it strike you as odd?"
Whirling around in his chair, Teal'c looked straight at Jack and indicating that he now had his full attention. "Of what is it you truly speak, O'Neill?"
"It took us more effort to get this Al-kesh and escape the planet than it did to rescue Carter from Osiris. That doesn't make sense."
"Is everything at home well?"
"What? Yeah, yeah, 'course it is. Why wouldn't it be?"
"Both Major Carter and yourself have traversed great lengths to attain your current positions. The path for neither of you has been easy or without distractions. Sometimes things are not as difficult as they appear, nor are they as easy."
"I am worried about her." Jack's words were slow and methodical, finally bringing the subject he had been hiding from daylight straight out into the sun.
"She is changed from whom she was and that journey is never easy. Do you wish for me to speak with her?"
"No. No, it's fine. I guess I always hoped if we finally ever got passed every other obstacle things would be plain sailing."
"I am sure it is only a small storm that you must weather together, O'Neill."
Despite his thoughts, Jack could not help but smile at his friend's comment. "Way to go, Teal'c. You're learning!"
"Indeed."
There was another short pause and then Jack asked Teal'c one last question. "T, have I made the right decision?" It was not often that Jack questioned his own abilities, his own leadership qualities and decisions, but on obtaining the Al-kesh, Jack had had two options: rescue Sam or rescue Daniel.
"DanielJackson and Lieutenant Carpenter may be in more immediate danger, however, without Major Carter and Doctor Felger, the Stargate system will remain unusable and certainly cause the destruction of other stranded teams. You made the correct decision, O'Neill, do not doubt yourself."
Unfortunately, Jack's mind was already processing what General Hammond would say when he managed to get home. Fortunately, Jack would be returning with a kick-ass new Al-kesh so he was sure to be forgiven quickly.
SG – SG – SG
Turning to her when she gave the go ahead, Jack could not help but smile. It was not often that he was able to come to the gallant rescue of Samantha Carter and he liked it. He was sure that his smile was far more likely to be a grin as she shook her head at him and his grin got wider.
"We could have handled them, sir."
"Yeah, sure, yabetcha."
"We could have."
"You and Fel-ger."
"Well…"
"Just a simple 'thank-you, sir' will suffice."
"If I say it, will you quit grinning? Sir?"
"Probably not. I'd offer you a lift in my new ride, but you better take the good doctor home for Hammond to deal with."
She shook her head at him, a smile on her face. "No speeding or reckless, youthful driving, sir."
"Isn't that your prerogative?" Her eyes met his and both wondered if he had stepped over a line. "I was kidding, Carter." Taking a step closer, Jack lowered his voice. "We'll talk when you're ready, but you've got to let me in."
"Whichever one of gets out of debriefings first, can cook?" It might not be the grandest of gestures, Jack knew, but it was the first step to simplicity and making what should be easy a bit less difficult.
SG – SG – SG
Trailing a river behind her, Nicola had never felt quite so literally drowned or so embarrassed to be walking the corridors of the SGC in her state. She could remember once being told by Daniel that he often had a recurring nightmare where he was asleep on base when the Stargate activated and he got called to the embarkation room. In the dream he would yell and barrel through everyone, ignoring their odd looks at his haste. He would then make it into the control room to have General Hammond look at him in complete confusion and then hear the colonel say something about Daniel Junior, to which Teal'c would then laugh heartily. Nicola had never had that dream, however, she was sure that not many people had ever walked through the corridors in quite her state.
Thankfully Daniel was only a few steps in front of her, he somehow never lost his energy even after hours of near drowning and so she did not feel quite as silly as if she had been walking alone. There were also the bad feelings she felt towards whoever it was that would end up having to clean up after her. Entering the locker room only seconds apart, neither member of SG-1 cared about getting undressed and dried in front of each other. All that concerned Nicola was getting dry finally.
"Raining outside is it?" Nicola glared at the only occupant other than the pair of them, Major Lorne, who wore a rather large smirk on his face.
"Evacuating a planet," Daniel corrected before sensing the tone. "But you already knew that."
"I'm just glad I wasn't assigned to help you guys relocate those people."
"I'm not sure I could have coped with Colonel Edwards and the threat of drowning."
"Not up for a swim after work then, Lieutenant?"
Allowing her once waterproof overcoat to slop to the floor, Nicola smiled as sweetly as she could through her discomfort. "I could still beat you at lengths, sir."
"I'll wait for you up top then." Turning to Daniel, who seemed to be undecided between drying his glasses or his hair first, Lorne then said: "Doctor Jackson."
"Hmm-hmm," Daniel agreed and as soon as Lorne had left, Nicola proceeded to continue stripping off her wet clothes.