DIVERSION - PART FOUR BY BIBLIO

“My Lord Jona!”  Carter’s voice was cutting.

Jack’s mind ran rapidly through his options, vis a vis his career, his reputation, certain policies that could make this very hairy for him, weighed them all against Daniel.  Then he made the mature, informed, inevitable choice.

Fuck it.

Every goddamn time Daniel relaxed and let his guard down, allowed a tiny bit of fun to sneak past his serious façade, it blew up in his face.  Every single goddamn time.  NOT this time.  Vile seducer that he was, Jack stared into apprehensive blue eyes, winked and kept up the lip lock until they reached what he considered the natural break in any Jack-Daniel interface.  Unconsciousness beckoned.

He had a cover to maintain after all.

Daniel’s eyes sparked fire at him for a moment.  Jack winked again.  Then they turned demurely to face Carter.  Together.

“Thera,” Jack drawled.  An imperious hand instructed her to get on with it.

“My Lord, I must request that you return to our quarters immediately.  I have news to impart.”  Carter got out the respectful request impeccably but her eyes were flinty.  She looked like she was going to choke.  “Master Carlin.”

Hmm.  Voice and eyes noticeably warmer when she addressed Daniel.  Vile seducer obviously wasn’t far from the mark in Carter’s eyes.  For Chrissake, how old did she think Dear Little Daniel was?  This was going to be very entertaining.  Scratch the major’s professional surface and the big sister – or was it mama - came out fighting.

Jack refused to be daunted by Carter’s unflattering conclusions about his morals, but how could she think for a SECOND Daniel was so naïve he’d meekly allowed himself to be seduced by the wicked colonel? Jack was one hundred percent behind the ‘little archaeologist lost’ part of Daniel, was currently getting as much fun out of it as Daniel was, but, hell, it was only a very small part of a brilliant, complex, subtle whole.    Daniel’s only concern had been reading the signals wrong.  He couldn’t get naked fast enough once Jack had offered appropriate tactile reassurance.

Jack didn’t dare look at Dear Little Daniel, whose outrageously provocative behaviour had gotten them into this fine mess in the first place.  After his first shock at being caught by Carter while writhing with unmistakable enthusiasm all over his team leader’s lap, not to say his tongue questing down said team leader’s throat, Daniel had stiffened alarmingly.  The seducee was pissy as hell.  He clearly wasn’t pleased with the passive role he’d been assigned in the ongoing melodrama or that Jack was the only one in the doghouse here.

Jack figured if they were all spoiling for a fight, he should get his kids somewhere private, toot sweet, so they could enjoy it to the full.  Carter was in for a shock and a half before those protective instincts could be stuffed safely back into the maternal closet.

He lazily untangled himself from Daniel, who seemed as angry with Carter as Jack had ever seen him.

Fully cognisant that Sam’s standing so rigidly and correctly to attention was masking a multitude of strong feelings she couldn’t give expression to, Daniel waited until Jack was on his feet, then held out a defiant hand.  Jack’s eyes warned him to behave but he took the hand regardless.  Jack was setting them a leisurely pace, almost a swagger, which allowed Daniel to do the languorous saunter he was beginning to master.  He cranked it up a bit for Sam’s benefit.  She really should have all the pertinent facts.  It might set her straight on one or two points regarding his putative innocence and allegedly stolen virtue.

What exactly did she think had gone on?  This mission might have changed his perceptions of Jack as surely as it had changed Jack’s perceptions of him, but that was all.  What they had chosen to do, they had done consciously and together.  Jack had not seduced him, and was in fact being infuriatingly stubborn about certain physical needs he should be doing his utmost to address as a matter of urgency.

To whit, the minute they were alone, he was going to do HIS utmost to convince Colonel O’Neill that Doctor Jackson should be right at the top of his To Do list.

They proceeded in companionable silence to their quarters, Daniel taking his cue from Jack and refusing to behave as if he had anything to apologise for.  They were doing their duty as best they could, were indeed flawlessly grasping the intricacies of their new roles.  Everything else was personal.  As well as being extremely compelling primary source evidence from which to extrapolate certain traits which could only enhance their performance in the field.

Speaking of which – were grey silk jammies acceptable apparel for alfresco colonel torture?

Jack waved both his kids into their quarters, closed the door gently behind them and sauntered over to join the combatants with unimpaired calm and good humour.

Daniel was haughtily subsiding into the pillows when the bright sunlight streaming into their quarters allowed him to glimpse for the first time the tiny droplets of blood beading Sam’s hand. Startled, his eyes flew to her face.   A bruise at her temple?  Sam!  Abandoning all thoughts of teaching his snippy ‘big sister’ a lesson, Daniel bounded to his feet and took Sam’s hand between both of his, guiltily meeting her eyes.  “Sam!  You’re hurt!”  He gently investigated the graze.  “What happened?” he asked anxiously.

“Carter?”

“I beat the crap out of somebody,” Sam told them flatly.  She glanced apologetically at the colonel.  She was angry but – duty first.  Always.  “My mistake.  He knew a move I didn’t.  I relaxed my grip for a second and he was out from under me.  GOOD training, sir.  Very good.  Had my hands full.  For a while.”  Hands, feet AND teeth.

As Daniel’s fingers skimmed over the already purpling bruise on her forehead, Sam smiled reassuringly.  “It’s nothing, Daniel.  Just head butted him.”  She flushed at Daniel’s obvious admiration and allowed herself to be drawn over to the fountain so he could bathe the hand.  She loftily ignored the colonel’s hoot of “Way to go, Carter!” as he sank down into the pillows and watched them indulgently.

Sam had to know.  She grasped the hand supporting hers.  “Are you alright?”  she asked in earnest, hushed tones.  Sam realised Daniel has misinterpreted her concern when his eyes widened with shock.  “Oh!  I didn’t mean that!  I know the colonel would NEVER – Holy Hannah!  Can’t say right for saying wrong here.”

Daniel felt the last shreds of his anger melting away.  “Just say what you FEEL, Sam," he urged softly.  "We’ve always been able to talk.  I won’t take offence, promise.”

Sam hesitated, then took the plunge, just hoping it came out right.  “Have you been so unhappy, Daniel?  Lonely? How could I miss that? I thought you were fine, coping.  I’m so sorry.  If you’ve been reduced to THIS…“

“I should make it clear Daniel was only speaking for himself when he promised no offence would be taken,” Jack cut in crisply.  Carter’s scorching look told him she hadn’t gone completely girly and sympathetic on him.  The look promised faithfully the owner would be dealing with HIM momentarily.

Sam stared anxiously into Daniel’s gentle eyes.

"Believe me, Sam, it isn't like that at all," Daniel smiled wryly as he considered his answer.  'No matter how it looks to you, this is just as much my idea as it is Jack's.  I LOVE him," he declared with painful honesty.  "I always have, I just didn't realise it until last night.  It was an internal truth - something existing within me I never even suspected.  It was just there, a part of me, like a language I didn't even know I could speak.”  Daniel thought about the past four years, about all the time he and Jack had been together, unknowing.  He offered Sam the best explanation he could. “Immersion is the best way to learn a language, you know.  Mastering the rules of grammar and syntax, vocabulary, correct usage and pronunciation  -  it's just not enough.  To really be able to speak a language, you have to hear it, use it, see it, until you can think in it, FEEL it.  Until it becomes a part of you.  That's the way it is with my feelings for Jack.  I always knew he defined 'friendship' for me, but he means so much more than that, he means LOVE.”  Sam’s hand tightened fiercely in his. “Getting ready for this mission forced me to think of him in a way I'd never considered before, and when I got  beyond the comfortable parameters of our friendship, it was just - there.  HE was there."  He shrugged helplessly.  "He's - he's JACK.”  He saw tears in Sam’s eyes. “Oh, Sam, no.  No.  I  - we – never meant to hurt you.  I’ll transfer off the team, soon as we…“

"NO!" Sam was horrified. “No.”

“No way, Daniel.  If anyone goes, it’ll be me.  Consistently voted most replaceable member of SG-1.”  Jack’s voice was gruff.  Daniel was an absolute menace.  He had to be stopped from making eloquent public declarations of love if his team leader was to have ANY credibility.  Carter wasn’t the only one feeling disgustingly girly and sentimental here.

They both turned to Jack.  The absolute astonishment in two pairs of earnest blue eyes made him flush.  “Plenty more fish in the sea.  Air Force colonels are a dime a dozen.  No special skills or knowledge whatsodamnever.”

Sam beat Daniel to it by a hair.  “You can handle Daniel, sir!”  She could have cheerfully bitten off her tongue as the colonel laughed and Daniel blushed to the roots of his hair.  She glared her C.O. down.  “Don’t underestimate that, sir.  Colonel Makepeace didn’t have a CLUE how to handle Teal’c, let alone Daniel.  He looked at Teal’c and saw an alien, not a man who was once First Prime of Apophis, a man who COMMANDED a sophisticated and technologically advanced army, a man who is skilled in all forms of combat.  We know Teal’c has not only chosen his place on our team but worked at it.  He respects the chain of command and everyone on the team, just as we respect him.  Makepeace didn’t see it that way at all.  Every suggestion or independent action was seen as a challenge to his authority and treated accordingly.  And as for Daniel…“

“’Fine’ is what you said to me, Daniel.  ‘Just fine’ in fact.  I do recall asking SPECIFICALLY if you had ANY problems with Makepeace.”  Jack’s voice was ominous.

“I didn’t.  Nothing worthy of comment.”

“He did.”  Sam said firmly.  “He got a new nickname that week.  DMZ.”  She watched that sink in and a tiny edge of her anger with the colonel softened.  Daniel was obviously in for a severe grilling on this fruitful topic at the colonel’s earliest convenience.  After a measured pause, in which Daniel blatantly avoided eye contact, she added dryly, “Because I wouldn’t let Teal’c and Makepeace fight over him.  The point is, Sir, while there may be many Special Ops colonels out there with your training, they do NOT have your attitude.  Makepeace couldn't lead SG-1 because he was rigid and inflexible.  He couldn’t adjust to us or think outside the box.”

Jack noticed Carter made no reference at all to how Makepeace had treated her, but decided not to push it.  The answer was all too likely to have something to do with reproductive organs.

“I’m not difficult to handle,” Daniel insisted, a trifle petulantly.

Jack and Carter’s turn to avoid eye contact.  “I don’t know how this will affect the team dynamic, Carte," Jack admitted seriously.  "I care about all of you, way more than I’m supposed to.  We stick together and we get by.  I promise you, if there is any sign this changes, if I ever put Daniel’s life above yours or Teal’c’s, I walk away.  No question.  Sit at home, watch day time dramas and eat bon bons at Daniel’s expense.”

“I walk away too,” Daniel insisted stubbornly.

“You can’t, Daniel,” Sam soothed.  “YOU do have unique skills and knowledge. “

Sam knew she was brilliant, there were maybe half a dozen physicists in the world who could do what she did, but she could be replaced.  Daniel was unique.  A true genius; a brilliantly intuitive, original thinker. The Air Force had already tried Daniel’s ‘half a dozen’ peers before they sent for him, and none of them could do what he did.  Couldn’t even come close.  Fifteen years they’d struggled and failed, closed the gap every day for sure.  Daniel came along and unlocked the mysteries of the gate in two weeks.  He’d done it over and over, beaten her to the punch in her own field of expertise on occasion.

Sam was, by instinct and training, a logical thinker.  Her strength lay in deductive reasoning, and in the application of empirical methods which brought her to a solution – often - almost as quickly as Daniel. Sam looked for rightness, for the best approach, whilst Daniel looked for richness, for generating as many different pathways to a solution as possible.  His methods were unorthodox or even illogical to her at times, based as they were on a willingness to look at seemingly unconnected factors and use them to open up new lines of thinking.  If asked, Daniel would simply say the solution was ‘obvious’.

Daniel could in fact be the poster boy for lateral thinking, for reasoning based on altering perceptions.  Sam analysed a problem and suggested a hypothesis, moved smoothly from point A to B, from B to C.  Daniel CHALLENGED the hypothesis, wanted to know more, jumped from point A to point E, then worked back.  So often, Sam had caught up with Daniel only to find he had already leapt ahead, reached the next conclusion, solved the next problem.  Even the colonel wryly acknowledged that Daniel was ‘always right’.

Daniel was also instinctively a parallel thinker, his willingness to look at a problem in new and different ways co-ordinating with her own more critical, analytical thinking.  He cared not a whit about competition, perhaps not even realising he was IN competition.   He was instinctively generous, would unstintingly support her work, supplying the right questions if not the answers.  Sam found her own competitive instincts harder to control.  She was heartily ashamed of the occasional flashes of resentment she felt as Daniel thought rings around her yet again.  She tried always to appear professional and just worked that much harder with Daniel, rather than against him.  Sam realised she couldn’t do without him, not now.

“We have to try this.  The SGC needs SG-1, and SG-1 can’t function without you and the colonel.”  She smiled and held Daniel’s hand for a moment.  “Don’t let it worry you so.  I guess we’ll all have to work together, we all have to adjust and regain our balance.  It’s a matter of trust.  Teal’c and I will have to trust in you to do your duty, and you’ll have to trust us to behave toward you the way we always have.”  Feeling a little awkward, she added carefully, “What happens in the team, stays in the team.  My word on it.”

Jack respected her word.  Carter was near the top of a very short list of the people he trusted unconditionally.  There was no question.  “I have absolute faith in you, Carter.”

“Oh yes, Sam, of course.  That goes without saying.  And in Teal’c.”  Daniel said emphatically.

“Teal’c knows?” Sam’s voice was a little cold.  Last but not least, huh?

“You won’t believe how much Teal’c knows or how long he’s known it,” Jack said feelingly.  A lot of that stuff still rankled.  “You have my word I’ll try my utmost to repay the faith you’re putting in me, BUT…” Jack held her gaze. “I will walk if things look sticky.  I won’t wilfully put anybody at risk because of personal feelings.  I won’t knowingly fail in my duty to the team.”

Sam nodded.  It was the best that could be managed, situated as they were.  Her mind just kept shying away from the concept of the colonel and Daniel having sex.  Whatever Daniel said he was feeling, whether it was mutual or not, the colonel had overstepped the mark in her judgement. Daniel was vulnerable, he’d been alone for such a terribly long time.  She simply couldn’t accept the colonel hadn’t taken advantage.  He’d pushed and pushed the physical side of things in the mission preparation.  Implicit trust in the colonel was warring with her affection for Daniel.  It might do her no credit, but she couldn’t rest until she knew the colonel’s motivation for pushing Daniel so relentlessly into this physical awareness of him and then taking advantage of it so completely.  Not something she felt an overwhelming urge to discuss in front of Daniel.  He was a little sensitive about her perception of him as it was.

First things first.  “Sir, I was able to extract some information from the goon who jumped me.  I’m no nearer to knowing who the seller is, but I can tell you we have some competition in the search.”

Jack was instantly alert.  “Somebody trying to save the price of admission?”

“No, sir.  Somebody after the BUYER.  There's a rival team here; military, just like us.  They come from a world called Arvonne.  The authorities have been after the buyer for quite some time, but Arvonne has a very rigid code of honour that spills over into the way they deal with criminals.  Justice can be determined in trial by combat, that is the right of every defendant, but the case at law must be answered first.  Their rules of evidence are equally strict and they’ve never gotten enough on the buyer to bring him to trial.  Apparently, the government won’t sanction assassination or banishment.  It’s innocent until proven guilty.  Their response has been to bring in the military.  They’ve tasked the Arvonne equivalent of a Special Forces team to catch the buyer red handed.  They aren’t taking any chances.  The team is being led by a general.  He’ll be the plaintiff in the court case, and therefore the combatant if it goes that far.”

“You seem to have covered a lot of ground with this guy.  How do you know any of this is true?” Jack asked suspiciously.

“I’ve met the general.  He graciously consented to fill me in on the background but wouldn’t divulge the name of the buyer.  In fact, “ Sam’s voice hardened at the memory, “he had a lot to say about amateurs blundering around ruining precision sting operations.  All but patted me on the head and told me if I was a good little girl and played nice, he’d scoop up the seller and hand him and the list over once they’d served their purpose at trial.  They’d already identified Teal’c, Sir, and he was being followed too.  The general himself has being running the surveillance on you and Daniel.  Said he knew a Tau’ri when he saw one, so of course he investigated.  He put it all together terrifyingly quickly, Sir.  I didn’t tell him ANYTHING.”

Sam was heartened to see the colonel take that without a blink.  “He had a LOT to say about amateurs," she added bitterly.  "He was quite amused.  If we interfere, he’ll learn to live with the crushing disappointment of being deprived of the pleasure of your company and will have us forcibly incarcerated in a place of safety for the duration.”  This next part was frankly painful to admit. “I don’t doubt he could do it.  He’s impressive as hell, Sir.  Mind like a steel trap.  He was particularly amused that however easily he penetrated your cover, you clearly hadn’t penetrated his.  I can only suggest that you see what you can get out of him this afternoon.”

Sam eyed the colonel in bewilderment as he first blushed furiously and then went deathly pale.  She took a hasty step forward as he collapsed into the pillows.  “Sir?”  The colonel pulled a pillow over his face, pitifully moaning ‘no’ over and over again.  Sam turned to Daniel.  To gleaming eyes, quivering lips and some frankly adorable little chokes of laughter.

Sam went on cautiously. “Sir, he said to be sure you knew just how much he was looking forward to the field manoeuvres.  He’s aware you’ll try to extract information from him but is confident he’ll be able to penetrate your defences and extract what he wants from YOU.  He keenly anticipates countering any defensive moves you choose to make, and to seeing your flexibility and resourcefulness in action.”

Jack was hoping against hope. “General who?”

“Brin,” Daniel supplied promptly.

“I’m talking to Carter!”

“Brin,” Daniel said emphatically.

“Carter?” Jack asked piteously.

“Daniel is correct, Sir," Sam responded, bewildered.  "General Brin.  He’ll send an escort for you.”

“Can’t we blow his cover?” Jack whined.

“Not without blowing ours, Sir," Sam argued.  "I believe the best course of action is to use any means necessary to ensure the general will hand over the Tok'ra traitor and the list to us at some point, and enforce confidentiality until then.  I’d have to say I have no doubt he’ll succeed.  He strikes me as a man who achieves his objectives.  With your permission, I’d like to find out what Teal’c knows about Arvonne and see if we can’t put Brin’s team under a little subtle surveillance.  We might catch a break, see who the buyer interacts with.  It’s a long shot, but it’s the best we’ve got.”

“Any means necessary.  Dear God.”

The helpless comment was too much for Daniel; he went off into peal after peal of hysterical laughter, dropping limply to the pillows and clutching his aching ribs helplessly.

Sam made a mental note to find out what was so damn funny, later, and took advantage of Daniel’s distraction.  “Sir, I’d like a word in private," she asked coldly.

Jack pulled himself together and led his 2IC through the bedroom and out into the terrace.  Any means necessary?  He couldn’t take it in. He couldn’t stop thinking about all the sinister sexual connotations in that innocent statement.  He also couldn’t work out how to avoid intensive field training in the very technique he’d been refusing to practice with Daniel.  His ass was grass, although he sincerely doubted it’d be green for much longer.

“Spit it out.”  He winced and then finally clued in he had more immediate problems than Brin.  Right in front of him.  Magma Carter. Jeez.  Those EYES were…

“Permission to speak FREELY, sir?”  Sam enunciated with cutting clarity.

Jack stifled a cowardly impulse to say no.  Best to take it like a man.  Best to stop thinking now, if he was going to keep on thinking things with…undertones.  “Always.”

“Sir, was it your INTENT to seduce Daniel?”

“Intent?”  He was astonished.  Frigging clueless was closer to the mark. “What do you think I am?”

“I don’t know," Sam snapped.  "I know what you were!  Now? You pushed so hard. HE would never have…“  she said fiercely. “It isn’t right.”

“You think I lured him into bed and seduced him?”  Jack finally clued in Carter was as upset as she was angry.  She loved Daniel.  Now all that offended cuddly big sister love desperately needed an out.  Carter shouldn’t have to just suck it up because it was her C.O. who’d upset her, while he needed his 2IC with a clear head while they were in enemy territory.  He was the one who’d gone over the line here.  He’d burdened her with his personal life and she should have the chance to react at least once without fear or favour. It would do her good to vent.  He could take it.  He tapped his chin and ordered, “Plant one here, Carter, that’s an order.   Get it off your chest.  Clear the air.  If that’s what you think of me, I des…“

“Sir, yes, Sir!”  Sam stepped lightly back and kicked her C.O. smartly on the shin.

“OW!  Jeez-US, Carter!”  Jack howled, staggering over to the wall for support.  He clutched his throbbing shin.  “I said here!”   he snapped indignantly, jutting out his chin for emphasis.

“First thing they teach you in basic.  Surprise is the essence of attack.”  Sam fought it, but the sight of her C.O. hopping painfully on one foot was just too funny.  “And…“ there was a definite quiver in her voice.

Jack saw signs of thaw.  “And?” he prompted.  He grinned suddenly. “It hurts more, right?  Right?”

Sam was conscience stricken.  This was not the mature, professional discussion she’d intended. “Sir, I…“

“Don’t ruin the effect, Carter, for God’s sake.  And don’t tell me how many times you’ve WANTED to do that.”  Jack watched her do battle with a wicked grin.  “Out of respect for you I’ll tell you.  I had no idea, let alone intent, until we got here.  You get that?”

“I’ve got that.  I knew – it’s just – Daniel.  You know.”

“I know.  Nobody better,” Jack told her dryly.

“This won’t be easy, Sir.  You do realise that?” Sam said seriously.

“I didn’t fool myself for a second.  I knew the consequences going in.  I think he’s worth it.”

“So do I,” Sam was clear on that.  “If anybody deserves some happiness, it’s Daniel.  He’s living proof the worst things happen to the best people.  They keep right on happening, too,”  she added innocently.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Jack said witheringly.

“I’ll do what I can to protect you.”

“You won’t compromise yourself.  That’s an order.” Jack told her crisply.

“Yes, Sir!”  Sam was just as crisp.  She’d make her own way, she always had.  The important thing was the team, the sense of belonging, the synergy, the way they flowed and worked together.  It was worth fighting for.

“Are we okay?”

“I think we will be, Sir.”

“Then get out there and find Teal’c.  I’ve got some slick strategising to do, if I’m going to get the upper hand with Brin.”

Sam grinned.  “I’ve got every faith in your abilities, Sir, but I think the best you can hope for in this case is an ‘if you show him yours, he’ll show you his’ deal.”

“I chose to accept the interdiction, O’Neill.  I was not concerned with these ones. “ Teal’c gestured at the two quiet men who had escorted him back to their quarters, then closed the door on them as they took position outside.  “I was concerned with the ones I could not identify.”  He calmly removed his mask.

Sam was seething with frustration.  “They plucked me right out of the crowd.  Sir, it’s all up to you.  You have to negotiate us a way into this operation.  There must be something we can offer, something Brin wants.”

“Excuse me for a moment.”  Jack smiled sweetly at Carter, reaching out a menacing hand towards a sniggering Daniel.

“O’Neill.”

Jack subsided, trying to look as if it had nothing to do with Teal’c’s warning.

“Teal’c, do you know anything about Arvonne?” Daniel asked intently.

“Very little.  Apophis never engaged in commerce or war with that world.  The people are reputed to be subtle, patient and honourable.”

“Subtle?”  Jack could hardly believe his ears.  Being lusted after was one thing, being LAUGHED at and lusted after was quite a goddamn ‘nother.

“DanielJackson?  General Brin sent a gift for you.”

Jack stiffened.  “For Daniel?”  Just Daniel?  Er…he caught himself up on the thought.

“Starting to believe your own publicity, Jack?” Daniel asked sweetly as he accepted the box from Teal’c and carefully untied the ribbon.  When he lifted the lid he found a card and…“Clothes?”  he asked blankly.  Brin had sent him clothes.  He read the card.  “I don’t understand.  He says…“ Baffled, Daniel handed the card to Jack.

Jack read the card out loud. ‘There are eyes upon you, child.  You would do well to draw less attention and go nowhere without protection.  Heed my warning and accede with good grace.  I cannot always watch over you.”  He ignored the embarrassing stuff about Brin being, more or less, ready-willing-able to perform other more 'personal' services for Daniel.  He knew deliberate provocation when he saw it.  Now he’d been kindly told what to look for.  Fuck.  Brin was GOOD.  Then he fumed. “Watch over you?  What am I?  Chopped liver?”

Then an incredibly evil thought snuck into his mind. He wordlessly handed the card to Teal’c, rigorously suppressing Daniel’s indignant protests.

Teal’c read the card impassively. Jack waited with bated breath.  He didn’t want to have to BEG, and it wasn’t like they would have anything else to do unless he could secure their participation in the operation.  Having Teal’c along for the ride would smooth out a lot of the humps and bumps he was expecting during the negotiations.  Teal’c’s eyebrow was rising.  Please, please.

“A commendable sentiment.  However, if DanielJackson requires a guard, I will suffice.”

Jack supposed that was designed to put him in his place.  Who the hell cared just so long as..

“I will accompany you to the assignation.”

YES!

“DanielJackson.  You will do as instructed.  If you require assistance…“

“I can take it from here, Teal’c.” Daniel said sunnily as Jack snarled, “I can take it from here…er…“

Sam ruthlessly took advantage of the confusion.  “Why don’t I help you pick something out, Daniel?”  She beamed when he just nodded helplessly.  Served certain colonels right for not allowing their 2IC to join the reading round robin.

“What are you going to do this afternoon, Sam?”  Daniel asked as they headed into the bedroom.

Sam pounced on the box and started laying out garments.  “I’m going to destruct test all the features of that bath.  Might as well enjoy my gilded cage while it lasts.  I’m sure the colonel will get his way with Brin.”

“That’s not what he’s afraid of,” Daniel drawled dreamily.

Sam froze.  She looked up disbelievingly.  “No!”

Daniel nodded.

“You’re NOT serious?”

Daniel nodded again, his grin rather getting away from him.

“The COLONEL?” Sam hooted incredulously.

Jack was pained to hear peal after peal of hysterical laughter rolling out of the bedroom.  What were those two DOING in there?

“O’Neill.”

Jack frowned at the bedroom door.  Maybe he should just…

“O’Neill.”

“Hm?  Yeah?”  What?  Oh.  Pull yourself together, O’Neill.   This is pathetic.  Jack dragged his eyes away from the door with an effort.   “Yeah.  What is it, Teal’c?”

“I wish to speak with you about the bees and the bees.”

Jack stalked towards the water meadow.  Could this day get any worse?  First Daniel, then Brin, then Carter, then Brin vicariously, then Teal’c, now Brin AND Daniel.  Again.  Jesus wept.  And he STILL hadn’t had ONE second alone with Daniel to relieve his frustration.  Not a single minute.

His ears were still burning from that little talk with Teal’c.  He hadn’t been so embarrassed since he was about fourteen, or so helpless in the face of the informative.  He had NO idea how come Teal’c knew all this stuff, and given what he too now knew, he didn’t want to know how.  Whoever said ignorance was no defence wasn’t frigging kidding.  Teal’c had more than given his mother a run for her money, even with the comfort of a thirty year gap.

All that stuff about impot – performance anxiety.  His mother certainly hadn’t gone into that, not in such excruciating detail.  Now he couldn’t get it off his mind.  If he didn’t get in some practice, SOON, there was a very real possibility his equipment wouldn’t function within normal operating parameters.  Maybe ever again.  The weight of sheer embarrassment could overload some delicate circuitry.

Teal’c had saved the worst for last.  He’d just HAD to tell Daniel that O’Neill had been FULLY instructed.  The O’Neill in question had to add in the privacy of his own embarrassment, and then some.  Daniel had already signed up for the next slot in Teal’c’s schedule.

And what was on Carter’s mind?  He was getting a pretty fair idea of what she and Daniel had been discussing all alone.  Had to have been that.  Why else would Carter’s parting shot as they headed out the door have been ‘Bottoms up!'?  He didn’t buy the fruit punch she’d merrily waved at him.  Not for a second.  The timing was way too suspicious.

Jack was getting a sinking feeling his team would be cutting the man a hell of a lot less slack than they cut the colonel.  Carter and Teal’c were going to give him attitude every time Daniel so much as pouted.

The guard pointed them silently to a spot by the babbling brook winding its way through a sea of wild flowers.  Jack also knew deliberate pastoral provocation when he romped through it.  The sonovabitch was stretched out on the ground, lazily enjoying the sunshine.

Brin demonstrated impressive alertness, lazily opening his eyes then rising fluidly to his feet long before they reached his side.  He bowed. “I see your position has finally changed, Lord Jona," he said huskily.  "I believe I still stand ready to accommodate you both.”

Hot eyes stripped Jack where he stood.  Jack tried valiantly and failed miserably to picture Hammond coming on to him like this, or even teasing the shit out of him by coming on to him like this.  His mind simply couldn’t go there.

“Child…“Brin’s voice deepened suddenly.  He stepped lightly forward and bowed over Daniel’s hand, kissing it with far more respect than he’d shown earlier.  He looked over Daniel’s comparatively demure cobalt blue tunic with grave approval.  “Your obedience and good sense do you credit.  Sit you down.”

“I’m not a child.” Daniel announced crisply.

Brin eyes held a distinct gleam. “We are a long lived people.  By our standards you are indeed a child.”

“Ours too.”  It was out before Jack could stop it.  He looked an apology as Daniel deliberately sat as far away from him as he could get.  The likelihood of Daniel being receptive to any kind of bootie call was getting more remote by the second.

Brin turned to Teal’c. He inclined his head, gravely.  “Tor.”

Jack had a feeling Brin knew exactly who they all were.  He might not have at the start, but sure as hell knew now.  Good instincts AND resources.  Not to be underestimated in ANY way.

Teal’c raised his arm to touch the centre of his chest in formal salute and bowed with profound respect.  Then, being Teal’c, he cut right to the chase.  “I wish you to apprise me of the source of the threat to Carlin.”  There was nothing in Teal’c’s manner to suggest this was a negotiable demand.

“Look to my lady Demeter.”

“Woah!  Time out here.”  Jack shouldn’t have been surprised.  What the hell was it about Daniel and the Goa’uld?  “Daniel dissed the décor is all.”

Brin looked pained.  “I observed the confrontation between Master CARLIN and the lady Demeter.”

Jack was annoyed at his own slip of the tongue.  “Well, I was right there too, bud, and I didn’t see any…“

“I’m a professional," Brin interrupted sweetly.  "A trained observer.  Surveillance and reconnaissance are part of my function as a military officer.“

Jack loftily ignored the less than flattering comparison of his skills and pounced. “So it’s okay for you to blow your cover here, but not for me to blow Carlin’s?”

Brin, an expert fencer, slipped under his guard.  “I KNOW it is safe.  You did not.”

Daniel decided to lie down and enjoy the show.  It was obvious battle was fairly joined.  He had more than a sneaking suspicion Jack O’Neill might have met his match.

“I believe the nature of my participation in this mission has changed,” Teal’c calmly advised O’Neill.  “It would be as well for Thera and I to find out all we can about Demeter and her proclivities.”

“Beware, Tor," Brin warned.  "You’ll hear nothing good of the lady, if you hear anything at all.  She plays with her toys until they break. She has the voracious appetites of the Goa’uld, allied to the paranoia and tenacity of the weak.  Every sign of independence is perceived as a challenge, and the child threw down the gauntlet in front of all her small, petty world.”

Teal’c schooled himself to absolute stillness for a moment as he processed the ramifications.  He bowed again. “I then do charge you to guard this man’s honour with your life.  So must it be," he commanded.

Brin glanced down at the recumbent Daniel, eyes assessing. “You know something at least of the honour code.”

“You are honour-bound to protect the innocent.  Of that I am certain.”

There was an indignant snort from the innocent in question.

“There are many intricacies to be observed, as well as duty to be done.  You appreciate this?”

Teal’c inclined his head.  “I do.  Still, I charge you.”

“Then, so it will be.  All will be done that MAY be done, my word on it.”

Teal’c considered the man before him.  “I accept your word.”

Brin turned back to Jack, brightening visibly.  “And now to less weighty matters.  I am afire to see the assets the good colonel brings to my negotiation table.”

Jack had a sinking feeling that wasn’t a metaphor.

Teal’c inclined his masked head and turned to Jack.  “I leave you in safe hands, Lord Jona.  Master Carlin.”

“Be careful, Tor.”  Daniel answered promptly.  “Don’t get into trouble on my account.  I can take care of MYSELF,” he emphasised for the benefit of any know-it-all colonels who might be listening.

Jack couldn’t believe his ears.  Teal’c was just leaving him?  Them.  “Get back here!”

Teal’c froze.  “For what purpose do you require my assistance, Lord Jona?”

I want you to stop this guy letting his fingers do the talking, that’s what!

“Er…make sure Thera asks all the questions and make sure you ask the right people.”  Lame, really lame, O’Neill.  “Be prepared to report back before we have to go back to the Banqueting Chamber.  We might be able to follow up…”  Jack became aware that Brin had stretched out in VERY close proximity to Daniel and there was a lot of animated whispering going on at ground level. “Just use your own judgement,” he said distractedly.

“That was never in question, Lord Jona,” Teal’c said dryly.

Jack watched him go, prey to some very bitter feelings.  He was a military officer, Special Ops trained, had no qualms about doing a lot of shit it would do Daniel no good to ever hear about or do him any good to remember.  He still couldn’t bring himself to cheerfully accept he was going to have to let this guy paw him – or worse - for two hours to get in on the sting.  Jesus.

Better him than Daniel, that was it, that’s what he should remember.

Daniel lay on his side facing Brin, staring into those amazing eyes.  Kind eyes.  Very soft as they looked at him.  He let a finger trace the intricate geometric pattern on the blanket, lowered his gaze and asked a serious question. “Do you really want to – er – “

“Lie with you?” Brin asked cheerfully.

“Yes.”  No point sugar coating it.

“Indeed.  Which is not at all to say I would, nor that I any longer could.  Your friend Tor has effectively made me guardian of your honour and I must perforce guard against myself.  This will not in any way prevent me from admiring or…“

“Teasing me mercilessly?”

Brin laughed, a deep, warm rumble.  “Indeed.”

“And Jona?”  Daniel couldn’t help but laugh at the predatory grin that lit Brin’s eyes to wildfire.

“No such pledge binds me.  I shall have no mercy,” Brin gloated.

“Give him hell.” Daniel encouraged.

"I have much to give, Carlin,' Brin said with relish as he cast a complacent eye in his own direction.

“Want to make a start?”  Daniel leaned closer to a very receptive ear and whispered a few choice Tau’ri colloquialisms, carefully selected with Jack in mind – or more accurately, carefully selected to drive Jack OUT of his mind.

“Carlin!”  There were all kinds of warnings in Jack’s voice as he loomed over them.

“I’ve been asking Brin if he’s going to help us, Jona, that’s all.”

“And?”

“He’s not willing to help.“

Jack snorted.  Shocker.

“Unless you – er -“

“’Put out’.”  Brin bit off each word with obvious relish, rolling onto his back and patting the ground beside him invitingly. “You may of course put forward a counter proposition," he offered smoothly.  "I am not at all averse to trading you up for Carlin, who, besides youth and beauty, has charm and wit to commend him.”  He pretended not to hear the choked giggle from behind him.

Jack sat down stiffly beside Brin, fighting his instincts every inch of the way.  He’d never backed off from a fight in his life but – Hey!  “What the hell does that make me?  The Anti-Carlin?”  Jack submitted with an ill-tempered grunt to the huge hand gently urging him to get horizontal.  Greater love hath no colonel than he get laid for the sake of his friends, huh?

Brin considered this loaded question carefully.  “If I may use the colourful idioms of your world, I would have to say Carlin is the ‘sweetie’.”  He gave Jack a lingering, comprehensive once over. "YOU are the ‘hottie’,” he added with amused malice.

Jack snapped bolt upright, snarling. “Daniel Jackson," he mouthed viciously, "I SWEAR to GOD I am going to kill you the MINUTE we get back!  Right there in the gateroom.”

Daniel laughed up at him, quite unrepentant, eyes filled with mischief.  Jack could no more resist than – he sighed.  He hadn't had a minute alone with his wilful lover ALL day.

Brin was equally captivated.  He sighed too and reached out a gentle finger to stroke Daniel’s cheek.  He sighed even more heavily when Daniel’s sweet little smile snuck up on them both.

Jack had the measure of the man in that instant.  “You meant it.  That stuff about dying.  You actually meant it.”

“The pledge was neither lightly asked nor lightly given.  Your friend Tor commands the utmost respect.  I will honour my word.”

Jack had not a shadow of doubt that was the god’s honest truth.  He guessed maybe this respect thing could cut both ways. “Just so we’re all clear on this?  Any part of you that touches Carlin, you don’t get back.”  Jack lay down.  “Brin?" he asked pleasantly after a minute or two.  "Move it or lose it.”

Daniel sat up and peered over Brin.  A large hand was settled comfortably on Jack’s thigh, not noticeably adjacent to the knee.  Brin smirked at Daniel.  Daniel observed with intense amusement he took quite a long time to co-ordinate the withdrawal, seeming to make contact with quite a lot of Jack before the hand worked out which way was up and out.

“Jona!  I’m shocked at your lack of commitment to the success of this mission,” Daniel reproached his colonel.

“As am I.” Brin seconded sadly.  “This is not the Arvonne way.”

“Shouldn’t you just lie back and think of the Tok'ra?” Daniel suggested.

“I am flexible on the subject of position.” Brin offered eagerly.

“Bite me!” Jack snarled.

“Thank you.” Brin was deeply moved.  “Such generosity.  Do you have a preference for where?”

Jack was as surprised as anybody when he burst out laughing.

Brin stretched out his arms suggestively.  “If my arms had something to hold, my hands might not then be so busy.”

“I’m not going to lie here in broad daylight and let you cuddle me.” Jack said flatly.  “And neither is Carlin,” he added hurriedly as Brin turned his enquiring gaze on Daniel.

“On my world, soldiers will huddle together for warmth.  It is a matter for survival, no?  Is this not the custom on your world?”

“Oh, yes.  Yes, it is.  Jona's done that a lot.”

“Thank you for your priceless tactical contribution, Carlin.”  Jack was withering.

“I am cold.  We must huddle.” Brin informed them defiantly.  “It is for survival and not to be confused in any way with this cuddle you speak of.”

Daniel looked around the water meadow, at the wild flowers and the butterflies, at the three of them, all basking in the heat of the sun.  Huddling and cuddling.  Yep.  He could see how easy it was to mistake two entirely different activities.

“My world is VERY hot.”  Brin explained kindly.  “I am VERY cold,” he added plaintively.

“Not as cold as my heart.  Answer’s still no.” Jack refused heartlessly.

Brin opened his eyes very wide and smiled straight at Jack.  “Lie down, Jona, and we will speak of your participation in my operation," an unmistakeably authoritative voice ordered.  "If you wish to play, you play by MY rules.  We are not overheard but we are under observation even so.  I will not permit you to jeopardise the lives of my men or the success of my mission.  I will act out my role.  You have insinuated yourself into my charade and you will submit to my terms or you will be removed from the game.  You are a military officer and you must recognise this as a tactical necessity.  Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal.  Put out or ship out, huh?”  Jack was annoyed to see Daniel shift up to let an eager arm slide beneath him.

Brin smiled at Daniel indulgently and dropped a light kiss on his hair.

Daniel ignored the kiss and coaxed his obstinate friend.  “Lie down, Jona.  Brin’s right.  We knew what this entailed coming in.  The illusion has to be maintained.  Brin's involvement materially improves our chance of successfully completing the mission.  I think we can trust Brin to help us catch the traitor and keep the list safe until they can both be returned to the Tok'ra.”

Jack sighed heavily.  “I’m merely establishing my role as ‘hard to get’ while yours is ‘UTTERLY off-limits’, Carlin.”  He lay down with a very welcoming arm nestled around the nape of his neck.  And lips in his hair.  Christ.  At least this way even Brin’s impressive reach was marginally contained to the more or less PG-13 parts of his anatomy.

“This is NICE,”  Brin smiled warmly, snuggling them both to his side.  “Assisting you in this matter does not interfere with my primary mission objective, nor do my people have any cause to impede the Tok'ra resistance.  We are not friends to the Goa’uld.  The traitor I pursue does not share our aversion.  Once he has this list, he will auction it to the highest bidder in return for military assistance in toppling the government.  Neutrality is fragile when your world lies within the grasp of the System Lords, as the people of the Tau’ri well know.  I will use any and all means necessary to prevent this from happening.  Be assured that had you not been willing to play with me, I would still have done my utmost to prevent the list from falling into Goa’uld hands.”

Jack had a fair idea what any and all means necessary meant.  Been there, regrettably done that all too often.  He shifted slightly and Brin turned to him, leaning in.

Jack read his evil intent. “Don’t even think about it," he hissed.  "No tongue.”  He impatiently endured the lips pressing lightly against his.  “If we’re not under observation right now I’m shooting you dead stroke of midnight, day three, soon as the amnesty is lifted," he whispered savagely as soon as he was freed.  "Got that?  All else fails, you gonna send through a bomb?  Explosive device?”

“Indeed.  Dear Jona, would I lie to you about spies just to steal a kiss?”

Jack thought about it for a millisecond.  “Yes, you goddamn would!”

Brin’s eyes were tragic.  “I am deeply saddened by your lack of faith in my integrity and shall endeavour to do my utmost to live down to your low expectations of me.  Next time, I shall indeed tongue.”

“That would require me to escalate.” Jack said smoothly.

“I didn’t catch that,” Daniel complained.  “Was that escalate or osculate?”

“Copulate,” Brin said lightly.

“Jona, Jona, how could you?” Daniel mourned, “You’re cheating on me ALREADY?”

Sam sat in a barren, cold room not even the late evening sunshine could warm, staring into the bleak, resistant face of the woman they’d finally tracked down after hours of cautious questioning.

Maya.  The housekeeper, second only to the Factor in the servants’ hierarchy.

Sam had been dancing around the issue; they could still walk away from here, cover intact.  Not a trader alive wouldn’t want to know as much about potential customers and their – needs – as possible.  Simple economics, supply and demand.  Sam had to weigh up protecting their cover against their need to assess the risk to Daniel, and the overriding concern to do all they could to secure an escape route if the mission went south.  Even between them, the colonel and Brin couldn’t field enough men to fight their way out of here if it came down to it.

Sam was very aware of Teal’c’s warm, solid presence at her back.  She had no doubt he would respect her right to make this decision, even if he didn’t agree with her. Sam didn’t pretend to be the judge of character the colonel was, nor did she have Daniel’s innate empathy for others.  Science was easy.  People took work.  Still, she was aware of a very human need to offer what little comfort she could to this woman.

Taking a deep breath, she went with her instincts.  “No parent should outlive their own child.”

Maya flinched like she’d been slapped, cold eyes heating with a pain Sam knew she didn’t fully comprehend.  Before the woman could give utterance to the refusal Sam could see gathering on her face, she went on, “My Lord’s only son died.” Inspiration came.  “Master Carlin has come to be his whole world.  Lord Jona would be lost – AGAIN - if any harm came to Carlin.  Surely you can…”

Maya’s face tightened.  “Do YOU have children, who dares to speak to me of this?” she spat.

Teal’c took a calm step forward and rested his hand on Major Carter’s shoulder.  He removed his mask and stared into the woman’s eyes.  He accepted the risk as fully as Major Carter.  The potential gain did indeed outweigh the risk.  He saw Maya's eyes widen as she took in the mark of the serpent.  “I am a father, and I know what it is to suffer the loss of a child to the Goa'uld.  Fortunately, thanks to these, my son was returned to me.  I grieve for your loss while I honour it.  I would also ask you this.  Would you wish to inflict the pain YOU feel on another, or allow the one he loves to come to harm when you had the power to prevent it? I offer you the opportunity to give your loss meaning by helping us ensure such a tragedy does not occur again. I beg you to help us.”

“I couldn’t save my son,” Maya whispered.

“We’ve all suffered our own losses, Maya," Sam said gently.  "Parents, wives, friends; perhaps Carlin, most of all.  We, his friends, his FAMILY," she corrected herself, "Would do anything we could to keep him from harm.  All we ask of you is that you tell us what you know of Demeter’s intentions towards him.  We don’t ask you to endanger yourself.”

“I have responsibilities," Maya replied with quiet dignity.  "The body servants – my lady won’t waste Jaffa lives unnecessarily.  We human slaves are more easily replaced after sating her displeasure.  I have to keep an eye to my girls, for no one else will.”

Sam was horrified.  There was more deadly menace in all that was left unsaid than what was said.  People weren’t replaceable.  Every living being was unique; you couldn’t just throw them away.  You shouldn’t.  The servants were less than nothing to Demeter, they weren’t real to her.  Disposable!

“I will not decide now.  Nor will I speak of this," Maya assured them quickly.  "I will attend my lady shortly and find what I can about your Master Carlin.  Then I will attend YOU, and see for myself if this boy is worth the risk.  If it were for myself – but it is not.  If my lady has any eye to him, I am sorry for him and for you.  She had an eye to my Adras, and he did not survive her passion for him.  I’d not willingly put your lord through my loss, but I’ll not risk my girls for a stranger. Talking might not be enough, might be DOING.  You understand?”

Sam felt they could do nothing but accept her offer.  It was painfully honest, and she knew this woman would not be moved once she made her decision, for them or against them.  “We accept. We do respect your caution.”  She added carefully, “We’re placing our trust in you, too, NOT to speak of this.”

Maya laughed, a sound with no amusement.  “Trust is it?  We may serve a beast but we do not ALL do her work.”

Sam knew herself to have been rebuked.  Goodness knew what the colonel would make of it all.  She’d gone a lot farther than either of them had intended.  She stood when Maya did, hoping to God this wouldn’t blow up in all their faces, unable to shake the feeling they needed all the help they could get.

As soon as Teal’c had again donned his mask, they walked slowly back towards their quarters.  “The way becomes less clear with every step.  I believe it falls to us to deal with Demeter,” he said quietly.

“Agreed.”  Sam nodded.  “Lord Jona and Master Carlin have their hands full with Brin and the – um – trading.  If Maya lends her support, we can keep track of Demeter’s movements, run interference and stop her if necessary.”

Sam would stop her DEAD, if she had to.

Jack was well over the boredom event horizon and accelerating.  Demeter had begun the evening’s festivities earlier than expected.  All the guests had been summoned back and directed to the open air theatre for a dramatic entertainment before the evening’s feast.  Sitting on a hard stone seat was numbing his butt as much as the alleged drama was numbing his brain.  Entertainment only in its loosest possible sense, it seemed.  It was boring.  So terrifyingly boring even DANIEL was bored.

Jack had Daniel sitting chastely between him and Brin.  Several very trying hours in the sylvan glade while Brin pushed the sexual harassment envelope had revealed Daniel at least was safe from Brin’s outrageous advances.  Jack was using him shamelessly to run interference.  He was also cursing his own sense of humour for getting the better of him.  Despite his best intentions, he was starting to enjoy all the sparring.  The wrestling he could definitely live without.

Daniel leaned over. “It sucks," he whispered confidentially into Jack's ear.  "On every conceivable level.  Content, delivery, pace, style, historical accuracy, dramatic impact, lyricism.  It has NONE of these things and more.”

Jack enjoyed the little snuffs of breath against his ear.  Closest he’d gotten to Daniel all day.  He wasn't sure of the etiquette.  Was it permissible to kiss the shit out of his archaeologist during a deadly, interminable – what was the word Daniel used? - paean of praise to the Host With The Least?  It was a matter for survival, no?

Jack gave up on the onstage inactivity and started Daniel watching instead.  He wasn’t the only one.  Brin couldn’t drag his eyes from Daniel’s expressive face.  They were both sorely tried by the myriad of fleeting expressions reflecting the ongoing war between enervating boredom and Daniel’s lacerated sensibilities.  Demeter’s version of her own story apparently bore no resemblance to the one Daniel knew, or even to what they knew of Cronus.  Daniel also couldn’t see the action very well, resulting in an adorably scrunched up face as he tried to force his disbelieving eyes to disprove the evidence of his disdainful ears.

Jack figured he was going to have a fight on his hands when they got to bed that night.  He had to convince Daniel it wasn’t permissible to have sex and critique at the same time, and his only hope was Daniel could be persuaded to table the critique and not the sex.  He wouldn’t bet his pension on it.

At the conclusion, Daniel crossed his arms stubbornly over his chest, refusing to dignify the travesty he’d just witnessed with any kind of response.  He was rather looking forward to meeting Demeter.  Hostility was not the way to go, if Brin was to be believed.  A series of innocently phrased, very loaded questions might be much more efficacious and entertaining.

Servants were scurrying here and there with torches, interspersing themselves amongst the guests, tactfully leading the way back to the palace.

Jack took in Daniel’s distraction with deep misgiving.  He was wandering dreamily after the servant, leaving Jack and Brin to bring up the rear, which they both did with embarrassing alacrity, enthralled by the swaying rear in question.  The languorous stroll was a little easier to manage than the out and out sashay but was just as sexy.  Rather too many people were still enjoying the view.

“Perhaps a robe.”  Brin suggested ruefully.

“Bag over his head,”  Jack agreed equably. They enjoyed their view of Daniel from the rear.  “No.”

“No.  I apologise.  My intent was good, but in light of the…“

“Embarrassment of riches?”  Jack suggested.

Brin chuckled.  “Indeed.  In light of the embarrassment of riches, he continues to draw as many covetous eyes as before.”

“Yes.” Jack said tautly.

“This has given you cause for concern in the past, I think?” Brin enquired seriously.

“Let’s just say Demeter wouldn’t be the first to take an interest in Carlin.”

“The galaxy is filled with predators, my friend.  Walk softly and…“

“Carry a Mark 5 tactical nuke.”  Jack sighed.  “He’s plotting something.  He’s not the type to go scurrying for cover just because it’s the sensible thing to do.”

“Wilful.”

“You know it.  Like we didn’t have our hands full already.”

“We tread a maze, it is true, but I think between us we may yet bring our people clear.” Brin’s tone was without it’s customary teasing note.  “I will introduce you to my prey tonight.  If Carlin is willing, we will keep one trouble from his door and let him fence lightly with another.  I suspect my traitor will see much of interest in the child.  It is rare to meet so clever or perceptive a man.  There are many who would value your gentle scholar as highly as you, and envy you your good fortune.  My traitor among them.”

“Carlin has some very inconvenient ethics and morals right there in the mix, along with a stubborn streak a mile wide.  You can ask him to talk to your traitor but even I can’t tell you what he’ll say,” Jack admitted with perverse pride.

“Do you trust him to do what is right?”

Jack ruefully recalled a few telling examples of Daniel’s need to do the right thing, all designed to put Jack into an early grave. “You have NO idea.”

“Then I too will take the risk.”

“Are we starting to get along?”  Jack contemplated Brin’s emphatic response to his cautious question.  “I ASK you; was there ANYTHING in that to even SUGGEST I wanted you to put your hand on my ass?”

“Oh – here – let me help with those.”  Daniel grabbed a huge pile of linens from a tiny sparrow of a woman entering their quarters, just as they started to slip from her grasp.  He smiled reassuringly as she fussed, trying to take them back from him.  “It’s fine.  I’m D – Carlin.  These are my quarters.  Where would you like me to put these for you?”

Cool brown eyes warmed as he kept up the reassuring small talk.  It had occurred to him that anybody whose very life depended on the whims of a mistress such as Demeter had good reason to be afraid of giving offence.  “Who are you?”

The woman bowed respectfully.  “If you please, my Lord.  I am Maya, the housekeeper.”

“On our world, Maya means mother.  My name means God is my judge,” Daniel chattered as he led the way.

Jack sauntered over.  “Just out of curiosity, what DOES my name mean?”

Daniel realised Maya couldn’t take her eyes off him.  She seemed to be weighing him up, her earlier fear replaced by something he couldn’t quite read. “God gives,” he supplied absently.

“He was not well named then.  He does not give out,”  Brin said bitterly, closing the door behind them.

Daniel grinned.  “Put out.”

Sam was watching Maya watch Daniel, but, bearing in mind the fascinating conversation she’d had that afternoon vis a vis the colonel’s irresistible charms, was COMPELLED to ask. “Put out?”

“Irritated,” Jack insisted with great conviction, just as Brin closed in purposefully, ruining the effect.  Jack dodged and snarled. “And getting more irritated by the second.  Back off!”

“Do you require assistance?”  Teal’c watched with amused interest as O’Neill neatly sidestepped Brin.

“Yes.”  Brin’s eyes were snapping with glee.  “He will not remain still long enough to…“

Sam wished with all her heart for the video camera.  There were people at the SGC who’d give a year’s pay for the privilege of seeing Colonel Jack O’Neill forcefully fending off a tenacious love struck alien with a truly wicked sense of humour.

“I see all that training paid off, Sir!  Lovely move,”  she marvelled as the colonel dodged with inches to spare, finally taking refuge behind Daniel, who was laughing so hard he was losing his grip on the linens.  She was distracted by a hand tugging gently at her sleeve, looking down warmly into Maya’s face, hoping.

“I will help.  I’ll see no harm come to him that I could prevent.”  Maya took a deep breath and plunged on.  “My lady has an eye to the boy.  He has no fear of her.  My Adras was just such a one, quicksilver, but knew his own mind for all that.  She likes to break them of this.  First she will ask.  Try to trade for him.  Your Lord must refuse, strong as he can.”

Sam was aware she was now the centre of attention.  The colonel strolled over, casual as ever, but she read the signs.  NOTHING got past the colonel when it came to their safety.  When he reached out his hand, Maya put her shaking one into his and allowed herself to be drawn over to the seating area.

Jack didn’t know how this woman was involved, but she was obviously known to Carter and Teal’c.  He had faith in Carter’s judgement and didn’t waste any time on the whys and wherefores.  “Just how strong do I need to be in my refusal?”

He motioned to Daniel, who sank down onto the pillows on the other side of this – Maya, was it? – took her hand and held it between both of his.  She mustered up a smile for him.

“The cost of the boy should be set at her life.  Anything less, she might meet.  She’ll not risk the amnesty for fear of our God’s wrath.  Cannot raise her hand directly during the festival.  Let there be no misunderstanding she can use to her advantage.  It might be enough.”  Maya’s voice told them clearly how strongly she doubted this. “She should pay with her life.  All in all, a life is what she is looking to take.”

Jack was thinking furiously. “The extraction.”

“Always the point of vulnerability.  There was never any doubt of that.  We may have to fight our way clear.  I stand ready to assist.”  The teasing note was again gone from Brin’s voice, it rang strong and true.

“We go together?”  Jack knew there was no damn way just the four of them could make it out of there with Demeter’s Jaffa baying for their blood.

Brin thought a moment then nodded briskly.  “It will be so.  I gave my word.”

“How many men do you have?”  Jack asked.

Brin’s eyes weighed up Maya.

“She can be trusted.”  Sam was going with her gut on this one.  If Maya was with them, she would be with them all the way.

Jack nodded briskly at Brin.  He trusted Carter’s judgement.

“We number ten.  Although I must say, after Thera’s display this morning, only nine are currently capable of active duty.”

Daniel grinned up at Sam, who flushed at the unexpected praise.

“Even combined, our forces are little enough,”  Teal’c commented.  “It will be hard fighting, if fight we must.”

“We have the Zat guns.  How are you fixed for weapons?”  Jack turned to Brin.

“’Zat’ gun?” Brin queried.

“Zatnikatel.” Teal’c supplied.

“I am familiar with these weapons.  My own men will be armed with energy weapons significantly more powerful than the Zatnikatel or a Goa’uld staff weapon, with greater range and destructive capability.”

“I want to see those weapons and your men in action.  I won’t go into the extraction blind.” Jack wasn’t about to risk his team without cause.

Brin nodded gravely.  “I believe we can arrange demonstration under the guise of trade.  We will speak more of this, you and I.”

Maya turned then to Daniel, anxiety plain. “Spend no time apart with my lady.  Understand me?  None.  She – none.”

“Maya lost her son to Demeter.”  Teal’c imparted gravely.

Jack stilled.  Maya caught the movement.  They exchanged a long wordless look of completely private empathy and understanding. Then she made a shaky move to her feet.  “I will keep watch.  What I learn I will tell Thera, as soon as may be.”

Jack took her hand in a strong clasp.  “Thanks.  Thera,” he called.

At the colonel’s nod, Sam escorted Maya out.

“Maya?” Daniel remembered their earlier conversation. Perhaps Maya might let down her guard enough to allow Sam to demonstrate she more than lived up to her own name. Maya paused on the threshold.  “Thera’s name means listens well.”

Maya’s sudden smile lit her face.  “I didn’t need her name to know that.  Perhaps we can talk again, she and I.”

“Count on it.”  Sam said warmly.  Maya stroked her hand for a moment and then hurried away.

Jack snuck closer to Daniel, hoping Carter wouldn’t call him on it. “Not gonna happen, Daniel," he promised.  "No way.  No how.”

“I know.”  Daniel supposed he should be afraid, but he found it almost impossible to take a threat from someone with such execrably bad taste seriously.  At least this way, if the gloves were off, he could have some fun at her expense in the meantime.  He also thought they had far better concentrate their attention on the mission, not worry about intentions that might never come to fruition.  “I’m certain I can deal with Demeter on a one to one basis.  There’s no cause for undue alarm.  As for the extraction – I have every confidence in the team.  We’ve been in worse situations, and at least we have back up.”  He smiled sunnily at Brin.

“You will enjoy my world, Daniel, as much as we shall enjoy you.” Brin beamed right back.

“Wh – what?”  Jack was so caught up in assessing extraction scenarios he almost let that one sneak past him.

“The sooner the case is proved against the traitor Nereus, the sooner the list of Tok'ra operatives and the person of the Tok'ra traitor can be returned to you," Brin answered him calmly.  "If you are witnesses, the case at law will proceed most expeditiously.”

Daniel was delighted.  “I’d LOVE to see your world, Brin.”

“Time out!  Why your world?” Jack demanded suspiciously.

Brin looked reluctant.  “You would wish me and my men to come to your world?  Our mission takes precedence.”

“I disagree. I…“ Jack protested.

“Very well.  I submit,” Brin interrupted.

“What?” Jack was thrown by the rapid submission.

“I would be delighted to pursue our acquaintance on your world, dear Jack.  I am sure your comrades at the SGC would fully appreciate the warmth of understanding that exists between us already,” Brin smiled broadly, obviously dwelling on an enticing prospect.

Jack could clearly picture JUST how much comrades like Ferretti would appreciate seeing him chased around the gateroom.  And enjoy seeing him get caught even more.

Daniel took pity.  “We’re always on the prowl for new allies, Jack.  I’m sure General Hammond would say this is an opportunity not to be missed.”

Jack allowed himself to be persuaded and made a solemn, silent promise not to say no again if Daniel wanted to put out.  Just by way of a little thank you.

Brin managed to look utterly crushed.  He sighed and looked reproachfully at Jack.  Then he winked at Daniel.  “You will be my honoured guests.  Meanwhile, I have a request to make of you, Daniel.  I require your assistance.”

Daniel leaned forward earnestly. “Anything I can do to help, of course.”

Jack had a feeling he was losing control of his own team.  Teal’c and Daniel were already falling in with Brin’s machinations and Carter was definitely wavering.

“If you are willing, I would like you to try your hand at drawing out Nereus.  He is the only one who knows the identity of the Tok'ra traitor.  He needs information about the Goa’uld.  Who will trade with him in good faith, who will rob him and kill him.  Teal’c can supply the detailed tactical information he may ask about, but your own knowledge is impressive.  I believe he will respond if you draw him out subtly.”

Daniel shook his head. “If Nereus is as smart as you’ve been telling us, he won’t believe I’m acting in good faith for a second. I’d need a hook, something to draw him in.”

“You need only be as wilful and defiant as you please, child.  Your beloved will be safe in the arms of another.”

Sam froze mid way in her descent into the embrace of the pillows then dropped down with a thump, giggling helplessly at the paralysed horror on the colonel’s face.

Jack was furious.  “This afternoon?  That whole damn thing.  You set me up!”

Brin opened his eyes to their widest and most ingenuous.  “But of course.  Did I not warn you if you play in my game, you play by the rules I set?  And did I not also warn you we were observed?”

“Yes and yes.  Definitely.  Absolutely.  No question,” Daniel pointed out clearly, in the spirit of inter-planetary co-operation.

“Daniel does not have to pretend to a broken heart, merely the insufferable boredom of a doting older lover who cossets him endlessly.  Any diversion is better than that.  It is subtle enough for Nereus.  Any pretence at a broken heart would be seen through in an instant," Brin warned them.  He turned to Daniel, grinning.  "Well, child, can you convince the world you are bored with a doting lover who never listens to a word you say nor yet understands?  Forcing you to seek rational, intelligent companionship wherever it may be found?”

Daniel gave this due thought.  “It’s a stretch, but I might just be able to pull it off," he said brightly.  "It’s not like I’ve never had any practice.”

Sam was in agonies of suppressed laughter.  She’d never seen the colonel so enraged.  She couldn’t decide if it was telepathy or X-Ray vision, but Brin could see right through him.

“As for dear Jack and myself, we shall be observing you closely from a discreet distance.  I was most impressed by the lengths to which you were willing to go to establish your cover.  I feel I can do no less.  Utilisation of the 'seating' arrangement you treated us to this morning will be adequate to the purpose of convincing Nereus we are otherwise occupied.”

“I’m NOT sitting on your lap.” Jack spat.  He glared at his hysterical team with freezing disapproval.  Teal’c’s left eyebrow alone was enough to get him up on charges of insubordination.  “Daniel, Carter, Teal’c; I swear to GOD! “

“I said nothing, O’Neill.”

Brin reassured, “I will do my utmost to be as convincing as you were with Daniel this morning.  Be assured I paid the closest attention to how it should be done.”

“No!  I’ll never live it down.”  Jack said bleakly.

“You will live it down.  Everyone who knows you respects you, Jack.  They’ll know it was only for the sake of the mission.”  Daniel offered soothingly.  “We’ll be sure to say so in the mission report, won’t we, Sam?”

"Absolutely," Sam agreed cheerfully.

“No!”  The volume was rising.

Sam smiled sweetly at her seething C.O. “Sir, it won’t be held against you.”  She ignored the dagger look she got in return. Ah.  Looked as if it already had been.

“NO.”

Brin assured, “Trust me, Jack.  I will not make things hard on you.”

Teal’c regarded his petrified team leader thoughtfully, commenting musingly, “In space, no one can hear you scream.”

Back to Part Three / On to Part Five

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