This 400-word ficlet is for
gategremlyn, who wanted "a fic where the team is very cold. Off world would be nice."
The team keeps warm while they wait out a storm offworld. No spoilers, any season, and general teamy fluffiness. Rated G.
Jaffa Hot Water Bottle
"I am trying," Sam said dreamily, "to picture Teal'c in fuzzy pink earmuffs."
Daniel choked on his tepid coffee. Teal'c raised a tolerant eyebrow. Jack snuffled a bit, then resumed his soft snores.
The mission had been a disappointment from the start: ruins that were mere jumbles of rock, zero signs of naquadah, and no people. They'd been halfway back to the Stargate when the lowering clouds unleashed a torrent of harsh, unrelenting hail. At least the network of caves that Teal'c spotted on their way to the not-very-ruined rocks provided them with emergency shelter until the storm ended; it kept them out of the wind, which Sam gloomily estimated was gusting at over 100 miles an hour.
It had been fourteen hours, now, with no sign of slackening. As night fell and the temperature plummeted, they huddled closer together, sharing mutual body heat and draping emergency blankets over themselves like a silvery poncho designed for four. They'd eaten MREs with little enthusiasm, appreciating the warmth if not the taste. Jack, with his uncanny ability to sleep anytime and anywhere he felt safe enough, quickly dozed off. The others shared sporadic conversation, including reminiscences about snowball fights, plans for tropical climates on future missions, and loving descriptions of cocoa with marshmallows. Daniel's waxing rhapsodic about Irish coffee prompted them to use their Sterno to heat water, although the hot liquid quickly cooled in the frigid air.
"Pink earmuffs," Sam repeated, eyeing Teal'c speculatively. "I think you could really pull it off."
"I think Teal'c could pull off anything he wanted." Daniel shrugged, draining his coffee. "I'm just not sure why."
"Perhaps Cassandra Fraiser might appreciate such apparel," Teal'c suggested mildly.
"Oh, I don't have any." Sam grinned. "Just getting a little silly, I guess."
"It's the giddy hour," Daniel agreed, then spent ten minutes explaining the concept to Teal'c. Sam listened to the sound of Daniel's voice, letting it turn into a pleasant drone as her eyelids grew heavy. Unconsciously, she snuggled closer to Teal'c.
Daniel started yawning soon after Sam drifted off. Teal'c noted this and suggested that he sleep.
"Don't want to leave you on your own," Daniel protested.
"I shall kel no reem," Teal'c promised.
"Well...." Daniel, too, squirmed closer to Teal'c. "Did you know that Jaffa have a higher temperature than humans?" he mumbled.
"I know it now," Teal'c said, smiling. "Sleep well, Daniel Jackson."