Story: A New Normal, Part I
A New Normal
a sequel to What We Call Normal
by Alter Ego
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: The usual. I have no claim and no profit to show for this.
Author’s Note: This story deals with homophobia, and therefore it isn’t always pretty. It’s not graphic by any means, just harsh reality. If this offends, please stop reading now.
On this particular Monday, Sam didn’t go to the mountain until after lunch, because she’d been asked to meet with a few seniors at the Academy. Their project was amazingly advanced, and she was recommending that they be assigned to SGC or the Prometheus project after graduation.
Jack and Daniel weren’t getting back from their weekend visiting Jack’s aunt until that evening, so she was on her way to let Colonel Warren know she was on base and ask him about the status reports from P5X-223. Her mind was mostly still thinking about the seniors at the Academy. Their hypothesis wasn’t quite right, considering the limited information available to them, but it was clear these three were very intelligent and their ideas about space travel weren’t that far off.
Her consideration of this was interrupted when she heard, “I’m not surprised Jackson is queer, but O’Neill? That’s screwed up, man.”
She did not like the sound of that. Glad she hadn’t changed out of her dress uniform yet because she was more imposing in it, she rounded the corner and saw two airmen giving her defiantly guilty looks. “Colonel,” they said.
The one who’d been talking before was a senior airman, and she gave him a harsh glare. “Airman, would you care to elaborate on your discussion?” Despite the phrasing, it wasn’t optional.
“Ma’am, Director O’Neill and Dr. Jackson were seen at the airport looking very… together.”
Damn. Gossip traveled fast around top-secret facilities. Jack and Daniel were out now, although she wasn’t going to confirm or deny anything. “As you were, airmen.”
She’d have to go over to their house later and warn them. When she learned of their relationship several months before, she’d also been shocked. She’d known for a fact Daniel was bisexual and suspected he had feelings for Jack, but that those feelings were reciprocal had come as a surprise. Fortunately, this revelation had come after she realized that, in this universe, she and Jack would never be together and she didn’t want them to anymore. Jack and Daniel, along with Teal’c and Cassie, were family. Sam was in love with Eddie Hallowell now, and she was glad Jack and Daniel had found happiness with each other.
The Sam Carter who first stepped through the stargate never would’ve believed it if someone told her that nine years later she’d be perfectly alright with having two of her best friends end up as a gay couple. But in those nine years she’d seen too much evil in the universe to be bothered by love. In fact, once the initial shock passed, she was mostly mad that they hadn’t told her before. Teal’c, who was really quite wise, had simply pointed out that not informing her was their way of protecting her. And while she might not have deemed that necessary, Jack and Daniel had been motivated by their concern for her.
She had a wonderful relationship with a man who shared her devotion to the SGC. Teal’c had an even less conventional thing with Ishta which could be considered a relationship, though one nobody but the two of them understood. Jack and Daniel had found their version of happily-ever-after together. Considering all the times she had been sure they were all going to die, Sam thought that their post-SG-1 lives had turned out spectacularly well.
A couple of corridors later, she was waylaid by Colonel Warren and dragged into his office. Warren was one of the few SG team leaders who actually liked his office. Most of them shared Jack’s opinion that an office was where paperwork went to breed. “I suppose you knew about the director and Dr. Jackson?” he asked as soon as the door was closed.
“The personal lives of civilians are none of anyone’s business. Sir,” she said stiffly.
“We both know that’s not going to cut it, Carter. I’m not going to go add to the rumor mill, but this is going to be big news and I don’t know how to deal with it.”
He had a point, unfortunately, so she admitted, “I don’t think they’ll even try denying it. As civilians, they are free to conduct their personal lives however they see fit.” And they were her friends, her family, so Sam would defend them to whomever she needed to.
“I know that. I also know that they’re both too important to this program to lose. For the record, I don’t think it should matter one damn bit. But it’s going to.”
“I know.”
Warren sighed. “How do we handle this, Carter?”
As if she knew. Since Warren outranked her, Sam knew he was deferring to her because she was Jack and Daniel’s friend. “I’ll talk to them tonight. In the meantime, I’ll talk to Teal’c and see what he’s heard.”
“I didn’t think people talked to Teal’c about this stuff much.”
Sam managed a weak smile at that. “They don’t. But hardly anyone remembers his hearing is better than ours.”
“Ah,” said Warren. “Look, I’m as surprised as the next guy. Well, about O’Neill anyway. But when you talk to them, will you tell them I’m behind them?”
“I’m sure they’ll appreciate it.”
“SG-28 is scheduled to leave at 1430.”
“I’ll go talk to Teal’c now, if you’ll excuse me, sir.” After that, she’d head over to Eddie’s lab and ask him what the civilian scientists were saying. Since they were as a group much less conservative than the military, Sam didn’t expect the reaction there to be too harsh.
Reminding herself that this was bound to happen sooner or later from the day Jack and Daniel stopped hiding, she headed to Teal’c’s quarters.
*****
Eddie Hallowell was not having a very productive day, though that wasn’t for lack of trying. He was in fact trying to make graphs for his report on particularly interesting alien algae. He’d been studying the samples for three weeks, since Lieutenant de Silva had slipped in some and slept for five days straight, then woke up with no apparent side effects. Of course, Eddie had to be very careful not to touch the samples.
The impediment to his accomplishing much was the rumor flying around SGC about Jack O’Neill and Daniel Jackson. Everyone knew that the original SG-1 team was a tight-knit group, and it was common knowledge that Eddie was dating Sam Carter. He’d therefore had to endure the same basic conversation multiple times that day. He really wished he had his own lab so he could lock the door.
Ian Wong came over and Eddie had to repress a groan. The man was a terrible gossip and honestly Eddie was surprised it had taken him that long to make his way to the biology lab. There had to be something interesting going on in the geology department.
“So, Hallowell.”
“Good afternoon.”
Nobody ever accused Ian Wong of dancing around a subject, as he once again demonstrated. “You must have an inside scoop on O’Neill and Jackson.”
He certainly did. Eddie had known about them for a while. He was just happy that he got along with his girlfriend’s friends. The revelation that they were together had sat just fine with him. At the time he’d only been seeing Sam for a couple of months, and her close friendship with them sometimes worried him. (Teal’c not so much, since he apparently had a girlfriend halfway across the galaxy.) He didn’t like to admit that learning O’Neill and Daniel were a couple relieved him, though Jack O’Neill didn’t miss much and Eddie suspected he’d figured that out. He’d been to their house and once he and Sam had gone on with them a double date to see a play, most of which he passed playing hangman on the program with O’Neill while Sam and Daniel actually watched the play. And while it was true he’d never have picked O’Neill for gay, the two men were clearly very happy together.
None of that, however, was public information. “For a top-secret facility, people around here are terrible at respecting boundaries,” he told Wong.
“Relationships aren’t classified.”
“If they’re together, it’s nobody else’s business.”
“You can cut the denial, Hallowell. They were practically making out at the airport.”
“Now that I don’t believe for a second.” He couldn’t picture Jack O’Neill making out in public, not in a million years.
Wong took that the wrong way, as encouragement. “Why not?” he asked, eyes shining.
Eddie was not in the mood, for the seventh time that day. “Do you remember what you told me when I started seeing Sam - Colonel Carter?” he asked.
“Uh, no.”
“I distinctly recall a line where you asked what I was doing with a woman whose friends knew fifteen ways to kill me and hide my body.” Nothing like a Special Ops-trained general and former First Prime, combined with an archeologist who knew all the good hiding places on the planet, for intimidation factor. He allowed a moment for Wong to consider that before concluding pointedly, “Some of us come here to work. If you want to gossip, you’ll have to find someone else’s private life to mine. I’m not playing.”
Wong got the message and turned to leave, muttering, “Spoilsport.”
“Hey Eddie,” came Alicia Nelson’s voice, “I need to ask you something.”
“If it’s about O’Neill and Jackson, you’re wasting your time,” Wong told her.
Alicia frowned slightly. “Ask him to use his personal life as a source for gossip? No wonder you’re not the one dating an Air Force colonel.”
At that, Eddie smiled for the first time in hours. Alicia was not only a talented chemist, she was also a woman with principles. “What can I do for you?” he asked her.
“I’m hoping you might have some ideas for biological sources for this compound.” She handed him printouts and leaned in to add in a conspiratorial whisper, “and I thought you might need a break from the sharks.”
“Thank you,” he said gratefully. “You’re not in a rush, are you?”
She took a seat. “Not at all. After all, you can’t rush thorough science.”
*****
Apophis had strictly forbidden homosexual relationships on Chulak. Any relationship without the biological potential to produce children who would serve and worship him was counterproductive. Teal’c had summarily rejected that hatred of homosexuality along with everything else the false god stood for. Since base personnel began discussing O’Neill and Daniel Jackson’s relationship that morning, he had found himself under-informed regarding Tau’ri opinions. Months before, Colonel Carter had explained to him the perplexing and vague policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” but even that had not prepared him for the diversity and hypocrisy of Tau’ri ideas. After hours of internet research, Teal’c had given up on trying to comprehend the potential thought patterns of base personnel.
He had been expecting Colonel Carter’s visit and welcomed her in. “Colonel Carter. I presume you have heard the news.”
She sat down with a sigh. “Yes, Teal’c. I think everybody’s heard.”
“Indeed. Despite many expressions of disbelief that O’Neill could be romantically or sexually attracted to men, this rumor seems to be accepted as a truth.”
“Probably because it makes sense when you think about it,” she said. “Him and Daniel, I mean. I know you have to gear up soon, but I wanted to know what you’ve heard.”
“I have heard a great many things.” He had always found it useful that most of the Tau’ri failed to remember his superior hearing even if they were aware of it. That morning Teal’c had noted a vast array of responses to the revelation of O’Neill and Daniel Jackson’s relationship, most of the time without the personnel knowing that he heard them.
“Give me the highlights.”
He nodded. “Major Ashburn does not understand ‘why Americans make such a bloody big deal out of gay men.’ Nyan remains fiercely loyal to Daniel Jackson, which was to be expected. Master Sergeant Siler finds the idea weird but none of his business and has decided not to dwell on it. Lieutenant de Silva would prefer not to be in the locker room with O’Neill or Daniel Jackson, but loves his job and finds both of them highly skilled. Colonel Dinsmore is dismayed that her ‘gaydar’ was inaccurate. Pending confirmation, Master Sergeant Harriman will win a significant sum in the pool on why O’Neill retired. Major Roth considers the relationship ‘wrong beyond words’ but concedes that as civilians they may do as they please. Colonel Warren reminded a large group of airmen that both O’Neill and Daniel Jackson are heroes multiple times over. Lieutenant Phillips said that at least she does not have to worry about the cliché of her boss hitting on her. Corporal Lizotte, Lieutenant Vilay and Sergeant Roy believe they are freaks. Airman Gregory has exaggerated his tale of the interaction he witnessed at the airport three times since I first heard him tell it. Dr. Lee ‘doesn’t give a damn’ and simply wants to examine the shape-shifting vase recovered on P5X-744 in peace. Sergeant Johnston had been certain that you and O’Neill would end up married. Dr. Brightman refuses to say anything except that it is their private business. Several Marines were engaged in an attempt to determine how long this ‘fubar’ relationship has been going on. Captain Hernandez found the entire situation highly romantic. Shall I continue?”
Colonel Carter shook her head. “I get the idea. There’s the good, the bad, and the ugly.”
Teal’c felt compelled to add, “And the indifferent.” Dr. Lee had been very insistent on that point when loudly proclaiming, ‘I don’t care if they’re gay, straight, or into aliens, now let me run my tests!’
“Right. I’ve got to go warn them tonight.”
If he were not going to be on a mission, he would have accompanied her. As it was, he offered, “If all goes as planned, we will return by 0700 tomorrow. I will then be available to loom as required.”
The comment was not entirely in jest, which Colonel Carter understood even as she smiled slightly. “I’ll tell them.” Standing, she added, “Have a good mission.”
He inclined his head in recognition. “You have the harder task.”
Colonel Carter did not argue the point. When he was again alone Teal’c decided he had time to look up the definition of ‘fubar.’ While going to his computer, he reflected that the Tau’ri seemed to have a genetic disposition to making situations much more complicated than they needed to be.
*****
They’d picked up a pizza on the way back from the airport, and Daniel was halfway through his third piece when they heard the telltale sound of Sam’s bike pulling into the driveway.
Jack looked at the mostly empty pizza box. “I hope she’s eaten already.” He got up and went over to the door, opening it before Sam had even made it to the porch.
“Hi,” she said, setting her helmet on the floor. “I’m not interrupting, am I?” Her whole body screamed that she was concerned about something, and the false cheer hadn’t fooled them for years.
“Nope. Have a seat,” said Jack. “There’s a piece of pizza if you want.”
She sat but passed on the pizza. “I’m not hungry, thanks. How was your trip?”
“It was good,” replied Daniel. “But you’re way too tense to have come here to hear about our weekend in New Hampshire.”
“Right.” Sam ran a hand through her hair the way she did when she didn’t know how to start a conversation. “When you were at the airport Friday, an airman saw you acting ‘together.’ The whole mountain has been talking about it. I hate to say it, but you’re completely out now.”
Daniel had a pretty good idea what the anonymous airman had seen. At one point, he’d been having a bout of worry that Aunt Kate wouldn’t like him, or would turn out to be less accepting than Jack thought, or some similar scenario. None of them had come to pass, and after a little initial awkwardness the weekend had gone well. Both Jack’s aunt and his cousin Lisa were pleasant people. But that moment in the airport when Jack was reassuring him, he figured it would’ve been pretty obvious they were a couple. Especially the part where Jack had laced their fingers together and dropped a quick kiss on his hand.
Jack, his wonderful, beloved Jack, knew him well enough to say, “Daniel. Stop it.”
“What?”
“Whatever train of thought that’s going to lead to you blaming yourself for this. We both knew it would happen one of these days. Not hiding, remember?”
He still felt like Jack had the worse end of this deal. Daniel knew that half the people at SGC already suspected he was gay or bi anyway.
“Teal’c said he’ll be available to loom once he gets back in the morning, and Colonel Warren offered to do anything he can to help,” said Sam. “I asked Teal’c what he’s heard. There’s good, bad, ugly, and indifferent. Eddie says the civilian scientists are just as surprised - at least about you, Jack - but less, uh…”
“Repulsed?” suggested Jack.
She nodded glumly in response but added, “Not everyone. Apparently Captain Hernandez thinks it’s romantic, and then there are the people like Siler who think it’s a little weird but not really their business.”
“Our lives are our own,” said Jack. “Daniel’s a civilian. And even though nobody acts like it, I don’t wear the uniform anymore. I’ll call Hammond. He knows, but I don’t think he’s been sharing. If it means that much to the Joint Chiefs and the President, I’ll retire for good.”
Daniel reached his hand across the table to grab Jack’s. He was used to suspicions about his sexuality. It came with working on a military base and he’d accepted who he was before he’d ever seen the stargate. He really didn’t care what other people thought unless they were close to him. Jack seemed to be developing a similar philosophy in that regard, but he did have more to lose and it was new to him. Daniel held his hand tightly, their fingers squished together. He needed the touch to convey his love and admiration. “Jack,” he said softly, “cariad. You can tell them we’re a package deal.”
Sam was smiling at their clear love. “Whatever you need, just name it.”
“Thanks,” he told her, grateful for the support of his SGC family.
She stood up. “I’ll let you two process this, but call if you want.”
“You don’t have to go,” said Jack.
But Sam was already reaching for her helmet. “In about three minutes you’re going to realize I’m right. I’ll call in the morning.”
Daniel got up and gave her a quick hug. “Thank you.”
As usual, Jack found a unique and roundabout way of expressing his gratitude. “It’s always good to have reliable backup.”
“They only think they’ve broken up SG-1,” said Sam with a wry smile. “Goodnight.”
Sam closed the door behind her and Daniel pulled Jack up. “Couch,” he said. Forgetting all about unpacking from the weekend, they settled in together on the couch.
Daniel was the first to speak. “I meant it, Jack. About being a package deal.”
Because they were leaning together, he couldn’t see Jack shake his head, but he felt it. “You love your job even more than I love mine. I don’t want you to give it up.”
“You don’t get it, do you? Yes, I love my job. But I don’t want to work at SGC if it suddenly becomes illegal for me to tell you what I’m doing. I was seriously considering leaving before they kept you on as a civilian. I can’t live with huge parts of my life that I have to keep secret from the one person I share myself with completely. I won’t live like that, Jack.”
Jack’s breath hitched, and he somehow managed to get them spooned together on the sofa. It was a good thing they had a wide sofa. “It shouldn’t come to that. I am a civilian now. Politics, though… well, you know how I feel about them.”
He certainly did. They shared a very dim view of politics generally. “I know it shouldn’t. But if it does, I’m gone the day you are.”
“I’ll get up early and call Hammond, see where I - we - stand.”
“It’s not just the Pentagon, you know,” he warned.
“I know,” said Jack. “It’s the people on base who will be trying to act like they still respect me when they don’t, who will be talking about us behind our backs and looking at me like I’ve got a snake in my head. The military isn’t a warm and fuzzy kumbaya institution.”
“I’d noticed.”
“Doesn’t matter, though. I love you. People can deal with it or not and I don’t care which.”
He grabbed his partner’s hand and pulled it up near his own heart. “My thoughts exactly. I don’t want anyone but you, it’s nobody else’s business who I love, and when have I ever cared what other people thought?”
Jack chuckled at that. “You wouldn’t be you if you did.”
They settled into a contemplative silence after that. Daniel tried not to think of it as the calm before the storm.
*****
In the morning Sam called as she’d promised, hoping her friends were alright. Daniel answered, and from the sounds of it he was well into his second cup of coffee. “How are you?” she asked.
“Both still employed,” he said. “According to General Hammond, President Hayes said that anyone who doesn’t want a gay man commanding SGC can try to build a resume half as impressive. Besides, it’s apparently very hard to find someone that everyone on the IOC respects.”
She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “That’s good.” On one hand, she knew that once Jack retired he could do what he wanted. On the other, she knew the military, and there were going to be well-placed people who objected to the leader of SGC being in a gay relationship. (She was pretty sure she remembered from the last election campaign that President Hayes had a lesbian sister-in-law, which could only help.)
“It is,” agreed Daniel. “General Hammond is coming to visit next week. You know how the Air Force loves to send someone with a pound of brass to express support.” His words were a bit harsh, but the tone behind them was lightly teasing. “He’s even coming over for dinner. Jack all but promised you and Teal’c would be here too.”
“Sounds good,” she said. “Are you and Jack…” she trailed off, unable to find the right words.
“I’ve never cared, Sam. I kept my orientation to myself because I came to work on a military base and,” here he paused before admitting, “and I was already an outsider. But people can take me or leave me as I am. And you know Jack. Once he’s made up his mind, nothing will change it.”
She grinned. They were going to be just fine. “Teal’c wants to try the new Persian restaurant he saw advertised, and Eddie will never refuse eating out. Do you guys want to go Friday?” Teal’c had a thing for trying food from all over the world. Eddie had a thing for meals that required neither cooking nor doing dishes.
From the muffled sound she could tell Daniel had his hand over the receiver. “Jack, Persian restaurant Friday with Sam, Teal’c and Eddie?”
Sam could barely hear Jack reply, “Sure.”
“We’re in.”
“Meet you there at 1830?” she asked.
“Six-thirty, right.” Daniel had never adopted the use of military time. “If I don’t go now Jack’s going to eat all the eggs.”
“See you later, then.”
“Thanks, Sam.”
Feeling significantly better about her friends’ situation, Sam went off to make her own breakfast.
*****
They went to the mountain together in Jack’s truck. He had decided that he didn’t give a damn what other people thought. As much as he disliked getting older, he was only a couple weeks short of fifty-four. He’d spent his entire adult life serving his country and his planet. After everything he’d done and had done to him, he had still managed to come out alive and unbroken. He loved Daniel and Daniel loved him. They were together. End of story. If people didn’t like it, too bad for them.
Daniel had been quiet for a couple minutes, working something out in his brilliant mind. Finally he said, “Next time we go on vacation, I’d really like to go to Egypt. There are places I’d like to show you. Places with good memories.”
Jack hadn’t expected that, but he kicked himself for shooting down Egypt as a vacation destination before. Daniel didn’t want to take him on an archaeological tour. He wanted to show him the places that were special to him, from the few years he had with his parents.
“Sounds good,” he said. And it really did.
“That’s for you, Jack. No matter what anyone else says or does.”
He nodded. “What’re a few homophobes after the Goa’uld and Replicators, anyway?”
Daniel gave him knowing grin. “Nothing.”
With practiced ease he pulled into his parking spot. It was one of the better perks he’d received when he took Hammond’s job: the best parking spot in the lot, marked with a sign that proclaimed it Reserved: J. O’Neill.
“See you when the delegation comes,” he said.
“Yes.”
It was a short walk to the entrance. He got his ID ready.
“Good morning sir, Dr. Jackson,” greeted Sergeant Soucie while checking their IDs.
Jack put his hand on the scanner. “Good morning, Sergeant.” He could see Soucie trying to look like nothing at all was unusual. Of course, going in together wasn’t doing anything to deny the rumors running around.
The other guard was fairly new and Jack could never remember her name, but she gave them a deferential nod. “Director, Doctor.”
Jack had barely stepped out of the elevator when he was met by the ever-professional Walter. “Good morning, sir. Doctor Jackson. If I can talk to you a minute about today’s gate schedule, General. We had to adjust it because there’s a storm on Vali delaying the delegation.”
Daniel headed off to his office and Jack took the paper Walter handed him. “It looks good,” he said, though he knew Colonel Fisk wasn’t going to be happy that his mission got the worst delay.
“Excellent. I’ll implement it, with your permission.”
“Implement away.”
“Yes sir.” With that, Walter went towards the control room while Jack went to his office.
First, though, he stopped in the tiny office next to his, where Lieutenant Phillips was just taking off her coat. “What’d I miss?” he asked.
“Good morning, sir. Yesterday was relatively quiet, aside from certain… lively discussions.” She was clearly not entirely comfortable with the last part, although whether because it was awkward to admit everyone had been gossiping about him or because she objected to his relationship, Jack couldn’t tell.
“So I’ve been told.”
Colonel Warren came in. “Lieutenant, is… ah, there you are, sir. I was hoping to speak with you.”
“Come on in.” He left Phillip’s office and unlocked his own. When the door was closed again, he said, “Carter told me about your support. It’s appreciated.”
“Any time, sir.”
“Have a seat.”
Warren sat. “I’d like permission to go back to P2Z-912, sir.”
Jack thought for a second, trying to place the planet. If he had the right one, the natives were fond of their guns. “Didn’t they try to kill you?”
“Yes, but that was an honest misunderstanding.”
“And you want to go back why?”
“I’m hoping they might let us take a look at their wind-generated defensive system, sir.”
That was fair enough, except for one small problem. “They didn’t let you the first time.”
“No. However…”
Jack decided to take his normalcy where he could get it.
*****
Daniel had a perfectly average morning. He spent the first hour holed up in his office working on a translation and then Nyan came in to review UAV footage of ruins. Their conversation remained, as usual, an enthusiastic discussion of archaeological possibilities.
His alarm went off, reminding him that he had an appointment to keep. “I’ve got to go meet the Vali delegation,” he told Nyan. “Can we finish this later?”
“Certainly. The last mission interrupted my sleep schedule, and I am ready for bed.” Nyan looked at him for a moment, then asked solemnly, “Are you happy with your chosen path and companion?”
“Yes,” he replied with a smile.
“Then I am pleased for you.”
“Thank you, Nyan.”
“Have a pleasant afternoon.”
“Get some rest.”
By the time Daniel got to the gate room, everyone else was there: Jack, Sam, Colonel Warren, and the usual contingent of guards. The doors had barely shut behind him when the gate came to life.
“Incoming wormhole,” announced Walter somewhat unnecessarily.
Behind the iris, the gate flared to life.
“It’s the Vali,” Walter told them.
Jack replied, “Open the iris.”
The iris always seemed out of place to Daniel. It was so mundane to put over something so astonishing. It also had the potential to save the planet, so the small poetic injustice was really inconsequential.
The three-person Vali delegation stepped through. “Greetings from the Unified Government of the Vali,” they proclaimed in unison. Daniel was impressed at how quickly they’d learned English.
“Welcome to Earth,” said Jack, taking a step forward.
Suddenly, one of the Vali flicked her fingers and a tiny dart flew through the air. She crumpled to the ground, zatted, before the dart even hit Jack’s neck.
“What the hell?” asked Jack. Daniel was relieved because, at least for the moment, Jack seemed fine, but that was quickly overwhelmed by a gnawing fear.
The other Vali had their hands up in the galactic pose of surrender. “I told her!” proclaimed one. “‘Rekop, we can’t use truth serum on potential allies. They won’t like it.’ But does she ever listen? No! If her father wasn’t so rich…”
Jack’s fingers had found the dart. “I don’t think you should pull it out,” cautioned Sam. Jack dropped his hand back down.
Daniel thought he’d better make sure he understood the Vali correctly. “Truth serum?”
The two conscious Vali were docilely letting the guards search and handcuff them. “It’s not poisonous,” said the one who appeared to be the leader. Since the ancestors of the Vali had been taken from India thousands of years before, it was possible that it was poisonous and they had developed an immunity. On the other hand, chances were also good that Jack would be just fine. Daniel could feel his panic subsiding. “It lasts a third of a day, half at most.”
“Sir,” said Warren, “I’ll take care of them, if you’d like to go to the infirmary.”
“Like isn’t quite the word I’d use,” muttered Jack. “Make sure they don’t get up to any more tricks, Colonel.”
“Yes sir.”
Jack started to sway a bit. The Vali leader informed them, “Dizziness is the most common side effect.”
Daniel went over to support Jack before he fell over, careful to be on the side without the dart.
“If it’s a truth serum,” said Sam, “I’d better go clear the way to the infirmary of nonessential personnel. No telling what you might say.” No matter how long he worked for the Air Force, Daniel would never have the military mindset to worry about security clearances while Jack was on the receiving end of a dart.
“Okay,” agreed Jack.
She looked at him. “Will you be alright?”
“I will if people don’t ask questions,” snapped Jack. “Questions are hereby forbidden.”
Daniel knew himself well enough to know he was bound to slip up there. Hopefully there was an exemption for him. “Come on,” he said. “Infirmary.” Despite the Vali’s assurances, he wasn’t going to stop worrying until Dr. Brightman had checked Jack over carefully.
*****
It was over an hour before Tim Warren got down to the infirmary to check on the man who he still thought of as his CO, despite O’Neill’s civilian status. He had personally supervised the incarceration of the Vali and then had to explain to the President why the teleconference was indefinitely postponed. Meanwhile Carter had contacted the highly contrite Vali government and gotten a sample of the truth serum. She assured him that Dr. Brightman was confident there would be no lasting effects other than O’Neill’s ire.
All the same, it seemed to him the respectful thing to stop by the infirmary and put in a brief personal appearance. As soon as he stepped through the door, it was clear he would have to get by Teal’c first.
Warren liked Teal’c, even though he didn’t work with him often. The Jaffa was nothing if not dedicated, insisting that he would not rest until all Goa’uld were dead. He was also unfailingly loyal to the rest of SG-1, even after the team ceased to exist. As he stood imposingly in the infirmary, his silent message was clear: nobody gets to my friend while he is vulnerable unless I approve.
“I’ve come to give the director my report,” Warren said.
Teal’c gazed at him for a moment, but Warren didn’t blink. Finally the Jaffa nodded slightly. “Do not ask him any questions.”
“Got it.”
O’Neill was sitting on a bed, obviously annoyed. Dr. Jackson stood beside him, and his concern was so clearly that of a lover that Warren wondered how he could’ve possibly failed to realize they were together.
“Glad to see you alright, sir,” he said. “The Vali are incarcerated and under heavy guard. They should pose no threat.” At least Keva and Dawhar, the two who hadn’t flicked a truth serum dart, had understood and cooperated. In fact, the worst inconvenience he’d dealt with as far as they were concerned was a need to apologize continuously. “I’ve informed the President that the teleconference will be delayed indefinitely.”
“Thank you, Colonel.”
He hadn’t gotten to be a full-bird colonel without recognizing a veiled dismissal. So he whispered a slightly conspiratorial, “Good luck getting out of Doc’s clutches, sir,” and headed towards the door.
With a nod to Teal’c, Warren headed off to check on the Vali. Then he had to decide what to do with them. He wanted Carter’s input on that one.
He was waiting for the elevator when he heard two airmen deep in conversation and oblivious to his presence. “A truth serum!” exclaimed one of them. “Damn, someone should ask him if he’s a top or a bottom.”
“I still can’t believe we’re under the command of a queer.”
That kind of thinking annoyed Tim Warren on principle. Ba’al was still out there, doing his evil best to take over the galaxy. There were other kinds of threats, too, like the Aschen. Warren wanted to grow old with his wife, watch his daughter finish growing into a woman, and play with grandkids eventually. He didn’t want to worry about never being able to have grandkids or, worse, having them enslaved by a Goa’uld. In the face of that, who cared who Jack O’Neill was sleeping with? And anyway, he knew what he’d seen in the infirmary: those two were in love. So it was unexpected. This was SGC. The unexpected was their stock and trade.
The airmen snickered, pleased with themselves, until Warren cleared his throat. “If you don’t have enough do occupy your on-duty time, Airmen, I’m certain there are storage closets in need of cataloging and reorganizing.”
“Yes, Colonel.”
He had much bigger fish to fry at the moment, so Warren continued on his journey to visit the imprisoned delegates.
Continued in Part II: ent-alter-ego.livejournal.com/9796.html