by Grace
~*~
Fortunately, there were only a few likely places someone could hide in the firehouse that might muffle their ears from the lobby hum: the guest room, the bell tower, or the storage space above the garage on the second floor. After a distinct flash of an old Murder, She Wrote episode- Grace realized her… curiosity (noun: eagerness to know about something or to get information) on pursuing the whereabouts of Sarah suddenly resembled more accurately… meddlesome (adjective: interfering unnecessarily). Perhaps the news was bad and she needs a minute to gain composure, or was good and wanted to call Daniel? In her mind the teetering scale plunged and she conceded to giving Sarah a good hour to reappear before commencing a full-scale quest.
20 minutes later the last of the course sugar was being sprinkled over the final muffin batch when Sarah surfaced - descending from the red spiral staircase of the bell tower. Anna and Kyle were working this morning, occasionally mocking flirtation by snapping a towel here or there, Grace was laughing at one of their antics when Sarah came back to the same barstool she had left. Grace's undivided attention stared through and she raised her eyebrows encouraging Sarah to commence with the deluge.
"So, you remember how Daniel was letting me borrow some of his books?" she asked almost as a formality- Grace had seen her reading them countless times – anywhere she could spare a moment.
"Right….?"Grace felt the rising drama of a good albeit torturously winding story and hoped Sarah could cut to the chase.
"He was trying to teach me Egyptian- er- I think."
"Right – you wanted to learn it and he was teach--"
Sarah interrupted- "No, I mean," her eyes fixed on Grace's and with more emphasis she added "He was trying to teach me, because he wanted me to know what he was saying"- she pulled out the book from her knapsack "in this."
"You mean… he wrote…that?" Grace's face seeping incredulity did not stiffen Sarah's defense and she immediately knew Sarah was serious. "But how? It looks ancient, did he like- age the book or something? – and why would he anyway?"
“Just read this-” Sarah opened the cover of the book carefully withdrawing the letter, just before handing it to Grace a loud clatter sounded down the bar as the kitchen antics between Kyle and Anna escalated - a Styrofoam coffee cup spilled over pooling across the bar towards the book. Sarah snatched it in her arms protectively- “how about we go upstairs?”
“Sorry-” Anna managed before giggling again- Kyle was punching her in the arm while taking the towel from the rack and catching the pooling black liquid -
“ok, we’ll stop now-” he added apologetically.
“Hey you guys- don’t forget to change the rugs, we don’t want the floor turning into an ice-skating rink…” the slight tone faintly stern to show her disapproval of their frolics. One must show who’s the boss- even though it could easily have been Sarah and me working out their stayed-up-too-late giggles.
“We’re going upstairs-” said Sarah who was already moving behind the counter to grab a quick cup. The two walked up the spiral staircase- into the large open sitting room. Hallways led off to the left and the right and there was a door with a “GARAGE” placard hanging from one nail. Although they had little time to renovate this was clearly the next big work in progress. The wall of classic pin-ups was starting to finally yield as old mottled plaster showed through in varying colors. By far the most strange part about the room was the modern furniture they had placed there. Sarah had her favorite leather arm chair- oversized in a walnut brown with ottoman and Grace had a rocking chair with a coffee table fashioned from two side-by-side steamer trunks under glass. By far it seemed unnatural because of the gorgeous Indian floor rug which sat under the cluster as though someone had just plopped it all there by accident.
Dropping into her seat, Sarah pulled Grace’s rocking chair close to the table- as if her attention were not piqued already.
“Ok, now-” Sarah watched Grace sit, the look of confusion growing deeper- “read the letter- here” she handed the folded paper over. Grace read the letter slowly, and then reread some key bits-
“So… he wanted you to translate this for him- why can’t he just do it himself?”
“Remember he’s busy with the dig, maybe he needs some help or something, he didn’t really say why-” she grabbed the letter from her and skimmed it again. “It says ‘you will understand once you have completed the translation, and I will see you soon thereafter’- it all seems a bit…”
“Formal- yeah, that’s what I was thinking. I mean, not something you’d send the girlfriend back home.” Grace realized too late she had used the “g-word” and tried to add something to cover her tracks. “-I mean, I’m sure the other scientists don’t send work home for their wives to translate- I mean-” she sighed, then she looked at Sarah and they both smiled.
“Thanks!” Sarah sarcastically replied, flipping absently through the book. One of the pages came loose and drifted across the floor. “Oh crap!” she jumped up to retrieve the missing page- as she approached it the gold leafing looked nearly new- and didn’t seem to belong with the rest of the book. Picking it up - she realized it looked more like an old English text- “What - is this doing in there?” she brought it back to the table and they examined it- it appeared to be an excerpt from a historical record of some kind.
“Ok, now I’m confused, WHY would there be an old English text in here, English has nothing in common with Egyptian!”
“Well, actually, about eight symbols from the modern alphabet can be traced back in an unbroken line to Egyptian hieroglyphs. Of course, they think that the other symbols were inspired by Egyptian glyphs or newly invented-” Sarah had been examining the paper when she glanced up at Grace who had an expression of incredulity bathed in sarcasm. “Let me guess, you read it in one of his books- never mind- you said downstairs that he wrote it- the book I mean- but its too old- right?”
“Well, I meant - I didn't mean that he had written it-" Sarah rose from her chair slowly turning the paper over in her hands. she had never seen anything like this before, even in all the books which Daniel had lent to her.
"When will he be back from Egypt?" Grace was flipping through the book now carefully fingering the pages. Sarah took her time answering, eventually she replied "-two more weeks, do you think he needs the translation done before then?"
"I don't know. I still don't understand why the scientists would send it to you I know that you have been studying Egyptian but you are by no means an expert -no offense."
"None taken, maybe we could ask Sam... do you think she'll be in today?"
"Wait..." Grace was now reading the letter from Daniel it says not to mention anything to the rest of his coworkers - do you think it's a matter of national security?"
" Well, if it is wouldn't they be more equipped to handle it?"
At that moment the doorbell jingled as an icy window swept up the stairs to where they were sitting. Sarah rushed to look down to the lobby just in time to see Samantha Carter in bundled up sherpa coat stamping off the snow from her boots.
" Sarah wait! " Grace followed as Sarah quickly descended the stairs and nearly running into Sam as she crossed the lobbying for her morning latte.
" Well, good morning Sarah. Oh, I wanted to tell you I heard from Daniel this morning it looks like his trip will run a little long..." Sam did not make eye contact as she added ", I don't know when he will be coming back yet-but I will let you know as soon as he lets me know, promise."
Sarah's bewilderment was not alleviated even after Sam left. She had not told Sam about the book- all she could think of was Danielle trapped by a Bedouin tribe who were offended by a misplaced dig into a grave site of their elders. Watching the snow beginning to fall outside, she could not help about wonder why Sam had refused to make eye contact- she had a sinking feeling that things were going terribly wrong and she was out of the loop.
Monday, January 8, 2007
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
The A-Team: Search for the Absconded Muffin
by Grace
~*~
"Alright, now you try - go on!-" Sarah waited in anticipation, her elbows resting on the counter.
Teal'c spoke with perfect pronunciation"I pity... the fool...?"
Sarah giggled slightly as she replied,"ok, now say 'foo' instead of fool," she recited the classic line with inflection as the bell above the door jangled. A gust of wind rolled along the tile floor as Grace stepped inside removing her scarf.
"You would think March would be colder- oh- good morning T-Man, that your ride outside?" her voice had a tinge of disappointment. After spotting the khaki Jeep beside theside entrance she had sped her stride in hopes of seeing Cam Mitchell. They had last spent time together when she dropped him off at the departure gate at the airport. He was leaving on special assignment to Iraq for 5 weeks, and though only one week had elapsed she still couldn't shake the feeling that part of her heart had drifted much further away than the Middle East. At first she thought that meant Cameron had been killed, but 3 days in he called her, the connection was terrible.
"It is the vehicle I am currently utilizing, but I do in fact drive it... do you need a ride?"
Teal'c's comment brought her back to earth-"Ha ha," she replied sarcastically "No, I don't need a ride, I just know someone else with a- nevermind. Don't you have to be at the museum by now?"
"I have not watched the clock, I apol- I....pity the foo'." He lowered his head slightly and Grace stifled her laughter until he made it out the door.
"Please tell me we aren't watching the A-Team for movie night- how did that conversation get started?"
"I called him 'Mr. T' by accident and he insisted that I teach him a line, that boy must definitely needs to learn some affect- did you get it?"
Grace opened the bag that she had hoisted on the black marble bar a moment ago. Reaching in, she pulled out a box wrapped picuresquely in brown paper and twine. At the top corner in small writing was Sarah's name, nearly obscured by the variety of air lift stickers slapped on every side.
“Of course, you would be the one to get a package from your swamped archeologist- I think our guys are getting rather attached…” Grace envisioned Cameron in a desert tent somewhere calling her on the phone with a smirk on his face. She began to unzip her coat as Sarah struggled with the package, eventually pulling Sarah’s keys from her own pocket to open her pocket knife and hand it to her with a sisterly look. The thick tape nearly obscured her name and it seemed sand was accumulating over the bar as each layer was torn off.
“Good night! Did he wrap it in a sandbox?” Grace laughed as Sarah finally got the last strand of packing tape out of the way.
Inside was the standard brown environmental wrapping material you’d see in any artifact packing crate- Sarah smiled “I feel like I’m going to find the chalice of Pharaoh or something!”
She slowly pealed back the first layer and saw something gold underneath- “What is this!”- her voice rippled with excitement. She hefted from the box a large book with a cover ornately decorated in scrollwork and gold leafing. “Oh my... what is...” Her fingertips flowed over the raised impressions of hieroglyphs and she could almost feel the history contained there. The binding looked sturdy enough and after examining the spine she dared to open the cover. Of course the book cracked in protest, and she watched the pages slowly float back into place as she reached for them, looking for a title. Grace was curious, but spent her time digging deeper in the package looking for a note- there must be some kind of explanation. Her searching paid off as she found an white linen envelope with the word “instructions” written on it.
“Sarah- look at this-” she had to place it on the book to divert her attention.
“Instructions? Why would he write that?” Sarah grabbed it and opened it slowly- still imagining the fragile pages of the book open beneath her.
Inside were two pages, she sat down at a stool to read them, once and awhile glancing at the book. Grace wanted Sarah to read it out-loud but just as she thought to suggest it the buzzer rang from the kitchen and so decided to run back and check on the muffins baking in the oven. She took only a few minutes to place them on the cooling rack, then she heard a voice from the lobby-
“Hello? Is anyone there- ?” the female’s voice was raised with a slight accent.
As Grace walked back to the lobby she noticed a familiar face – Vala strummed her fingers on the countertop, noticed sand stuck to them and awkwardly brushed it off onto her cargo pants. She wore a lumpy knit hat over her ebony pigtailed hair, and upon seeing Grace she smiled and hopped up on a stool.
“Ooh, good- you’re here then, I was wondering if I could have that drink I tried out last time- something Ah-mart-e-o?” she stumbled over the last word.
Grace looked around for Sarah- the box, book, and letter had disappeared too- no doubt she had gone upstairs or something?
“What?” Vala looked self-conscious as Grace eyed the counter where the box had been- “Are you… alright?”
“Oh- what- yes, yes, I’m fine. Amaretto Macchiato is it-” she repeated the name sounding out the syllables again as Vala repeated them to herself in a whisper.
“ah-ma-re-toe mak-ee-ah-toe. Right, can I have two please?” she had a glint in her eye.
“Both barrels this morning? What’s the occasion?” Grace asked still wondering where Sarah had disappeared to so quickly.
“Looooong meeting ahead, you people love your lectures…” she sighed and spread her palms out on the marble counter and began stacking the sugar packets into a pillar.
“You people... who?” Grace couldn’t imagine what Vala meant and wondered if she should be offended.
“You, um- Americans” she let out a nervous giggle – “you love lectures!” she added gusto as she said the last word and quickly changed the subject. “So, did you watch LOST last night?”
“Oh no, I missed it! Oh well, I’ll just have to catch it online- don’t tell me what happened!” Grace shot a mockingly stern look Vala’s way “I’ve been following this show forever; I can’t believe its going to end.”
“What do you mean- how long have they been stranded on that island?” Vala was now curious about her favorite new television program. Grace might have had no idea about Vala being from another galaxy, but she had noted the fake laughter at any general TV or movie quote. Because of this Grace often wondered if it was perhaps that Vala was not allowed to partake in this type of entertainment, strict upbringing perhaps…
“Hmm, let me see…” Grace added a bit of whip cream, a chocolate kiss (Vala’s favorite must-have for every drink), and plastic lid. “Originally they were on the first island for at least 2 seasons, the second island they’ve been on for maybe... 7?”
“The FIRST island?!” Vala reached for the drink while exclaiming. Grace grimaced at the volume, “sorry. Don’t know my own strength I guess”- Vala raised her eyebrows surprised, smelled her drink, and hopped off the stool walking backwards toward the door. “Well then, I’ll see you later – have a good day, bye bye then,” she smiled broadly and Grace, noting the look, glanced down to the marble counter where she had sat the cooling muffins minutes before- one was missing.
“Bye Vala...” Grace conceded with a smile knowingly as the lumpy hat and leather jacket glided out the front door making the bell ring across the empty lobby. She smirked to herself a moment and then realized Sarah had not yet surfaced. “Sarah?” she called in the lobby, feeling it to be the most impotent search and rescue mission ever launched.
~*~
"Alright, now you try - go on!-" Sarah waited in anticipation, her elbows resting on the counter.
Teal'c spoke with perfect pronunciation"I pity... the fool...?"
Sarah giggled slightly as she replied,"ok, now say 'foo' instead of fool," she recited the classic line with inflection as the bell above the door jangled. A gust of wind rolled along the tile floor as Grace stepped inside removing her scarf.
"You would think March would be colder- oh- good morning T-Man, that your ride outside?" her voice had a tinge of disappointment. After spotting the khaki Jeep beside theside entrance she had sped her stride in hopes of seeing Cam Mitchell. They had last spent time together when she dropped him off at the departure gate at the airport. He was leaving on special assignment to Iraq for 5 weeks, and though only one week had elapsed she still couldn't shake the feeling that part of her heart had drifted much further away than the Middle East. At first she thought that meant Cameron had been killed, but 3 days in he called her, the connection was terrible.
"It is the vehicle I am currently utilizing, but I do in fact drive it... do you need a ride?"
Teal'c's comment brought her back to earth-"Ha ha," she replied sarcastically "No, I don't need a ride, I just know someone else with a- nevermind. Don't you have to be at the museum by now?"
"I have not watched the clock, I apol- I....pity the foo'." He lowered his head slightly and Grace stifled her laughter until he made it out the door.
"Please tell me we aren't watching the A-Team for movie night- how did that conversation get started?"
"I called him 'Mr. T' by accident and he insisted that I teach him a line, that boy must definitely needs to learn some affect- did you get it?"
Grace opened the bag that she had hoisted on the black marble bar a moment ago. Reaching in, she pulled out a box wrapped picuresquely in brown paper and twine. At the top corner in small writing was Sarah's name, nearly obscured by the variety of air lift stickers slapped on every side.
“Of course, you would be the one to get a package from your swamped archeologist- I think our guys are getting rather attached…” Grace envisioned Cameron in a desert tent somewhere calling her on the phone with a smirk on his face. She began to unzip her coat as Sarah struggled with the package, eventually pulling Sarah’s keys from her own pocket to open her pocket knife and hand it to her with a sisterly look. The thick tape nearly obscured her name and it seemed sand was accumulating over the bar as each layer was torn off.
“Good night! Did he wrap it in a sandbox?” Grace laughed as Sarah finally got the last strand of packing tape out of the way.
Inside was the standard brown environmental wrapping material you’d see in any artifact packing crate- Sarah smiled “I feel like I’m going to find the chalice of Pharaoh or something!”
She slowly pealed back the first layer and saw something gold underneath- “What is this!”- her voice rippled with excitement. She hefted from the box a large book with a cover ornately decorated in scrollwork and gold leafing. “Oh my... what is...” Her fingertips flowed over the raised impressions of hieroglyphs and she could almost feel the history contained there. The binding looked sturdy enough and after examining the spine she dared to open the cover. Of course the book cracked in protest, and she watched the pages slowly float back into place as she reached for them, looking for a title. Grace was curious, but spent her time digging deeper in the package looking for a note- there must be some kind of explanation. Her searching paid off as she found an white linen envelope with the word “instructions” written on it.
“Sarah- look at this-” she had to place it on the book to divert her attention.
“Instructions? Why would he write that?” Sarah grabbed it and opened it slowly- still imagining the fragile pages of the book open beneath her.
Inside were two pages, she sat down at a stool to read them, once and awhile glancing at the book. Grace wanted Sarah to read it out-loud but just as she thought to suggest it the buzzer rang from the kitchen and so decided to run back and check on the muffins baking in the oven. She took only a few minutes to place them on the cooling rack, then she heard a voice from the lobby-
“Hello? Is anyone there- ?” the female’s voice was raised with a slight accent.
As Grace walked back to the lobby she noticed a familiar face – Vala strummed her fingers on the countertop, noticed sand stuck to them and awkwardly brushed it off onto her cargo pants. She wore a lumpy knit hat over her ebony pigtailed hair, and upon seeing Grace she smiled and hopped up on a stool.
“Ooh, good- you’re here then, I was wondering if I could have that drink I tried out last time- something Ah-mart-e-o?” she stumbled over the last word.
Grace looked around for Sarah- the box, book, and letter had disappeared too- no doubt she had gone upstairs or something?
“What?” Vala looked self-conscious as Grace eyed the counter where the box had been- “Are you… alright?”
“Oh- what- yes, yes, I’m fine. Amaretto Macchiato is it-” she repeated the name sounding out the syllables again as Vala repeated them to herself in a whisper.
“ah-ma-re-toe mak-ee-ah-toe. Right, can I have two please?” she had a glint in her eye.
“Both barrels this morning? What’s the occasion?” Grace asked still wondering where Sarah had disappeared to so quickly.
“Looooong meeting ahead, you people love your lectures…” she sighed and spread her palms out on the marble counter and began stacking the sugar packets into a pillar.
“You people... who?” Grace couldn’t imagine what Vala meant and wondered if she should be offended.
“You, um- Americans” she let out a nervous giggle – “you love lectures!” she added gusto as she said the last word and quickly changed the subject. “So, did you watch LOST last night?”
“Oh no, I missed it! Oh well, I’ll just have to catch it online- don’t tell me what happened!” Grace shot a mockingly stern look Vala’s way “I’ve been following this show forever; I can’t believe its going to end.”
“What do you mean- how long have they been stranded on that island?” Vala was now curious about her favorite new television program. Grace might have had no idea about Vala being from another galaxy, but she had noted the fake laughter at any general TV or movie quote. Because of this Grace often wondered if it was perhaps that Vala was not allowed to partake in this type of entertainment, strict upbringing perhaps…
“Hmm, let me see…” Grace added a bit of whip cream, a chocolate kiss (Vala’s favorite must-have for every drink), and plastic lid. “Originally they were on the first island for at least 2 seasons, the second island they’ve been on for maybe... 7?”
“The FIRST island?!” Vala reached for the drink while exclaiming. Grace grimaced at the volume, “sorry. Don’t know my own strength I guess”- Vala raised her eyebrows surprised, smelled her drink, and hopped off the stool walking backwards toward the door. “Well then, I’ll see you later – have a good day, bye bye then,” she smiled broadly and Grace, noting the look, glanced down to the marble counter where she had sat the cooling muffins minutes before- one was missing.
“Bye Vala...” Grace conceded with a smile knowingly as the lumpy hat and leather jacket glided out the front door making the bell ring across the empty lobby. She smirked to herself a moment and then realized Sarah had not yet surfaced. “Sarah?” she called in the lobby, feeling it to be the most impotent search and rescue mission ever launched.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Out of Element...
By Sarah
Several weeks later:
“Sam, are you sure this is a good idea?” Daniel asked, all concern, “After all, you could have just had someone on the base check-it out?”
“No, I don’t think so Daniel-besides Dr. Lam isn’t there, and even if she was, I’m just not comfortable with news like this getting around-if there’s news, that is.”
“Aw come on Sam-Dr. Lam can’t breach patient-doctor confidentiality-well unless it’s a matter of national security.” Cameron said, flipping through a copy of “Woman’s Day.”
“No, but-have you seen that woman-she-just looks like she might hold it over me in case I contract a disease she doesn’t like.” Cameron snorted and turned a page.
“If Dr. Lam becomes uncooperative, I will speak with her.” Teal’c said solemnly behind his copy of Cosmopolitan.
“Er-thanks T, but I don’t think we should worry about it.” Sam looked positively alarmed at the thought of Teal’c having “talk” with 5 foot one Dr. Lam.
“Are you sure, I mean, maybe we should have let you just…” Cam trailed off as he watched another patient stagger woozily out of Dr. Kerrigan’s office.
“You’re the one who insisted we all come in the first place!” Daniel said pointedly.
“Sam’s under my command, I would be worried about anyone under my command who suddenly started displaying violent symptoms while under my command!”
“They weren’t that violent…” Sam said in a small voice.
“Oh no, I think I’d consider projectile vomiting pretty severe.” Daniel chimed in.
“You’re just mad because I ruined your shoes.”
“Well yes, but no. The fact is, we’re concerned about you-and want to make sure everything is-what you think it is.”
“Oh trust me, I’m pretty sure I’m right.”
“Are you sure?” Daniel asked again, “I mean are-the-ah” he motioned futilely for the appropriate word.
“Ahh-ah! Stop right there Jackson-We don’t need to know what the Colonel and…does in her spare time.”
“Like I’d tell you!”
“This matter is somewhat unclear to me, Samantha, why did you not ask Vala to accompany you in lieu of your husband? I was under the impression that this matter was normally kept between women.”
“Well yes-but, umm, not to be unkind, but there are some things I’d rather have my old-trusted friends on-not that I don’t trust Vala, I mean, well I don’t know if I should trust Vala, but-can you see her here?” The three guys contemplated the thought of Vala in the doctor’s office for the past forty minutes-it wasn’t pretty. “You guys did all have to come with me-“
“Samantha O’Neill?” A petite nurse in blue scrubs that reminded Sg-1 just the littlest bit of Janet Frasier appeared at the door.
“but I really appreciate it.”
“Good luck.” Cameron said. Teal’c nodded, and Daniel smiled reassuringly at her, “Hey at least you’re not on Abydos, I’m sure everything will be fine.”
“Back in a few.” Sam followed the waiting nurse through the door, leaving the guys alone with their “girly magazines.” A few moments passed in silence.
“So-do you think she is?” Cameron couldn’t hold back.
“It is, technically, possible.” Teal’c’s expression was unreadable.
“Well, I know technically, but…”
“Ah! I don’t want to even think about that!”
“Aw, come on Daniel, you mean to tell me you were on Sg-1 all those years and it never crossed your mind what could be going on a tent away?”
“AH! No! Besides they’d never break regulations.”
“You’ve got me there, that’s true-The General is too above board to compromise her, they both are.”
“Besides, I don’t even want to think about two of my best friends…ah!” Daniel made another face and Cameron chuckled. More silence. Some time later, the door finally opened to the waiting room and a young, blonde and enthusiastic doctor with “Dr. Heather Kerrigan” written on the tag pinned to her lab coat, a uncharacteristically shy Sam Carter followed her.
“So-umm, who’s the lucky father?” Dr. Kerrigan asked, her hand out.
“Congratulations! That’s great! Wow!” Daniel and Cameron jumped up and nearly smothered a now glowing Sam in hugs. Dr. Kerrigan, still without an answer stood to a side in confusion. The guys stopped at Sam’s cleared throat and turned to face her awkwardly.
“Ah, actually, the Father-my husband, Sam emphasized, “Is out of town on assignment, these are my good friends, they ah, offered to drive me over-for moral support.”
“Oh.”
“You and General O’Neill will have beautiful children, indeed.” Teal’c said out of the silence.
“Thank you Teal’c!” Sam beamed at his sincere compliment. She took the packet of information that Dr. Kerrigan handed her on “new motherhood” (because even astrophysicists might have some questions.) and quickly paid the bill, three beaming “Uncles” escorting her out.
“So…when are you going to tell Jack?” Daniel smirked a little.
“Well, I was stumped for something for Christmas…looks like I found my present.”
“I’d say!” Cameron whistled.
“You don’t think it’s too much?”
“Well-Jack might have an apoplectic fit…” Daniel answered.
“He will recover.” Teal’c finished.
“Hey! You know what? We should go out- celebrate! What about O’Malley’s?”
“Oh, uh…we can’t.” Sam said.
“Oh geez! I totally forgot! No alcohol!”
“No actually…you did read that report, right?” Daniel said.
“Oh OH! Right….so what about the coffeehouse?”
“More caffeine…” Sam said sadly, thinking how many fun things she’d have to give up and wondered if chocolate was on that list.
“Actually, I think Sarah and Grace keep some herbal-caffiene free teas in stock.” Daniel spoke up. Mitchell grinned at the back of his head…trust the guy to work in a way to go “visiting” for some “friendly conversation.”
“Speaking of ‘the girls,’” Cameron took full advantage of the situation, “Did you hear they’re throwing some big New Year’s Bash? Grace left a message on my answering machine.”
“Yeah, mine too-I mean Sarah did.” Daniel answered.
“Yeah,” Sam chimed in-“They said maybe they could get Jack there-even without the promise of MEAT.”
“Big talk.” Cameron laughed.
“Indeed.”
Several weeks later:
“Sam, are you sure this is a good idea?” Daniel asked, all concern, “After all, you could have just had someone on the base check-it out?”
“No, I don’t think so Daniel-besides Dr. Lam isn’t there, and even if she was, I’m just not comfortable with news like this getting around-if there’s news, that is.”
“Aw come on Sam-Dr. Lam can’t breach patient-doctor confidentiality-well unless it’s a matter of national security.” Cameron said, flipping through a copy of “Woman’s Day.”
“No, but-have you seen that woman-she-just looks like she might hold it over me in case I contract a disease she doesn’t like.” Cameron snorted and turned a page.
“If Dr. Lam becomes uncooperative, I will speak with her.” Teal’c said solemnly behind his copy of Cosmopolitan.
“Er-thanks T, but I don’t think we should worry about it.” Sam looked positively alarmed at the thought of Teal’c having “talk” with 5 foot one Dr. Lam.
“Are you sure, I mean, maybe we should have let you just…” Cam trailed off as he watched another patient stagger woozily out of Dr. Kerrigan’s office.
“You’re the one who insisted we all come in the first place!” Daniel said pointedly.
“Sam’s under my command, I would be worried about anyone under my command who suddenly started displaying violent symptoms while under my command!”
“They weren’t that violent…” Sam said in a small voice.
“Oh no, I think I’d consider projectile vomiting pretty severe.” Daniel chimed in.
“You’re just mad because I ruined your shoes.”
“Well yes, but no. The fact is, we’re concerned about you-and want to make sure everything is-what you think it is.”
“Oh trust me, I’m pretty sure I’m right.”
“Are you sure?” Daniel asked again, “I mean are-the-ah” he motioned futilely for the appropriate word.
“Ahh-ah! Stop right there Jackson-We don’t need to know what the Colonel and…does in her spare time.”
“Like I’d tell you!”
“This matter is somewhat unclear to me, Samantha, why did you not ask Vala to accompany you in lieu of your husband? I was under the impression that this matter was normally kept between women.”
“Well yes-but, umm, not to be unkind, but there are some things I’d rather have my old-trusted friends on-not that I don’t trust Vala, I mean, well I don’t know if I should trust Vala, but-can you see her here?” The three guys contemplated the thought of Vala in the doctor’s office for the past forty minutes-it wasn’t pretty. “You guys did all have to come with me-“
“Samantha O’Neill?” A petite nurse in blue scrubs that reminded Sg-1 just the littlest bit of Janet Frasier appeared at the door.
“but I really appreciate it.”
“Good luck.” Cameron said. Teal’c nodded, and Daniel smiled reassuringly at her, “Hey at least you’re not on Abydos, I’m sure everything will be fine.”
“Back in a few.” Sam followed the waiting nurse through the door, leaving the guys alone with their “girly magazines.” A few moments passed in silence.
“So-do you think she is?” Cameron couldn’t hold back.
“It is, technically, possible.” Teal’c’s expression was unreadable.
“Well, I know technically, but…”
“Ah! I don’t want to even think about that!”
“Aw, come on Daniel, you mean to tell me you were on Sg-1 all those years and it never crossed your mind what could be going on a tent away?”
“AH! No! Besides they’d never break regulations.”
“You’ve got me there, that’s true-The General is too above board to compromise her, they both are.”
“Besides, I don’t even want to think about two of my best friends…ah!” Daniel made another face and Cameron chuckled. More silence. Some time later, the door finally opened to the waiting room and a young, blonde and enthusiastic doctor with “Dr. Heather Kerrigan” written on the tag pinned to her lab coat, a uncharacteristically shy Sam Carter followed her.
“So-umm, who’s the lucky father?” Dr. Kerrigan asked, her hand out.
“Congratulations! That’s great! Wow!” Daniel and Cameron jumped up and nearly smothered a now glowing Sam in hugs. Dr. Kerrigan, still without an answer stood to a side in confusion. The guys stopped at Sam’s cleared throat and turned to face her awkwardly.
“Ah, actually, the Father-my husband, Sam emphasized, “Is out of town on assignment, these are my good friends, they ah, offered to drive me over-for moral support.”
“Oh.”
“You and General O’Neill will have beautiful children, indeed.” Teal’c said out of the silence.
“Thank you Teal’c!” Sam beamed at his sincere compliment. She took the packet of information that Dr. Kerrigan handed her on “new motherhood” (because even astrophysicists might have some questions.) and quickly paid the bill, three beaming “Uncles” escorting her out.
“So…when are you going to tell Jack?” Daniel smirked a little.
“Well, I was stumped for something for Christmas…looks like I found my present.”
“I’d say!” Cameron whistled.
“You don’t think it’s too much?”
“Well-Jack might have an apoplectic fit…” Daniel answered.
“He will recover.” Teal’c finished.
“Hey! You know what? We should go out- celebrate! What about O’Malley’s?”
“Oh, uh…we can’t.” Sam said.
“Oh geez! I totally forgot! No alcohol!”
“No actually…you did read that report, right?” Daniel said.
“Oh OH! Right….so what about the coffeehouse?”
“More caffeine…” Sam said sadly, thinking how many fun things she’d have to give up and wondered if chocolate was on that list.
“Actually, I think Sarah and Grace keep some herbal-caffiene free teas in stock.” Daniel spoke up. Mitchell grinned at the back of his head…trust the guy to work in a way to go “visiting” for some “friendly conversation.”
“Speaking of ‘the girls,’” Cameron took full advantage of the situation, “Did you hear they’re throwing some big New Year’s Bash? Grace left a message on my answering machine.”
“Yeah, mine too-I mean Sarah did.” Daniel answered.
“Yeah,” Sam chimed in-“They said maybe they could get Jack there-even without the promise of MEAT.”
“Big talk.” Cameron laughed.
“Indeed.”
(Formerly) Capt. Jack has a plan
By Sarah
“Okay, so maybe we’re in over our heads…” Sarah admitted and she stood in front the back-upstairs wall of the fire station-now coffee house. The whole surface was plastered from one end to the other with various posters the fireman had put up over the years in the ‘40’s and ’50 during their residence. And while by today’s standard they wouldn’t be considered “scandalous” the two girls didn’t exactly want their whole wall covered with 1940’s pinups. After some thought, the two realized that some of the vintage posters were worth quite a bit, but the trick was finding a way to peel them off the wall with limited damage-it appeared the firemen had used everything from wallpaper paste to tar to get them to stay.
“Ahh, we’ll be okay.” Grace replied from her spot on the opposite wall, where she was stripping layers of paint from on and around the window sill-“After all, it’s only after Halloween, once we get all this stuff cleared, we’ll have plenty of time. Plus technically, as the owners, we could just let the kids run the coffeehouse.”
“The kids? What are we, senior citizens?”
“Oh crap! Did I just say that?”
“Yes!”
“Okay-the college students? That doesn’t sound much better, does it?”
“Not really-oh well, maybe I can do some age make-up and then we can get discounts at Wal-Mart…hey, maybe if I steam it off-“ Sarah ran downstairs to find the clothes steamer she’d shipped out west and stored in the garage of the firehouse. As she opened the garage door she spied the fire pole and grinned to herself, remembering the day that Cameron had talked Grace into letting him slide down it…that had been a sight to behold. Sarah was pretty sure it entered Grace’s thoughts plenty, after all, that had been the day of the infamous “first kiss”-even if it was only on the cheek. She found the steamer back in the corner and proceeded to drag it back upstairs, stopping several times to catch the falling nozzle and empty out the bewilderingly full bottle of water…she hadn’t shipped it that way, had she? How was that even possible? When she got back inside the coffeehouse she happily had to navigate through a busy room, with a line backed up nearly to the door- and it was only 10am.
“Hey, guys you need any help?” Sarah asked, stowing the steamer in a far corner and going over to her student workers.
“Yeah, actually, we’re kinda swamped here!” Olivia, a quiet, sweet-faced music major with dark cocoa colored curls replied gratefully. “Kyle is full up making cappuccinos over there.” She pointed to a short Korean guy with blue and green spiked hair and an anime tattoo peeking out from under the collar of his bowling shirt.
“Alright, hold up a sec.” Sarah slipped around the counter and tied on an apron, “Hey what can I get for you?” She asked the business man in the loud tie at the beginning of the line.
“Yeah, can I get a Grande Americano with a shot of vanilla?”
“Sure-anything else?” The guy shook his head and Sarah turned to make the drink, skillfully navigating around Olivia and Kyle with his multiple Cappuccinos.
“So guys, are you going to be in town for Christmas this year?” Sarah asked as she helped clear the rush.
“Yeah, actually my parents are going on a cruise for their 35th wedding anniversary, they got married on Christmas Eve-so we’re doing Christmas early this year.”
“Wow…a cruise-are your siblings jealous?” Sarah knew that Olivia had seven brothers and sisters-all younger than she.
“Yeah a little, but I think the fact that we’re all going to Grandma’s in Wisconsin is making up for it-we haven’t seen them for years!”
“That’s awesome! My grandparents were from Wisconsin too-in Monroe.”
“Really? My Grandma lives in Edgerton, on the lake.”
“No way! My aunt lives in Edgerton!”
“Cool.” Olivia smiled shyly and handed a middle-aged woman in a apple sweater her hot tea.
“What about you Kyle? Exciting plans? Going back to the “homeland”? Kyle laughed.
“Nah-I think Mom and Dad plan to stick around here-they’re on furlough ‘till spring.” Kyle was an MK from Seoul, South Korea-adopted, which immediately had put him in kinship with Sarah. He was a huge fan of punk music, Ska, and sported several awesome tattoos, which put him in immediate kinship with Grace.
“So you guys think you might wanna help us out at New Years?” I know everyone has plans, but we could use it-“
“What’s at New Years?” Kyle asked, and Sarah explained the whole death-defying plan to entertain at the coffeehouse.
“Who’s the band? Kyle wanted to know.
“I dunno, someone new called “Event Horizon” Grace says they’re good.
“Well then, they probably are.” Kyle grinned and polished off the last customer’s drink.
“Well hey guys, I’m gonna get back to trying to get these posters off the wall before I forget, now that the rush is gone.”
“Hey thanks for helping out!” Olivia called as Sarah started lugging her steamer upstairs.
Grace was on the phone when she finally made it up there-chatting away, her face animated in a wreath of smiles. She finished up the conversation while Sarah plugged in the steamer and went to work trying to disengage some of the cheaper posters from the wall.
“Guess who that was?” Grace said, snapped her phone shut.
“The president?” Sarah inspected a corner of poster, and noticing it seemed mostly unharmed, continued to peel.
“Yes, he wants his dog back.”
“Already?”
“No, that was none other than Brigadier General Jack O’Neill.”
“Really?” The girls had meat Jack, Sam’s often absent (and apparently newly wed) husband when he’d come to visit from Washington D.C. Apparently he’d worked with Sam, Daniel and their team for several years before “retiring” to D.C.-which also allowed him to finally marry Sam-a move that was apparently still kinda hush-hush. He’d been huge pain in the ass the whole visit- Grace and Sarah liked him a lot.
“Yeah, apparently he’s been calling around town-he’s got some big secret surprise for Sam this Christmas-he didn’t say what-but wanted to know if we’d be up for distracting her for several hours sometime around Christmas, here at the coffeehouse while he “completes his mission.” And apparently, he’s got some rather specific ideas on how to do that.”
“Oh? Do tell!”
“Okay, so maybe we’re in over our heads…” Sarah admitted and she stood in front the back-upstairs wall of the fire station-now coffee house. The whole surface was plastered from one end to the other with various posters the fireman had put up over the years in the ‘40’s and ’50 during their residence. And while by today’s standard they wouldn’t be considered “scandalous” the two girls didn’t exactly want their whole wall covered with 1940’s pinups. After some thought, the two realized that some of the vintage posters were worth quite a bit, but the trick was finding a way to peel them off the wall with limited damage-it appeared the firemen had used everything from wallpaper paste to tar to get them to stay.
“Ahh, we’ll be okay.” Grace replied from her spot on the opposite wall, where she was stripping layers of paint from on and around the window sill-“After all, it’s only after Halloween, once we get all this stuff cleared, we’ll have plenty of time. Plus technically, as the owners, we could just let the kids run the coffeehouse.”
“The kids? What are we, senior citizens?”
“Oh crap! Did I just say that?”
“Yes!”
“Okay-the college students? That doesn’t sound much better, does it?”
“Not really-oh well, maybe I can do some age make-up and then we can get discounts at Wal-Mart…hey, maybe if I steam it off-“ Sarah ran downstairs to find the clothes steamer she’d shipped out west and stored in the garage of the firehouse. As she opened the garage door she spied the fire pole and grinned to herself, remembering the day that Cameron had talked Grace into letting him slide down it…that had been a sight to behold. Sarah was pretty sure it entered Grace’s thoughts plenty, after all, that had been the day of the infamous “first kiss”-even if it was only on the cheek. She found the steamer back in the corner and proceeded to drag it back upstairs, stopping several times to catch the falling nozzle and empty out the bewilderingly full bottle of water…she hadn’t shipped it that way, had she? How was that even possible? When she got back inside the coffeehouse she happily had to navigate through a busy room, with a line backed up nearly to the door- and it was only 10am.
“Hey, guys you need any help?” Sarah asked, stowing the steamer in a far corner and going over to her student workers.
“Yeah, actually, we’re kinda swamped here!” Olivia, a quiet, sweet-faced music major with dark cocoa colored curls replied gratefully. “Kyle is full up making cappuccinos over there.” She pointed to a short Korean guy with blue and green spiked hair and an anime tattoo peeking out from under the collar of his bowling shirt.
“Alright, hold up a sec.” Sarah slipped around the counter and tied on an apron, “Hey what can I get for you?” She asked the business man in the loud tie at the beginning of the line.
“Yeah, can I get a Grande Americano with a shot of vanilla?”
“Sure-anything else?” The guy shook his head and Sarah turned to make the drink, skillfully navigating around Olivia and Kyle with his multiple Cappuccinos.
“So guys, are you going to be in town for Christmas this year?” Sarah asked as she helped clear the rush.
“Yeah, actually my parents are going on a cruise for their 35th wedding anniversary, they got married on Christmas Eve-so we’re doing Christmas early this year.”
“Wow…a cruise-are your siblings jealous?” Sarah knew that Olivia had seven brothers and sisters-all younger than she.
“Yeah a little, but I think the fact that we’re all going to Grandma’s in Wisconsin is making up for it-we haven’t seen them for years!”
“That’s awesome! My grandparents were from Wisconsin too-in Monroe.”
“Really? My Grandma lives in Edgerton, on the lake.”
“No way! My aunt lives in Edgerton!”
“Cool.” Olivia smiled shyly and handed a middle-aged woman in a apple sweater her hot tea.
“What about you Kyle? Exciting plans? Going back to the “homeland”? Kyle laughed.
“Nah-I think Mom and Dad plan to stick around here-they’re on furlough ‘till spring.” Kyle was an MK from Seoul, South Korea-adopted, which immediately had put him in kinship with Sarah. He was a huge fan of punk music, Ska, and sported several awesome tattoos, which put him in immediate kinship with Grace.
“So you guys think you might wanna help us out at New Years?” I know everyone has plans, but we could use it-“
“What’s at New Years?” Kyle asked, and Sarah explained the whole death-defying plan to entertain at the coffeehouse.
“Who’s the band? Kyle wanted to know.
“I dunno, someone new called “Event Horizon” Grace says they’re good.
“Well then, they probably are.” Kyle grinned and polished off the last customer’s drink.
“Well hey guys, I’m gonna get back to trying to get these posters off the wall before I forget, now that the rush is gone.”
“Hey thanks for helping out!” Olivia called as Sarah started lugging her steamer upstairs.
Grace was on the phone when she finally made it up there-chatting away, her face animated in a wreath of smiles. She finished up the conversation while Sarah plugged in the steamer and went to work trying to disengage some of the cheaper posters from the wall.
“Guess who that was?” Grace said, snapped her phone shut.
“The president?” Sarah inspected a corner of poster, and noticing it seemed mostly unharmed, continued to peel.
“Yes, he wants his dog back.”
“Already?”
“No, that was none other than Brigadier General Jack O’Neill.”
“Really?” The girls had meat Jack, Sam’s often absent (and apparently newly wed) husband when he’d come to visit from Washington D.C. Apparently he’d worked with Sam, Daniel and their team for several years before “retiring” to D.C.-which also allowed him to finally marry Sam-a move that was apparently still kinda hush-hush. He’d been huge pain in the ass the whole visit- Grace and Sarah liked him a lot.
“Yeah, apparently he’s been calling around town-he’s got some big secret surprise for Sam this Christmas-he didn’t say what-but wanted to know if we’d be up for distracting her for several hours sometime around Christmas, here at the coffeehouse while he “completes his mission.” And apparently, he’s got some rather specific ideas on how to do that.”
“Oh? Do tell!”
Nostalgia and Sweet Potatoes
By Sarah
“Come on Jackson, it’s Christmas, you can’t tell me you don’t have at least one obsolete, completely cheesy, historically based, holiday tradition that your family practices?” Mitchell protested, working his way through the off-world terrain, which despite its alien origin looked suspiciously like Colorado Springs.
“Nope-I really don’t.” Daniel replied, in a good mood despite having A. trekked for several miles back towards the Stargate away from artifacts that turned out to be a dead end. 2. Spending that trek in squishy boots due to a minor mishap with bad directions and a sink-hole, and 3. Mitchell was edging perilously close to the touchy and painful subject of Daniel’s non-existent family life. Of course Mitchell really had no idea-at least, not a well-rounded idea. If Mitchell had a fault, it was that he was a bit gung-ho, and thorough. He’d read all of the Mission report files as soon as he’d had the clearance to-upon becoming the leader of Sg-1. And while he’d understood (and though he’d never personally discussed) the loss of Daniel’s wife Sha’re (and consequently his whole adopted family on Abydos), he had glossed over the section concerning Daniel’s earlier life-the part about his parents’ tragic death in a New York Museum and Daniel’s long history of foster homes and estranged relatives.
But on this particular day, the wounds were faded scars and Daniel was upbeat-squelching boots and all. The world didn’t currently seem to be under attack from any sort of “Supreme Evil Being” over-dressed or otherwise, his team-his family was around him, healthy and in good spirits, and for once in a very long time, he’d developed some semblance of a social life. Not that Daniel necessarily found this a vital part of his life-instead it’d sorta crept up on him as a welcome surprise.
Cameron, for his part, was already enthused about Christmas, and it was only late November. In fact he’d been majorly “bummed” about missing the Mitchell family Thanksgiving due to something-er-other on P2X446 (probably saving the world-again.) And his Mom had given him the enth degree about it.
“I don’t see why they can’t just reschedule, if it’s just a diplomatic mission?” His mother, Majorie Mitchell had complained over the phone-it’s not like you’re going to-Iraq-thank God!”
“Yeah, I know Mom-but I just can’t tell the General I’m skipping class-you know.”
“I know dear-I was going to make your favorite dish this year-“
“Well how ‘bout you just mail it here.”
“Cameron-I am not going to put five pounds of sweet potatoes with marshmallow topping in an Fed-EX box.”
“I was kidding Mom.”
“Oh, well just come home safe, you hear-and we’ll expect you in Chicago for Christmas!”
“I promise Mom.” Cam grinned to himself at the memory-and Sam Carter gave him a funny look.
“Oh, there’s this old joke my mom and I have-about mailing sweet potatoes.”
“What?” The rest of SG-1 stopped in their tracks.
“What would be the purpose of such an action be?” Teal’c asked.
“You’re asking him that?” Vala asked in disbelief, “Who can account for strange earth traditions?”
“Hey! Don’t knock my momma’s sweet potatoes!”
“I am so not going to touch that with a ten-foot pole.” Daniel threw up his hands, shared a smile with Sam and promptly fell in another sinkhole.
“Don’t look at me!” Mitchell said, looking down at him, “You said it.”
“Come on Jackson, it’s Christmas, you can’t tell me you don’t have at least one obsolete, completely cheesy, historically based, holiday tradition that your family practices?” Mitchell protested, working his way through the off-world terrain, which despite its alien origin looked suspiciously like Colorado Springs.
“Nope-I really don’t.” Daniel replied, in a good mood despite having A. trekked for several miles back towards the Stargate away from artifacts that turned out to be a dead end. 2. Spending that trek in squishy boots due to a minor mishap with bad directions and a sink-hole, and 3. Mitchell was edging perilously close to the touchy and painful subject of Daniel’s non-existent family life. Of course Mitchell really had no idea-at least, not a well-rounded idea. If Mitchell had a fault, it was that he was a bit gung-ho, and thorough. He’d read all of the Mission report files as soon as he’d had the clearance to-upon becoming the leader of Sg-1. And while he’d understood (and though he’d never personally discussed) the loss of Daniel’s wife Sha’re (and consequently his whole adopted family on Abydos), he had glossed over the section concerning Daniel’s earlier life-the part about his parents’ tragic death in a New York Museum and Daniel’s long history of foster homes and estranged relatives.
But on this particular day, the wounds were faded scars and Daniel was upbeat-squelching boots and all. The world didn’t currently seem to be under attack from any sort of “Supreme Evil Being” over-dressed or otherwise, his team-his family was around him, healthy and in good spirits, and for once in a very long time, he’d developed some semblance of a social life. Not that Daniel necessarily found this a vital part of his life-instead it’d sorta crept up on him as a welcome surprise.
Cameron, for his part, was already enthused about Christmas, and it was only late November. In fact he’d been majorly “bummed” about missing the Mitchell family Thanksgiving due to something-er-other on P2X446 (probably saving the world-again.) And his Mom had given him the enth degree about it.
“I don’t see why they can’t just reschedule, if it’s just a diplomatic mission?” His mother, Majorie Mitchell had complained over the phone-it’s not like you’re going to-Iraq-thank God!”
“Yeah, I know Mom-but I just can’t tell the General I’m skipping class-you know.”
“I know dear-I was going to make your favorite dish this year-“
“Well how ‘bout you just mail it here.”
“Cameron-I am not going to put five pounds of sweet potatoes with marshmallow topping in an Fed-EX box.”
“I was kidding Mom.”
“Oh, well just come home safe, you hear-and we’ll expect you in Chicago for Christmas!”
“I promise Mom.” Cam grinned to himself at the memory-and Sam Carter gave him a funny look.
“Oh, there’s this old joke my mom and I have-about mailing sweet potatoes.”
“What?” The rest of SG-1 stopped in their tracks.
“What would be the purpose of such an action be?” Teal’c asked.
“You’re asking him that?” Vala asked in disbelief, “Who can account for strange earth traditions?”
“Hey! Don’t knock my momma’s sweet potatoes!”
“I am so not going to touch that with a ten-foot pole.” Daniel threw up his hands, shared a smile with Sam and promptly fell in another sinkhole.
“Don’t look at me!” Mitchell said, looking down at him, “You said it.”
Christmas with Daniel, Cameron, and a whole lotta Logan Girls
By Sarah
“Hey so…I just had this brilliant, amazing idea!” Sarah said as she walked into the shop around 10ish that morning. Ever since Anna had joined them full time in the mornings, Sarah and Grace had started to adjust their schedules, and take advantage of the later hours at the coffee shop they hardly got to see. Sarah had just spent a couple hours running errands before she’d strolled into work, her arms loaded down with random and sundry supplies, like fresh fruit and nuts for the counter, unburned candles, and some new-used books from a used bookstore at the other end of town. Grace said she wasn’t planning on coming in ‘till noon, but Sarah had seen her (insert cool car here) sitting outside the shop and figured she’d found something other than sleeping to occupy her time.
“Have you? And what might that be?” Grace was sitting at one of the low coffee tables across from the counter, a gigantic calendar spread out before her.
“Yes-wait, what are you doing?”
“I got a call this morning from a band who wanted to come play a Christmas concert, so I said I’d come in and check the schedule.”
“Oh yeah?” Sarah put the bags down and sat on the opposite couch. “Who’s the band?”
“Some new guys- they’re called “Event Horizon” they actually sound pretty funny-kinda like…I dunno Relient K meets the Beatles…only not.”
“Really? Cool-so are we going to book them?”
“I don’t see why not-their lead singer’s going to send over a Demo just in case-since it would be a headliner-whole concert thing. And then I got to thinking…”
“Yes?”
“Wait-you said you were thinking-what were you thinking?”
“Oh-well I was thinking that since we’ve got this swell place and two lovely apartments of our own-that we could…I dunno…have the Logan Girls to Colorado for Christmas-New Years this year?”
“NO WAY!”
“Yes…way?”
“Shut-up!”
“Okay?”
“No, I mean-that’s exactly what I was thinking!”
“Shut-up, really?”
“YES!” Behind them, Anna shook her head, it was certifiable-she worked for crazy people.
“So-what, how, what were you thinking?” Sarah asked.
“Well I was thinking that since, well aforementioned things-and we’ve got this great place, and all the extra space in the bunkhouse upstairs that we haven’t done anything with-well, wouldn’t it be fun to have the girls over and all bunk in here for the weekend?”
“Oh, oh OH! That’s brilliant! I TOTALLY didn’t think of that!” Sarah jumped up and started pacing. “We could So totally do that! We could all bunk down on the floor and hang out here all night and it’d be great-although how are going to convince everyone to come out here-you know it’s kinda late notice-plus everyone’s everywhere!”
“Well, I considered that. You know Tamra will be the shoo-in though?”
“All this snow…someone’s going to want to go skiing.”
“Which is fine by me…as long as she’s not getting me in a parka, we’re good.” Sarah replied with a grin. “But me thinks you’ve got something else up your sleeve. What is it?”
“Well…it’s this concert.”
“Yes?”
“And well, I was thinking, with the guys returning from their trip with the team just around Christmas…”
“Oh my, I think I see where you’re going with this-you realize we’d be pretty much nuts, right?”
“Well of course-but it’s never much fun if we aren’t.”
“Well…I did recall Sam mentioning that Jack was coming back into town right before Christmas-and I know we’ve been looking for a good excuse to get him to visit-short of bribing him with MEAT.”
“Very true. And you know the girls have been collective on our cases about meeting these new “mystery guys”.
“Which would solve the problem.”
“Plus-a big concert-open mike night at Christmas would be great promotion for the shop-“
“Not to mention very festive.”
“Exactly!”
“So…who are we calling first?”
~*~
Several hours and several shots of espresso later, Sarah and Grace were holed up in opposite corners of the coffee shop, glued to their cell phones. Anna had not only been graciously accepting in their massive-almost-liked-to-kill-ya holiday idea, but totally “pumped” as well. (Anna had discovered the joy of 80’s-90’s slang at a recent viewing of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at Grace’s digs with Sarah and “Mr. T”.) They’d have to find some more help, but Anna already had a list of fellow undergrad and grad students who’d asked for an “in” after hearing Anna go on about her amazing play of employ. So apparently-that particular hurdle was going be rather small to jump. At this, Grace and Sarah had split their call list down the middle-Grace, taking her trim black leather date book had sat back at the coffee table with the calendar to call Tamra, Becca, Stacey-Ann, the guys in the band, and leave a message on Cameron’s phone. Sarah scribbled down some pertinent dates and left for her favorite overly squashed chair in bright electric blue and lime green flowers to get a hold of Beth, Erin, Lavonna, Sam (to leave a message asking when “the hubby” was coming back from Washington) and leave a message on Daniel’s phone.
“Tamra, how’s it going?” Grace smiled as the upbeat tones of her red-headed friend floated over the line. “Really? That’s great!” Grace listened a few minutes more while Tamra caught her up on life in Chicago and her new solo album that was due out-conveniently at Christmas. “So listen, Sarah and I were talking this morning and we had this…idea…”
“Yes Beth, it really is me…no I’m not going to pass you off this time-at least not yet…”
“Yes, I believe it is planning to snow.” Sarah and Grace grinned at each other’s conversations as they passed ways across the shop.
“Stacey-Ann! It’s wonderful to hear your voice…what was that? The line’s gone all fuzzy…”
“Yo, E! So we’re doing Christmas in Colorado-you need to buy a plane ticket...”
“No I haven’t asked him the ten fundamental questions of a relationship yet, I didn’t take marriage and family class, Becca…and I highly doubt Cameron has either, although you never know with the Air force...”
“You’re WHAT???” Grace stopped and about-faced as Sarah squealed and bounced up from her perch on her chair.
“Whoa, whoa, hold on a second, Becca.” Grace put her hand over the phone and hurried over to Sarah “WHAT?” She hissed in stage whisper, “Is that who I think it is, with the news I think it is!?” Sarah put her phone down,
“YES!” She hissed back in an equally bad stage whisper. “Hold on a sec-who are you on the phone with?”
“Becca.”
“Hold on a sec.-Lovie, it’s Sarah again-Grace has Becca on the phone-can she tell her?” Lovie’s sweet, yet muffled voice came back affirmative and Sarah nodded vigorously at Grace.
“BECCA. You will never guess what I just found out.” Grace could barely contain herself.
“What?” Becca had been trying in vain to decipher the conversation on the other end.
“Lavonna-is-PREGNANT!”
“NO WAY!”
“Yes!”
“Oh my gosh! That’s fantastic! Let me talk to her…oh wait, she’s not there? Oh, Oh…I see..” Sarah grinned and walked away so the four of them could finish their conversations with some semblance of coherency. Sometime later they finally got their “business calls down and then it was just down to the guys. Grace and Sarah paused, phones at the ready and gave each other a mutual look of anticipation and terror.
“It’s just a call, right?” Sarah looked hopeful.
“Of course. Wait, what are you worried about? This is the guy who you conned into playing reverse strip-poker because he was so eager too…ahem…!”
“Me? You’re the one who was making out in a hospital bed!” Sarah whispered the last bit as a customer walked by on his way towards the counter.
“Right! You’re right…this is nothing to be worried about.”
“They’re not even going to be home.”
“Right…they said they’d be…where ever it was that they were going to be-which they never can tell us…for quite a while, right?”
“It’s not like they’re going to come back just to answer the phone.”
“Right.”
“Right.” They about-faced like two duelers and simultaneously hit the “call” button.
“Er-Hi you’ve reached Dr. Daniel Jackson-I’m probably out of town so, er if this is an emergency please try the following number 260-555-7623.”
“He-ey, This is Cam-I’m busy taking down the bad guys, so leave me a message!”
“Hey Daniel, This is Sarah…”
“Cam-nice message,” Grace snickered, “So…this is Grace,”
“I know you’re not here, but I thought-well Grace and I were talking and we had this great idea…”
“Yeah-so I know you’re not here-there, but I thought your voicemail might get lonely while you’re gone-“fighting the bad guys.”
“We were thinking of having a little-erm thingy here at the coffeehouse this Christmas…
“We’ve got this rockin’ party planned-you should come…”
“We’re even having some of our friends we keep talking about in town --”
“We’ve got this band-”
“I just thought it might be a nice change, do something fun around the holidays, I dunno-“
“Basically we’re roping you guys into being our gophers-just think of all the fun you can have decorating!”
“Well’s it’s just an idea-it’s over New Years”
“I’ll call later with more details.”
“Well, see you later!” A pause and then, “I really…ah, miss you-“
“Please come home safe…”
“Bye.” They hung up with a click and collapsed with twin sighs of relief into opposite chairs.
“Wow-if you guys keep this up, I’m going to need IV drips they next time these guys come in for coffee just to keep you upright.” Anna stood arms akimbo, shaking her head. “You guys need coffee?”
“Yes!”
“Here.” Anna walked back over with their over-sized steaming mugs. “You guys really got it bad, don’t you?”
“What?” Sarah asked, as Grace sputtered over her swallow of coffee.
“Oh come on-like I haven’t been a fly on the wall for every flirtatious slap, every longing look across the crowded room-not to mention the drinking contests, the needless “car check-ups” and the very heated games of catch phrase?”
“Okay-true-fine.” The girls chorused.
“I gotta admit, neither one are really my type…okay not even remotely my type, but I can see the appeal-Bogart, James Dean, and the dual sides of Indiana Jones.”
“Ah…” Both girls nodded in agreement, their last memories of their respective guys coming to their mind’s eye.
“So, what’ the deal-is it serious? And if so, have they told what they do in that mountain all day long?”
“Hey so…I just had this brilliant, amazing idea!” Sarah said as she walked into the shop around 10ish that morning. Ever since Anna had joined them full time in the mornings, Sarah and Grace had started to adjust their schedules, and take advantage of the later hours at the coffee shop they hardly got to see. Sarah had just spent a couple hours running errands before she’d strolled into work, her arms loaded down with random and sundry supplies, like fresh fruit and nuts for the counter, unburned candles, and some new-used books from a used bookstore at the other end of town. Grace said she wasn’t planning on coming in ‘till noon, but Sarah had seen her (insert cool car here) sitting outside the shop and figured she’d found something other than sleeping to occupy her time.
“Have you? And what might that be?” Grace was sitting at one of the low coffee tables across from the counter, a gigantic calendar spread out before her.
“Yes-wait, what are you doing?”
“I got a call this morning from a band who wanted to come play a Christmas concert, so I said I’d come in and check the schedule.”
“Oh yeah?” Sarah put the bags down and sat on the opposite couch. “Who’s the band?”
“Some new guys- they’re called “Event Horizon” they actually sound pretty funny-kinda like…I dunno Relient K meets the Beatles…only not.”
“Really? Cool-so are we going to book them?”
“I don’t see why not-their lead singer’s going to send over a Demo just in case-since it would be a headliner-whole concert thing. And then I got to thinking…”
“Yes?”
“Wait-you said you were thinking-what were you thinking?”
“Oh-well I was thinking that since we’ve got this swell place and two lovely apartments of our own-that we could…I dunno…have the Logan Girls to Colorado for Christmas-New Years this year?”
“NO WAY!”
“Yes…way?”
“Shut-up!”
“Okay?”
“No, I mean-that’s exactly what I was thinking!”
“Shut-up, really?”
“YES!” Behind them, Anna shook her head, it was certifiable-she worked for crazy people.
“So-what, how, what were you thinking?” Sarah asked.
“Well I was thinking that since, well aforementioned things-and we’ve got this great place, and all the extra space in the bunkhouse upstairs that we haven’t done anything with-well, wouldn’t it be fun to have the girls over and all bunk in here for the weekend?”
“Oh, oh OH! That’s brilliant! I TOTALLY didn’t think of that!” Sarah jumped up and started pacing. “We could So totally do that! We could all bunk down on the floor and hang out here all night and it’d be great-although how are going to convince everyone to come out here-you know it’s kinda late notice-plus everyone’s everywhere!”
“Well, I considered that. You know Tamra will be the shoo-in though?”
“All this snow…someone’s going to want to go skiing.”
“Which is fine by me…as long as she’s not getting me in a parka, we’re good.” Sarah replied with a grin. “But me thinks you’ve got something else up your sleeve. What is it?”
“Well…it’s this concert.”
“Yes?”
“And well, I was thinking, with the guys returning from their trip with the team just around Christmas…”
“Oh my, I think I see where you’re going with this-you realize we’d be pretty much nuts, right?”
“Well of course-but it’s never much fun if we aren’t.”
“Well…I did recall Sam mentioning that Jack was coming back into town right before Christmas-and I know we’ve been looking for a good excuse to get him to visit-short of bribing him with MEAT.”
“Very true. And you know the girls have been collective on our cases about meeting these new “mystery guys”.
“Which would solve the problem.”
“Plus-a big concert-open mike night at Christmas would be great promotion for the shop-“
“Not to mention very festive.”
“Exactly!”
“So…who are we calling first?”
~*~
Several hours and several shots of espresso later, Sarah and Grace were holed up in opposite corners of the coffee shop, glued to their cell phones. Anna had not only been graciously accepting in their massive-almost-liked-to-kill-ya holiday idea, but totally “pumped” as well. (Anna had discovered the joy of 80’s-90’s slang at a recent viewing of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at Grace’s digs with Sarah and “Mr. T”.) They’d have to find some more help, but Anna already had a list of fellow undergrad and grad students who’d asked for an “in” after hearing Anna go on about her amazing play of employ. So apparently-that particular hurdle was going be rather small to jump. At this, Grace and Sarah had split their call list down the middle-Grace, taking her trim black leather date book had sat back at the coffee table with the calendar to call Tamra, Becca, Stacey-Ann, the guys in the band, and leave a message on Cameron’s phone. Sarah scribbled down some pertinent dates and left for her favorite overly squashed chair in bright electric blue and lime green flowers to get a hold of Beth, Erin, Lavonna, Sam (to leave a message asking when “the hubby” was coming back from Washington) and leave a message on Daniel’s phone.
“Tamra, how’s it going?” Grace smiled as the upbeat tones of her red-headed friend floated over the line. “Really? That’s great!” Grace listened a few minutes more while Tamra caught her up on life in Chicago and her new solo album that was due out-conveniently at Christmas. “So listen, Sarah and I were talking this morning and we had this…idea…”
“Yes Beth, it really is me…no I’m not going to pass you off this time-at least not yet…”
“Yes, I believe it is planning to snow.” Sarah and Grace grinned at each other’s conversations as they passed ways across the shop.
“Stacey-Ann! It’s wonderful to hear your voice…what was that? The line’s gone all fuzzy…”
“Yo, E! So we’re doing Christmas in Colorado-you need to buy a plane ticket...”
“No I haven’t asked him the ten fundamental questions of a relationship yet, I didn’t take marriage and family class, Becca…and I highly doubt Cameron has either, although you never know with the Air force...”
“You’re WHAT???” Grace stopped and about-faced as Sarah squealed and bounced up from her perch on her chair.
“Whoa, whoa, hold on a second, Becca.” Grace put her hand over the phone and hurried over to Sarah “WHAT?” She hissed in stage whisper, “Is that who I think it is, with the news I think it is!?” Sarah put her phone down,
“YES!” She hissed back in an equally bad stage whisper. “Hold on a sec-who are you on the phone with?”
“Becca.”
“Hold on a sec.-Lovie, it’s Sarah again-Grace has Becca on the phone-can she tell her?” Lovie’s sweet, yet muffled voice came back affirmative and Sarah nodded vigorously at Grace.
“BECCA. You will never guess what I just found out.” Grace could barely contain herself.
“What?” Becca had been trying in vain to decipher the conversation on the other end.
“Lavonna-is-PREGNANT!”
“NO WAY!”
“Yes!”
“Oh my gosh! That’s fantastic! Let me talk to her…oh wait, she’s not there? Oh, Oh…I see..” Sarah grinned and walked away so the four of them could finish their conversations with some semblance of coherency. Sometime later they finally got their “business calls down and then it was just down to the guys. Grace and Sarah paused, phones at the ready and gave each other a mutual look of anticipation and terror.
“It’s just a call, right?” Sarah looked hopeful.
“Of course. Wait, what are you worried about? This is the guy who you conned into playing reverse strip-poker because he was so eager too…ahem…!”
“Me? You’re the one who was making out in a hospital bed!” Sarah whispered the last bit as a customer walked by on his way towards the counter.
“Right! You’re right…this is nothing to be worried about.”
“They’re not even going to be home.”
“Right…they said they’d be…where ever it was that they were going to be-which they never can tell us…for quite a while, right?”
“It’s not like they’re going to come back just to answer the phone.”
“Right.”
“Right.” They about-faced like two duelers and simultaneously hit the “call” button.
“Er-Hi you’ve reached Dr. Daniel Jackson-I’m probably out of town so, er if this is an emergency please try the following number 260-555-7623.”
“He-ey, This is Cam-I’m busy taking down the bad guys, so leave me a message!”
“Hey Daniel, This is Sarah…”
“Cam-nice message,” Grace snickered, “So…this is Grace,”
“I know you’re not here, but I thought-well Grace and I were talking and we had this great idea…”
“Yeah-so I know you’re not here-there, but I thought your voicemail might get lonely while you’re gone-“fighting the bad guys.”
“We were thinking of having a little-erm thingy here at the coffeehouse this Christmas…
“We’ve got this rockin’ party planned-you should come…”
“We’re even having some of our friends we keep talking about in town --”
“We’ve got this band-”
“I just thought it might be a nice change, do something fun around the holidays, I dunno-“
“Basically we’re roping you guys into being our gophers-just think of all the fun you can have decorating!”
“Well’s it’s just an idea-it’s over New Years”
“I’ll call later with more details.”
“Well, see you later!” A pause and then, “I really…ah, miss you-“
“Please come home safe…”
“Bye.” They hung up with a click and collapsed with twin sighs of relief into opposite chairs.
“Wow-if you guys keep this up, I’m going to need IV drips they next time these guys come in for coffee just to keep you upright.” Anna stood arms akimbo, shaking her head. “You guys need coffee?”
“Yes!”
“Here.” Anna walked back over with their over-sized steaming mugs. “You guys really got it bad, don’t you?”
“What?” Sarah asked, as Grace sputtered over her swallow of coffee.
“Oh come on-like I haven’t been a fly on the wall for every flirtatious slap, every longing look across the crowded room-not to mention the drinking contests, the needless “car check-ups” and the very heated games of catch phrase?”
“Okay-true-fine.” The girls chorused.
“I gotta admit, neither one are really my type…okay not even remotely my type, but I can see the appeal-Bogart, James Dean, and the dual sides of Indiana Jones.”
“Ah…” Both girls nodded in agreement, their last memories of their respective guys coming to their mind’s eye.
“So, what’ the deal-is it serious? And if so, have they told what they do in that mountain all day long?”
Tea for Two, Two for Tango
By Grace:
~*~
The blowing and drifting snow had blocked every road in the upper mountain area; but down in the parking lot of the coffeehouse the spaces were unbelievably clear. Grace and Sarah sat with their noses pressed against the window watching the snow plow recklessly speed across the small lot.
“I know it’s going to happen- one of these times-he’s gonna spin outta control and we’re the ones who have to call 911.”
“But have must have been doing this for at least 20 years.” Sarah answered. Grace averted her gaze to Sarah whom met it and with significant distain-
“Are you watching the same sideshow I am watching?!” Grace leaned back from the window sill “Sorry, watching someone’s unfortunate death before breakfast is where I draw the line. I have to start the house coffees anyway. Man my back is killing me.” She muttered to herself as she stood. Oblivious to Grace’s comment, Sarah rose from where she was sitting to wipe off the last table from their impromptu dinner last night, wishing she would cleaned it up the night before. The red wax pooled on the table was much more difficult to clean at this early hour, but the experience of putting it there was well worth it. After some strange noises from the kitchen Grace finally emerged with two carafes of house coffee in each hand. She set them on the bar, Sarah came over to critique the day’s choices. In a row there was Malibu Hazel-Coconut, Jamaican Sunshine, Hot2 Chocolate, and Tropical Dark Roast.
“Well I can certainly tell what you’re thinking about,” Sarah winked blatantly. Just before Grace could come back with a witty retort the bell on the door jingled. The two didn’t have to turn around, in unison they said:"Morning T.”
In a black leather jacket, the tall and muscular Teal’c walked purposefully into the lobby. (His presence would never go unnoticed in any room.) He walked to the counter, bowed his head slightly while saying “Good Morning.”
“Well you certainly don’t seem bothered by ten inches, do you?” Grace replied, while tamping down espresso for his quadruple shot Venti Red Eye.
“Where I am from severe weather is in fact quite commonplace, Grace Hetrick.”
“Well then,” Grace’s eyebrows became exaggerated with expression, “you must indeed hail from a land filled with abominable snowmen, Burl Ives.” Teal’c tilted his head much akin to a puppy who’s lost his way, yet in an distinct deep un-puppy like voice he replied
“Ives?” Grace nearly dropped the filter basket of grounds as she swirled around-
“You’ve got to be kidding. All of this movie education and we have neglected to share Rudolph with you!?”
Teal’c who was by now absent-mindedly sniffing a piece of biscotti set it down and asked, “Who is this Rudolph? Is he a person?”
“Oh no, he’s actually a fictional character played by a reindeer...you have see the movie. What are you doing Saturday night?” Teal’c was making progress with the biscotti, if progress means a pile of crumbs in a pyramid on the counter which he overtly tried to cover up when he noticed Grace staring. Grace’s eyes slowly rose to meet Teal’c’s she didn’t even want to imagine the mess he’d pushed onto the floor to save himself embarrassment. She repeated, “Saturday? Are you free?”
“I will inform you tomorrow.”
“Sweet-cinnamon?”
“A dusting would greatly please me.” Grace winked,
“Anything for you, T-Man.” Teal’c rose from his bar stool as Grace called to the kitchen where Sarah was pulling hot scones from the oven-
“T-man is leaving the building.”
“Coming!” Sarah said, followed by footsteps running to the lobby. Without breaking stride she ran directly at the coffee bar, using the footstool for leverage she vaulted up on top of the counter with a bag of hot scones in her hand. She leaned forward as Teal’c made the three steps to her, grabbing the scones and leaning forward for the obligatory kiss on the cheek. Grace replied,
“See you Tomorrow!” The door jangled again leaving the lobby empty. The snow plow careened past the double doors, Grace curiously leaned forward listening for the sound of a crash. Disappointed again, she eased back over the bar, making a hissing sound with her teeth as her still sore back objected the movement. Sarah looked over as she hopped off the counter,
“Okay, I gotta ask.” Establishing a severe mother like posture, “Young Lady, what have you been doing? And have you been using protection?” Grace aghast, threw the towel on counter directly at Sarah’s face.
“Oh Stop! I was going to tell you.”
“Well I should hope so! We’re kinda partners in crime, you know.” Grace leaned back on the counter.
“So I went to see Cameron in the hospital last night, and CSI came on. And you know how he has watch it. So I decided to stick around and keep him company. So we’re sitting there, watching the show-“
“You’re both sitting there? Shouldn’t he be in a bed or something? I mean he did break his leg!”
“Well...I was sitting with him in the bed-no funny business, I swear! But it was rather cozy and so...we were...kissing-“
“Oh you were making out in bed-“
“No, that sounds terrible! We were just being friendly, and the door was kinda closed-well it was a commercial break-so we weren’t really watching the tv-“
“Do you even remember the show was about?”
“And the nurse came in and kinda startled us-and I...fell outta the bed.” Grace’s face flushed red while she shared in a laugh with Sarah, “And I do remember what the show was about, for your information! Don’t tell me that you’ve never caught up in the moment. Do I need to remind of last night?”
“In my defense Cameron was on the phone double dog-daring me! And Daniel was giving me that look-you know how I get with that look.”
“You two are quite the pair, I never thought that of using the wax to put out the fire.” Sarah reflected,
“Yeah, I definitely wouldn’t have thought of it, but I guess when you're friends with Cameron, you really do have to learn some basic safety measures.” Grace and Sarah laughed.
“So you never did tell me what happened after I left.” Grace said, raising one eyebrow suggestively. “I should have started asking when I found the empty wine bottle in the trash bin this morning. But I was just waiting to see if your guilty conscience would give you away.” Grace began to walk across the lobby towards the circle of tables, iron in hand.
“I’m listening.” Echoed across the suddenly vast expanse of the lobby, even the hardwood was all ears. Sarah reluctantly began,
“After you left we enjoyed the rest of the dinner, Mario and his brother left around...9ish?- so Daniel and I were alone and started talking about his recent trip to Manchester, actually we were having a long discussion about Camelot, some of his theories are kinda “out there” but he definitely has a right to his opinions, I guess. So then of course we were talking about King Arthur and the sword in the stone and then somehow we of course got to Spamalot.” Grace giggled as she peeled the last layer of wax off the table. Sarah continued, “Did you know he has met Eric Idle? He said it was at a fancy benefit party for huge fundraiser- Anyway... so then we were talking about these Monty Python Skits and of course the general difference between English and American Comedy when somehow he randomly remembered this English drinking game.” Grace was striding across the lobby at the point when she stopped dead in her tracks.
“You didn’t!” She exclaimed. Sarah laughed.
“You’re right-I didn’t. I don’t think Daniel can hold his liquor very well either-maybe that’s one thing we have in common. He made it through 2/3rds of the bottle explaining the game, before he let me join in, it was actually a great time because the explanation continued to get more animated as time went on.” Grace finished crossing the lobby, shaking her head the whole way,
“So, I know…not a pretty sight. By the end he finally explained that the elaborate point system eventually represented how many of articles of clothing the loser has to remove from the winner.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“I think the wine kinda made him improvise the last bit. So since he had something else in mind, I agreed to a game of reverse strip poker-he was too drunk to realize what that meant. And at that point-I didn’t care, I just wish we had security cameras.”
“So did you just send him home in a cab?”
“Well…” before Sarah could finish there was a loud clamoring of pots and pans from the kitchen, and a misty-eyed Daniel Jackson stumbled out holding a colander in one hand and balancing one pot on top of the other with his other hand. His general appearance looked sleepy. His button-down shirt so nicely pressed the night before was now wrinkled and half-untucked, exposing an open fly. His shaggy brown hair was completely flat on side, Grace noted they really should put a mirror at point between the guest and the kitchen. Reveling in the embarrassment, Grace took a step back, threw a towel over her arm and looked at Daniel while shaking her head slowly.
“My, my, my is this Daniel I see before me?” Sarah poured a Daniel a cup of coffee and walked it over to him, asking,
“You want an aspirin?”
As if searching for the right word Daniel slowly opened his mouth, closed it again, open and closed it a second time and finally said-
“Were we playing poker last night, and is it Tuesday?” Grace put a hand over her mouth, stifling her laughter, turned back to the counter purposefully, allowing Sarah to lead Daniel to a place where he could sit down and compose himself. After Sarah explained the events of the previous evening, Daniel smiled, blushed and laughed at the same time, but never said anything about regretting it. He did apologize about withholding the all rules of the drinking game and said it certainly helped him overcome his nervousness before. But maybe it was a different wine that time...
"At least it’s not Tuesday. This would have been interesting to explain to Landry. Let just say, he’s not as laid back as our previous boss. So again, I’m sorry.”
“You are going to have a great time recounting these events for Cameron, he told me that you will visit him today. Cameron is definitely missed out.” Grace said.
Sarah looked towards where Grace was standing, “Some of us have had escapades of our very own. Some of us have no room to talk.” Sarah smiled broadly. She turned to Daniel and replied “You’re going to love this.” As she proceeded to tell him about Grace’s eventful hospital visit.
As the morning wore on, Daniel showered and was finally ready to leave. As he was finally ready to leave, Sarah brought down two of the books from their last exchange which she had finished and they sat down on the corner sofa for a few minutes. By this time, Anna was hard at work finishing up the walnut supreme cookies. on her now baby blue frosted hair now tied back into a ponytail.
“I just finished the last chapter in this one two nights ago. But I would like to re-read it sometime. We’ve been really busy getting ready for when Grace is leaving next week so I haven’t had time.” Daniel’s hand reached over and rested on Sarah’s which lay on top of the open text. Sarah’s back was to the window, the warm Colorado sunshine fought to heat the room. Sarah sweat under the rays of it, but could not take her eyes away from how the light played in Daniel’s eyes and highlights of his hair. The one thing she knew was different about Daniel was the honesty and intensity behind his eyes.
“You know you could have asked to keep it longer. I should be seeing you again soon, actually I was wondering what you would be doing tonight?” Daniel quickly added, “No wine this time, I really am sorry.” Sarah placed her other hand on top Daniel’s and in a comic way replied
“We all have our moments.” Her voice taking a serious tone, she added, in a lower voice-
“I am free tonight.” She leaned in a bit closer and as Daniel rose to leave their hands remained together, and walking hand in hand toward the door, then inspired, said: “We should go dancing.”
Sarah squeezed his hand and said, “I would love that.”
Suddenly he took a giant step back and tugged with his arm, Sarah accepting the cue curled into his embrace, where he unexpectedly improvised a dip. Sarah smiled broadly at the lightness of his touch and then found that she was balanced by his strong hands resting in the small of her back. She waited to come out of the dip when she became lost in his eyes again, Daniel leaned in, tentatively kissed her on the lips and then as their lips broke away, his forehead met hers and he whispered,“I’m sorry, I should have asked.”
Barely audible, Sarah whispered, “I would have said yes.”
They broke apart and Sarah stood upright in front of him, his hands rested on her upper arms and he said,
“Can I try that again?” Sarah said,
“By all means.” As they locked in a kiss, Daniel’s hands trailed slowly along her jaw line vanishing into the dark curls around her face. For a split second, Grace walked out of the kitchen, spied the scene, turned on her heel and went back to distract Anna. As the front door closed, Daniel looked back at Sarah and saying,
“See you tonight- wear your dancing shoes.” As he drove away, she floated back through the kitchen where a patient Grace and Anna awaited the entire story in minute detail. As Sarah entered the kitchen Grace grabbed Anna by waist dramatically and said,
“Tango?” and the two of them made exaggerated steps across the floor ending with a dip which landed Anna on the floor. Completely taking Sarah’s mind off of what on earth she would wear that evening.
~*~
The blowing and drifting snow had blocked every road in the upper mountain area; but down in the parking lot of the coffeehouse the spaces were unbelievably clear. Grace and Sarah sat with their noses pressed against the window watching the snow plow recklessly speed across the small lot.
“I know it’s going to happen- one of these times-he’s gonna spin outta control and we’re the ones who have to call 911.”
“But have must have been doing this for at least 20 years.” Sarah answered. Grace averted her gaze to Sarah whom met it and with significant distain-
“Are you watching the same sideshow I am watching?!” Grace leaned back from the window sill “Sorry, watching someone’s unfortunate death before breakfast is where I draw the line. I have to start the house coffees anyway. Man my back is killing me.” She muttered to herself as she stood. Oblivious to Grace’s comment, Sarah rose from where she was sitting to wipe off the last table from their impromptu dinner last night, wishing she would cleaned it up the night before. The red wax pooled on the table was much more difficult to clean at this early hour, but the experience of putting it there was well worth it. After some strange noises from the kitchen Grace finally emerged with two carafes of house coffee in each hand. She set them on the bar, Sarah came over to critique the day’s choices. In a row there was Malibu Hazel-Coconut, Jamaican Sunshine, Hot2 Chocolate, and Tropical Dark Roast.
“Well I can certainly tell what you’re thinking about,” Sarah winked blatantly. Just before Grace could come back with a witty retort the bell on the door jingled. The two didn’t have to turn around, in unison they said:"Morning T.”
In a black leather jacket, the tall and muscular Teal’c walked purposefully into the lobby. (His presence would never go unnoticed in any room.) He walked to the counter, bowed his head slightly while saying “Good Morning.”
“Well you certainly don’t seem bothered by ten inches, do you?” Grace replied, while tamping down espresso for his quadruple shot Venti Red Eye.
“Where I am from severe weather is in fact quite commonplace, Grace Hetrick.”
“Well then,” Grace’s eyebrows became exaggerated with expression, “you must indeed hail from a land filled with abominable snowmen, Burl Ives.” Teal’c tilted his head much akin to a puppy who’s lost his way, yet in an distinct deep un-puppy like voice he replied
“Ives?” Grace nearly dropped the filter basket of grounds as she swirled around-
“You’ve got to be kidding. All of this movie education and we have neglected to share Rudolph with you!?”
Teal’c who was by now absent-mindedly sniffing a piece of biscotti set it down and asked, “Who is this Rudolph? Is he a person?”
“Oh no, he’s actually a fictional character played by a reindeer...you have see the movie. What are you doing Saturday night?” Teal’c was making progress with the biscotti, if progress means a pile of crumbs in a pyramid on the counter which he overtly tried to cover up when he noticed Grace staring. Grace’s eyes slowly rose to meet Teal’c’s she didn’t even want to imagine the mess he’d pushed onto the floor to save himself embarrassment. She repeated, “Saturday? Are you free?”
“I will inform you tomorrow.”
“Sweet-cinnamon?”
“A dusting would greatly please me.” Grace winked,
“Anything for you, T-Man.” Teal’c rose from his bar stool as Grace called to the kitchen where Sarah was pulling hot scones from the oven-
“T-man is leaving the building.”
“Coming!” Sarah said, followed by footsteps running to the lobby. Without breaking stride she ran directly at the coffee bar, using the footstool for leverage she vaulted up on top of the counter with a bag of hot scones in her hand. She leaned forward as Teal’c made the three steps to her, grabbing the scones and leaning forward for the obligatory kiss on the cheek. Grace replied,
“See you Tomorrow!” The door jangled again leaving the lobby empty. The snow plow careened past the double doors, Grace curiously leaned forward listening for the sound of a crash. Disappointed again, she eased back over the bar, making a hissing sound with her teeth as her still sore back objected the movement. Sarah looked over as she hopped off the counter,
“Okay, I gotta ask.” Establishing a severe mother like posture, “Young Lady, what have you been doing? And have you been using protection?” Grace aghast, threw the towel on counter directly at Sarah’s face.
“Oh Stop! I was going to tell you.”
“Well I should hope so! We’re kinda partners in crime, you know.” Grace leaned back on the counter.
“So I went to see Cameron in the hospital last night, and CSI came on. And you know how he has watch it. So I decided to stick around and keep him company. So we’re sitting there, watching the show-“
“You’re both sitting there? Shouldn’t he be in a bed or something? I mean he did break his leg!”
“Well...I was sitting with him in the bed-no funny business, I swear! But it was rather cozy and so...we were...kissing-“
“Oh you were making out in bed-“
“No, that sounds terrible! We were just being friendly, and the door was kinda closed-well it was a commercial break-so we weren’t really watching the tv-“
“Do you even remember the show was about?”
“And the nurse came in and kinda startled us-and I...fell outta the bed.” Grace’s face flushed red while she shared in a laugh with Sarah, “And I do remember what the show was about, for your information! Don’t tell me that you’ve never caught up in the moment. Do I need to remind of last night?”
“In my defense Cameron was on the phone double dog-daring me! And Daniel was giving me that look-you know how I get with that look.”
“You two are quite the pair, I never thought that of using the wax to put out the fire.” Sarah reflected,
“Yeah, I definitely wouldn’t have thought of it, but I guess when you're friends with Cameron, you really do have to learn some basic safety measures.” Grace and Sarah laughed.
“So you never did tell me what happened after I left.” Grace said, raising one eyebrow suggestively. “I should have started asking when I found the empty wine bottle in the trash bin this morning. But I was just waiting to see if your guilty conscience would give you away.” Grace began to walk across the lobby towards the circle of tables, iron in hand.
“I’m listening.” Echoed across the suddenly vast expanse of the lobby, even the hardwood was all ears. Sarah reluctantly began,
“After you left we enjoyed the rest of the dinner, Mario and his brother left around...9ish?- so Daniel and I were alone and started talking about his recent trip to Manchester, actually we were having a long discussion about Camelot, some of his theories are kinda “out there” but he definitely has a right to his opinions, I guess. So then of course we were talking about King Arthur and the sword in the stone and then somehow we of course got to Spamalot.” Grace giggled as she peeled the last layer of wax off the table. Sarah continued, “Did you know he has met Eric Idle? He said it was at a fancy benefit party for huge fundraiser- Anyway... so then we were talking about these Monty Python Skits and of course the general difference between English and American Comedy when somehow he randomly remembered this English drinking game.” Grace was striding across the lobby at the point when she stopped dead in her tracks.
“You didn’t!” She exclaimed. Sarah laughed.
“You’re right-I didn’t. I don’t think Daniel can hold his liquor very well either-maybe that’s one thing we have in common. He made it through 2/3rds of the bottle explaining the game, before he let me join in, it was actually a great time because the explanation continued to get more animated as time went on.” Grace finished crossing the lobby, shaking her head the whole way,
“So, I know…not a pretty sight. By the end he finally explained that the elaborate point system eventually represented how many of articles of clothing the loser has to remove from the winner.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“I think the wine kinda made him improvise the last bit. So since he had something else in mind, I agreed to a game of reverse strip poker-he was too drunk to realize what that meant. And at that point-I didn’t care, I just wish we had security cameras.”
“So did you just send him home in a cab?”
“Well…” before Sarah could finish there was a loud clamoring of pots and pans from the kitchen, and a misty-eyed Daniel Jackson stumbled out holding a colander in one hand and balancing one pot on top of the other with his other hand. His general appearance looked sleepy. His button-down shirt so nicely pressed the night before was now wrinkled and half-untucked, exposing an open fly. His shaggy brown hair was completely flat on side, Grace noted they really should put a mirror at point between the guest and the kitchen. Reveling in the embarrassment, Grace took a step back, threw a towel over her arm and looked at Daniel while shaking her head slowly.
“My, my, my is this Daniel I see before me?” Sarah poured a Daniel a cup of coffee and walked it over to him, asking,
“You want an aspirin?”
As if searching for the right word Daniel slowly opened his mouth, closed it again, open and closed it a second time and finally said-
“Were we playing poker last night, and is it Tuesday?” Grace put a hand over her mouth, stifling her laughter, turned back to the counter purposefully, allowing Sarah to lead Daniel to a place where he could sit down and compose himself. After Sarah explained the events of the previous evening, Daniel smiled, blushed and laughed at the same time, but never said anything about regretting it. He did apologize about withholding the all rules of the drinking game and said it certainly helped him overcome his nervousness before. But maybe it was a different wine that time...
"At least it’s not Tuesday. This would have been interesting to explain to Landry. Let just say, he’s not as laid back as our previous boss. So again, I’m sorry.”
“You are going to have a great time recounting these events for Cameron, he told me that you will visit him today. Cameron is definitely missed out.” Grace said.
Sarah looked towards where Grace was standing, “Some of us have had escapades of our very own. Some of us have no room to talk.” Sarah smiled broadly. She turned to Daniel and replied “You’re going to love this.” As she proceeded to tell him about Grace’s eventful hospital visit.
As the morning wore on, Daniel showered and was finally ready to leave. As he was finally ready to leave, Sarah brought down two of the books from their last exchange which she had finished and they sat down on the corner sofa for a few minutes. By this time, Anna was hard at work finishing up the walnut supreme cookies. on her now baby blue frosted hair now tied back into a ponytail.
“I just finished the last chapter in this one two nights ago. But I would like to re-read it sometime. We’ve been really busy getting ready for when Grace is leaving next week so I haven’t had time.” Daniel’s hand reached over and rested on Sarah’s which lay on top of the open text. Sarah’s back was to the window, the warm Colorado sunshine fought to heat the room. Sarah sweat under the rays of it, but could not take her eyes away from how the light played in Daniel’s eyes and highlights of his hair. The one thing she knew was different about Daniel was the honesty and intensity behind his eyes.
“You know you could have asked to keep it longer. I should be seeing you again soon, actually I was wondering what you would be doing tonight?” Daniel quickly added, “No wine this time, I really am sorry.” Sarah placed her other hand on top Daniel’s and in a comic way replied
“We all have our moments.” Her voice taking a serious tone, she added, in a lower voice-
“I am free tonight.” She leaned in a bit closer and as Daniel rose to leave their hands remained together, and walking hand in hand toward the door, then inspired, said: “We should go dancing.”
Sarah squeezed his hand and said, “I would love that.”
Suddenly he took a giant step back and tugged with his arm, Sarah accepting the cue curled into his embrace, where he unexpectedly improvised a dip. Sarah smiled broadly at the lightness of his touch and then found that she was balanced by his strong hands resting in the small of her back. She waited to come out of the dip when she became lost in his eyes again, Daniel leaned in, tentatively kissed her on the lips and then as their lips broke away, his forehead met hers and he whispered,“I’m sorry, I should have asked.”
Barely audible, Sarah whispered, “I would have said yes.”
They broke apart and Sarah stood upright in front of him, his hands rested on her upper arms and he said,
“Can I try that again?” Sarah said,
“By all means.” As they locked in a kiss, Daniel’s hands trailed slowly along her jaw line vanishing into the dark curls around her face. For a split second, Grace walked out of the kitchen, spied the scene, turned on her heel and went back to distract Anna. As the front door closed, Daniel looked back at Sarah and saying,
“See you tonight- wear your dancing shoes.” As he drove away, she floated back through the kitchen where a patient Grace and Anna awaited the entire story in minute detail. As Sarah entered the kitchen Grace grabbed Anna by waist dramatically and said,
“Tango?” and the two of them made exaggerated steps across the floor ending with a dip which landed Anna on the floor. Completely taking Sarah’s mind off of what on earth she would wear that evening.
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