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It started, as science things often did, with Sam. Daniel was just minding his own business, watching Jack on his morning patrol through the facility, when he was ambushed in front of his monitor. Sam - and Teal'c, who had definitely been taking lessons in sneaky from Jack - towed him into the lab she had claimed for her own.
“Couldn't this wait?” Daniel asked, leaning against the table less cluttered with bits of machinery - and what appeared to be a stripped down android arm. Definitely staying away from that. “I was busy.”
“No, you weren't,” Sam replied, arching an eyebrow at him in a way that had to be taught by the USAF because Jack did the same thing. And it conveyed the same fondly dubious sentiment that they thought he was full of it. “You were watching the Colonel on his rounds. Like you do every morning.”
Daniel coughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Someone has to make sure he has backup if he runs into trouble,” he defended, folding his arms. “And it's not like you and Teal'c are any less predictable.”
Sam's face softened. “We're worried about him too, Daniel.”
“There's nothing to be worried about,” Daniel reassured them. “Jack's fine.”
A few days ago, Daniel might not have said the same thing, but the last two mornings, some of the spring was back in Jack's step. He was doing better, they all were.
Sam arched that eyebrow again. “We've seen it, Daniel.”
Teal'c nodded solemnly. “I too have observed that O'Neill appears out of sorts.”
Daniel threw his hands up in the air. He was beginning to understand why they'd ambushed him instead of Jack. “I don't know what to say, guys, it's Jack. He's going a little stir crazy, but he's dealing with it.” They all were, in their ways. “He's trying.”
Sam nodded, tension loosening from her shoulders. “We all are,” she agreed, frowning up at the ceiling. “Sometimes I think if I have to hear one more acid rain storm echoing through the vents, I'm going to lose it and walk up there to see if it feels as annoying as it sounds.”
“It would be refreshing to see something other than these walls,” Teal'c agreed, levelling the wall with a sneer usually only reserved for Apophis. “Would you not too, Daniel Jackson?”
Daniel hadn't let himself think about it. Filed it all away in the Things for Other Daniel category. But, “Do I miss seeing the sun, or the sky, or discovering a new language no one's spoken in centuries? Yes! Of course I do.” Daniel ran his hand through his hair. “But it's just academic. There's nothing we can do about it.”
Sam smiled.
Which was the wrong response and completely inappropriate and, was that Teal'c smiling too?
“That's where you're wrong, Daniel,” Sam said. She moved to the most cluttered of her tables, lifting the sheet of fabric covering it. “While you and the Colonel were … being you and the Colonel, Teal'c and I were working on these.”
Daniel ignored the teasing implication in Sam's voice, technically they weren't military anymore so DADT didn't matter and it wasn't as if he and Jack had considered hiding anything from them. Eleven thousand years and counting might be a little awkward if they kept a secret like that from them.
Besides, Sam was vibrating with pride, excitement, anticipation. Whatever she and Teal'c had created, it was big. Not just discovered how to work the Stargate big, but big enough.
Daniel moved closer, peering at the four devices lined neatly on the table. Over the past however long it had been, Daniel had grown accustomed to Altairan technology, but this was like nothing he'd seen.
“And what, exactly, are these?”
Sam's eyes shone. “A little taste of freedom.” She touched one of the devices. “When we were created, it was with an internal battery. So long away from the main power source-”
“Our battery drains and we need to come back here and recharge or we die,” Daniel finished, rubbing at his chest in memory of the feeling of his battery critically low. “I remember.”
“Exactly.” Sam nodded, settling back into briefing mode. “Teal'c and I thought, since we have access to the lab and the power source and what remains of Hubbald's notes and research, why couldn't we improve upon it?”
Daniel blinked, not quite following. “I'm sorry, improve upon what?”
Teal'c stepped forward. “The power source, Daniel Jackson.”
Daniel's eyebrows skyrocketed. “You've worked out a way to extend our battery life?”
“Not significantly,” Sam conceded, a touch of apology denting the pride of their achievement. “Certainly not enough to let us leave this place forever. But twenty-four, forty-eight hours.”
Teal'c continued, “Enough for trips through the Stargate.”
“We'd still have to call Altair home,” Sam explained, Daniel trying to process. “I guess it is now, but we won't be stuck here.”
Daniel thought of a patch he hadn't worn on his clothes in years, of the purpose they'd all had to foresake. “We can be SG1 again.”
“Harlan eliminated our need to eat, sleep, rest,” Sam put her palms together, bending the index fingers in imitation of Harlan, a wry sort of smile on her lips. “SG1 but better.”
Daniel had spent years resigning himself to the fact that this world was all he'd know. To have the prospect of a galaxy full of Stargates and planets back within reach. It was … a lot. A wish. A dream come true. But a lot.
“Are you sure they work?”
There was no way he was dangling the idea of freedom in front of Jack only to yank it away.
“Captain Carter and I have run tests to ascertain the capabilities of these new devices.”
Sam touched his arm, her smile certain. “They work, Daniel.”
Daniel grinned, anticipation bubbling inside of him. “Then let's tell Jack.”
Daniel, Sam and Teal'c walked purposefully through the corridors of the facility. Jack would be finishing up his patrol any minute now, and he always liked to wind down from that with an hour or two in the gym he and Teal'c built on one of the lower levels.
Jack was already there, frowning in consideration at the weights and the punching bag. His frown deepened when he saw them all in the doorway, watching him. His eyes flickered to Daniel, trouble?
Daniel shook his head.
Jack's posture eased, facing Sam instead.
“Captain Carter.”
Sam nodded, giving nothing away. “Colonel.”
Jack's eyes roved to Teal'c, standing impassively at Sam's side. “Teal'c.”
Like Sam, Teal'c ignored the question implicit in his name. “O'Neill.”
Daniel found himself pinned in place by Jack's dark eyes, a quirk of questioning amusement on his lips. “Daniel?”
“Jack,” Daniel replied, struggling to keep his tone even. There was no need to give away the game now.
He walked into the gym, Sam and Teal'c following. Teal'c with his hands - and the power pack - behind his back.
Jack tilted his head, watching them with indulgence. “What's going on?”
Daniel grinned, “Close your eyes and make a wish.”
A blink. A frown. A silent Daniel, you'd better have a damn good explanation for this.
“What?”
Daniel just smiled enigmatically. “Close your eyes.”
Jack stared at him, puzzling him out. “Why?”
Daniel huffed, glaring at him. “You are the most difficult man on this planet, Jack O'Neill.”
“That's not saying much, Daniel,” Jack replied cheerfully. “Aside from me, there's only you, Teal'c and old Harlan.”
Daniel closed his own eyes, counting backwards from 100. In old Altairan.
“Would you just close your eyes, Jack?”
Jack's smirk sparkled. “In front of the kids, Daniel?”
Daniel did not blush. He couldn't blush, he was an android.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Jack.”
Jack put his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels. “Daniel.”
Daniel shook his head, biting back a smile. Yeah, he loved that ass.
“Daniel Jackson has a surprise for you, O'Neill,” Teal'c said seriously. “As do we all. It is customary to close one's eyes.”
“And make a wish,” Sam added brightly. “Trust us, sir.”
“It's not my birthday and I don't see a cake,” Jack grumbled, but he obligingly closed his eyes. One brown eye cracked open seconds later. “I better not feel a marker on my face.”
“Don't tempt me,” Daniel snarked back, watching Jack's face for any sign he was about to peek.
Satisfied that Jack would behave - for now - Daniel nodded at Teal'c.
Teal'c held out the power pack, all eyes turning back to Jack.
“I can't find my marker, so I guess you can open your eyes now, Jack.”
Jack opened his eyes, needing but a split millisecond to spot the device in Teal'c’s hands.
“It's just what I've always wanted.” Jack paused, stared harder. “What is it?”
Sam forced her expression into the military version of excitement. Restrained but bursting at the seams. “In simplest terms, a battery, sir. Good for, I'd say, a maximum of forty-eight hours away from the main power source.”
Jack understood the implication immediately. “Offworld?”
Sam nodded. “A limited window, but yes, definitely doable.”
“And it's something you both want?” Jack checked, ignoring Daniel for the moment. “Missions. SG1?”
Teal'c nodded almost before Jack had finished speaking. “Indeed it is.”
Sam was right there with him. “I don't see why the other versions of us should have all the fun, sir.”
Jack hummed, nodded, his gaze roving to Daniel. “What do you think, Daniel?”
“You know what I think, Jack.”
Jack's smile agreed. “Lets give your new batteries a little test drive,” he said, eagerness lighting up his face. “Daniel dial up that uninhabited planet. All meadows no humanoid life signs. Carter, Teal'c, get your gear. And warn Harlan. We're going camping.”
Sam cleared her throat. “We need to integrate the power packs first, sir.”
Jack sighed, his planning cut short. “Fine. But after that, camping.V
“Yes sir,” Sam agreed, her smile winning over her professionalism. “After that, camping.”
Jack laughed, clapping his hands. “Then what are we waiting for? To Carter's lab!”