Erroneous Assumptions
by Remma (morennab@yahoo.co.uk)
"I just need to drop off these reports, then we can get off. I won't be long."
"Unless you get invited in for a coffee."
"Janet, come on, don't start that again...you know nothing is ever going to happen between us."
"I don't see why not. After all, your both single people, what's the big deal?"
"The big deal, Cassie, is that Colonel O'Neill is my c.o. It would be totally against military protocol for us to begin a relationship. If we did, then, at the very least, one of us would have to leave SG-1. I don't think either of us is ready to make a decision like that."
"Well, I think that really sucks. What difference would it make?"
"It wouldn't be fair to Daniel or Teal'c. It would be wrong for the Colonel to show favoritism to any one team member."
"But he's already admitted that he loves you...oh...ooops."
"What? How do you...Janet, I thought we agreed that no-on would ever know what was said in that room, and you go and tell Cassie? What happened to medical confidentiality?"
"I'm sorry Sam, it just slipped out."
"Does anyone else know? You didn't tell Daniel did you?"
"I didn't, but I'm pretty sure he knows."
"What? How?"
"Sam, we work on a military base. Did you really think you could keep anything secret there?"
"I guess not, I just didn't want Daniel getting the wrong idea."
"Well, I've always thought you or the Colonel should have told him yourselves."
"Maybe it would have been better. Things were definitely strained for awhile there."
"Anyway, it wasn't the wrong idea, was it? You and Jack both admitted you loved each other..."
"Cassie, no...we never used those words. Love was never mentioned. All the Colonel said, was that he cared more for me than he should. That doesn't necessarily mean..."
"Oh, come on Sam. He might have said cared but you know perfectly well that he meant loved."
"It doesn't really make any difference, does it. As I said to your mother, nothing can ever happen between us. The Colonel would never break protocol..."
"Yes he would. He did."
"What do you mean? When."
"He lied about what happened on the first mission to Abydos, all so Daniel could stay with Shar'e."
"That's not the same thing, Cassie."
"Why not? It proves that he's willing to break a few rules for something he cares about. If he really loves you, I'm sure he'd be happy to break a few more so you could be together."
"And if he hadn't covered for Daniel he'd probably be a General by now."
"Like in all those alternate universes. The ones where he's either engaged or married to you. If that doesn't prove you belong together, I don't know what does. He loves you in all those realities, why should this one be any different?"
"It is different, Cassie. For one thing, in those universes, the Colonel is dead...in fact, in many of them, all of us are dead. Also, Daniel and Teal'c aren't even part of the SGC, let alone on SG-1."
"Why does that make a difference?"
"The Colonel would never want them to feel excluded, or uncomfortable. There are reasons for the non-fraternisation rules. Two members of a team getting involved would cause all kinds of problems, it's an impossible situation. It's for the best that we remain professional."
"Cassie has a point though, Sam. Colonel O'Neill isn't exactly orthodox. He might well be willing to bend the rules a little. SG-1 was never a standard military team, and to a certain extent, you're all of you already involved with each other on a personal level. Maybe it really wouldn't be so different. You could always try talking to him."
"There's no point, Janet. We've both moved on now. I'm just not prepared to sacrifice my career for this."
"Poor Jack. That must be why he doesn't date anyone else, because he's pining for you. Do you think he'll ever find anyone?"
"I'm sure he will, he's a very attractive man."
"Kind of old though."
"Cassie, he is not old!"
"Oh, come on Mom, sure he is. His hair's completely gray, that's gotta mean he's getting on. I'm not saying he's not still hot."
"Hot?"
"Oh, yeah. All my friends think so. And as for Daniel, woah!"
"Woah?"
"Totally woah. I can't believe no-one's snagged him yet. Are the women on the base...like...blind, or what?"
"Oh, plenty of them have tried, right Janet? He's just not interested. I guess he's still too much in love with Shar'e."
"Ooh, that is just so romantic."
"Okay, we're here. Sam, do you want me to wait in the car?"
"sure, I'll only be a minute."
"Whatever you say."
"Sam, what's going on?"
"There's no answer, I guess he's out."
"His car is in the drive, go look through the window."
"I can't go poking through the window's, Janet, it's intruding."
"No it isn't. He could be hurt. He could be lying on the floor in a pool of blood. It's your duty as a friend to look."
"Well, if you really think so..."
"I do. can you see anything?"
"Not really, it's a mess in there. I always thought the Colonel was so neat."
"He's a guy. I guess he makes an effort whenever someone comes over."
"Then there can't be anyone there now...he's left his clothes all over the floor, and there are chess pieces everywhere."
"Mom, isn't that Daniel's car?"
"Where?"
"There."
"Oh, I see. Yes, it does look a little like it. What do you think, Sam."
"It can't be, what would Daniel's car be doing here?"
"He could be visiting Jack."
"Well then, where is he? I hardly think he'd be hiding from us under the table, do you?"
"Of course not, that's stupid."
"Well, I guess we should leave."
"What about the reports?"
"They'll have to wait 'till Monday. Oh, wait...did you hear that? I'm sure I heard something...sounded like voices. Cassie, why don't you run 'round the back and check the garden?"
"Okay, won't be long."
"I wish you hadn't told her about what was said during the zatarc fiasco, Janet. You know what a matchmaker she is."
"She was trying to pair the two of you up way before I said anything...I get Daniel by the way."
"You wish."
"What a pair we are, Sam. We're two smart, attractive women; we work on a military base where the women are outnumbered twenty to one; can we get a date? Can we, hell. What is wrong with us?"
"What's wrong with the men we meet. The only ones who've shown any interest in me lately have been aliens."
"It is, indeed, a sad state of affairs. You and me, girl...we need to get out more. Hey, Cassie...anything?"
"Don't think so. Jack doesn't have a pet, does he?"
"Not that I know of, why?"
"I thought I saw something moving, but I guess not."
"Well, that's it. Sam, you want to wait, or go?"
"We might as well leave, Janet. We have no idea where the Colonel's gone, or when he'll be back."
"Well, okay. Time's a wasting, gals...shopping beckons."
"Mom, I really need some new shoes for Pam,s party, next weekend."
"What, more? Didn't you just get some last month?"
"Oh, Mo-om, those are so totally the wrong color. I need something special to go with that new top Sam gave me."
"Of course you do, sweetie. Sam, anything you need."
"You know, I think we could both use a makeover...what do you say?"
"Works for me, climb in and let's get going. You know, that really does look like Daniel's car. Are you sure there was no-one home?"
"If they were there, they would surely have answered. What reason would they have not to?"
"None that I can think of, it must just be a coincidence."
"Maybe Daniel's having a wild affair with Jack, and they're otherwise engaged."
"Cassie! The things you come up with. As if that would ever happen...what an idea."
***The End***
