By RPonda
SG1
was on a mission to P4X-725. Everything had been going well. Well, mostly
everything had been going well. No, change that. Daniel thought everything was
going well. That didn’t mean Jack thought everything was going well or even
peachy.
Jack
told Daniel not to go off on his own. Therefore Daniel didn’t go off on his
own. Instead he left with one of the tribesmen they’d met. In his mind, he
argued that he hadn’t left on his own; he was with some one. Especially someone
who could show him the writing he’d heard about in the ruins. Jack was busy
learning about the weapon systems and Teal’c of course was with him. He and Sam
were supposedly working together, and they had been. At least until Sam became
preoccupied with the local power plant.
The
natives of the planet had almost all been killed off. A few of the villages on
the outskirts survived. They’d been afraid of the cities and gone back to
living simply. For some reason the people in the cities were destroyed, but the
buildings remained intact. In fact, the power plant was still operational even
though it’d been abandoned. Sam wanted to figure out why. That’s where she was,
telling Daniel not to leave the area.
So
Daniel was alone. Well, sort of alone. No, not really alone. He was with Tran
after all. And he was still in the area. Well, mostly in the area. It was still
on the outskirts of the city at least. So he wasn’t really disobeying any
orders, not that anyone ever ‘ordered’ him to do anything.
That’s
where he was when he stumbled. Well, actually he tripped. No, really he fell,
hard, on his wrist. Tran helped him stand up. Daniel looked at his wrist. It
was very tender to the touch, swollen in fact, noticeably so. So noticeable
that Jack would notice. He’d also ask how he’d fallen. Then he’d ask where he
was when it happened. Then he’d want to know where Sam was. He was screwed. All
of his reassurances to himself that he been in the right flew out the window.
Even if he were in the right, he’d never be able to convince Jack of that fact.
Deciding
to face the inevitable he started walking back to the power plant to meet up
with Sam first.
Once
Sam noticed how Daniel was holding his arm she rushed over to him. Daniel let
her inspect his wrist and then she wrapped it in a bandage and gave him an
instant ice pack to put on it. She didn’t bother asking him any questions. She
knew Daniel wouldn’t be the only one in trouble with Jack.
When
they finally made their way back to the village, Daniel hung back. Jack came up
to them knowing from the look on both of their faces something was up. Then he
saw the bandage on Daniel’s wrist and barely kept himself from exploding.
Daniel
stood his ground. Well he sort of stood his ground. Actually, he took a small
step back and looked at the ground. “I’m fine, Jack,” he said quietly. “It’s
just a sprain. It was an accident, that’s all.”
“And
just how did this accident happen?” Jack asked, feeling Daniel’s wrist for
himself.
Stifling
a cry of pain, Daniel started to explain, “I was looking at some ruins Tran
told me about.” He wasn’t stupid enough to lie. “The ground was uneven and I
slipped and fell.” He couldn’t hold back his pain as Jack continued checking
out his wrist. “Owww, Jack. Take it easy.”
“I
thought you said it was just a sprain,” Jack argued, not letting go just yet.
“I
think it’s a sprain at least,” Daniel responded, wishing Jack would just leave
him alone.
Jack
turned to look at Sam. “I thought the two of you were going to look at that
power plant thingy you found.”
“I
was, sir,” Sam told him. “There wasn’t much for Daniel to do in the plant so he
was checking out the area nearby.”
“And
did this accident happen nearby?” Jack asked Daniel, giving him the look.
“Um,”
Daniel hesitated, “I wasn’t too far away.”
“Just
how far isn’t too far, Daniel?” Jack asked pointedly.
“I was
on the outskirts of the city,” Daniel admitted. “It’s where the interesting
writing was. I wasn’t alone,” he added quickly. “I was with Tran.”
Jack
finally let go of Daniel’s wrist and turned to Sam and Teal’c. “Teal’c, you and
Carter get things packed up. We’ll be leaving as soon as Daniel and I get
back.”
Teal’c
nodded and walked with Sam over to their camp.
Daniel
shivered involuntarily. Ever since the incident with the paddle, Jack had decided
on other means of dealing with him rather than just a lecture.
“Let’s
go, Daniel,” Jack told him, leading him out of the village. “We have some
things we need to discuss.”
Daniel
wished he could refuse. However, making a scene would embarrass him even more
than dealing with what he thought was coming next. He trailed Jack out of the
village, keeping a few steps behind him. The walk seemed to take forever, yet
it was over all too soon.
Jack
stopped and sat on a nearby boulder. “Daniel,” he began, not getting a chance
to finish before being interrupted.
“I’m
sorry, Jack,” Daniel said quickly. He stood close to Jack, but not too close.
“I know I shouldn’t have left Sam alone, but she wasn’t really alone either.
Daran was with her. I just wanted to go see the writings in the ruins.”
Jack
waited till Daniel ran out of steam before he asked, “And that matters?”
“It
should,” Daniel mumbled.
“How
so?” Jack inquired.
“Well,”
Daniel started. “Um.” He shuffled his feet. “Fine, Jack. You’re right. Sam was
in charge. I shouldn’t have left. I know I’m in trouble when we get back.”
“Not
when we get back, Daniel,” Jack informed him.
Daniel
stared at him in shock. “Wait a minute. What do you mean not when we get back.
Does that mean I’m not in trouble at all?” he asked hopefully.
“Oh,
you’re in trouble, young man. A lot of trouble,” he confirmed. “I don’t like to
wait in dealing with things though.”
“No,
no, no, Jack!” exclaimed Daniel. “You’re not planning to… Not here… Not right
now… Come on, Jack.”
“Right
here and right now, Daniel,” Jack said sternly. “And you know exactly what I’m
planning on doing.”
“That’s
not fair,” Daniel whined. “You never said anything about dealing with it this
way off world.”
“I
never said I wouldn’t either,” Jack pointed out. “Come here, Daniel.”
“Jaaaccckk,”
whined Daniel again, taking a step back, crossing his arms and then dropping
them when he jarred his wrist. “You can’t do this before we go back. Janet’ll
notice,” he argued.
“Did
you or did you not disobey an order, young man,” asked Jack in a firm tone.
“You
never said it was an order, exactly.” Jack just stared at Daniel. “Okay, fine I
knew what you meant. I knew what I was supposed to do and I took off anyway.
I’m sorry. Just don’t do it now. Not here.”
Jack
stopped and thought for a moment. Daniel had a point, but he also had a point
to make with Daniel. Consequences didn’t just happen at convenient times.
Daniel
played his final card. “Besides, I’m already hurt. Remember?”
That
statement decided everything for Jack. “And if you’d been where you were
supposed to, would you have gotten hurt?”
Daniel
dropped his head but didn’t quite give up. “Maybe,” he said in a quiet voice.
“That’s
it, Daniel,” Jack stated, standing up. “We’re dealing with this here and now.
Come over here before you make things worse.”
Daniel
gave Jack one last pleading look before giving up and taking a step towards
him.
“Is it
in your pack?” Jack asked.
Daniel
nodded and started to shrug off his pack, wincing when the movement hurt his
wrist.
Jack
took the pack the rest of the way off and opened the flap reaching in and
taking out the paddle Hasma had given him. For some reason he’d thought Daniel
might remember better if it was in his pack. “Drop your BDUs and bend over the
boulder, please.”
This
was hard enough for Daniel without Jack being nice about it. He undid his
buttons with one hand and shrugged them down. Then he started to drop his
boxers.
“You
can leave those on, Daniel,” Jack told him. They were off world and he didn’t want
Daniel exposed any more than he had to be. The boxers wouldn’t offer much
protection anyway. Jack took off his jacket and laid it on the rock to cushion
Daniel’s wrist. Once Daniel was in place, he stood behind him. “Why are you
being disciplined, Daniel?”
Daniel
sighed. He hated this part. “Because I wasn’t where I should’ve been and I got
hurt.” He just wanted to get it over with.
“Only
partly, Daniel. Getting hurt was an accident. You don’t get in trouble for
that. Leaving your teammate alone is not an accident. You know that. No matter
how peaceful a planet is, anything can happen, to you,” he paused for emphasis,
“or to Carter.”
Daniel
hadn’t thought of anything happening to Sam. Nothing ever happened to her. She
was always safe. That didn’t mean she always would be though. “I’m sorry, Jack.
You know I don’t want anything to happen to anyone.” It was hard to talk to
Jack lying over the rock, waiting for the inevitable.
“I
know your sorry, Daniel,” Jack replied. “And I do forgive you, but first we
deal with the consequences you earned.” He pulled back his arm and landed the
paddle with a resounding smack on his friend’s backside.
Daniel
smothered his reaction in the sleeve of Jack’s jacket. He only hoped they’d
gone far enough that nobody could hear.
Jack
brought the paddle down again and again, trying to ignore Daniel’s distress and
make his point felt. He also had to ignore the fact his jacket would be
unusable after this was over. He spread the smacks across Daniel’s backside,
sit spot and upper thighs until the parts he could see were bright red. Finally
he stopped and rubbed Daniel’s back. “You okay?” He didn’t like disciplining
Daniel, but he was willing to try anything to keep him safe in the long run.
Whether this method would work or not, time would tell.
“Will
be,” Daniel answered. He lay there for a moment longer to compose himself.
Finally he stood up and tried to lift his pants back into place, struggling
with the hurt wrist.
Jack
reached down and lifted the left side for him. “Need help with the buttons?” he
questioned.
Daniel
tried to fasten them himself, finally giving in and nodding his head for Jack
to help.
Quickly
Jack fastened them and stepped away, giving Daniel some privacy.
Daniel
handed the jacket back to his friend. “Sorry. It’s kind of messy.”
“Ya
think,” Jack said with a smile on his face. Then he pulled Daniel into a hug
and told him, “I do forgive you, Daniel. Just be more careful.”
Daniel
hugged him back one armed and replied, “I’ll try. I don’t mean not to be. I
just get immersed in what I’m interested in.”
Jack
released Daniel. “I know. Ready to go back and get Sam and Teal’c and then head
home?”
“And
face Janet?” Daniel answered in disbelief. “I’d rather stay here and finish the
mission.”
“And
make me face Doc for not getting your wrist looked at! Not on your life.” Jack
clasped Daniel’s neck. “Get a move on, kid.”
Daniel
started walking then turned around. “I can take my pack now.” He held out his
good hand.
“Yeahsureyebetcha,”
Jack quipped. “Wait a minute.” He shoved the paddle back into the pack and help
Daniel put it back on. “There you go, buddy.”
“Yeah,
so glad you remembered to put it back, Jack,” Daniel commented with a groan.
Once
they made their way back to camp they found Sam and Teal’c had packed
everything up and were ready to go back to the Stargate.
Upon
arriving back at the SGC everyone went directly to the infirmary. Janet left
the others in her nurses’ capable hands and worked with Daniel herself.
“So
what happened to your wrist, Daniel?” she asked as she unwrapped the bandage
Sam had put on. The wrist was swollen and discolored.
“I
fell,” Daniel explained. “I slipped and landed on my hand.”
“This
looks pretty bad,” Janet commented. “Did it take you long to get back to the
‘gate?” She felt his wrist and Daniel flinched. “I think you need to get some
x-rays of this.” Daniel began to leave to go to the x-ray room when Janet
stopped him. “You didn’t answer my question yet, young man.”
“No,
it didn’t take long,” Daniel answered honestly.
“Then
why does it look so bad already?” Janet had a feeling something else had gone
on off world. She just couldn’t put her finger on it.
“We
had to take care of some things before we could come back,” Daniel answered.
Now
Janet really knew something was up. Daniel was avoiding looking directly at
her. “What did you need to take care of?”
At
this point Daniel knew Janet wouldn’t give up and he might as well tell her. “I
didn’t stay with Sam at the power plant like I was supposed to and I got in
trouble with Jack, okay?” He had just a little bit of attitude in his voice.
“Watch
your tone, Daniel Jackson,” Janet scolded firmly. “What type of trouble?”
Daniel
blushed but didn’t answer right away.
Then
Janet remembered how carefully he’d sat on the exam table and figured it out.
“He spanked you?”
Nodding
in agreement, Daniel wished he could disappear.
“Did
you deserve it?”
Once
more Daniel nodded.
“Use
your voice, young man,” she said sternly.
“Yes,
ma’am,” he said quickly. He hated when Janet used her motherly voice.
“Then
I hope it makes a difference,” Janet told him. “Now go get to x-ray. I’ll
decide what to do when I get the results back.”
“Yes,
ma’am,” Daniel responded again. He got out of there as quick as he could before
Janet could grill him for any other information.
After
the rest of SG1 finished their physicals, Jack ordered Carter to meet him in
his office in thirty minutes.
Once
Sam had showered and dressed, she headed for Jack’s office. She rapped sharply
on the door and waited until the colonel told her to come in. She opened the
door and entered, standing at attention in front of his desk.
Jack
didn’t say anything for a moment, just letting her wait. Finally he asked,
“What happened on the planet, Captain?”
“We
arrived at the power plant and both of us checked it out. It seemed safe enough
and there wasn’t much for Daniel to do. Therefore he and Tran started checking
out the area surrounding the plant while Daran and I continued to explore the
plant,” she reported, still at formal attention.
“Did
you inform him of how far he was to go?” Jack sat at his desk fiddling with a
paper clip.
“Yes,
sir,” Sam informed him. “I asked him to stay in the immediate area.”
“How
often did you check in with him to monitor his location?” Jack asked.
“Only
once before I found out he was hurt, sir,” Sam admitted.
“Was
he in the area?”
“I
thought he was, sir.”
“Apparently
he wasn’t, was he?” This time Jack looked right at her.
“No,
sir, he wasn’t,” Sam answered, gut clenching. “I’m not Daniel’s keeper though,”
she pointed out. At the colonel’s look she added, “Sir.”
Jack
stood up and paced around her. “That is where you are wrong, Captain. You are
Daniel’s keeper. He is a civilian and as a civilian on military maneuvers we
are all his keeper.”
“Yes,
sir,” Sam responded.
“If
this ever happens again there will be a formal reprimand placed in your file,
Captain. Is that understood?”
“Yes,
sir,” Sam answered, feeling like she was getting off easy.
“You’re
on two days downtime and I want you off base during that time. Understood?”
Jack informed her.
“Yes,
sir,” Sam answered yet again.
“Dismissed,”
Jack said as he sat back down at his desk.
Sam
saluted smartly, waited for the colonel’s return salute and left.
On her
way to the elevator after changing into civilian clothes, Sam walked by the
infirmary and overheard Janet talking to Daniel.
“You
are not driving yourself home, young man,” Janet insisted. “Not only do you
have a cast on your wrist, but those pain meds are going to kick in before you
make it home.”
“Fine,”
Daniel said in frustration. “I’ll get an airman to drive me home. Will that
satisfy you?”
“Watch
your tone, young man, unless you want to have this discussion with the
colonel,” Janet informed him.
Daniel
deflated. Why was this so hard for him? “No, ma’am,” he replied. “So am I stuck
here for the night?”
Sam
walked into the room at that point and said, “I can take him home, Janet. If
that’s okay?”
“Are
you sure you want to do that?” Janet asked. Daniel wasn’t being very cooperative
at the moment.
“If
Daniel’s okay with it I’ll take him home and stay with him overnight,” Sam
replied. “I know the meds can make him loopy.”
“You
okay with that, Daniel?” Janet asked, writing something on his chart.
“Anything
to get out of here,” Daniel stated firmly. Seeing Janet’s look, he mumbled,
“Sorry. You know it’s not you, just more comfortable at home.”
“I
know, Daniel,” she responded amiably. She handed Sam a bag of meds. “He needs
to take another pain pill with food in four hours.” She gave Daniel a stern
look. “Whether he wants to or not. Pain only makes the healing take longer.”
“I’ll
make sure he takes them, Janet,” Sam assured her. “Ready to go, Daniel?”
“Absolutely,
Sam.” Daniel jumped off the table and wobbled before he steadied himself.
“That’s
why you’re not going home alone, young man,” Janet reminded him.
“Yes,
ma’am,” Daniel conceded. “Let’s go, Sam.”
“Do
you need to change?” Sam asked. He was still wearing his BDUs but Janet had
split the seam on his left sleeve where the black cast was covering his hand
and wrist. Apparently he did have a hairline fracture which Janet wanted
immobilized, knowing Daniel wouldn’t follow the rules about leaving on a
temporary splint.
“Janet’s
already ruined this shirt,” Daniel told her. “I’d rather just get home.”
“Let’s
go then,” Sam said.
Shortly
after Daniel and Sam left, Jack entered the infirmary looking for Daniel.
Janet
spied him. “Colonel, come into my office,” she ordered him.
Giving
Janet a questioning look, but not getting any response, Jack followed her and
sat down in the chair opposite hers. “Where’s Daniel, Doc?”
“Captain
Carter drove him home and agreed to stay with him overnight,” Janet informed
him.
“He
told me it was only a sprain!” Jack exclaimed in disbelief.
“How
often does Daniel realize how badly he is hurt, Colonel?”
“But…”
Jack began to argue.
“No
buts, Colonel,” Janet reprimanded. “You know very well Daniel rarely realizes
how badly he gets hurt. He informed me of why it took so long to return to the
SGC by the way.”
“He
did?” Jack was surprised by that. Although he did know how hard it was to not
tell Janet what she wanted to know.
“I
don’t have a problem with your choice of how you discipline your teammates,
Colonel. He told me he knew he deserved it.”
“He
did deserve it, doc,” Jack agreed.
“However,”
Janet piped in before he could say anymore, “I am very unhappy you chose to
deal with the consequences before getting him the medical attention he needed.”
“How
badly is he hurt?” Jack quietly asked.
“He
has a hairline fracture in one of his wrist bones,” Janet told him.
Jack
rubbed the back of his neck. He had no idea. “I’m sorry, doc. I didn’t
realize.”
“Obviously,
Colonel.” Janet stood and got in Jack’s space, looking down on him. “If this
ever happens again, you will be on the receiving end of my discipline method,
Colonel. Understood?”
“Yes,
ma’am,” Jack answered immediately, wishing there was room to stand up. Janet
wasn’t nicknamed Napoleon for nothing. “I’ll stop by his apartment tonight and
see how he’s doing.”
“Wait
until tomorrow, Colonel,” Janet told him, backing off. “He needs his sleep and
Sam’s staying with him tonight.”
“But…”
Jack didn’t like being told to wait.
“That’s
an order, Colonel,” Janet said. “He’ll need you tomorrow.”
“Yes,
ma’am,” Jack agreed reluctantly. He’d already missed seeing Daniel because of
Hammond calling him in to debrief.
“He’ll
be fine, Jack. Just needs rest,” Janet assured him a little more pleasantly.
“Go finish your paperwork. I have some of my own to do.”
“Doc?”
Jack said hesitantly after he stood up to go.
“Yes?”
Janet had already grabbed a file to work on.
“I’m
sorry,” he admitted.
“I
know you are,” Janet acknowledged. “I’m sure it won’t happen again.”
“No,
ma’am,” Jack agreed, before he left.
Daniel
leaned his head against the window of Sam’s car and rested his eyes. Before he
knew it, she was waking him up and telling him they were at his apartment.
Once
they were inside, Sam told Daniel to go lie down and she settled herself on the
couch, turning on the television.
Four
hours later Sam made a sandwich for Daniel and woke him up to eat and take his
meds.
“I
don’t need pain meds, Sam,” Daniel argued as he got up and went to the
bathroom. “And I’m not hungry either.”
“Do
you want to try telling Janet that?” Sam questioned.
“Fine,”
Daniel whined, sitting on the couch.
Sam
handed him the sandwich and the meds then sat down. After Daniel had eaten a
little and downed his pill, she commented, “Col. O’Neill chewed me out today.”
“Sorry,
Sam,” Daniel said quietly. “He shouldn’t have. It was my fault.”
“My
fault too,” Sam argued. “Did he chew you out on the planet?”
Daniel
shrugged and blushed.
“I
have a feeling he did more than just chew you out,” she muttered, feeling
guilty.
“Maybe,”
Daniel admitted, not sure if he’d be admitting anything if it wasn’t for the
meds.
“What
did happen, Daniel?” Sam also knew the meds might get him to talk.
“Jack
and I have a way of dealing with things, Sam,” he told her.
Sam
thought about that for a minute. Things had seemed different between Jack and
Daniel ever since the incident on Hasma’s planet. It wasn’t different in a bad
way, just different. Finally it clicked. “Is the colonel paddling you?” she
blurted out, then regretted saying it when Daniel shrugged and blushed,
confirming it. “Sorry, Daniel. I shouldn’t have pried.”
“It’s
okay, Sam,” Daniel assured her. “We talked. I agreed to it. I deal with it.”
“Why
would you agree to it?” Sam was confused. She knew Daniel didn’t have much of a
choice on Hasma’s planet, but this seemed different to her.
“How
are you feeling about what happened today?” he asked her.
“Guilty,”
Sam answered quickly.
“Why?”
“Because
I was supposed to know where you were and I didn’t.”
“And I
should have told you I was leaving the area and I didn’t,” Daniel pointed out.
“So why are you still feeling guilty?”
“Because
you got in more trouble than I did it seems,” she answered quietly.
Daniel
gave her a comforting look. “I knew the trouble I might get in when I left the
area. It was still my choice.”
“So
why did you leave the area?”
Daniel
shrugged again. “Sometimes I don’t think first. That’s what Jack’s trying to
get me to do with our arrangement. I’m not used to worrying about anybody but
myself, Sam. Working with a team is very different than the life I used to
live.”
“And
you think getting paddled will help with that?”
“It
might,” Daniel admitted. “It already has a little bit. It also gets rid of the
guilt. That hasn’t happened with you yet, has it?”
“Not
really,” Sam agreed.
“Were
you paddled as a kid?”
“Yeah,”
Sam admitted. “Both my mom and dad spanked me.”
“Did
it work?” Daniel asked.
“I
didn’t like it,” Sam told him, blushing.
“Didn’t
ask if you liked it,” he pointed out. “Asked if it worked.”
“I
stopped breaking those rules,” Sam admitted.
“And
the guilt?”
“Yeah.”
Sam fiddled with the TV remote. “Was always better once they found out and it
was over with.”
“That’s
why I agreed to it. For me it’s working so far.” Daniel had finished more than
half his sandwich and set the plate on the end table. “Does it bother you?”
“No,”
Sam answered quickly. “Not anymore at least. It did when you first told me, but
I understand it now.”
“That
last pain pill is kicking in.” Daniel stood up and wavered a moment. “Did you find
everything you needed for sleeping on the couch? I could sleep out here and you
could have my bed you know.”
Sam
stood up and steadied her friend. “I found everything I need and I’ll be just
fine on the couch. You get some sleep and I’ll have French toast ready for you
in the morning.”
“French
toast?” Daniel grinned with interest. “Yum. See you in the morning, night.”
“Night,
Daniel.” Sam made sure he was settled and then made up the couch and fell
asleep herself, thinking about her conversation with Daniel.
Sam
made French toast for breakfast and then they hung out and played backgammon.
In the middle a game the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it,” Sam told Daniel.
She
opened the door to find Jack holding a pizza box in one hand. “Hi, Carter,” he
said as he walked in the room. “Doc said you’d brought Daniel home. Didn’t
realize you’d still be here though. Want some pizza?” He walked into the
kitchen and set the pizza on the counter and then went to get three plates.
“We’ve
just been hanging out, sir,” Sam replied getting out some glasses.
“Hi,
Jack,” Daniel said as he came into the kitchen. “Yum, pizza,” he commented,
breathing it in.
Jack
looked at the black cast on Daniel’s left wrist. “I’m sorry it took so long to
get back to the ‘gate, Daniel. I wouldn’t have waited if I’d known it was
broken,” he told his friend.
“I
didn’t even know it was broke, Jack,” Daniel assured him. “Just a hairline
though. Janet says I should only have this on for two weeks if I’m lucky.”
“Good.
Then go sit down, Daniel. I’ll bring the pizza in to you,” Jack ordered.
“Yes,
sir!” Daniel said in a friendly tone. He turned on his heel and returned to the
living room.
A
short time later, everyone was sitting around with pizza and a drink.
“So
what have you guys been talking about?” Jack asked, taking another bite of
pizza.
Sam
and Daniel glanced at each other then blushed.
“What?”
Jack asked again, looking to see if he’d spilled something on himself.
“Actually
we were talking about actions and consequences,” Daniel told him, first
checking with a look to Sam that it was okay to talk about it.
“Yeahsureyabetcha,”
Jack said absentmindedly. Then he realized what Daniel had said. “Care to
explain that statement, Daniel?”
“What
statement?” Daniel said innocently.
“Just
what actions and consequences and consequences are you talking about?”
“Actions
such as not knowing where your teammate is,” Sam explained.
Daniel
added, “And consequences such as a paddling.”
“She
knows?” Jack asked, raising his brow.
“Obviously,”
Daniel answered. “We talked about it last night.”
“So
what about it?” Jack asked, wondering if they were setting him up for
something.
“Daniel
essentially disobeyed the same order I did. Correct, sir?” Sam asked.
Jack
nodded. “So?”
“Why
did he get more severe consequences than I did?” she questioned.
“Who
says his consequence was more severe?” Jack didn’t like where this was leading.
“I
think a paddling is more severe than a dressing down,” Sam told him. “In my own
opinion, sir.”
Jack
just shrugged and continued to eat his pizza.
“I
think Sam’s feeling guilty, Jack,” Daniel added.
“What?
She thinks I should paddle her like I did you?” Jack questioned in disbelief.
“Yes,
sir,” Sam answered, jumping in before Daniel could. “I think I should have the
same consequence for the same action, sir.”
“That’s
crazy, Carter. It’s not the same at all.”
“How
so, sir?” Sam didn’t necessarily want a paddling, but she didn’t like the
feeling she had inside her either. In her view Daniel had to deal with a lot
worse than she had and she thought she was the one more responsible for what
had happened.
“You’re
Carter and Daniel’s Daniel,” Jack said, realizing how stupid that sounded. “He
and I already had this discussion and he knew what could happen.”
“What
if I agree to live by the same consequences as Daniel did?” Sam asked.
Daniel
looked at her in as much shock as Jack did. “You don’t have to do that, Sam,”
he insisted.
“I’m not sure I’d even let you agree to it, Carter,” Jack added.
“The military has it’s own method of discipline that you’re required to adhere
to, Captain.”
“I understand that, sir. However I also know that commanders can
use their own method of discipline if they choose to, sir.” Sam wasn’t about to
let this go.
“Carter,” Jack said with a groan.
When nothing more was said, Daniel mentioned, “She has a point,
Jack.”
“You agree with this, Daniel?”
“I don’t disagree with it,” Daniel pointed out. “I just think if
there was a reason for me to agree to it, there’s a reason she would agree to
it.”
“And what’s that reason?” Jack asked, knowing full well what he
thought the answer would be.
“Guilt, sir,” Sam answered. “Same as for Daniel.”
Jack groaned again. “You really want me to paddle you for this
incident, Carter?” He couldn’t believe what he’d walked into today. He’d
expected to come over with pizza and have a nice quiet game of chess with
Daniel.
“Do I want you to?” Sam replied. “No.” Truthfully she cringed even
at the thought. “However, I think it’s the right thing to do.”
“You won’t change your mind and report me after this is over?”
Jack questioned.
“Sir!” Sam exclaimed in surprise. “Absolutely not, sir. As far as
I’m concerned this is between the three of us, sir.”
Jack rubbed the back of his neck. “You’re sure about this,
Carter?”
“Yes, sir,” Sam agreed.
“Do you have the other paddle here, Daniel?” Jack asked.
Daniel nodded and went to get it. Jack had him keep one of the
paddles Hasma gave him in his pack and one at his apartment. He kept it in the
far back of the bottom drawer under his jeans. When he came back into the
living room he handed it to Jack.
Jack stood up and took the paddle testing it on his palm. Then he
asked, “So, we all understand what you’re being paddled for, Carter?”
“Yes, sir,” Sam answered. “For not being aware of where my
teammate was at all times.”
“Agreed.” Jack walked behind the couch. “Come over here and bend
over the back of the couch.”
Sam stood up and moved to the back of the couch then started to
unbutton her pants.
“Leave them on, Carter. It’ll still hurt plenty with them on,” he
told her.
Daniel nodded in agreement and she bent over the back.
Jack held the small of her back to keep her steady. He lifted his
arm and brought paddle down right in the center of her backside with a
resounding SMACK.
Letting out a startled yelp at the unexpected level of pain Sam
reached back to cover herself just like she’d done as a child.
Jack merely clamped her wrist to the small of her back and
continued the paddling. He may not have planned on doing this to Carter, but
once he agreed to it he planned on doing it right.
Sam tried not to react. She’d asked for this after all. It was a
losing battle however. Finally she let go and the tears flow.
When Jack realized she’d given in he released her wrist and
finished up the paddling with some more firm smacks to the sit spot.
At first Sam didn’t even realize he’d finished, the burn still
present in her backside. Finally, she stood up awkwardly and tried not to look
at the colonel.
“Normally at this point Daniel gets a hug to let him know he’s
forgiven. However I’d understand if you were uncomfortable with that,” Jack
said quietly.
“I think I’d wouldn’t mind a small hug, sir,” she said, wiping her
eyes on her sleeve.
Jack pulled her into a hug. “You’re forgiven, Carter,” he
reassured her before letting her go.
“Thank you, sir,” Carter replied. She accepted Daniel’s hug and
then she rubbed her backside for a minute. “You have a strong arm on you, sir.”
“For an old man,” Daniel quipped, narrowly dodging the cuff to the
head Jack tried to give him.
“Watch it, young man,” Jack warned with a smile.
Daniel smiled and backed off, going to sit back down.
Sam and Jack did the same.
Silence held onto the room until Daniel asked, “Better, Sam?”
Slightly startled by the question, she thought for a moment.
Finally she answered, “Yeah, Daniel. It is better now. I understand what you
meant.”
“Thought you would,” Daniel replied. He stood up and found a deck
of cards. “How about a game of Gin?”