Daniel and Adrienne #14: Additions

“Ok, so why are we going to Adrienne’s apartment?” Daniel asked Cam from the passenger seat of his truck.  

“Because, Sam and Jack are away doing some of their bureaucratic bullshit, Teal’c is with Rya’c because that damn baby is going to come sometime, and Vala is doing more of her little spy game they’ve got her doing.  Addy said we might as well come over and throw back a few.  What’s the deal anyway, I thought you two were inseparable now,” Cam answered, as he tapped the steering wheel to the beat of some country song.  Adrienne was right, this was truly awful music, he’d almost rather hear that god awful rap of hers than this. Almost.  Making a face of annoyance at Cameron, Daniel looked ahead just as the light turned green and Cam accelerated, barreling his way through Friday evening D.C. traffic.   

“Nothing’s the deal, she just didn’t say anything about coming over at work today, I was just wondering. And we’re not inseparable, we just have a lot in common is all; she’s easy to talk to,” Daniel explained, his stomach rumbling, distracting him from his defense of recent events.  First everyone wanted them to be friends and now that they were it was a constant source of harassment  He couldn’t win.  Glancing at the clock on the dash he saw it was 6:30 p.m.. A thought flashed in his head and he pulled his cell phone from his pocket, sliding the activate bar across the screen, trying to remember where Adrienne had shown him to plug in his contacts. 

“Who you callin?” Cam asked glancing over at the screen. 

“The Italian place by Adrienne’s.  I’m not eating carrot sticks all night,” Daniel replied, holding up his finger to silence Cam and began to order a crazy amount of pizza and sides. From the driver’s seat Cam laughed, glad that at least one of them thought of it, deciding not to mention that Daniel had memorized the eateries and phone numbers near Adrienne’s apartment, because on no, they weren’t spending that much time together, were they? Cam was really starting to wonder what was going on with the two of them lately, for two people that really seemed to hate each other, they had become fast friends.  

From the text he received this morning, Cam had been told that they were supposed to be at Adrienne’s at 7, but he knew, and Daniel had already joked that if they arrived at 7 she probably wouldn’t be ready for them anyway. Adrienne didn’t operate on time even in her own home. She often stressed in New Orleans, early was rude, on time was early and late was expected.  Only Vala seemed to think that made sense.  

Needless to say, they were both shocked that Adrienne was not only ready to party down at 7:05 when they arrived but had a full spread of Mexican food and beer waiting for them.  She made a face at their pizza and breadstick boxes and glared sharply at Daniel.  

“I know this is your doing Indy,” she said, putting her hands on her hips,”you have no faith in me.”  Daniel didn’t say a word; he’d been caught red handed.  Shrugging, Daniel played stupid and walked the food to the kitchen to slide it into her oven to keep warm.  From the other room he heard Cameron already lauding their host on her Mexican spread so he opened the top box and slid out a breadstick, allowing his good buddy a private moment with Adrienne that he could harass her about later. Right as his aching stomach was about to thank him for satisfying the hunger, he felt arms on his shoulders and a face appeared beside his, pausing the breadstick midstream.

“I go to all of this trouble to get Mexican food, to get junk food, and you’re in here sneaking contraband,”  she teased.  His face reddened and sighing, he started to put the breadstick back in the box.  

“Wow Indy, I’m just playing with you. Bring that stuff out to the table.  I think John and Teyla might come by, and you boys can down a pizza each; I’ve seen it done,” she smiled, standing and walked over to the wine cabinet, examining it closely.  Relieved she wasn’t angry, or at least as angry as his stomach was right this moment, Daniel grabbed the pizza boxes and started to head back out to the white plastic table it looked like Adrienne had purchased just to have people over, sparkling new and smelling of fresh plastic.  

“What are you looking for?” he asked, “There’s a tub of beer out there.” Adrienne made a face, her dark eyes scanning the drawers carefully. 

“You don’t drink beer,” she stated, “and I’m deciding how crazy this little night of ours should get.”  She put her hand on her hips, examining the insane amount of alcohol displayed in front of them. Laughed, Daniel moved the pizza boxes aside and leaned over her shoulder, peering into to cabinet.    

“You are your own personal cult of Dionysus,” he joked.  

“Shut up Indy,” she said, reaching for his shoulder to move him out of her line of sight, her line of sight apparently to his good buddy. 

“Cam!” she shouted, “crashing or leaving?” Daniel looked at her, surprised upon the discovery that he wasn’t the only person that slept here from time to time, at least person of the male persuasion. He knew Vala went home with Adrienne on weekends, especially weekends that involved sales, but Cam? He honestly didn’t know what to make of it.  Pushing past him as if he wasn’t there, Cam walked into the kitchen area, setting his forearm on Adrienne’s shoulder to peer into her shrine of booze. 

“Depends, whatcha ya thinking?” he asked, glancing over at her.  Smiling evilly, and clicking her tongue ring against her teeth, Adrienne produced a bottle of aged Tequila, dancing it in the air. Cam’s reaction was instant.  

“Crashing, Jackson you’ll need to call a taxi,” Cameron declared in celebration, turning to head back for the food. 

“So I’m not your only couch squatter?” Daniel inquired, cocking his head in their fearless leader’s direction, their fearless leader who was already piling a plate full of tacos and supreme pizza.  

“No, just my favorite,” she replied, standing on her toes to kiss his cheek quickly, and just as fast, turned on her heels, fishing some more items out of the cabinet.  Her favorite? Who in the hell else stayed here? Did he miss the fraternity rush party? Adn what was with all of this nonsense about fitting in? In his latest state of Adrienne confusion, Daniel took the rest of the pizza boxes out to the table as he saw Cameron heading to the front door.  He answers her door too? I don’t answer her door....  Shaking his head, he opened the boxes to arrange the food in an inviting manner when heard John and Teyla entering behind them.  Turning, he was that Torrin was not with them, thankfully if his assistant was pulling out the hard liquor, so he assumed Teyla had gotten a sitter for the occasion. This was turning into quite the little event, food, alcohol, babysitters, overnight stays?? Cameron was directing them to the table and showing them the food spread when Adrienne came out, bottles of tequila and margarita mix in hand.  She said something to Cameron about salt and nodding, he went back into the kitchen to acquire it.  Wow, he is really making himself at home, Daniel thought, he’s just hosting this thing like it’s his party too. Was it his party too? He felt himself pushed aside for a second time as Cameron came out, small green tub of margarita salt in hand.  Everyone served themselves and gathered around the center table in her living room where Daniel was fully expecting a movie, but instead Adrienne came out with a board game, something called Scattergories.  Sitting down she explained the rules and he was relieved it was word game and not a drinking game or something else that would make him look like a complete idiot, in fact, he thought this should be a fairly easy game to play.  

Adrienne creamed the mess out of him, and everyone else, creamed his so bad that he could just feel the teasing that was to come in the lab net week, all the while, Cameron just kept telling Adrienne how smart she was, how good at the game she was, among other compliments and comments.  Daniel found it to be exceedingly annoying and started to wonder if this was how Adrienne felt about Vala and the way she acted around Daniel, the lap sitting, the sexual comments and he started to sympathize. Maybe he should speak up a little more, get her to lay off a tad.  Game ended, and as Cam, of course, reached over to clean up the boards and cards, Adrienne stood, rushing over to the table and returned with the two bottles from earlier in her hands.  

“Upside down Margaritas,” she declared, “Indy first!” She motioned to Daniel to join her, where she was setting a chair down in front of her dining room table, some position of authority in this drinking extravaganza of hers.  He stood, slightly pleased that she called him over rather than Cameron and walked over and sitting down and looking back at her awaiting instructions. He had no idea what an upside margarita was

“It’s time for some fun shug. Lick ya hand,” she ordered, smiling at him brightly.  He made a face, now starting to regret being called over first as the reality of what she wanted him to do was slowly sinking in. 

 “Why?” he asked 

“Just do it, stop arguing with me,”  she spat back. He caught Cam grinning out of the corner of his eye, a comment about Daniel’s being a light weight surely on his tongue, so he licked his palm, doing as he was told and glancing back to Adrienne for further instructions.  

“Now, tilt your head back,”  she ordered. Yep, it was just what he thought this was, and he didn’t argue, just tilted back as requested, hoping his glasses would stay on his face. 

“Ok, you’re gonna lick the salt off of your hand and then open your mouth. I pour, you shake and swallow.  Got it?”  Adrienne spat out the directions as if this were the most natural thing in the world, letting your friends toss alcohol down your throat. 

“Seriously?” he mused, “I know what this is, this is that crazy stuff you did in college. You told me about when we played that Monty Python drinking game of yours.” Adrienne smiled, confirming his suspicion.  What had he gotten himself in to?  

“Nice memory. Just do it, trust me,” she continued, reaching behind herself to pour two glasses of liquid and steadied herself behind him counting off in French. Un, deux, trois and Adrienne watched as the most brilliant man that she knew licked salt off of his hand and tossed back his head, ready for her alcoholic insanity.  She poured carefully into his mouth the mix and the liquor and he did as he was told bringing his head up quickly and shaking. 

“Woah,”  he said as he finished swallowing.  

“Yeah, give it a sec, the rush’ll hit you soon,”  Adrienne replied, setting her hands on his shoulders, waiting for said rush. It didn’t take long, she was able to feel him move underneath of her hands, it had hit him and the look on his face up at her was confirmation of the same.   

“I like chocolate shots better,” he declared and stood from the chair, slowly, shaking his head again as the first tinges of alcohol began to move through his system. Smirk gone, Cam looked at the two of them amazed, his face in a state of confusion.

“You guys have done shots before?” he asked, “Together?” he continued.  Adrienne laughed.  

“Yea, we played the Monty Python and the Holy Grail game and Indy actually made it through intermission, well, sorta, right after intermission he passed out on my floor,”  Adrienne answered, motioning John over to go next since Cameron was talking.  Cameron didn’t seem to thrilled by her response, disappointment in his face leading Daniel to assume that his assistant and his good buddy hadn’t played that particular game before.  Eat that Cam, Daniel said to himself and went to sit back on the sofa, watching as John was set up for his shot. Why do I care? he questioned, forcing the thoughts aside to watch John’s reaction. 

They continued like this for a while, Daniel deciding to take another shot because it wasn’t so bad after all and Cam, in an attempt to prove his drinking prowess, taking more than Daniel could count.  Adrienne shot a few herself, Cameron rushing to pour before anyone else could, not that anyone was racing him to it, but based on his behavior you would have thought they were.  Alright, I am not imagining things; this is really getting annoying, Daniel thought to himself, but didn’t try to step in to pour, just sat back and let Cam run the show. Laughing and talking in between shots, they partied well into the night, having a general good time, enjoying an evening of no work drama and no worries. Eventually the food was gone, including Daniel’s pizza run, and Adrienne had put the tequila away, a silent signal that it was time to shut down the party.  

Teyla declined an invitation to stay, citing Cassie Fraiser’s inability to stay the night with Torrin, and bid the group a farewell, thanking Adrienne for her invitation. Adrienne was glad they came, it was nice to have two other people on base who could be good friends of the opposite sex with nothing else between them than friendship, it made her feel like she and Daniel weren’t so strange after all, despite what Vala kept insisting. Turning from the door as she shut it behind them, Adrienne noted that Cam had already disappeared down the hall to grab linens for the sofa, staggering as he went to stake his claim. She figured she’d let him try to assemble the sofa, drunk, and let him fall in the floor a few times before she offered to help. It’d serve him right for over doing it tonight.  Making her way to the kitchen and the mass of dishes that lay before her, Adrienne barely noticed when Daniel entered, a bit tipsy himself.

“Ad, have you seen my cell phone?” he asked, his speech slightly slurred. Trying not to giggle at him, Adrienne reached up on top of her fridge, grabbing it and passing it over.   

“Who ya callin?’” she asked, reaching back to fill the dishwasher with plates.  

“A cab,” he replied, trying to figure out how to use the iPhone Adrienne had insisted that he get. It was hard enough to operate sober.  Of course, the first peer pressure he had succumb to in his life had to be from Adrienne and it had to be to buy this damned impossible telephone. He heard her laugh and felt the gadget removed from his grasp.  

“Thanks, I’m still trying to figure out how to use that thing,” he said as Adrienne set the phone back on the fridge.  Daniel looked at her strangely.  

“Don’t call a cab, that’s a waste of money” she said, “stay.” Daniel cocked his head back at the entrance to the kitchen, shaking it in the negative.  Ooh, head shaking, bad idea, he scolded himself.   

“Cam’s claimed my spot,” he said, wondering too if maybe Adrienne had something else since she had offered for Teyla and John to stay as well, but again she laughed, shutting off the water and reaching for a dish towel. 

“Don’t be so coo-yon, you can sleep with me,” Adrienne replied, continuing to clean, as if it was the most normal thing in the world, to invite a male friend to bed with you.  Daniel, on other hand, panicked. 

“What?” he asked, making sure he heard to correctly. 

“Daniel, stop being insane.  We’re two adult friends,  I think we can handle it. And I am not Vala, trust me you are not going to wake up to me crawling on top of you,” Adrienne argued, “In fact, I’m pretty wired still, so you go crash; I’m gonna clean in here, decompress and then worry about sleep when the urge hits me.”  

Daniel paused for a moment, not having any idea as to what the proper response would be.  In the bed? With her?  He started to try to analyze the situation but forced himself to stop. This was Adrienne, he told himself, there’s nothing to analyze, she is just what she seems, nice and no games. She’s not going to do anything, say anything, try anything, to do anything to make he feel uncomfortable. Unless she was trying to play a trick on him in which case he really needed to be worrying more about his retaliation. Decision made, he looked back at her, just to check one last time. 

“Are you sure?” he clarified, seeing that apparently it was since she was loading wine glasses into the sink, not one smirk or smile, not one flirtatious glance, just focused on her task at hand, washing the dishes.  She didn’t even look up as she answered. 

“Oh yeah, no big deal. Cam may harass you about it later, but he’s so sloshed right now he’s got no room to talk about anyone doing anything,”  Adrienne added as she put dish liquid into the sink and began to toss more items in.  Frozen in her kitchen. trying to determine if it was the tequila making him actually consider doing this, he just stood there, staring at her. Feeling his gaze on her, she laughed and pointed at the phone.  

“If it’s going to bother you that much, call a cab. I was just offerin’,” she said simply and began to wash the shot glasses.  Daniel didn’t want to look like an idiot or a prude for that matter, they had a good thing going here and he didn’t want to set their friendship back. Ok Daniel, let’s do this, he coached himself.  

“No, it’s not bothering me, I just didn’t want to impose,” he covered, walking forward to start helping her with the dishes.  Smiling softly, she glanced over at him and pushed his hand away.  

“Seriously, for as loud as I am normally, when I have a night like this I need to decompress.  Head to bed; I’ll be there eventually, promise,”  she replied.  Accepting her answer, Daniel just nodded and went to her room, wondering if he could actually go to sleep in there or just worry until he passed out. 

He had seen her bedroom before, she’d given him the entire Dr. Rowan apartment tour ages ago when they first started hanging out, but its sheer tackiness never ceased to amaze him.  The entire room easily could have been the movie set of some greek epic, from floor to ceiling. The walls were painted a deep red, not quite blood red, more like royal burgundy, trimmed at the top by gold stenciled accents of the greek key pattern.  She had painted these herself one weekend; he remembered her looking up stencil patterns online in the lab, insisting that she had finished all of her work. Her furniture was all antique and it was obvious that she had taken much care in selecting pieces that looked like they would have come from a Roman Villa, off white, carved with fluting, some even depicted with mythology.  In the far left corner was a large Grecian Red Amphora, which Adrienne used as an umbrella holder and her dresser, positioned at the foot of her bed was carved with the birth of Aphrodite on the front of the drawers, which surprised Daniel considering her overall aversion to anything even remotely romantic. Any free space left on the walls was decorated with various pieces of art each of which looked as if they could have very well been stolen from a dig site or at least the British Museum, either way he hoped neither was true. And then there was her bed.  

It was a dark wood canopy bed, made of wormwood giving it a feel of age that Daniel knew was not the case, she had ordered it just for this apartment.  Fully curtained in sheer purple fabric, the color of Roman royalty, her bed was the centerpiece of the entire display. Daniel just sighed and walked over to the side, pulling back the curtain to enter, not bothering to tie it into the gold tasseled cord that was at each corner. There, as he remembered, he saw her purple, burgundy and gold satin bedspread over what he knew was under there, deep purple satin sheets.  This was how she lived and how she slept and yet she made fun of Vala’s over the top attitude.  At least when it came to decorating, it was the pot calling the kettle. 

“How in the hell does she sleep in this?” Daniel said out loud as he kicked off his shoes and crawled into the bed, leaving his jeans on and tried to get comfortable without slipping onto the floor.  

Adrienne shut down the kitchen and put the rest of the dishes away, not bothering to look over at the clock to see what time it was; she was finally tired and was craving her bed. Walking out into the main area to lock up the apartment, she saw Cameron sliding off of the sofa mumbling in his sleep. She let out a sigh, slid the deadbolt into place and walked over to the coach, pulling off Cameron’s boots and shoving him to the best of her ability back onto the furniture.  He was heavy and complained when she moved him, so she just gave up, covered him with the blanket he had collected from her closet and took herself to bed. 

It was pitch black, so Adrienne assumed that Daniel was already asleep.  Tiptoeing quietly to her dresser, Adrienne pulled out some pajama pants, changing into them, tossing her old clothes into the hamper, pulled back the curtain to crawl in, screamed, and fell into the floor.  

“Adrienne, what are you doing?” Daniel shouted out.  Having accidentally sat on him, Adrienne sat in the floor laughing hysterically from exhaustion and the sheer ridiculousness of the situation.  

“Trying out a Vala,” Adrienne couldn’t resist, barely choking out her answer as she kept laughing, her head between her knees. Her nightstand light clicked on and she saw that Daniel was sitting up, looking at her in embarrassment, his cheeks red as his face flushed. From the floor,  Adrienne just continued her giggling.  

“That’s my side Indy, remember, away from the door. You just scared me, now scoot over,” Adrienne said, wiping tears from her eyes.  Daniel felt like an idiot, he should remember that odd habit in particular, but he felt too stupid too apologize and just scooted over. Standing and shutting out the lamp, Adrienne reached across the bed, pushing him on the back and further over to the side.  She got in, still laughing, reaching behind herself once more to squeeze his arm and let herself fall asleep.  

Adrienne thought she heard ringing in the distance but it stopped, so she just scooted herself deeper under the covers and pulled them tightly over her shoulders. 

“Hello?”  Daniel reached for the corded phone on the nightstand, answering groggily. Having no idea what time it was, but knowing he was exhausted, this had better be important.   

“Daniel?” Sam asked, surprised, on the other line. Sam calling before the sun rose was never a good sign, but he wasn't sure why she sounded so shocked.   

“Yeah,” he replied, still half asleep. He thought he heard Sam saying something in the background and a man laugh, Jack’s laugh and was getting seriously getting annoyed now, this had better not be some kind of joke.  

“Where’s Adrienne?” Sam asked, and he could hear her laughing now, trying to contain herself.  What was going on? 

“I don’t know, at her apartment,” Daniel answered with attitude in his voice; he was her friend, not her keeper, but Sam seemed to completely disregard his tone, now laughing even harder.  

“Daniel, do you know where you are?”  Sam asked, roaring into the phone. Confused, Daniel sat up and slipped to the side, left leg cascading off the side of the bed.  Rubbing his face, he looked down and saw that he was laying on satin sheets. Purple satin sheets.  He was in Adrienne’s bed and he remembered everything, the party, the shots, the invitation and of course Sam had to call and with Jack’s goading was going to jump to some crazy conclusion. He knew this was a mistake, he should have just called a cab. This is going to be fun to deal with.

“Hold on,” was all he said, delaying the inevitable, and reached over, shoving Adrienne’s shoulder as she slept on her side, her back to him. Still partially asleep, she rolled over to face him, rubbing her hand slowly across her face.

“What?” she question, sitting up, looking over at his, her eyes glazed. 

“Phone,” he answered, quickly removing himself from the uncomfortable situation, rushing from the bed and straight for the bathroom. He knew this was a bad idea; why did he agree to this?

“Hello Addy, is there something you need to tell me?” Sam asked on the other line.  Adrienne sat up, rubbing her eyes, confused, glancing around the room for whatever might be wrong. 

“I don’t think so, what time is it?” Adrienne inquired, noting the lack of light in the room and the darkness outside her window, remembering she had left her cell phone in the kitchen, on top of the fridge beside Daniel’s.  

“It’s 4; why is Daniel sleeping with you?” Sam answered and began her interrogation without missing a beat.  Adrienne finally registered what had happened, and how this might look, her stomach sinking.

“Because Cam stole the sofa,” she replied matter of factly, hoping her words and tone would convey the message.  It must have, Sam stopped laughing, clearing her throat. 

“Oh,” she responded, remembering their lunch conversation by the sound of it, “you had a party, that’s right.” 

“Just a little one; John and Teyla left about midnight, Cam was knocked out at twelve thirty and Daniel shortly after.  I cleaned up a bit and was in bed by 1 or so,” Adrienne explained.  Poor Daniel, she thought to herself, I need to go find him and make sure he’s alright. 

“How drunk is Cam?” was Sam’s next question, giving Adrienne the excuse she needed to check on her probably mortified friend.  Covering the receiver of the phone with her palm, she shouted out into the open room. 

“Daniel! Can I get a status report on Mitchell?” she heard him mutter something from across the way and saw her bedroom door open, his silhouette leaving.  At least he didn’t retreat from the room, but it looked as if he had gone to the bathroom, Adrienne hoping it was not to hide. There was a glimmer of light as his figure reentered the room. 

“Passed out, but did respond slightly to my kicking him,” Daniel answered and came back over to the bed, turing on the nightstand light. Adrienne pointed beside herself and he sat down, much to her relief, figuring the damage had been done.  

“We can move him if we have to, but he shouldn’t operate any machinery, is everything alright?” Adrienne asked, leaning her head over onto Daniel’s shoulder, trying to gauge his current state.  He let out a sigh and didn’t shrug away, so Adrienne figured they were alright, reaching to slip her free hand into his, squeezing it lightly. 

 “The baby’s coming.  Teal’c wants everyone to gate to Chulac to be there for the birthing ceremony. I was going down my phone in ABC order and fortunately your little party is going to save me some phone calls. Get them moving and get down here,”  Sam explained and hung up without so much as a goodbye.  Sighing, Adrienne sat up, leaning across Daniel to hang up the phone, looking up at him.  

“What now?” he asked, “I want to sleep.”  

“We are being summoned to Chulac.  Teal’c is going to be a grandpa,” Adrienne answered.  Daniel nodded and stood.  If one thing would get him out of bed when he was this tired, it was a celebration of life for his dear friend. He was heading back out to attempt to reason with a most likely still inebriated Cam when he felt a hand at his wrist. 

“Indy, you ok?” he turned to see Adrienne sitting on her bed, those deep eyes of her twinkling in the dim light of the lamp. It had taken him a while to see through the jokes and sarcasm, but he was starting to read her face and she was thinking exactly what he had been thinking, that this might have been a bad idea.  

“I’m fine.  We’re two adult friends. Let them think what they want,” he lied deftly, knowing full well that he would have to play damage control later, but his words had the intended effect, the worry leaving her face and softening her stare. 

“Go get Cameron; we’ll take his truck.  I’ll go find his keys,” Daniel replied, pulling away from her grasp, trudging sleepily to the door. 

It took both Daniel and Adrienne to get Cameron moving and out of the door, he was whining and still very asleep, and very sauced as Adrienne so delicately put it. Tossing him in the passenger side quickly and they slammed the door shut, just in time for him to slump himself over to the side.  There was no way they could take their friend in this state walking into the SGC, not that he could really walk anyway, so Adrienne convinced Daniel to stop at 7-11 to get some energy drinks in an attempt to revive him fully.  Sitting in between her two friends, Adrienne rode backwards, trying to coax Cam into taking the energy shot and then sipping some tea.  He wasn’t very cooperative much to Adrienne extreme annoyance Daniel could tell as Adrienne grabbed the shoulders of his t-shirt and slammed him back into an upright position. 

“Cameron Mitchell you listen to me.  Teal’c needs us. Your FRIEND! Naw, sit ya stupid redneck ass up, chug this right naw before I force it down ya gullet!!” she shouted at him, her southern accent on the word gullet so thick Daniel had to contain his laughter.  Cam opened his eyes, finally, and jerked the shot from her hand, chugging it and laying his head back against the glass.  Satisfied, but still relatively angry, Adrienne threw the empty bottle into the floor and huffed loudly. 

“I hate when adults act like children,” she spat.  Refraining from pointing out a few of the more ironic elements of that statement, Daniel hid his laughter by clearing his throat, focusing on the road ahead. 

When they arrived, Sam and Jack were waiting for them at the gate, impatiently Daniel could tell on Jack’s part, but there was really only so fast they could get Cam moving without causing him to vomit all over the SGC floor, which he had begun threatening he would do the moment Daniel pulled the truck into a space. Adrienne pulled him along, setting him down in a fold-out chair while Walter dialed, stepping over to talk to Sam as  Jack walked right over to Daniel, leaning in close to his ear.  

“I’m proud of you; you’re learning,” he said, elbowing his friend in the side.  Daniel shook his head.  

“See this is why I should have called a cab. Nothing happened. She was doing dishes when I went to sleep while Cameron was, inebriated, on the sofa,”  Daniel answered, annoyed.  Of course Jack would turn this into something it was not, he would expect nothing less. 

“This, my friend, is why you shall remain single until that day you die,” Jack replied, patting him on the arm, gazing out toward the event horizon. His heart just not feeling up to an argument at a few minutes past five in the morning, Daniel returned to Adrienne’s side, assisting her in hoisting the now less belligerent Cameron through the glittering pool.

“It is almost time,” was the first thing Daniel heard before he could look up, Teal’c loud voice resonating all around them. 

 “Come, come,” he urged, ushering his friends down the ramp and to the direction of the city, lit by candle lamps and other simplicities that one would not expect given their understanding of Go’ould technology.  When Daniel was finally able to look up, shoving Cam’s arm further down his shoulder, he noted Teal’c was in dressed in robes like he had never seen before, a deep blood red trimmed in gold and silver, with long flowing sleeves and a large hood.  Teal’c himself looked very tired, as if he hadn’t slept in a few days and Daniel could only assume that the birthing process was a long and involved one that he had to remain awake to attend. As he walked away, Daniel could see dirt stains all over the robe, as if he has been kneeling or some other form of meditation and Daniel was about to ask when Cam shoved himself away, bending over and heaving drying.  Daniel leaned over to help, when he felt a tug at his arm, turning to see Adrienne pulling him aside. 

“So, what exactly happens here? Of everything I have read there is no mention of Jaffa birthing rituals, only coming of age ceremonies,” she whispered, ignoring Cam’s coughs and sputters. 

“Honestly, I have no idea.  I know that during the war with the Go’ould there was a dramatic decrease in births, as is to be expected, so we have never really had an opportunity to experience it,” he answered.  Adrienne just nodded and kept walking. Teal’c had been gone from base for days, ever since Bra’tac had sent word that Kar’yn had gone into labor.  Days, and the baby was just now coming. Yet another reason to not have children, Adrienne thought. 

“T?” Jack asked as they walked on, “Is this going to be ass nasty?  I don’t do, well, I didn’t even watch my own kid being born.”  

“It is no more than watching a man die. I know you have watched a man die ONeill,” Teal’c replied.  

“Yeah, but, uh, nevermind buddy.  Walk on,”  Jack replied as Sam reached over and clasped his hand.  Daniel looked up at his friends, happy every time he saw them together when suddenly he remembered Cam, who was walking along, in silence, staggering slightly as the energy drinks began to kick in slowly, falling further and further behind. 

“Can you check on him?” Daniel slowed, cocking his thumb back in the direction of Cam, trodding along behind them. 

“Hell no, you do it Indy,”  she answered.  

“Flip a coin?” he offered, hoping that he would not be stuck with the task, especially if Cam was going to be bent of and puking every few feet. Let Adrienne deal with her hung over secret admirer, he thought, pausing. What is wrong with me?   

“Only if I can see it first.  I don’t trust you; I know you too well,” she smiled.  Daniel reached in his pocket and pulled out a quarter, turning it between his fingers at her request even though she was just teasing him, making sure to do it slowly and dramatically.  Adrienne rolled her eyes. 

“Heads or Tails?” he asked.  

“Tails,” she responded.  Flipping the quarter into the air, Daniel caught it in one hand, flipping it onto the back of the other.  Adrienne held her breath for a second, not wanting to deal with Cameron in this state, not wanting to deal with anyone is this state asDaniel slowly moved his hand.  

“Heads,” he said, smiling brightly, “Have fun Ad.” Laughing, he jogged ahead to catch up to Sam and Jack.  

“Asshole,” she muttered and walked back to Cam.  

“Hey handsome, how are you feeling?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.  He still smelled like tequila, and it was making her slightly ill. 

“Awful, what in the hell did you do to me?” he asked.  Adrienne laughed and brought him upright, supporting his back with her palm. 

“I thought you went to college Colonel Mitchell,” Adrienne played, but he didn’t seem to playful right now, glaring up at her with a grimace on his face. 

“In college we drank beer, like normal folks,” he retorted.  Adrienne patted him on the back.  

“Come on,” she said, “let’s go see what insanity Teal’c has in store for us.” 

It was indeed insanity.  They heard Kar’yn screaming before the town came into sight and at her scream, Teal’c threw his arms up and began to chant something in Go’ould., turning to face the group and rouse them to do the same.  Confused, Cam looked over at Adrienne, knowing he was supposed to say something but not exactly sure what.  

“It’s fast, but I’ll try,” she said, beginning to translate since she knew Cam would want to know first what he was saying before he said it. 

“Bring it to the light, to the light of our world.  Gods bless this child and you bring it to the light of our world,” Adrienne said, concentrating hard on what Teal’c was saying, since it was going pretty fast and sandworm, as Jack liked to call it, was not something Adrienne knew very well other than the journals that Daniel had given her.  

“He’s going pretty fast but I think that’s the just of it. Sounds an invitation to come to us, to be born or something,” Adrienne explained as Cameron smiled, reaching for her shoulder. 

“Girl, you never cease to amaze me,” he said.  Adrienne blushed at his compliment, turning away so he couldn’t see, but before she could reply, they heard loud shouting ahead, shouting of the General O’Neill sort.  

“You two better get your asses moving, Kar’yn’s gonna pop this kid out!!” Jack was standing outside of a doorway and yelling.  Daniel and Sam were no where in sight, so Adrienne assumed that they were already inside when she heard Kar’yn scream again.  Squeezing Cameron’s arm, Adrienne led him gently into the house, her heart racing like she was entering some sort of Halloween attraction, the shrieks of pain coming from the poor woman in the throws of labor sending chills down her spine.  Jack bobbed and weaved, leading them through the beautiful house, laid out as a labyrinth of room and passageways into a back ceremonial chamber.  

The room itself was dim, lit only by large candles set up all around, on chairs, tables, shelves, even some along the floor, which made it hard to make out the etchings and paintings on the walls, but to Adrienne they looked like paintings of landscapes and foliage native to the planet. There was a thin pad in the middle of room, where in an even thinner linen robe which left little to the imagination, was Kar’yn, Ry’ac’s  very pregnant, very labored wife. In a flash of shame, Adrienne felt bad for the poor woman’s dignity but assumed it was just part of the ritual, reminding herself that the Jaffa were anything but modest. Ry’ac was leaning precariously on his knees with Kar’yn laying against him, chanting the same chant Teal’c had been reciting outside while Ishta knelt at Kar’yn’s feet, obviously there to deliver the baby.  Crouching beside her was Sam, trying to help, rubbing Kar’yn’s leg gently and whispering soothing things in her direction. Sensing that this may be a little too much for her hungover friend, Adrienne led Cameron over to the wall, leaning him against it carefully before hurrying over to Daniel’s side.  

“Is everything going ok?” she asked but before Daniel could answer her Ishta was shouting in her direction.  

“AdrienneRowan, come.  We are in need of your assistance,” Ishta did not make eye contact with Adrienne, or any of the men she was standing with for that matter, her gaze locked on Kar’yn convulsing abdomen.  Adrienne looked back to Daniel confused and worried. 

“It appears that all of the women participate in the delivery and we chant. Are you alright with this?” Daniel asked, whispering the last question, making sure Adrienne was up to the challenge.  She nodded in agreement, her face taking on the stoic quality it did when there was a task to be accomplished. 

“No, that’s fine, it’s only blood, I’m just a little surprised,” Adrienne looked back at Sam, rocking and soothing the poor young woman, seeming to know what she was doing for someone who according to Daniel had yet to experience a Jaffa birth herself. She hadn’t lied to Daniel,  Adrienne was used to gross things, after dealing with her father for years, she just hadn’t expected that at 5:30 a.m. she would be helping deliver a baby, in a room with an audience and zero medical equipment.  It looked as though Daniel was reading her mind, scanning the room himself for something more sanitary than a mat and some bare hands, but she knew there was nothing, they were going to have to accept and do this their way. Adrienne touched him lightly on the shoulder in an effort to assure him and walked over to the women, where Ishta, finally making eye contact with  the normally feisty cajun woman, pointed to their patient, beginning immediately to bark orders. 

“I am pulling, you and SamanthaONeill will need to allow her to push her feet against you,” she commanded with authority.  Adrienne knelt at Kar’yn’s right foot, taking it into her hands and resting it against her thigh.  There was another contractions, the poor woman’s body convulsing, and Kar’yn let out a scream, pushing forcefully against Sam and Adrienne while Ishta was reaching between her legs, searching for any sign of the baby. Surprised by the small women’s strength, Adrienne tried to brace herself a bit better, Kar’yn pushing much harder than expected. She could hear the men chanting as she held on, Daniel’s voice almost as loud as Teal’c’s, and remarkably it had an almost soothing effect on her, making her question whether it really was a prayer to whatever gods that they may still believe in or whether it was just designed to calm the mother, or perhaps even the crowd. In an instant, almost as quickly as it started, Kar’yn relaxed and the contraction was over.  Eerily calm, Ishta looked over at Sam, not removing her hands from under the folds on thin linen.  

“It is soon; I feel the baby,” she stated. Taking a break herself, the beautiful Jaffa woman slung her long blond hair over her shoulder and signaled that both Adrienne and Sam could rest, for the time being, Sam resuming rubbing Kar’yn’s leg lightly while Adrienne sat back on her heels. She looked up to discover that the men had taken a seated position, one in which they appeared to be preparing to Kelnareen with Jack, in particular, looking rather uncomfortable.  Before Adrienne could make eye contact with Daniel, both to check on him and let him know she was alright, Kar’yn shouted out again, her screams ratcheted through Adrienne’s skull. Squinting to force away the piercing sound, Adrienne got to her knees as Sam was doing the same to brace themselves as Kar’yn began pushing once more.  Ishta reached out and then threw her head back, wailing like a mad woman.

“The head comes!!” she shouted, more like a war cry than an annoucement of birth, and her cries were soon drowned out as Teal’c and Ry’ac both began to chant more furiously, Daniel joining them once he was able to join into the rhythm of their song. Glancing over at one another in a complete state of confusion, Jack and Cam were trying to figure out what to do but that didn’t seem to matter, the baby was coming, right now.  Ishta looked up at Kar’yn, severity in her glance, glaring at the young Jaffa, who was screaming and sweating and holding onto to Ry’ac for dear life.  

“Push Kar’yn,” she ordered.  Kar’yn grunted and threw back her head, screaming and pushing, her shrieks so loud one could almost feels the walls shaking all around them. There was power in not only her screams, but in her petite frame as well, Sam and Adrienne being forced to near standing to provide a counter to Kar’yn’s pushing, during which Teal’c and company just continued chanting. Ishta was screaming, swearing in Go’ould, and Adrienne could tell something was wrong as the warrior woman stopped her chanting and called for Teal’c to come and assist her in the delivery, at least that was what Adrienne gathered to the best of her translation ability. Rising, and continuing the chanting, Teal’c grabbed Cam from the wall to accompany him,  pushing Sam out of the way and motioning for Cameron to take Adrienne’s place at Kar’yn’s left foot.  Adrienne scooted over, trying to get out of the way, but felt herself being pulled back in the direction of the birth as Ishta was dragging Adrienne to her side.  

“The child is great, my friends, I need your help,” Ishta stated, calmer than before, though her eyes conveyed some fear that no amount of training could hide.  Sam and Adrienne looked at each other, understanding that Ishta needing help pulling the child through and together reached underneath the fabric and in between the legs of the weak and whimpering woman, feeling for child.  Surprisingly, Sam pulled her hands back as soon as she came in contact with flesh, having discovered her limit in this but Adrienne had dealt with far worse in cancer ward after cancer ward with her father. This was life, while Adrienne was used to death, and despite the blood and gore she felt oozing around her fingers, she welcomed the sensation of helping to bring good into the world. Ishta smiled in approval, seeing that Adrienne was up to the taks, and reached inside the smaller woman’s body the best she could, ordering Kar’yn to push once more.  And then she felt it, Adrienne felt warm, wet skin in her palms, a shoulder, a tiny armpit and life.  

“Push!!” Adrienne shouted, excited, her screams echoing over the rest of the room, getting lost in the moment and pulling the baby frantically toward her. There was more yelling, Ishta, ordering in Go’ould that Kar’yn push and Adrienne felt pressure, a shift in the child as she pulled and suddenly, there was nothing pushing against Adrienne, she was free, falling backward, the child slipping from her grasp. Shoved aside, Adrienne fell onto her butt, crab-walking out of the way as the Jaffa woman reached out, taking the baby fully into her hands.  Ry’ac was suddenly behind her, a huge knife in hand, reaching for the cord, his chanting different this time and his face that of a proud papa. Relief washed over her, it was done, and as Adrienne went to stand, her feet flew out from under her, sending her cascading into another pile of warmth, which upon investigation wasn’t afterbirth, or another fluid, it was vomit. Quickly examining herself, she saw that her jeans were covered in blood and amniotic fluid, as were her hands and the puke, which she quickly ascertained had come from Cameron, who she could see throwing up in the corner, was on the seat of her pants and the bottom of her shirt.  She wanted to scream, throughly disgusted by the entire scene, when she felt hands under her arms and with a quick glance saw that Daniel and Jack pulling her upright.  

“Come on Dr. Perky,” Jack said, “Out of the way.”  Once she was on her feet, he relinquished her to Daniel and went to check on his wife, who was safely out of the way of gore.  Adrienne looked back over just in time to see Ishta delivering the afterbirth, and that was it, it was too much, she had reached her limit.  Trying not to be ill herself, she looked over at Daniel, her eyes pleading for reprieve.

“We are officially at the point where I’m not ok, so can you tell me where the bathroom is?” she pleaded. Daniel nodded quickly in agreement.

“I am more than happy to help you out.  This is a bit much for me too,” he replied, and took her by the arm, leading her from the room. He showed her the way, happy to be out of the room and the scene unfolding, weaving through the house, the maze-like pattern of interconnected rooms and slight hallways, the house that was once Teal’c’s when he was first prime, and into the bathing area at the back of the domicile. 

The bathroom was very similar to an ancient Egyptian bath, a large pool with fountains in the center.  The sides of the room were flanked with golden tables, home to various perfumes, soaps and make-up, a spread so lavish Adrienne thought she was in a burial chamber or a temple to the gods. Over to one side there was a spigot which Adrienne hoped worked like a shower, which considering the rest of Go’ould technology, you would think they could at least create a shower like bathing system. Unsure, she looked back at Daniel for help, since he was still standing there for some reason, presumably to offer assistance.   

“Does this work like I think it does?” she asked, unsure but hopeful.  Nodding, he knelt down on his knees and leaned over the tub, turning a very ornate knob, sitting back on his knees. Much to her relief, water came shooting out all around it, turning the pool into a shower bath combination of cycling water rather than a stagnant pool, warm she could tell with a touch, inviting her aching and filthy body to relax and enter. Which brought her to her next problem. 

“Thanks, uh, can you find me some clothes Indy, please?” she asked.  Daniel nodded, glad that she did not ask him to help remove the disgusting articles from her body, the smell was just awful and he couldn’t image having to help her peel them off of her skin, the thought made his skin crawl. 

“Of course, I saw the room that Teal’c uses when he stays on Chulac, he’s bound to have something Earth-like in there. T-shirt and drawstring shorts if I can find them?” he asked, starting for the door and to his escape, planning on locking it behind him, just in case her other good buddy decided to check in on her.  She nodded appreciatively. 

“You’re my hero,” she said and turned her back to begin peeling off the very disgusting jeans that she was wearing.  From behind as he stepped through the doorway, Daniel heard a zip and then the wet suction of moist denim from skin, making his stomach turn.  It was too damn early for this, he thought, pulling the door closed behind him.

Jack caught Daniel in Teal’c’s room as he dug through a large trunk of assorted garments, tossing robes and shirts behind him.  Glad to have finally found his old friend, Jack walked right up behind him, tapping him on the shoulder. 

“There you are,  I’ve been hunting around this damn maze looking for you, well, you and your shadow. It’s a girl by the way, not sure if Dr. Perky caught that before she went ass first into Cam’s dinner,” Jack said, Daniel not bothering to look back as he dug deeper into the trunk. 

“That’s great. Have they picked a name yet?” Daniel asked, finally finding an SG t-shirt, albeit too large for Adrienne, amidst the Jaffa robes.  Maybe, she can do something with this, he thought, and pulled that out, tossing it aside.  

“No, apparently the kid goes without a name for three months or some damn nonsense and then he’s going to drag us all back here for more chanting,” Jack answered, pausing to watch Daniel root around in Tealc’s things, adding, “and what are you doing anyway?” Daniel didn’t stop his search, but did cock his head slightly to answer Jack, somewhat acknowledging his rudely stated question. 

“I’m trying to find Adrienne some clothes. She’s bathing now to get off everything she managed to get on herself in the past few hours,” Daniel answered matter of factly, as if getting his assistant clean clothes was a normal occurrence.  Smiling slyly, Jack knelt down beside him, glancing over his shoulder to make sure they were alone.  

“And you are going to invite yourself into that tub, aren’t you?” Jack asked him quietly.  Daniel glared at him, knowing he should have expected the comment, given the circumstances, and rolling his eyes. 

“Give it up Jack, she’s my assistant,” Daniel replied, finally deciding on a large purple wrap that Adrienne could probably fold into some kind of skirt, tossing it over his shoulder and standing, closing the trunk.  Shaking his head, Jack stood as well. 

“Come on Daniel, really? You can’t be telling me that you haven’t thought of it. For crying out loud, you’re with her almost ever damn second of the day, and you aren’t trying to figure what it would take? Honestly?” Jack asked, crossing his arms. Pushing past, Daniel walked over to where he has thrown the t-shirt over onto the bed, adding that to the wrap and making his way for the door, stopping only to answer Jack. 

“Jack, she’s my assistant. And my friend. That’s as far as it goes. That is as far as it will go. Now, I need to get these to get back to her before she starts wandering around here and gets herself lost,” Daniel explained, turning for the door.  

“Uh huh, and that’s why we are getting clean clothes for her and drawing her a bath, after waking up in the bed with her. You keep telling yourself that Daniel, let’s see how this all plays out,” Jack taunted and left the room, on his way to the excitement. Rolling his eyes, Daniel found his way back to the bathroom, knocking lightly on the door when he arrived. 

“It’s open,” he heard her voice from the other side, reaching for the knob to find it was indeed unlocked.  He pushed the door open, entering the bathroom, and there she was, tightly wrapped in a towel of sorts, sitting patiently waiting for him on a large stone bench. She looked much better, color back in her face and smiling again, the look he was used to.  

“Huge t-shirt and some kind of wrap, best I could do,” he stepped forward, handing his find over to her, apologizing. Taking them, she held each piece out, determining what would work, cocking her head over to a pile on the floor.  

“Thanks; I think I’m gonna burn those,” she indicated, making a disgusted face of her own. Daniel laughed but didn’t volunteer to pick them up, she could burn those all by herself. Scrunching up her face again, playfully this time, she stood to get dressed, reaching to undo the towel. Panicking, he started to leave but she motioned for him to stop, shaking her head at the misunderstanding.  

“Sorry Indy, just turn around, don’t leave, it took so many turns to get here I’m not sure if I can find my way back,” she said, pausing the removal of her towel, forgetting herself for a moment.  Friend or not Ad, you need to remember he is male, she scolded herself for acting before thinking.  

“Yeah, it’s a lot like a maze, almost as if they took a three story house and just crammed it all into one floor,” Daniel replied, relieved that was the only reason she wanted him to stay and turned around as she requested.   Clear from his line of sight, Adrienne tossed the towel onto the bench, starting with the t-shirt, which, as expected fit her like a dress, a too short dress, which considering that she almost sent Daniel into the stratosphere a moment ago, she didn’t think that would be a wise selection. She took it off and tossed it aside for the time being, hoping to make a sarong type dress out of the large piece of fabric he had brought her as well. She knelt onto the cold tile and began to fold.  

“It is so big because he was first prime?” she asked, curious as to how he had obtained such a large home and hoping to take Daniel’s clearly nervous mind off of what was happening behind him. It worked, he stopped shoving his hands nervously into his pockets to shrug slightly before answering. 

“I believe so. Actually, no, I am certain that when I met his ex wife she said just that,” Daniel answered.  

“So, she’s not dead?” Adrienne inquired further, finding the shaped she wanted and folding furiously. 

“No, she is, they were no longer together by that time. It still upset him though,” Daniel answered, not wanting to give up too much of Teal’c’s personal information; it was one thing to spill his own guts to Adrienne, it was quite another to spill someone else’s. 

“I’m good,” he heard her say and turned back around hoping she really was and there Adrienne stood, wearing the large purple wrap as a dress, wrapped once around her middle and tied behind her neck.  Her hair was still wet and she had no make-up on, but she was still absolutely lovely.  Stop it, he told himself, what in the hell in wrong with you? 

“Sorry to ask, that was probably nosy,” she continued, sensing his tone, “Teal’c is such a great person but he keeps a lot to himself. Like someone else I know,” she added the last part looking at Daniel. She leaned down to collect the t-shirt, handing it back to him walking over to the pile of mess, kneeling to carefully wrap her dirty clothes into the cleaner parts.  

“I’m not that closed, anymore” he protested a bit, knowing she was right.  In fact, she was the only person he had really talked to in years, and even now he still didn’t tell her everything, there were just some things that good friend or not were none of her business, or anyone else’s. And then there were somethings that he never wanted to speak of again. Those, he just pushed aside, forcing his gaze back at his assistant. 

“Uh huh, we’ll see how it goes down next time we play 20Q.  Now shug, can you show me to the burn pile, please,” she teased, lifting the wad of clothing closer to his nose. The odor of bodily fluids hit him like a slap n the face, and he reached to cover his nose, turning his head upward and pushing the pile away.  In an effort to avoid helping her any longer, at least in dealing with that lovely mess of fabric, he had started to walk away when Adrienne grabbed his arm.  

“Daniel, listen, we’re pretty good friends now right?” she asked, her expression serious, her beautiful dark eyes full of worry. They really were, he thought, she was now a member of the team and they did spend a good amount of their free time together. They talked and he had told her things that he told no one else before and was certain she had done the same.  They really had gotten close lately, closer than he ever thought was possible, not only with her, but with anyone for that matter. 

“Yeah, we are. What’s wrong?” he asked, reading the concern in her face. 

“I just need you to promise me something.  If we are still friends when, or if, dear God if, I ever marry someone and decide to have a kid, and again this is a huge if, please, please, please make sure it is nothing like that.  No matter who I marry, even if I fall in love with some god damn space prince, ok?  The birth of my child should be a private thing between my husband and I, not a chanting gore fest with our entire friend circle.  Promise me?” she inquired sincerely, but Daniel was already laughing about halfway through her speech. Frustrated that her request had not been taken seriously, Adrienne made a face at him.  

“What’s so funny?” she hissed, not thinking her concerns were something to be laughed at.  Daniel just laughed harder, bringing his hand to his face.

“You,” he started in between gasps for air, “you as someone’s parent.” Saying it out loud made him laugh even harder. 

“I hate you Daniel Anthony,”  she spat and stormed out of the room, Daniel following close behind her, still laughing. When they got back to the ceremonial room Sam was outside, waiting for them, her finger to her lips indicating they stay quiet.  

“She’s asleep and Teal’c and Ishta are preparing some other ceremony for Ry’ac, her and the baby.  Jack says we can go home,” she said, looking at the clothes in Adrienne’s hand, reaching out and taking them without question.  

“I’ll get these washed on base.  Your jeans cost too much to trash them,” Sam said smiling, remembering the shopping trips Adrienne had made with her and Vala.  Thankful, Adrienne nodded and let go of the clothes, yet feeling bad with someone as high ranking as Sam taking her dirty laundry, but maybe that was part of being a member of the team. Together, in the direction of the rising sun and the Stargate in the distance, they started the walk back.

“The baby looks alright?” Daniel asked Sam once they were out of the earshot of the house, not wanting to cause anyone any undue alarm.   

“Yes, according to Ishta, but I think I’m going to send Carolyn over just to check, just in case.  It’s a new era for the Jaffa, one in which their parents do not carry symbiotes.  We’ll need to keep an eye on her,” Sam said as she continued her stride.  Adrienne was quiet for a bit, not knowing enough about childbirth or new babies, until she had an idea, causing her to stop dead in her tracks.   

“Sam, you have your watch?” she asked, her eyes widening in excitement. 

“Of course, it’s 9 am our time, why?” she answered.  Adrienne just smiled and started running for the gate.  

“Ad, where are you going?” Daniel yelled after her, puzzled by her mad sprint. 

“To the mall!!” she shouted behind, racing ahead to the DHD.

********

Teal’c returned home three days later, just as he had assured Jack, calling his friend down to his quarters to explain his role in the naming ceremony. Daniel couldn’t wait to hear what that entailed, nor could he wait to accompany Jack to film the entire ordeal. Looking up from his computer, he saw Adrienne out of the corner of his eye, standing on the center table, hanging a large banner across the center of the room. 

“Adrienne this is not low key,” Daniel said, earning him a scowl and some muttered Cajun swears. 

“Yes it is.  I changed it from the mess didn’t I? And besides, aren’t you the one telling me all of the time that Teal’c and Vala and Dex like these little earth experiences.  Well, a baby shower is an earth experience,” Adrienne pinned the corner to the ceiling tile, cutting her eyes down at him a second time.  

“I thought baby showers were for the mother?” Daniel asked, standing and walking over to the small white plastic card table Adrienne had brought from her apartment, decorated with a rather large spread of food. Sensing his motion, Adrienne shot him a glance just as he hand reach out for the plate of cookies, cookies he knew she bought from the amazing bakery down the street from her place. 

“Touch those and die,” she said and without a beat defended her party, “and one Kar’yn cannot leave because of THEIR traditions and two, you didn’t grow up in New Orleans; we do things a bit different there, ya know?” 

Daniel smiled, mostly at her pronunciation of New Orleans, which was more like Nahlens, but also at her insistence for normalcy. Over the years they had all gotten so used to the insane that sometimes they forgot the little things, birthdays, anniversaries, but Adrienne refused to.  In fact, she kept a sheet of paper taped behind her desk with everyone’s birthday listed, even Jack’s.  In fact, she had even given Vala a birthday, Halloween as a cruel joke, shocked that she didn’t have one she remembered.  

“Do you need any help?” he asked, letting her have her fun. She hopped down from the table and stood back to examine at the room, peeking back over her shoulder at Daniel.

“Nope, I’ve got it Indy!” she replied, dancing past him to the phone.

“Cam, yeah, it’s ready.  See you in five,” Adrienne hung up smiling, scanning the room one final time.  Seeing his chance, Daniel walked over casually to the table, reaching slowly to steal a cookie. Scowling, Adrienne smacked his hand.    

Teal’c wasn’t sure what AdrienneRowan and DanielJackson could possibly need him for in the lab, since both of them could read Go’ould and AdrienneRowan was not likely to summon him to the lab; she would usually just hunt around for the answers that she wanted and track him down where ever he was. However, ColonelMitchell was quite insistent that he come, so he put down his training equipment and followed, hoping there was nothing amiss.   

When they arrived, Teal’c noted that door to the lab was closed, which was also strange, since DanielJackson always made a point to leave it open. ColonelMitchell did not seem to notice this however, stepping forward to knock and Teal’c cocked his head at his friend, looking at him strangely, wondering why he wasn’t just entering the lab like normal.  Without a word from the other side, the door opened slowly. 

The first thing Teal’c noticed was the huge banner hanging across lab, plastered with an image of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader that read “Luke, I am your grandfather,” and a smaller banner attached to the bottom which said “Congrats!”  Standing behind the center table and another white table, both of which were covered in earth party food were SamantaONeill, JackONeill, DanielJackson and AdrienneRowan, a box in her hands, who ran up and hugged him tightly. 

“Congrats grandps!” she declated as she pulled back, handing him the box.  Puzzled by the gesture, the big warrior carefully opened the box, keenly aware that every eye in the room was watching, and setting the lid on the table, reaching slowly inside, past piles of thin pink colored paper until he reached a wad of fabric.  Frowning, he pulled out the mass of cloth, which upon careful examination seemed to be Taur’i baby clothes, very familar looking Taur’i baby clothes.  Coming to the realization as to what was in his hands, he looked up again at AdrienneRowan, who was nearly bursting with excitement.  

“AdrienneRowan, this resembles the dress that PrincessLeia wore in Star Wars,” he stated plainly.  

“Yes!! Keep digging!! There is one for every outfit that Carrie Fisher wore in the entire series!! Except for slave Leia; Daniel didn’t think that was appropriate,” Adrienne explained, pointing cheerfully inside the box, hoping that Teal’c understood this was a group gift.  Confused, Jack leaned over to Daniel.  

“This is what we chipped in for? For your girlfriend to buy the kid a geek wardrobe?” but Sam elbowed him before Daniel could answer, directing the rest of SG-1 over to the party. 

*********

There was a knock at the door to Daniel’s apartment, surprising him as he placed his finger inside the spine of his book. He wasn’t expecting anyone, but he had a feeling as to who was on the other side, the only person would would come over, unannounced, this late in the evening.  Tucking the book over onto the side table, he stood and made his way to the door, opening it and sure enough, there was Adrienne, take out in hand.  

“Hi,” he said and didn’t invite her in, just stepped back.  

“I need you, now,” she replied.  Daniel shut the door confused, his heart racing at little at her words and insistence, yet, rather than throw herself at him, or near him for that matter, she handed him her cell phone and took the food to the table, talking back at him over her shoulder. 

“If Cam calls, just tell him you had to have me over to work on something. Please,” she begged from the table as she sat on the sofa, opening the lid to the pizza box, grabbing herself a slice.  Laughing, Daniel tossed her phone onto his coffee table, shutting the front door behind him. 

“Why?”  Daniel had to hear this one.  Here was Adrienne, avoiding Cameron, her good buddy who knew his way around her apartment, by hiding at his. Removing the pizza from its advance to her mouth, she made a face, sighing and slouching further into his couch. 

“He wanted to take me out line-dancing.  I would rather rip out my eyeballs,” she said as he walked to join her, plopping down beside her on the sofa. 

“So what exactly makes you want to rip out your eyes, going out with Cam or the line-dancing?” Daniel asked, curious as to her answer. 

“I’m not discussing this with you smart ass, just be thankful I brought junk food with me, ok?” she pointed back to the boxes, stuffing the slice into her face. I am, he thought to himself as he reached for some pizza himself, I am.