SG1-16 Four Dragons Read Online Free

enlisted men will want to weigh you down with all sorts of ridiculous tasks.”
    “Surely you jest,” said Bra’tac.
    “Actually, I don’t.” O’Neill glanced behind him to where Sergeant Harriman now spoke with the young Lieutenant Simmons. “But seriously, T. Anyone tries anything stupid, tell them to come talk to me. That’ll keep them at bay.”
    “I shall,” promised Teal’c. Behind him the sound of determined boots entered the room. No doubt to take part in what was left of the celebratory feast. “Is there anything else?”
    “Yes, O’Neill,” said Bra’tac as he set down his fork, having finished his pie. “Will this new rank bring in turn new knowledge which might aid in the fight against the Goa’uld?”
    “Well, let me think…” O’Neill took another forkful of his cake and stared at it closely. “Might be a good idea to get you some training in oh, so outdated, yet still used, Morse code.”
    “Is this Morse code an ancient weapon of the Tau’ri?” asked Bra’tac.
    A hand swooped down between Teal’c and O’Neill. Daniel Jackson’s hand. He snatched up the coconut cake.
    “I wasn’t done eating that,” O’Neill said, his voice grim.
    “Oh, I think you were,” replied Daniel Jackson, his voice impatient. “At least, until you hear me out.”
    For a moment, Teal’c considered offering a napkin to Daniel Jackson in hopes of a distraction. But one look at his determined face — arms crossed, his stance firm — convinced Teal’c to belay the attempt. Meanwhile, O’Neill’s eyes had narrowed.
    Teal’c set down the napkin. Clearly, no distraction would halt an argument between his two team mates.
    * * *
    Daniel sank into the seat next to Master Bra’tac, Jack’s cake in his hand. Thanks to a head’s up from Sam, he knew what to expect if he just out and out asked to join the dig on P3Y-702. To buy time as he figured out a strategy, he nibbled at Jack’s cake.
    “Ah, Daniel,” Jack said. “What ‘cha doing?”
    “Eating cake.”
    “My cake, you mean.”
    “Not anymore,” said Daniel, swallowing the last bite.
    The infamous O’Neill stare down commenced.
    Obviously, if Daniel came right out and asked, Jack would say no. Daniel would argue back. The old Daniel would have stomped his feet. He would have begged. He would have prodded. He would have needled Jack until he finally gave up or walked out.
    If there was one thing Daniel had learned from facing death, losing a year of his life, and then suddenly appearing on a far off planet — in the nude, no less — it was that time was precious.
    Arguing with Jack would be wasted time. Wasted energy.
    A complete and utter failure.
    Spotting Sam over by the coffee urns, Daniel mimed wanting some and then waved her over. She shook her head, he pleaded with his eyes. Finally, she gave in, grabbed three cups and walked over.
    “Coffee, sir?”
    “Why thank you, Major.” Jack took the proffered cup, his eyes never straying. “At least someone respects me around here.”
    That was Daniel’s in. “Do you want another piece?”
    “I wanted the one you ate.”
    Daniel picked up the sole dessert plate left untouched. “How about Boston Cream Pie?”
    “That appears to be more a cake than a pie,” Master Bra’tac said, though Teal’c raised a hand in warning.
    Teal’c knew. He knew what Daniel was trying to do. God bless him, he was trying to keep Bra’tac — and himself — out of the line of fire.
    Jack, on the other hand, continued to stare Daniel down.
    Some things never changed.
    “How about you replace my cake?”
    Daniel leaned in, matching Jack stare for stare. “What if I said no?”
    Jack blinked. “Excuse me?”
    Score one. Daniel leaned back in his chair, “Not fun, is it?”
    “What the hell?” Jack glanced at Sam. Then Teal’c. Then back to Daniel. “Did you come back wrong or were you just always this dense and I somehow forgot?”
    Closer. Jack had to see his point. “Having someone say no to