Epilogue

Jack and I get plenty of strange, curious stares as we walk into the base. I tell myself it's because Jack was three yesterday. I tell myself it's because I stay on base most nights anymore. I tell myself it's because of the Chihuahua that Jack flat out ordered me to carry since he's refusing to admit it's his.

I mean, they aren't staring because Jack and I arrived together this morning. They aren't staring because someone saw that one last kiss Jack couldn't resist in the truck. They aren't staring because Jack and I have a distinctly happy glow about us. They can't possibly know. Can they?

We take our typical places at the conference table next to each other. Daniel and Janet are already there. Both of them look particularly angry - undoubtedly because of my little disappearing act. Daniel has more burn cream smeared on his face, which only make me happier that I ditched last night. Janet looks angrier than I've ever seen here. I scoot my chair closer to Jack's, knowing he'll protect me - or at least accept the blame. I set Thor on the table, hoping his adorable face will deflect some of the anger. If nothing else, Thor's presence will distract the attention from me.

Daniel takes the bait and I smirk. "What is that?"

Jack's keeping a straight face, although I don't know how. "Daniel, that's a dog."

Daniel looks puzzled, as though he was afraid of that exact answer. "Why is it here?"

Jack glances at me and grins, but the grin is gone when he looks back at Daniel. "There's a bit of a custody dispute that needs to be resolved."

I can't resist and I'm pretty sure that was the point of his comment. "There's no custody dispute. He's yours."

"You bought him."

"You were having a temper tantrum."

"I'll have another one if you try to make me keep that rat."

Daniel joins in, probably quite thoroughly enjoying our exchange. "I thought it was a dog."

General Hammond comes in, taking his place at the head of the table and somehow completely missing the dog. Not that Thor really stands out amid the mugs and books and such on the surface. He is the same color and rather small. Hammond's glance immediately rivets on Jack. "Glad you're feeling more like yourself, Colonel."

"Yes, sir, so am I." Jack gives no indication that he remembers anything, saving both of us the embarrassment. "I can only hope I was less troublesome than Carter was."

His attempt to embarrass me falls flat. See, after yesterday, I'm an old pro at being publicly humiliated. The joke doesn't even make me blush.

The general forces a tight smile. "That's debatable. You may have caused less trouble, but you also caused more headaches.

Jack continues with the dumb act, despite my repeated attempts to silence him by kicking him under the table. "Headaches, sir?"

Hammond smiles and I think he's taking great pride in mortifying Jack. "You screamed continuously for the major every time she was out of your sight."

Apparently Jack's not immune to humiliation because his cheeks flame red. I grin, but I try to fight it back. There's no use in calling attention to myself. Jack ducks his face down, forfeiting any further argument.

Hammond smiles and looks at the papers in his hands. "First things first. Would someone like to tell me why there's a dog in here?"

"It's his." My hand immediately points at Jack.

So much for loyalty. Jack's pointing right back at me.

Teal'c, who has been silent until this point, leans forward, closely inspecting Thor. Thor, pathetic, scaredy-cat that he is, looks at Teal'c and licks his nose. Teal'c continues to stare at him. "What is this creature's name?"

Jack and I look at each other and shrug. Thor is terrified of both of us and neither of us really wants to claim ownership, so it might be for the best that Thor and Teal'c bond. I smile at Teal'c. "That creature is named Thor."

Teal'c sits up immediately, nodding reverently at Thor. "I see the problems with your cloning technology have yet to be resolved."

Jack has to correct him because I'm too busy laughing at the fact that Jack is now the only one of the four of us who has not endeavored to converse with a dog. "T, she named him after Thor, but he's not actually Thor."

Teal'c nods before he leans forward again to inspect Thor. "Is this creature a dog or a rat?"

General Hammond clears his throat. "It is a dog, Teal'c. And if someone does not claim ownership right now, the dog is going to be sent to the pound."

Jack and I answer in unison. "Not it."

Teal'c turns to Daniel. "Is the pound an unfavorable location for a dog?" Daniel grimaces and glares at Jack and I. Both Teal'c and Daniel are obviously displeased at our irresponsible pet ownership. Teal'c reaches out, lifting the tiny dog in one of his massive hands. "This creature belongs to me, General Hammond. I will see to its care."

The meeting degenerates from there, despite the general's best efforts to keep us focused. Janet has very little to say - I'm pretty sure she's just there to let us know she's angry. Teal'c takes advantage of every lapse in conversation to inquire as to what caring for Thor will require. Daniel is obsessed with trying to figure out why the effects of the drug lasted so much longer on me. Jack and I try various reasons to get him to change the subject. We blame it on our relative sizes, differences in our metabolism, the amount of substance, even the number of years it had to erase.

But Daniel isn't dissuaded and eventually, Hammond remembers he never found out who was to blame for it.

Although we haven't discussed it, Jack shoots me a subtle glance that lets me know he's well aware of how it happened. But being the gentleman that he is, he takes the blame. "There was a little mix-up with my hot sauce. The containers looked the same."

The general stares at both of us for a good long time and I swear there's a twinkle in his eyes that reveals his observance of that happy glow Jack and I are sporting. But he nods, accepting the explanation and not venturing further.

Janet, who's spent all this time with her arms folded across her chest and glaring at us, suddenly pipes up. "What on Earth could have had you so distracted that you made a mistake like that, Colonel?" Her words sound innocent, but Jack and I know they're not.

He turns to me, panic written all over his face. "Actually, it was Carter who mixed it up."

My mouth drops open in shock. I can't believe he ratted on me. In a completely uncharacteristic move, I reach out and slug him in the arm.

It's the first time I've dared to do anything so unprofessional in public in all the years I've know him. His lips curve up in a hint of a smirk and he raises an eyebrow at me. "Yes, Carter, whatever could you have been thinking about to make you so distracted?"

All eyes in the room turn to me.

I feel it creeping up once and again and realize that I will never, ever be immune to embarrassment.

AN: Ok, guys, that's it! Thanks for reading. Comments are appreciated!