Title: Transfixion

Author: Kate Lesky

Email: mackoc@rpi.edu

Rating: G

Summary: A moment, caught off guard.

Spoilers: none, but Daniel is in it.

Archive: SJD yes, my own site (katelesky.com)

Status: complete

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and places are the property of MGM, World Gekko Corp and Double Secret Productions. This piece of fan fiction was created for entertainment not monetary purposes and no infringement on copyrights or trademarks was intended. Previously unrecognized characters and places, and this story, are copyrighted to the author. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Author's Notes: I've been lurking for a while, but this is the first Stargate fic I've posted (I've got some unposted, and some posted in other fandoms), so please let me know what you think. Thanks to my beta, Di.

* * *

Samantha Carter sits hunched over the bench in her lab, totally engrossed with delicate work on some gadget. It is naquada-grey and intricately carved, with small colored lights that flash dimly and irregularly. She has tools, notebooks, and a detailed diagram of a device spread out around her, having been at work quite some time.

Colonel O'Neill is sitting quietly at the other end of the bench, watching her without moving. He has his elbow on the table and chin in hand, smiling a calm smile.

Sam has not looked up, and Jack has not moved for almost half an hour now. He is silent, but she mumbles occasional technical terms and curses to herself.

Suddenly someone knocks on the cracked-open door, and Daniel opens it and sticks his head in. He is slightly out of breath, as if he has been going down the corridors a bit too fast.

"Uh, Jack? Sam? You guys coming?"

Two heads jerk up.

"Huh?" from Jack, with a look of confusion, then minor panic. These are immediately erased when Sam looks up at the same time as Jack and they see each other before they see Daniel or anything else. The two are immediately transfixed, and even Daniel stands mesmerized in the doorway, watching this pas de deux.

"Have you been watching me again?" she asks quietly, smiling despite her embarrassment.

"Maybe." He hides his nervous hands under the table and looks down, away from her sparkling eyes, trying to hide his guilty smile.

He finally glances up to find a full-watt smile being bestowed upon him, and returns one with equal ardor.

They are locked onto each other, grins unrelenting, unaware of anything else. Finally Daniel, having stood uncomfortably in the doorway too long, clears his throat, and the officers' grins lessen to gentler smiles.

"Uh, Jack, didn't Hammond send you to tell Sam about the meeting?"

Jack is a bit flustered, but doesn't break his gaze. "Carter, we have a briefing at 1530."

"Which was five minutes ago," reminds Daniel.

"Uh, yeah, of course," returns Jack, trying to shift back into his sarcastic mode. "Which means Hammond is gonna be waiting for us, right, Daniel?"

"Yeah, since he sent you to find her over half an hour ago now," Daniel replies, slightly annoyed.

Sam raises a shocked eyebrow. "You've been staring at me that long? I didn't even notice you come in!"

"I didn't want to bother you?" He remembers the whole point of his errand. Sam, still smiling, shakes her head.

"Guys, we really do have to go before Hammond gets any more pissed," Daniel replies, glancing at his watch.

They file out of the lab, and by the time Sam has turned off the lights and locked the door, the men are halfway down the hallway. She overhears Daniel make an offhanded comment to Jack: "I wonder if after this little stunt Hammond will still think the thing with you two is cute?"

And Jack's shocked, high-pitched reply: "The thing -- he thinks we're CUTE?!"

* * *

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