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 Karma

Chapter 2

The last couple of days had been monotonous to say the least. Learning about the Kootenay, their rituals, and trying to figure out the motivations of Kaitsenko and his dealings with the Goa’uld was absolutely mind numbing. Beyond the initial information they had been given, updates from the Tok’ra were sporadic at best. They had pretty much reached the extent of their research by late that afternoon.

Casey stood up and stretched. "Please tell me that’s all we have."

Jessica dropped her pencil onto the desk. "That’s it. Until we get more from Jacob, there’s not much else to do."

"You got anything planned for this evening?"

"Are you kidding? I’ve lived here the last three days. I’m beginning to wonder if there’s life outside this office."

Casey grinned. "Why don’t we hit that new place down at Tejon and Pikes Peak Avenue? They’re supposed to have some pretty good food."

Jessie realized she was hungry, and a change of scenery sounded good. "Okay, but I’ve got to go home and get cleaned up first."

"You want me to pick you up? It’s on my way over there."

"Sure, if you don’t mind."

"I’ll see if Sam wants to meet up with us."

Looking at her watch, Jessie decided to call it a day; there really wasn’t anything else to do at the moment. The trip to her house took about fifteen minutes. She checked her mail, took a quick shower, then changed into a pair of blue jeans, boots, and a blue silk sweater. Casey pulled into the drive a half hour later and they headed on over to Quinn’s, a modern tavern where you could get a good meal, a good drink and dance the night away. It had opened a few months ago and quickly became a favorite with many from the SGC.

They picked out a curved booth in the corner, and Jessie left Casey perusing the menu while she made a quick run to the ladies room. She was just finishing up in the stall when she heard the outer door open and close.

"So what are you planning on doing this weekend, Callie?"

"I think I’m going to finally give in to Mitchell."

Jessie swallowed hard as she listened to the feminine laughter, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach.

"Really?"

"Yeah. He’s been chasing me forever. I suppose I’ve made him wait long enough."

"I tell you, you’re more woman than me. There’s no way in hell I could ever say no to him if he came on to me."

Jessie heard the dramatic sigh. "You should have seen the way he looked at me today, like a starving man looking at a steak. The poor boy probably hasn’t been laid properly in ages."

"And you’re going to change that?" Another giggle.

"Oh yeah. By the time I’m through with him, he’ll be following me around like a little puppy."

Jessie made sure she had a neutral expression on her face when she came out of the stall. She did a quick assessment of the two women as she walked to the sink to wash her hands.

"You’ll have to let me know how it goes," the other woman replied conspiratorially.

Jessie recognized the woman who had her sights set on Mitchell. She was one of the physiotherapists at the base. The other woman was a tech who worked in the same area. Jessie washed her hands, dried them and then left without acknowledging the women.

By the time Jessie made it back to the table Sam had joined them, and the waitress had arrived to take their order.

"I think I’m going to have a margarita," Casey said, setting her menu down.

"I’ll have a whiskey and Coke."

"Well or premium?" the waitress asked.

"Jameson," Jessie replied.

"I’ll have a Guinness," Sam said.

"Would you like to order some appetizers, or an entrée?"

After a short discussion Casey said, "We’ll just go with a large order of nachos for right now."

Once the waitress was out of earshot, Sam leaned in. "You are not going to believe what happened right before I left the base."

"What?"

"A memo from the President was posted. It said after careful consideration of the type of work SGC does, and the difficulties it imposes on the personal relationships due to security clearances, he has decided to lift the non-fraternization order for the SGC."

Jessie looked at Sam. "Oh my God—he did it!" At Casey’s puzzled look, Jessie continued. "Brojorn. He told us when we were on Nanda that he was going to get rid of the non-frat order." She gave a wry grin. "He didn’t think too highly of it."

"That’s fantastic!" Casey exclaimed. She turned to Sam. "You and Jack…"

Sam hushed her friend. "Let’s keep it between ourselves, girlfriend! At least, for now," she said, a grin spreading across her face.

Casey reached across the table, grasping Sam’s hands in hers. "I knew things would work out one way or another." Casey looked around the room. "Have you talked to Jack since this came out?"

"No, not yet."

"Well, the guys will be stopping by in a little while. Daniel had a couple of errands to run, and then they were going to head on over."

Jessie looked over at Casey. "Daniel and Jack?"

"And Cam." Casey noted the change in Jessie’s manner, her eyes darting around the room, almost as if she was plotting her escape. "Jessie?"

"Ummm?"

"You all right?’

"Yeah, I’m fine."

"Have you and Cam had a chance to talk since you got back from Nanda?"

"There’s nothing to talk about. What happened there was Brojorn’s doing."

Casey and Sam exchanged looks. The waitress arrived with their drinks, so they waited for her to leave before saying anything.

"Jessie, I know this isn’t any of our business or anything, but Cam didn’t…he treated you okay, didn’t he?"

They watched the blush that flushed her cheeks. "He didn’t, I mean he did…it was fine. He was very considerate. There just isn’t anything more than that. Besides, he’s interested in someone else."

Casey’s eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, he’s interested in someone else? He told you that?"

Jessie was smart enough to realize that Cam was in mortal danger going by the expression on Casey’s face. "No, no. He didn’t say anything like that. When I was in the bathroom, a couple of women came in, and they were talking about him."

"What did they say?"

"Apparently Cam’s been interested in one of them for a while, and she’s decided to ‘give in’."

Sam looked around. "Is she still here?"

Jessie scanned the room. "Over there, by the pool tables. The shorter one, with hair down to her waist."

Sam spied whom she was talking about. "Callie Jones? That’s a bunch of bullshit!" Sam turned back to the table. "There’s one word to describe her, and that’s psychotic."

"Actually, I could think of a few other words to describe her," Casey muttered.

"She’s got to be the most passive/aggressive bitch I’ve ever run across. All sweet, poor-little-me to your face, and a raving lunatic behind your back." Sam glanced back at Callie. "Believe me, Jessie. I know Cam. He’d rather cut his dick off than stick it in that one."

The waitress came back carrying a platter of nachos and three small plates. They took a moment to serve themselves before continuing their conversation. Casey licked a bit of guacamole from her fingers. "You know Jessie, I’m a pretty good judge of character. I think you and Cam would make a great couple."

"So do I," Sam added before taking a bite from the nachos.

"I just don’t see why he’d be interested in me." Both Casey and Sam looked at her like she had grown two heads. "What? I’m a bookworm, a loner. I can spend hours at a time in the middle of dust-covered ruins, or deciphering long-forgotten languages. You remember how it was in high school and college? Cam more than likely was a jock. Nerds and jocks don’t mix. It’s the cheerleader who ends up with the captain of the football team."

Casey shook her head. "I’m surprised at you, Jessica Watson. I wouldn’t have thought you’d buy into the stereotypes."

"I’m just stating the facts. Guys like Cam end up with someone gorgeous and outgoing. They don’t end up with someone like me."

Anything further they would have said ended up being cut off for the time being. The main door opened, and in walked Daniel, Jack and Cam.

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