Heart's Desire (44 page)

“I'm sure that'll be soon, sir,” Sam said.

“I might take some vacation time,” Daniel said. Sam and Jack both looked at him as if that were a surprising thing for someone to do. Hammond personally felt it was about time. “Take a few days off. If this isn't a bad time.”

“I see no problem with that,” Hammond said. “Barring emergencies.”

“Yes, always barring those.”

“And do what?” Sam asked.

Daniel shrugged. “Whatever people on vacation do. It's been a while. I could work on that ‘ready for whatever we might run into' thing.”

“Then you won't be needing me, either,” Jack said to Hammond hopefully.

“Go on vacation, Jack,” Hammond said. “Again barring major threats to the safety of our planet.” It was probably better for the sake of everyone's peace and quiet to have Jack O'Neill on vacation rather than Jack O'Neill limping around the base finding things to complain about. Sam and Daniel were both better at occupying themselves productively yet quietly. “Major Carter, Teal'c, if you'd like to take some personal time as well…”

“I would appreciate the opportunity to visit my family,” Teal'c said.

“You should probably take it,” Hammond said. “It's not as if we get a lot of down time around here.”

“So I have seen,” Teal'c said.

“And you, Major?” Jack said.

“I'd actually prefer to go look at that glider,” Sam said. “Really. I swear.” That last seemed to be in response to Jack's look of definite skepticism.

“Whatever you want,” Hammond said.

“I'd like for there to be no major threats to the safety of our planet,” Jack said. “Can I put in for that?”

“I'm afraid I can't guarantee that one,” Hammond said. “Dismissed, people. Colonel, if I could have a moment of your time.”

Jack hung back as the others left. “Sir?”

“I'm sorry you didn't get your easy mission,” Hammond said. “If any of our teams deserve one right now, it's SG-1.”

“Maybe next time,” Jack said. “How about a planet full of nice tropical beaches?”

“Strategically important tropical beaches?”

“Well, that's the catch.” Jack smiled wryly, and then sobered. “Sir, my team can handle whatever they need to. Every one of them. They just need a break once in a while to get back to the top of their game.”

“So do we all,” Hammond said. “Let's see if we can give them one.”

Whatever Jack meant to reply was interrupted by the sound of the alarm klaxon sounding. “Unscheduled offworld activation! General Hammond to the control room!”

“Maybe starting tomorrow,” Jack said.

“That might be best,” Hammond said. “Let's go see what today has in store.”