As SG-1 traipsed down the ramp back home, not only was General Hammond there to greet them, but Dr. Fraiser as well.

 

Daniel, who was still hanging back, caught a look from the diminutive doctor that chilled his blood.  Had Sam contacted her from the planet?  If that was the case, he was in deep, deep shit.

 

“Welcome back SG-1.  I trust everything went well with the treaty… eventually?” Hammond asked with a twinkle in his eye.

 

“Just peachy, General, if I do say so myself.” O’Neill grinned smugly.

 

“Yes… I understand that you had to take over the negotiations,” Hammond remarked looking at the resident linguist with mock sternness.

 

“Minor hiccup, sir.  Nothing SG-1 couldn’t handle.”

 

“I see,” the general said, “report to your post-mission exams.  The briefing will be in one hour.”

 

As the team exited the gate room, Dr. Fraiser fell into step with Daniel.  He immediately tensed.  She didn’t say anything, just made sure he was aware of her presence.  When they got to the infirmary, Janet caught Daniel’s arm and led him to an isolation room.  When he looked back to his teammates, they all had big grins plastered on their faces.  He knew he was in for it when he noticed that even Teal’c was grinning.

 

Once the door was closed and Janet turned on him, Daniel held up his hands in supplication.

 

“Before you ream me out, Janet, I’m sorry.  I’m a coward and Cassie doesn’t deserve a coward taking her to her dance.  So… as of now, I’m digging my heels in and to hell with everyone that thinks this is fodder for their perverted amusement.”

 

As Daniel was speaking, Janet’s face went from barely restrained fury to pleasantly surprised joy.

 

“Well,” she said walking over to him, “I guess I won’t be needing this then.”  Janet pulled from behind her back a very long needle.

 

Daniel’s eyes went wide and he gulped, “Ah… No, you don’t need… um, that,” he stammered, backing away from her.

 

Janet smiled at him, “In that case, when will you be picking Cassie up?”

 

He returned her smile and replied, “At four o’clock.  Our dinner reservations are for five and the prom begins at six-thirty.  I should think we will be home around eleven.  Is that going to be okay with you?”

 

“That sounds fantastic, Daniel.  I’ll make sure she’s ready.” Janet walked over and hugged him. “I really appreciate your doing this.”

 

She reached up and gave him a kiss on the cheek.  Then she whispered, “Its Colonel O’Neill that’s giving you all the paraphernalia and instigating the teasing.”

 

Backing away, she flashed Daniel a wicked grin.  He matched her smile with one of his own.  When he turned to leave, a thought came to him.

 

“Ah, Janet,” Daniel looked at her with an evil glint in his eye. “would you go along with a bit of childish revenge?”

 

Janet Fraiser was one with hidden depths.  One of those depths was the extreme joy of payback.  With a smile that actually unnerved him, she nodded and said, “What did you have in mind?”

 

***

 

General Hammond was getting impatient.  Looking at ¾ of SG-1, he really wanted to get this briefing over with.  However, Dr. Jackson had not shown up and was now twenty minutes late.

 

The door behind him opened and Janet walked in with a very concerned look on her face.  She leaned down and whispered in the general’s ear.  Hammond’s face went red.  His eyes narrowed and he glared at the CMO.

 

“You did what?” he burst out loudly.

 

“I’m sorry, sir,” Janet spoke with shame in her voice, backing away slightly. “I was just so… angry at him.”

 

When Janet said that, Jack, Sam, and Teal’c all straightened up in concern.

 

“What happened?” Jack almost shouted.

 

Just then, Daniel came into the briefing room.  Jaws dropped.  The archeologist was on crutches, his head bandaged and one eye covered with gauze.  His hair was matted and he looked as if he was about to collapse.  Slowly, he hobbled over and gingerly sank into a chair, not looking at anyone.

 

General Hammond watched the broken young man, shaking his head.  “Well, Dr. Jackson,” he commented, “I guess you’ve succeeded in getting out of taking Cassandra to the prom after all.”

 

Daniel’s head dropped lower and he murmured, “I’m sorry.  I really wasn’t thinking when I contacted my friends on P34-282 before we left.  They were very confused but willing to help me out.”  Glancing up at Jack for a moment, he added, “That’s why I was on time yesterday.”

 

Sam piped up, “What is Cassie suppose to do now?  And what happened to you?”

 

Janet raised her hand.  “That would be my fault.  I got a little… out of control…”

 

Jack snorted, “A little?!  He hasn’t looked that bad since he came home from Honduras.  Man…I feel sorry for Cassie.”

 

Janet turned to O’Neill and fixed him with a harsh stare.  “Well maybe, if a certain Colonel didn’t instigate all the teasing— Daniel wouldn’t have resorted to pulling such a stupid stunt. Then I wouldn’t have gotten so pissed that I beat the crap out of him.”

 

Jack opened his mouth to refute the accusation but didn’t get the chance.

 

“Is that true, Colonel?” General Hammond’s voice was not to be trifled with.  “Were you the one that began the hazing of Dr. Jackson?”

 

“Um,” Jack looked down at the table, drumming his fingers nervously, “I … guess I may have… started it.”

 

The general stood slowly and leaned on the table, “It seems to me then, Colonel O’Neill, that since Miss Fraiser is now without a date, you should step up and fill in for Dr. Jackson.  As a friend, I’m sure you are more than willing to do this.”

 

Jack’s face was a picture of absolute horror.  He couldn’t even come up with a smartass remark.

 

Sam caught Janet’s eye and realized what was going on.  She quickly stifled a laugh and turned to her C.O.  “I think that would be very honorable of you, sir.  I know that the tux we got for Daniel won’t fit you, but you can wear your dress blues.  You always look so handsome in them.  I’m sure Cassie will be only a little disappointed.”  Sam turned to the man beside her and squeezed his hand, “Poor Daniel.”

 

“POOR DANIEL?!”  Jack yelled jumping up, “I’m sorry, Janet, but there is no way I can take Cassie to her prom.  I’m… I’m way too old—”

 

“Oh, but it’s fine that I take her, huh?” Daniel snarled.

 

Jack looked at him and said, “Well… yeah.  You’re still… youngish.  And you’re a civilian… guys around here know they’d get re-assed to the arctic circle if they tried hazing me.”

 

“Honestly, Jack, you are pathetic!”

 

General Hammond looked Jack straight in the eye, “And since I’m ordering you to escort Miss. Fraiser to her dance , Colonel O’Neill, I fully expect you to show her a wonderful time.”

 

“I’m sure Colonel O'Neill will be a perfect gentleman, sir,” Sam said with a barely restrained laugh, “And the French restaurant that Daniel was going to take her too does accept AARP cards.”

 

The shock on his face was enough to make Daniel totally lose it.  He started laughing so hard, he thought he would crack a rib.  Sam and Janet joined in and when George Hammond began to laugh, Jack realized what was going on.

 

“I’ve just been punked, haven’t I?” he asked sinking into his chair.

 

Teal’c turned to him and inclined his head, “Indeed.”