Hi Everyone!

This is my attempt at the S/J Christmas Challenge, I hope you enjoy it. Thanks go to Dee for answering my question about Rudolph! I'll be cautious and say I think the story probably rates as a PG 13. As far as I can tell there are no spoilers.
All the stuff about mistletoe is genuine - can you believe I actually did research for this? I never knew writing fanfic could be educational...... :)

Wendy

DISCLAIMER: Stargate SG-1 and its characters belong to MGM, Gekko Corp and Double Secret Productions. This fan fiction was created solely for entertainment and no money was made from it. Also, no copyright or trademark infringement was intended. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead , is coincidental.
Do not archive without the author's permission.

Copyright Wendy Parkinson, December 1998

e-mail wendyparkinson@hotmail.com

IT STARTED WITH A KISS....

"...so that's why we have Christmas trees," finished Daniel, taking off his glasses and massaging the bridge of his nose. Teal'c frowned, obviously bewildered. Sam smiled to herself and shook her head as she helped Jack put the finishing touches to the tree in his living room.
"Look, Teal'c, just accept that some of our Christmas customs might seem a little... strange to you."
"You are correct O'Neill, the practice of felling a tree, then bringing it indoors and decorating it is difficult for me to understand."
Jack raised his eyes to the ceiling.

"OK, I think we're about done here. Anyone want a drink?"
The others nodded their agreement. Sam stood back to admire the tree as Jack disappeared into the kitchen followed by Teal'c.
"O'Neill, I do not understand the significance of ....."

Sam was pretty certain she heard Jack groan. She was smiling as she noticed Daniel rummaging through the bags and boxes checking they hadn't missed any decorations.
"Ah-ha! Look what I found!"
He turned to her with a mischievous grin on his face and sprig of mistletoe in his hand. Daniel walked towards Sam holding the mistletoe above his head.
"Christmas kiss, Sam?"
He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. She couldn't help herself, she burst out laughing.
"I'll take that as a yes?"
She nodded, still fighting the giggles.
"Merry Christmas, Sam."
He put his arm round her waist, held the mistletoe over her head, leaned down and kissed her very thoroughly.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
They flew apart and stared at Jack, who was standing glowering in the doorway holding two glasses. Sam and Daniel looked at each other and collapsed, laughing.
"Daniel found some mistletoe, Jack."
Daniel, still in the grip of the giggles, waved the mistletoe in the air.
"Oh...... I see."
Jack looked doubtful. Daniel became more serious, turned to Sam and shook his head.
"You know, women don't usually fall about laughing when I kiss them. This is not good for my ego..."

Teal'c came through from the kitchen with two more drinks.
"What is mistletoe?"
"You're the expert, Danny, you explain it."

"Mistletoe....." Daniel handed the sprig to Teal'c. "Is a parasitic plant that was once believed to have magical properties."
As Daniel started to speak Jack motioned them all to sit down. Sam found an armchair, Teal'c and Daniel relaxed on the couch. Jack handed Sam her drink. As she took the glass from him she eyed it speculatively.
"What's in this?"
"Trade secret. I call them O'Neill Specials."
"Catchy," said Daniel, peering into his glass. He sniffed the drink experimentally, wrinkling his nose. He carried on with his story.

"It figured significantly in the religions and folklore of pre-Christian Europe...."
Listening to what Daniel was saying, Sam completely forgot what was in her glass and took a large swig. It burned her throat and she coughed suddenly and violently. Daniel was so startled his drink slipped out of his hand, tipped over and landed on Teal'c's chest.
"Oh hell, I'm sorry Teal'c. Are you OK?"
"I am not injured, Daniel Jackson, I am just a little wet."
He raised an eyebrow as he looked down at the spreading damp patch on his T-shirt. Jack got up and passed him a towel.
"Please proceed."

Daniel ran a hand through his hair, took a deep breath, and started again.
"It was used as a cure for sterility and an antidote for poison. I can tell you the most famous myth involving it."
Teal'c nodded and waited for Daniel to carry on.
"In Norse mythology, Balder was the god of light and joy. He was also the son of Odin and Frigga, king and queen of the gods."
"Important guy," interrupted Jack.
Daniel ignored him.
"Frigga dreamed that Balder's life was in danger so she made all the objects and forces of nature promise not to hurt him - water wouldn't drown him, swords wouldn't kill him - you get the idea. But she had forgotten to ask the mistletoe. Meanwhile, the rest of the gods decided that as Balder couldn't be killed they might as well have some fun. They threw stones and fired arrows at him."
Sam pulled a face, "For fun?"
Daniel shrugged.
"The malicious god, Loki, made an arrow from mistletoe and gave it to Balder's twin brother, Hoder, who was god of darkness. He was also blind. Loki helped Hoder aim at his brother, and killed him with a shot through the heart. Odin sent another son, Hermod, to the underworld to plead for Balder's return. Hermod was told that Balder would only be returned if everyone in the world wept for him. Everyone wept except for one old woman in a cave."
"I think I know her...."
"Jack!"
"Sorry, just trying to inject a little humour...."
Daniel glared at him.
"So.... Balder did not come back to life."

Daniel continued talking and Sam's mind started to wander. As she sipped her drink she looked round at the other members of SG1. On the face of it they had so little in common, really it was unbelievable how close the four of them had become. They were like a family.

Teal'c was listening to Daniel, sitting rigidly, concentrating. The mark of Apophis on his forehead was a constant reminder of his origins. He was so far from home and his wife and son. At least now he knew his family were safe.

She watched Daniel as he explained their customs to Teal'c, his hair flopping over his face. The light reflected on his glasses as he gesticulated, making a point. He was so passionate about his work, about his studies. When he'd kissed her she'd felt respect, trust, friendship, but no spark, no fire, no passion. He saved that for Sha're. Sha're was a lucky woman.

Then there was Jack, slumped in the armchair intently studying his glass. There was a distant look in those deep brown eyes. She wondered if he was thinking about Charlie, after all it was Christmas, a time for kids. It could bring back a lot of painful memories. She wished she could help, she wished she..... no, that would never happen, he was her commanding officer, her friend, not her.....

"Of course, the European mistletoe and the North American mistletoe are actually completely different plants...."
"Daniel Jackson, you talk too much."
There was a stunned silence, Daniel stopped in mid sentence with his mouth wide open.
"What?", he finally managed to blurt out.
"I do not wish to listen any longer, I wish to sing Christmas songs. I have been doing research of my own."
Teal'c began in a tremulous baritone.

"Rudolph the red nosed reindeer,
Had a very shiny nose."

Sam, Jack and Daniel couldn't believe their ears, they exchanged looks of complete incredulity. Sam found her voice first.
"What on earth is wrong with him?"
Jack raised his eyebrows and then tried to attract the Jaffa's attention.
"Teal'c!...... Teal'c!"
Teal'c was completely oblivious to him.

"And if you ever saw it,
You would even say it glows."

"If I didn't know it was impossible, I'd say he was drunk."
"Jack, he can't be. The symbiont protects him."
All three of them looked at Teal'c with disbelief. He really was getting into the spirit of things.

"All of the other reindeer,
Used to laugh and call him names."

Sam looked thoughtful.
"When you tipped your drink over him, could some of it have got into his womb?"
"You think Junior is drunk?"
"Got any better ideas?"

"They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games."

Daniel rubbed his hands together.
"So.... Junior gets drunk. Why would that affect Teal'c?"
"He's had three drinks," pointed out Jack, "that's enough to make most people a bit merry."
"Three?" queried Sam.
"Yeah, he had two in the kitchen, said he was thirsty. Don't look at me like that - it doesn't usually touch him."

"Then one foggy Christmas Eve,
Santa came to say."

Daniel carried on, doing his best to ignore Teal'c.
"Perhaps.... the symbiont is so inebriated he's no longer protecting him. So..... the alcohol is affecting him like it would a normal person."
"Very interesting Daniel, but what do you suggest we do with him?"

"Rudolph with your nose so bright,
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight."

Sam had opened her mouth to speak when Teal'c suddenly went quiet and lurched to his feet.
"O'Neill, my head feels... strange. I think it is about to leave my body. And the room is moving."
"Well, yes, buddy. You and Junior have both had a little too much booze for one night."
"Perhaps we ought to take him home," suggested Sam.
Daniel nodded, "Good idea, I'll do it. Its on my way."

Twenty minutes later Sam and Jack were waving goodbye to Daniel and Teal'c, who had now started on a rousing chorus of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."
"He's going to have an awful hangover in the morning."
"Both of them are, Sam, don't forget Junior!"
They watched the car pull away and Sam was about to walk back indoors when she realised Jack was staring at her, an unfathomable expression on his face.
"Jack?"
He almost jumped.
"Sorry, miles away. Would you like a coffee?"
"Yeah, sure."

She followed him into the house. He seemed quieter than usual, more thoughtful. Perhaps he was remembering his son. She watched him getting the cups, making the coffee. Her eyes were drawn to his hands. What would those hands would feel like on her body, touching her? Stop it, Sam! She really must get a grip, he wasn't interested in her, he was still in love with Sarah. Jack's voice penetrated her thoughts.
"Earth to Carter. Anyone receiving me?"
"Sorry. I was going to ask you if you were OK. You've been quiet tonight."
"A bit difficult to be anything else, the amount of noise Teal'c was making."
"I mean it, if there's something you want to talk about, I'll listen."

Jack thought hard for a few moments. He looked worried, his eyes darted around the room nervously. Finally, he looked across at her.
"Why did you kiss Daniel?"
Sam was taken aback, she had assumed he was thinking about Charlie.
"The mistletoe, he was fooling around..."
"Looked serious enough from where I was standing."
"Jack, don't be ridiculous, he's married."
"Come on, that's no guarantee of good behaviour."
She tried again.
"We're just good friends."
She winced, that phrase always sounded so lame. But why was she having to defend herself to him? He was acting like a jealous lover. Then realisation dawned. Oh my God! He was jealous of her and Daniel?
"You're jealous, aren't you?"
Jack wouldn't meet her eyes. He looked desperately uncomfortable as he toyed with the coffee cups. Was it possible that he felt the same way as her? She came to a decision, she had to know.
"There's no reason to be jealous. I'm not interested in Daniel."
Sam paused, summoning up the courage to carry on. She took a deep breath.
"Its you I want."
Jack slowly turned to face her. As he took in her words his expression of disbelief changed to longing, desire, the beginnings of arousal.
"Only you," she said gently, her voice almost a whisper.

Their eyes locked. He came towards her. He took her in his arms quickly, almost violently. The sudden contact of his body on hers made her gasp. His mouth was on her throat, her face, her lips. His hands were everywhere, in her hair, on her back, her arms, stroking her face, caressing her breasts. The sensations overwhelming, she was forgetting to breathe. His muscular body pressed hard against hers. His mouth demanding, hungry. Feeling his increasing desire she tried to bring him closer, needed him nearer. She had wanted this for so long. He suddenly pulled back, his breathing uneven, and rested his forehead on hers. As her eyes fluttered open he lifted his head and studied her, the tousled hair, the flushed complexion, the way her chest rose and fell as she tried to control herself. Her eyes were questioning, why did you stop?
"I need to know," he breathed, "if you really want this, if you're sure?"
Sam nodded. Yes, she was sure.

wendyparkinson@hotmail.com

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