'Is that not the correct phrase for describing your current demeanor, O'Neill ?' the large, black man asked in his usual sincere fashion. Three astonished faces turned toward the large Jaffa, bursting into laughter. 'Bah, humbug,' a deep voice delivered the line a little flatly. 'Couldn't we just stop ?' O'Neill retorted grumpily. 'Just this one, Sir,' the Major headed for a brightly lit accessories shop, 'This is Cassie's favorite shop.' As the three men followed, she continued, 'I thought we could stop for lunch after this.'
He was taking on more and more work, remaining in his office as the holidays approached. She had played on the soft spot he'd developed where the archaeologist was concerned, pointing out the young man's depressed spirit. If he was going to be honest with himself, that wasn't true. He still wasn't sure how she'd managed to convince him to tag along on this little excursion. The fact that Daniel and even Teal'c now seemed to be filled with the Christmas spirit, wasn't helping matters. A day of Christmas shopping was not his idea of fun - not since Charlie died anyway and his irritation had grown with each shop Sam had dragged them into. Today however he was more than a little stressed out. 'Where next, Carter ?' In recent months Colonel Jack O'Neill had taken to using his 2IC's first name when addressing her off duty.
