I read every last post in this comm in one day, and this was the result!
Title: Room for One More
Pairing: Vague Sam/Jackishness
Length: about 970 words
Rating: G
With thanks:
daisycm83 for the beta work
Summary: Jonas arrives
Jack cursed quietly and put his thumb between his lips. He made a mental note that he should not work with hammers when Sam Carter was around - she walked by and his concentration went out the window. He glanced up again to find her standing in front of her mailbox; thankfully, she didn't appear to have noticed him substituting his thumb for a nail.
Just then, the door opened and a young man walked in carrying two huge duffle bags and a goldfish bowl. He dropped the bags by the door, drawing Sam's attention. "Hi," he said, with a smile a little too wide and flirtatious for Jack's liking. He took an instant dislike to the man.
"Hi!" Sam's back was to Jack, but she sounded surprised and curious.
"I'm, uh..." He switched the goldfish bowl to his other arm and extended his hand to her. "I'm Jonas Quinn."
She shook his hand. "Sam Carter. Are you moving in?"
"That's what I'm hoping," he replied. "Do you know of any rooms for rent here?"
"Oh!" Sam glanced over her shoulder, catching Jack watching from his place at the base of the stairs. He quickly went back to pounding nails into the base of the banister. "That's the super over there. You'll have to talk to him."
Out of the corner of his eye, Jack watched the young man stride his way, goldfish sloshing in a motion-induced whirlpool in the bowl under his arm. "Hello," he said, his voice deeper and more business-like than when he'd spoken to the cute blonde. "I'm Jonas Quinn."
Jack looked at his extended hand and continued hammering. "I heard."
"Ah." Jonas didn't seem at all put off. "Then I guess you heard I'm looking for a room to rent."
"This is an apartment building, not a flophouse. We don't have 'rooms'."
Jonas dropped down onto the stair next to Jack, set down the fish, and ran his hands over his spiky hair. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply... I just really need a place to stay."
Jack stopped hammering and looked at him. He told him the monthly cost of an apartment. "Got enough for first, last, and security?"
Jonas hesitated. "No," he finally admitted.
"Can't help you." Jack went back to his repair work.
"You don't have anyone looking for a roommate?" Jonas asked, a tinge of desperation seeping into his tone.
Jack didn't waste his breath on an answer. He'd finished repairing the banister, and he began to pack up his toolbox. Jonas Quinn sighed, brushed a bit of sawdust from his hands, and retrieved his fish. "Well, thanks, I guess."
As Jonas walked toward the door to collect his bags, Daniel and Rodney came barreling down the stairs, knocking into one another and the banister. "Careful," Jack snapped. "I just fixed that!"
"Sorry, Mr. O'Neill," Daniel said automatically - he was quite used to making preemptory apologies, because Rodney certainly never would. "I need to speak to you."
"Daniel, don't!" Rodney demanded, but Daniel ignored him.
"I need to know if we can sublet my room for a few months without affecting our rental agreement," Daniel said hurriedly, before Rodney could get another word in.
Jonas Quinn stopped just inside the door and Jack rolled his eyes heavenward. "No." Of course, he had every intention of letting Daniel do so - after the kid left.
"See?" Rodney practically yelled. "I told you! This is a bad idea."
"Please, Mr. O'Neill," Daniel pleaded. "I have the most amazing opportunity. I got invited on a dig this summer - it's a big deal for me to have been invited, and it's only a few months."
"Oh, for cryin' out loud." Jack knew he was trapped. Daniel wasn't going to take no for an answer, and that Jonas kid wasn't going anywhere. Jack decided delay was the best tactic. "I'll think about it."
"No!" Rodney whined, taking Jack's maybe for a yes. "What am I supposed to do for rent? Where am I supposed to find a roommate who only wants the place for a few months?"
Jack sighed as Jonas cleared his throat. Rodney couldn't have handed the guy a more perfect opening. "Uh, excuse me!"
Rodney and Daniel startled and turned, noticing the stranger for the first time. "Hi!" he said again, coming over and shaking both their hands. "I'm Jonas Quinn. I'm here from Kelowna, British Columbia - just for the semester."
Jack frowned. "The semester already started. Where have you been living?"
Jonas looked uncomfortable. "I had a room in the dorms, but I, uh, well... I got kicked out."
Now Rodney was curious. "What do you have to do to get kicked out of the dorms?"
"There was an explosion," Jonas admitted, but quickly added, "but it wasn't my fault!"
Sam, who'd been observing quietly from the foyer, chimed in. "I heard about that. You're the guy who left the physics department over it, aren't you?"
Jonas nodded. "I'm stuck here for the semester, so I'm taking some language and archeology courses until I go back home."
"Really?" Daniel's eyes lit up. "We'll have to get together before I leave. I can give you some tips for dealing with the professors!"
Sam walked over and lightly touched Jack's arm. He looked at her, and she at him. He knew he was being unreasonable, but it was frustrating that she seemed to know it too.
"Fine, fine," he growled. "McKay, you're responsible for the rent - you make sure he pays."
"Thank you!" Jonas' face broke into a relieved smile and he went to retrieve his bags and his fish from the foyer. Coming back, he assured Jack, "You won't regret this."
As Jonas followed Daniel and Rodney upstairs, Jack called out, "I'd better not. No explosives!"