Work Text:
“General, Dr. Jackson needs a new office,” Jack recited professionally as he walked into the office.
Hammond raised his eyebrows. “Why’s that, Colonel?”
“The one he’s in now is just far too small for him. And he needs a couch.”
“A couch.”
“Yes, sir, a couch. You know how he is, he works until he's either falling asleep or brings on a migraine and can’t drive himself home. He needs a couch.”
“So the bigger office is to accommodate the couch?” he asked evenly.
“Yes, sir.”
“We have VIP suites, Colonel. Dr. Jackson can meander to one of those at any time to take a nap or sleep through his migraine in an actual bed. Now, unless there’s anything else…” He gestured to the door.
“Well it’s not JUST about the couch.”
Hammond gave Jack his best ‘get to the point’ stare. He wasn’t going to do this all day.
“He has more work than anyone else in the department. His office is full of reference texts and stacks of translations and there are roc… artifacts everywhere. Frankly, sir, it’s a fire hazard.”
“Mhm. And this is all about Dr. Jackson, is it?”
Jack blinked. It was a rare break in character that Hammond was rather pleased to elicit. “Of course. It’s his office, sir.”
“Right. And it has nothing to do with the fact that you tried to put another chair in his office earlier, despite Dr. Jackson’s objections? An act during which you broke six artifacts, his computer monitor, and knocked over all the files in his inbox, which will take hours to re-sort?”
Jack had the decency to look chagrined, but never broke eye contact. “I'm just looking out for our archaeologist, sir.”
Hammond shook his head. “Get back to work, Colonel,” he instructed with just a hint of amusement.
That amusement only grew when Jack’s face fell. He looked so much like a disappointed kid that he half expected the man to start scuffing the floor with his shoes before he left.
He knew full well that Jack would be using that couch a lot more often than Daniel would, but he also knew Daniel would rarely eat or rest or think about anything outside of work without those interruptions. So, when the door closed behind him, Hammond picked up his phone.
“Walter? Take a walk through the base and find a room that can be converted to a lab. Our archaeologist needs a bigger office. Oh, and requisition a couch.”