Series: Idioms - A series of stand-alone stories based off random idioms.

A/N: All definitions can be found in From the Horse's Mouth by John Ayto.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my imagination.

Idiom: a meeting of minds: an understanding or agreement between people.

A Meeting of Minds

Jack stood just outside Daniel's office and listened to the voices drifting out. One was unmistakably Danny's but he didn't recognise the other. It was a definitely woman, though, that much he could tell. Whoever she was, she seemed to be in a pretty heated argument with the archaeologist. Jack smirked as Daniel stuttered at whatever the woman said. It reminded him much of the debates the two of them used to have before he went off to Washington and Jack was intrigued. To his knowledge, he was the only person who could cause this level of discombobulation in the other man and he wanted to find out who the interloper was. Wiping the grin from his face, Jack stepped over the threshold and into the room.

"Heya, Danny, how's it going?"

"It could be better." the younger man groused, never taking his glare from the woman sitting atop his desk.

Jack studied her for a moment, taking in the form-fitting leather pants, obviously modified military issue tank top, and the Cheshire cat grin she sent his way. Interesting. He grinned back before speaking.

"You gonna introduce me to your lovely companion?"

"I wasn't planning on it." he said but grudgingly did as requested. "Jack, this is Vala Mal Doran. Vala, General Jack O'Neill."

"Vala, you say. You're the one who stole the Prometheus, kidnapped Danny here with the bracelets then went body-swapping and galaxy-hopping."

"That's me!" Vala responded proudly. "And I take it you're the O'Neill Muscles keeps mentioning."

"Muscles?"

"Teal'c." Daniel rolled his eyes. "She's talking about Teal'c."

"Fitting. Why didn't I ever think of that?"

"I would surmise that your creativity has been severely stifled by the rather repressed society of your fair planet." Vala suggested with mock innocence, and damned if she didn't pull it off.

"You need to visit Vegas." Jack snorted.

"Oh! I've read of this place." Vala clapped her hands excitedly and jumped off the desk. Smiling demurely at Daniel, she ran a hand up his arm and spoke sweetly. "Darling, can we go to Las Vegas? Please?"

"No way!" he blushed and pushed her hand away while sending him a "seriously?!" look.

Jack only grinned as he mouthed the word "darling?" and watched his friend's blush grow deeper. Yup, very interesting, indeed.

"Is that any way to treat a visitor to our "fair planet", Daniel?" he asked in mock indignation. Vala grinned and sauntered his way, obviously sensing an ally.

"He's been nothing but a grouch since I arrived." she pouted.

"You'd be, too, if you were forced to spend nearly every waking hour with a neurotic space pirate."

"See what I mean?"

"Yeah, I do." Jack commiserated with a shake of his head. "He's not usually like this. You must have some technique. Took me years to figure out just what buttons to push."

"Tricks of the trade, my dear general." Vala smiled up at him as she looped their arms together. "I'm starving. How about taking me down to the commissary for a snack and I let you in on my...technique."

"Sounds good." Jack matched her smile as they turned and started to walk away. "Some of my old tactics are getting...old. I could use some new ones."

Daniel watched as Jack and Vala left, not sure what had just happened but knowing this was not going to end well for him.

The End