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Jack O’Neill woke up shaking. He sat up with a start and gulped. The fear washing through him indicated he’d had a nightmare but this was different. It was waking up to the feeling of impending doom. He tried to shake it off and went into the shower. He gave up trying to eat so instead settled for a cup of coffee.

With a last look at his watch he decided to leave a bit early for base, to allow for driving a bit slower. He turned up the CD player in the truck to try to settle his nerves but even his favorite songs weren’t helping this at all. It just lay there in his gut. This was going to be a bad day.

Unable to contain his nerves he hit redial on his cell phone to reach Daniel.

“Jackson,� Daniel answered sounding sleepy.

“Hey Danny, are you okay?�

“Jack?�

“Yeah, answer the question.�

“I’m fine Jack, what’s wrong?� Daniel sounded awake.

“Something is wrong Danny; I can feel it in my gut. Do me a favor and check on the rest of the team would you?�

“Sure Jack, sure thing,� Daniel replied sounding confused.

“Good, call me back.� Jack snapped the phone shut.

Ten nerve wracking minutes later Jack arrived at the base. As he walked across the parking lot his cell phone went off.

“Sir, is everything okay?� Carter sounded worried.

“Daniel, call you?� Jack asked. “Everything alright with you Carter? I just have this feeling that I can’t shake. Something is really, really wrong.�

“Yes sir, Teal’c and I were just called by Daniel. He said you were a bundle of nerves. Do you have any idea what it is?� Good girl, Jack thought, after years of missions together she didn’t doubt his instinct.

“All I can feel is it has something to do with the job. I’ll talk to you later,� Jack snapped his phone shut and showing his ID went into the mountain.

Jack paced his office feeling the edgiest he had all morning. When the phone on his desk rang he almost jumped.

“O’Neill.�

“Hammond, I want you in my office now Jack,� When he hung up the phone Jack actually shivered. This was bad.

“Sam, have you seen Jack?� Daniel asked with concern. He’d checked the commissary, Jack’s office even the control room and there was no sign of him.

“I just tried to call his cell phone again but there’s no answer,� Sam answered nervously getting up from where she’d been trying, but failing, to focus on her latest technical project.

“If you are asking about O’Neill, I believe our questions are about to be answered. General Hammond has requested us all to come to his office immediately.� Teal’c stated filling the doorway to Samantha’s lab.

Exchanging nervous looks, the two scientists followed Teal’c to the General’s office. When they entered the General’s office they passed on the way out a pale, drawn Colonel O’Neill being escorted on either side by two SF’s.

“Jack?� Daniel called out anxiously after his best friend. Jack turned haunted brown eyes on him.

“Told ya I had a bad feeling. “ Jack mumbled then was nudged along by the SF’s who looked anything but happy at their task.

“General?� Sam practically launched herself at the base Commander. “What’s going on?�

“At ease Major, Colonel O’Neill is being held for a possible court martial. “

“What has he done to merit such a thing?� Teal’c asked angrily as the two scientists sputtered in disbelief.

“Close the door,� The General grunted. The Jaffa nodded and did so without hesitation.

The General looked them all over. “This isn’t easy to say or hear, I’m sorry but Jack’s been accused of having a homosexual relationship.�

“WHAT?� Sam yelled. “Sir, that’s preposterous!�

“Jack,� Daniel sagged into a chair.

“I’m sorry I do not understand what is wrong with a relationship of this kind. Is this another one of the Ta’uri taboos?� Teal’c interjected as Sam paced and Daniel sat stunned.

“Yes and a court-martial offense if proven. Either way this will blacken his career. If I had an inkling of it coming I would have given him a chance to step down. I’m sorry. Maybe if we knew who was his lover then we’d have a chance of finding out who reported him and get them to rescind the accusation.�

“Oh come on General you can’t tell me you believe Jack is gay!� Sam laughed too harshly.

“He didn’t deny it Major,� The General grunted.

“What can we do for him?� Teal’c asked.

“Try to find out who his accuser is, while Jack didn’t deny his preference he did deny any sexual relations,� George shook his head. “I don’t need to tell you we’re in a bad situation here folks.�

“We’re on it sir,� replied a pale, clearly shaken Samantha Carter. She and Teal’c left the office while Daniel didn’t move.

“Doctor Jackson?� the General asked with a bad feeling.

“Jack told me once that he could tell you things in confidence. Does that extend to me as well?�

“Go ahead son,� General Hammond urged. Yet, one hand slipped under his desk to flip a recorded on, just in case it could help Jack. After all Daniel Jackson was a private man.

Daniel hugged himself then took a deep breath. “Jack told me last week that he loved me. I, um, was shocked you know, but um, happy. Well, my own preferences are in the files, Jack told me that too. But I swear Jack said nothing could ever happen between us until he stepped down. He just needed me to know. Nothing happened between us, nothing!�

The General rubbed his face and sat back. “It’s alright son I believe you. Now tell me where did Jack do this and was anyone else around?�

“We were up top when Jack took me to the side and told me. It was after that bad mission.� George nodded. He recalled that day when he thought he’d lost SG: 1 every member had come back wounded and under fire.

Refocusing George said,� Was anyone else around?�

“Not that I recall but aren’t the area’s outside the mountains secured with camera surveillance too?�

The General nodded and made the call as he came around the desk to pat Daniel on the shoulder to comfort him. Daniel took off his glasses and pressed his palms to his eyes.

While Sam and Teal’c didn’t make any progress, the General had. It was Major Paul Davis who had overheard the declaration of love and placed the call before he reached his car. The General called Teal’c to his office to escort Doctor Jackson to his office. Then he placed a call to the Pentagon. He wasn’t even surprised to find out that Major Davis was still in town, undoubtedly waiting for the court-martial. Davis soon received a call “requesting� his presence in the General’s office.


Jack closed his eyes and lowered his head. He sat on the edge of the bunk of his holding cell. At least the big guns hadn’t come to take him to trial or prison –yet. Uncertainty gnawed at him. Was it a mistake to tell Daniel how he felt? Daniel never told him how he felt. Perhaps this was all for nothing. If only he had done something with the younger man, to be tried for the crime and not even have committed it!

Noticing some movement at the door he looked up to see Daniel’s face at the window bars.

“Hey,� Jack tried to smile, but he was scared. Yet he loved Daniel so much he didn’t want him to worry. Jack knew without a doubt that’s’ exactly what Daniel had been doing, probably blaming himself for being the object of his affection.

“Jack the General is working on getting you out of here,� Daniel tried to smile but wasn’t having much success either.

“You shouldn’t be here Daniel,� Jack said quietly.

“General Hammond will get you out of here Jack, but …� Daniel looked at the guards “Don’t kill Davis.�

“WHAT?� Jack ran over to the door in rage. “That’s the son of a bitch that put me in here?�

“Easy Jack, you have to be bigger than him,� Daniel urged.

“That boot licker is trying to bring me down so he can be 2IC!� Jack raged.

“Jack try to calm down, I’m sure the General will have you out soon,� Daniel said and dropped a note into the cell.

“Yeah, sure,� Jack wanted to touch Daniel and under the circumstances it was a really bad idea so he picked up the note and stepped back.

Daniel tried once more to smile but instead said,�Soon.�

Jack watched him walk away with sadness. Then he remembered the note in his hand.
Curling up on his side on the bunk he carefully read the note, mindful of the guards. Part of him hoped for a long note, the other just a few words of hope. He opened the small piece of paper to find just three words.

I love you.

Jack closed his eyes, tucking the paper away carefully then tried to imagine what he would do with Daniel if given the chance. He hoped Daniel knew how much those words meant to him, and that the cost of revealing his love wouldn’t be going to prison.


“Reporting as requested,� Major Davis stood in the General’s doorway.

“Close the door behind you Major,� General Hammond struggled to keep his tones even. It was time to play Texas Hold ‘Em, while he turned on his tape recorder.

“It seems I’m going to have an opening on base,� the General smiled tightly.

“Sir?� The General sat back. So the Major wanted to play dumb, then it was time to make the Major give his hand away.

“You and I Major are the REAL military if you catch my meaning,� George smiled again leaning forward.

Paul grinned wickedly. “Too true sir, we can’t have their kind in the military. That’s why I placed the call.�

The General sat back, nodded and steepled his hands together. “Like a true military mind you saw that it would present an opportunity for you.�

“Thank you sir, I hoped you would understand and take me into consideration when you pick a new 2IC.� Paul smirked.

“Well of course, thank you for your time Major,� the General nodded his head and Paul left. As the door closed behind a grinning Major Davis the General shut off the tape recorder. “Thank you very much,� George grinned. He always won in Texas Hold ‘Em.


Jack sat nervously in the General’s office. “Sir, am I being taken for proceedings now?�

“No son, and please it’s George. I hated to put you in that damn cell. Thankfully, I still have old friends in high places that know you deserve to be 2IC. Hell, Jack I hope you make General one day and I can hand you the reins. But in the meantime,� George reached out from where he was sitting on his desk,� the charges are dropped and Major Davis is having some quality survival training right now.�

Jack lowered his head grateful beyond words; he could feel George’s comforting hand gripping his shoulder tightly. “I don’t give a GOD DAMN what you do in your spare time Jack.� He shifted closer to whisper to Jack,� Actually I think you and Daniel make a good pair. Don’t wait though Jack. He told me everything. You both know that you can go through that gate and never come back.�

George leaned back. “You should have told me Jack. But I know now I can and will protect you. You have my word.�

“I…� Jack began but George held up his hand.

“No need for apologies Jack. You’re human, it’s nice to know,� George grinned. “Speaking of which, I think Dr. Jackson is pacing outside the hall right now. I’ll send him in.�

Jack stood and hugged George. With a smile George pointed to the security camera. “Damn things haven’t been working all day.� He opened the door to reveal a nervous looking Daniel.

“Go in son,� George grinned and closed the door behind him.

Daniel walked nervously into the office. “Jack?�

Jack wrapped his arms around Daniel in a tight hug. “George fixed it all Danny. God bless the man, he fixed it all.�

“OH god!� Daniel began to sob in Jack’s arms and Jack was fighting losing it himself. He held Daniel back at a distance then took off his glasses.

“He also said that I shouldn’t wait, and he’s absolutely right,� Jack pulled Daniel by the nape of his neck in for a passionate kiss filled with love, joy and promise. When he pulled away Daniel pulled him right back for another. After another hug they pulled apart. “Tell me to my face Daniel.�

“I love you.� Daniel smiled and Jack could see the love in his blue eyes.

“I love you too Dannyboy, let’s go home,� Jack grinned and held open the door for Daniel and their future together.