Word Count: 14,654
Thanks to Nefernat for the language help!
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“Is this really necessary?” General Hammond asked hopefully.
“I’m afraid it is. For National Security, I’m sure you understand. There only needs to be one commanding officer present. As long as they all pass they can stay on the team.” The President concluded.
“Yes, sir. I understand sir.” General Hammond hung up the phone and sighed.
“Colonel O’Neill assemble your team in the briefing room immediately,” the General got up and made his way to the briefing room as Jack went hurriedly to gather his team.
Major Carter was the first to sit down, followed by Teal’c and Jack arrived soon after with Doctor Jackson behind him with a cup of coffee in his hand. The General cut right to it. “You have to all submit to a lie detector test for National Security reasons. If you pass you stay on the team, if you fail you are automatically off SG1.”
"What?” Jack sat forward.
“But sir those lie detector tests are highly inaccurate!” Major Carter exclaimed. Teal’c frowned and Doctor Jackson wiped up the coffee he spit across the table.
“That’s why we’ve been allowed to borrow the machine that Anise used for that purpose. It’s ready and waiting.” The General said.
“Oh not again,” Jack groaned.
“Report to the infirmary, dismissed,” the General glared at them all then stopped the Colonel on the way out of the briefing room. “Jack, there only needs to be one superior officer present. You can interview your own team. There is no need to record it all down. “He pressed a list of questions into his hand that was attached to a clipboard. Jack nodded and made to leave the room then stopped.
“Just so you know sir, I think this is a really bad idea. If any of those people lie they have a damn good reason.” Colonel O’Neill looked fit to be tied.
“Understood Jack. This order comes from the President. I have no say in the matter,” the General looked toward the door and getting the hint Jack left.
Major Carter and Teal’c went first with no complications. Jack was relieved. More so that Major Carter seemed to no longer harbor any feelings toward him then anything. Then Daniel entered next looking nervous.
“Easy Daniel. It will be over shortly.” Jack tried to reassure him but Daniel still looked uptight.
“Let’s just get this over with Jack.” Daniel closed his eyes as he sat back in the chair.
“Name.”
“Daniel Jackson, PhD.”
“What is your function on the team?”
“To decipher alien languages, act as interpreter, head negotiations and bring back valuable artifacts when I can, for further investigation.”
“How do you get along with your team members?”
“Fine.”
“How do you feel about Major Carter and what do you think of her as a team member?
“She’s sort of like a sister to me. The team would be lost without her. She’s incredibly brilliant.”
“How do you feel about Teal’c and what do you think of him as a team member?”
“He reminds me of the guy I paid in High school so I wouldn’t get beaten up.” They both laughed. “He’s a good friend. I don’t think the SGC realizes how valuable he is.”
“Okay Daniel and what about yours truly?”
“You’re a great team leader and seem to have a good sixth sense about people.”
“You missed part of the question there Daniel.”
“No I didn’t”
Jack bit the inside of his lip as he watched the machine show Daniel was hiding something. “Daniel the machine isn’t a happy camper. What’s up? Do we have a problem?”
“No sir, we don’t have a problem.” The machine continued to show Daniel was hiding something.
“Daniel I really don’t want to lose you as a team member.”
Jack said nervously. “If you hate my guts just tell me.”
“No sir, I don’t hate your guts.”
“Well you got half credit there, Danny. You don’t hate my guts, but you are still hiding something.”
“Look can we just move on to the next damn question?”
Jack looked over his shoulder glad to see no one was watching. “Daniel it’s just you and me. I don’t have to record the answers just say that you told the truth or not. So spill or I’m going to have to get someone to replace you. I hear Blair Sandburg is good.”
Daniel laughed. “I know Blair’s work and his studies don’t encompass Egyptology.”
“Come on Daniel what’s up? Just whisper it, say it in another language if you have to just tell me. “
Daniel sighed and looked away. “Ik hou van je.”
“Okay, whatever. You can go now, but Daniel I’d like to talk to you about this sometime.”
Daniel looked over his shoulder at him as he left. “No Jack, you don’t.”
Jack reported back to a relieved General Hammond that SG1 was good to go. Then he returned to his office to make a phone call.
A voice crackled to life over the line, “Cascade PD, Whom do you wish to be connected to and who shall I say is calling?”.
“Detective Ellison please, tell him it’s Colonel Jack O’Neill, US Air Force.” There was a moment of silence then the phone was picked up again.
“Jack!”
“Jim!”
“You old son of a gun. How the hell are you Jack?”
“Okay. When are you coming down for skiing? I can put you up.”
“Forget the skiing with your knees. How about I just come down and we can knock back a few brews?”
“Great. Say Jim, you still deal with that long haired rock lover?”
“Sandburg? Yeah, he’s right here why?”
“Let me talk to him a second. I’ve got a question for him and bring him along when you come. I’ve got a friend that he can hang with while you’re down.”
“Okay how’s next weekend?”
“Great buddy. Put him on would you?”
“Hello, this is Blair Sandburg.”
“Hi this is Jack O’Neill. I need to ask you a favor.”
“Anything for a friend of Jim’s.”
“Great, I need a translation on something.”
“Well I know a little bit here and there. If I don’t know it I’ll find out for you.”
“Okay what does…” Ik hou van je.” mean?
“Oh wow, that’s Dutch I’ll have to look it up for you. Hold on.”
“Hey, you’re taking Sandburg away from his work here Jack. That’ll cost you.”
“So what’s new?” Jack laughed. “What’s your brain child doing?”
“Checking on the internet. Why didn’t you look it up first Jack?”
“I suck at spelling okay? Just tell me what the hell it means.”
“Why is this so important buddy? Doesn’t the Air Force have a translator in Colorado?”
“Actually, Jackson is probably the best in the world. Who the hell do you think threw me the curve ball?”
Jim laughed, “Hey Jack you have a real hot inning going here. Is your translator cute?”
“What the hell does that have to do with anything?” Jack asked getting wound up now.
“Sandburg just translated it Jack. It’s Dutch for, “I love you.”
………”Jack you still there?
……….”Hey Jack you okay?”
…”Uh yeah, call me when you get in.” Jack hung up the phone and stared into space.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. “Come in Carter.”
“How did you know it was me sir?”
“Lucky guess.”
“So did we all pass? Is SG1 staying together?” Jack got up, closed the door and did a quick bug sweep. “Is there something wrong sir?”
“Carter have you noticed anyone acting oddly toward me?”
“Oddly? What do you mean sir?”
“Strange, moony like?”
“No sir.” Jack began to pace back and forth. Major Carter frowned. “Sir you never answered my questions. Is SG1 staying together? Did we all pass?”
“I’ll get back to you on that.”
“Sir?”
“Dismissed Carter, oh and this conversation never happened, got that?”
“Um, yes sir.” Frowning Major Carter left the office as the phone rang.
“Jack?”
“Jim? Didn’t I just hang up on you?”
“Hey I wanted to make sure you weren’t out killing someone, cop you know?”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Talk to me Jack.”
“Call the cell phone 432-125-6789 okay?”
“Copy that.”
Jack hung up the phone and dug his cellular phone out of his jacket just as it rang.
“Okay Jack what’s going on that I have to call on a private line?”
“That ball player?”
“Yeah.”
“Has balls.”
“And?”
“And? Isn’t that enough??”
“Wow never knew you were a homophobe Jack.”
“I’m not, it’s just… jeez Jim. I’m career military. People over look what happens in war not in the office.”
“SO you like him.”
"I never said that.”
“Okay so you don’t.”
“Oh hell Jim I don’t know what to think. For crying out loud I’m Special Ops you think I would have seen it coming!”
“Well too late for that now. So as I see it you have a couple of options. A- Pretend it never happened. B- Ignore the guy C- Ship him off to another CO or D-Try to figure out how you feel about him. Oh, and E- You can out him. Let’s run through them. Think you can pretend it never happened?"
“Who do you think I am Robert Redford?”
“Okay, scratch that. Can you manage to avoid and just ignore him?”
“No, he’s on my damn team.”
“Right, can you ship him off to another CO? At least until things cool down for you?”
“I’d need a damn good excuse and the guy is smart he’s bound to put two and two together.”
“What would happen if you out him?”
“Besides lose a friend? He might get a speech since he’s a civilian.”
“You said he’s your friend right?”
“So?”
“Maybe you should just talk to him. “
“Hell Jim what would I say?”
“You could let him down easy. How about ‘you’re one of my best buddies and I don’t want to risk that. I hope we can stay friends.”
“Wow, have you been rolling in corn fields Jim?”
“Get bent O’Neill, I’m trying to help here. Look I talked to Blair and we can move it up to this Friday. Think you can manage the situation for that long?”
“What day is it? Thursday? Yeah, I think I can.”
“Good, so in the meantime just go about your normal business and try like hell not to hurt him okay? I mean the poor guy must be a mental case.”
“How you figure?”
“Well he just told his CO he loves him and he’s in love with YOU. What more proof do you need?”
“Very funny Ellison, just get your ass down here as soon as you can okay?”
Jack shut the phone hard in consternation. What the hell was he to do? He began to wish he’d never found out what Daniel had said. His mind flashed back to the first time he’d seen Doctor Daniel Jackson. He was younger then, innocent, wide-eyed and naïve. He’d seen his fair share of death and destruction, been tortured and killed for the cause.
They had bonded over the years, learned to trust, plus had their fare share of fights and some good times too. He’d grown from thinking Daniel was a geek who would get them all killed to admiring him and knowing he’d lay down his life for any of them. Of course, Jackson had proved that when he took a hit for him back on Abydos. When had it turned to more than friendship?
How many times had he come to in the infirmary to see Daniel looking worried and scared at his side? There were more times then he could count where he’d been the one to need the comforting after a mission. Not that he’d ever let Teal’c or Carter see it, but even though he tried not to let Daniel see it - he had. There were moments he swore that Daniel had read his mind with no more than a look. It was only with Daniel that he could spend hours with never a word spoken and it was comfortable, not uneasy.
Damnit Daniel was his friend. He didn’t want to lose that. Jack hung his head. Ellison was right. Daniel was probably ripping out his hair. How much had it cost him to admit his feelings? It showed how much he wanted to be on SG1 that he had even done it. Daniel might have loved him for a long time, but he had never endangered the team over it - not once. Would Daniel have ever had admitted how he felt if not for that damn test?
He had given Daniel the go-ahead to know he would speak the truth, even if in another language and Daniel had trusted him by saying what was in his heart. Jack had betrayed that by going behind his back to find out the meaning of what Daniel had said. He wouldn’t betray Daniel further by having it cost them their friendship. Ellison had said that he should go about business as usual. Jack sighed, there was a reason why they’d stayed friends all these years. Ellison’s voice could always talk him down and reason with him.
So what was business as normal? Jack looked at his watch. It was almost time to go on home on a Thursday. He picked up his coat and headed toward Daniel’s office and knocked on the door.
“Yeah come in,” Daniel’s voice sounded muffled. Jack entered to see the man’s head was on the desk with his arms covering his head.
“Daniel?” Jack asked softly. With a soft groan Daniel raised his head and put his glasses back on. “Are we on for Friday night pizza and a movie? I have a friend coming in from out of town that I’d like you to meet. And his friend is a right up your alley.” A smile covered Daniel’s face with hope and Jack’s chest clenched when he realized Daniel had been crying. “That is if you want to, but Sandburg is into rocks and stuff too.”
“Sandburg? Blair Sandburg?” Daniel gasped. “One of your friends knows Blair Sandburg? I thought you were kidding earlier.”
“Uh, yeah that’s the rock lover’s name. He’s a good friend with my old buddy Jim Ellison. So are we on?”
“Are you sure you want me around with your friend coming over?” Daniel asked looking down.
“Yeah Danny, why wouldn’t I? Jack smiled and pointed at his watch. “Time to go home Dannyboy.” He got up grabbed Daniel’s leather coat and tossed it at him. As the two friends walked out of the base side by side Jack realized it felt right to still have Daniel’s friendship. “So we on for our usual Friday night?” Daniel smiled and nodded. “Goodnight Danny, see you tomorrow.” As Jack walked to his truck he silently thanked Ellison for his good advice.
Friday was a nightmare. From the time Jack stepped foot on base, everything that could go wrong - did. At long last he hid in his office, his head hurt and his stomach was growling. He was beginning to think getting out of bed had been a very bad idea. A knock came at the door and Jack pretended not to hear but the door opened. Daniel stuck his head around the door. “Is it safe?”
“Get in here! Don’t let anyone see you!” Jack pointed to the door.
A grinning Daniel entered with a tray of food, quickly shutting the door behind him. “Hey, I thought I heard your stomach growling.”
“Daniel you’re the best,” Jack took the food with a childlike grin seeing a bowl of fruit loops, chocolate milk and a Twinkie.
“I hope I covered all the food groups.” Daniel smirked. “Oh, and I brought this too.” He set down a bottle of aspirin. With a wink he turned to leave the office.
“Hey, Danny,” the archeologist turned with a raised eyebrow,” thanks.” Daniel smiled and locked the door behind him.
As Jack ate he understood why Daniel never told him that he loved him. It was because the younger man showed him through his actions all the time. His consideration, protection and understanding were always right there. Jack shook his head as he tried to figure out what Daniel saw in him but smiled as he realized what a gift he’d been given.
Some days just never get better and this was no exception. The To’kra came to visit with yet another gizmo to try out. It was a necklace this time instead of a bracelet and Doctor Frazier demanded to test this one first. This was a fortunate move since it short-circuited putting off enough voltage to kill anyone. Of course the To’kra had insisted it was the fault of SGC.
They finally left but tensions were running high. SG-3 had been late coming in and when they came through the gate with a new element the Stargate locked up with the iris half open and half closed. So Carter and some others would be working ‘round the clock to try and get that fixed.
The only good thing to come out of the whole miserable day was General Hammond announcing they’d have a few days R & R as the gate was finished. He suggested to Jack he catch up on his reports. Jack rolled his eyes but obligingly began to work on the paperwork he’d procrastinated on doing.
Daniel knocked on the door before entering his office, arriving this time with sandwiches and drinks. “This is becoming a habit,” Jack groaned yet flashed a tired smile at Daniel.
“Just leave a tip at the checkout,” Daniel quipped in return as they ate their lunch. After a few minutes Daniel said, “You know you are forgetting something, your buddy is coming in today?”
“Man it will be good to see Ellison,” Jack sighed. “I miss the old bastard.”
“Wow, if that’s what you call your old friends I’d hate to hear what your co-workers!” Daniel shook his head.
“Well, in your case a best friend,” Jack said easily. Daniel visibly relaxed.
“So should I be worried about your talk about replacing me with Blair Sandburg and he’s coming? Am I still on the team Jack?”
“No worries, about either. SGC is staying together.”
“Where is your friend coming in from?”
“Cascade, Oregon. He’s a cop.”
“That’s a hell of a drive,” Danny frowned.
“Jim will probably fly down and grab a car when he gets here.”
“He knows how to fly?”
“Military, it’s how we met….a lifetime ago.” Jack sighed. “SO how do you know Sandburg?”
“I read his work on Peruvian Sentinels, fascinating stuff.” Daniel was about to launch into lecture mode but caught himself in time.
“Go ahead Danny. I could use a good story as a break from the day.” Jack leaned back in his chair, lacing his fingers behind his head.
Daniel smiled and began to tell the tale. “Sandburg said that to every generation this tribe had a Sentinel and a Guide that helped protect the it. They still believe a Sentinel and its guide is born every lifetime. Some of the villagers believed that it was the same pair back over and over again. The Sentinel had incredible senses that could hear, see, smell, touch and taste more acutely and keenly then any normal human being.”
Jack’s face dropped, “Holy shit.”
“Yeah, talk about the perfect protector! Imagine being able to tell a tribe that danger was coming two miles off or knowing someone was lying because his heartbeat began to race.”
“These Sentinels, are they only born in Peru?” Jack whispered. Daniel’s face could have lit the office he was so happy to finally be able to talk to Jack about something that fascinated him and have him pay attention.
“No, in fact according to Blair’s theory there could be one born anywhere in the world and never know it. But without their Guide they would be lost and have incredible difficulty harnessing their unique gifts, that’s where the Guide comes in to play. The Sentinel could get so lost in his senses without a Guide that he would have periods that would seem to the outsider as if they had zoned out. I had thought he actually found one but then …”
“Then what?” Jack replied.
“He came forward at a press conference and said that none of it was true. He destroyed his own career, making himself out to be a fraud.” Daniel hung his head shoving his hands deeply into his pockets. He and Blair Sandburg really had a lot in common. Neither one could show their faces in academia.
“Do you believe that Danny?” Daniel looked up in surprise at the question.
“No, I think he found what he was looking for and for whatever reason covered it up. I can hardly wait to talk to him about it!” Daniel sat back then took a good look at Jack’s face. “What’s wrong?”
Jack took out a scrapbook from his desk and handed it to Daniel. “Go on, open it and tell me what you think.”
Daniel frowned and opened it to find newspaper clippings filled with tales of Jack’s friend Jim Ellison the super cop of the Cascade PD. Some of the criminal arrests seemed too incredible for an average cop, and in several of the photos there stood his partner Blair Sandburg.
There were also pictures of Jim and Jack in the military with clippings of Jim’s heroic deeds. Little notes accompanied some of the pictures where Jack had written ‘heard the enemy a mile off’ and ‘don’t know how he saw it coming’ or ‘knew it was poison’. Daniel closed the book and Jack could see the gears clicking along. “Jack you don’t suppose your friend Jim is a Sentinel do you?”
“Yeah, Danny I do. And if he is, I’d bet ten bucks that Sandburg is his Guide.”
****************
In the meantime, hundreds of miles away a similar conversation was going on aboard a small private plane.
“What did you say the name of this guy is who is love with Jack?” Blair asked trying not to look out the window.
“Um Jackson, and Jack said he was probably the best translator in the world.” Jim shrugged as he flew the small plane.
“No, no way man! Doctor Daniel Jackson?? What the fuck is he doing on a military base? Unless… no way no fucking way!”
“Blair you know this guy?”
“I know of him. Damn Jim, Doctor Daniel Jackson is brilliant! But he’s mainly an archeologist. He’s a die hard Egyptologist, wound up a laughing stock and disappeared off the damn map man.”
“Laughing stock?”
“Dr. Jackson said the pyramids of Egypt were like thousands of years older than the Egyptian civilization.”
“Then who built them?” Jim asked in confusion.
“See that’s the thing, he didn’t know who but there were rumors flying that it was built by aliens according to Jackson. That’s what destroyed his reputation. I heard he lost his research grant, his apartment like everything.”
“Aliens? In Egypt?” Jim laughed.
“Hey man, think about it. Atlantis, the Mayans, the Aztecs and the Egyptians were all way more advanced then they should have been! They had technology we still don’t understand and maybe never will!”
“So you think he was onto something?” Jim frowned.
“Oh, hell yeah, but then he vanished. I thought maybe he went on a dig somewhere. But he wound up in the military? That makes no sense he’s a scholar not a soldier, a real pacifist.”
“Unless there was some truth to what he said and they are shutting him up.” Jim reasoned.
“Hmm, Dr. Jackson said that there should have been something found on the Gaza Plateau to explain how the technology came to be. What if something was found and the military got their mitts on it?” Blair was really looking forward to meeting Doctor Jackson.
“And they needed the best Egyptologist they could lay their hands on to decipher it? I don’t know it’s kind of far fetched.” Jim’s forehead furrowed.
“But Jim, why would the military need an Egyptologist unless they had something too important for the public to know about?”
“Well, you’ve got me there Chief. It has to be big, really big. Jack does work at Cheyenne Mountain and it’s the tightest facility the Air Force has available, besides Area 51. It’s built over a missile silo.”
“Wow man, you mean Area 51 really exists?”
“Yeah chief it does. You forget I have top clearance, and with buddies in high places like O’Neill you hear things even if you aren’t supposed to.”
“Cool!” With his curiosity temporarily satisfied and his brain working on a thousand things at once Blair sat back to close his eyes. “You know I heard Doctor Jackson is like drop dead gorgeous too. Jack should consider himself lucky.”
Jim smiled at Blair as he thought,’ I know I am pretty lucky to have you Chief.”
************************************************
Daniel was in his office trying to get some work done while staying out of the madhouse that tended to be characteristic of a Friday at the SGC. But he was having a hard time concentrating. Deciding on a small mental health break he made himself a cup of coffee and stared into space. It was becoming more and more typical that Daniel needed to allow himself such small breaks. Of course, it all traced down to a certain brown eyed Colonel O’Neill.
The archeologist had been horrified to discover he would have to tell O’Neill of his true feelings in order to stay on the SGC. Yet, some deity must have smiled on him to have O’Neill come up with the idea that he should just say it in another language.
Part of him had wanted to simply scream it out from the rooftops but the saner, level headed Daniel knew that would mean the end of his career at Cheyenne Mountain. More importantly it would be the end of his friendship with Colonel O’Neill. Daniel sighed, if only…he shook himself out of his romantic ideals that the Colonel would ever reciprocate his feelings.
It had been such a godsend when Jack had showed up in his office not long after the test, business as usual. Daniel had been crying over the whole aggravating situation, thinking his life at the SGC was over when the man strolled into his office. In fact Daniel had felt so much better he had been going perhaps a tad over the top bringing him two meals in one day. Daniel frowned.
This was a military base and he had to be careful not to overstep the bounds of friendship no matter how deeply and hopelessly in love with the Colonel he was. Inhaling deeply of his coffee he closed his eyes to picture what it would be like once, just once to have Jack smile at him, lean over and kiss him.
“Wow Daniel, I’ve never seen anyone worship a cup of coffee like you do,” Major Samantha Carter had entered, unannounced and plopped into a chair. So much for daydreaming about Jack; he only hoped he wasn’t blushing. “Did the Colonel tell you how the tests went, because he wouldn’t tell me.”
Daniel smiled inwardly that he had the one up on the beautiful blonde that he’d been jealous of for years. After all it certainly seemed that she and the Colonel had an affair going on behind the scenes. “As far as I could tell everything is just fine Sam, no worries.”
The blonde nodded, looking like a great weight of worry had just lifted from her shoulders. “So you and he having your usual Friday night get together of pizza and videos?”
“Actually yes and actually Jack has friends coming into town that I’m looking forward to meeting.” Sam perked up at this bit of news it was certainly unusual for the Colonel to ever stray from his routine at home. It seemed to be one of the things he demanded in his life - repetition and habit.
“Oh really? Who is it? Do I know them?” Sam’s green eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“I don’t know Sam. Jack’s friend is a Jim Ellison with the Cascade Police Department. He’s bringing a friend that I am REALLY looking forward to meeting, Blair Sandburg. Blair is a brilliant man, anthropologist and can ….”
Sam laughed. “You’re kidding me right, two geniuses, a cop and a Colonel? Glad I wasn’t invited.” She rolled her eyes at what she thought of the pairings and possible
conversation. “Well, see you Monday Daniel. I’ve got a date.” She wiggled her eyebrows, no doubt inviting comment but Daniel had gone back to his paperwork, clearly not interested.
“Huh, oh yeah, see you Monday Sam. Have fun,” Daniel waved looking up just a moment to see her smile and shake her head before she slammed the door. Frowning, Daniel wondered at all the dates Samantha had been having lately. There were rumors starting around base and they weren’t very kind. With little enthusiasm he dug back into his mountainous paperwork.
Jack had been watching the clock for the last two hours counting down until he could leave the base. He’d made headway on the reports the General had ‘hinted’ he do and he was feeling rather accomplished at the result. Now instead of a full inbox the outbox was half full. He looked again at the clock.
“Thank god!’ Jack jumped up with energy he was sure had been sucked out of him by the evil paper dragon. He grabbed his coat, locked the door and made his way quickly to Daniel’s office. The archaeologist cum linguist was hard at work on a translation and didn’t even hear Jack come in. Jack snuck around to the back of Daniel’s desk waiting to see when he’d be noticed. He got right up the desk and leaned over within a breath of Daniel. “Time to go Dannyboy,” Jack whispered.
“JACK!” Daniel shouted knocking over his papers. Shaking his head Jack leaned over to help him pick up the papers. “Damn I never heard you come in,” Daniel gasped. As they reached down to pick up the rest Jack’s hand lightly brushed over Daniel’s by accident. They both looked at each other and were inches away from each other.
Daniel stared into Jack’s eyes and lost himself, he licked his lips nervously unable to look away. Jack smiled and for a brief moment wondered what it would be like to kiss Daniel when he remembered the security cameras. Clearing his throat he picked up the rest and laid them on Daniel’s desk.
“I didn’t mean to spook you. Sorry about that,” Jack said as a means of apology. He turned his back and grabbed Daniel’s coat.
Daniel whispered,” Ik wou dat je me zoende.” (I wish you would kiss me.)
“What did you say?” Jack asked trying desperately to commit it to memory. “Danny did you say something?”
“Never mind Jack, it’s not important. Are we just taking your truck?” Daniel asked with a sigh taking his coat from Jack as he shut down his computer.
“Yeah, that sounds good,” Jack tried to hide his disappointment that Daniel wouldn’t tell him what he’d said. But Jack was satisfied he’d committed it to memory. Maybe he could get Sandburg to find out what it meant. Then his mind turned to that split second where he’d thought about kissing Daniel.
Did he really want to kiss Daniel? Was he ready for the consequences? How would it affect their friendship? He put his hands deeply into his pockets as they walked out of the SGC together, heading for his truck lost in thought.
He didn’t say a word on the way to his house. Driving on autopilot he was surprised when they arrived. He got out and let them both into the house. Daniel bit his lower lip with concern before asking, “Jack, you okay?”
“Yeah, it’s been a long day. I guess I kind of got lost in thought.” Jack shrugged letting them both inside.
“So how long has it been since you’ve seen Jim?” Daniel asked walking over to look out the back windows of the house at the Colorado mountains.
“Damn,” Jack said aloud as he counted up the years. “Ten years? Has it been that long? I suppose it has. Hell.”
“But you can just talk to him like it was yesterday? Wow. It must be nice to have that kind of connection with someone. Is he married?”
“No. He’s a happy bachelor. Jim can catch women almost as easy as you.” Jack chuckled. “So how come I haven’t seen you dating anyone lately?”
“Maybe because there aren’t any more Goa’uld’s on the planet? You know my track record. Women are like a bad rash. They look nice but you get too close and you get infected. If you scratch it then it just gets worse.” Daniel made his way into the kitchen to start the coffee maker.
“I didn’t realize you’d gotten so bitter. Not that I’d really blame you. Speaking of dates, have you, um, heard anything about Carter?”
“You still sweet on her Jack?” Daniel turned away and held himself. “From what I hear you have competition. You better claim her now.”
“No Danny, I’m not.” Jack reached out and put a hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “I am concerned with how it reflects on the team. It won’t look good for promotions for her either. Are you upset about the rumors?”
Daniel turned. “I thought that you and Sam…” Jack shook his head as the phone rang.
“Jack? Can you tell me how to get there from the airport?” Jim’s voice crackled over a cell phone.
“Sure Jim,” Jack said loudly for Daniel’s sake.
Daniel sat down on the couch to think as Jack guided his guests toward the house. So Jack wasn’t interested in Sam. Major Carter was out of the picture. No worrying about Jack and Sam running off together, Daniel felt a huge grin cover his face. This was good news.
He relived the moment in the office again imagining they had kissed. The smile on his face got bigger. He covertly watched Jack get excited about their visitors. The Colonel was rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet while getting beer out of the refrigerator. His brown eyes twinkled and Daniel began to wonder if he and Sandburg would be babysitting two oversized troublemakers. Daniel was getting excited too at the prospect of being able to talk about the trade with Sandburg. He hoped Blair felt the same.
Jack got off the phone with Jim and beamed at Daniel. “They’re pulling up. Are you going to be okay? You look a bit nervous.”
“Yes Jack I’m fine.” Jack made a face at this. Daniel said that when his leg was broken and in agony. “Really Jack, please go answer the door.” Jack half skipped over to the door and was instantly bowled over by a man that looked like he could tackle a football player.
Jim Ellison was tall, strong and sturdy looking. It was easy to believe he was one cop you didn’t want to tangle with. Daniel smiled as he watched the two friends go from hugging to wrestling and giving each other pats on the back that could knock over a statue. From around this scene Daniel saw a curly, brunet struggling to get by.
Daniel went over and helped move the man away the two by the door.
“Wow, thanks man!” The handsome young man with sparkling blue eyes and curly beautiful brown hair instantly entranced Daniel. “Doctor Jackson I presume?”
“Daniel. You must be Blair Sandburg. It’s nice to finally meet you.” Daniel gave what he hoped was his best smile.
Blair cocked a thumb at the two old friends. “You do realize we have babysitting duty right?”
“Hey!” Jack yelled in protest before Jim pinned him to the floor then was flipped back over by Jack. The two younger men looked away.
“So I see. Can I get you something to drink? There’s beer, wine…”
“Oh wow, wine? All Jim ever gets is beer. That sounds great,” Blair grinned and followed Daniel out to the kitchen.
“Jack’s a beer hound too. The wine is for when he knows I’m going to be around,” Daniel poured out a glass for Blair then filled one for himself. The sounds of something breaking diverted their attention.
“Oh for crying out loud you over grown horse, get off me!” Jack shoved Jim off, got up and looked really upset. Daniel brought out dust pan for the glass but stopped short as he saw Jack’s face. Suddenly Daniel understood; it was a picture of Charlie.
“Is the picture damaged?” Daniel asked in his softest tone.
“No,’ Jack said with emotion.
"I'll swap it out with another frame,” Daniel pried it gently from Jack’s hands. They exchanged a look that spoke volumes. Daniel gently patted Jack on the shoulder and went to look for another frame.
“I’m sorry Jack,” Jim said softly. Jack nodded, inhaling deeply and grabbed his beer. Blair looked at Jim quizzically and the bigger man gave a minute shrug of his head indicating that they would discuss it later.
“So, Sandburg right?” Jack pasted a smile on his face as he held out a hand to Blair.
Blair nodded. “Yeah sorry I slipped in my Jim caretaking duties. I’ll spank him later. But you know him he’d probably enjoy it too much.”
“Chief!” Jim protested with a grin on his face.
End Part 1
Shock Value by Keikokin [ - ]
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