Part 2
Jack’s eyes went wide and he pulled Blair to the side. “Hey I have something else that needs translated.” Blair nodded eager to know what Daniel let slip this time.” Ik wou dat je me zoende.” Jack pointed to a laptop on the table then patted him on the back. “Thanks.”
“Pretty boy throw another curve?” Jim asked pulling Jack off to the side. Jack nodded, watching Blair intently as he began the translation. “I’ll go stall.”
Jack patted him on the arm before Jim went in search of Daniel. It only took a few rooms before he found him swapping the picture of Charlie out with a picture of a fishing trip. “I forgot what a good looking kid he was.” Jim said softly not wanting to upset the young man.
“I wish I had met him. He must have been a great kid. Jack has problems even saying his name.” Daniel looked up at the big man. Jim gave what he hoped to be a remorseful yet friendly look.
“By the way, I’m Jim Ellison. Jack talks pretty highly of you Jackson. I don’t envy you having to work with him; I know what he’s like.”
“Hi, you can call me Daniel. He’s a great guy, but I’m not telling you anything. I sure wouldn’t want to do the kind of work we do without Jack protecting our six.” Daniel smiled just talking about Jack and Jim saw the love in his eyes. He took a good look at Daniel. The man was in his thirties, muscular and very good-looking. Why was Jack hesitating? Jim would give the world to have Blair tell him that he loved him in any language.
“You must be close. I was surprised he let go of that picture. Or that he wanted me to meet anybody new. Blair was pretty excited to meet you.” Jim gave a big smile and Daniel saw him light up at the mention of Blair.
“Does he know that you love him?” Daniel whispered with a smile.
“Wow, does it show?” Jim asked with concern.
"Let’s say it takes one to know one.” Daniel shrugged.
“So do I need to ask what your intentions are toward Jack?” Jim teased. Daniel laughed and felt himself blush. “If we get the chance maybe we can help each other, Daniel.”
Daniel’s face fell. “You have a better chance than I do. Jack is career military, you know that Jim. Besides he’s not interested.”
Jim put an arm around Daniel. “Jack hasn’t seen me in a decade. If he wants me to suddenly meet you it must be serious. The last person I met was his wife. Don’t give up on Jack, he needs you more than his stubbornness will let him admit -no doubt.” Daniel looked up at the man with hope, fear and sadness in his eyes.
Jim gave him a smile and they walked back out into the living room where Jack and Blair had just read the translation. Jack was looking at the computer with a huge smile on his face. Blair was looking up at him with an equally huge smile. Daniel felt Jim’s arm tighten convulsively around his shoulder and Daniel felt his chest squeeze at the sight.
Blair looked at them first immediately sensing something was wrong with his Sentinel. “Hey guys, are we ready to order pizza yet? I’m like seriously starving here.’
Daniel felt Jim relax and slid out from under his arm to set the picture down, this time on the mantle. Jack patted Daniel on the back and handed him his wine glass. He looked up to see the famous O’Neill smile shinning down at him and wanted nothing more than to kiss him senseless. Instead he looked down. “Well, I like mushrooms, pepperoni basically anything but onions and anchovies.”
“THANK YOU MAN!” Blair cheered. “I knew I liked you Daniel!” Jack and Jim both grimaced. Blair laughed. “Okay one pizza for us and one for the men in uniform?” Daniel now laughed.
Jack picked up the phone and placed the order as Blair sat on the floor followed by Daniel. Jim grabbed his beer and sank into the couch. “So how did …” both Daniel and Blair started then laughed.
“Uh-oh here we go. Jack, please tell me you get the game on cable?” Jim pleaded.
“You betcha!’ Jack grinned grabbed the remote and turned it onto the hockey game pre-show.
Daniel motioned toward the table so he and Blair could hear themselves think much less talk. “You first,” he motioned to Blair. “Ask away.”
“So how the hell did you wind up working for the military?” Blair blurted out.
“Technically, I’m a civilian consultant. I take it you heard about my fall from grace?” Daniel looked up and Blair nodded sympathetically making the hand gesture that he had fallen from academia as well. “Right, well just as I was thrown out of my apartment, my life in two suitcases a black car pulls up and that started my association with the Air Force. They needed some translation done, I got lucky and figured it out.”
“And?” Blair leaned forward eagerly. “What was it that is so Top Secret you are working at Cheyenne Mountain? It has to do with Egyptology and aliens doesn’t it?” Jack and Jim were at the table in a heartbeat.
“Daniel.” Jack said in his Colonel tone of voice.
“Chief,” Jim said in his deep cop tone.
“AWW now come on!!” Blair threw up his hands. “Look both of us took the fall no one else can understand what the other has been through like we can. There is NO ONE ELSE to talk to! Am I right Daniel or am I right man?”
“Jack, he has a point. But,” Daniel looked pointedly at Blair and Jim,” if we talk so do they.” Both Blair and Daniel looked up with matching puppy dog eyes.
“Kee-rist! Would you look at that? We are so dead. Why are we spending good money on bombers when we can make these two stare down the opposition until they feel so bad they give us whatever they want!?” Jack threw his arms into the air.
“You have to admit Jack they make a cute pair.” Jim chuckled. Encouraged, Blair took off Daniel’s glasses tossed his arm around his shoulders and they put on the pout full force cheek to cheek. “Damn O’Neill. You’re right we’re dead.”
Jack sighed before making the hand signal to sweep the room and the two men worked in perfect coordination checking the room thoroughly. Then they went systematically through the whole house. When every room was searched they returned to see the puppy dog faces had increased by the power of hope. The pizza arrived and it was quickly set at the table as Jack set the hockey game to record. They began to eat and talk.
Looking seriously at Jim then Blair Jack said,” National security issues are at stake here. I can and will have either of you arrested for mentioning any of this.”
“Well, if our secret gets out Jim and I will wind up on a dissection table.” Blair frowned.
“Sorry, but you have to go first. If I judge it as coming close then you can ask us questions. But I will not volunteer anything, got that?” Jack said in his commanding tone. Jim saluted and Blair smiled coming around to sit next to him.
“Do you remember my dissertation Daniel on Peruvian Sentinels?” Blair began so relieved to tell anyone he could have cried. “Jim is a Sentinel and I am his Guide.”
Jack howled and stuck out his hand to Daniel. “What did I tell you? Ten bucks, pay up now Dannyboy.”
Jim roared with laughter as Blair gasped. “You KNEW?”
Daniel shrugged. “We guessed. Jack remembered things about Jim from the time you had been together, before Blair. I knew about Blair’s theories. It was the only thing that made sense. Jack was the one that figured out you were Jim’s Guide, Blair.”
“Figures, flyboy graduated at the top of his class.” Jim laughed. “Combine the two of you and you could probably work your way out of life and death situations like it was child’s play.”
Jack put his hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “Not always, but we make a good team don’t we Danny?”
“Thanks Jack,” Daniel stared down shyly at his plate. “I always knew that dumb act was for show, but you would have figured it out without me, plus I endanger the team.”
“Figured what out? Daniel, were you right about the aliens, Egyptians and that something would link it together? Were you right about the age of the pyramids?” Blair blurted out and Jim put a hand on his shoulder in a mirror image of Jack.
“Easy there Chief. Give him a chance to talk?” Blair looked embarrassed and ate a slice of pizza as he waited.
Daniel looked at Jack who smiled. “Go ahead Danny; you deserve to be able to tell someone. I just wish we could blow all those eggheads away who made fun of you.”
Leaning forward eagerly Daniel whispered. “Yes, I was right about all of it. There were aliens who predated the Egyptians and built the pyramids as landing sites. An enormous artifact was found that the military needed translated but they couldn’t do it.”
“Danny here figured out what the supposed ‘experts’ couldn’t do in seven years plus! It took him twenty-four hours. We owe the entire program to him.” Jim smiled as he heard Daniel’s heart race with his Sentinel senses, at the praise Jack was lavishing on him. Blair’s heartbeat was elevated too, with excitement.
“Oh man!!! I knew it! What was it?” Blair was bouncing in his seat.
“A stable wormhole conductor that can travel to distant planets and galaxies in the blink of an eye,” Daniel whispered. “The artifacts are incredible. Untouched spread throughout the cosmos, people descended from human slaves and the cultures!”
They spent the rest of the dinner swapping stories of other worlds, crimes, aliens, and solving murders. “You know if you two ever get tired of police work I could get you into the program.” Jack offered.
Blair’s mouth dropped. “Oh man I would love it!”
“Blair you’d have to carry a weapon,” Jim reminded him. “You’d probably be killing on a daily basis.”
Blair looked crestfallen. “But Daniel learned how to do it.”
“Daniel had no choice. You still do. Well, what do you say Jim? Are you up for a hockey game?” Jack gestured toward the couch and the two men adjourned to watch the game as the two archeologists talked.
After a long time Daniel and Blair decided to go sit on the couch since it was more comfortable. Daniel fell asleep first slumping into Jack’s shoulder, and without thinking Jack put his arm around Daniel who sighed happily then began to lightly snore.
“So what did he say this time?” Jim asked quietly so as not to wake up Daniel.
“Ik wou dat je me zoende,” Blair whispered.
Jack’s face lit up. “It means… I wish you would kiss me. We had a bit of a close encounter today at work. I have to admit I actually thought about it.”
“So why didn’t you man?” Blair asked softly.
“Blair he’s career military, besides that place is probably crawling with security cameras. Jack would face dishonorable discharge, loss of his pension and a court martial.”
“No way, just for kissing someone?” Blair was incredulous.
“A man definitely,” Jack answered. “Daniel isn’t exactly military but it would cook my goose. If anything happened it would have to be kept secret. It could endanger the team, too.”
“Is that what stopped you?” Jim asked softly.
“I don’t really know. Ever since, well you know, I can’t seem to get him off my mind. Then tonight …well it made me, oh hell I don’t know. I’m not good with this feeling stuff.” Jack shrugged.
Jim was about to interrupt to tell them Daniel was waking back up when Blair said. “So even if you love Daniel you don’t stand a chance because you don’t think you could keep it secret?” Jim winced as he hear a sob choke in Daniels chest.
“It’s not fair to ask him to wait until I retire. Like I said I’m not good with this feeling stuff. I just know something is there between us.” Jack shrugged and Jim made sure to interrupt.
“Say Jack, why don’t you show Blair where we are bunking down?” Nodding Jack laid Daniel on the couch before showing Blair the bedrooms.
“Hey, you okay?” Jim asked softly brushing a tear off Daniel’s cheek as he came to sit next to where the man had curled up into a ball.
“Does it matter?” Daniel’s voice sounded strangled. Jim hauled Daniel into his arms and held him tightly, not once mentioning the fact his shirt was getting wet with hot tears. He looked up over Daniel’s head as he heard Blair approaching. Jack, he could hear was riffling through a closet for extra linens.
Blair took one look at Daniel crying in Jim’s arms and felt odd. Just as he was thinking on what was going on, quickly putting two and two together. He turned on his heel and Jim turned up his hearing. Blair found Jack pulling pillows off a top shelf. Jim heard the smack of flesh and guessed Blair must have hit Jack in the arm.
“Hey, what the hell was that for?” Jack groused.
“Daniel is out there sobbing his heart out. Jim’s trying to comfort him. You better do something Colonel or you will be looking for a new archaeologist and best friend.” Blair scolded. Jim smiled he’d been on the end of Blair’s rants. He could picture the fury coming off Blair in waves.
Next he heard the all too familiar sounds of Jack pacing. “What the hell can I do?”
“You just told us top secret stuff that is a matter of national security. The ceiling didn’t fall down, we don’t have MIB’s knocking at the door. I think if you can tell us that and get away with it you can manage to hide a relationship. Hell, it sounds like you two spend every weekend and down time together anyway. It should be you out there holding Daniel, not Jim. If you refuse to admit you love the guy at least continue to be his friend. “
Jim smiled. If he knew Jack he’d be out here in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two…right on schedule a very determined Jack O’Neill walked into the room. He stood in front of Jim with his arms folded. “That’s my archaeologist you are wrapped around. You’ve got your own scientist, Ellison. Back off, and that’s an order.”
Pulling away slowly Jim looked into Daniel’s eyes to make sure it was okay to leave. But Daniel had looked up at Jack with tear filled blue eyes. “Your archaeologist?” Jack shoved Jim forcibly out of the way and brought Daniel into his arms.
“That’s right you have a problem with that Doctor Jackson?” the Colonel demanded. “Now cease and desist with the water works and prepare to be held all night long. You got that?”
Jim gave Jack the thumbs up and went to talk to Blair. If Jack could do it, maybe he could too. He could hear Blair’s blood pressure was elevated. Walking into the spare room he saw the angry fire in Blair’s eyes. “Before I get in trouble too, let me tell you Daniel isn’t the only one.”
“What?” Blair’s wind was knocked out of his sails. “Jim what do you mean?”
“I love you Chief. Now I don’t expect to hear you say it in return. All I want is to just be able to hold you tonight, if that’s acceptable?” He barely got the words out before he was tackled with a patented Blair bear hug. “I’ll take that as a ‘yes’.”
The Sentinel turned toward the hall hearing Jack and Daniel approaching. He nudged his Guide. Daniel laughed as he saw Jim with his arms wrapped around Blair. Jim smiled in return seeing the way Jack had his arm possessively around Daniel’s waist. Jack stopped and wrapped himself around Daniel from behind. Daniel sighed happily leaning back into Jack. Jim positioned Blair the same way and they all stood smiling like idiots for a minute before Jim broke the happy silence.
“You were right Jack I do have my own scientist to hold tonight,” Jim teased.
“Yeah, I bet they make damn good pillows,” Jack laughed. “I guess I don’t have to get any more linens out.”
“That’s a big negative Colonel,” Jim retorted.
“I’m sorry I came down on you so hard,” Blair offered Jack.
“So I have you to thank?” Daniel asked giving Jack a nudge to the ribs.
“Hey, I was there too ya’ know!” Jack protested.
Jim laughed. “Good night guys.”
“Good night,” the other three men chorused. Jack dropped a kiss to Daniel’s head and they continued down the hall, arm-in-arm.
Shock Value by Keikokin [ - ]
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