Story: What We Call Normal Part II
Jack really had no problem with the British-Australian team, although he was slightly concerned it might eventually lead to a Chinese team, and that would be intolerable. He had spent too much time fighting the Cold War to blithely accept communists in SGC. (Although the Chinese were getting awfully greedy, which made them communists and hypocrites.) At least the Russians were better all around these days, and that was saying something. Anyway, the British-Australian team was fine by him. The only issue was the jokes they made which never made any sense.
Commander Harold Evans, Royal Australian Air Force (Jack had been told his rank equaled a USAF lieutenant colonel) led the newest SG team. He seemed to enjoy reminding his 2IC, Major James Ashburn, Royal Marines, that this time an Australian was in charge and the Brits were to follow. Ashburn had mentioned something about ‘letting go of Gallipoli already’ but the two worked together well and Jack had high hopes for this team. So much so that he’d assigned SG-1 to teach them the ropes.
He was in the middle of an email update to Hammond. You can tell the British liaison, he typed, and the Australian liaison while you’re at it, that Carter’s initial reports on SG-27 are favorable.
Something flickered to his left. Jack looked over and saw Thor, or at least Thor’s hologram. “Hello, Thor.”
“Greetings, O’Neill.” The Asgard blinked and asked, “Is there significance to your change of attire?”
“Why yes there is. I retired from the Air Force.”
“And yet you are still here.”
“Only retired from the Air Force. Not a bad gig, since they’re actually paying me more as a civilian.” Not a lot more, but there was the principle of the thing. And actually, with his pension, he was completely secure financially. He and Daniel, he reminded himself. That sort of stuff was a joint endeavor now.
“I did not realize financial gain was such a strong motivator.” Thor managed to sound disappointed. Jack thought that his ability to notice that spoke to how often he ran into the little grey guy.
“That’s not why I retired, just a nice perk.”
He fully expected Thor to ask what the reason was, but the Asgard didn’t. That happened sometimes when he tried to anticipate aliens’ actions according to human standards. Daniel had a fifteen-minute lecture on anthropomorphizing, and while Jack thought fifteen minutes was excessive, Daniel did have a point, as Thor had just demonstrated.
“The Asgard High Council requests permission for Heimdall and her assistants to visit your Ancient outpost. We believe there may be information useful to solving our cloning problem.”
Jack thought the whole cloning thing was creepy, especially after his own experience with it, but the Asgard with their desperate search to preserve their race gave a whole new dimension to the idea. “Officially, that decision is out of my hands,” he told Thor. “Unofficially, we’ll make it happen.”
“You have our thanks.” One of the white beaming lights flashed, and there was an Asgard communicator on his desk. “Use this to contact me aboard the Carter when you have news.”
“The Carter, huh?” Thor seemed to go through a lot of ships.
“Yes.” The little alien paused, blinked, and stated, “I am pleased that you still command this facility, O’Neill.”
“Thanks,” he replied. “So am I.”
“I will await your communication.” With that, Thor’s hologram winked out of existence. Jack, thinking to himself that life really was good, picked up the phone to call Hammond.
*****
Daniel was in his office conferring with Sam about ZPMs. The Asgard scientists currently in Antarctica had uncovered a bit of text about ZPMs, which were even beyond Asgard technology. He was halfway through the translation, but Sam couldn’t wait for the entire thing.
“The problem is that we have no equivalent for some of these advanced technical terms,” he explained.
Jack walked into his office, a man on a mission. "Oh good, two at once. You know how we're supposed to go to your place for dinner?" he asked Sam.
"The day after tomorrow, barring emergencies."
"Right. Change of plans. How about you, Teal'c and Hallowell come to our place instead?" suggested Jack.
"Any particular reason? I didn't think my cooking was so bad."
"Rosnik came to see me, off the record. He's realized there's something everyone else on SG-1 knows. I told him that I know for a fact none of his teammates have any personal or professional issues with him, but for some reason he didn't believe me."
"Really?" asked Sam. "I didn't think we'd acted any differently." Daniel suspected that might be his fault, somehow. Well, it wasn't Teal'c's, that was for sure.
"The last thing we need is the Russians getting offended again. So I told him to come over Friday at 1900."
For a minute Daniel was surprised that Jack invited Aleksi Rosnik over to their home. Not that he had objections, because he didn’t mind at all if people knew they were together. Then he realized what Jack was doing: taking it out of the mountain precisely because it was personal business.
"Eddie won't be as intimidated going to your house if Rosnik's there," decided Sam, who smiled to herself as she said her boyfriend's name. “As long as you don’t mind that he knows about you guys.”
Jack said, "Oh, just tell him on the way over. Maybe he’ll stop worrying that one of us is trying to steal you away from him.”
She blushed. "I'll just, ah, go tell him about the change of plans," she announced, which was really a poor excuse, but she'd picked up on the fact that Daniel wanted a moment alone with Jack.
"Tell Teal'c, would you? I told Rosnik to give him a ride because he knows the way."
Sam shut the door behind her, giving Daniel his moment. "Are you okay with this?"
"Not hiding, remember?"
It was never a good sign when Jack avoided giving a direct answer. Daniel stood up and moved closer to him. "It's a yes or no question."
"Look, offended and suspicious Russians are very bad. I try to avoid them at all costs. Not that... damn it, Daniel, you know what I mean."
He took pity on his lover. "You don't really want to explain to Rosnik, but you're doing it for SGC."
"You do know it's not about you, right?"
"I was under the impression I was a key figure," said Daniel, who didn't quite follow.
"You are, but it's not like I don't want people to know because... it's not personal."
Oh, now he understood. "I know you're not ashamed of me, Jack," he promised. "You're not ashamed. Just afraid." Daniel had never, ever thought Jack was ashamed of him. He knew full well that Jack was the product of a thirty-odd-year career in an intensely homophobic organization that discouraged dissent. Usually, he felt like it was a small miracle Jack was with him at all.
"I'm not -"
"Yes, you are."
Jack didn't admit it, but tellingly failed to argue the point further. “Well, if he has a problem, there are plenty of other people who’d love to have his job.”
“Right.” Daniel patted Jack’s shoulder and decided to try for a mood-lightening quip. “And don’t forget, he’ll be outnumbered at our house.”
*****
It was clearly a suspicious and guarded Russian captain who came in with Teal’c. He surveyed the room and seemed slightly perturbed by the fact that the head of SGC was pouring wine for guests, which included Rosnik himself. Of course, if Jack was in his shoes, he’d be suspicious too.
On the bright side for Rosnik, Carter took a sip of her wine, so it clearly hadn’t been poisoned.
Jack was, at least, relieved that Hallowell had no qualms about he and Daniel being together. He still thought the biologist was thrilled because he didn’t have to worry about competition with Carter’s close male friends, two being with each other and the third in a very, very long-distance relationship. (Jack had given up trying to understand Teal’c and Ishta.) Hallowell wasn’t the least bit bothered, so far as Jack could tell.
“Hope you like spaghetti,” he said to Rosnik.
“Yes,” the man replied, wary. Jack figured he could’ve announced that they were having raw Goa’uld and Rosnik would’ve claimed to like it.
Since the atmosphere wasn’t really conducive to small talk, they started in with the food. Teal’c eyed the salad bowl with concern as it made its way around the table. “Are there jalapeño peppers in this salad?”
“No, T. Nobody wants to go there again.” Jack shuddered a little at the memory. Whether it was all Jaffa or just Teal’c nobody knew, but he’d had a terrible allergic reaction to jalapeño pepper.
“Just watch out at Olive Garden,” added Sam.
“I do not intend to consume salad from Olive Garden ever again.”
Considering the fever and hives he’d gotten, Jack could hardly blame Teal’c there. “No peppers at all,” he promised.
“I do not understand,” said Rosnik suddenly. “What are we doing?”
“Having dinner,” replied Daniel calmly.
Rosnik turned to Jack. “I fail to understand what this has to do with learning what the rest of SG-1 has kept from me.”
“Oh, for cryin’ out loud! Do I look like the kind of guy who hangs weird masks in his house? Or has a statue like that?” Jack pointed to one of Daniel’s uglier statues. Unfortunately it was also one of his favorites.
Rosnik just looked at him blankly. “I assumed they were gifts from Dr. Jackson.”
Before Jack could speak, Daniel corrected the Russian. “I wouldn’t give those away. They’re some of my favorites.”
Rosnik looked puzzled, then shocked. Jack had to remind himself to breath, because Rosnik could still try to stir up trouble over this. The only problem was that not telling him would definitely lead to trouble. Daniel’s hand resting on his knee was a welcome reminder of what really mattered, and Jack grabbed it.
“This is privileged information, yes?” said Rosnik at last.
“Very perceptive,” confirmed Jack.
“Nobody outside you” - Daniel made an encompassing motion - “knows.”
“And the mailman,” added Jack.
Teal’c gave him a perplexed look. “The mailman?”
“Well, I think it’s kinda obvious, with all Daniel’s mail. And even if the mailman wasn’t looking at the names, I sure never got the Journal of Archeological Method and Theory.”
“Do mailmen even pay that much attention?” asked Hallowell.
“Nothing to do with me personally or professionally indeed,” said Rosnik. That was what Jack had tried to tell him but he hadn’t believed. Apparently he believed it now.
Carter was watching him, trying to make sure he wasn’t a threat to SG-1 as a team or the two of them as her friends. “I apologize for making you feel excluded.”
“Nyet, it was not my business. It is I who should apologize.”
That, Jack thought, was a good sign.
He didn’t look particularly thrilled, but Rosnik continued, “I assure you that this information will have no bearing on my professional conduct, and will not be shared.”
Sam nodded. “Glad to hear it.”
“Thank you,” said Daniel.
Jack just managed to nod and finally serve himself salad.
*****
Come Monday, Daniel followed Rosnik’s cue and went back to last names. The man was true to his word, though, because while he was clearly not quite comfortable with Daniel, he was as professional as ever. Daniel wished they were still training SG-27, just so the mood would be different. It’d been a while since he had to deal with the post-coming out awkwardness.
The first hour of sky-watching had been nice, especially with the three comets Sam was so excited about, but after that it started to get old. Jack would’ve liked it. Daniel was more interested in learning if there were remnants of past civilization on the presently uninhabited planet, and if the comets had significance in local culture. Both of those were next to impossible to determine in the dark. And that in itself felt weird - being under a night sky when his watch and stomach both told him it was barely lunchtime.
Teal’c had no use at all for stargazing and no challenge to defend their little hill. He was therefore, in his own stoic way, bored. Sam was having a great time, taking measurements, recording observations, and working out a theory on the comets that Daniel honestly didn’t care very much about. Rosnik was in charge of running the bulky telescope with a camera and he occasionally chimed in with regards to Sam’s theory.
What Daniel liked was that, with the Goa’uld less menacing than they’d ever been and the Replicators gone for good, SG-1 could devote time to watching comets. Now he just needed to find a promising archaeological site to spend some time at.
“So how’s your research project?” he asked Teal’c. Unfortunately for Teal’c, SGC lacked people who were really able to explain political theory to his satisfaction. Daniel had picked up two books for him. Personally he preferred to go to a nice local bookstore, but he was starting to think Teal’c should get an Amazon account.
Maybe it was time to talk to Jack about setting Teal’c up with a debit card.
“None of the works I have read are sufficiently adaptable for Jaffa. I fear that I will soon be expected to produce a creed.”
“That’s such a bad thing?”
“Yes,” said Teal’c, leaving no room for discussion.
“Anybody want lunch?” asked Sam.
Not having anything better to do, Daniel replied, “Sure.”
“That is fine,” said Rosnik, fretting over the camera for a minute before walking away. Teal’c handed out their sandwiches, water, and oranges.
“I got an email from Cassie this morning,” said Sam.
“Janet Fraiser’s daughter,” Daniel told Rosnik. He’d developed a habit of filling in when necessary for the newest member of the team. “We lost Janet two years ago.”
Teal’c peeled his orange and said, “I trust Cassandra is well.”
“She’s declared a major,” Sam continued. Cassandra had worried about that when she applied to college, maybe because she’d spent so many years around people who had always known what they were doing with their lives and she hadn’t decided yet. And to top it off, she was a couple of years older than her classmates since she’d been born on another planet.
Daniel momentarily abandoned his chicken salad sandwich. “What?”
“Pre-med.” Sam’s smile was tinged with sadness, and Daniel understood. Cassie had grown to take after Janet in so many ways. He made a mental note to tell Jack later.
“I am certain she will distinguish herself,” said Teal’c.
In a deliberate bid to lighten the mood, Sam quipped, “She’s a sophomore in college. Doesn’t that just make you feel old?”
Teal’c calmly replied, “No.”
“Look who’s talking,” Daniel reminded Sam. “Wait until you hit forty.” Or worse yet, forty was in the rearview mirror. He didn’t feel almost forty-one, but the calendar said otherwise.
“I don’t have long to wait,” muttered Sam.
“It is your experience which distinguishes you, Colonel, Dr. Jackson,” said Rosnik.
“Thanks.”
The Russian simply nodded and returned to silence. Rosnik wasn’t an especially chatty guy, but he had been a bit more verbose before. Daniel reminded himself not to take it personally.
*****
In retrospect, Jack thought he should’ve seen it coming. One minute he and Daniel were on the couch, shirtless and sharing lazy kisses, and the next the couch disappeared from under them. When he sat up and wished for a weapon, he found himself looking up at Thor.
At least they were only shirtless and not naked.
“My apologies,” said Thor, who looked about as surprised as Jack had ever seen him.
“You know, I thought the whole point of a communications device was to communicate.” He stood up, clinging to the remains of his dignity while reminding himself that he had been minding his own business in his house and Thor was the one who should be embarrassed. Although, again, it could’ve been much worse.
“I wished to speak with you, and the device is not with you.”
Well of course it wasn’t, Jack thought. Did Thor think the Air Force was just going to let him walk around with an alien cell phone in his pocket?
“Maybe we should give you our phone numbers,” suggested Daniel.
“That is a wise idea.”
“So, now that you know why I left the Air Force, what’s going on?”
Thor regarded him curiously. “I do not understand.”
Jack groaned. Now they got to explain Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell to an asexual alien. The night just got better and better. Luckily, that sort of thing was his boyfriend’s area of expertise.
“The Air Force has a… complicated institutionalized bias against homosexual relationships,” Daniel explained. “Serving in the military requires that one keep at least a pretense of strict heterosexuality.”
Thor did one of his slow blinking expressions. “How peculiar.”
“I know.”
Thankfully leaving the issue aside, Thor got back to his original purpose. “Our latest information indicates that Ba’al is being challenged by Telchak. It is of little concern to us at the moment, but you may find the information useful.”
“Intelligence is always useful,” he said sincerely. “Thanks for the heads-up.”
“You are welcome.”
“Thor,” began Daniel, “we’re both civilians so the Air Force has no say over our personal lives, but we’re still keeping this discreet.”
“I have no reason to inform them,” replied their alien friend, “nor do I feel the High Council needs this information.”
Jack said, “Appreciate it, buddy.”
“I have created a screen with your numerical characters.”
Daniel stepped forward and touched the screen, entering their phone numbers. Jack thought it would be a good thing that the Air Force had their cell phones heavily encrypted if the Supreme Commander of the Asgard fleet decided to give them a call.
“So, did Heimdall and her team find anything useful?” asked Jack.
“Perhaps. Research of this type takes much time. Since the defeat of the Replicators, we no longer require cloned bodies at the speed we have for centuries, which allows more time for such research.”
“Breathing room,” said Jack. It occurred to him that the Asgard were really focused on the clones and, evidently, living forever. “Too bad your clones can’t have kids,” he mused out loud. That, after all, was how most species survived.
“An interesting observation,” noted Thor.
Daniel stepped away from the screen a little regretfully. Jack figured he wanted to mine the computer for information about Asgard history and culture.
“I will return you to your residence.” And with that, Thor transported them back home.
They were standing in their living room, right next to the couch. “Well, that was weird.”
“Our entire lives are weird,” replied Daniel. “We should be used to it by now.”
He had a point.
*****
The cemetery was quiet and calm in the late afternoon light. Weather at cemeteries was always either suited to a mood of grief or in stark contrast to it. As they walked a path Jack knew well, Daniel reflected that it was decidedly the latter. There was a gentle breeze, it was warm, and only a few innocuous clouds marred the blue of the sky. It was the kind of weather that was so wondrously alive that it could seem almost mocking when you were surrounded by graves.
It was Charlie’s birthday, and Jack had surprised Daniel by asking him to come to the cemetery. That had always been Jack’s private ritual, but now he led the way to a headstone which read Charles Adam O’Neill.
He knew that Jack still carried the weight of his grief, not just for Charlie’s death but that it was Jack’s gun which killed him. He would always carry that, just as Daniel would never be free from losing Sha’re. They moved on, but some things cannot ever be truly left behind.
There was a big bunch of daffodils next to the headstone. “The fall he was two,” said Jack, “Sara was planting daffodil bulbs and Charlie decided to help. He called them ‘daf-dils.’”
Daniel had nothing to say that wouldn’t sound hollow. He put a hand on Jack’s shoulder and whispered, “That must’ve been adorable.”
“He was.”
He had next to no experience with kids, Cassie being the only real exception. It was a bit hard for him to conjure up a mental picture of a two-year-old planting daffodils. But it was not at all hard to picture Jack, proud and delighted. He could even imagine Jack happily relating the story to his friends or coworkers.
Jack pulled a small pack of baseball cards out of his pocket and tore open the foil. He slid all five down right next to the base of the headstone, wedged in the dirt just a little.
“He would’ve been twenty-one,” said Jack. “Legal to drink.” And yet, Charlie would forever remain a kid.
Daniel understood death and loss. He felt like he always had, though in truth before his parents died he had not. First his parents and then, as an adult, Sha’re - he was certainly experienced with losing the people closest to him. Yet there was a level on which he couldn’t relate to Jack, because Charlie was Jack’s son, who was supposed to grow up and outlive his father.
Jack was tracing the letters of Charlie’s name. Daniel said nothing, because there was really nothing to say. Anyway, if Jack had wanted him to talk he would’ve brought him before.
“We were going to get him a dog for his birthday,” Jack said while he stood up.
“He wanted a dog?”
“Badly.”
They were alone in the section of the cemetery, so Daniel slid an arm around Jack’s waist. “Dogs and baseball. He took after you.”
“Too much,” whispered Jack, almost inaudible. Daniel thought that was probably a reference to the tragedy with Jack’s gun, but knew better than to ask. Jack had spoken of Charlie’s death only once, when they’d been exposed to a truth serum offworld, and Daniel understood then why Jack had wanted the first mission to Abydos to be a suicide mission.
They stood without speaking for several minutes, Jack lost in thoughts of his son. Daniel just stood beside him, being there.
*****
Jack had known what was coming when Hammond arrived as SGC as part of his latest Homeworld Security tour. Sure enough, once they ended up back in his office, Hammond closed the door and asked, “Do we need to worry about finding your successor any time soon?”
He sat and motioned for Hammond to do the same. “Not on my account.”
“Glad to hear it.” The general swept his eyes around the room, finally coming to land on Jack. “You’re happy with this arrangement?”
“Yes I am.”
“Your personal reasons don’t seem to be interfering with your job.”
They certainly weren’t. He wasn’t leading SG-1 anymore, and Daniel wouldn’t let him get away with favoritism anyway. Well, except what SG-1 already got, because they were his flagship team and former team and all. They were his best people.
“You’re just dying to ask, aren’t you?”
“You’ve never been one for outright mystery, Jack.”
“Is this for you, or the Joint Chiefs and the President?” he asked.
“Both.”
He’d figured as much. “It’s really nobody’s business, George.” His use of the man’s first name was deliberate, drawing attention to their personal interaction. “So I’d appreciate it if you tell as few people as possible.”
“Alright.”
“I’m with Daniel. As in, together, a couple.”
Hammond was positively shocked. It took him a minute (which Jack felt drag out interminably) before he could say, “That explains the retirement.”
“Yeah.”
“And you’re right, I don’t think it’s anyone’s business.”
“Thanks.”
“I didn’t expect that.”
“Well, neither did I.” Wasn’t that an understatement. Realizing he wasn’t exactly straight had not been fun, but things had improved considerably not long into his awareness when Daniel kissed him, and it had gone from there.
“If you two are happy together,” Hammond paused, as though he still couldn’t quite wrap his mind around the concept, “I’m pleased. Surprised, but pleased.” And not, Jack was grateful to note, running away in horror. “I hope you won’t interpret any… adjustment on my part as a loss of respect for you as a person or as director of this facility.”
All in all, it was better than Jack had hoped for. He’d assumed there would be a bit of awkwardness for Hammond and appreciated that his predecessor didn’t pretend there wouldn’t be. Respect was even better.
“I assume you’re keeping things discrete.”
“That’s the idea.”
“I said you’ve earned retirement, Jack. You and Dr. Jackson have both given so much to this program, this country, and this planet. If you’ve found happiness together, you’ve certainly earned that as well. It’s just… unexpected.”
“Thank you.” Then, because it was clearly time for a change of subject, he asked, “How’re the girls?”
*****
Jack was a morning person, so Daniel was used to finding him up and doing something on Saturday mornings. Daniel had never been much of a morning person, certainly not the way Jack was. Jack thought it was perfectly normal to get up and go for a walk first thing in the morning. He mowed the lawn as soon as the dew evaporated. When at the cabin, he liked to fish at sunrise. So to find Jack working on something official-looking when Daniel was stumbling towards the coffee machine was no surprise at all.
“Good morning,” his alert and no doubt already-caffeinated lover said.
“Morning.”
He started brewing his coffee and poured himself a bowl of Cheerios. “What’s that?”
Jack set down his pen and looked at him. “I figured I ought to change my will.”
“Oh.” Before his coffee, it was really too early to expect a more coherent reply.
“I realized that it still named Sara, and it should be you, now that, well, you know.”
He was surprised that Jack hadn’t changed his will before, but that was just Jack. A little thing like being divorced and Sara remarrying some three years ago wouldn’t necessarily mean he got around to changing his will.
“You know you’re already in mine.” Actually, he hadn’t bothered with a will for a long time, but apparently that caused the Air Force some problems when he ascended, so he’d been asked to make one. On the plus side, the Air Force hadn’t quite gotten around to doing anything with his stuff, so he got it back. Having nobody else, he’d named Jack as executor and heir, said that Jack, Sam, and Teal’c were to take anything they wanted, and then added that any of his artifacts that nobody wanted should be given to a museum (the Earth artifacts, obviously, because alien artifacts weren’t allowed to just be taken home).
Jack nodded and Daniel went to get out a spoon.
“Teal’c called. We’re gonna go see that new movie this afternoon. Crap, what’s it called?”
Daniel couldn’t remember the name either, but he had a pretty good idea which movie it was. During last night’s baseball game the preview had been on multiple times. (If he’d been watching the game he would’ve remembered the name, but his attention had mostly been given to the latest Journal of Archeological Method and Theory.) He remembered explosions in the previews because they kept startling him. “The one with all the explosions?”
“Yes. Wanna come?”
“No thank you.”
Jack wasn’t at all surprised. Daniel went to those movies next to never. For one thing, they weren’t much fun from his perspective. For another, listening to Jack and Teal’c critique the hero afterwards was even less fun. He suspected the two of them went mostly to discuss how they could’ve done a better job.
It did remind him, though, that he needed to ask Sam about going to the movies because his favorite movie theater was playing something he wanted to see. Ever since Janet died, Sam was the only person he knew who liked watching the small independent films.
He sat down to his Cheerios and a steaming mug of coffee. “Is this an unfriendly neighborhood?” he asked. The question had been nagging at him recently.
“No, why?”
“The neighbors aren’t very… neighborly.”
Jack shrugged. “I wasn’t the best new guy on the block when I moved in. And then I started disappearing for stretches at a time, keeping odd hours, and never telling anyone a thing except that my work is classified. I’m the one who isn’t neighborly.”
That made sense even in his uncaffeinated state. “Okay.” He sipped his coffee, enjoying the rich flavor and aroma.
Jack gave him a fond smile. “You always look like the first cup of coffee is some kind of religious experience.”
“Who says it isn’t?”
“Maybe there’s a planet out there where they worship coffee.” Jack considered the idea for a minute, deciding, “You’d fit right in.”
“No I wouldn’t. Worship is taking a subservient position by acknowledging some kind of higher -”
Jack held up a hand. “I take it back.”
He rolled his eyes and went back to his coffee.
*****
Daniel was with SG-11 on a six-day archaeological mission. Unfortunately, it was only day 2. Jack missed him. He was also a little concerned that excavating an abandoned Goa’uld site could go badly. It did, however, fall firmly in the realm of what constituted acceptable risk at SGC.
Day 1 hadn’t been so bad. He’d hit the weight room after work, finally gotten around to doing laundry, caught up on his email, finished the crossword puzzle in the newspaper without looking anything up online, and watched a baseball game. Going to bed alone wasn’t his preference, but it was nothing new either.
The highlight of day 2 was when Daniel checked in at 1300 hours as scheduled, pleased with the progress they’d made on P4A-921. Teal’c was visiting Rya’c, Ka’ryn, and Ishta. Carter had, for once, actually taken a few days’ leave and was off visiting her brother and watching her niece star in a play. So Jack went home to an empty house again.
He went to bed early. He had a favorite memory that he liked to revisit when he was alone in bed and not ready to sleep. It was reliably good, although nowhere near as good as the real thing had been.
It was several weeks into their relationship. He and Daniel had been in Daniel’s apartment, fooling around in bed. It was a Sunday morning and they were in no rush to do anything or be anywhere, so it was a slow and easy kind of fooling around. He was teasing Daniel’s chest with his fingertips, inching his way lower, when Daniel stopped his sexy little breathing noises.
“What?” Jack had asked.
Daniel was oddly shy. “It’s fine if you don’t want to, Jack, but,” he’d paused, biting his lower lip, “I’d really like to have you inside me.”
His body had responded so positively to the suggestion that his brain was quick to follow suit. “Okay,” he’d said, kissing Daniel long and…
This pleasant reminiscence was shattered by the sound of the front door opening and closing. “Jack?”
Daniel was home, but nobody had called from the mountain, which meant no catastrophe. Jack jumped out of bed, yanked on his boxers, and headed out of the bedroom.
“Did I wake…” Daniel’s eyes landed on the none-too-concealing boxers, and he interrupted himself. “No, definitely didn’t wake you up.”
Jack leaned in and kissed his lover. A short, welcome-home-but-why-so-early kiss in real life was much better than any remembered kiss, no matter how passionate and sexy. “Not complaining, but aren’t you supposed to be about thirty thousand light-years away?”
“Yeah.” Daniel sighed. “We’re pretty sure we know why the Goa’uld abandoned the site.”
“Oh?”
Daniel shucked his coat and shoes, and Jack could tell from the way he moved that he was very tired. “Tendency to have flash floods. Don’t worry, everyone’s fine. We lost some equipment and only salvaged a couple of the artifacts, but we’re alright. They might even be done mopping up the gate room by now.”
“That bad?”
“You’d swear a dam burst, Jack.”
He pulled Daniel in for a hug, glad that he was safe. “Need anything?”
“No. Dr. Andrews even let us take hot showers before examining us. All I want is our bed and my own personal bedwarmer.”
Jack was only too happy to serve. “That can be arranged.”
“I’m not really in the mood, though.” He glanced down at Jack’s boxers.
“Doesn’t matter.” He’d barely started, anyway. “Bed’s always better with you in it.”
Daniel trudged to the bathroom and pulled out his toothbrush. Jack got back in bed, laid down on his back, and waited for Daniel, enjoying the good fortune of having him home even if it was due to unfortunate circumstances. Nobody was hurt, and that was the important thing, so he didn’t really feel guilty about being glad the mission had to be abandoned, from his personal standpoint.
Daniel flopped onto the bed and gave him a kiss that tasted like toothpaste, then proceeded to nestle in against Jack. “Well, my sleeping arrangements for the night improved.”
“Mine too,” replied Jack sincerely. “Sleep well, Daniel.”
His lover yawned. “‘Night, cariad.”
continued in Part III: ent-alter-ego.livejournal.com/7068.html
Commander Harold Evans, Royal Australian Air Force (Jack had been told his rank equaled a USAF lieutenant colonel) led the newest SG team. He seemed to enjoy reminding his 2IC, Major James Ashburn, Royal Marines, that this time an Australian was in charge and the Brits were to follow. Ashburn had mentioned something about ‘letting go of Gallipoli already’ but the two worked together well and Jack had high hopes for this team. So much so that he’d assigned SG-1 to teach them the ropes.
He was in the middle of an email update to Hammond. You can tell the British liaison, he typed, and the Australian liaison while you’re at it, that Carter’s initial reports on SG-27 are favorable.
Something flickered to his left. Jack looked over and saw Thor, or at least Thor’s hologram. “Hello, Thor.”
“Greetings, O’Neill.” The Asgard blinked and asked, “Is there significance to your change of attire?”
“Why yes there is. I retired from the Air Force.”
“And yet you are still here.”
“Only retired from the Air Force. Not a bad gig, since they’re actually paying me more as a civilian.” Not a lot more, but there was the principle of the thing. And actually, with his pension, he was completely secure financially. He and Daniel, he reminded himself. That sort of stuff was a joint endeavor now.
“I did not realize financial gain was such a strong motivator.” Thor managed to sound disappointed. Jack thought that his ability to notice that spoke to how often he ran into the little grey guy.
“That’s not why I retired, just a nice perk.”
He fully expected Thor to ask what the reason was, but the Asgard didn’t. That happened sometimes when he tried to anticipate aliens’ actions according to human standards. Daniel had a fifteen-minute lecture on anthropomorphizing, and while Jack thought fifteen minutes was excessive, Daniel did have a point, as Thor had just demonstrated.
“The Asgard High Council requests permission for Heimdall and her assistants to visit your Ancient outpost. We believe there may be information useful to solving our cloning problem.”
Jack thought the whole cloning thing was creepy, especially after his own experience with it, but the Asgard with their desperate search to preserve their race gave a whole new dimension to the idea. “Officially, that decision is out of my hands,” he told Thor. “Unofficially, we’ll make it happen.”
“You have our thanks.” One of the white beaming lights flashed, and there was an Asgard communicator on his desk. “Use this to contact me aboard the Carter when you have news.”
“The Carter, huh?” Thor seemed to go through a lot of ships.
“Yes.” The little alien paused, blinked, and stated, “I am pleased that you still command this facility, O’Neill.”
“Thanks,” he replied. “So am I.”
“I will await your communication.” With that, Thor’s hologram winked out of existence. Jack, thinking to himself that life really was good, picked up the phone to call Hammond.
*****
Daniel was in his office conferring with Sam about ZPMs. The Asgard scientists currently in Antarctica had uncovered a bit of text about ZPMs, which were even beyond Asgard technology. He was halfway through the translation, but Sam couldn’t wait for the entire thing.
“The problem is that we have no equivalent for some of these advanced technical terms,” he explained.
Jack walked into his office, a man on a mission. "Oh good, two at once. You know how we're supposed to go to your place for dinner?" he asked Sam.
"The day after tomorrow, barring emergencies."
"Right. Change of plans. How about you, Teal'c and Hallowell come to our place instead?" suggested Jack.
"Any particular reason? I didn't think my cooking was so bad."
"Rosnik came to see me, off the record. He's realized there's something everyone else on SG-1 knows. I told him that I know for a fact none of his teammates have any personal or professional issues with him, but for some reason he didn't believe me."
"Really?" asked Sam. "I didn't think we'd acted any differently." Daniel suspected that might be his fault, somehow. Well, it wasn't Teal'c's, that was for sure.
"The last thing we need is the Russians getting offended again. So I told him to come over Friday at 1900."
For a minute Daniel was surprised that Jack invited Aleksi Rosnik over to their home. Not that he had objections, because he didn’t mind at all if people knew they were together. Then he realized what Jack was doing: taking it out of the mountain precisely because it was personal business.
"Eddie won't be as intimidated going to your house if Rosnik's there," decided Sam, who smiled to herself as she said her boyfriend's name. “As long as you don’t mind that he knows about you guys.”
Jack said, "Oh, just tell him on the way over. Maybe he’ll stop worrying that one of us is trying to steal you away from him.”
She blushed. "I'll just, ah, go tell him about the change of plans," she announced, which was really a poor excuse, but she'd picked up on the fact that Daniel wanted a moment alone with Jack.
"Tell Teal'c, would you? I told Rosnik to give him a ride because he knows the way."
Sam shut the door behind her, giving Daniel his moment. "Are you okay with this?"
"Not hiding, remember?"
It was never a good sign when Jack avoided giving a direct answer. Daniel stood up and moved closer to him. "It's a yes or no question."
"Look, offended and suspicious Russians are very bad. I try to avoid them at all costs. Not that... damn it, Daniel, you know what I mean."
He took pity on his lover. "You don't really want to explain to Rosnik, but you're doing it for SGC."
"You do know it's not about you, right?"
"I was under the impression I was a key figure," said Daniel, who didn't quite follow.
"You are, but it's not like I don't want people to know because... it's not personal."
Oh, now he understood. "I know you're not ashamed of me, Jack," he promised. "You're not ashamed. Just afraid." Daniel had never, ever thought Jack was ashamed of him. He knew full well that Jack was the product of a thirty-odd-year career in an intensely homophobic organization that discouraged dissent. Usually, he felt like it was a small miracle Jack was with him at all.
"I'm not -"
"Yes, you are."
Jack didn't admit it, but tellingly failed to argue the point further. “Well, if he has a problem, there are plenty of other people who’d love to have his job.”
“Right.” Daniel patted Jack’s shoulder and decided to try for a mood-lightening quip. “And don’t forget, he’ll be outnumbered at our house.”
*****
It was clearly a suspicious and guarded Russian captain who came in with Teal’c. He surveyed the room and seemed slightly perturbed by the fact that the head of SGC was pouring wine for guests, which included Rosnik himself. Of course, if Jack was in his shoes, he’d be suspicious too.
On the bright side for Rosnik, Carter took a sip of her wine, so it clearly hadn’t been poisoned.
Jack was, at least, relieved that Hallowell had no qualms about he and Daniel being together. He still thought the biologist was thrilled because he didn’t have to worry about competition with Carter’s close male friends, two being with each other and the third in a very, very long-distance relationship. (Jack had given up trying to understand Teal’c and Ishta.) Hallowell wasn’t the least bit bothered, so far as Jack could tell.
“Hope you like spaghetti,” he said to Rosnik.
“Yes,” the man replied, wary. Jack figured he could’ve announced that they were having raw Goa’uld and Rosnik would’ve claimed to like it.
Since the atmosphere wasn’t really conducive to small talk, they started in with the food. Teal’c eyed the salad bowl with concern as it made its way around the table. “Are there jalapeño peppers in this salad?”
“No, T. Nobody wants to go there again.” Jack shuddered a little at the memory. Whether it was all Jaffa or just Teal’c nobody knew, but he’d had a terrible allergic reaction to jalapeño pepper.
“Just watch out at Olive Garden,” added Sam.
“I do not intend to consume salad from Olive Garden ever again.”
Considering the fever and hives he’d gotten, Jack could hardly blame Teal’c there. “No peppers at all,” he promised.
“I do not understand,” said Rosnik suddenly. “What are we doing?”
“Having dinner,” replied Daniel calmly.
Rosnik turned to Jack. “I fail to understand what this has to do with learning what the rest of SG-1 has kept from me.”
“Oh, for cryin’ out loud! Do I look like the kind of guy who hangs weird masks in his house? Or has a statue like that?” Jack pointed to one of Daniel’s uglier statues. Unfortunately it was also one of his favorites.
Rosnik just looked at him blankly. “I assumed they were gifts from Dr. Jackson.”
Before Jack could speak, Daniel corrected the Russian. “I wouldn’t give those away. They’re some of my favorites.”
Rosnik looked puzzled, then shocked. Jack had to remind himself to breath, because Rosnik could still try to stir up trouble over this. The only problem was that not telling him would definitely lead to trouble. Daniel’s hand resting on his knee was a welcome reminder of what really mattered, and Jack grabbed it.
“This is privileged information, yes?” said Rosnik at last.
“Very perceptive,” confirmed Jack.
“Nobody outside you” - Daniel made an encompassing motion - “knows.”
“And the mailman,” added Jack.
Teal’c gave him a perplexed look. “The mailman?”
“Well, I think it’s kinda obvious, with all Daniel’s mail. And even if the mailman wasn’t looking at the names, I sure never got the Journal of Archeological Method and Theory.”
“Do mailmen even pay that much attention?” asked Hallowell.
“Nothing to do with me personally or professionally indeed,” said Rosnik. That was what Jack had tried to tell him but he hadn’t believed. Apparently he believed it now.
Carter was watching him, trying to make sure he wasn’t a threat to SG-1 as a team or the two of them as her friends. “I apologize for making you feel excluded.”
“Nyet, it was not my business. It is I who should apologize.”
That, Jack thought, was a good sign.
He didn’t look particularly thrilled, but Rosnik continued, “I assure you that this information will have no bearing on my professional conduct, and will not be shared.”
Sam nodded. “Glad to hear it.”
“Thank you,” said Daniel.
Jack just managed to nod and finally serve himself salad.
*****
Come Monday, Daniel followed Rosnik’s cue and went back to last names. The man was true to his word, though, because while he was clearly not quite comfortable with Daniel, he was as professional as ever. Daniel wished they were still training SG-27, just so the mood would be different. It’d been a while since he had to deal with the post-coming out awkwardness.
The first hour of sky-watching had been nice, especially with the three comets Sam was so excited about, but after that it started to get old. Jack would’ve liked it. Daniel was more interested in learning if there were remnants of past civilization on the presently uninhabited planet, and if the comets had significance in local culture. Both of those were next to impossible to determine in the dark. And that in itself felt weird - being under a night sky when his watch and stomach both told him it was barely lunchtime.
Teal’c had no use at all for stargazing and no challenge to defend their little hill. He was therefore, in his own stoic way, bored. Sam was having a great time, taking measurements, recording observations, and working out a theory on the comets that Daniel honestly didn’t care very much about. Rosnik was in charge of running the bulky telescope with a camera and he occasionally chimed in with regards to Sam’s theory.
What Daniel liked was that, with the Goa’uld less menacing than they’d ever been and the Replicators gone for good, SG-1 could devote time to watching comets. Now he just needed to find a promising archaeological site to spend some time at.
“So how’s your research project?” he asked Teal’c. Unfortunately for Teal’c, SGC lacked people who were really able to explain political theory to his satisfaction. Daniel had picked up two books for him. Personally he preferred to go to a nice local bookstore, but he was starting to think Teal’c should get an Amazon account.
Maybe it was time to talk to Jack about setting Teal’c up with a debit card.
“None of the works I have read are sufficiently adaptable for Jaffa. I fear that I will soon be expected to produce a creed.”
“That’s such a bad thing?”
“Yes,” said Teal’c, leaving no room for discussion.
“Anybody want lunch?” asked Sam.
Not having anything better to do, Daniel replied, “Sure.”
“That is fine,” said Rosnik, fretting over the camera for a minute before walking away. Teal’c handed out their sandwiches, water, and oranges.
“I got an email from Cassie this morning,” said Sam.
“Janet Fraiser’s daughter,” Daniel told Rosnik. He’d developed a habit of filling in when necessary for the newest member of the team. “We lost Janet two years ago.”
Teal’c peeled his orange and said, “I trust Cassandra is well.”
“She’s declared a major,” Sam continued. Cassandra had worried about that when she applied to college, maybe because she’d spent so many years around people who had always known what they were doing with their lives and she hadn’t decided yet. And to top it off, she was a couple of years older than her classmates since she’d been born on another planet.
Daniel momentarily abandoned his chicken salad sandwich. “What?”
“Pre-med.” Sam’s smile was tinged with sadness, and Daniel understood. Cassie had grown to take after Janet in so many ways. He made a mental note to tell Jack later.
“I am certain she will distinguish herself,” said Teal’c.
In a deliberate bid to lighten the mood, Sam quipped, “She’s a sophomore in college. Doesn’t that just make you feel old?”
Teal’c calmly replied, “No.”
“Look who’s talking,” Daniel reminded Sam. “Wait until you hit forty.” Or worse yet, forty was in the rearview mirror. He didn’t feel almost forty-one, but the calendar said otherwise.
“I don’t have long to wait,” muttered Sam.
“It is your experience which distinguishes you, Colonel, Dr. Jackson,” said Rosnik.
“Thanks.”
The Russian simply nodded and returned to silence. Rosnik wasn’t an especially chatty guy, but he had been a bit more verbose before. Daniel reminded himself not to take it personally.
*****
In retrospect, Jack thought he should’ve seen it coming. One minute he and Daniel were on the couch, shirtless and sharing lazy kisses, and the next the couch disappeared from under them. When he sat up and wished for a weapon, he found himself looking up at Thor.
At least they were only shirtless and not naked.
“My apologies,” said Thor, who looked about as surprised as Jack had ever seen him.
“You know, I thought the whole point of a communications device was to communicate.” He stood up, clinging to the remains of his dignity while reminding himself that he had been minding his own business in his house and Thor was the one who should be embarrassed. Although, again, it could’ve been much worse.
“I wished to speak with you, and the device is not with you.”
Well of course it wasn’t, Jack thought. Did Thor think the Air Force was just going to let him walk around with an alien cell phone in his pocket?
“Maybe we should give you our phone numbers,” suggested Daniel.
“That is a wise idea.”
“So, now that you know why I left the Air Force, what’s going on?”
Thor regarded him curiously. “I do not understand.”
Jack groaned. Now they got to explain Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell to an asexual alien. The night just got better and better. Luckily, that sort of thing was his boyfriend’s area of expertise.
“The Air Force has a… complicated institutionalized bias against homosexual relationships,” Daniel explained. “Serving in the military requires that one keep at least a pretense of strict heterosexuality.”
Thor did one of his slow blinking expressions. “How peculiar.”
“I know.”
Thankfully leaving the issue aside, Thor got back to his original purpose. “Our latest information indicates that Ba’al is being challenged by Telchak. It is of little concern to us at the moment, but you may find the information useful.”
“Intelligence is always useful,” he said sincerely. “Thanks for the heads-up.”
“You are welcome.”
“Thor,” began Daniel, “we’re both civilians so the Air Force has no say over our personal lives, but we’re still keeping this discreet.”
“I have no reason to inform them,” replied their alien friend, “nor do I feel the High Council needs this information.”
Jack said, “Appreciate it, buddy.”
“I have created a screen with your numerical characters.”
Daniel stepped forward and touched the screen, entering their phone numbers. Jack thought it would be a good thing that the Air Force had their cell phones heavily encrypted if the Supreme Commander of the Asgard fleet decided to give them a call.
“So, did Heimdall and her team find anything useful?” asked Jack.
“Perhaps. Research of this type takes much time. Since the defeat of the Replicators, we no longer require cloned bodies at the speed we have for centuries, which allows more time for such research.”
“Breathing room,” said Jack. It occurred to him that the Asgard were really focused on the clones and, evidently, living forever. “Too bad your clones can’t have kids,” he mused out loud. That, after all, was how most species survived.
“An interesting observation,” noted Thor.
Daniel stepped away from the screen a little regretfully. Jack figured he wanted to mine the computer for information about Asgard history and culture.
“I will return you to your residence.” And with that, Thor transported them back home.
They were standing in their living room, right next to the couch. “Well, that was weird.”
“Our entire lives are weird,” replied Daniel. “We should be used to it by now.”
He had a point.
*****
The cemetery was quiet and calm in the late afternoon light. Weather at cemeteries was always either suited to a mood of grief or in stark contrast to it. As they walked a path Jack knew well, Daniel reflected that it was decidedly the latter. There was a gentle breeze, it was warm, and only a few innocuous clouds marred the blue of the sky. It was the kind of weather that was so wondrously alive that it could seem almost mocking when you were surrounded by graves.
It was Charlie’s birthday, and Jack had surprised Daniel by asking him to come to the cemetery. That had always been Jack’s private ritual, but now he led the way to a headstone which read Charles Adam O’Neill.
He knew that Jack still carried the weight of his grief, not just for Charlie’s death but that it was Jack’s gun which killed him. He would always carry that, just as Daniel would never be free from losing Sha’re. They moved on, but some things cannot ever be truly left behind.
There was a big bunch of daffodils next to the headstone. “The fall he was two,” said Jack, “Sara was planting daffodil bulbs and Charlie decided to help. He called them ‘daf-dils.’”
Daniel had nothing to say that wouldn’t sound hollow. He put a hand on Jack’s shoulder and whispered, “That must’ve been adorable.”
“He was.”
He had next to no experience with kids, Cassie being the only real exception. It was a bit hard for him to conjure up a mental picture of a two-year-old planting daffodils. But it was not at all hard to picture Jack, proud and delighted. He could even imagine Jack happily relating the story to his friends or coworkers.
Jack pulled a small pack of baseball cards out of his pocket and tore open the foil. He slid all five down right next to the base of the headstone, wedged in the dirt just a little.
“He would’ve been twenty-one,” said Jack. “Legal to drink.” And yet, Charlie would forever remain a kid.
Daniel understood death and loss. He felt like he always had, though in truth before his parents died he had not. First his parents and then, as an adult, Sha’re - he was certainly experienced with losing the people closest to him. Yet there was a level on which he couldn’t relate to Jack, because Charlie was Jack’s son, who was supposed to grow up and outlive his father.
Jack was tracing the letters of Charlie’s name. Daniel said nothing, because there was really nothing to say. Anyway, if Jack had wanted him to talk he would’ve brought him before.
“We were going to get him a dog for his birthday,” Jack said while he stood up.
“He wanted a dog?”
“Badly.”
They were alone in the section of the cemetery, so Daniel slid an arm around Jack’s waist. “Dogs and baseball. He took after you.”
“Too much,” whispered Jack, almost inaudible. Daniel thought that was probably a reference to the tragedy with Jack’s gun, but knew better than to ask. Jack had spoken of Charlie’s death only once, when they’d been exposed to a truth serum offworld, and Daniel understood then why Jack had wanted the first mission to Abydos to be a suicide mission.
They stood without speaking for several minutes, Jack lost in thoughts of his son. Daniel just stood beside him, being there.
*****
Jack had known what was coming when Hammond arrived as SGC as part of his latest Homeworld Security tour. Sure enough, once they ended up back in his office, Hammond closed the door and asked, “Do we need to worry about finding your successor any time soon?”
He sat and motioned for Hammond to do the same. “Not on my account.”
“Glad to hear it.” The general swept his eyes around the room, finally coming to land on Jack. “You’re happy with this arrangement?”
“Yes I am.”
“Your personal reasons don’t seem to be interfering with your job.”
They certainly weren’t. He wasn’t leading SG-1 anymore, and Daniel wouldn’t let him get away with favoritism anyway. Well, except what SG-1 already got, because they were his flagship team and former team and all. They were his best people.
“You’re just dying to ask, aren’t you?”
“You’ve never been one for outright mystery, Jack.”
“Is this for you, or the Joint Chiefs and the President?” he asked.
“Both.”
He’d figured as much. “It’s really nobody’s business, George.” His use of the man’s first name was deliberate, drawing attention to their personal interaction. “So I’d appreciate it if you tell as few people as possible.”
“Alright.”
“I’m with Daniel. As in, together, a couple.”
Hammond was positively shocked. It took him a minute (which Jack felt drag out interminably) before he could say, “That explains the retirement.”
“Yeah.”
“And you’re right, I don’t think it’s anyone’s business.”
“Thanks.”
“I didn’t expect that.”
“Well, neither did I.” Wasn’t that an understatement. Realizing he wasn’t exactly straight had not been fun, but things had improved considerably not long into his awareness when Daniel kissed him, and it had gone from there.
“If you two are happy together,” Hammond paused, as though he still couldn’t quite wrap his mind around the concept, “I’m pleased. Surprised, but pleased.” And not, Jack was grateful to note, running away in horror. “I hope you won’t interpret any… adjustment on my part as a loss of respect for you as a person or as director of this facility.”
All in all, it was better than Jack had hoped for. He’d assumed there would be a bit of awkwardness for Hammond and appreciated that his predecessor didn’t pretend there wouldn’t be. Respect was even better.
“I assume you’re keeping things discrete.”
“That’s the idea.”
“I said you’ve earned retirement, Jack. You and Dr. Jackson have both given so much to this program, this country, and this planet. If you’ve found happiness together, you’ve certainly earned that as well. It’s just… unexpected.”
“Thank you.” Then, because it was clearly time for a change of subject, he asked, “How’re the girls?”
*****
Jack was a morning person, so Daniel was used to finding him up and doing something on Saturday mornings. Daniel had never been much of a morning person, certainly not the way Jack was. Jack thought it was perfectly normal to get up and go for a walk first thing in the morning. He mowed the lawn as soon as the dew evaporated. When at the cabin, he liked to fish at sunrise. So to find Jack working on something official-looking when Daniel was stumbling towards the coffee machine was no surprise at all.
“Good morning,” his alert and no doubt already-caffeinated lover said.
“Morning.”
He started brewing his coffee and poured himself a bowl of Cheerios. “What’s that?”
Jack set down his pen and looked at him. “I figured I ought to change my will.”
“Oh.” Before his coffee, it was really too early to expect a more coherent reply.
“I realized that it still named Sara, and it should be you, now that, well, you know.”
He was surprised that Jack hadn’t changed his will before, but that was just Jack. A little thing like being divorced and Sara remarrying some three years ago wouldn’t necessarily mean he got around to changing his will.
“You know you’re already in mine.” Actually, he hadn’t bothered with a will for a long time, but apparently that caused the Air Force some problems when he ascended, so he’d been asked to make one. On the plus side, the Air Force hadn’t quite gotten around to doing anything with his stuff, so he got it back. Having nobody else, he’d named Jack as executor and heir, said that Jack, Sam, and Teal’c were to take anything they wanted, and then added that any of his artifacts that nobody wanted should be given to a museum (the Earth artifacts, obviously, because alien artifacts weren’t allowed to just be taken home).
Jack nodded and Daniel went to get out a spoon.
“Teal’c called. We’re gonna go see that new movie this afternoon. Crap, what’s it called?”
Daniel couldn’t remember the name either, but he had a pretty good idea which movie it was. During last night’s baseball game the preview had been on multiple times. (If he’d been watching the game he would’ve remembered the name, but his attention had mostly been given to the latest Journal of Archeological Method and Theory.) He remembered explosions in the previews because they kept startling him. “The one with all the explosions?”
“Yes. Wanna come?”
“No thank you.”
Jack wasn’t at all surprised. Daniel went to those movies next to never. For one thing, they weren’t much fun from his perspective. For another, listening to Jack and Teal’c critique the hero afterwards was even less fun. He suspected the two of them went mostly to discuss how they could’ve done a better job.
It did remind him, though, that he needed to ask Sam about going to the movies because his favorite movie theater was playing something he wanted to see. Ever since Janet died, Sam was the only person he knew who liked watching the small independent films.
He sat down to his Cheerios and a steaming mug of coffee. “Is this an unfriendly neighborhood?” he asked. The question had been nagging at him recently.
“No, why?”
“The neighbors aren’t very… neighborly.”
Jack shrugged. “I wasn’t the best new guy on the block when I moved in. And then I started disappearing for stretches at a time, keeping odd hours, and never telling anyone a thing except that my work is classified. I’m the one who isn’t neighborly.”
That made sense even in his uncaffeinated state. “Okay.” He sipped his coffee, enjoying the rich flavor and aroma.
Jack gave him a fond smile. “You always look like the first cup of coffee is some kind of religious experience.”
“Who says it isn’t?”
“Maybe there’s a planet out there where they worship coffee.” Jack considered the idea for a minute, deciding, “You’d fit right in.”
“No I wouldn’t. Worship is taking a subservient position by acknowledging some kind of higher -”
Jack held up a hand. “I take it back.”
He rolled his eyes and went back to his coffee.
*****
Daniel was with SG-11 on a six-day archaeological mission. Unfortunately, it was only day 2. Jack missed him. He was also a little concerned that excavating an abandoned Goa’uld site could go badly. It did, however, fall firmly in the realm of what constituted acceptable risk at SGC.
Day 1 hadn’t been so bad. He’d hit the weight room after work, finally gotten around to doing laundry, caught up on his email, finished the crossword puzzle in the newspaper without looking anything up online, and watched a baseball game. Going to bed alone wasn’t his preference, but it was nothing new either.
The highlight of day 2 was when Daniel checked in at 1300 hours as scheduled, pleased with the progress they’d made on P4A-921. Teal’c was visiting Rya’c, Ka’ryn, and Ishta. Carter had, for once, actually taken a few days’ leave and was off visiting her brother and watching her niece star in a play. So Jack went home to an empty house again.
He went to bed early. He had a favorite memory that he liked to revisit when he was alone in bed and not ready to sleep. It was reliably good, although nowhere near as good as the real thing had been.
It was several weeks into their relationship. He and Daniel had been in Daniel’s apartment, fooling around in bed. It was a Sunday morning and they were in no rush to do anything or be anywhere, so it was a slow and easy kind of fooling around. He was teasing Daniel’s chest with his fingertips, inching his way lower, when Daniel stopped his sexy little breathing noises.
“What?” Jack had asked.
Daniel was oddly shy. “It’s fine if you don’t want to, Jack, but,” he’d paused, biting his lower lip, “I’d really like to have you inside me.”
His body had responded so positively to the suggestion that his brain was quick to follow suit. “Okay,” he’d said, kissing Daniel long and…
This pleasant reminiscence was shattered by the sound of the front door opening and closing. “Jack?”
Daniel was home, but nobody had called from the mountain, which meant no catastrophe. Jack jumped out of bed, yanked on his boxers, and headed out of the bedroom.
“Did I wake…” Daniel’s eyes landed on the none-too-concealing boxers, and he interrupted himself. “No, definitely didn’t wake you up.”
Jack leaned in and kissed his lover. A short, welcome-home-but-why-so-early kiss in real life was much better than any remembered kiss, no matter how passionate and sexy. “Not complaining, but aren’t you supposed to be about thirty thousand light-years away?”
“Yeah.” Daniel sighed. “We’re pretty sure we know why the Goa’uld abandoned the site.”
“Oh?”
Daniel shucked his coat and shoes, and Jack could tell from the way he moved that he was very tired. “Tendency to have flash floods. Don’t worry, everyone’s fine. We lost some equipment and only salvaged a couple of the artifacts, but we’re alright. They might even be done mopping up the gate room by now.”
“That bad?”
“You’d swear a dam burst, Jack.”
He pulled Daniel in for a hug, glad that he was safe. “Need anything?”
“No. Dr. Andrews even let us take hot showers before examining us. All I want is our bed and my own personal bedwarmer.”
Jack was only too happy to serve. “That can be arranged.”
“I’m not really in the mood, though.” He glanced down at Jack’s boxers.
“Doesn’t matter.” He’d barely started, anyway. “Bed’s always better with you in it.”
Daniel trudged to the bathroom and pulled out his toothbrush. Jack got back in bed, laid down on his back, and waited for Daniel, enjoying the good fortune of having him home even if it was due to unfortunate circumstances. Nobody was hurt, and that was the important thing, so he didn’t really feel guilty about being glad the mission had to be abandoned, from his personal standpoint.
Daniel flopped onto the bed and gave him a kiss that tasted like toothpaste, then proceeded to nestle in against Jack. “Well, my sleeping arrangements for the night improved.”
“Mine too,” replied Jack sincerely. “Sleep well, Daniel.”
His lover yawned. “‘Night, cariad.”
continued in Part III: ent-alter-ego.livejournal.com/7068.html