Sam and her boys, 8f: Old friends, like bookends, PG13, Sam/Jack/Siler
Back to Chapter 8e: Hit the road, Jack, Part 2
or to Chapter 1 for info
To read it all the chapters on one page, click here
Summary: A chat with Daniel
Chapter 8f: Old friends, like bookends (PG13)
AN: eheh, this
pic always represents their relationship for me.. :D
Watching Jack stepping around his kitchen, Daniel frowned in checked worry, "So Cassie's OK, then?"
Jack flashed him a guarded look before he shrugged and reached for two mugs, "As well as can be expected. Hard enough on the emotions to be pregnant, but having to deal with that damn shit..."
Daniel took the coffee he was offered and nodded, "Yeah. Is.." he stopped and took a sip, rethinking the statement as Jack remained standing, staring out the window over the sink with a glum, pissed-at-the-world expression that Daniel was all too familiar with. Though it had gotten at least a little rarer in the last few years. "I assume you have security on her?"
Jack nodded, "Yeah. And on her boyfriend. As discreet security as I could make happen; trying not to force her to constantly be reminded of things."
"I should visit her. If I'd been on the planet, I'd have helped.."
Jack nodded again, turning to lean back on the counter and face Daniel, though he still looked grim, "Yeah, I know. It all.. worked out."
Daniel frowned, "That.. didn't sound convincing, Jack. I thought you said everything was settled?"
He watched as his old friend grimaced, staring down into his mug as though it held the meaning of life, "The bastards are out of circulation and Cass is as safe as I can make her."
The lack of anything else forthcoming and the increase in glumness and jaw tension made Daniel change tack, hoping to find access to the problem, "What happened to your back?" Come to think of it.. that looked like a hell of a bruise on his arm too.. and another above his... abs? Daniel slid his eyes back to his friend's downcast face, mentally trying to remember if he'd just imagined that the general had put on some weight.
No. No, Daniel definitely remembered Jack taking his shirt off after spilling beer on it one afternoon. And he'd definitely been a little padded; not to mention that he'd grumbled about how he couldn't seem to get back in shape.
Jack's head shot up now at the question, eyes blinking in surprise as he rotated a shoulder, probably just in automatic response to the reminder. Then the grimness popped back and he stared back into his cup, his voice getting quiet, "Siler," he looked up, meeting Daniel's eyes with a painful tension around his, "The whole thing with Cass.. was a reminder of the danger of.. being a part of our family. And Siler was never really trained to be a field op, let along to defend himself in the kind of situation-" Daniel watched his friend flinch and go back to staring blankly, his voice falling to a snarl, "Where he'd be fighting for his damned life. Or someone else's."
"..So you're training him." Daniel remembered well enough what had happened when he'd been the one thrown unprepared into the middle of military operations. If Siler's training had really been that different, then he imagined his friends would be at least as protective of the sergeant. And as reluctantly determined to train him up to their standards.
Confirming Daniel's memory of how little he enjoyed such training, Jack's shoulders hunched at the simple words, "Yeah. We're training him."
Still, there was no way that he'd gotten the stomach back in just a couple weeks of combat-training Siler; though being reminded of the other man made Daniel suspect *he* probably had something to do with it. One way or the other. And he wasn't going to risk making Jack self-conscious with the mood he was already in by asking specifically. Some other day he could sneak a tease in at least.
On the other hand, *Siler* was one topic he'd been itching to find a way into ever since he and Teal'c had met the flustered sergeant at their friends' front door. "So," he watched Jack's eyes fly up and sharpen at his over-casual tone, "You and Siler." Yup, snapping posture, closing expression. He'd known this wasn't going to be easy.
"What *about* me and Siler?"
Daniel rolled his eyes at the silently threatening words, "Come on, Jack, I asked you the same thing when you and Sam got together," he blinked to himself, grinning a bit at his buddy, "Come to think of it, I think you responded the same way *then*." Not that he'd have changed the question even if he'd remembered that. There was only so far he was willing to humour Jack's sensibilities. Friends were *supposed* to weasel private details out of each other.
The acknowledgement that the two relationships were equal, not to mention the memory of just how crazy-happy he'd been feeling the last time Daniel had dropped that question, finally made Jack relax a bit. He almost smiled as he managed to set aside the maudlin mood that had ambushed him when Sam and Siler had vanished to go to work and he'd found himself alone after a week of their constant company; even with the stress and pain that had been a part of their trip, he couldn't help but relish any time with them. And hate its end; let along the free time to think.
He shrugged now at the question, not surprised it had come up and knowing he'd have to give the man who'd been his friend for so long *something*. "What do you want me to say, Danny-boy?"
Grinning at the unspoken offer to actually *talk*, Daniel tried to think of the least nosey thing he might get an answer to. "How about.. When or where exactly... I mean, I knew that you and Sam loved each other for years, so your finally getting together was hardly surprising. But I never though you.." he trailed off, feeling for a way to explain himself without getting Jack's military back up.
Flipping a hand up in 'stop' position, Jack grimaced, "Don't finish that thought, please Spacemonkey?"
"No, seriously, Jack. If.. I don't know," Daniel's hands waved, his cup cooling precariously at his elbow, "If.. say Paul Davis had 'come out'," he shook his head, ignoring Jack covering his eyes, "I'd barely have blinked. Hell," Daniel snorted, remembering the transparent mannerisms, "I've half expected the man to make a pass at me since we first met!" this time Jack outright groaned, "But of all people, *you*..." Daniel wound down there; he'd really meant not to bring that up. Really. Had even lectured Vala not to say anything to either men after she'd been let in on the secret.
"I *can't* believe you just said.. *any* of that, Daniel."
The mumble was almost incomprehensible since Jack was still covering his eyes. But he hadn't snarled. Or stalked out of the room. Maybe he'd known he'd be asked eventually. "I'm just.. *curious*, Jack. You're my oldest friend and.. your life just changed pretty drastically and.. you have my support, you know that, but.. I'm *curious*."
After a minute, during which Daniel remembered his cup and took a sip, waiting to see where the conversation was going to go, Jack finally sighed, straightening and looking at Daniel like a prisoner facing the executioner.
"I don't suppose giving you when and where will *end* this conversation?"
"It.." Daniel knew he'd still be curious, but he also knew that pushing rarely got him far with Jack, "It *can*. If you insist." There was always another day.
Jack nodded, not bothering for a stronger promise, "Atlantis."
Daniel blinked, cup motionless as he quickly went through everything he knew about the city of the Ancients, "You and Siler were never on Atlantis."
The retired general nodded again, "We were. In San Francisco. Sam took a contingent from the SGC down and drafted me along."
He hadn't thought about the city in its *new* home.. and that also answered the when then. "OK..." A little odd that either Sam *or* Jack... or **Siler**, had somehow ended up.. well, however they'd ended up to have started this, while essentially on duty, but he wasn't sure he wanted details about *that*. There were other things, though, that Jack *might* volunteer with a little push, "I know you loved Sam; did you..." This time Daniel stopped himself from making a point that Jack was obviously not comfortable with yet.
Jack didn't refuse to answer, but he looked away, staring through the doorway to the living room, lost in thought. It wasn't a simple question and Daniel wasn't surprised Jack needed a minute to think it through. For that matter, his very private friend could choose to interpret it in a totally different way and Daniel wouldn't make a fuss.
Which was why he was surprised at the quiet words he finally got. "I always liked him. He's a good man and a good soldier. Someone I trusted with.. a great deal. Someone I spent entirely too many long days and nights chatting with in the infirmary."
Daniel nodded to each statement, agreeing wholeheartedly. "I know." He'd spent more time watching the nurses fall over themselves around the man than chatting to him, but he didn't think the sergeant would thank him for reminding his lover of the past.
Rather than answer the implied question, Jack shrugged, giving Daniel a stilted grin, "The rest.. just happened. I wasn't paying attention, and suddenly..." he shrugged again, a tinge of red starting to darken his cheeks as Daniel watched, delighted for his friend. Both his friends. And the SGC's accident-prone, Jack of all trades, master sergeant.
"Suddenly you loved him." This time it wasn't a question. Jack's grimness when he'd spoken of danger to the man, the almost unconscious intimacy between them, even with Daniel and Teal'c present, said it louder than words.
"..Yeah."
Though he went back to staring into his drink, Daniel watched the bit of a smile ghost across the retired general's face and realized he was going to need to get to know the sergeant better. Even aside from the simple math that he was obviously going to be a part of any time Daniel spent with his friends, there was the consideration that with their positions, he suspected there would come a time that they'd have a use for a go-between that didn't raise questions.
Next in the verse is Chapter 9: Bravery (NC17)
or to Chapter 1 for info
To read it all the chapters on one page, click here
Summary: A chat with Daniel
Chapter 8f: Old friends, like bookends (PG13)
AN: eheh, this
pic always represents their relationship for me.. :D
Watching Jack stepping around his kitchen, Daniel frowned in checked worry, "So Cassie's OK, then?"
Jack flashed him a guarded look before he shrugged and reached for two mugs, "As well as can be expected. Hard enough on the emotions to be pregnant, but having to deal with that damn shit..."
Daniel took the coffee he was offered and nodded, "Yeah. Is.." he stopped and took a sip, rethinking the statement as Jack remained standing, staring out the window over the sink with a glum, pissed-at-the-world expression that Daniel was all too familiar with. Though it had gotten at least a little rarer in the last few years. "I assume you have security on her?"
Jack nodded, "Yeah. And on her boyfriend. As discreet security as I could make happen; trying not to force her to constantly be reminded of things."
"I should visit her. If I'd been on the planet, I'd have helped.."
Jack nodded again, turning to lean back on the counter and face Daniel, though he still looked grim, "Yeah, I know. It all.. worked out."
Daniel frowned, "That.. didn't sound convincing, Jack. I thought you said everything was settled?"
He watched as his old friend grimaced, staring down into his mug as though it held the meaning of life, "The bastards are out of circulation and Cass is as safe as I can make her."
The lack of anything else forthcoming and the increase in glumness and jaw tension made Daniel change tack, hoping to find access to the problem, "What happened to your back?" Come to think of it.. that looked like a hell of a bruise on his arm too.. and another above his... abs? Daniel slid his eyes back to his friend's downcast face, mentally trying to remember if he'd just imagined that the general had put on some weight.
No. No, Daniel definitely remembered Jack taking his shirt off after spilling beer on it one afternoon. And he'd definitely been a little padded; not to mention that he'd grumbled about how he couldn't seem to get back in shape.
Jack's head shot up now at the question, eyes blinking in surprise as he rotated a shoulder, probably just in automatic response to the reminder. Then the grimness popped back and he stared back into his cup, his voice getting quiet, "Siler," he looked up, meeting Daniel's eyes with a painful tension around his, "The whole thing with Cass.. was a reminder of the danger of.. being a part of our family. And Siler was never really trained to be a field op, let along to defend himself in the kind of situation-" Daniel watched his friend flinch and go back to staring blankly, his voice falling to a snarl, "Where he'd be fighting for his damned life. Or someone else's."
"..So you're training him." Daniel remembered well enough what had happened when he'd been the one thrown unprepared into the middle of military operations. If Siler's training had really been that different, then he imagined his friends would be at least as protective of the sergeant. And as reluctantly determined to train him up to their standards.
Confirming Daniel's memory of how little he enjoyed such training, Jack's shoulders hunched at the simple words, "Yeah. We're training him."
Still, there was no way that he'd gotten the stomach back in just a couple weeks of combat-training Siler; though being reminded of the other man made Daniel suspect *he* probably had something to do with it. One way or the other. And he wasn't going to risk making Jack self-conscious with the mood he was already in by asking specifically. Some other day he could sneak a tease in at least.
On the other hand, *Siler* was one topic he'd been itching to find a way into ever since he and Teal'c had met the flustered sergeant at their friends' front door. "So," he watched Jack's eyes fly up and sharpen at his over-casual tone, "You and Siler." Yup, snapping posture, closing expression. He'd known this wasn't going to be easy.
"What *about* me and Siler?"
Daniel rolled his eyes at the silently threatening words, "Come on, Jack, I asked you the same thing when you and Sam got together," he blinked to himself, grinning a bit at his buddy, "Come to think of it, I think you responded the same way *then*." Not that he'd have changed the question even if he'd remembered that. There was only so far he was willing to humour Jack's sensibilities. Friends were *supposed* to weasel private details out of each other.
The acknowledgement that the two relationships were equal, not to mention the memory of just how crazy-happy he'd been feeling the last time Daniel had dropped that question, finally made Jack relax a bit. He almost smiled as he managed to set aside the maudlin mood that had ambushed him when Sam and Siler had vanished to go to work and he'd found himself alone after a week of their constant company; even with the stress and pain that had been a part of their trip, he couldn't help but relish any time with them. And hate its end; let along the free time to think.
He shrugged now at the question, not surprised it had come up and knowing he'd have to give the man who'd been his friend for so long *something*. "What do you want me to say, Danny-boy?"
Grinning at the unspoken offer to actually *talk*, Daniel tried to think of the least nosey thing he might get an answer to. "How about.. When or where exactly... I mean, I knew that you and Sam loved each other for years, so your finally getting together was hardly surprising. But I never though you.." he trailed off, feeling for a way to explain himself without getting Jack's military back up.
Flipping a hand up in 'stop' position, Jack grimaced, "Don't finish that thought, please Spacemonkey?"
"No, seriously, Jack. If.. I don't know," Daniel's hands waved, his cup cooling precariously at his elbow, "If.. say Paul Davis had 'come out'," he shook his head, ignoring Jack covering his eyes, "I'd barely have blinked. Hell," Daniel snorted, remembering the transparent mannerisms, "I've half expected the man to make a pass at me since we first met!" this time Jack outright groaned, "But of all people, *you*..." Daniel wound down there; he'd really meant not to bring that up. Really. Had even lectured Vala not to say anything to either men after she'd been let in on the secret.
"I *can't* believe you just said.. *any* of that, Daniel."
The mumble was almost incomprehensible since Jack was still covering his eyes. But he hadn't snarled. Or stalked out of the room. Maybe he'd known he'd be asked eventually. "I'm just.. *curious*, Jack. You're my oldest friend and.. your life just changed pretty drastically and.. you have my support, you know that, but.. I'm *curious*."
After a minute, during which Daniel remembered his cup and took a sip, waiting to see where the conversation was going to go, Jack finally sighed, straightening and looking at Daniel like a prisoner facing the executioner.
"I don't suppose giving you when and where will *end* this conversation?"
"It.." Daniel knew he'd still be curious, but he also knew that pushing rarely got him far with Jack, "It *can*. If you insist." There was always another day.
Jack nodded, not bothering for a stronger promise, "Atlantis."
Daniel blinked, cup motionless as he quickly went through everything he knew about the city of the Ancients, "You and Siler were never on Atlantis."
The retired general nodded again, "We were. In San Francisco. Sam took a contingent from the SGC down and drafted me along."
He hadn't thought about the city in its *new* home.. and that also answered the when then. "OK..." A little odd that either Sam *or* Jack... or **Siler**, had somehow ended up.. well, however they'd ended up to have started this, while essentially on duty, but he wasn't sure he wanted details about *that*. There were other things, though, that Jack *might* volunteer with a little push, "I know you loved Sam; did you..." This time Daniel stopped himself from making a point that Jack was obviously not comfortable with yet.
Jack didn't refuse to answer, but he looked away, staring through the doorway to the living room, lost in thought. It wasn't a simple question and Daniel wasn't surprised Jack needed a minute to think it through. For that matter, his very private friend could choose to interpret it in a totally different way and Daniel wouldn't make a fuss.
Which was why he was surprised at the quiet words he finally got. "I always liked him. He's a good man and a good soldier. Someone I trusted with.. a great deal. Someone I spent entirely too many long days and nights chatting with in the infirmary."
Daniel nodded to each statement, agreeing wholeheartedly. "I know." He'd spent more time watching the nurses fall over themselves around the man than chatting to him, but he didn't think the sergeant would thank him for reminding his lover of the past.
Rather than answer the implied question, Jack shrugged, giving Daniel a stilted grin, "The rest.. just happened. I wasn't paying attention, and suddenly..." he shrugged again, a tinge of red starting to darken his cheeks as Daniel watched, delighted for his friend. Both his friends. And the SGC's accident-prone, Jack of all trades, master sergeant.
"Suddenly you loved him." This time it wasn't a question. Jack's grimness when he'd spoken of danger to the man, the almost unconscious intimacy between them, even with Daniel and Teal'c present, said it louder than words.
"..Yeah."
Though he went back to staring into his drink, Daniel watched the bit of a smile ghost across the retired general's face and realized he was going to need to get to know the sergeant better. Even aside from the simple math that he was obviously going to be a part of any time Daniel spent with his friends, there was the consideration that with their positions, he suspected there would come a time that they'd have a use for a go-between that didn't raise questions.
Next in the verse is Chapter 9: Bravery (NC17)