Messages of a Friendship

Author: Orrymain
Category:  Slash, Drama, Angst, Missing Scene/Epilogue, Romance, Established Relationship
Pairing:  Jack/Daniel ... and it's all J/D
Rating:  PG-13
Season:  2
Spoilers:  The Broca Divide, Prisoners, Need, Message in a Bottle
Size:  212kb
Written:  November 26,30, December 7,9-11, 17-18,22, 2003, January 3, 2004  Revised:  January 14, April 4, 2005, August 5,13, 2006  Revised for consistency:  January 20, 2007
Summary:  As Jack fights for his life, and Daniel struggles to save him, Sam makes a decision that will change their lives forever.
Disclaimer:  Usual disclaimers -- not mine, wish they were, especially Daniel, and Jack, too, but they aren't.  A gal can dream though!
Notes:  
1) Sometimes, Jack and Daniel speak almost telepathically.  Their “silent” words to each other are indicated by asterisks instead of quotes, such as **Jack, we can't.**
2) Silent, unspoken thoughts by various characters are indicated with ~ in front and behind them, such as ~Where am I?~
3) This fic stands alone, but it does reference my other fic(s), “Echoes of the Past”
4) Thanks to my betas who always make my fics better:  Tina, Suzanna, Sheryl, Charlotte, Linda, QuinGem, Claudia!

Messages of a Friendship
by Orrymain

“It's so exciting, Jack,” Daniel spoke, his eyes shining with the thrill of discovery. “Imagine, leaving behind a record, a history of your world and having someone finally discover it.”

“You don't know that's what it is,” Jack replied, trying not to let his lover get too enthusiastic.  ~Don't want ya to be disappointed, Dannyboy.~

“I know, but I can dream, can't I?” Daniel asked, wonder in his tone and expression as he slipped on his BDU jacket.

Jack smiled and concurred, “Yeah, you can.  I'm glad you're having fun with your toys.”

“Jack!”

Jack laughed, “You and Sam enjoy your playground.  I'll see you later.”

Jack turned to exit the locker room, but Daniel, knowing no one else was around, suddenly grabbed his lover and gently shoved him against the door, his mouth demanding access to Jack's.

~Wow!~  Having granted entry to Daniel's tongue, Jack enjoyed the unexpected ravishing, which was wet and powerful.  “We need to get you toys to play with more often,” he said happily after the kisses ended.

“Jack?” Daniel spoke, his right hand rubbing up and down along Jack's chest.

“Love you, my little archaeologist,” the colonel intoned quietly.

“I love you, too,” Daniel replied and then kissed his soulmate again.

“Go play with Sam.  I'll dream about you, but don't stay up all night,” the colonel advised.  ~At least not with her,~ he silently smirked.

“I won't,” the younger man promised, eager to get a closer view of the new artifact, but equally sad that he didn't have time to ravish his partner even more.

After another quick kiss and whispering a furtive promise to finish what they had started, Jack left the area, whistling as he headed off to check out of the SGC.  He wasn't thrilled about going home alone, but he loved seeing Daniel when he was truly excited about a find, and Daniel was definitely intrigued by the object SG-1 had found on P5C-353, a lunar-like planet that required them to wear spacesuits in order to survey the landscape.

While they had been there, the flagship team of the SGC had located an orb that was emitting an energy of some sort.  Daniel thought it might be a record of the long-gone inhabitants of the world, a sort of time capsule.

“Imagine your civilization is facing a major cataclysm. The end is coming; you know it.  Wouldn't you leave something behind?  Something that told everyone that came after you who you were?” Daniel had asked with excitement in his voice.

The orb had markings all over it and had emitted small amounts of radiation.

Sam was also eager to study the power source, anticipating what it could mean for Earth.  So, after listening to both of his scientists, Jack had ordered them to bring the object back to the SGC for further observation.

After an initial examination of the artifact in one of the SGC labs, Sam and Daniel had convinced Hammond to delay SG-1's next mission for one day so that they could do more studies.  It had been after this that Jack and Daniel had talked in the locker room.

====

“You look happy, Sir,” Sam said, watching her CO practically skipping down the hallway.

“Hmm ... well, yes and no.  Make sure you get some sleep, Captain, and when you ignore that order and you and Daniel stay up all night, please make sure he eats,” the colonel requested.

Sam chuckled, “I'll try, Sir, but you know how he gets.”

“Feed him, Carter,” Jack said more softly than his original comments.  “I'm counting on you.”

Sam smiled a bit bashfully upon seeing Jack's tender side.  No matter how angry her CO sometimes got at the team's archaeologist, she knew he cared greatly for the other man.

“I'll do that,” the blonde promised.  “I'll go to the mess and get some food to take into the lab before we start.”

“Thank you.  Have fun,” Jack intoned as he walked towards the elevator.  ~But not too much fun with *my* Danny.~

Sam smiled and changed her direction to go to the commissary to pick up more nutritional dry food stuffs for later.  She knew her CO was right.  Daniel would become so involved in the object that he'd forego all nourishment except for cup after cup of coffee and the Twinkies stash he had tucked away under lock and key.

~You do take care of him, Sir, don't you?~

====

Sam and Daniel worked through the night, trying to unearth the mystery of the orb.  A few hours in, Sam pulled out her stash from a cooler bag -- a sandwich, an apple, and some chips.  She set it in front of Daniel and smiled.

“Oh, thanks, Sam, but you didn't have to.  I'm really not hungry,” the archaeologist spoke, only briefly looking at the food items.

“Daniel, eat,” Sam requested a bit more formally than usual.

“Geez, you sound like Jack.”  Daniel heard her snicker as she walked away, and the light dawned.  “Oh, please, tell me he didn't.  Sam!”

The embarrassed young man sank low in his chair, knowing Jack had badgered his second-in-command into treating Daniel like a child.  It was bad enough when Jack hovered over him, but to bring Sam into it was going too far.

“You know the colonel,” Sam teased gingerly.

“Yeah ... mother hen.” Daniel sighed.

Sam laughed, “Well, you know, he ...”  Sam stuttered, and Daniel saw something he couldn't define in her eyes.  “He feels responsible for you.  Eat, so I can keep my rank,” she joked as she began to eat her own midnight snack.

Daniel took a bite, and when Sam wasn't looking, he couldn't hold back a smile.  For all the frustrations he felt about Jack's ridiculous protectiveness, inwardly he liked it.  Until Jack, no one had ever cared enough about him enough to go to such lengths to make sure he took care of himself.  Truth be told, aggravating or not, it felt nice.

In between bites of his food, Daniel laughed, trying to picture the hard-nosed colonel approaching his 2IC or the big Jaffa, which Daniel also knew he had done in the past, and ordering them to make sure he ate and slept.

~It couldn't be easy for him.~  Another smile appeared on the young man's face.  ~Gawd, I love you, Jack.~

Daniel's smile grew with his silent thoughts.

“Daniel?” Sam called out.  “What are you thinking about?”

Taking a quick bite of food in order to give himself a moment to think of an appropriate answer, Daniel finally responded, “Orders.”  Inwardly, he added, ~And that promise Jack made.  I really should go home soon and wake him up.~

Sam shrugged, though quietly she wondered, ~That's a cryptic response.  I wonder what ... no, stop wondering, Samantha.~

Daniel smiled at his friend again and contently went back to his meal.

====

“Good morning, Campers!  Sleep well?  I did,” Jack quipped as he walked into the lab, bright and chipper, causing Sam and Daniel to wince.

~Crap, it can't be morning,~ Daniel thought as he caught a glimpse of his lover near the doorway.

Neither of the scientists had realized it was morning, and neither was happy with the orders Jack had just given for them to get some rest.  They wanted only to continue their probing into the mysteries of the orb.

**Jack, we have so much to do,** Daniel communicated via their non-verbal communication, a special, silent way of expressing themselves that was growing as their romantic relationship strengthened.

**Don't argue with me, Love,** the older man mentally requested.  Teasingly, he added, **It's beddy bye time for scientists and archaeologists.**

**But, Jack ...**

**Danny, I want you to know I lied just now.  I didn't sleep well without my Danny blanket.  I love you, and we need you on this mission.  Now please go get some sleep,** the older man requested via their special communication.

**Jack, I love you too, but ...**

**No, Danny.  I need you, and you need your rest.**  Jack smiled, and playfully suggested, “When we get back, you can ... visit.”

Resigned to their fate, Sam and Daniel got up to leave the lab, but just then Lieutenant Graham Simmons, who was assisting them, reported an EM spike from the orb.

As the orb's radiation levels grew to unsafe parameters, Jack ordered Daniel to go to the control room and have the planet dialed, intending to return the orb.  Meanwhile, he and Teal'c removed the object and hurriedly moved through the corridors of the SGC towards the gate room.

By the time they reached it, the Stargate had engaged, but just as Jack and Teal'c were about to follow through with their plan, the object suddenly grew spikes.  One of its long spears sticking out from it pierced through Jack's body, literally forcing him upward and pinning him against one of the concrete walls.  He was held in place several feet off the floor.

~Wha...what's happening?~  From the control room, Daniel stood, totally stunned.  Apart from his frantically beating heart, he was motionless, his eyes wide in astonishment and his mouth hanging open.  **Jack?**  Daniel's numb shock began to recede enough for his fear to kick in.  His anxiety levels spiked, growing as rapidly as the orb's spears had done.  **JACK!**

Jack couldn't hear the silent call, his connection with Daniel apparently severed by the piercing pain of the orb's spear.  The lack of that connection left the younger man feeling lost and alone.  In fact, he couldn't recall feeling so afraid in a long while, not even during his withdrawal from the sarcophagus.  He loved Jack so much, and his lover appeared to be dying in front of his eyes.  What was worse, he couldn't react or respond the way he wanted to.  To SGC personnel, he was Jack O'Neill's best friend.  That gave him certain freedoms, but not the ones that he desperately wanted.

~Gawd, I want to hold you, Jack.~

====

Their initial attempts to free Jack had failed, and now Daniel had managed to tear himself away from the gate room, and Jack, to meet with Sam and Hammond in order to try and figure out a plan of action.

During the meeting, Daniel's remorse surfaced as he apologized, “General, I don't know what to say.  I wanted the artifact to be something wonderful.”  He was so sad, and both Sam and Hammond could see it.  ~It's my fault, again.~

The anguished archaeologist was certain that everything was his fault.  His Love was suffering, feeling an unknown pain, all because he had to bring back some artifact.  Even as he stood facing the general, Daniel's anguish grew until he felt almost numb from his guilt.

“You have nothing to apologize for, Son,” the general reassured.

~Yes, I do.  Jack, I'm so sorry,~ Daniel silently lamented, not feeling the least bit consoled or convinced by the general's words.

====

Daniel had gone back to the control room as Sam worked with Janet.  He stood, arms folded, watching his lover.  He wanted desperately to go to Jack, but he didn't trust himself not to give away the truth of their relationship.  Plus, Janet had insisted, and Hammond agreed,  that they allow only essential personnel in the room because of the danger.

~Essential personnel?  He needs me.  I ... I need him,~ Daniel lamented as he stared at his lover, unable to help and unable to comfort either Jack or himself.

====

A bit later, as Sam headed to her office to retrieve some notes, she heard two airmen talking.  She caught enough of their conversation to be deeply disturbed by it and so stopped to listen.  She remained hidden from their sight as she watched them from the edge of the corridor corner.

“Man, did you see him?” one airman inquired.

“He's practically drooling over O'Neill,” the second airman spoke, letting out a snort of disgust.

“They are definitely doing it,” the first man replied.

“You'd think they'd try and hide it better.  What do you think the colonel sees in that dweeb anyway?” the second asked.

“Hey, they say he's saved the world,” the first airman explained, looking upward at the ceiling at the 'ridiculousness' of the situation and then laughing.

“Yeah, sure he did.  C'mon Frank, the guy's a bookworm.  Pretty, too.  That must be what O'Neill sees,” the second man replied, a nasty smirk on his face.

“Personally, I don't care, but I don't think it's right.  I'm not sure I want to trust my life to a couple of ...”

~I think that's enough.  Someone else might hear this,~ Sam thought, picking that moment to make herself known.  She rounded the corner and asked pointedly, “Shouldn't you two be doing something somewhere else ... *now*”

“Yes, Ma'am,” both airmen responded, each snapping to attention and wondering where she had come from.

“Then *do* it,” Sam ordered, using her best Jack O'Neill impersonation.

Shaking her head as she watched the airmen disappear down the hallway, Sam then continued on her way, finally reaching her lab and going inside.  She paused, considering the conversation she had overheard.  It hadn't been the first one she'd witnessed since the orb had taken Jack hostage, and that is what was bothering her.  She knew Daniel had been doing his best to cover up his emotions, but it was obvious from what she had seen and heard, that his feelings for Jack could only be hidden so much.

There had been gossip about Jack and Daniel from the very beginning of SG-1. Their good-natured bickering and banter, Jack's protectiveness and propensity to touch the younger man, Daniel's unending trust  -- all resulted in endless amounts of gossip, but it had never reached this level before.

~If this continues, the colonel could be court-martialed, and ... gee, I don't want to think about what some of those Marines might do to Daniel.  I've heard them make threats about what they'd do if ... stop it, Samantha.  You don't want to make a mountain out of a molehill,~ Sam thought as she pondered what to do.  “But I have to do something,” she spoke aloud, afraid the situation would soon be out of hand.

An idea began to form in Sam's mind, and as it developed, her certainty that it would work grew.  However, there was no way she could proceed with her plan without Daniel's permission.  She hoped she had the courage to pull it off.

~I wouldn't like doing it, but it might be the only way to protect them,~ Sam thought about her plan.  She sighed, ~People have gossiped about that, too.~

Grabbing her notes, Sam returned to continue her work with Janet.

====

Sometime later, Sam returned to the control room.  She had begun to wonder if maybe she'd overreacted.  Perhaps things hadn't progressed as much as she had thought.  However, as she focused on her work, she heard another nasty conversation between two airmen who hadn't seen her enter the area and didn't realize she was working at a nearby consul.

“Jackson's had it so easy.  If O'Neill dies, his goose will be cooked,” one of the airman whispered, though not quietly enough to avoid being heard.

“What are you talking about?” the second man questioned.

“Don't you know?  The colonel is doing Jackson,” the first man answered.

“I don't believe that,” the second responded.

“It's true,” the first maintained.  “They've been at it for at least a year.  Jackson and that long hair of his -- looks like a woman.”

“Do you have proof?”

“Just look at them.  I tell ya, it's a disgrace to the uniform.  Of course, Jackson should be in a dress anyway, but O'Neill -- he needs to be locked away in Leavenworth.  Maybe if Hammond finds out, we can finally get some real men in here.”

Still not believing the prejudiced accusations, the second airman challenged, “If it's true, how come no one has reported them?”

“O'Neill,” the first man answered a bit flippantly.  “You know,” he said, jutting his head out a bit.  “... his reputation.  Everyone's afraid to cross him, but I'm not.  I'm tired of him making a mockery out of the Air Force.”

“You're going to the general?” the second man asked.

“Not just like that.  There are better ways,” the first airman replied, but was interrupted by the arrival of Sergeant Walter Davis into their area.  “I'll tell ya later,” the man said, then left the control room.

Sam knew she had been right after all, and after hearing this latest gossip, she knew time was of the essence.  After checking on her CO in the gate room, she went in search of Daniel to discuss her plan with him.

====

Unable to focus on his work at the moment, Daniel was standing over his desk with his arms folded as he stared blankly at a reference book.

As she stood in the doorway of the archaeologist's office, Sam could see that he was lost in thought.  His dried tears were visible as well.  Unfortunately, if she could see them, she knew others could, too.

“Daniel,” Sam called out gently, walking in and then closing and locking the door behind her.

“Sam,” Daniel greeted in a subdued tone of voice.  He noticed her actions, which were unusual, but didn't think all that much of it.  After all, he was used to Jack frequently doing the same thing.  Suddenly, though, a chill set over him.  ~Is he dead?~  His face suddenly grew even more pained as he asked, “Sam, did something happen to Jack?”

“There's no change, Daniel,” the captain assured her friend with a tiny smile.

“Oh,” Daniel replied quietly as he stared back down at the mess on his desk.

“Um, Daniel, I need to ask you something,” Sam stated as she walked nervously towards her friend.  After Daniel looked up, she clarified, “Actually, I need your permission to ... well, to do something I wouldn't normally do.”

Daniel shook his head in question, having no clue what his friend was thinking about.

Sam paced the room, her hands and arms flinging out occasionally as she tried to speak with her friend.  She even mimicked her CO, picking up an artifact here and there, but quickly putting the relics back when she realized what she was doing.  She told herself to stop being a coward and to get on with it.  It proved to be easier thought, then done.

“Um, Daniel, you see ... you're my friend, and the colonel, well ... um, he's my friend, too, and as your friend, I feel it's my duty to ... be your friend.  I mean, you're my family, too, and I ... I want to do what's right ... to protect you ... because you're my family, and that's what families do ... right?”

“Sam, I don't have any idea what you're talking about,” Daniel responded.  ~Is that what I sound like to Jack sometimes?~

“I know,” Sam sighed.  “Daniel ...”  She turned to face him, both certain and uncertain that she was doing the right thing.  ~Just say it, Samantha.~

“Sam, something *is* wrong with Jack, isn't it?” the despairing archaeologist interjected.

“No, I mean ... you know as much as I do.  Oh, for crying out loud!” the blonde exclaimed as she once again mimicked the leader of SG-1, causing Daniel to release a tiny smile.  ~Get on with it, Coward,~ she told herself.  “Daniel, I ... I know how close you and the colonel are.”

“Best friends,” Daniel acknowledged quietly, looking down to avoid making contact with Sam's brilliant blue eyes.

“And ... more,” Sam said hesitantly.

Daniel looked up and observed Sam's nervousness.  Her fidgeting was increasing, and she, too, wasn't eager to make eye contact.  He knew something was up, but he couldn't pinpoint what it was.

Finally, Sam drew a large breath, braced her hands on the worktable that separated herself from Daniel, and informed him, “Look, um, I've known since Hadante, Daniel.  He ... remember when he took off your glasses?  Daniel, you don't let anyone that close to you.  No one could do what the colonel did, say what he said to you, and you ... well, you just stood there like it was the most natural thing in the world.”

Daniel's breathing was becoming more rapid.  His hold on himself tightened.  His eyes again evaded Sam's.  He turned around, walking over to one of the bookshelves, where he stared at artifacts that he couldn't even focus on.

~She can't know,~ the anguished lover bemoaned.

Sam continued, “Then, after what happened with Shyla, he was so protective.  We all wanted to help you through the withdrawal, but the colonel, he kept us all away, against Janet's advice.  He wouldn't let anyone get close to you.”

“I ... I didn't want anyone to see me,” Daniel responded meekly, his grip on himself having become so tight that his arms were beginning to hurt.

“I know, but I also know it was more,” Sam maintained confidently.  “I saw you two in the storage room, Daniel.  It wasn't that the colonel held you, it was *how* he did it.”  She walked a few steps closer to her teammate, but still, a few feet separated them.  “Daniel, I'm not ... I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable; that's not why I'm bringing it up now.”

“Then why are you?” Daniel asked, still facing the bookshelf, his back to the captain.

Sam looked over towards the closed door.  She really didn't want to have to say this, but she knew she didn't have a choice.

“Why, Sam?”

“Because people are talking, and talking too much around here can lead to problems,” Sam confessed.

Daniel turned and finally faced his friend, seeking out her eyes for the truth.  In response, Sam tried to smile, but at the moment, there was little to smile about.

Walking another step closer, Sam explained, “It's getting a little out of control.  There's always been gossip, not just about you two, but all of us.  It's human nature, but, Daniel, you're ... it's just getting out of hand.”

The archaeologist looked down, fully aware that his worry over Jack was obvious to anyone who could see him.  He had tried in vain to hide it, but he loved his partner so much, he just couldn't suppress it as much as he needed to in a military base.

“What did you want to ask me?” Daniel questioned unsurely.

“I would never do anything to hurt you; you know that,” the captain spoke emphatically, making sure her eyes were locked on to her friends.  “Daniel, I was thinking maybe I could take some of the focus off of you.  'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is volatile, and dangerous.  It would be less risky if the gossip was about ...” Sam hated this, but she knew she had to protect Jack and Daniel.  “... fraternization.”

Daniel blinked, his mouth opening from surprise, and asked, “What?”

Sam closed the gap between them and put her hand on Daniel's arm as she answered, “If they think there's something going on between me and the colonel, they might ignore what they think is going on between you and the colonel.” She paused, knowing her friend was unsure and apparently unprepared for her suggestion.  “Let me help you,” she pleaded.  “Please, Daniel.”

“What ... do you want to do ... exactly?” Daniel cautiously inquired, wondering if he was now in that twilight zone that his lover so frequently joked about.

“Play it up a little.  I don't know.  I'm not really good at flirting, and I'm not sure how to do it with my CO, but we need to get the gossip-mongers looking at me and away from you.  Would that be okay?” Sam queried.  Her only response was a stare.  ~Maybe this wasn't a good idea, but if he says no ...~  She stopped her morbid thoughts and assured, “I won't do it if you don't want me to.  I would never ever do anything like this without your permission.”

Daniel sighed, walking around the woman as he responded, “I don't know, Sam.  It's hard enough to keep up the pretense as it is.  Gawd, it's a nightmare, having to pretend that there's nothing but ... but hockey and pizza between us, especially when all I want to do is be with him every minute of the day.  There's enough lies as it is.  I don't know if I could cope with another one, and I'm not sure it would be fair to you either.  You're military, Sam,” he reminded, turning around to face her again.

Having turned around as well, Sam replied, “Daniel, think of the colonel and his career.  If you're outed, you'll probably get to keep your job.  I'm not saying it would be easy, but you wouldn't have to face what he would.  Do you know what would happen to him?”

Daniel visibly bristled, responding, “Of course, I know.  What do you think I am ... clueless?  I know better than anybody what the stakes are.  Do you think I want to see Jack in Leavenworth?”

Sam saw how agitated Daniel had become and regretted upsetting him, especially now when he was so concerned about Jack.  It hadn't been her intention to make matters worse.  She truly only wanted to help two people she cared about very much.

Gently, Sam reached out and touched Daniel's arm again, saying, “Daniel, please listen to me.  I love you both.  You know that.  I just want to help take some of the pressure off for a bit and make it easier on you.  The regs stink.  We both know that, but they're there, and we can't change them no matter how much we want to, at least not yet.  Please let me help you.”

Daniel took a deep breath, thinking, ~I guess I don't have a choice.  It doesn't matter how I feel about it.  I have to think about Jack and what's best for him.~  A moment later, he nodded his assent and spoke a quiet, “Okay, Sam.”

“Okay then,” Sam spoke, relieved to end the conversation and move on to figuring out how to deal with the orb.  “We need to get our staffs organized.  We'll figure out the solution.  Colonel O'Neill will be fine.”

“Will he?”

Sam smiled, speaking with certainty as she replied, “Yes, we're SG-1.  He's going to be okay.  Janet will patch him up and then you ... you can take him home.”  The captain felt very uncomfortable.  She didn't understand Jack and Daniel's relationship.  She wasn't sure she even approved, but she couldn't deny that they were her family, and her loyalty to them was without question.  Daniel needed her to be strong and focused, so she would be.  “I'm going to talk to Janet for a few minutes, and then we'll get the staffs together, okay?”

“Okay.”  Daniel nodded as Sam walked towards the door.  “Sam?”  Once she turned around, he added, “I ... I love him.”

~I wish he hadn't said that out loud.~  Sam looked down, then back up at Daniel.  She smiled, acknowledged the feelings by responding, “I know,” and then exited the office.  ~Just stay focused, Samantha.  They're family, like brothers.~

Daniel wasn't sure if he had done the right thing or not by going along with Sam's plan.  Since he hadn't heard any of the latest gossip, he had been totally unprepared for Sam's comments.  Still, she was their teammate and friend, and he believed her motivation was true.

~I hope it was the right choice,~ the archaeologist thought about his decision.

Though still uncertain, one thing Daniel was certain of -- just as Sam was trying to protect both Jack and Daniel, Daniel would protect Jack and his career, even at his own expense.

====

With the infectious properties of the orb spreading throughout the SGC, Daniel's anxiety increased.  He needed to be with his lover, but he couldn't.  Like an unmovable stone, Teal'c had planted himself next to Jack, and Daniel couldn't think of a way to get him out of the room.

~Gawd, it's hopeless,~ Daniel bewailed silently.  **Jack, I love you.**

Daniel heard nothing in response.  Normally, the telepathic-like communication between Jack and Daniel was its strongest when one was in jeopardy, but the orb seemed to have severed it.  Daniel returned to the information they had gleaned from the alien object, determined to find the solution to save his lover.  He would lose himself in the research.  He would find an answer.  He had to. The alternative was too horrible to imagine.

~Jack is my life.  Without him ... NO!  I can't and I won't think that.  Jack *will* be okay.  We'll go home and ...~

Daniel couldn't finish his thought.  His worry for his lover was so great he couldn't even form a happy thought.

====

Sam had spent hours with Janet and other members of her team trying to solve the puzzle herself.  She had also made frequent visits to the gate room, making sure she had been seen, trying to let her emotional side shine through.  She was all for femininity, but flaunting her emotions on base was foreign to her.  She knew she had to be subtle, yet obvious.  It was a delicate balance she was striving to reach.

With each visit and emotional conversation she had with others, Sam noticed more and more personnel watching her.  The gossiping was evident, often subsiding as she approached the chit-chatters.  With Daniel focused on the translations and having chosen to stay away from the gate room, it looked like Sam's plan was progressing nicely.

~Now, if we can only figure out how to turn this thing off,~ Sam thought, knowing her actions were all for naught if they couldn't save her CO.

====

“I ... I  think what we thought was gibberish on all the computers was actually the aliens attempt to communicate with us,” Daniel theorized as he paced, feeling more hopeful than he had ever since this whole ordeal had begun.

Daniel was currently in the control room with Sam and General Hammond, trying to persuade them he was right.

“Maybe,” Sam hesitantly agreed.  She could see the hope in Daniel's eyes and didn't want to take that from him.  Still, she had an obligation to point out the possibility that Daniel was wrong.  “But the symbols you're seeing could also be from the random files from our earlier research.”

“No, see, that's impossible,” the archaeologist refuted, holding his left hand up in front of his chest.  “See, I didn't start working on this sequence until *after* the computers went down.”  ~Come on, Sam, help me out here,~ he pleaded silently.

“Assuming you're right, what are they trying to communicate?” Hammond asked skeptically.

“We...well, they could be saying take me to your leader for all I know.  I have no idea,” the concerned male scientist spoke.  “The point is that they're trying.  We haven't even begun to consider that what we're up against here is an alien intelligence. We've treated it like a ... a disease, like a plague.  Not once have we stopped to listen,” he argued forcefully.  

There was no way Daniel was giving up on this.  If they could get through and find out what it wanted, then maybe they could save Jack.  Yet, he was also frustrated, knowing that he didn't have a point of reference to use in translating the language used by the orb.

As they discussed the situation, Sam suggested that perhaps the orb was trying to talk to them through her CO.

“Communicate with the organism through Jack?” Daniel asked, pondering the idea internally.  ~Maybe that is what they're doing.~

The three agreed on a plan, and then Sam went to the gate room to inform Jack what was going on.  As she talked, she could feel the eyes watching her.

~This plan is going to work, but this is also too good of an opportunity to pass up.  They're watching,~ Sam inwardly observed.  Speaking more tenderly than was necessary, she talked with Jack while trying to make her eyes speak of something more than the friendship and respect she truly felt for Jack O'Neill.  ~Okay, here goes,~ she thought as she placed her hand in his, knowing that would definitely get the base talking.  ~Fraternization may be against the regs, but military personnel love to speculate.~  She hoped her CO would understand her actions when they got the object to disconnect itself and were able to explain what was going on.  ~I hope you'll understand, Sir.~

====

When their plan worked and they successfully managed to establish communication with the orb, Daniel didn't know whether to be overjoyed or worried.  They were a step closer to freeing Jack, but they weren't there yet.  He couldn't blame the inhabitants of the orb for not wanting to die but at the same time, he just wanted his lover back.

Hammond informed the life force that the base's self-destruct was counting down and then requested, “If you would allow us to restore our communications, we could stop that from happening.  We would survive.”

The life force responded, “O'Neill desires this as well.  He wishes to live.”

The life force inside of Jack looked at Daniel, making eye contact, and for the first time since the orb had pinned Jack to the wall, Daniel heard his lover speak to him.

**I love you, Danny.  I don't want to leave you,** Jack communicated.

Daniel returned the gaze, replying, **I love you, too, Jack.  I'll find a way.  I have to.**

“But what of us?” the life force asked, concerned about their survival.

~Think, Jackson.  Come on ...~  Daniel's mind worked quickly.  He had to save Jack, and himself.  “P4G-881!” he exclaimed excitedly.  “It's primordial, lots of oxygen and sunlight like this world was a quarter of a billion years ago.”

“Sir, we can't open the Stargate without the computers,” Sam reminded.

“You would send us there?  Through your Stargate?” the life force asked through Jack.

“We would,” Hammond assured the alien.

“For what reason?”

Hammond answered, “So that we both may survive.”

Sensing the major general's sincerity, the alien life force gasped and threw Jack's head back.

Not sure what that meant, if Jack was dying or if the life force was going through some kind of transition, Daniel grew desperate, his voice pleading, “We'll take you there ourselves.  Please!”

Anxiously, Daniel and the others waited to see what would happen.  All of a sudden, the power in the gate room went out, then came back on.  At last, the spear removed itself from Jack's body.  The life force went to the orb and reconnected to it.  Jack's body took the glowing orb to the engaged Stargate and tossed it through as Daniel and the others watched.  Then, Jack fell backwards onto the ramp.

As quickly as possible, Sam and the general aborted the auto-destruct while Daniel and Teal'c ran to Jack and helped him up.  Daniel said nothing for a moment, his left hand gently placed on Jack's upper arm.

Finally, the young man spoke, “Welcome back, Jack,” unable to contain a smile.  **Are you okay?**

**Danny, I had the weirdest experience,** Jack responded as his lover and Teal'c helped him out of the gate room and towards the infirmary.

Daniel smiled, wishing he could hold his soulmate, but content for the moment to be at his side.

“That wasn't a dream I just had was it,” Jack asked as they made their way through the corridors.

“O'Neill, do you not remember?” the Jaffa asked.

“Oh, I remember,” Jack responded.  “That's the problem,” he jested.  After a moment, he spoke, “Teal'c, thanks for sticking around.”

“It was my place,” the tall, dark man replied.

“Yes, well, thanks anyway,” the colonel said appreciatively.  “Daniel?”

“I'm okay,” Daniel responded.  “It's just ... been a long day, or two.”  He gave his lover a tiny smile, but inwardly, he thought, ~It was my place to be at Jack's side, not Teal'c's.  It'll never happen, will it?  We'll never be able to be free.~

**Danny?** Jack called out mentally, sensing his lover's distress.

**I was just worried.  I'll feel better after Janet checks you out,** Daniel intoned just as they reached the medical area.

“I must kelno'reem,” Teal'c announced, bowing his head and taking his leave of his friends.

“Don't use any rotten candles,” Jack teased.

~He's fine,~ Daniel thought with relief.  ~At least, his sense of humor hasn't gotten lost.  Uh, wait a minute -- is that good or bad?~

====

Janet conducted a full examination of the SGC's second-in-command and was happy, yet amazed, that he was suffering no ill effects.  The life force of the orb had left Jack slightly weakened, but unharmed.

“You're free to go, Colonel,” Janet stated.

“So I'm fine?” Jack inquired, buttoning his shirt.

“As good as you ever were ... Sir,” the woman doctor smirked, her eyes a bit playful and suggestive.

“Perfect then,” Jack replied smugly, though it, too, was said playfully.  As Janet chuckled, he added, “Thank you, Doc.”

Jack hopped off the bed, smiling at Daniel who hadn't left his side.  Both nodded at Janet and then walked out.  Daniel's arms were folded, and Jack could easily sense the stress still churning inside his lover.

“Just another hour, Danny, and then we go home,” Jack whispered.  ~And I'll make good on that promise.~

Daniel nodded, and the two quickly made their way to the briefing room where Hammond was waiting for the team, sans Teal'c, to do a quick debriefing.  When it was done, he gave SG-1 seventy-two hours downtime to recoup before their next mission.

“Jack, take it easy for the next few days,” Hammond said warmly before heading back to his office.

“I will, Sir,” Jack replied to the man's back.

“He was worried about you,” Daniel stated softly.  “We all were.”

“Let's get out of here,” Jack suggested firmly, wanting to embrace his soulmate and remove every ounce of stress from the younger's man body.

“Who's arguing?” Daniel asked, smiling for Jack's benefit.

~Okay, he's definitely still bothered by something.  I'm fine, so I wonder what I missed while being the tail to the wall's donkey,~ the older man pondered as they walked swiftly to the locker room, a trek that was completed silently as was the time spent changing into their civvies.

====

“Danny, how about we just relax upstairs for a while?” Jack asked when the lovers arrived at his country-styled house.

“I'd like that,” Daniel agreed.

The two lovers settled in on their comfortable bed, snuggling and cuddling as they talked about the orb and the events that had transpired.  Daniel was still unusually quiet, but Jack decided his soulmate just needed a little time to process everything that had occurred.  The events with the orb had taken a toll on both of them.

~I'm tired, too,~ the older man sighed as his eyelids fluttered shut, and he entered the world of sleep.

====

At roughly seven o'clock that night, Jack walked out of the study where he had been paying bills.  Entering the living room, he took note of his lover standing on the patio outside.

~Self-hugging again,~ Jack sighed.  Heading for the patio, he was determined to find out what had his partner so upset.  ~Okay, Danny, you're holding out on me, and that's not acceptable.”

When he reached his lover, Jack put his arms around him, holding him close.

Daniel sighed contently and leaned his body into Jack willingly, his head resting against Jack's left shoulder, where the spear of the orb had once inflicted so much pain.

“Oh, does that hurt?” Daniel asked, raising his head off his soulmate's shoulder.

“No, Love.”  Jack kissed Daniel's temple, then gently pushed Daniel's head back onto his shoulder.  His hands then maneuvered their way under Daniel's blue shirt to feel the soft skin that made him shiver with delight.  “Talk to me, Danny, and don't even try to out-maneuver me.  I know something's bothering you.  Tell me.”

The younger man wasn't trying to hide anything from his soulmate; it was all just a matter of timing and of readjusting to their world together, pushing out all the bad that seemed to threaten them from time to time.

“I felt so helpless, Jack,” Daniel admitted.  “I just stood there ... in the control room ... for the longest time.  I just ... stood there, watching you.  I was afraid I was going to lose you, and we've ...”  He chuckled, “Gawd, I think like you now.  That song -- 'We've Only Just Begun -- that's how I feel, about us.”

Jack smiled, placed a kiss at the base of his lover's neck, and replied, “You saved me, Danny.  You made the connection, and Carter made it work.”

“Sam,” Daniel said dryly.  He pulled out of Jack's warm embrace and walked into the house, over to the fireplace, and stared at the empty hearth.  He was self-hugging again.  ~I have to tell him.~

“What about Carter?” Jack asked, confused as to why his second-in-command would be the topic of conversation as she apparently was.

~Just say it,~ Daniel sighed to himself.  “She knows, Jack.”

“Knows what?”

Daniel turned to face his lover and answered, “About us.”

Jack turned his head slightly to the right, wondering if he was really hearing what he thought he was.  He stared deeply into the younger man's eyes, looking for the joke that had to be there.  Within a few seconds, though, he knew there was nothing lighthearted about his Love's remark.

“You told her?” the older man asked incredulously.

“No,” Daniel answered succinctly and then bit his lip.

“Then how?”

“She ... she just figured it out,” the uncomfortable archaeologist spoke as he held onto himself.

“No way,” Jack said, dismissing that notion as a possibility.  “C'mon, Daniel, you're just being over sensitive or something.”

“Jack, she knows,” Daniel refuted forcefully.  “She told me.  She, uh ... she wanted to help.”

“Help?  Daniel, what the blazes are you talking about?” an exasperated Jack asked.

~Help me from getting you court-martialed,~Daniel answered internally while studying the carpet, his hesitancy and nervousness obvious as he remained silent.

“Okay, let's go,” Jack ordered, heading for the entranceway.

“Go?” the younger man questioned as he turned to follow his lover's movements.

“Go!” Jack insisted, getting his jacket from the closet.  “Daniel, now!”  He could hear the sigh, but didn't say anything further since he could hear Daniel moving closer.  At the door, Jack turned and shook his head.  “Danny, get your jacket.”

“I'm not a child, Jack,” Daniel argued.

“Then get your jacket,” Jack instructed, not wanting his lover to get a cold.  ~Once we get this settled, I have plans for us, and you having a cold isn't part of them.~

Daniel rolled his eyes, opened the front closet to retrieve his jacket, and then followed Jack to the truck.

“Oh, wait,” the archaeologist called out, turning back towards the house.

“Wait for what?” Jack shouted as he stood between the door and the interior of the truck.

“I forgot to lock the door,” Daniel confessed.

“Just leave it,” Jack responded.

~I can't believe him.~  Daniel hurried up the steps to the porch, then opened the front door, locked it, and made sure it was securely shut.  As he headed back to the truck, he said, “Jack, you shouldn't leave your front door unlocked.”

“Look who's talking?” Jack bantered.  “You leave the apartment door unlocked all the time.”

“I do not,” Daniel denied.  “I don't bolt and latch it, but the door itself is locked,” he said, opening the door and stepping into the vehicle.

Jack whined, “You should always latch it.”  He started the truck and saw his lover's expression.  “Okay, sometimes I don't lock my own door.”

“You should,” Daniel insisted.

“You're right,” Jack admitted as he pulled out of the driveway.

The levity was short-lived, however, as soon the two men focused their thoughts again on Sam.  For Daniel, he was lost in feelings of inadequacy.  If he had been stronger, Sam wouldn't have needed to cover for him.  For Jack, he was just plain confused as to how the captain could possibly know about their love affair.

Thus, the ride to Sam's was done mostly in silence.  As they neared her house, Daniel glanced at his soulmate, trying to find words that were escaping him at the moment.  He wasn't sure how to explain their friend's revelation, nor was he sure why she had ultimately done what she had.  Part of him wondered if Sam liked Jack and maybe even wanted him for herself.

~How could I compete with a woman?  He was married, after all,~ the confused man wondered, dismissing the possibility that Jack might even have similar doubts or wonders since, Daniel himself was actually still married.

Daniel shut his eyes, dismissing the thought that his fellow scientist might have ulterior motives for her actions.  Sam wasn't like that.  If she knew the two men were romantically involved, which apparently she did, then she would never make a play for Jack herself.

~Would she?~

====

“Jack, maybe we should have called first,” Daniel wondered as Jack drove up to the front of Samantha Carter's house.

“We're going in, Daniel,” Jack insisted.

“But ...”

“Unless you want to tell me everything yourself,” the older man challenged. As Daniel let out a discontented breath, Jack stated, “I didn't think so.  Let's go.”

The lovers walked up to the front door, and Jack knocked on it.  It only took a few seconds before the homeowner opened the front door.

“Sir?  Daniel? ... um, come in,” Sam greeted, totally surprised at seeing her two colleagues standing at her door.

It was almost 8:30 p.m., and Sam had been relaxing, reading a technical journal by the fireplace.  She was casually dressed in form-fitting jeans and a white blouse with a lacy emerald v-neck trim.

“Hope we aren't interrupting anything, Carter.”

“No, I was just reading,” Sam answered, noticing Daniel had walked quickly over to the mantle, folded his arms around himself, and seemed to get lost in his own world.

“Is something wrong, Sir?” Sam asked, though she kept glancing over at Daniel, something which didn't go unnoticed by her CO.

“I hope not.  Carter, Daniel says ... well, he said you ... that you,” Jack stammered, something he very rarely did.  He fidgeted and then called out, “Daniel, tell her.”

Daniel turned and began his own round of stammering, saying, “I ... tol...told him that you ... when you, uh, came in my office ... I mean ...”

~Oh, geez,~ Sam thought, realizing what was happening.  She looked at Jack and acknowledged, “Yes, Sir, I do ... Sir.”

Immediately, Jack suggested, “I think maybe you'd better drop the 'Sir' for a while.”

“Yes ... Jack,” Sam responded as she looked down at the carpet.  Then she recommended, “Maybe we should sit down.”

“Yes.  Sit.  Good idea, Ca ... Sam,” Jack intoned as he flinched over switching from 'Carter' to 'Sam'.

The colonel sat down on the sofa, smiling at his second-in-command.  Daniel followed suit, but purposefully left a couple of feet between himself and his lover.  Sam, meanwhile, sat on a chair that she scooted over to face the sofa.

For a few minutes, the three teammates sat in an unsatisfying silence, all avoiding the subject that was on the table.

“Oh, for crying out loud, this is ridiculous.  Carter, do you know or not?” Jack asked pointedly.

“Yes, Sir,” Sam confirmed.

Still disbelieving, Jack asked, “How?  When?”

“Hadante.  You got in Daniel's personal space in an ... intimate way ... Jack, and he didn't seem to mind.”  Sam glanced at Daniel, who was evading her gaze again.  “Um, well, then after Daniel became addicted to the sarcophagus, and he was suffering through withdrawal, I noticed the way you held him in the storage room.  It was ... very personal, Sir ... I mean, Jack.  During his recovery, you shut the rest of us out, as if Daniel was your ... well, like he was your responsibility, more than just being his CO.”

Sam felt very uncomfortable, swallowing hard as she concluded her rationale.

“Oh, I see,” Jack said and then glanced at Daniel.  “So, Sam, how do you feel about ...”  He motioned to Daniel and then himself, thinking, ~Geez, I hate these types of conversations.~

Sam took a deep breath and then answered, “To be honest, I don't know.  It's not my place to judge you, but you're my family and my friends, and I won't let either of you be hurt simply because ... well, because you've found something together that I don't understand.”  Sam leaned forward, eager for her friends to understand her position.  “Sir, Daniel, SG-1 is a team, but we're more than that.  We're a family, and families help and protect each other, and that's what I tried to do at the SGC.”

“What exactly did you do?” Jack asked quietly, not truly certain he wanted to know.

“Daniel was upset.  He was worried about you, and ...” Sam began.

“I didn't hide it very well, Jack,” Daniel interrupted, though his words were almost inaudible.

Jack felt both sadness and despair in his lover.  Since Sam knew the truth now, he reached over and took hold of his lover's hand, causing the young man to look up at him in surprise.

“It's okay, Danny.  If the situation had been reversed, I doubt I would have been myself either,” Jack spoke softly, earning him a sweet smile from the younger man.

~Oh, wow,~ Sam thought as she sat back and watched this amazing connection happen right in front of her eyes.  She'd never heard Jack O'Neill sound quite that gentle before.  It was as if she had witnessed her CO melting, becoming an entirely different person right in front of her eyes.  ~Or maybe that's who he really is,~ she wondered.

Now, Jack and Daniel were lost in each other.  They were still sitting apart, with only their hands touching, but their unity was unmistakable.  It almost caused Sam to shiver herself from the raw emotion and electricity that filled the air.

“Sir,” Sam intoned, desperate to get beyond the moment.  “I asked Daniel if he would be upset if I tried to draw the attention away from him.  I overheard several discussions, gossip, really, but the ... it was more than just the usual chatter that we hear all the time; it was turning vicious.  I felt it was safer if the personnel were concentrating on me, rather than on Daniel.”

“What exactly did you do?” a curious Jack inquired as he continued to hold Daniel's hand in his.

“Smiled a lot ... at you, and looked sad and droopy-eyed at the right moments ... and I ... sorry, Sir, but I held your hand quite a bit ... Sir,” Sam stated, turning red-faced and feeling totally juvenile.

“I see,” Jack acknowledged and then turned to look at his lover.  “She really asked you if that was okay?”  Seeing Daniel nod, he questioned, “And you said 'yes'?”

“I didn't want to, but ... I had to try and protect you.  They'll court-martial you, Jack,” Daniel answered.  “I couldn't let that happen, especially because of me.”

Jack countered, “It's against the regs to get involved with someone on your own team as well.”

Sam clarified, “Yes, Sir, it is, but of the two offenses, it's the one that will draw the least amount of concern.  If anything, it will be officially ignored, but unofficially encouraged.  Let me help, Colonel.  When it gets like it was yesterday and today, I'd like to help.”

“There's a risk, Captain.”


“I'm aware of that.  It's my choice,” Sam said confidently.  She then nodded at Daniel, who wasn't looking at her.  She looked at Jack, silently trying to get him to understand that Daniel needed to have someone to rely on when he wasn't around.  ~Let me do this, for Daniel.~

Jack received the message and smiled as he replied, “Thanks, Carter.  Look, nothing changes, and if you ever think it has, that it's affecting my leadership, I expect you to tell me.  In fact, I order you to.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Okay,” Jack said as he clapped his thighs.  Standing, he asked, “So we're good to go?”

“I'm fine, Sir.  Yes,” the captain confirmed as she stood and gave him a little nod.  “Daniel?” Sam paused, making sure he was listening to her.  “I won't do this if it makes you feel uncomfortable.  It's your life, and you mean ... I ... I only want to make things easier, but if it ever crosses a line, I need to know you'll tell me.”

“I will, Sam.  Thank you,” Daniel promised as he, too, stood up.  “I ... I needed you at the base, Sam.  I don't want Jack's career to be hurt because of ... of ...”

“I understand,” Sam said, smiling warmly at the archaeologist.  “Uh, would you two like some coffee or ...”

“No, it's been a long couple of days.  We just want to go home,” Jack said.  “Carter, home is ...”

“Where your heart is, Sir,” Sam completed for her CO.  “Have a good downtime.”

“You, too, Sam,” Daniel spoke as Jack opened the door to leave.

Daniel walked towards the truck, not realizing his lover had lingered behind.  Quietly, Jack waited a few moments before turning back to say one final thing to Sam.

“Carter, Daniel means more to me than anything on this Earth.  Thank you for watching out for him,” Jack said.  He didn't wait for a response or any kind of acknowledgement, but hurried, instead, to catch up with his lover.  “Gonna cream your butt at chess tonight, Danny.”

“Right, Jack,” Daniel chuckled as he opened the truck door.

From her door, Sam watched the lovers drive away.  In many ways, she was relieved to have the secret out in the open now, even though she still didn't know how she really felt about the intimate relationship between the two men.  Hearing and seeing her CO in a different way was a revelation to her as well.  She closed her door, locking it behind her.

Although unsure about many things, the captain believed every word she had spoken -- SG-1 was a family, and no matter what, she would do everything in her power to protect them, regardless of the risk to her own career.

====

“Danny, where's the toothpaste?” Jack shouted from the bathroom later that night as they prepared to go to bed.

Getting no response, Jack walked out into their bedroom, buttoning his white pajama top as he made his way.  He stopped for a minute, seeing Daniel sitting, slumped forward slightly, on Jack's side of the bed.

The younger man was already in his light blue pajamas.  His glasses were on the nightstand, and he was staring down at the floor, his hands pressing against the sheets of the turned-down bed.

~Angel.~  Jack took a breath and crawled into the bed on Daniel's side, scooting over towards his lover.  He reached up to touch Daniel's back, urged, “C'mere, Danny,” and then tugged on his lover's left arm a little as he lay back.

Daniel twisted to his left and lay on top of his lover, his head on Jack's right shoulder.  He was happy that Jack was holding him tightly.

“I'm good as new, you know,” Jack assured, making sure his hold was secure, knowing that's what Daniel needed.

“I know.”

“You saved me,” the older man reminded.

“Sam and Janet did most of it,” the archaeologist responded quietly, automatically negating his own contributions to the effort.

“You made the connection and realized that the alien life forces were in the orb.  If you hadn't done that, Carter couldn't have done her thing,” the colonel pointed out.

Daniel sighed, “I should have been stronger.”

“Daniel, listen to me.  Remember what Carter said ... about the withdrawal?” Jack questioned.  Feeling his lover's nod against his shoulder, he requested, “Think about what she said.  Did it sound like I was behaving rationally?”

“I don't know what you mean,” the younger man admitted.

“Danny, I forcibly took you out of the SGC and brought you home.  It was against Fraiser's advice, MacKenzie's orders, Hammond's wishes, and everyone else's common sense.  I dragged you out of there, and locked you away here, and I refused to let anyone near you,” Jack reminded sternly.

Daniel shifted slightly, his hand undoing the buttons to Jack’s pajamas so his fingers could gain full access to Jack’s chest.  Jack had a hairy chest, and Daniel thought it was the sexiest thing he'd ever seen, except for Jack's silly Irish grin.

“Do you remember, Danny?” Jack asked.

“A little.”

The older man continued, “My point is, I was an idiot.  I'd do it again, without hesitation, but it wasn't logical.  Geez, Danny, do you know what that looked like?  What I did went way beyond my rights or responsibility as your CO.  It was way more than the action of a friend.  What I did was with all the emotion and all the rights of someone who loves you.”  He placed a kiss on Daniel's shaggy hair.  “So you see, My Love, neither one of us is ever going to be normal when the other is in jeopardy, because we love each other, and loving means ...”  He paused, considering his words, and then continued, “It means we worry, and that's not always easy to hide, especially when the other is in pain of any kind.”

Daniel finally looked up into Jack's eyes, asking, “So ... you're not mad at me?”

“Mad?  For crying out loud, Daniel, I love you.  Why should I be mad?” Jack responded, surprised by the question.

That's when the light dawned for Jack.  Daniel hadn't been able to hide his love for him as much as he thought he should have been able to.  Then he had allowed Sam to help them, more or less admitting to the relationship.  At that point, the archaeologist had been sure that Jack would be angry or upset at Daniel's weakness.

~That's not all you're worried about, is it, Love?  What would be next in that equation?  Me, flying the coop.  Well, don't even think it,~ Jack silently vowed.  “Danny, you are one crazy, beautiful human being,” he said, raising his hands to cup his lover's face.  “I'm not going anywhere.  I love you, for always.  You did everything you could to protect us and to save me.  I'm not mad, upset, or disappointed.  What I am is proud and happy that for some reason you've picked me to give your heart to.”

Daniel blinked as he replied, “I thought you'd be angry.”

“I love you, Danny.”  Jack brought their mouths together and kissed his Love.  “Danny, I don't care if the whole world knows about us.  You're my life, and someday, we're going to tell the world.  I'm not ashamed of us.  Are you?”

“No, of course not,” Daniel instantly responded.  “I love you, Jack.”

“And I love you.  Now, to the really important stuff.”  Jack ran his fingers through Daniel's hair.  “Where the heck did you hide the toothpaste?”

“Toothpaste.  Oh ... I forgot to buy some.  I used the last of it,” the archaeologist admitted.

Harshly, Jack replied, “Daniel, how am I supposed to go to sleep with grimy teeth.  I could get a cavity.”

“I'm sorry.”

“A cavity could mean pain.  Do you know what mouth pain feels like?” Jack inquired as if Daniel had just jabbed a knife into his abdomen.  He began to shout, carrying on and on about Daniel's forgetfulness and describing how it would be his fault if Jack's teeth rotted.  It went on for three minutes, as Daniel sheepishly listened to Jack's ranting.  Finally, the colonel shouted, “Do you know what this means?  This total lack of concern on your part?”

Daniel shook his head, saying meekly, “No.  What?”

“It means I have to do this ...”

Jack flipped Daniel over and began tickling him furiously.

Daniel squirmed, laughter erupting from him.  He never asked Jack to stop.  It felt good to have real feelings after the numbness of the last few days.  The release of laughter and giggles went on for a couple of minutes.

“You crazy geek.  I love you so much, Danny,” Jack intoned as the two settled again.  “You're everything to me.”

After they shared a passionate kiss, Daniel asked, “You were kidding about the toothpaste?”

“What's a cavity when I have you to take care of me?” the older man mused.

Daniel gave his lover a big smile as he wrapped his arms around Jack's neck.

“One of these days,” Jack began seriously, “you're going to know that we can fight and disagree, or be in a lousy mood, or whatever -- you're going to know, Danny, that it doesn't change our love.”

“Jack, I ...”

Jack put his hand over Daniel's heart and spoke, “That little boy that got so hurt is always afraid that he's going to get left behind.  It's not going to happen, Daniel.  It will never happen.  Do you hear me?  I ... love ... you, and that will *never* change, not ever, not even if you did forget to buy toothpaste.”

“Jack?”

“Yes, Love?”

“You know how they say that when people fall in love, they start to pick up each other's traits and habits?” Daniel asked.

Jack pursed his lips, nodded, and said, “Yeah, I've heard that rumor.  What about it?”

“You've picked up one of mine,” the archaeologist announced.

“No way,” Jack replied, jutting his head back and shaking it.

“Way.”

“Never happen.”

“But it did,” the younger man insisted, nodding his head up and down.

“I don't believe it,” Jack refuted confidently.

Daniel insisted, “It's the truth, Babe.”

“Prove it,” the older man challenged.

“Shut up.”

“Oh, now that's going over the line.  What does that mean?” Jack asked.

Daniel smiled and answered, “It means you talk too much.”

“Me?  No way,” Jack responded, denying the accusation.

“Way.”

“Not true, Danny.”

“Jack?” Daniel asked.

“What?”

“Shut up, and make love to me.  I've waited long enough for you to finish what you started in the locker room,” Daniel stated lovingly.

“Oh, I do love the way you think.  It's so ... so ...”

“Jack?”

“Right.”

Jack and Daniel renewed their love, with joy in their hearts, happiness in their souls, and stars dancing overhead as their bodies climaxed from their joining.  Life was good in Colorado Springs, at least for the moment!

====

“Hey, Jack, that second-in-command cutie sure has the hots for you,” Norm Foster teased as he joined Jack and some other men in the commissary for lunch a few days after the incident with the orb.

“Carter?” Jack asked.  ~A cutie?  Well, I guess she's pretty enough, but hot?  Carter?~ he thought, unable to see past the green BDUs that he normally saw the woman wearing.

“That's it, Colonel,” Mike Bishop laughed.  “Play it cool.”

“Yeah, frat rules and the like, I guess you have to be careful, but you can tell us, does she deliver as good as she looks?” Jake Petrocelli asked with a leer in his eye.

Jack practically spit out his coffee at Colonel Petrocelli's suggestive question. His first instinct was to set the guys straight, but then he remembered the game his 2IC had come up with and realized he should probably play along.

“Well, you know, anyone with any brains, especially in the Air Force, wouldn't kiss and tell,” Jack replied as he winked at the trio and quickly took another sip of coffee.

The three took Jack's comment to be an affirmative answer, all of them nodding and chuckling knowingly.

“I'll bet she's hot stuff in bed,” Mike stated, raising his eyebrows.

“Uh, let's not jump the gun, Fellas,” Jack intoned seriously, trying to tone down their assumptions.  “I'm not bucking for a court-martial here.”

“Give it time, Jack,” Jake urged.  “I saw how she was when that thing attacked you.  She was gone, really worried.  I imagine all you'd have to do is point and she'd take real good care of you.”

Jack stared at his coffee cup and asked, “Is this coffee?  Tastes more like glue.”  He put his finger in the coffee, hoping to distract the three men from their suggestive conversation.  ~Thinking of Carter like that is like thinking of having sex with my sister, if I had a sister.~

“Heck, for a while, everyone was talking about you and ...” Mike stopped short, exchanging looks with the other two men.

Jack knew they were talking about Daniel.  Suddenly, playing the game became more important.  He found he didn't really care all that much if he got court-martialed, but he knew Daniel would.

~Stupid regs.  Okay, O'Neill, you can do this acting thing.~  Jack feigned innocence.  “Me and who?” he asked and then sipped more of his coffee.

“Never mind, Jack.  You're way too macho for that crap.  So, what's the real story with you and Carter?”

“Hi, Jack,” Daniel greeted, surprising his lover and the others.

“Daniel?  Thought you had a meeting,” Jack caustically responded, realizing this was a perfect opportunity reaffirm his 'macho' image.

“It ... was cancelled,” Daniel responded hesitantly, seeing the funny looks he was getting and hearing the tone in his lover's voice.

“Sit down,” Jack invited.

Daniel took the only seat available, the one across from Jack and next to Jake.

“So, what's the topic?” Daniel asked, feeling strangely like the odd man out.

Jake smacked his lips as he took a bite of salad and, with his mouth full, answered, “Jack and Captain Carter.”  Almost as a tease, he added, “She's hot stuff, wouldn't you agree, Jackson?”

“That would be Doctor Jackson to you, Jake,” Jack quickly corrected.

Jake slowed his chewing as he looked at Jack and Daniel, as if pondering if he might had been wrong to dismiss the rumors about them so quickly.

“It's okay, Jack,” Daniel interjected, not wanting to cause a fuss.  He was used to not being taken seriously, and he'd been teased more than most during his lifetime.  ~This is nothing new.~

“No, it's not okay,” Jack insisted.  “You're not military, and those degrees mean something.  People need to show some respect, especially here.”  He glared at Jake and then realized his words weren't doing much to dispel the notion of a relationship between he and Daniel.  He decided to stretch the truth a little.  “You know General Hammond has insisted that all the civilians on base be addressed by their proper titles, if they have one, and you definitely have one.”

It was Mike who reacted next.  Though he couldn't recall seeing any specific orders coming from the general on this subject, he did recall an incident not long ago where a civilian had complained about being treated badly.  He also realized it wasn't a smart move to question orders from the base's second-in-command, and that did sound like the type of thing Hammond would order.

Mike held his hands up and grinned as he apologized, “Sorry, *Doctor* Jackson.  She is hot though.”

Daniel looked at Jack, who very slightly motioned with his head, the only further warning he could give about the characters they were lunching with.

“Yeah, hot,” Daniel agreed, as he snapped a piece of carrot in two.  ~Why is he sitting here with these three morons?~

“You're a lucky man, Jack,” Jake smirked.

The archaeologist had heard about all he cared to.  After the incident with the orb and the discussion with Sam about their relationship, Jack and Daniel had spent two days together, just loving each other.  Unfortunately, now they were back at the Mountain, and the reality of their newly launched game, of Sam acting as a love decoy, pretending to have feelings for Jack, and vice versa, had begun to grate on him.

~I wish we'd never started this ... game,~ Daniel lamented.  He hadn't realized that the tiny looks, small gestures, and whispered words between Jack and Sam would be so hard to take.  What's more, the entire base seemed to be catching on without much help from the supposed couple.  It was like a wildfire burning out of control.  The more Jack and Sam sat together or exchanged glances, the faster and wilder the stories about them became.  ~This isn't the kind of game I want to play.~

As Jack's best friend and a close confidant of Sam's, Daniel was the one who a lot of personnel turned to for information, or sometimes, just to tease.  The talk about Jack and Daniel had subsided, or at least lessened, almost instantly.  Realizing this, the younger man had thought his lover and friend could cut back a little on the openness of their 'romantic' actions.  Sam, however, didn't realize that Daniel was serious about curtailing the game and figured that the longer they continued the charade, the better it would work.  Jack simply teased his lover about being jealous.

~Jealous.  Right, Jack.  I'm jealous,~ Daniel sarcastically lamented as he sat in the commissary, listening to the conversation about the supposed affair.

The archaeologist felt a mixture of anger at having his feelings ignored, regret at having ever agreed to the deception in the first place, and frustration at not being able to reach across the table and kiss his lover right here and now.

~I'd like everyone to see who he really loves,~ Daniel thought, showing an unusual confidence for the moment.

Before his emotions took him further into despair, Mike's goading request brought Daniel back to the moment.

“Come on, Jack, details,” Mike prodded.

“No hedging,” Jake added.  “Like Mike said, we want the real story.”

“Well,” Jack coughed, “what can I say?  Carter is ... Carter.”

“You're being too modest,” Mike said.  “I'll bet you have her doing *anything* you want.”

“No, I just don't like to kiss and tell, that's all.  Carter has a right to privacy,” Jack pointed out.

“But you've been there, haven't you, Jack,” Jake asked pointedly.  “A little one-on-one.”

“Been there?” Jack asked, trying to act as dumb as he could about the innuendo.

Daniel was still chewing the piece of meat he had first put in his mouth. This conversation was not to his liking at all.  He could sense Jack was uncomfortable, too, but he wasn't sure if that was because of the questions or because he had joined the group at the table.

“You're being sly, Jack, and that's not like you,” Norm chimed in, finally done with his pie which had been the focus of his attention during most of the conversation.

~How do you know what I'm like?~ Jack wondered.  “Look, I told you, I don't ...” He saw the leering faces.  They weren't going to be satisfied until he said something more concrete.  “Okay, okay, she's good, very good.  We've had some good times, very spine-tingling.”

“I always knew you had a thing for her.  It was obvious by the little looks you kept giving each other.  You're the man, Jack.  Finally defrosted the ice-maiden, eh?” Mike laughed haughtily.

“Yeah, well, you know me, when I want something bad enough, I won't stop until I get it,” Jack chuckled, until he saw his lover's stare.

The three men, however, ate it up, totally buying Jack's statements.

“Hey, we gotta go,” Norm said, standing.

“Keep us posted, Jack,” Jake requested with a nod.

“Yeah, give us the black book entry.  We have a pool going,” Mike remarked as he walked away.

“A pool?” Jack asked incredulously.  “On what?”

“I'm sure I don't want to know,” Daniel answered agitatedly.  Now that the other three men had gone, he put down his fork and stared his lover in the eye. “Spine-tingling?”

“Antarctica.  It was cold, Danny!” Jack exclaimed innocently.

“Oh, I see,” Daniel replied skeptically.

Jack noticed the icy tone of voice and saw the doubting expression on his lover's face.

“You know something else?” Jack asked.

“No, why don't you enlighten me?” Daniel responded snarkily.

Jack opined, “It's suddenly very cold in here, too.”

“Cold?”  Daniel picked up his mug, intentionally slurping his coffee.  “Ah, warm.  Only warm thing I'll be touching today.”

“Get a grip, Daniel.  It's only a game, one you consented to.  In fact, it's one we're playing because of you,” Jack accused with a low but raised voice.

Hurt at that remark, Daniel smiled weakly, looking off to the side, as he spoke, “Thanks, Jack.  Thank you very much for reminding me that the risk to your career is all because of me and my weakness in not being able to act like I don't give a crap what happens to you when some alien life force decides to use you for some ... some pin cushion!  I really needed that thrown in my face right now.”

“Danny, that's not what I meant,” Jack responded sharply.

“But it's what you said.”

“For crying out loud, stop being so sensitive.  I happen to ...”  Jack looked around, noticing there were way too many people watching, trying to hear what was being said from the intense looks being expressed.  “It's a friggin' game.”

“I *know* that, Jack, and it's fine, really.  You go right ahead and have fun,” the younger man suggested angrily.

“You think I'm having fun?”

“Oh, I *know* you're having fun.  It's written all over your face every time one of these guys tell you that you're 'da man'.  I never knew it was possible to strut around the room while sitting down, but you sure do,” Daniel retorted.

Jack raised his eyebrows in disbelief as he asked, “What's that supposed to mean?”

“Look, just forget it. I don't want to talk about it anymore, at least not here.  It's not getting us anywhere,” the younger man opined with a tone of annoyance.

“Well, I do want to talk about it, so let's hear it,” Jack demanded.

Harshly, Daniel asked, “Why is everything always about you, Jack?  Gawd.  Shouldn't this be about Sam, too, and her reputation ... or is the truth that neither of you care about that anymore?”  He paused, looking around the room, seeing the stares, but not caring.  He knew people would wonder about the disagreement taking place, but he also knew they couldn't hear them.  “You wanna hear it, Jack?  You got it!  I think it's becoming perfectly obvious to me that out of the two supposedly high priorities of your life, your career is *the* most important,” He snorted in a sarcastic laughing sound.  “I rank a very poor second, and I'm probably lucky that I rate that high.”

“That's garbage, and you know it,” Jack said, also noticing the looks being directed their way.

“Do I?  You know that I'm finding this hard, and yet you think it's worth it.  You don't care that the way you are playing the game hurts me.  Jack, it's not the game itself, because you're right.  It's all because of me, but you aren't going for a field goal, you're going for the touchdown.  You only need three points, not six, but your macho man attitude can't see that, can it?  As long as you and Sam don't get found out, that's what's important, isn't it, Jack?” Daniel questioned sternly.

Jack nodded sarcastically as Daniel stood and walked away.

~Stubborn, infuriating geek.  Geez, I love him,~ Jack thought in a combination of anger and desire as he stood and went about his business.

====

Late that afternoon, Daniel entered one of the rooms used for storing artifacts until they were sent to Area 51.  He planned on adding two relics to the 'to be shipped' inventory, but became distracted when he saw an object taken from P3T-141.  It was reminiscent of Ishtar, the Babylonian goddess of love and fertility.

“Right.  Who needs fertility, but love?  Maybe that's just a joke,” the archaeologist mused sadly.

“Looking for love in all the wrong places, *Doctor* Jackson?” a strange voice spoke.

Daniel turned, surprised to see Norm Foster standing there.

“Feeling jilted?  O'Neill dump you?” Norm accused as he walked threateningly towards Daniel, causing the archaeologist to back up slightly.  “*Two* assets are better than ... one,** he stated, looking downward at Daniel's mid-section.

“I don't know where you're getting your information, but you're wrong, about all of it, and I'd suggest you get back to your duties,” Daniel spoke, his breathing more rapid as he tried not to panic.

“I have a lot of duties to *handle*, but right now, I'm on my own time,” Norm spoke, backing Daniel all the way into the wall.  “Let O'Neill get his jollies with Carter.  I'll ease your pain,” he said, raising his hand and bringing it to rest at the side of Daniel's shaggy locks.

“Doc, everything okay in here?” Lou Ferretti called out.

Quickly, Norm leaned over and whispered, “You rat me out, and you'll regret it; so will O'Neill.”  He turned, all smiles, and greeted, “Major Ferretti, I was helping Doctor Jackson with his artifacts.”

Lou stared at Daniel, sensing the tale was just that -- a tale.

“Isn't that right, Doctor Jackson?” Norm asked, looking back at Daniel, daggers of warning in his eyes.

“Yes, uh, that's right.”

“Anytime you need my help, you just call.  Ouch, look at the time.  Outtahere!” Norm said, breezing by Ferretti.

Lou walked forward and asked, “Doc, you okay?”

“I'm fine.  Uh, I just need to ... to put this a...away, that's all,” Daniel stammered as he put the relic back down.  He then moved to log in the two new pieces.  When he was done, he looked over toward the door, noticing Lou was standing there.  He smiled, saying, “I, uh, didn't know you were still here.”

“General Hammond likes us to keep up on things.  I was observing your procedures.  It might come in handy one day,” Lou said with a smile.  ~And I didn't buy that story Norm tried feeding me.~

“Oh, okay.”  Daniel smiled nervously as he nodded.  He walked to the door, but before going through it, he said, “Thanks.  Uh, there's no need to ... uh ...”

“No worries, Doc,” Lou assured.  “Like I said, I'm just here observing,” the major stated.

Nodding, Daniel left the special area and went directly to his office.  He'd managed to avoid his lover since their disagreement earlier, and now he couldn't wait to get home.

~At least I don't need to worry about running into Jack or moronic Marines in my apartment,~ Daniel silently thought.

====

Three hours later, after showering and changing into his civvies after a very long day, Norm headed for the door, surprised when it didn't open.

“Hey!” Norm called out.

“Have a problem, Norm?” Lou called out as he moved out from behind a row of lockers.

“Ferretti, what's going on?” Norm asked.

“You and I are going to have a little chat about respect and minding your own crappin' business,” Lou said as he walked towards the man.  “If you don't *learn* from our ... chat, then we'll have to another one.  I may even have to call in a backup.”

“What's this about?” Norm asked, still trying again to get the door open.

“Keep your hands to yourself, Foster, and especially keep your mitts away from Doctor Jackson,” Lou ordered, punching the man in the abdomen, causing him to keel over.  He quickly brought the man into a choke-hold position and added, “For the record, he didn't say anything to me.  All I had to do was see you and your disgusting mug hovering over him like that.  Yeah, I saw a little more than I let on.  I don't want to see the Doc embarrassed.  Now, listen good, Moron.  No repercussions, or you'll be the one to pay.”  Lou pushed the man away, kicking him with his foot, causing Foster to fall hard against one of the benches.  “This was just a little chat.  Next time, it won't be so little.”

Lou walked to the door and tapped on it.  It opened, revealing a very menacing Jaffa standing guard.

“Was your chat successful, MajorFerretti?” Teal'c asked, glaring at Norm Foster, a promise in his eyes that he wouldn't hesitate to go after Foster if he didn't learn from the 'chat' with Lou.

Lou looked over at Norm, who was just standing up, gripping his abdomen, and replied, “I think so, Teal'c.  So, about this kelno'reem business?  How does that work?” he asked as the two walked off, leaving Norm Foster to lick his wounds in private.

Major Lou Ferretti was a close friend of Jack O'Neill's, and he liked Daniel, too.  He'd heard rumors about Jack and Daniel and simply dismissed them as one of the more outlandish rumors circulating about his friend.  After all, at various times, base gossip had put Jack together with Samantha Carter and even Janet Fraiser.  While generally the rumors were harmless, he wasn't about to let anyone take advantage of Daniel, who with his slender build and long, shaggy hair was often taken to be of questionable sexual orientation.  Lou didn't have a clue about which sex Daniel preferred, but he did know Daniel was married to a beautiful woman.  More than that, he knew Daniel to be a caring and passionate person.  He didn't think twice about joining forces with Teal'c to protect Daniel against ignorant Marine predators like Norm Foster.

“Thanks, Teal'c,” Lou said as they arrived at the elevator.

“DanielJackson is an honorable person, MajorFerretti.  Please let me know if my services are required further,” the Jaffa spoke, then bowed his head as Lou jumped happily onto the elevator.  “I will be most happy to continue ... the chat.”

Lou laughed and promised, “Will do,” as the doors to the elevator closed.

Teal'c turned to head for his quarters, catching a glimpse of Foster as he headed for the elevator himself.  He stared, a stoic expression on his face, as the man skirted by him, not going any closer than was necessary.

The Jaffa continued on his way, a smirk on his face for just a brief moment as he walked on.

~Indeed, it will be a pleasure,~ Teal'c thought about setting Foster straight if he ever approached Daniel again.

====

When Jack arrived home, he found a message on his answering machine.

“Jack, I have to work tonight, so we have to cancel our plans.  The ... game will have to wait.  I'll see you at work tomorrow; and please don't call.  If you interrupt me, it means I'll have to stay up all night because this really does need to get done by morning, so ... you know how you nag.  Goodnight.”

Jack erased the message and walked to the kitchen.  He made a couple of sandwiches, one roast beef and one ham.  He grabbed some coleslaw and took a couple of beers out of the refrigerator.  Nourishment in hand, he climbed up to the roof deck.  Sitting on one of the deck chairs, he uncapped one of the beers and took a swig.  It was freezing cold outside, but, to Jack, that didn't matter.

“Hey, Stars, looks like it's just you and me tonight, and why not?  If I'm going to get the cold treatment, I might as well really be cold,” Jack stated.

“Hi, Fish,” Daniel said sadly, alone in the cold of his apartment.  He carefully fed the swimming creatures and watched as most swam to the top of the tank to eat their meal, but then he saw one lingering near the bottom.  Standing motionless, his arms folded across his chest, he studied the lonely fish as if he had never seen such a creature before.  “You're gonna die, Fish,” he stated after a while, finally turning and walking away.

The young man went to his kitchen to prepare dinner.  Opening the cabinets, he did nothing but stare for quite a while.  Finally, he reverted back to childhood, making two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  He took them along with a bag of Doritos into the living room.

As he walked, holding his food, Daniel's mind went back to the fish, the very lonely, hungry fish.

“Dead fish,” Daniel sighed as sat down on the sofa, putting the food on the coffee table.

Daniel sat hunched forward, holding the first sandwich in his hand, yet not taking a bite.

“I guess I'm not really very hungry,” Jack and Daniel said at the exact same time, though in different parts of Colorado Springs.

Having put his sandwich back on the small plastic deck table, Jack leaned back and stared at the stars, thinking again about how cold it was outside.

Having put his sandwich back on the coffee table, Daniel leaned back, his eyes focused on the ceiling, his body unusually cold in the comfort of his apartment.

After a few minutes, the archaeologist looked over at the fish tank.  He just couldn't stop thinking about the small orange lifeform.  After a bit more time passed, he stood and went back to the closet.  He pulled out one of the smaller fish bowls he sometimes used when working on the fish tank.  Carefully, he took some water from the tank and netted the lone fish, after which he put some feed in the small bowl, watching with sadness as the little fish ignored it.

“Dead fish.  You're lonely.  It's that other orange fish that died last week, isn't it?  I'm sorry.  He got sick.  Wasn't his fault, Fish.  He didn't want to die. He didn't mean to leave you behind.  It just ... happened.  That doesn't really matter to you, does it, because you'd bonded with him.  He became part of you.  I understand.  I could buy a new orange fish, but it wouldn't help, would it?  You want the other orange fish.  I'm sorry.  He's gone, and as much as I wish I could, I can't bring him back for you.  So ... Fish, I guess you're going to sink down and die, aren't you?  I'm sorry, Fish.”

After several more minutes of staring mindlessly at the fish, Daniel intoned, “I guess I should do my work.  I don't want to make my message to Jack ...”

“... a lie?  Do you really have work to do, Danny, or did you finally lie to me?  Do you truly have to ...”

“... work.  I have to get it done, so my message to Jack won't be a lie.  I never knew doing what I love could be so ...”

“... lonely.  I'm so lonely tonight, Stars.  I miss him, My Danny.  I don't understand this.  I don't know why he's making this out to be a big deal.  I love him, not Carter.  It's a game.  For crying out loud, I'm doing it all for him, for our love.  Well, if he wants to be alone, he can stay at his apartment forever and work.  Maybe I should just go to the cabin and ...”

“... Fish, I can't believe I'm relegated to sitting here talking to a dying fish.  How much further down is it before I hit bottom?  Jack just doesn't get it, Fish.  He just doesn't ...”

“... Understand what, Danny?  You keep saying that I don't, and you're right, I don't.  But why does it have to push us apart?  Why aren't you here?  Why am I sitting here ...”

“... alone.  I feel so alone.  Why aren't you here, Jack?  Gawd, I told you not to come.  I'm pushing you away, but I don't want you to go.  I only want the hurt to go away, not you.  Don't leave, Jack.”

Daniel opened his backpack full of books and notes that he had brought home from the SGC and started to work, desperately trying to make the message he had left on the answering machine the truth.  Unable to stop himself, though, every few minutes, he ended up staring at the fish.

“Big Fish didn't mean to die, Little Fish.  Sometimes, Big Fish don't realize how much they can hurt you.  They don't mean to.  Big Fish loves you, even still, I'm sure of it.”

Daniel moved off the sofa to sit on the floor, so that he was eye level with the orange fish.  He put his fingers to the bowl and tapped on it briefly, and then slowly lowered his hand to his lap.

Jack tapped on the telescope, trying to adjust the focus to his liking.  He stared through the lens at the constellations, seeking comfort but getting none.

“So, Fish, do we sit here and be lonely and ... die, or do we accept that Big Fish is just Big Fish, and no matter what, we know we love Big Fish, and he doesn't mean to hurt us?  He loves us.  Gawd, I love him.  I guess it doesn't matter if I hurt a little, does it?  I mean, my entire life, I've sacrificed.  I've never been happy.  Why should I be happy now?  Maybe ... maybe just being ... content for a while ... maybe that's all I can expect.  He doesn't mean to hurt me.  He doesn't love her.  Does he?  No, I know he doesn't.  The thing is, someday he might, because ... like we both know, Little Fish, eventually Big Fishes leave little fishes.  I'm so ...”

“... Sorry, Danny, but what you're doing and what you're saying makes no sense to me.  I'm just so sorry ...”

“... For both of us, Little Fish,” Daniel sighed.

Daniel closed his books and went to bed.  He turned the heat up high, not comprehending the chill that filled him.  He slid under the blankets, even adding another one that he normally kept in the closet.  Still, he felt only cold as he slept through the night.

Several miles away, Jack fell asleep under the stars, trying with all his might to feel only the cold of the night and not the cold that was inside of him.

--

The next morning, Daniel found Little Fish dead.  He gave him a proper burial, reciting a small eulogy.

“Here lies Little Fish, who only wanted someone to love him first, just for once.  Goodbye, Little Fish.  I guess we both dreamed too high.  But ... thank you for reminding me.  I overreacted, expected too much.  I love him, Little Fish.  I forgot that I need to just ... go along; that's the rule: don't make waves and just ... go along.  I ... I can endure some unhappiness if it means he won't send me away, like everyone else has that I've loved.  Rest in Peace, Little Fish.”

Daniel flushed the toilet, put on his jacket, and headed for the SGC.

====

In the corner of the SGC parking lot, Daniel sat in his car, listening to the radio, which was playing Barry Manilow's, “I Made it Through the Rain.”

The archaeologist sighed, “It sounds more like a hurricane than a storm to me, and I hope it ends soon.”

The anguished man closed his eyes, knowing he had a very important decision to make.  Little Fish had reminded him of his vulnerability.  He might not like it, but at the moment, he just wanted to hang on to the good in his life, to Jack, at least for a little while.  He hoped Jack would tire of the game, or that somehow, he'd finally understand.

~Gawd, Jack.  I can't do this forever.  Please ... give me the strength to hang on before what we have is ... flushed down the toilet,~ Daniel lamented.

Feeling choiceless in the matter because of his love for the Air Force colonel, Daniel decided to try and endure the hurt for a while longer in the hopes that his lover would see the light.  No one had ever made Daniel feel the way Jack always did.  Being in Jack's arms was the most incredible, wonderful feeling the archaeologist had ever felt, and he didn't want to lose that.  He didn't want to lose Jack.

====

“Hey, Daniel,” Sam chirped, a big smile on her face as she was about to pass her teammate in the corridor.

“Hi, Sam,” Daniel responded in a subdued tone.

“Are you okay?”

“Just a little tired.  I'll see you at the briefing,” the archaeologist greeted, wanting to get on with his scheduled task.

“Sure.  Say, have you seen Colonel O'Neill?”

“No, not yet,” Daniel answered, his shoulders slumping a little in defeat.

Unfortunately, that little sign when completely unnoticed by Sam.

“Well, when you do, will you ...”

“Sam, I have to go.  I'll talk with you later,” Daniel spoke, hurriedly continuing on his way.

~They must have had a long night,~ Sam thought to herself as she watched her friend round the corner.  ~Don't go there, Samantha,~ she reminded, turning and continuing to her lab.

====

“Jack, I'm sorry,” Daniel said a few minutes later as he entered the colonel's office.  “I overreacted, and ... I'm sorry.”

Jack stood up and brushed by his lover in order to shut his door.  He turned off the security camera and approached his lover.  With a smile and sparkling eyes, he kissed his lover for the first time in twenty-four hours.

“Hmm, you taste good,” Jack sighed.

“You, too,” the younger man intoned as his hands rested gently at Jack's waist.

“It was just the game, Danny, but if you've changed your mind, tell me now, and it will never happen again.”

Daniel shook his head, saying, “No, we need Sam and ... the game.  It's just ... I didn't know it would be so hard to listen to it.  I'm sorry,” he said, going along and taking all the blame.

Still, the archaeologist hoped Jack would shoulder some of the responsibility as well.  It hurt when he didn't.

“It's okay,” Jack assured as his hands warmed his lover's neck.  They kissed again, after which he confided, “I missed you last night.”

“I missed you, too ... and, I really did have to work.  It wasn't a lie ... just a ... a convenient tool, I guess,” the dutiful scientist admitted.

“I got the message,” Jack said before kissing Daniel yet again.  ~We have a lot of kissing and fondling to make up for.~  “Briefing is at 1100 hours.  You ready with that research we need?”

“Yes, it's all done.  I have to go,” Daniel stated as he pulled back a few steps. “I just wanted you to know ... you know.”

“I love you, Danny.”

“Love you, too.”  Blinking a couple of times, Daniel backed up another step before turning and walking out the door.  ~That wasn't so hard.  I love him.  We'll ... be okay.  Just ... go along, Jackson.  He's worth it.~

====

The next day, Daniel entered the infirmary.  He had a headache and wanted to get some aspirin from Janet.  As he entered, he heard some nurses talking.  He stood outside the door, thinking that he recognized some of the voices, though he wasn't positive.

“The captain was all eyes.  Did you see her looking up at Colonel O'Neill when that thing had him pinned to the wall?” one female gossiped.

“They had the gate room closed off,” another of the nurses, named Shirl, responded as she held a chart in her hands.

“Yes, but I had gone into the control room to see Sergeant Davis, and it was on the screen.  I swear, Gals, she has it bad for O'Neill,” the first woman insisted, laughing at the same time.

“I can't say I'm surprised,” a third woman, a technician, commented.  “She's always bucking to be at his side.”

“Oh, and I forgot.  She actually held his hand ... reached for it and took it.  I about fell down, right there in front of the general,” the first gossiper added.

“Maybe it was the terror of the moment,” Shirl offered, trying to give Sam the benefit of the doubt.

“If that's the case, Shirl, how do you explain those goo-goo eyes she gave him this morning?” the technician asked.

“Or that hand holding from yesterday?” the first woman inquired.

“Hand holding?” Shirl asked, not having heard that story.

“It happened in the commissary.  I saw them myself,” the first woman stated.

“They actually held hands in the commissary, where anyone could see them?” Shirl questioned.

“They sure did,” the first gossiper affirmed.  “I guess the colonel cares more about her than regulations.”

“She's lucky.  He's dreamy,” the second woman spoke a bit dreamily.

~Yeah, just dreamy, and a real peach of a guy to be holding hands with one of our good *friends* in front of everyone,~ Daniel bewailed.  His headache was worse, but all he wanted now was to get as far away from the infirmary as he could.  ~This is a freakin' nightmare.~  He turned, bumping into Janet.  “Sorry.”

“Did you need something?” the redhead inquired.

“No, thanks,” Daniel answered quickly, side-stepping Janet and hurrying back to his office.  ~Actually, yes, I do.  A loyal lover, a government that doesn't have asinine rules, a Goa'uld zapper -- have any of those?  Gawd, I'm sounding more like Jack every day.  Jack -- you didn't have to hold her hand.~

The more Daniel processed what he'd heard, the angrier he became.  Jack's actions had gone too far and for no reason.  Going along just wasn't acceptable to the young scientist, not anymore, not after what he had heard and the way it made him feel.  With a full steam of ire, he headed for his lover's office, determined to be heard at last.

====

“DANIEL, CALM DOWN!” Jack shouted, unprepared for the 'attack' he was undergoing.

“YOU WERE HOLDING HER HAND, JACK!  That's what they said,” Daniel accused, his hostility towards his soulmate undeniable at the moment.

The two were squaring off in Jack's office.  As usual, the door was locked and the security equipment off.  Jack was standing by the wall, near the mounted camera, while Daniel was a few feet in front of him, by the colonel's desk.

“I was *not* holding her blasted hand.  They exaggerated!” Jack exclaimed a bit tentatively.

“Oh, really,” Daniel replied skeptically as he folded his arms in front of him.  “What did happen, Jack?”

“WHAT?  Oh for ... Daniel, listen to me,” an exasperated Jack requested.  “Carter was in the commissary having breakfast.  There were a few people around so we figured we'd give them a little show, just facial stuff.  You know, a look or wink, or something.  She asked me to pass her the salt.  I reached for it and bumped her hand.  We sort of turned to each other, I guess.  It was just a split-second.”

“Very logical,” Daniel spoke.

“That's what I thought,” Jack replied.

“Except, uh, for one thing,” the archaeologist stated as he looked downward.  Looking back up at his Love, he asked pointedly, “Jack, if Sam's hand was already by the salt, why did she ask you to pass it to her?”

~Geez, why did she?~  Jack was stunned, having not even thought about that.  He fidgeted and ran his right hand through his brown hair.  “I don't know, but she did.”

“Right, Jack.”

“Daniel, I am *not* lying to you,” the older man maintained.  His response was a cold stare and seeing Daniel's backside as the archaeologist headed for the door to leave.  “STOP RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.”  Jack ran to the door and stuck his right arm out to prevent Daniel from opening it.  “This is ridiculous.  I'm not lying.  It's just a game, and you know it.”

“Move your arm, Jack,” the younger man demanded.

“You're not leaving,” Jack stated firmly, not moving his arm one inch.

“What part of 'move ... your ... arm' do you not understand?” Daniel challenged, speaking very slowly and distinctly.  ~If he wants to act dumb, I can play along.~

“You are *not* going anywhere,” Jack said again, then questioning in a raised voice, “*Do you hear me*?”

“Oh, I hear you, Colonel O'Neill.  The real question, though, is, uh ... do you hear me?” Daniel asked.

“What?” a confused older man queried.  The next thing he knew, he was on the floor, courtesy of his lover.  Daniel had grabbed his right arm and flipped him, the move having taken Jack totally by surprise.  “Ouch!  What the ... DANIEL?”

“I guess you underestimate me, too, Jack.”

“Danny, that hurt,” Jack whined, getting up and rubbing his back side.

“Get Sam to kiss it and make it better,” Daniel sarcastically replied as he turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him.

~Sometimes that man can aggravate me so much that I ...~  Jack sighed, stopping his thought.  He loved that man.  ~Salt -- all this over salt.~  He groaned.  ~Why did she do that?  Women!~

====

“CARTER!” Jack bellowed, entering the lab where his 2IC was working.

“Sir?”

Standing with his hands on his hips, Jack asked, “Why'd you ask me to pass the friggin' salt when it was right next to you?”

“Salt?” Sam asked.  She racked her brain, trying to figure out what her CO was asking; then it suddenly came to her.  “Oh, well, Sir, I saw some of the nurses had walked in, and I figured it would be a good way to create some ... well, you know ... Sir.”

“Fine,” Jack replied brusquely.  “Go tell, Daniel,” he said, waving towards the door with his right arm.

“Sir?” the blonde asked, her eyes widening a little.

“Never mind.  I'm just having a ... bad day,” Jack replied and then walked out of Sam's lab, deciding to try talking with his upset lover.  ~This is just crazy.  Salt.  It's a friggin' condiment.~

====

“Good afternoon, Jack,” Lou greeted jovially as he saw his friend approach.

“What's so good about it?” the colonel snarled.

“Got a burr under your wings?” Lou asked.

Jack let out a groan, saying, “Yeah, a snarky one.”

Lou chuckled, “I ran into the Doc earlier, literally.  He wasn't his usual conversational self.  Of course, I was on the floor.”

“Sometimes he can't see even with his glasses,” Jack mused, his comment having double meaning.

“Especially when he's not looking where you're going,” the major replied with a playful chuckle.  More seriously, he asked, “Everything okay.”

“You know me and Daniel,” Jack replied.

“Disagreement on a mission,” Lou assumed.

“You might say that.  Later, Lou,” the colonel intoned, patting his friend on the shoulder before moving on.  ~Disagreement on just about everything right now,~ he thought to himself as he headed for Level 19.

As Lou watched Jack walk away, he chuckled to himself, ~Those two are gonna drive each other crazy.  At least the Doc doesn't sneeze as much anymore.  Jack always hated that.~

====

“Don't tell me you're busy.  Just sit there and listen,” Jack commanded, shutting and locking Daniel's office door and then turning off the security camera.  “Nurses.”

“Nurses?” the archaeologist echoed as he sat at his desk, the lamp highlighting the book he was perusing.

“Yes, nurses -- those blasted, gossiping nurses.  Carter saw them walk into the commissary and thought she'd play her own game,” Jack revealed.

“The salt?”

“The salt,” Jack affirmed, nodding slightly.  “Now, can we move on, please?”

Daniel thought for a moment, smiled, and replied, “Sure, we can move on.  You move on, *out* of my office, and I'll move on to the next page of my book.”

“Oh, for crying out loud, Daniel, it's a blasted game!  Get over it, or I'm calling the whole thing off ... and *now*!” Jack exclaimed, the veins in his neck bulging from his rage.

Jack stormed out of Daniel's office, leaving the younger man alone and worried.  He didn't want to lose Jack, but he feared he had.

“Call it off?” Daniel said softly, suddenly folding his arms into a self-hug as he stood up.  He walked to one of the shelves that was full of artifacts, picking up a small, circular object.  It was new, just brought back by SG-11 the night before.  ~You didn't even look at it,~ he sighed.  The object resembled a ball.  It had Jack's name written all over it, but the older man had done nothing but yell at the archaeologist upon entering the office.  ~Call it off?  You're an idiot, Jackson.  Go along.  Remember, just ... go along. Now, he's ... he's gone.~

====

Later that evening, Jack stared through the telescope in the cold night air.  He had considered going after Daniel, but being angry, had decided against it.

~Let him stew a while.~  Of course, that meant Jack was stewing, too.  In fact, Jack was miserable.  He was cold, alone, and desperately missing his lover, the man who always made his heart warm and glad to be alive.  “Crap, this isn't worth it.”

“It's not?” Daniel asked, his voice soft and panicked upon hearing the words.

Jack looked over, surprised to see the younger man standing there, and remarked, “I didn't hear you.  Geez, I'm getting old ... or ... something.”

“It's not worth it?” Daniel asked, unable to think about anything but the words he had just heard.  With his heart pounding mightily, he stood nervously at the edge of the roof deck, about to turn and run.  He felt his world about to collapse all around him.  ~He ... doesn't love me anymore.~

“No, it's not.”

“Oh, I guess I'll ...” Daniel began, twisting around slightly as he prepared to leave what was left of his contented world behind.

“In fact, it's downright stupid, letting you stew.  Dumbest idea I've had in days; no, make that weeks,” Jack admitted.  “I'm dying here, Danny.  I miss you.  Where the heck have you been, anyway?”

“I ... I don't understand.  You just said it wasn't worth it,” the archaeologist spoke, his heart becoming a lump in his throat.

Jack replied, “I told you, it's not worth it.”

“Then why say you miss me?” a very confused Daniel asked.

“Because I do,” Jack grunted from frustration.  Thinking the physical distance between them wasn't helping any, he walked towards his lover and questioned, “Danny, what's wrong with you?”

“You just said that ...”

“We already covered that ...” Jack groaned, standing back a step or two.

“But I thought ... you said ...”

Frustrated, Jack threw his hands up into the air and ordered, “Daniel ... STOP!”

Daniel froze like an ice sculpture, and Jack realized they were definitely not on the same page.

Jack sighed, “I'm sorry.  That didn't come out right.”  He took a breath, then suggested, “Let's start over.  What I meant was that earlier I told myself I was going to stay here all night and let you stew because I figured you deserved it.”

~Gee, thanks, Jack.  Want to twist the knife a little more?  Hang on.  Maybe he's not leaving me?~  Daniel looked up at Jack,  “You were?”

“Yes,” the older man acknowledged, adding, “but I had just come to the conclusion that getting some stupid sense of satisfaction from you being miserable wasn't worth it because, frankly, I'm miserable when you're miserable, so, in case you didn't notice when you so quietly climbed up to the roof, I was putting the cap on the 'scope because I was about to go get you and take care of this ridiculous situation.”

“Take care of it how?” Daniel asked softly, his face a sketch of vulnerability.

“By doing this ...” Jack said, taking his lover into his arms and then kissing him with zest.  He tugged Daniel close, making sure the younger man would feel secure.  “Get the message?”

“I'm still confused,” Daniel admitted as his arms went around Jack's waist as he attempted to process what the older man had said.  “Jack, in my office, you said you were going to call it off.”

“Yeah, and I'm thinking it's a good idea, too,” Jack opined.

“But you just ...”

“Okay, stop.  Danny, I get the impression we're still not on the same page.” Since Daniel refused to meet his gaze, Jack placed his right hand under Daniel's chin and pushed it up, forcing Daniel to look at him.  “What do you think I meant?”

“Us.”

Jack grimaced and sighed, “Danny, for a genius, sometimes you're not so smart.”

Daniel nodded his head to one side and looked back down, so again, Jack used his hand to bring Daniel's face up to his level.

“Listen to me,” Jack requested firmly.  “I meant call off the game with Carter; it's not worth it.  Danny, I didn't lie to you.  I wouldn't do that.  She saw some nurses and thought it would help.  I didn't know that until I asked her this morning.”

“I know,” the archaeologist confided.

“You do.”

Daniel revealed, “She asked me earlier if everything was all right between us, and I asked why wouldn't it be.  That's when she told me that you had asked about the salt.  I'm sorry, Jack.  I thought you ... that maybe you really wanted her.”

With a huge sigh, Jack responded, “Danny, this game isn't worth it.  I won't risk you.  I love you.  Do you understand that?  It's not worth losing you!”

Daniel leaned into Jack, who embraced him eagerly, and intoned regrettably, “I'm sorry.  It's my fault, again.  Gawd, I hate being jealous.”

“And I don't want you to be jealous either.  This game is over,” Jack declared.  ~Nothing is worth you hurting like this.~

“No, Jack,” Daniel refuted.  “We've talked about this, and we both know we need Sam.”

Jack moved so they could look into each other's eyes.  They needed that extra communication.  Too many harsh words had interfered with their love recently.

“Yes, we have, but this is twice in just one week that we've fought over this ... game,” Jack reminded.  “Danny, we fight enough over our differences.  Everyone knows that.  Lou was joking about that earlier.  We disagree on a lot of things, but why are we adding something to that mix ourselves, something we don't have to?”

Daniel flinched, but only briefly, and responded, “Because I love you, and I need you, and sometimes when you get hurt, I don't hide that very well ... and ... and because I don't want to live without you, Jack.  If they find out about us, they might take you away from me, and I can't handle that.  I just can't.  I can't.”

“Danny.”  Jack took his Love into his arms again, thought quietly for a minute or so, and then relented just slightly.  “Okay, we'll keep playing the game, but, Love, I won't fight with you anymore, not about this.  It's a game.  I am *not* in love with Carter.  I *don't* friggin' want Carter, and I for sure as heck don't need her.  I *do* love you, want you more than I have words to express, and need you more than air to breathe.  You got that?”

With a broad smile on his face, Daniel acknowledged, “Yes, I got it.”

“Good.  Can we go to bed?  I'm tired,” the older man sighed.

“Oh, tired.  Okay,” the younger man said, his disappointment evident in his drooping face.

“Not *that* tired, Danny,” Jack replied as he smiled promisingly.  He would never be too tired for 'that'.  ~Geez, he's beautiful.~

“Oh,” Daniel responded, a big grin coming to his face.

“What am I going to do with you?” Jack teased as they began down the ladder.

“I can make a list, Jack,” Daniel offered softly.

“Would it include putting my ...”

Crickets chirped in the night as Jack and Daniel reunited in a consummate chorus of their bodies.

====

“Excuse me, Sir,” Sam spoke as she smiled flirtatiously, having bumped into her CO in the commissary.

Daniel suppressed a sigh and moved over to the food counter.

“No problem, Carter.  In fact, it was my pleasure,” Jack said boastfully.

As the two continued a round of flirty banter, Daniel selected his food and found a table where he watched the action, the smiles, the nods, and the body bumping.  He observed as others in the large room watched.  Everyone was buying the interplay between Jack and Sam.

~How blind people are.  They see what they want to see,~ Daniel thought as he quietly ate his food.

In fact, by the time Jack joined him, Daniel was almost done with his meal.

“Sorry, the game,” the colonel pointed out.

“I know,” the archaeologist intoned.  “Your food is probably cold.”

“Probably,” Jack agreed.  “How about we go out tonight and get a decent meal?”

“Sure, anything you want.”

“Danny, are you okay?” Jack inquired, sensing some melancholy in his lover.

Daniel nodded as he answered, “Just tired.  Worked on getting that research together all night.”

“You want to skip dinner?”

“No, I have to eat,” the younger man said with a tiny smile on his face.

“Good.”

====

“Daniel, do you have that text from the plaque on Prensa?” Steve, a civilian specialist in anthropology asked.

“Sure, Steve, it's right here ... somewhere,” Daniel answered, searching his desk for the item in question.

“Well, while you're looking, Daniel, what's with O'Neill and Carter?”

“What?” Daniel asked, glancing up at the man.

“They're having an affair, right?  Even though it's against the rules.  Man, that guy has balls,” Steve commented in awe.  He saw his boss' wide-eyed stare and explained, “What I meant was that he has a lot of nerve going against regulations like that.  She's a looker, but he's really bucking the system.”

“I wouldn't know,” the archaeologist replied, going back to his search.

Steve casually stated, “I thought you were his best friend.”

“Best friend?” Daniel asked, trying to focus on the translation he was looking for.  “Yeah, I guess.”

Steve responded, “Then don't you know?  Oh, I get it.  You can't tell.  Man, I'd love to know the stories he tells you.  Have you seen Carter on her bike?  Wow, Mama!”

Daniel sat up straight and intoned firmly, “Steve, when I find the text, I'll bring it to you.”

“Okay, sure,” Steve agreed.  Smiling, he called out, “Thanks, Daniel,” as he disappeared into the corridor.

Daniel sighed.  Every time he turned around, it seemed someone was asking him about his lover and his friend.  If that wasn't happening, then every time he turned around, he was witnessing another display himself.  He was tired.  It had been three weeks of the agonizing game, and he hated it more than ever.

~Get over it, Jackson.  You have to protect him ... even if it hurts.  But who do I have to protect him from, a court-martial or Sam?~  The archaeologist stood and decided to take a walk topside.  ~I need some fresh air.  It's so ... stale in here.~

As he headed for the exit, Daniel saw Norm Foster walking his way.

“Doctor Jackson,” Foster acknowledged formally.

Daniel nodded, just wanting to pass by the man.

“Ah, about what happened,” Foster began, halting his forward momentum.

“Look, I ...”

“I was out of line.  It won't happen again,” Foster said, then quickly went on his way when he saw a group of Marines approaching.

~Right.  I wonder what brought that on?~ Daniel asked himself, not believing the man was sincere.  He entered the elevator going up.  Just as the doors closed, he realized the answer.  ~Lou.~  He knew better than to try and thank the man, certain Lou would deny knowing anything about Foster's change in attitude, insincere or not.  In addition, it would only embarrass both of them.  Still, as he pressed the button for the desired floor, he thought, ~Thanks, Lou.~

====

As the work day was ending, Jack had spent some time in the recreation hall, demonstrating some evasive maneuvers to some still 'green' airmen.  Afterwards, he went to the locker room and took a shower.

“Way to go, Jack.  I always knew you had it in you,” Kevin Owens shouted as Jack walked out of the shower a few minutes later, a white towel covering the lower half of his body.

“Well, you know what I always say, Kev, if you've got it, flaunt it,” Jack laughed, doing a little shimmy of the lower half of his body as he moved from the shower section into the locker area.

Daniel had entered the locker room while Jack was in the shower.  It only took him a couple of minutes to change into his civvies as he was anxious to evade the chatty gossipers of the SGC.

“Hey, Daniel,” Jack said upon seeing his soulmate, though he immediately sensed something in Daniel's eyes that he couldn't quite glean.

Curtly, the archaeologist responded, “I'm ready to go, Jack.  I'll be in my office.”

Daniel walked out, leaving Jack to dress into his street clothes.

~Okay, what did I miss now?~ Jack wondered as he crossed the room to his locker and began to change.

====

“Okay, spill it,” Jack demanded later that night.

“There's no *it* to spill,” Daniel denied, his tone almost totally devoid of emotion.

“Danny, you were a statue in the truck all the way home, and for the last three hours, all you've done is sit here on this sofa like a couch potato,” Jack claimed.  Without pausing, he continued, “And don't try telling me you've been reading.  You may have been turning pages, but if you've been reading, you're the fastest speed reader on the planet.”

“But I've ...” the younger man began.

“Daniel, it's upside down,” Jack revealed.

“Wha...what?”

Jack pointed at the volume in his lover's hands and clarified, “The book, Daniel.  It's upside down.”

Daniel looked at the book and sighed, closing it and tossing it onto the coffee table.  He crossed his arms, wishing he could just disappear into the comfortable sofa.

“Spill.”

“It's ...”

“... nothing,” both men said at the same time.

Sternly, Jack responded, “Bull, Danny.  Whatever it is, is something, not nothing.  Out with it.”

“Jack ... I'm not jealous,” the younger man claimed.

“That's good, because you've got nothing to be jealous about,” the frustrated lover responded.

“I know.”

Jack prodded, “So, the problem is ...?”

Daniel sighed, “It's gone too far.  You like it, Jack; so does Sam.  The problem is that neither of you recognize that fact.  You're hiding behind a word, and the word is 'game'.”

“Daniel, if this is going to work, we have to play with it,” Jack spoke about the dangerous game of innuendo.

“I know that,” Daniel replied.  “It's just ... sometimes, it's all the time.  Does it have to be every second of every day?”

“I'm not going to argue, Danny,” Jack stated, walking into the kitchen to retrieve a beer.  When he returned, he stood by the counter.  As he opened the bottle and prepared to take a drink, he added, “It's been your choice all along, to play or not to play.”

“Stop making this all or nothing,” Daniel replied,