Title: Crossroads
Author: Titti
Pairing: Jack/Daniel
Rating: NC-17
Email: titti_adriano@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: SG-1 and its characters are copyrighted and trademarked to Sci-Fi, and lots of other people.
Summary: When Daniel encounters Jack's clone, both Daniel and Jack have to face some truths.

Mexico - April 2, 2010
Uxmal Ruins

Daniel emerged from one of the areas closed to the public, and went to the cafeteria built for the many tourists that invaded the ruins every day. It was so easy to blend with all the Americans trampling around the Great Pyramid, and Daniel didn't disdain the opportunity to work, for once, in a place where hamburgers, coke and coffee were served in an air-conditioned room.

Finding a tray, Daniel got his lunch, and walked through the occupied tables in the vanishing hope to find a place to seat. He was about to give up when he heard his name. He turned cautiously. Years at SGC had had their impact on his natural trust.

The young man at the table smiled brightly. "What? You don't recognize me?" His hand went to his chest and he put on a mock sad face. "I'm hurt. Really. I've had you over at my house for years, given you beer you don't like, listened to your babbling for seven years, and you don't know who I am. I'm really, really hurt."

"Jack?" Daniel said hesitantly, and then he saw the young man smile again. "Jack... it's you, I mean not you, but...god, you look different."

The man laughed. "I'm still passing myself off as Jack O'Neill, Jr, General O'Neill's nephew. Air Force liked the irony. It also made it easier to get fake documents with no one to object." He pushed a chair for Daniel. "Come on, sit down, unless you plan to eat standing up."

"Thanks." Daniel sat in the proffered chair, and stared at Jack, or at least the younger, cloned version of Jack. "What are you doing here? Not that I mind seeing you, but... I've never seen Jack as the ruins type, maybe Tumul, use it as an excuse to go swimming, and then go to Xel-Ha, but not this. Jack would be bored out of his mind."

"Yeah, and I would agree with him, but I'm with someone. We're down in Cancun for spring break, and I promised that we would spend two days here." Jack took a swig from the bottle of beer in front of him.

Jack's eyes stayed on Daniel, as if searching for something, but Daniel didn't know what. Instead between bites of his burger, he asked, "Did you find the girl of your dreams? I can't see any other reason why Jack would agree...why you'd agree. This is confusing..."

Jack chuckled. "I can assure that I never dreamed of this." He rested the bottle on the table, and leaned toward Daniel, his voice turning into a whisper. "My mind was forty-five years old when I was cloned, and back then, I'd have never thought that I would finally be happy with a nerdy archaeologist, who gets excited about rocks. Brad is so far away from my dream girl that even Asgard ships couldn't make the trip."

Daniel choked on his food, and coughed, reaching for his coke to get his breath back. "You're kidding, right?" he said when he could speak again. "A man... you and a man..."

Jack shook his head. "Nope, I'm serious. You can meet him if he decides to eat, which is not a sure thing, since he can get lost in these ruins." He sat back. "So what are you doing here?"

"Ancient technology that Telchak stole. He was Chac, the god of rain. He was in fact a Goa'uld who lived in 900 BC, but now there is evidence that he used the body of a child, and from that started the myth of boy born not from a woman. We have reason to think that beneath the most ancient ruins-

"Ahh!" Jack raised his hand. "Enough! I get to read all your boring stuff. I don't need the play by play." Daniel looked at him with a frown, and Jack smoothed it out with a comfortable gesture. "You worry too much, you know that? But to ease your mind, I'm on air force payroll, under General Hammond's command. I get to see your reports, offer my insight. I think they see it as a check on my 'uncle', and they are also hoping to convince me to take my uncle's place when he retires, but we still don't agree on my choice of lovers. We reached a temporary compromise, I work for them as a civilian, they pay for Princeton, and we are all happy."

Daniel pulled back, away from Jack's fingers. "Yeah, about your lovers? You're straight. Remember? All those women you talked about? Sam?" he added in a softer tone.

"What about Sam?" Jack went back to nursing his beer. "Don't get me wrong. I loved her, just like I loved Teal'c, but the last seven years have taught me a thing or two."

"Like the fact that you like men..."

"Yeah, like that. Like the fact that a life in the military never let me accept this part of me." Jack smirked. "I thought going to high school would be fun, but dating teenage girls felt wrong even if I was a teenage boy, at least physically. Soon enough, I found twenty something men to be more interesting. Then, I noticed that they were all college nerds who looked damn good. Finally, I realized that they looked like you."

Daniel could feel Jack's eyes burn into him like a Goa'uld Zat. "Why are you telling me this?"

Jack shrugged again. "Who else am I going to tell? I can't exactly explain to people that I was cloned, or everything I know and feel as a result of that, and also..." Jack leaned toward Daniel, and his voice became intense. "He deserves to be happy. I was him, Daniel, and I can tell you that he was never happy, truly happy, like I'm with Brad. He always concentrated on Sam, because she was safe. She was the woman he couldn't have, when he was around the man he shouldn't want."

Daniel rubbed his face with his hand, pinching the bridge of his nose. When he looked at Jack, he was frowning again. " What do you expect me to do? I'm straight. I've been married, and if you think for a moment that Jack could be interested in me... he barely tolerates me." When he saw the raised eyebrows, Daniel was reminded of 'his' Jack. "Okay, he does more than tolerate me, but we're friends, close friends, nothing more."

Jack sighed and sat back. "You're just as blind as he is." He shook his head, but turned when he felt a hand on his back. He smiled when he saw Brad there. "Hey, you, I didn't think you'd remember about lunch."

Brad rolled his eyes, but took a seat next to Jack. "I'm not that bad, but you have to see some of these ruins. The symbols on some of the ruins… It's amazing how advanced the Maya were, and the similarities with the Egyptians pyramids-"

"HEY!" Jack closed the gap, and kissed his lover, a gentle kiss on Brad's lips that never went any further. "Shut up. I promised that I'd come here, not that I'd listen to you. Instead, talk to Daniel," he said pointing at the other man. "He likes old things. I bet you'd have a ball together."

"Daniel? Dr. Daniel Jackson?" Daniel nodded, and Brad leaned across the table to shake Daniel's hand. "I've heard so much about you. Sometimes, I think I should be jealous."

Daniel smiled awkwardly. "There is no reason."

"I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable..." Brad said.

Daniel shook his head. "No, I'm just surprised, that's all..." There was another uncomfortable pause, before Daniel stood up. He squeezed Jack's shoulder. "It was nice seeing you. Brad, nice to meet you." He barely listened to the two young men as he walked away. He needed time to digest what Jack's clone had told him; working on the ruins would provide the perfect distraction.

~*~*~*~

SGC - April 23, 2010

Jack knocked on the open door before stepping inside Daniel's office. "You missed the debriefing." The 'again' hang in the air, as he approached the table.

"Did I?" Daniel answered with a frown. He pushed up his glasses, and looked at his watch. "Damn," he muttered. "I'm sorry, Jack, but these writings..." He spread the pictures on the table. "Those ruins are priceless, too bad they couldn't be moved, but the pictures I took...Look."

Jack looked at the symbols, and raised his eyebrows. "Yes, it's ancient. No, I can't speak it. No, I have no clue what that refers to."

Daniel shook his head. "No, no, that's not... I think it's about the Wraith. I don't know where Telchak got this, but the original author is talking about a possible form of defense against them. If I could just decipher it..."

Taking all the pictures, Jack put them one on top of the other, and settled the pile on the desk. "Look, I know this is important. Everyone at the Pentagon keeps reminding me, but for god's sake, you haven't left this office since you got back from Mexico. You haven't gone on a single mission, you don't show up at debriefings, and I've barely seen you. I've seen more of Sam and Teal'c, and they both live on other planets." He looked straight into Daniel's eyes. "You need a break. Go have coffee, or something. Pick a place with no internet, don't take anything with you. Just drink the damn coffee there, and then come back."

"Jack, I appreciate it." Daniel took the pictures and began rearranging them on the desk. "I need to do this."

"A break won't kill you, or the rest of the world." Tapping his fingers on the table, Jack gave Daniel a small smile. "Unless there is something more. People have said that you've been brusque..."

Leave it to Jack to talk without saying anything, Daniel thought, the military man who could give orders and solve problems based on pauses and curt words. "There is just a lot of work to do," Daniel answered after a moment.

"Of course, there is, but if something else happened in Mexico, or anywhere else..." Jack stood there for a moment, waiting for something that never arrived. "All right, but if more people remark about your behavior, and there is no apparent reason, you'll have to go for a medical check up. Too many nasty things live around ruins." Without more, he turned and walked to the door, but stopped when he heard Daniel speak again.

"I met your clone in Mexico."

Jack turned, and leaned against the wall. "Did you? I thought he was studying at Princeton."

"He is. He was there for spring break...with his boyfriend," Daniel said looking at the pictures.

"Ah, ah, nice joke, however that only convinces me that you need medical evaluation now." Shaking his head, Jack started to leave once more.

"It's not a joke," Daniel said quietly. "When I got back, I called Hammond. Air force knows, but they can't do much since technically he's a civilian. Brad, the boyfriend, is doing his Master's in archaeology. Brilliant from what I was told. Hammond wants him in SGC as well, but as you can imagine, neither really wants to deal with the military and its attitude toward gays."

Jack crossed the room, and stopped in front of Daniel's desk. Resting his elbows on the table, he leaned across it. "I have no idea what he's up to, and I don't care. I live my life how I see fit, and he lives his as he likes."

Daniel finally raised his eyes and stared at the other man. "He is you, Jack, a you that doesn't have to obey military laws, and he is happy, really happy. Can you say the same?"

"I don't know where you're going with this, but you'd better stop it. We are two different people, end of discussion, and now I have work to do." Jack stalked out of the room, ignoring the worried look on Daniel's face.

~*~*~*~

Gamma Base - May 11, 2010

Every officer and airman present stood at attention as General O'Neill walked off the gate platform. "At ease." Jack gave the command as he walked toward General Carter, commander of the Gamma base. "Sam, how are you? I'd shake hands, but..." He showed her the bags he was carrying. "Pete made me promise that I would get him real doughnuts."

Sam laughed, as she took the bags from him. "Once a cop... Welcome to the Gamma base, Jack. If you follow me, we can go to my office."

Jack trailed behind, looking around. No matter how many bases they built, they all looked like the inside of Cheyenne Mountain. The only difference was that with the bases now came schools, hospitals, and playgrounds, for the families of their officers. JAG was having fun drafting all the secrecy agreements for the civilians, especially when those civilians included five year olds who could barely spell their names.

"You don't like it," Sam stated.

Jack shrugged. "I don't think we can keep this a secret much longer with all the people we send through that gate."

"Maybe the world is ready," she suggested as she opened the door of her office. They had this discussion plenty of times in the past; enough times to know that she wouldn't change Jack's mind.

"You're right. We saw how well it worked for Colson," he muttered under his breath.

Sam shook her head. "All right, maybe you have a point, just maybe. You know I don't see you unless it's work. Even Teal'c, leader of the free Jaffa-" she said with a tiny smile. Teal'c hated the title, and she never missed the chance to use it. "Even he finds the time to come and see me."

"That's because leaders spend their time pretending to work, and let others do the real work," Jack answered with a smirk. "So, do I get to see just how much of that work you've done?"

Sam went to her desk and pulled out a CD from her drawer. "All reports are here: mission reports, base expenditures, food supplies. We can go and inspect the base when you're ready."

Jack took the CD and sat on one of the leather armchairs. "Same thing you send me every month?"

"Of course, Sir," she answered without thinking.

"Good enough for me. Now, tell me how your husband and that beautiful daughter of yours are doing," he said as he leaned back and got comfortable.

"You don't want to see the base?" she asked with a knowing smile.

"Nah, we both know that Hammond has created these reviews to give me a chance to get off world. He knows I'd get bored behind a desk 24/7."

"And god knows what you'd do then, Sir." Sam smiled brightly. "It's good to see you, Jack. Becky can't wait to see you again."

"She loves me."

"You spoil her rotten. I bet those bags are filled with things for her," she answered knowingly.

"I could have gotten a thing or... ten." Jack smiled. "She deserves it; stuck on another planet."

"There are plenty of children here, and the planet is remarkably like earth. There are no significant atmospheric differences. The weather is stable..."

"Enough. I believe you without the lecture. I still got her some toys."

Sam chuckled. "Of course you did, but it's not like you spoil her or anything. So how are thing back on earth? How's Daniel?"

"Oh, Earth is fine, Daniel is driving me up the wall." Jack sat up, and leaned against Sam's desk. "He's impossible since he returned from Mexico, and I'm not the only one saying this. I've had complains from airmen. I hear things, complaints that no one wants to bring to my attention. The man is becoming weirder and weirder. He's abrupt, he's rude, he's never paying attention, and he forgets meetings."

"I'm sure you're exaggerating a bit," she said cautiously. "I mean Daniel has always been immersed in his work."

Jack shook his head. "No, this is different. It's not the work. I thought it was at first. I was ready to send him to Dr. O'Connor to make sure that he wasn't possessed, had become a host or had been infected with something, but no, it's something else."

Sam frowned. "What makes you so certain?"

"He met my clone. Yep, young Jack is having the time of his life at Air Force expenses. He and his 'boyfriend' are really enjoying themselves." Jack sighed. "I don't know what he told Daniel, but something happened."

"Did you talk to him?" she asked gently.

"Of course I did. I asked him what was wrong. He said 'nothing'. I said 'are you sure?' He said 'of course'. What else is there to say?"

Sam laughed. "You haven't changed a bit, Jack. That doesn't really count as talking, y'know." She gave him a patient smile. "If you want to find out, you'll have to really talk to him. Daniel can get so quiet lately. He needs someone to talk to."

Jack snorted. "And say what? C'mon, Sam, you know me. Daniel and I don't talk."

"Then, talk to your clone. Find out what happened. If we can solve intergalactic problems, you can find out what happened. Just a trip to Jersey, nothing more."

"I'll think about it, but for now..." Jack got up. "Let's go see that beautiful daughter of yours."

~*~*~*~

New Jersey - May 15, 2010

Jack didn't know what he had expected from this trip, but he certainly didn't expect the young man who opened the door of his clone's apartment. The man was in his early twenties, light brown hair, with blond streaks. The hair was down to his chin, with the bangs falling over his face. He wore glasses, round with a metal frame, and falling down his nose. The man pushed his glasses up, and curled his nose in doing so. "May I help you?"

"I'm looking for my...nephew. I thought he lived here," Jack said, cocking his head as he answered.

"General O'Neill? Hi, I'm Brad." He shifted a heavy book to his left hand and shook Jack's hand. "Come in. Jack went to get some beer. We ran out, and he was going through withdrawal at the simple thought."

"Yeah, I know how it feels," Jack replied, barely keeping the smirk at bay, a smirk that wouldn't have made sense to someone who didn't know about Jack's love for beer, and about the cloning. Daniel would have understood.

Jack followed Brad inside, looking around, studying the living room as they entered. There was a mix of airplanes, baseball paraphernalia, relics, and vases of all shapes and size. Ultra modern and vestiges of the past blended together with ease.

Brad began closing the books that were lying on the armchair, ignoring the ones that covered the couch, the coffee table, and part of the floor. "Sorry, I was trying to do some translations. Some of the symbols we saw in Mexico don't really look like traditional Mayan writing, and I was trying to cross reference them."

"Of course you were." Just like Daniel was doing. In fact, Brad resembled Daniel in so many ways. Jack pulled the legs of his pants up as he sat down. He stayed silent, staring at the younger man. Right in front of him was the reason why Daniel was so upset. Jack didn't need to ask questions anymore. The truth was plain in front of his face. What to do now was a different matter.

"Is there anything wrong?" Brad said, checking his reflection in a mirror. "I don't have ink on my forehead or something like that, do I?"

"No, no ink. You remind me of someone, that's all. He, too, is into symbols and ruins." Jack turned when he heard a noise from the hallway.

"What are you doing here?" his clone said as he walked into the living room.

"What? No 'hello, uncle Jack', no hug. I'm so hurt," Jack said sarcastically.

His clone rolled his eyes. "Hello, uncle Jack," he repeated in a drawl. "Now, what are you doing here?"

"I need to speak with you." Jack grabbed one of the Heineken cases that his clone was carrying. "Why don't we let Brad do whatever he was doing and I help you with this?"

The question was more than a suggestion, and they all understood that. With a simple nod, the clone led the way to the kitchen. He dumped the case on the table, and then leaned back against it, folding his arms in front of him. "What do you want?"

"What did you tell Daniel?" Jack snapped back.

The clone sighed, and pulled a chair, pointed one to Jack. Jack ignored it, but the younger man sat down anyway. "The truth. A very curtailed truth, Jack, but he's a bright guy. We both know that."

Jack shook his head. "You told him your truth. I'm not gay. I wasn't gay when they…when they cloned you. Thor must have done something wrong, screwed up somehow when he tried to fix you. That's the only explanation."

"Is it?" The clone said, his voice veiled with understanding. "Can you truly tell me that you don't care about Daniel? Not the Air Force, not Sam, but me, a mirror of you. Can you stand there and tell me that he hasn't always been the one you worried about in mission?"

"Of course that's true, but it's because he's got no common sense. Bullets fly everywhere, and he stands up and tries to talk to people. The man has no survival instincts, and that's why I worry," Jack said with emphasis.

"Right, and maybe that was true early on, but we both know that it changed, he changed. Daniel can defend himself, and his naiveté has been replaced by that common sense you were talking about, but your worry for him hasn't change." The young man stood up, and approached Jack. He gripped Jack's arms. "You don't have to tell me, because I know already, but I don't think you understand just what it means, or maybe you're unconsciously pushing it aside because of the military. It took me a while to understand, but I did, and when I saw him in Mexico, I felt something. Don't get me wrong; I love Brad. He is real, he's the one who is here for me, the one I fall asleep with, and the one I wake up with, but a part of me, that part that is you as well, will always feel something for Daniel."

Jack stood, eyes never wavering from his clone. "You're wrong."

Simple words that left no room to argument, and the younger man didn't try to rebut them. He smiled sadly as he stepped back. "Okay, maybe I am, but do me a favor: think about it." With a smirk, he added. "I know you, and I know you're open to suggestions."

"All right, I will think about it, and reach the conclusion that you're wrong," Jack replied, but the trace of a smile appeared on his face, the tension leaving the frame of his body. "I'll need to speak to Daniel as well. He's freaking out over this."

"I wonder why," the clone replied with an amused smile. "Is it possible that space monkey can see the truth?" He raised his hands, in show of defeat. "Okay, no more about that. So…want to talk about the weather?"

Jack remained silent for a moment, and then, "Air Force treating you all right?"

The clone nodded. "Yes, they are trying to stay on my good side. They keep trying to enlist me. Right now, the offer on the plate is faking ROTC attendance, skip Officer's camp, be a lieutenant, while I get my master, captain when I work for my PhD., and major at completion, with a job at SGC and employment at SGC for Brad as well."

"Sweet!"

"If I could believe them. C'mon, you know that administrations change, generals change. Once I sign up, they own me." The clone shook his head. "Sorry, you might like that, but I've found something better. I will help them, but I will remain a civilian."

"How can you say that? How can you turn your back on SGC? The possibilities…" Jack looked at the sky through the small window over the sink. "I can't imagine."

"Can't you? Maybe you can't, but I've had a taste of freedom and happiness. This isn't like when we…you retired. I'm happy here. I live with a man I love. I can't imagine giving Brad up for anything, even the stars."

"And he'll never know what you're giving up." Jack turned and faced the young man. "He is lucky. You both are if you've found that kind of happiness."

"I know," the clone answered with a bright smile. "You can find it, too."

"Maybe. That's the word of the day, right?"

The clone chuckled. "Yeah, it seems to be."

"Do you know how strange it is to talk to you? Looking at this kid that looks like I did a lifetime ago…"

"But I'm not a kid. No matter what I look like, your memories, your experiences, and your feelings are here." He pointed to his temple with two fingers. "Think of me like your conscience. I can tell you what you don't wish to say."

"Thanks, but not on this." Jack put his hands in pockets. "I'd better go. You know how it is…"

"Of course. A crisis after another. You can use the backdoor." They both knew that Jack wanted to avoid another encounter with Brad. "I'll tell Brad that you got a call and had to go."

Jack looked at his clone with a frown.

"Brad is looking forward to spending time with my only relative, after my parents died in a terrible accident." The clone shrugged. "I had to come up with something, and it's not easy when most of my life is classified."

"Yeah, I know how that is. Well, goodbye." Opening the back door, Jack walked around the house. He would leave New Jersey with some answers, but nothing that helped him deal with Daniel.

~*~*~*~

SGC - May 16, 2010
Early Morning

Jack arrived at the control room, rubbing his face, trying to erase the last vestige of sleep. An airman handed him a cup of coffee, and he took it with a thank you, before turning to Sgt. Davis. "What's the big emergency, Walter?"

"Sir, we got a radio message from SG-6. The weather conditions on the planet have worsened faster than they expected. They fear that the wormhole isn't stable enough for them to return to earth."

"Can't they stay there until the weather gets better?" Jack asked with sarcasm. Inwardly, his mind was racing, trying to remember where SG-6 was, and their mission.

Sgt. Davis kept staring at his screen as if it held some vital information, but in truth, it was easier to deliver the news this way. "Sir, SG-6 is currently on P7M-X39. They expect the entire planet to become inhabitable in the next few hours. Dr. Jackson insisted to go and study some ruins before they got lost."

And then it clicked. P7M-X39 was Daniel's latest project, another planet with traces of ancient writings. He had convinced Jack that it was vital to go there. When Jack told him that SG-1 was busy elsewhere, Daniel had been ready to go with any team available, and now SG-6 was stuck on the damn planet. Jack closed his eyes as he rubbed his forehead. "Can we reach them with a ship?"

"Even using Prometheus, it would take a few days, Sir," the sergeant answered.

Of course they didn't have a few days. Leave it to Daniel to wait until the last possible moment. "Bring P7M-X39 up on the map. Let's see who can help us." Plenty of people owed them for saving their collective asses from the Replicators, and Jack wasn't above calling in favors, not when Daniel's life was in danger.

Jack studied the map for a second. They could try the Tok'ra, but they wouldn't send a ship without long diplomatic discussion. SG-6 would be dead before the Tok'ra decided to intervene. "Call Gen. Carter."

"Yes, Sir." Sgt. Davis engaged the stargate, and then the connection was established.

Jack took the microphone without worrying about procedure. "Get me Gen. Carter, Sergeant," he ordered into the microphone. He didn't have to wait long before he could see Sam on his screen. "Daniel and SG-6 are stranded on P7M-X39. For some reason, the wormhole isn't stable and they can't use the stargate."

"Yes, we have been monitoring the area, Jack. The electromagnetic interference around the planet caused us some problems as well," she replied briskly.

"Sam, I don't need the scientific mumbo jumbo. I need you to send Ephemetheus. It's the only ship fast enough and close enough."

Sam covered the microphone. "Sergeant, call SG-24. I want them ready to go in ten minutes, understood?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Jack," she said into the microphone, "they will leave in the next few minutes, but…" she took her time, picking the right words. "Even if they get there in time, the planet’s condition might not allow them to land."

There was silence on the line, and then Jack sighed. "I know, Sam. Do your best."

"We will, Sir."

Sam smiled into the camera, but Jack felt that the smile was more a show for him than any real conviction about the success of the mission. Jack nodded without thinking before retreating to his office.

The clock in the debriefing room moved slowly, the black hands staring back at him with derision as he counted the seconds, which became minutes, and then hours. He tried to do some work, but files were shoved from one part of his desk to another without any thought on their contents, his eyes fixed on the clock.

He should really go home, and get some sleep. After the trip to New Jersey, he had gone directly to the base. He had just decided to take a nap in his on base room - Hammond never had a room, Jack wondered why he wasn't able to get off the base as much as he should have. However, his nap was quickly interrupted when an airman had awoken him to report to the latest emergency.

Jack knew that it would make more sense to get some rest; it would enable him to think clearly when the time came, except he couldn't seem to move from his chair, staring hypnotically at nothing in particular. He should trust the men and women serving under him to do their jobs and save SG-6.

He worried about everyone in the team, he told himself. Every man was important to him. What a lie! No, not a lie. It was true that Gen. O'Neill cared for every person under his command, but Jack was worried about Daniel. His clone would say that it was just another sign, but really, it was a sign of friendship. He would be worried about Sam and Teal'c if they were in danger. Except he never felt the urge to smack Sam or Teal'c, and tell them never to go out again, and lock them in a room to keep them safe.

Jack shook his head. He was tired; that was the only explanation for even considering his clone's words. Besides, protecting Daniel was necessary because Daniel never thought of himself. Okay, so that wasn't really true anymore. Daniel was a lot smarter now, street wise, because book wise, he'd always been way smarter than it was good for a person.

No, Jack certainly didn't feel anything inappropriate for Daniel. He just wanted the younger man safe, and at his side, ready to face the next crisis, the next 'end of the world' scenario. That was it. He needed Daniel alive, because Daniel was vital to National Security.

Jack threw a pencil across his office, hitting the bulletproof glass. Even in his mind, all the rationalization was starting to sound suspicious, but he never had time to think about it, because Sgt. Davis knocked on his door. "Yes?"

The sergeant smiled. "Gamma base contacted us. The rescue was successful. They are all alive…Dr. Jackson is injured, but they don't know the condition yet. Communication with the ship was difficult due to the electromagnetic interference, but they will let us know when Ephemetheus reaches the base."

Jack nodded. "Thank you. Let me know when they contact us again."

Davis turned to leave, but then he hesitated. "Sir…"

"Yes, Sergeant?"

"If you need to rest, I could call you in your room…"

Jack cracked a smile. "Do I look that bad?"

"No, Sir, but you do need to sleep sometimes," Davis replied with his own smile.

"Very well, Sergeant. Call me upstairs." Jack pushed his chair back, and headed upstairs. He would never be able to sleep, not until he would find out Daniel's condition, but there was no point in letting everyone in the base know that.

When he reached the room, he tried to get some rest, but his mind was moving too quickly, jumping from image to image of past missions, of Daniel hurt, of Daniel lying in the infirmary, close to death, fighting for every second before letting go to something bigger than them. As painful as it had been, Jack had felt the warmth and happiness coming from Daniel right before he ascended. There would be none of that now. If something happened now…

No, he wouldn't think that. Daniel would be all right. Sam would make sure that he had the best possible medical care, and in a few days he would return as good as new.

Jack jumped when he heard the knock on the door, but composed himself before sitting up. "Enter."

Sgt. Davis slowly opened the door, and stepped inside. "Sir, Gen. Carter just contacted us. Dr. Jackson is critical, but the doctor there expects him to make a slow, but full recovery. He was trying to preserve some ruins when he got hit by the equivalent of thunder, or at least the effect were similar. He suffered internal injuries. The General said that she could explain the actual phenomenon and injuries if you were interested."

Jack rolled his eyes at the mere idea, and Davis barely refrained from chuckling. "Thank you, again, Sergeant, and now I think I'll get some sleep. Let everyone know not to wake me up even in the face of an apocalypse."

Davis grinned this time. "Of course, Sir. Good night."

This time, the calm and silence in the room helped Jack fall asleep within minutes.

~*~*~*~

SGC Base - May 18, 2010

"Sam, what's the matter?" Jack asked through their radio connection.

"It's nothing… well nothing serious." She lowered her voice, as if this would stop everyone in the control room to hear her. "I think Dr. Carmichael is ready to kill Daniel. He's been impossible, Jack. He will not listen to anyone. Dr. Carmichael has threatened to strap him to the bed."

"And I ask you again. What's the matter?" Jack asked in the best sarcastic tone.

"He wants to come home, Jack. He keeps saying that he needs to work, and he needs to be there to do it." Sam straightened out. "Jack, he's still weak. He shouldn't be moving, but I can't force him…"

Jack sighed. Stubborn man really needed to be smacked in the head. "Can he be moved?" Sam nodded. "Fine, I'll have a medical team come over, and they can use a stretcher to take him home."

"Thank you, Sir." Each word was stressed, and the relief was clear in Sam's voice. "I'll make sure he's ready to be transferred." It was obvious that she was ready to bring Daniel herself. Jack frowned; that could not be a good sign.

~*~*~*~

Part 2

Current Tags: sg-1 fic