Stargate SG-1 The Sequel - Aftermath

[gsdx]

NOTE: This story is a sequel to the original story, Stargate SG-1 - Last Mission

If you have not read that story, it is highly recommended that you do so before reading this one as some elements in ‘Last Mission' are vital to this story. ‘Aftermath' will, in effect, bring you up to date with the events and elements essential to the story for those not acquainted with the Stargate series.

You may read the original story here: http://www.justusboys.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79094

Again, thanks go to the creators and writers of Stargate SG-1 for their wonderful characters. And my apologies go to them for the liberties taken in making minor changes and additions to the episodes involved.

Special thanks go to ajacobs for his invaluable assistance as Military Advisor in these stories. His knowledge of military matters greatly helped me to create more realistic events when necessary.

Thank you, and enjoy.

Stargate SG-1 - Aftermath

Chapter 1
CHANGES​

Life holds no certainties. Nothing is assured. Nothing is permanent. Life is not always happy. Nowhere was this more apparent than in Stargate Command, hidden deep within the bowels of the Earth far beneath the Cheyenne Mountain Complex - and in the people who inhabited that space.

Dr. Janet Fraiser was dead. She was killed by a Jaffa staff weapon blast on the battlefield while performing her duties as physician. She had refused to abandon a young soldier, seriously injured in battle. Dr. Daniel Jackson had been present and had, in fact, accidentally captured the moment of Janet's death with his movie camera. It had fallen to Major Samantha Carter to deliver the eulogy. She tortured herself over what she would say until her good friend, the Jaffa Teal'c, offered her a suggestion. Instead of mourning the death of Janet Fraiser, Samantha Carter celebrated her life by reading a long list of names of those whose lives Janet had saved. Her death had been a sad and serious blow to everyone in the SGC, and she was sorely missed.

General George Hammond was gone as well. Following his temporary position as Captain of Earth's star ship, Prometheus, as they battled Anubis' fleet over Antarctica, Hammond had been promoted to a Pentagon position in which he oversaw all of Earth's defenses. His departure left an enormous void in Stargate Command. His replacement would come as a surprise to everyone.

Colonel Jack O'Neill had been rescued yet again by the alien Asgard, Thor. In order to use a powerful weapon created by the Ancients eons ago, Jack had, once again, downloaded all the knowledge of the Ancients into his brain. This gave him the ability to locate and to use the only weapon powerful enough to destroy Anubis. Unfortunately, it had almost killed him as well. Following Anubis' defeat at the end of the battle over Antarctica, Jack had put himself into stasis deep under the ice on Antarctica. With Thor's help, Jack had been rescued and the knowledge of the Ancients had been removed from his mind before it killed him, but not before he had been able to create a weapon which could destroy the insect-like Replicators, a scourge more powerful than ever before, which threatened even the Goa'uld System Lords. O'Neill had been rewarded with a promotion to Brigadier General and placed in command of the Stargate facility. He had very big shoes to fill - those recently vacated by General George Hammond.

The Jaffa warrior, Teal'c was reacting well to the Tok'ra drug, Tretonin, which allowed him to live free of the Goa'uld symbiote. The implanted symbiote had granted him long life and good health for so many years. Without the Tretonin, Teal'c would not have survived the loss of his symbiote many months earlier. He still retained the gold tatoo on his forehead, of course. That would never change. What did change, however, was the fact that his once-shaven head was now covered with a new growth of black hair. It was one more step toward putting his enslavement to the Goa'uld behind him once and for all.

Major Samantha Carter had fallen in love with and had become engaged to a policeman, Pete Shanahan. Unfortunately, a humanoid Replicator, Fifth, whom she had once befriended and, later abandoned, was an oddity amongst the other humanoid Replicators. He had human emotions. He had fallen in love with Sam and had captured her with hopes of making a life for them by instilling a lifelike holographic image into her mind in which she and Pete (who was actually Fifth in disguise) lived happily on a farm. Sam had seen through the mental facade and had convinced Fifth that there could never be any sort of love or relationship between them. Fifth had released her but, unknown to Sam and everyone else, had created a Replicator Carter whom he could love instead. That love was not shared by the power-hungry Replicator Carter who promptly destroyed Fifth and took control of all the Replicators. Safely back on Earth, Sam was granted a promotion to Lieutenant Colonel by the new General, Jack O'Neill, and was given command of SG-1, which now consisted of only three team members: herself, Teal'c, and Dr. Daniel Jackson.

Daniel Jackson continued to prove himself a valuable addition to the Stargate Project. His relationship with Jonas Quinn continued to develop day-by-day. He still loved Jonas dearly. He hated the thought of leaving him behind when he stepped through the Stargate on missions which would take him across the galaxy where he would face unknown dangers, but Jonas knew how important the Stargate Program was to Daniel, as well as the accompanying risks, and accepted them without question. To compensate for the loneliness which Jonas had to endure when he was off-world, Daniel had bought a new house in the suburbs, leaving apartment life behind them. It wasn't much compensation, but at least Jonas had a yard and a garden to help occupy his time, and the neighbours were friendly and more personable than they had been when they lived together in the apartment. Unfortunately, as it turned out, Jonas had not even a hint of a ‘green thumb' and couldn't grow a flower if he tried. Of course, Mrs. McCreary had refused to abandon her post as Daniel's housekeeper despite the fact that she now had an extra-long drive to get there. Mrs. McCreary was good company for Jonas, though, so Daniel insisted upon giving her a traveling allowance as well.

Jonas Quinn still loved Daniel more than life itself. Their lives together continued to grow with each passing day and the sex they shared just kept getting better and better. He didn't mind being alone when Daniel went on off-world missions with SG-1 and he enjoyed the days they worked together at SGC. He wouldn't allow himself to dwell on the fact that Daniel might never return despite the fact that it was a very real possibility each time Daniel stepped through the Gate. Instead, he cherished each moment they spent together because that moment might be their last. The Stargate program was much too important to Daniel for Jonas to expect him to simply abandon it. As much as he loved Daniel, and as much as he feared losing him, he kept his promise of so long ago that he would never do anything to come between Daniel and SG-1.

And now, Anubis had returned. It had been assumed that Anubis had been destroyed along with his mothership when Colonel Jack O'Neill had mastered and unleashed the power of the Ancient weapon hidden far beneath the ice in Antarctica. Somehow, though, Anubis had survived and was back with a vengeance. The Goa'uld System Lords were in chaos and Anubis was, again, a very real and very powerful threat. But so were the Replicators under the command of Replicator Carter. They were not a threat only to Earth, but to everyone and everything in the galaxy, including the Goa'uld and Anubis himself. If a way wasn't found to stop them, life in the galaxy would be extinguished and would be replaced by the relentless mechanical spiders.

That was what Daniel Jackson and the rest SG-1 were trying to do now. Their success or failure in destroying the Replicators would determine the future of the world - if not the entire galaxy.

* * * * *

Jonas Quinn sat on the sofa in the house he shared with his lover and best friend, Daniel Jackson. He was reading a book, but his mind was preoccupied by the thoughts that Daniel and the rest of SG-1 were on their most dangerous mission ever. They had devised a plan which would eliminate the threat of the Replicators forever, but Jonas could not get rid of the nagging feeling that he would never see Daniel again. It hung in the back corner of his mind and could not be dismissed. As much as he tried not to think of Daniel, it only caused Jonas to think of him more.

Mrs. McCreary was, as always, wonderful to him, and had helped him to get through the days and weeks of sadness and solitude. Jonas denied it, of course, but Mrs. McCreary knew ‘her boys'. She could see through the veil with which Jonas covered himself. She spent virtually every day with him and had even stayed in the guestroom overnight on several occasions. She didn't believe for a second that Daniel was on a ‘dig' in some remote and war-torn country in Africa, but she could see the terror in Jonas' eyes. Wherever Daniel was, and whatever he was doing, was none of her business, but his life was in danger and she feared for him just the same.

For the umpteenth time, Jonas set down his book, walked to the window, and peered into the driveway, hoping to see the Jeep parked there and to see Daniel walking happily up the walk. Neither of them appeared.

He walked to the telephone, picked it up and began dialing numbers. He didn't push the final button. Instead, he returned the phone to its cradle and went back to reading his book. He was not surprised to hear the doorbell ring a few minutes later. He had hoped for a telephone call. General O'Neill had promised him that he would get word to him as soon as he knew anything. Good news was never delivered by a knock on the door.

He closed the book and dropped it to the sofa. Moving to the door, he could see Jack's face peering through the small, circular window in the wooden door. He pulled it open and looked at his three friends standing there.

"Hi, Jack, Teal'c, Sam." His voice was wary. The expected dimples on his cheeks did not appear.

General Jack O'Neill asked politely, "Can we come in, Jonas?"

Jonas swung the door wide and stepped back, allowing his friends to enter before closing it behind him. He leaned against the door, his back pressed against the wooden frame, both hands clutching the doorknob.

Jack reached out a hand and placed it gently on Jonas' shoulder. "Come on, Jonas," he said. "Let's sit down."

"No," Jonas objected. He was surprisingly calm. "Just tell me what happened to Daniel."

"Jonas, please," Sam begged.

"No! Just tell me. I need to hear it."

Jack took a breath, his hand still resting on Jonas' shoulder. "Daniel is dead, Jonas."

Jonas looked at Sam, her eyes full of tears. He glanced at Teal'c who had removed the hat with which he had covered the gold tatoo on his forehead. Teal'c nodded and said in his deep, commanding, yet soft, soothing voice. "I am sorry, Jonas Quinn. O'Neill speaks the truth."

"No," Jonas repeated, shaking his head.

"Jonas," Jack said, giving the shoulder a friendly, reassuring squeeze.

Jonas tore himself from Jack's grasp. He walked quickly past him and the others, shaking his head in disbelief, and sat once more on the sofa.

"No. Daniel's not dead." he declared. "I know he isn't. He can't be dead."

Sam sat beside Jonas while Jack and Teal'c sat on the love seat opposite them. Sam reached out a hand and placed it on Jonas' hand as it rested on his right leg.

"Jonas, listen to me," she said softly, her voice full of anguish and pain. "Look at me."

Reluctantly, Jonas looked into her eyes.

"We think Daniel was aboard the Replicator ship with the Replicator Carter when we destroyed it. He couldn't have survived."

"You don't know that for sure," Jonas said.

"It's the only place he could have been, Jonas. The Replicators beamed him off our ship."

"You don't understand, Sam," he said, pulling his hand free. "Daniel's alive. He has to be. If he was dead, he would have come back to me to tell me himself." He looked at the two men sitting opposite him. "He would have Ascended again. He would remember me! He'd never leave me like this! He would come back to tell me!" He paused, looking from face to face. "Don't you see? Daniel hasn't been here! He's not dead!"

"He may not have Ascended again, Jonas," Sam explained. "We don't even know if it's possible to Ascend more than once."

"No, you're wrong. Daniel is alive!"

"Daniel Jackson's death would have been immediate with the destruction of the Replicators, Jonas Quinn," Teal'c added. "There may not have been time for him to have prepared for Ascension."

Jonas hung his head, his chin resting against his chest. His head shook back and forth. "No. I won't believe it." Tears filled his eyes as the words of his friends became frighteningly true in his mind. "No! Please, don't let him be dead. . ." He began to cry.

Jack O'Neill quickly stood up and moved to sit beside Jonas. He wrapped his arm around him as Jonas turned to bury his face against the General's chest, his right hand clutching at the shirt with such force that ripping sounds could be heard. Jack pulled him close as Sam lay a reassuring and friendly hand on his leg, tenderly massaging his thigh in comforting circles.

Jonas cried for a long time and Jack let him. Gradually, the tears slowed and his crying turned to sobs that shook his body in short, quick jerks. Still, Jack held him. Eventually, even the sobs stopped and Jonas pulled away and sat back up. The dark sapphire colours of his eyes were stained with red. Magnified by the tears, they gave his face a strange, haunting, eerie appearance.

"Are you okay?" Sam asked softly, her voice full of support and concern.

Jonas managed a weak smile. "I'll be okay." Looking down at the floor, Jonas placed his hand over the hand which still rested on his leg. He interlocked his fingers with Sam's. "I knew it would happen sooner or later. I thought I was prepared for it. I thought I would handle it better than this."

Jack, his arm still around Jonas' shoulders, gave him a friendly squeeze and said, "No matter how much anyone prepares for this, no-one knows how they will react until they're faced with it."

"I feel so stupid, crying like that."

"You are among friends, Jonas Quinn," Teal'c assured him. "Tears help cleanse the pain and allow others to share your grief."

Jonas looked at Teal'c. Despite his size, Teal'c's face was gentle, caring, and full of compassion. "Thank you, Teal'c," Jonas said. Teal'c nodded.

"Daniel Jackson's death was not without purpose, Jonas Quinn," Teal'c explained. "He died as a true warrior and saviour of your world and ours. The Replicators pose no more threat to anyone."

"He did it for us, Jonas. He did it for you," Jack said quietly. "In your ceremony, he said he would gladly die again to save your life. You have to believe that's what he did."

Jonas was silent for a long time, thinking, as he stared at the floor. Tears still escaped his eyes and flowed down his cheeks. Finally, he spoke softly. "I love him so much. How am I going to live without him?"

"We're here for you, Jonas," Jack said. "Any time. Day or night."

Jonas began to cry again. Sam moved her left hand to his back, massaging it in slow, loving circles as Jonas leaned forward and cried into his hands. He didn't cry as long as he had the first time. Within minutes, he was sitting up again, wiping tears from his eyes and cheeks, and taking deep breaths to calm himself.

With a forced smile, he said, "I think I'm done now. Thanks for coming here to tell me."

"We can stay as long as you need us," Jack said.

"You don't have to stay," Jonas replied. "I'll be fine. Really I will. I think I want to be alone now."

Teal'c's voice echoed in the room. "I will remain with you, Jonas Quinn," he said.

"You don't have to stay, Teal'c. I don't want to inconvenience you."

"It is not an inconvenience, Jonas Quinn," Teal'c added. "You would do the same for me. I will remain with you."

Shallow dimples appeared in Jonas' cheeks as he attempted another smile at his big friend. "Thanks."

Teal'c nodded again.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Jack asked.

Jonas looked at him. "Yeah, I'll be fine." He reached to brush at the spot of wetness his tears had left on the General's shirt. "Sorry about that," he apologized.

"I'm not the Wicked Witch of the West," Jack said with a grin. "I won't melt."

Jonas looked at him, confused.

"I'll buy you the book," Jack added with a positive grin as he rose to his feet. Looking at Sam, he asked, "Colonel? Shall we go?"

"Just a sec," Sam answered. Looking at Jonas, she said, "Is there anything I can get you? A sandwich or anything? I can make you a pot of coffee."

"I told you, Sam, I'll be okay. You run along. You don't have to worry about me."

"I do worry about you, Jonas. It's my job, sorry."

"It's right in her job description," Jack said. "Section 11, Subsection 2B Dash 1, I believe: ‘Worry about Jonas'."

"Thanks, Jack." Jonas' smile was full and sincere this time.

As Sam stood up, Jonas stood also. Sam took him into her arms and gave him a warm hug. "Let me know if there's anything I can do."

"I will." They separated and, with a final ‘goodbye', Jack and Sam left the house.

Jonas sat back down on the sofa again, his face becoming a blank, emotionless canvass. Teal'c watched with concern as Jonas simply sat there, silent, staring at the floor. The hours passed in silence. Evening became night, and still Jonas sat there. Ever patient, Teal'c sat as still and quiet as a statue, watching over his friend, ready to be there when needed. He moved only once in order to turn on a table lamp as darkness settled in.

Finally, Jonas looked up, his gaze meeting the ever-vigilant eyes of the big man sitting across from him. "Daniel's really dead, isn't he?"

Teal'c nodded briefly. "I believe so, Jonas Quinn. I, too, am deeply saddened by his death. Daniel Jackson was a valued friend and companion."

Jonas sucked in a deep breath, held it while he clenched his eyes shut for a moment, and then released the air with a slow, heavy sigh. He rose to his feet.

"I think I'll go to bed, Teal'c."

"Do you wish nourishment, or perhaps a beverage, Jonas Quinn?"

"No thanks. I'm not hungry. You can help yourself to whatever you can find."

Teal'c nodded his thanks.

"The guest room is just down the hall beside the bathroom," Jonas said, pointing behind and to the right of Teal'c.

"Where is your place of sleep?" Teal'c asked.

Jonas indicated the door right behind him with his pointing thumb. "Right there," he said.

"I will be fine here, Jonas Quinn," Teal'c replied. "It is not my intention to sleep."

"You should really go to bed, Teal'c."

"I cannot ‘watch over you' if I am sleeping."

"Thanks," Jonas said with a small smile. "You can watch TV if you want. It won't bother me."

"It will bother me," Teal'c said, one corner of his mouth lifting into a half-smile. "Goodnight, Jonas Quinn."

"Goodnight, Teal'c."

To Be Continued​

 

[gsdx]

Chapter 2
THE MESSAGE​

The diner looked strange - almost ethereal - yet very familiar. The walls were of a light, neutral colour, accented with large blocks of brick-red paint. People sat in the putrid green vinyl booths, slowly eating the meals placed before them by the waitress who moved swiftly and effortlessly from the tables to the dining counter to the pick-up counter and back again. A large man in a white shirt and black suspenders sat on a stool at the counter, slamming a mug on the counter top and demanding that someone serve him some coffee.

The young man knew this place. He'd been here before when he was just a boy. He even remembered where he sat. The booth was empty. He approached it and slid onto the cushy, green seat.

Moments later, the waitress appeared at his side. Her brown hair was held in place by a curved, rectangular, plastic headband. Her uniform was pale blue, only slightly darker than the colour of the young man's eyes. Her apron, like the headband, was of the same brick-red colour which decorated the walls. She pulled a bill pad from her apron pocket and a pencil from behind her ear. The man looked at her with great consideration, his brow furrowed as he searched for her identity. She looked very familiar to him.

"What can I getcha?" she asked politely.

"Um. . ." he thought out loud. He patted his legs, checking for coins in his pockets. There were none. Further exploration revealed that he didn't have a wallet, either. "I don't seem to have any money."

The waitress studied him up and down. "I think I can trust ya, kid. I'll give it to ya on tick."

"Thanks," he said. "A coffee, then?"

"Sure. One cuppa Jo comin' up."

"And maybe some waffles? . . . With syrup?"

She nodded with a smile, turned, and began to move toward the coffee pot.

The young man scanned the diner once more, observing the people who paid no attention to him, or anyone else for that matter. No-one talked. He saw an ancient, black, rotary-dial pay telephone on one wall. It had been decades since he had seen such an antique. The big man at the counter talked loudly to him, pointing out interesting tidbits of news in the newspaper he held in his hand. Something about someone named Anubis.

The waitress returned with a cup of coffee and set it on the table in front of him.

His thoughts turned to himself and he realized suddenly that he wasn't exactly certain who he was. He closed his eyes in concentration. He had recognized the diner, but nothing or no-one else. . . not even himself. The diner was taken out of his mind, but he was taken out of its time. He didn't belong here. . . not in this time. . . not in this place. Who was he? Why was he here? He couldn't remember the waitress, yet he felt certain that he knew her - from somewhere else.

He reached to remove his glasses, but there were none where he had somehow expected eyeglasses to be. Then he noticed that he could see everything clearly even without them. But he was certain that he needed glasses. He was certain that he couldn't see without them. The glasses. A spark of a memory crept to the outside corner of his mind and slipped out again. For the briefest of moments, the image of twirling glasses and a young man standing in a metal doorway and the faint smell of a waterfall flashed into his mind and disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared. He didn't recognize the man, but he had an odd feeling that he knew him as well. He fought desperately to retain the brief glimpse he had had of him. It was a link to himself that he had to hold onto. He was certain of it. Somewhere in his mind, something told him that the young man held the answers to all his questions. He forced himself to remember the light hair; the kind, boyish face; the deep, cobalt-blue eyes; the dimples on his cheeks. He closed his eyes, burning the image into his memory. He couldn't allow himself to forget.

Opening his eyes again, he looked at the coffee creamers set on the saucer beside the mug, then picked up the creamers and set one aside, pouring the other into his coffee. He reached for the sugar container, but it wasn't on the table as he remembered it should have been. It puzzled him that he could remember such insignificant details but couldn't even remember who he was.

He glanced toward the counter and saw sugar shakers there. He slid out of the booth and stepped to the counter. He was about to pick up a shaker when he noticed his reflection in the mirror on the wall behind the counter. He did not recognize his own face. His hair was dark, and heavy shadows fell over his jaw where the stubble from a recent shave remained. He stared into the pale, blue eyes, hoping he could find something there to tell him who he was. There was nothing to be found. He grabbed his chin in his fingers, turning his head one way, then the other, hoping to find some hint to his identity. He could be considered handsome, he supposed, but the face he saw in the mirror was much more masculine than the one he had seen in his mind. He closed his eyes, hoping to remember something. . . anything.

He heard a voice behind him - the clear voice of a woman saying, "Eat your waffles, Danny."

He glanced to the side of his reflection and saw people sitting at the table he had recently vacated. His coffee cup was gone. There was a young man and woman sitting side-by-side on one side of the table while, across from them, in the same spot in which the man had been sitting only moments ago, sat a little boy who was attempting to use a fork to spear sliced portions of the waffles set in front of him.

"That's a good boy, Danny," the woman said.

The man glanced up, catching the young man's gaze in the mirror. "Hello, Daniel," he said gently. "It's good to see you again."

The woman looked at his reflection as well and said with a smile. "We miss you, Daniel. Hurry home."

Daniel! His name was Daniel.

He spun around to face the table. There was no-one there. His coffee cup sat on the table. He turned back to the mirror, hoping to see the family again. Instead, he was met by the waitress who suddenly stood there holding out a container of sugar for him.

With a slight wink and a large smile, she said, "Here ya go, kid."

Daniel reached out to take the container. His fingers touched those of the waitress. Daniel Jackson. He remembered! Dr. Daniel Jackson! Stargate! He saw another image of the young man he had seen earlier. This time, the man was standing before him, looking directly at him. He smiled, and huge dimples appeared in his smooth cheeks. A gold chain hung around his neck, and, in the ‘V' of his open shirt, lay a heart-shaped pendent. Daniel's fingers reached out, taking the pendent gently into his grasp and he looked at it intently. The back felt rough and he turned it over, reading the words engraved there: ‘To Jonas with Love. Daniel'.

Jonas! He remembered!

The look of confusion dropped from his face to be replaced with one of urgency and necessity. "Please, I need to borrow a quarter," he said to the waitress. "It's important. I need to make a phone call."

"It's only a nickel, sweetie" she replied, "but it won't do ya no good. Phone's been broke for years."

She turned again and began to walk away.

"Wait!" Daniel's desperation grew. "Wait, please. . . . Look, I really need to get a message to someone. Is there a phone or something anywhere else I can use?"

"Kid," she said as she glanced around the diner, "this is anywhere else. There ain't nowhere else."

She started to turn away again.

"Please, help me," Daniel begged softly. "I have to get a message to someone. . . . Please."

"Sorry, kid," the waitress said with a shrug, "ya can't." Then, with a wink, she leaned against the counter, her elbow resting on the top, and whispered, "But I can."

Pulling out the pad again and taking the pencil in her fingers, she prepared herself to write.

"The message is for. . . " Daniel began.

"I know who it's for, kid," the waitress explained quietly. "What do ya wanna say? And keep it short. I could lose my job for this."

Daniel thought quickly. "Just tell him, ‘Leave a light on.' He'll know what it means."

The waitress wrote the words on the pad. She tore the sheet of paper from the pad and folded it in half. Looking around to make sure she wasn't being observed, she handed the paper to Daniel. Her voice changed. Gone was the twangy, nasal tone. Her voice was now soft and soothing. She whispered, "Take this to your table and burn it."

Daniel opened the paper. There was nothing written there. He looked at the waitress, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"Just do it, Daniel." She knew his name, and her smile told Daniel to trust her.

He did.

He anxiously returned to his table, pulled an ashtray toward him, and picked up the package of matches he found there. Lifting the flap, he tore out one of the paper matches and struck the red tip against the rough, black strip at the back of the package. The match came to life with fire.

Holding the paper over the ashtray, he held the flame beneath it. There was a faint ‘poof' and the paper disappeared in a puff of smoke so suddenly that Daniel didn't even have time to drop it. As he watched the smoke spiralling upwards, the name ‘Oma Desala' came unbidden into his mind. He smiled. Everything would be alright now. The smoke continued to rise to the ceiling, and then it passed right on through and disappeared from sight.

* * * * *

Jonas Quinn bolted upright in bed, the blankets falling to his waist. The room was dark and silent except for the sounds of his panicked breath being sucked into his lungs in large, rapid gasps and his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel the droplets of perspiration gathered on his brow. His eyes were wide with a feeling he could not immediately identify. His mind searched for the source of that feeling, but it was elusive and vague.

The gold, heart-shaped pendent, hanging from a gold chain around his neck, burned into his bare chest. He grabbed it in his fist and clutched it tightly. He felt the quick, tender caress of invisible lips against his own, little more than a sweet, gentle puff of air. And then it was gone.

His eyes widened even further when he realized that it had been Daniel. Somehow, he was certain that Daniel had come to him, even for the briefest of moments. He quickly reached to turn on the bedside light and lay back against the pillow.

Moments later, the bedroom door opened partially and Teal'c's large, friendly face appeared in the opening. "I saw the illumination under your doorway, Jonas Quinn," Teal'c said in his deep, friendly, concerned voice. "Is everything well?"

"I'm fine, Teal'c," Jonas replied. "It was just a dream."

"Do you require anything?"

"Thanks, Teal'c, but I'm fine. Really." As an afterthought, Jonas added, "I'll be leaving the light on."

"Very well." Teal'c said and stepped back, quietly closing the bedroom door.

Jonas lay there, alone, and thinking. He did not fall asleep again that night.

* * * * *

Jonas kept careful track of the events over the following days and weeks. Daniel still hadn't returned, but the bedside lamp still burned brightly, day and night. He had forbidden Mrs. McCreary to turn it off, and Mrs. McCreary, who loved Jonas as a son, complied.

She didn't believe for a moment that Daniel was somewhere in war-torn Africa doing valuable research at the risk of his own life. She had been told similar stories throughout her years of working for Daniel as his housekeeper. She suspected that the government was involved, but it was not her place to ask questions and to pry into his life. She simply accepted the feeble excuses and let them pass. Still, though, she shared Jonas' concerns and fears, unspoken as they were. She remained supportive and watched over Jonas with an extra bit care.

Jonas didn't know Jacob Carter very well at all. Sam had recently introduced them and Jacob seemed like a kind and sincere gentleman. Jonas even had the brief opportunity to meet and to speak with Jacob's Tok'ra symbiote, Selmak. But, Selmak was old, even for a Tok'ra, and his battle with the Replicators had drained what little energy and life remained. His host, Jacob Carter, could have survived and continued his life, but, after having been cured of cancer by Selmak many years ago, Jacob had decided that, when Selmak died, he would die also. Sam had been saddened by their deaths, of course, but she was happy as well. Estranged from her father for so many years following the untimely death of her mother, Sam had long held her father responsible. Since their reunion many years earlier and the subsequent blending of her father and Selmak, Sam and Jacob had enjoyed a relationship they undoubtedly never would have had otherwise. She had no regrets.

Daniel was still missing, although Jonas refused to believe that he was dead. He had confided in Sam, telling her about the kiss in the night. Sam had smiled at him, reassuring him, but he could tell that she was just humouring him, allowing him to live the fantasy he believed to be true. Except for that single kiss, Daniel hadn't visited him again, but Jonas was convinced that Daniel would come back to him. It was only a matter of time. He lived with that hope. It was all that he had left.

Word filtered down to Jonas that the battle with Anubis wasn't going well. Anubis was desperately trying to gain control of the Ancient weapon which had been used to destroy the Replicators. The weapon was now under guard by the free Jaffa on Dakara. It was vital that Anubis never gain access to it. With his knowledge of the Ancients, there was no telling what Anubis could do with such a weapon.

But he did.

Using trickery and subterfuge, Anubis had misguided the Jaffa into believing he was somewhere else. As their ships moved to intercept him, Anubis appeared over Dakara and his forces easily overwhelmed the remaining Jaffa who guarded the weapon.

And now, Jonas sat, alone, in Daniel's chair in his office. The halls were abuzz with activity, people running to and fro, alarms screaming, lights flashing. The loudspeaker voice counted down the seconds to his death. Anubis had opened the Stargate from Dakara. The superweapon was about to destroy all life on Earth - perhaps within the entire galaxy itself. General Jack O'Neill had ordered the self-destruct to be initiated, hoping to sever the wormhole link between Earth and the weapon on Dakara.

In his hands, Jonas held the photo of Daniel which he carried with him always. He looked at the handsome, loving face. Memories of Daniel flowed easily in his mind, and they made him smile. In moments, he would be dead, and Daniel would be waiting for him. That made him happy.

The loudspeaker voice began to count down the final seconds. Jonas said quietly, "I love you, Daniel." He raised the photo to his lips and kissed Daniel one last time.

And then he waited to die.

To Be Continued​

 

[gsdx]

Chapter 3
RETURN​

Brigadier General Jack O'Neill sat at the Briefing Room table with Lt. Col. Samantha Carter, the Jaffa warrior, Teal'c, and Teal'c's friend and mentor, Master Bra'tac. Despite her sorrow following the recent deaths of both her father, Jacob Carter, and his Tok'ra symbiote, Selmak, as well has her broken engagement to Pete Shanahan, Samantha Carter held hopes for a brighter future. The Replicators had been, she believed, eliminated forever, destroyed simultaneously by an Ancient weapon of enormous power. The remaining Goa'uld were in such a state of chaos and disarray that they no-longer posed a threat to Earth. To top it all off, Anubis had simply disappeared in the midst of the recent battle. His Jaffa were easily overwhelmed in the resulting chaos, preventing what was certain doom for the galaxy.

Sam recalled their moment of salvation. As the self-destruct timer was counting down the remaining seconds, the open Stargate suddenly and unexpectedly shut down and the timer froze long enough for the self-destruct to be canceled.

No-one was certain what had happened, but everyone in the Briefing Room was convinced that an Ascended Daniel Jackson had something to do with it.

The celebrations were suddenly interrupted by a meek, manly voice saying, "Um, hello?"

Jack O'Neill looked toward his open office door. The unexpected voice had come from there. He rose to his feet and approached cautiously. Looking inside, he recoiled with a ‘whoa!' and quickly looked around him. Grabbing a flag from the stand outside his door, he tossed it inside. Moments later, Daniel Jackson appeared through the door, the flag now wrapped around his waist as he held it closed behind his back. His embarrassment was obvious and he was secretly wishing the Ascended Beings would find a less humiliating way to return him to life than to plunk him down naked somewhere.

As the others greeted the embarrassed Daniel, O'Neill stepped to the railing of the briefing room staircase, leaned over, and shouted, "Walter!"

Moments later, Sgt. Walter Harriman's head appeared in the stairwell.

"Sir?" he said.

"Walter," Jack said softly, "would you go find some clothes, please?"

"Clothes, Sir?"

"Yes, Walter," he said, stepping back slightly, allowing Sgt. Harriman to see the near-naked Daniel Jackson.

"Yes, Sir," the Sergeant said, turning and heading back down the stairs. After all he had seen during his years working as a technician at Stargate Command, seeing Dr. Jackson standing in the Briefing Room wrapped in a flag did not surprise him.

"Thank you, Walter," Jack called after him.

* * * * *

Daniel Jackson, now showered and dressed, sat in his office beneath Cheyenne Mountain. He held the telephone receiver to his ear with one hand and impatiently tapped a pen against the plastic frame under the push-button dial. Samantha Carter knocked politely and entered.

Daniel looked up to see her and returned the phone to its resting place.

"Sorry," Sam said. "Didn't mean to interrupt."

"That's okay," Daniel assured her. "I'm just trying to call Jonas. He's not answering."

"Maybe he's out working in the garden."

Daniel's eyebrows raised high on his forehead. "Garden? . . . Sam, we grow we-e-e-e-ds." His brows furrowed.

"And amazingly well, I might add," Sam snickered. "Shopping, maybe?"

"Maybe. Have you seen him lately?"

"A few times since we told him about you. We were a bit. . . busy, though." She shrugged. "I can check around if you like."

"No, don't worry about it." Daniel's eyebrows furled and his mouth narrowed in momentary concentration. His gaze dropped to the telephone. "I wonder where he could be?"

"Daniel, he thinks you're dead. He's not waiting for your phone call."

"Oh, yeah." He stood up and walked around the desk to stand in front of Sam. "By the way, I'm really sorry about your father." He gave her a warm, friendly hug.

"It was his time, Daniel. He wanted to go."

"Still," Daniel said, pulling back to look into her face, "if there's anything I can do. . ."

"I'm fine. I'm actually happy for him now. Selmak gave me time to get to know him all over again. I have no regrets. I spent more time with him after his blending with Selmak than I did after Mom died. I'm happy for both of us." She paused a moment in thought, then she said, "Look, do you want to go get a coffee or something?"

"No, I don't think so, thanks. I think I'll just go home."

"Okay," Sam said, pulling Daniel into another embrace. "Can I give you a ride? Give us some time to catch up."

"Jack ordered me a driver until I get my car back."

Sam smiled and winked. "I've seen the driver. I'm much cuter."

Daniel couldn't help but grin. "Okay. I'll cancel it for tonight."

* * * * *

Sam drove toward Daniel's home. "What happened to Anubis?" she asked at one point.

Daniel stared at the dashboard, toying with the clasp holding the glove box closed. "I'm not sure," Daniel answered. He had told Sam about the diner, the waitress, Oma Desala, and the big man at the counter, who, as Daniel had eventually figured out, was the real Anubis.

"Oma knew what Anubis was doing," Daniel continued, "but she couldn't do anything to stop him. Other Ascended Beings were there and they would have stopped her if she tried to interfere. But she really wanted to help. She was the one who had helped Anubis to Ascend before she realized that he had tricked her. Somehow, even Oma wasn't able to see the evil he hid within himself. She felt responsible for what was happening to us."

"Orlin explained it to me," Sam said in understanding. "He wanted to help us, too, but he couldn't. He'd tried to help that planet and was banished there to live forever all alone after all the people died. The Ascended Beings gave him a second chance so he could fix his mistake, though."

Daniel nodded. "I think that's what they did for Oma, too. They knew she was responsible for Anubis, but they also knew that they couldn't allow her to stop his attack on Earth. Oma knew she couldn't stop him, either, but she did the one thing she could do, and the Ascended Ones let her do it. She grabbed Anubis and they changed into their energy forms. The only thing she could do was to fight Anubis for eternity. They just disappeared into the ceiling."

"That must have been when Anubis disappeared here as well," Sam said. "His Jaffa reported that he just suddenly vanished. We thought you had something to do with it."

Daniel shook his head. "It wasn't me."

He became quiet for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice was soft and tinged with the pain of loss. "Neither of them can ever win that battle, Sam. They'll be fighting each other forever. I'm going to miss Oma. She was a good friend to me."

Sam left Daniel with his thoughts and memories for a while, then asked, "Daniel, did you stop the self-destruct clock at SGC?"

Daniel looked at her and shook his head. A smile formed on his lips. "I think it was Oma's farewell gift to me."

Jonas' blue car was in the driveway when Sam pulled in. "Will you be in tomorrow?" she asked.

"Probably not for a day or so," Daniel answered. "I'm still dead until Jack signs the paperwork letting Washington know I'm still on the payroll, and Jonas and I have a lot to catch up on."

Sam winked understanding. "You've got to stop dying, Daniel. The government can't afford the ink."

Daniel looked down and laughed, his head shaking back and forth. "I still cherish you, Sam." He leaned over and gave her a tender kiss on the lips.

He opened the car door and climbed out. He bent over to look inside and said, "Thanks for the ride. Catch you later." Sam backed away after the door was closed and Daniel watched her drive away until she disappeared around the corner.

He walked up the walk, fishing the house keys out of his pants pockets. He was glad he always kept a spare set in his desk at SGC. The front door opened and Daniel stepped inside. The house was quiet and Jonas was nowhere to be seen.

"Jonas?" he called softly. There was no response. Daniel closed the door behind him, removed his boots, and padded in socked feet toward the bedroom. He found Jonas there, lying fully- clothed on the bed, sound asleep, an open book upon his chest.

Daniel quietly approached the bed, standing there for a long time just looking down at Jonas. He never tired of looking at him. He could look at his beauty for hours. He stood there, listening to Jonas breathe, watching his chest and stomach barely rising and falling in his slumber.

Several minutes later, Daniel carefully lifted the book from Jonas' chest. Closing it, he lay it upon the bedside table and noticed for the first time that the lamp was turned on, even in the late-afternoon brightness. He smiled and sent a silent ‘thank you' to Oma, and reached to turn the light off.

He sat gently on the side of the bed, settling carefully beside his lover. Extending his left arm across Jonas' body, using the bed for support, Daniel leaned down and pressed his lips against those of the young man beneath him. When the lips began to respond, Daniel sat back up. Jonas' eyes opened and looked at him. The eyes blinked, glanced quickly to the table lamp, then back to Daniel. Tears began to flow into his eyes. Jonas' right hand came up, tentatively touching Daniel's cheek with his fingertips. They slowly trailed down the cheek and along the line of Daniel's lips. The hand returned to the cheek, the palm coming to a rest there. Daniel raised his own hand to take hold Jonas' wrist, keeping the palm in place against his skin.

"I'm home, Jonas," he whispered.

Jonas began to cry.

Daniel lay down beside Jonas, pulling him into his arms and holding him tightly. Jonas fell into his chest and lost himself there, praying that he wasn't living through yet another of the endless nightmares which had haunted him lately. He cried for a long time, holding onto Daniel with a desperation which would never have allowed Daniel to escape.

That night, they made long, passionate love, sharing themselves and offering themselves to the other. They each gave as much as they took. And when it was finished, they fell asleep in each other's arms as they had so many times before.

* * * * *

Mrs. McCreary unlocked the front door and stepped inside. She was about to close the door when she noticed the boots on the floor. She looked up at the closed bedroom door and smiled. She blew a silent kiss to her boys, then turned and left, closing and locking the door quietly behind her. Jonas would not be needing her this morning.

* * * * *

Daniel arrived at the table just as Jonas was pouring coffee for both of them. Breakfast had already been served - hash brown potatoes, sausages, fried eggs, lots of toast, and an assortment of jams, jellies, and marmalades. Daniel, still naked as he always was at breakfast, took his seat as an equally-naked Jonas took his place across from him.

"I don't understand, Daniel," Jonas said questioningly. "Were you dead or weren't you?"

"I'm not exactly sure, Jonas," Daniel attempted to explain. "It was like a kind of limbo. Oma Desala gave me a choice. I could just die and be dead forever, or, if I chose, she would help me Ascend again."

Jonas still looked confused.

"Okay, look," Daniel said as he chewed a slice of toast smeared with three-fruit marmalade. "I was dead. Replicator Carter killed me. She turned her arm into a huge pike and she stuck it in my gut. That's when the Replicators were destroyed by Sam and the others. I saw it happening. I could see the ship dissolving around me. If being shish kebabed by a Replicator didn't kill me, the vacuum of deep space certainly did."

He paused to take a sip of coffee. "That's when Oma took me to the diner. I was dead in body, but not in mind, I suppose. I didn't remember anything at first, but it all came back quickly. I remembered you before I even remembered who I was."

Jonas smiled."Why do you remember everything that happened this time?"

"I wasn't Ascended, remember?" Daniel explained. "I was dead, but I was still alive, too."

Jonas nodded, still not completely understanding. "Okay, so who sent you back after Oma and Anubis disappeared?"

Daniel's eyebrows dipped in concentration. "I think it was the other Ascended Beings in the diner. I don't think they knew what to do with me. They couldn't help me Ascend the way Oma did. It was against their rules. That's why Oma worked alone. If Oma had left me alone, I'd be dead and they wouldn't have to do anything. If she didn't run off to fight with Anubis, she would have helped me Ascend again if I wanted and they still wouldn't have to do anything. But, there I was, and I was a big problem. It was Oma's fault that I was there. If they let me just die, they'd be breaking their own rules because I wasn't really dead. They would be committing murder. If they helped me Ascend, they'd be breaking their rules, too. I suppose the only thing they could do was to send me back and hope that everything would work out in the end."

"I'm glad they sent you back." Jonas was silent for a long moment, staring into the coffee swirling in his mug. "Daniel," he said quietly, "which would you have chosen?"

"Which ‘what' would I have chosen?"

"Oma gave you a choice. You could Ascend again or you could die. Which one would it have been?"

Daniel looked deeply into Jonas' eyes. "I promised you a long time ago that I would always take care of you. I intend to keep that promise. I can't look after you if I'm dead."

Jonas stared at Daniel for a moment or two. Then, as Daniel bit off another chunk of toast, Jonas arose, circled the table, and bent down to kiss him. It was a powerful, deep kiss that seemed to go on forever. When Jonas finally pulled away, he was smiling and chewing Daniel's bite of toast.

* * * * *

Breakfast was finished and Daniel prepared a bath as Jonas cleaned up the kitchen. Jonas took a moment to phone SGC and talked to General Jack O'Neill to tell him that he and Daniel wouldn't be in that day.

"I'm surprised you're even taking the time to phone me," Jack quipped. No-one saw the blush which coloured Jonas' cheeks. "Now, you boys go play. If I don't hear from you in a week, I'll send in Search and Rescue."

Jonas joined Daniel in the bath. He settled easily into Daniel's arms and luxuriated in the feel of Daniel's strong arms as they wrapped around him and held him tight and close.

"I could stay like this forever," Jonas said, joy and satisfaction filling his voice.

"Not me," Daniel said.

Jonas looked around and up at him, his eyes questioning him. "Come on, Jonas," Daniel said with a grin. "I've seen you after an hour in this tub. You're one great big pink prune! I'd hate to see you after a week!"

Jonas' face didn't change. He simple said, "Daniel?"

"What?"

"Shut up and kiss me."

He did.

They sat there for a long time afterward, Jonas nestled into Daniel's body, his head resting comfortably against Daniel's shoulder while Daniel's cheek lay against Jonas' head. Powerful and loving arms remained wrapped about Jonas' chest while Jonas clasped Daniel's hands in his own. They simply sat there in silence, absorbing life from each other through their contact.

Jonas' quiet voice broke the silence. "Daniel?"

"Hm?"

"I want to buy a tree. An oak tree."

"A real tree?"

Jonas looked up. "Yes, a real one. I want to plant it in the front yard for Sam. I want it to be Jacob's tree. Can I do that?"

Daniel pulled Jonas even tighter against him, his eyes becoming moist. "Jonas Quinn, you are the best person I know. I love you so much!"

They kissed for a long time.

* * * * *

The curtains were closed to the late-morning sun. Following their bath, Jonas had taken Daniel by the hand and lead him to the bed. It was his intention that the two would spend as much of the day in their bed as possible.

He sat Daniel on the edge of the bed and pushed him to his back. Dropping to his knees on the floor between Daniel's legs, his arms resting on Daniel's thighs, he wrapped the fingers of both hands around Daniel's hard and ready cock. He leaned forward, his lips parted. They met with Daniel's swollen and smooth cockhead. The lips parted more and began to move down and around the head and shaft as it easily entered his throat.

Daniel let out a huge sigh of pleasure as he felt Jonas' lips wrap themselves securely around the base of his cock. The moment was magical, as it always was. No-one could make him feel the way Jonas made him feel. No-one other than Jonas had ever been so able or willing to do so. He loved Jonas so much, not just for the magnificent blowjobs, but just for being Jonas. It was Jonas he had fallen head-over-heels in love with. The fact that Jonas came with a very talented mouth was a bonus he could never have wished for.

Daniel lay back on the bed, his arms at his sides. His eyes were closed and his mouth hung open. His chest rose and fell in anxious breaths. His body jerked occasionally as a bolt of ecstasy shot through him, his hips rising off the bed in an attempt to force more of himself into his lover.

He longed to taste Jonas, to feel the hard cock sliding into his own mouth. Daniel rose up on his elbows, coaxing Jonas to swing around so he could have that opportunity, but Jonas simply shook his head ‘no' and muttered a cock-muffled ‘uh uh'. Daniel had no choice but to lay back and enjoy the blowjob.

Jonas taunted him, teased him, tortured him, bringing him to the brink of orgasm and suddenly doing everything he could do to prevent it from happening. The third time Jonas prevented his orgasm, Daniel screamed. His chest heaved and his entire body shook with disappointed anticipation. His head whipped back and forth in frustration. His eyes and jaws were clenched while his fingers threatened to rip the bed sheets to shreds. His toes dug into the carpet.

Minutes later, Jonas was working to bring him to orgasm once more. Daniel whispered frantically, "Jonas! Please!"

Jonas did not stop him this time. In what seemed like mere seconds, Daniel was cumming. His loud groans of ecstasy filled the bedroom as his body heaved himself as deeply into Jonas as possible. Jonas took the pounding punishment gladly, refusing to release Daniel until he had given his lover every ounce of pleasure he could manage to give him.

Only after the spasms stopped and Daniel began to relax did Jonas let the softening cock slip from his mouth. He rose carefully to his feet and lay down on the bed beside Daniel, curling up beside him and resting his hand on Daniel's chest.

It was several long minutes before Daniel's body relaxed again. It was several more minutes before he could speak. As he tilted his head to look at Jonas, Jonas tilted his to look at Daniel. "Thank you," he said in a whisper.

Then they kissed.

As the kiss ended, Jonas moved his hand from Daniel's chest to his cheek, lovingly caressing the face he enjoyed looking at so much. A large smile crossed his lips, drawing the corners up until the deep dimples appeared at their sides.

"Now," he said, "you can do whatever you want."

Daniel did.

* * * * *

They spent the rest of the day together. When they weren't making love, they were in each other's arms. More than anything else, Jonas loved being held by Daniel. He loved the power of the man and the strength of his embrace. He loved the feeling of protection and security Daniel gave him. He loved lying beside him with his head resting on Daniel's chest where he could see Daniel breathe and listen to his heart beating. Daniel smelled so good following sex, the salty scent of his sweat tempered by the sweet scent of his skin. If Daniel did nothing else for their entire lives but hold him like this, Jonas would be content with life. He had often thought that he didn't deserve Daniel, but he was very happy that, of all the people on both his world and on Daniel's world, Daniel Jackson had chosen him.

Everything he wanted in life was his, and he held onto it so it could never get away.

* * * * *

Jonas stood proudly on his front lawn with Daniel, Sam, Jack, and Teal'c. The morning sun was bright in the cloudless sky. The landscapers Daniel had hired had created a beautiful melange of colours in their newly-designed and planted gardens along the front of the house. Predominant were the blues and yellows both Jonas and Daniel had wanted.

Now, the landscapers were ready to plant Jacob Carter's oak tree in the large hold dug into the ground a short distance from the driveway. A small, flat flagstone, chiselled to allow the attachment of a small, metal plaque, sat on the grass nearby. Jonas had selected the tree and the stone.

Tears filled Sam's eyes as she watched the small crane lift the tree from the flatbed truck and lower it into the hole. Jonas examined her face with keen interest, a huge smile on his face. Daniel stood beside him holding his hand, but soon moved behind Jonas and wrapped his arms around his chest, giving him a quick kiss on the neck. Jonas reached up and held Daniel's hands against him. A few neighbours stood on the other side of the street, watching the little ceremony, and neither Daniel nor Jonas were the least bit concerned that they might also see their small display of affection.

When the tree was finally and securely planted, the landscapers politely stepped back as Sam stepped forward. She looked up at the oak towering above her head. It was still young for a tree, but it would grow. She reached out a hand and ran it tenderly over the bark as the others approached. Jonas moved to stand beside Sam, placing his hand gently over her shoulders. Daniel took his place on the other side. Sam turned and took Jonas into her arms as his arms wrapped around her. They hugged for a long minute before Sam kissed Jonas on one cheek and whispered, "Thank you, Jonas."

They separated, and Sam turned to hug and kiss Daniel. "Thank you, Daniel. You don't know what this means to me."

Daniel pulled away and smiled at Sam. "We'll never let anyone forget him, Sam."

He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a small, metal plaque, holding it out to Sam. She took it and, through bleary eyes, ran her fingers lovingly over the inscription embossed there: In loving memory of Jacob ‘Selmak' Carter.

Jonas picked up the flagstone and set it on the soil near the tree. A few moments later, Sam carefully placed the plaque into position on the flagstone. The landscapers would make the setting permanent.

They stood there in silence then as Sam smiled through her tears.

To Be Continued​

 

[bianchi_andreas]

gsdx--
I admire the facility with which you write and how vividly you present characters that you re-imagine almost to the point that I think that you should sue the writers on the television series for intellectual property infringement! If I were on the jury, I would give you beaucoup bucks!

Andy

 

[gsdx]

Thanks, Andy. Believe me, though, it's not so easy to write as you may think. This story has kept me up at nights as it's evolved. It's going where I want it to go, but I never imagined the trip would be so difficult. Trust me. It will be a roller coaster ride, and things will start happening in the next few chapters. However, you may not like me so much in a week or two

 

[igamenir]

However, you may not like me so much in a week or two

You really underestimate yourself.

This is the best story i've ever read. And it's going to be better every chapter

 

[gsdx]

Chapter 4
ALTERATIONS - Part 1​

Dr. Daniel Jackson was out of his element. He wasn't happy, but it was a job. Something would break soon and he would be able to put all his expertise in Egyptian history into action instead of being reduced to teaching English to people who needed to learn how to speak it. He would most certainly rather be involved in an archaeological dig somewhere along the Nile River than standing in front of this class teaching people how to order a burger and fries at the Golden Arches.

The door at the back of the room opened and several men dressed in blue military uniforms (Daniel wasn't sure which branch of the military they were in, but the men had to be from one of them) stepped inside, closing the door quietly behind them.

Daniel swept his longish hair out of his eyes and pushed his sagging eyeglasses back into place with a push of his finger. His mouth hung open slightly, his eyebrows showing obvious, curious interest, if not a tinge of trepidation, as he brushed chalk from the lapels of his grey suit jacket. The men were staring at him, especially a comely-looking gentleman with short, black hair.

Daniel closed his mouth and quickly glanced around at the faces of his class as they waited patiently for the next portion of the lesson. A feeling of panic began to take over Daniel's body. These men had clearly come to see him. He checked his watch for the time, dismissed his class, and approached the men at the back of the room. The man with the black hair, who introduced himself as Something-or-other Davis, simply grabbed Daniel's arm in a firm but gentle grasp and asked him to ‘come along'.

* * * * *

Daniel sat at a long table in a room. A television and video player sat on the table just to his left. It was eerily silent in the room.

A young blonde lady with a floppy mop of hair, a pair of glasses, and a goofy look on her face, was ushered into the room by a man who indicated that she should take a seat near Daniel before turning and leaving the room again.

The young lady approached, holding out her hand in greeting. "I'm Dr. Samantha Carter," she said with a grin.

Daniel stood and smiled. "Dr. Jackson," he said, taking her hand in a firm handshake, "but please call me Daniel."

"Hi, Daniel. Call me Samantha."

They sat side-by-side.

"Do you know what this place is?" he asked curiously.

Samantha responded kindly. "The Air Force Advanced Research Institute."

Daniel's eyebrows curled up as he glanced around the room again. "Really. What do they do here?"

"D'uh," said the lady. "Advanced research?"

"Oh, yeah," Daniel replied stupidly. He raised his eyebrows high on his forehead and looked away.

Behind her glasses, Samantha's eyes scanned the young man beside her. He smelled nice - for a man - and, despite his obvious stupidity, was extremely handsome. His glasses made those pale, blue eyes glisten. She wished he would take off his jacket. It was so difficult to tell how skinny a person really was with so many baggy clothes on. As long as he wasn't too skinny. . . . After all those years of searching for Mr. Right, little did she know that he would suddenly be dropped right into her lap by the United States Air Force. She couldn't believe her luck.

"Do you know why we're here?" the lady asked.

Daniel simply raised his eyebrows, shrugged, frowned, then clenched his hands together in front of him.

A large, bald, official-looking man and a young man appeared at the door. The young man was carrying a closed cardboard box, a video tape, and an assortment of file folders. Samantha Carter immediately rose to her feet. Daniel did the same. The man introduced himself as Brigadier General Hammond, shaking hands with each of the two young people across the table from him. The young man set the items near the tape player and left the room.

Daniel didn't know military ranks, but he knew that a General was pretty-much near the top. Samantha Carter knew ranks. As a proofreader in the Department of Aerospace Research in Washington, D.C., she was well acquainted. She hated her job. She hadn't gone to school all those years in order to attain her doctorate just so she could proofread other people's work. She would much rather be doing her own research. Her life certainly wasn't going in the direction she had hoped it would take.

The General took a seat across from them as he indicated with his hand that Daniel and Samantha should be seated.

"You have already signed non-disclosure forms swearing yourselves to secrecy," General Hammond said. His voice was deep and authoritative. "What you are about to see and hear is classified and not to leave this room. Is that clearly understood?"

"Yes, Sir," the two replied.

He handed each a file folder before picking up the video. He said, "This video was recently discovered in an archaeological dig at Giza."

"I know that dig," Daniel said, remembering. "Rumours spread throughout the grapevine that they had discovered a strange collection of crystals and a video camera. I didn't believe them, of course. I mean, how would a modern-day video camera get buried in a 5,000-year-old grave?"

Hammond stood and opened the box. Reaching in, he extracted a rather large item made up mostly of multicoloured, vertical crystals set into a metal base. He set the object on the table.

"Wow!" Samantha exclaimed, her excitement piqued. She reached out her hand to examine the item.

"Do you recognize it, Doctor?" the General asked.

"No, Sir. But these aren't like any crystals I've ever seen. Nothing like them exist on Earth that I'm aware."

"You mean they're alien?" Daniel asked, his eyebrows peaking.

"Any guesses as to what it might be?" the General asked the young lady.

"Well, Sir, crystals here on Earth have had a long tradition of having magical powers - healing, strength, and such. Science fiction writers often use crystals as power sources, like the crystals used in that TV show ‘Star Trek'. These crystals are perfect. There are no blemishes or anything. Look at the way they hold the light." She carefully cradled the crystals as she tilted it. Looking at the base, she said, "This looks like it could plug into something. These metal tips look like connections of some sort."

She sat in silence for a long moment, thinking. Hammond let her think.

"If these crystals were to gather some sort of energy," she continued suddenly excited, "or even produce the energy themselves, it could be amplified and focused into this base for storage."

"Like a battery," the General added.

"In a manner of speaking, Sir."

"Oh, this is interesting."

"Dr. Jackson?"

Daniel pointed to the folder which he had been perusing while Samantha had been examining the crystals. "Page 42, Sir." Both Hammond and Samantha opened their folders and flipped to the designated page. "It's a tablet found by Professor Langford in 1934. He was something of a hero of mine. I met his daughter once."

"Catherine Langford," the General said.

Daniel looked at him and raised his eyebrows high. "Yes."

"Catherine died recently and her collection of artifacts was sent to Area 51 for study. This folder is a catalogue of those items." The General consulted the picture. "Do you recognize which God is represented in the profile, Doctor?"

"Yes, Sir," Daniel answered hurriedly. "This is Ra. He was the Egyptian God of the sun."

"Look what he's holding in his hand," the General prompted.

Two pairs of eyes looked at the picture, then two pairs of eyes turned to the collection of Crystals.

"Oh, my," Samantha said.

"That certainly wasn't made in ancient Egypt," Daniel added.

"Can you read the hieroglyphs, Dr. Jackson? Our so-called experts seem to be at a loss."

"Yes," Daniel replied. "Well, some of it. I'd have to do some research to translate it all. It's a very old, very obscure dialect, but I recognize some of the symbols." He looked up at the General. "Oh, sorry," he said.

"No. Please continue. Anything you can provide would be most valuable."

"Well, it talks about an uprising in Egypt. It says something about Ra escaping into the sky in a huge, flying chariot - and he took a big, magical ring made of water with him. It says there is another ring at the bottom of the Earth. "

General Hammond seemed greatly pleased. "It's interesting that you would mention that, Dr. Jackson," Hammond said, picking up the video. He slid the video into the player, picked up the remote, turned on the television, and pushed the ‘Play' button.

Moments later, a face appeared on the television screen. "Hey!" Daniel said in surprise as he pointed at the screen. "That's me!"

Hammond hit the ‘Pause' button.

"Nice hair," Samantha said. "Hey, you're quite a hunk, you know that?"

Daniel turned his head quickly, uttered "Thanks," then snapped his head back to the screen. "I think," he added as his brow furrowed. Had Daniel been inclined to notice such things, he would have been aware of the ‘come-on' hidden in Samantha Carter's words and the tone of her voice.

An ‘ahem' from the General brought Samantha's attention out of her brief, sexual fantasy and back into the present. She couldn't believe how quickly she had become attracted to the young Doctor sitting beside her.

The video began to play and Daniel began to speak:

"Hello. I'm Dr. Daniel Jackson, and I am here with Major Samantha Carter, General Jack O'Neill, and our Jaffa friend, Teal'c. We are members of a team called SG-1, which operates out of Cheyenne Mountain in a section called Stargate Command. We travel to different planets through a big metal ring we call a Stargate, or a chaapa‘ai, discovered by Professor Langford in 1928 in Giza. We have travelled back in time to ancient Egypt to retrieve a crystalline ZPM - a Zero Point Module. If anyone is watching this, it means that we didn't make it back to our own time and we have probably screwed a few things up and changed our history."

General Hammond paused the tape when Daniel raised his hand.

"Isn't Cheyenne Mountain in Montana?" Daniel asked.

"Colorado," Samantha Carter offered, "but I've never heard of a Stargate Command being there."

"It isn't, Dr. Carter," the General said. "It doesn't exist."

"I guess they really screwed up then," Daniel added.

The video continued.

In hopes of offering some clues indicating any changes in the historical timeline, each member of SG-1 offered a brief description of their current personal lives. Jack O'Neill mentioned only that the pond at his cabin didn't have any fish. Teal'c said he had recently lost his symbiote, used Tretonin, and no-longer required kel no'reem. Samantha mentioned her recent engagement and break-up with Pete Shanahan and the recent death of her father, Jacob Carter, and his blended Tok'ra symbiote, Selmak.

"Dad died years ago from cancer," Samantha said as the General pressed the ‘Pause' button.

"Yes, I know," the General said reverently. "Jacob and I were old friends. I visited him in the hospital before he died."

Samantha looked at General Hammond. "He always wanted me to be an astronaut."

"He was very proud of you, Dr. Carter." He smiled. Samantha looked down at her hands as they lay in her lap.

"What symbiote was she talking about?" Daniel asked.

"We don't know, Son," the General said. "Do you know what this word ‘Tok'ra' might be?"

Daniel closed his eyes, thinking. "Tok'ra. . . Tok'ra. . . Tok Ra. . . Tok. . . against. . ." His eyes snapped open. "Against Ra! Some sort of resistance?"

"That could explain the uprising you mentioned a moment ago," Hammond said. "Shall we continue?"

When Daniel Jackson's voice came through the television speakers again, Samantha looked back at the screen. It was his turn to talk.

"Jonas and I have been living together now for almost two years. We recently bought a house in town and just had our garden landscaped with yellow and blue flowers, and we had an oak tree planted in memory of Jacob and Selmak. Our little gift to Sam."

"Sam?" Samantha said in surprise.

The Daniel on the screen continued. "We were all there for a small ceremony just over a week ago when the tree was planted. Jonas? If you're there and watching this, I love you very much, and I'll be home as soon as I can. Take care of Mrs. McCreary until I get back. And don't forget to leave a light on."

The General paused the video. Daniel stared at the screen for a few moments, his arms resting on the table, his hands clasped. He looked down at his hands, cleared his throat, and glanced up at the General without moving his head before taking a surreptitious peek at the young lady sitting beside him.

"And I was going to ask you out to a movie," Samantha said, a hint of jealousy in her voice.

"People, please," Hammond said. "This is not a singles club." Turning to Daniel, he said, "We've located Mrs. McCreary, Dr. Jackson. She's a widow and does housekeeping to supplement her pension, but she doesn't know either you or this Jonas, and we haven't been able to find anyone in your past with that name."

Daniel finally looked up. "That's because I don't know anyone named Jonas, and I'm certainly not living in a house with him. I live alone. . . in an apartment! I'm not even gay!"

"No-one is judging you, Dr. Jackson."

Daniel looked at Samantha, puzzled. "Why would I admit to being gay when I'm not?" he asked.

Samantha shrugged as she thought quickly. "Well, if they changed our history, it would be events that change, not the people. I mean, there may be differences in personalities and appearances, obviously, but the people themselves wouldn't change. I mean, I wouldn't have been born a redhead, say, just because they changed our history. It couldn't change what we are. Only the things that have happened to us. Whatever they did, it was big enough that you haven't met this Jonas yet."

"This missing Stargate seems to be the instigating factor," Daniel said. "But, if they're really interplanetary transportation devices and we. . . they. . ." (Daniel pointed at the screen) "used to travel to other planets, then that could mean. . ."

"Your boyfriend is an alien," Samantha finished.

Daniel turned to face her. "You mean I not only fell in love with a guy but he looks like those little, grey, big-eyed guys with no ears in the Roswell pictures?" he exclaimed.

The impatient General smacked the table with the palm of his hand. Both Samantha and Daniel jumped and turned their attention to him. "That's enough! We're not here to discuss each other's personal lives!"

"Sorry, Sir," both Samantha and Daniel said in turn.

"Apology accepted. Now, let's finish watching the video, shall we?"

The Daniel Jackson on the screen explained that they had traveled into the past - several thousand years into the past, in fact. Their mission had been a simple one: travel back in time to a point where something called a Goa'uld, pretending to be the God, Ra, ruled over all of Egypt and enslaved the people. They were to locate the ‘ZPM' - a ‘Zero Point Module', an ancient, alien power source. They would then make their escape and travel back to their own time with the item.

Things went horribly wrong. They had traveled in a small ship which had been named the Puddle Jumper, another piece of alien technology which could not only fly through space, but through time as well. It had been piloted by General O'Neill who, apparently, carried a special gene which gave him the ability to control the machine. They had landed in the desert, far from the pyramids, and cloaked the ship, making it invisible to curious eyes. Being careful not to interfere with events, which could seriously upset their own future, they had managed to recover the ZPM from Ra's pyramid and to escape unnoticed.

Unfortunately, a sandstorm had blown in, covering the Puddle Jumper with sand, leaving the odd shape of a flying machine sitting amongst the dunes. As the team had approached the Jumper, they discovered that it was now being guarded by dozens of Jaffa warriors. Some of the sand had been brushed away, leaving empty space beneath. There was no way for them to overpower the guards and return to their own time without seriously altering history.

Desperate to maintain their own timeline, Carter had decided that their only option was damage control - to see that they did nothing which could alter their futures. As a backup, Daniel suggested, in case they couldn't make it back, it would be a good idea to make a video of themselves and secretly hide both the camera and the ZPM where they would be discovered in an archaeological dig at Giza, which had occurred only a month before they had embarked on their time travel journey. That way, their future selves would get the items and not even have to make the journey back in time in the first place. Then, all the time travelers had to do was to stay hidden until they could somehow escape - or until they died.

The video also explained that the ‘Stargate' must be found if it hadn't already been discovered, and the team must travel back in time once again to set things straight if their futures as represented by the video had been altered. If Teal'c wasn't a member of SG-1, they must travel to Chulak and find him. Careful instructions, along with a list of seven symbols needed to travel to Chulak and seven more symbols needed to travel back to Earth, were given for them to follow. Daniel mentioned that a second Stargate was hidden under the ice in Antarctica. He was just about to tell them where to find it when the battery on the camera died and the video ended abruptly.

Dr. Daniel Jackson stared at the blank television screen. "Well, that explains how a video camera ended up in a dig in ancient Egypt," he said finally. His thoughts turned to this enigmatic person named Jonas. For the life of him, he couldn't understand it.

Dr. Samantha Carter, on the other hand, sat quietly contemplating the tremendous effect the time travel had had on her own future. That was certainly a different ‘Samantha' she had seen in the video. Perhaps she was the only one in the room who was acutely aware of the ramifications of that little journey through time. It was obvious to her that they had failed to remain hidden and had somehow upset the balance. History had been drastically altered. Her time here was not as it should be.

General Hammond sat looking at the two people before him. Perhaps they were, indeed, the right people to solve this riddle.

"We have to go back and fix this, Sir," Samantha Carter said.

General Hammond turned his attention to the young lady.

Samantha tried to explain. "Whatever they - we - did five thousand years ago messed up their. . . er. . . our own futures. We have to go back and fix their mistake."

"And how do you propose to do that, Doctor," the General asked. "We have no - what did he call it? ‘Stargate'? - and it isn't where he said it would be. We've had the satellites searching since we discovered this video. The satellites have discovered the Puddle Jumper, though, and it's being excavated as we speak, but the ice is too thick in Antarctica for the satellites to penetrate. We have no SG-1 team, no Jaffa deserters named Teal'c, and no General O'Neill."

"I don't know how we're going to do it, Sir, but we have to do something," Sam tried to explain. "This isn't the way things are supposed to be, whether we like it or not." She gave a sideways glance at Daniel.

Daniel ignored the look he received from her and asked, "What would happen to us?"

"Nothing," Samantha said. "If we can fix it, none of this. . ." (she indicated the room with a sweep of both hands) ". . .will ever happen. Things should go back to what they were and we won't even know about it."

"Is that possible?" the General asked, obviously confused.

"Yes, Sir," Samantha continued. "Every little thing we do, every little decision we make, can influence our future."

"The Butterfly Effect," Daniel said.

"Yes, sort of," Samantha answered.

"Dr. Carter?" General Hammond said.

"It just means, Sir, that a butterfly flapping its wings in Japan can cause a hurricane in North America. Every little action can influence the future. If the Stargate were never discovered, it would have a huge impact on this timeline. In the future we were told about in the video, I'm a Major in the military and Dr. Jackson is a famous archaeologist." She turned to look at Daniel. "Are you a famous archaeologist?"

"I teach English as a second language," Daniel said with chagrin.

"And I'm a research paper proofreader," Samantha added.

"But who's to say that this isn't really the way it's supposed to be?" the General asked.

"Because they told us what the real timeline is supposed to be. This is their future, Sir. It's just turned out to be different than the one they left behind. It's wrong. We have to fix it."

"So," said Hammond, trying to comprehend, "we have to go back and find a way to get the Stargate back?"

"Yes, Sir," Samantha exclaimed. "We have to make sure Ra doesn't take it away and it gets discovered by the Professor, just like it was discovered before."

"Alright," Hammond said, shaking his head in confusion. He thought for a moment, looking down at the folder in front of him. He nodded. "But we don't have a Stargate to begin with. What about this second Stargate, Dr. Jackson."

"I don't know, Sir," Daniel replied honestly. "I didn't even know there was a first one until a few minutes ago."

"Right. Do you have any idea why there would be two of them?" he asked the young doctor.

"Well," Daniel offered, "If the first one was lost to them or became inaccessible to them somehow - like being buried under the ice in Antarctica like I. . . he. . . said - the aliens might replace it with another one," Daniel offered. "It makes sense that it would be placed in Egypt. If an extraterrestrial were to come here thousands of years ago to pretend to be a God, he would go where it would be easiest to control the people. The Egyptians were very religious people. To have their major God suddenly appear, they would easily accept the alien as Ra, especially if he showed any kind of magical powers. With these crystals, that wouldn't have been very hard to do. The way he's holding it in the picture, I'm guessing it was revered as some sort of a religious symbol." He paused, staring at the crystals and lost in thought.

"Doctor?" the General interrupted his silence.

Daniel returned his attention to General Hammond. "Oh, sorry. Anyway, the alien would want the Stargate to be close to where he was when he visited Earth. It makes sense."

The General thought for several long moments. "So, how do we find this second Stargate?"

"I don't know, Sir," Daniel said. "That's your area of expertise."

Hammond smiled. Despite his initial apprehensions, he was beginning to like these two young people.

To Be Continued​

 

[gsdx]

Chapter 5
ALTERATIONS - Part 2​

After tracking down Jack O'Neill, and after renting his boat that didn't leave the dock just to talk to him, Daniel and Samantha failed to convince him that he had to join the expedition. Still dealing with his recent divorce and mourning the death of his son, Charlie, who had accidentally shot himself with O'Neill's own gun, Jack wanted nothing to do with either them or the cockamamy adventure they wanted him to go on.

The Puddle Jumper arrived at the new Stargate Command facility which had been set up deep beneath the Earth's surface under Cheyenne Mountain. General Hammond had been placed in command of the SGC. Daniel tried several times to input the address mentioned in the video into the keypad in the Jumper, but nothing happened. It was Samantha Carter who noticed the simultaneous seismic eruptions in Antarctica and to pinpoint the possible location of the second Stargate. The Gate was soon found and excavated, and moved to Cheyenne Mountain where it was lowered into the SGC through one of the empty missile silos there. It stood dormant at the end of a metal ramp, the Puddle Jumper sitting on the floor in front of it.

Jack O'Neill relented, finally deciding, with a bit of encouragement from his good friend and confidant, Major Kawalski, that, perhaps in the other timeline, his life wouldn't be as miserable as this one had turned out to be. If he could fix the things which he had, apparently, screwed up the first time, he might actually be enjoying life again.

General Hammond was apprehensive to allow Dr. Jackson and Dr. Carter to join the team as they journeyed to Chulak in order to locate and recruit the Jaffa warrior, Teal'c, but Samantha had convinced the General that her scientific knowledge would be vital in helping to understand the alien technology. She was also extremely convincing when she told him that Daniel Jackson's knowledge of Egyptian history and mythology would, most certainly, be equally vital if they were to deal with an alien pretending to be an Egyptian God.

The General reluctantly allowed the two doctors to tag along. Their orders were to find Teal'c and return with him. Nothing more. Nothing less. He had strictly forbidden time travel of any sort.

With Colonel O'Neill in the pilot's seat and Daniel, Samantha, and Major Kawalski and his men secure inside the Puddle Jumper, the address to Chulak was once more dialed into the Puddle Jumper's DHD - the Dial Home Device. The Stargate sprang to life. The big wheel began to spin with a metallic whine as seven chevrons locked into place. A huge wave of water-like energy exploded in front of them and quickly withdrew to become a circular, vertical puddle in the ring.

Colonel O'Neill looked around the console. There were only lights. There were no dials, no buttons, no levers, no joystick. There wasn't even a power switch. He looked at Samantha Carter, his face mirroring the questions in his mind.

"I think the machine uses mind-link technology," she explained. "Just put your hands on those pads and think what you want to do," the blonde scientist told him. "The machine should do it."

O'Neill closed his eyes and said, "Okay, how do I turn this baby on?"

Nothing happened.

"Just think about it," Samantha said. "Concentrate. Don't say anything."

O'Neill placed his hands on the pads once again, closed his eyes, and imagined the ship starting. The Puddle Jumper came to life. Lights lit up the panels. O'Neill opened his eyes and jerked his hands away. The machine went dead once more.

"Okay," he said apprehensively, "that was fun."

"Try it again," Samantha urged. "It's definitely a neural link. Just think about what you want to do and the ship will do it."

O'Neill turned to Kawalski, who sat behind him.

"She's wa-a-a-a-ay smarter than we are, Colonel," Kawalski said with a smirk.

O'Neill looked at the young lady standing beside him. She could, he thought, be very attractive. . . if she wasn't a scientist.

Placing his hands back on the pads and closing his eyes, O'Neill made the ship came alive again. He thought about flying through the puddle in front of him, and that's what happened. As if coming to life, the door/ramp at the back of the ship closed and the Puddle Jumper rose off the floor. It moved slowly toward the shimmering, blue pool. They entered and disappeared from view.

* * * * *

The small team sat in a prison cell on Chulak, stripped of all their weapons and equipment. They had been quickly discovered and captured by Jaffa warriors there and taken not to Ra, but to another Goa'uld System Lord who, according to Daniel Jackson, was impersonating the Egyptian God, Apophis. It was there that Apophis' First Prime, Teal'c, met them for the first time. O'Neill tried to convince the huge warrior that they were aware of his secret resentment of the Goa'uld, that he mistrusted everything he had been brought up to believe. They knew that Teal'c did not believe that Apophis was a God. He only played the role of one in order to enslave Teal'c and his people. In a different time than the one they were currently in, Teal'c was a traitor to the Goa'uld and was helping the Tauri - the Earthlings - to free his fellow Jaffa from the slavery they had endured for thousands of years.

Claiming everything he heard as blasphemy, Teal'c released Daniel in order to take him to Apophis. He returned a short time later, asking to be shown proof of his treason. O'Neill convinced Teal'c to bring him the video camera, which Daniel Jackson had conveniently thought to bring along. As Teal'c watched himself on the small screen, he looked at O'Neill and said in a loud, commanding voice, "What magic is this!?"

"It's not magic," O'Neill said. "It's a camera. It records images. Look." Pointing at the small screen, he added, "That's me. And that's you. We're not enemies. We're friends."

Teal'c realized that the long-awaited salvation of the Jaffa was at hand. He left, returning quickly with the Tauri equipment and weapons.

Daniel Jackson, totally exhausted and barely able to move, was returned to the cell. As Samantha cared for him, O'Neill and Kawalski set explosives and blew the cell door open, allowing them to escape. Teal'c met them as they ran to the Puddle Jumper, still dressed in his Jaffa armour and carrying a staff weapon.

On seeing Daniel Jackson, Teal'c immediately raised his weapon and shot him with a large blast of energy. Daniel fell to the ground, dead. Thinking they had been betrayed, the team turned their weapons toward the Jaffa warrior as Teal'c tried to explain that Daniel had been taken over by a Goa'uld symbiote and was now a servant to their common enemy, Apophis.

Daniel, unnoticed by the others, had recovered enough with the help of his symbiote and suddenly sat up, his eyes glowing yellow. He pulled his pistol out of its holster and began shooting and killing several of Kawalski's team members. Guns were turned on him immediately and dozens of bullets tore themselves into Daniel's body. He fell back once more to the ground. His eyes stopped glowing. Daniel Jackson was dead.

Jaffa warriors arrived soon afterward, attracted by the gunfire. Major Kawalski and his team tried to fend them off as O'Neill, Carter, and now Teal'c, made their escape. Neither Kawalski nor his team survived.

Safe in the Puddle Jumper, it was soon discovered that the Stargate was heavily guarded by Jaffa. There was no way for them to escape back to Earth. Dr. Carter had the idea to travel back in time five thousand years, against orders, then use the Gate to travel to ancient Earth and fly to Giza where, they hoped, they could salvage this disastrous operation.

O'Neill was well aware that he was defying orders by even considering the plan. He didn't understand all this talk about different timelines and altered history, but he knew than an innocent, albeit ‘geeky', man, and O'Neill's best friend, Kawalski, along with his entire team, were dead. He had little choice. He closed his eyes and opened his mind.

* * * * *

Ancient Egypt was very hot and very sandy. Fortunately, it didn't take long to find a village. They were soon met by a young Egyptian man named Katep who quickly hustled them into his large tent and explained that he was a friend to Daniel Jackson, who had taught him to speak English. He explained that there had, indeed, been an uprising, but it had failed and Ra had escaped, taking the Chaapa'ai, the Stargate, with him. Daniel had survived, but the others with him had been captured and executed. Daniel had asked Katep to watch for the return of his friends and to help them. Above all, they must be kept safe.

Katep whispered something to a young boy, who ran out the door and disappeared. A short time later, a very different-looking Daniel Jackson appeared in the doorway.

Following a short reunion, Daniel explained that Ra had returned and had resumed his place as the Egyptian Sun God. The hapless Egyptians had little choice but to submit themselves to him and to do his bidding.

It was quickly decided that the Stargate, which Ra had brought back with him, must be captured, moved, and buried along with the ZPM and the camera in order for it to be discovered by Professor Langford in yet a different dig 1928. If that were to happen, their original timeline should unfold as it had before.

They began to make plans to steal and hide the Stargate with the help of the cloaked Puddle Jumper and to prepare another uprising against Ra. They wouldn't make the same mistakes twice. As Samantha Carter explained, they would find themselves back in their own time and everything would be normal - or as close to normal - as it was before. They would have no memory of this event ever having taken place. All they would have was a video which would tell an amazing and exciting story.

* * * * *

Daniel had been deeply saddened by the death of his dear friend, Catherine Langford. He had been bequeathed a portion of Catherine's estate which consisted, for the most part, of several sealed boxes of artifacts and other items from her father's collection.

Along with the out-of-place video camera and the ZPM, he also discovered an ancient stone tablet engraved with the image of Ra, holding what was clearly a ZPM in his hand. The hieroglyphs explained, in an ancient Egyptian dialect, that the chaapa'ai had been stolen by strange travellers and that Ra had been defeated during a rebellion and had barely managed to escape.

Later, as General O'Neill and SG-1 sat in the briefing room, having watched the video, the discussions began.

"So," said a very confused Jack O'Neill, "we went back in time to ancient Egypt?"

"Yes, Sir," Carter said.

"But I don't remember going."

"We didn't, Sir," Sam said. Pointing to the TV screen, she said, "They did.."

"Whoa!" Jack said, holding his hands to his head as if trying to keep it from exploding. "We went back in time, but we didn't? We didn't make the video, but we did?"

"We went back in another timeline, yes Sir. We made this video and hid it where it would be found by Professor Langford."

"Will it be necessary for us to make this journey again, Major Carter?" Teal'c asked.

"No, Teal'c," Sam explained. "That's why Daniel hid it where it would be found. That way, we wouldn't have to travel through time again to get the ZPM."

"But we did, in another timeline, make that journey. Correct?"

"Yes."

"I see."

"I don't," O'Neill said anxiously. "You're telling me that we went back in time but we can't remember doing it?"

"It's difficult to explain, Sir," Sam said with a smile.

"Make it easy for me, huh?"

"Okay. According to the video, we discovered that there was a ZPM in ancient Egypt and went back in time to retrieve it. Something happened and we couldn't come back right away. As a precaution, Daniel made the video and hid it and the ZPM where he knew it would be found. If we couldn't find a way back, we would still find these things as he had told us in the video and we would know if our futures were correct by the descriptions of our lives they had given. If they were different, we would have to go back in order to correct it. Evidently, things are pretty much the same as before the time travel."

Jack shouted, "Carter!" and held up his hands to stop her. "Just tell me. Do I have to pack sun block?"

"No, Sir," Sam grinned.

Jack closed his eyes and shook his head violently, either to clear his mind like an Etch-A-Sketch or to try to rattle the information into something he could understand.

"Ok," he said, opening his eyes. "If we don't have to go back now, why did we go back in the first place?"

"For this." Daniel pushed the stone tablet across the table toward Jack. "Look at what Ra is holding in his hand."

Jack studied the tablet for a moment, then looked up at Daniel and said, "A ZPM?"

"Exactly. I'm guessing that, after Catherine died in that other timeline, I found this, just as I did in this timeline. Sam and I figured it was worth taking the chance to go back and see if we could get it." Looking at the ZPM on the table, Daniel added, "Apparently, we found it."

"So, why didn't we just bring it back with us?"

"We didn't come back, Sir," Sam said. "According to the video, the Puddle Jumper had been discovered by the Goa'uld. That's why Daniel made the video, just in case we couldn't manage an escape and get back here."

Jack shook his head again.

"Something did happen, Jack," Daniel said. "If you remember in the video, I said that we would hide the camera and ZPM in a dig that would be discovered just a month or so ago. These things weren't there. They were actually discovered in 1928 by Catherine's father in the same place he discovered the Stargate."

Jack looked more confused than ever and opened his mouth to ask another question, thought better of it, then closed it again.

Teal'c spoke for the first time. "Why did the other Daniel Jackson not hide the items where he had mentioned?"

Jack's hands flew out to his friend. "Thank you, Teal'c!" he exclaimed with a flourish. "Carter?"

"I can't be sure, Sir, but it's my guess that we went back in time and messed up the future and we changed the future. I think Daniel hid the items where he said he would and they were actually found in that dig he mentioned. They were discovered as he suspected in the new timeline and the futures didn't match. So, somehow we went back in time again. . ."

"There's another ‘we'!?"

"Yes, Sir," Sam smiled. "Somehow, we figured out what the first ‘we' did wrong and we went back again, fixed it, and hid all of this stuff where Professor Langford would find it in 1928 instead."

"So, where exactly are we now?" Jack asked, still obviously confused.

"Right where we're supposed to be, Sir," Sam said. "Or at least as close as we were before we - the other ‘we' - went back in time."

"Which us ‘we' don't have to do," Jack said.

"Exactly, Sir," Sam smiled.

Jack heaved a sigh, rose to his feet, and walked to the stairway.

"Walter! We could use some coffee up here! And bring some doughnuts!" He turned back to the table, stopped, and shouted, "And Aspirins!" As he walked back to his seat, he added, "Lots of Aspirins."

* * * * *

Daniel Jackson lay awake in bed, his lover, Jonas Quinn, curled up beside him and sleeping soundly against his shoulder.

Sam had said there might be minor differences as a result of the alterations in their timeline, but, so far, they seemed to be insignificant. The first thing he had noticed was the garden in front of the house. The blue flowers were still there - both he and Jonas loved blue - but the yellow flowers were now red. It was a minor difference from the video, and one he could live with. At least Jacob's memorial tree was still there. And there had been fish in Jack's pond where the video had said there were none.

SG-1 had been convinced that they had managed to repair their own futures and things were back to normal - or, at least, as close to normal as they had been according to the video. Most importantly, though, Jonas was still with him. In any timeline, Daniel couldn't imagine his life without Jonas Quinn.

He kissed Jonas' hair and whispered, "I love you." Then he settled back to sleep.

Life was wonderful. Daniel was happy, but he was totally oblivious to the fact that his entire world was about to collapse around him.

To Be Continued​

 

[bianchi_andreas]

Life was wonderful. Daniel was happy, but he was totally oblivious to the fact that his entire world was about to collapse around him.

Well, gsdx, when you leave us hanging on a cliff, you don't mess around do you? Another great chapter in this series!

 

[gsdx]

Chapter 6
DISENCHANTMENT​

Jonas lay in Daniel's arms, his fingertip orbiting the nipples on the chest he was using as a pillow. First one nipple, then the other. The taste of Daniel was still fresh on his tongue, the smell of Daniel's sex still fresh in his nostrils. Had Daniel's eyes been open, he would have seen the enormous smile on Jonas' face and the deep canyon dimples on his cheeks.

Daniel was breathing much more calmly now, though his body was still coated in a light sheen of sweat. His orgasm had been incredible, as always. Life was good. Jonas tilted his head and kissed him on the cheek. Daniel tilted his own head and their lips met. He hugged Jonas close as their tongues danced with each other and he tasted himself there. He rolled Jonas on top of him and the kiss continued for several more minutes.

Finally, their lips parted and Jonas leaned back so he could look down into Daniel's pale, blue eyes. "Let's call in sick today," he said with an inviting smile and a twinkle in his eye. "Let's just spend the whole day here in bed."

Daniel smiled back. "I would love to," he said, "but I have to sharpen my pencils today."

Jonas' mouth curled down into an exaggerated pout, his lower lip protruding.

"Aw, sorry, Jonas," Daniel said with mock sincerity. "All my pencils will be sharpened by Friday and then we can spend the whole weekend in bed if you want." The face above him suddenly lit up. The smile brightened the room.

"You mean it?"

"Yes, I mean it. Just you and me. The whole weekend. I promise."

They kissed again. "I'll have a surprise for you, then."

Daniel dug his fingers into the large, rounded cheeks of Jonas' ass and pulled him close. He could feel Jonas' hard cock trapped against his stomach. "That's not much of a surprise anymore. Would you like me to take care of it for you?"

"Tonight. We don't have enough time right now."

Removing himself from Daniel's clutches, Jonas rolled off and stood beside the bed. Taking Daniel by the hand, he pulled him to his feet and led him to the bathroom where they quickly showered together before having breakfast and getting dressed for work.

* * * * *

Daniel stepped into his office and stood for a moment watching Jonas frantically searching through the piles of papers there.

"Don't mess them up, please," he said. "I had them organized."

"You call this organized?" Jonas asked, indicating the messy desk covered with papers and books. The frustration in his voice was clear. "How can you find anything in this junkyard?"

"Relax, Jonas," Daniel said as he approached the desk. "Tell me what you're looking for and I'll help you find it."

Jonas looked up, his brows furrowed. "Those two papers I showed you yesterday. You were going to proof them for me."

Daniel stepped forward. "They're right here," he said calmly. "Right beside the. . . . Oops."

Jonas stared at him. "What do you mean, ‘oops'?" he asked slowly.

"They were right here beside my report. I might have got them mixed in accidentally."

"Damn it, Daniel! It's always accidents with you, isn't it?" Jonas said angrily. "Nothing ever happens that's your fault!"

"Hey! Calm down, Jonas," Daniel soothed.

"Calm down? Why in Hell should I calm down? I worked on those translations for three days and you just toss them around like they're nothing!"

"Jonas."

"Where are they?"

"In Jack's office," Daniel said softly. "I'll go get them."

"Forget it," Jonas said as he stomped toward the door. "I'll get them myself! I wouldn't be surprised if you. . . ‘accidently'. . . dropped them into the shredder!"

Daniel stepped in front of him and placed a comforting hand on Jonas' shoulder in a feeble attempt to calm him down. Jonas pulled his body free from Daniel's grasp with a quick, angry twist.

"Get the hell out of my way!"

Daniel saw a look in Jonas' eyes that he had never seen before. Jonas stood before him, his lips pulled tight, his chest heaving and sucking air into his lungs through quivering nostrils.

He stepped aside and let Jonas pass. He watched in stunned confusion as Jonas tore out of the room. Daniel could only watch him leave.

Jonas remained on edge for the rest of the morning, but he finally accepted Daniel's apology while they were eating lunch together in the commissary and things returned to normal as the afternoon passed by.

Later, back at home, dinner had been eaten and Jonas had finished clearing the table and washing the dishes. He found Daniel, stark naked, in the bedroom and lying on his back on the bed. His knees were up and so was the solid shaft of flesh bouncing on his stomach. He held a condom in one hand and a tube of lubrication gel in the other. A most inviting smile was clearly visible on his lips.

Jonas eagerly accepted the invitation and moved to the side of the bed where he began a slow striptease.

That night, Jonas enjoyed three incredible orgasms. At his own insistence, Daniel enjoyed only one, and that was brought upon by his own hand as Jonas lay back contentedly and watched.

* * * * *

Their weekend began on Friday night. As promised, Daniel arrived home in time for supper, carrying in a cardboard box which he set beside the door. Things had settled down quickly following the ‘incident' a few days earlier, but Daniel was still stunned at Jonas' reactions in the lab. He didn't want something like that ever happening again. He had made certain that both Sam and Teal'c got him home on time.

Jonas was working in the kitchen when he arrived. He wore only a brief pair of metallic underwear that matched the deep, cobalt colour of his eyes. The shiny material hugged the magnificent cheeks of his ass, indenting slightly in the valley between. When Jonas turned to face him, the mound at his crotch was equally magnificent and enticing. No-one could fill underwear the way Jonas Quinn could fill them.

"This is the kind of surprise I don't mind coming home to," he said after their ‘welcome home' kiss.

"I thought you would like them. I've left something on the bed for you, too," Jonas said with an impish grin.

"What is it?"

"You'll see. Just go put it on for dinner. It will be ready soon."

Daniel found the paper bag on the bed, opened it, and smiled. He quickly stripped off his clothes and put on the underwear that Jonas had bought him. He examined himself in the mirror, turning this way and that. He felt a bit foolish. The underwear was a duplicate of the briefs he had just seen Jonas wearing, but they didn't look half as good on him as they did on Jonas. But, if Jonas wanted him to wear them, he would do so.

Jonas was waiting for him when he returned to the kitchen. He stood in the open archway, facing his lover, who looked him up and down appraisingly. Daniel lifted his arms and did a slow pirouette as Jonas whistled.

"You look good enough to eat," Jonas said with a huge grin. "I think I'll have you for dessert. But dinner first."

Jonas held out his hand and Daniel took it. The table was set with one plate heaped with mashed potatoes and gravy, Daniel's favourite chicken, and asparagus spears and baby carrots smothered in butter, with sliced dinner rolls on the side. The chicken was all cut up in bite-sized pieces and there was a fork on either side of the plate. The chair was set diagonally at the table. Jonas guided Daniel into the chair, then slipped easily onto his lap. He wrapped his right arm over Daniel's shoulders while Daniel wrapped his left arm around Jonas' waist.

Jonas had no idea why he hadn't thought of this before. Being left-handed, the arrangement was perfect for both of them. Picking up his fork with his left hand, Jonas speared a piece of chicken and offered it to Daniel, who eagerly took a bite. Jonas ate the rest. Between the two of them, they fed themselves and each other, pausing often to kiss.

At one point, Jonas clenched the tip of an asparagus spear between his teeth. He turned his head slightly, allowing Daniel to take the other end between his own teeth. As he had seen done with a strand of spaghetti in a Disney cartoon movie he had recently watched, Jonas began chewing, and so did Daniel. They met in the middle - but their kiss lasted much longer than it had in the movie.

No words were needed, and none were spoken. The only language they needed was the language of love, and they spoke volumes.

* * * * *

Daniel lay in bed Saturday morning, Jonas nestled securely in his arms. The night of love had been more than satisfying and went long into the morning hours. It left him happy and drained and light-headed. He had no idea how many orgasms he had enjoyed, but he had made certain that Jonas had enjoyed just as many.

Jonas stirred beside him and rolled onto him when he had awakened sufficiently. Their kiss was long and passionate. It seemed to last forever.

"Are you hungry?" Jonas asked finally.

"For you? Always," Daniel responded with a wink. "For food. . . I could go for a bite to eat."

"Good," Jonas said, giving Daniel a quick kiss. "Sex always makes me hungry."

After a quick shower and a tasty breakfast together, Daniel and Jonas found themselves snuggling on the sofa. They lay spoon-fashion with Daniel's strong arms keeping Jonas from falling off. They stayed like that for most of the morning, just talking and enjoying each other's company.

Just before noon, Jonas got up to make a small lunch. As he was busy in the kitchen, Daniel went to the box he had brought in the night before, picked it up, and took it to the kitchen where he set it on a chair. He pulled out several books, notepads, pens, and a number of photographs.

Jonas turned around with the sandwiches he had made in his hands and stopped in his tracks.

"What's all this?" he asked.

"Just a few translations I have to do," Daniel answered, still arranging the items. "I told Jack I'd have them done by Monday morning."

"I thought this was our weekend."

"It is," Daniel assured him. "It will only take a couple of hours for me to finish this, then I'm all yours."

Jonas still hadn't moved, and Daniel hadn't looked up from his arranging. If he had, he would have noticed the look of sadness on Jonas' handsome face. Jonas placed both sandwiches in front of Daniel and headed for the bedroom.

With the photos placed to his left, the notepads to his right, and the books opened in front of him, Daniel sat down and began the translations as he munched on the sandwiches. He didn't notice that the seat across the table from him was empty. He picked up a photo and studied it carefully.

"Jonas," he said, "look at this." He looked up and Jonas wasn't there.

He looked around quickly and called, "Jonas? Where are you?" A sound from the bedroom reached his ears. He stood up, photo in hand, and walked to the bedroom. Jonas was there, tucking in his shirt and doing up his pants.

"Where are you going?" Daniel asked.

"To the library," Jonas said. He was not smiling. "You don't need me here distracting you."

"You're not distracting me."

"Of course I'm not!" Jonas said, his voice full of sarcasm and growing harsh. "You didn't even notice I wasn't at the table, Daniel. I heard you talking to me and you didn't even know I wasn't there!"

Daniel could only stand there, looking like the proverbial little boy who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He couldn't think of a thing to say in his own defense.

Jonas approached him, grasping his bare arms in his hands. His voice was calmer, but still tinged with anger and sadness. "I love you, Daniel, but I feel like I'm in the way here. I feel like I'm always second in your ‘priority' line."

"You're not," Daniel said dumbly.

"Yes, I am. This was our weekend, Daniel. Just you and me. You told me we'd have the whole weekend together and now you're going to spend half of it doing work for Jack."

"It's not half the weekend. Just a few hours, and you could help me," Daniel suggested.

"Yes, I could help you," Jonas replied. "But I don't want to. I would have been happy doing nothing with you all day, but I don't want to be here while you're working."

"I promise," Daniel said, "we'll have the whole day tomorrow together."

Jonas' voice was barely a whisper. "That's what you promised me yesterday, Daniel." He kissed him quickly and left the room.

Daniel stood there, alone, until he heard the front door close.

* * * * *

The hours ticked by endlessly. Daniel had spent the first hour sitting on the bed, going over the events of the morning in his mind. He knew he had let Jonas down, that Jonas had been so excited by the weekend they were to spend together. But Jonas also knew how important the Stargate Program was to him. He should be able to understand. He shouldn't be so demanding. It didn't cross his mind that, perhaps - just perhaps - he had been demanding too much from Jonas.

He had tried to do some translations, but gave up on it after only a few minutes and pushed the books and papers aside. He was too distracted by the thoughts running through his mind to concentrate.

Now, he stood at the window, watching, hoping to see the cobalt-blue car coming down the street. Coming home. He had pulled on a pair of boxer shorts. He still felt uncomfortable in his own nakedness, especially when he was alone. He couldn't understand why it felt so natural to be naked when Jonas was there. Possibly it was because Jonas always felt so comfortable. He was such a beautiful young man to begin with, but when he removed his clothes. . . .

He went to the sofa and sat, staring at the floor and wondering what was happening. With a shudder of realization, he suddenly knew that, whatever it was, it made him very frightened.

The slamming of a car door brought him out of his thoughts. He jumped to his feet and moved to the window. Jonas was coming up the walk carrying several large paper bags from the local fast- food chicken shop. Daniel went to the door and opened it.

Jonas entered and kissed him in greeting before moving toward the kitchen with his packages. Daniel closed the door and followed him.

"I stopped off to get supper," he said. "You haven't eaten since lunch, have you?"

"No," Daniel said quietly. "Look, Jonas. About this morning. . ."

Jonas spun around and said just as quietly. "Please, Daniel, I don't want to talk about it. Not now. Let's just have supper, okay?"

Daniel nodded as Jonas set the packages on the table and began to unpack the food inside. He noticed the abandoned books and looked over his shoulder. Daniel shrugged and said, "I couldn't concentrate."

Jonas went back to unpacking their supper and getting plates and silverware ready.

"I missed you," Daniel said.

Jonas set the plates on the table, turned and walked toward Daniel. He wrapped his arms around his lover and engaged him in a deep kiss. When he finally pulled away, he held Daniel close as he stared into his eyes. He said, "I missed you, too, Daniel. And that's my point. You give me too much time to sit around all alone missing you."

"I'm sorry."

Their gazes held each other for a long time before Jonas said, "I'm not sure I believe you."

"Jonas. . ."

Jonas cut him off with a finger placed to Daniel's lips. "No, Daniel," he said. "Don't talk. We're going to have supper, and then I'll help you finish your translations. When we're done, I want you to make love to me." His lips curled up into a loving smile. He continued. "Tomorrow, I'll wash you and feed you and take care of you, and all I want you to do is hold me. All day. Can you do that?"

Daniel nodded. "Yes," he said. "I swear I'll hold you as long as you want me to."

They kissed again, and Jonas said, "I love you, Daniel."

Daniel hugged Jonas close and whispered, "I love you, too."

* * * * *

Monday afternoon found Daniel standing outside Teal'c's assigned quarters on sub level 25 of the SGC. He and Jonas had recovered from the incident on Saturday and had spent Sunday doing only what Jonas wanted to do. Daniel had been very careful about that. He asked nothing of Jonas and, as promised, had done nothing but hold Jonas in his arms all day long.

It had been a wonderful day, but Jonas remained withdrawn. His mind was preoccupied, and he refused to talk about what was bothering him.

Daniel rapped gently on the metal door, his knocking answered with a deep-voiced "Enter." He opened the door and stepped inside. The room was dark except for the dozens of candles burning on their stands. Teal'c sat on the floor in the midst of the candles, legs crossed, his hands resting palm-up on his knees.

"Am I interrupting?"

"You are not, Daniel Jackson."

He took his place in front of Teal'c, dropping easily onto the floor and taking up the same meditative position as his friend. "I didn't know you still did this."

Teal'c smiled. "Although I no-longer require kel no'reem, I find this position most relaxing."

"Y-y-y-yeah," Daniel said, drawing out the word. "Maybe I should try it more often."

Teal'c was silent for a moment. "Something troubles you, Daniel Jackson.

"Yes, it does, Teal'c." Daniel adjusted his hips slightly on the floor. "Have you noticed any. . . changes since that time travel thing?"

"You speak of Jonas Quinn."

Daniel nodded, his face sad and concerned.

"Indeed, I have."

Daniel looked down at the floor. "So, I'm not imagining it."

"You are not."

Daniel fell silent, still staring at the floor. The ever-patient Teal'c remained equally silent. He could wait as long as was necessary.

"Something's happening, Teal'c," Daniel said softly. He looked up into the penetrating, yet friendly eyes of the big man sitting in front of him. "Jonas is pulling away from me. He's slipping right out of my fingers and I don't know how much longer I can hold onto him."

Teal'c nodded his understanding, but remained silent. It was not necessary for him to speak. He needed only to listen.

"Everything I do now seems to upset him," Daniel continued. "Before, it didn't bother him if I dropped my clothes on the floor, or squeezed the toothpaste tube in the middle, or left an empty coffee mug in the sink. He would just pick up my clothes or wash the mug or squeeze the toothpaste up from the bottom. Now, he yells at me and tells me to grow up and to start doing things for myself instead of expecting everyone to do everything for me."

"I believe the problem lies deeper than a coffee mug, Daniel Jackson."

Daniel nodded. "The Stargate."

Teal'c remained silent, his face unchanged.

"But Jonas knows how important the Stargate is to me," Daniel protested.

Teal'c raised a single eyebrow and tilted his head. "I agree. But does Jonas Quinn know how important he is to you as well?"

"Of course he does," Daniel said, but the expression on his face clearly showed that he, himself, wasn't truly certain. "I mean, I've died for him twice now. I've put myself in danger more times than I can count just to keep him safe. I take care of him. I love him and I hold him."

"Perhaps that is not the proof Jonas Quinn requires."

"What other proof is there?"

Teal'c thought for a moment before responding. "I believe the proof lies within you, Daniel Jackson." And then he smiled. "I also believe that you will find it."

"But where do I look?"

"That you must discover on your own."

To Be Continued​

 

[gsdx]

Chapter 7
PRIORITIES​

"Let's go away somewhere," Jonas said as his fingertips caressed Daniel's arm. The bath was warm and relaxing.

"Where?"

"I don't know. Anywhere. Canada, maybe. Winnipeg. It would be nice to see the city I supposedly grew up in."

"I don't have enough time to do that right now," Daniel explained. "Things are pretty busy. You know how much translating we still have to do."

"I'm tired of translating. I need to get away from it for awhile."

"Talk to Jack. I'm sure he'd give you some leave time."

Jonas pulled himself out of Daniel's arms and spun around to face him, placing his feet on either side of Daniel's body and sliding closer. He wrapped his arms around his lover and Daniel wrapped his own arms around Jonas.

"Not just me, Daniel. I want us to go away together," Jonas said. "Just you and me. We rarely have any time alone anymore. I want some time where we can just be with each other without any time tables or responsibilities. I want to be able to show you how much I love you without having to set an alarm clock afterwards."

Daniel lost himself in the deep blue of Jonas' eyes. "I'd love that, too, but I just can't afford to take the time."

"We don't need the money, Daniel. We have enough. I'm not asking for much. I just want us to get away from here. Both of us. This is important to me, Daniel. We need to get away from the Stargate for awhile and live our own lives for a few days."

"I can't, Jonas. You know that. They need me."

Jonas suddenly pulled away. His smile disappeared. His voice grew intense. "I need you, too, Daniel!" he said. "What about me!"

Surprised, Daniel could only respond with: "I need you, too, Jonas. I love you and I need you."

"You may love me, Daniel, but you don't need me! I'm just a housemaid with an ass and a mouth you can use whenever you want! Admit it, Daniel! I'm pretty damned handy to have around, aren't I!?"

"Jonas, please," Daniel begged, "don't talk like that! I do love you and I do need you!"

"Like Hell, Daniel!" Jonas exploded. "You don't need me! I'm just here to cook your dinner when you decide to come home and to pick up your underwear because you're too damned lazy to bend over and pick it up yourself! Sometimes I think the only reason you have me around here is so you don't have to lie in bed every night whacking off all by yourself!"

"Jonas! That's not fair!"

"It's all about you and SGC!" Jonas yelled. "It's always ‘Sam this' or ‘Jack that'! It's never ‘Jonas this' or ‘Jonas that'! Where do I fit in, Daniel!? Huh?? Where do I fit in your life!??"

"Jonas, please!" Daniel pleaded.

"I've done everything I can to make you happy, Daniel! I put up with your bullshit and you stomp all over me! You push me aside like I'm a chair that's in your way and you break all the promises you ever make to me! When it's convenient to you, you come home to me and expect me to bend over for you! I'm nothing to you, Daniel! Nothing!"

"Jonas," Daniel whispered again, his expression desperate.

"Shut up, Daniel! Just shut the fuck up!!" Jonas' face was red with anger. His eyes blazed. His voice was full of fury. "I'm sick of this! I'm sick of my whole fucking life here! I'm nothing but a piece of shit to you, Daniel! Just a piece of shit! The only thing in your life is that fucking Stargate! Well, fuck the Stargate! And fuck you, too, Daniel! You hear me!? Fuck. . . You!!"

Jonas started to stand up, his whole body shaking. Daniel grabbed desperately at his arms, but Jonas wrenched himself free.

The warning that followed was a harsh, warning whisper, each word drawn out and punctuated by an anger Daniel had never seen in or heard from Jonas before. "Keep - your - fucking - hands - off - me!"

"Jonas," Daniel begged desperately, "I'm sorry! Oh, God, I'm so sorry!"

Jonas ignored him, climbing out of the tub, ripping a towel off the towel bar, and quickly leaving the room. Daniel leaned his head back against the tiles and cried. He heard the bedroom door slam shut, and then, only moments later, he heard what could only be the guestroom door slamming shut as well. Daniel's scream of anguish filled the bathroom and echoed off the tiles long after the scream died.

* * * * *

Daniel stood naked outside the door of the guestroom, listening. He had been standing there for almost twenty minutes. There were no sounds. He reached for the doorknob for the umpteenth time and turned it gently. The door was still locked.

With one knuckle, he rapped gently on the door once more and called out softly, "Jonas?"

There was no response.

Through bleary eyes, he stood there, leaning against the door jamb, staring at the door. After several more minutes, he sucked in a deep breath through his nose and let it escape very slowly. Placing two fingers to his lips, he kissed them, then pressed them to the door.

"I love you, Jonas," he whispered.

He tiptoed back to the livingroom and lay down on the sofa to think. Instead, he cried himself to sleep.

* * * * *

Daniel woke up. The room was bright with sunlight coming through the livingroom windows and sounds and smells were coming from the kitchen nearby. He sat up on the sofa, a blanket falling from around him as he arose. He looked at it questioningly.

"Oh, you're awake," Jonas said.

Daniel looked toward the kitchen. Jonas stood there looking at him. Holding out the blanket, he asked softly, "Did you do this?"

"Yes."

"When?"

"After you left my door. I waited, but I didn't hear you go to bed, so I came out and you were already asleep on the sofa. I didn't want you to get cold so I put a blanket over you. Now, come on. Breakfast is almost ready." Jonas turned back to his business in the kitchen.

Daniel stood up, dropped the blanket to the floor, and started for the kitchen. He stopped, went back to the blanket, picked it up, and folded it before laying if over the back of the sofa. He sat at the table as Jonas served his breakfast. "Thank you for the blanket," he said.

"It's my job," Jonas replied as he poured coffee for each of them.

Daniel prepared his coffee, spooning an extra spoonful of sugar into the mug. He needed an extra spoonful this morning. "Why are you doing this?" he asked.

"Doing what?"

"The blanket. Breakfast. I didn't think you'd even want to talk to me again."

"I'm mad at you, Daniel. I don't hate you. There's a big difference."

Daniel reached for the milk. "Look, about last night. . ."

"No, Daniel," Jonas interrupted as he sat down to eat. "Not now. Maybe tonight, but not now. Okay?"

"Okay." Daniel spread some marmalade on a slice of toast.

"I'm not going to the SGC today," Jonas said. "Could you tell Jack?"

"Sure. I'll tell him you're not feeling well."

"Thanks," Jonas said. "I just need some time to think."

* * * * *

Samantha Carter sat at her desk, staring at the computer screen in front of her. Daniel Jackson stood beside her, bent over slightly with one hand on the back of Sam's chair, the other hand leaning against the desk, as he, too, stared at the screen. Sam had been surprised when Daniel told her a few days earlier about Jonas' little outburst. She had never thought Jonas could be capable of such anger. Everyone needed to vent once in awhile, she supposed.

"No energy output," she said, "no residual energy readings. No EM fields. No signs of anything."

Daniel stood up, picked up the small, smooth object, and ran his fingers over the five indecipherable symbols he saw there.

"I can't even find a power button, Daniel," Sam added. "If there is one."

The telephone rang and Sam picked it up.

Daniel's brow was furrowed. "Maybe it's like those page-turner stones," he thought. "Maybe it needs another object in order for it to activate and we haven't found it yet." Then, raising his eyebrows and pouting his lips, he thought, "Maybe it's just a fancy paperweight or a super-cool computer mouse."

"Daniel?" Sam's voice brought him out of his reverie. She was holding the phone out to him. "Jonas," she said.

Daniel took the phone and raised it to his ear, his concentration still on the artifact as he turned it over and over in his other hand. "Hi," he said. He listened for a moment. "Oh, a couple more hours at least. . . . Yeah, we still can't figure it out. . . .No, you go ahead and eat. I'll get something here. . . ." Daniel looked up, his mind suddenly on the conversation rather than the artifact. "Look, Jonas. This is important. Jack wants to know what it does. . . . No, it's not all about Jack. It's about my work. You know that. . . . What!?. . . Now you're just talking stupid, Jonas! . . ." Daniel's voice had raised in intensity. Sam looked up at him, concern washing over her face. Daniel continued. "Jonas, it's nothing like that! Where in Hell did you get such a stupid idea!?. . . I'm not being childish, Jonas! You are!. . . Jonas? . . . Jonas!"

Daniel looked blankly at the receiver which he had pulled away from his ear. "He hung up on me," he said. He replaced the phone in its cradle and turned to Sam. "He thinks we're having an affair."

"You're joking, right?" Sam asked with a grin on her face. The grin disappeared when she saw the serious look on Daniel's face. "You're not joking."

Daniel looked back down at the small, white artifact he still held in his hand. "No," he said in a whisper and sat down in a chair, staring into the empty space in front of him.

"Maybe we should just pack this in for tonight."

Daniel thought for a moment, then shook his head and looked at Sam. "No. I don't want to go home right now. There's a few more scans you want to do, right?"

"Yes, but I can do them later."

Daniel was silent for a long moment. "No. We'll do them now."

* * * * *

Jonas was reading a book when Daniel arrived home. It was dark and the lights were on in the livingroom. Jonas glanced up at him briefly as he entered and immediately went back to his book. Daniel slipped off his shoes and sat down on the sofa with his left arm across the back of the sofa, his left leg curled up beneath him, facing Jonas. He waited for the kiss that didn't come.

Finally, Jonas closed the book and set it aside. He looked at Daniel.

"You called me ‘stupid'," he said. His eyes were full of pain and humiliation.

"I didn't say that," Daniel reminded him. "I said what you were thinking was stupid."

"Same thing."

"No it isn't." He placed his hand on Jonas' thigh. "How could you ever think that Sam and I are having an affair?"

Jonas looked down at Daniel's hand, then picked it up and moved it. "Please don't touch me," he said quietly.

"I'm sorry, Jonas," Daniel apologized. "I'm sorry it sounded like I said you're stupid."

Jonas remained silent, still looking down.

"I love you, Jonas, but something's happening here and it's scaring the hell out of me. For weeks now, you've been pulling away from me and I feel like I'm losing you. You don't talk to me anymore. You won't tell me what's wrong."

Jonas looked up and into his eyes. "I'm scared, too, Daniel. I'm not sure what's wrong. All I know is that I'm scared to death that I'm going to lose everything, too, . . . including you."

"Why would you think that?"

"I've lost you twice now, Daniel," Jonas said, tears filling his eyes, his face drawn and saddened. "You died on me and you left me all alone."

"I came back."

"But what about the next time? What happens if you don't come back? Oma isn't there to help you anymore. The next time you're dead, you're dead. Period. You don't know if you can ever come back to me again."

"That won't happen, Jonas." Daniel stared into the deep, sapphire-blue eyes. "I promise."

"Don't make promises you can't keep when you don't even keep the promises you can keep."

Daniel continued to stare into Jonas' eyes. After a short time, he asked softly, "Do you still love me?"

Without hesitation, Jonas responded. "Yes, I do." He leaned into Daniel and kissed him, bringing his left hand to rest against his cheek. The kiss was tender, but lacked the usual passion. Jonas ended the kiss long before Daniel wanted it to end. He pulled away, but left his hand on Daniel's cheek, gently caressing it with slow strokes of his thumb. "I do love you, Daniel. I love you more than ever. But I don't want to lose you."

"You won't," Daniel said in a desperate whisper.

"You know that's not true," Jonas said. "Every time you step through that Gate, it might be the last time I'll ever see you." Jonas looked into Daniel's eyes for a short time, then pulled his hand away. "You just don't understand, do you?" He kissed Daniel again. "Look," he said, "I'm going to bed and read for awhile. I made up a plate of leftovers. Do you want me to nuke it for you?"

"No, I'm not hungry," Daniel replied. "I think I'll just go have a bath. Would you like to join me?"

Jonas shook his head. "I already had a shower." He leaned forward to kiss Daniel again. "I do love you, Daniel. You must believe that."

"I do," Daniel said, but he was very unconvincing, even to himself.

Daniel sat on the sofa for a long time after Jonas left the room. Jonas had changed so much since Daniel had seen that video. This didn't seem to be a minor difference to him. Fish suddenly appearing in Jack's pond was a minor difference. Losing someone you love was something very serious. But Jonas still insisted that he loved him. So why was this happening? Daniel rarely saw the dimples anymore, and he missed seeing them. Jonas seemed so sad all the time now. His future with Jonas had changed, and was changing more and more with each passing day. It frightened him. He had to find a way to fix it.

It was late when he finally went to bed. He made sure the door was locked, turned out the lights, and headed for the bedroom. The en suite bathroom light was on, casting a rectangular glow across the room. Jonas was asleep on the left side of the bed for the first time since the day he had moved in so long ago. His face was in shadow.

Daniel stood there looking at him for several minutes, listening to his soft snoring. He quietly moved to the side of the bed and knelt down, his face level with Jonas' sleeping face. Gently, his hand reached out, stroking and caressing his hair. Before he stood, he leaned forward and kissed Jonas tenderly on the cheek. "I love you, Jonas Quinn," he whispered.

With a heavy sigh, he walked to the bathroom and prepared himself for sleep. He stripped off his clothes and dropped them into the laundry hamper. He pissed, washed, and brushed his teeth. He didn't feel like having a bath anymore. He turned out the light and moved quietly to the bed, slipping carefully into the right side. Daniel lay there for a long time, thinking. Sleep didn't come easily without Jonas in his arms.

* * * * *

Morning came, and Daniel awoke. Jonas had moved during the night and was now sleeping against him, his head resting on Daniel's right shoulder, his arm across Daniel's stomach. It felt odd to have Jonas sleeping on that side of him, but Daniel would not complain. He hugged Jonas gently, kissing his hair. He dared not move very much. He was enjoying the feeling of Jonas against his body. He was enjoying the soft breath blowing gently across his chest. He was enjoying the scent of him. He was afraid that, if Jonas woke up, he would take it all away. Daniel held on for as long as he could.

Jonas eventually stirred, coming awake slowly. He tilted his head up and Daniel tilted his head down. They looked into each other's eyes. Daniel smiled, and so did Jonas, the elusive dimples appearing on his cheeks.

"Hi," Daniel said in a hush.

"Good morning."

Jonas leaned up and kissed Daniel tenderly on the lips. Daniel wrapped his other arm around Jonas' back, pulling him close and kissing him once more.

Jonas leaned back, looking into the pale, blue eyes sparkling in the morning light. He could read the words reflected in them. With a sudden smile, he exhaled with a quick snort and said, "You can say it."

"I love you, Jonas."

"I love you, too, Daniel. Whatever happens, that will never change." He gave Daniel another peck on the lips. "We have to get ready for work. You go get your shower. I'll make breakfast." He rolled out of bed, heading naked for the door.

Daniel lay in bed for several minutes, his arm over his face, covering his eyes. His body longed for Jonas, but he refused to give into it. Things were changing, and the sex was likely to change as well. He fought back the tears as he tried to remember their lives together before that day he had discovered the video. He hated himself for even thinking about going back into the past in the first place. What made him think he could travel back to Ancient Egypt and steal a piece of technology without messing things up? Everything that was happening was his own damned fault, and he was suffering the consequences of his arrogance.

Finally, he climbed out of the bed and headed for the shower.

* * * * *

Daniel left Jack O'Neill's office after having dropped off his latest report on some ruins discovered by SG-3. Further study was necessary before he could complete the investigation and present his final report. He browsed through a new stack of photos Jack had just given him as he walked toward the elevator. Jonas should enjoy looking at these, he thought.

Alone inside the elevator, his finger poised over the button marked ‘18', he suddenly changed his mind and pushed ‘21' instead. When the doors opened, Daniel went immediately to Sam's laboratory.

"Hi, Sam."

"Daniel!" Sam greeted him with a smile. "Come on in. How are things going at home?"

His face told Sam all that she needed to know. "That's what I want to talk to you about."

Sam pulled up another chair close to her own. They both sat.

Daniel remained silent for a time, looking down at the fidgeting fingers in his lap. When he looked up and spoke, his voice was full of worry. His eyes were moist.

"I'm losing him, Sam," he said sadly.

Sam reached out a gentle hand and lay it on Daniel's.

"Could that trip into the past have changed us?" he asked. "I mean, you said there would be minor changes, and I've noticed a few, but could it have changed the way Jonas and I feel about each other?"

"You still love him, right?"

"Yes," Daniel acknowledged.

"And he still loves you?"

"He says he does."

"He does, Daniel. Believe it."

Daniel shrugged. Following a short pause, he looked back into her eyes and repeated his question. "Could that trip have changed us?"

Sam thought for short while. "I don't see how it could."

Daniel fell silent again before speaking. "It all started when we found that video. We fixed our futures, but I don't think we fixed them enough. We left something out. Somehow, I did something in the past that made Jonas change his mind like this."

"You can't blame yourself, Daniel," Sam consoled. "You can't even be sure that this isn't the way it's supposed to be, whether or not we went back into the past."

"I can't believe that, Sam," Daniel said sadly. "Jonas and I were meant to be together. We were meant for this. That's why everything that's happened in my life brought him to me. I won't believe that we were meant to fall away from each other like this."

Sam gave his hand a squeeze in understanding.

"Could we go back in the past again and fix this?"

"What would we fix, Daniel?" Sam asked softly. "We don't even know what the problem is. Like I said, maybe this is what was supposed to happen anyway and it's just a coincidence that it happened after we found the video."

Another silence followed. Sam waited patiently.

"When did you stop loving Pete?"

"I didn't. I still love him."

"But you broke off the engagement."

"Yes," and Sam suddenly realized where Daniel's thoughts were going. "But it wasn't the same as you and Jonas. I wasn't happy with Pete. I wanted someone. . . um. . . something else. You and Jonas don't want anything else. You love each other. You make each other happy."

"Pete made you happy."

"Yes, he did," Sam admitted. "But something was missing. He didn't make me feel. . . oh, I don't know. . . ‘complete'." She paused, searching for impossible words. "I. . . um. . . I mean. . ."

"I know, Sam," Daniel said. "Trust me. Jack feels the same way."

Sam smiled sheepishly. "The point is, Daniel, Pete and I didn't have a future together. Not a real one. At least not one I would have been happy with. I've seen you and Jonas together. I've seen what you have done for each other. I believe you when you said that your whole life was leading you to Jonas. It was meant to be."

Daniel nodded slightly. "So, how do I fix it?"

Sam gave Daniel's hand a firm, reassuring squeeze. "Until you know what's wrong, I don't think there's anything you can do to fix it. All you can do is to try and keep it from getting worse."

* * * * *

General Jack O'Neill sat behind the desk in his office, staring at a stack of papers left there for him to sign. He knew he should just pick up the pen and start writing, but he couldn't seem to make his hand move.

A knock at his door brought his head up and he found himself looking at Jonas, standing there in the open doorway.

"Jonas!" Jack welcomed him with a grin. "Come on in."

Jonas entered. "Good morning, General."

"Come on, Jonas. We're alone here. Call me Jack."

Jonas nodded, his smile pressed tight.

"So, what can I do for you?"

Jonas reached out a hand which held a piece of paper clenched delicately in his fingers. Jack took it.

"What's this?" he asked.

"It's my resignation, Jack," Jonas said quietly. "I'm leaving the SGC."

Jack opened the paper and read. Looking up, he asked, "Why?"

"I have to," Jonas replied sadly. "I can't work here anymore."

Jack knew that Jonas and Daniel were having their problems, but he never thought it was as serious as this.

Sitting down, he laid the paper open on his desk. "Pull up a chair."

Jonas did, sitting opposite the General. Jack rested his arms on the desk, his hands clasped together. He leaned forward, his full attention on his friend. "Talk to me, Jonas. What's going on?"

Jonas looked at his hands for a long moment. Without looking up, he said, "I just can't work here anymore."

"Look," Jack offered, "if it will help, I can change your schedules. . . give you an office. . ."

Jonas cut him short. "That won't do any good." Looking up, he said, "I'm not trying to get away from Daniel. I just need to get away from here. This place. It's tearing us apart and I can't be here anymore."

Jack felt helpless. He was never very good in situations such as this. He hated what was happening to his friends, but he had no easy solutions. His mind searched for words. None came to him.

"I'm scared, Jack. I'm scared for myself, but I'm more scared for Daniel. I just can't sit here and watch him go through that Stargate wondering if I will ever see him again. I've lost him twice. I can't sit around waiting for the third time."

"There are always risks, Jonas."

A sudden rap at the door brought Jack's attention to it. Sgt. Harriman stood there. "Excuse me, General. . ." he began.

"Later, Walter," Jack said.

"But, Sir. . ."

Anger entered Jack's voice. "I said ‘later'!"

"Yes, Sir." Sgt. Harriman turned to leave.

"Walter?"

He reappeared in the doorway. "Sir?"

"Close the door, please."

With a glance at Jonas, Harriman nodded and said, "Yes, Sir."

The door closed.

Jack remained silent for a moment. "Look, Jonas," he said. "I know Daniel, and I know that his feelings for you haven't changed. I still see that look in his eyes. I still see it in yours. He still loves you as much as he always did."

"My feelings haven't changed for him, either, Jack."

"Then what's the problem?"

"I know the risks," Jonas began. "I've been there, remember? I know what Daniel faces every time he steps through the Gate. I know that each mission could be his last. I accepted that a long time ago." He fell silent, looking down at his hands again. Finally, he spoke again. "But I just can't be here when the time comes again when he doesn't come back home."

Jack thought about that for a bit. Picking up Jonas' resignation, he said, "Okay. I won't submit this for the time being, but I'll keep it on file. I'll grant you an indefinite leave. Give you some time to work things out. When you're ready to come back, the door will be open. How's that sound?"

Jonas shrugged his assent. "I don't care, but I won't be coming back."

"What are you going to do?"

"I've been checking around," Jonas said. "I've been offered a job at the library in town. They want me to head the history department."

"You and books," Jack smiled. "Go figure."

"I'm taking the job, Jack."

"Does Daniel know?"

"He doesn't even know I'm here. I start at the library next week. I'll tell him everything tonight."

"Okay," Jack whispered.

Jonas rose to his feet and turned to leave. "Jonas?" Jack said as he stood up. Jonas turned back. Jack circled the desk and pulled Jonas into a friendly, comforting hug.

"What was that for?" Jonas asked when the hug was finished.

"You looked like you needed it."

"Thanks, Jack," Jonas smiled. "See you later."

And he left.

* * * * *

Jonas told Daniel that night over dinner. Daniel was saddened by the news, of course, but, he thought, if Jonas believed this would be a way to salvage their relationship, he wasn't going to do anything to stop him.

After dinner, Jonas prepared a bath and joined Daniel in it. Daniel held him close, reveling in the time they were sharing. There was no more talk of Jonas' new job. When the bath was finished, they walked, hand-in-hand, to the bed where they made passionate love long into the night.

Daniel hoped that this was the first step in repairing their relationship.

To Be Continued​

 

[gsdx]

Chapter 8
GOODBYE​

Jonas Quinn enjoyed eating his lunch and reading a book while sitting on a bench in the shade of a large tree near the library. He often went to a nearby café where he would buy a paper cup of coffee and a sandwich which was made as he watched. On his coffee breaks, he usually bought a coffee and a muffin. The bench was invariably vacant when he arrived and he enjoyed his time alone and away from all the noise and bustle and anxieties.

It didn't surprise him when the young man spoke to him that one day. He had been expecting it.

"Excuse me," the young man said, "do you mind if I sit here?"

Jonas looked up and smiled. "Of course not. Please." He went back to reading his book. He didn't know the young man, but he had seen him several times during the past few days, both inside and outside the library. When he had mentioned it to Daniel, he just laughed and told Jonas that he was being ‘cruised'. It was Jonas' turn to laugh when Daniel told him what it meant.

He could tell the young man was still looking at him - ‘checking him out', as it were, from a front-row seat. ‘Handsome' was not a word Jonas would use to describe the youth. ‘Cute', or even ‘pretty', would be better choices. He was shorter than Jonas, slim, with blond hair bleached almost white from the sun framing an attractive, boyish face. His brown eyes looked almost out of place in a face powered by light. His clothes were clean and tidy and looked expensive.

"Are you really reading that fast," the young man asked, "or are you just skimming the pages?"

Jonas looked up and smiled. "I'm really reading it."

"I wish I could read that fast."

"I've had lots of practice," Jonas said. Then, holding out his hand, he said, "I'm Jonas."

"Corey," he said, taking Jonas' hand and giving it a friendly shake in greeting. "I've never met anyone named Jonas before."

Jonas grinned as he broke the grasp. "I haven't, either, actually. I was named after my grandfather."

"I like it," Corey said with a smile. "It suits you."

"Thank you," Jonas replied."So, Corey. When are you going to tell me why you're following me?"

Corey looked suddenly uptight. His eyes opened wide. "I wasn't following you," he exclaimed.

"No?" Jonas asked. "This morning, you stood at the computers pretending to be searching for books for seventeen minutes while you looked at me. Yesterday, you stood over there across the street as I ate my lunch. The day before that, you were in the Mystery section across from my desk for thirty-four minutes. Would you like me to continue?"

Corey looked embarrassed as he said, "You don't miss much, do you?"

"No, I don't. Now, why are you following me?"

Corey quickly glanced around, then leaned slightly toward Jonas. "I wanted to meet you. You're. . . um. . . a very attractive man," he said quietly.

"Thank you. But what made you think I might be gay?"

"Nothing, but I thought if I met you, I'd be able to find out if I had a chance with you." He paused for a long moment. "Do I?"

"Sorry," Jonas said. "I'm very flattered, but I'm already in a relationship." His fingers caressed the heart-shaped medallion hidden beneath his shirt.

"Oh," Corey said, clearly disappointed.

"We can still be friends if you'd like."

Corey's smile returned. "Really?"

"Sure. I think I'd like that."

They finished their lunches together and talked until Jonas had to return to work.

* * * * *

Daniel Jackson sat in the hot bath with Jonas Quinn. Just like old times, Daniel thought. Their relationship remained strained and, although little progress was being made, things seemed not to be getting worse.

Perhaps it was Jonas' new job which made the difference. He was very happy there and everyone liked him. Daniel missed him at the SGC, but if his new job in the library made a difference, Daniel would not be the one to complain.

He was sure that Jonas still loved him. He gave himself to Daniel as he had so many times in the past and was just as enthusiastic during sex as he had always been. Except for those two times, he had never again slept on the other side of the bed or in the guestroom. He had, as always, fallen asleep in Daniel's arms. Despite the displays of affection, though, Daniel could still see that his lover was troubled and distracted. There was little doubt that Jonas was trying to work things out in his mind.

He had done all he could think of to make things work between them. He never pressured Jonas into anything, nor did he invite Jonas to join him in either sex or their ritual bath together. He allowed Jonas to choose the times he would participate. He had talked to Sam about it shortly after Jonas had left the SGC to work at the library. "Give him some time," she had told. "Let him work it out on his own. Just be there for him when he needs you."

There was nothing else he could think to do. Daniel could do nothing more than stand back and let time take its course. All he could do was to try to prepare himself for what time would place into his lap.

* * * * *

It had been almost two weeks since the first rumours of General Jack O'Neill's promotion began circulating through the halls of the SGC. Everyone was happy, especially Lt. Col. Samantha Carter. Jack was very deserving of that promotion.

However, while she was happy for Jack, she was equally sad for both Daniel and Jonas. Things had not been going well. She could see it in Daniel's eyes. He refused to talk about it now, no matter how much Sam pressured him. She rarely saw Jonas except for one time at their home and one other time when she had impulsively dropped by the library to see him, hoping to get an idea about Jonas' feelings on the matter. He had been very busy, though, and their conversation had been very short. All Jonas had told her was that they were trying to work things out.

The phone call that night came as a complete surprise to her.

"Hello," she said cheerfully into the telephone.

"Sam?" came a familiar but feeble voice through the receiver. The voice startled her and frightened her.

"Daniel? What's wrong?" she asked hurriedly.

There was a slight pause. "Come over."

"Daniel!?"

"Please."

Daniel's voice fell silent. A clunking sound followed.

"Daniel?" she shouted.

"Daniel!!" she shouted even louder.

Slamming down the phone, she ran to the door, grabbing her jacket and car keys as she passed. Traffic was light, fortunately, and, within fifteen minutes, she was pulling into Daniel's driveway. Only Daniel's Jeep was parked there.

She jumped out of her car, racing to the front door. Her thumb pressed anxiously against the doorbell several times. The ‘ding dong' sounds from inside reached her ears, but the door did not open. She pulled open the glass weather door and stood on the threshold, shielding her eyes so she could peer through the window. She could see Daniel sitting on the sofa, leaning forward with his face buried in his hands. The telephone dangled from its spiral cord near his feet. She knocked on the door and called, "Daniel!" When he didn't move, she banged on the door with her fist.

Still, Daniel didn't move.

Nervous fingers reached for the doorknob and wrapped themselves around it. She turned her hand. The door opened. She quickly stepped inside, closing the door quietly behind her. She moved to the sofa and sat beside Daniel, placing her left arm around his back and her right hand on his leg.

"Daniel," she said softly, "I'm here."

Slowly, Daniel sat up and looked at her. Sam gasped when she saw his face. She had never seen him like this. His eyes were red and swollen and full of tears. His face seemed drained of life. There were so many emotions there that she had trouble sorting them out, but, mostly, she saw sadness and pain and fear.

"What happened, Daniel?"

"He's gone, Sam," Daniel managed to say. "Jonas left me."

"Oh, God," she said and pulled Daniel into her arms. He went willingly, collapsing into her shoulder and letting his emotions escape in a flood of tears. She held him as he cried. Feelings of deja vu swept over her. It wasn't long ago that Jack O'Neill had done the same thing for Jonas. She let Daniel cry.

Many minutes later, Daniel had cried himself out. He sat back on the sofa and took Sam's hand into his own. The contact comforted him. . . grounded him.

"Tell me what happened."

"Jonas left," Daniel said, his voice barely above a whisper. "He packed his bags and left me."

"Why? Did you have a fight?"

Daniel shook his head. "No. He gave me an ultimatum last night. Either I leave SGC or he would leave me."

"I can understand him wanting you off SG-1, Daniel," Sam said. "He's scared to death that you're going to die again."

Daniel turned to face her again, his eyes catching her gaze and holding it. "No, Sam. It's not just SG-1. He wants me to leave the whole Stargate project. He wants me out of SGC entirely. He wants me to quit and go back to archaeology. He said he'd follow me around the world, wherever I went, but he doesn't want me to go back to Stargate."

Sam looked down at the floor. She knew very well how much Jonas feared Daniel's trips through the Stargate, but she also knew how important the Stargate was in Daniel's life. The Stargate was Daniel's baby. If it hadn't been for him, it's doubtful that anyone would ever have figured out that it was an alien transportation device, let alone figure out how to make it work. To ask him to abandon it and walk away from it would be like asking him to give up his own child.

"I can't leave Stargate, Sam."

Sam looked back into Daniel's eyes as she fought back the tears in her own. She had to try to stay strong for her friend. "I know that."

Daniel stared at her for a long time. She could only imagine the thoughts flowing through his mind. Finally, he spoke. "What am I going to do, Sam. I can't live without him. I need him."

Sam could not look at him anymore. She looked down and remained silent.

* * * * *

Jonas took up residence in a motel for five days after he left Daniel. He'd taken some of his clothes with him, but little else. When he had time, both at the motel and at the library, he was scouring the classifieds looking for a new place to live. He couldn't believe his luck when he found a small, furnished bachelor apartment for rent only three blocks from the library. It was about the same size as his old apartment on Kelowna, but much cleaner and much more inviting. Best of all, it was ready for immediate occupancy. He paid a month's rent, the security deposit, and moved in the next evening after work.

When his new telephone was installed, he called Daniel. There was no answer at the house, so he phoned him at the SGC. Fortunately, Daniel was working in his office.

"Dr. Jackson."

"Hi, Daniel."

"Jonas?" Daniel said. Jonas could hear the excitement in his voice. It was the first time he had talked to Daniel since he had left. "It's great to hear your voice. How are you keeping?"

"I'm doing okay," Jonas replied. "How about you?"

"Good," Daniel replied.

But Jonas knew he was lying. "I just called to let you know I have a new apartment and phone number. Got a pen handy?"

"Ready," Daniel said immediately.

When he'd passed on the information, Jonas added, "Daniel? I miss you."

"I miss you, too, Jonas. Come home."

"I can't."

Jonas could imagine Daniel clenching his eyes tight, fighting back the tears he could imagine gathering in them. His own eyes clenched as he shut out his own tears.

A long pause followed. "I should get going," Jonas said finally. "I just wanted you to know where I was."

"Thanks."

"Look. I want to come pick up some of my books and stuff. When could I do that?"

"It's still your home, Jonas," Daniel said. "You can go anytime."

"Okay, thanks."

"While you're there, you might as well take the food. I don't eat there very much anymore. You know the stuff I need."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

There was another lengthy pause. "What time will you be home tomorrow night?" Jonas asked.

"I'm off tomorrow. I was going to come in and do some work, but I can take it home with me. I can be there all day if you want."

"No," Jonas replied. "I can't get there until after five-thirty. I'll come over after work and cook you a good supper. Then I can pack my stuff and sort through the food."

"I'll be there," Daniel said. He sounded very sincere.

"Daniel?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you." He could see Daniel sitting there, closing his eyes again to the pain he was feeling.

"I love you, too, Jonas."

"Goodbye."

"Bye, Jonas."

* * * * *

Supper was delicious, as always. Daniel hadn't realized how much he enjoyed Jonas' cooking until he had begun eating in restaurants again. After supper, he helped Jonas clean the table and do the dishes. Together, they packed most of Jonas' books and some of his clothes. When Daniel asked him why he hadn't packed them all, Jonas responded, "They will remind both of us that I want to come home someday."

Daniel packed the food as Jonas sorted through it. He left everything that he knew Daniel could make on his own. He took the rest, promising to cook it up and make dishes that Daniel could heat up in the microwave.

"You'd do that for me?"

"Of course," Jonas said. "Why not? I love you the way you are. I don't want my boyfriend getting all skinny on me." And then he smiled.

Daniel was happy to see the dimples.

It was almost dark when they finished loading the boxes and plastic bags into the car. Daniel stood awkwardly beside the car, waiting. Jonas put his hands on Daniel's waist and pulled him close. Daniel's arms soon wrapped themselves around Jonas and joined him in the embrace.

"I should get going," Jonas said finally. "I've got a busy day tomorrow."

They fell silent, still holding each other loosely. Daniel looked into the depths of Jonas' eyes, hoping to see some glimmer of hope for the two of them. He saw only sadness and disappointment.

"Bye," Jonas said softly. He leaned forward. Their lips met, and they kissed.

When Jonas pulled away, Daniel said, "Jonas?" Jonas waited patiently for what was to come. Instead, Daniel smiled weakly and said, "Take care of yourself."

"I will." Jonas climbed into his car and drove away, leaving Daniel all alone once again.

* * * * *

Jack O'Neill sat in his office, staring at the official papers which had been presented to him a few days before. He still couldn't believe what he had read. It was going to be a very difficult time indeed.

A quiet rap on the door drew his eyes upward.

"Jonas," he said with a smile. He rose to greet the young man with a friendly hug. Jonas was smartly dressed.

"You wanted to see me?" Jonas asked when the hug was finished.

Jack grasped Jonas' arms in his hands and looked deeply into his eyes. "I need you to do me a huge favour, Jonas."

"Sure, Jack," Jonas replied with a smile. "Anything. Just name it."

"You may not like this," Jack said seriously, "but I want you to stand beside Daniel this afternoon. He's going to need you."

The smile disappeared. "Why? What's going on?"

Jack grimaced. He didn't want reveal too much yet. "Just trust me," he said. "Daniel is going to need you. I'm not asking you to go back home with him or anything like that. I just want you to be there for him this afternoon."

Jonas could see how much this meant to Jack, but he saw much, much more. "You're leaving SGC, aren't you?"

Jack paused. Jonas' powers of observation still amazed him. Nothing slipped by him. "No-one knows, Jonas," he replied calmly. "That's why Daniel is going to need you. That's what this announcement is about. Daniel's not going to take this news very well."

It was Jonas' turn to hug Jack. He pulled him into his arms and held the hug as long as he dared. When they separated, Jack moved his hands back to Jonas' arms.

"He still loves you very much, you know."

"And I still love him, Jack. You have to believe me."

Jack smiled. "Then go back to him, Jonas. You belong together."

Jonas looked down and said simply, "I can't." He looked back into Jack's eyes.

"Not even to make an old man happy?" Jack smiled.

Jonas forced a smile onto his face. Jack leaned forward and kissed Jonas lightly on the forehead.

"I understand," Jack said. "I'm going to miss you, Jonas."

"I'm going to miss you, too, Jack."

General O'Neill released his grasp. Jonas turned and walked out the door.

* * * * *

Jack O'Neill stood at the top of the ramp in front of the Stargate. Beneath the huge windows of the Command Room, dozens of people were packed together, watching, waiting. More people filled the Command Room itself, with Sgt. Harriman standing in front of his computer console. At the base of the ramp, Jonas, Daniel, Sam, and Teal'c stood.

O'Neill looked around at them, looking into each face, smiling.

After several long moments, he spoke.

"You're all aware of the rumours surrounding my promotion to Major General," O'Neill began. "I am pleased to announce that those rumours are true."

Both rooms burst into applause and cheers and whistles. The noise went on for several minutes before the clamour slowly subsided. Jack continued. "The rumours that you haven't heard, though, are the ones in which I am being transferred to a position in Washington D.C. as Head of the new Homeworld Security Department."

The room fell suddenly silent. The news was devastating, but no-one was more devastated than Dr. Daniel Jackson. He had known Jack for more years than anyone else, and he considered Jack his dearest friend. He was stunned. He simply stood there, shocked, staring at Jack and waiting for him to shout, "Surprise! It's all a big joke!" Jonas stood beside him. It is doubtful that Daniel even noticed when Jonas slipped his hand into his own and locked fingers with him. As Jack had promised, Daniel needed him now, and Jonas wasn't about to abandon either of his friends.

Samantha Carter choked back her tears, her eyes never leaving Jack's face. Teal'c, completely in control of his emotions, even with the prospect of losing his closest friend, was at Sam's side. He wrapped a friendly, comforting arm around her shoulders.

"It's time for me to move on," Jack continued. "It's time I gave these old knees a rest."

He paused again, looking around the room once more before focusing his attention on the four people standing at the base of the ramp in front of him. "I love you guys," he said. His bright smile was forced to mask his sadness, but it was sincere. "I am going to miss you."

To Be Continued​

 

[gsdx]

Chapter 9
SO LONG​

Jonas Quinn sat at his desk in the library, busily cataloguing a new shipment of books. He heard the footsteps approaching and looked up from the computer screen. Daniel was standing in front of his desk.

"Daniel," he said, rising from his chair and moving around the desk.

Daniel couldn't help but notice how beautiful and sexy Jonas looked in his tan slacks and white shirt. He wanted so much to take him into his arms and hold him, but he quickly dismissed his thoughts. This was neither the time nor the place for such distractions. "I'm not here to cause a scene, Jonas," he said quickly, his voice kept low and private.

"I know."

Daniel leaned one hand on the desk. "We're having a going-away party for Jack at Sam's place on Saturday night. Jack would like you to be there."

"Sure, I'd love to go."

Daniel looked down at the floor. "I. . . um. . . I thought it might be nice for Jack if we went together. I think he'd like it."

"I do, too," Jonas said. "But this doesn't mean. . ."

"I know. I know," Daniel added quickly. "I just thought maybe. . ."

When Daniel fell silent, Jonas said, "Look, I have a coffee break coming up at three. If you can stick around until then, we'll go someplace where we can talk."

Daniel nodded. "Sure. I'll wait for you outside."

"Okay."

"You won't forget?" Daniel said with a small grin.

"Daniel, I remember the very first words you ever said to me." He smiled. Daniel was happy to see the dimples appear. "I won't forget."

Daniel was waiting for Jonas when he exited the library doors just over an hour later. Jonas led him to the nearby café where he bought two coffees and two cranberry muffins. They walked back to his secluded bench near the library and sat down to eat and to talk.

Daniel spoke first. "I was thinking that. . . maybe I could pick you up after work and. . . we could go to the party together. I can take you home after."

"Sounds good to me." Jonas agreed. "It wouldn't look good for us to arrive together in separate cars."

"I won't cause any problems," Daniel was quick to add. "And I don't expect anything other than your company."

Jonas set his coffee on the bench beside his muffin, turning his complete attention to Daniel. "Listen to me, Daniel," he said. "I haven't stopped loving you. I never will. If it weren't for the problems were having, I'd be in your arms, because that's where I want to be. That's where I belong. But I can't do that right now. I've made my decision and I can't go back on it now. But that doesn't mean we can't still love each other. It just means that we can't be together like we were before."

He paused, searching Daniel's eyes for reaction. All he saw was a shot of anguish crossing them. "I don't like what's going on with us any more than you do," he continued. "I hate not living with you. I hate not going to bed in your arms and waking up in them. I hate not being able to touch you and to love you. But right now, I don't have any other choice. I can't just sit around waiting for you to die again."

"But I could walk away from here right now and get run over by a car," Daniel said.

"I know you could, but you wouldn't have any control over that, and I could accept it if it happened. You do have control over walking through the Stargate, though. You don't walk around looking for cars to jump in front of, but every time you step through that Gate, there's a car waiting on the other side to run you over. You have that choice not to give it the chance to kill you."

The words sank deeply into Daniel's mind and he turned his head to stare down at the sidewalk. He hadn't thought of it that way before, and he suddenly understood what Jonas was going through. He felt a gentle hand on his shoulder and looked back at Jonas.

"Do you understand now, Daniel?" Jonas asked quietly. "Do you understand why I want you to leave the SGC?"

"Yes, I think I do," Daniel admitted. "But, do you understand why I can't?"

Jonas nodded. "Believe it or not, I really do. And that's the very reason I can't be with you anymore."

Daniel thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Look," Jonas said as he checked his watch. "I've got to get back to work. Call me tonight and we'll make the arrangements for Saturday night."

"Okay."

Jonas' gaze captured and held Daniel's gaze. "I love you, Daniel," he said in a hush. "Don't ever think that I don't."

Daniel nodded again. "And don't you ever think that I will stop loving you," he whispered. "That is one promise I can keep."

Jonas leaned forward and gave him a kiss. He knew that Corey was watching them from across the street.

* * * * *

"Your boyfriend is very handsome," Corey said to him the next day as they ate lunch. "And big," he added.

"Yes, he is," Jonas replied. Subconsciously, he once again caressed the medallion lying against his chest.

"What is that?" Corey asked. "Every time you talk about him, you touch it."

Jonas retrieved the gold medallion from beneath his shirt and held it out. Corey took it gently in his fingers and leaned forward. "Oh, it's beautiful." Turning it over, he read the inscription on the back: ‘To Jonas with love. Daniel.' "Even his name is beautiful."

Jonas carefully tucked the necklace back into the security of his shirt. The medallion nestled itself warmly against his chest. "Yes, it is," he said sadly.

* * * * *

Daniel picked up Jonas at his apartment and, together, they drove to Sam's home. He found a parking space on the street and, after parking the Jeep, they got out and walked toward the front door. Jonas' hand slipped into Daniel's hand. Their fingers interlocked. They both felt a warm sensation rushing through them.

Jonas stopped, pulling Daniel into the shadows of the streetlights. He raised his free hand to Daniel's cheek and pressed it there for a moment. "It will be good, Daniel," he said. "Don't worry."

Daniel smiled and moved his own free hand to place it against the hand on his cheek, holding it there as he stared into Jonas' eyes. The longing he saw in them reflected the longing that was in his own.

A minute passed in silence before Daniel spoke softly. "Can I kiss you?" he asked.

"Please," Jonas said just as softly.

Daniel leaned into him, their lips pulling together by the magnetic force of the love they felt for each other. The kiss was full of that love. Daniel's arms moved to encase Jonas in his embrace, and Jonas allowed him to do so. His own arms wrapped around Daniel and pulled him against his body. He missed the contact. He missed the safety he felt in Daniel's strong arms. He missed the love. But, he also knew that he would miss it more if Daniel wasn't there to give it to him anymore.

The kiss lasted for several minutes before Jonas brought it to an end.

Taking Daniel's hand into his own once more, he locked fingers with him. "Come on. Let's go in."

Sam greeted them at the door with a huge hug and kiss on the cheek for each of them. "Thank you for doing this. Jack is going to be so happy to see you together." She grinned widely and gave them another kiss. "This doesn't mean. . . ?" She pointed a finger back and forth between the two.

Daniel looked down sadly, but Jonas simply smiled and shook his head enough to tell Sam the answer.

Taking them by their free hands, a huge grin on her face, she said, "Come on. There's someone I want you to see." Giving them a tug forward, she released them and stepped aside.

In front of them, they could see Jack looking at them, smiling. A man was standing in front of him, his back toward the pair. Jack pointed and the man turned.

Daniel and Jonas rushed forward. "General Hammond!" they said together.

Hammond eagerly shook hands with each of them, expressing his happiness to see them again. Daniel's excitement could not be disguised.

"I didn't expect to see you here, General," Daniel said.

Over the General's shoulder, Jack grinned and said, "Surprise."

"I wouldn't miss this for anything," Hammond said.

Daniel felt Jonas' arm wrap around his waist, pulling him close. Cautiously, he placed his arm around Jonas' shoulders, ready to remove it if necessary. Jonas accepted the contact without complaint and pulled Daniel even closer. Daniel realized that they would be a couple again - if only for the next few hours.

"Things still going well for you two?"

"Well, actually, Sir. . ." Daniel began.

Jonas jumped in, his voice full of excitement. "We've bought a house, Sir."

"Really?"

"Yes, Sir," Daniel said. Over the General's shoulder, he could see Jack smiling at him. He noticed the quick wink.

"If you have time, Sir," Jonas added, "we'd love for you to come see it. We have something there I think you'd like to see."

"What is it?" the General asked.

Jonas turned his head. "Sam?" he said.

"It's a tree, Sir," Sam offered. "Jonas had a memorial tree planted in their front yard for my Dad and Selmak."

Hammond looked at Jonas and smiled broadly. "I would love to see it. I fly out tomorrow afternoon at two. Would sometime in the morning be okay?"

"Any time is fine, Sir," Jonas replied. Turning to Sam again, he asked, "Would you like to be there, too?"

"If I may," Sam replied.

"You know you're always welcome, Sam."

They made arrangements to meet at 11 AM.

Jonas was true to his word. To everyone around them, he and Daniel looked like the happy couple they had once been. General Hammond never learned of their little deception.

Daniel was pleased to see a large, framed photo of Dr. Janet Fraiser set upon the buffet table. Later, he stood with Jonas and Teal'c on the right side of the photo as General Hammond, Jack, and Sam stood on the left side. Sgt. Harriman took several photos of the group. He would see to it that everyone got copies.

The party continued into the night. Many happy moments were recalled. There were plenty of laughs and a lot of joking and teasing. The sad moments were avoided by all.

The final farewells were sad for everyone. Jack O'Neill said his goodbyes until only Hammond, Sam, Teal'c, Daniel, and Jonas remained. Eyes were moist, and Sam and Daniel could barely contain their tears.

Jack took Jonas into a strong, friendly hug, whispering a heart-felt ‘thank you' into his ear. He knew that Jonas' performance with Daniel had been a facade, probably more so for Hammond than for himself, but it made him feel good to see them together again. "I think I'll miss you most of all, Scarecrow."

Jonas smiled and winked. Jack's reference hadn't eluded him. "Thanks, Jack. And thank you for the book. I really enjoyed it. I'll never forget you."

Jack smiled back. "Fat chance with that brain of yours. Take care of Toto. Maybe you'll both find what you're looking for over the rainbow."

Daniel nearly crushed him in his embrace. Strong arms wrapped around him and held him tight. Jack had known Daniel longer than he had known any of the others. No matter what he might have thought about Daniel at one time, he now thought of him only as a good person and a better friend. He knew how much Daniel would miss him, but, until that moment, he didn't realize how much he was going to miss Daniel. He thought back to a moment several years earlier. Daniel lay wrapped in bandages, his life being eaten away by a lethal dose of radiation. In a real dream, he stood with Daniel in front of the Stargate. Oma Desala was there as well. Daniel had said something to him before he walked into the huge, metal ring. Now, Jack looked at Daniel. "I have to go now," he said softly.

Daniel managed a feeble smile. "Goodbye, Jack."

Jack grasped Teal'c's hand in a firm handshake, resting his other hand on a broad, powerful shoulder. "What can I say, my friend. It has been a real honour to have had you on my team."

"It is I who am honoured, O'Neill," Teal'c said quietly and nodded his respect.

"I'm depending on you to take care of everyone now."

"Is that an order, O'Neill?"

Jack replied with a friendly smile. "It is a request."

Teal'c nodded his assurance. It would be done.

Samantha Carter buried herself in Jack's chest as he hugged her. Her tears were flowing freely now and Jack let her cry as long as she needed to. When Sam finally regained her composure and ended the hug, Jack simply smiled and said to her, "No ‘goodbyes', Carter."

A hint of a smile pulled at the corners of Sam's lips. "Yes, Sir," she whispered.

Jack shook General Hammond's hand. "General?" he said. "I have just one question."

"What is it, Jack."

"When do I get a key to the Big Boys' Bathroom?"

Hammond laughed. "I'll see you in Washington, Jack," he said.

* * * * *

Daniel drove home in his Jeep. He was nervous and, perhaps, a bit apprehensive of the night that was to come. As he had driven Jonas home, Jonas had asked him to help pack some food for their lunch with General Hammond and Samantha Carter in the morning. Jonas had also grabbed some clothes and his toothbrush. He would be spending the night, but Daniel wasn't certain in which bedroom he would be spending it.

He looked into his rearview mirror. The headlights of Jonas' car followed close behind. His thoughts turned for a moment to the party. It had been sad, of course, having to say ‘goodbye' to Jack, but he knew that Jack would come back from time to time for a visit.

The best part of the evening, of course, was having Jonas by his side all night long. Jonas had played his part well, giving no indication of anything other than a happy, loving couple. Daniel had been nervous and tense at the beginning, but the way Jonas had held him and touched him and kissed him soon allowed him to relax into his part. In his own mind, he even began to believe that the past few weeks had all been nothing more than a bad dream and that Jonas would go home with him and they would live happily ever after. Just like in the fairy tales, he thought to himself as he smiled in the darkness of the Jeep.

Daniel pulled into his driveway. Jonas pulled in beside him. They got out of their cars and he rushed to help Jonas unload the few bags they had brought with them. Jonas handed Daniel the bag of clothes while he, himself, took the groceries.

Inside the door, Jonas said, "Take the clothes to the bedroom. I'll get this food in the refrigerator."

"Which one?" Daniel asked.

Jonas looked at him questioningly. "Which one what?"

"Which bedroom?" Daniel asked. "Where will you be sleeping?"

"Our bedroom, of course," Jonas answered with a smile. "Now, go on and get ready for bed. You're exhausted. I'll lock up and be there in a minute."

Daniel stood there, looking at him in a daze. Jonas smiled, kissed him, then said, "Go!"

Minutes later, Daniel was brushing his teeth as Jonas walked into the bathroom to prepare for the night. Daniel still wore his underwear. Jonas pissed and flushed as Daniel finished up, then washed and brushed his own teeth as Daniel headed to the bedroom. He was sitting on the side of the bed, his glasses now resting on the bedside table near the lamp, when Jonas entered.

Jonas grinned and pointed at Daniel's briefs. "You can take those off if you want," he said. "I don't mind."

"I wanted to be sure," Daniel said softly.

Jonas leaned over and placed his hands on Daniel's bare thighs, his face close to Daniel's. "I know," he said gently, "and I appreciate it." With a smile, he added, "When I sleep with you, I don't want anything between us." They kissed.

Daniel slipped off his briefs, dropping them to the floor, and slid under the bed covers. He lay on his side, resting on his elbow, silently watching Jonas strip. He looked more beautiful than ever, and he couldn't prevent the way his body reacted. Jonas turned off the light and slipped naked under the blankets, facing Daniel.

"I'm here to sleep, Daniel."

Daniel nodded.

Jonas took him into his arms for a long, tender, goodnight kiss, then rolled to his other side and settled his back against Daniel's chest. Moments later, he reached back and found Daniel's hand resting on his thigh. He took the hand in his own and brought it forward, holding it against his chest. Daniel settled in against him and pulled him closer.

"Daniel?" Jonas whispered in the dark. "I love you."

Daniel kissed the back of Jonas' head. "I love you, too, Jonas."

For the first time in too many nights, Daniel fell asleep with the scent and the feel of Jonas Quinn in his dreams.

To Be Continued​

 

[gsdx]

Chapter 10
FAREWELL​

"Damn!" Jonas shouted. "Daniel! Wake up!"

Daniel opened his sleepy eyes as Jonas pulled away from him and climbed out of bed.

"Come on! They're going to be here in less than an hour!" Jonas added urgently. "You get in the shower. I'll put on the coffee and be there in a minute."

Jonas ran out of the bedroom as Daniel groggily got out of bed and padded to the bathroom.

Fifteen minutes later, they were cleaned and dressed and busily preparing lunch. Sam arrived just before eleven and joined Jonas in the kitchen while Daniel kept watch for General Hammond's arrival.

"He's here!" he yelled at five past eleven and Jonas and Sam quickly joined him. Together, the three arrived outside as the driver opened the back door of the car. Hammond stepped out and approached them as the young driver closed the door and took an ‘at ease' stance beside the car. He would stand there as long as was necessary.

They greeted General Hammond with smiles and handshakes, then stepped politely back as Hammond approached the tree, examining it in silence and remembrance. Daniel took Jonas' hand into his own as Hammond squatted to examine the small metal plaque inset into the stone, caressing the embossed letters of Jacob's name with his fingertips. After several long moments, he stood again, crossed his hands in front of himself, and bowed his head in a silent prayer. He raised his head and said very softly, "I'll miss you, old friend."

He turned to face Jonas. "That is a wonderful tribute to a great man, Son."

"Thank you, General."

Turning to Carter, he pulled her into an embrace. Sam hugged him back. "I'm sorry I wasn't here for you, Sam," he said in her ear.

Sam pulled back to look into his kind face. "I know you would have been here if you could have, Sir," she smiled, her eyes moist. "I'm glad you're here now, though."

Hammond smiled and said, "So am I."

"General?" Jonas said. "I have a small lunch for us inside. I'd like it if you could join us."

The General looked at his watch. "Oh, I think I can spare the time for lunch," he said. "Thank you."

Jonas looked at the driver. "Mr. Quincy," he called. "Would you like to join us for lunch?"

Daniel looked toward the driver when he heard the name. He had looked familiar, but Daniel couldn't place him. Now, he recalled a minor incident with the youth outside the arched doorway of Cheyenne Mountain many months ago. The young Private had called them fags and Daniel had confronted him. He smiled at the memory and wondered briefly if Jonas still thought of him as a wimp.

Quincy placed his hand on his chest and said, "Me, Sir?"

"Yes, you," Jonas replied. "He can join us, can't he General?"

"If you don't mind, it's fine with me." To the young driver, he said, "It's okay, Son. Lock the doors and come along."

"Yes, Sir," the driver replied. "Thank you, Sir."

Jonas looked at Daniel. "Daniel? Would you take Sam and General Hammond inside?"

Daniel escorted the two inside as Jonas waited for the driver. Quincy approached with some trepidation.

"Excuse me, Sir, do you remember me?"

Jonas smiled. "Yes, I do."

"Do you remember what I called you?"

"Yes, I do."

"And you still want to invite me into your home?"

"Yes, Quincy, I do," Jonas said, his smile warm and friendly. "What's your first name?"

"Jason, Sir."

"May I call you Jason?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Well, Jason, I'm Jonas." He held out his hand in greeting. Jason took it and gave it a firm shake. "It's nice to meet you again. Now, let's go eat. You look hungry."

They went inside.

* * * * *

Daniel flopped back on the sofa. Jonas was in the kitchen making another pot of coffee. Sam had stayed awhile after General Hammond had left with his driver, Jason Quincy. Jonas had surprised Jason with a plastic bag full of homemade cookies which Jason seemed to have enjoyed very much.

"I don't understand, Sir," Jason had said to Jonas as Daniel was saying his ‘goodbyes' to General Hammond. "Why are you doing this for me after the way I treated you?"

Jonas had simply smiled. "If you meet another couple like Daniel and I today, would you treat them the way you treated us?"

"No, Sir," Jason had replied honestly. "I don't believe I would."

"That's why," Jonas had said.

Sam and Daniel had talked about the future of the SGC with the new commanding officer. Daniel had never heard of him, and Sam knew only what Jack had told her. General Landry and Jack had been long-time friends. How bad could it be?

Jonas returned, settling on the sofa close to Daniel and cuddling into the security of his strong, protective arms. They sat there for a long time enjoying nothing more than each other's silence.

"Come home, Jonas," Daniel whispered, shattering the silence in the room.

A long pause followed before Jonas replied. "I can't, Daniel. Not until . . ."

Daniel didn't allow him to finish the sentence. "And you know I can't leave SGC."

Jonas pulled away until he could look into Daniel's warm, sensitive eyes. "Then this is how it has to be, Daniel. Just a series of one-night stands." Jonas hated to see the look of pain that filled Daniel's eyes, but he had no choice. This was the way it must be. "I don't like this any more than you do. I miss loving you when you walk through that door. I miss feeding you and taking care of you. I miss falling asleep in your arms at night. I miss waking up in them in the morning. I miss you holding me. I miss just looking at you. I miss everything, Daniel, and I wish it could be like it was before."

He paused a moment to carefully lift Daniel's glasses and to brush away the tears from his eyes before setting the glasses back into place. "I love you, Daniel. I love you more than you can ever know. But we've both made a decision, and neither of us can go back on it. This is the way it has to be, whether or not we like it."

Jonas leaned forward and engaged Daniel in a long, romantic kiss. His hand rested on Daniel's chest, feeling the lungs expanding and the heartbeat quickening beneath his palm. He moved his hand down, passing over the heaving stomach and into Daniel's lap where his hand came to rest on the hardness he found there.

He broke the kiss long enough to say, "I want you to make love to me."

Daniel pulled Jonas into his arms once more, smothering him with kisses. Eventually, they stood up and walked hand-in-hand into the bedroom, closing the door behind them and shutting themselves away from the rest of the world. The freshly-brewed coffee remained forgotten for many, many hours.

* * * * *

Jack O'Neill stopped off at his cabin in Minnesota before flying on to Washington. His house, truck, and motorcycle were being sold, but he would never part with his beloved cabin by the pond. He intended to retire there, to die there, and to be buried there. He had no idea when he would be able to get back there again, though, so he had stopped by to secure the place for the long haul.

Later that night, he closed the squeaky door behind him and strolled casually to the pond. The moon was almost half-full, casting a soft glow over the pond and the trees around him. He picked up a handful of pebbles and walked to the end of the dock, thinking about his future without the Stargate and tossing the pebbles into the darkness. The soft splashes soothed him.

From out of the darkness behind him, a soft, familiar voice spoke.

"Hello, Jack."

O'Neill closed his eyes and raised his face toward the heavens. His arms dropped to his sides, the remaining pebbles falling to the deck. He opened his eyes and turned to face the short, bearded man standing before him..

With a wave of his hand toward the stars, Jack said, "Shouldn't you be out there somewhere getting yourself crowned, Harry?"

Harry Maybourne approached slowly, moving like a ghost in a dream. "Oh, I'm still a King, Jack," he said softly, one corner of his lips pulled up in a lopsided smirk. "One of the perks is to be able to go anywhere I want anytime I want. I pop back here from time to time just to keep up- to-date with things."

"Which raises a question. You couldn't possibly have come through the Stargate. How did you get here?" Then, with spread arms indicating his property, Jack added, "And how did you get here?"

Maybourne grinned and held out his arms in a ‘remember who you're talking to' gesture as he said, "Ja-a-a-a-ack."

Jack shrugged. The gesture explained everything. He had to admit that it was a stupid question. Maybourne had his connections, and when he didn't have them, he made them. "Okay," he said. "So, what are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to offer you my congratulations and to wish you the best of luck in Washington."

"Come on, Harry. You didn't come half-way across the galaxy just to give me a pat on the back and a farewell cookie."

Maybourne's face turned serious. "No, I didn't Jack. I came to tell you to keep an eye on Landry."

"What about him?"

"I know him, Jack. He's military all the way. Gays in the military don't sit well with him."

"I know him, too, Harry," Jack said. "Hank and I go way back."

Jack enjoyed the puzzled look that flooded Harry's face. The eyes nervously scanned the dock as if Maybourne would find the answer there. He was clearly disturbed by the fact that this little tidbit of information had eluded him and Jack took enormous pride in knowing something that Harry Maybourne didn't know.

"Daniel's a civilian," Jack said "Hank can't touch him."

"Maybe not," Maybourne added, "but he can make life difficult enough for Daniel that he'd want to leave Stargate."

"I'll talk to him again. But, like it or not, SGC isn't mine anymore, Harry. I can't tell Hank how to run it."

"No, you can't, Jack, but you've got a lot of strings in your hand now. Don't be afraid to pull them."

"Thank you, Harry."

Maybourne shrugged his acknowledgment. "Take it easy, Jack. I'll see you around."

"Goodbye, Harry."

Maybourne turned and began walking into the darkness once more. He stopped and turned back. "One more thing, Jack. Keep an eye on the kid."

"Jonas? Why?"

"People have taken an interest in him."

"Who? What for?"

"I don't know. All I can tell you is that he's being watched."

"Come on, Harry," Jack said. "I need more than that."

"If I had more, I would give it to you." With a final smile and a wave of his hand, Maybourne said, "So long, Jack," and disappeared into the night.

* * * * *

SG-1 sat in the briefing room, stunned after hearing General Hank Landry's sudden announcement that SC-1 had been disbanded. They were no-longer a team. Colonel Samantha Carter had been handed her transfer papers which would have her in Area 51 within a few days where she would head a team in some top-secret research projects. Dr. Daniel Jackson would remain at the SGC where he would continue his research and translations as usual. There were no plans to reassign him to another team. His knowledge was far more valuable on-base where it could be put to better use for everyone at the SGC. Teal'c could do as he pleased. His continued presence at SGC was no-longer required.

"Dismissed," the General said perfunctorily.

Teal'c rose, nodded once, then hastily left the room. Sam stood there, reading yet again the transfer papers she held in her hand. Daniel sat there, staring off into space, wondering what effect this news would have on his future with both Jonas Quinn and his career in the Stargate Project.

General Landry said, "Dr. Jackson, may I speak with you privately for a moment?" He turned and walked into his office.

Daniel rose to his feet. Sam's eyes lifted from the paper and met Daniel's concerned gaze. Daniel could see the hesitation and disappointment she was feeling. He quickly took her into his arms, holding her. No words passed between them.

A voice suddenly broke through their solace. "Dr. Jackson!"

They separated. Daniel stared into Sam's eyes. Through her tears, he could see the devastation the news had brought upon her. "Go to your lab," he said softly and kindly. "I'll be there as soon as I can."

They hugged quickly once more and Sam whispered her thanks into Daniel's ear. After a quick, reassuring ‘Daniel' smile, Sam gathered her things and left the Briefing Room as Daniel headed for General Landry's office.

"Please close the door." Daniel did. He stood before the desk, legs slightly apart, arms crossed over his chest. His head was raised and he looked down at the general.

General Landry indicated a chair. "Take a seat," he said.

"I'd rather stand, Sir."

"Then at least stand ‘at ease'."

"I am ‘at ease', Sir." Daniel refused to bow before this man.

"You're not beginning this new friendship on a very strong foundation, Doctor Jackson," General Landry said. "I suggest you put some effort into it."

Daniel shrugged his indifference and pulled his arms tighter to himself.

"I know all about your little love affair with this. . ." (the General looked at a paper before him on the desk) "Jonas Quinn. General O'Neill told me all about it yesterday."

Daniel's face remained unchanged as he stared down at the General, the overhead lights sparkling off his glasses.

General Landry rose to his feet in order to look at Daniel eye-to-eye. "I don't believe homosexuals have a right to be in the military, Doctor."

"I'm not in the military, Sir. I'm a civilian. And I'm not a homosexual. I'm just a man who happens to have fallen in love with another man."

"It's the same thing."

"No, Sir, it isn't."

"It is to me." The General searched the papers and picked one of them up. When he spoke, his voice was full of warning. "Mr. Quinn gave his resignation to General O'Neill a few weeks ago. Jack never submitted it. But I am. Mr. Quinn will never work at this base again as long as I'm in command. Furthermore, he will not be allowed on this base, nor will either of you be able to make contact with each other while you're on duty."

"You can't do that, Sir."

"Oh, yes, Dr. Jackson. I can. And I will."

Daniel unfolded his arms and leaned forward, placing his hands on the edge of the desk, meeting the General's gaze head on. "You have no more right to stick your nose into my private life than I do in yours, General."

The General took a similar stance. His whispered response was enough to send chills up Daniel's spine. "You may have had an easy ride with Generals Hammond and O'Neill, Jackson, but your shenanigans won't fly with me. I won't allow your perversions to disrupt this base. You won't find me as easy to twist around your little finger as you did the others."

Daniel stared deeply into Landry's eyes, and the General returned the stare. Finally, Daniel said, "I repulse you, don't I? Everything that you think I am repulses you. You'd love to kick my ass out of here, but you know how valuable I am, both to you and to the Stargate. You can't manage without me. You need me. You need what I know and you need what I can do." Daniel shook his head slightly and stood up straight and tall once more. "No, General. You don't want me here, but you need me here."

"You are bordering on insubordination, Dr. Jackson."

"And I'm one of the few people around here who can be borderline insubordinate and get away with it. You can't court-martial me, General, and you can't afford to fire me." General Landry stood straight to look him in the eyes. "I've lost everyone I ever held dear to me, and now you've taken away my last two friends. Janet is dead. General Hammond is gone. Jack's gone. Jonas has left me. And now, you've taken away Sam and Teal'c. I have nothing left, General. Nothing except the Stargate. If you take that away from me, you'd be doing me a big favour because Jonas would come back to me and I would be happy. But you can't afford to do that. I'm too important to you." Daniel heaved a heavy breath and let it escape slowly. "I'll continue to do my duty here. I'll do what you ask and what you need me to do. But don't ever expect us to become friends. And now, if you will excuse me, a very real and very dear friend of mine needs me more than you do, and I'm not about to disappoint her."

Daniel turned and walked out of the office.

Whatever else General Landry might have thought about Daniel Jackson, he had to admire his courage and convictions. Daniel had been right. Landry needed him.

* * * * *

Jonas Quinn sat alone in his small apartment, reading a book. He was dressed only in underwear briefs. A mug of coffee and a small plate of freshly-baked cinnamon coffee cake sat on the small table in front of him. A soft knock on the door made him look up. Very few people ever visited him.

He set the book on the sofa and moved to the door, opening it a crack and standing behind it to conceal his body. "Sam!" he said excitedly.

"Hi, Jonas," Sam said with a smile. "Can I come in?"

"Of course," Jonas said, opening the door wide for her. Sam stepped in and Jonas closed the door. As he turned, he remembered his state of undress and glanced down at himself. He said hurriedly, "Oh, sorry. I'll. . . um. . ." He moved quickly to the nearby bed where he had dropped his clothes hours earlier. "Sorry," he repeated. He pulled on his pants and T-shirt as Sam sat on the small sofa and set a paper bag she had carried in beside her. She couldn't help but think how great Jonas still looked in his underwear as she recalled a photo session with him many months earlier.

"Care for some coffee?" he asked.

"Sure."

Jonas poured her a mug in the small kitchenette and brought it to her before taking his place beside her on the sofa. "Sorry about that. I wasn't expecting company."

"That's okay," Sam smiled and winked. "You still put on quite a show."

Jonas blushed. "Thanks," he said. "Daniel told me about SG-1 and that you had been transferred." A thought passed through his mind and his face became suddenly serious. "He didn't send you here, did he?"

"No, Jonas," Sam said. "He doesn't even know I'm here. I just came over to say ‘goodbye'."

Jonas' face relaxed.

"But while I'm here. . ."

"Sam!"

Sam took Jonas' hand in her own. "Jonas, Daniel loves you. He needs you. He's miserable without you. He talks about you all the time." She paused, looking for something in his face that would tell her what he was thinking. "SG-1 doesn't exist anymore. He won't be going through the Stargate anymore. Isn't that enough for you?"

"He'll find another team, Sam. Nothing will change."

Sam looked down at the coffee table and nodded. "Let me show you something." She opened the paper bag and pulled out a small candle, handing it to Jonas.

Jonas took the candle and cradled it in his hands, running his fingertips over the embossed wax. Memories of that ceremonial night so long ago rushed into his mind when he and Daniel had committed themselves to each other and promised to love each other forever. He had been so happy then. But things had changed.

"I still love him, Sam. I want to be with him. But he promised me that he would always take care of me and protect me. He can't do that if he's running around the galaxy looking for adventures that can get him killed. I made up my mind to leave him. I can't go back on it now. Daniel isn't willing to give up the Stargate for me. I can't go on knowing that I'm not his first priority. I know he loves me, but, until he proves to me that I'm more important to him than the Stargate, I can't just sit around waiting for it to take him away from me forever."

"How would that make you feel, Jonas. How would you feel if Daniel walked through that Stargate and he died and you knew he'd never be coming back? How would that make you feel?"

"Alone. Miserable. . . . Dead," Jonas admitted.

"Look around you, Jonas. You're already there."

* * * * *

Jonas was left with a lot to think about. Sam had been right, of course. He was forcing upon himself the very thing he feared most. He would have to consider this very carefully.

* * * * *

Sam's departure was a sad one indeed. Teal'c had arrived from Chulak to bid her farewell. Daniel had tried to be strong for her and tried to hold back his emotions, but his sadness couldn't be contained. They had cried in each other's arms for a long, long time.

And now, Daniel stood at the base of the ramp watching his last friend, Teal'c, disappear from his life. He stood there, staring at the Stargate long after it shut down. Everyone important to him was gone. He was all alone in the world now. Secretly, deep inside, he despised the very thing that meant so much to him - the gigantic metal ring standing upright in front of him. It had taken everything away. . . including the only person in the world that he truly loved. He was alone now, facing an uncertain future all by himself. He wasn't at all certain he could do it.

To Be Continued​

Author's Note: I'm sorry you don't seem to be enjoying this sequel as much as the original story. I suspect it is the lack of sexual encounters - sex always sells - but I could be mistaken and the story just isn't any good.

For those who are reading it, I will finish the story as I had intended and post the completed version. There is still a lot more to follow. I am writing Chapter 21 now, and there are several more chapters to follow it before I can tie everything up, but I won't go back and stick in sex just for the sake of having it in the story. In my mind, this is a real love story between Daniel and Jonas and the things that might happen to them given the circumstances of their lives and the events as dictated by the television series.

As you will see soon, I will be opening doors for future sequels, but I won't be writing them. I never had any intention of doing so. Their futures will remain in my imagination and they will have to remain in yours as well.

Thanks.
Neil

 

[gsdx]

Chapter 11
AFTERMATH​

The ‘New Guy', as Daniel liked to think of him, flew into Daniel's life like a jumbo jet on caffeine. Cocky, brash, and outspoken, Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell took it upon himself to pull SG-1 back together, despite the apparent impossibility of that ever happening. Samantha Carter was unavailable for an indefinite period of time. Even then, her rejoining the SGC when her research at Area 51 was finished remained doubtful. Teal'c apparently had no interest to rejoin, especially when his good friend, Daniel Jackson, adamantly refused any further involvement. Besides, the new, free Jaffa government was in peril. Having relied upon false Gods to rule over them for so many thousands of years, it was difficult for the free Jaffa even to imagine a government where they would hold sway over their own futures. It would be a long and difficult challenge to bring all Jaffa together, but Teal'c and his friend, Bra'tac, felt it was worth the effort.

Despite his own best efforts, Daniel began to like Cameron Mitchell. He was overbearing and imposing, certainly, but he had a strength and determination in him that Daniel found intriguing. He also had a delightful, wry sense of humour which Daniel enjoyed. It helped to ease his deepening depression, if only for a short time. Still, though, Daniel was as determined not to rejoin SG-1 as Mitchell was determined to make him a member once again.

General Landry actually became civil to Daniel. Whether it was his standing up to his new Commanding Officer that first day, or whether Landry had realized the enormous value Daniel contributed to the SGC, he could not be certain. He supposed that Landry had every right to bar Jonas from the premises, and he accepted it, but banning any contact with him seemed a little bit out of line. In protest, Daniel refused to shave and General Landry could do nothing about it.

"When are you going to shave that rat off your face, Dr. Jackson?" Landry had asked him one morning. "It's not very military."

Daniel had met his challenge. "Neither am I, General."

"Well, it looks like Hell."

Daniel had held his head up as he replied, "I feel like Hell, Sir. I might as well look like it, too."

Contact with Jonas had been sparse. He seemed aloof and preoccupied, always making excuses, and their conversations had been short, precise, and very empty. Those conversations bothered Daniel greatly, but he could draw nothing out of him. Every day, he convinced himself that Jonas was slipping farther and farther away from him. He could barely see him in his mind anymore, and it certainly seemed that he was too far away for Daniel to even reach.

Daniel was convinced that Jonas was gone forever.

* * * * *

Cameron Mitchell recognized the Jeep in the driveway and knew he had found the right house. The drapes were closed, but Mitchell could see that the lights were on inside. His good friend, Samantha Carter, had called him to tell him that Daniel had phoned her. He had been drinking very heavily, she was certain, and was greatly concerned for him. She had tried to contact Jonas, but was unable to reach him. In desperation, she took a chance that Cameron would be available and asked if he would check up on her friend. Mitchell had quickly changed clothes and set out in search of Daniel Jackson's home.

He knew all about Daniel and Jonas. Sam had told him about them long ago. Although he had never met Jonas, he didn't particularly care that they were lovers. He liked Daniel and he hoped Daniel liked him. The fact that he was in love with another man made no difference to him. It was his life. He considered Daniel a friend, and when his friend needed his help, Mitchell would do what he could, no matter what Daniel's lifestyle might be.

As he approached the front door, he could see a shadow cross behind the drapes. At least Jackson was still alive and mobile. He reached the door, opened the weather door, and pressed the doorbell several times as he banged loudly with his other hand. The wooden door opened eventually and a very drunk Daniel Jackson stood before him wearing only a pair of white boxer shorts. He wore no glasses. A half-empty bottle of wine was in one hand, the supporting door in the other hand. His penis was hanging out of the slot of the boxers.

"Oh, man," Mitchell said to no-one in particular as he glanced quickly over his shoulders.

Daniel squinted at him for a moment before mumbling, "You're not Jonas."

"Sorry to disappoint you, pal," Mitchell said. Placing his hands on Daniel's shoulders, he pushed him back into the room, kicking the door closed as he passed. "Come on, Jackson. Let's get you inside before the Pecker Police come knockin'."

"Cameron?" Daniel asked with a slur in his voice. "Is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me, pal."

"Where's Jonas?"

"I don't know." To himself, he added, "I only wish I did."

Mitchell noticed Daniel's eyes. They looked tired and bloodshot, and the lids drooped rather severely. He looked rather unsteady on his feet, swaying slightly back and forth. He suspected that Daniel wasn't working on his first bottle of wine.

"Cameron!" Daniel said in surprise, as if he just now recognized him. "Ca-a-a-mer-r-r-r-on. Cammmmm-ron. Cammy-ron." Daniel grinned and snorted as he played with the name. "Cammy. . . . Cammy Cam." He snorted again and giggled. Then, rocking his head sideways in cadence with the words, he said as he smiled, "Cammy Cam Cam Cam Cam Cam." One more giggle. "You've got a funny name."

"Yeah. A laugh riot. Look, Jackson, are you going to put that away?"

Daniel looked at him dumbly. "Put what away?"

"That," Mitchell said, pointing at Daniel's crotch.

Daniel looked down. "Hey, look at that!" He looked back up at Mitchell. "I've got one of those."

"Yeah, so do I. Come on, Jackson. Put it away."

Daniel's face became confused again. "Put what away?" he repeated.

Mitchell grimaced. "Oh, man! I hope you're not as strong as you look." Taking a deep breath, he reached out his hand, hooking one finger in the slot of Daniel's underwear near the top, and pulled the material forward. Daniel's penis slipped inside.

Daniel, who looked down to see what his new friend was doing, said, "Hey! Where did it go?"

"It's gone to bed," Mitchell said, "and I think that's where you should be."

Daniel winked and a mischievous grin curled his lips. "Only if you join me, Jonas."

"It's Mitchell, pal, and I left my jammies at home."

The grin disappeared from Daniel's lips. His eyelids sagged even more as he looked sadly down at the floor. "You're not Jonas. Jonas doesn't wear pyjamas." When he looked up again, he asked, "Jonas? Is that you?"

"It's me, Mitchell. Come on, Jackson, get with the program. Let's get you sitting down." He placed his hands on Daniel's shoulders, but Daniel shrugged himself out of the grasp.

"I don't want to sit down!"

As Daniel took another drink from the bottle, Mitchell said, "Okay, okay. We'll stand."

"Have you seen Jonas?" Daniel asked as he looked around the room. "I can't find him."

"Sorry, pal. He's not here."

Daniel closed his eyes tightly. In his blurry mind, he saw Jonas standing in front of him and he smiled. Then Jonas turned and walked out the door. A chilled wind filled the space Jonas had just occupied. Daniel shivered.

"Are you cold? I could get you some pants or something to put on."

"No, I'm not cold," Daniel replied, shaking his head. "Aren't you hot with all those clothes on?" He snorted and chuckled once again. "Listen to what I'm saying. Of course you're hot! You look hot in anything you wear. Especially those jeans." Daniel stared openly at Mitchell's crotch. His eyes glazed over even more. His eyelids closed and opened in a very slow blink. "Jonas? Are you wearing the underwear I like?" He reached out and clamped his hand around Mitchell's crotch, his fingers squeezing the sensitive testicles hidden there.

"Ow. Ow! Ow!" Mitchell gasped as he grabbed Daniel's hand and pried it loose. "Fingers! Fingers!"

Daniel looked at him, concern etched in his face. "I'm sorry, Jonas! I didn't mean to hurt you!"

Cameron grabbed Daniel by the shoulders, giving him a shake. "Jackson. Look at me. I'm not Jonas. I'm Mitchell."

A look of recognition entered Daniel's eyes. "Cameron?"

"Yes, it's me, Cameron. Stay with me, pal."

Daniel appeared to return to reality, his face deep in thought. "Why did you do that, Cameron?" Daniel asked. "Why did you push my hand away? Are you afraid some of my fagginess is going to rub off on you?"

"Come on, Jackson," Mitchell replied. "You're not a fag."

Daniel snorted. "A lot you know. . . pal! . . . I suck Jonas' cock and he sucks mine. I fuck Jonas' ass and he fucks mine. . . . Sure sounds like I'm a fag."

"Too much information," Mitchell whispered. Aloud, he said, "You're not a fag, Jackson. You're in love."

Daniel's demeanour changed. His face took on a hard, harsh look. His eyelids pulled tight and low. His voice dropped to a whisper, his words drawn own. "What do you know about love? You don't know anything!" He shouted the final word in an unexpectedly loud burst.

Mitchell's response was calm and understanding. "I know enough to be able to tell you love Jonas."

Daniel's response surprised even Cameron Mitchell. Daniel's eyes opened wide and he reeled back as he suddenly spun around and threw the bottle of wine against the outside wall of the guestroom. The bottle shattered and broken glass few in all directions. The wine splattered onto the floor and over the wall. A sizeable hole was left in the middle of the wine stain as it dripped down the wall.

Daniel turned back to Mitchell, leaning into him. For a man who was staggeringly drunk, he suddenly became very sober, very rational, and very coherent. Tears were filling his eyes once more. "What the hell do you know about love, Mitchell! Huh!?" Pounding his chest with his fist, Daniel shouted, "You don't know what I'm feeling here! You don't know the love I don't feel here anymore! You don't know what it's like to have the only person I ever loved take it all away from me! You don't know what it's like to go to bed alone at night and not have Jonas there with me! You don't know what it's like to sleep alone! To wake up, alone! You don't know what it's like to eat alone! To live alone! You don't know a damned thing, Mitchell! Not a fuckin' thing!"

Cameron tried to remain calm. Things were getting very serious here. He had to find a way to defuse the situation. . . and fast! As calmly as he could, he placed a hand on Daniel's shoulder.

Daniel's face pulled tight in anger. His head turned slightly to the side. His bloodshot eyes widened in fury and rage as he stared at Mitchell out of the corners of his eyelids. His arm came up, knocking Mitchell's hand away. His other arm shot out, grasping the T-shirt in a tight fist.

Daniel growled. "You bastard! You come into Stargate with your ego and your big mouth and you think you can take over the place! You think if wear your tight pants and waggle your dick in my face, you can get me to do whatever you want! You think you can replace Jack? Is that what you think?" Daniel's head shook, his jaws clenched, the muscles in his neck threatening to burst from his skin. He yelled. "Well, you can't. . . pal! Jack was my best friend! We were a team! And now they're all gone and you want to take his place! Well, fuck you, man! The only friend I want is the one who doesn't want me anymore!"

Daniel's face suddenly changed. The fury faded into sudden realization as a thought flew into his wine-soaked mind. "You son of a bitch! You want him, don't you?" He pushed Mitchell away with a vicious thrust of disgust and betrayal. "You asshole! You want Jonas, don't you! You took him away from me!" Fury reentered his face. "Well, keep your fuckin' hands off him, Mitchell! He belongs to me! Jonas is mine!"

Mitchell held up his hands in a show of innocense.

"You want to take me on!? Huh!?" Daniel shouted as he pressed forward.

"Stay cool, Cameron," Mitchell thought. "Just be ready and don't let him hurt himself."

"You don't think I can take you, do you!?" Daniel continued. "Huh!?" Silence. When he spoke again, Daniel's voice was low and full of threat, his face full of anger. "What's the matter, . . . pal!? You afraid to get your ass whooped by a fag? You afraid everyone will point at you and laugh at you in the locker room because a fag beat your ass!? Well, get ready, Mitchell, ‘cause that's exactly what's going to happen!!"

Daniel reeled back his right arm, his hand rolling into a fist. He brought his fist forward and around, aimed right at Mitchell's face. It wasn't there when his fist reached its target. Mitchell easily avoided the blow and the momentum swung Daniel around in a half-circle. Mitchell quickly came up behind him, wrapping his arms around Daniel's body, trapping Daniel's arms in his clutches. He locked his hands together at Daniel's chest.

The strength of the man surprised him as Daniel tried to wrench himself free. His voice rose in a furious yell as his arms tried to escape their bindings. Daniel continued to scream and writhe, desperate to get away from his captor. Mitchell was forced to pull his arms tighter and grab his own wrists to prevent Daniel from breaking free. His teeth clenched in effort. Sweat beaded on his forehead and his body and began to soak into his T-shirt. His breath came in heaving pants and gasps.

Daniel fought valiantly, twisting and turning himself without making any progress. His angry screams continued. Mitchell's arms started to weaken. He wasn't at all sure how much longer he could hold on. Suddenly, the screams switched from utter fury to heart-wrenching anguish. A chill shot up Mitchell's spine at the sound. All of Daniel's pain and despair was released in that single scream that seemed to go on and on, and suddenly his body went limp. Unprepared for the drastic and sudden shift in balance, Mitchell had all he could do not to drop Daniel as he slumped in front of him. "Damn! Damn! Damn!" he whispered loudly and fought against the sudden weight in his arms.

"Oh, God! What have I done!?" Daniel cried over and over as he sank to the floor. "What have I done!?"

Mitchell managed to help Daniel to the floor, dropping to one knee and using his arm and one leg to support him. He gasped for breath, recovering from the effort and energy he had just expended. Daniel was a powerful man indeed.

Daniel's voice dropped to a sad whisper as he cried. "I'm sorry, Jonas. I'm so sorry."

They remained there for several minutes, Mitchell's hand now massaging Daniel's upper back. Daniel's body was wracked with sobs, his elbows resting on his thighs, his head bowed. He continued to mutter his apologies to Jonas, telling him how much he loved him. Slowly, the sobbing stopped and Daniel sat there, lost somewhere in his mind and his thoughts.

Mitchell sat back on the hardwood floor. It felt cold, even through the clothes he was wearing, and he knew he had to get Daniel off it. He moved around to squat in front of his friend. His voice was soft and gentle.

"Jackson?" No response. He placed his hand on the side of Daniel's head. "Jackson." Still no response. "Daniel," he said finally.

Daniel slowly lifted his head. He looked sad and beaten, and so very alone. He blinked very slowly. "Cameron?"

"I'm here, pal," Mitchell replied, moving his hand to Daniel's shoulder. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Cameron? Please don't hate me."

"Never going to happen." He smiled, and Daniel smiled back weakly. "Now, listen to me. I need to get you off this floor, okay?"

Daniel nodded weakly. "Okay."

Mitchell moved behind Daniel, squatted once more, slipped his arms under Daniel's arms, and locked his hands. "Are you ready? Here we go." He groaned with the effort. Daniel was little help, but did what he could. "Stand up, Daniel," he encouraged. "That's it. Up we go." Eventually, he got Daniel to his feet and slipped his head under Daniel's left arm and supported him around his back. He walked Daniel to the sofa, turned him around, and sat him down. Puffing with the effort, Mitchell sat on the sofa to catch his breath. He would never have imagined there was so much ‘Daniel' under those baggy clothes he always wore.

"I'm going to make a phone call and then I'll help you into bed." Daniel didn't respond. He sat there, staring into the emptiness of the room. Mitchell turned to his left and picked up the phone. He dialed.

"General Landry, please. It's Colonel Mitchell." He waited patiently as the switchboard patched him through. Finally, the General's phone rang and, thankfully, was answered almost immediately. "It's Mitchell, General. I'm here with Daniel. He's in really rough shape, Sir. . . . I shouldn't be too much longer. I'm going to find his bedroom and try to get him into his bed." There was movement beside him and Mitchell looked around in time to see Daniel slumping to his side on the sofa. He was sound asleep. "Damn! He just passed out, Sir. . . . Look, I can't leave him alone here now. There's glass all over the floor. . . . Yeah, he tried to throw Ruth out on first with a wine bottle and hit the wall instead. . . . Yes, Sir, I will. . . . I'm staying here tonight, Sir. He shouldn't be left alone and, frankly, I don't think it's safe to leave him alone. . . . Permission to speak freely, Sir? . . . You need this man, General. You need him on SG-1. . . . No, Sir, I'm not kidding. You try to hold him down for two minutes and you'll see there's a whole lot more to Daniel Jackson than smarts. . . . Thank you, Sir. Mitchell out."

Cameron Mitchell hung up the phone and stood up. Looking down at the sleeping man in front of him, he said, "I don't envy you the head you're going to have tomorrow, buddy." He lifted Daniel's feet and placed them gently on the sofa, then looked around. Where would Daniel's bedroom be? He decided to check the nearest door first. He opened it and was delighted that he had discovered the master bedroom on his first try without having to walk through all that broken glass. He felt the wall inside the door until he found the switch. The room flooded with light. He moved to the bed, stepping over Daniel's discarded clothes, and reached for two pillows, the blanket, and the top sheet.

As he turned to leave, he saw the framed photo on the bedside table beside Daniel's wallet. He picked up the photo and looked at the young man pictured there. "So, you're Jonas Quinn. I hope you're worth all you're putting him through."

He set the photo back on the table, took note of the en suite bathroom, then left the room after switching off the light. Back at the sofa, he lifted Daniel's head and slid a pillow under it, tossing the other pillow and white sheet onto the loveseat. He covered Daniel with the blanket, then headed for the kitchen in search of a broom.

The doorbell rang.

He went to the door and opened it. Two uniformed police officers stood there.

"There has been a report of a loud disturbance," one officer said.

Mitchell turned and indicated a sleeping Daniel with his open hand. "He's going through a break-up and he's not handling it very well. He just passed out."

"May we come in?"

"Of course," Mitchell replied, stepping back to allow the officers to enter. The older officer who had spoken to him went directly to Daniel's sleeping form. The other sniffed the air, now filled with the heady smell of wine. He looked at the wall to his right as he pulled a notepad out of his pocket.

"What happened there?" the officer asked.

"Anger. Frustration. Broken heart. I don't know," Mitchell replied. "You'd have to ask Daniel, but I doubt if he'd remember much."

"Your name?"

"Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell, Sir. U.S. Air Force."

"Identification?"

Mitchell pulled out his wallet and retrieved his ID, handing it to the officer.

"And he is?"

"Dr. Daniel Jackson."

"Medical?"

"Archaeology." The younger officer looked up at him as Mitchell indicated the many ancient statues and books and artifacts spread around the room.

"King Tut stuff," the officer nodded. "Any ID?"

Mitchell said, "His wallet's in the bedroom. I saw it when I was getting the blankets. May I?"

The officer nodded and followed Mitchell into the bedroom. Mitchell flipped on the light and moved to the table where he picked up the wallet and began searching for Daniel's identification."

"Who's that?" the officer asked, pointing at Jonas' photograph.

"That is Jonas, Sir, and he is the reason for that wine and glass all over the room out there," Mitchell said, pointing at the door just as the other officer entered the room.

"Oh," said the younger officer. "A couple of those."

Mitchell turned to face him. "Excuse me, Sir," he said with a definite tone, "I don't appreciate you talking about my friends like that."

A look came over the officer's face as he raised his pen to Mitchell and opened his mouth to speak. The older officer cut him short.

"Easy, there, Franks," he said. The other officer backed down. "Your friend is fine. He's going to have a head the size of Utah in the morning, though. Do you have his ID?"

Mitchell found Daniel's driving license and held it out to the officer who took it, glanced at it, nodded, and handed it back.

"Wrap it up, Franks," he said. To Mitchell, he said, "Sorry to have bothered you. Your friend shouldn't be left alone tonight."

Mitchell nodded. "No problem, Sir. I'm staying here."

The police officers left. Mitchell locked the door and set out once again in search of a broom. He found one in a utility closet in the kitchen and swept as much of the glass he could see into a pile. He'd get the rest in the morning.

Back in the kitchen, he found a carton of orange juice in the refrigerator, poured himself a glass, and returned to the livingroom. He flopped down on the loveseat and flipped on the television with the remote. He scanned the channels and stopped at one of his favourite programmes, Farscape. It was mindless entertainment, to be sure, but he had always envied Crichton's galactic adventures. He had often dreamt of being ‘out there' himself, touring the universe and finding excitement on faraway planets. Mitchell's life was real, though - not like John Crichton's - and he was about to embark on real-life galactic adventures of his own through the Stargate. As long as he could pull a team together to go with him.

As the closing credits rolled, he hit the power button and sniffed the armpit of his T-shirt. He'd worked up quite a sweat trying to get Daniel Jackson under control. He went back to the bedroom and into the bathroom where he filled the sink with hot water and several squirts of liquid hand soap. He stripped off his clothes and stuffed the T-shirt, socks, and underwear into the sink, sloshing them around a bit, before taking a leak and stepping into the shower. He didn't think Daniel would mind.

He quickly finished his shower and dried off with one of the towels there. He was about to put the towel back on the bar when he thought better of it and tossed it into the laundry basket nearby. He rinsed out his clothes, gave them a sniff, wrung them out, and hung them over the towel bar.

Pulling on his jeans, he went back to the livingroom where he quickly made up his bed on the loveseat. He turned out all the lights, made his way back to his bed, and promptly fell asleep.

* * * * *

Jonas stood at the door of his apartment. Corey stood before him.

"Thank you for supper, Jonas," Corey said softly. "It was delicious."

"My pleasure," Jonas replied.

"I had a fun time tonight."

"I did, too."

Jonas looked into the brown eyes of his new friend. The eyes returned the gaze, then glanced down quickly at his lips. Jonas knew what Corey was thinking, and he wanted to stop it before it began, but he let it happen.

Corey leaned forward, his head tilted. Their lips met and pressed together. The kiss lasted much longer than Jonas should have allowed, but almost a minute passed before he ended it. He pushed Corey away.

"Corey, please."

"I'm sorry, Jonas. Don't be mad at me, please. I just had to kiss you at least once."

"I'm not mad," Jonas said. "I'm disappointed in myself. I shouldn't have let it happen."

"Why did you?"

"I don't know," Jonas replied. No-one would ever know why he did.

To Be Continued​

 

[gsdx]

Chapter 12
REVELATIONS​

Daniel slowly opened his eyes. His head throbbed and, for a brief moment, he wasn't exactly sure where he was. Slowly, the room came into focus - or as near to being focused as was possible without his glasses - and he realized he was sleeping on his sofa. There was a strong scent of stale wine. Across from him, hidden under a white sheet, lay another body.

"Jonas?" he called quietly.

The body stirred. "Mitchell," it said, and rolled to a sitting position.

"Cameron?" Daniel said in surprise as he sat up. The piercing pain of ‘the morning after' shot through his head and he winced. "Owwww!" he said as he raised his hands to his head as if to prevent it from exploding, followed quickly by an ‘Ooooo' as he realized that he was sitting there in only his underwear. He grabbed the sheet and pulled it back up to his shoulders, covering his bare chest. "Sorry," he apologized.

Mitchell grinned. If only Daniel knew how immodest he had been the night before.

Daniel became preoccupied with the dark stain on the wall beyond Mitchell. He squinted at it and Cameron grabbed the eyeglasses from the coffee table and handed them to his friend. Daniel accepted them with a ‘thank you' and put them on with one hand, the other hand still holding the blanket to his neck. He continued to stare at the wall. "I suppose I did that?" he asked.

Mitchell nodded. "Yeah. Were you in the Junior League when you were a kid?"

Daniel shook his head, then looked at Cameron, who was sitting across from him wearing only a pair of blue jeans. Daniel's eyebrows curled down in question. "What are you doing here?"

"You don't remember?"

"Nothing."

"Apparently, you phoned Sam and she was concerned about you. She asked me to come over to look after you."

"I don't remember calling her."

"I'm guessing you don't remember much, pal," Mitchell said as he rose to his feet, pushing the bed sheet to the side. He moved to stand before Daniel, grabbed his arm, and said, "Come on. I'll get you fixed up as good as new. First thing you need is a nice, hot shower and then lots of coffee."

Daniel rose slowly to his feet, groaning in pain all the way, still clutching the blanket in front of him. Mitchell led him to the bedroom and into the bathroom. "Can you do this on your own or do you need help?"

"I think I can manage," Daniel replied, his voice little more than a whisper. It hurt too much to talk any louder. "Oh, my bathrobe."

"Stay here, I'll get it."

"Did I do that?" Daniel asked, puzzled.

"Do what?"

"Those clothes hanging on the towel bar. Did I throw up on you or something?"

"Nah. Just a bit of stinky sweat," Mitchell explained. "I rinsed them out last night in the sink. I didn't think you'd mind." Daniel shook his head slightly. Giving them a squeeze, Mitchell added, "Not dry yet."

"There's a dryer in the other bathroom down the hall. You can use it."

Mitchell smiled and nodded. "Thanks. Where's your bathrobe?"

"In the closet," Daniel said, pointing at the bedroom. "The blue one is mine."

Mitchell disappeared as Daniel reached into the shower stall and turned on the faucet. Cameron returned with the robe and lay it on the closed toilet seat. He opened the cabinet over the sink. "Where's your Aspirin?" he asked.

"We keep them in the kitchen," Daniel replied. "The cupboard over the fridge. Look, if you want a shirt or something, top drawer in the big dresser near the closet. They should fit you."

"Thanks. Now, you get under that shower. I'll bring the Aspirin in to you and then start some breakfast." He left the bathroom, taking his wet clothes with him.

Daniel slid the frosted shower door open, dropped the blanket to the floor, slid out of his boxer shorts, and stepped under the water, sliding the door closed behind him. The sudden shock of the spray sent a wave of pain through his head, but gradually it eased and he found the water quite soothing. A minute or two later, a rap on the shower door drew his attention to it. He slid it open a bit and a hand stuck itself in, palm up. Three Aspirins rested in it. He took them and the hand withdrew. "Got any wa. . ." the hand returned, holding a glass half full of a red liquid, ". . . ter." He took the glass and asked, "What's this?"

"And old family recipe. Drink it up," came the voice outside the door.

Daniel hesitantly sniffed the glass. "It smells like. . . ."

"I know what it smells like," the voice said. "Take the Aspirins and drink it. I'll know if you pour it down the drain."

Daniel sucked in a deep breath and held it, popped the little white pills into his mouth, and drained the glass. It didn't taste as bad as he had anticipated. He held the glass out the door and a hand took it from him.

"Come to the kitchen when you're done," the voice said, and Daniel heard the bathroom door close.

Even as he stood there, Daniel could feel his stomach settling. He no-longer felt like throwing up all over the floor. His head still pounded with each beat of his heart, but it no-longer felt like it was going to explode. He stood under the shower and let the hot water wash away all the pain.

Twenty minutes later, he walked slowly into the kitchen. His robe was tied about his waist and he was drying his hair with a fluffy, blue, terrycloth towel. He sat gingerly at the table. He felt much better, but he knew he still had a long recovery ahead of him.

Cameron Mitchell, now dressed in one of Daniel's black T-shirts, poured him a mug of coffee and set it in front of him. "No sugar. No milk," he ordered as he pushed down the handle of the toaster.

"How bad was I last night?" Daniel asked as he took a sip of the coffee and winced. He wanted sugar. Lots of sugar.

"You don't want to know," Mitchell replied.

"Probably not. But I need to know what I have to apologize for."

"Let's eat first," Mitchell said. "Then we'll talk."

After a quick and bland breakfast of black coffee and un-buttered toast, Mitchell poured another coffee for each of them and sat down across from his friend, thinking. He had already determined that he wouldn't tell Daniel about the ‘Pecker Police' incident. The poor guy was modest to a fault and was embarrassed even to be seen in just his underwear. Knowing that he had been on display would probably cause some sort of breakdown. That would be one secret he would keep locked safely inside himself. He would have to ask Daniel where his modesty came from. The man had nothing to be ashamed of, yet he spent so much time and took so much care to keep it all covered up. Maybe that's the way it is with intellectuals, he thought.

"You kept confusing me with Jonas," he began. "I was ‘Cameron' one second and ‘Jonas' the next."

"I didn't. . . um. . ." Daniel said sheepishly.

"Come on to me?"

Daniel nodded.

"Yeah."

"Oh, God," Daniel said, hanging his head in shame. "I'm sorry."

"Come on, Jackson," Mitchell said with a small laugh. "I've had uglier guys than you come on to me before."

"Gee, thanks," Daniel said. "That makes me feel much. . . better." He paused, shaking his head. "Okay, what did I do?"

"Well," Mitchell continued after he had taken another sip of coffee, "you thought I was Jonas and you wanted to know if I was wearing the underwear you like. You kind of latched onto my nuts."

Daniel's face came up to look straight at Mitchell, his fingertips moving to his mouth. "And I still have all my teeth?"

"Don't be so hard on yourself. It's no big deal. I've been groped before. Lots of times. I'm not a stranger to sex with another man. I know what it's about. I'd never consider falling in love with a man, but I can see how it might happen with you and Jonas. I saw his picture in the bedroom. He's very handsome."

"That's not why I fell in love with him," Daniel said quietly as his head bowed once again. "There's a lot more to it than that."

"The point is," Mitchell added, "from what I saw and heard last night, you still love him. That's blatantly clear. It doesn't matter to me. I don't care." He paused. Then, "Look at me, Jackson."

Daniel looked up slowly, meeting Mitchell's gaze.

"I don't care."

Daniel was silent for a long minute. He asked, "Why are you here, Cameron. Why did you come last night? And why are you still here this morning? Why are you doing all this for me?"

"Because we're friends, Jackson," Mitchell explained. "Whether or not you believe it, we're friends. And when friends need help, good friends don't turn their backs and walk away. I'm here for you, pal, and I'll stay right here as long as you need me."

Mitchell reached his hand across the table, laying it palm-up. Daniel stared at it for a moment, then reached out his own hand and placed it over Mitchell's. Their hands clasped.

"I'll never let you down, Daniel."

Daniel was silent for a moment. "You called me ‘Daniel'." He looked up, his gaze meeting Mitchell's eyes. "I believe you. Thanks." He withdrew his hand and sat up straight, taking a deep breath. After another short pause, he said, "The wall?"

They were interrupted by the sound of a buzzer. "That's my clothes," Mitchell said as he stood up and slid into his shoes. "I'll be right back."

Moments after Mitchell left the room, Daniel heard the front door close, the latch slipping into place. There was a concerned "Daniel?" followed by a more urgent "Daniel!"

"In the kitchen, Mrs. McCreary." Her footsteps moved quickly across the floor. Moments later, she was standing beside him, her hand resting on his back.

"Daniel? Are you okay?" she asked.

"I'm fine, Mrs. McCreary," Daniel replied with a weak, painful smile.

"I'll be the judge of that! Show me your feet."

"Mrs. McCreary," Daniel objected.

With her hands on her hips and a stern look on her face, Mrs. McCreary said simply, "Daniel Jackson!? You do as you're told!"

Knowing that further argument would lead him nowhere, Daniel swung around in his chair and raised his feet off the floor. Mrs. McCreary took them in her hands as she bent over, giving them a thorough examination. Cameron Mitchell returned, dressed now in his own clothes.

Mrs. McCreary dropped Daniel's feet to the floor and stood up as Mitchell took his seat again. "Who are you?" she asked.

Before Mitchell could speak, Daniel said quickly, "This is Cameron Mitchell. He's a friend of mine. Cameron? This is Mrs. McCreary. She takes care of me."

Mitchell stood, extending his hand in greeting. "Pleased to meet you, Ma'am," he said.

Mrs. McCreary took his hand and gave it a gentle shake. "You're very polite," she said. "You're not Daniel's new boyfriend, are you?"

"No, Ma'am," Mitchell said, releasing her hand. "I'm just his friend."

"Good," she replied. "Now, sit down and shut up."

Mitchell looked at Daniel, who could only smile back at him. He sat back down.

"Now," Mrs. McCreary continued as she pointed toward the livingroom, "what happened out there?"

Daniel looked at her. "I don't know. Cameron was just going to tell me."

Mrs. McCreary turned her attention to Mitchell. "Okay. You tell him and keep him in here until I get that room all cleaned up. I don't want him running around in there in his bare feet."

"I will, Ma'am."

"You're too polite, Mister. Don't think all that nicey-nice is going to soften me up. I can still take you over my knee and smack your bum!"

"She'll do it, too," Daniel said with a grin.

"I believe she would, too," Mitchell said with admiration.

With her head held high, Mrs. McCreary stared down at Mitchell. "And don't you forget it, young man. Now, do as you're told and keep Daniel in here." She spun on her heels and marched to the broom closet. She began pulling out mops, pails, dustpans, and other implements with which she would scour the livingroom clean of every piece of glass and as much wine off the wall as possible. Mitchell could only sit and watch as the little bundle of energy skittered about.

When she had gathered all she would need and had left the kitchen, Mitchell said softly, "Wow. She's something else. I'd hold onto her if I were you."

From the livingroom, a voice came. "Thank you, Cameron!"

Daniel smiled.

"You're welcome, Ma'am!" Mitchell called back. To Daniel, he whispered, "Wow. Good ears."

Daniel rose to his feet and closed the kitchen door before returning to his chair. "She turns her ears off when we close the door. She won't bother us. Now, about that wall."

As Mitchell began to tell the story, Daniel's chin sunk to his chest. Tears began to fill his eyes. He couldn't believe the words he was hearing. He couldn't believe he had actually accused Mitchell of trying to steal Jonas away from him. When Mitchell finished his short tale, Daniel looked up. "Oh, God, Cameron. I'm so sorry. I don't really think that way."

"I know," Mitchell said as he stood up and walked around the table. He held out his arms to Daniel. "Come here," he said.

Daniel stood up and fell into Mitchell's arms. He began to cry. "I miss him so much," he whispered.

Mitchell remained silent and concentrated on comforting his friend.

When they separated and Daniel was once again seated at the table, Mitchell went to the door, opened it, and called out, "Mrs. McCreary?" There were footsteps, then whispers that Daniel couldn't understand and, less than a minute later, Mitchell said, "Thanks", closed the door, and set Jonas' photograph on the table in front of Daniel.

As Mitchell took his chair again, Daniel picked up the photo, staring deeply into the eyes of the young man pictured there. He was silent for a long time, running his fingers lovingly over the profile. Finally, he raised his fingers to his lips, kissed two of them, and pressed them tenderly to the lips in the photo. "I love you, Jonas," he whispered.

He set the photo on the table, still holding it in his hands and looking at it.

"Tell me about him," Mitchell said softly.

Daniel looked up. "What do you want to know?"

"Anything. Everything," Mitchell replied. "I want to know about the man who could steal your heart."

Daniel began slowly, hesitantly, but soon fell into the tale and told Mitchell everything he could about himself and Jonas.

Mitchell sat patiently, listening intently. When Daniel finished his story, Mitchell was silent for a few moments longer. Then he said, "He'll come back, Daniel."

Daniel looked up at him.

"Something like this comes along only once in a lifetime if you're lucky," Mitchell said gently. "You're one of the lucky ones. Jonas will come back."

Daniel smiled at him and said, "Thanks," but he didn't really believe a word Cameron Mitchell said.

To Be Continued​

 

[gsdx]

Hi, Folks

I'm in a bit of a quandary here, and I'm not sure what to do about it. There is a lot more story to come, but it involves a lot of character and plot development. I'm afraid there isn't too much sex spread around in it. At least, not enough to keep the interest going for most readers. Unfortunately, the sex would be totally inappropriate to the story as it stands.

I have 2 choices:

1 - Continue with the extended, full-length version which may grow to somewhere around 25 chapters

or

2 - I can back up and rewrite the remaining chapters to put you all out of your misery a whole lot sooner.

I was going to post the next chapter tomorrow (Wednesday), but I'll wait a day or so until I get a little feedback from you. If you want the story, I'll continue posting chapters as I have written them. If you would rather have the sex, I'll change everything and give you the sex instead and wrap it up.

Any input will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
Neil

 

[PhoenixRising]

I personally like the story, and think that you should keep going the way you have been.

If you go back and rewrite the remaining chapters, I don't think it will flow with the continuity of the story already posted.

I say, why fix is if it isn't broken.

 

[gsdx]

I wouldn't be rewriting the chapters I have written. I would simply move things forward and eliminate about a dozen or so chapters which follow the ones I have already posted. I could, effectively, end the story in 2 or 3 more chapters rather than in the 25 or so that I have planned.

The ending would be more or less the same, but less dramatic and a whole lot less reading to get there. I just got the feeling that a lot of people were losing interest because there isn't any hardcore sex in it.

 

[PhoenixRising]

Well, I like it the way it is, with out a lot of sex. Unless I'm looking to jerk off, I tend to gloss over the sex scenes.