July 8th 2004 – Nellis Air base.
Daniel sat in the interim room, head held in hands, feeling beat and looking just the same. He was the only one still hanging around. Most of the Prometheus crew had been unharmed, so as soon as they’d returned to Nellis everyone made like the roadrunner, sailing through their post mission check ups and out the door. Of course there was a select few, himself included, who got the rough end of the stick. Rough in his case being a major understatement. He hadn’t been beaten up so thoroughly since grade school. General Hammond had sat with him while the nurses at the base treated some of his less noticeable injures, but he too inevitably had to leave, his daring retrieval of the power crystals having bought him a night in the academy hospital, leaving Daniel feeling guilty for thinking it could have been worse.
An hour passed since Daniel had been given the all clear and he hoped to God his ride would be here soon to take him back to Cheyenne. Sitting there, with nothing to keep him occupied all Daniel could think about was that yet another chance to visit the city of Atlantis had slipped through his fingers. How many opportunities to see long lost mythically cities did people get in a lifetime? Jack scuppered his first chance and if he could believe Jack was the sadist he often pretended to be, he’d think Vala had 'Jack O’Neill intervention' written all over her. Not literarily of course. He’d have noticed when he stripped her of that anti-zat suit, but there was that odd sense he had that Vala, like Jack, was not someone he would easily be able to get away from.
Daniel breathed out a sigh and checked his watch, a little after 3:00 in the morning. Just then the doors at the end of the corridor were pushed open and there stood one smartly dressed, very anxious, Air Force General. The sight had an unprecedented affect on Daniel. The depression he’d been feeling up until now disappeared, relief flooded his body from his toes up. Daniel was surprised, and it translated onto his face in the form of raised eyebrows and wide eyes. He should have known.
Jack didn’t have to search long for Daniel, he clapped eyes on him immediately, sat on one of many plastic chairs, looking more than a little worse for wear. Having talked to Daniel over his cell a few hours ago he already had a pretty good idea what had happened.
And boy was he relieved.
It had been Walter who had knocked on his office door with the unofficial news that something had gone a miss with the Atlantis rescue expedition. Jack had been playing table soccer with a screwed up memo and his index finger, a sport normally engaged in with a friend - mentioning no names. It wasn’t until two hours and thirteen phone calls later that Jack got the abridged official version. That being the Prometheus had been involved in an altercation and had expended too many resources to continue to Atlantis. All crew were accounted for and no major injuries reported. With that done, and the knowledge that Daniel was coming home, Jack had been unable to sit placid behind his desk. It wasn’t until a call was patched through to Carter’s lab where he sat talking out his reasoning on why he knew Daniel should never have gone in the first place, that Jack finally relaxed enough to accomplish some General like duties.
At first it was Walter on the other end when Carter handed him the receiver, and Jack had held his breath monetarily, apprehensive that the original report was incorrect and that maybe there was one casualty and that casualty was going to be…
“Jack?”
Jack breathed and ran a sweaty palm through his hair, not believing how much tension he had built up in the week since Daniel had left for Pegasus.
“He’s okay.” Jack, handset still to his ear, informed both Carter and Teal’c who were sat with him, looking very much like they’d lose their lunch if he didn’t relay some good news, and fast.
Carter looked fit to tear over. And after the week she’d had he thought it was a distinct possibility she would right there and then. It wasn’t as if Daniel ever let any of them build up a defence before causing more grief. So far this year he’d been shot, Zatted an insurmountable number of times and went MIA for three months.
Daniel had told him the whole story over the phone and now here he was at Nellis, more than ready to take him home.
Jack walked in, and after a slight delay where he got his bearings Daniel stood up to greet him. Eight years down the line there were no uncomfortable reunions, disgruntled attitudes or feelings left unshared. Daniel walked up to Jack and the pair hugged unabashedly in the middle of the empty room.
“We’ve been worried.” Jack informed Daniel while running hands through matted hair, over cuts and bruises, coming together eventually to rub his back.
Daniel closed his eyes briefly, smiled a little and leaned, resting his very wearily head. For all his excitement over the lost city of the Ancients, Daniel was sure glad to be home. For the moment at least. He believed fate was trying to tell him something.
“I’m sorry about Atlantis.” Jack said, mainly because he felt gloating might not be well received.
“No you’re not.” Daniel corrected him, turning his back to collect his bag.
Jack waited with arms open by the door and swung one around Daniel’s shoulder as they walk out. “So who’s this Vala chick I’ve heard so little about?”
“I’m hoping you’ll never find out.”