Daniel heard General Hammond's voice ringing in his ears. Not the words, just the sound of it. The slight Texas twang reverberating around and around inside his mind. He jumped when a soft, white hand was placed onto his shoulder. Slowly his bleary eyes shifted to focus on Janet's warm smile.

"Daniel. Is there anything I can get for you?" she rubbed his shoulder through his black suit jacket. He shook his head slightly then turned his face away. She frowned, unable to hide the concern in her expression then she looked over to Sam, who was standing over by the balcony doors. With a slight nod of her head, Janet called her friend to her side.

"Daniel?" Sam's gentle voice tried to reach him, but he wasn't there. He was lying in Jack's bed, the colonel's head moving down over his stomach, trailing down towards his...

"Sorry, Sam?" Daniel turned to face her now, the memory dissipating in his mind.

"We're a little worried about you," she said, her hand slipping down his arm and closing over his cold hand.

"I'm fine. I'll... be.. fine.." he said, looking around at the many people milling around Jack's living room. Janet followed his gaze, well aware that Daniel would hold himself together until the other mourners left and then he'd be alone, to ramble around this large home, Jack's large home, without him.

Hammond stepped over to the small group, his eyes wrinkled in a kind smile as he looked at the man he'd come to think of as a son.

"How're you holding up?" his voice was low and sympathetic. Janet and Sam shot quick looks at each other. Daniel sniffed loudly then nodded.

"I'm .. coping. Thanks.." he gave a more honest response to the general than he had to the girls. Daniel had always been straightforward with Hammond so now was no time to change tactics. The general reached out and patted his shoulder.

"You be sure to let me know if I can get you anything..."

//Jack? Can you get me Jack? //

"Thanks..." was the soft response before he looked away again, to focus once more on Jack's mantelpiece and at all his commendations and medals.

Janet waited for Hammond to move off, then looked up at Daniel's face. "How long has he known?"

Daniel cleared his voice. "About .. a... month.. Jack told him."

The surprised women nodded in unison but said nothing. Daniel looked around then back into Janet's soft brown eyes realizing that they were wondering what had made Jack confess to being in a homosexual relationship with another SGC member.

"He was sick of the secrecy," Daniel shrugged, then looked up over the top rim of his glasses at the sea of faces milling around them. After a soft cough, he continued, "He told me he didn't care what Hammond would do to him. That he'd gladly.. retire... Give up the Air Force as long as we were happy..." he dipped his face, clenching his jaw tightly to stem his rising emotions again but the rest of his words came out shakily, full of tears, "He told me.. we were for life.."

Sam gulped as she swallowed her tears, but a stray one still found it's way down her cheek. She turned her face away, to hide her distress from her grieving friend.

Dragging back a deep sob, Daniel tried to force a smile to get on top of his emotions once more. "Hammond wouldn't hear of him retiring..." he said, a little bitterly, rolling his eyes at the irony. Had Jack retired, he'd still be alive today.

Sam watched as Teal'c weaved his way through the crowd over towards them.

"Hey, Teal'c,' she smiled sadly.

"How are you, DanielJackson?"

"I'd be a lot better if people would stop asking.. me.." he snapped shakily, then pursed his lips as he shot an apologetic look at the Jaffa. "Sorry."

Teal'c titled his head slightly. "I understand."

Daniel gave a feeble smile. "Thanks."

"I have something to give to you."

Daniel frowned as Teal'c reached out his hand and placed a small black felt box in his palm.

He blinked at he looked up at Teal'c. "What is it?"

The large stoic man clenched his jaw. "It is your birthday present."

Janet drew back a loud breath and looked between the two men. Daniel smiled sadly before nodding.

"Thanks, Teal'c. I'd.. forgotten it was my birthday..."

Teal'c closed Daniel's fingers around the box. "The gift is not from me. It was O'Neill's. He asked me to keep it for you."

Sam sniffled then she lifted her hand to try to unobtrusively wipe away the tears that were rolling down her face now.

Daniel looked at the box then at Janet, before glancing over his shoulder at Sam. "Excuse me.." he said, pushing through the group and heading out of the crowded room to the haven of their bedroom. He shut the door, leaning heavily back against it, sobs wracking his tired frame. He looked down at the box and shakily stepped towards the bed. Sitting heavily, he lifted his face to the ceiling, his blue eyes shimmered with tears, his face flushed and wet from crying.

"Oh.. Jack.." he whispered softly. "How am I meant to go on without you?"

Waiting for a few moments, almost as if he expected to hear the colonel's sarcastic response, he cried quietly.

He lifted the almost forgotten box into the air, looking over it before opening it. Two shiny gold bands glistened in the black satin. Daniel gulped the sobs, his throat tightening as a shooting pain speared through his heart.

Trembling fingers lifted the smaller of the two rings from the soft encasement. He looked at the engraving inside.

Daniel. Together.. Forever.. For Life.. Jack...

The words made a continuous circle. Not beginning. No end.

It may well have read: Jack.. Daniel.. Together.. Forever.. For Life...

Inspecting Jack's band it said the exact same thing.

He lifted his hand and slipped the gold band onto his finger, clenching his fist tightly until his knuckles went white, his whole body shaking from his grief. He curled into a ball, then fell to his side, pathetically weeping for his lost love.

He woke a short while later to the quiet rapping of knuckles on his door.

"Come in.." he said groggily as he sat up. Sam, Janet and Teal'c entered the room.

"You've been gone a while," Sam said, then noted his hair and realized he'd been asleep.

"Good!" Janet said at the same time. "You need sleep."

"What time is it?" he asked, rubbing at his face with his hand. The gold band caught the eye of all the others in the room. They exchanged cautious glances then Janet checked her watch.

"After 5. You've been in here nearly two hours..."

Daniel blinked as he looked towards the hallway.

"Everyone's gone." Sam assured him as she sat by his side on the bed. He nodded and looked down.

The blond officer looked up at Janet, who gave a slight shrug.

"Is that what Jack gave you?" Sam asked, touching the band with her long fingers. Daniel looked at it, then at her.

"Uhh.. yeah.."

Sam nodded not sure what to say next.

Daniel tilted his head back to look up at Janet and said, in a soft raspy voice, "I'm.. I'm going to head to the cemetery..."

"Would you like me to drive you?" she offered. Daniel looked at her, then between Sam and Teal'c.

A soft smile creased his lips and he said quietly. "Yeah, I'd like that, thanks."

"Can I come too?" Sam asked. Daniel turned to look at her and nodded. Their hands laced together and she squeezed him as tears formed in her eyes once more. He cupped her face with his other hand and tenderly kissed her forehead.

"I, too, wish to accompany you."

Daniel gave a soft laugh as he looked up at his tall friend. "Sure."

Sam helped Daniel off the bed, and they crowded around him as he moved towards the door. Stopping then twirling around suddenly, Daniel headed back to the bed, snatching up the box that still housed Jack's ring.

The cold wind whipped around them as they stood looking down at the mound of dirt that covered Jack's grave. Daniel slowly sunk to one knee as he laid his white hand on the dark brown dirt. Sam, Janet and Teal'c all took one unconscious step back, affording him some privacy.

"Hey, Jack..." Daniel smiled as he fingered the bright red, long stemmed roses that he'd asked Sam to lay on the grave on his behalf during the service. "I.. I got your present.." his eyes shimmered with unshed tears then he looked down at the shiny gold band. "Thank you."

The wind howled now, sending an eerie chill through the two women standing behind him. They shuddered visibly as they watched Daniel reach into his pocket and pull out the ring box then settle himself onto the ground next to the grave, one hand resting on the top of the pile, right next to the roses.

"I don't know whether to keep yours safe with me or place it here with you...." His voice trembled slightly. Without reason, other than shifting dirt on an as yet unsettled grave, one of the roses slipped off the mound and landed by his thigh. Daniel gave a soft laugh.

"With me, huh? Okay..." he put the box back into his pocket then stared at the sunset over the next hill. "I'll keep it with me.." his fingers caresses the dirt like they'd caressed his lover's chest so many times before while they sat and talked. Daniel dipped his face to look down at the mound again, "I'll always carry you with me, Jack."

A warm wind whipped up, ruffling through Daniel's long hair, caressing across his face. He closed his eyes but all too soon the warmth was gone and the cold chilly wind settled around him again. He shivered. Their good-byes were done. Slowly he pushed himself to his feet, not even bothering to brush away the dirt and mud from the leg of his suit pant. He turned and immediately the three people behind him came over, engulfing him in a group hug. Daniel glanced once more at Jack's grave.

*Good bye, my lover *

Then Janet and Sam slipped their arms around him, guiding him from the gravesite. Teal'c stood, listening to the wind a moment longer. A smile played over his lips as he tilted his head, seemingly to acknowledge an unheard conversation.

"I will take care of him, O'Neill. I give you my word..." he pledged before turning and leaving the cemetery too.

THE END

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