| Part 11 | Disclaimers |
Spoilers in this part: The Light - S4
Four weeks later..
Paul’s head jerked up as the gate burst to life and the iris slid open. SG-1 was on their way home after a three week enforced stay on P4X-347 where they’d developed an addiction to a source of radiation on that world.
The moment Daniel emerged through the shimmering wall Paul felt his chest expand with a sigh of relief. The team looked good, a little tanned even which was something they wouldn’t have gotten here on Earth this close to Christmas. Then Paul noticed the small figure huddled behind Jack, who had emerged looking grumpy as always. Immediately Paul checked on Daniel whose his face was stoical, no emotion revealed his mood other than tired.
Hammond stepped forward, as did Doctor Fraiser who was ready to assist the returning team if they needed it.
“Colonel?” Hammond glared at the timid figure behind Jack’s left shoulder.
Jack twisted to look over his shoulder and said, “Sir, this is Loran.” He face Hammond again and said, succinctly, “I trust things are in place for him?”
Hammond’s bald head bobbed in assent. “He will be billeted with Nyan and the Fosters for the time being, once he passes the required physicals..” He slotted his eyes towards the medical officer beside him. Janet returned a sharp nod to agree with him. Hammond dismissed the team to the Infirmary immediately and put a guard on their new visitor until Loran could be investigated.
Paul played the waiting game for over two hours. Waiting for news of Daniel’s post-mission medical, then waiting as he professionally sat adjacent to Daniel throughout the debrief, listening and taking the appropriate notes for his report to the Pentagon.
It was clear to Paul that the atmosphere on P4X-347 had gotten heated on more than one occasion. Jack’s version of the three weeks was typically sketchy, at times mumbled, and at best hasty and flippant. Carter rarely looked up from her report before her, Daniel played with a pen whilst Teal’c sat still, hands laced together and head back as he stared across Daniel’s head to the far wall on the other side of the room.
Paul would occasionally exchange glances with the General at the far end of the table, and the MO in the seat opposite him. They all reflected what he surmised - no one on SG-1 seemed particularly happy to be home.
When Hammond announced a few days leave for each member over Christmas then reminded them that the temperatures outside had dropped over the past few weeks, the team literally paused mid-rise, glanced at each other then groaned and straightened up fully. They filed out of the room without so much a cursory word to each other. Paul slowly flipped his notebook closed and pondered the reasons.
He reached Daniel’s office frustrated and ready to talk to the man who’d disappeared from his life almost four weeks ago. He stayed at the doorway, silently watching the man inside the dimly lit room potter about his things, picking up a book here and placing it back down there. It was hard to watch him, Paul realised. Daniel seemed more lost than ever and Paul wondered if his near-death experience hadn’t impacted on him harder than usual. After a moment he stepped tentatively into the room and gave a quick knock as he passed the centre counter. Daniel swung around fast, as if frightened by the noise. His eyes seemed large behind the round frames on his face.
“Paul!” He sounded as if he hadn’t realised the man was on base. Paul stepped closer and planted a smile on his face.
“How are you?”
“Fine.”
“Really?”
Daniel sighed. “Let’s not start that..” He muttered as he picked up another book and shoved it into his satchel. Paul frowned slightly.
“Start what?”
“Suffice to say, I’ve spent three weeks with Jack, locked into a hell of stupid rapid banter..” He located another book and slid it into his bag.
“Sorry,” Paul muttered, then added, “But if it makes you feel any better, I missed you.”
Daniel’s head shot around immediately and he glanced at his door before shooting a “shh!” to his friend. Paul turned and looked at the empty doorway then back at his friend. “And,” he ignored Daniel’s peculiar behaviour, “I’m glad to see that you have recovered from the neural decay..”
Daniel shook his head as if he was raging an internal battle within his skull. “Thank you,” he sniped sarcastically. “I’m glad I didn’t decompose neurally as well..” He shouldered his way past Paul and over to the bookshelf on the far wall. “Might have upset some people’s holiday..”
“Daniel!” Paul groused exasperatedly. “Will you just stop!” He grabbed his friend by the upper arms and brought Daniel to a stand still. They stared at each other. “That’s better.” He searched the dull eyes and asked, sadly, “What the hell happened out there?”
Daniel blinked and looked away, but he couldn’t pull out of Paul’s firm grip, and he didn’t even try. “Nothing happened," he said, as if that answered everything. After clenching his jaw to rein in his emotions he blinked again then met Paul’s hazel eyes once more. “Nothing happened…”
Paul’s dark brow furrowed deeply. “Oh, I’d say plenty happened.”
“We got on each other’s nerves,” Daniel said then stepped back when he felt the grip lessen. Slumping back against the edge of his desk, arms folded tightly across himself in a defensive manner, Daniel continued to tell Paul about the three weeks in paradise. “Jack dumped me on the ground the minute we got back there - when I was dying, I might add. He stepped over me, for God’s sake, to find the others and then… then hardly spoke a word to me for the next three weeks.”
“Why?”
Daniel’s eyes hardened and Paul realised it was a dump question. He took a moment to formulate the next question in his head before deciding that straight out was the best way.
“What about Carter and O’Neill?”
Daniel rolled his eyes sullenly as he stepped around his desk, lowered his hands to the flaps on his satchel and bowed his head. “They spent some time together.”
“Ah,” Paul winced as his stomach tightened on that news. “Anything Pentagon should be aware of?”
Daniel laughed derisively and tilted his head back to set an ugly look on his friend. “I’m not your snitch, Paul. You want to know if they did the deed together, you ask them yourself..”
Paul was flustered by Daniel’s hostility but he persevered. “I’m not asking you as a Pentagon Official, I’m asking as a..”
Daniel’s laugh grew meaner. “Ah God, when are you NOT a Pentagon Official, for crying out loud!” He lowered his head again.
Paul stiffened his spine at that uncalled for attack. “I could name a few times..” He said acidly, then raised his brow when Daniel looked at him when he realised what he meant. The green eyes grew hard. “I see spending time with Colonel O’Neill has certainly had an adverse affect on you..”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning, you’re snarky like him, you’re coining his phrases – for crying out loud!”
Daniel rolled his eyes as he closed them against the man with him. He rubbed his temple with his thumb as he sighed loudly.
“You know what? Forget it,” Paul snapped as he turned to leave the room. “I don’t need to find out if they did the nasty because the Pentagon will find out regardless. I was just asking as a friend.. one who’s put up with your bitching and moaning about this for the past eight months now..”
“Well don’t!” Daniel shouted back, slamming his hand onto the bag on his desk. “Don’t! Leave me to myself and let me wallow in my own damn misery..” Daniel slumped into his chair and Paul thought he looked unwell. He hurried to his friend’s side and squatted beside him.
“Jesus!” he hissed when he laid his palm on Daniel’s forehead! “You’re burning up!”
“I’m alright!” Daniel said weakly but Paul wasn’t listening. He reached across Daniel and ordered a medic to the lab stat. Daniel slumped back in his chair and closed his eyes as the room began to spin.
The next time he opened his eyes he was staring up into a bright light. Janet pushed it aside and smiled down at him. “Welcome back,” she said.
“You always seem to be saying that to me,” Daniel said groggily as he tried to sit up. He was surprised to find Paul perched on the other bed and smiled faintly at his friend. Janet looked across at the Major, who was returning Daniel’s smile.
“I’ll leave you two to talk. Major-” She nodded politely.
“Doctor-” Paul responded as he slipped off the bed and stepped towards his ailing friend.
“Feeling better?”
Daniel groaned as color filled his cheeks. “I’m sorry-“
“Without wanting to start an argument, Janet tells me your neural activity is normal..”
Daniel laughed softly at Paul’s gently jibe. “I deserved that.”
“That is the least of what you deserve,” Paul said with a wink as he allowed his hand to briefly brush the back of Daniel’s that lay on the bed.
“Did she say what was wrong?”
Paul indicated to a bag of clear liquid hanging by the bed. “You were dehydrated.”
“I kept telling Teal’c I could use a good stiff…” His eyes fluttered- “drink when we were on three-four-seven.”
A cheeky smile kissed Paul’s lips and he didn’t need to say a word, Daniel already knew he was teasing him that drink wasn’t the only thing he’d needed that was stiff. “Yeah, that too,” he acknowledged and made his friend laugh softly.
Paul checked his watch and grimaced. “Listen, I don’t want to rush this, but I’m due to leave in thirty minutes..” Daniel made the right sounds and facial expressions that, whilst sad, said it wasn’t the end of the world for either of them. Paul agreed. “I just wanted to let you know that..”
The door of the infirmary burst open and Sam walked in with a bag in her hands.
“Oh, Major,” she said, surprised to find Paul still with Daniel.
“Major,” He addressed her formally then indicated to the bag with his chin. “That wouldn’t be from…”
“Christop’s Cookies..” She said with him then laughed and pointed to Paul as she asked, “How did you know they were Daniel’s favorite?”
Paul gave her a sly smile. “You’d be surprised what we find out in the Pentagon..”
Sam smiled without a hint of concern. “I bet,” she said, flashing a wide, cheeky grin at the man on the other side of the bed.
“I have to say, you’re looking remarkably tanned, Major Carter. Tough assignment?” he was teasing her now.
“Yes, nothing but relaxation, the sun and the sea. Real tough.”
Paul shrugged. “I guess protocol went out the window for a few weeks then. Might be tough to readjust..”
Sam rolled her eyes. “The Colonel still expected to be called the Colonel, so I did.. to his face..”
Paul resisted slotting a look towards Daniel when he said, “Nice to see the barriers of rank remained in place.”
Sam responded with a curt nod. “Always, Major. You know that.”
Paul acknowledged that with a slight head bow. “Of course.” Now he turned to the patient in bed. “I have to go. I wanted the chance to catch up, though. There’s a few things I had to tell you..” He looked serious.
“Oh?” Daniel arched a brow.
Paul gave him a smile and a dismissive nod. "But it can wait..”
Daniel frowned then remembered that Sam was in the room with them, even though she’d turned away and was putting the bag of choc-walnut cookies on the side table. He made the hand gesture of a phone against his ear as he mouthed, “Call me.”
Paul winked now, comfortable with Sam’s attention averted like it was. “I’ll try..” Paul stepped back from the bed and said, “And you stay on Earth a while longer! It’s Christmas day after tomorrow..”
Before Daniel could snort at that - after all, what did he have to celebrate, spending it alone? Sam piped in.
“Tell me about it,” She came into the conversation now, her voice a groan against the cold and snow outside. “I had to shovel my car this morning to get here..”
Daniel frowned. “Morning? How long have I been in here?”
Paul stopped at the end of the bed. “I brought you in last night, Daniel.”
“Oh!" Daniel looked surprised then acknowledged Paul’s last wave goodbye before turning his attention onto Sam.
She smiled as she rubbed his forearm with her hand. “How are you doing, Daniel?”
“Better,” he said, a smile burgeoning on his lips in the warmth of her care and concern. “Getting better.”
She smiled, too, and reached back to pull a chair closer to the bed, all the while she kept one hand on his forearm. "Glad to be home?"
"I miss the beach," Daniel said, shifting to get comfortable in the bed.
"What about the company?" She smiled and he rolled his eyes.
"SOME," he told her plainly.
Sam rolled her eyes now and leaned towards him as she whispered, "What was with Colonel O'Neill the past few weeks..?"
Daniel frowned. "You noticed it too?"
"Yeah," she said as if that was stating the obvious. "I can't work out why he left our group and insisted on sleeping on the next floor?"
"I thought.." Daniel stopped himself from saying that he thought Jack was doing that to avoid Sam - or, perhaps, to provide them with a private place already established away from the group whilst upholding appearances for him and Teal'c.
By the look in Sam's blue eyes though, it seemed that she was as confused about Jack's odd behavior as Daniel had been. Daniel blinked and considered the fact that perhaps Sam was just a good actor..
Jack pushed his hand into his short hair as he rolled onto his back and gave a contented groan. Carlos, the young man from the liquor store, rolled against Jack's sweaty body and cuddled against him, his cheek against the damp hairs of Jack's underarm. Carlos toyed with the graying chest hairs, unaware that the dog tags that were meant to adorn Jack's chest were conspicuous by their absence.
"Seemed like you were saving that one up!" Carlos purred as he shifted against the lean body. His ass ached from their rigorous activity but he felt happy to see this man again. When Jack had entered the store a little before nine Carlos gave him a friendly smile, nothing more. Jack had purchased a bottle of top-shelf scotch and carried it to the counter. Carlos wasn't alone so Jack merely handed over the money, met Carlos's dark brown eyes, quirked a brow and received a slight nod in return. After he left, the bottle snug in a brown bag under his arm, Jack drove out to the place that he'd rendezvoused at with Carlos that first time. It took twenty minutes but soon Carlos's car pulled in besides Jack's and the young man got out. As he slipped into the car beside Jack he said nothing but he enthusiastically captured Jack's mouth with his and kissed him deeply until both men were light headed from lack of oxygen.
"You have no idea..." Jack growled deeply as he stared up at the ceiling of the cheap motel room
"I know pent up frustration when I have it rammed up my ass, Jack, so what's up?"
Jack's eyes tracked until he found the younger man's face. There were no lines on the smooth honey-colored skin. The kid was barely in his twenties and had the kind of stamina that Jack once prided himself on.
"Come on, tell me. Job getting you down?"
Jack snorted derisively. "Opposite actually."
"Huh?"
Jack settled himself back against the head board and Carlos sat up straight beside him, his short legs crossed before him. "I was away for almost three weeks, work related, and - well, to say there were some tough times just doesn't cover it."
"What happened?"
"Proximity."
"As in?"
Jack's voice was monotone as he stared blankly at the far wall. "I was too close to someone in particular..."
A wise smile crept slowly across the youth's handsome features. "I gettit. You wanted his or her ass.."
"His," Jack stated unabashedly then finally his gaze moved to capture Carlos's dark eyes.
"His ass.. pretty badly if this was any indication.." The flawless hand swept the stained and crumpled bed sheets.
Jack considered the kid a moment then shrugged. "Made it a hell.." He didn't clarify if his wants and desires made it a hell, of if he made it a hell.
"You gotto tell him. What's his name, I'll tell him."
Jack laughed at Carlos' innocence. "It doesn't work like that in real life."
"Don't tell me how it works in real life. I radared you, didn't I?"
The gray brow arched slightly. Carlos added, "What I'm saying is, maybe things aren't as bleak as they look. You ever thought of just coming out and telling this guy?'
"I work with him."
"So?"
"He's married."
"Ah.."
"Well, separated," Jack amended.
"There you go. There's your in. Is he gay?"
Jack rolled off the bed and as his feet touched the cold ground he said, "Not to my knowledge." He reached for his shorts and stepped into them on his way to the bathroom.
End of part eleven
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Rights held by Nessessitee –Mar 2003