Title:  Scorched Earth: Epilogue

Author:  Joolz

Feedback:  If you like J  [email protected]

Rating:  G

Category:  Gen, missing scene, friendship

Archive:  Please ask

Summary:  Just those things that needed to be said.

Date:  September, 2001

Warnings:  None

Disclaimer:  Not mine, just playing with them.

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Scorched Earth Epilogue

By Joolz

 

 

Jack approached the archaeologist's cluttered office, stuck his head in, and saw the young man bent over an old, crumbly object.  Some surprise there.  He cleared his throat and Daniel looked up, raising his eyebrows.  "Hey, Jack.  What's up?"

 

"C'n I come in?"

 

"Of course, don't you always?"

 

Jack moved into the office and hovered uncomfortably,  "I just thought I should say something."

 

Daniel looked up at him quizzically.  "You thought you should say something." 

 

"Yeah."

 

"Okay," he drawled, "so say something."

 

"I mean about what happened today."

 

"About....?"  Daniel queried again.  He had that idiotic mouth hanging open, raised eyebrows look on his face, which just made it harder for O'Neill.

 

Jack moved over to the bookcase, his back to Daniel, and ran his fingers through his short, graying hair.  He turned around and tried again.  "So I know that I was ready to blow that ship up and kill a whole race of sulpher thingies,..."

 

Daniel interjected, "Oh, that.  Look, Jack, don't worry about it.  I certainly don't blame you for that.  You had to make a decision and you chose to protect the people who where right there, depending on us.  I know you had to do it."

 

"But you didn't go along with it.  You went ahead and found a way to save everybody all by yourself, while all I could think of to do was plant a bomb.  I haven't felt that stupid in a long time."  Jack finished, and looked down at his foot, which was rubbing a space on the floor.

 

Daniel looked at his friend with concern.  His forehead wrinkled and he said, "Um, sorry?"

 

"No, not sorry.  I mean to say you did good.  You did damn good.  I just feel like an ass."

 

Daniel didn't know what else to say to that, so he kept quiet, his face pulled into a scowl.

 

After a moment, Jack continued.  "And there was that other thing."

 

"What other thing?"

 

"The part where I activated the bomb while you were on the ship.  I could have killed you.  In fact, when I pressed that button, I thought I was killing you." 

 

When Jack looked at the young man, Daniel saw the pain in his eyes.  "I know.  I knew you would.  I don't blame you for that either.  I made my own decision to go up there, and I knew the risks.  If you want, you can yell at me for not following orders, because I did hear you tell me not to go and I went anyway.  You know I'm always getting myself into messes like that."

 

"Yeah, you rush off and then someone comes along and tries to kill you.  It just usually isn't me."

 

"You weren't trying to kill me."

 

"Turns out, I was."

 

"Right, so you were down there on that planet thinking, 'Oh, good.  Here's my chance to get rid of that pesky Jackson guy.  Gee, I hope he doesn't manage to get out of there in time.'  That's what you were thinking?"

 

"No, it wasn't."  The pain was still in Jack's dark eyes.  "I just saw all those people looking at me, wanting me to help them.  I felt like I didn't have a choice.  Even if it meant...  I hope I never have to do anything like that again.  I feel like I've let you down too many times and now I just did it again.  I guess I want to say I'm sorry."

 

"Don't, Jack.  You didn't let me down.  I don't feel that.  Not this time.  When I think back, there's only one time I really felt let down.  Just once.  No, twice,...  No, just once.  And I think that's a pretty good record for a human being to have, and we've been all through that before.  Please don't add this to any list of things you feel guilty about."

 

"God, you are so good!  Is that it?  Is it really that easy for you?  You can say, 'So I almost died today, no big deal,' and that's it?"

 

"As far as you're concerned, yes.  For myself, no, of course it wasn't that easy.  I went back expecting the ship to explode any second, and no, I didn't want to die.  I was, shall we say, a bit nervous.  Especially when Lotan was so slow about everything.  When I finally get him to deal with the bomb, what does he do but beam it off the planet right into the room we're standing in, then proceed to admire it's design!  I can hear Sam counting down, five, four, three, two,... and I'm saying, 'Lotan, can you get it out of here?  Now would be good.'  And he's taking his own sweet time about it, waited till literally the last possible second.  I almost had a heart attack right there.  If you want to know, yes, I've had a difficult day, too.  But I was also doing what I thought I had to.  Lotan was willing to talk, and I just believe that as long as we can keep talking, there's always a chance to solve things.  And I expect that you and I, we'll both keep doing what we have to.  It works out pretty well that way."

 

A smile briefly creased the older man's face.  "Yeah, I guess it does.  Well, congratulations on solving a really big one."

 

Daniel gave him a half smile back.  "Thanks."

 

Jack cocked his head, then started to shuffle to the door.  "Guess I'll shove off."

 

As he neared the door, he heard Daniel say, "Jack?", and turned to see the other man settle his dusty rock in a box, then slip it into a drawer.  "Yeah?"

 

Daniel looked up at him from his desk with that space cadet look again, and asked, "So, is there a hockey game on tonight?"

 

Jack answered deadpan, "No.  It's not hockey season."

 

"Oh."  Daniels eyebrows went up.  "Football?"

 

"No.  It isn't football season, either."

 

"Oh."  Daniel's eyebrows went up further.  He didn't ask again.

 

"Baseball."

 

"Baseball is good."

 

"You hate baseball.  Besides, it's not going to work."

 

"What isn't?" Daniel asked innocently.  He stood up and switched off his desk lamp.

 

"The fact that I'm good with sports while you're good with saving entire civilizations isn't going to make me feel any better."

 

Daniel tried to keep the smile off his face, but it came out in his voice.  "Well, that's all right, then.  Because I wasn't trying to make you feel better."

 

It was Jack's turn to say, "Oh?"

 

Daniel moved across the room and switched off the overhead light.  "I was trying to get myself invited over."  He stood still and waited for Jack to vacate the doorway.

 

Jack turned and stepped into the hall, then stopped and threw over his shoulder, "All right, then.  Seven o'clock.  You bring the beer."

 

"Right, I'll bring the beer."

 

Jack took another step, then stopped again, almost causing Daniel to bump into him.  He turned, eyes narrowed at his friend.  "But none of that wierd European stuff."

 

Daniel smiled.  "I promise, no European beer."  He closed the office door behind him.

 

They started off down the hall toward the elevator.

 

Daniel asked, "So, do you have any food at your house, or should I bring that, too?"

 

"No, I'll take care of that.  I won't let you starve."

 

They reached the elevator.  Jack pushed the button and the doors opened within seconds.  As they entered, Jack suddenly shot a suspicious look at the other man.  "What, then?"

 

"What what?"

 

"If not European beer, then what kind?"

 

Daniel turned, pressed the button, and looked up at the numbers above the door.  "Well, the best beer I've ever had was Chinese."

 

"Chinese!"

 

The doors closed.

 

 

END

 

 

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