Sorry this took so long, I kept meaning to rewrite this whole thing, but I figured I'd put y'all

outta your misery. Here's the crap version in its entirety. One day I plan on going back and

making sure that Daniel is a. No so much of a whiner and b. not a woman.

Anyhoo... ENJOY!

**************************************



When Daniel entered the gateroom nearly an hour later the first thing he saw was a very annoyed

Jack standing at the base of the ramp tapping his foot compulsively.

"Nice of you to join us."

"He's not even late, Colonel." Peter had interrupted any excuse he could have made.

"Who asked you?"

"No one, but I've often found that people never ask for opinions when they truly need them."

Daniel had never seen Jack turn that shade of purple before, "Why you-"

"Jack!" Daniel yelled, he just couldn't handle an argument right, didn't even know how he was

going to work with Peter again, "Just, stop it."

"Fine let's just get this over with."

"Fine," Daniel said. God, he wanted this mission to be *over* -- and from Jack's expression, he

wanted the same thing. He glanced at Peter, who gave a shrug and apologetic smile.

"So. This is the Stargate, huh?"

"Yeah," Daniel said. "Don't worry, it's easy."

Carter leaned over and murmured, "Yeah, you just step in. The Stargate does all the work."

Peter smiled.

Carter and Teal'c went through the gate first. Jack hung back to bring up the rear, and Daniel

shepherded Peter through. He stumbled on landing, and looked back at the Stargate. "Amazing,"

he whispered.

"You'll get used to it," Carter said cheerfully.

Jack came through in time to hear that. "Hopefully he won't," he said, speaking to Carter but

staring at Peter. "It's just this one trip."

"Jack," Daniel started.

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" Jack said pointedly.

Daniel gave him a long stare. "Yeah," he said at last. "Doctor Adams, if you would follow me,

I'll show you where we found the scrolls."

They walked down a rocky slope towards a high cliff. Upon closer inspection there was a building

ensconced withing the rock face itself.

Jack whistled to himself as they got closer and realized that the front of the structure went all the

way up the rock face and that was several stories high. "That's one big building."

"Actually," Peter said, "It's more than likely that all that is nothing more than decoration. The

inside room is probably not much larger than we are and most likely leads into some sort of cave

system."

"Oh good, caves, we all know how much luck we have with those." Jack didn't look happy.

"What makes you such an expert on this anyway?"



Peter raised an eyebrow in exasperation, "I've spent some time in the mountains in Jordan, this

type of thing is quite common there."

Jack didn't say anything, but he rolled his eyes and it looked suspiciously like he was mouthing,

"it's quite common there, " the way a 12 year old would when losing an argument.

Daniel sighed, "Could we just go in?"

At the entrance all five members of the team turned on their flashlights and looked around. It was

a small square room carved into the rock. There was another doorway on the other side.

"Would that not be the entrance we are looking for?" Teal'c asked.

"That would indeed be the entrance we are looking for," Peter said.

Jack started forward, but Daniel's hand on his shoulder stopped him. "There's writing," Daniel

said. "Carved into the doorway. It looks like a warning of some sort, but I can't quite read it.

Peter?"

"'Those who live' -- no. 'Those who come here must be prepared to' -- offer? no, sacrifice. 'must

be prepared to sacrifice a measure of their love.'"

There was silence, and then Jack said, "Mind translating that into English for me?"

"That *was* English," Peter said.

"Well, you know, English usually makes some *sense*. Where I come from, at least."



"What Jack means," Daniel translated, "is, do you have any idea what the warning means?"

"That those who come here must be prepared to sacrifice a measure of their love," Peter said,

straight faced. "No, I'm sorry. I'm not familiar with any requirements of this sort."

"So...is this like a 'abandon hope, all ye who enter here' type thing, or something we should

actually pay attention to?"

Peter shrugged. "I suppose we could try--"

"Good," Jack said. "Teal'c, take point."

Teal'c stepped to the doorway, started through, and quite promptly bounced back. A blue

shimmer at the threshold was evidence of some sort of force field. Teal'c got to his feet and put

one hand against the blue field. "O'Neill, I am unable to pass."

"It could be a Goa'uld thing," Carter suggested. "Like Thor's hammer."

Jack cocked an eyebrow at her, and said, "If so, that might cut you out too."

She nodded. "If it responds to naquadah and not the symbiote itself."

"So," Jack said, and looked at the doorway. With a deep breath, he stepped forward

--and ended up staggering backwards just as Teal'c had. "Ow. Christ, that smarts."

"So we're all trapped?" Daniel said.

Peter chewed his lower lip. "Sacrifice a measure of their love," he quoted thoughtfully. "Daniel,

there's something in -- one of the scrolls we just got, hand me that, would you?"

Daniel handed him the scroll he was pointing at, and leaned over his shoulder to read. Peter

mouthed the translation, and then muttered, "'those who would seek knowledge must commit to

it, so only those who have proven commitment' -- oh, dear."

Daniel's gaze flickered further down the scroll, and his fingers traced where he was reading.

"Does that say what I think it says?"

"And what, exactly," Jack said, "do you think it says?"

Daniel looked at Jack and then away. "I, uh, that is... it, um... there's... um. I probably translated

it wrong."

"No," Peter said quietly, "I don't think you did."

"What does it say!" Jack demanded.



"I think," Daniel started and looked seriously at Jack and Sam, "I think unless the rumors are true,

we may have a problem."

"What rumors?" Sam asked.

"Normally I wouldn't care," Daniel said carefully, "I wouldn't even *think* to ask, but.."

"But what Daniel," it was obvious that Jack's temper was rising again, "What are you trying to get

at?"

"Are you two.. mmamnng a remamionip" Daniel mumbled.

"Are we WHAT?!?"

"I said-"

"He asked," Peter interrupted, "Or at least was trying to ask, politely I might add, are you two

having sex?" At the shocked looks on both of their faces, Peter added, "I have no such

compulsion."

"We are not, nor have we EVER had sex!"

"Damn." Peter looked chagrined, "That might've made things easier."

"What?" Carter said, mouth open. "Did you just-- did--"

"Someone needs to explain what the *hell's* going on," Jack ground out.

Daniel was blushing furiously. "There's a... requirement... that, uh... any..." He stammered to a

halt.

"We need sex to get in," Peter said bluntly. " 'Those who would seek knowledge' -- that's us, or

anyone who comes here. 'those who have proven commitment' -- from the context, it has to be

someone in a relationship. Marriage isn't required, because that's a legal issue, not ethics; it just

needs to be a committed relationship. 'Sacrifice a measure of their love'..."

"They have to prove it," Daniel said, not looking at anyone. "Or we stay here for the, uh, rest of

our...lives."

"However long they are," Peter muttered.

Jack stared at them. "So, in essence, we're screwed. Because Sam and I aren't having sex? Is that

what you're saying?"

"Well, because none of us are. With the rum-- uh, that is, you and she were the most likely

pairing. I know that I wasn't involved with anyone, and, uh..." Daniel winced.

"General Hammond will send a team after us," Teal'c said, "if we do not return. We need only

wait until they show up, explain what is needed, and--"

"And get them through the entrance how, exactly?" Peter asked sharply, slapping the force field.

It shimmered and sparked, and Peter shook his hand. "Ow."

"Get enough C4," Jack suggested, "and--"

"And lose our access to every single piece of information here," Daniel said, "not to mention

bringing the entire mountain down around our heads."

"We *have* no access!" Jack snapped. "I would far prefer getting out of here *alive*. Though I

know that's not a priority of yours."

"Dammit, Jack, this is not my fault. Stop treating me like it is." Daniel glared at him. "We need

to think about this. You're sure you and Sam aren't-- uh, stupid question. Of course you're sure.

And Teal'c, you're not?"

Teal'c shook his head silently.

"Then we have no options," Daniel said. "There's no one here that can...pay the, uh, price."

"You're wrong," Peter said, very quietly. His head was bowed, but as the others turned to stare at

him, he slowly opened his eyes and looked up at Daniel. "There...is."

"There.. is?" Daniel looked confused for a moment, then he paled and whispered, "Oh... my...

god." He stumbled backwards until he hit a wall and slid slowly down to the ground. "Oh.. my...

god." he whispered again.

Peter crouched down in front of Daniel, "I'm sorry Daniel, this was never supposed to happen."

"No, this can't be."

"Daniel-"

"NO!" he yelled, "NO! You fucking DIED!!!"

"Danny?" Jack asked confused

But Daniel wasn't listening, he had buried his face in his hands, "I can't deal with this right now."

"You have to," Peter insisted. He wrapped his hands around Daniel's wrists, tugging them away

from his face. Daniel struggled against him, but Peter held fast. "I'm sorry. I'm so very sorry. I

never wanted you to --"

"To what," Daniel said, bitterly. "Fall in love with you?"

"Watch me die," Peter finished. "I've lived through it so many times from the other direction -- I

didn't want to hurt you."

Daniel's eyes blazed with anger, and he wrenched himself out of Peter's grasp. "And you couldn't

tell me."

"No. I couldn't."

Jack crouched down next to them. "Daniel, what's going on?"

Daniel ignored him, staring at Peter. "Adam's dead," he said finally, voice heavy with venom.

"Adam is *dead*. God, I *watched* him -- you -- whatever -- watched him die. You do *not*

come back now and tell me that was all a lie."

"It wasn't a lie," Peter said. "Exactly."

Daniel closed his eyes. "I want you to get away from me," he whispered.

"Daniel--"

Jack wasn't fully grasping what was going on, but he did know one thing. He grabbed Peter's

arm, yanking him up and back. "He said to get away." He pushed Peter hard against the stone

wall of the room. "And *I* say I need to know what the hell is going on."

"It's none of your concern," Peter spat.

Jack snarled at him. "It affects my team. That makes it my concern."

"Tell him," Daniel said from behind them.

Peter took a deep breath, "A long time ago, perhaps 10 years ago, Daniel and I went to Oxford

together."

"I thought you two had never met before. You know the coincidence thing."

"We weren't ever supposed to meet again, either." turning to Daniel, "I had no idea you were

here, Daniel. No idea."

"That doesn't really change much does it?" Daniel was losing his shell shocked look, it was being

replaced with anger.

"At Oxford Daniel and I were living together."

"So, what does-"

"We were lovers." Daniel's voice interrupted Jack's question.

"Ex*cuse* me?" Jack stared at the two of them. "You--" He stopped collected himself, tried

again. "You love him?" he asked Daniel.

"Loved," Daniel said, shooting a look at Peter.

"I never stopped loving you," Peter said to him.

"You have an odd way of showing it."

"It's not my fault that I got killed."

"It's your fault," Daniel snapped, "that you let me think I was dead. That you never once *told*

me the truth."

"I *couldn't*--" Peter stopped, took a deep breath. "Colonel, could you give us a moment

alone? I need to talk to Daniel."

"I'm not leaving you alone with him."

"It's okay, Jack," Daniel said, not looking up. He sounded almost lost. "Go. Please. It'll be

okay."

Jack touched his shoulder. "You need anything, you just holler, okay?" Daniel nodded, and Jack

shot Peter a do-anything-and-I-will-kill-you-slowly look and retreated.

He could hear them talking behind him, a soft unintelligible murmur. It took conscious effort not

to listen in.

"What's going on, sir?" Carter asked, voice and expression both worried.

"I'm...not completely sure," Jack said. Across the room, Peter touched Daniel, who flinched back

and then stilled. Peter's hand went to Daniel's face. Jack looked away. "Whatever it is, it's damn

strange."

"Story of our lives," she said with a nervous laugh.

"Yeah. And I don't like it, Carter, don't like it at all."

After Jack had wandered back towards the rest of sg1, not without a final glare, Peter once again

knelt in front of Daniel

"Daniel, I'm so sorry," he said again.

"Stop saying that."

"Fine then, I just wanted you to know that if there had been any way of avoiding this I would

have done it, " Peter seemed almost resigned, "And now it seems that we have to confront

everything at once."

"I had nightmares for so long." he looked up, directly into the other man's eyes, "I think I still

have the shirt you were wearing."

"Daniel.." Peter reached forward to offer some comfort only to be rebuffed with a flinch.

Then it was as if all the fight had gone out and Daniel stilled. Peter went to gently stroke his face,

"I wish I could take it back, all of it. But I can't."

"What do we do now?"

"We get out of here."

Daniel nodded, paling as he realized what that meant. "Will it work?"

"It should."

"Commitment is based on trust," Daniel said. "We don't have that any more."

Peter looked down, not even trying to argue that. "We have to try," he said.

Daniel took a deep breath. "I need to think about this."

Peter leaned in to brush a kiss against Daniel's forehead, but Daniel turned his head, and the kiss

landed awkwardly in Daniel's hair. "Take your time," he said, softly. "We're not going anywhere

without you."

Time passed far too slowly. Daniel was sitting in one corner with his knees drawn up to his chest,

staring at the wall, thinking. Peter watched him quietly from across the room. Jack alternated

between glaring at Peter and idly prodding the force fields with his gun. Teal'c had gone into

kel'no'reem.

Finally Daniel stood and joined the others. His face was pale but determined. "When we get

back..." he said to Peter. The sentence trailed off without finishing, but Peter nodded.

"Let's do what we need to do, then."

"You know what that entails?" Peter asked; beneath the words was another question, 'are you

okay with it?'

Daniel closed his eyes. "Yeah."

"Is this conversation going where I think it's going?" Jack asked.

"Sir, what's going on?" Carter looked at the three men in front of her, "Daniel have you figured

out a way to get us out of here?"

Eyes still closed, he answered, "Yea, Sam I have."

"Daniel, there's obviously something going on here that I don't know about, but whatever it is, I'll

be ok with it."

"That-" He took a deep breath and look up, "That actually makes me feel a lot better."

"So, what's going on?"

"It turns out that there are two people in here who can give an offering." Daniel stopped hoping

that he wouldn't have to say more.

"But, I know I haven't-" she stopped and looked carefully, Peter was standing right next to

Daniel, his hand on the small of the archeologist's back, "Oh." she said. "Oh!"

"Yeah," Daniel said softly. "So, um... we have to..."

Carter nodded in understanding. "You'll want privacy," she said, and Daniel felt a flush of relief.

"Not that we can give you much," she added wryly. "But I'll do what I can."

"Sam." Daniel touched her arm as she turned to leave. "Thanks."

She nodded, covered his hand with her own, and squeezed gently. "Good luck."

"Good luck?" Jack echoed. "Good *luck*? This isn't *poker*, Carter." A quick glare at Peter,

and he muttered, "wish it were."

"I understand your need to protect him," Peter said to Jack. "Maybe more than you think I do.

But we *have* to do that. Daniel knows that. Do you?"

Jack lifted an eyebrow. "I know that the instant we get back on base, if Daniel says the word, you

will be out on your ass faster than you can say 'hello'."

Peter just smirked at that.

"Jack." Daniel's face was flushed red, and he wasn't meeting Jack's gaze. "Could you... give us

space?"

"I don't get to watch?" Jack asked, deadpan.

Daniel's head snapped up. "*No*!"

Jack grinned. Now that Daniel was looking at him, he looked into Daniel's eyes and said, very

softly, "Good luck."

Peter led Daniel to the other side of the room and slowly turned to face him. Despite the resolve,

'let 's get this done' look on his face, he could still see the lost soul hiding right behind it.

"Let's start simple, shall we?" Peter slowly reached out, afraid the other man was going to bolt,

and drew him in for a hug.

At first Daniel remained stiff and unyielding in his arms, but eventually he relaxed and let his arms

slide around Peter returning the hug, "I missed you.. so much." he whispered. "I didn't realize

how much until I saw you in the briefing room."

Peter could feel hot tears landing on his neck, he didn't say anything, he just tightened his arms in

support.

"I didn't get to say goodbye... I never get to say goodbye."

"Shh.. It's ok... I'm here." Peter gently lifted Daniels face from his neck, forced their eyes to meet,

"I'm here."

"Needed you," Daniel whispered. "Oh, God, Adam, I..."

Peter touched Daniel's face lightly, thumb on his lips, fingers brushing the tears from his cheek. "I

know." He leaned in closer. His lips brushed against Daniel's, eliciting a quiet whimper. "I love

you," Peter said, and kissed him, gentle and shallow.

Daniel was shaking against him, but Peter could feel one of Daniel's arms snake behind his neck,

pulling him closer. Could feel Daniel deepen the kiss.

Peter twined his fingers in Daniel's hair. It was short, far shorter than he was used to; Daniel at

Oxford had, had long hair, easy to hold on to, easy to spend hours just stroking. This -- was just

one more sign that Daniel had changed. That this was no longer the Daniel he'd known.

He banished those thoughts to the back of his mind, concentrating instead on Daniel's hand at the

small of his back, Daniel's mouth sucking against his. He'd missed this; he said as much, breathing

the words into Daniel's mouth, and could feel Daniel gasp slightly and then rock against him.

Peter slowly moved him backwards until he had Daniel pinned against the back wall. Wedging a

knee between the other mans legs, he began to slowly stroke hi torso. Reacquainting himself.

Getting to know the changes. Even through the t-shirt he could feel the new muscles definition.

Peter felt something tugging at his jacket. Daniel was trying to take it off.

Without removing his mouth form Daniel's, Peter slipped the jacket off. Then quickly recovered

the contact that *had* been lost between them. Daniel started kissing a trail down his neck ,

stopping that sensitive spot behind the ear. "Oh God." he moaned, it had been too long since

anyone had touched him like this.

I'm not going to watch, Jack told himself firmly. I'm not *interested* in watching. No watching

going on here. Still, he found himself sneaking glances, quick flickering sideways looks that gave

him snapshots of what was happening.

Peter's hand on Daniel's face. Daniel with his mouth open and eyes closed, face tilted up to meet

Peter's kiss. Peter's thigh pressing against Daniel's. And under all this was a symphony of soft

moans and noises.

"Jesus," Jack whispered, and forced himself to turn away. This was what Daniel did. This was

what Daniel *liked*. And he... he was... *not* listening, not watching, not paying attention at all.

"You bring cards?" he asked Carter in an undertone. She smiled and shook her head. A groan

from behind Jack had Carter looking over, eyes wide, and then quickly back.

"Uh, no, sir. I, um, didn't."

"Me neither." Jack closed his eyes. Not looking wasn't helping much, because he could still hear

-- rustles, whispers of clothing on skin and skin on skin, soft uncontrolled gasps and moans -- and

his mind was painting vivid pictures. Far too vivid.

With a sigh he sat down, back to the wall, arms looped around his legs, and let his head thunk

back against the wall. Through mostly-closed eyes he could see Peter and Daniel moving.

Daniel's face was at Peter's neck, Peter's hands somewhere under Daniel's pants, and Jack shifted

to a more comfortable position and pretended he wasn't watching.

Daniel gasped, "Wait..." Peter stopped his movement and looked up, his eyes questioning, "My

bag," he whispered, "tissues."

Peter muttered to himself as he staggered to Daniels bag, "Always hanging out with friggin' boy

scouts."

"You just like to be kept in line." came the dazed reply from the wall.

Peter looked back smiling, Daniel had slid down again, but this time there was a smile on his face.

Peter figured it was more out of being caught up in the moment, but he'd take what he could get.

Digging through the bag he found what he was looking for, "Ah ha!" he said, holding the tissues

up with a flourish. He looked at Daniel triumphantly and nearly dropped them. Daniel was staring

at him, cheeks flushed, eyes glazed and like he was the only thing in the world that was edible. He

couldn't get his legs to work so he settled for crawling back..

"I don't believe it," Jack muttered, watching.

"Sir?" Carter said. Somehow she was managing to tune it out; Jack couldn't figure out how.

"Nothing." Jack dropped his head back against the wall, using the dull pain as a distraction. Not

that it helped much.

Daniel dropped to his knees in front of Peter and murmured something Jack couldn't hear. Peter

shook his head and said a few words, and Daniel smiled at him. Jack closed his eyes, capturing

that smile in his mind.

More sounds, now, shuffling and sucking and a bright, half-breathy laugh that Jack identified as

Daniel's, cut off abruptly. Jack dropped his head back against the wall again, relishing the thud.

An indrawn breath, sucked sharply in, and a hoarse "Daniel." (Thud.) A choked whimper (thud)

and a long, frantic kiss (thud) and a quiet "God, yes, more" (thud).

Jack realized he was breathing in time with the couple in the corner, he squeezed his eyes even

tighter shut and clenched his hand in an effort for more distraction. His heart was pounding and he

realized he was probably flushed. An especially loud gasp had him instinctually open his eyes --

only to close them just as quickly.

Daniel, with his head thrown back -- No, no thinking about Daniel -- eyes closed, mouth open,

panting -- no!

Next he tried biting the inside of his cheek. Slow deep breaths. He could do this. He heard a low,

choked, "Adam..." Oh god. 'I'm being punished' he thought to himself, 'that's it, no more late night

snacks.. I swear.' He heard another moan, definitely Daniel. "Shit" he muttered to himself.

Daniel was lost in feeling, lost in time. He was back in Oxford, about to defend his thesis and

happier than he could ever remember. Adam was there and he was doing all those things that

drove him crazy. He couldn't control his reactions anymore, but he didn't care.

He moaned into his lovers mouth as they found their rhythm for the first time in years. Legs

wrapped around each other, hips thrusting. The pleasure was pooling in his belly. The friction was

catching up to him.

Dimly, he was aware of Adam groaning a noise that wasn't quite his name. There had always

been a point, when they were together, where Adam lost his careful control. Daniel had for a

while made it a game to reach that point. Sometimes he had, sometimes he hadn't.

This time he was able to do it without trying. Adam gave a wordless, sobbed cry and broke the

kiss, moving now with an untamed wildness. His fingers dug into Daniel, and he groaned into

Daniel's neck and bit down.

Daniel whispered Adam's name, torn between speeding up to match the wild pace Adam was

setting, and slowing down to draw this out as much as possible. Adam's breath was harsh in his

ears, Adam's mouth was wet on his neck, Adam's body was hard against his, and instinct won out.

Daniel pounded against him, feeling the pleasure build to a painful intensity, and he hung on to

that for as long as he could before giving in. He came hard and fast, and moments later Adam

howled his name and jerked once, twice, three times against him.

Daniel let himself collapse against the hard stone floor, still with Adam's arms around him, still

with Adam's face against his neck. He realized he was shaking, and Adam murmured into his ear,

"See, that wasn't so bad, was it?"

This was hell, Jack told himself. This had to be hell. There was no other explanation. No other

reason why Daniel and Peter would be

-- silent?

Jack lifted his head slowly, blinking his eyes open. The noise had stopped, and the movement

also. Daniel and Peter were lying tangled together, and it seemed to be over.

Jack swallowed hard, ignoring the disheveled pair. He couldn't see Daniel's face, and he half

wanted to. Wanted to see what Daniel looked like, flushed and sated and -- he'd never get that

look for himself.

"C'mon, Carter," he said. His voice sounded a little hoarse to his own ears, but Sam didn't seem

to notice that. "Let's see if it worked."

She glanced automatically at Daniel and Peter. "If it -- oh. Right." Her gaze flickered towards

Jack before settling on the doorway.

Jack took a deep breath. "Okay. They did it, right? I mean," he corrected quickly, "the doorway

should be open." He put one hand out in front of him, reaching for it, fully expecting to get no

resistance. "So-- *ow*." He rubbed his hand, staring at the force field. "God *damn* it."

"It's still there," Carter said.

"Thank you," Jack snapped.

"It's still there," Carter repeated, sounding numb. "So it didn't work?"

"Perhaps," Peter said behind them. Jack glanced back; he was standing, tucking his shirt back into

his pants, somehow managing to look like he *hadn't* just-- hadn't just-- Jack scowled at him.

"What do you mean, 'perhaps'?" He slammed the butt of his gun against the force field, and it

bounced back. "It's *there*. You were wrong."

"Perhaps," Peter said again. He approached the doorway. Jack pulled back so that they didn't

come into contact. Peter stopped short of the force field, closed his eyes, and stepped forward.

Through the doorway.

Jack and Carter both stared at him. "But-- how--" Jack reached out to tap the force field, and

once more encountered it. "How the *hell*?"

Peter turned around slowly and stepped back through. "Those who have proven commitment,"

he said wryly, looking past Jack at Daniel.

"So, only we.." Daniel gestured between the two of them.

"I think so, but there's only one way to find out."

Carter quietly poked at the doorway, it sparked back at her in defiance.

"No luck here." she jumped as it sparked again.

"I too am having no luck."

"Teal'c! Where'd you come from?"

"I have been here the whole time O'neil"

"Yeah, but you--" Jack stopped. "Never mind. You can't get through. I can't get through.

Carter can't get through. This is just lovely."

"We can bring back...teams," Carter said. "In pairs. Now that we know how to get in... there

shouldn't be a problem."

"We should at least see what's back there," Peter said, half commanding, half pleading.

"Negative. Not without backup."

"Adam's right," Daniel said quietly.

"Daniel, you *know* what the regs are--"

"We should know what type of team to bring back," Daniel said.

"I promise we won't get into trouble," Peter said.

Jack glared at him and then rubbed his face. "No. My decision stands. We haven't had good luck

with what the Ancients leave behind. I'm not letting anyone in without backup."

"I have an idea." Daniel's eyes were closed, and there was a furrow between his eyebrows as he

thought. "Jack, take my hand."

"What?"

"Take my hand." Daniel's hand was out, and his eyes opened, staring intently at Jack. "Just do

it."

"Daniel, what are you doing?"

"Take my *hand*," Daniel insisted. "Trust me."

Jack cautiously put his hand in Daniel's. It was warm, almost hot, and Daniel gave him a

reassuring squeeze before stepping towards the doorway.

"Whoah-wait-just-one-minute," Jack said, resisting Daniel's grasp. "You know I can't go through

that."

"Trust me. This will work."

Jack sighed and started to step forward.

"...I think..."

"Daniel!" Jack yelped, but he was too close to kill his momentum. He flinched, preparing for a

full-body contact with the force field.

There was nothing. Jack stumbled slightly, and looked at Daniel, who was grinning broadly.

"It worked," Jack said. He started to smile. "It *worked*."

"Told you," Daniel said cockily, and held one arm out, reaching back through the barrier for

Carter.

Carter grasped the proffered hand and stepped through, "Well, that was easy."

Daniel gave her a look.

She blushed, "Sorry."

Peter offered a hand to Teal'c, "Shall we have a go?"

Teal'c took the hand and said, "We can try, but perhaps you shouldn't-" Teal'c was cut off as his

guide walked into the force field.

"Ow."

"It looks like the force shield still does not like my symbiote."

"How could you tell?" Peter asked as he rubbed his nose.

"It's ok, we need someone to stay here and guard the perimeter anyway." Jack called from the

other room.

Teal'c inclined his head. "Perhaps I should stay here," he said, "and guard the perimeter."

Jack flashed him a thumbs-up. "Good idea."

"Sorry," Peter said to Teal'c, patting him on the shoulder, and then stepped through to join the

others.

"According to the instructions," Daniel said, "we go...this way."

"Good thing we have the instructions," Jack said dryly. "We might get lost otherwise."

Daniel looked embarrassed. "That was kinda obvious, huh?"

"Kinda," Jack said. "Unless you want to try digging."

"That's not part of the plan," Peter said. "Though if you want to, be my guest."

Jack shot him a look, and started walking. "So. Daniel."

"Ym-hmm?"

"Any more nifty little surprises I should be aware of?"

"Probably," Daniel said cheerfully. "Okay. If I've translated this right, the Heliopolis should be

right around this..." He stopped, and Jack stumbled to a halt, nearly colliding. Daniel, staring at

the chamber beyond, didn't seem to notice. "...corner," he whispered.

Oof! Danny! Watch where you're.... going..."

"What's the matter?" Peter asked as he turned the corner.

Carter walked into the room and looked around.

"Watch where you step, Don't wanna end up going on an unexpected road trip." Jack warned.

"I don't think that's going to be a problem sir."

"It's gone." Peter said quietly.

Daniel stared around him at the bare room, stunned. "I was so *certain*," he said, sounding lost.

Jack shrugged. "Not your fault, Danny."

"It has to be here. It *has* to be," Daniel insisted. Peter, right behind him, put one hand on his

back, resting lightly between the shoulder blades. Daniel didn't seem to notice. "Maybe -- maybe

there's some sort of trigger, maybe we have to -- to stand somewhere --"

Carter shook her head. "I don't see anything, Daniel."

"Daniel," Peter said quietly.

Daniel shook his head. "There has to be something here."

"It's gone," Peter said. "They're gone. It happens."

"Not to me," Daniel said. He started running his hands over the closest wall, pressing at random

points. Peter looked at Jack, who grimaced and shrugged.

"Daniel. Let's go back, hmm?"

Daniel pounded the wall in frustration, and immediately Peter was there, grabbing Daniel's hands

and wrestling him away. "Daniel, there's nothing *here*."

"No.." he was shaking, his hands making frenetic movement, "No.. this can't... but why.."he

pointed back in the general direction of the main room, "Damn it!"

Peter gently placed a hand on his arm, "Let's go back-"

"No!" Daniel jerked away from the touch, "Why was THAT there, if there was nothing to hide!

Nothing to Guard." he raked a hand through his hair, "Why did THAT have to happen if.."

"Maybe there was something here at one time, " Carter was kneeling down, examining a hole in

the wall, "Maybe... they were in a hurry."

"Carter?" Jack hissed.

"No, sir, they're usually more careful than this, I can see where equipment might have been,

surfaces that don't quite mesh. Maybe they left the test to make sure none of the natives would

stumble in by accident." she was grasping at straws, "Maybe until they could come back and clean

up."

"Come back?" Daniel's head snapped up. "You think they'll come back?"

"Uh," Carter said, and shook her head. "I really don't know, Daniel. I think that when they left,

they meant to come back. I don't know if that means they will."

"But they *might*," Daniel persisted.

Carter glanced at Jack, who shook his head at her. "I...I don't know. I'd like to say yes, but..."

She shrugged. "Even if they do come back, it could be a thousand years from now."

"Or it could be tomorrow."

"Or it could be never," Jack suggested. "Look, why don't we...leave a note. You speak the

Ancients' language, right, Daniel? Just say, uh, 'Hey, when you get back, give us a call, we want

to talk'."

"And what if they don't?"

"Then they don't," Peter said. "It's not the end of the world."

"And if it is? So what" he looked pointedly at Peter, "My world's ended a couple of times

before."

"And look, you're still standing.. better than me sometimes." again Peter tried to offer comfort and

placed a hand on Daniel's arm, "I'm the one that likes to hide from my problems."

Daniel grasped the hand and gave it a tight squeeze, but let it stay where it was, he turned to the

rest of the group.

Carter looked like she was trying to give them some privacy, Jack was-- staring at their hands.

"Jack?"

His head snapped up, but his eyes took longer to focus, "Yea?"

"Let's get out of here."

"Yeah." Jack swallowed. "I think we should."

Carter started out, but Jack didn't move. Peter smiled at him, and then captured Daniel's mouth in

a gentle kiss. Daniel's eyes fluttered closed, and when they parted, Peter shot a glance at Jack.

"I'm sorry this didn't work," he murmured to Daniel, still watching Jack.

Daniel bit his lower lip and looked up at Peter. "It's... let's just get back."

"Good plan," Jack called. "Let's *go*."

Daniel jumped slightly. Peter smirked at Jack and kept his hands on Daniel as they moved off.

Daniel had his head down the entire way back, lost in thought. Jack glowered at Peter.

When they got to the main chamber, Teal'c's glance flickered between Daniel to Peter and Jack,

before he nodded at Carter and said, "Did you find what you were looking for, Major Carter?"

"Wasn't there," Jack answered, before Carter could say anything. "We're going back."

Teal'c inclined his head. "I see."

"Sir," Carter said, "if Teal'c can't pass through the barrier, how's he going to get out?"

"That does not seem to be a problem anymore, Major Carter." Teal'c said as he waved his hand

through the other doorway.

"Force field's gone?" Jack asked.

"It would appear so."

"Ain't that peachy."

"Peachy?"

He sighed, "Yeah.. Peachy, it's... never mind. I'll tell ya later, let's just go home."

One by one they left the room, Teal'c then Carter then Peter gently guiding Daniel. Jack waiting a

few seconds staring at the tableau before him, sighing he said to himself, "Oh yea, absolute hell.

Only wish I knew what the hell I did."

His musing were interrupted by a loud , "Oomf!" He looked around and saw Teal'c on the ground

grappling with someone.



"Teal'c!" Jack shouted, dropping instinctively into a crouch. "What happened?"

"I'm-- not-- certain." Teal'c managed to wrestle his opponent into submission. "I was attacked."

"He's observant," Peter muttered.

Two more people had jumped onto Teal'c; more were coming from all sides. Jack fired twice into

the air, ineffectively, and then aimed the gun at once of the attackers. "Daniel, tell 'em to stop or I

shoot."

Daniel glanced at him, but stood up, hands held up, and spoke loudly, clearly, and, from Jack's

perspective, complete gibberish.

One of the attackers shouted something, jumped Daniel, and pressed his knife to Daniel's throat.

Daniel went very still, and Jack swore. "What's he saying?"

He was shouting one phrase, over and over again. Daniel closed his eyes. "He-- he says we--

made this place unclean. That it was-- holy, and--"

Peter suddenly leaped to his feet, a dagger of his own held to the throat of the attacker who was

holding Daniel hostage. "Let him go," he said sweetly into the man's ear, "and I won't give you a

long, lingering death."

"Adams!" Jack yelled, "What the HELL do you think you're doing?"

Ignoring Jack, Peter continued, "If you don't, I'll break every bone in your body - and when I'm

done I'll start cutting off your fingers, then toes, then ears..."

He pressed the dagger more firmly against the man's throat. He was scared and it was all the

distraction he needed. With a quick movement he dislocated the man's shoulder - coincidently the

one holding the knife.

The knife dropped and the man fell to the floor howling in pain.

From behind another one of the natives broke off from the group and lunged. Peter elbowed him

in the face and kneed him in the stomach.

He then turned to the rest of the crowd and said in their own language, "Anyone else? I could go

on all day! You think you know impure? You think you know UNCLEAN?!? I don't think you

do."

Jack wasn't happy, but no one was attacking them and Daniel was free, so he wasn't complaining.

"What's he saying?"

Daniel listened carefully, his eyes widening, "Uh.. he's.. discouraging them from attacking again."

"Uh-huh." Jack didn't relax his grip on the gun. "Is it working?"

"Yeah," Daniel said, and winced. "Either that, or it's going to make them a *lot* more upset.

Uh, I'm not sure which."

"Daniel!"

Daniel held up one hand. "No, no, I think it's... I think it's okay."

Peter continued speaking, "If you hurt any of us, I will hunt each and everyone one of you down

and give you the most painful death I can imaging, " he let a menacing smile grace his lips, "and

believe me I have quite an imagination. If you kill me? I will arise again and I will be vengeance

reborn and I WILL bath in you blood, relish in your pain."

Daniels eyes were getting wider and wider. "Now he's ah... giving them an..."

"A what?"

"An ultimatum.. I think."

"What? They outnumber us 10 to 1 and he's making ultimatums?!?!"

"That's because you don't know what he's.... saying..."

Jack was looking worried now, "What's he saying?"

"He's saying things..... he shouldn't be able to say...." Daniel started mumbling to himself.

"What! Daniel... What is he saying!"

He was shaking his head, "He's using idioms and slang... nothing like that was in the scrolls... how

on earth.."

Peter took the opportunity to shift his body, once he was fully facing away from the rest of the

group he continued, "I AM Death!" he plunged the dagger into his hand, "Don't piss me off!" he

removed the dagger, waited a few seconds and with a flourish, wiped the blood away revealing no

wound.

"Uh, Daniel?" Jack muttered. Daniel, staring at Peter, didn't respond. Jack prodded him gently.

"Daniel. What's he doing?"

"I...have absolutely no idea," Daniel said.

"Whatever it is," Carter said, "it's got their attention."

"I'll say." The natives were staring at Peter with awe and, Jack suspected, fear. Not that he

blamed them. Even without understanding the words, *he* was feeling a bit... uneasy.

"These people," Peter shouted, gesturing at SG-1, "are under my protection. If you touch them,

you are touching me, and I will act accordingly. If you *hurt* them, I will not forgive, not forget,

not rest until every single one of you and your families lie dead at my feet."

Daniel closed his eyes.

"Daniel. Translate."

"He's, uh." Daniel glanced at Jack and half-smiled. "Putting us under his protection."

"Under *his* protection?" Jack hissed. "*We're* the ones with the guns."

"Yes, and he's the one doing *that*," Daniel said, gesturing. "You think you can do that?"

"Well," Jack hedged, "not in their language, no..."

"Well then-" Daniel watched in horror a another of the natives rushed Peter.

"Shit! I knew this wasn't-" Jack stopped and watched Peter grab the spear with his left hand, pull

the man forward and shove the blade upwards into his gut.

He twisted it for good measure before pulling it out. He then grabbed the man by the meager

tunic he was wearing and pulled him close, "You shouldn't have done that," he whispered and

then louder to the rest he yelled, "I warned you!" he shifted the man in his arms so his scared,

tearful face showed. "Don't say I didn't warn you." he repeated and then calmly snapped his neck.

"Jesus," Jack muttered. At least it worked -- assuming that Peter's goal had been to get the

natives all kowtowing before him.

They were chanting something, a rhythmic two-tone thing that sounded... Jack shook his head.

"You okay?" Carter said quietly to Daniel, who was staring at the scene, face pale.

He swallowed and didn't answer, saying only, "I think we should leave now."

Peter had his head back, seeming to be soaking up the natives' worship. Jack put a reassuring

hand on Daniel's shoulder. "Getting out of here is looking better and better."

"Hey!" Jack called over. "Adams! You coming back with us? Get your ass to the gate stat."

"Whatever you say," Peter called back, unconcerned.

"C'mon," Jack said to his team. He still held his gun ready with one hand, just in case; the other

hand remained on Daniel. "Let's go."

They got to the Stargate without incident. Carter went straight for the DHD, and Peter sauntered

up halfway through the dialing process.

"What happened to your fans?" Jack asked, a bit bitingly. Under his hand, Daniel tensed but said

nothing.

"I don't think they've noticed I'm gone yet," Peter said with a shrug. "Though they really aren't

my type."

"Could've fooled me."

"Jack," Daniel said in a low voice, and Jack fell silent.

"We're good," Carter said. The wormhole was active, and she was punching in the last of the

IDC code. "Colonel?"

"Coming," Jack said, and narrowed his eyes at Peter. "After you, Doctor."

Peter flashed him a feral smile and then turned his attention to Daniel. "Hey..."

"Don't," Daniel said, one hand up to block Peter's attempt at a caress. "Just don't, okay?"

Peter, after a moment, dropped his hand again, and nodded. "See you on the other side," he said

quietly, and stepped through the gate.

Jack looked at Daniel. "You okay?"

Daniel didn't look at him. "I really *hate* that question."

"...is 'shall we go home?' a better question?"

Daniel almost smiled.

Jack made an 'after you' gesture and Daniel stepped through the wormhole.

Once on the other side of the gate, Daniel began to get a sinking feeling -- the briefing. What

would they say at the briefing?

Jack pre-empted an further thought when he said, "Sir, can I have a word with you?"

Jack went over to General and had a quiet conversation. When Jack came back he flashed Daniel

a 'don't worry about it' smile.

"SG1, I have been informed that you had a rough mission and would benefit from some rest. After

your medical evaluations, you're free until 1100 tomorrow, when we will have our briefing."

After they were all cleared by Fraiser, Daniel started to leave without a word to anyone. Jack

noticed and ran after him. "Daniel."

"Yeah."

"Where're you going?"

"Home." Daniel shrugged. "You heard General Hammond. We're off until tomorrow morning."

"Yes, but--" Jack stopped abruptly.

"There you are," Peter said, catching up to them. "I've been looking for you."

Daniel closed his eyes, looking like he was just shy of losing his temper. "I'm going home," he

repeated. "Alone."

"Oh, come on." Peter smiled at him. He was acting more like the academic type he'd been before

the mission, Jack thought, less like whateverthehell he'd been doing back on the planet.

"I thought -- I mean, I don't know anyone here, and I don't like eating dinner alone."

"For crying out loud," Jack said. "You think he'd want to spend time with you, now?"

"We *were* living together."

"'Were' being the operative word." Jack glared at Peter. "He's not yours."

"He's not yours either," Peter shot back. "I'm not trying to *marry* him. I just want to spend

some time with him."

"Jack!" Daniel whirled away from them, shaking. "Adam. God, both of you, *stop* it."

When they quieted, Daniel said softly, "I just want to spend some time alone."

"Can't let you do that."

Daniel spun around, staring at Jack. "I'm sorry?"

Jack held up his hands in a surrender gesture. "I don't want you to be alone," he said.

"Fine," Daniel snapped. "I'll go find Sam."

Peter snorted softly. Jack just nodded. "Sure."

Daniel's eyebrows jumped. He hadn't been expecting that. "So," he said cautiously, "you're okay

with that?"

"No." Jack flashed a smile. "Really, I'd prefer that you come back with me, have a beer, rot your

mind with some of my tapes."

Daniel smiled, and Jack shrugged, answering for real. "Sure, that's okay. I just...I don't want you

alone."

Peter cleared his throat. "Do I get a say in this?"

"No," Jack and Daniel said simultaneously.

Peter looked down and then said, "Well, I'm going to, anyway. Daniel, we really do need to talk."

"You do," Daniel said quietly. "I don't."

"Daniel..."

"I don't know you," Daniel told him. "I...don't know who you are, any more." He turned quickly

and walked off. Jack looked at Peter, flashing a feral smile before he followed.

Jack found Daniel standing alone in the parking lot.

He put a hand on one of the tense shoulders and said, "Come on, I'll drive you home."

Daniel looked up at Jack and didn't say anything.

Jack took a good look at his friend. There were deep circles under his puffy eyes. His shoulders

were slumped and his head hung low.

"Don't argue, just get in my car."

Jack was mildly surprised when Daniel slowly complied. 45 minutes later they pulled up in front

of Jack's house.

"Jack, this isn't where I live."

"I know. I said I was taking you home, I just didn't say which home."

"This conversation is..... annoyingly familiar."

"I told you I didn't want you alone."

"Yes," Daniel said. "And I told you I-- forget it."

"Come on inside," Jack said. "Unless you want to walk home..."

Daniel closed his eyes, not moving. "It's tempting."

"For crying out loud, Daniel, just come *in*. I don't bite."

Daniel, after a moment, nodded and followed Jack inside. One victory down, Jack thought wryly,

and god knew how many to go.

"Beer?" he asked, getting two out of the fridge and tossing one to Daniel.

"No, thanks," Daniel said, but he took the beer and twisted the top off and took a long swallow.

"If you were Adam," he said quietly, "I'd accuse you of trying to get me drunk."

"I'm not Adam," Jack said. "And I am."

"Jack," Daniel protested.

Jack lifted his beer in a sort of salute. "Cheers," he said brightly.

Daniel stared into his beer bottle. "I'm sorry," he said, and Jack wasn't quite sure what he was

apologizing for.

"Daniel, you don't have to say anything."

"I do. I just..." He sat down in the armchair, staring off into space. "...don't quite know *what*

to say.

Jack knelt down in front of Daniel, "Hey! Lookit me! You don't HAVE to say anything. You

don't owe me any sort of explanation."

"It's not about owing you, Jack." Daniel took a deep breath and looked into his eyes, "You

deserve something."

"Danny.."

"We were living together, in Oxford." a deep breath, "We were lovers in Oxford."

"Danny.."

"One day we were walking down the street and this car came screeching around the corner, out of

nowhere."

"Danny." he said it more forcefully this time.

"Then the gunshots. It was the first time I'd ever heard gunshots." he closed his eyes, "Adam

leaped in front of me, forced me to the ground."

"Daniel." Desperate this time.

"He died before the ambulance got there, in my arms... bleeding all over me..."he blinked and a

tear ran down his face, "and then I found out..."

"Danny, stop."

Daniel blinked again, slowly climbing out of his memories and looked at Jack. Watched a tear roll

down his face and saw something undefinable in his eyes.

"I'm sorry," Jack whispered.

"I'm sorry too," came a voice from the doorway.

Jack half turned his head. "Get out of here."

"I'm not here to talk to you," Peter said.

"Yeah, well, this is my house, and I do *not* want you here."

"Does he?" Peter nodded his head towards Daniel.

Jack looked at Daniel, who looked nothing more than just tired. "Why are you here, Adam?"

"Because I want to be." Peter tilted his head. "Why is *he* here?"

Daniel laughed shakily. "It's his house."

"Point taken." Ignoring Jack's glare, Peter stepped forward. "I just...I want you to understand.

That I never meant to hurt you, that I'm so very sorry. That I still love you."

Daniel flinched slightly at that, but said, "I know."

Peter stepped closer still, and cupped Daniel's face with one hand. "Daniel."

He turned his head, leaning into Peter's touch. "I loved Adam," he murmured. "I don't... I don't

know what to do."

"Do what you feel is right."

Daniel opened his eyes, looking at Jack. "Even if that means...leaving you, leaving the SGC?"

Jack looked down. "Is that what you want to do?"

"I..." Daniel swallowed. "No. It isn't."

Jack half-smiled. "Then no, it's not okay."

Peter nodded, "I didn't actually expect you to..."

"Drop everything, just for you?" Jack questioned.

"Forgive me."

Daniel sighed, "No... It's not that easy, but I need to know, what really happened?"

Peter nodded, "I knew I wasn't going to get out of that one."

"You actually *thought* you had a chance to avoid that one?" Jack snorted in disgust.

Peter looked up angrily, "Of course! I thought if I thought pretty thoughts for long enough-"

"STOP IT!"

Both Jack and Peter looked at Daniel in surprise.

"Just stop it." he pleaded, "Please.. just stop it."

"Those people who shot me," Peter began, "Weren't going to stop at anything," he looked

pointedly at Daniel, "Anyone. Until I was dead."

"I don't--"

"I knew they were coming. I got a hold of a drug."

Jack's head whipped around in surprise, "You didn't."

Peter looked ashamed, "I did."

"You faked your own death?" Jack looked a little horrified, "The way you did it was damned

dangerous."

"I hired someone, tried to make sure they got there first, wore a vest and everything, but I didn't

know who was actually in that car that came around the corner."

"Why?" came the quiet question from Daniel.

"Why what?"

"You never tried to find me, call me, write a letter.. SOMETHING!! Damn it! You could have

done SOMETHING!!"

Both Jack and Peter were taken back by the rage in Daniel's voice.

"I-I wanted to," Peter said. "I just... I couldn't come back to you, not without putting you in

danger."

"One sentence. All it would take was one *sentence*, to let me know you were alive, you were

okay."

"Would you have believed me?"

"I was in love with you," Daniel said. "I would have believed anything you said."

Peter smiled, quickly, and sobered just as quickly. "I just thought that it would be easier."

"*Easier*?" Daniel flushed angrily. "You *bastard*. What, you-- you thought I enjoyed it?

Huh?"

"It's not like that."

"Oh. Right. So it was easier for *you*? Was I getting boring? Or, what, I wasn't good enough

in bed?"

"Daniel," Peter snapped, "for god's sake, *stop* it."

"What's the matter! Got tired of your life! Decided to die and start over? It's easy for you isn't it?

Leave all your responsibilities behind when it gets to be too much!"

Dawning realization hit Peter's face.

"I saw the little knife trick on the planet!" Daniel finally yelled.

"You... know," Peter said.

"No. I'm too stupid to figure it out. Too oblivious to notice the clues." Daniel glared at him.

"Okay," Jack said, "*what*?"

Daniel didn't look away from Peter. "I'll tell you later."

"You *know*," Peter repeated, sounding almost amused. "Oh, Daniel, I knew there was a

reason I liked you."

"I still haven't gotten an answer," Daniel said, very softly.

"I don't run away." Peter opened his mouth, closed it again, and shrugged. "Well, okay, I do,

sometimes. But I *didn't*. Not from you."

"Can you give me a reason to believe you?"

"I'm telling you the truth. That should be enough of a reason."

"You want truth?" Jack said suddenly. "I can't say I know what's going on, not completely, but I

know this much: Truth is that you hurt Daniel. Truth is that Daniel opened his heart to you and

you-- tore it out."

"Truth! Damn it! It always comes back down to that doesn't it." A serious look came over him,

"You want the truth Daniel? I've fallen in love more times that I can count and lost them all!

Daniel all!" a deep breath, "Despite what you think I am... What you think I can do... " His voice

softened, "I'm just a guy Daniel, a guy who was scared. Scared for his life, for the life of his

lover."

A look of understanding came over Daniel's face, "Adam.."

Adam shrugged, "You deserved to know, " he caressed Daniel's face, "You deserve... a proper

goodbye."

He turned to leave when Daniel called, "Wait! Adam." he turned around and was swept up in a

kiss of breathtaking proportions.

They broke apart, gasping for air, "Good bye." Daniel said.

"Good bye."

Daniel watched Adam leave. Jack couldn't decipher the expression on his face; it wasn't

completely happy, but was more thoughtful than anything else. What did you say in a situation

like this? "Need more beer yet?"

Daniel didn't move. "No."

Jack looked down. "Neither do I."

After a short silence, Daniel said, "I'm sorry you got...dragged into all this."

Jack shrugged. "You going to tell me what that was all about?"

"Later?" Daniel pleaded. "I just..."

"Sure, that's fine. Hey, I'm used to not having a clue." Jack smiled down at his beer.

Daniel smiled and did the same. "Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"The briefing tomorrow?" he asked with trepidation.

Jack shook his head shortly, "Don't worry, I didn't ask, you didn't tell."

Daniel smiled ruefully, "You just sorta... watched."

Jack's eyes widened.

"It's ok, not like you had much of a choice."

Jack let out a deep breath

"But that's not what I meant.."

"Well, as far as that's concerned Danny, they don't even have to know there even was a....

sacrifice." Jack grimaced.

"Thanks."

They were quiet for some time. "Are you ok?" Jack finally asked.

"I thought I told you I hated that question."

"And don't think I didn't notice how you never answered."

Daniel sighed, "I don't know how I feel Jack."

Jack put a comforting hand on Daniel's arm, "You're allowed to feel that way, you know."

Daniel leaned into the gesture, "Thanks."

Jack rolled his eyes, "Come here." and he pulled Daniel into a hug.

Daniel wrapped his arms around Jack, closing his eyes. Of all the confusion of the recent days,

Jack had been his one constant, and he needed that.

"Don't know what I'd do without you," he mumbled into Jack's shirt.

Jack laughed, a quiet snort that puffed into Daniel's hair. "I think you'd find just as many ways of

getting into trouble."

"No, I mean--" Daniel pulled back slightly, enough to look into Jack's eyes, and he realized that

he didn't need to say anything. Jack knew what he meant.

I get it," Jack said. One of his hands was at the back of Daniel's neck, warm and comforting. He

leaned forward, slowly enough to give Daniel time to back out, and kissed him.

Daniel gasped slightly, and Jack started to draw back. This was going to cause problems, Daniel

knew, but he leaned forward anyway, drawing Jack back in, drawing him deeper.

When they parted, he licked his lower lip slowly. "Uh...Jack?"

"Hm?" Jack's thumb was stroking behind Daniel's ear, back and forth, back and forth, and Daniel

tried to recapture his train of thought.

"What was that?"

"I think it was a 'me too'," Jack said. "Unless it wasn't."

Daniel swallowed. "It, uh... was," he said, and Jack's smile made him shiver. "Jack...do you

know what you're doing?"

"What, yes. How, no, but..." Jack smiled. "Figured you could teach me."

Daniel blinked furiously. "What, uh... you could start by, um, kissing me again?"

"Could've figured that out," Jack murmured against Daniel's mouth, and any retort Daniel might

have made was lost. Instead, he just pulled Jack closer, needing the contact as much as the actual

kiss.

When they parted again, Jack asked, "Stay here tonight?"

Daniel looked wary of the proposition, "Jack you're taking a lot on faith here-"

"Just to sleep." Daniel looked relieved. Jack added, "You dork."

Daniel smiled, then laughed, a deep throaty, belly laugh. He noticed the dopey smile on Jack's

face, "What?"

"It's nice to see you laugh." Jack said as he thread his fingers through Daniel's hair. "Come on,"

He grabbed his hand, "Let's go to the bedroom and make out like teenagers!"

As Daniel let himself be dragged into the bedroom he asked, "Is this a mid-life crisis Jack? 'Cause

if it is-"

"Danny?"

"Yes?"

"Shut up and kiss me."

"Okay."

***************************************************************************

Daniel woke slowly, disoriented -- the light was wrong, and the sheets felt different, and there

was something brushing lightly over his face and neck, not quite tickling.

As he surfaced from sleep, he realized why, and realized that it was Jack curled next to him, that it

was Jack's breath, slow and even with sleep, that was whiffling against him.

He stirred, shifting around to face Jack. Watching him, and then, as Jack awoke, Daniel smiled

and said, "Morning."

"Hey." Jack rolled onto his back and rubbed at his face. "What time is it?"

Daniel squinted at the clock beyond Jack. "Uh. 7:15, I think."

"Briefing's not until 11. You up for that?"

"I think so," Daniel said. "What are we going to tell them? I mean, we can't tell them

everything..."

"We say what we need to say," Jack said, "and nothing more."

"Sounds easy," Daniel said. Lots of things sounded easy even when they weren't, he didn't add.

Hell, with the right phrasing, anything could be made to sound easy.

Jack was staring at the ceiling, Daniel rubbed slow circles on his stomach, but stopped when he

felt the muscles tense.

"Jack?" Daniel looked over. Jack's eyes were closed, and his face was tense. "You okay?"

"I..." Jack trailed off.

"Talk to me," Daniel said. "Please?"

"It's nothing," Jack said stiffly, and swallowed hard. "I just...can't believe I did that. Can't believe

I'm doing this."

Daniel went very still, and then carefully lifted his hands away from Jack, shifting to a sitting

position. "Are you regretting...?"

"No!" Jack's eyes flew open, but he stared at the ceiling instead of meeting Daniel's gaze. "No. I

just... I'm... this is all very new. And I'm not sure that it's me."

"Yeah," Daniel murmured. "I'll, um...go get dressed, I should go to base and prepare for the

briefing."

"Daniel."

"Jack, it's okay, I understand."

"No," Jack said. "I don't think you do."

Daniel turned back, looking at him, saying nothing.

"I don't... want to stop. I just need to..."

"Adjust?" Daniel supplied, softly.

"Did this..." Daniel started hesitantly, "Was this... unexpected?"

Jack let out a puff of air, "Unexpected... that's an interesting word." He looked at Daniel, "If you

mean on my wedding day, was I hoping that Sara had a surprise for me that wasn't a silk neglige?"

"Dork." Daniel said softly. "You know what I mean."

"No, I never expected to fall in love with you."

Jack reached out and snagged Daniel's hand, "But in that room, when you... and he..." he smirked,

"Well.. it sorta clarified things."

Daniel looked at Jack, "You love me?"

"Now who's the dork," he tugged on Daniel's arm, "Come 'ere."

"Not a dork," came Daniel's muffled reply from Jack's chest.

"No not *a* dork... my dork." he stroked the soft hair, "Understand? But I still need time.."

"I can do that," Daniel murmured.

"Daniel, look at me." Jack gently tugged him up so that their eyes met.

"I do want this," Jack said. "Don't know exactly what it is that I want, but -- I'm not doing this to

humor you."

"I know." Daniel nuzzled against him, kissing gently. "I just can't help being..."

"A dork? Ow," Jack added, as Daniel nipped him.

THE END