Twenty One Days

Authors: Layton & ForCryinOutLoud

Email: LaytonColthotmail.com OR AwForCryinOutLoudYahoo.ca

Category: Tag for 'The Light'

Rating: U for 'unique' or O for 'odd' take your pick.

Season: 4

Spoilers: The Light

Pairings: None, unless you count those found in Teal'c's Soap Opera Digest.

Content Warning: The usual craziness that results from a caffiene deprived archeologist and a desperately bored USAF Colonel.

Author's Notes: (Layton's Notes) We've written yet another one--this is by far the longest yet, and took the longest to do, as well. But I also think it's probably my favorite. It's still got the humor--but we went a bit deeper this time. At least, I think we did. FCOL? Were we deep at all? You know, when they weren't acting insane?

Author's Notes: (FCOL's Notes) Well this fic definitely took the longest to write, but I think it was worth it. As always our 'unique' sense of humor has twisted things into what I hope is an enjoyable and amusing fic. I of course, as usual, blame Layton entirely for not only the idea to write this but any subsequent craziness found within.

Summary: A twisted and unique look at what might have happened during the 3 weeks SG-1 spent in a palace by the beach.

Disclaimer: The characters are not ours, and they thank god for it everyday.

Day One: Jack (Layton)

I quickly steer Loran into the gate room--and I have to admit, if only to myself, it isn't because I want to see Teal'c off. Daniel's done it again. Turned a few more hairs gray. Almost took a flying leap off an eighth story balcony. Died.

Well, okay. The eighth story balcony thing is new. I'm used to him getting himself killed--but this time, this time it wasn't different. And what's worse, is I wasn't as shocked as I should have been to walk out that door, and see Daniel hanging onto that rail from the wrong side. He's been through too much these last years. Been through too much his entire life.

I should of known, though--that he wasn't there by choice. As always when something's off about Daniel--it was something else at work. I should have known the second he lost it with Hammond in that office that he wasn't himself. And he never should have been allowed to drive home alone.

Daniel catches my eye and gives a small smile--which I'm assuming is meant to be reassuring. It's not . . . helping. Because I can tell he still isn't himself. His arms are wrapped tight around his chest, just as they have been since almost the moment he came to. And he won't hold my gaze for more than a few seconds before he turns away.

Well--if he thinks I'm going to buy into that 'I'm fine' line he keeps feeding to everyone, he's got another thing coming. I know him too well to believe he would be unaffected by all of this. I know I'm sure as hell not. The image of Daniel leaning out over an eight story drop isn't something that's going to be fading any time soon.

Carter is dialing the 'gate, explaining to Loran how the DHD works. I doubt the kid has any idea what she's telling him, but he does a better job of looking interested than I would have managed. Carter seems encouraged by his attentiveness, and launches into a lecture on wormhole physics. I move discreetly out of earshot.

Daniel is saying his goodbyes to Teal'c, and Teal'c is watching him with what I've come to interpret as concern. "Teal'c," I say with a smile. "Be sure they send us ice cream. Lots of ice cream."

Teal'c raises an eyebrow. "I will bring it back myself, O'Neill."

Great. Teal'c will probably have eaten it all before he makes it to the other side of the event horizon.

"Oh, yes," Daniel says, perking up a bit. "And could you see that some of my books are sent through? Just talk to Nyan, he'll know what I need--"

"Nope," I say loudly. "Forget he even said it, Teal'c. You're to bring back ice cream." I give Daniel a meaningful look. "No books."

Teal'c raises an eyebrow. Glancing from me to Daniel and back again. "As you wish, O'Neill," he says.

I grin. Way to go, Teal'c. He never takes my side.

Daniel gives him a look of indignation. "Teal'c."

"Daniel Jackson--you should not be working," he says.

My grin gets wider. That's right, Daniel. You're going to have some downtime. Rest and ice cream, and NO books. This was going to be fun.

Daniel turns on the eyes. Predictably, he's pleading to the one more likely to give in to him. Teal'c.

"Could you at least bring back my journal?" he asks him. He's practically pouting. Teal'c's going to cave--I can see it in his eyes.

"I do not see what harm your journal would cause," Teal'c says.

Daniel beams at him.

Traitor.

Doesn't he know Daniel's journal is not an ordinary journal? I mean--this thing doesn't exactly start with the words 'dear diary.' He's got sketches of picto-thingys, and every other page is in a different language than the last. His journal IS work.

I sigh. Once Daniel had his hands on it, I doubted I'd be getting him to take the time for ice cream.

Teal'c gives us one last parting nod, and then moves back up the steps and through the gate. Loran watches him with wide eyes--probably thinking over everything Carter has just told him. Personally, I try not to think about what happens to my body every time I walk from one side of the Galaxy to the other.

I turn back to go check on Daniel--and he's no longer there. Carter's having a field day with Loran, and is trying to explain how she managed to power the gate on Earth without a DHD. Loran is looking decidedly less interested now. I recognized the signs. Eyes slightly glazed, mouth open just so. Information overload.

I almost go to rescue him, but I decide to let Carter take care of him a bit longer while I go find Daniel. I find him in the next room, running his fingers along the wall and studying their design. "Hey," I say.

He turns to look at me, giving me a quick smile, fading almost before it starts. "Hi, Jack."

"Whatcha doin'?"

"Just . . ." he trails off, and I watch him with concern.

I don't think he knows what he's doing--and that scares me, because he almost always does.

"Do you feel alright?" I ask.

"I feel great," he tells me. "Really--the light must have revived me completely."

Right. Now if only it hadn't revived your memories, as well.

"About what happened," I start.

He stops me with a look, pleading blue eyes that lower before I can see very deep. "I don't want to talk about that, Jack. It wasn't me out there. I would never--you know I would never . . ."

"I know," I tell him. Now.

But there had been a moment . . .

"You should go back to Loran and Sam--before she starts explaining quantum theory," Daniel says with a small, empty smile.

"I'm sure they're fine. He looked interested." In a car crash sort of way.

"Jack," he sighs.

"Daniel?"

"That was my way of asking to be left alone, but you never let me get away with subtleties, do you?"

"I don't think you should be left alone," I tell him bluntly. I didn't do subtleties.

"I'm not going to go walk into the sea, if that's what you're worried about."

It was now.

"Daniel," I snap.

"I'm fine," he tells me. "I just need some time to think."

"So think."

"I can't with you here, Jack. Please, just--"

"Sorry, Danny. No can do. Not too long ago, we were back in that room, and you were lying there on the floor without a pulse. I need some time to get over it--and I need to be sure you're over it too."

"I'm over it," he says. "Of my deaths, this is definitely one of the least traumatic."

Of his deaths? I winced. That is not a sentence anyone should be able to say. "You're not helping your case here," I tell him mildly. "Come on, let's go back to the gate room. Carter can regale us with stories of naquada and power conductors and crystals, and we can wait for Teal'c to show up with ice cream."

Daniel's eyes have drifted back to the wall, to the pristine red paint. He hesitantly reaches out, tracing one of the many small gold symbols. He doesn't speak.

"Daniel," I say softly.

"Not now, Jack. I'll join you in a few minutes, I promise. Just . . . not now."

I sigh. He's staring at the wall, but I know he barely sees it. His focus is turned inward--and I doubt whether or not he even notices I'm still here. It went against everything in me to walk away--but Daniel didn't ask for much. Well, okay. He asked for a lot. Help me save, Earth, Jack. Help save the universe. Help me save your soul.

But he almost never asked for anything for himself. He needed a few minutes alone? Okay. He would get five of them. I was feeling generous today.

I wandered back into the gate room, casting one last glance in Daniel's direction before passing through the wide doorway. Carter was sitting on the gate's steps, an elbow on her knee and her chin resting in her hand. I guess she finally figured out Loran wasn't quite grasping her lectures and let him off the hook.

Loran was leaning against the wall across the room, eyeing her warily. Probably afraid she might give him a pop quiz. He smiled when he saw me.

"Jack!"

"Hi, Loran," I say, forcing a grin.

"When will we get ice cream?" he asks me, all wide eyes and toothy grin.

I sighed. The kid was very up.

"As soon as Teal'c comes back," I reassure him. I looked at my watch. Then looked at the gate and willed it to start spinning.

Nothing happened.

I tapped my hands on my thighs. Looked at my watch again. Two minutes, Danny boy. You've got three more.

"You think I will like the ice cream?" he asks.

I grin at him. "Oh definitely. Everyone likes ice cream."

Carter perks up. "You'll love it, Loran," she puts in.

He looks at her cautiously, before smiling, reassured that she wasn't going to begin explaining the method of making ice cream.

"Where's Daniel, sir?" Carter asks.

"He's in the next room," I tell her.

She frowns. "Maybe I should--"

I looked at my watch. "Give him a minute," I say.

She looks reluctant but nods.

The gate powers up then, and Carter gets to her feet and moves out of range of soon to be forming wormhole. She comes to stand beside me and Loran. I look behind me, hoping Daniel will join us on his own.

He doesn't.

Teal'c walks through and comes down the steps holding two ice chests. F.R.E.D. follows him through, almost overflowing with supplies.

"The ice cream is here," I say, using a sing-song tone that has Carter throwing me an amused glance.

"Carter, Teal'c, you want to get Loran set up? I'm going to go grab Daniel."

"Yes, sir," Carter says with a grin.

Teal'c places the ice chests on the floor and nods.

When I first walk back into the room--I don't see him. I have a moment of panic--a flash of his expression as he stood literally at the edge, and then I see him in the corner. He's sitting on the floor, his back against the wall, knees pulled to his chest, and his head buried in his arms.

"Daniel?" I say cautiously.

He looks up. No sign of tears, thank god. But he definitely looks beat. "Jack," he says.

I walk over to him. "Teal'c came back. We've got ice cream," I say.

"Oh."

I hold out my hand. "Come on. There's some Rocky Road out there with your name on it."

He looked at my hand with the same expression he did the first gun I ever put in his hands. But after a moment, he reaches out and allows me to pull him to his feet.

"Rocky Road?" he queries.

"It seems the appropriate choice," I nodded.

He grins, and for the first time since this whole thing started I think it might be genuine.

Carter and Loran we're eating from one of those individual cartons. Teal'c was eating from a family size one. Loran looked like he'd just discovered gold. Even Daniel cracked another grin at the sight of him shoveling the ice cream into his mouth.

"Careful," I warn. "You'll give yourself a headache."

Just as I give the advice, his eyes widens and he drops the spoon in favor of holding his hand to his forehead. I wince.

"Ow," he says.

"Just slow down a bit," I tell him.

I grab a couple cartons for me and Daniel, handing Rocky Road to him and taking the vanilla for myself.

"When are you heading back?" I ask Teal'c.

His eyes stray to Daniel. "I have received General Hammond's permission to remain here with you, O'Neill," he tells me.

"Did you bring my journal?" Daniel asks, placing aside his untouched ice cream.

"Indeed," Teal'c says. He nods to F.R.E.D.

Daniel jumps up and starts searching, before pulling out the bound book in triumph. He takes it to the corner and sits back down on the floor, as far from us as he can get.

I put his ice cream back and sigh.

Carter grins over at Loran, who has recovered from the ice cream headache, and was eagerly eating it again. "Do you know how they make this . . . ?"