As the Phoenix Dies
By Ael L. Bolt
Rating: G
Genre: General
Spoilers: Fire and Water
Summary: When good plans take a bad turn.
Author's Notes: I wanted to do something for Daniel's birthday, and when I went over an episode guide I noticed that "Fire and Water" was in just about the right spot to possibly have coincided with Daniel turning thirty-two. And those that know me know that I can't resist a bit of angst, so there's a smidge in here.
"This should be an easy mission," I say casually as I zip up my vest. "Go through the Gate, take a look around, be back home by dinner."
Across the locker room, Daniel fumbles with his shoelaces. "What, got a hot date tonight, Jack?" he snipes back good-naturedly. "Or just don't want to miss that baseball game again?"
Oh, if only he knew. Carter and I have been planning a surprise party for the kid over the past week or so. I don't think he knows that we know when his birthday is, but I have access to his file. He's turning thirty-two this afternoon, but we're going to throw a party like he's never had before. We haven't let Teal'c in on it either, but that's because Jaffa apparently don't celebrate birthdays. Plus we don't want him giving it away to Daniel. He's not quite one for subtlety amongst friends.
Carter's getting him a new set of blank journals and some high quality ink pens. Specially imported from Egypt and imprinted with the Abydos chevron in each brown leather cover. She says it's to remind him of both his homes, Egypt and Abydos. Personally I'm not sure if that won't just depress him by reminding him that Sha're is gone, but I know he'll appreciate the thought if nothing else.
I've noticed how much the kid loves his chocolate and coffee, so I'm getting him a year's supply of the highest quality Columbian dark roast I could find, as well as a box of German dark chocolate. Doc Fraiser's going to kill me, but he deserves all the comfort food he wants.
The slamming of a locker door jolts me from my thoughts about tonight, and I casually sling my MP-5 across my chest. "All right campers, let's move out," I command, suppressing my amusement as they follow me like little baby ducks in a row.
"So what's the name of this place again?" I ask as we enter the Gateroom. The inner ring is already spinning, the first five chevrons locked.
"P3X-866," Daniel rattles off without the least bit of hesitation, then makes a face. "I'm serious, we should name some of these planets sometime."
"Daniel, you remember the designations anyway," I grumble, but inwardly I agree. I can never remember all those little numbers and letters together in the right order.
"Yes, but all I'm saying is that it might be easier for everyone to remember the planets by name rather than numbers – uh, not that you'd need to, obviously, but-"
Thankfully the kawoosh of the forming wormhole prevents him from digging his hole any deeper. "SG-1, you have a go," Hammond says from the command room.
"Onwards and forwards," I sing-song. "The sooner we get there, the sooner we can come back."
The wormhole trip is dizzying as always, but I think I've perfected the art of not falling flat on my face. Daniel stumbles a bit beside me and then sneezes explosively. I can understand why a second later, when the smell of sulfur starts burning my nose. Looking around, I see nothing but sand and more sand, with smoking craters pockmarking the landscape. Two moons hang overhead, and I can see a faint glint of something ahead of us. "C'mon, let's go see what we've got."
Thankfully, there are no objections to this, and we unerringly head for the shining line. As we approach, I can see that it stretches way into the distance, and in fact looks very familiar. "Looks like some kind of ocean," I comment.
Carter drops her helmet onto the sand and starts messing around with her samples while Daniel sets to videotaping the landscape. I'm not quite sure what he expects to find, but I'm betting he's not going to find it. Scuffing at the gritty soil, I turn to scan the horizon for any potential threats.
Whoosh.
Heat.
"Argh! Jack, help! Help me!"
End.