Jack watched the beautiful man in his arms sleep peacefully. It was funny. Until meeting the archaeologist, the older man never thought a man could be beautiful. It was also women, yet here he was. He'd never been happier either. Falling in love with Daniel Jackson had surprised and changed his life beyond imagining. It was to the point where he knew, if Doctor Daniel Jackson ever died again, he would follow no matter what. Considering this was Daniel and all he's seen, he was hopeful that the younger man's next death was either temporary or of very old age where both can spend the afterlife in peace.

Yep. He was head over heels over this hot man. Right now though, he was hot in more than one way. The doctor with many abbreviations trailing behind his name had the case of a nasty flu, in the middle of the summer. Who the hell gets sick with a serious flu in the summer? Jesus.

Brushing his short hair off his forehead, Jack kissed it. Hmm, feels like it went down a bit. Fraiser wouldn't call it an accurate measurement of one's temperature but to hell with it. The movement caused Danny to stir and his eyes fluttered open. Seeing the sparkly blue eyes (though still fatigued and a bit puffy) made him smile.

"Hi." His voice was hoarse.

"Hey yourself. How ya feeling?"

The only reply was a groan and the fevered man to curl up as much as he could under the cover and chest hairs of his lover. A moment later came a mumble.

Laughing, the Colonial started shifting their thin bed cover around to try to uncover the brunette's face. He didn't make it easy. "What was that?"

Popping his head out, Daniel clearly stated, "I have to pee."

"So go to the bathroom." Jack couldn't help but laugh again, a bit harder this time, as he watched the grown man slowly stand, and padded towards the master bath. He didn't know if it was the genius was delirious from the fever, the medication, or both. Whatever it was, it had brought out this curious childlike state from the usually self-conscious academic.

After glancing at the nightstand clock, he got up himself. It was perfect timing, actually. As he listened to the toilet flush and the sink run, he got everything set up. By the time Danny came out, he sighed heavily, sat on the bed, and opened his mouth. Smirking, Jack stuck the thermometer under the tongue and closed the mouth with his finger.

When the thermometer was ready, and Jack was reading it, Daniel asked, "Am I all better now?"

"You're getting there," with a wide smile, Jack gave his now childlike partner the needed medicine and vitamins with cold orange juice. The mini-fridge in the bedroom had been well worth it after all, despite Danny's argument.

Putting the cup on the night stand, Daniel announced, "All done!" The second half of the word "done" drowned out with a yawn.

With a scoff, all Jack can say is, "All right, back to sleep," and in moments they're back to cuddling. Jeez, who woulda thunk it? Me, happily cuddling with another grown man!

Suddenly, Danny's sitting up, just as they've gotten comfortable.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Jack's sitting up as well, scared.

Turning, Daniel looks deeply into the chocolate eyes. "We should get married."

"What?"

"You, me, married."

The silver-haired man frowns heavily. Must be the fever talking. "Danny, you're sick. Lie back down, go back to sleep."

"After I'm done being sick then. Then we'll get married, okay?" There was serious determination written over his face.

It breaks Jack's heart. The fact that they can't is completely forgotten the proposing man's mind. If the laws allowed, there was no such thing as DADT, and that there weren't such a thing as discrimination, the answer would have been yes. In a heartbeat, a million times over, yes. Only they can't.

The lack of answer and sadness all over Jack starts to bring tears to Daniel's eyes. "You don't want to…"

"No, don't," Jack quickly wipes the tears and kisses him tenderly. "Of course I want to." He brings him in for a tight hug. "Why wouldn't I want to marry you? I love you. Love you so much."

"No… you-you don't. Otherwise you would have said yes." The now saddened man pulls away and gets out of bed. He starts scrambling around.

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like? I'm packing! I know where I'm not wanted." In reality, all he's doing is just standing there and grasping at air.

"Danny, come back to bed."

"Why?"

"Because you're sick."

"You said no."

"No I didn't."

"See? There it is again! You don't want to get married. You don't love me!"

With a heavy heart, Jack got up and gently took the delusional man's wrist. "Danny, look at me. Danny?" It took a moment, but the man complied. "There is nothing, nothing, out there that will ever, ever, make me stop loving you. Understand?" Jack kept his eyes sternly locked with the still tear filled blue eyes. His voice trembled as he said the next words. "I love you and it would be my greatest honor, Daniel Jackson, for me to marry you. If you'll have me, that is."

Suddenly the demeanor of the young man changed from the deepest of sorrow to over the top happy as could be. "Okay," and with that, they were back in bed in their cuddling. Not too long afterwards, Daniel's asleep, as if nothing happened.

The silver-haired man stayed up for the rest of the night as he held his love, his heart, his soul, as tears rolled freely from his own eyes. Words could not convey the emotions he had for the man in his arms. Not for the first time, and not for the last, the military man wished DADT didn't exist. He wished same-sex marriage was legal. He wished he could give his love everything he deserved. What he really wished at the moment though, was that the sweet doctor wouldn't remember the proposal at all. He hoped that the fever that induced it also made him forget he asked.

"You deserve so much more. I wish I could make you happy."