Title: The Oath
Summary: Daniel made a promise. And Jack needed to know.
Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate SG-1 or any of the characters herein.
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Daniel stood almost casually, his hands in his pockets. His voice was sad when he finally spoke.
"Jack, I…"
"Don't."
"Jack." His tone was plain.
"No, just don't." Jack was already turning away, his hands unconsciously making a pushing-away motion.
"She loved you."
He stopped. He didn't turn around, didn't move; didn't breathe. And for one moment, Daniel thought Jack was just going to keep walking.
But his shoulders slumped and he whispered a broken, "I know."
When he turned around, tears silently tracked down his face and it didn't look like Jack even realized it. His features twisted into a self-effacing, self-hating sneer. "I know."
"Jack."
Jack closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Daniel, please just stop. I get it, I know."
Daniel took a step forward, his hands out in the universal gesture of submission. "I don't think you do. Jack, she loved you. But it wasn't what she wanted me to tell you."
He paused, watching Jack's face. The man didn't move. "We didn't have a lot of time. But we had enough to watch it finish. We had enough time to watch her die and for her to find a way out for us and say some last words. And she said that what she wanted you to know was that she had no regrets, except maybe dying."
Here, Jack flinched but said nothing. He continued, "She said," his voice cracked. "She said you would know what that meant. And then it…God, Jack. It was over. I'm sorry. I couldn't…I couldn't do anything. And I'm sorry."