Title: "Foundation"
Rating: PG
Words: 357
Summary: A little Daniel introspection after "Shades of Grey." Written for Michael Shanks' birthday.
He stopped his old wreck of a car across the street. The only light emanating from the house shone from behind the closed kitchen blinds. He was probably drinking and trying to forget, even though he knew he wasn't that type of drunk.
He sat in the car, unwilling to get out. They had endured a lot before, but this…this had shaken the very foundation of their friendship. "Apparently not much of a foundation there, huh?" The words had left him cold and empty and deeply, deeply hurt.
He was profoundly relieved when he learned it was just a set-up. And rather furious that they wouldn't trust him to act upset and surprised and whatever else was called for. He could act. He had acted before, and not just for the SGC. His feelings had caused him to lash out in that mild, passive-aggressive (they said) way of his; saying "We drew straws. I lost." It was out of line, because he could tell how sorry the older man was for his part in the matter—but feelings were feelings and they often led to foolish behaviour.
A part of him, the one that felt everything most and questioned everything most and doubted everything most, the fragment where his insecurities lived, asked if it really was just an act for the NID, or if the man had meant it. But he hadn't…had he?
He was adamant that is was all a lie. Their foundation was solid. It was.
Then why didn't he feel as if it was?
He looked at the clock; five minutes had passed.
With the lies their foundation had cracked. It wasn't solid now. Maybe it had been, or maybe the existing cracks had just now been discovered, but the foundation was faulty.
He had come hoping to shore it up. But nothing would happen if he just kept sitting there.
With a deep breath, he got out of the car. He made his way slowly to the door, then rang the bell.
He saw the hallway light turn on, and then the door opened.
He looked up into faintly surprised chocolate eyes.
"Jack, we need to talk."