AN: This story hit me rather suddenly, and I'm not all that sure what I think of the end result, but encouragement from friends has convinced me to post it. So I hope you enjoy!

Thanks to The Cleric 007 for taking the time to beta this story!

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from Stargate SG-1

Holding On

"None of it means anything..." Daniel said hollowly, staring down at the city and street below.

He saw the people going about their day and knew none of it mattered; no one noticed, no one even bothered to look up. He was standing on the edge and for all anyone cared he could jump.

"Daniel, why don't you come inside here?"

The archeologist shivered. "I tried," he muttered, voice dead. "It just goes away."

He couldn't hold onto the light, couldn't maintain the hope that before today hadn't been a problem. Daniel was drowning on dry land, the depth of his despair overwhelming all other thoughts.

"Okay. Then we'll get it back."

Was that supposed to be encouraging? "You can't get it back," he replied darkly.

There was no returning to what was, what had been. All Daniel could see was more of the same. Days and days, months to years of this pain. He couldn't live with that hollow feeling inside of him; it froze him to his core.

"Whatever's wrong, we'll fix it."

Again, was that supposed to be encouraging? "You don't even know what I'm talking about."

"No," the tone of voice was so familiar. "No, I don't. But come inside," it was pleading, hopeful, friendly.

Daniel blinked in surprise, the voice finally sinking in. "Jack?" The name sounded weak to his ears when for a second his head popped above the surface of the black. He glanced over his shoulder, away from the edge.

"Yeah," was Jack's simple reply as his hand clamped around Daniel's upper arm.

"What?" he blinked away the fog for a brief moment and felt the cold metal of the railing at his back, the rough concrete beneath bare feet as he stood on the edge of his balcony, willing his hands to just let go.

"It's alright," Jack said, hand never letting go of Daniel's arm. "I've got you." His right arm wrapped around Daniel's chest as he hauled him back from the edge.

Daniel allowed himself to be dragged back inside his apartment, feeling himself shiver from the hollow cold he hadn't noticed until Jack's warm arms pulled him back. He dropped heavily on the edge of the couch, arms wrapping protectively around his midsection as he pulled in on himself.

"Daniel," Jack's voice didn't have its usual warning note to it. "C'mon, talk to me."

He shook his head, leaning heavily against the arm of the couch. "Just go..." he muttered, pulling his legs up in a desperate attempt to make himself as small as possible. He wasn't sure if it was to try and conserve what little heat his body seemed to have or to fight off the gnawing ache deep in his chest. He couldn't pull into himself tight enough.

Jack's hand clamped firmly down on his shoulder. "Now that's not going to happen," he told Daniel sternly. "Doc's going to want to take a look at you," Jack continued, pulling slightly to try and get Daniel moving.

The younger man slapped Jack's hand away. "I'm fine." He didn't think he'd ever told a bigger lie but he wanted to believe.

"Daniel!" Jack barked his name sharply and he blinked to find himself staring the Colonel directly in the eyes. "You were standing on the edge of your balcony! You're not fine!"

Was that fear he heard in Jack's voice?

"Just go away," he tried again, pulling his eyes away.

"No."

"Jack," he'd wanted his tone to be warning but it came off as pleading.

"Aht!" Jack barked immediately. "Daniel, I'll carry you if I have to!"

Daniel looked away; he knew Jack wasn't bluffing, he'd do what he threatened. But why couldn't he just walk away? Couldn't he see the pain he was causing? His presence was only making it worse. Daniel shut his eyes, tucking his chin tightly against his chest.

He could have sworn he heard Jack sigh before moving away and he let himself believe for a moment that he'd won. Daniel didn't feel any better for his 'victory'; that gaping hole inside of him bled all the harder for pushing his friend away. His emotions were a double-edged sword, too painful to be around anyone, too lonely to go without.

The hand on the back of Daniel's neck made him jump sharply.

"Easy, Daniel."

"Jack," he reached out a hand, gripping the Colonel's coat sleeve tightly. Relief rushed into the emptiness but couldn't hope to fill the hole. "What's happening?" he asked shivering again.

"I don't know," Jack admitted, squeezing Daniel's neck reassuringly. "We're going to find out."

"I don't want to move," he said simply, shutting his eyes tightly. If it had all just vanished Daniel felt he'd be fine, maybe it would ease the pain.

"I know," Jack said and it truly sounded like he did.

Daniel eyed the Colonel for a moment, remembering the loss Jack had suffered. They both knew that void all too well but that didn't tell Daniel why it was happening now. It was a fight to keep his thinking rational; he might not have been on the literal edge but the proverbial one was just waiting for him to fall.

The archeologist blinked out of his daze when the heavy weight of a coat came to rest on his shoulders. A tremor ran down his spine as he tried to pull the material closer to him. "Cold..." he mumbled into the coat.

"I noticed," Jack commented, crouching down in front of him. "C'mon, put on your shoes, we need to get back to the SGC."

Daniel winced looking over his knees to the floor where Jack had none too subtly placed his running shoes. He stared at them for a long moment, telling his legs to move but not getting a response. Daniel wanted to trust Jack, to believe there was something that could be done to ease the weight bearing down on him. At the same time it was all so much effort and his body wasn't obeying his call.

Jack slapped Daniel's right knee, the contact just enough to pull his foot off the edge of the couch. With great reluctance, Daniel unfolded himself a little, pressing the palms of his hands into his eyes even as he forced one foot into his shoe.

He allowed Jack to pull him to his feet and fumbled to get his arms inside of his coat. "We're going to figure this out," Jack assured, his right hand coming again to rest on the back of Daniel's neck. It was a grounding presence, a sense of strength Daniel clung to, to keep himself from falling.

In the core of his mind, Daniel was terrified that wouldn't be enough.

Thanks for Reading!

Morganeth Taren'drel