Christmas Ghosts 3/7
Sands Of Time
by Foreverwolf
Summary: An easy mission goes wrong and may cost Jack and Daniel their new relationship.
Info: Thank you, as ever, to my betas Winterstar and Cheryl for helping me with this third installment.
AN: So, I've decided to go ahead and finish posting the Christmas Ghosts Series here on FFnet. It's been driving me nuts seeing an unfinished series, especially knowing it was actually finished YEARS ago, lol. So. Warnings: As always, mild language, Jack/Daniel slash (keep in mind that the further into the series we get, the more graphic it actually becomes).
Chapter 1
"Careful, now."
"Jack!" Daniel sighed in frustration.
"You have to take it easy!" Jack insisted.
"JACK!" His patience was gone. He knew his friend meant well, but honestly, a man could only take so much! "I've been doing this since I was five. I think I got it!" A bored Jack was a danger to them all, and his attempt at supervising Daniel's delicate work was becoming infuriating, to say the least.
Jack held up his hands in surrender, and backed off to let Daniel continue. The archaeologist was carefully brushing off a wall of script that SG-11 had been convinced held the location of some sort of super weapon. "Okay, okay."
Daniel sighed, lowering his brush. He may dearly love the man, but getting any kind of work done today with Jack's constant hovering was proving to be impossible.
"Jack, while I respect that you're anxious enough to get your hands on this weapon that you're starting to appreciate the delicacies of archaeology, I'm sure the others would benefit from your delightful company while they set up camp."
Jack narrowed his eyes at his lover. "Is that a polite way of telling me to get lost?"
"Truthfully? Yes!" Daniel replied bluntly.
Jack sighed and nodded, as though greatly put out. He looked down and scuffed his toes in the dirt. "All right. I can take a hint."
Daniel glanced back at his lover, and took a moment to decide if Jack was really upset, or was just trying to garner sympathy. A guilt trip might allow him to stay. Damn, the man was good. Daniel almost couldn't tell the difference- until he caught a furtive glance from his SO.
Daniel smiled patiently as he turned away. "Just make sure you take it outside."
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"Daniel kicked you out, didn't he, Sir?" Sam Carter asked as she sighed in frustration. The afternoon had been going well, until the Colonel had shown up to 'help' set up camp, which turned out to be 'supervise, and direct'. It had always been hers and Teal'c's job to set up the camp, since Daniel usually rushed off, and the Colonel not far behind.
"It would appear so, MajorCarter," Teal'c responded. Jack remained silent, then growled at the Jaffa. This simply earned him an arched eyebrow.
"Finish up here. I'm going to do a perimeter check. Carter, you have kitchen detail," Jack ordered as he stalked out of the camp. Sam turned to glare at her friend.
"How is it I get punished when you're the one who provoked him?" she demanded.
"I believe DanielJackson would call it 'the luck of the draw'," Teal'c replied calmly. Sam had to hide a snicker. Nothing lucky about it. Teal'c couldn't cook, period. Neither could she, but her simple cuisine was still the lesser of two evils. One of these days Teal'c was going to figure out why someone else always volunteered to cook when it was his turn. She had almost told him about his astonishing lack of culinary skills, but didn't feel like spending the night in a tent with a pissy Jaffa. And Teal'c could get very pissy.
"Don't look so smug, Teal'c! I didn't volunteer for KP, but that means you've got latrine duty!"
She tried not to look triumphant, but Teal'c's crestfallen sigh of resignation was very satisfying. Who said Jaffa were always stone faced?
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Jack settled himself at the base of a tree not far from where his lover was working. He could see Daniel, but Daniel couldn't see him. He'd finished his perimeter check, and was now looking forward to a few hours of relaxation. It was hard work, annoying that many people in one day!
It was a perfect summer day. It was warm, with enough of a breeze to keep it from being hot. This planet had no bugs, no animal life of any kind. The large tree he was sitting under provided great shade, the grass soft enough to provide a comfortable seat. He couldn't have chosen a better planet for Daniel's first mission back since the coma if he'd done it himself. He definitely owed SG11 a huge favor.
SG11 could have simply brought back a video of the wall inscriptions, but it appeared that everyone was looking out for their favorite civilian. Lt. Thompson had insisted the wall had to be translated in situ, and that only Daniel could do it. Thompson had tried his best, really, but it was totally foreign to him. Especially since they'd only spent an hour here. Long enough to look, find one specific word that would land this paradise in Dr. Daniel Jackson's lap, get their story straight, and come back.
Jack smiled. Oh yeah, huge, huge favor. A nice long dig somewhere. He glanced at his friend, who was working hard at the wall. He knew Daniel would figure out the ruse as soon as he stopped thinking past the word 'weapon'. Which so far, he hadn't done. Daniel would have been in heaven, if it hadn't been for that one word. As it was, this was simply a reminder for the way the SGC Directives were changing. Another step down for the importance of scientific exploration.
Still, it was safe. SG-11 had made sure of that. Daniel needed a 'soft' mission to get back on his feet. Over a month in a coma, and two weeks of recovery in the infirmary hadn't exactly convinced the General SG1 was ready for their normal, stressful first contacts. People meant there was a chance that something could go wrong. Obviously, General Hammond had felt the same way, or else he wouldn't have let SG11 get away with such a flimsy explanation.
His lover was still far too thin, suffered migraines regularly, and had trouble eating certain foods. He was still weak, though he tried to hide that fact. Jack was amazed at how well the linguist could completely snow Janet. But he couldn't do the same to his partner. Jack knew him too well, and being the over protective mother hen that he was, he had been watching the signs carefully. Unfortunately, Daniel had endured as much mental stress as he had physical. They had done what they could to heal his body, and had taken long steps in healing his mind. But he still had a long way to go. As much as Jack knew Daniel physically still needed rest and recovery time, he knew equally that Daniel needed to work, to take back some normalcy in his life.
Speaking of which. He watched the shoulders slump, and the hand come up to rub at his temples. Daniel was running out of steam. He'd done well. Most of the morning was gone, and they'd arrived at sunrise on this planet. It was why he was sticking so close. He'd known it was only a matter of time before Daniel pooped out at the pass. Jack stood, and made his way over to his lover.
"Danny?" he called softly. He had gotten better at not treating Daniel like a crystal doll, but there were some things he hadn't been willing to push. Daniel still tensed at really close contact, though it took him only seconds to remember it was Jack and relax. Sneaking up on him and pulling them together was not yet an option. And yelling would only compound the headache.
"Yeah. Camp all set up?" Jack nodded, busy taking a packet from his pocket, ripping it open, and shaking two Tylenol into his hand. It didn't matter. Daniel still had his back to him. Jack squatted down, and held his hand out. Daniel glanced at the pills, and shook his head. "I don't need them."
"Daniel, I know you have a headache. Please." Daniel hung his head, and sighed. Jack was right, of course, he had a major headache. He wished he knew how Jack managed to see through his facades. Janet never caught on! How come Jack always did? He felt Jack's knuckles brush his cheek and automatically lifted his head to the soft affection. Jack beamed a smile at him. "I love you, Danny. I see everything about you."
This had been a surprising factor for Daniel. Jack had no problems expressing his feelings when it came to Daniel. The man had always been more open with him than anyone else, right from the start, but every stolen moment in the infirmary had revealed a new level of intimate murmurs from the older man. At first, it had made Daniel uncomfortable. Not because he didn't enjoy it, but because he couldn't reciprocate. But Jack had understood, had insisted that as long as Daniel was able to accept it from him, he could live with it.
His only other real relationship had been with Sha're. Among the Abydonians, she had been a possession. He wasn't expected to murmur sweet nothings in her ear. She was expected to obey. If her husband happened to be kind enough to request, not to order, then so much the better. Daniel had never treated her as a possession. She was a leader's daughter, a princess by all accounts. He'd refused to treat her like his servant.
It was a small way he could make up for his intimacy problems. He never beat her, never spoke harshly to her, and made sure to run for her smallest request. Their lovemaking was good in that it was frequent, though faster than he liked. Survival in the desert meant late nights and early mornings. Only once had he been able to show his young wife what it could really be like. Ironic, that they had discovered this the night before Jack had returned, and his life had been turned upside down.
"Daniel!" Daniel immediately shrunk back from the sharp bark as his thoughts were interrupted. He blinked, and felt bad because he could see Jack's hand holding position in mid air between them. Jack had tried to touch him, and he'd shied away. Embarrassed, Daniel sat up, but Jack didn't reach for him again. Instead, he lowered his hand, and his head.
"You were zoning. I tried to talk to you, but you weren't with me. I, um, I'm sorry I startled you." Jack stood, and Daniel knew he'd messed up, real bad. Jack was hurt. He reached out and grabbed the older mans hand, giving it a little yank to get the man beside him again. His lover wouldn't look at him, but did sink down in front of him.
"I'm sorry, Jack. It was a reaction!" Daniel pleaded. He watched as Jack took a deep breath, and nodded.
"It's okay, Daniel." It sounded forced, even to his ears. He watched as Daniel bit down on his bottom lip, and ducked his head. It wasn't okay, and they both knew it. But it wasn't in Jack to watch his lover suffer alone. Moving slowly, he gathered the younger man into his arms, and held him tight.
He closed his eyes in pain when he felt Daniel tense momentarily before relaxing a little. He felt Daniel hesitantly put his arms around him, as if wondering whether or not he was actually allowed to. That reluctance hurt, Jack admitted.
"I'm really sorry. I didn't mean-"
"Do you trust me?" Jack interrupted. He felt Daniel try to pull away and tightened his hold, resting his cheek on the top of his lover's head.
"Of course I do, Jack."
"You know I would never hurt you? I may screw up a lot in this relationship. I may hurt you with something I say, or do. Never intentionally, but it's part of having a relationship. It means giving that other person the power to hurt you emotionally. What I need you to understand, Daniel, to truly believe, is that I will never strike you! I'd put a bullet in my head before I would let myself hit or hurt you physically. Barring turning into a neanderthal," Jack teased, trying to lighten the mood, trying to let Daniel see that although he was hurt, he understood.
"I know, Jack." Jack could see that his attempt at levity had failed. Guilt was coming off his significant other in waves. Time to show Daniel just how much he paid attention!
"Yes, you know that. But that little boy inside doesn't really believe it, does he? Everyone's he's loved has either left him, or hurt him. He doesn't know what it's like to be safe. Oh, he's heard promises. Even dared to believe them once upon a time. Each time one of those promises got broken, it took him longer to believe next time, until he stopped believing at all."
"Jack, I-" Daniel's breathing hitched, breaking off. He didn't know what to say. He couldn't refute it. And it would kill him to admit it.
"Shhh, I know. I hear your nightmares. I told you, Daniel. I see everything about you. Someday, Angel, you're going to believe you're safe. Until then, you're going to react, and I'm going to be hurt because today isn't the day you know it soul deep. We just have to believe that we'll get through it. Together. One step at a time, okay?"
Jack felt Daniel nod against his chest. He could also feel the fine tremors of suppressed pain and weakness. Daniel was done for the day. Now he just had to convince his stubborn archaeologist of that fact. He remembered the pills that rattled loosely in his fist.
"Danny? You going to take these?" Daniel sighed. He wanted to stay here, in Jacks arms. For the moment, he felt safe, loved, and comforted. But they were offworld, and he had a mission. He squashed the mild fear that popped up as he pulled away from his lover, and Jack actually let him go.
"No, Jack. They'll make me tired, and I need to find this weapon."
"You're already tired. Take them. Please. Then come back to camp, and have a little nap. Fraiser will have a fit if you return in worse condition than when you left. We still have three more days here."
Jack frowned as Daniel took the pills without further argument, nor even trying to argue against going back to camp. Instead, he rose obediently to his feet, and started gathering his things. It was then that Jack noticed Daniel's hands were shaking. Definitely time to move. As it was, the small effort of cleaning up seemed to be sapping his friend's strength at a great rate.
They made it three steps away from the wall when Daniel stumbled. Jack automatically reached out a hand to steady him.
"I'm fine."
Jack growled. "I've never hated two words more in my life. Drop your stuff. I'll send Teal'c back for it. Then lean on me." Daniel shook his head, wincing when the action sent blood pounding through his head.
"No. Let's just go." He forged on ahead before Jack had a chance to reply. He knew what was going to happen. He'd passed out enough times in his life to recognize the signs. He was hoping to make it to camp before that happened. Hopefully, it would hold off until he was in his sleeping bag and away from Jack's eyes.
Jack kept close. He wasn't the fool Daniel seemed to think he was. He'd seen enough men drop from over exertion after an injury to know the signs. The military was full of stubborn mules like his lover. Daniel wasn't going to make it back to camp. If they got halfway, Jack would be impressed at the young man's will power. For the moment, he contented himself with thinking up synonyms for 'stubborn' in alphabetical order.
Daniel never even made it halfway. Almost- but not quite. He collapsed so fast even Jack wasn't fast enough to catch him. Damn, it was not going to be fun explaining the new bruises to Fraiser! Jack sighed as he knelt beside his friend. Then he turned to his radio.
"Teal'c, you want to head toward the wall. Carter, make sure Daniel's sleeping bag is set up."
"Yes, Sir. Is everything all right?"
"Peachy keen, Carter. Daniel passed out. Have you ever noticed how stubborn our resident archaeologist/linguist is?"
A snort came through. "No, Sir."
"Good, thought it was just me for a second."
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Sam watched as the Colonel anxiously paced around the small camp. Teal'c had carried the weakened man in over two hours ago, and Daniel still hadn't woken up. She knew Colonel O'Neill was toying with the idea of taking him back to the SGC and delivered into Janet's tender loving care, which wouldn't be so tender when she discovered that Daniel had pushed himself too far, too fast. Daniel would be crushed. He'd been so happy to get out of the infirmary, even if it meant only light duty.
SG-11 had provided a well timed miracle. Daniel had been on light duty for two days, and had been confined to base for that time. Just as Daniel had been about ready to go out of his mind, Lt. Thompson had delivered this planet into the archaeologist's hands, and the mention of weapons had been enough to overrule Janet's verdict that Daniel was to remain on light duty.
It probably wasn't exactly the type of milk run the Colonel had had in mind when he was looking for a soft mission. She thought it was better. The only possible detriment was that Daniel was still putting his skills to use in searching for another destruction device. Still, no life, no threats. The choice between Daniel being a little unhappy, and Daniel possibly being shot wasn't a difficult one.
"Sir, I'm sure he's just pushed himself too far. He should be better in the morning."
"Indeed, O'Neill. DanielJackson merely requires rest," Teal'c threw in.
Neither platitude seemed to calm their agitated CO. Sam bit her lip. She was worried too. She loved her 'little brother'. Daniel's physical breakdown had given them all a scare, and an insight into how much Daniel valued, loved, and relied on all of them. He had nothing left, except for them. But it was times like these where she really hated the way the world worked. She didn't think it was fair that she could coddle Daniel and worry openly about him while the man who loved him had to bear it in silence, alone.
For a quick moment, Sam cursed Daniel for being so selfish, but dismissed this. There had been reasons, and it was the way Daniel handled things. She wished she could talk to the Colonel, let him know he didn't have to pretend around them. He was her friend, too. Damn the rules that made this impossible!
A glance at Teal'c showed a similar frustration in his eyes. They both wanted to help their friend. Still mentally cursing, Sam turned back to Daniel's notes. He hadn't found much. She could see his weakened state progressing as she read. The normally impeccable pen had slowly degraded.
Jack continued to pace around the camp sight, trying to wear off some of his frustration. He hadn't even acknowledged Teal'c's and Carter's attempts to reassure him. He knew Daniel was getting better, albeit slowly. Janet had warned him that little episodes like this were to be expected. It was impossible to knock at death's door and walk away unscathed. Knowing something was going to happen, and seeing it happen, were apparently two totally different things.
He couldn't stop thinking about the little talk they'd had by the wall. Watching Daniel cringe away from him hurt even more now than it had months ago. This appeared to fall into the knowing and seeing category. Jack knew Daniel was working hard for this relationship. All the little things he pushed himself to do, to say and to accept, were all noticed. Working past a fear as deeply ingrained as Daniel's was never easy.
But Jack wanted so badly to know that Daniel was secure enough with him to know deep down in his soul that Jack was here for the long haul. That it would take more than some bad memories to push him away. He had his own daemons. But then, Daniel knew about those. Had comforted Jack many a night in the tents they shared off world. Daniel had more classified information in his head than just the Stargate program. He'd never said anything, never betrayed Jack's confidence.
Jack wanted Daniel to be able to trust him with the same thing, and he had already told him so much. Unfortunately, he knew there was so much more. Daniel was too strong to be taken out by one or two events, even as traumatizing as they were.
A stirring noise from the tent had him rushing inside. He noticed Carter and Teal'c both move closer to the entrance, but were careful to keep a discreet distance. Some part in the back of his mind made note of this, and wondered, but his attention was centered on the waking man in front of him. He knelt next to his lover, and gently swept back an errant hair on the smooth forehead.
"Come on, Danny, wake up."
"J'ck?"
Jack smiled. "Yeah. I don't suppose you want to open your eyes?"
Daniel groaned, and tried to roll over as he mumbled, "Just five more minutes, Jack. Then we can go fry the Goa'uld that did this."
Jack grinned. He knew Daniel was fooling around, a light hearted way of telling his lover he was all right. Jack felt his panic recede. Just an episode, nothing serious. A consequence of too much, too soon.
"No Gould here, Danny. Just a wall-"
Daniel shot up as he interrupted Jack. "A wall! That's it!" Jack leaned back to avoid the flailing hands as Daniel spoke. "I've been missing a piece of the puzzle. I think I have it now! Jack, it's not a weapon!"
"It's not?"
"No, or, at least, not in the conventional sense. It's a bridge, of some sort. I'm not sure to where, or what it's supposed to connect. I'd have to read more. The text ends suddenly. I thought at first the first half must have worn off, but I think there's more on the other side!"
Jack watched his archaeologist in full swing. Daniel's hands were flying even as he tried to get out of the sleeping bag, words pouring out of his mouth, and passion flaring in those cerulean eyes. Jack almost held his breath, wishing this moment could last forever, this image of Daniel stamped in his mind. He'd missed this.
"There's nothing on the other side, Daniel, except a big huge river with some very fast currents and large rapids. We checked, remember?" Daniel shook his head, a small wince the only sign his headache hadn't gone completely.
"No, Jack, we checked the landscape on the other side, not the other half of the wall itself. Come on, I'll show you!" The invitation was made even as Daniel passed through the entrance, nearly knocking over Sam and Teal'c. Jack shook his head and followed. He'd missed this passion. Okay, so Daniel was probably over doing it again, but he wouldn't settle until he'd either proved or disproved his theory.
Jack waved for Carter and Teal'c to follow them, and took up his synonym listing for stubborn again.
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Daniel hurried toward the wall; certain he had the missing piece now. The language itself appeared to be a derivative with Portuguese as its base language, though it had obviously evolved. It had also seemed to cut off mid-sentence. The answer had come to him just as he had awoken.
Busque entre as ruínas de velho, e cruz...
Seek amongst the ruins of old, and cross...
The cut off hadn't sounded right and had frustrated him to no end. There had to be more! Cross what? To where? He couldn't help the feeling that he should have seen it sooner. Perhaps he was overdoing it. But he wanted to be back to work so badly. He needed it. Daniel knew his friends were worried about him, and appreciated it, but the scare was over. He was recovering, albeit slowly, and now wanted his life back.
More importantly, he wanted the new life he had started with Jack. They'd had barely a moment to themselves since they'd entered into their relationship. The little grabs at intimacy they had been able to grasp for those short moments were hardly satisfying to a developing romance.
Daniel came out of his thoughts as he spotted the wall, and increased his pace. The answer was there! On the other side. He was sure of it!
"Daniel, slow down. You're not going over that thing until I check it out!" Jack called. Daniel slowed, but barely. Quickly, he reread the lines leading up to the break. Four words leapt out at him. Verdade. Correndo. Presente. Coragem. Truth. Past. Present. Courage. And then the riddle. Seek amongst the ruins of old, and cross... Cross what? There had to be more!
He stood by patiently as Jack scaled the wall, and went about prepping his equipment to do the same. He knew Sam and Teal'c were going to wait on this side, just in case things went wrong, and they had to make a dash for the gate, but he could see the worry on their faces, and smiled at them.
"Don't worry. Quick over, read, and back."
Sam chuckled. "You know you just jinxed us, right?"
"Relax, Sam. I'll be fine. I'll be-"
Sam held up her hand, sharply cutting him off. "Don't you dare say 'be right back'. "
"You're starting to sound superstitious, Sam," Daniel growled. Teal'c raised his eyebrow.
"A wise precaution where you are concerned, DanielJackson."
Daniel stared at his friend, but offered no response. How could he? For the most part, it was true. He heard Jack's okay yell and started up the wall. Once at the top, for principle, he turned to his friends standing at the base, and smirked.
"I'll be right back!" he called down then dropped out of sight. Sam shook her head, unable to hide her grin. It was good to see Daniel passionate again, playful and free. In her mind, she often compared her friend to a bird in a cage. True, the cage was gilded, but her friend was still locked in nonetheless. Taunted with the wonders of the universe, and then having them snatched away with a flick of the wrist. Daniel accepted it, true, but she could see how deeply it tore into his soul. Any small happiness her little brother could grab, she was glad to give.
"Good luck, guys."
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"Well, it took you long enough," Jack grumbled as Daniel touched down on the narrow ledge between the wall and the river bank. His lover grinned at him.
"Sorry. I was lecturing Sam on superstitions." Jack only grunted at him in response. He could see Daniel was already lost, as he'd spotted the writing on the wall with his last word. He decided it might take a while, and radioed Carter and Teal'c to head back to camp, with check ins every two hours.
That done, he turned back his friend, and sighed. It was going to be a long day. There was nothing for him to do. They were standing on a narrow bank with a fast paced river behind them, and a wall in front of them. Wow. Perimeter checked.
"Jack, I feel you thinking sarcastically to yourself. Why don't you head back to camp?" Daniel asked absently.
"Not a chance, Danny." Though he could see the progress Daniel was making as he walked along the wall, reading to himself. At least they wouldn't be here all night.
An hour later, he was beginning to re-evaluate that assessment. Daniel would read up, then turn around and come back, and start reading again, muttering to himself. Every now and again he would rub at his temples, a clear sign the headache hadn't gone, and had, in fact, worsened, but Jack knew better than to try and get him back to camp so early.
Instead, he leaned against the wall, and involved himself in his favorite sport, Daniel Watching. The linguist was brilliant, the archaeologist intricate, the anthropologist passionate, and his lover was simply beautiful. A very exquisite package, all in all. A whole set of different parts to make up the love of his life. Jack loved watching Daniel in all his aspects.
And then there were the others. The warrior, the soldier, and the fighter. One fought for honor, one for survival, and one for everything that didn't fall into the first two. Jack admitted he didn't like these as much, especially the soldier. It went against everything in his lover's nature, and it cut Jack to the core every time Daniel had to reach for a gun instead of his notebook. So rare missions like this one were appreciated. The fire that had been missing from Daniel's eyes for so long had been rekindled, and it made his heart sing out with joy.
Jack sighed. Daniel had become so much more than he had been when he first joined the Stargate Program, and yet, hadn't really changed at all. The honor and survival had always been there. In his own way, Daniel had been fighting for them even then. Perhaps it had never really been Daniel who had changed, but instead everyone else who came under the guidance of the young man's morals and strength of spirit.
Daniel frowned as he read the wall. The sentence was never finished. It took him a half hour on each side of where Jack had stationed himself in the middle to reach each of the ends of the wall. He'd been over it meticulously a few times. The sentence from the other side never picked up again. Instead, this side spoke of trials, and a dangerous land holding the ultimate treasure.
He was frustrated. And his headache was coming back with a vengeance. He could see Jack shifting in his peripheral vision. He knew the man had to be bored out of his skull. In order to give Daniel the room he needed to read, translate and explore, Jack was pretty much bound in one spot. Perhaps he should think of turning in for the night. He knew this side of the text by heart, and had taken copious notes. He could mull over the riddles that were presented, and at least Jack could be sitting next to a warm fire.
He turned toward his lover, barely out of arm reach, about ready to admit defeat for the night, when he saw Jack peering intensely at the wall, and reaching for something. Dread thundered through him, and he reached out, just managing to grab Jack's sleeve as he shouted "NO!".
It was then everything went black.