Prompt (014) Strangers
Jack, Daniel, mentions
of Sam, Pete, Teal'c, and Bra'tac
They sat together at the small table in the hole-in-the-wall café, so close physically their foreheads almost touched. Yet they were standing on opposite edges of a deep, wide chasm; separated by one moment in time.
"Do you ever miss it?" the one on the right asked, the overhead light catching on his brown-speckled silver hair and making it glow.
"What?" replied the other, glancing up from his cup of coffee.
"Everything," said the first, gesturing wildly with his arm at the world. "Being out there, translating things on other planets, meeting the natives."
"Getting shot at?" added the second dryly.
"Yeah."
"Sometimes." There was a pause. "How're things at the mountain?"
The first man frowned, "Fine. Hectic, as usual."
"How's Sam?"
"She and Pete got married," the first responded.
"Really?" the second said, not greatly surprised. "It's only been, what, a year?"
"Carter never was that patient," joked the first. The second nodded. "She said she would have invited you, but nobody knew where to send the letter."
The second's eyes shifted away and he changed the subject, "Teal'c?"
"Doin' his free Jaffa thing. Him and Bra'tac are quite the politicians."
"You?"
"Nothin' new."
"Um, that woman—Kerry? How are you two doing together?"
"We split up." The first took a drink of his coffee.
"Oh," murmured the second, blinking behind his glasses. "Why?"
"You know damn well why."
"Do I?" asked the second mildly.
"Daniel…"
"Jack, you're the one who walked out on me. Not the other way around."
An uncomfortable silence settled between them. Soft jazz music played in the background, mingling with the muted conversations of the people around them. Finally the first whispered, "I'm sorry."
"It wasn't your fault. I was distracted. We've been over this," the second sighed, taking off his glasses to rub at his eyes tiredly.
"You were distracted because you were thinking about our fight," the first said harshly.
"Jack…"
"You were distracted and it almost cost you your life. You were distracted and it was my fault," the first continued, ignoring his friend.
"What do you want me to say, Jack? I don't blame you. I've never blamed you."
"I do."
"I can't absolve you of your guilt. Only one person can do that," the second said, putting on his glasses and digging in his pocket for money. He stood, leaning heavily on a cane, and dropped the money on the table. "It was nice seeing you, Jack. Same time next year?"
"Yeah."
Daniel left. And not for the first time, Jack watched him walk away.
