Chapter 2

Another knock resounded although compared to Teal'cs his one was a bit less powerful and its source appeared to be a bit hesitant. After the second round of triple consecutive knocks the knocking was accompanied with a sing songy "hello? Is anybody here?" "In here Danny boy the door isn't locked" answered Jack from his place in the cozy couch "Man, that's timing for ya!" He mumbled still looking incredously at Teal'c. Apparently Teal'c's words hadn't sunk in yet and now they won't ever have to, thanks to his other best friend. Although he couldn't deny that part of him was really curious as to what Teal'c meant with 'she acted upon her desires'? What could have happened up there? The left part of his brain was particularly curious but all the other parts were in unison that some things were better left unsaid, and that's why they oppressed the left side completely and were thankful for Daniel's grand entrance. What a friend! Or so they thought.

"Oh I didn't realize you'd be here" Daniel exclaimed looking at Teal'c, his sound rather relieved than disappointed, and then he continued the conversation in Jack's direction.

"Hello, Jack how've you been?" he said in the tone he only used with his best friend. Throughout the years, both of them had developed their special way of communication that only they and those working closely with them during these years could understand. So Jack replied with his usual answer and expected their opening conversation to go according to the preset plan, which it did up until shortly before the end.

"Fine, Danny Boy. So this is new I mean you didn't die or anything lately."

"Yeah, it's always something isn't it?"

"Gotta tell you, though, you look much better after coming back from the dead."

"Oh, it's just temporary, who knows, I could die any second now."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"So Daniel?"

"Jack."

"Daniel?" Jack repeated with more emphasis on the question in his words,

he wanted to know what Daniel wanted, for as much as he was happy to see his friend, both his friends actually, let's face it the coincidence of both of them showing up at his door step out of the blue on the same day was just too weird.

"Jack?"

"Yep, just like old times"

Daniel just shook his shoulders.

"Except you are in my living room, on a Sunday morning, the same Sunday morning that Teal'c decided to show up in my living room. And I have grown a beard!"

"Yeah, some things change, others stay the same."

"Very good."

As always Daniel was the slightly more mature one of the two kids, so he was the one who started wrapping up their ritualistic conversation:

"So, after the tough one we've had, the general gave us some leave for the weekend, so I thought I'd stop by and see how you were doing!"

"Ah, so how was that last mission by the way? Betcha as a space monkey you faired pretty well up there! Didn't he Teal'c?"

Of course Teal'c had refrained from speaking these past couple of minutes, to give the two friends time to catch up. And because he preferred discussing Jack's personal affairs in private with him, in order to spare him the extra awkwardness. He was at least that considerate! So Teal'c only nodded and Jack returned to Daniel.

"Yeah it was great especially the parts I don't remember and that I haven't even lived in this altered timeline".

Jack in turn impersonated his confused expression and Daniel continued,

"So Jack, when are you gonna stop acting like a child and marry Sam?"

That was the part near the end where the conversation took an unexpected turn, Jack was sure of that in the back of his mind. The front of his mind was however at a loss of words for the second time in 15 minutes. The right side of his mind tried to find a suiting joke or ironic remark to throw into the room that would coat his awkwardness. The left side of the brain only chuckled in a muffled tone, I mean it was too cliché that you have to admit it's funny, even if you're the victim. The rest of the brain passed the left side another threatening glance then ignored it, I mean there were other more important things to tend to at the moment.

Daniel just stood there with his arms crossed on his chest, a raised eyebrow and a face expression that made clear that he had nothing more to say. He was expecting an answer from Jack and was willing to wait for it for as long as it takes, which he knew would be longer than he'd actually liked. But still he had nothing else planned for the day, so if he had to wait till sundown or longer, so be it! Someone needs to put a stop to this and someone had to do it now before it was too late. What if they hadn't made it through the last mission, cause come on it was real close this time and one is ignorant if he doesn't acknowledge the greatness of a second chance, or a millionth chance in their case, and act upon it. Plus he knew how bad it would have hit Jack if that last mission was really it and he never got the chance to act upon his feelings, because of some stupid rules. For God's sake, he has ever followed a single rule in his life but when it comes to the one rule that everyone knows he should break he's suddenly Mr. Military. Daniel knew that what hurts the most is being so close and having so much to say and then loosing the one you love without ever knowing what could have been. Especially when anyone could see that a lot could have easily been for these two, even probably happily ever after.

So Daniel was here for as long as it takes and his determined expression and unwavering posture made that clear to the cornered O'Neill.

Teal'c who sat on the chair opposite to the couch had a clear smile on his face. He could now sit back and watch the events of the undeniably impending quarrel unravel in front of him, before dropping his bomb.