Their morning ritual was conducted with minimal conversation, each man lost in his own thoughts. As he sat drinking his morning tea, Jack wondered about last night.

His partner had been as tender, as loving, as ever. But there had been a barely noticeable trace of desperation in Daniel. As if Daniel had tried to memorize and store every moment. Jack had often wondered how much more Daniel knew than he was letting on. Since they'd arrived on this planet, Jack had seen a side of his partner he rarely got to see. Competent, confident in his knowledge, adjusting to set backs, and totally in control. This whole adventure had been the cultural experts show from the beginning.

But unlike the times before, his partner seemed to hold a wealth of knowledge in subjects Jack had never guessed at. Daniel's proficiency at surviving had come as a surprise to him, though he still felt a mark of shame for that.

Each Test had been passed, because of Daniel's compassion and brains. They were still alive, and Jack could hardly claim credit in that being his doing. They had made friends here, almost family by the time they left. Past sins forgiven if never forgotten.

There were so many elements to this quest that Jack knew Daniel had never fully explained to him, merely letting him know the important details. But there was something else now. Daniel was keeping something from him, something big, he could feel it.

Their strong link that had connected them during the Past test had faded, but not their general sense of each other. Something was weighing on Daniel's soul, and Jack wasn't entirely sure it was just being torn between missing Earth and missing this planet.

They had been gone almost a year. What was left for them on Earth? What would happen if the friends they were so desperate to get back to couldn't handle their relationship? Jack knew he would retire in a heart beat. But what of his Daniel? That sweet innocent soul that would fight for Earth for as long as he lived?

Not for the first time since they had arrived, Jack wondered if it was really worth all this, if maybe they should have stayed with the Iskat, and the warm family they had been adopted into.

He felt Daniel's arms circle his waist from behind, something else that Jack considered himself grateful to the Iskat for.

"You've been quiet this morning," Daniel observed.

Jack let himself lean into the touch for a moment, closing his eyes against the wave of emotions that rolled over him, and this desperate need to cherish every moment they had. "So have you."

"I guess it's because we're getting so close, now we're both maybe starting to look back at what we're leaving behind."

Jack nodded, and turned around to face Daniel and return the embrace. "Danny, have you considered staying?"

Daniel chuckled. "Of course I have. How could I not? To stay, like this, forever? Not to mention there's this planets natural age reducing agents that we've discovered. It begs the question of what's going to happen to us when we're no longer able to get it? I barely recognize us, Jack. We look so much younger than we are. And your knees have healed. Will there be some kind of withdrawal? Will we age normally again on Earth? There are so many questions, but for as many as we have, can you imagine what Sam and Teal'c have put themselves through?"

Jack gripped his lover tightly, their gentle embrace turning into a desperate hug. "Why do I feel like I'm losing you?"

"Never, Jack. I will always be with you. I love you too much to ever leave you."