IV

Sightseeing

Daniel smiled as he brushed a hand over Jack's wet hair. A trickle of water ran down an angular cheek and he bent forward to catch it with his tongue. Jack turned his head and they kissed while their hands went on a soapy journey over their bodies.

"Let me wash your hair?" Jack asked when they parted for air.

"Let me shave you?"

"Uhh, Daniel, I dunno..." Jack looked doubtful.

"I'm good with knives," Daniel coaxed. He picked up the shower head and reached around Jack to turn on the faucet. A gentle spray of warm water rinsed the soap off of them. That done, he turned off the water and stood with his back to Jack, closing his eyes as strong fingers started massaging his skull, the herbal scent of his shampoo becoming more prominent.

Jack gave the back of his head a slight pat and when Daniel lowered it, Jack's shampoo coated hands wandered down to his neck and back upwards until he was brushing through his hair again.

Daniel's scalp prickled in a very stimulating way and he was almost disappointed when Jack turned the water back on.

"Where's your razor?" Daniel asked a moment later when all the shampoo was gone from his head.

"By the sink." Jack winced.

"You want me to do it in here or..." He gestured at the bathroom, thinking this would be more comfortable if they had a bathtub to sit in.

"Well, if you cut my throat there won't be such a mess if we're doing it in here," Jack quipped.

"If I wanted to kill you I'd just shoot you and throw you into the river to rot by the fishes," Daniel replied lightly.

"Remind me why I ever thought you're a nice guy?" Jack squeezed past him and left the shower.

"Because I'm good in bed."

"Right. No argument from me." Jack grabbed a towel from the shelf by the shower and quickly dried himself off. He pulled a chair from its place under the small window. Sitting down on it he handed Daniel the damp towel. "You cut me and I get to get off first tonight."

"Okay." Daniel wrapped the towel around Jack's shoulders before taking a fresh one for himself.

Jack smirked and leaned back in his chair, exposing his throat as Daniel applied shaving cream. "All right. Do your worst."

Daniel picked up Jack's razor and frowned. "That's a straight razor." He was sure Jack used safety razors.

As though he had read his thoughts, Jack said, "I use the safe ones out in the field and at the mountain."

"You use this one at home because you like living dangerously?"

"Just like it I guess." Jack shrugged.

"Oh. Well, that's okay. I used one similar to those on Abydos. Only it was bigger and sharper."

"Yeah, but do you know how to use it on someone else?" Jack asked with a scowl.

Daniel gave it a bit of thought and said, "Yes."

"When?" Jack challenged.

"On Abydos."

He had sheared mastadges on Abydos with the same type of knife they used to shave.

Jack gave him an 'I really don't want to know any details' look. "Focus, okay? I don't want to run around with band aids plastered all over my face."

Daniel went to work, his hand steady as he guided the blade over Jack's cheeks and jaw. He enjoyed the simplicity of the act, the feel of Jack's skin under his fingertips as he adjusted his head. The faint noise of the blade as it slid through the cream and over Jack's jaw was the only sound in the small bathroom. At first Jack was tense, his eyes following Daniel's every move. But soon he relaxed visibly.

Daniel liked the feel of the knife in his hand and the way the blade gleamed as the morning light fell on it through the window.. He shaved the underside of Jack's jaw with utter care.

Finally, brushing off an errand splotch of shaving cream that had found its way on the long curve of Jack's nose, Daniel stepped back. "Done."

Jack wiped the rest of the shaving cream off and took one critical look in the mirror. "You missed some," he said, scratching at a point on his right cheek.

"I did?" Daniel bent over his shoulder to examine it, but couldn't see anything.

"You did," Jack insisted, slapping a bit of shaving cream back into his face. He leaned back and Daniel shrugged, deciding to indulge his picky friend. He raised the knife and just as it touched skin, Jack's head jerked. It was the tiniest of moves, but it was enough for the blade to slip and nick the skin.

"Daniel!" Jack snapped.

"Shit, I'm... wait, it's not bad." Daniel grabbed for the Kleenex box and dabbed at the blood mingling with the shaving cream. "Sorry!" When the spot was cleaned Daniel took a closer look at it. "It's just a small cut."

Jack examined himself in the bathroom mirror. "I'll live."

"Barely," Daniel snorted, then sobered. "Look, I'm really sorry, but you jerked your head."

"No, I didn't."

"Yes, you did."

"Didn't."

"Did."

Jack cocked his head and pressed a Kleenex to the cut. "Maybe," he admitted. "Got something in my eye."

They had breakfast out on the barge's deck, the warm morning sun keeping them company as they savored French coffee and croissants with butter and jam. From somewhere the forlorn little melody of an accordion, played by someone out of sight, wafted over to them. Probably a clochard or a street musician playing for a bit of money.

They stayed seated after they had eaten, enjoying more coffee. Daniel was reading his Louis XIV book, intrigued and somewhat appalled by the glorious sun-king's doings.

"So, what are we gonna do on this fine day?" Jack asked, helping himself to some more coffee. The tiny white piece of Kleenex still stuck to his face didn't show any signs of new blood, which was a relief.

"You know, this book about Louis XIV is really interesting. I'd like to explore some places attached to him. Like Versailles," Daniel suggested.

"Louis le Grand," Jack said. "Le Roi-Soleil – the Sun King."

"He was a fascinating personality. Self centered and more than just a bit vain, but a colorful historical figure for sure," Daniel said with a slight smile at Jack's French accent. It was kind of... cute? Funny? Charming? "No one brought absolute monarchy to the same heights as he did. Not here in Europe anyway. It was... "

"Disgusting?" Jack suggested mildly.

"Yeah, that too. From the historical view you have to wonder how he managed to keep this up for 72 years without being killed or pushed off the throne. He was no Goa'uld so he didn't have the advantage of glowy eyes and hand ribbon devices."

"Charming personality, maybe. Passionate. In control of his people," Jack suggested. "And a good military at his back."

"Power, money... yeah. He also glorified himself through arts. Louis was a discriminating patron of the great literary and artistic figures of France's classical age. His state established or developed in rapid succession academies for painting and sculpture. A lot of Paris's historical buildings were built thanks to Lois XIV. Like the Louvre or Versailles or the Les Invalids... "

"The what?"

"There's a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans he built. It's part of a complex dedicated to France's military history. Actually there's also a museum and a burial site for French war horses. Even Napoleon's horse is buried there."

"Cool," Jack stated, eyes glazing over. Daniel knew the history lesson ended here. He didn't mind his lover's disinterest. Or maybe he was just used to it. It had stopped bothering him a long time ago.

"We could go there if you like to visit the military sights of Paris?" He could at least offer.

Jack shook his head. "Nah. We can do Versailles. Might be nice to get out of the city, too, for a change."

Daniel looked across the river to the ever looming towers of Notre Dame. It was amazing how he had become used to the sight in just a couple of days. He didn't feel like he was in a big metropolitan city at all. It was quiet here, the river had a calming effect and the old buildings and stone promenade almost made you believe you were in a different time period – if it wasn't for the tourist boats and dinner cruise ships. And the cars crossing the bridges and driving down the streets behind the promenade.

"How about we do the Eiffel Tower first, have a bite to eat and then head out to Versailles." Jack's voice broke him out of his musings.

"Yeah," Daniel said, "I'd like that."

"This is like living in an ant colony," Jack groused two hours later as they stood in line, waiting for one of the elevators to take them up the Eiffel Tower.

The analogy had some truth, Daniel decided. The Eiffel Tower was huge with its 1063 feet high iron lattice construction and inside it tourists were standing in line to the elevators or moving up and down the stairways to the first and second level. When they had been standing on the street gazing up at the enormous tower, the people moving inside really did look like ants.

"This is nuts," Jack went on as they moved forward inch by inch in line.

"You'd like to walk the 300 steps to the first level?" Daniel asked with a doubtful look at his friend's knees.

"No," Jack griped. "Who's stupid idea was this anyway?"

"Yours."

"So, why didn't you tell me it was a stupid idea? You're doing it all the time."

"I didn't think it was a stupid idea – at the time," Daniel replied with a grin.

"You're losing your touch then," Jack muttered.

"I'm out of practice," Daniel said easily. "Pointing out which ones of your ideas are stupid, or more stupid than others, isn't my job anymore."

"Mitchell never has any stupid ideas?" Jack snorted.

"Oh, he has his moments."

"Yeah, like losing you to Adria," Jack said. "More than once I might point out."

"Wasn't his fault." Daniel was surprised at the sharpness in Jack's voice.

"He allowed you to stick your damn head into Merlin's head sucker."

"Well, to be fair, he wasn't exactly there to do anything about it. That's not the point. It had to be done."

Daniel knew Jack wouldn't have let him do it. Jack would have tried to do it himself – again. And leave Daniel to figure out what it all meant. They couldn't talk about things like that here and it was a mute point anyway. Water under the bridge.

Still, Jack was rather tight-lipped until they finally made it to the second level of the tower. Daniel watched him closely as they stood atop the city gazing over its many pompous buildings and sites.

He should let it go. He shouldn't try to get to the bottom of this right here and now. Yet, he couldn't help himself. "I had to do what Merlin asked me to do. There was no other way. You know that."

"That's what you always say. One day it'll cost you your fucking head and maybe Oma won't always be around to boost you up to glowy land," Jack said under his breath, his voice like a razor blade.

"Jack... "

Jack turned away from him. He pulled out his camera and took pictures. Even the way he pushed the camera button and stalked around the platform spoke of suppressed anger.

Daniel remembered how he had come around in the Odyssey's sickbay... Jack's hand in his hair... Hey, Sleepyhead... He had wondered, back then, what the hell had gotten into his friend... and again his mind took a leap back to... I may have, might have, uh, grown to admire you...

"You really want me to go on this boat trip with you," Daniel concluded quietly. "You want me to leave and be with you... because you can't... Because you..." He wasn't able to finish the sentence. He wasn't used to someone feeling like this for him anymore. Wasn't used to this kind of attachment. It was so much more than a normal relationship. So much more commitment.

In a relationship where you just met someone you got to know each other, grew together, became an item before you started to make huge life altering decisions. He and Jack skipped the whole 'getting to know you' part because they already did. Know each other. Not like this, maybe. Not this private and not this intimate. Not until recently. But they knew each other's strengths and weaknesses, knew how the other one ticked. They moved right on to... stages Daniel usually never encountered anymore. With no one.

Jack stuffed the camera back into its pouch and slipped it into his leather jacket. "I can't make that choice for you."

"But you want me to make that choice." It wasn't a question. Not anymore.

"Has to be yours."

"How much time do I have?" he asked, his voice slipping into the old sarcastic tone they used when they had to cover up real feelings. "Is there a deadline?"

"I told you I'm not gonna push anything. I'll stick to that. I'll take what you're ready to offer," Jack didn't face him but looked out in the general direction of Île de la Cité.

"What do you want?"

There was only silence. For so long, Daniel began to wonder if he'd ever get an answer.

Finally Jack turned around, his face smooth and his eyes calm. As if the last five minutes had never happened. "Let's take it one step at a time. First I want us to have fun."

Daniel fought his natural tendency to argue, to tear the lurking issue out into the open and have it out with Jack once and for all. But if he was honest with himself, Paris wouldn't last forever and they should leave the issue – any issues – for when it was over. "Okay," he agreed. "Want to go to the third level?"

They had baguettes for lunch in a little street café with a view of the Seine. Now that it was almost afternoon the river carried lots of traffic. The tourist boats with their orange plastic seats and music drifting out of the loudspeakers, some fast and fancy motor boats. At the promenade a colorful mixture of people strolled along the river and the whole area seemed to brim with life and noise. It wasn't a bad noise. Daniel enjoyed sitting there in the middle of it just as he had enjoyed sitting on the barge's deck and having a quiet breakfast this morning.

Jack stirred his coffee, looking thoughtful, but no longer angry or distressed.

"Do you still want to go to Versailles?" Daniel asked as he dabbed the corner of his mouth with a napkin.

"Sure. Can't wait to hear all about it," Jack quipped.

"You're a bad liar."

Jack smirked.

Daniel paid for lunch and they took their time to walk back to the car, drinking in the hustle and bustle of the city.

"If you had a boat," Daniel couldn't resist asking as they crossed the street to walk at the Seine. "What would you name it?"

"Homer," Jack said without the slightest hesitation and they started laughing.

"If you had a boat," Jack asked then, "where would you go first?"

"Somewhere I haven't been before. Like... I don't know... Canada?"

"Canada?"

"Uh, yeah. I've never been to Canada and you could sail along the coast, right? If you start, let's say, in California?"

"It's cold in Canada. Never thought you'd go there," Jack said, curious.

"Too many trees?" Daniel asked teasingly.

"Okay, let's say you start in California... you could go down to Mexico."

"Digging for Mayan and Aztec treasures."

"Lying on a beach and drinking Tequila."

"Maybe we could meet somewhere in the middle," Daniel said dryly.

"You digging for artifacts and me drinking Tequila."

"I need you sober and alert for certain activities though," Daniel grinned.

"Yeah? Like hauling your sorry ass out of some temple you get lost in?" Jack grabbed his arm and made him stop walking. "Let me be your bodyguard?"

"What? So you can stalk me all the time? No way."

"It's perfect, Daniel. You stay out of trouble and I'll sleep better," Jack said, a rather smug look on his face.

"You want to sleep better? Have a warm glass of milk."

"Admit it. You miss me out there. You'd love to have me back watching you six. So if you'd stay earth side and dig in some grubby hole of dirt I could still do that."

"And get dirty with me?"

"I heard archeologists do it in the dirt. Of course that's a cliché," Jack chuckled.

They had reached the car and their playful argument was interrupted by getting in and putting on seat belts. Jack slipped his sunshades on and a moment later they were heading to the Rue de la Coutellerie on their way to Versailles. The city was packed with traffic and it took them a while to make it out of the worst of it. Daniel didn't mind. They were in no hurry, a soft summer breeze played with Jack's hair and he resisted the urge to brush his hand through the silvery strands.

The Rue Saint-Martin was one of the oldest streets in Paris. It had many passages leading into malls, but there were small shops as well like bookstores and coffee shops. And in between all these modern aspects of the city's old majestic buildings stood as a leftover from the past. The church Saint-Merry, the porte Saint-Martin which had been replaced by an Arc de Triomphe for Louis XIV and the Musée des Arts et Métiers, an university for artists and part of the St-Martin-des-Champs abbey.

They made their way through the city and ended up at the Seine again on their way to the outskirts and Versailles. They passed the Quai Henry IV and Quai de Bercy with its national bridge and the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy – a multi-purpose hall for sports events or concerts of any kind.

"Leaving Paris now," Jack announced as they entered the ramp to the highway.

"Not really," Daniel said. "Paris has grown so much, it almost reaches Versailles now."

"It's so nice to have my very own guide who knows everything, even more than my Paris 101 book," Jack snarked, but the broad smile on his face was in total contradiction to his inappropriate sarcasm.

"Nope, not gonna happen." Jack stood rooted to the spot, a mulish expression on his face.

"We should have come earlier," Daniel said, not exactly all that enthusiastic about this himself.

"I'm not going to stand in line for another hour or two, forget it," Jack informed him.

"Yeah, it's kind of, uh, discouraging."

They stood at the wide square with its impressive bronze gates and stared at what had to be hundreds of people waiting in line to be let into the Cháteau de Versailles.

"Let's do the gardens then," Daniel suggested. "Tickets are less expensive and the line's remarkably shorter."

They trudged across the square towards the palace. They had to pass between two of the long stretched buildings to get to the gardens. Jack pushed his sunglasses back on his head and let his eyes travel over the palace complex. "Nice," he drawled. "They're calling this a chateau?"

"Actually," Daniel recalled what he had read in his new book this morning, "It used to be a rather small... well, small compared to what it is now... hunting lodge for Louis XIII. His son, Louis XIV, transformed and expanded it. He built the Grand Apartments of the King and Queen. Among those was the Hall of Mirrors. Since he didn't like Paris all that much he decided to move court and government of France to Versailles in 1682. After him, Louis XV built the chapel and the opera house."

"Wow. To have your own opera... cool."

Someone tugged at his jacket's sleeve and when Daniel turned he was face to face with an elderly woman, who looked up at him quizzically. "Young man, are you our guide?"

"Sorry, I... "

"We have been waiting for you and we're next in line to go in. Where have you been?"

"Ah, I'm actually not... "

Another member of the small group came to stand beside the lady. He was around her age, his white hair sticking out behind his ears like tufts of feathers. He had beetle black eyes and his beak like nose gave him a hawk-like expression. "We need to hurry, Mister. The bus won't wait forever and we're not the youngest or fastest bunch of people."

It was Jack who took matters into his own hands. Clapping Daniel's shoulder he announced – loudly and with a charming smile to calm the group. "We're very sorry for the delay, Ladies and Gentlemen. We'll make up for it by giving you a tour extraordinaire. You won't be disappointed. You'll go home telling your grand kids about this. Doctor Jackson here is your man for all things Versailles."

Mutters of approval answered that.

"Jack? What are you doing?" Maybe now was the time to tell his ex major general that he was having one of his not so good ideas? Whatever the idea was?

"Getting us in," murmured Jack as he waved at the tourist group to move to the main entrance.

"This is a bad idea," Daniel hissed, a huge false 'I'm your friendly guide' smile plastered to his face as they walked past the guards. No one was asking for their tickets. This group had probably bought pre-sell tickets that included the guide. Or whatever. He had no idea. All he knew was that they made it inside not only without waiting in line, but also without paying. If they got caught he'd blame it all on one Jack O'Neill...

"No, it's not. You know all this stuff, so do your thing. Talk them into unconsciousness," Jack said with a smirk.

They crossed a booth and Daniel quickly snatched a floor plan of the castle from a rack. Scanning it briefly he said out of the corner of his mouth, "You are aware my field of expertise is Egypt? Remember that? This is France. My knowledge of French history barely covers the basics."

"Don't sell yourself short, Daniel. You still know more about anything than... anyone."

Daniel rolled his eyes as he quickly read what other information the floor plan provieded. They had entered the entrance hall and before he and Jack could make a quick exit into one of the other rooms, the lady from before looked expectantly at him. "Can you tell us something about how Versailles was built?"

"I thought we're doing a tour through all the rooms," another woman said. "Who wants to know how it was built? I want to see the king's private chambers."

"Be quiet, Delores," a man, apparently her husband, said in a rather whiny voice.

Daniel cleared his throat and began, "Hi, uh, I'm Daniel and I'm your guide today. If you will look around, you'll already notice that Versailles is an architectural wonder. It is truly, ah.."

"Beautiful, artful and was way ahead of its time," Jack jumped in.

"Right. Um... The... the innovative construction and design of the Sun King's former home was designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, who is the architect responsible for the palace in its current form." He glanced at the plan in his hand. "Versailles has 2,153 windows, 700 rooms and 67 staircases."

Ah's and oh's followed this, and Daniel led the group quickly across the polished wooden floor into the next room. "When Versailles was built baroque architecture was highly appreciated. Versailles is a baroque lavished complex containing extravagant ornaments, opulent paintings, and bold contrasts."

He had no idea how they made it through the first parts of the castle without the group getting suspicious. Either none of the men and women had any deeper knowledge of the palace and its history or they didn't care as long as he kept talking. Daniel suspected some of them might be near deaf as they kept talking among themselves rather loudly to be heard by their companions. Delores kept muttering about the king's private quarters and her husband kept telling her to shut up. The lady who had first approached them walked arm in arm with hawk-man and there were three other couples who were more or less interested in what Daniel had to say.

Mostly he rambled on about who had lived in Versailles, how Louis XIV had moved the court here from Paris and how he had taken absolute monarchy to a whole new level by telling everyone he was the state and as powerful as the sun and that no one around him was allowed to speak unless he granted it.

Jack was reading in a brochure he had picked up somewhere at the gates and threw in witty remarks here and there, making the elderly people chuckle.

Someone was going to pay for this. Someone silver haired and smug.

Finally they reached the Hall of Mirrors, which was a relief because Daniel had already read about it and he also remembered enough from his European history classes at college to fill in a couple of blanks.

"The Grande Galerie, as it was called in the 17th century, served daily as a passageway and a waiting and meeting place, frequented by courtiers and the visiting public," he said when everyone gathered around him again.

"It's beautiful," Delores said with a dreamy smile.

"You wouldn't want to be the cleaning staff here though," her husband muttered.

"Imagine they held dances and proms in here," hawk-man's wife said, an excited undertone in her voice. "Look at all these mirrors! And how big it is!"

Daniel cleared his throat. "The Hall of Mirrors was one of the most used rooms in the palace. During the 17th centuries the royal family walked through here daily on their way from their apartments to the chapel. It also served for feasts, political meetings, courts and other gatherings. Probably the most significant event that took place here during the reigns of Louis XIV was the Siamese embassy seeking an alliance with France in 1685. The Siamese stayed for three years and all the meetings took place here."

"Who wants to know all the political nonsense," Delores twittered, reminding Daniel of Vala in her behavior. "Tell us about the feasts."

"The feasts. Right." Daniel raked his brains. There was something about a costume ball. Something about a mistress... "The feasts were very pompous. Everything Louis XIV did was, actually, since he always wanted to remind everyone he was the greatest and most powerful... "

"Oz," Jack deadpanned, making everyone laugh.

"...monarch there ever was. He wasn't called the sun-king for nothing. He saw himself as bright and shining as the sun."

"What kind of balls and feasts did they held here?" Delores asked.

"Costume balls, for example. There was..." He tried to remember the one that was most known.

"There were many," Jack jumped in as Daniel snatched the brochure from his friend's … his former friend's... his soon to be dead friend's... hands to sneak a peek.

In the meantime Jack went on, "There was a costume ball, the Ball des Ifs, ball of the Jew Tree."

"A costume ball," Delores sighed. She turned to her husband. "Imagine how we would have danced, Arthur."

Arthur grimaced and took a step back as though he was afraid his wife was going to force him to dance.

Jack, however, took Delores's hand and gently moved her in a circle, placed his other hand lightly on the small of her back and guided her through what Daniel recognized as a waltz. The rest of the group applauded and the ladies actually giggled.

Once Daniel had picked up his jaw from the floor, he remembered what he had just read in Jack's brochure. "Louis XV was dressed as a tree. He met Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson d'Étiolles, who was costumed as Diana, goddess of the hunt during this ball. She became Louis XV's mistress."

Jack and Delores had reached the group again. He stopped, took a step back and indicated a gallant bow. "Thank you for this dance, ma'am."

Delores blushed pink which gave her face back some of its youth. She put a hand over her mouth and smiled, flattered, as Jack stepped away. However, hawk-man's wife didn't miss an opportunity when there was one. Before Jack knew it she had taken his hand and he had no choice but granting her the next 'dance'.

Daniel hastily pointed out a couple more interesting facts about the Hall of Mirrors as he tried not to be mesmerized at how Jack wrapped the old ladies around his little finger. Or about the fact that he had just discovered something else he hadn't known about Jack.

Dancing? He looked good. Even without any music to go with it Jack seemed to move in sync with the ladies. Classic. It was the oddest thing Daniel had ever seen him do. The most out of character thing, maybe. Here they were in this grand hall and Jack moved little old dames through the room. Daniel could see glimpses of him and his current dance partner in the mirrors hung in the arches opposite the large windows.

The arches themselves were fixed between marble pilasters whose capitals depicted the symbols of France. Jack seemed to multiply in the three hundred and fifty-seven mirrors that decorated the seventeen arches. From the ceiling hung crystal chandeliers which were reflected in the mirrors as well.

Daniel cleared his throat. "If you look into the mirrors you'll see the magnificent effect of how the view into the garden is reflected in them. If you will stand in front of an open window and look into the mirror you get the impression of standing outside in the garden instead of inside a room because of the illusion the mirror gives you."

Everyone wanted to try that and the ladies dragged their husbands to stand in front of the mirrors to enjoy the view.

"There's a secret passageway in the next room. Let's take our leave there," Jack whispered into his ear while everyone was still playing with the mirrors.

"Tired of dancing already?" Daniel quipped.

"Why? You want to dance with me?" Jack asked, a cocky grin on his face.

"Uh, no thank you. I didn't know you could dance."

"Impressed?"

"Surprised."

"Well, there's not much need for dancing when one is visiting other planets."

"Actually, we got lucky that way. Lots of cultures use dance as a form of expression and communication." He tried to picture Jack engaging in any form of dancing off world – and failed. Maybe some things you could only do while not in uniform.

Or when retired.

"C'mon," Jack said, and for a horrible moment Daniel thought he'd be swept across the room in a waltz. But Jack took lead and they slipped out of the Hall of Mirrors and entered the King's interior apartments.

To Daniel's horror there was another guided group of tourists in there and a young woman talked to them using a mike, "The Petit Appartement du Roi, and the neighboring rooms overlooked the Cour de Marbre on the right and the Cour Royale. In the 18th century they became real living and working apartments decorated in a very sophisticated style. These rooms and their functions were continually renewed and adapted to the tastes of the occupier."

The large room was held in white and gold foil. Another chandelier hung from the ceiling in a corner. Daniel spotted a large fireplace with a pompous mirror hung above it. He didn't have much time to look around as Jack dragged him through a small door, almost unseen in the richly decorated wall. Unnoticed by the other people Jack pushed it open and they squeezed through it, finding themselves on a narrow staircase.

"What now?" Daniel gently closed the door.

"Now we find the exit," Jack said.

"How did you know this door was here?"

"It's in this brochure I picked up. It leads down to a corridor leading to the palace's kitchen in a side wing."

"Ah, yes. These passageways were used by servants so they could move around the palace unseen by the nobles," Daniel said absently. He checked his floor plan. Jack was right. Though two other passageways were accessible from here and one would lead out into the gardens. They should try that one first.

"That was fun," Jack said as they headed through a plain corridor only lit by several naked light bulbs hanging from the ceiling. Apparently these passages were still used by people who worked in and around the castle.

"Yeah, it was," Daniel grinned, realizing it really had been. Risky but fun. "And no one arrested us – yet."

"And no one will..." Jack stopped short, one hand grabbing Daniel by the elbow. He put a finger to his mouth, shaking his head.

Daniel pressed himself flat against the wall next to Jack, straining his ears for any sound.

Footsteps.

Voices.

Not very close yet, but coming their way...

They looked at each other and Jack pointed backwards for retreat. Daniel frowned. They could still make it around the corner. The corridor parted in two ways there. If they went the opposite direction... He really didn't want to run into his 'group' again after they had just deserted those people. He pointed forwards, indicating a left turn. Jack shook his head and gave him a prompting push.

"I'm not going back in there," Daniel whispered.

"Daniel," Jack hissed.

He spotted something else. Another door just a few steps down the corridor. He tugged at Jack's jacket and pushed off the wall, taking point.

The voices became significantly louder, Daniel could make out two guys arguing about something in French. He opened the door, relieved when it gave way, and stumbled into the room, followed by Jack.

Only the room turned out to really be some kind of in-the-wall broom closet.

Daniel smacked his forehead on the wall and almost crushed his glasses as Jack pushed in behind him and closed the door. "Damn," he snarled, rubbing what would soon be a sore spot on his brow.

"Quiet," Jack snapped.

They tried to move around each other without making too much noise, but it was pitch black in here and Daniel heard Jack bump into the door and curse under his breath. He felt Jack press against him as he tried to move again. There was a hand probing for his shoulder and Daniel was shoved against the back wall. His arm was caught between their bodies and he pulled it free and wrapped it around Jack's middle. A moment later he felt Jack's arms sneak around him and so they stood in an awkward embrace as they waited for the other guys to either pass by or open the closet door.

At least the closet was empty.

Something clattered loudly.

Or not.

"Jack," Daniel breathed. "Stop it."

"Fuck," Jack cursed, but keeping his voice low. "Don't move."

"Not moving."

"And shut up."

They stood, plastered against each other, as the voices grew closer and closer... Daniel could hear them approaching and then... They seemed to stop right in front of their hiding place. They were talking about their wives and apparently one of them had forgotten an important anniversary and was seeking his colleague's advice on how to make up for it.

Daniel could feel Jack's warm breath on his face, could hear his flat breaths as if they were the loudest noise ever.

The smell of cigarette smoke wafted in. Those idiots were taking a smoking break right here? Right now? Daniel groaned inwardly.

"...bring her flowers and a ring. Women love diamonds."

"Like I have money to buy diamond rings."

"Then take her out for dinner, somewhere fancy."

"That's not enough to calm her down. You know Claudine, she wants me to suffer."

Jack put his chin on Daniel's shoulder. "What's going on?" he murmured into his ear.

"Love crisis, forgotten anniversary," Daniel murmured back. Jack still smelled a little of the after shave he had used this morning. When Daniel had shaved him... No, he wouldn't go there. Too distracting. Too dangerous. Jack also smelled of leather and something... something that was just Jack. Daniel moved his head so his nose touched Jack's cheekbone. His hands began to slide over Jack's...

"Bad idea, Daniel."

"I know."

"Hands off my ass. Now."

"Keep it down, Jack." Daniel stilled his hands but didn't remove them. It was not exactly spacious in here. And besides … revenge was a sweet thing.

"Dan-ie-l."

"Shhh."

Outside the discussion went from mad wives to high rents and unpaid bills. The smell of cigarettes became stronger.

Daniel nudged Jack's cheek with his nose until Jack moved back a fraction and they were face to face. Or at least that's what Daniel hoped. It was too damn dark in here. He made a quick assessment of the situation. Sounded like those guys outside were going to end their little break any minute. Just as he thought that he heard them walk away, still engrossed in their conversation.

Daniel plunged forward and found Jack's warm dry lips. He met resistance there as Jack tried to draw away. When Daniel followed suit, Jack's mouth opened readily and they engaged in a battle of tongues. Daniel felt the lapels of his jacket being grabbed as he was slammed against the closet's wall and Jack growled deep in his throat.

Daniel came to the realization he liked Jack torn between being mad and horny. He wondered how often Jack had felt like this over the years when they had argued and had had one of their pissing contests... there was probably a lot of leftover UST they'd have to work through.

Promising thought.

Daniel grinned when Jack pulled away from him, panting, "Son of a bitch."

"What? You didn't like it?"

"Oh, I liked it. What about this?"

Daniel sucked in a strangled breath when Jack's hand closed over the front of his jeans, his fingers stroking and rubbing through the fabric. "Ja... stop it!"

"You want to walk around with a hard on the rest of the tour, Danny-boy? Or sporting a wet spot on your pants?" Jack asked, voice deadly.

Daniel tried to get away, but he was trapped in the narrow space of the closet and Jack was blocking the way out. And his body had other ideas. Daniel gritted his teeth, willing his hips to stop moving. "What about you?" he snapped. "You make me come in here, I'll make you come twice as hard before I let you out of here."

"That a promise?"

Daniel felt his balls being gripped almost painfully. He closed his eyes. Sweat trickled down his temple. Oh... damn. "You bet, flyboy."

"All words, no action, bookboy."

He grabbed Jack's skull with both hands and dove in for another harsh kiss, pushing off the wall and moving them through the closet until it was Jack who was stuck. Their feet became tangled in a bucket and a mop, they started swaying, there was a lot of crashing noise and the door flew open as they stumbled and swaggered out into the corridor. They went down, Daniel coming out on top. The bucket rolled out of the closed with a metallic bang, the mop toppled over and hit Daniel over the head.

"Get OFF me!" Jack yelled between fits of laughter. "Daniel, so help me... "

"Ow, sh... " Rubbing his head he pushed the mop out of the way and rolled off Jack, who was getting to his feet rather clumsily, clutching his ribs.

"You okay?" they both asked.

"I'm fine," they both replied, out of breath.

Somewhere a door opened and a female voice called out, asking if someone was there.

"Run," Jack hollered.

And they did.

"You sure you don't hurt anywhere?" Brown eyes raked over him, looking for any signs of injuries, even internal ones.

"I'm okay." Even the tender spot on his brow didn't turn out to be that bad. At least Daniel hoped so. It didn't bleed, which was good. It was only slightly swollen, which was good, too. "What about you?"

"Oh, couple of cracked ribs, punctured lung maybe." Jack snorted. "Next time I'm the one using you as a cushion, that's for sure."

Daniel stretched out his legs and tipped his head back to gaze at the bright blue sky and the late afternoon sun. Below the long row of stone steps they were sitting on was the basin de Latona, a fountain dedicated to Apollo's mother. Beyond that the Grand Canal stretched out well into the back of the gardens. It was the main axe of the grounds of Versailles. Geometry and symmetry had played an important role in constructing the gardens. In a basin at the top of the canal was a statue of Apollo himself being pulled out of the water by his horses.

Daniel contemplated apologizing for the attack that had initiated the whole mess they'd gotten themselves into. The mad dash down the corridor and the relief as they stumbled through another door that had led into a courtyard was like a blur. They'd been lucky – the two workmen must have forgotten to lock doors behind themselves as they passed through the palace. They had ended up in the gardens and decided to take a look around.

Nobody had seen them and what were the chances their little group of tourists would catch up on them out here? These gardens were huge. Then again it was probably safer not to stay too long.

"You getting now why it was a good thing we never acted on our..." Jack paused as if to search for another word, then shrugged and continued, "feelings while we were still..."

"Damage control," Daniel said quietly. "I knew that before, though."

He could picture the situation so clearly; nights in tents, endless hours in prisons, plastered against each other in grubby holes covering from the enemy, … if they had given in an inch, if they had let go just once... maybe they would have never been able to regain full control. Or maybe they would have. SG-1 always came first. Had to come first. Jack was a soldier through and through. He had his priorities straight when it came down to it. So did Daniel. Still, there was this one tiny bit of uncertainty. The always looming What if...? Neither one of them had been ready to risk SG-1.

That was how it had to be. Now things were different.

"You're driving me nuts." Jack shook his head.

"In a good way."

"In every possible way."

Daniel glanced at the man sitting next to him. "Likewise," he said.

They decided they had to get away from the possible discovery by a group of angry senior citizens. They walked back through the gardens, passing colorful artfully displayed flower beds and another lake. Daniel was aware they hadn't seen half of what lay hidden in the wide grounds of Versailles and that he probably wouldn't be back to take a proper tour. But right now the temples, pavilions and petit palaces didn't hold much interest for him. His eyes were on the guy walking beside him. A military man who had once worn three stars on his sleeves, who was a hero in every sense of the word, and who was now engaging in hanky panky sessions in broom closets with his former civilian consultant.

Daniel realized he was in even more trouble than he'd first thought.