AN: Thanks, JJ! Good to get some feedback – makes all the difference in the world! Here's some more…


Jack sighed. The mission had been a success. Things had gotten more than a little bit hairy at some points. And not just with the mission itself but with Angel. Like when he and Carter had returned without Jonas and Daniel. Even worse was when the Kelownans had called for assistance, she had happened to be in the control room and she snarled that they should be made to burn in hell. She had slight 'issues' with them since Daniel had died saving their stupid asses after all. The only good 'Klown' was a dead 'Klown' was one of her favourite sayings. It was a good thing that Jonas never took that personally. Not that she counted him as one of them.

All in all, however, everything had turned out just fine. As it often did. Anubis looked to be defeated – ding dong the witch was dead – and all was well. Angel had been more than upset that Jonas had been injured but the fact that he'd taken that blast to save Daniel saved him from being in Very Big Trouble for getting himself hurt.

Now the mission was done, the current Big Bad defeated – damn Angel for getting him into Buffy – now was the time to concentrate on his next mission. Getting Angel and Daniel back together. Which wasn't going to be any easier now that Jonas had been called home. She listened to him more than she would any of the rest of them.

When Jack had been in the locker room with Daniel before the mission, Daniel had told him that he didn't remember everything but he remembered enough. Jack knew that he meant more than just being mission-ready. He knew Daniel was talking about their friendship. However much that was good to hear, he wanted to yell that it wasn't enough. Nowhere near enough when he'd missed the most important part.

Jonas couldn't be leaving at a worse time. Jack knew that Angel was upset and nervous knowing she wasn't going to have Jonas around any more but she wasn't as freaked out as he might have expected. He also knew that she'd be forced to rely on him more now and he hoped he was up to that challenge. He'd have to be.

As he stood in line waiting to say goodbye to Jonas, he couldn't help but wish that Angel was here. She'd apparently said her goodbyes earlier, knowing Daniel would be in the gate room for Jonas' departure. He just had to get them face-to-face. Somehow. It was only a matter of time. Cheyenne Mountain was a big place but it wasn't THAT big. Plus her office was right across the hall from Daniel's. How hard could it be? She was only psychic for crying out loud. He sighed.

Everyone said something suitably mushy to Jonas. As for himself he told the kid what he needed to hear – that he had earned his place on SG-1. Jonas hesitated a few times as if he was going to say something and Jack was practically screaming on the inside for him to crack. How good would it be if Jonas gave in now and told Daniel everything?

Instead Jonas merely said. "Hey Daniel… feed my fish." If Jack had a gun he would have shot him dead.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Daniel nodded, letting Jonas know that he'd take care of the fish. It was sad to see the guy go – especially knowing the political quagmire he was being sucked into. He hoped everything would turn out okay for him and his people.

Jonas was inches away from the wormhole when suddenly his name was called and he turned back. Daniel looked at the person who had entered the gate room at practically a run. It was a woman. For some reason his heart started beating faster and when the woman threw herself into Jonas' arms his mind was screaming that it was all wrong. He literally felt like she should have been running to him. That it should be his arms around her. How weird was that?

"I just couldn't let you leave without saying goodbye properly." She said, tears streaming down her face. She had what Daniel thought might be an Australian accent. Jonas smiled softly, wiping away her tears. Wrong. "I'm going to miss you so much."

"I'll miss you too – but I'm just a wormhole away." Jonas grinned and waved a hand at the glimmering surface. He held her close. "Everything is going to be okay. I promise."

"Those bastards don't deserve you."

"Probably not." Jonas grinned. "But it's my home and they need me. Maybe this way I can stop them blowing each other up."

"If those stupid losers don't treat you right maybe I'll blow them up myself." She whispered then. "I do love you, you know that?"

Daniel's mind was still screaming at him. Wrong.

"I do. Me too." Jonas kissed her forehead and pushed a strand of hair back from her face. "See you."

"See you." As he approached the wormhole again she stayed where she was, halfway up the ramp watching him go. Daniel became acutely aware of the rest of the people in the room. If he didn't know better he would say they were freaking out. Jonas turned back one last time to smile at the woman and then locked eyes with Daniel briefly. Jonas' gaze was pointed enough to confuse him. What the hell was all that about?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Jack was freaking out. Shit, shit, shit. Damn you, Jonas. He stared at the empty Stargate as if he could will the bastard back. Angel. Daniel. Same room. Monumental moment that most definitely could NOT get screwed up. Jonas, get your goddamn ass back here.

He had to say something! Any second now, Angel would turn back from staring at the place where Jonas had been and she'd realise that Daniel was right there. What the hell was he supposed to do? He tried to say something but he felt like his vocal chords were paralysed. He glanced briefly down the line, swallowing with difficulty. Maybe someone else would step up and fix everything? Everyone else looked like they were in a similar shape to him. Hammond down the end even looked pale.

Daniel broke the silence. "Have we met?" He asked her politely. She turned to face him. Expression unreadable but no danger signs just yet. "I'm Daniel Jackson."

She considered the man who had approached her, ignoring his outstretched hand. Jack saw something not unlike Dark Jedi in her eyes. "I know who you are, Dr Jackson."

"Of course." Daniel retracted his hand. "Sorry… but you are?"

Shit, shit, shit. Jack finally found his voice. "Uh… this is Angel Daniels. She's actually our assistant. SG-1's I mean." His mind was practically yelling at Daniel. Daniels. Daniel's. Get it? Possessive with an apostrophe followed by an s. Meaning she belongs to you, goddamn it.

He must have been pretty loud with his thoughts because Angel really did go Dark Jedi and slapped his mind with hers. It hurt like a son of a bitch. Luckily Daniel was still facing her and not him or he would have noticed Jack flinch.

"Oh." Daniel was saying. "Wow. We have an assistant?"

"Yeah, she actually has an office across the hall from you." Jack braced himself for another smack but none came. He supposed that he hadn't come close to breaking the rules with that one. "So feel free to drop by any time, all the time, if you need any help… any help whatsoever." And there it was. Jack rubbed his forehead grumpily.

"Nice to meet you… again, Dr Jackson." Angel told him, her demeanour suggesting nothing that would indicate that she thought it was nice at all. "I'm afraid I have to get back to work. Please excuse me."

"Of course." Daniel replied.

Angel walked briskly out of the gate room but when Jack quickly made his excuses and followed her out he discovered that once beyond the gate room she had started running. He sprinted after her. She was faster than he thought she'd be. He caught up with her just in time to jump into the elevator with her as it closed.

She was breathing heavily and before he could say or do anything she was on the floor at his feet, crying like her heart was going to break. Or like it was going to break all over again. He gathered her up in his arms and just held her. Sitting on the floor in the elevator rocking her gently.