NON-NEGOTIABLE ROYAL

CH10

I did as I promised and tried to stay away from SG1 as much as possible without looking to suspicious - I believed that so far, I was actually succeeding. It had been a few days since my little chat with Jackson and I've had a head ache ever since. It was actually easy to avoid SG1, what with them being off world most of the time and then its just a matter of listening.

I stayed in my room most of the time, but didn't only come out to eat, but workout too. If I didn't, then Teal'c would some how find out and stop by and I wanted to avoid contact for as long and as much as I could. I had yet to write my report, the page still sitting on my desk with it's splotch of ink.

My eyes were closed as I listened to my iPod as I ran of the treadmill. Sweat beaded on the surface of my skin, my hair plastered to my temples. My tee and short clung to my body as the soaked in the sweat. I had been running for probably more then an hour, I was panting ever so slightly, yet I kept running. One bare foot in front of the other, I found that I ran better if I wasn't wearing any sneakers.

It was simple, running. I kept me busy and it was simple - so my mind only had to run on low power. It was a mindless exercise, one that made my mind go blank. I liked to run, sure I was a cat and dogs were the ones that liked to run around mindlessly, but I found it relaxing. With my eyes closed it felt more energizing, like my senses were heightened or something and that made it even more enjoyable. I ran faster, my finger finding the correct button the pad that caused the tread to speed up. A smile graced my lips.

There were other officers around me, working out; I could sense their presence as well as smell their musk. Their presence was a comfort, but something changed; a new scent in the air. My step faltered as I recognized the scent. I opened my eyes to find Jack standing right there in front of my and let out a yelp as my toe caught and tripped, barely catching myself. I swung off as Jack pressed the off button and the tread slowed to a stand still.

He didn't say anything as I grabbed the towel that was folded on the bench behind me and wrapped it around my neck, before I grabbed my water bottle. I drank half in a few swallows before I looked at him, my back straightening on reflex.

"Colonel," I greeted him formally.

"Private," he said just the same, his arms crossed over his chest.

"What can I do for you, sir?" I asked.

"Just wanted to check in," Jack told me, thought I could here the unfinished part of that sentence. "Before I headed home."

That was when I saw what he was wearing. Instead of the usual BDU's that I was used to seeing him in, he wore a simple leather jacket and tee, with some worn blue jeans and some sneakers.

"I'm doing great, sir." I told him cheerfully, remembering my conversation with Jackson just a few days earlier - keep it short, I told myself. "Just having a little run."

"I can see that," he deadpanned. "Don't over do it, Private," he warned. "You don't want to spend the weekend in the infirmary."

With that he turned, walking out of the gym with a few nods to some of the officers he passed. I stood there, watching him leave with a sigh as I wiped the sweat from my face with the towel. I decided then and there; I had to fix things with Daniel, I had to make them right.

I slowly made my to Jackson's office, buying my time, trying to think. Finally, after what seemed like hour, but was only minute, I arrived at Jackson's door. I stood to the side and out of sight as I took a few deep breaths to calm myself down before I stepped into the door.

"Dr. Jackson?"

I knew that he would still be in his office working on translations, even when Jack went home. Major Carter had probably left to, unless she was working on something that caught her interest. And like me, Teal'c was stuck on base, not allowed to go the surface without special permission and an escort.

Daniel looked up from the book he had been ready. "Private," he greeted me with a fake polite tone. "How can I help you?"

The tides were now turned, weren't they? I gave him a smile in turn. "I need to speak with you, if that okay." I told him.

"Sure," he agreed. "Come in and close the door behind you."

I did step in, but I didn't close the door. No I didn't thing that a fight would break out or something. "This won't take long," I told him. "I say my piece and be out of your hair."

Jackson stood up straight, his hands on his hip - he nodded.

I took a breath, clasping my hands behind my back. "First, I want to apologize. I didn't realize it until you said it; my relationship with Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c are a little more then just an officer and subordinate. Teal'c wouldn't help train just anyone and Colonel O'Neill doesn't just check in with anyone or cut anyone's hair." I could see his jaw clenched and scratched the back of head, my hair still damp from my shower. I was nervous, but also determined, so I plowed on. "I understand the family thing and where you're coming from; you find family where ever you can. I'm not human, I never knew my parents and I never had any family growing up - so I've never really felt like I belonged; that's what family does, right?" I liked my lips. "I grew up in foster care my whole life; not going form home to home, but stayed in the Boy's Home - no one wanted to adopt me; look at me, I'm freak - that's why the instant I turned eighteen I joined the military. 'We're one bi family'. Right?"

I gave a snort of disgust and Daniel raised his eye brows at me, I shook my head to clear it and I looked back at him. "Sorry, I got distracted." I admitted. "What I wanted to say was that I understand-"

"Private, Nick," Daniel interrupted. "I'm the one that should apologize. I got jealous, and acted out in hast, I was childish to even consider what I did. I had no reason, and I'm sorry." he dipped his head.

"Pfft," I shook my head and made a hand swiping gesture. "Its fine, you had every right to be upset."

"No," Daniel disagreed, taking a step forward. "I've been in a similar situation as you have; my parent died when I was five and when my grandfather didn't take me in, I was passed around from home to home - some of the people who shouldn't have been allowed to be near a child. I drifted, couldn't catch a break, until I found this place - or this place actually found me." his lips curved upward at that.

I watched him with wide attentive eyes.

"It was just like high school when I first got here; I was the young, vulnerable geek; an easy target - even after I solved the stargate. And even now, it happens occasionally." He looked at me. "But then I made friends, made a family and they had my back from than on."

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked.

"Because you deserve to know," Daniel said firmly. "What I did, it wasn't right."

"You know," I smiled at him. "You're actually like the rumors that are all over this thing."

"Is that good or bad?" Jackson asked, curious.

"I think that it's a good thing," I confirmed.

"I would say that you could hit me in turn for my rudeness," Daniel told me. "But there are camera's every where and you'd probably just get into trouble."

"I'm probably already in trouble," I admitted without thinking it through, I winced.

"Why's that?" Daniel asked, leaning against the front of his desk.

"I haven't handed in my report yet," I confessed.

Daniel laughed in surprise. "Sorry, you shouldn't worry about that."

"Why?" I asked in confusion.

"Well, for starters," Daniel said. "You're a Private and still not officially a member of the SGC - You are a tourist, lets say. You would have been assigned to a team after your first mission, but there was that mishap with that alien race, the Qwatonians, I believe? And then there was that in heat incident, and now there was this. Plus, the fact that you're actually an alien from another planet."

I looked at him, my mouth slightly a gap. What didn't he know? "Uh . . ." I said dumbly.

"Sorry," he winced. "I got carried away."

"Do you know how I knew that they were there?" I asked him quite suddenly.

"Well," he said without hesitation. "I assumed that you sensed them."

"No, that's not it." I shook my head. "I don't understand it myself, I don't whether it was real or not - But I . . . had a vision." I shook my head.

He looked at me, his brows raised to his hairline. "A vision?"

I nodded my head this time; I had no idea why I was telling Jackson this of all people, maybe it was the fact that he was a kindred spirit of sorts. "I think," I squeezed my eyes tight, keeping them closed as I spoke. "I was standing there on the planet, looking down at the insignia on the panel. Then you and the rest of SG1 were taken out, Joshua came and took me out too. He took me to what I assumed was the Qwatonians home world and did things that I don't want think or talk about. I didn't know how long I was there, but eventually Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c rescued me and brought me back to Earth. I talked with a Doctor, went in to see Frasier before I went into the bathroom and plunged the pocket knife into my stomach."

I let a breath and opened my eyes, not realizing that tears had been running down my cheeks that whole time. I took a second to wipe them away and looked up at Daniel to see that his baby blue eyes were slightly glossy. I cleared my throat some what awkwardly.

"The next thing I knew, I was back on the planet, looking at the panel. It took me a minute to realize what was happening and I had to act quickly before it was too late. I killed the sniper and lured Joshua out, killing him too. If what I saw really was vision, then he was there to do exactly what I had saw - and I wasn't going to let that happen, not again." I finished.

"Nick," Daniel said softly, standing up from the desk. "You have to tell someone."

But I shook my head. "What if it was a fluke? What if I just panicked because it was something to do with the Qwatonians?"

"What id it wasn't?" Daniel countered. "I still think you should,"

I shook my head again. "I'll tell if it happens again, and only then." I promised him. "Promise me you won't tell?"

He gave a reluctant nod.

"Thank you," I said with such emotion; it was embarrassing.