Chapter Twelve
"I am not!" Vala huffed, affronted at being compared to Jack, especially by the man himself.
"You so are," said Daniel smiling, "I never saw it before," he turned to Janet, "it's the same spark I saw in Jack, albeit not tempered by the military or the death of his son, she's Jack unleashed and it's beautiful, no wonder no matter how much she irritated me I let her get closer, I was unconsciously allowing her Jack's place, or rather Jack's time, I always have a lot of time for Jack even when he's being his most infuriating, I let him in."
"Why?" asked Janet.
"Potential Janet!" Daniel cried, "The man had potential, even on that first mission as damaged as he was, I saw it in his face, in his eyes, passed the pain and heartache and rawness, I saw the spark of a great man."
"He is a great man Daniel."
"I know, I know, but he was hurting so badly he wanted to give it up, let it go."
"So what did you do?"
Daniel smirked. "I poked the bear."
"What?"
"I asked him why he was in such a hurry to give away something so precious and wondrous that everyone and everything around him was fighting like hell to hold on to for just a little bit longer." Daniel stopped blinked and scowled.
Janet beamed.
"You tricked me," he said still scowling.
"I did nothing of the sort," said Janet preening.
"I thought angels were supposed to be all pure and sweet."
"Well, it's a good thing I'm not an angel isn't it, Honey?"
Daniel sighed and threw up his hands. "Okay, fine you've got me; life is a wondrous and beautiful gift that shouldn't be squandered or wasted." he rolled his eyes.
"and?" Janet prompted.
"and I should stop whining and look for the good things in my life instead of the horrible and intense and quite often painful consequences of my profession."
"Daniel!"
"What? You think just because I have an epiphany that all my issues just go away? It's not that easy Janet, and you know damn well it isn't!" Daniel threw up his hands in frustration just as two light bulbs exploded overhead and the EEG monitoring Daniel's body spiked off the charts.
"What the hell!" cried Jack, instantly going to cover Daniel with his body only to be cut off by Vala going to do the same thing.
Daniel stared at the scene.
"They care about you."
"I don't doubt it.," said Daniel. "It's the only time I've ever been sure about the people around me."
"Your friends love you more than you realize, Daniel," said Janet quietly as they stood by and watched.
"It's not about love," said Daniel, "it never was. I never doubted that they cared; I'd wager they care too much. For them more than it was for me, love was the easy part," Daniel sighed, "For them it was easier to love me than it was to trust me. For me, I knew implicitly that I could rely on any of them to do what's right, I trusted, but I couldn't leap to love, I've had too many people I love leave me and it took me a long time to let anyone even close after Sha're."
"You never let anyone get close to you," said Janet, "you never let them see that what they do affects you, that you do love them in spite of yourself."
I (heart) you guys! I loved all the comments you gave and my muse is just nibbling them up! Maybe if you're really good we'll see that elusive double post again someday!
Later, Cynic
