What Fate Decrees - Part Twenty

After everyone had left Jack began to fidget – a sure sign he was getting restless. "Fancy a walk Daniel?"

"Oh," groaned Daniel "not far please, I've had more exercise this week than on any mission – I'll be fitter than you soon!"

"In your dreams Dannyboy," laughed Jack.

"Please don't call me that!"

"Does it annoy you?" asked Jack, trying to look innocent.

"Yes!"

"Right! Sorry Dannyboy – oops!"

Laughing, Daniel shook his head, glad to see some humour return to his friend.

They left the house and took a track through the woods at the back.

"Did you ever try getting Teal'c to go for names?"

"What?" asked Daniel.

"I mean, trying to get Teal'c to call me Jack and you just Daniel."

"Err once," confessed Daniel.

"And?"

"He asked when had I become a 'just' and that he couldn't call you Jack because of respect to you as a warrior, so I gave up."

"Me too."

"You tried?"

"Several times."

"Oh."

"Well it's not a problem out in the field or on base, but you should see the funny looks you get out and about," grinned Jack at some of the memories.

"Yeah I can imagine. I'm ashamed to say though that I don't go out much with Teal'c. I know you guys hang out."

Jack smiled at Daniel "Well maybe you'd be a better influence," and the smile turned to a smirk "Mind you, Teal'c himself isn't a good influence."

Daniel caught the smirk "Like?"

"Well, have you ever been to a jello wrestling match?"

"No Jack, I can honestly say I haven't had that … erm, experience, please don't tell me you dragged Teal'c there?"

"No Daniel, hand on heart, Teal'c dragged me, but I can't say I didn't enjoy it- until we got thrown out that is." Jack's face lit with a leer.

Daniel raised both his eyebrows to a height that Teal'c would have been proud of.

"Yeah, Teal'c decided he'd like a go and we got bounced out, it took ages to get him out of the ring and then trying to get rid of that stuff, it got everywhere." Jack was laughing at the memory.

Daniel laughed with him "I guess I should start seeing to the formal education side then?"

"Yeah, but leave out funfairs, zoo's, theme parks and the local museums."

"Museums?" echoed Daniel "You took Teal'c to a museum?" His eyebrows went up again in disbelief.

"Don't look so surprised, I do try and give him a well rounded Earth experience you know." Jack looked slightly offended.

"Sorry," apologised Daniel "Just never figured you to be a museum person."

"I am most definitely not, but I thought I'd give it a go for Teal'c."

"What happened?"

"I only left him a few minutes, I swear, and when I found him he was surrounded by school children and he was kind of telling stories of Chulak and Goa'ulds."

"You're kidding!"

Jack shook his head, frowning at the memory. "Nope, then the teachers tried breaking it up. Said we had no right filling their heads with science fiction and such rubbish, and the kids wanted more, so an almighty argument broke out and we got thrown out."

Daniel laughed.

"You can laugh, but I tell you, I've never been bounced out of so many places before. It's getting less frequent though, I think Teal'c's learning."

Daniel was still laughing heartily; he had to wipe his eyes behind his glasses for the tears that were threatening to run. "Oh God, that's funny, the great Colonel O'Neill, saviour of the planet getting bounced out of shops and museums!"

"Bounced out and barred!" Jack growled, which made Daniel laugh more. "So if you take Teal'c out, make sure he's not been there before and be prepared to die a few deaths."

Daniel hadn't noticed how far they'd walked till they hit the rise beyond the woods. They stood on the ridge looking out to behold a beautiful view, the valleys and mountains stretching majestically before them.

"It's so nice here," said Daniel, taking a deep breath of the clean air.

"Yeah, it's what sold the house to me." Jack was panting slightly.

Daniel picked up on the strain in his voice and turned to regard his friend closely. Jack was rubbing his chest as if trying to ease an ache, but he stopped as soon as he saw Daniel's eyes were on him. His face was still pale, his eyes etched with dark circles, and his face was drawn. He was still too thin, even though his appetite was improving he still had a lot of weight to regain. But, and it was a big but, his eyes had the spark of life Daniel was used to. They showed that Jack O'Neill was still fighting.

"Come on, we'd better get back or the women will beat us there," said Daniel and as they turned he gave Jack's shoulder a quick squeeze. The gesture wasn't shrugged off and they both turned to make their way back to the house.

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