Way #58 -- Bringing Home the Bacon

Sunlight was streaming through the large windows of the bedroom, which Daniel shrunk away from, burying his face under the covers. There was a persistent hissing, crackling sound in the background that was sort of soothing. Sort of like the campfires they had off world or the burbling of hot oil. . .

Daniel took a deep breath and powerful scents filled his senses, a heavy musk and a delightfully greasy, salty smell. It was Jack-- his smell deep in the sheets, and what he guessed was bacon cooking from the kitchen. A heady combination in all, and Daniel sighed and let himself sink back down into the large bed. It felt wonderfully indulgent. Daniel wriggled his stockinged toes, feeling about the lumpy, cozy blankets tangled over him.

Hmm, he should get up.

The man chuckled into the sheets, utterly amused at himself. Yeah, get up. Sure. What possible motive could there be for him to do that?

Oh, but there was bacon. That was good. That might be getting up for. Eventually.

Hold it. Bacon?

Jack's house?

Jack couldn't cook. Hell, Jack didn't have anything in his fridge. Hm.

Something was not right here. Needed further investigating.

"Morning, sunshine," Jack greeted exuberantly as Daniel entered the kitchen, and was handed a glass of orange juice.

"Freshly sqouse, here you are."

He turned back to his stovetop, poking the bacon as it hissed and spat. Daniel sniffed the juice curiously a moment and then drank without question. He peered over Jack's shoulder at the pans of bacon and eggs cooking.

"I thought you couldn't cook."

Jack gave him a half-smile from over his shoulder and answered cheerfully,

"Have a seat. Brekkie'll be ready in a few."

Daniel stood there a moment, shrugged, and went over to sit down at the table. There was a mug of coffee waiting there for him, Kiss the Geek. Daniel smiled.

Efficiently, portions of egg, bacon, and buttered sourdough toast appeared in front of him, complete with a decorative little slice of orange.

Daniel looked at him suspiciously as Jack sat down.

"I am a man of hidden talent," Jack explained mysteriously. Daniel picked up the orange wedge and nibbled on it.

"And if I shared this knowledge with certain others, such as, say, Sam . . . ?"

"Don't you dare."

"So this is my privileged information."

"With a few conditions, yes."

"Wow." Daniel forked up the eggs eagerly, surprised at how good they were.

Jack nodded knowingly.

"I know."

"So what're your plans for this weekend?"

"Ah. . . I have a bunch of crap to do."

Jack waved his fork around.

"Work's been piling up around this place for months. If it's not one thing, it's another. Kicking Goa'uld butt and saving the planet tends to give you little spare time, you know what I'm saying?" Daniel murmured sympathetically.

"So I figure I'll get it all done in one swoop this weekend, really dive right in. God, this place is falling apart." Jack poked the chair next to him by the table, and it rocked dangerously. Daniel smirked.

"That's actually what I'm sort of doing too. Spring cleaning sort of thing? I have a . . . very long list by now," Daniel thought out loud, nibbling on a strip of bacon.

"Sucks, doesn't it?"

"Oh, I don't know. It's ok. I was actually sort of looking forward to it, to be honest. Compared to what we do at work, it's actually quite relaxing."

Jack grinned as he downed his orange juice.

"Good point. All right, so it's not the worst thing I've done. Better than paperwork, that's for darn sure."

"Amen," Daniel agreed, tapping his coffee mug against Jack's orange juice glass in toast. After some thoughtful sipping, Jack proposed,

"I just got an idea. We both have a huge list of chores for this weekend, right?"

"M-hmm," Daniel murmured, chomping down his toast.

"So . . . why don't we team up? You know, I help you with your chores, visa versa. We'll probably get through em' in half the time. And Lord knows I've nearly killed myself before trying to haul my ass up that ladder by myself."

"Hmm." Daniel pondered this out loud.

"I could use some help with those boxes I have piling up at home."

Jack gestured expectantly.

"Sure, ok. I don't see why not."

"All right, cool." Jack approved, munching down the last piece of bacon.