You guys are soo lucky that the thunderstorms rumbling around the edges today are currently holding off, otherwise there's no way I'd have been able to post this, since they play havoc with my broadband connection... One more chapter to come and that should be up tomorrow.Enjoy!
The Trouble With Carter
By Chezza
Disclaimer, Author's Notes and Copyright Notice, etc in Prologue.
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Chapter Four
"Ja-ack…" He said warningly. "The next four words out of your mouth had better be 'of course I do,' otherwise – "
Jack chopped him off with a wave of his hand and took a quick gulp of beer, in what looked to be desperation.
"No offence Daniel, but if Carter and I ever take the decision to get hitched, you won't be the first person I discuss it with."
Daniel relaxed and refrained from pointing out that he'd ended the sentence with a preposition. It was a sign of exactly how thrown Jack had been by Daniel's words that he hadn't even noticed. Still, it was kind of nice to get one over on Jack for a change. He'd never seen him look so uncomfortable before.
Daniel didn't bother to restrain the smirk.
"So…"
That was obviously all he was going to get out of Jack on that particular subject, as Jack threw it right back at him.
"So?"
"So…I'd say if you wanted to further your relationship with Sam, then the next step would probably be moving in together."
Daniel rubbed his temple, in a vain effort to stop the headache which was starting to niggle from developing any further and hurried on, before Jack had time to think about his words.
"Now obviously with you living so far apart, that isn't practical in your situation. Sam knows this and the reasons why."
He cleared his throat.
"I'm guessing then, that it's the fact that you haven't even discussed the possibility, for…you know, that vague undefined point in the future…which is making her concerned that it's simply not something you want. With her."
Daniel held his breath.
He was prepared for Jack to nod his head slowly, while he thought over everything Daniel had said and then to ask for his advice. Which he wasn't quite so ready to give, since he didn't have the slightest clue of what to say. He was even prepared for Jack to yell and swear loudly in denial, before finally calming down and asking for the aforesaid advice.
What he wasn't prepared for however, was the reaction he actually received.
"You have got to be kidding me!"
Daniel's eyes widened at the violent outburst.
"That's it?"
Jack shook his head in disbelief.
"This whole – "
The hands were waving around again as Jack tried and failed to find the words he needed.
" – that's it?"
Daniel nodded carefully. He valued his safety and wasn't saying another word.
Jack shook his head, drained the last of his beer and set his bottle down with a decisive thump.
"Daniel, come with me."
"Ah, Jack - "
"Be quiet, Daniel."
Daniel figured that judging by what they'd just discussed, it was probably a good idea to do as he was told. On this occasion. He'd get his own back later.
Setting his virtually full bottle of Guinness back on the counter-top, he hurried after his friend as Jack strode purposefully out of the kitchen.
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Jack made a beeline for the bedroom door which was slightly ajar. Pushing it wide open, he didn't slow his pace as he walked straight in.
"Ah, Jack?" Daniel asked lightly in an effort to gain an explanation for this slightly odd behaviour.
"As much as I like you, I don't think – "
Jack's head popped back out from behind the doorjamb.
"Daniel, what are you babbling about? Get in here."
Daniel sighed a heavy sigh and walked into the room. A brief scan revealed a room decorated in muted neutral colours. There were several pictures of various lakes hanging on the walls. No fish this time though, no wait…that was one over there, almost hidden between the dresser and the corner of the room.
The cupboards, drawers and furniture were a deep honey-coloured pine and what looked like a king size bed took up most of the centre of the room. It's dark blue covers matched the curtains, which was just plain scary. He just couldn't imagine Jack spending his weekend shopping for co-ordinates.
Jack however, was nowhere to be seen. Huh. Daniel was about to yell for him, when a couple of photos positioned on the small table to the left of the bed, caught his eye. He wandered closer to take a look, amazed at the neatness of the room. Other than a tee shirt which had been balled up and thrown into a corner, with what looked like a pair of socks, it was practically spotless. The bed was pristinely made, a pair of black shoes were tidily positioned under the chair in front of the dresser and Jack's shirt and tie had been draped over the back of said chair to prevent creases.
Daniel winced as he remembered the pile of clothes which sat in the corner of his room, steadily growing larger every time he changed clothes, until he was forced to do a load of washing. Knowing that Jack worked insane hours as Head of Homeworld Security and still managed to take the time to tidy up after himself… Quite frankly, it put him to shame.
Damn you, Jack.
The wince turned into a soft smile as he moved closer and got a good look at the photos.
A far younger Jack O'Neill with his arm around a young boy whom Daniel knew to be Charlie, were depicted in the photo on the left. On the right…was a photo he'd never seen before.
The picture had obviously been taken recently and he didn't recognise the location as being anywhere in the 'Springs, which meant it had to have been taken here in D.C. Hmm…
He wondered who had taken it.
Jack was standing with his arm around Sam's shoulders. Her arm was wrapped around his waist and her head was resting lightly on his shoulder. They both looked the happiest he'd ever seen them.
The honest-to-god smile on Jack's face, was an almost identical match to the one he was wearing in the picture with Charlie, albeit with the added effect of another decade's worth of life. Daniel swallowed hard against the lump which appeared in his throat. He never thought he would ever see Jack look that happy again. If anything was ever going to convince him that Jack was as committed to this relationship as Sam, then this was it.
"Daniel!"
The sound of his name being called sharply had him spinning round, pulled abruptly out of his thoughts. He saw Jack standing in another doorway which he'd missed when he entered the room earlier.
Jack raised his eyebrows.
"You coming?"
"Eh, yeah..."
Daniel wandered over to the doorway. A quick look inside showed him that this was an adjoining bathroom.
"Nice photo." He commented, interested to see how Jack's would respond.
"Yep." Jack replied, blithely ignoring his leading comment.
He stepped to one side and beckoned Daniel forward. Daniel bit back a sigh. He hadn't expected his comment to generate a decent response – this was Jack, after all – but still…it would've been nice. He stepped forward and peered in.
Jack waved a hand airily.
"Take a look."
Daniel looked around the small room. Bath opposite the door, shower at the end of the bath, toilet to the right of the door, sink and cabinet on the wall to the left of the door. The décor was a light mint green. He looked back at Jack, failing to see whatever it was that Jack felt he should be seeing. Unfortunately, he had no idea whatsoever what it was... He turned back to Jack.
"It's…a bathroom."
Jack rolled his eyes.
"Very observant of you, Doctor Jackson. Now use those much-vaunted archaeological skills of yours and try again."
TBC…