Chapter 7

Several days later, Daniel sat at his desk, head bent over an enlarged digital image of the Dakaran device. His gaze skipped from the image to his notes and then back again. Frowning slightly, he picked up his pencil and circled a section, then examined it with a magnifying glass. He was so completely absorbed in his work that when Jack cleared his throat behind him, he jumped.

"Jack."

"Daniel."

The air between them was instantly heavy with the weight of things unsaid. Jack coughed again.

"Need a glass of water?" Daniel's voice was mildly sardonic.

"No." Jack waved a hand. "I'm good."

"Right." Daniel pushed his glasses back into place. "Did you need something?"

Jack winced slightly. "Still mad, huh?"

"Mad?" Daniel asked. "About what?" He wasn't about to make this easy.

"Remember…" Jack was obviously wishing he were somewhere else. "That thing?"

"If by 'that thing' you're referring to the way you handled the news of your retirement," Daniel said, "then no. I'm not mad." He flipped a book closed with rather more force than necessary. "Irritated as hell, maybe. But not mad."

Jack shifted uncomfortably. "Look, Daniel, I…" The gate activation warning sounded, an effective, if ill-timed interruption. "Damn it!" He waved a hand in the direction of Daniel's phone. "May I?"

"Knock yourself out." Daniel's voice was just a shade too emphatic, and Jack gave him a sharp look before he reached to pick up the handset.

"O'Neill."

There was a brief silence, and then: "Yeah. I'll be right there."

He hung up. "Seven's back."

"It's about time." Daniel got up from his chair, closing his laptop as he stood.

"Daniel…"

Something about the tone of Jack's voice made Daniel meet his eyes for the first time in days. "What?"

Jack sighed. "For what it's worth… I'm sorry."

Daniel blinked. Jack O'Neill didn't apologize easily. It wasn't that he didn't have regrets. It was just that he kept his feelings deeply buried out of a hard learned sense of self-preservation. To actually voice an apology was to take a huge emotional risk, and Daniel well knew how difficult that was for his friend.

"Yeah. Well…" Daniel shifted a little, unsure how to respond. "Why did you leave like that, anyway?"

"Can we not talk about that right now?"

"Right." Daniel knew better than to push too hard. Besides, this was hardly the time for any type of meaningful conversation. Still… "Have you talked to Sam yet?"

Jack winced. "Can we not talk about that either?"

Daniel grinned. Sam was angry. Seriously angry. And apparently Jack knew it. What he wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall for that conversation.