1.
This is how it goes:
Daniel is good at Jack-watching. He watches Jack's gun-calloused hands and Jack's wiry, strong arms. He watches the way the muscles in Jack's shoulders move when Jack works out. He watches Jack's face when Jack is happy, or puzzled, or frowning. He doesn't watch Jack's eyes, because Jack might notice and that Daniel would have to stop.
Daniel is good at Jack-watching, because he is in love with Jack and Jack can never find out.
2.
This is how it starts:
Daniel sees the looks Jack gives Sam, hears the Meaningful Silences. He bears them with good grace, because Jack is straight and military and Sam is beautiful and military, and it could happen but he doesn't think it will. But that day he can't, can't because seeing them flirt without saying anything reminds him that he can never do that. So he goes home early, and then changes his mind and goes to a bar.
The bar is low-lit and filled with men eyeing up men, women hitting on women. The stools are comfortable and the counter is clean, and he's exactly where he wants to be. He orders a JackDaniel's beer, almost laughs at the name but doesn't, thinks it must be some grand cosmic joke. Jack and Daniel can be together in a beer brand but not in person, and he thinks it's almost as not-fair as Jack being able to make calf eyes at Sam.
Daniel gets smashing drunk, and the barman offers to call him a taxi. Daniel refuses, leaves the bar, gets into his car, and drives home. Except when he stops the car he's in front of Jack's house without having made a conscious decision to be there. The engine idles while Daniel's cloudy mind wonders if he should get out of the car or not, and then Jack opens the door and makes the decision for him.
3.
This is how it ends:
Jack settles Daniel on the couch, looking a bit concerned that Daniel is five sheets to the wind, and gets Daniel a glass of water. Daniel looks around the living room, and when Jack comes back he says, "Sam would never like it here."
Jack looks at Daniel, silent because he can't think of how to respond to that. Daniel accepts the offered water, but doesn't drink it. Then, just as suddenly as before, he says, "I'm in love with you."
Daniel looks at Jack, watching with a detached fascination how Jack's jaw clenches and his eyebrows meet, how his lips turn down in a frown. Now, though, Daniel allows himself to look into Jack's eyes, and those eyes are shuttered. Daniel stands, unsteadily, almost falls, and doesn't miss how Jack doesn't reach out to help him. He walks to the door, opens it and pauses, knowing that this will be his last time in Jack's house. He glances around the kitchen and the living room, eyes resting on Jack's still, silent, tense form. Then he takes a step, closes the door behind him, and leaves.