Chapter 11: Jack's Back
It had been a week since their return from Cythera and Jack felt like a junkie looking for a fix. Today was his first day back from leave and in spite of the need to wear his Class B uniform, he was looking forward to getting back to work.
Jack had lingered in the parking lot, hoping to see Sam, but had finally moved on to the elevators, when the perimeter security team had shown up to do a sweep of the parking lot. He had scanned the sign in roster, only to confirm that she had not yet arrived on base, which he already knew, since her car wasn't parked in the lot. It was only as he stepped into Daniel's office that he realized what he was doing, though he continued to deny why he was doing it.
"Daniel," Jack greeted briskly.
"Jack," Daniel replied without looking up from the text in front of him.
"I'm back," Jack elaborated.
"So, I see," Daniel continued to study the text.
"Seen Carter yet?" Jack asked. He felt justified. He didn't ask right off. See, I'm not jonesing for a Carter fix.
Daniel winced and finally turned to look at Jack, "No, but she isn't due in until tomorrow, so I'm not surprised either." Then Daniel frowned and gestured at Jacks clothes, "What's with the uniform?"
"What? I didn't get something on it already, did I?" Jack gave his short sleeve blue shirt a quick glance before plucking off an imaginary hair.
"Uh… no. But why are you wearing it?" Daniel asked, perplexed.
"Oh, that," Jack answered, "New job, new digs and all that."
"What? What new job? When did this happen?" Daniel exploded out of his seat and rushed over to Jack.
"What? What?" Jack replied in confusion. "I told you last week, before I left… I'm sure I did… Yes, I did because you spilled your coffee all over the table and Teal'c got all stoic… Well, more so than usual anyway," Jack ended with an accusatory finger pointed at Daniel, "I told you that I'm Hammond's new XO."
"Oh, that…" Daniel sighed in relief. "I thought they were transferring you or something. Don't scare me like that." Daniel wandered back to his desk.
"Daniel, I am transferring. Oh fer crying out loud, I'm going to be Hammond's Executive Officer. His XO. Not the Operations Group Commander or the Installation Vice Commander. But the Mission Support Group Commander. MSG, Daniel," Jack explained, like it made all the sense in the world.
Daniel still looked confused, "And that would be…"
"Bad, Daniel. B. A. D. Bad," Jack emphasized.
"Uh huh… so instead of being the group commander, you're the group commander, and instead of being the vice commander, you're the executive commander?" Daniel tried to clarify.
"Exactly!" Jack crowed, with a pained expression.
Daniel continued to stare at him, telepathically willing Jack to explain. In the end, he just sighed and asked, "And this is bad?"
"Yes, very…" Jack replied sagely.
"Okay, how?" Daniel asked in confusion.
"How what?" Jack asked confused.
"How is this bad?" Daniel clarified.
"How is this not bad, Daniel? It's just wrong. Look at me. I'm wearing blues to work. Me." He glared at Daniel, "Who wears blues, Daniel?"
"Uh, um, General Hammond, all the medical staff… the, ah… military scientists, um… security does… and the gate technicians…" Daniel supplied, scanning his brain for some clue as to where Jack was going with his explanation.
"Right, the support staff," Jack finished with a flair and slumped gracefully onto the old battered couch in the corner.
"Oh," Daniel replied. "So…"
"So… I already miss going off-world," Jack stated, sadly.
"WHAT?" Daniel exclaimed.
"Yeah, I know…" Jack continued, "But I actually liked risking life, limb, and sanity in the face of great danger. Yada, yada, yada. Not that Carter won't make a good CO, or anything… but… still."
"You're not on SG-1 anymore? But…" Daniel sputtered.
Jack frowned, "No, Daniel. What do you think transferring me to the support staff means?"
"I just… I don't know. I thought you'd still be on SG-1. I mean… why now? That last mission went… badly, but… we've been through worse, right?" Daniel asked.
Jack sighed, "Yes, we have, Daniel. But some things you can't change… can't forget… and it's those very things that make all the difference in the world… Trust me. It has to be this way."
"Jack…" Daniel sighed.
"Don't, Daniel. Just… don't. This is weird enough as it is." Jack spared a glance at his watch and let out a sigh, "And now I am officially late to my first meeting. Joy!"
"Lunch?" Daniel asked, desperately.
"Okay. I'm pretty sure I'm allowed to eat in the new job." Jack gave Daniel a wry smile as he rose to leave, "I'll see ya then, Danny-boy."
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