Day 12 - The Gift
By Mickey

Status: Completed 12/29/2008

Word Count: 1304

Spoilers: Minor for 'Forever in a Day'

Author's Notes: Again, there was no way I was even going to try to wrangle this one down to 100 words.

EIGHTEEN MONTHS AGO

"You saved my life," the native, Keathic stated. "Why?"

"Because it wasn't your fault. I don't believe in punishing the child for the sins of the father." Sighing, Jack paused for a moment taking in the skeptical look on the young man's face before he continued. "You only did what you did because your father forced you too. You felt trapped, like you had no choice, no other recourse but to do as he ordered. I know you didn't want to have any part in his plans."

"How do you know this?" Keathic asked. "You have no extra-ordinary mental abilities."

Understanding what he meant and knowing that the kid was not being rude, Jack said, "When you've been doing what I do for as long as I've done it, you learn to see things others don't, to read subtle signs. You don't need to be a psychic to know how to read a person." He shrugged then added, "Besides, if you were anything like your father at all, you would have killed Daniel right off the bat instead of kidnapping and hiding him. For that matter," he added, "You could have killed Daniel, or any one of us, several times without any of us being the wiser for it. You didn't."

Keathic nodded. "I owe you a debt of thanks, Colonel Jack O'Neill. You have not only saved my life, but have freed my people from my father's tyranny. He was a cruel and heartless man. Instead of using his gifts to help our people, he used them to strike fear in their hearts and oppress them. For that, you have my eternal gratitude."

When he paused, Jack spoke, "Why did none of your people oppose your father?"

Not all of my people have the gifts my family has," the young man replied. "In fact, many do not. While most of my people have one gift, perhaps even two, it is extremely rare for anyone to have them all. Only a few members of one other family on this planet have all of them as my family does. They are almost as greedy and power hungry as he was. They did whatever he asked of them in order to stay in his good graces and keep their status among my people, as well as the privileges that went with it.

My abilities have not yet fully developed. When they have, I will repay you."

"That's not necessary, Keathic."

The kid smiled at him. Jack knew it was partially because this was the first time he'd said the native's name without intentionally messing it up. "I believe it is," the young man replied. "Be well, Colonel O'Neill." That said, he disappeared.

Jack stared at the spot where the young man had stood. After a minute he turned, still smiling, back to his team and said, "Okay, campers, let's go home."

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PRESENT DAY

Jack sighed as he eased his weary, bruised body into his recliner. The shower had felt great, washing away the dirt and the grime that had clung to him. He glanced at his watch, 02:45. He'd been home for nearly three hours. He'd spent the first two hours talking with his friends, assuring them that he was fine and deflecting their questions about his mission. After about two and-a-half hours, they were all starting to nod off. Daniel, as per usual, had made his way to the spare room. On his insistence, Carter had made her way to his bedroom. He would sleep in his recliner while Teal'c took the couch.

Once he was sure his friends were settled, Jack had made his way to the bedroom. Careful not to wake the already sleeping major, he'd quickly grabbed a clean pair of underwear and comfy sweats then headed for the bathroom. He'd taken a very long, hot shower. By the time he'd finished, the water was barely lukewarm. Dressing as quickly as his battered body would allow, he'd made his way to the living room.

Now settled comfortably in his chair, he glanced over at Teal'c. The big Jaffa was sitting cross-legged on the floor. Even deep in Kelnoreem he seemed troubled. He had just started to nod off when a soft swoosh sound startled him.

Jack stared in disbelief. He started to reach for the gun he kept concealed by the couch when he suddenly stopped. Though he looked very much different than the young man he'd helped two years ago, the man before him was definitely . . . " Keathic. Didn't really think I'd ever see you again. You look good."

The young man stared back at him for a moment. "I wish I could say the same to you, Colonel O'Neill. Are you well?"

Jack could hear the genuine concern in the alien's voice. "I'm fine, just a little banged up." Changing the subject before his visitor could question him further, Jack asked, "What brings you here?" What he really wanted to ask was, 'How the hell did you get here and how did you know where I live?', but the answer was likely to be long and filled with techno-babble he was in no mood to hear. Besides, he really didn't care. It was good to see the kid . . . a man now, and see that he was well.

When last we spoke I promised to one day repay my debt to you. I have recently reached adulthood and my abilities have matured. I have come to do so now.

You may rewrite one event in your friend's life, but it will only be true while they sleep. However, when they wake tomorrow morning, they will feel more happy and whole than they have ever felt before. This is my gift to you."

Jack didn't hesitate. "Teal'c," he said, nodded towards his friend.

"An interesting choice. Why not your other friend? After all, the woman killed was his wife, was she not?"

Jack wasn't surprised that Keathic knew what he wanted without him saying anything. "Because Daniel has since accepted that Teal'c had no other choice but to do what he did. It took a while, but he's come to terms with Sha're's death and has accepted that there was nothing he could do to prevent it. Teal'c, on the other hand, has not."

Keathic nodded. He was silent for several minutes then said, "It is done."

"Will it last?"

"That is up to him. If he chooses to accept the truth of the situation and allow himself to move on then it will."

Jack nodded. Knowing that Keathic would not be staying long, he said, "Take care of yourself."

"Be well." As suddenly as he'd appeared, Keathic was gone.

Jack smiled as he glanced at his friend. The tension lines seemed to have all but disappeared from the other man's face. He prayed that Teal'c would accept the very rare, precious gift he'd been given. Yawning, Jack stretched then allowed himself to drift off.

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Keathic had made himself invisible to the colonel, but he had not yet left. He watched as Colonel O'Neill drifted off to sleep, studying the older man for several minutes. Like the friend he had bestowed the gift upon, even in is sleep the colonel was not truly at rest. Much troubled him. Things that were beyond his control, many of them things he could not have prevented.

"You have proven yourself to be a caring and honorable man, Colonel O'Neill. For this, I will grant you another gift. Let the past go." He was silent again then added, "Sleep in peace, my friend."

The colonel continued to shift around in his sleep, mumbling softly for a few more seconds then quieted. After a minute, his breathing evened out and he was, perhaps for the first time in many years, sleeping peacefully. His task completed, Keathic took his leave.

THE END