Inescapable: Chapter 5

AN: Disclaimer and all in Chapter 1. Okay, watched Threads last night. I think I nearly had a nervous breakdown – especially because I had to leave right after the scene at Jack's house with Whatsherface CIA. I was not in a good mood, especially with the person who dragged me away. Anyways, my ickle muse had some violent reactions to it…so did my mouth come to think of it. Then I came home and watched the rest (well most of it anyway, some muppet switched the video channel in the scene in Jack's office talking to Whatsherface.) Still, my little heart races! Eight years waiting for that ep and everything has to go wrong when it's being aired.

Anyway, I digress. The last chapter got some… er… heated reviews about the S/J and general Pete-hating situation. Relax people! I have a lot of ideas pent up in my vexing little muse and there's a lot of stuff to iron out yet. So, on with the show, kids!

"Jack..."

Jack heard a groan beside him that sounded something like his name. He was slouching on Carter's couch, watching television through a haze of alcohol. Nice. He looked down at his lap and saw a beer bottle in his hand and he twisted his mouth in indecision. He really wanted a drink of the sweet nectar, but he'd had so much already that his hand wasn't going to respond to anything less than a great effort.

Effort be damned! I'll just go to sleep, he thought and his lazy lids slipped shut.

"Jack."

The groan had turned into a muffled whisper and Jack opened one eye, sliding it to his left.

"What, Daniel?" Jack really wished he had the energy… or the faculty to snap at him.

Daniel was gripping his head and pulling his glasses off; lying slouched in an almost mirrored position to Jack on the other end of the couch.

"What…" Daniel's brain was also having trouble functioning and Jack smiled behind his closed lids.

"Still in Carter's. Teal'c in spare room, you unconsciously elected the couch and I got other room…" Jack explained sleepily, realising Daniel's confusion.

Another groan, then, "Head…" Daniel complained.

"Here," Jack said half awake now but still horribly drunk. Daniel blinked across and squinted. Jack was handing him a bottle… or something. "Cure." Daniel yawned and ignored Jack. Idly, he registered a soft thud. As Jack fought between going back to sleep or finding the remote and Daniel massaged his temples, a beer bottle lay foaming out onto the carpet between their feet.

"What time is it?"

"Round 3 I think," Jack mumbled, taking another drink.

"If my bed is the couch, Jack, what are you doing in it?" Daniel asked, a little miffed when he realised he wanted to lie down and Jack was taking up half the couch.

"Watching TV."

Daniel pushed his glasses up his nose with a finger and regarded Jack. Liar, he thought.

"You got the back room didn't you?" Daniel wondered, not really expecting an answer. Jack lifted his beer up in a gesture that confirmed Daniel's suspicions. The back room was the larger of the spare rooms and the nicest but it was also directly beside Sam's bedroom.

"Prefer the company down here," Jack muttered in between swigs of beer.

"I'm honoured," Daniel replied sarcastically and shifted to get comfortable amongst the cushions. "Did I miss anything?"

Jack snorted.

"Pete?" Daniel queried, a little more conscious now.

"Pete," Jack confirmed with loathing.

"Did you deck him?"

"Daniel!" Jack snapped, his body flinching with the exertion of it. Daniel shrugged and motioned with his hand for a beer. Jack tossed him one. "You really think I'd be here, getting wasted on Carter's couch if I'd K.O.'d her fiancée?" Daniel only lifted his eyebrows in a gesture that said he wouldn't be too surprised.

"I was hoping as much…" Daniel said under his breath as he opened the beer Jack gave him.

"Don't think he likes me very much."

"No surprise there."

"Not sure if that's a compliment or not, Danny so I'll choose to ignore it."

They sat in silence, watching the almost silent picture on the television as Jack grew sleepy again. Daniel glanced at him a few times, taking in his haggard appearance. He seemed to have aged a few years since he had seen him earlier and he wondered what had happened with Pete and what Sam thought of it all.

"Ja…"

"Ya think I took it too far, Daniel?" Jack's voice came from what Daniel had assumed was a sleeping man. Daniel frowned and Jack's eyes opened a tiny slither to peer over to him. "Carter." Daniel looked into his lap, wishing he had any idea what went on earlier so he could respond better. He eyed the beer in his hands and cursed his intolerance for it. Why did he always have to pass out? "Did I get too…?" Jack tailed off, either not wanting to say it or not knowing how to say it.

"Close?" Daniel offered. Jack closed his eyes again and grunted. "No, Jack," Daniel said firmly. "It's one of the best things about you – the more you like to conceal it in litres of sarcasm and jokes." Jack grunted again yet didn't open his eyes, something that Daniel, ironically, recognised as another way of detaching himself emotionally.

"Need to let her go…" Jack mumbled and Daniel could tell he was half asleep.

"What you need to do is get closer, Jack," Daniel told him with a sigh, knowing in Jack's state he would be safe enough with such a comment.

"Love her too much…" Jack whispered sluggishly. "… hurts."

Daniel sighed heavily as he realised Jack has fallen asleep. He took a long swig of his beer and threw the blanket that had been tossed over him earlier, over Jack, glancing sadly at him before he got up and headed for the room that Jack was supposed to be in.

Sorry it's so short – my mind is still reeling from last night. More soon, I promise. Oh and feedback?