NORAD Tracks Santa
By Teri

It might have happened like that, but perhaps it actually happened like this . . .

Another Possible Ending: (Warning possible crossover - maybe maybe not - have to read to find out) :D

"Jack, I need to talk to you it's important."

"Sure, Daniel. What's up?" Jack grinned.

Daniel knew that Jack was just waiting to see how he would reply; it was a classic opening for them to start their usual banter. Usually he would reply that the ceiling, the sky, NORAD or the like was up. Sadly, Daniel just didn't feel like bantering right now.

"I . . . found – look Jack I know the truth about . . . I, ah, I found out," Daniel knew he sounded like an idiot, but what else was he suppose to say?

"The truth?" Jack's tone sounded cautious to Daniel.

"Yeah, about, well, about you know who?"

"Voldy-mouth?"

"Voldemort," Daniel corrected before he even realized himself what he was saying.

"So you found out the truth about a fiction bad guy? Did you finally find out he killed Lilly and James Potter?" Jack chuckled for a moment, before giving into mock worry. "Wait, he is fictional isn't he? I mean, you have a habit of finding that myths are real."

"Jack, be serious."

"I am serious Daniel, seriously confused. What are we talking about?"

Daniel huffed a moment as he tried to gage Jack's reaction. Did he really not know what this conversation was about? "Jack, I know the big secret you're hiding. I know the truth. You don't have to hide it from me anymore."

Daniel watched as the color drained from Jack's face as a moment of panic flashed in his eyes, something that only a few people who knew him well would have recognized, before his posture slumped slightly and he looked resigned. Daniel wondered to himself if Jack really found it so horrible that he knew the truth about Santa.

"So, you know."

"I know."

"I suppose you have questions."

"A few, I mean I thought he was a myth, nothing more than a legend. Now I find out that he is real, but . . . " Daniel motioned to Jack, his way of saying 'you knew'.

Jack actually blushed slightly, Daniel noted, that was odd.

"Well not exactly a legend Daniel, I mean the stories are really exaggerated."

"How can you say that? I mean this incredible."

"Well," Jack just shrugged with a small self-deprecating smile.

"What I don't understand is why didn't you tell me yourself?"

"Well, it is not exactly something I tell every Tom, Kinsey, and Mayborne."

Daniel easily translated that to Jack-speak for Tom, Dick, and Harry. "I am not just anyone?" Daniel reminded Jack.

"No, you aren't," if it were possible Daniel noted that Jack's posture slumped even more, "but, it is classified."

Daniel glared at him for a moment.

"Daniel, I am sorry."

Jack sure did look sorry. Daniel decided to let go of being angry with him for a moment to ask Jack a few questions about the big guy. "So, is everything they say true?"

"No, far from it. "

"Really? I thought . . . does he really use magic?"

"Magic? Nah, just a little duct tape and some paperclips."

"Duct tape and paperclips?" Daniel was getting confused. Santa used duct tape? "So, no giving gifts to kids around the world?"

Jack laughed, "no Daniel, maybe around LA or more recently Colorado Springs and pretty much only to those at the Challenger clubs."

Daniel was at a loss, this conversation sure wasn't going the way he thought it should. He decided to risk asking another question, "ah, what about the Reindeer?"

"Reindeer? What stories have you heard, Danny?" Jack just smiled, "Reindeer? Well, I was involved in a study involving the habitat of wild Reindeer somewhere around '88."

"You were involved with what? Wait, that isn't the point. I don't mean you. Not you, Santa."

"Santa?"

"Yeah, you know the topic of our conversation . . . red suite, white beard. Jack, you aren't going to get out of talking about him that easily."

"I think we are on two different pages. What are you talking about?"

"The memo, on your desk about the NORAD tracking center. What are you talking about?"

"The NORAD tracking center? It's just a gag from a friend upstairs," Jack gave a fake laugh. At least Daniel thought it was fake.

"Jack, that isn't what you were talking about and I know that a memo from upstairs wouldn't find it's way onto your desk?"

"Well, it did."

"Look, you can tell me the truth about what you are hiding?"

Jack ran his hand over his face, "it isn't what you are thinking, Daniel, and it is nothing to do with that joke memo."

Daniel noticed again the look on Jack's face. He realized that Jack had never been talking about the memo; instead he had thought that Daniel had figured out whatever the secret was. The memo now forgotten, Daniel wanted to know what worried his friend so much.

"Jack?"

"It was nothing Daniel, nothing important."

"Ja-ck?'

Jack glanced around the mess hall, seeing it empty, he continued, "Daniel, I am not who you think I am."

"You're not Jack?"

"Well, yes and no."

Daniel just looked at him trying to remember the previous conversation, a man not a legend, Challenger club, duct tape, and the study of wild reindeer. He felt like that should mean something to him.

"I – me - you – well, ever hear of MacGyver?"

Daniel could feel his jaw drop. He had heard of the man, when he was doing his research on the Tomb of Alexander and some research on Atlantis. "You?"

"Me."

"Wow."

"Yeah."

An announcement broke the moment, "Dr. Jackson, please report to General Hammond. Dr. Jackson, to General Hammond's office."

"This isn't done Jack," Daniel said as he stood-up.

"Never guessed it was."

As Daniel left the mess hall, Jack turned to see Sgt. Siler standing next to him.

"You did what you had to do," he said as he put a comforting hand on Jack's shoulder. "Your bombshell will make sure he forgets all about a certain memo."

"I know, Sly. I just wish . . ."

"You know as well as I do, he isn't ready to know the truth."

"I know."

"You done good – honest, Mac.," Siler smiled jokingly and winked, "Sir."

Jack rolled his eyes as Siler handed him a Christmas ornament in the shape of a candy-cane made from duct tape hanging from a paperclip.

Just a small MacGyver/Stargate story to wish you all

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, SAFE NEW YEAR

Teri 12/23/05