Author's Notes: Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
I never intended to write more than a one-shot for this but then I noticed several follows and there were requests for more.
I don't know how many chapters I'll do for this but I'll try and add a few.
Enough rambling from me – enjoy.
They were close to their destination and Phil headed down to make sure his science team left their toys and strapped in for landing. Passing the briefing room he found Daniel Jackson re-watching the small video clip of their mysterious superhero.
He was staring at the screen, arms folded across his chest and head tilted slightly. Phil recognised the look from the description given by O'Neill as his 'deep thought' look.
When he'd read the file on Jackson, and saw the name Jack O'Neill as his previous commanding officer, Phil decided to go to the source for some information and advice. Especially since, on paper, the man was the last person Phil would expect to work well with the military or SHIELD.
x
"The first thing you need to do with Daniel is trust him," Jack said leaning back in his chair with a mug of coffee, "Daniel Jackson is one of the smartest people you will ever meet but he is also one of the most intuitive. He will make leaps that will make absolutely no sense but is rarely wrong."
Phil stared at the other man, disbelief in his eyes, "Rarely wrong?"
"I know," Jack shook his head with amusement, "Even when he isn't completely right he usually gets somewhere within the ballpark. And he can be a real pain in the ass about that."
"So he thinks outside the box." Phil mused.
Jack chuckled, "He destroyed the box years ago."
Phil sipped his own coffee before asking the question that he'd wanted to ask since reading the file, "So, how did you get a civilian scientist on your team in the first place?"
"Either I did something really, really bad in the past," Jack told him, "Or I did something very, very good."
Phil frowned at him, waiting for a proper answer.
"On our first mission through the Gate," Jack said softly, "He jumped in front of me and died in my place. He didn't know me, I'd treated him like dirt and his first instinct was to save my life."
Phil stared at him waiting for the rest of the story.
"I was lucky he was revived and then went on to save all our asses," Jack grinned, "Over and over."
"So, if Jackson is so valuable to the Stargate program," Phil asked, "Why are you letting him go?"
"Because he's going to leave either way," Jack replied, "I know the look in his eyes. I've seen it before and I've seen it far too often in the past few months. If I don't give him an option here on Earth then who knows where he'll end up and I don't want that."
Phil nodded in understanding, "Do you have any advice for me in how to handle your genius?"
"Listen to him," Jack told him, "Learn to read him. Daniel has a habit of keeping certain things to himself. Learn to read between the lines of what he says, because it's usually in there you'll discover what he's actually saying."
x
"Something wrong, Dr Jackson?" Phil asked letting Daniel know he was there.
Daniel turned surprise in his eyes finding he was no longer alone, "No. I was just thinking."
"About?" Phil pushed.
Daniel frowned, "Jack told me you have full disclosure on the SGC, how much did you read of the SG1 mission files?"
"Quite a few," Phil replied, "Most were from the past few years though."
"Did you read the one where we got superpowers?" Daniel asked, chuckling at the stunned look on the other man's face, "I'm guessing no. It was four…five years ago. No four…" he grimaced annoyed at himself before apologising, "Sorry, the year I was dead sometimes still messes with my dates and years..."
"Anyway," Phil cut him off and motioned him to get to the point.
Daniel shook his head, "Sorry. It was a device found by the Tok'ra from a race who managed to create super soldiers. They gave us the ability to run at an incredible speed and strength I had never experienced before. I even got into my first bar fight because of it. And I managed to read the entire base library in under an hour."
Phil chuckled at the glee in Daniel's eyes at that thought, "So, what happened?"
"The abilities were delivered into our system by a virus which our bodies fought off after a few days," Daniel shrugged, "But I remember the rush when it began that I could do things I'd never been able to do before. I was exhilarated, and I was terrified," he sighed softly turning back to the screen, "And I wondered why I hadn't been given it the year before when it could have made a real difference to my life, when it would have allowed me to save my wife."
Silence filled the small space before Daniel continued, ignoring his small lapse, "He's got this ability suddenly, it's something he doesn't understand and he's scared."
Phil nodded, "Then we have to make sure we reassure him."
Daniel stood watching as Coulson and Ward headed out to find their source in the hopes of finding the 'hooded hero'. Ward wasn't happy about being here, that was easy to see. It was also very obvious that he had no time for the scientists on the team but that was something Daniel was used to. He'd had to prove himself over and over across the years in the SGC, usually every time a new lot of military recruits arrived then learned there was a civilian scientist on the premier team.
"Dr Jackson, we're heading out," Agent May called, letting him know to move or get left behind.
He nodded and climbed into the passenger seat beside May, listening with a slight smile at FitzSimmons discussing what they expected to find. It occurred to him suddenly that this was the first time in his adult working life he wasn't the youngest member of the team. It was going to be interesting.
x
May watched the two young scientists while they started their scans, her eyes flicked to Daniel Jackson who was studying what looked to be the remains of writing on a board. She was intrigued by the fact Fury had recommended the archaeologist for the team and now she'd met him she was even more intrigued. There was something odd about him, something she couldn't put her finger on but she was determined to work out what it was.
Jackson began discussing the findings with the other two scientists and May smiled slightly. He had a way of speaking to them that brought out ideas, his questions forcing them in the right direction and what's more he knew it. May could see that this was something he had a lot of practice at doing. Jackson didn't know the answers but he knew how to bring those who could give them to the right conclusion.
As they began to pack up May mused that she would have to keep an eye on him but if he continued mentoring the younger scientists the way he was then she was sure that Jackson would be a valuable member of the team.
"Dr Jackson," May stopped him from moving when Fitz and Simmons jumped out of the car to continue their work.
"Yes?" innocence filled his voice.
May smiled slightly, "You're good. I thought you were just an archaeologist."
"Linguist and anthropologist," Jackson replied guilelessly.
She nodded in admission, "So, explain to me how you were able to understand those two and help them?"
"Because I worked for around nine years with the top astrophysicist in the world," he replied, "And the second best for a short time as well. You either learn to keep up or you spend all your time getting them coffee."
She stared at him for a few moments before he shrugged slightly.
"It's just another language I've learned, Agent May," Jackson stated, "And learning languages is what I do."
"What do you think?"
Daniel turned to where Coulson was now standing. He was just watching the video feed from the cell where Ward and their 'guest' were currently sitting.
Daniel smiled slightly, "She's going to drive him nuts."
Coulson chuckled, "That's not what I meant. What do you think about Skye?"
"She's obviously good at what she does," Daniel replied, "She doesn't trust us, but I have to admit using the truth serum on Ward was a good idea," he paused before cocking his head slightly, "How potent is it? Really?"
Coulson simply smirked.
"You want her to trust us," Daniel continued when the other man didn't answer, "This is a good way to do it but how much can we trust her?"
"Did you get anything from the writing?" Coulson changed the subject.
Daniel shook his head, "Its fragments only, I'm hoping when Fitz gets the security footage it will give me something I can work with."
x
Phil watched the other man as he headed to join FitzSimmons.
"Dr Jackson," Fitz greeted him the moment he entered the corridor, "I have a few ideas I want to run past you while Jemma plays with her goo."
"I've told you to call me Daniel," the older man smiled.
Fitz nodded, "You can call me Leo, or Fitz, I actually prefer Fitz…"
"Okay," Jackson stopped him, "Fitz it is. Why don't you show me what you've got?"
Fitz nodded and motioned him to follow on. Jackson glanced back to Phil and nodded to him before following the younger man to the lab.
Phil smiled to himself watching the two men leave.
Jackson was definitely going to be a valuable asset to the team.
Phil just had to keep him in one piece, or he'd have to answer to Jack O'Neill.
