Alternatives

Chapter VII: The Other Guy

Based upon Stargate: SG-1

Rating: PG

- RMI - Based on the Season 5 episode: "2001;" takes place several months after said episode in a reality which Ambassador Joe Faxon and Major Carter did expose the A'shen but both Faxon and Carter were able to escape back to Earth -

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Daniel knocked on Jack's door. It was about ten in the morning, and no one had heard from him in two or three days.

When Jack answered the door, it was very obvious to Daniel that he had not shaved, gone outside, eaten, or stopped drinking in those two or three days.

"Daniel," he said.

"Drink this," Daniel said, shoving a cup of coffee into Jack's hands and pushing past Jack into his house. "How much have you had to drink today?"

Jack thought for a moment. "Does it really matter?"

"How many, Jack?" Daniel asked again, opening blinds and windows.

"Five."

"Go take a shower and shave."

"Why?"

"Because we're going to get you something to eat. Then we're going to get Sam and Joe a nice engagement present and then we're going to their dinner party tonight."

"Who's we? I'm not going."

Daniel went into Jack's kitchen and started rinsing out beer bottles and setting them to drain. "We are going. You're going if I have to drag you the entire way."

Jack followed Daniel into his kitchen. "Maybe you didn't hear me, I'm not going."

Daniel moved onto the dishes in the sink and on the counter. "Jack, I know you don't like him-"

"He's a twerp!"

"He's Sam's fiancé!" Daniel put the dishes down and turned to Jack, taking a deep breath. "I know you don't like him. Hell, I don't really like him either. He always seems like he's trying to impress her, like he's trying too hard."

"He's not good enough for her," Jack muttered, taking a sip of the coffee Daniel had brought him.

"No, he's not!" Daniel shouted. "He's an ambassador, and national hero now. But, you're right: he's not good enough for her. Who is?! You?!"

"No, not me! Are you nuts?!"

"Then who?"

"No one!"

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Daniel lowered his voice. "I love her, too, Jack. She's my little sister. And the best we can hope for her is someone who's good to her and makes her happy. And as much as you and I don't like him, Joe is a good man and he makes her happy."

Jack didn't answer, taking another swig of his coffee.

Daniel turned back to the dishes in the sink. "You don't have to stick around after the wedding. If you want to retire and move to Minnesota, that's fine." He looked at Jack for a little bit of dramatic emphasis. "But you will NOT run out of her life and end things badly. You're going to go to the wedding; you're going to wear a suit, shake Joe's hand, dance with Sam, not get drunk, and eat some wedding cake."

"Daniel . . ."

"Go shower and shave."

Jack sighed, set his coffee down, and left the room. Daniel finished up the dishes and started cleaning out Jack's refrigerator, getting rid of anything and everything that looked like a science experiment. Unfortunately, that left Jack with little more than a bottle of steak sauce, a bottle of mustard, three frozen steaks, and plenty of beer. He would take Jack grocery shopping while they were out.

He was halfway through cleaning out the pantry when Jack reappeared, freshly showered, shaven, and wearing clean clothes.

"What should I get," he frowned, "them?" he almost spat the word.

"I got Sam a nice necklace and Joe a watch. I was thinking you could get them some wine or champagne."

Jack smiled. "Alcohol, good idea."

He picked his coffee back up, which was mostly cold now, and followed Daniel out to his car. "How long have you known?" he asked as Daniel backed out of the drive.

"About how you feel about Sam?" he clarified. When Jack didn't answer, he did, "Probably longer than you have."

They rode in silence for a while until Jack finally spoke. "I always knew there would eventually be another guy. I just never expected the other guy to be me."

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