Here's the next chapter! Hope you enjoy! Please review! :)
Daniel relaxed back on the couch, eying the beer Jack was offering him. "Are you sure I drink beer?" he asked, tentatively.
Jack nodded, successfully fighting the grin that threatened to break out on his face. "You love it. You can't stop."
Daniel stared suspiciously at Jack, as if sensing there was a joke in that somewhere, then turned his focus to the beer.
"Ha! This should be fun. Daniel never could hold his beer. Daniel drunk. I swear, one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Too bad Teal'c and Carter aren't here for this. Carter certainly enjoyed last time. Then again...maybe it's a good thing she's not here."
Daniel blushed slightly. "What happened last time?" he asked, feeling embarrassed, though not sure completely why.
Jack looked at him in surprise. "What?"
Daniel snorted. "Don't play that game with me. You said, 'Carter certainly enjoyed last time.' Why am I a funny drunk?"
Jack's jaw dropped, eyes widening, staring at Daniel as if seeing a ghost.
Wary now, Daniel waited for some sort of response.
"Daniel, I didn't say that, I thought that." Jack managed.
Daniel froze. "That's not funny, Jack." He murmured.
Jack sat down heavily beside him. "I'm not joking."
They sat in silence for a moment, each trying to control their reeling thoughts and emotions. Why me?
Finally, Jack spoke. "Apparently, the others didn't take everything from you when they kicked you out."
Daniel sighed, shaking his head. "Apparently…. I-…" Daniel sighed again, his face pale and looking more tired than Jack had seen his friend in a long time. "What now?" he finally asked softly, after a moment of silence.
Jack squared his shoulders. "We're going to enjoy our three days off. When we get back…we'll take it one day at time. We have to keep this a secret, Daniel. We'll tell a few people who need to know, but you need to be very careful. The Trust would love to get their hands on….well, on someone with your….uh…..ability."
Ah, crap. Daniel, you just never catch a break, do you?
…
Jack glanced over at Daniel, gearing up nearby, clearly lost in thought. What is he thinking? Jack wondered. Can he hear me? To Jack's slight surprise, Daniel's shoulders began to shake and a slight chuckle echoed through the room.
"Yes, Jack."
Jack started, then sighed with a shake of his head. "That's so cheap."
Daniel grinned, then shrugged. "I don't mind."
Jack snorted, derisively, but he was happy to see his friend relaxed with the idea of his new power. The clear stress this new…issue had brought down on his friend really ticked Jack off. You guys just can't leave him alone, can you? Taking him away from his friends, then kicking him out without his memory wasn't enough? "I'm sure you don't. Come on, we'd better get to the 'gate room."
Daniel paused before leaving the room. "Jack, should we tell Carter and Teal'c about...you know...before we go? What if something comes up? What if I slip before I tell them or what if I slip in front of someone?" For the first time, Daniel didn't hide how nervous and unsure he felt. He had tried to be stoic about the whole thing so far, but this new development in his ever-messed up life was beginning to overwhelm him already.
Jack smiled, then gave his friend a pat on the back. "You'll be fine, Danny. We don't have time to tell them, but as soon as we get the right opportunity in a safe place, we'll tell them. Hammond and Frasier will need to know too, but that will have to wait until after this mission." I don't trust the base. Not with something this big. What if there's another mole? They could be waiting for information like this. The Trust is probably waiting for something like this to happen. All that knowledge that could be in your head….I think we've gone beyond the need for cautious, huh, Danny? Maybe paranoid would be safer.
Daniel made a face at Jack's unspoken thoughts, clearly ones he was meant to here. He gave a single nod, then returned to his preparations, trying not to dwell on his sudden fear.