Here's Chapter Five! I tried to make it a little longer, according to requests. I expect future chapters to be longer, but of course I can't guarantee that. Darn college courses and their mountains of homework... :) I hope you enjoy it and please, please review, I'd love to know what you all think of the story! :) Thanks!
"Obviously, we're going to have to be very careful from now on. If anyone knew about this...Daniel would be Trust food." Jack scowled at the thought of those nasty, heartless scientists in the Trust turning their instruments and cruelty on his best friend. He glanced over at Daniel, who was staring numbly into the fire.
Teal'c raised an eyebrow. "I do not believe it is their intention to eat him, O'Neill."
Jack stared incredulously at his much larger friend for a moment, before shaking his head with a sigh. "It's a meta...never mind, the point is we can't let the Trust or anyone else get wind that something is up."
Daniel smiled weakly at his friends. "Thanks, guys. It... It means a lot to me that you've got my back. I mean, the mind reading was more than enough, and now we can add visions of the future, warnings of danger, and….telekinesis?" Daniel sighed heavily.
Jack slapped him on the back, heartily. "Don't mention it. Things will work out, Daniel, you'll see. I mean, you're practically a bona fide superhero now. Just start flying and we'll find you a red cape and blue suit. With the boots. Gotta have the boots. Oh, yeah, and the hair too!"
Daniel rolled his eyes. "I think I'm closer to a mutant than superman, Jack."
"No way! Superman is way cooler!"
"He's an alien!"
"So?"
"So I'm not an alien."
"That's beside the point."
"No, it is the point."
"I believe Daniel Jackson to be closer to the comic book character of Jean Grey from X-Men."
Jack and Daniel stared at Teal'c, shocked into silence, before Daniel began to protest.
"Jean Grey is a girl for one and-"
"I still vote for Superman. At least he's a guy."
Carter rolled her eyes. "I think it's enough that Daniel's the member of the foremost team working for a secret section of the government with an underground facility that uses a giant ring to explore different planets that were all populated by slimy parasites that burrow their way into your brain and use your body as a host."
Her companions stared at her, stunned, before Daniel finally began to laugh, quickly joined by Jack.
"Can't I just be an archaeologist from Colorado?"
…..
I'm hungry. Jack sat up. I already ate my food for the night, dang it. I wonder if Teal'c...
"Don't even try it, Jack."
Jack started violently, looking up to see Daniel still sitting by the fire, wide awake, watching him, amusement in his eyes. "Try what?" Jack asked innocently.
"Teal'c will boil you alive if you take his food, Jack." Daniel was grinning now.
Jack rolled his eyes. "That's gonna get old fast." He scooted over to sit across the fire from his friend, subtly analyzing the man as he did so. Daniel looked tired. The fire show today had taken a lot out of him, but it was deeper than that. Almost like it came straight from his soul.
"I was actually practicing blocking out people's thoughts and it was working, but when you suddenly woke, I have to admit I was curious and my blocks slipped a bit." Daniel explained sheepishly.
Jack laughed quietly. "'Slipped'. Right." They lapsed into silence for a while, both lost in their own thoughts.
"How long have you been having nightmares about Ba'al, Jack?" Daniel suddenly asked quietly. His gaze remained fixed firmly in the fire, unable to meet his friend's astonished gaze.
"How did you know? I wasn't thinking about that." Jack asked, trying hard to ignore the hoarse, raw note in his own voice.
"After you fell asleep, you started to dream about that...time...and...well, that's why I began working on blocking it out. I wasn't sure how to help or if you would want me too." Daniel's voice faded after a moment, then suddenly rose in great passion, angrily. "How could I have just left you there? You would have saved me, no matter the consequences! How...how could I have just left you there?" The young archaeologist sounded upset and frustrated. Guilt was clear in his tone.
Jack sighed. He didn't really want to be having this conversation, but he would rather discuss the painful memories than let his friend wallow in his own guilt for something Jack wasn't angry about anymore. "You said you had very strict rules to follow. You must have known something then that you don't know now and couldn't tell me. Trust yourself, Daniel. I do." Jack smiled at his friend.
Daniel was silent for a moment, considering that, then smiled, relaxing. "Thanks, Jack." He murmured. He tried to stifle the sudden overwhelming yawn, but failed.
Jack noticed, of course. "Go to bed, Doctor Jackson." He said, with a small grin. "We've got a long day tomorrow. I'll take the next watch."