This is a little interlude to my story for Christmas. Thanks to my Beta, Annie. Hope you all like and feedback kids!!

Family Ties

"Jack, you awake?"

"Uh huh." Jack grumbled a barely audible reply as he rolled over and noticed Daniel's fair hair dangling over the edge of the upper bunk.

"I've been thinking, Jack."

Yawning, Jack smiled up at Daniel "Well, there's a surprise."

Daniel rolled his eyes and sighed, "This is serious, Jack. It's Christmas next week, and we oughta get Sam and Teal'c something."

"Hey, aren't they supposed to get us something? We are the kids in this little situation, ya know."

Jack had slowly gotten up and was sitting on the edge of the bed, ruffling the back his hair. Daniel continued to eye him with disbelief.

"I was only joking, Danny. You're right. Got any ideas?"

There was bump in front of Jack as Daniel slid from the top bunk, without using the ladder.

Jack grinned at Danny as he stretched his arms towards the ceiling. "You enjoying my bunk then, Danny?"

Going into full 'Daniel arm-waving mode', Jack watched his friend's rebuttal.

"You know I was tired of listening to the bed squeak, while you fidgeted! It's hard enough to get some sleep as it is, Jack, without that. It's only f—."

Jack cut him off with a gentle punch on the arm, "Okay, okay, Danny! Don't get so defensive. I only commented cause you wouldn't entertain being up there a few months ago when this first happened!"

Daniel nearly fell over, as he only had one foot half in his pants. He frowned at Jack until he heard the end of his sentence. Stopped in his tracks, he stared at his feet while he spoke wistfully.

"Yeah… when this happened… I'd forgotten."

Jack could see the wrinkles of thought forming in Daniel's brow, as his friend finished dressing and reached over, snagging his glasses from the set of drawers. "Do you remember Jack… before…? I mean… us, before this. I know… I know it's there, but I forget."

Jack had started dressing himself as he replied. "Yeah… and no, Danny… I suppose, sometimes. It's hard to explain. The one thing that I do know is, that we're here, now, and you're as good a brother as I could want. Well, I certainly think of you as my brother." Pulling his T-shirt over his head, as he made the muffled declaration of brotherhood, Jack didn't realise how intently Daniel was watching him.

Looking up from where he now searched for socks and expecting a reply, Jack saw Daniel, with his mouth slightly ajar, staring at him, apparently speechless.

"Danny?"

"I… I dunno what to say, Jack."

"What? What's up? What d'I do?" Jack continued to scrabble around on the floor, looking for socks.

"You said that you think of me as your brother, Jack! I've never had a sibling and I've never thought about it. I suppose we are like brothers, but you saying that…" he paused and looked down.

Realising the impact of the comment, Jack looked up from his sock search and watched his friend's reaction.

Tears burned the corners of Danny's eyes as he turned and walked to the window, his arms wrapped tightly around his middle. "It means a lot, Jack, you saying that… thanks."

Jack smiled and clambered to his feet. He touched Daniel's shoulder as he moved to his side. "Hey, big guy, it's how I feel, and from your reaction, that's how you feel too, huh?"

Daniel nodded into his chest before guardedly smiling back at Jack.

Taking that as an acknowledgement, Jack drew Danny into a bear hug, and for once Danny returned it with force. They patted each other's backs, continuing the reassurance of family ties.

"Brothers, huh?"

"Yeah, Jack, brothers, and a cool Christmas present too."

"What was that about presents for Sam and Teal'c?"

"Jaaack!"