Chapter Six: New Assignment
They made good time to the camp, which was run by someone called Silver Wolf. Daniel wondered about the names of some of these people but then again they were dealing with a completely different time. He was walking next to Jack and Assassin was standing on the other side of him. Ever since Daniel's injury, the young Infidel had taken to following Daniel around and watching him very closely. Daniel wanted to tell the man that with Jack next to him it was useless for him to play guard dog because not even the Colonel was capable of keeping Daniel out of trouble.
Jack didn't seem to mind the other man's presence, since their fight the day before neither one of them was worried about the other's loyalties. Jack was holding weapons in one hand and Daniel's in the other. Daniel appreciated the contact was they were walking through the forest which was where they ran into the creatures. Damnation assured their small crew that they wouldn't run into anything in the filtered daylight and the power that Assassin had to keep them away.
"So where we going?" Daniel asked his guardian.
"Silver Wolf is the grandmother of Zarkina, she runs the closest Vannas installation to the Vannas island ring. Bounty Hunters do not come this far from the city, they do not normally come as close to the village as they did a few days ago but Damnation believes that Jack's escape and Zarkina's involvement in that is going to make them all the more inspired to find out who you are."
Daniel looked to Jack, "I thought you guys got out of there free and clear?"
Jack nodded, "Yes we did but Zarkina felt it was necessary to poke the bear while we were escaping."
Damnation chuckled from just in front of Jack, "She does that every time she rescues someone. She does it to rile Zarranth and his men."
"How does she not get caught?" Jack asked.
"She has powers to keep herself out of their hands," Damnation shrugged. "You have to understand that she is the most powerful weapon in our arsenal and she is the biggest piece of bait to rile up the enemy with. It is why she has such an active role in the rescue of allies."
Jack scoffed, "If she's so important she shouldn't be taking such risks."
Daniel laughed quietly at that, "Like you have never done anything like that have you Jack?"
"Shut it, Jackson," Jack griped but he smiled as he looked at his lover.
"So we are being moved to protect us?" Daniel asked.
"Of course, but with their interest in coming closer, the shield would have failed eventually. Silver Wolf's shield is much stronger. My people will be safe there until we can find a new base of operations."
"And will we continue to travel with your people?" Daniel asked.
Damnation shook his head, "Not necessarily. Your information of this world and battle tactics is better suited on the island. Zarkina is coming to talk to you all as soon as we get there."
It didn't take them very much longer to arrive and get inside the field. The woman who stood awaiting their arrival was definitely related to the queen, she had the same elegant grace of a ruler but the compassion of a woman who loved her people. She had grey streaked black hair and a slightly weathered face but she still didn't seem to be old enough to have a daughter let alone a full-grown granddaughter who just happened to be the queen of a powerful race of people. Damnation stepped forward and embraced the slip of a woman.
"Mother, how are you?" he asked, sending a shock through Daniel. He'd wondered when they first saw Damnation and Zarkina together if they were related.
"You are the uncle of the queen?" Daniel asked him.
Damnation chuckled, pulling away from Silver Wolf. "No, Silver Wolf is just the only woman who has ever been a mother to me."
"So you aren't related to Zarkina?" Jack asked for clarity.
Silver Wolf laughed at that, "Vane, you don't tell people anymore, that's so sweet."
"Tell us what?" Jack asked getting annoyed at the intrigue. Daniel wanted to kiss him; Jack had no patience for mystery any kind.
"I am Zarkina's brother, we have the same father but not the same mother."
"Wow, and you don't tell people that?" Jack asked.
"My people trust me with their lives, being related to the queen who decides if they live or die creates a conflict. I choose to not let them know of our relationship, plus it makes me a target against her."
"Of course, she would come to save you if her enemies knew," Daniel stated, understanding the need for secrecy. Someone as powerful as Zarkina couldn't afford to let everyone know who her family was.
"That is if I were ever captured," Damnation laughed at the notion. "I have also had several of my people take a dislike to her rulings and in the past my name has been used in blackmailing scenarios."
"She would give in to that?" Jack asked, exasperated.
"Of course not because she at every occurrence has contacted me to make sure I was unharmed and then warn me about the possible attacks. Our family is very close despite how separated we are on this planet."
"You have other siblings?" Daniel asked, amazed that this hard man could be someone's brother and beloved adopted son underneath.
"I have two full siblings and four siblings from the same father, including Zarkina. Although we lost one about a year ago."
"Sorry to hear about that," Daniel responded.
"Enough with the history lesson where people can hear," Damnation stated. "I am going to let Zarkina know we have arrived. She will probably bring Sir William and Lady Taylor, especially if I beg huh Mother?"
"Only to please you, my son."
Damnation gave her a quick kiss to the cheek and took off running. Jack and Daniel shared a bemused look before refocusing on the woman in front of them. "I know its hard to understand, he must wear such a harsh mask in front of his people but sometimes his is just a happy boy who loves his people and family."
Daniel grinned at Jack who was giving him a strange look, "Actually its not so hard to understand, huh Jack?"
"Sure Danny whatever you say," Jack said but there was a dull flush to his cheeks. Daniel knew Jack as the sweet lover who would do anything for his lover but he also knew the hard as nails Colonel who was able to kill if the occasion demanded it.
"I already know that you were all influenced by Love, Lust and Desire. They have been housed with someone who will nullify their powers until you decide if you want to go to the island with my granddaughter. I have tents set up already for you, giving you each some privacy since it will take a little while for Zarkina to arrive. I am sure you would like to rest before meeting with her."
She led them to two small tents, each couple entering one and dropping their meager belongings inside the flap before Jack flipped Daniel onto their pallet and ravaged his mouth, "I have missed touching you lover," he whispered against Daniel's mouth.
Daniel laughed, "We don't have much time Jack."
"Then we should stop talking Jackson," the Colonel growled at Daniel before they kissed again. Daniel fumbled between their bodies to release their pants and started to push them down enough so he could touch Jack's body. Jack's lips pulled away from Daniel's so he could growl in appreciation. "Danny, the way you make me feel."
"Enough to try something else?" Daniel asked as he pushed Jack off him and down onto the blanket they settled on. Jack looked at Daniel warily. "I would never hurt you Colonel Jack and if it doesn't get you off or makes you uncomfortable then I will stop."
Jack nodded as Daniel kissed and caressed skin as he opened Jack's shirt and reached down to pull Jack's pants past his knees and all the way off as Daniel pulled off Jack's combat boots. By the time he was sliding his hands back up Jack's legs the older man was shivering with need. Daniel reached for the lube that he'd kept close by and Daniel leaned down to worship Jack's body and allowed the Colonel's passion to rise. He was glad that Jack was willing to try this, that they can have an equal relationship in the every area of their lives, including the bedroom.
In the aftermath, they got cleaned up and sat together on the pallet just resting as their breathing even out.
"Daniel, you love me right?" Jack asked gently.
"Yes Jack, we already talked about this," Daniel said rolling his eyes.
"Then marry me," Jack stated. Daniel jumped away from Jack in shock then had to move more gingerly having just had really good sex. He was sore.
"Excuse me?" he demanded.
"You heard me, when I was in love with Sara, I married her. I am in love again so marry me."
"Ummm no!" Daniel said fearfully.
"Danny say what?" Jack asked, shock clearly evident. He didn't expect that to be Daniel's answer. Daniel had to be honest; he would love to marry Jack or whatever the equivalent was here. Even after knowing they loved each other without the magic, there was no reason to believe this relationship wasn't doomed to fail. They had been together for less than a week. Jack was still fighting the idea of being gay and Daniel wanted to trust that these feelings weren't going to disappear before he made the commitment to the Colonel.
"I can't think about this right now Jack," Daniel responded finally. His voice was small as a reed and he pulled on his boots and left the tent on a cursing and fumbling Jack. He was moving so fast out of the tent he ran straight into Zarkina. Daniel caught her before she fell to the ground and he steadied them both. "Sorry Your Highness."
"Daniel are you feeling alright? You look scared."
"I'm fine," Daniel responded but Jack ran up behind them panting and calling for Daniel to listen to him.
"Can you release my wife, please?" A man stood next to the queen, touching her back. Daniel let go so suddenly that he fell backwards against Jack's waiting arms.
"Danny, can we please talk about this?" Jack asked.
Daniel pulled away from his lover and looked at the man who claimed to be married to the queen. He had black hair as well, pulled back in a ponytail at his neck. His eyes were silver and filled with love for the queen, it was obvious to anyone who could see. He was muscular and wore simple attire, nothing to show that he was a powerful man though Zarkina was again dressed in simple clothing that didn't denote her power or station either. It probably helped her to do her job.
"Danny, talk to me!" Jack demanded.
"No!" Daniel snapped.
"Jack will you please tell me what's the matter with Daniel?" Zarkina asked politely.
"I asked him to marry me," Jack responded.
Zarkina nodded in understanding, "Daniel, I could really use your expertise on the island. It would only be for a couple of days."
"My expertise?" he asked as Jack stared at her.
"No he is not going!"
"You are not the boss of me Jack so stop acting like it."
Daniel was about to speak again to Zarkina about what she was offering but Jack spoke first, "I am your commanding officer!"
Daniel glared at him; Jack must have realized his mistake because he cast his gaze to the ground. "How dare you!" Daniel turned back to Zarkina, "Yes, I'll go with you."
"Danny!"
"Don't talk to me, Colonel O'Neill."
Daniel turned away from Jack's hurt look and walked back to the tent to pack his extra clothes, his journal and some pens. Jack walked in behind him, placing a soft hand on Daniel's back. The younger man slowed his movements.
"Danny, I didn't mean it."
"Don't lie Jack, its not an attractive trait," Daniel responded and turned to walk around Jack and back out to Zarkina and her husband.
"I am not lying, dammit Daniel! I am sorry, once upon a time my rank meant people would listen to me."
Daniel snorted, "I have never listened to you because of your rank."
Jack nodded, "That's true. Danny, why won't you marry me?"
"I can't be sure after four days that you really mean it Jack. Just because we made it through our first fight and were able to find passion in bed doesn't mean I can believe in this being forever. I am scared that you are going to wake up one of these days and realize this means nothing to you, that I mean nothing to you."
Jack frowned at him, "I thought we talked about this, Danny. I love you and that doesn't go away, it hasn't gone away in three years since you almost died on Abydos and came back through the Stargate and landed completely under my skin and in my heart."
Daniel smiled; Jack could wax poetic with the best of men sometimes. It was interesting that Daniel was the one who got to figure that out. Daniel was so scared that he was going to keep giving Jack every piece of his heart and when Jack walked away there wasn't going to be anything left for Daniel to survive with.
"Jack, it's been days, not years. You can't guarantee me forever."
"I didn't guarantee Sara forever, or Charlie forever and it didn't change my love for them either. My love is a constant that you can believe in Danny, if you will only let it."
Daniel nodded and tried to decide what he should do. He tried to find a compromise so he didn't have to tell Jack no forever but he didn't want to say yes right now either. "Zarkina said it would only a couple days right?"
"Sure," Jack responded unaware of where this was going.
"I think the separation will answer a lot of my fears Jack. I need this and I would like to know if I can really be of any use to these people."
"Danny, you are so much more important then the rest of us," Jack said trying to comfort one of Daniel's many insecurities about himself. He didn't think he was worth anything because he wasn't a soldier.
"When I come back in a couple days and the absence made the heart grow fonder, I'll give you an answer."
Jack gave a wobbly smile and Daniel caressed his lover's cheek. "You should go then."
"I will but first I need to do something very important," Daniel said as he stepped closer.
"Oh yeah, what's that?"
"Kiss the man I love," Daniel whispered fervently. So he did, taking Jack's lips gently with his own. Letting his tongue slip within the seam of Jack's lips and caress the inside of his lover's mouth. He took the time to memorize the feel of Jack's mouth with his own. He took the time to commit to his mind what the planes of Jack's face felt like under his palm and fingertips. When Daniel finally pulled back a little, "I don't worry about me loving you Jack, I am just worried about you loving me."
Jack nodded, taking Daniel's face into his hands, "You are going to have to get over it though. I love you and want forever with you as soon as you come back and see that I cannot and choose not to live without you."
Daniel walked out of the tent before he changed his mind. Jack always seemed to be saying the right thing. He met with Zarkina and her husband outside. "I'm ready to leave."
Zarkina nodded, "Are you sure about this, Daniel?"
"We need this," Daniel nodded.
Zarkina nodded to her husband who leaned down to kiss her gently before he walked away. She watched him go and Daniel saw the beauty in their love for each other.
"How long have you two been together?" Daniel asked, bringing Zarkina's attention back to him.
"We've been married for about three years, officially only about two though. We've known each other since the day we were born. We have always gravitated towards each other."
"You've known each other since the day you were born?" Daniel asked.
Zarkina smiled, "Wild isn't it? We were told for a long time that I would be promised to someone else for alliance purposes so we tried to maintain our friendship for a long time but one day we couldn't fight it anymore. We ran and got married then we forgot all about it for a time. That is a really long story that you can actually read when we get to the Valley. Right now I want to talk about you."
"What about me?" Daniel asked, shifting his pack higher on his shoulder.
"Do you realize that Jack is very much in love with you?"
Daniel nodded, "I know that Love couldn't have made us feel what wasn't already there."
Zarkina inclined her head in agreement, "I don't think you understand that his love is all consuming, you are two halves to the same soul."
Daniel shook his head, "No, that can't be. We have lived a large portion of our lives away from each other. We loved other women."
"But you love Jack more?" Daniel thought about it before he shrugged. "I hope that you can learn to trust in his feelings for you, it's the best guarantee you will ever find on this planet."
"Well Your Majesty, I hope you're right. For now though Jack and I have agreed to time away." Zarkina looked past Daniel shoulder and smiled, "I will wait for you, but it seems someone needs to speak to you first."
Daniel turned to see Sam and Teal'c, he hugged them and assured them he would be back in a couple days before turning to leave, ignoring the desperate need to return to Jack embrace.