Disclaimers: SG1 belong to their creators, Vannas and Akina belong to their creator (fyi ME)
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Chapter Nine: Moving Again?
Daniel woke up and it was still silent in the darkness of night. He turned in the bed and found himself distracted by Jack's deep brown eyes, which were focused on him. Jack smiled as Daniel leaned in to kiss his lover's lips. Correction, he was kissing his husband.
"Husband huh?" he whispered to Jack.
Jack grinned back at him, pulling Daniel back down for another kiss, "Husband forever in time Danny."
Daniel slipped over Jack's stomach and leaned down to deepen the kiss. Jack sat up, wrapping his arms around Daniel's back. Daniel loved the feel of his lover's hands roving down his back then back up to cup his neck. He groaned into Jack's mouth and thrust his hardening erection against Jack's. The Colonel was reaching over the bed for the nearby lube when something crashed nearby.
"What was that?" Daniel asked as he got off of Jack's lap, grabbing his pants quickly. Jack was right behind him, grabbing a staff that he'd been training with for several days now. They walked out of the tent and walked towards where the noise originated from and found them standing close to the shield on the far end of the village. Daniel moved close, looking into the shadowed darkness that the shield caused. He was shocked when something slammed against it and shattered the power of the barrier, falling through and hitting Daniel. He felt all the air rush out of his lungs and painfully he tried to get out from under the creature that was on him.
He could hear Jack shouting his name as the Colonel started hitting the creature, pulling it's attention away from the fact that Daniel was helpless and trapped underneath him.
As it stood under the onslaught of Jack's continuous strikes though it leaned heavily on Daniel's chest and for the second time in less than a month, Daniel could hear the creaking of his ribs under pressure. He bit back the shout of pain that was trying to escape his lips and the creature wandered away from him to attack Jack. He looked past the creature and Daniel could see his desperation. Daniel waved him away, if Jack gave any indication that Daniel was easy prey then the beast would turn back and attack him again. To save Daniel's life, since he was having a hard time breathing Jack would have to leave him.
Jack did it anyway, running as he struck at the beast over and over again but Daniel wavered at the edge of unconsciousness as Assassin joined the fight and put the beast on the ground quickly.
"How did it get in?" Damnation shouted angrily over the din of the growing crowd. Jack had quickly made his way back to Daniel and helped him to his feet. Now Daniel was letting a healer put a quick fix on his chest before they joined the shouting match taking place before them.
"Why are the creatures attacking the shield?" Assassin asked after the beast was transported outside the resurrected barrier.
Damnation turned and looked at Jack then Daniel. Sam and Teal'c had joined the party after the beast was put down and the four of them stood together once more.
"Its because of us, isn't it?" Daniel whispered through the pain in his chest.
"I believe its possible, it was only after they were made aware of your presence here when the attacks happened. I am sorry but it's going to be too dangerous for you to stay here."
Daniel's sudden guilt ate at him and he wanted to pull away from the comfort of Jack's arms but his husband refused to let him go. He didn't feel like he deserved the comfort, they had already caused several attacks and he was the one getting hurt all the time. "I'm sorry that we have caused these problems for you."
Damnation smiled, "You don't know the history of this war, we are the ones who cause our own drama. We have long been the sores on Zarranth's ass, just itching to be medicated. You did nothing but make them slightly more curious."
"What are you going to do with us?" Jack asked, more interested in seeing what was going to happen to them.
"Zarkina is already aware of what happened here, she will be coming to bring you to the castle on the island. You will be safer there with her."
"How could she possibly know what happened here?" Daniel asked, his curiosity never shutting off about this world they were suddenly embroiled in.
Damnation looked a little embarrassed, "When Daniel was injured, she took a little of his blood so she could keep tabs on him. She was awakened by his pain and reached out to me immediately. Then when she married you to each other, it opened a channel between the four of you to her, only to be used in emergencies. You are willing to fight side by side with us and Zarkina is known for taking good care of her allies."
Jack shuddered at that and Daniel grinned at his lover, understanding that this magic stuff continuing to be a daily occurrence was really hard for him to deal with.
"Go back and sleep for a few more hours, then we will get you on the island before the Hunters come here."
Daniel was grateful for Sam and Jack's help back to their bed, his chest still ached in time to the beating of his heart. Daniel settled into bed and Jack helped him out of his pants before climbing in next to him. Daniel settled with his head over Jack's heartbeat, resting a hand on Jack's stomach and the other between their bodies. He tilted his head and kissed the pectoral muscle under his cheek before settling again. Jack wrapped his arm around Daniel's back and the other played through Daniel's lengthening hair. It was starting to get a little longer again but then so was Jack's.
"Another move huh?" Daniel asked.
"Yeah, not that surprising in this world, they are very transient people from what we've seen already. Everything about their world is moveable except the island."
"I heard about the island while I was there, it was magically brought from the water by Zarkina's mother and her coven, I guess that's what they might be called."
"Did you meet her mother then?" Jack asked, actually interested in the chatter. Daniel smiled at the thought.
"No, she died when Zarkina was about eighteen. It was right before Zarkina was returning home to ascend to the throne and the whole royal family and her court were killed in a Bounty Hunter strike. Apparently the rumors are that Zarkina's father was the one that allowed the Hunters into the Valley."
"Rumors huh? So not much has changed in the world. There is still murder, intrigue and drama."
"Especially in politics," Daniel replied, feeling the yawn coming on despite the residual pain in his chest.
"Sleep love, we will talk tomorrow," Jack said and kissed Daniel's hair gently. Daniel slipped into a healing sleep and dreamt of warm silk wrapped around him and knowing that it was Jack that was keeping him safe and warm in sleep.
Jack watched Daniel's body move and shift in sleep; keeping his hands steady on his young husband's body. He couldn't believe he was married again and he couldn't believe that Daniel had trusted him enough to say yes. Daniel didn't fool Jack in the least, he knew the younger man didn't believe in forever and he'd made this leap for Jack's happiness.
He lifted his left hand from Daniel's back to look at the infinity symbol and the words inside of it, believing them as much as when he first saw them. After giving up his fears about being gay in place of making Daniel happy, he'd known this was a forever kind of thing. In fact as soon as Love struck and opened his eyes to the fact that Daniel felt something for him as well, it was a forever kind of thing. He may not like the magical crap that was always happening in this world and how none of it so far came from advanced technology. That little tidbit of knowledge freaked Jack out a lot more than he wanted others knowing and now he was going to an island that magically sprang from the depths to please the people who lived there.
He hugged Daniel tighter to him, listening to the mumbles his lover made against Jack's chest. He closed his eyes and put away the fear and uncertainty that had become a part of his daily life since coming to this place, he had a cause and a man who he loved more than life itself so he figured that was the best he was going to get. If he had to put up with magic then so be it. He finally let himself drift into sleep.
Jack had no idea how much time passed between falling asleep and waking to Daniel's lips roving across his chest. What a great way to wake up, he thought as Daniel sucked at one of his nipples. Jack reached up and pulled his husband's mouth to his for a hot and tender morning kiss. He didn't understand how even in the morning when most people had problems with bad breath and what not that Daniel was still the best treat Jack could ever think of having.
He opened his eyes as he released Daniel's lips and looked into the man's blue eyes. "Good morning, my beautiful Danny."
Daniel grinned wolfishly, "Colonel Jack Jackson."
Jack barked a laugh, "That is not my name."
Daniel pouted prettily which made Jack reach up and take his husband's lips in another kiss. Daniel sat up, "Well I don't know about Daniel O'Neill."
"Hyphenate?" Jack offered, honestly interested in this silly conversation. There was no paperwork to fill out, no legalities of belongings to worry about, he was sure their apartments would be cleared out and the leases would be released after the four of them were considered MIA. SG personnel would go through their belongings and pack up everything so they could be sold off or saved by the base.
"Stop thinking about it, love," Daniel told Jack as he nudged the older man's shoulder.
"Huh?" Jack asked intelligently.
"What happened to us at home, stop worrying about it. There is nothing we can do about it besides arguing on how to hyphenate our last names," then Daniel winked at him and got out of bed.
"Where you going so fast, Dr. Jackson-O'Neill?"
"We are supposed to be moving to the island and we should be ready to go for when the queen gets here, Colonel O'Neill- Jackson. She has spent too much of her time being our personal magical taxi."
Jack rolled his eyes, "Yeah okay Danny." He struggled out of the bed, finding his shoes and socks as well as one of the loose tunic shirts they were recently given by the village. Daniel as well dressed in a light cream tunic and his BDU pants and boots. They took a few moments to get completely dressed again before meeting in the middle of the room to kiss again.
Daniel's arms wrapped around Jack's shoulders to keep their bodies plastered together as they caressed each other's mouths for long moments before they heard someone clearing their throat at the door. Both men turned to find a grinning Carter waiting for them.
"Holy Hannah, you guys are good at that," she stated as she fanned herself. Daniel grinned at her then kissed Jack once more before they all left the tent and joined Teal'c for some breakfast.
Their guardians joined them one last time.
"Its been fun," Assassin stated as their meal started winding down.
"I doubt that," Jack responded with a dry laugh.
"No really, it's been a long time since we have been able to coexist with Regis without harming them. It's also been a long time since we were allowed to be around other Vannas or see the queen. It has been a great opportunity to show them that many of us want to be a safe part of the world again."
"Regis?" Daniel asked.
"People who were born of earth."
"I keep meaning to ask about your separation from the rest of the Vannas," Daniel started.
Assassin nodded, "I get that about you. You love questions and answers and learning."
"Very much so," Daniel grinned.
"This is a perfect world for you then, too many questions and not enough answers. We are Infidels because we have at one time or another hurt people or fellow Vannas, we are sent to Damnation who is considered our leader as well as our jailer. He is the one who must kill us if we cannot find a way to coexist with humans. He hasn't had to do that for a long time, since the death of the prior queen. Zarkina has accepted us for people who made mistakes, not evil beings."
"Is that why Love and her minions were treated so badly after they messed with us?" Daniel asked.
Assassin nodded, "It too important for us not to make those kinds of mistakes. One of the biggest tools we have in out defense is the ability to live among the earth born humans because if they knew we were different then they will automatically take us to our enemy."
"Well if you have the safety of the shields and the island, why mix with the earth humans at all?" Jack asked.
"That is a question for Lady Zarkina, I could care less about the humans but she wishes that they were not pawns in one man's world of hate."
"As one of those humans, I would have to agree," Jack stated not appreciating Assassin's opinion.
The other man nodded, "I understand but you have to realize many of the Vannas and almost all the Infidels have been targeted from birth by the people born of this planet. Zarranth has on more than one occasion found Damnation's camp, offered a truce only to kill many citizens before Damnation realized what was happening. We are considered the weak links of our people, those to be broken and turned against our people. We are trying to change that mindset."
"And you are succeeding, my friend," Zarkina stated as she moved to stand close to them and settled a hand on Assassin's shoulder. The young man looked abashed by her touch and attention. Everyone immediately stood to bow before her. Jack watched her reaction, always finding them to be interesting as well as entertaining. She rolled her eyes and waited for everyone to look up at her before she was able to ask them to rise once more.
"Are you ready to see your new home?" she asked Jack and the rest of SG-1.
They all nodded and went to grab their various small packs of belongings. When they rejoined Zarkina she looked to Jack and Daniel, "I have already sent your bed ahead for your room, it's my understanding that Jack made it for your return Daniel?"
Daniel blushed, "Yes milady, as a wedding gift."
"Then I am glad you will have it in your new room." She reached out and motioned for them to touch her. Jack laid a gently palm against her outreached hand, Daniel wrapped his hand around Jack's wrist as Sam laid her hand over Jack's palm and Teal'c covered Sam's hand with his. His much larger hand dwarfed the rest of them; dark on light skin and Jack was suddenly and strangely mesmerized by the contrast of them.
Zarkina smiled and turned to look at Damnation, "See you soon brother, we cannot allow Zarcorp to ruthlessly attack our camps any longer."
They transported but the last think they saw was Damnation smiling that demented looking grin that said he was really good at hurting people and he was about to start working.
Then they opened their eyes on the beauty of their new home, The Sky Manor on the Island of Power and home of the Vannas.