Partners In Grime

by Annie

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asa/annie/grime.php
Summary: Jack attempts to get to Daniel before he leaves

Jack sat in his car and threw his cell phone onto the passenger seat in disgust. It had been losing its charge for about a week and today it had finally decided to stop working altogether. No amount of shaking, swearing or banging it against the dash changed its broken status.

"Work, damn you. Why don't you work?"

Time was running out before Daniel would leave for Washington and not only did Jack's truck have a flat tire but now his cell wasn't working. Getting out of the vehicle he wondered if it could get any worse?

Five minutes later Jack found out it could.

"Rain," he muttered, "It just had to start raining. Next we'll be getting snow. DAMN IT!"

Throwing the tire iron to the floor Jack stuck his thumb in his mouth and sucked. The iron had slipped and gouged some flesh from his hand, just at the joint where the thumb connected. Climbing into the truck Jack searched for his first aid kit but couldn't find it in the usual place. Leaning across the seats he opened the glove department to look for a Kleenex instead. Rummaging through the contents he pulled out a road map of Colorado, two half used candles and a pack of playing cards but no tissues. Trying to work out why he would have half burnt candles and a deck of cards in his truck, the only explanation Jack could come up with was that Teal'c had left them after their fishing trip to the cabin a few years back. Which showed how often he went in his glove compartment.

A knock on the window made Jack jump and turning, he saw a vision. Two people, each holding an umbrella while dressed in a red suit with red tinsel with red wings attached to their back, were by his truck with smiles on their faces.

"Is everything okay?" the man called out.

Jack let down the window and said, thumb still in mouth, "Yeah, thanks. I was repairing a flat and the tire iron slipped. I'm trying to find a Kleenex."

"We have a first aid box, I'll go and get it."

Before he could say anything the woman dashed off to the car Jack could now see parked behind him.

"Thanks for stopping."

"No problems. Did you finish with the tire or is it still needing to be changed?"

"Still needs doing," Jack answered as the woman reappeared. The man made his way to the back of the truck as the woman opened the box she was carrying.

"Let me see your hand," she instructed. When Jack held it out to her she quickly examined it and proclaimed there wasn't too much damage. "I'll clean it and put a cover on, if you have any problems you should go to your doctor."

"Thanks...."

"Helen. My husband is Ejner."

"Thanks, Helen. I'm Jack."

"Nice to meet you, Jack."

"Normally I'm more prepared but I think Daniel may have moved a few things." Realising that Ejner was changing his tire for him Jack started to protest.

"Let him be, Jack, he's a mechanic."

As Helen dealt with the wound they talked; Jack telling her he was hurrying to see Daniel and Helen telling him about the party she and Ejner were going to.

"That's where they are." Putting her hand to the bottom of the box, Helen pulled out a pair of red dice. "No wonder we couldn't find them in the house."

By the time she had finished dressing Jack's hand Ejner had put everything away. Helen took the first aid box back to their car and when she walked to the car she had a hand behind her back and a grin on her face.

Bringing her hand out from its hiding place Helen held out two red roses. "Happy Valentines, Jack."

"Helen?

"Give them to your partner, I'm sure they'll be appreciated. Just watch out for the thorns, they're large and very prickly."

"Thank you both for your help, I would never have a chance of getting there in time if you hadn't shown up. I hope you have a great time at the party."

"It was our pleasure," Ejner said. As his two rescuers made their way back to their car Jack started his truck and headed towards Daniels. Pressing on the gas pedal slightly harder than he would normally meant he was parking outside the house in less than ten minutes. Picking up the roses Jack made his way to Daniel's front door. He spent a few minutes knocking and checking around the back of the house before coming to the conclusion that he was too late, Daniel had already left. Heading back to the truck he slowly made his way back to his house. When he got there he locked up and mechanically headed home.

Opening the door Jack became aware of two things, a bag was in the hallway and music was playing in the living room. Remembering that one of his last two unexpected visitors had been Kinsey; Jack put the roses on the side and pulled out his gun. As he carefully made his way into the living area Jack heard, "You know Joe was right, you really should learn to lock your door."

"Daniel! What are you doing here? Won't you be late for your flight?" Jack asked, putting the gun away.

"I was on my to the airport when I got the call to say the meeting had been cancelled. I hoped you wouldn't mind if I came here instead," Daniel explained. There had been one or two 'words' spoken between them about the timing of the meeting, Jack hadn't been happy that Daniel had to go while Daniel had blamed the Air Force for the scheduling.

"Of course I don't mind, what made you think I would?"

"I thought you might still be upset with me."

"The brass taking you away for Valentines was what was pissing me off, don't any of them have lives? I was tempted to say you couldn't go to Washington as you'd be too busy fucking me through the mattress."

"That would have gone down well."

"It would have been nice to see their faces though. Have you eaten or are you hungry?"

"Um, what have you got?"

"I'll have a look," Jack said as he made his way into the kitchen. After a quick search he called out, "How about ordering a pizza?"

"Sure," Daniel called out as he picked up the phone, "Do you want your usual?"

"Sounds good but don't worry about desserts, I've got one of those chocolate puddings you love so much."

Daniel grinned and made the call. When he finished he saw that Jack was carrying two cups of coffee and noticing the bandaging he asked, "What happened?"

"The tire iron slipped when I tried to change a flat. Luckily a couple stopped, Helen patched me up while her husband changed the tire. Which reminds me, she gave me something for you," Jack said as he got up and went into the hall.

"For me?"

"Yeah, she seemed to think you'd appreciate them," Jack replied. Walking back into the room he held out the roses to Daniel.

"You told her about us?" Daniel asked incredulously.

"Not exactly," Jack replied picking up his drink. "I just said I was gonna be late enough to miss you and that's why I was in a hurry. Ya know something? She called you my partner. I really like the sound of that," he mused.

Nodding, Daniel smiled. "I like it too. Soooo... we're partners?"

"Yeah, I guess we are," Jack grinned. "Though if we were ever found out it would partners in crime."

"Judging by how wet and muddy you are, Jack, I'd say partners in grime!"

Snorting, Jack gave his partner a filthy look and kissed him. "I'm up for a dirty night in bed if you are."