Perfect Music

by Annie

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asa/annie/music.php
Summary: Jack's upset because he misses the chance to get tickets to see his favourite singer

Daniel looked up from chopping the vegetables as the front door slammed shut and Jack's keys were thrown on the table.

"I can't believe it, I really can't believe it!"

"What's wrong Jack?" he asked as the older man strode into the kitchen.

"What's wrong? I'll tell you what's wrong. He's actually coming here on tour and I've missed getting tickets. There we were stuck with a group of scientists on a planet where there was absolutely no threat, and I missed getting tickets. Could I add that it was a mission any of the teams could have done but no, it just had to be SG1 as the baby sitting team."

Daniel didn't even need to ask whom Jack was talking about, he already knew. The same person they had listened to when it was just the two of them wanting a quiet night in. A time that didn't include Sam, Teal'c or the rest of the SGC.

"They went on sale this morning and were sold out by lunch, before you ask. If Marshall had followed orders I would have been back in time, but no he just had to carry on in that little world of his own and now I've missed out. Scientists!"

Jack grabbed a beer from the fridge, closed the door and leant against the counter. He drank some as he watched Daniel finish cutting the carrots and continued, "And you want to know the best part? The best part is we have next weekend off because Carter is going to her brother's place for his birthday."

Daniel already knew these facts; Jack had been talking about them for at least a week now. He had been talking about going to the concert ever since he saw the ad in the local paper announcing the tour was coming to Colorado Springs.

'The man has the voice of perfection' was Jack's favourite saying about the singer. He would listen to him whenever he was angry, upset, happy or sad. All the time really, Daniel thought.

"Maybe you'll be able to get some tickets for another concert. I'm sure he'll be touring again sometime soon."

"Daniel. He leaves the country after this concert. He only added this date in at the last minute and now it's sold out before I even get a chance to get some tickets. You would have loved it Danny. The music is… It's…"

"Perfection?" Daniel filled in.

"Yeah. It's perfection. And thanks to Marshall, we're going to miss out on it!" Jack replied disgustedly.

Daniel put the knife down, crossed over to where Jack stood and took the man into his arms. They stood like that for a while, Jack holding onto Daniel and letting his disappointment at not getting a ticket seep away.

"Ya know. As much as I love this, it isn't getting the dinner done and the others will be here shortly," Jack said after a while.

"I know. Which is why you're going to help me get it ready. After..."

"After what?"

"This," Daniel replied taking Jack's face in his hands. Leaning forward he kissed the other man, taking his time to savour the unique flavour of the Air Force Colonel.

Breaking away so he could catch his breath, Jack knew he would never get tired of moments like this. Moments alone with Daniel.

"Sweet. OK, you carry on with the vegetables and I'll get the meat ready. But first, some music."

"Sure," Daniel replied, smiling as Jack went over to the music system to put on a little piece of perfection.

~~~

The next Saturday, the night of the concert, Jack wasn't in a particularly good mood. Walking into Jack's home at 6pm, Daniel knew that he was going to have trouble persuading him to leave the house so had a plan of action ready. Going into the living room, Daniel saw Jack sitting on the couch watching a replay of the previous night's hockey.

"Time to get ready, we're going out."

"Evening to you too Daniel. Since when are we going out? And what are you doing all dressed up?" Jack asked confused.

"I'm dressed up because we're going out for the evening. If you think I'm going to let you stay here and sulk you've got another thing coming. I have plans and you are going along with them. And don't bother refusing, all I have to do is call the General and he's going to get you back to the mountain to do that paperwork you've been ignoring all week."

"Daniel, I really don't feel in the mood for this tonight. How about we just stay here and watch the game?"

"I'm not staying here with you wallowing in misery watching the same game we did last night. You've got thirty minutes to get yourself into the shower and get changed. At 6.30 you will be in the car and I'll drive to this little place I've managed to get us in to. You're going to have a good night and afterwards we'll come back here for some action of our own."

"So I don't get a say in this huh?"

"No, and a minute has just gone by. Do I have to call the General or are you going to do as you're told?"

"OK I'm going. Jeeze Daniel, since when did you go all Alpha?"

"Go!" Daniel exclaimed, laughing at Jack as he hurried upstairs. Well that went a lot better than I thought it would, he thought.

Fifty minutes later and they were at their destination. Jack had been asking questions about what was happening since coming out of his bedroom dressed in his black slacks, dark grey shirt and his leather jacket.

"Um, Daniel. What are we doing at the Arena?"

"Going to the concert of course."

"How?"

"I got us tickets."

Jack's mouth fell open in shock. After a few seconds of silence he managed to ask, "Wh... When did you manage that? How did you manage that?"

"Last week. Janet ordered them for me."

Daniel parked the car and saw the moment when realisation struck.

"You planned it didn't you?" Jack accused

"Right down to the part where Roger delayed the return from P1X 601 so you couldn't get a chance to order the tickets," Daniel answered, a huge grin on his face.

"Why? Why go to all that trouble? Why not just let me get home and order the tickets?"

"You mean why do that and have you being antsy all week?"

"Yeah."

That was when the next realisation struck Jack.

"I knew you were keeping me away from Marshall."

Daniel had managed to keep Jack away from Roger Marshall throughout the week but it hadn't been easy. The scientist had kept looking at Daniel with accusatory eyes that blamed the archaeologist for the hardship he was currently undergoing.

"What, and let you threaten to send him to a Gould world and close the iris on him? I do want to keep my staff Jack. And the reason I planned it like this was because I wanted to do something special for you. I don't get many chances to."

"Thanks love. This is one of the best things anyone has ever done for me. I love you, even when I'm complaining."

"And moaning and bitching and scaring my staff. Yeah I know Jack. I love you too babe."

Daniel sat next to Jack and listened as the Philharmonic Concert Orchestra started to play music from Carmen. Once they had finished the instrumental piece, the conductor left the stage for a few moments. When he re-appeared, he was leading the singer Andrea Bocelli out and everyone stood and applauded. As the audience quietened down, the conductor brought the orchestra back to life and 'En Aranjuez can Tu Amor' began.

Soon both men were drawn into the magic of the evening, swept along by the voice of the blind Italian opera singer as he sang pieces from La Bohéme, Otello and La Traviata.

Jack's right, Daniel thought as he reached over and held onto his lover's hand, he really does have a perfect voice. And this is a perfect way to listen to perfect music.