It Just Won't Quit 4

Decision

by Annie

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asa/annie/wontquit04.php
Summary: The morning after Jack's confession, Daniel goes to see General Hammond

Daniel sat in his office unable to get the look on Jack's face as he had left last night, out of his head.

Why now? Why, when he'd just given up hope, does Jack come out with his news now?

"Daniel?"

Startled, Daniel looked up to see Sam standing next to him.

"Sam."

"Sorry, I did call out but you seemed miles away. Is everything OK?"

Is everything OK? Don't make me laugh.

"No, nothing's OK. Jack came to see me last night and the conversation didn't end well."

"What happened?" Sam asked. She had an idea about what was bugging her CO; maybe he had finally recognised what was wrong between him and Daniel and done something about it.

"Doesn't matter Sam. Jack said something that made me stop and think about our friendship but..."

Daniel let out a large sigh and Sam started to worry. He sounded totally defeated, like he was giving up.

"Come on Daniel, I can see this is eating you alive. What did Jack say?"

"Something right out of left field. The last thing I would have expected from him actually."

"How do you feel about him?" Sam asked, deciding to do some digging.

"He's always been there for me. At the start, on the original mission, he looked out for me. Even after I'd lied about being able to get the team back to Earth he was protecting my six. He's the best friend I've ever had, the only person who could get me to watch ice hockey whilst drinking beer. I'd have done anything for him."

"And now?"

"Now? I asked General Hammond if I could be assigned to another team."

"Daniel! You can't. Surely it hasn't come to that."

"I don't know what to do any more Sam. I don't know what to think, what to feel."

"Well, if you won't tell me what's wrong, I've just got two questions to ask."

Daniel looked at his friend, saw the concern on her face, and asked, "What?"

"How would you feel if Jack wasn't in your life anymore? If there wasn't any contact between the two of you?"

Thinking about it, Daniel knew it was the last thing he wanted to happen.

"I don't want that. I don't want to lose him from my life. I can't lose him, not now."

"I think you've just answered yourself as to how you feel. Go and talk to him, sort it out. Before you both lose each other."

Daniel stood, and gave her the first genuine smile she had seen in a long time. He looked happier, as if a weight had been lifted from his mind. Giving Sam a hug, Daniel said, "I'll speak to you later."

He made his way to Jack's office, not even realising he was whistling. Knocking on the door, Daniel walked into the empty room.

OK, so Jack wasn't there. That just left the commissary, the gym, Teal'c, most of the base in fact. Deciding on dealing with the other thing on his mind first, Daniel made his way to Level 27.

Knocking on the door to General Hammond's office, Daniel went in after hearing "Come."

"General, I need to speak to you about our last conversation," Daniel said.

"Come in Daniel, I needed to talk to you about that. I've decided to assign you to SG-11 for..."

"I don't want to leave SG-1."

"Excuse me?"

"I know what I said before, and I'm sorry about messing you about General, but I've decided that I want to stay on SG-1."

"What made you change your mind son?"

"I spoke to Jack last night after our meeting and it cleared some things up."

"I know you talked, I've already seen Colonel O'Neill this morning. He was under the impression that your talk had made things worse."

"You have? He does? What did he say?" Daniel asked nervously.

"He said that he wouldn't stand in your way if you wanted to leave SG-1, that he knew that he has made things difficult for you and that he wants to retire."

"HE WHAT?" Daniel bellowed.

General Hammond's eyebrows rose at Daniel's exclamation and the younger man said, "Sorry General. Its just...Jack can't leave, he has to stay."

"That's what I told him, but he was adamant it was the right thing to do."

"Do you mind if I finish work early? I'll go and see him, see if I can get him to change his mind?"

"That may be a bit difficult; he's gone up to the cabin for a couple of weeks. And before you ask, yes you can have the time off as well. I want my first team back Dr Jackson, sort this problem out."

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