It Just Won't Quit 5

Hello

by Annie

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asa/annie/wontquit05.php
Summary: Jack is at his cabin on the lake contemplating a future without Daniel or the SGC

Jack sat in his cabin staring out over the lake; he'd only been here three days and was starting to unwind from the tension he'd caused himself after the disastrous talk with Daniel. If he had just said to Daniel that he was sorry and that things would get better, maybe his life would still have been at the SGC instead of by the lake. Mind you, that would have meant he would have had to lie to the man he loved, and Jack hadn't wanted to do that. He picked up his fishing rod and bait and made his way down to where his chair was sat. Making himself comfortable, Jack cast his line into the calm water and waited for that ever-elusive fish to bite.

Several hours later, a cry from a bird flying overhead awoke Jack. The warmth from the sun, the complete solitude, and the lack of danger had all contributed to him relaxing in a way he never managed when he was back in Colorado Springs. Relaxing in a way he hadn't thought possible after the turn his life had just taken. Reeling in his line, he saw that once again the fish had been too smart to bite. Packing up his equipment, Jack headed back into the cabin.

He wondered if George had already told the rest of the team about his decision, or if the General was planning on waiting until the two weeks were up and Jack returned to work. Whichever option had been chosen, Jack knew that Sam and Teal'c would have something to say about it. Daniel would probably be glad of the fact and just get on with his life.

Looking round, Jack made another big decision regarding his life. When he returned home to see the General, he was going to contact a Realtor and put his house up for sale. It had only seemed like a home when Daniel was in it for their once regular Friday night beer and hockey evenings, or when he held a team bar-be-q. Recently it had become just a place he went to at the end of each day. He could put some of the money into improving the cabin. He might even spend some of it on putting some fish stocks into the lake so he really could catch fish.

Getting a pen and paper out of a desk drawer, Jack started to plan the improvements to the cabin. He would need to sort out the plumbing (especially in the small bathroom), install a better generator for when the winter came, get an up to date kitchen fitted, satellite for the hockey games, and set up his telescope so he could watch the stars and wonder where Daniel was. He would only have his mobile phone; he didn't plan on having anyone contact him.

Looking at the plans, he crossed the telescope off the list. He didn't really want to know what would be happening back at the SGC. Or what was happening in Daniel's life.

Turning on the radio so that it made the quiet cabin not seem quite so empty, Jack tried to decide if he was hungry enough to get something to eat.

Oh, he'd lost his patience. On more than one occasion, that was the problem.

What did he feel? At this moment in time he felt empty, lost.

Wild. Was that what she had sung? If so, wild was a long time ago because Daniel had calmed him down.

Apart from Charlie, Daniel was the only person who had ever touched Jack that deeply. Not even Sarah had managed to do what Daniel had done.

Jack was always in the mood when Daniel was around. Hence his problem with impatience.

He really didn't need anything else to remind him of Daniel so decided to check out some other stations. Several of them had what was called as music, all beat and no lyrics. Finding one that didn't sound as if it would blast him into the lake, Jack started to make his way to the small kitchen as the new song played.

AHH!!! Jack had just about enough of songs trying to help him with his feelings. If he hadn't listened to that damn song in the pub, things would have been OK.

Slamming the knife he had picked up down onto the counter top, Jack made his way back towards the radio. He had time to hear one more line before he switched the machine off.

"I know what I had," he said to the once again quiet room, "The best friend anyone could hope for. Goodbye Daniel."

He was startled by a voice from behind him.

"Well I'll say goodbye if you insist, although I'd prefer to say hello."

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