Comfort

by Belladonna

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asb/belladonna/comfort.php
Summary: Jack seeks comfort

Jack rolled over, sighed, then rolled back.

It had been a tough day, a tougher mission. Now all he wanted was to sleep. Hell, he needed to sleep. Janet had threatened him with a needle earlier that day if he didn't get some much needed rest...sheesh. After fifteen minutes of flopping back and forth, he sighed and gave in.

Rolling from his bed, he padded over to his closet and carefully knelt down. He pulled out shoe boxes and a dust bunny of alarming size before he found what he was looking for. Sitting on the carpet, he gazed at the garishly colored, previously used Chrismas box, fingers trembling.

"God, Danny. I miss you," he whispered into the dark. He opened the box and inside was his treasure, his comfort, and for the time being his last tangible link with the man he loved.

The sweater was a cream cable knit, v-necked and really not that valuable, except it had been Daniel's. It still smelled of Daniel, coffee, the soap he used, and that indefinable 'Daniel smell'.

Jack pulled it out and held it up to his cheek, closing his eyes on the tears that abruptly threatened. He took in a shuddering sigh, then got back to his feet and crawled into bed, ignoring the mess on the floor in front of the closet.

Burying his face in the sweater, Jack let tears flow as he lay there, wishing for what couldn't be undone. After a long time, Jack fianlly slid into sleep, never seeing the glow that invaded his room.

"Ah, Jack," Daniel sighed as he saw the sweater in Jack's arms, saw Jack's beloved face pressed into it. Saw the tear stains and despair on his lover's face. He watched for a long time, his thoughts far too deep for words. When Jack became restless, Daniel reached out and soothed him, then as the dark began to be chased away by the sun, he faded away.

Jack awoke, the smell of Daniel lingering, making him smile. He opened his eyes and nuzzled the sweater for a moment, before getting up and packing it away again. It had done it's job.

"Thanks, Daniel," he whispered before he slid it back into the closet.

Fin