The Reason

by Belladonna

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asb/belladonna/reason.php
Summary: Not supplied

Daniel was pissed, "Goddamnit Jack, that's it! If you don't trust me then let me know and I'll request a transfer!"

"I do trust you Daniel, it's your instincts for getting into trouble when you wander off that I don't trust!" Jack snarled back, whipping off his fingerless gloves in a sharp motion.

Sam and Teal'c remained quiet as they undressed, both men were right. And wrong. So they did the responsible team thing and disappeared as soon as they were physically able. "See ya guys." Sam chirped and fled. Teal'c bowed his head, "I am in need of Kel'no'reem." and he walked out as well.

"I'm old enough to make my own choices. I don't know what the problem has been lately but whatever it is, I've had enough! No more Jack. Figure out what it is or I'm gone." Daniel jerked his belt around his slim waist and buckled it, then grabbed his jacket and left. If he'd turned to look at Jack he would've have seen the pain, and panic on his friends face, but he hadn't.

Jack's heart was pounding. He knew he'd been a shithead to Daniel lately, but damnit! He didn't want to lose his friend. Daniel had become so much more to him than just a friend. He was the one that he got drunk with, commiserated with because of a bad mission, the one that he loved....Jack sighed, He knew he'd screwed up, unfortunately he didn't know how to fix it. Telling Daniel how he felt would be a whopping mistake and he didn't want to completely lose his friend.

It had been a tense week. Jack had made tentative overtures to Daniel but had been rebuffed harshly, "I don't see how a pizza is going to fix this, Jack." he'd said sharply. He wanted to back down, wanted to wrap his arms around Jack and never let go, but he knew that whatever chance that they had to make their friendship work would go down in flames if Jack knew he was attracted to him.

Thank god that the next several missions were uneventful, the two men did not talk at all. The Colonel was withdrawn, and to Teal'c and Sam's observant eyes, depressed. Daniel was uptight and quiet and the two team mates could only watch and hope that the two men could fix it on their own. Or they'd be forced to intervene.

General Hammond watched as his premiere team arrived back at the SGC, no banter back and forth, no bright smiles, just sullen quietness. It had been over a month and he too wish the two men would work it out, as Siler had said, 'It was creeping him out'.

Jack was losing weight, not eating in the cafeteria anymore in case he ran into Daniel. Daniel had been unpleasantly surprised when he'd seen Jack after a long weekend and realized how thin his friend had become. He sat at his desk indecisively, then stood and headed to Jack's office, knocking quickly before he lost his nerve.

"Yo."

Daniel opened the door and watched with a pang of regret as Jack's eyes lit up, then shut down when he saw it was him, "Hey Jack."

"Daniel."

Daniel shuffled a foot, slid his hands in his pockets and looked down at the concrete floor, "I'm sorry."

An almost soundless gasp made him look up, and he saw that Jack's eyes were wide in surprise, "What?"

"The silver hair might fool everyone else but I know that you're not hard of hearing Jack." this was said tartly.

Jack slowly stood and shook his head, "It wasn't you, it was me Daniel. And I'm sorry too. Please don't leave me," he winced, "the team." his voice broke.

Daniel hurried around Jack's desk to hug his friend, "Never, I promise that I won't leave you." He'd meant to say the team but both men knew that the words were right. They stood there in the quiet of Jack's office, the hum of the computer as a backdrop and just took comfort from each other.

"I'm an idiot." this was muffled against Daniel's shoulder. "I'll do better, I promise."

"I know, me too." Daniel slid a hand into Jack's silver hair, sliding his fingers through gently. A shudder made him freeze, but the muffled 'Don't stop', made him relax. How long they stood there, Daniel gently running his hand through Jack's hair, he was uncertain, but when Jack lifted his head and looked into Daniel's eyes, that made his heart stop. There was love, passion, desire, and fear. He pulled his hand out of Jack's hair and touched the older mans' lips, "Don't be afraid." he whispered. He could feel Jack's heart pounding in unison with his. What would've happened next, neither man knew...

A knock at the door made them jump apart, Jack going back to sit at his desk while Daniel moved over to the far wall to pretend to examine some photos.

"Yeah, come in." Jack rasped, then cleared his throat noisily. The new Russian team leader came in and clicked his heels, "Colonel, I have the reports that you asked for." His eyes went over to Daniel in surprise, and relief. SG-1's pain was hard for everyone.

"Thank's Colonel, dismissed." Jack said and the man snapped to attention and quickly left.

"You know, it'll be all over base that we're having a civil conversation." Daniel quipped as he turned around.

"Damn Russian's gossip like women." Jack growled, but the light in his eyes belayed his irritation. his phone rang and he made a face, "O'Neill."

Daniel made a face back, waved and slipped out of the office, making it feel colder in there for some reason. A voice in his ear made him jump, "Huh? Oh sorry, I was distracted." and he concentrated on the phonecall.

Jack felt like a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. He got into his truck and cranked the radio and began to drive home. The truck hit a bump and the station changed, an annoying habit that his Dodge Ram had recently developed.He was about to change back when the words hit him suddenly.

The song repeated a couple of choruses then a new song came on when he hit another bump. "Damn it." he switched back in time to hear, 'And that was The Reason by Hoobastank'

"Hoobastank? What ever happened to a cool name like the Grateful Dead or the B-52's?" Jack grumbled, then cursed as the truck hit another bump and the sounds of a teeny bopper came on. He deliberately aimed for another bump and got an idea.

Daniel was dragged out of a deep sleep by knocking at his door. He dragged on a pair of sweats, grabbed his glasses and bleary eyed, went to open it, "Yeah?" He said to the bike delivery guy.

"Daniel Jackson?"

Daniel grunted assent and the man had him sign for a small package, "Thank you Sir." He grunted again and closed the foor, ripping open the package. Inside a slip of paper fell out and he bent to pick it up, opening it, "Play this for me. Jack." Daniel peered inside and found that there was a green jewelcase and he carefully pulled it out. Opening it he headed towards his stereo and pressed a button, then slid the cd inside, pressing play.

Sitting down on the couch, Daniel let the words wash over him, the love he felt for Jack such a strong and overwhelming force as he listened to it twice more. He wiped his eyes and walked to the phone and dialed.

"O'Neill."

"Jack, get over here." Daniel said.

Jack smiled, "I'll be right there Daniel." and he hung up and went to grab his jacket.

Daniel gently hung up his phone, then headed in to take a shower. It was going to be a a very good day.And Jack was The Reason.