My Name Is Daniel

by devra

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asd/devra1/myname.php
Summary: Jack's in Washington-Daniel isn't

"I hate long distance relationships."

I remind Daniel that he's said that already at least twice during this telephone conversation.

"Sorry. But I'm getting friction burns on my dick from jerking off."

"And you've explained that to Lam how?"

"I'm a linguist, Jack, I can talk my way out of a paper bag."

"She got you, didn't she?"

"Yeah. Told me I was too good looking to be-"

Bless Carolyn, so much like her dad, never learning to pull back on those punches.

"Pining away for you."

I snort beer through my nose and it takes me a second or two to learn to breathe again. "She did *not* say that. Did she?"

"She was damn close. Janet must have left some pretty in-depth reports."

We share a mutual moment of silence for our fallen friend. "So how's Mitchell?"

"He's not you," Daniel answers without skipping a beat. "And this hero worship thing is wearing thin. And-"

There's no missing the indignation in his voice.

"He calls me Jackson."

"That's your name."

"No. My name is Daniel. Jackson is my surname. It is *not* the name I prefer to be called."

"Tell him." I cannot for the life of me imagine Daniel keeping quiet about something that offends him.

"I did," he sighs. "Repeatedly. He's not getting the hint."

I hear rustling of papers and a closing of a book or two. Daniel can never just *talk* to me.

"And get this-Mitchell calls Sam, Sam. Short of standing on the briefing room table and yelling out 'call me Daniel', there's not too much I can do about this?" There's a shocked pause before Daniel continues "Forget that, I didn't mean that to come out as a question. I meant it as a statement, cause I have this strange visual that you're going to *do* something, Jack."

"Nah. I can't do anything." Though calling Teal'c up and having him speak to the new leader of SG-1 is running through my mind.

"Do not call Teal'c, okay." Damn, I hate when he does.

"I'm not calling him." I pause. "I promise."

"Answer me this. Why did you call me, Daniel? I mean I got the occasional geek-"

"Jeeze enough of that already. I said I was sorry."

Daniel chuckles. "I got the plant boy, the spacemonkey, which you will *never* be forgiven for, the flake-"

"When did I call you a flake?" I ask.

"Oh you're right, you said I was a bit flaky , which I presume is something different."

"Completely different," I agree.

"And then there was the rare, but usually said with teeth clenched, Dr. Jackson, but you never, ever called me Jackson. Why?"

"I did though," I tap my finger on my desk, harsh tones of a different Jack O'Neill echoing in my mind. "I *did* call you Jackson."

"Yeah? But you don't any more, why?"

"You want an honest answer?"

"Yes."

"I have no idea." I shrug, even though Daniel can't see my movements. "Once I got to know you, you stopped being a Jackson and became a Daniel. With an occasional Danny thrown in for good measure."

"Jack."

"I said *occasional*.

"So why do you think Mitchell calls me Jackson."

"Why do you call him Mitchell?"

"Cause he calls me Jackson?"

Now I know no one in the whole SGC nor in the galaxy would believe me, hell I'm not sure if even my team would have believed me if I said Daniel had a streak of immaturity a mile long. "Try calling him by his first name."

"I have," Daniel sighs.

"Persevere. I'm sure he'll get the idea." I can just imagine the scowl Daniel's giving the phone at the moment. "Don't worry."

"I know in the scheme of things considering the Ori are headed this way, it's certainly a stupid point to be stuck on huh?"

"Nah. A sense of reality in an unreal world."

"Oh."

"You sound surprised. Didn't think I would understand?"

"Yes. No." His sigh is deep and I hear a book slamming shut in frustration. "I hate long distance relationships."

"Me too," I admit, not bothering to mention that it always comes around to that catch phrase. Every phone conversation begins and ends with those words.

"Gotta go-" Papers rustle around Daniel's voice. "I have-had a briefing that started five minutes ago. Damn."

"Landry's not like Hammond or me? No patience for a tardy archeologist?"

Daniel snorts. "At least he *listens* and he calls me Dr. Jackson."

"Hey! I listened," I cry indignantly. "Sometimes."

"Bye, Jack."

"Bye Jackson." I hang up the phone before he can sputter out a rebuttal.

I'm evil. I know it, but if I can't be there to lovingly annoy the crap outta him, others will have to do the job for me. But damn, I hate long distant relationships.

the end