The Key 1

The Key

by Kez

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/ask/kez/key01.php
Summary: Daniel receives a strange Valentine's gift

Too many cards, where they all came from I don't know, the postman delivered a stack this morning, and then I had a stack more waiting for me in my box at the SGC, where they all came from is a complete mystery only a few were signed, most were not.

Bright reds, and pinks covered the cards inside and out, verses like "Be my valentine" were plastered inside along with the occasional bad pick up line, such as "Do you believe in love at first sight? Or should I walk by again".

Even a few presents, edible under ware, hardly my style, and as for the handcuffs, well maybe. I'd think they were from Jack, but he's not that good at keeping his practical jokes a secret.

Not to mention someone keeps walking past my door, I can see the shadow plainly; I wonder if I should go see?

Ok pick my way past the cards, and the few presents, to the door, but by the time I am there, the shadow is gone, and a small box, with a white envelope sitting on top is left in it's place. Great another one, just what I need.

Where is my couch? Oh over there, I think I can reach it.

This present is different, no bright wrapping paper, not hearts drawn all over the front of the card, its plain and simple, only a simply gold ribbon wrapped carefully around it.

The card is simple inside as well, a single red rose on the front, otherwise plain white. The verse equally simple.

Signed with an X, and nothing else.

Guess I should open the present. It's a... key? Someone sent me a key, ok, its too small to be a house key, it looks like a key for one of those locks Jack uses to keep his greenhouse door from flapping open in the wind.

And it has a note, it's typed, strange.

Very strange indeed, who would ever? Guess if I want to know I'll have to go see, but there is no reason I can't try and find out before then.

It has to be someone on base, because who ever it was left it here personally. Video camera outside my room, which means whoever it was is on tape. One problem, I can hardly go asking to look at the videos without giving a good reason, but no harm in trying.

"Sorry Sir, orders are orders," the young airman sounds really sorry, but I guess he has his orders.

"That's ok, it was worth a try," I tell him, smiling, and leave him to his job.

That narrows it down, it had to have been someone who is high enough ranked to order that, which means basically I have a list of half a dozen people.

General Hammond? Never in a million Years.

Jack? Not of the very likely.

Sam? possible but I doubt it, we had talked about it before, we'd never work out. Janet? Again possible, but that women has been more intimate (in a medical sense) than even Shaur're.

Colonel Banks? Married.

Major Davis? Bent as a butchers hook, but he isn't even in Colorado at the moment, I don't think, and anyway he'd never risk his career.

That leaves three main suspects, none of which are very likely, but anything is possible, who to investigate first? Sam I think.

"Hey Sam,"

"Oh Hi Daniel, I saw that stack of cards in your box this morning, didn't think you'd be done reading them all till at least lunch" she is joking I can tell.

"I'm not, but one of them stood out, trying to figure out who sent it, so far you, Janet and Jack are the main suspects," well she is a smart women, she might be able to help me, if it's not her.

"Well its not me, I don't think Dave would like me trying it on with another guy," she tell me, winking a little, I'd forgot about him, well down to two.

"What about Janet, do you think?"

"Doubt it, last I heard Teal'c was joining her for dinner at her place tonight," she tells me, hehe, Janet and Teal'c, that's funny, it's a good job she's a doctor, cause I have seen that guy, and he is HUNG, she will need her own expertise if anything happens to be able to walk straight for the next week or so.

"OK, well guess I'll just have to never know," I say, shrugging it of.

"Maybe it was the Colonel," she tells me and I'd think she was joking, but I can see that she's not.

"See you later Daniel," she tells me suddenly, and disappears of with out another word.

I hate it when she does that.

**11:30pm**

Spent the better part of a day following every lead I could find, I will NOT believe it was Jack, he maybe a trickster, but he wouldn't be that mean. I don't think, lately, who knows.

The park looks deserted, I can see anyone, but then I am early, maybe whoever it is hasn't arrived yet, or maybe they just won't, if this is a joke. Guess I'll wait by the fountain.

Ouch, what the...? A heart shaped box, how nice. With a lock? Oh lock, key, getting it now, so open the box, of course it maybe be a bomb, but I doubt anyone would go to this much trouble.

Ok, this is it, do or die. Do I look, or leave?

I look.

Jack?!?

It is Jack, I took this picture myself. Oh God, Jack, he's here, I have to go, now!

Jack loves me, Jack loves me, you know if I say that to myself once more I will scream, but God, Jack loves ME!!!

And I left, what the hell am I NUTS? I left, he loves me and I left, he gave me the key to his HEART! And I left. FUCK!

I have to go back, but I can't, not now, if I know Jack he was watching, he knows I left, FUCK, SHIT, FUCK, DAMN, and did I mention FUCK.

Ok, I can save this, I can, somehow, please? Who I am saying please to I don't know, but I'm saying it anyway.

I need to let Jack know that I love him too, I... oh key, not a bad idea, just need a key, and a lock, and a heart, hmmm wonder where I might find something like that at oh 11:55 pm.

Hmmm I wonder?

Lift Off.

It's kinda sad really, a girls plastic heart shaped money box, with lock and key. Childish yes, but I hope it will get the point across.

Jack house, lights are all of, but I can see the lantern burning on the observation deck. Guess that's my stop. I hope he doesn't hit me for using this key, but he did give it to me, ok so it was like years ago, but still he never asked for it back.

"Jack?" I ask, quietly, he seems to be looking at something, very far away.

"What do you want Daniel?" he sounds, dejected, weak, afraid.

"I'm sorry I ran away earlier, I... here, I'll be down stairs" I tell him, shoving the bag with my little offering into his lap and sneaking to settle myself so I can see him, but not the other way around.

He is looking at it, fiddling, like he isn't sure he wants to open it, please Jack, please open it. He does.

He's smiling, and crying, ok, mixed reaction there, maybe I should wait down stairs.

"Why did you go?" good question which I had an answer.

"Don't know, got scared, didn't realize till I was long gone what an ass I was being,"

"It's plastic," he nods down to the small plastic box in his hand.

"Best I could do on short notice."

"It's nice."

"Glad you like it." I say, standing right in front of him now, we've both been edging slowly forward until we are only a few inches apart.

"Can I kiss you?" he asks me, looking shy, it's cute, but I know he is anything but.

"You better," I tell him, pulling him forward till there is no more than a hair's breath between us, leaning in slowly to kiss him, but he beats me to it, and plants one firmly on me.

His lips are soft, gentle moving against my own, his tongue tracing my lips, asking permission to come inside, a permission I gladly grant. He tastes like cheep beer, and smoke, and something undeniably Jack. In short amazing.

"Love you Danny," I feel the soft words whispered against my lips, and I smile, I have to be the luckiest person in the universe, how many people get to find love like this twice in their lives? I know many don't even find it once, and me I get it twice, first with my beautiful Shaur're, and now with Jack, my kind, wonderful, smart, funny, loving, beautiful Jack.

"I love you too Jack," I tell him, pulling back from his lips just enough to be able to look into his eyes as I say it.

"You wanna drink," he asks me, still holding onto me.

"Sure," I tell him, not really letting go of him, only slackening my hold slightly.

"Beer, Coffee, I might have some wine."

"Hmmm Beer's fine," I say, finally releasing my hold enough for him to move away, but he still doesn't.

Jack's head bows, leaning against my own, his eyes closed "I'm scared if I let you go you'll disappear, and this will all have been a dream," he tells me, his voice quiet.

"It's real, I promise, come on, lets get a drink and sit down for a while huh?" I ask gently, this has to go slow, he put his whole life on the line tonight by revealing how he felt, and I almost screwed it all up out of fear, I have to prove to him this is real, and that I'm not going anywhere, and I have to do it now, or we'll never get past it.

"So..." Jack is fidgeting, sitting on the sofa, half a world away from me.

"Relax Jack, it's ok, I love you, I. LOVE.YOU, always, this is it Jack, no matter what, it's just you for me now, no one else, ever." I promise him, moving closer, pulling him to me.

"Hmmmm, I love you too," he whispers, the soft tones of his voice, drifting over me, covering me with a layer of warmth.

I don't know how long we've been sitting here, not long, maybe only ten minutes but it feels like a lifetime.

"Danny?" he asks his voice still a whisper, like he is trying to not break the spell.

"Hmmmm, yeah"

"I'm sleepy," he tells me.

"Bed?" I half ask, "just to sleep," I add.

"Yeah," he agrees, as we pick our way slowly to the bedroom, not quite ready to let go of each other just yet.

Jack puts on the bedside lamps, just long enough for us to strip down to t-shirt and boxers, before we get into bed, both nervous, but neither nervous enough to back down.

Jack leans over to turn of the light, his arm brushing across my face, and I can't resist planting a small kiss on the bi-cep.

"Come here" I tell him, opening my arms for him to snuggle into my side, planting a small kiss on his forehead as well, closing my eyes, relaxing into the bed, feeling Jack's breath against my chest, even through my t-shirt.

"Happy Valentines Day Danny," he tells me lightly, before I hear a light snoring.

"Happy Valentines Day Jack," I tell him, ignoring that it's technically not anymore.

Valentines day is a day for love, and so from now on, I think I will have mine on the 15th of February instead, the day Jack told me he loved me, the day I said it back, the day I finally got to go to sleep with my soul mate beside me, sounds like Valentines to me.

Fini

Next: The Morning After