Baby Steps

by Twist

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/ast/twist/babysteps.php
Summary: My version of what happened between leaving the village and coming back through the 'gate in One False Step

Jack turned to look back at Daniel, even that small movement sending a rush of pain through his head.

"You gonna make this?"

Daniel looked back at the village. He must have walked about ten steps and yet it already felt like ten miles. Plus, the backpack in his hand had mysteriously gained about ten pounds in weight. He was going to have to work up the energy to put it on properly, or he'd never manage the ten mile hike back to the Stargate. Why couldn't this mission have been one of the easy ones?

Jack caught the slightly forlorn look and reached out to touch Daniel's arm, offering a little tactile moral support. "Come on."

*

"I don't believe you some times, you know that?"

"What's not to believe?"

Daniel forced himself to calm down. "We're arguing over The Simpson's Jack."

Jack refused to give any ground. "Hey, you where the one who started it. Daniel."

"Yes! Alright, I did! I can't believe I'm on another planet discussing-"

"You mean arguing, right?"

Daniel glared at Jack before and while he continued. "I'm sorry I even brought it up!"

Jack, feeling like he'd won a moral victory, smiled at Daniel. "Face it, if anyone is Marge in this troop, it's you Danny."

*

"That was a bird."

Jack pulled out his binoculars. "Looked more like a honking big bat to me. You sure you've got the right prescription for those glasses of yours?"

"Yes. And it was a bird. Maybe someone else should think about getting his eyes checked out." Despite the headache Daniel smiled at Jack, who noted the smug look easily. "Maybe you think it was a bat because you seem to be as blind as one Jack."

"Oh, hardy har har."

A squealing from the sky had them diving for cover as a large bird of prey flew down towards them, interested in the rodent it had spotted running into the bushes on the other side of the trail from where they walked.

Jack looked up from the ground to watch as the bird streaked off again, a rodent the size of a kitten in it's claws. "Ok, it *may* have been a bird."

*

They'd been walking for nearly an hour in silence ever since the incident after the bird incident. By mutual agreement, they had opted for the time honoured tradition of not saying anything at all in case they managed to make things worse.

Jack was a little ahead, concentrating on making sure the hammering in his head didn't mess up his 'getting one foot in front of the other' plan. So far, it was working.

Until he heard the unmistakable sound of Daniel hitting the dirt behind him.

"Hey," he said, his headache momentarily forgotten as he ran back to his fallen friend. "You alright? What happened?"

Daniel repositioned himself so he was sitting cross legged on the ground. He took off his glasses and passed them up to Jack. "I got dizzy and fell over, what's it look like?"

"Look's like a smart-ass sitting in the dirt."

Daniel glared up at him.

Jack just smiled through the pain. "You look so cute when you try to glare without your glasses. Like a little lost puppy wuppy" Jack tried not to look like he'd gone too far by saying 'wuppy'.

"I do not!" Daniel struggled to his feet and grabbed his glasses back from Jack's hand, putting them back on in a hurry.

But Jack was on a roll. "You get tetchy when someone calls you cute? Well, with your glasses on wonky you look even cuter. Cutie."

"Stop calling me cute!"

Jack was almost in his face. "Why should I cutie? I've always called a spade a spade. Why change the habit of a life time?"

Daniel's head was too sore to think straight. "You're calling me a cute spade?"

Jack felt his exasperation rise along with the pounding in his head. "No. I'm just calling you cute. You have a problem with someone finding you attractive?"

Even through the pain, Daniel caught that line just fine. And from the look on Jack's face, Jack had caught it too.

"You think I'm attractive?"

"What? No! I just said . . . I mean, I was only saying . . . "

Daniel grinned as he saw the opportunity for revenge and pounced. "You're adorable when you're panicking. Brings out the colour in your cheeks."

Jack turned and started walking again.

"Rosy! Nice colour on you Jack. It's very attractive."

*

"Am not."

"Are so."

I am not! Jeez! Get over yourself Daniel."

"I'm not the one who called me a cute shovel."

Jack stopped walking and felt Daniel bounce off him as he walked into him. "I did not. I called you a cute spade!" Jack's face said the oops that his mouth just couldn't seem to articulate.

Daniel saw that he had won and looked smug. Not for very long though as his head was getting worse with every step he took.

"I didn't even call you a cute spade! You just thought I did!"

"Actually, you're right there. You just called me cute."

Jack's defences where down, he was tired, his head was killing him and he was fed up with the constant bickering they'd been doing since they'd left the village. "And in case you're forgetting, you called me attractive."

While Daniel thought of something else to say, Jack continued. "Not just attractive. Oh no. Adorable and attractive." He moved closer to Daniel, getting into his personal space without even thinking about it. "Admit it, you want me."

A eight mile hike with Jack had taken it's toll on Daniel. He was running on sarcasm and determination not to appear weak in front of a man he admired a great deal.

He leaned forward and kissed him, taking them both by surprise.

Jack finally pulled back, breathless, his expression one of pure horror.

"What the hell was *that*?"

Daniel, who had been enjoying himself for the first time since they'd come to this planet, heard the tone in Jack's voice and took offence.

"Obviously, *that* was a mistake!"

Upset, and more than a little angry, Daniel stalked off, leaving Jack alone with his mouth still open.

"Shit." He said to himself, before following those hunched up shoulders back to the Stargate.

*

They where both sitting on a bed in the infirmary. Jack wanted to tell Daniel that he was sorry, that he shouldn't have reacted the way he had. He wanted to tell him he'd enjoyed it and wanted more, but after the barrage of tests Fraiser had put them through, they'd both grown quiet. He just hoped he got a chance to explain that it was only because he hadn't been expecting Daniel to feel the same way as he did that the whole kissing incident had taken him by surprise.

Well that, and almost 20 years of covert bi-sexuality.

Left alone, things were getting too quiet. There was no one left to distract them from the fact that they weren't talking to each other.

Jack sighed. They couldn't even look at each other. "Listen, I ahh ."

"No no . Ahmm . Sorry, you where going to say-"

Jack tried to get his brain to come up with something sensible to say. Daniel, who appeared to be in a more forgiving mood now that he was no longer in agonizing pain, beat him to it.

"No, it's just that ah, well, you know."

"I know, I know. I know."

Daniel was starting to feel bad at the way he'd treated Jack. Pain and frustration had led him to say things Jack wasn't ready to hear on a good day, never mind the one they seemed to be having. There was no reason to take it out on Jack. None at all. It was just, he'd fallen for him despite himself. "You know that I'd ."

Jack knew what he was going to say and cut him off. "I know." They were ill and it had made them act a little crazy. As excuses went, it felt pretty lame, but if it allowed them to be friends again, then Jack wasn't going to turn it down. Hell, he'd go along with it just to see Daniel smile at him again. "It's obvious there's something ."

"Something ."

"Wrong with us."

"Physically." They both said it at the same time, just reminding Jack how alike they thought at times.

There. It was said. They could go back to the way things were. Status Quo. It was all down to being ill.

Janet walked in. "Well, there's nothing wrong with you."

Daniel voiced his surprise. "What?"

Jack just looked it.

*

As soon as Daniel got home, he'd had a shower and had gotten dressed for bed. Yet, two hours later, he was still up and working at his computer. It was easier to distract himself this way. He had tomorrow off and he could afford to work late. Going to bed when he wasn't exhausted would allow him time to think about how disastrous today had been.

However, it wasn't long before he heard a knock on his door.

Opening it, he found himself looking at Jack.

"What are you doing here?"

Daniel was too busy hiding his own panic to see Jack's.

"Well, that's a nice welcome."

Daniel moved over to allow Jack in. Jack however stayed at the door.

"I just wanted to clear something up."

Daniel's heart started to race. Oh God, he thought. This is it, he's telling me he wants me off his team.

"You wanted .What is it then?"

Jack smiled at him. "To let you know that I really do think you're cute. Wonky glasses or no wonky glasses."

Daniel hardly had time to process what it was Jack had said before Jack had leaned over the threshold of the door way and was kissing him.

Daniel moved a little closer until they where both out in the hallway, gently kissing each other. Jack finally pulled away. "I just wanted you to know .back on the planet of the bald white naked people, I wasn't feeling my best and reacted badly."

Daniel's fingers reached up to his own lips, still feeling Jack on them some how.

"Well, it's late Daniel. And you seem to be ready for bed ." Jack let his gaze wonder up and down Daniel's length, which left Daniel in no doubt that Jack was interested and that this wasn't some stupid prank of his. "Want to go out on a date with me tomorrow?"

Daniel was smiling, biting his lip a little. "You're asking me out?"

"Oh yeah. Got to do this properly. So no more kissing till I bring you home tomorrow night." He suddenly looked serious. "I want to do this right this time. Take our time. I don't just want a cute archaeologist. I want my best friend for as long as he'll have me."

Daniel felt himself smile, his first real smile since he'd come home. "I think that can be arranged."

Jack's answering grin spoke volumes to just how much he had meant what he said. "I'll call you tomorrow, ok? We'll spend the day together?"

"Sounds great Jack."

"Yeah. It does, doesn't it?"

He leaned in again, kissing Daniel quickly before backing off with a smile. "Ok, so I lied a little. Tomorrow then. See you later plant boy."

Daniel closed the door, unable to keep the smile off his face. At least plant boy was better than cutie.

The end