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[To Remember: Part 7] by Author [e-mail] [www] Rating: R
What has gone before: Ten years pass after the closing of the
Stargate program. Jack and Daniel have gone their separate ways and
become involved with other people. However, when they meet up again,
sparks fly. They carry on an affair, coming clean only after Paul
Davis proposes to Daniel. The emotional fallout, however, has to wait
until after they solve yet another crisis with the Stargate.
Disclaimer: The characters and situations of Stargate: SG-1 belong to MGM and lots of other people. I make no claim of ownership and I make no money from this. Warnings: Character Death
EnterSam waited a heartbeat before she unbuckled her seat belt. Now that they had arrived, she hesitated, not sure if she wanted to get out and knock on that door. "You ok, Mom?" Cris asked from the driver's seat. "Not sure," Sam answered honestly. She rubbed the bridge of her nose, trying to get rid of the headache she felt beginning there. "Cris, promise me you'll be on your best behavior." "Mom, I'm 28 years old, not a little kid anymore. You don't have to tell me to behave." Sam closed her eyes briefly, "Don't I, Lieutenant?" Cris didn't say anything for a moment. "Sir, yes, sir! Let's get this over with." She threw open the car door and escaped before Sam could say anything else. She moved a bit slower, opening the car door and stepping out carefully. When had time gotten away from her? Six years had gone by since she had last seen Jack O'Neill, the man who fathered her children. Over twenty had passed since their high-profile divorce. Some days she woke up bed, still thinking she had a briefing at the SGC. Then Pete would snore and roll over, and Sam realized those days were long gone. She was sixty-seven years old, the CEO of her own technology company. The world had tilted on its axis and her life with it. Cris had made it to the front door first, but she didn't knock. She just stood there, waiting. Looking at her now, Sam acknowledged the resemblance between them, so strong that looking at Cris standing there in her uniform Sam felt like she was looking into some kind of mirror into her past. Sam tried to shrug off the sudden melancholy, moving next to her daughter to rap on the door. Fortunately, when it opened, it was her son staring back at them. "Mom, Cris!" Jake stepped back and let them in. "Thank god you're here." He hugged her first, then his sister. Cris ruffled his hair fondly. Jake looked tired, Sam thought critically, taking in the dark circles under his bloodshot eyes and his unkempt appearance. But then, she couldn't blame him. Not with his schooling in addition to everything else. "Sam. You came." Daniel's voice from across the room drew her attention away from her son. She looked away and nearly gasped. Daniel looked, well, old. He was too thin, his hair had gone completely white, and he stepped carefully while leaning heavily on the cane in his left hand. "Of course," she said. Daniel turned sharp blue eyes on her, and she realized her first perception of him was wrong. "How is he?" There, that was getting to the matter at hand. Daniel shrugged. "He's dying, Sam." His voice caught as he spoke her name. Sam could feel his heart breaking. "Oh, Daniel." She moved to his side and put her hand on his arm, then gave into her impulse to hug him. He buried his face in her shoulder and she could feel the wetness through her shirt. Daniel cleared his throat and pulled away. He looked away from her for a moment, wiping at his eyes. "I’m sorry. You just got here and I… Would you like something to drink? We have coffee in the kitchen, we always have coffee ready." She forced a smile onto her face and gave Daniel the chance to regain his composure. "Actually, we were headed for our hotel, but I thought we should just stop here first…" "Hotel? Mom, you can stay here!" She turned and took her son's arm, just happy to be touching him like this. She missed him, and it was hard to admit that now. "Come on, Jake, you know that's not a good idea." "He's right, you can both stay here," Daniel invited. "Yeah, you can have my room, and I'll crash on the couch, it folds out." Jake grabbed the hand she held over his arm. "Please mom." She turned to face her daughter. Sam couldn't and wouldn't accept if it would make Cris uncomfortable. "Cris?" Cris rolled her eyes. "Fine. I'll get our luggage." "I can help," Jake volunteered. Cris's eyes softened at his offer. He was most likely the only reason she agreed to stay. Much like Jack, Cris could deny him nothing. After they left, Daniel turned towards what she assumed was the kitchen. She lingered a moment before following. There were pictures all along the wall in this room. Most of them were of her own children, in various stages of growing. She recognized the pictures of Charlie that had once graced her own living room. And then there were Daniel's pictures. She had seen them before, a long time ago, most likely in Daniel's office. One of Sha're, looking startled at the camera; another old and yellowed of two people she assumed were his parents. The wall was like a patchwork of their lives together. Her fingers touched one of Jack and Daniel together, grinning at whoever was taking the shot. She wondered when it was taken, at least ten years ago from the color of Daniel's hair. "Sam, did you take cream in your coffee?" Daniel's voice interrupted her musings and she finally moved into the kitchen. "Let me help, Daniel." But he seemed to have everything under control, leaning the cane against the counter when he needed both hands. She wondered about it, but didn't ask. He motioned to the chair and she sat, accepting the cup he placed in front of her. "You have a lovely home." "You were always invited here, Sam." He sounded tired, but not accusing. "It would have been too strange." She stirred some sweetener into her coffee. Daniel always made his coffee a bit too strong for her tastes. "True." He agreed. "I thought we could head out to the hospital later. Visiting hours start again at 6, but they usually let us in anyway." She put her hand over his fingers tightening around the mug. "Daniel. Isn't there anything they can do?" He shook his head. "He has cancer. It's spread throughout his body. I think if he were younger he might have a chance, with all the new technology…" he stopped speaking when they heard the door slam. Sam pulled back her hand as her children walked through the entryway. "…stop being such a baby and join up already." Cris was saying. They were holding onto each other, arms wrapped around each other's waists. "I'd like to find a different way into the SGC, thank you very much." "And nepotism isn't enough? You need to take seven years to get a PhD?" She poked at his chest and he dissolved into giggles, as ticklish as Sam remembered. It struck her suddenly, how they were all coming together now. Despite everything, all the hurt and pain over the past years, they were becoming a family again. She couldn't help but think of the day it all crumbled, when she couldn't imagine they would ever be all together again. *** Sam didn't realize she was waiting for the knock on the door until it came and she knew it was a half hour late without even looking at the clock. Still, she took a deep breath before walked to the door and opening it. Jack stood there, bundled in a coat, his cheeks reddened slightly by the cold. Daniel stood slightly behind him. "Jack, Daniel. Come in." Sam stepped back. It had only been six months since she and Jack had officially broken up. The divorce wasn't even final yet. However, Jack had already moved in with Daniel, in their new place in Colorado. Daniel had gone back to working for the SGC. "Merry Christmas." "Merry Christmas, Sam." Jack dropped several shopping bags on the floor in front of him. Only 6 months gone and he was already spoiling the kids. Sam recognized all the signs. He moved forward to hug her before she could stop him, so she remained stiff under his embrace. Jack pulled away and frowned at her. He opened his mouth to speak. "Daddy!" a little voice broke into the moment and Jake was running across the room. Jack scooped him up and held their son tight. "Hey kiddo." Sam couldn't help smiling. This entire situation was hardest on Jake. Her baby was downright lost without his father. Not a day had gone by without him asking when Jack was going to come home. "Hey, Jake, Merry Christmas," Daniel said, reaching out to ruffled Jake's hair. Sam stopped smiling. That wasn't fair, she chided herself. It was a good thing, after all, that Daniel got along with Jake. It made things easier. However… "What's he doing here?" Cris' shouted. Sam turned; she hadn't heard her daughter coming down the stairs. "Honey, come and say hello to your father," Sam said in her best 'mother voice.' Cris stubbornly stayed right where she was. Sometimes she was a bit too like Jack. "No. Not while his boyfriend is here." "Cristine!" Sam shouted, shocked. "Language." "He's going to ruin everything!" Cris sobbed out, before turning and running back up the stairs. "Oh, god. I'll go talk to her." Sam started up the steps. "That's ok, Sam. I, uh, I'll just go back to the hotel." She turned around just in time to see Daniel give Jack a halfhearted kiss on the cheek. His eyes flicked up towards hers and he flushed. Her good will didn't stretch as far as to watch her ex-husband make out with his 'boyfriend' in her own living room. "Good night, Daniel." "Uh, night Sam." The evening went downhill from there. Cris eventually came out of her room to eat dinner, but she remained quiet, and played with her food. Jack tried to coax her to speak, asking questions about her soccer team's current fundraiser. But Cris only shrugged. Things perked up a bit when Jack gave them their Christmas Eve gifts. For a while there, as they congregated in front of the fire place, surrounded in colored paper and ribbons, laughing at the sound Jake's toy car made, it seemed like everything was normal. Jack was home, they were a family again. It wasn't until they were upstairs, putting the kids to bed that Sam realized Jack was going back to the hotel room he and Daniel shared. He wouldn't be waking up with them Christmas morning, wouldn't be sharing in their annual Christmas breakfast. For the first time in nine years, their family tradition would be broken. "Good night, kiddo." Jack knelt at their son's bedside. "Daddy! Don't go!" "I'll be back tomorrow, I promise." Jack kissed his forehead and tucked the blankets around him. She tried to meet his eye when he stood, but they were shadowed. Sam gave Jake a kiss and followed Jack out of the room. She found him in the room that used to be his study. He was taking down the pictures of Charlie that still hung on the wall. "I, uh, wanted to take these to Colorado with me," he said, focusing on removing one of the nails from the wall. He wasn't very successful. "Did you think it was going to be easy?" she snapped. "No." his voice was soft, non-intrusive. "I expected it to be hard. I just didn't think it would be this hard on them." She sank into a nearby chair. "God, Jack." "I couldn't pretend anymore." Another frame disappeared from the wall. "What do you want me to say? That I think you did the right thing by running off with your lover? No, Jack, I won't say that. You ran out on your family." His fist hit the wall hard. She flinched, and then was at his side. "God, did you hurt yourself? You could have broken your hand." Sam caught his fingers between hers, carefully feeling for any breaks. "Sam," he whispered. "Jack?" "Let me take Jake back to Colorado with me." She dropped his hand. "What?" "I'll bring him back every other weekend, every holiday, for the summer. Please, Sam, you see how much this is hurting him." "What about Cris?" she demanded. "Don't you want her as well?" "Of course I do! She's my daughter." He turned away from her, placing the framed pictures carefully on his old desk. "But, she hates Daniel. I wouldn't force her to live with him. And, and she's a bit older than Jake. I'd be taking her away from school and her friends." "You've thought this all out?" "Not really. Just makin' it up as I go along." He was looking at the pictures, she realized, of the son he'd lost so many years ago. Jack had never forgotten Charlie, and hadn't forgiven himself either. Sam knew that she wouldn't deny Jack his son. "All right." "What?" His head snapped up. "You can take Jake to Colorado." She swallowed down the hitch in her voice. "Sam." He hadn't expected her to say yes. He had asked, expecting her to turn him down. Sam closed her eyes, squeezing out the tears that threatened. "Oh, Sam." This time, when he threw his arms around her, she let him, hugging him back. Everything was crumbling, disappearing. Nothing would ever be the same again. *** "Sam? Are you ok?" "Hmm?" Daniel was looking at her. "Oh, sure. I was just thinking." He smiled. "Jake's going to drive us to the hospital. Did you need anything?" She shook her head. "No, I'm fine. Let's go." TwilightHe hated the beeps, even though it was the beeps that told him he was still alive. Jack wasn't quite sure when he started measuring his remaining hours in beeps. Probably the time they upped his pain meds. He didn't quite hurt so much anymore, but he would almost take the pain instead of this constant haze of not feeling. The knock interrupted his beep counting. Daniel. Daniel was the only one who ever knocked, and the only one who never needed to. Jack opened his eyes. Daniel looked kind of fuzzy as he limped into the room. He frowned. "Leg?" he asked as Daniel reached his side. "Later," Daniel knelt and kissed him gently, careful of the tubes that all but chained Jack to this bed. "Sam is here." "Daniel?" He hadn't asked for her. Damn, but Daniel must know. He had to give his lover credit; Jack didn't think Daniel was ready to accept his impending death. As of yesterday, Jack was still getting treatment. Daniel touched a finger to Jack's lips gently. "She wants to see you, ok?" "Youbetcha." He hated the way his words were slurred. Some days Daniel was the only one who could understand him. He hated to think of when he couldn't communicate at all. Daniel moved away, and Jack tried to reach out with one hand. He couldn't see him any more. His heart pounded in panic. "Daniel!" He tried to shout, but he couldn't. "Here I am, Jack." His fingers were taken in a warm familiar grip. "Sam is here." She looked as beautiful as the last time he had seen her, how long had that been? He had been taking Jake for visitation…last time before Jake swore he was old enough to fly on his own. "Jack," she whispered, bending close. He could see her almost clearly now: curly gray hair, bright blue eyes. "Don't. Cry for me." Her face crumpled as he spoke. "You stupid man," she hissed. "Two children and ten years and you don't want me to cry for you?" Well, when you put it like that. He just hated that he was hurting her. Again. Could he stop hurting Sam? "Still love ya." "I know." And she looked like she almost believed that. Must be the meds. She kissed him, gently, on the lips. It was almost too much. Soon he'll be bawling like a baby too. Enough of this, enough of the bedside confessions. It was time to go home. "Hey Dad." He could hear Jake, but he couldn't see him. "Mind if I steal mom for a minute? We're going to the cafeteria for some dinner. Do you, uh, want anything?" "Beer." They laughed. That was good; it almost felt like he was living again. "I don't think they have that downstairs, but I'll try." Jake touched his hand before he left, taking Sam with him. "Daniel." He needed to talk to him, alone, before the others came back. Daniel was frowning for some reason, looking at the doorway. "Yes, Jack?" "It's time to go home." He started to cough and cursed the fluid in his lungs. Just when he needed his voice the most. But it brought Daniel close, half sitting on his bed, holding him through the tremor. "Jack? Do you need the nurse, Jack?" He grabbed Daniel's arm, and he could tell even Daniel was surprised at the strength in his grip. "I wanna go home, Danny. No more treatments. Just…let me go." "Oh, Jack. God." Daniel buried his face in Jack's chest. God, Daniel, he thought, but couldn't say. I've only disappointed you. So long ago now, but not nearly long enough. Even now he could remember it with crystal clear vision. *** Jack grabbed his cell phone on his way out the door and punched in the speed dial. "Jackson." "Hey," he smiled into the phone, happy to hear Daniel's voice. "Hey yourself. What's up? Or did you just call to hear my voice?" "I wish. I'm going to have to cancel dinner tonight." "What?" Jack wasn't too pleased about it himself. He and Daniel would be celebrating twelve years together tonight. Or would have been. "Jake's in trouble at school. The principal wants me to come in." "Crap." "Yeah, I'll call you when I get done." "I'll just see you at home, Jack. I'm almost done here." Daniel had probably been rushing through his work in order to meet Jack at the restaurant on time. Now that plans were canceled, he had nothing to hurry to. "All right. Later then." Jack stepped up into his truck, wincing as his back creaked. His age was creeping up on him faster and faster. He never expected to be raising a teenager in his sixties, but he wouldn't trade it for anything. Jack just wished his body would cooperate. The high school seemed deserted as Jack pulled up. It was late enough that even all the teams practicing were on their way home. He passed a few stragglers as he made his was through the empty hallways. The principal was waiting for him at the door to the offices. “Mr. O’Neill?” “Principal Skinner?” “Excuse me?” Jack had to admit, the guy had a gift for making people feel small. He coughed slightly. “Mr. Narvis. Where’s Jacob?” “Waiting in the ruins of my office.” Narvis turned on heel neater than a recruit in basic training. Jack followed him into the departmental offices, and stopped at the sight of the principal’s office. As pranks went, this one was a doozy. He hadn’t seen such random destruction in a long time. Toilet paper strung from one wall to the other, on every seat, bookshelf and over the desk. Jacob and one of his friends were on their hands and knees, cleaning up red paint from the floor. Jack sighed. Didn’t Jake know the cardinal rule? Don’t get caught. “Um, hey dad.” Jake stood up. This was going to be a long meeting. * Detention, demerits, Jake was damn lucky he walked away from that little incident without a suspension. Jack strode along the halls angrily, his son keeping up easily. He didn’t speak until they left the building. “Just what the hell were you thinking?” he spat out through gritted teeth. “Are you trying to ruin your chances of getting into college? Or the Academy or whatever the hell you want to do with your life.” He didn’t miss Jake’s flinch. That was a bit of a sore spot between them at the moment. Jack took a deep breath and tried to get his patience back. Every time Jake went on a visit to see his mother or sister, he came back with an attitude. Usually Jack waited it out, Jake was too good-natured a kid to ever keep it up for long. However, he was downright annoyed. He and Daniel had this evening planned for a month now. Jake knew that, he was supposed to be spending a night at a friend’s house…Jack stopped in mid step. “Did you do this on purpose?” “What?” Jake asked. “Suddenly decide to play ‘juvenile delinquent’ to ruin my plans for the evening.” “Not everything is about you, dad.” Jake snapped. He pushed open the glass door to the school with such force it slammed into the wall. “Every time you go to visit your sister you come back with this shit.” Stop, Jack told himself. The last thing he wanted was to turn Jake against him. “Would you be happier if I moved back to California? If I’m such an inconvenience…” They had just arrived at the car. Jack hit the unlock button. “You’re not an inconvenience.” Yeah, that sounded just as lame out loud as it had in his head. This wasn’t the first time Jake had threatened to go live with his mom, but it was the first time Jack thought to take him seriously. Jake just rolled his eyes at him and got in the car. Great, had they reached the ‘not speaking to dad’ portion of the evening? Jack dropped into the driver’s seat and slammed his door closed. He then winced and scooted forward. He had sat on his cell phone. The message light was blinking furiously at him. Jack punched the button, avoidance could work both ways, he thought. He had five messages? “Oh my god.” “Dad?” “It’s Daniel, he’s been in an accident…” * Daniel was home. Finally. After the surgery, there had been complications, a nasty infection and fever that kept Daniel from recuperating at home. Then he had gone into the rehab center, learning to cope with his new body. Jack sighed, watching as Jake tried to help Daniel to the couch. “It’s ok, Jake, I have been on crutches before.” “Oh, sorry, Daniel. Um, do you want anything?” Daniel closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the couch. “Coffee.” “Um, sure.” Jake wouldn’t meet Daniel’s eyes as he left the room. Jack sat next to his lover, sliding his arm around Daniel’s waist. Daniel stiffened. “How are you, really?” he whispered. Daniel tilted his head and shrugged. “The pain isn’t too bad. I’ve had worse. It’s just that I keep feeling it.” Jack let his free hand drop to Daniel’s left thigh, the leg that now ended just above where his knee should be. Everything had changed in a single moment. Daniel was no longer the man he had been. Jake was killing himself with guilt – he really was a chip off the old block there. Jack was just glad to have Daniel here in his arms. Daniel pushed Jack’s hand away. “Jack…” “I’m sorry.” Jack untangled himself and stood. “I’ll just go see what Jake’s doing to that coffee.” He was a coward for running away. There was no way to avoid the topic of Daniel’s lost leg, but he submerged reality over discussion of premium coffee. Jack knew he was going to have to do something about Jake. Even now, his son still could not look Daniel in the eye. Daniel took the mug Jake offered, then stopped him from moving away. “Jake, sit.” “Um.” Jake sat on the couch, he really didn’t have a choice, with Daniel tugging on his arm. “Look at me, Jake.” Daniel ordered. “The accident wasn’t your fault.” “Daniel…” “It could have happened at any time. I need to drive down that road to get out of the mountain. Nothing you did that night could have changed that.” And, Jack reflected, it could have been worse. Daniel might have ended up like the guy who hit him – dead. He put his own mug down on the table, afraid his shaking hand would make him spill the coffee. Jake looked up at Daniel and nodded. Daniel smiled at him. Jack knew they would be all right. He wasn’t so sure about himself. That night, he watched as Daniel sat on their bed, crutches propped on the night table. “I’ve been thinking about prosthetics,” Daniel chatted, his back still to Jack. “They have quite a range now. I’m trying to decide if I want an implant or a detachable.” Jack shivered. He nearly snapped the toothbrush clenched in one hand. He dropped it in the sink and ran the water. “Jack?” “Just a second.” He splashed some water on his face and rubbed it dry before venturing out into the bedroom. “Come to bed, Jack.” Daniel looked at him sideways, head tilted and balanced on one palm. Those shrewd eyes bore into Jack as he pulled back the covers and slid in beside his lover. “You’re home,” Jack whispered, reaching across the bed to take Daniel in his arms. Their lips met in a gentle kiss, tentative at first. It had been too long since he had tasted his lover. He couldn’t let himself fall in, not yet. Jack drew back and moved to the light. “Leave it on, Jack.” “Daniel?” Daniel reached out and cupped Jack’s face between his hands. He looked so very serious. “I can’t hide from this, I can’t let you hide.” “Daniel…” he wasn’t sure what to say. “Love me, Jack.” With trembling hands, he returned Daniel’s caresses, sliding under Daniel’s clothes to stroke that beloved skin. His fingers caught on the new scars along Daniel’s left side. Moving down, he hesitated at the waistband. “Daniel…” Then Daniel kissed him, grabbed Jack's hand and shoved it into his underwear. Jack had to laugh. This was still Daniel, still the man he loved. Daniel let him push down the offending garments, revealing him to the night air. Jack sucked in a deep breath. It was different somehow, that this was Daniel. Daniel shouldn't have to suffer like this, shouldn't have had his body marred in this way. Jack was the old man, worn out and used up by his life in the service. And Daniel never said a word. He touched Jack's scars as if they were clear skin. He never teased Jack about the creaking his back made at inappropriate moments. Daniel just loved. Jack could do no less. Jack slid his hand down the disfigured leg, caressing the mottled flesh with gentle strokes. Daniel closed his eyes. Jack had to kiss him, had to reach for him. Their bodies melded together as if nothing had changed, though nothing would ever be the same again. *** Now Jack had to live with the consequences of his failures. Or rather, die knowing how he had hurt the ones he loved most in this world. "You have not failed Daniel Jackson, O'Neill." Teal'c was visiting him again. Jack looked across his hospital room to see his friend standing at the foot of the bed. Hadn't Daniel just been there? Damn it, he was losing time again. It hurt, there was so little of it left. "Haven't I, Teal'c? Daniel will never be the same again. It's only luck that Jake's turned out as well as he has… and Cris…I don't think she'll ever speak to me again." Teal'c walked around the bed, and placed one hand over Jack's. For a moment, Jack swore he could feel it. "Mistakes can be corrected. Your time is not yet finished on this earth, O'Neill." "Almost," he insisted. "Then use the time you have left wisely." "You always were one for giving good advice, T." "Indeed." GriefDaniel consulted his to-do list. He had a few more things he needed
to follow up on, but right now he needed to rest for a minute. To
his surprise, Jack’s desire to come home to die involved a lot more
than just bringing his lover back to their home. He had needed to
order a hospital bed that had just been delivered and set up in their
den, as well as a portable toilet, and other medical necessities Jack
would need. The home health worker would come twice a day, once in
the morning, and then in the evening to put Jack to sleep. Jack arrived in the middle of the afternoon, showing up 'in style' as Jake put it later. Daniel hovered around him, hands clenched in fists so he wouldn't offer to help. There wasn't much he could do, after all. The paramedics did it all: helping Jack into his new bed and hooking up all the wires and tubes that would keep Jack free of pain until he died. Daniel sat in the soft chair Jake and Sam had dragged into the den. There was nothing left to do, just watch his lover wait to die. "Danny?" He smiled, reaching out to grasp Jack's hand. "I'm here, right here. Have a good nap?" Jack began coughing. Daniel stood up quickly and helped Jack to sit up. He held onto his lover until the spasm eased. "Jack? Jack!" He was relieved when Jack waved him away with one hand. "Thirsty." "Sure. Water ok?" Daniel held the straw to Jack's lips. This seemed to be a pattern in their lives together: one in a hospital bed and the other hovering nearby. Daniel frowned as Jack sipped slowly. "Good to be home?" he asked finally. "Yeah," Jack whispered. "Better'n the hospital." "Always," he brushed back tendrils of Jack's hair off of his forehead. He wanted Jack home just as much as Jack wanted to be home. Daniel just wished it was because Jack was getting better. The creaking of the door opening caught his attention. Daniel looked up and saw Cris standing there, one hand on the frame, her eyes fixed on them. His fingers felt heavy in Jack's hair. 'Oh god,' he thought, 'she's going to do it again…' *** "Do you think she'll like the flowers?" "Sure, dad, I told you she likes daisies." "They just seem so plain…" Daniel gave an exaggerated sigh as they exited the car. "It's too late now. I am not driving through that traffic to go get different flowers!" "Sorry Daniel," both father and son said. He grinned, trying to hide his exasperation. They had driven in to the Air Force Academy for Cristine's graduation. Daniel hadn't expected the crowding, nor the traffic that dogged them at every turn. He expected Jack to hyperventilate when it seemed like they were going to be late. But they'd made it with time to spare, there were still straggling parents heading up towards the stands. As Jack snapped on his shades, Daniel moved to his side and slid an arm around his waist. "You're so going to regret wearing your uniform in this heat." "Nah. Won't even notice it." Daniel figured it was a point of pride for Jack, continuing the tradition of proud USAF parent. Then again, he supposed any parent would be honored to watch their child graduate, he could only guess at what that felt like.
"So, do we have assigned seats to this thing or what?" Jake broke into their moment. "We have tickets…" "You mean you didn't use your pull to get us VIPed?" "Easy guys," Daniel broke up the fight as they reached the stands. He frowned at the long sequence of high steps. "Daniel?" Jake appeared at his other side, his blue eyes soft. "I'll be fine," Daniel assured him. He had had his new prosthesis for the past year and a half. Daniel had finally kicked the cane about six months ago. The top of the line technology gave him limited sensations through surgically implanted electrodes, although he still suffered from phantom pain and limped when tired. And he had never tried this many stairs with it before. "Just hold on to me," Jack whispered into his ear. "Are you sure that's a good idea? You are getting up there, you know." Daniel took the opportunity with Jack's sputtering to run up the first few steps. It felt wonderful to be able to walk so freely. Before the accident, he had taken something as simple as running up stairs for granted. Now, now he was grateful for every bit of movement. He got to the top and turned around, watching as Jack followed him up. Jack had a grin on his face, that grin that could melt Daniel's knees. God, he loved that man. "Yeah!" Jack said, grabbing Daniel's hand as he reached him. "You…" "Shh, they're about to start!" Daniel grinned and found a free seat, Jack at his side. * The first sign of trouble had been in the program. Jake had pointed it out as a misprint. "They messed up Cris' name. It just says 'Cris Carter'" Jack had grabbed the program out of his hand. "Hmm. That's a pretty big mistake." Daniel looked over his shoulder. "Maybe she just didn't want to be known as 'Jack O'Neill's daughter. I mean, Carter alone is pretty generic. Carter-O'Neill? Not so much." "Yeah dad, thanks for that. Nobody ever files me right. Sometimes I see 'Carter' listed as my middle name, sometimes the other way around. I even had a teacher call me Neil once…" They had lapsed into friendly banter. Daniel focused his attention on making it down the steps. Sitting for so long had stiffened his leg up a bit, and his gait had a noticeable limp. He grasped the railing, to protect himself from the crowds of parents eager to meet up with their children. The last thing he needed was a fall from this height. Jack was at his elbow in a moment, and they made it down together. It was difficult to find Cristine in the throngs of people, but Daniel find made out a halo of blond hair that looked like her. Jake ran ahead and tapped her on the shoulder. She whirled around and smiled at him. Then she looked past him at Jack and Daniel. "Hey, kiddo. Congratulations." Jack grinned. Cris didn't smile back. Daniel was extremely conscious of Jack's hand on his arm. She didn’t say anything, didn’t nod, or get angry. She simply turned
around and walked away. End |
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