Back Home Again
by Bethany
URL: http://www.stargateslash.com/asb/bethany6/backhome.php
Summary: Daniel arrives home from the Pegasus Galaxy. Who is waiting for him?
Rodney escorted Daniel Jackson back through the Gate, to another Infirmary Room in another Galaxy... It felt odd to Rodney to be home, to be in the same Galaxy as his sister again... He couldn't understand why, but something about Daniel brought out not only Rodney's competitive side, by also his quite protective side... It was rare he found the bravery for it, but he'd heard himself say, 'You don't have to come into the chamber with me...' and 'We'll go; we'll both go!' when the suped up Asgard came to take Daniel away...
Daniel was appreciative that Rodney had come through the Gate with him. He hadn't thought he would, especially not after Daniel embarrassed him by mentioning the respect comment! In that way, Rodney reminded Daniel of Jack... Even when Daniel was dying, Jack could not simply say 'I love you'... His real emotions were so locked away. Daniel didn't blame him. He knew what that was like! Not that he'd thought Rodney was going to say 'I love you'... It would have caused problems if he had; But Daniel was sure he'd heard Rodney call him 'Danny'..! Perhaps, not with the same overtones that Jack did, but still...
Rodney was surprised not to see Jack O'Neill around when Daniel got home...After all, he figured Landry's order had more to do with reuniting the two, and settling Jack's worries about his dearest friend... Rodney could identify with that, with certain people back in the Pegasus Galaxy... But now wasn't the time to think like that: He'd begun to pursue Jennifer!
And then, all of a sudden, Jack was there... Discreetly; In the background. Nothing was said, but he leant against the Infirmary wall, across from Daniel, and his eyes did not move from the man... They were not accusing, just utterly focussed.
So, that was when Rodney made his excuses, and bowed out... He said how interesting it had been to team up with Dr Daniel Jackson, and left, trying to contact his sister before he zoomed off to another Galaxy...
****
"People will talk if you keep turning up every time something happens to me..." Daniel joked with Jack.
"Blame Hank, not me... He made the phone call. How could I not just hop on a plane to be here in time for your return?" Jack grinned. He sat down on a chair he'd pulled up beside Daniel's bed. "Let 'em talk..!" He announced, and looked into his friend's eyes.
"How long are you around for?" Daniel asked. "I'm gonna be in here for quite a while... Injections! Oh, the amount of injections I shall receive!" He laughed half heartedly.
"I'm gonna take some time off, Danny... If they ever do decide to stop stickin' you with needles, I'll take you home... Mine or yours, and..." Jack touched his hands to his chest lightly, indicating himself. "your old buddy will take good care of you... I promise!" He grinned again.
Daniel smiled. "I guess we do have a lot to catch up on..!"
"Oh, we do, Danny boy, we so do..!" Jack laughed kindly, and paused. "For starters, I'll need to know all about the evil Asgard that did this to you..!"
"They didn't do this to me, Jack... I did this to me, by telling Rodney I'd go in that Chamber with him to destroy the big, bad weapon..!" Daniel winced as he moved slightly.
Jack winced in sympathy. "I'll have to have words with him about that..!"
"Don't, Jack!" Daniel replied. "He actually tried to stop me from going in..!"
"But he couldn't, eh?" Jack pondered. "Now, there's a surprise..!"
"What would have happened if he'd been hit by one of the bolts, Jack?" Daniel tried to explain.
"What, before or after you were, you mean?!" Jack pointed out.
"Don't argue with me, Jack, please!" Daniel stated. He kept his voice low, so the nurses wouldn't hear and throw Jack out.
"I'm not, Daniel... It's just..." He paused. "I..."
"I know..." Daniel interjected gently. "Rodney and you are not as unalike as you might imagine..!" Daniel teased.
Jack tilted his head to the side. "How so?"
"Well, he and I bicker almost as much as you and I, and I'm sure I heard him call me 'Danny' on one occasion..!" Daniel laughed as much as the pain would allow him to.
"Oh, so I have a rival for my best friend status, do I..?!" Jack kept it in good humour.
Daniel decided to be honest. "Never!" He grinned. "We're stuck with each other!"
"That's what I hope, forever..!" Jack admitted quietly. He wanted to reach out to Daniel, but he felt he couldn't with everyone around. So, he settled for patting Daniel's hand gingerly, since everything his dearest friend had, hurt so very much still...
Daniel bravely moved to capture Jack's hand a moment, and rubbed his thumb over Jack's knuckles...
A look passed between them, and each knew the other was hoping for the same thing, that the mercies of all the Universes would always allow them to come home to each other, and that those same mercies of all the universes would gift them with some time together, at home, once Daniel was out of the Infirmary...
The End
Author's Note: I make no money, and mean to step on no one's toes at all,by writing my stories... Feedback welcome as long as it is always polite.
