The Significance Of The Green Man

by Bethany

URL: http://www.stargateslash.com/asb/bethany6/signific.php
Summary: Something and someone symbolic enter Daniel's dreams as he realises how he feels about Jack

"Daniel!" Jack tried to shake his friend awake. "Danny, what's the matter?" Jack got down on his side, propping himself up on his elbow, almost curling around Daniel protectively.

Daniel awoke in a tent in an alien forest. "Too many trees!" He mumbled.

"What?" Jack whispered.

"I was dreaming of The Green Man..." Daniel explained.

"It's understandable, I suppose..." Jack said. "We are on an alien world!"

"No, Jack... Not little green men, but The Green man..!" Daniel noted, realising that he and Jack were still spooning together on the forest floor, inside their tent, barely a few feet from where Teal'c took guard duty.

"Chief alien?" Jack guessed. They hadn't seen any yet on this Expedition, but he'd be on his guard, of course, now more than ever...

"No." Daniel gently tried to laugh. "He's a figure from Ancient Mythology, a figure worshipped by white witches..." He paused. "But I don't practice Wicca, or Magick; never have, never would; there are forces can tap into you when you do that – That's one thing I do believe in!"

"Why would you be dreaming about him then?" Jack pondered.

"Too many trees, I hope..!" Daniel said. "He's a tree god, kind of..."

"What if the origin of the myth comes from around here..?" Jack suggested.

"I've had this dream even at home, Jack... He can be a symbol of renewal, or sometimes, a person..." Daniel faltered. "Dreams of him before death..."

"Oh, no, you don't, Daniel!" Jack proclaimed firmly but quietly. "Not again... Not ever again... Not until you're like one hundred and ninety five, old enough to be a Jaffa, or a true Ancient..!"

"I'm going to have to see McKenzie about this when we get back, aren't I..? Tell him that either I'm having renewal dreams, or my dead wife is turning up to take me to the other side, or another Goa'uld is trying to find a not so new way of getting into my head..!" Daniel said fearfully.

Jack hugged Daniel, putting his hands on Daniel's chest. "I'm gonna keep you safe, Daniel. Don't worry..!" Jack paused. "But yeah, you're gonna have to go see old Kenzie..." He said carefully. "It could just be that this green guy is in your dreams because you know he represents Renewal, and you're trying to figure something out!"

Daniel clasped Jack's hands. "Yeah..." He said.

****

Jack opened the door at his place. "Daniel!" He grinned.

"You were right..." Daniel began slowly.

"About what?" Jack changed his footing and leant on the doorframe, with his inquisitive expression on his face.

"I knew what The Green Man represented; change, and I'm afraid of the death of my old life..." Daniel stated.

Jack ushered Daniel in. "How was your latest appointment with McKenzie?" He hadn't been able to wait for Daniel at the SGC because he'd had a meeting elsewhere, some big wigs The General had packed him off to, saying it was unavoidable, but Jack asked Teal'c to wait for Daniel, and he'd asked Janet to drop Daniel off here after the appointment... He knew Daniel would likely be fine, but he wasn't taking any chances, except for the fact that he'd had to leave him to attend that damn meeting!

"I realised something today, Jack..." Daniel paused. "And I think, maybe, Sha're was there, again, to tell me to find the strength to move on, like she did before... Before, when..." Daniel trailed off sadly, thinking of the day Teal'c shot Sha're for Daniel's sake... Daniel still felt guilt; that it'd been for him... And, very rarely, he would remember that Teal'c did Apophis' bidding, and took Sha're to that terrible existence in the first place... But he would also remember, Daniel, that it was he who brought Apophis to their door, even if he had no intention of doing so, and that he was the reason that Teal'c eventually shot Sha're, and, in the end, put her out of her misery. "Part of me was worried what Sha're would think... I don't know if my sense of her blessing is just my own wishful thinking... To this day, I still feel guilty that I shot down Thor's Hammer device that time, even though I honestly wouldn't be without Teal'c around... And I still feel crappy that, maybe, I don't, and I didn't, ever give her enough thought..."

"That was my fault; I asked you to do that..." Jack said, thinking back to Thor's Hammer, and Daniel's mention of it. "I tested you. It was cruel."

"But necessary, especially given that that thing was so built into the cave walls... Blasting one of those would've been pointless, or disastrous..!" Daniel spoke the truth.

"Still, it wasn't your fault, Daniel..." Jack told him outright.

"It wasn't yours either, Jack... And, anyway, I didn't come here to tell you that, and make you feel bad, even if I'm afraid that'll be your reaction..!" Daniel met Jack's eyes.

"What, Daniel??" Jack said fretfully.

"I love you, Jack, and I don't mean like a brother, and I know I've just blown everything apart with this one sentence; ruined our work relationship, put the world in jeopardy, y'know all that, you think I'd learn! Including the fact that everyone I love dies, so you should stay away anyway..!" Daniel finally finished his sentence.

"Daniel, I'm all alone, similarly; maybe you should stay away from me..!" Jack said calmly.

"I don't want to, Jack..!" Daniel confessed. "I'm sorry if that repulses you; I don't even know how you feel, do I..?"

Jack walked toward Daniel, and was glad that Daniel didn't feel threatened, and walk away.

Looking into his eyes, Daniel trusted Jack, and stayed put, but still didn't know what it meant...

Jack cupped Daniel's face in his hands...

Daniel stayed calm. Jack had done this before, during the space monkey moment, and other similar times... It didn't have to mean anything!

Jack almost held his breath, as he touched Daniel's lips, for what he feared might be the only time. He was afraid he was encouraging Daniel into something he wasn't truly ready for, and he knew he shouldn't be doing this, especially not with a team-mate! But apparently, whereas he could resist Sam, Daniel he could not – Not when Daniel confided in him what he had... "I love you, too, Daniel..." He breathed as the kiss came to an end, and he still caressed Daniel's face in his hands...

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.