Solidarity

by Bethany

URL: http://www.stargateslash.com/asb/bethany6/solidari.php
Summary: Jack and Daniel reflect on how each of them has given the other a reason to carry on surviving

Jack walked past Daniel, standing at the window in the living room, for a second time; he backed down the hallway, and walked into the room in which Daniel stood, staring far off... He walked up gingerly, knowing how important privacy was to him, and knowing that he didn't want to break Daniel's right to privacy. Jack reached out and gently brushed Daniel's shoulder, not wanting to startle him.

Daniel felt Jack's hand on his shoulder, and bit back more silent tears, which he knew Jack could see in the reflection of the window anyway...

Jack carefully put his arms around Daniel's waist, giving him the chance to move away if he needed space.

Daniel leant back, feeling the warm manmade fibres of Jack's pullover, Jack's sturdy shoulder, his chest became Daniel's resting place, soft against his neck, yet reliably strong...

There were sometimes moments like this between them... Daniel hated to be the weak one. He always had; growing up in care had given him a thicker skin than most gave him credit for. But he couldn't avoid tears every time, and Jack gave him the space and the dignity, or the silent support, to get through those times. Jack understood them. Daniel helped him through the most unbearable moments as well, when they hit their hardest... Sometimes, when Jack held him like this, Daniel wanted to turn around, bury his face in Jack's chest, and let Jack see the tears, trade that shame and embarrassment for the comfort, but he couldn't always... Jack got it. Many people always wondered what kind of relationship they had. Friends and comrades? Brothers? Daniel also knew that there were some who said their loyalty was based on one of them being a father without a son, and the other, a son without a father... But it wasn't that at all! Their relationship was one of understanding. They both knew grief and tragedy; they knew the agony. They knew the strength it took to survive. They respected each other. When they met, it was like a bridge had been created. A bridge to healing, a bridge to the rest of their lives, a bridge to the point and reason for living still...

When they stood together at times like this; when the Universe allowed them quiet moments to reflect, it was the two of them saying; 'I'll get you through... I'll be with you.' Grief was a lonely thing; something you had to go through alone, no matter how many people were around you, but somehow, Jack and Daniel knew the deal, and never felt alone whenever they were together. It was one of those Christmas miracles, that they'd got each other now at least, a reason to carry on; to celebrate moments like Christmas again... And yet, it didn't always cancel out the pain – But at least their embrace was something solid to hold onto, something that helped them to be forgiven for being the survivor...

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.