Gradual Steps

by Bethany

URL: http://www.stargateslash.com/asb/bethany7/graduals.php
Summary: Daniel has to stay at Jack's place when he first comes back to Earth, and they are tiptoeing around their feelings for each other
Info: Inspired by C.O.T.G: The Final Cut

Jack stepped forward, and cupped the cheek of one side of Daniel's face in his outstretched hand... "You've been doing so well..."

Daniel tried not to lean into Jack's gentle embrace.

"I'm sorry..." Jack said. "I didn't stop to think, bringing Teal'c home with us..."

"It's alright. He's no more guilty than I am. I was all for the un-burying of the Gate! And, when those courtiers looked us over, and noticed Skaara, they wouldn't have done that without me bringing attention to us all!" Daniel replied, bitter with no one but himself.

"Daniel, you are not to blame, at all, are you listening to me?" Jack asked of him. "You didn't know any more Snakes were out there..."

"But I still thought we should have a way off the planet, perhaps, if something went wrong, so I must have expected something... The most I thought we were guarding against was a change of Government back here, another bomb... Another reason I was dumb to open the flood-Gate, as it were..." Daniel mused, looking away from Jack, and into the spare room he was standing outside of.

Jack froze. He didn't want to make Daniel feel self-conscious, or encroach on his friend's space, but then, he reached, and so gently wiped, with the side of his finger, the tear on Daniel's profile face.

"I can't keep wearing your clothes either!" Daniel again, chastised himself as he stood there.

"We'll get you some of your own again..." Jack promised.

"The SGC issue overalls I had from last time were cut up to help make coverings for a new tent; I didn't think I'd ever need them again..." Daniel stated.

"Sorry, Danny..." Jack said.

Daniel bit back tears again. "I have to face Kasuf. I've betrayed my whole family! Ruined them all! Ruined him, and I'm not there to face him for my crime. When he gets back Desert Walk, he'll be ruined, and I'm not there to face him." Daniel pounded his fist into his other, open, hand, and when Jack took it, to stop, and soothe him, he looked up. "Sorry. I hate it when I cry!"

"You sound like me, when I'm alone... You're not alone though, Daniel. I will help you get her back. I'll never stop trying to get her back to you..." Jack told Daniel. "I know you're alone. I know what it feels like to feel you have done the worst thing possible to your wife, to the most important person in your life... But you didn't do that, Daniel. You didn't!" Jack assured.

"Neither did you, Jack. You didn't either!" Daniel reassured in turn.

Jack bowed his head for a second, and looked straight back into Daniel's eyes.

Daniel took off his, or Jack's, brown jacket. He wore just the grey vest top and checked shirt and blue jeans now. He handed the jacket to Jack. "Thank you..."

Jack took the item. He fancied, silently, that he might never wash it again, but that he would definitely wear it again, from time to time, in a new light. The same for all the other clothes of his Daniel wore, temporarily, right now. "It's fine..." He replied warmly to Daniel's thank you.

Daniel walked into the spare room, and saw Jack still in the doorway. He pulled off the socks of Jack's he wore, then started to unbutton his shirt, and as he looked again, to the doorway, despite himself, and saw Jack make the decision to give him some privacy. Once again, Daniel hated himself. He couldn't go anywhere near Jack, despite that look they were sharing again. He had already betrayed Sha're, and even if Jack was no longer married, he was! "Thanks..." He said, as Jack shut the door. "Thanks for everything, Jack!"

"I want to help, Daniel." Jack said, as the door was still ajar. "I'm glad to have you stay while you have to..."

"Are you?" Daniel asked. "I know it's difficult!"

Daniel could read him like a book, Jack decided! He had even when they'd first met. "Daniel, you are no trouble..."

Daniel laughed. "I don't believe that, and neither do you!!"

Jack re-opened the door, and stood in the doorframe again. "There's nothing wrong in not being born a soldier... If I hadn't been, life would have been easier on everyone!"

"You're a good man, and you took me to find Sha're, Jack..." Daniel reminded him.

"And I will again..." Jack walked across the room, 'til he stood opposite Daniel, the spare bed between them.

Daniel dropped Jack's shirt, which he had been holding to his chest for a few seconds, in his folded arms, onto Jack's (spare) bed. He looked up, a maelstrom of pains in his mind and body, his heart more than ever, "I know you will..."

"I know it means you'll leave again, but I swear to you, I'll help you both..." Jack genuinely promised.

Tears broke out again in Daniel. "I know you will..." He said, fighting them.

"I'm so sorry, Daniel..." Jack meant it in every way he could, and should.

"I wish you could comfort me, Jack... I wish it would be ok!" Daniel confessed.

"I do, too, Daniel... But I don't want to take advantage of you. I know you'd beat yourself up about it." Jack noted. He somehow knew Daniel, too.

"Thank you, Jack..." Daniel replied, as the bed stood between them.

Jack nodded, then, he looked at Daniel before he had to leave the room...

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.