Visits

Part 5

Joy

Though Daniel and Jason wanted to go to dinner in one vehicle as they always had in the past as best friends, their new relationship made them a bit paranoid, afraid they'd show too much. As a result, they decided it might be just a bit safer to go separately, meeting up at the restaurant. Though Daniel was more or less safe, law-wise, Jason had to be more careful. The laws at the SGC were not so much followed as they were 'overlooked', but a certain decorum had to be maintained. Of course, everything depended on the Commander and they had a damn fine one.

The two lovers had taken their time with dinner, talking low and casually, about everything and anything. Every once in a while, Daniel would dip a piece of prime rib into a small bowl of meat juice and slowly put it in his mouth. Jason would sit there mesmerized, feeling a very specific flow of blood going south. He'd growl softly, crook the corner of his mouth in a grin, then do the same thing back to Daniel. It was a nice and gentle tease that would lead them to the slow, loving night ahead, which they were eagerly looking forward to; a night that each one had planned but had not told the other about. After their mutual teasing, they'd both laughed quietly and continued talking about completely unrelated matters, enjoying this new and much welcomed aspect of their relationship.

They arrived back at Daniel's around 8:30 pm and Jason pulled up in the drive next to Daniel's car and joined his lover on the walkway to the door. As they got closer, they both caught sight of the front door and halted. Some twenty feet or so ahead of them, they could see in the evening light that the door was ajar.

"I know I locked it, Jason," Daniel said in a hushed tone as his radar went up.

"I know you did. I watched." Jason's radar was up as well. He started to turn to go back to his truck when the heavy cold press of a gun barrel was quietly pushed against his neck. Daniel felt the same thing against his shoulder blades. Jason began to mentally kick himself for letting his guard down. If he'd been more watchful, he would have seen clues beforehand. There were always clues.

"Inside," the unknown male voice behind Daniel ordered and they were nudged forward. Grudgingly, they walked to the door and Daniel pushed it open with two fingers. The two gunmen followed them into the house and shut the door, locking it. Absurdly, Daniel thought that funny. Did they expect a break-in? Unwanted visitors? He heard noise coming from his kitchen, then a voice called out.

"Search them," ordered the third unknown man.

Daniel groaned and closed his eyes. Jason looked at him, knowing instantly that Daniel had recognized the voice. He, however, did not.

He went through his normal evaluation of the situation, threat-assessing. He may not recognize the voice of the man in the kitchen, or recognize the men holding them, but what he did know was that the men holding guns on them weren't military. They may have been once, but not now. They were likely former Army Special Forces, Navy SEALs, or something closely related. The fact that they were able to sneak up behind him proved it, as not very many people could do that.

Jason dismissed the idea of any neighbors helping. It would not have looked out of the ordinary if their captors were seen through a neighbor's window as Daniel had military people around his house all the time. Both men wore black clothing, but not military issue, though that in and of itself meant nothing. What did matter was that they'd clearly been picked for specialized guard duty, so they were probably working as mercenaries...and likely friends of the man in the kitchen. What Jason was very sure of was, given the opportunity, he could easily take these men out. They weren't that much different in size.

The man who covered him quickly patted him down, removing his cell phone from his inside jacket, clicking it off, and tossing it on the bureau behind the couch. The man covering Daniel repeated the movements, tossing his cell phone next to Jason's.

"Clean," called out the merc guarding Daniel.

Jason wanted to ask Daniel whose voice it was he recognized, but stayed quiet. He'd find out soon enough. One thing was for sure. This wasn't a robbery. Their wallets weren't removed and from what he could tell, none of Daniel's antiques and other items, such as his swords, had been touched. So, that meant that this was personal. 'Personal' also meant higher risks, which meant things could get nasty...meaning, bloody. Jason sighed inwardly. He knew Daniel didn't like killing, and didn't like it when his friends had to kill, but Daniel was also a well-trained professional, having learned and experienced a lot in his five years with SG-1. Archaeologist-Linguist or not, he knew that given a chance to do so, Daniel could and would handle himself. He didn't have the same self-defense skills that Jason had, but he was learning. Jason had, along with Jack O'Neill and Teal'c, taken the time to make Daniel better prepared by training him in self-defense. It was mostly for off-world and the combat situations they often found themselves in. As a result, SG-1 had become a better team. They had to be. They were SG-1. Jason hoped Daniel realized that this was a combat situation like any other, and as such, combat rules applied. Which also meant that either of them would be forced to use lethal means to protect them both. To kill. His gut instinct told him it was a likelihood, especially after he took in the stone-faced gazes of the two goons holding them at gunpoint in the foyer.

Their leader finally came out from the kitchen and revealed himself and Jason recognized him from mission photos. It was former-Colonel Robert Makepeace, the traitor. As Jason had joined the SGC after Makepeace had been arrested, Makepeace wouldn't recognize him. Even after escaping from lockup, Makepeace was unlikely to be able to access much information, unless he still held connections within NID, which was unlikely. With Maybourne gone, Makepeace's days were numbered, which would probably explain why he took the chance to escape. What Jason didn't understand, but soon would he was sure, was why Makepeace came here.

His threat-assessment went back to the reason these three men were here: a 'personal' reason. Makepeace might be acting out a petty vendetta against O'Neill for having him arrested, but it wasn't likely. Makepeace had to have heard about the damaged friendship between Daniel and Jack so this move made no sense. Makepeace was once Daniel's CO, when he'd been assigned as temporary leader of SG-1. Since he was here, that meant that something had happened between Makepeace and his best friend.

Jason silently groaned to himself. What that meant was that this was past personal. Makepeace was here for revenge of some kind. What the hell had happened between them? It couldn't have been Daniel's resistance to authority. Jason looked at his friend, whose gaze never left Makepeace. His eyes had somehow become a lighter, harder blue. Crap. Daniel hated him beyond his status as traitor so it was definite: something had happened between them. A cold dread sat in Jason's stomach as he hoped what he was thinking was wrong, but judging from the look in Daniel's cold eyes, probably not. Daniel only ever had that look for the Goa'uld or people who tortured him, which meant that Makepeace had done something to him. Daniel wasn't as scared as he was good and pissed off.

Oh no. Daniel was gearing up to bait the man in the same way he did bullies or Senators or Goa'uld. Jason wanted to tell Daniel not to do it, but knew Daniel wouldn't listen to him. Daniel's penchant for 'snake-baiting' was about to make itself known. Jason schooled his features so that he wouldn't wince or flinch his eyes when Daniel started to go off.

Daniel stared as Makepeace rounded the corner from the kitchen. He had so hoped he'd never see this sonofabitch again. An unaccustomed hatred rose up inside him, readying to release, and he knew that if it came to it, he'd kill the man. The thought of Jason being here, and listening to what Makepeace was likely to say in front of him filled him with shame, guilt, and a lot more anger.

Makepeace moved in front of them, eyeing Daniel up and down, catching Jason's attention. Makepeace was leering at Daniel. Suddenly it all clicked into placed like lock tumblers falling in their allotted slots. This was sexual. This guy was the reason Daniel refused to make a full report about that NID sting when Makepeace was his team leader. Everyone had put it down to him being pissed off at Jack. Jason now knew that Jack was only half the reason. This prick was the other. A coldness settled into the bottom of Jason's spine. Fuck. What had happened during those two weeks anyway?

"Daniel, so good to see you again," Makepeace drawled.

Daniel folded his arms and leaned on one leg, his movements indicating purposeful indifference. "Could you be a little less cliché?" he sneered at Makepeace. No compromise or diplomatic features covered his face. Nope. All gone now. Jason was not used to seeing this aspect of Daniel and it suddenly made him fear for Daniel's welfare.

"What happened, Makepeace? You forget where you were going when you escaped from prison? I know your feeble mind can't remember much, but really."

Makepeace gave Daniel an oily, disgusting smile that had Jason wondering if there really wasn't a snake in there somewhere.

"Same old Daniel. It's so refreshing to know that some things never change. Before I left, I had to come see you first. We have unfinished business," he said and trailed the point of his gun down Daniel's chest. Jason bristled but kept the reaction to himself.

"No...we don't," Daniel said coldly as he pushed the gun away from him. The merc guarding Daniel made a move to hit him but Makepeace waved him off.

"No, don't bother. Besides, with this one, it won't do any good anyway. Despite his looks, he's no softie...especially in bed..." and he shoved Daniel against the outer kitchen wall, causing some of the hanging items to fall. "Isn't that right, Dan?" Makepeace gestured to Jason's guard to move Jason to a dining room chair while he pressed himself against Daniel, his guard close at his side, holding Daniel's arm. "Time to get this show on the road, but I think we'll have some fun with your boyfriend first." Daniel spit at him and Makepeace backhanded him across the face, then walked away and toward Jason.

Jason steeled himself as Makepeace stared at him. In an instant, he knew that his being there was only going to make things worse for Daniel. Makepeace looked like he was readying himself for a good game of taunting. He nodded at the guard behind him, and Jason felt metal handcuffs locking him to the back of the chair. A wooden chair. Fuckin' idiots, Jason thought. They'd also left his feet free. Jason mentally sneered in professional disgust.

"You're certainly a looker," Makepeace eyed Jason appreciatively. "Better than O'Neill. Glad you finally found someone decent to fuck, Daniel," and he looked at Daniel, then tilted his head at Jason. "He one of the new grunts? Jeez, Daniel, I didn't know you did jarheads." Jason made no effort to correct him or to say who he was, and neither did Daniel. Makepeace was obviously an idiot. No wonder he got caught. Jason looked around using his peripheral vision, watching the two men, adjusting his threat-assessment constantly. He knew things were about to heat up. And heat up they did.

"Well, it's time to get down to business, wonder boy," Makepeace said lightly, and motioned the guard to keep a tighter hold on Daniel.

"Fuck off and die," Daniel replied in a menacing tone. Makepeace raised his eyebrows and smiled, then turned to Jason. "He get rough with you in bed?" When Makepeace was met with a blank, stupid look from Jason, he shrugged it off. "You're good. I know Daniel likes it rough. I'm guessing you do, too," and he ran the barrel of his gun down Jason's chest, then dropped it lower, rubbing it up and down over his crotch. "Has he left bruises yet?" he asked in a lustful tone. Jason didn't react as he saw the excitement growing in Makepeace's eyes but he suddenly knew what the man was there for. He kept himself from swallowing, knowing that Makepeace would take that as a sign.

Makepeace suddenly sighed as he stepped away. "I wish I'd thought to bring more guys with me. I'd love to fuck you, and I'm sure my mates here would, too." The man behind Jason smirked and though Jason didn't know, the anger in Daniel's face as his eyes moved to the man, told Jason all he needed to know.

"Well...enough of that. It's time." He looked at the two guards. "Watch him, shoot him, fuck him, kill him. I don't care. It's time for my revenge on beautyboy here," and he pulled out a cloth and a bottle. Both Daniel and Jason stared with dread. It wasn't chloroform or ether but it smelled similar. "Time for your medicine, Daniel," Makepeace said as he laced the cloth with the solution in the bottle, then walked rapidly over to Daniel and pressed the cloth hard over his face. He struggled violently and received a blow to his thigh as a result.

The solution in the cloth acted quickly and Daniel became dizzy. He swung out at Makepeace, but missed and Makepeace grabbed him in a loose choke hold, wrenching his right arm behind him. Daniel let out a tiny cry of pain and started to sag as the drug took further effect. Jason wanted to kill Makepeace right then and as a result, he started to get up even as he was bound to the chair. A hand came down over his shoulder and shoved him back down, the fingers digging into the tendons. Jason fought off the pain, watching as Daniel swayed, no longer able to stand without assistance. The drug had done its job. It hadn't caused him to lose consciousness; it only made him easier to handle...though he still tried to fight it off. Jason's rage began to grow as Daniel was taken down the hall by Makepeace and the other guard. He heard sounds and nasty laughter, then the slight creaking of the bed. There was silence as he tried to focus, then was startled as he heard a soft swearing and the unmistakable sound of a hand slap...then another. When he heard the sound of ripping fabric, a deep coldness settled into his heart.

With all that he had, he forced his rage down, knowing it would be useless to him, and decided to focus on the man behind him. Especially since the man behind him was making a bit of noise. He realized that the hand that had held his shoulder was gone, then heard the sound of a zipper being pulled down and the distinctive sounds of hand on dick. He snorted softly. The man was jerking off behind him.

"When he's done with your pretty friend," the guard said, "you're next."

Oh, I don't think so. Jason wanted to say that out loud but decided that any response from him would only further the guard's hand on his dick. From where he was sitting, his guard's back would be at the rear dining room wall and that was all Jason needed. He waited, patiently, for the tell-tale sounds and they didn't take long. When the guard was in the throes of his actions, Jason stood up quickly, pulling the chair with him and used his strong legs to propel himself backward with great force. The chair slammed into the guard, which then slammed the guard into the wall. As the impact occurred, Jason pulled against his wrists and the metal cuffs broke the slats of the chair back easily. Free of the chair, Jason easily found his balance, pivoted on one foot and brought the other leg up, connecting the inside of his foot with the head of his guard, snapping the neck. The guard crumpled to the floor, dead. Jason sat down on his hands and slowly drew them under his rear end, eventually able to tuck his legs in and transfer his hands to his front. It wasn't easy and it seemed to take forever, but he was successful. He searched the guard for the handcuff key and found it, unlocking himself quickly. Sticking the cuffs into a back pocket and their key into the other, he grabbed the guard's gun and checked its ammo. Full clip. Good. Though with these clowns, it probably wouldn't be necessary.

He could still hear movement in the bedroom and it didn't sound like sex yet. He breathed a sigh of relief, strangely grateful that Makepeace wanted to take his time. He moved over to the bureau, turned on Daniel's phone, dialed Jack's speed number as he moved back to the outer kitchen wall by the hallway, out of sight, but able to hear if anyone left the bedroom. Jack answered the phone on the fourth ring.

"O'Neill."

"Colonel. Daniel's. Makepeace." Jason hung up and set the phone down on the floor. He heard Makepeace order the guard, calling him Hanson, to leave the bedroom and fetch the kitchen oil. Jason was grateful for that, as well. It was much easier to deal with them one at a time. He heard Makepeace's sickening laugh and then another rip of clothing. His rage crawled inside him and without thinking twice, he placed the gun into the back waistband of his jeans. When the guard came around the corner, Jason's lightning fast hands found the chin and the back of the head and twisted sharply. An audible crack was heard and the man slumped to the carpet.

"Two down and one more to go," Jason whispered to himself. He crept down the hall as quietly as he could, and took a careful look into the bedroom. The first thing he looked for was Makepeace, who stood at the end of the bed, looking down on Daniel as he masturbated. The second thing Jason automatically sought out was Makepeace's weapon and he found it on the nightstand. When he allowed himself to take in the whole of the bedroom, it was then that the pit of his stomach became an abyss. Daniel was on his stomach, tied to the four posts of the bed. His shirt had been ripped and used to tie his hands; his feet were tied with the ties Jason had used during their bondage game. He groaned to himself, hating that bastard for sullying an erotic act. His eyes took in the rest of Daniel's body and he breathed an internal sigh of relief that Daniel's khaki trousers hadn't been touched. Daniel was still conscious, though not by much, and he was groggily trying to get loose, pulling weakly at his bonds. Makepeace suddenly called out, causing Jason to jump slightly.

"Hanson, get the fucking oil and stop playing with the lover boy!"

Jason stifled a snort. Neither of Makepeace's goons were playing with anything except their afterlife. He stopped his sarcastic thoughts as Makepeace made his move.

"Fuck it. I'm past ready for you," and he straddled Daniel's thighs. Makepeace was too busy grabbing Daniel's waistband to notice Jason moving behind him to the foot of the bed. Removing the gun silently from his own waistband, Jason reached out and grabbed a good hold of his shirt collar as he held the gun to the back of his head. Makepeace froze. Jason really wanted to kill him, but the thought of him spending further time in prison appealed for a moment, so he let him live. Just.

"Your little game is over," he said, pulling Makepeace slowly off Daniel. "Come on. Don't make me spray your brains all over his room. They're a bitch to clean up."

Makepeace moved off Daniel, then off the bed and Jason forced him to his knees at the side of the bed while keeping the gun pressed to his skull. Reaching over quickly, he grabbed Makepeace's weapon and threw it on the bed. It bounced and landed near Daniel's hip. Jason decided to wait for Jack to get there instead of trying to secure Makepeace as he knew the man would look for any opening to kill him. He also didn't want Jack seeing Daniel like this, but he couldn't risk letting the dangerous bastard go. He was still contemplating blowing his head off, though. Makepeace seemed to sense this and didn't make any sudden moves because of it.

"Obviously not just a jarhead," Makepeace spat.

Jason snorted. "I have the background, Makepeace, so if you wanna try something, go ahead."

"So then, who are you?" Makepeace asked.

Jason knew the man could care less and that he was buying time, hoping to distract Jason at any given opportunity. Jason didn't believe that would happen.

"Well, seeing as I'm waiting for Colonel O'Neill to get here, I'll tell you. Major Coburn, leader of SG-2. So not pleased to make your acquaintance." He looked over at Daniel and found that Daniel had stopped most of his struggling and was now only half-conscious. His anger at Makepeace's use of the drug started to invite the fury back but he coldly suppressed it, knowing it would only work against him right now.

"So, I bet you're wondering why I'm here then," Makepeace said, the venom in his voice clearly warning Jason he wasn't going to like what he heard, and knew Makepeace was planning on using anything he said as a distraction tool.

"It won't work, Makepeace."

Makepeace didn't say anything for the moment, then blurted out, "He's a good fuck, isn't he?"

Jason closed his eyes and tried to pretend the man was speaking Goa'uld. Unfortunately, the man wasn't and he could understand every word whether he blocked them out or not.

"Yes, I imagine you do know, don't you. The way he bites his lip when he comes; that's especially nice."

Jason sighed and didn't answer.

"Or how about when he's fucking you hard and fast, and his thumb moves in that delightful way across the head of your cock?"

Jason tried to block him out but he couldn't. He also couldn't prevent the sense memories from coming into his mind.

"How about when he sucks you. That's the best thing I've missed about him. Holding his head and wishing that I could just ram my cock down there, watch his face turn red as I choke him with my load. I bet you like that too, don't you?"

That did it. His rage suddenly flared. As he lifted the gun, preparing to knock the prick unconscious, Daniel roused.

"Don't listen to him, Jace," he mumbled, turning his head so he could see him. Jason looked over and caught Daniel staring at him, justifiably very angry. The drug was wearing off and Jason was relieved.

"I'm not listening, Daniel."

"Jace?" Daniel asked, blinking and trying to focus. "What are you doing?"

"Protecting you," Jason replied. "I'll get you loose in a moment."

At his words, Daniel remembered the bonds he was held by and squirmed viciously, trying to rip himself free. Because of that, Jason made a near-fatal mistake and took his concentration from Makepeace. The moment was all Makepeace needed as he turned on his knees and made a grab for the gun. The two of them struggled to the floor and the weapon went off, but not with a loud report but more of a muffled one. A bullet flew into the door of Daniel's closet and nothing else was apparently hit. Jason wrested control and knocked Makepeace out with the butt of the gun across his temple.

Daniel had already ripped his hands free as Jason went to his feet. "You okay?"

"I'm fine, but I guess bondage is out for a while."

"So not funny," Jason snorted in astonishment, amazed at Daniel's ability to make jokes even under the most stressful situations.

They heard a car passing by slowly through Daniel's open window. Probably...hopefully...Jack. He finished untying Daniel's ankle as Daniel untied the other, then Jason grabbed his knife off the dresser and sliced off the cloth bonds around Daniel's wrists. Moving over to Makepeace, he took out the handcuffs and secured the unconscious man's wrists behind him as the man lay sprawled face down. Jason heard a movement down the hall, and though he figured it was Jack, he couldn't take any chances. He quickly pivoted on his knee, cocked and aimed the gun. Jack froze in the doorway, holding up his hands, one of which held his own gun.

Jack visibly relaxed, as did Jason, when they recognized the other.

"You got all of them?" Jack asked. Jason nodded. Daniel had already gotten up and removed what remained of his jeans and shorts, slipping on new ones of each.

"Nice job, Coburn," Jack told him.

"Thank you, sir. Not a problem."

Daniel was staring at Jason with an incredulous look on his face. Admiration and respect just flowed from his eyes. He'd never seen Jason in actual combat, but he knew the man was a very skilled professional. He'd just never had the opportunity to see him in action, defending him....although he hadn't actually seen anything.

"You okay, Daniel?" Jack asked.

"I'm fine, Jack, thanks," and he rubbed the red marks on his wrists.

"I wish we had a zat," Jason commented as he got up slowly from his kneeling position next to Makepeace.

Jack understood exactly what he meant. "Yeah, body disposal is so much easier."

Daniel froze, staring at Jason's back. Jack frowned, leaning to see what Daniel was staring at. Jason turned toward them, spying their alarmed expressions. It was then that Jack actually noticed the pain that Jason was trying to mask.

"What?" Jason asked them.

"Jason!" Daniel whispered.

Blood trickled down Jason's lower back and down the back of his jeans.

"Dammit, Coburn!" Jack spat at him and dialed his cellphone. He called Janet, who was just getting to bed, and asked if the infirmary was up and running yet. She informed him that it was, save for a few treatment rooms. She asked why and he gave her a brief explanation about what happened, that he needed to bring in Major Coburn, who'd been shot but that judging from the wound in his side, it wasn't life-threatening. She informed Jack all he needed to know and that she'd be there early in the morning. He dialed the infirmary next and told them to stand by to receive Dr. Jackson and Major Coburn within the hour. It was a good thing Daniel lived only 30 minutes drive down the mountain.

Between Jack and Daniel, they bandaged Jason's lower waist as tightly as possible and set him in Daniel's car. Heading back into the house, Jack made another phone call. When he was through, he came back outside, handed Daniel his wallet, shoes, and jacket.

"Aren't you coming?" Daniel asked, looking over his shoulder to see the foot of one of the guards.

"No, I'll clean up the mess, Daniel. Take Coburn to the infirmary."

Jason opened his door then...trying to get out. Daniel and Jack hurried over and pushed him back inside.

"What're you doing, Jason?" Daniel asked with worried anger.

"You can't drive, Daniel. That drug."

"What drug?" Jack asked as he quickly spun on Daniel, his eyes immediately worried and accusatory. Daniel glared back at him, then down at Jason.

"It's clearing out of my system. I can see and my reflexes are fine." His voice held that tone that told his friends he couldn't be argued with.

Jack growled at him, then bent down to look at Jason through the open passenger window and growled at him as well. "Don't you dare die on him, Major."

"It's just a through-and-through, Colonel. No worries," Jason replied softly, smiling through a grimace as the pain of the wound began to hit him full force now, the shock having worn off.

After Daniel had slipped on his shoes and pulled on his jacket, he reached out and hugged Jack. "Thanks. How'd you know, anyway? Jason call you?"

"One very smart guy," Jack grinned with seriousness reflected in his eyes. "You sure you're okay to drive?"

Daniel nodded with exasperation and held out a steady hand, all 'obvious' trace of the drug gone from his head. He then left Jack at his house and took Jason to the infirmary using a speed Jason would have termed warp 9 had they not been on land.

It was 5 am that Friday morning when Janet Fraiser arrived at her Infirmary. She stood leaning against the open doorway of the recovery ward, watching Daniel sleep in his chair next to Jason's bed. She knew Daniel and Jason were close friends, and quickly deduced that Jason was the man Daniel was seeing. She was a little worried for them, taking a big risk like that, but it wasn't too bad. Jason had no authority over Daniel and Daniel himself was classified as a highly-placed civilian. Even so, she'd protect him as much as she could, that much was certain.

Janet felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see the concerned light blue eyes of General Hammond. A nod of her head indicated to General Hammond that they'd talk in her office so they made their way there. Once inside, Hammond closed the door.

"How's Major Coburn, Doctor?" he asked, taking a seat. Janet sat down and folded her hands on her desk.

"He'll be fine, sir. Dr. Warner was on call last night and he operated just shortly before 11 pm. The bullet passed through the muscle tissue cleanly and there was no damage to the nearby appendix."

"How long will his recovery take?"

"Depending upon how his physical therapy goes, no more than two weeks, but he can return to work in a limited capacity in two days, after we've made sure that no infection has set in. I've got him on the meds now, and I'll send him home with more."

Hammond sighed. He'd have to assign a temporary field leader for SG2. "Any damage to Dr. Jackson?"

"No, sir, other than a bruise to his right cheek and thigh, caused by the butt of a gun, from what I can discern."

"So this was Makepeace's doing?"

"Apparently, though I don't have the details. All Colonel O'Neill told me was that Major Coburn had been shot and how bad it seemed to him."

Just then, a knock came on her door. "Come," she called out. Jack stepped inside and closed the door as Hammond and Janet rose to their feet.

"Doctor, General."

"Colonel," both Hammond and Janet replied.

"I understand you were there, Colonel?" Hammond asked.

"Yes, sir, but only after Major Coburn phoned me and after he'd already subdued the assailants, all three of them."

Hammond's eyes gentled as he saw the tired worry in his eyes; it was obvious to him that the man had been up all night. "Jack," he asked informally, "do you have any idea why Makepeace was there?"

Jack shook his head. "No, sir, although I think it had something to do with what happened between him and Daniel when he was leader of SG-1, but other than that..." Jack's face looked tired. He'd been up all night.

"I thought it might be," Hammond agreed. Janet had no idea something had happened previously with Makepeace and she looked alarmed.

"Are you saying that Makepeace hurt Daniel two years ago, Colonel?" Janet asked him.

Jack bit both lips as he hesitated. He didn't want to reveal anything, especially since Daniel wasn't willing to talk. "Daniel's never said. All I know is that after the next mission for SG-1, the one when I was in command again, we were getting cleaned up in the locker room when I noticed a couple of minor bruises on his back." Jack lied. The bruises were on Daniel's backside and they were no where near minor. He'd asked Daniel about them, but Daniel had said he'd fallen off a ladder at home. Jack knew Daniel had lied and Daniel knew it, but never explained further. His report was also incomplete for that period of time.

Janet tried to recall the bruising and seemed to remember some bruises on his buttocks but Daniel had said he'd fallen on some hard rocks. The explanation had seemed plausible but the bruises were at least two weeks old which had made her check his medical file. She hadn't done any of his blood work for a while, having delegated the job. She only made sure that she performed his monthly physical exam. Seeing Daniel's discomfort at her question, she hadn't pressed the issue but she did suspect some assault. She'd never reported it to anyone and had only written it down as Daniel had described; she left out her own findings because it was up to Daniel to report something like that and saying anything would be close to breaking her oath.

Jack continued, a bit reluctantly. "Daniel would never explain what happened...or rather, he never gave me a satisfactory explanation and I was forced to drop it. It hadn't interfered with his job so there wasn't anything I could do. Officially."

Both Hammond and Janet nodded with understanding but the three people in the room didn't like it one bit.

"So, how's Major Coburn?" Jack asked, and Janet told him. "I saw Daniel in there, next to his bed. Can you send Jason home soon, otherwise Daniel will be there until..." and he paused holding out his hands in futility, "..you know how he is with his friends."

"Yes, sir, I know. Major Coburn can go home later today on the proviso that he rest. It was only a minor closing up that Dr. Warner needed to do, that's all. Nothing dangerous or life-threatening."

Jack nodded, relieved. "That's good."

"Colonel," Hammond said carefully, "I saw Dr. Jackson awake earlier and he's made a formal request for leave. Does it have anything to do with this?"

"Probably not directly, sir. He probably just wants to take care of his friend, that's all. Again, you know how he gets. Remember when Carter was wounded? He wouldn't leave her side for a minute."

All three nodded again, smiling with the memory of Daniel's stubborn resolution to be at Sam's side. He'd taken Sam home and practically mothered her to death. She'd eventually had to kick him out of her house. That was an event that had happened just before they'd met the Replicators.

"So, you going to approve his request for leave, sir?"

"He is due for it, Colonel, as are all of you, but unless I can find a suitable replacement.."

"General, you know there isn't. Can't SG-1 just serve on base for a while? Carter will be fine, sir, but Teal'c and I will likely go stir crazy. We can go to the off-world training site and help out there?" he suggested.

Hammond considered it a moment, then nodded. "But if SG-1 is needed, he comes off leave and you go, understood?"

"Yes, sir. May I go see Coburn, Doc?"

She nodded. "I've got some other stuff to do so I'll be in to say hi in a little while," and left her office.

Jack started to leave but Hammond held him up. "Jack...did you call the SFs and the prison authority?"

"Yes, sir," Jack stated matter-of-factly. "They hauled Makepeace off a little while ago."

Hammond thought so. "What happened to the men who accompanied him?"

Jack didn't hesitate. "They're gone, too, sir."

"Jack...what happened to them?"

Jack gave him a very level stare. "In the interests of all concerned, I disposed of them, General."

Hammond stared at him for a few seconds, digesting that. "I see. How?"

"Let's just say, I have connections."

"I asked you a question, Colonel?"

Jack sighed. "Then if you're asking me as my C.O., then my answer is 'I don't know.'"

"Dammit, Jack--"

"I'm sorry, sir, but I got rid of them. They were evidence that could have been used against Daniel. No one would listen to someone like Makepeace, but you get three guys together spewing the same nonsense and someone is bound to listen."

"What kind of evidence?"

Jack took a careful breath. "Don't ask...don't tell...sir."

Hammond's eyes widened just for a moment, then just as quickly relaxed. Straight or gay, what his officers did was of no concern to him as long as it didn't affect the job.

"So...they were there to do what, Colonel? Your best guess."

"They were there to help Makepeace commit sexual assault on Daniel."

Hammond hadn't expected that and this time, his eyes did widen and stay there for a moment before they narrowed in anger. "You're sure that was what Makepeace was there for?"

"Yes, sir."

"So there was 'evidence' to suggest that, I take it?"

"Yes, sir."

"And now there isn't?"

"No, sir."

Hammond sighed. "We'll have to figure out how to fix the logistics of this, Colonel."

Jack then handed him the legal envelope he'd been holding. "A copy of my report, sir, along with any suppositions on my part about why Makepeace was there. It should take care of any rumours."

"Why'd you say he was there, Colonel?"

"To kill my best friend, sir. To make me pay for turning him in. All very plausible."

Hammond gave Jack a wry grin, tinged with a bit of sadness. "But your friendship has been on the rocks in the last year, if I'm not mistaken, Colonel. Who will buy that?"

Jack eyed him back. "Anyone who asks, sir. People around here know we fight. They'll just see it as one long argument, not that we've stopped being friends."

"I see," and he paused, considering the matter, then waved the envelope. "I think I've got an interesting read ahead of me. We'll let this go until Monday, Jack, then I'll want to see you in my office to discuss this."

"Yes, sir," Jack nodded respectfully and left for the ward, relieved no end and thanking any and all Gods that Hammond was his Commanding Officer.

Jack stood at the ward door in the same place that Janet had been. He made sure he wasn't in the way, even though the infirmary wasn't busy, especially here. He watched Daniel sleep in the chair, musing at how he'd damn near blown it with the younger man. Even if Daniel was seeing someone romantically, Jack still needed to reestablish his friendship and nothing would get in the way of that. Which was why he'd taken care of everything for Daniel last night. Everything. All evidence of the fighting in his apartment was gone, except for the scratches on the kitchen floor and that his dining room set was now missing one chair. Jack had cleaned up the bedroom, including taking care of the laundry. If anyone else had come, other than the folks he'd called, questions might have been raised and Jack still had a strong protective streak for Daniel.

He stood there thinking for quite some time until he saw Daniel move and sit up gingerly, wincing. He turned his head and spotted Jack. He carefully rose from the chair and walked over to him, slipping on the glasses he'd retrieved from his office.

"Hey."

"Hey. How's he doing," Jack asked, even though he already knew.

"He'll be fine. The bullet passed through him, hitting nothing but side muscle."

"Yeah, I thought so. The bullet was lodged partially on the other side of your closet door. It's gone now, but you'll have to patch the hole. I didn't have time to do that."

Daniel blinked rapidly in surprise. "You didn't have to do anything, Jack."

"Yes I did. You're my friend, Daniel."

More blinking and then he nodded, looking grateful. "Thanks. What about--"

"Everything's taken care of."

"But what about--"

"Everything's taken care of."

"Everything?" Daniel asked, incredulous. He knew what Jack meant now and he had no intention of asking him how he accomplished it.

"Everything. Coburn handled himself well. He also did the hard part, and he did what I would have done in his place."

Daniel frowned, not sure if he understood. "What? Knocking out those thugs Makepeace brought along?"

Jack sighed and shook his head slowly. "They're not knocked out, Daniel."

Daniel swallowed hard, feeling a bit of dread come over him. "They're dead?"

Jack didn't nod, but made a tiny affirmative motion with his eyes. Daniel put his hand up to his eyes.

"Oh God."

"Don't you dare give him a hard time, Daniel. Don't you dare. He did what he had to do." Jack was quite surprised at his own defense of Major Coburn, but he found himself understanding the man more and more. He was almost like a younger version of himself. Almost. Jason had made better choices.

Daniel didn't say anything, though he was shocked at Jack's order. He had no intention of giving Jason a hard time. He just felt...sick...that Jason had had to do that for him. No matter who you were, be you a hard-ass Colonel, an easier going Major, or a geeky Archaeologist, you never - ever - got used to killing. Not if you were in your right mind, that was.

Daniel touched Jack's arm. "I won't. I promise. Thanks, Jack."

"Not a problem, Danny."

Daniel smiled all of a sudden, surprised again. Jack hadn't called him that in ages and now he'd heard it again in less than a few days' time. He gave Jack an appreciative and silent grin, then went back over to sit in his chair, adjusting his pillows and his blanket. Jack left him alone, off to attend to other matters - like taking a much needed nap in his base quarters.

.

A few hours later, Janet came over to Jason's bed with her clipboard. Daniel had dozed off again so she was quiet as she double-checked Jason's chart, then moved over to adjust the IV bag. Jason opened his eyes when he felt Janet's fingers taking his pulse. She smiled down at him, put a finger to her lips, eyeing a still sleeping Daniel, then offered him some ice chips for his throat. She tried to take his blood pressure quietly but the pumping air for the cuff woke Daniel from his light sleep. He leaned forward off his chair and touched Jason's forearm. Jason turned his head to take in the look of a tired, mussed, and rumpled Daniel Jackson. He couldn't help but snort quietly.

"What?" Daniel asked with worried smile. Jason looked over at Janet, then back at Daniel and took his hand in a common 'comrade' handgrip, grasping thumbs. He squeezed it and Daniel squeezed back, then they let go.

"You look..." and Jason looked at Janet sideways and she suddenly pretended that she heard nothing, saw nothing. "...tired."

Janet snorted, knowing that wasn't what he was going to say. Daniel smirked, now having a good idea why Janet had that half-smile. Janet cleared her throat as she walked around behind Daniel, and whispered in his ear. "He's right, you know."

"I know, I haven't slept and I look like shit."

She gave him an amused grin. "No, what he was going to say but didn't," and she winked at Jason. Jason's eyes went wide as he realized that Janet knew about them...then remembered her conversation with Daniel two days before. She was one damn smart woman.

Daniel blinked at her, then looked at Jason. "Don't you dare ask," then looked back at Janet. "And don't you dare say."

"Who me?" she said, all wide-eyed and innocent looking. Daniel snorted.

"Don't try that look on me. I know better."

She grinned widely then, the innocent look gone. "Okay, but you do look tired and need sleep."

Daniel sighed at her fussiness and dropped his head onto the bed. Jason laughed and didn't think as he brought his hand up to lace his fingers through Daniel's hair. Janet immediately stepped sideways so that the action would be blocked by anyone looking in from around the partially pulled curtain. She cleared her throat again and Jason removed his hand. She nodded, then smiled at him.

"You can go home at noon, Major," she told him, anticipating his future question. "Your next set of labs will be back before then and I'll know whether you have an infection or not. You have no temperature yet, so signs are good you won't. Just hang on a few more hours, okay? Right now, I'm assigning you bed rest for two days, then you can come back to the base for...desk duty."

Jason groaned in exasperation, then took a deep breath. "Does it matter where I stay as long as I take it easy?"

She shook her head. "I know where to find you. Just make sure that you take these per instruction," and set a prescription script on the table by the bed.

"Yes, ma'am," he said and grinned at her. He tried to sit up and groaned at the pain. Janet slapped Daniel on the shoulder, and looked at the controls by his feet. He adjusted the bed so Jason could recline instead of forcing himself to sit up. "Can I have something to eat, Doc?"

She shook her head. "Not until the anesthetic is gone from your system," and he groaned again. "You want some pain meds?" He shook his head.

"Just the over-the-counter stuff, doc. No narcotics. Not for something so lame as this."

She smirked at him, then held up her index and thumb, showing a measurement of perhaps half an inch. "This much to the left, Major, and you'd be missing an appendix, too."

Daniel groaned this time. "Trust me. You don't want that kind of pain."

Jason narrowed his eyes. "I've handled worse things, Daniel. Trust me." Daniel looked at him thoughtfully, then turned to Janet.

"So, Janet, probably ice chips only, huh? Can't I smuggle some jello in or something?" Daniel asked, trying on his lost-puppy-dog look...even though Jason was grimacing at the thought of the stuff. He hated jello. How Sam and others tolerated it was beyond him.

Janet shook her head at Daniel's question, trying not to smile when Jason looked relieved.

"Pudding?"

No.

"Scrambled Eggs?"

No.

Then Daniel's stomach growled. Janet added a wicked gleam to her already smiling eyes.

"You need food though."

"Not hungry."

"The new and improved coffee's in," she said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Daniel's eyes got wide. "Coffee...good coffee," he intoned dreamily.

Jason snorted. "Go get yourself some, Daniel. I'll be fine. I'll just take another short nap," then he suddenly yawned mightily. Daniel eyed him suspiciously then Jason yawned again.

"If you're sure..."

"I'm sure..." he said, adding another yawn.

"Okay, Jace. I'll be back soon." He patted his on the arm and shot out of the infirmary like a man on a desperate mission. Which he was.

Both Janet and Jason laughed, then Janet gave him a reproachful look.

"You shouldn't have lied like that."

Jason gawped at her. "Damn, you are smart. I only did it so he could get some coffee, have something to eat. I don't want him hovering." Janet nodded with understanding. "So...doc," he asked as she walked to the other side of the bed. Before he could say anything, Jack walked in and stood at the foot of the bed, giving Jason an intense look over.

"Major. Doc."

Janet nodded at him. "Colonel."

"Colonel. Thanks." Jason wasn't going to hedge or beat around the bush with this man.

Jack grinned. "You're welcome. You can go back to his place. Things are taken care of." Jason knew immediately what he meant.

"Again, thanks, Colonel."

"No problem. Nice work, by the way. You did good." Jason smiled a little sadly, but what Jack said meant a lot. Jack could also see what he was thinking. "You won't get a word about it from Daniel unless you bring it up. What you did was necessary and Daniel knows that."

Jason nodded, grateful that Jack had obviously had a talk with Daniel about it. Janet watched the two of them, not saying a word, and only guessing at what they were talking about. She hadn't seen any wounded men in the infirmary, so she could only guess they were either in the morgue or someplace else. She sighed.

Jack looked at her, then back at Jason, then glanced around the room as if he'd missed something. "Speaking of the little devil, where is he?"

"Coffee," both Jason and Janet said with matching smirks. Jack nodded, smirking back and turned around to head for the cafeteria.

"I'll be back," he said in a bad 'Terminator' inflection.

Daniel sat in a corner of the cafeteria and nursed his coffee. The new stuff smelled wonderful and tasted much better than the old crap. He warmed his hands around the coffee mug as he stared into the dark brown depths. He let himself get lost in its comforting abyss, trying not to think of anything but unable to keep the experiences of last night and the ones from two years ago out of his mind.

Jack saw him, then poured himself a mug of coffee and sat down across from him. Daniel looked up and saw the concern in Jack's face, his eyes begging Daniel for answers. He looked back down into his coffee. Jack mimicked Daniel, folding his own fingers around his mug. He sat there with Daniel, silent, staring into his own mug, dying to ask Daniel the questions but knowing he wouldn't get any answers if he pushed. He didn't push two years earlier and wasn't going to now. He breathed a deep, weary sigh.

"I can't talk about it, Jack."

"Still?"

"Still."

"Can you tell me why?"

Daniel looked up sharply, frowned at Jack, but said nothing.

"Daniel, you do realize that that makes me 'guess' what happened. After what happened last night, and what I noticed two years ago, I'd say those guesses would be pretty accurate."

Daniel's eyes widened, then closed. Damn it all to hell. Why did Jack choose now to show how goddamn intelligent he is?

Since the cafeteria was empty, it was safe, for the moment, to talk. He also knew he had to, but wanted Jack to have the facts, not suppositions.

"Fine. You wanna know what happened? I'll tell you."

Daniel's voice and expression were angry and Jack held up a hand. "No...don't. You're obviously mad, Daniel. I'm not pushing you to say something you don't want to."

Daniel swallowed, not realizing he'd gotten so mad at Jack, then realized what it was. It was the emotion of what had happened back then because he'd been pissed as hell at Jack. Now those emotions were coming back to the fore.

"I'm sorry. This was two years ago, Jack. I was really pissed at you so I guess thinking about it, and with you sitting here wanting to know...I kind of transferred my anger."

Jack gave him a look of guilt and contrition. "I'm sorry about that, Daniel," and with a bit of a smirk, he added, "If I'd only known you were such a good actor, I'd have told you about the plan." He was referring, of course, to Daniel's lie after the traitors had been handcuffed and taken away. Daniel gave him a defensively smug look.

"Yeah well...I've been able to lie very well, Jack. It's useful, as it gets a geek out of a lot of trouble growing up...especially a 'gay' geek."

Jack blinked and stared at him. "I thought you said you were bisexual?"

"When you're around the homophobes, there's no distinction, Jack. Gay is gay."

Daniel's tone told Jack that he'd had to endure more than Jack thought he had. "Crap, that's too bad, Danny."

Daniel shrugged again. "Yeah. Just goes to show that one never knows the full range of their talents until called upon to use them." He seemed to say that with a bit of derision and Jack wasn't sure if it was directed at him or if Daniel was directing it at himself. He cleared his throat.

"Well, I'm sorry about back then and especially for what I did...and what I think went on. I don't want to hear about it until you're ready...if ever...to talk about it, okay?"

"Okay."

Jack nodded, then said, "I can't help but feel responsible for the whole thing, though."

Daniel snorted with exasperation. "Figures. You try to take on the burdens of the universe, Jack, and I wish you'd stop it. It's getting on my nerves."

Jack blinked at him in surprise. "I don't...do that..." and he knew then that he did. "Do I?"

"Yes, so do me and yourself a favor and knock it off."

The angry tone, filled with concern, gratified Jack no end. "I promise to try, Daniel," he said with a small grin.

Daniel shook his head. "To quote a movie character, 'Do or do not. There is no try.'"

Jack blinked again and snorted with amusement. "Teal'c just showed me that movie."

"I know," Daniel said with a knowing grin.

They were both silent for a time and Daniel couldn't help but feel the trust for Jack healing already. It was like falling asleep with a old, comfortable blanket. And that's what trusting Jack had always been like. Until the first time that trust had failed, and wouldn't you know it...it had been two years earlier.

Deciding suddenly, he said, "If I tell you, I'm telling you the whole sordid mess. And you may not want to hear it, Jack, but if you want to, you'll get all of it. So...why don't you tell me what you know that makes you think you know what happened."

Jack nodded, stunned that Daniel was even going to talk about it. "Okay, well, um, it's just little bits and pieces, like trying to solve a mystery. There's your moodiness when I came home that at first I took as reaction to what I did. Then, there was the fact that you refused to give a full accounting of Makepeace's actions during those two weeks."

"I didn't refuse, Jack."

"Okay...you left out stuff from your report that was obvious...such as skipping dates. You know the boring stuff has to go into the mission reports, too, and though it wasn't a mission, it still had to be written up like one." He paused and took a long drink from his coffee mug. "Anyway...you left out the normal everyday stuff we always put in there...then there was your refusal to talk about Makepeace, and then..."

Daniel frowned. "Then...what?"

"I remember the bruises, Daniel."

Daniel paused as he drank his coffee, then reluctantly nodded. "So, you didn't believe my story then," he stated.

"No, Daniel. Considering how well you'd lied about the 'drawing of straws' thing, I think that you could have done better than the 'I fell down' routine."

Daniel winced. He knew that story he told wasn't a good one but when he'd thought about it after he'd said it, he'd realized that he'd wanted Jack to know he was lying. "I know."

Jack regarded him for a moment, just then realizing the same thing. "You wanted me to think you were lying? Why?"

"To punish you. To make you wonder and never have the answer. Besides, back then, I couldn't have told you. I was too ashamed of myself."

Jack's eyes shot up. Ashamed? "Daniel, if what I think happened happened, there's no reason for you to feel--"

"Not all my time with him, Jack. Just most of it. He did get...Okay, I'll start from the beginning..." and he finished his coffee, then got up for a refill. When he settled back into his seat, his brows were furrowed. "I was lonely, Jack. I also felt betrayed and was therefore very, very angry with you. You're a very good actor, too, you know. At first, I didn't want to believe, but your words to me...they only got me angrier and the more angry I got, the more I believed you. Anyway, after Makepeace was assigned to the unit, I told him something," and Daniel paused. "Something you may have heard about but I've never mentioned. Sam was really pissed at me for saying it, too."

"What?" Jack asked guardedly.

"Makepeace gave this short 'I'm proud to lead you folks' speech," and he snorted. "I was suddenly reminded me of the movie 'Patton'. Anyway, he said that he hoped that we would trust his command as much as we trusted yours. I told him..." and Daniel cleared his throat, "that I never trusted your command, but I was open to trusting his."

Jack stared at him, working his jaw. He knew damn well that Daniel would never have said such a thing without good reason. The man was never petty...openly, that is. Though the words rankled him, Jack put up a good front and inclined his head in a Teal'c-like manner. "You were lying to him, weren't you?"

Daniel had expected Jack to shout at him and when he didn't, he knew that Jack had figured some of it out. He gave the same half-smile he'd given to Makepeace. "How'd you know that?"

"Because I know you'd never say something like that unless you were lying. Come off it, Daniel. You don't do things like that in public. I'll just bet you didn't meet his eyes when you said it, did you?"

Daniel's mouth dropped open. Damn, he 'does' know me, doesn't he? "No." He was frankly surprised and grateful that their knowledge of each other was such that they now knew when the other was lying. "You wouldn't have known that back then."

Jack smirked. "No, but I know it now. That 'eyes' thing is a dead giveaway, Daniel. You do it when you're uncomfortable, embarrassed or lying," and he leaned forward. "Truthfully, I've always found it adorable."

Daniel frowned at him and sat up straight. "I am not adorable."

"Yes, Daniel, you are," Jack said in that tone that brooked no argument.

Daniel twisted his mouth. "Hmmm, yes, well, it seems you and Jace share that opinion and you're both full of shit. However, we'll save that argument for another time, shall we? Now then..." and he took a gulp of his hot coffee. "Back to this disgusting, sordid tale..."

"Daniel, you don't have to."

Daniel gave him a level stare then. "Yes, Jack. I do now." He paused for a moment, remembering where he left off. "He may have thought I was coming onto him right then, I don't know. Whatever, he invited me out for an, I don't know, a 'get to know your teammate better' drink, I guess. It was a Tuesday and I stupidly got tipsy. You know how I am with alcohol."

Jack nodded.

"Well, he drove me home. I had my loft then. When we got inside, he made a pass at me and...I let him." Daniel reddened then, the first time in a long while, as he remembered that night. Even with his low tolerance for alcohol, he'd always remembered what happened when he drank, and he remembered every single detail of that night and the other nights afterward. That first week, he had no guilt for it at all. He'd liked what had gone on; but after what had happened later, he couldn't help but treat the whole thing with shame.

"I may have been drunk, Jack, but I missed being with someone...a man. The next day, I thought I'd led him on because I was drunk, which sounds stupid but it's what I thought. I told him that it couldn't happen again. He seemed to be fine with it and nothing else happened...until the next day. He came over with a bottle of very old brandy. He asked me to share it with him as we went over mission details for a survey we had to do that coming Monday. I liked that...you never did that with me. He listened, Jack. Even though I knew he didn't give a shit about what I was saying, he did listen."

Jack grimaced and realized that that was exactly the way to have gotten into Daniel's good graces and into his bed...at least at that time: use a time of stress and grief and add charm, understanding, and sex. Shit.

"Anyway...we ended up in bed again. The next night, we got together again...and I got myself a bit drunk again," Daniel said, feeling the courage to finally tell him all of it. A small part of him felt that Jack somehow deserved to know everything as a kind of penance. But he knew that was unfair and tried to keep his tone even and without sarcasm. Instead, he leaned forward and looked Jack straight in the eye to let him know he was serious and whispered in a confidential tone, "I wanted him. I'm not sure why exactly. He's not my type normally." He sat back then and stared at his coffee cup, fiddling. "Anyway, we...stayed up all night, despite my having a lot to drink. All I wanted was to use him. I needed to feel something. So...over the weekend, I invited him back each night. Come Monday, I felt like shit for using him so I told him we couldn't do that anymore. Again, he made me believe it was fine with him. And it seemed to be fine...until you went to Edora two days later. I thought you were really going there and I was so fucking mad at you, Jack," and his voice dropped below a whisper so that Jack had to lean forward to hear him. "I don't know if anyone told you, but, I, um, I went a little ballistic."

"I heard something about it," Jack said, trying not to let any emotions show, though it was hard.

Daniel looked at him, then into his coffee mug as he went on. "I was extremely...extremely pissed, Jack. I've never been so upset in my entire life. Even when Shau're was taken." He shook his head at the memory.

Jack had to ask. "Can you tell me why, Daniel?"

Daniel took a deep breath. "Well, now that we've cleared the air...I can tell you," then he looked up into Jack's warm brown eyes. "Because I loved you and you were leaving to be with someone else."

Jack had hoped he'd hear something like that...but not those actual words. "So...you thought I was...leaving you?"

Daniel shook his head. "No, Jack. You'd figuratively already left. But when you physically left, all the hope I had left in me, hope that you were acting, hope that none of what was going on was real...it all just...evaporated."

Jack lowered his eyes. "I'm sorry."

Daniel didn't reply he just sighed and waited a few moments before continuing. "Anyway...Makepeace came barging into my office while I was cussing up a storm. He was a convenient outlet so...I hit him."

"You hit him?" Jack asked, opened mouthed. "I heard you just trashed your office."

He nodded solemnly. "I did that, too. He came in while I was doing that...and I hit him. Knocked him on his ass, then turned around, locked the door, made sure the camera wasn't on, and..."

Jack saw where this admission was going and swallowed hard. "Took your revenge out on him?"

"In a manner of speaking...yes." Daniel paused and drank his coffee down, then refilled it and sat back down. His voice was still level but his hands were now shaky. "I was horrified at what I'd done and I left the mountain in a hurry, citing a migraine. He came over to my apartment later on and told me..." He paused and swallowed, clearing his throat. "I was so ashamed Jack. I was so fucking ashamed. I've never used force or violence on anyone."

"You didn't force him," Jack said gently, but very assuredly.

"How do you know, you weren't there, remember?" Daniel asked, his bitterness and resentment suddenly reasserting itself.

"I know you. I've seen you mad as a hatter before, remember? You could no more commit rape then commit cold blooded murder," and as Daniel shook his head, Jack added, "Daniel, did he fight you?"

Daniel frowned. "Um...no."

"Did he ever say 'no' or tell you to stop?"

"Um..." and he got a confused look on his face. "No."

"Did he ever seem scared of you? Afraid to say no?"

Daniel snorted derisively. "No...he was turned on by it."

"Well, then, there you are."

Daniel frowned even deeper. "It doesn't change how I felt...what I did."

"If he hadn't wanted it, Daniel, he would have stopped you. He's better trained than you are...were. I'm sorry to say that but...you know that's true."

Daniel ground his back teeth, not wanting to hear what Jack said but realized that he was right. "Maybe."

Jack wanted to reach across the table and take Daniel's hand, afraid of what happened next because this was the part he'd dared not speculate on. He didn't want to.

"So, what happened then?"

Daniel's jaw continued to work and Jack could see he was very disgusted.

"Daniel, you don't have t--"

"He came over later and...wanted me to do...that...to him again," Daniel spat out with quiet disgust. "Again! He loved it, Jack. He wasn't just turned on by what I'd done. He loved being forced."

"Daniel, what did I just tell you? You didn't force him. He baited you, and he knew how mad you were. He took advantage of you, not the other way around. For him to like that stuff, it didn't just come out of the blue. It's more likely that he's always liked it...and always done it, too. I'm sorry to ask this, but you need to compare...when the two of you were together before, was it...rough?"

Daniel couldn't look at him and reddened. "Very."

"Daniel...." Jack said softly and reached out his hand. He looked around and then touched his fingers to the back of Daniel's hand. "Most guys do."

Daniel shook his head again.

"I do."

Daniel looked up at him sharply, examining his face, seeing that Jack was serious. "Always?"

Jack shook his head and he too, blushed a bit. "Not exactly the way I wanted to share my sex life with you...but what the hell. No, Daniel, not always. There are times for rough and times for gentle. I don't believe you like it rough all the time, right?"

Daniel shrugged. "No..." and he cleared his throat again. "Not all the time. Just...sometimes." He took a sip of coffee, then went on. "Makepeace liked the violence. Because of that, I couldn't stand to be around him anymore." Then in a much quieter whisper, he added, "Because I wouldn't have sex with him anymore, in retaliation, he told me that if we didn't do it again, he'd go after Sam."

Jack's expression hardened. "How?"

"I didn't get the chance to find out. I didn't submit, either, though he tried to make me...which is where the bruises came in. I threatened to call Hammond unless he left, and he knew I was serious, so he did. Twelve hours later, we had our mineral survey to go through. I was watching Sam the whole time, not letting her out of my sight. That was the mission that Makepeace used to grab the tech apparently because when we came back, you arrested him." The relief in Daniel's voice was obvious and Jack smiled softly at him.

Their moment was broken suddenly when Sam and Teal'c came running into the cafeteria. Both were wearing civilian clothing; Teal'c had been staying at Sam's house during the infirmary's renovations if for no other reason than his teammates being on leave. Daniel saw them and couldn't help but see the shocked and hurt expression on Sam's face.

"Daniel! Dammit!"

"Sam! How'd you..?"

"Janet called me. Why didn't you tell me?" It was her turn to pull him up into a hug. She noticed the tiredness in his eyes. "You haven't slept, either."

"I'm sorry, Sam. No, I haven't, and it's only been eight hours so I would have called once I remembered."

She hushed him and just stood there, holding him close. Sam had had her own suspicions about some riff with Makepeace but they'd never been confirmed. She didn't have the courage to ask him about it, either. She broke away, gently touching his bruised cheek, then Teal'c had his turn, giving him a brief hug and a squeeze of his shoulder. They sat down around the table together.

"I heard Jason Coburn was with you," Sam asked, knowing as his friend and teammate, that Jason was his best friend.

Daniel looked at her, then looked at Jack, who only stared back blankly, not giving him his permission because it wasn't necessary. Old habits, Daniel thought. He sighed deeply.

"Um, Sam...Teal'c?" he said in a hushed, confidential tone, looking over at Teal'c, then back to her. "We're seeing each other."

She smiled at him, surprised. She pushed at him. "Why didn't you ever say anything?"

"You know why, Sam."

"We would not have revealed your relationship, Daniel Jackson."

Daniel smiled at him. "Thank you, Teal'c."

"Well, I'm glad for you, Daniel. 'Bout time you found someone to be with. Unlike the rest of us," and she rolled her eyes. Jack did too, but Teal'c merely looked as if he had a secret. The others regarded him for a moment, then silently decided to grill him at another time. Sam then asked Daniel what happened and he hedged, then Jack nudged his foot.

"Go ahead, Daniel. Remember, we're a team, and we're friends."

"Indeed," Teal'c agreed, finally speaking.

So Daniel agreed to tell them, but insisted they get something to drink first. Sam got coffee; Teal'c got ... grapefruit juice. For some reason Daniel couldn't comprehend, Teal'c couldn't stand coffee, although he liked tea a lot. Breakfast was also being served in a limited fashion so all four of them got themselves some eggs, bacon and toast and listened to Daniel explain what had happened eight hours earlier...but he did it in a shortened version of events, between bites of food.

"So, who took out the two dicks he brought with him?" Sam asked, looking over at Jack expectantly.

Jack snorted at her use of the word 'dicks' and shook his head. "Nice word, Carter."

"Apt I should think," she said as she took another mouthful of food, then raised her brow at him.

"It wasn't me," he said and looked at Daniel.

"Jason did, Sam. All three of them. Two of them, he...killed."

"What happened to Makepeace?" Sam asked, looking from Daniel to Jack. Jack paused, taking a long sip from his mug.

"I considered killing him, but I decided to leave that to...others." By that, he meant the NID, who would surely divert his transport back to prison.

Both Daniel and Sam blinked rapidly...and finally understood what Jack meant. Teal'c, on the other hand, understood immediately. He merely inclined his head in a gesture of approval and looked meaningfully at Jack.

"If you had not, and they had not, I would have done it on behalf of the planet and Daniel Jackson. Prison was not a place for him to await execution. It should have been swift and immediate," then he looked at Daniel solemnly. "Especially after what he did to you."

With shock and dismay that Teal'c knew something, Daniel went red again. "What?"

Sam had no idea what he was talking about and Daniel would never have told her. If it weren't for last night, he would never had told Jack about it, either, and he still couldn't believe he had.

Jack looked at Teal'c suspiciously. "If you knew something was up, why didn't you say something? Do something?"

"I would have acted, but Daniel Jackson made it clear that he wanted everyone to think that nothing was wrong. Is that not so?" and he stared hard at Daniel. Daniel only nodded.

"I did not fail to notice the bruises, Daniel," Teal'c suddenly said in a hushed tone causing Daniel to bury his face in his coffee mug.

"Would someone please tell me what the hell is going on? What did he do, Daniel?" Sam asked, upset and feeling left out. The odd girl in the boys club all over again.

Jack asked Daniel if he wanted him to tell her and Teal'c. Daniel nodded, and in Jack's abbreviated version of events, and minus Daniel's own comments, he told them. Daniel couldn't look at them, though, and dropped his head to the table once more.

Anger shown in Sam's eyes and she pulled Daniel into a sitting hug, holding him hard. "If there is ever anything like this again, you come to us." She pulled away and looked at him. "Thanks for wanting to protect me but dammit, Daniel. Do that again and keep silent and I'll personally kick your ass."

Daniel couldn't help but smile at her. "Okay."

Jack and Teal'c made the same threat and Daniel held up his hands, pretending to warn them off. "Okay, okay. I promise I'll not keep my mouth shut."

The four were quiet for a few moments as they finished their breakfast and Jack noticed Daniel's brow furrowing once more and also noticed the minute shaking of his hand. He realized then that Daniel was likely to have a few nightmares about what 'could have' happened. He sighed.

"Daniel?" he asked in query.

Daniel shook his head. "It's nothing."

"Come on, out with it," Jack replied.

Daniel looked at him, then at Sam and Teal'c. They each look worried. "Oh, it's nothing bad, nothing that I haven't told you about." They seemed to relax then but were still curious as to why Jack felt to ask him what else was wrong. "I was just...thinking."

"Uh oh," Jack groaned and received a scowl from Sam. "What? All I said was 'uh oh'. You know as well as I do what happens when he says that."

"Give him the opportunity to say it before you go dooming the universe...sir."

The three waited for Daniel to talk and Daniel really wasn't afraid to say what he was thinking but he just knew how their minds worked. None of them - well, except for Sam - dealt in 'what if'.

"I couldn't help but think about what would have happened if Jason hadn't been there."

Jack sighed. "Daniel, it does no good to think that way."

"I know. I couldn't help thinking it anyway."

"How long have you two been...lovers?" Sam asked.

Daniel gave her a look she couldn't decipher. "Two days, Sam. Two...days. If...if we hadn't..." and he shivered. "I think I'd've been a dead duck by now."

"You don't know that, Daniel," Jack protested.

Daniel nodded his head in argument. "Yes, I do, Jack. I wouldn't give him what he wanted and the next thing he knew, he was sitting in a cell. When he broke out, I guess one of the things he wanted to do besides run for his life was to rape me. I'm sure he would have killed me afterward, just to spite you, Jack."

Jack didn't like to think about it, but he knew Daniel's assumptions were probably right. Hell, like he was always right. The team sat quietly for a time, trying to finish their breakfast but ended up throwing it away and drinking only their coffee and juice. Daniel finally stood up, breaking the quiet contemplation.

"I'm gonna get back. Jason will think I've deserted him."

"No he won't," Sam said, nudging his shoulder with hers after she stood up next to him. She felt a lot better, too, knowing for sure that Daniel and Jack's relationship was now as it was...only better. She then gave Jack and Teal'c a conspiratorial look. "Let's all go and give him our...blessing for saving Daniel's life." Sam smiled then, showing mischief. Daniel hated that look. He was always on the receiving end of it.

"Sam..." he warned but suddenly Jack and Teal'c were with her, heading off to the infirmary, with Daniel chasing behind.

.

When they arrived at the infirmary, Daniel raced out in front and tried to block their path to Jason. He was quiet, seeing that Jason had his eyes closed.

"He's asleep, and I'll sick Janet on you," but he knew it was a lame-assed threat. She'd probably join in.

What Daniel didn't understand was that they were very grateful, and very proud, of Major Jason Coburn. He'd protected their Daniel from harm. He deserved only the best teasing - and promise of friendship - each of them could muster. It was one thing to defend your own teammates and other teams while in the field. It was quite another to do so when off duty and faced with high odds. Jason was about to be initiated and only one other person had earned that honor: Major Louis Ferretti. It seemed SG-2's leaders were made of good people.

They gently pushed Daniel aside and surrounded Jason's bed; Jack on one side, Sam and Teal'c on the other; grinning down at the poor Major as he opened his eyes and stared back, immediately wary. He saw Daniel at the foot of the bed with his arms folded, shuffling his feet and looking down at the frame of the bed, then looking behind him and around the room; everywhere but directly at him. Jason knew something was up and he wasn't so sure he was going to like it.

"Hello Colonel, Major, Master Teal'c." It had always been a source of pride for Teal'c that Major Coburn had always called him that. Even when no one else did. Not even his own teammates.

"Daniel? What's going on? You get shanghaied or something?"

"I'll tell you later. But...they want to thank you for protecting me, and possibly saving my life."

Jason shook his head, feeling very vulnerable with his wound. Fortunately, he was wearing medical scrubs instead of an open-backed gown. Daniel's doing, too. He hadn't realized it until Daniel had gone to get coffee and Janet had pointed it out, telling him that he'd made the 'male' corpsmen help him after surgery. Jason tried to judiciously sit up and succeeded only in having Teal'c raise the bed electronically...without asking.

"So..." Sam began.

"We hear we owe you a debt of thanks..." Teal'c added.

"For saving our Daniel..." Jack added, getting a withering glare from Daniel and ignoring it.

"And we understand that the two of you," and she turned around and scanned the room, "have been enjoying a special relationship."

"We would like to give you our blessing," Teal'c added once more.

"And seal of approval," Jack finished.

"Why do I get the feeling that I'm in trouble then?" Jason asked suspiciously.

"Oh, maybe because...you are...but we promise not to embarrass you too much," Sam said, her face showing no signs of the worry earlier. Instead, Jason thought she looked rather mischievous. She disappeared out of the room and then came back in a couple of minutes with a white paper bag. She nodded to Jack and Teal'c and they joined her across the room, turning their backs away from Daniel as she handed out the things inside the bag.

Daniel moved round to the head of the bed, watching his teammates and not trusting them for a second as his nervousness increased.

"Daniel, what are they up to? Are they upset with me?"

"No, no, Jace, you're fine. It's just that they're showing you their own form of respect for protecting 'one of their own' so to speak." He shook his head. "They did this to Ferretti, too, only this time, because of...our relationship...I think it's going to be a little different. In fact, I know it's going to be different...and very embarrassing, so brace yourself."

Jason schooled himself for it as he and Daniel listened to the trio whispering, though they couldn't make out what they said. "By the way, Daniel, why were you gone so long?"

Daniel looked at him carefully, then he looked down at his feet. "We all had a talk, especially Jack and me." Jason saw the tiredness in his eyes and if it hadn't been for Daniel avoid his, he'd have thought he only needed sleep. Now he knew there was something more to the talk than Daniel was saying.

He put his hand out and took Daniel's arm. "Out with it," Jason whispered.

"Jason...it's hard to talk about..."

"Daniel, you've already been talking about it. Are you saying you can't talk about it with me?"

Daniel seemed very embarrassed and he wouldn't look at him and unfortunately, Jason read it the wrong way. Jason suddenly felt as if he'd been living in a dream that he'd just woken up from. Reality just smacked him hard in the face. He cleared his throat.

"Um...that's okay, Daniel. Nevermind." His voice revealed his insecurity and anger, and he covered it with a nervous laugh. Daniel looked up sharply, frowning that Jason had not argued with him or prodded him to talk. Instead, Jason went quiet.

Jason saw the look and turned his eyes away and closed them. He didn't have the right to be angry about anything. Daniel was in love with Jack, not him. Just suck it up, Coburn. You are just his friend, nothing more. That's all it is. If he decides to trust you with more, he will, so stop getting jealous. You knew what you were getting into, loving a man who loved someone else, so just get over it and move on.

His throat felt tight and so did his chest, as if he'd suffered a keen loss...and in a way, maybe he had. If he didn't get away right then, he had a horrid feeling that he'd show his emotional vulnerability and there was no way he would do that in front of anyone, except maybe Daniel and Dr. Fraiser, and right now, he certainly couldn't do it in front of Daniel. He knew that he was feeling raw because of the stress, the surgery, the lack of sleep...and Daniel's lack of trust in him was only making it worse. Though he knew he shouldn't let his insecurity about Jack rule his thoughts, he couldn't seem to help it at the moment. What he needed was to get himself under control before he started to sound petulant or brooding. He carefully swung his feet off the other side of the bed and grabbed the IV bottle off the stand.

"I've gotta go take a piss. It may take me a while, plus the lab results aren't back. There's no reason for you to stay, Daniel, so if you want to take off, go ahead. I'll be just fine. Promise." Daniel got up to help him, but Jason waved him off. "I'm fine, Daniel. I can do this myself. Thanks so much for getting me here. I really appreciate it. Really. I'll...see you, okay?" With the walking cane in one hand, his IV in the other, he moved carefully to the bathroom two beds away and closed the door.

Daniel was confused. What brought all that on? Then he knew and his shoulders sagged. Jason's manner had abruptly said 'stay away'. Daniel knew right then and there that he had fucked up. He'd just gone through something horrible with Jason and Jason had saved his life, not to mention his ass. Why couldn't he tell him what he'd told Jack? He tried to school his features so that he didn't look upset, but he couldn't.

Jason closed the door and hung up the IV bottle on the hanger positioned between the toilet and the sink. He braced his hands on either side of the basin and took slow, deep breaths until he felt himself regaining control.

Don't think about it. Don't dwell. He's your friend. Be satisfied with that. You can do that. You can do that. You can......once you convince yourself that you don't love him more than your own life.

Jason sighed deeply, then concentrated even harder on breathing and thinking of absolutely nothing. He would not leave this bathroom until he was emotionally right as rain.

Unbeknownst to either Daniel or Jason, the rest of SG-1 had stopped their machination discussion and watched the two. It was like watching two people dearly in love with each other and felt they didn't deserve it. Jack knew how that felt.

Daniel sat down on Jason's bed, and covered his eyes with his hand. Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid! How many relationships are you going to fuck up before you learn to really trust? If he wasn't worth it last night, when would he be? Way to go, Daniel!

Daniel felt comforting hands on his shoulders and the warmth of his team around him. But even so, he felt a cold sickness in his belly and he got well and truly scared. He realized that he didn't want to lose Jason. He hadn't admitted it to himself until right then just how much Jason meant to him. He'd loved him as a friend for two years, and for the past two days, he'd felt that love for him increase, so just when was it that he'd actually fall in love with him? Maybe he should be asking if it was really all that big a surprise, especially as the nature of their friendship had changed. Whatever his feelings, or how deep they went, all he knew for sure at the moment was that he did not want to lose Jason. Not now; not ever. That certainty suddenly made things a lot clearer.

"I think I've just fucked us up," he said quietly. He felt hands rubbing his back, squeezing his shoulders. Nothing was said for a few minutes, until Jack spoke up.

"You didn't want to talk to him about what happened before," Jack said quietly. "Did you?"

Daniel looked at him with hesitation. "Not here, no."

"So he took it wrong, didn't he?" Jack asked, gesturing at the bathroom and looking a little too smug for his insight.

Daniel frowned, then nodded.

Jack took a deep breath. "Daniel," he said quietly, "I mean this in a really good way...you'd try the patience of a saint." Sam started to laugh and Teal'c actually grinned. Daniel looked up at Jack and saw that quirky grin of his. He snorted instead of getting angry.

"I know," was all he said. They waited with him until Jason came out of the bathroom.

When Jason opened the door, he saw all of SG-1 sitting on his bed, frowns creasing their brows. Frowning, he couldn't help but wonder what the hell they were up to. "Um, it's not necessary to hang around, Colonel, Major, Master Teal'c, Daniel."

Daniel's face showed hurt and concern and Jason became confused and stopped several paces before reaching the bed. "What?" Then his mind gated to another conclusion. "Crap, don't tell me Doc's been in here already? The news that bad?"

SG-1 shook their heads. Okay. So he'd hitched a ride too far on that assumption train. He sighed, then backed up a step as Jack and Teal'c got up and moved over to him, surrounding him, escorting him back to bed. Teal'c took his IV from him and hung it up while Daniel got up and helped him back into bed.

Jason felt himself more confused than ever now. "I thought you inferred I wasn't dying or something. I'm fine, right?" Daniel nodded at him, but his eyes still looked heavy with concern. "Listen, while I appreciate all this...concern, it's not necessary. I've had worse happen on missions. You guys don't have to hang around on my account. Really." They weren't getting the hint. "Um, I'd like to be by myself if you don't mind."

Jack knew exactly what Jason was doing, and why. He was trying to shut down, thinking the worst and protecting himself. Jack had been there, done that.

"Daniel, Teal'c, Carter....can I have a word with him alone?"

Jason knew something was up now and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Daniel's did, too, and he frowned at Jack...but the three teammates moved over to the end of the ward, out of earshot.

"Jason," Jack said, addressing him casually, "You know that phrase about assumption being the mother of all fuck-ups?"

Jason looked at him warily. "Yeah..." He really didn't have a clue as to what was going on, but his imagination was working overtime. Jack's presence was only making it worse, too.

"You fucked up...big time...just as Daniel did. You're assuming the wrong things."

"Am I?" he asked, his defenses going up. He felt it odd that Jack was interfering, stepping in. But then, with his protective streak, maybe it wasn't that odd. Actually...that wasn't what he found odd and his mind didn't see it until just then. Jack and Daniel were now together, weren't they? So Jack was just...what? Doing damage control? "Maybe you should go, Jack."

Jack shook his head. "You're as stubborn as he is, you know that?"

"Just go, Jack."

"Daniel's not leaving you, Jason. He loves you."

Jason stared at Jack and his mouth dropped open for a moment. Realizing it, he snapped it shut, then cleared his throat in automatic resentment that Jack could read him. "What makes you think--"

"Don't get your back up, Jason. I'm just saying."

Jason looked down at his hands and shook his head. "Doesn't matter anymore. His past is his own business. It's none of mine."

Jack shook his head. "It now involves you. Stop worrying. Daniel just didn't want to talk about our conversation here in the ward. There's no one in the cafeteria. So, we were safe to talk there." Jason looked back up in surprise and Jack shook his head at him again. "We weren't talking about us, Jason, because there is no us--"

"There is and you know it."

Jack ignored him and continued. "We were talking about what happened two years ago. I was very surprised that he'd opened up."

Jason snorted with sarcasm. "I'm not. He loves you."

Jack tried to ignore that, too, though the sound of it send a thrill through him. "Maybe, but he doesn't trust me."

"Wrong. He'd not have told you what he did otherwise."

Jack couldn't explain why Daniel had chosen to confide because he frankly hadn't a clue. Instead, he ignored Jason's assumption, just as he had the others. "Jason...do you love him?"

"Yes," Jason said automatically, without any hesitation.

"Then give him a chance."

Jason was shocked. He really didn't want to be discussing Daniel with him and especially not now, where he was in a vulnerable position in the infirmary. He couldn't think of a suitable response that wasn't loaded with sarcasm or resentment at Jack's interference. He was grateful for the man's help with Daniel, but as for the rest of it, he still didn't think that it was any of Jack's business and it was making him defensive and jealous. He didn't want Jack there because Jack only served to remind him of what he couldn't have: Daniel's full heart.

"Jason, did you hear me?"

Jason sighed, leaned back against his raised bed and closed his eyes. "I heard you."

Jack could see Jason was just as stubborn as Daniel, especially when embarrassed or hurt and he was trying to cover up, to be the 'brave' soldier.

"Fine, I'll have Daniel tell you." He looked over and motioned Daniel over. Sam and Teal'c came with him however and Jack pulled them back to the other side of the room, whispering to them that Daniel needed to straighten some things out.

Daniel stood there, staring at Jason's closed eyes and knew what he was doing because he'd done it himself so many times. Problem was, what Jason was thinking was wrong. He looked over his shoulder at his team across the room, then went over to the curtain and pulled it around, giving them some privacy.

Jason's eyes flew open and he frowned.

"What're you doing?"

"We're going to have a talk," Daniel said, his voice indicating his irritation. He sat down on the bed, level with Jason's chest. "First, I'll tell you everything when we get home, okay?" he whispered to his lover. "I apologize for not talking about it but it's just that, before, there had been no need. Makepeace wasn't around and it was something I wanted to forget. When I went to get coffee, Jack showed up, so we got to talking a little...and since he had a lot to do with what happened back then...I told him. The reason I did was because there was no one around to overhear. Then Sam and Teal'c showed up, so we all grabbed some breakfast, they noticed I was upset, push came to shove so I told them too, in a much shorter version, especially because it concerned Sam, too."

Jason wasn't looking at him as Daniel spoke, but he could hear the sincerity in his words. He was startled then as Daniel took his face in his hands and leaned over, kissing his lips gently. If it hadn't been for the firey pain in his side, Jason would have gotten hard. Instead, a warm rush passed through him, twice, as Daniel then ran his fingers through his hair, then kissed him more firmly.

"Don't leave me, Jace," he whispered. When he pulled back enough for Jason to read his eyes, Jason saw that Daniel was actually afraid, that he himself wasn't the only one with insecurities. He put a hand up to Daniel's face and cradled his cheek, his thumb brushing over the bruise.

"Never."

Daniel gave him a relieved smile and kissed the palm of Jason's hand before pulling it away from his cheek. "Good. Now, I'll tell you everything later, and I do mean everything, but right now, we've got a little bit of ceremony to go through." At Jason's confused frown, he added, "I think they want to thank you for saving my life," and he tilted his head in the direction of his teammates.

Jason groaned just as Janet pulled back the curtain. She gave them both an admonishing look, then withdrew the curtain all the way back. As she did, the rest of SG-1 came over and Jack glanced at Daniel. Daniel gave him a tiny smile in return, telling him all would be well. Jack gave him a brief nod in understanding. Daniel then felt Janet's hands on his arms as she pulled him off the bed in order to check Jason's vitals once more. She frowned as she took his pulse last and gave everyone there a baleful stare.

Turning back to Jason, she said, "Your pulse is up. Got anything you want to tell me?"

"Don't ask, Doc," was what shot out of Jason's mouth before he realized the unintentional pun. Janet and the others grinned at him as he winced. "Sorry. No, Doc, nothing to report."

"Okay...well, Major, your labs are clean. Now, get this 'script filled," and she nodded at the paper lying on the table next to his bed, then picked up the infirmary bag she'd brought in with her and handed it to Daniel. "Twice a day, Daniel. Instructions are in the bag." Daniel gave her her a one-armed hug, thanking her. She hugged him back, then smacked him in the chest with the back of her hand. "Do exactly as the instructions tell you," and waited for Daniel to inspect the bag. He found a sheet of instructions on the care and cleaning of Jason's sutures, instructions on changing the bandaging, and several packages of bandages, cotton swabs, ointment, and skin-cleansing solution. Janet then startled him as she reached up and and inspected the bruise on his cheek. "The x-ray showed no fractures. If that begins to swell, you'll have to let me know immediately, understood?"

"Yes, Janet," Daniel replied obediently, giving her a smile.

Janet gave him a short one in return, then put on her officious expression. "Now, I want you all out of here. I'll call you later, Major Coburn, to see how you're doing. It's in your best interests to answer the phone," she threatened, looking back and forth between him and Daniel, then left the ward to attend to other duties, smiling and humming as she went. Daniel went back over and sat down, holding the stuff Janet gave him in his lap.

Jack complained. "All I ever get is a long needle and lubed, latex fingers."

Sam snorted. "Be grateful you don't have to put your feet in stirrups, sir."

All the boys groaned in agreement at that one.

"By the way, Daniel, Hammond's approved your short leave," Jack went on, "but on the proviso that you keep your phone on in case SG-1 is called in. In the meantime, Sam can do her evil scientist thingy," and he received a slap in the gut in response, "while Teal'c and I go off-world to the training site. We'll have fun scaring the crap out of the recruits for two days." He grinned mischievously at Teal'c, who gave his own version of it in return.

"BUT before you go..." Sam said earnestly. "We want to tell you how proud we are of you and to thank you for saving Daniel's life."

Daniel started to protest, that his life wasn't in any danger, but Jack held up his forefinger, silently telling Daniel in that old familiar manner not to argue. Daniel abruptly closed his mouth and Sam dramatically held up the bag she'd brought in earlier.

"Now...where were we? Ah yes...our blessing," and she gave Jason a strange smile as she reached in and with a flourish, pulled out a multi-pack of condoms - colored condoms. They were currently part of a gag box inside Janet's office. "Here's a new kind of balloon, already oiled to prevent breakage so blow it up to your hearts' content."

Both Daniel and Jason's jaws hit the floor as they found themselves blushing...and furiously trying not to. Sam replaced the condoms in the bag, then handed it to Teal'c. Teal'c reached in the bag and pulled out a tube of lube. "You will not be needing this for a while, but I hear it works well as engine grease," and as the duo became further embarrassed, he dead-panned, "I must apologize for there being only the normal flavor...though I do not understand the need for flavoring in engine grease." He set it back into the bag. Sam and Jack tried very hard not to laugh as Daniel and Jason's embarrassment peaked.

"And last but certainly not least," Jack said and dipped his hand into the bag in equally dramatic fashion. Daniel and Jason looked at each other and groaned, closing their eyes in unison. They wouldn't, couldn't, look. Whatever Jack had in mind would undoubtedly be even more embarrassing.

Typical of Jack O'Neill, he did the unexpected. He nudged them until they opened their eyes, then pulled out a uniform patch; an SG-1 patch. "Major Jason Coburn. You are now an honorary member of SG-1."

Daniel's jaw dropped. "How the hell did you scare up--"

"I had one in my coat," Sam spoke up as she wrinkled her nose. "It was for my new field jacket but when I got the new one, it already had the patch sewn on so...I had an extra one..." and she winked at Jason. "And now it's yours."

"Yes," Jack added with a grin, "and you now have the rights and privileges that come with having an honorary membership...except a newsletter. We don't have those." He then affected a comical look of disappointment.

Daniel snorted, recovering from his shock in short order and said sarcastically, "But you do get an annoying Colonel in your face before you've had your second cup of coffee in the morning."

Jack rebutted, "And having to brave a certain cranky archaeologist and linguist in the morning both at home and work."

Daniel didn't respond. He only looked at Jack with a smug grin...and a very profound respect. Sam and Teal'c exchanged amused glances, as well as being further pleased at the miraculous repair of their teammates' friendship.

Jason felt very, very honored and very embarrassed. Next to Daniel, Hammond, Fraiser, and the members of his own team, the three standing in front of him were the only other people he deeply admired and respected. He also felt that somewhere, the other shoe would drop. The unworthiness of the honor was overwhelming to him, but he wouldn't dare say anything against this show of respect afforded him.

Suddenly feeling the need to tone down the sentiment, he said instead, "Thanks Colonel, Major, Master Teal'c," as he took the patch from Jack. "You do realize however that I can't be seen with this thing at the base."

All of SG-1 looked at him with confusion and irritation.

Jason elaborated. "What I mean is, if my team sees me with this, I'll get lynched."

Jack, Sam, and Teal'c smirked almost as one. Daniel, last of all, gave Jason a teasing smile.

"They'd have to go through SG-1 first."

Just then, three people came running in, all wearing civilian clothes. Daniel took the patch from Jason and got up off the bed.

"Heads up," he whispered. Jason smirked at him and motioned his own worried teammates over. He had them sit down on the bed as SG-1 left Jason alone with his team.

"Daniel, I can carry this stuff myself," Jason complained as he walked through the apartment door. Daniel wasn't allowing him carry anything, treating him like an invalid. Jason was using a cane, per Janet's last second instructions, but he didn't need it to stand up and so he set it aside the minute the door was shut. Surprising Daniel, Jason pulled him into his arms and hugged him, hard. Daniel dropped the bags he held and returned his embrace.

"Thanks," Jason whispered.

"Backatcha," Daniel replied, his hold on him loosening a bit.

"Daniel, you can hold me tighter than that. I won't break."

"Your wound is sensitive and I'm not rupturing any sutures, so forget it." Daniel didn't let go though. The two of them needed this moment to hang on for a little longer. Reluctantly, they finally pulled away and Daniel picked up the bags from the floor. As they absently looked around, they suddenly realized that the place had been 'tidied up'.

"He wasn't kidding, was he?" Jason remarked. Daniel shook his head and started to lead Jason down to the bedroom, but Jason held back.

"I can stay on the couch, Daniel."

Daniel turned and stared, frowning. "Don't be silly, Jace."

"What if someone comes over?"

"Jace, just because we're sharing a bed now, doesn't mean that things have changed. Remember what happened a few months ago, when I sprained my ankle on that dig?"

Jason smiled, remembering how he'd waited on Daniel hand and foot. "Yes."

"Well, everyone knew you were here, and though you slept on the couch then, you weren't the one injured. I'll put bedding on the back of the couch, for appearances, if that will make you feel better, but I'm not having you spend the night with a hole in your side on the damn couch. Got it?"

Daniel was suddenly so serious, so worried, that Jason couldn't help but give in. "Fine, but we don't need to go back to the bedroom right now. I'm not going to go to sleep."

"Janet said rest...besides, she made you take that pain pill before we left so it should be kicking in right about now," and he pulled a reluctant Jason down the hall.

Jason growled. "Yeah, okay, maybe a little but I don't want to sleep."

"You're exhausted, Jace. You need the sleep."

"So do you."

Daniel sighed, looking back at him. "Okay, we're both tired. I'll make you a deal. You get in bed, I'll get in bed."

Jason slowly smiled and Daniel snorted and shook his head as they entered the bedroom. The moment they did, all speech was suspended. The bed hadn't just been stripped. It had been remade and pulled down, readying for it's occupant...occupants.

"Oh. My. God. Look at what he did," Daniel whispered. He set the bags down on the dresser and looked around. There were no signs of blood anywhere, either. Jack had, indeed, taken care of everything. Jason toed off his shoes, then began to undress. "Daniel, I can't take a shower until tomorrow. I hope you won't mind if I stink." He sniffed his armpits as he removed his shirt. Daniel snorted.

"I like your smell," he replied, watching Jason undress completely. He handed him a fresh set of beige shorts. "Here, they're comfortable, but don't put them on yet."

Jason smiled but Daniel shook his head. "Not for that reason, but I wish. No, I need to clean and rebandage."

Jason grimaced.

"It has to be done, Jason, so get over on the bed and lie down."

"Yes, sir," Jason said, getting a smirk from Daniel.

"Stop that and get in bed."

Jason lay down on his side away from Daniel, scooting over enough so Daniel could sit down behind him. Daniel went to work carefully cleaning around the sutured wound, applying the prescribed ointment, then rebandaged. Jason was quiet the entire time, knowing Daniel took this sort of thing very seriously, so he didn't do or say anything that would distract him. When Daniel was finally done, he patted him softly on the chest.

"Done."

"You have a soft manner when you do that, Daniel. You should have been a medical doctor, working with Dr. Fraiser."

Daniel snorted. "Thanks, but no thanks." He got up and got a glass of water and two pills from the prescription bottle, then went back over and sat down. "Here, take these. They're your antibiotics." He held them out, and Jason merely looked at him quietly as he took the pills and the water.

"Now, you take it easy. I know you don't want to, but you don't want to end up back in the infirmary if you bust those sub-sutures."

"I know." Jason moved over and laid flat, still keeping his eyes on Daniel. "Join me?"

Daniel eyed him dubiously.

"You promised," and Jason patted the bed. Daniel hesitated, but at Jason's insistence, he stood up and removed his clothes, all but his shorts, then looked for the beige ones he'd given Jason.

"Where're the shorts I gave you?"

Jason pointed at the foot of the bed, where they were draped precariously, getting ready to drop to the carpet. Daniel grabbed them, climbed into the bed and started to thread Jason's feet through them but Jason resisted.

"Daniel, I'd rather sleep--"

Daniel gave him a scolding look. "Jason, they'll help keep the bandage on...and there's no use fighting me about it." Jason felt the strange euphoric effect of the pain medication as he relaxed and let Daniel slide the shorts on him. "Lift up," Daniel asked, helping at the same time. When the shorts were comfortably on, he pulled up the covers and as he went to lie down, Jason pulled him against him and wrapped a leg over, hugging him close. He took Daniel's face in his hands then, and kissed him tenderly. As he felt only a dull ache in his side instead of that firey pain, he relaxed and felt his arousal returning to his groin. As a result, their kiss became passionate. Daniel could feel Jason hardening through his shorts as his lover's hands caressed his body. He couldn't help but get hard but didn't want to risk anything passionate for fear of hurting him.

"Jason..." Daniel admonished, snuffling his neck. "We have to wait a while," even as his hands responded to Jason's touch and followed along the smooth muscular curves of his back. Jason groaned in protest but held back his ardour. It felt good to touch, to comfort and reassure the other that they were aroused...even if nothing was done about it.

Jason suddenly felt Daniel's body shaking a little bit and when he pulled his head back to look, Daniel kissed him deeply. Completely hard now, and unable to do much about it, Jason pulled back, gasping a bit.

"What was that for?"

"I do love you, you know."

Jason eyes became guarded. That wall wasn't completely down. "I love you too, Daniel." Jason then noticed that the shaking in Daniel's body hadn't left, that it hadn't been the result of need or passion. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Daniel looked at him carefully. "Thanks for being there, Jace," Daniel whispered, burying his face even further against Jason's neck.

"No thanks are necessary, Daniel, you know that," Jason replied with a knotted brow.

"I know, but what I mean is..."

"What?"

"I can't help but feel that I'm fortunate that you came to me two...three days ago. If you hadn't, you may not have been there last night and I would've been---"

"No, Daniel," Jason said, kissing him and cutting off his words. "Don't go there. I know you can't help but wonder, but it's not healthy for you to. It's a 'what if' that only ends badly and you don't need to put yourself through that. Stop it, for me, okay?"

Daniel was silent for a moment. He realized that Jason was right and he nodded.

"I'm sorry I distracted you. I'm the reason you got shot."

"What!?" Jason asked, astonished that Daniel would take the blame. "How can you say that?"

"When you looked over at me, he took the opportunity to grab the gun."

"No...Daniel. It's not your fault. It's mine. Don't take the blame where it doesn't belong. Besides, place the blame where it really belongs."

Daniel thought for a moment, then nodded. "On Makepeace."

"Yes." He kissed Daniel a few short times. "I can't believe you'd feel guilt over that. That too stops, got it?" and he nipped his nose.

Daniel smiled. "Got it."

"We do have to talk, Daniel," Jason reminded him.

Daniel sighed. "I know. It's just that Jack was part of the problem...why I was...so it was easier to tell him. I'm so sorry I made you feel like I didn't trust you. I do, Jason. With my life." Jason squeezed him in his arms in a long hug.

"Will you tell me now?"

Daniel raised his head and looked at him, his eyes filled with emotion. "Okay, well first..." and he repeated what he'd told Jack, every detail. "I kept feeling bad about it, and I kept calling it off, telling Makepeace there was nothing to it. But he kept coming back and I kept letting him."

"Because it was good, rough sex and you liked it, right?" Jason asked, holding Daniel tightly. Daniel nodded. "Do you think that's bad?" Jason asked, thinking of their own sex in the laundry room...and when Jason had tied him to the bed.

Daniel thought about it, then shook his head. "No...but I'm not done." He then told Jason exactly what he did to Makepeace in his office. Jason listened, observing, not judging, his face giving nothing away as he watched Daniel's eyes cloud over with shame. "I couldn't tell Jack all of what I'd done."

Jason kissed his temple, his cheek. "So you feel ashamed for what you did?"

Daniel eyed him, knowing he'd say the same as Jack. "Jack told me not to feel bad, that I didn't force him, but..." and he paused for a moment. "I'm horrified more than ashamed, Jason. I fucked him dry...I thought I'd hurt him and I remember seeing a little bit of blood...and I ran...like a fucking coward. I took off for home and I couldn't go back to work and face him."

Jason held Daniel tighter, understanding what was finally hurting Daniel's heart. "You didn't rape him. He's better physically trained than you are. He could have pushed you off but he didn't. He wasn't scared, either. He got off on it." At Daniel's grimace of disgust, he prodded, "Didn't he?" He asked it simply but with a soft, understanding tone. Daniel pulled his face from his neck and looked at Jason in surprise. Jason touched his face, caressing his skin, and the bruise, with the back of his hand. "You think that just because you like rough, hard, you're a rapist? That just because you like having rough sex with me that it only verifies that?" Daniel's face held more surprise and his eyes widened along with the drop of his open mouth. A thousand questions filled his expression.

"Did it happen again?"

Daniel shook his head. Jason read his face for a few seconds. "So you cut him off after that because what you did disgusted you because you associated it with...well, the dark side of our natures?" Another nod.

"How do you know this?" Daniel asked. "Have you....um..."

"Done that to someone?"

Daniel nodded. Jason nodded back. "But I'll explain that in a minute. What happened next?"

Daniel told him about the fight and then the threat to Sam, watching almost smugly as Jason began to get mad. He finished the story, then asked, "How do you know about this stuff, Jason?"

"I've had my share of dark experiences, Daniel. Like Jack. I've even been a POW, though only for two weeks, not four months like Jack. My love of rough sex didn't happen then, but it was kind of intensified for a while. I wasn't raped...well, technically I was because I wasn't in my right mind...I didn't have a 'choice' in the matter. I was drugged a lot. It had...side-effects. Kind of like a truth drug, but the truth drug also acts as a kind of aphrodisiac and it fed off my desire for rough sex and it heightened it. Me and my three prison mates took turns using each other and it didn't matter if we were in the mood or not, awake or not."

"That's rape, Jason."

"Technically, yes. But the thing is...I was conditioned to enjoy unsolicited sex. I may not have wanted it at first, but I would have done anything to escape the torture I was subjected to once a day. The sex made the beatings bearable." He nuzzled Daniel's neck then. "I've had a lot of therapy examining these issues and I finally put the whole experience, as well as my darker desires, into proper perspective. I can help you do the same."

"How? I feel so shitty."

"Are you ashamed of your baser desires, liking to be tied down, or to tie me down, or use 'token' force on me?"

"I feel....a twinge...yes."

"Even when I give my consent? Why?"

Daniel thought about it and the two of them discussed it for a while, debating the darker points. Finally, Daniel came to understand that what he had confused were the acts with the emotional anger. He'd combined them, and therefore, convoluted the sexual issue he wanted to solve. When Jason got done talking it through with him, Daniel finally felt some deep inner peace.

"So, you feel a little better?" Jason asked.

"A lot better, Jace," Daniel answered, nuzzling his nose.

Jason nodded. "Good," and he nuzzled back. "But what about nightmares?" Daniel pressed his lips together.

"Sometimes, but only after I've been injured really bad."

Jason nodded. "The feeling of vulnerability, weakness," and noticed Daniel's surprised look. "That's understandable. I get like that, and I bet Jack does...times ten. Don't ever be afraid to tell me you have fears. We're human, Daniel. We can't help it."

Daniel stared intently at him, then grabbed Jason and kissed him hard, grateful for the love this man gave him. He suddenly felt Jason rub their groin together and he inhaled sharply.

"Jace...isn't this the wrong time, especially after what we've been talking about?"

"Daniel," Jason said with impatience. "It's time to replace bad feelings with good ones."

Daniel started to argue but what Jason said made sense. Then he inhaled again as Jason's hand slipped under his shorts and curled around his dick as he stuck he plunged his tongue deep into his mouth. He began working his flesh and Daniel responded wholeheartedly. Jason broke the kiss and began to kiss and bite along his next. Bringing his mouth under his ear, he began to speak in hushed, erotic tones.

"Let me please you," he said, kissing along his ear. "It'll make me happy, Daniel. Let me."

"But...what about you?" Daniel gasped.

"Maybe I can't make love to you as I'd like, but there are other things I'd like to do...that we can do...together." He nipped and pulled on his earlobe. "For instance, I'd like to go down on you until I have you screaming out your orgasm, but since I can't do that just yet, my hand will have to do..." and his hand caressed Daniel's hard cock until Daniel was thrusting eagerly through his fingers.

"Jace...yes, yes," Daniel moaned as his own hand curved over Jason's, wanting to feel the man pleasure him. After a moment, the sweat began to build and he wanted more. He pushed his boxers down, then gently eased Jason's down as well and took hold of his cock.

"I've an idea," Jason whispered, kissing along his throat. He stopped his actions, then felt under the pillows for the lube.

"Jace?" Daniel queried.

Jason placed Daniel's hand over his own cock. "Jerk yourself. I want to watch."

Daniel felt an odd thrill go through him as he began to move his hand slowly over the shaft. "And the lube is for?"

"This," Jason replied as he coated the fingers of one hand, then slipped them between Daniel's legs to find and play with his sphincter. Daniel hitched his breath as Jason's fingers teased his opening, so he lifted his leg and draping it over Jason's thigh. He moved his free hand down and took Jason's cock in his palm, matching the increasing actions of his other hand. Jason moaned and leaned in for a hungry kiss. Daniel suddenly broke away and arched his neck back as Jason's fingers entered him, fucking him slow and easy.

"Oh yes," he panted, increasing the strokes on both their organs.

Jason watched him, watched how his face flushed as he pushed his fingers in further, just barely touching the small gland inside. Daniel bucked his hips, moving his hands faster as Jason's fingers began to increase in speed. Daniel's breathing changed as his body tightened and he moaned loudly, lifting his leg, opening himself up more as his hands matched the speed of Jason's maddening fingers.

"Fuck me," he gasped, gazing into Jason's eyes imploringly.

"Oh yes," Jason panted, thrusting his fingers as his hips pressed forward, wanting and needing more of what Daniel's hand was doing to him. "That's it, yes. God," and his fingers pushed harder, his palm slapping the back of Daniel's balls, giving him the sensation of being fucked, and with it, Daniel arched and came. His hands tightened over their cocks and Jason bit his lip as he spilled over Daniel's fingers.

Daniel released him and fell back, panting hard, and felt Jason drop his forehead onto his chest, his hair tickling his skin. Slowly, Jason removed his fingers from his rectum, eliciting a soft moan from Daniel's throat. They lay together for a short while, waiting for the afterglow to subside, then Daniel leaned over, kissed his lover, then got up and retrieved a washcloth from the bathroom and returned to clean them off and replace their boxers. Once done, Daniel tossed the cloth to the floor, then pulled the blanket over and snuggled into Jason's arms. Jason snuffled his neck, kissing and licking the drying, salty skin.

"That felt good, Daniel. How 'bout you?" he asked.

"Definitely. I can't wait until you're healed."

Jason smiled. "Do tell."

"You won't see me coming, Jace."

"Oh, that's no fun. I love you watch you come."

Daniel smiled and nipped at his chin. "Well, you won't see it if you're blindfolded."

Jason closed his eyes and groaned. "Daniel, don't tease."

On to 'Part 6'

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