One Last Pot of Coffee
One Last Pot of Coffee
by GateGremlyn
Jack/Daniel (preslash)
Angst
Set between seasons eight and nine.
This story was written in response to a prompt at the Pentangular Gate.
http://community.livejournal.com/sg1_five_things/
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Jack applauded Hank Landry as he came down the ramp, the new head of Stargate command. Landry was a good man; he'd do the program proud. Hank took over Jack's job, Jack took over George Hammond's job, George semi-retired. It was the way of the world-of the universe-that some things changed and some things stayed the same.
He looked over at Daniel who'd stopped packing for Atlantis long enough to come to the 'gateroom for the ceremony. Carter was already gone, on her way to area 51, and Teal'c hadn't even stayed long enough to say goodbye to Jack and Daniel before stepping through the 'gate to Dakara.
“So, you got your gear ready to go?” Jack asked as the two of them made to leave the party.
“Almost,” Daniel said. “I've got most of the things from my apartment put into storage-the few big things I'm keeping--except for the boxes you're taking and what I'll need for the next few weeks. Um, pretty much a bed and a toothbrush left in my apartment.” Daniel's eyes weren't on Jack. They flickered around the 'gateroom as if memorizing the boring gray walls for later-for when he was a galaxy or two away.
“You're not leaving for at least another month.” Jack waved politely at the SG team leaders who were trying to get Hank's attention. Some of them had come by to shake his hand, but most of them didn't have time for the old guard; they wanted to make themselves known to the man now in charge. Jack thought maybe he should be offended, but he wasn't... much. They headed for Daniel's office.
“I leave in two weeks at most, depending on when the Daedelus gets here, but I've got a lot of departmental details to organize before I go so I figured packing the apartment first would be the easiest. It's not like I spend a lot of time there anyway.” Daniel hesitated. “Are you sure you want my stuff? You always complained before about tripping over--”
Jack cut him off. “I'm sure.” Daniel's relief eased Jack's sour mood. “I'll load up the truck as soon as we're done schmoozing here.” Jack planned to take the truck to Washington with the rest of his belongings and whatever it was Daniel wanted him to have. He'd been in Washington off and on for several weeks, transitioning from meetings at the SGC to meetings with the big brass. Today, he'd cut the last tie, officially signing over Stargate Command to someone else; a man he'd chosen especially for the job; a capable and compassionate man.
A man who wasn't him.
It hurt. Things changed, he understood that, but it didn't make it any easier. After all the years they'd spent together, SG1 wasn't SG1 anymore. And this-the SGC, even Colorado--was no longer his home.
They entered Daniel's office together. “You haven't done much packing in here yet,” Jack commented as he pulled out a stool.
“I'll need most of these books to keep working for the next... however long, and not all of it can come with me. It's going to take me a while to sort it out and figure out what stays and what goes.” Daniel pored each of them a coffee from the dilapidated machine in the corner. “I think I'm even going to miss this coffee pot. I finally got it to make coffee the way I like it.”
Jack grimaced as he took a swallow. “What, stale and cold?” Jack put the cup on the desk.
Daniel took a sip of his own before he put his cup beside Jack's. “Okay, so I won't miss the coffee pot.” He sat opposite Jack and twisted the cup between his fingers, a half a turn and stop, a half a turn and stop. He didn't look up.
Jack watched him. “What will you miss, Daniel?”
The scrape of the cup stilled and Daniel's hands wrapped around it. “I miss General Hammond.”
Jack considered making a smart remark about his own time here as general; he thought about teasing Daniel because Daniel was the one who'd talked him into becoming head honcho in the first place. But he knew that Daniel didn't miss Hammond's command, he missed the man. So did Jack. Jack had done the job but he'd never filled those ever so shiny shoes.
“Me too,” he said softly. “What else?”
“I miss Janet.” Daniel's voice was so soft, Jack almost didn't hear it. Janet Fraiser, their CMO and friend, the fifth member of SG1. Janet Fraiser who never let any of them get away with anything. Janet Fraiser who'd become mother to Cassie and family to them all. The same Janet who had died and left them all behind.
“I miss Sam and Teal'c,” Daniel continued, “and they've only just left.” Daniel twisted the cup one more time staring at the dark liquid inside. “And you,” Daniel added almost as an afterthought. “I miss you.”
“Going to Atlantis won't change any of that, you know.”
“No, but I won't get reminded of it all the time either.” Daniel took a swig of cold coffee “Especially since...”
“Since what, Daniel?”
“Since you're not here anymore.”
Jack sloshed the coffee around in his cup. “Has the coffee always been this bitter?”
“Yeah, for a while,” Daniel answered. “It's an old coffee maker.”
“The boxes that I'm taking with me,” Jack asked, “are they personal things?”
“Yes. Some journals. A few small antiques, some books.” Daniel was confused. “You said you didn't mind if I--I can only bring a few personal items with me to Atlantis, especially since I have to bring so much research material from here, from my office,” he stammered. “If you don't want them, Jack, it's okay. I know your place in Washington isn't that big. I'll-I'll put them into storage. I've got some time before I go.”
“Stop.” Jack placed his hand on Daniel's. “I told you I'd take them and I will. They'll be waiting for you when you get back.” He waited until Daniel looked up from their hands on the desk.
“What? But I'm not sure if I'm--”
“I'll unpack the boxes and put your things out. You can tell me what you want me to do with them when you get back.” Jack squeezed his hand. “When you get back.”
“When I get back,” Daniel echoed. He looked down again at their hands, still together. “Jack, do you mean--”
“I don't mean anything right now, Daniel, except that I'm taking care of your things while you're gone.” Jack pulled his hand away. Now it was his turn to stare into his cup. “I know going to Atlantis is something you've wanted to do for a long time and I've kept you--” Jack stopped. He picked up his cup and Daniel's. He took them over to the coffee maker. He made a fresh pot, listening while it gurgled and spit. He filled the mugs and brought them back, all without looking at Daniel who hadn't said another word. “I know this is something you've wanted to do for a long time,” he repeated. “I know it's something you need to do.”
“Jack? Why now?”
“Because things change. Because of Frasier, Hammond, Carter, Teal'c. Because Landry's here and I'm not.”
“So I'm some kind of... consolation prize?”
“Well, you're a prize,” Jack said, trying to sound lighthearted. He added more softly, “And you are a consolation.”
Daniel's hands gripped his cup so hard they were white-knuckled.
“If I wanted a consolation prize, I wouldn't be waiting for you to come back.” Daniel's head ducked lower until his face was in the steam rising from his mug. Jack tried again. “Because things change and I can't stop that-and sometimes I don't want to. Because life is too short. Because--”
Jack wrapped his hands around the warmth of the cup. “Because there are some wounds from which we never recover.”
Startled, Daniel looked up.
Jack smiled. “Because I like this damn coffee.”
Daniel smiled. “I'll send the pot with you.”
Jack lifted his cup and drank it down. “You don't have to bother; I was going to take it anyways. It'll be in my kitchen waiting for you when you get home.”
finis!