Rites & Passage - Part 5
Rites & Passage - Part 5
Daniel wasn't sure when things stopped falling on him, but it was after the gong in his ears stopped ringing. He blinked, coughed, and could see nothing. Dust coated his glasses. He coughed again, wincing as pain flared in his shoulder. So he kept still. He had weight on his good shoulder, and on his legs, and he had his head bent over.
Buried alive, he thought. The detached interest left him certain he had a minor concussion, because under normal circumstances this situation would be causing serious panic.
He'd had a concussion once before and knew how you felt fine, and then couldn't remember things like which end of the tent was the one you went into. He could also remember Sam saying something about the impact of sound in a small space, but this was his first experience with anything like that, so he started to sit up so he could take better note of what it was like. That had the pain flaring again, so he let out a muffled, "Ouch."
"Daniel?"
Jack's voice sounded a long way off, and for some reason that just plain irritated. "Well, it's not Casper, or whoever the hell you thought we'd find here."
Something shifted off his legs, then off his shoulder and head, and he was able to look up and over his dusty glasses. Jack was a blurry figure to the left-and seemed to be leaning on something since he wasn't quite vertical. Daniel looked over and saw Sam crouched next to him. He almost laughed at how she looked. Instead, he put out a finger and drew a line down her cheek.
"Face powder," he said, and grinned. He heard a clatter and glanced toward the sound. Teal'c was standing and just as grime coated. "You look like a ghost. Like Casper?"
"I assure you, Daniel Jackson, I am a living being."
"Well, some people think spirits are alive, too. God, I'm babbling, aren’t I?"
"No more than usual. You need a hand?" Jack asked.
Daniel thought about it, willed his legs to move. They did, and that was about as far as it went. "Yeah, I think I could do." He held up a hand as he frowned at that sentence, because something was wrong with it.
While he thought about words, Teal'c pulled him up and left him propped against a wall, and then Teal’c pulled Sam-Captain Carter-to her feet, so it wasn't as embarrassing as it could have been that he needed to be hauled around like this. Daniel leaned toward her. "It's like being drunk without the fun part."
She smiled up at him, her teeth white amid the dust. "Just the day after-I'll take a day after this anytime."
He swiped a matching mark down her other cheek and told her, "War paint."
With a nod, she took off his glasses, folded them and tucked them into his vest pocket. Then she drew wavy lines on his forehead. "That means I like you in the local dialect."
"Will you two get your dusty butts over here!"
Jack's muted shout had them both glancing over at him, and Daniel hoped he didn't look as guilty as Sam did. She blanked the look, and he decided that when he got back to the base, he could trust her with the secret to where his snack cache was kept. It was a habit he'd acquired in grad school, when he'd more or less lived off rice and anything else cheap and able to survive storage. Teal'c helped them both get their butts, and the rest of their bodies, over to where Jack stood beside a sloping pile of rubble. "Careful going up. Test everything before you trust it not to move."
Daniel glanced at the pile of rubble, then looked at Jack. "You've got to be kidding me. Up? That?"
"Yes. Now."
"I will carry you, Daniel Jackson," Teal'c said, and the offer sounded about as solid as Teal'c, so Daniel almost took him up on it. But then he thought how his weight might over-balance both of them. Back teeth gritted, he knew he'd better take the other option.
He went up fast, scrabbling over the unstable rocks, not giving them time to roll out before he was onto the next. He used both hands, and his boots and even his knees, and he scraped the hell out of his palms, but the Air Force seemed to make uniforms with the idea you'd be doing this to them, because the cloth came out better that he did. Once on flat ground, he gave into the pain and sat down hard, trying to breath through his mouth and the worst of it.
He realized Jack was yelling, so he got up and sidled over to the edge of what was a good sized pit. "Hey, Jack."
"Daniel, so help me-you have got to stop-"
"What? You said up now."
"I didn't mean hare outta here like a desert rabbit with its tail on fire."
"Oh, very funny, hare…rabbit."
Jack was starting to get red-faced from staring up-or maybe from something else-so Daniel decided to move away from the pit and sit down.
He heard a muffled debate-Sam saying something about how it was a good idea to go fast, and Jack still grousing about the need for caution.
"Didn't see you thinking about that when you were making a good size crater, Jack," Daniel yelled. Then he started counting, because the concussive shock was wearing off, meaning he was feeling every ache in every muscle, and about to crash from fatigue.
But Sam-not Jack-came up next. Scrambling up, so he'd bet she'd gone fast. Brushing off her hands, she glanced around.
They were just outside the largest building again-the gathering hall, Daniel had named it, in his head-and back in the main plaza, not far from the Stargate. The sun was starting to go down, and a bitter chill left Daniel happy to huddle against a stone wall that still held some warmth from the sun. Sam came over to sit next to him.
She'd shucked off her pack so she was missing it now, but she pulled a couple of aspirin from her vest pocket, and he decided he'd not only show her his snack stash when they got back, he'd give her half.
"Where'd you learn that?" she asked. He paused with her canteen halfway to his mouth and just looked at her. She grinned back. "Oh, dumb question-right. You've been climbing over ruins since when-college?"
"Oh, long before then." His mouth twisted. "About another lifetime before then."
She frowned and started to ask something, but Teal'c came up out of the rubble. He turned and lay belly to the ground and reached down. Jack's voice lifted, cursing, telling Teal'c he could make it on his own. They heard rocks slide, and more curses.
Daniel shook his head. "Is this going to get ugly?"
It didn't. Jack came out of the hole, dusty and grumpy, but with his gun still slung over his shoulder, and Daniel blinked at that. He'd gotten his glasses back on, and managed to wipe them somewhat free of dust by pulling his trouser pocket inside-out. But that had dust on it, too. About the only place he figured he didn't have that fine powder was next to his toes, because he knew how to lace boots tight enough that not even fine desert sand could make it inside.
Jack glanced around at them. He pulled his cap out of his back pocket, slapped it on his thigh-and when had he picked it up off the floor? Danile couldn’t remember. Jack raised enough of a dust cloud that Teal'c coughed and moved away. Glancing at him, Jack lifted a hand. "Hey, sorry…"
Daniel was pretty sure Jack wasn't talking about the dust and he glanced at Teal'c-who had his hands behind his back as if he didn't know what to do with them without something lethal in his grip. Daniel almost wanted to lean over and look back down in the hole for the staff weapon, or offer Teal’c his sidearm, but Teal'c inclined his head and said, "I shall endeavor to acquire another weapon before our next mission."
"Uhm…have you thought about switching to a gun?" Daniel asked.
Teal'c glanced at him, his head tipped, and Daniel wondered if he was getting this condescending courtesy because Teal'c thought non-warrior types needed to be indulged because of their inadequacies. But, then, Teal'c gave this kind of courtesy to Sam, and to the general, so maybe it was just his way of being nice.
"O'Neill's weapon is formidable. As is a staff weapon in the right hands."
With a smile, Daniel nodded. And no way was he stepping into that and saying Teal'c's hands were anything but right. "Well, uh, new staff weapon-getting one? Sounds dangerous."
Teal'c allowed an almost smile and his eyes brightened. "Indeed."
Sitting up, Sam brushed at the dust, then said, "There might be something left behind by Ra. We do have two more days here."
Looking at her-the bright eyes and the wind blush stung onto pale cheeks-Daniel decided he wasn't the only one who'd come out of this a little concussed. Then Jack looked up from staring into the hole, and glanced over to Sam.
"Think we could dig those rings out of that hall and-"
"Jack-you're talking about vandalizing a site that's probably the only thing left of these people!" Struggling to his feet, Daniel hugged his aching arm. "Besides, I doubt you could get those rings out without major destruction-Sam, could you get them out without destroying the hall?"
Biting her lower lip, she turned to spit out dust, then shook her head. "We don’t even know how they work-plus, if we got them out, it's doubtful we'd be able to interface working controls or a power source. And there's the risk that-"
"This is a find we should leave intact until there's technology that can be used to study it-that should become standard procedure."
Jack let out a breath, and Daniel braced for the verbal explosion. Instead, Jack looked at him, then said, "You're right."
Blinking, Daniel felt for a wall behind him so he could lean on it. "What?"
"It's a good idea. We'll button it up, and if we ever figure out how we can check this stuff out, we'll come back."
"Really?" Daniel said, and almost winced at that trace of wistful hope in his voice. He must be shockier than he knew to let that out. But he kept trying to remember the last time someone had agreed with him like this. Then he remembered people sitting around a table and agreeing that cultural imperatives were important, too. And he decided he could get to like this.
"Daniel, I get it. Really. Now let's go home. We'll go shopping with Teal'c later, after we get cleaned up."
Jack started to walk away, and Daniel glanced over as Sam started to follow Jack. Teal'c nodded, then fell into step the others.
Daniel blinked and for some odd reason, he wanted to sit down right where he was. Everything he'd been through in the past weeks hit in a rush, and he wondered suddenly if that damned whatever from those tunnels was still affecting him, since there was a fine tremor in his chest and a burn at the back of his eyes.
"Daniel!" Jack called out, startling him. He looked up and over at Jack-then looked around at the ruins.
But he'd just made a good argument for leaving. He'd also lost his pack with his video camera, and the only equipment they had was on the MALP. He'd even lost his journal, so he couldn't notate or record anything. And Jack was right-they really did need to get cleaned up.
Trailing after the others, he found them waiting, and he remembered what Jack had said.
You go-we go. You stay-we stay.
He didn't think that was actually practical or possible, but it was a good sentiment. And it began to sink in that Jack meant it. Trying to piece that together, he looked at Jack-really looked-and he wondered then what Jack saw in each of them. And suddenly, he had to know. He had to because it was important-something he could notate and record in his head.
Stopping, he asked, "Jack, what do you see in us?"
Everyone turned and stared at him, and the silence started to stretch to uncomfortable. Great, this was one of those times he should have kept his mouth shut.
Then Jack walked over to him, gave him a hard look, and jerked a thumb towards Sam.
"Carter there-she's an overeducated overachiever who wants to be one of the guys. And if anyone ever tells me she's not, I'll let her kick his ass for him."
Daniel glanced over at Sam, saw her expression move from stiff to a startled smile that she was trying to hide-so this must be a compliment. At least, it was good she was taking it that way, because Daniel wasn't sure he would.
Jack nodded to Teal'c next. "Him? Trouble on two legs, and if I tell him I know he's signed on for the long ride, he's going to make my life hell, because he is going to cut you two way too much slack, and me none. He's going to give Hammond headaches like no one else ever has. He's also going to keep you two from giving me those same headaches-aren't you?"
Jack glanced over to Teal'c and the larger man gave a small nod, and he also looked pleased with the summary, although Daniel doubted it was intended as flattery. Maybe that was the point-it wasn't flattery. It was honest. And blunt. Which pretty much summed up Jack, too.
"And you?" Jack said.
Almost wishing he hadn't asked, but still needing to know, Daniel glanced at the other man, then lifted his eyebrows and his chin. "Yes, me?"
Jack's eyebrows lifted even higher and a smile started but didn't quite escape. "Yep. You." With a thump on Daniel's shoulder, Jack turned and started back to the 'gate. Sam's eyes tightened with a question, and Teal'c stared at Daniel for a long moment before nodding and moving off.
Following, Daniel fell into step with Sam. She leaned closer and asked, "What was that about?"
Daniel thought about it, then looked at her and this time he did smile. "Honesty. I think."
"But-he didn't say anything about you?"
Daniel nodded. "Sam, aren't there things you just know? And-well, I'm probably going to end up saying them at some point anyway." Daniel let out a breath. Self-evaluation was important, but sometimes it was just damn exhausting. Today was one of those times so he'd just put off the rest of this if he could.
Sam scuffed her boot on the paving stone and glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. But then she nodded. "So you think we're his kind of people, then?"
Jack's voice lifted again, nagging, "Come on, kids. Bus is leaving, and we need to get Daniel patched before his warranty expires."
Hugging his injured arm even tighter, because every step jostled it, Daniel shook his head. He didn't really know what to think.
As Sam dialed home, Daniel looked at the city, trying to absorb details. Jack was next to him, bumped him with an elbow, so Daniel glanced at the man and thought about everything here they didn't understand-all the things almost in reach, but not.
He turned to Jack, because he wasn't done asking questions. "Do you think the number four here was something mystical-maybe a lucky number, even?"
Putting his hand on Daniel's good shoulder, Jack tried to keep his stare on the city, because, for some weird reason, when you looked at Daniel, you found yourself telling him things you didn't want to say in the first place. There were times the guy acted like a truth serum, and Jack knew it was because the guy demanded honesty from himself with such an intensity that it spilled out and started pulling the same from the people around him. Despite, his intentions, Jack found his stare pulled to Daniel anyway.
This close he had a good view of the wide, blue eyes behind the dust smeared glasses. All that focus that Daniel could bring sizzled like a live wire sparking in those eyes. And Jack found himself revisiting the almosts and the what ifs.
They'd had a close scrape here, but it would have been worse without Daniel poking into things, and without Carter and Daniel getting their heads together. And without Teal'c to ground them all, like that favorite uncle you'd always wanted who'd spoil you crazy but remember your bedtime and get you there.
There was lots to work with these three, yet, but not a bad start. At least he’d gotten what he'd wanted from these ruins. Glancing at the other two, Jack gave them a nod.
Sam sent them a smile, then stepped through the active wormhole, Teal'c strode in a step behind her. Jack left his hand on Daniel's good shoulder, kept the touch light, but made it strong enough to turn Daniel to the 'gate and start pushing him through.
"Oh, yeah, Daniel," he said, as he let a smile out. "Four's lucky all right."
Daniel wasn't sure when things stopped falling on him, but it was after the gong in his ears stopped ringing. He blinked, coughed, and could see nothing. Dust coated his glasses. He coughed again, wincing as pain flared in his shoulder. So he kept still. He had weight on his good shoulder, and on his legs, and he had his head bent over.
Buried alive, he thought. The detached interest left him certain he had a minor concussion, because under normal circumstances this situation would be causing serious panic.
He'd had a concussion once before and knew how you felt fine, and then couldn't remember things like which end of the tent was the one you went into. He could also remember Sam saying something about the impact of sound in a small space, but this was his first experience with anything like that, so he started to sit up so he could take better note of what it was like. That had the pain flaring again, so he let out a muffled, "Ouch."
"Daniel?"
Jack's voice sounded a long way off, and for some reason that just plain irritated. "Well, it's not Casper, or whoever the hell you thought we'd find here."
Something shifted off his legs, then off his shoulder and head, and he was able to look up and over his dusty glasses. Jack was a blurry figure to the left-and seemed to be leaning on something since he wasn't quite vertical. Daniel looked over and saw Sam crouched next to him. He almost laughed at how she looked. Instead, he put out a finger and drew a line down her cheek.
"Face powder," he said, and grinned. He heard a clatter and glanced toward the sound. Teal'c was standing and just as grime coated. "You look like a ghost. Like Casper?"
"I assure you, Daniel Jackson, I am a living being."
"Well, some people think spirits are alive, too. God, I'm babbling, aren’t I?"
"No more than usual. You need a hand?" Jack asked.
Daniel thought about it, willed his legs to move. They did, and that was about as far as it went. "Yeah, I think I could do." He held up a hand as he frowned at that sentence, because something was wrong with it.
While he thought about words, Teal'c pulled him up and left him propped against a wall, and then Teal’c pulled Sam-Captain Carter-to her feet, so it wasn't as embarrassing as it could have been that he needed to be hauled around like this. Daniel leaned toward her. "It's like being drunk without the fun part."
She smiled up at him, her teeth white amid the dust. "Just the day after-I'll take a day after this anytime."
He swiped a matching mark down her other cheek and told her, "War paint."
With a nod, she took off his glasses, folded them and tucked them into his vest pocket. Then she drew wavy lines on his forehead. "That means I like you in the local dialect."
"Will you two get your dusty butts over here!"
Jack's muted shout had them both glancing over at him, and Daniel hoped he didn't look as guilty as Sam did. She blanked the look, and he decided that when he got back to the base, he could trust her with the secret to where his snack cache was kept. It was a habit he'd acquired in grad school, when he'd more or less lived off rice and anything else cheap and able to survive storage. Teal'c helped them both get their butts, and the rest of their bodies, over to where Jack stood beside a sloping pile of rubble. "Careful going up. Test everything before you trust it not to move."
Daniel glanced at the pile of rubble, then looked at Jack. "You've got to be kidding me. Up? That?"
"Yes. Now."
"I will carry you, Daniel Jackson," Teal'c said, and the offer sounded about as solid as Teal'c, so Daniel almost took him up on it. But then he thought how his weight might over-balance both of them. Back teeth gritted, he knew he'd better take the other option.
He went up fast, scrabbling over the unstable rocks, not giving them time to roll out before he was onto the next. He used both hands, and his boots and even his knees, and he scraped the hell out of his palms, but the Air Force seemed to make uniforms with the idea you'd be doing this to them, because the cloth came out better that he did. Once on flat ground, he gave into the pain and sat down hard, trying to breath through his mouth and the worst of it.
He realized Jack was yelling, so he got up and sidled over to the edge of what was a good sized pit. "Hey, Jack."
"Daniel, so help me-you have got to stop-"
"What? You said up now."
"I didn't mean hare outta here like a desert rabbit with its tail on fire."
"Oh, very funny, hare…rabbit."
Jack was starting to get red-faced from staring up-or maybe from something else-so Daniel decided to move away from the pit and sit down.
He heard a muffled debate-Sam saying something about how it was a good idea to go fast, and Jack still grousing about the need for caution.
"Didn't see you thinking about that when you were making a good size crater, Jack," Daniel yelled. Then he started counting, because the concussive shock was wearing off, meaning he was feeling every ache in every muscle, and about to crash from fatigue.
But Sam-not Jack-came up next. Scrambling up, so he'd bet she'd gone fast. Brushing off her hands, she glanced around.
They were just outside the largest building again-the gathering hall, Daniel had named it, in his head-and back in the main plaza, not far from the Stargate. The sun was starting to go down, and a bitter chill left Daniel happy to huddle against a stone wall that still held some warmth from the sun. Sam came over to sit next to him.
She'd shucked off her pack so she was missing it now, but she pulled a couple of aspirin from her vest pocket, and he decided he'd not only show her his snack stash when they got back, he'd give her half.
"Where'd you learn that?" she asked. He paused with her canteen halfway to his mouth and just looked at her. She grinned back. "Oh, dumb question-right. You've been climbing over ruins since when-college?"
"Oh, long before then." His mouth twisted. "About another lifetime before then."
She frowned and started to ask something, but Teal'c came up out of the rubble. He turned and lay belly to the ground and reached down. Jack's voice lifted, cursing, telling Teal'c he could make it on his own. They heard rocks slide, and more curses.
Daniel shook his head. "Is this going to get ugly?"
It didn't. Jack came out of the hole, dusty and grumpy, but with his gun still slung over his shoulder, and Daniel blinked at that. He'd gotten his glasses back on, and managed to wipe them somewhat free of dust by pulling his trouser pocket inside-out. But that had dust on it, too. About the only place he figured he didn't have that fine powder was next to his toes, because he knew how to lace boots tight enough that not even fine desert sand could make it inside.
Jack glanced around at them. He pulled his cap out of his back pocket, slapped it on his thigh-and when had he picked it up off the floor? Danile couldn’t remember. Jack raised enough of a dust cloud that Teal'c coughed and moved away. Glancing at him, Jack lifted a hand. "Hey, sorry…"
Daniel was pretty sure Jack wasn't talking about the dust and he glanced at Teal'c-who had his hands behind his back as if he didn't know what to do with them without something lethal in his grip. Daniel almost wanted to lean over and look back down in the hole for the staff weapon, or offer Teal’c his sidearm, but Teal'c inclined his head and said, "I shall endeavor to acquire another weapon before our next mission."
"Uhm…have you thought about switching to a gun?" Daniel asked.
Teal'c glanced at him, his head tipped, and Daniel wondered if he was getting this condescending courtesy because Teal'c thought non-warrior types needed to be indulged because of their inadequacies. But, then, Teal'c gave this kind of courtesy to Sam, and to the general, so maybe it was just his way of being nice.
"O'Neill's weapon is formidable. As is a staff weapon in the right hands."
With a smile, Daniel nodded. And no way was he stepping into that and saying Teal'c's hands were anything but right. "Well, uh, new staff weapon-getting one? Sounds dangerous."
Teal'c allowed an almost smile and his eyes brightened. "Indeed."
Sitting up, Sam brushed at the dust, then said, "There might be something left behind by Ra. We do have two more days here."
Looking at her-the bright eyes and the wind blush stung onto pale cheeks-Daniel decided he wasn't the only one who'd come out of this a little concussed. Then Jack looked up from staring into the hole, and glanced over to Sam.
"Think we could dig those rings out of that hall and-"
"Jack-you're talking about vandalizing a site that's probably the only thing left of these people!" Struggling to his feet, Daniel hugged his aching arm. "Besides, I doubt you could get those rings out without major destruction-Sam, could you get them out without destroying the hall?"
Biting her lower lip, she turned to spit out dust, then shook her head. "We don’t even know how they work-plus, if we got them out, it's doubtful we'd be able to interface working controls or a power source. And there's the risk that-"
"This is a find we should leave intact until there's technology that can be used to study it-that should become standard procedure."
Jack let out a breath, and Daniel braced for the verbal explosion. Instead, Jack looked at him, then said, "You're right."
Blinking, Daniel felt for a wall behind him so he could lean on it. "What?"
"It's a good idea. We'll button it up, and if we ever figure out how we can check this stuff out, we'll come back."
"Really?" Daniel said, and almost winced at that trace of wistful hope in his voice. He must be shockier than he knew to let that out. But he kept trying to remember the last time someone had agreed with him like this. Then he remembered people sitting around a table and agreeing that cultural imperatives were important, too. And he decided he could get to like this.
"Daniel, I get it. Really. Now let's go home. We'll go shopping with Teal'c later, after we get cleaned up."
Jack started to walk away, and Daniel glanced over as Sam started to follow Jack. Teal'c nodded, then fell into step the others.
Daniel blinked and for some odd reason, he wanted to sit down right where he was. Everything he'd been through in the past weeks hit in a rush, and he wondered suddenly if that damned whatever from those tunnels was still affecting him, since there was a fine tremor in his chest and a burn at the back of his eyes.
"Daniel!" Jack called out, startling him. He looked up and over at Jack-then looked around at the ruins.
But he'd just made a good argument for leaving. He'd also lost his pack with his video camera, and the only equipment they had was on the MALP. He'd even lost his journal, so he couldn't notate or record anything. And Jack was right-they really did need to get cleaned up.
Trailing after the others, he found them waiting, and he remembered what Jack had said.
You go-we go. You stay-we stay.
He didn't think that was actually practical or possible, but it was a good sentiment. And it began to sink in that Jack meant it. Trying to piece that together, he looked at Jack-really looked-and he wondered then what Jack saw in each of them. And suddenly, he had to know. He had to because it was important-something he could notate and record in his head.
Stopping, he asked, "Jack, what do you see in us?"
Everyone turned and stared at him, and the silence started to stretch to uncomfortable. Great, this was one of those times he should have kept his mouth shut.
Then Jack walked over to him, gave him a hard look, and jerked a thumb towards Sam.
"Carter there-she's an overeducated overachiever who wants to be one of the guys. And if anyone ever tells me she's not, I'll let her kick his ass for him."
Daniel glanced over at Sam, saw her expression move from stiff to a startled smile that she was trying to hide-so this must be a compliment. At least, it was good she was taking it that way, because Daniel wasn't sure he would.
Jack nodded to Teal'c next. "Him? Trouble on two legs, and if I tell him I know he's signed on for the long ride, he's going to make my life hell, because he is going to cut you two way too much slack, and me none. He's going to give Hammond headaches like no one else ever has. He's also going to keep you two from giving me those same headaches-aren't you?"
Jack glanced over to Teal'c and the larger man gave a small nod, and he also looked pleased with the summary, although Daniel doubted it was intended as flattery. Maybe that was the point-it wasn't flattery. It was honest. And blunt. Which pretty much summed up Jack, too.
"And you?" Jack said.
Almost wishing he hadn't asked, but still needing to know, Daniel glanced at the other man, then lifted his eyebrows and his chin. "Yes, me?"
Jack's eyebrows lifted even higher and a smile started but didn't quite escape. "Yep. You." With a thump on Daniel's shoulder, Jack turned and started back to the 'gate. Sam's eyes tightened with a question, and Teal'c stared at Daniel for a long moment before nodding and moving off.
Following, Daniel fell into step with Sam. She leaned closer and asked, "What was that about?"
Daniel thought about it, then looked at her and this time he did smile. "Honesty. I think."
"But-he didn't say anything about you?"
Daniel nodded. "Sam, aren't there things you just know? And-well, I'm probably going to end up saying them at some point anyway." Daniel let out a breath. Self-evaluation was important, but sometimes it was just damn exhausting. Today was one of those times so he'd just put off the rest of this if he could.
Sam scuffed her boot on the paving stone and glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. But then she nodded. "So you think we're his kind of people, then?"
Jack's voice lifted again, nagging, "Come on, kids. Bus is leaving, and we need to get Daniel patched before his warranty expires."
Hugging his injured arm even tighter, because every step jostled it, Daniel shook his head. He didn't really know what to think.
As Sam dialed home, Daniel looked at the city, trying to absorb details. Jack was next to him, bumped him with an elbow, so Daniel glanced at the man and thought about everything here they didn't understand-all the things almost in reach, but not.
He turned to Jack, because he wasn't done asking questions. "Do you think the number four here was something mystical-maybe a lucky number, even?"
Putting his hand on Daniel's good shoulder, Jack tried to keep his stare on the city, because, for some weird reason, when you looked at Daniel, you found yourself telling him things you didn't want to say in the first place. There were times the guy acted like a truth serum, and Jack knew it was because the guy demanded honesty from himself with such an intensity that it spilled out and started pulling the same from the people around him. Despite, his intentions, Jack found his stare pulled to Daniel anyway.
This close he had a good view of the wide, blue eyes behind the dust smeared glasses. All that focus that Daniel could bring sizzled like a live wire sparking in those eyes. And Jack found himself revisiting the almosts and the what ifs.
They'd had a close scrape here, but it would have been worse without Daniel poking into things, and without Carter and Daniel getting their heads together. And without Teal'c to ground them all, like that favorite uncle you'd always wanted who'd spoil you crazy but remember your bedtime and get you there.
There was lots to work with these three, yet, but not a bad start. At least he’d gotten what he'd wanted from these ruins. Glancing at the other two, Jack gave them a nod.
Sam sent them a smile, then stepped through the active wormhole, Teal'c strode in a step behind her. Jack left his hand on Daniel's good shoulder, kept the touch light, but made it strong enough to turn Daniel to the 'gate and start pushing him through.
"Oh, yeah, Daniel," he said, as he let a smile out. "Four's lucky all right."