Naked Once More
written by: Ozymandia
dana@ozymandia.org
Summary:
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Spoilers for FiaD, CotG
Category: H/C
Pairing: None
Warning: None
Disclaimer: They don't belong to me, and neither does anything else currently
in my possession. Suing
me is useless, and will bring you nothing but lawyer's fees.
Author's Note: A response to the FNF challenge on Alpha Gate.
Daniel sat on the edge of the dais, moving the tablet in his
hand away from
his face, then closer, in an attempt to make sense of it.
With a loud sigh, he gave up and dropped it into his lap.
Since Sha're had been ki... since Sha're had *died*, he hadn't
been able to
make sense of anything. Languages danced in front of his eyes as
incomprehensible squiggles; photographs were a blur of colours; his thoughts
were scattered and chaotic.
Jack had actually burst into his office this morning, out of
breath from a run
down the corridors, concerned because not only did Daniel's report have
spelling errors, but the grammar was atrocious and he'd left out an urn he'd
been particularly passionate about on the planet.
Daniel didn't even know that Jack read his reports.
He guessed he shouldn't be surprised. Ever since returning from
Abydos the
first time, after Sha're had been taken by the Goa'uld, and his life had been
ripped away from him, Jack had been there for him. Jack had taken him into
his home, fed and clothed him, keeping him alive and sane.
Daniel was feeling a lot like he had back then... was it really
only three years ago?
A terrible feeling of loss, of being cast out of his life and into the wilds,
naked
and alone.
He shivered as a breeze moved through the temple where he was
sitting. Naked
seemed appropriate on this cold damp world. Soon he'd fall apart, disintegrate,
rot like so many of these artifacts had in this climate that was so wrong
for them.
"Hey, Daniel."
He looked up to see Jack, P90 clasped in one hand, a steaming
mug in the other.
Daniel set the tablet down as Jack approached, sitting down on the dais, placing
the mug between them. "I thought maybe you could use this. This damp
can't be
doing you any good. I know my knees feel like they're going to fall off."
Daniel smiled slightly, reaching over for the welcome heat of
the coffee, taking a
cautious sip.
"Why don't you call it an early night? Bring the rock with
you." Jack gestured at the
tablet. "It'll be much warmer over by the fire, and we have blankets."
His friend
stretched the word blankets out like a reward.
Daniel felt warmer already. Jack would take him home. Jack would
look after his soul,
would comfort him, and keep him whole.
Daniel nodded, and stood, leaving the tablet where it lay on
the dais. There would be
time to translate later.
Daniel let Jack's concern wrap around him like a cloak, and
they headed back to their
camp together.