No, they had the second Stargate, Daniel would be fine. But you just never knew what they were doing to the gate, testing things on it, changing chevrons around. Jack let out a small groan. Daniel wouldn't be coming home, and even if he was, it was only to a missing mountain and a dead friend. He found it hard to believe that in the short time he had known Daniel, he'd become very close. Damnit! The kid was like a son to him. And he was about to be fatherless, again. Jack felt tears welling and forced them back down 'Not now O'neil! Be strong, the kid'll be okay. He always is' his thought were interrupted by his companion. "It's all right. I was just thinking of my parents" Jack turned to him.
He hated this man, he'd taken months from him and never looked back. But Daniel wasn't here to talk to, only he was. "Your parents still alive?" the other man nodded "Yep, still going on". Jack pulled up a chair and sat down in it backwards, his former C.O sat opposite "Who you thinking about? Girl?" Jack let out a small snort "To be honest, a guy" the man frowned "Your son?" Jack sighed "No, he died shortly after I returned, my...my other son". "I didn't know you had another-" Jack cut him off "He's not really my son, he's on Sg-1 with me, Carter and Teal'c. He's off world at the moment..." Jack's voice softened "I told him too, have a holiday from us I said. Now he's never going to see me again and he’ll never really know how much he meant to all of us…" The other man cut in.
"Don't talk nonsense. We've got time to run, we'll make it, and then I’ll shout you both a meal" Jack closed his eyes "How's he going to come back home if we blow the 'gate?" the other man fell silent. "This kid means a lot to you, huh?" Jack nodded and scrubbed a hand through his short hair. "The funny thing is, we're complete opposites! I say jump and he says fall, I say yes and he says no. And he’s a scientist…a scientist! A nerd, a scholar, a brainy bucket, a too smart kid, a…a friend" "That's how it happens sometimes" Jack nodded and stood glancing back at his watch "Sorry to say this to you, but if anyone, I wish I could die with him, not some scum bag who left me behind".
The other man dropped his head but said nothing, he then stood and nodded "This kid sounds like a descent one, lord knows I tried to get your trust but you never gave it to me, this...this-" "Daniel, his name is Daniel" he nodded "This Daniel has got it and I bet he doesn't even know". Jack had to sit again. He was right, Daniel didn't know. Damn! Why had he been so pig headed? Why hadn't he just said to Daniel 'You're my friend, my best friend and I trust you with my life'. Jack’s thought were interuppted by a crudely put "Time to roll!" Jack stood and turned to his computer, while his companion did the same "You ready?" "No" "Let's do this" Jack sighed, there was no backing out. He typed in his password and prayed to god that his last words would reached Daniel 'Thanks for believing in me Daniel, thanks for being my friend'.
"Five, four, three, two, on-" They both were about to hit enter when Carter ran in "Stop! Don't press enter!!!" Jack pulled his hand back and let out his breath. 'Looks like I won't be saying goodbye after all Danny-boy' Jack slumped back down into his chair and smiled 'got to remember to tell you Daniel, I must remember to do that'.
