Daniel sat cradling his cup of coffee between his hands as he stared off in a day dream. Sam entered the mess room, saw him in the corner and headed over there once she had her food.

"Morning," she smiled brightly. He sniffed as he came to life, glanced at her quickly then put his cup down.

"Morning, Sam. How are you feeling?"

The captain shrugged. "After three days of R&R, I'm not really ready for work again," she admitted as she stirred her tea. Her companion silently nodded, then turned his face to stare out of the window once more.

She noted his peculiar mood and wondered if he'd been getting much sleep lately. Then she smiled to herself when she realised how that sounded.

"You okay?" She asked cautiously, lifting the cup to her lips and blowing gently over the steaming brew.

Tucking his fingers under the left lens of his glasses, Daniel rubbed his eye. "I'm tired, actually."

She bit her lips together to hide her smirk, but when she saw the serious look in his eyes, she thought twice about making a flippant comment. He sat forward, again cradling his hands around his cup, then his whole body shook with a forlorn sigh.

"Anything you want to talk about?" she asked, before popping some raisin toast into her mouth. Daniel's lips parted to say something, but he shook his head and snapped his mouth closed once more.

"Sure?" She asked, prodding gently. He frowned as he stared into the black liquid before him.

"I guess this problem with Jack has really started to get to me. We were once so close and now he's.. " he lifted his cup to his lips and then froze, staring over the rim of the cup towards Sam's shoulder. Colonel O'Neill stood behind the Captain's chair. Without turning around, she stared over at Daniel.

"He's behind me, isn't he?" she mumbled past the food in her mouth. Daniel nodded as he put his cup down, pushed himself up and left the mess hall. Turning, she winced slightly when Jack sat beside her.

"Morning," she muttered, realising it had gotten off to a rotten start already.

.o0o.

After the mission..

A weary and dirty SG-1 returned through the gate from P3x09987 approximately five hours after embarking. Sam was assisted to the infirmary, where her twisted ankle was going to be looked at. Hammond stood in the Gate room, watching the rest of the team head down the ramp. Daniel and Teal'c followed Sam straight from the room.

"Colonel? Anything to report?"

Sighing heavily, Jack shrugged. "No, not really, Sir. Daniel wasn't looking where he was going, Carter tried to stop him from going over the edge of a cliff and promptly sprained her ankle for her efforts. All in all, another day at the office, sir."

Hammond looked slightly amused by the colonel's rendition of the mission.

"Alright, get showered and checked out. We can debrief in one hour." The general jutted his thumb over his shoulder towards the exit doors.

.o0o.

Sam tried to offer her friend a comforting smile, but Daniel's face was downcast, his eyes hadn't left the titled floor since he entered the infirmary. Janet finished checking him over then gave him the all clear to leave. He nodded silently, then headed off to the briefing room. Janet looked at Sam, and sighed.

.o0o.

After the debriefing Daniel headed off to change for home. Waiting until the other officer left the locker room he sat down on the bench tiredly. Sam entered, limping slightly on her bandaged foot.

"Hey there." She opened her door and reached inside. When he didn't answer she went over to him. "What's up? You're not still worried about this? Because you know, it was just an accident."

Daniel blinked quickly as if he'd just been woken up, then he turned to look at her with a startled look on his face. It was obvious to her that he hadn't heard a word she'd said to him.

"Daniel?" She frowned, realising that whatever his problem was, it was *bad*. Ever since their discussion over breakfast she'd been concerned for him.

He sniffed back loudly and then coughed. "Graham and I.." He said quietly, his nose screwing up slightly and his tongue darting out to lick nervously at his lips. He stared at his hands as if they held the answer to the Universe. Sam frowned, taking a moment to assess the situation, then she covered his hands with hers.

"You've separated?"

After a deep inhale of breath, he nodded as he turned his face away from her. He fought with all his being against the tears that threatened his eyes while she ran her hand over his shoulder then down his back, pulling him into a hug and resting her chin on his shoulder.

"When?" she asked, then heard the soft hitch of breath.

"Three nights ago."

"No wonder your mind wasn't on your..," She stopped when he lifted his face to look at her. "Sorry," she cringed, seeing the pain and regret in his eyes.

"Oh, gods, Sam! I'm really sorry about your ankle," he sounded miserable. She shook her head adamantly.

"It was an accident! That's all!"

He looked at her like he didn't believe her, but was grateful for the reassurance. "Thanks."

The young officer watched her distraught friend closely. Finally she had to say something.

"Daniel you went through that whole mission today? I had no idea." Then she bit her lips together as she saw that the stoic appearance Daniel had maintained all day was starting to ebb away. She pressed on, gently, "What happened?"

He gave a silent shrug, not sure if he was capable of saying out loud the reason for the separation. She sat back, then cupped her hand under his chin to make him look at her. "Why didn't you say something earlier?"

He shrugged again, "Like what? 'Morning Sam. Oh, by the way I broke up with Grae the other night?'" His voice grew quiet as his breath hitched again.

Sam wet her lips quickly then she rubbed his back a little more. "You wanna go and grab a beer together?"

He shook his head. "No, thanks," he said softly, turning to smile sadly at her. She nodded.

"Should I get the heck out of here then?" She smiled. He laughed softly then reached over and patted her hand. Jack walked in.

"Wow," he said when he saw the intimate embrace the couple was in. Both faces looked up at him. He was about to say something flippant but by the looks on their faces he thought he'd interrupted a very private moment so he went straight to his locker, grabbed his watch then left without another word. Sam looked back at Daniel, who looked down.

"That was strange.." she sighed. He snorted but said nothing.

Sam looked at him, her brow furrowed slightly then she sighed. "Sure about that drink?" she asked, brushing his hair back out of his eyes. He nodded and tilted his face to look at her again.

"Thanks anyway."

Sam gave him one more reassuring smile. "Well, Janet and I will be heading to the 'Bull and Bear', so if you change your mind." Rising to her feet, she was a little reluctant to leave him. He nodded and looked at his clasped hands again. Sam hesitated a moment longer then ran her hand across his back briefly before leaving.

Daniel sat for a few moments then he stood and at the same time Graham entered the locker room. Their eyes met briefly before the younger Officer diverted his sad brown eyes. Daniel sighed heavily as he looked into his locker while Graham gave him a wide berth on the way to his own locker a few doors from Daniel's. Both men felt the tension in the air, then slowly Daniel closed his door and looked at Graham.

"You okay?" he asked. Graham nodded, wetting his impossibly pink lips quickly.

"You?" his voice sounded rougher than he'd hoped, so he gave a soft cough.

"I'm.. yeah, I'm.." Daniel shrugged. Graham sniffed harshly then reached in and grabbed a shoe box from his locker and passed it to Daniel without looking at him. The archaeologist frowned.

"It's your stuff.... from my place." Graham shrugged, jangling the box in his hands. Daniel nodded, taking the proffered box.

"That was quick!" He sighed as he slid it onto the shelf in his locker without even looking in it. Graham nodded. "I guess *he* doesn't like my stuff around, huh?"

The younger man inhaled shakily. "Daniel, look I'm really sorry..."

Holding his hand out to silence him, the archaeologist shrugged. Walking in and finding his lover entangled with another man on the sofa was something Daniel didn't need to relive again. He'd been tossing that image over and over in his mind for the past two days. At the time, Graham had tried to discuss it rationally, but it was hard to take a half naked man seriously when he tried to blame his infidelity on a certain 'platonic' friend and colonel. Daniel, being the soft touch that he was though, controlled all his feelings of betrayal and anger while he waited for the 'other man' to dress and leave. Then he and Graham sat down together to talk it out - rationally.

It always came back to the same thing. Jack scared Simmons.

His power on the base scared him. The fact that he knew and didn't approve of the relationship terrified the younger officer. He tried to make Daniel understand that as a Superior officer, Jack was someone Graham needed to fear - career wise! Daniel didn't see it. He'd agreed that Jack was being rude, obstinate and unbearable, but he didn't believe his friend would ever really do anything to reveal the relationship on Base. He then went on to argue that Jack alone couldn't make the lieutenant unfaithful.

Graham tried to tell him that it started out as just two good friends talking over his fears at work and ended in a 'comfort-fuck' - nothing more! Daniel had snorted that from the position they were in when he walked in on them - it didn't look too *comfortable* actually! Simmons ended the argument with the accusation that whenever Jack looked at him lately, he looked like a jealous lover - wanting to throw him through a wall. That was when Daniel threw his hands in the air and stormed out of the apartment, unwilling to listen to Graham use Jack as an excuse any longer.

It took him two days of soul searching to realise that maybe, just maybe, Graham was right. Jack was certainly being obnoxious to him - his friend, so he couldn't even imagine what he was like to the young officer. And Jack *had* made that comment at the Temple about Hammond finding out about Graham.

Daniel's emotions shifted blame from Graham to Jack all day, and now his head was swimming, he was tired and he missed his lover desperately. Standing close enough to smell him drove Daniel to distraction. He wanted him so much. Wanted the gentleness they shared together, the intimacy they had, the companionship he'd lacked since Sha're..

"I'll bring in the jacket tomorrow," the younger man said, pulling the archaeologist from his pain filled thoughts.

"Jacket?" Daniel stammered softly as he tried to refocus his concentration.

"The soft leather one," Graham said, his brown eyes on the verge of tears.

"That," Daniel croaked before swallowing his emotions, "that was a gift." Coughing slightly, he felt the tears sting his own eyes at the thought of receiving back that gift. "I bought that for you. It was a birthday present," he said, resting his shoulder and head against the grey locker beside him, using it for support. Unblinkingly, he stared at Graham, watching as the other man shook his head and looked into his locker once more.

"Don't look at me, Daniel!" He sighed as a tear fell down his cheek, glistening in the light of the room. Closing his eyes, Daniel imagined himself running his lips over the silky skin once more, kissing the salty tear from the cheek. Opening his eyes and sucking back a deep calming breath, Daniel took a step closer to him. Graham pursed his lips together and shook his head as he tried to look away further from the approaching man.

"Graham," Daniel whispered softly and the younger man heard the tears in the back of his throat.

"Dan, please!" He hissed quietly.

Suddenly the sound of a locker slamming shut behind them startled them both, but neither moved: they just froze in their position, aware they were probably overheard. Daniel remained with his eyes locked onto Graham and the younger man tried to stop himself from letting anymore tears fall. He shot a quick look over Daniel's shoulder, his eyes growing large as he recognised the man behind him, then he scurried from the room.

Daniel clamped his eyes shut as he slumped against the row of lockers. He sucked in a breath, like his lungs weren't working properly then he sighed shakily, gaining control of his own tears. He felt hands touch him on both shoulders and he stiffened up. Recognizing Jack's aftershave, his head began to spin and he was too weak to protest as Jack guided him back against his own chest.

"You okay?" He asked, his hand's squeezing Daniel's shoulders. The younger man shook his head and dropped his chin to his chest. "That didn't look good," Jack said uncharacteristically gently, his lips close to Daniel's ear. The wretched man nodded and Jack knew then that he couldn't talk. He slipped his arms around his friend and hugged him from behind, hearing the soft sobs finally escape from his trembling friend.

"Shh.." Jack whispered, unaware his face was nudging Daniel's ear gently. Daniel gripped himself around the waist, squeezing himself tightly, trying to fight the loud sobs that threatened to flow forth.

"Come on," Jack led him from the locker room, keeping one arm around his friend as they headed up to his office.

*/*/*/*

Moments later..

Daniel's hands visibly shook as he clutched the tumbler of scotch between them. Jack sat on the opposite side of his desk, watching the young man, listening to the glass chatter against his teeth as he tried to drink the warming liquid in a vain attempt to calm the shakes. The colonel knew what the shakes were from. He'd seen them before - had them before. They were the results of forcibly suppressing one's emotions. Driving down anger, pain and tears - deep within oneself, disallowing them to surface and be dealt with.

His friend was a time bomb, ready to explode.

Jack blinked and sat forward, his elbows resting on his thighs as he looked down into his own glass of scotch. Slowly he tilted his head up to look at Daniel.

"So it's over?" he said, watching his friend wince slightly. "Mind if I ask when?"

Daniel visibly fought tears, his jaw working against them. "Three nights ago."

Jack cursed himself. He'd been making off the cuff remarks about the two of them again during this mission, thankfully not as bad as he had been, but enough. Daniel had just glared at him, not saying a word, except muttering once more about the transfer to SG-11. The colonel shook his head, silently reprimanding himself for his tactless behavior.

"Daniel, listen, I'm really sorry..."

His voice was full of contrition as he watched his friend just shrug. "No, Danny, really I am.." he said.

The red rimmed blue eyes looked up at him then Daniel nodded again, a little more honestly now.

Jack went on, "Why the hell didn't you just tell me to shut up?" He grimaced a little when he saw the flash within Daniel's eyes now, "Yeah, well, you could have really put me in my spot by telling me earlier!"

Daniel peeled his glasses from his face, squeezing his thumb and forefinger against his tired eyes. His heavy hearted sigh said it all.

//Why the hell should I have to, *friend*?!//

Jack heard that, plain and simply.

Dropping his voice to a quiet sincerity, the colonel said, "Daniel, you should have told me."

"Never let your personal life interfere with your work. Isn't that the creed, Jack?" Daniel mumbled as he stretched out, arms tight across his chest once more.

"Says who?"

Scoffing softly, Daniel almost yawned. "It was something Sam told me when she was dealing with Cassie. 'Nothing should get in the way of the mission!', or something like that," he waved his hand as he finished the sentence in a low mumble, his eyes closing slowly.

"Well," Jack straightened up in his seat, "that's true, for military personnel."

Daniel opened one eye lazily and looked at Jack.

"Whatever," he said, pushing himself up to stand. He drained what was left in his tumbler before heading to the door.

"Where are you going?" Jack looked up in surprise.

"Home," he said, clutching the knob in his fist. "I'm taking this mood and this headache home to bed. Night Jack."

"Wait! We should talk. What the hell did you mean earlier when you said that *I* was the cause of your break up?" Jack asked, hoping that maybe it was because of feelings Daniel had for him that he ended things with Simmons. Judging by the anger though, and the pained look on the scientist's face now, Jack realised the chances of that were slim.

Daniel shook his head slowly, waving his hand in front of his face. "Forget it. Jack."

"Daniel!" the Colonel growled, but could see he wasn't going to win this argument.

Pulling the door open, Daniel looked back at the Colonel. "Thanks. For the drink and," he shrugged, "well, for caring - in your kind of way."

As he felt the door shut behind him, he added to himself, " Albeit too late." He headed off home.

Jack watched the door shut and looked at the glass of scotch in his hand before lifting it to drain it, then he reached forward and grabbed the bottle, tightened the lid and put it back in his drawer. He reached across the desk and picked up Daniel's glass then he took them both over to the small hand basin in the corner of his room, cleaned them and put them back with the bottle.

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