The Christmas Gift -  Part 3

Daniel entered the wood shed and smiled politely as Susan. She looked from him to Jack then wrapped her coat around herself more tightly against the evening breeze. The anthropologist looked at his friend. Jack, sweating with exertion, had tugged his long sleeves of his undershirt up his arms and his forearms glistened with perspiration. He smiled as he reached down for some wood then settled it on he chopping block.

"Get the splinter out?"

Daniel frowned then held up the bandaged hand. Jack smiled, nodded then went back to chopping wood. "Come to help me again?" He asked with a chuckle as he lifted the axe over his head and slammed it into the wood, splitting it easily. Daniel tilted his head at the sheer exertion that required then smiled as he wet his lips.

"No."

Susan laughed then wrapped her heavy coat around herself again.

"Actually," Daniel said, his teeth gritted in an awkward smile as his eyes flitted from Susan to Jack. "I came to talk .. to you..."

The pretty woman looked at her brother then nodded. "I'll head back inside," she said, smiling as she passed Daniel. The young man folded his arms across his body as he twisted to watch her go then he swung around and met Jack's inquisitive gaze head on.

"I'm all yours.." Jack said, holding his arms wide as he shrugged.

Daniel smiled slightly then bowed his head, bringing his thumb up to press against his lips.

"Apparently so.." He muttered, lifting his face and looking at his friend through slightly squinted eyes.

The older man's brow furrowed deeply. "Huh?"

Daniel perched himself against a stack of old tires as he laced his fingers together and dropped them into his lap. Jack watched him closely then dropped the spilt wood off the block before settling himself onto it. Their feet almost met in the middle of the room as Jack waited, hand resting on the handle of the axe, for Daniel to talk.

The younger man finally raised his chin; a pensive expression filled his face. "Jack, why didn't you ever tell me you're .. ah.. gay?"

Jack, who'd been digging the tip of the axe into a small block of wood beside his legs, stumbled at the frank question, dropping the axe as he struggled to straighten himself up. He snapped his head up and stared into the unblinking blue eyes. Daniel gave him a slight smile before dipping his face once more, then frowned as he stared at his feet. "I've just had the most interesting conversation with your father," he told him.

"My..?" Jack's head tilted then his eyes flashed as he said, "Daniel??"

Sucking in a long, deep breath, Daniel looked around the shed avoiding Jack's eyes as he went on to explain, "He thinks we're together.."

Jack stood abruptly, pushing his hand through his short gray hair. He paced, one hand on his hip as he allowed the other hand to scrub down his face before dropping to slap against his leg. He swung around quickly, his eyes full of questions, all of which Daniel seemed to know the answers to.

"Apparently your mother told him. Just before she died.."

Jack's mouth parted further as he inhaled a quick, deep breath. He frowned then looked back at Daniel, again saying nothing but getting the answer he needed; "He was actually quite nice to me," then he added as he dropped his face and looked at his shoes once more, "no wonder he keeps calling me son.."

Jack gave a sharp cough then muttered, "he calls everyone son..."

"Except.." Daniel said, rising to his feet and going closer to his friend. "You."

Jack's mouth was still agape as he thought about that. With a quick jerk he turned his head to focus on the man beside him. "God, Danny.." he said on a soft, breathless sigh. "I'm sorry.."

The golden brows matted together. "For what, Jack?"

"For ... for the mistake.."

Daniel bit his bottom lip between his teeth as he slowly tilted his head until it almost touched his shoulder. "Your father's .. or yours?"

Jack frowned too.

Daniel straightened up and smiled nervously through clenched teeth once more. "You should have told me.."

Shaking his head, Jack said, "no, I shouldn't have. It's the last thing I needed.. to..."

"Why?"

The door scraped open and Julian came stamping in from the snow outside. He looked between the two men, almost standing toe-to-toe in the middle of the room. A blush crept across the freckled face.

"Sorry. Supper's ready, Uncle Jack.."

Jack peered around Daniel to see the youth. He gave a sharp nod and the boy turned and left them alone again. Daniel, who'd twisted to look at Julian as well, turned slowly back to Jack.

"Best not keep my father waiting," Jack said, avoiding his friend's look as he bent over to collect up some wood. Daniel was about to protest when Jack shoved some the small split logs against his chest. Instinctually his arms came up to cradle the small pile and the two men headed back towards the house, neither saying another word.

*

Inside the warm cabin the family sat to enjoy their Christmas Eve meal - leaving two seats side by side at the end of the table. Jack looked over his shoulder at Daniel, who returned the look, as the two of them went over to the fireplace and dropped their wood onto the stack. Dusting his hands together Jack went into to the kitchen to wash his face and hands while Daniel merely wiped his hands on his pant legs before going over to the table and stepping over the long bench to sit down. He was aware of Jon's eyes upon him but he kept his eyes diverted. Finally Jack re-entered the room and moved up to the back of the bench. He tugged the sleeves of his undershirt up a little higher on his forearms then he stepped over the bench and eased himself between Julian and Daniel.

Jon rose to his feet slowly, a smile shone in his brown eyes. Daniel shifted his eyes from the patriarch to the bowed face beside him, seeing the tension beneath the surface. He shifted his hand slightly and laid it over Jack's thigh. The brown eyes shifted onto him inquisitively and Daniel, without meeting the gaze, squeezed the thigh before placing his hand back into his own lap. Jack frowned then turned to look at his father who was still delivering the prayer of Thanks.

Throughout the dinner Jack and Daniel avoided meeting each other's eye but they talked amiably, either focusing on their food when conversing or dipping their heads to listen more closely to the other over the jovial din. There was only the one clichéd moment, when they both went for the salt and their hands collided. Their eyes met briefly then but Daniel smiled and diverted his gaze as he returned to his dinner, leaving the salt to his friend. Jack handed it to him when he was done but they didn't look at each other at the time. Daniel was talking with Susan about her infatuation with the Aztecs and his attention was totally on her.

By the time the meal was over no one seemed able to move. Everyone groaned as they pried themselves from the hard benches and headed into the living room. The sofa was unquestionably reserved for the adults while the younger members of the family took up their places on the floor in front of the hearth or on scattered beanbags. As Jack eased himself into one of the armchairs he looked over at Julian, lanky limbs sprawled across a beanbag, and he recalled when that was him.

Daniel moved to the opposite end of the room and settled himself on the end of the sofa next to Susan. Their earlier conversation still hadn't run its course and he settled himself beside her willingly. Jack watched his friend closely, dressed in a brown, hand-knitted sweater, his legs cased in blue denim, and wedged between the arm of the sofa and Susan. He wondered what it was that he could have found to talk to her about with such intensity - probably archaeology, he decided. His mouth curled into a slight smile as he watched Daniel absently scratch his head, ruffling up the short dark blond hair until it stood up on end. The smile faltered when he saw Susan hesitate then reach up and settle the hair on Daniel's head, and more importantly, he watched the blue eyes as they looked up towards the hand then lowered and focused on her, his face glowing with a gentle smile. Jack felt a nudge on his arm and he snapped his head around to see Claude beside him.

"Coffee, Jack?"

"Oh.. ugh, yeah.." Jack said. "Just as nature intended it."

Claude nodded, muttering, "black, no sugar," as he moved off to the next person while Jack returned his attention to the two on the sofa again. He was still watching Daniel by the time Claude reached him. Daniel's face tilted up, his Adam's apple predominant in profile. He gave a wisp of a smile as his lips moved while he told Claude, "just as nature intended it.." Jack looked down instantly, realizing that he'd, unwittingly, used one of Daniel's colloquialisms. When he looked up again, he stared right into Daniel's eyes as they gazed down at him from the other end of the room.

*

After another hour had passed the room started to empty. Bill and Claude had taken themselves to bed a while ago and the teenagers moved their conversation into the sunroom, where they could play their music without disturbing the others too much. Jack watched Daniel and Susan - still intently talking and laughing in soft, muted voices - until his eyes lulled closed, but a noise soon snapped him to full awareness again. The door to the den had scraped slightly as Jon opened it, and Jack saw the perfect opportunity to talk to him alone. He rubbed his eyes before getting to his feet then he reached down and put his coffee cup on the table, aware that Daniel hadn't even looked his way - not once - and probably wouldn't ever again now that he knew the truth about his 'best friend'.

The door scraped again as Jack opened it, and the noise alerted Jon to the visitor. The older man was standing by his shelves, scanning the spines of his books for something to read. He didn't need to turn to know who it was.

"Jack?"

Jack stood on the other side of his father's wide desk, biting his bottom lip like he was a twelve year old again and awaiting punishment.

"Do you have something to say?" Jonathan's voice was soft, but Jack sensed more than a hint of mockery in the tone. He decided to let the old man stew a bit. Leave him to wait, and wait, knowing that soon, as soon as he realized Jack wasn't going to comment to the back of his head, he'd turn around to look at him. He didn't have long to wait.

Blowing out a loud breath, he slipped his hands into the front pockets of his jeans and lifted his chin to meet his father's eyes once the older O'Neill finally faced him. "Daniel came to see me.."

Jon didn't say a word. He didn't need to! He cocked his brow very slightly and Jack felt himself quiver slightly despite his resolve. Why, after all these years, could this man still intimidate him so much?

With a soft, throat-clearing cough, Jack bowed his head a moment to try to rid himself of the image of a shorts-wearing twelve year old being hauled before his father for sling-shooting a stone through the living room window.

"You... uhm..." He started to speak before he raised his face. When he did look up, and he saw the slightly cocky expression in his father's eyes, his resolve grew once more and he jutted his chin defiantly as he said, "You have got things oh-so-wrong between us.."

The older man's eyes crinkled a little more but he said nothing. Under the silent scrutiny, Jack felt like that twelve year old again - feeling his bravado slip away every second they stood there, staring at each other. He recognized the look in his father's eyes though - it was a squint he himself used when he was trying to intimidate someone, usually a subordinate. Jack finally knew what it might have felt like to be on the other side of that glare, though he doubted he could put the same pressure on someone else nearly as well as his father could intimidate him.

Straightening his back, Jon finally said, "You don't need to hide it.."

Jack's hand shot out from his pocket as he sliced the air, needing to stop his father from saying anything further. "No... I'm not hiding.. anything.." The look in his eyes should have convinced Jon, but it didn't.

"Your mother told me a few weeks before she died," Jon confessed and waited out the loud growl from his son before continuing, "about the 'true' nature of your friendship with your best friend in high school... what was his name?"

Jack slowly scrubbed a hand down his face. "Greg.." He responded as he dropped his hand from his chin then sighed loudly before glancing at the darker eyes. He was surprised to see understanding, not reprimand, within them and this confused him.

Jon's face seemed to take on a softer edge as he spoke about his dead wife. "Your mother, God rest her soul, took me to task over this matter, I must tell you!" Then with a slightly chuckle as he shook his head, at what seemed to Jack to be a memory he cherished to himself, he said, "I was fit to be tied...." Then he blinked before meeting Jack's astounded gaze and adding, "son.."

Jack's mouth dropped open slightly as he stood in that tiny, wood clad den, amongst generations of books and family trinkets and treasures. He never in his life felt as small as he did at that moment.

"Dad.. I..."

Jon held his hand up to stop him from commenting and Jack couldn't help but notice the way it trembled. This was obviously hard for the older man, but he was being as gentle with Jack as he could be.

"Finding out that my strapping young boy was... well... he was not what I thought he was-" He tilted his head and gave a morose shrug, "it was not easy to take. Your mother didn't talk to me for a whole day while I ranted about it. Yelling at her for not telling me sooner. Yelling at you for letting me down.." The weary brown eyes watched the gray head bow just that little bit lower. He coughed softly before saying, "But she was right. Maude was always right. It just took me some time to realize it, son. It's good that you weren't around at the time. It's good that it was her that told me. Let's face it, Jack, no one could ever show me reason quite like your mother could!"

On that comment Jack lifted his face slightly and nodded, but he didn't meet his father's eyes. "You want to know what it was that made me see reason?"

He waited to see Jack nod then continued, "First she told me that if I didn't she'd come back to haunt me. I told her that that wasn't much of a threat as I would like her to do that....." He smiled at his own joke then said, "but she was one hell of a woman, your mother. And she told me the truth - Always! And that's the secret to a long marriage, my boy!" He wagged his finger at Jack then said, "And she told me that I should cherish my family for 'who' they are - not who they did!"

Jack's breath stalled at that comment and he lowered his face; hiding the slight smile he had for his feisty mother. Jon, too, seemed to recall that conversation with some glee in his voice. "She was every bit a Irish red-head, wasn't she!"

Jack lifted his gaze and saw the twinkle in his father's eyes. With a wordless nod, he agreed with him. Jon hooted gently as he nodded as well. "She certainly was!" He reiterated then lowered his chin to his chest. Jack rolled his head back slightly as he gnawed on his bottom lip.

"She pulled out all the stops, you know! Had me drag out all the family albums from when you were just so high.." He held his hand down by his knee then smiled, "Then she kept asking me, as she pointed to pictures of you, 'when did I stop loving you?' and 'when did you stop being my boy?'" With a chuckle once more, this time filled with sadness, Jon sat in his large leather chair and said, "And I had to say to her... Never."

Jack sniffed as he diverted his eyes.

In a shaky voice Jon went on, "You're my boy, Jacky. The fact that you love that young man out there makes you no less of a man - in my eyes today."

After swallowing Jack nodded then finally shifted his misty gaze onto his father's. Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, he said in a husky voice, "But you're wrong about Daniel. He is just my best friend."

Jon lifted his hand, palms up, and shrugged. "If you say so."

"Dad, please!" Jack pleaded quietly as his hands fisted by his thighs.

"I've just told you there's nothing to be ashamed of.."

Shaking his head in disbelief, Jack sighed. "You don't believe me, do you? For all your talk about loving me and that... crap.." Jack's hand again fisted, by his temple then he spread the fingers wide as he pushed his hand from his face and said, "You still don't 'listen' to me."

"Jacky, for Christ's sake.."

Jack cringed at the name and suddenly regretted every time he'd called his friend 'Danny'. He sighed despondently. Why should his father start believing in him now, after forty-five years?

"Jack, I just want you to be happy."

"What? So now I'm going to disappoint you because I'm NOT in a relationship with Daniel, is that it?"

"No!" Jon yelled and slammed his fists into the tabletop. Shaking visibly he collected his thoughts before looking up at Jack. "I know I was a shit of a father to you, son. You don't have to tell me. I was never there when you needed me. And I always told you what I thought you needed to know, not what you wanted to know or what you asked me about. I just told you what 'I' thought you should know!" His voice began to tremble as he told him, "But you have to believe me now. I see..." He pointed to his eye then out to the room, towards where Daniel was sitting. "I see it in your eyes when you look at him. It's the same look your mother used to give to me..."

Shaking his head, Jack put one hand on his hip and looked down at the floor. He heard a muffled sound and looked up and was horrified to see his father sitting there, tears streaming out of his eyes and down his screwed up face. "Oh, god, Jack.." He sobbed loudly then buried his face in his folded arms.

"Dad?" Jack rounded the desk and hesitated a moment before putting his hand on his father's back.

"I miss her so much... So much.." The sobbing man cried, pounding a fist lightly against the leather desk set. Jack bit his lips together as he tried to find a way to deal with this. Part of him instantly wanted to ask Daniel to help - this was right up the anthropologist's ally, but he also knew that this was a moment that only he and his father could share. He felt out of his league here. This was not like his father, who was always ramrod straight and rarely showed his emotions, let alone howl like a baby!

"Dad," he cooed more softly as he slowly sunk to a squat beside the sitting man.

As he squatted his knees cracked loudly, and the sound reverberated around the quiet room. Jon's watery eyes lifted enough to meet his and then, after a heartbeat, both men laughed.

"Damn knees!" Jack muttered. Jon sat up straighter and laughed once more through his tears.

"You've always had trouble with them, haven't you?"

The younger man nodded then Jon smiled as he cupped Jack's cheek. They fell into an awkward silence as the father scrutinized the son's face. "I can still see you as a ten year old, you know that?"

Jack remained still then he nodded quickly. "I still see Charlie the same way.."

Both sets of chocolate-brown eyes met and remained locked. "I always thought you'd give me another grandchild, until Maude put me straight."

Jack blinked quickly as he looked down; his face still remained in his father's hands. "Dad.."

"Jack, I just want you to be happy. I know that you're used to me as I was before, but losing your mother, it's made me realize that all the rules .."

The graying brow rose slightly. ".. are meant to be broken?" Jack offered.

Jon gave him a wary smile as he said, "Within reason!"

"And me being..." He shrugged. "That's within 'reason' to you?" Jack still found that hard to believe, considering their strict upbringing.

"Love, Jacky-boy, is what would be within reason where you and the kid are concerned!" Jon said, squeezing the face within his hands until Jack's mouth puckered.

"Yeah, great! That's ugh, peachy.. Dad.." Jack mumbled through his distorted mouth, making his father laugh. Jon let the face go with a light tap to the cheek. Rubbing his jaw, Jack muttered, "maybe you should go easy on the love there, Dad. You'll crinkle me, and this face has plenty of those on its own!"

"It's a good face! It's a handsome face!" Jon said.

Jack rolled his eyes as he struggled to his feet again. Flexing his knees he said, "You're only just saying that because everyone keeps telling you how much we look alike.."

Jon chuckled then shrugged. "Hey, you had to get your good looks from somewhere.."

"Mom always told me how handsome the mailman was!"

Pointing his finger up at him, Jon said seriously, "Don't even joke about that kind of thing, kid! What your mother and I shared was very special... and very precious!"

Jack nodded then saw the look in his father's eyes once more. "Aw, if you're going to go on about Danny again.."

"Danny? You call him Danny?"

Jack cringed.

"And he 'let's' you?"

With a crinkle of his nose, Jack shrugged.

"Then it must be love, kiddo!" Jon teased him now. Jack moaned as he rolled his head back. "Listen to me, you tell me he's your friend, he puts up with your crap, no doubt. Bet you bully him and make him watch all the games you wanna watch on the tv, and I bet he has to spring for the pizza all the time.."

Jack frowned and Jon shrugged nonchalantly. "Your mother might have mentioned a few things you kids did together..."

"Sheesh!" Jack sighed and tossed his hands in the air. "There you go, if I were having sex with him, you'd know that by now too!"

"Hey!" Jon pointed at him again. "I can accept that you love him, okay? But don't push it! I don't want to know about the other stuff!" He said with a shudder as he waved his hand around. Jack frowned then decided not to push the point. Jon pushed himself up to his feet as he said, "Love is a beautiful gift..."

Jack rolled his eyes.

"Your mother gave it to me - a long time ago. And it's all she ever wanted for all of you. That you'd grow up, meet someone who'll take you just the way you are, and maybe marry and settle down with you. Never could understand why she stopped pestering you to make it up with Sara, but now I know.."

"No, you don't, but it does so happen that I met Daniel the same time that Sara walked out on me.."

"Your mother called that Fate, son."

"Sheesh, Louise.." Jack mumbled.

"Don't contradict your mother, Jack!" Jon said in half seriousness.

The remonstrated man nodded and lowered his face as he mumbled softly, "Yes, Sir." Jon's eyes shifted to the dark blond head, visible through the glass doors. Jack followed his father's eye line then shook his head, as he mumbled, "Just never thought we'd be having this conversation." He waved his hand between them and quirked his brow when his father met his eyes.

"To be honest, neither did I. It took some to calm me down, but now I see..." He glanced at the door then at Jack. "So, let's cut the crap, kid. Is this boy important to you?"

After a long deliberation Jack said, "Yes. Very." Then pursed his lips together as he flicked his brow up high.

"Does he know?" Jon asked. Jack shook his head mutely. Jon nodded and sighed softly. Pushing himself to his feet too, he patted his son's shoulder. "Maybe you should tell him."

Jack rolled his eyes. "I'll take that under advisement.."

Holding his finger up, Jon narrowed his eyes as he told him, "You get one shot at life. Don't blow it! I don't care if it's male or female, human or alien, that do it for you, but *if * they make you happy, snag them for life, son!"

Jack lowered his face, hiding his expression from his father. He had no idea how close he'd come with the alien quip. He nodded so that his father didn't think he ignored the comment and received a heavy slap on the shoulder before his father moved to the door. Stopping, he turned on the spot and looked back at Jack. "Only, be discreet. Like I said, I can accept it... but I don't 'ever' want to see it!" He arched his brow in the no-nonsense way he used to, which was one of a many expressions his father used that could strike fear into Jack's heart as a child. He felt the familiar clenching around his chest now as he stared back at his father. Wordlessly he nodded, not voicing his query of whether it really was accepting it - to avoid seeing it, but he remained silent. It probably was.

"If love comes your way, son, grab it with both hands." Jon patted his son's shoulder as he headed towards the main bedroom. "And work damn hard at keeping your hands around it and keeping it strong.." He said as he disappeared behind the glass door, waving a goodnight at him as he pushed to door closed.

Jack stood rooted to the spot, a little too stunned to move yet. It quickly flashed across his mind that his father's last comment was very apt in light of the subject of their conversation but he would bet that the older man had no idea of the connotations of the sentence.

He dug his hands into his pockets and headed from the room and back out to the living room, which was now totally empty apart from Daniel, who looked like he'd fallen asleep while sitting there.

Jack stopped at the back of the sofa and leaned down over him. "Jackson.." He whispered, trying to wake him up gently. "Jackson..." He said again in a sing-song voice, a little louder this time. "JACKSON!" He barked in a harsh whisper that earned him the reaction he wanted. The blue eyes shot open quickly. Daniel flung himself back away from the indistinguishable blob until he could make out that it was Jack, hanging upside down in front of him.

"Jesus Jack!" He stammered, looking around them to get his bearings.

"You fell asleep," Jack said, putting one hand on the back of the sofa to fling himself over until he was sitting beside his dazed friend.

"I .,. agh.." Daniel rubbed his face, clumsily dislodging his glasses and appearing completely unaware he'd done it. Jack grinned to himself as he took the teetering glasses and held them for his friend. "I was waiting for you." Daniel told him then looked over his shoulder to the dark room behind him before shifting, first his eyes then his whole head, around to look at Jack. "How did it go?" He asked cautiously, his face cringing a little.

"Probably could go down as one of the strangest conversations with my father in my life.." he said, slipping Daniel's glasses onto his own face and staring at the blurred fire. The younger man frowned, wondering when Jack got his glasses. As he turned back towards him Jack peeled the frames from his face and slid them onto Daniel's face instead, pressing them into place with his index finger.

With a slight roll of his eyes, Daniel asked, "Did things go okay though?"

"I told him he was wrong about us..." Jack said with a nonchalant shrug.

"Oh?' Daniel said as he sat up straighter. The older man frowned, wondering if he noted a tone to his friend's voice, but Daniel's face gave him no indication that he meant anything by the comment. "So, what happens now?"

"Now we go to bed," Jack said as he pushed himself up off the spongy sofa. Daniel rolled his eyes slightly then grappled his way out of the cushions to follow his friend through to the bunkhouse.

"Bring your 'jammies?" Jack whispered.

"Just like you told me to!" Daniel whispered back. Jack nodded then pointed to the living room again. Daniel nodded and retrieved his bed-wear before going back out to the other room but Jack was already making his way towards the bathroom so he waited his turn.

By the time he'd finished changing, Jack was in the kitchen boiling some milk in a pan. Dresses almost identically, except Jack was in gray while Daniel was in dark blue, the men wore pajama bottoms and faded sweatshirts for tops. Both had their feet warm in bed socks.

*

They sat at the kitchen table, eating chocolate biscuits and drinking hot chocolate and taking it in turns to reminisce about Christmas’ gone.

*

The next morning, Christmas morning, the ‘children’ were up bright and early! The commotion slowly woke Jack then as he struggled up onto outstretched arms, he noticed that Daniel was trying to cover his head with his pillow. With a grin the older man picked up his pillow and threw it across the room at his friend. It bounced off and knocked Daniel's glasses off the side table, the wire frames clattering across the floor. Daniel fought the invading pillow then finally struggled to a sitting position, the pillow in his lap.

"Morning!" Jack laughed deeply at his ruffled-hair friend.

"Surely it's still night?" Daniel murmured as he rubbed his hand against his cheek. Jack kicked his feet over the edge of the bed and got up.

"No, and you should get up! Santa's been!" As he passed his friend's bed he slapped him on the back of the shoulder, sending Daniel forward a little - too tired to resist.

Jack stood in the doorway, arms folded across his chest as he watched the bevy of young people destroy all the well-wrapped boxes, tossing ribbon into the air and discarding cards like nothing. He was aware of a sound behind him and he turned to look over his shoulder as Daniel shuffled up to him while putting his glasses on. The younger man peered around Jack's shoulder at the excitement. After watching them a few moments he smiled and said, "guess this is what it's all about."

Jack turned slowly to look back at him. He smiled. "Partly," he said then he turned back around once more. Daniel looked at his profile a moment before returning his attention to the children on the floor. Jack was called into the room to be given a present and while he was gone Daniel moved over to his bag and fetched out a tall bottle bag.

Jack was back in his place in the doorway by the time Daniel came up to him again. The older man frowned as the anthropologist presented the gift to him with a smile.

"Oh?" The colonel said, finally reaching out to take the offered gift.

"Well, I know you said for us not to trade gifts, but I saw this while I was in Cairo recently.."

"The Osiris incident?" Jack asked, looking over the gaily-wrapped bottle. Daniel shrugged, a little awkward about recalling that event.

"Anyway, I picked this up... knowing what a connoisseur you are of such stuff.." Daniel explained as Jack pulled the bottle of Egyptian Beer from the bag.

"Egyptian .. BEER?" Jack tilted his head to look at his grinning friend.

Daniel, pleased that the gift was so unique, quickly explained, "It's a little known fact that the Egyptian's enjoyed their beer. This recipe, known as Pharaoh's Gold, dates back to the time of Neferetti and Tutankhamen." He stopped and watched Jack's face a moment as the older man appraised the bottle in his hand. Then with a wisp of a shyer smile Daniel added, "It's a sweet tasting beer."

"Yeah?" Jack commented as he tried to read the label, but it was in Egyptian.

Daniel pointed to the unusual words and told him, "It say it's for refined tastes.."

"Does it now?" Jack asked skeptically.

Daniel laughed a little nervously then told him, in a hesitant voice, "It's quite a nice beer," and then he bit his lips together before concluding, "I think you'll like it."

"You've tasted it then?" The brown eyes settled onto Daniel's face once more, watching as the archaeologist nodded with a grin. Quirking his brow, Jack mumbled, "Though you didn't like beer?"

Daniel's grin grew a fraction sheepish as he said, "This is .. different. Besides," he added with a soft laugh, "I just don't like the stuff you drink.."

"Oh!" Jack said, over exaggerating the 'hurt' with a bow. Daniel chuckled softly now then lowered his chin to his chest.

"Anyway, Thanks, Danny.." Jack finally said with a laugh as he pulled his friend into a one-armed hug. Daniel patted his back lightly then they slowly pulled back. "Though I distinctly remember saying that we were not to give gifts.."

With a slight shrug, Daniel told him, "You've invited me to share your family's Christmas. A gift was the least I could do, believe me!"

Jack jostled the bottle in his hand then nodded. "I appreciate it."

Daniel's teeth gritted behind his smile as he commented, in a low voice so that he had reason to lean towards his friend, "Know what I'd appreciate?"

Jack jutted his chin slightly as he sized up his friend beside him. "A coffee?"

The grin grew even wider and Daniel confirmed it with a nod. Jack laughed. "Why did I know you'd be thinking that?" He turned and went over to his bed, placing the bottle of beer on the floor beside his bag.

"You know me too well, Jack!" Daniel laughed then clapped his hand across his friend's shoulder as they made their way out of the room together.

*

Susan's eyes widened as she watched the two men come into the kitchen. She was busy with the preparation of the food already, and was watching the present giving from her place at the window over looking the living area. Jack reached over and planted a peck on his sister's cheek while he reached for two cups from the cupboard.

"Morning yourself. We didn't think you were ever going to get up!" She teased him as her eyes fell onto Daniel lurking behind him. The young man gave her a quick smile then he took the cup Jack was passing to him. Susan took the time to watch the distracted stranger, looking unconsciously disheveled in his cobalt pajamas with his blond hair messed into a matted clump at the back of his head.

After the attention he'd paid her last night, the way they sat together on the sofa, talking and laughing like they were friends longer than a few hours, she had trouble sleeping once she went to bed. Her mind was racing, full of fantasy images and scenarios of what it would be like to have an intimate encounter with Daniel. She imagined how soft his voice would sound as he whispered to her, or how intensely blue his eyes would be at a very close distance as they focused entirely onto her, and she wondered about the taste of his lips, or how his hands might feel as they ran up her thigh... With a heavy sigh she returned her attention to the turkey in her hand and tried to ignore the burning in her stomach and thighs now. She wasn't ashamed of the thoughts she had, and knew that any red blooded woman in the world might feel that way about the good looking man. She didn't even feel guilt as her eyes lifted and fell on the sight of her husband, sitting in the far chair, stomach bulging beneath his sweatshirt. She lowered her face as she attended the turkey once more but her thoughts were on the two men beside her.

Not many men, she thought, stealing a sideways glance at the two of them once more as they stood, side by side, in the kitchen doorway while watching the activity in the next room, would feel as comfortable about walking around a house full of strangers in cobalt pajamas as Daniel seemed to be. He looked neat, tidy - not like Jack who always managed to look scruffy at the best of times, and especially now as he padded around the wooden shack in an old UCLA sweatshirt and pants, and thick sock on his feet.

Her eyes followed them around the room as they circled the people and made their way towards the fireplace together. She watched the way they conversed, the way Jack's head always tilted towards him as he spoke, words she knew were only intended for his friend. She envied Jack a little. What it would be like to be standing there, with the warmth of Daniel's body pressed against the back of her shoulder, having a private conversation with him where his attention was totally focused on her - as it had been last night. Her thoughts had come full circle now and she tried to stop the loop. All morning she'd be playing out sweet scenarios in her mind, special moments when Daniel would surprise her in the woodshed or on the back balcony and declare his undying love for her - despite her husband and children! A smile filled her face now as she picked up the bird and placed it into the oven, slamming the door shut and wiping her hands on her apron.

//Ah// she told herself as she picked up her coffee and went into the living room with the others. //It's a harmless fantasy.//

She eased herself onto the arm of the chair her husband was in and he looked up at her and smiled. She bent down and kissed the top of his head then tilted her face to rest her cheek against his balding hair.

End of part 3