Title: Obituaries
Word count: 1969
Pairing: Jack/Daniel
Rating: PG
Warnings: Character Death
Category: Angst
Obituaries
It was a warm Sunday evening, and Janet was sitting on the patio in her backyard whilst Cassie, sat next to her, completed her homework. Sighing, Janet turned to the obituaries of the local paper, a habit she’d picked up from her late mother and had done since she was about ten. Scanning the columns, she kept an eye out for names she would recognise. None on page one. Turning, she saw a familiar face staring out at her and half the page dedicated to him. ‘Daniel Jackson’ the title said. A lump formed at the back of her throat. Daniel had only been gone for three days but it felt like a lifetime without him. Swallowing hard she studied the picture. It was a recent one, his hair was short, glasses a little lopsided but Janet would bet money on the beer in his hand being responsible for that. She noticed that his arm was raised as if it was hooked around someone’s shoulders, and when she looked closely, she noticed silver hair in the very corner of the shot. Jack. Placing the paper on her lap, she sniffed, wiped her eyes, turned her attention back to the paper, and began to read the obituary.
‘When Kasuf blessed us he told us we were one. He never told us what to do when one half of you is gone; what to do with half a life or half a will to care; what to do with half a heart, now the other half’s not there. You were the other half of me Daniel. A half linked to my own. What do I do with half a life, now that I’m on my own? Sorrow cannot rob me of the happy days we’ve known, nor take away my love for you. For love will keep his own and ever in years to come. Although we are apart, my life will be made richer by the memories of my heart. The events we shared, the amount we cared, the love that flew between me and you, the times we had, never sad, my hero, dear Daniel. I miss you dear, even though I know you’re here. People say, ‘Jack, how do you feel today?’ I just answer politely, ‘okay’, but really, inside all I do is cry. If I had one wish, it would be to ask the angels to bring you back to me. I still talk to you, especially when I‘m feeling down. Loving you was easy. Loosing you is a heart ache that will never go away. My beautiful amazing Spacemonkey, I love you; please wait for me. Jack, xxx.’
Tears were streaming freely down her face as she realised how much Jack had loved Daniel. Cassie came over and asked what was wrong; Janet just handed her the paper. Now that she thought about it, she remembered the mission on which they must have been blessed: Jack had requested for the two of them to go to Abydos, just days after Daniel had been infected with the Machello bug; when they returned, they were both so happy and had matching tattoos on their wrists that Daniel had said meant ‘friendship’. Looking back now, Janet realised they must have been part of the blessing the couple had received! Cassie gently tapped her on the shoulder, crying hard, and Janet scooped her up cuddling her close. “I miss Daniel,” she sobbed.
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Jack had been so nervous about going into work after he’d put his piece in the paper about Daniel, but he’d chosen a relatively unknown local one, and, luckily, no one at the mountain had said anything, so he guessed no one had seen it. Slowly he climbed the stairs to the roof deck, with a beer in one hand and the paper in the other. He slumped into his chair, took a long pull of his beer and opened the paper randomly. Ironically it opened into the obituaries page. A picture of Daniel peered out at him, and he checked the date on the front to make sure he hadn’t picked up yesterday’s paper; but he hadn’t, it was today’s date. He looked closely at the picture and saw it had been taken in Janet’s back yard. He remembered taking it with her camera. He lowered his eyes to read the short piece underneath.
‘Parting comes and hearts are broken. Loved ones go with words unspoken. I miss you more than anyone knows. As time goes by, the emptiness grows. The tears I shed are wiped away, but the ache in my heart is there to stay. I’m sorry I couldn’t save you. All our love, Janet and Cassie. xxx.’
Eyes damp with unshed tears he looked back at the photo and smiled. Daniel had been so happy that day. He’d worn a light cotton shirt with the first three buttons undone revealing a toned and tanned chest to the world, and he had Jack’s favourite pair of skin tight Levi’s on. Jack remembered that they had left the BBQ early, so they could go home and make love. He had almost let his guard down in front of their friends and kissed Daniel there, but then Daniel had got mad and Jack told him he was cute when he yelled, so Daniel pinned him up against the hallway wall. All was forgiven as they kissed. Looking towards the heavens Jack smiled. “Look what I have started!” he said, hoping that somewhere, Daniel had heard him.
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Sam and Teal’c were enjoying a breakfast of Pancakes in the commissary when Nyan approached them. He placed a local newspaper on the table between them and silently walked away. Looking confused at Teal’c, Sam picked up the paper. The picture jumped out at her: Daniel stood surrounded by the many members of the archaeology department that he had commanded, everyone in the photo smiling at Daniel or patting him as if he had just achieved something miraculous; which, when Sam thought about it, sounded just right for Daniel. Lowering her eyes she read the obituary quietly to Teal’c,
‘ We never got the chance to say goodbye, which really hurts. But we know you’re still with us keeping us safe and guiding us with our work. You’re in our thoughts every minute of every hour of every day. You may be gone physically but you’re with us spiritually. We miss you Daniel. Your faithful team. xxx’
Sam handed the paper to Teal’c so he could inspect the included photo. “I remember taking this photograph,” he said quietly, his deep voice sounding strained as he fought to keep the tears at bay. “It was a very successful mission on which DanielJackson translated a whole new language. The department was very happy, and the celebrations went on into the night.” He smiled at the memory. “Where was I?” Sam asked. “I believe it was after the Zay’tarc incident.” Sam bowed her head. She remembered Daniel excitedly asking her to come along, an opportunity she had passed up to spend time with the colonel, but, as it had turned out, he had gone to DC and she had worked on her Harley.
Janet sat down opposite her, next to Teal’c, and spotted the tears and glum expressions. “What’s up?” she asked concerned. Sam handed her the paper. “Oh, that’s nice that they’ve posted something too,” Janet said as she smiled through the unshed tears. “What do you mean?” Sam snapped. “Come with me,” Janet said. Leading the pair to her office she took out hers and Jack’s obituaries and handed them over. When they had finished reading, Sam’s tears fell quickly and unchecked, the woman taking over from the soldier in one of those rare moments. A single tear rolled down Teal’c’s usually stoic face. “I shall endeavour to post my feelings in a similar fashion to that which you have demonstrated, DrFraiser,” Teal’c said, his voice unusually quiet and unsure. Airmen avoided him as he made his way to his quarters, deep in concentration. The remaining women sat in silence for a while after Teal’c had left, Sam’s hands gripping Jack’s obituary tightly. “I had no idea,” she muttered. “Neither did I,” Janet replied softly. “But this isn’t about you and the colonel Sam, it never has been. It’s about Daniel.” Nodding slowly, Sam fled to her office.
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For the second time that week, Jack found himself on his roof deck with a six pack of beer, a pizza covered in Daniel’s favourite toppings and the local newspaper. Out of a new found habit more than anything, he bypassed the sports section and turned to the obituaries. Once again Daniel’s beautiful blue eyes stared back at him. He hadn’t been expecting it and the tears fell as soon as he saw the photograph of his lover. The picture was taken maybe four weeks before Daniel had sacrificed himself to save an entire planet, his arm was still in a sling from when Reese had broken it. The four of them—himself, Daniel, Sam and Teal’c—were sat in O’Malley’s. Jack’s hand was subtly resting on Daniels thigh, whilst Sam’s arms were around his shoulders and Teal’c stood behind Daniel, his hand firmly on his other shoulder. It was the way it should have been, them protecting Daniel, but obviously they didn’t do that very well, did they? Angrily he wiped the tears away, took a long pull of beer and read the people’s tributes to Daniel.
‘I miss you more today than I did yesterday. I love you more than words can ever explain. You were like a brother to me. I can still feel your warm kiss upon my cheek as your arms surrounded me. Your cuddles I will truly miss. Make sure the angles take care of you. Sam. xx’
The words touched Jack deeply, but he tried not to dwell on them and moved onto the next piece.
‘You once taught me this dedication used to remember passed loved ones. If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I’d walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. I think it describes our situation perfectly, DanielJackson. I miss you, my friend and brother in arms. Teal’c. xx’
Silently, Jack sobbed. He knew how much it would have cost Teal’c to write those words, the man was usually silent. Suddenly he was reminded of something Daniel had once said: ‘Teal’c is a man of few words but when he does day something he really hit’s the nail on the head.’ Well, as usual, Daniel had been right.
There was a faint rustling from the bottom of the stairs, and suddenly Jack was face to face with a Jaffa!
“Jesus Teal’c, don’t do that to me!”
“I am sorry O’Neill, I did not mean to alarm you, but myself, DrFraiser and MajorCarter bring pizza, beer and company.” Jack smiled, his first real smile since Daniel had left him. “In that case, come on up.” The four of them sat in silence for a while, eating the two pizzas and making a dent in the beer, before Janet started the ‘remember when’ game. It was well into the morning when Janet stumbled downstairs to sleep on the couch. Sam followed and slept in the spare bedroom and Teal’c meditated on the chair next to Janet. Smiling at his guests, Jack made his way back up to the roof deck, clutching one of Daniels sweaters that still smelt of him and flopped into his chair. Holding it close, he smiled to the heavens and whispered, “I still love you Daniel.” The last thing he remembered before falling asleep was a slight breeze drifting across his face, and Daniel’s voice saying, “I love you too Jack.”
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