TITLE: Where Angels Fear

AUTHOR: plumtuckered

PAIRING: None

NOTES: This story takes place after the third season episode "Past and Present" and it is definitely a Daniel-whumper with a lot of emphasis on the friendship between Jack and Daniel. There is plenty of Teal'c and Sam, though, too. I have found it really hard when writing for SG-1 to avoid the formulaic scenes, the ones everyone uses, but hopefully the adventure itself will allow those to be ignored---hopefully.

Thank you in advance to those who choose to read this. As always, reviews and words of advice are most welcomed and extremely appreciated!

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CHAPTER ONE

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"You wanted to see me, sir?"

General George Hammond looked up from the file he'd been perusing to see Colonel Jack O'Neill standing in his open doorway. "Yes, I did, Colonel," he replied. "Come in."

Jack stepped into the office then shut the door behind him. He stood expectantly before George's desk, his hands stuck deep into his pants pockets and George couldn't help the slight smile; all military decorum had become unnecessary between the general and his second.

He cleared his throat. "So Colonel, what are your plans?"

"Sir? Oh, for the next three days? I thought I'd go up to the cabin, do a little fishing."

"Alone?"

"Yes, sir," replied Jack hesitantly.

George sighed and shut the file folder then folded his hands over it. "I was just finishing Dr. Jackson's mission report on Vyus."

"Is there a problem with it, sir?"

"Were you aware that Dr. Jackson has requested permission to spend his down-town off-world with SG-11?"

The colonel looked down and shook his head, rocking absently on the balls of his feet. "General, Daniel wouldn't know down-time if it bit him in the ass."

George smiled. "I think research 'is' his down-time, Jack."

Jack snorted then looked up to meet the general's eyes again. "So what's this about, sir?"

George sat back. "Dr. Fraiser is concerned with Dr. Jackson's distant behavior since Ke'ra and the others left," he explained. He braced his elbows on the arms of his chair and tented his fingers before him. "I have to agree with her."

"He had a rough time of it, sir, but he'll be okay."

"Has he talked to you at all?"

"About Ke'ra? No," replied the colonel. "He hasn't really 'talked' to me since---." He waved a hand around helplessly. "Well, since Sha're died."

"I see. Have 'you' talked to him?"

The colonel reached out to poke at the back of one of the chairs in front of George's desk. "He's hurting, General. It'll just take time for him to---to work through it all, but he will---eventually; he always does."

"Colonel, he's grieving---."

"With all due respect, sir, I know that. I know that very well. I know about all the crap that's been handed to him and keeps right on getting handed to him. I also know he's tied up in knots inside and that he's trying to handle it all alone---as usual. There's nothing I can do."

"You're certain about that?"

Jack hesitated then rubbed his forehead. "No---no, I'm not, sir."

George eyed the younger man closely. "Then what 'are' you going to do, Colonel?"

"Do, sir?"

"He's a valuable member of your team not to mention the SGC," replied the general. "And I think we're both worried about him."

Jack sighed, grimaced then nodded and George knew that what he was asking of his second-in-command was not going to be easy. Jack O'Neill didn't 'do' the touchy feely stuff, as he called it, but George knew different.

"So?" pushed the general. "You're intentions, Colonel?"

Jack looked down for a long moment then looked back up, his chin raised slightly. "I intend to take Daniel fishing with me," he replied. "Now if you'll excuse me, General, I have an archeologist to track down."

"You're dismissed," said George with a gentle smile. He watched the younger man turn and leave his office, flashing George a knowing sideways grin before he closed the door.

The general sat forward and laid his hands flat over the mission report folder. He knew that fishing wouldn't help the archeologist. What he needed was a friend. 'Who' he needed was Jack O'Neill and by all appearances, that was exactly who he was going to get---whether Dr. Jackson wanted him or not.

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"Whatcha doing?"

Daniel looked up from the backpack he was stuffing full of books. "Jack? Uh---what are you doing here?"

The Air Force colonel wandered into Daniel's lab, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his BDUs. "Just visiting---why, you got a problem with me just visiting?" he asked. He picked up a tiny bowl and studied it then put it back in its place on one of the archeologist's over-filled shelves.

"No," drawled out Daniel slowly. "I'm just wondering 'why' you're visiting. I thought you'd gone to your cabin." He picked up an old text, looked it over absently then shoved it in his pack.

Jack continued his examination of Daniel's artifacts as he shrugged. "Had some paperwork to finish," he replied easily. "So---Hammond says you've asked permission to go off-world."

"Yeah---I did."

"Why don't you come fishing with me?" asked the colonel. He turned expectantly to the younger man. "We have three days of down-time, Daniel---'down-time'. People don't work on their down-time."

"Who said I was working?"

Jack released a patient sigh. "You're going off-world?"

"So---."

"So---."

"Jack, I'm going back to PJ6-877," replied Daniel then he raised a halting hand. "And before you say it---no, there's no sign of our friend Aris Boch, and no, I'm not going alone. SG-11 is going with me---or rather---I'm going with them."

"Why?"

"They found traces of naquada in the caves---."

"Not why are 'they' going---why are 'you' going?"

Daniel paused in his packing and bit his lower lip. "Because I need to get away---to think for a while," he replied softly.

"I do some of my best thinking when I'm fishing."

The archeologist looked up at his friend and couldn't help but smile; Jack was worried. The older man was fiddling with a stone tablet on the lab's big workbench, carefully avoiding Daniel's gaze.

"Might surprise you how relaxing it can be," continued the colonel with a shrug.

"Jack," began Daniel tentatively. "It's only been a few weeks since Sha're's death and after the whole thing with Ke'ra---I just want to go somewhere far---far away." He waved a hand to encompass his surroundings. "Away from all of---this."

"Minnesota is---."

"Listen, I know what you're trying to do and I appreciate it---really, but I'll be fine. The UAV spotted what looks like a partially buried stone altar very near the caves---I'm just going to check it out."

"Oh, I get it. You're not looking for a place to think as much as a place to distract you 'from' thinking."

"Pretty much."

Jack looked up to meet Daniel's eyes. "Well, then---I'll go with you."

"Wha---what?"

"You want to be distracted and I 'excel' at distracting," said the colonel with a pleased grin. "So I'll come with you."

"Jack---."

"Come on, it'll be great. You, me, squiggles, old rocks, lots of distracting---what could be better?"

"Jack---."

The older man canted his head and regarded Daniel, his brown eyes conveying all that he wasn't saying.

Daniel sighed with reluctant fondness. "You'd be bored the minute we got there---you know it and I know it."

"Bored? Me? Nah."

"Jack."

"Daniel."

The archeologist zipped up his backpack then eyed his friend through narrowed eyes.

"It'll be fun," Jack insisted.

"Fun."

"Fun---as in enjoyable, pleasing---a blast."

Daniel shook his head, but a small smile curved his lips. "I'm going to regret this, aren't I?"

"Probably."

"Well---if I remember correctly, there's a small body of water by the altar---not so much a lake as an over-sized pond, but maybe---."

Jack shoved a finger at his friend. "There you go then---," he interrupted. "You play with your rocks and stare at your squiggles and I'll fish. I'll even bring two rods just in case---well, you know, one can only stare for so long---maybe."

"Thanks, Jack."

"Well, don't let it go to your head. I mean my other two choices were fishing by myself or hanging out with the ladies."

"Ladies?"

"Carter, Fraiser---and Teal'c," replied Jack with a grimace then he shook his head in bemusement.

"Uh---Teal'c?"

Jack snorted. "Carter's convinced him to watch a 'chick flick' marathon this weekend."

"You're kidding."

"Now would I kid about something like that?"

"Maybe we should see if he wants to come with us."

"No, Daniel---you see, Teal'c is 'excited'---he wants to do it, says it'll be an enlightening experience."

"Oh, boy."

"Yep," replied the colonel. "What can you do?"

"Eat lunch?"

"Sure."

Daniel watched his friend turn on his heel, his hands shoved back into his pockets and a whistle on his lips. He couldn't stop the slight smile and he ducked his head as he followed Jack out into the corridor, his own hands pocketed at his sides.

"Mind if I ask you something?"

The archeologist cast Jack a sideways glance. "Why her?"

"Yeah---I mean, I have to say you surprised me. What the hell were you thinking?"

"I don't know, Jack," Daniel sighed tiredly. "She paid attention to me, made me feel---." He waved a hand around helplessly. "Cared about, I guess---maybe even---."

"Loved?"

Daniel felt his cheeks flush. "Maybe."

"She was pretty---in a 'destroyer of worlds' sort of way."

"Jack."

"What? I'm just saying---."

"I hear what you're saying, Jack, and I've heard what you've 'been' saying, believe me, but I still think she deserved a chance to live a different life---as Ke'ra."

"I agree," replied Jack.

"Ke'ra wasn't the same person as Linea---wha---what?" stammered the archeologist. He stopped in his tracks and stared incredulously at the back of his friend's departing head then hurried to catch up. "You agree?"

Jack shrugged. "Yeah---after due consideration, I think you did the right thing."

Daniel blinked.

"What?" barked the colonel.

"You---you really agree?"

Jack looked at Daniel askance. "It does happen occasionally," he replied.

"No, it doesn't."

"Oh, come on---sure it does."

"No, no I'm pretty sure it doesn't."

"Daniel."

"Jack?"

"Play nice or I won't go with you to dig for rocks."

"Really?"

The colonel placed his hand on his chest in an overly dramatic gesture. "Daniel, you wound me."

The archeologist snorted and shook his head, his eyes cast back to the floor ahead of him. "I'm sorry I let things get out of hand. It's just been so long and---well---nothing would have happened anyway."

"Sha're?"

Daniel nodded, his voice suddenly gone.

Jack reached out and squeezed the back of the archeologist's neck. "Give it time."

"I know."

The colonel cleared his throat uncomfortably. "So, do I get my own archeologist starter set?" he asked. "With the little brushes and doodads?"

"No offense, Jack, but you're not exactly a gentle touch. I'd just as soon you keep to your fishing while I examine the altar."

"Hey, I'll have you know that fishing takes an 'extremely' gentle touch."

"Fishing?"

"You betcha---all finesse."

"Do you even know what finesse means, Jack?"

The colonel backhanded Daniel's arm. "Of course I do, smart guy. Fishing takes at least as much delicacy and yes, finesse as handling your fancy rocks does."

"Really."

"Yes, really."

"So I'd be good at fishing then?"

Jack scowled then shook his head. "I think maybe---not so much."

"What? Why not?"

"Fishing takes an ability that you just don't have, Daniel," replied Jack. "The ability to stay quiet."

"I'm always quiet."

Jack looked incredulous. "You?"

"Yes, me."

"Daniel."

"Jack."

The two men stopped in front of the elevator and Jack swiped his pass card through the slot with a sharp snick then stuck it back in his pants pocket.

"I can do quiet," insisted Daniel belligerently.

"No, you can't."

"Yes---I can."

Jack sighed then turned to the younger man. "You 'think' you're being quiet Daniel, but you're always doing---I don't know---something to make noise. That stuff scares the fish."

Daniel crossed his arms over his chest defiantly. "I do not---make noise."

"You mutter, you tap your fingers or your foot or you flat out talk," explained the colonel then he threw up his hands dramatically. "You're always 'doing' something."

"Well, 'you' wouldn't make a good archeologist."

"Oh for crying out loud, Daniel, you look at rocks."

The elevator door slid aside and Daniel entered then turned to face the closing door, his arms still folded over his chest. "They're artifacts, Jack---history, delicate pieces of ancient civilizations---."

"Yadda yadda," muttered Jack as he punched the button for level twenty-two.

"History," repeated Daniel firmly. "With those things you call hands you'd break everything you touched."

Jack raised his hands and looked at them. "What's wrong with my hands?"

Daniel sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose displacing his glasses slightly. "Oh, never mind," he replied.

The elevator door slid opened and Jack stepped out, Daniel right on his heels. The two men walked toward the commissary side by side.

"I have strong working hands, Daniel, not---scholarly ones."

"Scholarly ones? What the hell does that mean?" asked the archeologist as he pushed through the door into the commissary.

"Geek hands?"

"Geek hands," repeated Daniel indignantly. "I don't have geek hands, Jack. Here, feel these calluses."

Jack turned and gazed down at Daniel's proffered hands then ran a tentative finger over one of the palms. "Yep, soft as a baby's butt---geek hands."

"Hey Colonel---Daniel," greeted Samantha Carter from one of the tables.

"Hey, Sam."

"Carter."

"So what are you two arguing about now?" asked the major.

Daniel exchanged a perplexed look with Jack. "Arguing?" he repeated.

"We're not arguing, Carter," denied Jack.

"It appeared to be arguing to me as well, Major Carter," said Teal'c as he took a seat directly across from his team mate.

Jack waggled a finger between himself and Daniel. "No, no---this isn't arguing, this is friendly debate."

"Oh," said Sam with a nod. "I see, sir. You're debating Daniel."

"Yeah, and winning, I might add."

Daniel scowled at Jack's departing back. "You are 'not' winning," he grumbled. "You can't 'win' when there's no debate."

"Oh, I am 'so' winning, Daniel---face it."

The archeologist rolled his eyes then followed his friend to the food counter.

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CONTINUED

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