Genfic
Teen, just for a word
Jack leaves to head up Home World Security
"General, you're needed in the mess hall."
"Walter?"
"Luke...potatoes..." Walter shrugged.
"I'm leaving tomorrow, you would think I might have my last day be potato free."
Walter nodded as he passed, hiding the smile until Jack was out of the room.
Jack sighed and pushed the door to the mess hall open.
"SURPRISE!"
Jack froze then shook his head and relaxed.
"Carter."
"You didn't really think you were getting out of here without a party did you sir?" She grinned pushing a drink into his hand. "Apple cider." She apologized.
"Do you have...cake?"
"Of course." She chuckled and led him to it.
Jack nodded to those who had come to wish him well. He noticed Teal'c and Daniel were conspicuously absent and wondered if they had something up their sleeve.
"So Daniel tells em...in gould mind you...he is the Great and Powerful Oz."
The officers gathered with him chuckled.
Jack noticed Teal'c's arrival and saw Carter go over to him, they spoke and she frowned.
"Excuse me." He requested and headed over to them. "Hey T, have some cake. So where's Daniel, chained to his desk with translations?"
"DanielJackson--"
"Went home sick. Probably that flu going around. I'm sure he'll be here tomorrow for your official send-off." Carter said.
"Yes...tomorrow...I'm sure."
Daniel took the pillow away from his head and sighed relieved at the silence. The phone had rung off and on since he got home. He knew he was being childish, sneaking out of work, turning off his cell and not answering his home phone. He rationalized that if he didn't have to talk to Jack then he wouldn't have to say good-bye. He hated that word. Nothing about 'good-bye' was good! He'd said it when he was eight and it had wrung his gut so he'd refused to ever say it again. Not when Sha're died, not when Nick stayed behind with the giant aliens, not when Janet died...and he had no intention of being there to say it to his best friend when he left in the morning.
Sam hung up with a sigh.
"DanielJackson did not answer?"
"No." She turned to Teal'c.
"Perhaps he is on his way here."
"Maybe." She said doubtfully.
She'd tried to call Daniel several times yesterday and this morning but he was not answering.
"Colonel, it's almost time." Colonel Reynolds informed her.
She nodded and led Teal'c to the gateroom.
"Ten hut!" Reynolds called and everyone came to attention as Jack entered the room in his dress uniform.
"At ease." Jack said quietly and then headed up the gate ramp to the podium set up there. "You all know I'm a man of few words...so thank you for your patience for this last year... and don't be too hard on the next guy." Jack concluded and stepped away.
All the military personnel saluted him and he returned it.
"Fall out." Reynolds ordered and everyone, save Sam and Teal'c, left the gateroom.
"Sir, Daniel--"
"Don't worry about it Carter." He waved her off. "Keep the next guy in line huh?"
"We will sir." She smiled, tears in her eyes.
"You two look after Daniel."
Teal'c bowed.
"Time to go." Jack said as the silence lingered between them.
Sam broke protocol and hugged him.
"We're gonna miss you." She whispered.
"I'll drop in."
"You'd better...sir." She smiled and stepped back.
"My brother." Teal'c clasped his elbow in the traditional Jaffa sign of respect.
"If you come across another gould give him a swift kick in the ass for me too."
"Indeed." Teal'c smiled and released him.
Jack turned and stared at the stargate for a long moment.
"Be seeing you kids." He smiled and left before they could see the emotion in his eyes.
Daniel sipped his coffe, his eyes drifted to the clock on the wall.
It's after nine...Jack should be on his way...
The phone rang startling him and he answered without thinking.
"Hel--"
"Get your ass outside!"
"Wha--?"
"Do it!"
Daniel heard the dial tone and blinked. He hung up the phone and toyed with the idea of ignoring Jack's order but the pull was too strong and he walked to the door and outside. A familiar noise drew his attention to the sky and his mouth fell open...an F-16 roared right over his house doing barrel rolls. He finally got his wits about him just as the plane came back overhead waggling its wings. Daniel raised his hands to it and shook his head, a smile formed then turned into a grin which gave way to a laugh.
"Damn hot shot pilots! I got half a mind to call the base and complain! What the hell's he doing anyway?!?"
Daniel turned to the neighbor beside him and smiled sadly.
"Saying good-bye Mr. Gains, he was saying good-bye."
Daniel heard his phone ring and headed inside.
"Hello?"
"Since you wouldn't come to me..."
"Please don't say it." Daniel asked haggardly, but loud enough for Jack to hear over the engines.
"Do you trust me? "
"Always."
"Good-bye doesn't mean forever Daniel...I promise."
"I'm holding you to that!"
"Catch you around Space Monkey."
"Be seeing you Jack."
"Hey, if the neighbors complain tell 'em to take it up with the President."
"I will." Daniel chuckled, only Jack could get permission to do a fly-by from the President.
"Off I go into the wild blue yonder..." Jack sang as he signed off.
Daniel slowly put the phone down.
"I am holding you to that promise Jack." He said softly...and knew everything would be alright... even with Jack a few thousand miles away.
THE END