Title: Cute 1
Author: aiyn@writeme.com
Author Page: Ai'yn
Spoilers : None
Summary: Jack notices things about Daniel while Daniel sleeps.
Rating: PG
Category: J/D

Damn if he didn't look…cute.

Cute?

Jack decided he had officially gone nuts and he should file a Chapter 14 and have MacKenzie cheerfully cart him away in those lovely white jackets.

Not.

Ignoring the curious glances as soldiers went around the table in the commissary, Colonel Jack O'Neill sat there with his chin on top of his clasped hands. Watching. Waiting.

For Daniel Jackson.

Said archeologist was across from his view, dozing blissfully away with his face dangerously close to his plate of now cold eggs and Kaiser roll, one hand still tight over the ceramic handle of his coffee mug - also now cold - and oblivious to the study.

Jack took a break from his scrutiny to stretch out his arms, letting the knots on his back ease out. Strain and fatigue from a week-long training mission with soldiers too young to understand war, too young to remember they were not bulletproof, had taken a toll on the colonel since day one. Watching the unflagging stamina of their newest comrades going through each and every exercise only made his knees ache. He also hated going on these missions, hated going without his team as they went about their own duties and him off-planet. He didn't mind going off-planet, but would have preferred going with someone who didn't worship his P-90 like his newest girlfriend. Jack'd rather have Carter's obsession with dirt samples and five syllable vocabulary, Teal'c's "I am not going to laugh no matter what joke you tell me" expression, and Daniel's…well…being just Daniel.

Not just Daniel, Jack mused as he leaned forward to rest his chin back on his fists. For some reason, there was really no adjective to describe the currently sleeping archeologist. Couldn't really call him timid because Jack had seen Daniel snap back with a temper that could give Teal'c a run for his money, especially when it came to a threat to his friends. Shit, and Jack was accused of being the mother hen. Bookish? Jack shrugged. Yeah, Daniel seemed to prefer the books more than the opposite sex, although that never stopped half the female population and in his suspicions, a good portion of the male half of the population from wagging their tongues at his posterior as he walked by without a clue. Although Teal'c had noticed. So had Jack. Nope, the stereotypical picture of a bookworm was definitely not Daniel's description. Not with those long legs, those blue eyes and lips Jack swore must be as soft as a -

Whoa.

He was tired. He'd just been debriefed by Hammond and given his recommendations, just showered, and was too drained to even go to the assembly line and get something to eat. Yeah, he should go get a bunk and take a few winks on base before driving back to his house tomorrow morning and enjoying his weekend off.

He should, instead of sitting here the past ten minutes staring at a sleeping Daniel.

What the hell was he doing?

Jack scowled, the frown lifting his head off the table a tad before dropping down again. Damn it, he shouldn't be here, speculating on what would it feel like to…kiss Daniel.

Grrrr.

The growl rumbled low in Jack's throat, as low as it had rumbled the third night when he'd found himself waking up after a particularly disturbing dream, feeling very…uncomfortable. Like…time for some quality-time-for-the-little-colonel-uncomfortable. Great.

He did not need this. He so did not need this! Bad enough a few months ago he'd found himself dreaming about Daniel when he was stuck with Laira on Edora. Found himself calling out Daniel's name in fact, which Laira must have heard because the next day... She'd just kept hanging around, huge damp eyes, convinced she could somehow make him forget whatever it was that had him sitting up on his palette with an ache she couldn't decipher in his eyes. She tried to offer what Sara had, a poor substitute when he thought about it, and her comfort on those nights missing home was sorely lacking something.

Apparently, Laira hadn't realized what a good memory Jack had.

But he'd tried to forget. Tried. God, he'd tried. With rebuilding the village, with…her. But still, he found himself rescued, back home and staring at the top of Daniel's head after a long, loud night of celebration with his gang.

Wouldn't work. No way in hell. Last he checked, Daniel was married, now widowed, male and - did he mention male? The man showed no inkling or hint of being willing to let Jack do CPR over him standing up, nor did he seem to act like he'd thought about that idea either like Jack had every night after his return home. Oblivious to how he looked, how Jack gazed at him, and totally blind to the fact that everything he did had Jack panting after his…ah…six.

Jack scowled at Daniel. This was all his fault. Yeah. His fault. Doctor Jackson's. Danny boy. Him. Why did Daniel have to…argh…he didn't know! Wait, yes he did! If only Daniel's bangs didn't stick up out over his arm as he slept. If only they didn't look so soft, begging to be touched. If only Daniel hadn't had long lashes any woman would sigh with envy over. Or part his mouth in an "O" each time Jack caught him by surprise. Or if he didn't sigh and stare dreamily down his coffee mug every morning during missions. Or…

The plate of eggs moved a bit and Jack paused. Was he? Yup. Rock boy was back from la-la land.

Jack waited, watching for that moment he'd always found himself seeking whenever they had to share a tent during offworld missions.

The brow furrowed, a little wrinkle. Jack's fingers twitched with the urge to reach out to smooth it away. There were nights Daniel's dreams would be louder, an assortment of demons, ghouls, and ghosts coming back to haunt Daniel in his sleep. It would always wake Jack up - as fast as a twig snapping in the distance. Usually all it took was a hand on Daniel's shoulder. The man would sigh in a way that twisted Jack's gut before he drifted back into sleep, never to have a recollection of what Jack did or even know how Jack would stare at him for so long after that before reluctantly pulling his hand away.

Daniel murmured a long, soft "Mm" that made the muscles in Jack's stomach clench. Daniel wasn't even awake yet, or aware of what he was doing. The colonel shot a glare over his friend's head as people went by, glancing over at Daniel. Some with grins, some with smirks, and some with…Hey, none of that! Back off!

Daniel, dim to the apparent Alpha male power struggle happening over him - currently Jack versus the new young lieutenant who seemed to have no qualms checking out Daniel's…er…backside - stirred with another soft moan. The young lieutenant's eyes glazed over before shifting them towards Jack. The colonel grinned, baring his teeth. It didn't look friendly. Wasn't supposed to. The soldier's face drained to the color of paper, obviously realizing he'd better pray he never got temporarily assigned to SG-1. He recovered quickly, strolling by, his eyes sweeping down Daniel's back and lingering somewhere lower one last time. Bastard. Jack snarled under his breath and the soldier was suddenly walking faster.

At the snarl, Daniel frowned, eyes shut, lips pursed to a pout that made Jack's eyes cross, before Daniel's jaw flexed and a yawn broke through. Jack watched as long fingers unwrapped around the mug and experimented with moving before sliding across the table to knuckle one of Daniel's eyes. The archeologist blinked, staring, not quite seeing ahead, raised his head up, smiled sleepily at Jack, a heart-droppingly sweet smile that made the colonel's chest pound, then Daniel's eyes widened…

And jumped. And the plate of eggs rattled off to a goopy yellow mess on the floor.

"Jack!" Daniel yelped as soon as his sleep fogged sight cleared to show the colonel's face inches from his. Daniel gaped at the older man across from him, eyes like huge saucer plates.

Jack fought the urge to pat down the rebellious short strands of hair Daniel had sticking up off his left brow. Instead, he grinned towards Daniel and drawled out "Good morning."

The blue eyes still looked huge as Daniel stammered "G-good morning." He blinked and checked his watch. "Oh."

"It's eleven o'clock, Daniel," Jack commented, nodding towards the plate on the floor.

"Oh." Daniel made a face and stared at the coffee mug inches away. "Was heading home last night, but SG-4 needed something translated quickly." Then he started and stared at Jack for a moment. "You're back!" he blurted out.

Jack rolled his eyes. "Your powers of observation never cease to amaze me, Doctor Jackson." He grinned and leaned forward towards Daniel. The archeologist stared back, puzzled. "Miss me?"

"Of course," yawned Daniel. He stopped and a strange look swept over his face. The archeologist recovered quickly and reiterated with a "Sure." He stretched out his arms, unaware Jack's jaw had dropped open.

"You did?"

Daniel smiled as he pushed off the edge of the table with his hands and rose to his feet. "No, I didn't. I actually was able to get some work done without you constantly barging into my office." He beat a hasty retreat, the stale bread roll Jack grabbed from Daniel's ruined breakfast missing his head by inches.

Argh, where in the hell had Jack gotten the idea that Daniel here was cute? He snorted as he watched the roll spin away, his eyes tracking it as it obediently followed behind Daniel's heels. Unbidden, Jack's gaze wandered up, following the line of Daniel's spine easily discerned through the black t-shirt. Shit, wasn't that shirt a little…tight? Jack found himself staring at the same nether regions the other lieutenant had appreciated and found himself tracking Daniel as he exited out of the room and towards the corridor.

Jack found himself craning to catch any more last glimpses, but Daniel was walking fast, perhaps fearing a harder roll would be making a beeline for his head soon.

He sat back, folding his arms across his chest. He stared at the now empty doorway, remembering how Daniel had first smiled at him, before he realized it wasn't a dream. Hm. Jack felt the corners of his mouth lift.

He settled back into his seat with an irritable sigh. He thought about the smile.

Okay, maybe annoyingly cute.

And maybe cute wasn't so bad.

He looked around the table, recalling how soft Daniel's hair had looked. How Daniel'd sighed before he slowly woke. The look on Daniel's face in that one unguarded moment before his brain had checked what his mouth was actually saying.

He got up to follow Daniel.

Yeah, maybe cute wasn't so bad after all.

The End

Disclaimer: Neither SG1, SGC, nor for that matter SG-anything are mine. We all know who they belong to. I've just borrowed them, cleaned them afterwards and left them (sort of) 'as were'. Written for no money, only love, with no intention to infringe on any copyright, purely for entertainment. Please don't archive without my permission.