Title: Who Knows Where the Time Goes
Author: JayEm
Email: JayEm
Status: Complete
Rating: PG13
Pairing: J/D
Season: Post season 8, early season 9
Summary: A letter to General Landry.
Disclaimer: The characters mentioned in this story are the property of Showtime and Gekko Film Corp. The Stargate, SG-I, the Goa'uld and all other characters who have appeared in the series STARGATE SG-1 together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of MGM-UA Worldwide Television, Gekko Film Corp, Glassner/Wright Double Secret Productions and Stargate SG-I Prod. Ltd. Partnership. This fanfic is not intended as an infringement upon those rights and solely meant for entertainment. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author.

Who Knows Where the Time Goes

And I am not alone
While my love is near me
I know it will be so
Until it's time to go

Hey there, Hank,

Just wanted to say thanks for accepting command of the SGC. You’re one of the few people I trust to take care of it the right way. Also not to lose your head when the weird shit starts coming down. Then again, nothing could be much weirder than Frisco in ’72, could it? Thirty three years. Has it really been that long? Damn, we’re getting old, buddy.

So where does the time go? I mean really…one day you’re minding your own business, working on a respectable beer belly and rediscovering your inner astronomer, the next you’re light-years from home discovering the universe just got a lot bigger and a lot more dangerous than you ever dreamed. But, hey, Daniel was back so it wasn’t all bad.

I was surprised just how much I’d missed the guy. Almost dying together tends to bond even the most unlikely people together, but in Daniel’s case it was more like the two of us had met our match. We’re both headstrong and committed to our goals, even if sometimes those goals are directly opposed; even then, we recognized that we both had a point in most areas. Of course, over time, we came to learn even more about one another and found even more to respect. In fact, I’d go so far as to say Daniel is the best friend I’ve ever had (no offense, I know you know what I mean) and I know he feels the same. We respect each other, challenge each other and watch each others backs. Sometimes, sure, we take it to the limit and beyond, but we always find our way back.

So what’s all this glowing praise got to do with the price of goa’uld on Chulak? Well. It’s all about surprises really. The way a man judges another man and how he can be so wrong and never know it unless the guy jumps between you and certain death. About how you can go all your life thinking and being a certain way and one moment in time can turn it all on its ass.

Take this new promotion… Director of Homeland Security…following in Hammond’s footsteps again while he retires this time to finally write those memoirs. Sounds fancy, maybe it’s even something I can do without chewing my fingers to the bone worrying about my team going off world without me. Maybe.

This last time Daniel went missing was the worst; not that any of them have ever been good. This time, though, I was the man facing a dozen different crises at once, the one who could only snatch a moment here and there to wonder, to hope, to deny that Daniel was gone, maybe for good this time. And I did deny it, right up to the second I heard his voice in my office and got up to get an eyeful, literally, of a completely bare, but totally buff miracle. The SGC flag never looked better.

Oh yeah, did I mention I have the hots for my archaeologist?

Thought that might shock you. I know everyone around the mountain thinks Carter is the one I’ve been after for years. You thought so too, remember, when you came to visit last year? Sorry to burst your bubble, but Daniel’s got her beat, hands down. Not my fault she can’t take a hint. No, that’s not right… I guess it is my fault I can’t seem to give her a harsh enough hint. Something I’ve promised Daniel I’ll take care of toot sweet. I’d rather have a root canal without anesthesia, naked. But he’s right, like he always is, we can’t build a relationship on lies, to ourselves or anyone else.

Which brings me back to the promotion. I took it so I can still be helping the program, maybe get to commandeer the Prometheus occasionally, make sure some asshole doesn’t start an intergalactic war just because he can. Not a bad gig, if you think about it. Downside is weeks away in D.C., away from Daniel. I’ve offered to have him transferred with me; he’s practically been my second in command around here anyway. But he says no, it’s too soon for him to give up going through the gate. Which I totally understand, by the way, it’s just that I want him with me all the time… now more than ever.

The good thing about me being away from the mountain is that he won’t be under scrutiny, or – God forbid – in danger because he’s “The Man’s” main squeeze. Because he is… or at least he will be in about an hour when I pick him up for our first official date.

I’m counting on you to take care of him, Hank. You’re one of the few people in the world who knows I’m not the confident heterosexual I might appear on the surface. ‘Confidently bi’, remember? Those were good days, mostly.

Hell, I’m not getting any younger… neither one of us is. You told me years ago to grab a little happiness while I could, before I wound up a dead ass like my dad and yours, sitting around reliving old battles because there was no life to remember. I took the Peter Pan route for a while there, but I know now it’s okay to grow up if you’ve got someone to grow up for. Daniel is it for me.

Anyway, got to go. Big date on the horizon, and I’m primed for take off, if you get my drift. You take care of yourself, old man, and the command too. You’ll never have a better bunch of people. Listen to Daniel, by the way. Like I said, he’s almost always right. Even when he’s wrong, he’ll make you think. Treasure the time you get to keep him because I don’t think I’m going to be able to wait too long before I retire to Minnesota and take him with me. He’ll go too by then, betcha. You know how persuasive I can be when I’m motivated. I expect to be highly motivated by sunrise.

Give my best to Andrew; tell him I still think he got the raw end of the deal when he took up with a reprobate like you. (j/k)

Best,

Jack