Daniel jerked awake to the sound of heavy logs hitting the grate.
He watched as the damp wood hissed and spat, settled into the embers and sent dense smoke in lazy, drifting wisps up the flue and into the alien sky.
He blinked slowly, fighting through the drowsiness. He found himself hypnotized by the shapes and patterns created by the flames. They were oddly comforting.
He shifted a little on the cold floor. His neck ached from the awkward angle created by his head resting on Jack’s backpack. His fingers and toes were cold despite the space blanket. He realized there was extra weight on his legs and he glanced down to find Jack’s jacket spread over him. It hadn’t been there when he’d fallen asleep.
“Hey, you’re awake.” Jack threw one more small log onto the fire and hunkered down next to Daniel, his eyes doing a rapid sit rep.
“Sort of.”
“You okay?”
Daniel licked parched lips. “Thirsty.”
A canteen was produced and Jack raised Daniel’s head slightly with a hand to the back of his neck, allowing him a cool drink that was nowhere near long enough.
Daniel didn’t know what he was more grateful for; the blessedly soothing liquid or the relief in his neck. He was even more relieved when Jack left his hand there and gently shifted half underneath him, pulling Daniel to his chest and wrapping strong, capable arms around him.
“You cold?”
“Yeah. Fire’s nice though.”
Jack rubbed Daniel’s arms vigorously, trying to banish the chill. Getting rid of the cold in Daniel’s bones was one thing; the iciness that gripped his heart and guts was quite another.
“They’ll be back soon. Carter will have fixed the gate and Fraiser will be here with those giant needles before you know it.”
“Yeah. So much to look forward to.”
They fell into silence.
“You eaten?” Daniel wondered why his words were coming so slowly.
“Not hungry.”
“Gotta eat.”
“I checked the MREs. Christmas dinner in a vacuum-sealed pack. I’ll pass.”
Daniel smiled to himself. “Probably tastes like chicken,” he said, shocked at his slurred speech. He was pleased to hear a huffed laugh from behind him and winced a little at the accompanying movement.
Daniel allowed his gaze to fall on the fire again.
“It’s a beautiful fireplace. Workmanship. Beautiful.” “Yeah.”
“There’s a sleigh. And reindeer.” Daniel coughed. Jack held him tighter.
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Jack/Daniel, PG, fireplace
Date: 2007-12-23 01:37 pm (UTC)From:He watched as the damp wood hissed and spat, settled into the embers and sent dense smoke in lazy, drifting wisps up the flue and into the alien sky.
He blinked slowly, fighting through the drowsiness. He found himself hypnotized by the shapes and patterns created by the flames. They were oddly comforting.
He shifted a little on the cold floor. His neck ached from the awkward angle created by his head resting on Jack’s backpack. His fingers and toes were cold despite the space blanket. He realized there was extra weight on his legs and he glanced down to find Jack’s jacket spread over him. It hadn’t been there when he’d fallen asleep.
“Hey, you’re awake.” Jack threw one more small log onto the fire and hunkered down next to Daniel, his eyes doing a rapid sit rep.
“Sort of.”
“You okay?”
Daniel licked parched lips. “Thirsty.”
A canteen was produced and Jack raised Daniel’s head slightly with a hand to the back of his neck, allowing him a cool drink that was nowhere near long enough.
Daniel didn’t know what he was more grateful for; the blessedly soothing liquid or the relief in his neck. He was even more relieved when Jack left his hand there and gently shifted half underneath him, pulling Daniel to his chest and wrapping strong, capable arms around him.
“You cold?”
“Yeah. Fire’s nice though.”
Jack rubbed Daniel’s arms vigorously, trying to banish the chill. Getting rid of the cold in Daniel’s bones was one thing; the iciness that gripped his heart and guts was quite another.
“They’ll be back soon. Carter will have fixed the gate and Fraiser will be here with those giant needles before you know it.”
“Yeah. So much to look forward to.”
They fell into silence.
“You eaten?” Daniel wondered why his words were coming so slowly.
“Not hungry.”
“Gotta eat.”
“I checked the MREs. Christmas dinner in a vacuum-sealed pack. I’ll pass.”
Daniel smiled to himself. “Probably tastes like chicken,” he said, shocked at his slurred speech. He was pleased to hear a huffed laugh from behind him and winced a little at the accompanying movement.
Daniel allowed his gaze to fall on the fire again.
“It’s a beautiful fireplace. Workmanship. Beautiful.”
“Yeah.”
“There’s a sleigh. And reindeer.” Daniel coughed. Jack held him tighter.
“You hallucinating on me?”
“No. There. In the flames.” He coughed again.
“Nah. It’s a lakeside cabin. Proper log fire. Candles. Sheepskin rug.”
“Sounds nice.”
“Just hold on. Okay? Be home soon.” Jack dropped a light kiss on Daniel’s head.
“Already am,” Daniel whispered.
Jack held him, closed his eyes and strained to hear the sounds that meant rescue.