General Hammond - Widower. Grandfather. General. George Hammond had been one hell of a man. Initially clashing with him, Daniel had quickly discarded his assessment of Hammond as military hard-ass and Hammond had dropped his assumption of Daniel as loose cannon. The men had found a mutual respect and built a relationship that brought out the general's paternal side. Daniel had never told Hammond how much it touched him every time Hammond had called him "son" and now he never could. It seemed so unfair that after surviving an active career unscathed, it was a heart attack that had taken Hammond out.
Just one more name on the long list of loved ones that Daniel had outlived.
He shifted restlessly on his back, pushing the covers down to his waist and plumping his pillow, trying to fill his mind with thoughts of his current comfort instead of recalling today's funeral, but it was no use. As they had all night, General Hammond's memorial service then the interment ceremony at Arlington replayed themselves inside his head. Sighing, he rolled onto his side, pulling his knees up and tucking one hand under his pillow.
The sheets rustled behind him and he felt the mattress dip as Jack moved to spoon up behind him. Daniel felt the brief touch of Jack's lips against the nape of his neck as Jack's arm came around him. Threading his fingers through Jack's, he pressed their clasped hands to his heart for a moment then relaxed his muscles to let them rest on the bed, still entwined. Jack's body was in full contact with his from calf to thigh to back to neck. Daniel could already feel the heat accumulating, the slide of sweat in the creases of his joints. The discomfort would be worth it, though, to be wrapped up in Jack.
In a couple of hours the alarm would go off. In a couple of hours it would be time for Jack to go back to the Pentagon and for Daniel to fly back to the mountain. For now, Daniel immersed himself in the embrace and sent out a plea to whatever higher power might actually exist that there never come a day when he lay in bed alone and added Jack's name to the list.
Inventory, 3:00 a.m. 2/2
General Hammond - Widower. Grandfather. General. George Hammond had been one hell of a man. Initially clashing with him, Daniel had quickly discarded his assessment of Hammond as military hard-ass and Hammond had dropped his assumption of Daniel as loose cannon. The men had found a mutual respect and built a relationship that brought out the general's paternal side. Daniel had never told Hammond how much it touched him every time Hammond had called him "son" and now he never could. It seemed so unfair that after surviving an active career unscathed, it was a heart attack that had taken Hammond out.
Just one more name on the long list of loved ones that Daniel had outlived.
He shifted restlessly on his back, pushing the covers down to his waist and plumping his pillow, trying to fill his mind with thoughts of his current comfort instead of recalling today's funeral, but it was no use. As they had all night, General Hammond's memorial service then the interment ceremony at Arlington replayed themselves inside his head. Sighing, he rolled onto his side, pulling his knees up and tucking one hand under his pillow.
The sheets rustled behind him and he felt the mattress dip as Jack moved to spoon up behind him. Daniel felt the brief touch of Jack's lips against the nape of his neck as Jack's arm came around him. Threading his fingers through Jack's, he pressed their clasped hands to his heart for a moment then relaxed his muscles to let them rest on the bed, still entwined. Jack's body was in full contact with his from calf to thigh to back to neck. Daniel could already feel the heat accumulating, the slide of sweat in the creases of his joints. The discomfort would be worth it, though, to be wrapped up in Jack.
In a couple of hours the alarm would go off. In a couple of hours it would be time for Jack to go back to the Pentagon and for Daniel to fly back to the mountain. For now, Daniel immersed himself in the embrace and sent out a plea to whatever higher power might actually exist that there never come a day when he lay in bed alone and added Jack's name to the list.
Finis