SG-1 Fic: The Christmas Thaw (PG)

[what_works]

Fandom: Stargate: SG-1
Title: The Christmas Thaw
Author: Em
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~680
Pairing: Jack/Daniel
Prompt: 092. Christmas (Big Damn Table)
Summary: A night off-world isn't as cold as Daniel thinks.
Dedication: for my patient Jack/Daniel friends
Notes: Special thanks to janedavitt for a quick beta.
written for stargatefic100
Revised and updated 12/19/16


092. Christmas
The Christmas Thaw

Jack sits, his thigh pressing hot against Daniel’s as he squeezes in on the short log. Second watch typically sucks, and Jack's not making it any better by hovering. He grunts, which may be an attempt at communication, but Daniel doesn’t feel like trying to translate Jack. Instead, Daniel pokes at the fire and tries to pretend not to be cold while freezing Jack out.

Jack dumps stale coffee from his tin cup and shifts his P-90 to the side. “Christmas off-world, huh?” he says after a few icy minutes.

Daniel raises his eyebrows and stuffs his hands under his armpits. Jungle fatigues aren't quite cutting it tonight. “Feels that way.”

“It is.” Jack taps his watch. “Christmas Eve.”

“Ah.” Daniel nods, still not wanting to talk to Jack. Jack’s joke about the phallic ceremonial staves, followed by Jack’s blatant eyeing up of the chieftain’s scantily clad sister hadn’t helped Daniel’s self-esteem. Especially when their last private conversation before heading off-world had ended with Jack abruptly asking if dating Daniel was worth it. Right now, Daniel is perfectly content to avoid any special Jack O'Neill one-on-ones. Breaking up three light-years from home was not part of Daniel’s holiday plans.

“So, Danny, what did you ask Santa for Christmas?”

“Uh,” Daniel says, while thinking, that you not break up with me, “aren’t you too old for Santa?”

Jack leans his shoulder into Daniel, familiar, familial, and friendly. It's difficult not to thaw under Jack's natural touches, but dammit Daniel would try. “How about when you were a kid?”

Daniel pushes up his glasses, glancing into the dark, fishing for an answer. He's stared so long at the fire that he can barely make out the shape of Sam's tent. “Oh. I don’t know. A book or something, I guess.”

Jack huffs, spreading his legs and knocking Daniel's knees together. “Figures.”

Daniel pushes back, eyes narrowing. “We don't all need hot rods.” Daniel’s snapped words hang in the air until they make him feel fidgety and guilty.

Jack purses his lips, swinging his P-90 into his lap. When the bite of Daniel's words starts to fade and the silence begins twisting Daniel toward an apology, Jack quietly says, “One year, I asked Santa to bring me a new dad.”

Jack’s face is still as the firelight flickers over his features, playing with the shadows under his eyes. He’s calm and serious and so un-Jack, so open, that Daniel has to distance himself from Jack’s emotional nudity. “Huh. That’s actually not too far from what the—“

“Daniel." Something in Jack's voice sounds so tired that it stops Daniel cold. "I don’t want a lecture on the cultural wackiness of the Yojimbo tribe of the Southern Doohickeys. I'm trying to actually say something here."

Daniel swallows, hoping it's not something about whether being with Daniel is worth it, but he gestures for Jack to continue either way.

Jack brushes imaginary dirt from his weapon, eyes focused on his fingers. "I didn't actually mean it, but sometimes you say stuff—stuff you don't mean—when you're angry or . . . scared." Jack turns, meeting Daniel's eyes. Daniel startles when Jack's fingers creep over his wrist, a gentle squeeze pressing the moment into Daniel's skin. "I'm sorry."

Daniel bites back a smile, suddenly feeling warm despite the weather. "Awfully long way to come to apologize."

"Sometimes it takes me a while to realize when I'm an idiot."

Daniel pushes into Jack's shoulder, staying close when Jack sways back to him. "And I thought by now you'd had enough practice." He takes Jack's hand, lacing their fingers together. Everything isn't magically fixed between them, but the fact that Jack apologized is enough for now. Besides, it's Christmas.

Jack looks down at their hands and frowns. "Yeah, well. . . ."

"Jack? I don't really want to talk right now." Daniel cups his warmed hand against Jack’s cheek as he leans closer, making his intentions clear.

"Merry Christmas, Daniel," Jack says after the kiss.

Daniel smiles as he leans in again. "Mmm, Merry Christmas."



~Comments and feedback always keep me warm.

Comments

[melayneseahawk.livejournal.com]

They're so cute. Stupid, but cute. *hugs them both*

[whisper99.livejournal.com]

What she said :)

[theemdash]

;) Thanks.

[theemdash]

They are pretty stupid and cute. It's what I love most about them. ♥

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Mmmmmm... waaaaarrmmmmmm... :-)

[theemdash]

I'd be happy with either a Jack-blanket or a Daniel-blanket. ;)

[theemdash]

*giggles*

[avidrosette.livejournal.com]

Ooh, nice.

"So, Danny, what did you ask Santa for Christmas?"

"Uh," Daniel says, while thinking, that you not break up with me, "aren’t you too old for Santa?"

I like how raw and needy you've made Daniel's thought, and how you sandwich it in the middle of his flip, spoken rebuff. Recapitulates Daniel's inside/outside contrast right there in the sentence structure. Love that.

I'm so glad they both finally got around to saying what they meant. :-)

[theemdash]

Thanks. I love the dichotomy between what we think and what we say. It's so much fun when I can throw it in a sentence like that.

[tresa-cho.livejournal.com]

Daww. That was so adorable. So very adorable. *melts*

[theemdash]

I rarely write adorable, but I figured for Christmas I should. ;)

[ctheinvisible17.livejournal.com]

Aww, they're just so cute! Sittin' by the fire. ♥

[theemdash]

Fires are for making you warm. *nodnod* ;)

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

awwwww...

[theemdash]

;) Thanks.

[green-grrl.livejournal.com]

Meep! You had me scared there. WHEW!

[theemdash]

*snickers* Not all of my fics are angsty break-up fics! ;)

Actually I wrote this all sappy and fluffy primarily for you, princessofg, paian, and janedavitt. I know I don't give you guys much fluff. ;)

[green-grrl.livejournal.com]

*is proud to support the fluffy side of fandom* :-D

*smooch*

[sid]

Jack: insecure, idiotic, in love. :-)

Very nice making-up scene, and I'm sure the make-up sex will be all the more spectacular for being postponed. *g*

[theemdash]

Doesn't "idiotic" naturally accompany "in love"?

Oh, the follow-up to this would be lovely, wouldn't it?

[starglyph.livejournal.com]

Sweet and warm, like melty toasted marshmallows.

Jack turns, meeting Daniel's eyes, pressing the moment into Daniel's skin with a gentle squeeze of fingers. "I'm sorry."

Loved this!

*snuggles 'round the fire with em and the boys to keep warm*

[theemdash]

Thanks. I'm glad you pointed out that lovely line.

Mmm . . . marshmallows.

[akasha-lilian.livejournal.com]

Aaaaaaawwwww...=) Really liked it! =)

[theemdash]

*giggles* I'm glad!

[paian]

Love this. Especially “Uh,” Daniel says, while thinking, that you not break up with me and He’s calm and serious and so un-Jack, so open, that Daniel has to distance himself from Jack’s emotional nudity and Jack's almost anecdotal way of setting up his apology, and all the physical details, and the whole tone and emotional progression. Big happy mmmmmmmmmm.

[theemdash]

I'm so glad you liked it. I enjoyed writing Jack's round-about apology. Jack is so much fun to write. :D

[msbeata.livejournal.com]

//feeds the writer fresh-baked cookies//

[theemdash]

Cookies! :D

[natsuko1978.livejournal.com]

This is beautiful.

A little sad, a little melancholy, a little sappy, a little
sweet - perfect Christmas Fare.

The tone and atmosphere were captured from the first line... the vulnerability of BOTH men.

“So, Danny, what did you ask Santa for Christmas?”

“Uh,” Daniel says, while thinking, that you not break up with me, “aren’t you too old for Santa?”

This had me choke for a moment.

What can I say? I liked it. If I go into precisely WHY the review will be longer than the fic. Thank you for this.

[theemdash]

Thanks. I'm glad you liked it. I don't usually write things that are this sweet, but the melancholy . . . heh, that's pretty normal for me. ;)

I'm glad you liked it so much; I'm often surprised by how people react to a little ficlet like this. &hearts

[kefira.livejournal.com]

YAY!!!! Merry Christmas Em! Thanks for sharing this!

[theemdash]

Hee! Merry Christmas! :D

[lokei.livejournal.com]

And a Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight. *Grin* Guess Daniel got his implicit Santa-request after all, didn't he?

[theemdash]

Apparently Daniel gets what he wishes for. Perhaps he should wish that Teal'c and Sam sleep really soundly. . . . ;)

[damietta.livejournal.com]

Jack apologies are never easy, but worth it in the end. Jack's analogy is perfect, actually.

Thanks for the holiday gift!

[theemdash]

Jack says what he means . . . kind of directly. ;)

Glad you enjoyed it.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_minxy_/]

Hee! Very sweet. Jack does apologize in strange ways, but his timing is impeccable.

[theemdash]

And at least he does eventually get there. ;) I'm glad you enjoyed the fic.

[eregyrn.livejournal.com]

Oh, perfect! In fact, note-perfect, both of them so utterly *them*. Daniel being raw and sensitive but also pissy and combative. Jack edging his way around and then coming up with exactly the right thing to say, delivered in a very Jack way. Great job!

[theemdash]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[getaway-machine.livejournal.com]

::squishes them both::

[theemdash]

*squishes you*

[roadrunner1896.livejournal.com]

He.

*keeps you and Jack and Daniel warm*

Though, seeing as it is July, everyone probably is warm already. Well, whatever.

Here is something strange, isn't there?

Jack’s face is still as he the firelight flickers over his features,

[theemdash]

You are excellent at finding my dumb ass typos.

And even though it's hot outside, I'm happy for the cuddles.

[roadrunner1896.livejournal.com]

Well, after I have read a sentence three times and still don't exactly know what the author wanted to tell me, I just assume it is not my brain making the mistake. It is stupid, but not that stupid. And usually I ignore it, but I know you can take it when that stuff gets pointed out and you can fix it. Also, you love me and won't defriend me over being a smart ass. :D

It cooled down here, as it rained since noon. But maybe once the clouds go away it will just be horrible humid and hot. *keeps fingers crossed clouds won't go away until everything cooled down a bit*

*snuggles you pantsless*

It's a skill. ;)