The Amadeus Effect

~~~
The next morning Daniel woke up alone in the bed he’d been sharing with Jack. His initial reaction was fear that the pain would come back, and then he remembered that he didn’t have to worry about it anymore and a wave of relief washed over him. He could honestly say that he’d never experienced anything as horrible as the pain Hathor’s device had caused. But then, if it hadn’t been for that device, he would never have had such an eye-opening night with Jack.

It was funny. Daniel had been happy enough with his life and things had been going pretty well, he’d thought. But after one night with Jack, he realized that he’d been walking through his life only half alive. He’d never felt so…complete in all his life. It was a big deal—huge, in fact—and the only person he could talk with about it was currently nowhere in sight.

Daniel sat up, feeling lonely and adrift, realizing that Jack had made his escape during the night without bothering to wake him. Daniel had never been one to indulge in self-pity, but he had to admit, this one hurt. He was just gathering up the will to get out of bed when the bathroom door opened and Jack came out, squeaky clean and wrapped in a towel.

Daniel smiled, feeling like an idiot for jumping to conclusions and assuming the worst. He chalked up his lack of faith to the emotional roller-coaster ride he’d been on for the last few days, and promised he wouldn’t allow himself to doubt Jack again. He watched as Jack walked over to the dresser and started pulling out his clothes, his expression unreadable. Daniel’s smile slipped a notch when he couldn’t get Jack to make eye contact with him.

“Shower’s all yours,” said Jack, his eyes anywhere but on Daniel.

“Um…thanks?” Daniel replied uncertainly. “Jack, is everything alright?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?” Jack answered distractedly and busied himself with getting dressed.

“Okay,” said Daniel, not convinced in the slightest. “I’ll just be in there, then,” he added, indicating the bathroom.

“Good,” Jack said, his back turned as he hitched up his pants. “When you’re done, report to the infirmary. You can join me in the commissary for breakfast when you’ve been cleared.” Fully dressed now, Jack left the VIP suite without as much as a backward glance.

Daniel stood there, dumbfounded, feeling as if he’d just been slapped across the face. He’d been living in a bubble for the last few days. It had been frightening, but he’d had Jack, and that made everything okay. In a way, Jack had been his entire world since this whole thing began, and now it felt like his whole world had collapsed around him.

He shook his head, trying to shake the maudlin thoughts that had gripped him. It wasn’t fair to be upset with Jack. He’d been amazingly sensitive and kind throughout the whole ordeal, but now that it was over, who could blame him for pulling away, for freaking out over what they’d done? What had he expected? Did he think Jack would wake up in his arms and declare his undying love? Daniel gusted out a pained laugh—Jack was his commanding officer, and a good man—he’d done what was necessary to save a member of his team. Nothing more.

Mechanically, Daniel went through the motions of showering and getting dressed as his brain relentlessly picked away at problem of salvaging his friendship with Jack. His mind was still plugging away at the problem when he left the VIP suite for the infirmary. In the hallway outside the suite there was an SF who must have been standing guard. Daniel gave him a cursory glance as he approached the young man, and he could have sworn he felt waves of hatred emanating from him. Instinctively, Daniel gave the military man a wide berth as he passed. It was probably just his imagination, but years of being the youngest and smallest boy in class taught him to respect his instincts regarding potential bullies.
~~~~~


Dr. Fraiser was patching up a burn on Sgt. Siler’s arm when Daniel arrived at the infirmary. She looked surprised to see him and nodded at him to take a seat on his usual bed. She finished with Siler and sent him on his way, discretely closing the door behind him.

She looked at Daniel expectantly, her eyes asking ‘well?’ even though propriety and regulations forbade her from asking the question aloud.

“I’m all better,” Daniel answered with a shy smile, feeling the heat rising to his face.

“Let me be the judge of that,” said Janet, and she proceeded to put him through the usual gamut of tests.

“Well?” Daniel asked at last, his stomach growling loudly enough for Fraiser to hear it.

Janet smiled brightly. “Well…the organisms are still present, but it appears that they’re dead, and considering the colonel isn’t nearby to have an affect on them, I’d say you’re in the clear. It’ll most likely take a few days for the organisms to pass through your system, but I see no reason to worry.”

“So…I’m cleared for duty?” Daniel asked, just to be sure.

“I don’t see why not. But if you feel anything out of the ordinary, I want you to let me know immediately. Understood?”
Daniel grinned his thanks and got down from the bed. Breakfast wasn’t so much calling as yelling, now, and he was anxious to meet up with Jack.

But when he saw what was waiting for him in the commissary, Daniel almost turned tail and ran in the opposite direction, hunger be damned. Jack was sitting at a table in the centre of the room with Sam and Teal’c, and most of the other tables were occupied by SF’s and Marines catching breakfast before their shift started. As Daniel entered the commissary, all eyes turned towards him and a sudden hush fell upon the room. The base rumour mill must have been working overtime! He thought he might die on the spot.

“Daniel!” Carter called after what felt like eons.

“Hey guys,” Daniel answered with a duck of his head and he took the seat next to Jack at their table. Slowly, the rest of the crowd went back to own breakfasts and conversations and Daniel straightened up in his chair. Jack, he noticed, was avoiding making eye contact with him, but seemed to have no qualms about rubbing knees with him. Maybe it was just a habit picked up from their forced confinement—maybe he wasn’t even aware he was doing it.

“Fraiser gave you a clean bill of health?” asked Sam, skirting around the real question.

“Yes,” Daniel answered. “It looks like everything’s okay now.”

Jack grunted and picked up his tray. “Great,” he said. “Now things can get back to normal, hey Danny? You must be thrilled to be a free man again.”

Daniel couldn’t answer truthfully, so instead he left it at a quick nod, to be interpreted however he liked.

“I’ve got a meeting with Hammond, filling him in on our situation, and then he wants all of us in the briefing room in half an hour.” Jack got up to return his tray and Teal’c got up with him, following him out of the commissary and leaving Daniel and Sam to finish their meals.

In a corridor carefully chosen for its isolation, Teal’c pulled Colonel O’Neill aside, wishing to speak with him privately.

“O’Neill, I am most pleased that you have succeeded in healing Daniel Jackson,” he said, praising him the way he used to praise his son for completing a difficult or dangerous task.

“It was nothing,” Jack muttered, rubbing the back of his neck to hide his embarrassment.

“I believe it was indeed something, O’Neill” Teal’c argued. “It speaks a great deal of your trust and affection for Daniel Jackson that you would allow him to take you in such a way.”

Jack’s hand came up, sharply cutting Teal’c off. “Whoa, there. What?” he demanded.

“I said…”

“I know what you said,” Jack barked loudly and then looked around to make sure they were alone in the corridor. “What do you mean, ‘take me’? There was no ‘taking’ of me going on in that room!”

Teal’c studied his friend carefully. It was clear that there had been a misunderstanding, but he was unsure as to which part O’Neill had misunderstood. “You are aware that in order for the device’s effects to cease it was necessary to have penetrative intercourse with Daniel Jackson?”

Jack’s head whipped around, afraid of being overheard, and the heat in his cheeks flamed a bit hotter. “Jeez, T! Keep it down, would ya?”

“You did not answer my question,” the Jaffa replied stoically.

“Yes—okay? Yes, we…I…know that!” Jack answered in a stage whisper, mortified that he was having this conversation at all, let alone with a towering Jaffa warrior.

“And, as you took the place of Hathor in the role of Daniel Jackson’s god, it follows that you would be the ‘woman’ in this situation.”

Jack’s mouth went bone dry and he blinked stupidly back at his large friend for several long seconds before his brain started working again.

“That’s just your theory, Teal’c,” he said with renewed confidence. “Daniel’s fine now—Fraiser gave him the green light, so what we did obviously worked, didn’t it?”

Teal’c simply bowed in return and set off down the corridor on his own, leaving Jack to stew in his own thoughts for a while.
~~~~~


Daniel entered the briefing room early. He’d escaped the commissary after rushing through a breakfast of toast and coffee, and this time he knew it wasn’t his imagination—people were staring at him. He tried to ignore it, but even Sam was starting to show signs of unease at the attention his presence was drawing. Although some of the looks he was receiving could be classified as merely curious, most of the attention was negative, consisting of loud, derogatory whispers and sneers.

He sighed as he slipped into his usual chair at the conference table, enjoying the simple pleasure of being alone in a quiet place. He had a few blessed minutes of peace until General Hammond and Jack came in, both of them looking ill at ease. Daniel guessed that Hammond had heard a little more than he was comfortable with about their time in the VIP suite.

What surprised Daniel was that Jack chose to sit next to him when there were so many other chairs available around the large, rectangular table. He was obviously trying to play it cool, acting like nothing had happened, and Daniel was itching to get him alone for a few minutes to confront him about his behaviour. He shifted slightly in his seat, deliberately inching his chair closer to Jack’s, just to test his reaction. Jack surprised him again by leaning closer, rather than pulling away. Curious, thought Daniel; but he didn’t have a chance to pursue that thought because Teal’c and Sam chose that moment to arrive and the meeting got under way.

“SG-1, I know Dr. Jackson and Colonel O’Neill have only just been cleared for active duty, but there’s been an incident off-world and I need you there ASAP.”

“Sir, does this have anything to do with the Negloma negotiations?” asked Carter. She’d heard rumours that SG-9 was having major difficulties with their ongoing negotiations with the advanced and highly volatile Neglomans. They had plenty of scientific advancements to offer, but they were a prickly lot, and even the SGC’s team of trained negotiators were having a hard time gaining their trust. It was obviously time to bring out the big guns, AKA one Doctor Daniel Jackson, who had a magical flair when it came to winning the trust of aliens.

“SG-9 apparently said or did something that offended the Negloma. They’re demanding that a proper apology be made and a new, more flexible, negotiator step in before they release SG-9 and continue our talks.”

“And if the apology doesn’t meet with their approval?” asked Jack.

The crease in Hammond’s forehead deepened. “There was mention of retribution and penalties in the event that they are not satisfied.” He took a deep breath and met the eyes of his flagship team one by one. “I don’t need to tell you what a delicate situation this is. If at all possible, I need you to find a peaceful solution to this problem. The technology the Negloma have to offer would go a long way in ensuring the future funding of the SGC. But the safety of both teams is paramount. If necessary, do whatever is needed to bring SG-9 home safely.” He received nods from every member of SG-1 before he continued. “I need you geared up and ready to go in fifteen minutes. Dismissed.”

As O’Neill and his team headed out the door, Hammond put a hand on Daniel’s arm, stopping him. “Ah—Dr. Jackson,” Hammond hedged. “I must ask; do you feel up to the task of taking over the Negloma negotiations?”

Daniel saw in the general’s pale blue eyes a question that went far deeper. He was genuinely concerned, not just about his health, but about how well he was coping with the situation. Daniel nodded, his solemn expression answering Hammond’s questions, both spoken and unspoken.

“Good,” the general smiled warmly. “I’ll have an up to date file on the Negloma on your desk shortly.”
~~~~~


The general was good to his word, and Daniel arrived at his lab to find an airman already there, a thick folder in his hands. He had no time to look through the file now—he could only hope that he’d have a chance to review it properly before he had to address the Negloman ministers.

He’d heard enough stories brought back from SG-9’s frequent visits over the last few months to know that the Negloma were prone to extreme displays of emotion. The running joke was that it was like negotiating with a planet full of manic-depressives teenagers on speed. Daniel now wondered if the SGC’s negotiating team was too by-the-book and restrained for the likes of such a passionate people as the Negloma.

Daniel hugged the file to his chest as he ploughed his way through the busy corridors of the SGC to the locker room to gear up for their mission. Jack, Sam and Teal’c were already there, Teal’c waiting patiently for his other team-mates to finish their preparations.

Daniel caught Jack’s eye, expecting a reprimand for being late—for which he had an apology already prepared—but instead, Jack’s brown eyes communicated a sadness that left Daniel confused. In the blink of an eye it was gone, though, and Daniel was left wondering if he’d seen it at all. Pursing his lips as he frowned at his own confusion, Daniel proceeded to get changed.

Within minutes the team was standing in the gate room, listening as Sgt. Harriman announced the encoding and locking of chevrons over the intercom. As he watched Sam quickly double-check her gear, Daniel felt a nagging itch…or was it a prickling?

“Um…Jack?” he said, anxiously.

“What?” Jack asked, his voice curt and professional as he mentally prepared for their upcoming mission.

Daniel shook his head. “Nothing,” he replied quietly. It probably wasn’t anything, anyways, he told himself. Janet had said he was cured, and he believed her. After all, he and Jack had done everything that needed to be done—why should he be worried?

They walked up the ramp side by side in the wake of the billowing wormhole, Daniel rubbing the back of his neck, doing his best to ignore the persistent tingling…