Once upon a Stargate...

Its finally here, the fic you've all been waiting for, so let me know what you think...theres more to come, and please review.

Once upon a stargate...

Daniel stood at the bottom of the ramp, fiddling with his P-90 strap, waiting for the others. After a few minutes no one had appeared so he looked up to the window expecting to see Syler or General Hammond, but no one was there. With a puzzled look on his face Daniel turned and gave his full attention to the room. He could have sworn there had been two airmen in the Gateroom when he entered, but again he was alone. Daniel's brow furrowed as he walked out of the gateroom and into the deserted corridor.

Daniel thought for a moment as he wondered down the corridor, 'Where has everyone gone?' he thought to himself. He walked in the direction of his office and the armory looking around for any signs of life, and instantly going into battle alertness. The smoothness of his movements showed clearly that he was ready for anything. All these years on SG-1 had transformed the sneezing shy archeologist, into a self aware, confident soldier prepared for battle.

As Daniel reached his office he did the typical scan of the interior before entering, simply doing it out of habit. After seeing nothing he moved forward lowering the P-90 he had grabbed from the armory. He headed straight for the phone. 'Hammond.' He thought as he picked up the receiver and dialed the right extension number for his office. It rang and rang, but there was no answer. Daniel slammed the phone down, cursing under his breath before picking up the receiver again and punching in the extension for the infirmary. If he simply couldn't find anyone, there would always be someone in there on standby. No one answered.

Daniel was starting to get worried as he walked round his office and sat heavily at the desk. He spotted a note on the desk between the dusty volumes, which crowded it. Putting the gun down and keeping his front to the entrance, just encase, he picked it up and started to read.

'Daniel, you may have noticed by now, we didn't meet you in the gateroom as planned. Look at the clock!'
Daniels head flew to the clock but was puzzled, it was 18.22, what was so special about that? He wondered, turning his attention back to the note.
'At EXACTLY 18.45 make your way to the gateroom and not a minute before. Stay in your office until then! Explanation is classified, even to you! Signed Jack O’Neill.'
Daniel was puzzled. "Classified!" He repeated out loud. When he had first joined the program he would have understood, he had had to fight for every scrap of information and involvement he could get. But now he had top-level clearance and had all the privileges that came with it.

Daniel sat at his desk thinking, wondering and waiting. At exactly 18.45 he sprang to his feet and made his way, at a jog, to the gateroom. As he swiped his card through the reader and the doors pulled back, he noticed the room was dark but he stood his ground. "SUPRISE!" Was shouted from all across the room as the lights turned on to reveal most of the SGC personnel. Daniel almost jumped out of his skin and threw himself sideways on the floor. Everyone laughed at Daniel's reaction, but Jack and Sam moved to his side in seconds to help him up.

"Sorry Danny, didn't mean to frighten you." Jack said trying not to giggle as Daniel tried to recover some of his composure and straighten his jacket.

"You didn't remember did you?" Sam questioned in a surprising tone.

"Remember what?" Daniel replied rubbing his head where it had collided with the floor.

Sam looked at Jack and shrugged, "You were right." She said simply.

Jack smiled and looked at Daniel. "Danny, what day is it today?" He asked putting his arm over his shoulders.

Daniel closed his eyes, mainly to look like he was thinking, but the real reason was from the feel of Jacks strong arms around his shoulders.

"Ummm...enlighten me." He said opening his eyes again to look at Jack as Sam moved back into the gateroom.

"Daniel, your are one of the smartest people I know, besides Carter, and you forget the most simple things." He stated shaking his head. "It's your BIRTHDAY!" He said turning and shaking Daniels shoulders slightly.

"Oh god! I completely forgot, I was too occupied with this mission we were going on." Daniel admitted.

"So I gathered. Come on, we arranged a party; I knew you'd forget anyway. Carter didn't believe me." Jack said as he stepped into the gateroom followed by Daniel.

Banners had been hung around the room with a large 'Happy Birthday' sign going across the stargate. Daniel stood for a few seconds scanning the room and appreciating all the work the guys had gone through since he had stood there about 30 minutes ago. Tables had been set up, chairs dotted around and banners and balloons put everywhere with a buffet spread on a few of the tables.

"This is wonderful!" He exclaimed as the rest of SG-1 came to stand with Jack around him.

"Happy day of Birth, Dr Jackson." Teal'c said. Daniel looked at his and immediately turned to Jack.

"You wicked sod!" He said looking back at Teal'c with a smirk on his face. Teal'c was wearing a very colorful cone shaped hat with bits of glitter and paper trailing form the top. No one else on the room was wearing one and Daniel guessed, probably correctly, that Jack had told him it was 'Tradition' and Teal'c had taken his word for it.

"Is there something wrong Dr Jackson?" Teal'c asked raising his eyebrow in the usual fashion.

"Teal'c, take the hat off." Daniel said holding his hand out.

"O’Neill told me it was custom to wear, 'Part hats' at ones celebration." He said making no attempts to remove the item from his head, but simply standing there with his hands behind his back.

"Well, technically that’s true..." He began, but was interrupted.

"Then what is the problem?" Teal'c asked seeming to get a bit annoyed. Daniel put his hands up in the air and gave up.

"Fine wear the hat." he said moving his attention to the other things. "Jack, who organized all this? Was it you guys?" He asked getting hand shakes as the rest of SG-1 ushered him around the room to great everyone. A few female officers even pulled him close and kissed him on the cheek, but Daniel could have sworn he saw Jack's eyes flinch. He didn't say anything but it was certainly interesting to see.

Daniel had certainly been through a lot, so had all the others, but him and Jack especially. During the time the team had known each other Jack and Daniel alike had died or almost died on numerous occasions. When Jack had had his head down loaded with the ancient knowledge for the second time Daniel had almost despaired. Having seen Jack deteriorate into a silent, puppet once was bad enough, but when Jack refused to let him do it the second time he had had to witness it all over again and almost lost him. To say their relationship was close would be correct, to ask the question how close, was suicide. Daniel had always felt something for man, ever since they went on their first mission to Abydos, but over the many years those feelings had grown from admiration and brotherly love to, get your kit off!

Daniel had never been too sure wither Jack had felt the same way or if he simply regarded Daniel as a close friend/college or even brother, but the reaction he had seen when the female officers had kissed him had intrigued him and given him hope.

After a while Daniel was in full party mode, talking to people and having a great time. Most of the people in the room had congratulated him and said 'Happy Birthday.' At that moment in time he was talking to some of the scientists who he often worked with on various artifacts that the SG teams had bought back for study. He happened to glance up and saw Jack in his line of sight. Either he had been too far away or he had seemed wrong. Jack had been looking at him with a smile on his face. He gave it a minute and then glanced again and to his surprise, but not dislike, Jack was still looking at him.

Daniel finished his conversation with his colleagues and excused himself on the pretense of getting another drink for himself. Jack being near the drinks table, or course, had nothing to do with it. Daniel made his way to the table and set his drink down, looking up at Jack and smiling.

"Enjoying yourself Jack?" He asked simply to strike up a conversation, because he knew Jack didn't like social occasions much.

"You know me Daniel." He answered simple taking another sip of his drink with one hand in his pocket.

"Bored out of your mind then?" Daniel smiled looking up at his with a fresh drink in his hand.

"Oh yer!" Jack said taking a long swig and draining his glass before putting it down on the table.

"Thanks though Jack. This is all great." He said trying to stimulate the conversation.

"That’s ok Danny Boy, you know me...just doing my bit to keep you and everyone else happy." He said obviously adding the and everyone else part. Daniel smiled; maybe there was something more between him and Jack. He could only hope and see.

About an hour later Daniel was back in his office. The party had gone well, everyone had a good time, but were now back at work. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Daniel raised his head from some paper work he was doing and saw Jack enter. "Hey Jack, what can i do for you?" He asked putting down his pen and pushing his glasses up his nose.

"Nothing...nothing...just wanted to see if you wanted to come round mine later to celebrate?" He asked, obviously a bit awkwardly.

"Sure, who else is coming then?" He asked, hoping no one.

"Only Sam and Teal'c." He said shaking it off and shrugging his broad shoulders.

"Yer, sounds good, what time?" He asked casually

"Ummm...well I was thinking of leaving here about nine." Jack said leaning on the back of a chair on the other side of the desk.

"Yer, ok, I’ll meet you up top." Daniel said putting his arms on the desk. As Jack left Daniel let out a little sigh. He was hoping when Jack suggested it, that it would be just him and Jack, but he would make do.

At Nine O’clock Daniel was standing by his car when Jack emerged into the parking lot with Sam and Teal'c behind him. As the wind caught his hair and blew it, Daniel caught his breath, the light behind him created a siluette behind him and his hear was tussled in the breeze. Daniel swallowed as they approached.

"Ready?" Jack asked as he unlocked his car.

"Yer lets go." He said opening his car door and calling out, "Teal'c you want a ride?" He asked stepping into the car. Teal'c simply nodded and broke away from Sam and Jack heading in his direction. As he climbed in the passenger side, Daniel started the engine and pulled away.

Once they were at Jacks house the drink was flowing. Jack had told them, when they arrived, that they were all on down time for the week, so they could relax and enjoy. Daniel was glad, he was tired and needed some time to himself, although he wouldn't get to see Jack as much. Jack handed him a beer and pulled the cap off for him.

"There we go." He said sighing as he sank into a deep chair. "I ordered the usual pizza's, hope that’s all right." Jack said looking at everyone. They all nodded their agreement to each other and continued to drink and chat together, enjoying one another’s company.

After they had enjoyed their pizza and Daniel was getting slightly drunk he thought he saw Jack wink to Sam.

"Whets going on?" He questioned in a suspicious fashion, keeping a close eye on Jack, who was always up to something.

"Nothing!" He said innocently but with a smirk on his face. He was, and Daniel knew it.

"Jaack?!" He questioned, drawing out his name, knowing full well he had something up his sleeve, "What have you got planned?" He accused.

"Oh, alright...first I’m going to take these out though." He said grabbing the pizza boxes and stacking them. Sam jumped up to help and they both walked out into the kitchen together. They took their time and Daniel was beginning to get worried about what they had in store.

Suddenly the lights went out and Daniel smiled in the darkness, he knew exactly what they were about to do. And that’s when the singing started. Sam’s light high voice against Jacks deeper voice singing happy birthday.

Daniel hung his head, Jack just loved to embarrass him. They brought the cake in, with what seemed like millions of candles on it, just to make a point of his age.

"Go on then Daniel, make a wish." Sam said as they placed the cake on the table in front of him. Daniel screwed his eyes up tight and thought before blowing all the candles out in one blow. All three of them clapped as Daniel turned bright pink.

"Thanks you guys." He said blushing even further.

"That’s not all, Daniel, we all got you a little something." Sam continued pulling a little package from her bag and handing it to him.

Daniel took the package from her and thanked her again. "Should I open it now?" He questioned. Sam nodded wildly at him and sat back down as did Jack. Daniel tore into the wrapping paper and smiled it was a pair of glasses with his name etched into the sidepieces. He took off his old ones and put them on blinking. They were perfect, now he knew why she had wanted to look at his glasses the other day, to get the right strength. "Thank you." He said standing and hugging her before sitting back down again.

"I'm afraid mine will have to wait, there was a delay in it getting here, but it should be here soon." Jack said apologetically. "You guys don't need to get me anything, just being with you on my Birthday is enough for me." He said looking at each of his friends in turn.

Teal'c was the next one to move, handing over a rather large flat package. "And this is from me." He stated before sitting back down next to Sam on the large sofa. Daniel grinned and again ripped into the paper. It was a calendar with pictures of Pyramids on each month of the year. "Teal'c that wonderful, thank you." He said flipping through it and looking at all the pictures.

Once the mess of paper was cleared up, Jack bought more beer into the room and handed them around. They talked till quite late and after a while Sam announced that she would be heading home soon and asked Teal'c if he wanted a lift. Teal'c thanked her and after a while they left after saying their goodbyes and saying 'Happy Birthday' one last time.

Daniel sat back down in the chair and curled up with his feet under him. He was a little drunk but happy and warm with the fir that Jack had lit, warming the room.

"Soo...had a good day?" Jack enquired, looking over at Daniel all curled up.

"Defiantly." Daniel replied simply, smiling at his friend. He couldn't believe how hot Jack looked out of uniform, his jeans hugged his hips and his shirt was open at the neck, exposing just enough to show a little hair out of the top.

“You know, I was lying before, I did get your present through. I just didn’t want to give it to you in front of the others.” Jack said quietly not really sure where to look. He stood and moved over to the cabinet and pulled out a well wrapped rather thick, yet flat present and handed it to Daniel. “Just something I knew you would like.” He said heading to the fridge to get another beer and put one in front of Daniel who was looking at the package in his hands.

Daniel looked at the parcel and then back to Jack as he put the bottle down on the table. He decided against drinking much more, as he was already feeling light headed. He peeled back the wrapping paper and gasped. It was an ancient text he had been trying to get his hands on for ages. “Jack…how did you get hold of it, I’ve been trying for ages to get my hands on one.” He gasped turning the book over in his hands and marveling at it.

“I have connections.” Jack said simply sitting down with his beer and smiling at Daniels apparent pleasure at the book. “I knew you’d like it, not my cup of tea, but defiantly yours.” He said swigging again and relaxing back into the chair he was sitting on.

Daniel wasn’t sure what to say or do at this point. He turned the book over and over in his hands before opening it and studying the text for a few minutes. “Jack, this must of cost you a fortune.” He said looking over at Jack and studying his reaction.

Jack smiled, “It doesn’t matter Daniel, Enjoy it.” He said smiling and throwing his leg over the other to cross them as he put his arms our on the side of the chair and threw back his head twisting his neck to crack the stiffness out of them.

After a while of comfortable silence Daniel sighed. “I really should be heading home.” He said standing and wobbling a little unsteadily on his legs.

“You’re not driving anywhere Daniel, your way over the limit to do that. Crash here, you can use the spear room.” He said hoping his words sounded casual.