Sid's Closet

For the jackdanielpromptfic May 2014 Episode of the Month prompt: Endgame.

Rated PG, ~430 words.

Jack had been feeling less and less of a man as time went on. He'd had no real concept before this promotion of how much of his identity (post-Charlie; post-husband and father) had been tied up in being the leader of SG-1. Now he sat on the sidelines, while paradoxically being more important than ever before. He watched as his team (all the teams; all his now, God help everyone) walked through the Stargate time after time after time, headed into danger and peril and the mysterious unknown.

Mostly they came back. Generals since the dawn of military history had known the pain of loss and the burden of command.

But they hadn't had the fate of the galaxy in their hands. Who the hell was Jack O'Neill to have that kind of power?

Jack O'Neill was an old man with bad knees who couldn't ever begin to fill the shoes of one George Hammond, that's who.

"Just give him a little more time," Jack said, clenching his fist. Was it the right choice? Made for the right reasons? Or solely based on the whatever-it-was that he had with Daniel that had left him with this feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach ever since Daniel beamed up to Osiris' ship.

"General. I recommend we open fire immediately.

"General, please advise."

Carter was there, too. The thought of losing them both was unbearable. All of this was unbearable. Dead Jaffa who might have become free Jaffa should be unbearable, but he had no real choice, and if he fried in Hell for it, well, he was already headed that way.

"You have your orders. Hold your fire."

See you soon. Daniel, looking at him earnestly, saying those words, disappearing.

God, Daniel. God. Please, God.

"General O'Neill? They are powering up their hyperdrive. We are out of options."

Do it, Daniel. Come back. Bring Carter with you. Don't…don't leave me here.

"Wait," he managed to say, somehow. He would give them every chance he could. If they were still alive… In Daniel's case, maybe even if he wasn't…

"General O'Neill. It looks like you were right. We have the gate and SG-1 aboard. They are alive."

He should feel relief. He should feel happiness. He felt like throwing up.

Earth was back in business. Hundreds of thousands of Jaffa might die at the hands of the Trust, but Jack didn't want to think about that right now. He'd fulfilled his mandate. His team was coming home.

See you soon.

Jack closed his eyes. Soon, Daniel.

Hurry.