Author's Notes: Thanks to my mom for supporting my fanfiction pursuits.

Vala Mal Duran might not be dead, but she wasn't exactly around either. Daniel Jackson paced back and forth in his office, wondering where to go from here. He hated every minute he had to spend with her, except the times he enjoyed. She was a horrible person, except when she was thinking of others. He hated her, except when he didn't.

It had been three weeks since Vala had foiled the Ori's plan to build a super Stargate. He had spent a week of that in the infirmary and the rest sleeping in VIP quarters. He barely noticed her absence while resting, but now that he was awake he couldn't decide if he'd rather have her around or not.

He hadn't spoken much to Teal'c, Carter, or Jack about her. Just a little bit here and there to show that he wasn't the happiest around her and that he was very much annoyed she stopped him from reaching Atlantis. Teal'c and Carter could see for themselves the resentment in his eyes, but Jack had only the mission reports to describe what was going on, and Daniel hadn't felt like filling in much of the details.

"Hey," a familiar voice called from behind. Daniel looked up and locked eyes with his old friend.

"Hey, Jack."

Silence filled the room. Daniel had been alerted as to his best friends visit just days before. Still, he shouldn't need an appointment just to enjoy an old friend's company.

Deciding someone had to break the awkward moment, Daniel spoke once again. "You don't have to do this you know."

"Do what?"

"Race from Washington every time one of us gets hurt."

"I was just in the neighborhood, Daniel. If you'd rather I didn't stop by..."

Jack was growing uneasy, his hands stuffed in his pockets. Daniel looked down at his desk then back up.

"It's not that, it's just... Jack, you are the one who chose to leave the SGC."

"We were all leaving."

"Yes, but now Teal'c, Carter, and myself are stuck here once again. We're bound to keep getting hurt. Knowing my history, I'm bound to get hurt. You can't race here from Washington just to make sure I'm okay."

"Actually, I came for the fishing."

Their eyes locked. Even when it was out of anger or frustration, those stares said so much. They said we're best friends and I know you and that was always a comfort.

"So you didn't come to see with your own eyes that I was all here?" Daniel didn't need him to answer to know the truth. Jack had stopped by before, after both Daniel and Vala had awoken from their comas. Like any commanding officer would, he wanted to size Daniel up for himself, see that his archaeologist was in working order.

"Let's just cut the crap, Daniel. Is it such a crime if I want to visit my old friends?"

"No, of course not. I'm just a bit on edge right now."

"Teal'c says you've been uncharacteristically on edge for a while now."

"Yeah, well,..."

Silence again. Daniel's mind flooded with images of Vala. He was terrified when she took the ship to stop the gate from forming. Had he been worried about her or himself? He couldn't remember anymore. The whole memory was a blur really.

"You gonna be okay?"

"Yeah, give me a few days and I'll be back to working through the nights."

"So the doc tells me. I meant everything else. You gonna be alright?"

Daniel slumped down into his work chair. Jack wasn't best with feelings and Daniel wasn't sure he wanted to even start a conversation that would just make things more uncomfortable.

For a moment he pondered not saying anything. The next moment he was breaking into a superspeed discussion of his situtation.

"I'm tired, Jack. I don't mean just physically. Atlantis was supposed to be my break and instead I get to endure weeks of Vala Mal Duran. It's enough to drive anyone crazy. I swear, I was this close, this close," he raised his hand, two of his fingers as close together as they could be without touching, "from hitting her. Do you have any idea how much that bothers me? I don't hit people Jack. I abhor violence and here I am dreaming of ways I could just get this girl away from me. Even if it means killing the both of us.

"And my God, the things I said. Was that really me? Damn it Jack, I was so busy trying to get rid of her I didn't care about what I said or did. 'A little less talk and a little more shut the hell up', that couldn't be me speaking."

"You've been under a lot of stress," Jack offered. Daniel raced to cut him off, a full argument ready in his mind. He had planned for this conversation. But the general didn't let the archaeologist say another word. "Hell Daniel, you've ascended twice, died too many times to count and have experienced hell on earth for how many years now? From what I hear, Vala was manipulative and annoying. Being stuck with her was just one more hell you had to live through. Maybe you just took everything out on her? Everyone has their breaking point, Daniel. Even you."

It wasn't anything Daniel hadn't considered before. It was strange hearing Jack say it though. For all the intelligence he lacked, he did have some wisdom. It just wasn't that often Jack was willing to share his thoughts.

"But she wasn't that bad in the end, was she? She saved us all and I'm the one who introduced the Ori to our galaxy."

"Yes, Daniel, because you could for see everything that was going to happen."

Daniel smiled. He missed sarcastic Jack, and Mitchell just wasn't the same as a CO.

"I'll be fine Jack. I just, I don't know, I just need time."

Before the archaeologist could comprehend what was happening, the general grabbed him and embraced him in a friendly hug. "You've been through a lot before. You'll pull through."

Daniel relaxed in his friends grip. They rarely hugged, but when they did it made the world a much better place. He remembered bawling in the storage closet as Jack held him. He had been a mess and his friends had seen him through the withdrawal and all the emotional pain that came with it. He remembered the hugs that came from knowing they were all alive and well. Though Jack lived thousands of miles away it was good to know that his friend was still available in the greatest time of need.

"I have to look for her," Daniel whispered.

Letting each other go, the two friends stood up. Jack's countenance was unreadable, hiding all traces that he had willingly shared any emotion at all.

"Yeah, I know. Just take care of yourself. I'm not going to be there to save your curious butt time and again."

Daniel let out a silent laugh. "Who me? I never get into any trouble."