(no subject)

[dr_daniel_jackson]

He'd been teaching now for almost a month and he was enjoying it immensely. His students were great - he had three classes that he lectured in on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and the good thing was, he was typically done by one in the afternoon. He'd spend two more hours in his office in case the students had questions and so that he could put grades into the computer when necessary.

It was just such an afternoon and he was waiting for Methos to come pick him up for the day - they were going out to dinner that night - when a knock at his door got his attention.

"Come in," he called out in Spanish. The door opened to reveal one of his students, a young American named Brian who was probably twenty years old if that. Brian smiled as he came in and closed the door. "What can I help you with, Brian?" Daniel continued in English.

"Well, I had some questions about your lecture on World War One," he said quietly as he sat down in front of Daniel's desk. Daniel nodded and leaned back in his chair.

"What kind of questions?"

"Well, more like observations, really," Brian said with a smile. What his professor didn't know was that Brian had fought in the first world war - for America - and then again in World War II and some of the things Daniel had spoken of, Brian either didn't remember happening or he remembered them a different way. Plus, it gave him a chance to spend time with the good looking man. Of course, Brian had seen the wedding band on Daniel's finger but that had never stopped Brian before...

Comments

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

Methos had been on his way to Daniel's office, after closing up the library cafe he'd opened downtown, when the buzz of a Quickening stopped him dead in his tracks. His eyes narrowed in an almost predatory fashion. So much so that the students that were walking down the hall started whispering and avoiding him.

He rushed to Daniel's door not even caring that he ran there like a mad man, no doubt raising the eyebrows of more than a few people. He opened the door and walked in with big strides, not bothering to close the door behind him.

There was a young looking man seated across from his husband. There wasn't a doubt in Methos' mind that he was the one he'd felt. He didn't draw his sword, but he leveled him with a dangerous look as he spoke to Daniel, although his voice was level, "Ibraham... is this one of your students?"

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

Daniel looked up as his husband entered his office and he could see how tense Methos was and that dangerous glint to his gaze as he looked at Daniel's student.

"Yes... uhm... Brian, this is my husband, Dante. I'm not sure you were here the day he came to sit in on one of my lectures." He glanced at Methos worriedly, resting a hand on his husband's arm.

"Is everything okay, love?" he asked in ancient Egyptian.

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

"He's like me, an Immortal." Methos responded, trying to tone down his hostility, a bit. He had no idea if this man had any ill intent, only that he was like him.

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

Brian looked between them both. He knew Dante was an immortal and something about that amused him greatly. He felt old, too. Even better.

"So your husband is an immortal then," he said with a quick smile. "Guess my observations won't be such a surprise then." Daniel looked over at him curiously.

"I'm sorry... your observations? Oh! About the war. You... you fought in the first world war?"

"And the Civil War and the American Revolution," Brian said, his gaze fixed on Dante now curiously before he held out his hand.

"Brian Jefferson," he said by way of introduction. "Your... husband... is an excellent instructor."

Daniel kept a hand on Methos' arm. He knew his husband could be a jealous man and could be dangerous, especially if he thought Daniel was in danger.

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

Methos looked at the proffered hand, momentarily, not even wanting to shake it, but he might as well be peaceable in front of his husband. The man hadn't shown himself to be a threat, not that Methos wasn't analyzing him carefully, despite appearing like he wasn't.

Finally, after a long pause, he took the man's hand and shook it. He responded in Spanish, but with an Italian accent, still maintaining the guise, "Dante. And yes, he is an excellent teacher. He knows a great deal and is passionate about it."

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

Brian smiled at that and nodded.

"It's good to be passionate about something," he said as he let go of the immortal's hand and stepped back a little. "Especially when teaching. Well, I will catch you another time, professor. I wouldn't want to take up any time from your husband. Will you be in your office Wednesday morning before class?"

Daniel was looking at Methos and only caught the last of Brian's question before looking back at him, trying to catch up to the conversation once more.

"Uh... Wednesday... oh. No. No class on Wednesday. I have a previous appointment that day so just, review today's notes and we'll talk more about the war on Friday." Brian bit back a slight smirk before nodding.

"Of course. Thank you for your time. I look forward to speaking with you again when you're... free." He shot a look at Methos with that final word before smiling at him, the look almost deadly.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Dante," he said, inclining his head slightly before he turned and walked out of the office, closing the door behind him. Daniel watched him leave then looked back at his husband.

"Uhm... okay. Why would someone who's lived through all these wars want to take my class?"

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

"Easy credit?" Methos responded, still watching the door where the other Immortal left in trepidation.

"I don't trust him. Something about the way he looked at me... and you." he shook his head in frustration, then tried to put it-- not out of his thoughts, but not in the forefront, "You ready to go to dinner?"

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

Daniel watched his husband for a moment before stepping closer to him, pulling Methos close, kissing him softly.

"You know you're the only immortal in my life, love, and the only person I could ever truly love. You have nothing to worry about. I'd never leave you. Tell me you know that."

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

Methos held him in his arms, resting his forehead against Daniel's once they were done kissing, "I know, Daniel. The pertinent question is, does he?"

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

"If he doesn't know it than he's an idiot," Daniel growled out softly. "I will make it as clear as I must to keep him at bay." He pulled back and shut off his laptop, closing it down and grabbing his jacket before moving back to Methos.

"Now then. I believe you promised me dinner at some new restaurant that opened near your shop?"

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

"I did." Methos smiled, wrapping an arm around Daniel's waist as they left his office, "It serves classical Spanish food mostly, I hope you haven't grown tired of that yet..." he smirked.

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

"Never," Daniel said with a smile, "though I think, perhaps, I might have to talk you into teaching me some of your work outs that you use with your swords. I'd like to get back into better shape again now that the majority of my physical injuries have healed."

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

"I can do that. I can get a few bokkens... wooden practice swords, for you to use, at first. Then we can work our way up to the swords." he nodded.

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

"Thanks," Daniel said with a smile as they got to the car and Daniel threw his backpack into the backseat before climbing into the passenger's seat. "Might not be a bad thing to know - how to wield a sword - if other immortals are going to end up as my students. You won't always be on campus to protect me..."

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

Methos just looked at him, "Would be easier to carry a gun. You don't have to play by any sort of rules, you aren't an Immortal. Shoot them. Then chop off their heads and run to avoid the Quickening."

It was a horrible thing, to have a Quickening wasted in such a way with no one to take it... but he'd prefer that if it meant Daniel would live just a bit longer.

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

"I carried a gun on my for fifteen years, Methos," he said, softly. "It didn't do me any good when the people I called my friends came looking for me." He looked out the window and sighed heavily. He hated thinking about all that. It was part of why he wouldn't be teaching class on Wednesday. He just hadn't told Methos about it yet.

"I do see your point though," he finally conceded quietly. "So... I'll go back to keeping a gun with me if you think I should."

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

"I think you should, yes. Or at the very least a taser." he nodded, he pulled into a parking spot in front of the restaurant.

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

"Gun it is then," Daniel said not thinking a taser would really do much against an immortal. He slid out of the car and glanced at the place, smiling softly. "Looks like a great place but god... how do you stand working so close to it and smelling it all day? It would drive me crazy."

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

"Years and years of experience, my young padawan." he responded, cheekily. He led Daniel to the doors and the person at the door led them to their reserved seats.

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

Daniel laughed at that and eagerly followed his husband to their seats, smiling at the waiter as he sat down and took the offered menu. He was actually glad his husband hadn't asked him about not teaching on Wednesday. He wasn't quite sure what to tell him or how to explain it. He'd been talking more and more with Methos about everything that had happened to him but there were still one or two things he couldn't bring himself to talk about to his husband so he'd made an appointment with a counselor on campus. He didn't want it to be a full time thing by any means but Wednesday was the anniversary of his first ascension and he was really bothered by it this year.

"Wow... it all looks so good," he said softly, turning his attention back to his menu.

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

Methos had noticed him mention he wasn't teaching on Wednesday, but didn't want to ask, since clearly Daniel didn't want him to know. He was curious and wanted to know, but he wasn't going to push.

He nodded looking and the menu, "It does. I think I want to get the seafood paella."

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

"Oooh. That does look good. I think I may have to get the same." When the waiter returned, they placed their orders and were then left alone once more. Daniel sighed softly and leaned back in his chair, watching Methos intently for a moment.

"I... I need to talk to you but... but I'm not sure how to even start or how to explain what I'm feeling but it's part of why I'm not going to be in class on Wednesday..."

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

He looked to Daniel with worried eyes, "Alright, just...take your time, my love. I'm listening."

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

Daniel chewed on his bottom lip for a moment before speaking softly.

"Wednesday is the anniversary of my first ascension," he began, "and I am having a little more trouble dealing with it this year because it's the same date that, a year ago, things started getting really bad for me again. It's also...." he trailed off, not wanting to bring up anything bad for his husband, not wanting Methos to feel badly... but it was also the anniversary of the day in which Methos had left him in Morocco...

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

Methos heart clenched and he averted his eyes, a guilt creeping up in his gut. He nodded slowly.

"I... understand."