(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

[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."

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

Daniel was quick to reach across the table to take his husband's hand in his own.

"Look at me, please," he pleaded softly, switching to ancient Egyptian. "I wasn't telling you this to make you feel bad, love. Please... please look at me." He was close to tears at the moment and he knew it could be heard in his voice.

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

Methos looked up at him, pain and guilt apparent in his eyes. He squeezed Daniel's hand, his thumb brushing over the back of his husband's hand.

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

"I wanted to ask you to stay with me that day but you have the new place to run so... I was going to try and talk to one of the counselors on campus..." he trailed off for a moment before starting up again. "Believe me when I say my memories of you, my thoughts and love for you, are all that kept me alive that year before you found me again. I harbor no ill feelings towards you over leaving when you did, my love. I never have. I forgave you the day you left. You have got to forgive yourself. What happened to me was not your fault. They'd have come for me if you'd been with me or not and you know it."

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

"No, D--Ibraham--" there were people around, he still had to maintain the facade, "I'll close the store that day. I'll be with you.."

Then Methos shook his head, still hating himself., "I could have done something... stopped it... I could have.."

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

"Don't," Daniel whispered harshly. "Don't do this what if thing, love. It's done. It's over with and I am with you now and no one will be able to hurt me again." He brought Methos' hand to his mouth, kissing the inside palm softly.

"I love you, Dante. Nothing could ever change that for me."

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

He nodded, the lifted hand now brushing Daniel's cheek, "I... what would you feel if you were me? I can't help but do the what if thing. Because I love you and would give anything, if it would mean those things had never happened to you."

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

Daniel leaned into that touch, eyes closing for a moment before answering.

"I know, love," he whispered before looking back at his husband once more. "So, stay with me Wednesday and we can start trying to put it all behind us together..."

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

"I will. Of course, I will." he promised.

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

"Thank you," Daniel whispered before pulling back as the waiter returned with their food, bread and wine. When the waiter left, Daniel looked up at his husband once more.

"I love you," he said softly.

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

"And I love you. Forever and always." he smiled back softly, before he began to eat.

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

Daniel smiled. "Forever and always," he whispered before turning to his food, savoring the rich flavors as he did so.

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

He ate, enjoying the food immensely, he would have to eat here more often, he decided.

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

Daniel was really enjoying the food and the wine and when the waiter came by to ask about dessert, Daniel deferred to his husband knowing Methos would probably know better than he what might be good.