Traveling again

[dr_daniel_jackson]

Daniel finished out the semester at the university and informed them, with some regret evident, that he would not be returning for summer sessions and probably not in the fall either. He was happy with his decision because he wanted time with Methos. He'd taught for a year but the whole thing with Brian had bothered him a lot and he didn't really feel safe out in the open so to speak; not that he was going to tell that to his husband, though. He didn't want Methos to worry about him.

He left campus and headed to the coffee shop/bookstore that his husband was leaving in the capable hands of his store manager until they returned to Spain. Leaving the things from his office inside the car, Daniel stepped out and headed into the store, searching for his husband behind the counter. The place was incredibly busy, as usual. Daniel's smiled slipped a little. He hoped he wasn't being selfish by taking Methos away from this... maybe he should have given this more thought....

Comments

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

Daniel shared in the laugh clasping Methos' hand tightly in his own once more as they walked. Finally reaching the place, Daniel saw the outside tables.

"Could we sit outside, love?"

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

"Of course." he smiled, before going up to the desk and speaking to the hostess in Greek. Then a waiter led them to an outside table.

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

Daniel sat across from his husband and began looking through the menu before glancing at Methos.

"Any suggestions or should I just let you order for us both?"

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

"We can get some ouzo, with a meze...? That's a collection of small appetizer dishes. Cheeses, calamari, fava beans, fried veggies, hummus, lamb..."

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

"That works for me, love," he answered with a smile, setting the menu down on the table. Once they'd placed their order, Daniel reached over to take Methos' hand in his own, fingers tracing along his husband's palm.

"So what kinds of professions did you hold during your times living here?"

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

"Philosopher... historian... mathematician under Pythagoras ... and I did try my hand at pottery, but I wasn't much good."

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

"You studied under Pythagoras?" Daniel asked, curiosity piqued even more. "What was that like?"

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

"Horrid. He was an ass. He had his followers under strict dietary restrictions, there were ridiculous religious rituals and he was a stickler for self discipline...."

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

Daniel raised a brow slightly.

"Really? And you stayed with him for how long?"

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

"Ten years." he said, "It was a good place to hide. Was one of the only reason I stayed behind."

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

"Well I'm guessing it's safe to say he wasn't one of your lovers then," Daniel said softly. "I can't imagine you staying with someone like that even if it was a good place to hide. He'd have treated you like shit and I just can't see you taking that from anyone I guess..." he trailed off a moment before slowly shaking his head. "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have said that... I... I wasn't thinking of Pythagoras. I was actually thinking of.... of Kronos just then. I don't know why... you... you weren't in Greece with him were you?"

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

Methos gave a pained look, his gaze distant, "Kronos was the reason I wanted to hide. He came looking for me while I was in Greece. Several more times over the course of the centuries..."

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

Daniel reached across the table for his husband's hand and waited until Methos looked up at him.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you sad. I really have to do better about just... saying things like that. Forgive me?"

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

"Of course I forgive you." he said with a sad smile.

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

Daniel shifted from the chair and leaned over to kiss his husband softly.

"I really am sorry," he whispered before sitting back down as the waiter returned with their food. With the waiter gone, Daniel turned his attention to his food, trying to figure out how to fix what he'd just done.

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

"It's fine, Daniel, really. I'm a big boy. I can take it." he said, sipping at his ouzo, absently, and trying to forget about Kronos.

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

Daniel nodded and poked around at his food, drinking the ouzo as well, trying not to make things worse. He managed a few more bites of food before speaking again.

"If you could pick one period of time in which you lived and could go back to, what would it be?"

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

"Easy. Current day. Air conditioning and indoor plumbing are the best things ever invented." he responded easily, hoping that Daniel didn't think he was displeased with him for the earlier question.

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

Daniel smiled at that softly. "I suppose that makes sense. I think I would agree if not for having lived on Abydos for those two years. I... I actually enjoyed the way everything seemed so much simpler. But that's just me..." He trailed off waving down the waiter for more ouzo before going back to his food.

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

"Thousands of years of having to go to the bathroom in a hole in the ground and dieing several times of heat stroke makes you appreciate modern technology." Methos said with a smile.

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

"I imagine it would," Daniel answered softly. He finished what was left of his first ouzo and started sipping at the second one before going back to his food. He finished eating, having only managed about half of what was on his plate before he leaned back in his chair, watching his husband, his gaze still somewhat sad at having upset Methos earlier.

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

He ate, glancing up at Daniel every so often as he did so. Finally he set down his fork to sit up.

"You didn't make me mad earlier, Daniel... there's no reason to feel badly..."

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

Daniel watched him a moment longer before nodding slowly.

"I just... I know better than to bring him up. I don't even know why it happened or how it just... I'm terrible at these things. It's one thing Jack hated the most... that I never could seem to keep my mouth shut about things that I should just... leave alone..."

[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

"Well, unless it's escaped your attention, I'm not Jack. I don't hate that about you, I love that you're stubbornly curious." Methos reached across the table to place his hand over Daniel's.

[dr-dmjacksonsg1.livejournal.com]

Daniel looked at Methos' hand over his own then back up at his husband, smiling softly.

"It has not escaped my notice at all... thank you, love." He picked up his husband's hand, kissing the inside palm before setting it down once more.