Title: Table series: Timeless

Author: CelticAngel

Date: March 10 2003

Feedback: celticangel@calliopeia.com

Rating: G

Pairing: none

Category: Angst, Hurt/Comfort

Status: Finished

Series: Uh, table?

Season/Spoilers: Meridian and Beyond into the seventh season.

Summary: Jack in Daniel's office after the events in Meridian.

Timeless

I am a table. I am a rectangular four-foot wide by eight-foot long, golden oak table with lots of grain, a leg on each corner, and a polyurethane sealant. This is important, because though it removes me from the level of `fine' furniture, it adds to my versatility and my longevity. I was purchased in the early 90's by the U.S. Air Force Quartermaster in a spasm of upgrades for the offices of NORAD. After I was delivered I was reassigned to a priority slot in a new command under the mountain cryptically referred to as SGC. I can seat eight formally, ten comfortably, and twelve friendly. Because I was purchased without chairs, I knew that my life would be one of utilitarianism not formal dining. In other words, I'll see a lot of service of all kinds. I am not sure how long I have been here. Perhaps years, or perhaps an eternity. I am happy and it matters not. We tables do not normally give consideration to such things as time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tall Military Jack is very upset. I have been dragged into Tall Civilian Daniel's office by two military mobiles, whom Tall Military Jack immediately ordered to leave. I don't see Tall Civilian Daniel anywhere. Military Jack, or "the Colonel" as Tall Lady Sam and Small Lady Janet call him, has slammed the door shut. He picks up an empty box and roughly drops in on my surface.

He takes one or two big steps to Civilian Daniel's desk and picks up a small piece of pottery, which I have seen Civilian Daniel hold lovingly many times while looking at a photograph of a pretty woman which he stares at so sadly. For a moment I fear that Tall Military Jack will drop the bowl, either in anger or by accident. He does not appear to have much self-restraint today. I have never seen him this way. He nearly radiates violence. His movements are far from the graceful Military man I have known for so many years.

Next he picks up the photograph of Pretty Young Woman and brings them both back to the table where he carefully places them in the box with trembling hands. He coughs lightly and pounds his fist on my surface. Thank heavens I can't actually feel much more than the vibration his sudden action causes.

Despite the fact that I can tell the box must still have space in it, Military Jack grabs yet another box and drops it on me beside the other. He stomps over to a bookshelf where he carefully picks up the books that I have seen Civilian Daniel browse through lovingly on many occasions when my assistance has been required. Military Jack brings the books back and places them in the second box. He continues to do this often, occasionally picking up other photographs and artifacts.

I am confused. Where is Tall Civilian Daniel? Why is Tall Military Jack straightening his office and rearranging things? I have heard him tease Civilian Daniel many times in various locations about the clutter in his office. Perhaps he has finally grown so angry that he has decided to show Civilian Daniel how to clean things up properly. But why would he take away his personal things? Would he be that angry? He always seemed to have such great affection for his younger friend, though I have heard them argue horribly in the Briefing room when I have been stationed there.

Maybe Civilian Daniel is finally moving into a bigger office. He has complained many times about how crowded his workspace is. But this office always seemed to fit him. It is so warm and so full of friendship, and the constant smell of fresh coffee. Civilian Daniel hated the smell of overdone coffee. He consumed too much to allow it to heat too long most of the time.

I remember this room with much fondness. I have enjoyed the camaraderie and the laughter in this darkly lit room on previous visits. It will seem so empty and so lonely in here. I hope the mobiles move me soon.

I can still sense the intense anger Tall Military Jack emits. I hear a deep gasp of air as he finally returns to Daniel's desk and carefully picks up the photograph of Tall Civilian Daniel sitting on top of a beast in front of a large structure I have heard referred to as a Pyramid. For a moment Military Jack lifts one hand and carefully strokes the glass. "Danny, how could you do this?" He asks.

Has Civilian Daniel left? Is that why Military Jack is so angry? Did they finally have one argument too many? I did not think that possible. Though they argue, I have learned that is just the nature of some mobiles. Tall Military Jack suddenly seems small as he stumbles back to me and the boxes on my surface. His arms rest on one of the boxes and he slumps over dropping the photograph with a loud thud inside. Then he sinks slowly to his knees and his arms land with a thump on my surface. He buries his face in his arms, and I hear his breath catch several times. I don't understand what the problem is, but presently I feel drops of liquid dripping onto me and Tall Military Jack is barely breathing in occasional short gasps.

Presently he stands up and wipes my surface then his face with his sleeves. Then he stacks the boxes one on top of the others and leaves through the door. I hear him stop outside, but he doesn't return. Nor does he reach inside and turn the light off as I have heard him remind Civilian Daniel to do several times. I hear another small sound as he clears his throat, and then his heavy footsteps carry him slowly away.

I feel so alone. I am gripped with a feeling of abandonment. I am thankful Tall Military Jack left the lights on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Days pass or so I presume. I have difficulty contemplating what the mobiles refer to as time. The light has remained on. Tall Lady Sam and Tall Jaffa Teal'c have been in several times. They repeat the same strange behavior of Tall Military Jack. Tall Lady Sam always leaves sobbing and crying. I have learned the meaning of those words. I have too often felt the salty liquid on my surface.

Eventually I am removed from this lonely office, but not before I witness a most unusual occurrence. The first night after Tall Military Jack left, I had a brief moment of warmth and stronger light. It seemed to be separate from the overhead lights. It moved, and I thought of Tall Civilian Daniel. This happened several times before I was removed.

I have been stationed many places since that day. Every so often I gaze around thinking that Tall Civilian Daniel has returned, but all I notice is a warm light.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Time again seems to pass. I watch the mobiles come and go in various assorted states of dress. Sometimes bundled in warm clothing and eventually in the lighter clothing with the short sleeves. I believe it is the season they refer to as spring when I am suddenly dragged back to the office I once thought of as Tall Civilian Daniel's.

There is another young man there, who seems excited. He too is packing things in boxes as the others did. He talks happily of returning to his home. Tall Jaffa Teal'c is helping him. They make many plans. They discuss progress and the future between Earth and another planet. Jonas is his name. I have seen him before in the briefing room. They discuss his new position as an ambassador between their worlds. He is happy.

The light is turned off as they leave and I am left watching strange creatures in an illuminated tank of water. They are most relaxing.

Presently I hear a familiar laughter I haven't heard for so long. Tall Military Jack approaches. I hear the light switch on and I am bathed in the warm glow.

Then I hear a familiar voice, one I feared I would never hear again.

"It's good to have you back, Danny."

"It's good to be back, Jack."

Tall Civilian Daniel is home. Maybe now I will find out where he has been. I feel boxes sat gently on my surface, unlike the last time Military Jack and I were here together.

"Wow, some of my old stuff is still in here."

"Yeah, well, Jonas wanted reading material."

"Yeah." Daniel replies softly.

Jack clears his throat. "Um, tell you the truth, Daniel… I just didn't stay in here more than a few minutes. I packed up a few things, but I can't tell you what's gone on in here since then."

"You haven't been in here the whole year?"

"Um, no. No reason too." Jack clears his throat again. "So, um, let's get you unpacked."

Daniel stands quietly smiling at his friend then suddenly hugs him and they hold onto each other for a long while.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am a table. And though I don't normally give consideration to such things as time, today I have learned that time is relative for mobiles. Love is timeless, but without the ones they love, a year can last for an eternity.