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The first time Paul sees the name Daniel Jackson, he is sitting on the floor of his and Sally’s living room, looking through boxes of old stuff.
It’s mostly an assortment of different items from Sally’s family — both her parents and her uncle.
So far they’ve found an old tablecloth; “I remember my mom bringing this out for Easter. You see the embroidery? That was apparently my grandmother’s work.”
A silver necklace; “I believe this is a family heirloom. If I remember correctly my mom once said it originally belonged to my great great grandmother.”
A set of ornate silverware; “My uncle always insisted on using these for special occasions like my birthday. I don’t think I ever got an explanation.”
A pocket watch; “I’m actually not sure where this is from. I think I once saw it on my dad’s desk, but he never said anything about it.”
And a few dozen pictures.
Though the process of looking through everything and sorting it is slow and meticulous, Paul enjoys it.
Hearing Sally reminisce about her family and her so happily sharing those memories — whether they’re joyous or bittersweet — with him is so special and earnest.
“…Paul…”
Paul raises his head at Sally’s voice. She sounds confused, the calling of his name almost hesitant.
“Yes, honey?”
Sally doesn’t respond, just gestures him closer, eyes still glued to the paper she’s holding with unsteady hands.
Paul moves closer and while he does so, he takes note of the box in front of Sally. It’s one of the smaller ones, a hastily written ‘Uncle Rich — Documents’ scribbled on its side.
Ah, it’s one of the ones Sally didn’t really know what was in. She’d told him so earlier. How her uncle had left behind documents that apparently were important enough to store, but meaningless in the sense that he never brought up what they were or what their use was.
That knowledge coupled with Sally’s silence is making Paul more than just a little tense.
He carefully leans against Sally’s side, gaze falling on the paper in her hands. He doesn’t even have to read everything to understand what’s going on. Just skimming for keywords and phrases is already painting a very clear picture of what this letter is.
Daniel Jackson.
Death of biological parents.
Rejection from maternal grandfather.
Adoption.
Fostering.
Paul‘s heart sinks. From Sally’s reaction it’s clear that she hadn’t known about any of this. Not even the existence of her aunt, uncle and cousin. Much less the situation described and discussed in this letter and undoubtedly the rest of the — as of yet — unread papers of the box.
He hugs Sally closer and he feels her take a deep, slightly shaky breath.
After a moment she speaks.
“….He’ll be around 30 now..”
If he’s still alive is left unsaid.
“I want to try and contact him. If nothing else, then just to let him know we have these papers.”
Paul watches as Sally sets the letter aside and grabs the next from the box. He doesn’t comment on it, but the note of hope in her voice at the prospect of possible contact, serves to settle his heart just a little.
“Okay. We’ll figure it out.”
The first time Paul meets Daniel Jackson, he’s standing in their apartment’s entryway.
It’s early in the afternoon and Sally has been pacing for the better part of three minutes, when a knock on the door sounds.
Sally looks at him, nervousness clear in her gaze. He smiles back, giving her an encouraging nod.
She opens the door.
“Hi.”
Paul is honestly surprised that Daniel is the one to break the silence. The younger man looks for all in the world like a nerdy professor, who’d be oblivious in every social interaction and confidently awkward in his way of carrying himself.
And yet, just one softly spoken ‘Hi’ is enough to convince Paul that such a read of the man’s character would be more than just a little shallow.
“Hello.”
Sally’s voice is just as soft as Daniel’s, when she replies and though Paul can’t see her face and her voice is steady, he gets the feeling that she’s very deliberately keeping calm.
Apparently Daniel also picks up on the lidded emotions of his cousin, as he takes a step forward — closer to Sally.
He raises his arms slightly in an open invitation, though from Paul’s view, a few steps away, his expression seems conflicted.
Sally stills for a moment. Gives Daniel time to reconsider and draw back, but when he doesn’t, she closes the gap between them and hugs him.
Daniel, for his part, only hesitates for a second before returning the embrace in kind, blue eyes softening, as Sally’s head falls to rest on his shoulder.
The two linger in the embrace for a moment, but eventually Sally releases her hold and Daniel steps back.
Sally does as well, but she also in the same motion gestures for Daniel to follow her — inviting him inside.
He smiles and voices his appreciation as he steps through the doorway.
Paul watches, relief almost making him sigh. Sally closes the door and Daniel turns his attention to him.
He smiles and reaches out his hand.
“I’m Paul. Nice to meet you.”
“…Daniel?..”
Finding the man awake at — Paul checks his wristwatch — six in the morning, sitting at their dining room table with nothing but a table lamp for light, a couple of books, a stack of papers and a pinched expression, is definitely not what he expected on a Monday.
For a moment he debates whether to call out to Daniel again, since it seems the young man didn’t hear him the first time, but another look at the scene gives him another idea.
With a few steps to the right, he hits the light switch.
“…Huh?”
Daniel blinks, his expression turning from pinched and concentrated to confused. Paul walks over to the table.
“Good morning. I didn’t expect to see you up so early.”
Daniel meets his smile with an expression more confused than his students taking a pop quiz at eight on a Monday morning.
“Paul? Wait, what’s the time?”
Paul eyes the open book to Daniel’s right — is that…Greek?
“Six.”
Daniel switches off the lamp.
“Oh. I suppose good morning is appropriate then.”
Now he smiles back, though there’s definitely a rueful glint in his eyes.
“I hope I didn’t bother you with my aaah…”
He gestures to his books and papers. Paul smiles.
“Oh no. Don’t worry. I am curious though. What are you doing?”
“…Work…”
Paul’s eyebrows raise and he takes another good look at the table. One book opened; displaying a text in Greek, another one closed with a title relating to Norse mythology and papers with written notes and translations.
Paul has a few questions, but mainly;
“Aren’t you an archeologist and linguist with a specialty in Egypt?”
Daniel shrugs.
“And anthropologist, but yes. The military doesn't really care though. If it’s vaguely related to culture of any kind then I’m probably going to be put on the case. Which means — Greek and Norse too.”
That answers one of Paul’s questions and yet none at all.
Because what use is an archeologist, anthropologist and linguist even to the military in the first place? And why would he need to read up on Norse mythology? Also isn’t he on break?
Paul mentally shakes his head. Now is not really the time to be pondering this — he has a full workday ahead of him.
After a few more words exchanged with Daniel, he makes his way to the kitchen. Even as he begins making his coffee his mind lingers on the earlier conversation.
Daniel Jackson; Sally’s cousin. Doctor. Archeologist. Anthropologist. Linguist. Civilian consultant to the US Air Force.
Paul almost laughs. It seems the Fates are still able to throw curveballs at him even though the mythical world has been part of his life for a while now.
There’s definitely something funny about Daniel and his work situation, but Paul doubts it’s anything terrible enough to warrant serious concern.
So for now, he’ll treat it as nothing more than a curiosity.