One Good Turn Deserves Another
The package was lumpy.
It was not prettily wrapped.
It was heavy, and Daniel didn’t have a clue what it could be.
Christmas had been the week before, and his birthday was seven and a half months away.
He wondered if someone might have decided that New Year’s was a good an excuse as any to give gifts, but that just didn’t make sense. No one he knew would be into anything like that.
But nonetheless, there had been a present waiting for Daniel when he returned to his office after a work out. It had been sitting right there on his desk, where he’d never miss it.
It was in his hands now, and he turned it over and over, trying to figure out what it was.
Finally, he shook his head in resignation.
He accepted the fact that the clunky object’s identity was beyond his guessing ability.
He tore off the wrapping paper that clumsily hid the gift from view.
As the paper fell away from the present, Daniel laughed out loud.
He couldn’t help it.
There was no other appropriate response.
He laughed so hard he nearly fell off his chair.
If anyone had witnessed his hysteria, they might have called Dr. Fraiser to evaluate the archeologist. After all, there isn’t anything terribly humorous about a doorknob.
And that’s what Daniel held.
His gift was a plain brass doorknob, complete with lock and two matching keys to operate it.
Daniel didn’t even notice the writing on the packaging of his gift at first, because he was laughing so hard, but when he calmed down, a scrawled note in black Sharpie caught his eye.
He turned the package over and saw that someone had written a note on the backside of the plastic packaging that encased the doorknob. As Daniel read the words, he stifled another laugh and found himself reading the words repeatedly.
Daniel-
Couldn’t bring myself to give this to you as an actual Christmas gift, but I thought you should have it. Happy New Year. If you come over sometime, maybe I’ll even teach you how to install it, right side out, so no one can get trapped in the basement again. Can’t have you finding out any more of my secrets, can I?
Jack
P.S.-You still owe me that Grigio, jackass.
Daniel shook his head again, this time in amusement. He was mentally taken back to a night two months ago, when Jack’s basement had yielded more than its fair share of entertainment for SG-1 and their friends. He also chuckled because the note was so very Jack. Serious and touching, but with just enough irreverence thrown in to make it not too sentimental.
‘Well,’ thought Daniel, ‘two can play at that game.’
Daniel grinned and sat down at his computer. He set the doorknob to one side and began to type. The e-mail message was done before Daniel had time to think about it.
Dear Jack,
Thank you for the thoughtful gift. It’s very fitting, and it brought a few smiles. I’d love to come over sometime to help you safeguard your guests and your privacy.
Daniel
P.S.-oh, and about that Grigio…I think you should replace that bottle after all. Maybe that way I’ll find the strength to keep my mouth shut about what else I found in that basement.
Daniel leaned back in his chair and felt supremely proud of himself.
That weekend, Daniel would knock on Jack’s door. Jack would lance him with eyes full of daggers but would nonetheless usher him inside, where a freshly bought bottle of Pinot Grigio sat on the coffee table, ready to be consumed.
A doorknob would be installed, with the lock mechanism oriented in the right way to prevent anyone from ever repeating Daniel’s birthday party performance, but it would be the minor accomplishment of the evening.
The real feat was that two men would talk well into the night over more than one bottle of fine wine.
Again.
The End
