Keeping Watch
Older Kids
Gen, Challenge, Drabble, Friendship, Humor, Smarm, Team
Episodes: Season 10
Warnings: Minor language
Synopsis: Days of Our Lives Challenge #2: smarm day. Bonus words: enigma and kerfuffle.
Word Count: 600
Status: Completed September 21, 2009

Keeping Watch

Pain slowly brought him back to consciousness, and as soon as the measured beeps of a heart monitor assured him he was in the infirmary, Daniel cracked his eyes open cautiously.

Vala's face loomed suddenly from nowhere, startling a surprised noise from him. "You're awake!" she exclaimed, voice a little too loud for his headache. "You know, you really had us all worried."

"Wha happ'd?" he managed, fumbling for the call button he knew had to be somewhere on this bed. Someone must have guessed what he was looking for, and the cool plastic device was placed into his hand. From the slim shape of the fingers which ghosted across his, he guessed it was Sam.

"You fell and hit your head," Vala sniffed, her chair creaking as she finally stopped invading his personal space. "Samantha told you the ruins were unstable, but you just had to go in there and find out, didn't you?"

"Oh, cut the crap, Princess, you went in there, too," drawled Mitchell, his voice coming from somewhere near Daniel's feet.

"Well, of course, I did. Somebody had to watch Daniel's six, now didn't they?"

"Only when we watch his six, we look out for the guy, not sit there and admire his ass."

Groaning, Daniel pushed the call button again, hoping for some of the really strong stuff. Ordinarily, he hated being knocked out by medication, but at the moment, he'd take almost anything.

"Samantha does."

"I do not!" Sam protested. "I mean, not that he doesn't have a great ass... er, he's still awake, isn't he?"

"He is indeed," confirmed Teal'c, his gentle rumble sounding close to Daniel's right ear. "His skin became flushed the moment the three of you began discussing his physical attributes."

"Stop," Daniel rasped. "Everbody just... stop. Where's the nurse?"

Sam leaned on the bed, stretching across to take the call button out of his hand and tuck it against his side. "Doctor Lam's on her way. How're you feeling?"

"Headache. Very bad."

Vala made a small noise. "Not surprising, given the big chunk of ceiling that landed on your head, and while I have it on good authority that you have a very hard head, that big chunk of ceiling was harder."

"Sounds like something General O'Neill would say," Sam mused.

"That's because he's the one who said it!" The bed was jostled as Vala leaned on it again. A quick glance out of the corner of his eye showed her with both elbows planted on the mattress, and her chin resting on her upraised fists. "Daniel likes to play the enigma, but Jack is a very good source of information on him."

"Daniel wants to go back to sleep, but can't 'cause everyone's talking," Daniel complained. Even as he spoke, soft-soled shoes approached, and he welcomed the reprieve. He only hoped Doctor Lam was bringing some very potent painkillers.

"Carolyn, wouldn't you say Daniel has a great ass?"

"I'd like his ass a lot better if it didn't land in my infirmary so often," the doctor replied dryly. Then she was prying open his eyelids, blinding him with her penlight, and otherwise making him so uncomfortable he forgot all about the kerfuffle being led by the incorrigible Vala.

"All right, Doctor Jackson, let's see about getting you some pain relief," Lam finally said, and to Daniel's delight, warmth soon began to spread through him. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to knock him out completely.

"Well," continued Vala, "great ass or not, you really should be more careful."

Groaning, Daniel threw his arm over his eyes and begged for oblivion.