Daniel was the first to arrive on base, but last to make it to breakfast. Mitchell liked to get everyone together at least twice a week, even weeks where there was no off-world missions planned. Maybe even, especially those weeks. Everyone was so enveloped in their own work at those times they could, and routinely did, go days without seeing each other in the halls much less spend quality time together. That was where the breakfast meetings came in. They gathered and talked about what they were working on, what they were up to in their private lives, and stayed connected as a team and family. Every Tuesday and Friday at 7am. Today Sam, Teal'c, Vala, and their fearless leader Mitchell were already at their usual table when he arrived with a tray of cinnamon rolls and fresh fruit to go with his extra large coffee.
"You know the rules, Jackson," Mitchell chided him before he had even sat down. He plucked the text from under Daniel's arm and put it on the far end of the table. "We talk."
Pointedly ignoring Mitchell, Daniel gave Sam a sympathetic smile. "How you feeling?" he asked.
"Better. That flu really knocked it out of me."
"I'm telling you, that was a sinus infection at the end."
"This is what we're talking about?" Mitchell interrupted.
"You took my book," Daniel shot back.
"New rule: Jackson doesn't pick the topic of conversation. Teal'c, big guy, what's going on with you?"
"I too intended to enquire as to Colonel Carter's current state of health."
"You'd better be careful, Mitchell, that thing is catching. People around here are dropping like flies," Daniel said, conversationally, but with a small satisfied grin. Mitchell frowned back but refused to rise to the bait.
"Do flies fall a lot?" Vala asked, interrupting the boy's on-going… whatever their friendly antagonizing thing was. "They seem impossible to knock out of the air in my experience."
"It's just an expression that means a lot of people are catching it," Daniel explained.
"Are sicknesses always so contagious on this planet?"
"Colds and Flu are," Sam shrugged. "This time of year especially."
"Isn't this flu why we all had to get those shots last week?" Vala asked. "What's the point if you're going to get sick anyway? Oh! Wait…. Does the shot make you get sick? That's terrible! Why would you do that? It's barbaric!"
"It's more complicated than that," Sam told her.
"Is this one of those weird Earth traditions that don't make any sense?"
"Kinda," Mitchell allowed. "Now can we please talk about something else? Anyone catch the game last night?"
His question was met by blank stares all around. Not even Sam, who usually at least had an idea of what was going on in the sports world left him hanging. Sometimes he wondered what the hell these people did when they weren't hiding in labs and behind reports. Not a one of them had a life. Mitchell sighed.
"Why do I bother with you people?"
Daniel shrugged and reached over Mitchell for the book that had been confiscated upon his arrival. "This is for you," he told Vala handing the volume to her.
"Anne of Green Gables," Vala read the cover. "This is the book Sam was telling me about."
"I loved that book," Sam smiled slightly, remembering long nights hiding under the blankets and reading by flashlight. "I must have read the entire series a dozen times growing up."
"I think I read the entire series in a week when I was a kid," Daniel agreed. "Anne Shirley was my first crush."
Sam giggled. "It must have been hard being in direct competition with Gilbert Blythe."
"My life long sorrow," he sighed.
"Don't spoil it!" Vala interrupted.
"Sorry," Sam and Daniel chorused.
"Why on Earth were you reading Anne of Green Gables, Jackson?" Mitchell asked, incredulous. "There are at least a million boy's book series you could have been reading instead."
"Let's see an orphan who talks too much, uses big words, values education, and despite her best efforts doesn't fit in… can't imagine how I could relate to something like that."
"Melodramatic tendencies…." Sam added with a smirk.
"Stop talking about it!" Vala begged.
"Besides, what makes you think I didn't read the other book series, too?" Daniel turned his attention back to Mitchell.
"Can we please stop letting Jackson pick the topic? Teal'c, buddy, please, I'm begging you here. What have you been up to?"
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Several days later, after zero Vala sightings, Daniel found himself at her door with his hands full, coffee for himself, tea for her, and the next two books in the series tucked under his arm. He frowned at his full hands and settled on lightly kicking the door.
"Vala, it's me," he called. He heard her moving around inside but she didn't answer him. "Let me in, I can't hold all this forever."
The door cracked and she peered at him, eyes red, nose running, bottom lip firmly pouting. "What do you want?" she asked.
"I, uh.." he fumbled. "Tea," he finally answered gesturing with the cup. "Are you okay?"
"How can Mrs. Barry not understand it was an accident?" Vala sniffled. "She's a horrid woman."
Daniel couldn't help but smile to himself, Vala had gotten so wrapped up in the story she was even talking like the characters.
"Can I come in, or are you mad at me?" Daniel asked, carefully. "I found the next two books for you," he bargained.
Without a word she stepped back, opening the door for him.
"I take it you're at the raspberry cordial incident?"
She sniffled and nodded.
"I, uh… here." Daniel glanced around and found a spot to put down the drinks and books so he could pull his handkerchief out of his pocket. Vala gratefully took the offering and blew her nose several times. "You can keep it," Daniel declined her offer to give it back.
"Thank you," she said and went back to the nest she had made for herself on her bed. There were klenex, empty cups, and dirty dishes scattered about. Vala pulled her quilt over her shoulders and looked at Daniel with slightly glazed eyes.
"Are you feeling alright?" he asked, concerned. He'd never seen her like this.
"I'm just cold."
"May I?" he asked, approaching her, hand outstretched. She allowed him to put the back of his hand to her forehead, then cheek. "I think you need to go to the infirmary," he told her. "You've got a pretty good fever going."
He helped her up and they were given a sympathetic berth from the staffers on base on their way. Dr. Lam shook her head as Daniel escorted Vala into the crowded infirmary.
"Another one," she said knowingly. "Bed four, I'll be right there." She finished with her current patient and made quick work of her evaluation, confirming her initial impression. "Congratulations, Vala, you have your first flu. I assume you'll be looking after her, Dr. Jackson?"
"What?" Daniel startled at the assumption.
"Just, you two…. You aren't a 'you two'?" Dr. Lam asked uncertainly.
"No," he answered a little too quickly, a nurse giggled into the patient chart she was updating at the next bed. "I mean, I guess, I could help out."
"Good, I need these beds for my SG teams that are getting shot at." She wrote a prescription for an anti-viral, handed it to Daniel. "Bring her in if her fever gets too high."
"She's an alien, shouldn't she stay here? We don't know what the flu will do to her," he protested.
"Her physiology is identical to yours and mine, she has a strong immune system, and is in perfect health. She didn't have any reaction to the vaccine. I don't have any concerns. Now get her off my base before she infects anyone else."
"Aren't we all already infected?"
"You'll be fine. Make her soup, give her juice, make sure she sleeps, it's easy." Dr. Lam helped Vala up and handed her over to Daniel. "You have plenty of experience with this; I've seen your chart. You'll be fine."
"Daniel," Vala said quietly. "I don't feel well."
"I know. I got you. " He started guiding her out of the infirmary. "You can stay with me."