Jack leaned against the doorway to the infirmary watching the newest member of the SGC work. Dr. Meyers russet head was bowed over Daniel as she finished cleaning his wound. Her gloved hands applied a four by four piece of gauze over the site and covered it with a thin piece of plastic covering, a tegaderm. As he watched her, he was reminded of Dr. Janet Fraiser, SGC's medical officer who had died a couple months back in the line of duty. Though he had enjoyed giving her a hard time, which happened more times than not, he deeply respected and admired her directness and ability to do what was necessary, no matter how hard. Her compassion and strength had been unmatched. Almost every single person in the SGC owed his or her life to her, his own included.

Jack smiled crookedly, remembering. His eyes focused on Dr. Meyers and his smile faded into a frown. Though he knew Dr. Meyers had been trained by the best, and, from what he had seen so far, she seemed an efficient doctor. But she had never been in combat and that, to Jack, was strike one.

Pushing off the doorframe, he made his way to the pair, eyes on Daniel's wound. Inwardly, he sighed in relief that that was all that was wrong this time. He sure is a tough guy to kill, Jack thought to himself and grinned. Definitely not the first time he'd had that thought.

Dr. Meyers felt rather than heard Jack's presence behind her and, looking over her shoulder, she caught the grin on his face. Eyeing him warily, she straightened, squared her shoulders and tugged off her latex gloves with a snap. "Need something, Colonel?"

"Oh I don't know," Jack said as he grabbed the chair next to the infirmary bed, swung it around and plopped into it, resting his elbows on the back. "A winning lottery ticket, a new car, a vacation, maybe a new fishing rod..." She arched a dark eyebrow at him.

"Anything else?" Jack shook his head.

"Not a one. Daniel?" he asked, glancing at Daniel who was watching their conversation, amused.

"Ah, no. I'm good. Thanks." Dr. Meyers turned back to Daniel, rolling her eyes. Daniel smirked. The O'Neill charm strikes again. He glanced up at Dr. Meyers, who was finishing fastening a sling behind his neck. She stepped back, eyeing her handiwork. Then, putting her best doctor face on, she looked at him over the rims of her glasses and handed him a prescription bottle.

"Now, from what I've read, you know the drill. Just give me a call if those don't help, okay?" He nodded and she smiled encouragingly, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "Take it easy. I mean it," she said, looking pointedly at Jack, who tried to look innocent. Shaking her head, Jack tended to have that affect on people, she moved away, heading towards a closed curtain on the other side of the infirmary.

Jack watched her disappear inside before turning back to Daniel who had relaxed back into the pillow, eyes closed. He propped his chin on his arms, tilted his head and stared. He saw Daniel shift uncomfortably, whether from his shoulder or his staring, he didn't know, but his eyes never left Daniel's face. Luckily, his years in the military taught him to be patient...most of the time anyway. Well, maybe not most of the time. This time at least. Maybe.

"Daniel." Daniel opened one eye, eyebrows raised.

"Yes Jack..."

Jack ran one hand through his hair, leaning back in the chair before draping his arms over the back. He clasped his hands together and fixed Daniel with a slightly mocked look of confusion. "Maybe you can clear something up for me. Was it, let's see," he counted on his fingers, "five or ten minutes this time?"

Daniel rolled his eyes and let out a breath of frustration, knowing where he was going with this. "Jack...it was an accident."

Jack glared in disbelief at him. "Right. This woman, whom we know absolutely nothing about I might add, just 'accidentally' falls into your arms ands you 'accidentally' carry her through the stargate before we even have a chance to assess the threat she might be."

"Jack, does every unknown person automatically have to be a threat?" Jack froze in mid rant and looked at him as if he'd just grown three heads. "And besides, she didn't fall into my arms, I kind of fell into hers. I tripped and," he shook his head, "anyway, the point is, Jack, that I couldn't just leave her there. It is our job to protect those who can't protect themselves. Am I right?"

Jack sighed, rubbing his face with his hands. "Of course Daniel, but could you, I don't know, give me a little warning next time?"

Daniel shook his head, fighting a smile. "Do I ever?" Jack chuckled in defeat.

From across the room came a loud crash and a thud. Jack was up and out of his chair within seconds, Daniel right behind him. He tore the curtains open to see the woman of their conversation sitting up in bed, tearing at the IV in her arm. Dr. Meyers was on the floor, struggling to her feet. Daniel reached his good arm down to the doc, helping her up as Jack made a beeline for the enraged woman who was trying to get out of the bed. He seized her arms, forcing her back onto the bed. A flailing knee caught him in the stomach. Grunting out a curse, he shouted for Daniel to grab her legs. Daniel flung off his sling and grabbed at her thrashing lower limbs, gritting his teeth at the pain in his shoulder. "Hurry with that sedative, Doc!" Jack barked, as the woman below made no signs of quieting down. Throwing a look over his shoulder he glared at Daniel as if to say 'I told you so'. His distraction cost him as sharp teeth sunk into his skin. He jerked his arm away, catching Dr. Meyers in the face and sending her glasses flying as she came up behind him with the syringe. Once again she hit the floor, blood streaming from her nose, tears springing to her eyes. Daniel loosened his grip, eyes on the doc. The woman took advantage of the situation to wrench away from their grasps and off the bed. Her eyes searched frantically around for somewhere to hide. They settled on Daniel and before he could react, she flung herself into his arms, knocking them both onto the floor. Her fingers dug into his shirt as she curled close to him, sobs racking through her thin body. Daniel immediately wrapped his arms around her, one hand in her hair, the other rubbing her back as he murmured gently. He looked helplessly at Jack who was holding his hand tightly over his arm where she had bitten him. A nurse, Tiffany Cooper, was helping Dr. Meyers to her feet. She was squeezing her nose shut, stemming the flow of blood. She shot Jack a look of pure malice, before being led away by Nurse Cooper. Jack watched her go, biting back the pain in his arm.

"Sorry."