Chapter 4

Disclaimer in chapter 1. Nothings changed.

By the time Jack, Sam and Teal'c had arrived at the hospital, Xander's latest dose of pain medication had kicked in, and he'd fallen asleep. So when Jack saw him for the fist time, he looked younger than 17, because he wasn't as animated as usual.

"Christ Danny. What were his injuries again?" asked Jack in horror.

"Concussion, busted nose, wrist, ribs, some internal bleeding. Tony and Jessica are being charged with attempted murder. He was hurt too badly for it to be ignored this time," said Daniel evenly.

Teal'c just raised an eyebrow and said, "we will help you take care of this one, DanielJackson."

Sam just nodded in agreement as she covered her mouth with her left hand, not quite able to believe that anyone's parents could be so cruel.

"So," began Daniel, "why are you all here? Didn't you trust me not to get killed or something?"

"Well," said Jack with a grin. "That's not it actually. Carter unearthed some information, and you were taking longer than estimated, so we thought we'd come and see the sights -"

"There are many different cemeteries here DanielJackson," put in Teal'c.

"Twelve, actually," said Xander as he woke up, "and 43 churches. What does that tell you about our fair town?"

"Your awake?" said Daniel, cutting off Jack and turning to face Xander.

"Yep, looks like it. I only dozed for a little bit. So you're Daniel's friends?" said Xander, struggling to sit up straighter in bed. "So who's who? I think I know who Captain Carter is," said Xander, with a mixture of a grin and a grimace.

"It's Sam Xander, and this is Jack and Murray," Sam said, gesturing to each in turn. Jack gave a little wave, and Teal'c a little bow. Sam then said, looking worried, "do you need some more pain medication?"

"Nah, pumped full of it, feeling a bit fuzzy too. Which isn't a good thing in this town, but the doc's won't listen to me. Still, I get released tomorrow, right Daniel?" This was said to Daniel with the biggest puppy dog eyes that SG1 had ever seen.

"Hah! You're doomed there Danny-boy," said Jack with a shout of laughter, as they all sat down on the chairs that Daniel had scrounged together.

"Don't remind me," said Daniel with a grimace, "who do you reckon completed his French homework, after neglecting to tell me that his friend Willow had already refused to do it, because she'd done his maths, science and American History?" and then looked straight at Xander, who attempted to shrug, gave up, and just grinned madly instead.

"Hey, professional slacker here. Only thing I get top grades in," shot back Xander.

"What's the deal with Sunnydale, Xander?" asked Sam. "The statistics alone are scary, and you mentioned something about the sheer amount of churches and graveyards."

Xander didn't say anything, he just stared at his blankets.

"During the case conference, the nurse and one of the social workers made noises about what happens in this town. Something about visits after dark, and the high school kids being better at sorting out problems than the police," Daniel said quietly. "What's going on Xander?"

Xander looked up then, and Jack was struck by the look in his eyes. He no longer looked young, he looked like a combat veteran. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you," he said with chilling finality.

Sam decided to change the subject then, "what's your favourite subject at school?"

Xander's expression lightened up considerably at the change of subject. "Hey, professional slacker here," he said with a goofy grin on his face. "It's lunch, what did you really think?"

"Oh, I like you kid," said Jack with a smirk. "When they springing you again?"

"Not soon enough," shot back Xander.

"You're not wrong," muttered Daniel, "I not sure who's more bored, me or him."

"You've only been here a few days, I've been here over a week," said Xander in an injured tone of voice.

"Oh no," cried Jack in mock horror, "he's gonna do the puppy eyes again!"

"Will it get me out of here faster?" asked Xander, with a crafty look on his face.

"Shame Janet's not with us, we might've been able to pull it off," said Sam looking thoughtful.

"She looks after the needles, kid," said Jack, after seeing the questioning look on Xander's face.

"I don't think Dr Gilroy's gonna go for it Xander, but I'll ask," said Daniel.

"Danny, Danny, Danny," chanted Jack softly.

"Stop it, Sir, you're setting a bad example," said Sam, struggling not to laugh.

"I do not think so CaptainCarter," intoned Teal'c solemnly."XanderHarris seems to find O'Neill's antics highly amusing," and he nodded towards Xander, who was holding his ribs as he lay sniggering on the bed.

"That's what I'm afraid of," said Sam. "I don't know who's encouraging who. Poor Daniel, living with one and working with the other." There was a distinct lack of sympathy on Sam's face when she said this, which made Xander think that maybe she wasn't quite a lost cause after all.

At that moment, Daniel came back in with Dr Gilroy in tow, who then proceeded to poke and prod Xander, asking all sorts of, what seemed to Xander anyway, stupid questions.

"Well, Alexander, I know I said discharge tomorrow, but you've recovered remarkably well. So I can't see why you can't go today. Once the nurses have done their part, and no, you can't harass them, you may go," said Dr Gilroy with a smile. "No heavy lifting, no fighting and no sports until those ribs are healed please, OK?"

"Yes Dr," said Xander, chomping at the bit to escape to escape what he saw as purgatory. He was less than amused when it took an additional hour and half to finalise his discharge. By which time it was too late to catch Buffy and Willow before Buffy's patrol that evening.

"Right," said Jack, clapping his hands together, "I call pizza. Any decent pizza joints around here kid?"

"I suppose so," Xander said, a little bit bummed out because he couldn't see his girls or Giles.