More fluff...tee hee...Okay okay! I was feeling ill when i wrote it! Stop tutting and read it already will ya! hugs...heheee!
"Daniel, grab the pizza menu will ya?"
Daniel was dozing on the sofa; he had the most appalling cold and had managed to help to do some cleaning chores, but had collapsed on the soft cushions not long after. Sniffing and hacking, Daniel managed to pry himself from his comfortable position and peer over the back on the chair at Jack.
The older man was putting drinks and ice cream away ready for Sam and Teal'c to visit later in the evening.
Daniel waited for a moment until Jack stopped and looked with concern at the bloodshot eyes that were peering back at him.
"Jack?" Daniel coughed and spluttered before rubbing his runny eyes.
"Danny? You still no better, kiddo?"
Daniel gave a wan smile, "feeling a bit rough, Jack, that's all."
"Shall I cancel Sam and Teal'c coming over, if you're not up to company?" Jack closed the refrigerator door, but not before grabbing a root beer for his sorry looking archaeologist.
Daniel pulled himself to a sitting position and shook his head before resting his face in his hands, "No, no. Don't do that, I'll take some Tenelol. I'll be fine, really."
Jack rolled his eyes, "You were looking pretty off color at the supermarket, Daniel. Maybe you'd be best resting up in bed?"
Daniel didn't miss the eye roll, "Honestly, I'll be okay, Jack. I've been looking forward to this evening; we haven't had a team night for so long."
SG1 had experienced some pretty difficult missions over the last few months, not least Jack, who had bore the brunt of most of the disasters that had befallen the team.
Seeing his son morphed from a dyeing alien had deeply disturbed Jack who had to a large degree withdrawn for a few days after would. So much so that Daniel had felt it necessary to stay out of the way and had been about to go and stay with Sam, which had apparently snapped the older man out of his personal hell.
Daniel recalled the harsh words when Jack found him with his rucksack in hand calling the Captain, "Daniel, why the hell would I want you to move out, even for a week? I've lost one son through my own stupidity, I'll be damned if I'm going to push another away." And with that, Jack had engulfed the young man in a hug that expressed everything that Daniel and Jack needed to be reassured of.
Day's after that and another mission, but this time Jack was aging fast and they couldn't stop it. Daniel thought Jack was dying, they all thought he was dying. The order to leave the planet due to possible contagions was the hardest command that Daniel had ever had to follow.
Daniel's tears had flown freely whenever he wasn't working to try and help solve the problem, but thankfully Sam and Janet had saved the day, Jack had recovered. It had taken a few days, but after an emotional reunion with Daniel, Jack had declared this weekend was definitely team time. They'd been through a lot emotionally and some bonding was sure in order, but now, Daniel had the cold from hell and he didn't want to miss this team night for anything…
Jack shrugged and cocked his head, "Okay, I'll cut you a deal, you take some pain meds and have a lay down for an hour before they come over and the party's still on, okay?"
Daniel nodded and smiled, he couldn't deny that sounded good, "Okay, Jack. Deal."
Jack made his way back to the kitchen and grabbed the pills before going and giving them to Daniel. The younger man nodded his appreciation and popped the tablets in his mouth before taking a mouthful of root beer.
"Thanks Jack," he smiled and made his way to his feet before shuffling to the stairs, "I'll be back in an hour then?"
Jack nodded and grinned, "Okay, Danny, sleep tight."
Daniel turned and returned the gesture, "I'm going for a lay down, not bed for the night, Jack, it's only six."
Jack's grin widened, "Whatever you say, kiddo. I'll shout when they turn up."
Daniel shook his head as he made his way to his room and his cosy welcoming double bed that had now been put in his sanctuary. This was home now. Maybe not forever, but he felt more at home here than he had done anywhere since Egypt and even there, he lived in tents erected on digs mostly.
What was more, he felt he belonged here. All the agony of accepting Jack's mollycoddling and worrying had been worth the pain. This man loved him for just being him, no more, no less and Daniel felt the same way. Jack was fast becoming the adopted father Daniel never found, even if it was a bit late in the day.
Daniel slipped his sweater off, before lying down and drawing his knees up to his chest. He watched the curtains flutter in the light wind and the late afternoon sun dapple the walls as he drifted to sleep.
o0o
There was a light knock at the door, catching Jack's attention as he emptied chips into a bowl.
The smile grew on his face as he quickly checked his watch before making to answer the door. Sleeping beauty had been away in fairy land for over an hour and a half.
He greeted Sam and Teal'c at the door enthusiastically, knowing that all of his team had been worried for him after the last mission, not just Daniel.
"Carter, T!! Come on in. Hey! You bought cheese cake! I know one excitable archaeologist whose gonna love that!"
Jack waved his guests into the living room and took the offerings into the kitchen.
"Where is Daniel, sir?" enquired Carter as she scanned the room, not able to see any sign of the younger man.
Jack stuck his head out from the kitchen, "He's having a nap, Carter."
Sam grinned without reserve, "A nap?"
Jack swiped some beer from the fridge, before making his way into the living room, "Yup, a nap. He's got a bad cold, I was thinking of cancelling, but he wouldn't hear of it. I'll go get him up in a minute."
"Daniel Jackson is unwell, O'Neill?" rumbled Teal'c as he took the proffered drink.
Jack nodded and patted Teal'c's large arm, "Yeah, big guy, just a virus, he'll get over it."
Teal'c gave his regal nod in understanding.
"Right, you guys take a seat; I'll go get sleeping beauty."
Sam waited for a moment as Teal'c started towards the sofa and Jack made his way to the stairs, "Urr, sir," called Sam, "don't get him up yet, we can order his pizza. He may feel better if he grabs a few more minutes," she smiled understandingly, always concerned for her adopted little brother.
"Don't panic, Carter, I'll check on him. He'd never forgive me if he knew you where here and I hadn't at least looked to see if he was awake," Jack offered over his shoulder as he rounded the corner.
Quietly palming the door open and peered into the slightly darkened room, Jack could see a curled up, gently snoring Daniel on the large bed. The bunged up nose was obviously giving him trouble.
Jack carefully made his way over and unconsciously placed his palm on the younger mans brow. He didn't feel to warm, so deciding that the kid was fast asleep and best left for the present, Jack plucked the comforter from the foot of the bed and gently spread it over Daniel. The action caused the younger man to stir very slightly, but only to turn his face further into the soft pillow and bring his hand to cover his face slightly.
Jack stood for a few more seconds and watched as the sleeping form returned back to the gentle snuffles of restful sleep he'd heard on entering the room. Daniel looked so young with the strands of dark hair covering his slightly feverish blotchy cheeks and curled up so small. It nearly hurt to see him like this; it evoked such vivid memories of his lost son. I t also served to enforce how much Jack cared for his wayward linguist.
Jack smiled, "I'll come get you in a bit, kiddo. Sweet dreams," he whispered. He was nearly induced to drop a quick kiss on Daniel's head, but knew it would probably disturb him.
As he made his way back into the living room, Jack was still smiling.
"Sir? Is he okay?" Sam asked, slightly concerned.
Jack grabbed his beer from the coffee table and sat down, "Yeah, yeah, Carter, he's fine. Just sleeping well, I'll go get him when the food arrives."
"May I ask what you're smiling about, sir?"
Jack grinned at her and Teal'c who was now regarding him with a quizzical look, "It's good to be back with the family again, that's all," Jack assured.
"We are glad to have you back also, O'Neill," Teal'c offered sincerely.
"Here, here!" nodded Sam as she held her beer bottle up in salute to the colonel.
Jack rolled his eyes and then grabbed the pizza menu, "Okay, okay, can we order dinner now, I'm starving."
"I will have my usual, O'Neill," offered Teal'c who was now reaching into his shoulder bag that he'd bought with him. Jack had glanced over and thought how un-Teal'c like a 'man bag' was, but hadn't commented.
"I'll share the ham and pineapple with Daniel sir, but we need extra cheese," she grinned.
Jack nodded and flicked the menu over, finding what he was looking for to accompany his chili beef pizza. Garlic bread with cheese, just what the doctor ordered, thought Jack as he made his way to the telephone and rang their local takeaway.
While he was finishing up on the phone he could hear Sam talking to Teal'c and then a muffled laugh.
Jack wandered back over to the chair and then perched his long legs on the edge of the coffee table, "Okay, what's going on?" Jack enquired nonchalantly as he took another swig of his beer.
Sam continued to smile while flashing a look at Teal'c and the video tape that he now held in his hand.
Jack squinted at it, "T, you do know I now actually have a DVD player, right?"
The corner of Teal'c's mouth turned up slightly, that was like a full blown smile as far as Jack was concerned, "Indeed, O'Neill."
Sam giggled and covered her mouth before reaching forward to retrieve her own drink.
Jack frowned, knowing that whatever this particular Jaffa joke was, would obviously be on him, (he'd have to ask Teal'c about Jaffa jokes,) he thought for a second before regarding his alien friend with a wave of his beer bottle, "What's with the tape thingy then, big guy?"
Teal'c leaned forward and offered said tape to his friend, "I recovered this video cassette from General Hammond; he thought that it would be appropriate for our evening's viewing."
Jack dropped his feet to the floor and absently shook his beer bottle, confirming the contents where now gone before taking the cassette from his friend.
"Cacoon?" There was a small silence while Jack thought back to seeing the film. In the meantime, Sam nearly choked on her beer.
Then Jack realized, "Oh-for-crying-out-loud!" He squinted at the picture and then shook it at Sam, "But these guys were made to feel younger by the aliens, not older," Jack grinned and then sighed, groaning, "Back atcha George."
"I never thought the general had it in him," smiled Sam, grabbing the tape from Jack's hands and inspecting the cover.
Teal'c nodded and Jack got to his feet, "Yeah, yeah, Carter. We'll watch it if you want. Anymore beer you guys?"
As Jack made his way to the kitchen, the door bell rang and Sam made her way to collect the pizza.
Returning with the drinks, Jack spotted his snotty linguist on the stairs, only to be greeted with a barked cough and a wheezed greeting, "Hey you guys," Daniel sniveled with a small wave.
"Hey, Daniel!" Sam bounded over after depositing the pizzas on the table and gave the younger man a hug, "How you feeling?"
He smiled weakly and coughed again, "I'll be fine," he mumbled into his fist.
Sam released her hold and Jack saw his chance and passed the drinks to Sam. He placed a guiding hand in the middle of his friends back and steered him over to the sofa. Teal'c had already vacated the spot at the end and plumped the cushions up against the arm.
"Come on, Danny. Sit down and put your feet up. I'll get you pizza and a juice so that you can watch the movie with us."
Sam in the meantime hurried away to fetch plates while Teal'c looked at the VCR.
"Jack, I'm okay, really. I can sit you don't have to fuss."
There was a minor whine in Daniel's voice as he was cajoled into putting his feet up and sneezed rather loudly.
"Daniel." Do as you're told.
"Jack?" What? I feel ill, I'm really trying here.
"Come on, Danny. I'm worried about ya. Let us look after you for once."
Daniel sighed deeply as Teal'c turned and made his way to an armchair, "I believe O'Neill is correct Daniel Jackson, you need to rest."
Daniel managed a slightly embarrassed glance through his eyelashes in Teal'c's direction as he heard the minor admonishment, "Yeah, Teal'c I know. Thanks guys, I'll get comfortable here," he croaked.
"Okay, kiddo," Jack smiled, leaning forward to ruffle his hair, "Juice?"
"Beer?"
Jack raised his eyebrows, "What and have Janet serve me my head on a platter? No way hose, it's juice or water for you my little linguist. Tenelol, remember?" Jack added as he saw a disappointed frown crease the younger mans brow.
Daniel nodded into his chest as he tugged some tissues from the newly repositioned coffee table, "K, but I want grape juice, orange is getting real old," he mumbled.
"Grape juice coming up, oh sickly one," chirped Jack. "How's that pizza coming, Carter? A man could starve to death here ya know."
Jack nabbed a slice as he passed. Sam had finished placing some pieces on the plates and was making her way towards the sofa.
"Hey," she scolded playfully and tapped his hand away before passing out the plates and lifting Daniel's feet up to sit on the end of the chair.
Daniel sneezed and coughed all at the same time, before regarding the food before him with mixed interest, "I thought the sofa was mine, Sam? What happened to looking after me?"
"I'm not sitting on the floor even for you, Daniel and you know how Colonel grumpy gets when you sit in his spot," she grinned.
That induced a wheezy laugh from the linguist and an appraising look from the Jaffa who was now tucking into the food.
"You did not wish to be looked after, Daniel Jackson?" observed Teal'c.
Daniel sighed, Sam smiled and Jack came and placed two more pills on the table next to Daniel along with the requested Grape juice.
"Hey, stop bickering you two," Jack chided lightly as he made himself comfortable in the chair, "Else you'll be going back to bed early, Einstein."
Daniel picked up the pizza and nibbled the edge, the cheese stretching as he tried to put it back on the plate, "What about, Sam? I get to go bed early and she gets to watch the movie? That's not fair," he playfully whined.
"Nope, Sam gets sent home with Uncle Teal'c. So behave, both of you," Jack grinned.
"O'Neill, do you wish me to start the movie?" Teal'c revealed the long lost VCR remote.
"Okay, big guy. You ready, kids?" Jack looked at Sam and Daniel as they both munched through their pizza enthusiastically.
They both nodded and Teal'c jabbed the ancient controls making the cassette whir and clunk.
#
An hour later and the plates where now stacked on the coffee table, Sam was gently rubbing Daniel's leg, Jack had made a few beer runs and all was quiet apart from the snot induced growling of a sleeping archaeologist.
Jack chanced a glace at his kid; he still looked a sorry state. His face was blotchy and pink and a small trail of drawl trickled down his chin as he slept. His head was tilted to one side as he half sat, but at least Teal'c had managed to retrieve the younger mans glasses after he'd first nodded off.
Sam still rubbed small circles on Daniel's leg and doubted she realized what she was doing. Daniel's t-shirt had ridden up revealing his belly button and his sweats had ridden up around his calves. Daniel's arm had lolled off of his chest and now rested on the coffee table while his other arm was resting somewhere over the top of his head, yup the kid looked a picture of young and ill.
If Daniel hadn't been ill, Jack might have even have taken his picture, but for now, his main concern was getting his little genius to bed and he doubted rousing him was an option.
"T? Would you help me get Danny to bed, I think he's done."
The question made Sam jump and look at the subject she was still sitting partially under.
"Aww," she cooed, "he looks so peaceful."
"Yeah, Carter, he also needs to go to bed, he'll wake up with cricked neck to go with that cold if we don't move him now."
She smiled at Jack, obviously thinking how thoughtful her commanding officer could be for such a hard ass military man, but she knew Daniel was special too him.
"I would be honored, O'Neill," and with that, Teal'c got to his feet and scooped the sleeping man from the chair with ease.
Jack couldn't help the surprised look that came over his face. Teal'c made it look like he was picking up a child, not a six foot archaeologist, "Urr, I was gonna help, big guy."
Teal'c nodded, "I will follow you to Daniel Jackson's quarters so that you may make him comfortable, O'Neill."
Jack cocked his head and then lead the way, Teal'c had him already, he could do that.
When they reached the room, Jack turned back the sheets and patted them down before quickly puffing up the pillows, "There you go big guy, you can put him down now."
Teal'c carefully placed the still sleeping Daniel in the bed. For his part the younger man hadn't even stirred.
"I will return to watch the movie, O'Neill," offered Teal'c with a small bow.
"Thanks, T," whispered Jack, barely dragging his gaze from the young man on the bed.
Jack didn't here his alien friend leave the room, he was to busy tucking in the sleeping linguist. Before he left, he carefully placed the glasses on the night stand and brushed Daniel's bangs away from his slightly sweaty face.
Unable to resist, Jack leaned forward and placed a small kiss on Daniel forehead, "Sweet dreams, son," he whispered.
Daniel stirred briefly and turned towards the touch, "Nigh, da," came the muffled reply.
Jack stood for a moment before a hot tear coursed down his cheek. His heart ached with the memories of his son and these precious moments he'd shared with him, but leapt with joy with the realization that he was getting a second chance to be a father again.
He was a very lucky man…
