Author's Notes:- Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
I'm working on the next chapter...honestly.
I'm useless at medical stuff so please forgive any (major) mistakes.
Enjoy.
Claire sipped her tea, turning back to where Max was staring at her.
"Okay," she said, "Do you want me to tell you the story or are you just going to continue staring at me, Max."
Max shook his head, "Claire, I attended your funeral. You have to give me a few moments to get my head around the fact you're sitting there."
"Drinking your really bad tea," Claire finished for him. She dropped her head, she could see Jordan watching her and waiting for the story himself.
"Mel saved me," Claire started, sadness filling her voice as she spoke of her husband and Daniel's father, "He threw me away from the wall and I hit my head. In all the chaos, I was taken to hospital where they thought I was Lucy. Someone told them I wasn't and didn't know who I was," she deliberately left out who had said that, "One of the doctor's helped me get back on my feet and I started again."
"That must have been a terrifying prospect," Jordan noted.
"It was," Claire replied, "Anyway, I met someone else and married him, I had three girls and a few years ago I got divorced. I moved to Colorado, next door to a charming young man who seemed completely familiar but I could never place him," she laughed as she thought about her son, "Daniel let me borrow my own diary for the class I was teaching and reading it, I thought I may have known his parents."
"How did you work it out," Max asked, interested.
"I asked Daniel for pictures, hoping they'd jog my memory," Claire replied, she shrugged, "They did."
Before Claire could elaborate, the ground started to shake and fear filled them. Claire ran panicked towards the chamber and her son.
x
"What happened?" Jacob demanded.
Jack looked up as the retired General came running over, staring at the large hole where a chamber had once been. Jack was trying to get an answer over the radio while Jordan organised a rescue operation.
"It just collapsed," Kelly cried; sitting with her mother, holding her arm tightly in fear as Mendel sat at her other side.
Jacob turned back to Jack, "If I can find how deep they've fallen, I might be able to use the rings to transport them out."
Jack sighed, "First we need to get them to talk to us."
"I'll get the ship and see if I can find them using the sensors," Jacob told him, "Keep trying them, Jack and don't worry too much. This is Daniel."
"Why do you think I'm worried?"
x
Daniel felt as though someone had slammed his head against the wall for several hours. A voice was calling to him but he couldn't make out the words. Daniel forced his eyes open and saw an angel looking down on him, a halo of light framing her lovely face. Her mouth was moving, she was calling to him and Daniel shook himself.
"Sha're?" he forced out past his dry throat.
"Shh," she soothed, her hand gently stroking his face as a relieved smile touched her lips, "I was worried you would not wake up."
"Where are..." he tried to sit up and white hot pain shot through his leg, making him cry out.
Sha're pushed him back down, "Your leg is broken, Dan'iel. I have done what I can but I do not feel it is has been effective."
Daniel closed his eyes, trying to get his mind focus properly, "Were you hurt?"
"A little," Sha're stroked his forehead, "But it is not serious. Dan'iel, I can hear O'Neill calling to us but I do not know how to respond."
"Where's my radio?" Daniel murmured, forcing his thoughts into a proper sequence.
Sha're pulled it over and placed it in his hand.
"Jack?"
"Daniel?" Jack's relieved voice came over the radio, "Are you guys okay?"
"We're fine," Daniel replied, wincing as Sha're batted at his hand.
"Dan'iel has a broken leg," Sha're reported, "I also believe he has...I do not know the correct word for it but he hit his head very hard and was unconscious for a time."
"Concussion," Jack told her, "What about you?"
"I hurt my shoulder," Sha're reported to him, "Jack, can you get us out?"
There was a long pause, "We're working on it, honey."
x
Sha're forced herself to stay calm as she looked at her husband, he was obviously in a lot of pain. Her shoulder hurt and she couldn't move her right arm without pain shooting along it but she didn't want to worry Daniel.
"Dan'iel," she called to him, "You have to keep awake just now, until we are rescued."
"So tired," he moaned.
Sha're touched his forehead, stroking her good hand along his cheek, "Dan'iel, I need you to speak with me. I need you to talk about anything, please."
Daniel groaned.
"Husband," Sha're switched to her native tongue, "Tell me a story, like you did every night in our home."
"What...what kind of story do you want to hear?" Daniel asked, his voice shaking against the pain.
Sha're kissed his forehead, "Tell me a story of your team of your adventures."
"I...em...I can't remember any," he was drifting closer to unconsciousness.
"Dan'iel," Sha're snapped sharply, "You must stay awake. You cannot leave me alone here," she winced, knowing she was about to manipulate him, "I am afraid, Dan'iel."
He moaned, his hand finding hers and squeezing, "I'm here," he whispered, pulling her hand to his lips, "I won't leave you again."
"Then tell me a story," Sha're pressed, "Let me know you are truly with me."
"Daniel? Sha're?" Jack's voice called to them.
"I am here," Sha're replied, relief filling her, Daniel was getting worse and she was getting more and more afraid.
"I need you to look around," Jack told her, "I need you to see if there are rings in the room you're in."
Sha're glanced around, she hadn't even looked around the room they were trapped in. She stopped Daniel from moving, and pressed the button on the radio.
"It is too dark," she reported to Jack, "I can only see the small area around us but nothing beyond."
"Sha're," Daniel called, she turned to him worriedly, "I have a flashlight in my right pocket."
"The Fraiser emergency kit strikes again," Jack's amused voice came over the radio. For several minutes there was silence as Sha're took the strange pen-like device from her husband's pocket and managed to find the switch.
"Sha're, have you found anything?" Jack asked.
"Yes," Sha're replied, smiling as she saw the markings on the floor, "There are rings here. Can you get us out of here now?"
"Soon, sweetheart," Jack soothed, "Just hold on a few more minutes."
Sha're squeezed Dan'iel's hand, "They will be here soon, my love."
x
"I don't get this," Kelly said, still staring around the ship, "What does these ring things have to do with getting them out of there easier?"
Jacob glanced back at her from controls, "If there is a ring platform down there and it is active, then I can go down to help get Daniel out. If not, then it's much more complicated," Jacob let out an annoyed sigh, "They're not active, Jack."
Jack stopped his pacing, he hit his radio again, "Sha're," he asked, "Jacob wants to know if you can activate the rings."
"I think so," she replied, her voice was soft but Jack could hear the tension in it.
"Sha're, once you activate the rings," he told her, his voice calming, "Jacob and I will be down. We'll get you two out of there and take Daniel back to the SGC. You just have to activate the rings, okay?"
"Of course, Jack," Sha're replied.
Jack listened to the sound of her pressing the crystals and smiled.
"It is done," Sha're reported, "We are not near them."
Jack nodded to Jacob who moved to the rings with Claire, he turned to the young woman standing there, "Kelly, you know what to do?"
"Just tell me when," Kelly replied, she looked afraid but determined.
Jack smiled at her and took his place beside Claire; Jacob hit the button and jumped in beside them.
x
Sha're almost cried in relief as the bright light filled the room, leaving Jack, Jacob and Claire in its wake.
"Danny," Jack started as he and Jacob moved to either side, "The things you do to get alone with your girl."
"You ruined it," Daniel murmured back, as Jacob checked his leg.
Sha're felt a blanket cover her shoulders and looked up to see Claire kneeling at her side. A shiver slid through the young woman as she watched her husband.
"Look at me," Claire called, touching the young woman's face, "Sha're, look at me."
Sha're turned slowly to her mother-in-law, "My arm hurts."Claire nodded and moved the blanket away so she could take a look, gasping when she saw Sha're's dislocated shoulder.
"Janet will fix that," Claire soothed, "Come on; once we're in position they'll help Daniel."
Sha're moved without resistance to the centre of the rings, wincing as Daniel cried out in pain when Jack and Jacob lifted him.
"Kelly," Jack called over the radio, "We're in position. Bring us up."
Sha're closed her eyes at the bright light, holding on to Claire as they were rescued.
Claire was worried about Sha're. The young woman's eyes were slightly glazed as she sat in the corner of the ship. Across the room, Daniel was lying while Jack did his best to make him comfortable.
"Sha're?" Claire called, making her daughter-in-law look at her, "I'm going to give you something to dull the pain in your shoulder, okay."
Sha're nodded, her face blank. She accepted the pills Claire gave her without hesitation and took them quickly. Claire frowned realising that the young woman was in shock, she reached out and gently stroked Sha're's hair. Sha're's eyes filled with tears and Claire was astonished to find the young woman crying in her arms.
"Shh," Claire soothed, "You're safe. You both are." Claire continued to rock her, gently murmuring to her comfortingly.
"I am sorry," Sha're breathed, looking up at Claire, "I am so sorry."
Claire looked confused, "Why are you sorry?"
Sha're sniffed, "I did not want to get to know you. I was afraid that you would interfere with my marriage to Dan'iel, like several of my friends mother-in-laws'."
"I can promise you that I would never do that," Claire smiled at the young woman, "Since you came back into Daniel's life, I've seen him smile the way he would when he was a boy."
Sha're looked at Claire, relief filling the big brown eyes, "I love Dan'iel, I love him so much. I know Maria does not believe that..."
"Maria has a big mouth," Claire stopped Sha're speaking, "But even she sees that you two are meant to be together. She really wants to apologise to you for what she said and get to know you better."
"That would be nice," Sha're sighed, looking over across the cabin to where her husband lay, "I need to make sure he..."
"It's okay," Claire cut her off, "Come on, we should be there very soon."
Sha're stood but stopped turning to Claire anxiously, "I cannot let him know I am hurt, he will worry."
Claire nodded and wrapped the blanket around Sha're again; walking her over to where Daniel lay, smiling at the way Daniel's eyes lit up at the sight of his wife.
x
"Well, Dr Jackson," Janet greeted him with a smirk, "I know you must miss me some times but this is a little extreme to spend time in my company."
"You're a hoot, Janet," Daniel groaned, he kept glancing over to where Sha're was standing with Claire.
"Okay, Daniel you have your usual bed," Janet said, "Nurse Murdoch is waiting for you. Sha're, Dr Warner is going to check you out, if you go with Nurse Gregson.""No," Daniel snapped, he didn't want to be separated from her, "Can't Sha're be checked out here?"
"Daniel," Janet replied firmly, "It won't be long, I promise."
"Please, Janet," Daniel whispered; the last time he'd been injured with Sha're present was when Ammonet had attacked him, and Sha're had been gone when he woke.
"Dan'iel," Sha're moved to his side, still wrapped in the blanket to hide her hurt arm from him, "I will be back very quickly. I promise."
"But..."
"You must trust me," Sha're breathed in her native tongue, "I will be back at your side before you know it."
He nodded with a sigh and Sha're gently brushed her lips to his before leaving with Gregson.
"Maria," Steven said, getting irritated that she'd been in his office all morning, "Why don't you call him."
"I have," she snapped, "I've phoned a dozen times, I went round earlier and he wouldn't answer the door. How can I apologise if Daniel won't even talk to me?"
"Maria," Steven stood up in her path, stopping her pacing anymore, "Did it occur to you that maybe Daniel took Sha're away for a while? He has a few weeks' vacation; he probably wanted to get away for a while."
Maria groaned, "I really screwed up, Steven. I know what she means to him, I've known it since I met him and yet I still opened my mouth and managed to alienate him."
"Hey," he wrapped his arms around her, "Maria, Daniel loves you. You guys are pretty similar though and that isn't good. Give him some time to calm down and you can talk then."
She dropped her head against his chest, "I guess."
Steven kissed her forehead, "Go get some coffee or something, I've got a meeting later today but if you stick around," he kissed her, "I'll take you for dinner."
"Good," Maria smiled up at him, "Give me a call when you're ready to go," she stretched up and kissed him.
x
Maria wandered through the corridors of the SGC, she'd been here earlier this morning for the consulting she did with them and had ended up sticking around all day. As she turned the corner, she was shocked at who was coming towards her.
"Kelly?"
"Hey," her baby sister cried, hugging her tightly, "I'm glad you're here, Maria."
"What are you doing here?" Maria cried in astonishment, "You're meant to be in Egypt."
"We found something," Kelly sighed, "I called General Hammond and he sent a team. Daniel was there too and there was an accident."
Maria frowned as Kelly hesitated.
"There was an accident," the younger woman continued, "Daniel was hurt."Maria felt her stomach flip, "How badly."
"His leg's broken and he has a concussion," Kelly told her.
"What happened?" Maria demanded, she started walking towards the infirmary.
Kelly sighed, she'd been going for food but she knew she better go with her sister, "They were in a chamber and then it collapsed. Sha're hurt her shoulder, I'm not sure how bad it is."
They continued on for a few seconds before Maria turned to her baby sister, "What do you think of her?"
"She's lovely," Kelly said with a grin, noting her sister's look, "What?"
Maria sighed, "I think she may hate me."
"What the hell did you do?" Kelly demanded annoyed.
Maria sighed and told her what had happened.
x
Sha're sat by the infirmary bed holding Daniel's hand as he slept, her shoulder was fine now. The doctor had put it back into place before Jacob had used the healing device on it, despite Sha're's reservations. They were going to use it on Daniel's leg also once Doctor Fraiser allowed them.
"Sha're," Claire called, making her look up, "You should go get something to eat. I'll stay here until you get back."
Sha're shook her head, "I wish to stay with him."
"Mom's right," Maria said, joining them, "You should get something to eat. Daniel will probably be asleep for a while."
"He is my husband," Sha're stated, wishing they would leave her be, "And I shall stay with him until he wakens."
Kelly frowned at her mother and sister, "Sha're, I'll get you something and bring it here."
Sha're smiled at the youngest of her husband's sisters, relieved that she wasn't going to try and force her away from Daniel also, "Thank you."
Kelly disappeared; Maria turned to her mother asking for a second alone with her sister-in-law.
"Don't start a fight," Claire warned, heading in to Janet's office and leaving the two women alone.
Sha're looked up at Maria for a moment before she returned her attention to her husband, she didn't want to have to defend herself to Maria just now, she was tired and worried about Daniel.
"Hi," Maria started, coming to stand at Sha're's side, "Kelly said you'd hurt your shoulder."
Sha're nodded, "Jacob Carter fixed it."
Maria took a deep breath, "Sha're, I want to apologise to you," she said, not surprised that Sha're's head jerked towards her, "I had no right to say that to you. I don't know you; I don't know how you and Daniel talk to each other."
Sha're stared at her, with no idea what to say.
"Mom always says I should be banned from actually talking until a week after I've known someone," Maria continued.
Sha're gasped suddenly, turning to the woman beside her in astonishment.
"What?" Maria asked, confused.
"I know what it means," Sha're replied; jumping up she started out of the room, turning back, "Can you stay with him until I return?"
"Sure."
Sha're nodded, quickly kissing Daniel's forehead before she disappeared leaving Maria staring after her.