Chapter NINE

"Could I have five minutes please?" griped Daniel shooing away the third nurse to check his vitals in as many minutes.

"You have a fractured clavicle." said Janet holding up his X-ray.

"That's a shock." Daniel struggled for comfort in the shoulder brace that basically strapped his arm to his chest. "How long?"

"A few weeks," she shrugged. "On the bright side, you don't have a concussion and your ankle is only mildly sprained. You'll be walking in no time at all." She smiled mirthlessly knowing her words did little to comfort him.

"How's Sam?"

"Few bumps and bruises you're both dehydrated, but other than that she's fine."

"Good."

"Now, I am going to give you a sedative so you can get some sleep I know how hard it is to stay comfortable in that rig." Daniel grunted something that sounded like thanks and lay back and closed his eyes. Janet sighed and injected the sedative into his IV. Jack ducked his head around the curtain as the world began to swim. "He's fine Colonel." said Janet taking Daniel's pulse. "And assuming he sleeps through the night I'll release him." Jack mumbled something about it being a strong sedative. Janet might have smiled, but Daniel couldn't be sure as the medication forced his eyes shut and he slept.

There was noise and lights flashing all around him so even before he opened his eyes Daniel was awake. He remembered he was in the infirmary and how he got there, so he kept his eyes closed until he was sure the he couldn't go back to sleep.

Then he opened his eyes to the blur that was the infirmary ceiling without his glasses. His arm throbbed vaguely as he tried to sit up one handed.

"Wow, there Danny!" A hand was on Daniel's chest gently pushing him down; he acquiesced to the pressure only because he suddenly felt so tired.

Daniel looked up at the owner of the arm and he was pretty sure the blur there was Jack. His throat felt really sore so he couldn't ask to confirm it he just put his hand to his throat. The probably Jack-blur returned with a cup of ice chips and his glasses.

The probably Jack-blur became a Jack in sharp focus and Daniel sucked greedily on the ice as he examined his friend. Jack had that look, the look he always wore when Daniel woke from and indeterminable amount of time unconscious it was the 'I've been up for three days worrying about you but I'm so relieved you're alive and not a vegetable I'm saving the lecture until I can really savor it' look.

"What's wrong?" Daniel frowned, "Why are you here?"

"Where else am I going to be Daniel?"

"Would you stop mothering me? I'm fine; Janet said I could leave today."

"Daniel what's the last thing you remember?"

"You and Janet talking about me while she gave me a sedative."

"Daniel that was three days ago."

You didn't think he was getting off that easy did you? Silly rabbit. :D

Cynic.