Jonas stared at Dr. Jackson, his smile frozen on his face and the words how would you feel about being my research assistant? replaying over and over in his head. He didn't think he could answer that question. It wasn't that he didn't know what his answer would be, it was just that he couldn't quite believe he'd heard the question correctly.

If Dr. Jackson had actually asked him to be his research assistant, Jonas would agree to do it in an instant. First of all, he'd felt completely useless these last few weeks. He really hadn't had anything to do. The scientists on the base had greatly appreciated the Naqahdriah he'd given them, but not his information or offers of assistance. So, if Dr. Jackson actually wanted his help, he'd be more than willing to provide it.

Secondly, he wanted to know more about the Stargate and the many worlds beyond it. Dr. Jackson had told him that whatever problems there were between his planet's nations would seem insignificant when his people found out what was going on out there in the universe. And Jonas wanted to find out for himself what the man had been talking about. He'd learned quite a bit through the books he'd already read and the chance to look through all of them was something he'd never turn down. Besides, if he was working with Dr. Jackson, he was sure the archeologist would be able to tell him all sorts of information and stories that he'd never find written down anywhere.

And Dr. Jackson himself was the final reason Jonas would agree to the position. He'd taken an instant liking to the SG-1 member when they'd met back on his home world. Dr. Jackson proved himself to be one of the most intelligent and compassionate people Jonas had ever met. He seemed to care more about Kelowna than most Kelownans did, and he was eager to help them in any way he could. And, of course, Jonas would never forget the bravery Dr. Jackson displayed when risking his own life to save Jonas's people. Working with someone like Dr. Jackson was a wonderful opportunity.

But he didn't say any of this out loud. He couldn't, since he was convinced that Dr. Jackson hadn't really offered him the position. Even if the archeologist didn't blame him for what had happened (and Jonas wasn't completely convinced that that was true), he didn't think the man would actually want to work with him. So, Jonas figured he must have somehow misunderstood whatever it was that Dr. Jackson had truly said. So, instead of providing an answer, he just continued to silently stare at the man seated behind the desk.

After a moment, Dr. Jackson blinked, looking a little tired, and sighed. "Look, if you need more time to think about it, that's fine. And it's okay if you don't want to do it." He shrugged. "I know most people don't find this stuff all that interesting and you could probably find something better to do than help me research cultures and catalogue artifacts but I just figured…"

"Sounds great. I'll do it." Jonas interrupted as his brain finally realized that Dr. Jackson had in fact asked the question Jonas thought he had heard.

The young man looked momentarily surprised, then smiled. "Okay, then. The job's yours. You start immediately."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Well, for starters, you can clear off that side of the desk so you can have a place to work. Just put all that stuff on the table over there." He pointed at an already cluttered table to his right. "Oh, and uh, you can use my office chair for now. I think Jack put it… yeah, he shoved it over there by the shelves."

Jonas looked at the office chair, then back to Dr. Jackson and realized that the man was sitting in some kind of mobile chair, indicating that he was currently unable to walk. Jonas hadn't noticed before, but now he realized that he'd been foolish to think that the man would have recovered from such extensive injuries so quickly. He remembered seeing Dr. Jackson dying in the infirmary when he'd gone to speak with Colonel O'Neill just after arriving on Earth. The man had been covered in bandages and had looked terrible. But now, except for the hand Jonas had caught a glimpse of before and the few visible scars on the man's face and arms, the archeologist seemed to be pretty healthy. But obviously he still had some more healing left to do. Jonas silently wished him a quick recovery.

His thoughts were cut off abruptly as Dr. Jackson continued talking. "While you're doing that, I'm going to make a list of some reference materials we'll need from the shelves. Once you get them together, bring them here and I'll show you how to start identifying which cultures inspired the writing on these pieces."

Jonas started cleaning off the other man's desk immediately, happy that he'd finally seemed to have found some place to fit in on this alien base.

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Jack O'Neill looked at his watch and wondered why the hell Daniel hadn't called him already. He hadn't thought it was that great of an idea to leave his friend alone just yet, but Daniel had given him that hopeful pleading look and Jack had caved. But he hadn't wanted Daniel to work too long. So, when his friend had asked him to get some books down, Jack had purposefully grabbed only a few, hoping that soon he would need more and call Jack for help. And when he got to the office, he'd simply inform the younger man that he looked tired and maybe they could take a break in the commissary and grab a bite to eat. Afterwards, he'd bring Daniel back to the infirmary and Dr. Fraiser would order him to rest. The plan seemed simple enough, so of course Daniel had found some way to screw it up. Well, if Daniel wasn't going to call, Jack would just have to find some other reason to check up on him. He thought for a moment but nothing came to mind. Oh well, he'd think of something along the way.

By the time Jack stepped into Daniel's office, he was still trying to convince himself that some great excuse would suddenly pop into his mind. As he stared at the desk, thinking that it hadn't had that many books left on it earlier, Daniel looked up from his work, his eyes widening as he noticed Jack standing there.

"Jack."

"Daniel."

"What's up?"

"Oh, you know. Nothing."

"Uh, huh. Checking up on me?"

"No, no not at all."

"Right." Daniel looked unconvinced. "So then, what are you doing in my office?"

"I was just in the neighborhood."

"The neighborhood?"

"Yeah, I was heading towards the… that way…yonder" Jack motioned helplessly towards the corridor.

Daniel shook his head in exasperation, but Jack noted that he was grinning as well. "So, in other words, yes, you were checking up on me."

Jack gave up. "Alright, maybe that was part of the reason I was headed this way." He decided to go along with his earlier plan. "You know, you look a little tired. How about we go down and…"

Another voice cut him off. "Okay, Dr. Jackson, I'm back. I got you your…" Jack turned around as Jonas Quinn ran right into him spilling the hot contents of the cup he was holding all over both of them. "…coffee." Jonas finished.

Jack jumped back and tried to wipe the hot liquid off of his clothes using his hands. He heard Daniel let out a laugh and glared at the younger man. Then he turned back to Jonas.

"What are you doing?"

"Dr. Jackson asked me to get him some coffee."

"Jonas has been helping me." Daniel joined in. "We've been making a lot of progress on these artifacts."

"Isn't Jonas supposed to be helping the scientists with that Naqahdriah stuff?"

"They didn't really need him, so I asked him to be my research assistant."

"Without asking the general first?"

"Like you asked him first before you told me I was going to remain on SG-1?"

Jack tried to hide his surprise. How the hell had Daniel found out about that little detail? "Well, I'm glad you've got help, but still you shouldn't have been working this long. You really do look tired."

"That's what the coffee was for." Daniel explained.

"No." Jack insisted. "Come on. We'll get some food into you, then get you back to bed."

His friend groaned. "But Jack…" Jack gave him a stern look. Daniel sighed in defeat. "At least let me put all this away to keep it safe." He gestured to the artifacts on the desk.

Jack turned to Jonas, who had remained silent throughout the entire exchange. "You think you can handle that by yourself?"

Jonas looked from Daniel to Jack before answering. "Yeah, no problem."

"Great. Then it's settled." Before Daniel could think of any more protests, Jack walked over grabbed the wheel chair and began pushing his friend out of the office and down the hall towards the commissary. That's when he remembered something. "Hey, didn't Dr. Fraiser say no coffee?"

Daniel turned his head to look back at Jack. "Uh, I don't remember her saying that?"

"And I suppose you don't want me to remember Jonas bringing you some?" Jack smiled as Daniel gave him a hopeful look. "Fine, but just this once, Daniel."

"Thanks."

Jack laughed inwardly as they continued down the corridor. He figured there were some things about Daniel that would just never change.