"Right, we're just going to ease you backwards, Daniel. Just let us do all the work."

After allowing Daniel to sleep most of the day, the nurses were now working on getting their patient mobile to some extent.

"Can't," Daniel groaned, his whole body screaming in pain as the nurses helped him sit upright in bed. "It hurts."

"I know," Alice soothed. "But it's a necessity that we get you up and about today. We don't want to risk blood clots after your surgery. Now, just try and shuffle back a bit more. Good. That's great. You're doing so well."

Daniel continued to grunt and groan in pain as the nurses manipulated his weakened body into position. All he wanted was to be left alone to sleep and was shocked at the decision Hugh had made wanting him to be out of bed so soon after his operation. The fact that he had barely been upright over the last month was making this sudden movement even harder.

"I'm just going to swing your legs over the edge of the bed." Nora, the second nurse gently maneuvered Daniel's legs so he was sat on the edge of the bed.

Daniel's eye sight began to dim at the edges and there was a roaring in his ears. "Gonna pass out," he mumbled, allowing his head to drop down between his shoulders.

"No you're not," Alice reassured. "You just need to take some deep breaths. You've been horizontal too long. Come on. Breathe with me. In...Out...In...Out."

Daniel swayed as he desperately took deep breaths. '

"That's it, you're doing great." Alice dragged the bedside chair over with her foot as she continued to support her ailing patient. She knew how hard this was for Daniel but he really didn't have a choice in the matter. It was time he started to put some work into his recovery. He was Typhoid free now and they were treating him as they would treat any patient that were day three after abdominal surgery. She allowed Daniel to rest for a few minutes and then nodded at Nora.

"Nora and I are going to help you stand now."

Daniel shook his head. "No, no - can't," he protested.

"Yes you can. Believe me, you can. Now. On three," they gently eased Daniel forward and then took his weight as they managed to get him onto his feet.

"G'd," Daniel groaned as his legs started to give way. "C'can't do this."

The nurses ignored his continued protest. "We're just going to help you into the chair, Daniel. Keep taking deep breaths." They half supported him and half dragged him over to the chair and then gently helped him sit down.

"Gonna pass out," Daniel groaned, his vision dimming again.

"No you're not." Alice was stern. "Breathe, Daniel."

"Mmm," Daniel closed his eyes and lowered his head, his hands gripping the chairs arms for all his worth as he did battle with the darkness threatening to engulf him. He could feel Alice rubbing his back as a blanket was laid over his legs and slowly began to relax. When he was sure he wasn't going to faint, he opened his eyes, lifted his head and gave the nurse a wan smile.

"Better," he signed heavily, bringing up a hand to wipe the sweat off his forehead.

"You did so well," Alice returned the smile and reached for a cloth. "I want you to stay here for a few minutes at least," she said as she wiped his face. "We'll be guided by you. Just try and relax."

Daniel nodded and sat back in the chair and was grateful for the second warm blanket that was then tucked round his shoulders.

"We're just going to change your bed, make some more alterations to your medication and get rid of that drip for you. Now you're tolerating fluids we won't need to supplement you. This is a step in the right direction."

Daniel closed his eyes again and rested his head back. He just let the nurses work around him as he concentrated on trying to cope with the pain. He jiggled his legs up and down as he counted down the time as he waited for them to finish so he could go back to bed. His whole body shook with exhaustion and the pain in his abdomen grew the longer he remained sitting.

"How much longer?" He groaned.

"Nearly there," Alice replied as she tossed the soiled bed linen into a waiting laundry trolly. "Just putting some fresh sheets on your bed."

"Mmm," Daniel continued to groan as he bit down on his bottom lip to stop himself from calling out as the pain increased.

"I'm just removing your drip now." Nora's voice came from the side and Daniel was aware of the sounds of the IV stand being moved to one side.

"There, you're line free now."

"Mmm," Daniel nodded, his whole body now screaming in pain. How much longer was this going to take - he wasn't sure he could take much more. Thankfully he soon felt a hand on his knee, instantly halting his frantic shaking.

"Okay, Daniel." Alice's voice was soft and soothing. "We're going to get you back into bed. Let us do the work."

Gentle hands then lifted his emancipated body so he was standing and then slowly helped him shuffle back over to the bed. "Slowly," Alice urged as they helped him sit down. "We've got you."

He longed to lie down cut Nora handed him a cup and then a couple of tablets. "Take these," she urged gently. "Then you can get some rest."

Daniel quickly took the pain medication offered him, his hands shaking as he held the cup. He then allowed the nurses to lay him down and was then very grateful when several warm blankets were tuck around him.

He was asleep in seconds.

xxx

"Here's the deal." Janet rolled the roll away table closer to Daniel's bed. "You eat all the soup and drink the juice and Hugh will transfer you back to the base in the morning."

Daniel opened his eyes and slowly turned his head. "Home," he mumbled. "I want to go home."

"You're kidding, right?" Janet snorted. "There is no way you're going home. You're only four days post surgery. The fact that you're actually allowed out of this bed is because there is no way Hugh is going to re connect your catheter although he is sorely tempted at the moment. No," Janet perched on the edge of Daniel's bed and handed him the spoon off the lunch tray. "You need to eat. You need to make some effort in your recovery. I promise you will feel better for it."

Daniel had spent the majority of the past two days sleeping which wasn't surprising but his medical team wanted him mobile, eating and improving more than he was. All his bloods were back to normal and the main reason he was so exhausted still, apart from major abdominal surgery that was - was because he needed the calories. It was the chicken and egg scenario again. Daniel's had no appetite and he'd avoided meal times by sleeping. Hugh had called in the big guns in the disguise of the base senior medical officer. He figured if any one could make Daniel eat, it would be Janet and she was doing battle with her patient and not holding back in anyway.

"Eat, Daniel," she ordered. "I'm sure you want out of here. The General wants you out of here, Colonel O'Neil wants you out of here and I want you out of here. Do you know how much I'm spending on gas coming here?" She teased. "Come on, please - for me?"

Daniel sighed but took the spoon anyway. "Can't promise this won't make a reappearance," he shrugged as he stirred the soup. "It's not the most appetizing thing I've seen."

"Well," Janet grinned. "I promise I'll have a word with Martha, see if she'll rustle up all your favorites for when you're back on the base. I'm even saving you your favorite bed."

Daniel just shook his head in reply as he slowly inched back so he was more comfortable, winching at the pain in his abdomen the slight movement caused. Janet quickly noticed his discomfort.

"Eat that and then you can have some pain relief."

Daniel rolled his eyes but managed to then force a spoonful down and then another.

Janet didn't want him to think that she was just sat watching him, making him sure he ate although she was really, so decided to fill him in on all the gossip from back at the base. "Things are still pretty quiet at the moment, gate activity wise. I think Teal'c is off world at the moment."

"Yeah," Daniel nodded between further mouthfuls.

"And I think the Colonel is shuffling paper work..."

"Something Jack does so well."

"Well, he's pretty bored that I do know. The General isn't keen on SG1 going off world while you're laid up if that's at all possible so SG3 and 4 seem to have been pretty active, stepping in for you when necessary."

"I feel guilty," Daniel continued to eat. "I mean, there's no reason to ground SG1."

"Well I don't think Colonel O'Neill is too keen about training up another linguist to fill your rather large shoes," Janet smiled. "And, I don't think anyone one in your department actually want to 'fill' those shoes, so to speak."

"They'd do fine," Daniel mumbled after a heavy sigh and instead of taking another spoonful he just sat and stirred the soup. "I don't think I can manage anymore. Janet."

"Sure you can," Janet urged.

"I..."Daniel put the spoon down, rested his head back and closed his eyes. "I feel kinda sick," he admitted with a sigh.

Janet noted that he looked a little green round the gills and quickly removed the bowl. "Just take some deep breaths," she suggested softly, knowing if Daniel couldn't keep the soup down he would be going no where. "That's it," she praised when Daniel did as she said.

"No fun," he mumbled.

"I know." Janet pushed away the roll away table and then sat silently waiting for Daniel to either vomit or manage to control his stomach. Eventually Daniel took a shuddering breath, open his eyes a give a wan smile.

"Better?" Janet asked softly.

Daniel sighed. "Yeah," he nodded. "Better."

"Good," Janet grinned. "Right. I'm going to hunt down a nurse to get you that pain relief and then you can have a sleep. Things are looking promising for tomorrow."

Daniel just nodded in reply as he closed his eyes again feeling so incredibly tired again. How on earth he was going to make the journey back to the base if the mere act of eating a bowl of soup exhausted him so much?

xxx

"I think you're good to go," Hugh smiled as he closed Daniel's file. "Janet is just filling your prescription."

Daniel inched up in bed slowly feeling more human than he had for quite a while. His hospital gown had been swapped for a pair of his comfortable sweats that Janet had brought for his discharge and he didn't feel like a patient anymore even though he knew he still was one. "Ok," he smiled at Hugh. "Thank you, for everything."

"Well, I can't say it had been a pleasure but I am pleased that you are finally on the mend. Janet will remove your staples and I don't want you lifting a finger for at least six weeks. You've got a ton of internal stitches you can't see so relax as much as possible but balance it out with some gentle exercise - by guided by your body."

"I will."

Hugh turned at the sound of the door opening and smiled at the porter who wheeled a wheel chair in and at Janet who followed. "Looks like your ride is here, Doctor Jackson." He crossed to Daniel's side and then helped the porter support Daniel as he managed to stagger over to the chair. As he sat down, Janet hooked the bag of medication on the handle of the wheel chair and then laid a comforting hand on Daniel's shoulder. "You ready?" She asked softly.

"Uh, huh," Daniel nodded as he shifted slightly to get more comfortable.

"We've got a base ambulance on stand by..."

"What? I don't need an ambulance," Daniel retorted, twisting in the chair to face Janet. "I thought we were going in your car?"

"Not this time. I think you'll be more comfortable in the ambulance."

"But..."

"But nothing, Daniel. I promise you you'll thank me when your tucked up in your usual bed. A ride, in a car, at this stage in your recovery is going to be very uncomfortable indeed."

"But at least..."

As Daniel and Janet continued to bicker, Hugh grinned. "I'll leave you too it. Take things easy, Daniel." He patted Daniel on the shoulder and then opened the door for the porter. Both Daniel and Janet thanked him sincerely as they left the room and then they continued to argue as they made their way down the hallway. "Everyone is going to see me!"

"Don't be silly.."

Hugh watched them go, happy to see that his patient was now on his way to recovery and then quickly crossed to the wall mounted telephone when his pager went off. "Hugh Bradley," he said. "OK...right...Typhoid confirmed? I'm on my way."

xxx

"This is so humiliated," Daniel groaned, flinging an arm over his eyes.

Janet had insisted that he lay on the thin stretcher in the ambulance although he'd argued that he was fine to sit in one of the seats.

"Again, don't be silly." Janet covered him with a blanket. "As I said, you will thank me," she said as she tucked it in.

"I don't need tucking in," Daniel grouched. "I'm not a child."

Janet ignored him and carried on tucking him in. "Well, you're sure whining like a child. Just try and relax." She finished her job and then strapped herself in the seat opposite her patient, smiling to herself when Daniel pulled the blankets up to his chin with a grunt of disapproval. She knew this was hard for the young linguist but he was only feeling no pain to the strong pain relief he was still taking and that when that wore off, he would be in agony again. Hopefully he would be tucked up in the infirmary by then.

As the ambulance pulled away from the hospital, Janet picked up her paperwork and flicked through the file, one eye on Daniel at all time. She continued to grin to herself when Daniel, after several minutes of doggedly trying to stay away, slowly drifted off to sleep - all his bravado vanishing as they traveled across the city.

xxxx

"Easy, Daniel," Janet soothed. "Take some slow breaths," she urged as she quickly injected the contents of the syringe into the top of Daniel's thigh. "Try and relax, that will kick in soon." She turned and placed the used syringe in the bowl a nurse held out for her.

As she thought, by the time they were in a position to transfer Daniel over to his bed, he was in agony.

"Gah, Janet," he groaned, turning his head into his pillow in a vain attempt to smother the pain in his gut. "Damn, I hurt."

"I don't want to say I was right but, I was right," Janet sighed as she covered him with a blanket. "Some times you need to trust me - I am an expert you know."

"S-sorry, you were r-right," Daniel ground out through gritted teeth as he slowly tossed his head from side to side and Janet took pity on him, knowing that this wasn't properly the time to continue her lecture.

She reached and took his hand. "In and out, listen to my voice. In and out, you'll soon be feeling better." She sat on the edge of his bed, his hand holding tight to hers until he began to relax. She watch him fight the Morphine for a while, talking to him constantly, reassuring him that if he relaxed, he'd be fine. Eventually the drug got the upper hand and Daniel closed his eyes with a grateful sigh, all signs of his struggle with the pain disappearing as he tumbled into the drugged darkness once more.

Janet watched him sleep for a while and when she was happy that he was comfortable, noted the medication in his notes, straightened his covers, dimmed his over head light and left him to sleep, happy he was back where he belonged.