Chapter THIRTEEN

Jack was frozen he couldn't move all he could do was stare the destruction. Then he heard sirens and turned to see where they came from. It was then he noticed the pile of rags thrown out to the grass verge. The blue cloth looked like the shirt Daniel had been wearing, Jack advanced on the pile and then broke into a run; the rags were shivering! Jack knelt down on the grass verge.

"Daniel?" he whispered he put his hand on his friend's shoulder and turned him on his back. Daniel's face was scorched and black with soot. He was conscious, but shaking with shock. Jack helped him sit up and wrapped his arms around him mostly to comfort Daniel, but partly to reassure himself his friend was still alive. "God, Daniel." Jack said into his shoulder. "I thought you were in the truck. It was Nem's vision all over again."

"I wanted to get some air." Daniel's voice shook as he spoke.

"How'd you like it?"

"Well I wasn't expecting it to be twenty feet of air between me and the ground! But all things considered it was better than staying in the truck." The shaking lessened slightly and Jack loosened his grip he pulled out to face Daniel and cupped his cheek with his hand.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah," he sighed. "I don't think I broke anything; I've got a ringing in my ears."

Jack nodded and stood up. "That'll pass; do you think you can stand?" Daniel put up his hand in answer and Jack helped him up.

"Whoa." said Daniel his hand on Jack's shoulder for balance.

"Okay?"

"Yeah, just a head rush."

"Sure?"

"I'm fine."

"Right." said Jack not entirely convinced.

Jack pulled out a cell phone and hit speed dial.

"Who are you calling?"

"The base."

"Why?" Jack cut him off with a raised finger.

"Hello sir? Yeah, O'Neill, we've got a situation, a car bomb sir…yes sir, I know…we need a team here to secure the area and a car to pick-up Daniel and I to go back to the base. No sir, he's fine got the wind knocked out of him, that's all. I'll get Frasier to give him the once over to be sure. Twenty minutes? Yes sir, I'll keep the locals at the bay until then." Jack hung up and Daniel look at him expectantly. "What?"

"This doesn't seem like all that much of a shock to you."

"Yeah, sure Daniel, I expect my friends to get blown up while I'm in the video store." Jack snapped without thinking

Daniel ducked his head and wrapped his arm over his chest. Jack could have kicked himself.

"Daniel I'm sorry you're going to have to trust me for a minute. I need to sort some stuff out with the cops first. Then I'll explain everything."

"Promise?"

"Scout's honor."

By a show of hands who thinks Jack was a boy scout? Nah, me neither.

Don't forget to stop at the concession stand in the lobby they have some lovely snacks made by the students! Cynic