Chapter Twenty-nine

For a while, Daniel just stood in the hot shower, letting the moist heat work the kinks out of the muscles in his back. He really was tired and needed to rest but he wasn't sure he'd be getting any sleep. After getting dressed in what appeared to be dark blue silk pajama bottoms, he donned a light blue robe and left the bedroom to find Shen had set a table for two and was putting some music on to play softly.

"Ah, I see you found the pajamas I laid out for you while you were showering. You have a closet full of things I thought might fit you, but I figured that tonight you would be tired and want to go to bed early. After dinner, I'll retire to my apartment, which is at the end of the hall, and let you get some rest."

They ate in silence but his stomach rebelled at the spices in the food. He managed to finish his dinner but he wondered if it was worth the effort if he was only going to be sick. He sat back and looked at her. When he'd met her before, she seemed nice and non-threatening. Now, he figured it had been an act. Maybe they'd had their sights on him right from the beginning when they found out about the program. Turning away, he tried to concentrate on his mission assignment but found his thoughts scattered.

He didn't feel like talking much so when she brought the subject up of him coming to work for the Chinese Stargate Program, he got a bit upset. Leaning back in his chair, he said, "This isn't right, you know. I told your government contacts that I wasn't interested. I never thought I would be kidnapped and forced into doing their bidding!"

"Doctor Jackson, please. I understand how you feel. But, you will see, in time, that it's really a good opportunity for you."

He shook his head and said, "I don't agree. I have a home, a family." He stopped. "I had a family. And if it hadn't been for you and your government, I still would have one. Now, my wife is gone and if you think I'm going to just submit to this, you're dead wrong!"

"Please, calm down. You've had a hard day. Let's call it a night and let you rest. Do you need a sleeping pill? My physician is on board and he could assist you."

"No. I just want to be left alone." He wasn't lying about that. He really did need time to himself.

"As you wish." The butler came into the room and cleared away the dishes and then Shen said 'good night,' went to her apartment and left him to his thoughts.

He went into the bedroom and looked around. At least the gold panels had been removed and the room looked relatively comfortable. He took off his robe and crawled into the bed, hoping he would get some sleep. He yawned, realizing he really was exhausted and soon was snoring quietly.

0 0

The Director of the CSGC contacted Shen through the communications link and asked how it went.

"He's angry and grieving for his dead wife. But, I think I can bring him around, eventually."

"Good. I expect to get a thorough report tomorrow."

"Yes, Director."

0 0

Vala went to breakfast in the commissary with Sam and when she saw Jack sitting across the room, she turned as if to leave.

"Vala, you have to eat. Come on. Don't go."

She looked at Sam and said, "I don't want to be anywhere near him."

"That's okay. We'll sit where you won't have to look at him. He understands how you feel and he doesn't want to make things difficult for you."

Vala agreed and after getting their meals, the sat on the opposite side of the room where she could sit with her back to him.

Jack noticed them walk in and felt the tension in the room rise to an all time high. He made eye contact with Sam when she was facing him and she gave him a slight shaking of the head to indicate 'no,' which meant not to approach their table. He nodded slightly and soon left the room to contact Landry.

Sam said, "We still haven't found out what the drug was that Daniel had in his blood. We think that it might be a kassa derivitive."

"That would make sense. Except wouldn't he become addicted from it?"

"Not if he only had the one shot. Of course, to get him as stoned as he was, it would have to be concentrated, but even with that, one time might

not be enough to hook him. And, right after we got going, the storm hit so he might have felt he was just sea sick."

"I suppose. And, he wasn't here on the Odyssey long enough to show symtoms of withdrawal." Vala stopped to think for a moment and said, "Wait! Carolyn said she gave him a mild sedative so even if he was going through withdrawal, the sedative would calm the symptoms down and we probably wouldn't have picked up on it."

Sam said, "Well, let's hope he isn't or things will get tough for him."

0 0

Hank was in the briefing room staring down at the gate when Jack called.

"Hank. I thought I would catch up with you and see how things are at your end."

"Right now, I'm looking down at the gate wondering how Daniel is."

"I used to do that. Stand there worrying my socks off and thinking about what my kids were doing. And, I remember Hammond doing the same thing. It's almost as if the thing can talk to us."

"If only."

Sam came onto the bridge and approached Jack. He could see that she was upset and said, "That bad?"

"Worse. She hates your guts, Jack. I understand her feeling upset but I also know you wouldn't have sent Daniel on this mission if you had any other way to get the information. You just better hope he comes back safe and sound. Otherwise…,"

"Yeah, I know. There won't be anywhere safe."

Hank said, "Vala's a tough gal. She'll come around eventually."

"I don't know, Sir," Sam said. "They're newlyweds. This wasn't part of their honeymoon package."

"I know," Hank replied. "Let's have a little faith in Daniel's abilities, huh? He's gonna be fine."

0 0

Daniel woke up in the middle of the night with a nagging headache and the need to pee. He made it to the toilet just in time to lose his dinner and after finishing the rest of his business, he went to the sink to wash his hands. Looking into the mirror, he saw a very tired looking reflection of himself, someone he barely recognized. 'I feel like crap,' he thought as he trudged back to bed. He was instantly asleep and didn't hear Shen when she knocked on his door in the morning.

She let herself in and noticed right away that he wasn't about so she opened his bedroom door and saw him laying on the bed. She quietly looked down on his sleeping form and saw the dark circles under his eyes.

Daniel jolted awake when he felt somebody take his wrist. Looking up, he saw Shen and wondered why she was standing there watching him.

"I'm sorry, Doctor Jackson. When you didn't answer my knock, I came inside to check on you. Are you feeling okay?"

He glanced around the room for a moment, trying to get his bearings. The he laid his head back and drew his right forearm over his eyes. "I'm okay. I was just really out, I guess."

"Did you have a bad night?"

"Yes. What did you expect?"

"I did say that the doctor could give you something so that you could sleep."

"I slept fine. But, I woke up in the middle of the night with a headache and an upset stomach."

"Yes, that's not surprising. Your immune system has taken quite a beating in the last month. I will return in a moment."

She left the room and was gone long enough that he fell back asleep. When he next awoke, Shen had returned with a tray of food that she sat on the table in the front room. She came into his room and said, "I have brought you some soup and fresh bread. Please come and eat."

"Soup for breakfast?" He said.

"Your stomach does not know what time it is. If it is sick, then soup is good. If you feel better later, I can get you something more substantial."

The soup was good and seemed to settle his stomach. After a cup of tea he asked, "I don't suppose you have any coffee on board."

"Yes. I do and I'll have some made for you, if you like."

"Thanks. Excuse me." He got up and went into the bedroom, closing the door behind him. He opened the closet and looked inside. There were suits, dress slacks, shirts, sweaters and khaki's. He looked in the dresser and found boxers, T-shirts and socks. Shoes were arranged on a shelf in his closet.

He showered, shaved and dressed and felt like a new man for all his trouble.

When he came out of his room, Shen was standing by a bookcase looking over the selection. For the first time, he noticed a TV and a DVD player. One bookcase held a selection of movies that he was familiar with and some foreign films he hadn't seen.

"You've thought of everything, by the looks of it."

"I tried. I didn't want you to feel uncomfortable. It will take almost a week to get home so I didn't want you to get bored."

"I don't suppose you have a basketball hoop anywhere on this thing, do you?

"As a matter of fact…."

"You're kidding!"

"No, Doctor Jackson. I know that you try to keep fit so there is a gymnasium on the lower level, complete with a weight room, sauna, hot tub and a I brought along a masseuse if you need one. Would you like to take a tour of the ship?"

He crossed his arms over his chest and said, "I know what a Mother Ship looks like."

"Yes, but we've fitted this one out with the things we wanted. Most of the Goa'uld extravagance has been removed."

"Thank goodness for that."

She smiled at his remark and said, "Come, let me show you around."

The walked about the ship and Daniel noted the exercise facilities she mentioned but also the dining room and the kitchen which he had 24 hour access to if he got hungry at any time. The only sections of the ship he was not permitted to go into were the engine room and the bridge. 'I guess they don't want to take a chance that'll I'll take over the ship.'

When they arrived back at his quarters, they sat and talked about his new job assignment.

"You will be heading the program, Doctor Jackson. You'll have complete freedom to hire anyone you feel is best for the job. We have quite a few qualified applicants for each different position. You will be able to have the best we have to offer. I brought along a laptop computer that has all the files on it of the applicants."

Daniel was silent as she talked. Shen noticed his reluctance to speak and said, "Please feel free to ask any questions you have."

"I don't have any."

"You are still angry."

He suddenly stood up and yelled, "Anger doesn't even begin to describe how I feel."

"In time…,"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. In time I'll see things your way. I don't think so." He turned to look at the books on the shelves.

"You are only making things more difficult for yourself."

"So, what you're saying is, if I don't cooperate, you'll do what?" He turned and looked back at her and said, "Lock me up? Torture me? Brainwash me?"

"No, I think you'll eventually see things our way. You're a reasonable man, Doctor Jackson." She stood and approached him, "Surely, you understand the importance of having a Stargate Program of our own. We can do planetary exploration to find cures for different diseases and ailments that are not available on earth. Surely, you've come across cultures that are more advanced than earth. Cultures that have a lot to offer us."

His eyes bored into hers as he said, "Yes, I have. The problem is, they don't think we have anything to offer them and their unwilling to share their technology. So, what will you do when you meet them? Kidnap their scientists like you did me?"

Shen turned away, thinking, 'This is going to be more difficult than I thought.' If this didn't work, she was afraid of what her government would ask her to do. Then she turned back to speak but as she opened her mouth he said, "Don't bother. You'll never convince me."

Then, he turned and went into his room, shutting the door behind him. He laid down onto the bed and tried to think. 'Jack! This better work!'

0 0

Three days later, in the commissary at the SGC, Sam sat at table nursing a cup of coffee. Jack was sitting across from her noting the worried look on her face and hoping he could find a way to distract her.

"Sam, calm down. Danny's only been gone a few days. If you keep this up, you'll be a wreck by the time he comes home."

"If he comes home." Sam made eye contact and then quickly turned away. Every time Danny died, her heart broke a little more. But, Jack was right. They all knew the dangers of this job and if she let this get to her every time one of them was out of arm's reach, she'd have a nervous breakdown.

"I'm going home. Why don't we drop off your car and then head over to the park? I think a good walk would help."

She agreed and after going to her place first so that she could get the mail and check her answering machine, they headed out. As they reached the sidewalk, Jack took her hand and she was comforted by the warmth of it. This was nice. They'd had to hide their affections before and now they could be open about it.

"Okay," Jack said. "Tell me what you're thinking. Are you angry with me for sending him back?"

"No. Well… not so much with you as angry with the whole situation. At the fact that we needed to send him. Vala's keeping to their room. She won't go out to the house. I tried to get her to come to the gym with me and I explained that the exercise would help relieve some of her stress but she' won't come along. Teal'c went to see Rya'c and isn't expected back until tomorrow. Cam's been hanging out with Carolyn and I'm glad because he's feeling the stress, too. Carolyn can help keep his mind off it."

"I bet," Jack said and then grinned.

They reached the park and sat down on a bench by the lake and she said, "Look, I know it was difficult for you to send him away. You both have been close for so long. Like brothers."

"Yeah, it wasn't easy. He was in pretty bad shape but we couldn't wait until he healed up. We had to grab the chance right then or lose it."

"I know," Sam said, "But, it doesn't make it any easier, knowing that."

"I guess we just have to trust that he'll manage okay. He always does."

"No, he doesn't. How many times has he died?"

"I lost count. Okay, let's change the subject. How about we go to Mancy's for lunch. I could go for a big plate of lasagna? I can't stand sitting around worrying about him. After that, maybe we can go over to the car pool at the SGC and take an engine apart, or something."

Sam laughed at his idea and then agreed to lunch, hoping he was right. A change of scenery would do them both good.

0 0

Daniel found a couple of guards that were willing to let him show them the basics of basketball - how to dribble, how to pass, how to do a lay-up. Some of the other guards stood off to the side and watched. Before long, the three of them we goofing off and laughing about it and the other guards were looking amused at their antics. One guy kept hitting the rim but another one had an uncanny knack for swishing the ball into the net. "They could use you in Denver," Daniel said, which went over the head of the guard and totally confused him. "Never mind." He grinned and shot a three pointer from half court and then said, "I'm going to go take a shower. Thanks guys." The guards grabbed their weapons and followed him to his room.

Shen saw him in the hallway and stopped to watch. He hadn't seen her yet so she could observe him without his noticing. 'I wish he wouldn't be so difficult,' she thought. 'Things would go so much easier for him if he'd just give up. I hate tricking him. A man of integrity like him deserves so much more.'

The guards stationed themselves at the end of the hallway as Daniel entered his suite without seeing Shen but he knew she was there. Her perfume lingered in the hall so she had to be around somewhere. He was glad to find that she wasn't in his rooms as he headed for his bathroom and a much needed shower.

When he was finished, he came out of his bedroom and noticed a fresh pot of coffee brewing. Shen was sitting on his sofa going over some of the files she'd brought.

"I wish you would knock. I don't feel like I have any privacy, here. Or is that the point. I won't have any where we're going so I might as well get used to it."

"You will have all the privacy you require, Doctor Jackson. I just felt bored in my room and thought you might like some company."

He felt like telling her that he wanted to be by himself but he didn't think she'd leave so he said, "Fine. Stay." He went over to the coffee maker and poured himself a cup. "Do you want some?" He indicated with a nod of his head.

"No, I made myself a cup of tea. But, thank you anyway."

Daniel sat across from her and took sip of his coffee, noting that it was slightly bitter. 'I guess I shouldn't expect her to have my favorite blend.' He winced slightly, feeling a small pain in his gut, but tried to ignore it. He glanced at the folders in front of him and picked one up out of idle curiosity. The picture of the man inside showed a blond haired scientist from Denmark. He was a theoretical astrophysicist and had attended Oxford University. He graduated top of his class and worked in the U.S. for Nasa, at one point, until moving back to his home land. He'd been recruited by the Chinese while in Paris and a symposium on… whatever. Daniel threw the file down and took another sip of his coffee. He didn't want to do this. He didn't want to sit here with Shen talking about prospective employees for a project he wanted nothing to do with.

Shen watched him covertly and saw his frustration clearly expressed on his face.

"I think you need to relax, Doctor Jackson. I'm going to call the masseuse up here and have her give you a massage."

"I don't want one."

"Don't argue. You'll feel better when Miss Ang is done with you. I suggest you strip down and wrap a towel around yourself. I'll let you know when she's ready for you.

"I said, 'no.'"

"Let me explain something, Doctor Jackson. It's only been three days since we started back toward earth and you're only now recovering from a very difficult time, both physically and mentally. I can help you recover more quickly or you can continue to have your nausea and discomfort and stay miserable for the rest of the trip."

Daniel watched her as his anger simmered just below the surface. "Fine. Call her. I'll go get ready."

Fifteen minutes later, Shen called him into the front room and he saw a tiny, diminutive woman standing next to a massage table. As he approached, Miss Ang held up a sheet for him and after he dropped his towel, he laid on his stomach and she covered him from the waist down. She started working on the back on his neck, first. All the while, she kept quiet, never saying a word.

Shen put some soothing music on the stereo and sat in a chair in the corner, reading a book. The music was relaxing and Daniel started to calm down. Miss Ang was working on his shoulders and she stopped for a moment and asked Shen what had happened to him. Obviously, she didn't realize that he understood and spoke fluent Mandarin and for some reason, Shen didn't inform Miss Ang of this. Shen explained that he'd been tortured. "Ahhh," Miss Ang said and then continued working out the knots in his back. Daniel fell asleep on the table after a bit and when Miss Ang was done, Shen told her to leave them. She would call when Doctor Jackson woke up.

Miss Ang left the room and Shen walked over to Daniel's side and looked down at him. She hadn't seen his back before and the scars bothered her. She covered him with the sheet and noted he slept soundly. She went back to her apartment and sat in the dark for a while, thinking about him. She'd felt an attraction to him from the start but knew he was off limits. Her superiors had a plan for him that definitely didn't include her. 'Too bad they're going to destroy the only decent man I've ever met.' She sighed and then went to her room and went to bed.