2.
TRIBULATIONS
Summary: Jack helps Daniel find a new apartment.
Tribulations
"Why did you sell my apartment again? You knew I wasn't dead this time, only ascended."
"I seem to remember it appearing to be a one-way trip."
Daniel sighed and stared out of the Jeep window as it cruised down the freeway. He knew he shouldn't blame Jack, in fact he should have been grateful that O'Neill had stored his belongings, and he was, it was just…another problem.
Jack O'Neill obstinately concentrated on the road, trying to ignore the rattle of the pill bottle as Daniel pulled it out of his jacket pocket. The cap clicked around and popped off, then Daniel tipped a capsule out onto his palm and slipped it into his mouth, unscrewed an almost empty bottle of water and washed the drug down.
Deciding to take it easy on the poorly spacemonkey, even if Daniel was adept at driving him nuts, Jack swung the Jeep off the main road into a housing estate. On the far side of the estate, Jack pulled up in front of his house.
Daniel staggered painfully up the driveway, holding his healing cracked left ribs. Jack silently helped him up the step and over the doorframe.
Halfway to the sitting room, Daniel leant unsteadily against the wall.
"Jack, I feel sick," he mumbled, then suddenly a hand flew to his mouth and he shot into the lavatory off the hallway.
Jack O'Neill stood in the doorway, his face tense with concern, as his friend retched into the bowl of the toilet.
"It's the painkillers," Daniel explained, wiping his mouth on a handful of loo roll. "I'm going to have to ask Janet for something else."
He gripped hold of the sink to pull himself up from his knees. Then cried out in agony in response to a burning complaint from his ribs and Jack sprung forward to catch him.
O'Neill, along with the sink, supported the younger man as the pain almost reduced him to tears.
"Easy, Danny, easy," Jack soothed, rubbing his friend's back.
Daniel ran a shaky hand through his hair and carefully straightened up, finally letting go off Jack and limping slowly into the living room, as was the original plan.
"Would you like some water?" Jack asked, as Daniel eased himself down onto the sofa.
"That'd be great, thanks."
As Jack went to the kitchen, Daniel took off his glasses and rested his head against the back of the seat. He shut his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to squeeze out the growing headache.
Daniel sat up to accept the glass when Jack returned and sipped the cool liquid gratefully.
"So where have you kept all my stuff?" he asked.
"Most of it's in the garage." O'Neill jangled the keys as he held them up.
Daniel set down his drink and followed Jack back out onto the drive.
Leaning against the Jeep's bonnet, Daniel watched Jack slide up the garage door, squinting from the glare of the sun. Inside an assortment of boxes and plastic crates rose in neat stacks up to the ceiling and covered all the available floor space.
"I thought you said you sold all the furniture."
"I did."
The archaeologist's eyebrows flew upwards. "I didn't know I had so much."
"Oh, yeah." Jack grinned sardonically. "You've got quite a collection of rocks and books."
Daniel bit his lip and drummed his fingers against the bonnet. "I'm going to need a removal van."
"Yeah."
"Hmm. So do you want to look at this place on Kingsfield Road?"
"Sure." Jack used his remote key ring to unlock the Jeep. "Hop in."
Daniel winced his way into the Jeep, while Jack locked up.
The apartment on Kingsfield Road had a great view from the balcony and spacious rooms, and a serious case of damp. Then Arrowcross Way offered a large hole in the floorboards that revealed the bathroom of the flat below. However, it was third time lucky with apartment 4-2 on Hethbury Avenue.
As Daniel signed the contract and began to fret about buying furniture and hiring removal companies, Jack realised how much strain the past four hours had put his friend under.
This was all old hat; they'd done it before. Hell, the last time there had been a service, wake and everything, only for Daniel to turn up alive after all. But Daniel was hurting, physically and emotionally. Everything was a trial, something he had to fight to overcome so that things could be the way they were before he left. Only nothing could ever be the same again. But that didn't mean it had to be bad.
Once back in the Jeep, Jack turned the key in the ignition while Daniel stared glumly at his bottle of pills wondering if taking another one was worth the risk. Jack was about to push down on the accelerator when he noticed a tear trickle down Daniel's exhausted face. He paused, then cut the engine.
Daniel turned away, letting his suffering slide down his pale cheeks.
Jack O'Neill wasn't one for voicing sentiment or indulging in heart-to-hearts, but he made a slight exception for the man who was one of his best friends.
"It'll get easier, you'll see," he reassured. "Some things may have changed, but not everything."
"Thanks, Jack." Daniel turned to face him, swiping at his wet eyes with both hands. "I'll remember that."
O'Neill started up the Jeep again and took the weary Daniel back to Stargate Command.
~ End ~