Unspoken
Same disclaimer
Epilogue
Daniel had made it halfway down the ramp before collapsing into Janet's waiting arms. As soon as SG-1 had stepped through the gate, she had rushed forward. Two medics untangled Daniel from the many arms around him and lifted him onto the waiting gurney. He spent the next three days in the infirmary doing little other than sleeping. On the second day, Janet was able to increase the dose of antibiotics and get nourishment into his system. At the end of the week, he was able to eat solid food and keep it down. Thanks to extra effort from everyone, no germs came within ten feet of Daniel, so he didn't get any sicker.
Cassie's party was set for that Saturday afternoon. That morning, Janet agreed to release Daniel from the infirmary into Jack's care. She couldn't help but laugh as Daniel complained about Jack's rushing him to get dressed so they could get out of there, especially given Jack's ulterior motive. With Daniel unavailable, Teal'c had gone to assist SG-11 with a translation they had found in some cave on P45 something. Jack knew Daniel wanted to attach himself to the Jaffa's heels the moment they hit the ramp.
"I'm going as fast as I can, Jack. You'd think you were the one being poked and having zero privacy the way you're rushing me."
"Hey, at least you had a soft bed. These chairs leave much to be desired as far as my butt is concerned. Besides, we still have presents to buy, and I need help setting up for the party. So, hurry up." Teal'c will be back any minute, he added silently.
Jack set a large platter of hamburgers and hot dogs on the picnic table and took a seat.
Daniel came out the back door with an armful of condiments. "Food!" he exclaimed dumping the various jars and bottles onto the table. He grabbed a handful of chips and stuffed them all in his mouth at once while sitting across from Jack and reaching for a wiener.
As he started standing the bottles and jars upright, Jack gawked. "Remind me again how many PhDs you have. I can't seem to remember how old you are either," he added when Daniel tossed a French fry at him.
Having just bit off half of the wiener, Daniel held up two fingers.
"Is that the PhDs or your age?" Jack quipped
Daniel tossed another fry at him and stuffed the other half of the wiener into his mouth.
"Slow done, Daniel," Janet scolded coming onto the deck with a stack of paper plates and napkins. "You don't want to start throwing up again."
Daniel swallowed and said, "If I never throw up again, it'll be too soon."
"I'm glad you have an appetite again. Just don't overdo it," she warned as Daniel stuffed several fries into his mouth and reached for more, promptly dropping them when Janet glared at him.
"Teal'c, Carter, Cassie! You better get out here before Daniel eats all the food."
"We're coming, sir," Sam said as she and Cassie brought out the birthday cake.
Teal'c followed them with a tray of drinks.
Jack and Janet cleared a space in the center of the table for the cake as Teal'c handed out the drinks.
"No beer for you," Janet said taking the beer from Daniel as Teal'c handed it to him.
"What? I mean, I don't even like beer that much, but-"
"Not with the medication you're on. I'm sorry."
"No you're not," Daniel said pretending to pout. "You're enjoying this."
Janet smiled. "Yes. I am."
"Well, enjoy it while you can, Doc," Jack said. "A couple of weeks from now, he'll be back to his protesting, arguing and whining self."
"I do not whine."
"Yes you do," Jack, Sam, Janet and Teal'c said.
Cassie giggled.
"When?"
"When I say it's time to go, and you're not done looking at rocks," Jack said.
"When you and I are working on a project, and the Colonel makes us stop because we're about to fall asleep," Sam said.
"When I tell you to get some rest," Janet said.
"When Colonel O'Neill endeavors to get you to eat," Teal'c said. "Usually," he added looking at the food Daniel had piled onto his plate.
Daniel stared at them all with his mouth open.
Cassie giggled again.
"Ok, maybe I whine occasionally. But not that much," he said deliberately whining.
This time when Cassie giggled, Janet, Sam and Jack laughed. Teal'c and Daniel smiled.
Despite being very hungry, Daniel only managed to eat little more before feeling sick. So, while the others finished eating, he strung up the panda bear piñata.
While Janet arranged the candles on the cake, Jack told Teal'c the words to Happy Birthday. Sam lit the candles, and they all sang to Cassie. Sam whispered into her ear, and Cassie closed her eyes with a pensive expression on her face. Then, she opened her eyes and blew out the candles. "Now, can we try the piñata?"
"What about the cake and presents?" Janet asked.
"I'm full. And, the presents will still be here. I really want to see Teal'c hit the piñata."
"I think we're all curious about that," Daniel said.
Jack blindfolded Teal'c and gave him the baseball bat. "Ok, now you have to turn around three times then swing."
"Stand clear," Teal'c said.
Teal'c turned three times and swung.
"Holy Hannah!" Sam exclaimed and fell to the ground as the bat flew out of Teal'c's hands straight for her head.
"Major Carter!" Teal'c exclaimed ripping off the blindfold.
"I'm ok," Sam assured him getting to her feet and dusting herself off.
Jack picked up the bat and gave it back to Teal'c. "Try not to let go this time."
Everyone stepped back onto the deck as Teal'c turned three times and swung. With his second swing, he hit the piñata. Everyone gasped as it shattered and candy and trinkets flew in all directions.
"Was that not supposed to happen?" Teal'c asked removing the blindfold and seeing their stunned expressions.
"I think he should have gone last," Daniel said removing a piece of candy from his cup.
"Nice catch," Jack said.
"Wow," Sam and Janet said as Cassie ran around collecting the treats.
"It usually takes several hits before that happens," Jack explained. "Of course, it's usually kids hitting it not Jaffa."
"Maybe we should have given him an ordinary stick instead of a bat," Daniel said.
It was almost midnight when Jack sent everyone off. Janet and Sam had offered to do the cleanup, but Cassie was nodding off, and Janet had patients she wanted to check on early the next morning after driving Sam to the airport. She had a plane to catch to visit Mark for a few days. And Teal'c was actually beginning to show annoyance, so Jack figured Sam could give him a ride back to the base on her way out. Daniel was glow in the dark green with envy over Teal'c's mission and had been peppering him with questions for the past three hours
"So, how's your knee," Daniel asked as he helped Jack clean up.
Daniel had agreed to spend the night when Jack and Janet ganged up on him, and Janet reminded him yet again of their temporary policy. The guy can remember thousands of words from over twenty languages, yet he keeps forgetting that he's not supposed to be protesting and arguing, Jack marveled.
"It hurts less everyday. I'll finish this. You, go to bed."
"Jack, we're almost done."
"Daniel."
"I'm really not that-." His last word was stifled by a large yawn he tried too late to conceal. "Yeah, all right."
"Night," Jack said.
"Night,' Daniel said around another yawn as he headed for the guest room.