Now, with the usual hospital sounds mingling with Daniel's soft breathing, Jack regarded the still figure underneath the blanket, who'd been asleep since taking his medication half an hour ago. Between some basic tests and rest hours, there wasn't much of a chance to talk the whole day. In a way, Jack was glad for the lack of opportunity. He had a feeling he would've yelled Daniel's head off had there been one, considering the mood he'd been in earlier.

Jack puffed out a tired breath, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. A soft gasp immediately following his action caught his attention and his eyes flew to the door, eyebrows rising. There was a young nurse there, one hand at her chest, her own eyes wide with surprise. For a brief moment, they stared silently at each other.

"Uh… hello," she ventured, finally getting over her fright at seeing Jack there, she hadn't realised that there was someone else in the room until she'd heard his sigh.

"Hi…"

"Are you a friend… or family?" she asked hesitantly, moving a few steps into the room.

Jack looked back at the man on the bed, who was currently oblivious to everything that was happening around him. Looking back at her, Jack answered simply, "Both."

By this time, the young woman had reached the side of the bed, and was looking down at Daniel, a thoughtful look on her face. She was vaguely familiar, he'd probably seen her about the hospital but he knew she wasn't one of the nurses assigned to this section of the ward. Jack settled back into his chair, leaving her to her scrutiny of the sleeping man – she was clearly here as a visitor. Lost in his own thoughts, he almost missed her next remark.

"I heard about what he did," she whispered. "It was very brave of him."

Jack responded with a grimace, "Yeah, well, that's Daniel." Reckless, impulsive, selfless… stressed out… Wait, that's me… It's amazing I still have a good head of hair left…

"How is he?"

"Hmm? What?"

"Is he going to be all right?"

"Oh, yeah. He's being discharged tomorrow. They're just keeping him here one more night for observation but the doctor said he'll be fine," Jack paused for a moment before adding under his breath. "Until he wakes up that is. I'm so going to kill him…"

"What was that, sir?" the young nurse looked curiously at the older, good-looking man sitting on a chair beside the bed. She could have sworn he said something about killing someone…

"Oh, nothing," Jack hurried to assure her. "Just some… err… personal thoughts…"

She didn't look convinced but accepted his answer anyway, nodding slowly, "Oh, okay..."

The next few minutes were spent listening to the sound of Daniel's breathing as each retreated into their thoughts. Jack was about to shift to a more comfortable position when the young woman asked suddenly, "Does he… have someone special… um… I mean, in his life, that is?"

Jack looked at her, one brow raised in surprise, his body suspended slightly above his chair. She blushed, looking away from the Colonel's astonished gaze as he slowly settled back down.

"I … uh … We … Well, a couple of the nurses were just wondering … and I …" she trailed off, her blush intensifying under Jack's stare.

Getting past his surprise, Jack pressed his lips tighter together, trying hard not to smile at the nurse's increasingly flustered demeanor. Glancing back at the younger man, he watched as Daniel stirred slightly before falling back asleep. How does he do that? Jack mused. Even in sleep, he continues to draw people to him.

"Uh, no," he answered at last, allowing some of his amusement show. "There's no one at the moment. Daniel's pretty much single … and very available," he added as an afterthought. "Very."

"Oh, that's nice…"

Jack watched, lips twitching, as another blush crept up the young lady's face. Not bad… Pretty, AND best of all, a nurse. Medically trained … for scrapes and injuries, Jack reflected as he watched her gently adjust Daniel's pillows, making the sleeping man more comfortable. Sweet … Daniel could definitely do a lot worse…

The young woman straightened after she'd finished, clearly at a loss as to what to do now. Making up her mind suddenly, she turned and stood before Jack, one hand held out towards him. He looked up; eyebrows rising when he saw what she was holding in her hand.

"Could you…" she gave a nervous cough before plunging onward, her words coming out in a rush. "…could you please give this to Doctor Jackson when he wakes up?"

Accepting the small, crumpled piece of paper, Jack saw a name and a telephone number, presumably hers, written on it.

"Sure," he answered, giving her what he hoped was a friendly smile. Apparently, it didn't quite work because she looked at him in alarm before taking a small step backward.

"Err… thanks," she said hurriedly before turning and heading out the door.

"You're welcome," Jack called out after her but only managed to say it to the open doorway, she was already nowhere in sight.

Turning back to the sleeping archeologist, Jack grinned as he shook his head. Well, Danny boy, it looks like your fan club's just got a whole lot bigger…