Chapter 7: Nightmares and Reassurance
Two hours later, Jack awoke and noticed that Daniel was sleeping in a chair by his bed. He smiled at this sight and laughed quietly.
"You never learn, do you, Daniel?" Jack thought to himself as he leaned back to stare at the ceiling.
About five minutes later, Janet opened the door quietly to check in on Jack before she left for the evening. She was mildly surprised when she noticed Daniel sleeping in the chair. Just as she was about to wake him and send him home, Janet was startled when a hand grasped her arm.
"Don't wake him up." Jack insisted quietly.
"Colonel, you need to rest." Janet pointed out.
"I know, but from the looks of it so does Daniel. Carter told me earlier that he's emotionally drained. Just let him sleep, Janet."
"Well, he does seem to be resting pretty well and he looked exhausted earlier. All right, I guess I don't see any real problem with letting Daniel stay here tonight. He'll probably get a better night's sleep if he knows he can be nearby. Besides, if I did wake him, he'd probably go and sleep in his office anyhow."
"Thanks, Janet. I'll see you in the morning. Then we can talk about getting me out of here."
"We'll see. Get some rest and we can talk in the morning. Goodnight, Jack." Janet whispered as she slipped quietly out the door to head for her car, leaving Daniel to sleep where he was.
Daniel was dreaming. In his subconscious, he had traveled back three days as he slept. He was dreaming of their failed mission a few days earlier on PS3-97K that had lead to the situation that Daniel had been struggling with.
They had just rendezvoused with the Russian gate team and were preparing to exchange the necessary information when energy bolts were suddenly blazing around them out of nowhere. The Russian team had all been killed before they could reach cover but SG-1 had been fortunate. They had barely managed to defeat the Goa'uld that had attacked them, and they were trying to figure out what to do next.
"Come on, people. Let's get back to the gate. Carter, dial us out of here. Let's go home." Jack said.
"Yes, sir." Sam agreed.
While the other three were waiting for Sam to dial the gate code that would take them back to the SGC, Daniel noticed something lying in the dust that caught his eye.
"I wonder what this is. I should take this back to my office so I can analyze it properly." Daniel thought, just as he saw Teal'c raise his weapon and heard the sound of rock being destroyed by an energy blast. He looked up in shock as he saw the massive statue falling toward him.
"Daniel, look out!" Jack shouted and lunged in his friend's direction and shoved him out of the statue's path. He was just beginning to roll free himself when the statue crashed down. Jack braced himself and made sure Daniel was safe as the statue struck him, knocking him unconscious and burying him in a mess of stone and marble.
Daniel had just gotten his breath back after he hit the ground with a decent force, and he got to his knees and managed to find his glasses. He shook his head to clear it and then he suddenly realized what had just happened.
"Jack?" Daniel called and then froze in horror as he turned around and noticed Jack's arm coming from under the remains of the demolished statue. "Teal'c! Get over here and give me a hand! Jack's injured!"
"What has happened, Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c asked as he ran over and began helping Daniel move the debris.
"Jack pushed me out of the way of this statue when it was falling toward me. I thought Jack was clear as well but once I caught my breath, I realized that he didn't make it out of the way in time."
"Daniel? Are you guys okay?" Sam called.
"Sam, dial the gate. We need to get out of here now. Jack needs help." Daniel shouted to her as Sam ran to the dialing control while Teal'c and Daniel lifted Jack from the rubble and followed.
As the wormhole opened and they prepared to step through the Stargate, there was only one thing going through Daniel Jackson's mind. This was not supposed to happen.
Jack was looking at the television when he heard Daniel tossing restlessly in his sleep and mumbling softly. It startled him to suddenly see his friend in such obvious distress.
"No. This isn't supposed to happen this way. Can't be." Daniel moaned in his sleep.
"Daniel. Hey, Daniel, wake up. You're dreaming." Jack said quietly, reaching out a hand to gently shake Daniel's arm. Suddenly, Daniel's eyes snapped open and he sat straight up, breathing heavily and looking slightly pale.
"Jack? What happened?" Daniel asked, confused.
"You were having a nightmare. You all right?"
"Uh, yeah, I think. It seemed so real, though."
"Why don't you tell me what happened." Jack urged, placing a hand on Daniel's shoulder.
"I was dreaming about our last mission that lead up to this situation here. It was so real that I was basically reliving it all over again. It was just as terrifying a second time." Daniel explained shakily.
"But that's all it was Daniel. It was just a dream. Things are almost back to normal now. Try to calm down a little."
"I'm glad to see you're doing better. It terrifies me to think that we almost lost you at one point. This wasn't how everything was supposed to happen. I'm so sorry, Jack."
"What are you sorry for, Daniel? You didn't shoot that statue down, the Goa'uld did. If I hadn't reacted when I did, you would have been killed. The only thing I cared about when that thing came down on top of me was making sure that you were safe."
"But if I had been more alert to what was going on around me instead of some artifact I was trying to pick up to bring back for study, then I would have seen what was going on and could have gotten out of there in time without having to place you in any danger. I almost single handedly tore the whole team apart." Daniel said softly.
"Damn it, Daniel. Listen to what I'm saying to you. I made the decision to shove you clear of danger. You didn't make me do that. I also know that if they had been nearer to you than I was, Carter or Teal'c would have done the exact same thing I did. It could just as easily be you in my position, Daniel, because another thing that I know to be true is that if it had been any of us in your position, you would have risked your life to save us. Don't blame yourself for this, Daniel, because you aren't responsible. You didn't blast that thing down. You didn't almost tear the team apart either." Jack shouted in frustration and emphasis of his point, causing Daniel to jump.
"What do you mean, I didn't almost tear the team apart?"
"Well, I'm not dead yet, am I? The team's still together and we're going to stay that way. It's going to take a lot more than this to stop Jack O'Neill."
"At least it's good to know you're getting back to your old self. I appreciate the reassurance, Jack. I think the reason I felt like that to begin with was because I had to watch Janet try to save you and know that there was absolutely nothing I could do." Daniel smiled.
"Well, now you know how we felt that day we stood in the infirmary and watched you die right there in front of us. But even then you came back. There has to be some higher reason that we are meant to stay together because I don't think we could get rid of each other even if we wanted to."
"Yeah, I think you're right. Actually, this is going to sound a little selfish of me to say, but when I made the decision to ascend, I didn't really think of how it would affect you, Sam and Teal'c if I was gone. I know I came to help you when you were in trouble but I'm sure it wasn't the same as actually having me around."
"It doesn't matter anymore because you're home now where you belong. We don't hold that decision against you even though we missed you more than you'll even know. When you were given that decision, you had slipped into a coma and even though Jacob was attempting to heal the damage that was done to you, there was no guarantee of that. You did what was best for you at the time." Jack smiled, realizing now more than ever how good it was to have Daniel back where he truly belonged, back with SG-1, back with his family.
"You know, Jack. I did find something on PS3-97K that might be of interest to the Stargate program. It was an artifact that appeared to come from an older civilization. Once you're back on active duty, I'd like if you would come back there with me so we can try to find this artifact. I need to study it a little more in depth before I can determine its significance but I think it will prove to be of some importance." Daniel pointed out, changing the subject.
"Yeah, that sounds like an idea. Once Janet clears me for duty, you and I will go and talk with Hammond and see if we can get clearance to return to PS3-97K and collect this artifact of yours."
"Thank you, Jack."
"What for?"
"For always being such a good friend to me. I don't think we could hold the team together without you. Not to mention what it would do to the three of us individually. I don't know if I should tell you this on the risk of you thinking I've completely lost my mind but at that one point I mentioned earlier where we almost lost you, I nearly attacked Janet. Actually, I think I probably would have if Teal'c hadn't held me back. Then I turned and ran out of the base. I didn't even know that you were still alive until Sam came and found me a few minutes later and told me."
"Anytime, Daniel. For the record, though, I don't think you've lost your mind. If the roles were reversed, I seriously doubt even Teal'c would have been able to hold me back. If you don't mind my asking, if you were feeling like you were, how in the world did you manage to muddle through these past three days?" Jack asked curiously.
"Actually it was Sam and Teal'c. Well, Sam mostly. They helped me keep it together and maintain a firm head on my shoulders when I thought I was going to completely lose it. I don't think we truly realize how much our friends mean to us until the point when we really need them."
Jack and Daniel sat talking for the rest of the night, just keeping each other company. Daniel was extremely relieved to know that Jack was indeed going to make a full recovery and within a few weeks, everything would be as it was before.
Two hours later, Jack awoke and noticed that Daniel was sleeping in a chair by his bed. He smiled at this sight and laughed quietly.
"You never learn, do you, Daniel?" Jack thought to himself as he leaned back to stare at the ceiling.
About five minutes later, Janet opened the door quietly to check in on Jack before she left for the evening. She was mildly surprised when she noticed Daniel sleeping in the chair. Just as she was about to wake him and send him home, Janet was startled when a hand grasped her arm.
"Don't wake him up." Jack insisted quietly.
"Colonel, you need to rest." Janet pointed out.
"I know, but from the looks of it so does Daniel. Carter told me earlier that he's emotionally drained. Just let him sleep, Janet."
"Well, he does seem to be resting pretty well and he looked exhausted earlier. All right, I guess I don't see any real problem with letting Daniel stay here tonight. He'll probably get a better night's sleep if he knows he can be nearby. Besides, if I did wake him, he'd probably go and sleep in his office anyhow."
"Thanks, Janet. I'll see you in the morning. Then we can talk about getting me out of here."
"We'll see. Get some rest and we can talk in the morning. Goodnight, Jack." Janet whispered as she slipped quietly out the door to head for her car, leaving Daniel to sleep where he was.
Daniel was dreaming. In his subconscious, he had traveled back three days as he slept. He was dreaming of their failed mission a few days earlier on PS3-97K that had lead to the situation that Daniel had been struggling with.
They had just rendezvoused with the Russian gate team and were preparing to exchange the necessary information when energy bolts were suddenly blazing around them out of nowhere. The Russian team had all been killed before they could reach cover but SG-1 had been fortunate. They had barely managed to defeat the Goa'uld that had attacked them, and they were trying to figure out what to do next.
"Come on, people. Let's get back to the gate. Carter, dial us out of here. Let's go home." Jack said.
"Yes, sir." Sam agreed.
While the other three were waiting for Sam to dial the gate code that would take them back to the SGC, Daniel noticed something lying in the dust that caught his eye.
"I wonder what this is. I should take this back to my office so I can analyze it properly." Daniel thought, just as he saw Teal'c raise his weapon and heard the sound of rock being destroyed by an energy blast. He looked up in shock as he saw the massive statue falling toward him.
"Daniel, look out!" Jack shouted and lunged in his friend's direction and shoved him out of the statue's path. He was just beginning to roll free himself when the statue crashed down. Jack braced himself and made sure Daniel was safe as the statue struck him, knocking him unconscious and burying him in a mess of stone and marble.
Daniel had just gotten his breath back after he hit the ground with a decent force, and he got to his knees and managed to find his glasses. He shook his head to clear it and then he suddenly realized what had just happened.
"Jack?" Daniel called and then froze in horror as he turned around and noticed Jack's arm coming from under the remains of the demolished statue. "Teal'c! Get over here and give me a hand! Jack's injured!"
"What has happened, Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c asked as he ran over and began helping Daniel move the debris.
"Jack pushed me out of the way of this statue when it was falling toward me. I thought Jack was clear as well but once I caught my breath, I realized that he didn't make it out of the way in time."
"Daniel? Are you guys okay?" Sam called.
"Sam, dial the gate. We need to get out of here now. Jack needs help." Daniel shouted to her as Sam ran to the dialing control while Teal'c and Daniel lifted Jack from the rubble and followed.
As the wormhole opened and they prepared to step through the Stargate, there was only one thing going through Daniel Jackson's mind. This was not supposed to happen.
Jack was looking at the television when he heard Daniel tossing restlessly in his sleep and mumbling softly. It startled him to suddenly see his friend in such obvious distress.
"No. This isn't supposed to happen this way. Can't be." Daniel moaned in his sleep.
"Daniel. Hey, Daniel, wake up. You're dreaming." Jack said quietly, reaching out a hand to gently shake Daniel's arm. Suddenly, Daniel's eyes snapped open and he sat straight up, breathing heavily and looking slightly pale.
"Jack? What happened?" Daniel asked, confused.
"You were having a nightmare. You all right?"
"Uh, yeah, I think. It seemed so real, though."
"Why don't you tell me what happened." Jack urged, placing a hand on Daniel's shoulder.
"I was dreaming about our last mission that lead up to this situation here. It was so real that I was basically reliving it all over again. It was just as terrifying a second time." Daniel explained shakily.
"But that's all it was Daniel. It was just a dream. Things are almost back to normal now. Try to calm down a little."
"I'm glad to see you're doing better. It terrifies me to think that we almost lost you at one point. This wasn't how everything was supposed to happen. I'm so sorry, Jack."
"What are you sorry for, Daniel? You didn't shoot that statue down, the Goa'uld did. If I hadn't reacted when I did, you would have been killed. The only thing I cared about when that thing came down on top of me was making sure that you were safe."
"But if I had been more alert to what was going on around me instead of some artifact I was trying to pick up to bring back for study, then I would have seen what was going on and could have gotten out of there in time without having to place you in any danger. I almost single handedly tore the whole team apart." Daniel said softly.
"Damn it, Daniel. Listen to what I'm saying to you. I made the decision to shove you clear of danger. You didn't make me do that. I also know that if they had been nearer to you than I was, Carter or Teal'c would have done the exact same thing I did. It could just as easily be you in my position, Daniel, because another thing that I know to be true is that if it had been any of us in your position, you would have risked your life to save us. Don't blame yourself for this, Daniel, because you aren't responsible. You didn't blast that thing down. You didn't almost tear the team apart either." Jack shouted in frustration and emphasis of his point, causing Daniel to jump.
"What do you mean, I didn't almost tear the team apart?"
"Well, I'm not dead yet, am I? The team's still together and we're going to stay that way. It's going to take a lot more than this to stop Jack O'Neill."
"At least it's good to know you're getting back to your old self. I appreciate the reassurance, Jack. I think the reason I felt like that to begin with was because I had to watch Janet try to save you and know that there was absolutely nothing I could do." Daniel smiled.
"Well, now you know how we felt that day we stood in the infirmary and watched you die right there in front of us. But even then you came back. There has to be some higher reason that we are meant to stay together because I don't think we could get rid of each other even if we wanted to."
"Yeah, I think you're right. Actually, this is going to sound a little selfish of me to say, but when I made the decision to ascend, I didn't really think of how it would affect you, Sam and Teal'c if I was gone. I know I came to help you when you were in trouble but I'm sure it wasn't the same as actually having me around."
"It doesn't matter anymore because you're home now where you belong. We don't hold that decision against you even though we missed you more than you'll even know. When you were given that decision, you had slipped into a coma and even though Jacob was attempting to heal the damage that was done to you, there was no guarantee of that. You did what was best for you at the time." Jack smiled, realizing now more than ever how good it was to have Daniel back where he truly belonged, back with SG-1, back with his family.
"You know, Jack. I did find something on PS3-97K that might be of interest to the Stargate program. It was an artifact that appeared to come from an older civilization. Once you're back on active duty, I'd like if you would come back there with me so we can try to find this artifact. I need to study it a little more in depth before I can determine its significance but I think it will prove to be of some importance." Daniel pointed out, changing the subject.
"Yeah, that sounds like an idea. Once Janet clears me for duty, you and I will go and talk with Hammond and see if we can get clearance to return to PS3-97K and collect this artifact of yours."
"Thank you, Jack."
"What for?"
"For always being such a good friend to me. I don't think we could hold the team together without you. Not to mention what it would do to the three of us individually. I don't know if I should tell you this on the risk of you thinking I've completely lost my mind but at that one point I mentioned earlier where we almost lost you, I nearly attacked Janet. Actually, I think I probably would have if Teal'c hadn't held me back. Then I turned and ran out of the base. I didn't even know that you were still alive until Sam came and found me a few minutes later and told me."
"Anytime, Daniel. For the record, though, I don't think you've lost your mind. If the roles were reversed, I seriously doubt even Teal'c would have been able to hold me back. If you don't mind my asking, if you were feeling like you were, how in the world did you manage to muddle through these past three days?" Jack asked curiously.
"Actually it was Sam and Teal'c. Well, Sam mostly. They helped me keep it together and maintain a firm head on my shoulders when I thought I was going to completely lose it. I don't think we truly realize how much our friends mean to us until the point when we really need them."
Jack and Daniel sat talking for the rest of the night, just keeping each other company. Daniel was extremely relieved to know that Jack was indeed going to make a full recovery and within a few weeks, everything would be as it was before.