Chapter 9: The Next Morning
At 9:00 the next morning, Jack O'Neill opened his eyes and sat up in his bed. He was extremely rested and felt good after getting a good night's sleep in his own bed. After a few minutes, Jack decided to go out into the kitchen and make himself some coffee.
Jack hobbled into the living room on his crutches and decided to check on his houseguest before making the coffee so he approached the couch quietly and smiled. Daniel Jackson was still locked in deep slumber and his face wore a peaceful expression. Jack was glad to notice that Daniel no longer looked worried or troubled. He then quietly went into the kitchen to make his coffee so he could let Daniel sleep.
"Well, I guess my plan worked out pretty good. Whatever Janet gave me to slip him really packed a good punch. Daniel doesn't look like he's even so much as moved once all night. Oh well, at least he's getting a decent sleep." Jack thought to himself as he got his cup of coffee and sat down at the table and read through his mail from the past three days, busying himself with bills and junk mail as he waited for Daniel to awaken.
About an hour later, Daniel stirred and gave a small yawn as the warmth of wakefulness flowed into him and his senses returned. He slowly opened his eyes and was briefly disoriented until he took a good look around at his surroundings and remembered what had happened the day before and that he had spent the night sleeping on Jack's couch. He sat up and noticed Jack sitting at the kitchen table.
"Morning, Jack." Daniel said sleepily.
"Hey, Daniel. Were you comfortable enough sleeping on my couch last night?"
"Yeah. Actually, I was so beat last night, having slept on the couch here felt more like I was sleeping on the clouds. To be honest with you I was so exhausted I could have slept anywhere. I remember grabbing a shower last night and then we were watching television having something to drink. After that I remember you saying something about my body wanting to catch me up on my sleep and that must have been when I dropped off because I don't remember anything after that."
"Well, that's understandable. You were wrecked with exhaustion. I'm actually surprised you stayed awake as long as you did. Looks like it helped. You needed a good night's sleep." Jack observed.
"What time is it?"
"It's about 10:00."
"Huh? I can't believe it. It can't possibly be that late." Daniel said, shocked.
"Well, it is. You've been sleeping like a baby for over twelve hours. Anyhow, you want something to eat. I'm starving and I was fixing to throw something together."
"I'll help you, Jack. With a broken leg, you don't need to be rambling around the kitchen by yourself."
Five minutes later, Jack and Daniel were sitting at the kitchen table having breakfast and talking. Both were happy to have each other's company.
"I'm so glad you're okay, Jack. It wouldn't have been the same going through the gate without you."
"Just like it wasn't the same continuing on without you." Jack pointed out.
"Huh?" Daniel said, confused.
"When you died and ascended or whatever, whenever we went through the gate on a mission, it just didn't feel right. We had a four man team and, don't get me wrong, Jonas is a great guy that brought just as much to the team, but it just seemed like something was missing. Everytime we stood before that ramp, I always thought that it wasn't right, that you should be there standing beside us."
"Oh. I really appreciate that, Jack. But I'm back now and everything's fine."
"I know. Let me ask you something, Daniel. When we were eating last night, you said that you thought you were having déjà vu. What were you talking about?"
"Well, the day of the mission after we brought you back through the Stargate and Janet had you in the infirmary, I needed to get out of there so I left and went home. About an hour or so later, Sam showed up at my front door with a pizza. We were sitting in my living room eating and talking, she was trying to get me to open up to her, and then..."
"Then what?" Jack asked, his curiosity peaked.
"Well, at that point I kind of lost my control and completely broke down. Sam was there to hold me and reassure me that things were okay and I eventually cried myself to sleep on her shoulder that night." Daniel explained, slightly embarrassed at this confession.
"You don't need to be embarrassed, Daniel. I don't think any less of you for that."
"I know I said that I had only 9 hours of sleep before last night but, to be honest, if it hadn't been for Sam, I doubt I would have even slept that much."
"Why?"
"Well, the night before you came out of the coma, Sam and Teal'c came and stayed at my house because it's closer to the base. Anyway, that night I just wasn't able to relax and I couldn't sleep no matter how much I tried. Sam couldn't sleep either so she wanted to keep me company for a while. I told her that I couldn't seem to relax so she gave me a back massage and that made me so sleepy that I eventually dozed off. I must have been tired because I didn't wake up until the next morning when Janet called to tell us that you were getting better."
"That was nice of her to do. It seems to me that Carter cares a hell of a lot about you, Daniel."
"Yeah, I know. I care a lot about her, too. She's been right there for me these past couple of days when I've needed someone to lean on."
"Have you told her that?" Jack asked.
"No. The subject never has really come up. Do you think I should tell her?" Daniel asked.
"Yeah, I think you should. I'd tell her if I were you."
"Okay, when the time is right, I'll bring the subject up."
As they were cleaning up from breakfast, Jack thought to himself that he had done a big favor for Daniel. A small beginning in repaying all the things his friend had done for him.
Later that day, Daniel sat in his friend's living room thinking. Jack had nodded off on the couch after taking one of the pain pills Janet had prescribed him. Daniel was deep in thought about the conversation that he and Jack had that morning.
"I guess Jack's right. I should tell Sam that I have feelings for her. After all, she did tell me that I shouldn't keep my feelings locked up inside. She is just so special to me that I don't want to lose out on having her in my life by scaring her off." Daniel thought as the telephone next to him began ringing. "Hello."
"How is O'Neill doing this day?" Teal'c asked.
"Well, Jack's asleep right now. He took one of the pills Janet gave him and those things really pack a punch. I think he'll be out for at least a couple of hours. Other than that he's doing fine. You enjoying your downtime?" Daniel whispered, keeping his voice low to avoid disturbing Jack.
"I am glad. My downtime is going very well, Daniel Jackson. I assume that yours is much the same."
"Yeah. Hey, can I get some advice from you, Teal'c?"
"Indeed. What advice are you seeking?"
"Well, I'm trying to decide whether or not I should tell someone I care for how I feel about them. The only problem is that I don't want to scare them out of my life. Should I tell them or not?"
"You should. I know that if you speak from your heart and explain how you feel, then Major Carter will return your feelings."
"Uh, thanks. But, Teal'c, how did you know I was talking about Sam?" Daniel asked, completely taken aback.
"I have observed the way you behave around each other. Also I spoke with Major Carter the other night as you slept and she admitted similar feelings for you to me."
"Oh, okay. I appreciate it, Teal'c. I need to go now before I wake Jack up. Talk to you soon." Daniel smiled as he hung up the phone.
After Daniel hung up with Teal'c, he tried to think of what he would say to Sam when the time was right. He closed his eyes in thought, though fatigue soon found him and he allowed his head to fall to rest on the back of the chair he was sitting in, joining Jack in sleep.
At 9:00 the next morning, Jack O'Neill opened his eyes and sat up in his bed. He was extremely rested and felt good after getting a good night's sleep in his own bed. After a few minutes, Jack decided to go out into the kitchen and make himself some coffee.
Jack hobbled into the living room on his crutches and decided to check on his houseguest before making the coffee so he approached the couch quietly and smiled. Daniel Jackson was still locked in deep slumber and his face wore a peaceful expression. Jack was glad to notice that Daniel no longer looked worried or troubled. He then quietly went into the kitchen to make his coffee so he could let Daniel sleep.
"Well, I guess my plan worked out pretty good. Whatever Janet gave me to slip him really packed a good punch. Daniel doesn't look like he's even so much as moved once all night. Oh well, at least he's getting a decent sleep." Jack thought to himself as he got his cup of coffee and sat down at the table and read through his mail from the past three days, busying himself with bills and junk mail as he waited for Daniel to awaken.
About an hour later, Daniel stirred and gave a small yawn as the warmth of wakefulness flowed into him and his senses returned. He slowly opened his eyes and was briefly disoriented until he took a good look around at his surroundings and remembered what had happened the day before and that he had spent the night sleeping on Jack's couch. He sat up and noticed Jack sitting at the kitchen table.
"Morning, Jack." Daniel said sleepily.
"Hey, Daniel. Were you comfortable enough sleeping on my couch last night?"
"Yeah. Actually, I was so beat last night, having slept on the couch here felt more like I was sleeping on the clouds. To be honest with you I was so exhausted I could have slept anywhere. I remember grabbing a shower last night and then we were watching television having something to drink. After that I remember you saying something about my body wanting to catch me up on my sleep and that must have been when I dropped off because I don't remember anything after that."
"Well, that's understandable. You were wrecked with exhaustion. I'm actually surprised you stayed awake as long as you did. Looks like it helped. You needed a good night's sleep." Jack observed.
"What time is it?"
"It's about 10:00."
"Huh? I can't believe it. It can't possibly be that late." Daniel said, shocked.
"Well, it is. You've been sleeping like a baby for over twelve hours. Anyhow, you want something to eat. I'm starving and I was fixing to throw something together."
"I'll help you, Jack. With a broken leg, you don't need to be rambling around the kitchen by yourself."
Five minutes later, Jack and Daniel were sitting at the kitchen table having breakfast and talking. Both were happy to have each other's company.
"I'm so glad you're okay, Jack. It wouldn't have been the same going through the gate without you."
"Just like it wasn't the same continuing on without you." Jack pointed out.
"Huh?" Daniel said, confused.
"When you died and ascended or whatever, whenever we went through the gate on a mission, it just didn't feel right. We had a four man team and, don't get me wrong, Jonas is a great guy that brought just as much to the team, but it just seemed like something was missing. Everytime we stood before that ramp, I always thought that it wasn't right, that you should be there standing beside us."
"Oh. I really appreciate that, Jack. But I'm back now and everything's fine."
"I know. Let me ask you something, Daniel. When we were eating last night, you said that you thought you were having déjà vu. What were you talking about?"
"Well, the day of the mission after we brought you back through the Stargate and Janet had you in the infirmary, I needed to get out of there so I left and went home. About an hour or so later, Sam showed up at my front door with a pizza. We were sitting in my living room eating and talking, she was trying to get me to open up to her, and then..."
"Then what?" Jack asked, his curiosity peaked.
"Well, at that point I kind of lost my control and completely broke down. Sam was there to hold me and reassure me that things were okay and I eventually cried myself to sleep on her shoulder that night." Daniel explained, slightly embarrassed at this confession.
"You don't need to be embarrassed, Daniel. I don't think any less of you for that."
"I know I said that I had only 9 hours of sleep before last night but, to be honest, if it hadn't been for Sam, I doubt I would have even slept that much."
"Why?"
"Well, the night before you came out of the coma, Sam and Teal'c came and stayed at my house because it's closer to the base. Anyway, that night I just wasn't able to relax and I couldn't sleep no matter how much I tried. Sam couldn't sleep either so she wanted to keep me company for a while. I told her that I couldn't seem to relax so she gave me a back massage and that made me so sleepy that I eventually dozed off. I must have been tired because I didn't wake up until the next morning when Janet called to tell us that you were getting better."
"That was nice of her to do. It seems to me that Carter cares a hell of a lot about you, Daniel."
"Yeah, I know. I care a lot about her, too. She's been right there for me these past couple of days when I've needed someone to lean on."
"Have you told her that?" Jack asked.
"No. The subject never has really come up. Do you think I should tell her?" Daniel asked.
"Yeah, I think you should. I'd tell her if I were you."
"Okay, when the time is right, I'll bring the subject up."
As they were cleaning up from breakfast, Jack thought to himself that he had done a big favor for Daniel. A small beginning in repaying all the things his friend had done for him.
Later that day, Daniel sat in his friend's living room thinking. Jack had nodded off on the couch after taking one of the pain pills Janet had prescribed him. Daniel was deep in thought about the conversation that he and Jack had that morning.
"I guess Jack's right. I should tell Sam that I have feelings for her. After all, she did tell me that I shouldn't keep my feelings locked up inside. She is just so special to me that I don't want to lose out on having her in my life by scaring her off." Daniel thought as the telephone next to him began ringing. "Hello."
"How is O'Neill doing this day?" Teal'c asked.
"Well, Jack's asleep right now. He took one of the pills Janet gave him and those things really pack a punch. I think he'll be out for at least a couple of hours. Other than that he's doing fine. You enjoying your downtime?" Daniel whispered, keeping his voice low to avoid disturbing Jack.
"I am glad. My downtime is going very well, Daniel Jackson. I assume that yours is much the same."
"Yeah. Hey, can I get some advice from you, Teal'c?"
"Indeed. What advice are you seeking?"
"Well, I'm trying to decide whether or not I should tell someone I care for how I feel about them. The only problem is that I don't want to scare them out of my life. Should I tell them or not?"
"You should. I know that if you speak from your heart and explain how you feel, then Major Carter will return your feelings."
"Uh, thanks. But, Teal'c, how did you know I was talking about Sam?" Daniel asked, completely taken aback.
"I have observed the way you behave around each other. Also I spoke with Major Carter the other night as you slept and she admitted similar feelings for you to me."
"Oh, okay. I appreciate it, Teal'c. I need to go now before I wake Jack up. Talk to you soon." Daniel smiled as he hung up the phone.
After Daniel hung up with Teal'c, he tried to think of what he would say to Sam when the time was right. He closed his eyes in thought, though fatigue soon found him and he allowed his head to fall to rest on the back of the chair he was sitting in, joining Jack in sleep.