"Teal'c, why don't you take off, huh? You could probably do with a break."
"I am fine, O'Neill."
Jack sighed and looked down at Daniel, who was again curled up in a fetal position on his infirmary bed, shivering violently. "To be honest, Teal'c, I think you're kinda freaking him out. No offense."
Teal'c raised his eyebrow. "None has been taken. However, I..."
"Look, I know you want to stay with him, buddy. So do I. Right now, though, I think it's more important to get him calmed down. Don't you?"
Teal'c considered this for a moment. "Then should we not summon Dr. Fraiser?"
Jack winced. "Yeah, we probably should for Daniel's sake, but for hers I think it'd be best if we just left her alone for a little while."
Teal'c inclined his head in agreement. "If you truly believe that Daniel Jackson would be best served by my absence, it would be unwise of me to remain."
"Right. I'm sorry, Teal'c. I wouldn't suggest it if he wasn't..."
"I understand, O'Neill."
Jack nodded and patted Teal'c on the shoulder. He hated to do this to the guy, knowing he wanted to stick with Daniel in case he was needed or Daniel's condition worsened. If being there was causing Daniel more distress, though, it would only put more strain on his already frail body, and Jack knew the Jaffa wouldn't want that.
"I will be in my quarters if my assistance is required," Teal'c said, looking down at Daniel in fondness and concern.
"Okay. I'll send for you if there's any change."
Teal'c bowed his head, turned, and left the room.
As soon as he was gone, Jack sank wearily down into the chair by Daniel's bed. "Just you and me now, Daniel," he said quietly to the quivering mass in front of him. "Teal'c's gone, okay? You don't need to be scared anymore."
Daniel gave no sign that he'd even heard him. All Jack could see of him was his white clad back, as his legs were under the sheet and his head was buried in his arms. As soon as they had put him in this bed, he had situated himself so that he was on his side facing away from whoever was seated beside him, and he hadn't moved since.
Jack sighed and settled himself more comfortably in the chair, his legs stretched out before him and his arms crossed over his chest. He remembered spending nights like this with Charlie when he was little and was plagued with nightmares. The poor kid went a few months where he couldn't sleep a wink unless either he or Sara was in the room with him.
He closed his eyes and thumped his head against the back of the chair as he realized what he was doing. He was comparing Daniel to Charlie now? There was something so wrong about that. Daniel was a grown man, not a helpless little kid. This wouldn't last - it couldn't last. Daniel would come through it. He'd be back to being himself in no time.
The sound of movement coming from Daniel's bed suddenly grabbed his attention a moment later, and Jack cracked his eyes open to look. Daniel's head had reappeared from its hiding place, and he was slowly uncurling to a more comfortable position.
Jack winced in empathy as Daniel's movements suddenly halted and his body went stiff. He heard him give a slight whimper and knew that he was experiencing more muscle spasms. "Dammit, Daniel, every time you move," he murmured. He leaned forward and laid a gentle hand on Daniel's shoulder. "Come on, Danny, you're better off on your back for now," he said as he helped his friend turn over. "You can lie still easier that way."
Daniel gazed up at Jack with wide, fearful eyes, but allowed him to help without fighting him off.
"Hey." Jack smiled down at him, keeping his voice as soft as he could. "See? I'm not so terrible, am I?"
As Daniel continued to stare at him, Jack began to note a change coming over his face. He still seemed fearful and one step away from panic, but he did start to relax a little. There was something about his eyes that was different, too - he was studying Jack's face intently, almost as though he knew he should recognize him but couldn't quite get his thoughts together enough to figure out why.
Excited by this glimmer of hope, Jack leaned down closer to him so Daniel could see him more clearly. "You're thinking, aren't you, Daniel? I know that look. I bet your mind's going a million miles an hour trying to figure out what's happening, isn't it?"
With every word Jack spoke, Daniel seemed to calm down a little more, but the look of concentration on his face only increased in its intensity. After a few moments, his mouth began to move as though he was trying to speak.
"What?" Jack encouraged him. "Are you trying to say something?"
The distress returned to Daniel's features as he tried in vain to communicate. It was like he knew what he wanted to say, but had forgotten how to go about saying it.
"It's okay, Daniel," Jack soothed. "Just relax. Do you need something?"
Daniel was obviously fighting back a wave of panic as he tried to respond. His gaze darted frantically around the room as if he was trying to find whatever it was he wanted so badly.
Jack followed his line of sight, hoping Daniel wasn't looking for Fraiser but wanted something he could easily get for him. He looked back down at Daniel just in time to see him lick his cracked lips with a tongue that was just as dry. "Water," he said as he finally clued in. "You want water?"
Daniel looked up at him with an unspoken plea written all over his face. Translation - yes, that's exactly what he wanted. The poor guy was parched.
Jack immediately reached for the pitcher of water on the stand by Daniel's bed. He was careful to keep his movements slow and steady so he wouldn't startle him as he poured a bit of water into a cup. "Easy," he said as he slowly sat down on the edge of the bed. "I'm just gonna help you have a nice drink of water. Okay?"
Daniel watched Jack anxiously as he snaked an arm around Daniel's shoulders and propped him up into a safer position for drinking. His eyes never left Jack's face as he brought the cup to his lips and tipped a little bit of water into his mouth.
"Just sips, Daniel," Jack cautioned as Daniel swallowed the first mouthful and tried to get more. He cursed as most of it dribbled down Daniel's chin and soaked his shirt. "You're gonna get me in trouble if the doc comes in and finds you soaking wet, you know," he playfully chided as he took the cup away and grabbed a tissue to sop up some of the mess. "I hope you got some of it in you." He tried to keep the mood light, but inside his heart was breaking. Had Daniel really lost the ability to just drink? He seemed to have no grasp of how to hold the liquid in his mouth before he swallowed it down.
Daniel grunted his annoyance at having the water taken away from him and Jack fussing over his wet shirt. He weakly swatted Jack away and shot him an icy glare.
Jack grinned. "Good to see you're feeling well enough to complain," he said. At another grunt and a slight shove, Jack stood up from the bed and moved back to his chair. "Okay, okay, I get the point. I'll stay over here out of your way."
Daniel watched Jack's every move as he settled himself comfortably in the chair again. He didn't seem as fearful as he was a minute earlier, but he still seemed unsure of his surroundings and of Jack himself. There was a look of vulnerability in his eyes that belonged on the face of a small child, not Daniel. It was painful to see, as Jack knew that it meant he didn't have a clue where he was, who he was, or what the people hovering around him were going to do to him.
"Go to sleep, Daniel," Jack said as he stifled a yawn.
Daniel didn't give any indication that he'd understood Jack's words. He just kept on staring at him curiously, like he was trying to figure him out.
Jack chose to ignore the man's stares and set a good example. He closed his eyes and pretended to fall asleep, hoping Daniel would follow his lead. After a few minutes of silence, Jack opened one eye a crack to see whether it had worked.
He smiled to himself as he saw Daniel lying there fast asleep with his face still turned towards him. "You're gonna be okay, Daniel," he whispered. "I know it."
"Major Carter?"
Sam swung around to see one of the townspeople trotting down the road towards her. She inwardly groaned, hoping she wasn't needed for anything that would keep her on this planet any longer. "Yes?"
The man was panting hard by the time he reached her. "You are going home?" he asked between gasps for breath.
"Yes," Sam replied, "but don't worry, more of my people are staying behind to help you."
The man nodded and slipped his hand into the pocket of his coat. "I am aware," he said, "but it is you I needed to see."
"What is it?"
"I am Mika," the man replied. "I was with your friend Daniel Jackson in quarantine before he fell ill. My wife was one of the infected, also."
Sam nodded as recognition dawned. "Okay, what can I do for you?" she asked.
"I wish you to give this to Daniel Jackson," he said. He handed her a small, round token that appeared to be made of wood. A symbol resembling some kind of animal was engraved on its surface, and a piece of black cord was threaded through a hole that had been bored through its center from one side to the other. At Sam's questioning look, he explained, "It is a pendant of healing. It is sure to attract good spirits to those who wear it."
Sam's eyes teared up at the man's genuine concern for Daniel's well being. "Thank you," she said. "I'm sure he'll appreciate it."
Mika laid his hand on her arm. "I know you and your people will care for him," he said, "but I know the way the mind fever leaves those who dare to survive it. It never lets them go - it haunts them for the rest of their lives. He will need your patience and kindness if he is to live."
Sam forced a smile of thanks. "He'll have it," she said. "What about you? How is your wife doing?"
Mika sighed. "She is alive, praise the gods, but now the hard part begins. I will not abandon her."
Sam patted Mika's shoulder, touched by his unfailing devotion to his wife. "I wish you both well," she said. "Don't give up hope just yet. We're still working hard to find the solution. We may be able to help her yet."
Mika gave her a small smile. "I hope so, for Daniel Jackson's sake if no other's. My people will never forget his selflessness here."
Sam just watched in silence as the man gave her a slight bow of respect, turned, and walked back to the hospital. She was moved beyond words by his kind gesture and obvious concern for Daniel's welfare. She certainly hadn't thought that anyone would be thinking of him when their own people were still so sick.
She looked down at the pendant in her hand as she continued on her way to the Stargate. It was just the kind of thing Daniel would love, she thought. If only he was well enough to acknowledge it.
A feeling of loneliness swept over her as she approached the DHD and began dialing. It wasn't very often that she took a trip through the Stargate on her own. It felt unnatural somehow - she felt incomplete without the rest of her team. She couldn't wait to get back to them.
Once the wormhole was established, she took one last look around at the world that had done them so much wrong. She knew it was ridiculous to blame it all on the planet or its inhabitants, but she couldn't help but feel glad to be leaving this place behind. Taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly, she stepped through the event horizon.
"Welcome home, Major," Hammond greeted her from the base of the ramp.
"Thank you, Sir," she said. As she descended the ramp, she heard the gate shut down behind her. "How's Daniel?" she asked.
Hammond pursed his lips for a moment, which Sam knew to be a very bad sign. "As far as I know, Major, his condition is unchanged. Colonel O'Neill is with him in the infirmary now."
Sam nodded reluctant acceptance. That was more or less the answer she'd expected to hear.
"I take it you showed Colonel Dixon and his team where they were to go?"
"Yes, Sir. Lt. Satterfield and Dr. Balinsky have already begun their translation, and Dr. Lee was setting up his equipment when I left."
"Good," Hammond said. "You can head straight to the infirmary for your post-mission physical, Major. Your debriefing is in two hours."
"Yes, Sir."
Sam un-strapped her gear as she walked out of the gateroom and dropped it off in the locker room before she made her way up to the infirmary. She wasn't looking forward to seeing what kind of shape Daniel was in after going through the Stargate, yet at the same time, she wanted nothing more than to be with him and finally do what she should have been doing all along - take her turn at helping to care for him.
Dr. Warner wasted no time in getting on with her post-mission examination, so before long she was on her way to Daniel's room. She hesitated outside the door, nervously fingering the pendant in her pocket. She didn't know what to expect on the other side of that door, but the fact that the room inside was silent gave her hope that Daniel was at least resting quietly.
She took a deep breath to calm her nerves and slowly stepped inside.
The first thing she noticed was that Colonel O'Neill was fast asleep in the chair by Daniel's bed, his head tilted back and his mouth hanging open. The second thing she noticed was that Daniel was lying there wide-awake, watching the colonel intently.
She smiled softly and stepped further into the room. As soon as her presence registered with him, Daniel's gaze snapped onto her with unwavering intensity. It took Sam off-guard for a moment. These were nothing like Daniel's eyes. They were the eyes of a complete stranger.
No, she thought as she took a few more tentative steps towards him. They were Arrom's eyes. That was exactly the look Daniel had given her when they had first found him on the planet where he had descended - a look of suspicion and complete lack of recognition.
Sam shuddered at the memory and tried to keep her smile pasted on her face. "Hey, Daniel," she whispered, not wanting to wake the colonel.
Daniel watched her closely as she sat down on the edge of his bed. He didn't seem afraid of her, though he looked a little nervous about what she was going to do.
"I brought you something," she said, taking the pendant out of her pocket and holding it up for him to see. "Would you like to see it?"
Daniel's brow furrowed in concentration, and he squinted at the object in her hand as though he couldn't quite see it.
"Oh, right, you're not wearing your glasses." She inched a little closer to him and held the pendant out for him to get a better look. "Mika sent it for you," she said, though she knew the odds of him understanding were slim to none. "It's supposed to help you get better. Isn't that nice?"
She hadn't actually expected to put it on him - in fact, she didn't even know why she was bothering to show it to him - but he looked so fascinated by it that she couldn't resist. This was the Daniel she knew. This was the man who could spend hours examining the tiniest of artifacts in absolute wonder. If this little, insignificant good luck charm could bring that Daniel back to her, she'd bring him a thousand of them.
"Do you want me to put it on you?"
Daniel blinked at her as though he didn't understand.
She tried to demonstrate what she was asking by miming putting the necklace around her own neck and then pointing at Daniel. "Do you want it?"
He looked nervously at the pendant for a moment then up at Sam again. His anxiety level seemed to be increasing and his breathing began to quicken.
"It's okay," she assured him, "you don't have to. See? I'll put it away again." She slipped it back into her pocket, mentally kicking herself for showing it to him in the first place.
Daniel bit his lip and looked longingly at her hip. After a moment, he slowly reached out his hand and poked the little bulge where the pendant was hiding with his finger.
"You do want it?" Sam took it out again and held it out to him on the palm of her hand.
Daniel merely looked up at her with a very childlike expression of uncertainty on his face. Sam took the opportunity to slip the necklace into place around his neck.
"There," she said with a smile. "Now pretty soon you'll be all better." As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she winced. She couldn't believe she was talking to Daniel like he was a kid, but what else could she do?
Daniel touched the round object with his fingertips. Some part of him seemed to understand what it signified, and it made Sam's heart soar. After a moment, he wriggled a little to get himself more comfortable, gave a soft sigh, and closed his eyes.
Sam smiled at the peaceful look that settled over his face as he fell asleep. "Sleep tight, Daniel," she whispered. She planted a light kiss on his forehead and took his hand.
She wasn't going anywhere.
To be continued...