"Ugggh" Rachel groaned as she awoke. Everything hurt. She was sure her bruises had bruises and that if she moved her arms would fall off. The sun was shining in through the window across from the bed and the bright light was sending waves of pain through her head. Biting her lip in pain she carefully sat up and brought her legs around so she was sitting on the edge of the bed. She looked around the room, vaguely recalling she was at Colonel O'Neill's house. She stood slowly and remained still as the room stopped spinning.

Somewhat confident she wouldn't pass out if she moved, she walked to the door and ventured into the hallway of the strange house. Normally she would have never walked out in her nightclothes, but she was well aware of how much it would hurt trying to get in and out of pants and shirts.
After a considerable amount of time she made it to the kitchen where her dad's voice was speaking quietly. Pausing outside the doorway, out of view, Rachel listened.

"Maybe she'll have forgotten?" Jacks voice sounded hopefully.

"I highly doubt that Jack."

"We'll just tell her it's some code name for a military thing" Rachel frowned, wondering why they were trying to make up stories to tell her – she assumed they were talking about her anyways. Deciding she didn't want to hear anymore, she walked stiffly into the kitchen startling both men.

"Morning" she muttered sitting gingerly in a chair at the table, well aware that it was early in the afternoon.

"How are you feeling?" Daniel asked watching her closely. She appeared to be hurting.

"Fine"

"You look like you're in pain," he pointed out.

"It's nothing"

"Are you sure?" Rachel rolled her eyes, instantly regretting it as her head pounded behind her eyes.

"Yeah I'm fine"

"These are painkillers the doctor prescribed for you…" Daniel offered, setting them in front of her. She eyed them warily, and pushed them back towards him.

"I'm fine," she said looking him in the eye.

"Are you hungry?" Jack interrupted.

"No…" she sighed as Jack placed a plate with bacon, eggs and toast on it, in front of her. She was hungry but her ribs were making it hurt to breath and she just wanted to be as still as possible. A few moments of both men watching her made her pick up a piece of toast and take a tiny bite. That seemed to satisfy them for the time being.

"So do you have any questions or anything about what happened?" Daniel asked. Rachel thought back to what she heard them talking about before. It wasn't likely they'd tell her the truth, so why waste everyone's time?

"Nope."

"No?"

"No."

"Really…" Jack watched her closely; she really seemed to not want to know anything.

"Yup"

"Are you sure?"

"… …"

"Okay then"

There was silence for a few moments as both men continued to watch Rachel pick at her food. She kept shifting uncomfortably and was trying to not look too obvious as she held her side.

"You really should take the pain medicine." Daniel finally spoke up.

"I told you I'm fine" Rachel was losing her patience. Between the pain and the nausea from just the smell of food – from not eating in almost two days - she tried to remain pleasant.

"No you're not, its obvious you're in pain"

"And about to throw up" Jack added moving her plate away. She shot him a grateful look. Daniel replaced the pills in front of her.

"Okay. Yes I hurt, but I'm not taking the pills alright?" She managed to rise from her seat with out too much of a problem. She reached over and replaced the pills in front of Daniel and left the room.

"Wonder why she wont take them…" Jack muttered thinking the kid may have gotten a few screws knocked loose in her head. Daniel thought hard before it dawned on him.

"Her mom was into drugs, mainly pills, and drinking when she was younger… it's what got her put in foster care"

"And she doesn't want to become … addicted to them?" Jack surmised. It was a reasonable fear. But the medication the doctor had prescribed wasn't really all that strong.

"Guess so." They sat in silence drinking their coffee before Daniel decided to go talk to her.

---

Knocking lightly on the open door, Daniel walked in with a bottle of water and the pain pills in his hands. Rachel looked up at him from her leg. She was looking at the bruise on her knee from when one of the kidnappers had kicked her.

"That looks like it hurts" She watched him, her gaze moving from his face to what was in his hands.

"I'm not taking anything for it" She stated pulling her pant leg down.

"Why?" She shrugged and then winced in pain at the movement.

"Why?" he asked again sitting in the desk chair across from where she was sitting on the bed.

"It's unnecessary"

"You're in pain, and these can stop it" he shook the small bottle.

"No." she rubbed her eyes. "I'm tired, I'm going to go back to sleep" she said trying to make him leave.

"Why won't you take anything? Is it because your mom was hooked on pills when you were little?" She looked at him oddly.

"That's what you think?"

"Well you're not exactly being forthcoming with other answers."

"That's not why. Those things aren't strong enough to get addicted to," she said. Daniel decided to ignore the fact she knew that.

"Then why? Cause I don't like seeing you in pain" She didn't answer. Instead she grabbed the bath towel that Jack had left on the desk before, and started for the door.

"I'm gonna take a shower"

"Please Rachel" Daniel said forlornly. She stopped with her back to him. "Please?" he tried again"

"What's the big deal?" she demanded turning to face him. He could see the fury and annoyance in her eyes. Daniel stood and crossed his arms over his chest.

"You're the one making it a big deal," he pointed out.

"Just drop it okay?" she requested her voice getting louder.

"No"

"Dan-"

"I won't drop it. Tell me why." He fished. She averted her eyes to the floor, trying not to lash out at him.

"Tell me"

"You wanna know why?" she said in a low quiet voice, her gaze slowly rising to meet his.

"Yes."

"Because," she started, her stare not wavering, "It let's me know I'm still alive". She watched him for a second before leaving the room and going in search of the bathroom.

Daniel sat down heavily into the chair, feeling like he'd been punched in the gut. Who had hurt her so badly that living in pain was the only way she knew she still existed? It made him want to throw up just thinking about it.

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