Chapter 10
Somewhere in the back of Jack's mind he knew he'd done wrong. Though, at the moment of his plan's inception, he hadn't been thinking about how bad this act would look, or even what the consequences would be.
The truth was he'd just kidnapped a man. He'd hijacked his friend, a friend who was under the care of a woman deeply involved in a secret project for the government, one that reported directly to the president. And she was married to a cop.
Plus, he'd taken him from a hospital. A military hospital.
Crazy man, one time brigadier general, on the lamb with another mental case. It sort of reminded him of Rain Man, but with some obvious differences.
"You remember that movie?" Jack asked Daniel casually, while keeping his focus on the road. "You know, the movie with the two brothers?"
He stole a glance out of the corner of his eye, noting Daniel wasn't even paying attention to him. Daniel seemed to have drifted off into that place he sometimes went, but it wouldn't dissuade Jack from trying.
"Good movie," he continued, despite the lack of understanding from his friend. "The young one tried taking care of the older one." He chuckled. "Guess it's the other way around here, huh?"
When Daniel still didn't reply, didn't snort, grunt or even sigh, Jack ended his attempt at conversation, and stole another glance over at the one time linguist.
Daniel was staring out of the window, his fingers tapping at the glass as their surroundings blurred into green and brown. They were on the highway now, traveling as fast as Jack could allow, as they made their way out of the state.
It was going to be a long drive. They would need to stop for breaks, and to rest. Jack wasn't sure how well Daniel would take to these sudden changes, but the part of his mind that ignored the logical section told him it would be all right in the end.
That was the plan right? To prove to Carter that he wasn't insane? To show that he could take care of Daniel no sweat? That way, Daniel could stay, he and Carter could make amends, and Teal'c could stop by. It would be one big party.
Content with his rationalizations, Jack continued to drive for the remainder of the day, stopping occasionally to let the two of them stretch their legs, grab some food, and to take a leak. Finally, several hours later, Jack found a good hotel in small town off the highway, and decided they should settle in for the night.
"Here we are," Jack said brightly, kicking the door of the hotel room to reveal its interior. It wasn't anything special, drab, boring, but at least it wasn't dirty. It would do. Hoisting up his suitcase with one hand, he adjusted his duffel bag with the other, and entered the room.
Apparently, Daniel was not as impressed. He followed Jack into the room, his whole demeanor one of insecurity and fear, cowering slightly as his gaze roamed around the room. Jack remembered that the aides at the hospital had said something about Daniel hating change. Really, there was no bigger change than this. He just hoped Daniel wouldn't choose today to become vocal.
Jack gave a quick inspection of the beds before heaving the bags on top of them. His next goal was to lock the door, and then head over to the TV. The guy behind the desk said they got some cable channels. Hopefully, the old tube would work. The battered old box looked like it had seen better days.
"I'm going to have you watch some TV for a bit," Jack told Daniel. He walked over to the quiet man and put the remote in his hands. "You can watch whatever you want, but sit down and I'll be back in a sec."
As expected, Daniel didn't answer. With all the telltale signs of a delayed reaction, a few seconds later Daniel finally looked down at the remote, a slight frown creasing his forehead. He rolled the remote over in his hands. Then, as if he'd just made an extraordinary discovery, Daniel found the buttons and started pressing them randomly.
Shrugging, Jack figured that was close enough. He grabbed the suitcase off the bed and heaved it on top of the dresser. With a quick pop, it opened, revealing an assortment of haphazardly packed items. He had all the essentials and whatever he didn't bring, he was sure to have at the cabin.
The cabin was the main goal anyway.
Jack stole a quick glance back to Daniel, keeping an eye on his actions. He was still merrily playing with the remote, not even caring that he wasn't getting any picture on the screen. Jack sighed and shook his head. He supposed whatever made him happy…
While Daniel was preoccupied, Jack took the opportunity to check out the bathroom. It was small, but good enough. As long as the toilet worked, he could really care less about anything else in the room.
Now that his little tour of the room was over, he figured he'd catch a show with Daniel, and then maybe they could head out to grab some supper. When they got back, maybe they'd even have some time for a movie. Cable had to have something fun, like a western or an old war flick…
Jack stared. War? They'd walked into a nation at war?
"With whom are you at war?" Teal'c asked evenly.
"We need to have means of protecting ourselves from the Decreed," Ayi answered.
Decreed? Damn, this was sounding worse and worse by the minute. If Jack had known they were getting involved with a race that was a warring people, without understanding any of the reasons…
Frowning, he shot a disapproving look to Carter.
"We didn't know, Sir," she answered to his silent reproach.
"Who-who are the Decreed?" Daniel asked.
Jack jerked, feeling strangely light, and off kilter, before realizing he was flat on the bathroom floor. How had he gotten on the floor?
He almost questioned it altogether, sensing his mind drifting off into unconsciousness, when he felt a hand urgently shaking his chest. The more he tried to let himself go, the more persistent the pressure on him.
Scowling, willing himself awake, Jack lifted his head and blinked, trying to clear his vision. When he finally could see again, he realized Daniel was hovering over him, kneeling by his side, rocking nervously, his hand still clutching Jack as if he was his only lifeline.
He looked like he was on the verge of panic.
Jack realized that the whole ordeal probably was terrifying for a man who lacked full control of his faculties. Add to that the fact Jack, a virtual stranger to him only a month ago, had grabbed him from his home and taken him on a trek into some far off place.
Just what the hell had he been thinking?
Realizing Daniel had yet to stop, Jack pushed himself into a sitting position, uncurling Daniel's hand from his chest and shirt. He gave the frightened man a reassuring pat on the shoulder, and rub to the back, hoping to calm his fears.
"I'm okay," he said, giving Daniel another reassuring squeeze. "Must have fallen or something…"
Daniel continued to rock next to Jack, his hands to his mouth, his eyes wide. Just watching the pathetic sight was enough to bring doubts to Jack's mind. Being a part of those doubts only made it worse.
He snapped his fingers in front of Daniel. Still nothing.
"Daniel," Jack said softly, shaking him hard enough to make him stop his rocking. He tapped his cheek, forcing Daniel to look at him. "It's okay. I just passed out for a minute."
Or was it five? Ten?
Jack glanced down at his watch, shocked to find that twenty minutes had passed. No wonder Daniel was in a panic. Jack couldn't even begin to imagine what was going through his mind.
The flashback had been so short, so quick. How the hell could he have been unconscious for twenty minutes?
Suddenly, Jack felt uncomfortable, realizing that Daniel was still gazing at him. Though, he guessed that it was better than the little nervous breakdown he'd had by his side.
Using Daniel's shoulder for support, Jack pushed himself to his feet, taking a moment to steady himself and brush off any lingering dizziness. Cursing himself over his weakness, he remained that way for as long as it took, not wanting a repeat performance of his on-the-floor-trick. When he felt stronger, he helped Daniel to his feet, giving him yet another reassuring squeeze.
This time Daniel responded better, with what Jack thought was a soft smile tugging at his lips. Pleased, Jack wrapped his arm around Daniel's shoulder and gave him a hard manly pat on the back. He was about to joke around with Daniel and do something that he hoped would ease the other man's mind, but he was interrupted by the low rumble of Daniel's stomach.
Daniel looked down at his stomach, frowned, and began to grab at his shirt. Licking his lips, he gazed up at Jack, and fumbled at his shirt again.
Jack nodded. "I'm hungry, too." He remembered seeing a buffet across the street. Pushing any of the lingering doubts he had about his ability to take care of Daniel, he nudged his friend towards the door. "Let's go grab some grub."
Thankfully, by the time they made it down to the buffet, it was late and the majority of the dinner crowd had already left. Most of the seats were empty, the place was quiet, but fortunately he could see the food on the buffet line was still steaming. With a grin, and holding back his own growling stomach, he guided Daniel to the waitress waiting at the seating podium.
"Hi, I'm Beth," she said cheerfully. "Just the two of you?"
Jack nodded, pulling Daniel a little closer. He had stiffened somewhat since they'd walked in the door, occasionally jerking back as if he wanted to go out into the street. Jack feared for another panic attack. Those fears began to become a reality when he heard a hitch in Daniel's breathing.
"Just-just a sec," Jack said to the waitress, holding up his finger before pushing Daniel to the side.
He rubbed his back soothingly. "It's just a restaurant. We're going to eat and give you something better than those cheese sandwiches you were eating back at the hospital."
Daniel wasn't listening to him, or at least he didn't think he was. Instead, his eyes kept rolling to the right and left, his wild gaze all over the room. When he saw the waitress approaching them, Daniel tensed and whimpered, digging his head into the side of Jack's neck.
Caught off guard, Jack wasn't really sure what to do. He didn't like to be in this position, and he hated having to give comfort like this to a grown man, someone who should be able to take care of himself. But Daniel was obviously having a hard time.
He rubbed Daniel's back again, talking to him gently as the waitress stopped beside them. "Is he okay?" she asked.
"Yeah." Jack cleared his throat, beginning to peel Daniel away from him. "He's, uh—He doesn't like change or strangers," Jack told her. "I'm trying to get him to open up a little bit more."
She nodded slowly, taking a step back. "Well, I can see about getting you a booth or a table far away from the door, so the two of you can get some peace," she offered with a small smile. "Though, it might be away from the buffet line."
Jack appreciated the kind offer she was making. "That's probably for the best. What did you have in mind?"
She guided them to a table by a window, located on the back wall. Jack had to admit the seating arrangement was pretty sweet. It was away from the kitchen, the doors, and the bulk of the remaining crowd. The only thing Jack had to worry about was how to manage bringing both his plate and Daniel's plate back to the table without dropping them while still watching Daniel at the same time.
"If you'd like," the waitress said as she placed their utensils down. "I can walk with you and when you're done, I'll put your plate down on your table so you can help your friend choose what he wants."
He could kiss this waitress for reading his mind. "Perfect," he told her.
She ended up being a huge help. Jack had picked out what he wanted to eat relatively quick, piling on some barbeque ribs, ham, fried chicken, and some potatoes and peas for good measure. Daniel, on the other hand, took forever to decide. He kept staring at the buffet choices, his index finger to his lips, shifting his weight back and forth as he hummed to himself. They'd gotten more than a few distasteful looks by some of the other customers, but Jack decided to ignore them and concentrate on Daniel. Getting busted for a brawl wasn't going to score him any points with Carter.
Finally, Daniel had decided on some chicken nuggets, french fries, and some breaded mushroom things, and an assortment of dipping sauces. Jack had tried to encourage him to eat something a little more substantial, like fish or real chicken, but Daniel had been content on his choices. In the end, Jack had to force some carrots and corn on his plate. Of course, Jack knew there was some underlying reason why Daniel was being a little picky. Daniel might be out of it, but the man sure had a nose for desserts.
Grabbing a couple of items off the dessert tray, Jack guided Daniel back to their table, helping to ease him into his seat. He held the desserts back, wanting Daniel to at least eat some of the food on his plate. He was looking a little pasty, and still was way too thin to be normal. Some good solid food would be a good way to liven him up a bit. It wouldn't hurt things with Carter and Teal'c, either.
Satisfied that Daniel was eating, actually eating and not just picking at his plate, Jack chowed down on his own choices. He was starving, and it seemed no matter how much he filled his stomach, the hunger never fully left him. He'd already started eating his apple pie and vanilla ice cream while Daniel was still nibbling on his nuggets.
Sitting here with Daniel, quietly sharing a meal with him, seemed wrong on so many levels. Daniel had always had something to talk about, and Jack had been forced to listen whether he liked it or not.
The silence was disconcerting.
Though, it did give Jack the opportunity to think.
He thought about a lot of things. He thought about Sara, and wondered if she'd ever tried to reach him these past ten years. He thought about how old Charlie would be now, if he were alive, and how much of a fine man he could have become. He thought about Carter, and how she'd sacrificed so much of her life to take care of Daniel. He thought about Teal'c and the Jaffa Rebellion, wondering if they would ever truly be free. He thought about Hammond, finally having retired, having lost so much of his golden years to the Stargate Program. He thought about everything he'd lost and everything Daniel had lost, and how over eight years of friendship had been erased by a single misstep.
He thought about a lot of things.
It was then that Jack realized, he had finally allowed himself to start believing in the worst-case scenario. He'd been trapped living the life of a loon for a month now, without any break to let him know that at least maybe there was something else. His flashbacks, his life, the disjointed nature of everything around him—who was to say he wasn't crazy? Carter and Teal'c had been upfront and honest with him, when you got down to it, and even the discrepancies between their stories and his visits with his shrink could be explained by his inability to grasp reality.
But Jack could be a stubborn ass when he wanted, and he just couldn't let go that there was some hope he had been sent forward in time or something. Though, even he had to admit that hope dwindled with each passing day.
The one thing that bothered him was his latest flashback. War. The people of Aria were at war with something called the Decreed. That didn't sound so good.
Is that what had happened to them? They were lab rats for the people so they could get the advantage in their little war? Was that it?
Sighing, Jack poked at the peas on his plate. He was sure he was supposed to remember something about this guy Bec Lofar…
Okay…so the old guy wasn't so old.
Nor was he a guy.
The three of them stared with disbelief at the woman that was seated on the cushion, her male servants tending to her with fruits and fans, while her female entourage kept silent watch in the background.
"Daniel," Jack whispered, nudging the other man. "I think you left out a few details."
The linguist didn't answer, staring with his mouth open. When Carter cleared her throat, he blinked a few times, his cheeks flushing, before finally becoming extremely interested in the walls. With a hard glare aimed at his friend, Jack swore when he had the chance, he was going to give Daniel a swift kick in the…
"O'Neill," High Bec Lofar announced, rising to her feet. "It is an honor to meet someone of your stature. From what I have seen and heard, your people are a kind-hearted race. This is a quality we, the people of the Aria, value highly."
"Thanks," Jack said cheerfully. "We try."
He could actually feel the groans that wanted to erupt from Carter and Daniel, but for once in his life, it seemed his sarcasm was taken well. The king, or queen, chuckled, tossing her dark locks to the side. She smiled at Jack, rubbing her neck lightly, before licking her lips, and despite himself, Jack found himself smiling.
There was a mutter behind him, one he was certain was an Abydonian curse. Allowing his smile to turn into a grin, he glanced over at Daniel, a not too pleased Daniel. Yeah, Jack was going to run with this one.
"Sir…" There was a warning tone to the sound of Carter's voice.
Jack had everything under control. "So, we came from our land to open up trade, maybe a dialogue…"
"Trade is important to my people," the High answered, snapping her fingers.
A lovely young woman stepped forward, her purple robes falling softly over her sculpted body. She smiled shyly at Jack, and then to Daniel, ducking her head as her cheeks glowed with a ruddy hue. This time Jack wasn't laughing, especially when he suspected he knew what this queen was offering.
"I offer my sister, Ayi, in the exchange," the High announced proudly. "And you?"
"Me?" Jack felt that itch to touch something, to handle something as he tried to sort things out. He wanted Carter and Daniel to remind him again why he had agreed to play diplomat. "Uh…one minute."
He took a step back, nabbing Carter and Daniel with him. Surely, the queen would understand his need to talk to his advisors. When he felt he was far enough out of earshot, he opened his arms and impatiently waited for their opinion. Instead, he got nothing but two smartasses.
"Should I flip my hair, Sir?" Carter's voice was sultry and she pouted her lips, which might have been sexy if she hadn't been carrying her weapon over her shoulder and smelled like moldy tapestries. "Or maybe I can feed you some fruit."
"Cute, Carter. Very cute." He glared at her, snapping her back into her military-minded mode. Almost.
"Or maybe Sam and I can just ogle you some," Daniel said, his voice just above a whisper as he batted his eyelashes flirtatiously. He stopped abruptly, pausing for a moment so both he and Carter could deliberately appreciate Jack.
"I'm glad you're having fun."
"The High certainly is," Daniel countered, causing Carter to barely hold her back her grin.
Jack glared at him. That's when the fun and games ended. Daniel and Carter might have picked up on some of Jack's under valued qualities, but when it came down to business, he knew he could count on them.
"What do I do so I don't offend her?" Jack asked them.
"Flirt back," Daniel said simply. "If you can elevate her ego, and steer the conversation towards the technology that we want to exchange, then she shouldn't be too offended over your—" He cleared his throat. "Dismissal of her sister."
"Daniel's right," Carter agreed. "We've been treated well since we arrived here. They're a peaceful people. I suspect this is just a formality."
Jack nodded, heading back to the queen. Made sense. The United States did that sort of thing all the time, only, to his knowledge, the president didn't go around trading his siblings around all over the globe. But, as he knew Daniel would be more than happy to point out to him, historically marriage exchange has always been an important part of political alliances.
Jack rolled back his shoulders and stood a little taller. He smiled back at the queen, and then to her younger sister. "Your offer is, wow, tempting," Jack managed to say, refusing to look back at either Daniel or Carter. "But as beautiful as your family is, I don't think Earth can handle…it."
He heard the snickers behind him, but he wasn't going to play into Daniel's or Carter's amusement. Jack wasn't fluid with words. He was more a man of action.
The queen's smile waned slightly. She glanced over at her sister, who seemed both relieved and embarrassed at the same time, and then back to Jack. "I do believe your world can," she said softly, her eyes flickering with passion. "Your world appears to hold beauty of its own."
Jack smiled back, but started to feel a little out of his element. While he appreciated the comment, this wasn't exactly where he wanted to the conversation to…
Daniel's gasp brought Jack back from his thoughts. The High was still waiting, her eyes open and expectant, but…
That's when Jack realized she wasn't flirting with him at all. Shocked, he jerked and looked over his shoulder.
Carter's eyes were wide, her face bright red. For an instant, he was tempted to give it right back to Carter, just as she had done to him. But when he saw that Daniel wasn't even stepping up to tease, he thought better of it.
If these medical devices were as powerful as Daniel claimed, they couldn't mess around with joking and risk ticking off these people.
"Ah, no, no," Jack said, choosing his words carefully. "I'm afraid I can't let Carter go."
The High was disappointed, but didn't seem to have any traces of anger in her features. "Then another?" she asked, still offering her sister's hand.
Starting to think that the High would start making demands on Daniel and Teal'c, too, Jack felt the conversation had to shift now, whether it offended these people or not.
"We're more interested in technology, supplies, the like," he said bluntly. "Not that we don't appreciate what you've offered, but I need my people, just as I am sure you need yours."
She tilted her head, considering his words before finally nodding. Not without giving one last fleeting smile to Carter. "You speak wisely." She paused, staring at Carter and Daniel. "And your knights serve you well. Come," she beckoned, releasing Ayi's hand and gesturing for Jack, Carter, and Daniel to step forward. "Come and share bread with me and we shall discuss what we can exchange."
Somehow Jack didn't think the fact that Lofar was a man or a woman made much of a difference. Though, how he could forget that a woman was hitting on Carter was beyond him. That seemed to be a keeper of a memory.
No, something else was happening. There had to be something else he was missing. Something about the people themselves…
"So, right down to business this time, eh Carter?"
She smiled, glancing quickly over her shoulder to catch Jack's gaze briefly as she walked down the corridor that led to the Gateroom. "We got lucky, Sir. I mean, how often does the MALP actually pick up on human activity in the vicinity of the Gate that's not hostile?"
"It happens," Jack answered back, though he'd be damned if he could name all the times on both hands. "Just be careful and check in right after you make contact with these people."
He was sure he heard her mutter under her breath. "Of course, Sir."
"I'm curious as to which culture they're descended from," Daniel said aloud, adjusting the strap on his vest. "Based on the images from the delegation waiting for us, I can't really pinpoint anything obvious, but once I speak with them, I might be able to get a better idea."
"You do that," Jack said, chuckling himself when he saw Daniel scowl.
Oh, how he loved to press his buttons.
"Perhaps this mission will be one of success," Teal'c said from in front of him. "The people of Aria seem most pleased to meet with us."
"So they do."
Jack tried to be an optimist. He really did. But so far since he'd been promoted, Anubis had possessed more than half the base, including himself, Daniel, and Carter. They'd started a nuclear war on some planet where Daniel had gotten lost. Teal'c had been framed for murder. Carter had been kidnapped once by the Trust. Daniel had been blackmailed and then kidnapped twice. Jack had negotiated with every nutcase in the galaxy and Daniel had been shot more times than he could remember. Oh, and then the Trust had stolen the Gate.
So, Jack was a little wary of something that sounded a little too perfect. It was reasonable.
"Jack," Daniel began, slowing down to stop to speak with Jack more privately, bringing an end to Jack's recap of his illustrious career. "You haven't been talking to Teal'c, have you?"
He shrugged. "I talk to everyone. Why?"
"Well, lately he seems to be under the impression that I can speak Elvish. In fact, he thinks I am rather fluent in it, and wanted me to translate all the Lord of the Rings books into Elvish and then back into English so he could have a true reading." Daniel paused, biting his lip. "I wonder where he would have gotten an idea like that?"
"I wonder." Jack walked ahead of Daniel, moving to catch up with Teal'c and Carter. This is where they would be parting ways. "Though, watch out, Daniel. He might ask you to translate Klingon next."
Teal'c halted in his tracks, causing Carter to stop alongside him. His face bright and open, for a Jaffa that is, Teal'c took a step closer to Daniel. "You speak Klingon, DanielJackson?"
Carter giggled and shook her head, disappearing into the Gateroom. Giving Jack one final glare, Daniel hurried after her, not even bothering to answer Teal'c. Amused, Jack gave a thumbs up to Teal'c, receiving a big but sly Jaffa grin in return.
After watching them go, Jack jogged up the stairs and entered the control room. The chevrons were nearly all in place, and Walter was just waiting for the okay. Jack came to stand beside him, hovering over the microphone as the wormhole engaged.
Jack leaned over and pressed on the mike. "SG-1, you have a go." Then he paused, smiling, recalling an old movie he had once watched. "Have fun storming the castle."
He chuckled, watching his old team disappear through the Gate, before he stepped away from the console. Walter gave him a look, a certifiable crazy look, but Jack just shrugged.
The man had no sense of humor.
"It's from a movie."
Walter stared at him. "I know, Sir."
Jack stared back. "I'll be in my office."
Shaking his head, he headed for his office, wondering just how General Hammond had been able to put up with such a humorless technician.
Jack shut his eyes, squeezing harder, pressing himself to remember. There had to be more.
They were running, hurrying down the stairs, their boots making a scuffing sound that echoed throughout the entire building, bouncing off the tall stonewalls. He knew, he just knew, that they were heading for the labs, the last place he wanted to be.
But at this point they didn't have much choice.
"Damn," Jack swore, pounding his fist on the table.
Daniel stopped chewing, his eyes widening, but Jack brushed him off for the time being. The flashbacks were so real, so intense, that Jack knew it wasn't just his mind playing with him. But they came in fragments, like someone had chopped up his life and threw the pieces at him, wanting him to guess how to put them together.
Jack hated puzzles.
"It's like a story," Jack told Daniel, biting down some of the anger in his voice so that Daniel could relax and continue eating. "What's funny is that when I was a kid, I thought maybe I'd try my hand at writing. You know, I told so many lies my parents thought I was a natural." He chuckled, not knowing why he was bothering to tell Daniel any of this. "But I'm not great with words. Grammar, yeah, but to put it all together, it just doesn't work. I'm too practical."
Which was why this was bugging the hell out of him.
To his surprise, Daniel seemed to respond to his little outburst, offering him a chicken nugget when Jack had finished. Jack had to laugh at the gesture, there was no way he could even describe how he felt over it. So, instead, he nodded, taking the nugget and took a bite.
Daniel was pleased, doing his little nutty laugh, before digging into his chocolate mousse. Jack watched him, and sat back, finally sated. At least their supper tonight had turned out to be a step in the right direction. He hoped he could convince Carter and Teal'c of the same.
He was wrong. He was so wrong.
Later that night, Jack found himself twisting and turning in his bed, struggling to unwrap himself from the covers as he heard Daniel's wail fill the room. With a thud, he fell out of his bed and rushed to the twin that was next to him.
Daniel was a wreck. He was moaning, thrashing in every direction, his eyes screwed shut as if he was battling some overwhelming pain. Jack quickly hit the lights and came to his side, wondering what he could do to calm Daniel down without scaring the life out of him.
It was only when the light illuminated his face, did Jack realize how bad things had become.
Daniel was sweating profusely, his skin cool and clammy, his coloring not right. With tremors shooting through his body, Daniel would jerk to the right and then to the left. It took everything within Jack to hold him down for a just a few minutes. When he felt he had some control over Daniel, he tapped him on the cheek first, before giving him a good shake.
"Daniel," he said, hoping that his friend would snap of it. "Daniel, come on, now."
Jack reached up and touched his forehead, cursing when he felt the heat emanating from him. Not only was Daniel shaking like a leaf, he was running a fever, and it didn't take a doctor to tell Jack that wasn't good.
"Come on, Daniel," Jack urged him, tapping his cheek again. "Give me a sign, here. I need you to stay with me."
"Jack?"
Immediately, Jack froze, unsure if he'd heard correctly. Had Daniel just called his name?
He couldn't bother with the uncertainty whether he was hearing things or not. What was important was that Daniel was awake now, and struggling with his body. Jack reached in closer, attempting to sit Daniel up, and to keep him alert and responsive. Daniel was gasping, fighting for air with every raspy breath that he took. His eyes were wild, his face carved by fear and confusion.
"Jack?" he asked again, his voice broken, scared.
"Daniel?" he asked in return.
God, he wasn't hearing things.
"Daniel!"
Daniel shook, curling in on himself, his body swaying forward into Jack. Even through his shirt, Jack could hear his muffled moans of pain and agony. Desperate for more, and concerned for his friend, Jack gently pushed Daniel back into a seated position, wanting to see his face and assess his lucidity.
"Daniel, can you hear me?" He eased Daniel into a more comfortable position, pushing back the sheets that threatened to ensnare him. "Do you understand me?"
"Jack?" Daniel squirmed, panting hard, flapping his hands around as he tried to gather his bearings. His eyes widened, his gaze bouncing around the room. "Where?" he looked around, his whole face knotted with uncertainty. "Where? Where?"
"Hotel room. You remember?" Jack asked quietly, his excitement over hearing Daniel's voice waning. "We went for a ride."
Daniel muttered something incoherent and then shivered, pressing a little closer to Jack. His episode of panic seemed to be ebbing, though Jack could still feel the heat coming off the man. Also, Daniel seemed oddly detached, even for him, as his eyes roamed the room as if he'd never seen it before, an undercurrent of suspicion lurking within his careful gaze.
"Daniel?" Upon hearing no response, Jack sighed, and tried to press him to rest on his back now that he'd calmed a little. "Why don't you just calm down? I'm going to get a towel and then when you're feeling better you can go back to sleep."
"Sleep?" Daniel seemed confused over this prospect. Then, he fervently shook his head. "No. Sleep. No, no."
"No?" That had Jack concerned. "Just lie down and rest."
Daniel blinked at him, the persistent frown still stuck on his face. "Jack?"
"Yeah, it's me," he said, patting his shoulder. "Just rest. I'm going to get you a facecloth. Stay there and take deep breaths. You understand?"
Daniel inhaled sharply, wincing as he turned over on his side. "Go home. Go home."
Reluctantly, Jack left Daniel's side, rushing into the bathroom to dampen a washcloth for him. From what he gathered, he figured Daniel had woken from a fever dream, and was having a hard time remembering where he was. That wouldn't be too hard, he thought tohimself, wondering again why he'd thought snatching Daniel was such a great idea.
Breathing out, Jack released his tension while wringing out the washcloth. The cool water was comforting to his warm hands, and helped ease the nervousness that rattled his insides. He was a strong man, one who hardly ever gave into his emotions, but somehow he felt this time was different. This time he was justified.
Giving the washcloth one final squeeze, he nodded, pleased, and looked up, catching his reflection.
And Daniel's cold, hard, battered reflection glaring at him from over his shoulder. "Why won't you listen to me?" he said icily.
Jack jumped, taken completely by surprise, alarmed to see such a bitter expression on Daniel's face. He turned around, but realized no one was there. It was as if Daniel had materialized from nowhere.
Baffled, Jack ran back into the main room, shocked to find Daniel just as he'd left him, curled tightly into a ball, shivering on the bed. Cautiously, fighting back the surge of unease that was threatening to overcome him, he walked towards the bed, his mind attempting to work out what had happened. He knew he had some problems with reality and fantasy, but…
He came to Daniel, lowering himself onto the bed and placed his hand on his forehead. Daniel shuddered at the touch, but looked up at him, blinking to clear his hazy vision. "Jack?" he asked, whispering.
"Yeah." Jack withdrew his hand slowly, still mulling over what had just happened in the bathroom. Was he completely losing his mind? Just by looking at Daniel, here, weak and vulnerable on the bed, he knew that image by the sink couldn't have been him. Daniel could barely sit on his own. "Hold still," Jack told him.
Carefully, Jack placed the washcloth on Daniel's forehead, hoping to bring down his temperature. He also wiped the sweat from his brow. Wherever Daniel's mind was, it didn't matter. His body appreciated the comfort, and he sighed, licking his lips as the water droplets trickled down his face and touched his tongue.
That was the last Jack got out of Daniel. Not long after Jack had been able to cool him, Daniel had slipped back into a vacant gaze, off to his disjointed world where he lived. Exhausted, Jack collapsed back on his bed, keeping silent vigil over his friend, while trying to keep all his doubts at bay.
Rest wasn't an option. Daniel's moment of calm vanished nearly as quickly as it had come. Not long after Jack had cooled his fever, Daniel was back to thrashing, his eyes wild and without understanding. Jack was able to entice a few words from him, thankful that Daniel still seemed to recognize him.
But physically, he was getting worse. That left Jack with no alternative.
Cursing loudly, he dialed the number Carter had left him, pacing back and forth as he heard Daniel continue to vomit in the bathroom.
"Hello?" her voice said softly.
Jack paused, part of him still wondering if he should do this. He'd stolen Daniel from a hospital where they had been taking care of him. But, he couldn't just sit back and let Daniel fall apart.
"Carter?"
She didn't answer. Nothingness shot back at him, a silence filled with more anger than he could have thought possible. Suddenly, he just wanted to see her disapproving face, her scowl, anything aside from this silence.
"Where are you?" she asked, her voice coming through low and cold.
"Daniel's sick," Jack said bluntly, ignoring her question. "He's puking his brains out here. I need to know what's wrong with him."
He turned away, moving his head from the phone when he heard more groaning coming from the bathroom. Quickly, he walked to the bathroom door, finding Daniel just where he had left him. The poor man was slumped on the cold tile floor, his head lying on the toilet seat while his right arm was draped over the back of the bowl. All his energy spent, he couldn't move.
Swallowing hard, Jack tore his eyes off Daniel, and brought the phone back to his ear.
"….irresponsible things you could have done!" Carter sighed, her voice shaking with irritation. "He's on medication!"
Jack froze. "Medication?"
"Yes." Carter paused. "He has brain damage and has had several strokes. He's on medication."
Dammit.
Jack winced, hearing Daniel start to heave again. He glanced back, watching his friend trying to hold onto the toilet bowl despite his weariness. Jack clutched the cell phone harder.
"What kind of meds? Anything I can buy?" He peeked over at Daniel again, noticing he had settled back into a slump. "Something at the drug store?"
"You can't buy him over the counter medication for this, Jack." Her voice was bitter and biting, causing Jack's hopes of reconnecting with her to crash. "Where are you?"
"He's talking now," Jack said, changing the subject. "He can say my name."
"Where are you, Jack?"
"It doesn't matter," he said abruptly. "I know you're tracking this call anyway. Just tell me what I need to do."
"You need to bring him home," she told him. "I-I won't press charges."
The concern and despair in her voice nearly knocked Jack off his feet. He wasn't sure why he hadn't expected Carter to be worried. She had given up everything for Daniel. Maybe it was the part of him that was being selfish.
"I'm-I'm too far now," he said with a sigh.
"You're out of state," she replied knowingly.
He nodded, even though he knew she couldn't see him through the phone. "Hold on."
Jack put the phone down on the sink, and walked toward Daniel. Swiping some toilet paper, he wiped his mouth and tossed it into the bowl, before reaching down to help Daniel to his feet. Daniel didn't protest, allowing Jack to assist him. Gently, Jack brought him back into the main room, and set him down on his bed. Daniel sighed, and complied without a word.
Jack ran back to grab his phone. "Meet me at my cabin. Bring Teal'c."
"Let me talk to him."
Jack relented, sitting down next to Daniel so he could talk through the phone. At first, he had given Daniel the phone so that he could use it himself, but the amount of energy Daniel had expended with his fever and his illness was too much for his body to take. Instead, Jack remained by his side and allowed Carter to talk to Daniel through the phone.
The longer he remained sitting there, watching Daniel's facial expressions as he listened to Carter, the more agitated Jack began to feel. Daniel seemed far more alert, nodding and following Carter's conversation. Ever since his first episode that night, Daniel had gained an incredible amount of awareness.
Just like Jack had over the past month, when the flashbacks had started.
Coincidence? He didn't think so. In his line of work, nothing ever was a coincidence.
"Coming?" Daniel asked Sam. He stopped, rubbing at his face as Carter started to speak again. Curious, Jack leaned over, trying to catch what she was saying. He managed to make out "pain" and "hurt" and "hold on." Daniel replied to her with a simple plea. "Hurry," he said.
Jack snatched the phone from Daniel, glaring at him and muttered under his breath. "So, what is it, Carter? Something in the meds? Something to keep us quiet?"
"Not with your delusions again." She sighed angrily. "What are you talking about?"
Jack stood, balling his fist as he scowled at the wall. "I start getting my memory back after I stop taking my medication. Daniel starts talking and becoming more aware of himself after he stops taking his medication. Why don't you tell me what is going on, Carter."
"You're insane," she snapped.
"Am I? Am I, really?" He was beyond angry at this point. "You and everyone else keep trying to push me into getting on those pills again. And you keep Daniel drugged up in a hospital. Why? Tell me why."
"Jack, you—"
"No, Carter!" Jack yelled into the phone. "I want the truth!"
"Because we didn't want you to remember!" she yelled back, her voice straining.
She started to sob, causing all the thoughts and emotions running through Jack to come to a screeching halt. He wasn't sure what to do, what to say. Speechless, he glanced over to Daniel. He just blinked back at Jack, as if he was waiting for him to proceed.
Carter's reaction having thrown him, Jack suddenly felt tired. Wearily, he walked back to the bed where Daniel was resting, and eased himself onto the edge.
"What happened?" he asked quietly.
"You were tortured," Carter said, her voice trembling. "Both you and Daniel. You were broken…We-we tried everything, but the two of you were far gone." She paused. "I'm sorry, Jack."
"Why?"
"We just wanted you to be able to live again without all the pain. To try and live normal lives." She sighed. "Daniel was worse off than you. We all knew he would never be the same again. Not even close. The medication helped to calm him so that he wouldn't have nightmares anymore and…to keep him from hurting himself," she finished quietly.
Jack dropped his head into his free hand, sighing as he thought about Daniel. All these years, he'd been trapped. Trapped in his own head just to keep the pain and the nightmares at bay. If Jack had been lucid, if he had been in control, would he have done differently? Or would he have done anything in his power to keep Daniel with him, no matter how the old Daniel would have protested?
He couldn't honestly answer that question. Even a couple of years later, the pain of losing his friend still hurt him deeply.
Wiping his mouth, and trying to gather some semblance of control, Jack sat straighter. "What about me?"
"You weren't as damaged," Carter said. "But you were caught in a cycle of grief, anger, and depression. You wouldn't see anyone about your problems because you couldn't see them yourself. You reached so far into denial that you started to make things up. You were ordered to take those pills to keep you docile. A side affect was some long-term memory loss." Carter became quiet and Jack wondered just what she could be thinking, what could be running through her mind right now. "The drugs were supposed to keep your anger in check, and help you focus on events in the present, even at the expense of the past. But you withdrew anyway. We tried to get you to come back, but you closed us out. We started to suspect you'd stopped taking your medication…You kept going back to your days at the SGC, and refused to face reality. You couldn't stop taking your medication but you couldn't let go of your fantasy either."
Jack wasn't hearing this. There was no way Carter was telling him the truth. But why would she lie? Why would she tell him this story now?
This wasn't Carter. Teal'c had believed him. This couldn't be Carter.
"I want the truth, Carter."
"I gave you the truth!" she yelled back, her voice still unsteady. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Jack."
There was no time for being sorry. Not now. Not after all this time.
"Meet me at the cabin," he said, dropping his voice.
With that, he disconnected the call, slamming his cell phone down on the table by Daniel's bed. Slumping, dropping his shoulders, Jack just let his mind go.
He didn't want to believe her. It didn't make any sense. None of it. But then, when did a crazy man's mind lend itself to logic?
What the hell had happened to him on that planet?
Groaning, Jack eased himself onto the bed, stretching out his tired legs. He rubbed his face, unable to take his gaze off the discolored ceiling above him. The brown splotches made him dizzy, and disgusted, reminding him of old blood stains.
Sighing, he closed his eyes. He'd had it. He just wanted it to be over now.
He was content to just let go, and fall asleep, when he heard a loud grunt from his side. Tilting his head, Jack found Daniel scowling at him, giving him a gentle push on his arm. Jack frowned, not sure what Daniel's problem was, until Daniel grunted again, giving him another shove.
"Alright," Jack said, sitting up on the bed, fighting to keep a small smile from forming on his lips. He imagined if Daniel was stronger, that shove would have been pretty damn forceful. "I'll get out of your bed."
As soon as Jack stood, Daniel rolled over and confiscated the entire bed. Flat on his back, he had his arms and legs stretched out, allowing them to dangle over the edge. If Jack wasn't so tired and angry, he might have found it amusing.
"Go to sleep, Daniel," Jack said quietly, heaving himself onto his own bed. "We have a long day tomorrow."
