Chapter 4: Out of the Frying Pan
The next morning, a tray of wholesome breakfast foods arrived for Jack and Teal'c, as well as a separate selection of broth, tea, toast and crackers for those with more sensitive stomachs. Jack beamed at the array of choices.
"Ok kids, breakfast and we can get out of here!" His announcement was cheerful and a bit overly loud.
Daniel groaned, and cracked an eye open. Teal'c was already awake, and merely raised an eyebrow. Jack glared at the sleeping mound that was Carter, which hadn't stirred. He took a step closer to the bed, deciding more drastic measures were necessary.
Sensing his intentions, Daniel sat up in alarm, "Uh, Jack…"
But Teal'c was already one step ahead. "I will assist Major Carter with her morning meal, O'Neill. Perhaps you would like to offer Daniel Jackson your assistance?" Teal'c's voice gave no chance for argument, and the firm hand on Jack's arm offered no other option.
Jack scowled, looking from Teal'c to Daniel, and then the mound that was Carter, remembering how he'd ended up wearing dinner last night. Deciding he'd rather not wear breakfast too, he shrugged. "Fine, knock yourself out."
"O'Neill, if I remember correctly, it was you who were knocked out yesterday."
Grumbling under his breath, Jack went to investigate the breakfast cart, banging the trays around to put together things for him and Daniel.
He hated to admit it, but watching Teal'c work, he was glad the Jaffa had stepped in. Somehow, the massive warrior gently cajoled the Major into waking. He didn't believe it at first, but when her tussled head appeared from under the covers, he had to give Teal'c credit, for the man had patience. It took a great deal more coaxing to get her to sip some tea and nibble on some toast, but somehow Teal'c did that too. By the time Janet had arrived to check on them for the morning, Teal'c had gotten her to swallow half a cupful of the tea and eat almost half a piece of toast. Jack had had more success with Daniel, but then again Daniel felt loads better than Sam had, and had eaten two pieces of toast, and finished off most of a bowl of broth and was now working on his second cup of tea.
Janet looked pleased with the progress while she helped Sam to the bathroom, but refused to commit to letting them go just yet, merely quoting a vague "after lunch" pending how things went in response to Jack's repeated questions on a time estimate to their release, and instead fussed over Sam's IV and monitor as she settled the woman back into bed, then went to check on Daniel, and made sure Jack and Teal'c weren't suffering any new symptoms today as she signaled the tech to draw new blood samples from all four.
Sam was already back asleep and Jack was pleased with himself for being able to control himself while she was visible, no one had seemed to notice anything amiss as he'd kept up a steady stream of chatter about the game last night with the tech that was drawing his blood. Jack smiled smugly, relieved that Carter was now ensconced and out of sight. It seemed as long as she was out of sight, she was out of mind as well. For the most part, he still had thoughts; it was just easier to control them without the object in view.
The next few hours passed without incident, Carter and Daniel dozing off and on. Well Daniel dozed off and on, Carter continued to sleep like the dead until lunch arrived. Jack decided to let Teal'c handle her again, since he'd done so well with breakfast. Lunch consisted of a tray of assorted lunchmeat sandwiches and soup and tea, as well as soft drinks. Teal'c took some tea and a bowl of soup over to Carter's bed and started the slow process of encouraging the reluctant Major to rejoin the world around her. Jack wondered if she'd always been like this.
Daniel was feeling well enough to eat a half a sandwich as well as a bowl of soup, and Jack kept up a steady stream of chatter while he attacked his meal with a vengeance, so that he could ignore the reappearance of the rumpled looking Carter from her cocoon. Daniel looked at him oddly a few times, but just chalked it up to one bored Colonel, and humored the constant conversation by interjecting comments when Jack curiously brought the topic towards archeology a few times. Obviously bored Daniel decided, although the man seemed to be having trouble keeping his eyes on what he was doing he noted, as Jack apologized for the umpteenth time for slopping soup over the side of his bowl having been distracted by something Sam and Teal'c were doing. Daniel wasn't sure what was so fascinating over there. Shrugging, Daniel replied to a question Jack had just asked about the artifact that SG-11 had just brought back from the planet they'd been studying.
Jack breathed a sigh of relief as he distracted Daniel yet again, and cursed his clumsiness. Daniel was too sharp, but fortunately he was keeping the archeologist distracted with questions about his field. Questions Jack promptly forgot the answers to as his attention wandered back to his sleepy Major, who was now propped up in the bed, sipping tea. He thought she looked especially charming with bed head. Charming? Where had that come from? Jack scowled down at his soup, spearing the floating pasta letters, realizing he'd spelled out 'Carter' in the soup. With a muffled curse, he stirred the soup around, and wondered what to do about his dilemma, deciding as soon as he got out he'd take some time alone. He knew he'd be able to sort things out. With luck, they'd get some downtime out of this, and maybe he could even get up to his cabin, just him, a reel, and a rod… Perfect.
The arrival of Doc Fraiser interrupted his internal debate, and she smiled to see them all sitting up and eating, especially Sam.
Jack pushed the mostly full soup bowl away. "So, Doc, we gettin' outta here?"
Janet's eyes appraised the leftover quantities on Daniel and Sam's trays, and she nodded slowly, but held up a finger to forestall the Colonel's exuberant whoop. "I think I can let you all go, provided," and here's where Jack sensed a big but coming, one he had a feeling he wouldn't like and would mean no cabin, "all of you take it easy. I'm putting SG-1 on medical stand down for the next three days, so I don't expect to see any of you on base for at least that long. However, I don't really think Sam or Daniel should be alone right now, at least for the first day or two." And now she looked pointedly at the Colonel.
Jack blinked. Then he squirmed. Daniel spoke up. "It's only fair Jack, we are sick because of you."
Well, when they put it that way. Jack sighed. Nope, no cabin, and looked like no chance of him being all alone either. And the source of all his problems would be coming to his house. Jack realized everyone was looking at him, waiting for a response. "Fine. They can stay at my place. Teal'c too." The more the merrier. And the less chance he'd be left alone with Carter. Jack tried to convince himself he'd be fine for a few more days, besides, he'd been fine when he'd been in the same room right?
Janet smiled. "I thought you'd agree. Ok, let's get you checked out one last time, and send you home."
It actually took nearly two hours to get them on their way, since Janet decided that Sam needed to shower. Sam seemed to be just a little on the confused side, but she was agreeable to whatever plans were made, as long as they let her go back to sleep. So it was an interesting group that loaded into Jack's oversized black truck. They had one large impassive alien in the front seat. One sleepy Major who refused to give up the blanket she had wrapped around her shoulders, and immediately leaned against the back window and promptly dozed off. (Daniel had to reach over and fasten her seatbelt for her) One moderately alert archeologist, who was happy to be out of isolation, even if it meant going to Jack's house. And one apprehensive Air Force colonel who had to resist the urge to readjust the rearview mirror to get an unobstructed view of his sleeping 2IC.
There was only one near miss on they way home, when Jack's distracted thoughts nearly caused him to drive through a stop sign. Fortunately, there was no oncoming traffic, and he caught himself in time, although his sudden heavy braking woke Carter briefly. "Wha?" she mumbled sleepily, making his heart flutter.
"Go back to sleep Carter," he ordered somewhat gruffly, trying to regain control of his raging emotions and wondering what the hell was the matter with him.
"Yessir," she slurred, already drifting off again. Daniel and Teal'c shared a look that Jack missed with his eyes glued to the road, as he drilled the thought "I will not have inappropriate thoughts about my 2IC" over and over in his head like the way Bart Simpson always wrote his punishment on the blackboard at the beginning of every episode.
Bounding out of the truck as soon as he'd parked in his driveway, Jack left the sleepy Major to Daniel and Teal'c, grabbing the house keys and bag of groceries Janet had thoughtfully provided them with. Opening the door for the mismatched group, Jack stood back, trying not to let his eyes linger on a certain someone as she entered his living room, kicked her shoes off haphazardly and made a beeline for the loveseat, where she promptly curled into a little ball and pulled her blanket up over her head.
Finding comfort in sarcasm, Jack couldn't resist. "Make yourself at home why don't you," he commented wryly.
Daniel pushed past him. "Thanks Jack, don't mind if I do." Following Sam's lead, Daniel also kicked off his shoes, though in a rather more controlled fashion and plopped onto the sofa, where he immediately picked up the remote and started surfing.
"Hey, no historical documentaries on ancient Egypt, ok Spacemonkey?" Jack gave his best my house, my rules voice.
Ignoring him, Daniel continued to flick through the channels. "And why not?" There was just the slightest hint of challenge in Daniel's tone.
"Because, Daniel," Jack said slowly, "every time we watch one of those you spend the entire time arguing with the narrator about how inaccurate they are." Jack finished like it was obvious. He crossed his arms over his chest, expression set.
"Well in that case, we can't watch any sporting events, because you spend the entire time arguing with the referee about how wrong they were," Daniel shot back without missing a beat, eyes still fixed on the screen, oblivious to the Colonel's mock glare. In the meantime, Teal'c had joined Daniel on the large sofa, and watched the two men in silent bemusement, his interest divided between the conversation and the television guide he had picked up off the coffee table.
Jack grinned suddenly, the casual banter making him relax in a way he hadn't felt relaxed in the last two days since their return from the planet. He had just opened his mouth to make a comeback, when a soft sigh from the loveseat caught his attention. Jack froze, his eyes automatically drawn to the sight of Carter stirring in her sleep, one arm slipping out of her cozy little blanket nest, pulling down the cover and exposing her face, cheeks flushed from sleep and hair again tussled. Stiffening, Jack knew he needed to get out of the room before he said or did something stupid.
"Ah, you guys pick something. I'm gonna go jump in a lake. I mean the shower. Take a shower. Yeah. Be right back." He bolted, leaving two very confused members of SG-1 in the room. Moments later, the shower could be heard running, and a muffled yelp.
Sharing a glance with Daniel Jackson, Teal'c spoke. "O'Neill seems to be most preoccupied."
"Yeah, Jack's been acting a little strange. I thought maybe it was just boredom, but I don't know." Unbidden, his eyes were drawn to the sleeping form of Sam Carter, who was blissfully oblivious to their conversation.
"O'Neill has been easily distracted since our return from P3X-468"
"So you've noticed too?"
"Indeed Daniel Jackson. O'Neill has had much difficulty concentrating even on simple tasks."
Continuing to flip through all 175 channels on Jack's TV, Daniel sent another glance at the sleeping figure on the loveseat, wishing she were awake, and more aware of what was going on. Her opinion would be welcome. "You, uh, do you think we need to mention this to anyone else yet?"
Teal'c considered the question quietly for a moment, studying the television screen as Daniel changed channels, before speaking softly so as not to disturb their sleeping companion. "No, I do not believe it to be of sufficient concern at this time. However, I feel we should remain most vigilant Daniel Jackson."
"Yeah, me too Teal'c. Me too." And Daniel continued to surf, as if somehow the answer to their questions could be found somewhere in the land of digital cable.