Head Trip – Chapter 17 "Complication"
Jack had finally fallen into a deep sleep after a mostly restless night. Since his thoughts of Sam prevented his slumber early in the night, he relieved Teal'c by taking second watch. Daniel seemed to be sleeping so peacefully that O'Neill hated to wake him, as originally planned, and allowed the younger man to take the third, and final watch into the early morning hours.
The sneezing woke him up.
Jack turned towards the sound, eyes opening slowly, adjusting to the creeping daylight.
"Daniel? Is that you?"
A muffled snort and another fit of sneezing provided the answer. Of all the team members, Daniel Jackson was the most susceptible to the environment of the planets they explored. It sounded as if his night in this pastoral setting had triggered a severe allergic reaction.
"Umm … sorry, Jack … ah, ah …." Again, another round of sneezes exploded beyond the sea of tall grass.
"It seems that Daniel Jackson is having some type of difficulty with his sinus cavities," suggested Teal'c, lying a short distance from Jack.
"Ya think?!"
Jack forced his aching body up, and moved to the grassline to see just what was happening. He wasn't prepared for the sight that greeted him. Poor Daniel was surrounded by a mound of sodden tissues and leaning back against the incline of the road. His eyeglasses were lying at his feet, as he continuously wiped at his running eyes and nose. His face was swollen and blotchy.
"Jack, this just hit me … I don't know what could be the culprit …" the wheezing man barely croaked as he blew his nose and another paroxysm of sneezes shook his body.
By now, Teal'c, too, had emerged from the grass and was observing the rapidly deteriorating condition of his teammate.
"Daniel, do you require assistance with your medication?"
Daniel motioned Teal'c to the side compartment of his backpack and soon the Jaffa was supplying a canteen of water and several white pills, along with some type of nasal spray. Jack continued to watch the highway for any sign of activity, especially now that the bright morning sun had broken through the hazy clouds of dawn. He was concerned about the severity of this allergic attack and even more concerned about Daniel's ability to recover quickly.
Daniel gulped down the offered pills and, after one more forceful blow of the nose, applied the nasal spray. It took several minutes, but the meds started to calm his symptoms and the stricken soldier was able to look at his two worried friends and reassure them.
"Thank God for antihistamines. I never leave home without them."
"Daniel, how soon do you think you'll be ready to travel?" asked a worried CO.
"Jack, honestly, just give me about another five-ten minutes, and I'll be good to go."
O'Neill would have been more reassured if the somewhat shaky response was not followed by a sneeze. However, after several minutes passed, the worst seemed to be over. In another ten minutes, the team was almost ready to go. Jack gave the marching order.
"Okay, time to move out. Keep to the side of the road, same formation as last night: I'll take point; Daniel next; Teal'c - you bring up the rear. ETA 10:00 hours. We'll reconnoiter later, about a klick from the citadel. Let's hope we don't meet any more tin men."
Teal'c raised an eyebrow; Daniel collected his tissues, and Jack started to think about just what may be waiting for them on the road ahead ….