Author Note: Thank you all for the feedback. I really appreciate that you're doing this. As hectic and horrid as life is at the moment it leaves me little fiction time, so please join me in giving a whoppingly huge Jack thank you to Flatkatski who is using her own valuable time in helping me so much. I simply don't know where I would be without her and you would all be cursing my slowness and terrible grammar and dizzying pov - (yes I want this posting Neet and I will be checking it - no cutting) ! Thank you everyone, but especially to Froggy for all your kind words and encouragement.

loads of Jack hugs xxxxx

Jackie

Note from Author's helper: Yes, I put Jackie's note at the top of this chapter, but I have to add that this great fic is all her own work – I'm only doing the posting. I'm glad you're all enjoying it as much as I did the first time I read it. – Flatkatsi

What Fate Decrees - Part Ten

Jack awoke some hours later to find a tousled brown-haired head on the bed near him. Daniel was fast asleep; his head over his arm on the bed, his body just about perched on the chair. Jack didn't have the heart to wake him so he lay quietly watching him. The pain was uncomfortable, but bearable, his head relatively clear.

Daniel stirred and mumbled, turning his head to give Jack a clear look at his bruised forehead and the butterfly stitches. Jack watched as Daniel opened his eyes, blinking a few times before latching onto his own. Stretching and yawning the other man sat up.

"Oh God Jack, I'm sorry I must have dozed off."

"It's okay," Jack whispered. "You okay?" He waved his right hand a little to indicate his friend's forehead, shocked at how much effort the small movement took.

Daniel put up a hand up to his head, plainly having forgotten about the stitches. Then realising what Jack meant he spoke. "Oh yes, goodness that's nothing, thanks to you."

"I did that?" asked Jack puzzled, feeling somewhat guilty but unable to remember anything about the incident.

"No, err yes, what I mean is you saved my life. I came off lightly with this."

Jack was uncomfortable with Daniel's words. "I probably had nothing better to do at the time," he said trying to dismiss Daniel's thanks.

"Oh Jack, no really, I mean thank you. So, how are you feeling? Want me to get Janet?"

Jack gave a slight shake of his head, which he instantly regretted as the room swam sickeningly. "Nah, I'm not too bad. I've felt worse."

Daniel looked like he was about to say something, but thought better of it, offering Jack some water instead, which he gratefully accepted, welcoming the cool liquid in his dry throat.

He took a few small sips before summoning up the energy to speak again. "Ah, that feels good. But if you're feeling guilty a beer would go down better."

"I'll never be able to smuggle that past Janet," grinned Daniel.

"Smuggle what?" asked a voice from the doorway.

"Damn, ears like a bat," Jack murmured.

"Colonel, I heard that too." said Janet, frowning as she approached the bed.

Jack groaned. "Damn," his eyes giving her a silent apology.

xoxoxoxoxo

Janet gazed down at her patient, getting the full 'puppy dog eyes look' 'Oh Sam,' she thought to herself 'I know how you feel about those eyes. They could just melt you down, or worse, damn you to hell if he wished.' Breaking her gaze she cast a look at Daniel. "Smuggling isn't allowed and if I catch anyone bringing a certain Colonel anything not cleared by me, there'll be trouble."

Daniel blushed at Janet's words. Colonel O'Neill looked from one to the other, smiling, and Janet wondered what he was thinking. He had a speculative look on his face, the sort she knew she had when she watched Sam and the Colonel together… No, surely not! She quickly looked away, avoiding his gaze. As soon as she did so the Colonel spoke in his best pleading voice.

"Trying to spoil our fun, Doc? Have a heart."

"You're not here to have fun Colonel, in case you've forgotten." But Janet laughed as she spoke, she could never be angry at him for long, especially if it was a contrite O'Neill fixing her with his eyes.

"No ma'am," said Jack with a grin and tried to give a salute, which couldn't quite reach, but got the message across.

"Now, how's the pain?"

"Not too bad."

"Right" Janet adjusted the IV, knowing a 'not too bad' from the Colonel was way beyond comfortable. If he ever admitted past five or six on a scale she was worried – very.

The extra meds began to take effect and once more her patient succumbed to sleep.

As soon as she was sure Colonel O'Neill was asleep, Janet invited Daniel into her office. "How are you feeling? You're looking much better," she asked.

Daniel smiled a little. "I feel a lot better actually. I'm still deciding about leaving, but I accept that Jack doesn't, isn't, well you know what I mean."

Janet nodded.

"Teal'c actually helped me, he doesn't say a lot but what he does say does make sense. I can understand why Jack hangs out with him so much. Teal'c is a very reassuring person to have around – not that I think Jack needs reassuring," he added, frowning to see if his words made sense.

"Why wouldn't the Colonel need reassuring, at least sometimes?"

Daniel gave her a look "Jack? He's the most confident person I know. Why would he want reassurance from anyone? He's so self-contained."

Janet sighed and picked a pen up from her desk, twisting it in her hands as she spoke. She had her own opinion on the way Colonel O'Neill handled things, and they obviously didn't match Daniel's. "Daniel, as much as heappears that way, it doesn't mean he is. Anything that he is unsure of or makes him unsure he files it away, deals with it the 'O'Neill' way. He boxes everything down, hides all his emotions and that isn't always healthy. He's done that a lot. He's had to in his line of work, the things he's not only done, but also survived over the years, but to keep doing it that way isn't living. You need feelings to live. His only feelings come from you guys, all his past is in shutdown – so to speak."

Daniel sat silently, and Janet wondered if he completely disagreed with her interpretation of the Colonel. Then he spoke. "Yeah, I guess, that's Jack alright."

"You and Sam and Teal'c are his family and he relies on you and he lives for you all, though he'd never admit it."

Daniel shifted uncomfortably. "He's my family too," he said quietly. "The thing is I've never been really sure how Jack feels about me. Sometimes I feel I'm a nuisance to him - holding him back, him getting hurt to protect me, in the way with two left feet, almost dressing me at times, reminding me to eat. He's there to pick me up when I fall…." his voice broke.

Janet placed a hand on his shoulder looking him in the face. "Then Daniel, my guess is you're describing a big brother and that is what big brothers do and probably how little brothers feel."

"But.."

"Daniel, you know the Colonel well enough, does he do this for others? How does he react to strangers? Or let me put it another way, can you honestly say the Colonel suffers fools gladly?"

Daniel shook his head with a rueful grin. "God forbid. I've seen Jack flay someone with his tongue, or that look he gives … it's enough to stop a runaway …." he stopped, smiling sheepishly "and I'm an idiot," he stated "too busy feeling guilty for having a big brother to enjoy it!"

Janet laughed at his expression of enlightenment.

"Thank Janet, from now on I'll try enjoying his help and friendship instead of questioning it" and with that he scooped her into his arms and gave her a huge kiss.

Taken by surprise Janet didn't know what to say.

"Oops sorry," Daniel grinned at her.

She couldn't be angry with him, but she blushed slightly.

"That doesn't mean I'm happy for him to get beaten about for me though," Daniel added.

"I didn't think that for an instant. Now scoot, I've got work to do."

Daniel laughed, and left. Janet watched him walk out, smiling to herself. She could already see the difference in him. His head was up and he wasn't hunching over or hugging himself. 'Thank goodness,' she thought, not only for Daniel but also for Jack – they both needed each other.

xoxoxoxoxo