What Fate Decrees - Part Thirteen

Jack slowly moved to sit on the side of the bed. He managed to get his shirt unbuttoned and with a little difficulty, off. His right arm still hurt to move and when he did it pulled on the wounds painfully. He sat in just his sweat pants, suddenly realising how much he was still bandaged.

"Oh crap," he muttered "Looks like just a good wash then."

He had been dying for a shower. He got up slowly and painfully and made the short journey to his bathroom. Eventually, still very wet, but much refreshed he made his way back to his room to get some fresh clothes. Absolutely worn out, and in even worse pain than before from just the effort of washing, he sat down on the bed in just his boxers and looked at the mess he'd created in his search for loose fitting clothing. He shook his head dejectedly.

"Hey you okay?" Daniel's head appeared around the bedroom door. "I was getting a bit worried." He came into the room and walked towards Jack. "You're not looking too good."

"Yeah, I'm okay. Just taking it easy," breathed Jack. He was trying hard not to show the pain his exertions had caused.

Daniel gestured at Jack's heavily bandaged torso. "Um, you didn't shower with all those on did you?"

"Nope, had to settle for a wash," Jack puffed.

Daniel took the towel from him and began to dry his shoulders. "You're a bit soggy. Janet will be over later, you better let her change them." Seeing Jack hadn't resisted his help so far he helped him to dress. "Socks?" he enquired.

Jack shook his head "Nah, too much trouble. I can't reach my feet at all. Forget the shoes as well, it's much easier barefoot."

Daniel nodded in agreement and began to straighten up the room, putting the worn clothing in a heap for the laundry. He began shutting the drawers and tidying the other clothing Jack had pulled out in his search.

Jack hesitated, reluctant to ask for help, but knowing he had to. "Daniel, I'm sorry, but do you think you could mop the bathroom floor? It got a bit wet."

"Sure no problem," Daniel called, going in to the bathroom. There was a pause, then he laughed. "A bit wet! How about a swimming pool?"

As Daniel mopped up the water, Jack gradually recovered his breath and the pain subsided to a more comfortable level.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Coming back into the room Daniel was struck by his friend's appearance. Dressed in baggy bottoms and an oversized hockey shirt he looked thinner than ever. His face was pale with dark circles underneath his eyes. It showed what he'd been through the last couple of weeks and what he was still suffering. Following behind him, Daniel watched as he made his way slowly down the stairs and sank down on the couch.

"I've cleaned the swimming pool out. It's a good job I'm here you know otherwise you'd have drowned in a week," said Daniel cheerfully. Jack gave him a grin, the first one all day Daniel realised. He brought two tumblers of fresh juice from the kitchen, handing one to Jack.

"No beer yet?" quipped Jack as he accepted it.

"What, with those meds? You'd be floating high!" laughed Daniel.

Jack nodded sheepishly. "Done that a few times," he admitted.

"Not on my watch," Daniel responded firmly.

"Okay, I'll go with that for now."

"Sam and Teal'c said about eight. I ordered the pizza for eight-thirtyish."

"Yeah, that's good." Jack yawned widely and reclined further down into the cushions. Soon he started to doze once more, the medication taking effect.

Daniel covered him up and sat down to flick the TV on. Catching sight of a historical documentary on one of the channels, he settled to watch. A huge battle was being recreated and the commentary droned on explaining the scene. Some of the gory content made Daniel wince. Even knowing it was a re-enactment didn't make the violence any less real to him.

Jack stirred in his sleep and a moan escaped him. A film of perspiration covered his face as he began to twist and fight. Daniel quickly moved to his side, worried that the movements would aggravate the injuries further. As he reached out to hold Jack still, Jack's arm suddenly flew out, connecting viciously with Daniel across the chest.

"No, you bastards," Jack began screaming and cried out more. At first Daniel couldn't understand what he was saying, but then he suddenly realised Jack was shouting in Arabic. He moved closer again, but was unable to avoid another blow as Jack's arm connected with even more force than before, sending the surprised archaeologist flying over the coffee table to land in a heap on the floor.

"Idiot!" He cursed himself for approaching Jack that way. Realising the battle scene was blaring away in the background, he reached out for the remote and turned it off As soon as he did so Jack seemed to settle down a little. Daniel moved closer to him, but stayed out of range, calling to him softly.

"Jack, Jack, it's me Daniel."

Jack's eyes flickered slowly on Daniel's face, looking unfocussed and glazed.

'No instant recognition,' thought Daniel as he moved a little closer. He could see Jack struggling to surface. "Hey Jack, you're home, you're safe." He spoke softly, trying to keep his tome as reassuring as possible.

"Daniel?" Jack's eyes seemed to finally focus on him.

"Yeah, Jack it's me," he grinned, relieved that Jack was back in the present.

Still sweating, Jack closed his eyes again, clearly trying to calm his breathing down. He sucked in a shuddering breath, and winced as he let it go quickly, his hand shooting protectively to his ribs. Daniel watched in alarm as Jack's face paled dramatically.

A knocking at the door brought Daniel out of the slight daze he had been in and he shot to answer it. Upon seeing Janet standing there he practically dragged her in, her doctor's bag almost as welcome a sight as she was.

"Oh boy, am I glad you're here. Jack's in an awful lot of pain, quick!" He almost ran over to the couch, Janet close behind him.

Janet frowned as she took in Jack's appearance. "What on earth have you been up to Colonel?" she asked as she opened her bag, getting her stethoscope out. She didn't wait for an answer as she lifted Jack's shirt and placed the instrument on his chest. Daniel was shocked to see blood seeping through the bandages, but Janet ignored it and continued to listen to Jack's breathing, then checked his BP and pulse.

"What happened?" she asked Daniel grimly.

Jack's eyes opened at the annoyed tone in the Doctor's voice. "Not Daniel's fault," he panted.

Janet didn't comment, instead she looked at Daniel, waiting for an explanation.

Daniel tried to make light of it "Um, Jack had a bit of a nightmare."

"Oh!" Daniel knew Janet didn't need any further explanation. That told her all she needed to know. She had first hand knowledge of the Colonel's 'nightmares'. She'd witnessed a flashback in the infirmary and knew that it could be quite distressing to say the least.

"Take it easy Colonel. This will help with the pain" Janet gave him an injection. "I need to check the wound, it's bleeding." She gently removed the bandages with scissors and then the dressings.

Daniel stood quietly watching, not having seen the wound since the pit, and then not very clearly. It seemed huge and livid, and very raw looking. Jack's stomach and chest still looked very badly bruised. Daniel felt slightly sick at the sight. God alone knew how much pain he'd been in.

"The bleeding's almost stopped. There isn't much, but you've torn a stitch. Did you fall?" Janet asked as she applied a little pressure to the area, making Jack wince and grey a little.

Daniel's hand involuntarily moved across his chest to rub the spot where Jack had hit him. Janet looked away from Jack at the motion.

"You two weren't fighting?" she asked, her tone angry.

"It was an accident Janet. I forgot the first rule of O'Neill waking up – staying beyond arms length," said Daniel sheepishly.

"I hit you?" groaned Jack "Crap, I'm sorry Daniel."

"It's okay. Like I said, it was an accident. You were still um, dreaming."

"Your stats are still a little high," Janet commented, noting them down as she spoke.

"No, I'm not going back in," stated Jack firmly, before she could say anything else.

"I wasn't going to suggest it, you're better off here. If you can stop beating Daniel up that is," quipped Janet smiling at him.

Jack grinned back at her. "I'll try, but that's gonna be the hardest part Doc."

"Good, now let's get you sat up while I check the back wound and then we'll get you bandaged again." She helped him to sit up and whipped off his shirt without fuss.

"Hey you're getting better at undressing me without scissors," joked Jack "Can't you pass it on to your staff. Soon as I get fatigues comfy your staff cut em up."

Daniel laughed at Janet's indignant face.

"Perhaps if you avoided getting injured we wouldn't have to Colonel."

"Touché" said Jack with a grin.

Deftly Janet checked the injury on his back and then replaced the moist saline soaked gauze on the wounds, before applying dry dressings, front and back. She worked quickly and even Daniel was aware that the pressure on his ribs was making itself felt and his friend couldn't hold back the occasional grunt of pain. She started the pressure bandages for his ribs, only to pause when Jack uttered a choked cough.

"Humph, Doc a guy gotta breathe," he moaned through clenched teeth.

Janet continued to bandage when he'd got his breath. "Those ribs need the support Colonel, they were pretty bad breaks, and they'll take a long while to just begin to knit." She finished and helped him re-dress and then eased him back down, supporting him with more cushions until she was satisfied he was as comfortable as he was going to get.

"Are you in a rush to get home? Sam and Teal'c are coming over and I've got plenty of pizza on the way," asked Daniel, feeling highly relieved now that Jack was settled down.

Janet smiled and nodded. "That'd be great. Cassie's at a sleepover. That's if you're not sick of the sight of me?" she asked looking directly at Jack.

"You're very welcome, honestly, provided there are no more needles tonight," he replied, giving her a charming grin, his eyes dark and welcoming.

Janet sat down with a grin, and Daniel smiled as she was obviously taken in by the O'Neill charm. She bent and began to re-pack her bag, putting it neatly to one side.

Daniel had been busy tidying up the coffee table, picking up the things that had been knocked to the floor.

"Good job it wasn't glass," he commented as he finished.

Jack looked at him with a guilty expression. "Did I hit you that hard?"

"Well, I barely touched it as I sailed over it," laughed Daniel, trying to keep it light. He didn't want Jack feeling guilty over that as well.

"Are you hurt?" said Janet, reaching for her bag again. "I'm sorry. I should have checked you out."

"It's nothing," Daniel smiled, "Just a bit of a bruise I expect, and my ego shattered."

"Ego?" asked Janet "Never heard of that part of a body." Her tone matched Daniel's – light and joking, as they both strove keep Jack from thinking about what had happened.

"Yeah, an injured man with one hand – or should I say one arm, who I might add was asleep at the time, sends me flying. Would you advertise it?"

Jack nodded with a grin. "Sure Daniel, just don't go admitting it to a jar-head."

"What is it with you and the Marines?" asked Janet "I'm quite partial to them," she added, with a twinkle in her eyes.

"Janet Fraiser, you can't admit that," said Jack in an outraged tone. "They should give you time with Mackenzie and throw away the key!"

"Sorry I spoke." she laughed.

Daniel looked up from where he knelt on the floor, picking up the last of the chess pieces from the carpet. He was about to make a comment when there was a knock on the door. He put the pieces in a heap on the board and got up to answer it.

xoxoxoxoxoxo