Sorry for the delay guys…as I said, I had company for the holiday. Now I should be able to get back into my stride once more.

Thanks to all of you who sent in reviews. You're amazing!

Title: Unity.

Author: LetitiaRichards.

Previously:

Janet cast her eyes up to catch those of Sam and she shrugged at Sam's questioning look. It wasn't up to her to go against Jack's wishes. The Academy was more than equipped to deal with his injuries just as well as the SGC was. She didn't doubt for one minute that he would throw a wobbly if she insisted on the infirmary instead. He could be so pig-headed and stubborn when he wanted.

Chapter 18

As Jack had stipulated, Janet settled him into the bed at the Academy hospital, much to his team's disquiet. They wouldn't be able to visit him as often as they wanted to. In fact only Daniel would be able to stay longest as he was still under Janet's care too. She had put Daniel into the room next door so that he could be near Jack if he should need him, while allowing Jack his privacy.

They'd already explained to her about the Spanish word that they used to bring Jack out of his flashbacks and nightmares, and Janet was amazed, though quietly she was worried that it sounded a little like they had brainwashed him or perhaps it was even a form of hypnotism. She wasn't happy about it, but having witnessed such an episode and it's effect she relented, thinking it was better than trying to coax him or perhaps having to hold him down with restraints; besides the emotional upset for him if he's lashed out at someone, not realising it was one of his friends.

"Daniel will be next door if you should need anything Colonel," Janet informed him waiting for him to pass comment, though she only received a cursory nod.

Jack didn't want company, especially not Daniel's, or from anyone on his team. He didn't want to face them, let alone make small talk with them. He knew he would have to face General Hammond at some point but hopefully not just yet.

Janet fussed over him, getting him comfortable, and he took it from her, lying passive as she set up a new IV and made sure he had everything within reach.

She fussed some more, but he called her up short.

"Doc!" he grumbled. "I'm fine. Just go...sort Daniel out or somethin' will ya! I'm tired."

She looked slightly taken aback at his scowling face, but nodded, tweaking the sheet into place one last time.

"As you wish Colonel. Get some rest sir, it's been a long journey. You want something to help you sleep?"

Jack shook his head and turned over. Facing the window with his back to her and those at the door. She took the hint and left the room, shooing the others out of the doorway and closing the door behind her.

"Janet?"

"He's tired Sam. Let him sleep. It's been a very long day for him. He shouldn't really have made the journey just yet, but I can understand your reasoning."

"But what if he wakes to another nightmare?"

"Then one of us can sort him out, I'm sure. Right now, he doesn't want any company," Janet sighed, looking back through the small square of window in the door.

She heard a small sniffle and knew that Sam was wondering why he didn't even want her company. She laid a hand on Sam's arm gently squeezing it.

"Sam honey, give him time. This has taken a lot out of him and he needs a little extra care and patience, that's all. We have to tread carefully, and not push him too far too soon. Let him work this all out of his system and he'll soon start to want you near him again."

"You think so?"

"I'm sure of it Sam," Janet assured her with a warm smile.

"Okay, but I won't leave him too long Janet. He'll just push everyone away and try to forget how much he's gone through. He needs to talk to someone soon."

"I know Sam. I know; but give it a while yet and see how things go. If it doesn't look as if it's working, then we'll have to think about getting him sorted out, maybe with Dr. MacKenzie's help too."

Sam looked doubtful. She knew Jack never trusted that quack. He was never keen on that 'Bark like a chicken, cluck like a dog' philosophy as he put it. They had all seen what had happened to Daniel that time when he had been infected by Machello's Goa'uld busting bugs. The shrink had him locked up in a white padded room before you could say 'Stargate'. Ever since then Jack had taken a dislike to the man and wouldn't co-operate with him on anything. She doubted very much that Jack would open up to him about his recent experiences in Iraq. It would be down to Daniel, Teal'c, Janet and herself to help him through this.

Janet hurried off, shooing Daniel in front of her into the next room and getting him settled in there, much to his chagrin. She did allow him one concession though; and that was in letting Sam stay with him while Teal'c took up residence outside Jack's door and nothing would budge him from his post, save a Goa'uld invasion.

OoOoOoOoO

It was dark outside when Daniel awoke. He lay listening wondering what had woken him. Then he heard it. A keening whine and soft pleading in Arabic.

He leapt from his bed and hurried next door to see if anyone needed help in calming Jack down again. He was obviously having another nightmare, but there wasn't any staff in there with him, and Teal'c had been called back to the SGC to meet with Master Bra'tac and his son Ry'ac.

Cautiously he approached the bed.

"Jack!" he whispered softly, but Jack was thrashing about unaware of where he was or who he was with. He tried calling a little louder, in the end resorting to that one Spanish word.

"Mariposa!"

The effect was instantaneous. Jack stilled and sighed with relief, panting from exhaustion and pain from over extending his injuries again.

"You need anything Jack? Should I get the Doc?"

"No!" barked Jack. He hated that Daniel had seen him so bad again, but at Daniel's shocked face at the harshness of his reply, he relented a little. "I'm fine now Daniel. Go back to bed!" With that, he rolled over again to face the window, effectively cutting off any attempt on Daniel's behalf to talk about it.

Daniel sighed heavily, reaching out to lay his hand on Jack's shoulder, but the older man flinched under it and Daniel pulled it away, feeling thoroughly rejected.

"Right, well, just yell if you need me, okay? I'm not going to go away Jack. I promised I'd be there for you. Always. And Sam and Teal'c too."

Jack never answered and Daniel stared hard at the back of Jack's head for a moment, wondering what was going on in there, then he turned and walked sadly back to his room. He turned once more at the door, but Jack hadn't moved at all. Daniel sighed again then got himself back to bed, but he lay awake for a long time; his thoughts churning over what to do for the best.

OoOoOoOoO

General Hammond came to visit the next day. Although Jack never mentioned the torture he'd gone through, the General could see how much it had affected him. The bruising might have faded to yellow, and the new scars were still very vivid, telling the tale that Jack wouldn't reveal.

All the time they were talking, at least Hammond was doing most of it, Jack had kept his eyes averted from the senior officer's. Jack's answers were clipped and terse at best, and carried the least amount of information he could get a way with.

In the end, the General decided to leave it for a while longer and moved on to the next room to hear Daniel's report, hoping to gain a better insight as to the reasons for Jack's closed off and guarded answers.

Daniel gave him a run down of the events as they happened but could only relay so much information about what Jack had undergone because, as he explained, he wasn't there in the same room for most of the time, though he could hear Jack's screams until he'd had passed out from whatever they were doing to him.

Hammond had read Janet's report on the numerous injuries that Jack had sustained and it didn't make for pretty reading. He'd seen the reports from Jack's first imprisonment and that was bad enough. How could he have let Jack go back to Iraq and then allow him to go through all that again. Orders, be damned; he should have stood up to the joint chiefs, and refused to let Jack go. He'd failed Jack; the finest officer he had had the privilege to serve with, as well as being a friend. Some friend he was! Guilt suffused him and he retreated to his office at the SGC to consider his retirement.

TBC.