Title: Unity.

Author: LetitiaRichards.

Previously:

"Don't worry. I'll be there Janet. I won't let him down this time."

Chapter 22

True to his word, Daniel was sitting beside his bed when Jack woke.

It was a slow process, and Daniel allowed him the time to wake fully before he spoke.

Jack became aware that someone was sitting with him, long before he would be forced to open his eyes. He could hear someone's quiet breathing, and wondered just who it was. He didn't really want anyone with him. He tried to ignore them and go back to sleep, but he found it almost impossible; his senses were filled with the sounds and smells of a hospital. He couldn't help the small groan of disappointment when he recalled where he was and why he was there. He was hoping to be home by now, where he could shut everyone away.

"Jack?"

Jack sighed. It just had to be Daniel who was sitting with him.

He tried to ignore his friend, but Daniel called him on it.

"I know you're awake Jack, so why don't you just accept I'm here. I'm not leaving."

"You gonna yell again?" Jack grumbled, tiredly.

"Not unless you provoke me, no."

"I did not provoke you!" Jack sighed, pinching his nose, still refusing to open his eyes. He felt drained, and wasn't up to haggling with his team-mate.

"Yes you did!"

"No I didn't!"

"See, you're at it again."

"I am not!" Jack snapped.

Daniel was about to answer 'yes you are', when he thought better of it. Best not to go into another round of that just now.

"Jack!"

"Go away Daniel, you're giving me a headache."

"I told you already, I'm not leaving you, and I mean it."

Jack turned and actually looked at Daniel for the first time, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"You gotta pee sometime," Jack snarked triumphantly.

Daniel's mouth quirked upwards at the corners, glad to hear that Jack still had some sense of humour left, even if it wasn't in context.

"Yes I do," he answered with a smile, "and when I do Teal'c or Sam will be here."

Jack groaned, turning away again.

"Can't you guys take a hint."

"A hint? What? So trying to kill yourself is a hint that you don't want our company? There are better ways..."

"What? Kill myself? What are you talking about?" Jack gasped in astonishment.

Daniel held Jack's bandaged wrist up for him to see.

"Yes, kill yourself. You slashed your wrists."

Jack pulled his hand up to look at the other wrist, trying not to pull the IV out of the back of his hand at the same time, or jar his yet to heal broken fingers.

"Crap!" he exclaimed in shock. "You sure? I don't remember doin' that!"

Daniel knew that to be true. The look of sheer horror on Jack's face was genuine.

"Jack. I don't know what or how much you remember, but they drugged you and then brainwashed you. Janet says there's an unknown chemical still inside you along with this mind programming. It made you get violent and then you locked yourself in the bathroom and..." his voice trailed off as he waved a hand at Jack's wrists as evidence. "...did that. Teal'c and I had to bust the door down."

"Double crap!" Jack repeated with meaning.

"What do you remember of a Lieutenant Miguel Sanchez, Jack?"

"Who?"

"Lieutenant Sanchez. US Marines of Mexican origin. He was one of those guys in Iraq that you were counselling."

"I...I don't remember a Sanchez."

"Well, whoever he was, he was behind the trigger, that made you...you know. He spoke that 'word', which I am sooo not going to repeat, giving us the idea that it would bring you out of your nightmares every time. And it did. It worked Jack. Each time, but..."

"After so many times, it... yadda, yadda. Yeah, yeah, I get it Daniel."

"We'll find them Jack. All you have to do is get over this."

"It's too late for that."

"We'll all be there to help you Jack."

"No. I don't want anyone to help me. I'm fine!"

Daniel blew out a protracted breath.

"Yeah right! Jack..."

"I don't need anyone pussyfootin' around me Daniel. I just want to be left alone!"

"Sorry, No can do Jack. You're not going to bury this, like the last time."

Jack sighed. He didn't want them all around him; he didn't want them to know the truth, though that wasn't an option when it would come to light eventually. If he had two good feet to walk on right now, he'd leave, but he was a sitting target for their constant mother-henning, especially after his failed attempt at suicide.

"I don't wanna talk about it, so go...look at your rocks," he argued.

"I've not been discharged yet! Janet's keeping me here."

"Why?" Jack forgot his own problems and wondered why Daniel was still being kept in the hospital. Was there something that Daniel wasn't telling him? Was he hurt worse than he'd thought?

"I still have injuries. I still have nightmares Jack. Nightmares where I watch you get tortured over and over. They're not as bad as yours though. They didn't mess with my head like they did yours."

Jack closed his eyes, and sucked in a huge breath.

"I'm sorry you had to see that Daniel," Jack said, rubbing his brow wearily. When would this end?

"I could have stopped it. I could have told them Jack. You would have been spared all that pain and torment."

Jack turned away, unable to face Daniel's guilt when he himself was guilty of the worst offence. How could he allow Daniel to feel so bad about it when they had broken him down in the end? Daniel was by far the better man.

"You didn't break Daniel," Jack whispered brokenly. "No matter what they did to me or to you, you kept those secrets to yourself. Don't feel so bad about me. I have to live with it, not you."

"What? Jack?"

"There's no reason for you to feel that way. You're a good man Daniel. You should leave me before I tarnish you with my reputation..."

"Jack that's rubbish and you know it," Daniel interrupted.

Jack shook his head.

"You shouldn't be associated with the likes of me Daniel. You're too good to be my friend."

"Why? Why shouldn't I be? Jack you're worrying me now. What's wrong?"

"Nothing!" Jack choked out.

"Jack, please."

"Daniel just go!" he cried, trying to keep a tight hold oh his emotions.

"No!"

"Get the hell outta here!" Jack argued, raising his voice.

"I'm not leaving you Jack. I wouldn't leave you behind before, and I'm not going to now. Please. Just tell me why I should go?"

"Daniel!" Jack's voice finally broke and he hadn't got the heart to turn his friend away; not after all he'd suffered for his sake. He couldn't help himself anymore; his heart was overburdened with remorse and deep down he knew Daniel would never turn his back on him. A tear ran down his cheek, startling Daniel further. Jack never cried.

Daniel sat waiting for Jack to explain why he didn't want them around. The nightmares were nothing new; they'd all seen him through them before, but the tear had him more than a little worried. He wanted nothing more than to take Jack in his arms and comfort him but Jack held him off angrily.

Long minutes passed before Jack's painful whisper echoed loudly round the room. The softly spoken words carrying the weight of the world with them and more tears were leaking from those dark expressive eyes.

"You may not have told them anything Daniel...but I did!"

TBC

Hope you are enjoying the interaction between Daniel and Jack. The bit with Sam and Jack will come later...don't worry there will be time for them.

Thanks to everyone who sent in a review. Glad you are sticking with me.