A/N: Krys – Daniel meets her family in the next chapter – tomorrow!
Several hours later, the doctor had completed tests on both Daniel and AJ. They were sitting on neighboring beds, while Sam, Jack and Teal'c stood behind Daniel. General Hammond was standing at the foot of Dr. Jago's bed.
"As far as I can tell both of you are in excellent health, considering what you've been through." Dr. Brightman flipped through their charts. "Dr. Jago, your ribs were merely, cracked, not broken, and have healed nicely, thanks to your care, Dr. Jackson. Other than needing to put back on a few pounds, I'd say you both are incredibly lucky. I would like to keep you both here overnight for observation and to wait on some of the blood tests. We're still looking for parasites and alien bacteria. You may leave the infirmary and go to private quarters the rest of the day, but I don't want you around other SGC personnel until the results are back on those tests. Come back here by 2100 and get some sleep. Understood?" She looked at both patients and waited for them to nod in acknowledgement.
"General Hammond, may I impose upon you again and phone my parents? I told them I'll call when I knew when I could go home."
"Absolutely. I'll go with you back to my office."
"Come on, Danny, let's get you out of here for a few hours. Teal'c has his Star Wars video set and we can watch in his quarters." Jack led his team out of the infirmary, looking for all the world like a mother duck leading her waddling ducklings.
Arwen called her parents again and this time talked to her mother. "Mom, I'll be getting out tomorrow… I'm fine. The doctor is just waiting for a few blood tests to come back from the lab to be sure… Yes, Mom, he said I'm in 'excellent health' – his words… No, don't come here. You won't be able to get into the infirmary anyway… Yes, top secret base. You remember all that clearance stuff we had to go through before I was hired… Yes, I'll get the first plane out that I can… I love you too, Mom. Let me talk to Dad."
"Sorry, about this, General, but you know how parents are!" She rolled her eyes at the grandfatherly gentleman seating behind his desk. His eyes twinkled back at her in understanding and amusement.
"Hey, Dad… Yes, I just went through all that with Mom. She can tell you… I don't know what time… Maybe noon? You want to what?" Her voice squeaked in surprise on the last word. "Dad, I can't ask him that!... Why? Because he's a general. Dad, he's my boss!... Yes, Dad. OK."
"Um, excuse me, General, but my father would like to speak to you. 'One father to another' he says." AJ's face flushed under her tan.
General Hammond grinned and accepted the phone from Arwen. "This is General Hammond." He paused and listened for several minutes. "Yes, she's receiving the best medical care the Air Force has to offer… She looks good."
Arwen's eyes rolled and she dropped her face in her hands, embarrassed beyond belief. My father is asking the General about my health! Oh, Lord, just open up a nice big hole! Right here, beneath my feel. I'll never ask for anything again."
"Of course, Mr. Jago. I'll see to it… Thank you. Good bye." Hammond set the phone back in its receiver and turned to Arwen.
"He says he'll make arrangements for someone to pick you up in the parking lot tomorrow and take you to the airport in Denver. You're not to bring a thing; they'll get you what you need when you get home." Hammond snickering at her embarrassment of her father's making him - a two-star general, commander of the most top secret base on Earth - a message boy.
"Thank you, sir. I think my family has imposed upon you and embarrassed me enough for one day. I'll…I'll just go now." She fled at top speed.
She went back to the infirmary because she didn't know where else to go. Daniel was off with the others somewhere and she couldn't go to her office and do any work, so she just sat and read a motorcycle magazine someone had left. She learned way more about motorcycles than she'd ever wanted to know.
Daniel returned promptly at 2100 that evening and found AJ already sleeping in her bed. He climbed into the bed next to hers and watched her sleep until he too, drifted off.