Jack sat in the small room looking through the window. He wanted to be in there with Daniel but both Doctor Frasier and Dr. Lew, the psychologist, thought it would be a bad idea. His argument, that being he had medical power of attorney over Daniel, and that Daniel thought that he was a minor, he should be in the room with him. The doctor's conceded to allow him to listen and watch the session.
Janet sat next to him, claiming to be near by in case of medical reasons.
Both watched as a nurse wheeled Daniel's bed into the room, setting up a few of the machines that they were still using to monitor his health.
Dr. Lew followed soon after the nurse left.
"Daniel? I'm Doctor Lew." The psychologist introduced himself. Harold Lew not only had the clearance needed to work in the SGC but also specialized in childhood trauma, such as witnesses during wars and other such horrible instances. He was a big help in regards to Cassandra. It was the only reason that Dr. Frasier would bring him in. "I was wondering if we could talk."
"You're a psychologist?"
"Yes. Have you spoken to psychologists before?"
Daniel looked down at his hands and nodded.
"When?"
"After my parents died. In school. A couple of times in the hospital."
"What did you talk about when you spoke to psychologists in the hospital?"
"Stuff." Still Daniel looked down at his hands.
Dr. Lew sat for a moment trying to think of how to get his patient to open up a bit more. "I see. You must be pretty bored." Daniel nodded again. "You must miss your friends."
Jack had to admit that someone with two broken arms in full casts looked pretty pitiful when they shrugged.
"Do you like school?" The doctor took another approach.
"No. It's boring."
"There must be something that's fun. You're how old?"
"Eleven."
"So you'll be starting 6th grade. There must be-"
"9th." Daniel interrupted.
"What?"
"9th. I'm not in 6th grade, I'm in 9th."
"You skipped three years?" The doctor was a bit surprised at this.
Daniel nodded. "I didn't want to go to school. But Ms. Smyth wouldn't tutor me after my parents died. They tested me after I moved in with the Mitchell's. They said I was too smart for 4th grade at the time."
"Do you have any favorite subjects?"
"History isn't bad. Neither is English. Spanish is kinda boring but not so bad."
"If Spanish is boring why not take something else?"
"They only offer Spanish, French, and Latin. I already know French and Latin."
"How many languages do you know?" This was the first sign of some sort of life he saw from the man.
"Five not including English; Latin, French, Egyptian, Ancient Egyptian, and Cuneiform. Although Cuneiform is more written, I can read and translate it."
"How did you learn Ancient Egyptian and Cuneiform?"
"I grew up in Egypt."
"Really?"
Daniel nodded, a tear slipped from his eye. "My dad was an archeologist and my mom was a linguist. They worked together in Egypt. I'm going to be an archeologist and work in Egypt too."
"Do you miss your parents?"
For the first time Daniel looked up at the psychologist. Jack could swear he saw a teenager in the glare that he gave the doctor. "Of course I do. What kind of stupid question is that?"
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"They died. A chain snapped. What's there to talk about?"
"You were there when it happened." It wasn't really a question.
"I talked about this before. You're here to talk about how I got hurt." Daniel ground out. He was loosing a battle keeping calm and aloof.
If Dr. Lew was thrown off by Daniel's directness he didn't show it. "That's right. Do you remember what happened?"
Daniel went back to nodding.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Daniel looked back up. Anger and fear blazing in his eyes. "Does it matter? You're not gonna believe me. No one ever does. And you're gonna make me go back. You always do." He yelled.
Jack stood up, as did Janet, ready to go in there to calm Daniel down.
"I believe you. You don't have to go back to the Mitchell's."
"That's what they all say. Why should I believe you?" Daniel continued to yell.
"Daniel." Dr. Lew placed a hand on his shoulder.
Daniel upset now, pushed his arm away and the man too.
Jack ran into the room. When he got there Daniel had fallen to the ground, and was crying. Dr. Lew was right beside him trying to calm him down.
Jack went over to Daniel, sat down, pulled him into his lap, and wrapped his arms around the man, pinning his arms to his sides. "Shh." Jack whispered in his ear, rocking him back and forth. "It's okay Daniel. Shh, you're safe." He continued.
He was aware of Janet coming into the room and injecting a sedative into Daniel. Jack continued to hold Daniel's body until the sedative took effect and he fell asleep.
A nurse came over to help Jack put Daniel back into bed and to take him back to the infirmary. It was then that he looked over at the psychologist. "Dr. Lew?"
"I'm alright." He stood up. "I'll talk to Daniel again tomorrow. He believes he's 11. I'm thinking that he regressed because as an adult he couldn't deal with what happened. So he went back. Maybe if we can help him deal with what happened when he was younger he will be able to deal with what recently happened."
"You think he will then get back to being 30 something?"
"It's hard to tell. But I think it's the first step. I'm going to want to talk to you and some of the others that Daniel deals with. I can read his file, but I need to get to know him. I'm hoping that you will be able to help me."
"Sure. Look, I can use some coffee. Why don't we use my office?" Jack led the other man out of the room.