When Janet Fraiser entered the infirmary at 9:55 the next morning – or the same morning, really – Ian was still asleep. She went over to his bed, nodding to the guard who was standing at the entrance of the infirmary in a spot that was out of the way but in clear view of the bed – just on the off chance that the Asgard had any more experimental scientists out there who thought they could make a play for Ian when he was at his most helpless.
Jack (the dog) was cuddled against Ian's side, and stretched out full length beside him – with Ian's arm draped over his warm body – the yellow lab was almost as big as the cadet. And snoozing just as soundly it appeared. At least it did until Janet walked up to the bed. Then Jack opened one eye to see who was coming, saw it wasn't someone to be concerned about, and closed his eye again. Sleeping in wasn't something Teal'c did very often. Because of that, it wasn't something Jack got to do all that often, either, and the lab was taking full advantage of the fact that he had the chance to now.
Luckily, Ian didn't seem to mind. And Janet was pretty sure he wouldn't have minded even if he'd been awake, since Ian actually did like dogs – and the labs in particular.
"Any sign of life?" she asked one of the night doctors, who came over to join her at the bed.
"Only from Jack – and not much there, either."
Janet smiled, and reached down to touch Ian's cheek, testing for fever. He was warm, but not too warm, and more importantly, he didn't move away from the touch, which told her he wasn't close to waking, really. She'd stitched the reopened cut on his forehead the night before, and there was a little swelling high up on his cheekbone – which was new. Aside from that, the bruises weren't new, and she didn't see anything to worry her too much.
"We might as well let him – them – sleep," she said. It wasn't like she needed him awake anyways, and she had other patients to check on.
The other doctor nodded, and they left Ian's bed, heading for Sergeant Dobbs', where he was recovering nicely, and already waiting impatiently to be released from the infirmary. Which wasn't going to happen that day, even though he didn't know it.
OOOOOOOOOO
It was a gentle touch that brought Ian out of his slumber. First, his sleep-fogged mind thought it was Sam – or maybe Cassie – but it didn't feel like either of them, he realized almost immediately. He knew their touch – even though they might not realize it – and this one was different.
When the wet tongue swiped across his cheek, he knew immediately why it was so familiar and yet so wrong, and he brought up his hand to fend off the lab.
"No…"
All it did was serve to make the licker that much more frantic to get another taste of skin, though, and Ian felt a cold nose press against his cheek, and then slide down his neck, preceded by that devastating tongue which was quickly covering his neck and jaw with drool.
"Hey… stop…"
He turned his head, trying to escape – and maybe keep from waking up so much that he wouldn't be able to get back to sleep – but only ran into yet another velvet soft, cold, wet nose, and a tongue that was just as long and wet as the first. Giving up, Ian rolled over and opened his eyes, reaching for both dogs and pulling their heads close against his chest, since he knew that trying to push them away would just make them think he wanted to play.
"You didn't have a chance, you know…"
Sam had been standing at the foot of his bed, watching as Jack (the dog) and Jaffer teamed up to wake Ian, and now she moved to take a seat on the edge of his bed, watching him intently, even though she was smiling.
"I know."
He didn't sound too upset by it, though. Of course, he was used to them doing it.
"How do you feel?"
"Like someone dropped a wet blanket on my face."
She laughed, and watched as he dried his face and neck with the blanket, then poked both of the dogs, who were content to flop down on the bed on either side of him – although it was a tight fit.
"Are you up for company?"
"Is that company going to bring me food?"
"Are you hungry?"
"Starved."
Sam turned her head, and Ian followed her gaze. Janet Fraiser had noticed the movement from his bed and was coming over to check on him.
"Awake I see."
He nodded.
"And he's hungry," Sam said, amused when Jaffer rolled over and put his head on Ian's bare arm, watching Sam and Janet and obviously interested in the conversation since he was pretty sure he'd heard the word food.
Janet nodded.
"I'll bet."
Sam moved off the bed, and Janet came over and stood next to him, watching him intently – even more intently than she usually did when she was checking him out, which made Ian frown.
"What?"
"How do you feel? And don't use the word fine."
"I'm okay."
"Tired?"
"Just a little."
"Any dizziness? Headaches? Blurry vision?"
Ian shook his head.
"No."
Janet held up a finger.
"Follow my finger with your eyes, but don't move your head…"
He did as she told him, knowing there was no reason to say no, since she'd just nag him until he did what she said anyways. Besides, he wanted out of the infirmary and he wasn't going to get out until she was sure he was okay. He was learning.
"Good. No spots?"
"No."
"Good. Then you can probably have lunch."
Ian frowned.
"Lunch? What time is it?"
"A little after noon."
"Holy shit…" He'd slept a lot longer than he'd thought.
Janet smiled, ignoring the curse and actually a little relieved. She couldn't see any sign of the shock from earlier, but even better she didn't see any sign of the fury he'd exhibited earlier, either. He was – for all appearances – back to his usual self.
"Lunch?" She repeated.
"Do I have to eat in bed?"
Janet hesitated, and then shook her head.
"No."
Sam moved back to the spot she'd vacated.
"Thor's coming back in a few hours to discuss this whole gene situation with us. Are you going to be up for that?"
Ian's dark eyes turned cold at the mention of the Asgard, and he shook his head.
"I'm not meeting with him."
Sam frowned; surprised by the anger in his voice and his expression – although when she thought about it, it only made sense he was angry with the Asgard. Loki had almost gotten him killed, after all, and Ian had a right to be upset about that – Sam was, and she knew Jack and General Hammond were, too.
She nodded.
"Okay. You don't have to."
It wasn't like he'd have much to add, anyways. As far as she knew, Ian didn't know anything about Asgard physiology, and it was Shawn who had the genetic makeup necessary to help the Asgard with their problem. Which made it a good thing that Shawn liked Thor so much and was able to look past what Loki had almost done to one of his best friends.
They probably wouldn't need Ian.
Janet glanced at Sam, and then motioned a corpsman over.
"Get dressed and see if you can make it to the commissary without falling on your face," she told Ian, not unkindly. "If you can do that, then we'll discuss you being discharged today."
"Really?"
Now the anger was gone, almost as quickly as it'd manifested, and was replaced by surprise.
Fraiser nodded.
"And take Jaffer and Jack with you. I need to get the dog hair off my sheets."
