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CHAPTER SEVEN

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"Come on, Daniel," sighed O'Neill in exasperation. "Balor said you were prettier than his current host---i.e. he thought you were pretty."

"Jack."

"I have to agree with Balor, Daniel," said Sam dutifully, trying hard to hide her grin.

"Sam."

"What's going on here?" asked Janet Frasier as she moved to Daniel's bedside.

"Daniel doesn't think he's pretty, Doc."

Janet arched her delicate brows at the colonel in surprise. O'Neill shrugged and threw up his hands in mock defeat.

"Of course Daniel's pretty," agreed the petite doctor. "He's very pretty, in fact."

Daniel closed his eyes and shook his head, his pale face taking on a pronounced flush. "Sam and Janet are pretty---well, they're beautiful actually---and I look nothing like them." He opened his eyes to skewer the colonel with a hard look.

Sam and Janet chorused their grateful 'thank you' at the same time and O'Neill rolled his eyes dramatically. "Daniel, of course you don't look like them," he said to his younger friend. "You're a man?"

"A very---attractive man," intoned Teal'c, his chin lifted.

"There you go," said O'Neill motioning a hand at the big Jaffa. "Even the big guy agrees."

Daniel's blue eyes widened. "Et tu, Teal'c?"

"I am sorry, Daniel Jackson, but it is one of my greatest fears that you and Major Carter will be taken as hosts because of your attractiveness."

"Hey, what about me?" demanded the colonel.

Teal'c looked at O'Neill. "I do not have the same fear for you, O'Neill," he replied seriously.

The colonel sputtered indignantly, the big Jaffa rendering him completely unable to fire back with a sharp-tongued retort.

Sam met Teal'c's dark eyes and her warrior friend raised an eyebrow conveying his amusement; she couldn't help the snort that escaped.

"Okay, that's enough for now," interrupted Janet firmly. "Dr. Jackson is still fighting a very serious infection." She reached down and straightened the covers over Daniel's chest. "And he needs his beauty sleep," she cooed with a wink.

Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose and mumbled something in an alien language.

Janet then turned her gaze to O'Neill. "And you, Colonel, you should be in bed resting as well. I told you twenty-four hours minimum, remember?" She turned sideways and presented the colonel's rumpled and vacated bed to him, daring him to defy her with her look.

O'Neill grumbled something about a power monger then reluctantly vacated his chair at Daniel's side. He grumbled something else as he passed behind Sam then reluctantly crawled into his bed.

Janet moved to his side to help him with his blankets, but he raised his index finger and gave her an icy glare.

The doctor raised her hands in a defensive gesture then she turned back to Teal'c and Sam. "Go, go," she ordered shooing them toward the door. "You can come back in the morning."

"See you later, sir," said Sam to her CO then she reached down to squeeze Daniel's foot. "Sleep well, Daniel---my pretty."

The archeologist scowled and Sam smiled sweetly.

Teal'c clasped his hands at the small of his back and dipped his chin once. "O'Neill, Daniel Jackson. I wish you both pleasant dreams."

"Thanks, big guy," replied the colonel already burrowed under his blankets.

"'Night, guys."

Sam gave a final wave then followed Teal'c out of the infirmary feeling exhausted but relieved; they'd brought her friends home. In her mind's eye, though, she could still see vividly the prisoners fighting in vain against the giant Fomorians, the looks on their weathered faces reflecting their determination. Her ears still rang with their screams.

"Are you well, Major Carter?"

Sam shrugged helplessly. "I don't honestly know, Teal'c," she replied. "I'm not quite sure what happened today. I mean we met our objective---we rescued Daniel and the colonel---and the Goa'uld and the Fomorians are dead, but did we really win?"

"I too am unsure."

"If they'd just stayed back and let us handle the guards---." Sam dropped her gaze to the floor ahead of her and shook her head sadly.

"Would you have been able to stay back, Major Carter?"

Sam pursed her lips. "No," she replied honestly. "I would've fought tooth and nail just like they did. I couldn't have stayed back."

"I would have fought---tooth and nail as well."

The major closed her eyes briefly then she opened them and glanced up at her friend. "You hungry?"

"Indeed I am."

"Then let's say you and me blow this joint and head to O'Malley's for a steak."

Teal'c's lips curved into a small smile. "Consider the joint blown, Major Carter," he replied.

"Good, I'll drive."

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Teal'c watched his warrior friend struggle against an imagined foe then jerk awake, his eyes blinking rapidly as his mind quickly fought its lingering fight or flight response. O'Neill's expression settled, his brain finally registering his surroundings. He brought both hands up and pressed their heels against his eyes.

"Do you require assistance, O'Neill?"

The hands pulled away slightly and O'Neill squinted at the Jaffa. "What?"

Teal'c waited until he could see the colonel's eyes focus. "Do you require the doctor?" he asked.

"No---no, I'm good." O'Neill's hands dropped and he pushed himself up into a sitting position against his pillows. He reached for the glass of water on the table between his bed and Daniel Jackson's and paused, his eyes falling on his sleeping friend. Then he grasped the container and brought it to his lips, drinking deeply.

"Do you need more?"

O'Neill shook his head and set the glass back down then he sighed and looked up at Teal'c where he stood near the foot of the two beds. "How long have you been here?"

"I was unable to attain a restful sleep."

"So what, all night then? What time is it anyway?"

"It is just after 0400 hours."

O'Neill jerked his chin toward Daniel Jackson. "Has he been doing okay?"

"Like you, he has been uneasy, but he has not awakened."

"Probably the sleeping pill the doc gave him before lights out. He refused the pain meds, though."

"He claims they make him---loopy."

O'Neill smiled. "Loopier than normal anyway," he said fondly.

Teal'c canted his head. "Indeed," he replied with a slight smile. He lifted his chin then and looked down his nose at his friend, one brow raised in speculation.

O'Neill shifted under the scrutiny. "What?"

"You are troubled."

"Am not."

Teal'c remained silent regarding the colonel steadily.

O'Neill scowled and waved his hands in front of him. "Oh, just cut it out, would you."

"Cut what out, O'Neill?"

"That---that I-know-what-you're-thinking eyebrow thing you do."

Teal'c's eyes narrowed slightly in amusement as he looked back at his friend askance.

The colonel looked down and his hands flopped helplessly in his lap. "Okay, yeah, maybe I am troubled---a little. Seeing your friend nearly snaked can do that to a fella." He raised one hand and rapidly scrubbed his fingers back and forth over his scalp. "It was close, Teal'c. If Balor had succeeded, I would've had to----I just couldn't let him---well, you know."

"Daniel Jackson would have understood, O'Neill. He would have welcomed his death."

"I know---it's just hard to get that picture out of my head."

"As it would for me," replied Teal'c softly.

"Hey, do you guys want to keep it down? There are people trying to sleep around here."

Teal'c moved his gaze to his younger friend who was squinting up at him. "Daniel Jackson," he greeted.

The archeologist shifted then squeezed his eyes shut in a grimace.

"You should take the pain meds, Daniel," suggested O'Neill.

"No, they make me----." The young man pointed at his temple and circled his finger.

"Ah yes---that would be loopy."

"Yeah, that."

Teal'c moved over to his friend and lifted one big hand to press it against his forehead. The archeologist opened his eyes in surprise and stared up at him.

"Your fever has not yet broken, Daniel Jackson," announced the Jaffa then he stepped back and clasped both his hands behind his back. "If you were to take the medication as O'Neill suggests, perhaps you'd be able to reach a deeper and more healing level of sleep. We would not hold your---loopiness against you."

O'Neill gave an undignified snort which earned the colonel fierce looks from both Teal'c and the archeologist. The CO held up his hands defensively.

Daniel Jackson moved his gaze back to the warrior. "I'll take that under advisement, Teal'c, thank you," he replied kindly. "So no one's really told me what's happening with the prisoners---the---uh---survivors."

"They were returned to P8C-904."

"Returned---why?"

"Liam lives there, Daniel, remember? He's sure the survivors will be welcomed along with Caleb's people. They'll hang out at the encampment until everyone has their strength back---do a little bonding---then head on over to the townships."

The younger man's brows puckered in thought.

"General Hammond assigned SG-12 to help them on their trek," continued O'Neill. "The whole trip should take about a week or so then SG-12 will come on back after they're sure everyone's settled."

"What's going to happen to the second 'gate and Balor's ha'tak?"

"That hasn't been decided yet."

"The ha'tak is significantly older than the current class," pointed out Teal'c. "I am unsure it will even be beneficial to study it. In fact, with the exception of the barrier in the tunnel, all of Balor's technology was severely antiquated."

O'Neill tucked his hands behind his head and crossed his ankles beneath the blankets. "So what, we found ourselves a Goa'uld who shopped at second hand stores?"

Teal'c canted his head. "Second hand," he repeated in confusion. "I have not heard of such stores."

"When people have items they no longer want or need, but are still in good enough condition to use, they take them to stores that resell them," explained Daniel Jackson. "Balor seemed to have a lot of hand-me-downs---um---second hand items."

"Indeed he did. Coupled with the fact that he'd never heard of the Tau'ri or of the SGC, I would have to say that Balor was---extremely out of contact."

"I think you mean out of touch, Teal'c," corrected Daniel Jackson as he closed his eyes and brought his free hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose.

"Hey, you all right over there?"

"Got a headache, Jack."

"Pain meds, Daniel. All you have to do is push that little button and you're off to pain-free loopy-land."

"Jack."

"Come on, you know you want to."

"Jack."

"Okay, go right ahead and suffer then."

Daniel Jackson lowered his hand then exhaled slowly, his brow still furrowed in pain. He opened his eyes and gave O'Neill a sharp look then fingered the control button on one of the IV lines that led into the back of his other hand.

Teal'c exchanged a concerned look with the colonel; their friend's pain was indeed severe. The Jaffa remembered clearly seeing the deep red and oozing gashes that scored Daniel Jackson's side as Dr. Frasier had cut away his black t-shirt. He had cringed at the sight, grateful that the vile creature who had harmed his friend had met his death, even if it had been at the hand of a Goa'uld.

The archeologist rested his head back on his pillow. "I'm so sick and tired of being---." He waved his free hand helplessly in the air.

"Sick and tired?" offered O'Neill helpfully.

"Yeah, that."

"Been there, done that, and bought the t-shirt, Daniel."

"I have never seen such a t-shirt, O'Neill."

The colonel gave Teal'c a blank look then he shook his head. "Just a saying, big guy. There's actually not a real---t-shirt."

"I have come to the conclusion, O'Neill, that many of your Tau'ri---sayings are simply nonsensical. Exactly what purpose do they serve?"

"Yeah, Jack," interjected Daniel Jackson. "What is their purpose?"

"Well----," O'Neill began then he jerked his chin at the archeologist. "You're the language expert, Daniel, you explain it."

"I'm sick, Jack, remember?"

"What, bruised ribs and a concussion don't qualify as being sick?"

"A 'mild' concussion and no, I wouldn't say so---Teal'c?"

The big Jaffa's jaw twitched. "Perhaps Major Carter can explain it to me."

O'Neill threw out one hand. "There you go---great idea. Carter can do it. By the way, where is Carter?" He tucked the errant hand back behind his head.

"Major Carter and I went to O'Malley's for steaks---."

"Hmmmm, steaks," interrupted O'Neill with a serene look on his face.

Teal'c recognized the cadence as one belonging to his friend's favorite fictional character, a cartoon man O'Neill seemed to hold in the highest regard.

"So you had steaks," prompted Daniel Jackson slowly.

"Major Carter is at home," concluded Teal'c.

"Home," repeated the archeologist. "Home," he said again drawing out the word into a hum then he snorted.

"Is something amusing, Daniel Jackson?"

"What?" asked the younger man, his eyes wide, eyebrows arched high.

"Funny, Daniel, is something funny."

Daniel Jackson's cheeks puffed then he let his breath out in a long gust. "No, no---I don't think so," he replied. "Why, did Teal'c tell a joke?"

The Jaffa frowned. "I did not."

"Then what's so funny?" asked the archeologist honestly perplexed.

"You're the one who laughed---well, sort of. You tell us." O'Neill dropped his hands to his sides and leaned forward, his eyes on his young friend.

Daniel Jackson stared at O'Neill blankly then he furrowed his brows. "What?"

The colonel grinned. "Feeling a little loopy are we, Danny me boy?"

The younger man pondered the question for a moment, shook his head then nodded it. "Pretty much," he admitted.

Teal'c exchanged an amused look with O'Neill.

"Oh, boy---wow, is this stuff ever strong."

The colonel dropped his chin to his chest and chortled quietly.

"I am to assume then that you are no longer experiencing any pain, Daniel Jackson?"

The archeologist blinked slowly up at Teal'c a couple times then scowled in concentration. "Um---what was the question again?"

"Oh, he is SO not feeling any pain, Teal'c."

The Jaffa looked at O'Neill. "He is in fact---loopy?"

"Oh, yeah," replied the colonel then he gestured at Daniel Jackson. "Doesn't ever last very long, though---kind of a shame, if you ask me."

The Jaffa's gaze moved back to the archeologist. The young man was sound asleep, his mouth opened, snoring softly.

"Now that he's not hurting, maybe he'll finally get in some quality nap time."

"And what of you, O'Neill?"

"Me?" asked the colonel. "I'm kind of thinking---hungry maybe?"

"Shall I get you something from the commissary?"

"That would be nice, Teal'c, thanks. Just a snack, mind you---nothing too fancy."

Teal'c bowed his head. "I will endeavor to do so then." He started to turn then paused. "If I close his mouth, will it not stop that sound?"

O'Neill looked at Daniel Jackson and smiled. "Yeah, but don't bother. I kind of like it." His expression softened as he regarded his sleeping friend and not for the first time Teal'c wondered at the unlikely yet unbreakable bond shared between the military officer and his civilian consultant.

He bowed again, his hands still clasped behind his back then left for the commissary, safe with the knowledge that both his warrior friends were on the boulevard to renewal. He stopped in his tracks and canted his head; road to recovery, he amended. Then he proceeded on his quest to find a plain snack.

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THE END

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