Hammond glanced at the briefing room before entering. Jack and Daniel on one side, Sam and Teal'c on the other, with Daniel firmly ensconced next to the General's seat, on the opposite side of the door. SG-1 was taking no chances on him bolting, like the last – memorable – incident in this room.
The archaeologist, despite the sling and an assortment of bruises on exposed skin, seemed well, if a little subdued. He was tanned, his hair lightened by the sun, and he hadn't lost weight or muscle mass. If Hammond hadn't known better, he would have thought Daniel simply tired from the long flight.
But the blue eyes looking out from his face were ancient and pained, the archaeologist's turmoil clear to anyone who looked. And SG-1 was most definitely looking.
Abruptly realizing that he was lingering just outside the door, Hammond walked in and sat down, smiling gently at the man whose absence had drained the life and soul from the SGC.
"It's good to see you again, Dr. Jackson," he said.
Daniel smiled in return. "Thank you," he said.
Hammond then looked to the rest of the team. Jack was, of course, overjoyed with having the linguist back, but something had put a slight damper on his happiness. There was a worry line creasing his forehead. When Hammond's gaze rested on him, however, all signs of anxiety were wiped away, the professional mask donned. Sam was smiling a little, unashamed about her joy. Teal'c's face held a relaxed and serene expression Hammond had only seen the Jaffa display with his family.
"All right. Colonel?"
"Yes sir." Jack glanced around the table. "We made relatively good time to Ein Gedi. Once we got there, we realized that we were too late, and as you suspected the NID were trailing Daniel - "
"Excuse me?" The archaeologist's brows shot up. Sam rolled her eyes, and Jack winced a little, realizing his gaffe. "General?" Daniel stepped smoothly into the gap, with a precision that had been essential in many diplomatic dealings for the SGC.
Hammond focused on the linguist. "Someone purporting to be a member of SG-1 attempted to gain access to the belongings you asked me to keep for you in secure storage. As of yet, we have no idea how this person gained knowledge of their whereabouts."
"NID."
"Most probably," Hammond replied.
"Definitely." No one could gainsay Daniel's certainty. But the General needed an explanation.
"Dr. Jackson?"
Daniel glanced at the General. "I was jumped by an NID operative in Tel Aviv," he admitted. "He seemed a little – desperate."
Jack's face was like stone, and Hammond could tell that he would be sniping away at that dismissive comment, getting the whole story, before the day was out.
"What happened at Ein Gedi, Colonel?" Hammond asked. "I gather that Dr. Jackson didn't fall in the dig," he added, seeing anger cloud Jack's eyes when he gestured to the sling.
"The NID got there ahead of us," Jack gritted. "The night before we arrived, two men snuck onto the dig. The archaeologists believe, for the most part, that they were looters. The head of the dig, and at least two of the professors know that it was more than that."
"Dr. Jackson? Are these people trustworthy?"
Daniel shrugged. "When it comes to their dig, and the safety of others, most definitely. Regardless, they don't know enough to do any real damage."
Hammond was surprised. He'd known that Daniel had changed, grown older and wiser, but the linguist's capacity for trust seemed to have been broken. The General could see from their body language that the rest of SG-1 knew it too. Daniel, on the other hand, still kept himself separate. He was closed off from them, refusing to read the signals he knew were flying back and forth over the table. His posture and expression gave no clues, which was a disturbing warning signal in itself.
Hammond nodded. "Major?"
Sam picked up the thread where it had left off. "We arrived at the dig to find that one of the NID agents had been taken to the nearest hospital, in Madasa, for treatment. Apparently there was a struggle for the gun he had with him, and he lost. The other was rendered unconscious and until we arrived, the intention was to bring him to the police in Jerusalem. We have him now, in secure lockup."
"I see. Teal'c?"
"We stayed additional days at the dig, to ensure the NID threat was not greater than it appeared." And to persuade Daniel Jackson to return to the SGC.
Hammond read between the lines. He nodded once. "Dr. Jackson, did you have any contact with these NID agents?"
Daniel's face held a rueful expression. "Yes, sir. I spoke with one of them several times, to find out what they were doing in Ein Gedi. Apparently, the NID quickly caught wind of my resignation, and decided that they wanted me to work for them in Area 51. I refused, but that didn't go over very well."
"There were things said which imply that we might have another rogue agent in the SGC, sir." Carter grimaced.
"And there was – what, the blue trout?" asked O'Neill, glancing at Daniel.
The linguist rolled his eyes. "Red herring, Jack," he returned.
"It's all fish to me."
For a moment, when the tiny grin appeared, things seemed almost normal. Then it was gone, and reality rushed into the void. "The NID appears to have discovered a cylindrical tube that they claim is a clean energy source far surpassing the naquadah generator." Daniel's voice was grave. "According to the NID agent, they want me to translate inscriptions on the cover. Inscriptions that none of their exceedingly resourceful linguists can seem to get a handle on." The dry tone spoke volumes in disbelief and suspicion.
"Colonel?"
"He didn't lie," Jack grunted vehemently. With Daniel staring at him that way, neither would he. "But he's probably just a flunky."
"Could such a generator actually exist?" Hammond questioned Carter.
"It's definitely possible," Sam responded. "Even with the technological advances we've gained so far, there is a lot we simply don't know."
The General frowned. "The NID agent might have more information we haven't asked about."
"I do not believe so," Teal'c stated.
Hammond raised a brow. The Jaffa seemed supremely confident. "Regardless, I want to know everything he knows. Major, find out as much as you can about this generator. I'm going to make a few calls." And Jack, as he well knew, would be doing some digging of his own. "It's good to have you back, Dr. Jackson."
"I'll get back to you on that," Daniel's reply was soft. Nevertheless, everyone in the room heard the quiet, unsure words.
"While you're here," Hammond continued as if he hadn't heard, "I know Dr. Frasier is anxious to see you." Daniel raised a suspicious brow, but the General's next comment completely blindsided him. "She called Cassie as soon as she heard you were back, and promised to see you in person today. It was all she could do to persuade Cass not to cut school and hitch a ride to the Mountain."
Daniel nodded, another bittersweet smile twitching the corners of his mouth. "I guess I'll head down to the Infirmary, then."
"Sweet," Jack mouthed as Daniel left the room.
"I heard that," Daniel said clearly from out in the hall.
Jack grinned. "Nice move, General."
Hammond simply said, "Good job, Jack." He, too, was grinning as he turned back to his office.
Daniel, however, was not smiling. Jack saw him rub his temples tiredly, before he reached over and tugged irritably at the sling strap that was rubbing against his sore shoulder.
They walked side by side, in silence, to the Infirmary. Jack, glancing often at the quiet linguist next to him, wondered how the hell he would convince Daniel that coming back to SG-1 was the best thing for everyone. He had no idea how he could regain Daniel's trust.
When they reached the Infirmary, Sam and Teal'c were already waiting. When Daniel walked into Dr. Frasier's domain, she gave him a disapproving, appraising look. Daniel flushed.
"Why is it," Janet began in a low voice, "That whenever you turn up, you qualify as one of the walking wounded?"
Daniel opened his mouth, but Jack got there before him. "Aww, c'mon, Doc, the first time you see him in a month and you're all over his case? Whatever happened to a joyous welcome home?"
Janet frowned at Jack. "I saw him in the commissary, and politely ignored the sling and bruises. You're on my turf now, Colonel. I'd advise you to watch yourself."
Jack winced, knowing the pint-sized powermonger's wrath. He raised his hands, attempting to placate. "Watching. Like a hawk, with beady little eyes."
Janet murmured something that sounded like, "Mother-hen, more like." Jack stiffened, and glared at her, but the scorching stare Janet leveled in his direction had him turning his gaze to the toes of his black combat-boots, sneering unintelligibly under his breath.
Nevertheless, the rest of the team stayed in the Infirmary while Janet led Daniel to a bed and pulled the curtain, gesturing for him to take off his sling while she pulled on a pair of gloves.
Daniel sat on the bed, listening to Sam, Jack and Teal'c talk about the happenings on base while Janet gently probed both his shoulder and head. "I want you to stay overnight for observation," she informed him once he had his shirt back on, and Sam was helping him with the sling.
Daniel frowned at Janet. "Is that really necessary? The concussion is days old, and I promise I won't do any heavy lifting," he said, only half-joking. He stood, fiddling with the sling's strap. Sam tossed a concerned look at Jack, who simply raised a brow and nodded at her, indicating that he would take care of this.
Janet leveled her patented glare at him. "I can tell that you used that arm excessively sometime within the past two days. The entire area is inflamed, bruised, and probably sore. Would you like to explain to me what you were doing?"
Daniel looked away, his hand dropping to his side, and Janet huffed. Jack cut in, "Hey Doc, didn't Daniel leave something the last time he was here?"
Janet gave Jack the look of one goaded beyond endurance, which elapsed into understanding. "Don't go anywhere," she ordered sternly, turning on her heel and marching into her office.
Daniel was obviously puzzled. "Jack?"
Jack opened his mouth to respond, but Janet's speedy return – obviously intended to insure that her patient didn't slip out of her grasp and out of the mountain while he was at it – prevented him.
Janet carefully held out Senichi's steel katana, resting on her palms. Daniel's face paled alarmingly at the sight of the weapon extended toward him, and he sat down hard on the bed.
"Daniel?"
Jack's worried voice rang in his ears, someone was gripping his shoulders, hard, and Daniel grunted as his left side protested. The pressure eased, and Daniel shook his head slightly. Worried faces were staring at him from all sides, and he gritted, "I'm fine."
Turning his attention to Teal'c, he glanced momentarily at the blade the Jaffa now held. Janet had thrust it at him and hurried to Daniel's side when he had wavered and practically collapsed, butt-first, onto the bed.
"I left that here?" The voice was casual, only slightly strained, his expression one of realization. But gazing into the blue depths of his eyes, one could see a kaelidascope of emotions. Shock, pain, horror, and – revulsion?
Jack was now openly worried. Teal'c's less-than-level stare conveyed his concern to his team leader. Something was very wrong.
"Yes," Janet said. "Daniel, do you feel dizzy at all? Lightheaded, nauseaus?"
"I'm fine." It didn't sound convincing, so Daniel cleared his throat and repeated it. "I'm fine."
He stood, tugging again on the sling. Janet's mouth set in a mulish line. "In light of this, I definitely want you to stay here tonight."
"No," Daniel replied firmly.
Janet raised a brow. "This is non-negotiable," she said firmly.
Daniel shrugged. "I'm not on an SG team, and I'm not employed by the SGC. You want to keep me here, you're going to have to lock me up." There was a slight, surprising challenge in his tone that took Dr. Frasier aback.
"Of course he's not staying here tonight," Jack interjected. "I'll watch him. The sheets in the spare room are clean, and I vacuumed – uh, sometime this month."
"We'll all be making sure he doesn't overdo it," Sam added, relief in her posture.
"Indeed," Teal'c contributed.
Daniel glanced warily at them, but openly resisting would have ensured a night in the Mountain's medical facility.
Janet looked from one to the other, and sighed. As always, when SG-1 worked together they could surmount any odds. She moved to one of the many glass-door cabinets and reached for a bottle. "Taken with a meal," she reminded when she finished writing out a prescription for the records and had instructed them all, very clearly, on what Daniel would and would not do. "No alcohol," she added.
Jack rolled his eyes. "Rain on the parade, why don't'cha?" he asked witheringly.
The expected smile was unaccountably tense.
"Doc?" Jack asked, surprised.
Janet glanced over to the door, where Daniel was sitting, talking quietly to Teal'c and Sam. She lowered her voice. "Did you notice how Daniel acted when I insisted he stay?"
Jack frowned. "It was a bit - "
"Extreme?" Janet shook her head in frustration. "I'd thought that Daniel had been able to look past the Ma'chello incident -"
"Excuse me?" Jack interrupted loudly. His entire bearing radiated fury. Three heads jerked in their direction. "What exactly is he supposed to look past?" Jack hissed, glancing at Daniel. The archaeologist was slow to turn his attention back to the other members of the team. Jack shifted slightly so that his back was to the three by the door. "The misdiagnosis? The so-called care he received from both you and Mackenzie? The drugs, the - "
"Colonel!" Janet's voice was low, and intense. The doctor closed her eyes for a moment. Jack subsided. "I'd thought he'd managed to deal with that incident," Frasier admitted. "After awhile, he wasn't wary around the infirmary. Granted, he holds no love for Dr. Mackenzie, but I worked to earn back his faith. I thought I had succeeded, but – Do you see how bad things could become if Daniel doesn't trust his primary-care physician enough to tell me when he's hurting, when something's wrong?"
Jack's eyes widened at the implication, a frown descending as he turned the facts over in his mind. "I'll talk to him," was what he finally said. But Janet's worried gaze remained fixed on Daniel as the team left.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Wow! Can I just say, the number of people who crawled out of the woodwork to review on this is frankly amazing! (I'm quite used to being forgotten as soon as I've made like a good little author and posted.) I'm heartened, and sincerely appreciate all your urgings and thoughtful reviews.
Point 2: Several people have inquired into the meaning of the word "Shidachi". It means, roughly translated, "defender". And there may, or may not, be an ulterior motive in my titling of this story. I'll let you guess. (mysterious smile)
As requested, here is the "More, More, More!"