AN: Thanks eb2504 - I thought I'd put in a double space but obviously that didn't work. I've put in some dashes now... much better.

Daniel rolled his eyes. "Speaking of which you owe me at least $20."

John deliberately chose not to hear that part. "And hey, Danny! We have something else in common now too. Something you and the other guy will never have."

"What's that?"

"We have the same low tolerance for alcohol." John cracked up.

Daniel responded with his typical 'I do not find that amusing' stare.

Settling back into bed feeling quite pleased with himself, John yawned.

"Try to get some more sleep." Daniel told him.

"Yes, Dad." John stuck out his tongue at Daniel.

"Very mature."

John waited until Daniel had turned out the light. "Daniel?"

"John?"

"Thanks. You know… for everything."

"You're welcome."

The morning sun was insidious and painful as it invaded the slight gap in the curtains covering John's bedroom window. His headache was almost forgotten, however, as the delightful smell of breakfast cooking wafted towards his nostrils. His body exited the bed of its own accord and walked towards the source of the aroma. Mmm, there was coffee too.

"Ah, Daniel… you're a champion!" John greeted his friend. Inspecting Daniel's culinary work he was enthused to find scrambled eggs, bacon and hash browns all awaiting his tasting pleasure.

"Feeling okay?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah, bit of a sore head… a bit seedy… but it's not like I have to go to school today anyway." John grimaced thinking how much that suspension rankled. "How 'bout you? Couch okay?"

As John piled a plate high and wandered over to the kitchen table, he couldn't help but notice that there weren't any blankets or pillows lying around on the couch in the adjoining living room – so either Daniel hadn't used any or he'd already put them away. Most likely, unfortunately, on closer look at his friend was the possibility that Daniel had not slept at all.

"Oh, me? I'm fine." Daniel merely replied as he dug a fork into some scrambled eggs. Typical Daniel, John frowned. His leg could be hacked off and he'd still insist he was fine.

Assaulted suddenly by images of various times Daniel had been injured – had almost died – had been presumed dead, John closed his eyes.

He spoke casually. "So, any field trips coming up?" Please say no, he silently begged.

"Got a briefing this morning but probably won't lead to anything just yet." Daniel gave him a knowing look. "I'll be around."

"Good." John replied in an off-hand way, knowing he wasn't fooling Daniel for a second. "Cos I've got all this free time and I'm going to go nuts having nothing to do."

"Maybe I'll see if Teal'c has any plans and we'll swing by later this afternoon or something."

"Sweet." John replied. "Hey, what time's your briefing?"

"Oh eight hundred." Daniel's eyes flicked to his watch. "Damnit, I'm late!" Daniel shovelled some eggs and bacon in between two pieces of toast and took a huge swig of his coffee.

John just laughed. Some things never changed.

Daniel paused at the front door. "You gonna be okay?"

"Yeah." John told him.

"You'll call me if you need anything?"

"Sure."

"Promise?"

"Daniel." John sighed.

"John."

"Daniel."

"John."

"Yes, I'll call if I need anything. Whatever, just go."

Satisfied, Daniel raced out the door, his makeshift breakfast clutched in one hand, his car keys in the other.

John called after him. "Yeah! Like if I need beer!"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - -

Colonel Jack O'Neill needed a beer. As pleasant as she was to look at, Sam Carter could certainly freeze a man's brain with her technobabble when she was allowed to go on for too long. He mused that if he had some alcohol lubricating his brain against the big words then he'd be able to concentrate on the good stuff, like how her eyes were all lit up and excited about whatever it was she was currently talking about. He liked it when she was happy.

He considered the others in the room. General Hammond's eyes were almost as glazed as his but Jack was sure that the General was hiding it from Carter better than he was. Teal'c was listening attentively. Whether or not he understood any of what she was saying was anyone's guess but at least he was polite enough to look like he did.

Sometimes, when she really got going it was almost like Daniel was speaking in one of his multitudes of dead languages. Speaking of Daniel, where the hell was he? Not that it was unlike him to be late, of course… but it looked like it was going to be one of those days where he'd have to get Daniel to explain to him in something resembling English what Carter was on about.

The man himself stumbled in just then, clutching Carter's report and a cup of coffee which no doubt Walter had knowingly shoved in his hands as Daniel rushed past.

"Morning, everyone." He mumbled as he slid into his usual seat.

"Nice of you to join us, Daniel." Jack remarked. "Late night with the rocks?"

"Artefacts." Daniel responded automatically. "No, I was… yeah something like that."

Jack frowned. "What kind of answer is that?"

"The only one you're going to get right now." Daniel glared at him irritably. "Sorry, Sam… please continue."

Sam smiled at Daniel and as she started up her presentation again she shared a look with Jack and Teal'c. They could tell Daniel hadn't had any sleep. He hadn't even managed to shave before the briefing. Not that this was particularly unusual, Daniel often got caught up in his work and forgot to sleep. What they all noticed, however, was the distracted worried look in his eyes.

Eventually Carter wrapped up her presentation and Jack blinked himself back to consciousness.

"So basically what you're saying, Carter, is you'd like to go to this planet and check out these strange readings the MALP picked up."

She grinned at him. "Yes, Sir."

"Well, why couldn't you just say that?" Jack teased, pretending to be exasperated.

General Hammond spoke up. "Mission approved, SG-1. You have a go at 10 hundred hours."

Daniel blinked. "What?"

"You know, Danny-boy. That's where we walk through the big ring thing out there. In an hours time." Jack drawled.

"I can't!" Daniel blurted. "I mean, is it imperative for this mission to proceed today? Can we push it back a few days or something?" He could not go off-world today of all days. What if John called?

"You have other plans, Dr Jackson?" Hammond inquired.

"Not exactly… I just can't be… not here… right now." Daniel removed his glasses and pinched his nose in agitation.

"Huh?" Jack raised an eyebrow.

"What's wrong, Daniel?" Sam asked, her lovely eyes filled with concern.

"Is something amiss, DanielJackson?" Teal'c asked gently.

"It's just that…" Daniel sighed. "A friend of mine had a traumatic experience yesterday – I just want to be around if he needs me."

"Is that what that mysterious phone call was about yesterday afternoon?" Jack asked. "And you running off in the middle of that chess game…"

"Yes."

"Damn! I was sure you faked that call because I was winning."

"You were not."

"Was too!"

"Does anyone have any objections to delaying this mission?" General Hammond asked quickly before this descended into yet another childish squabble between the two men.

Everyone indicated that they were fine with the postponement.

"Thank you." Daniel spoke quietly.

"As much as I admire your dedication to this friend of yours, Dr Jackson, you do realise we can't suspend SG-1's off-world activities for long."

"I know. I just want to be there for him for at least the first few days."

"If there's anything I can do, let me know." Hammond put his hand on Daniel's shoulder in a fatherly fashion before dismissing SG-1.

"Thank you, sir."

As SG-1 filed out of the briefing room, Jack spoke. "So, Daniel… another cup of coffee?"

Daniel sighed. "Sure." There was no way he was getting out of this without more of an explanation to his team.