Jack sighed, having once again returned to his vigil at Daniel's side. This time he was determined that he wouldn't leave no matter what well meaning doctors said. The hospital had bathroom facilities and a cafeteria and he was beginning to get used to sleeping in a chair. He would manage. Besides, Daniel would be moving just as soon as Janet felt it was safe to do so.
Daniel was now guarded at all times by at least two guards and at least one member of SG1. Sam, once she finally understood what had happened during her absence, seemed to be furious with herself for leaving, even if it was to stop a potential disaster involving unstable alien technology back in her lab. She had gone white when she learned of Jack's near escape with the balcony followed by Daniel's flat lining, and she rarely left their side watching both him and Daniel like a hawk. Jack began to feel bad for his original words towards her; it wasn't her fault she had to leave, and it's not like she left Daniel alone. He had just been so angry with everything, and Sam had been an easy target. The guard she posted, however, he wasn't about to go easy on. He had been released of his guard duty, and if Jack had his way would be court-martialed, or failing that sent to a post in Antarctica. He could understand Sam leaving, but he wasn't about to forgive that guard. He had finally admitted to his bathroom break after a couple of nurses mentioned seeing him leave. Neither of the nurses had noticed anyone enter who shouldn't have been there.
Jack sighed, running his hand through his hair as he shifted in the chair, trying to get comfortable while he waited for Daniel to wake up. For the moment, he was alone except for the two guards standing outside the door. Unfortunately, the world does not stop just because one of them was laid up, and Jack finally convinced her it was ok to go and finish dealing with the same alien technology that had originally dragged her from Daniel's side. Teal'c had gone with her, professing concern that Daniel was not the only target and feeling that none of them should be left alone. He pointed out that so far, the attacker seemed to have intimate knowledge concerning Daniel. Anyone that well informed had to know that Daniel was unlikely to lean against the balcony rail, hence the trap was not meant for him but for one of his friends. Sam was still looking pale as they talked and Jack had agreed.
Following the third incident surrounding Daniel, Hammond had ordered extensive investigations. The balcony and the ladder had been re-examined closely, but there was still no proof of tampering. The monitor, after being inspected, showed only that it had a malfunction. Despite the lack of concrete evidence, few people now doubted that someone was responsible for all of it. Janet, after muttering about many possibilities, from something about renal function to something about shock, none of which Jack understood, she finally pinpointed the problem when an analysis of his drip bag came back. Along with the usual nutrients, there was a medication included that Janet claimed Daniel was allergic to. How it got into the bag wasn't clear. None of the nurses or doctors admitted to using it. Janet started grumbling something about incompetent hospitals and their records, having found no mention of his allergy listed there and in fact saw that particular medication had been prescribed, though by who was unclear.
"So for all intents and purposes, we have no proof of foul play here. Just incompetence," she said, "Even Private Evens sudden trip to the bathroom shows no certainty that it was planned. He'd been feeling ill all day. Yes, he should have mentioned that to Captain Carter, but he doesn't seem to have been poisoned, unless the attacker somehow knew he was going to be posted as a guard in the first place, and that all three of you would be gone from Daniel's side."
"So…if this person did in fact set that up, they have to have ties to the SGC. Sabotage Carter's alien doohickey, mess with the balcony…though how they could know that it would play out that way…you're right, it doesn't make sense."
"Sir, I really don't think the balcony was meant for you like that," Sam said, her voice trembling slightly, "This person clearly has it in for Daniel. You were probably a mistake."
"We can't assume that, Carter," Jack insisted, shaking his head, "Especially knowing how unlikely it would be that Daniel would actually lean against that balcony."
"Yes he has, sir," Sam insisted, "He…well you know how he is. He wanted to get over his fear of heights. He was using it as a sort of exercise."
"He never told me about that," Jack said with a frown. Any time he could remember seeing Daniel on the balcony, he had always stayed back from the edge.
"He wouldn't, sir," Sam answered, "He didn't mean to tell me. I just saw him one day and…asked. He seemed a bit embarrassed really."
"So it could indeed have been meant for Daniel," Teal'c remarked.
"But then why the ladder?" Jack asked, "I mean, they couldn't have known how he'd fall. If I had to choose between sabotaging a ten foot ladder or a balcony that was several stories high, I think I'd choose the balcony. Doing both is bound to draw attention to the other."
"Perhaps this person wanted this job completed quickly, O'Neill," Teal'c suggested, "One cannot know when Daniel would use either the balcony or the ladder. Damaging both would ensure less of a wait for one or the other to happen."
"Maybe we shouldn't be concentrating on their methods, and try and figure out who it is, sir," Sam suggested.
"Right," Jack said, "The usual Earth suspects? NID? Kinsey? Disgruntled archeologists?"
"It seems to be someone with access to the SGC," Teal'c reminded them.
"Perhaps someone who isn't happy with civilians?" Sam suggested, "Someone unhappy working with someone who is gay?" Jack and Janet turned and stared at her, Teal'c's own expression remaining immobile except for a raised eyebrow.
"Gay, Carter?" Jack demanded, "You think he's gay? He had a wife, for crying out loud!" Sam's face flushed red.
"I didn't mean…I mean I know that. I meant, just, there is talk, you know? We know he isn't…but not everyone believes that."
"Who talks?" Jack asked, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
"I have not heard this talk, Samantha Carter," Teal'c said.
"Yeah, well you wouldn't. Who would dare say anything near you?" she asked, "But I'm smaller. Sometimes people don't notice I'm standing there." Jack snorted.
"If they did, I'm sure they wouldn't dare say anything near you either. I've seen you in scary mode," he remarked, then his eyes narrowed again and he said, "I want names."
"Yes sir," Sam said, doubtfully. Janet cleared her throat. Jack had refused to look towards her since the discussion of Daniel being gay had begun, but now everyone turned.
"Sexuality aside, is there anyone else at the SGC who might have a grudge against Daniel?" she asked. They were silent as they considered this.
"Most everyone seems to like Danny," Jack said at last, "There might be a few who resent civilians on base, but I don't think any would go as far as to try and kill him."
"Perhaps it is not Daniel Jackson this person is after," Teal'c remarked, "Everyone knows his closeness to Colonel O'Neill."
"You think someone is hurting Daniel to get to me?" Jack asked, going pale.
"Well then, why just Daniel?" Sam asked abruptly, "He's close to us too. If they wanted to hurt the Colonel, why not try to kill me? Or Teal'c?" Teal'c raised an eyebrow and Sam began to redden under his gaze.
"I don't know, maybe they think I'd be hurt more by Daniel," Jack answered, not noticing their expressions, only concerned with the thought that someone might have hurt Daniel because of him, "Or maybe they just thought he was the easier target. Who cares why they chose him, they did!"
But no matter how long they discussed it, they were no closer to figuring it out. The best they could do was worry about security to make sure it couldn't happen again. As soon as Daniel was well enough, he would be moved to the SGC, and in the meantime he was being constantly watched, as was every piece of equipment and medication that entered the room.
"Now you just need to wake up," Jack said, wearily, stroking his cheek. It had been twenty-four hours since the poisoning, twenty-three since Jack had a chance to be alone with Daniel. He missed this contact, contact that he never dared to do when anyone else was in the room, even if that person was Janet. He knew that once they arrived at the SGC with its ever present security cameras, he would lose all chance. In the past, he might have discreetly turned a camera off, but with all the threats to Daniel's life he couldn't risk that. What he really wanted to do was to hold Daniel in his arms, to feel his heart beating and his chest rising and to understand that he would be all right. Failing that he did the next best thing, leaning forward to brush his lips against him, entwining their fingers together with one hand and stroking his hair.
"God, Danny," he whispered, "Don't scare me like that, ever again. We'll find this person, I will kill them, and then it will be all right again." He was silent for a long moment, all the words he wanted to say failing him.
"Carter thinks you're gay," he said at last, not exactly the direction he meant to go, but it had been plaguing at his mind, "I couldn't look towards Janet during that discussion. I know she knows, though she isn't saying. But Carter…she can't know about us, can she?" He sighed, struggling to contain his emotions. "I know, you wanted to tell her and Teal'c ages ago, and I said we couldn't. And she was talking about others talking. You'd have told me if someone was giving you trouble, right? God Danny, I hate seeing you hurt, and then this on top of it…" He trailed off, no longer knowing where he was going. He knew it wasn't safe to say all of this out loud, but he so wanted to get it all out, and the person he usually confided in was the one lying sleeping on the bed.
"I love you," Jack whispered, kissing him again, gently, and squeezed his hand. Then he started when the hand squeezed back.
"Danny?" Jack whispered, starting. Blue, unfocused eyes turned towards him. For the first time in twenty-four hours, Jack smiled.