AN: Oi Vay, Kats and Kittens. So sorry to keep you waiting. I feel terrible, so I'm posting /two/ chapters instead of just one. I hope you aren't bored of me yet. I know a plotline like this can get a bit cliche, but please please PLEASE hang in there with me, yea? Luv muchly, you guys. Enjoy!!

Chapter Three:

The weeks pass by rather quickly for Daniel and the others. Before he knows it, he is back on the base, being sent balloons, chocolates, and mountains upon mountains of cards. No one dares to send flowers for knowledge of his infamous allergies. Janet even allows him to wander the halls for half an hour each day. Granted, it is part of his physical therapy, but it is nice to get out of the confines of the infirmary once in a while.

Today, he has sat through Green Eggs and Ham , One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish , and The Cat in the Hat , courtesy of Cassandra Fraiser. Now, he settles with one of his own favorite books, courtesy of Jack O'Neill. Suddenly, Janet pulls back the separation curtain and walks up to his bedside.

"Good news, Daniel," she says, staring at one of his CAT scans. "You are officially out of here tomorrow morning." Daniel's face immediately brightens.

"Really?" he asks excitedly, setting the book aside.

"Don't get worked up just yet," Janet warns. "No 'gate travel for three weeks."

"Three weeks?" Daniel whines. "Janet . . ."

"I was considering two months," Janet singsongs, making the archaeologist clam up.

"It's for your own safety, Daniel. Your CAT scan still shows signs of damage. If I were truly the tight ass that many make me out to be, I'd suggest desk work for the rest of your career." Daniel pales nearly three shades whiter than he already is.

"You wouldn't though, right? I mean, that'd be completely unnecessary! I'm fine! I-" he babbles.

"Daniel, three weeks. That's all I'm asking for. Okay?" Janet pleads, trying some puppy eyes of her own. Daniel nods with a sigh.

"Three weeks," he agrees with a sad smile.

0 o 0 o 0

Jack parks his truck outside of his house, quickly jumping out and running to the passenger side to open the door for Daniel. When he reaches the other side, Daniel is already stepping out of the car.

"Jeez, Danny, take it easy," the colonel grabs the archaeologist's arm and helps him stand.

"Jack," Daniel protests. "I'm just getting out of the car. I can walk, you know."

"I know," Jack nods with a sheepish grin. "I just . . . Let me fuss for a while, alright? I'm going through one of those 'guilt trip' things."

"Jack," Daniel stops and stares at his friend sadly. "What happened wasn't your fault. There's no way you could have prevented it."

"You didn't have your seatbelt on," Jack blurts. "I . . . I always make sure everyone has their seatbelt buckled. It's a habit . . . from when Charlie was still alive . . . I was just so psyched about the game, I . . . Damn it! How could I have forgotten?"

"Jack, I hate to break it to you, but I never wear my seatbelt," Daniel admits quietly. "Can we please go inside. I'm freezing." Jack stands silently for a moment, watching as the younger man nears his door.

"Daniel!" He calls, hurrying after him. When he catches up to him, he narrows his eyes, taking out his keys and saying, "We are going to have a serious talk about this later."

"What's wrong with now?" Daniel questions, following the man into the dark house as the door is opened.

"Now?" Jack asks, flipping on a light to reveal an elaborately decorated living room filled with various familiar faces.

"Welcome home, Daniel!" The crowd exclaims happily.

"Now it's time to party," Jack smiles, shaking Daniel's shoulder gently.

"Wow," the archaeologist whispers, stunned by the unexpected act. "This is . . . incredible!"

"Oh, come one, Danny," Jack says skeptically. "It's just a surprise party. We don't even have any alcohol." The colonel shoots Janet a dirty look. The doctor had banned all alcoholic beverages from the places in which Daniel would be going to. Damn napoleonic medicine woman.

"Don't tell me you've never had a surprise party before?" Sam asks with a smile, which disappears when the younger man hesitates.

Jack clears his throat and hollers across the room, "Cassie, you brought the music, right? Well, let's get going! It's bad enough we can't have beer. Might as well be a junior high social without some decent music."

"Any suggestions?" Cassie calls. The tension seems to dissipate, and Daniel makes his way through the sea of SGC personnel.

"Hey, Jack! The steak's here! Get that bar-be-que fired up!" Major Ferretti yells from the door as he hauls in a large, cardboard box with the help of Siler.

"Uh-oh," Janet sighs. "Jack and that damn contraption. Not a good combination. I'll see what I can do to save the steaks from a black and crunchy death." With that, she leaves Sam, Teal'c, and Daniel to converse among themselves.

"I think I know where Jack keeps some scotch. Any takers?" Daniel offers with an evil grin to his two team members.

"Janet said no, Daniel," Sam says seriously, sighing as he gives her a pleading look. She knows how much he has been through, and normally she would be the "older sister" and put her foot down, but Daniel Jackson is infamous for wheedling even the toughest of men (and women). "Alright . . . but only a few sips, Daniel. I mean it. Anymore than that, and I'll have to tell Janet and the colonel."

"Teal'c?" Daniel turns to the jaffa.

"I must decline, DanielJackson, but I appreciate your offer," Teal'c nods his head once.

"Suit yourself," Daniel smiles with a shrug. "I'll water it down, okay, Sam? I swear, no more than the bottom of the glass."

"Okay," Sam replies skeptically as he walks off towards the kitchen. His smile turns to a grim line of pain as he departs from the crowd. Not that he is not happy about the party, but so many people in one place at one time is giving him a headache.

His trembling hands reach for the cupboard, where he finds Jack's stash of alcohol. He pulls a glass down from the shelf as well and cannot help but pour a large amount, downing it quickly. He grimaces as it burns his throat, but begins to pour another round when his head, suddenly, explodes with a sharp pain. The scotch bottle is set roughly on the counter. The glass, however, slips from his fingers as he grabs the edge of the stove for support.

The sound of shattering glass echoes throughout the house, ceasing most of the chatter and noise of the crowd. Jack glances around frantically for the archaeologist, not seeing him anywhere.

"Danny?"

"Sorry, Jack," Daniel's weak voice calls from the kitchen. "One of your glasses took a turn for the worst." Jack breathes a sigh of relief as chuckles spread though the room.

"Daniel, I thought that the fact an archaeologist could mess with all those fragile rocks was because their fingers are delicate, not clumsy," Jack shouts as he makes his way through the crowd. When he enters the kitchen, his smile disappears. Daniel stands with a hand up to his temple, leaning heavily on the counter. His thin frame trembles almost violently as he takes deep, tremulous breaths.

"Daniel?" Jack immediately rushes to his side. The younger man collapses into the colonel's arms with a sharp cry of pain.

"Janet!" Jack calls desperately as Daniel goes limp. "Someone get the doc! Janet!" Janet Fraiser immediately rushes into the kitchen, followed closely by Sam, Teal'c, and the general. After the petite doctor checks Daniel's pulse and breathing, she stands and pulls out her cell phone.

"Colonel, get him out to your car," she says quickly, dialing the base number as Jack picks the archaeologist up. "We have to get him to the base."

AN: Questions? Comments? Vague disregard for any or all words written and established in the mind of one who has no sanity?

Sheesh! What chya waitin' around for? Click and read chapter four! . . . Please?!?