Part 12
Daniel almost smiled. Then suddenly he remembered "Wait! Is Jessica at my house?"
"I don't know Danny, but she does live there so it might be a possibility." Jack answered. With that the two men made their way topside to get to Jack's truck. Jack helped Daniel get comfortable in the truck, Or at least as comfortable as the beat up man could get. And they drove off towards Daniel's house. "Jack, maybe we should stay at your place?" Daniel said shortly after leaving base. "Why? We might as well, stay at your place." jack answered, "That way you wont be alone while I go to the pharmacy to get your stuff." "True." Daniel replied, sat back and closed his eyes. Jack let the younger man rest until they arrived at the house. He gently shook Daniel's arm to wake him up. Daniel awoke with a start and soon regretted it as his body tensed and every muscles and bone hurt like never before. He couldn't get to his bedroom to lie down soon enough. Jack held Daniel under one arm to help support him and together they moved towards the house.
The driveway was empty, and Daniel drew a breath of relief when he realized that he didn't have to face the woman just yet. When they got into the house Daniel aimed straight for the bedroom. Jack just followed to help Daniel to bed as soon as they got into the master suite. As soon as Daniel was down on his back he drew a breath and closed his eyes. Jack quietly went to the kitchen where he grabbed a beer and sat down to relax. Not much time passed before he heard a stir by the front door and he knew that Jessica was home. Jack went into the living room to greet the younger woman. She met him with a smile; "Hi Colonel, I saw your truck in the driveway, where is Daniel?" Jack grabbed a couple of the well overstuffed grocery back she was balancing in her arms and while the went to the kitchen he explained that Daniel was asleep in his room. She seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, but the colonel just left it at that.
After then had put the groceries away Jack asked for Jessica to stay at the house while he ran to the pharmacy to get the anti-biotic and painkillers the doctor had prescribed for Daniel.
While Jack was gone, Jessica started fixing some dinner for them. Since Daniel was now home she decided on an easy stew. Something easy for her to cook and for Daniel to chew. The heat of the food might do him some good. She had barely gotten the pot on the stove when she was startled by Daniel starring at her from the doorway. "Daniel, you shouldn't be out of bed!" She exclaimed, moving to his side to help him sit down at the breakfast bar.. "If I wanted to stay in bed, I might as well have stayed at the infirmary." He grunted, not very friendly. He immediately regretted his gruff demeanor when he saw how she literally pulled away from him. "I'm sorry," He reached out for her, but she had already moved to far away. "I didn't mean to act like a grumpy old man." She didn't say anything, she didn't know what to say. "I am sorry about everything!" He tried again. Finally she started to turn towards him and she started to open her mouth to answer when she was saved by the sound of Jack by the front door.
The three of them enjoyed dinner together. After about an hour of small talk Daniel was ready for bed again. Jack helped getting him his medicine and then off to bed. Jessica cleaned the kitchen and then went to her room to do a bit of unpacking. When Daniel was tucked in Jack settled down on the couch and watch some TV.
Sunday and Monday went by quietly. Daniel spent most of his time in bed, only getting up to use the bathroom, and going to the kitchen to eat. Monday Jessica went back to work and was gone all day, and in the evenings she was in her room unpacking and putting away her things. Jack watched TV most of the day, fixed breakfast and lunch for himself and Daniel, and dinner for the three in the evenings. Everything was quiet and Daniel was healing quickly.
By Monday evening Daniel was starting to get restless, and he claimed he was ready to go back to work Tuesday morning. Janet was called in to check if Daniel was in fact ready for work. Janet arrived and looked archaeologist. She checked all his bruises and cuts, but by the end of her check-up she told her patient that she felt he needed a few more days at home. She did permit him to work a couple of hours each day, if he promised to do it from the couch and that he didn't stress himself. After a few minutes of whining Daniel finally agreed to take it easy at home. He phoned Sam, who were still at the base to have her bring his laptop and several books and scripts from his office. Janet, Jack, and Jessica were all shaking their heads as their friend rattled off his list of books over the phone. Considering the length of the list they all knew that he wouldn't get as much rest as the doctor had prescribed.
Tuesday morning came and Jessica and Jack both left for the mountain leaving Daniel by himself at the house. As soon as they were out the door Daniel breathed a sigh of relief. "Finally! The baby-sitters are out of my hair. Maybe I can get some work done now." He went to the living room to go through the several boxes of books and papers Sam had brought by the house the night before. he booted up his laptop and made himself comfortable on the couch. Before he knew it the day was about gone. He hadn't even noticed lunch coming and going. Now he only reacted because his stomach made a loud growl. "Wow, time sure flies when one has fun." Daniel thought to himself as he got up from the couch to go the kitchen to see what he could fix for dinner. Going through the fridge and cabinets he settled on chicken with rice and vegetables. he checked the time and realized that it was almost time for Jessica to get back from work, so he decided to cook enough for both of them. Just as he was done cooking their dinner and setting the table, Jessica walked through the door.
After dinner they helped each other clear off the table and do the dishes. There were still a lot of tension between the two, but it seemed that both were determined to work through it. While washing the dishes they fingers would once in a while brush against the others and they both felt the electricity course through their bodies. Both pretended as if nothing had happened.
The spent the evening watching a documentary on the History channel, although Daniel had a hard time concentrating. He couldn't keep his eyes off of the woman seated next to him. She caught him looking a few times, but instead of getting angry or asking him what he was looking at she just smiled and turned back to watch the TV. "What is he looking at? Do I have something on my face?" Jessica couldn't help to think. She felt it a little unnerving that the man next to her who had shown no interest in her suddenly kept starring at her.
Daniel felt something stirring deep inside him. He knew she wasn't interested in him, but the smile she sent him when ever she turned to look at him was stunning and it was dragging him into a place he hadn't been for a long while. Not since before Sha're was ripped from his life bu Apophis. No one but Sha're had ever had that effect on him. It was like his insides were on fire. "Was Jessica interested after all?"
Their show had ended but neither reacted to get up, or to change the channel. They both just continued watching. Neither registering what they were watching. Finally, Jessica gave a small yawn. "Well, it has been a long day, so I better head to bed." She said as she stood to move out of the room. Daniel lost in his own thoughts, jumped at her voice, but quickly got up to walk towards his own bedroom. Silently they walked down the hallway. When they stopped to enter their respective rooms, Daniel reached out and pulled Jessica in for an embrace. Both equally stunned at his actions. No way back, Daniel whispered a thank you in her ear. Neither wanted to let go. Both knew that this was exactly what they didn't want, but they also know that this is exactly what they both had hoped for. Without thinking Daniel bent down and gently brushed his lips against hers. At first Jessica resisted slightly, but soon she was as engaged in the kiss as Daniel was. Daniel gently ran his tongue along Jessica's lower lip, silently asking for entry. Jessica didn't hesitate to allow Daniel passage. The kiss got more intense. Warmer. Heated. Daniel pulled out of the kiss first. Looked the young woman in the eyes, smiled and whispered "Good night."