"I was crying?" Heat rushed to his face. He wasn't sure he had ever felt this embarrassed. It had come close a few times – like when Sam had noticed his 'birds and bees' instruction had a few major gaps. Or when Jack had managed to convince him that 'son of a bitch' was a term of admiration, and the person he had tried his new phrase on hadn't agreed.
"I'd say bawling," O'Neill offered from his spot standing beside Daniel's bed. "Sobbing, whining. There was some screeching there too if Ferretti is to be believed."
The other boy? Man? He was sitting on the bed of his mattress in a similar position to Jonas, with legs hanging over the edge. Jonas couldn't get over how young he looked. Though from everyone elses relative increase in size they were probably thinking the same about him.
"There's no need to be embarrassed", Janet said, from her position sitting on a stool in front of his bed. She shot the colonel a sharp glance before turning back to Jonas with a soft smile. "No one is going to blame you for being distressed in this situation Jonas. I just want to know for neurological reasons whether you feel you would have reacted in a similar way before you were this 'small'."
That made sense. She was seeing if he was still all there in the head. Certainly his behaviour had provoked the questions. Daniel had kept his cool throughout this whole weird ordeal, and what had Jonas done, yes, that was right he had ended up crying.
It wasn't that he didn't remember the 'episode'. It was that it felt so vaguely disconnected, the emotions storming through him and carrying away his reasoning. He understood why he had been so angry and scared, but currently he was too busy being mortified that he had cried in front of the people he admired so much to try and figure out whether this was caused by the events or because of some difference in neurology.
"I did hit my head", he said, reaching up to rub the spot even though it had long since stopped being sore. His hand hesitated before rubbing the back of his skull, he couldn't get used to how disproportionately big his head felt against the rest of him. "And I was angry, but I don't think I would have 'bawled' before this."
Already her fingers had moved to the back of his head, pushing him forward as they searched through his untidy mop of hair. "I don't feel anything Jonas."
"It was pretty bad", Daniel said, swinging his legs in a impulsive motion. "Captain Red pushed him into the wall of the temple. He cracked his head against some of the symbols. It was bleeding by the time I got there. Then we got really light headed and this happened. It must have activated something when he fell into the wall."
"Red pushed him?" A new darker tone had crept into Jack's voice. "Where was Ferretti?"
"Not his fault Jack", Daniel shook his head. "He was standing guard outside. He got there as soon as he could, and I guess you'll have to read the rest in his report. We were out for a while."
"Jonas?" He looked up into Janet's sharp gaze. She was right there in front of him, looking just as intimidating as he had always remembered her being. At least that hadn't changed. Adult or child, she could still make him feel like he was as small as he currently was. "Why did Captain Red push you?"
Jonas blinked a moment. He had expected a medical question. "Um. He didn't like my explanation of why we had to be careful before trying to activate things. I said we had to translate first and find out what it did, but he thought we were working too slowly. Its our first find like this since the council made moves to set up a stargate program. We've been put under a lot of pressure. A lot of people are already displeased that I brought you guys in to help."
"So he punched you?" O'Neill said spreading out his arms incredulously. "That's not exactly the right response. When I see that guy I'm going to-"
"Tell him that his actions are going in the report, and not use physical violence to risk a interplanetary incident." Sam broke in quickly.
O'Neill stared at her for a long moment, before slumping his shoulders. "Yeah. That."
"Guys", Daniel said, sounding impatient. "While I want to punch that guy as much as the rest of you. I think what we need to be focusing on right now is fixing this so me and Jonas can get back to normal. I'm not going to be much help on missions staying this size."
"And I'm not sure the council will take me seriously being this small", Jonas piped up. Not that they seemed to take him very seriously anyway. Any influence he might have had from helping fight Anubus had quickly worn off. Now the few council meeting he attended mostly consisted of trying to drown out the bickering.
"Your health is what is important right now", Janet reminded him, standing up from her seat. "I've sent samples for analysis, and done every test that I can think of. Apart from being roughly two and five respectively, there is nothing wrong with either of you. The neurological symptoms worry me though. While your brainwaves are still a match with those on file for both of you, the physiology of your brains are still very child like."
She turned her attention to the other boy. "Daniel have you been experiencing any symptoms?"
The five year old gave a grimace. "Well I have to admit my feelings are a little rawer than usual, like after you haven't slept for a while. But neither of us have gotten much sleep lately."
"Well then", Janet said. "That is our first order of business. Both of you should sleep for a couple of hours, then since I don't suspect you've eaten either you should go for lunch. Just stay on base and report back here."
Daniel frowned. "Its the afternoon."
"And?" Janet held the clipboard between crossed arms, staring down at him.
He didn't seem phased. "Janet. You're seriously telling us to take a nap?"
Jonas shifted on the bed, clasping his fingers together. Though Daniel seemed unafraid, that didn't stop Jonas from being daunted on his behalf. Janet was awfully scary when she was in this mood, and the fact that she was now a giant didn't help matters.
"Whatever you call it, you are getting some sleep." She said firmly, before moving to Jonas's bed and unfolding his blanket.
Quickly so as not to incur her wraith he scooted to the top of the bed. The olive-green t-shirt he was still wearing slowed his progress, tangling around his legs.
It seemed the right move to make because she smiled down at him, before handing him the top of the blanket. He pulled it around him, glad that she hadn't tried to tuck him in. Settling down on the white sheets, he didn't bother using the pillow.
Curled up on his side, with the blanket edge gripped in a fist, he watched as Jack sorted Daniel. The man unceremoniously tossed the unfolded blanket over the scowling boy's head. Muttering something ominously, Daniel finally settled down in the bed, glaring at O'Neill and Janet.
"Sorted?" O'Neill asked, teasing lilt back in his voice. "Anything else I can get you? Warm milk? Story? Soft toy?"
"You're enjoying this too much Jack", Daniel said darkly.
Jonas could actually go for some warm milk now, and he wouldn't say no to a story, but he knew the question wasn't for him. Though they had become closer during their time working together, there was still a noticable gap between him and the colonel. It was safer if he waited until Teal'c was here. He told the best stories anyway. He remembered them fondly from his time recovering from brain surgery.
O'Neill walked out of the infirmary, tossing them a wave. "I'll come back with clothes."
"Remember pants!" Daniel bellowed after him. "And no cartoon characters. OK Jack. Jack?"
An ominious laughter echoed from a distance.
Sam approached slowly, but he still noticed her. He had always been rather good at noticing things. That was why it came as no surprise to him, when already half asleep the hand drifted across his hair.
"I really did miss you", she said softly.
This was nice, her being there with him. Back when they had worked together they had been so close. Though he restrained it working in the city, he was originally from the country where people were more touchy feely with each other. Growing up like that in a world where hugs were exchanged freely and grown men walking hand in hand was an expression of friendship, he naturally craved touch.
Sam had been the first person on earth that he had pushed aside his city fed mantra of 'personal space' for. She had felt sad and he had seen it. Instinctively he had reached for her hand and given it a squeeze. Far from pulling away, she had given him a grateful smile.
It hadn't been much, but for a country boy who had not had anything similar since being a child years before, it meant the world.
"I missed you too", he said, wanting so badly to stay up and talk but his eyes were heavy. They had worked from dawn to dusk for the four days since they had started on their expedition to study the temple. Due to Captain Red's increasing impatience the last two nights had been all nighters, reading by torchlight and discussing the various interpretations of what the symbols could mean.
"I might be gone before you wake up", she said. "We're setting up a team to photograph the last of the temple, and to see if we can figure out how it works. We'll be back with everything we've gathered, and we'll figure it out."
"OK", he said sleepily, before a thought hit him. "Is Captain Red going?"
"No", Sam said, resting a hand on his shoulder. "This is a strictly earth mission. We got emergency permission to gather evidence and get back with it. They said that as long as we don't tamper with anything, and we share what we find with them, then they are fine with it."
Didn't sound like his government. Dreylock had probably pulled some major strings to get away with that. It would cost her. Even though she had only been First Minister for just over a year there were strong voices that wanted rid of her, just like there were strong voices that wanted rid of him. They were too innovative, too different from the world of war they had all grown up in.
Military leaders like Captain Red and his superiors still made up the majority of the government. It was difficult to change things when those who would need to make changes were not even capable of imagining what that changed world would be like. People would need to want change before it could happen, and his recent time trying to make those changes had made him realise how few wanted them to come to pass.
"You know", he could hear the smile in her voice. "Despite what I said to the colonel, if you want me to beat up Captain Red for you, you only need to ask."
"Thanks for the offer", he reached to take her hand, as he had done so many times before, but startled at how large it suddenly appeared next to his tiny one. Yet as her fingers wrapped around his, the callused skin still felt as warm and reassuring as it always did. "But I'm fine. I think it scared him more than it scared me, when I fell again that wall and it started humming. He ran away faster that I've seen."
She leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. Despite the circumstances, it felt undoubtedly good to be back among friends.
"Just keep it in mind", Sam said, before moving over to stand at Daniel's side.
The older boy was already asleep. Jonas could hear his snores from where he lay. Sam looked down at him for a moment with a fond expression before she made a quiet exit.
Jonas closed his eyes, listening to her footsteps as they navigated through medical, and out into the hallway. It took several minutes before he could no longer separate her footsteps from the rest of the afternoon bustle outside the medical room doors. Not quite willing to sleep he played a game a little longer, trying to place the faraway voices and movements that had enveloped his friend. He tried to picture their faces, and to imagine what they might be doing.
Slowly trickle by trickle a familiar laugh or scuff of a shoe brought a name or action forward in his mind. A bucket scraping a wall, a wet mop gathering water and spreading in on the ground. A high-pitched squeak of a shoe scuffing on newly wet floor. Several conversations that he couldn't make out.
It was good being back here. He had missed it while he had been on Langara. The only thing that could make being back here better would be being back here and being taller than two and a half feet. Yes, that would be good. Hopefully that would happen soon.
Authors note: Well a little bit more written for this story. I quite like Jonas's POV. Considering whether or not to stick with it for now. I'll see how it goes. This has been fun to write so far, and don't worry I do have a plan for where it is going. I just want to have a bit of fun with fluff moments in case the plot picks up too fast to fit them in. So pop in your suggestions for fluffy moments if you have any. If it fits, and I'm feeling it, and I think I might be able to do a decent job I might consider adding some in. I also appreciate reviews, tell me what you liked and didn't like - help me improve.