Jonas Quinn came awake with a violent move when he felt the brush of fingers at his neck. He flinched away as he became aware of someone standing over him.
"GEEZUS!" Jack O'Neill blurted jumping back from where he had been seeking a throat pulse. "Don't DO that!"
Still not quite awake, Jonas frowned. "Uh, I'm sorry."
"I thought you were dead. You were lying there with your eyes open." O'Neill barked, his own frown ferocious.
"Ah… oh, sorry about that, Colonel. Um, I don't naturally close my eyes when I sleep. I'm trying to train myself to do it, but I guess I just didn't think about it. Uh, did you need something, sir?"
Jack blinked. "You sleep with your eyes open?"
Jonas shrugged, vaguely ashamed. "Yes, sir."
"It would seem a useful habit. You would be less likely to be caught unaware by your enemies, Jonas Quinn," Teal'c commented from his position by the door.
Jonas felt a flush of gratitude, but kept his attention on O'Neill, who waved away the comment as if unimportant. "Dr. Frasier says that candy you ate was doped. She thinks someone might be trying to kill you. Do you have any idea who that would be?"
Jonas' eyebrows climbed. "Kill me? Someone wants to kill me?"
"I'll take that as a no." O'Neill replied dryly. "Well, we're looking into it. Until we have an answer, we're going to set up a twenty-four hour guard rotation on you. Teal'c will stay here with you until I have the guards in place. You get any more little gifts, you don't open them, understand?"
"Yes sir." Jonas smiled to cover his sinking heart. When he had first come to the SGC, he had been assigned a twenty-four hour guard, a series of hard-faced SFs who never spoke or smiled. When the guards had finally been withdrawn, it had felt like being freed from heavy chains.
O'Neill nodded curtly, then turned away. "T, I'll set that rotation right away. Give me ten minutes. Fifteen, tops."
"There is no need to hurry, O'Neill. I will stay with Jonas Quinn for as long as necessary."
"Fifteen minutes, tops," the colonel repeated as he strode out of the room.
Jonas stood there unsure of what to do. "Um, thanks, Teal'c. I appreciate you taking the time to stay with me."
Teal'c inclined his head acknowledging the thanks. "Should you not be resting, Jonas Quinn? Dr. Frasier would be most displeased if she found you out of bed."
Jonas looked at the neatly made bed, then back to his cluttered desk. Although he felt weak with exhaustion, he couldn't quite bring himself to give in to it. Shaking his head, he replied, "No, I'm all right. It's not like I'm running a race. I'm just working on a translation."
Teal'c cocked an expressive eyebrow, saying nothing. Jonas felt himself color, and turned away from the Jaffa. Sitting down at the desk, he took a breath to compose himself then looked back up at the tall man. "Um, can I get you anything? Some tea? A book, maybe?"
The Jaffa loosened his stance infinitesimally. "No, Jonas Quinn. Perhaps I might assist you with your translation?"
Jonas' eyes lit up. "Sure! I'd like that. Let me get you a chair…"
Teal'c held up a hand. "I will get the chair. Do not open the door to anyone else."
Jonas' smile remained until the Jaffa closed the door behind him. He stared at the door for a moment then ran a weary hand through his hair. The room seemed smaller, more like a prison cell than anything else. With a sigh, he turned back to his work.
