Author's Notes: - Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
Enjoy.
Dust hit the back of his throat making him cough while he managed to swim back to consciousness. He winced at the pain slicing through his side when he shifted and hoped his ribs were just bruised not broken again. His head was throbbing like someone had used a Gould hand-device on him. Automatically he checked the rest of his extremities relieved that, although sore, none felt broken.
"Dr Jackson?"
The voice was muffled but it soon cleared and Daniel recognised it, "Coulson?"
"Good to see you awake," the other man told him, "I was getting worried."
Daniel turned to look at the other man. His normally impeccable suit was covered in dirt and looked as though he'd slept in it, "How long was I out?"
"About an hour since I woke up," Coulson told him.
Daniel let this sink in before he grimaced, "What happened?"
"The building fell on us," Coulson told him with a shrug.
Daniel sighed annoyed, "I thought this felt familiar. Is there any plan for getting us out?"
Coulson frowned at him before shaking his head, "Ward and May are working on it but it may take a while."
"And you said this would be a walk in the park," Daniel chuckled, wincing at the pain the movement caused in his ribs and head.
"I've had worse," Coulson told him, "I'm pretty sure you have too."
Daniel nodded, "Very true. At least we're both alive. The last thing I need is to die again," he winced trying to get more comfortable, "Are you hurt?"
"My pride is a little dented," Coulson told him, "But other than that I think I'll be okay. Nothing broken. You?"
"I think my ribs are bruised," Daniel told him, "I'm almost certain they're not broken. And head feels like someone spent a week hitting it with a baseball bat."
"I know the feeling," Coulson sighed.
x
Phil quickly assessed the man sitting beside him, dirty and dusty there was a small trickle of blood coming from a cut on his forehead. He was pale and his eyes were slightly unfocussed. Phil was sure he had a concussion.
It was supposed to be an easy in and out to check on a power source now the 'Bus' had been fixed. Typically the power source had been unstable and now they were trapped.
"Agent Coulson," Simmons voice came over the radio, "Are you there?"
"I'm here," he answered, "We both are. Tell me you have an idea to get us out."
"Agent May is in contact with HQ to get some heavy equipment to move the rubble blocking our way," Simmons told them, "It will be a few hours though."
Phil glanced at Jackson who shrugged wincing slightly when he did so, "We should be fine. Though, if you can get a hole big enough, some supplies would be welcome."
He heard the slight nervous laugh from the young woman, "Yes sir."
"You know Jack will drive both of us crazy if he finds out about this," Jackson groaned.
"Very true," Phil chuckled.
Jackson shook his head before turning back to Phil, "How did you meet Jack anyway?"
"He didn't tell you?" Phil asked amused.
A smile touched the other man's lips, "He said it had to do with a bar, a bottle of tequila and a Captain America trading card."
Phil shrugged noncommittal, "Not to mention a Banana Daiquiri but considering he hasn't told you then I can't. Not until Jack agrees."
"Then you can owe me that story," Jackson chuckled before his head dropped slightly.
Phil grimaced, "Dr Jackson," he called, "Daniel. Stay awake."
"What?" the other man's head jerked up, "Sorry. I know concussion, can't sleep yet."
"Then we need to talk," Phil told him, "So find a topic, Dr Jackson."
"You really should just call me Daniel all the time," he noted, "Yelling Dr Jackson each time I close my eyes will wear thin soon. For both of us."
Phil smiled before nodding slightly, "Then call me Phil."
Daniel hated having concussions, he also disliked the fact he actually had enough experience of concussions to know what he hated about them. He knew it could have been worse; his brain could have been fried by a hand device - again. Those headaches lasted for weeks.
He grimaced when Jemma shone a light in his eyes but didn't say a word as he'd spent many years under Janet Frasier's care and could hear her voice in his head telling him to suck it up.
Daniel let out a slow breath each time she pressed on his side to try and manage the pain.
"You're right," the young woman said when she'd finished his examination, "Your ribs aren't broken but they are badly bruised. I'm going to give you some painkillers and I want you to rest."
Daniel gave her a wry smile, "I don't think there's much chance of that."
Before she could reply Fitz appeared, "We're wanted."
"Told you," Daniel told her, he grabbed his t-shirt and eased it on trying hard not to wince too much.
At Jemma's grimace he rested his hand on her shoulder before taking the pills she offered him and followed the two scientists up the stairs.
Phil was waiting for them and raised an eyebrow as he watched Daniel slowly ease himself to sit on the couch.
"Broken?"
"Nope," Daniel replied, frowning slightly as May handed twenty dollars to Phil, "You bet on whether my ribs were broken?"
May gave him a slight amused smile, "Just whether you were right or not."
"Not sure that makes me feel any better," Daniel grimaced.
x
Daniel sat reading over the file for Dr Hall as they headed back to Colorado. The man was brilliant and he was grateful that he had spent so much time around the scientists in the SGC so he was actually able to understand a good bit of the work the man did.
"Any insights?"
Daniel looked up as May slid into the seat across from him, "Just that I know someone who would love to talk to Dr Hall, though I wouldn't recommend it."
She gave a very slight smile, "We'll be landing soon. I suggest you stay with the bus."
"And if I disagree?" Daniel asked challenging.
May's expression didn't change, "I will persuade Simmons that I'm right and she will have to get Coulson to officially make you."
Daniel chuckled before wincing slightly when his ribs protested, "Then I concede to your recommendation."
She gave him a slight nod before she started to slide out of the seat.
"An old friend of mine would have been so proud of how you did that," Daniel noted, "She spent a long time reminding me I needed to rest after an injury."
May stared at him slight amusement in her eyes, "Then if I ever meet her we'll have something to talk about."
When she left him alone, Daniel sighed sadly, "If only."
With a moment of sad remembrance Daniel went back to work.
