A/N: A long chapter, just for you! Dont know when my next day or two will be, so enjoy!!!!!!!!
"Sir, there are some pretty high readings over here!" Sam called the next day. She was about 30 yards north ( or at least what they thought was north) of the Stargate. Jack and Teal'c were checking out the area around them while Daniel was looking for any signs of indigenous life. He had found markings on a tree nearby, but wasn't sure if it was strange symbols made by human-like beings or marks made by an animal….it could actually be chicken-scratch! Of course, it could be a human/chicken hybrid…it was an alien planet, after all. Or maybe just a human with really bad handwriting… Sometimes he got a little frustrated with trying to translating markings made by aliens. Of course, today he was extra impatient. He just wanted to get home and get ready for tomorrow evening's dinner with Chris. He thought about the ring sitting in his nightstand, waiting to be slid onto Chris's finger tomorrow after a perfect meal and a perfect little speech about how much he loved her and how much he wanted her to be his wife. God, the thought sent shivers of nervousness down his spine! He felt his hands start to sweat and he frowned. Why would he be nervous?! He and Chris had discussed getting married and he was sure she was going to say yes. Pretty sure… Fairly sure… More-or-less sure… Oh dear god, he wanted off this damn planet already!
"Daniel?" Jack questioned and Daniel nearly screamed from shock. The older man couldn't hold back a chuckle and he patted his young friend's shoulder. "Easy, there Danny-boy, I was just wondering if you had found anything of interest?"
"Nope. Is Sam ready to go?" Daniel asked quickly and Jack grinned wider.
"Daniel, you need to relax. She is going to say yes. Now, Carter has some more tests to do and I need you to try to focus on what's going on around you. This place isn't secure, you know." Jack said and Daniel nodded, knowing the Colonel was right.
"You really think she is going to say yes?" he asked, vulnerably.
"Yes, I do." The older man replied sincerely.
"I…I think so, too."
"Good. Now, do you want to look for some rocks over near Carter or do a perimeter check with Teal'c?" Daniel grinned at the offer and knew that Jack was having one of his softer moments, trying in his own way to encourage and calm him.
"Um, I guess look for some more rocks over near Sam." He replied and Jack nodded, giving him a gentle shove in Sam's direction.
"Go on, then. Stay in radio contact- every five minutes check in." Jack said, the Colonel in him returning. Daniel nodded and turned to walk over to Sam. He made it exactly one step before the staff blast hit him squarely in the chest.
A/N: Should I end it there? Hmmmm….maybe I should- it is such a good stopping place…..Okay, okay! Here you go! But, beware! It isn't what you think!
"…iel…stay with us, buddy…."
"…med team, NOW!"
"..one call Chris! She needs to …."
"DanielJackson, ChrisArtanis is on her way…"
" Daniel, love, you need to wake up…please…"
There it was, the voice he had been waiting on. He was warm and comfortable where he was right now- there wasn't any pain or worry and the woman he loved more than anything was beside him, talking. He wanted to kiss her…damn, he would have to wake up for that. Ugh, fine, if he had to wake up for a kiss he would. Slowly, blue eyes opened and immediately met brown.
"Hey, there you are…" she said quietly, brushing his hair back from his face. He loved it when she did that…" How are you feeling?" He tried to answer, but nothing came out. He grimaced slightly at the pain in his chest and she soothed him by putting some ice chips in his mouth. "Don't try to talk, Janet said that you are pretty banged up." He quirked an eyebrow at her, and she frowned, stroking his hand. "Fractured sternum, some tissue damage, though not much. Good thing we upgraded armor last month or you…you wouldn't have made it." She said and he grinned slightly, thankful. "Anyway, you also have four broken ribs, just to add to everything." He rolled his eyes and sighed, tired again. "Go back to sleep. Janet said you need as much rest as possible. I'll be here when you wake up." He smiled, closing his eyes. "I love you, Daniel." His eyes blinked open just enough to look into her, silently repeating his love back to her, and he was asleep moments later.
Daniel didn't wake up again until the next day and was just a groggy as he had been before. This, he attributed to the pain medication that Janet was no doubt pumping into him. He knew his body hurt, but it hurt with a slight fuzziness that he recognized all too well. Looking over, he saw that Chris had kept her word and was beside his bed, only she was sound asleep in a rather uncomfortable looking position. He reached out, trying to touch her hand, but the pain from moving was too much for the medicine and he decided maybe calling her name would be better.
"Chris" he croaked and flinched at the sound of his voice. "Chris!" This time his voice was a little stronger and she opened her eyes.
"Hey! How are you feeling today?" she asked and he sighed.
"Been better. What happened?"
"You were hit- staff blast to the chest. A small troop of Jaffa came up on you guys and ambushed you. The rest were able to take them down and get you back to base, though. We were really worried for a while, Janet said that the force of the blast was enough to fracture your sternum and four ribs, but other than that you are going to be okay."
"Great…fractured sternum, huh? That's a new one." He said and she gave him a half-grin.
"Trust me, it could have been much worse." She said and he nodded, taking her hand and giving it a slight squeeze. Leaning down, she kissed him softly. "Do you need any more pain medicine? Janet said you could have more if you needed it."
"No, no, I'm good." He said with a grin and she could tell that he wasn't really feeling anything at the moment anyway.
"Good, cause I really want you out of here soon. You know, we had to cancel our date because of this." She said jokingly.
"Date? Oh no! I forgot! I'm so sorry, Chris…" he said and she frowned.
"Its okay, Daniel We can go on the date later. Its no big deal."
"It was our one year anniversary, though!"
"Its okay, don't worry about it. I'm just glad that you are alive, honey."
"But I had…plans." He said and she shook her head.
"Daniel, plans can be changed. Don't worry about it. Just rest and we will celebrate later, when you are out of here and healed."
"Fine." He grumbled and she smiled, kissing him again. "But I want to go as soon as Janet lets me out of here."
"Which wont be for a good couple of weeks." Janet said, walking up to them. "Sorry, Daniel, but I want to make sure everything heals correctly."
"Two weeks?!" he gasped and she smiled.
"Yup, sorry. Now, get some sleep and we can start negotiations later." She said and he frowned, opening his mouth to argue. "Ah! No arguments! If you don't close your eyes and go to sleep right now, I wont even bargain. Now, sleep!" she barked and he snapped his eyes closed. Janet and Chris grinned and walked away.
"I thought you said he could go home after a week, as long as I watch him." Chris said and Janet grinned evilly.
"And he still can, but I find letting them think that they wheedled me down gives them a kick." Janet confessed and Chris laughed, shaking her head.
"So, how long before he will be back to active duty?" Chris asked.
"Active duty? Probably about 6-8 weeks. It will take at least that long for everything to heal. I still don't know how long till he can go back through the gate- that may take longer." Janet said and Chris sighed.
"Daniel isn't going to like that."
"Well, he doesn't have a choice unless he wants to do more damage to himself."
"I'll let Jack know so he can find a replacement for the time being."
"Oh, have fun with that. I'll catch you later, Chris."
"See ya, Janet." Chris laughed and headed to talk to Jack.
Daniel was, unfortunately, still in the infirmary two weeks later anyway. An infection had set up in the skin that had been damaged and Janet had had to fight it back. Daniel was miserable for a good week and a half, but his fever had finally broken and he was able to sit up slightly as long as he still rested against the bed. Chris only left his side when absolutely necessary, and that was usually when Janet kicked her out of the infirmary. Daniel was getting more and more frustrated the longer he was stuck in the hospital bed. Everyone thought it was because he was sick of being in the infirmary, but Jack knew better. One day while Chris was out getting them lunch, Jack handed Daniel a small paper bag. Daniel looked inside, thinking it was more stolen jell-o, but was surprised to see the small jewelry box from his nightstand.
"Just go ahead and ask her." Jack said. "I know it isn't how you thought it would be, but ask her anyway. Trust me, she wont care how or where you do it." Daniel looked at his best friend and shook his head, grinning.
"Thanks, Jack. I think I will…" he replied and stuffed the bag under his pillow.
"Daniel, you have to take it easy or you'll end up right back in the infirmary!" Chris fussed as he climbed out of her SUV.
"Chris, it has been three weeks. Janet says that I am healing fine and I barely feel any pain when I move."
"That's because you are on pain pills! Now, just relax on the sofa and I'll make us some lunch." She said as she unlocked and opened the front door. Leading him to the sofa, she forced him to sit down and relax. "Dart, hand him the remote." She said and, to Daniel's surprise, the husky brought the remote control to him and set it in his hand. "Whatever you need, ask Dart to get it for you. Remember, Janet said to lift absolutely nothing!"
"Yes, mom." He grumbled, but set the remote down as soon as she walked away. Leaning close to the dog, he whispered, "She thinks I am just going to lay on this couch for the next two weeks, she's crazy!" Dart surprised him by giving a low growl.
"Oh, and I taught him to not let you off the sofa unless I allow it!" Chris said from the kitchen.
"Great." Daniel groaned. Sighing, he looked around, debating on whether to turn on the TV or not. Instead, he spied his duffel bag laying on the floor beside him and slowly, carefully, he leaned down and unzipped the right panel. He knew the small box was still there, but he needed to feel it. He hadn't found the right time to ask her just yet, but had hopes that it would be soon. He knew the time would come up, he just had to be patient.
A/N: Yeah, I know, you wanted the proposal…it's coming! I promise! But, I need reviews if you want Daniel to pop the question! Let me know!!! Thanks guys!!!!!