By Kalmalinga
A/N: So all for the long wait of part 3. Thank you, Lisabell for agreeing to beta this story for us too.
No matter what you think this story is NOT a slash story.
Part 3: Withdrawal
Daniel was aware of only strong, gentle hands holing him tightly as his whole being shook with convulsive sobs, nausea and pain. A pain so great it was tearing him apart at the very seams and he is afraid; afraid at the ferocious need that surged through him, the incredible craving for a single object. Deep down, he knew Jack was right, that artifact was dangerous and he shouldn't have anything more to do with it; but the wild, savage need inside him was by far stronger than any truth, knowledge or logic, stronger than the reality that was slowly seeping through his meddled mind. And in the end, the insatiable craving won out.
"J-Jack. Ph-please…" he sobbed in between shudders of pain, his eyes screwed shut against the intense agony he was suffering, "please, g-give it b-back to me."
Jack pressed his head closer to his chest and he already knew the answer. "I'm sorry, Danny. I can't do that."
Daniel's weeping intensified, "shhh, Danny. It's going to be okay, boy." Jack stroked his damp hair gently, trying to calm him down but for some reason, that only served to make him cry harder.
"I w-want it b-back, Jack. I want it back," Came Daniel's whispered plea against his friend's chest, the stream of tears running freely down his cheeks now disappearing into the thin material of Jack's T-shirt. He felt so vulnerable and out of control, neither of which he felt comfortable with. It reminded him too much of another time, long ago when he'd been but a young boy and all he'd known and cherished had been lost to him. The feeling of helplessness and lack of control had eaten away at him, so much like it was doing now. The fact that he was all grown up now didn't seem to matter, he felt just as exposed, scared and powerless as he had back then.
"I know, boy. I know." Jack kept rocking him and placing gentle kisses on his clammy, anguish, furrowed forehead every now and then. The gentle, rhythmic motion slowly worked its way through his pain and he could feel himself start to relax in Jack's arms, until a sudden spasm of pain rocked his body like a bolt of electric shock jolting him to his senses. He screamed, the loud, long suffering sound startling even him and he stuffed his knuckles into his mouth to try and muffle the agonizing, scaring wail.
Jack hugged him closer and the rocking intensified, he whimpered into Jack's chest. "Make it stop, Jack. Please, make it stop." Jack pressed a long, firm kiss on his brow, stroking the back of his head and hugging him even tighter, without crushing him, against his body.
All of a sudden, a frenzied clicking of hurried high-heeled feet came barreling in his direction, echoing loudly in his sensitive head. Small, precise hands were pressed on his forehead and wrist, followed by a bombardment of questions in Janet's very familiar, strong, yet gentle voice. As comforting as knowing she was here, he just couldn't find the strength in him to answer her. Thankfully, Jack and Teal'c jumped in for him, giving a detailed recount of what had happened. He never opened his eyes; it just hurt too much now.
Shortly after, she was issuing orders to her quickly arriving nursing staff that burst into action. Daniel tried to focus on what was going on around him, but failed miserably. His pain numbed mind wouldn't let him concentrate on anything but his current agony and need. Shudders coursed through his body as muscles contracted and spasmed on their own accord. White hot pain flared through his whole body; he was consumed in a deep ever growing torment.
The only thing holding him together and keeping him sane, from simply tumbling over the edge and crumbling into tiny little pieces were Jack's strong arms circling around him, muffling his cries and quivering body with his warm, tight hold. So when hands reached out to untangle him from his safety anchor, Daniel bucked and reacted the only way he possibly could at the moment, by clinging desperately to Jack's shirt and crying out as the separation itself would actually hurt him. "NO! Please, Jack. Don't leave me, please." He whimpered heartbrokenly, eyes screwed shut even tighter.
Jack tightened his hold on him, "That's okay, Janet. We'll take him." Came Jack's soft spoken assurance and Daniel instantly calmed down. Jack wouldn't leave him. He would be okay. He snuggled closer to his friend, who was more like father to him than Daniel cared to admit, even to himself.
"Teal'c, give me a hand here." He heard Jack say over his head, "Danny, Teal'c here's going to pick you up, buddy." Jack's soft voice was now closer to his ear, "you're a little big now for ole Jack here to pick you up." Daniel let out a little snicker turned sob at that, Jack squeezed him slightly in assurance. "He's going to take you outside and into the ambulance so the doc here can fix you up. But I'm not going anywhere, got that? I'm staying right here by your side, sport. Okay?" Daniel nodded mutely.
Soon afterwards, big, strong hands were lifting him up gently and Teal'c's deep baritone voice speaking close to his face and he chanced a quick peek at the big man. "Don't be distressed, DanielJackson. You're among friends here; no one will bring harm to you." Daniel managed a weak smile and a nod in response as he was then lifted into Teal'c's strong yet amazingly gentle arms. Jack's hand was still lingering on his head and his soothing voice still whispering to him. He was finally able to relax somewhat in spite his still throbbing body and aching head as darkness slowly enveloped him.
oOo
The first thing that Daniel noticed as consciousness slowly returned was of the gut wrenching spasms tearing at his insides. In spite of his efforts, a scream tore out of his mouth and familiar, comforting hands were instantly by his side, reassuring and warm. Daniel was little aware of the commotion going on around him as the painful cramps doubled him over, shudders of fear and pain coursing through his whole body and he just didn't understand why that was happening to him.
And then another pair of hands, also familiar but different, smaller and precise, expertly searching for his vital signs and then skillfully holding something to his hand. Right then, as suddenly as the pain had assaulted him, it slowly ebbed away into a still persistent, but more manageable throb.
Tentatively, Daniel opened his eyes and that's when he noticed the IV attached to his hand. Dr. Frasier was standing by his side, smiling reassuringly down at him; a used syringe in hand. He turned his head to his other side and there was Jack, perched on his seat beside his bed, a worried frown on his face; but as soon as Daniel's eyes connected with his, the worried frown turned into a gentle smile.
"Hey there, Danny," Jack said, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder lightly.
"J'ck." He rasped out and before he could voice his need, a spoonful of ice chips materialized in front of him. He gladly took it, savoring the melting ice as it soothed his raw throat. He nodded his thanks at Teal'c, who bowed slightly in response.
He attempted to reposition himself on the small, infirmary cot, trying to find a more comfortable position and was rewarded by a jolt of hot pain shooting through his abused muscles. He bit down hard on his lip, struggling in vain to suppress the anguished whimper that still managed to find its way out of his now also throbbing lower lip.
"Can you give him anything stronger, Doc?"
"I'm sorry, Colonel. I've given him enough already, it could be dangerous." There was a short lapse of silence before he felt Janet's hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Daniel. I know it doesn't look like it right now but you're getting better. The chemicals that were in your body are reducing more and more and it's getting out of your body faster than we'd first calculated. It should be all out in about a few days. The pain will slowly subside and you'll be back on your feet in no time. Just call me if the pain gets any worse, okay." With that, the hand on his shoulder gave him a small pat and he could hear her exchanging words with Jack and Teal'c, although he couldn't hear what they were actually saying.
Gradually, Daniel's breathing evened out as the intense pain receded until only a dull throb remained. When he opened his eyes again, Janet was gone and Jack and Teal'c were the only ones speaking off to one side.
"She's lying." Daniel choked out in a strangled whisper; Jack instantly returned to his side.
"What was that, Danny?"
"She's lying, Jack. I'm not getting better." He sobbed.
"Danny, Janet's your doctor and your friend, she cares about you. She wouldn't lie to you, boy." Jack said, gently smoothing his hair out of his eyes while tenderly wiping those painful tears.
"It-it hurts." Daniel whimpered.
"I know, kid. But you heard the doc. You're getting better."
"SHE'S LYING!" Daniel screamed at the top of his lungs, startling Jack and the big Jaffa, who promptly came to stand beside Jack, ready to intervene if needed.
"Now, Daniel. I already told you, she wouldn't lie to you and neither would I." Jack stared meaningfully into Daniel's fear-filled eyes. "Do you trust me, Daniel?"
Daniel slowly nodded his head, tears still sliding down his cheeks. "Then trust me on this, Danny. You're in good hands and you are getting better."
Daniel shook his head ever so slightly, letting out a drawn out sob, letting desperation come to the surface. "No!" He cried, "I need it back, I won't get better unless you give it back."
Jack sighed, "Danny, we went through this already."
"No!" Daniel screamed, his face contorting into a mask of rage. "I WANT IT BACK!"
"Daniel, I can't do that and you know it!" Replied Jack sternly. "That thing is what's making you sick, Daniel." Jack tried to reason, only to have his hands pushed roughly aside as Daniel tried sit up suddenly. He made to yank his IV free but strong, dark hands stopped him from doing so in a swift move.
"You will damage yourself, DanielJackson. Please, stop fighting and let us take care of you. No one here wants to harm you." The huge Jaffa tried to appease the enraged young man, but Daniel kept on fighting, weakly trying to pry the Jaffa's hands away.
"Let me go you, you big ox!" Daniel screamed.
"Daniel, that's enough!" Yelled the Colonel, who had now regained his balance and was now also trying to restrain the young archaeologist before he hurt himself, "stop it, Daniel!"
Eventually, the physical strain along with the sedative now cursing through his body took effect and the struggling slowly stilled as the exhausted young man finally succumbed, although still whimpering and crying softly. Jack quietly stroking his hair, murmuring soothingly while Teal'c, a reassuring presence, keeping guard at the foot of his bed.
oOo
Few days later Daniel was finally stable, at least physically. He'd been in and out of consciousness. There had been times that Dr. Fraiser had seen the need to sedate Daniel because of his obsessions with the artefact that had caused his addiction but now it seemed that he finally woken up. It seemed that all the drugs were out of his system though Dr. Fraiser couldn't tell yet if Daniel would have suffered from side effects like brain damage, he would need to be tested first.
Daniel slowly opened his eyes. "J'ck, T'c." Daniel looked at Jack and said, "Da'dy" and then at Teal'c "d-dad." Jack looked confused at Daniel, 'did Daniel just call me daddy and Teal'c dad?' Jack thought. He then hurried to get to his son's side and he noticed Teal'c doing the same.
Jack caressed Daniel's face gently. "We're here son. Your Daddy and Dad are here."
Daniel just smiled brightly while looking at Jack and then at Teal'c. Teal'c had at first raised his eyebrows and then his eyes widened as he got what Jack had meant he then bowed his head and said, "Yes, DanielJackson your Daddy and Dad are here and we'll protect you."
TBC