Thanksgiving had come around again and this year Jack O'Neill was determined that his team would celebrate it together for the first time. They had been through so much and the annual holiday was a perfect opportunity to kick back, regroup and give thanks.

The order had been given – Thanksgiving was to be spent at Chez O'Neill and Jack was checking in with each team member to make sure they knew what they were bringing to the party.

"So, Carter," he picked up part of Sam's experiment off her desk and started to fiddle with it. "You okay with the arrangements for tomorrow then?"

Sam reached and plucked the cylinder out of his hands. "Yes sir, corn fritters are made and the pecan pie is on order ready for collection," she smiled sweetly.

Jack thrust his hands in his pockets. "Good, that's good," he nodded as he watched his second in command return to work. "T's got a handle on the pumpkin pie and I'm just looking for Daniel to make sure he's got the drinks in hand."

"Daniel's not here," Sam reached for her clip chart and started to scribble down her findings.

"Oh?"

"He's gone to pack Nicks things away."

"That was today?"

"Yes sir – that was today."

"Oh."

"Actually," Sam placed her clipboard down and gave Jack her full attention. "He seemed a bit 'off' this morning."

"Off?" Jack frowned.

"Yeah, I found him sleeping at his desk, I'm not even sure he went home last night," Sam shrugged. "He looks exhausted, sir."

"Yeah, well – it's been a tough couple of weeks for him. He probably just needs to relax for a few days which is just what he's gonna do, he's had his orders."

"I'm not sure he's dealt with the Nick situation yet, you know how he gets."

Jack sighed and perched on the edge of the desk. "Yeah, the Doc had words along the lines of scrubbing him from the next mission unless he deals."

"He won't willingly get help, sir."

"No he won't but he might open up to friends."

"Yes he might," Sam began to smile, knowing exactly where her C/O was going with this and when Jack slapped his knees and the stood purposely she knew she was right.

"Okay, I think I'll have a drive out to Oregon – see if Danny boy needs a hand."

"You do that, sir," Sam grinned.

"I will," Jack turned to leave. "Don't forget, I expect you at eleven hundred hours sharp, Carter," he waved over his shoulder.

"Yes, sir," Sam called back.

If anyone could get Daniel Jackson to open up it was Jack O'Neil. Happy that her friend was in good hands Sam reached for her clipboard and got back to work.

xxx

The sun shining through the window was making Daniel drowsy. The fact that he'd barely slept for the last few days added to his exhaustion.

In a strange way, he still felt out of phase.

He also felt a certain amount of guilt about the whole situation. Guilt that he hadn't tried harder to understand Nick's work and guilt that he now knew that they'd both been right all along and should have listened to each other rather than dismissing their theories out of hand. Their relationship could have been so special. They were more alike than they thought.

Daniel just hoped that Nick would be happy, that's all he wanted. He hoped that he would find the peace that he himself had found at Stargate Command. It was a place he fitted in finally and hoped that Nick had the same sense of belonging now he was with the alien giants. Only time would tell.

There was little more he could do to help now anyway – Nick had made his decision and although Daniel had been reticent to leave him, not knowing what was going to happen, he was happy for him.

It was time to draw a line under his family and move on which was what he would do after he just closed his eyes for a little while...

Xxx

Jack knocked on the door and poked his head round. "Hey, Danny..." he started but paused when he saw that his friend was curled up on the bed, fast asleep. "Dammit Daniel," he muttered to himself and quietly closed the door behind him.

Half-filled boxes were scattered round the room, testament that Daniel hadn't finished his task. Jack gathered them together, checked the closet and draws and finished the job for his friend. He then stacked the now full boxes by the door and crossed to wake the slumbering man.

"Hey, Daniel," he gently shook Daniel's shoulder and Daniel came awake with a start.

"Jack?" He sat bolt upright, the book that had been resting on his chest, falling to the floor. "What are you doing here?"

Jack reached down and picked up the book. "Just thought you might like a hand," he shrugged and started to flick through the pages.

"Actually," Daniel snatched the book out of Jack's grasp. "I'm managing perfectly well on my own, thank you," he huffed and held the book to his chest, almost protectively.

"Well," Jack sighed. "The nurse told me that you've been in here for nearly three hours and the half empty boxes I found tell another story buddy."

Daniel swung his legs off the bed. "I'd nearly finished. I just needed too..." he paused when he noticed the sealed boxes. "Did you...?" He turned and frowned.

"Didn't want to disturb you," Jack shrugged as he stood. "You obviously needed the sleep."

"You had no right..."

"It's just old clothes."

"There might have been personal items, personal to my family." Daniel was angry. How dare Jack interfere? "You had no right..."

"Relax Daniel," Jack sighed as he crossed to close the closet door. "If I'd come across anything, I wouldn't have touched it. I promise. Now, come on, it's time to go."

"But..." Daniel started to protest as he span round the room, checking that they had everything.

"It's all packed away. There's nothing in the closet or the draws and the bathroom is clear." Jack crossed to Daniel's side and stirred him towards the door. "It's time for you to get some proper rest." He felt Daniel sag under his touch and knew his friend had hit his wall. "Let's get out of here," he added softly.

Jack grabbed the first box and watched as Daniel placed the book on top of the second and then start to pick them up, wincing in pain as he did so. "You okay?" He frowned.

Daniel took a moment and then nodded his head. "Yeah," he sighed. "Box is heavy. Think I just pulled a muscle," he shrugged.

"I don't know," Jack chuckled as he opened the door for his friend. "Only you could pull something lifting a box of tatty old clothes. Come on," he let Daniel lead the way, "we've got time to stop off for a bite to eat on the way back."

Jack followed Daniel down the corridor and out of the hospital, surprised to see that he didn't once look back.

He just hoped that that meant that his friend finally had the closure he needed.

xxx

"So," Daniel picked at his ham roll, "when I was out of phase why didn't you work through the night for me?"

Jack took bit of his roll. "Wha?" He asked as he chewed.

"When I was out of phase," Daniel continued. "You and Sam went to bed without solving the situation."

"Perhaps we were tired," Jack shrugged and took another bite.

"I'd have worked through the night for you," Daniel sighed, opened his roll and took the ham out.

Jack placed his burger down and studied his friend for a moment, noting the dark circles under his eyes and the pinched lines of pain on his forehead. "What's this all about?" He asked gently, not sure where Daniel was going with all this.

"I just think..." Daniel sighed, pushed his plate to one side, sat back, rested his head against the back of the booth and closed his eyes. "...that you gave up looking for me too easily," he shrugged.

"Oh, for crying out loud," Jack pushed his own plate away. "Don't be ridiculous! We'd been going round in circles for hours. Nick was tired, he wasn't gonna tell us anymore – we made the decision to get some rest and review things in the morning. Is that what's been bugging you?"

"Amongst other things," Daniel sighed sleepily.

"Ah, heck Daniel. You know we'd never have given up looking for you. You're family."

Daniel opened his eyes. "Am I?"

"Of course you are, you know that don't you?"

"I'm not sure where I fit in anymore. I think being out of phase suited me."

"Dammit Daniel, you're being stupid."

Daniel sighed heavily. "Take no notice, I'm just so tired."

"Yeah, I know," Jack echoed the sigh and then pointed at Daniel's plate. "You gonna eat that?" He asked.

"Not hungry," Daniel gave a wan smile. "Sorry."

Jack reached for his wallet. "Don't sweat it." He pulled out a few dollars and threw them on the table. "Let's go home." He stood and held his hand out to his friend.

Daniel smiled and took the offered hand, grimacing when the pain in his abdomen returned as Jack helped him to his feet.

"Muscle strain?" Jack waggled his eyebrows.

"Yeah," Daniel rubbed his stomach and the pain started to recede. "God I'm out of shape," he moaned as he led the way out of the dinner.

"Think we need to get you booked into a few sparring sessions with Teal'c," Jack chuckled and slung his arm round Daniel's shoulders. "He'll soon sort you out and if he doesn't you'll have a few more muscle strains that you won't even notice that one."

"Oh the joy," Daniel sighed, the last thing he wanted to do was get in the gym with Teal'c. "I think a couple of anti inflammatory's and a good night's sleep would do me better."

"You're probably right," Jack agreed and slapped Daniel on the shoulder before making his way over to his truck. "Do ya need a hand unpacking the boxes at your apartment?" He called over as he unlocked his door.

"Nah," Daniel replied as the climbed into his car. "I'll just drop them off at a charity shop on the way."

"Okay," Jack nodded. "See you tomorrow – eleven hundred house, my place. Don't forget the beer."

"I won't," Daniel nodded. "See you in the morning," he waved, shut the door and then reached to put the keys in the ignition, pausing when the pain returned in this stomach. He took a few deep breaths and waited for it to go before turning the key.

He couldn't wait to get home and into bed.