CHAPTER 5

Dr. Lam had told him that he could leave the infirmary by lunchtime. Daniel sat there with the large pad of paper that Mitchell had left behind and began to write down everything that he had seen during his hallucination. He knew there was something that he had missed. Something important that Vala had been trying to tell him but he was too distracted to notice during their all too brief conversation. He had written down in almost visceral detail everything that had happened and yet whatever he had missed had apparently been missed by him over and over again. It was the result of the memory burst, he continued to tell himself, however he couldn't shake the feeling, or the desire to believe that it had actually been Vala he had been talking.

But if it was her, why didn't she want him to know it?

The Vala in his mind told him that she was a hallucination, a figment of his imagination. If that was the case, then why did it feel so real to him? And if it had been real, then what reason would she have to lie to him?

He went over the details again and again and nothing sank in. Sighing deeply he placed the pad of paper besides his bed and rested his head on his pillow.

"Is this a bad time?"

Looking up Daniel could see Mitchell standing in the doorway to the infirmary.

"A great time," Daniel said propping up his pillows. "I was just trying to remember everything that happened during the hallucination. Trying to figure out if I missed anything."

"And?"

"Nothing yet, which is kinda why I put the thing down. I can't wait to get out of this place and get back to my lab. I've always been able to think better there."

"That's kind of the reason why I am here."

A bad feeling erupted in Daniel's stomach. Although Mitchell did have to say anything to him, one look into the Colonel's eyes spoke volumes.

"I'm not getting out of here, am I?"

"Not yet."

"What reason was given for my being held here," Daniel asked trying desperately to hold back his emotions.

"I had made the suggestion to General Landry during the briefing that maybe it would be for the best that until we know more about the nature of you're hallucinations that you be confined to the infirmary. Dr. Lam agreed."

It was if he had been punched in the stomach.

"You recommended I stay here!"

"Jackson, I know that you're upset, but you need to listen."

"Upset doesn't describe how I'm feeling right now. Betrayed is more like it."

"I didn't betray you."

"Vala's in trouble in some far off galaxy, the Ori are coming, and there is a working Supergate out there and this is where your priorities fell? I thought you were my friend."

"I am your friend," Mitchell said taking a seat next to Daniel's bedside so that he could look the archaeologist in the face. "Until we know more about what's happening to you, you're vulnerable. That makes the rest of us vulnerable. We can't afford to be that way right now."

Daniel could see that Mitchell was sincere. He had to admit that becoming friends with him and been tough. He had spent all those years being friends with Jack and Teal'c it felt like this inner circle for which he could trust and depend on. When Jack left, it created a void, one that Mitchell tried desperately to fill. Daniel kind of admired Mitchell's attempt to be his newest best friend, harkening back to days when he was younger and wider eyed having an experienced person like Jack to back him up. After time had passed and Mitchell realized he didn't have to impress him all that much, they had found common ground, and began to build their friendship.

"Look, I understand that you mean well. Right now though, I need to get out of here. Too much is on the line for me to be laid up in some bed."

"Daniel," Mitchell said for the first time calling him by his first name. "If these turn out to be nothing more than images made by the memory burst we will find a way to deal with them. However if this turns out to actually be Vala you're talking to then we can't predict when the next one will come. If it happens and were in the middle of a sticky situation, what then?"

Daniel had to admit that Mitchell had a point.

"Besides, do you have any idea what General O'Neill will do to me if something happens to you?"

"What did he say to you?"

"Well he said, in so many words, that I would suffer horribly if his archaeologist should, well, die while under my command."

Daniel couldn't help but laugh at that, "That's Jack for you."

"Look, we'll try to get this over with as soon as possible. But right now, it looks like you're stuck here."

"Can you do me a favor then?"

"Name it."

"I need you to get a few things out of my lab that would help me make sense of all of this."

"You bet. What do ya need?"

"My laptop, for starters, a few more pens and a few more pads of paper."

"Will do."

"And coffee, you remember what kind, right?"

"How can I forget, it smells terrible. Be right back."

Daniel watched and waited until Mitchell was out of sight. Looking around to make sure that no one was watching he pulled out his IV and swung his feet off the side of the bed. Taking one last look to make sure no one was watching, he hopped down and hightailed out the door.