Jack arrived just as Sam left. He sauntered in with a deliberately casual air and caste his eyes quickly over Daniel, sizing him up. "Hey" he said by way of a greeting.

"Hey" Daniel echoed.

"How you doin'?" Jack asked, maintaining the casual attitude.

"Good" Daniel replied cautiously.

It was awkward – he felt oddly vulnerable. It was somehow embarrassing to be ill in bed and the hospital gown did nothing to improve things. Weirdly it was more awkward with Jack than it was with Sam. The fact that their nagging concern had been vindicated also put him on the back foot. Lost for what to say next he asked "Have you had your hair cut?"

If Jack was surprised by the non-sequitur he didn't show it. "Yes" he replied simply. "Why?"

"No reason" Daniel replied quickly.

"Can I see your scar?" Jack enquired with child-like curiosity.

"No" Daniel replied decisively. He had absolutely no intention of risking embarrassment by adjusting the flimsy robe. Besides, moving hurt in spite of the morphine and the drip in his hand made doing anything difficult.

Jack looked disappointment. There was another silence.

"Er.. Fraiser says it'll be another week before you get outta here" Jack offered after a moment.

Daniel pulled a face "You know it's funny, after all the things we've been through the past" he winced as a spasm of pain evaded the drugs "few years and it's my appendix that lays me out. But it's not going to be a week – I mean, I practically feel fine now."

'Not a chance' thought Jack looking at his pallid features, but he kept his face impassive. "Want to go fishing?"

Daniel, his bluff well and truly called, was trapped "You know actually" he said moving as if to throw back the covers "I…" The movement, slight though it was, caused a surge of pain that started at the operation site and washed across his whole abdomen. He lay back, slightly dazed by the ferocity of it. He blinked and swallowed hard trying to get the urge to faint under control. Perhaps the morphine needed adjusting. "Well, er maybe, you know maybe I..I will stay here for two or three… three days."

For the second time in twenty four hours Jack felt a pang of conscience at debunking Daniel's act. For some reason that he couldn't quite put his finger on Daniel's stoicism irritated him in a way that Teal'c's did not. Perhaps it was because Daniel wasn't military or perhaps he just seemed more vulnerable. Jack wasn't mad keen when Carter putting herself in danger either. Sam and Daniel were meant to be the brains of SG-1 and he and Teal'c the muscle. Trouble was, the brains often ended up sharing the brunt of the tough jobs. Not that this was in anyway his fault. But 'my team, my responsibility' thought Jack. His five minutes (Janet had been very exact about that) were up and he thought he should probably go before worry and irritation would lead him to say anything else he might regret. He gave Daniel what he hoped was a look of respectful sympathy and took his leave with a curt "goodbye".

Daniel watched him go and tried to suppress the sensation that he had failed somehow. SG-1 were not meant to fall foul of boring earthly things like appendicitis. It was frustrating and undignified and it meant bed-rest. Daniel was distinctly bad at bed rest.

Janet came over to do his next set of post-op obs and noticed his pained expression.

"Hurting?" she asked.

"No" said Daniel absently "I mean, well yes, but I was just thinking."

"You are always thinking!" Janet retorted. "You don't usually make it look so difficult though. Stay still for a moment, I need to take your temperature." Daniel did as he was told. "99.5" said Janet in satisfied tones. "Well that is much improved. Pulse?" He offered her his wrist wordlessly. "Still over 100. So, what are you thinking about anyway?"

Daniel pulled a wry face "Mostly about how bored I'm going to be!"

Janet raised her eyebrows in mock indignation "Daniel Jackson, are you trying to telling me that my company is dull?"

"What..? No… I meant…" Daniel stuttered and then relaxed when he saw that she was teasing. He grinned ruefully. "I'm not very good at doing nothing!" He tried to stifle a yawn and failed. Janet laughed "I think you might find you're a bit too weak and sleepy to be bored just yet" she said kindly. "But when you are feeling a bit brighter I can get someone to bring up some of your books if you want to do some work." Daniel nodded. "As long as you don't overdo it" Janet warned. She gave him a stern look and returned to her medical questioning:

"How's the headache?"

"Ok" Daniel replied.

"Still feeling sick?"

Daniel shrugged "a little – less though."

"Pain score?"

"Um..2 mostly…unless I move much."

"Any pain anywhere else? Chest? No odd sensations".

Daniel shook his head.

"Good" Janet said confidently. "You are on the mend. A few days of rest and you will be back to your old self. Now, I suggest you sleep. Teal'c said he would pop by in a bit."