p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"They stood like that for at least ten minutes. Daniel's grip slowly weakened, only for him to gasp and clamp on tighter when he realized he was slipping. Jack simply held him and rocked- no words were necessary. Finally, Daniel took a deep, cleansing breath and let go. Jack lightly gripped his forearms as he swayed backwards. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""You gonna make it down to Janet?" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Y-Yeah," Daniel said quietly before his eyes rolled up into his head. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack caught him gently, and laid him on his side. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""That's what I figured, buddy," He said with a small smile before pulling out his cell phone and dialing the base. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"After being filtered through the call system and giving his security code at least three times, he finally managed to get connected to the infirmary. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"He sighed in relief when it was Fraiser who answered the phone. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Hi Doc, I need a med team up on the surface."/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Colonel?" Came the confused response. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I brought Daniel back to the base, he's pretty sick right now. I need a few pairs of hands and a gurney. We're right by elevator three in the parking lot."/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Okay sir, I'm sending them up right now. I'll see you in a moment." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"The gurney arrived, and the med team efficiently strapped Daniel to it, while Jack made sure the light green blanket was tucked around him securely. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack followed the team down to the infirmary and right into the treatment area where the doc was waiting for them. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"One glance at the man sprawled limply on the stretcher and Janet knew that he was in bad shape. If the tears stains on his face weren't enough, the sunken features coupled with fever spots and pallor told the rest of the story. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Colonel, what can you give me?" She said, pulling on a pair of gloves and preparing to move the limp man./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I got a call from his neighbor around four. She said he'd been puking for a few hours. His fever was 102.1 last I checked, about thirty minutes ago. He was pretty upset before we got here." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Janet nodded her acknowledgement as she helped her team pull Daniel over onto an infirmary bed. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"As they moved him, he started awake with a small whine./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Easy, Daniel," Janet soothed, laying her palm on the center of his chest. The action calmed him, and he opened his eyes a little wider and lifted his head to look around. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""J-Janet?" He whispered. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Yep," She said, as two of her nurses moved around him, taking vitals. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Temp's 101.8 doc. BP is 98/64." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Okay Dr. Jackson, that pressure's a little low, even for you. How about an IV to help with the dehydration?" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Daniel blinked sleepily at her, uncomprehending. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Janet smiled at the befuddled expression on his face. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""How are you feeling?" She asked, applying a tourniquet to his upper arm. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"He blinked rapidly, as if checking his body over before responding. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""S-Sick," he said weakly. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Do you think you're going to throw up?" Janet asked, making eye contact with one of her nurses. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Daniel blinked. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack stepped in. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""We were down to bile in the parking lot, Doc." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Janet nodded. "Okay. Sarah, can you draw up his max dose of Zofran, please?" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Janet grabbed a metal bowl off a nearby cart and handed it to Daniel, who immediately turned to his side and began dry heaving weakly./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"A moment later, the medication arrived and was injected into Daniel's IV line. The drug worked quickly, and he was sleeping comfortably in minutes. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"emThank goodness/em, Jack thought. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Janet pressed a small square of gauze to the site she'd just drawn three vials of blood from, while Jack refrained from any vampire comments. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Colonel? I'll test this thoroughly, but right now it just looks like a nasty stomach virus." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack smiled. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Thanks, Doc. Am I good to stay here?" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Could I keep you away?"/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack raised his eyebrows. "Good point." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"He settled in beside his troubled archeologist, and waited for him to stir. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" align="center"o-O-o-O-o/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"It was two hours before Daniel woke, and that was only to violently empty his stomach without warning. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack could only watch with sympathy as the nurses cleaned him up after Jack hadn't quite gotten the metal bowl under Daniel's chin in time. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"After his stomach settled, Jack found his feverish archeologist curled on his side, blinking owlishly at him from under a pile of blankets. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Jack?" he whispered quietly. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Right here. What do you need?" He said, sitting forwards./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Y-You stayed." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Of course, Danny. Wouldn't be anywhere else." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I-I thought you l-left me," he said, reaching a hand out of the nest of blankets. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I know. I did, Daniel. At least for a little bit there. I'm sorry that I hurt you like that." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Daniel smiled faintly and extended his hand towards Jack. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Hesitantly, Jack took it, smiling in surprise when Daniel curled around his arm and nuzzled his cheek into Jack's knuckles. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I forgive you, Jack," Daniel said quietly, eyes slipping closed. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""How about we talk about this later, Daniel? You've got a pretty good fever cooking, you're probably not going to remember this in an hour." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Daniel nuzzled his hand again. Jack could feel the heat pouring off him. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Ya know, you're kinda cute when you're sick," he said quietly, stroking Daniel's sweaty hair with his other hand. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Daniel only sighed happily as Jack's gentle stroking registered in his fevered brain. He nestled into the mattress, still clutching Jack's hand as he drifted off to sleep. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Janet stopped by fifteen minutes later, watching quietly as Jack tried to carefully extricate his hand from her patient's grip- only to have the sleepy archeologist sigh and hold onto him tighter. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I take it he likes you, sir," she said in a whisper. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack turned. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Yeah," he said, embarrassed, "apparently so." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Do you want help?" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack turned back to Daniel and sighed. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Nah, I'm good doc." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"He smiled wryly. "I don't have anywhere to be anyways." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I'll be by in an hour, sir. My nurses can help with anything before then." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Thanks, Doc." Jack said, gently stroking Daniel's hair again. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" align="center"o-O-o-O-o/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack watched as Daniel shifted miserably, his scrunched forehead revealing his discomfort even before he opened his eyes. Jack grabbed a clean bowl off the bedside table and pressed the button for a nurse. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Sarah was there in a moment, already carrying the next dose of anti nausea medication. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"She cleaned off his IV port with an alcohol wipe and slowly injected the medication. She was halfway through the syringe when Daniel's eyes flew open and he flopped onto his side with a groan before vomiting weakly. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack was already there, gently supporting his head to keep it from falling off the side of the mattress. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I gotcha, I gotcha," /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"One round and it was over, Daniel spit into the bowl and then relaxed into Jack. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Hey, nice and easy, huh buddy? Feel better?" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Daniel blinked slowly at him as Jack and Sarah settled him back onto the center of the bed. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"He shook his head eventually. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""H-Hurts," he choked out. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Where does it hurt?" Sarah asked, throwing the syringe away. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Daniel swallowed thickly, wrapping both arms around his stomach. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""J-Just s-sore," he said, curling back up on his side. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Alright, I'll get you something warm to hold on there, okay? That'll help with the cramps and muscle soreness." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Daniel managed a tight smile. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack moved in again. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""The magic no-puking juice should be kicking in soon."/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Sarah stifled a smile and ducked out of the room. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Sleep, Danny. I'll be here when you wake up." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" align="center"o-O-o-O-o/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack sat at Daniel's bedside, fiddling with the edge of his bedsheet. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Daniel watched him through half-lidded eyes, unsure how he felt. He was nauseous, but it was dulled by the medication surely coursing through his bloodstream. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Jack?" He said weakly, trying to open his eyes all the way. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack's head snapped up. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Daniel?" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack stood up and took a step back, reaching for the curtain./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Fraiser, he's awake," he said through the fabric, before eyeing him with… contempt? /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Jack?" Daniel repeated, scanning his friend's face. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""She's coming, Daniel. Stay there." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I-" He was confused. Jack stood stiffly next to the curtain, as far away from Daniel as possible, staring at him with cold eyes. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Just then, the curtain was pulled back and the light from outside poured into the cubicle. Daniel's retinas burned from it, causing his head to pound furiously and his stomach to cramp. Before he knew what was happening to him, he'd gotten sick./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Oh, that's emdisgusting/em!" Jack said, looking on in disdain as faceless people came in and began pulling at his limbs. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Daniel wiped his mouth and looked down at his scrub top in embarrassment. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack took a few menacing steps towards him. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Why can't you stop that?" He asked sternly. "I think I've just figured out why nobody likes being around you, emDanny." /em/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Daniel's eyes widened. To hear a nickname he'd associated with happy memories thrown back in his face like that... /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""J-Jack?" He managed to stutter out, before clamping his jaw shut. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""You heard me right. Nobody likes being around you." Jack began to tick things off on his fingers. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""You're incompetent, clumsy, accident-prone, and a whole lotta other stuff. No wonder you're being removed from SG-1." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Daniel felt his eyes widen. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""R-Removed?" He whispered, wrapping an arm around his stomach as it cramped again. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I think it's time that SG-1 didn't have a perpetual weakness, don't you agree?" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Daniel ducked his head. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I d-don't know J-Jack," he said. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""You know I'm right," Jack said, taking a threatening step towards him. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""N-No," Daniel whimpered. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"As Jack got closer, Daniel watched in horror as his face began to morph and twist into a grotesque, sick smile. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""J-Jack?" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack slowly removed his 9mil and trained it on Daniel's chest. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"His eyes widened in horror, panting as his stomach flopped again. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Jack!" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" align="center"o-O-o-O-o/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack was sitting at Daniel's bedside, fiddling with his sheet when Daniel started to toss his head in his sleep. Jack sighed./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"The poor man couldn't catch a break. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"He watched as Daniel's face scrunched up tight and he shifted to bring his knees up into his abdomen. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack reached out to gently wake him, when Daniel suddenly threw up. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"More concerning than that however, was the fact that he didn't even wake up for it. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Daniel?" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack pushed the call button several times- not that it'd make someone come faster, but it made him feel better. He grabbed a washcloth and wiped Daniel's mouth carefully, making sure his airway was clear. He was already sitting halfway up, so Jack simply turned his head to the side in case he got sick again. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Hey, Danny," He said, gently shaking his shoulder. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"The archeologist only whimpered quietly and shrank back into the pillows, away from Jack's touch. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""You're alright buddy. Wakey wakey, Danny-boy." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"A nurse ducked into the darkened room, immediately assessing the situation. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack didn't hesitate. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""He got sick, isn't waking up." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"She nodded, approaching the bed and pulling out a penlight. She flashed it into Daniel's eyes, checking his pupillary response. To his credit, Daniel whined softly and pulled away./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Dr. Jackson? Can you hear me?" Sarah rubbed her knuckles in the center of Daniel's chest. He let out a small sound between a whimper and a moan. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I know, I'm sorry. Open your eyes for me and I'll stop." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Just as Sarah was about to rub him again, Daniel's eyes flew open and he sat bolt upright with an agonized howl, shoving Sarah's arm away and swinging his legs over the edge of the bed in one smooth motion. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Looking around frantically, Daniel's gaze settled on Jack. His eyes widened, and he groped his own chest frantically, looking at his palm as if checking for blood. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Daniel stood quickly, with no sign of his former weakness, and stormed towards Jack with a yell. Surprised, Jack went towards him to help. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Wrong move. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Daniel threw himself at Jack, yanking out his IV in the process, pounding his fists into any part of him he could reach. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Stunned for a moment, Jack couldn't even process the attack, until his brain kicked in. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Carefully, Jack managed to hold Daniel's arms behind his back and pin him gently against the nearest wall. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"The room was suddenly flooded with people, hands forcing Daniel back into bed, restarting his IV and holding the panicked man on the mattress. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Colonel?" Jack turned towards Janet. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""His fever just hit 103. You'll need to leave if we have to start cooling him, sir." /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack nodded mutely. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Amist it all, Daniel suddenly looked up, making eye contact with Jack. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""emP-Please don't h-hurt me a-again/em," he mouthed, so quiet Jack couldn't actually make out the words. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Jack's eyebrows formed a hard line as he watched the sedative slowly pull Daniel under. /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"emHuh?/em/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"A/N: Don't worry, I'll put Daniel back where I found him, more or less in the same condition. /p