Fic: Never-ending Nightmare
Title: Never-ending Nightmare
Author: tresa_cho
Beta: lonely_lycanth
Rating: R; for smutty scenes
Summary: Jack and crew reclaim their wayward archaeologist only to find he has been thoroughly shattered.
Prompt:
Elfmagecin [lj: elfmagecin]
Two (2) Requirements:
1.mind-fucked!Daniel
2.first time smut
Optional Request: "I'd like it if their feelings for each other didn't suddenly hit them upside the head "
Restriction #1: character death
Restriction #2: character bashing
The look of pure terror on Daniel's face was not quite the reaction Jack had been expecting. He had torn through the entire alien fortress, guns blazing, C4 exploding, zats stinging, and, being the Big Damn Hero that he was, had even been forced to literally kick down the cell door to reach Daniel. The door still swung on its busted hinges as he entered the room, one hand extended towards his wayward archaeologist.
“Let's go, Daniel,” he merely said, proud of himself. He wasn't spewing the lecture that he had been steadily building upon since Daniel's (inevitable) capture by the natives on this planet. Daniel backed into the wall of his cell, shaking his head. His face grew so pale Jack worried suddenly that he would faint. “Daniel,” he said sharply, all the semi-amused irritation gone in an instant. Something was very wrong. “Let's go. Carter and Teal'c are waiting.”
“N-No,” Daniel managed with a quick shake of his head. Jack took a step, and Daniel scurried further away, pressing himself into a corner of the room. Jack crossed the room in a few short strides and grasped Daniel's arm. Daniel cried out as if burned, and Jack jerked his hand back. Daniel's skin was cold as ice, and Jack could see him shaking.
“Carter,” Jack barked across the walkie over Daniel's litany of 'no no no'. “Daniel's going into shock. I'm going to need your medkit ASAP.”
“Copy,” Carter's voice snapped back. The sound of a P90 unloading echoed down the hall, and not even a minute later, his 2IC burst into the room. She unstrapped her medkit and laid it out on the floor, drawing a mild sedative from it. She stood, practically shoved Jack aside with an unhesitant elbow to the ribs, and jabbed Daniel with the needle. Jack barely had time to appreciate her ruthlessness as Teal'c made his appearance in the doorway.
“O'Neill, reinforcements are approaching. I recommend we make our exit,” the mountain of a man rumbled.
“All opposed?” Jack called over the sounds of weapons ringing in the hall. He slung Daniel's now limp arm over his shoulders. “Let's move, people.” Daniel staggered alongside him, not unconscious but not quite awake enough to understand what was happening. Jack did his best to ignore the chill of his skin as they moved towards the Stargate and towards safety.
At the exit of the fortress, Carter started down the road that led through town. “Carter!” Jack shouted. “What are you doing?”
“Through town, sir,” Carter yelled back. “The people are kept so sedated they won't notice us. It's the quickest way through town.” Jack cursed but hurried after her, hauling Daniel with him by the back of his trousers. Carter was right. The townspeople didn't even spare them a second glance as they made their way swiftly towards the Stargate. Within minutes Carter was inputting the gate address and they were en route to the base.
“Mission accomplished,” Jack called as they staggered through the wormhole. Jack lowered Daniel into the arms of the waiting medical team, and watched as they wheeled him out of the gateroom. Janet distracted him, flashing a penlight in his eyes and grabbing his chin to hold him still. “Ow. Frasier. I'm not the one who got himself locked up in an alien prison tower. Again,” Jack whined, because he was a strong, tough military man.
“I will get to Daniel in a moment. I refuse to believe you made it out of there unscathed,” Janet Frasier tutted, twisting his head from side to side. “That would make my life too simple.” Apparently he managed to pass her brief physical, as she swiftly moved to Carter to give her a once over.
Jack dropped his pack with the decontamination team and strode purposefully straight to the infirmary. He rounded the corner and heard the distinct crash of a plate of medical utensils falling to the floor. He quickened his stride, and followed the shouting till he came upon Daniel's bed. Four orderlies were trying to hold him down, and one other was trying to force an IV into his arm.
“Daniel,” Jack snapped, pushing one of the orderlies out of the way. “Calm down. What is wrong with you?” Daniel froze when he heard Jack's voice, and then shied violently, nearly slipping off the opposite side of the bed. Jack made to grab for him, but Daniel swung wildly. Jack grabbed his arm and bent it hard, forcing his military training to override his worry. “Any year now would be nice,” Jack growled at the orderly with the IV. The man started and quickly inserted the tube. The one Jack had knocked aside stepped forward to release what Jack hoped was a sedative. Daniel's limbs loosened finally, and he slumped against the mattress. Jack released his arm and forced his own shaking to still as the orderlies arranged Daniel's body to make him more comfortable as he slept.
“Colonel O'Neill, what have you done to my infirmary?” Janet's voice rose from behind Jack. He turned, and her slight smile dropped from her lips when she saw his face. “What is it?”
“Daniel just tried to punch me out,” Jack said. “It took four of your nurses to hold him down and administer the IV. What's going on with him, Frasier? When we went to pick him up he looked terrified of me. He didn't want to come. We had to sedate him to move him.” Janet moved past Jack and started hooking Daniel up to the various monitors and machines surrounding the bed.
“I can't tell you yet, Colonel. He may just be slightly confused because of his incarceration. Everyone else who has returned from the planet has shown no trace of alien contamination at all. The planet is completely benign, medically, as far as I can tell. Even the plant life you brought back wasn't dangerous,” Janet said as she worked. “I can let you know once I run some tests.”
“Is it all right if I hang around while you work?” Jack asked. Janet eyed him with a slight smirk.
“Sure. But get in my way and I may have to give you that vaccine you've been avoiding for the last two months,” she threatened. Jack scowled at her. “Don't think I didn't notice,” she called as he walked away to grab a chair. He planted the chair beside Daniel's bed and sprawled into it. He was saved from more snide comments by the arrival of the rest of his team. Carter and Teal'c approached their CO together.
“How is he?” Carter asked, eyes already scanning the monitors.
“Fine, physically, as far as I can tell,” Janet said, stepping back. “I have to run some routine tests before I can conclusively say anything, though.”
“I can help,” Carter said, moving beside Janet. Janet handed Carter a few vials of something bodily, and they both walked off towards the lab.
“I sense unease in Danieljackson's sleep,” Teal'c said suddenly. Jack felt a shiver trail down his spine without explanation. He glanced at Daniel, watching his pale face lie motionless against white sheets.
“That would be an understatement,” Jack grumbled, rolling his shoulders and trying to shake the feeling that things were about to get very, very rough. He was supposed to get those feelings during the mission, dammit. Not after the mission when they were all safe at the base.
He and Teal'c killed time playing chess at Daniel's bedside while the girls bonded over blood counts and hemoglobin assessments. The night wore on, and an airman delivered their dinners. Apparently Hammond was waiting till Daniel awoke to debrief. Carter's and Janet's meals went untouched until Jack couldn't restrain himself any longer and snagged the meatloaf. Teal'c cocked his eyebrow before surreptitiously sliding the biscuit from Carter's tray. Jack pretended not to notice. He'd get blamed for it all anyway.
Janet and Carter returned hours later, scrubbing their eyes with the heels of their hands. Janet yawned as she flipped through her clipboard. “There's nothing wrong with him, Colonel,” she said finally. Jack frowned at her. “He's slightly dehydrated, but other than that he's in top condition.” She eyed Jack. “Let's let him wake up naturally and we'll go from there, shall we?”
Jack bit the inside of his cheek. She was the medical expert, not him. She walked to Daniel's drip and cut the dosage. “He should come out of it in a few hours,” she said. “Why don't you all get some sleep? It's well past midnight.”
“I'd rather stay here,” Jack said. Janet shrugged.
“I figured you would. Sam, Teal'c, you guys can go home. The Colonel and I will hold first shift,” Janet said. Carter shot a glance at Teal'c. They left the infirmary without another word. “They're not going home, are they?” Janet mused as the door to the infirmary shut behind them.
“Nope,” Jack confirmed, checking his watch. “Carter will probably try to do some more research on the civilization, and Teal'c will meditate in his quarters.”
Janet was soundly kicking his ass at chess when Daniel made a noise that sort of sounded like a cross between a gasp and a whimper. Jack and Janet both stood slowly, cautiously approaching him. “Daniel?” Janet called. “Can you hear me?”
Daniel's eyes flickered open and locked onto Janet's. She smiled warmly. “Welcome back, Daniel, how do you feel?”
To Jack's shock, Daniel's eyes filled suddenly. He didn't make a sound, just pressed a hand to his eyes while silently gasping through the tears. Janet reached out and touched his arm gently. He lashed out, knocking her hand away. “Daniel,” she admonished. “What's wrong?”
“Oh god, why won't it stop?” Daniel croaked, his voice muffled by his hand.
“What won't stop?” Jack asked. Daniel jerked on the bed, eying Jack and shifting away from him.
“Go away,” Daniel ground out. “Please. Just go away.”
“I'm not going to leave you, Daniel,” Jack said, appalled. “You're part of my team.” Jack reached out to touch Daniel's shoulder.
“Colonel!” Janet warned sharply. Too late. Daniel swung again, knocking Jack's hand away before making to shove him forcefully back. Jack did his best to stop the fall, but Daniel overbalanced and tumbled out of the bed. “Daniel!” Janet's voice shouted over them.
Daniel landed hard on his chest, knocking the wind out of him, and he quickly rolled off, getting to his feet. He started staggering towards the door, trailing some electrodes he had yanked from the machines in the fall. Janet darted after him and put herself between him and the door. “Daniel, it's time for you to sleep again,” she said firmly, pressing a hand to his chest.
“No, no more sleeping,” Daniel gasped hoarsely. Jack forced himself to roll over and got to his hands and knees, wheezing. He didn't quite catch what happened next, but one moment Daniel was hunched to force his way through Janet, and the next he was on the floor, very unconscious. Janet quickly dropped to her knees to check his pulse and breathing before standing and storming to Jack. Jack made a mental note to never piss Janet off.
“What were you thinking?” she hissed, grabbing him by the arm and hauling him upright. He let her sit him down in the chair.
“Uh, I was thinking he's my friend and he wouldn't try to play billows with my lungs,” Jack coughed. Janet scowled at him.
“You are clearly one source of his agitation. I'm going to have to ask you to leave,” Janet said. Jack gaped at her.
“From one instance!? That's just bad science, doctor,” Jack protested.
“We now have three instances in which you are a common factor, Colonel,” Janet said stiffly. “Do not make me pull rank, because I will.” Jack moaned his displeasure but stood.
“Can I at least help you get him into bed?” he asked as he walked towards Daniel.
“Fine,” she snapped. She passed into the light, and Jack was startled to see she was pale.
“Frasier?” he asked questioningly. She did not look at him as she gathered Daniel's legs and they lifted him back onto the cot. Jack helped her arrange Daniel.
“This isn't physical, Colonel,” Janet said finally, as Jack started moving for the door. He turned. “They've done something to him on a psychological level.” She caught his eye. He nodded. “I'll do my best,” she said.
“I know you will,” Jack said before leaving the infirmary for the dimly lit halls of the early morning shift.
...*...
“Daniel, what did they do to you?”
“Nothing. I mean. They didn't do anything. I don't know. I can't remember. I was there and then...” His voice broke off. “Jack came to get me. I don't know.”
“They had to do something, Daniel, can you remember anything after your capture?” Janet pressed gently.
“No! I don't know. They didn't do anything,” Daniel snapped. “How long are we going to do this?”
“I just want to understand what's going on, Daniel,” Janet said softly. Daniel placed his elbows on the table and dropped his head into his hands. His fingers grabbed his short hair in a white-knuckled hold. Jack ached to be down there with him. Beside him, Carter and Teal'c were watching with rapt attention. The observation room was so silent they would have heard a Goa'uld ship coming from a mile away.
“There's nothing to understand. It's always the same,” Daniel croaked without lifting his head.
“What's the same, Daniel?”
“It's different, but it always ends the same,” Daniel ground out. “The ending never changes.”
“What ending?”
“The end of this,” Daniel snarled, gesturing to the room at large. “And then it just starts over. Look, you've never believed me in the past, why should I waste my time?”
“This is the first time we've had this discussion, Daniel,” Janet pointed out gently.
“Yea, right,” Daniel laughed manically. “We've had this talk about a hundred times. Sometimes you write me off, sometimes you clear me, sometimes you sedate me again. What is it going to be this time?”
“Daniel, are you caught in a time loop?” Janet asked sharply.
Daniel laughed again, that stuttering, pained explosion of air from his chest. “No,” he said hysterically. “This would be so much easier if I were. There's no electromagnetic discharge at the end, and the time length of repeats varies from episode to episode. One went on for months before resetting.”
“An episode?”
“What else am I supposed to call it?” Daniel snapped. Janet calmly kept his gaze, not budging once during the flickering emotions. “The never-ending rerun of the worst television show in the history of the universe.”
“And what happens during this television show?” Janet asked.
“It doesn't matter,” Daniel yelled, slamming his hands down on the table. Janet leaned back in her chair to cover her small jump of surprise. “It always ends the same.”
“How does it end, Daniel?” she asked quietly. The fleeting anger disappeared, and Daniel dropped his head into his hands again.
“Everyone dies,” he murmured. “Everyone always dies.”
“People die, Daniel,” Janet said.
“No,” Daniel snarled, lifting his head to eye her viciously. “Everyone dies. And it's always my fault.”
Janet bit her lip and tried a different approach. “Who is everyone?” she asked. “Everyone in the world? Everyone on the base?”
Daniel leaned back in his chair, shifting restlessly, avoiding her eyes. “Jack, and Sam, and Teal'c. Sometimes you, Hammond, even Sylar.”
Jack and Carter exchanged a glance. Sha're had not been mentioned at all. Teal'c lifted an eyebrow as he kept his gaze firmly on the proceedings below them.
“Do you ever die?” Janet asked.
“No. I don't think so. I pass out, or go to sleep, and wake up to the dungeon again,” Daniel said, closing his eyes. “Which is going to happen. Eventually.”
“Daniel, Colonel O'Neill and the rest of SG-1 got you out of the dungeon. You're safe on Earth now. You're not going to relive anything,” Janet said firmly.
“Right,” Daniel said. “I've only heard that about sixty nine times.” He tipped his head back, staring at the ceiling. “Are we done yet?”
“For now, Daniel.” Janet stood. “I'm glad you're feeling better.”
“I'm not,” Daniel said in a sing-songy voice. “I'm just containing myself better.”
Janet didn't say anything else as she exited the room and left Daniel alone. Moments later she entered the observation deck. Jack whirled on her.
“What in hell is going on?” he demanded.
“Control yourself, Colonel,” Janet snapped. Jack instantly deflated, and Janet moved to Carter. “What did you get out of that?” Janet asked the astrophysicist.
“It's not possible he's caught in a time loop, he's right about that. The length of time would be the same each loop, and it's obviously not.” Carter pursed her lips. “I wonder... The people were kept under control with electrical impulses administered directly to their brains during a routine check-up with their physicians. It's possible that they could alter that technology to create a never ending stream of hallucinations generated by the victim's own brain.”
“I'm slightly disturbed that I followed all that,” Jack said. He glanced at Janet. “How do we fix it?”
“This is not an easy fix, Colonel,” Janet said. “He still believes he's inside one of these hallucinations, and from what we've heard, they were fairly violent. All of them. There's no telling how many he's been through, or even what happened during each of them. It's so ingrained in his subconscious at this point that it may be impossible to shake.”
“Wrong answer, doc,” Jack said sharply. Janet glared at him.
“I'm giving you my professional opinion, Colonel,” she growled. “I care about Daniel too, don't you forget that.” She composed herself and handed her clipboard to Carter. “I'm going to go make connections. Hopefully we can find someone who can assist us with this.” She turned on her heel and stormed from the room. Carter stood and followed, her nose already deep in Janet's notes. Jack tried to clamp down on his spinning emotions.
“Let's go see our boy, shall we?” Jack slapped Teal'c's shoulder. Teal'c raised an eyebrow.
“You and I have no children, O'Neill,” Teal'c reminded him. Jack grinned. They made their way to the Infirmary. Daniel was getting an escort everywhere, and they caught up with him before he had returned to Janet's domain.
“Hey Dannyboy,” Jack said, trotting up to the escort. Daniel flinched and tried to ignore Jack. Two of the airmen escorting Daniel looked at each other. “Hey.” Jack cut in front of Daniel, who recoiled, slamming into his escort. “Whoa, easy there, buddy,” Jack cautioned.
“O'Neill,” Teal'c murmured in warning. Daniel's hand scrabbled for something, and he swung his arm out, but not near enough to land a punch. Jack stilled when he found himself staring down the barrel of a standard-issue baretta.
“Daniel,” Jack said, keeping his voice steady. He lifted his hands. “Daniel, calm down.”
Daniel's blue eyes were wide on the other end of the gun. “If I kill you now, I won't have to watch it again. I will control it this time.”
“If you kill me now, you will still have to watch it,” Jack said.
The gun shook so hard in Daniel's hand Jack could almost hear the pin rattle. If luck was on his side, maybe it wouldn't even fire. “I have to kill you,” Daniel whispered hoarsely. “I can't watch it again. I... have to control it this time. I can't do it anymore, Jack.”
“Shooting me now is not going to make it stop,” Jack murmured, shooting a warning look at the airmen who were poised to take action. A clear order; 'do not move'. “It will just start all over again, and you'll have to watch another time.”
“I'll control that time too,” Daniel snarled past a sharp hiccup. Tears streamed down his cheeks, each one stabbing Jack where he hurt the most. “And the next time. I'll control it.”
“You're going to become a killer, Daniel?” Jack asked. “You're going to kill me, over and over again?” He watched Daniel struggle with the thought. “Can you do that?”
“Jack,” Daniel whimpered. The sound tore through Jack, and he wondered if Daniel just shot him, if he wouldn't sound like that anymore. “I can't... I can't do it anymore... I'm sorry...”
Jack didn't have time to wonder what he was apologising for. The gun went off with a deafening explosion and the bullet ripped through Jack's shoulder. He fell back into Teal'c, gasping. He gripped his shoulder, trying to hold back the blood. “Fuck!” he choked. The shot had punched the air from his lungs. “You shot me!” he howled incredulously. Shock kept the pain at bay.
The airmen wrestled Daniel to the ground, crying and gasping for air.
“Hey, don't hurt him,” Jack managed between sharp pants for breath. In under a minute, the corridor was full of airmen, drawn by the gunshot. They hustled Jack and Daniel into the infirmary. Janet sedated Daniel, and pushed Jack back into his own cot.
“I'm going to take the bullet out,” Janet said darkly, “And I'm not going to use any anesthesia. At all. If you're lucky, I will use disinfectant.” Jack grimaced. She pulled her tweezers from the tray at the bedside and got to work. The entire process, she went through various stories about patients who didn't listen to their doctors, and the sort of trouble they got into by taking matters into their own hands.
“All right, all right,” Jack drawled, irritated. “I'm sorry. I thought he had calmed enough to talk to him. I can't just leave him, Frasier. I can't leave him like that.” He glanced at the bed Daniel slept in. “I won't leave him to suffer through this alone.”
“I know,” Janet murmured. “But right now, he has to come to realise that he has been rescued. And he can't do that if you keep terrifying him out of his wits.”
“Do you think Carter would have a better chance?” Jack asked. Janet pursed her lips.
“She might. She's still part of SG-1, but she doesn't have the history that you and Daniel have. She may be close enough that he'd believe her and distant enough that he won't try and kill her to 'restart the episode'.” Janet finished wrapping Jack's shoulder and strapped his arm into a sling. “I mean it, Colonel. If you go near him again...” She pointed a finger at him, and left her threat to his imagination as she walked off to monitor the rest of the infirmary.
Carter came into the infirmary a bit later, and moved cautiously to Daniel's bedside. Jack watched him wake and jerk away from her before she was able to calm him. Daniel kept his back to Jack the entire conversation, and their words were a mere murmur in Jack's ears, blending with the humming of machinery around him. Carter reached out and grasped Daniel's hands tightly, and they both bowed over their joint fingers, Carter's blonde hair brushing Daniel's brown. She pushed her fingers through his hair, and lifted her head to kiss his forehead gently.
She stood finally, and Jack was shocked and embarrassed to see her scrub her face of tears. She caught him staring, straightened her shoulders, and walked out of the infirmary without a backwards glance. In the bed next to him, Daniel rolled onto his back and turned his head. He locked eyes with Jack before noticing the sling.
He mouthed an 'oh' as he remembered what had happened. “I shot you,” he breathed. Jack nodded. His body physically hurt with his need to be across the distance and beside Daniel. It felt like every nerve strained for him to move.
“It hurt,” Jack said casually. “Quite a bit, actually. Can we... not make a habit of it?”
“I'm sorry,” Daniel whispered. He closed his eyes. “I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me.”
“If I come over there are you going to try to kill me again?” Jack asked.
“No,” Daniel said quietly. Jack stood and made his way slowly to Daniel's bed. He walked around and took the chair Carter had vacated. He sank into it, his eyes never leaving Daniel's.
“Are you all right?” Jack asked.
“No,” Daniel said. Jack leaned on the bed with his good arm, bringing him close to Daniel's bloodshot eyes. Daniel closed his eyes. He reached out and touched his fingertips to Jack's face. His hand shook against Jack's skin. Jack grasped Daniel's hand and pressed his lips to Daniel's palm. He listened to Daniel breathe, and tried to imagine him dying, over and over again. It had been difficult enough to leave him to die once. He couldn't imagine doing it again. Let alone hundreds of times.
“Are you going to be all right?” Jack asked, voice muffled by Daniel's palm.
“I don't know,” Daniel said. “I can't stop thinking about... every time... I know this is going to start over sometime... I mean, Sam's explanation was different. I've never heard that one before... But every time something changes... no one episode is ever the same...” Jack couldn't take his eyes away from Daniel's still closed ones as the archaeologist rambled. “Electric impulses to the brain... it makes sense, but so did all the other explanations...”
“You weren't with us when we discovered about the electro-therapy,” Jack said quietly. Daniel's eyes opened suddenly. He watched Jack's face intently. “You had already been captured when we figured out how the overlords were keeping the people sedated. It makes sense that you've never heard Carter's explanation before. Your subconscious wouldn't have been able to supply the necessary information to make the scenario plausible.” Daniel's brows furrowed. “I think,” Jack swiftly said, feeling exposed under Daniel's incredulous gaze.
“You've always been smarter than you let on,” Daniel murmured. Jack blinked at him, gripping Daniel's hand just a bit tighter.
“Thanks,” Jack said wryly. He massaged his thumb over Daniel's knuckles, rubbing chilled skin in soft, reassuring circles just to keep himself busy. “We'll get you through this. The whole team has your back, Dannyboy. You'll be all right.”
“I-I don't know, Jack,” Daniel whispered. “I close my eyes and all I see is blood. I feel like I'll never sleep again.”
“It's all right, Danny. They have meds for that,” Jack said, trying to lighten the mood. It backfired miserably when Daniel tugged his hand free and covered his face, curling in on himself.
“No more drugs,” he whimpered. “Please.” Jack slapped himself mentally, inhaling to try and get a grip on the part of him that was screaming to get away from the emotions raging in him and around him. He scooted the chair closer and reached across the distance, resting his arm on Daniel's body, laying his hand in the man's hair.
“I'm sorry, Daniel,” Jack murmured. “I didn't mean it. I was just kidding. I'm sorry, buddy.” He carded his fingers through Daniel's sweat-soaked hair. Damn. He was still shaking. That could not be healthy. Daniel didn't seem inclined to talk to him any more. Jack shifted, keeping his hand in Daniel's hair, moving in a slow, constant rhythm. Jack was all right with the silence. It gave him time to properly berate himself for being an idiot, and plan for the immediate future.
Obviously Daniel would be taken off duty. Worst case scenario, he spent years in psychiatric rehab for PTSD after being given an involuntary retirement from the Stargate program. Best case, he spent a week's vacation with Jack up in the mountains, rested up and recovered, and then returned to the base healed and happy. As far as plausible scenarios went, Jack could pretty much scratch that one off his list. Daniel was just too damn stubborn for it to work. He held his pain too close, something Jack was all too familiar with.
A step up the ladder on best case scenarios, then. Daniel took a mini-vacation from the program with Jack, maybe a month or two in the mountains. He suffered the occasional shrink visit (in the cabin, of course), and gradually stabilized enough to return to the program. As a grounded research hand. Jack frowned. Not ideal, but something to shoot for. Or, Daniel could return to active duty on a team of new recruits, people whom he hadn't seen in his recurring visions of death. Again, not ideal, but functional.
The next thing he knew, Janet's voice in his ear accompanied a hand on his shoulder. He blinked, and realised he had fallen asleep in the chair. He uncurled himself and stretched, feeling everything creak under his skin.
“Ow,” he groaned. Janet smiled at him.
“Is he asleep?” she asked, nodded to Daniel. His eyes were closed, but Jack could see tension in his shoulders.
“No.”
“He's ignoring me then,” she said. “Could you?” She gestured to their patient.
Jack leaned over the bed. He placed his hand on Daniel's head. “Danny, you need to listen to Frasier. She wants to help you. She knows what she's doing. I know you're not asleep. Come on, buddy.”
Daniel reluctantly opened his eyes and stared blankly at Jack. Jack moved aside to let Janet in to do one of her quick checks. “How do you feel, Daniel?” she asked quietly.
“Terrible,” Daniel replied honestly.
“How so?” Janet asked. “Do you hurt anywhere?”
“No,” Daniel answered curtly. He closed his eyes and rolled onto his back. “I just want this to be over.”
“I think you're stuck with us for quite a while, Daniel,” Janet commented. “Whether you like it or not, you're here for good.” Daniel groaned his disbelief. “Would you like something to help you get some sleep? You need your rest.” Janet missed Jack's frantic signals.
“No,” Daniel grunted, tensing on the bed. He shifted up, ready to fight off anything Janet poked at him. Janet held her hands up peacefully.
“All right,” she said calmly. “If you want to sleep without dreaming, just let me know. One of the nurses will know where to find me.” Janet nodded to Jack, who stood and followed her to her office. She clicked the door shut behind her and rounded her desk to sit down. Jack dropped into a chair across from her.
“So what's the course of action, doc?” Jack asked, unsure if he really wanted to hear the answer.
“There are several things we can do, Colonel,” Janet said, flipping through some papers on her desk. “There is an excellent PTSD psychiatrist in the area specifically assigned here for missions at SGC. He has full security clearances and you won't have to hide anything from him.”
“I don't suppose any of these options come with a no-shrink clause?” Jack asked. Janet glared at him. She placed the papers down on her desk and folded her hands over them.
“I don't think you quite understand exactly how serious this is, Colonel,” Janet began stiffly. “Because if you did, you would not be making callous jokes. I understand that there is a slight occupational hazard to working at the SGC, but the level of psychological trauma that Daniel has gone through pales to anything we've ever come across. He has been forced through over a hundred different scenarios in which you and your team die undoubtedly violent deaths, and he believes that each and every one of them was a result of some action he performed.”
“I know,” Jack whispered breathlessly, her words striking at him like physical blows.
“No, you don't know,” Janet shot back. “It's time to buckle down and get serious, or I won't be able to release him into your care. He almost killed you, Colonel. That is what we're dealing with, here. You need to focus on him completely, and be aware of everything. You can't just-”
“Wait,” Jack interrupted her. Janet puffed herself up indignantly at being cut short, but Jack quickly finished. “What did you just say?”
“I said,” Janet reiterated, “that I would not be able to release him into your care if you don't get serious.” Jack mouthed an 'oh' of surprise. “Yes, that is one of the courses we can take. I've talked to General Hammond. He's willing to give you both as long as you need to try and get this sorted out. On the condition that you have an escort with you wherever you go, be it up to your cabin or just to your house. Of course, if you take him, I'd be counting on you to get him to his sessions with the psychiatrist. I assume that this is the most acceptable option?”
“Yes,” Jack said, worried that if he said any more, she'd change her mind.
“Are you going to be adult about it?” Janet leveled her patented glare at him. Jack just barely prevented himself from shuddering.
“Yes ma'am,” he said, as if he could possibly feel worse than he already did. Janet nodded.
“You're pretty much going to have to have him on a suicide watch,” Janet said. “No, I don't think he's going to try, but he's going to need constant attention. Every minute, Jack. You cannot leave him alone for anything. Do you understand?”
“Yes ma'am,” he said again, cold realization setting in.
“I'm ordering SG-1 be put on inactive duty until we can determine what will be necessary to work you all through this,” Janet said, scribbling her signature on a piece of paper. “Daniel's condition effects you all.” She handed him a piece of paper. “This is the contact information for the doctor. I will make the necessary arrangements, but if something happens before then I want you to have it.”
“Yes ma'am.”
Janet stood, and Jack followed the motion. “Bring him back to us, Jack,” Janet said softly. “If anyone can, it's you.”
“No pressure,” Jack said, grinning wryly. Janet touched his arm as they left her office. They returned to Daniel's bedside, where Janet explained what was going to happen. Daniel cast a wary glance between them, clearly uncomfortable.
“No,” he said when Janet had finished speaking.
“No, what, Daniel?” Janet asked.
“I don't want to leave the base,” Daniel said. Jack dropped into the chair beside him.
“Come on, Daniel, don't you want to breathe some fresh air? Relax up at the cabin? You love reading on the porch, don't tell me you don't,” Jack pleaded, using every inch of his puppy eyes on the archaeologist. Daniel bit his lip, shifting his bloodshot eyes from Jack to Janet, looking for a way to say 'no' again. “You don't want to be cooped up here, with Frasier poking and prodding you every five minutes, do you? No offense,” Jack said swiftly. Janet glowered at him. “It'll be just you and me up at the cabin,” Jack continued. “Well... you and me and our bodyguards. But they're trained to stay out of the way. Come on, Dannyboy. Say yes.”
“Fine, fine, fine,” Daniel conceded wearily. Jack grinned at Janet.
“I'll go get the truck ready.” Jack all but hopped to his feet.
“Colonel,” Janet called after him. “Did you forget that you can't drive?” Jack cursed, pausing in the doorway. “Go find an airman to drive you two up there.” Jack grumbled under his breath the entire way.
Two hours later they were on the road, Jack riding shotgun with Daniel sprawled in the backseat, head lolling. Every time he started to drift off, he'd catch himself and wake with a gasp, panting. Jack kept an eye on him and one on the road, directing the airman (McKenna) along the winding roads that led up to his cabin. It was near dawn when they finally pulled into the drive.
Jack stiffly unfolded himself from the passenger seat and then slid around the car to help Daniel out. The linguist wobbled as he walked, and Jack could tell he was standing on pure force of will alone. “Here's what we'll do,” Jack said as they made their way up the walkway to the front door. “You go get a nice warm bath, I will make you some tea, and you can rest, safe and sound, in the big bed. You remember that one, right?”
“Yes, Jack,” Daniel said crossly, leaning against the door frame as Jack twisted the key.
“No sleeping pills or anything. Just a good, old-fashioned bath.” Jack ushered Daniel inside. They had about half a day before the escort arrived, bringing up any supplies Janet felt they'd need. Jack was determined to make the most of it. “You remember where the bathroom is, right?” Jack asked as Daniel started plodding up the stairs.
“Yes, Jack,” Daniel called. Snark. That was a good sign, right? Jack shook his head and wandered into the kitchen to start hot water for the aforementioned tea. The hot bath would knock him right out, Jack mused happily. The tub was massive and just right for stretching out and relaxing after a long day of fishing. He heard the water pipes churn as the spicket was opened.
Jack sat down at the table and opened the newspaper he had managed to snag before Janet had chased him out of the mountain. The recent elections had gone exactly as the pundits had predicted. Shock. People were murdering and killing each other. Another shock. The economy generally sucked. And colour him surprised.
Jack sighed as he pushed the paper aside. He remembered why he didn't read those. He flicked through it for the crossword and dumped the rest in the recycling bin. The water started boiling, and he moved the kettle, pouring out two mugs of the steaming stuff. He sat down again and picked up his pencil, when he realised the water upstairs had never shut off. He lifted his eyes to the ceiling curiously.
He pushed his chair back and walked to the stairs. “Daniel?” he called. He heard the water running in the tub, and a loud splash. He wasn't sure why the sound quickened his heart rate, but he bolted up the stairs in record time. The door to the bathroom was locked. “Daniel!” Jack pounded on the door. He heard another splash, and a choked gasp for air.
Jack threw his uninjured shoulder against the door and snapped the handle. His feet instantly slid out from under him, and he dropped hard to the ground. Water poured over the edge of the tub, and Daniel thrashed beneath the surface. “Daniel!” Jack staggered to the tub and leapt over the edge, dropping into waist deep water. He hefted Daniel above the surface with his good arm. “Daniel! What the hell are you doing!” Jack roared, trying to keep hold of the writhing linguist.
Daniel coughed violently, spewing water, casting around blindly.
“Daniel,” Jack grunted, trying to haul him up enough. “Calm down. Stop moving.” He almost dropped the man, and instinct forced his injured arm into use. He ignored the blinding pain that streaked up and down his arm as he gripped Daniel and tried to get him upright. Daniel had gotten tangled in his clothes. Jack could only assume he had been trying to get them off, but the way it looked, he had already been in the tub and wet before attempting to divest. “Okay, okay,” Jack murmured over Daniel's desperate panting. “I've gotcha. Calm down.”
Jack sat down on the small ledge in the tub and drew Daniel to him. He carefully freed Daniel's arms from the twisted mess of a shirt that had somehow managed to catch on his trousers as well. His wrists were locked around his ankles behind his back. Jack shook his head ruefully. Only Daniel.
“Okay, you're okay,” Jack continued to soothe as Daniel's breathing calmed into hiccuping gasps that rocked through his chest. Jack freed him, and Daniel slumped against him without resistance. Jack pressed Daniel's head to his shoulder as he stretched to turn the faucet off and stop the endless flow of water. Jack leaned back in the tub, feeling his clothes clinging uncomfortably, and wrapped his arms around the linguist.
“Jack,” Daniel croaked.
“Shh,” Jack murmured, squeezing Daniel's shoulder. Daniel's arms came up around him and gripped him hard. Jack breathed past the pressure, touching his nose to Daniel's dripping hair.
“Don't let me fall asleep,” Daniel whispered.
“You need to sleep, Dannyboy,” Jack breathed back, his heart shuddering against his ribcage. “You'll be all right. Sleep is good for little linguists who want to grow up to change the world. If you sleep you won't get delirious enough to nearly drown in my bathtub.”
“I can't,” Daniel ground out, a rough shake ripping through him. “I can't...”
“You can't sleep but you can barely stand,” Jack said, his hands moving in slow, easy motions over Daniel's skin. “Just let the adrenaline crash do it's work,” Jack mumbled. “That's it...” Daniel's arms went slack, and his breathing finally steadied. Jack kept up his languid massage. “Yea. Okay. This will not be awkward at all when the reinforcements get here,” Jack grumbled into Daniel's neck. He felt the rising and falling of Daniel's chest against his ribs. Calm, for the first time since they had left that damned planet. If he ever got his hands on the aliens who had done this... He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself now. There was nothing he could do. He could only try and piece Daniel back together. He wouldn't stop till Daniel was fine.
He craned his neck to try and see Daniel's face. “You better not be drooling on my shoulder,” he warned, trying to settle into a comfortable position. He was going to be here a while.
He was nodding off himself when the other men from the mountain finally made their appearance. “Hey boys,” Jack called, waving them in. “Careful, the floor's slick. Don't mind me. Just holding a naked linguist in an obnoxiously large tub.” Two of the men carefully made their way to the tub. Jack hefted Daniel out of the water, and together they got him free of the tub. Jack rose and stepped out of the tub, squishing with every step. “He's sleeping,” Jack said needlessly. “If you wake him I'll have you discharged.” All the men froze, turning horrified faces towards their CO. “You heard me,” Jack said, crouching beside them. “Let's get him dried off and into the bed.”
The three of them managed to feat, and Jack shooed them from the bedroom as he stripped out of his own soaked clothes. He dumped the wet things into the now-empty tub and wriggled into a dry pair of sleeping pants. He carefully crawled into bed next to Daniel, not touching, but watching. Janet hadn't been kidding.
Jack propped himself up against the headboard and watched the lake roll outside his window, listening to the even panting of sleeping-Daniel.
Daniel finally rolled over onto his back hours later, his arm fetching up against Jack's thigh. He blinked his eyes open in confusion before peering up at Jack. “Jack?” he said hesitantly.
“ 'sup?” Jack responded casually. As if waking up in bed together was a totally common occurrence. Daniel inhaled and twisted his head, trying to figure out where he was. He squinted.
“Is this your room at the cabin?” Daniel asked, his voice shot from coughing up water.
“Yup,” Jack replied without elaborating. Daniel touched a hand to his head.
“Wha' happen'd?” he asked.
“You found out that you are, in fact, not a merman,” Jack summed up. Daniel eyed him curiously. “You lost a fight with your clothes?” Jack tried. Daniel's little frowny pout started appearing at the edge of his lips. Jack's heart soared. “Let's just say that I won't be using the master tub anytime in the near future.”
“You are so strange,” Daniel murmured, letting his eyes roll away from Jack. Jack decided not to comment and just let him recollect himself. The slight furrow of his brows meant he had something else to ask. Jack could wait. For a minute, anyway.
“You all right?” Jack asked before he could help himself. He bit his lip. Man, he had zero will power.
“Why are you in bed with me?” Daniel turned back to him. That was his Daniel all right, no holds barred. “And why am I naked? And why are you mostly naked?”
“Actually, I'm mostly clothed,” Jack clarified. “You're naked because you were so tired you didn't have time to get into sleepwear. And I'm in bed with you because my arm hurts. I think I needed to rest.” Daniel was giving him that wide-eyed look again.
“The arm I shot,” Daniel prodded.
“Eh,” Jack shrugged with his not-burning shoulder. “What's a few bullets between friends?”
“Jack,” Daniel chided. Daniel sat up, the sheets slipping down his body. Jack swiftly averted his eyes. The wall was suddenly very intriguing. “Jack, I'm sorry.”
“I know,” Jack said. When had it gotten so hot in here?
“No, Jack,” Daniel's voice was firm, enough to get Jack's attention again. Jack turned to meet relentless blue eyes that held him breathless. “I'm sorry,” Daniel said again. “For everything. For not listening to you in the field, for never taking you seriously. For anything that I've ever done that's pissed you off.”
“O-Okay,” Jack stammered. The arm Daniel had propped himself up with was shaking again. Jack tried not to stare at it.
“I mean it, Jack,” Daniel went on. “All those times. All the times you and I were together, and I never... I never said what I needed to say. Even while you were... while you were dying in my arms.” Daniel's voice choked off. “This time I'm saying it. I'm going to say it from now on, no matter how many times I have to say it. And then I'm going to say it to the real you, when we find each other again.”
“Daniel,” Jack whispered. “This is the real me. You're safe. I won't let anything happen to you.”
“Well, this is the first time I've woken up next to you in your cabin,” Daniel said, glancing around. “So at least it's different.” Jack barely caught his breath before Daniel's eyes were on him again. “I love you, Jack.”
Jack gaped.
“You're the best friend I've ever had,” Daniel said. “The only best friend I've ever had, actually. And you need to know how much I care about you.” Daniel touched Jack's arm, his fingers sending white hot spikes through Jack's entire body. This was not going to end well. Daniel's face was close. Too close...
Something in Jack's brain must have short-circuited, because the next thing he knew, he felt Daniel's lips pressed to his, and not gently. His own hand rested on Daniel's shoulder, holding him near, and Jack jerked back with a slight noise of surprise. “Sorry,” he quickly uttered. Daniel stared at him incredulously. “Sorry. Just... forget that happened... Shit.” Jack tossed back the covers and grabbed a shirt from the floor. He whipped it on as he moved to the door, but before he opened it enough to make his timely exit, Daniel's hand slammed it shut again.
Jack found himself once again lost in Daniel's eyes. He wondered if he could spend forever there, and then wondered when the hell he had gotten so damn romantic. “Jack,” Daniel said.
“Daniel,” Jack responded.
“You've never-” Daniel started.
“I know,” Jack cut him off. Daniel blinked at him.
“No. This is the first time you've ever kissed me in these episodes. I didn't think... Jack...” Daniel couldn't finish. He gripped Jack's shirt with both hands and moved in. He sealed his lips over Jack's, and Jack couldn't do anything but receive it, grasping Daniel's arms and pulling him close, chest to chest. He tipped Daniel's head back, opening his mouth, sucking the air from his lungs. Daniel gasped against his lips, and Jack walked him backwards. They tumbled onto the bed, and Jack released Daniel's mouth, tasting his way down the linguist's jaw and throat.
“Oh god, oh god,” Daniel cried. “Please let this be real.” A choked sob escaped his chest. Jack lifted his head and pressed both hands to Daniel's head.
“Danny,” he said solemnly. “This is real. Let me have this. We got you out of that alien hellhole. You're safe. You're home, you're with me.” He wiped Daniel's tears away with his thumb. “Nobody is going to touch you ever again. Nobody.”
Daniel shook his head. “I want to believe you,” he whispered. “I've heard that so many times. Oh god...”
Jack nodded. “Okay, okay,” he said, lifting himself from Daniel's body. “We'll sort this out later.”
“No, no, no,” Daniel whimpered, locking a leg around Jack's waist. Jack paused, surprised. “Please.”
“Are you sure?” Jack asked, leaning over Daniel with his good arm. Daniel grit his teeth and stopped crying, taking a few deep, steadying breaths.
“I'm ready, Jack,” Daniel said finally. Jack carefully settled himself down, pressing Daniel into the mattress.
“I wasn't exactly prepared for this,” he admitted.
“It's all right. We'll do what we can.” Daniel's chest rose and fell against his. Jack slipped to Daniel's side, letting his injured arm trace a small pattern along Daniel's skin. The skin goose-bumped under his touch. Jack grinned and pressed his face to Daniel's throat, nipping hot skin. He shifted his palm down Daniel's ribs, skirting his hip and thigh. Daniel's breath quickened, and he turned his head, looking for Jack's mouth again. Jack met his lips with generous force, biting back any doubts Daniel had that this was real, as if he could press the memories from Daniel's consciousness.
Daniel hissed against his lips, his fingers digging into Jack's skin under his shirt. Daniel reached up and wrestled the shirt off Jack's shoulders. “Ow, ow, ow,” Jack gasped as his injury was tugged painfully. Daniel froze, and Jack finished wriggling free of the arms of the blasted shirt. “Okay.”
“Are you all right?” Daniel asked, eyes wide.
“Daniel,” Jack burst out, exasperated. “It's fine. Stop worrying.” He silenced further protest with his mouth. Daniel greedily sucked at his lips, fingers dipping between them and grasping Jack's prick under his soft bedclothes. Jack let out a ridiculous noise as Daniel started working his fingers. Daniel snorted, and moved one hand around Jack's waist, sliding beneath the waistband to grab Jack's ass. Jack dropped his forehead into Daniel's shoulder, bucking his hips into Daniel's hand.
“Yea, yea,” Jack murmured breathlessly as Daniel started tugging his pants off. Jack propped himself up and kicked them off onto the floor somewhere. He met Daniel's lips with renewed fervor, and Daniel dragged him down atop him, holding him with legs wrapped around his waist. Oh his knees would kill him in the morning, but it would be so worth it.
He squeezed Daniel's bum between his thighs, his cock trapped between their bodies, brushing against Daniel's own prick, hard and hot. Daniel's wriggling hand was not helping matters, they had gotten it stuck during the shift, but he didn't seem to mind. Twisting and tugging it provided insane friction against Jack's prick. He pressed his hips hard into the hand.
“Jack, 'm stuck,” Daniel chuckled, yanking on the arm.
“Leave it,” Jack mumbled against Daniel's chest. He bit gently at skin there, moving his hips against Daniel's hand. Daniel took a shuddering breath as Jack rocked against him. Daniel's hand hit his own prick as Jack moved. Jack pumped into Daniel's hand, reaching between them with his own hand to hold Daniel's. His knuckles brushed Daniel's prick, eliciting a heady moan.
“Your hands are huge,” Daniel grunted against his jaw. “How did I never notice?”
“Shut up,” Jack grunted back. His shoulder felt like it was going to combust at any point. Of course Daniel would talk during a hand job. Of course.
Daniel's body was hot around him, slipping with sweat as he moved. One arm had been thrown around Jack's shoulders, and the fingers scrabbled for purchase on Jack's skin, digging painfully. Jack buried his face in Daniel's throat and came, swallowing the gasp threatening to escape. Daniel's hips jerked under him, bucking for friction, and he came a moment later.
“Jack, Jack, Jack...” Daniel murmured, fingers gripping Jack's hair. His trapped hand was now free, roaming up and down Jack's body as if he couldn't stop touching. Jack shifted, shaking Daniel's legs off his waist and tangling his own with Daniel's. He lifted his head and leaned on his hand over Daniel. Daniel's hand slid from his hair down his cheek. His pupils were blown wide, and was staring at Jack as if Jack would disappear any moment, a mix of hesitant awe and sadness.
“Did any of the other me's do that?” Jack couldn't help asking.
“No,” Daniel breathed. “Never.”
Jack jerked back. “Never? I never put the moves on you? Not once?”
“No.” Daniel furrowed his brows. “I... I never... Never thought you...” He cut himself off, putting his words in order. He closed his eyes and lay still for a moment. When he opened them, it was as if he were looking at the room anew. His eyes returned to Jack. “I never thought you'd respond.”
“You never thought I'd respond... so I couldn't have sex with you... in your visions,” Jack breathed, following Daniel's train of thought. “Because your visions were created by your mind.”
Daniel reached up and pulled Jack against him, crushing him to his chest. Jack breathed out against Daniel's throat, letting Daniel feel him. He was shaking again. “Jack, I can't get through this on my own,” Daniel hissed.
“Whatever it takes, Daniel,” Jack swore. “I'll be with you every step of the way. We'll get you through this.”
Author: tresa_cho
Beta: lonely_lycanth
Rating: R; for smutty scenes
Summary: Jack and crew reclaim their wayward archaeologist only to find he has been thoroughly shattered.
Prompt:
Elfmagecin [lj: elfmagecin]
Two (2) Requirements:
1.mind-fucked!Daniel
2.first time smut
Optional Request: "I'd like it if their feelings for each other didn't suddenly hit them upside the head "
Restriction #1: character death
Restriction #2: character bashing
The look of pure terror on Daniel's face was not quite the reaction Jack had been expecting. He had torn through the entire alien fortress, guns blazing, C4 exploding, zats stinging, and, being the Big Damn Hero that he was, had even been forced to literally kick down the cell door to reach Daniel. The door still swung on its busted hinges as he entered the room, one hand extended towards his wayward archaeologist.
“Let's go, Daniel,” he merely said, proud of himself. He wasn't spewing the lecture that he had been steadily building upon since Daniel's (inevitable) capture by the natives on this planet. Daniel backed into the wall of his cell, shaking his head. His face grew so pale Jack worried suddenly that he would faint. “Daniel,” he said sharply, all the semi-amused irritation gone in an instant. Something was very wrong. “Let's go. Carter and Teal'c are waiting.”
“N-No,” Daniel managed with a quick shake of his head. Jack took a step, and Daniel scurried further away, pressing himself into a corner of the room. Jack crossed the room in a few short strides and grasped Daniel's arm. Daniel cried out as if burned, and Jack jerked his hand back. Daniel's skin was cold as ice, and Jack could see him shaking.
“Carter,” Jack barked across the walkie over Daniel's litany of 'no no no'. “Daniel's going into shock. I'm going to need your medkit ASAP.”
“Copy,” Carter's voice snapped back. The sound of a P90 unloading echoed down the hall, and not even a minute later, his 2IC burst into the room. She unstrapped her medkit and laid it out on the floor, drawing a mild sedative from it. She stood, practically shoved Jack aside with an unhesitant elbow to the ribs, and jabbed Daniel with the needle. Jack barely had time to appreciate her ruthlessness as Teal'c made his appearance in the doorway.
“O'Neill, reinforcements are approaching. I recommend we make our exit,” the mountain of a man rumbled.
“All opposed?” Jack called over the sounds of weapons ringing in the hall. He slung Daniel's now limp arm over his shoulders. “Let's move, people.” Daniel staggered alongside him, not unconscious but not quite awake enough to understand what was happening. Jack did his best to ignore the chill of his skin as they moved towards the Stargate and towards safety.
At the exit of the fortress, Carter started down the road that led through town. “Carter!” Jack shouted. “What are you doing?”
“Through town, sir,” Carter yelled back. “The people are kept so sedated they won't notice us. It's the quickest way through town.” Jack cursed but hurried after her, hauling Daniel with him by the back of his trousers. Carter was right. The townspeople didn't even spare them a second glance as they made their way swiftly towards the Stargate. Within minutes Carter was inputting the gate address and they were en route to the base.
“Mission accomplished,” Jack called as they staggered through the wormhole. Jack lowered Daniel into the arms of the waiting medical team, and watched as they wheeled him out of the gateroom. Janet distracted him, flashing a penlight in his eyes and grabbing his chin to hold him still. “Ow. Frasier. I'm not the one who got himself locked up in an alien prison tower. Again,” Jack whined, because he was a strong, tough military man.
“I will get to Daniel in a moment. I refuse to believe you made it out of there unscathed,” Janet Frasier tutted, twisting his head from side to side. “That would make my life too simple.” Apparently he managed to pass her brief physical, as she swiftly moved to Carter to give her a once over.
Jack dropped his pack with the decontamination team and strode purposefully straight to the infirmary. He rounded the corner and heard the distinct crash of a plate of medical utensils falling to the floor. He quickened his stride, and followed the shouting till he came upon Daniel's bed. Four orderlies were trying to hold him down, and one other was trying to force an IV into his arm.
“Daniel,” Jack snapped, pushing one of the orderlies out of the way. “Calm down. What is wrong with you?” Daniel froze when he heard Jack's voice, and then shied violently, nearly slipping off the opposite side of the bed. Jack made to grab for him, but Daniel swung wildly. Jack grabbed his arm and bent it hard, forcing his military training to override his worry. “Any year now would be nice,” Jack growled at the orderly with the IV. The man started and quickly inserted the tube. The one Jack had knocked aside stepped forward to release what Jack hoped was a sedative. Daniel's limbs loosened finally, and he slumped against the mattress. Jack released his arm and forced his own shaking to still as the orderlies arranged Daniel's body to make him more comfortable as he slept.
“Colonel O'Neill, what have you done to my infirmary?” Janet's voice rose from behind Jack. He turned, and her slight smile dropped from her lips when she saw his face. “What is it?”
“Daniel just tried to punch me out,” Jack said. “It took four of your nurses to hold him down and administer the IV. What's going on with him, Frasier? When we went to pick him up he looked terrified of me. He didn't want to come. We had to sedate him to move him.” Janet moved past Jack and started hooking Daniel up to the various monitors and machines surrounding the bed.
“I can't tell you yet, Colonel. He may just be slightly confused because of his incarceration. Everyone else who has returned from the planet has shown no trace of alien contamination at all. The planet is completely benign, medically, as far as I can tell. Even the plant life you brought back wasn't dangerous,” Janet said as she worked. “I can let you know once I run some tests.”
“Is it all right if I hang around while you work?” Jack asked. Janet eyed him with a slight smirk.
“Sure. But get in my way and I may have to give you that vaccine you've been avoiding for the last two months,” she threatened. Jack scowled at her. “Don't think I didn't notice,” she called as he walked away to grab a chair. He planted the chair beside Daniel's bed and sprawled into it. He was saved from more snide comments by the arrival of the rest of his team. Carter and Teal'c approached their CO together.
“How is he?” Carter asked, eyes already scanning the monitors.
“Fine, physically, as far as I can tell,” Janet said, stepping back. “I have to run some routine tests before I can conclusively say anything, though.”
“I can help,” Carter said, moving beside Janet. Janet handed Carter a few vials of something bodily, and they both walked off towards the lab.
“I sense unease in Danieljackson's sleep,” Teal'c said suddenly. Jack felt a shiver trail down his spine without explanation. He glanced at Daniel, watching his pale face lie motionless against white sheets.
“That would be an understatement,” Jack grumbled, rolling his shoulders and trying to shake the feeling that things were about to get very, very rough. He was supposed to get those feelings during the mission, dammit. Not after the mission when they were all safe at the base.
He and Teal'c killed time playing chess at Daniel's bedside while the girls bonded over blood counts and hemoglobin assessments. The night wore on, and an airman delivered their dinners. Apparently Hammond was waiting till Daniel awoke to debrief. Carter's and Janet's meals went untouched until Jack couldn't restrain himself any longer and snagged the meatloaf. Teal'c cocked his eyebrow before surreptitiously sliding the biscuit from Carter's tray. Jack pretended not to notice. He'd get blamed for it all anyway.
Janet and Carter returned hours later, scrubbing their eyes with the heels of their hands. Janet yawned as she flipped through her clipboard. “There's nothing wrong with him, Colonel,” she said finally. Jack frowned at her. “He's slightly dehydrated, but other than that he's in top condition.” She eyed Jack. “Let's let him wake up naturally and we'll go from there, shall we?”
Jack bit the inside of his cheek. She was the medical expert, not him. She walked to Daniel's drip and cut the dosage. “He should come out of it in a few hours,” she said. “Why don't you all get some sleep? It's well past midnight.”
“I'd rather stay here,” Jack said. Janet shrugged.
“I figured you would. Sam, Teal'c, you guys can go home. The Colonel and I will hold first shift,” Janet said. Carter shot a glance at Teal'c. They left the infirmary without another word. “They're not going home, are they?” Janet mused as the door to the infirmary shut behind them.
“Nope,” Jack confirmed, checking his watch. “Carter will probably try to do some more research on the civilization, and Teal'c will meditate in his quarters.”
Janet was soundly kicking his ass at chess when Daniel made a noise that sort of sounded like a cross between a gasp and a whimper. Jack and Janet both stood slowly, cautiously approaching him. “Daniel?” Janet called. “Can you hear me?”
Daniel's eyes flickered open and locked onto Janet's. She smiled warmly. “Welcome back, Daniel, how do you feel?”
To Jack's shock, Daniel's eyes filled suddenly. He didn't make a sound, just pressed a hand to his eyes while silently gasping through the tears. Janet reached out and touched his arm gently. He lashed out, knocking her hand away. “Daniel,” she admonished. “What's wrong?”
“Oh god, why won't it stop?” Daniel croaked, his voice muffled by his hand.
“What won't stop?” Jack asked. Daniel jerked on the bed, eying Jack and shifting away from him.
“Go away,” Daniel ground out. “Please. Just go away.”
“I'm not going to leave you, Daniel,” Jack said, appalled. “You're part of my team.” Jack reached out to touch Daniel's shoulder.
“Colonel!” Janet warned sharply. Too late. Daniel swung again, knocking Jack's hand away before making to shove him forcefully back. Jack did his best to stop the fall, but Daniel overbalanced and tumbled out of the bed. “Daniel!” Janet's voice shouted over them.
Daniel landed hard on his chest, knocking the wind out of him, and he quickly rolled off, getting to his feet. He started staggering towards the door, trailing some electrodes he had yanked from the machines in the fall. Janet darted after him and put herself between him and the door. “Daniel, it's time for you to sleep again,” she said firmly, pressing a hand to his chest.
“No, no more sleeping,” Daniel gasped hoarsely. Jack forced himself to roll over and got to his hands and knees, wheezing. He didn't quite catch what happened next, but one moment Daniel was hunched to force his way through Janet, and the next he was on the floor, very unconscious. Janet quickly dropped to her knees to check his pulse and breathing before standing and storming to Jack. Jack made a mental note to never piss Janet off.
“What were you thinking?” she hissed, grabbing him by the arm and hauling him upright. He let her sit him down in the chair.
“Uh, I was thinking he's my friend and he wouldn't try to play billows with my lungs,” Jack coughed. Janet scowled at him.
“You are clearly one source of his agitation. I'm going to have to ask you to leave,” Janet said. Jack gaped at her.
“From one instance!? That's just bad science, doctor,” Jack protested.
“We now have three instances in which you are a common factor, Colonel,” Janet said stiffly. “Do not make me pull rank, because I will.” Jack moaned his displeasure but stood.
“Can I at least help you get him into bed?” he asked as he walked towards Daniel.
“Fine,” she snapped. She passed into the light, and Jack was startled to see she was pale.
“Frasier?” he asked questioningly. She did not look at him as she gathered Daniel's legs and they lifted him back onto the cot. Jack helped her arrange Daniel.
“This isn't physical, Colonel,” Janet said finally, as Jack started moving for the door. He turned. “They've done something to him on a psychological level.” She caught his eye. He nodded. “I'll do my best,” she said.
“I know you will,” Jack said before leaving the infirmary for the dimly lit halls of the early morning shift.
...*...
“Daniel, what did they do to you?”
“Nothing. I mean. They didn't do anything. I don't know. I can't remember. I was there and then...” His voice broke off. “Jack came to get me. I don't know.”
“They had to do something, Daniel, can you remember anything after your capture?” Janet pressed gently.
“No! I don't know. They didn't do anything,” Daniel snapped. “How long are we going to do this?”
“I just want to understand what's going on, Daniel,” Janet said softly. Daniel placed his elbows on the table and dropped his head into his hands. His fingers grabbed his short hair in a white-knuckled hold. Jack ached to be down there with him. Beside him, Carter and Teal'c were watching with rapt attention. The observation room was so silent they would have heard a Goa'uld ship coming from a mile away.
“There's nothing to understand. It's always the same,” Daniel croaked without lifting his head.
“What's the same, Daniel?”
“It's different, but it always ends the same,” Daniel ground out. “The ending never changes.”
“What ending?”
“The end of this,” Daniel snarled, gesturing to the room at large. “And then it just starts over. Look, you've never believed me in the past, why should I waste my time?”
“This is the first time we've had this discussion, Daniel,” Janet pointed out gently.
“Yea, right,” Daniel laughed manically. “We've had this talk about a hundred times. Sometimes you write me off, sometimes you clear me, sometimes you sedate me again. What is it going to be this time?”
“Daniel, are you caught in a time loop?” Janet asked sharply.
Daniel laughed again, that stuttering, pained explosion of air from his chest. “No,” he said hysterically. “This would be so much easier if I were. There's no electromagnetic discharge at the end, and the time length of repeats varies from episode to episode. One went on for months before resetting.”
“An episode?”
“What else am I supposed to call it?” Daniel snapped. Janet calmly kept his gaze, not budging once during the flickering emotions. “The never-ending rerun of the worst television show in the history of the universe.”
“And what happens during this television show?” Janet asked.
“It doesn't matter,” Daniel yelled, slamming his hands down on the table. Janet leaned back in her chair to cover her small jump of surprise. “It always ends the same.”
“How does it end, Daniel?” she asked quietly. The fleeting anger disappeared, and Daniel dropped his head into his hands again.
“Everyone dies,” he murmured. “Everyone always dies.”
“People die, Daniel,” Janet said.
“No,” Daniel snarled, lifting his head to eye her viciously. “Everyone dies. And it's always my fault.”
Janet bit her lip and tried a different approach. “Who is everyone?” she asked. “Everyone in the world? Everyone on the base?”
Daniel leaned back in his chair, shifting restlessly, avoiding her eyes. “Jack, and Sam, and Teal'c. Sometimes you, Hammond, even Sylar.”
Jack and Carter exchanged a glance. Sha're had not been mentioned at all. Teal'c lifted an eyebrow as he kept his gaze firmly on the proceedings below them.
“Do you ever die?” Janet asked.
“No. I don't think so. I pass out, or go to sleep, and wake up to the dungeon again,” Daniel said, closing his eyes. “Which is going to happen. Eventually.”
“Daniel, Colonel O'Neill and the rest of SG-1 got you out of the dungeon. You're safe on Earth now. You're not going to relive anything,” Janet said firmly.
“Right,” Daniel said. “I've only heard that about sixty nine times.” He tipped his head back, staring at the ceiling. “Are we done yet?”
“For now, Daniel.” Janet stood. “I'm glad you're feeling better.”
“I'm not,” Daniel said in a sing-songy voice. “I'm just containing myself better.”
Janet didn't say anything else as she exited the room and left Daniel alone. Moments later she entered the observation deck. Jack whirled on her.
“What in hell is going on?” he demanded.
“Control yourself, Colonel,” Janet snapped. Jack instantly deflated, and Janet moved to Carter. “What did you get out of that?” Janet asked the astrophysicist.
“It's not possible he's caught in a time loop, he's right about that. The length of time would be the same each loop, and it's obviously not.” Carter pursed her lips. “I wonder... The people were kept under control with electrical impulses administered directly to their brains during a routine check-up with their physicians. It's possible that they could alter that technology to create a never ending stream of hallucinations generated by the victim's own brain.”
“I'm slightly disturbed that I followed all that,” Jack said. He glanced at Janet. “How do we fix it?”
“This is not an easy fix, Colonel,” Janet said. “He still believes he's inside one of these hallucinations, and from what we've heard, they were fairly violent. All of them. There's no telling how many he's been through, or even what happened during each of them. It's so ingrained in his subconscious at this point that it may be impossible to shake.”
“Wrong answer, doc,” Jack said sharply. Janet glared at him.
“I'm giving you my professional opinion, Colonel,” she growled. “I care about Daniel too, don't you forget that.” She composed herself and handed her clipboard to Carter. “I'm going to go make connections. Hopefully we can find someone who can assist us with this.” She turned on her heel and stormed from the room. Carter stood and followed, her nose already deep in Janet's notes. Jack tried to clamp down on his spinning emotions.
“Let's go see our boy, shall we?” Jack slapped Teal'c's shoulder. Teal'c raised an eyebrow.
“You and I have no children, O'Neill,” Teal'c reminded him. Jack grinned. They made their way to the Infirmary. Daniel was getting an escort everywhere, and they caught up with him before he had returned to Janet's domain.
“Hey Dannyboy,” Jack said, trotting up to the escort. Daniel flinched and tried to ignore Jack. Two of the airmen escorting Daniel looked at each other. “Hey.” Jack cut in front of Daniel, who recoiled, slamming into his escort. “Whoa, easy there, buddy,” Jack cautioned.
“O'Neill,” Teal'c murmured in warning. Daniel's hand scrabbled for something, and he swung his arm out, but not near enough to land a punch. Jack stilled when he found himself staring down the barrel of a standard-issue baretta.
“Daniel,” Jack said, keeping his voice steady. He lifted his hands. “Daniel, calm down.”
Daniel's blue eyes were wide on the other end of the gun. “If I kill you now, I won't have to watch it again. I will control it this time.”
“If you kill me now, you will still have to watch it,” Jack said.
The gun shook so hard in Daniel's hand Jack could almost hear the pin rattle. If luck was on his side, maybe it wouldn't even fire. “I have to kill you,” Daniel whispered hoarsely. “I can't watch it again. I... have to control it this time. I can't do it anymore, Jack.”
“Shooting me now is not going to make it stop,” Jack murmured, shooting a warning look at the airmen who were poised to take action. A clear order; 'do not move'. “It will just start all over again, and you'll have to watch another time.”
“I'll control that time too,” Daniel snarled past a sharp hiccup. Tears streamed down his cheeks, each one stabbing Jack where he hurt the most. “And the next time. I'll control it.”
“You're going to become a killer, Daniel?” Jack asked. “You're going to kill me, over and over again?” He watched Daniel struggle with the thought. “Can you do that?”
“Jack,” Daniel whimpered. The sound tore through Jack, and he wondered if Daniel just shot him, if he wouldn't sound like that anymore. “I can't... I can't do it anymore... I'm sorry...”
Jack didn't have time to wonder what he was apologising for. The gun went off with a deafening explosion and the bullet ripped through Jack's shoulder. He fell back into Teal'c, gasping. He gripped his shoulder, trying to hold back the blood. “Fuck!” he choked. The shot had punched the air from his lungs. “You shot me!” he howled incredulously. Shock kept the pain at bay.
The airmen wrestled Daniel to the ground, crying and gasping for air.
“Hey, don't hurt him,” Jack managed between sharp pants for breath. In under a minute, the corridor was full of airmen, drawn by the gunshot. They hustled Jack and Daniel into the infirmary. Janet sedated Daniel, and pushed Jack back into his own cot.
“I'm going to take the bullet out,” Janet said darkly, “And I'm not going to use any anesthesia. At all. If you're lucky, I will use disinfectant.” Jack grimaced. She pulled her tweezers from the tray at the bedside and got to work. The entire process, she went through various stories about patients who didn't listen to their doctors, and the sort of trouble they got into by taking matters into their own hands.
“All right, all right,” Jack drawled, irritated. “I'm sorry. I thought he had calmed enough to talk to him. I can't just leave him, Frasier. I can't leave him like that.” He glanced at the bed Daniel slept in. “I won't leave him to suffer through this alone.”
“I know,” Janet murmured. “But right now, he has to come to realise that he has been rescued. And he can't do that if you keep terrifying him out of his wits.”
“Do you think Carter would have a better chance?” Jack asked. Janet pursed her lips.
“She might. She's still part of SG-1, but she doesn't have the history that you and Daniel have. She may be close enough that he'd believe her and distant enough that he won't try and kill her to 'restart the episode'.” Janet finished wrapping Jack's shoulder and strapped his arm into a sling. “I mean it, Colonel. If you go near him again...” She pointed a finger at him, and left her threat to his imagination as she walked off to monitor the rest of the infirmary.
Carter came into the infirmary a bit later, and moved cautiously to Daniel's bedside. Jack watched him wake and jerk away from her before she was able to calm him. Daniel kept his back to Jack the entire conversation, and their words were a mere murmur in Jack's ears, blending with the humming of machinery around him. Carter reached out and grasped Daniel's hands tightly, and they both bowed over their joint fingers, Carter's blonde hair brushing Daniel's brown. She pushed her fingers through his hair, and lifted her head to kiss his forehead gently.
She stood finally, and Jack was shocked and embarrassed to see her scrub her face of tears. She caught him staring, straightened her shoulders, and walked out of the infirmary without a backwards glance. In the bed next to him, Daniel rolled onto his back and turned his head. He locked eyes with Jack before noticing the sling.
He mouthed an 'oh' as he remembered what had happened. “I shot you,” he breathed. Jack nodded. His body physically hurt with his need to be across the distance and beside Daniel. It felt like every nerve strained for him to move.
“It hurt,” Jack said casually. “Quite a bit, actually. Can we... not make a habit of it?”
“I'm sorry,” Daniel whispered. He closed his eyes. “I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me.”
“If I come over there are you going to try to kill me again?” Jack asked.
“No,” Daniel said quietly. Jack stood and made his way slowly to Daniel's bed. He walked around and took the chair Carter had vacated. He sank into it, his eyes never leaving Daniel's.
“Are you all right?” Jack asked.
“No,” Daniel said. Jack leaned on the bed with his good arm, bringing him close to Daniel's bloodshot eyes. Daniel closed his eyes. He reached out and touched his fingertips to Jack's face. His hand shook against Jack's skin. Jack grasped Daniel's hand and pressed his lips to Daniel's palm. He listened to Daniel breathe, and tried to imagine him dying, over and over again. It had been difficult enough to leave him to die once. He couldn't imagine doing it again. Let alone hundreds of times.
“Are you going to be all right?” Jack asked, voice muffled by Daniel's palm.
“I don't know,” Daniel said. “I can't stop thinking about... every time... I know this is going to start over sometime... I mean, Sam's explanation was different. I've never heard that one before... But every time something changes... no one episode is ever the same...” Jack couldn't take his eyes away from Daniel's still closed ones as the archaeologist rambled. “Electric impulses to the brain... it makes sense, but so did all the other explanations...”
“You weren't with us when we discovered about the electro-therapy,” Jack said quietly. Daniel's eyes opened suddenly. He watched Jack's face intently. “You had already been captured when we figured out how the overlords were keeping the people sedated. It makes sense that you've never heard Carter's explanation before. Your subconscious wouldn't have been able to supply the necessary information to make the scenario plausible.” Daniel's brows furrowed. “I think,” Jack swiftly said, feeling exposed under Daniel's incredulous gaze.
“You've always been smarter than you let on,” Daniel murmured. Jack blinked at him, gripping Daniel's hand just a bit tighter.
“Thanks,” Jack said wryly. He massaged his thumb over Daniel's knuckles, rubbing chilled skin in soft, reassuring circles just to keep himself busy. “We'll get you through this. The whole team has your back, Dannyboy. You'll be all right.”
“I-I don't know, Jack,” Daniel whispered. “I close my eyes and all I see is blood. I feel like I'll never sleep again.”
“It's all right, Danny. They have meds for that,” Jack said, trying to lighten the mood. It backfired miserably when Daniel tugged his hand free and covered his face, curling in on himself.
“No more drugs,” he whimpered. “Please.” Jack slapped himself mentally, inhaling to try and get a grip on the part of him that was screaming to get away from the emotions raging in him and around him. He scooted the chair closer and reached across the distance, resting his arm on Daniel's body, laying his hand in the man's hair.
“I'm sorry, Daniel,” Jack murmured. “I didn't mean it. I was just kidding. I'm sorry, buddy.” He carded his fingers through Daniel's sweat-soaked hair. Damn. He was still shaking. That could not be healthy. Daniel didn't seem inclined to talk to him any more. Jack shifted, keeping his hand in Daniel's hair, moving in a slow, constant rhythm. Jack was all right with the silence. It gave him time to properly berate himself for being an idiot, and plan for the immediate future.
Obviously Daniel would be taken off duty. Worst case scenario, he spent years in psychiatric rehab for PTSD after being given an involuntary retirement from the Stargate program. Best case, he spent a week's vacation with Jack up in the mountains, rested up and recovered, and then returned to the base healed and happy. As far as plausible scenarios went, Jack could pretty much scratch that one off his list. Daniel was just too damn stubborn for it to work. He held his pain too close, something Jack was all too familiar with.
A step up the ladder on best case scenarios, then. Daniel took a mini-vacation from the program with Jack, maybe a month or two in the mountains. He suffered the occasional shrink visit (in the cabin, of course), and gradually stabilized enough to return to the program. As a grounded research hand. Jack frowned. Not ideal, but something to shoot for. Or, Daniel could return to active duty on a team of new recruits, people whom he hadn't seen in his recurring visions of death. Again, not ideal, but functional.
The next thing he knew, Janet's voice in his ear accompanied a hand on his shoulder. He blinked, and realised he had fallen asleep in the chair. He uncurled himself and stretched, feeling everything creak under his skin.
“Ow,” he groaned. Janet smiled at him.
“Is he asleep?” she asked, nodded to Daniel. His eyes were closed, but Jack could see tension in his shoulders.
“No.”
“He's ignoring me then,” she said. “Could you?” She gestured to their patient.
Jack leaned over the bed. He placed his hand on Daniel's head. “Danny, you need to listen to Frasier. She wants to help you. She knows what she's doing. I know you're not asleep. Come on, buddy.”
Daniel reluctantly opened his eyes and stared blankly at Jack. Jack moved aside to let Janet in to do one of her quick checks. “How do you feel, Daniel?” she asked quietly.
“Terrible,” Daniel replied honestly.
“How so?” Janet asked. “Do you hurt anywhere?”
“No,” Daniel answered curtly. He closed his eyes and rolled onto his back. “I just want this to be over.”
“I think you're stuck with us for quite a while, Daniel,” Janet commented. “Whether you like it or not, you're here for good.” Daniel groaned his disbelief. “Would you like something to help you get some sleep? You need your rest.” Janet missed Jack's frantic signals.
“No,” Daniel grunted, tensing on the bed. He shifted up, ready to fight off anything Janet poked at him. Janet held her hands up peacefully.
“All right,” she said calmly. “If you want to sleep without dreaming, just let me know. One of the nurses will know where to find me.” Janet nodded to Jack, who stood and followed her to her office. She clicked the door shut behind her and rounded her desk to sit down. Jack dropped into a chair across from her.
“So what's the course of action, doc?” Jack asked, unsure if he really wanted to hear the answer.
“There are several things we can do, Colonel,” Janet said, flipping through some papers on her desk. “There is an excellent PTSD psychiatrist in the area specifically assigned here for missions at SGC. He has full security clearances and you won't have to hide anything from him.”
“I don't suppose any of these options come with a no-shrink clause?” Jack asked. Janet glared at him. She placed the papers down on her desk and folded her hands over them.
“I don't think you quite understand exactly how serious this is, Colonel,” Janet began stiffly. “Because if you did, you would not be making callous jokes. I understand that there is a slight occupational hazard to working at the SGC, but the level of psychological trauma that Daniel has gone through pales to anything we've ever come across. He has been forced through over a hundred different scenarios in which you and your team die undoubtedly violent deaths, and he believes that each and every one of them was a result of some action he performed.”
“I know,” Jack whispered breathlessly, her words striking at him like physical blows.
“No, you don't know,” Janet shot back. “It's time to buckle down and get serious, or I won't be able to release him into your care. He almost killed you, Colonel. That is what we're dealing with, here. You need to focus on him completely, and be aware of everything. You can't just-”
“Wait,” Jack interrupted her. Janet puffed herself up indignantly at being cut short, but Jack quickly finished. “What did you just say?”
“I said,” Janet reiterated, “that I would not be able to release him into your care if you don't get serious.” Jack mouthed an 'oh' of surprise. “Yes, that is one of the courses we can take. I've talked to General Hammond. He's willing to give you both as long as you need to try and get this sorted out. On the condition that you have an escort with you wherever you go, be it up to your cabin or just to your house. Of course, if you take him, I'd be counting on you to get him to his sessions with the psychiatrist. I assume that this is the most acceptable option?”
“Yes,” Jack said, worried that if he said any more, she'd change her mind.
“Are you going to be adult about it?” Janet leveled her patented glare at him. Jack just barely prevented himself from shuddering.
“Yes ma'am,” he said, as if he could possibly feel worse than he already did. Janet nodded.
“You're pretty much going to have to have him on a suicide watch,” Janet said. “No, I don't think he's going to try, but he's going to need constant attention. Every minute, Jack. You cannot leave him alone for anything. Do you understand?”
“Yes ma'am,” he said again, cold realization setting in.
“I'm ordering SG-1 be put on inactive duty until we can determine what will be necessary to work you all through this,” Janet said, scribbling her signature on a piece of paper. “Daniel's condition effects you all.” She handed him a piece of paper. “This is the contact information for the doctor. I will make the necessary arrangements, but if something happens before then I want you to have it.”
“Yes ma'am.”
Janet stood, and Jack followed the motion. “Bring him back to us, Jack,” Janet said softly. “If anyone can, it's you.”
“No pressure,” Jack said, grinning wryly. Janet touched his arm as they left her office. They returned to Daniel's bedside, where Janet explained what was going to happen. Daniel cast a wary glance between them, clearly uncomfortable.
“No,” he said when Janet had finished speaking.
“No, what, Daniel?” Janet asked.
“I don't want to leave the base,” Daniel said. Jack dropped into the chair beside him.
“Come on, Daniel, don't you want to breathe some fresh air? Relax up at the cabin? You love reading on the porch, don't tell me you don't,” Jack pleaded, using every inch of his puppy eyes on the archaeologist. Daniel bit his lip, shifting his bloodshot eyes from Jack to Janet, looking for a way to say 'no' again. “You don't want to be cooped up here, with Frasier poking and prodding you every five minutes, do you? No offense,” Jack said swiftly. Janet glowered at him. “It'll be just you and me up at the cabin,” Jack continued. “Well... you and me and our bodyguards. But they're trained to stay out of the way. Come on, Dannyboy. Say yes.”
“Fine, fine, fine,” Daniel conceded wearily. Jack grinned at Janet.
“I'll go get the truck ready.” Jack all but hopped to his feet.
“Colonel,” Janet called after him. “Did you forget that you can't drive?” Jack cursed, pausing in the doorway. “Go find an airman to drive you two up there.” Jack grumbled under his breath the entire way.
Two hours later they were on the road, Jack riding shotgun with Daniel sprawled in the backseat, head lolling. Every time he started to drift off, he'd catch himself and wake with a gasp, panting. Jack kept an eye on him and one on the road, directing the airman (McKenna) along the winding roads that led up to his cabin. It was near dawn when they finally pulled into the drive.
Jack stiffly unfolded himself from the passenger seat and then slid around the car to help Daniel out. The linguist wobbled as he walked, and Jack could tell he was standing on pure force of will alone. “Here's what we'll do,” Jack said as they made their way up the walkway to the front door. “You go get a nice warm bath, I will make you some tea, and you can rest, safe and sound, in the big bed. You remember that one, right?”
“Yes, Jack,” Daniel said crossly, leaning against the door frame as Jack twisted the key.
“No sleeping pills or anything. Just a good, old-fashioned bath.” Jack ushered Daniel inside. They had about half a day before the escort arrived, bringing up any supplies Janet felt they'd need. Jack was determined to make the most of it. “You remember where the bathroom is, right?” Jack asked as Daniel started plodding up the stairs.
“Yes, Jack,” Daniel called. Snark. That was a good sign, right? Jack shook his head and wandered into the kitchen to start hot water for the aforementioned tea. The hot bath would knock him right out, Jack mused happily. The tub was massive and just right for stretching out and relaxing after a long day of fishing. He heard the water pipes churn as the spicket was opened.
Jack sat down at the table and opened the newspaper he had managed to snag before Janet had chased him out of the mountain. The recent elections had gone exactly as the pundits had predicted. Shock. People were murdering and killing each other. Another shock. The economy generally sucked. And colour him surprised.
Jack sighed as he pushed the paper aside. He remembered why he didn't read those. He flicked through it for the crossword and dumped the rest in the recycling bin. The water started boiling, and he moved the kettle, pouring out two mugs of the steaming stuff. He sat down again and picked up his pencil, when he realised the water upstairs had never shut off. He lifted his eyes to the ceiling curiously.
He pushed his chair back and walked to the stairs. “Daniel?” he called. He heard the water running in the tub, and a loud splash. He wasn't sure why the sound quickened his heart rate, but he bolted up the stairs in record time. The door to the bathroom was locked. “Daniel!” Jack pounded on the door. He heard another splash, and a choked gasp for air.
Jack threw his uninjured shoulder against the door and snapped the handle. His feet instantly slid out from under him, and he dropped hard to the ground. Water poured over the edge of the tub, and Daniel thrashed beneath the surface. “Daniel!” Jack staggered to the tub and leapt over the edge, dropping into waist deep water. He hefted Daniel above the surface with his good arm. “Daniel! What the hell are you doing!” Jack roared, trying to keep hold of the writhing linguist.
Daniel coughed violently, spewing water, casting around blindly.
“Daniel,” Jack grunted, trying to haul him up enough. “Calm down. Stop moving.” He almost dropped the man, and instinct forced his injured arm into use. He ignored the blinding pain that streaked up and down his arm as he gripped Daniel and tried to get him upright. Daniel had gotten tangled in his clothes. Jack could only assume he had been trying to get them off, but the way it looked, he had already been in the tub and wet before attempting to divest. “Okay, okay,” Jack murmured over Daniel's desperate panting. “I've gotcha. Calm down.”
Jack sat down on the small ledge in the tub and drew Daniel to him. He carefully freed Daniel's arms from the twisted mess of a shirt that had somehow managed to catch on his trousers as well. His wrists were locked around his ankles behind his back. Jack shook his head ruefully. Only Daniel.
“Okay, you're okay,” Jack continued to soothe as Daniel's breathing calmed into hiccuping gasps that rocked through his chest. Jack freed him, and Daniel slumped against him without resistance. Jack pressed Daniel's head to his shoulder as he stretched to turn the faucet off and stop the endless flow of water. Jack leaned back in the tub, feeling his clothes clinging uncomfortably, and wrapped his arms around the linguist.
“Jack,” Daniel croaked.
“Shh,” Jack murmured, squeezing Daniel's shoulder. Daniel's arms came up around him and gripped him hard. Jack breathed past the pressure, touching his nose to Daniel's dripping hair.
“Don't let me fall asleep,” Daniel whispered.
“You need to sleep, Dannyboy,” Jack breathed back, his heart shuddering against his ribcage. “You'll be all right. Sleep is good for little linguists who want to grow up to change the world. If you sleep you won't get delirious enough to nearly drown in my bathtub.”
“I can't,” Daniel ground out, a rough shake ripping through him. “I can't...”
“You can't sleep but you can barely stand,” Jack said, his hands moving in slow, easy motions over Daniel's skin. “Just let the adrenaline crash do it's work,” Jack mumbled. “That's it...” Daniel's arms went slack, and his breathing finally steadied. Jack kept up his languid massage. “Yea. Okay. This will not be awkward at all when the reinforcements get here,” Jack grumbled into Daniel's neck. He felt the rising and falling of Daniel's chest against his ribs. Calm, for the first time since they had left that damned planet. If he ever got his hands on the aliens who had done this... He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself now. There was nothing he could do. He could only try and piece Daniel back together. He wouldn't stop till Daniel was fine.
He craned his neck to try and see Daniel's face. “You better not be drooling on my shoulder,” he warned, trying to settle into a comfortable position. He was going to be here a while.
He was nodding off himself when the other men from the mountain finally made their appearance. “Hey boys,” Jack called, waving them in. “Careful, the floor's slick. Don't mind me. Just holding a naked linguist in an obnoxiously large tub.” Two of the men carefully made their way to the tub. Jack hefted Daniel out of the water, and together they got him free of the tub. Jack rose and stepped out of the tub, squishing with every step. “He's sleeping,” Jack said needlessly. “If you wake him I'll have you discharged.” All the men froze, turning horrified faces towards their CO. “You heard me,” Jack said, crouching beside them. “Let's get him dried off and into the bed.”
The three of them managed to feat, and Jack shooed them from the bedroom as he stripped out of his own soaked clothes. He dumped the wet things into the now-empty tub and wriggled into a dry pair of sleeping pants. He carefully crawled into bed next to Daniel, not touching, but watching. Janet hadn't been kidding.
Jack propped himself up against the headboard and watched the lake roll outside his window, listening to the even panting of sleeping-Daniel.
Daniel finally rolled over onto his back hours later, his arm fetching up against Jack's thigh. He blinked his eyes open in confusion before peering up at Jack. “Jack?” he said hesitantly.
“ 'sup?” Jack responded casually. As if waking up in bed together was a totally common occurrence. Daniel inhaled and twisted his head, trying to figure out where he was. He squinted.
“Is this your room at the cabin?” Daniel asked, his voice shot from coughing up water.
“Yup,” Jack replied without elaborating. Daniel touched a hand to his head.
“Wha' happen'd?” he asked.
“You found out that you are, in fact, not a merman,” Jack summed up. Daniel eyed him curiously. “You lost a fight with your clothes?” Jack tried. Daniel's little frowny pout started appearing at the edge of his lips. Jack's heart soared. “Let's just say that I won't be using the master tub anytime in the near future.”
“You are so strange,” Daniel murmured, letting his eyes roll away from Jack. Jack decided not to comment and just let him recollect himself. The slight furrow of his brows meant he had something else to ask. Jack could wait. For a minute, anyway.
“You all right?” Jack asked before he could help himself. He bit his lip. Man, he had zero will power.
“Why are you in bed with me?” Daniel turned back to him. That was his Daniel all right, no holds barred. “And why am I naked? And why are you mostly naked?”
“Actually, I'm mostly clothed,” Jack clarified. “You're naked because you were so tired you didn't have time to get into sleepwear. And I'm in bed with you because my arm hurts. I think I needed to rest.” Daniel was giving him that wide-eyed look again.
“The arm I shot,” Daniel prodded.
“Eh,” Jack shrugged with his not-burning shoulder. “What's a few bullets between friends?”
“Jack,” Daniel chided. Daniel sat up, the sheets slipping down his body. Jack swiftly averted his eyes. The wall was suddenly very intriguing. “Jack, I'm sorry.”
“I know,” Jack said. When had it gotten so hot in here?
“No, Jack,” Daniel's voice was firm, enough to get Jack's attention again. Jack turned to meet relentless blue eyes that held him breathless. “I'm sorry,” Daniel said again. “For everything. For not listening to you in the field, for never taking you seriously. For anything that I've ever done that's pissed you off.”
“O-Okay,” Jack stammered. The arm Daniel had propped himself up with was shaking again. Jack tried not to stare at it.
“I mean it, Jack,” Daniel went on. “All those times. All the times you and I were together, and I never... I never said what I needed to say. Even while you were... while you were dying in my arms.” Daniel's voice choked off. “This time I'm saying it. I'm going to say it from now on, no matter how many times I have to say it. And then I'm going to say it to the real you, when we find each other again.”
“Daniel,” Jack whispered. “This is the real me. You're safe. I won't let anything happen to you.”
“Well, this is the first time I've woken up next to you in your cabin,” Daniel said, glancing around. “So at least it's different.” Jack barely caught his breath before Daniel's eyes were on him again. “I love you, Jack.”
Jack gaped.
“You're the best friend I've ever had,” Daniel said. “The only best friend I've ever had, actually. And you need to know how much I care about you.” Daniel touched Jack's arm, his fingers sending white hot spikes through Jack's entire body. This was not going to end well. Daniel's face was close. Too close...
Something in Jack's brain must have short-circuited, because the next thing he knew, he felt Daniel's lips pressed to his, and not gently. His own hand rested on Daniel's shoulder, holding him near, and Jack jerked back with a slight noise of surprise. “Sorry,” he quickly uttered. Daniel stared at him incredulously. “Sorry. Just... forget that happened... Shit.” Jack tossed back the covers and grabbed a shirt from the floor. He whipped it on as he moved to the door, but before he opened it enough to make his timely exit, Daniel's hand slammed it shut again.
Jack found himself once again lost in Daniel's eyes. He wondered if he could spend forever there, and then wondered when the hell he had gotten so damn romantic. “Jack,” Daniel said.
“Daniel,” Jack responded.
“You've never-” Daniel started.
“I know,” Jack cut him off. Daniel blinked at him.
“No. This is the first time you've ever kissed me in these episodes. I didn't think... Jack...” Daniel couldn't finish. He gripped Jack's shirt with both hands and moved in. He sealed his lips over Jack's, and Jack couldn't do anything but receive it, grasping Daniel's arms and pulling him close, chest to chest. He tipped Daniel's head back, opening his mouth, sucking the air from his lungs. Daniel gasped against his lips, and Jack walked him backwards. They tumbled onto the bed, and Jack released Daniel's mouth, tasting his way down the linguist's jaw and throat.
“Oh god, oh god,” Daniel cried. “Please let this be real.” A choked sob escaped his chest. Jack lifted his head and pressed both hands to Daniel's head.
“Danny,” he said solemnly. “This is real. Let me have this. We got you out of that alien hellhole. You're safe. You're home, you're with me.” He wiped Daniel's tears away with his thumb. “Nobody is going to touch you ever again. Nobody.”
Daniel shook his head. “I want to believe you,” he whispered. “I've heard that so many times. Oh god...”
Jack nodded. “Okay, okay,” he said, lifting himself from Daniel's body. “We'll sort this out later.”
“No, no, no,” Daniel whimpered, locking a leg around Jack's waist. Jack paused, surprised. “Please.”
“Are you sure?” Jack asked, leaning over Daniel with his good arm. Daniel grit his teeth and stopped crying, taking a few deep, steadying breaths.
“I'm ready, Jack,” Daniel said finally. Jack carefully settled himself down, pressing Daniel into the mattress.
“I wasn't exactly prepared for this,” he admitted.
“It's all right. We'll do what we can.” Daniel's chest rose and fell against his. Jack slipped to Daniel's side, letting his injured arm trace a small pattern along Daniel's skin. The skin goose-bumped under his touch. Jack grinned and pressed his face to Daniel's throat, nipping hot skin. He shifted his palm down Daniel's ribs, skirting his hip and thigh. Daniel's breath quickened, and he turned his head, looking for Jack's mouth again. Jack met his lips with generous force, biting back any doubts Daniel had that this was real, as if he could press the memories from Daniel's consciousness.
Daniel hissed against his lips, his fingers digging into Jack's skin under his shirt. Daniel reached up and wrestled the shirt off Jack's shoulders. “Ow, ow, ow,” Jack gasped as his injury was tugged painfully. Daniel froze, and Jack finished wriggling free of the arms of the blasted shirt. “Okay.”
“Are you all right?” Daniel asked, eyes wide.
“Daniel,” Jack burst out, exasperated. “It's fine. Stop worrying.” He silenced further protest with his mouth. Daniel greedily sucked at his lips, fingers dipping between them and grasping Jack's prick under his soft bedclothes. Jack let out a ridiculous noise as Daniel started working his fingers. Daniel snorted, and moved one hand around Jack's waist, sliding beneath the waistband to grab Jack's ass. Jack dropped his forehead into Daniel's shoulder, bucking his hips into Daniel's hand.
“Yea, yea,” Jack murmured breathlessly as Daniel started tugging his pants off. Jack propped himself up and kicked them off onto the floor somewhere. He met Daniel's lips with renewed fervor, and Daniel dragged him down atop him, holding him with legs wrapped around his waist. Oh his knees would kill him in the morning, but it would be so worth it.
He squeezed Daniel's bum between his thighs, his cock trapped between their bodies, brushing against Daniel's own prick, hard and hot. Daniel's wriggling hand was not helping matters, they had gotten it stuck during the shift, but he didn't seem to mind. Twisting and tugging it provided insane friction against Jack's prick. He pressed his hips hard into the hand.
“Jack, 'm stuck,” Daniel chuckled, yanking on the arm.
“Leave it,” Jack mumbled against Daniel's chest. He bit gently at skin there, moving his hips against Daniel's hand. Daniel took a shuddering breath as Jack rocked against him. Daniel's hand hit his own prick as Jack moved. Jack pumped into Daniel's hand, reaching between them with his own hand to hold Daniel's. His knuckles brushed Daniel's prick, eliciting a heady moan.
“Your hands are huge,” Daniel grunted against his jaw. “How did I never notice?”
“Shut up,” Jack grunted back. His shoulder felt like it was going to combust at any point. Of course Daniel would talk during a hand job. Of course.
Daniel's body was hot around him, slipping with sweat as he moved. One arm had been thrown around Jack's shoulders, and the fingers scrabbled for purchase on Jack's skin, digging painfully. Jack buried his face in Daniel's throat and came, swallowing the gasp threatening to escape. Daniel's hips jerked under him, bucking for friction, and he came a moment later.
“Jack, Jack, Jack...” Daniel murmured, fingers gripping Jack's hair. His trapped hand was now free, roaming up and down Jack's body as if he couldn't stop touching. Jack shifted, shaking Daniel's legs off his waist and tangling his own with Daniel's. He lifted his head and leaned on his hand over Daniel. Daniel's hand slid from his hair down his cheek. His pupils were blown wide, and was staring at Jack as if Jack would disappear any moment, a mix of hesitant awe and sadness.
“Did any of the other me's do that?” Jack couldn't help asking.
“No,” Daniel breathed. “Never.”
Jack jerked back. “Never? I never put the moves on you? Not once?”
“No.” Daniel furrowed his brows. “I... I never... Never thought you...” He cut himself off, putting his words in order. He closed his eyes and lay still for a moment. When he opened them, it was as if he were looking at the room anew. His eyes returned to Jack. “I never thought you'd respond.”
“You never thought I'd respond... so I couldn't have sex with you... in your visions,” Jack breathed, following Daniel's train of thought. “Because your visions were created by your mind.”
Daniel reached up and pulled Jack against him, crushing him to his chest. Jack breathed out against Daniel's throat, letting Daniel feel him. He was shaking again. “Jack, I can't get through this on my own,” Daniel hissed.
“Whatever it takes, Daniel,” Jack swore. “I'll be with you every step of the way. We'll get you through this.”