[Room 123 or Library - separate nights. Same general happenings] Nodding off sounds so peaceful

[ispeakancient]

Daniel hadn't been sleeping well lately, if at all. More and more, he'd just lay in bed and watch the sun come up, feign a bit of rest, then go about his day like a zombie. The few moments he was able to sleep, he still saw her - his wife, but taken over by the Goa'uld. It was still so heart wrenching. Daniel hadn't fully explained it to anyone,

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[iwascomplete]

Buffy'd been able to sleep pretty soundly since things had changed. She didn't know what it was, or how to explain in, but... Her nights were fairly dreamless. She would even have, occasionally, good dreams. But even the nights without were better than the nightmares she had every single evening without fail. Tonight, she was just sitting awake enjoying the look of the sky out of the window.

It was Daniel who was having trouble sleeping now.

She worried about him; very much, in fact, and would keep an eye on him as he tossed and turned. Their roles were... a bit reversed, really. She'd pretty much spaced out, when she heard him cry out. Buffy was out of bed in an instant, and crossed the room in a few quick strides. Her legs weren't long, but she was very fast when she needed or wanted to be

[ispeakancient]

Daniel's breathing was labored as he fought off the images that still invaded his mind. He knew he was awake. He knew he was with a good friend, a good young woman who didn't need any more added to her already full plate. But nights and night without rest and the constant onslaught of painful memories would break any man. He leaned heavily against her and shut his eyes tightly.

"She's gone." He said, though it was a strange sort of declaration. He knew very well that she was gone. It wasn't as if it was a recent development. But it was all he could think to say.

[iwascomplete]

Buffy closed her arms around him tighter, resting her cheek against his hair, just... holding him. "It was just a dream," she murmured gently, "I'm here. It's okay..." She wanted to ask who... but had a feeling that probably wouldn't be the best idea. He needed to calm down first.

[ispeakancient]

But it wasn't a dream. Not really. It was a memory that he had thought he had moved past. It was that fact that maybe made it hurt the most. He had thought he had moved past the loss of his wife. What sort of man was he?

For a moment, he tried to calm himself, to take comfort in Buffy's presence, but the weight of it all was too much. A sob choked in his throat. The exhaustion and the mentally taxing week came to a crest, and Daniel began to fall apart.

[notanemptymotto]

Helen looked up from her work, looking at the man across the table that had jumped awake. She frowned, leaning over in worry.

"Dr. Jackson?"

[ispeakancient]

Daniel looked around, trying to discern his location. The library? He must have... He looked to the woman across from him.

"Sam? Oh, sorry. Dr. Magnus, of course. Where were we?"

[notanemptymotto]

She merely smiled at the misnaming. Helen could hardly blame him. She did apparently look like his friend, given a few differences here and there, she suspected. She leaned forward slightly.

"I think you should get some sleep."

[ispeakancient]

"No, no I'm fine." He rubbed his face hard and opened his eyes wide. "Really."