Trapped
By Demon Faith
TITLE: Trapped
CATEGORY: S/D, Angst, Drama
SPOILERS: COTG,
Broca Divide, FIAD, Hathor, Into the Fire, Small Victories, Need, In the Line
of Duty, Jolinar’s Memories, The Devil you Know and Fire and Water (just to
annoy Jazz…)
SEASON/SEQUEL: Season 3/4
RATING: PG-13
CONTENT WARNINGS: Implications and violence
SUMMARY: Daniel falls victim to a booby trap, with
devastating consequences
DISCLAIMER: Don’t own them, wish I did. Didn’t make
money, wish I did.
PS I am fortunate to
never have been paralysed. Everything involving the wheelchair (you’ll know
when you get there) was worked out by myself. Sorry for any inaccuracies.
“So, what did you do this
weekend?”
Sam and Daniel walked towards the
gate room, helmets in hand, ignoring all the strange looks they were
attracting.
The rumour mill was always
buzzing, and most of the far-fetched ‘incidents’ involved SG1. Whereas the
gossip about Jack and the nurses probably had a basis in fact, Sam couldn’t see
Daniel and Janet locked in a passionate embrace, or Lou Ferretti and Jack
making a gay couple.
“Oh nothing much. I had a lot of
work to do.”
Daniel fumbled with the strap on
his helmet, as Sam dragged him to a halt.
“You worked? Daniel, you’re
supposed to be resting!”
Daniel glared back, hating to be
discovered. He had a habit of trying to survive on a cocktail of caffeine and
chocolate and three hours sleep. Janet was always coming at him with sedatives
and had told SG1 to make sure Daniel got sleep, decent meals and didn’t work on
his off-days. Looks like we failed again, thought Sam.
“That’s rich coming from you.”
They continued down the corridor,
falling into the casual conversation they usually reserved for annoying Jack.
“Janet’s going to kill you.”
“Well, Jack’s gonna kill you.”
Sam stopped them again.
“Why will Jack kill me?”
Daniel grinned and resumed
walking.
“Because you’ve forgotten your
gun!”
Sam slapped her side and cursed.
Daniel laughed and waved her sidearm in front of her nose. Sam made a wild grab
for the weapon but Daniel was too fast. She chased him down the corridor and
snagged his jacket. He went sprawling on the floor and Sam tripped over his
legs. She landed on top of him and they struggled for the gun, falling into
hysterical laughter.
“When you’ve quite finished…”
Daniel finally let go of the gun
and Sam sprang to her feet, to face her CO and one very amused Jaffa. Daniel
also climbed to his feet, breathless and red-faced. Jack shook his head and
went into the Gate room, followed by Teal’c. Sam slapped Daniel playfully, as
he followed her into the Gate room.
“Don’t you ever try that again! I
could’ve shot you.”
“No, you couldn’t. I have the
bullets.”
Sam’s mouth fell open, as Daniel
handed her back the little metal cylinders. Sam popped open her gun, to find an
empty casing.
“How did you do that? You didn’t
have time…”
Daniel shrugged and wearily picked
up his backpack, looking older than his years.
“Jack made me practice. We were up
‘til two in the morning.”
Sam glared at Jack, who shrugged
gamely. Sam turned back to Daniel, who was struggling with his backpack. Sam
slipped the loose strap onto his shoulder and he smiled tiredly. Sam looked at
him with concern.
“Are you alright, Daniel?”
He just smiled at her, as the
wormhole blasted open. Sam made a mental note to beat the crap out of Jack
O’Neill the next time she could get to him. Bullying Daniel into emptying a gun
was not the way to make the young man ‘fit in’. Personally, Sam liked Daniel
just the way he was and didn’t think Jack’s brutal military training was going
to change the young man.
SG1 marched through the gate with
ease, having used the scientific wonder many times before. They stepped out of
the other side, to a cold, grey building with little lighting or heat. Daniel
was trying not to shiver but the numbing cold was already setting into his
muscles. Jack raised an eyebrow.
“Didn’t the MALP say this was a
lush, green world?”
“We must’ve mis-dialled.”
Sam shrugged, thinking of the
amount of trouble one certain sergeant would get when they got back. Daniel
squinted into the darkness, before turning towards Jack.
“I think there’s something out
there.”
“Don’t be silly, Dan…”
Suddenly, metal projectiles sailed
through the air and hit Daniel in the centre of his back. He cried out, as he
fell to the ground, motionless. Sam, Jack and Teal’c ran over to the
archaeologist’s prone form.
“Teal’c; dial it up!”
Daniel’s wide, scared eyes stared
up at them, trying to say something.
“What is it, Daniel? We’re gonna
get you out of here, okay?”
Sam stroked his short hair, trying to ignore the sharp pain in his
eyes.
“I…can’t fell my legs, Sam.”
Jack cursed loudly, as the
wormhole opened. He scooped Daniel into his arms and SG1 ran back through the
Gate.
“We need some help here!”
George grabbed the phone and
dialled through to Janet. She was there in seconds and Jack placed Daniel
face-down on the gurney.
“We went to the wrong planet.
Daniel got shot in the back. Don’t know what it was, but…he can’t feel his
legs.”
Janet stared at Jack in shock, and
then, rushed him towards the infirmary.
~
Janet sighed and ran a hand
through her hair. Daniel’s eyes met hers and the fear cut through her like a
knife. She had tried every scan possible and had drawn up nothing. All she
could tell was that he had been shot, and now…now…
Janet couldn’t even bring herself
to think it. Daniel looked up at her and she knew what he was going to say.
“So, what’s wrong?”
Janet tried to smile but the pain
in his eyes was only too clear.
“It’s bad, Daniel.”
He gave her a little half-smile,
trying to keep calm. Janet knew he was being strong for his friends but it seemed
almost desperate this time.
“Tell me when the others come. I’m
sure they’re going frantic out there.”
No arrogance there; only a slight
embarrassment that he attracted so much attention. Janet smiled at him and
motioned for the nurse to get them.
“Don’t try and move, Daniel.”
“I think we both know I can’t ,
Janet.”
His quiet acceptance brought tears
to Janet’s eyes and she had to tear herself away. Sam almost blasted down the
door when she came in, followed by one Colonel-like tornado and a highly-strung
Jaffa. Janet hated to do this to such caring people, but it had to be done.
“So, now you’re all here, I can
give a diagnosis.”
Sam took the empty chair beside
Daniel and took his hand, faintly surprised when he didn’t return her grip.
“The…projectiles struck Daniel’s
central and lower spine. They seem to have…to have…”
“Spit it out, Doc.”
Jack was feeling worried. Janet
always gave it to them straight. Why was she being hesitant this time? Janet
calmed herself and began to speak in a neutral, even tone.
“Daniel has a permanent…paralysis,
from the neck down.”
There, she’d said it. Janet turned and walked away, to spare
herself the shocked, hurt looks from all of SG1, except Daniel. She had just
caught his little smile; the brave face he always reserved for such occasions. But
there’s never been one like this, Daniel. Sam leaned over him, concern in
her eyes.
“Are you alright, Daniel? What
would you like us to do for you?”
He smiled openly, even though Jack
was still hovering around like an avenging angel. Teal’c had brought up his
‘stoic Jaffa’ façade, but Sam…
“Quit worrying, for a start. Janet
says that she can find me a carer. And you guys will just stay here and kick
Gourld butt. Problem solved.”
He smiled again but Sam noticed
that it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Okay, wait for the tough types to
leave, and then we can really talk. Sam barely nodded and got a half-smile
from Daniel in return.
“So, whatcha gonna do with your
time, Danny?”
Daniel thought it over carefully.
He wanted to wave his hands, incline his head and just move among his
friends but some alien booby-trap had ruined any chance of that ever again.
Daniel uttered a little sigh, something only Sam heard.
“I thought I would get a
voice-commanded computer, so I could still work on translation stuff. You could
e-mail it to me, I suppose.”
Jack thought it sounded as if
Daniel’s heart wasn’t quite in what he was saying. As for Jack himself, he was
in deepest shock. Having no Daniel on SG1, no bouncing linguist annoying him at
every turn or even a little Sam-Daniel co-conspiracy going on behind his back.
He would miss that the most. They didn’t seem to realise how their faces lit up
when they talked to each other, shared ideas or just enjoyed each others
company. But no more on SG1. Jack couldn’t take it anymore, and he just walked
out. Teal’c followed close behind, not wishing to see his young Tau’ri friend
endure such suffering. Sam leaned over Daniel now, staring deep into his eyes.
“Talk to me, Daniel. Tell me what
you really think.”
“I think that I’m going to shrivel
up and die. Not being with you guys is gonna tear me apart, and I don’t want to
lose you, Sam. Especially not you. Please, not you.”
Daniel let one tear tumble
unhindered down his cheek. Sam wiped it clear and kissed him lightly on the
cheek.
“I’ll never leave you, Daniel. In
fact, I have an idea…”
~
“Damn it all to HELL!”
Another coffee cup met its end to
Jack O’Neill’s fury. As soon as he had left the infirmary, the emotional dam
had burst. Half-crying, he had fled to his office. Airforce Colonels DO NOT
cry, he told himself, at least, not in public.
He had slammed his door shut,
breaking down in the face of such horror. Young Danny Jackson, vibrant genius,
so full of life, had been struck down on his watch. And Sam's face had
been the last straw. Despair and anger overwhelmed him, as the guilt and sorrow
set in.
There was a timid knock on the
door and Jack quickly composed himself.
“Come!” he barked.
A very quiet and subdued Sam
Carter entered his office, a slip of paper in her hand. It didn’t even register
until she placed it in his palm.
“I’m resigning.”
The words pierced his soul and he actually grabbed her shoulders.
“Why the hell are you doing that?”
Sam pulled him off, roughly, anger
in her eyes.
“Because Daniel needs me! There
are other scientists, other majors, but Daniel only has so-many friends. And
I’ll be damned if I just leave him with some stranger.”
Jack felt like he’d been slapped.
He had been too busy feeling sorry for himself to realise that Daniel wasn’t
going to accept this overnight, no matter what he tried to pretend.
“I’m s…sorry, Sam. You go. I’m
just an…old fool.”
Jack collapsed into his chair,
feeling drained. Losing half your team in a day, Jack. Some commanding officer
you make. I mean, next minute Teal’c might decide to leave for that Broca place
and you couldn’t do a thing to stop him. You’re losing your touch, O’Neill. Jack
smiled sadly to himself.
“Are you okay, sir?”
Jack snapped out of his reverie.
He had forgotten Sam was still there.
“So, exactly what is the plan for
Daniel?”
~
“I want you to rest completely for
the next few days. Your system is still in shock but I think Sam can cope with
that.”
Daniel smiled at Janet. She was
going to so much trouble. They all were. Especially Sam. Daniel sighed.
He didn’t want Sam to give up her life for him but she had made him admit that
he needed someone and, yes, it would help if he knew them. And Sam was
determined she was going to help.
Daniel couldn’t quite decide how
he felt about this. No more Stargate missions; a whole life of being dependent
on someone else; a whole life with Sam. I can’t ask her to do that, he
thought to himself, She’ll only regret it later. So, when Sam walked in a few minutes later, he
knew exactly what he was going to say.
“Sam, you…”
“…can’t possible give up your life
for me, so just forget the whole idea? Was that what you were going to say?”
Daniel’s mouth opened in surprise
but Sam just smiled.
“Daniel, I want to help
you. I would miss you too much otherwise. Come on, we spend most of our lives
with each other anyway. What are a few hours more?”
Danny tried to blink make the
tears, but Sam saw them all too clearly. She gently wiped away the tears,
sighing.
“I don’t know what I’m gonna do
with you, Danny Jackson.”
Daniel gave her a watery smile and
she realised she was only inches away from his handsome face. She curled
herself on the edge of his bed, leaning on his chest to look into his eyes. He
could only slowly cry as she held him lightly in her outstretched arms. He felt
so heavy and weak, no reaction from his still muscles.
Sam realised her commitment, what
she had given up for the dead-weight in her arms. But Daniel was so much more
than that and she wouldn’t let a piece of alien technology steal his life away.
After she had left the depressed
Colonel, Sam had visited General Hammond. Janet had already filled him in and
her request came as no surprise.
Now, if only Daniel would agree…
“I have something to tell you, Daniel.”
He looked at her, curiously.
“General Hammond says you don’t
have to leave. If we convert a VIP suite into a proper apartment, you could
still work here everyday. Of course, it’s no substitute, but you can…”
“Would you work if I stayed?”
Sam was taken aback. She came
first?
“Work? On what, Daniel?”
Sam was resisting the urge to call
him ‘Danny’, like a kid. It was just how he seemed to her now; so frail and
vulnerable.
“Science stuff. Like wormhole
physics and all the other stuff you love. I can’t keep you from that, Sam.”
There was genuine concern in his
eyes and Sam was close to tears.
“You never cease to amaze me,
Daniel Jackson.
He tried to smile but tears
threatened to ruin the show. Yet, Daniel knew that Sam wouldn’t judge, wouldn’t
condemn him, for merely being human.
“Yes, I think I will then. We
could move some of my stuff to your office or visa versa. As long as you’ll be
alright, Daniel.”
~
General Hammond was in state of shock. Daniel was paralysed, Sam
was resigning, Jack was in deepest depression and Teal’c just didn’t know what
to make of it all. Neither did George.
Morale was fading fast, and SG1
wasn’t around to boost it back up. Daniel’s ‘loss’ had hit them all hard and
with Sam and Jack having almost disappeared, things were getting pretty tense.
Teal’c just hung around the infirmary and Janet let him because she wanted the
company as well.
Several airmen were converting a
VIP room and Daniel was due to move in that afternoon. George just didn’t know
what to make of it all. Sam had volunteered herself without a second thought,
despite Daniel’s protests. George was wondering what that would come to…
There was a knock on the door.
George had called Jack to his office a few minutes ago. Must be him.
“Come!”
A slow, slothful creature shuffled
into George’s office, head bowed low. Jack collapsed in a chair, looking pale
and tired.
“Yes, sir?” he said in a weary
voice.
“Colonel, I am ordering you to go
and see Doctor Jackson.”
Jack’s head snapped up and a
little spark of light flitted into his eyes.
“Daniel? Why?”
George didn’t even ask why he was
questioning orders.
“He’s been asking for you all day
and Sam’s been looking for you everywhere. He says he hasn’t seen you since
Janet’s announcement.”
Jack squirmed slightly, chewing
nervously on his lip.
“I don’t think he wants to see me,
sir. I…got him into this mess.”
“Jack, that is the biggest load of
crap I’ve ever heard!”
The Colonel straightened himself,
levelling his shoulders.
“Excuse me, sir?”
George smiled inwardly. That
got your attention!
“He wouldn’t be asking, if he
didn’t want to see you. Now, go and see the man before he harries poor Sam
stupid!”
Jack smiled at that and left
George’s office, with his heart lighter.
~
“So, I can leave now?”
Daniel was getting bored of just
looking at the barren, white ceiling in the infirmary, which was all he saw
until Sam came in and propped him into a sit. Now, his eyes were darting round
the infirmary, happy to be leaving. He was still in the clothes he had worn
when he was shot and he was sure he smelt awful, but Sam didn’t comment at all.
Janet had been tutoring her in ‘care’ and she was pretty sure she’d got it
sorted. Janet wasn’t too happy about letting him out but she had no reason to
keep him any longer.
“Yes, I suppose you can. Sam will
take things from here.”
One grinning Sam Carter appeared
by his bedside.
“Why are you so happy?”
Sam’s grin just got wider. She
pushed a wheelchair to his side and he eyed it warily.
“You’re not going to push me down a
cliff, are you?”
Sam laughed loudly, causing Daniel
to smile as well.
“No, I think I’ll keep you safe
for now.”
Keep you safe. That sounded nice, especially coming from Sam. Daniel
just wished it were under different circumstances.
Sam gently turned Daniel to face
the bed’s edge. His legs flopped uselessly over the edge and Daniel began to
feel embarrassed.
“Any redder and you’re gonna
burst, Daniel. Don’t worry about it; just think of it as VIP treatment.”
Daniel smiled again. Sam lifted
him into a standing position, swivelling him deftly into the chair.
“Wow; some technique!”
“I’ve practiced.”
She hefted Daniel’s legs onto the
metal support and wheeled him off towards the converted VIP room. They passed
many marines and airmen in the corridors, who all nodded and smiled.
“I never knew I was so popular,”
Daniel murmured to Sam.
“Yeah, but did you notice that
most of them were women.”
Daniel resisted laughing, as Sam
pushed his chair easily through the doorway. The room was totally different. Daniel’s
jaw dropped, as Sam pushed him into the centre of the room. There was a new
computer with a headset and speakers. There was a neat bookcase which contained
about half of Daniel’s references. There was a reclining couch and an easy
chair, as well as the usual bed. There was a compact stereo system and the
ceiling was covered in swirling patterns and shapes.
“It’s amazing,” he breathed in
wonder.
Sam smiled and pushed the chair
towards the couch. Daniel raised an eyebrow.
“So, what are we gonna do now?”
Sam slipped off her jacket and
threw it onto the security camera. Daniel’s eyebrows lifted higher and Sam
knelt down beside him.
“You need a shower, Daniel.”
The archaeologist’s eyes widened
and he wished he could back off from the grinning woman in his apartment.
“You can’t be serious, Sam.”
She smiled even more, leaning the
reluctant linguist forward. With his shoulder against hers, she slid her hands
under his T-shirt and pulled the damp cloth over his head. His arms flopped
back down, landing heavily on her shoulders. Sam laughed and pushed them off
with a sigh.
“Do we have to do this, Sam?”
“Yes, Daniel, we do.”
Sam carefully sat him back in the
chair and undid his trousers.
“Y’know, if this wasn’t so
serious, it would be romantic.”
“Don’t go there, Sam.”
She smiled at the very flushed
archaeologist and wondered how many of Janet’s nurses dreamed of being in this
position. But Sam didn’t dream of vulnerability; she only hoped for kindness,
stability and, most of all, love.
When the stiff fatigues were gone,
Sam wheeled the nearly-naked Daniel into his bathroom.
“So, where do we go from here?”
Daniel was feeling very silly.
This was so embarrassing, but Sam was taking it all in her stride.
She lifted him smoothly out of the
chair and against her small frame.
“Don’t hurt your back, Sam.”
“I won’t, Daniel. Don’t worry.”
She manoeuvred him into the
cubicle shower, still holding him tightly. She turned on the stream of water,
and yelped as the cold water hit her. She cranked up the thermostat and the
water gushed in warmer waves. Sam grabbed a bottle of shampoo from the shelf,
while still holding onto a very red and wet Daniel. By all rights of
physics, the boy should be steaming. By all rights of reality, I shouldn’t be
in this situation, but here I am. And, right now, I wouldn’t be anywhere else… Sam
kept her happy thoughts to herself, as she squeezed some shampoo onto Daniel’s
head and, after replacing the bottle, rubbed it furiously. The white bubbles
streamed onto her and Daniel and she took the shower gel and used that as well.
When she was sure Daniel was as clean as he could be (and was royally pissed
off with her), she finally turned off the water and swung Daniel into the cold,
metal chair. Which, of course, he can’t feel, she thought, bitterly. She
found a peach fluffy towel and dried down Daniel, while still aware that she
was dripping water everywhere. She took the towel and squashed his handsome
face between the soft folds. He smiled, then promptly sneezed. Sam smiled and
wheeled him deftly into the main room. Using her previous techniques, she
somehow managed to get him on the couch. She found some of Daniel’s off-duty
clothes and dressed him quickly in a blue shirt and jeans. He patiently waited,
as she finished doing up his shirt buttons, bringing her right up to his face again.
She stood up quickly and he smiled at her.
“Go and get changed, Sam. Have a
shower, change your clothes, and then come back. I don’t mind being alone.”
“I’ll use the shower here, Daniel.
You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
Sam leaned Daniel carefully onto the couch, before going to have
her shower. Daniel sighed to himself. How Sam kept her composure when he was
beet red with embarrassment was amazing. He wanted to help her, not be so
useless, but that was all he could be. A tear escaped down his cheek and he
couldn’t even raise his hand to wipe it away.
There was a knock at the door and
Daniel was mildly surprised.
“Come in?”
The door opened slowly but Daniel
couldn’t turn to find out who it was. The person moved gradually into his line
of sight and Daniel smiled.
“Jack, you came.”
The Colonel shrugged and sat in
the easy chair, admiring the ceiling.
“Siler and his cronies did it.
Impressive, huh?”
Daniel smiled, as Jack pulled
chocolate-walnut cookies out of his pocket. Daniel’s smile grew wider and Jack
laughed.
“So, where’s Sam?”
“Right here, Colonel.”
Sam came out of the bathroom, in a
bath-robe with her hair in a towel turban. Jack raised his eyebrows but didn’t
say anything. He had noticed Daniel’s damp hair when he came in. Why was Sam
wet as well? Don’t go there, Jack.
“Ah, the elusive Major. You been
avoiding me, Carter?
“Looking for you, actually. Well,
I’ll go get the canteen’s latest offering. You can hold the fort here, Jack?”
Then, the Colonel started.
“Jack?” he echoed.
“Yes. I resigned, remember. From
the Air Force at least. I am now officially a civilian conscript.”
“So, I call you Sam?”
She smiled and went out of the
door. Shaking his head, Jack sat back in his chair. Daniel watched him
carefully, wondering why he had suddenly arrived.
“So, how are you doing? Who’s
replacing us?”
Jack sat bolt upright. Daniel had
asked a casual question but it had stung.
“Replacing you? No one will ever
replace you, Danny.”
Daniel murmured a quiet ‘oh’ and
Jack slapped himself.
“Sorry, Daniel. Don’t know what
came over me. Um…we’re getting a Captain Mara Andrews, who’s an astrophysicist,
and Rothman’s coming back as our archaeologist and linguist. But, of course,
Sam and you will still be working away to yourselves, so they won’t have to do
too much.”
Daniel smiled and looked up at the
ceiling. It would take forever to recognise all the symbols in the patterns up
there, and, like clouds, every time you looked, you saw something else in the
images. He was so grateful to his friends for being so compassionate and he
just wished he could do something in return.
“So, have you met this ‘Mara’
yet?”
Jack sent Daniel a reproachful
look.
“You have the most attractive
woman on base waiting on you hand and foot and you’re still looking? You blind,
Daniel?”
The linguist’s eyes widened, as he
was struck speechless. His mouth fell open in his characteristic goldfish
expression, as Sam bashed through the door.
“I got loads of stuff. You sticking
around, Jack?”
“Nah, Sam. I think I’ll leave
now.”
Jack stood up and winked at
Daniel, before diving out of the door. Sam didn’t seem to notice, as she leaned
over Daniel.
“So, do you want to start?”
“Might as well, Sam.”
Sam picked up plate of chips and
kneeled beside Daniel, who was still lying on the couch.
“Didn’t Janet say a ‘wholesome,
balanced diet’?”
“Since when did we obey Janet’s
orders?”
Daniel smiled. Sam took a chip and
placed it in his mouth. Daniel took it gratefully. He hadn’t eaten properly
since…since…well, it had been a while. Sam was experimenting with tomato
ketchup and mayonnaise and Daniel was laughing between bites, at Sam’s
concentration on the precise amounts of ketchup and mayo required for each
chip.
“Difficult calculations?”
“The hardest.”
Sam popped the last chip in his
mouth and Daniel grimaced.
“What did you put on that?”
Sam frowned.
“Sorry. Must’ve been too much
mayonnaise.”
Daniel sighed, as Sam dived out of
view. She re-appeared with a very large, sticky chocolate cake.
“Are you determined to make me
fat?”
Sam giggled and broke off a piece
of cake. He stuck out his tongue and
she placed it on the end. It was gorgeous! Daniel closed his eyes and smiled.
Sam laughed loudly. Daniel looked like he was in seventh heaven. Sam took a
piece of cake and ate it. She smiled as well and it was Daniel’s turn to laugh.
Sam took the cake and climbed onto the couch, straddling the archaeologist.
“You want the cake, Daniel? You’re
gonna have to beg.”
He pouted and Sam was on the verge
of giving it to him.
“Say I’m the best astrophysicist
in the universe.”
“You’re the best astrophysicist in
the universe.”
Sam took a piece of cake and
dropped it in his mouth. He swallowed it with relish, looking hopefully at the
rest.
“Say I’m the best woman in the
world.”
“You’re the best woman in the
world.”
Sam broke off the next piece and
leaned in to put it in his mouth. Daniel licked his lips, to capture the last
chocolate crumbs.
“You want the last piece, Daniel?”
“No, you have it, Sam.”
Sam grinned and split in half. She
ate the first piece and gave the bigger one to Daniel. Once they had finished
the rich cake, the phone rang. Sam sighed and rolled off the couch. She got up
and answered it.
“Hello?…Hey Janet…You’re coming
round?…Okay…Bye”
Daniel grinned at her, as she
rushed round, disposing of the lunch evidence. She flicked on the radio and
Radio Colorado blared from the speakers. Daniel winced at the volume and Sam
twisted the knob down.
“Sorry! Lieutenant Matthews was
listening to Westlife.”
Daniel smiled, as he watched Sam
whenever she drifted into view. She was totally absorbed in the music, humming
to herself as she tidied up the room.
There was a knock on the door and
Sam dived for the door handle. Janet came in, eyebrow raised, shouting over the
music.
“I thought you were looking after
him, not bursting his eardrums.”
Sam grinned sheepishly and turned
the stereo off .
“Thank you, Sam.”
Janet hovered over Daniel, smiling
brightly.
“Hello there, Daniel. I’m just
going to check over your spine.”
Daniel smiled, as Sam propped him
up into a sitting position. She turned him slowly towards the edge, gently
lifting his legs off the couch. She slipped off his shirt and leaned him into
her shoulder, bracing her slender arms around his neck. Daniel closed his eyes
for a minute, drinking in Sam’s perfume. Her hair was still wet and the chill
of the water trickled steadily down his neck, beyond his ability to perceive
it.
Janet winced at the brutally
obvious metal, jutting out of his skin. His back was discoloured with bruising
and blood lined the metal. Sam looked up at Janet with wide, scared eyes and
the doctor shook her head. Suddenly, she frowned and reached down to the
‘bullet’. She squinted at the object and tapped it.
“Ow! Janet, what did you do?”
Daniel’s eyes flew open in panic,
as hot, stabbing pain burned up his spine.
“What? You felt that, Daniel?”
“Of course I…”
Daniel stopped, as he realised
what he was saying. Sam looked at Janet again and she just shrugged.
“What exactly did you feel,
Daniel?”
Daniel considered a minute, as the
tingling died away.
“Burning. Sharp, spiking pain, all
up my back.”
Janet and Sam exchanged puzzled
looks and Daniel began to get worried, as he couldn’t see what was going on.
“What’s wrong? Janet? Sam?”
The doctor bit her lip but Sam
jumped in to save her.
“You still have some nerve
connections, Daniel; which is a good thing. Some sensation is better than
none.”
Janet smiled gratefully at Sam,
who frowned at her. Daniel was still worried but tried not to show it.
“Oh, alright then. So, can I go
back to work?”
Go back to work. He said it so casually, so calmly; erased all meaning
from the simple phrase. How could he ‘go back to work’, when he used to dive
around the galaxy, experiencing archaeological wonders and meeting alien races?
“Yeah, sure. But try not to get
too stressed or work too hard or go to bed late…”
Daniel started to laugh and Sam
laughed.
“I’ll make sure he’s home by
eleven, ma’am!”
Sam saluted. Janet smiled and
moved to leave the room.
“Well, I’ll be going then. Oh, and
Daniel? General Hammond wants you to go for a quick de-briefing in the Gate
Room.”
Daniel frowned, but didn’t say
anything. Sam nodded at Janet, as the doctor disappeared out of the door.
Sam sighed, wondering just how she
going to keep her promise to Janet. Daniel won’t give up that easily! Sam
leaned him back against the couch, trying to ignore the exposed torso of the
now thoroughly-worried archaeologist. Sam picked his shirt up, leaned him
forward again and slipped it behind him. Pulling his arms carefully into the
sleeves, she started to do up the buttons. All the time, Daniel didn’t say a
word.
When she was finished, Sam lay
Daniel back down on the couch, giving him a perfect view of the ceiling. She
dived to the floor and pulled out the bag of chocolate-walnut cookies Jack had
delivered earlier. Daniel smiled slightly and Sam pulled out one of the
delicious cookies.
“Up for some more calories?”
“What did Janet find, Sam?”
Daniel’s forehead was deeply
furrowed and Sam was getting concerned. She had seen what the supposed ‘bullet’
really was, but could she tell Daniel?
“What do you mean, Daniel?”
“Don’t play with me, Sam.”
Daniel focused his wide, blue eyes
directly on her and she couldn’t resist.
“Tell me what she found.”
Sam closed her eyes, hoping she
was doing the right thing.
“Well…the bullets aren’t…actually
bullets.”
Sam looked up, to see Daniel
looking at her expectantly. Can’t back out now, Sam.
“They are…well, appeared to
be…technological. I mean, not just lumps of metal. Maybe a mechanism of some
kind.”
Daniel frowned again and lowered
his eyes. Sam looked at him in apprehension, searching his eyes for a clue to
what he was thinking.
“You want to do some work, Daniel?
Or, go and see General Hammond?”
Daniel looked up and smiled
slightly.
“SG5 brought back a Minoan
tablet.”
Sam nodded and grinned.
“Minoan tablet it is!”
Sam lifted Daniel into his chair
and wheeled him over to the computer. She logged him into the main system.