June 13th 1997 – Infirmary, SGC
Daniel had his back to the door when Sam entered.
“Hey”
Daniel looked up and rolled over, very carefully. "Dr Fraiser is keeping me here, two days minimum."
Sam came up on his left side to face him, her hands held out in front. "I'm sorry Daniel...I feel terrible."
"Don't" Daniel grinned, "my fault as much as it was yours, at least you where smart enough to move out the way."
"Colonel O'Neill isn't too impressed."
"You mean he's severely ticked off to the point of verbally and, especially in my case, threatening physical abuse the minute I'm fit enough for a running start." Daniel smiled with his eyes closed; the quest for a comfy position had a price.
Sam laughed and lent on his bed, being careful not to come into contact with the burns on his leg. "You want me to contact anyone, let them know you'll be gone a few days?"
Daniel shifted again; comfort wasn’t easily attained when half your right side was covered in third-degree electrical burns.
"Jack already knows I'm here." Daniel assured, almost falling asleep for the umpteenth time today. Dr Fraiser was pumping some strong stuff into him. An action Daniel wasn’t convinced was entirely necessary truth be told.
"I meant family - outside the SGC." Sam reiterated.
"Only Jack." Daniel managed to say around a yawn just before dropping off to sleep again.
Sam knew she had a funny look on her face, so when the doctor checking Daniel’s chart asked what was wrong she wasn’t taken by surprise. Someone else did however.
“Captain Carter?”
Sam spun around.
“Sir, sorry, I didn’t see you there.” Sam did a double take, looked around the half lit infirmary, the minimal staff were working on their charts and generally keeping busy, everything as it should be on the night shift. “If you don’t mind my asking-?”
“What am I doing here this late?”
Sam nodded, relieved the General didn’t seemed too perturb by her own uneasiness. She couldn’t help it, it had not been two weeks since her and Daniel had had a telling off from General Hammond about Staff weapon experiments in the control room, and then they were both in trouble again this afternoon for handling hazardous materials without consultation first.
One thing Sam personally admitted to herself is something Colonel O’Neill said shortly after checking on Daniel, who had ended up injured due to unforeseen circumstances. She had never revoked authority or not followed protocol before she’d met Daniel Jackson, despite all evidence to the contrary she was beginning to believe he was a bit of a rebel, and a bad influence.
“I’m checking on Dr Jackson before I go home. The boy tries my patience more than my granddaughters combined, but luckily for him I understand his attitude.” General Hammond smiled at Sam, and she notably relaxed.
Just as he was about to signal a doctor over Sam spoke up. “Sir, I was going to let Daniel’s family know he won’t home for a few days...”
“That won’t be necessary Carter, I know where he is.” Jack walked up to the bed, hands in pockets, wearing his civvies. “General.” He greeted with a smile.
“Jack.” The General greeted back.
They stood in silence for a moment and Sam had the distinct feeling she was being left out of something. General Hammond caught Dr Warner’s attention and excused himself.
Sam didn’t care if the Colonel was upset with her, she wanted to know. “Sir?”
“Leave it alone Carter.” Jack said without malice, a smile dancing on his lips. “How’s the hand?”
Sam self-consciously hid her bandaged hand behind her back. “It’s fine, nothing a little cortisone won’t fix.”
“He been asleep long?” Jack made a show of pretending to read the chart above Daniel’s bed, all the while his hands made quick work of straightening out his sheets.
“Just now.” Sam said softly, watching the Colonel’s actions with an attentive eye.
“Well, I’m heading out. See you tomorrow.” Jack finished his manhandling of the sheet with a sneaky swipe of his palm on Daniel’s cheek.
The action, easily missed, was as subliminal as everything else the Colonel had done during their brief conversation. Sam’s eyes widened in surprise, but didn’t let on she had figured him out.
“Sir” Carter turned and stopped Jack from leaving the infirmary. Jack looked back at her expectantly. “I really am sorry, it won’t happen again.”
Sam smiled her assurance, it took a lot to admit she was wrong – more than anyone probably realised, but she knew this was important.
Jack laughed, and with a smile back at her said, “Of course it will, Captain. This is Daniel we’re talking about.”