October 2000 – undisclosed location, SG-1 reported MIA for three days and counting
Daniel was escorted back through the dank hall way and into the cell where his other teammates were being held last time he’d seen them. The guards opened the heavy doors not wasting a second in pushing him through the small opening, slamming and re-bolting the door behind him.
First glimpse Daniel got was of his friend’s still in the room, looking no different from when he’d last seen them. That at least put Daniel at ease mildly, knowing his friend’s hadn’t been put through the same humiliation and torture he had. Jack, who had obviously been in the middle of a pacing session turned suddenly, relief showing on his face when he saw Daniel had been returned in more or less a reasonable state.
It took no more than a second glance to realise Daniel’s state was a far cry from reasonable. Teal’c saw it too and began to advance on his friend when Jack held out his arm to halt his momentum.
Daniel knew Jack had seen right through him. He immediately avoided eye contact with everyone in the room.
“Daniel?” Jack called, hesitantly at first, then followed a little surer of himself. “What happened?”
Daniel looked up briefly from his contemplation of the floor and stared Jack straight in the eye. Communicating more in that second of contact than Jack had ever wanted to know.
Once Daniel’s gaze moved back to the floor Jack continued a slow gradual progress forward, reaching out his hand slowly so Daniel would see his intention. Daniel flinched anyway when Jack’s cold hand connected with his cheek.
“I’m not going to hurt you.” Jack spoke plainly.
Daniel still avoided eye contact as Jack raised his chin and brought the bruised cheek towards him for closer inspection. He knew Jack suspected what had happened by his choice of words, so he didn’t see the point in explaining the details of his encounter with the female Gould. Daniel was still reeling that something like this could happen to the same guy twice.
Jack felt Daniel shaking minutely under his grip, taking further note of the jacket still clung in Daniel’s right hand and the T- shirt that looked like it was on inside out and back to front. Jack dropped his hand away from the damaged face and gently lifted the shirt and discovered what he thought he would, a mirage of bruises lining Daniel’s chest and abdomen that seemed to continue beneath the belt less trousers.
Daniel felt his eyes begin to prick with tears as it felt like Jack was taking an unnecessary long time in checking him out. The looks he couldn’t see but could most definitely feel burning into him from his other two teammates was beginning to get unbearable too.
Having finished his primary exam for now Jack lowered Daniels t- shirt and placed hands on his hips looking directly at Daniel.
The sigh Jack let escape prompted Daniel to raise his head in desperate query, was Jack disappointed in him?
Jack held Daniel’s worried gaze for less than a minute and seeing the fear that lay inside wasted no time in reassuring that he was by knows means disappointed or angry with him. He carefully put both arms around Daniel in a loose hug. Daniel slumped back against the wall as he felt someone else hold him. Jack tightened his grip. Daniel didn’t cry, he just closed his eyes against the nightmare and let himself relax in this; the only place he felt remotely safe, being held by someone he knew loved him.