Nightmare 1

by Riantiata

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asr/riantiata/nightmare01.php
Summary: Memories invade, comfort happens

Daniel awoke to a cry down the hall. As always, when he slept over in Jack's spare room, the door was ajar – awaiting the summons that inevitably came.

Hurrying to Jack's room he found his friend thrashing amongst the bedclothes, a stream of curses mixed with foreign words filling the room with invective.

Nightmare time again! Iraq?

Daniel leaned over the frantic man, holding down the flailing arms that threatened to hit him. This had happened once before making it difficult to explain a black eye, to General Hammond, when they had only been offworld – a peaceful world – in a tent. At least he hadn't had his glasses on.

"Come on Jack, wake up" he shook Jack, and called loudly trying to make his voice heard over the ranting. Jack groaned but showed no sign of waking, his shaking quietened but the voice changed – the words spitting and snarling. Daniel's heart sank, he knew the language.

Suddenly Jack pushed, sending Daniel sprawling, as he sat up. Daniel regained his balance, sat on the bed and clasped his arms round Jack, pulling him tight against him and shouting in his ear "Get with it Jack. You're dreaming, wake up. You're safe." Rocking him, with the occasional shake, he felt Jack relax and mutter "Daniel?" "Yeah, come back to life – it's three o'clock in the morning – for crying out loud!"

A snigger, "Don't pinch my lines".

"You awake then?"

"Yeah – was it bad?"

"Yes – worse than last time. I heard the words Jack, I know the language."

"Oh. What did I say?"

Daniel repeated the words he had heard "I know what they did to you, what they made you do."

Jack was quiet for a moment, then "They fucked me anyway "

Daniel replied drily "I gathered"

"They liked to play before they killed you. - Violate!"

"I know – Their general attitude to the western world. Infidels – or worse. On digs we were protected by their government, but if a faction wanted to make an accident, it happened."

Jack buried his face in Daniel's neck "God I feel like shit"

Daniel's voice was tender "Weep if you can Jack. Cry out the hurt, the sorrow – it helps – pull yourself back from the dark places"

"That's easier for you, Daniel. Your emotions are closer to the surface – mine were buried long ago."

Nevertheless a sob caught in his throat, and a moment later Daniel's tee shirt was getting nicely wet.

Daniel sat there with Jack cradled in his arms, knowing that the next day Jack would be fierce and macho in his denial of what he saw as weakness. But Daniel knew he needed this comfort, from him – the only person Jack would allow into his private world – and knowing that, he would ignore the sarcasms that would ensue.

Jack slumped, and Daniel knew he had fallen asleep. He laid Jack back down on the pillows, and gazed at the tear-stained face for a moment, then tiptoed out of the room.

He smiled as a snore followed him down the hall.

Next: Nightmare 2