Nightmare 2

by Riantiata

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asr/riantiata/nightmare02.php
Summary: Memories invade, comfort happens

The low whimpering, that brought Jack out of his sleep, had him padding down the hall to his spare bedroom knowing this would be a bad one. Daniel's nightmares were of different varieties depending on the sounds he made. Whimpering was bad because the dreams always involved Daniel at his most vulnerable, as a child in foster care

He was curled up in the fetal position, his fists beating his chest as he cried "No – please, I will be good – please don't hurt me ".

Jack's face was thunderous as he took in his friend's stance and heard his words. He sat on the bed and took the quivering form in his arms and spoke quietly: "Daniel, wake up, you're dreaming again."

"Jack?" the blue eyes tried to focus, but were still lost in the dream.

"Who was it this time?"

"Mr. Slingar." Daniel sighed "I woke you ....I'm sorry"

"Didn't I tell you not to be sorry? I want to be here when you need me"

Jack knew the story of the seven months the young Daniel had spent with the Slingars before the authorities had hastily moved him. Whenever Daniel had a bad offworld experience one of his abusive foster families appeared in his nightmare. The Malp had shown a fairly peaceful populace so SG1 had not expected problems with PX342, however within minutes of arriving the team were fleeing back to the Stargate with a beaten and bruised Dr. Jackson in tow.

It seemed the populace regarded anyone coming through the Stargate as enemies, and Daniel's peaceful overtures resulted in a beating that could have been fatal. Jack had fired over the heads of the people, dragged Daniel from under the beating fists, threw him at Teal'c – who carried him back to the Stargate – and retreated, with Sam, keeping the natives at bay till the wormhole opened.

He had brought Daniel home with him knowing a nightmare was imminent.. He cuddled Daniel's head into his shoulder as the tears started to flow.

"Why do things have to go so wrong? It looked like a nice place. Sam had got some good readings on minerals and that temple building

was really tempting. I thought we could do a good job .... that I could do a good job."

"Daniel, you always do a good job but you know we can't win all the time. Some things are just not meant to happen. Anyway it's the first time you haven't managed to get through, in quite a while."

"Yes, but it's these times that make me feel useless."

"You wouldn't be part of SG1 if you were useless. You are not infallible."

"Infallible?" Daniel smiled faintly through the tears, flinching at his bruises, "Have you been reading a book again?"

"Yep. I'm on page six!"

"And you can read the words?"

"Hey! I know words." They smiled at each other, caught in the comfortable banter. Jack looked down at the battered face, the split lip giving it a pugnacious look, the eyes closing again to sleep. He was angry with himself for not threat assessing quickly enough to prevent this from happening.

"I'm sorry" he said quickly, - embarrassed - as it was not a word he used often "I should have been quicker."

A sleepy Daniel murmured "Hey – Superman you ain't..."

He tucked Daniel into his sheets, and strode out.

"...Yet!" the soft voice came after him.