By Biltong

Jack O’Neill

He looks so still and silent as he just lay there, like a helpless child.

" Colonel, can you move back a bit, you’re in the way."

We had encountered a hail of bullets on D6H 7DT when we tried to return to the stargate. I had been expecting something to happen, so had Carter and Teal’c, but not poor Daniel.

" I should have warned him."

" What’s that Colonel?"

I ignored Fraiser’s enquiring look. She doesn’t know, she wouldn’t understand. The guilt is mine and mine alone. Damn, I should have warned him.

They were too accommodating, too cloying, and extremely anxious to show us what they had. Daniel, of course was in heaven. This was a race as technologically advanced as we were, with almost the same history of contact with the Gua’old way back when, or something. They said they were at war with the Gua’old, just like we were. I saw no evidence of this. Instead they seemed way to interested in who I was and where we had come from. They were open and friendly. Too open and friendly, I thought.

I was right. I hate it when I’m right.

Damn. I take a great shuddering breath, feeling sick and numb.

Damn, I should have warned him, but after the years we have been together I had assumed that some type of wariness might have rubbed off.

Dumb. I should know better than to assume anything about Daniel.

He had just keyed in the co-ordinates for home when the attack came. I was aware that they and we were similarly armed, but still, although I had been half-expecting them to try something, it still came as a shock. It always does.

" Colonel, please, more room needed."

I nod vaguely at the nameless nurse and take another step back, feeling cold.

This is all my fault. If he dies, it is due to my negligence.

We had been crouched around the Stargate in a classic defensive manner, our weapons facing out into the deserted courtyard. I hadn’t liked that our hosts had decided not to see us off. Their excuse that they weren’t able to step into the courtyard due to religious reasons had seemed extremely lame to me.

As usual, I was proven right.

All I can recall was Daniel at the DHD spinning around before collapsing. Of course they would have gone for Daniel first, at the DHD he was the most exposed.

Roaring for the others to watch out, I was at Daniel’s side in seconds, slamming my hands down on the last few glyphs, then scooping him up before making a run for the gate.

" He’ll be fine."

"Huh?" I hadn’t been aware that Dr Fraiser had been talking to me.

" Colonel, are you okay?" She was at my side in two steps, tearing my eyes away from Daniel’s still form. " Colonel?"

I felt someone take my wrist and lead me to another bed.

" Sit." I sat. I felt lost, as if everything was unreal. I didn’t even help when someone unbuttoned my shirt; just let them do it, like a small boy.

" Colonel. Why didn’t you say anything?" Her voice was sad as she made me lay back.

" Daniel, I whispered. Daniel…"

" Is better off than you are." She looked up over my head at someone, her voice urgent.

" We have a bullet wound in his upper left chest. No sign of exit.

Get Dr Warner prepped."

This wasn’t right. Daniel was hurt, not me.

" Daniel?"

" Is unconscious with a bullet wound to the shoulder, something which doesn’t require major surgery. His bone-headed Colonel, however, has a bullet wound to his chest, something that does require major surgery, something he decided not to tell us about.

" Oh."

She frowned, realization dawning. " You didn’t realize that you were hurt, did you?"

Mutely I shook my head.

" Things happened so fast. I saw Daniel shot, grabbed him, and came home. I…ah."

All of a sudden I was feeling faint and shuddering, my body finally waking up to the fact that I was hurt.

" Okay Colonel, help is coming."

Nodding sleepily I allowed my eyes to shut, despite her demanding that I look at her. It was just too much effort to stay awake.

……….

" And two inches to the right and they would have been bringing his body home."

" But he’ll be okay now?" I heard the rumbling voice of General Hammond ask.

" He will now. It was touch and go there for a while due to internal hemorrhaging,

but we finally managed to turn the tide early this morning.

" Well done Dr Fraiser. You and your team must be commended for your effort."

" Thank you sir."

I felt someone stand next to my bed. " When will he be conscious?"

" He’s semi-conscious now, although I would rather let him sleep."

" Until when?" Hammond asked.

" Sometime this evening sir," Fraiser replied. I felt a slight tug on my IV line.

A sigh.

" Allright Doctor. You and your team get some sleep and call me when he awakens."

" Yes sir."

…………

The infirmary was in twilight when I finally managed to open my eyes.

" Hail, the conquering hero awakes." Daniel’s voice was soft and devoid of sarcasm.

Blearily I watched as he reached for something then felt a straw pushed between my lips. Water. I blinked gratefully as I managed to wash away that sour taste of antiseptic that always lingered in my mouth after an intense visit to the SGC medical section.

" How are you feeling?" Daniel had been joined by Doc Fraiser, making me smile slightly.

" Are…aren’t you meant to tell me how…I am?" I coughed, and then gasped for breath as a wall of pain hit me.

" Easy, easy." I felt the head of my bed being raised by Daniel as she leaned forwards, hugging me until my shudders eased.

" Slowly does it, okay?" I nodded up into her concerned face, as she gently laid me back in the bed.

I shut my eyes for a while, allowing my heart monitor to slowly stop it’s frantic beeping, trying to breathe in slow even breaths.

I was almost asleep when I heard Carter’s voice, accompanied by Teal’c’s slow even tread.

" Daniel, how is he?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

" He was awake for a while, but I think he asleep again." Daniel replied.

" Still awake," I mumbled, opening my eyes to see my team gathered round my bed.

" Hi kids."

" Hi yourself." Carter carefully moved my arm and sat down neatly on the side of my bed, Teal’c content to stand behind Daniel’s chair.

" Why didn’t you tell us that you had been shot sir?" There was annoyance lurking in the shadows of her eyes. " Had we known, we would never left you alone."

I carefully shrugged.

" Carter, I genuinely didn’t know I had been shot. All I remember is hearing the report and seeing Daniel spin around. I remember ordering you and Teal’c through the gate, following with Danny. I didn’t know that I had been shot. Please believe me."

" I knew." Daniel’s voice was soft, making us all stare at him.

" I heard a second gunshot, as you stepped forwards to help me." He looked upset.

" They tried to assassinate you, but I was in the way. They shot again just as you took a step forwards to help me." He looked spooked. " Jack, had you not moved, they would have shot you dead.

I stared at him silently, noticing for the first time the painful way in which he was sat hunched in his chair.

" Teal’c please put Daniel in the bed next to me, where I think he escaped from. When he’s settled, we’ll talk further."

Ignoring Daniel’s protests about him having permission, the big Jaffa soon had him settled in the bed next to mine, where he relaxed with a sigh. I knew him well. He was just like me, willing to do anything for his friend, even if that meant pain.

So, they tried to assassinate me, and almost got it right.

" Damn. Somebody actually tried to take me out, like I was some type of important leader or something," I smiled, inviting my team to make light of it. No one did.

" You are."

My smile died at the serious voice emanating from behind me.

" Sir?"

General Hammond walked into the infirmary and sat at the edge of Daniel’s bed.

" I was waiting for the day when something like this would happen." He looked at me seriously. " Colonel, you are the most senior, and consequently the most experienced member of the SGC on active duty. That, along with the gray hair, makes you an easy target." His eyes were kind. " To a Gua’old you represent a serious threat, something to be addressed most seriously."

Daniel took over.

" Jack, ideally they would like to take you alive, and use you as a host. I have heard enough rumors of that kind over the years, and so have you. But, if they can’t get to you, as has been the case over and over, they may be changing their policies.

" I’d prefer to be shot dead than to be taken as a host," I mumbled.

Daniel nodded in agreement. " And the System Lords know this, which is why this probably wasn’t sanctioned by them."

" Oh sweet."

" Although we don’t know this for sure," General Hammond said. " Which is why you are going to have to be extra careful from now on."

" Oh swell," I said grumpily.

" I’m also getting a couple of secret service people in here in order to teach your team the finer art of bodyguard detail."

" What?" I saw his expression change and backed off fast. " Begging your pardon sir, but is that absolutely necessary? I’m not that important."

" You are to us." Carter’s voice was soft. " And to the base."

General Hammond rose.

" SG1, you are on stand by for the next month until you have received your training and Colonel O’Neill recovers sufficiently for him to realize this is for his own good.

Smiling slightly, he turned on his heel and left, leaving behind a quiet SG1 and one shocked Colonel.

" So, how does it feel to be a VIP?"

I glared at Daniel. " You read a lot into one single gunshot, you know."

He looked smug. " Actually, there were two, the one that hit me and the one that sent lead at you."

" Lead?"

He nodded. " Almost. Sam and Teal’c worked out the trajectories."

He was abruptly serious. " Jack, I know that I’m right. None of those bullets were meant for me." He sat up in bed, pinning me with an intense glare. " Jack the rules have changed. Please, for once in your life, allow your team to protect you, instead of you your team."

I nodded, feeling sleepy.

Could I still operate in a galaxy where my every move could be targeted? I could try.

I settled back in my bed with a sigh, smiling at SG1, my team, my protectors.

" Okay. From now on, my life will be in your hands, completely and irrevocably."

I looked at them from beneath lowered eyelids. " Look after the old man."

I left them to explain to Teal’c.

*Einde*

Beta tested by CIGIK

***** and you said *****

----------------------------------Dear Biltong
I just wanted to drop you a quick line to say how much I enjoyed the above
short story. I'm well into whumping the good Colonel and your story was such
a good time filler, I've re-read it about four times already today! You
seemed to get the characters just right, as you do with all your fics, which
probably explains why I keep looking out for them. Probably explains why a
lot of other lasses on the Jackfic list like your work too - keep it up!
Elizabeth, Jack-a-holic
"You know me and computers."
----------------------------------