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Fog.
Thick fog clouding his brain.
Disorientation.
Where was he? What happened?
Pain.
His throat was hurting. He tried to swallow and he couldn’t.
Panic.
He couldn’t breathe. He was suffocating. He tried again and felt as if there was a huge rock on his chest. Help me! Somebody help me!
“Easy, easy.”
A voice. A familiar voice. Someone holding his hand.
“Let Janet work. You'll feel better in no time.”
Jack.
He mentioned Janet. Infirmary. What happened? The fog… the fog didn’t let him think clearly.
Suddenly, he felt as if he was choking and then whatever was blocking his throat was gone. The hand, Jack’s hand, was squeezing his. Daniel tried to breathe and succeeded, but his chest hurt. The rock was still there. Why hadn't they removed it?
“Daniel, can you hear me?”
He knew that voice, too. Janet. Something soft under him. A mattress. Definitely, infirmary. Why was he here? He tried to reply, but he couldn’t.
“C'mon, Danny boy. It’s rude to keep ladies waiting.”
Jack again. Whatever happened, he was there. He remembered seeing his face when… when he lay on the ground thinking he was going to die.
Daniel struggled to clear his mind. A planet. A temple. A bobby trap. A spear flying. His chest exploding. And Jack. Jack kneeling next to him with his face contorted in horror, desperately begging him to hang on. And then nothing.
Everything was blurry, except for those few seconds with Jack. He thought it was their goodbye. The pain caused by the spear was excruciating. The pain at the idea of never seeing the colonel again was unbearable.
Daniel remembered something else about that moment. The regret. The regret of having to leave before unraveling the tangle of feelings that inhabited his heart. He still loved Sha’re and would always do, but maybe it was time to move on. She had been dead for four years now, and shortly after descending, Daniel realized he loved Jack the same way, if not more. He suspected Jack felt something more than friendship for him, too, but he wasn’t sure. There were moments when it seemed Jack might be interested in Sam, but that wasn’t clear, either. If there was a chance… It had been a close call, and he didn’t remember seeing Oma around. Should he take the bull by the horns and talk to the colonel before it was too late? Loving Jack wouldn’t mean betraying Sha's memory, would it? But what if he was wrong and his confession destroyed his friendship with the colonel? He needed Jack in his life like he never needed anyone, so what to do? Devote himself to Sha’re’s memory or take the risk with his friend?
“Daniel, c'mon, show me those baby blues.”
Jack…
The archaeologist focused all his energy on fulfilling the older man's plea. His eyelashes fluttered. He opened his eyes slowly, and the light blinded him. His eyelids dropped, and he tried it again. He succeeded this time.
“Hey, there you are.”
Sluggish pupils focused and Jack came into view.
“You had me worried for a while,” the colonel smiled softly.
Daniel looked at those beautiful chocolate orbs and saw something different in them. They were shining more brightly than usual. They gave the impression that Jack was at peace. The colonel stroked the back of the archaeologist’s hand with his thumb and the younger man knew. Daniel’s heart fluttered, and he knew the organ had made a decision.
His lips also curved upward. It was the smile of someone who has reached the conclusion that they've endured enough pain and are now ready to embrace the joys of life.
He never regretted his choice.
The end