Chapter Text
The command center is quiet, the sound of machinery the only sound breaking the silence.
Daniel Jackson sit in the corner of the infirmary, with his knees pull tightly against his chest, his eyes move around the room like a caged animal.
The bruises on his face are fading, but the ones on his mind are still raw, a testament to the horrors he endured during his captivity.
The sight of him made Janet Fraiser’s chest tight.
She see soldiers come back broken before, but this is Daniel.
Her Daniel!
The man who could understand ancient dialects faster than most people could order coffee, now reduced to a shaking shadow.
“Daniel», said Janet softly as she come closer.
He hold himself, with his shoulders tensing as if bracing for impact.
God, what had they done to him?
She stop, holding her hands up in a gesture of surrender.
“It’s just me. It’s Janet», add Janet tenderly.
His breathe increase, with his fingers hold the fabric of his pants.
“I know», whisper Daniel with his voice barely above a whisper.
“I just, I can’t», confess Daniel.
“You are safe now», promises Janet taking another cautious step forward.
“No one’s going to hurt you here», repeat Janet sincerely.
He shake his head, with his eyes glassy.
“You don’t understand. They touch me. They wouldn’t stop touching me», whispered Daniel.
The words sent a chill down her spine.
She piece together bits of his ordeal from his scattered, panic, ramblings, but hearing it so hard is a gut punch.
She come closer, with her heart pounding in her chest.
“Daniel, I’m not going to touch you unless you say it’s okay. I just want to help you», explain Janet.
He look at her, with his chest rising and falling with rapid breathe.
For a moment, she thought he might retreat further in himself, but then, hesitantly, he nods his head.
“Okay», whisper Daniel.
It is a small victory, but it is enough.
Slowly, she reach out, with her fingers brushing against his arm.
He tensed, but he didn’t pull away.
“That’s it», said Janet with her touch very gentle.
“You are doing great», add Janet.
Behind her, the door to the infirmary open and Jack O’Neill come in, with his usual carefree demeanor replace by seriousness.
His eyes immediately lock on Daniel and something in his expression change, a mix of anger and something softer, almost protective.
“How’s he doing?” ask Jack with his voice soft.
“Better», answered Janet as she look over her shoulder.
“He’s letting me touch him now», continue Janet.
Jack nods his head, as he come closer.
Daniel’s eyes look up to meet his and for the first time since he bee rescue, there is a light of recognition, of trust.
“Hey, space monkey», said Jack with his voice light, but fill with concern.
“You hanging in there?” Ask Jack.
Daniel does a faint nods.
“Yeah. I think so», whisper Daniel.
Jack knelt down, at his eyes level with Daniel’s.
“You are gonna gonna be okay baby boy, you know that? Most people wouldn’t have made it through what you did», add Jack.
Daniel’s lips lift, the ghost of a smile.
“I didn’t feel very tough», confess Daniel.
“You don’t have to feel it to be tough», explain Jack with his voice firm.
“You are here, aren’t you? That’s what the matters the most», ask Jack.
Janet watch the exchange, a warmth spreading through her chest.
Jack have a way of cutting through the noise, of grounding Daniel in a way no one else could.
She step back, giving them space, but her hand stay on Daniel’s back, a silent reassurance.
Jack look up at her, with his eyes intense.
“You think he’s ready for more?” Ask Jack.
She hesitated, then nods her head.
“I think so. we need to take it slow», answered Janet.
He turn back to Daniel, with his voice softening.
“You trust me, right?” Ask Jack softly.
Daniel’s brow furrowed, but he nods his head.
“Yeah. I trust you», whisper Daniel.
“Good», said Jack with his hand reaching out to rest on Daniel’s arm.
“Because I’m not going anywhere», promises Jack.
The room seem to hold its breathe as Jack’s touch ground Daniel, with his presence a steady anchor in the storm of his emotions.
Slowly, Daniel’s breathing become deep, the tension in his body easing.
Janet’s fingers brush against his arm, with her touch gentle, but firm, a reminder that he wasn’t alone.
“That’s it», said Janet with her voice a soothing balm.
“You are doing so well», add Janet.
Daniel’s eyes slowly closed, with his head dropping forward slightly.
“I feel like I’m losing myself», confess Daniel with his his voice shaking.
“You are not», confirm Jack with his voice accept no argument.
“You are still in there. We are just helping you find your way back here», repeat Jack.
Janet leaned in closer, with her breathe warm against his ear.
“Let us help you Daniel. Let us take care of you», said Janet.
There is a moment of silence, then Daniel nods his head, with his voice barely audible.
“Okay», whisper Daniel.
Janet exchanged a look with Jack, a silent agreement passing between them.
This is going to be a long road, but they walk it with him, every step of the way.
Slowly, she move her hand to caress his face, with her thumb brushing against his cheek.
His skin is warm, a big contrast to the cold fear that have hold him moments before.
Jack’s hand move down to rest against Daniel’s chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
“You are safe», promises Jack with his voice reassuring.
“We got you», repeat Jack
Daniel’s breathe increase, with his eyes opening to meet Jack’s.
There is something in his eyes, a vulnerability that made Jack’s chest hurt.
“Jack», whisper Daniel.
“I’m here, always», said Jack with his voice firm, but gentle.
Janet’s fingertips move down Daniel’s neck, with her touch feather light, but grounding to check his vital signs.
“Let yourself go Daniel. You don’t have to hold on anymore», said Janet.
Daniel finally broke down.
Tears stream down Daniel’s face as he lean in their touch, with his body finally releasing the tension he been carrying for weeks.
Jack’s arms wrapped around him, pulling him close, while Janet’s hands move to his back, does soothing circles.
“That’s it, let it out», add Jack with his voice soft, but steady.
Janet place a kiss on the top of Daniel’s head, with her heart swelling with a mix of relief and sorrow.
“We got you, you are not alone», said Janet.
Daniel hold to them, with his sobs reduce against Jack’s shoulder.
It is raw, true and for the first time since he be rescue, he feel like he could breathe.
Jack’s hand move to the back of Daniel’s neck, with his fingers pass in his hair.
“You are safe», repeat Jack with his voice steady.
“We are not going anywhere», continue Jack.
Janet continue to take Daniel’s vital signs and she inject a light sleeping medication inside his IV.