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“Well,” Daniel said, in the philosophical tone that he knew would really annoy the hell out of Jack, “if we’ve got to be imprisoned on a freezing cold, geologically unstable ice planet awaiting execution, at least we’re trapped together.”
Jack quit banging on the bars and turned towards him, looking just as annoyed as Daniel had hoped he would. “That’s not a good thing, Daniel.”
“The company of a friend is always a good thing.”
“Not while imprisoned on a freezing cold, geologically unstable ice planet awaiting execution, it’s not!” Jack grabbed the icy bars again and gave them a hard shake. “Are you being optimistic just to annoy me?”
Daniel shrugged and pushed his glasses back up his nose. Not that it did much good, given how much they were fogging up with his breath. “Well, if you don’t want company, what would you prefer?”
“That neither damn one of us was imprisoned, for starters.”
“Oh. Uh, I guess that’s a good point.”
“Or that only one of us was.” Snarling, Jack rattled the bars again. He let go, apparently defeated for the moment, and rubbed his hands together to warm them. “Yeah, that’d work. You stuck in here sitting around thinking real hard about how to negotiate or do diplomacy or whatever. Me out there with a ton of C4, ready to blast you out.”
“Hmm.” Daniel crossed his arms and leaned against the wall of the call. Then, wincing, he straightened up. Everything really was icy on the ice planet. “No, I don’t think so.”
“You don’t think it would be great if I blasted you out with C4?”
“Well, I-I’m not exactly fond of having the ceiling dropped on my head by a massive explosion. So, no.” Daniel smiled at the outrage on Jack’s face. There was nothing like annoying one’s best friend to pass the time while imprisoned. “But actually, given your protectiveness towards your friends, I think you’d rather be trapped in here yourself, and have me safe.”
“Shut up,” Jack muttered. “No, I wouldn’t.”
Chuckling, Daniel patted him on the shoulder. “It’s okay. I know you’ve got a good heart.”
“Shut up.”
“Deep down, anyway.”
Before Jack could come up with another witty, clever response, the ground shuddered. The ceiling dropped on their heads.
Or at least, part of the ceiling. Most of it missed them. One chunk decided to aim right for Daniel’s skull.
He doubled over, groaning, and clutched at the side of his head. Blood met his fingers, hot and sticky. It wouldn’t stay hot for long, not on a planet this cold.
“Aw, nuts!” Jack caught his arm, steadying him as he staggered sideways. “Daniel, you okay?”
“Aside from the gash on the side of my head and the probable mild concussion, I’m fine.” Daniel opened his eyes—he didn’t remember closing them—and yelped at the brightness. “Ow. What’s that light?”
“Sunlight. Guess Carter was serious about the whole ‘geologically unstable’ thing. Looks like an earthquake just busted our asses out of jail. Or an icequake, if that’s a thing.” Gently, Jack helped Daniel sit down, then cupped his cheek and studied the wound. “Hold on. Let me bandage that up.”
“Thanks.” Daniel briefly closed his eyes again, head spinning. “So. I guess now we try to reach the stargate, if I can walk?”
“Yep.” Jack pulled a roll of bandages out of his pocket and wrapped them around Daniel’s head, patching him up with both care and efficiency. “And if you can’t walk, I’ll carry you.”
Daniel smiled to himself. Jack had a good heart, and not just deep down. He cared, a lot. And when it came to friends to be imprisoned with, Jack really was the best.