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"Really, I feel fine." Daniel Jackson sat on the infirmary bed, alert and annoyed, his gaze shifting from Jack to Janet to Jack again.

"We'll know for sure when the test results are back," Janet said, pulling back Daniel's sleeve and looking at the small cut on his arm. When Janet found the small scratch, Daniel admitted to getting caught on a pricker bush on PX3782, but for once the archelogist seemed to be perfectly fine. He wasn't running a fever, he showed no signs of allergic reaction, the skin around the small cut wasn't even swollen.

"I suppose I could let you out of the infirmary," Janet conceded, "but I want you to stay on base until I get all the test results back."

"Are you sure you feel fine, Daniel?" Jack asked while playing with an IV bag. Daniel rolled his eyes in response.

"Just asking," Jack held up his hands in mock defense.

"I'm fine. Really. As a matter of fact, after my descension, I'm in the best shape I've ever been in," Daniel protested, "and I don't think one little prick from a bush is going to do much to change that, especially since I haven't shown any symptoms yet."

"Yet," Janet said under her breath, then louder, "very well, but stay on the base for the next 24 hours."

"So, no wild nights on the town, Danny-boy!" Jack patted Daniel on the back as the archelogist pushed himself off the bed.

"Aw shucks," Daniel smiled back. "I guess this means I'm going to miss the hockey game as well."

"Hey, the guest rooms have TV!" Jack said cheerfully.

"Oh joy," Janet heard Daniel reply dryly as they left the infirmary. She chuckled to herself and sent Daniel's blood samples to the lab.

*****

Daniel opened the door to the VIP quarters and quickly slipped in. Jack had left to get pizza and see if he could round up the rest of SG1, leaving Daniel a few moments to himself to get changed and ready. Daniel headed straight for the showers. There last mission to PX3782 had been uneventful, but had a damp, tropical atmosphere. Vegatation grew heavy, even close to the stargate. If the planet was once inhabited, it left no indication of its civilization. His sweat-drenched uniform, a testiment to the planet's climate, was now chilling him in the bases cool air. Minutes later, Daniel stepped in the showers. His muscles relaxed under the therputic flow of the water. He picked up a bar of soap and began to scrub the sweat off his chest in slow circular motions, then paused. He found himself staring at the swirling water as it flowed down the drain. Lost. Suddenly Daniel felt very much alone. Daniel tried to shrug off his loneliness, scrubbing himself down quickly and roughly. What was his problem, after all, Jack, Teal'c and Sam would all be here in a few minutes and he'd been on his own most of his life.

Daniel turned off the shower and stepped onto the cool tile floor. He wrapped himself in one of the crisp towels that SGC supplied, a not-soft-enough military towel, and made his way into the bedroom. Daniel found some of his civilian clothes laid out on his bed and smiled slightly. Daniel had forgotten to get a fresh set of clothes to change into, but apparently Jack made a pit stop to his locker for him. Again, Daniel felt an unexpected wave of loneliness and fear wash over him.

"What's the matter with me today?" Daniel grumbled out-loud as he let the towel drop to the floor and grabbed his briefs. "God, when is Jack getting back?" Daniel walked into the common room, buttoning his pants on the way. He'd only been alone for twenty five minutes. Why did it seem like forever? And why did Daniel feel so certain Jack wasn't returning?

Daniel was just buttoning up his flannel shirt when he heard a knock on the door. Daniel smiled in relief and let the rest of SG1 into the VIP room.

"So, Daniel, miss us?" Jack quirked his eyebrows playfully and set the pizza down.

Daniel opened his mouth and closed it, his witty response lost to yet another unexpected wave of emotion. He quickly turned away and went to get plates.

Jack frowned. What was that? He looked over to Sam and realized she also questioning Daniel's odd behavior. Jack just shrugged and opened the box.

"Got the plates." Daniel said needlessly as he handed one over to everyone before taking his seat.

Three hours later Daniel and Jack cheered as Jack's team made the final goal, winning a close game and assuring Jack that'll he'll be fifty dollars richer thanks to a little wager he had going on with Lt. Thompson. Sam and Teal'c had left earler, neither having much interest in hockey. Neither did Daniel, for that matter, but he enjoyed relaxing with Jack after a mission.