Pillow Talk
by Devra
E-MAIL: paravati@optonline.net
STATUS: Completed
CATEGORY: Romance, Angst, Daniel/Janet
RATING: PG, language
SEASON: 5
SEQUEL: This story is a sequel to: an apple a day, cassie returns, three strikes your out
SPOILERS: a really, really tiny one for legacy
SUMMARY: Janet and Daniel via phone
DISCLAIMERS: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. We have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the authors. Not to be archived without permission of the authors.
FEEDBACK:
AUTHOR'S NOTES: okay...can you write a missing scene for a story that you, yourself have written? "Three Strikes, Your Out" had a missing scene that needed to be written. this is it. Sorry folks, my stories have really turned out to be a series, I guess. There is one more in the works..Thanks for your patience, I'm still new to this game.
Please send feedback my way...it is always welcome!
Daniel heard the door to his office close. "Janet" was the only word he was able to manage before he felt himself lose control. His emotions were too raw and too near the surface to have this conversation over the phone. Tears rolled unchecked down his cheeks.
"Daniel don't" Janet pleaded on the other end of the connection. "It will be okay".
Daniel gave a short laugh through his tears. He wiped his face on his sleeve and cleared his throat before continuing. "Janet, I think I made it all right. I believe I made it okay."
Janet was looking for her box of tissues as her own tears started to fall. Cassie handed them to her, giving her mom a quick kiss on the cheek and then disappeared. "Daniel..How did you fix it?" Janet's heart started to pound thinking of the options that Daniel had put into action.
She could hear Daniel's ragged breathing over the phone as he tried to gain control and tell the story. "Well Janet, I didn't retire, give up the treaty, or sue the immediate vicinity. Actually, all I did was ask General Hammond and he said 'yes'." Even though that wasn't the story in its entirety, Daniel believed that sometimes omission was the better part of valor.
"Yes to what Daniel", Janet sank into the couch cushions. Dreading, maybe not really wanting to the know the answer.
"Yes, you can come back to SGC as CMO...after a week's time...no tribunal hearing, but there will be a permanent mark on your record. I'm sorry about that".
Now it was Janet's turn to cry in earnest. "Daniel I love you".
"Janet, please. I'm not allowed to leave the base for 48 hours," Dr. Warner's orders. Jack warned me on threat of death not to leave, that it would do more harm than good. Please don't make this so hard". God, all he wanted to do was reach through the phone and envelop her in his arms.
Janet lovingly caressed the phone base, nodding her head "Sorry".
"Janet, I don't think you and I have anything to be 'sorry' for. We are just two people who love each other very much and just want to be together. The fates just seem to have other ideas. But we will make it right".
Softly Janet reiterated "I love you".
"Janet, I love you too, and Cassie, and our life together." Daniel could hear the doorbell ring at Janet's house. "Go answer that Janet, that will be Jack and Sam, they went to get lunch and they were coming to pick up my pillow. I love you, don't say anything else. I couldn't handle that right now. Just hang up the phone and I will call you later." Daniel gently returned the receiver to the cradle.
Janet kissed the mouthpiece of the telephone gently and replaced it into the cradle. She scrubbed her red eyes with the palm of her hands and went to answer the door.
Jack and Sam stood at her doorstep with a bag from the Chinese restaurant in Jack's arms and a bag from Starbucks. Janet invited them in and eyed them questionably.
Jack took in Janet's red eyes and nose and simply stated "Talked to Daniel, huh".
Janet's lower lip and chin started to quiver. She refused to lose control again in front of the Colonel. Closing her eyes and taking a few deep breaths put her back in control of her emotions.
"Your boy did good", Jack said stating the obvious.
"Our boy, and yes, he did", Janet ventured a smile. She motioned to the bags the Colonel was holding.
He walked a few steps and deposited them on the table. "Well since you couldn't physically be with us for lunch. We bought you and Cassie lunch and goodies from Starbucks, to maybe join us in spirit".
Janet pulled the Colonel down to her level and gave him a peck on his cheek. Whispering in his ear "I'm so sorry".
Jack hugged her back "I am working slowly towards forgiving". Janet nodded remembering the scene in her bedroom with Daniel lying so ill in her bed. She could ask for nothing more from the Colonel.
Sam stepped forward to hug Janet. "Um, Janet, we came for Daniel's pillow".
Janet laughed. Everyone knew about Daniel's pillow. Because of his severe allergies, Daniel's pillow options were few. But the one that he recently purchased was his favorite. As a matter of fact, Jack had argued with Daniel numerous times against the merits of having that pillow accompany Daniel off world.
"I'll go get it". Janet hurried to the bedroom. There was one problem. That pillow, Daniel's pillow, had helped Janet get through the past days. If he couldn't be with her, the pillow tucked under her body during the long, lonely nights was a reminder of his body and she didn't want to part with it so readily. She compromised. Janet removed the pillowcase from Daniel's pillow and switched it with one of hers. Now at least her pillow would have Daniel's scent. Smiling to herself, she returned handing the pillow to Sam.
"We'll talk later," Sam said exiting Janet's house. As the Colonel went to leave, Janet grabbed his arm. "Thanks for everything and for being his best friend".
Jack looked down at Janet, remembering Daniel's face when he held Janet in his arms. "Just be there for him, fill in the pieces of Daniel's life that he won't let me reach". Janet smiled at the uncharacteristically sentimental Colonel and closed the door softly behind him.
Upon entering the SGC, Jack and Sam were met with some very strange stares. 'Well okay, they were carrying take out food and an oversized pillow, but for people that traveled to other worlds through a circle, hey get a life,' Jack thought.
His heartbeat quickened along with the pace of his walking when he noticed Dr. Warner exiting Daniel's office.
"Anything wrong doc", Jack questioned anxiously.
"No, Colonel. I stopped by to give Daniel his antibiotics and to draw some blood."
"How's he doing?"
"He seems to be much better, the blood work will give us a clearer answer. His fever is gone, but I still want him confined to base for at least another day. Aahh, what's in the bag, not coffee." Dr. Warner questioned.
"No definitely not sir...we know the no caffeine rule, just cookies. Daniel loves the cookies from Starbucks, isn't that right Colonel."
"Yes it is Major, no caffeine, just cookies".
"Well okay, I'll leave you to visit with Dr. Jackson. Tell him again that I will stop by later for another dose of antibiotics and to give him the results of his blood work. Bye." Dr. Warner walked down the hall, muttering to himself 'Cookies my ass".
When they entered Daniel's office, they found him cleaning up his mess from his outburst. Upon hearing them he got up and made a move to grab both his pillow and the Starbucks bag simultaneously. The Colonel held them both out of reach. "Daniel, eat first. Then you can have your toys".
They called Teal'c to join them and by the time Daniel was finishing his coffee his eyes were starting to close.
"Come on big guy, let's get you to sleep".
Daniel didn't protest as Jack removed his shoes and pushed him down onto the couch. He handed Daniel the pillow, which Daniel immediately snuggled against his body, and Jack covered him. Daniel was sleeping before his teammates left the room.
By the third time that day, when Jack checked on Daniel, he was awake and working at his desk.
"Daniel, should you be doing that".
"If I don't Jack, I will go crazy. Which we all know from experience that is not a pretty sight."
Daniel took in the shocked expression on Jack's face and quickly apologized. "Sorry".
Jack shook his head, informing Daniel that he would come by and pick him up for dinner at the commissary.
"That's all right Jack, I had lunch".
"That's right Daniel, but the rules are three, get that three, meals per day. Not the one meal you had."
Daniel held up his hands in protest.
"No Daniel, coffee does not count as a meal. See you later."
True to his word, Jack and rest of SG-1 stopped by Daniel's office. Found him to be in the same position as when Jack has previously visited and dragged him off to dinner. After dinner, Jack accompanied Daniel to the infirmary; he wanted to get the results of his blood work and the rest of his medication. Saving Dr. Warner the trip to Daniel's office and the sight of the empty coffee cups that littered his desk. Dr. Warner informed him that his blood work was returning to normal. The white blood cells which increase when infection were present were still high, but were lowering. The only point of contention was the additional 24 hours Dr. Warner wanted Daniel confined to base.
Dr. Warner glowered at Daniel. Daniel's blue eyes did not impress this doctor. "Dr. Jackson, if your blood work is not completely normal by next evening, I am going to tack another 24 hours to that confinement. Do you understand me."
Daniel started to argue, when Jack grabbed his upper arm and started pulling him out of the infirmary. "He understands you perfectly, Dr. Warner".
In the hallway, Jack pushed Daniel against the wall and angrily exclaimed, "What the hell was that about".
Daniel wrapped his arms around his body and hung his head. "I just want to go home. I want to see Janet". Looking up, Jack caught the glisten of tears in his friend's eyes.
"Damn it Daniel," Jack replied rubbing Daniel's upper arms. "You and Janet are walking a really thin line here. I can only imagine how hard this is for the two of you, but it's almost done. Please..Don't risk everything."
Daniel answered quietly "I..we won't".
"Good" said the Colonel, grabbing Daniel's elbow, let's go bother Sam. They sat in Sam's room for the better part of two hours making sure she couldn't finish the experiment she was working on. They decided to call it an evening when Daniel started to yawn.
"Off to bed Sleeping Beauty. I'll come to wake you for breakfast", Jack put up his hand to Daniel to stop his protesting before it even started. "Good night".
Daniel made his way back to his office. He decided to shower and changed into sweats. He worked for a short length of time before his eyes blurred from exhaustion and he had to stop.
He got onto the couch, covered, lying his head on the pillow and inhaling deeply. He smiled knowingly. He reached for the phone. It was answered in one ring.
"Good night", he said.
"I was afraid to call, afraid you had fallen asleep". She was in bed already, hugging her pillow with his pillowcase, his odor.
Daniel could not bring himself to speak. Janet taking in the silence spoke for him. "We'll do this Daniel, we'll get through this, we just need to wait".
Smiling into the phone, he stated the obvious "I'm sleeping with you tonight".
She laughed bring the pillow to her face and inhaling deeply. "I'm sleeping with you".
"I love you for your pillow idea and for everything else".
"I love you too"
"Call me in the morning and we will do coffee over the phone".
"Daniel, remember the no caffeine rule".
"Of course, call me in the morning and we will do decaf over the phone".
"Good night".
"Good night".
They both hung up the phone, they both eyed the phone tenderly, and they turned over, covered themselves, hugged their pillows to their bodies and drifted off to sleep.
Tomorrow would be another day.
Fin.
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