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Daniel Jackson became conscious standing in a strange room surrounded by medical equipment making quiet familiar noises. It obviously was not the SGC because he was by himself in a cubicle surrounded by white curtains. At least he thought he was alone at first, but he noticed there was a form lying very still on the hospital bed some feet away. This male figure was obviously unconscious and was attached to a variety of medical machines. He was intubated, had electrodes attached to his forehead where the bandages were’t applied and There were various tubes, intravenous and a catheter, snaking out from under the bed’s covers.
He curiously approached the silent form and looked down at the still face. He was startled. It was his face, his body, lying there so peacefully quiet and expressionless.
Daniel looked around in surprise. What on Earth was he doing here? Was he even on Earth? How did he get here? Or for that matter, why was he in a hospital bed unconscious?
He noticed another shape standing in a corner watching him with obvious interest. Daniel stepped forward, and unbelievably, this person could be his twin.
Daniel stared at…himself. “What the hell’s going on? Who the devil are you?” He asked quietly not to disturb the sleeper.
The other man stepped out of the shadows. “Hum,” His look alike muttered.“Who are you?” He looked down at a status sheet attached to a clipboard. “Well in spite of our similarities, We aren’t the same guy, Mr Daniel Jackson.”
Daniel bit down on his lower lip. “That’s good at least, I guess. But, then who are you and where are we, me, us?”
The doppelgänger looked up and down at Daniel taking in his appearance. Jackson was wearing a cream colored sweater and a pair of comfortably worn jeans. He shook his head. “People always said we have a double somewhere. It looks like you’re mine.”
Daniel shook his head and frowned. The guy, who wasn’t him, was wearing a black suit, white formal shirt and an untied bow tie. His hair was a little shorter and more brown in color. He looked like he was going to go on a date when they got through with this discussion.
The man smiled at him and continued. “My name is Charlie Harris. We are at Hope Zion Hospital.” The man grimaced. “I am, well, I was, a surgeon here”
“Pretty dressed up for a surgeon.” Daniel commented wryly.
“Well, I was going to my wedding when the car accident happened” The man shrugged.
“Wedding?” Daniel looked surprised. “Car accident? With Me?”
“No, but it does suck to be us.” Charlie looked at the other man’s clothing. “I was in a Taxi accident with my fiancée a while ago. But, you’re new and at least you’re more comfortably dressed where ever you were going?”
“Home, if you must know. I was going home from work.” He glanced down at his wristwatch and shook his head. “Damn it. It’s not working. Jack must be worried.”
”Don’t tell me, you were in a car wreck too?”
“I, I don’t remember.” he frowned thoughtfully. “This can’t be happening.” He looked up at stranger with his face. “Who are you anyway”
Charlie moved his position and sat down on a plastic chair and asked curiously. “So, who’s Jack?”
Daniel looked around suspiciously then found a perch on the bed by his feet “Why do you want to know?”
“Curious mostly and bored” he shrugged, “I meet a number of people here since I arrived and, well, I try to help them understand.”
“Really. How do I know you’re not trying to get information out of me?” Daniel frowned.”Maybe you’re in my head and trying to get intel from me.”
“What, like a spy?” Charlie glanced up at him. “Who would I tell? I can only talk to people like us, unconscious.”
“You talk to others, like us? Why?
“I can’t be seen by the others. Staff, visitors etc. I only see the other patients so I try to help them understand where they’re at. You know, that they’re unconscious, in a coma.”
Daniel sighed and shook his head. “Well, at least this time it’s different. Before, when I died I didn’t see me dead.” He frowned down at his own face seeing bruising on his temple and a black eye beginning to color.
Charlie looked confused. “You’ve done this before?”
“Yeah, well no, not exactly, but three or four times. Am I dead here?” He looked at himself curiously.
Doctor Harris looked surprised. “Wow, that’s strange. No, right now you’re comatose due to a blow to the head, but not quite dead yet.”
Daniel chuckled sarcastically, dropping his head so that his chin rested on his chest. “At least, only nearly dead.” He took a deep breath. “Let’s see, I was working late on a translation, got a call from Jack, so I decided I’d rather be with him at home than in my office.”
“What were you translating? Who’s Jack?”
“He’s my partner. He’s probably going nuts wondering where I am.” Daniel stood up and started pacing in the small space. “And I translate ancient texts.”
” Ancient writings, interesting. So you’re a, what a professor?” At Daniel’s nod he continued in a soothing tone. “I’m sure the police will call him.” Charlie said soothingly. “You have ID, right?”
“Yeah, of course and he’s my next of kin, so you’re right that they’ll call him.” Daniel chuckled. “If I’ve been here awhile he probably called them.”
Charlie nodded. “Probably, if he knew you were coming home.”
As if on cue, they heard a loud demanding voice in the hallway. “What do you mean, you didn’t know who to tell? He carrys a Military ID saying he works in Cheyenne Mountain for the Air Force!”
Daniel turned around immediately, like pointing dog, and started to go towards the door.
”Hey, he won’t be able to see you”Charlie called out then smiled at his new friend. “Assuming that’s Jack.”
Then a woman’s voice spoke loudly. “Sir, General, I’m sorry about the confusion but no one could find his wallet, it was probably lost in the snow at the scene of the accident.”
”And that’s my fiancé, Doctor Alex Reid.” Charlie sighed. “ So, you’re married to a General?”
“Not officially, but we’ve been together for a while. The UCMJ frowns on it.” He frowned and shook his head. “He’s talking about retiring so we’re hoping that will change soon.”
The door into the cubicle opened slowly. Doctor Reid, a tall, dark-haired beauty clad in blue hospital scrubs, let the older grey haired man in the room. He was was dressed in a leather jacket worn over a plaid flannel shirt and sweatpants that appeared to have been thrown on in a hurry. He stepped into the room with very upset look when he saw Daniel’s condition.
Jack O’Neill moved to the body and laid his hand on the undamaged shoulder. They could see the General’s expression of sorrow and shock. “Danny. Danny what happened to you? Why you again?”
Doctor Reid picked up the clipboard that held the patient’s chart. “The police report that we received said his vehicle was sitting at a red light when it was rear ended by a larger vehicle. His was pushed out into the on-coming traffic and he was hit on his vehicle’s door. The ensuing accident caused him to receive injuries to his head and left shoulder breaking his collarbone. He’s been unconscious ever since his admission.” She put the paperwork down on the tray. “I am sorry”.
”How bad is it, his condition?” Jack ran his hand through his short grey hair.
”It is serious.” She replied. “There is some swelling of the brain. If it continues, he may require surgery to relieve the pressure.”
Jack closed his eyes and sighed. He slid his hand down the bed to grip Daniel’s.“He’s a damned genius. He’s very valuable to the program, and to me.” The older man shook his head. “Especially to me.” He looked at Doctor Reid. “How long until you know something?” His voice cracked with emotion.
Doctor Reid could only look at the General’s worried expression and shake her head. “We have no idea. Coma patients can take as long as they need. It could be tomorrow, or he could be like this for several months. Stay as long as you like. Here’s the call button if he moves.” She touched his arm, indicated the round black spot on the bed’s frame and left them alone.
After she left, Jack sat down in the chair by the bed. He picked up the lax hand in his two and pressed his forehead against its cool flesh. “Danny, what do I do now?”
Daniel looked at Charlie. “Months? Months! What does she base that on? I don’t have months. I have work! I have plans! We have plans.” He finished the sentence in frustration and moved to stand next to his partner.
The other man sighed. “I’m afraid, that example would be me. I’m in a coma down the hall. Have been for a while. Sorry, but I really don’t know how long.” he shrugged. “We had plans too. We were getting. married.”
”Well…well, shit!” Daniel stood up from his spot on the bed, leaving Jack holding on to his hand and strode across the room to glare at the other man. “Have you tried to wake up? I mean really tried?” At Charlie’s defeated expression he stopped. “I’m sorry, of course you have. What was I thinking?”
“Of course I’ve tried. But I don’t wake up. I’ve tried everything I can think of. But it doesn’t work.” He looked sorrowfully at Daniel. “I’m sorry. I just don’t have any answers.”
Daniel looked at his double and sighed shaking his head. “Excuse me. I need to…try something. I don’t know…concentrate for a while. Maybe, while he’s here….”
”Yeah, sure, go ahead. Maybe I can learn something from you. I haven’t done much good on my own.”
Daniel shrugged and moved back to where Jack was sitting by his body. He tried to touch the older man’s hand with his own hands. He could see that were touching, but he couldn’t feel anything. He sat on the edge of the bed, closed his eyes and tried to sink into meditation.
Charlie looked at the two lovers, shook his heads and said “Good luck. I hope it works for you.” as he left them alone.
$
Daniel had no sense the time passing but he suddenly felt a strong grip pulling on his hand and arm causing a lot of very sharp pain. He rolled his sore head to see Jack had it in an excited grip and he blinked his one good eye.
” Danny! Daniel, can you hear me? Dannny!”
He moaned at the cause of pain. “Jack.” He tried to say, but there was something in his mouth interfering with his voice. “Jack, it hurts.” He mumbled.
He realized then that he could hear Jack shouting loudly for a Doctor. Then he could sense the chaos that was occurring around him in the small room.
Suddenly, Jack’s face passed out of his sight and a very intense looking young woman filled his view. She gave someone orders over shoulder and turned back to face him as several people rushed in to assist.
“Mr Jackson, my name is Doctor Alex Reid. You were in a bad car accident. You’re in the hospital. But you’re going to be fine. Your friend Jack is here. Do you understand? Blink your eyes if you do.”
Daniel blinked.
”Excellent. I’m going to remove the breathing tube, okay.” She nodded with a smile. She pulled the tube and watched him carefully as he gagged and coughed taking a deep breath. “Do you know where you are?”
He nodded and croaked “hospital.” Hhe looked past her. “Jack.” He managed say.
”Easy, take a minute.” Alex spoke calming to him. “You’ve been unconscious for two days. Let your body adjust.” She smiled down at him then over to where Jack was fidgeting at the door.
Several people bearing some equipment pushed by a worried Jack and the Doctor proceeded to do some tests. “What’s your name?”
“Daniel Jackson.” He managed to croak, then coughed.
She smiled down at him after flashing a light into his eyes. “Mr Jackson, you were in a car accident.” She explained to him. Satisfied, with his condition she dismissed the technicians and looked over her shoulder to where O’Neill was standing and nodded.
“Daniel, your vitals are still stabilizing. I know you want to see Jack, but take it easy. We don’t want you to get too excited or tired, okay.” Her patient nodded. Reid turned to the man waiting. “General, I want you to keep him calm, no excitement, okay,” At his nod, she gathered her things, made a note on the clipboard and smiled athem both as she left the room.
Jack waited until she left, then he approached approached the bed as calm as he could manage. “Danny.” Then he reached over to grasp his lover’s hand. “Danny, I’m too old for this shit.”
Daniel coughed slightly, and nodded. “Me too. I swear I didn’t mean it.”
“I know. The guy behind you slammed on his brakes and rear ended your jeep into the traffic.” Jack bent over and carefully kissed him on the unabraded cheek.
”I knew it had been an accident.” He mumbled, trying to talk. Then he looked up at Jack. “The other me told me.”
”What do you mean, the other you? Danny you didn’t uh, see Oma or anyone else did you?”
”No, no. There was another guy here and he looked just like me. I didn’t ascend. He was here talking to me. He said my doctor was his fiancée, Doctor Reid right?” Daniel lay back with a sigh.”I’m not kidding, Jack.”
Jack looked at him and smiled.”Of course I believe you. If I believe anyone about this shit, it’s you.” He looked around the room trying to prove it to himself. “You don’t see him anymore?”
Daniel sighed.”He said he could only see and talk to people who were unconscious. So, I guess when I woke up, it stopped.- I can’t see him anymore.”
Jack looked around the room again. “Well, I don’t see him so I guess you’re right.” He looked down at Daniel curiously.“What was his name?”
”He said his name was Charlie Harris and they were on their way to get married.” He answered.
Jack looked down at his partner in confusion. “So there’s this guy, who looks like you. and he talked to you while you were unconscious. He told you he was unconscious too and then he told you your doctor’s name.” The older man signed and shook his head. “While you were lying there.”
”Sort of.” Daniel gave him the concentrated look he always did while explaining something to Jack. “No, I was walking around the room. But my body was here. I could see myself in bed all bandaged and hurt.”
Jack gripped his hand and looked at him. “Danny, it’s not that I don’t believe you. I do. Just don’t tell anybody, okay.”
Daniel looked at him regretfully. “You don’t believe me?”
“Look you know we’ve seen things, you’ve seen things, that no one else has. I believe you, but others might think….”
”They’d think I’m crazy.”
Jack winced. “Maybe, but you just may have this ability of the mind to accept things that others can’t. You could, but now you can’t see him anymore, like a ghost, because you’re conscious, right?”
Daniel frowned, then nodded. “But, he’s not dead.
”Danny, I love you and I want to take you out of here but if you tell the Doctor about your vision, she might not release you. Okay.”
He nodded. “Probably not. But you know I’m sane right?”
”Yes Love, I know you’re not crazy. Maybe, when you go back to sleep, you can see him again. Just don’t tell anyone else. Okay?”
“Okay.” Daniel nodded. “I guess you have a point.”
There was a tap on the door and Doctor Reid came back into the room. “General, we need to let Mr. Jackson rest. If all goes as expected, I can release him to your Air Force Clinic in the morning. But for now, he needs rest.”
Jack nodded and stood up. When she left the room, he kissed his lover gently and said. “I’ll have your ride here tomorrow AM, okay.” He put his finger on his lips.
And Daniel smiled and nodded.
In the corner, Charlie watched. He knew that since Daniel was now conscious. That, even though he had fallen asleep, that they wouldn’t talk anymore. The man had left him to go back to his life and his lover.
This connection had never happened to him before. So he had to assume Daniel was special. Charlie didn’t regret or even understand what had happened but maybe that meditation had helped. It couldn't hurt to try.
So he looked down at the oh-so-sat familiar face and said. “Good luck, Daniel, I’m glad you made it back to where you belong. At least one of us did.”
Daniel looked over to the first place he had seen the other man. “Good luck, Charlie. I hope you can make it.” Daniel closed his eyes and slept.
“Me too, Daniel. Me too.” Then, he left.