Title: One More Step

Author: Magicsunbeam

Email: magicsunbeam@ntlworld.com

Category: H & C / Jack POV

Pairing: None

Rating: G

Season/sequel: Season 6

Spoilers: Shadow Play

Summary: A tag for Shadow play. Janet sends Jack off on a mission.

Authors notes: Just a quicky ~ as the Bishop said to the actress.

One More Step

by Magicsunbeam

I should be relieved there is someone to follow on with Daniel’s work. I can’t begin to imagine how many hours of work are stored away in files, on CD’s, or on floppy disc. It would have been a crime to waste that work. Someone *is* following in Daniel’s footsteps and he *is* dedicated. He’s trying hard to prove himself.

I think it helps his guilty soul.

There have been nights when the bad dreams have had me walk the corridors at the SGC, and I have passed Daniels ~ *Jonas’* office to find him lost in ancient texts and artefacts. I lost count the amount of times I caught Daniel out like that, and ordered him to bed. I haven’t done that with Jonas. Not yet.

He doesn’t know, I know the amount of work he puts in. But I do.

I have found myself watching him more and more of late. He’s bright, quick, attentive, and eager to take in as much as he can. He reminds me of Daniel in a lot of ways. Okay, Daniel was sometimes *less* than attentive, but it was always for a reason.

There is no question of Jonas fitting in with my team. He has already proved himself useful. Carter has sung his praises a to me a few times, but I’m keeping my own score. He’s doing okay.

However, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to completely forgive him for what happened to Daniel. Which is a bit sad really because, given other circumstances, I think I could quite like this guy.

Maybe that’s why I feel sorry for him now.

This whole world war thing has hit him hard. As it would. He’s trying not to let on, but I can see it. The meetings aside, he’s been pretty quiet the last day or so. That isn’t like him. As I said, he’s eager to learn and is constantly asking questions. *Always* with the questions! I noticed in the commissary this morning, there were bananas in the fruit bowl. Okay, an odd thing to notice, but the guy eats so many of them; he could be related to a damn chimp. Oh wait, that’s right, we are.

It’s not just the war thing that is bothering him either. It’s obvious he and this Dr Kieran have been very close. Watching them now, I would say that not even Jonas walking away from his world, has changed that relationship.

Jonas is sitting with him now. He doesn’t need to be there. Kieran took a pretty nasty fall. That coupled with his already weakened state, means he’s going to be sleeping for a while yet. Doc has tried to make Jonas leave a few times. She tells me he wanders away, but somehow ends up here within an hour. Sounds familiar.

I was surprised when she approached me and asked me to talk to him. She wants me to have a one to one with him. To give him a pep talk and make all the crap that has happened go away. I don’t think I can do that. I told her Carter would be a better candidate for a heart to heart, but nooo. She insisted I speak to him. I am after all, she pointed out, his CO.

"I know you can get through to him," she told me.

So.

Here I am.

Hands in my pockets, I wander slowly into the side ward. Jonas is staring at Kieran, lost in his own thoughts and completely oblivious of my presence. I wait for a couple of seconds, before softly clearing my throat.

He slowly turns his head to look at me.

Crap, would you look at the state of him? I wonder when he last slept? Judging by the honkin` dark circles under his eyes, it’s got to have been a while.

"How’s he doing?" I ask, casually.

Jonas flashes me a half-hearted smile.

"Dr Fraiser says he’ll be okay. Obviously at his age, it’s going to take some time to get over the skull fracture, but she thinks he’ll make a full recovery."

"That’s good," I say brightly, bouncing on my heels a little.

Jonas responds with a nod.

"So," I cut to the chase. "Is there any particular reason you’re haunting the infirmary? Because let me tell you, if you sit here long enough, someone’s going to stick a needle in you or wrap you up in something. They like to do things like that around here."

This time I get a smile.

"I just want to be here for him when he wakes up," he tells me. "He’s already confused. I don’t want him to wake up alone and not know any faces."

"K. I can understand that," I tell him.

I do understand. There have been plenty of times I’ve woken up and not had a damned clue what was going on. Nine times out of ten when it *has* happened, I’ve had Daniel, or Carter, or Teal’c to guide and reassure me. The tenth times aren’t so good.

Jonas goes back to staring at the old man.

He’s not been with us that long, but I already know I don’t like the look that’s on his face now. God, there’s another thing that reminds me of Daniel. The big, sad puppy dog eyes. I understand the look, but he doesn’t suit it. Jonas is a smiler by nature.

"You know you can’t blame yourself for any of this," I tell him.

"I know," he answers quietly. "But it doesn’t make it go away."

He’s right. God help me, I know he’s right. I’m not talking about Charlie. What happened to my boy *was* my fault. It was down to my own carelessness. There was no one to blame there, but me.

I mean the likes of what happened to Henry Boyd and his men. To Frank Cromwell. Barber killing himself. Reetou Charlie being sick. They were circumstances beyond anyone’s control.

He’s right. It doesn’t make it any easier.

Jonas’ small voice brings me out of my own thoughts.

"Is the General going to lock out the co-ordinates for P2S 4C3?"

I note he chose to use the dial up address, rather than the name of the planet.

"Not yet," I tell him. "He’s still waiting on advice from the man upstairs."

"God?"

I smile at the lame joke.

"No. Just George Jr."

Silence sweeps across the room again.

After a while, he sighs deeply.

"I doubt I’ll see my home again," he states.

Now you see, this is why I wanted Carter to do the talking. I’m no good at this kind of thing. I realise I’m fiddling with the chart at the end of Kieran’s bed, and put it down.

"I know," I finally tell him. Finding the will power, I meet Jonas’ eye. "I’m sorry."

I don’t miss the surprised expression, but decide not to make anything of it. It takes the fun out of it when my victim isn’t up to the game.

"So," I say instead. "When’s *our* Doc giving *your* Doc the green light?"

Jonas smiles a little. "Oh, I don’t think he’ll be getting any green light soon. They’re moving him to a facility. Somewhere that can help him deal with his ~ `problem`."

"You’ll be able to visit," I tell him with certainty. "Maybe organize a couple of site seeing trips. It’ll be fine. You’ll see."

"Yeah," he says wearily. Scrubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands, he barely suppresses the yawn.

I don’t know how or when it happened. Maybe it’s because I see he hurts like the rest of us, but I think I just took a step closer to the man.

"Okay," I say. "I want you out of here."

He looks at me in surprise. "But I already told you why I want to stay."

"You did, and while I understand that, I still want you to leave."

I can see the argument coming and meet it head on.

"Doc tells me Dr Kieran is under sedation and will definitely, positively, one hundred percent for sure *not* be waking up for another ten hours at *least*."

He’s still not convinced, but what the hey. Who is the CO around here?

"Jonas. No questions, no arguments," I tell him, gently shoving him off the stool he’s perched on. "You are leaving. You *will* find a bed and you *will* sleep. Six hours minimum. Do I make myself clear?"

He stands no chance. Before he can answer, I have him by the shoulder and march him to the door. He takes one last look at Dr Kieran and allows me to push him out into the corridor.

I take a glance into Doc’s office as we pass. She looks up, grins and winks.

God, I hate it when she’s right.

.