Reunion

·     RATING:           PG-13  

·    SERIES:           Ascended Daniel - part 1

·    CATEGORY:     Action, Smarm, Angst

·    SPOILERS:       Post-Meridian/Revelations, so anything up to and including that is fair game. Specifically: Maternal Instinct, Summit, Meridian, Ascension, Crystal Skull, Absolute Power

·    AUTHOR'S NOTE: SG1 just isn't SG1 without Daniel. This is the first part of my attempt to bring him back. Thanks again to Shaure for betaing, and CA  and Aislynn for their comments.

 

 

The two of them were only just into position - where they would not be detected, but could watch the Stargate - when the first chevron swung into life. They readied themselves as each co-ordinate was locked in, waiting for their target to step through.

 

Four figures dressed in olive green BDUs emerged through the shimmering blue of the event horizon, which disappeared behind them. Still on the steps in front of the Stargate, SG-1 scanned the horizon, on the lookout for trouble. Both watchers tensed. This was not what they had expected.

 

“Damn! What are they doing here?”

 

“This will jeopardise everything. We will have to leave now.”

 

“But if we leave them to face Osiris alone, they could die…”

 

“But if we help them, then Osiris will know what we’re doing, and warn Anubis.”

 

The two of them contemplated the situation in silence. There was a moment that felt like an eternity, and then the first spoke again.

 

“I’m sorry. I’m going to help them. They may die if I don’t. You can go, but these are my friends, my family. I can’t just walk away knowing that an army of Jaffa will step through that gate at any moment.” Another pause, and then the other nodded in understanding.

 

“I wouldn’t have expected anything less from you. That is why you were chosen, Daniel Jackson. Do what you must.”

 

“I’ll try to do it in a way that doesn’t reveal my presence. A little ‘helping hand’, if you like.”

 

“Okay, but be careful. Remember that Osiris is in league with Anubis, and that he may have provided the means for us to be detected.”

 

“I’ll try to bear that in mind.”

 

The other made the move to depart then spoke once more.

 

“Please also try to remember the wider picture. I know these are your friends, but when these four lives are weighed up against what Anubis may achieve if he is not stopped, they are insignificant.”

Daniel’s feelings on this were all too obvious to his companion.

“Daniel. Do not forget that the fate of the whole universe is at stake. Please do not jeopardise that for four lives.”

 

“What if I can achieve our mission using SG-1?”

 

“Daniel, that is too dangerous, and you know it. Our chances were slim, but without our abilities, SG-1 would not have a hope. Even if you are helping them. The best you can hope to achieve now is that you can get SG-1 home safe.”

 

“And lose the chance to save Sarah again.”

 

“Daniel. That was not our mission. Our mission was to neutralise Osiris. If we managed to save the host, that was to be considered a bonus.”

 

“I know. Will I see you again?”

 

“I don’t know. They like to make sure each pairing is only used once. I’d like to…but the decision is not ours to make.” The first chevron clicked into position, sending SG-1 running for cover. “Farewell Daniel Jackson.”

 

“Okay. Goodbye..”  Daniel’s companion disappeared into the blue sky above them, a fact only Daniel was aware of, given that the two of them were invisible to anyone not on the same plane of existence as them.

 

The final chevron locked and the wormhole splashed into existence. Daniel braced himself for the army of Jaffa, at the same time trying to work out where SG-1 was hidden. To his amazement, only about a dozen Jaffa came through, followed by Osiris. He decided to focus on Jack. He couldn’t see him, but by concentrating solely on the thought of Jack, he was able to establish where Jack was and transfer his essence to the hiding place.

 

*

 

 Jack was hunkered down behind a rocky outcrop, Jonas Quinn at his side. About 10 metres away, Sam and Teal’c were crouching down by a bush. Daniel could see the frantic hand signals between Sam and Jack, as they tried to establish how many Jaffa there were, and where they might be headed.

 

Daniel remained invisible, and placed himself where he was out of line with Osiris and the Jaffa, just in case they could somehow detect him. The last thing he wanted was to draw them to his friends as he tried to help and protect them.

 

He turned his attention to Quinn. The guy was obviously terrified. He had his handgun drawn, but it was clear he hadn’t the faintest idea what to do with it. His eyes were wild, and the way he kept lifting his head to try and see where the enemy was, he was going to reveal where SG-1 was hiding. Seeing Quinn like this reminded Daniel of a similarly terrified intellectual in his first dangerous situation. What struck Daniel was that in the early days, when it had been Daniel who was in danger of exposing them, Jack would place his hand on Daniel’s head and hold it down, firmly but gently, or pull Daniel down into a less exposed position. This time Jack wasn’t even paying much attention to Quinn.

 

In a bizarre way, Daniel was flattered. He’d obviously got himself to a level where Jack knew he wasn’t going to screw up, stick his head up over the edge and give their position away. Jack knew Daniel wasn’t going to let them down, and he’d forgotten what a liability a panicked civilian could actually be. Listening to Quinn’s increasingly irregular breath rhythms, Daniel knew he had to do something before his friends were exposed to the Goa’uld.

 

He had a microsecond to decide which approach to take – get Jack to do it, or do it himself. He decided that distracting Jack at this precise moment was probably not the most sensible option. Instead he reached out with his mind to Jonas, and found the white sheet of blind terror taking over the man’s rational thought. Daniel projected subtle thoughts into the heart of Jonas’s terror. ‘Calm. Head down. Calm.’ It was working. Jonas shifted himself so he was right down behind the rock, and his breathing was slowing down to a more normal level.

 

Now the immediate danger was over, Daniel turned his attention back to the others. Sam, who had a slightly better view than Jack, was signalling that the enemy was moving away. Daniel checked the situation for himself.

 

Osiris was directing two of the Jaffa towards the spot where Daniel and his companion had originally been waiting. Three remained at the Stargate, and the rest were walking with Osiris towards the hills in the distance.

 

The two Jaffa who were headed towards Daniel’s former hiding place were looking intently at something small held by one of them. They stopped, made a sweeping movement with whatever it was they were holding, and then turned and shouted something to the group departing with Osiris. The main party turned back and moved to rejoin their companions.

 

SG-1 were watching this intently. Sam and Teal’c took this opportunity to join Jack and Jonas behind the rock.

 

“Sir, what do you think they’ve found?” Sam whispered as she crouched down next to Jonas.

 

“I have no idea, Carter. It’s not us, we didn’t get that far.” Jack was looking through the binoculars at what the two Jaffa were carrying. “Teal’c, have a look at this.” He handed the binoculars over.

 

Teal’c studied the object in silence.

“Any ideas what it is, Teal’c?”

 

“None. I have never seen anything like this before, O’Neill. Indeed, it would appear to be a lot more advanced than anything I have ever seen used by the Goa’uld.”

 

“That’s worrying.” Jack took the binoculars back off Teal’c.

 

“O’Neill, Osiris is in league with Anubis, and he has used technology far in advance of anything previously seen.”

 

“Can I have a look, Sir?” Sam took the binoculars from her CO. “It looks like some kind of meter, almost like a detector of some kind.”

 

“What are they looking for Carter? Naquadah?”

 

“I don’t think so Sir. I’m not getting any sense of naquadah on this planet. Uh oh. “

 

“What?”

 

“They’ve started coming over here. We’d better move.”

 

“What are they looking for?” Jack muttered as SG-1 moved off into the woodland behind them.

 

“Me.”

 

*

 

As that oh-so-familiar voice came from the air beside him, Jack stopped. Daniel appeared out of thin air, causing the rest of SG-1 to stop dead in their tracks.

 

“Daniel!” Sam’s voice was almost a squeal of delight.

 

“DanielJackson. It is good to see you.” Teal’c’s face had a broad grin on it.

 

Jonas gasped in shock. He had gone deathly pale.

“Doctor Jackson…I…. I…thought you were dead.” It was obvious that he thought he’d just seen a ghost.

 

“Not quite Jonas, not quite” Daniel smiled.

 

“Lovely as this is kids. We’d better move. There’s a Goa’uld and a load of Jaffa headed this way. Coming, Daniel?” Jack’s soft expression belied his irritated tone of voice.

 

“Go through the woodland – there’s a series of caverns over there, they shouldn’t find you. I’ll just sort things out here, and then I’ll come and see you.” Daniel indicated which way the team should go.

 

“You’ll just sort things out here, will you?”

 

“Sarcasm won’t help, Jack.”

 

Sam’s voice brought the two of them back to the present.

“Sir, Daniel, we’ve gotta go now if we’re going.”

 

A staff weapon blast hit a tree just to the right of Jonas. The two Jaffa leading the pack were within range.

 

“Take cover! We’ll have to fight it out!” Jack barked. “Boy those Jaffa can move.”

 

SG-1 took up positions, ready to fight it out. Daniel just dissolved into mist, and vanished. Clouds started to gather on the horizon.

 

“Sir, I think Daniel’s about to ‘sort it out’”

 

“Thanks Carter. In the meantime, let’s not wait it out. ” Jack started to fire at the on-coming Jaffa. Teal’c and Sam followed suit. One of the leading pair fell, shortly followed by one in the following pack. The storm clouds continued to swell and grow, the sky grew dark and thunder rumbled in the distance.

Suddenly, lightening shot down from the sky. Three Jaffa fell.

 

The others hesitated.

 

Another lightning bolt. Two more dead Jaffa.

 

Some distance behind the advancing Jaffa, Osiris paused, and turned back towards the Stargate.

More shots. The second lead Jaffa fell, then another from the following pack.

The final approaching Jaffa turned and ran, following his Lord. Osiris had reached the gate and was punching in the co-ordinates.

More lightening.

The final three Jaffa fell as the wormhole opened. Osiris gave one last defiant look at the planet, stepped over the event horizon, and vanished.

 

*

 

SG-1 slowly got up from their hiding place. It had all been over so quickly they were a little shell-shocked.

“I’m glad he’s on our side,” quipped Jack.

 

“Wow.” Sam stared at the blackened body a short distance away.

 

The storm clouds rolled away, leaving the brilliant blue sky of moments before. Daniel reappeared a little way behind them. He seemed to stagger slightly as he moved towards them.

 

“DanielJackson. Are you well?” Teal’c was concerned for his friend.

 

“Sorry. I’m just a little tired. It’s the first time I’ve done that. It’s not easy.”

 

“Really? Never would have guessed.” Jack stared away from the others, eyes on the distant hills.

 

“Jack, don’t be an ass.” Daniel frowned at his friend, angry about Jack’s attitude. “What’s up? Don’t you like my help?”

 

“We’d have coped, thank you Daniel.” Heavy sarcasm laced Jack’s response.

 

“Would you really? Without anyone getting hurt? If I hadn’t been here…”

 

”If you hadn’t been here they might never have noticed us, and there wouldn’t be twelve dead Jaffa on the ground! See you’re a lot less picky about killing people these days Daniel.”

 

“Hey! That’s not fair! I thought you wanted to go around wiping Jaffa from the universe?” Daniel stared out to the horizon. “You never trust me to resolve anything anyway…”

 

“Sir! Daniel!” Sam’s shout brought the two of them back to reality.

 

They scowled at each other in silence for a moment.

 

“Anyway, Oma would have got them all with one shot…”

 

“Jack!”

 

Jack raised his eyebrows in response. He’d only been teasing with that last remark, but Daniel had taken it completely the wrong way.

 

Daniel suddenly adopted that all too familiar posture, arms wrapped round his chest. When he spoke his voice was calm.

“Look. You have no idea what you’re dealing with here.”

 

“What’s to know? Nasty little snakehead and her goons.”

 

“It’s not that straight-forward, Jack. Osiris is…”

 

“…currently occupying your ex-girlfriend.”

 

Daniel winced at Jack’s comment.

“Actually Jack, that’s irrelevant.”

 

That stopped Jack in his tracks. If Daniel was saying that a host was irrelevant then there must be something big going on. The fact that Daniel was telling him that a host he had once dated was irrelevant meant that this thing was really, really big.  He softened slightly.

“Okay. Let’s get somewhere secure, and you can tell us about it.”

 

Daniel looked at his friend quizzically, then nodded as he realised that Jack was genuinely offering some kind of olive branch.

“Kay.” He murmured, and then vanished.

 

*

 

Twenty-five minutes later, SG-1 was settled in a temporary campsite. There was still no sign of Daniel. Jack was pacing the perimeter of the camp, with Teal’c impassively watching his every move. Sam was boiling water for coffee and MREs. Jonas sat to one side, feeling distinctly uncomfortable with the whole situation.

 

“Major Carter, did Colonel O’Neill and Doctor Jackson always argue like that?”

 

Sam looked up from what she was doing.

“Sorry?”

 

“I thought Colonel O’Neill and Doctor Jackson were good friends.”

 

“They were…are…the best of friends. Why?”

 

“They just seemed to be…arguing a lot.”

 

“Oh, that’s nothing to worry about. They often argue.” She smiled at Jonas, to reassure him. “Trust me, it’s normal.” She paused a moment, then swallowed hard. Looking at the ground, she added, “Besides, the last few months…without…Daniel…they’ve been hard for him… for all of us, but especially him.”

 

He gave her a nervous smile back, and nodded.

“You never told me that he wasn’t dead, that he’d become something else. That he might come back.” Jonas’s tone of voice was flat. If Doctor Jackson could come back, he thought, then they wouldn’t want him any more. That much was perfectly clear to him. It also explained why he never really fitted into the team. He was only viewed as a temporary replacement until Daniel came back.

 

“Didn’t we? Sorry.” Sam brushed his comments off, not realising what he was saying. She was far too absorbed in her own feelings, which had been churned up into a jumble of both pleasure at seeing Daniel and the pain she still felt at his loss.

 

“Dammit Carter! Where has Daniel gone?” Jack came marching back into the camp and stood glaring into the distance.

 

“I don’t know Sir. Coffee?”

 

Jack took his cap off and ran one hand through his hair. He replaced the cap.

“What is he up to, for crying out loud? Keeping us hanging about for no good reason.” He turned around and looked at Sam. “I’m tellin’ ya – he’s changed since he went off with Oma Des-thingy and the glowing brigade…”

 

“Sir.” Carter nodded her head to indicate that Jack should look behind him. He turned and saw Daniel standing there, a hurt expression on his face, arms wrapped round himself.

 

“Oh, Daniel. How nice of you to join us. Where have you been anyway?”

 

“Sorry Jack. I…It was…. doing that…er…stuff with the weather took a lot more out of me than I realised. I’ve only just been able to become visible again.” Daniel waved his hands around vaguely as he tried to explain.

 

Jack instantly regretted his heavy-handed sarcasm. It hadn’t occurred to him that Daniel might not have been alright – he was one of those glowing people now, and they had always seemed all powerful, invincible even. Not people who might get sick or weak.

“Sorry. You okay now?” he asked, his tone much softer now.

 

Daniel nodded.

“Just about. Just hope that no more Jaffa come through the gate. I don’t think I’ll be able to repeat the performance anytime soon.”

 

Teal’c came back to the group. He bowed his head to Daniel.

“Daniel Jackson. You have returned.”

 

Daniel merely nodded in response. He still looked exhausted.

 

“Daniel, are you sure you’re okay?” Sam went to put her hand on his arm and it passed straight through him.

 

“Yeah. They’ve told me it’ll take me a while to regain full strength because…. I was so weak when I…moved on.” He appeared to become transparent for a moment.

 

“Daniel? You still with us?” Jack was concerned now.

 

“I think, I think I’ll have to….” Daniel faded so far he almost disappeared. “…I’ll come back and see you… later.” He looked at Jack, a strange expression on his face, and vanished.

 

Jack stood staring at the spot where Daniel had been. For brief moment, pure anguish was reflected on his face, before he clamped down hard on his emotions. He straightened up to his full height, and turned back to the rest of his team.

 

“Right kids – let’s remember why we were here in the first place. Carter, Quinn, get your samples, oh, and see if you can find that doohickey the Jaffa were using while you’re at it. Teal’c – go check in with General Hammond. Explain what’s been happening and let him know that we’re sticking round here for a while – I want to know what it is that Daniel’s holding out on us…” He looked around the hastily assembled campsite. “I’ll sort this place out properly, make it a bit more like home.”

 

*

 

In the other realm, where Daniel now existed, his essence was in turmoil. He wanted to go back to his friends, to explain what he knew, but he felt so tired, so weak. It had taken every ounce of strength he had left in him to go back to them for even that short time. Controlling the weather was not easy, it needed a lot of energy, and actually throwing lightening bolts accurately was unbelievably tricky.

 

He felt himself slipping into oblivion, exhaustion overwhelming him. If he still had a physical body, he’d have passed out by now. The blackness was claiming him when he felt a presence nearby.

 

“Daniel? Are you okay?”

 

He tried to focus on the being next to him.

 

“Daniel?”

 

He managed to drag himself back to a state of alertness. It was Oma Desala.

 

“Daniel. You have overdone it. You are still weak. You should not risk yourself for others until you are of full strength.”

 

“Oma.” He was so weak; he couldn’t quite focus on the thought that was irritating him. He struggled to grasp it, but it continually eluded him. Sleep. He really needed to sleep.

 

Oma reached out and touched his essence with her own. Almost immediately he felt better, energized. It suddenly occurred to him that this was exactly like Janet putting a drip up, and laughed to himself.

 

“You are feeling better, Daniel?”

 

“Yes. Thank you. Oma…”

 

“You have been with your friends. The people who matter to you.” It was a statement, not a question.

 

“Yes.” Why did he feel like he was being told off? Her tone of voice reminded him of one of his foster mothers, who would tell him off in a calm, gentle voice. The implication was disappointment, rather than anger, and here was Oma doing it. He felt nine years old again, caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

 

“Daniel. You are no longer a part of their world. You must step back from that world to fully walk the great path. Until you do, you will always be tired, weakened. I have strengthened you this time, but I cannot do this indefinitely. You are not yet free to follow the path of your choosing, but you will be able to make the choice soon.”

 

“What choice? I’m not sure I understand…”

 

She smiled at him. “You will come to know in time.”

 

Daniel suddenly remembered the thought that had been gnawing away at the edge of his consciousness.

“Oma – Osiris has something - a device - that can detect us. The Jaffa could tell not only where I was, but where I’d been as well.”

 

“Really?” Oma looked concerned. “Thank you Daniel. That is a matter of great importance. I must let the council know. Are you fully recovered?”

 

“More or less. Oma, I need to see my friends. They’re waiting for me before they go home.”

 

She gave him a serene smile.

“Then go to them Daniel. It is not yet time for you to choose, but that day will come before too much longer. Until then, you must do what you believe to be right.”

 

“Thank you.” He smiled at her, and they parted company.

 

*

 

Night had fallen on the planet. It was a warm night, but not humid.

 

SG-1 sat around the campfire. Four single man tents had been erected, and the four of them sat in a slightly uneasy silence. Sam had catalogued her samples, and was now studying the small object that the Jaffa had used to detect Daniel. Unfortunately, having been in the hands of one of the Jaffa who had been blasted by lightening, it was hard for her to determine anything much from the blob of misshapen metal that she turned in her fingers. Jonas was reading a novel, trying to understand better the culture of the people he now lived with. Jack sat staring out into the darkness, apparently on watch. Teal’c watched the greying Colonel.

 

The man hid his pain well, had done for the last four months, but Teal’c knew that Daniel Jackson’s continuing absence was a source of great unhappiness for O’Neill. Seeing the younger man today had only served to rip the scab from a wound that had only just begun to heal over. Teal’c knew that O’Neill’s aggression and sarcasm earlier had been a protective measure. O’Neill did not want to show Daniel Jackson just how much he was hurting. Major Carter too was hurting, but she had allowed herself to cry, to grieve. As a result, her pain had been diminished somewhat. It had not left her, Teal’c could see that in her eyes, but it was not as sharp. As for Teal’c himself, he had found that he could escape the sorrow he felt at his young friend’s disappearance through Kel’no’reem, although it did not disappear, and was unlikely to ever go completely.

 

Today had been hard on them all, Teal’c thought. Daniel Jackson’s unexpected re-appearance in their midst had only served to bring all their suppressed emotions closer to the surface. Even Jonas Quinn was subdued. Teal’c suspected that Daniel’s presence only served to remind him that he was a replacement on the team, and that the bonds between the original members of SG-1 were much stronger than and quite unlike anything he could ever truly hope to achieve.

 

A light breeze swept through the camp, ruffling Jack’s hair, turning the pages of Sam’s notebook. Jack, Sam and Teal’c looked at each other. Jonas glanced up, and then went back to his book, not understanding why the others were smirking at each other.

 

Daniel appeared behind Jonas.

“Hey guys.”

 

“Daniel.” Jack looked at his friend critically. He still looked tired, but he wasn’t giving out the impression that he was about to collapse imminently any more. “Feeling better?”

 

“Yes. Yes…er…Oma helped me.” Daniel walked forward to join them by the fire, passing through the log that Jonas was sitting on, just to one side of him. Jonas gave a little start, and moved away from the part of the log that Daniel had walked through.

 

Sam had been worried by Daniel’s earlier confession.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Daniel?”

 

“Really Sam, I’m fine.” He gave her one of those nervous little half-smiles, which did very little in the way of reassuring her. He looked at the coffee pot. “Coffee. Now there’s something I really miss about not being flesh and blood anymore.” His face lit up with a sheepish grin.

 

“I’m not sure you’d appreciate this pot, Daniel. The Colonel made it.” Sam winked at her friend.

 

“Oh, okay, I’m not that desperate.”  Daniel gave one of his patented innocent looks.

 

“Cut to the chase Daniel. What is so important that you’re telling me the fate of one of your ex-girlfriends isn’t that important?” Jack rubbed his forehead with the side of one thumb.

 

Daniel stared at him, open-mouthed. Jack looked back at him. Whenever Daniel pulled that stunned mullet expression, it always struck Jack how dumb it made him look, considering how bright the guy really was. He realised why Daniel was staring at him that way.

“Okay.” He held his hands out in a slightly submissive gesture. “Hello Daniel. How are you Daniel? How have you been?” He didn’t manage to remove the sarcastic edge from his voice, however.

 

Daniel continued to stare at his friend. His expression had changed from one of stunned amazement to hurt and confusion.

“I might as well just go.” He muttered under his breath.

 

“Daniel stay! Sir, please?” Sam stared from one to the other.

 

“Daniel Jackson, I would very much like you to remain here for a while. It has been difficult for us all since you left us.” Teal’c’s words seemed to be what the two men needed, as both of them visibly relaxed.

 

“Yeah, stay,” murmured Jack, very quietly.

 

“You sure? I just get the impression you’d rather I…. wasn’t here.” Daniel had not once taken his eyes off Jack, who had been looking anywhere rather than at him.

 

“Have a seat Daniel.” Jack looked at him. Blue eyes met brown, and in that brief moment, a wealth of understanding passed silently between the two men. Daniel nodded.

 

The group settled down in a slightly uneasy silence around the campfire. Daniel sat cross-legged on the ground.

 

“So, Daniel, what have you been doing?” Sam smiled at him.

 

“Well, I spent ages in a strange kind of limbo. Oma said it was part of the healing process – although she cured me, she hadn’t fully healed me.” He bowed his head, looking at his hands. “Apparently what happened today was a little demonstration that I’m still not fully healed.” He gave a hollow laugh. “I got told off for trying to help you.”

 

“What? Why?” Sam was amazed.

 

“Not harshly, just a gentle, ‘you shouldn’t be doing the lightening thing just yet, you’re still weak’, kind of thing.” Daniel suddenly lifted his head. “I’ve seen Nick.”

 

“Really? How’s he doing?” Sam smiled.

 

“He’s fine. Having a really great time, and finding out loads of stuff about the Mayans…. yeah…he’s fine.” Daniel’s voice trailed off. There was a brief silence. Then he looked up. “I’ve seen Shifu too. He’s fully-grown now, and as elusive as ever. Talking in riddles – you know the kind of thing…”

 

“You know what, that reminds me of someone, talks for ages without actually ever getting to the point, Daniel.” Jack softened his somewhat harsh words with a slight smile. “You gonna tell us this really big news?”

 

Daniel grimaced slightly.

“Cut to the chase why don’t you, Jack? Don’t want to waste any time catching up with old friends, huh? I mean it’s been, what, how long?”

 

“Four months, Daniel Jackson.” Teal’c had sat silently studying the younger man as he talked, and he could sense that O’Neill’s apparent hostility towards Daniel Jackson was upsetting the archaeologist.

 

“Four months? Wow. I didn’t know it had been as long as that.”

 

“Not missing us then?” Jack kept his face expressionless.

 

“No…yes…it’s just that I’m not aware of the passage of time like I used to be. I wouldn’t know if it had been three weeks or five years.” Daniel swallowed. “I do miss you guys, a lot.”

 

“We miss you too, Daniel. We all do.” Sam sounded a little choked.

 

“Major Carter is correct, Daniel Jackson. The time since your passing has been somewhat difficult.” Teal’c watched Daniel’s response to their words.

 

He sat staring at Jack, who was deliberately avoiding eye contact. Having waited a while for Jack to say something, Daniel finally broke the silence.

“It’s been hard for me too. I’ve seen so much that I wanted to share with you, and then you’ve not been there…” He kept Jack’s face fixed with an intense blue stare. “I miss my family.”

 

Jack finally looked at him. He didn’t say a word, just nodded his head ever so slightly in Daniel’s direction. That, and the pain conveyed in those warm brown eyes told Daniel everything he needed to know.  Daniel didn’t say a word; he just returned the small nod. Blinking back the tears that were brimming in his eyes, Daniel took a deep breath, tried to get his voice steady before he carried on.

 

“Okay. You want to know what’s going on? I’ll tell you what I can, but I don’t know everything.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Okay. You know that Oma Desala was an outcast when we first encountered her on Kheb, well, she wasn’t totally ostracised from the others, but she was on the fringe of their society.”

 

“Society? How does that work? No. No…don’t answer that!” Jack realised Daniel was going to give him the benefit of his experiences anyway.

 

“I don’t know exactly. There’s a council that advises the others, I know that much, but I don’t know a lot else. I’m still not fully integrated. There are a number of…them who won’t accept me, and probably never will.” He gave a wry smile. “Story of my life, really.”

 

“Daniel. Who are these…beings?” Sam really wanted to know.

 

“I don’t know who they are now, or what they call themselves. They’re not the Furlings or the Ancients, although there are some amongst us who started out as Furlings. We come from all different races – I’m human, there’s Asgard, Nox. The majority are human, or humanoid.”

 

“Have you met the ones who were Furlings?”  Sam was curious.

 

“Not yet. Maybe one day. I’ll let you know if I do.” He looked up at the group. “There are names for these beings in every human society that I know of…Sidhe, Piskies, Elves, Faeries…”

 

“Did he say Fairies?” asked Jack.

 

“Yes Jack, Fairies… I’ve become Tinkerbell! Apparently, the presence of Oma Desala or one of her kind can be directly attributed to most fairy stories.”

 

“Tinkerbell Jackson, huh? Watch it Space monkey, that one could stick too…” Jack gave an evil grin.

 

“Don’t you dare…”

 

“Try me.”

 

“You wouldn’t.”

 

“Would so.”

 

“Don’t”

 

“Will too.”

 

“Jaaack!”

 

“Better be nice to me then.” Jack looked at Daniel, his brown eyes sparkling with a merriment that hadn’t been there for some time. “Anyway, you gave yourself that one.” Daniel stuck his tongue out at Jack.

 

Jonas was watching this all silently. It was the last few moments that had made him finally appreciate the depth of the relationship between the original members of SG-1. Colonel O’Neill and Doctor Jackson sat bickering in a good-natured fashion, while Teal’c and Major Carter watched them. The smiles on all their faces told Jonas just how much they had missed each other. They were all so comfortable in each other’s presence, it was obvious that this team should never have been split up, but then Daniel had saved his world from suicide, and in doing so, had ruined the lives of these four people. Four people’s happiness for the lives of millions. A small price on paper. In reality, it was so much more. Lost in his thoughts, he suddenly realised that the bantering had stopped, and Daniel was talking about more serious stuff again.

 

“…so, the reason why Oma had been banished was indirectly because of the way she helped people like me to ascend. If I had managed to become like this without Oma’s help, then I would have been accepted far more readily – I would have shown that I was evolved enough to be there, or something.” He shrugged. “Anyway, going back to the story, it wasn’t Oma’s own actions that led to her being punished; there was another who was with her when she helped someone to ascend. She was punished for showing this one the way to help others to ascend, because of what he eventually did.”

 

“What did he do?” Sam leaned forward.

 

“He found…Anubis.”

 

“Anubis? The snakehead, right?”

 

“Yes Jack. The Goa’uld. He had been mortally wounded by the system lords and left to die. This…disciple of Oma’s thought that if he could help Anubis to ascend then the evil within him would be destroyed. But it didn’t work like that.” Daniel’s voice was barely louder than a whisper.

 

“Anubis is a…glowing person?” Jack voiced all their concerns.

 

“Not exactly.”

 

“Not exactly? What do you mean Daniel?”

 

“He…uh…he only…half-ascended.” Daniel sat with his eyes closed.

 

“Half-ascended? For cryin’ out loud Daniel…”

 

Daniel silenced Jack by holding one finger up in the air, hovering over his lips as if to shush Jack. His eyes still closed, he continued with his tale.

“The Goa’uld within Anubis prevented him from ascending. He now lives in a semi-immortal state, neither human nor…. one of us. Unfortunately, this state has enabled Anubis to gain some of the knowledge that is not normally available, and this has meant that he is now more dangerous than…er…than anything that the galaxy has ever seen before. The fate of the whole universe is in jeopardy.”  Daniel opened his eyes and stared at his hands. “We’re at war. Oma and her kind have never been at war since they first ascended, but Anubis is trying to wipe them out. He’s got hold of advanced technology, and he’s using it against them…er…against us.”

 

Sam stared at Daniel, her mind working overtime as it tried to work out all the permutations, trying to really analyse and understand what Daniel was telling them.

“Daniel. Do the Tok’ra know about this?”

 

“What’s left of them know a little, but they are scattered far and wide, and to be perfectly frank, they wouldn’t be able to do much anyway.”

 

“You don’t know that!” protested Jack.

 

“Jack. The Asgard are in trouble, the Nox are concerned enough about the situation to be reviewing their policy of non-involvement, Tollana has been destroyed courtesy of Tanith, who was allied with Anubis, the System Lords only chance of surviving Anubis’s attacks was to ally themselves with him – what hope have a handful of Tok’ra got?”

 

Silence followed this question.

 

“Well if that’s the situation, what hope has the Earth got?” muttered Sam.

 

“Carter, let’s not go there.” Jack glared a warning at her.

 

“Actually, the Earth is a key element in the war against Anubis.” Everyone stared at Daniel. He paused briefly and then continued. “So is SG-1.”

 

“Excuse me?” Jack sat open-mouthed in disbelief. “You’re telling me that all those races that are waaaaay more powerful than us are in trouble and we’re the key? I’m sorry Daniel, I’m not buying that.”

 

“It has something to do with the fact that in every alternate reality that we’ve seen, where SG-1 isn’t the four of us, Earth has been over-run by the Goa’uld. Oma says the council believes that the four of us working together is instrumental in preventing the Goa’uld from dominating the galaxy. That’s why…. that’s why she came for me. I need to be around…I couldn’t be allowed to… die.” He shrugged. “It’s all the elements together  – the fact that Teal’c changed sides, the fact that I opened the gate not Sam, that Sam is both scientist and soldier, that you and I are friends, Jack - all of those things somehow matter. Take any single one out, and the Goa’uld can penetrate Earth’s defences.”

 

“There’s just one small flaw in this, Daniel.”

 

“Which is?”

 

“You’re not in SG-1 any more. You’re off with the Fairies.” Jack gave Daniel a hard look.

 

“He could come back Sir. Orlin told me that he could retake human form….” Sam’s face lit up with hope at the thought of Daniel coming back. At her words, Jonas’s heart sank.

 

“Sam, I can’t. I’ve been told that one of the key elements is that I am no longer mortal. There’s something important that I have to do…” The expression on Daniel’s face told Sam everything she needed to know. He wanted to return, but the bigger picture was stopping him. “We’re talking about the fate of the universe. I don’t have a choice.” He smiled as he realised what Oma had been alluding to earlier. “At least, not yet, anyway.”

 

“In what activities are you currently engaging, Daniel Jackson?” asked Teal’c.

 

“I’m involved in the undercover movements. Because I have first hand experience of the Goa’uld and their…methods,” Daniel grimaced slightly as he said this, “I’m considered to be invaluable to the war effort.”

He looked at Jack and gave him a wry smile. “I guess I’m in the Special Glowing Ops now.”

 

“Daniel Jackson, Special Operative…. hmmm. That’s something I never thought I’d live to see, Daniel.” Jack raised one eyebrow. 

 

“I’ve done it before – that mission with Jacob, remember?”

 

“Yeah. But you had back-up on that one. Jacob was sat in a teltak waiting for you…”

 

“And who says that I don’t have back-up with these missions? Anyway, I’m far more capable than you think I am – I was listening all those times you lectured me Jack.”

 

“I know Daniel, otherwise I’d never have let the Tok’ra borrow you, no matter what.” The two men exchanged a glance, before Jack switched his gaze to the horizon. “Tinkerbell,” he said barely louder then a whisper.

 

Daniel winced and rolled his eyes at Sam, before changing the subject.

“By the way, what did you guys do with my apartment this time?”

 

“Ah. That.”  Jack grimaced.

 

“Jack?” Daniel was looking more than a little concerned now.

 

“I was hoping you weren’t going to ask.” Jack glanced at Daniel, a pained expression on his face.

 

“Jaaack!” Daniel looked at the others, beseechingly. “Tell me you didn’t… what about all my stuff?”

 

Sam couldn’t help smiling at Daniel’s obvious discomfort, as she knew the truth of the situation, and that Jack was just winding Daniel up.

“Daniel, it’s okay.” She murmured.

 

“Daniel Jackson. Your possessions were put into a retention facility, where they could remain for safe-keeping,” said Teal’c helpfully.

 

“And we found you a sub-let, rather than let the place go,” added Jack.

 

“Sub-let? Retention facility?” Daniel shook his head, confusion all over his face.

 

“Daniel, we put your stuff into storage, and Jonas is sub-letting for the time being.” Sam gave him a sympathetic look.

 

“Jonas…?” Daniel looked up, a frown on his face. “Storage facility! I hope it’s a specialist one – some of that stuff is old – really old…. thousands of years old!”

 

“Actually Daniel, we loaned it to a museum. It’s being properly looked after and stored, on condition that when the owner returns from his long overseas trip, he can reclaim it with 48 hours notice. That do for ya?”

Jack turned away from the group, a smirk on his face as he imagined (correctly) the expression on Daniel’s face.

 

“Well I hope it’s fully insured…” grumbled Daniel.

 

“Doctor Jackson. I hope you don’t mind my staying in your accommodation. I really appreciate having somewhere to stay. The others…. thought it would be appropriate that the…lease?” Sam nodded at Jonas to let him know he was using the right word, “…that the lease was maintained. Now I understand your situation, this makes sense to me as well.”

 

Daniel merely shrugged in response.

“Whatever. It’s not like I need it right now.” He suddenly rubbed one eye under his glasses. “Look guys, I’m going to have to go. I’m starting to feel tired again. Oma will tell me off again if I wear myself out so soon after the last time. I need to… “ A mercurial grin dashed across his features, “…go do our equivalent of Kel’no’reem.”

 

“Indeed. Do you find it beneficial, Daniel Jackson?” Teal’c inclined his head towards his young friend.

 

“It helps restore the energy we use up when we make ourselves visible, or throw hissy fits with the weather…” Daniel stood. “Before I go, I’d like to talk to you Jack – alone.”

 

The two of them left the camp, and walked a short distance away, where they could neither be seen nor overheard by the others.

 

“Okay. What do you need to tell me that can’t be said in front of the others?”

 

“I’m worried about you, Jack. There’s…. something about you that reminds me of you when I first knew you.”

 

Jack dismissed Daniel’s comments with a wave of his hand.

“I’m fine. Same old Jack…”

 

Daniel cut him off.

“It’s not just me. The others are worried about you too.”

 

“They told you that?”

 

“They didn’t need to. I can pick up on feelings if they’re strong enough, and believe me, Sam and Teal’c are worried about you enough for me to be able to pick it up.”

 

“I told you Daniel. I’m fine.” Jack gave Daniel one of his ‘don’t go there because you won’t move me on this’ looks.

 

“I can pick up on feelings if they’re broadcast strongly enough…” Daniel paused to let his words sink in. “All I’m getting from you, Jack, is pain and anger. That doesn’t sound like fine to me.”

 

Jack didn’t say a word. He just turned away from Daniel, staring at a point somewhere off in the distance.

 

“Jack. Buttoning up your feelings just leads to depression and despair. You need to talk to someone…”

 

“No counsellors.”

 

“…I didn’t mean that – how about Sam or Teal’c?”

 

“No.”

 

“Why not?”

 

“Because I’m their CO. It’s…inappropriate.”

 

“You used to be my CO too. You talked to me.”

 

“That was different.”

 

“Not really. They’re your friends Jack. Just as I am. They care.”

 

“No.”

 

“Just think about it. It might help.” Daniel moved closer to Jack. He was still standing with his back turned towards Daniel. Daniel stretched his hand out towards Jack, placing it on his friend’s shoulder.

 

As Daniel touched him, Jack felt warmth spreading through him, starting from his shoulder. As the warmth enveloped him, it was accompanied by an overwhelming sense of peace and calm. He felt totally at ease, and happier than he had felt in months, even before Daniel had ascended. He closed his eyes, and let the sensation wash over him.

 

He opened his eyes and found Daniel standing in front of him, one of his small half-smiles on his face.

“Wow. What was that?”

 

Daniel shrugged.

“Just thought it might help in the meantime.”

 

“In the meantime?”

 

“Till you start talking to the others.”

 

“Don’t push it Daniel.”

 

Daniel merely raised his eyebrows.

“We ought to get back to the others. I really have to go.”

 

*

 

Teal’c was patrolling the perimeter of the camp, so he was the first to see the two of them as they returned. He noticed the subtle change in O’Neill’s body language and felt relieved. He was glad that Daniel Jackson had been able to help O’Neill in some way. Teal’c knew that Daniel Jackson was the only person with whom O’Neill would discuss matters of a personal nature, and that since the younger man had taken his leave of the SGC, O’Neill had not been able to reveal the depth of his feelings on the matter to anyone. However, it was now clear to Teal’c that whatever had passed between the two men when they were alone had gone a long way towards helping O’Neill come to terms with his emotions.

 

Teal’c went back to the heart of the campsite at the same time as Jack and Daniel entered from a slightly different direction. Sam and Jonas had returned to examining the ‘glow detector’ as they had dubbed it, lacking anything better to call it.

 

“Hey kids!” Jack’s jovial greeting was thrown into the air for the world in general.

 

Sam looked up sharply, a slight frown on her face. The Colonel hadn’t been this ‘normal’ in months.

“Sir?”

 

“Tinkerbell here has got to go…” Jack grinned as Daniel winced.

 

Sam looked at Daniel, and as Jack turned away slightly, mouthed ‘what did you say to him?’ at Daniel.

Daniel was about to speak, and then shut his mouth and put on one of his best innocent looks as Jack turned back, still smiling.

 

“Daniel, can I speak to you a moment?” asked Sam.

 

Jack just beamed, and as Sam brushed past him, muttered “get him to pat you on the shoulder”.

 

“Sir?”

 

“Nothing Carter.” Jack was looking immensely pleased with himself.

 

“Daniel. What did you two do?” hissed Sam as soon as she and Daniel were out of earshot.

 

“I just told him to talk to you guys. To work through what was bothering him.”

 

“That wasn’t all you did, was it Daniel?”

 

“No. I…touched him.”

 

“Touched him?” Sam was confused.

 

“Like this.” Daniel reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder. Like Jack, Sam felt an overwhelming sense of peace, warmth and happiness sweep over her. She closed her eyes and revelled in the feeling. After a few moments she opened her eyes to find Daniel softly smiling at her.

“It’s the closest thing we get to a hug.” He explained, a slightly sheepish expression on his face.

 

“Thank you,” she whispered. “I really needed one. I miss you so much Daniel.” She smiled at him, her eyes bright with unshed tears, but all the while a sense of complete peace within her.

 

He smiled back, his own eyes shining. She went to put her hand on his shoulder, and it passed through him.

“Sorry Sam – not all here yet. I need to learn a few more tricks before I can be solid.”

 

They turned back towards the group, to find the three men watching the two of them. Jack still had the ‘I am so pleased with myself’ smirk on his face, while Jonas and Teal’c looked slightly bemused by the whole situation.

 

“How’s things with Jonas?” asked Daniel.

 

“He’s okay. He’s just not…. you.” Sam gave a rueful smile. “Actually, he’s more like Teal’c than you. He doesn’t speak many languages - he is trying to learn but it’s a slow process - we don’t get lectures on which culture on any planet we visit is like, which the Colonel says is a good thing, but the thing that bothers me most is that he doesn’t – get what I’m saying like you used to. I really miss that.”

 

“I know exactly what you mean. I’ve seen so much that you would love to know more about – and it’s hard having no one to share it all with. It’s pointless trying to discuss it with the others – they don’t understand…”

 

“Yes…. They don’t understand….” repeated Sam, staring at the three men in front of her.

 

She and Daniel exchanged a glance, and then both laughed.

“I miss this” they said in unison.

 

“Did you manage to get anything out of the meter thingy that the Jaffa were using?” asked Daniel.

 

“No. You destroyed it with the lightning.”

 

“Oh. Oops. Sorry.” He paused, hands in pockets. “Sam, I really do have to go soon.”

 

“I know.”

 

“And I want to talk to Teal’c before I leave.”

 

“I know.” She was fighting the tears back now.

 

He gave her a sheepish half smile. “We’d better go back to the others.”

 

Sam just nodded, and they rejoined the three men, who were now looking bored.

 

“Glad you came back, “ said Jack, “I was beginning to think there was some truth in the rumours about you two.”

 

“Rumours?” Daniel frowned at him

 

“You know – same kinda rumours as the ones ‘bout you n me, Danny-boy.”

 

“Oh – right. Completely unfounded.” Daniel looked at Teal’c, who stood impassively. “Teal’c, can I talk to you, alone?”

 

Teal’c bowed his head and followed Daniel to the spot where he’d been talking to Sam.

“What do you wish to discuss, Daniel Jackson?”

 

“Nothing much. I just wanted to see if you were okay.”

 

“I am well Daniel Jackson.” He paused, but Daniel sensed that he hadn’t finished speaking, so said nothing. “However, I wish you would return to the SGC. It is not as pleasant a place since you left.”

 

“I’m sorry to hear that Teal’c. How is it not as pleasant?”

 

“People are still grieving for your loss, and not just SG-1. Doctor Fraiser and most of the nursing staff are still very upset at your passing.”

 

“They are?”

 

“Indeed Daniel Jackson. There are a great many people at the SGC who thought very highly of you. As do I.”

 

Daniel looked at the ground, embarrassed by what Teal’c had just told him. He didn’t think that many people outside SG-1, with the possible exception of Janet, would have cared about him, at least not enough to affect the atmosphere at the SGC.

“Thanks Teal’c. I…um… when I was…. I…er…I heard what you said to me when I was dying. It meant…no it means a great deal to me that you feel that way. You’re one of my closest friends, Teal’c, part of my family.” He met Teal’c’s eyes.

 

The big man bowed in acknowledgement of his friend’s words.

“Daniel Jackson. I am honoured that you see me that way, after all that I have done to hurt you in the past…”

 

Daniel silenced him with a raised finger.

“Teal’c – it’s in the past. We’ve moved on. None of that matters anymore, and hasn’t for quite some time.” He stretched out his hand and placed it on Teal’c’s shoulder.

 

Like the others, Teal’c felt an overwhelming sense of peace, warmth and love emanating from the contact. Eyes closed, he basked in the warmth until it gradually ebbed away. Opening his eyes, he bowed again to Daniel.

“Thank you Daniel Jackson.”

 

The two of them returned to the group.

 

“I guess I’d better go before I completely wear myself out and get told off again.” Daniel looked slightly unhappy at the prospect of leaving his friends again. “It’s…. been nice spending some time with you…”

 

“Do it again sometime?” asked Jack.

 

“Maybe. I don’t know.” Daniel shrugged, his eyes starting to fill with tears. “Sam, if you ever figure that thing out, please let me know. We really could do with the information.”

 

Sam just nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She and Daniel smiled warmly at each other.

 

“Teal’c.”

 

The Jaffa bowed deeply, his hand on his heart.

“Fare Well Daniel Jackson” he intoned.

 

“Jonas.” The two men each nodded briefly in the other’s direction.

 

“See you around Jack.” Smiling through his tears, Daniel dissolved into the glowing form of his new existence, and moved away towards the Stargate.

 

Jack watched his friend go, before whispering

“See you around….Tinkerbell.”

 

* fin *

Love it? Hate it? Let me know either way!

Athene

 

On to Salvation