Salvation

 

• RATING:           PG-13
• CATEGORY:     Action, Angst, H/C
• SERIES:           Ascended Daniel, Part 2. Sequel to Reunion
• PAIRINGS:        None
• CONTENT WARNINGS: Language, allusion to sexual situations.
• SPOILERS:       Post Meridian, so anything and everything up to then is possible. Specifically – FiaD, the Curse, Absolute Power, In the Line of Duty, echoes of Abyss, but it won’t spoil it if you haven’t seen it. . Many, many thanks to Ali, for doing such a sterling job of betaing and telling me why I wasn’t happy with it.
• AUTHOR'S NOTE: I started this series before Abyss aired, so there was a deviation from what has now become canon. However, having now seen Abyss, I have tried to address that deviation to a certain extent, although it will never be exactly in line.

 

 

For Prue.

 

*****

 

 

She was roused from sleep by intense pain.

“No. Leave me alone,” she whispered, “I won’t tell you.”

 

“You will,” he gloated, “you know you cannot fight me.”

 

It had gone on like this for what felt like eternity. Moments of blackness, followed by intense pain, and then the endless questioning. She tried to hold back, to refuse him the information he craved, but she was growing ever weaker, and found it harder and harder not to tell him what he wanted to know.

 

He would use the knowledge he had acquired from her to trigger memories, and then he would use those memories to strip the information he wanted from her mind. These were her most intimate thoughts, things that no one else knew, and he took them at will. She felt violated, stripped bare, her most precious moments taken, dissected and laid open for him to peruse at his leisure. This was mental abuse of the worst kind. It was rape of her mind, simple as that.

 

“So,” he whispered, “tell me of Daniel Jackson.”

 

“No.” Unbidden, an image of Daniel’s face came into her mind. He was the way she liked to remember him best - smiling and relaxed.

 

Instantly, he pounced on this memory, probing, bringing further images to bear. After so long playing with her mind, he knew exactly what the triggers were, how to bring everything tumbling out, one private moment after another. He particularly liked the most intimate parts of their relationship, and so would probe anything that brought those memories to the fore. He had his favourites, and would replay these over and over again, until she was praying for a release from this mental hell, even death would be welcome.

 

Today, he concentrated on one event that he particularly enjoyed, her and Daniel in a storeroom.  A secretive sexual encounter amongst the artefacts, made all the more erotic by the fact that the rest of the world was just outside the door. If anyone had found them, they would have been in trouble with the authorities, and that just heightened their passion.

 

“He is an interesting man, this Daniel Jackson,” murmured Osiris, as he played his victim’s mind like a video. “I would have like to have him for a host.”

 

“No. He would…never…have…let you,” she gasped, the pain from his torture making resistance impossible. “Anyway, he’s dead.”

 

“Such a pity,” sighed the Goa’uld. “Now, tell me more.” He increased the pain in her mind, and Sarah screamed silently in her torment.

 

*

 

The wormhole splashed open on P7Y-890, and after a brief pause, SG-1 emerged through the event horizon.

 

They found themselves in the central square of a town. A few passers-by looked at them on arrival, but the majority just ignored their presence. It was fairly obvious that travellers came and went through the Stargate frequently enough for this not to cause concern or excitement.

 

The ground was wet, as if it had recently rained, and there was a chill in the air that gave a distinctly autumnal feel. The appearance of the buildings and the dress of the people around them were reminiscent of eighteenth century Northern Europe, but no one pointed this out. Despite previous comments from Jack that this was a good thing, the three original members of SG-1 missed it.

 

From a street to their left, there was a constant babble of noise. Something was happening down there. Jack and Teal’c both listened for a moment.

 

“Sounds like a party to me,” declared Jack after a while.

 

“Indeed. There is nothing that sounds like we need to be unduly concerned, O’Neill.” Teal’c stood scanning his surroundings.

 

“Okay, let’s go investigate. But keep your eyes peeled for signs of trouble.” O’Neill led his team towards the side street, Sam and Jonas in the middle, Teal’c bringing up the rear.

 

SG-1 rounded the corner to find a market in full swing. Gaily coloured stalls were arranged either side of the street, and people thronged around them. It was fairly obvious that not everyone was from this town, as there were a large number of people dressed completely inappropriately for the climate.

 

“Well this might explain the reaction, or lack of it, to our arrival, sir – it looks like people come from all over to this market,” commented Sam.

 

 “Let’s be careful,” murmured Jack, as a woman in clothing reminiscent of that worn by the majority of the Goa’uld walked by. “You never know who might be coming here.”

 

“It’s alright, sir, I’m not getting anything, she’s not a Goa’uld.”

 

“That’s as maybe, Carter, but heads up anyway.”

 

The four of them fanned out through the market, looking at what was for sale on the stalls, and at the people around them. Sam walked alongside Jonas, scanning the faces around her, one eye on the produce being sold. She wasn’t really sure what she was looking for on the stalls, but she knew who she was looking for amongst the sea of faces.

 

Daniel.

 

Having encountered him just once, three months ago, on P5X-931, she now understood something he had once told her. After Sha’re’s death the two of them had been talking about the ‘dream‘ that he’d had while in the grip of Ammonet’s ribbon device. He had told her that in it he’d tried to leave the SGC, and Jack had tried to talk him out of it. He had told Jack that he couldn’t do it anymore, now that the hope of finding Sha’re on each planet they visited had been destroyed. Sam now understood what he had meant – every time she went through the gate, she wondered if this would be the time they encountered Daniel again.

 

“Major Carter.” Jonas’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Have you seen these?” He was looking at a stall to her right. It was set somewhat apart from the others and the townspeople appeared to be giving both it, and the rather strange looking stall-holder a wide berth.

 

She joined him, and found herself looking at a number of items of Goa’uld origin. She picked up a ribbon device. “Are these for sale?” she asked the stallholder. The dark-skinned man looked at her with strange yellow eyes, and replied in a language quite unlike anything she’d ever heard before. “Jonas?” Her team mate shrugged. ‘Daniel, where are you when we need you?’ she thought. She picked up a healing device and was examining it when something towards the back of the table caught her eye. Putting the other devices down she stretched her hand out towards it.

“Jonas…. have you seen this?”

 

He turned back to her and looked at the object she had just picked up. “Is that what I think it is?” he asked.

 

She nodded and looked round for their companions. Spotting them browsing at a stall just across the street, she called them over. “Colonel!”

 

Jack and Teal’c moved to join the others.

 

“Whatcha got Carter? Something more exciting than purple potato things I hope. We haven’t seen a single stall selling anything other than fruit or vegetables.”

 

 “This stall is selling Goa’uld technology, and they’ve got…this.” Sam held out the object for them to look at.

 

“What is that?” Jack squinted at it.

 

“I believe that is what Major Carter has dubbed the glow detector, O’Neill.” Teal’c raised one eyebrow.

 

“Ya mean…that thing that can tell us if Daniel’s around?” Jack raised one eyebrow. “Put it back Carter.”

 

“Sir? I can’t understand the guy behind the stall, and neither can Jonas, but it appears to be for sale…”

 

“Carter, put it back on the stall. That’s an order.” Jack’s voice remained at a normal level, but he frowned at his 2IC.

 

“Sir, if we can get to study a working example of this, we may be able to help Daniel and the others. The one that we have is so badly damaged that I’ve really not been able to….” Jack held up his hand to silence her.

 

“An order, Carter.” Jack was beginning to lose patience with Sam.

 

“But Sir…”

 

“Doesn’t anyone think it a little odd that in the middle of what is, to all intents and purposes, a country market, there is a guy selling Goa’uld technology?” Jack glared from one member of his team to another. “It could be a trap for crying out loud!” He grabbed the gadget from Carter’s hand and put it back on the stall. He smiled at the stall holder as he did so. “Thank you. Not today.” He dragged the protesting Major out of the market street and back towards to main square, Jonas and Teal’c trailing along behind them.

 

Unseen by the departing humans, the stall-holder turned his back on the market, and reached into his cloak. Pulling out a small device, he spoke into it briefly. His purpose for being here now complete, he replaced the communication device under his cloak, and began to pack up the objects spread out on the stall.

 

Once back in the now almost deserted main square, away from the crowds and potential danger, Jack turned his fury on Sam. “Carter, what were you thinking? For crying out loud! I expect better from you!”

 

“Sir! We need that device.” Her frustration at having her hands on a working model was clear.

 

“Carter. I gave you an order. Damn it Major, I expect you to follow orders!” He pushed his cap back and scrubbed his hands through his hair in frustration. “How much do we need this thing?”

 

“Sir, if we can examine one that is still operational we might be able to engineer our own. Besides, Daniel said that anything we could find out about it could be really helpful for them as well…sir.” She didn’t miss the subtle change in Jack’s expression at her mention of Daniel. His demeanour had moved from irritated and slightly angry to pensive tinged with sorrow.

 

“Colonel O’Neill. We managed to dissect the example that we brought back with us from P5X-931, but we have not been able to establish anything of use, as it was too badly damaged. We feel sure that if we can look at one that is, as Major Carter says, still operational, we may be able to provide both ourselves and Doctor Jackson with assistance in our battle with the Goa’uld.” Jonas tried his best to add weight to Sam’s argument.

 

Jack, however, wasn’t buying it. He was angry that Carter should be carried away enough to let her guard down. Jonas’ attempt to sway him by repeating Carter’s reasoning was merely enough to infuriate him. He was rapidly losing his temper. “Right. Let’s move out and work out what else there is around this place. I need to think about this doohickey. Teal’c, take point. I’ll watch our six.”

 

The four of them set off across the square, in the opposite direction to the market. About five minutes after they had gone, the Stargate activated. Unlike SG-1’s arrival, the group who stepped through the event horizon grabbed the attention of the few people who were around. One or two ran off toward the market, so that the crowds there would soon be aware of the arrival of the visiting Goa’uld and his Jaffa.

 

*

 

Having reached the far boundary of the town, without encountering anything of interest, SG-1 were slowly making their way back towards the gate. Teal’c still had point, but Sam now brought up the rear. Suddenly, Teal’c held his arm up in the standard gesture to halt.

 

“What is it Teal’c?” hissed Jack.

 

“A Jaffa patrol. Coming this way.”

 

SG-1 barely had time to duck down an alleyway before the patrol marched past. Hidden behind an upturned cart, the four of them watched in silence as four Jaffa marched in formation down the street. After waiting for a while to ensure they had gone, and weren’t returning, Jack moved to peer round the corner of the street, then dashed back to rejoin the others in their hiding place.

 

“They’ve set up right at the end of the street, and there’s another guard at the other end.” Jack looked round at his team. “Carter. See if there’s a way out back there.”

 

Sam nodded and disappeared down the alleyway and round a corner.  A few moments later her voice came over the radio. “Sir, there’s a passageway running between the buildings, and the other end of it isn’t guarded. I’ll stay here and keep watch.”

 

“Okay, Carter, we’re on the way.” Jack signalled to the two other men, and they headed off in the direction that Sam had taken earlier. They found the passageway quite easily - it was narrow and muddy, but they quickly navigated its length and found Sam crouched down out of sight near its entrance. Leaving Teal’c and Jonas guarding the way they had come, Jack joined her.

 

“So Carter, what have we got?” he whispered.

 

“There are two Jaffa guarding the crossroads down there,” she nodded her head in the right direction before continuing, “but there is another passageway like this just over the street. If we dash across one at a time, sir, we should be able to get there without being seen. These Jaffa are pretty… relaxed. I’d hardly say they were on full alert.”

 

“Okay.” Jack turned round and beckoned to Teal’c and Jonas, who joined them. “Right, Teal’c, we’re headed over to that passageway there, one at a time, when those Jaffa aren’t paying attention. I want you to go first.”

 

Teal’c positioned himself at the end of the passageway, ready to sprint across the road when the opportunity arose. The Jaffa guarding the crossroads were soon engaged in conversation, not paying attention to the streets they were supposed to be guarding. Teal’c nodded to Jack, and took his chance. He sprinted across the street and disappeared into the passageway. For a moment or two, the others held their collective breath waiting for Teal’c to let them know everything was alright. Jonas visibly jumped when Jack’s radio crackled into life.

 

“O’Neill. This passageway is clear. It is not as long as the first, but there are no Jaffa at this next junction.”

 

“Thanks Teal’c. We’re on our way.” Jack indicated to Jonas that he should follow Teal’c. The younger man swallowed nervously and nodded. He waited his chance and dashed across the street to join Teal’c on the other side.

 

Five minutes later, and SG-1 was reunited within the second passageway. As Teal’c had said, it was much shorter than the first one they had been in. It was also completely straight, and somewhat wider, leaving the four of them easy to spot for anyone passing either end. Feeling somewhat exposed, Jack indicated that they should move out as soon as they could.  

 

Just then the familiar sound of marching Jaffa warriors filled the air.

 

“Damn it!” hissed Jack. “Right, there’s nowhere to hide, and if we stay here and fight it out I don’t give us good odds. We could lie low and hope they don’t look here, or we could make a run for it. Any better ideas?” Jack looked at the other three. They all shook their heads. He edged his way to the end of the passageway and peered out gingerly. He took stock of the situation for a few moments.

 

Creeping back join the others as they huddled against the wall, away from each end of the passage, he squatted down next to Sam before relating what he’d seen. “Okay. We’re stuck here for the time being. There’s about twenty Jaffa at the intersection that way, and the road curves so I can’t tell what’s waiting for us the other way. However, I did hear at least one other patrol marching down there. I could see another alleyway a short distance away, but it’s way closer to the Jaffa patrol than I’m comfortable with. I’m not going to risk our lives making a mad dash for something that could just as easily be full of a Goa’uld’s honour guard.”

 

“Sir. Why do you think they’re here?” Jack frowned in response to Sam’s question. “Do you think that that stall was a trap?”

 

“Major Carter, I believe that this could be the first wave of an invasion. The Goa’uld who these warriors serve has decided to add this planet to those under his control.” Teal’c delivered this news stony faced.

 

“So where does that leave us Teal’c?” Jack glared at the big man.

 

“The patrols will sweep through the town and hunt down anyone who attempts to escape. Anyone who resists capture will be killed.”

 

“Great. Chances of getting through to the Stargate?”

 

“Extremely remote.”

 

Jack grimaced. It looked like they were going to have to try and fight it out if they stood any chance at all of evading capture, but looking at the size of the patrols, there were hundreds of Jaffa descending on the town. He took a deep breath before speaking to his team, but two death gliders passing overhead drowned out his opening words. Jonas watched them going over, fascination and awe etched on his features. Jack realised it was the first time the man had seen death gliders. “Okay kids, this doesn’t look good, but we’ve faced worse and lived to tell the tale, so…”

 

“Worse? What can possibly be worse than this?” Jonas was incredulous. His only response was three pairs of eyes focussed on his face. Jonas shook his head, and the others turned back to keeping watch.

 

“O’Neill…” Teal’c warned. They could all hear the rhythmic marching of a Jaffa patrol growing ever closer. The four of them shrank back into the walls, desperate for a hiding place. Using hand signals, Jack indicated that they should move towards the other end of the passage, away from the approaching Jaffa. Slowly, as silently as possible, they crept back the way they had come.

 

On reaching the other end, Jack gingerly peered round the corner, trying to work out where the Jaffa warriors guarding the crossroads now were. To his horror, they were coming down the street towards their hiding place. He ducked back into the corridor, hoping he hadn’t been seen.

 

“Kree! Kree!” Even before the Jaffa appeared at the exit to the passageway, SG-1 had their weapons ready to fight. 

 

“O’Neill. I believe our chances are better if we do not attempt to do battle with these Jaffa. We may be able to escape if we allow ourselves to be captured, but if we fight we will almost certainly be killed.” Teal’c nodded at the opposite end of the alleyway as he spoke.

 

Jack turned his head to look in the direction that Teal’c had indicated. Two further Jaffa stood at the far end of the alleyway, staff weapons trained on the four of them. SG-1 was effectively trapped. Jack looked at his team, and shook his head. “I think Teal’c’s right…agreed?”

 

Reluctantly, Sam nodded her agreement. Jack glanced briefly at Jonas, before he held his gun over his head, and then bent over and placed it on the ground in front of him. The others followed suit. Once Teal’c placed his staff weapon next to Jack and Sam’s P90s and Jonas’s sidearm, the Jaffa at the end of the alley nearest to SG-1 moved in and removed the weapons.

 

Their hands tied behind their backs, SG-1 were marched at speed by ten Jaffa warriors to the main square. On arrival, they were forced to their knees in front of the Stargate.

 

“My Lord,” intoned the warrior in charge of this particular group as he bowed to the Goa’uld. “We encountered this group hiding in a side street. Their arms do not appear to be of this world.”

 

The slim figure of the invading Goa’uld stood near the dais that the Stargate was mounted on with his back to them. At the warrior’s words, the Goa’uld turned, eyes glowing. After studying the four of them for a moment, the Goa’uld eventually broke the silence.

 

“You are correct. These are not of this world. I have encountered these warriors of the Tau’ri before.” He strode to Sam and lifted her face with the hand on which he wore the ribbon device. “Major Carter. This is an unexpected pleasure…” Osiris sneered at the captives in front of him, immense satisfaction etched onto his face.

 

*

 

Two hours later, Osiris was not looking nearly so pleased. His host’s once pretty features were contorted with rage and frustration at being unable to break SG-1’s silence. Questioning had given way to beatings, which had in turn given way to the almost inevitable use of the ribbon device.

 

“Fools! You will soon be begging to tell me the codes for the Tau’ri Chappa’ai. Be assured - I will return.” Osiris spat the words out and swept out of the room, followed by his first prime and all but two Jaffa warriors. These two took up position just outside the door, staff weapons ready for the first sign of trouble.

 

Jack slowly lifted his head from the floor, where he had lain since his last beating by Osiris’s Jaffa.

“Teal’c? Carter? Jonas?”

 

“Sir? You okay?” Sam was sitting slumped against the wall, still slightly groggy from the battering she had undergone. Her face was bruised and her forehead was reddened from Osiris’s onslaught with the ribbon device.

 

 “I’m just about okay, Carter. Teal’c?” Jack looked at the Jaffa, who was also sitting in a corner of the room.

 

“I will be okay, O’Neill. I do not, however, believe that the same can be said of Jonas Quinn.”

 

Jack struggled to sit up and glanced across at the fourth member of the team. Jonas lay face down on the floor, unconscious. “What happened to him?” He gingerly touched his own face, as if to assess the damage, which fortunately seemed to be limited to heavy bruising.

 

Sam glanced at the prone figure. “I think it was the ribbon device sir. I think Daniel was right – you do appear to get used to them. This is the first time that Jonas has ever been…er…”

 

“Ribboned?” volunteered Jack.

 

“Yessir. Ribboned.” Sam moved carefully over to the younger man, and turned him onto his side. A large red burn mark could be seen across his brow line and the top of his nose. She reached into a pocket and retrieved a tissue, so she could wipe the small trickle of blood that ran from Jonas’s nose. “He looks bad, sir.”

 

“Okay.” Jack slowly got up off the floor. “So, Tee – how do we get out of here?”

 

The big man shook his head. “I do not believe that it will be easy for us to escape from our present location. Aside from the fact that there are armed guards outside the room, we have no weapons. In addition to this Jonas Quinn is unconscious so will be unable to assist in an unarmed attack, and I myself have an injury to my shoulder.”

 

“Teal’c! When I ask you if you’re all right, that’s when you tell me you’re hurt, for crying out loud! Can Junior take care of it?”

 

“I do not believe so, O’Neill.”

 

Jack shook his head and moved over to where the big man was sat in the corner. He ran his hands gently over both of Teal’c’s shoulders, seeing if he could detect the injury. It was fairly obvious that the right one was dislocated. “Okay, Tee, let’s see if we can sort you out a bit. Carter, can you leave Jonas a second and give me a hand here?”

 

Sam made sure that Jonas was safely in the recovery position and then joined Jack by Teal’c.

 

“Okay, Carter, Teal’c – this shoulder is dislocated. I’m thinking Junior will be able to deal with it if it’s back in position – am I right?”

 

“Your assumption is correct, O’Neill.”

 

“Okay. So, Carter, I want you to do the twist push bit while I hold Teal’c here nice and steady. Okay?”

 

Sam nodded at Jack, and pulled Teal’c’s arm up into the starting position. “Okay, I’m ready. Just tell me when.” She smiled at Teal’c who was gritting his teeth in readiness.

 

Jack placed himself on the opposite side to Sam, and held Teal’c steady. “Okay, Carter, on three…one, two, three!”

 

Sam pushed Teal’c’s arm back into position, and with a small, but audible click, it went back into place. Teal’c grunted with the pain, and leaned back into Jack with a small sigh.

 

 Sam ran her hands over the joint to check the positioning. “That’s back in place. Ideally we should strap it into place, but that’s impossible at the moment. How does it feel, Teal’c?”

 

“Better, thank you Major Carter.” He moved away from Jack and leaned against the wall, his eyes closed.

 

Sam smiled, patted his arm and went back to looking after Jonas. There wasn’t a lot she could do, having no med kit, but at least she could monitor his vitals and make sure he didn’t swallow his tongue. She sat down and made herself comfortable next to the stricken man.

 

Jack and Teal’c stayed side by side, leaning against the wall. Both men had their eyes closed. Jack opened his eyes and looked at Sam and Jonas on the other side of the room. “Dammit!”

 

Sam stared up at her CO at his angry explosion. “Sir?”

 

“It’s alright Carter. Just a little…frustrated I guess.” She raised one eyebrow and fixed Jack with a quizzical stare. He caught her eye. “Really Carter.” She nodded and turned her attentions back to Jonas.

 

About twenty minutes silence, during which each of the three conscious members of SG-1 worked through in their minds possible escape plans, the unmistakable sound of an approaching Jaffa patrol echoed round the cell.

 

The First Prime and two other warriors entered.

“You!” Jack was singled out. He was grabbed by his arms and dragged out of the room by the two warriors accompanying the First Prime. Looking at the three remaining prisoners, the leader spoke, “You’d better pray that he is less resistant this time, otherwise the next time you see him will be when you replace his corpse on my Lord Osiris’s interrogation table.” With these words, he swept from the room.

 

“Teal’c…” Sam looked at the big man in the corner.

 

“Do not be overly concerned, Major Carter. It is a known tactic by Jaffa warriors to demoralise their prisoners prior to further interrogation. Even if O’Neill is not returned to this room, he may be neither dead nor have given Osiris any information.”

 

“If Osiris does choose to question the Colonel until he gives up the information or dies, we won’t see him alive….” She suddenly choked on her own words.

 

“Indeed. O’Neill would die rather than betray Earth, and, rest assured Major Carter, so would I.” Teal’c inclined his head in Sam’s direction. Although his face was solemn, there was the merest hint of a smile in his eyes.

 

“Same goes for all three of us Teal’c,” she whispered in reply, giving the big man a thin smile.

 

*

 

In the room where Osiris had set up his torture chamber, Jack was strung up by his arms and legs on a bizarre metal frame. The two Jaffa who had dragged him all the way by his arms fixed him into an upright ‘X’ position by his wrists and ankles, and then went and stood just outside the door. Jack tried to work out the lay of the land by twisting as far as he could within his restraints, but as far as he could see the room was empty apart from himself and the device in which he hung. He studied the device as best he could, but he really couldn’t work out what it was for. Initially it had appeared to be merely a means of restraining the prisoner, but closer study revealed a number of areas along the side that looked similar to the control panels found on a Goa’uld ship. As he was craning his neck to try and work out what they might be for, Osiris swept into the room accompanied by three Jaffa. Each of the Jaffa was carrying a Goa’uld pain stick.

 

“Hello Osiris. Fancy seeing you here.”

 

At Jack’s words, the Goa’uld’s eyes flashed in anger.

 

“Silence! I will not tolerate such insolence!” Osiris moved to stand in front of Jack, hands on hips. “You will give me the information I require, now, or your friends will die, slowly.”

 

Jack fixed the false god with a defiant stare. “Go to hell.”

 

A slap across Jack’s face accompanied the first word of Osiris’ response.

“Fool! You have no idea what you are dealing with, do you? You are out of your depth Tau’ri. Let me assure you that my Lord Anubis will soon crush the Earth, with or without your precious codes.” Osiris walked away from Jack and now stood with his back to his prisoner, hands on hips.

 

In a fleeting moment of totally inappropriate thought, given his current predicament, it struck Jack that although all the Goa’uld loved posturing, Osiris seemed to do it more often and more dramatically than most. How appropriate that he’s in a female host, thought Jack, he strikes poses like a drag queen.

 

The Goa’uld turned back to Jack, eyes glowing.  “I require other information, Tau’ri. I want to know where Daniel Jackson is.”

 

Jack was confused. Hadn’t Carter told Osiris that Daniel was dead? “Daniel’s dead.”

 

“You lie!” Osiris scanned the room with eyes narrowed, as if looking for something. “We know he is not dead. We know that he has become one of the Arash’kna. We know that you are his friends, and that he remains in contact with you. Tell me how to contact him.”

 

Arash’kna? What was that? Jack merely stared silently back at his interrogator, as he tried to fathom out what the Goa’uld was asking for.

 

“We know that Daniel Jackson is here, on this planet.” This confused Jack. He felt a small glimmer of hope. If Daniel was here then maybe everything wasn’t lost. Osiris continued his questioning. “Your presence here leads me to believe that you were to meet with him. What were you planning? How were you to make contact?” The Goa’uld glowered at Jack, and then struck him across the face once more. “Answer me!”

 

Osiris now placed his mouth really close to Jack’s ear, and spoke in a low, controlled voice that was somehow more menacing than the shouting. “Answer me Tau’ri. Tell me how to contact Daniel Jackson.”

 

“A séance?” offered Jack, having decided to stick with the Daniel-is-dead story.

 

Osiris stood back up, and nodded to one of the Jaffa, who placed the pain stick on the back of Jack’s neck. He screamed in agony as the charge swept through his body. “Tell me how to contact Daniel Jackson, or you will die.”

 

The Jaffa removed the pain stick, and Jack sagged as far as his bindings would allow.  Summoning up as much strength as he could he shook his head. “Dan…dead…” he gasped.

 

Osiris rolled his eyes heavenwards. “Oh dear. You are going to persist with your little lie, aren’t you?” He bent down so his face was level with Jack’s. When he spoke again, it was in an intimate, almost conspiratorial tone. “I know Daniel isn’t dead. I know he’s ascended and joined Oma Desala and the rest of the Arash’kna. I know you’ve seen him recently, and I would love to see him again. So would Sarah, my host. They used to…be intimate you know.” Osiris looked up at Jack through his eyelashes, and fluttered his eyelids a little. “Go on… Jack, isn’t it? Go on Jack, be a love and tell me how we can contact Darling Daniel, so that we can re-unite him and Sarah again…”  

 

Osiris reached out and touched one of the controls on the device. Jack felt something a little like pins and needles starting where his wrists and ankles were bound. The sensations spread through the whole of each limb, until it became an agonising vibration, hurting right through to the bone. He struggled to remain conscious. “No.”

 

“Very well. Persist with your pathetic cover story. No doubt your continued presence here will be enough. Knowing Daniel Jackson as we do, we are sure that seeing his friends in trouble will be enough to bring him here.” Osiris moved towards the door. Just before leaving the room, he turned to his First Prime. “You and your men may practice your torture techniques on them all. If the Arash’kna appears, you will inform me immediately.”

 

The Goa’uld swept out of the room with a flourish. As the three Jaffa closed in on him, Jack’s heart sank into his boots.

 

 

*

 

 

In a village several days journey away, three children were playing a game of ‘Truth or Dare’. Pieti, a five year old boy had been dared to request that the healer would do some magic. Word had got out amongst the other children in the community, and as Pieti made his way slowly through the streets towards his target, a small crowd was gathering behind him.

 

Although the healer wasn’t scary as such, there were many stories told - both by the children and the adults of the village – that he could become invisible, that he could fly, or walk through walls. There were even tales of strange lights coming from the house that had been given to him, late at night, when everyone was in bed. Some said he had been sent from the ancestors as a sign that they were deviating from the path of righteousness and would be punished if they didn’t change their ways.

 

The only thing that everybody knew for a fact was that they had been sick, and the healer had cured them. A horrible plague had infected the village, and half the population had been wiped out before the healer had appeared. To the amazement of the villagers, he had managed to cure them, even those close to death, just by laying his hands on them.

 

Since that day, he had been elevated to the highest possible status within the village. They had given him one of the houses that had stood empty since its occupants had died from the plague. He was revered, and invited to all the village council’s meetings, although he rarely turned up. When he did, the advice he gave or comments he made were accepted without question. Without realising it, the villagers had elevated this man to the level of a demi-god.

 

Inside the house, Daniel Jackson was aware of the approaching posse of children. He smiled to himself, and made sure he was in the correct physical status for visitors. Recently, he had spent some considerable time with Shifu, who had taught him how to appear to be physical flesh and blood. It still took him a lot of energy to sustain, so he only used it when absolutely necessary.

 

He watched the leader of the group approaching with quiet amusement. The small fair-haired boy was marching determinedly across the village green, his face a mask of concentration. It was so obvious that he was terrified, but he would do whatever he had to in order to win his friends’ respect. An exceptionally bright child, little Pieti reminded Daniel of himself at that age – hanging around with kids who were much older, and consequently having to constantly prove himself to them. The blond hair and blue eyes did nothing to dissuade Daniel that this boy was his kindred spirit.

 

As Pieti strode towards Daniel’s door, one of the older boys grabbed his arm, obviously in an attempt to stop Pieti making a complete idiot of himself. Daniel recognised the boy as Djaq, a name that sounded almost exactly like Jack. He’d treated him the day before for a broken arm, which he’d passed off as bad bruising, rather than trying to explain how he’d fixed a broken bone with a poultice. He used these harmless concoctions to mask how he really healed people – with his hands and mind.

 

As he watched the two boys, Daniel had to stifle a giggle, because Pieti reacted in exactly the way he would if Jack tried to stop him from following a particular course of action – with anger and frustration. Unlike Daniel, who vented his feelings on such matters with words, Pieti took a much more direct approach – he yanked his arm out of Djaq’s hand, then, when he found it put back on there again, put both hands firmly on the older boy’s chest and pushed, hard. 

 

Poor Djaq went tumbling over backwards and cracked his head on one of the white stones that ringed the village green. He lay still.

 

Pieti rushed to his friend’s side in a panic. “Djaq? Djaaaaq? Are you alright…?  HEEEEELLLLLLLLP!” The last word was screamed at full volume to anyone who might have been in the vicinity.

 

Fortunately, Daniel had seen what happened, and had already crossed half the distance between his house and the child. He pushed his way through the children who had surrounded the stricken boy, and squatted down beside him. He ran his hands over Djaq’s head, trying to work out what was wrong. The lad was out cold, and Daniel quickly established that he had a fractured skull. He concentrated hard, and in a matter of moments, reduced the swelling and knitted the bones back together.

 

Unfortunately, in his haste, he hadn’t bothered to open the door; he’d just passed straight through it. Worse, a number of the children had seen this. As Djaq’s eyelids fluttered, Daniel helped him sit up, saying

“You’re okay. Just took a bit of a tumble, you’ll be okay.” He smiled at the boy, and then looked up at the group gathered round them both. “He’ll be fine…” Daniel tailed off as he registered the expressions of wide-eyed disbelief on most of the faces around him.

 

“He went through the door.”

 

“He did magic…” The sound of the children’s awed whispers was suddenly cut through by a harsher, adult tone. It was one of the few people in the village who distrusted Daniel and what he had done for them.

 

The baker’s wife stood, hands on hips, a venomous expression on her face. “Witch!”

 

 A small crowd of adults was gathering, trying to see what  all the commotion was about. Enjoying her central position in it all, Daniel’s heckler continued. “Demon!”

 

One or two adults rushed forward and grabbed their children from the group around Daniel. Someone picked up the cry until a low chant rippled through the group. “Witch, witch, witch!”

 

Daniel’s heart sank as he realised what a momentary loss of concentration had cost him. He gave Djaq a quick glance to reassure himself that the boy was no longer in danger, and then, realising that his stay in the village was over, he vanished.

 

For a split second, there was a stunned silence, and then the entire crowd ran home, screaming.

 

Daniel stayed around the village for about an hour, just to check that no one was ostracising those people who had received treatment from him.  He drifted around, totally invisible, watching and listening. Fortunately, most of the adults in the village dismissed the children’s tales as foolishness, or mass hysteria induced by one or two telling stupid stories. Nevertheless, he decided that he would need to return at some point in the not too distant future, to ensure that there was no witch-hunt, to coin a phrase, going on. 

 

Finally tearing himself away from the villagers who had welcomed him over the last two months, he headed off towards the main town and the Stargate. Although it was possible for him to travel short distances through space, his intended destination was so far across the galaxy that he would be ill-advised to attempt it without using a Stargate.

 

As he had watched the interaction between Pieti and Djaq, thoughts of Jack O’Neill had flooded his mind. It reminded him of what he had been about to do before he had stumbled across this stricken village. He had been going home, to Earth, and that was where he was going to go now. At least the delay had meant that he had been able to prevent a major disaster, by ending the disease here, in the village where it had started, before it had had a chance to spread. He’d been fairly certain that the disease he’d found decimating the village population was bubonic plague. Stopping it before the next market day at the nearest town had meant it hadn’t passed outside this village.

 

*

 

In the silence of the cell, Sam sat staring into space. She was supposed to be keeping an eye on Jonas, but he seemed to be stable. Teal’c was in Kel’noreem, to allow his symbiote to help his shoulder heal. She wondered what was happening with the Colonel, whether they’d ever see him alive again.

 

She glanced at her watch, trying to ascertain how long they had been here, but found herself staring at the space on her wrist where her watch usually was. It had been removed, along with anything other than the clothes she stood up in. Even the laces had been removed from her boots.

 

“Teal’c…” she looked up at the big man. There was no response – he was so deep in his meditative state. She checked Jonas one last time, and went and sat next to Teal’c. Her right shoulder gently contacted his arm as she sat down, and that small physical touch comforted her somewhat, and helped her to relax a little.

 

The door to the cell suddenly opened, and Jack was dragged into the cell. He was dropped, unceremoniously, onto the floor, and then the two Jaffa left.

 

“Sir!” Sam rushed to her CO’s side. As she did so, Teal’c opened his eyes.

 

“I’m okay Carter, just a little battered.” Jack winced and let out an involuntary groan as he struggled to sit up. “Okay, make that just a lot battered.”

 

Sam helped him to sit up against the wall next to Teal’c. “What did Osiris want, Sir?”

 

Jack looked at her, his brown eyes troubled. “Daniel. He wants Daniel.”

 

*

 

Approaching the town, Daniel was instinctively aware that something was wrong, even before he got close enough to see the Jaffa patrols. He could feel the panic and terror of the townspeople. It was so strong it almost overwhelmed him as he drew nearer. He struggled to push it into the background as he got closer. Suddenly, a second set of emotions cut through the first. This was anger and hatred, and it was as familiar to Daniel as if it were his own. It was Jack.

 

A whole cascade of thoughts tumbled through Daniel’s mind – if Jack was here, then he must be in trouble. He tried to focus on Jack, to work out where here was. The source of the anger was high above the planet in a Goa’uld mothership. Having pinpointed Jack’s whereabouts, Daniel moved to join his former team-mates.

 

*

 

In the cell, Jack was looking intently at Sam and Teal’c. The pain from Osiris’s torture was subsiding and he was finding it easier to think and speak.

 

“Osiris seems to think that Daniel is still alive. That he’s become something…one of the… Ash… something or other. I told him that Daniel was dead, but he just didn’t believe me.” Jack was fairly certain that the cell was under surveillance, if not visually, then certainly audibly. He wanted to be sure that they all had the same story before Osiris dragged any of the others off. Fortunately, so many years of working together meant that SG-1 tended to think the same way, and they could usually pick up one another’s train of thought in an almost telepathic manner.

 

“What did you say Osiris believed Daniel Jackson to have become, O’Neill?” Teal’c’s voice was quiet.

 

“I can’t remember exactly…Ash something or other.”

 

“Arash’kna?”

 

“That’s it Teal’c! What the hell is that?”

 

“Arash’kna means beings of light. They were thought to be mythical creations – like your Earth Angels, O’Neill. However, I now believe we have previously met one of these mythological beings – Oma Desala.”

 

“Oh, I see.” Jack was thankful for that virtual telepathy SG-1 had between them. Teal’c had guessed that Jack thought that the cell was bugged, and from the look on her face, Sam was equally aware. There was a brief moment of silence before Jack spoke again. When he did, his voice was low. “Remind me what makes Daniel worth it.”

 

“Sir?” Sam looked confused.

 

“Remind me why it’s worth us going through seven hells of torture for a dead team-mate, Carter. Tell me what was good about that geek Jackson!” This time, his voice was angry.

 

Sam stared at her CO sharply, then realised that he was using this to gain the strength to continue to resist Osiris’s torture, to stick to the story that Daniel was dead. “For a start Sir, he wasn’t a geek.”

 

“Daniel Jackson was a noble warrior, O’Neill.”

 

“Daniel? A warrior? Oh for crying out loud, Teal’c, don’t make me laugh!” Jack’s voice was laced with sarcasm.

 

“Indeed. He was prepared to fight should that prove necessary, but only if his more peaceful attempts to resolve the situation had failed.  If the cause was just, Daniel Jackson was prepared to adopt methods normally abhorrent to him.” Teal’c’s facial expression remained impassive, even though he too had understood what Jack was trying to achieve.

 

“I guess you’re right Teal’c.” Jack sounded as if he had grudgingly accepted Teal’c’s argument, and Sam had to admire her CO’s acting abilities.

 

“Sir, he died saving a whole planet from destruction.” She decided that reinforcing the Daniel is dead message wouldn’t go amiss.

 

“Yes – from something that was their own stupid fault!” Jack managed to sound as embittered as he had when Daniel had first ascended.

 

“Doesn’t that demonstrate in itself what a noble character Daniel was, Sir?” Sam was finding this all very difficult, talking about Daniel in this way, even though she thought she understood what Jack was trying to achieve.

 

“Okay – point taken, Carter.” Jack’s eyes were smiling, even though he appeared to be scowling. “Tell me something else nice about the wonderful Dr. Jackson.”

 

“He was a great cook Sir.”

 

“Great cook?” Jack scowled in Sam’s direction. “Teal’c gives me noble warrior and you give me great cook?”

 

“Well, I can’t cook half as well as he could.” Sam looked slightly embarrassed.

 

There was a brief pause before Jack spoke again. When he did, his voice was full of warmth. “He was a great cook, wasn’t he?”

 

“The best Sir.”  She smiled slightly. “Sometimes he would come and drag me out of my lab late at night after everyone else had gone home and then we’d go to one of our homes and he’d cook…”

 

“Daniel? The Daniel who I used to have to remind to eat?” Jack stared in amazement at Sam.

 

“Yes Sir. We were good for each other in that sense…” She smiled. “He used to say he spent far too much time with you, Sir, that you were rubbing off on him…” Jack looked insulted, but Sam didn’t see it. There was another pause before she spoke again. “I miss him.”

 

Jack met her eyes briefly before looking away as he spoke. “We all do, Carter. We all do.” Another silence.

 

“I think I’d better stop this before my head swells any more,” said a familiar voice. “Don’t say anything – I will not be seen or heard on any surveillance, but you will…”

 

Daniel appeared before them. “I see you got yourself into trouble again, Jack.” He raised his eyebrows as he scrutinised his friends.

 

“Okay. So Osiris and his goons currently have us in a tight spot. How do we get out of this one?” Jack glanced at Sam and Teal’c. They both seemed fully aware of what he was doing.

 

“No idea,” replied Sam.

 

“I cannot envisage an escape from our current predicament without some kind of assistance.” Teal’c stared in Daniel’s direction, apparently looking straight through him.

 

“So let’s review the situation. Osiris wants us to give him Daniel, who is dead. Unless we give him our dead friend’s rotting corpse, which is a little difficult under the circumstances, I cannot see us getting out of here alive.” Jack leaned his head back against the wall.

 

“This is not good,” said Daniel. “Let me have a think about this. Osiris makes things a bit more difficult, as he’s the one who’s got Anubis’s technology and can detect me.” He thought for a moment. “Any idea why he wants me?”

 

“I wish I had some idea why any of this is happening,” added Jack “These snakeheads are a law unto themselves.”

 

“Okay. What if I give myself to them?” suggested Daniel.

 

“No!” barked Jack, then realised what he’d said and pulled himself together. He looked up high, at where he thought the surveillance device was likely to be and yelled “We’ll never give in Osiris, never!”

 

“Jack, I can handle myself. I am able to do things that you couldn’t even begin to imagine. I am sure that I can gain the upper hand. I can use my knowledge of Sarah to…”

 

“We could try to reach Osiris’s host,” chipped in Sam.

 

“That is the stupidest idea I’ve heard in a long time,” said Jack, relieved that Sam had enabled him to respond to Daniel. “Daniel couldn’t get through to Sha’re when she was possessed by Ammonet. What makes you think anyone can get through to…what was her name…Sarah?”

 

Daniel frowned at Jack. “We did have a relationship Jack. In fact, we were virtually engaged…”

 

“That is irrelevant!” Osiris swept into the room, accompanied by four Jaffa. “Nothing of the host survives.” He stood, hands on hips, head at a defiant angle. “Daniel Jackson. What are you doing here?”

 

“Who? Me? Oh…nothing much. Got something in mind?” Daniel looked at Osiris, one eyebrow raised.

 

 As when Daniel had said those very words on the space station, Osiris was momentarily distracted by a memory flashed into his mind by Sarah. It was the very first time that Daniel had said those words. The two of them had bumped into each other in the stacks by the Egyptian catalogue. What Sarah had had in mind had tested Daniel’s evil streak, and had led to an afternoon spent having sex in the back of the stacks. It was one of the memories that Osiris frequently used to torment his host.

 

Suddenly enraged by this momentary loss of complete control over his host, Osiris glared at Daniel, a venomous expression on Sarah’s face. And then the expression changed, becoming softer, more feminine. When Osiris spoke, it was with Sarah’s voice. “So Doctor Jackson… do you remember the first time you ever said that to me? What we did? Where we did it?”

 

Daniel looked shocked. Of all the things he was expecting, this wasn’t it.

 

Osiris stood in front of him, smiling. He looked at SG-1 one eyebrow raised. Continuing to use Sarah’s voice, he spoke to them. “Do you know what a perverted man dear Daniel can be when he’s aroused? And I mean perverted in the nicest sense of course. Wasn’t that the line that led to…how can I put this…a most pleasurable experiment in the library?”

 

Daniel wasn’t looking at SG-1, but he sensed three sets of eyebrows being raised. “That wasn’t you, that was Sarah.”

 

Osiris ignored Daniel, and persisted with his current tactic. “What was it you used to like me to do…?”

 

“That was Sarah. Not you. You are merely a parasite.”

 

This was enough to stop Osiris’ little game. “Insolence! You have become complacent, Dr. Jackson. It must be touching to have such loyal friends – who are prepared to go through so much pain for you,” a sardonic sneer on his face, Osiris stepped closer to Daniel. “Now. You will tell me the secrets of the Arash’kna.”

 

“Arash’kna? Light…beings of light…” Daniel did a rapid translation. “What do you mean? I’m not Arash’kna.”

 

“How, then, do you explain your presence here?”

 

“I’m a ghost.”

 

“There is no such thing as a ghost, Tau’ri.” Osiris looked very confident.

 

“There are no such things as parasitic snakes that occupy the body of another either – or at least that’s what Sarah and I believed until not so long ago. Sarah – can you hear me?” He peered at the face in front of him, trying to spot the merest hint that she might still be in there.

 

“Nothing of the host survives. She cannot hear you any more than she can reply,” Osiris responded in a haughty tone, while trying to suppress the screaming inner voice of his host. Sarah was desperately yelling Daniel’s name, but was unable to gain any control of her body.

 

“Ah, but we all know that that is a lie!” Jack looked triumphantly at the Goa’uld. “Skaara and Sha’re both stayed hidden within, and were able to resurface. Let Sarah talk to Daniel.”

 

“Such insolence!” Osiris’s eyes flashed in anger. He turned to the first Jaffa of the accompanying group. “Bring Dr. Jackson.”

 

Daniel stood, arms crossed over his chest, a somewhat smug smile on his face. He was confident that he wasn’t going anywhere he didn’t want to – he was currently in his intangible form.

 

“You fool,” Osiris sneered at him. “Have you forgotten who I am allied to? Do you not know what power my Lord Anubis holds over you and your kind? You were confident that you could not be detected – you were wrong. I was aware of your presence from the moment you appeared to your friends. The Arash’kna are no longer the power they once believed themselves to be.”

 

A brief expression of doubt crossed Daniel’s features. It was so slight that it could be missed. He hadn’t really bargained on Osiris being able to see him on surveillance. “You want me?” he said defiantly. “You’ll have to catch me first.” With that, he promptly vanished.

 

The two Jaffa that had stepped forward to grab Daniel looked confused.

 

“You fools!” yelled Osiris. “Use the Arash’tinels!”

 

One Jaffa reached under his tunic and produced one of the glow detectors. He swept the cell with it.

“The Arash’kna is no longer here my Lord.”

 

“Find him! He will not have gone far. These Tau’ri have far too much loyalty for each other than is good for them. As long as we hold his friends, he will return.” Osiris looked scornfully at SG-1 as they sat on the floor. He looked at two of the Jaffa. “You will remain here.” They stood to one side as the rest of the group followed Osiris out of the cell, each holding a glow detector in front of him.

 

“Way to go Danny,” murmured Jack, “Get the bad guys really pissed at ya.”

 

“Silence Tau’ri!” barked one of the Jaffa.

 

“Is this a useful situation?” continued Jack, completely ignoring the Jaffa.

 

“Sir..” warned Sam as the Jaffa moved closer.

 

“Silence Tau’ri or I will silence you myself.” The warrior was now looming over Jack as he sat on the floor.

 

Unwatched by the two Jaffa, Teal’c was slowly inching towards the door. Sam was aware of this, and was preparing herself to kick the legs out from under the Jaffa now threatening Jack.

 

Suddenly the Jaffa near the door looked at the device in his hand. “The Arash’kna! The Arash’kna. He is here!”

As the other Jaffa turned his head to look at his companion, Daniel reappeared, right behind him.

 

The next few moments were a blur of activity. The surprise of Daniel’s reappearance enabled Jack to yank hard on one of the Jaffa’s legs. He fell heavily, cracking his head on the ground, and lay unconscious where he fell. In the meantime, Teal’c attempted the same manoeuvre with the Jaffa nearest the door. Unfortunately, only having the use of one arm, he was unable to completely unbalance the Jaffa. Daniel turned and pointed his hand towards the man, whose eyes rolled up in his head, and he dropped like a stone to the floor.

 

“What did you do to him?” asked Jack. “Is he…?”

 

“Dead? No, but he’ll have a hell of a headache when he wakes up,” replied Daniel. “Are you all okay?”

 

“Apart from Jonas, yes.” Sam looked at Daniel. “Nice timing.” 

 

“Look, there’ll be Jaffa swarming all over us in no time. We’d better make a move.” Jack scrutinised Daniel closely. “You gonna help us?”

 

The younger man looked back at Jack. “Of course I will. But I don’t know if Osiris has got anything in place that can countermand the measures that I can take… I’ll do what I can.” Daniel glanced down at the unconscious form of Jonas. “What happened to him?”

 

“He got ribboned and it knocked him for six.” Sam frowned at the still form. “I’d have thought he would have started to recover by now.”

 

Daniel knelt down next to the man. “Let me see what I can do.” He placed his hands on Jonas’s head, checking the extent of the damage. It was a lot worse than he’d hoped. Jonas had suffered a massive brain haemorrhage and was effectively dying. Concentrating on repairing the damage, Daniel did his best to reverse it. After a few moments he stood back up. “I’ve done what I can for now. If I try to fix everything now, it’ll take too long. Let’s get out of here and I’ll try to finish the job later.”

 

Sam and Jack hoisted the unconscious man between them and prepared to follow Daniel and Teal’c into the corridor.

 

“Let me go ahead.” Daniel disappeared, and after a moment a couple of thuds came to the ears of his former team-mates. He reappeared out of thin air. “I’ve cleared things for about 200 yards that way.” He pointed in the direction of the sound of the thuds.

 

They set off in the direction that Daniel had told them to go. Jack felt really strange that Daniel was leading the group. Even when Daniel had most knowledge, Jack had always led them based on advice given by his team. That was his job – the others gave him information, he made decisions based on it. Now, here he was, following instructions, he wouldn’t go so far as to call them orders – given by the one man who had spent his entire association with the military not so much obeying orders as interpreting them as he saw fit.

 

Now Daniel kept disappearing and reappearing at strategic moments, and from time to time SG-1 would find their path littered with the unconscious bodies of Jaffa warriors.

 

Suddenly, just after Daniel had reappeared at their side, they rounded the corner to find Osiris and his Jaffa standing in the middle of the corridor. As they turned to go back the way they’d come, a door slid shut behind them, effectively blocking all escape.

 

“You cannot escape. There is nowhere to go.” The Goa’uld threw back his head and laughed, a maniacal sound.

 

Daniel frowned slightly, concerned that Osiris had for some unknown reason gone mad, decided to do what he could to get his friends to safety.

“Take me and let them go.” He took one step closer to the Goa’uld.

 

Osiris looked confused. “Why? Why would you do that? Ah yes – our good friend the noble Doctor. Self-sacrificial to the end,” he sneered.

 

“Daniel – you can’t!” Sam looked horrified.

 

“Daniel – we don’t know what technology Anubis has given him. You could die.” Daniel glanced over his shoulder at Jack, and as his eyes met Jack’s he could see the anguish and pain in those warm brown orbs.

 

“Jack. I’m dead already. If you are allowed to go – and I see you leave safely for Earth, then I’m prepared to take that risk.”

 

“Well, I’m not,” responded Jack, stubbornly. He was distinctly uncomfortable with this situation. It went against every last one of his principles, the ethics that made him who he was.       

 

Daniel fixed Jack with an intense blue stare, his eyes carrying a silent plea to his friend. “Jack. You said it yourself – Osiris wants me. He only took you to get to me. It makes sense.”

 

“How touchingly sentimental.” Osiris’ biting sarcasm cut through the silence. “Very well. But I will take you now.”

 

“Take me? What do you mean?” Daniel was a little concerned about what he had just let himself in for.

 

“I will have you for my host. You see, we can now successfully blend with the Arash’kna. Anubis has shown us how.”

 

“No. Not before I see the others go through the Stargate.” Daniel crossed his arms and glowered at Osiris.

 

“Daniel, please don’t do this.” Sam’s features were creased in anguish.

 

“Major Carter speaks for myself as well, Daniel Jackson. You do not have to surrender yourself on my behalf.” Teal’c outwardly appeared to be as impassive as always, but his eyes betrayed the emotion he was feeling.

 

“Daniel. Do not let him do this to you. You said yourself – SG-1 has to remain intact, all of us.” Jack frowned at the younger man. “That includes you, Daniel.”

 

“Jack. It’s the only way.” Daniel was staring intently at the rest of his former team, trying to make them understand that he would be okay, without letting onto their captor that he was planning something.

 

“Bring him.” Osiris turned and flounced off down the corridor. Two Jaffa stepped up to Daniel holding some strange device. It appeared to be shaped like a Goa’uld pain-stick, but it had a strange blue light glowing at one end. Despite Daniel not being solid, one of the Jaffa touched his arm with the blue light, and he yelled out in pain.

 

“Daniel!” Sam’s face was a mask of horror.

 

Daniel ignored her and stared at Osiris. “It seems you were right. Anubis has given you some interesting toys to play with. Can’t we do this in a civilised manner, without torture? I know Sarah would want it that way. I’ve agreed to come with you. Sarah… can you hear me?”

 

For a fleeting moment, a frown creased Osiris’ brow at the sound of his host’s name. Daniel seized his chance.

 

“Sarah. Sarah, it’s me, Daniel. Can you hear me?” The Jaffa holding the strange pain-stick touched Daniel with it again, and he let out an involuntary grunt of pain. He gritted his teeth against the pain and focussed on the Goa’uld in front of him. “Sarah… fight it…you know you can. It’s me, Daniel. Sarah…*talk* to me…”

 

Osiris turned and took a few steps back towards Daniel. “Dan…” Sarah’s voice broke through.

 

“Sarah…fight him. I need you to fight him. Remember that weekend in Cornwall? Remember, Sarah?” Daniel’s voice was calm and quiet, as he tried to reach his former lover.

 

Suddenly the Goa’uld’s eyes flashed in anger. “Silence!” He was enraged at the loss of control he’d experienced. Glaring at the nearest Jaffa, he snapped, “Deal with him! Do not allow him to talk out of turn again!”

 

The Jaffa held the stick hard against the back of Daniel’s neck. He yelled out and fell on his knees to the floor. This time the Jaffa didn’t move the stick away, but continued to hold it in place, while Daniel remained on all fours, his face twisted against the pain.

 

“Stop!” Jack was incensed. “He said he’d give you what you wanted! Leave him alone.”

 

“How touching.” Osiris sneered. “You actually do care. Turn it up.” He nodded at the Jaffa, who touched something on the handle, and Daniel’s gasps turned into a scream of pain. Osiris watched in an almost disinterested fashion, and then looked at SG-1. “You will tell me what I need to know. Tell me the codes for the Tau’ri Stargate.” He glared at them as they silently watched this torture in horror. “Tell me the codes, or your friend will suffer more.” He nodded again at the Jaffa, who turned something on the dial, and once again Daniel cried out in agony.

 

“Go ahead. If you kill him, you won’t have your host,” Jack sounded pleased with his deduction.

 

“Ah, but your friend will not die, he will just suffer endless pain.” Osiris put his hand under Daniel’s chin and raised it so he could look into his victim’s eyes. “It hurts, doesn’t it, Daniel?” he purred.

 

Beads of sweat stood out on Daniel’s forehead and upper lip. An ugly grimace of pain on his face, he scowled at Osiris. “Bastard!” He ground out.

 

Jack was amazed at the physical reaction Daniel was having to the torture. At some point he appeared to have become solid, and now appeared to be feeling pain just like any normal human. “Okay! Okay! Just stop it!” Jack glared at Osiris.

 

“Tell me the codes…” warned the Goa’uld.

 

“Go to hell.”

 

“No. Tell me.” Osiris nodded again at the Jaffa, and now a second joined the first, his pain stick directed at the base of Daniel’s spine.

 

“Jack!… Don’t…not…aaaahhh….worth…it…!” gasped Daniel.

 

“Daniel Jackson,” purred Osiris in the young man’s ear. “Your friends must tell me the codes, or we cannot conquer the Tau’ri homeworld, you and I.”

 

“So that’s it. He knew we’d never tell Daniel the codes once they were joined.” Sam glanced across Jonas’ unconscious form at Jack. “Sir, we can’t tell him the codes. We’ll be dooming Earth, especially if he joins with Daniel.”

 

“Carter, I know! Daniel knows the rules…” Jack winced.

 

Osiris nodded and the Jaffa increased the level of pain again. Daniel yelled once more. “Tell me the codes,” the silky voice murmured.

 

“Bastard,” Jack muttered through gritted teeth.

 

“Tell me the codes and I’ll stop his pain.” Osiris drew himself up to his full height, and his eyes flashed. “Or don’t you care? I thought he was your friend.”

 

“No.” Jack remained defiant, but inside he was dying. “Sorry,” he mouthed at Daniel. Daniel merely looked back at Jack, his eyes full of understanding.

 

“Do as I say Tau’ri, or the consequences for your friend will be dire.” At a nod from Osiris a third pain stick was applied. Another twist of the wrist from the Jaffa, another agonised yell from Daniel. He looked pale and sickly, but managed to raise his head and look at Jack. He weakly shook his head, gritting his teeth as he did so. The Goa’uld looked at Daniel, an ugly sneer on his face. “Daniel, your friends really don’t care about you, do they? Why won’t they help you? You came to help them after all. Why won’t they repay you but just giving me the codes? Haven’t you broken the rules for them, won’t you be punished?”

 

Jack closed his eyes so he couldn’t see the hurt and confusion that was bound to be on Daniel’s face.

 

“Release him,” Osiris instructed the Jaffa. The pain sticks were removed. Daniel slumped to the floor, looking exhausted and defeated. Osiris bent down and spoke in a low menacing voice close to his ear. “See Daniel, your friends really don’t care about you. They enjoyed watching you suffer.”

 

In a flash, Daniel reached out and grabbed either side of the Goa’uld’s head, with a strength belying his apparent previous weakened state. “Get down!” he yelled.

 

SG-1 complied as a brilliant flash of light swept out in a circular pattern, with Daniel at its centre. As it passed down the corridor, Jaffa fell like stones. In the epicentre, Daniel clung to the sides of Sarah’s head, like a drowning man clings to a lifebelt. Pain contorted both their features. She collapsed to her knees beside him, and still he held on.

 

Jack looked up from the floor to see her slump forward towards Daniel. He seemed to release his grip slightly. Keeping his hands either side of her head, he tilted her face up towards his and studied it closely.

“Sarah?” he whispered.

 

Her eyelids fluttered and her eyes opened slightly. She struggled to focus on his face. Blinking blearily, she tried to formulate the words. “Dan…Daniel?…Is it…?  It…it was horrible!”

 

“I know. It’s over now. He’s gone.” At his words she let out a huge sob and collapsed into his arms.

 

Jack pushed himself up off the floor and half crawled towards the two of them. “Daniel? Would you mind explaining to me what just happened?” As Daniel looked at him, his mouth open to speak, Jack added, “In the simplest of terms.”

 

“Osiris is gone. Sarah’s back.” He shrugged.

 

“Osiris is gone? Just like that?” Jack’s voice was laden with sarcasm. “Daniel, what did you do?”

 

“It’s a trick I learned. How to cure people of all sorts of things. I just did to Sarah what I did to Jonas.” Daniel sounded tired. He remained kneeling on the floor, stroking Sarah’s hair, but his eyes looked unfocussed.

 

“What? Just by putting your hands on their head? You can get rid of a snake, just like that? Even the Tok’ra can’t do it that easily.” Jack sounded genuinely impressed.

 

“Jack, there’s all sorts of things I can do now. I’m just not supposed to.” Daniel kept his eyes shut, his voice low.

 

“Well you’re in trouble now aintcha?” Jack’s voice was warm and affectionate.

 

Daniel opened his eyes and looked at his friend. His eyes were red-rimmed, but he managed a thin smile.

“Probably. But I’ve been pretty much doing my own thing since last time we met.” He closed his eyes again and gave a huge sigh. He looked back up at SG-1. “Can someone take Sarah for me, please? I’m struggling to stay here in this form.”

 

Teal’c stepped forward and lifted Sarah with his good arm.

 

“Daniel.” Sam made sure Jonas was safe on the floor and went to join her friend. Placing her hand on his arm, she realised that he was solid. She put her arms round him and gave him a hug. “Are you okay?” She scrutinised him carefully.

 

“To tell the truth, I’m exhausted. Whatever that thing was, it hurt.” He and Sam embraced for a moment, and when they broke apart, he staggered slightly. “I’m really going to have to go, I’ve got no more energy.” He glanced at the still form on the floor. “Before I go, I’ll have a look at Jonas, see what I can do.”

 

Daniel squatted down next to Jonas, and placed his hands just above Jonas’ head. Surveying the damage, there was some small improvement on how things had been earlier, but Jonas still wasn’t out of the woods. Daniel realised that if he didn’t attempt further healing, Jonas would be permanently brain-damaged. He concentrated on restoring the damaged neural pathways, and undoing the injuries caused by the ribbon device. As he worked, he found it harder and harder to concentrate on what he was doing. The weariness he was feeling was threatening to overwhelm him.

 

Jack, Sam and Teal’c watched in silence as Daniel worked to heal Jonas. They could see the effort that this was taking, and how weak and tired Daniel looked. Whatever Osiris’ new form of pain-stick was, it had obviously taken its toll on Daniel.

 

“He’s doing that fading in and out thing again,” murmured Jack to no one in particular.

 

“Do you think we should stop him sir? Before he does permanent damage to himself?” Sam looked at Jack and Teal’c.

 

“I don’t know, Carter. Is it like sleepwalking?”

 

“I do not understand the reference to sleep-walking O’Neill. Daniel Jackson is fully awake.” Teal’c had placed the unconscious Sarah carefully on the ground, and now stood frowning at Jack.

 

“I just mean that it’s not supposed to be safe to wake someone when they’re sleepwalking. Is it the same when you do whatever it is that Daniel’s doing?”

 

“I really don’t know Sir…Oh my God! Daniel!” Sam rushed forward in horror as Daniel completely disappeared.

 

“Damn it!” Jack looked around him, frantically searching for a glow-detector. “Daniel? You still here?” He brushed against Jonas as he searched for the device, who groaned slightly and moved for the first time in ages. Jack looked up towards the ceiling. “Danny?”

 

“Daniel has had to leave to recover. He has healed your friend and the former Goa’uld host. However, the torture that he suffered means that he now needs some time to recover himself.”

 

The three of them spun round to face the source of the unfamiliar voice. A strange woman stood a little way off, glowing slightly, and wearing a Mona Lisa smile.

 

“Are you Oma Desala?” demanded Jack, his worry for Daniel making his question abrupt.

 

“No. I am one of her kind, though, and she is known to me, as is your friend Daniel Jackson.”

 

“Where’s Daniel? Can we see him?” Sam asked.

 

“He risks much to help you. His links to the three of you are much stronger than those normally retained by those who ascend.” The smile grew a little warmer and wider. “However, his importance allows for some lenience in the eyes of the council.”

 

“Importance? What do you mean?” Jack was a little annoyed.

 

“Your friend and the girl will be okay. You will not encounter any problems as you leave and go through the Stargate.” The woman ignored Jack and picked up the pain-stick.

 

“Can we see Daniel Jackson before we leave?” Teal’c moved as if to grab the woman.

 

“Daniel will no doubt return to see you when he is well. But it will not be here in this place. I suggest that you leave before the Jaffa warriors recover.” She smiled once more and vanished, taking the pain-stick with her.

 

“Damn it!” Jack shook his head in frustration. “I wish Oma and her cronies weren’t so damned inscrutable all the time.” He scooped the semi-conscious Jonas up off the floor. “Carter, take point. Let’s get the hell outta here while we still can.”

 

*****

Two days later, SG-1 were visiting Jonas in the infirmary. He had come round fully the previous day, and apart from a massive headache, he was fine. Janet had taken numerous scans and tests just to be sure that he really was okay.

 

Sarah also had no obvious injuries. She remained unconscious, although Janet had tested her as thoroughly as Jonas and declared that she wasn’t in a coma. The blood tests had revealed that Sarah, like Sam, now had the protein marker left by a dying symbiote in her blood.

 

SG-1 were gathered around Jonas’ bed. He had been told a brief summary of events while he was unconscious.

“..so it seems Doctor Jackson has saved my life a second time…” he smiled.

 

“Yes. It does, doesn’t it?” Jack was decidedly frosty.

 

“Where is he? I was hoping I might thank him personally.” Jonas looked at the others questioningly.

 

They all avoided his eyes.

 

“He didn’t come back with us,” said Sam, looking a little upset.

 

“Daniel Jackson endangered his health helping you and Sarah Gardner to recover.” Teal’c stared straight ahead across the bed. “He was unable to bid us farewell.” The muscle in his jaw twitched.

 

“So it would seem you owe him big style, again,” said Jack, somewhat viciously.

 

Jonas’ smile faltered. “I…I… hadn’t realised he was hurt…”

 

“Well Osiris had his goons torturing Daniel. What did you expect would happen?” Jack was positively aggressive now.

 

Janet overheard his last outburst. “Colonel O’Neill! That is quite enough! Please calm down or leave my infirmary right now!” She gave Jack one of her looks that told him he was not going to win this one.

 

Jack started to leave the infirmary, muttering under his breath about ‘Napoleonic medical dwarves’, when an ear-piercing shriek split the air.

 

Janet and SG-1 rushed into the curtained –off area around Sarah’s bed. She was sat bolt upright in the bed, an expression of terror on her features. “Miss Gardner….Sarah. You’re safe now. You’re in a hospital. Do you remember what happened?” Janet was trying to get Sarah to lie back down in the bed, but Sarah was fighting her all the way.

 

“It…it was….oh my God…it was in my head!” Sarah’s voice rose higher and louder with each word. “Oh my God…it made me, it made me…I…God no! Please no!” She started to sob hysterically, hands grabbing at her long blond curls.

 

A nurse appeared at Janet’s side.

“Get me 10mls of Valium, now.” Janet ordered the sedative, which was placed in her hand almost instantaneously. “Sarah, easy now…it wasn’t your fault…. You must remember that. It wasn’t you.” Janet spoke calmly and quietly to the hysterical woman as she administered the drug.

 

Sarah stared around her, her eyes wild. Suddenly she spotted Sam hovering at the end of the bed.

“Major Carter?” Her eyelids were drooping.

 

Sam stepped forward. “Please call me Sam.”

 

“Sa...Sam? Where’s Daniel?”

 

“He’s… he’s not here Sarah,” replied Janet, helping her to lie down. This time, Sarah did not resist, and allowed the doctor to help her back under the covers.

 

“I…want…Daniel….” Sarah’s eyes finally drooped shut, and her breathing slowed into the even rhythm of sleep. Everyone left the bedside, and Janet drew the curtains back round the bed.

 

“Do we tell her the truth? About Daniel, I mean?” asked Sam.

 

“I don’t think we tell her anything just yet. She’s obviously remembering stuff that she’d rather not, and we may have to do a psychiatric assessment before we can continue any further.” Janet looked at the curtains behind her. “Besides, we have to decide whether she is a security risk or not.”

 

“Poor thing,” said Sam sympathetically. “I know what it’s like to have memories you don’t want in your head.”

 

“Sam, we may need you to help with her rehabilitation. Apart from the fact that you know what it’s like – she recognised you.” Janet looked at her friend quizzically. “You prepared to do that?”

 

Sam nodded, although she was slightly hesitant and not altogether convincing. “I’ll do what I can, although I’m not sure what help I will really be.”

 

They left Janet to her ministrations, and headed off to the commissary after bidding Jonas a good sleep. He was still spending most of his time sleeping after his injuries, but Janet had said that was to be expected.

 

Having finished their meal, the three of them lingered over coffee, discussing the events of the past few days. Before long the subject moved to Sarah.

 

“It must be awful for her,” began Sam. “I had nightmares for months after Jolinar left me with all her memories, and I didn’t have nearly as many really nasty ones as poor Sarah must have.” She shuddered slightly.

 

Jack was amazed. This was the first time that Sam had said anything to him about nightmares.

“Have they gone now? The nightmares?”

 

“Oh yes sir, absolutely. I talked them through with the counsellors, and Daniel was a great help…” she tailed off at the expression on Jack’s face.

 

“Daniel knew you were having nightmares?” I didn’t, thought Jack.

 

“Well, he’s always been easy to confide in…” she offered helplessly.

 

“I too have found Daniel Jackson to be invaluable when trying to address personal issues,” added Teal’c, staring straight ahead. He looked as if he were admitting to some dreadful crime.

 

Jack shook his head in a resigned fashion. “How do we manage without him around to tell our troubles to?” He looked at Sam and Teal’c’s questioning faces. “Yeah – me too. I thought that was common knowledge?”

 

Sam smiled. “Yes,sir. It was. I just never thought I’d hear you admit to it!”

 

They sipped their coffee in silence, Teal’c drinking a glass of milk.

 

“I hope he’s okay,” murmured Sam.

 

“Me too, Carter.”

 

“As do I.”

 

*****

 

Five days later, General Hammond looked at the various faces in front of him. This was not going to be an easy briefing, although he was relieved for once that the one person who could make this really difficult was absent – Daniel Jackson. It was the first time since the archaeologist had – moved on – that Hammond was actually glad that he wasn’t there. Most times he missed the young man’s insight and ability to cut to the essence of the problem.

 

He looked around the table. SG-1 were present, including Jonas Quinn, who was recently recovered from his injuries, Drs Frasier and Mackenzie, Major Davis from the Pentagon and an NID representative whose name he’d conveniently forgotten for the moment.

 

“Okay people. Let’s get on with this.” He sat down, and fired a warning glance at Jack. His 2IC had already been glaring at the NID representative and Major Davis. “We’re all here to discuss the best way forward for Dr Sarah Gardner, in her position as a former host to the Goa’uld Osiris.”

 

“No they can’t have her,” snarled Jack in the direction of the NID agent. “Sir.” He added when Hammond glared at him.

 

“Colonel O’Neill, may I please continue? I will inform you when I wish comments to be made.” Hammond didn’t like having to pull Jack up in public, but he knew that if he didn’t, Simmonds and his cronies would be all over the SGC like a nasty rash, looking for excuses to get him out.

 

“Sorry sir,” responded Jack. If looks could kill, the NID agent would be receiving CPR from Janet right now.

 

“As I was saying, we are in the unfortunate position of having a young lady with us who constitutes something of a security risk due to the fact that she was host to a Goa’uld symbiote. The problem for her is that her family believe her to be dead, and she is herself having great difficulty in coming to terms with what has happened to her. I have asked you all here today to assist with making a decision as to what the best option will be for her. I was hoping a representative from the Tok’ra might attend, but we have not had any response to our attempts to contact them.

 

“Major Davis is here as the representative from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Major…” here Hammond checked his list of attendees, “…Wyatt is here to represent the N.I.D. We do appreciate that what knowledge Dr. Gardner may have retained could be significant in Earth’s fight against the Goa’uld.” Another warning glance flashed its way across to Jack, who had leant forward. Jack saw the look and sat back. “Drs Frasier and Mackenzie are here to discuss her mental and physical health, and SG-1 are here as her next-of-kin, in the absence of anyone better qualified.” Hammond felt everyone around the table tense up at that statement. With the possible exceptions of Mackenzie and Wyatt, everyone else’s thoughts had automatically turned to Daniel. He looked down the table. “Doctors, can I ask you to start please?”

 

Janet and Dr. Mackenzie began by discussing Sarah’s physical and mental state. Essentially, they agreed, she was in perfect physical health, but mentally, she was still extremely distressed by both what had happened to her and the additional memories that Osiris had left in her mind. Although most related to events long before she’d ever been taken as host, she was having trouble differentiating between the two.

 

“I would go so far as to state that Dr. Gardner is on the verge of a total mental breakdown. If we do not find a solution to her situation soon, she will have that breakdown.” Mackenzie was blunt and to the point.

 

Major Davis was next, and outlined the position of the Pentagon and Joint Chiefs – that although Sarah was actually a British citizen, she did constitute an immense security risk, and so any solution found would have to minimise that risk. However, provided that that criterion was met, the Pentagon would sanction whatever solution was agreed to.

 

Hammond found himself inwardly relieved that it was Davis who had been sent. The man was sensible and not given to irrational hysteria over trivia. He had to follow the orders of his superiors, but he would not throw his weight around like some operatic diva.

 

Hammond found himself holding his breath as he motioned for Major Wyatt to speak. He knew Jack was going to meet the man’s every word with hostility and anger.

 

“The N.I.D. are extremely concerned that the level of information retained by the former host…”

 

“Sarah,” chipped in Jack, pointedly.

 

“Miss Gardner,” responded Wyatt, equally pointedly. “As I was saying, as a former Goa’uld host, Miss Gardner retains an extremely large amount of pertinent information that must not be lost to Earth’s defence forces. We would recommend a program of intense debriefing to ensure we have all information.”

 

“What the hell does that mean?” snapped Jack. Hammond opened his mouth as if to reprimand Jack, and then decided to let it ride. After all, Jack had merely asked what he was about to, albeit in a slightly more abrupt manner.

 

“Exactly what it says, Colonel. We start with normal questioning, then move to more intensive methods of information extraction if we believe the subject is not being completely forthcoming.”

 

“Excuse me? Are you talking about interrogation here?” Jack was fuming.

 

“If necessary, yes.” Wyatt could obviously not see anything wrong with this.

 

“General, Sir. We cannot allow this. Sarah Gardner is not the enemy.” Jack looked at his CO, a silent plea in his eyes.

 

“She may not be the enemy now, Colonel, but last week, she was. We cannot be sure that she is no longer a threat.” Wyatt looked positively smug.

 

“Major. We cannot allow a British citizen to be treated as an enemy.” Hammond was scowling at Wyatt. Jack was screwing his fingers his fingers together in pent-up anger and frustration, trying hard not to hit Wyatt.

 

“Excuse me Sir, but I believe Major Wyatt has missed the point of what Dr. Mackenzie was saying earlier about Dr. Gardner’s mental state.” Janet stepped into the fray. “She is currently suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. An attempt to dig out repressed memories could cause permanent psychiatric damage if it is not handled extremely carefully.”

 

“In which case she’ll be committed and will no longer pose any kind of security threat. After all, no-one will believe a word of what she says if she’s been certified insane.” Wyatt almost crowed. It was clear to everyone sat round the table that he saw this as the best possible outcome.

 

“No way are you doing that!” Jack was on his feet. He was livid. “You will leave her alone! She’s not a lab rat for your scientists to experiment on!” He was standing with his hands braced on the tabletop, and looked for all the world like he was about to leap across and thump Wyatt into the middle of next week.

 

“Colonel! If you cannot remain civil I will not allow you to continue to be party to this discussion.” Hammond was also on his feet. “I appreciate that you are not happy with some of the options that are going to be suggested, but you must try to remain calm. Now sit down, please Colonel.” He gave Jack one of his understanding looks.

 

Jack remained on his feet for a few moments longer. He glared at Wyatt once more, and then sat down heavily. As his behind made contact with the seat, the klaxons went off.

 

“Incoming wormhole.”

 

“Perhaps that’s our Tok’ra representative,” suggested Hammond, relieved to have something to help diffuse the tension.

 

Most of the party from the briefing room trooped into the control room just as the wormhole opened. Wyatt stopped dead in his tracks, his mouth wide open in amazement.

 

“It gets you like that the first time you see it, Major,” smiled Sam as she brushed past him.

 

“Yeah, but after a while it just becomes same old same old,” gloated Jack, pushing past the stunned N.I.D. representative rather roughly.

 

“Not receiving any I.D.C., sir.” Sgt Walter Davis looked concerned.

 

“Close the iris,” responded Hammond.

 

“That’s just it, sir,” responded the Sergeant, “It won’t close.”

 

“Full alert people!” Hammond barked to the SFs in the control room. They were already in position, but now they all trained their weapons on the Stargate.

 

There was a brief pause, and then a lone figure emerged through the event horizon. In a split second, Jack recognised who it was.

“Hold your fire!” He, Sam and Teal’c rushed from the control room.

 

Hammond took slightly longer to realise who was on the ramp, but as soon as he did, he reinforced Jack’s earlier command. “Stand down.”

 

Daniel stood on the ramp, dressed in civilian clothes. He stood with his hands in his pockets, smiling at the others as they rushed up the ramp to greet him. “Hello,” he said simply.

 

“Daniel! Are you okay now?” asked Sam.

 

“It is indeed good to see you well again, Daniel Jackson.” Teal’c wore one of his rare smiles.

 

“How ya doin’ Tinkerbell?” grinned Jack. Without thinking he put his hand on Daniel’s shoulder, then raised his eyebrows in surprise. Daniel was solid.

 

“I’m fine now. It took me a while, but I’m fine.” Daniel smiled at General Hammond, who had just appeared in the gateroom. “General.”

 

“Dr. Jackson. Nice to see you. How are you, son?”

 

“I’m fine thank you, sir.” Daniel looked at Jonas, who had been a few paces behind Hammond. “How are you, Jonas?”

 

“I’m well once again, thanks to you. I gather you risked your life for me for a second time.” Jonas looked a little embarrassed.

 

“It’s okay. It’s good that you’re well.” Daniel smiled.

 

“Actually Daniel, it’s not okay.” Jack frowned at his friend. “Self-preservation is actually quite a good instinct to have – normally.”

 

“Jack!” Daniel reacted before realising that Jack was teasing him.

 

“Anyway, Dr. Jackson. To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?” Hammond cut to the point.

 

“I actually came about Sarah. Is she okay?”

 

“Your timing is impeccable,” the General started.

 

“Makes a change,” muttered Jack. “He was never on time before.”

 

Hammond glared at Jack. “We were actually in the middle of a discussion about Dr Gardner’s future.”

 

“Yes, that’s all very well, but how is she?” Daniel’s concern overrode his manners.

 

Hammond smiled sympathetically at the young man, and started to lead him from the gateroom.

“She is more or less okay, but she is still very upset about some of the things that Osiris has done while in her body. Dr. Frasier has got her under deep sedation most of the time.”

 

“I was worried that that might happen. I didn’t have time to do a proper job, but I think I can help with that now. May I see her immediately?” Daniel indicated vaguely in the direction of the infirmary.

 

“Of course.” Hammond inclined his head slightly, and Daniel and SG-1 headed towards the infirmary. As Jonas went to follow, Hammond grabbed his arm. “Let them go son. We’ll join them later.”

 

*

 

In the infirmary, Janet pointed out Sarah’s curtained off bed, and as Daniel was heading towards it, she grabbed his hand. “Don’t expect much, Daniel. She’s very distressed and confused by everything that’s happened. Also, she’s still heavily sedated, so she’s not very coherent when she is awake.”

 

He nodded in understanding. “That’s why I’m here, Janet. I want to try and help her.”

 

Daniel parted the curtains and stepped through. Jack went to follow him and Teal’c grabbed his arm.

“O’Neill. I believe that this is something Daniel Jackson and Sarah Gardner should deal with alone.”

 

Jack stared in amazement at Teal’c’s hand where it rested on his arm. It was so unlike him to initiate any form of physical contact. This must be something he felt strongly about. “I guess you’re right.”

 

“You know I am correct, O’Neill.” Teal’c’s face remained deadpan, but there was a twinkle in his eyes.

 

*

 

Behind the curtains, Daniel sat himself down on Sarah’s bed. She lay curled up tight into a ball, very reminiscent of the way Sam had been after Jolinar first died. Sarah appeared to be asleep.

 

“Sarah?” He spoke softly. “Sarah. It’s me – Daniel.”

 

Her eyes opened and she half-turned over towards him. “Daniel?” There was an element of confusion about her, as if she couldn’t quite believe that he was really there. “Are you real?”

 

“Yes, I’m real.” He gave her a gentle smile. “How are you doing?”

 

“Daniel.” She sat up in the bed and threw her arms round his neck. For a moment she clung so tightly to him he would have had difficulty breathing had he been true flesh and blood. “Daniel…they told me you were dead!”

 

“No, not dead. Well, not completely, anyway.” He stroked her hair, and when he spoke again, his voice was much quieter. “Sarah, I can help you. You can forget.” He felt her relax a little in his arms.

 

“Really? How? I feel… like…like I’m, going mad. I don’t know what’s my mind and what’s…his anymore.”

 

“I can’t tell you how. But I can help you to forget everything that has happened. If you want me to.”

 

She pulled back a little, and her blue eyes met his. After a moment of intense scrutiny, she nodded.

“Please Daniel. I can’t live like this.” She looked down at her hands. “What will I remember?”

 

“I can’t let you remember anything from the past year or so. It would be too difficult to leave anything behind.” He looked deep into her eyes. “That includes me, Sarah. You won’t be allowed to remember seeing me again.”

 

“Daniel…” she looked hesitant. “Can you tell me what happened to you? Before I have to forget?”

 

“I’m not sure you want to know.” He looked at the wall.

 

“I do Daniel. At least for a while.” She looked intently at him. At least tell me why my ex-boyfriend is one of the most hated enemies of the Goa’uld. I mean, there’s a horrible joke that the System Lords tell about Daniel Jackson and Ammonet – something about you stealing your wife back from Apophis… Daniel, what’s wrong?” He had visibly tensed up at this.

 

He gave her a startled look, and then followed it with a wry smile.

 

“Okay, you win, I’ll tell you.” Sitting on her bed, he told her all about the last six years of his life – about his involvement with the Stargate program, the first mission to Abydos, defeating Ra, marrying Sha’re, losing her  to Apophis, defeating Apophis, Sokar, Cronus, and then onto his eventual death and ascension. When he had finished, she had tears in her eyes.

 

“Oh my poor Daniel. How do you cope? Why aren’t you completely insane after all…that?”

 

“Oh, I’ve done insane, didn’t I tell you about that? Locked up in a padded cell, the full works…” he shrugged. “I guess I just…cope. I’ve done it all my life.” He gave another small smile. “It’s what I do.”

 

She smiled at him. “What happened to us Daniel? We were really good together.”

 

“We were, but I had to protect you from the fallout. Destroying my own career is one thing, taking yours along for the ride is another.”

 

“You could have told me that, instead of just doing a disappearing act in the middle of the night. Daniel, do you have any idea what it’s like to wake up in the morning and find yourself on your own – no note, nothing? I didn’t know what had happened to you until Steven told me about your…lecture. You should have told me.”

 

“What the old, ‘it’s not you, it’s me, let’s stay friends’ line? I don’t think so.” He smiled at her. “You know you wouldn’t have accepted that, and I wasn’t going to risk you being ostracised because of my crackpot theories.”

 

“Anyway, you were right.”

 

“Yes, but no-one can know. And that’s why you have to forget.”

 

He reached out and grabbed her hand. For a moment they sat in silence, holding hands, staring at each other.

 

Finally she broke the silence. When she spoke, it was in a low voice, barely above a whisper.

“Dr. Jackson. Kiss me. For old times sake.”

 

“So masterful and demanding, Dr. Gardner.” He grinned and leaned forward to comply. Just before he did so, he whispered “Goodbye Sarah.”

 

Their lips met, and he began to do what he needed to, stripping all memories of the last year from her mind. He replaced her memories of being a Goa’uld with stories that fit the official line on her disappearance. As he took the images from her mind, they filled his own. Some from her time as a host, some from Osiris’ other hosts. Some were pleasurable, most were not. He took them all, and finally understood what it was to be a Goa’uld.

 

After a while, he laid the now sleeping Sarah back down on the bed. He stood up, kissed her forehead, and, blinking back the tears, left the cubicle. There he encountered SG-1, General Hammond and Janet waiting nearby. He had lost all track of time while with Sarah, but the fact that Jack was lying on an empty bed told him he’d been there a while.

 

“Well?” demanded Jack, sitting up.

 

“She’ll be fine now. She’s no longer a security risk. She’ll remember nothing. Oh, and I’ve gleaned what information she had. There’s nothing that Earth really needs to know.”

 

“That’s it?” Jack looked seriously unimpressed.

 

“I’m sorry. I’ve interfered more than I should have done already.” Daniel looked at Jack. “I’ve taken Osiris’ memories from her mind, and introduced amnesia so she won’t realise she’s got a memory-gap. She’s in an artificial sleep at the moment – like the one Shifu used on me.” A fleeting smile crossed his face at this point. “If you take her to Cairo, it will trigger her to come out of her sleep. She’ll remember being buried when the temple collapsed, and spending time with a nomadic tribe. That will fit with the official cover story.” He looked at Jack. “Then she’ll be able to go home.” He sighed, sorrow etching lines onto his face that Jack hadn’t seen in a while. “I have to go.”

 

Jack shook his head. “Stay a while. Have a coffee and catch up with some old friends.”

 

Daniel fixed Jack with a piercing blue stare. “I can’t.”

 

“Sure Daniel, I know you can’t really have coffee, but you can have some virtual stuff…” Jack tailed off at the look on his young friend’s face.

 

“Jack. I can’t.” Daniel repeated, more forcefully.

 

“Please Daniel, stay,” pleaded Sam. “It’s been too long.”

 

“You don’t understand. I need to go. The stuff Osiris did… he used our relationship to torture her mentally. To tell the truth, I’m feeling pretty sickened right now.” He felt tears pricking his eyes again. “I need some time.”

 

Jack looked more closely at the younger man, and realised the level of his distress. He could see his blue eyes brimming with tears, and the pain behind them. He patted Daniel’s arm.

“Okay.” The grateful look Daniel shot him was unmistakeable. “But you better come back and visit real soon, ya hear?”

 

“I will. I promise.” Daniel glanced at Sam, who was herself close to tears. “I promise,” he repeated helplessly.

 

 “Well, if you really have to go Son…” Hammond held out his hand to Daniel. “Farewell, Dr. Jackson. Please feel free to come back and visit us anytime.”

 

“Thank you sir, for everything.” The two men shook hands. Daniel glanced at Janet, and suddenly bent down and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

 

“What was that for?” She stared up at him, bemused.

 

“Just thank you – for every time you’ve looked after me, but especially the last time. I know it was hard for you…” He tailed off as she suddenly looked away from him, blinking back tears. He smiled. “I wasn’t able to say it then,” he offered by way of an explanation.

 

He then shook hands with Jonas, who smiled at his predecessor. “Thank you again Dr. Jackson. I owe you one.”

 

“That’s okay Jonas.” Daniel returned the smile a little sheepishly.

 

“Just hope he never needs to collect, Jonas,” growled Jack in a not altogether friendly fashion. “You owe him big.”

 

Jack, Sam and Teal’c left to accompany Daniel to the gate room. The others watched them go in silence.

 

“I know he said he’d be back, but I get the feeling he’s saying his final farewells,” muttered Janet to no one in particular.

 

“You too? I thought that this was just me being pessimistic,” replied Hammond. He thought for a moment, and then went and made a quick phone call.

 

*

 

When the original SG-1 arrived in the gate room, it was practically deserted. One lone SF stood on duty, and as the four of them entered, he quickly vacated the room. The blast doors were closed, so SG-1 actually had some privacy for once.

 

“I’ll see you around, I guess,” muttered Daniel, looking embarrassed.

 

“Daniel Jackson…” Teal’c started to speak, but found his throat constricted so hard he couldn’t.

 

Daniel held his hand out to the big man, who grasped it close to the elbow in the traditional Jaffa manner, and then pulled Daniel close into a bear hug that threatened to suffocate him.

 

“Tlc pls…” mumbled Daniel from within the embrace.

 

“Teal’c, put him down,” ordered Jack. “You don’t know where he’s been.”

 

“Daniel Jackson has been visiting Sarah Gardner in the infirmary.” Teal’c replied, a slightly confused look on his face.

 

“Teal’c, it’s just an expression…. oh never mind.” Jack waved his hand in a dismissive gesture.

 

Released from Teal’c’s arms, Daniel looked up at the big man. “Thanks Teal’c,” he muttered. “I’ll miss you too.”  Teal’c bowed, hand on heart, and then moved to one side to allow Sam and Jack room to say their farewells.

 

“Daniel,” whispered Sam, and threw her arms round him. The two of them hugged for a while, and then broke apart. “Take care of yourself, won’t you?”

 

“I’ll try. You could try doing the same Sam – you’ve lost weight,” he joked in reply, but his eyes were once again bright with unshed tears.

 

“No-one else drags me out of my lab at ten to eat dinner, or cooks like you do…” she replied.

 

“Yes, I heard that conversation,” murmured Daniel. “Do I have to cook next time I visit?”

 

“Just make sure that there is a next time,” she smiled.

 

“I’ll try. I really will. It’s not like I don’t know your address, is it?” he winked at her. She suddenly grabbed his arm and they hugged again, then she gave him a quick peck on the cheek. She moved to stand with Teal’c, giving the two friends a little space.

 

Jack stood slightly to one side, hands in pockets, staring at his boot as he scuffed it along the floor.

“So.” He glanced up at Daniel, eyes screwed up.

 

“So.”

 

“Here we go again.”

 

“Fraid so.” Daniel looked at the ground. “Someone once asked me why he always seemed to be saying goodbye to me.”

 

“I know. But it’s true. We do always seem to be saying goodbye…”

 

“Next time. I’ll try to stay longer…” Daniel glanced at Jack.

 

“So there’ll be a next time?” Jack continued to scuff the edges of his boot on the edge of the ramp.

 

“Are you likely to get into trouble?” asked Daniel, a slight twinkle in his eye.

 

“Yeahsureyabetcha!” replied Jack with a grin on his face.

 

Blue eyes met brown, and then the two men smiled at each other. Jack pulled Daniel into a great big ‘Space monkey’ hug. They slapped each other on the back, and broke apart.

 

As Daniel moved away towards the Stargate, Jack muttered “See you around, Tinkerbell.”

 

“Watch it Flyboy,” Daniel responded. He smiled at his former team, and walked up the ramp towards the still idle gate. With a wave of his hand, an event horizon appeared. “I’ll be back,” he said earnestly, waved, turned and disappeared into the wormhole, which promptly closed behind him.

 

SG-1 remained alone in the gateroom, staring at the great ring for a few moments, before Jack raised one hand in farewell. “See you around Dr. Jackson”, he whispered, although, in his heart, he felt it was unlikely.

 

*****

 

Three weeks later, in the early hours of the morning, Mr and Mrs John Gardner got a phone call out of the blue. It was a hospital in Cairo, informing them that their daughter, Sarah, was alive and well.  She had been found wandering in the desert by a nomadic tribe, suffering from apparent total memory loss. It was only recently that the tribe’s movements had brought them close to a small town, and then help had been summoned. A USAF doctor visiting the area while studying malaria had worked with Sarah, and eventually, she had regained enough of her memory to enable her to relate a little of what had happened to her, and something of who she was.

 

John and Mary Gardner promptly boarded the next available flight to Cairo, where they met with Dr. Fraiser and her companion, Major Carter. They were told about how the collapse of the temple that Sarah was working in had cause anoxia, which had led to mild, hopefully temporary, brain damage, notably in the form of amnesia. With a little TLC, Sarah had begun to recover, and soon remembered enough to tell them her name and her parent’s names. That had been enough for the USAF to trace them, and the family was soon reunited.

 

Before she left Cairo, Sarah made sure she had Dr. Fraiser and Major Carter’s phone numbers, as she wanted to stay in touch with the two people she was sure were instrumental to her return to health and her family.

 

*****

 

Two months later, Sam was working in her lab when the phone rang.

“Carter.”

 

“Is that Major Carter?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“This is Dr. Gardner – Sarah. You helped me in Egypt. You helped to…return me to my family.”

 

“Oh yes – I remember. Please call me Sam.”

 

“Okay, Sam. I just wanted to thank you and Dr. Fraiser for all that you did for me.” The polished English voice sounded a little embarrassed.

 

“That’s okay. How are you now?”

 

“I’m fine. I still have the odd memory lapse, and the weirdest dreams, but otherwise I’m okay. I’m back at work now – I’m about to go and lead a dig in Wales for about a year, so I thought I’d ring before I go. Once I get started the time will just whiz by.”

 

“That’s nice of you Sarah. I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

 

There was a brief pause.

 

“Sam…can I ask you something?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“Why do I get the feeling that you and I have met before? Before you found me in Egypt, I mean?”

 

“I don’t know. It does happen sometimes though – that you think you’ve met someone before.”

 

“Do you know Daniel?” That question hit Sam hard.

 

“Dan…Daniel?”

 

“Daniel Jackson. I just got the strangest feeling that you know him.”

 

Sam regained her composure long enough to avoid spilling the beans. “I’m sorry, who did you say… Daniel…Jackson? Is he in the Air Force?”

 

“No. He’s an archaeologist. I just…just wondered…” There was a heavy sigh on the other end of the phone. “I’d best get on with my preparations for this dig, I suppose. Thank you again Sam.”

 

“No problem, Sarah. It was my pleasure.”

 

After she had hung up, Sam thought over what had been said. She really wished that she could have told Sarah about Daniel, that he was okay, but she knew that was impossible. She sighed, and returned to her work.

 

After about five minutes of unsuccessfully trying to concentrate on the device on the bench in front of her, Jack appeared in the doorway. “Lunch, Carter?”

 

Welcoming the break, Sam stood to accompany him. “Coming, Sir.”

 

From his vantage point in the corner, Daniel watched them. They were blissfully unaware of his presence. He watched the two of them select their lunch, and then sit with Teal’c at SG-1’s usual table in the corner. Jonas was nowhere in sight, so Daniel sat in his usual chair, next to Sam, opposite Jack. He remained invisible, and his three friends carried on with their lunch, not knowing that he was with them. Occasionally, one of them would stare at the empty chair, as if they saw a flicker of something, but after a moment, they would return their attentions to the food in front of them.

 

After an hour, Daniel managed to tear himself away from his friends. “See you later guys.” He disappeared off into the ether.

 

All three stared at the empty chair.

“I could have sworn I heard…” started Sam.

 

Teal’c stared at her.

 

“…Daniel.” finished Jack.

 

Teal’c nodded in agreement.

 

“Why didn’t he let us know he was here?” asked Sam.

 

“Maybe Daniel Jackson did not believe we required his presence at this time,” suggested Teal’c.

 

Jack shook his head. “When will you learn, Daniel, that we don’t need a reason to want to see you?” He muttered quietly to himself. Giving a rueful smile, he looked at Sam and Teal’c.

 

“Next time we see Tinkerbell Jackson, remind me that we’ll have to give him a lesson in what it means to be a family.”

 

 

 

 

 Fin

 

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

Athene

 

On to Lost and Found