The Journey 3

The Final Journey

by BeeBee

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asb/beebee/journey03.php
Summary: Daniel Jackson reaches the end of his journey and Jack has to say goodbye

"Daniel Jackson."

"Hi Daniel, it's me Sam."

"Sam, Hi, how are things?"

Daniel relaxed back in his chair glad to hear from his old friend. Sam didn't often call during the day. Her work at the Pentagon kept her busy and she usually reserved her phone calls for during the evening or at the weekend, when she knew Jack and Daniel would be at home.

"I've had a strange phone call," Sam said, continuing before Daniel could comment. "From Beth Ogden."

Daniel had heard that name somewhere before. He racked his brains until Sam reminded him.

"The Curator we spoke to in New York."

Daniel remembered. Beth Ogden was the young assistant curator who had given Sam permission to copy down the inscriptions on the Temple of Dendra. Inscriptions which had eventually led to SG1 reforming for an off-world mission and to Daniel discovering the whereabouts of yet another system lord who had later been destroyed by the combined forces of the SGC and the Tok'ra.

"What did she want with you?" Daniel asked, surprised that the woman had even found out how to contact Sam in the first place.

"Actually it's you she wants Daniel."

"Me, why?" Daniel was even more surprised. He hadn't exchanged more than a few words with the woman several months ago. Why would she want to speak to him now, and why?

"I'm not sure, Daniel," Sam confessed. I have to go to New York next week for a meeting and I've arranged to meet her then."

"You'll find out and let me know?" Daniel asked. He was very curious as to why Beth Ogden wanted to speak to him. Everything that had happened in connection with his discovery of the text on the temple wall had been top secret. There was no way that she could have found anything out, Daniel was sure of that.

"I promise." After enquiring about Daniel's general wellbeing and asking how Jack and everyone else at the SGC were Sam hung up, promising faithfully to get back in contact the moment she knew more.

Daniel couldn't concentrate on his work; his mind kept drifting back to the Egyptian exhibition in New York and the assistant curator there. Eventually he gave up his attempts at some translation work and, switching off his computer, he propelled his chair around and out of his office. Daniel's office door was always kept propped open so that he could manoeuvre his chair in and out at will, without having to wait for someone to open the door for him. This did mean that he had to contend with all the noise from the corridor but it was a small price to pay for the independence of being able to move around the SGC freely.

"Hey Jack, what are you doing?" Daniel asked, as he propelled his chair into Jack's office.

"Reading my memos," Jack said, relieved at the distraction and pushing the pile of paper to one side. "What can I do for you Dr. Jackson?"

Daniel released his grip on the joystick, giving up any attempt to try to move his electric wheelchair further into Jack's office. The floor was littered with piles of paperwork to deal with, manuals to read, reports to write and rubbish that had missed the bin. Jack tried very hard to be neat and tidy at home. He knew it was important for Daniel to be able to move around their house with ease but here, in his own office, he allowed his messy self free reign.

Daniel winced, as Jack kicked a pile of papers out of the way and they fell over, spreading across the office floor.

"Sorry, sorry," Jack apologised, bending down and picking them all up and tossing the jumbled heap on top of a nearby filing cabinet.

"Sam's just called," Daniel said, gingerly edging his chair forward slightly so that Jack could close the office door and give them some degree of privacy.

"Sam, why?" Jack asked, curious as to what was so important that it couldn't wait until they were home for the evening.

Daniel explained what little he knew. Jack's eyebrows furrowed as he tried to come up with a logical reason for her wanting to meet with Daniel.

"She can't know anything about this, can she?" Daniel asked, waving his hand around, indicating the SGC as a whole.

"She probably took one look at you and immediately realised that you were an intergalactic traveller," Jack teased.

"And I suppose this is my space ship," Daniel replied sarcastically, looking down at the frame of his chair.

Jack looked lovingly at his partner. Despite the weak body, slumped in the electric wheelchair Daniel was still as attractive as ever to Jack's eyes. He loved every inch of his practically useless body, his still razor sharp mind, his determination not to let multiple sclerosis spoil his life and most of all he loved the fact that Dr. Daniel Jackson loved him back, with all his heart and with all his soul.

Jack laughed "It certainly beats a mother ship," he joked as Daniel tried to look serious.

"Yeah, if I come across a Goa'uld I'll just ask him to stand still while I trundle over him," Daniel smiled, his blue eyes sparkling.

"Are you ready for home?" Jack asked, checking his watch and realising that they could pack up for the day if they wanted to.

"Why not," Daniel agreed, "the translations for SG6 can wait until tomorrow."

He grasped the joystick and turned his chair around ready to propel himself out of Jack's office and towards the elevator.

"We can have a nice romantic evening in front of the fire," he whispered over his shoulder as Jack locked his office door and followed his partner down the corridor towards the elevator.

"Sounds good to me," Jack agreed, catching up with Daniel and walking alongside him as they approached the elevator.

As they waited for the elevator to arrive at their level the Base Medical Officer hailed the pair of truants.

"Just where do you think you two are going?" she called, as she approached the pair.

"Bunking off." Jack said, smiling at Janet.

"Good for you," she smiled back at the pair. It was good to see the two of them happy and content. They had both been through a lot and the events of a few months ago, when Daniel's condition had deteriorated after his off-world trip had caused them weeks of anguish. Luckily none of the problems had been permanent and, with an altered and increased drug regime and a special diet Janet had found on the Net, Daniel was now physically better than he had been for a while.

Granted he was still practically immobile, unable to stand or walk without assistance and even with assistance he was reduced to a feeble shuffle for a few steps before his weak legs buckled. He was too weak to do more than propel his electric chair with a joystick and his left hand was still the weaker of the two but even this was stronger than it had been. With his 'good' right hand he was now able to pick up papers for himself, hold a pen, provided it was a thick one and feed himself. The neck muscles, which had caused so much concern on their return from the planet, were now back to 'normal' and the headrest for his chair, which Jack had purchased in such haste, was now consigned to the broom cupboard.

Janet gazed fondly at the couple as she watched them enter the elevator together. She had long since gotten used to the idea of Colonel Jack O'Neill and Dr. Daniel Jackson being a couple and the pair numbered among her closest friends. It was good to see them so happy together, despite Daniel's disabilities. As the elevator doors closed she whispered a silent prayer that things could continue like this for a long time to come.

Once Daniel had been unloaded from the van and he had propelled himself into the house he returned to the subject of the phone call he had received from Sam.

"No point worrying about it Daniel," Jack advised, "Sam will find out more when she meets the woman and fill you in then."

Daniel nodded, propelling himself towards the kitchen.

"So what's for supper?" he asked Jack.

"Let's send out for something shall we," Jack suggested. He liked the idea of snuggling on the couch with Daniel much better than slaving over a hot stove.

"Fine by me," Daniel smiled, reading Jack's mind with ease.

Later that evening the two of them sat together on the couch, a fire crackling in the hearth and the TV flickering. This was the time of day Jack and Daniel loved the best. Sitting together in the flickering light they could forget the realities of their lives. Jack could forget the stresses and strains of his day job as an Air Force Colonel and principal carer of Dr. Daniel Jackson and Daniel could forget, for a time, that he was disabled and in need of such care. They cherished their 'downtime' together; it was a precious gift and one they both gave thanks for.

"I can't stop thinking about Beth Ogden," Daniel murmured, staring into the fire.

Jack leaned over and planted a kiss of Daniel's head as he sat with his head resting on Jack's shoulder. "You'll find out soon enough," Jack predicted. Daniel nodded and yawned.

"Ready for bed?" Jack glanced at his watch.

"If you are," Daniel checked. He was tired, although his multiple sclerosis was well controlled at the moment he still tired easily, and a day at the SGC usually left him totally drained.

Jack eased himself away from Daniel and, making sure he was securely positioned on the couch, stood up.

"Transfer to the chair or carry?" Jack asked.

Getting back into the chair seemed such a lot of effort for the short trip between the couch and the bedroom and Daniel couldn't be bothered.

"Carry I think," he admitted allowing Jack to scoop his weak body up and, with his 'good' arm around Jack's neck, he allowed himself to be carried into the bedroom and deposited on the bed.

Their night time routine was soon completed. Jack left Daniel comfortably settled in bed while he checked the fire, the lights and the locks before slipping under the covers next to his partner.

"Sleep well Daniel," Jack ordered, leaning over to kiss his lover tenderly. Daniel's eyes were already drifting shut as he murmured "Love you Jack."

Jack smiled to himself as he reached over and switched off the bedside lamp. He would wake in four hours to change Daniel's position to prevent pressure sores, he never needed an alarm clock for this now, it was ingrained into his routine and he never overslept. Dr. Daniel Jackson was in his care, totally dependent on him and he would never let him down.

oooooOOOooooo

For the following few days Daniel tried to forget about Sam's forthcoming meeting with Beth Ogden. He concentrated on the translation work he was doing, attended physiotherapy and hydrotherapy sessions, and generally got on with his life. Occasionally his mind drifted back to his visit to New York and he tried, in vain, to remember the face of the assistant curator. His meeting with her had been brief, to say the least, and he had been rather distracted at the time.

The phone on his desk rang and he pressed the hands free button.

"Daniel Jackson," he waited.

"Daniel, it's me Sam."

At last some news, Daniel had known that today was the day that Sam was meeting up with Beth Ogden and he had been expecting her call.

"Sam, what happened, what did she know, what did she want?"

"Slow down Daniel," Sam laughed.

"Sorry," Daniel bit back his impatience, "Go on."

"I met Dr. Ogden," she paused and corrected herself, "Beth, as arranged," Sam explained. "We went to a coffee shop away from the museum. She's really nice Daniel, you'd like her," Sam said chattily.

"Sam!" Daniel's exasperation transmitted itself across the miles.

"Sorry," she says that after we left she examined the temple herself and then did some research in the museum archives."

"And?" Daniel would have hopped about with frustration if he could have.

"And, she found some artefacts stashed away in the cellar that appear to have been found in or near the temple."

"What sort of artefacts?" Daniel was getting more and more excited.

"Things that no one could identify, strange objects that were thought, at the time, to be of no archaeological significance and were boxed up and sent to the museum with the temple."

"Did you see them, has she seen them?" Daniel asked, his mind racing.

"She has seen them and from her description they sound very much like a Goa'uld hand device and healing device Daniel," Sam dropped her bombshell and waited for Daniel's response.

"My God," was all Daniel could manage.

"Indeed," Sam agreed.

"What do we do now?" Daniel itched to see the objects, to speak to Beth Ogden and to search through the archives himself.

"Beth would still really like to meet you again Daniel, do you think the General would agree to you and Jack coming to New York?" Sam planted the seeds of an idea in Daniel's mind.

"I'll certainly ask him," Daniel said "leave it with me and I'll get back to you, I take it you have a contact number for Dr. Ogden?"

Once Sam had assured Daniel that she could contact Beth when necessary they said their goodbyes and then Daniel immediately pushed the button on his phone which would connect him with General Hammond and requested an urgent meeting.

oooooOOOooooo

"Do you think this Dr.Ogden poses a threat to the security of the SGC?" the General asked Daniel once things had been explained to him.

"I don't think so sir," Daniel said, "but she is a very intelligent woman and obviously knew there was something interesting about the temple to make her go check it out after we left."

"Do you think a trip to New York to see what she has discovered would be useful?" the General continued.

Daniel nodded, "Yes sir, if there are some Goa'uld artefacts we would need to bring them back here and it would be interesting to know what else she has discovered."

"Are you up to the trip Doctor?" General Hammond cast a worried eye over the archaeologist as he sat in his electric wheelchair. He remembered only too well how long it had taken Daniel to fight his way back to his present state following his last trip to New York and the off world activities it had resulted in. He was reluctant to put any further strain on Daniel's fragile health by forcing him into any sort of activity that might cause a further relapse in his condition.

"I'm fine General," Daniel insisted.

"I'll speak to Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Fraiser before I make any decisions," the General decided, trying to ignore Daniel's disappointed face.

"General..." Daniel started to protest but he was stopped in his tracks when the General raised his hand to stop him.

"Dr. Jackson," he said smiling at the young man, "it would be more than my life's worth to cross either Colonel O'Neill or Dr. Fraiser."

Daniel smiled back, "please beg on my behalf General," he joked as he clasped the joystick and propelled himself towards the door. General Hammond reached it first and held it open while Daniel manoeuvred his chair out onto the corridor.

"I'll do my very best son," the General assured him as he watched fondly as Daniel trundled towards the elevator.

"Oh for crying out loud Daniel, not again," Jack groaned, as Daniel expressed his wish to go back to New York.

"Jack, please, I need to see Dr. Ogden and the artefacts," Daniel begged, "and I need to find out what she knows."

"Can't Sam do that?" Jack asked, knowing full well that Daniel was determined to go regardless of the potential risks to his health.

Daniel didn't bother to answer, he merely raised an eyebrow at Jack and that eyebrow spoke volumes. Daniel knew that Jack could refuse him nothing and that, after a lot of moaning, groaning and yelling, Jack O'Neill would capitulate and, providing he could sweet talk Janet Fraiser, Daniel could make plans for a trip to New York.

"Daniel, will you never learn," Janet Fraiser moaned as she heard the proposal. She looked at Colonel O'Neill, standing protectively behind Daniel's chair but he merely shrugged his shoulders and Janet knew he had already been won over and she was the last barrier between Daniel and the trip. She sighed and gazed at her friend. She wanted to be able to let him do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted but she hated being the one to pick up the pieces afterwards. She was the one who had to keep him in the infirmary, the one who had to watch him struggle to regain even a semblance of strength and movement in his weak body. She knew that inside the weak body was a strong mind and she knew that she wasn't going to be the one to stop him doing whatever he was capable of, while ever he was capable of doing it.

"Okay, I give in," she said.

Daniel heaved a sigh of relief.

"You can go only, and I repeat only, if you follow my orders to the letter," Janet said in her firmest voice.

"Thanks Janet," Daniel smiled happily at the Base Medical Officer. He would listen carefully to her orders, promise faithfully to follow them and then bully and cajole Jack into letting him do exactly as he liked, as usual.

Janet and Daniel had 'locked horns' on many occasions and both knew exactly what would happen once Daniel had been given permission to go to New York. Janet Fraiser and Jack O'Neill would pick up the pieces and put Daniel back together again.

"Colonel O'Neill, I presume you are going to accompany Dr. Jackson on this fool's errand?" Janet Fraiser's eyes met those of the Colonel.

"I most certainly am," Jack responded. "He's going nowhere without me right beside him."

Daniel groaned. Between them the Colonel and the Doctor, had him well and truly at their mercy. A winning smile and a pair of deep blue eyes were his only defence against them wrapping him in cotton wool for the rest of his life.

oooooOOOooooo

Daniel sat and watched as Jack packed their bags for the trip. Everything had been arranged and Jack and Daniel were flying out the following morning. They were booked in at the same hotel Daniel had used before, when visiting with Sam, and at least he knew the facilities were suitable. Once the bags were packed Daniel supervised Jack sorting through some files and papers he needed and putting them in the appropriate folders.

As he sat watching Jack, Daniel bit back the familiar feeling of frustration and total helplessness. Sometimes he could contain it but, on other occasions, as his physical body slowly reverted towards its infantile state, Daniel found himself being gripped by the same furious frustration that fuel's a two -year-olds temper tantrum. The only difference between the two, he knew, was that a two-year olds progress was stimulated whereas the same tantrum in Daniel merely served to tear him apart. The statement 'I can do it myself' had become less and less a statement of fact or of possibility than of unmeetable desire. No longer could he count on practice making perfect, as he could in childhood. Effort and will had lost their meaning but the craving for personal independence remained alive and well within the crippled physical body. Myelin dissolves, nerves short out, muscle atrophies but the brain, riddled with sclerotic patches, goes on wailing, 'I can do it myself.'

As Daniel watched Jack his mind screamed at him to sort through the papers himself, scan the articles for the ones he needed but his body remained immobile in the chair and he had to, once more, force himself to keep calm and accept his lot.

"You okay?" Jack asked suddenly noticing how quiet Daniel had gone. Daniel was not quite the master at hiding his feelings and frustrations as he thought and Jack could easily pick up on his partner's mood changes.

Jack O'Neill was at peace with Daniel's body in a way that Daniel was not. Since they became lovers and before Daniel's symptoms appeared Jack loved every inch of Daniel's body. Now that his partner could do little for himself Jack was happy to rub in lotion, clips nails, wrestles socks onto rubbery legs and changes catheter bags. His ministrations, combining skill with sensuality, reassured Daniel that he was still loved. Jack's attentive and affectionate presence provided Daniel with proof against the revulsion with which he was all too apt to greet himself.

"I'm fine," Daniel replied, giving Jack a tight smile. He took a deep breath, he may feel like having a temper tantrum but, in most cases, he couldn't act the impulse out.

"Like hell." Jack thought to himself, taking in Daniel's tenseness but choosing to ignore it.

"Do you need these?" Jack asked, putting a pile of papers on Daniel's knees.

Daniel anchored the pile with his left hand and then sifted through the pile with his 'good' right hand. Jack watched him proudly. It wasn't so long ago that Daniel wouldn't have been able to do even that slight task. Before his off-world trip his right hand was also weakening until he was unable to lift even one sheet of paper without considerable effort. Now, with the altered drug regime and extra physiotherapy sessions there had been some slight improvement and it was this improvement that gave Daniel the ability to sort through the papers.

As Jack watched Daniel he thought back to a time when Daniel, although suffering the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, used language to avoid owning them. "The left hand doesn't work anymore," was used rather than "my left hand." It was as if, by distancing himself from his ravaged central nervous system, Daniel was keeping grief at bay. His psychologist had made him realise, eventually, that by doing this he was also banishing any possibility of self-love and gradually Daniel schooled himself to speak of "my hands, my legs," thereby taking responsibility for them.

That time was behind them now, on the whole Daniel accepted his disability and the limitations it placed on him. He was more at ease with his body and was usually able to cherish what little he could manage on any given day, in the full knowledge that, on some tomorrow, it would inevitably be less.

Daniel raised his head from the papers, aware that Jack was watching him.

"What?" he asked, curiously.

"Nothing Daniel, just admiring the view," Jack admitted.

Daniel gave Jack a 'look,' but secretly he was always reassured to know that Jack still found him attractive 'though God knows why,' he thought to himself. Whenever he caught sight of himself in the full-length mirror in their bedroom Daniel was appalled at the hunched body slumped in the chair. Jack refused to see this, however, he saw the 'other' Daniel Jackson and in his eyes Daniel was beautiful. Jack was always supportive, encouraging and loving and through him Daniel found a measure of self-acceptance and self-pride. Daniel didn't seem himself as a sex object anymore but because of Jack's accepting attitude, his self-esteem hadn't plummeted entirely and Daniel could try, for the most part of accept his disability as part of himself, not perfect but normal and special.

"Finished with those?" Jack finally asked, as Daniel stopped shuffling through the papers and sat back in his chair with a sigh.

"Yes, they can all go in the bag please," Daniel said, allowing Jack to take charge of the pile.

"So have you got everything you need?" Jack asked, packing the papers into a briefcase before locking it and placing in with their other bags in the hallway.

"I think so," Daniel cast an eye over the remaining books and papers spread across the coffee table, to make sure there was nothing he had missed.

"We should get an early night," Jack suggested, "tomorrow is going to be a long day."

Daniel nodded in agreement. He was desperate to go to New York and meet Dr. Ogden but he was also worried that he wasn't physically up to it. He would die rather than admit his concerns to either Jack or Janet Fraiser but he knew how much his last little jaunt had taken out of him and he was worried that, if he lost any of his present abilities, he might never regain them. At the moment things were going well for the couple, their lives were well ordered and ran smoothly. They had often talked, in the past, about retirement and what they would do but Daniel was reluctant to give up his work at the SGC. This gave a modicum of normality to his existence, and Jack, who would happily give it all up to look after Daniel all day, every day, continued to do whatever his partner wanted. 'Hell he has so little in his life, I can't make him give any of it up,' he thought to himself. And so life went on, Daniel continued to struggle to work and Jack continued to help him in every way possible. Love had found a way and would continue to do so.

oooooOOOooooo

They made good time the following morning and were booked in at the airport a good hour before their flight was due to leave. This was the first time that Jack had actually travelled with Daniel and he now saw, first hand, how difficult it was for Daniel to hand himself over into the care of strangers.

Even with Jack's reassuring presence Daniel felt the tension mounting as he was heaved from his own chair into a manual chair and strapped securely in. He could never explain to Jack how much the inability to do the slightest thing for himself, once stripped of his own 'wheels,' panicked him. He concentrated on taking deep breaths and tried to keep the feeling at bay. It didn't do him any good feeling like this he realised and any kind of stress did tend to have a detrimental effect on his health.

"Okay?" Jack disturbed his thoughts.

"I'm fine," Daniel murmured his stock response, but he wasn't fooling Jack O'Neill who could see the furrow on Daniel's brow and the way his jaw clenched.

"Look we've got over half an hour before they board us," Jack reminded him, "so why don't we choose a present for Sam?"

Daniel managed a weak smile, he knew Jack was trying hard to distract him from his current predicament and he also knew that he owed it to Jack to try to keep calm.

"Why not," he agreed, "what do you have in mind?"

"Perfume's always good," Jack suggested and, when Daniel nodded his agreement, Jack released the brake on the chair and pushed Daniel towards the store.

It worked, the couple spent a happy half-hour choosing perfume for both Sam and for Janet. It was Daniel's idea to take some back for Janet as some sort of thank you for allowing him to come and also some recompense for the problems he would probably case her when they got back.

Eventually the gifts were selected, gift wrapped and paid for and, just as the pair were heading back into the departure lounge, Jack pushing the manual chair and Daniel clutching the gift bags on his knee, their flight was called.

"That's us Daniel," Jack said, looking up to check the monitor. "Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be," Daniel smiled. He looked a lot less tense Jack thought as he smiled back at his partner, it's surprising what a bit of retail therapy can do.

Tension mounted once again, as Daniel was loaded onto the plane and unceremoniously heaved into his seat. Jack could only guess at the stress the trip was putting on Daniel. If how he felt watching the man he loved being moved around like some piece of cargo, was only a taste of what Daniel was going through it was a wonder, in Jack's opinion, that he ever agreed to travel by plane.

"Okay?" Jack asked, once Daniel was settled in his seat and strapped in.

Daniel nodded, not trusting himself to speak, and studiously staring out of the window, willing the tears not to fall.

Jack reached across and patted Daniel's hand. It was small comfort but the best he could do for now.

Daniel turned and smiled gratefully at Jack, his blue eyes still bright with unshed tears.

"Thanks for coming," he said simply.

Jack raised Daniel's hand to his lips and kissed it. He didn't care who saw them, Daniel needed a loving touch after his ordeal and Jack O'Neill wasn't going to let his lover suffer if he could help it.

Daniel's smile widened as Jack released the flaccid limb.

"Colonel O'Neill," he chided.

"Dr. Jackson," Jack responded, winking at his partner before the stewardess appeared to check their seat belts and take their drink order.

It was finally over, they had weathered the flight and the taxi ride to the hotel and now the pair heaved a sigh of relief as the bellboy accepted his tip and closed the hotel room door behind him.

"Thank God that's over," Daniel said, propelled his chair over to the window to admire the view of Central Park. Jack came and stood behind him, resting his hands on Daniel's shoulders.

"Why do you put yourself through it?" Jack asked. Daniel had flown on three or four previous occasions since being confined to a wheelchair, although never with Jack. This was the first time Jack had seen for himself the stresses and strains of the journey and he marvelled at Daniel's resilience at continuing to travel in his condition.

"I have to Jack." Daniel said simply.

Jack nodded his understanding, no explanation was necessary between the men. Jack knew that Daniel craved independence and normality and, while ever he could manage it, he would continue to stretch himself to his limits.

"Bed," Jack said, once the bags were unpacked.

"At three o clock in the afternoon?" Daniel moaned.

"Daniel I'm here to take care of you, we are not having a repeat of your last jaunt, you will do what I say, when I say, understood?"

"Yes sir!" Daniel raised his good arm in a sloppy salute. He knew better than to argue with Jack O'Neill and, he admitted to himself, he didn't relish a relapse of his condition. He would be good, he would do as he was told, 'there's a first time for everything,' he thought as he watched Jack pull back the bedcovers.

oooooOOOooooo

Jack and Janet Fraiser had insisted that Daniel take a full day before meeting with Dr. Ogden and so, their first meeting was scheduled for two days time, giving Daniel time to rest and recover from the flight.

Jack insisted that he have breakfast in bed and then, totally ignoring Daniel's pleas to go out into the Park or into the museum, called for a physiotherapist that Dr Fraiser had recommended. Joe came to their hotel room and put Daniel through some gentle exercises to relieve the strain of the journey and yet not tire him too much, finishing with a relaxing massage.

Once Joe had left Jack watched TV while Daniel dozed. Jack was determined to take Daniel back home in the same state he left it, no worse at least, and there was no hope of him ever being any better. He watched Daniel as he slept, marvelling at his luck, sharing what was left of their lives together. Jack occasionally wondered what it would have been like if Daniel hadn't developed multiple sclerosis. Would they still have lived together as partners? Would they have enjoyed the same simple pleasures? Somehow he doubted it, in a way Daniel's disease had brought them together and although he would trade everything for Daniel to be fit and healthy again he accepted Daniel's disabilities. Without them he may not have Daniel in his life and so, although it seemed a strange way of looking at it, the multiple sclerosis was a precious gift.

Daniel blinked and opened his blue eyes to see Jack watching him, rather than the TV.

"Have I been asleep?" Daniel asked, sounding surprised.

"A good two hours Dannyboy," Jack told him.

"Can I get up now?" Daniel had enjoyed the therapy session and secretly had enjoyed the sleep too but now he was anxious to get back into his chair and explore a little.

"Why don't we shower and change and then try that Italian restaurant on the next block," Jack suggested now that Daniel had rested.

"Sounds good to me," Daniel agreed, happy that Jack wasn't going to make him stay in bed constantly.

Jack showered and then showered and dressed Daniel before settling him in his chair and quickly dressing himself.

"Ready to hit the town?" he asked, surveying the handsome young archaeologist in front of him.

Daniel smiled and propelled his chair towards the door, knowing that Jack would have it open by the time he reached it. He released the joystick and paused while Jack locked the door and then the pair headed towards the elevator.

They had a good meal; pasta, candlelight and Chianti, all contributed to a perfect evening. Daniel was glad he had rested, he would have been far too tired for this evening out if he hadn't. His whole life now revolved around what he could or couldn't do and he had to weigh each act before committing to it. Should he brush his own teeth and then be unable to lift his arm enough to eat his breakfast? Should he insist of standing up and shuffling into the shower, with Jack's help, when he would be totally exhausted for hours afterwards or allow Jack to heave him from his chair onto the shower stool? The simplest action had to be considered before it could be undertaken or cast aside as foolish. This was one part of the disease Daniel hated, having the consequences of multiple sclerosis always at the forefront of his mind. Very rarely was he able to forget about his disabilities for more than a few moments.

Luckily for the pair this evening was one of those precious few moments. Once he had manoeuvred into the restaurant and was positioned at a table Daniel was able to forget for a while. His right arm was strong enough to raise the spoonfuls of pasta to his mouth and Jack casually placed a straw in Daniel's glass of wine and raised it to his lips when necessary without having to be asked, such was the bond between them. They chatted and laughed together, two people in love with life and with each other, confident in their relationship. Once Jack had paid the bill they 'walked' slowly back towards their hotel.

"That was great," Daniel said, propelling his chair carefully along the sidewalk but heading, in Jack's opinion, dangerously near the edge.

"Are you drunk Daniel?" Jack laughed, as Daniel peered myopically at the edge before reversing away from it.

Daniel giggled. He rarely drank alcohol these days, only on special occasions, and he did feel slightly light-headed.

"My God what would Janet say," Jack groaned as Daniel pushed the joystick forward once more and lurched along the sidewalk.

"Sshh," Daniel released the joystick and raised a trembling finger to his lips. "She might hear us," he giggled again.

Now Jack had a problem. The nature of Daniel's wheelchair was that had dual controls and could be propelled by the user or by a carer but Daniel hated, more than anything, anyone else propelling his chair. Jack respected this and so there was no way he would release the controls and push Daniel back to the hotel. He would have to allow Daniel to do all the manoeuvring and just hope that he didn't do anything stupid that would cause him to tip out.

He chided himself for allowing Daniel to have more than a sip of the Chianti, but he hadn't allowed for the fact that Daniel wasn't used to drinking wine anymore and that the fresh evening air had combined with Daniel's alcohol intolerance to make him tipsy.

It was a slow journey back to the hotel, Daniel insisted on stopping at regular intervals to gaze at the stars. Finally they made it back into the hotel lobby and Jack headed for the elevator before anyone could see that his companion was slightly the worse for wear.

As the elevator arrived Daniel propelled himself towards it but, misjudging the distance, crashed into the plant pot between the two elevators.

"Oops!" he giggled; reversing his chair slightly and taking another run at the open elevator door.

"Oh for crying out loud," Jack groaned, reaching over and pushing Daniel's hand off the joystick, "let me."

Daniel gave Jack a hurt look but allowed Jack to manoeuvre his chair into the elevator away from prying eyes in the hotel lobby.

Once the elevator doors had closed Jack turned to Daniel.

"So help me if you ever touch more than root beer ever again," he said as Daniel tried to nuzzle at his lover's crotch.

It took a while but Jack finally got Daniel into their suite, undressed, catheter bag changed and into bed. By the time he had finished he was exhausted. He undressed quickly and slipped into bed beside his partner. He gazed at Daniel in the dim light of the bedside lamp. His lover was asleep, long dark lashes resting on his flushed cheeks. Jack shook his head in exasperation and switched off the light. There was one thing for sure life was never dull with Dr. Jackson around.

oooooOOOooooo

Daniel groaned as Jack pulled back the blinds and let the early morning sunshine into their room.

"Headache, Daniel?" Jack enquired.

"Mmm, a bit," Daniel admitted, peering at Jack before closing his eyes against the sun's rays. He lay there for a few minutes, listening to Jack moving around the room, willing his headache away.

"Ready?" Daniel opened his eyes a crack to see Jack standing over him ready to hoist him into a sitting position.

Daniel nodded and, with Jack's well-practised skill, he was soon propped up against a pile of pillows.

"Here," Jack handed Daniel a handful of pills and, once Daniel had popped them in his mouth, Jack held a glass of water and put the straw to Daniel's lips.

"Tylenol?" Daniel asked, hoping Jack had added these pain killers to his cocktail of drugs.

"A couple," Jack reassured him, as he surveyed his partner for any untoward physical deterioration.

"Thanks," Daniel closed his eyes again, waiting for the medication to take effect.

"You know you could have been arrested last night don't you?" Jack said sternly.

Daniel's blue eyes flew open. "Arrested? For what?"

"Drunk in charge of a vehicle for one thing," Jack said, trying not to laugh at the expression on Daniel's face.

"Very funny. Can I have a shower?" Daniel tried to change the subject.

"Give the pills time to kick in," Jack suggested. "Shall I order breakfast?"

"Just coffee," Daniel murmured, his stomach rolling at the thought of food.

"Not going to happen Daniel," Jack said, reaching for the phone and ordering croissants, coffee and fruit juice.

Jack continued to potter around the room, tidying up, while Daniel relaxed as the medication took effect. By the time breakfast had arrived Daniel was feeling a little better and managed to nibble at a croissant before draining both the juice and the coffee pot.

"Better now?" Jack smiled at his partner.

"Shower?" Daniel begged, returning the smile.

Jack pulled back the bedcovers and, lifting Daniel's legs over the side of the bed, supported his partner in a sitting position until Daniel had got his balance and was able to balance himself while Jack moved the wheelchair into position. Once Jack had transferred Daniel into the chair he was able to propel himself into the bathroom and, with Jack's help, transfer onto the chair in the shower cubicle. Jack stripped Daniel of his sweats, then himself and, stepping into the cubicle, turned on the faucet. Once Jack had washed both himself and Daniel he slipped into a towelling robe before spreading a towel over Daniel's chair and hoisting his partner back into it.

This was their daily routine, day in and day out. Daniel had long since lost any feelings of embarrassment about his body and its functions. He had handed control over to Jack and various other carers long ago. To refuse to do so would have meant a diminished quality of life. It had been embarrassing at first, allowing Jack, and Sam on occasions, to dress and undress him and attend to his bodily functions but now it was just the norm and Daniel managed to hand over this control with a certain amount of ease.

Once Jack had dried and powdered Daniel and attended to his catheter, he waited while Daniel selected his clothes and then adeptly guided flaccid, rubbery limbs into trousers and sweater. Shoes had become a problem in recent months. Although Jack could slip socks onto his feet Daniel was finding shoes uncomfortable. The spasms in his legs had twisted his feet inwards and his poor circulation and immobility caused his feet to swell. Unless absolutely necessary, Daniel preferred to go without shoes whenever possible. "It's not as if I walk anywhere," he argued and Jack had finally agreed and they reached the compromise of extra socks if Daniel was going outside.

Jack wasn't sure what Daniel would want to do about shoes on this occasion. He pulled warm socks onto Daniel's feet and then raised his head to look at his partner.

"Shoes?" he queried, waiting, hunkered on the floor, for Daniel to decide.

"No," With that one word Daniel acknowledged his disability and silently accepted it. Dr. Ogden would have to take him as he was, no pretence at normality was going to change her opinion of him, he decided. She would see him for what he was a useless cripple in a wheelchair. It would be up to him, once the initial meeting was over, to convince her that although his body was useless it still harboured a sharp mind. Whatever opinion she had of him after their first meeting was up to her.

Jack nodded his understanding and, after adding another pair of socks and gently positioning Daniel's feet on the footrest of his chair, he stood up, wincing as his knees protested.

Jack left Daniel sorting through his papers while he quickly dressed and shaved. When he returned to the bedroom Daniel had papers spread over the table and was engrossed in them.

"Well I'm ready," Jack announced, as Daniel raised his head to look at his partner.

"Are you comfortable?" Although the ravages of his disease effectively paralysed Daniel he did still have sensation to touch and pain. It was important that he was comfortably settled in his chair so that pressure sores were avoided and so that he could concentrate on things other than his own discomforts.

"Just lift me up a bit and then tuck my sweater down please."

Jack positioned himself behind Daniel's chair and, putting his arms under Daniel's and around his chest, he raised Daniel's body up off the chair. Once Daniel's rear was repositioned on the sheepskin cushion he was more comfortable. Jack then gently eased Daniel forward and, holding him with one arm, he smoothed the sweater down so that when Daniel rested against the back of the chair there would be no uncomfortable ridges to irritate him.

"Okay?" Jack checked, once Daniel was sorted.

"Fine, thanks."

"Let's go then shall we?" Jack said holding the door open while Daniel manoeuvred himself out into the hotel corridor and towards a meeting that would change his life.

oooooOOOooooo

Sam had arranged for Jack and Daniel to meet with Dr. Ogden in a local restaurant. She had checked it out on her recent visit and it was set out in such a way that they would be able to talk freely without the risk of being overheard. Another plus was that there was adequate access for Daniel's chair and it was near enough to the hotel for Jack and Daniel to 'walk' rather than have the hassle of getting in and out of a cab.

As they approached the restaurant Jack stopped and put his hand on Daniel's shoulder. Daniel released the joystick and looked questioningly at Jack.

"Remember Daniel, don't give too much away, just play it cool."

Daniel scowled at Jack.

"Do I look stupid?" he replied, pausing and adding, "okay, don't answer that."

Jack laughed and patted Daniel's shoulder.

"You know what I mean," he said. Daniel nodded and together they approached the door of the restaurant and their meeting with Dr. Ogden.

Elizabeth Ogden had arrived at the restaurant early. She wanted to get herself settled prior to her meeting. Truth be told she felt a little nervous about meeting Dr. Jackson. In the months since their last encounter she had surfed the net and trawled through old journals to find out more about him. At their last, brief meeting, the man in the wheelchair had fascinated her; she could remember his piercing blue eyes and had been captivated by his 'presence.'

Now she sat at their table awaiting his arrival. Her hands were clasped tightly around her glass of mineral water to try to stop them trembling and her heart was thudding.

"You're acting like a schoolgirl," she chided herself, taking deep breaths and watching the door anxiously.

After a few false alarms the door opened and Beth Ogden looked up to see a tall grey-haired man holding the door open so that Dr. Jackson could propel his chair into the restaurant.

A few heads turned as the odd couple made their way to their table. "Okay, here goes," Beth told herself as she stood up and prepared to become re-acquainted with Dr. Daniel Jackson.

"Dr. Ogden?" Daniel released the joystick and held out his hand in greeting, smiling shyly at the young woman standing in front of him.

"Yes, it's a pleasure to meet you again Dr. Jackson," Beth said returning his smile.

"Colonel Jack O'Neill," Jack said, holding out his hand, his face stern. He wanted to know what this young woman knew and what she wanted before he relaxed his manner with her. Beth shook hands with him. She sensed that, behind the gruff exterior, he was a nice man.

"Pleased to meet you Colonel," she said.

"Shall we sit down?" Daniel interrupted their evaluation of each other, smiling ruefully at the remark he had just made. The two of them may well choose to sit down, he had no option, he spent his life sitting on his duff butt.

Dr. Ogden sat down and sipped her water, only Jack caught the irony of the remark and smiled briefly at Daniel.

A waiter, hovering nearby, approached to take their order and once this had been settled Jack O'Neill opened the conversation.

"So Dr. Ogden, you think you have found something we might be interested in?

As the conversation progressed Jack O'Neill found himself warming to the young woman. She reminded him a lot of Daniel when they had first met, full of enthusiasm and excited at every new find. Beth Ogden had indeed unearthed a Goau'ld hand device and healing device in the depths of the museum and she was intelligent enough to put two and two together. She knew that the devices were alien and she found out, from her research, that Dr. Daniel Jackson had been laughed out of the academic community for his outlandish idea that aliens had built the pyramids. She guessed, as he now held a position of some importance in the US Air Force, that his theories hadn't been totally bunkum and she was open-minded enough to want to hear more about his work and the strange devices she had unearthed.

They ordered more drinks, then some food and still they talked. At least Beth and Daniel did most of the talking while Jack sat back and observed the pair. Occasionally he sipped his drink and held Daniel's so that, during a pause in the conversation, Daniel could sip his through a straw.

Jack mused, as he watched Daniel animatedly talking to his fellow archaeologist, that once upon a time Daniel would have found it totally embarrassing to drink through a straw, or be fed, in front of a total stranger. Over the years, however, he had pushed all these minor inconveniences to the back of his mind and now hardly noticed the pitying stares of the people at neighbouring tables.

After a couple of hours Jack suggested that they finish for the day and arrange to meet again the following day when Sam would be flying in to join them. Both Daniel and Beth were reluctant to leave but Jack knew, from experience, how much this sort of thing depleted Daniel's small reserves of energy and he wanted to get him back to the hotel as soon as possible.

After bidding farewell to Beth and arranging to meet at the same place the following day Jack held the door of the restaurant open while Daniel manoeuvred through it and out onto the sidewalk.

"I look forward to talking to you again," Beth said shaking Daniel's hand before meeting Jack's gaze and holding out her hand to him.

"Thank you for allowing us to talk Colonel," she said risking a small smile at the grim looking man towering over both her and Daniel. To her surprise he smiled back.

"The pleasure was mine Dr. Ogden," he said shaking her hand warmly before releasing it and turning to his companion.

"Okay Daniel, ready to go?" he asked.

After a final farewell Daniel turned his chair in the direction of the hotel with Jack walking alongside.

"That went well," Daniel commented, as he trundled along.

"She's a bright girl," Jack replied.

"Just the sort of person we need at the SGC," Daniel commented.

"Maybe." Jack was more cautious than Daniel. On the surface she did seem like the ideal person to work within the SGC, intelligent, open to new ideas and full of enthusiasm.

"Problem?" Daniel asked wondering why Jack was so reticent.

"The Air Force would need to check a few things out before we could make any approach," Jack reminded Daniel.

Daniel nodded his understanding before yawning widely.

"Bed, Dr. Jackson," Jack ordered as they approached the hotel entrance.

"I won't argue with that," Daniel said "I'm whacked."

Jack was concerned. Recently, although Daniel seemed physically more mobile he was tiring much more easily. So long as they stuck to their 'normal' routine things seemed to be okay but the slightest event out of this routine left Daniel totally exhausted for the rest of the day. Janet had explained to Jack that this was just another manifestation of the multiple sclerosis, which they would have to cope with.

Jack soon had Daniel tucked up in bed and within minutes he was fast asleep, leaving Jack time to contact General Hammond and apprise him of the situation. General Hammond, following Jack's recommendations, set the necessary checks in progress and promised to let Jack know as soon as he had any results.

Jack replaced the receiver and sat on the side of the bed and looked at Daniel. Jack loved to watch Daniel sleep. When Daniel was in bed Jack could forget that his partner was disabled, forget the wheelchair, the wasted limbs and the ever-present catheter. He could watch Daniel and remember him as he was, young, fit, enthusiastic and full of life. Jack loved Daniel, he would love him whatever the multiple sclerosis did to his body, he loved him for his mind as much as his body, once muscular and toned and now weak, flaccid and wasted. The ravages the disease had wrecked on his lover didn't repulse him but he would be lying if he didn't admit to sometimes wishing that he could have the old Daniel Jackson back, whatever it took.

Daniel slept until late evening. Jack was hungry but didn't want to wake Daniel so he contended himself with watching the television with the sound down until Daniel woke up.

"Jack?"

"Good sleep?" Jack switched on the bedside lamp and surveyed his partner. Daniel squinted in the light and peered at the clock.

"What time is it?" he asked.

"About seven thirty, are you hungry?" Jack stood up and moved around the Daniel's side of the bed so that he could help Daniel to sit up.

"Starving," Daniel said as Jack stuffed the pillows around him to keep him upright.

"Okay, lets have a look at the menu." Jack reached for the menu and together the couple selected a meal to be delivered to their room. Daniel didn't even suggest getting up and going out to eat which Jack correctly read as a sign that he wasn't feeling up to it. Jack felt a niggle of worry. He knew that allowing Daniel to make the trip wasn't a good idea and he only hoped that he could minimise the ill effects the trip would have on Daniel's fragile health.

Once they had eaten the meal, or rather Jack had eaten his share and Daniel had picked at his; Daniel fell asleep again and Jack, worried about his lover's exhaustion, put a call through to Janet Fraiser at the SGC.

"Just make sure he eats and drinks and gets plenty of rest," Janet advised. She knew, as well as Jack, that Daniel wasn't really physically up to these trips but neither of them had the heart to refuse those blue eyes.

The following morning, after a good night's sleep, Daniel seemed stronger. Jack insisted that he eat his breakfast in bed and then let Jack lift him in and out of the shower.

"I'm not a baby Jack," Daniel protested as Jack carried him back into the bedroom and deposited him on the bed prior to drying and dressing him.

"You need to conserve your energy Daniel," Jack reminded him as he rubbed cream into Daniel's sore butt and heels. Daniel's lack of mobility was making pressure sores more of a problem and Jack kept a watchful eye on any pressure areas, in order to prevent problems developing.

"What time does Sam's flight land?" Daniel changed the subject. He hated to watch Jack struggling with his flaccid, rubbery limbs. The sights of his own body appalled him and he preferred not to spend too much time gazing at it.

"She said she would arrive at the hotel about eleven thirty," Jack murmured as he concentrated on threading Daniel's legs into his trousers.

"I'm not staying on the bed until then," Daniel announced, daring Jack to disagree with him.

"Okay," Jack replied calmly as he finished buttoning Daniel's trousers and picked up a pair of socks.

Daniel raised an eyebrow, surprised he had won so easily but happy that he had. As Jack stuffed Daniel's twisted feet into the socks Daniel felt suddenly happy. He was with the man he loved, his best friend would be arriving shortly and he had made the acquaintance of someone who, with any luck, could soon become a work colleague.

Jack was surprised to hear Daniel humming to himself. He risked a quick glance and smiled at Daniel's face. It wasn't often that Daniel could be said to look 'happy' but this was one of those occasions and Jack continued his work with the socks content to listen to his partner.

By the time Sam arrived Daniel was ensconced in his chair and Jack had the room tidied.

When she had greeted her friends, received her perfume and thanked them profusely, spraying in generously around until Jack had complained about smelling like a flower garden she asked how the meeting had gone yesterday. Daniel filled her in enthusiastically until Jack reminded the pair that it was time to go for their second meeting.

This time Jack tested the water to see if Dr. Ogden would be interested in working for the SGC. It was a difficult conversation; he had to try to find out if she would be interested in a job without actually telling her anything about the job at all. Once they had all settled in the restaurant and had placed their order Jack allowed Daniel and Sam to do most of the talking while he watched Dr. Ogden carefully and tried to gauge what her reaction to his offer might be. He occasionally threw in a question which, in the midst of the general conversation, was accepted and answered without too much analysis. By the end of the meal he knew, that providing General Hammond confirmed her security clearance, he would be in a position to make Dr. Beth Ogden an offer she could never in her wildest dreams have imagined.

The three friends said their farewells to Beth Ogden and arranged to contact her within the next couple of days, with regard to the removal of the artefacts back to the SGC.

"Well?" Sam said, once they were back in the privacy of the bedroom, "what did you think?"

Jack kicked his shoes off, put his feet up on the coffee table and leaned back in the armchair.

"Jack!" Daniel moaned in exasperation.

"Okay, okay," Jack held up his hands in surrender. "I think, providing we get the all clear from the General, we could offer her a post within the SGC."

Sam and Daniel smiled at one another. They both liked Beth Ogden and knew she would be an asset to the SGC.

"I can't wait to see her face when you tell her what she'll be doing," Sam said.

"At least she won't think I'm a total crackpot," Daniel said bitterly.

Jack and Sam both looked at their friend in surprise. They didn't realise how much it still rankled with Daniel that the academic community thought he had retired from archaeology because his theories about aliens had been laughed at.

"Your time will come Daniel," Jack promised his partner. "Once the Stargate becomes common knowledge you will be the hero of the hour."

"Huh," Daniel snorted. He had lived with his secret for a few years now and realistically he didn't expect to be alive when the Air Force finally decided to come clean about the secret project deep below Cheyenne Mountain.

"Okay," Jack said, "so what do we do until we hear from the General? How long can you stay Sam?"

"I need to be back in Washington by Monday," she said.

"Well that gives us two days, what do you want to do Daniel?" Jack asked.

"You mean you'll let me do something," Daniel commented, "I don't have to stay cooped up in this room, tied to the bed."

"Cranky, Dannyboy, cranky," Jack waved his finger at Daniel as he sat pouting in his chair. "I think you could be a little over tired."

"Why not put me to bed, Jack," Daniel snapped.

Jack and Sam exchanged glances, it was obvious that Daniel was exhausted both physically and mentally and would need careful handling.

"Why don't you have a nap Daniel," Sam suggested, "and then perhaps we could try that Italian restaurant you went to the other night."

"Great idea!" Jack chipped in, hoping that Daniel would agree.

"I guess," Daniel said. He knew he was totally drained and he hated himself for snapping at his friends but he was worried. Recently he had started to tired much more easily and it frightened him that his fragile hold on health and mobility was slipping. He tried desperately to hide this from both Jack and Janet Fraiser, there was no point, he decided, worrying them more than was necessary and, after all, there wasn't a damned thing they could do about it anyway.

Daniel allowed Jack and Sam to undress him and transfer him from his chair to the bed and, after his medication, he settled gratefully down under the covers as his aching limbs gradually relaxed and he slipped into sleep.

Jack and Sam sat across the room, with the blinds closed, holding a whispered conversation so as not to disturb Daniel. Jack was more astute that Daniel gave him credit for and knew full well how much more easily Daniel tired these days. He confided his worries to Sam, it was good to be able to talk freely to someone about his feelings and worries and, although she could do nothing to help, he felt better after their talk.

Daniel slept for six hours and woke refreshed. He badgered Sam to book a table and, once this was done, pestered Jack to get him up. By nine-o clock he was showered, dressed and settled in his chair and waiting patiently while Jack and Sam hurriedly got themselves ready. Eventually the trio set off.

"No repeat of your last visit, Daniel," Jack warned his partner as they approached the restaurant.

"Why, what happened?" Sam asked curiously.

"Don't say anything Jack," Daniel warned, but Jack was intent on teasing Daniel.

"Drunk in charge of a wheelchair," Jack announced as Sam's eyebrows raised and Daniel groaned.

Luckily they were at the entrance to the restaurant and so further investigation of the event was abandoned as they settled themselves at their table and hungrily perused the menu.

The following morning Jack got a call from General Hammond telling him that the checks had all come back clear and that Jack was now authorised to offer Dr. Ogden a post within the SGC.

"How do we break the news?" Jack asked Daniel, once he had replaced the receiver.

"Perhaps it might be best if I do it," Daniel suggested. "I can talk about the artefacts she found, remind her about the text on the temple in the museum and then gradually bring the conversation around to my outlandish theories about the pyramids and the aliens."

"Then you tell her about the SGC and hit her with the job offer, great idea," Jack said relieved that he didn't have to try to explain things.

"Where shall we do it?" Daniel asked. The restaurant was a bit public for that sort of talk and they couldn't risk that anyone would overhear them in the museum.

Jack thought, "Why don't we ask her to come here?" he suggested indicating their hotel room.

"You'll need to tidy up a bit," Daniel said gazing around at the heaps of medical equipment and medication that accompanied him everywhere.

"Okay you ring Sam and see when she's free and then contact Dr. Ogden and make the arrangements while I tidy up," Jack suggested.

The meeting was finally set up for that afternoon and once Daniel had made the calls he had been content to rest in bed while Jack bustled around tidying the room and hiding most of the medical stuff in the closet. It wasn't that it was in the way but, sensitive to Daniel's feelings, Jack understood that Daniel didn't want unnecessary evidence of his disability on show and so, medication, lotions and catheter bags were all stashed away out of sight.

After a light lunch Jack helped Daniel shower and dress and then, once he was comfortably settled in his chair, Jack called for someone to come and make the bed and change the towels prior to the arrival of Dr. Ogden and Sam.

oooooOOOooooo

To say Beth Ogden had been surprised by Daniel's revelations and offer would be an understatement. She had listened in amazement as Daniel had told her about the SGC and the Stargate. On Jack's advice he hadn't gone into too many details just in case she refused the offer but he had been secretly pleased that he was able to show at least one person that his theories had been correct all those years ago.

Beth had asked for time to consider the offer and had promised to contact Daniel as soon as she had come to a decision. Sam, knowing she was booked on a flight early the following morning, had said her goodbyes to Beth and urged her to think carefully about the offer.

"So what do you think?" Jack had said once Beth had left and the friends were alone.

"I think she'll take the job," Daniel said confidently.

"What makes you so sure Daniel?" Sam asked her friend.

He smiled, "no archaeologist worth their salt could pass up such an offer," he said simply.

He was right. Beth Ogden rang Daniel later that evening and accepted the job offer. Within a couple of months she was settled in her new office at the SGC and Daniel was happily in charge of inducting her into her work and the life of the SGC.

Beth was totally fascinated and took to the work like to duck to water. She spent a lot of time with Daniel at first, as he took her through the history of the SGC and the type of artefacts they found. She was then introduced to SG2 and went on a few missions with them. Initially a little frightened she soon became used to travelling off world and was a popular member of any team that 'borrowed' her.

Daniel was pleased that everything was going so well, it was nice to have someone to talk to about his work, someone that understood his enthusiasm, someone to bounce ideas off. Beth was the perfect colleague; she shared her experiences both on and off world with Daniel, making him feel a part of everything at the SGC.

Daniel and Beth's involvement in their work meant that Jack O'Neill could relax once he had delivered Daniel safely to the SGC and get on with his own work. He didn't have to worry that Daniel was bored or that he was struggling on his own. Although Daniel had been adamant that Beth was just a work colleague and so had no involvement in his personal care whatsoever, Jack knew that Beth would accompany him within the SGC when necessary and call Jack or Janet Fraiser if he needed any help with his physical needs. The very most Daniel would allow her to do for him personally was to hold his coffee cup while he drank, a task Beth was happy to fulfil. She liked Daniel Jackson, she admired his intellect, she was in awe of the fact that he had opened the Stargate and, more importantly, she liked him as a person.

For eight happy months things went well and Jack was just beginning to get a little complacent about Daniel's health and their life together when things started to go wrong.

The first sign of a deterioration in Daniel's health was the gradual loss of strength in, first his left hand and arm and then, more alarmingly in his neck muscles. Jack dug the headrest for the wheelchair out of the cupboard and re-attached it to Daniel's chair and this, together with a slightly more reclined angle to the chair, provided Daniel with the support his failing muscles needed to keep his head upright. Daniel tried not to dwell too much on this deterioration and kept a positive attitude to what he could still do. Eventually, however, the deterioration continued and the eventual loss of use in his right hand and arm was a devastating blow to both Daniel and Jack.

At first it had just been a weakness. Rather than being able to propel his chair at will Daniel found that, after a couple of hours, his arm slipped off the armrest. Even if Jack placed it back in position so that Daniel could hold the joystick, he didn't have the strength to keep his hand there and it slumped onto his lap. They tried strapping his wrist to the armrest of his chair and this worked for a short while until Daniel found it impossible even to keep his fingers wrapped around the joystick for more than a few moments. Daniel was, devastated, he was now in the position he had most dreaded, total dependence on others.

Janet and Jack had tried all sorts of other aids to enable Daniel to propel his chair by other means. They had tried a tube that connected via a complex circuit of wires and electrodes and was designed to allow the user to suck and blow to manoeuvre the chair. This was a short-lived success. Jack had joked that at least it kept Daniel quiet as he couldn't move his chair and talk at the same time but this joke turned sour when, after only a couple of months, it became apparent that Daniel didn't have enough strength to use this method either.

It broke Jack's heart to see Daniel brought to such a state. For a while he allowed Jack to heave him out of bed and into the chair but once settled there he was unable to do anything other than sit and watch what was going on around him. He was totally dependent on Jack or one of his other friends or carers for the smallest thing. He couldn't answer the phone, move from one place to another, or even wipe his own nose. He found it totally frustrating to be in such a position and, despite knowing just how much Jack loved him and would do anything for him, he hated himself for putting his partner in such a position.

He had begged Jack to put him in a care home. He had argued that, as he was totally useless, he might as well sit gazing out of the window with all the other inmates rather than wasting Jack's time.

At first Jack had reasoned with him, begged him not to say such things, told him how much he loved him, promised him that he would care for him forever. As time went on, however, it became more difficult and Janet Fraiser had to beg Jack to get a permanent team of carers in to help him.

"You're no good to Daniel if you make yourself sick," she had reminded him one day when, arriving at the house she had found the kitchen piled high with dirty pots, piles of dirty washing and dust everywhere.

"I can look after him myself," Jack had snarled, stubborn as ever.

"Yes you can," Janet had agreed, "but why don't you get someone in to do the housework, the shopping, the laundry?"

Jack had eventually agreed, he insisted on being Daniel's primary carer but he did allow a team of people into the house to do all the other mundane tasks, leaving him free to concentrate on his partner's needs.

At first Daniel had continued to go into the SGC to 'work.' There wasn't a lot he could actually do but, once positioned in front of his computer, Beth Ogden or one of the other members of the archaeological department would help him. They would put text on the screen for him to translate or bring artefacts for him to look at and his expertise and knowledge of the Goau'ld was always appreciated.

As Daniel's condition deteriorated he went to Cheyenne Mountain less and less. His eyesight deteriorated so that he couldn't see the text on the computer screen. He tired easily, feeling fine at the start of the day was no guarantee that this feeling would last and usually by lunch time he was slumped uncomfortably in his chair and relieved when Jack lifted him out, massaged cream into his aching body and settled him in bed.

Jack could see what was coming and waited each morning with trepidation after asking Daniel if he wanted to get up. Eventually the day came when Daniel shook his head wearily.

"What's the point?" he asked, fixing sad blue eyes on his partner. "I'm useless in the chair anyway, I might as well stay here."

Jack's heart broke, this was, he knew, the beginning of the end. If Daniel had lost the ability and the will to fight the multiple sclerosis it would be a steady decline. Jack tried to take it in his stride and, trying hard to keep his voice steady and speak past the lump in his throat he had nodded.

"Okay, a day in bed it is," he had said, straightening the covers. He raised his weary brown eyes to meet Daniel's blue ones and a knowing glance passed between the lovers. Both knew what the refusal to get up meant. The sentence had been hanging over them for years now. They had weathered the disease together and had always known that the end had to come sometime.

"Perhaps tomorrow?" Jack had said, as he propped Daniel up among a heap of pillows.

But 'tomorrow' never came and the electric chair gathered dust, as Daniel never used it again. Jack didn't want Daniel to feel isolated, trapped in the bedroom, he wanted him to still be part of the household. He arranged for the door into the bedroom to be widened so that the special bed that Janet had organised for Daniel, to prevent pressure sores, could be moved from one room to the other with minimal disruption. Jack resigned from the SGC despite Daniel's protests, and spent his days with his partner. Daniel had a nurse coming in twice a day to bathe him and attend to his catheter and the rest of the time Jack did what was necessary, feeding his partner, reading to him, administering medication, changing his position as necessary and massaging the flaccid limbs as spasms wracked them.

Janet Fraiser was a constant visitor to the house. She wanted to check on Daniel but just as important, she wanted to make sure Jack was coping. She knew that both he and Daniel had accepted that they didn't have much time left but she knew that Daniel Jackson was a much stronger person mentally that anyone gave him credit for. She had spoken to him many times about the ultimate prognosis of his disease and he had come to terms with it long ago. Janet was less sure that Jack O'Neill was at the same stage of acceptance. She knew how much he loved Daniel, how much his life revolved around his partner and she despaired as she considered how he would cope once Daniel had gone.

As Daniel became weaker and slept more Janet contacted Sam in Washington and suggested that she fly in to see her friends.

"What are you trying to say Janet?" Sam asked, her hand was trembling as she held the receiver.

Janet knew that there was no point beating around the bush. "I don't know how much longer Daniel has," she said, "I just think it would be a good idea for both Jack and Daniel and for yourself, if you came for a visit."

Sam could hardly speak. This was the moment she had been dreading.

"I'll organise things at this end and fly out as soon as I can," Sam promised, unable to say more, her voice breaking. She replaced the receiver and gazed at her trembling hands before sinking her head into them and sobbing.

She cried for Daniel Jackson, who had never done a bad thing in his whole life, who had coped bravely with the indignities multiple sclerosis had heaped upon him and whose friendship she treasured more than anything.

She cried for Jack O'Neill, her friend and Daniel's partner in life. She knew how hard Daniel's death would hit him. She wasn't sure he was strong enough to cope with the loss.

She cried for herself. She loved Daniel like a brother. There had always been a special bond between them. On an intellectual level he was her soul mate. There had never been anything sexual between them, even before Jack and Daniel had accepted their feelings for each other, but the bond that had inextricably bound the pair together could not easily be severed and Sam didn't know what her life would be like without Daniel in it.

oooooOOOooooo

"How is he?" where Sam's first words as she came face to face with Janet Fraiser at the airport.

In the past it had always been Jack O'Neill who had come to meet her, sometimes with Daniel at his side in his chair. Now she felt the first pangs of loss as the diminutive doctor stood before her.

"He's getting weaker," Janet said "but he's looking forward to seeing you."

Sam smiled weakly, tears brimming in her sad eyes.

"Now, now," Janet chided, "Daniel doesn't need someone snivelling over him," she reminded Sam. "Wipe your eyes and your nose and put on a brave face."

Sam nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Janet put her arm around her old friend and guided her out of the airport towards the car.

Once they arrived at the house Sam flung her arms wordlessly around her old commanding officer and hugged him.

"Hey Sam, save that sort of thing for Daniel," Jack joked. Sam looked into his weary face. He was smiling down at her but, she realised, the smile didn't reach his brown eyes.

"How's he doing Jack?" she asked anxiously.

"Come and see for yourself," Jack suggested indicating the bed positioned near the window.

Sam stepped over to the bed and smiled.

"Hey Daniel," she whispered, bending over and kissing him warmly before sitting on the side of the bed to have a good look at her old friend.

"Hey," Daniel whispered back, smiling up at Sam. He loved to see her; she had radiance about her, a glow of health he was envious of. She looked full of life and he both loved and hated her for that.

Sam was appalled. Daniel had deteriorated since she had last seen him some months ago. None of the numerous telephone conversations they had had could have prepared her for how he looked now.

Daniel was propped up in the bed. Pillows surrounded him to keep him safe, the hum of the motor controlling the movement of the pressure mattress on the bed, was a constant in the background. Daniel was paler and thinner, a nasal cannula threaded from his nose around his ears and down to the oxygen cylinder on the floor. Sam could see evidence of the catheter tube snaking from under the bedclothes to a container on the floor and an IV feeding Daniel the essential nutrients he was unable to get since choked on all but the most pureed foods.

Sam brushed a stray hair back from Daniel's forehead. His hair was longer, she noticed, not as long as when she had first met him but longer than he had worn it for a while.

"How was the flight?" Daniel asked, pausing to drag air into his lungs.

"Usual," Sam said taking Daniel's nearest hand in hers. "But that's not important, how are you?"

Daniel closed his eyes for a moment and then took a breath before fixing those famous blue eyes on her.

"I need to talk to you," he gasped, "later."

Sam nodded, I'm here whenever you're ready," she promised. Daniel seemed content with that and closed his eyes.

Sam waited until his breathing evened out and she was sure he was asleep before she gently placed his hand back on the bed and carefully stood up. She turned to find Jack O'Neill standing in the doorway.

"He'll sleep for a while," Jack said, "why don't we sit on the porch?"

Once Jack had ensured that the nurse on call knew where he was and would stay with Daniel, he ushered Sam out onto the porch and they sank into the wicker chairs there.

"Oh Jack," Sam reached across and took Jack's weathered hands in her smaller, softer ones.

Jack O'Neill's eyes filled with the tears he wouldn't shed in front of his partner. Sam continued to hold his hands while her own tears fell freely too. Eventually the pair raised tear stained faces and looked at one another. They both laughed as they released their hands and wiped their eyes.

"What a pair," Sam sniffed, "what would Daniel think of us?"

Jack shook his head, not trusting himself to speak. His emotions were all too near the surface these days. He had a hard time convincing anyone that he was still a tough Air Force Colonel.

Sam found a tissue and wiped her nose. "How are you coping?" she asked her old commanding officer.

"I'm not," Jack admitted. "This is just a façade, I'm crumbling, I can't imagine life without him."

Sam nodded her understanding. "There was nothing she could say to comfort the man in front of her. Nothing she said would change the inevitability of their lives. Daniel was dying and there wasn't a damned thing either of them could do about it.

"Do you know what he wants to speak to me about?" Sam asked changing the subject.

"No idea, you know Daniel," Jack said, shaking his head. "He's got something up his sleeve but he's not sharing."

Sam laughed, "that sounds like Daniel, waiting to drop a bombshell."

Jack laughed sadly. "That's my boy," he said, his sad brown eyes meeting the equally sad blue ones of Sam.

Sam and Jack sat on the porch until the sun set, they shared memories of Daniel, talked about happier times together as SG1 and discussed when and how to contact Teal'c.

As they chatted Jack started to feel a little better. He didn't feel quite so alone with his grief. Sam and Daniel had always been close and her presence provided some degree of comfort for Jack. As they sat together the nurse appeared quietly in the doorway.

"Dr Jackson is awake now," she announced to the pair. Jack jumped to his feet immediately and dashed back into the house while Sam and the nurse exchanged sympathetic glances before following him.

"Hey," Jack said taking Daniel's hand and leaning over the bed to kiss his partner warmly.

"Hey," Daniel whispered back returning Jack's smile. He glanced past Jack. "Is Sam still here?" he asked anxiously.

"I'm here Daniel," Sam said, holding Daniel's other hand and smiling at her friend.

"Good," Daniel's eyes drifted shut once more and Sam cast a concerned glance at Jack O'Neill.

"He sleeps a lot," Jack whispered in explanation. Sam nodded and looked around for a chair.

"I'll sit with him, you get some rest," Sam ordered as the nurse moved a chair into position so that Sam could continue to hold Daniel's unresponsive hand.

Jack hovered uncertainly at the foot of the bed. He hated being separated from his lover and tended to sleep on the couch or in a chair so that he could be near Daniel in case he woke.

"Jack, you need some rest, this could go on quite a while you know," Sam echoed Janet's concerns about Jack taking care of his own health.

After consideration Jack nodded his head. "Call me if you need me," he begged as he bent over and kissed Daniel gently on the forehead before heading, reluctantly, towards the door.

"Go," Sam shooed him out of the room before returning all her attention to Daniel.

As Sam sat, holding Daniel's hand, the nurse moved quietly around the room, checking tubes and monitors, tidying the bed covers and making notes on Daniel's chart. Eventually all her chores were done and she turned her attention to the young woman sitting with her patient.

"Can I get you a drink Major?" she enquired, "I usually make myself one about this time."

Sam looked up at the nurse, seeing her for the first time. "You're Nurse Phillips from the SGC," Sam said surprised to see a familiar face.

"Yes Major, Dr. Fraiser thought Daniel would prefer to see familiar faces around him."

Sam nodded her agreement, "I'd love a cup of tea," she admitted. Nurse Phillips smiled and headed into the kitchen while Sam continued to sit with Daniel.

Before long the two women were sitting nursing steaming mugs of tea while Daniel slept.

"Does he sleep a lot?" Sam asked quietly.

"Yes, Dr. Fraiser has had to increase his medication to relieve his spasms and unfortunately this is one of the side effects," Nurse Phillips explained.

"Is he in pain?" Sam continued, desperate to understand Daniel's condition.

"Not really, Daniel's medication is administered by pump at regular intervals and the nurses and Colonel O'Neill keep a close eye on him to top-up as and when necessary," Nurse Phillips explained.

The pair sat in silence for a while, sipping their tea and watching Daniel. Eventually Sam broke the silence.

"How is Colonel O'Neill coping?" she asked. She knew Jean Phillips would give her a straight answer. She had worked at the SGC for a good few years and knew both Daniel Jackson and Jack O'Neill from their frequent visits to the infirmary over the years.

"It's hard for him," the nurse explained "but he's coping, at the moment."

"But...?" Sam sensed there was more.

"He's devoted to Dr. Jackson, I don't know how he'll cope once it's all over."

Sam knew the truth of this remark. "We'll all be there for him," she said firmly and in that second she knew that her life and work in Washington were over. She would come back to Cheyenne Mountain; it was the least she could do for her two friends.

"Good," Jean Phillips understood what Sam was trying to say and was secretly pleased. She knew Jack O'Neill had always had a soft spot for the fair-haired Major and if anyone could help him come to terms with the loss of his partner it would be Sam Carter.

Daniel woke in the small hours of the morning. Jean Phillips had gone off duty at midnight and been replaced by an SGC nurse that Sam hadn't met before. Once the hand over had been completed, Jean had patted Sam on the shoulder.

"Cathy is one of the best," she explained looking towards the young nurse who continued to fill in her charts.

"Thanks Jean, for everything," Sam replied.

"Sam?" Daniel had whispered as the dim light showed his friend sitting at his bedside.

"Hi, Daniel," Sam said leaning over so that he could see her face without having to move.

"I need to talk to you, I need you to do something for me," he whispered, dragging air into his weak lungs.

"Take it easy Daniel," Sam begged, looking towards Cathy who stood alert at the foot of the bed.

Cathy stepped to the side of the bed and increased the level of oxygen to Daniel's nasal cannula and then stepped back into the shadows to give the couple some privacy.

It took a while for Daniel to explain to Sam exactly what he wanted her to do. She begged him to stop, not to ask her to do it, not to make her the go between. Daniel was as persuasive as ever. His blue eyes pleaded with her to help him fulfil his wishes, to persuade Jack to go along with his plan. Eventually Sam nodded.

"I'll do my best Daniel, I promise," she said and with that Daniel relaxed and allowed his eyes to close.

"I knew I could depend on you," he whispered before slipping into an exhausted sleep and leaving Sam wondering how on earth she was going to explain things to Jack O'Neill.

oooooOOOooooo

"He wants what?" Jack yelled as Sam tried to explain her conversation with Daniel.

Sam repeated Daniel's request as Jack shook his head in disbelief. She had known it would be difficult but she had promised Daniel that she would try and so she waited patiently for Jack to finish pacing and yelling before she tried again.

Eventually Jack sank down onto the couch and dropped his head into his hands.

"He never fails to amaze me," Jack confided in Sam.

"He seemed quite determined," Sam ventured.

"Oh I don't doubt it," Jack laughed before shaking his head in bewilderment.

"So what do we do?" Jack had had an inkling that Daniel was up to something when he begged Jack to call her. He knew Daniel didn't just want her here for a touching deathbed scene but he could never, in his wildest dreams, have imagined exactly what Daniel had planned.

"We try to make his wish come true," Sam stated calmly. "I'll make a few phone calls."

As Sam headed into the study to make the calls Jack dragged his fingers through his grey hair and took a deep breath before going into the bedroom to check on his partner and lover.

The nurse was just finishing getting Daniel ready for the day ahead. Once she had washed him, changed his catheter and IV and adjusted the pillows that supported Daniel's paralysed limbs, she checked her chart and made sure the correct medications were inserted into the pump. Then, smiling at Jack O'Neill, she gathered up her charts and went to sit by the window to make the necessary entries before Jean Phillips arrived for the hand over.

Jack knew it was a small window of opportunity to discuss things with Daniel, the ministrations of the nurse exhausted him and he would soon be asleep again.

"So Daniel," Jack said, perching on the side of the bed and taking Daniel's hand in his.

Daniel waited, he guessed that Sam had talked to Jack and he was now at his partner's mercy.

"Are you sure you know what you are doing?" Jack asked. "Are you sure you realise what it entails, what it means." Jack tried hard to keep his voice steady but a lump was forming in his throat and he swallowed hard.

Daniel met Jack's gaze, his blue eyes determined. For an instant, as their eyes met, Jack was transported back to the many other occasions in the past when Daniel had stubbornly stuck to his guns against all odds, a time when Daniel was a fit and healthy young man. Over the years Jack O'Neill and many other people at the SGC had come to realise that Dr. Daniel Jackson was usually right.

"I know," Daniel admitted.

"Why, Daniel, why?" Jack pressed for more information.

Daniel took a deep breath, "I just want to go home Jack, just once more," he whispered, his blue eyes fastened steadily on Jack's brown ones both sets swimming with unshed tears.

Jack nodded as he continued to stroke Daniel's hand. The very worst thing about this stage of Daniel's illness was, in Jack's opinion, the fact that Daniel was unable to initiate any physical contact with his partner. Jack desperately missed the touch of Daniel's hand. He knew this was just a small foretaste of what he would have to endure once Daniel was 'gone,' and he didn't know if he could bear life without his partner.

"Where's Sam? Daniel asked.

"Making phone calls," Jack replied, letting Daniel know that wheels were being set in motion in order to make Daniel's last wish come true.

"Thanks," Daniel whispered before his slipped into a deep sleep, leaving Jack stroking his unresponsive hand and drinking in the face of his friend, partner and lover while he could.

oooooOOOooooo

It took a while to sort out but, with the combined help of Sam, Jack, Janet Fraiser, General Hammond and the Air Force, plans were eventually in place for Dr. Daniel Jackson to go back home, to Egypt.

Both Jack and Daniel knew that it would be a one way trip. Daniel was hanging onto life by his fingernails and the trip to Luxor, however well arranged, would be just too much for his weak body.

It had finally been agreed that besides Jack O'Neill, the party would consist of Sam, Janet Fraiser, Jean Phillips, Daniel's favourite nurse and Teal'c. Sam had finally managed to contact the Jaffa with help from the Tok'ra and he had been both saddened and honoured at Daniel's request that he join them.

Daniel and Jack had discussed the trip many times while the arrangements were being made. Daniel knew that the end was near and he wanted to die in the place he had be born, the place he had grown up in, the place that had shaped his life. During one of their bittersweet conversations Daniel had tried to make Jack understand that he wasn't rejecting him, his friend, colleague, partner, lover and carer by wanting to go to Egypt but that it was the place he belonged. The sand, the heat, the magical atmosphere of the place of his birth was calling him, one last time.

"I loved Abydos because it reminded me of Egypt," Daniel had explained. My time there was Sha're was one of the happiest of my life," Daniel explained, trying not to hurt Jack. Jack O'Neill had always known how much Daniel had loved his wife and he had never resented that love.

"But I was born in Egypt, it shaped my life," he explained, "I belong to the desert and it belongs to me."

Jack had finally understood and had taken Daniel in his arms and embraced him.

"I love you Daniel, with all my heart and with all my soul," Jack had whispered in his lover's ear. "I don't want to lose you but if this is really what you want then I'll do everything in my power to make it happen," he had promised.

"I love you too Jack," Daniel had replied. He would have given anything to be able to wrap his arms around Jack and hug him close but he had to be content with lying enfolded in Jack's embrace, his paralysed limbs holding the memory of many such embraces in the past.

Sam pulled out all the stops and, with General Hammond's help, eventually had a flight arranged and accommodation booked in a private clinic in Luxor. Janet Fraiser and Jean Phillips had made all the necessary arrangements for medical equipment to be available, both on the flight and at the hotel when they arrived and the Tok'ra had contacted Teal'c and he would be arriving via the Stargate the following day. All was finally ready for the trip and all they could do now was check and re-check the details and wait for the following morning to dawn and for Daniel to set off on his final journey.

Sam had gone to spend the night at Janet's house in order to give Jack and Daniel some time alone on their last evening together at home. Cathy was the nurse on duty and she had, tactfully, retired to the porch where she sat in one of the wicker chairs reading a magazine, one ear tuned to the house in case she was needed.

Daniel had asked to be moved back into the bedroom and once this manoeuvre had been completed Jack had pulled back the blinds so that Daniel, positioned correctly, could watch the sun set and the stars appear for one last time.

The couple sat in silence for a while watching the changing sky until the room was dark and then he had lit the candles set around the room to create a pleasant scented atmosphere for them to enjoy together.

"Lay with me," Daniel whispered as Jack prepared to return to his chair at the side of the bed.

Jack nodded and gently moved Daniel's paralysed body over to one side of the bed so that there was room for him to lay with his partner. After adjusting the many pillows he lifted Daniel slightly so that he could cradle him in his arms and Daniel sighed with pleasure as he was safely ensconced in Jack's arms.

They lay for a while just enjoying the nearness of one another. Jack stroked Daniel's hair with one hand, the other keeping a firm but gentle grip on the limp body in his arms.

"You must always remember this night," Daniel suddenly said to Jack's surprise. "Promise?"

"Promise," Jack said, bending forward to plant a kiss on Daniel's head.

"You know I have to do this, don't' you?"

"Ssh, don't talk," Jack urged as Daniel struggled for breath.

"I have to Jack, I have to..." he paused to drag oxygen into his weakened lungs.

"Daniel, I know everything there is to know about you, you're my soul mate, my lover, my partner, my everything..." Jack's voice cracked as he swallowed back the tears he had promised Daniel he wouldn't shed.

Daniel quietened for a moment as he fought to control his breathing. Jack took some deep breaths and tried to get his emotions under control.

"I just want you to know..." Daniel tried again.

"Daniel I know," Jack whispered willing Daniel to rest. It was going to be a long and arduous journey the following day and Jack wanted to get Daniel to Egypt alive. Daniel's determination to live long enough to return to the land of his birth had played a big part in his ability to fight off the last stages of his disease. Janet Fraiser had spoken to Jack at length, as Daniel's disease had progressed over the past few months, and he knew that determination alone wasn't going to keep his lover alive for much longer. Now he had admitted to himself that Daniel was going to die he was determined that he wouldn't let him go until he had fulfilled his last wishes, to return to Egypt.

"Jack listen please," Daniel begged. He knew he had little time left and that once the journey was underway he would deteriorate quickly. He had to say everything tonight to be sure that Jack knew how he felt and what he wanted for the future of his soul mate.

"Okay, I'm listening," Jack capitulated, letting Daniel speak.

Daniel took a breath, "I don't want you to grieve Jack," Daniel whispered. "I know you, you'll beat yourself up about what you should have done to make things different." Daniel paused to drag more air into his lungs before continuing.

"All the what ifs and whys won't make any difference," Daniel gasped, trying to make Jack understand. "I want you to remember all the good times we had together, to remember how much I love you."

"Daniel..." Jack interjected tears pooling in his weary brown eyes.

"No Jack, let me finish," Daniel demanded weakly. "I want you to say goodbye and wish me well, we both knew this had to happen sometime and we both knew it wouldn't be easy to say our farewells."

Jack didn't trust himself to speak. His hot tears dropped silently and gently into Daniel's hair and Jack kissed them away.

"Do you have any regrets Jack?" Daniel asked suddenly.

Jack thought for a moment. Did he regret ever meeting Daniel Jackson? No. Did he regret Daniel's illness? He hated what it had done to his partner but regret it, perhaps not. The long and slow decline in health the multiple sclerosis had wrought had only served to bring the two men closer.

"Only that we haven't had enough time together," Jack finally admitted.

"Forever wouldn't have been long enough for me," Daniel whispered.

"Do you?" Jack asked.

"Regret anything? Not really." Daniel thought for a moment and then added, "I regret not being able to hold you, not being able to stroke your cheek, touch your lips..."

Jack lifted Daniel's flaccid, useless hand and, holding it gently, in his, he stroked it slowly up and down his cheek and across his lips. Daniel sighed with pleasure as Jack adjusted their positions so that he could clasp Daniel's other arm around his body, holding it close as Daniel would have if he had been able. They lay quietly together, both appreciating this fleeting closeness.

As the evening drew into night and the candles burned down in the room Jack and Daniel spoke the words of love that had so often been shared in that room. Time had no meaning as the two men shared their last hours together. As the night progressed Daniel slept and Jack gazed intently at the face of his partner, the face that he would never forget.

Cathy stood silently in the doorway at one point during that long bittersweet night waiting for permission to adjust the pump administering Daniel's medication. Silently, once Jack had waved her forward, she did what was necessary before tiptoeing back into the kitchen to keep her silent vigil with the two men.

As dawn broke Jack gently laid a sleeping Daniel down on the bed and stood up to stretch his aching limbs. He looked down at his sleeping partner, drinking in the sight of that beautiful face before blowing out the candles and going out of the bedroom, ready to face the day he had been dreading for so long.

While Jack showered, shaved and dressed and grabbed himself a quick cup of coffee Cathy took over Daniel's care. By the time Jack returned with a mug of coffee for Daniel Cathy had washed and shaved her patient and after dealing with the necessities of the pressure sores, catheter, IV and medications Daniel was now propped up amid a heap of pillows smiling weakly as Jack entered the room.

As Jack held the mug while Daniel slowly sipped the lukewarm brew through a straw both men realised that today was going to be a day of 'last times.' Cathy made the necessary entries on Daniel's chart before packing her bag and getting ready to hand over his care to Jean Phillips.

"Cathy, thanks for everything," Daniel murmured, releasing the straw as a sign to Jack that he had finished with the coffee.

"It's been a pleasure Daniel," Cathy managed to say before the tears started flowing. She bent and hugged her patient warmly before turning to shake hands with Jack. Jack put the mug of coffee on the bedside table and stood up. A handshake was too formal a farewell for someone who had shared so much of their lives over the past few weeks. Jack pulled Cathy into a hug and, although surprised, Cathy responded warmly. She had come to love these two men and admire their courage and resilience. She would miss them both.

As they pulled away Jean Phillips arrived in the bedroom and Cathy wiped her eyes and regained her composure long enough to do the usual hand over with professionalism. As she let herself out of the house for the final time Cathy sent back a private prayer that both Jack and Daniel would find their own peace at the end of their very different journeys.

The morning passed in a flurry of activity. Sam and Janet arrived shortly after Jean Phillips and spent a couple of hours checking the baggage. General Hammond delivered Teal'c personally to the house and, while Teal'c was welcomed warmly by Janet and Sam, the General took the opportunity to say his own personal farewell to Daniel, while Jack waited outside to give the two men some privacy.

General Hammond's eyes were moist as he left the bedroom. He shook hands with Jack and, after ensuring that everything was in order, he took his leave of the group.

Jack embraced Teal'c warmly and ushered him into the bedroom to see Daniel. It was a poignant reunion. The archaeologist and the Jaffa had a long history of friendship and conflict but over the years all past hurts had been forgotten and forgiven and now Teal'c was honoured to call Dr. Daniel Jackson friend and Daniel, in turn, classed Teal'c as one of his closest friends.

Finally the ambulance arrived and it was time to leave for the airport and the private plane the Air Force had commissioned for this sad final journey. Daniel was carefully moved by loving hands from the bed to the gurney and, once surrounded by pillows and covered with warm blankets, he was wheeled out of his home for the last time. Jack walked as close as he could to Daniel while Jean, Sam and Janet took care of the medical paraphernalia that surrounded their friend and Teal'c took responsibility for locking up the home that Jack and Daniel had shared for so many happy years.

It was an arduous journey and Daniel visibly weakened as they made their way, first to the airport, then aboard the plane and finally by ambulance to the private clinic in Luxor.

By the time they were settled in the clinic Daniel was exhausted. Janet was concerned enough about his physical condition to up his medication and arrange for a crash cart to be available. Once Daniel's immediate needs had been taken care of Sam explained to Jack that there was an adjoining room available to them where he could catch up on some sleep.

"I'm not leaving him Sam, not now." Jack said firmly, pulling up a chair and sitting in his usual place at Daniel's side.

Sam knew better than to insist. The two had so little time left together that every moment was precious. She nodded "I'll be there if you need me," she reminded her old commanding officer, before quietly opening the adjoining door and propping it ajar.

As Jack took hold of the pale hand Daniel opened his blue eyes and gazed at Jack.

"Are we in Egypt?" he whispered.

"Yes, we're at the clinic in Luxor," Jack leaned over to stroke Daniel's face. "You made it Daniel, you're home."

"Good," Daniel sighed and closed his eyes once more. Janet stepped nearer to the bed and checked the monitors.

Jack raised questioning eyes to her face as she finished the checks and made the appropriate notations on the chart.

"Well?" he asked.

"He's very weak," Janet whispered back, confirming what Jack already knew.

"Is the boat booked?" Jack wanted to be sure that everything was in place for Daniel's final journey the following day. Nothing had to go wrong, there was no time for mistakes or delays.

"Sam's double checking now," Janet explained, looking towards the adjoining room where she could see Sam speaking quietly on the telephone. The pair waited with Daniel until Sam returned to the room.

"It's all arranged for 4 o clock tomorrow afternoon," Sam confirmed.

It was settled then, Jack had nothing more to do now but wait and, whatever anyone else thought, he would wait with Daniel, never leaving his side for a moment. Janet, Sam and Jean all knew this and were prepared to make this last few hours as stress free as possible. Teal'c, never at ease with displaying his feelings openly, took it upon himself to stand guard at the door of Daniel's room. It was the least he could do for his old friend, to make his last few hours as peaceful as possible.

Daniel slept for most of that day and well into the night. Janet and Jean monitored his condition constantly; both afraid that the journey may have taken his last reserves of physical strength and that he would need their attention at some point.

That point came just before dawn when, alerted by a hitch in Daniel's shallow breathing, Janet and Jean rushed to the bedside while Jack looked on helplessly.

Jean quickly raised the head of the bed, while Janet ripped off the nasal cannula and replaced it with an oxygen mask. While Janet held the mask she whispered urgent instructions to Jean who injected the appropriate medication into Daniel's IV. After a few anxious moments the three onlookers relaxed as Daniel's breathing evened out and his heart rate and blood pressure steadied.

"What's going on?" Jack finally whispered to the medical team.

"He's dying Jack," was the only answer Janet could give.

Jack was distraught; he had promised Daniel faithfully that he would fulfil his last wishes to the letter. He would uphold his end of the bargain and he needed Daniel to do the same. He leaned over the bed and spoke softly into Daniel's ear.

"Don't you die on me yet Daniel, do you hear me, we've made a bargain, you've got to stick to it, do your hear me?" Jack whispered urgently to his lover.

There was no response from the comatose patient but Jack hadn't really expected one. Janet, Jean, Sam and Teal'c stood on tearfully as Jack ordered Daniel to keep breathing. If he could do if for anyone they all knew that Daniel would do his utmost to do whatever Jack asked of him.

Throughout the remainder of the early hours of dawn and into the heat of the morning Jack continued to remind Daniel to breathe. Several times Daniel's breathing faltered but with the help of the medical team and Jack's constant encouragement Daniel Jackson fought to hold on to life.

As the afternoon sun made its way across the blue Egyptian sky there was a tap at the door and Sam opened it to find Teal'c standing there with the medical team who were to assist in taking Daniel to the river.

It was a slow and sad journey, no one spoke as Daniel was gently lifted into the waiting ambulance and transported slowly to the riverside. General Hammond had done a good job and had managed to have a small section of the riverbank cordoned off so that no one could disturb their passage. Janet and Jean deftly disconnected all the tubes and wires and helped Jack dress Daniel in his old Abydonian robe before overseeing his removal from the ambulance.

It was a sad group that gathered on the banks of the Nile to bid their final farewell to their friend and colleague. Daniel had said his personal goodbyes to these good friends over the past few days and as they kissed him for the last time Daniel was unaware of their tears and caresses. Finally it was time and Teal'c carefully lifted Daniel's frail body off the stretcher and laid him gently on the mattress that had been placed in the bottom of the felucca waiting to take Daniel on his last journey with Jack as his sole companion.

As Jack climbed into the small boat and took Daniel in his arms he was aware of the small sad group on the shore. He nodded to the boatman and the felucca sailed silently away from the bank as the gentle warm breeze caught the sail and they slid out onto the Nile.

It was beautiful, in those minutes as he sat holding Daniel in the felucca Jack could see just why Daniel loved Egypt so much. Apart from the gently lapping of the water against the side of the boat and the occasional call of a bird from the reeds there was total silence. As they continued to sail slowly towards the West Bank the sun began its slow descent over the Valley of the Kings.

"Daniel?" Jack whispered willing Daniel to wake up, one last time, to be aware that Jack had kept his promise, to see the sun set, the Nile, the West Bank and to give Jack a change to gaze once more into the those blue eyes before they closed forever.

As if sensing that his journey was nearly over Daniel's blue eyes fluttered open and he gazed into Jack's concerned face.

"Are we there?" he breathed, his voice so weak that Jack had to lean forward and strain to catch the words.

"Look," Jack shifted Daniel into his arms so that he could rest against Jack's chest, his head cushioned on Jack's shoulder as, together, they watched the deep red of the sun's disc make its slow progress to the West.

They sat in silence, the only sound the lapping of the Nile against the boat. All that needed to be said had already been said and so the couple, relishing their last physical moments together waited. As the disc finally sank below the rugged hills of the Valley of the Kings Daniel sighed.

Jack sat holding Daniel in his arms until the sun had disappeared totally and darkness covered the Nile like a blanket. The boatman crouching in the stern lit a lantern and waited patiently for instructions.

Jack knew that Daniel was dead. They were soul mates, as Daniel had sighed out his last breath Jack had felt a physical pain in his heart. As the cool evening breeze made Jack shiver slightly he knew this moment couldn't last for ever, he would have to give the instruction to go back to the bank, where his friends were waiting for them. He would happily have sailed on the felucca, cradling Daniel's body in his arms, for eternity if he could.

He took a deep breath and gently laid Daniel's body back on the mattress. As he covered his lover with a blanket he noticed a single tear pooling in the corner of one of Daniel's closed eyes. He bent forward and caught the precious liquid on his finger tip and, raising it carefully to his mouth, swallowed it, a part of Daniel and now a part of him too. His tears fell silently and dripped on the blanket shrouding his partner and Jack finally allowed them to fall. He cried for what he had lost, for the person Daniel Jackson had been, for all the happy times they had shared and for all the heartbreak Daniel had suffered in his too short life.

Eventually, spent and exhausted, Jack nodded to the boatman who slowly turned the felucca back towards the shore where anxious friends were waiting to receive Daniel's body and to comfort Jack. As they sailed back Jack looked up into the dark night sky. The stars, brighter than he had ever seen them before seemed to glow and twinkle with excitement. Daniel Jackson, son of the desert, husband of Sha're and soul mate of Jack O'Neill was now one of them once more.

Finis