There And Back Again 2

Reunion

by Sue Barrett

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/ass/sbarrett/there02.php
Summary: My way of dealing with the departure of Daniel from the SGC, and his return

He felt the darkness wash over him, felt his hand go limp within Jack's, felt himself slipping away. Then suddenly there was light. Light all around him, inside of him.

"Sha're? Mom? Dad?" He called out. A voice answered.

"Awaken child." He did as he was asked and opened his eyes. Light was everywhere, and standing there before him was Oma Desala.

"Oma?" He asked.

"Yes child." She answered, "I have come to take you home." She reached out her hands and pulled him to her. An overwhelming sensation of love flooded him, and he began to cry. After a while he looked up at her. She brushed the tears from his cheeks. "Come." She enveloped him once more, and gently carried him away with her.

Somehow they were in the Embarkation Room, Oma stood next to him. The 'Gate was open, waiting. He looked at each of his friends in turn, lingering longest before Jack. He reached out a hand and gently touched Jack's face, their eyes meeting in a long gaze. What passed between them O'Neill would never tell, but somehow he knew that Daniel would be all right. Finally the younger man broke away.

"I have to go now Jack." The archaeologist spoke. Jack nodded, and watched as Daniel followed Oma Desala into the event horizon.

A new adventure had begun.

~oOo~

The ride through the Stargate had seemed endless, but eventually Daniel and his companion arrived at their destination. Once again he was surrounded by light, but there was more; a feeling of love, of being wanted, of belonging also surrounded him. It had been a very long time since he had known such feelings.

"Where are we? What is this place?" Daniel asked.

"We are where ever you want to be." She replied simply. He looked around himself, at the sand swirling in the wind, at the city in the distance - Abydos. Not the real place of course, but rather an image of his former home.

"How did...?" He asked incredulous.

"It is what is in your heart." She replied.

"I died?" He asked. Oma smiled at him gently.

"You were without life for a short time before I came to assist with your ascension to this place."

"You cured me?" Daniel asked incredulous, looking down at himself for the first time. Oma smiled softly again

"And brought you here to protect you from those who would cause you harm."

"Is Sha're here?" Daniel asked. Oma shook her head sadly.

"The evil within her did not relinquish her soul. She is not here, but she is at peace now." Daniel thanked her, and started to ask something else, but Oma cut him off with a smile.

"You have many questions. But now it is time for you to rest, before the next stage of your journey."

"Rest?" Daniel asked.

She looked at him sadly. Daniel looked at her. "I have been watching over you since our last meeting." She continued. "You have known much unhappiness in your life. Your friends did not always understand your pain. But all that has passed, soon the hurt will be gone. Close your eyes."

Daniel did as he was asked. He sensed rather than heard Oma move closer. Feeling suddenly vulnerable, he started to move.

"Now is the time for you to heal. There is nothing to fear."

Daniel closed his eyes again. He felt the energy of her around him, inside of him, felt the love she had for him, heard her voice in his mind as he drifted into a deep sleep.

And so it was, that while he slept, Daniel Jackson of the Tau'ri came to know the being that was Oma Desala. A member of the Furlings, the beings Jack had learned of when the knowledge of the Ancients had been accidentally downloaded into his brain. He learned how Oma had been a member of the High Council, and had been banished because she'd broken one of the their most sacred laws by bringing aid to other lesser beings, and helping them to ascend to ease their suffering. Daniel was disturbed that a being as gentle as Oma should be banished for helping others. As he drifted he wondered what kind of people the other Furlings were. He slept deeply and gave himself fully to the love that surrounded him, and finally learned the true meaning of peace.

~oOo~

Janet Fraiser was waiting in the Infirmary. SG-1 had just returned from a mission, and would be arriving at any moment for their post-mission checks. There were just the three of them now. Things hadn't worked out with Daniel's replacement; he had been mortally wounded on an early mission with the team, and had become host to a Tok'ra named Jaf'el. His current whereabouts were unknown since the Tok'ra had been scattered far and wide after the attack on their latest hiding place. She picked up the pile of medical files and realised that she had picked up Daniel's notes by accident. It had been just over six months since he'd left them; she hoped he was all right. Absently she opened the folder, and skimmed through the copious notes, starting with the first mission he'd been on as a member of SG-1, to the last time she'd seen him, when he was dying.

Her mind wandered back to the night before that last mission, when she'd found him alone in the Commissary. He had been sitting at a corner table, staring into space, an untouched cup of coffee in front of him. She'd gone over to the table and sat opposite, chattering away as she always did, until she looked at his face. She'd noticed that his eyes were red, as if he'd been crying. She knew SG-1 had just come back from their latest psych evaluations, and she had been tempted to go and talk to Doctor Pritchard but it was late, and he would probably have gone home. A few moments later Daniel had excused himself and left. Looking back she wondered if there was anything she could or should have done, especially when she discovered after SG-1 had departed the next morning the reason for Daniel's misery. He and Jack had fought again, and he had failed his psych evaluation, and had been grounded. The sound of approaching voices brought her out of her reverie. She quickly wiped away the tear that threatened to fall, and went back to work.

~oOo~

"Awaken Daniel." The gentle voice spoke.

Daniel Jackson opened his eyes and looked into the light that surrounded him. He saw Oma Desala before him. He felt a sense of joy flowing through him that he'd never felt before, he heard her soft voice welcoming him, but most of all he could feel her love for him. He saw her approaching, and smiled.

"This is but the beginning of your journey, the start of the Great Path." And patiently she began to teach him.

~oOo~

The Goa'uld fleet moved with alarming speed through the Galaxy, before descending into orbit around a small planet. The only occupants, a group of Tau'ri explorers were quickly overpowered. Osiris smiled to himself at the gift he would present to Anubis upon his arrival.

~oOo~

Major Samantha Carter sat in the room that had been Daniel's office, reading one of his beloved textbooks. The remaining members of SG-1 couldn't bear to have the room allocated to someone else, so it had become a sort of SG-1 common room. Teal'c was looking after Daniel's apartment, but his personal effects, including his only photograph of Sha're, and his journals were in the possession of Jack O'Neill. A noise made her look up. Teal'c stood in the doorway.

"It is late Major Carter, you should be resting."

"I know Teal'c." She replied. "I couldn't sleep. I keep thinking about Daniel, how he was before he left us." The other man nodded.

"I too came to seek the comfort of Daniel Jackson's presence."

"It's almost as if he's still here. Sometimes, if I close my eyes, I can still see and hear him. He affected us all so much."

"It is the same for me, when I perform Kel-no-reem." Teal'c gently replied. "I regret that I did not sense his distress before it was too late."

"Me too." Sam replied. "I hadn't realised how bad things were for him until I read his last journal entries." Just before O'Neill had locked them away, Sam had glimpsed Daniel's current journal. "He thought we didn't trust him Teal'c, he thought the Colonel hated him, couldn't understand why no one would listen to him any more." She quickly wiped away the tear that was running down her face. "He was terrified something bad was going to happen as a result of our using the Stargate. Trouble is, he was right, wasn't he? Now we have Anubis running round the galaxy, and we're helpless to stop him, and I haven't heard from my Dad in weeks..." The sound of footsteps in the corridor outside brought the conversation to a halt.

"Hey campers, what are you doing up this late?" Jack O'Neill asked as he burst through the door. Sam and Teal'c looked at him, both knowing that despite outward appearances the Colonel was suffering terribly over the loss of their friend.

"Couldn't sleep Sir." Sam replied.

"I too could not rest O'Neill." The Jaffa echoed.

"Why didn't we doing something? We were his friends." Sam suddenly exclaimed angrily. "We should have seen it coming, he hadn't been right for a long time, blaming himself for everything." Jack sat down and rubbed his hands through his hair.

"I tried Sam, I really tried." He replied sadly. "You have no idea of the number of times I tried to get him to talk to me about what was bothering him, but he wouldn't say.

"Daniel Jackson had not himself for some time O'Neill, I remember the disagreement the two of you had on the K'Tau home world." The Jaffa commented.

"It goes back further than that Teal'c." Jack replied, "Daniel hadn't really been right since Shar'e's kid was here. Something happened to him that day. Said it was time he found a new path, whatever that meant." Jack's mind drifted and he stared at the opposite wall. "God! I was Daniel's best friend, the person he trusted most, and I so let him down." He angrily thumped his fists down on the desk.

"We all let Daniel Jackson down O'Neill." Teal'c replied softly.

~oOo~

After chatting with the others in Daniel's office, Jack had gone home. It was late and he was tired, but he knew he wouldn't get much sleep. While he sipped a beer, his mind wandered back to the conversation he'd had with Carter and Teal'c. He reached round behind him, and started to open his safe. Reaching in he pulled out a pile of Daniel's journals. Until now he'd made no attempt to read any of them. He felt that since Daniel wasn't technically dead, to do so would be an invasion of the man's privacy. But his mind was unsettled, and his conversation with the others had once again raised questions that needed answering. Finding the most recent volume, he opened the cover and began to read.

It was all there. Daniel's concerns about Alar and the Eurondans, and the enemy they were at war with, his hurt when Jack had told him to shut up, his anger over Jack's attitude towards the death of Robert Rothman. His reunion with Shi'fu and the 'dream walk', and his concerns for the man he could have turned into if he really had been given the knowledge of the Goa'uld. How he had sent Teal'c to his death as revenge for Sha're, how Sam had been committed, and Jack himself? He had apparently been driven to try and kill his friend. Jack had tried in vain to get Daniel to talk about that experience, but in the end had given up. Now he knew why the younger man had been so upset. There was the loss of SG-5, who like Daniel had become addicted to the Goa'uld light thing. Daniel had felt bad because he was the only survivor from that mission, although they had found and saved Loran.

Jack continued to read. He discovered that while Daniel felt he had no choice other than to accept his orders, he was disappointed and angry at the older man's arrogance on the K'Tau home world, the way Jack continuously showed off in front of the Asgard, and again when he not so politely informed the K'Tau people that their God wasn't what they believed him to be. Then there was the aborted treaty with the Aschen.

For some reason, Daniel's discovery of the demise of the Volians had upset him greatly. Jack remembered that Teal'c had spoken to him about Daniel's disappointment at finding the underground city. Daniel's discoveries had in fact saved Earth from a terrible fate - again. But for some reason the younger man had found no comfort in that knowledge. He wrote that he was concerned about Kinsey's threat when the treaty with the Aschen had fallen through; he was worried something bad would happen, and it had. Sam had been kidnapped, and experimented upon.

But underlying all this was Daniel's continuous guilt at having opened the Stargate in the first place, and his concern about the way they were, in his opinion, blatantly tramping all over the galaxy without due regard for the species they encountered, or the consequences of their actions. He was startled to learn that Daniel had felt himself to be a failure; that he had achieved nothing, when all he'd ever wanted was to make a difference.

"You did make a difference Danny." He spoke to no one in particular. "One hell of a difference."

Jack read on, and found himself reading about how Daniel had only agreed to go to the Goa'uld summit in the hopes of impressing him. He thought Jack wanted him off the team, that he wasn't good enough any more. He had hoped to prove himself an able warrior, to regain Jack's trust, and mend their friendship. Jack was stunned to read that Daniel had got it into his head that the he no longer cared about his young friend, and that their friendship meant nothing. He was sharply reminded of the sight of Daniel crying in the Embarkation Room after he'd killed Reece. The two of them hadn't really spoken much after that time. Daniel had finally gone to his office and collapsed from the pain in his arm, which turned out to be badly broken and needed surgery. Apart from updates from Janet, he'd kept his distance. If only he'd known, if only he'd listened. A tear ran down his face. Janet had theorised that Daniel had somehow bonded with Reece because of what had happened to him when his own parents had died. Could she have been right?

"Oh Danny..." He sighed to himself. He absently turned the page; it was blank, as were the rest of the pages. Jack was puzzled, as long as he'd known the archaeologist, he'd always written in his journal, even took it on missions with him. Jack closed the book, and allowed the tears to come.

~oOo~

"Where is Daniel Jackson?" Osiris asked, looking at the prisoner before him with disgust. "What is the address of the Asgard home world?" He had been torturing the woman for hours now; the information was coming, he could taste it. The human screamed in agony, and began to cry. Osiris reached out a hand and gently brushed his victim's face.

"Tell me."

~oOo~

During the months that passed Daniel travelled the Great Path, and learned to become one with nature and the universe. He had seen many wonders, and with his help wars had been averted, new civilisations protected, millions had been freed from Goa'uld oppression, and for the first time Daniel felt he was making a difference. He could do so much more here. Oma had taught him how to heal those in pain, and use the power of the weather to bring rain to those worlds without. But none of it made sense without the others, without Sam and Teal'c: without Jack.

Oma had told him he was the only one qualified to judge himself, but he constantly wondered what had he done to deserve enlightenment and the wonders she had bestowed upon him? Oma was endlessly patient with him, but sometimes his mind wandered back to the life he'd known previously. He'd always loved to learn new things, to learn a language that hadn't been spoken in millennia, to touch things that hadn't felt the touch of humanity for thousands of years, but here all answers were provided, there was no need to touch or learn anything. He missed not being able to use his senses. He began to feel ashamed and ungrateful for all that Oma had given him. He wanted to share what he'd learned with Sam. He wanted to tease Jack, to meditate with Teal'c. He knew of course that he could return to his friends when ever he wanted, even abandon the Ascension if that was his desire, but he also knew that his friends would have moved on without him, and he felt he had no more a place in that world now than he did before.

Anubis worried him considerably. Just what was Anubis? The power and technology he had was far more advanced that anything the Goa'uld had previously possessed. He'd asked Oma, but she was reluctant to discuss the matter. Daniel had sensed a great sadness in her and hadn't pushed any further. Osiris also worried him. He still harboured hopes that he would be able to free Sarah one day, but for now all he could do was watch and wait. Several times he had listened in on the system lord's secret meetings and what he had learned about Anubis' latest 'activities' scared him. Many smaller system lords had either volunteered or had been forced to join Anubis, and a huge fleet was being amassed to attack Earth. He couldn't help but worry for his friends. He missed them, especially Jack. All the insults, bickering, even the hockey games. He wondered absently whom Hammond had picked to replace him, whether or not it had been the man he'd been training before he... Sensing Oma approaching he looked up at her.

"You worry for your friends." Oma stated, as she beckoned to Daniel to walk with her.

"They aren't as fortunate as I. Why am I here?" He asked suddenly.

"Because you believed, and trusted."

"On Kheb, when I let you take Shi'fu." Oma smiled and nodded.

"That was when your journey to enlightenment began. You also refused to accept the knowledge of the Goa'uld when it was offered." Daniel stopped walking and lowered his head in shame at the memory of that time.

"I hated that person, he wasn't me...but he could so easily have been." Oma Desala placed her hand under Daniel's chin, and raising his face looked into his eyes.

"But he is not." She said softly. "You still have doubts about your worthiness to be here." He nodded slightly his brow creased.

"You said I was the only one qualified to judge myself, so no matter how much I want to achieve enlightenment, or whatever you want to call it, what happens if I look back at my former life and honestly believe I don't deserve it?"

"Do you consider yourself to be a good man Daniel Jackson?" She asked suddenly.

"I think so." He replied confused.

"Then why do you judge yourself so harshly? Why do you think yourself unworthy, consider yourself a failure?"

"I tried so hard. I just wanted to make a difference, but nothing changed because of anything I did, and now..."

"You are wrong. You opened the Stargate on your world."

"I decoded the cartouche, a team of scientists did the rest." He replied.

"You freed the people of Abydos." Images of Sha're appeared before him. He reached out to them.

"I had the chance to live out my life with her. I loved her so much, but I couldn't leave things alone. I had to go and unbury the Abydos gate. Then the Goa'uld came, and took her away.... I couldn't save Sha're, and I couldn't save Sarah.... I set in motion a chain of events.... Everything that happened was my fault. How can I be worthy of this?" He waved his hands in frustration.

"The tasks you undertook were great challenges, some maybe even impossible to fulfill. Do you regret your decision to join me?"

"No." He replied softly. "I know I can do more for my friends, and my world this way."

"The success or failure of your deeds did not add up to the sum of your previous life. Judge yourself by the intention of your actions and the strength with which you faced those challenges that stood in your way." Oma continued, "The one thing we can ever truly control is whether we are good or evil." Daniel continued to look at her. "I did not say Ascension was an easy choice or indeed the right choice. Walking the Great Path holds great responsibility, and during your journey you will find many roads that meet and cross." Daniel wondered at her words, but said nothing.

~oOo~

Osiris had learned all sorts of information from his Tau'ri prisoner before she'd died, including confirmation of Daniel Jackson's demise. But he was disappointed. He had hoped that he himself would be the one to destroy the archaeologist, to torment his host further. He knew that Jackson and his host Sarah Gardner had once been close. At that moment his musings were interrupted by a message being relayed through the ship. Anubis had arrived.

~oOo~

The party on what was, or would have been Daniel's birthday had been Jack's idea. He had thought it an appropriate date to celebrate the life of their lost friend. But now everyone was gathered he wasn't so sure. Everyone had been invited, from Hammond down to Daniel's favourite waitress in the Commissary; there were people from the Pentagon, from the Russian Stargate programme, and several off-world visitors, plus Catherine and Ernest. Each would have their moment to say a few words about the archaeologist. Jack looked around the room absently. Something was wrong, they all looked tired, strained. He noticed Sam across the room, how thin she was, the lines under her eyes. He went over and stood next to her. He wished he could put an arm around her, she looked so sad. His attention switched to where Ferretti was chatting with Teal'c. Ferretti: the only other member beside himself of the first team to enter the Stargate.

"Wonder what Daniel would have made of all this?" The little man started.

"I believe Daniel Jackson would have been greatly honoured to have his friends gathered to remember him." Friends, Jack thought, wondering what kind of friend ignored his best friend's pain, and watched while he literally committed suicide before his eyes

A tinging noise reached his ears. General Hammond was trying to get everyone's attention. The room went quiet, as the General began to speak.

"We are gathered here today to honour the life of the man who made the Stargate Programme possible. When I first met Doctor Daniel Jackson I was ready for retirement. I had spent a lifetime in the military, and was looking forward to a quiet life, maybe even writing a book." Hammond smiled at the memory. "Within the space of a few hours Doctor Jackson had not only arrived on the base, but he'd also managed to secure a place on my best team. For weeks we fought over the science versus military issue, but in the end he won, and I am pleased that he did. It is thanks to Doctor Jackson's tireless efforts, sometimes at great expense to himself, that many of the mysteries of our own planet have been solved: the Broca Divide, the bulls of Minoan culture to name but two. Numerous medicines have been brought back, as well as a large amount of information and technology. The SGC will continue its work, and Doctor Jackson's legacy will live on, and his work will continue. But it won't be the same without him. In concluding I would like to propose a toast. To Daniel Jackson, who made all this possible, we thank you, and hope that you have found the peace in your new life that eluded you in this."

Everyone raised their glasses in salute, and one by one all the people in the room spoke of their memories of their lost friend. The waitress from the Commissary remembered Daniel's late light forages for coffee. Teal'c remembered the patience with which Daniel had taught him to read and write, and how despite everything Daniel had never blamed him for his part in Sha're's abduction, and eventual death. Cassie remembered Daniel helping her with her homework, especially with languages. Janet remembered his serenity and calm acceptance of what was going to happen to him in his final hours, how he had not once complained despite being in terrible pain. Bra'tac remembered Daniel's bravery in battle; Tuplo recalled how Daniel had saved his daughter Melosha, putting himself at great risk. Next it was Sam's turn.

"Daniel was not only my friend," She started. "He was also the little brother I always wanted. Don't get me wrong, I love my brother, Mark, but Daniel...I loved him so much, and wish I'd had the courage to tell him so." She wiped a tear from her cheek. "He taught me so much, how to think outside of the box. He affected everyone who came into contact with him.... I just wish..." Janet went over and putting an arm round Sam led her to one side. There was a rumble of voices and then the room went quiet again as Jack stood in the centre of the room and made ready to speak.

"As many of you already know today was, is Daniel's birthday, and I guess I thought it would be an appropriate day to remember him and celebrate his life. I first met Daniel Jackson almost six years ago: the first mission through the Stargate: to Abydos. I wasn't expecting to return from that mission, my son had just died, and, well frankly I was a mess. Anyway, as most of you know I have a little problem with scientists," the sound of soft laughter filled the room, "and Daniel was no exception. I disliked him on sight." At that there were several murmurs. Jack raised his hand for silence "but that was before I'd gotten to know him. Somehow within the space of a few hours, he had wheedled himself into my life and made himself right at home. In fact he sacrificed himself on that mission, taking a staff weapon blast that was aimed at me. He gave me my life back, gave me a reason to carry on. He became a member of the SGC, and my team, but he was so much more. He was the team's heart, its conscience. He was my best friend, the part of my soul that had been missing for so long, and I treated him like shit." There was a whisper of shock among the people gathered.

"Colonel." Hammond began. But O'Neill held his hand up.

"No sir." He replied. "I have to do this." The older man nodded. "During the last year or so that he was with us, I treated Daniel so badly. I belittled him in front of other people; even yelling at him to shut-up on occasion. I showed little or no respect for his considerable abilities, preferring to do things my way, and at one time I even told him that our friendship meant nothing to me. I am so ashamed of what I did. Daniel had already been through so much in his life, he didn't deserve all that as well, but typical of him, he laid no blame on me for any of the things I did or said; he just accepted that that was the way things were. There are so many things I could and should have said to him. Daniel was the kindest, gentlest person I've ever known, and all I can say is that in some previous existence I must have done something good to deserve having someone so special in my life, because I can't for the life of me think of anything I've done in this one, and none of this means anything without him." At that moment the tears began to fall, and grabbing a beer from the refreshment table, Jack quickly walked to the nearest exit.

~oOo~

After the party everyone resumed their duties. Sam was back in her lab, Teal'c was in his quarters, and Jack had gone home. Only the duty shift remained in the Control Room. At that moment the alarm sounded and the gate began to dial.

"What's happening Sergeant?" Hammond asked as he stepped into the room.

"In-coming wormhole." Harriman replied. "No ID signal yet. Wait. It's SG-12!"

"They're not due to report in for another four hours. Open the iris!" Hammond ordered. Moments later the iris pulled back from the gate revealing the open wormhole. A single figure emerged and collapsed onto the ramp. "Get a medical team here as well!" Hammond barked as he ran down to the Embarkation Room.

~oOo~

Jack O'Neill was sitting on the roof of his house looking up at the stars. It had been a long six months since Daniel had left them, but somehow holding a party to celebrate the archaeologist's life on his birthday had seemed appropriate, even though he hadn't really enjoyed it. Now he sat alone with his thoughts, one of Daniel's journals and a bottle of beer at his side.

The sensation of joy he'd felt the last time he'd seen Daniel had been replaced by feelings of guilt. Any hope of finding solace in reading the other man's journals had done nothing to help, just made the feelings worse. When had things started to go bad between the two of them? What kind of friend was he not to have noticed the man who had meant so much to him was having some kind of emotional crisis? The friend who had always been there for him, but when Daniel had needed help himself, all 'good old Jack' had done was to shout the younger man down, belittle him in front of everyone, and shatter his already fragile confidence completely.

So many of their last missions together had gone sour. Although several Goa'uld and a lot of Jaffa had been wiped out when the gas Daniel had carried to the Summit had been released on Rivana, Anubis and his cohorts were still out there, and so was Osiris. Carter had returned to the SGC with the disk containing the formula with which to perhaps make more of the gas one day. She and Fraiser had teams working on it. But it had taken Daniel a long time to recover from that mission, if he ever really had Jack noted mentally, although at the time he'd simply thought Daniel was being awkward. The deaths of so many innocent people had hit the younger man very hard. Jack wished again that he'd paid more attention to his friend's feelings. There had been a time when he would instantly know if Daniel was all right just by looking at him, but they'd all been under so much pressure, that little things like that had been forgotten, and Daniel had paid. Dearly.

The past months had seen an alarming increase in Goa'uld activity. Just after Daniel had left them Carter had been caught and questioned by Osiris, and Thor himself had been tortured. The remaining system lords appeared to have allied themselves with Anubis, and were busy destroying anything and everything that lay in their path to domination of the galaxy, and to top it all, contact had been lost with the Tok'ra. It wasn't the first time contact had been lost with them, but this had been the longest they'd gone without any word at all. The Asgard were also not communicating, at the moment, presumably they were otherwise occupied with their war against the Replicators, in which they seemed to be gaining the upper hand at last.

Jack sighed. He missed his young friend terribly, all the incessant chatter about things that didn't interest him: how he wished he could listen to Daniel now. Everywhere he went Daniel was with him; at work, at home, even on missions to planets Daniel had never visited. His replacement had proved to be a worthy member of the team. The guy had been good at his job and he liked sports and all the fun stuff O'Neill liked, but it wasn't the same, the guy just wasn't Daniel, and now he had become a host to a Tok'ra. Which left the three of them. Carter and Teal'c still went off world with other SG units, but Jack was spending more and more time working at the base, preparing to replace Hammond when the time came: his enthusiasm for gate travel having vanished along with Daniel. Jack raised the beer bottle to the sky.

""In a man I had no use for, I found the thing I'd spent a lifetime looking for. Here's to you Danny." He spoke softly. "Where ever you are."

~oOo~

In the Infirmary Janet Fraiser kept a quiet watch over her latest resident. The soldier, a young male had been hit by a staff weapon blast, but was now recovering quietly.

"Hey there." Fraiser started, noticing her patient's eyes had opened. "How are you feeling?" Hammond and the others appeared next to the bed.

"I must speak to the General." The young man demanded.

"I'm right here son. What happened? Where are the rest of your team, and SGs-11 and 5?"

"We did all the usual surveys, but there was no Naquadah on the planet, nothing of interest at all really, apart from some ruins that Doctor Jackson... Major Jenkins ordered us to pack up and return home. We were just packing the last of the equipment when the Goa'uld came. They bombarded the planet's surface with weapons we'd never seen before. Then they landed. Several team members died, some were captured. I was..." Janet placed a hand gently on the young man's shoulder, and offered words of reassurance.

"It's all right son." The General replied softly placing a comforting hand on the young man's arm.

"Where were the prisoners taken?" O'Neill asked.

"On board the ship."

"Did you find out which system lord the ship belonged to?" Teal'c asked.

"One of the guys overheard the Jaffa mention Osiris sir."

"Crap." O'Neill started as he entered the room, but the young man interrupted.

"That's not all sir, they were expecting someone else."

"Any idea who?" Hammond asked. The young man shook his head.

"Only that it was someone very important sir." He replied.

"Anubis." Teal'c stated.

"We can't leave them sir." O'Neill continued.

"I agree Colonel, but we can't just barge in there, it would be suicide." Hammond replied.

"Perhaps a small rescue team might succeed." Teal'c responded. "One of your dark procedures perhaps."

"That's black ops Teal'c." Jack replied. "And it might just work. What do you think sir?" O'Neill asked Hammond.

"We could send a camera through on a UAV sir." Carter suggested

The General stood deep in thought. He would be sending his best team in blind. There was no proof that any of the prisoners were still alive, but how could he refuse to attempt to rescue them. The others watched as Hammond went over everything in his mind, then made his decision. Calling up Sergeant Siler, he ordered a UAV be made ready for launch.

~oOo~

Osiris watched as Anubis interrogated the Tau'ri prisoners, taking particular pleasure in listening to their cries of pain, as one by one their lives were extinguished. The System Lord had arrived in orbit a few hours ago, and already the information he had gleaned would be most useful, especially that regarding the first mission to Abydos, and the death of Ra.

~oOo~

Hammond and his people were gathered round a monitor looked at the telemetry sent back by the UAV they'd sent through. Before it was shot down it revealed what they'd most dreaded: Jaffa everywhere.

"Carter?" O'Neill started gently, remembering that his second had recently become friendly with one of the officers on SG-12. She pulled herself back from the screen. "It'll be OK. We'll get them back." Instantly he remembered another promise. A promise made years ago to Daniel, the promise that they'd get Sha're back. He winced at the memory.

"Ideas people?" Hammond asked breaking into O'Neill's thoughts.

"A small team would be best." Teal'c started.

"We can't use the Gate, but we could use the Tok'ra cargo ship sir." Carter continued. Since the Failsafe incident, the small cargo ship had been based at the Alpha site away from the prying eyes of the NID among others. "The planet's only a few hours from Alpha, and once there, we could cloak and try to land or ring down."

Four hours later SG-1, together with a small group of technicians, who would pilot and remain with the ship were standing in the Gate room ready to go.

"Sergeant Davis, dial the Alpha Site. Good luck SG-1." Hammond barked through the speaker. O'Neill saluted the older man and together with his team entered the wormhole.

~oOo~

On the planet a beam of light appeared, and seconds later O'Neill and his team arrived. Taking point he led his team towards the fleet of ships. The other members of the team would remain on board the ship, which was currently in orbit.

~oOo~

There was no doubt in his mind that Kheb was a very special place. Daniel wandered among the gardens now in full bloom. It was pleasant he realised to be able to smell the scent of the flowers without sneezing. He smiled to himself as he continued to walk, and passing out from under the trees crossed the garden and made his way over to the temple, and entered quietly. The coolness of the building instantly hit him. He loved this place, somehow he always had. It was so peaceful, the perfect place in which to recharge his batteries, and making his way to the circle of sand on the floor, Daniel sat down and began to meditate.

~oOo~

Jack and his team slowly made their way through a large wooded area, and looked through the trees and across the clearing to the giant ships. A few small patrols of Jaffa wondered about, but other than that everything was still.

"Looks quiet. Which ship do you think they're on?" Jack whispered to Teal'c. The big Jaffa pointed to the largest vessel, which was off to one side. O'Neill bowed to Teal'c's expertise and allowed the Jaffa to take point. Slowly but surely they reached their destination.

"There are hidden panels in the hull. We must locate one before we can enter the vessel." Teal'c whispered. The party continued moving slowly round the outside until Teal'c suddenly stopped.

"What?" Jack started, crashing into Teal'c's back.

"I believe I have found what we are looking for." The Jaffa reached out his hand and pressed a panel in the ship's hull. There was a grinding noise, and a panel in the previously unmarked wall slid open.

"Sweet." O'Neill remarked, and he ventured a look inside. There was no one around. The three of them entered the corridor, and the panel slid closed behind them. They knew from previous experience where the prisoners were likely to be, and slowly made their way along the gold lined passageways until reaching their destination. An inhuman scream of pain reached their ears.

"I guess we've found the holding cells." O'Neill whispered

"Indeed." Teal'c replied. Carter wrinkled her nose at the stench.

They continued silently along the passageways, trying hard to ignore the smell and cries of those being tormented. Suddenly they came to large room lined with cells; they full of bodies.

"Oh God!" Sam whispered. Suddenly an alarm sounded.

"Show's over! Let's go!" O'Neill shouted.

Quickly the party moved along the corridors, back towards the outer hull. O'Neill hoped they'd make it before the Jaffa arrived, but he wasn't hopeful. All around them the sound of their metal boots echoed in the hallways.

At last the hull was reached, but before Teal'c could activate the door release a staff blast hit the panel sending sparks everywhere. Other Jaffa had now appeared in front of them. They were cut off.

O'Neill hid himself behind a bulkhead, while Teal'c stood against the wall, protecting Carter who was trying to fix the door panel.

"That's it!" She yelled as the door began to open.

"Go!" O'Neill responded.

Weapons fire was coming thick and fast. Teal'c and Carter managed to get through. Suddenly there was a cry from O'Neill as a staff blast hit home.

"O'Neill!" Teal'c yelled. But it was no use he couldn't reach his friend. One of the Jaffa hit the door mechanism again. The last thing Teal'c and Sam heard as the door fell shut was O'Neill yelling at them to 'get the hell outa here.'

"Well this is just getting better all the time." O'Neill remarked as he slowly got to his feet. Blood was pouring from a hole in his side. His sight began to blur, and he felt sick. Looking up he saw the smiling face of Osiris.

"Crap." Then the darkness took him.

~oOo~

Sam and Teal'c had somehow made it back to the safety of the trees. Twigs scratched at their faces as they desperately ran through the trees. Sam was glad she had Teal'c with her. Teal'c spoke urgently into his radio and ordered the cargo ship to return to Alpha, they would try and rescue O'Neill and return by Stargate. They continued to run until they reached the DHD, then Teal'c began to dial.

"We have to go back." Sam spoke quietly, gripping the large man's arm. "No one gets left behind, you know that!"

"We will go back Major Carter. But first we must create a diversion and make it look as if we have escaped." He finished dialling and the gate whooshed open. They ran back into the trees as watched as the Jaffa arrived in the clearing. Quickly Teal'c grabbed Sam and pulled her down into the undergrowth. They watched incredulous as the warriors ran into the wormhole. Finally it shut down and everything was still again.

~oOo~

O'Neill slowly opened his eyes, and then closed them again as his head exploded with pain. Carefully he opened them again, and after focusing sat up and began to take in his surroundings. He was lying on a table in a room that reminded him of the OR at the SGC. Around the room were tables each laden with brutal looking implements. He rubbed his eyes and his hands moved up to his hair. He felt something metallic; an implant.

Suddenly the door slid open and several large Jaffa stormed into the room. They roughly grabbed him and hauling him to his feet, dragged him out of the room. Before his mind had registered what was happening, he found himself standing upright in the centre of another room, his arms fastened above his head by chains. This was not looking good he decided. The room was plain, and lit by large flaming torches that lined the walls, there was also a brazier burning brightly in the centre of the room, and a sarcophagus in the corner. The sound of approaching footsteps interrupted his thoughts. He closed his eyes, and abruptly opened them again as cold water was thrown over him.

"Colonel Jack O'Neill." A familiar voice started. Osiris. "It is indeed a great pleasure to see you once again. I am only sorry your friends are not here to join us. I was so looking forward to seeing Major Carter again."

"I won't tell you squat." O'Neill replied, receiving a fist in his stomach from the Jaffa standing in front of him for his trouble. His knees gave way with the impact and the wrist restraints cut into his flesh.

"Oh but you will. My Lord, Anubis wishes to question you personally regarding a matter that concerns him greatly, soon you'll be begging him to let you tell us more." A low sound came from across the room as the door opened. The Jaffa standing guard bowed low. Jack watched as a hooded being almost floated across the room towards him. He tried to look under the hood but could see nothing but darkness.

"May I present Colonel Jack O'Neill of the Tau'ri?" Anubis raised his hooded face to look at the prisoner. Jack tried again to look at the face of his captor. The Goa'uld turned and picked up a small metal object from a nearby table

"Let us begin." Anubis spoke as he touched the object to the side of his prisoner's head. Fire burned through his brain, and Jack screamed in agony. In all his years of special ops nothing compared to the pain he was feeling now.

~oOo~

Daniel was having problems concentrating. Usually when he meditated, especially here on Kheb, he did so easily, and deeply. But this was different. Darkness filled his mind, broken occasionally by flashes of light. Images appeared and then vanished: Some familiar, others new to him. He heard voices crying out in pain, and saw a huge pyramid ship in a clearing on an unknown world. His mind wandered into the ship. He sensed the stench of evil, of death. He saw a room filled with bodies, all SGC personnel. Another voice screamed in pain louder this time. He saw Sarah, and a being hidden by a hood. Then he saw Jack...

~oOo~

"Once more. Where is the Eye of Ra?" He held up the small metal device in front of Jack's eyes. It was quite beautiful he thought absently, just the sort of thing Daniel would have liked. Shiny gold metal, covered in tiny ornate figures. Anubis held the device against the side of Jack's head. Once more he screamed in agony.

"I don't know what you're talking about." O'Neill gasped, "So you might as well kill me now, and get it over and done with."

"Oh I shall take great pleasure in killing you, and then I shall revive you, and kill you over and over again until you beg me to let you die." Anubis sent one of the Jaffa out of the room. A few moments later the man returned carrying O'Neill's P-90. Anubis took the gun and leaned in close to his prisoner, and once again Jack tried to see under the hood, but there was only darkness.

"The human body is so very frail," Anubis hissed. "Which is why the Goa'uld selected your race from thousands of others when it came to choosing a suitable host species. Your bodies are so much easier to repair." He moved back and pointing the gun towards O'Neill pulled the trigger.

~oOo~

"Jack!" Daniel started. His eyes shot open, and he looked around him. He was shaking and sweating, as if he'd suffered some kind of nightmare. But he didn't think that was possible here. This was real. Jack was in trouble. He knew he had some kind of emotional link with the older man. Oma had explained it to him a long time ago. It was the same sort of link she had with him after she'd brushed his face on Kheb, when she left with Shi'fu after their first meeting, and how she knew to come to him when he was in peril. He needed to be with Jack, but how... Remembering all that Oma had taught him, he concentrated on his friend.

~oOo~

Jack opened his eyes and sat up at the same time. He was sitting in the sarcophagus. He saw the blood staining his uniform and the holes in his tunic. Quickly he looked down at his body and pulled the shirt open; there were no wounds. An itch made him reach up and touch the side of his head, there was something metallic. An implant.

"Not a dream then." He spoke to the walls. Other than himself the room was empty, but it didn't stay that way for long. The door opened and a party of Jaffa entered. Strong arms hauled him upright, and hauled him across the room. Again his wrists roughly fastened into the overhead restraints. Anubis smiled. Another session was about to begin.

"Now." Anubis sneered. "Tell me what were your people doing here!"

"Taking a vacation, it's a nice place, good climate, lots of trees..." Jack quipped.

"I am losing patience with you Tau'ri!" Anubis yelled. Again the pain in Jack's head flared as Anubis activated the implant. "Why were the Tau'ri on this planet? What were they looking for? What is the address of the Asgard home world? Where is the Eye of Ra?"

"Go to hell." Jack replied. Anubis smiled to himself as he raised his right hand level with Jack's face and activated the hand device hidden therein. Jack remembered Daniel's description of how the device felt when it was churning up your brain. Now Jack was experiencing it first hand. He couldn't breathe, couldn't move. Hour after hour it seemed to go on. He felt the trickle of blood pouring from his nose, his eyes, and his ears. Somewhere in the depths of his mind he could hear a voice, a soft familiar voice telling him to hang on. Then everything went blank.

~oOo~

In the darkness Jack's mind wandered, he saw images from his past, the SGC, friends long forgotten, Sarah, Charlie, and Daniel...

"Jack?" A quiet voice spoke. "Jack can you hear me? Open your eyes." Jack did as he was told, and found he was looking up into familiar blue eyes. Daniel, or at least someone who looked like his young friend was sitting on the floor next to where he lay.

"Great!" Jack sighed, "Now I'm hallucinating. Either that or I'm dead."

"You're not dead Jack."

"And I'm hearing things." Jack continued.

"No you're not. It's really me Jack." Jack sat up slowly and looked around the room. He was in a new cell.

"Daniel's dead." Jack replied.

"Not dead, Jack. Just on a different plane of existence."

"Don't!" Jack yelled. "You're not Daniel Jackson, you could never be Daniel Jackson."

"If that's what you wish Jack." O'Neill looked his visitor in the eye. He looked like his friend, sounded like his friend, but when he reached out to touch the man, his hand went right through.

"Just a figment of my imagination." Jack laughed to himself. After a few minutes of silence during which he tried to think his visitor away he decided to play along. After all talking to an imaginary friend, was better that the silence.

"So... whoever you are. How did you get here?" Jack snorted.

"Same way as you Jack, through the Stargate." The soft voice replied.

"And the snakes didn't try and stop you?" Jack replied sharply.

"They couldn't see me. No one can, except you." Daniel responded.

"Listen. If you're real, can't you just zap Anubis with a lighting bolt or something?" Jack continued. He found himself wanting to believe that his best friend really was sitting next to him. He'd give anything for another chance.

"It's not that simple Jack. I would be stopped before I... I'm not allowed to interfere." Daniel replied softly.

"So you're just going to let him torture me to death?" Jack asked angrily. "You see; the Daniel I knew would never have done that."

"I'm sorry Jack." Daniel replied, lowering his head in an oh so familiar way.

"So if you are the real Daniel, why ARE you here?" Jack asked again.

"To offer you the chance to continue your journey in a different way, to help with your ascension, to... " Jack laughed.

"Me!" Jack snorted. "I can't believe I'm hearing this." He continued, noticing the sad expression on his companion's face; the face that had haunted his dreams for months. "Thanks, who ever you are, but I don't deserve that... not after everything I've done, especially after the way I treated my Daniel. So if you can't get me out of here, why don't you just let me die!" Daniel watched the tears roll down Jack's face. "Just... get me out of here, please, whoever you are. I can't take this any more." The sound of finality in Jack's voice broke Daniel's heart. He was quiet for a while, a sad expression on his face. He knew from personal experience that each time Jack was put into the sarcophagus, part of his soul would be taken away. Remembering his own addiction, he knew he couldn't let Jack go through that. He made a decision.

"It's alright Jack, you're not going to suffer any more." Jack looked at his companion, at the tears that were threatening to run down the younger face. Could this person really be Daniel? His Daniel?

"You seem very sure of that." Jack responded.

"I am." Daniel replied.

"Won't you get into trouble?" Jack asked. Daniel looked at him and shrugged.

"I'll be careful." He replied.

"What is he Daniel?" Jack asked. "I tried to see under his hood, but there was nothing."

"I'm not sure Jack. All I know is that according to Yu, Anubis was considered so evil he was banished by his own kind thousands of years ago. If this really is him he must be the oldest system lord around, and remember, they haven't always used humans as hosts. They prefer us because our bodies are so easy to repair." Jack shuddered as he remembered Anubis taunting him earlier. "He's obviously learned a lot during his banishment. He has powerful allies and technology far beyond anything even I've seen since...." Daniel went quiet.

"He's looking for something... the Eye of Ra. Do you know what it is?" Daniel thought for a moment before replying.

"It's not an it, it's a who. She actually. Sekhmet. She was Ra and Hathor's daughter and was sent forth to punish humanity for its mockery of her father. She's usually portrayed as a woman with the head of a lioness. Her name literally means "She Who Is Powerful."

"Great. That's all we need, Hathor's daughter on the loose and out for revenge." Jack commented. "Do you know where she is?" Jack asked.

"No." Daniel replied. Jack looked at him an expression of surprise on his face. "Just because I ascended doesn't mean I know everything."

"Maybe Oma knows where she is." O'Neill suggested.

"Perhaps." Daniel replied as he remembered the vague answers he received when he'd asked Oma about Anubis. Something didn't feel right, but this was not the time to investigate further.

"So why do you think Anubis wants to find her." O'Neill asked.

"I don't know." Daniel replied. "Perhaps she had something to do with his banishment and he's out for revenge." They lapsed into silence.

"Carter and Teal'c? Did they get away?" Jack asked. Daniel cocked his head as if listening to something far away.

"They're safe Jack."

"You're sure?"

"I'm sure."

"It's really you isn't it?" Jack asked. Daniel smiled.

"It's really me Jack." Daniel replied.

"Danny, I'm so sorry..." Daniel placed a finger in front of his lips, a gesture that made Jack smile.

"Shhh. Close your eyes and trust me Jack." Daniel replied softly. Jack did as he was told, and felt rather than saw his friend move closer. He sensed Daniel's body becoming one with his. He knew what was happening, that Daniel was showing him how much he cared, that words were not needed, that he was forgiven. Somehow through this joining Daniel was also giving him the physical and mental strength to go on. Gradually the two men parted and looked at one another.

"Wow!" Jack remarked.

"We don't have much time Jack. How do you feel?" Daniel asked. Jack flexed his body.

"Good." He replied, slowly standing up. Daniel looked at his friend; they would have to leave now, while Jack was still feeling strong, but at that moment approaching footsteps were heard in the corridor outside. The cell door crashed open and two large Jaffa entered. Jack watched in stunned amazement as Daniel moved his hands and the Jaffa turned around and marched back out of the room leaving the door open behind them.

"Time to go home Jack." Daniel started.

~oOo~

It hadn't been long before the alarms had sounded. But somehow Jack and Daniel had reached the lower decks of the ship without being detected. It had been a slow journey; Jack was tired and had needed to rest several times. Now he felt sick and his head was throbbing, but somehow Daniel kept him focused. Not far behind them came the sound of many feet. But each time the Jaffa came close, Daniel had managed to somehow divert them. Jack sighed.

"Stay with me Jack." Daniel spoke softly. Jack did as he was told as they reached the outer wall. "Hold my hand Jack." Daniel requested. Jack resisted the need to comment, and did as instructed. He felt himself dissolve, and the next thing he knew they were outside in the sun.

Jack was getting weaker, and was shivering. Every now and then Daniel would brush his face and he would feel warmth flow through his body once more. But each time the warmth dissipated quicker than the last. Finally they reached the shelter of the trees and Jack sat down.

"We have to get to the Gate Jack." Daniel spoke, as Jack wiped his hand across his brow. "Sam and Teal'c are waiting for you." Jack nodded, and standing up slowly began to shuffle forwards. Daniel walked beside him, listening for any sound of pursuit. The sound of a distant horn drifted on the breeze. Jack froze.

"You'll be all right now Jack." Daniel spoke softly, brushing his hand against the other man's face. "Keep going in this direction, I'll distract the guards."

"You're not coming with...? Jack asked. But Daniel had gone.

~oOo~

Another Jaffa patrol had just passed near to where they were hidden, but somehow Teal'c and Sam remained undiscovered. The gate had remained heavily guarded, and for the past day they had remained safely hidden among the trees, but about an hour ago there was a sudden increase in activity. The two friends had watched the patrols from their hiding place, noting the number of Jaffa, and the length of time that passed between each patrol. They silently hoped that the increase in activity had something to do with their missing comrade. It would be just like O'Neill to stir up trouble.

A gentle breeze brushed Teal'c's face, and he smiled gently.

"What?" Sam started.

"I cannot explain, but I believe it is now safe for us to move." Teal'c replied. He slowly stood up and then signalled for Sam to do the same. They had moved a few meters from their hiding place when the sound of someone approaching met their ears.

They both stopped dead, and Teal'c listened intently. The sound of twigs snapping could be heard quite clearly, along with the sound of something falling.

"Those are not the footsteps of a Jaffa." He commented. At that moment a figure came crashing through the trees.

"Colonel!" Sam yelled as O'Neill stumbled into sight.

"O'Neill!"

"How did you escape?" Sam asked incredulous.

"Hey campers." Jack replied weakly. Teal'c rushed forward to grab O'Neill as he stumbled. "Daniel saved me, I guess he's off distracting the Jaffa. He says we have to go now before they find us."

"Ah sir?" Sam started. But Jack's attention was elsewhere. "Teal'c?" Sam continued.

"We should leave." The big Jaffa replied. He handed his staff weapon to Sam, and placing a supporting arm around his commander's waist they slowly travelled back to the Stargate as fast as they could. At least ten Jaffa were standing watch in the gate clearing.

"We're cut off!" Carter whispered. At that moment O'Neill broke free from Teal'c's grasp and staggered forward losing the protection of the forest. Carter shouted after him, but he just smiled. Somehow he knew he was safe from harm.

The Jaffa spotted him immediately, but each time they moved towards him a strong wind would pick up, flinging debris and sand in their faces. Without warning the gate suddenly opened. Carter and Teal'c looked at one another, mouths agape.

"The gate's open Jack. Go! More Jaffa are coming!" Daniel yelled.

"Daniel's opened the gate for us!" Jack yelled.

"O'Neill! Daniel Jackson is not here." Teal'c started as he once again struggled to hold his commander still.

"He's right sir. I don't know what Anubis has done to you but..." O'Neill glared at his companions, still fighting to break free of Teal'c's hold.

"So who opened the Gate Cater?" O'Neill yelled.

"I I don't know!" She yelled back. Somehow despite her doubts she also felt it was safe to enter the wormhole, and lifting her sleeve sent the coded signal through.

"Daniel!" Jack called out. Daniel reached out a hand towards his friend as a sign of farewell.

"You have to go now." Daniel spoke softly, his hair blowing in the wind.

"Daniel!" Jack sobbed out as he collapsed in Teal'c's arms, his strength finally gone. The big man gently lifted him and together he and Sam Carter ran into the event horizon. As soon as they were gone, the gate shut down. The Jaffa yelled at one another in frustration, each blaming the other that two Tau'ri and the Shol'va had escaped so easily. Daniel smiled through his tears, pleased that no one could see him. Jack was safe now, his friends were home; he should be glad that everything had worked out, but seeing Jack and the others again had made him realise how much he'd missed them. He silently wondered when he would see them again, and made the decision to follow them home.

Next: The Test