Behind Closed Doors 1

Lost And Found

by Twist

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/ast/twist/doors01.php
Summary: The road to hell is paved with good intentions

The charred smell of flesh burning was everywhere. You couldn't help but breath it in while trying not to think about *what* it was you were breathing in. You tried not to think about anything other than obeying your orders, hoping that what little luck was left out here would see you through this mess alive. That's if you thought at all.

* * * * *

"Teal'c!"

Jack launched himself at the once First Prime of Apophis, knocking him to the ground hard, tasting dirt in his mouth, just in time to prevent him from getting hit by an energy blast from behind. Even before he had hit the ground, Teal'c had turned and taken out the threat, turning his attention to O'Neill.

"You are bleeding O'Neill!"

Jack looked down at his arm as if seeing the charred mess there for the first time. "It's just a staff blast. I'll be alright." Something to worry about later, back home when everyone was safe and sound. He leaned up and back at that moment, aiming his P-90 at the ridge of the ravine, yelling as he sprayed the line with his last clip. "We can't hold this position any longer!"

Teal'c nodded seeing the same things Jack was seeing, processing them like a Jaffa, thinking like they would and predicting the enemy's next move. "I concur! We must fall back now, while we still have the opportunity! These guards will soon have us surrounded!"

Jack stood up, hunched over in an effort to protect himself. He waved in the opposite direction to the Stargate. Right now they had no chance to do anything other than wait for Hammond to open the 'gate from his end, so they could send a message through. Even then all he could do was report what had happened. What was happening?

"Carter!" He yelled into his radio.

Static, then an answer. "Sir!"

"Fall back."

"But sir!"

He wasn't in the mood for this. He had men down and he didn't know where Daniel was. Hopefully still at the temple where they'd left him. Had that really been only an hour ago?

"No buts Major. Get out of here now. That's an order!"

"Yes sir!"

He turned back to Teal'c. This was the first chance he'd had to speak to him since the attack had started. "You recognise whose Jaffa they are?"

Several energy blasts suddenly rained down in their direction, sending both men crawling behind what little cover they had to the relative safety of the tree line. Jack waited there until he saw the last of his men hit the forest. "Move it people. Back to camp site."

Jack stood, watching what was left of SG-6 and one of the surveying crew, *his* people, battered and bloody, head back for the camp site. He waited until they were all on the move before he started back himself, only to have Teal'c grab his arm, stopping him.

"I believe they are Sokar's Royal guard."

"Shit!" Jack felt something cold settle in his stomach. "Then we are in serious trouble." Heading back he prayed that wherever Daniel was, he was faring better than they were.

* * * * *

The blood trickling down the gash in his forehead was beginning to annoy him as he struggled to consciousness. It tickled as it ran down his face, the itch of it more than any pain pulling him back to consciousness.

He'd been standing near the dais, making a few personal notes on the structure of the temple, scribbling away when, hearing a noise, he'd looked up, some instinct recognising the thrum of energy that always preceded the descent of transportation rings. The rumble of descent sending the dirt and dust on the floor up into the air.

Diving out of the way, he'd fallen awkwardly on some of the debris that surrounded the altar, knocking himself out.

Now that he was awake, he decided that his best course of action was to fake unconsciousness, hopefully learning a thing or two before whoever this was discovered he was awake.

Unfortunately, as he was thinking this, fingers tightened around his throat, long fingernails digging deep into his flesh and he cried out in painful surprise as he was forced to stand or choke.

Dark eyes looked at him in disdain, taking note of his uniform. "You are of the Tau'ri. Even now you continue to plague us. Give me the deactivation code for the shield protecting your world and you yet may live." She released her hold, pushing Daniel away from her and giving him a good view of the two very large, very heavily armed Jaffa on her either side.

"Mary?"

Oh God, he realised. He knew her.

'Mary' looked at him in puzzlement for a moment. She looked so different from the last time Daniel had seen her. That time she'd had pox marks and grime all over her face, her dark hair unwashed and she had been dressed in nothing but a simple sack cloth dress. She'd been standing beside Simon, saying goodbye to them at the Stargate.

"You know of the host?" She ran her hand down the side of her body, taking enjoyment from it, almost as if she was pleased with her purchase of a new outfit. "I will admit, she was nothing to look at when I first claimed her. She screamed constantly while I had her bathed, but I've always had an eye for beauty." She smiled, stepping closer to Daniel until she could whisper in his ear. "And you are beautiful. I think I will enjoy you very much indeed."

"Mary! It's me, Daniel. Please Mary. Fight this!"

The face that had once been that of an innocent young woman snarled at him, eyes glowing dangerously before she viciously backhanded him, sending him flying against a nearby wall. Dust and more debris followed him down.

"Nothing! Nothing of the host remains. She was a weak, feeble-minded fool." 'Mary' smiled down at him, her mood change quick but dangerous and it held nothing of the kindness Daniel remembered of the girl. "I have bestowed greatness upon her. If not for me she would be lying dead with the rest of her planet. What better way for her to serve than to give her life up for her god!"

Coughing, he struggled to speak. "You're no god, and you were NEVER hers." He watched as her anger grew, hating himself a little for the enjoyment he took out of seeing her loose control.

"Tell me the codes to your world and you may yet live!"

Daniel looked up at her, dust covering his glasses and felt an old familiar anger of his own surface. "Bite me."

* * * * *

"Carter? Any news?"

His 2IC just shook her head, her eyes giving away her worry. "Nothing. I've tried contacting him several times and nothing."

Jack swore under his breath. "Damn. Ok, then we're going to have to assume he's still at the temple. Either dead or captive."

Carter nodded grimly. "I - was just thinking that too."

"This isn't an order Teal'c ..."

Teal'c nodded. "I understand O'Neill. I am coming with you."

Sam agreed. "Me too."

"Sorry Sam, I can't let you come. You're the 2nd highest ranking officer we've got here at the minute. Major Bernie's dead and we've got civilians with us. I need you here in case anymore of those Jaffa track us down. In fact, you should get this camp packed up and moved. Recommendations?"

He saw just how pissed off Carter was at that suggestion, but knew she was too much of a professional soldier to do anything but obey his orders, despite how much she wanted to make sure Daniel was alright. "We never got the chance to check out that third possible naquadah location. From what I remember of the aerial maps we received from the U.A.V., there's an easily defendable gully, with the added advantage of being secluded yet closer to the Stargate than we are now."

Jack nodded. "Do it. Teal'c, you're with me."

* * * * *

Daniel was lying bleeding on the floor while the Goa'uld occupying his attention sat on the only chair in the temple. So far, she hadn't given up her name and he was morbidly fascinated as to who she might be.

Of course, the news that Mary's home planet had been turned to little more than dust had been more than upsetting for him. Centuries of enslavement to the Goa'uld and then they had come along. The heroes of the SGC. Now the whole planet was dead. Not something he was feeling very proud of. Those people had been better off without their help.

And the guilt was eating him up.

Outside the sounds of gunfire seemed to have stopped. That meant his friends had either gotten through the Stargate, or they were. No, he wasn't going to let himself think like that. They had escaped. They had to have escaped.

He knew he only remained unchained due to the sheer arrogance of the woman in front of him. Besides, he thought ruefully, the huge Jaffa standing glaring at him kept him from trying to escape.

"You still refuse to tell me anything, Daniel Jackson?"

He forced himself to look away from the Jaffa. "That's right."

'Mary' smiled at him, and Daniel fought the unmistakable urge to look away. "It is of little consequence." She lifted one long leg and draped it over the edge of the high chair she was in, the trail of her skirt falling into the crease of her thigh. "You have encountered many Gods, yes?"

Daniel forced himself to look her in the eye. "No. I've *never* met a god." Daniel looked around at the Jaffa surrounding him. "You might be able to convince them of your status, but I think we both know you're nothing more than a snake harbouring delusions of grander."

Her eyes glowed at that, but she continued to smile. "Fool. Power as you understand it means nothing to me. Unlike others, I do not wish dominion over the other races of this galaxy. I am content in my position as exalted daughter."

He couldn't help himself, curious dread apparent in his voice. "Exalted daughter of whom?"

"You have heard of my Lord Sokar?"

Oh, this was not good, this was not good at all. "And that would make you who, exactly?"

"I am Lilith."

Daniel felt himself jump almost immediately to the right conclusion. "Lilith? First wife of Adam, Lilith?"

"The name was an amusement of my fathers, nothing more."

Shifting his position on the ground, Daniel realised that they hadn't removed all of his weapons. Still strapped to his ankle was the knife Jack insisted he wear. A plan was forming in his head. Alright, it was going to get him killed, but right here and now his hatred of the Goa'uld and what had been done to Mary was all he could think of. He wanted nothing more than to take the smile off of that bitch's face.

Swinging her leg back down, she stood slowly, her satin blue dress sliding down her skin like the fine expensive silk it was, her hands resting on either edge of the chair. "My quest for power is over the individual, the personal." She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, cocking her head slightly and smiling at some memory and again, Daniel felt a little unnerved. She suddenly opened them, looking straight at him. "I do not seek dominance over millions. I seek it over the individual. I enjoy watching them slowly submit to my will, watching them give in to *my* needs and wants. When my pleasure in their pain is their pleasure." She smiled again. "I believe I shall enjoy you so very much Daniel Jackson."

He suppressed a shudder. "I don't think so. All I want to do when I look at you is be violently sick. I seriously doubt any amount of torture is going to change that."

"Application resolves itself into mutual satisfaction. You will learn of this soon enough my darling Daniel."

Suddenly, the transportation rings activated, thundering down between Lilith and Daniel.

The rings disappeared to reveal a Jaffa, only this one was filthy, blood running down his leg. Daniel reached for the knife strapped to his leg.

"Jaffa Kree!"

"My Lady Lilith. Your ship is under attack."

Everyone in the room cringed. "Who would DARE do such a thing!?!"

The messenger in question forced himself to gaze up into his goddesses eyes. "They are Tok'ra."

Approaching the Jaffa slowly, Daniel watched as Lilith mulled this over. "They are badly damaged, yes?"

Daniel watched as the Jaffa forced himself not to move away from her. "No, my Lady. Your ship is no doubt destroyed by this moment. I am all that has survived to tell you of it."

Even Daniel knew what was going to happen next, and felt a moment's pity for the man as Lilith turned her ribbon-device on him. "Coward! You live while yet my ship is gone!?!"

The force of her anger flung him against the far wall and, symbiote or not, the man was obviously dead, his neck unnaturally twisted.

"Your numbers are down, the Tok'ra are on their way and my people are out there."

Lilith swung round to look at Daniel.

"You don't stand a chance. Give up now."

The knife free from its holster and hidden up the sleeve of his shirt, Daniel scrambled back as he watched her stalk over to him, her face clouded in anger.

"You are nothing but a petty little human." She reached down and again grabbed him by the throat, hauling him up to his feet. The blade in his hand offered a cold kind of comfort.

"I'm sorry Mary." he managed to choke out, her expression one of complete surprise as he rammed the blade up and into her chest.

* * * * *

"Colonel O'Neill sir?"

Jack passed his binoculars over to Teal'c before answering Carter over the radio. "Go ahead."

"Sir, we've just received a signal from the Tok'ra. They've destroyed a ship in orbit, but they believe that the Goa'uld is still down on the planet. They want her captured alive."

"Well, we don't always get what we want, do we? Radio silence on this end until you hear from me."

"Yes sir. Carter out."

"O'Neill."

Jack turned to look at the front of the Temple as four Jaffa came out, Daniel right in the middle of them.

"Daniel Jackson is covered in blood." He turned to look at Jack. "If their ship is destroyed, then they are most likely heading for the Stargate."

Jack looked through the binoculars again. Teal'c was right. Daniel was covered in a lot of blood and seemed a little unsteady on his feet, but, despite being supported by two Jaffa, seemed to be managing to walk just fine. "Maybe he hurt one of them or something?"

"Perhaps."

Jack sighed, before reaching for his radio again. "Carter?"

"Sir?"

"How many healthy bodies you got on your end?"

"Three sir. Most of the surveying crew where killed during the attack."

Jack didn't have time to worry about the dead. That would have to come later. "Ok, new plan. We've got a limited number of Jaffa to deal with now. You and someone else head down to the Stargate, keep an eye on it and for Daniel. They seem to be heading that way now. Me and Teal'c will bring up the rear and hopefully, between us, we can stop them stepping through."

"On our way now sir."

Jack looked back over to Teal'c. "We have ourselves a plan. Let's go."

Making sure that the party of Jaffa where sufficiently ahead of them, Jack and Teal'c began to follow.

"What of their Goa'uld master, O'Neill?"

Jack shrugged. "Must have bought it on the ship or something. Hey, it wouldn't be the first time the Tok'ra were wrong now, would it? We'll worry about that later, once we have Daniel back."

Teal'c nodded, casting a wary eye back towards the temple. Still, O'Neill was right. They didn't have time to worry about where their leader might be. Not while Daniel was alive and still in danger.

* * * * *

"Carter?" He said it as quietly as possible, They where close to the 'gate, having easily caught up with the four Jaffa, Daniel was obviously slowing them down as much as possible. He felt relief at that. Daniel knew Jack was out here, knew that he wouldn't leave without trying to save him.

"In position sir."

Jack looked over at the small ridge just to the side of the Stargate, knowing Carter was there simply because it was the best place for an ambush.

"On my signal Carter, not before."

"Sir."

Daniel was still being held upright by two Jaffa, while another dropped his staff weapon to dial up an address.

Jack waited until the third symbol was locked before he ordered his attack. "Go go go!"

Teal'c raised his staff weapon, firing over the heads of the Jaffa, while Jack fired his P-90, aiming low to the ground. Carter and her support where doing the same.

However, the Jaffa obviously had their orders. They took Daniel over to the D.H.D., one guard keeping an eye on him while continuing to dial while the rest returned fire.

They didn't have a choice anymore. Jack aimed for the one still holding Daniel, taking him out with a single shot to the head as he placed in the sixth symbol.

Watching as Daniel slumped over the DHD, Jack saw that whatever injury he had, he was still able to support himself. Jack fired on the other Jaffa as did Teal'c. Daniel would be ok as long as they could take out the other three.

Another fell, and Jack was congratulating himself already when he heard the unmistakable sounds of the 'gate activating.

The last Jaffa went down, a shot from Carter. Both he and Teal'c ran to the Stargate, just in time to see Daniel pull himself up from the D.H.D. and run for the gate.

Jack froze in his tracks as Daniel turned to look at him. His eyes glowed as he took off his glasses and threw them to the ground, the gesture one of triumph.

"You are too late human."

That said, 'Daniel' took a single step backwards and through the 'gate. Shocked to the core, Jack was yelling something incoherent as he sprinted forward, fighting his instinct to fire, knowing just how much Daniel would rather be dead than a host. Maybe running towards the gate he meant to jump through after Daniel, save him some how. But he couldn't.

He was too late.

The wormhole closed, and with it Jack's hope was gone. He fell to his hands and knees in front of it, not even realising that he was still yelling.

* * * * *

"My Lord?"

Sokar turned slowly to view the guard who dared disturb him. Still, they all knew the penalty for doing so with trivial news. He nodded graciously for him to continue.

"Your daughter's craft was destroyed during an ambush by the Tok'ra."

The Goa'uld's eyes glowed dangerously, and the Jaffa forced himself not to tremble. "The trader who supplied us with the information that the planet was rich in naquadah has been dealt with. His body lies broken at the foot of the steps to your palace as a warning to all and."

Sokar raised his hand, blasting the Jaffa with a shock from his ribbon device. "What of my daughter!"

Knowing his life was on the line, the Jaffa, despite the ache of his body after the blast, forced himself to stand and again kneel before his god.

"She.she came through the Stargate My Lord, but."

"But?"

"But I am afraid I'm no longer myself, so to speak Father."

Sokar looked up from the kneeling Jaffa to see a man he did not know, who was covered in blood stride over to him.

"Daughter?"

Lilith knelt, then rose to stand at her father's side. "I was attacked father, mortally wounded by the host of this new body. I had no choice but to enter him."

Lilith had come straight to her father's chamber, still dressed in the clothes Daniel had been wearing, his blood soaked B.D.U. of SG-1.

"He was of the Tau'ri father. My plan at first was to simply choose another, but now."

Sokar reached out a hand, his fingers trailing over the cheek of Daniel/Lilith.

"He is wise father. He knows many of the legends of the Goa'uld. And I have his knowledge of the Tau'ri as well as the device that is used to open their iris."

Sokar looked deep into the eyes of his daughter. "You wage war with this one, yes?"

Lilith nodded. She felt exhausted already. "He is strong, and I am weak from the transition."

"Guards. Escort my child to her sarcophagus." He turned back to Lilith. "Rest. And when you are whole, we will discuss all that is known to you now."

Lilith nodded, pulling out the G.D.O. she had in her possession. "This was taken from him on his capture. It will open the iris to their world, but it must be used quickly, before their leader changes the codes."

The G.D.O. felt heavy in her hand and Sokar watched as she trembled. He took the device from her. "Go. When you are rested, this host will trouble you no more."

Bowing, Lilith left her father's side.

Sokar looked down at the device in his hand before he looked over to his First Prime. "Assemble a detail now."

* * * * *

General Hammond sat down at the conference table, noting the pinched, pale faces of his premier field unit. Below them, the sounds of another 'thump' hitting the iris reminded them all why they were here.

Jack, he noted, looked the worst of the three of them.

"What happened?"

Jack spoke first, finally looking up from whatever it was he had in his hands. "I lost one of my team, sir." Everyone there could hear the bitterness in his voice.

"Sir, Daniel wanted to check out the ruins of a temple. We checked it out. There was no sign of any other life forms having been there in hundreds of years. It was safe." Carter realised what she'd just said. "It should have been safe sir."

"Shoulda woulda coulda! And now Daniel has a friggin' snake in him!" Jack turned back to look at General Hammond. "Sir, request permission to mount a rescue operation."

"When we've gathered a little more intel., then you have a go." Hammond would have smiled if the situation hadn't been so serious. "Jack. Dr. Jackson's contribution to this program has been invaluable. And he's under my command. I'm not going to leave a man behind if I can help it."

Carter spoke up again. "Sir, there's more than that to worry about." The sounds of the wormhole closing down behind them interrupted her, and she waited until everyone had turned their attention back to her. "Whoever opened that wormhole, they had Daniel's G.D.O. But they also have every code, every piece of information Daniel has ever had. He had a unique understanding of the Goa'uld that no one else on this planet possesses. He even knew more about them than the Tok'ra in some respects. Now, as much as I hate to say this, if we can't get him back-"

Jack immediately realised what she was saying. "You're saying we take out Daniel?" He did nothing to hide the amazement in his voice.

Carter sighed, rubbing her eyes. "Whatever Goa'uld has him, has command of everything Daniel knew. That in its self is reason enough."

Teal'c voiced his agreement. "Besides, Daniel Jackson despises the Goa'uld as we all do. He would not wish his body to be used in this fashion."

"Has Teal'c. Daniel *has* a hatred of the Goa'uld. And I don't want to hear *anyone* talking of him in the past tense again, is that understood?"

Carter looked guiltily over to General Hammond for a moment before looking back up into Jack's eyes. "Yes sir."

"My apologies. We will get him back O'Neill. Of this I am certain."

"Damn straight we will."

"People, all this is irrelevant unless we know where he is. Until then there's nothing we can do except in regards to Dr. Jackson's security clearance. Major, I want you to over see that. Track down all sensitive information he had access to and change the codes. The last thing we need is this coming back to bite us in the ass people." He turned to Jack. "Colonel, I want you to go home, rest up until-"

"Sir, I'd be better off-"

"No Jack. Go home. You've written your report, and I know all I need to know. We can't do anything until we gather more intelligence." He offered up what he could only hope was a comforting, reassuring smile. "When we have something, you'll be the first to know."

He watched as Jack's loyalty to his friend fought with his sense of duty and in the end, he simply nodded and stood, giving him a curt "Yes sir," before leaving the briefing room. General Hammond sighed. He only wished he had that sort of luxury.

* * * * *

Evidence of exactly what Jack thought of being sent home was littered all around his living room.

The first thing Jack did when he got home was to wreck the place. It wasn't a conscious decision, more a reaction to everything still being so normal after having his world fall apart on him. Again.

When he'd finally finished venting, he picked up both the Christmas tree and the coffee table.

He fell into the chair, his mind screaming two things at him. That he should be out there doing *something* and Daniel's name going round and round in his head.

Finally he pulled out the crushed glasses he'd brought home with him. The ones whoever the hell had Daniel's body now had thrown away before stepping through the event-horizon of the 'gate. He stared at them for a moment before setting them down carefully on the table in front of him. It wasn't long before something else had taken his attention. Something that he should have known better than to mess with.

He turned slowly to look at the tree in the corner. It was decorated in red and gold tinsel and decorations, the multi-coloured lights that had to be more than 10 years old clinging to the tree unlit. He shouldn't have put it up. He shouldn't have messed with things. He should have realised that he wasn't supposed to let himself be happy.

* * * * *

3 Days Ago

"Knock knock."

Jack looked up from the box he had his head in to see Daniel standing at his open front door. "Hey. Come on in. You're just in time."

Daniel had only taken a few steps in when he stopped at Jack's remark. "I am?"

"Sure you are." Jack sat back on his heels, hands on the box on front of him. "Didn't I ask if you wanted to spend the weekend helping me shift large unwieldy boxes around the place and didn't you say yes?" He tried unsuccessfully to hide his smirk.

Daniel smiled and continued in to the hall. "Oh, I'm sure I'd remember an offer like that."

Jack could sense the playfulness in the air and couldn't help but respond to it. Whether he knew it or not, he loved these moments with Daniel. "Too good to pass up on huh?"

Daniel came over and peered in the box before looking up at Jack. "Something like that. Actually, I came round to see if you maybe wanted to do something today."

"This is something."

"Mmmh ."

"Oh come on. You get the chance to take a nosy in my attic plus, you get dinner."

Daniel looked up at that and Jack was puzzled to see a nervousness hiding behind his friend's eyes. "Dinner?"

Jack nodded. "Sure. Why not? I'll even make it myself. Go the extra mile and everything. We'll even use plates."

Daniel started to smile again and Jack smiled along with him. "Ok, sure. It's not like I had anything else planned this weekend and besides, just how much junk can you have up there?"

* * * * *

Daniel felt like his whole world was spinning.

"Are you ok?"

Daniel blinked, his glasses in Jack's hand as he rubbed at his eyes. "I'm fine. What *was* that?"

Jack stepped out of the way to see just what it had been that had hit Daniel on the head.

"A plastic Santa Claus? I got hit on the head with a plastic Santa Claus?" He suddenly sneezed, the dust particles that had slowly started to settle again energized into doing another dance around the attic.

"Bless. Yeah. I've been meaning to get rid of this stuff for a while, and I thought now was as good a time as any."

It was at that moment that Daniel realised something. These things, these Christmas decorations must have been stashed up here since Jack had moved into the place. Put away ever since Charlie had died.

"You want an aspirin or something?"

"Huh?" Daniel forced himself to think. "No, I'm fine, really." He wanted to ask about why Jack was getting rid of this stuff now, stuff that, thinking about it, had to have belonged to both Sara and Charlie as well as the usual items that ended up being consigned to the attic. But he didn't.

He never brought up the subject of Charlie with Jack. Ever. If Jack wanted to talk about him, which he had done once or twice in the past, then Daniel was more than happy to hear him out, to share in the memories with him. Otherwise Daniel just left the subject alone. Losing a child .Sometimes he wondered how Jack lived with the loss.

Or maybe it was because he knew how Jack had once thought he couldn't live with the loss. Couldn't live with the pain and emptiness losing Charlie had created and had taken up what had almost been a suicide mission. Hell, it *had* been a suicide mission for him.

But he'd gotten through that. Somehow. Daniel liked to think that in some small way, he had played his own part in helping Jack. Just by being there.

"Come on. It's starting to get dark. I want to get this stuff down into the hall so it can be ready to be loaded up in the morning."

Pulled out of his meandering thoughts, Daniel got to his feet.

"You sure you're ok Danny?"

Eye's widened at that, a familiar nickname he'd only ever really heard in passing on missions, not during any time they spent alone together. To cover he slipped his glasses back on, but he couldn't help the smile. "Yeah. Come on. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can get something to eat."

* * * * *

It was an hour later before Jack felt that he'd cleared enough space. It was too late to take all this stuff out to the truck now. Tomorrow being Saturday still left him enough time to take it away to the charity shop.

Still, something was beginning to bother him.

He'd noticed it that time when he'd first uncovered the Christmas tree in the attic. Something about the look on Daniel's face when he spotted it. And then the same look, however brief whenever they brought something else down and stacked it in the hall beside it.

Then he realised what it was.

Daniel was looking .wistful.

As soon as he realised that he realised some other things too.

As with all the scientists at the early days of the project, Jack had gone through their backgrounds with a fine tooth comb. He knew more about Daniel than Daniel realised.

Like the home he had been pulled out of at age 10 when he'd been found covered in bruises, his 'foster father' using him as a convenient doormat that brought in a monthly social cheque. Or the years after that he'd had to spend in a Catholic orphanage when the State realised they couldn't persuade his Grandfather to have anything do with him. No one had been more surprised than the Brothers when Daniel had qualified for a full scholarship to University. They had set him up with a job at a local factory, never once realising that Daniel had his own plans for his future. All in all, Jack was very glad Daniel had had the nerve to stand up to them.

Still, it meant that Daniel couldn't have had that many good Christmases growing up.

"All right already! We'll put the tree up!"

Daniel looked over at him, mouth open to say something, just not knowing quite what.

"Ah!" Daniel found a finger being waved at him and kept silent. "Don't say a word. But if we put up the tree, that means you have to come over here for Christmas day." Jack folded his arms across his t-shirt, trying to look like Teal'c in a bad mood but failing miserably. "As long as we're not off-world somewhere getting shot at or ate or something."

The smile that crossed Daniel's face sent a spike of heat through Jack, one that he was sure had something more profoundly to do with Daniel that he cared to admit, as well as being something he didn't want to look at too closely. He found himself smiling back.

"Thank you Jack. I'd like that a lot."

"You're welcome Daniel."

"Can we put it up now?"

Jack was about to remind him that it was only the 1st of December, but he couldn't seem to find it within him to do anything that might take away the look on Daniel's face.

"Sure. But if we do ."

Daniel frowned. "What?"

Jack shrugged as he leaned down to pull the box with the tree in it away from the others and down into the living room. "I won't have any time to cook for you."

Daniel quickly caught on. "We can leave that for another time maybe? What's the take-away place you have on speed-dial?"

Jack held back a grin. "What makes you think -"

"I tried to get the base once from here and under 'Hammond' I got some deli or something."

"Ahh. Actually it's a Chinese place. Serves the best food in town. I should really get a phone I understand."

* * * * *

"I thought artificial trees weren't supposed to shed their needles?"

Jack looked at the mess on his carpet. "I thought so too." He shrugged as he shook it, both of them watching the mess gather on the floor. "Looks pretty neat though, don't you think?"

The tree was almost 6 feet tall and covered with gold and red tinsel and delicate little frosted baubles that reflected the soft warm glow of the coloured lights they had draped all over it.

"It looks .wonderful." Daniel was still staring at the tree. He'd come over this morning for an altogether different reason than the one he'd been roped in for and now, after what he considered a pretty enjoyable day in Jack's company, he was severely reluctant to do anything that might break the mood. He finally turned to Jack, calling himself a coward for his inability to say what he was really feeling. To say what he'd been feeling for so long now. "Thanks for doing this Jack."

"What? This?" Jack reached out a hand and turned off the over head light, sighing a little at the warmth his home suddenly felt wrapped up in. Jack had noticed the playful mood Daniel had been in since they'd decided to put up the tree and if he was being honest with himself he didn't want it to end. It was also easier to ask the next question in semi-darkness. "Stay tonight?"

Daniel froze. Too many fantasies were based on those words, and he felt his cheek's flush, suddenly welcoming Jack's decision to turn out the lights. Was he really going to be lucky enough to have Jack be the first one to say something about the attraction he was almost sure was mutual? But before he could say anything Jack coughed and spoke again.

"We can ah.we can finally order that take-out and open a bottle of something. You can take the spare room. Come on, you've been part of a military team long enough to be able to spin a few war stories."

His heart was beating in his chest faster than he would have thought was healthy for him, but he didn't let that or the surge of adrenaline that had coursed through him at the invitation show on his face too much. He hoped.

"Sure. Why not. It'll be fun.

* * * * *

Present.

Jack looked back over to the tree. It looked a little lop-sided now, one of the baubles lying smashed on the floor. It was the only item in the room he had righted apart from the coffee table and the only reason he had pulled that back upright was so he could place Daniel's shattered glasses on it.

He could feel the pain now. All the guilt he'd been holding in. He'd been holding back ever since they'd gone through the 'gate and back to Earth. A sudden half choked sob escaped him and before he knew it, he was crying.

He covered his face with his hands, almost as if he was trying to stop himself. But he wasn't. He felt like he was mourning the death of a friend. For no matter what happened, if by some miracle they managed to find Daniel and bring him back and remove the Goa'uld from his head, he'd be a changed man. The Daniel they knew would be gone forever, scarred for life by his experiences as a Goa'uld.

And Jack couldn't help but cry over his loss.

* * * * *

Mayvin had always had a high opinion of himself. His mother had been nothing but a common slave, but she had always believed that her sons and daughters could bring back the old family honour they had once possessed. His great, great, great grandfather had once been First Prime of Sokar until he had failed to protect his God from the accursed Tok'ra. He had brought shame down on the family.

Until now.

Mayvin was preparing the bath as was his usual duty in service of the child of his God, Lilith. He loved her as a man was supposed to love a God, but he also loved her as a man loves a woman.

It was his biggest shame, but it also held him to her as it did all Lo'taurs. He would gladly die for her and had gladly killed for her.

He had heard rumours of her death spreading through the palace like wild fire, and he had had beaten the young boy who had told him the news in the kitchens, making sure he knew that the child knew the truth; a God could not die.

He had been told to expect his Goddess shortly and to prepare for her arrival, being told that she would be coming straight from her sarcophagus.

He heard the door to her chamber open and made his way into the room, anxious to meet her, to know that she truly was safe and well.

He was puzzled to find a man standing in front of him and felt his anger grow at the insolence.

"Leave this place at once! This is the Goddess Lilith's chambers and she will have you struck down for your impudence upon entering her private sanctuary!"

For a moment Mayvin felt the usual surge of power he normally felt when issuing orders on his Goddesses behalf. Then he watched in horror as the strangers eyes glowed.

Quickly, knowing his life was always forfeit, he dropped to his knees in supplication.

"Forgive me. I was obeying my Lady's orders, something every Lo'taur must do without fail no matter the personal cost." He looked down onto the floor, fearing that his life was now about to end, hoping that the proper reverence would save him from his wrath.

Instead, fingers curled softly through his hair. "You always were most devoted amongst my Father's disciples Mayvin. You have pleased us this day."

Daring to look up, Mayvin finally saw the truth.

"You have a new body my Lady?"

Lilith smiled, walking over to the full length mirror that adorned the wall beside her bed. "I had little choice in the matter at the time, but now I think I shall keep this guise." She turned, smiling at her slave.

"Do you not think me handsome Mayvin?"

He allowed himself the privilege of truly observing her in her knew form. Greedily he trailed his eyes up and down her length. "If I may be so bold My Lady, you are less handsome than you are.beautiful. Your new host must have been highly favoured amongst the women of his planet."

Lilith laughed, turning to look at herself in the mirror one again. "You are right, of course. He was favoured by both men and women, but only ever truly loved two." She touched his face, now hers and peered deep into the memories she now shared. "Yes . most- interesting."

She finally looked down at her clothes in disgust. She was still wearing the BDU's her new host had come in. Blood was caked all down the sleeve and chest. Her former host's blood. It only bothered her in that she felt unclean with it staining her.

"Is my bath ready Mayvin?"

Rising to his feet Mayvin nodded. "Yes my Lady."

"Excellent. Find me some suitable attire for this new body of mine. Blues and creams I think.Yes. Bring me Salin, my tailor."

Mayvin cringed slightly. "Salin is dead my Lady. You ordered it so when he failed to make your dress to your exact order."

She frowned. "Did I really? A rash decision on my part I fear. He really was quite the best. No matter, find me another, one of equal talent and bring me cloth in the colours I've chosen."

Mayvin bowed. "Yes my Lady."

"Oh, and Mayvin."

He turned back to face her, finding she was staring at herself in the mirror again, running a hand down her chest.

"Yes my Lady?"

"Find me some entertainment for tonight." She smiled at her own reflection, her mind enjoying the faint struggles of resistance from her new host. "A dark haired raven beauty."

He nodded. "Male or female, my Lady?"

She turned to face him, enjoying the whisper of anger and pain in her mind that was even now growing fainter and fainter with each passing moment. "Surprise me."

* * * * *

Jack was at home four days later with still no word about Daniel. He'd tried calling Hammond a few times only to be placated with promises that 'things were in hand'. Eventually even the General had become fed up with his calls and had ordered them re-routed to Major Carter. Unfortunately she knew as much about the situation as he did, but she didn't have the luxury of being able to pass him on to someone else.

He'd been doing a lot of soul searching since he'd told to 'relax' and had come to some pretty major conclusions about himself.

His life with Daniel in it was better in every regard to a life without Daniel in it.

Oh, he didn't mean he was going to off himself, but he had discovered through his absence just what a certain young archaeologist meant to him and just how *empty* his life would be with him gone. How empty it was right now without him being somewhere close by and safe. Within easy reaching distance.

It had been disturbing at first, but he'd forced himself to look at it all rationally. He enjoyed being in Daniel's company, to the point were he'd make excuses to either prevent the man from leaving him or to prolong the reasons for staying in his company.

He'd tried fobbing it off as friendship at first. Trying to rationalise that with what they'd been through together a unique bond couldn't help but be forged. But then, he'd been through similar experiences with others in his life, admittedly of a more terrestrial nature, sure, but he'd never felt as close to anyone else since .

Sarah.

It was when he'd made that connection, when he had connected all the dots together that he had realised he didn't just love Daniel, but that he was *in* love with him.

And it had scared the crap out of him.

Once he'd made that leap he'd quickly come to realise that he needed Daniel a lot more than he'd ever thought possible, more than he ever should have. And looking back on some of the times they'd spent together, on and off world, he could pin-point certain feelings and touches as a lot more than just friendship on his part.

Like when he'd had to leave Daniel behind on Klorel's ship. It had ripped him in two to see the look of fear on Daniel's face, knowing that he was about to die, and Jack hadn't been able to help himself when he'd just reached out and touched him, offering what little comfort he could to a man who had risked it all to try and save his planet. Jack had known when he'd ordered the C-4 to be planted that they'd just accepted a suicide mission, but the thought that he'd be dying along side his friends. hell, his family, had somehow given him comfort. Leaving Daniel behind to die alone had been the hardest thing he'd ever had to do.

Yet when he'd seen Daniel in the Gate room back on Earth. he just lost the ability to think rationally at all. He just needed to touch him, to know it wasn't some horrible fantasy and with confirmation came an un-containable surge of joy and happiness. Space Monkey.

*His* Space Monkey.

The phone rang, interrupting his thoughts, hope being firmly pushed down that it might be something to do with Daniel.

"Sir?"

"Carter. What's the news?"

The line was silent for a few seconds, plenty of time to get him worried.

"Sir .We have a guest at the base." It was the tone of her words that got him worried. Her use of the word 'guest' had been filled with contempt.

"Who Major?"

"Simmons Sir. General Hammond wants you back there asap. We also have some old friends back in town with some news about Daniel. We're waiting for you to arrive."

He grabbed his coat from the back of the couch as he made his way to the front door. "I'll be there in ten." He hung up and threw the phone onto a nearby table as he picked up his keys, forgetting to turn out the lights on the tree as he headed out the door.

* * * *

Jack wasn't pleased to see Simmons seated at the conference table and decided to ignore him for now. He'd been running Simmons presence over and over in his head all the way to the mountain. He was obviously up to no good. Simmons wasn't exactly someone that could be trusted in regards to his people's well being. Sure, they had the same goal, the protection of the planet, but both had different fundamental views on how to achieve it. Knowing that something pretty nasty was coming his way, Jack had decided on the ride over here that he wasn't going to let his concern about Daniel's well being push him into over-reacting. He needed to gather a little intelligence of his own. THEN he could beat the living crap out of the man.

Jack was taking his seat when he spotted a familiar face. Finally he felt himself smile a little.

"Martouf. Good to see you."

The Tok'ra nodded in greeting. "I only wish it was under more favourable circumstances, Colonel O'Neill."

Jack pointedly looked down the table to Simmons. "Yeah. Me too."

General Hammond coughed. "If we could begin?" He waited a second or two, making sure everyone present in the room was looking at him.

"SG-7 did a sweep of the planet and found a body that Major Carter has identified as a young woman named Mary?"

Carter nodded. "Yes sir. We met her on P9X-3971." She looked over at Jack. "The Medieval planet where we met the Unas sir?"

"Yes, I know. So you're saying what? Mary was taken by the Goa'uld?"

Martouf bowed his head, raising it again almost immediately, Lantash now in charge. "We have analysed the blood on the bandana left behind by Doctor Jackson as that of the girl Mary. The body we found in the temple. We can only assume she was taken from the planet recently destroyed by Sokar to become a host for his daughter."

"We talking the spawn of Satan here?"

Carter couldn't help the frown at Jack's apparent lack of concern over a planet destroyed.

"Our source inside Sokar's palace told of a recently matured Goa'uld given a host body by Sokar himself. We can only assume from his behaviour towards her that she is indeed his child."

Jack caught on quickly. "And you're saying this is who has Daniel now?"

"Yes."

"Her name might be good?"

"Lilith."

Jack shook his head. "Ok, so Sokar destroyed an entire planet, probably due to no more 'sacrifices' coming through the 'gate for him. What were the Tok'ra doing over the planet we were on?"

Lantash frowned, but answered the question. "Lilith is as arrogant as any other Goa'uld, but she has no wish for any more personal power than she already has. She seems .content to serve her father. We believed she would be an easy target and had planned on attacking her ship while in orbit, in the hopes of capturing her."

It was Teal'c who asked the next question. "For what purpose?"

"We had arranged for one of our operatives to let it be known that the planet you were on was rich in naquadah. We have several prisoners on Sokar's moon. It is a place of legend. If Sokar is the 'Satan' of your planet then this would be his hell, were the damned are sent with no hope to sustain them. We had wished to try and exchange them for Lilith."

"But the plan failed."

The Tok'ra nodded. "Yes. The Jaffa put up more of a fight than we had anticipated, probably due to Lilith being safely on the planet at the time of our attack. Our operative on the planet was killed and our people still languish on Natu. No one has ever escaped from this prison. No one but Jolinar."

"Me?" Carter only just realised what she had just said. "I mean, Jolinar escaped? Didn't she tell you how?"

Lantash dropped his head to chest, before looking up again, speaking this time as Martouf. "No. She would not speak of it to anyone. That is part of the reason we are here. The Tok'ra in the palace have reported of the new host of Lilith, and the description matches that of Dr. Jackson. We are hoping that some sort of joint rescue attempt could be conducted."

Jack turned to Hammond. "With your permission sir?"

The General looked anything but happy. "Jack, we still don't know if this mission is attainable." He turned to Martouf. "What do you propose?"

The Tok'ra turned with an almost guilty expression on his face to Carter. "Jacob has taken on the role of a minor Goa'uld trader within Sokar's palace. He is currently pretending to negotiate mining rights for trinium in the Opquest system. He has managed to secure us detailed plans of the palace. But we fear for his safety should Lilith come across him, now that she has the memories of Dr. Jackson."

Carter looked suddenly pissed and Jack really couldn't blame her. Her team mate and friend had suddenly become a threat to her father. He didn't like the choice either.

"The plan is still the same. We grab Jacob and Lilith and offer an exchange of prisoners from down on the planet."

"I have a question?"

All eyes turned to the, until now, silent Simmons.

"Well, it's more of a .request really. We'd like to conduct our own interrogation of this Goa'uld before you hand her back over to Sokar."

Jack felt his anger rise. "They don't plan to keep her in Daniel. They take the snake out and pass it over." He turned to Martouf. "You can do that, right?"

"Yes. There is some risk involved however. It can leave the host with some brain-damage if the symbiote does not wish to leave and puts up a struggle for dominance."

Jack hated the sound of that. As much as Daniel would hate being a host, he knew he would also hate to be brought back .impaired like that.

Still, it was a risk he was willing to take, easy to convince himself it was for Daniel's sake.

"Alright. Then that's what we do. Sir, with your permission?"

For a moment all was silent in the room. The Hammond spoke. "SG-1, you have a go."

"Yes!"

"It will take two days for the ship that will take us to Sokar's palace to reach our rendezvous point."

"Two days!?!" said Jack, already up on his feet and almost out the door.

Martouf looked at him sympathetically. "I am afraid so. Sokar keeps his 'gate very heavily guarded, as he does his whole palace. For any chance of this mission succeeding, we most go in covertly. We can 'gate to the planet where we shall board the Tel'tak and from there we will go to Sokar's planet."

He rubbed wearily at his face. "Great, just great. Two days."

* * * * *

"Good to see you again Colonel O'Neill."

Jack had been called to Hammond's office, and saw Simmons on his way out as he had been about to knock.

"Oh, I'm sure it is." He forced a smile on his face. "Don't let me keep the door from hitting your ass on your way out."

"Colonel O'Neill!"

Both Jack and Simmons turned to look into the office, General Hammond looking slightly apoplectic. Jack winced and nodded his head in acceptance that he knew he was in the wrong. Simmons frowned but said nothing, leaving Jack standing in Hammond's door way as he watched him head down the stairs.

"Come in Colonel. Take a seat."

Jack came in and closed the door. "I can tell I'm not going to like this one little bit. What did he want?"

General Hammond was fond of his 2IC, which is why he let him get away with so much. Plus, he didn't like Simmons a lot either.

"Colonel Simmons has just informed me of a few details he left out of the mission briefing."

"Oh really? Now, why doesn't that surprise me."

"Colonel."

Jack heard the warning tone and nodded his head in apology. "Sorry sir, it's just. I'm missing not only one of my team, but one of my friends. I'd like to bring him home and I can't."

The General nodded. "I understand, but Simmons has delivered orders direct from the President and I have no choice but to obey them."

Not liking this one little bit, Jack straightened up in his chair. "Orders sir?"

"He has convinced the President that allowing this Goa'uld who has Daniel to live is a security threat which we can not afford. I'm under orders to let the Tok'ra lead us to Daniel; if the Goa'uld won't willingly relinquish it's host, she is to be brought back here for interrogation and if that is not possible, she's to be killed."

Jack felt his rage escalate off the scale, only his years of training keeping it in check.

"He wants us to screw over the Tok'ra? Kill Daniel as well as any hope of getting their people out of that prison?" Suddenly he was up on his feet, pacing the office. "That has to be the most-"

Hammond stood to face Jack down. "Colonel! Sit down! This is a direct order from the President. And as much as I hate it, I can see the sense in it. Daniel Jackson knows more about the Goa'uld than anyone. Jack! He's led us to Asgard technology and helped establish relations with Thor. He knows enough about the myths and legends of the Goa'uld to help make anyone with that knowledge, anyone with the resources the Goa'uld have into invincible enemies. We only recently averted invasion from Chronos, Nirti and Yu. We can't afford to have the likes of Sokar using Dr. Jackson's knowledge combined with his own to become all powerful."

Jack was shaking, anger and disappointment coursing through him. "And what about Daniel sir? After all he's done for us?"

The General sighed. "I hate this too Jack, but I've never been involved in a war where there haven't been any casualties."

Jack felt like he was going to be sick. He was being asked to condemn the person he loved most in the world. Even if they could somehow get Daniel out of Sokar's palace, get him back to Earth and interrogate the snake and get all they could out of her, the Tok'ra wouldn't want to have anything more to do with them. That was *if* they managed to get him back.

"I see sir." Jack rose slowly to his feet and opened the door. He *really* needed some privacy. If he was going to break he didn't want to be doing it in public.

"Oh, and Colonel?"

Jack couldn't keep the bitterness out of his voice. "Sir?"

"PY3-948. I can give you a three hour window to get in and out without anyone asking any questions. But you need to go and you need to go now." Hammond offered up a grim kind of smile and suddenly Jack felt a surge of hope, although why yet he wasn't sure. "I don't like these orders, and I know you don't like them either Jack. But, if you decide to take the consequences." Hammond straightened up in his chair. "I don't like leaving *any* of my men behind if I can help it. No matter what. But sometimes we do what we have to do."

Bewildered at the cryptic message, Jack just said, "Yes sir." and headed out the door. Damn! Why couldn't he remember all the 'gate addresses like Daniel and Carter.

As soon as he thought of Carter he dismissed her from his mind as a source of possible information. He didn't want *anyone* to know what he was up to. That's if the General's lead paid out. He ran for the computer room. He only had 2 hours 57 minutes left.

* * * * *

Mayvin was waiting for his Goddess to arise for the morning. It had been a few days since her transition and he had come to appreciate the new body she was in as much as he had the old one.

In fact, sometimes he found himself looking when he shouldn't, just so he could see a little more of her than he was normally allowed. Sometimes it pained him that he was so weak and he would go to the temple and pray for forgiveness. Other times he would release his frustrations out on one of the slaves down in the kitchens. Neither ever gave him true satisfaction and he sometimes was envious of those he had to dispose of after a night of bliss with their goddess.

Dawn had broken, the fiery red moon of Natu still clearly visible, casting its glow on the sand stone of the palace. Soon the sun would grow stronger and the moon would fade mostly from view, only those who had cause to be worried keeping a fearful eye on Natu.

The doors opened to her bed chamber and immediately Mayvin was bowing.

"Mayvin, your choice last night was commendable." Lilith paused at the door to her chamber, her hand reaching out to grasp the door as she turned back to look at last night's 'entertainment'.

He was stretched out on the bed, his dark hair contrasting with the white satin pillow his head rested on. He was naked except for the soft white silk sheet that lay tangled over his legs.

"Thank you, my Lady. Shall I call his family to come and take him?"

Spying breakfast, Lilith walked over to the table, Mayvin immediately reaching out to her chair to seat her.

"That will not be necessary." She reached out for the glass of water, taking a small sip. "I broke him I'm afraid. A Jaffa would probably last much longer, but I doubt my father would let me play with one of those." She smiled at her servant. "Not again." She shrugged it off as she spotted a favourite dish on the table. "A pity really."

She ate in silence as Mayvin tidied up, the sounds of a Zat'nik'atel sounded as Mayvin 'cleaned' away the body.

Finishing up, she stood and walked over to her mirror, staring at her eyes, a smile curving her lips. "I plan on taking very good care of you Daniel. You remember my words to you in the temple?" She reached out to her image, to Daniel's image, stroking her fingers over the cold glass and imagining that he stood before her now. "My pleasure in their pain.their pain willingly and lovingly given. Submission, my darling Daniel. I can feel it even now. You watched through my eyes as he gave in to me, and even now I can feel you doing the same."

Her smile suddenly faded, anger marring her face. "Soon you will be nothing but an easily forgotten memory, but before that happens Daniel, I want you to know that I intend for this body to serve me forever. This face will come to hold terror for billions, for my own plans, now that I have your knowledge of the Goa'uld, have changed. And you shall never see or feel the touch of your beloved Colonel again unless I make him my own." The smile returned. She allowed her host a brief moment of awareness, just so she could torture him a little further. "You had better pray to whatever Gods you do believe in my dear Daniel, that I never meet your beloved, for I will break him in half and watch the life in him wither as he curses your name with his last breath. Then I shall use the sarcophagus to do so over and over again. Until he too willingly gives himself to me."

Satisfied that she had won the battle, Lilith put away the memories of Daniel out of her mind for good. The host was gone. Nothing remained as long as she willed it.

Still, just for a moment Lilith thought she detected something other than her own will behind her new eyes, but as quickly as she saw it, it was gone. She dismissed it from her mind.

"Mayvin! Prepare my clothes and inform the royal guard that I wish to see my father."

* * * * *

Jack was sitting on the floor in the cargo hold of the Tel'tak, thinking about what he was going to do. He hadn't told anyone anything of his plan, but knowing the choices that he was facing, this was the best option he could think of. Any other way would leave Daniel either possibly brain damaged or in the hands of the US military and that wasn't going to happen if he could help it.

He glanced over at Carter, who was quietly talking to Martouf over in the other corner. No doubt she had been given the same orders as him. The fact that they hadn't been issued at the same time told him a lot. Like how *someone* didn't trust him to do the job right. Well, Simmons at least deserved some credit for observation. He knew Jack wouldn't want to just hand Daniel over to the USAF, not if there was any chance of saving him. But it showed just how little Simmons thought he knew if he seriously thought Carter wouldn't die if she thought it would save Daniel.

He watched Carter and Martouf for a while, before closing his eyes with a sigh. They made a nice couple. It was just a pity Carter couldn't get over that hang up about whether or not Martouf could actually love her for her self and not for the remnants of Jolinar. But he could see it in his eyes, even when they were glowing. Both the host and the symbiote cared a great deal for Sam.

Still, even he could see the problems in a long distance relationship when you were talking in light years rather than kilometres.

"Are we there yet?"

Martouf nodded. "We will be landing shortly. I have been given clearance to land at a small landing site, quite close to the palace." He turned round to look at Sam, and even from his position, Jack could see the worry he was feeling over her safety. "Under cover of darkness, you, Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c may proceed. I shall provide a distraction for the guards so you may enter via the kitchen. Is everyone clear on this plan?"

Jack nodded. "Darkness, distraction, kitchens. Gotcha." He felt the weapon at his side. Then he felt the other weapon he had in his pocket. Carter would freak if she knew he had it, yet it was the only way he could think of to free Daniel.

They had been flying through the atmosphere, having already witnessed Natu for themselves on their approach to the planet. Now, they broke the cover of cloud over Delmak and they could finally see the planet below.

It looked dry, and after a moment Jack realised why. There was only one body of water as far as he could see, the rest of the land looking mostly inhospitable.

They got closer and all too soon, they could make out buildings, the largest and grandest of them all directly in the centre of a very large city.

"You must hide now, wait for one hour after dark then approach the palace." He landed the craft, SG-1 moving out of sight to the back. Once on the ground they heard Martouf leave, a quiet 'good luck' thrown their way as the door to the Tel'tak closed behind him.

* * * * *

Jack couldn't remember feeling this fidgety before in his life. He had tried not to look at his watch every few minutes, but as the sun had finally set, he couldn't seem to help himself.

"Finally!"

They all stood, heading up front to peer out of the window. "Seems quiet enough out there sir. We should go."

He saw no point in disagreeing with Sam there. He'd been looking to 'go' since he'd learned where Daniel was.

Teal'c hit the panel at the side of the door, the opening seemingly too loud after the quiet of sitting doing nothing for five hours. Readying his 'zat' gun, Teal'c peered carefully out the door. "All is clear O'Neill."

Nodding, Jack took point, checking for himself out of habit before running to the doorway in the wall that separated the landing site from the palace. He crouched down low as he watched first Carter, then Teal'c make the same run with no complaints.

Next they had to get past the patrol guards on the other side of the wall, and from there it was a short sprint to the kitchen doors. Jack didn't even want to think that Martouf wouldn't have that door open for them.

In silence the three of them waited until they saw the two Jaffa Sokar had watching the grounds. Jack was tempted to just zat them both twice and get rid of any future potential problem they might bring, but no one knew what kind of other security Sokar had on his grounds. An energy discharge when they weren't ready to be discovered could be disastrous.

Finally the pair of Jaffa moved on, and Jack signalled to make a break for the far wall of the palace.

They ran. They had all memorised the plans of the palace, information received from one of the Tok'ra spies before he'd been killed.

Soon they were at the kitchen door, which, right on cue, was lying wide open to the world. Jack tried to hold back a grin.

Sam touched his arm. "Don't you think-"

"If you're going to say this is too easy, then yeah, I have to agree. But what choice do we have here Carter?"

Sam sighed. "None. Daniel and my dad are in there. The sooner they're out, the better I'll feel too."

Jack still had to know. "Teal'c?"

"The plan is sound. And I believe that Martouf would never willingly give us to the enemy."

"Right then. We go in."

Low to the ground, trying to threat assess a situation that could bite at any moment, the three of them crept into the darkened kitchen.

"Seems quiet enough."

Sam just nodded, pin-pointing the door that led out and into the rest of the palace. She simply pointed in it's direction with her P-90.

Nodding, Jack again took point, Carter behind him, Teal'c bringing up the rear.

Jack found himself in a hallway covered in hieroglyphs, just like those on a Goa'uld ship. He signalled the rest of his team to follow him out, round a corner and down a corridor.

Suddenly the lights came on, blinding them slightly. Jaffa stood at each end of the hallway, aiming staff weapons at them.

"Drop your weapons or die!"

Jack looked at the rest of his team. He wasn't going to let them down, any more than he planned on letting Daniel down. "Drop the weapons kids. " He looked at Teal'c and Carter, trying to convey more than just words to them as he spoke. "We can fight another day." We can still beat them, we just need to be alive to do it.

"I was so hoping you would say that Colonel O'Neill."

The Jaffa at the top of the hallway moved to one side, another running forward to pick up their abandoned weapons.

"Shit."

The body that once had belonged to Daniel came close, his hands clasped behind his back as he made his way down to stand in front of Jack.

"You can't begin to imagine how this makes me feel Colonel." She leant a little closer, lips almost touching Jack's ear. "Jack."

A sharp pain in his side and Jack felt his knees give out, the sounds of Sam and Teal'c melting away as they yelled their defiance, the last words he could clearly make out before he lost consciousness. "Have him brought to my chambers."

* * * * *

The door to the cell opened, Teal'c pushed in first, almost knocking the two other occupants of the cell down, Sam hitting him on the back when she too was thrown in. She paid the sound of the door closing behind her no attention.

"Sam?"

Sam stepped round Teal'c. "Dad!" Before she could remember she was a professional soldier, Sam was in her father's arms.

"Sam. God, as much as I enjoy seeing you again.I didn't want this."

Sam gently pushed herself out of her father's arms, a little embarrassed in front of Teal'c and Martouf at her behaviour. "I know what you mean. What happened?"

Jacob sat down on a cot with a sigh. "I ran into her Majesty out there is what happened. She knew me for Tok'ra right off. I'd hardly reached for my weapon when I suddenly found myself here."

Martouf took up the rest of the tale. "And when I requested permission to land-"

"You were made as my father's contact. Damn."

"Exactly. They must have scanned the ship and discovered you on board. It was simply a matter of keeping a covert eye on your movements to see what you would do."

"And Daniel Jackson would know of our friendship with both General Carter and Martouf. It would be a simple matter to deduce that we would not be far behind in a rescue attempt."

"You're right Teal'c. Our plan was doomed to failure the moment we requested permission to land."

"Hey, where's Colonel O'Neill?"

Sam frowned. "Lilith injected him with something, got him shipped up to her chambers. God knows what she's got planned." She saw the look of worry on her father's face and frowned. "What?"

"Rumour has it that at least 3 people were never seen again who went in there. Another woman was in a hospital here for nearly two weeks. I saw her Sam. Even when they let her out it wasn't a pretty sight."

"What do you think she wants with Colonel O'Neill?" asked Teal'c.

"She's probably drawing on Daniel's connection to the Colonel. I believe their bond was strong?"

Sam nodded, feeling a lump in her throat. "Yeah. It was."

"Then she may come for us after some time. I hear she enjoys breaking her captives."

Sam looked up around the cell they were in. No windows, nothing other than the door they'd come in through and three cots lined up against the walls. "Then we have to try, somehow, to be ready when that time comes."

* * * * *

At first the darkness held a sort of comfort, a peace where he didn't have to think or feel, just be. After a while it became something less reassuring; hands were touching him, pulling at his arms and legs, voices just beyond his hearing muttering something.

Then it was peaceful again, and even though it wasn't as dark as before, he was reluctant to pull himself out of it, some part of himself letting him know that he wasn't going to like what he'd see when the lights came back on. Besides, he was comfortable.

Then he was being touched again, and this time he found himself enjoying the experience. Callused hands he knew were exploring him, running up the length of his chest. Like a doctor, only more intimate.

The touch of someone loved.

"Jack?"

Daniel. Daniel was touching him and even though he couldn't quite work up the will to open his eyes, he knew that voice anywhere. Knew those hands, though they had never touched him like this before. This was the stuff of dreams half remembered, of fantasy.

He moaned in satisfaction and tried to reach his arms to draw him closer, senses pulling him up like nothing else to touch his new found lover, but they were caught on something. Wouldn't do as they were told.

" 'aniel?"

"Sshhh, I'm right here Jack."

He felt Daniel kiss him, and despite all his instincts telling him this was wrong, he poured himself into it, using it to pull himself up from the darkness. Never had a kiss felt or meant so much to him before.

He wanted to put his hand out, to reach out and hold Daniel, but again his arms wouldn't work, wouldn't do as they were told and in frustration he finally opened his eyes.

With a gasp, 'Daniel' pulled away from him, his eyes glowing.

"Finally. You are awake." Lilith smiled, her voice harsh again. "I prefer passion to passive."

Jack finally remembered, and with it he felt a wash of shame as he realised he was hard. However, the despair he felt soon took care of that for him.

"Bitch!"

Lilith was straddling him, laughing.

"I have to admit, this is already much more enjoyable than I ever thought it would be." She reached out her hand, *Daniel's hand* thought Jack, to touch his face, Jack flinching from it, trying to move out of her way.

He was tied down and on a bed, still fully clothed apart from his shirt being undone. She raked a finger nail down his chest, red trail left in it's wake. "Do you know that the host once loved you?"

Jack's heart almost stopped and he couldn't help himself. "Once?"

Lilith nodded, moving down to lick at one of Jack's nipples biting it and causing him to gasp out loud. "Um hmm. Before I took him as a host." She suddenly sat up, looking at him again. "He knifed me and I was forced to choose him, but now I am so very glad. He has more infor-" She stopped, noticing the tears that had slowly started to roll down Jack's face, realising in a moment why. She reached out a hand and gently ran a finger through the tears on Jack's face. "You love him also! Deeper than a brother?" She grabbed a handful of Jack's hair and made him look at her. "Tell me!?!"

"Go to hell."

This gave her pause for thought. "This is something of a surprise. The host never once believed you could love him so." She smiled and Jack couldn't remember ever seeing anything so unlike Daniel on Daniel face in his life. "Again I have denied him." She turned her full attention onto Jack. "He forced me to this. He raised a knife to me and stabbed me in the heart. The damage was too much to repair before death claimed me. Now I shall stab him in the heart also. You are not going to die Colonel Jack O'Neill. You are going to love me."

She leaned down again, and despite the tears, Jack joined her in the kiss, surprising her a little, but not causing her to stop until she needed to breath again.

"Untie me. Please."

Lilith laughed again. "You must think me a fool if you believe-"

"I'm willing to do whatever you want."

"And why would you do such a thing?"

Jack let out a breathe he hadn't realised he was holding. "I.I could never hurt him."

"You have done so many times before in the past." She grabbed him hard by the chin, hurting him. "What makes me so special this time.Jack."

His voice was almost a whisper when he spoke and even to his ears he sounded broken. "I never really got the chance to tell him I loved him."

She stared at him for almost a full minute before she reached out and untied one of his hands. "Give yourself to me Jack. Give willingly and I will let you speak to the host."

Jack took in the smile, full of promise, almost Daniel's except for the look of deceit in the eyes. He didn't believe her for a second. He just needed her to think that he did.

"You'll let me speak to Daniel?" The desperation in his voice was real. He would have given *anything* to be able to speak to Daniel at this very moment.

"I shall. But only as a reward for pleasing me. You would like to please me, wouldn't you Jack?" Her voice was almost like a purr now, yet still somehow mocking.

Jack reached out his freed hand to behind her neck, pulling her in close for another kiss, putting all the feelings he had for Daniel into it.

When they finally parted she looked very pleased with herself. "You go far beyond my expectations. You are indeed as exquisite as the host believed."

With his free hand, Jack touched her arm, bringing it lower until he was finally caressing her thigh.

"Mmm, you *do* know how to please me, don't you Jack?"

He moved his hand again, down to her knee this time, rubbing up and down, stroking her. Then he went for it, the device that he still had in his pocket.

"Oh, I know how to please you alright, but I know what would please me a hell of a lot more than this."

She had her eyes half closed, not paying attention to what he was doing.

"And what would that be?"

There was no anger in his voice, only a hope he wasn't aware of. "This."

It was one of Machello's page turning devices, one of the several brought back from his laboratory that time Machello had stolen Daniel's body for his 'little holiday'.

Carter had discovered shortly after they had all become infected with Machello's Goa'uld killing device that the page turner wasn't set off simply by using it in conjunction with a tablet, but that a small dose of energy would set it off.

Like exposure to a naquadah power source. Like the ribbon device Lilith was wearing on her right hand.

He clasped her hand to his and she opened her eyes in fury at what she thought was Jack trying to take it off her.

Instead, she saw several white 'slugs' slither up her hand, borrowing into her flesh. Jack felt a brief moment of panic when four or five of them dropped onto his stomach and then did the same thing to him.

Almost immediately, Lilith pushed herself off from Jack, falling awkwardly to the floor. "What-" She gasped, a painful sound even to Jack.

"You're dying Lilith. And there's not a damn thing you can do about it."

She tried to pull herself up using the edge of the bed, but she lost her grip and fell onto her back on the floor. Using his free hand, Jack undid the restraints and soon he was straddling her, placing a hand over her mouth to stop her screams from being heard. He leaned down close enough to her face so she could hear him.

"Those things are eating you up from the inside out, you snake eyed bitch. You wanna hear the best bit though? Daniel's gonna survive. He's gonna get up the minute you're dead and go live his life. You're going to be nothing but fucking painful memory."

She was convulsing now, and Jack knew she was nearly dead, for he felt something 'give' within himself.

Last time he'd been infected, he'd felt the world tip on its axis. Nothing made sense and every time he opened his eyes, something was lurking in every corner, just waiting to rip him to shreds, made all the more weird by the light show he'd had going on in front of him.

But he'd been given the protein marker from Sam. The remains Jolinar had left in her blood. Within minutes after she'd injected him, the Goa'uld killing device in him had been convinced his Goa'uld captor had been killed.

This time though, he had the same protection as Sam. He wasn't going insane, he just had this moment of pain in his head and then-

*You are free of the vile Goa'uld who has enslaved you. You are free!*

He felt them slipping out of his ear, dropping onto the floor.

Underneath him, Daniel suddenly stopped moving. Worried and concerned that his plan had not only killed the Goa'uld but Daniel as well, he felt for a pulse. "A little fast, but if this has worked, then we can get Doc Fraiser to take a look see, huh Daniel?"

He waited, fingers still checking the pulse, which slowed a little to what he considered normal, watching as five of Mechello's devices slithered out and fell to the floor. Then Jack saw his eyelids fluttering.

"Daniel? Come on Daniel, talk to me here? Daniel! Wake up!"

Eyes flickered open and Jack recognised the sheer panic in them as belonging to his friend.

"'chello?"

"Yes! Daniel, listen to me. We don't have time for you to freak out here, ok? I know it's hard, but Carter and Teal'c are locked up in one of Sokar's cells and if we don't make for the 'gate soon, then we're all going to be dead and no one gets to feel guilty about any of this, alright?"

Jack watched as Daniel closed his eyes for a second, then felt a hand wrap around his wrist griping him tight. Daniel nodded.

Standing Jack reached out his hand, helping Daniel to stand up.

"Daniel?"

They were standing face to face, Daniel still holding onto his hand. Jack watched as Daniel swallowed hard, his eyes pulling up from looking at the floor into Jack's. "Jack?"

He found himself lost for words. The whole world was out to get them and it was all outside the door but he couldn't help it. He pulled Daniel into a hug, his hand travelling slowly up and down his back, offering comfort and unwittingly receiving it at the same time.

"God I've missed you. Missed you so much."

"Jack, I-"

Jack felt himself being pushed away to find himself looking at Daniel again. Weak smile and Jack smiled in return. "I want to go home Jack."

Nodding, Jack was about to say something when a noise from the next room caught both their attentions.

Raising his finger to his lips, Jack carefully opened the door a fraction, watching as some man barely dressed in what looked like a halter top and shorts seemed to be re-arranging the furniture.

A hand on his shoulder and he felt Daniel leaning on him as he looked over his shoulder. "Mayvin."

"Trouble?" Jack whispered.

Nodding, Daniel bit his lip. "Go lie on the bed Jack, face down. Take your shirt off."

"Huh?"

Pale, but determined, Daniel repeated his request. "Trust me?"

A brief second looking into Daniel's eyes and Jack shucked off his shirt, lying down.

Behind him, Daniel cleared his throat. "Mayvin!"

Hurrying steps and Jack heard the door opening behind him. "Yes, my Lady?"

A chill crept up Jack's spine as he heard the cold tone of Daniel's voice. "Bring me a zat-nik-at-tel."

There was obvious confusion in Mayvin's voice, and Jack could only assume it had something to do with the lack of 'resonance' to Daniel's.

"My Lady? It is I who usually disposes of your."

"I wish to dispose of this one myself Mayvin! You dare to question you're Goddess!?!"

Jack almost sniggered into the bed sheets, but managed to hold back. One shot with that zat and they'd be on their way out of this mess.

"Of course not my Lady. I shall do as you bid."

The sound of footsteps again and Jack was tempted to turn round, to offer support to his friend, but almost immediately Mayvin was back.

"Your weapon Lilith."

"My name is Doctor Daniel Jackson."

Jack turned then and watched as Daniel fired the weapon, Mayvin dropping to the floor with a stunned look on his face.

"Great, now let's get the hell-"

Another shot went off and another, the body of Mayvin twitching for a second time, before vaporising completely.

Shocked, Jack slowly reached out and gently took the weapon out of Daniel's hands.

"He was as bad as her Jack, the only difference is, he wasn't a Goa'uld."

"It's ok Daniel. It's alright, really. Come on. Let's go get Carter and Teal'c. You have any idea where the dungeons are in this place?"

Closing his eyes, Daniel shuddered. "Yeah. Sometimes Lilith liked to bring up a prisoner, let them think they just had to please her and they'd be set free. They never were."

Jack nodded. He could tell Daniel was close to losing it and the sooner they got back to Earth the better. He offered the weapon back to Daniel, who looked at him in confusion.

"Hey, you're the one they know. It'd look pretty suspicious even to these people if they saw me taking 'Lilith' down to the cells." He gave his arm what he hoped was an encouraging squeeze. "We're almost done here Danny. Pretty soon you'll have Doc Fraiser sticking needles in you again like normal."

A faint crease of a smile and Jack felt a little more encouraged. Opening the door, Daniel went out first, Jack sparing the bedroom a quick glance before he followed. He figured that this room was going to feature a lot in Daniel's nightmares for a long time to come. And a few of his, too.

* * * * *

The door to the cells opened, two very large Jaffa blocking the only way out for them.

"You will come with us!"

Sam looked at Teal'c. They knew it might come down to a fight and it looked like it was now or never.

Neither of them came into the cell however to drag them out. Which was what their plan depended on the most. The guard holding the zat took a step backwards, a sneer on his face. "Do not attempt any deception. Our Goddess has told us of your trickery! If any one tries to escape, you will be shot. Come! Out of the cell!"

Getting more pissed off by the second at the Goa'uld that had Daniel, Carter reluctantly obeyed, her father, Martouf and Teal'c following her out.

"Where are you taking us?"

The other guard, obviously the smarter of the two laughed. "The Tau'ri that was with you has willingly given of himself to our Goddess. He is her Col'shal'vait."

Carter looked to Teal'c, who had, for him, had a look of astonishment on his face. In fact, she saw it on everyone's face except hers. "What? What's that mean?"

Martouf leaned over and whispered in her ear. The blush that spread over her cheeks told everyone else that she knew now what it meant. "He'd never do.*that*. He just. wouldn't."

A guard shoved her in the back, hurting her and sending her forward, earning glares from the rest of the prisoners.

Soon the décor became more opulent, the walls became inlaid with gold, hieroglyphs on the walls describing who knew what. There were also a few more people present, each one appearing to be going about some task in service of their Gods.

Soon they were brought to very large, heavily decorated and heavily guarded doors. More Jaffa stood outside, although when they saw the prisoners heading towards them, they opened the doors.

To reveal the Stargate, inactive. Carter smiled to herself. She hadn't expected this at all. This was almost going to be too easy, she thought to herself.

Then she spotted the Colonel, sitting at the feet of Lilith, his eyes closed and a smile on his face as she ran her hand gently through her hair. He was naked from the chest up and didn't seem to mind at all.

"Here are the prisoners My Lady."

Nodding grandly, Lilith dismissed the guards with a flick of her hand. Sam also spotted the zat' gun sitting in her lap.

The guards had barely left the chamber before Sam was speaking her mind.

"What the hell have you done to him?"

It was Jack though who stood up, ignoring her looks of anger and astonishment as he made his way over to the D.H.D. "Sam, help Daniel. He's not feeling too good."

Sam flicked her head round to look at 'Lilith' seeing for the first time, the slump to the shoulders, the pale, gaunt expression on the face and the arms now securely wrapped round the upper torso.

She felt hope and shock and found herself walking slowly up to the throne to look at the man sitting in it.

"Daniel?"

Tired. He looked tired. It was the first thing she noticed.

"Hi Sam."

A hand flew up to her mouth, her surprise complete. "Oh my god!" She turned to Jack, just in time to see him hitting the last glyph. "How!?!?"

Jack ran past her, Teal'c Jacob and Martouf just as surprised as she was. "We don't have time for this." He threw her the G.D.O. as he passed her. "I've already entered the correct G.D.O. code into the transmitter. Send it and go!" He was over by Daniel's side in an instant, helping him up to his feet. "Come on. Not long now Danny."

Teal'c was by his side in an instant, helping to carry Daniel. "Go Major Carter. We will ensure his safety."

"Get a medical team on the ramp Carter."

"Sam?" She turned, Jacob holding her arm.

"Right!"

Turning, she ran through the event horizon, Jacob not far behind her, Martouf behind him.

Jack, Daniel and Teal'c were almost at the 'gate themselves when the doors opened, the guards outside alerted by the sounds of the 'gate activating.

Another step and they would be on their way home. Daniel turned to look at them. "Lilith is dead."

With his free hand, Jack saluted the Jaffa. "And it couldn't have happened to a nicer snake. Bye guys." They stepped through the 'gate to the sound of zat fire.

* * * * *

Jack stepped through to the other side, Daniel suddenly a lot heavier in his arms. "Close the iris!"

He only had to say it once to have it done, a medical team already taking Daniel from him and Teal'c. He moved round and out of the way as the med techs fussed with him, securing him to the stretcher.

Jack managed to squeeze an arm past the three people working on him, to touch his hand. "We got you home Danny. You're gonna be ok."

One of the techs, Matthews something or other looked up at Jack as he tightened a belt. "He can't hear you right now Colonel. When he wakes up."

"What do you mean, when he wakes up? He was conscious when we went through the 'gate!"

Matthew stood, indicating to his team to get moving. "Don't worry Colonel. His vitals are good and we're going to have him in Doc Fraiser's capable hands. We'll do everything we can for him."

Jack hadn't noticed just how quiet the 'gate room was; everyone with access seemed amazed to see Doctor Jackson back. Not that any of them doubted that the Colonel wouldn't do anything for a member of his team, it was just, they knew that things had looked bad when SG-1 had shipped out. Bringing one of their own back was almost a sacred moment. Something that, regretfully didn't always happen.

Jack watched as Daniel was carted off, was ready to follow them down to the infirmary when he felt a large hand settle on his shoulder. "You should leave them to their care of Daniel. He is in safe hands O'Neill."

Jack actually felt a muscle in his jaw twitch and he forced himself to relax. Haunting the infirmary and annoying the Doctors, while he was itching to be with Daniel, wouldn't be doing him any favours. He shrugged, not really trying to keep the reluctance out of his voice. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Now that the infirmary was ruled out for now at least, Jack wasn't exactly sure what to do with himself. The hand that had been on his shoulder now pushed him in the small of the back down the ramp. "We will go to Major Carter's office and partake in the superior blend of coffee she has hidden in her filing cabinet."

Jack forced himself to smile. "You know 'bout everyone's secrets?"

Teal'c smiled. "I would be remiss as a warrior if I did not, O'Neill."

From the intense look Jack got from the huge Jaffa, he had a feeling Teal'c knew more than he was letting on. Jack nodded. "Ok, Carter's it is. *Then* we go check on Daniel."

* * * * *

General Hammond had watched the 'gate open and spit out his people with an ever increasing sense of dread and hope. First Carter, her father and Martouf and finally, Jack, Teal'c and one sorely missed Daniel Jackson.

It was always a relief for him to see his people come home, but this time even more so. Doctor Jackson had opened up a path for this world, one which General George Hammond had been privileged to dedicate the last segment of his career to. The young man, who was surely receiving the best medical care this planet currently had to offer, who wasn't even military had displayed more courage and heroism than some of the men and women General Hammond had fought along side in his career. To learn that he'd been taken by a Goa'uld had cut him to the very core. It had been like hearing a child of his own had gone down over enemy territory with no chance of getting him back.

Which was why he'd gone behind a few backs to ensure Jack had had access to those devices of Machello's. Area 51 was normally very reluctant to part with anything it hadn't taken apart and understood before being able to put it back together. The devices had been low on priority simply because Carter had already figured them out and there were much more interesting toys to play with.

He watched as Teal'c led Jack away from the ramp, wondering if that young man had bought himself a clue yet. He shrugged that off as he left the observation window and went over to the telephone to call down to the infirmary. He wasn't meant to be *that* observant.

* * * * *

Fraiser sighed as she walked past the infirmary doors, spotting three familiar faces outside. Realising that the worry was bound to be eating them up, she pushed open the doors. "You can come on in. You may as well get checked out while you're all within easy reach."

Jack practically burst into the room, Teal'c and Carter behind. "Well Doc? What's the word?"

"As you might expect. I'm still waiting for the results of some of the tests. What's puzzling me the most though, is how he's free from Lilith. The M.R.I. showed nothing. He's free." She turned a curious, very suspicious glare onto the Colonel. "Do you know anything about this Colonel?"

Jack saw the look and tried to avoid it by looking around the infirmary for Daniel. "Hey, where is he anyways?"

"He's in isolation. Apart from anything else, I don't want him becoming the centre attraction down here. He's still asleep and I'm happy enough for now to let him." She folded her arms across her chest, empathy for her patient not dulling her senses in the slightest in regards to finding out some answers. "Well? You didn't answer my question Colonel? Teal'c? Sam?"

Sam sat down on the edge of a bed. "Sorry Janet. I'm as in the dark here as you are." She turned to look at her CO, knowing that she was being kept out of the loop, trusting that it was for all the right reasons.

"I too do not know how Daniel Jackson came to be free." He wasn't so shrewd in turning a questioning gaze onto Jack.

He feigned puzzled outrage. "Hey! What can I tell ya? Maybe she committed suicide or something."

Janet fought down an urge to laugh and kept the stern look on her face. "What are you saying here Colonel? Talking to you bored her to death?"

"Ah.Shouldn't you be sticking needles into us right about now?"

"Big ones in your case Colonel." A pager buzzed from within the folds of her white coat. "This is going to have to wait."

"That about Daniel?" asked Jack.

She smiled at him softly. She saw this in every team-leader that passed through her doors when looking for updates on one of their team. "Yes, but don't worry. Just some of his results are in." She looked over to a nurse. "Sall? Could you start on taking some blood and page Doctor Reynolds to come give them their exam?"

Nurse Sally smiled. "Right away Doctor. Colonel, if you'll take a seat, I'll go get out our biggest needle." She actually winked at him and Jack wondered what it was with air force nurses and their complete inability not to be phased or intimated by his rank.

Janet strolled out the door, Jack almost calling her back to tell the nurse she'd been joking about the big needles.

* * * * *

When Daniel finally decided to open his eyes, he found himself looking at the back of the white coat of someone checking the machines.

He watched them for a moment, letting the white fill his vision and his mind, trying to determine if this was another part of the dream or if he was really awake this time.

White coat turned round and he found the friendly face of Janet looking down at him.

"Hey Daniel." She leaned down and gently took his hand, noting the flinch away from her and cataloguing it for later study. "How are you feeling?"

Like he didn't want her to let go, but he didn't say it. "Tired." He felt more like he was dead, but he didn't say that either. "Really tired." His eyes felt heavy, almost painful and he blinked in the sudden realisation that his vision was perfect.

Realisation hit, and he pulled in a choked sob, almost desperate for breath while his hand tightened painfully around Janet's.

"Daniel! Listen to me. You're safe. You're back at the SGC with your friends."

His breathing became more and more shallow while his hands cramped up so badly he couldn't even move them. "Daniel just breathe nice and easy for me, ok? Nice and slow Daniel. Come on, nice and slowly does it."

He could hear her calming voice and he focused on that, rather than the screaming in his head. Eventually his breathing evened out, only to be replaced by heartfelt sobs that wouldn't quit, no matter how much he wanted them too.

All the while, Janet held his hand, helping him through what was obviously a pretty heavy duty panic attack, talking to him calmly, forcing him to listen, to draw his attention away from whatever it was in his head that caused him to react so badly.

Finally, when she was satisfied, she pulled her hand out of his, pain filling her at what he must have gone through to have him react so badly. Walking over to a shelf, she picked up a bottle of something and a syringe, plunging the needle through the barrier of the bottle to pull out what she felt he needed right now more than anything.

"No complaints Dr. Jackson. This will help you relax."

Normally when she offered someone one of her happy drugs, their ego had them complaining to her that they didn't need it, that they'd 'cope' fine with out it.

Daniel didn't say another word, just turned his back to her as she pushed the solution into his IV line.

When his breathing evened out, she knew he was asleep again. Next time though, there would be no escape from what had happened to him when he woke up.

He was going to have to face his demons. She only hoped he'd let his friends help him with them

* * * * *

"Any word?"

Jack shook his head and slumped a little further down into his seat while Carter took hers. The briefing wasn't due for another 15 minutes, but since he'd been kicked out of the infirmary, he'd found himself wondering aimlessly.

He'd done his report and filed it, skimming over just what Lilith had been planning for him. For some reason he knew Daniel would hate people knowing that and to just add to his worries right now seemed a little unfair.

Besides, it was his job to protect his team and if it meant a little white lie here and there.

Teal'c wandered in next.

"She kicked you out too, huh."

The large Jaffa nodded. "Indeed. Doctor Fraiser and her staff can be particularly.persuasive when they wish so."

"Not what I'd call it."

"And what would you call it, Colonel?"

Jack didn't turn, just looked across the table at a grinning Carter. He decided to make a face at her while he answered Fraiser. "Dedicated?"

Right behind her, Hammond walked into the room. He smiled as he took his seat. "Well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised to see you all here early. Congratulations team. You got our boy home."

Everyone around the table smiled, all except Janet who looked like she wanted to, but just couldn't join in with the celebrations.

"Doctor? How's he doing?"

This was the part she was dreading. "Well sir, the X-rays, M.R.I. and C.T. all confirm that Dr. Jackson is definitely free of the symbiote. We ran a check and while his white cell count is a little high, I'm going to guess that would be due to his own body's natural defences reacting to the Goa'uld. Which probably would have counter measured with its own substantive immune system. His blood work came back fine, but there is one interesting little detail. Just like Sam, Daniel has the protein marker which indicates that 'Lilith' died inside him. We also found the same level of naquadah in his blood as Sam too."

The General looked to Jack, who suddenly felt his good mood rapidly decline. "Has Doctor Jackson given you any idea how this happened?"

Janet closed the file in front of her, this was the part she hated the most. "He hasn't said a lot about anything Sir. In fact, I have severe worries that this event has been more traumatic for him than we know. The one and only time he was conscious he had a quite serious panic attack. I had to sedate him for his own good Sir."

Jack felt his anger returning. "Hold on a minute here. Isn't he *allowed* to be upset!?! He had a god-damn snake in him!" He turned an almost accusatory glare onto Carter. "When Jolinar died inside Major Carter, she lay in bed, wouldn't get up; wouldn't see anyone until we got Cassie in to cheer her up. And that was a Tok'ra for crying out loud! Daniel hates the Goa'uld more than anyone here; he's just had first hand experience of what his wife went through! God alone knows what that bitch put him through before we got to him. Don't you think we owe him a break? And so help me, if anyone mentions McKenzie."

Janet bowed her head in shame for a moment, blankly looking at the file sitting in front of her. She had been on the verge of recommending that Daniel be transferred to the USAF base where Doctor McKenzie could observe him. She forced her gaze up to meet that of the Colonel. "Well, what do you suggest Colonel? He needs help."

Jack nodded. "Sure he does. *This* time we just have to make sure he gets the right kind. Like that of his friends. Trust me, if Daniel sees McKenzie again, it's only going to make things a hundred times worse."

The Doctor in Janet however was hard to quell. "I can treat his physical symptoms, but he could develop post traumatic stress, depression and any number of physical and psychological symptoms. I'm only qualified to treat his body. What do we do if this experience affects him in ways I can't treat?"

"You trust that I'll come to you if that happens."

"Sir?" Oh, she really hated the sound of this and everyone in the room knew it from the sound of her voice.

Jack turned to Hammond. "Sir, we're all due a little down time. I could take Daniel home with me, keep an eye on him. Hell, you could make it an order Sir." He realised he needed to be a little diplomatic here. He needed to get the rest of the room, a room full of people looking out for the same man in different ways, on his side and if that meant putting all he had into what he had to say, then he was more than happy to do it. "I'm not saying we pull him out of the infirmary today; all I'm saying is, once he's been completely cleared health wise, he comes home with me and I can look after him for a while."

Hammond didn't look happy either, not by a long shot. "I'd have to go with Doctor Fraiser's recommendations Colonel. If she says no, then I'm inclined to agree with her."

Jack turned to Janet, desperate. "You send Daniel to the psych ward, he's never going to be allowed to serve on an active team again. You know it and I know it. You know more than anyone how much he hated being pumped full of drugs, of not being able to trust his own mind. Give me a chance. Let me take him home and trust me to contact you if he needs more than I can give. We owe him that much at least."

Fraiser turned to General Hammond. "Sir, it goes against the regulations more than a little, but I feel that, for a small amount of time, if the Colonel is properly briefed, we should allow him to do this." She turned back to look at Jack and saw how desperate he was to do this and that in itself spoke volumes to her for the kind of care her patient would receive. "He's right. If we officially bring in Doctor McKenzie, or anyone from his team, the chances of Daniel ever being allowed to serve in an active field unit would be remote." She hated herself for saying this, but it was the truth. No one would want to serve with him; trust in his abilities would be gone and no matter if it was right or not, people could get hurt or even killed.

"Alright Jack, you've got it. SG-1? You are cleared from active duty for approximately one month. I don't want to see you anywhere in this facility where people can ask awkward questions concerning the whereabouts and treatment of Doctor Jackson. The last thing we need is the rumour mill running rampant over this."

* * * * *

One week later

"Sure you can manage that?"

Daniel scowled at Jack. "I can carry a hold-all myself, thank you. I had a Goa'uld in my head, I didn't break my hand." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he instantly regretted them. But unlike other times, when Jack had taken to treating him like a child simply because he wasn't air force, he found he couldn't turn round and apologise for it.

He came down into the living room, looking at surprise at the Christmas tree that was still up. And lit. He turned back to Jack. "I hope you've got great insurance."

Jack looked up from setting the suitcase at the bottom of the stairs. "Huh?" Then he spotted the tree. "Damn!" He went over, reaching out a hand to touch a light. "Damn that's hot." He pulled the plug.

"You do know how lucky you are that your house is still standing, don't you?"

"Oh, I'm sure some neighbour would have called the fire brigade. They don't *all* hate me here."

Daniel took in the room, ignoring the comment. Since he'd. got back, Daniel had noticed that he'd been quite nasty to Jack. Off hand comments which his subconscious seemingly designed to hurt his friend. Like that little comment at the door. Just reminding Jack who had left him.

He forced that thought back. He didn't blame Jack. He didn't blame anyone except...

"So. I just take the spare room again?"

Jack nodded. "Sure. Unless you want the couch," Daniel watched an old familiar smile and wished that he could drag up his old familiar response to it. That smile once would have had Daniel jump through hoops if Jack had asked. "But I gotta warn ya, it's not that comfy."

Daniel felt like his heart was breaking as he picked up his hold-all again. "I'll just go. put this stuff away. Take a nap."

"You tired?"

Daniel was already heading for the stairs. "Yeah. Don't bother making me dinner Jack. I'll find something when I wake up."

He didn't turn to look at Jack again, knowing he'd only see self failure written all over his face. If he looked he was afraid he'd prove Jack right, that everything Jack was doing for him was a failure and he didn't deserve that.

* * * * *

"How is he sir?"

Throwing a cautious glance over to the stairs, Jack fought the urge to tell Sam the truth. "He's. ok." The silence on the other end of the line told him exactly what Sam thought of that. "Alright, alright. He hasn't said much. He hasn't come out of the bedroom except to go to the bathroom."

"Sir."

Double checking to make sure Daniel wasn't within earshot, Jack headed outside. "There's no way in hell I'm going to let him anywhere near those shrinks."

"I'm not saying that Jack! But he obviously needs help."

He sighed. "Yeah, I know."

"When.when Jolinar died, it was hard. I wasn't left with her memories exactly, more impressions, like I'd been given access to another persons soul. I could feel how she felt and when she was gone I had to try and separate my own emotions from hers. And she was a Tok'ra, sir."

"Daniel combined with the bitch from hell is what you're saying."

"I think Daniel might be afraid to get up and allow himself to feel. He needs to separate himself from her. to know that what he's feeling now is him and only him."

"I need to push him."

"He needs to know that he's back in control, that what Lilith did, there wasn't any of him involved in that. He needs to feel something, some emotion, some reaction that's all his own, that has nothing to do with her."

"Thanks Sam."

"Don't thank me yet sir. This could all blow up in your face."

"I don't think so. You're right. I know it and you know it."

"What are you going to do?"

Jack looked up at the bedroom window where he knew Daniel to be. The curtains were pulled tight, shutting out the sunlight. "I don't know." He allowed himself a grim sort of smile. "Something."

* * * * *

"Damn!" Daniel pushed the book in front of him away. He'd been trying to read the same paragraph for half an hour and he still didn't know what it was about.

He glanced over at the clock. It was heading for midnight. He screwed up his face in thought. Jack hadn't been in to see him since he'd brought him his lunch and that had almost been six hours ago. Which wasn't like the mother hen he knew at all.

He stood and looked at his reflection in the picture above the desk. "Maybe he just has something better to do?" He tried to ignore the twist of fear in his stomach, told himself that maybe being alone was better than having to look Jack in the eye over and over again.

He reached into the drawer and pulled out a sheet of paper, one he'd been working on for the last couple of days. His resignation from the SGC.

The sound of glass breaking reminded him that he wasn't alone in the house, despite evidence to the contrary. Putting the letter back in the drawer, he left the relative safety of his room and down to the kitchen, where he found Jack running the tap over a bleeding hand.

He froze when he saw the blood. Jack hadn't seen him yet, and he just stood there, watching as the water turned red and ran into the sink.

"God damn-it."

Jack talking to himself brought Daniel back from another dark place in his head. "You need a hand?"

Hand still under the tap Jack nodded his head in the direction of the cupboard beside the fridge. "Nah, the old one's just fine." Daniel didn't return his smile and he felt his own fade. "Grab me the first aid kit huh?"

He did as he was asked, bringing it over, noticing that there wasn't as much blood as he'd first thought.

"Could you." Jack held out his hand.

"Oh, sure." He opened the kit and soon had the wound dressed.

"Thanks Daniel. You want something to eat? I."

Daniel just nodded, looking like he was going to retreat again to his bedroom. "Yeah. That'd be great, thanks."

"You wanna dial it up then?" Jack smiled, willing Daniel to just trust him enough to make contact.

Walking over to the fridge, Daniel pulled off a menu. "Chinese good enough?"

"Yeah. Anything'd be great."

Daniel just nodded, walking into the living room to place the call.

Twenty minutes later the food was delivered. Daniel had retreated back to his room moments after making the call. To 'do something' he'd said. Jack knew he just wanted to get away from him.

So, he went into the kitchen and set the table, determined that the very least Daniel could do now was to sit here with him. It was only polite, right?

"Dinner!"

He was waiting for at least five minutes before Daniel showed, scowling at him. Jack had only ever found it cute in the past, so he knew he could handle it now.

Dinner was eaten in polite silence. Which wasn't like the old Daniel at all. Usually he'd go off on some tangent like where the recipe for the food they where eating had originated from, or how Jack put too much salt on his food or how Teal'c would maybe love to see the new Bruce Willis movie. He'd talk about anything and everything under the sun.

"That-"

"It was nice huh?" Jack tried to keep the sarcasm out of his voice. He was loosing his patience and he knew he shouldn't. Even worse he knew he shouldn't let it show.

"Yes. Thanks. I'd better get back-"

"Back to the transliteration. Oh yeah, I guessed as much."

And there it was. Anger flaring in his eyes, gone almost as soon as he'd seen it to be replaced by fear?

"Yes, well SG-3 needs this done. Good night Jack."

Jack watched him go, only this time *this* time he'd had enough.

Jumping to his feet he followed Daniel into the living room. "You've been doing that a lot lately, haven't you?"

Daniel stopped, his hand on the stair railing. It took him longer than it should have to turn and look at Jack. "What are you talking about?"

Jack came closer and he couldn't help but see Daniel flinch a little. Jesus, was he actually scaring him? He couldn't control his feelings anymore though. This is it, he thought, the 'something' he'd told Carter he was going to do.

"That! Walking away from me!"

Daniel turned again, ready to ignore whatever this was that was brewing. "I'm not going to talk about this with you. Goodnight Jack."

"Damn-it!" He stormed over and grabbed Daniel by the shoulder, intent on forcing him to turn round and look at him.

Instead, Daniel swung round and out, hitting Jack square on the jaw with his fist, knocking him flat on his ass.

"Oh my god. Jack!?!" Daniel was over to his side in an instant, kneeling beside him on the floor. "God, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean.I.I." He looked up at Jack just then and Jack saw everything Daniel had been trying to hide. The pain, anger and fear that was eating him alive from the inside out.

He started to sob and Jack, knowing this to be a good thing, turned so he could hold Daniel in his arms.

"I don't. I don't know who I am any more Jack."

"Hey." Jack pushed him away a little, looking at him. "You're the same guy Daniel. What happened doesn't change that."

He watched as Daniel wiped at his face with his sleeve, dropping backwards onto the floor to sit. "I don't feel like it. Everything I ever knew about myself, everything I ever was changed when." Jack felt his some tears of his own threaten and he forced himself not to cry. Daniel needed him strong just now.

"When Lilith took you as host."

Daniel nodded, wiping his face again. "How am I supposed to be me again Jack? How am I supposed to trust what I feel?"

"What you feel?"

"I hit you! I hit you for nothing! That wasn't the old me. That was her. That's whatever she's left inside me."

Jack shook his head. "There's nothing of her inside you now, except memories Daniel. Emotions. But you're stronger than her, ok? We both know that."

"Do we? You don't know half of what she did Jack. What she did while she had Mary, while she had me. She was twisted, sick. And ever since I got back I've been-" He stopped abruptly, looking at Jack with red rimmed eyes.

"You've been what Daniel? Please, you know you can trust me on this. You have to trust me."

"I've been afraid! Alright? I've been afraid. Afraid of ever going through that again. Of losing control, of having anything of her show itself while I'm out there..." He waved his hand, indicating to Jack he meant the Universe at large. "Of letting you all down. Of hurting someone again."

"You don't have to be Daniel. Trust me on this. She's not going to be coming back."

Daniel took in another deep breath, tried to steady his voice a little, but it was still thick and shaky. "But she already has."

"What!?!"

He watched Daniel fidget. He'd obviously said more than he'd intended. "Jack."

"No, you gotta explain this to me Daniel. If you don't trust me, then I can't help you and you don't deserve not to be helped." He beseeched him with his eyes *trust me*.

Daniel was quiet for so long that Jack thought that he'd lost him. That whatever breakthrough, whatever this moment had given up was gone, over with. Then in a quiet voice, Daniel whispered. "I dream about her. But I don't see her. All I see is me, doing things."

Jack reached out and squeezed his knee. "It's alright Daniel, keep going. I'm right here."

"She knew. She knew from me that you'd never let me go without a fight and I keep dreaming what she was planning. I see my hand ripping out Teal'c symbiote. It's me that stands to one side and allows Mayvin to rape Sam." He looked at Jack desperately. "It's *me* who enjoys watching him do it! It's me that hurts you over and over and over again, it's my face I see reflected in your eyes when you scream out in pain."

Daniel's breathing was faster now, and Jack moved closer, holding him again despite a feeble effort to break free from Jack's grasp.

"I know you saw some horrible things Daniel, but you need to recognise that it wasn't you. She had control of your body ok? She was the one who thought like that, not you."

"Then. then why Jack? Why do I still feel her inside me?"

"Well," he said, not even sure of *what* he was going to say, "Maybe because you've been through hell. Because you need to recognise that she was a separate person with her own set of emotions and feelings, twisted that they were. Maybe you feel her inside you still because. because you're blaming yourself for letting Mary down."

He felt Daniel freeze in his arms. "What?"

"We tried to help her people, yet Sokar destroyed their planet. Because *we* stopped the sacrifices and left them to it."

"You're wrong."

He was still holding on, still refusing to let go and he knew that if he did, Daniel may not come back, to him or the SGC or more importantly, to himself. He had to hold on now or this was all for nothing. "We left them to fend for themselves; to die Daniel and we should feel some measure of responsibility for that, but. we did the right thing."

"How can you say that? They all died Jack! Whoever wasn't taken for hosts died!"

"What would you have us do Daniel? Never help anyone again? You ever listen to Teal'c? That thing he's always saying? He'd rather die free than live forever as a slave to the Goa'uld's. We gave them freedom and we discovered that it came with a heavy price, but that's not to say we shouldn't stop trying Daniel."

Daniel held on tight, the tears starting to flow again. "I didn't want to kill her, but I knew. I knew Mary wouldn't have wanted to live like that."

Jack shifted, moving so he could reach out and gently take Daniel's chin, making him look him square in the eyes. "And now you know first hand what they've all had to suffer through, enough to know that to stop fighting means they win."

Finally, Jack saw something in Daniel's eyes that wasn't pain or fear, but an honest emotion, one that he was used to seeing within Daniel even when it seemed like there was nothing more to be done. Hope.

"I love you Daniel."

Jack hadn't meant to just blurt it out like that, and he tried not to let his own fear show as he waited for Daniel to react.

"You. you do?"

A twitch of a smile formed briefly on Daniel's lips and Jack didn't have the heart to try and back out of what he'd just said. He took a deep breath. "Yeah. I do. For a long time now. You don't know what. what it means to me that we got you back Daniel."

Daniel was silent and Jack tried to read his eyes again, trying to glimpse something he could use to judge how Daniel was feeling himself.

"Do you trust me Jack?"

"What? Of course I do. What kind of question is that?"

Still no emotion he could read on Daniel's face and he wondered suddenly where this was all going. "Trust me then. Close your eyes."

He closed his eyes. "See? Eyes closed. Now what Mmmh."

Soft, wet lips touched his, moving with a hesitation that was somehow one of the most sensual things Jack had ever experienced. He parted his own lips, reaching out his hands to pull Daniel down with him to the floor as they kissed, the urgency settling into a warm heat in his groin as he felt Daniel settle on top of him.

They were like that for a while, pausing only long enough to draw breath, or to smile at one another. A while back he thought he'd never see Daniel smile again.

Finally, they came to a halt, Jack again seeing a hesitancy in Daniel's eyes. He reached out a finger, drawing it gently down Daniel's cheek. "What is it? Tell me?"

"I. I'm not. I mean I don't think I'm."

"Sshh, it's alright Daniel. I get it."

"You think you get it, but you don't."

Jack frowned. "Then tell me." He reached up and kissed him again, quickly, before falling back to the floor. "Please?"

"Lilith. she liked to use. I mean, she."

Jack sighed. That bitch had done so much to someone who really didn't deserve it. He almost wished she was alive so he could kill her all over again. "I know. It's alright Daniel. I'm willing to take this as slow as you want, ok? A snail's faster than me, got it?"

He saw the relief on Daniel's face and smiled back up at him. "We'll get through this Daniel. I promise you. We'll get through this together."

"Promise?"

Jack kissed him again, thanking God for whatever luck had brought this man to him, and for giving him a second chance with him. Reassured, Daniel found it within himself to smile back. "I promise Daniel."

The End.

Next: Striking Distance