Behind Closed Doors 2

Striking Distance

by Twist

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/ast/twist/doors02.php
Summary: Sometimes the journey matters more than the destination

"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. Sir. 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 pulled out his own view-finder. 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, not liking the solemn tone to Teal'c's voice, reaching for his radio again. "Carter?"

"Sir?"

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

"None sir. All of 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 head down to the Stargate, keep an eye on it and for Daniel. They seem to be heading that way now. Teal'c and I will bring up the rear and hopefully, between us, we can stop them stepping through."

"On my 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, it seemed Daniel was 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 left 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 was 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, the rest returning fire.

They didn't have a choice anymore. Jack aimed for the one still holding Daniel, missing him as the guard fell taking Daniel down with him, almost like he was shielding him from the fire.

Cursing, he heard Carter firing from the left, keeping down the only other Jaffa that was causing them problems. Beside him, Teal'c was still firing his staff weapon, adding confusion to the already chaotic scene.

Jack saw his shot and fired, taking out the Jaffa still holding Daniel. Carter was closer however, and she'd hit her target and was already making her way over to check Daniel out.

"Daniel, are you-"

Jack was running now, unable to keep the smile off his face, Teal'c by his side. The team was whole again. Daniel was ok!

Carter stumbled back from helping Daniel and instinctively Jack knew there was something wrong.

She turned as Daniel slowly stood to his feet, the blood pouring between her hands, staining her uniform as it poured out of her neck.

Jack stumbled to a halt, in shock at what he was seeing. "Jesus!"

Daniel was still behind her, the expression on her face one of pure horror and desperation. Her best friend had just killed her and she knew it. Daniel had pierced her throat, her hands and uniform already covered in far too much blood.

Daniel grabbed the zat from the fallen Jaffa and fired, Jack hesitating to fire as Carter fell to her knees and was down.

The pain of the zat was familiar, but the hand pulling the trigger was never one he'd associated with pain before. He yelled out his defiance, knowing that Teal'c had fallen too as the ground rushed up to meet him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

'Lilith' stood over the body of the shol'va, and fired her 'zat again, killing him outright. She would have completely disintegrated him, but the thought of his body lying rotting on the steps of the 'gate, for all to see sent a delightful shiver through her new body. She turned the weapon back onto Jack, her hand beginning to tremble.

"Nothing-" The shaking wouldn't stop. "Nothing of the. host-" She struggled with the weapon, determined to bring it to bear, to prove to her new host that she was simply weak from the transition, still in charge when she felt what he felt for the man at her feet.

Love.

She let her hand holding the zat fall, her twisted mind coming up with a much better punishment for the man at her feet and for her host. This was better. Doctor Daniel Jackson had forced her to make this choice. It was not the host she would have chosen for herself, she had been forced into the decision. She started to smile as she looked at the unconscious man lying beside the DHD.

She would make Daniel Jackson pay in another way. All that he held dear would pay the price for his insolence.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sometime later, in a nearby Universe .

Jack pushed open his front door as quietly as possible, not wanting to take the chance of waking up Daniel.

SG-1 was still on restricted duties, due to Daniel being out of commission. For a while Jack had taken advantage of some time off, but he couldn't stay away from the base forever. Even if he had wanted to. Duty was duty after all.

He crept through the living room, no longer noticing the incursions into his space Daniel had made. A Mycenae urn sitting on a shelf next to a picture of Teal'c, Sam, Daniel and himself. Books Daniel had brought over getting placed into Jack's bookshelves when they where no longer needed, The Archaeology of Early Medieval Ireland by Nancy Edwards sitting comfortably between The History of Military Aviation by G. Hammond and The Tree House of Horror IX by Matt Groening. Daniel had encroached into his space and Jack wouldn't have it any other way.

He dropped his coat over the couch, toeing off his sneakers along the way to the bedroom, where he saw a light coming from under the door.

He frowned as he pushed open the door. It was almost three in the morning. If Daniel was awake .

He wasn't.

Jack took in a deep breath as he took in the sight.

He looked so peaceful, if a little uncomfortable with his glasses still on. The book he'd been reading had fallen off the bed and was lying on the floor close to a pair of slippers Teal'c had given Daniel for his birthday.

Jack climbed into bed beside him, feeling a small measure of pride when a sleeping Daniel didn't move or flinch away from the unexpected close contact.

He'd done that a lot at the start of their relationship and every time he did, Jack cursed the Goa'uld responsible.

It had happened on a routine mission, one that had gone south on them in a matter of minutes. Separated from the rest of the team, Daniel had been alone when a Goa'uld named Lilith had ringed down into the temple he'd been checking out.

Taking the chance to kill her when it had come up, Daniel hadn't allowed for the snakes determination to live and she'd taken him as a host.

Jack had been a little slow on the uptake and he'd mistakenly believed that the Daniel heading back to the Stargate was really his Daniel and not Lilith, the Goa'uld who had taken him. Lilith had escaped through the 'gate and if it hadn't been for Hammond coming up with the idea to use Machello's Goa'uld killing device then Daniel might still have been in a living nightmare.

As it was, he hadn't walked away from the invasion of his body unscathed. Lilith had left her mark on his mind as well as his neck, leaving behind her emotions, feelings and some pretty vivid memories.

But Jack had brought him home, coming clean about how he really felt, how he had missed Daniel so much it had nearly killed him. They'd talked after that, agreeing to take this newfound relationship slow, as much for Jack's sake as for Daniel's. As much as he delighted in holding Daniel close to him, it was still all very strange to him. A man in his arms where before there had only ever been a woman.

He'd be scared shitless if it was anyone other than Daniel.

Climbing into bed he gently pulled the glasses off Daniel's face, placing them on the dresser on top of the book he'd picked up off the floor. Then, kissing Daniel's forehead (you really got me good, didn't ya Danny?) and earning himself a faint sort of smile from his Sleeping Beauty, Jack switched off the light and was soon fast asleep himself.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Morning found the two men in each other's arms. Daniel yawned, willing himself not to open his eyes. He was far too comfortable to want to get up, but his body seemed to be having other ideas.

His eyes flickered opened and although the world was slightly blurry, he couldn't help but be grateful. When he'd been freed from the Goa'uld, his vision had been perfect, a very real reminder of the healing powers the symbiote had had over his body. A perverse reminder of what he had suffered through. The fact that he needed glasses again just helped to re-enforce his humanity for him.

He groaned at the thought of moving from bed. Jack was, well, he was snuggled, there really wasn't any other word for it. Up close and ~very~ personal.

It had taken Daniel a while to separate his own thoughts and feelings from that of the Goa'uld, and if anyone asked him, he'd tell them he'd gotten a lid on it. The truth was, he was still afraid. Afraid of the anger he now seemed to carry inside him. Anger that was a lot more close to the surface than it had ever been with him before.

It was one of the reasons he was still holding back on becoming intimate with Jack.

He cursed himself silently for still being reluctant to go further with the man he loved, but try as he might, he couldn't forget that his body had once been used as a means of raping other people. Of ordering their deaths and torture. He knew he was as much a victim as anyone else when it came to Lilith, but knowing that and not holding yourself somehow responsible was two different things.

Still, things where getting better. He had to believe that.

"You're thinking again, I can tell."

Daniel smiled, not even realising he'd been stroking Jack's forearm as he'd been 'thinking'.

"I'm allowed to, aren't I?" He forced himself to forget his troubles, leaning down to kiss Jack softly on the lips.

"Mmmh . now that's what I call morning breath."

Daniel could hear the good humour in his tone and responded with the strategic use of a pillow.

"Hey!"

"You asked for that Jack."

"I did not. I will ask for a little more of that thing you where doing with your lips a minute ago though."

Daniel kissed him again, pulling away with a slightly glazed look on his face. "You mean that?"

"Something like that, yeah."

They spent the next while kissing and playing a little until the alarm finally decided to go off and spoil their fun.

"I thought I smashed that alarm yesterday morning?" Jack asked, a little peeved at the disruption.

"You did. I fixed it again. Just be glad it's not a talking toaster with attitude."

"Huh?"

Daniel planted a quick peck on Jack's cheek, before getting out of bed. "I'll have to bring my sci-fi collection over sometime. Bring you up to speed."

"You have a sci-fi collection?"

"Eighty-four percent of all archaeologists do. It's a well established fact."

Jack propped himself up on his elbows as he watched Daniel looking through the closet for something to wear.

"Looking forward to your first day back?"

Daniel's muffled voice could be heard from the depths of the closet. "I can't wait."

"There's a surprise waiting for you at the SGC."

Jack watched as Daniel went still for a moment, before coming out with a slightly wrinkled shirt. "A good surprise or a bad surprise?"

"A work related surprise. Found it while I was scouting with SG-7. Something you're going to love." They both knew Daniel wasn't ready to go off world yet. There was no point in saying it.

"I thought SG-7 went off world over two weeks ago?"

Jack heard the slight note of suspicion in Daniel's voice and tried to head him off at the pass. "Well yeah. But I never told you about it because I wanted it to be a surprise. You'll see it when you get there." He noted the look of doubt still on Daniel's face. "I swear, ok? It's neat."

"Well, alright. I suppose. Any hints?"

"Nope. Go. Shower. The sooner you get ready, the sooner I can get ready and the sooner you can go see Fraiser and get cleared for duty again, the sooner you'll get to see this really neat thing."

"Jack ."

But Jack was on a roll. "This thing to amaze and astound. This treasure beyond all treasures, this wonder- hey!"

Jack threw the pillow back at him, but only managed to hit the door to the bathroom as Daniel ducked inside to shower.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"You disgust me. To think I once thought of you as my friend!"

Jack O'Neill couldn't hold the gaze of his once Commander, shame filling him completely.

"My Beloved shall not be spoken to in this manner." Lilith turned from her throne, positioned in the now refurbished Oval office at the Whitehouse. She flicked her hand at the Jaffa standing beside her, who then marched over to General Hammond and forced him to his knees.

"O'Neill!"

Jack looked up at the sound of his name, so much venom and anger behind it that it was hard to associate it with a man he had called friend. He also saw the other Jaffa, aiming his staff weapon at the back of the General's neck. He turned to look at Lilith, trying not to show the tears in his eyes.

Hammond knew he was about to die, but he had to have his say. Had to let Lilith know what he felt about Jack O'Neill. "You should have ~died~ rather than giving up ~any~ information to this- this-" The General turned his gaze onto Lilith for a moment, before re-directing his scorn and contempt at Jack. "This woman."

"Please," Jack whispered. "Not another one. Please. I already said I'd-"

Lilith smiled down at him as she would any obedient animal, her fingers, once those of Daniel Jackson, curling softly round his chin. "Do not speak out of turn Beloved." She held his gaze, Jack hearing the unmistakable sound of the weapon being primed. Her fingers tightened painfully around his face, and knowing that the pain would only increase if he didn't respond to it, he winced, earning him a kiss that he was forced to accept.

"God-damn traitor! You son of a bitch-" The weapon fired, a smell not unlike ozone filling the room, almost but not quite covering up the smell of charred flesh. Jack sucked in a painful breath, tears freely falling and hating himself more than he had ever thought possible.

"There there Beloved. You have pleased me again this day." She turned, dismissing him in an instant as another Jaffa entered the room.

"My Lady. Your," his face scowled as he spared Jack a glance. "Col'shal'vait was correct. Much alien technology was found at the hidden site, as well as a small pocket of human resistance. They died swiftly at the hands of your Jaffa."

Lilith nodded reaching out to touch Jack's face, trailing her fingers over his chin as she passed him by. "Excellent. Place the items in a room close to my chamber. I shall wish to examine them later."

Jack turned to stare out of the window, hearing sounds he knew would haunt him in the still of night, the sound of his friends body being dragged out of the room. He swore that somehow, he'd free Daniel and kill the bitch that had him.

They where alone again, just him and Lilith and when they where like this, he sometimes pretended that the other presence in the room was Daniel. That all he had to do was turn around and he'd see his friend, smiling at him, maybe over a cup of coffee or something trivial. Like he'd seen him do a thousand times before as he tried to ignore that flip of something in his stomach that was part love and part lust.

"You may leave us Jack. We expect you in our chamber before night fall."

That harsh cruel voice broke the illusion, forcing Jack to turn around to face her.

"Yes my Lady."

He looked her in the eyes, something he hadn't done in a very long time, swearing that one way or another, things where going to change.

"Yes My Lady."

Bowing once, he turned and walked away, silently screaming with triumph that this time she hadn't ordered a guard to accompany him. She had fallen for it. His victory felt short-lived as he thought again of the price they had had to pay. Hammond had been a soldier right up to the last. Jack was going to make sure he hadn't died in vain. He was going to make sure that snake died and died hard.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This side of reality.

"This is what you wanted me back here to see?"

The smooth texture of the stone had fascinated Jack from the first moment he'd seen it. It almost shined and held a certain luminance about it when the lights were switched off. Hell, he thought it was beautiful, he just felt it would go against his manly personae if he said so out loud.

"Well, yeah."

Daniel turned to look at Jack, both men leaning on their elbows on the far too tidy desk of Daniel's office, getting up close and personal with the object. He heard a faint note of disappointment from his-

What the hell was Jack to him now?! They hadn't really done more than make out together, so did that make Jack his boyfriend? It sounded so childish somehow, that 'boyfriend' was all he could really apply to the man he loved.

Loved. He blushed, glad for the darkness Jack had insisted on so Daniel could see the soft glow from the stone. Loved, but not lovers.

"It's. well, it's certainly small enough, isn't it?"

What the hell did that mean? Daniel forced himself to breath, to start thinking again.

"Where did you find it again?"

"In a stream. If we hadn't been late in making camp, I'd never have spotted it." He turned to look at Daniel, admiring how the soft pink glow of the stone made Daniel's expression soften, make him seem more relaxed than he'd ever been before since-

"It could be a marker I suppose. Like a signpost. You said it was an agrarian society right? Could be something as simple as a means of finding a trade route. I'll need to see on a map exactly where it was found."

"We can get you that. No sweat."

A knock on the door interrupted them, and, without even realising just how close they had gotten to one another, they pulled quickly apart. Rolling his eyes and smiling at their behaviour, Jack shouted out an 'enter'.

A young man Daniel hadn't seen before came into the room. "Sir, General Hammond wishes to see you in the infirmary immediately." His eyes glanced over to Daniel. "The General also wishes to see you as well Dr. Jackson."

"Of course. Come on Jack."

Daniel had been filled with enthusiasm ever since he'd gotten into the sub-levels of Cheyenne Mountain. Following behind him, Jack didn't feel like reminding him that heading down to the infirmary was never a good thing. Especially when they had members of SG-1 off world.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Colonel. Good, good. You're going to want to see this."

An armed soldier was standing at the wall, directly opposite the foot of a bed, keeping his eyes securely locked onto-

"Damn-it all to hell! How'd he end up here!?!"

Daniel moved from his position behind Jack, coming to a startled halt when he saw ~another~ Jack lying in the bed. He turned to look at his Jack, stupidly needing to reassure himself that he was seeing ~his~ Jack safe and healthy and standing beside him.

On the bed, a haggard looking Jack O'Neill tossed a salute, never opening his eyes. "Ah, the voice of reason's here."

Daniel looked down in astonishment at the double lying in the bed. "Oh my god. Jack?"

The man in the bed flinched at the sound of Daniel's voice, his eyes snapping open immediately. "Daniel?"

Daniel felt a chill run through him. The look in Jack's eyes belied the hope in his voice. Suddenly Daniel wanted to be anywhere other than in Cheyenne Mountain. Anywhere other than looking into the haunted eyes of the man in the bed.

"Jesus, is it really you?"

The vertical O'Neill felt a twinge of embarrassment as the one in the hospital bed reached out his hand to Daniel. Looking to his Jack, almost as if for approval (and getting it) Daniel reached out and took his hand.

"Damn, even if." Words seemed to fail him for a moment, and Daniel again felt a ripple of fear.

Jack O'Neil, the man in the bed, suddenly let go of his hand, opening his eyes again to stare at General Hammond. Daniel, oddly, felt as if he'd been dismissed from the proceedings, but he didn't move from his position, now perched on the edge of the bed.

"Sir, I request your assistance. Earth has been invaded by a Goa'uld named Lilith."

Jack felt his world spin at the mention of that name, immediately looking at Daniel to see how he was taking it.

From Jack's view of his decidedly stiff back, not very well.

General Hammond also spared Daniel a glance, but it was only momentary. He turned back to the soldier lying in his infirmary. "Son, what makes you think we can be of any help?"

Struggling to sit up, still ignoring the other man on his bed, the alternate Jack O'Neill looked unsure but determined all at the same time. "Because I don't have any other choice here now, sir, do I?"

The General was silent for a moment. "I can't very well make a decision just like that son. Give me some time, and I'll be able to let you know better then."

Jack nodded, and just as the General was about to leave, the man in the bed seemed to go into a fit of some kind.

Fraiser looked imploringly at her C.O., wanting to help but unable. Everyone there knew what was happening to their visitor. They'd seen it before; with the other Carter who had made it through.

Jack O'Neill was being ripped apart by the universe and there wasn't anything they could do about it.

"Please General, everyone. Go and make your decisions. I'll try to make him as comfortable as possible."

Daniel felt a reluctance to leave, but when his Jack placed a hand on his shoulder, he calmly stood up and left the room.

Only Jack knew he was anything but calm.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"We have to help them sir."

The General looked at Daniel, noting the determined look on his face. "I agree. But this facility isn't about to commit to a full-scale planetary attack. We don't have the resources to put something like that through the mountain, never mind the congressional red tape we'd have to deal with. I need alternatives people."

For a second, all around the table was quiet.

"Do we know if this world ever met the Asgard?" It was Sam who had voiced the question, and for the first time since seeing a very much weakened Jack O'Neill in the infirmary, Daniel felt a sliver of hope as he thought of an idea.

"All we'd have to do is go in, take the place of Jack and Lilith and make it to the Stargate. We could contact the Asgard in that reality and the earth would be free."

Jack snorted. "Yeah, sounds real easy."

Daniel glared at Jack, turning once more to the General. "I'm willing to go."

"Sir, I don't think-"

"Gentlemen. What either of you thinks at this moment in time is irrelevant. First off, I'm not going to go rushing into this and secondly Colonel O'Neill, Doctor Jackson has been cleared for duty and I believe he has more right than anyone sitting at this table to be involved in this mission. And if SG-1 gets the go ahead from me, he ~will~ be included."

Jack looked like he would have grumbled just about then, if it had of been anyone else but the General. Wisely, he held his tongue.

Looking down at the manila folder in front of him, the General read out the report that had come along with their visitor.

"Seems like the Colonel O'Neill in the infirmary was caught in Level Indigo of Area 51. Apparently he managed to convince Lilith in his reality that there were items of interest at Area 51. She had them shipped to her new home at the Whitehouse and escaped to the first reality he could find. Not without some substantial injuries." He looked up at the people round the table, his premier team. "They found him after he broke the security cordon we have up around the mirror in our reality."

"Security at 51 did that to him?"

The General nodded. Jack just shook his head in disgust.

Jack looked over at Daniel, saw him sitting still and quiet and knew exactly what he was thinking. That even in another reality, he was somehow responsible.

He knew he was going, no matter what happened, no matter how much he didn't want to let him out of his line of sight ever again. He also knew that if Daniel could feel some measure of responsibility for what he had done as Lilith, then he too could feel it. He had let a member of his team down. Remembering how he had felt in trying to get Daniel back, he could hardly even imagine what it must be like for the other him down in the infirmary. To have failed.

"There's also the problem of the Colonel's-" Sam looked over to Jack and amended her statement very quickly. "The other Colonel's entropic cascade failure. It's already started and if he's not allowed to recover from his injuries then he's not even going to last as long as my double did when she was here." She glanced over at Jack again, knowing just how worried he was about letting Daniel get back into the thick of it so soon, but her conscious wouldn't let her be quiet. "We need to get going quickly if he's going to survive."

"Does anyone know if Teal'c and Carter are alive in this guy's reality?"

Everyone looked at Jack as he said it, and Sam felt as if someone had just walked over her grave.

"According to his report," the General said quietly, "Lilith, while still dressed in Doctor Jackson's clothing, surprised Major Carter as she went to assist him, cutting her throat. Teal'c died within seconds of that from a zat weapon."

"Then we are free to travel to this reality, to over throw Lilith."

Typical Teal'c, Sam thought to herself, suppressing a short-lived smile, seemingly unaffected by the news of his, or rather another version of himself, death.

"Are we going or not sir?"

The General looked at the people around his table. In that other reality they had failed already. Two of them were dead, the earth was taken over and as for Daniel and O'Neill.

Well, if he didn't ask, he couldn't possibly have anything to complain about.

"Damn straight you're going. No Goa'uld should ever be allowed in the Whitehouse. No matter what the reality. I had the mirror brought back here, when it was determined how the Colonel sustained his injuries. I'd rather ~our~ people where in charge of this mirror. You have one hour people. Be ready."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"I don't want to hear it Jack."

"What makes you think I was going to say it?"

Daniel finally turned to look at Jack, having so far managed to avoid getting into any sort of argument with him over his volunteering for this mission.

"Because! It's what you do! You ~protect~ me, even when I don't even need protection!"

Jack raised an eyebrow at that, but said nothing, waiting until he was sure Daniel had got it off his chest. "You finished already?"

Sulky Daniel. God but he found that cute. "Yes. Yes, I am." He turned back to his equipment, looking at his knife for a moment before sliding it into it's sheath tied to his leg. A present from Jack when he lost his old one.

"As much as I'd rather be at home and in bed than going on this mission, I wouldn't dream of stopping you. I know exactly how much it means to you."

Daniel didn't turn round, but he stopped what he was doing for a moment. "You think you do."

Jack reached out, his hand on Daniel's shoulder, but he didn't try to turn him round. Sometimes it wasn't so easy to say something face to face that needed to be said. "It wasn't just you, you know. I let a team-member down. I should have had his back covered, but I didn't. But I got lucky somehow. I got you back, and while you're blaming yourself for what Lilith put those people through, I'm blaming me for letting you get snaked in the first place. You want to go and save yourself from her, in a weird way. I want to save ~him~ from all the guilt he's carrying. Cause believe you me, I know he's carrying it."

Daniel reached a hand up and rubbed Jack's, both of them not willing to make eye contact yet. "I'm sorry. I know that it's been hard for you."

Daniel finally turned, and as much as he wanted to lean forward and kiss Jack, he held back, the knowledge that they were on base enough to instil caution in him for Jack's sake.

"We better be going."

Jack smiled. Seeing what Daniel wanted to do but couldn't was enough for him. "Yeah."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jack and Daniel arrived where the mirror was being held to find Sam and Teal'c already there. As was the other Jack, who was in the room against the sound advice from Fraiser, looking like he was fighting to stay conscious while he was in front of his other self. Jack thought he looked like shit.

"We were just about to go looking for the other reality sir."

Jack airily waved a hand at her. "Look away Major."

"It shouldn't be too hard to find. I just switched the damn thing on and stepped through. I didn't have time to go looking very far."

"And security turned it off from our end sir. They didn't want anyone else following the Colonel here through."

The mirror came to life, and, dial in hand, Carter began shifting through the realities.

The first one they all hoped wasn't the right place, as it was an image, askew as if the mirror was lying on it's side, of the briefing room, shaking as if it was under attack.

"Lilith already has my world. I doubt she's busy destroying more of it while I've been away."

Jack spared his other self a withering glance before looking back at the mirror.

It now held a very similar scene. SG-1 where standing on the other side, two Jack's, one in a wheelchair, only instead there was no Daniel. Kowalski was standing on the other side next to Jack. For a brief moment they looked at each other, acknowledging what the image through the looking glass meant. Kowalski looked pleased to see Daniel and the two waved at each other.

Both Sam's looked apologetic as they both hit the dial again.

"This looks promising." She turned to the Jack in the wheelchair. "Well sir?"

He looked.

"It.looks like it's the right place. There's the.the collar I took off and left on the table before I stepped through."

Jack heard the shame in the other man's voice and felt a fresh rush of hatred for the woman he was heading to kill.

Sam shifted to another reality and everyone was surprised to see that it was of an alien world, which in no way looked as if it could be inhabited by humans. For a start the children playing underwater gave it away.

"I got that place first, and choose the next reality. It was the one you were just at."

Sam backtracked to the previous one. She then turned to the rest of her team. "All we need to do now is step through."

For the first time, General Hammond spoke up. "Guards will be positioned here for as long as possible, out of view and leaving the window open to this reality should you need to make a quick exit. However, it can't be kept on indefinitely. I'll give you 48 hours; that's how long Doctor Fraiser and Major Carter believe you can safely traverse in an other reality before the effects of the entropic cascade failure will begin to occur. If we don't hear from you by that time, the mirror will be switched off and you will have to activate it yourself from that side."

"I have that worlds' dialling device with me sir. As well as the power generator we'll be needing to boost the output to contact the Asgard."

"Very good. Then it's left for me to say good luck SG-1."

"Luck won't have anything to do with it sir." Jack replied, although he looked at the other Jack as he spoke. He saw how pale and ill he was, and hoped he was still alive so that when he got back, he would be able to tell him that Lilith was dead and Daniel was free.

Reaching out, he touched the cool glass-

-and found himself looking through the mirror, seeing everyone on the other side of the mirror looking back at him with hopeful expressions.

He took point, checking the room for any signs of activity. Moments later Sam, Teal'c and Daniel were with him in the room.

He pointed to the door, Sam nodding and heading that way, Teal'c moving off to a position to her left to keep her covered.

She opened it quietly.

"Clear sir," she whispered.

"Right. First port of call is to take out Lilith and get Daniel in her place. Question is, if she proves.difficult."

"Killing her is the last resort Jack. It has to be. He." Daniel cast a worried glance at Sam and Teal'c, who where both listening intently. "He needs to have his Daniel survive. You know he does."

Jack picked up the collar, hating the feel of it. "I know Daniel, alright? I know." He turned to Sam. "How long has this places Jack been missing for now?"

"He came into our world approximately 7 hours ago sir."

"So, it's feasible that I could get close to her by pretending to be this reality's Jack, right?"

Daniel fought a sudden urge to reach out and touch Jack. "I know what she's like. She's not going to appreciate you ignoring her for so long."

"Unless she's been a bit busy being a bitch to someone else and hasn't noticed I've been gone. I could have been asleep for all she knows."

"You're wearing that slave costume underneath your BDU's, aren't you Jack?"

Jack pulled at the crotch of his pants, Sam rolling her eyes as he did so. "Yeah, damn thing's been chaffing since I put it on."

"This plan could work O'Neill. But speed is of the essence. Before long, Daniel Jackson will begin to feel the effects of entropic cascade failure. And perhaps next time, you will heed my advice and use talcum powder. Chaffing is not conductive to a warrior's mentality as he prepares to go into battle. It indeed looks most painful."

"Thanks for the reminder Teal'c. I'd almost forgotten about that."

Teal'c nodded his head. "You are most welcome O'Neill."

"Quiet it down boys. Ok, Sam, Teal'c? You go and secure us some transport. We need to get to Colorado ASAP. Daniel and I will head out and try and find Lilith. I have three of Machello's Goa'uld killing devices on me. That should clear up this Daniel's little problem, but we're going to have to get him through to our world." Jack looked over at Daniel. "If last time was anything to go by, he won't be coping so well with being free. He'll need medical attention and if this place is over-run by the Goa'uld, then he's not really going to get it here."

"Well meet up again where sir? In this office or outside?"

Jack only took a moment to decide. "Back here. If we get caught out, then you'll stand a much better chance of getting back home if this room is secure. Actually, if the coast is clear, I want this mirror moved to the next room."

Carter nodded. "Yes sir. Come on Teal'c."

"We shall see you in one hour O'Neill."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jack had waited until Sam and Teal'c had gone before removing his clothes. Without a word, he reached out and picked up the collar still sitting on the table.

"I really got to put this on, huh?"

"I'm sorry Jack. Really."

Jack nodded, quietly handing the leather collar to Daniel, who went behind him and secured it round his neck. Seconds later, a gentle, familiar hand rubbed up and down the length of his back.

"Time to get going."

Jack pulled himself out of his daze. "Yeah. According to 'me', her chamber isn't too far from here. Wanted to be close to her treasures." He looked at the other items lying around the chamber, things he knew his team and others had brought back from Area 51. Including some of the things the Asgard and the Tollen had claimed had been stolen. Another difference to this universe.

Opening up the door, grateful that he hadn't heard the sound of weapons fire since Sam and Teal'c had left, Jack pulled at his pants once more and stepped out into the hall.

Daniel, swearing he wasn't going to let Jack just go off alone, kept an eye out, so he could see where the man was heading.

Two doors down the hall, Jack stopped and knocked.

From his vantage point, Daniel couldn't see who it was that opened the door, but he recognised the voice.

"You are late! Lilith has been expecting you for over an hour!"

Mayvin. So, the sneaky little bastard was still alive here. More's the pity, Daniel thought to himself.

"Yeah, so get out of my way already."

Jack, shaking his head in mock disbelief, pushed past the little man and into the room.

Daniel just prayed that things went according to plan.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jack stared at the figure on the bed, his mind dragging him back to almost the exact same scenario as the last time.

He knew he was supposed to play it smart, act as if he'd been beaten to submission, but a part of him resented it too much to even really try. He hated her on the other Jack's behalf, just as much as he had hated her in his own reality.

She lifted her head up from a pillow, pouting slightly, her dark eyes glowing briefly in mock annoyance. "Why am I not surprised Beloved?"

Jack smiled, not moving any further into the room. He didn't want to get too close to that bed if could help it. "Because you know me so well?"

Daniel's body was draped in a very simple, white silk outfit, soft folds of silk moving delicately over smooth flesh. Jack just hated her that little bit more.

Lilith returned the smile, sitting up against large blue silk pillows. "Better than you would think. Do you take me for a fool, my darling? Do you think me so naive?"

Oh oh. "I.don't know what you're talking about. My Lady." That last bit felt tacked on and Lilith smiled as he realised that she had realised it too.

She stood up from the bed, coming no closer to him, waving her hand, two very large Jaffa coming out from the room to his left, Mayvin in tow behind them.

"I saw the look in your eyes. The one that screamed defiance at me, when your General Hammond's body was dragged away to feed the crows. I saw it Beloved." She turned to face the guards. "Search him."

Jack hit out with his fist, his other hand reaching for the small packet of the only remaining Goa'uld devices they had left.

Mayvin cowered behind the two Jaffa, who quickly and easily subdued Jack, forcing him to drop the small packet to the ground.

"My my. Such resilience from someone who it seems has yet to learn his lesson. You disappoint me Beloved." Her expression turned cold. "What is it?"

Jack just smirked. "Why don't you come a little closer and find out?"

"I think not." Reaching out to the bed behind her, she pulled a zat from underneath a pillow, firing on the small packet three times. "I believe curiosity is a great killer of cats on this planet." She came close to Jack, this time pulling something from her pocket, something that looked sharp and dangerous. "I am no cat. But you."

She plunged a needle into his arm and suddenly, all the fight left him. She nodded to the two Jaffa, who released him only to leave Jack swaying, a slow stupid smile beginning to spread over his face.

"You are indeed my pet." She turned to the guards. "Leave us. Mayvin, stay a moment. I wish you to prepare him for me."

The guards left, and Mayvin took Jack by the hand and led him over to the bed.

"Sit O'Neill."

"Got'cha." Jack was quite happy to sit. Hell, he couldn't remember being this happy, or, if he came to think about it, this horny in his life.

Mayvin began unbuttoning his shirt, batting away the occasional helping hand that Jack offered. Bewildered, Jack looked up at Mayvin. "Aren't you." He struggled for the right word. "Are you 'posed to be dead?"

The shirt came off, Mayvin running his hands over Jack's chest, enjoying the feel of the smooth muscle and obvious strength contained within the man.

"Not today my friend. Lay back on the bed for me."

"'k."

Jack fell back, his legs hanging off the edge of the bed. He felt hands pulling at his pants, and unable to help himself, he lifted his hips up, allowing Mayvin the freedom to yank them off.

He was wearing nothing underneath.

He could barely open his eyes now, he felt drunk almost. Reckless.

Hands touched him, tracing up and down his dick and he purred in pleasure, his own hand reaching up to tease at one of his nipples.

He whimpered when those hands stopped whatever it was they'd been doing. He struggled to open his eyes, only to feel a warm body settle over his. He grinned up in delight when he saw it was Daniel.

"What was in that package Beloved?"

He leaned up, kissed that beautiful mouth, wanting nothing more than to please it. Desperate to please it. "'uld killing.worms. Worms." He started to laugh, but a hand wrapped round his dick and he gasped in a mixture of shock and pleasure instead.

"Are there any more of these.worms?"

God, but he wanted Daniel, more than he could ever remember wanting him before in his life. "Done. All the worms are done. Want you."

Lilith grinned in feral pleasure. "You will never learn to give yourself to me freely, will you Jack O'Neill?" She leaned down, kissing him deeply, Jack returning it fully.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Daniel had watched the two guards leave Lilith's chamber with a deep sense of foreboding. Both had looked far too pleased with themselves.

Making sure they had gone, he came out into the corridor, checking both ways before heading to the door he had seen Jack go through.

Something wasn't right. He could feel it.

He had just pulled his knife from it's sheath and was about to try sneaking into the room when Mayvin opened the door, spotting him immediately.

"My Lady."

In the space of the momentary confusion, Daniel had him pushed into the room, his knife at his throat. "Where is he?"

Sounds of muffled pleasure came from the next room, and without even thinking, Daniel hit Mayvin with the fist his knife was clenched in.

"Yes. Oh god! Yes, Daniel. Yes!"

Daniel stood in horrified silence, knowing exactly what he was hearing.

He felt sick. Jack wouldn't have betrayed him, that didn't even cross his mind as he stumbled over to the open door, his mind spinning out of control. She was using him. Had drugged him, like he had seen her do from his own eyes so many times before.

"This torment of the host has been fun, but you have proven to be too unreliable my Beloved."

Daniel watched in horror as she turned the zat gun on him, Jack twitching as his body shut down from the charge hitting him.

Without thinking, anger and loathing at what he had witnessed, fearing Jack's safety, Daniel dived across the room, pulling out his knife and stabbing his other self in the back.

He watched in horror as Lilith turned, pain written all over her face, the zat dropping from her numbed hand as she fell to her knees.

"What have you done!?!" She gasped.

He didn't even know himself, but he heard the Goa'uld buzz leave her voice, and, having already learnt his lesson, picked up the zat.

He watched in horror as the Goa'uld slithered out of his other self's mouth, making a bee-line directly for Jack.

He shot it three times without even thinking about it.

Turning to the body on the floor, he dropped to his knees.

"Oh God. God, I'm so sorry."

Eyes flickered open and he saw that, despite the pain and the fear, they looked almost amused. "You.saved, me. Don't be sorry."

"But."

The Daniel who lay dying, cast a glance towards the bed before looking back to the man cradling his head. "You saved me. I'm free. I just wish." He started coughing, and for a second, Daniel thought he was going to die right then.

"What? Tell me, what is it?"

Daniel watched as the light began to fade in the other man's eyes, his breathing almost non-existent.

"I wish I'd told him I loved him."

Daniel squeezed his hand, the tears running silently down his face. "He knows Daniel. He knows."

A faint, almost imperceptible nod of the head and smiling, free at last, Daniel died.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It was some time later that Daniel was brought back to reality when he heard a groan from the bed above him.

Using the bed to pull himself up, he saw Jack struggle up from the depths of unconsciousness. He sat down beside him, waiting for him to open his eyes.

"Oh god but my head hurts. " He opened his eyes, looking up into Daniel's. "What the hell happened?"

Daniel had already cleaned Jack up, covered him up to.

"Lilith tried to kill you. I." he took a deep breath. "I had to kill her Jack. Daniel's dead."

Jack forced himself to sit up, looking at the now covered body still lying on the floor. He reached out a hand, grasping Daniel's tight. "You did what you had to do. I'm just sorry-"

Daniel cut him off. "He wasn't. He was glad to be free, and I hate to say it, but I know he was telling me the truth." He turned watery eyes to the body on the floor, the grip Jack had on his hand almost too comforting. "I wanted to die when it was me."

Jack was silent for a moment. Then knowing what had to be done, he slowly stood up. "Where's Mayvin?"

He watched Daniel shrug. "Still knocked out I guess." Finally, he turned to look at Jack. "Why?"

"Because I just had a better idea for a plan to get us to the Stargate, that's why. And we need his help."

Letting go of Daniel's hand, Jack knelt down and pulled back the cover over the other Daniel's body.

He knew his Daniel was sitting behind him, but it still came as a shock. Any Daniel dead was a shock. It was just wrong on so many levels.

"He can still help us Daniel. I know it's going to be hard, but this way, we get to do this easy. You up for it?"

Daniel looked down at the slight smile on the dead man's face and nodded grimly. "Anything. Anything to try and make some of this right for him."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mayvin came to, his face and lip hurting and with the taste of blood in his mouth.

"I see you are awake? Tell me why I should not have you killed for such.carelessness?"

Mayvin looked up to see Lilith looking down at him in disgust, a small fleck of bright red blood visible on her white clothing, her voice somewhat harsher than usual in its anger.

Shakily, he climbed to his feet, looking over her shoulder to see the man who had hit him, the man who looked like his Goddess lying dead on the floor.

"My Lady- I-I." He stuttered into silence.

"I should have you dissembled for such negligence. If my Beloved had not come to my rescue, finally proving his worth beyond all doubt, then I should be dead! Dispose of the body immediately, or I may yet decide to dispose of you from my sight!"

Mayvin scuttled into the other room, seeing the body on the floor. He stood over it for a second, before looking up at the man lying on the bed, a pleased smile on his face, a bloodied knife lying on the once clean white pillow beside his head. Lilith stood in the other room, ignoring them both.

"Hey, you should be pleased Mayvin. I saved our Goddess from an assassin. Smile, fer cryin' out loud."

Mayvin instead scowled, and tempting though it was to atomise the man lying in his Deity's bed, he turned the device instead onto the body on the floor, three shots wiping it out of existence.

"You have still not proven yourself to me, Col'shal'vait!" He hissed, looking over his shoulder to make sure Lilith hadn't heard. "I shall be watching you closely."

"Oh, like I care. Go away, would ya? I await my Lady's pleasure." He said it haughtily, a twisted kind of humour in his eyes as he watched Mayvin leave the bedchamber, fury written all over his face.

"Leave us. And do not return unless I demand it."

Bowing, shaken and in pain from the wound to his face, Mayvin backed out of the chamber and closed the door.

Jack watched as Daniel let go of the stiff posture, sagging a little. Jack was by his side in an instant.

"Hey there. You alright?"

Daniel took a deep breath, pulling the Goa'uld voice simulator from the base of his neck. "I guess so. It was just."

Jack nodded, wrapping his arms around Daniel. "Mayvin. He's a creepy little toad. But he saw what we needed him to see. You're Lilith. No one is going to stop us now."

Daniel had been going to say easy, but he simply nodded before realising he was far too comfortable in Jack's arms, wishing he didn't have to move, knowing he had to. "You need to get the radio hidden in the room with the mirror. Tell Sam and Teal'c to come back."

"I will. First, tell me you're ok?"

Daniel saw the worry in his eyes and offered him up a smile. "I'm ok. Really. Go. Get the radio. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can get back home."

"Got'cha."

Opening the door, Jack headed out, and Daniel let out a frustrated sigh. Not only did he feel guilty about the other Daniel's death, but he also felt bad that Jack couldn't remember what it was Lilith had done to him while he'd been under the influence of that happy drug she'd used on him.

More guilt for him to carry around.

Jack came back and soon they had Sam and Teal'c on the other end.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The journey to the SGC had been mercifully brief. Everyone believed that Daniel was Lilith, and while Jack was still looked upon with mistrust by Mayvin and the other Jaffa, he was happily ensconced by Lilith's right hand side for the entire journey. No one dared touch him.

Unfortunately, Sam and Teal'c had been thrown in the cells aboard the ship. It was simple enough. Capturing the enemy, especially one which everyone knew was already dead, his carcass rotting on the steps on some distant planet, meant that Lilith wanted to consult her father. Ask his advice.

What no one else realised was that Daniel was going to send Sam and Teal'c through the Stargate to the address Jack had been given when the knowledge of the Ancients had been downloaded into his brain.

Simple.

Sitting on the floor at Daniel's feet, Jack gazed in horror at the sight that met him, when the Tel'tak flew over the hill and into view of Cheyenne Mountain.

Perched on top of it, casting its dark ominous shadow further than it had a right too was a huge Goa'uld mother ship.

He looked startled, turning to look at Daniel and felt a chill when he saw him.

It could almost have been Lilith sitting in the command chair.

He had it down cold. Daniel couldn't have looked more Goa'uld-like if he had a snake in him.

Jack turned to look again out of the front of the craft, trying to ignore the icy cold feeling starting to settle in his stomach.

Daniel was Daniel. Just an act. That's all it was, an act.

The bridge of the craft fell into darkness momentarily as the Tel'tak entered the mother ship.

A Jaffa approached, a single glare from Daniel halting him in his tracks. While Daniel had the protein marker in his blood, he didn't want to get to close to someone carrying a symbiote in case they where able to tell that this Daniel didn't have one of his own.

"My Lady, your father has arrived and seeks an audience with you, to discuss the progress you have made in subduing the Tau'ri population."

Jack watched in fascination as Daniel waved a hand airily at him. "Tell my father I am tired from my journey, but that once I am rested, I have a surprise for him." A shiver ran through Jack as Daniel smiled, half fear, half lust and that alone was enough to make him glad he'd never meet the real Lilith again.

"Very well, my Lady."

It was Mayvin's turn to approach next.

"My Lady. Shall I have the human female you captured prepared? No doubt My Lord Sokar would enjoy subduing such a highly regarded female warrior of this planet."

The ship settled into position in the docking bay, Daniel hesitating before answering, as if he were seriously considering what Mayvin was saying. "No. I believe I shall have some amusement with her first. Have her sent to my chamber. Place the traitor Teal'c in a cell within the Stargate complex."

Turning, a hint of triumph in his eyes, Mayvin took a moment to gloat as he walked past Jack, no doubt thinking to himself that his Goddess was already tiring of her latest play-thing. The little cretin would be first in line to send Jack to eternity via the slow and painful route given half the chance.

"Oh, and Mayvin?"

He was at the door, turning to face his God. "Yes, My Lady?"

"The Shol'va is not to be harmed, no matter what the provocation. He shall learn once again what it is to fall down to his knees and pray to his Gods, but by my hand only. Have I made myself clear?"

"Yes, my Lady."

Standing up, and ordering Jack to follow, Daniel led the way out of the room, almost as if he knew exactly where he was going, his long golden cloak swishing over the ground as he serenely walked through the door.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Teal'c was having a hard time keeping his temper. He'd been pushed around from the moment he and Carter had allowed themselves to be caught. The plan being now to simply let Daniel order everyone about until they got the chance to get to the 'gate.

Only now it seemed as if Sokar was going to be another problem.

Wishing he could turn round and use his finely honed warrior skills to kill a few of the Jaffa taking him down to the holding cell, he sighed as he felt another push him in the back.

Up until he'd had to suffer it himself, he had never realised how annoying it could be.

"In here." The guard looked down his nose at Teal'c. "Shol'va." Teal'c let it pass. At least ~he~ wasn't praying to false Gods like some!

The cell was dark, but lit well enough to show that he had two new roommates.

The young man who had been sitting beside an older woman, stood up in front of her as if to protect her.

Teal'c bowed graciously. "Please, do not hold any fear of me. My name is Teal'c, enemy of all Goa'uld."

The fair-haired man still looked like he didn't believe him, but the woman reached out and placed a hand on his arm.

"It's all right David. I don't think this man is any threat to us."

David looked to the woman, before accepting what she said and sitting back down.

"My name is Claire, this is my son, David." She smiled at him, and Teal'c found himself smiling in return. An admirable woman, she held no fear in her eyes, despite her predicament. "And what have you done to earn yourself the dubious honour of the best prison on the planet Mr. Teal'c?"

Ah, a story he was proud of. He held himself up straighter. "I turned on the false Gods and wish only to destroy all that they hold dear."

David gave a short, cynical laugh. "And you seem to be doing quite well. What with being caught and all."

"David!" Claire was obviously embarrassed at the way her son was behaving.

Teal'c just nodded again, understanding why they would think like that. "Not everything is as it seems."

Claire smiled at him, a sad thing that caused even Teal'c to feel a little of her pain. "While some of us are the most powerless people on the planet."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sam was thrown into the room, almost as if she was being thrown to the lions. Seeing Jack sprawled on the very large, very ornate four-poster bed, in nothing but a pair of leather shorts, halter-top and collar stopped her in her tracks.

"Holy Hannah." She whispered, seeing her commanding officer done up like something out of a leather fetishist's wet dream. Everything about the outfit looked tight, showing off the Colonel's assets for the entire world to see. Suddenly she wished she had a camera; she'd be able to retire from selling pictures of Jack looking like he was for hire. No wonder Teal'c told him to use talc, she thought to herself in a daze.

Jack, seeing her, felt almost embarrassed.

"Wait to till you see your outfit. It's prettier than mine."

Sam gulped, her blue eyes widening in worry. "~My~ outfit!?!"

"He's kidding Sam."

Daniel came out of another room, and unable to help herself, Sam wrapped her arms around him and hugged him for all she was worth.

It was the first time she had been this close to him since he'd been freed from Lilith and she had almost forgotten that they now shared a bond.

She could ~feel~ the naquadah running through his veins, like a thin undercurrent of power. He looked back at her in surprise, obviously feeling it too.

She smiled, letting him know it was alright. "Yeah. Weird huh?"

He gently pushed himself out of her embrace, smiling to let her know that it wasn't for any other reason than that they needed to get going.

"Sokar's got his fat ass parked over the mountain, and while it might have been smarter to have you down near the Stargate, we both thought that it might look better if you came up here first, then we all could go down." Jack said, taking a grape from a bowl full of them.

Daniel walked over to the window, looking down at the encampment that now was scattered all over the area surrounding Cheyenne Mountain.

"Sokar's here, and I have." He realised what he had said, but carried on. He'd almost thought of himself as the owner of Lilith's possessions. "There's weapons in here. You and Jack arm yourselves. We'll wait a short while then we'll ring down to the base, grab Teal'c and send you and him off to the Asgard. Before we know it, this place will be wiped clean and the Earth can get on with it's life again."

Sam came up behind him, knowing he was in pain and wishing she could help, placed a hand on his shoulder. "Sounds like a good plan to me."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Against Jack's better judgement, Daniel insisted that Mayvin come along with them. Lilith with out her escort would look suspicious.

They ringed down to the base, the three of them surprised to find themselves in the 'gate room

For a moment all three of them where lost in their own memories.

"My Lady?"

Mayvin's voice brought Daniel back. "Have the prisoner Teal'c brought to me. I shall be in the briefing room." Daniel pointed up stairs to the large window. He then turned to the Jaffa that he had previously sent down, ahead of them all.

"You attached the device to the power generator, as I instructed?"

"Yes Lilith."

Two Jaffa stood guard inside the room, but one look from Daniel had them leave in a hurry.

"You got the address?"

Daniel simply nodded, sitting down and placing his hands over the keyboard.

"Then we just need to supe up the power and we're done." Jack looked over to Daniel before turning to Sam. "Head down to the 'gate, be ready." He smiled, unable to help himself. "I can't believe he got the Jaffa to rig up the booster to the power supply. Just makes this whole mess seem sweeter somehow, knowing that they've helped us out."

Sam returned his smile. "Very nice of them sir."

Two Jaffa came into the room, Teal'c actually looking anxious in between them.

"Leave us!" Daniel ordered, and used to accepting orders from their Gods, no matter how contrary, the two guards left. Daniel started punching in the eight symbols.

"Daniel Jackson! You must listen to me!"

Daniel didn't turn from what he was doing. The third symbol had been accepted.

"Teal'c, we need to head down into the 'gate room."

"In one moment. What I have to say, needs to be said now, before I go. Daniel Jackson? Listen to me."

The sixth symbol engaged. "What is it Teal'c?"

"You mother and brother are down in the cells."

Daniel's hands stopped moving for a moment, before finally hitting the eighth symbol, the lights faded and emergency power kicked in, bathing the room in a harsh red light. "My mother is dead, and I don't have a brother Teal'c. You know this."

Seeing that time was running out, and not knowing how much longer the booster would support the 'gate, Teal'c made his way to the door. "But are we not in another reality Daniel Jackson? Your family lives here. You must ensure their safety. It is a debt of honour. Family above all, Daniel." And with that, he ran down the stairs to where Carter was waiting at the event horizon. Without looking back, the two of them stepped through and the wormhole shut down.

Even Jack looked stunned. For a moment, he didn't know what to say. The lights suddenly came back on, both men blinking in the bright light. "Daniel."

"My family is alive here?" He turned to Jack, and in the first time in a very long time, he something he thought he'd never see again cross Daniel's face. Genuine hope.

"We're going to have Jaffa descending on us like the wrath of God Daniel. We need to get our asses into evade mode and now."

Daniel stood, coming over to Jack in a rush, his robes almost billowing behind him in his hurry.

"Jack, if they're here then we have to help them. I won't leave them behind."

Jack scowled. "I'm not asking you to. But within a very short while, we're going to have all hell breaking loose around here."

"But Jack!"

"Daniel, the Asgard will be here in a matter of minutes! The whole planet will be safe, but Sokar is going to have noticed that power surge. He's going to be down here before you can say 'please don't kill me!'"

Just at that moment, the door to the room opened, both men turning to see three Jaffa, weapons raised and pointing at the two men, Mayvin not very far behind.

Jack turned to look back at Daniel, and saw that set look in his eyes. The look that said he had a plan, and Jack just had to trust him.

That was right before he hit him, a vicious backhand that knocked Jack to the floor.

"He has betrayed us! Take him down to the cells, lock him away from my sight until I decide how to dispose of him!"

Jack wiped at his mouth and looked down at the blood on his hand before turning his gaze up at Daniel.

His eyes said it all.

~Trust me?~

Jack smiled briefly, before being hauled to his feet by two Jaffa.

~Always~ his answering look replied.

He started struggling in the arms of the Jaffa holding him. "I never gave in to you, you hear me!?! I was using you, just like you used me, you snake-eyed bitch!"

They dragged Jack off, Daniel moving with a calm he didn't feel to the other side of the room. Without even turning round, he spoke. "He has betrayed our trust in him, as well as allowing the Shol'va and the woman to escape. No one is to harm him." He turned now, to reinforce the implied threat to his words. "He is to die at my convenience. If he is harmed, I shall kill not only the one responsible, but their families also. Have I made myself clear?"

Both Jaffa nodded, before dragging a much more subdued Jack away.

Mayvin scurried up to stand in front of 'Lilith', his delight apparent that Jack was heading for a very painful end.

"He was never to be trusted my Lady-"

Daniel turned to stare at Mayvin, all his hatred for the man showing on his face. "Are you now calling me a fool Mayvin?"

Daniel took a perverse delight at the panic on Mayvin's face. "N-n- no, My Lady. Of course, I meant no disrespect."

Nodding, Daniel looked around him in disgust, trying to hide the emotions raging inside him. "Find me somewhere.more suitable to compose myself. No doubt my father will wish to speak with me."

"Yes my Lady."

Mayvin hurried off, leaving Daniel to chew at his lip. They just needed to stall until the Asgard showed up. Simple really.

He looked around the room, seeing faint scorch marks on the walls from an old battle. "Yeah, right."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jack was thrown a little more harshly into the cell than he had thought he would be, considering the death threat that hung over the guards. "Hey!" He yelled, as he hit the wall hard, sliding down to the floor.

They shut the door, obviously believing that when their God had said he wasn't to be harmed, she had really meant that a little pain inflicted would be alright.

He looked up from his position on the floor, into the eyes of an attractive dark-haired woman.

"Doctor Jackson I presume?"

He glanced over to the man sitting beside her, and found himself slightly amazed at the resemblance he held to Daniel.

"Yes, I'm Doctor Claire Jackson. And you are?"

He smiled at her, a huge grin that belied his current situation. "I'd be the Calvary ma'am."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Quantum Mirror was sitting in the conference room, a white sheet thrown over it at Daniel's command.

If it hadn't brought back such painful memories of being trapped inside his own body, having his every whim met would have been a much more enjoyable experience than it was proving to be.

He was sitting at the end of the table, thinking about what Teal'c had told him.

His mother was alive. And he had a brother.

It was almost too much to take in. A whole lifetime's worth of experiences and memories he hadn't shared with them, yet he wanted to see them more than anything.

He knew that other realities held differences. But while he had imagined what it might have been like to have his parents alive and well, he had never given much thought to siblings.

He had checked the SGC's database, and having discovered his file, he had discovered his other self's history and what made them different.

In this reality, only his father had died in the museum.

His brother had been born just slightly over eight months after the death of Melbourne Jackson, which meant that his mother, if she had been pregnant in Daniel's own reality, probably didn't know she'd been carrying another child.

Daniel's brother, David.

His mind kept going over and over it, wanting to know ~everything~.

Mayvin choose that moment to enter the room.

"My Lady, your father Lord Sokar wishes to speak with you." Mayvin set down the small golden globe that he had brought in with him.

"Leave us Mayvin."

Bowing, Mayvin left Daniel alone as the globe suddenly came to life.

"Daughter. You have not come to pay your respects, you keep me waiting and now I hear that two prisoners, including the Shol'va Teal'c that you claimed to have defeated, have escaped." Daniel could hear the anger in his voice, and allowed his mind to go blank, trusting that on some level, some part of Lilith that was still left inside him would know what to say. "Explain yourself to me!"

Daniel bowed his head, slowly, before looking up again into the eyes of the image of Sokar.

"Father, I was betrayed by a human I had trusted, but before he died, painfully by my hand, he revealed to me a device that allows someone to travel from one reality to another. It was through this device that the Shol'va and his ally entered this reality."

Sokar's eyes betrayed him. He saw the potential that having the Quantum Mirror would gain him. Saw all the new technologies and worlds he could conquer.

"You have this device?"

Daniel bowed his had again. He'd gone for the greed card, and it seemed to be working.

"Yes, my Lord. And I shall soon have both the Shol'va and the woman he escaped with. Once I have them, I shall present them to you. They both know how to work the device, and their knowledge would be useful in planning any attack on their reality."

For a moment Sokar was quiet.

"You say you are near to capturing these two?"

"Yes Father."

Sokar leaned back in his throne, his fingers laced together. "Do not fail me again child. You let your host influence you too much. Your actions are becoming increasingly erratic."

Knowing what it was like to be trapped inside your own body, knowing how hard it was fighting just to gain a brief measure of awareness, Daniel felt a moment of pride for his other self. He must have fought very hard indeed to be able to affect his host at all.

He couldn't help but smile, and immediately had to cover for it. "I grow tired of the battle with this host father. Once I have secured the prisoners for you, I shall choose another. I have learned all I can from this one."

Sokar gazed into Daniel's eyes over the comm. system, before slowly nodding his approval. "See that you do. Expect my Royal Guard on the base shortly. I wish to examine this prize for myself."

Heart in his mouth, Daniel bowed his head again in submission. "As you wish, My Lord."

The communication ended, Daniel looked up again. "Damn-it!"

Wishing he could take off the damn Goa'uld voice synthesizer, Daniel hoped to whatever god that happened to be listening that Sam and Teal'c would arrive back soon.

Or they were all in serious trouble.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

David Jackson was starting to feel just a little uncomfortable. "Would you mind getting out of my face please?"

Jack looked at him for a second, almost as if he was surprised that David found anything strange in his examination of him.

"Sorry, but you look a hell of a lot like Daniel."

David looked to his mother. Then back to Jack. He was about to ask one question, when a different one entered his head.

"Aren't you the guy who came to tell us that Dan had been killed back in '94?"

Claire pulled out her glasses to get a better look. Jack noted that one of the lenses was cracked. She stood in front of him. "Colonel Jonathan-"

"Call me Jack ma'am, please."

Standing so close to her, evening the semi-darkness of the prison cell, Jack could see her looking at him with the same blue eyes Daniel had.

"Jack." She didn't look at all pleased and Jack suddenly felt like saluting or something. "Jack O'Neill?" her gazed narrowed a little, and Jack could almost see her mind working through her eyes. Pinning little pieces of information together that she had heard from her Daniel.

"Jack O'Neill, would you please tell me what the ~hell~ is going on?" She placed both hands on her hips, and Jack suddenly felt like he was standing in front of his own mother, about to be punished for breaking the neighbours' windows again with a hockey puck.

Jack tried not to look too worried about where this conversation was going. "Ah, well, I-"

"And you were in the car when he turned up on my doorstep a year later, telling me some cock and bull story about doing secret work for the government. Secret archaeology work? Hah!"

"Yes, well-"

It might have been difficult for anyone else, but Claire Jackson pinned Jack O'Neill down with a stare in the semi-darkness of their prison cell.

"I hardly get to see my own son because of the work he seems to enjoy doing with you, and when I do see him, he never seems to stop talking about you. Now I find that his secret government work is annoying aliens from outer-space so much that they take over his body and launch a full-scale attack on the planet! Never mind this crusade she seems to be on, attacking everyone still ~alive~ that Daniel ever knew!"

David came over to stand beside her. "Just what the hell did you do to my son?!"

Jack's mouth fell open. He just didn't know what to say.

They all turned as they heard the guards approach. "Listen, no matter if you hate me or not, you ~have~ to trust me. Any minute now this place is going to be a snake-free zone, but we gotta keep our heads until then. Don't provoke 'em, don't look 'em in the eye and keep your head down."

He had just barely managed to get the words out when the door opened.

"You are all to come with me. The Goddess Lilith is ready to serve out your punishments!"

"Again with the punishments. You'd think you guys would come up with some new lines." Realising he was going against his own advice, he shut up quickly.

Used to seeing Jaffa scowl, Jack happily strolled past the guard. Claire and David passed by a little more warily.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sitting at the head of the briefing room table, the Quantum Mirror at the other end, Daniel looked at the image of the storage room where the mirror had been stored in his reality. It had never been turned off since they had arrived here not even 24 hrs ago. No one was in sight on the other side. Looking away from it, Daniel watched as the glass of water sitting in front of him started to vibrate.

He felt a surge of adrenaline and victory. The Asgard were here!

"Incoming Traveller!"

The sound of the Stargate activating alerted everyone to the fact that someone was heading there way, the iris having been disabled during the all too brief attack by Lilith, there was nothing to stop whoever this was from coming through.

At that moment, Mayvin came in. He'd obviously heard about the order for Jack to be brought before his Goddess, and, being the repugnant little lackey that he was, he wanted to be there to see Jack die. Hopefully in the most horrible way his Goddess could imagine.

"My Lady, your father has arrived ahead of schedule."

Daniel turned round from watching the 'gate in shock. "He's here!?!"

Puzzled, Mayvin nodded. "He has just this moment arrived with his guard." Mayvin straightened up, as if he had something to be proud of. "He has gone to inspect his latest conquest. Your victory of the Tau'ri will be legend amongst the Gods, for no other could achieve what you have done with such ease." Mayvin looked at his 'Mistress' with longing and pride. "He is indeed most proud of his favoured daughter."

The sixth symbol blazed into life just as the guards bringing Jack, Claire and David came into the room.

"Hey there." Jack tossed off a rather jaunty salute, gaining a little satisfaction that it seemed to tick Mayvin off no end. It was then that he spotted the 'gate, the eighth chevron engaging.

Such a familiar sight, yet to Jack and Daniel it did not bode well at all. Sam and Teal'c along with the Asgard should have arrived by ship. Whatever this was, it wasn't part of the plan. Not by a long shot.

Yet, despite everything, Daniel couldn't take his eyes off the woman in front of him.

She looked older. Her hair had a little grey in it, and there were a few lines that, as a child he'd never even thought to look for, but it was definitely her. It was definitely his mother.

"Oh my god."

The sound of Jack's voice brought him back to his senses and he turned to look at the 'gate just as the sounds of weapon fire reached him.

Almost running backwards out of the 'gate, Sam and Teal'c where shooting at something. Something that was coming through behind them.

Replicators. And it looked like hundreds of them.

"Jack."

Jack turned at the sound of Daniel's voice. "We don't have time. We gotta go."

Daniel looked at the Jaffa, at Mayvin. "The Goa'uld might have this planet, but there's still humans on it. People Jack! We can't let the earth become infested with these things!"

The Jaffa and Mayvin where listening to this conversation in puzzlement.

"Why do you speak to this man as if he were an equal?" Daniel turned to Mayvin, and something of his humanity must have shone through for he could almost seeing the thought process going on inside Mayvin's head. Slowly Mayvin's hand reached for a weapon within the folds of his clothing.

Still wearing Lilith's ribbon-device and without really thinking about anything other than protecting the people he cared about, Daniel raised his hand, a blast of energy hitting Mayvin and sending him flying through the air, hitting the window and sending him falling down to the embarkation room in a shower of broken glass.

The wormhole died at the same moment, Jaffa, among them Sokar's own guard already down below trying to fight the plague that had come through the 'gate.

"Daniel."

He felt a hand on his arm not realising that he still had his arm stretched out in front of him. Daniel suddenly felt sick. "Oh god." He scratched at his hand and arm, desperate to get the thing off. He threw it to the floor in disgust.

Just then, Sam and Teal'c came into the room, shutting the door behind them. "We have to get out of here." She ran over to the Mirror, pulling something from her backpack, almost triangular in shape, which emitted a soft blue light in a rapidly increasing rhythm. "We only have seconds before this thing blows." She looked over to her CO. "It'll take out the whole Mountain, including the Mother-ship."

The two Jaffa looked at each other in panic and raised their weapons to fire.

Teal'c however, was faster.

Daniel ripped the synthesizer off from his chest, running over to his mother and a brother he'd never met before.

"Those creatures will destroy this planet. The Goa'uld will enslave it. We need to destroy this base and everything in it and we only have one way out. Come with us?"

David took his mother's hand. "It doesn't look like we have much of a choice, does it?"

Jack was over at Sam's side, looking at the device she had placed at the foot of the mirror. "Nope, it sure doesn't. Major, I want explanations as soon as we get back."

Sam just smiled, although there was very little humour in it as she saw the light inside the device get faster. "Yes sir. Now would be a good time to go sir."

"Everybody, just touch the Mirror." Jack looked behind his shoulder, skittering sounds coming from behind the door, just at the same time replicators came climbing over the frame of the broken window.

Everyone reached out and touched the cool glass of the mirror.

A moment later they where in the calm of their own reality, just as the reality behind them seemed to come to an end, a replicator reaching out to the bomb just as it blew.

The mirror suddenly went black.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On seeing how Jack was dressed, General Hammond had ordered a uniform to be brought up immediately to the briefing room. The short leather shorts had proved a distraction from the moment he had seen him. No General should ever have to see his Colonel dressed up as a low-paid porn star, even if it was in the line of duty. Although he seriously thought that if word got out on how Jack was dressed, people would be queuing up outside to get a look.

They where all seated around the table, Daniel still dressed in his Lilith garb. If it wasn't for the news the General had to impart, then he would have just let them get changed first. As it was, it was already around base and he didn't want them to hear it from any other source.

"I will of course be expecting a full report, but for the moment I have some information which I think you should know."

Of course, he had their undivided attention, but their curiosity was also peaked now as well.

"At zero four hundred hours this morning, Colonel Jack O'Neill passed away in his sleep. It seems his injuries where more severe than Doctor Fraiser first believed. Apparently there was evidence of previous torture. His heart had already been damaged at some point before he came through the mirror. It simply couldn't withstand any more punishment."

At this, Daniel locked eyes with Jack. "He probably knew we wouldn't be able to rescue Daniel sir." This Daniel turned now to look at the General. "Him and his Jack, well, they were the best of friends sir. Wouldn't be much point with one and not the other."

Catching his meaning, the General wished he could do more than just give his standard, semi-embarrassed cough. "Yes, well, at least he's in peace now."

Jack risked a look at Daniel before looking at the General. "They both are sir."

"Well, before I let you go and get some much deserved rest, I'd like to congratulate everyone here. You came back alive, you saved the earth from the Goa'uld and you rescued some very important people." He saw their looks of doubt and instantly pounced. "I know from the preliminary report that you had to destroy the Mountain, but rest assured, those people who died knew the risks, and I know I can speak for the courage and bravery of both the SGC and the ordinary military personnel that work on the main levels. Anyone chosen to work in this mountain, no matter what the reality would choose death over the enslavement of their planet by the likes of the Goa'uld. With Sokar, Lilith and the Stargate gone, humanity there has a chance to rebuild." He looked at every member of his premier team and couldn't contain the pride he felt. "You did good people. Don't ever forget that. Dismissed."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Three days later.

Jack was sitting in his living room, the soft warm glow of a setting sun pouring in through his windows.

He'd been sitting here for the last hour or so, trying to come to terms with how empty his life was going to be.

Daniel had been spending a lot of time with his new found family, getting to know a mother he had lost far too young and a brother he had never known. Jack couldn't expect him to do anything else.

Of course, they hadn't been allowed off base since their arrival, as they needed to be de-briefed for a start, never mind all the things they needed to know about the world they had been dragged back to.

He'd seen Daniel once or twice, but never for more than a coffee or an all too brief moment alone in one or the other's office. And as much as it wasn't enough, Jack couldn't bear to try and take Daniel away from something he'd been searching for his whole life. A family.

He just missed him.

He looked up at the various items he had in his living room. It had been almost unspoken between them that Daniel had moved in. His unique signature was all over the place. And now it was unspoken that Daniel was going to be moving out again. He had a new family to get to know. A mother and brother that needed to get to know him.

All those empty spaces he hadn't realised he'd had had been filled. All those dark places that he didn't know he'd had.

He heard a key slide into the lock of his front door, and he fought down a wave of sadness at the thought of Daniel moving out of this aspect of his life, just when he'd gotten used to him being within easy reaching distance.

There was no way in hell he was going to make this hard for Daniel. He loved him and he'd been through enough.

"Jack! You here?"

"Yeah! In the living room!"

Daniel was all but bouncing, enthusiasm lighting his face while the setting sun reflected and hid the excitement in his eyes.

He came and knelt down in front of Jack, taking his hand. "I have a huge favour I need to ask you."

It had been a while since he'd seen Daniel so relaxed and so happy without putting any effort into it.

"Ask away."

Here it comes, Jack thought. He wants me to help move his stuff back to his old apartment.

"Well, and please Jack, think before you answer this. What do you think of letting my mother and David move in for a little while?" He seemed to think that he was pushing his luck, for he started to make excuses, not seeing first the relief, then the pleasure cross Jack's face.

"It wouldn't be for very long. Just until they get used to this reality. David is a practising medical Doctor and I think General Hammond wants to recruit him into the SGC, seeing as he knows about the Goa'uld and I think he wants to get his own place after a while and Claire, I mean, my mother, she wants to get back into teaching and I really want to get to know her better, and her me, not that she doesn't know me, or rather, the other me-"

"Daniel!"

Jack had almost been willing to just let Daniel ramble on, as it was a welcome sight seeing him behave like his old self, but even sentimentality had it's limits. He took a moment to just look at Daniel, to take him all in and wonder how he had ever managed to get so damn lucky.

Leaning forward, he kissed Daniel on the lips, savouring the presence of the man in front of him, before finally breaking contact to look him straight in the eye, a smile spreading over his face.

"~You~ are my family Daniel. Which means ~they~ are my family. My home is their home."

He kissed him again, and this time it went deeper, conveyed more than just sensation. Love, passion and devotion.everything that Jack had to offer. Everything that Daniel gave him with just a glance, Jack returned with his lips and his tongue, with a squeeze of the other man's hand as he caressed his face with the other.

"~Our~ home, is their home."

Daniel smiled and Jack's world suddenly became a lot brighter.

The End?