If Tomorrow Never Comes

"Jack?"

Jack reached out, took Daniel's hand in his, and gave it a supportive squeeze. "I'm right here, not going anywhere."

Daniel turned his head and Jack saw the tears brimming in his eyes. "I can't do this any more." Daniel's breathing hitched as he struggled to control his emotions. "I've had enough, please put me out of my misery, I just can't go on like this anymore," he pleaded as silent tears trickled down his cheeks. "Please, Jack, tell them to stop, let me go."

"No can do." Jack smiled encouragingly. "Hang in there. It's nearly over – I promise."

Daniel shook his head from side to side. "Please, Jack, please," he begged. "I can't go through it again, I can't, please, make them stop," he sobbed.

Jack picked up the damp cloth again and blotted Daniel's tear-soaked face once more. "It's gonna be fine, I promise, I promise," he soothed, and dipping the cloth back in the water, he folded it in two and placed it on his friend's burning forehead and brushed away the tears that were still falling with his thumbs.

"Just a bit longer, you've gotta hang on just a bit longer Daniel, it will all be over soon, and I promise you." He looked up towards the door and smiled when he saw Thor appear, knowing that finally, finally it was going to be all over. He turned back to his friend who was now sobbing openingly. "Shh, shh, calm down." Jack urged. "Come on, look at me." He tipped Daniel's chin up so his friend was looking straight at him. "Let's play a game again, hey?"

Daniel nodded, and took a shaky breath and nodded again, fighting to steam the flood of emotions.

"I spy with my little eye." Jack began, smiling. "Something beginning with S?" he continued.

Daniel stared at him and slowly blinked. "S-syringe?" he stuttered and reached for Jack's hand.

Jack smiled and grasped Daniel's hand, tucked it under his chin, and nodded. "Yeah," he confirmed.

Daniel took a deep breath. "This is gonna be the one – isn't it, Jack? It's gonna be all over?"

Jack's smile widened and he nodded again. "It sure is," he confirmed. "Look to your left, Daniel," he urged and Daniel turned his head with what seemed like a great effort, his chin dropping in surprise.

"Th-Thor?" he stuttered in disbelief

"It is good to see you awake, Daniel Jackson," Thor replied in greeting.

"W-what? W-where?" Daniel took in his surroundings and turned to Jack.

"Where are we?"

"You are onboard the Daniel Jackson, Daniel Jackson," Thor informed him and Jack snorted.

"That never get's old does it?" He chuckled.

"How?"

"There will be time for answers later, Daniel Jackson," Thor told him, reading the syringe. "We must not delay this anymore, you are very weak."

"The antidote?" Daniel said pleadingly, turning his head to Jack once more.

"Yup!" Jack confirmed, grinning from ear to ear.

Daniel turned to Thor. "You're sure?"

"We are positive," Thor assured him. "Now, please stay still, let the medication work," he ordered as he administered the antidote. "This will make you very sleepy, Daniel Jackson, but when you wake it will all be over," he promised.

"Umm," Daniel muttered as his eyelids drooped.

Jack let go the breath he hadn't realized he was holding and he looked at Daniel's now lax, peaceful face then over at Thor. "That's it?" he asked quietly.

"Indeed, O'Neill," Thor answered, checking Daniel's readings. "He will now sleep for many hours and will be very weak for many of your Earth months, but the poison will have left his body, and, in time, he will be well" he reassured Jack.

Jack sank into the waiting chair and put his head in his hands. "Thank God, thank God," he muttered repeatedly. It was all over, finally all over. He never wanted to go through anything like that again. Daniel had cut it too close this time, way too close. That was twice that Daniel had begged him to let him go now and that was never gonna happen again, ever.

How the hell had what appeared to be a straightforward mission gone so wrong?