The Serpent's Lair- Reasons

Author's Note- Yay! Season two! Well, I thought I'd update today since school is starting tomorrow and I have no clue when I'll be able to update again but I'll try!

When Daniel woke up, he noticed two things. One - he had a piercing headache and - two, he was blind. Slight panic gnawed at him as he pushed himself into a sitting position and dropped his aching head into his hands.

He heard Jack and Teal'c talking about the weapon. If they were hit then they were captured. They had failed. Apophis was going to destroy Earth and there was nothing they could do to stop it.

"It isn't dark. We're blind. And we failed." He muttered, rubbing his head, ignoring Jack's comeback. "Right now they're getting ready to wipe out the major cities on Earth. They'll do it from orbit, out of reach." He felt his eyes grow moist as he realized Ryan would be there. They would destroy the SGC too.

"Daniel..." Jack started softly.

"Jack, I've been through this once before. I saw what happened in the alternate universe." He turned his head toward where Jack's voice was and he saw a faint shadow. His vision was returning. Despair flooded his chest and he felt crushed by the weight of what happened.

Earth wasn't going to be saved. Images of Ryan sleeping in his bed at the care center while the ship prepared to destroy the mountain stood out in his mind as he felt wetness behind his eyes.

He would never see Ryan grow up. Sha're would be stuck possessed by a demon forever, waiting for a husband who had failed her. The thought of Apophis taunting both her and him with their son's death made his breath hitch and he buried his head into his arms.

The invisible door opened and a Serpent Guard walked in. Daniel felt absolute horror, he knew he was about to witness his son's death. With a soft "snick" the helmet fell, back to reveal Bra'tac and relief rushed through him.

Maybe they still had a chance to save Earth.

He didn't feel any pain as the blast of energy sent him slamming into the wall behind him. He automatically grabbed his gun and fired. The Jaffa fell to the ground next to the others.

The blast didn't hurt as much as he had thought which Daniel knew it had to be a deep wound to go past nerves. He tried to get his breathing back to normal although he started to gasp through the smoke from his burnt clothes and chest.

Jack heard the gunfire and staff weapon blasts from inside the room. Running into the corridor, he saw his friend on the ground, a dark burn on his chest. He checked to make sure there were no more guards before he ran over to his friend.

"Daniel! Dammit!" Jack cursed as he looked at the younger man's wound.

"I'll be dead anyway! Just get out of here!" Daniel tried to push him away.

"I'm not leaving you here Daniel." The colonel looked hard at Daniel, shaking his head.

"Get out of here! You're just going to blow up with the ship anyway. What difference does it make? Go! Just go! I'll stay...and watch your back." Daniel said gasping for breath.

Jack bit his lip then slowly nodded, gently touching Daniel's cheek before jogging back into the room.

Daniel closed his eyes and struggled to get his breathing under control. Less than an hour ago, he was certain he wasn't going to get home but now he felt completely different. Before he felt helpless and terrified, now he knew Jack and the rest of SG-1 was going home.

Then his eyes snapped open. He was just giving up? The idea of simply dying here was unbearable. Forcing himself into a crawling position, he slowly made his way to the sarcophagus room.

Daniel sat on a hospital bed, swinging his legs and staring at the floor. The general had insisted on a checkup when he had come stumbling through the gate and he had been in the infirmary for over half an hour.

When he had arrived, he had expected to see the rest of SG-1 waiting for him. The archeologist had been crushed to hear that no one knew anything about them.

"Daniel," Janet walked into the room smiling warmly. "You're perfectly healthy."

"Great," Daniel responded unenthusiastically.

"Also, SG-1 just arrived, perfectly fine as well. They'll be in the gate room soon," She couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face at the huge grin that lit up his face.

"Thanks Janet!" He took off out the door leaving the doctor smiling.

Daniel made his way into the gate room as the room burst into applause. He could hear Jack and Hammond talking and gently pushed his way to the front.

Sam saw him and a smile spread across his face. "Daniel," She said, sounding relieved and happy.

Daniel didn't get a chance to respond as Jack pulled him into a tight bear hug.

"Spacemonkey! Yeah!" Jack was grinning widely and holding onto his shoulders. Sam pulled him into a hug as well and Daniel hoped the new nickname wouldn't stick.

"We deserve a party." Jack announced loudly from one of the infirmary beds. Daniel smiled and winced as Janet drew blood from his arm and put the sample in a bag. Finishing what she'd wanted to do before he rushed out earlier.

"Thank God you found the sarcophagus." Janet smiled and handed the bag to a nurse.

"With cake, and beers, and finger foods," Jack continued without missing a beat.

"How's Ryan?" Daniel asked the doctor, ignoring the Colonel as he grabbed a glass of water next to him and took a sip.

"Maybe a movie or a poker game," The Colonel yawned and leaned back.

"Can't you give him a sedative or something?" Daniel asked grinning, as he ignored the glare Jack sent his way.

"Funny Daniel."