Fate: At The End of Dreams

by Thel

Daniel's encounters with Nem's memory machine may have brought more than Daniel's memories to the surface. Could the team be losing Daniel to Nem’s past? Daniel is determined to find Omoroca and the truth of the creation myths. COMPLETE

4. Chapter 4

Chapter Fourteen

"Colonel, I'd like to know what you were thinking!" Hammond exploded as they entered his office. He left them waiting for twenty minutes outside his office before calling them in. He hadn't even let them sit down yet. All three were standing at attention, backs straight and eyes forward.

"Sir, Daniel wasn't sick when we left."

"Was Doctor Jackson himself when you left this base on Friday?"

"Himself, sir? Well-"

"Colonel, was or was not Doctor Jackson presenting himself as an alien being known as Myomis?"

Jack looked down. "He was Myomis, sir."

"And yet, you still took him off base. In fact, you employed subterfuge to take him off base."

"Sir, we discussed it, and we all agreed that it would be only for the weekend." Sam tried to explain.

"And did Doctor Jackson agree to this course of action, Captain Carter?"

Carter looked uncertain. "Not- not at the time, sir. But subsequent to that, he voiced no objections."

"In fact, sir, Daniel asked us to let him stay with us." Jack said.

"Indeed. Daniel Jackson was quite adamant about his refusal to be returned to the base."

"So, why is he back?" The general turned back to Jack.

Jack shifted uncomfortably. The General was slowly but surely backing them into a corner. "He became ill this morning, General."

"Ill, Colonel?"

"Yes sir. Headaches and confusion. He…"

"Yes, Colonel. He what?"

"He had a seizure. He started convulsing."

"I see, Colonel. And had he exhibited these same symptoms previously?" There it was. The General was going in for the kill. Now Carter started shifting miserably, finally catching on. The General sensed Jack's stalling tactics. "Colonel."

"Yes." Jack replied slowly. "He had those same symptoms earlier this week, sir."

"I see." Hammond walked slowly in front of the three soldiers, his hands clasped behind his back. "Earlier this week, you say. Was he at home at this time?"

"No, sir." This was agonizing. Jack wanted it done with, but the General knew what he was doing.

"Where was he, Colonel?" Hammond's voice was soft now, but his tone brooked no disobedience, no flip remarks.

"Daniel-" Jack shook his head. "General-"

"Colonel." Hammond over-rode him, face to face. "Where was Doctor Jackson?"

Jack clenched his fists and straightened up as far as he could. "He was in the infirmary."

"In the infirmary. Under Doctor's care, Colonel?"

"Yes, sir."

"Would it not seem wise to assume that if the same symptoms occurred that the same treatment would be warranted?"

"Sir, we just thought-"

"And that is the problem, Colonel. This was not your call to make. This was not your life to risk."

"To risk?" Sam gasped. "General?"

Hammond shook his head. "Doctor Fraiser tells me that Doctor Jackson is quite ill. She was forced to restrain him. He is uncommunicative and combative and apparently in a lot of pain and it seems to be getting worse. Doctor Haller is attempting to translate some of what he is saying, so far with little success."

"Sir, it's been less than two hours." Jack tried to comprehend what the General was saying. "He was fine when he woke up this morning."

"Well, Colonel, he is not fine now. Doctor Fraiser is administering medicine by IV, but so far he is proving to be extremely uncooperative."

"General Hammond, may we visit Daniel Jackson? Our presence may help calm him."

"Yeah, General, permission to speak freely?" Jack waited until the General nodded curtly and then ran his fingers through his hair before continuing. We screwed up. We know. Please, don't make Daniel pay for it. We can help him." Jack's hands were up, forgetting his military posture as he pleaded with his CO.

"That is no longer my call to make." Hammond's voice softened slightly.

"Then we'll ask Fraiser."

"I'm sorry, Jack. You'll have to ask Doctor Mackenzie. I've placed Doctor Jackson under his care."

"Oh, God." Sam whispered quietly, her hand belatedly covering her mouth as if she could pull back the words.

Hammond tilted his head and sighed. "SG1, you are dismissed." He gave each of them a look that promised that they would be discussing this again, soon. With a few hurried nods, Jack led his team out the door and in search of Daniel.

They checked the infirmary first. It was empty. Finally, they cornered a nurse and Jack brow-beat her into revealing Fraiser's location. One of the isolation rooms. They practically jogged down the twisting maze of corridors.

They knew they had arrived at the right place when they saw the two guards standing watch. Mackenzie must have warned them. Hearing some of the commotion, Doctor Fraiser exited the observation room next to the isolation room and joined the three.

"Doc, what the hell is this?" Jack demanded.

"Colonel, I have to ask you to keep your voice down. I don't want Doctor Jackson agitated. We just got him settled."

"Janet, what happened? Daniel was fine this morning."

The doctor shook her head. "I can't say. I've now had a chance to do some in depth testing. I've taken the blood samples and I'll be able to say more clearly when I get the results. For now, he seems to be switching back and forth between personalities. Doctor Mackenzie-"

"What the hell is Mackenzie doing anywhere near him?"

"Colonel, this is out of my hands, and out of yours."

"Mackenzie is just going to lock him up. You know that."

"Sir, Doctor Mackenzie is doing what he thinks is best, and in all fairness, his methods did provide a measure of relief for Doctor Jackson earlier."

"Mackenzie doesn't know what he is dealing with here. Has anyone considered the possibility that everything Daniel said is true and that he has the personality of a long-dead alien inside his mind?"

"Colonel, all I can tell you is that we all want Daniel healthy again. We're doing the best we can."

"May we speak with Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c broke in. Janet shook her head.

"At this point, until we can get him stabilized, I don't want anyone disturbing him." She jerked her head toward the door. "You can come in and watch for a short time, quietly."

Jack sighed, but he had to be content with that.

- - - - -

"Daniel." Jack put his palm flat on the glass separating him from the isolation room.

"Janet?" Sam's voice cracked on the word, her eyes suspiciously bright.

"I know. He's very restless. We're trying to keep him calm but his blood pressure is well into the danger zone." Jack's hand tightened into a fist as he stared at the figure on the bed.

Daniel was in white hospital scrubs and tied to the bed with restraints around his wrists, ankles, stomach and chest. An IV pole stood next to the bed and wires trailed across his shoulders and under his shirt and back to the monitoring equipment. His body was slightly twisted in the restraints as if he had simply fallen asleep in the middle of throwing himself from side to side.

As his team-mates watched, horrified, Daniel's eyes opened half way and he started talking to himself. Every so often, his eyes would shut and he would make soft, strangled noises.

"Doctor Mackenzie wants to keep him sedated for a day or two. Hopefully, we can get his blood pressure under control again. That should help with the headaches."

"Do you no longer believe in Myomis, Doctor Fraiser?" Teal'c asked the question that none of the others had been able to speak.

Janet's lips thinned into a fine line as she turned toward her patient. "My only concern is-"

"Daniel, yes. You've said that. Repeatedly. That's not what Teal'c asked."

Janet finally turned back, looking up at O'Neill. "Colonel, I don't know what to think any more." She took a deep breath. "Doctor Mackenzie is in control now."

"Dammit." Jack whispered harshly.

- - - - -

The next 48 hours passed very slowly for SG1. At least one of them sat in the observation booth at all times. They had Carter's laptop, Daniel's laptop, and several reams of paper with them as they continued Daniel's work and tried to piece together some possible leads on Ea and Myomis.

Finally, the archaeological branch of the SGC came up with some good news.

"So, whatcha got?" Jack began brusquely as he entered the archaeology lab. Carter was with him. They had left Teal'c behind to watch Daniel. Haller and a tall, lean African-American sergeant by the name of Fulton looked up at him in surprise.

"Colonel O'Neill. You are very prompt." Haller began. "I swear I just hung up the phone."

Jack waved a hand, cutting him off. "What did you find?" He brought them ruthlessly back on topic. Haller and Fulton exchanged glances.

"Well, sir, following up on what you gave us, we may have a lead on the, um, stasis chamber you mentioned in your report."

"Really?" Carter stepped forward. "Where?" She held her hand out for a copy of the papers that Fulton was reviewing.

"Babylon." Fulton supplied succinctly.

Jack snapped his fingers. "Eta- Itsi-" He waved a hand at Sam.

"Etemananki. The Tower of Babel. Daniel spoke of it as a possible lead."

"Right. You mentioned that in your report, Captain Carter. Look at this." Haller unrolled a poster-sized map on the table top. It was a fairly new map of what looked like aerial plans of a building site. Haller cleared his throat. "This is the city plan for Babylon. See, like a fortress, it was surrounded on four sides by water. The western edge of the moat was likely the Euphrates River itself. From north to south, we have the Northern Palace and the Southern Palace. This road," Haller ran his finger down the narrow strip running north-south, "Is called the Processional. We go past the temple to Nabu."

"Nabu?" Carter looked up. "Myomis didn't mention any Nabu."

"The son of Marduk, Captain." Haller explained. "That's to the west, and the temple of Ishtar is to the east. Here and here." Haller's fingers tapped on two sites to the south east. "This is the ziggurat of Marduk and this is E-saggila. The Sergeant and I looked into these site specifically."

Fulton took over the narrative. "There are a number of references to altars within Marduk's tower. Herodotus mentions a 'table of gold' and a 'couch of unusual size' in which the god, Marduk, was reported to use as a sleeping chamber. Now, neither of those altars is present on the site. The Tower has long since been reduced to rubble."

"In other words, a dead end. Great." Jack groused.

"Not quite, Colonel." Haller put up a hand. "I'll spare you the details, but there was some Goa'uld writing on a few of the pieces recovered from Babylon. We put those together with some pieces found in other locations. We are probably looking for Borsippa, the city dedicated to Nabu."

"Marduk's son."

"Yes, Captain."

"Have excavations of Borsippa been undertaken?"

"Actually, we are not looking at Borsippa on Earth." Haller was getting excited. "We traced some of the writings and found some of the original script relating to Borsippa."

"And?" Jack exploded.

"Colonel." Fulton shoved a pile of photographs forward. "These photographs were taken on P2R 171. SG8 did the initial survey two months ago."

"I remember this planet. Daniel was very excited about the potential linguistic findings."

"True, Captain, but there's more."

"More?"

"Yes, Colonel. The local people of the planet worshipped the God Nabu, and the planet's name was…" Haller left the name hanging to see if SG1 would pick up on the significance. Carter spoke first.

"Borsippa."

- - - - -

"Doctor Mackenzie, I take it that you have a report for me?" Hammond gestured for the psychiatrist to take a seat in front of his desk. The General then returned to his own chair and sat, giving Mackenzie his full attention.

"I have an interim report for you, General Hammond. I'm afraid full diagnosis may take some time. Doctor Jackson is proving to be quite a challenge."

"He's a good man, Doctor Mackenzie."

"Even good men can become ill, General."

Hammond sighed. "What can you tell me?"

Mackenzie shuffled some papers. "Doctor Jackson was originally placed under my care suffering from what appeared to be the onset of schizophrenia."

"You said that you were changing that diagnosis."

"I am not yet prepared to state categorically that Doctor Jackson is suffering from DID. He appears to meet some of the criteria. I'll be evaluating him with some standard testing methods in a few days, once Doctor Fraiser is able to get his system stabilized."

Mackenzie adjusted his glasses and looked over the rims at the General. "For the time being, I may start him on a course of haloperidol again. There seemed to be some fairly significant benefits from it last time."

Hammond sighed. "What will you need to form a firm diagnosis?"

"General Hammond, this would be easier to accomplish if I could move Doctor Jackson to Mental Health-"

"Absolutely not." Hammond interrupted. "Until I give the word, Doctor Jackson will remain a guest of the SGC. I'm not yet prepared to take that final step."

The psychiatrist gave Hammond a long stare over the tops of his glasses and then nodded. "I understand." He let out a short breath. "Over the next few days, when Doctor Jackson is once again responsive, I will be evaluating his mental state. One of the tools I will use is the Dissociative Experience Scale. It helps to evaluate a subject's risk level when it comes to dissociative disorders. I have already placed a request for the full details of Doctor Jackson's foster records. Often disorders like DID come about as a result of severe abuse and trauma in childhood. Other tools such as hypnosis may help with the diagnostic process."

"Alright, Doctor Mackenzie. Keep me apprised of the progress of your work with Doctor Jackson." Hammond looked up at a knock on his door. Nodding to the psychiatrist, he called, "Come in."

O'Neill flung the door open and practically jogged in. His open expression vanished at the sight of Mackenzie in the room and he scowled at the doctor.

"Colonel. What can I do for you?"

"Ah, well, sir. How's Daniel?" He addressed Hammond, but his eyes were fixed on Mackenzie.

The psychiatrist looked up from his notes. "Doctor Jackson is slowly responding to treatment. Anything more would be a violation of doctor-patient confidentiality."

"Mackenzie-"

"Colonel. Is there anything else?" Hammond reined Jack in before he could go too far.

"Well, okay, yeah. Could we see Daniel, sir? We'd like to actually let him know that there are still people around who care about him."

Hammond looked down at his desk. "Colonel, if nobody cared about Doctor Jackson, he would be in quite a different situation, I promise you that."

"Yes sir, tied to a table screaming, 'when you care to send your very best'."

"Colonel O'Neill." Hammond's tone held a definite note of warning. Jack put his hands up defensively.

"We just want to tell him we're there, sir."

"Doctor Mackenzie, have you any medical reason why the rest of SG1 should be barred from visiting Doctor Jackson?"

Mackenzie looked like he wanted to deny Jack's request, but in the end, he could not. "No, sir. A short, carefully monitored visit should do no harm. In fact it may help us monitor Doctor Jackson's reactions as we reintroduce the haloperidol into his system."

Jack grimaced. "He's telling the truth, you know. Myomis is real."

"Myomis. This genetic memory Doctor Jackson claims to be manifesting."

"He is."

"Tell me, Colonel, did Doctor Jackson explain to you how Myomis died?"

Jack took his time answering, wary of a trap. "Yes."

"Colonel O'Neill, genetic memory is the theory that all the knowledge possessed by a person is passed to their descendents in their DNA, yes?"

"I guess."

"Then presumably Daniel received the memories of Myomis passed down through his children."

"Sounds right."

"Then please tell me, Colonel, how Daniel can carry the memories of his progenitor's death… an event that occurred well after Myomis… 'passed along' his genetic material to his children?"

"I…" Jack's gaze switched from Hammond's mildly concerned face to Mackenzie's imperturbable stare. "What?"

Mackenzie stood, putting his folders under one arm as Jack digested his revelation. He nodded to the General and took his leave before Jack could formulate a reply.

"Have a seat, son." Hammond's voice was soft. Jack dropped bonelessly to the chair. "I know this is difficult."

"He's not lying, sir. I swear. If you could have only talked to Myomis."

"Find me some proof, Colonel."

Jack swivelled in his chair. "We might have. Haller and his team think that we may have a bead on Bor- Bospa-" Jack waved his hands dismissively. "A Goa'uld world where some clues to this whole Omoroca business might be found. SG8 went there a little while ago. Request permission to take a team there and have a look around?"

Hammond laced his fingers together and contemplated Jack's request. "Have a written plan on my desk with 24 hours. If it looks good, you'll have a go."

"Thank you, sir." Jack nodded as he stood.

"Dismissed, Colonel. Go look in on Doctor Jackson."

- - - - -

Jack, Sam and Teal'c stood before the door to the isolation room, each trying to prepare themselves for the visit ahead. Mackenzie would be monitoring them from the observation room, and Fraiser would come in with them. Daniel's blood pressure was almost stable now, but his dopamine levels were far out of range. None of them knew what would be waiting for them on the other side of the door.

Finally, Jack looked to the rest of his team and took a deep breath. He let it out slowly as he turned the knob and quietly entered the room.

He meant to take slow, measured steps in the room, but his resolve lasted roughly two seconds before he was all but jogging to Daniel's bedside.

"Daniel?" He bent over the bed, hands clenched in the white sheets. Daniel's eyes opened a sliver and he rolled his head sideways.

"Jack?" His voice was hoarse. His head lolled in the other direction as Sam took his hand. "Who?"

"It's Sam, Daniel. Teal'c's here too."

Daniel attempted to raise his head, but was unable to, due to the drugs in his system.

"Hey. Where you guys been?" Daniel's head flopped back down to the bed and he rolled his eyes at Jack. "I've been calling for you." He coughed lightly. "Feels like forever."

"Dammit." Jack subvocalised. "We're here, Daniel. We've been following your leads."

"Jack. I know why my head hurts. Myomis and I… We can talk." He tried to focus on Jack, but the effort simply made his eyes roll back in his skull.

Jack shot a look at Frasier and back up at the mirrored observation room.

"Wh- What?"

Daniel nodded. "Uh huh. Head hurts when the other wants out. Starting to share my head, Jack. Can talk to Myomis some times." His eyes scrunched shut. "He wants to come out."

He closed his eyes again. "Jack. We are talking."

"Myomis." Jack touched Daniel's cheek with the tips of his fingers. "Focus, Myomis. We're going to Borsippa."

"Why is my head so unbalanced? Feels too full."

"You have medicine in you, Myomis." Sam's voice broke as she tried to explain.

"Myomis, we want Daniel back." Jack tried to get the Oannes' attention again.

"I'm here, Jack. You… said Borsippa? City by… Babylon."

"P2R 171, Daniel Jackson."

"Teal'c? Oh. SG8?" Daniel's forehead wrinkled as he fought to think. "Feels like I'm in a fog. Natives worshipped-" His voice trailed off as he gathered his strength.

"Nabu." Carter supplied.

Daniel nodded and forced his eyes to focus on his CO. "Jack, please. I'm not sick. You have to get me out of here. Please. Make them stop." Exhausted by the long speech, his eyes closed.

Jack put his hands on either side of Daniel's face and drew his gaze back up. "Daniel, we'll be on Borsippa for a few days. We'll look for Omoroca's altar there. We'll come back as soon as possible."

"Please. Believe me, Jack."

"Daniel, we believe you." Sam whispered and touched her lips to his brow. She straightened up and brushed the hair back from his forehead. She gave him a watery smile and then backed out of the room.

"Daniel Jackson. Gather your strength. We shall return as quickly as we are able."

"Sam… Teal'c." He murmured. Teal'c gripped his forearm lightly and then left to join Sam.

"Jack. Believe me?"

"We'll be back soon, Daniel. We'll come visit you when we can."

"Believe me?" Daniel insisted, forcing his eyes open.

Jack grimaced. "Rest. Sleep. We'll be back."

O'Neill left Daniel's bedside and headed toward the door. He stopped only once as Daniel called out his name.

"Jack?"

O'Neill forced himself on, out of the room, unable to meet that confused gaze any more.

He closed the door and then leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths. Looking up, he met another pair of confused blue eyes. "Sir? What was that all about?"

"Nothing, Carter." Jack stood up.

"Do you no longer believe Daniel Jackson, O'Neill?" Teal'c tilted his head and got to the heart of the matter.

"Of course I-" Jack looked up at Teal'c and gave a little wincing smile. "I don't know, okay? Mackenzie said some things."

"What did he say, sir?"

Jack took a moment to gather his thoughts. "He asked me about this genetic memory. Carter, you understand the theory, right?"

Sam gave a little head roll. "Well, I understand enough."

"So, how can Daniel remember Myomis's death?"

"What?" Sam looked quickly at Teal'c. "Sir, I-"

"If the memory is passed along with the DNA, how can Daniel have memories of something that occurred after the DNA was," Jack rolled his hands, trying to think of a word. "After it was contributed?"

"Well." Sam began to explain, and was brought up short. "Oh." She cocked her head. "Well it- It-"

"He can't, right? Teal'c?"

"I cannot explain it, O'Neill. Clearly he did."

"Did he?"

"Colonel, you can't think?"

"I don't know what to think, Captain. For now, Daniel is maybe getting a little better. Let's just get this mission underway and hope somewhere, something starts to make sense."

- - - - -

Chapter Fifteen

Borsippa was a desert world. SG1 plus Haller and Fulton arrived through the wormhole to squint dazedly at the sun. All five were in desert camouflage, and Jack stopped for a moment to adjust his baseball cap, pulling the brim lower.

"Alright, Haller, our first goal is to locate the temple. Did SG8 give you any ideas where that might be?"

"Two possible locations, Colonel. We go down this road for about two klicks to the ruins of the main city. The other way is east of here, about one klick. That is a small temple."

Fulton added, "SG8 speculated that the smaller temple is dedicated to Marduk, just as Babylon has a smaller temple dedicated to Nabu."

"Alright. Carter, Teal'c and Fulton, you take the main city. Haller, you're with me. Check in every 30 minutes.

- - - - -

Mackenzie sat back in his chair and rubbed his hand across his forehead. This was certainly a challenging case. Elements of Doctor Jackson's personnel file certainly lent themselves to the diagnosis of DID, better known as Multiple Personality Disorder. A child who had no stable home, moving from dig site to dig site and brought up in a different culture. Parents who may have been distant and preoccupied. No regular schooling until the age of eight. Poor socialization skills. The trauma of witnessing his parents' death. Years in the foster care system. Entering school early with little to no support. It was a veritable breeding ground for psychological disorders. Mackenzie could only admire Doctor Jackson's ability to have held himself together this far. With any luck, he would be able to put the admittedly bright and gifted young man back together again.

He watched the man on the gurney. The haloperidol was starting to take effect. Doctor Jackson was calmer, quieter. Fraiser had done well. Her patient's blood pressure was no longer in the dangerous range, although it was still elevated. If the haloperidol continued to work well, then the diagnosis may well be schizophrenia. If it didn't, then he would have to continue on with the DID treatments.

Mackenzie pulled out a file of papers. He was looking through the list of diagnostic symptoms. Doctor Jackson met a disconcerting number of them. Able to ignore pain? Doctor Jackson's colleagues spoke of him being able to work despite what would later become crippling headaches. Missing part of a conversation? Doctor Jackson was missing hours of conversations. Usually difficult things can be done with ease and spontaneity? How about speaking a long-dead language fluently when previously only a rough translation could be made?

Mackenzie tapped the paper and nodded his head. Remembering the past so vividly that one seems to be living it? Staring into space? Not sure if an event happened or if it was a dream? Yes, yes and yes. Amazing how profound his dissociative tendencies had become.

The psychiatrist started ticking off points as he ran down the list, using both his observations and the reports that SG1 and the medical staff had made.

Not sure whether one has done something or only thought about it? Perhaps not. So involved in fantasy that it seems real? Perhaps. Being accused of lying when one is telling the truth? Perhaps not yet. There was no evidence that he was telling the truth. Other people and objects do not seem real? No evidence of that. Looking at the world through a fog? No. Not recognizing one's reflection in a mirror? So far, not an issue.

Absorption in television program or movie? No. Finding evidence of having done things one can't remember doing? Not as such. Not remembering important events in one's life? Doctor Jackson's memory seemed fine. Seeing oneself as if looking at another person? No. Hearing voices inside one's head? Doctor Jackson's expression of a separate identity seemed to be external projections.

Talking out loud to oneself when alone? Mackenzie looked up at Doctor Jackson who was shaking his head and carrying on quite an animated conversation with himself. Feeling as though one were two different people? The conversation in the observation room got slightly louder and Mackenzie made a neat little check-mark next to that line. Feeling as though one's body is not one's own? Again, the shared body syndrome.

Being approached by strangers who call one by a different name? Considering that Doctor Jackson's alter ego was a long-dead mythological figure, that was not likely. Driving a car and realizing one doesn't remember part of the trip? Fortunately Doctor Jackson's team-mates were not that negligent and they had chauffeured him everywhere. Finding unfamiliar things among one's belongings? Again, given the mythological aspect of the Myomis personality, this is not likely. Finding oneself in a place but unaware of how one got there? Doctor Jackson's trip from the base to Colonel O'Neill's house, the return trip to the base.

Being in a familiar place but finding it unfamiliar? Doctor Jackson's dramatic awakening in the infirmary, for example. Finding notes or drawings that one must have done but doesn't remember doing? O'Neill had emailed a series of sketches done by the Myomis personality to the archaeological department. Not recognizing friends or family members? Reference again the infirmary scene. Finding oneself dressed in clothes one doesn't remember putting on? One could read between the lines of Colonel O'Neill's report of the evenings when one personality would be put to bed and a second personality would wake up.

Mackenzie shook his head. A sad state of affairs. He would have to write a report for the General. SG1 would undoubtedly want to visit Daniel when they returned from offworld in 48 hours. He would also have to evaluate that. Their previous visit had upset the archaeologist for some reason. He had become withdrawn and silent, speaking only when he was alone.

The psychiatrist checked his watch. Time for some dinner and then he would return to continue his evaluation.

- - - - -

"Sweet." O'Neill gave an appreciative whistle as he craned his neck and looked at the ruins of the temple of Marduk. Despite Haller's description of this temple being the 'smaller' one, it was still two stories tall with a broad base. The building was made of sandstone and overlaid with a limestone mix, similar to the Pyramids in Egypt. Like the Pyramids, the limestone cap had mostly worn away, leaving the surface rough and pitted.

Sand drifts had attempted to reclaim the building. So far, they had not had much luck. They leaned against one wall, climbing almost half way up, and curling around the sides of the stone structure.

Haller scuttled up to the wide arching doorway and peered at it, lifting up his sunglasses for a better look.

"Can you open it?" Jack asked. The archaeologist paid him no attention. Jack poked him in the arm. "Hey, Haller."

The archaeologist's mouth snapped shut. "What? Oh, yes. Probably." He dumped his pack on the ground and opened it. "Colonel." He handed Jack a digital camera. "I need you to take some pictures. Try to cover the full…" Haller waved his hand and then stopped, distracted by the writing.

Jack rolled his eyes and gave him a light slap on the upper arm. "Haller!"

The archaeologist jumped. "All of the front of the edifice. I'll work on the translation."

- - - - -

"Wow." Sam put her hand on her hat and looked up at the high temple. Modelled after the tower to Marduk in Babylon, the Nabu ziggurat on Borsippa stood five stories tall. Each stage was painted a different colour. Most of the colour had worn away, but the faint hint of the hues remained.

They had been walking around the city for almost an hour. It was a fairly short walk to the city walls, and the temple was the highest point in the ruined town so they headed directly to it. The processional road was in poor shape though, meaning that they had to pick their way though carefully. The large stones along the path were smooth and well worn, but pillars and statuary had toppled, creating hazards and barriers. In some places, the debris had allowed sand dunes to take root, forcing the trio to take detours off the main road and further into the temple grounds.

"Looks like we'll have to go up the stairs." Fulton started to unbuckle his backpack. Best thing is to use the climbing gear. The steps could be very unstable." In the briefing, both Haller and Fulton had made a point to suggest packing extra climbing gear. Their experiences with the ruins of the Tau'ri Etemananki had prepared them for this mission.

"I don't suppose that there are any internal steps, huh?"

Fulton gave a rare smile. "I doubt they'd be any better. Teal'c, do you have rope?"

"I do, Sergeant Fulton."

"Great. Let's get geared up and start up the stairs."

- - - - -

"Haller?" Jack called. He was sitting on the sand, leaning against his pack. The archaeologist waved him off irritatedly. Jack raised his eyes to the skies and tried again. "So help me, Haller."

"There we go." The scientist said smugly, and touched two carved panels on the front wall.

Jack scrambled to his feet as the sound of rumbling stone filled the air. Haller turned to Jack and lifting his baseball cap off his head, he bowed deeply to the Colonel.

"Finally." Jack snapped ungratefully. He shouldered his pack and tossed Haller's pack to the other man. Jack readied his weapon. "I'll go first. Stop me before I blow something up unnecessarily."

"Will do, Colonel."

Jack reached for the radio at his shoulder. "Carter, status?"

"Climbing, sir."

"Climbing?"

"Yes, sir. Sergeant Fulton is leading us up the stairs to the temple."

"Alright. We're in Marmaduke's temple. We'll check in when we hear anything. Step carefully."

"Will do. You too, sir."

- - - - -

Fulton led the group carefully. Every so often, he would stop to hammer a spike into the cracks between the bricks and secure their lines.

"This is amazing." Carter breathed, arching back and putting her hands on her hips as she took a look around into the town surrounding the temple. They were about halfway up the temple. Another flight of stairs would bring them to an observation level. They would have to walk halfway around the temple to find the next stairway which would bring them up to the temple at the top.

"Just think what the original temple in Babylon would have looked like." Fulton shook his head as he uncoiled the ropes.

"I have seen many Goa'uld structures," said Teal'c. "I have never seen one quite like this."

"How do you mean?" The Sergeant looked back at the Jaffa.

"The workmanship is of a different style." Teal'c ran his hand down the wall of the structure.

"Of course. You served with the Egyptian Goa'uld, didn't you?"

"I did."

"I'd love to know why the Babylonian Goa'uld never gained the power that the Egyptian pantheon did. Doctor Jackson and Doctor Haller were theorizing that the Babylonian Goa'uld were caught unaware by the Egyptian rebellion which buried the Stargate."

Teal'c tilted his head. "Indeed. That may be the case. Of all the names mentioned, only the name Marduk was known to me. The Babylonian Goa'uld were considered a minor threat."

"Well… perhaps because they were Earth-based." Both men turned to look at Sam. The Captain shrugged. "Well, think about it. Daniel said that the Oannes and the Goa'uld were never more than partners and that they were probably trying to get away from Nem and Omoroca's rule. They accomplished that by killing…" Sam's voice faltered briefly. "By killing Myomis and Omoroca and banishing Nem. After that, they would essentially control their portion of the world."

"And they would rewrite history to suit their needs." Fulton nodded thoughtfully as they began their ascent up the last staircase. "History records the surviving Babylonian gods as beloved paragons of all that was good in humanity."

"History is recorded by the victor." Teal'c added solemnly.

"Yeah." Sam sighed.

- - - - -

"Myomis. They'll be back. They have to believe us."

"I know, Daniel."

"Jack thinks I'm insane. He has to believe me."

"Jack will believe you, Daniel."

"How do you feel? My head feels full of cotton."

"I feel well."

"Hard to think."

"Daniel, you must try to think. What is the word?"

"Concentrate." Daniel frowned and scrunched his eyes shut. "I can't concentrate."

"You must, Daniel." Myomis's eyes were open and alert. He flexed his restrained wrists experimentally. "Daniel?" He shook his head. "No, Daniel. Do not lose hope. Daniel?" He shook his head. "Daniel!"

- - - - -

"Haller!" Jack's voice grated across the archaeologist's nerves causing him to hiss in irritation.

"Colonel." He returned the glare, arms crossed on his chest.

"Sand. Scribbles. Stones. Can we do something now?" Jack was leaning against the wall in the interior of the temple, watching Haller methodically clean the surface of the wall opposite.

"I am doing something, Colonel."

"And this 'something' can't be done any faster?"

Haller twitched. His mouth opened, a finger pointed at Jack and then skyward. His mouth opened again and then he shook his head. Biting back his words, he turned to the wall.

Jack looked at his back, eyebrows up. "What?"

- - - - -

"Wow." Sam drew the word out to at least four syllables as she craned her neck and turned in a slow circle.

They had finally reached the top of the ziggurat and entered the open public chamber. The first room was wide with tall ceilings. Constructed of sandstone, the rough surface still retained hints of colour. The tall pillars were smooth-sanded with the barest traces of blue and gold at the tops. The architecture was very linear and angular. Sam traced her finger over a high table that held only the dusty remains of offerings in corroded copper bowls.

"Interesting." Fulton shone his flashlight into the distance, tracing along the elegant scripts. "This temple is dedicated to both Nabu and Sarpanitu, but no sign of Marduk."

"What is the significance of this, Sergeant Fulton?"

"I don't know." Fulton looked over at them and flashed a quick grin. "It's a mystery."

"I do not like mysteries."

"Well, I agree with Teal'c on this one. Any risk of traps?" The beam of Sam's flashlight skipped suspiciously across the pitted stone floor.

Fulton's light dropped obligingly. "Probably not. This was an open worship area. They wouldn't have wanted to keep people out." The light wandered over the floor to a heavy stone door in the distance. "Ah. Now that." The light centred on some disturbing looking figured carved into the soft stone. "That looks threatening."

"And probably where we need to go." Sam sighed.

- - - - -

"Haller! We need to go somewhere." Jack growled and slumped back against his pack, eying the very stiff back of his temporary archaeologist.

"Where do you propose we go, Colonel?" Haller's tone held the merest hint that he knew exactly where he'd like to tell Jack to go.

"Somewhere. Anywhere. Now."

"Colonel." The civilian growled, throwing military decorum out the window. "We have 48 hours. That's not 48 minutes, or 4.8 hours or four-point-eight damn seconds." Haller growled. "We'll go when we are done. Not before."

Jack shifted, adjusting his position. "Touchy." He muttered.

- - - - -

"Well, that's ugly." Sam put one hand on her hip as she used her flashlight to illuminate the carving on the door at the back of the temple.

"Uh." Fulton squinted as he tried to make out the details.

"I suppose that you find this beautiful and fascinating." She grinned at the archaeologist.

"Oh no. Ugly as sin." Fulton chuckled. "Keep a watch." He warned the two other soldiers as he reached into his pack and pulled out a thick brush. Glancing over his shoulders, he made sure that Sam had her gun up and Teal'c had his staff weapon readied before he ran the brush carefully over the surface of the door. Each stroke sent fine, yellow sand cascading to the floor and revealed more of the details.

"That's Nem." Carter's head came up and her gun dipped. More of the details of the carving were visible.

"No. This is Marduk." Fulton gestured with his brush to the lettering over the figure's head. "It's a representation of him in his incarnation of King of the Gods. Post Tiamat." Fulton ran his brush down the side of the carving. "Yep. There's Tiamat." He pointed to a serpent-like dragon.

"That's odd. Daniel's descriptions of him said that Marduk, or Belus, looked very similar to Myomis. They took after Omoroca, not Nem. Does it mention anything of Myomis or Omoroca?"

"Uhhh…" Fulton made a few tentative swipes at the carving. "I have no idea. I can recognise the cuneiform names, but the script is beyond me." He frowned. "This is odd."

"What?"

He looked back at the pair and then over to the carving. "Well, here. Look at his hand. The carving there is recessed where the bracelet should be."

Sam squinted and moved forward. The figure of Marduk was standing with one hand upraised. A piece of jewellery similar to a hand device was on his palm, but below that, the carving was sunken in to the wall.

"It looks like there should be a carving there."

"Or perhaps the jewellery acts like a key." Teal'c added, getting everyone's attention.

- - - - -

"Oh for crying out loud." Jack hurled away the rock he had been playing with and dragged himself to his feet. "Haller?"

The archaeologist was sitting, slumped in front of the doorway.

"Can we go now?" Jack asked plaintively.

"No, I'm sorry, Colonel. I still can't get the door open."

"It's been hours."

Haller looked pained. "Yes, Colonel, and these kinds of investigations can take years." Jack let out a big sigh. Haller cocked his head. "Colonel, I know you're worried about Doctor Jackson. He is my friend as well. I'm telling you, I need my books."

Jack looked around and then waved a hand at the door. "Well, what do you have now?" He took a close look at the doorway and then frowned. "That's a Stargate."

"Yes."

"And the symbols?"

"Are buttons. Presumably, you press the right ones and the door opens."

"Well, push them."

"Push them." Haller's eyebrows went up. "Push them. At random. Let's see, thirty-nine symbols. That makes a total of 39 x 38 x 37 x 36 x 35 x 34 x 33 possible combinations."

"So, no?"

"Ahhhh, no. Let's just check that." Haller pulled a calculator out of his pocket.

"Haller, I get it."

"No, no… Colonel. You want some random addresses?"

"Okay, dumb idea. I… Get… It."

"Wow. That gives us 77,519,922,480 possible combinations."

"Haller. So help me."

"Forty-eight hours. Seventy-seven billion combinations. Oh yeah."

"Haller!"

"We'd be home for lunch."

"That's a constellation." Jack was no longer looking at the archaeologist. His eyes were focused behind Haller.

"How many an hour would that- What?" Haller stopped and cocked his head.

"Constellation." Jack pointed at the door. "I know that one."

- - - - -

"Colonel?" Sam walked back to the entrance of the temple and stared out at the endless sea of shifting sands below her. In the distance, she could make out the ruins of a village. Some small ruins nearby were likely the Colonel and Haller.

"Sir? Can you hear me?"

"Carter?"

"Yes, sir. Just wanted to check in. We've found a doorway. Sergeant Fulton says it looks like part of the doorway is recessed. Teal'c says that we probably need a piece of jewellery to act as a key."

"Let me guess… you're not carrying the item you need?"

"Uh… no sir."

"Well, take pictures. Maybe Daniel, or Myomis… or one of 'em can figure it out."

"Will do, sir. How are things on your side?"

"Haller found a Stargate, without the Stargate."

Sam looked over at Teal'c and frowned. "Sir?"

"We're playing 'Guess the gate address' here."

"Sir. Do you know how many possible combinations-"

"Oh, I'd guess about 77 billion, give or take."

"Actually-" Sam was about to correct him, but then pulled up suddenly. "Uh. Yes, sir." She couldn't quite stop the disbelieving tone that crept into her voice. "Sir, how did-?" She trailed off.

"What? I was right?" Jack's tone was deceptively innocent, hiding something. Probably something to do with the wet cat noises Haller was making in the background. "I know, I know. Pretty long shot, but Haller wants to-" Jack was drowned out by Haller's indignant snarls.

Sam looked quickly to Teal'c and over to Fulton, who was trying not to smile.

"Sir?"

"We'll catch up with you. Gotta go teach Haller how to do his job." The radio cut off abruptly, leaving Sam, Teal'c and Fulton looking at each other. Eventually, Sam shrugged and they went back to work.

- - - - -

Chapter Sixteen

"Welcome home, SG1." Hammond nodded from the base of the ramp. Jack took a couple of quick steps down to the General. "Any luck?"

"Good news, sir." Jack stepped up. "We found some leads. We looked at the two temples there and brought back some pictures. Maybe we can use them to figure out how to open the doors." Jack looked at his teams and then back at his CO. "Looks like Daniel was right, sir."

"How is Daniel, sir?" Sam stepped up behind Jack's shoulder, segueing nicely into her concerns for their missing team-mate.

"We'll meet in the briefing room in one hour, people. I'll explain then."

"Sir?" Carter asked, her voice trembling slightly. Jack grimaced and nodded before leading his team to the showers.

- - - - -

Forty-five minutes later, SG1-minus-one along with the two archaeologists were seated at the briefing room table. Finally having pity on them Hammond joined them early, waving the officers down when they rose to greet him.

"At ease, people."

"Sir? Daniel?" Jack stepped up first. Around the table, the other people inched their chairs closer, so as not to miss a word.

Hammond sighed. "Jack, Doctor Jackson is not doing well. Doctor Fraiser managed to get his blood pressure stabilized. Doctor Mackenzie took over his care at that point and began to administer haloperidol again. Doctor Jackson did not respond well to the medicine."

"Well what does that mean, sir?" Sam ventured when Hammond paused.

"It means that Doctor Jackson is catatonic. Over the last twenty-four hours, he has grown increasingly withdrawn. Now, he does not respond at all. He is no longer restrained because, at this point, there is no need." The General sighed again. "I don't know what to say, people. Mackenzie seems to feel that we simply need time to allow the medications to work."

"May we see Daniel Jackson, General Hammond?"

"Give it time, people. Let's hear your report first, and then I'll call down and have Doctor Mackenzie allow you to see Doctor Jackson. Doctor Haller, what do you have?"

Haller got to his feet and touched a button on his laptop. An image of the doorway to the smaller temple lit up on the opposite wall. "Well, Colonel O'Neill and I found this doorway. Around the edges are all of the symbols on the Borsippa DHD. In the center is a constellation."

"A constellation? Which one?" Carter leaned forward, her elbows on the table.

Haller touched the button again, and the slide show advanced to the next frame. "We don't know yet. Of course, this constellation was found on Borsippa. It may reflect that planet's skies."

"No, it's ours." Jack mused, brows drawn together. He tapped a finger on the tabletop. "I know it." He made a dismissive gesture. "Okay, I don't know it, but I know I know it." He grimaced and looked away. "I'll find it."

"Well, even if it is from Earth, this was created probably in Babylonian times. The shapes of the constellations have changed in the thousands of years between then and now." Sam shrugged. "I could attempt to create a program to extrapolate how the stars would move. It'd be difficult, but maybe it could come up with ten likely options. They might look a little more familiar."

"We'll hold that plan in reserve, Major." Hammond nodded. "What do you think it all means?"

Haller shook his head. "I assume that somehow it gives the identity of a location important to the Goa'uld in question. Find the location, and we find the Stargate address. This should open the door for us."

"We could use C4."

Haller made a little squeaking noise at Jack's pronouncement.

"We would risk the structure of the temple and anything concealed within." Teal'c raised an eyebrow as he turned to face Jack.

Hammond chose to pretend that Jack had not said a word. "Find me that constellation, Doctor Haller."

"Yes, sir." Haller nodded and took his seat.

"Major Carter? What of your side of the expedition?"

"Yes sir. Well, we came to a similar dead end. We found the temple dedicated to Nabu and Sarpanitu. The temple is falling to ruins for the most part. At the back, we found..." She looked over at Fulton, who shrugged. "We think it's a door, sir. It has a carving of Marduk on it. He looks a lot like Nem."

"This supports the information given to us by Daniel Jackson." Teal'c sat back in his seat, satisfied.

Hammond nodded. "Good work. Were you able to open the door?"

Sam shook her head. Fulton took over. "Sir, there is a recessed portion of the carving. It looks like it once held jewellery. This may possibly act as a key. We were unable to find anything that resembled a key in the time allotted us."

"Alright. We need some information. Doctor Haller, Sergeant Fulton, I need you to make examining these photos your top priority. We need answers, people." He turned back to Jack, Sam and Teal'c. "Right now, SG1, Doctor Jackson needs you."

With a brusque nod, Hammond dismissed his people. Sam and Teal'c headed immediately for Daniel while Jack held back.

"Sir?" Sam looked back.

Jack held up a finger. "I'll be there in a minute." Sam and Teal'c exchanged a look at the Colonel jogged away.

- - - - -

"Daniel Jackson." Teal'c's words were soft. Mackenzie had voiced his objections when they entered the room, but was quickly over-ridden by a phone call from Hammond. Together, Sam and Teal'c made their way to their friend's bedside.

The archaeologist was lying on his back, eyes half open and unfocussed. His body was limp and still, fingers lightly clutching the bed sheets. An IV line was taped to the back of one of his hands. His skin was cool and clean. Sam was grateful that someone was at least taking the time to care for him.

"Daniel?" She whispered the name softly, brushing his hair away from his eyes. "Hey. We found Borsippa. We found the temples. You have to wake up Daniel. We need your help here. You and Myomis."

She gasped and looked down as his hand twitched in hers.

"Teal'c, he moved."

The Jaffa leaned down, his face next to Daniel's. He whispered tersely. "Daniel Jackson, you must awaken. We have returned."

Daniel's head moved slightly sideways and his eyelids twitched.

"Nrgh." The sound struggled to escape from his throat. He squeezed his eyes tightly shut and then hissed a short breath out between his teeth. Sam looked over at Teal'c.

"Myomis?" She tried. In the observation booth, Mackenzie sat up a little straighter. With this sort of reinforcement, no wonder Doctor Jackson's delusions were so persistent.

"Samantha?" Myomis's speech was slurred, his eyes still unfocused.

"Yes." Sam smiled widely. "Myomis, we're here. Where's Daniel? We need Daniel."

"Daniel." Myomis breathed. "You do not believe him."

"Myomis, what do you mean?"

"Daniel. Jack does not believe. He gave up."

"Myomis." Teal'c was leaning only inches from the groggy Oannes. "O'Neill would not give up on Daniel Jackson."

"I cannot… hear Daniel." Myomis forced his eyes open. "We could share. We could speak. Daniel told me of Sha're. Of Abydos. Then the… medicine came. Daniel said… hard to think. He could not… concentrate." Myomis laboriously tried to make his point known. He was waking up though, his eyes starting to focus.

"What happened to you, Myomis?"

"I lost Daniel." Myomis lifted his head. "I tried to hide. Tried to sleep so he could come back. Did not want to keep him out."

Sam put a hand on his chest as Myomis tried to sit up. "Hey, Myomis. Take it easy. I don't think they want you running around just yet."

Myomis nodded his understanding, but pushed upright anyway, allowing Sam to steady him with a grip on one shoulder.

"Jack?" Myomis looked around, squinting.

"O'Neil is coming." Teal'c spoke, standing stiffly by the bed.

The words acted as an invitation as Jack opened the door, half-turned and still staring down the SFs on guard duty. He kept his eyes on them until the door closed. Having proven whatever point he wanted to make, he turned to the other three members of his team.

"Hey." His eyebrows went up as he gave the archaeologist a look. He had a book clutched to his chest.

Myomis smiled. "Jack. You do not believe Daniel." His words were soft, but not accusatory.

"Uh… what?"

"Colonel, Myomis says that he… 'lost' Daniel. He thinks that Daniel thinks that you think he's insane and so he…" Sam trailed off and looked at Myomis.

"Daniel is gone."

Jack put up his hands. "Okay. Once more for the hard of hearing." He shook his head. "What?"

"Is it not possible that the medicine given to Daniel Jackson has caused this change?"

"How do you figure, Teal'c?" Sam looked over at the Jaffa, leaving Myomis propped up and looking at Jack. As Carter and Teal'c talked, Jack came forward and tilted his upper body back, looking at the Oannes.

"Myomis? Where's Daniel?"

"Daniel is gone, Jack." Myomis's voice sounded weary. "He… I do not know."

"But he thinks I don't believe him. So he, what? He ran away? Left you in charge?"

"He was tired, Jack."

"Okay..." Jack leaned in close to Myomis, forcing the Oannes to rock backward on the bed. "Myomis, you're nice and all, but the only reason, the one reason I put up with you is so I can get Daniel back." He pointed his finger at Myomis's chest. "I am going through this, I am putting up with all this historical crap so that I can get you out and him back. You get back in there." He made little swirly motions next to Myomis's temples with his hands. "And you tell Daniel to get his ass out here. You tell him to wake the hell up and you tell him that we're not going to be able to do this without him. You got me?"

There was a long pause. Myomis smiled slightly, a knowing and fond look on his face. Teal'c's eyebrow was climbing for the sky and Sam had stopped in mid-gesture, one hand in the air.

"Sir?" She began, at a loss for anything more profound.

"Jack." Myomis reached out and gripped the Colonel's wrist tightly. "I cannot find Daniel. If he comes to me, I will tell him."

"Actually, sir, we may have an answer for that."

One wrist still in Myomis's light grip, Jack straightened up and looked at his second in command. "What?"

"Well, sir, Teal'c thought of it."

Jack turned and looked up at the Jaffa. "Teal'c?" He said in a reasonable tone that suggested that someone had better start talking soon.

Teal'c clasped his hands behind his back and turned his body slightly to face the Colonel. "When Daniel Jackson was first administered the medication, the Myomis personality disappeared. When the medication stopped, Myomis reappeared."

"Yeah. And?"

"Perhaps this time around, Myomis proved to be the stronger. Perhaps this time, his personality dominated Daniel Jackson's?"

"Meaning that as long as Daniel's being medicated, it's all Myomis, all the time."

"If Teal'c's theory is correct, yes."

Jack nodded and turned to leave, brought up short by Myomis's strong hold around his wrist. He looked down at his hand, and then back at the Oannes who gave an unrepentant shrug and a small grin.

Jack sighed theatrically, and then looked at the mirror separating the patient from the observation room. "Mackenzie! I want you to stop the drugs." There was a long silence. Jack looked around at the others. Finally, a small metallic click was heard.

"I don't believe that would be advisable, Colonel O'Neill. As we discussed earlier, pandering to the delusional personality simply makes this task more difficult."

"Oh, for crying out loud. He's the real thing. We found evidence."

"Colonel, this is hardly the venue to discuss this situation." With a click, Mackenzie was gone.

There was another long pause before Jack turned to the others. "I think that went well." Whatever Carter was about to say was cut off by Mackenzie's voice.

"Colonel, General Hammond has requested your team join him in the Gateroom."

Jack nodded to the mirror and then looked back down at his arm. "I gotta go, but we'll be back. We'll find some proof." He pointed to the mirror with his free hand. "Don't listen to him. You just look for Daniel. Tell him I want his obnoxious butt back here, pronto."

Nodding, Myomis released his grip, allowing Jack to pull his hand free. Jack gave a jerk of his head, telling Teal'c and Sam to follow him.

"We'll be back, Myomis." Sam promised as the door shut on their colleague sitting forlornly on the edge of the bed.

- - - - -

"General?" Jack asked as he trotted into the control room. The Stargate was active in the Gateroom. "What's up?"

"Colonel, someone wants to talk to you." The General stepped back from the microphone. Jack looked at Carter, who craned her neck and read the computer display.

"It's Oannes, sir." She caught herself and clarified. "Uh… the planet."

Jack took two large steps and flicked the microphone on.

"This is Colonel Jack O'Neill."

There was a long silence before the sound of raspy breathing filled the control room. "This is Nem. I… received your… message." The Oannes spoke slowly. Jack punched the air like his favourite team just scored.

"Yeah, Nem. We have information about Omoroca."

"My mate. I will come to you."

"No!" Jack yelled as Hammond gestured frantically for the iris to be opened. "We have a… a door on our Gate. You can't come through." He flicked the microphone off and held his breath until the iris was completely opened. "General?"

"Can this creature be trusted?"

"Daniel Jackson believed so, General Hammond."

"I know that, Teal'c. I don't think it would be presumptuous of me to say 'look where it got him'."

"General, if anyone knows what went wrong with Daniel, it would be Nem. He's probably our best shot."

Hammond nodded at Carter and then looked at the Gate for a moment. The only sign of his nervousness was the little motions he made rubbing his fingers against his thumbs. Finally he nodded. "Bring him through, Colonel, but I want a security detail to accompany him at all times."

Jack turned back to the microphone. "Okay, Nem, the door's open. Come on through."

Jack, Sam and Teal'c waited for the General's nod before they left the control room and went down the stairs to the Gateroom. They waited another minute before the event horizon rippled and Nem stepped through.

The blue alien stood at the top of the ramp, a gold-edged length of cloth over his shoulder with a long, deep-blue tunic underneath. He studied the human Gateroom, casually dismissing the armed SFs.

Jack took a step toward the Oannes. "Nem. This is General Hammond, our leader. General, this is Nem."

Hammond and the Oannes nodded curtly to each other. "What of my mate?" Nem asked, immediately turning back to Jack.

When Jack looked sideways, Sam stepped forward. "Nem. You used a machine on Daniel. He started having dreams."

"He dreams… of Babylon." Nem nodded knowingly.

"Son of a bitch, you knew that would happen?" Jack took a step forward, brought up short by Hammond's raised hand.

"Colonel." Hammond turned back to Nem. "Does the machine always cause dreams?"

"Daniel is… oldest. He will dream of… Babylon."

"There's more to it than that." Sam stepped in again. She turned to the General. "Sir, perhaps we could show him?"

Hammond gestured for two armed guards to follow him. "Take us to Doctor Jackson, Colonel." There was no diplomatic way to explain the guards following them, so Hammond let it slide. From Doctor Jackson's description, the alien possessed technology similar to a Goa'uld hand device. If he wanted to damage them, they would need to fight back. If his intentions were peaceful, well, then let the Oannes think this was merely an honour guard. For his part, Nem looked at the guards but made no comment, possibly understanding.

Jack gave Nem a long, dark look and then grated out, "Yes, sir." He stepped in front of the party and took the lead.

- - - - -

"What is this?" Nem tilted his head and examined the doorway.

"Nem, look, we need you to take a look at Daniel." Jack gestured along with his words, pointing a thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the isolation room.

"For what reason?" The Oannes came directly to the point.

"We think that there is a possibility that your machine made Doctor Jackson very ill." Hammond replied for Jack. "We are attempting to determine the appropriate course of action. Perhaps you can provide some guidance.

"I told Daniel… it could… damage him." Nem nodded thoughtfully.

"Well, it did." Jack snapped, stopping as Hammond raised his hand slightly. Nem stared at Jack, his expression impossible to read.

"I will look."

The General nodded at Sam, indicating that she should open the door.

Sam, Jack and Teal'c stood aside as Nem entered the room. The figure on the bed was preoccupied by something, staring at the floor and muttering. Jack cleared his throat softly.

Myomis's eyes leapt up to meet Jack's, and then slid immediately to the side to fix on the Oannes.

"Abi." He breathed.

General Hammond's gaze was on Nem, so he alone saw the Oannes' eyes widen. Nem stiffened and then drew a step closer.

"Buhur?"

As if the word broke invisible bindings, Myomis cried out and threw himself to his knees in front of Nem. The Oannes touched his clawed hands softly to Myomis's shoulder, urging to rise. The pair conversed in rapid Akkadian. Finally, Nem placed his hands gently on either side of Myomis's head and drew his gaze upward. They looked at each other for a long moment before Myomis smiled broadly.

Nem turned back to the others. "This is… my buhur." He nodded. "My… first born."

"Abi." Myomis grinned. "My father."

General Hammond was the first to react. "You mean it's true?" Teal'c, Sam and Jack turned as one to look at him. He shook his head. "Well, I'll be damned. Nem, how could this have happened?"

"The machine pulls… memories forward. The… memories are of the old life."

"How did you know that Daniel was related to Myomis?" Sam asked, eyes wide and curious.

"I am… Oannes. We can see." Nem turned away, forcing Sam to be satisfied with that cryptic answer.

"General, can we get Daniel out of here now?" Jack was practically bouncing.

Hammond paused, considering. He looked over at the mirror. "Doctor Mackenzie, I want you and Doctor Fraiser in my office in ten minutes." He looked back at Jack who cocked his head and raised his eyebrows. "Colonel, for now he stays here. You'll have an answer soon."

- - - - -

Hammond sat down at his desk and straightened his folders. He looked up, first at Mackenzie and then at Fraiser.

"Alright, people, what do we do now?"

"Sir." Janet started. "Is it true?"

The General nodded. "Nem has identified Doctor Jackson as his son, Myomis."

"So, Doctor Jackson was right."

Mackenzie shook his head. "Sir, the Oannes has just found out that his wife is dead. It is quite possible that he is projecting his desire to find his son safe onto Doctor Jackson."

"How much more evidence do you need?" Janet turned to the psychiatrist.

"Doctor Fraiser, how much evidence do we have? Doctor Jackson is ill. We can both agree on that. Nem has just lost his wife. We can agree on that. Nem may have seen something in Doctor Jackson. We have no idea of the capabilities of the Oannes in that regard. However, Doctor Jackson was subjected to alien technology. This may all be some sort of trick by the Oannes. Certainly, it might be argued that this entire scenario has been set up by Nem himself."

"For what purpose?" Hammond asked as Fraiser shook her head.

"He may want access to Doctor Jackson's memories, perhaps information about the Stargate program."

"Information he could have had when Daniel was with him earlier." Fraiser countered.

"Unless the effect he wished to achieve was delayed by a quirk of human physiology."

"Why would he have let Doctor Jackson go in that case?"

Mackenzie countered. "Perhaps he thought his actions were unsuccessful and our attempts to contact him have informed him otherwise."

"Sir, this is wild speculation." Janet appealed to the General.

Hammond laced his fingers together. "What I want, right now, is the best for Doctor Jackson. Doctor Fraiser, you are inclined to believe Nem and support the idea that this Myomis is real."

"I do, sir." Janet nodded.

"Doctor Mackenzie, you still maintain that Doctor Jackson requires full time supervision?"

"I do, sir." Mackenzie leaned back in his chair.

"Alright then. Doctor Jackson will be transferred to your care, Doctor Fraiser." Mackenzie sat up straight as Janet gave a tight-lipped smile and nodded. "I expect that someone will be with him at all times."

Janet gave a real smile as she stood up. "I'm sure that SG1 will help see to that."

Hammond allowed himself a small grin in return. "I have no doubt."

- - - - -

"Nem, I'd like to thank you for joining us here. You've seen the pictures of the carving from Borsippa?" Hammond stood until the blue Oannes sunk into the chair opposite. Nodding, he sat down and clasped his hands together.

"I have."

"Have Captain Carter and Colonel O'Neill told you what they found on Borsippa?"

"They have. I may have the… missing piece… in my possession."

"That would be excellent."

"Myomis will be… safe?" Nem sat stiffly in his seat, leaning forward.

"I can guarantee that we will be giving Doctor Jackson all of our attention." Hammond paused, gathering his thoughts. "Nem, I must ask, can you use your technology to repress the memories of Myomis?"

The Oannes looked steadily at the SGC's commanding officer before nodding curtly. "I… can."

Hammond's eyebrows went up. "Then-"

Nem interrupted. "But I… will… not."

"Nem." Hammond tried again.

The Oannes' neck scale flared in irritation. "I understand… what you have told me. My son… lives in Daniel. My mate lives… lost on this world. Daniel will help me… I will… help… Daniel."

Hammond returned Nem's stare with one of his own. Eventually, he had to concede to the alien. They had nothing with which to bargain and no way to force the issue.

"I must… return. Your world is too… dry for me. I will search for… the bracelet and… contact you… soon." Nem rose to his feet slowly, Hammond joining him.

"Thank you for your help. For what it's worth, I sincerely hope that we can help you find your wife."

Nem nodded again and made his way to the Gateroom and the Stargate.

- - - - -

Chapter Seventeen

Jack spent an impatient and irritable four days while Myomis slept and SG1 brooded. The moment Myomis's care was returned to Fraiser, she had him out of the isolation room and into a VIP suite where he could be monitored in somewhat more private quarters.

Carter busied herself with writing some programs to try to extrapolate how the constellation on the door in Borsippa may have been altered since Babylonian times. Teal'c haunted the archaeology labs with Fulton and Haller working on translating the images on the doors and researching Daniel's notes on Babylonian Goa'uld. Jack stayed with Myomis, even badgering the nursing staff into bringing in an ugly, lumpy old cot. He grumbled each morning but refused to leave for anything other than basic needs. He had brought a book with him after returning from Borsippa. It was an astronomy book. Jack perused it, hoping something would remind him of the Borsippa door constellation.

Myomis, for his part, concentrated on being very, very ill. The medicines in his system reacted very badly with each other this time, making him nauseous and dizzy. He was suffering from bad tremors and barely able to focus his eyes. He took the easiest option open to him and curled up on his bed, under the covers, and slept.

After 96 hours of this, Hammond proposed a return trip to Borsippa, once the constellation could be identified. SG1 was to plan out their return and present Hammond with a plan of action. Jack was determined that Daniel and Myomis were to be part of that plan.

"So… can he come with us?"

Jack's question was blunt, aimed directly at Janet Fraiser. The doctor gave him a tight smile and looked over at Myomis.

"Colonel-"

"Doc?"

"Colonel." Janet began again. "Doctor Jackson- Myomis still has a very high concentration of haloperidol in his system. He has medicines to control his blood pressure, pain killers, sedatives, medicines to aid his digestion, and medicines to control the side-effects of the haloperidol, not to mention his regular antihistamines. There is no way I can consider him fit for duty."

"So, tomorrow?" Jack was fluctuating between being deliberately dense and meanly inquisitive, driving home Daniel's health-care inflicted weaknesses.

"Colonel, it's going to be at least a week before I allow Doctor Jackson off the base, never mind off the planet." Janet's words were crisp, reminding Jack that her treatment options had been denied.

"That's still…" Jack paused in mid-sentence, considering. He swung back to face Fraiser. "Pain-killers?"

The doctor grimaced. "Myomis is being weaned off the haloperidol. If you remember from last time, the drugs took a while to leach out of his system. We're looking at higher doses here."

"And?" Jack snapped.

"And…" Janet drew out the word, trying to delay the inevitable. As the Colonel's frown grew deeper, she spoke up. "And, the headaches are back."

Jack paused, scratching the top of his head as he considered. Fraiser watched him warily, like one would watch a wild animal in a small cage.

"Well… that could be good, right?" Jack finally spoke up. Fraiser stopped holding her breath and nodded.

"Previously, the headaches were tied in with the personality switch. Introduction of haloperidol into the system generally prompts a regression of the minor personality and the major one becomes the primary resident. Discontinuing the haloperidol may allow for a more normalized relationship between the conflicting psyches."

Jack gave her a long look. "And that could be good, right?"

Janet let a small grin escape. "If it brings Doctor Jackson back to us, it could be very good, Colonel." She picked up Daniel's medical chart and made some notes. "We'll have to monitor his blood pressure very carefully. I'm hopeful that we may see a decrease in the headaches and the blood pressure as the drugs leave his system."

"Decrease? What makes you think that? Seems like it just got worse."

"Well, to be honest, Colonel, I don't think the medicines we were using had much of an effect. Doctor Jackson's blood pressure dropped as his personalities began to integrate. At the time, we put it down to the medication, but perhaps as Doctor Jackson and Myomis achieved some sort of symmetry, their blood pressure will normalize naturally."

Jack looked over at the lean figure curled up in a ball on the bed. "Sooner, the better."

- - - - -

"Unscheduled offworld activation."

Hammond walked down the stairs and into the control room as the iris slid shut. "Do we have a GDO signal?"

The technician shook his head. "Nothing yet, sir." He paused, staring at the monitors. "Wait. We have a radio transmission incoming."

"Let's hear it." Hammond's head lifted as the crackling sound filled the control room.

"This is… Nem."

The General leaned over and depressed the microphone switch. "This is General George Hammond."

"I have brought… the key."

Hammond nodded to the technician. "Open the iris."

They watched as the iris retracted and then Hammond clicked on the microphone again. "Nem, the door is open. You are welcome to join us."

"I will come now."

There was a pause, long enough for Hammond to exit the control room and join the soldiers in the Gateroom. He had reached the end of the ramp as Nem appeared through the event horizon. His shoulders straightened up as Nem walked slowly down the gate ramp. The Oannes was wearing another long, regal looking robe and he held a box in his hand.

He presented the box to Hammond.

"Many years ago… I sent agents back to… your world. They searched for… my mate. They found only… relics. This matches... the carving."

Hammond took the box, hesitating only slightly before opening it. Inside was a heavy gold bracelet. He studied it for a short moment before looking back up at Nem.

"I would like to see… my son." Nem rasped, his neck scales flaring.

Hammond nodded. "Please, follow me."

- - - - -

"Buhur." Nem touched a clawed hand to Myomis's cheek. Slowly, Myomis's eyes opened, squinting and then refocusing on the tall alien standing over him.

"Abi." He returned sleepily, with a smile.

"Buhur… you must awaken."

Myomis ground the heels of his palms into his eyes, trying to wake up a bit. He grimaced as he hauled himself into a seated position, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.

Janet was there immediately as the Oannes yawned and scratched his jaw. She took his free arm and measured his pulse, following that up with the blood pressure meter.

Jack, who had been sitting in a chair the whole time, and who was still glaring at Nem whenever he thought the blue alien wasn't looking, stood up. "Doc?" He queried, correctly interpreting Fraiser's tight-lipped expression.

"Well… as we thought, Myomis's blood pressure is starting to go up. Myomis." She stepped in front of the Oannes in order to get his attention. Myomis blinked and smiled. "Myomis." Janet remained stern. "We have to be careful. You must relax. You must tell us if Daniel returns. Okay?"

"Okay, Janet. Relax."

"What is wrong?" Nem asked. He and Myomis had spoken two days earlier, but the younger Oannes had not understood enough medical terminology to explain his condition.

Janet tried to put the most positive spin on things. No need to let Nem know that they had attempted to medicate his first-born son out of existence. "Doctor Jackson and Myomis have had difficulties integrating their personalities."

Both of the Oannes stared at her, and then at each other. Jack grimaced. They might be picking up the language incredibly fast, but Janet Fraiser could talk rings around Daniel on his best day.

"Myomis and Daniel don't play well with others." He supplied with a shrug.

Both Oannes then turned and faced him. They gave him a blank stare and then looked at each other again. Myomis said a few words in Akkadian to Nem in a very dry tone of voice. The tall alien made a strange chuffing noise that onlookers could only assume meant he was laughing.

Myomis shook his head, flipping his long hair out of his eyes and then stretched his back. "Daniel wishes to return. The pain is Daniel. He fights for his proper place. I will not fight him. He is welcome."

"For now, you need to rest." Janet spoke up, guiding Myomis back down to the bed.

"Sir!" Sam jogged in to the room, stopping as all eyes turned to her. "Sirs." She amended, looking first at the General and then at O'Neill. "Nem." She bobbed her head and got a slow nod in return. Myomis craned his neck and peered at her but was prevented from rising by both Nem and Jack who each put a hand on his chest and held him down.

"Rest." Jack stated, looking down at the alien intelligence trapped in his friend's body. He looked back at his second in command. "What's up, Carter?"

"Sir, I have some results from the extrapolation program." Sam waved a sheaf of papers at the Colonel. Jack stepped forward and held out a hand.

"What is this?" Nem cocked his head.

"Uh… there's a constellation, a star pattern on the temple door on Borsippa. We think it may be an Earth constellation. At least… the Colonel is pretty convinced." Sam's eyes followed Jack as he flipped through the papers. He discarded them as he went, letting them flutter to the floor. Finally, he picked one and held it up.

While everyone's attention was focused on Jack, Myomis managed to sit upright without Janet noticing. He reached out and took the paper.

"Jack, what?"

Jack ignored him as he flipped through the astronomy book he had brought with him to Myomis's room after the team's return from Borsippa. "Ophiuchus." He announced, turning the book around and holding it up.

"Sir?" Sam's eyebrows went up.

"Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer." Jack flipped the book back over and started to read. "Ophiuchus vel Serpentarius, the Serpent Holder, is generally identified with Aesculapius a physician who was later made a god. Serpents were always associated with physicians as symbols of prudence, renovation, wisdom, and the power of discovering healing herbs. The modern symbol for medicine derives from this." He flipped a couple of pages. "Hey, it's the little known thirteenth sign of the zodiac. That has to mean something, doesn't it?" He laid the book down on the bed and looked around.

"Ophiuchus?" Sam looked at Hammond. "Sir, now that the Colonel has identified the constellation, we may be able to find a planet that somehow is identified with one of the stars in the constellation. This may narrow down the potential addresses from potentially billions-"

"Seventy-seven point five billion, to be exact." Jack broke in.

Sam paused for a moment. "Uh… Narrows it down to a few."

"Get on it, Captain." Hammond nodded.

"Sir." Sam bowed her head briefly and left the room after giving Myomis's arm a light squeeze.

For a moment, Jack, Janet, Hammond, Nem and Myomis sat and simply stared at each other, unsure of what to say next. It was finally coming together. For the first time, it seemed as though they could really find Omoroca. They could really get Daniel back. They all swung around as Teal'c entered the room bearing a simple cloth sack over one shoulder.

"Teal'c." Jack exclaimed gratefully, stepping forward. "What's up?"

The Jaffa clasped his hands behind his back and bowed slightly. "Doctor Fraiser suggested earlier that Myomis and Daniel Jackson may benefit from Kel-no-reem. I offered to teach Daniel Jackson and I felt that it would be advantageous to extend that invitation to Myomis at this time."

"Ah." Jack's eyebrows went up. "And that would be my cue to…" He waved a hand. "To… To help Carter." He held up his book to corroborate his story and slipped out of the room with a nod to his CO and to Myomis.

Hammond looked at those still present before speaking up. "Nem, perhaps we could leave Teal'c to his work here and we could discuss something of your people's history. Doctor Haller and Sergeant Fulton have been quite anxious to meet with you again. They are translating the writings they found on Borsippa."

Nem turned and looked at Myomis. The pair exchanged some short words. Eventually, Myomis smiled and closed his eyes. Nem touched his hand to Myomis's cheek and followed Hammond out of the room.

Teal'c and Myomis both turned to look at Doctor Fraiser. She eventually nodded and backed out of the room, promising to remain near by.

All alone, Teal'c turned to the Oannes trapped in the body of the SGC's lead archaeologist. "Myomis."

"Teal'c." Myomis replied evenly.

"We will continue our lessons in Kel-no-reem. Are you prepared?"

Myomis scooted backward on his bed until he could sit cross-legged in the middle. Teal'c opened the bag and started to pull out candles. He placed them throughout the room and Myomis closed his eyes and tilted back his head, taking in deep breaths.

Myomis's shoulders started to relax as he fell into the rhythm of the meditation. Teal'c lit the candles and sat on the floor at the foot of the bed. He watched the Oannes for a moment and then spoke softly.

"Unclench your fists and place the backs of your hands on your knees." Myomis opened one eye and looked at the Jaffa. Teal'c added, "Slowly. Do not lose the timing of your breathing."

Myomis nodded, and then shook his head as his bangs slid forward into his face. His breathing slightly disrupted, he took one deep breath and then brought himself back into time.

"Are you in pain?" Teal'c asked in a soft monotone, his posture relaxed but his eyes keenly focused on Myomis.

The Oannes took two deep breaths before sighing out a soft, "Yes.".

Teal'c nodded. "You must be very cautious during this time. Not only your safety is at issue here, but Daniel Jackson's as well."

"I understand." Myomis whispered.

"When the pain becomes too great, you must find a dark place. Take the stance of Kel-no-reem and clear your mind."

"Yes." Myomis rolled his neck slightly, loosening up his muscles.

"Concentrate only on peace, on the quiet. Let your mind sink through your body and allow it to relax."

"Okay." Myomis's shoulders slumped and his head tilted forward. Teal'c straightened up as Myomis's smooth forehead abruptly wrinkled up in a deep frown.

"Myomis?" Teal's got to his knees as the Oannes' breathing turned ragged.

"Teal'c." The man grated out. "The pain returns, much greater than before."

Teal'c stood as Myomis bent at the waist and curled up, his head almost touching the covers. The Jaffa moved immediately to the phone and called the infirmary. Fortunately, Janet had returned to her office immediately after she left Myomis and Teal'c to their meditation.

"Janet Fraiser."

"Doctor Fraiser, you must return immediately." Teal'c's voice rose slightly in inflection, betraying his concern.

"Teal'c? What's wrong?" He could hear Fraiser moving as she talked, not wasting time as she gathered her materials.

"Myomis is in pain and Kel-no-reem does not help."

"I'll be right there."

Knowing that she was as good as her word, Teal's dropped the phone back into the cradle and knelt by Myomis. "Myomis, you must deepen your breathing and attempt to relax." He tried to ease the young man into a seated position. Myomis slowly unwound, his eyes shut tightly.

"Breathe deeply." Teal'c entreated. Myomis arched upward and tilted his head back. Teal'c gripped his upper arm tightly, keeping him steady.

Myomis's head snapped sideways, his eyes wide and startled, locked on Teal'c. The Jaffa straightened up and spoke in a low voice.

"Daniel Jackson?"

"Teal'c?"

They both looked sideways as Janet flung open the door and entered at a dead run. She echoed the word spoken only a heartbeat before.

"Teal'c?"

Teal'c nodded. "Daniel Jackson has returned to us, Doctor Fraiser."

Janet's eyes locked on the archaeologist, who was huddling up, the very picture of misery. He licked his lips and swallowed heavily.

"Doctor Jackson." Janet's commanding tone drew his gaze upward. "What hurts?"

"Janet?" He licked his lips again and reached out a hand. "I-"

He never finished the sentence as his eyes rolled back in his head and his body started to convulse.

"No!" Janet cried, gesturing for Teal'c to lower Daniel to the bed. She returned to the door and barked out orders to the SFs standing guard. One of them spoke into his radio, relaying orders to get a medical team to the VIP suite. Teal'c, meanwhile, applied all of his strength to the task of keeping Daniel still as his body rebelled.

- - - - -