A/N: I just wanted to thank everyone for all the follows and reviews! I know there are way more people reading this than are reviewing and following, but I just wanted to say thank you anyway! It really means a lot that there are a consistent number of readers for this story. I've never really done a long-form SG-1 fanfiction on here before, at least not a standalone (the other was a seaQuest crossover). Please feel free to drop a comment or full review so I know I'm still doing something interesting! I know the first few chapters were short and slow, but things will start to pick up from here! Have a great week everyone :)

Chapter 4

"The thing is, Jack… I think it's the way it's supposed to be," Daniel said as they walked toward the jumper. The corridors of Area 51 seemed to close in on him as they walked, proving to Daniel that he may just not get away with this.

"And who's to say that?" Jack questioned him. "I know it's not my thing," he stressed that last word, "but you're not just trying to bring her back—you're going to change what happened. Has happened."

Daniel pointed at him, "Not by much, though. When the other team came through with Martouf and Dr. Frasier, Cam and I were still there. He still joined SG-1, which means you probably still got promoted."

"And Sam?" the Colonel asked him as they neared the door. He swiped his keycard and nodded at the airmen, who let the two of them in.

"Was on maternity leave," he mumbled.

"Ah! See! This is what I mean! The Sam I know doesn't want kids until all of this," he gestured at the air, "was over."

"Well in her defense," Daniel was quick to say, "we defeated the Goa'uld months ago. It wasn't until Vala came along that we got caught up in this mess with the Ori." Daniel pointed to the jumper and urged Jack inside.

"Which Janet's team was still dealing with in their time, according to your report."

"Yes," Daniel said. He walked to the front of the jumper and sat in the passenger seat with a sigh. "Look, it was just an idea, okay? Yeah, we don't know what would change—if anything—but I thought it was worth a try."

Jack also sat with a heavy sigh, though careful not to touch any of the jumper's consoles. "We all miss her, Daniel."

"I wish people would stop telling me that," he told Jack. "She saved my life too many times for me not to return the favor." Then, more quietly, he added. "It'd only be fair."

"Look, I wasn't there last week. I didn't see her or Martouf, but clearly something happened that allowed both of them to live. But that's their reality… world… whatever. Things happened the way they did here for a reason."

Daniel looked him directly in the eyes. "Then explain why I get to cheat death time and time again, and she can't?"

"I… can't," he said, and it was true. He didn't know what to say. True, it wasn't fair but that didn't change anything. What's done is done. If you could save people from death, wouldn't Daniel realize he'd go back and save Charlie, amongst countless others? "Daniel, I don't know what to tell you," he said finally, shifting his arm as it was starting to fall asleep.

As he did so, Daniel noticed where Jack's arm landed. How his hand now nonchalantly graced the main console. Clearly Jack didn't notice it—or maybe he did, and he was simply inviting Daniel to do it. Either way, it wouldn't matter—not until after the change, anyways.

Daniel jolted forward, quickly tapping at the keys.

Before Jack knew what was happening, he was trying to pull Daniel away from the console—but his free hand still made contact with a control. They were still struggling with each other when the change occurred, and only noticed it when they were fully surrounded by armed guards on the outside of the jumper.

"Jack!" Daniel yelled, seeing them through the windshield. "Jack, stop!"

Jack looked up at the guards, then down at his hand at the console, then to Daniel and then back to the guards. "You just had to, didn't you?"