These chapters are smaller than my usual ones, but I'm trying to get through this quickly. Just a note that the timelines are a bit confusing - I jump back and forward between Palexia and Earth. I hope it's not confusing.

Present time - Earth

"Do we know what happened?" Daniel asked softly. Teal'c and he were sitting at the kitchen table, both half-heartedly trying to eat a sandwich. They'd managed to get Sam to bed and to sleep just a few minutes before. Daniel wasn't sure how long she'd stay down, although exhaustion might finally do the trick.

He'd been with her for two hellish days. It's not that she'd done or said anything – in fact, that was the problem. She hadn't said anything. Instead she simply sat and stared. She would drink when he'd remind her and tried eating a couple of bites of food, but beyond that nothing. He hadn't said anything to her since he was acting much the same way. His own grief was paralyzing and he knew someone else should have been there for her – and if he was honest – for him.

He'd breathed a huge sigh of relief when Teal'c had arrived. He was his usual stoic looking self – although Daniel knew him well enough to know that the big man was also having a hell of a time with grief. The very stone-like quality in his face gave truth to the deep emotions lying underneath. Still, Teal'c could be counted on to hold things together – at least in front of them. What he did in the privacy of his own thoughts – or presence – was anyone's guess.

Teal'c looked up at him and began to speak. "Colonel Davis arrived in DC yesterday", he told Daniel. "He found one of the aliens over O'Neill in the hall in front of his – O'Neill's – quarters. It appears he had been stabbed."

Daniel knew that much – the President had told him those details. What he didn't know was why or – who. "Uh do they know who -?"

"No. At first they suspected the Jasovian Prelate – Rahul, since he was found with the – with O'Neill. But it was determined that O'Neill had been – gone – for some minutes and Rahul had an alibi. He claimed he had come to speak with the General when he found him there."

"Do we believe him?"

Teal'c shrugged – an unusual gesture for him. It was those little things that made Daniel realize that his friend was also barely hanging on, even if he looked, on the surface, to be handling things better than Sam or him. "I do not know. Colonel Davis is suspicious, although he says that the evidence seems to point to the other negotiator, the Tarean Pologius."

"There's evidence?"

"The knife that was used was Tarean."

"Kind of convenient", Daniel replied.

"Indeed."

"How come Davis didn't stay – and what about Jack's -", he stopped unable to say the word.

"They will send him", Teal'c replied. "The Palexians wanted everyone from Earth gone immediately from their planet. I guess they were angry that a murder was committed on their soil. They are investigating and have held both Rahul and Pologius – everyone else is gone."

"But – that's crazy. It could have been someone else."

"I know – it is very suspicious."

"And why are they holding Jack's – Jack?"

"Again, I do not know. The President has officially protested and has asked that he be returned immediately. The Palexians have replied that it will be done in due course, once they find the guilty party."

The two men sat quietly, each thinking about what had occurred. Both were suspicious, but didn't have a clue as to what to do about it. It's not like they could go through the gate to Palexia – they wouldn't be allowed to leave Earth and they were both sure that the Palexians would stop them on the other side. Daniel suddenly wished the Asgard were still alive so he could call Thor and ask to hitch a ride.

"I wish Thor was still with us", Teal'c said quietly.

Daniel glanced at him in surprise. "I was just thinking the same thing."

Teal'c gave a small smile. "We have served together many years Daniel Jackson. As O'Neill would say – 'great minds think alike'."

"Actually, he wouldn't have said that", Daniel replied, a small smile of his own breaking out. "He hated clichés."

The two men shared a moment of humor, thinking about their friend. It didn't last for long as the grief returned in full force. Daniel pounded his hand on the table. "I wish we could do something", he said, knowing it was his way of trying to deal with some of the feelings of loss. It wouldn't bring Jack back, but dealing with his murderer would, at least, bring a moment of satisfaction.

"I as well", Teal'c nodded. "For now we must be with Samantha."

"I know", Daniel sighed. "You know she'll do all she can to find the one responsible", he told Teal'c. "She won't let this go."

"I know", his friend nodded. "And I shall be with her."

"So will I Teal'c, so will I."


Earlier on Palexia

Paul stared down at the body in shock. "Dead? No – he can't be." He swiftly knelt down and felt for the pulse. "Come on Jack – don't kid around like this." He pressed harder but still nothing. "God damn it General – don't do this to me. You've got to be okay." He turned to the pale-looking alien. "Get help!"

Rahul stood and ran down the hallway, shouting for someone to come. Davis didn't know what to do. He couldn't flip O'Neill onto his back to start CPR because of the knife sticking out of his back. It could be dangerous to remove the – what the hell was he thinking! The man was dead. With a curse he reached for the knife – not caring right now about finger prints – and tugged. It resisted but then, with a gruesome sucking sound, popped out. Paul threw it to the floor and pushed Jack onto his back and instantly started CPR.

He worked hard, interspersing his compressions with attempts to do rescue breathing. He'd been at it for a few minutes when he heard running footsteps. Relieved when he looked up to see Lieutenant Freedman. "Help me", he'd gasped.

The lieutenant nodded and took over the breathing. After a few minutes he stopped – "it's no use Sir. He's gone", he said gently. He knew the General was a personal friend of the Colonel's and so wasn't surprised when he insisted they continue. It was Major Granton who finally stopped things. By this time a large crowd had appeared, including the team from Earth.

"Sir", Granton leaned down and touched Davis on the shoulder. "Sir – he's gone. You have to stop."

Davis looked up at him, sweat dripping off his face. "No", he panted, "can't. Can't tell Colonel Carter -"

"SIR!" Granton tugged at Davis' hands. "It's not right Sir. He's gone. Leave him in peace."

It was only then that Paul looked down – and saw the General's face. It was relaxed like he'd never seen it and he suddenly knew that Granton was right. The General – Jack O'Neill – was no longer with them. He was dead.

"No", he whispered softly, letting his arms hang by his sides. "How – who could have done this? Why?"

"I don't know Sir – but we'll find out." Granton pulled his arm and then helped him stand. "Someone needs to get a stretcher. Let's get the General out of here." The Major looked down at the man he'd heard so much about. He'd only met him here on Palexia and had been impressed but he didn't feel the sense of grief that Davis was feeling. He knew it was up to him to take control.

Within moment the General's body was taken to a cold room and the rest of the people were taken to a large conference room. The Palexians – who had stayed out of the negotiations and had simply acted as hosts – suddenly took control. The head honcho – a guy by the name of Barto – stood in front of the crowd in the room.

"A heinous deed has taken place on our world", his voice boomed. "Our hospitality has been returned with foul murder and we shall not rest until it has been avenged." He went on to describe what would be done over the next few hours.

Paul listened with half an ear – disgusted at Barto's words. He was offended? His hospitality had been affronted. Paul's friend – a bona fide hero from Earth had been murdered. They were the ones who should have been offended, afronted, etc. He suddenly stood up and listened. What the hell? Everyone from Earth was being sent home? No way – no way in hell.

Of course, in the end what he said didn't matter. It was the Palexian's planet and if they wanted them gone there was nothing Paul could do. He told Barto that Earth wouldn't be happy – that he was causing offense to a potential ally, but the man has shrugged. "You will leave", he informed the people from Earth. "We will return O'Neill's body when the investigation is complete."

With no other recourse Paul gathered his belongings and his people and strode through the gate. "I'm sorry Sir", he whispered.

As soon as he was gone Barto turned to the man beside him. "Find him!" he practically shouted, "or it will go very bad for you!"


Present time

Jack had known he was dying – had known it almost instantly. The location of the pain told him that his heart had most likely been perforated. The blood – and life – quickly drained out of him. At least his last thought had been of Sam – although it had been tinged with sadness and regret.

Wait! How could he even know that? How could he even be thinking that if he was truly dead? Well, his subconscious supposed, he could be in heaven – or hell for that matter. Maybe he had ascended? No – that would be worse than hell, if it had been anything like what he'd learned through Daniel. Jack couldn't imagine a fate worse than seeing things and being unable to do anything to interfere. It was not his way to step back and watch.

He figured the best thing to do was to open his eyes and discover where he was. For a moment he smirked – trying to decide what heaven – or hell – would look like. He really hoped it was heaven, although he was also sure that without Sam beside him any place would be hell. He frowned. No, that wasn't right. He didn't want Sam here – not if it meant she would have to die. He sighed. Get on with it Jack – just open your damned eyes.

It was surprisingly harder than he'd thought it would be. After a few seconds they came unglued and he managed to open them a tiny bit – just enough to see that he was somewhere with lights turned down softly. He tried to turn his head but groaned at the movement. Okay – that hurt. He must be in hell.

"He is awake", someone outside his limited range of vision said.

"Good – I did not think he would survive."

Survive? He tried to frown. That didn't make sense. He'd been stabbed in the heart for God's sake. "Wha –" He attempted to speak but nothing came out but nonsense. He felt his head being lifted and something cold was placed to his lips.

"Drink", the voice said.

He opened his mouth to reply when a flood of cold liquid entered his mouth. He practically choked, the pain ratcheting up to intense proportions. "Stop", he managed to get out. His head was laid back gently and he managed to stop coughing. "More?" he asked, realizing that he was indeed dying of thirst. This time, however, he was prepared and sipped the water slowly. His eyes refused to work properly and all he could see were shadows and dark spots that flew around his head.

"Where?" he managed to croak out.

"You are safe", the voice replied. "Do not worry – just rest."

"Alive?" he asked, panting. It was getting harder and harder to stay awake – or maybe it was conscious, he wasn't quite sure.

"Yes, you are alive, but you are very weak and ill. You need to rest."

"Kay", he acknowledged, finally allowing himself to fade away. Again his last thought was of Sam – but this time he was relieved that she wouldn't think he'd died. He wondered when she was coming.

You didn't think I'd really kill Jack did you? More coming almost immediately. I'm going to try and finish this today – a New Year's gift for my faithful readers.