Teal'c laid Jonas on a gurney waiting at the bottom of the embarkation ramp, which was then wheeled to the elevator for the short ride to the infirmary. The returning members of SG2 went with for their post mission check-up.
"What happened?" demanded General Hammond.
"Jonas Quinn was struck by a hand device during the battle with the Goa'uld who ruled the planet. The Goa'uld is now dead," replied Teal'c with evident satisfaction.
"General," Jane spoke up. "With your permission I'd like to speak with Dr Frasier."
"Go," he barked before turning back to Teal'c. "Where are Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter and Dr Jackson?"
"They are bringing refugees."
"Refugees?" Hammond looked startled. "How many are we talking about?"
"I am unsure to the exact number General. At least fifty. They are survivors from the planet on which we found Daniel Jackson."
"So, this woman he wanted to search for?"
"Is amongst them, yes."
"Well at least that's one good thing," said the General and Teal'c inclined his head in agreement.
Behind them the gate began dialling.
"Incoming wormhole," came the familiar cry.
Meanwhile in the infirmary Jane watched silently as Dr Frasier examined her latest patient. "Prep him for surgery," she told a nurse. "We're going to have to find the cause of the bleeding and stop it."
"Dr Frasier, Janet," Jane spoke up. "If I may."
"What's on your mind?"
"You have a healing device. Jacob mentioned using it when he tried to help Daniel. I can use it on Jonas, save you having to operate."
"Are you sure?" Janet asked. She still had an inherent distrust of all things alien when it came to the care of her patients.
"I am Tok'Ra, I can do this. He was injured protecting me, please let me help him."
"Very well, I'll fetch it," Janet assented, leaving Jane alone with the still unconscious Jonas while she went to retrieve the device from its wall safe.
Jane looked down at Jonas, so pale and still and fear gripped her heart. "Don't you go dying on me Jonas Quinn," Jane murmured, dropping a feather light kiss on his forehead.
Janet caught the tail end of the kiss. An interesting development. "Here you go," she handed Jane the healing device. "Do your thing."
Jane slipped on the device, settled it in the palm of her hand, summoned Maia's help and concentrated. She was oblivious to Jack and Sam coming into the infirmary, nor did she notice Teal'c joining them.
"What is going on here Dr Frasier?" Jack asked in an undertone.
"Jane, or rather Maia has offered her help with Jonas condition."
"And you agreed?" he looked at Janet as if she'd gone mad.
"Yes Colonel. We have all seen the benefits of the healing device. If it means I don't have to operate, which will just make Jonas recovery time longer then I believe this is for the best." Janet was quite impressed with herself; she actually sounded like she believed what she was saying, rather than hoped she had made the right decision.
After an age her hand dropped. "He is healed," announced Maia. Her head dipped and Jane came to the surface. "Holy crap, that's hard work!"
"You spent way too much time with the Colonel," Sam noted.
"And that's a bad thing how exactly?" Jack countered.
"Is Jonas Quinn healed?" Teal'c asked, more interested in the important stuff.
"Mostly. We have done all we can, now he needs sleep, lots of sleep to let his body finish the process," Jane answered.
Janet stepped in to check her patient and was able to confirm Jonas condition much improved, after which she ordered everyone else off for their post mission check up.
"You've got a full house today doc," Jack warned. "And we need to get a message to the Tok'Ra soonest. Looks like we've all picked up Jane's virus during our visit."
Janet looked stunned. "How?"
"It's fed into the air supply within the palace and compound," Sam told her. "One breath and you're infected. So long as you stay you're safe."
"Oh my lord!"
"Yeah. Go contact the folks," Jack ordered Jane. "Tell them they better have something ready or I'm not going to be a happy camper. I'm not hot on the idea of retiring off world until someone can fix our current problem. Go kid, quick as you like. Oh," Jack called after her. "Jonas, good work."
"Thanks."
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Avice's first impression of Daniel's home was a jumble of noise and images, of strange voices telling her where to go, of corridors leading to elevators which took them up to more corridors, to what looked like a small hospital. And all of this was deep underground. The surface of his world was far, far above their heads. Just so long as she could hold tightly to Daniel's hand Avice knew she would be okay, that the nightmare existence she'd been living in the weeks since her kidnap from her home really was over. As long as Daniel was with her once more.
Then at the infirmary he left her.
"I have to go to a meeting," he explained. "It's the same after every mission we go on, a full report has to be made to General Hammond. I'm expected to be there."
"What will happen to me? To all of us?" Avice asked.
"Don't worry about that right now. The base is well used to unexpected refugees in need of homes, we have accommodation for all of you a few floors up, showers, clean clothes, plenty of food. You'll be well taken care of."
"Will I see you when your meeting is over?" she wanted to know.
"I didn't know. Not for a while. I have responsibilities, duties…"
"Please come," Avice tried to slip her arms around him only for Daniel to deftly avoid the contact.
"I can't say when," Daniel hedged.
"But you will come," she pushed.
"Later."
Avice watched him leave the infirmary and submitted herself to all the tests and examinations with stoic patience. He would come back. They would be together again. Everything was going to be fine.
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"Hey."
"Hey Jack," Jane smiled up at him.
"How's the patient?"
Jane glanced across at Jonas. "Sleeping himself better."
"Okay. You planning on sitting there all night?"
"Yes."
"That's dumb." From behind his back Jack produced two spoons. "Wouldn't you rather do something recreational like, oh I don't know, eating maybe?"
Jane was torn. She wanted to maintain her vigil but she wanted to go play with Jack.
"I can get the doc to give him something to make sure he stays asleep," Jack offered.
"No!" Jane looked horrified. "That's not funny Jack." Go, urged Maia, I want to know what ice-cream tastes like. You know full well Jonas will not wake for many hours. Lighten up, let's enjoy ourselves for a while.
"Well?" Jack waggled the spoons.
Soon the pair had assumed their favourite positions, on the big couch in Jack's quarters, Jane curled comfortably against his side, a tub of ice-cream between them and as many deserts as they could boost from the commissary on the table within reach without having to do more than stretch out an arm. Food heaven.
"I've missed this," Jane sighed contentedly.
"Missed what? Pie?"
"Pie for sure, but mostly I missed being here with you, doing our stuff."
"New life not as exciting as you expected?" he asked.
"My new life is everything I could hope for. That doesn't mean to say I can't miss what I left behind. Why do you dislike the Tok'Ra Jack?" Jane jumped straight in at the deep end.
Her change of topic caught Jack on the hop. He'd had a feeling that at some point she was going to force him to answer questions he really wasn't ready for, but not so soon, he thought he'd have more time to prepare. Instead he tried for humour to hide his discomfort. "How long have you got?" he joked.
"As long as you need. Explain it to me. I know about Kanan, I know about Ba'al, but that can't be it," Jane knew exactly what he was trying to do and was not going to let him deflect her from her chosen course.
"Isn't that enough?"
"Maia knew Kanan, she tells me what he did was completely out of character. He must have loved Shaylin very much, which is a failing of the Tok'Ra, they do love deeply."
"So I've been told," Jack said dryly. "Doesn't help any."
"I guess not. It's still not enough though."
"What isn't?"
Your dislike of Kanan," Jane replied. "It doesn't fit with the Jack I know and love."
"Steady on there."
Jane frowned at him. "You like Jacob, and you trust him."
"That's different. Jacob was a good soldier before…" Jack chose a particularly succulent piece of pie and dug into it. "We've been involved in a number of Tok'Ra missions, and almost without fail they haven't been completely honest with us from the outset."
"Ah," now that Jane could understand.
"They're sneaky and secretive, always got their own agenda within the parameters of the mission and so I don't trust 'em."
"What will it take for you to trust us?" she asked.
"Honesty." One word pretty much said it all.
"You'll always have that from me."
"So I should hope or I've been raising you all wrong. And speaking of raising you wrong kid, what's with Jonas?" Jack changed the subject, keen to move away from a potential emotional minefield.
Colour flooded Jane's face. "Don't let's go there," she pleaded.
"I disagree, let's surely go there. If you want to grill me the least I can do is return the favour. So," he dug her in the ribs with his elbow. "Got a crush on Jonas have you?"
"Yes. No! I don't know. Maybe."
"I'll take that as a yes. Why? What on earth do you see in him?" Jack pressed on.
"He's cute."
Jack laughed at her. "Cute? Come on kid, he's another geek."
"He is not," Jane retorted, stung by his slur on Jonas character.
"Is too."
"Is not. He's clever and funny and totally dedicated to the work you do. He's kind and considerate, so patient with me when I first arrived, not afraid to be the one I threw on the mat in exercise lessons. He's never going to be a great warrior, he thinks too much, and that is one of his most endearing traits of all. I just like him, okay."
"You have got a crush on him. He's too old for you, you are way, WAY too young for him."
"Oh please!" Jane huffed.
"Trust me on this."
"No."
"Why not?" Jack asked, affronted.
"Because I don't want to. Already I have Maia telling me what I should and shouldn't be thinking and doing, I don't need you as well. Personally I trust my own judgement thank you."
"Well your judgement's wrong."
"Jack…"
"Oh no," Jack slapped his hand across her mouth. "Subject closed. We will return to it at a later date if I think your judgement is still screwed. Simpsons are about to start."
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When Jonas eventually opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Jane sitting calmly by his side, reading from a small book. The slight movement of his head drew her attention and she smiled warmly. "Hello."
"Hello," Jonas replied. His throat was dry and as if by magic Jane held a cup with a straw to his mouth. "How long have I…?" he managed after a long refreshing drink.
"Two days," Jane told him. "I was beginning to think I'd done something wrong and you weren't ever going to wake."
"You healed me?"
"It was that or Doctor Frasier was going to have to operate."
"Thank you." Jonas reached out his hand, which Jane took in her own, linking their fingers together.
"Promise me you'll never get in the way of a hand device again Jonas," she told him. "Not for my sake, not ever."
"Let's both try and avoid them in future," he offered.
"Yes, that works for me. I thought I was going to lose you," there was tears in Jane's eyes and Jonas felt his heart contract painfully.
"I'm harder to get rid of than that," he assured her.
"I was so scared." Tentatively Jane reached up to stroke his face and Jonas let his eyes close for a moment to better enjoy the sensation of her fingers tracing along his cheekbones.
"What have I missed?" Jonas asked eventually, reluctant to break the spell while at the same time needing to know.
"Jack killed Erebus, Daniel and Sam released the prisoners and brought them all back to Earth. Jacob came through with the antidote all ready for use than goodness, and everyone is clear of the virus. Oh and Daniel says that in Earth mythology Erebus was a God of Darkness, the son of Chaos."
"Hence being sent to eternal darkness," Jonas finished for her.
"Exactly," Jane smiled and it faded too fast for his liking. "I have to go."
"So soon?" Jonas couldn't keep the disappointment for his voice and Jane adored him for it. "A few more days, surely they can spare you a little longer."
"I was supposed to leave yesterday," she told him. "You should have woken up sooner."
"I would have if I'd known."
"Jacob is running out of patience with me."
"I'm sorry."
"Me too. I just wanted to be sure you were going to be okay."
"Kiss me and I will be," he said impulsively.
Jane blinked. "Excuse me?"
Jonas squeezed the hand he was still holding on to. "You heard."
"I'm not sure I did."
"Kiss me."
"You're in the infirmary Jonas, we are in the infirmary, anyone might…"
"I know where we are, and if I wasn't lying in this bed I would most certainly be kissing you about now. As it is I need a little help. Please."
Jane continued her scrutiny of him, searching his face for something, anything to help her out of her predicament. In the end she ducked down and touched her lips to his. Oh boy, they both thought. Interesting, observed Maia dispassionately. Jonas brought his free hand up, slid it round the back of Jane's neck and tugged her back for an encore. No way was one kiss sufficient, he'd been dreaming of her mouth, her lips since he'd watched the transformation from child to woman at the hands of the Tok'Ra, and to finally have the real thing, well he wasn't in any hurry to give it up. Jane couldn't believe something so simple could feel so perfect. Where she came from affection was in very short supply, you learnt not to show you cared about anything or anyone, so to be able to let go and simply enjoy the moment, the touch of another human being, was heaven. Maia began to enjoy it too.
Sam, on her way to check up on the patient, caught their embrace from the doorway. With a private grin she pulled the door closed. Let them have their moment. Too few of those on a military base. If, despite everything that happened, Jane and Jonas had found something special, then they deserved to enjoy it. Uninterrupted. Better head the Colonel off, Sam thought to herself, he might not feel quite the same way, watching his little girl kissing Jonas.
"Are you sure you can't stay?" Jonas asked after a lengthy interval.
"I wish I could," Jane replied with evident regret. "But I have other duties now. Jacob's taking me on my first Tok'Ra mission."
"Where? To do what?"
She shook her head. "I can't say."
"How long will you be gone?"
"I don't know. As long as it takes."
Jonas gripped her hands fiercely. "Be careful. I don't want…"
"I know. Same goes for you."
"When it's over, do you think perhaps we might, that you could visit, spend some time here? That is of course if you want to," he added, showing all too clearly his insecurities.
"What makes you think I might not want to come back? Silly thing. I'll be back. Count on it." Jane kissed him one last time. "Now I must go. Be well and be safe Jonas Quinn."
"And you. Listen to Maia. Take very good care, both of you."
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Daniel tapped lightly on the door and swallowed. Of all the things he'd been asked to do over the last few years, this was one of the worst. And no one had asked him to do it; he just knew it was the right thing.
"Come in."
In he went. The room was in shadow, a solitary figure sitting on the bed, knees drawn up to her chin, face grey from lack of sleep. Dressed in borrowed army fatigues Avice looked much younger than her twenty-seven years and Daniel's guilt factor quadrupled.
"At last!" she cried, jumping from the bed and covering the distance between them in a flash. Daniel closed his arms round her and for a time they clung together much as they had back on her planet.
"Where have you been?" Avice demanded.
"There was a lot to do," he replied weakly.
"For two days? Two days Daniel and nothing, not so much as a word."
"I'm sorry."
"So what happens now?" she asked, face still pressed in his neck. "When can we leave the base? When do I get to see our new home? I want to see and experience everything with you."
"Avice," Daniel gently disentangled himself and stepped back. "We need to talk."
"You sound awfully serious. What happened to my happy go lucky, everything will be better tomorrow Daniel?"
"He got his memory back. I've remembered who I really am."
"Everything?"
"Pretty much. And it means I can no longer be the Daniel you knew back then. I'm sorry Avice, I can't go back."
"Don't…" she gulped. "Don't you love me any more?"
"I love you Avice, I will always love you, just not in the way you want me to."
"I don't understand."
Daniel pushed her gently into a chair, pulled another up front and took her hands in his. "I know who I am Avice. I'm a part of all of this. I travel through the Stargate to different worlds, meeting different races of people, some good, some bad, trying in a small way to help redress the balance. And I've lost people I loved because of what I do."
"Sha're?" Avice asked in a tight voice.
"Yes, Sha're. She was taken like you by a Goa'uld, only I wasn't so lucky that time, I didn't find her until it was too late and he'd already made her a host."
"And now she's dead," Avice avoided Daniel's gaze.
"Yes. Sha're is not the only person I cared for that I have lost, there have been too many. I don't want anything else bad to happen to you because of me."
"Why should it?" Avice countered. "I'm on your world, I'm safe. Nothing can hurt me here."
"Not true I'm afraid, Earth isn't immune. I'm sorry Avice, it has to be this way. You deserve a long, fulfilling life far away from the horrors you have already endured."
"I want a life with you Daniel, that's all I've ever wanted."
"And it's the one thing I can't offer you," he told her honestly. "We've contacted some of our allies, good people who have offered all the plague survivors a home with them."
"You want me to leave?" Avice couldn't believe this was happening to her.
"I want what's best for you. I came to tell you that General Hammond, in recognition of your selfless act in rescuing me and taking me in to your home when I had nothing, has told me to inform you that what ever you choose to do will be respected."
"What do you want me to do Daniel?" she asked, her head still reeling.
"I want you to be happy. I want you to be at peace."
"But you've just made that impossible."
"I'm sorry," and he meant it. "In many ways I wish I could turn back the clock, go back to slowly starving to death with you, go back to not remembering my past. I can't. All we can do now is accept the hand we've been dealt and move on. You can do anything, go anywhere."
Avice took a deep breath. After all the knocks and disappointment in her life so far, what was one more? Even if it was the worst. She would survive it. She had to survive it. Part of her accepted the logic of Daniel's words, that their life could never go back to the way it was, too much had changed for both of them and to try and pretend it hadn't was a recipe for disaster. But another part of her, the not so rational part wanted him so badly. Not a day had gone by when she hadn't found herself daydreaming of their future together, of that house full of children he'd so often talked about, of watching their family grow strong, healthy and happy. And now she was being forced to accept that her dreams were never going to become reality, that because her living hell was finally over she was to be denied all she had ever wanted. Where was the fairness in that? Where was the reward? Why was she being punished instead? What had she done that was so wrong?
Avice made her decision. "I want to stay here, on Earth, on your world. This is where I want to make a life for myself. Nowhere else. No more travelling."
"You sure?"
She nodded. "I want to be a part of this world, I've journeyed enough. Let me stay. Let me be this close even if I can't be as close as I'd like."
Daniel smiled awkwardly. "I'll speak to General Hammond."
"At least if I stay on your world, when you finally come to your senses you'll know where to find me." Avice stood and put some distance between them. She pulled the shreds of her dignity around her and held her head high. "I need you to go now Daniel. I know that very soon I'm going to cry and I would prefer to be alone."
"Avice don't." Every word she spoke was an arrow through his gut.
"Don't what? Be honest? Surely if you can I can. Leave now. Let me cry in private."
Daniel opened the door, paused and looked back at her. "Did I ever tell you what your name means in my culture?"
"No."
"War and refuge. I have never known anyone suit their name as well as you. You were my refuge. Without you I know I would never have survived my own personal war, and I will love you for that until the end of days. I'll never forget you."
"You're really not helping. Go."
Daniel went.
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Jane stood in the gateroom, making her goodbyes before setting off on the next leg of her journey with Jacob. Jack went to see them off, Sam and General Hammond looking on from the control room.
"You look after her Jacob," Jack told him sternly.
"Like I have any choice," he replied. "Okay, okay, I'll keep a very close eye on her for all of you. How's that?"
"I guess it'll have to do. See you kid. Keep your head down and listen to Jacob."
"I will. Same goes to you Jack, no stupid heroics while I'm not around."
"Yes mom."
"Jack," Jane drew him to one side. "I just want to say thank you."
"For what?" he looked puzzled.
"For letting me come with you, back to my world, to finally lay some ghosts. Ever since I left I've felt guilty. Guilty for managing to escape that terrible man's grip when so many were left to suffer his particular brand of tyranny. I finally feel free, free to start looking ahead, free to start living."
"No sweat kid."
"And look after Jonas for me," she added cheekily.
"Not EVER going to happen young lady. Get away from me, go on, go. Get busy with Tok'Ra stuff, forget about him."
"Not ever going to happen," she mimicked. "I love you Jack," Jane hugged him fiercely.
"Get."