When Jack finally came to the room Loki had directed him to, he found Charlie in a dark corner of the room, laying in a medical module which displayed low life signs. How had the boy deteriated so quickly? Daniel and Thor were discussing this phenomenon when Jack had forced Charlie's location from Loki.

Thor told Daniel the emotional stress put on Charlie at the arrival of his long gone father had thrown him over the edge. Thor had readily admitted he did not understand the many intricacies of the human mind. Seemingly healthy "specimens" exibited strange behaviors at exposure to the original counterpart's life. According to Daniel, the Asgard could not comprehend the many facets of the human being: physical, emotional, phsychological, spiritual, moral... These were terms Thor had discovered in his study of the earth beings. Indeed, it seemed even the tau'ri did not comprehend their own existence; so many opinions circulated throughout centuries of history. Yes, Daniel had admitted, however, man's understanding of himself had grown with that history, building on the previous musings and writings of those that came before.

"Then our life-works are similar in nature, Daniel Jackson," Loki interjected. "We both are in search of the mystery of life. You through history, and I through science."

"Perhaps, but with very different ends and means." Daniel responded with smoldering indignation. "Hey, where's Jack?"

Jack was approaching the boy so like his son, yet so different. As he contemplated the boy's pallid and sweating face he was reminded eerily of a similar circumstance with an even more similar boy...

"The damage is beyond repair. Colonel, Mrs. O'Neill, I am very sorry." The doctor left the soon-to-be-bereft parents with their beloved son. As soon as the doctor had left the room, Sarah had sought Jack's eyes, looking for something, anything that would make this moment bearable. Instead of finding love, support, mutual sorrow, she found nothing...his eyes were an abyss. In that moment, she knew she had lost her husband even before her son. In despair, Sarah clung to Charlie's hand and sobbed uncontrollably. Jack moved mechanically to the opposite side of the bed and grasped his son's hand, sitting in silence as the precious hand turned cold. Beneath his breath he murmered "Forgive me Charlie, I'm so sorry!"

Tears streamed down Jack's face unto the boy's hands cradled in his own. "I'm sorry, Charlie. I'm so sorry!"

"Colonel...Sir..." Jack opened his eyes and was surprised to find himself on an alien ship, cradling a breathing version of his son in his quivering arms.

"Charlie! I"m so sorry. This is my fault..."

"Colonel...Charlie forgives you. He knew you loved him, wanted to play ball. You were a great dad. "

"Charlie, I..."

"I'm not Charlie, Jack. But I have his memories. I know how he felt about you, how he forgave you after the fight. You just never had a chance to talk. The truth is, I knew I was not really Charlie. I knew something was not right. At first I was angry with you and wanted to go with Loki. Gradually I realized that what you and Charlie had, the good and the bad, was not mine, was not ours. I knew this because Charlie's memories could not grow. I could not learn from them the way I could from my own. Soon, my feelings for home and you and Sarah dimmed. When I actually met you for the first time, the original experience brought a flood of emotions. I found I was not angry any more, but my brain would not accept what my heart did. I don't know the scientific explanation, but that's the truth.

"Well, whatever part of you is Charlie, and Charlie of me, I can definitely see the resemblance...scientific explanations have never been a forte of the O'Neills. However, that mouthful you just gave must come from Sarah, cause I sure would never run off like that..." Both paused and chuckled sadly..."The way I see it, you are not Charlie, but you are someone, and you cannot be both, so..."

"Yeah..." There was a pause as both pondered the inevitable. "You know, if Charlie had been able to think about all that happened, get a little older, he would have understood why you acted that way when you came back from your missions..." A fit of coughing cut the boy off midstream. When the coughing subsided, his breathing became shallower and shallower, until finally he drew his last breath.

At that moment the others entered the room, minus Loki, who had been transported to Thor's ship to answer for his actions.

"If we hurry, O'Neill, we can put him in stasis to await the time when we understand his physiology better."

"No, Thor. For once, lets let Nature take her course. She seems to know best."

Jack turned away from the boy and glanced at Thor, then Daniel.

"You know Jack, that's something to write down for future generations to learn from, so that we don't try to do the same thing the Asgard did."

"You know, Daniel, books and history are all great, but there are also some things you just have to learn for yourself."

"Like original experience?" Carter put in.

"Well said, Major. That's exactly it." Jack looked once more upon the still form of the boy, and then walked out of the room.

Author's note: I'm sorry it has taken so long to conclude this story. From now on I'll try to finish a story before posting a chapter. I just moved out of state and have been awhile transitioning. Enjoy and please leave your thoughts and comments. Let me know if you want to hear more from me! If the interest is there, I"ll put in the work.