At least it wasn't a pyramid, Jack thought as he followed Daniel up the overgrown path to the ruins. Some of the etchings on the rough-hewn stone just inside the entrance looked vaguely familiar though, causing a shiver to pass through him. He was beginning to think this was all a monumental mistake. "Daniel?" He motioned the boy over and gestured at the writing. "You recognize any of this?"
Daniel's brow furrowed. "Kinda." He ran a finger down one line of letters. "It looks similar to Cuneiform, but there's something off about it. I was trying to decipher it when I was…" He waved a hand over his downsized body.
"Can you understand any of it?" Jack asked. He was suddenly impatient to get the show on the road and get the hell out of there. He glanced over his shoulder, certain that someone was lurking just behind him…
Teal'c stopped his pacing and looked at him. "O'Neill?"
Jack waved Teal'c's concern away. "It's nothing… I hope." He turned his attention back to Daniel. "Come on, sport, time's a-wasting. Any clues here to how you give Noah the clue that he's got somewhere else he needs to be?"
"Give me a minute. I think…" And Daniel – the Daniel Jack knew, whether big or small – was off, tracing the etchings with his fingers, muttering softly under his breath.
Jack sighed and turned away, walking over to join Teal'c in his pacing. "Don't mind us, Daniel. Whenever you're ready."
"Don't rush me," Daniel shouted.
Jack's head snapped up, alarm bells sounding loudly in his head. "Look, I think we should get the hell out of here. Carter, pack up your stuff and get Micah and Sahira out—"
"No!" Daniel wheeled around to face them. "They must stay." His voice had taken on a deeper timbre and his eyes darkened to an inky black. He pointed a finger at Sahira. "She must stay!" Then he doubled over, clutching at his chest. "Jack!" he wheezed, tears spilling down his cheeks. "It hurts!"
Jack rushed over to him but as he began to lift the boy into his arms, Daniel's body began to convulse. His eyes rolled back, bloody sputum foamed on his lips. "Carter, give me a hand!" Jack snarled.
Daniel's eyes opened and he stared at Jack for a moment before raising a hand and striking a blow no child should have the strength to deliver. Jack slammed back against the stone wall, his ears ringing, just barely hanging onto consciousness. He heard Teal'c's staff weapon flare to life but before the Jaffa could fire, it was whipped from his hands and dashed against the rocks. Carter's sidearm was disposed of in the same manner. Jack staggered up, shaking his head to dispel the dizziness and took a step toward the boy. "Daniel," he rasped, one hand held out.
"Your friend no longer exists," Daniel said with a sneer though it was no longer his voice that spoke. The tone was deep and menacing. "He was strong. He managed to control me long enough to return me to my tomb, but now I have control once more." The child stretched out a hand and Jack was slammed back again, pinned to the wall by an unseen force. He managed to turn his head and saw Carter and Teal'c were likewise imprisoned. Micah and Sahira cowered in a corner, murmuring softly, clinging to each other.
"Daniel," Jack gasped. "Fight it! You did it before."
The boy smiled, though there was no warmth in it. "He ruined my plan to escape twice over. The first child died when I entered his body, now this one has returned me to my tomb but I have yet another option. In order to survive, I need a host who is pure of spirit." He turned and began to walk slowly toward Sahira. "The child within you will suit my purposes perfectly."
Sahira screamed and doubled over, her hands clutching her belly. "Micah," she gasped, "the child comes!"
Micah stood, towering over Daniel but before he could take a step forward, he too was smashed back against the wall. Daniel stepped forward, reaching out to touch Sahira's swollen stomach.
"No!" The voice, high-pitched, definitely that of a child, bounced off the stones. Jack saw the shimmering image of a dark-haired young boy coalesce at the rear of the room. He held out both arms toward Daniel, as though pleading. "I will not allow you to take him."
Blinding white light flashed from the child's palms, streaking toward Daniel.
"No!" Jack shouted. The light became impossibly whiter, blinding him, burning his eyes. "No!" He saw Daniel arch his back then fall, toppling to the ground heavily. He took a hitching breath and lay still.
Jack felt himself sliding down the wall. He hit the ground with a painful thump that stole the feeling from his legs. Scrabbling forward on hands and knees, he clawed his way over to where Daniel lay motionless. Daniel's eyes were open, staring vacantly at him, his chest ominously still. "No! Damn it!" Jack reached out with trembling fingers and felt for a carotid pulse. Nothing.
"Sir?" Carter's hand touched his shoulder and he shrugged it away.
"He's not dead," he said savagely. "He can't be." Another smaller hand reached out and rested over his own.
"I am Noah. Trust me, I will return him to you, unharmed."
"Trust you?" Jack looked up at the boy who stood at his shoulder, his form still wavering. "You almost got us killed!"
The boy shook his head. "Not I. That was the demon. I had to wait until I was sure I was strong enough to defeat him."
"Noah?" Micah was standing, staring in open-mouthed astonishment at the ghostly form of the child. "You are alive?"
Noah shook his head, a sad smile upturning his mouth. "No, Father. My body died when the demon entered me, but my soul was trapped here within these walls until Daniel came. Once the demon entered him and fled, I was free to build my strength in order to defeat him." He walked over to Sahira who shielded her eyes with her hand. "Mother, do not be afraid. I have come to say goodbye." He reached out and gently touched her belly. "You carry a brother for me."
Sahira dropped her hand and stared at him. "So, you are still lost to us."
Noah shook his head and moved his hand so it rested over her heart. "I am here. I will always be here."
Jack hated to break up the reunion but Daniel was still lying, lifeless, in front of him. "What about Daniel?" he shouted. "You said you could help him!"
Noah turned and smiled at him. "Daniel has helped me to find my path. He has been rewarded for his sacrifice." Again, a brilliant white light speared from his hands. Jack staggered back, blinded once more. He reached out for Daniel… and felt him twitch. A hand grasped his… an adult-sized hand. "Daniel?" Jack wiped at his watering eyes with a corner of his jacket, blinking until he could see again. "Daniel?"
Daniel groaned and sat up, rubbing at his head with a shaky hand. "Jack? What happened?" His gaze lowered and he covered his nether regions with a hand. "Why am I naked?"
"You're back!" Jack said. "Naked but back." He looked over at Carter, whose face was turning a healthy shade of red, and Teal'c, who he was certain was smiling, as much as Teal'c ever smiled anyway. "Um, someone got a spare set of clothes in their pack?"
Teal'c raised an eyebrow then bent and pulled an emergency blanket from Carter's first aid kit, holding it out to Jack.
"Thanks." Jack wrapped it around Daniel's waist and patted his cheek. "Better?" At Daniel's nod, he continued. "What do you remember?"
"Not much." Daniel nudged Jack. "Who are they?" he asked, gesturing to Micah and Sahira, who stood, hugging each other.
"Good friends of yours actually." Jack looked around the room. "Noah?"
"Gone, sir," Carter said. She checked her handheld. "No extra life signs here, apart from us, and Micah and Sahira."
"He has gone to be with the Gods," Micah pronounced, drawing Sahira into an embrace. "He is at peace."
Sahira frowned and clutched at Micah's arm. "The baby still comes."
Jack nodded at Carter. "Way too much excitement for one day. Let's get these folks home." He reached out and helped Daniel to his feet, relief overwhelming him for a moment at seeing Daniel alive and… grown. "You okay?" he asked.
Daniel nodded. "Confused and a little shaky…" He clutched at the emergency blanket as it slipped from his waist. "… and entirely too exposed, but apart from that, I'm fine, mostly."
"Good." Jack waved the group forward. "Let's get out of here."
o0o
Daniel sat beside Sahira and gently stroked a finger over the downy head of the newborn she cradled in her arms. "I'm sorry," he said, smiling at her, "I still don't remember very much."
"It is for the best," Micah said, clapping Daniel heartily on the shoulder. "The demon is gone, banished for good. Even the marauders are beginning to return to the villages, seeking forgiveness."
"About that," Jack said, "you might want to listen to what they have to say."
Micah nodded. "Talks are already beginning with the village elders."
Sahira held the baby out to Daniel, smiling when he hesitated. "He is but a babe," she said with a laugh, "he cannot harm you."
"I'm not exactly used to this," Daniel said with a small smile but he cradled the baby in his arms and leaned in to kiss Sahira's brow. "He's beautiful. Does he have a name?"
"Isaac," Micah announced proudly. "It means laughter." He leaned down and bestowed a kiss to the baby's forehead. "And every time, he laughs, we shall hear Noah's laughter as well. He will never be forgotten."
"I don't remember most of what happened to me," Daniel said, handing the child back to Sahira, "but I will never forget Noah." He pressed his hand to his head. "He will always be here," he said softly.
Sahira took his hand and rested it over her heart. "And here, Daniel. Forever here."
END