"We've got Dr. Jackson waiting, sir." The gate technician looked up as Sheppard walked in.

"Great." He cleared his throat.

"Dr. Jackson?"

"Right here, Colonel. What can I help you with?"

"I need to know if there are any programs in that Asgard data that involve an Asgard named Hermiod."

Daniel chuckled.

"Any? Only about half of them. Apparently he didn't trust anyone else to explain this stuff. It's understandable. Some of it's incredibly intense. You have no idea how-"

"Yes, uh, I'm sure it's amazing. Look, I need you to send me any data that includes his profile, or a program that can reason. Can you do that?"

"All of it?" Daniel's voice was incredulous.

"I mean, that's a lot of data. Most of it's science and engineering, you'll probably find it kind of...boring..."

Sheppard frowned.

"Isn't there one that sticks out? One that's just him? Hey, is there anything related to that incident with the Goa'uld and Caldwell?"

"Let me see...Actually, yes. Here we go. It's a log of the procedure and includes a profile of Hermiod with interactive capabilities. Want me to send it?"

"Yeah, that's the one. Thanks."

"You still want the others?"

"No, just that one."

"Ok. Good luck with whatever you're looking for."

"Thanks. Sheppard out."

"Right. Ok, sending it now. Stand by to receive data."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sheppard sat in his quarters, his forehead resting on his hands. The hologram of the little gray alien in front of him tilted its head to one side but said nothing. Sheppard ran a hand through his hair and rubbed the back of his neck, then drew a long breath and let it out slowly.

"So you're telling me...if I don't get Kavanagh to let me into his head again, there's a good chance he'll keep having those nightmares?"

The alien blinked.

"No, Colonel Sheppard. I am telling you that I am fairly certain that, if he is not able, with or without your help, to locate the anomaly and alter his perception of it, he will continue to suffer sleep disturbances and various other disorders. Your human minds are, as ours were at one point, very like machines in some ways. If the machinery is tampered with and left unrepaired, an eventual breakdown is inevitable."

"But you can get me into his mind without using the device, right? You said there was an easier way."

"I said that I could. I did not say that I would. Although I am a computer program, I have the capacity to weigh outcomes and make choices. In addition to the fact that the entity whose memories are linked to my profile was familiar with and had no particular respect for this Kavanagh person, you have not yet given me any compelling reason to step outside the parameters of my intended purpose, as you seem to be asking me to do."

"Compelling reason, huh?" Sheppard steepled his hands and rested his forehead on them again. This was going to take a while.

Kavanagh answered the door when Sheppard pressed the button. He looked sleepy but not as haggard as he had the last time Sheppard had seen him.

"Colonel Sheppard? Did you..."

Sheppard motioned past him and slid inside.

"Kavanagh, look. I think I've found a way to fix the..." He gestured vaguely,

"you know, that. I dug up that Asgard who got the Goa'uld out of Caldwell's head. You remember that, uh...situation?"

Kavanagh's nose lifted a little.

"I'll say I remember it. Every sordid detail, including my near-torture and/or death at the hands of that mindless meathead you sent to interrogate me, thank you very much for reminding me. Why?"

Sheppard gave him a look that told him he was pushing it, and he swallowed.

"Why-why do you ask?"

"Jackson sent me an interactive program with the Asgard responsible for figuring out how to remove the Goa'uld." He let it drop, carelessly, half-turning away, one hand tapping the frame of a picture on the wall. Kavanagh stared for a second, then shook his head and mused, interested in spite of himself.

"Hermiod. I remember him. We didn't get along. He was brilliant, I'll give him that. Not that it did any of them any good in the end."

"Yeah, well some of us like to believe they're still with us. I talked to the program, for example, it sounds exactly like him. You'd swear there was something there. Anyway, little gray bugger didn't want to help at first-"

"Wait, you told him? About me?" Kavanagh bristled, but subsided abruptly as Sheppard swung round on him, his head cocked, his body language daring him to overreact.

"It's a program, Kavanagh. Somebody's got to know, I figured you'd rather it be a hologram of a dead race than, say, Dr. Miller."

A look of utter horror registered on Kavanagh's face. Sheppard crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.

"Thought so. Anyway, I talked him into it. Told him you were indispensible."

Kavanagh snorted.

"Well of course I agree. But I can't see Hermiod believing you. Like just about everybody else here, he didn't...agree with my way of doing things."

"Yeah, actually he kind of looked at me the same way you're looking at me. Only more so." Sheppard cleared his throat, realizing he might have to reveal what else he'd told Hermiod in order to secure his help.

"So how-"

"That's, ah...not important. The point is, he's going to help us. But you have to trust him, he says."

Points of light flickered in Kavanagh's suddenly wide eyes. He looked at Sheppard askance.

"Why? What does he want to do to me?"

"He says he thinks there's some belief buried in your psyche that's playing soccer with your mental and, er...physical health. You just have to find it and let it out. He's offered to help me go in with you and dig it up." Sheppard lingered on the last sentence, emphasizing 'offered' and 'help'. He gave "with" a little extra stress as well.

"What? You want me to let one of those aliens into my mind? I don't think so!"

"It's a computer program. Not a real Asgard." He swung away from the wall and leaned in close to Kavanagh, his voice low and coaxing.

"Think about it. What if he could fix it for good? Wouldn't it be worth it?"

One of Kavanagh's hands stole up to press against his mouth and rub over his chin. He wavered, his eyes suddenly undecided, and darted an uneasy look at Sheppard, who hadn't moved away at all.

"I-uh-"

"Remember, there's no guarantee any doctor on Earth will be able to help you. I looked into your condition. Searched the most current medical database on Earth. There's no cure."

Kavanagh's eyebrows wrinkled with reproach at Sheppard's bluntness. He backed away and dropped into a chair, giving Sheppard a torn look. Sheppard shifted his weight to the other leg, his expression decidely unapologetic, and waited. Kavanagh let his head fall forward, digging the palms of both hands into his forehead. Minutes ticked by as he considered.

"Ok. I'll do it." Kavanagh straightened up and whirled to face him, his eyes desperate but determined.

"Whatever else he was, he was the most amazing engineer I've ever met. Bar none. If anybody can fix this, he can."

"All right. Let's do it." Sheppard didn't mention that he hadn't discussed this with Carter or Dr. Miller. It was his mess, he wanted to take care of it himself. And this way no-one else had to know anything more about Kavanagh's secrets. A promise was a promise, after all.

Sheppard put the memory device into the computer, but pulled Kavanagh aside before opening the program.

"One thing, Kavanagh. I have moved heaven and earth to get him to agree to help you. Do NOT screw this up or I swear I will keep you here till you're old and gray. That means none of your smart-ass comments, no giving him attitude, no calling him names or saying anything rude about the Asgard. Is that clear?"

Kavanagh's head shot up, his lips pinching together tightly, but he mastered himself and looked down.

"Ok."

"Keep it nice. This is a one-time shot."

"I get it, all right? Just...load it."

Sheppard pressed a button and a hologram of the Asgard engineer sprang up.