Fate's Reflection Chapter 20, a stargate: sg-1 fanfic

CHAPTER TWENTY

The tape rewound and played out once more. The colonel whipping around to see the Stargate light up, the wall wavering and the image distorting. Daniel falling to the ground before he could reach the wall. And finally, the image disappearing, the last thing she saw was the two men staring at the wall as Jaffa surrounded them.

"Damn," Carter muttered with a frown.

Step on the DHD, and the portal is activated. Step off, and it closes, but how did the mirror reset to another reality?

Frustrated, Sam reached out for her cup of coffee that was somewhere on the cluttered lab table. She jumped when she felt someone placing a cup in her outstretched hand. "Janet!" Sam exclaimed as she saw the sober doctor leaning against the table next to her. "When did you come in?"

"Just before, after you stopped rewinding the video." Janet stared at the frozen image of the blank wall. "Find anything yet?"

Sam glumly shook her head. Sam couldn't help but blurt out, "It's been almost a day, and I haven't found anything!"

"Like you said, it's only been a day." Janet sipped her own cup of coffee and took a deep whiff of the steam wafting out of her cup.

Sam paused, reading a strange look on Fraiser's face. "Janet?"

"Do you think...she's over there with them?" Janet asked softly.

Sam frowned. "Who?"

At first, Janet didn't look like she wanted to say it. But then she took a deep breath. "Hathor. Me."

"You're not Hathor," Carter reminded her.

"Not in this reality. But over there—"

"Is someone else who is Hathor," Sam finished firmly. She turned back towards the monitor. "There is a difference."

Sam wearily started the video again, randomly enlarging certain images for a better view.

"That doesn't make me feel any better," Janet muttered.

Sam glanced at the doctor's reflection off her screen, noting the slumped shoulders. "This really bothers you, doesn't it?"

"That I'm Hathor?"

"You're not Hathor," Sam stressed as she jiggled the controls. She sighed.

Janet studied the slumped posture. She could tell the major was upset, and she didn't blame her.

"They may be able to return back to us."

Sam nodded. "They may, but I'd rather not wait." She eyed the stilled image of Jack and Daniel standing in front of the mirror. "I have to figure this out!" It frustrated her to no end that the answer wasn't immediately there for her to grab and shape into something she could use. She gestured at the monitor. "We figured out the basic controls of the portal, but it never occurred to us that it worked along the lines of the quantum mirror."

"Which was destroyed," Janet added softly.

"So we can't use what we're familiar with," Sam agreed glumly. She flipped through the reams of computer paper. "It wasn't an accident. Something was done on their side." Carter leaned back in her chair. "And I don't know what it was."

Janet patted her friend on the shoulder. "You look beat. I suggest you take a break. It'll give you a fresher perspective."

"I'm not tired," Sam said listlessly as she reached for the remote, but Janet beat her to it, taking the controls out of her reach.

"Yes, you are. Doctor's orders."

Sam glared at her silently. Janet folded her arms in front of her.

"If your positions were reversed, I'd be telling Daniel the same thing. They wouldn't want you to exhaust your energy doing this and have none left for the rescue."

"Our positions aren't reversed," Sam said tightly. "I'm here and they're..." She trailed off and fell silent.

Janet leaned forward, concerned. "Sam?"

"Positions..." Glancing over to the monitor, Sam tapped her chin with a finger.

"Sam?"

"We could try and..." Carter scribbled something down on a page. Nodding to herself, Sam forgot all about Janet.

"I think I know a way to find out what happened," Sam announced as she waved the ejected tape at Janet. "Thanks for the idea." With that, she started to leave the room.

"What idea? And thanks for what?" Janet repeated, exasperated. Sometimes, Sam could be just as focused and infuriating as the two missing men.

SG1SG1SG1

"Ready?" Jack asked, keeping his voice calm. Daniel nodded slowly, tensing when he felt the cold tip of the blade press against his face. He couldn't stop himself from shrinking back.

"Damn it, this isn't going to work!" Jack was saying above him. Daniel had never heard that harsh tone in his friend's voice before. Daniel tilted his head up towards the colonel, inquiring, and felt a hand press down on his forehead.

"Lie still." Jolinar's soft voice floated around him, fading in and out as his hearing went haywire due to the devices. He shifted nervously. No matter how much he reminded himself she was Tok'ra, the eerie dual voice was giving him an uneasy feeling. As if aware of this, the Tok'ra's voice slipped to a normal tone, the smooth words soft and soothing. "No matter what…you can not move. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Daniel murmured, fidgeting a little nevertheless as his legs tingled uncomfortably like they were falling asleep. As he turned his head to figure out where Jack was, he felt something press against his lips.

"Bite down on this," Kawalsky said gruffly. "Scream all you want. Just…just don't bite out your tongue in the process, you hear?"

Daniel listened to Jack's breathing quicken, and he knew his friend was having second thoughts. So before Jack could change his mind and abort the procedure, Daniel obediently opened his mouth and bit down on what felt like a belt.

"I'm slipping the tip under the main device." Daniel took a deep breath and let the confidence lull him to a state of lethargy. He felt Jack's grip on his shoulders tightening, and he instinctively bit down harder on the belt, imagining the knife must be inches from his face. "I'm going to push it up and then make a small cut next to the wound. This is in case the device has branched out already and has become twisted. I need the room to maneu—"

"Just do it!" The colonel's voice snapped out like a whip. Automatically, Daniel opened his eyes in alarm but saw only darkness. He felt Jack's hand on his hair again. "Sorry. Just relax."

"Mm," Daniel could only say. He tensed when he felt the blade slip in between the device and his skin. Already, the throbbing in his head increased. He took another long breath. There. The pain was nothing. It was in the back of his mind.

"I'm going to make the cut now."

Daniel forced himself not to squeeze his eyes tighter as he felt the sharp edge press down harder on his flesh. A thin line of heat pierced him around the area, and he made a sound.

"Shh." Jack was grabbing his hand now, and Daniel was vaguely aware of someone holding on to his ankles. "That was it. Just a small cut. That wasn't so bad, Danny."

Uh oh, Daniel thought fuzzily. He called me Danny. He must be worried. But that was it, wasn't it?

"I'm going to pull it out now." For some reason, Jolinar's voice shook. He felt her fingers brush against his cheek, and it felt gentle to him. When the fingers pulled back, he felt oddly bereft. "Remember, Dan-yel. Be still." Daniel frowned at the pronunciation of his name, but before he could question it, he felt the device move.

Pain!

"Ah!" Daniel gasped around the belt as the device slowly slipped out. Suddenly, it felt like his body was in flames, scorching every nerve, his insides squeezing painfully with cramps. He jerked his head to stop the growing sensation of being burned alive, his legs kicking. Jack swore as he struggled to clamp his hands down harder on the shoulders, pinning Daniel to the freezing floor. Jolinar flinched as Daniel's hands flailed and slapped her in the face.

"Hold him still!" she snapped, her hand grabbing one wrist, the other still hovering over the device. Jolinar waited until Kawalsky secured the young man's ankles once more. Jack pressed down harder, keeping Daniel flat on the ground. He muttered an apology when his friend cried out.

Hot red hot…stinging…cutting, digging, hot...I'm burning…ripping...ripping...can't think...can't think...hurthurthurt...God it hurts…stop…please stop…

Jolinar pulled it out a bit more, her eyes narrowing when she saw the hairlike fibers branching out from the main shaft connected to the disc. The devices were already trying to assimilate his nervous system. She paused, examining the fibers before nodding to herself and continued to extract the device.

"Just pull it out!" Jack said harshly as Daniel wailed, muffled behind the belt he, by some miracle, was still biting down on. "What the hell are you doing?"

"She can't!" Kawalsky answered for her. His eyes burned with the urgency of the operation. "She leaves too many of those fibers in him, and he's a vegetable!"

"God, why the hell did I let you convince me?" Jack muttered. Daniel didn't answer, though. He bucked against the hands, legs stubbornly trying to kick free. Screaming in pain, wondering why no one would help him make the agony stop, Daniel let out a loud, strangled cry, and the folded up belt strap fell out.

"Put it back before he bites his own tongue and finishes what the Goa'uld started!" Jolinar's voice was sharp as she concentrated on pulling the rest out.

Stop! Stop! Hurts…no more…no more! Jack! Someone! Stop it! Stop it!

Jack grabbed the belt with one hand still on Daniel's shoulder and tried to put it back in when the crazed man, freed, arched his back, breaking from their grasp. Jolinar gasped, her hands jerking back, a finger tinged with blood.

"You okay?" Kawalsky demanded as he fought to keep their charge still. Jack grabbed Daniel from behind, sitting him up until he was against him. Jack wrapped his arms across a heaving chest, muttering an apology to Daniel's senseless ears as he pinned him down. The young man thrashed against his grip.

"It broke." Jolinar's eyes were wide as she scrambled closer. She tilted Daniel's head to the side and examined the wound. "I can still see the shaft. I can still pull the rest free. There isn't much left. Hold him still!"

"I'm trying!" Jack grated out. He watched with a sickening lurch of his stomach as Kawalsky jammed the belt back in Daniel's mouth while sitting on his ankles to prevent movement. "Come on, Daniel. Just a bit more."

Daniel whimpered. He could vaguely hear Jack talking to him, over and over again. But the buzzing that had started since this began grew to a shrieking crescendo and he tried so hard. God, he tried so very hard not to open his mouth and join the noise with his own cracked voice.

"Just a bit more. Keep him still."

Someone was saying it was almost over. That the pain would be gone, but he couldn't tell if they told him the time.

It felt like forever, stretching, binding, and twisting him from the inside as he burned from his head, scorching a fiery line down to his toes.

Someone stop this! Please! Someone…Jack…Jack…

"Shh…it's almost out…shh…"

Daniel wanted to obey; he forced himself to concentrate on just biting down on the belt. He was supposed to bite down, keep on biting down, because someone said it was very important. For the life of him, Daniel couldn't remember why.

And then suddenly, everything stopped.

Jack paled when he saw the body unexpectedly still, the head sagging back against the crook of his elbow. He pressed two fingers down on Daniel's throat and nearly folded over in relief when he felt the fast thumping beat of his pulse.

"T-there." Even Jolinar looked shaken. "And now it is up to him."

"What?" Jack's head snapped up. "I thought you said this would be the end of it!"

Reaching over, she brushed against the remaining device on the left side of Daniel's face. At the touch, it fell down, clinking like glass as it struck the floor. Quietly, she gathered the pieces and tossed them into a small velvet pouch dangling from her robe's belt.

"His body had begun its reliance on the re'klya. Without it, his systems have lost their guide. He needs to regain control."

"But how long will that take?" Jack asked, his hands gripping Daniel's shoulders tightly.

Kawalsky's voice was gruff when he answered the question instead of Jolinar. "Could be a day or two. He only had it for a short time, I take it?"

"A little over a day," Jack calculated quickly. "From the time we were orbiting that planet, 'til they got here."

"He's young and strong. He'll survive," Sha're murmured, the glow fading away from her eyes. Her faint Abydonian accent was evident now as she whispered reassurances into Daniel's ears. "We must leave. Something is wrong. The general only visits her once a day for reports, but he has been communicating to his allies on the shel-m'ka orb. When the transmission is over, he will cycle the guards around the ship. We must leave."

Daniel moaned softly, twitching a bit at the voices. Sha're drew out a glass vial from the folds of her robe and pressed it close to his lips, one hand bracing the back of his head, lifting him up. He mumbled, turning his head with a frown at the unfamiliar taste, but Kawalsky pressed his hand against his cheek, tilting the head back towards the tube.

"Neuar," the Tok'ra woman explained. Jack nodded, recognizing the name. "He will sleep." She poured the semi-translucent blue liquid down Daniel's mouth. Gently, she stroked his curved throat, encouraging him to swallow. He stirred a bit, brow furrowing, then with a barely audible sigh, slumped further into Jack's embrace.

"He wanted to stay awake. I told him you'd wake him," Kawalsky pointed out.

"I lied." Sha're stood and straightened her robes, adjusting her jewelry. "Come. We can leave through the corridors. Do you have an address we can use?"

Kawalsky whipped out a stone tablet which Jack recognized as a twin to the one John O'Neill carried. He noticed Jack's interest in the item. "It's…sort of a recorder." Kawalsky nodded towards Sha're. "She swiped it off Jermak."

"I know," Jack nodded as well. "Dan O'Neill had one just like it-"

"Machello's?" Jolinar's voice slipped over Sha're's without warning, making Jack jump. Kawalsky, however, wasn't taken off guard, but he stared at Jack instead.

"How many tablets?" the captain asked anxiously.

"Only one."

"The one that was on the ship before they escaped," Jolinar said regretfully. "I slipped Captain O'Neill the location of the device Machello gave me, but I wasn't able to return to find out where the second one was or the key." Her eyes glowed as she gazed back at Jack, looking very sad. "They executed him before I could find reason to leave Jermak's side. But at least young Dan-yel was spared."

"We'd better go," Kawalsky murmured, reminding them. He studied Daniel slumped against Jack. "Need help with him?"

"No, I've got it," Jack grated out as he lifted Daniel to his feet. He tried to bend down, wrapped an arm under Jackson's knees when he stiffened, his back screaming about the unwise move.

Kawalsky stepped forward. "Look, he's definitely not Dan's weight. I'll take one side, okay?"

"Fine," Jack grumbled, scowling as his back still burned with the effort despite Kawalsky's assistance.

"Both of you are too damn stubborn," Kawalsky grumbled. "Can never admit you need help." He didn't see the dirty look Jack gave him. Taking half of the weight, the soldier gasped. "Geez! What the hell does he eat in your reality? Dan never weighed this much!"

Jack shot him a funny look at the comment but shrugged it away as he concentrated on keeping Daniel upright on his side. "The usual. Candy bars. Coffee. You know, breakfast of champions."

"Great, they're both junk food addicts," the other soldier groaned. Grunting, Kawalsky wrapped one arm around Daniel's waist, draping a limp left arm around his shoulder. Daniel's head rolled to the side against Jack's shoulder, but the colonel didn't have the heart to push it away.

"We'd better scoot before your lovey dovey Jermak realizes you got his stuff," Kawalsky said urgently. "Last thing you need is to have your boyfriend get pissed at you, Jolinar."

The Tok'ra shrugged, not at all bothered by the possibility. "Let us go before they discover your escape."

SG1SG1SG1

"That does it for the east end," one of the soldiers announced, snapping shut a pouch with his meter inside. Another soldier chimed out the same.

Ferretti leaned against the cluster of statues off to the side and sighed, watching the uniforms go left and right as they scanned every inch of the portal. They'd even resorted to bringing over a crane to raise their reach to the top.

"Major, I'm going to activate the portal again!" Another soldier whose name he couldn't remember right now called out from the DHD platform.

Ferretti stood up straighter. "Okay, ladies. You heard the man. Everyone back away." He waved them off, and the crew stepped back except for one. "Captain O'Neill? That includes you."

John tore his gaze away from the portal, the polished surface showing his tired face. He looked so old. He felt old.

"Captain?" Ferretti came up from behind him. "We've got to send another probe through and see if we can get readings on that end.

John stepped back a few feet and watched as the surface of the portal flickered after someone behind him stepped on the DHD coverstone. It settled into the view of the reality on the other side. The scene of a field of grass, the lone DHD platform greeted the crew in the chamber on the other side.

"Probe going through!" Someone called out. Ferretti nodded listlessly.

"I hate this part," the major muttered to John as the probe rolled through, and the wall vanished on contact. It was a sunny place, but the light didn't stretch past the portal's barrier into the chamber. It was still dark on his side, lit by the electric lanterns and spotlights around the place.

"Great," John grumbled. "Trees. Lots of trees." He watched as the probe fled the middle boundary, and the wall snapped back up again.

"Wish it gave us some warning before it did that," Ferretti muttered as some of the techs with them came forward with their readers again. The chamber was flooded with the sounds of computers, meters, and the lightning still flashing above them.

"There's no chamber over there," John muttered. "The Stargate is gone, too."

"Different reality," Ferretti shrugged. He watched as the probe reached the DHD and painstakingly got on the coverstone. "Here we go. Everyone still recording over there?" A few voices answered back affirmative.

Nothing.

"I'm getting no reaction from the portal!" A voice called out. A few others murmured the same.

"Think the turn on device is busted?" Ferretti asked John who shook his head.

"Sorry, I wouldn't know. It doesn't say Doctor anywhere on my uniform," John grumbled as he kept his eyes on the device. "What is it going to do now?"

Tilting his cap, scratching the back of his head, Ferretti sighed. "I think it's programmed to turn back, no matter what happens."

Sure enough, the probe spun around, tracks moving, and it got off the platform. Slowly, it came towards them again.

John stared at the machine rolling at them, then at the reality before them. It was so different from his or from this one he was presently in. No Stargate, no massive building. The planet looked peaceful. The blowing wind sounded gentle. Briefly, he thought it wouldn't be so bad to stay there. Just walk over. It looked so easy. Just walk to the wall and take a step towards freedom and away from danger. He could bring Dan and they—

He stopped. Dan would never go for it. He knew his younger brother would never agree to it, to escaping somewhere else no matter how appealing it appeared. And he could imagine how life would be, staying on the other side, his brother hating him until the day he died.

John blinked, surprised to see his vision blurring. He pretended to cough, grabbing for a handkerchief he'd found in one of the many pockets of the flak jacket. While everyone was still glued to the approaching probe, he angrily swiped a corner of the cloth at his eyes, wiping away the traitorous tears brimming there.

"Ah shit!" Ferretti swore softly.

Looking up, John was surprised to see the probe at the wall. But still on the other side. Like a plate of glass, it stopped the probe from passing through, the portal not disappearing like before to let it by. The probe, only programmed to go and leave, kept spinning its wheels, trying to go. Finally, its frantic, useless movements, caused the probe to tilt, and it fell back, the tracks still moving up in the air as it landed on its rounded back.

"Well, there goes a piece of expensive equipment," Ferretti muttered.

"We got incoming!" A sharp voice rang out just as the first chevron lit up behind them.

Spinning around, John yanked out his sidearm from his hip holster as the others ducked behind the DHD, the statues, waiting for the newcomer.

"Hold your fire until we see who it is!" Ferretti ordered as he and John hid behind a cluster of statues next to the portal.

"Seventh symbol is activated!" John heard someone call out.

The gush of light spinning out in a vertical column was bright, illuminating the chamber with its sparkling glow. John could see everyone getting ready, guns pointed at the general direction—

"Don't shoot!" Carter's voice echoed out into the chamber. As she fully appeared before them with two other soldiers appearing behind her, Siler and Brolley, everyone relaxed.

"Major Carter!" Ferretti greeted as he emerged from his hideout.

"What have you got so far?" Sam asked in a breathless voice as she half jogged over to them. Siler and Brolley gave a half-awed glance at the portal before joining up with the rest of the crew to collaborate. She nodded towards John, who grunted in return. "Have the readings changed? Did you send the probe through yet?"

Ferretti wordlessly pointed behind him. Sam leaned to the side, looking around him, and her eyebrow went up at the sight of the probe on its back, tracks still moving in motion.

"We figured the DHD coverstone was busted," Ferretti explained. "It got on, but the portal didn't react. Then when it came back, it got the brick wall instead."

"So it doesn't matter if we have our portal activated, you need to turn it on on your side to get through from there," Sam murmured. She looked at John. "So say for instance we were to go over to that reality, you wouldn't have been able to return."

John shrugged, pretending it didn't bother him. "Doesn't matter." He gestured towards the portal. "Ain't my reality anyway." He didn't turn around to look at it again.

"You didn't need to come over to get our report, Carter," Ferretti interjected, puzzled.

Sam shook her head. She waved a tape in her hands. "No. I wanted to try something. To see if we can figure out what happened exactly." She motioned towards the rest of the crew. "I need a few guys to try this out."

"What are you going to do exactly?" John wanted to know. The major looked charged, brimming with energy, and he felt a little hopeful.

"We're going to reenact what Colonel O'Neill and Daniel did on their side based on the video we recorded. We may be able to mimic their actions and create the same effect as they did." She motioned to Brolley. The young soldier came over, gave John a funny look, before turning his attention to Sam.

John mentally sighed. It was beginning to annoy him.

"Set up the video and call out to us what they do." Sam instructed, handing Simmons the tape. "We'll act it out, and hopefully, we'll come upon the same method they used to switch realities." She glanced back at John and Ferretti. "Ferretti, you want to play the role of Daniel? You're almost the right height and weight for it."

"I always wanted to be an actor," Ferretti drawled, tipping back his head.

"Yeah, a comedic one!" someone called out. A few stray chuckles could be heard.

"Who said that?" Ferretti pretended to glare, but he couldn't tell if it came from his men or the techs milling about. Snorting, he gave a thumbs up to Sam.

Sam looked at John. "I need to know every factor that might have caused this. Speed, actions, weight, height. I'm sorry to ask this, but could you play—"

"The colonel's part?" John cut in. He looked at the mirrored wall over his shoulder before shrugging. "Seems oddly fitting," he murmured. "You can include me in as well."

"Great," Sam rounded her shoulders. She could feel her weariness fading away from her posture as she grew hopeful that this would work. "We need to duplicate the exact same conditions including how many lights were there and rovers. Any extra rovers we had will have to go back." She paused, taking a deep breath and glanced over to John. "If this works, Captain O'Neill, we can go back."

"Go back," John said in a flat voice. "Looking forward to it, Major." He took one last look at the peaceful surroundings on the other side and watched them disappear as the soldier on the platform stepped off, deactivating the portal.

SG1SG1SG1

The light colored head shifted a bit, pressing into Jack's chest. The colonel rolled his shoulder until the head tilted back to rest against his forearm. He eyed the Tok'ra woman as she checked the adjoining hallways. They were crouched in a dark room, a blade crammed at the edges to keep the door open a crack.

Occasionally, Jack saw a few humans, garbed in brown, ratty looking robes, walking by bound to a single chain and dragged through the hallway. He saw Kawalsky tense as if wanting to lunge forward, but the captain wisely opted to keep his distance, scowling at the slaves' passing shadows instead.

Kawalsky looked over his shoulder at Jack. "Want me to carry him instead?" Kawalsky asked in a quiet voice, nodding towards the still unconscious Daniel. "Might be faster than dragging him between the both of us. Your back must be killing you."

Jack shook his head. "Nah, you two seem to know your way around here better than me. Concentrate on that."

Daniel stirred a bit, murmuring in his sleep. To Jack's surprise, Kawalsky reached over and pulled the collars of the jacket he'd draped over him a little tighter.

"Thanks," Jack whispered.

"Sh."

The two soldiers tensed as Jolinar waved them to be quiet. Jack held Daniel closer to him, Kawalsky's hand clapped over the young man's mouth to keep him silent. They watched as shadows drifted across the slit by the doorway as Jaffa passed them. Jack's hands inadvertently tightened around his friend.

As the last of the soldiers disappeared, Jolinar opened the door wider and took a look outside. She nodded curtly and motioned them to follow her after a few seconds. She swayed her hips provocatively in case anyone came by and thought it strange that Jermak's consort was in the lower levels.

Unused to seeing the woman this way, images of her holding Daniel's arm lovingly flashing in his mind, Jack stared at her back before getting up. He was sort of glad Daniel couldn't see her. Not when his wife was gone in his reality. Not to see her like this, dressed like the Go'uald queen Amonet.

Slowly, Jack matched Kawalsky's pace, ignoring the twinges in his back and went after her. They settled Daniel down on the floor, and Jack crept up to the corner.

Kawalsky handed him a small mirror. Jack stared at it for a moment, wishing he had his extendible rod. The piece he was handed was far too big to use and could be too easily sighted. Nevertheless, he took it and carefully angled it into the next hallway.

The Stargate room was guarded.

"Damn," Kawalsky muttered. He glared at the lone guard standing by the doorway reflected in the glass. He sat back on his heels after peering over Jack's shoulder at the mirror.

Jack nodded towards the door in front of them, and the others agreed. They ducked inside a room across the corner, again with a knife keeping the door open a crack. Almost immediately, Kawalsky was perched by the door, holding onto his knife.

Jack stared at the blade for a moment, recognizing it as the same one they'd used on Daniel. Jack glanced down at Daniel pressed up against the wall and positioned between them as they huddled near the door. Absently, he readjusted the jacket once more, feeling his friend stir under his administrations. He frowned at the sight of lines of pain crinkling around Daniel's eyes and wondered if they meant the neuar was no longer working. He opened his mouth to ask Jolinar when Kawalsky sat back, letting Jolinar take a look at the door.

"I thought Jermak was a stupid snakehead. He's never posted guards before." Kawalsky scowled, not liking the sudden change in routine.

"He never had Ra come to his battleship," Jolinar returned. "Jermak is worried. If his alliance with Hathor were to be discovered before he can move on their plans, he would fail. Ra would have his Goa'uld and destroy his host body before he could make his attempt to take Tau'ri as his own."

"Excuse me, and that's bad?" Jack hissed.

"We want them to try," Kawalsky answered in a low voice although his face didn't look like he had originally agreed to that plan. "When he and Ra start fighting, the factions would be divided. We come in, kill Ra—"

"And I kill Jermak," Sha're's voice came forward and finished grimly. She lifted her hand, a wide band bracelet glittered around her wrist. "With the gift he gave me." She smiled tightly at the irony. "He did not want others to touch his favorite consort." With that, a thick needle, the size of her finger, shot out of the curved metal like a striking cobra.

"And we're left with two very nice battleships to defend us from his allies who may come in retaliation," Kawalsky added.

"Sweet," Jack muttered, a bit unnerved to see her dark smile over the discussion of killing. Shaking his head, Jack eyed the corner again. "But first…we have to get out of here."

Jolinar returned, her eyes glowing briefly to signal her possession. "Yes. We need to know when Ra will arrive. Dan O'Neill—"

"We know what he knows," Jack cut in. He looked down at Daniel. "Well then, keeping us alive would be important now, wouldn't it?"

"You sure you're from an alternate reality?" Kawalsky dryly joked. "'Cause you sound like the old Captain O'Neill to me."

"I'm a colonel," Jack grumbled.

"Joy. Should I be saluting?"

"Quiet!" Jolinar exasperated. "I will distract them. Come in when I give you the signal." She got up, slipped out of the room and checked the hallway. She smoothly crossed the hallway, calling to the guard in a sharp, commanding voice. The guard, recognizing Jermak's consort, straightened immediately to attention.

"I don't care what their name Tok'ra translates to," Kawalsky muttered. "Still gives me the creeps when she does that."

Jack eyed the pair down the hallway and winced as he watched Jolinar/Sha're run a hand up the armor, tracing the contours of the guard's chest, smiling at him demurely. He winced, recalling a different Sha're who'd hidden behind the curtains when they arrived until Daniel called her to come forward.

But now, all he saw was a woman, a woman who had aged more than her youthful face portrayed, skin pale from being away from the harsh sun, hair sleek and shiny as if brushed carefully every day. She was even more beautiful than when Jack had seen her, and he suspected it was a deliberate appearance, designed to manipulate, to allure. The thought of Sha're doing such things made Jack squirm. He glanced down at Daniel, checking to see if his friend was still unconscious. He couldn't help but wish Daniel would never have a chance to see this side of his wife.

The guard standing by the Stargate chamber fidgeted, a mixture of awkwardness and surprise showing on his face at the attention by the Goa'uld general's favorite mate. She whispered something, and the guard leaned forward, his lips partly open. As he came closer to her, he stiffened. Sha're pulled him to her, and the guard jerked once more.

"What the?" Jack muttered as Kawalsky rose. The captain eyed the hallway, catching Jolinar's nod, signaling it was okay to go. Jack grimaced, trying to haul Daniel up. Muttering an apology, he quit trying to balance Daniel between them and just hoisted him onto his shoulder in a classic fireman's carry.

Jack followed behind the captain, Daniel balanced carefully over his shoulder. Every so often, Daniel's limp arms dangled with movement, banging into Jack's back. The colonel gritted his teeth and hurried the pace. As he got to the door leading to the Stargate chamber, he caught sight of the Tok'ra's weapon retracting, its tip dipped in red.

"There." There was no regret in her tone. "It is done." She watched without emotion as Kawalsky propped the Jaffa up like he was standing guard, carefully positioning the dead guard's staff weapon next to him, using it as a lever to keep him upright.

When it looked like the guard was going to stay put, Kawalsky nodded. She pressed symbols on the wall adjacent to the chamber, and the door slid open. They entered quickly, Sha're first and Kawalsky guarding the rear. Jack gingerly set Daniel down on the floor, hating the fact he was wheezing. His back was killing him.

Abruptly, the woman turned around, pulled out a weapon from within her robes and fired at the eye symbol by the door. A blue bolt of energy danced across the golden walls before fading.

"Shit! What the hell was that?" the captain exclaimed as he watched it scorch the panel.

Jack smiled at the familiar sight. "A zat." He shrugged at Sha're's puzzled look. "We've encountered those before."

"We could use some," the other soldier muttered. He studied the three-fold weapon in her hands. "They'd help a whole lot."

Sha're waved towards the DHD.

"I got the symbols," Kawalsky called, pulling out the stone tablet again. He waved a stone over it, and the coordinates realigned themselves.

"That's not it." Jolinar's voice emerged once more. "That is Chulak. Ra gave that to another system lord during their treaties. It would do you no good to go there. It is a virtual wasteland by now."

"What?" Jack exclaimed.

Jolinar looked at him funny.

"Nothing. Never mind." Jack waved his hand, mind reeling at the revelation. So does that mean there's no Teal'c in this reality? Bet the big guy would be surprised to hear that piece of news. The colonel eyed the Stargate. "So we're going to your base?"

"You need to head for another coordinate first in case they follow. From there, you can safely dial for Tau'ri." The Tok'ra eyed the door.

"You're not coming with us?"

"I must remain by Jermak's side so that I may strike when it is time," Jolinar replied. "I am the only one who can get close enough for the kill."

Suddenly, there was shouting outside. Everyone spun around towards the sealed door.

"Shit!" The captain frantically waved the stone over his tablet and more symbols appeared. Jack watched the door as it shook. He eyed the pair, fists bunched as they tried more sets of symbols without any success. The pounding had stopped, the noise gone. It was strangely quiet outside. Jack flexed his fingers, wishing he had his rifle or a zat of his own.

"That's not it either!" Jolinar snapped, getting impatient as she too worried about the silence behind the door.

The soldier muttered again, waving the stone once more. "Piece of Go'uald crap. Why the hell has he got symbols here if they're no good?" Jolinar didn't answer, watching intently at each set of addresses until she saw one set that would work.

"Yes. This set is good. It has a forbidden warning next to it. The Jaffa are not allowed to travel there." Jolinar grabbed the tablet. She punched the symbols through. Jack watched the Stargate light up.

A blast shook the room, nearly throwing everyone off their feet.

"Looks like you're coming with us!" Jack hollered.

Jolinar frowned at the idea.

"Come on!" Kawalsky shouted, waving impatiently over to them. He tapped his foot, looking ready to leap in, but he waited as Jack got Daniel over his shoulder again. "Jolinar!" he bellowed, waving his hand wildly.

"I need to remain!" Jolinar eyed the doors once more. "Someone must be near Jermak for the plan!"

"Look, I very much doubt you can explain why you were here! They catch you, and it'll be all over for you and your friends! We'll go with my plan!" Jack shouted, grabbing her by the arm. "GO!"

The door exploded.

There was no other choice.

Jolinar fired the zat at the Jaffa coming in, Kawalsky stepping away from the Stargate to fire a few shots. Kawalsky yanked out something from his jacket, hollering for to Jack to go. Jack gave one last look at Kawalsky before he leaped into the Stargate with Daniel. Jolinar ran, then threw herself in right after Jack.

Kawalsky grinned at the Jaffa as he backed up towards the Stargate.

Just before he tossed two grenades rolling to their feet.

"Thanks for the party," he quipped, waggling his fingers goodbye at them before jumping in after them.

The twin explosions dropped the guards to their feet just as the wormhole disengaged.

SG1SG1SG1

It was dark.

So dark, Jack didn't see what tripped him, and he fell onto the ground hard. He heard Jolinar making a sound as well as she landed none too gently before Kawalsky was flung out of the wormhole with little grace and form.

"That," Jack groaned as he got up, "was not fun." He rotated his sore shoulder and then realized the shoulder was empty of his burden. Spinning around sharply, he saw the archeologist lying prone on the ground, a few inches away from him. He checked on Daniel, hands running over the torso and limbs; he was relieved to see the man was still only sleeping.

"Are you alright?" Jolinar asked. She got up, picking leaves out of her hair and clothes. Then she stopped as if realizing there was no point in fixing her appearance.

"No," the colonel muttered. He cursed the darkness. He could barely see his hand inches away from his face. "Where the hell are…aw man…"

"What?" Kawalsky asked as he got up. Staggering in the dark, he swore as he tripped over an unseen root.

Jack eyed the forest around them, no light visible from the top, the Stargate standing in a small clearing all too familiar to him. "We're on the dark side of P3X-797." He groaned.

A howl could be heard from the distance that sounded more animal than human.

"What the hell was that?" Kawalsky hissed.

"The Touched," Jack said grimly. "And I doubt they found a cure yet. We can't stay here."

"No shit. But I've got to punch in a code otherwise they'll put a few bullet holes in our skulls before we can even say don't shoot," Kawalsky muttered as he pulled back his sleeve, revealing a worn looking GDO. He touched the symbols for home. When the Stargate lit up, he turned around frantically, hearing the startled cries echoing from the forest. "What the?"

"Put the codes through now!" Jack barked as he reached down and hauled Daniel to his feet. Unconscious, Jackson swayed under his support. Jolinar quietly came up and braced him on the other side. She nodded curtly to Jack who only mouthed a "Thanks" towards her. He jerked his head to the left when he heard rustling in the trees.

"While they're still afraid of that damn Stargate, put the code through!"

The growling grew, coming closer, surrounding them from all sides.

"Hurry!" Jolinar hissed as she eyed the trees. She pulled out her zat with her free hand, aiming for the forest around them.

"This isn't like calling a phone number you know. Hold on!" the soldier yelled back.

Jack could see the device strapped to Kawalsky's wrist hadn't lit up yet. "Captain…any day now…" He could see the trees bending as more of the Touched approached. "Come on, Kawalsky…"

The light went green.

"They got our signal!" Kawalsky called out. He yelped when a rock whizzed by his face. "Shit!"

"Just go!" Jack pushed the man with his shoulder as they all jumped together through the wormhole just before the first distorted face arrived behind them.

SG1SG1SG1

It was so damn cold.

Jack's teeth immediately chattered, and his arms fumbled, nearly losing his ward from the sudden temperature drop. He steadied his feet and started to turn to check on Kawalsky and the Tok'ra.

"Stay where you are!"

A dozen rifles aimed right for his head greeted him in the white cave.

"Don't shoot!"

Jack blinked, seeing Kawalsky waving his hands frantically at the heavily dressed soldiers, stepping in front of Jack and Daniel. No one lowered his or her weapons.

"Lower your guns!" Jolinar shouted.

Jack glowered at the soldiers surrounding him, but no one moved. It was unnerving to see familiar faces garbed in heavy coats with rifles aimed right at him and Daniel.

Daring to turn his head a little, Jack saw the remainder of the cavern and realized it was the same one he and Carter had found themselves in when the Stargate fluctuated and separated them from the rest of the team. He half expected his leg to ache just from looking at the dark cave.

Only it wasn't dark.

Strobe lights, strung from makeshift catwalks, lit the place into eerie blue surroundings, the exhaled air from everyone giving it a smoky look. Wires and thick cords of cable zigzagged the entire area; large blinking boxes lined the icy walls.

In the middle of the large cavern, Jack saw the ground was gone, three submarine conning towers peeking through, cold waters lapping around them. He could see soldiers perched on top of them, their guns pointing in the same fashion.

"What are you, nuts?" Kawalsky ranted. "He's on our side!"

"You know the procedure, Captain," said a stern voice from afar. A slender form came up from the middle submarine, features hidden within large shades, lips a pale thin line. Climbing down the ladder along the side of the vessel, the person came closer.

"Routine check if we've been compromised," the person went on, voice as cold as the air around them, pulling off the shades as he or she spoke. Wary blue eyes appeared, narrowing as they saw Jack O'Neill was not the one they knew.

Jack stiffened.

"Commander, this...uh...this is a long, long story!" Kawalsky darted a concerned look over to Jack. The colonel couldn't find anything to say. He was staring at a familiar face that didn't recognize his.

It was Sam.

Well…almost.

A scar that traced the profile of her right cheekbone was barely noticeable until she turned her head towards Jolinar before dismissing her presence immediately after her gaze lay upon the Tok'ra. Her face, narrow, drawn was topped with short hair in a style even Jack would have called extreme, too close to the scalp to be called feminine. It made her look harsh and even angrier looking.

Eyes narrowing, Jack didn't see any of the scientific curiosity radiating from her like the Major Carter he knew. He had expected to be taken aback by the similarities like the past alternate Sam Carter. But this time, he found himself taken aback by the fact he couldn't find anything recognizable in this woman as Sam Carter.

"I'm sure it is a long story. And a very interesting one at that," the woman said slowly, eyes coolly checking him up and down. "Take him to the brig."

"What?" Jack couldn't keep silent now. "Carter—"

"That's Commander Hansen to you!" the blond woman said tightly, close to snapping, her eyes suddenly blazing.

Jack was taken back. "Hansen? As in Jonas Hansen?"

Kawalsky nodded, cringing as Commander Samantha Hansen shot him a warning look.

"I would be interested in knowing how you knew that." Samantha studied Jack's face. "Among other things." She looked at Kawalsky, the hard look in her eyes softening a bit.

"Nice to see you back, Captain." She barely acknowledged the Tok'ra woman, looking at a space over Jolinar's head. Jolinar didn't take offense though. She merely kept her distance.

"Thank you, sir. Uh…he…uh…Jack…" Kawalsky sighed as he stumbled over the words. "His friend over there. Doctor Jackson. He needs a medic."

"Jackson?" Hansen looked back over to Jack. The colonel glowered at her but said nothing. He readjusted his grip on Daniel, the young man's head drooping further.

"Take them to X-rays first. Make sure they don't have one of those things in them. Then to the brig."

"Hey! We're here to hel—"

"We'll talk later if we find no threat from you." With that, she nodded curtly towards the soldiers and walked away.

"Sorry," Kawalsky muttered as two Marines came forward to lead Jack to the subs. "She's not what you expected I guess."

"No shit." Jack's eyes followed her to the sub she was entering again, her clipped words to the other soldiers sending them hurrying over to the Stargate to stand guard. "Took me for a loop."

"She's okay. You just got to understand—" Kawalsky paused when he heard Daniel moan softly. "Forget it. We'd better let our docs look him over. Come on...this way."

SG1SG1SG1

"Okay!" Sam called out to the side where Richards and Anderson stood. "On my signal, you'll be firing towards the mirror at exactly where I left a marker!" She pointed to a thin pole stand with a paper waving on its tip, a bullseye hastily scrawled on it as someone's idea of a joke, although John couldn't find it to be at all funny. Standing at the same height Daniel was, the paper fluttered as the rest of the crew jogged past to get out of the way.

"Simmons will be calling out where you'll run next," Sam told John.

John nodded grimly. "I think I remember most of what happened though, Major."

"We need the timing to be exact and the details of their actions—"

"Fine," John gritted out. "Let's get on with it. We're wasting time."

If the major sounded offended at being cut off at the knees, she gave no sign. "Siler? I need you to stand by Ferretti. In the beginning, Daniel was by the DHD platform with Captain O'Neill."

Siler called out he was ready.

"Sending the rover through!" Anderson called out.

Sam hurried to the side where the rooms were. "On my count, after the rover stops halfway, Captain O'Neill, you'll have to manipulate the controls for it as if it was coming your way like it did with the colonel. I jury rigged a two way antenna so it should respond no matter what direction it's facing now."

Staring at the remote controls in his hands, John silently nodded.

"We're ready here?" Someone else called out.

"Get the staff weapon targeted for that spot," Sam pointed to the paper once more. "We need it angled just so in case it is one of the catalysts."

The major was shouting commands back and forth, her voice firm yet not harsh. John couldn't help but marvel at the differences.

Where as the commander he knew wouldn't waste time explaining her actions and decisions; this Sam Carter, a name he still couldn't believe, was taking her time to explain.

More like lecturing though, he thought as she was pointing something out to Ferretti. She wasn't bitter or angry, just driven. An attitude John found strange. But he guessed he couldn't blame the commander. She'd lost just as much from what he heard from Dan, her loss coupled with the bitter responsibility of making sure no one else suffered the same again. Her anger, his rift with Dan was all due to the towering black ring that stood behind Ferretti and Carter.

The Stargate.

John tore his eyes away from it. He wondered what Dan was doing right now. He hoped someone was with him while his brother was awake. He remembered times when Dan woke up in fright, unable to recognize his room, even when he was a child. A habit John could never get him to break.

John could still see the sneer in the bastard's face as he cut into his arm with the hot blade. He gritted his teeth, tensing and suddenly realized the cuffs were gone. He yanked his torturer to him, then leaped off the bed and slammed the son of a bitch down on the floor, his knee on his back. Just a little more pressure and he could snap the spine in two and make him pay for what he did to Michaels and-

Someone was calling out his name, crying out in pain and agony that echoed his voice. He reached down to wrap his hands around the throat when strong arms pulled him off.

"O'Neill!" a voice shouted. "What the hell are you doing? Are you crazy? Get off him! Simon, help me with him. Dan...hey, you okay? Shit...someone get the doctor in here!"

John twisted in the grip, whoever it was until a resounding slap swung his head sharply to the left.

And the world became silent.

Focusing, the room now filled with light, John blinked.

"God damn...just sit down on the bed...Simon, where the hell is that doctor?" Cromwell vanished from view as he stooped down to pick John's victim up. As the light haired top emerged above the floor, John stiffened.

Dan.

"Ah shit," John croaked and reached forward to catch the further slumping form, but another pair of arms, this time dressed with medical white sleeves, pulled him back away from his brother. He struggled before stilling as he saw Dan stir with a groan.

"Stop," Dan croaked out. "He...he didn't mean to..." He swayed on his feet as he rose, hand around his middle but otherwise alert. John felt a wave of overwhelming relief wash over him. "He probably...probably thought I was Hassef...he was remembering..."

Hassef?

John stared at Cromwell, who nodded, waving the doctors away from John. Hassef was a dark leader, hiding in the shadows. He didn't even show when they broke into his Iraqi compound. How did Dan know his name?

White gauze peeked out of Dan's gray cotton shirt, the top three buttons torn off thanks to John's attack. Dan stumbled, falling back on the other bed with a grunt. He smiled weakly to reassure John until he saw where his brother's gaze had gone. Dan blanched, his hand went up like a whip and yanked closed the shirt, the bandages gone from sight.

John narrowed his eyes as he realized one of Dan's hands was bandaged, three fingers were splinted all the way to the knuckle.

"What the hell did you do?" John rasped.

Dan didn't look at him, eyes on the floor.

Cromwell answered instead. One hand on his shoulder, his commanding officer responded in a grim voice, grimmer than John had ever heard.

"He did what he had to do to get you back."

Dan never said a word.

"Captain O'Neill?" Sam's face came up abruptly in front of him, and John had to squelch down the instinct to swing out and punch. She must have read it in his posture because she backed up a step and repeated her question.

"We're ready to begin on your word."

"Fine." John couldn't speak up for some reason. He gestured towards the mirror wall and nodded.

Sam glanced at his hands, noting the tight grip on the remote and hurried away, awkward with witnessing the swirl of emotions she saw flashing on the captain's face. It was too much like the colonel's face for her to stand by and watch. She was used to the cocky grin and confident composure that told her everything would turn out fine.

"Okay," Sam said, "We're moving the rover! Once the wall vanishes, no one goes through! Captain O'Neill, you'll just remote control it back in."

John, all the way up front, waved limply in response.

Colonel, I hope you can wait a little bit more, Sam thought, suddenly realizing how much she missed his quick remarks. She'd never thought she would see the day she would long to hear a smart quip from Jack O'Neill.