In the engine room of the ship, Sam and Thor continued work on installing the Asgard technology, the upset Colonel on the whole maintaining a professional exterior. She asked,

"How long until the disease reaches critical? Maybe I… or even Carolyn could formulate a vaccine… or do something…"

He replied, looking up at her with a neutral expression, "There is nothing that can be done. The disease is incurable and projections show that as the disease takes its course, our cells will degrade and our capacity for intellectual thought will gradually diminish. We wish to be in charge of our own destiny and choose the manner in which we die… and in this way, we will live on in a manner of our choosing too."

After a long pause as she did her best to not start crying then and there, he continued as a schematic appeared on a large view-screen, "If you like, you will be able to interface with the core using a holographic representation of me, or any other Asgard on record in the knowledge base."

"I'm sorry… but that just won't be the same."

Looking hurt, Thor said, attempting to make her feel guilty at her grief so she wouldn't grieve for him as much, "I have been working on this for the better part of a year, Colonel Carter."

She sighed and said, feeling more and more emotional at the prospect of losing the Asgard, especially Thor, "And we appreciate it. Really!"

He continued, glad for once that thousands of years of genetic modification had limited his physiological functions, chiefly an ability to cry, "Many on the Council did not believe we should be imparting such advancements."

She replied, sniffing back tears, "Well… I promise we will do our very best not to let you down." And she meant it. They had come such a long way since they had first encountered the Asgard, and it was an honour in way that the Asgard trusted them enough to bequeath the products of their civilisation to them.

To back up her thoughts, he said, "You are the Fifth Race. Your role is clear. If there is any hope in preserving the future, it lies with you and your people."

She tried and failed to inject some good humour into the situation. "No pressure, huh?"

"You have earned my respect and my friendship." That certainly threw cold water over Jack's repeated assertions that their allies were arrogant and ungrateful, especially if they just so happened to be of a technologically superior race.

She did her best to restrain her emotions. "Well, the feeling's mutual."

His expressions softened on sensing somehow her continued and prolonged grief, touched that she would miss him and his brethren. "Please do not be sad. The end of my people has been a long time coming. We have made too many irreversible mistakes in our development. Hopefully, you can learn something from it. My only regret is that our physical weakness has left us incapable of helping you further."

Touched in turn by his words, shaken to her very core by the chilling sound of regret in his voice, she kneeled and hugged him tightly, whispering sadly, "I don't want you to go."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Knowing that time was short, Daniel strode into his quarters, a man on a mission. He opened a cupboard, pulling out a large case from a high shelf, putting it down on his bed. He quickly dusted the metallic surface before opening it, taking a moment to look at the contents within – what appeared to be a rolled up rug. With a thoughtful expression on his face, he smoothed the fabric with his fingers, and silently wished that the Asgard or the SGC would find a remedy soon, which didn't look very likely.

Sighing, he picked up the rug in his arms and kissed it gently, tears pricking in his eyes and he left his quarters, forcing himself to be strong.

Knowing where Thor would likely be, he made his way to the Odyssey's engine room, finding Sam kneeling on the floor as she hugged the Asgard, Thor's thin arms slowly coming around her as though unsure. He watched, touched as Sam let the Asgard go, smoothing his cheek gently as she said softly,

"I'm going to miss you the most."

Thor replied at almost the same volume, looking sad, "And I will miss you great, Samantha Carter. I have regretted not naming ships after you and Teal'c, but rest assured that had I been capable of sexual reproduction, my progeny would bear your names."

She smiled despite her grief and kissed him on the cheek. They then both looked up on finally noticing Daniel's presence, and Sam looked at the rolled up rug in her boyfriend's arms as she stood up slowly, asking, "Daniel?"

He gazed at her for a moment and then kneeled before the Asgard in her place, saying as he looked at Thor, "Thor… I got you something. I was always waiting for the right time and now…" his voice wavered ever so slightly. "… now there's no time like the present. This is a gift from Earth to the Asgard… to you especially."

He carefully placed the rug in Thor's arms, and the Supreme Commander of the Asgard fleet asked, looking down at it, "Many thanks, Daniel Jackson… but what is it?"

As a curious Sam looked on, Daniel, with the same carefulness, unfurled the rug to reveal an intricate Persian design on the surface, Asgard runes woven into the border, with different Earth scripts woven into the main part along with a representation of the solar system. The Asgard, and Sam for that matter, looked stunned and Daniel said softly, gently stroking Thor's cheek,

"Unfortunately, the customs of the people who made it frown on people being represented on fabric or artwork, but… it represents Earth and our friendship with you."

All present were stunned, especially Thor, when a tear rolled down the Asgard's cheek, and he said, looking up at Daniel, "Thank you, Daniel Jackson. Thank you. It is of an aesthetically pleasing design…" He smiled slightly. "It is beautiful." His smile disappeared. "But I cannot accept it. You have evidently put an immense amount of work into this tapestry but… and if I retain it, it will be destroyed."

Daniel shook his head. "It's yours. It was always yours." He took the rug from Thor, wrapping it around the Asgard's frail frame, and he gently kissed him on the forehead. "You have done so much for us… thank you, Thor."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Outside, Daniel sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as a means to alleviate his stress, as Sam, her arm around his waist as they walked down a corridor, asked with a concerned expression, "So… that was in your closet?"

He nodded and wrapped his own arm around her waist, and she continued, looking confused, "When did you have it made?"

"Oh… um, there's a rug shop a block from the zoo… The owner felt he owed me a favour 'cos I used to tutor his kids a few years ago."

Surprised, she remarked, "You never told me you were tutoring!"

He shrugged, looking sheepish. "It was nothing." His expression evened out. "I just wish I could have given it to Thor before now."

She kissed him on the cheek. "It's a thoughtful present, Daniel." She smiled briefly. "Jack's face would have been priceless on seeing you kiss Thor."

He chuckled softly, embarrassed as he murmured, "Jack's just narrow-minded in some respects." He sighed. She glanced at him worriedly and said, holding him tighter,

"It'll be ok."

He swallowed past a lump in his throat. "I know. It's just a lot. I don't mean to be sound naïve, but someone… the universe should take note that they're dying… The Ancients could help them somehow instead of letting them die like this. It just seems wrong."

They were startled by Cam's voice from behind them. "Damn right it's wrong, but what are you gonna do?"

They stopped and turned, letting go of each other as the southern Colonel said, looking at Daniel, "Good call on the present, Jackson. Thor's strutting around in his new commander robes as we speak."

He looked at both of them and shrugged. "The best we can hope to do is to keep their legacy alive and not let the universe forget these little guys with the huge brains. Have we heard from Atlantis?"

Sam nodded. "Hermiod already left last week. We just assumed that he would go back again. He didn't say anything about the disease. General Landry's requested that the Expedition be rigorously tested for any contaminants, despite the disease not affecting humans. Also… we're going to have be tested when we get home again."

He nodded in acknowledgement and grimaced. "Fair enough. I'm all for not dying anytime soon." He paused. "How're you guys doing?"

Daniel and Sam exchanged a glance and she replied with a shrug, "As ok as we could be, considering."

Cam nodded, remarking, "T's pissed. He's locked himself in his quarters to kel-no-reem and…" he did an impression of Teal'c. "… reflect on the possibilities of life and death, ColonelMitchell."

Sam and Daniel smiled a little in amusement, the latter saying, "Still needs more bass."

"Well, can't blame a girl for trying… especially when as this time he's not in earshot."

Sam asked, "How's Vala coping?"

"Surprisingly… normal. Normal in that she's wearing T's nerves thin 'cos she's bored."

"Right." She smiled slightly as Daniel began to look exasperated, remembering the birthday party incident, and Cam said, patting them both on the shoulder before walking past them, "I better keep moving otherwise I'll join her in going nuts."

They nodded and after Cam had walked away, looked at each other for a moment before following suit, Sam squeezing Daniel's hand reassuringly.