Chapter Thirty-five
Daniel took a deep breath of slightly lavender scented cool air. With his eyes closed he drifted in an out of a peaceful sleep. Somewhere far in the back of his mind something was telling him that something was wrong, that he was in danger, that he had abandoned friends in need.
However the voice was a tiny one and as he drew in another pain free breath he attempted to tune it out. There was a pleasant trickling water sound that he half focused on instead. He filled his lungs once again, enjoying the ease with which his chest rose and fell.
It wasn't until a near by bird began a song that Daniel's memory flooded back to him. Jack's hot sticky blood was suddenly on his hands once again. He gasped violently as recalled pain tore through his chest. Sitting bolt up right Daniel fought for breath with his hand pressed hard against his pounding heart.
"Easy, Daniel." Gabriel said softly.
"Gabriel!"
"I'm here, we're alright."
"Jack! He...he's..."
"Take a deep breath."
Daniel followed orders and then looked around. He was alone in a room that looked as though it had been carved from deep blue ice. Water ran down the far wall and collected in a small pool that held a school of tiny golden fish. The bed he was sitting on was more of a mound of white silk over what felt like feathers.
Getting up he noticed his clothing had been exchanged. The deep blue material held some qualities of silk, but was much lighter weight. The heavily v-cut shirt wasn't his normal style, but it was comfortable. Already on edge he became even more nervous when he couldn't immediately see a door.
"Where...where are we?"
"In good hands."
"Where's Jack?"
Gabriel didn't answer, his attention seemed to be else where. Even though Gabriel seemed comply at ease Daniel still jerked when a woman dressed in light purple stepped out of the wall to his left. Her beautiful ivory face lit up at the sight of him although her deep brown eyes suddenly held tears.
Before Daniel could react the woman rush over and threw her arms around him. Gabriel tugged gently at Daniel's consciousness, asking very politely for control. Still confused Daniel gave it to him.
Just as Sam always seemed to know who was in control this woman instantly felt the change. She pushed herself up on her tip toes and locked Gabriel in a passionate kiss. Gabriel returned the affection, however Daniel could feel a heavy sorrow crushing on his heart.
"Gabriel..." The woman practically whimpered.
"Jade." He purred and held her closer.
"Gabriel, what is going on?"
"You
don't think I wasted all of my affections on a woman who didn't
love me, did you?" "What?" "Leena kept Kiev a
secret...well I kept Jade one too."
"Gabriel...I...I can't believe it's you." Jade whispered as she ran her hands through his hair. "I never thought I'd see you again."
"And you wouldn't have if I hadn't been so desperate for help."
"Yes...I...I have married...I have a child."
"I am pleased to hear that. I prayed every day that you would find a way to be happy."
"I waited hundreds of years. I begged the Council to allow us to help you. I did everything I could..."
"You could not interfere, I understood that."
"I knew you did...but it didn't make it any easier."
"The Nox have their rules in place for a reason, Jade. And the Goa'uld were my fault. I never expected your people to rescue me from them."
"The Nox?!" Daniel exclaimed.
"Yes, I brought us here because I feared we
would not survive if I did not." "You were right we didn't
survive." "That is because
you are in the City."
"Gabriel!" Opher cried happily as he stepped through the wall.
"Opher, my friend." Gabriel beamed as he pulled away from Jade. "I'm sorry I'm late."
"By thousands of years." Opher smiled. "I see that you have found Daniel once again."
"Yes."
"I hoped that you would."
The Nox that Daniel reconized from his orginal trip to the planet embraced them warmly. Gabriel smiled, but he was fighting tears. Opher noticed and smiled with a shared sorrow.
"I am so sorry for all of the destruction I have caused." Gabriel said meekly. "I would have never freed the Niacines without you...but it wasn't enough for me, I had to have children of my own."
"You were and are still young, you could not know where your actions would lead. And I know that if you had suspected the consequences you would not have returned to your home world."
"Never."
"And I hear you've been doing your best to reverse your mistakes."
"My best has not been enough. Leen...Sam has been taken."
"We still may not help you."
"You have saved my life, it is more than I could ask."
"Then you know I must ask you to leave."
Gabriel nodded and looked to Jade. Tears traced down her face, but she bravely faced him. Full of questions Daniel tugged for control. Gabriel peacefully allowed it. Jade flashed him a sad smile and then quickly left the room. Opher put his hand on Daniel's shoulder.
"I know you wish to know more about our world. I should not do this, but I will allow you one question."
"If I only have one then I want to know where my friend is. Is Jack alive?"
"You have always been the wisest and you ask your questions well." Opher smiled warmly. "We have healed his wounds, he sleeps by the Stargate."
"Thank you."
"Thank you for giving Gabriel a second chance at life as well."
"Did...did you recognize me the first time we came here?"
"I believe I have already answered your one question."
"Yes, of course. I'm sorry."
Opher smiled once again. He guided Daniel over to the wall and encouraged him to step through. Gabriel ensured him that it would okay. Daniel closed his eyes and walked directly into it. It was very much like stepping through the Stargate and when he opened his eyes again he was back on the grassy hill.
Daniel looked around and found Jack laying in the thick grass. Still anxious Daniel raced over to him and knelt down next to him. Jack's clothes were still covered in blood, however when Daniel pulled his shirt up he found the skin underneath unbroken. He looked down at his own shirt, which had changed back to the Area 51 uniform, and discovered he too had an ugly exit wound in his shirt, but not his skin.
"Uff-da..."
"Jack?!"
"Daniel?"
"Are you okay?"
Daniel helped Jack sit up. Jack looked around with the same confusion that Daniel had when he'd first woken.
"I...uh...think so. Although I could have sworn I was dead. Am I dead?"
"Well, you were. But..."
"But what? I got better?"
"Basically." Daniel smiled. "Gabriel had Dialed us to the Nox world."
"Ah...good old fashion Nox Know-how, eh? Gabe...I owe you one."
"That's okay, I think I owed you several already." Gabriel chuckled.
"Let's just call it even."
"Deal."
"Okay, team...enough rest." Jack chirped. "Daniel, Dial that Gate. I want to be kicking Ba'al's ass in five minutes."
"I'm fairly certain Ba'al is a prisoner at the moment." Gabriel informed.
"Fine, whatever, I still think Carter is at his fortress."
"Of that I have no doubt."
"Then let's go."
"Do we have a plan?" Gabriel asked.
"Do we ever?" Daniel replied.
Daniel got to his feet and helped Jack to the same. The walked over to the DHD however before Daniel could Dial it Jack leaned up against it and gave him an expectant look. Daniel furrowed his brow in confusion. For a minute the pair just stared at one another.
"Okay...spill." Jack finally spoke.
"Spill what?"
"Where did you send him?"
"What?"
"Don't you 'what' me young man."
"I...uh...I don't know what you're talking about." Daniel replied in false innocents.
"Where...is...Stenson?"
"Oh right him..." A lupine smile spread across Daniel's face.
"Where?"
"PX9-850."
Jack furrowed his brow for a moment, repeating the planet's tag in his mind a few times. Daniel smiled and gave him a hint. He hooked his thumbs together and flapped his hands like wings. Jack instantly brightened and a lop sided grin split his face.
"The place with all those giant bugs that inject you full of their DNA and turn you into even more disgusting giant bugs? Horriably, painfully, and slowly I might add."
"That's the place."
"Nice!"
"I thought I'd feel guilty about it...but I don't."
Jack laughed and threw his arm around Daniel's shoulders. He pulled him close and roughly tousled his hair. Daniel chuckled as he tried to extract himself from Jack's excited horse play.
"I could kiss you." Jack beamed.
"Please don't."
Jack chuckled and released his captive. Gabriel laughed as well and reminded Daniel of the Address to Ba'al's base planet. He Dialed it up and watched as the vortex snapped out at them. Before stepping up the Event Horizon he turned to Jack.
"Seriously, Jack, what is our plan?"
"How does saving Carter and Teal'c by any means necessary sound?"
"Sounds like a plan to me."