Lifeboat – a single episode that won't take as long to survive as the entirety of Season 6, at least. Missing scenes, mostly how Jill deals with this, some Jill-Janet & Jack-Jill bonding. (Yes, I realized later that I made them Jack and Jill, but some characters name themselves. They are simply 'born' with their names and Jillian was one of those for me.) Lifeboat always struck me as a team-bonding episode. Watch the scenes of Teal'c refusing to leave the observation room, Jack's rebellion against the 'medical personnel only rule' and his confrontation with Martice, Sam working on a solution and refusing to give up Daniel, the lovely 'nail in the forehead' moment between Jack and Daniel at the end. So, with that in mind, I really didn't want Jillian interfering with them and yet it's too much of a cop out to simply leave her off world until it's over. It begins just before Janet returns to talk to Martice (after Martice refers to her as the 'small woman', which always makes me laugh.)
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"What do you recommend, Doctor?" Hammond asked.
"I think someone needs to go get Jillian, sir," Janet said.
Teal'c turned his head slowly, as if trying to keep an eye on Daniel Jackson and look at Dr. Fraiser at the same time. It was not the response that either Teal'c or Hammond had expected.
"Your reasons?" Hammond asked.
"Sir, we need to know if Daniel still exists. I'm not sure he'll try to talk to any of us, but I know he'd try to reach out to her."
"I would be reluctant to subject Jillian to this until we have more information," Teal'c spoke up sharply.
He had no real say in the matter and he knew it.
"She's stronger than you think, Teal'c," Janet answered, but not unkindly. She was well aware that this was not the first time Teal'c would find himself caught between his two friends – between Jillian's need to know and Daniel's desire to keep her from being hurt again, "But you and I both know she never really forgave Daniel for not letting her say good-bye to him after the incident on Kelowna. Jillian will want to know and if we try to keep this from her, we're both going to get raked over the coals when she finds out."
Teal'c remained silent but his regard was just short of hostile. He exhaled in a way that sounded a bit growly and said clearly 'And Daniel Jackson will be angry that we told her.' The stare between them held for a long time before Janet looked back at Hammond. It was really his decision.
"Ultimately, General," she said, "Daniel is my patient and it is my strong opinion that if we're going to find out if he's still in there, our best chance is Jillian."
"You think he'll find a way to come out in order to reassure her," Hammond surmised.
"Yes,sir."
Hammond considered it. It made sense. Daniel had become 'military' enough to continue hiding from his own team, but not from Jillian. Their relationship was different.
Finally Hammond said, "I'll send someone for her, unless you want to go, Teal'c?"
The Jaffa's expression bore a world of conflict for a moment; but he finally answered, "I will stay with Daniel Jackson."
Hammond nodded. Somehow he wasn't surprised by the decision.
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(At some point before Keenin emerges)
Janet watched Jillian carefully. She was staring at the TV screen, at the frozen image of Daniel and Janet could tell she was balancing perilously on the edge of shock. Her knees gave out and she sat down, hard, in the nearest chair.
"So he's been walking around, talking, ranting, throwing things but it hasn't been Daniel?"
"No," Janet said, "What you just saw is the only glimpse we've had of Daniel."
Jillian put her elbows on her knees and hid her face in her hands.
"My god, Janet," she said.
Janet put her fingers on Jillian's shoulder in a gesture she hoped would comfort.
"I know," she said.
Jillian sat up abruptly, determination in her eyes even she still also looked like someone was picking at her heart bare-handed.
"I want to see him."
"Jillian…."
"Janet! I want to see him!"
Janet rolled a chair over and sat down in front of her.
"Look, sweetheart, I know you do; and I have to be honest and admit that's exactly why I wanted you to come back here in the first place. That's why we sent for you. We were hoping that Daniel would make his presence known if he saw you."
"Okay," Jillian said, "So why isn't that still a plan? He'll talk to me, Janet, I know he will."
She was pleading, almost desperate.
"Because now we've made contact with Daniel. We know he's there and I think he's hiding, trying to protect himself. Jillian, I know this won't be easy for you to hear but the worst thing that can happen right now is for Daniel to risk coming forward again. Some of the personalities we've talked to are already on the edge of sanity."
Jillian was staring at Janet in undisguised horror.
"For god's sake, Janet," her voice was winter chilled. "Why do things like this keep happening to him?"
"Oh he's pretty high maintenance. I'll give you that," Janet answered. Her small smile and the compassion in her eyes were meant to comfort.
"You have no idea, "Jillian sighed.
She squeezed Jillian's shoulder, "You can watch him from the Observation Room., but I am warning you that it might not be easy."
"Who is with him now?" Jillian asked.
"Col. O'Neill, as far as I know."
"Okay," Jillian stood up and Janet was drawn to her feet in the same movement.
"Jillian, we're going to get him back," Janet said.
She was using the no-nonsense, unleash the hounds, and take no prisoners voice that everyone at the SGC had come to appreciate.
"Janet," Jillian began, and couldn't quite keep the tremor from her voice or the fear out of her eyes; nor could she continue.
Janet just nodded. Jillian drew a long shaky sigh. In the midst of crisis, the great relief and comfort of friendship was that nothing needed to be explained.
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Where's my father?
"Oh my god," Jillian whispered, "That's a child."
Jack shot her a single glance and then riveted his eyes once more on Daniel.
"You going to be okay?" he asked gruffly.
"No," she said, "Jack, there's a child trapped in there too."
"Yeah," the pain in his voice tore at her.
But he didn't stop watching Daniel, as if he could give him support through the weight of his stare alone.
What's the last thing you remember?
My father.
Jillian whimpered before she could stop it. She had arms folded over her waist, tight. Jack wondered if she knew that she did the same kind of 'self-hug' that Daniel did and, though hers was less hostile, it was no less defensive. The color had left her face long ago. Tears of pain and frustration clung to her lashes but she hadn't let them fall. The eyes that had bored into his earlier were haunted and in pain and full of grieving that tore at him because he knew the cause.
He wanted to help her, but she was going to have to wait.
Jillian sat in quiet agony and listened to a child explains the death of his world, his mother and the life he had known. She looked occasionally at Jack and, even in her distress she could see the shrewdness in his eyes. She knew that Jack would realign the planets if that was what it took to save Daniel; and with a sudden jolt she realized that he had wrestled all emotion into a vault somewhere in his soul so that he could concentrate on taking in every bit of information.
Jack wasn't just sitting vigil with a member of his team. Jack was on a scouting mission for Intel. It explained why he had barely acknowledged her presence since she had come in the room. Even if he had to quell his natural inclination to protect children – in any form – he would pull in any and every scrap of knowledge he could gain and use it in whatever way was necessary to get Daniel back.
It was the reason she trusted Jack with Daniel's life. The military was his entire life now and his team the total of his family. He would do anything to protect them, even it meant a descent into the darkest recess of his soul. She had just never seen it so clearly before. Jillian wanted to thank him but suddenly realized how important it was for her to remain silent and let Jack O'Neill's Black Ops training work.
Her attention was seized again when Daniel's multiple personality disorder abruptly shifted and he began snarling at Janet.
Now, what have you done to resolve this?
Jillian was horrified all over again. How could anyone that arrogant and egomanical be sharing the same space with Daniel?
Listen, you don't understand the seriousness of your condition.
'Daniel' surged toward Janet, raising his hand. Beside her, Jillian could feel Jack come to instant attention. Personnel restrictions or not, Daniel's body or not, Jack would go through the two-way mirror to protect Janet if he had to.
AND YOU STILL DO NOT REALIZE WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO!
Janet came back at him, teeth and claws unleashed.
I don't give a damn! You don't belong in that man's body and I intend to take it back!
A sob tore itself loose from Jillian. She leapt to her feet so suddenly her chair crashed to the floor. She couldn't watch any more. God, as much as she loved Daniel it was just too much. Intending to run from the room she ran instead into a solid wall, warm and steady, unshakable as if he was rooted to the earth. Jillian pushed against his chest with all her strength but Jack O'Neill's arms wrapped around her tight and held her until she stopped trying to run.
"Jack." It was a single syllable gasp of agony, a plea for help.
"I know," Jack said, quietly, "He's a pain in the ass, but we'll get him back."
Jillian's breath caught between a relieved sigh and a sob. Jack rocked her a little.
"We won't lose him again, Jillian" Jack swore, "Not like this."
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This time she didn't wait for the Gate to shut down, or even for them to get to the bottom. This time she ran up the ramp and flung her arms around Daniel's neck, heedless of the fact that he was being supported by Jack on one side and Teal'c on the other. He looked like he could fall asleep standing.
"Daniel."
She was vaguely aware that Daniel let go of Teal'c and slipped his arm around her waist. His strength was gone. She could feel it in the way he leaned against her, hid his face against her shoulder. His arm was limp over her hips now. Jillian felt a blur of emotions, relief and exhilaration collided, and she could do little but cling to him and murmur his name over and over. She held him tight and felt his breath warm against her neck, felt him shaking with fatigue and memory.
A surge of dizziness almost took Daniel to his knees. He crumbled against her. She tried to counterbalance him but he was too heavy for her to hold. Teal'c grabbed him again and helped disentangle them.
"He's gotta rest, Jillian," Jack said.
"Not in the infirmary," Daniel muttered.
"Yes in the infirmary," Janet said and no one would have argued with her in any circumstances.
Daniel groaned as Jack and Teal'c dragged him down the ramp, barely able to keep his feet under him.
Jillian moved aside to let them pass. Sam paused next to her.
"He's going to be fine," Sam said.
"I know," Jillian said, hugging her, "Thank you."
"Hey," Sam grinned, "No charge."
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