Hi guys! I'm back from church camp now! I had a lot of fun, and what made it even better was that I found time to work on this, the next chapter of this story. I got home yesterday, and then all I had to do was type this, so here you go! new chapter! I know that it may seem a bit weird or out of whack or something, but it will make sense once I put up chapter 27, I promise. Now, I'm not changeing subjects on you, just please keep reading we'll go back to where we were in the last chapter in the next chapter, I promise...and then some, lol.

So anyway, I'm happy to be back and be giving you another chapter:) Please read and review so I know what you think of this new alternate future twist here before I keep going...

Part 2

Chapter 26

Present, AU

Dan'iel…

Sha're blinked back the tears that gathered in her eyes as she looked down at the picture frame in her hands, sitting at the desk that had once been his. The frame held two pictures: The first was only Daniel, a picture taken of him in Abydonian robes, from the year he had spent there. The second was a picture of the original SG-1, taken shortly before Daniel had died.

My Dan'iel I miss you so much…she thought in despair. Blinking harder, she gently ran her fingers over his face on the first caption, her favorite picture of her late husband. She liked to remember him that way, with his hair long the way it had been when she'd first met him, his attire the robes of her homeworld, and happy.

With Abydos gone and its people, including her father and brother, ascended, all she had left of it was what she had left of Daniel. Before Sha're could stop it, a single tear slipped down her cheek and landed on the glass beside his smiling face-the face she would never she smile at her in person again.

Six years. It had been six years, almost to the day, since Daniel had died, and even longer since she had been given that smile. She thought she had moved on, but then this-the announcement of this mission-and she found herself trying not to fall apart again. She'd failed to save him then, and now she had to be reminded of that by returning to the planet where her husband had been murdered.

And it had been nothing short of murder. What made it so much worse was that she had committed the crime herself. Even though she hadn't been controlling it at the time, she could still feel the knife in her hand as Amaunet used her body to plunge it into him. She could still hear Daniel's pained gasps of shock, see him sink to the floor, still defying his killer, could remember the few moments she'd had with him before Amaunet had taken control from her again, and she could still see the tears and pain on Daniel's face when Amaunet left, pleading for Sha're not to go…But she hadn't been able to stop the Goa'uld again.

Sha're clenched her eyes shut, trying to push the images from her mind. She couldn't dwell on that part of it, or she would never be able to go through with this. She had to focus on the times she'd had with him, not what Amaunet had done to him. She had to remember the short times she'd been in control of her body again, when she'd been able to speak to her Daniel, and to the Daniel of the future who no longer existed because of her…No. She couldn't go there either.

It's not your fault, Daniel's voice rang in her mind. Both of them had told her that. He had told her yet again even as he was dying in her, his older self injured and dying on the other side of the holding cell.

She'd tried to listen to him, tried, over the years, to convince herself that it wasn't her fault. Sometimes she could, and sometimes she couldn't. She'd had a chance to save him, tried to re-take control of her body again for a few moments, long enough to get him to a sarcophagus and help him escape, but she hadn't been able to. So when Amaunet had decided not to revive him, he had been lost to her forever.

Now she was free of the Goa'uld, the demon that had controlled her for two-and-a-half years, but Daniel was gone. She had filled the empty position on SG-1 but she could never take his place. Jack, Sam, and Teal'c had known that, but had welcomed her with open arms just the same. She had become part of the team, their friend, as Cameron Mitchell had also become after he took command of SG-1 a couple of months before.

At first Mitchell had not known much about Daniel's death, but when the mission of returning to P5R-322 to search for the experimental time/space device left by the Goa'uld had fallen to SG1, it had raised questions that had final lead to Cameron learning the whole truth. The colonel, once he had realized her emotional problems with the assignment, had offered to let her stay behind, and General O'Neill had agreed to the idea, but she had insisted that she would be all right. She was beginning to wonder if that had been wise…but no, she had to do this. They might be able to use the device against the Ori, and if for no other reason she had to do this for Daniel.

Sha're sighed. She should be going now, preparing to embark, not sitting in her office. SG-1 was scheduled to leave later that morning.

A soft knock at the door made her swipe quickly at her tears and look up.

In the door way stood Samantha Carter, in civilian clothes and looking like she'd just come in for the morning. That was probably true; Sha're had been on base all night, too restless to trek back to her apartment.

Sam leaned into the office questioningly, and Sha're beckoned for her to come in.

"Hey," Carter said in greeting, coming up beside her friend as Sha're's eyes drifted back to the pictures in her hands. When she saw them, Sam slipped an arm around the younger woman's shoulders and squeezed gently. It took a moment for Sha're to speak up.

"I miss him," she said finally.

Sam sighed, "I know. We all do. Believe me when I say I understand that today won't be easy."

Sha're nodded silently, and then set the picture frame down and stood.

"We should be getting changed."

"Will you be all right?" Carter asked in concern.

Sha're managed a smile. "I'll be fine."

Sam gave her a smile in return, but there was sad ness behind hers as well. She didn't want to make a return visit to P5R-322 any more than Sha're did, both were determined to get through it. Finding anything to help in the newly developing fight against the Ori was more important that emotional conflicts, and both knew it.

As the two woman were turning to head for the locker room, Cameron Mitchell rounded the corner into the office.

"Carter! Jackson! Come, time to gear up, see what kind of cool new tech we can bring back."

"Cam, we don't know for certain that we're going to find anything. Don't get your hopes up. I want to find something we can use just as much as you do, but…"

"Anything could have happened. Another Goa'uld could have discovered the device and moved it by now," Sha're filled in.

Mitchell looked confused. "But doesn't it have to still be there? I mean, otherwise how would the, uh…the other Dr. Jackson…" he said, treading carefully. "How would he have gotten there if the thing wasn't there in the future?"

Sam winced. "Cameron, he could have been from any time, and besides, this is a different future. For us, the future where Daniel was alive was abolished when he died," she informed him, gulping back the lump that was trying to form in her throat.

Mitchell sighed. "Okay, okay. I got it…sorry; I didn't mean to…"

"It's all right," Sha're assured him.

Cameron nodded. "Okay, so…you two gonna be okay?"

Sam and Sha're looked at each other for a moment, and then back at the colonel.

"We're as ready as we'll ever be," Carter replied finally.

General Jack O'Neill was waiting in the 'gate room when SG-1 arrived. Teal'c and Mitchell made in there first, and waited patiently until the door slid open again to admit Carter and Jackson. Carter took a deep breath just inside the door and went to stand with her friends, but Sha're shuffled in behind her, eyes on the floor. Sam saw this and started to go back for her, but stopped when she saw Jack make his way to her and put an arm around her shoulders.

"Hey, how ya doin'?" O'Neill asked gently.

She sighed. "Better than I thought I would, I suppose. At first I did not even think I could do this, but…"

"You still have the choice not to," the general pointed out.

Sha're nodded. "I know, and thank you for your concern, Jack, but…but I can make it."

Jack nodded in return. "Okay…" But when he saw the saddened look on her face as she started to pull away he pulled her back and spoke again, as the 'gate began to dial.

"Hey, you know he never blamed you, right? I mean, for cryin' out loud, the last thing he asked me to do was find you again and get that thing out of you."

Her head dropped. "You have told me…"

"Sha're, Daniel loved you with all his heart, and we all know how much you loved him-still love him. Look, coming here, accepting the spot he left on SG-1, doing what you do now for this planet, this galaxy…It's what he would have wanted for you. You have nothing to be guilty about. And don't tell me that you're not feeling guilty--I know that face."

A brief smile flickered across her face at his last comment.

"Thank you," she said quietly, at his attempt to cheer her up, at his reminders.

"You're welcome," Jack said, giving her shoulders a squeeze before releasing them. He looked up toward the rest of the SGC's flagship team as the Abydonian woman moved toward them.

"Hey Carter," he called. The colonel looked up, and he continued, "You gonna be okay?"

Sam sighed and nodded. "Yes sir."

At that moment, the 'gate whooshed open, and O'Neill nodded and stepped back toward the door.

"All right; good luck SG-1," he said in send-off."

"Thanks general," Mitchell answered, throwing off a non-returned salute before turning and following Teal'c up the ramp. Sam waited for Sha're, and the two women started toward the stargate together.

Together they hesitated at the top of the ramp, watching the men go through. Carter looked over at her friend.

"You ready for this?"

"Not really," Sha're gulped.

"Me either," Sam admitted.

Both stared at the event horizon for another moment or two, and finally, before she could think about it anymore, Sha're closed her eyes and stepped through.

Sighing, Sam glanced back at Jack, who gave her a nod before she turned and followed the rest of her team.

Cameron started issuing instructions the moment everyone was through, hoping that getting moving immediately would get everyone's minds off what had happened here.

"Okay, everybody spread out-"

"There is no need for that," Sha're interrupted. "I remember where the device is if it really is still here."

"-or not," Mitchell finished. "Okay…lead on then."

Sha're nodded, and then, gulping again and taking a deep breath, she did just that. As she walked, she tried not to think of when she had walked these corridors with no control of her own body, as Amaunet, of what she had done to Daniel, to Sam, and others. She succeeded at first, and thought that maybe she really would be all right, but suddenly she had to stop just short of the cell where Daniel had died; her feet wouldn't take her any farther. She didn't want to see that room again.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. "Sha're?" Sam said softly.

Sha're tried to respond, but only managed to pull in a shaky breath.

"It's okay," Mitchell said. "Take your time. If it's here, it's not going anywhere before we get back there to it."

Sha're nodded, and her friends stood with her as she took deep breaths, mind running rampant. Daniel had died in the room around the corner. Her own hands had done it. But it wasn't her fault…yes it was! No. Stop. She had to keep going. Just keep going. It wasn't her fault. There was nothing she could do about it now. She just had to keep going. Take another step, another. There you go…

She was in front of it now, her friends still with her. She would have been able to see it if she hadn't been staring straight ahead. Just look. Maybe it will help. Don't you hear that you're supposed to face your fears?

Sha're closed her eyes, and felt Sam's hand close tighter on her shoulder to offer comfort. She could do this. She took another deep breath, and opened her eyes…and saw it. It was dark now, there were no blood stains, no evidence of occupants, nothing. But she knew this was it, knew what had happened here. It was where she had last seen Daniel alive.

Her legs felt weak, and Cameron and Teal'c also reached out to her to hold her up and lead her past the room. On the other side she leaned against the wall, blinking back tears. Dan'iel I'm sorry. I could not save you. I'm so, so sorry…

"You okay?" Sam asked.

Pulling herself from her thoughts and trying to return herself to normal, Sha're looked at her friend, whose eyes were also wet. She gulped and nodded. "I can go on," she said quietly, finally able to form words again.

"Are you certain Sha're Jackson?" Teal'c asked in concern.

She nodded and pushed away from the wall. "I am."

Mitchell sighed. "Okay. Let's get going then. It's not too much further is it?"

Sha're shook her head. "No, not too much farther. Follow me."

And she walked on. Her emotions still raged from anguish to anger to others, but she could do this. She was past the worst. If she could move on from that, she would be all right. And, of course, her friends were always there for her. As long as she had them, she could do it, make it, just like she had after Daniel had died. The return to this planet was a sad day, but when she got home, she would be all right. She could still be happy again, with her family.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Carter. You wanna do what?" O'Neill questioned from the control room at the SGC.

"I want to bring the device back the SGC, sir. Most of what I think I'll need to study this thing I can't bring here. If we're going to find out if we can use this device, I'm going to need much easier access to it. That means in my lab, sir," Sam reported from the other side of the wormhole, via M.A.L.P. video feed.

"Uh, yeah, okay. But…correct me if I'm wrong, but the last time we brought some unknown alien device from some planet and turned it on, people started seeing things--big things--big bug things from another dimension, for cryin' out loud."

"Yes, sir, I know. But this isn't a completely unknown device. We know what it's supposed to do, and we won't turn it on until we know exactly how it works."

"But-"

"Please, sir. We need to know if this can help us. I need to bring it back to find that out."

Jack sighed. "Mitchell, what do you think?"

"Uh, I'm gonna have to go with Carter on this one, general. If the geeks need it back home to figure it out, I say we bring it on through. It's worth whatever small risk there is."

O'Neill thought about that for another moment or so, and then nodded. "Fine. Go ahead a get it."

"Thank you, sir!" Carter said.

"You need any help getting it to the 'gate?"

"No sir. It's not as heavy as it looks, and it seems like it was meant just to be carried by three or four people when moved, 'cause it's got these convenient handles, so…yeah, we should be able to get it," Mitchell said.

Jack nodded. "'kay then. We'll see you when you get back."

"Yes sir," Carter answered. "SG-1 out."

With that, the 'gate closed, and O'Neill sighed.

Well, at least Carter had seemed okay. He hadn't seen Sha're, but hoped she was all right as well. He knew that he would have been dealing with quite a few conflicting emotions if he'd been with them there. Not that he wasn't dealing with any now.

At times over the past day or so Jack had found his thoughts drifting back to the unpleasant memories of Daniel's death. He was glad that he had kept his promise to his best friend, had found his wife again and contacted the Tok'ra to get the snake out of her, set her free. He'd given her to choice to stay with the SGC, to join SG-1, and she'd taken it. Maybe it had been out of guilt then, or just wanting to be close to the place and people her husband had loved, but over time his friends had become hers, his home among the family of the SGC her home, and she'd grown the love it. She'd become happy.

Of course Daniel was always in the back of her mind, she missed him, loved him, but she'd been happy where she was, and Jack was happy that'd he'd been able to help her get that chance. He hadn't seen her as depressed as he'd seen her today in years. He was sorry that the new threat of the Ori had driven them to return to P5R-322, that he had to send SG-1 on this mission. He only hoped that Sha're would be able to get past this, be happy again when she came back. From what he had seen as he'd gotten to know the young woman, he was almost certain that she would. She was strong.

Jack sighed, and moved back toward his office, once again pondering why he'd taken the desk job.

Mitchell looked at his team, each of which was holding onto one of the handles of the tall cylindrical device. Or rather, he looked at the members of his team he could see. The four of them stood in a rough square at the handholds, and he was in the back left corner. Sam was in front of him, Sha're to his right, and Teal'c he couldn't see. Anyway…

"Okay, everybody, ready to go?" he asked, nodding toward the open gate.

"Yes sir," Carter answered immediately.

"I am ready to depart, Mitchell," Teal'c answered, and it was the first time the colonel had heard the jaffa's voice sound so heavy. Sure, at times there was strain in the bigger man's voice when he talked about his late friend, and especially today, but…well, in any case, it was definitely time to get the heck out of here.

"Okay…" Cameron said, and glanced over at Sha're, who nodded her affirmative as well. "Then we're out of here."

Sha're glance back the open 'gate room one last time as she stepped forward with the others, carrying the device. She hoped that now that they had it, she would never have to come here again.

Then, sighing one last time, she and the rest of SG-1 stepped through the stargate.