So sorry I haven't updated in like a week- college visits were happening and I was completely distracted!

So last chapter saw the team reuniting with Daniel, but something is very obviously wrong with him. Sam remembered what had happened during the Battle of Dakara, and SG-1 was left to wonder what happened to their friend. Now we start up again with the past catching up with Daniel...

Chapter 4

It was about two hours later- although it felt like several years- that something shook Sam from her reverie. Yells exploded outside the tent, and the sounds of fighting broke through the nighttime stillness.

Jack's head snapped up. Sam leapt to her feet. Grabbing her P-90, which the men had returned, she darted out of the tent and into chaos.

A large group of warriors attacked the torch-illuminated camp, wielding guns similar to zats. They wore dark leather vests and leggings, blending into the shadows. Daniel was nowhere in sight. His people rushed to meet the attackers, but it was clear the defenders were outnumbered.

There's not enough of them, Sam realized. They're going to need help. She looked at Jack. "Jack, we have to help them."

"They kidnapped us," Jack countered.

"Because they didn't know who we were!" Sam refuted. "I don't think these guys are going to take prisoners!" As she spoke, two of the defenders fell to enemy fire. She played her last card. "Jack- if these attackers get through Derin's men, they could kill Daniel."

Jack sighed. "Fine. Let's go."

Sam hefted her P-90 and aimed at one of the attackers, pulling the trigger. A spray of bullets knocked him down, and she scanned for a new target. Beside her, Jack took cover and shot at attackers who were trying to slip around the camp. Teal'c knelt next to him, shooting his staff weapon.

The attackers began to take cover as well, and the shooting stopped. Sam poked her head up to see what was going on.

One of the attacking men had stood, his hands in the air. He took a step toward Derin, who lowered his gun slightly, eyeing the other man.

"Where is he?" the unknown man asked quietly.

Derin met his eyes. "He's not here."

The other arched an eyebrow. "If you're here, Derin, then I know he is too. Don't play the fool. It's not a disguise you ever wore well. Where is he?"

Sam watched the exchange cautiously, keeping an eye on the other attackers, none of whom were moving. All eyes were fixed on the conversation. Daniel, she thought. Why do these men want you?

Derin shifted slightly, getting a better grip on his gun. "I told you, Ralon, he's not here. I haven't seen him since last night."

The man called Ralon scowled. "Where did he go, then?"

Derin glared right back. "I don't know. He was talking to some people we ran into, and left the camp after that. He hasn't come back."

Sam glanced at Jack. The news that Daniel had left and not returned was not good for them, either.

Ralon sighed. "Derin, I know we have a rough history, but he's all we want. Give him back to us, and we'll leave your people in peace, I swear."

Derin's face tightened. "Ralon, he saved my life- twice. I can't hand him over to you. I owe him my life, and until that debt is repaid, I can't give him up. Besides, he's one of my closest friends. Even if I knew where he was, I wouldn't tell you."

Before anyone could do or say anything, a familiar voice commented quietly, "You can't deny a pledge of honor, you know."

Daniel Jackson appeared in the trees behind the black-robed attackers, the malevolent look in his eyes causing them all to take a step back as he approached Ralon and Derin. "You have a fight to pick with me, Ralon, so take it up with me. Don't threaten people who owe me a life-debt."

Ralon stepped away from Derin. "Well, well. It looks like the weasel finally came out of hiding." He strode toward Daniel, his voice taking on a conversational tone. "What took you so long to answer the call of your brave yeomen? Have you betrayed them already? I'm impressed. That'd be a record."

A cold smirk curved Daniel's pale lips. "That's rich, coming from you. We trusted you, and you gave us up. I'm not the traitor, Ralon. You are. You betrayed us. You left me for dead that night."

Sam stared at him. Ralon sneered. "The others had a way out when I left, and they could have taken it. It wasn't my fault they ran back to rescue you and died. You're the reason there's so few of them left. Almost all of them died because of you."

"I may have been the one they were trying to rescue, but that was their choice, not mine," Daniel retorted. "They put my safety above their own, and that was their decision."

Ralon drew a dagger from his boot with his free hand. "You're coming back with us, whether it's willingly, to save your precious band, or being dragged over their dead bodies. It's your choice."

Daniel glanced at Derin. The dark-haired man nodded slightly, and Daniel looked back at Ralon. "You will not kill my people, and neither will I surrender to you." He flicked a hand, and a bright shield of light erupted around the clearing and nearby trees, encircling everyone, enemy and friend, inside the golden barrier.

Daniel met Ralon's eyes coldly, crossing his arms. "None of us are going to leave until I lower that shield. None of your fighters will get away to tell them where I am, and I won't let the shield down until you're all dead. I warn you, Ralon. I've only grown stronger since we last met. Your old tricks won't work on me now."

Ralon took a step back, gripping his knife. "Oh, no, Jackson. I wasn't planning on using any of my old tricks." He spun to the other attackers. "Now!"

All the attackers moved at once, throwing glowing cords at Daniel. The ropes wrapped around his wrists, legs, arms, and throat and brought him to his knees. Sam's gun was up instantly, Jack and Teal'c immediately after. Derin and the defenders were no more than a moment behind them, and Ralon's men aimed their weapons at the group in the camp.

Ralon stood behind Daniel and pressed the knife to his throat. "Not so powerful now, are you?" he sneered. "Here's the deal. You let the shield down, come with us willingly, and all of your band will live. Resist or refuse to let us out, and we'll kill them all to give you some motivation." He looked up at Sam, Jack, and Teal'c. "Starting with them."

Sam took a step forward and aimed her P-90 at Ralon. Daniel shook his head, as much as he could with Ralon's blade at his neck. "No, Sam," he ordered, shooting her a look that stopped her instantly.

"Listen to your friend, Sam," Ralon said in a singsong voice. "He knows what he's doing."

Daniel's fingers clenched around the band on his wrists. Light began to shine under his fingers, and the ropes glowed brighter in response. Ralon grabbed the rope looped around Daniel's throat and yanked. Daniel gasped, the light from his fingers vanishing, as the ropes shone even brighter and he crumpled forward, barely catching himself on his bound hands.

Whatever Ralon had just done, Sam could tell it had hurt Daniel. His face was tight with pain, and he was breathing heavily.

"Didn't like that, did you?" Ralon asked. "Don't try that again. These ropes were created for this exact purpose- restraining you even if your powers had grown. They created them after you ran."

Daniel's face twisted. His eyes blazed with a fire that caused even Ralon to take a step back. "You traitorous son of a-"

"That's no way to talk between friends, is it?" Ralon interrupted sternly. "Please let down the shield, Jackson. It'll be better for everyone if you do. I know you won't take the risk of them dying."

Sam shook herself from the stupor of watching the situation. Her brain started working, and an idea appeared in her mind. Ralon was paying attention to Daniel, ignoring everyone else. If Jack or Teal'c could distract the guards, she could take out Ralon and free Daniel.

She glanced at Jack. As usual, he read her mind. He nodded and pointed to himself. Sam took a half step back and sideways, so she would have a good line of fire to hit Ralon.

Jack lunged at one of the guards. Teal'c opened fire with his staff weapon, and the others of the band took the cue and followed suit. Many of the black-clad attackers fell before they could react, and Sam lifted her gun and fired at Ralon.

Her bullets slammed into him and sent him flying backwards. He crashed into a tree and collapsed at the base, covered in blood. She knew he was only badly wounded, not dead, but she ignored him and ran to Daniel.

He was on his knees, struggling to rid himself of the glowing ropes. She knelt next to him, forcing her hands to remain still even though she was terrified, knowing this was not the Daniel she knew. "Daniel, can you lower the shield? At least then they could run and stay alive if they want."

He looked up at her, sending a freezing chill rippling down her spine. "Sam, if any of these men escape, they will carry word back to their masters, and I won't let that happen. Hand me Ralon's knife." She found the dagger and handed it to him. He began to cut through the ropes, flinching with each movement.

"Are you okay?" Sam asked.

Daniel sliced through another rope. "I'm fine." He cut the last cord and rose to his feet with a wince. He scanned the battlefield, noting the positions of his remaining men and still-living enemies. His gaze found Ralon, and his blue eyes narrowed dangerously. Forgetting herself, Sam caught his shoulder as he took a step toward his enemy.

He turned toward her, and she had to force herself to not release her grip under the callous look in his eyes. "Daniel-"

"I already told you, Sam," he said flatly. "They can't report back." He extracted his arm and moved toward Ralon.

The other man was still awake. Daniel knelt in front of him and gripped his neck, turning Ralon's gaze toward himself.

Sam stood behind Daniel. She held her P-90 tightly, afraid of what her friend was going to do. She prayed that the old Daniel would come back out and he would spare Ralon, but as the long, slender fingers tightened around Ralon's throat, she knew he wasn't going to stop. Ralon struggled, his eyes wide with terror, but Daniel's slowly crushing grip was like iron and his pale face merciless.

There was a crack, and Ralon's neck snapped. "You got your due, traitor," Daniel whispered, the sadistic note in his voice making her tremble. "No less than you deserve." He released his grip and stood, wiping the dead man's blood from his hands.

Sam stayed silent, not daring to provoke him, frightened by how easily and cruelly he had killed a man with his bare hands. The tense moment was interrupted by Jack, Teal'c and Derin appearing next to them, and Sam saw the subtle shift happen again- Daniel's glass-like eyes gained a touch of the old color, and the rage burning behind them faded. He was back to the state that felt, at least mostly, like her best friend.

Derin knelt at Ralon's side and touched his wrist. "Dead," he mused to no one in particular.

There was a moment of silence. Daniel seemed deep in thought. "Derin."

Derin didn't hesitate to look at him. Sam realized that he knew what had happened to Daniel, and was unafraid of the darker personality lurking inside him. "Yes?"

"How many did we lose?"

Derin glanced back toward the camp. "Fourteen. They hit us hard. Five more are critically injured, and the rest have only minor scrapes and bruises." He met Daniel's eyes, an unspoken message that Sam couldn't read passing between them.

Daniel nodded, seemingly satisfied with whatever Derin had and hadn't said. "Once the critically injured are healed enough to ride, make for Delta Valley. Use the Stargate. Get everyone off-world, to Point Haven."

Derin looked at him incredulously. "What?"

"You heard me. When this group doesn't return, more patrols will be sent here. I want you to get our people to safety."

"What about you?" Derin asked gently.

Daniel flexed his fingers, as if wanting to put them around another person's throat. "I'm leaving. Fourteen good people died today, Derin. I'm putting everyone in danger by staying."

Derin protested, "Daniel, if they can't find us there's no reason for you to leave. You can stay with us. I know everyone here would want you to stay, even if it meant risking their own lives."

Sam saw fear, desperation, and compassion in Daniel's sad gaze. "They may be ready to risk their lives for me, but I'm not ready for them to risk their lives for me," he said softly. "Not again. Not after last time."

Derin sighed, but Daniel's wording seemed to get through to him. He nodded. "Alright. Where are you going?"

Daniel looked at Sam and Jack. Hope fluttered in Sam's chest. "I'm going back to Earth."

-*/*-

They stepped onto the ramp, and the Stargate deactivated. Sam could hear muttering on all sides from the people who had gathered. Even though it was nighttime, nearly everyone who was on the base had found a reason to be in the gateroom at that moment.

Daniel looked around, his eyes constantly moving, not missing any detail. The blue orbs traveled to the men and women gathered in the control and gate rooms, evaluating their stances and expressions.

Many of the people there had been recently assigned to the base, Sam knew, and had only ever heard about the legendary fourth member of SG-1. Those of the SGC members who had been in the project five years ago looked shocked at the changes the years had wrought upon the young man they had once known. Doctor Janet Frasier and General George Hammond stood at the base of the ramp, both of them watching Daniel carefully.

Sam, having grown used to the physical changes in Daniel by that point, was for a moment surprised. Then she realized what everyone in the room was staring at.

Daniel's brown hair was darker and longer, loosely brushed backwards. His blue eyes, now hollow and haunted, seemed too large for his thin, pale face. He wore a black long-sleeved shirt, black jeans, and matching leather boots. To the outside observer, he appeared defenseless, but Sam knew he had exactly five daggers on his person at that moment, having seen him place them in their hidden sheaths, along with a personal defense shield and a weapon materializer concealed in a band on his wrist under his sleeve.

Janet and Hammond seemed to pick up on some of that. They exchanged looks, and Hammond spoke first. "Welcome back, Doctor Jackson."

Daniel nodded slightly. "Thank you, General." His eyes fixed on the general's and held.

Hammond didn't flinch under the younger man's powerful gaze, to his credit. "Would you like to rest for a while? We could give you a room."

Daniel examined him for a moment. "Yes. Thank you."

Janet stepped forward. "I can show you there, if you want."

The sapphire orbs slowly turned to her. Sam could tell Daniel was uncomfortable with the formalities and attention, but she stayed silent and let him decide.

After a moment, Daniel took a step back and gestured for Janet to lead the way. He strode out after her, and Sam jogged after them.

Janet led Daniel to a small VIP room and opened the door. Daniel hesitated before entering, but turned to Janet. "Thank you, Janet."

Janet gave him a small smile. "We're all glad you're back, Daniel," she said gently, briefly touching his shoulder.

To Sam's surprise, Daniel didn't half-recoil at the touch the way he had with everyone since they had found him. He simply glanced down at where her fingers had brushed the fabric of his sleeve, then looked back at her, the smallest of smiles on his lips. "I know."

Janet's smile broadened at the sight of his. "General Hammond was wondering if you would be willing to debrief tomorrow. If it's okay with you, could I do a checkup after that?"

Daniel hesitated again, but this time only for a moment. "Very well."

The auburn-haired woman nodded and left the room, shooting a surprised look at Sam as she passed. Sam shrugged discreetly and turned to Daniel. He was padding silently into the room, prowling around the dark chamber, looking like nothing more than a black panther stalking prey in the shadows.

Sam shook the thought away and said, "Okay if I turn on the light?"

Daniel's head snapped up. "Oh." He seemed startled and discomforted by the question. "Yes."

Sam flicked the switch, and Daniel flinched, averting his eyes from the light. She realized most of the time she had been with him in the camp, he had been in darkness. She hadn't seen him outside in the daytime at all, unless he was in the shadows and wearing a cloak.

There was yet another thing that she wanted to ask him. What could have happened that did this to him? she wondered. Ralon had said Daniel had run from something, and the ropes they had used to trap him had been designed specifically for him, "if his power had gotten stronger." Combined with all the changes she saw in him now, and his symptoms of Split Personality Disorder, that gave her… what? What did this to my best friend?

Daniel sank onto the bed, rubbing his forehead. Sam walked over to him and slowly sat next to him, leaving a good-sized gap between them. "You alright?" she asked.

He didn't move or respond, and she looked away. It had been a stupid question. She was about to apologize when Daniel spoke. "I'm confused, Sam."

She looked at him. He shifted to face her, his eyes fixing on hers. "After all those years… I had given up on you coming to find me. I let myself forget everything. I left behind everything we ever shared as a team. I tried to put the memories behind me so I could make a new life."

Sam was about to ask something, but he continued, still looking deep into her eyes. She remained silent, hoping that he would tell her what she most wanted to know: the truth.

"That's when you, Jack, and Teal'c came. Everything I had tried to bury and hide away came rushing back to the surface. Now… I don't know who I am. I'm split in two. A part of me that still is who I once was, that is telling me to stay here, to go back to who I used to be, and…" His voice trailed off, and Sam knew she wasn't going to like what he said next.

"And the other side is telling me I can never go back. It's saying I am what I am, that this isn't my problem or my job to fix. I've changed, Sam. I'm not who I used to be… and I don't know if I like the man I've become."

Sam had to restrain the impulse to put a hand on his shoulder. "Daniel, we've all changed. We've all become people we don't like. But that doesn't mean we've changed beyond returning. I can tell you've been through a lot, and I can tell you need time to refocus and find who you really are."

He swallowed. "I don't know if I can do that. I know I can't go back to who I was, but I don't know if I can stay the man I am now."

Sam steeled herself and touched his arm, her fingers settling where Janet's had a minute before. Daniel didn't move, just continued looking at her. "If you can't go back, then find a balance. Don't try to get to somewhere you can't, but don't stay where you are. Find the middle ground."

She felt a wave of cold sweep through her as his eyes darkened. She could almost feel his other persona emerge. He shook off her hand. "You think I've become a monster."

"What?" Sam gasped. "Daniel, no, I don't, I could never-"

"I saw your expression. When I killed Ralon. You were disgusted. You hid it well, but I saw it. Don't think I don't notice things like that, Sam!" he spat, his eyes blazing again.

In spite of herself, Sam shrunk away, afraid of what he had become. Daniel stood suddenly, his black clothes looking like robes as he stalked across the room, flexing his fingers, practically glowing with anger.

He stopped, facing the opposite wall. Sam stayed frozen, frightened of this other Daniel, and not knowing what would set him off and what would calm him down.

There was a moment of silent tension in the room that Sam didn't dare break. Daniel exhaled and spoke again, his voice calm once more. "Sam, I am no longer who I used to be. You have to accept that. You're right to think I'm a monster. That's what I am now."

Sam gaped at him in shock, her heart torn in half. Daniel remained silent for another moment. "I am what I am," he said, still facing the wall. "There's no way to change that." He paused. "I'd like to be alone, Sam."

Sam blinked. Shoving away the hurt that surged inside her at his words, she fled the room. As soon as she reached the safety of her office, she collapsed against the wall and slid to the ground, fighting the urge to cry.

If you're thinking something along the lines of "Oh come on, she's trying to kill us", I do apologize. Believe me, this was a better ending than I was considering- my first draft had a crazy cliffhanger for this chapter but I figured I shouldn't do too many of those.

Anyway, now we have Daniel back at the SGC, but whatever he went through has really messed with him. Any ideas about what happened?

Updates are probably going to slow down, as school is getting ready to start and senior year preparing to hand my head to me on a silver platter. I'll do my best to post regularly!