Well, in the end, I found out how to fix those nasty spaces…doesn't make the sucky story any better, but it makes me feel better anyway. Maybe I'll go back and fix the others now…
This is the last one, I promise…
Jack, Sam, Fraiser, Daniel, and Teal'c all stood before General Hammond as he questioned Dr. Fraiser on Daniel's former condition.
"All right, I understand that somehow Dr. Jackson returned to health suddenly and very unexpectedly, but what proof do you have about some 'spirit' helping him?" Hammond asked.
All eyes turned to Daniel, and he suddenly felt like he was back in 9th grade reading a paper in front of the class, but knew this was much more important then an essay with an A+ on front.
"There isn't any hard core proof, I know that, but I just want you to trust me. All you have to do is allow the Stargate to open to the planet and that's it." Daniel said as all eyes went back to the General, and Jack just gave a 'what-ever-why-not' look towards Hammond.
The General leaned back, putting his hand over his mouth,
but finally leaned forward and shook his head as if confused.
Daniel smiled and looked over at the others who also smiled, but in reality, they had no idea that Daniel's 'theory' was true.
~*~
Daniel walked into the gateroom, hoping against all hope that the Soul Keeper was also there. He wasn't sure until he looked up at the window of the control room and saw the faces looking at him, but he knew they all thought he was going crazy. They might think he was going nuts, but he promised to try to find a way to get her back. He turned back towards the gate as it dialed and locked the 4th chevron. He swallowed and stuck out his hand.
"Keeper, if your here, please let me know somehow."
He stood in silence, except for the moving of the gate.
Daniel was about to think he was 'actually' going crazy, but was startled to feel his hand turn ice cold for a second and felt a chill run up him, the just as suddenly, the feeling was gone. Daniel smiled as the 7th chevron locked, and the blue wormhole shot forward, then settled, leaving an almost eerie blue glow covering the room.
"Goodbye," Daniel said softly, then turned after a few moments, giving enough time for the spirit to leave, and motioned for them to deactivate the gate.
He nodded to Sam, and she signaled the technician to begin shut down, but saw a very surprised looking Jack tap her on the shoulder. He was wide eyed, and Sam then also looked past Daniel towards the Stargate. Everyone in the control stood with mouths wide open, even the normally expressionless Teal'c looked startled, and Daniel turned around just in time to see a blue form materialized on the gate ramp, almost matching the color of the actual wormhole.
Daniel could hear Jack mutter "Well, I'll be damned," through the loudspeaker, but Daniel wasn't paying attention.
He saw the Keeper smile at him and speak. "Thank you Daniel for keeping your promise."
It took Daniel a moment to think clearly but he finally managed, "You said no one could see you?"
The spirit smiled shyly, but said, "It is not in my nature to show myself to mortals so quickly. I am sorry Daniel. "
Daniel nodded but said with a grin, "You know, you could have made it 'much' easier for me and shown yourself earlier."
She smiled but only said, "I knew you could find a way
yourself."
"Now I return to watch over my people's legacy.
With that, she walked through. Daniel stood still as the gate closed down and didn't notice Jack and the others making their way towards him.
'So do I', Daniel thought before he was led away by a group of people welcoming him back.
~*~
After a while, most of the people besides his closest friends, had left, leaving the General and Janet talking quietly, Teal'c standing to the side, silent as usual, but watchful, and Jack teasing Sam in his best Fabio voice saying, "I can't believe it's not butter!" mimicking the man's famous butter commercials. Fabio seemed to be the only thing that came to mind when Jack thought of romance novels, besides the words sex and sappy.
Sam though was actually turning red, and shooting glances at
Daniel that almost said, 'Thank you sooooo much Daniel. I'm never going to
live this down.'
Daniel smiled at his friends, and for the second time, realized how important he was to everyone here. Of course, they had all went to the trouble of packing up this things and giving him a memorial service the last time he was thought to be dead, but that time, Jack hadn't been so open with his emotions. When Jack had hugged him after waking up, he realized that Jack didn't always think of him as a scientist and geek, but a friend also.
He smiled again as everyone led him out of the gateroom and turned to go to his office when a sweet voice stopped him. "Oh, Doctor Jackson..."
Daniel turned to see Janet Fraiser pointing towards the
infirmary with a gleam in her eyes, and he thought, 'Dead or alive, that woman's always got tests.'
He wasn't angry, but a little annoyed he was going to have
to be stuck in the infirmary for at least another day.
General Hammond turned, walking to his office, but Jack, Sam, and Teal'c all followed after him and Fraiser towards the infirmary. Behind him, only slightly, Daniel heard Jack whisper to Sam, "Captain, when you get a chance, hide those rocks SG-4 sent back, will ya?"
At that point, Daniel knew everything was getting back to normal, just the way he liked it.
"Ah Jack…"
"Yeah?"
"Artifacts."
"Whatever."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ok, I 'know' that it sucked, but thanks to anybody who stuck it out. The other version of it is even worse if you can imagine…ugg.
Lastly…a very special thanks to "Lems"…thanks for the advice you gave me wayyyyy back in September 2000…I didn't forget. ;)