Disclaimer: You know what is mine and what isn't. So why should I bother?

A/N: Hehehe... It came to my attention that some people say they are going to fail their exams because my fics clouded their minds... my sincere apologies. I didn't mean for my insanity to spread any further. I guess it could be epidemic. :)

Till the end of the time

Chapter 16

Daniel sighed. His eyes had a grave look in them, and he fought to stop his hands from trembling. It is funny, really, how your whole life can change in a single week, and the blows just keep on coming. And the last one was the hardest one of all...

Teal'c, Janet and General were looking at him expectedly.

"I am not sure if that is such a good idea, with all due respect, doctor," he said quietly, "After all she has been through..."

"I know Daniel, and I don't like it any more then you do. But if telling her holds any chances of her memory returning quickly... I regret to say this, but we must tell her. We need to know just what happened and she has the answers... But they are locked somewhere in her mind. I believe that... telling her... could work as a trigger and accelerate the reverse process," Janet replied and sank into silence. She seemed to be thinking once more the whole thing through.

"Of course," she added an afterthought, "There is a possibility that the news would delay the return of her memories, maybe even block them forever... but if she doesn't remember the Colonel... I suggest that we proceed with the plan."

Dr. Jackson went even paler. "Plan?" he repeated hoarsely.

Is that all Jack was to you? Plan?" his voice was reaching higher notes, and the distress was quite obvious.

Daniel felt anger coursing through his veins, but there was little he could do to control himself... He didn't want to control himself. 'Hell with it all!' he thought. 'To Hell with General and Janet, to Hell with all of the SGC and all the Soldiers business! Jack is dead, Sam doesn't remember a thing and I have to be the one to tell her...'

"Listen Daniel..." Janet's voice was soothing, "Colonel was my friend, just as he was yours. But he is... gone now, and there is nothing either of us can do about it. But the time is running out for Sam. If she doesn't start remembering soon, she never will."

"Dr. Fraiser is right, son," General added and looked at the young man, who stood clutching at the edge of the desk, so hard that his knuckles went white, "We have to do what we can for Major Carter and as soon as possible."

Daniel raised his head. His mind was telling him they were right, but there was so much hurt inside... He was losing everyone he ever cared about... What kind of a justice was that?

"All right. I'll tell her," he didn't even try to hide the tears that were clouding his vision. "I'll tell her," he repeated, as if daring himself to believe and be strong enough to survive.

Sam was lying in the bed and she seemed to be holding a glaring competition with Teal'c. He was sitting next to her bed, and was successfully enduring her stare. Furthermore, he was staring back and neither of them seemed to want to back off and look away. Neither of them spoke.

Small group entering the infirmary finally managed in diverting Teal'c attention. He looked behind to Daniel, Janet and General and his eyes asked the unspoken question. Sam used the opportunity to settle her eyes on another focal point, this time in the far corner of infirmary.

In three long strides, Daniel reached Teal'c and lowering his hand on Jaffa's shoulder, whispered, "I'll tell her."

'Dr. Jackson's grip is unusually strong, but he doesn't seem to notice. I believe this is how Tau'ri involuntary express suppressed sorrow and anger,' Teal'c thought, but didn't say anything. He simply moved away and stood behind General's back, still carefully observing young woman, who seemed unaware of their attention.

Daniel settled himself in Teal'c chair and took Sam's hand in his. She was unresponsive, much in the same state as she was in when Teal'c brought her in the infirmary.

"Sam? Sam?" young man started his futile attempt to get her attention.

She was still looking away from him, and seemed completely oblivious to his efforts.

"Samantha? Look at me, please... Sam?" his voice was pleading. He wasn't sure if she was hearing him at all... and telling her about Jack had a fifty-fifty chance of her acknowledgement.

"Sam..." he started again, but was interrupted by a yell that came from Teal'c.

"Major Carter!"

She snapped out of her lethargy and looked towards them. Her eyes narrowed as if she was trying to remember where she was or who these people were.

"Teal'c?" her voice was small and weak, "Daniel?"

"It is I, Major Carter. Daniel Jackson has something to tell you of great importance. it is imperative that you listen to him."

Never before was Daniel more grateful of the blunt way in which Teal'c was solving problems. He shot a small smile to Jaffa and turned back to Sam. It seemed hard for her to keep her attention focused, but it was obvious she was trying her best.

"Listen to me Sam. Do you know who Colonel Jack O'Neill is?"

He was still using 'is' instead of 'was', and although it was probably for the best, he wasn't doing it on the purpose. The truth simply didn't sink in yet. It was too early. He expected Jack to come barging in any second now and ask for explanation or start arguing with Sam.

Sam shook her head in response.

Young archeologist sighed. How is he going to tell her about the death of a person she couldn't even remember? How will he say out loud that Jack is dead and is not coming back? Ever? He dreaded that, because saying it meant starting to believe and he didn't want to believe...

~~~

Teal'c was entering in the infirmary with trembling Sam in his arms, while tragedy of another kind was just happening two decks below. Random Air Force officer discovered body of Colonel Jack O'Neill, hidden in a heavy equipment cupboard. Base was on the alert immediately, but no unauthorized personnel were discovered. Dr. Fraiser positively identified the body as of Colonel's and determined the cause of his death to be a fatal injury of the spinal cord in the neck base or simply 'broken neck'. Heavy air of discomfort, sorrow and hidden fear fell on all of the SGC. Only few people knew that Major Carter killed a person that looked like Colonel only the previous day, but as the body disappeared and Major was found unconscious, and the mystery was getting more and more complicated. The news of Jack's death fell worse on his close friends, Daniel, Teal'c, Janet and General. Base was still on alert, although sirens and rotating lights were shut down.

~~~

"Daniel?" soft voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Yes Sam, I..." It took his a few moments to realize where he stopped and continue.

"So you don't remember him or his name, to be precise... can I show you his picture?... maybe then..."

Sam nodded in confirmation and few seconds later she was looking at the picture of a graying man with soft brown eyes and a wicked grin. That was a man she could remember. The man from the images she was able to recall. Her only link to her past... which now got on authenticity and reality. Now she could put the name to the face.

"Jack..." she whispered, as her fingers traced contours of his face on the photo. "I remember his face... he was in my dreams..." she continues, oblivious to the weird looks General and Teal'c were shooting in her direction.

Daniel swallowed hard. He always suspected of her feelings towards Jack and his towards her, but... what if she could recall those feelings somehow... and the news could be devastating to her mind... and not only that. But there was no escape. She had to know, whether she could remember Jack or no. She had right to know.

His hand gripped hers harder, and she looked at him.

"Sam, you must know... Jack... Colonel..."

Silence fell on the room, heavy and impenetrable. Daniel could have sworn that his heartbeats were the only thing reminding him of the passage of time and her expecting eyes.

"Sam, Jack is dead."

A/N: You haven't expected this, right??? heheheheheh

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