Jack relaxed back in his chair half-listening to the game on the TV. Sam and Teal'c would probably make an appearance within the next hour or so bringing food with them for their usual get together.

They did this a lot recently.

After almost three months there was still a huge vacuum where Daniel should be. Jack sighed before frowning.

An odd shiver ran down his back, it felt like the one he'd got just after they'd rescued Thor. Standing up Jack looked around the room trying to see if there was anyone there. Suddenly the presence was unmistakable.

"Daniel?" he asked, "Is that you?"

"How did you know I was here?" Daniel's voice came from behind him.

Jack spun to see his friend standing a few feet away from him. Staring at him Jack reached out letting out a breath of amazement as his hand clasped round Daniel's shoulder.

"You're really here," he breathed.

Daniel smiled clasping his hand over his friends, "For the moment. How did you know?"

At the repetition of the question Jack laughed, "You're presence is distinctive."

"It's good to see you Jack," Daniel said softly, "I just felt the need to check up on you."

"How often do you do this?" Jack asked curiously.

"This is the first time since just after I left," Daniel told him, "Oma told me I was able to do it and I couldn't resist the chance to see what trouble you'd gotten yourself into recently."

"A lot less without you," Jack replied quickly without thinking before he blanched, "Daniel, I didn't mean…"

"It's okay," his friend smiled, "It's nice to hear you tease."

"You know Carter and Teal'c will be here soon," Jack said, "They'd love to see you."

Daniel shook his head, "I don't think I should. Promise you won't tell them I was here. You're different, I needed to see you."

"I promise and I'm flattered," Jack grinned, hoping to lighten the mood slightly before realising the chance he had here, "You know I never got to tell you how much you mean to me."

"That means a lot Jack," Daniel smiled, "I have to go now. I have lessons still to learn."

"They treating you okay?"

"Yeah," Daniel said stepping away from him.

"Are you happy?"

A small flash of sorrow moved across Daniel's face but it was gone almost instantly, "I'm content. I'm getting to learn the most incredible things and I'm hoping to see Shifu soon."

"He's a good kid," Jack said.

"Yes, he is," Daniel agreed, the wisps of light starting to obscure him from sight, "Bye Jack."

"Bye Daniel."

Jack watched as his friend became light for the second time before the illumination disappeared leaving him alone again.

"See you around Dr Jackson," he whispered to the room.

Wandering along the corridors of the SGC Jack was surprised to find Cassie sitting in the infirmary.

"Hey. What are you doing here?" he asked.

Cassie gave him a sullen glare, "I'm grounded."

"What did you do?" Jack leaned against the wall.

Silence answered him.

"What she did was stay out all night," Janet answered sharply, appearing beside him, "Since I'm working she's helping."

"I was just at Jenny's," Cassie muttered resentfully.

"And didn't call me," Janet snapped, "Now go see Judy, she's got some work for you to do."

Angrily Cassie left them.

"Sorry Colonel," Janet sighed, "It's the usual 'I'm sixteen I can do what I want phase'."

"I see," Jack grinned, "So why I am here?"

"We've got some visitors," Janet replied motioning him to follow her.

As they moved into the main infirmary Jack was surprised by who called his name.

"O'Neill," Skaara bounced over to him, "Thank goodness you are here."

"Skaara, what's wrong?"

"It is Father," Skaara explained, "A few months ago we found him unconscious near my sister's grave. After several hours he awoke but he had no memory of what happened."

"Months?" Jack asked, "Why are you here now?"

"Last night he woke up screaming for Sha're," Skaara said, "When I asked him what he meant he could not explain. Dan'iel once told me that Dr Fraiser could help almost anything."

"I'm flattered," Janet smiled, "But I'm not sure what I can do. Skaara, his head injury was several months ago but these dreams just started. They could be completely unconnected."

"But he is so weak and tired all the time," Skaara persisted.

"Skaara," Janet said kindly, "Your father is not a young man and these past few months losing Daniel may just have brought back all the grief of losing your sister."

Skaara nodded sadly.

Jack gave Janet a hopeful look.

"But I will keep him here and make sure he rests for a while," Janet smiled, "Okay?"

"Thank you," Skaara said sincerely.

"Now you go get some sleep," Janet ordered, "I need to talk to Colonel O'Neill."

Skaara nodded and left to go back to the room he'd been given.

"What's wrong?" he asked the doctor.

"Its Cassie Jack," she sighed, "She looks up to you. She may actually listen to you so please, please talk to her about what's wrong. I can't get anything out of her."

"Sure," he promised, "I'll do it now."

"Thank you," Janet said gratefully, "I'd better get back to my patient."

"Janet, truthfully how is Kasuf?"

"Like I told Skaara it's probably just grief," she sighed, "But I'll see what I can do."

"Okay Cassie," Jack sat her down, "What's wrong?"

"Why would anything be wrong?" Cassie slunk against the wall.

"Then why are you staying out all night and ignoring your mother?" he threw her a dark questioning look.

Cassie didn't look at him as she murmured something.

"What?"

"I said, I miss Daniel," she repeated quietly.

"Aw Cassie," Jack whispered, "We all do."

"Then why does no one act like it?" Cassie cried, "You're all acting like it doesn't matter."

"Because the fight against the Gould doesn't stop," Jack explained, "Just because we lost someone we love doesn't mean they're going to give us time to grieve."

Cassie nodded sadly, "I understand. I just miss him."

"Cassie, I'm going to tell you a secret," Jack sat next to her, "But you have to promise me never to tell anyone."

"I promise," she said.

"I saw Daniel last night," Jack told her, "He came to see me."

"What?" her eyes widened, "Is he okay?"

Jack smiled gently, "He's content Cassie. He misses us but he's content. Something he hasn't been since he lost Sha're."

A few tears slipped down her cheeks.

"I know you miss him honey," Jack said, "We all do but he's happy where he is now," he gave her a mischievous grin, "So stop acting like a brat."

Cassie looked shamefaced before nodding, "I promise."

"That's my girl," he gently kissed the top of her head, "Now get back to your punishment."

Cassie gave him a small smile before heading away.

Sensations surrounded her.

Light jabbed into her eyes. Noise scraped across her ears. Every part of her body felt as though pins were stabbing her.

Someone looked over her saying things but words had no meaning. She had no sense of who she was, where she was or who she had been. All she knew was pain in these strange surroundings.

The blackness soon arrived and all sensations stopped.

Jack walked along the corridor to the infirmary with Skaara.

"Janet says he's fine," Jack assured the young man.

Skaara nodded, "I know. It is just that Father is so sad these days."

Jack frowned, "I can understand."

"Ever since he was hurt however," Skaara paused, "Father keeps asking for Sha're in his sleep."

"I guess Daniel being gone sort of brought it all back to him," Jack said.

"He was by her grave when he was hurt," Skaara told him.

"By her grave?"

Skaara nodded, "He goes there to talk to her. He does it a great deal."

Jack nodded in understanding.

Kasuf was sleeping when they arrived. Cassie who was still working off her punishment was nearby as she had become very fond of Kasuf. He knew she was being punished but managed to get her out of work by insisting he talk to her.

"Bring back my daughter," Kasuf cried in his sleep, "Leave her."

Cassie jumped to his side shaking his shoulder trying to wake him up as Skaara joined her.

Kasuf woke up looking confused but relaxed as Skaara took his hand.

"Father," he said softly, "Are you alright?"

"I am fine my son," Kasuf said softly with a fond look to Skaara.

"Kasuf, you said something about bringing back your daughter," Jack said quietly, "Is there anything you know about what happened to you?"

"They took my child," Kasuf said in horror, "They stole her from where she rested."

"What? They took her body?" Jack blanched horrified, "Do you know who they were?"

Kasuf shook his head, "I do not know whom they served."

"Served?" Skaara asked, "A Goa'uld?"

"What was the picture on their head?" Cassie asked.

"Good girl," Jack squeezed her shoulder.

"I do not understand," Kasuf said.

"Like Teal'c," Cassie explained, "The mark of whichever Gould they serve is on their forehead. If you draw it we can look it up."

"That is a good idea," Kasuf smiled at her, "You are a very smart girl."

Cassie smiled with pride at the complement before ducking away to get some paper and a pen.

"She is a wonderful child," Kasuf said fondly, "She reminds me so much of my own daughter."

Jack gave him a small half-smile, "I can see that."

Skaara nodded, "They have the same spirit."

Cassie returned seeing three smiles her way, "What?"

"You're just getting a lot of complements on your idea," Jack told her.

x

Jacob Carter looked up as the young woman came over to him.

"Yes Mathra?" he asked.

"The council wish to see you," she said before disappearing.

"Wonder what's wrong?" Jacob sighed.

"You're hoping for something on Earth," Selmac teased, "It has been a few weeks since we last saw Samantha."

"I see her more now than I did when I was on Earth," Jacob chuckled as they headed through the corridors, "I wonder how they are?"

"It's been a few months since he died," Selmac reminded him, "They should be coping."

"Should be doesn't mean they are," Jacob reminded his symbiote, "Daniel was a part of them all. Hell, I adored the boy. Sam loved him like a brother."

"Well, we'll just have to see where we're going next."

They walked into the council chambers and nodded at the assembled council.

"What's wrong?" Jacob asked straight to the point as always.

"We have been receiving some interesting information from our operative within Osiris court," Garshaw explained, "He has been recently spending a great deal of time and effort trying to revive someone."

"Someone?" Jacob asked, "That's all we have?"

"The only other information we have is that it has something to do with the Tauri," she continued, "You are therefore to go to Earth and be there until we can determine what is going on. We want someone there so that we can take action as quickly as possible."

Jacob nodded, "I want to check up on them anyway."

"You leave within the hour."