But Tomorrow It May Rain

by Pam6

Some battles are worth fighting

2. Chapter 2

The hall was beautiful. Dozens of crystal chandeliers decorated the ceiling while hundreds of candles lit the tables scattered around a large dance floor. Everyone was dressed elegantly as people talked and formed large clumps around the large hall.

Teal'c pulled at his neck line, disliking the collar of his tuxedo and the way it constricted his airway.

"Tee, I told you to stop playing with that."

Teal'c gave Jack a sour look before he brought his hands down close to his sides.

"General." Jack nodded his head in acknowledgment when the older man joined them, followed closely behind by Dr. Green. Jack had to smile when he realized that his CO was wearing a tuxedo. He looked a lot more plump with the large cummerbund across his belly.

'He'll regret it when he sees the pictures,' Jack thought.

"So Colonel, how do you like the place?"

Jack looked around and scowled. "I feel like I'm going to an opera, sir." Jack pulled on his collar to emphasize his discomfort with his present garbs but quickly stopped when he received a murderous look from Teal'c.

"Oh come on, Jack. It's not all that bad," the older man said, taking an hors d'?uvres from one of the waiters passing by. The general popped the food in his mouth quickly and wiped his hands with the napkin. "If you will all excuse me, the Secretary of Defense has just arrived." General Hammond headed towards the entrance where a man was taking off his coat and handing it to one of the doormen.

"Any sign of Major Carter or Dr. Jackson? I can't wait to meet them," Dr. Green pointed out before he took a sip from his wine glass.

"Not yet, but why don't we keep ol' Doc Fraiser company." Jack pointed to a table right at the front of the dance floor, next to the small stage.

Janet was scanning through the name cards until she found her own and took a seat. Jack suddenly appeared next to her, waving his own card in front of her.

"Well guess who's sitting next to you tonight?" Jack smiled victoriously.

"Do I even want to know?" Janet mumbled, but the moment she turned away, she allowed her smile to surface.

"You look nice, Doc!" Jack said as he looked at her cleavage.

"Colonel, the dress isn't on my chest."

"I know.lucky for me, isn't it?"

Janet simply rolled her eyes, pulled the dress a little higher and leaned her elbows on the table, hiding anything she possibly could from the grinning colonel sitting next to her.

"Colonel O'Neill does not lie, Dr. Fraiser. You do look elegant this evening."

"Thank you, Teal'c!" Janet strained her neck to look behind her, taking a peak at the hall entrance. "Wait.I think I see Sam!" Sam was taking off her long coat while a pair of hands helped her from behind. A smile formed on Janet's lips when she realized to whom those hands belonged. Daniel. His facial hair had disappeared and his handsome face radiated nothing but youth. "Thank G-d", she whispered, unaware that she had said it out loud.

"Yeah, you're telling me. I was beginning to have nightmares of him showing up with a guitar and singing Willie Nelson songs all night long."

Jack watched as Sam made her way to the table they were occupying. He almost forgot to breathe when he realized just how beautiful she looked. The diamond necklace resting on her neck made her look like royalty. She smiled as she spotted her friends looking at her from a distance.
"Wow.is that Major Carter?" Green barely hid the gasp.

Janet was the first to get up and greet the oncoming pair. Teal'c was soon to follow.

"Sam, you look absolutely wonderful!" Janet's eyes began to tear as she hugged her friend. She had never seen her look so beautiful. It was almost a relief seeing her like this, a confirmation that she had survived the past few months.

"Thanks, Janet." Sam moved back to take a look at her friend. "I love the red gown!"

"Thanks!" Janet then moved her gaze to Daniel and smiled. "Ah.much better, Dr. Jackson. As I always say: Doctor knows best!" Daniel laughed and leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek.

Daniel was about to take a seat when a hand suddenly materialized out of nowhere.

"You must be Dr. Jackson," a taller man said. Daniel shook his hand, a perplexed look present on his face.

"That's right."

"Dr. Green. I have sure heard a lot about you. I've been looking forward to meeting you for quite some time."

"Thank you.how have you been enjoying the SGC? I hope Jack hasn't been too hard on you."

"This job has been a dream so far. I can't even imagine going back to an ordinary dig after what I have seen." Suddenly realizing what he had said, he quickly retracted the comment. "Sorry.I.that's not what I meant-"

"That's okay. Wait until you've been going through the Stargate as many times as I have. Being on an 'ordinary' dig can be quite a relief."

Dr. Green nodded at the comment, but he couldn't help but sense that Daniel wasn't being entirely truthful, that there was more to it than that. When he had first joined the SGC, he had been told about Dr. Jackson and Major Carter.how smart they were and what a great asset they had been to the program. Yet, half a year later, he had still never been told the truth as to why they had left. Colonel O'Neill refused to talk about it and discussions of the past rarely occurred in his company. He was sure something painful had happened between them, but he was entirely clueless as to what.
After a few minutes of compliments and welcomes, everyone took a seat at the table. A stab of jealousy hit Jack straight through the stomach as he watched Sam push her chair closer to Daniel. Why was she avoiding him? Why was she so scared to look him in the eye? Smiling vaguely at something Dr. Green was telling him, he wondered for the millionth time why she had left the team in the first place. No matter how many times Sam had spoken to him over the phone, she had never answered that simple question. And until she would, that question would continue to drill a hole inside his head.

Next to him, Teal'c suddenly got up from his seat.

"Teal'c?"

"O'Neill."

"Where are you going?"

"I wish to ask Major Carter if she would accompany me on the dance floor." Teal'c walked to the other side of the table and offered Sam an outstretched hand in a clear invitation to dance. When she nodded, Jack watched both of them as they walked towards the dance floor.

While Teal'c led her into a slow pace, Sam laid her head on his chest gently.

***"Major Carter! You must remain conscious!" She heard Teal'c's urgent voice yell at her. She tried to open her eyes but there was just too much blood. Her head rested on his chest, lolling from one side to the other as her entire body swayed with Teal'c's long strides. Her CO's voice seemed to rip through her mind, a burst of crackling noise shattering Sam's foreboding. It took her a moment to realize that it was coming from the radio Teal'c held.

"Teal'c.report!"

"I have Major Carter, O'Neill, but she is still unconscious!"

"Shit!" A slight pause followed the exclamation. "Get her the hell out of there!"

Sam could hear the gasps in Teal'c's voice, could feel them reverberate from deep within his chest. She knew he was exhausted by the way his chest heaved to take in more air.

"Major Carter! You must not give up! I will get you to safety-" Suddenly, an explosion nearby rocked her out of her sleep and then she was falling...***

Sam jerked abruptly. She looked around her as if shocked to find herself on a dance floor. She could feel the familiar pounding of her head.

"Major Carter, is there something wrong?"

"No.I-" She stopped dancing for a moment and looked around in confusion. Trying not to look fanatical, she moved back into Teal'c's arms and urged him to continue dancing "I'm fine Teal'c, I just have a headache."

"Would you prefer to-"

"No Teal'c, let's just keep dancing."
"That's it." Jack put down his wine glass and got up from his seat.

"Jack?" Daniel asked.

Jack pointed to Sam and Teal'c on the dance floor. "Aliens! Pff! Just cause you watch Dirty Dancing doesn't mean you're Patrick Swayze. It's time he learns a few dance moves from a pro!" And with that, Jack took off towards the dancing couple. As more and more people got up to dance, the table was emptied apart from two.
Janet was getting restless. "Daniel, what do you say we go dance for a bit. It'll be fun, I promise."

He looked up at her in shock, as if she had just asked him to climb Mount Everest.

"Oh don't give me that look, Dr. Jackson. You are more than able to dance." She was about to push her chair back when Daniel stopped her.

"I can't, Janet."

"Why?"

"Just.believe me. I can't!"

"That's not good enough, Daniel!"

"Janet.I'm not going out there." But instead of the determined face she was so used to encountering, she saw something that shocked her. He had a look of fear in his eyes.as though he was running away from something he so wished he could embrace.

Janet sighed and pulled her chair back in. 'Where had this fear of his come from?' she wondered. Daniel had always been so strong with his beliefs, never second guessing himself. So what had changed? They both sat and watched the dancing couples in silence, allowing their thoughts to unfold.

***Daniel struggled to stand up. The need to pee was suddenly so fierce that nothing else mattered. An abrupt noise behind him made him swivel around on his crutches, nearly making him lose his balance. Janet stared at him from a few feet away. She looked much smaller now that he was standing. Her face was stern and angry.

"Daniel, what did I tell you? You're not strong enough to move around on your own yet," she said firmly.

"I don't need a doctor for this. My plumbing was fine the last time I checked!" Daniel said harshly.

"I am so sick of this, Daniel! I'm sick of arguing with you. Why won't you let us help you? You can't do it on your own!"

"Don't tell me what I can or can't do! You helped me this far and I thank you for that. But I don't need your help anymore. I can go the rest of the way alone!" Daniel's voice raised a notch. "Fine! Let's see how fast the amazing Dr. Jackson can get to the bathroom on his own. Go ahead." Janet crossed her arms in front of her and motioned towards the door with her head. "I'm waiting!"

Daniel mumbled something under his breath and moved the crutches forward. He then let his weight fall on the wooden poles as he trusted his arms to hold the rest of him. Finally, his leg hit the floor but not without a bead of perspiration sliding down his forehead. He stopped to take another deep breath before swinging the crutches in front of him again. Grunting in pain, his body swung forward only by a few inches. With his foot once again back on the ground, his chest rose and fell as he panted heavily for breath. His arms quivered with exhaustion, not used to the force being exerted on them after having been bedridden for three weeks. Daniel saw Janet move forward out of the corner of his eye and stop a few steps behind him. She stood and observed anxiously, as though watching a baby take his first steps.

"Look, I told you.I don't need your help!" he said with exasperation.

"Well I think you do but you're just too stubborn to admit it!"

"Can this wait? I really need to-" Suddenly, anger was replaced with panic as he realized that he wasn't going to make it. He felt something let go deep inside and a warm wetness spread across the front of his cotton pants. He looked down at himself in horror as the stench of his own urine invaded his nostrils. Letting go of the crutches, he dropped boneless to the floor.

"Oh G-d!" he moaned. It was all too much and soon, dry hacking sobs escaped his lips. He pulled his arms over his head and cried aloud. Within seconds, he felt strong arms holding him, engulfing him in their warmth and protection. He let his head drop on her shoulder and allowed the tears to fall. The hot smell of urine reminded him of the shame he felt and he tried to jerk away but those strong hands clutched him close. "It's okay, Daniel.It's okay." Janet stroked his hair and rocked him back and forth until the sobs subsided. "Let's get you off the floor and have you change into some drier clothes." This time, he didn't protest as the nurses helped get him off the cold cement.***

Janet looked up at Daniel. Was that the reason why he was so hesitant? Because he was scared he would embarrass himself again? Didn't he understand that it was okay to fall? That nobody would think any less of him? A rush of determination spread through her as she grabbed Daniel's hand and got up.

"Come on," she told him firmly.

"Janet..I-"But before he could protest, he was already out of his chair and heading towards the dance floor.

"I don't care about your excuses, Daniel. You're not being a gentleman.letting a lady sit like that. I mean look at the colonel, he doesn't have any rhythm and look at the fun he's having." Daniel glanced up only to see Jack moving robotically to the slow music being played. A laugh broke out from his lips and he immediately moved his head down to hide it from any onlookers. Grabbing one of his hands and putting it on her waist, Janet began to move to the music. "That's right.you're going to dance with me whether you like it or not!"

It took time for Daniel's balance to get accustomed to the swaying motion, almost falling to the side on more than one occasion but Janet pretended not to notice and compensated for any loss of equilibrium. Within minutes, Daniel's hands unclenched and his shoulders relaxed.

"See, you're doing great," Janet said with a smile.

Time seemed to stand still as the song played out to its totality. When the music stopped, Janet took his hand. " I think they're serving dinner." Daniel nodded and followed her back to the table.
Conversation was light and relaxed as they received their salad plates. Sam glanced around the table and frowned. "Sir, when do I get to meet my replacement?"

Jack munched on a piece of lettuce and swallowed. "Who.McGuire? He's taking some time off. Wife just gave birth. You wouldn't like him anyway." Jack took another large bite from his food.

" Why not?"

"Because he's nothing like Daniel."

Sam forgot to breathe, speechless at the iciness of his tone. She watched him chew for a few moments as she tried to sort out her shocked emotions. Not Daniel?

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Sam barely moved as she stared at him intently. But before he could respond, a familiar voice beamed out. Sam looked up to see the general on stage, a microphone in his hand.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome everybody. We have here a special guest tonight who is very eager to meet you. Ladies and Gentleman, I'd like to present to you our Secretary of Defense: Mr. Donald Rumsfeld,."

Applause sounded out as a man with glasses and a crisp suit stepped forward and shook the general's hand. He waited until the microphone was placed onto the podium stand before he began, "I would first like to begin by thanking you all for having me here tonight. I feel honoured just standing in the presence of such a wonderful group of people. My only regret is that the President could not be here to express his own appreciation. I can only hope that you accept my words as you would the President himself." The man paused a moment before he continued, "You know, as a child, my mother had always told me, 'Donald, anything is possible as long as you believe strongly enough.' Of course, telling that to a young boy of five was something of a danger when he believed he could pilot a spaceship and fly it to other planets. But as I grew up, I had quickly learned the difference between science fiction and reality and I had come to believe that my mother was wrong. Of course, a year and a half ago, I was told of a military base in Colorado by the name of Stargate Command. 'Stargate? What in G-d's name was that?' I thought to myself. And then I had the opportunity to see it with my very own eyes and I was suddenly reminded of that five year old boy I had once been. Looking at its glorious size, I remember thinking, 'By G-d mom, you were right...anything is possible.'" He smiled to himself in a half dazed way as though the large circular device was standing right before him at that moment. Recovering from his reverie, he went on, "It is hard for me to put into words the pride that your country holds for you. Every day I receive a report of the new discoveries brought back from your excursions through the gate and I am amazed at how much we have already learned. From medicine and physics to new cultures and defenses, we have excelled in all aspects of knowledge. I am convinced that there is still much to be discovered from our vast universe and I have every confidence that you will continue to make your country proud." The man smiled and stepped back from the podium as the audience broke into applause. It was a few moments later when General Hammond retook his position at the microphone.

"Thank you Mr. Secretary. We are all very honoured by your presence here tonight." The general turned to face the rest of the audience. "Before I let you all enjoy the evening, I would like to say a few important words." General Hammond cleared his throat briefly before continuing, "Looking around the room tonight, I am met with many familiar faces, those of you who have been there from the start. From nine SG teams to seventeen, we have grown together like a family. In my eyes, the Stargate program is something of a miracle and it continues to astonish me to this very day. I cannot say that I have ever been as proud of anyone as I am of all of you. You have fought hard for your country and have faced adversary with bravery and courage." He took a moment to look down and when he continued, his voice quivered with emotion. "Although this benefit was initially to celebrate Stargate Command's sixth year anniversary, I would be lying if I said it was the only reason we are gathered here tonight. Among you is a very special group of people whom I hold very dear. These individuals have excelled beyond the call of duty and therefore, must be recognized and rewarded for their heroism. Their journey began six years ago, strangers to one another, but through the years, they learned to grow together as a unit and soon became a family of sorts. They have not only risked their lives on numerous occasions to protect our planet, but they have faced tremendous obstacles and fought together to overcome each one. I can honestly say that without these four individuals, the Stargate Program would not be as we know it today." General Hammond paused to turn and face a table to his left. "I thank you for all that you have done for us. Your journey together as SG-1 may have ended but the map you have left behind will never be forgotten. So, Colonel Jonathan O'Neill, Dr./Major Samantha Carter, Dr. Daniel Jackson and Teal'c, if you would please come up, we have something for you." The general smiled, tears glistening in his eyes.

Sam couldn't believe what she was hearing. She looked at her former CO and was surprised to see the same shocked expression. 'So he hadn't known either,' she thought. She remained seated until she felt Janet's hand on her arm urging her to stand up. Her friend was standing and clapping, a warm smile on her face. Sam finally stood only to realize that everyone around her was standing and clapping as well. Daniel suddenly appeared next to her, an expression on his face mirroring her own. He took her hand in his and pulled her forward towards the stage. She climbed the steps in a daze until she was standing face to face with the Secretary of Defense. He offered his hand out to her and she accepted it blindly. He shook her hand with a firm grip. She wasn't even aware that he had let go until she felt the general's hand take its place. "Congratulations, Major. I am honoured to have had you serve under my command." He addressed her with a tender heart, his eyes alight as he talked. Sam suddenly felt a stinging sensation swell up in her eyes. She looked back to see Jack and the rest of her former team taking their turn to shake the Secretary's hand as well.

The general spoke into the microphone once again. "On behalf of the United States government and the SGC, we would like to present you this plaque. It is the least we can do to thank you for all that you have done." He raised a large plaque and handed it to her. She took it and carefully read the front.

We present this plaque to Major Samantha Carter for her excellence and leadership in her duties serving the United States military.

She smiled and watched as Daniel accepted a plaque of his own.

"Because of your outstanding accomplishments under Stargate Command, it was under my recommendation that SG-1's number be retired. No other SG team will ever hold the name 'SG-1' again. It will forever be remembered as your team, Colonel O'Neill," General Hammond addressed his second in command.

"Thank you, sir."

General Hammond nodded and continued, "And now, I'd like everyone to enjoy the rest of the night. Thank you!"

"Thank you," Daniel repeated the words for what felt like the hundredth time. People he recognized and even those he didn't were approaching him and congratulating him on his award. He couldn't say he actually liked the attention he was getting. Although he felt honoured by General Hammond's words, he would have much preferred to have accepted the plaque in a less crowded environment.

In order to avoid further conversation with those around him, Daniel excused himself and walked back to his table. On his way, he heard a slurred voice congratulate him.

"Thank you," he began as he turned around to face the speaker. Piercing brown eyes stared back at him and Daniel suddenly froze. The man's face was almost unrecognizable, with facial burns ranging from one cheek to the other. His mouth and neck were marked by large scars while half of his scalp was free of hair only to be replaced by more burns and red blotches. The only part of his face left intact were his eyes.

Those eyes.they looked so familiar.

It took him a while to realize that the man was offering him his hand. Daniel watched as it shook violently, but before he could offer his own, a woman approached them and grabbed the man's arm.

"What did I tell you about running off? I told you to stay by me the whole night, didn't I?" She pulled him closer to her as though he were a small child who had just been caught doing something wrong.

"I'm sorry." The man's voice was garbled, sounding similar to that of a mentally handicapped person.

"Sometimes he likes to go off on his own even though he knows he shouldn't." The woman smiled at Daniel as she urged the impaired man to walk with her towards a table nearby.

Daniel stood alone, feeling wooden from the encounter. Who was that man and why did he look so familiar? He couldn't think of anyone he knew who was both mentally and physically handicapped. Then why was there still a nagging feeling in his mind that he knew this person? Trying to rid his mind from his thoughts, Daniel made his way back to his table and sat down next to Sam.

"Daniel, is something wrong?" she asked.

"No.I." Daniel looked up to get another glance of the strange man from across the room. The man's peculiar brown eyes were fixed on him once again, making him squirm in his chair much to his own chagrin. Even while the woman helped him in his seat, the man's gaze would not leave Daniel.

"Who is that?" Sam asked, trying her best to avert her eyes away as the woman placed a bib over the handicapped man's tuxedo.

"I'm not sure but ." Daniel's voice trailed off.

"Daniel?"

"Oh my G-d!" Daniel felt his muscles go slack, his insides turned to water. Those eyes.he remembered them now.they had stared at him once before in the same exact way... those eyes had watched him as the men.as he.as he was being.

Daniel could feel his hand begin to shake as a new tremor took control of his motor system and he suddenly felt a cold wetness spread along his hand. When he saw Sam jump out of her seat with an exclamation, he looked down to find an overturned glass of water spilling its contents along the table. He quickly grabbed a napkin and began to dab at the mess.

"Damn! I'm sorry," he said as he dabbed nervously with the napkin.

"Daniel, it's okay." Sam's eyebrows creased as she watched Daniel grab more and more napkins in a panic. "Daniel, don't worry, it was just a spill." But Daniel continued to clean, his hands still trembling.

"I need more napkins." His whispered voice rose to a strained, trembling pitch. He continued in a spurt of words. "I'll get more napkins." Daniel got up and quickly left the table. He could hear Sam calling his name but he chose to ignore her.

Passing by the table that was occupied by the disabled man, Daniel craned his head to read the name card.

MAJOR CRAIG JENKINS

The words seemed to wash away any last lingering doubt. It was him. Daniel's chest felt as though it was full of broken glass, sharp cold splinters digging into his heart. He had always been under the impression that SG-1 had been the only survivors. Why hadn't anybody told him that Major Jenkins had survived? Anger and frustration quickened Daniel's pace as he made his way to the bar. Grabbing a dozen or so napkins, he jumped when he heard a voice in front of him.

"Can I get you anything, sir?" The bartender was staring at him curiously. "It looks like you could use a drink."

Daniel considered the offer, feeling the need to get his emotions in check.

"I'll have a glass of white wine please." Daniel was shocked at the sound of his own voice. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't stop himself from shaking. Taking the glass from the man facing him, he finished its contents in three large gulps. He put down the glass and ordered a scotch.
Jack glanced around the large hall looking for any sign of Daniel. He frowned when he spotted the younger man among a small crowd surrounding the bar. He was holding an alcoholic beverage which Jack recognized to be a glass of scotch. He watched in surprise as Daniel downed the liquid without a second's delay. This was unlike the Daniel he had known for the last five and a half years. Daniel was a cheap date, always had been and always would be.at least that's what Jack had always believed. Daniel barely ever drank, and when he did, it was when he had been off-world and had wanted to avoid insulting the natives who were offering him their hospitality.

"Daniel's being quite the party animal tonight," he pointed out.

"What do you mean?" Janet asked.

"Look at him go at the bar."

Jack watched as the bartender put three shots down in front of Daniel.

"Well, I guess he just wants to loosen up."

"Yeah, let's just hope he's not Gumbi by the end of the night."

"Sir, mind if I take a look?" Janet's eyes were focused on his plaque sitting on the table. Jack picked it up and handed it to her. He watched her smile in deep thought as she caressed the lettering with her fingers. "It really was something special, wasn't it?" she asked.

"What?"

"SG-1." Janet suddenly looked straight at him, her lips quivering slightly.

"Yeah." Jack felt his heart clench deep inside, pushing forth the hurt that never seemed to want to go away. He couldn't think about this now. Damn her for bringing it up. With a deep breath, he managed to harness his emotions as he'd harnessed such feelings in the past.

"I miss them so much," Janet continued.

"Doc.I really don't want to talk about this right now." He was clearly getting irritated with the subject of conversation. Jack excused himself, got up and began to head towards the bar. From across the room, he could see Sam's figure making her way to the same destination.

Daniel lifted yet another glass to his mouth and tilted his head back. He swallowed the liquid in one go, allowing the heat to course down his throat, warming his entire thorax in the process. He slammed the shot glass down onto the wooden surface of the bar.

"Five more of those please," Daniel said, his eyes still closed from the effects of the alcohol he had just consumed. He shook his head in an attempt to clear his mind.

Daniel opened his eyes to see five more shot glasses lined up in front of him. He reached out for the first one and whipped his head back downing another shot of liquid. He scrunched up his face in an attempt to stave off the burning sensation and reached for another. One by one, he swallowed the contents in each glass until only one remained. He took a big breath allowing himself to wait out the all-consuming dizziness that had suddenly taken him by surprise. Leaning more heavily against the bar, he grasped the last glass. But before he could raise it to his lips, a hand took hold of his wrist.

"Daniel, what are you doing?" Sam's face suddenly appeared.

"I'm drinking, Sam."

"Why?"

"Because it's a party. People drink at a party." His voice sounded foreign to him, as though his lips refused to form the sounds his brain demanded from them.

"Daniel, you're drunk." Sam was frowning at him but Daniel didn't care. Instead, he looked down at the hand that remained clamped to his wrist.

"Sam, let go."

"I don't think you should be drinking anymore, Daniel. You've had enough."

"Sam." He was getting aggravated now.

"How many drinks has he had already?" Another familiar voice materialized beside him. Daniel's head felt heavy and he didn't have the energy to look up but, it didn't take him long to recognize that the voice belonged to Jack.

"He had a glass of wine, a couple of scotches and about ten or twelve shots." He heard the bartender answer. Daniel felt a firm hand on his shoulder.

"Alright, Daniel. Time to go. Party's over."

"Jack, let go of me." His voice was slurred slightly.

"Carter, you want to grab him on the other side?" Jack was clearly ignoring him. He felt Sam grab him by the other arm and soon he was being pulled forward. His head began to spin with the sudden movement and he groaned inwardly. He tried to pull his arms free but their hold on him was secure. He felt his legs being dragged along the floor.

"Jack, let me go!" When he got no response, he became more vocal. "Jack. LET GO!" He could suddenly feel the people all around staring at him and a rush of heat rose to his cheeks. He quieted down and allowed himself to be pulled until he felt the cool night air hit his face. Suddenly, a flash of crimson assaulted his vision and he was on his hands and knees. It took him a few seconds to realize that someone was rubbing soft circles on his back.

His lips were wet and a strong stench permeated the air around him. Daniel looked down only to realize that he had thrown up. He tried to push himself away from the mess but Sam held him in place.

"Daniel, you have to let it all out," he heard her whisper.

He wanted to tell her that he was okay, but a sudden onslaught of bile rose in his throat, and he couldn't get the words out. More liquid spurted out of his mouth making him choke on the smell.

"That's it.let it out, Daniel."

Daniel continued to cough until his lungs burned with the effort and nothing more could come out. He moaned and was about to wipe his mouth with his sleeve until some rational part of his brain reminded him that the tux he was wearing would eventually have to be returned. Instead, he remained still as he panted for breath. When his breathing sounded more regular to his own ears, he began to spit out the bad taste left in his mouth.

"Are you okay?"

Daniel nodded, taking turns breathing and spitting.

"Can you get up?"

Daniel spat one last time and then nodded. Sam held onto his arm and together, they managed to get him back on his feet, albeit with considerable effort. Accepting a handkerchief from Sam, he wiped his mouth and followed Jack's voice.

"Yeah, it's a green Ford F-250 truck." Jack told the young man who was standing next to a rack of keys. Jack glanced behind him to see Sam leaning over Daniel as he vomited in the bushes. "You want to move it?" Jack snapped when he realized that the man was staring at the scene playing out in front of him. The young man jumped at his harsh tone, grabbed a set of keys and hurried off in search of Jack's vehicle. Jack shook his head and watched as the archaeologist was just starting a second round. Seeing all that spewing liquid coming out, Jack couldn't believe the amount of alcohol Daniel had consumed in what couldn't have been more than a span of twenty minutes.

What the hell was wrong with him?

"What is the matter with DanielJackson?" Jack looked up to see Teal'c and Janet jogging towards them.

"Nothing to worry about, Teal'c. Danny just had one too many drinks for the night and he's leaving now."

"Jack, I'm fine." Daniel's voice was quiet.

"Daniel, you can barely stand. Carter, you want to grab his coat while I wait for the car?" Sam nodded and headed back inside.

"Jack."

"Don't argue with me, Daniel. You're leaving, even if I personally have to see to it. We can do this the civilized way, or the haul-your scrawny-ass- over-my-shoulder-way. Makes no difference to me, either way suits me just fine." Tension hung in the air as Jack's green truck pulled to a stop. The young man got out of the car and handed Jack the keys. Jack opened the passenger door and motioned for Daniel to get in. Reluctantly, the younger man sighed and climbed into the back with quite a bit of difficulty.

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No thanks, Doc. No point in cutting the party short for everybody." Janet nodded. Not two seconds later, Sam reappeared from the building with Daniel's coat. Spotting him sitting in the back of the truck, she automatically climbed in next to her friend.

"O'Neill, I would like to leave as well."

"Teal'c.," but before Jack could finish, the Jaffa was already opening the car door and getting into the front seat. ".never mind.I wasn't going to say anything important anyway." Jack waved at Janet and got into the driver's seat.

Jack pressed harder on the gas and looked at the rear view mirror. Daniel's head was lolling from side to side as the car made its way down the highway. His eyes were half closed and his head flopped around along with the car's movements.

"Yup.shouldn't have said that Gumbi comment," Jack mumbled to himself tartly.

"Jack, where are we going?" Daniel asked wearily.

"My house." Seeing Daniel's lips about to move, Jack was quick to jump back in. "Ah! I don't want to hear it, Daniel. You're going to sleep in my guest room. And don't worry about clothes." Jack quickly added, knowing his friend's next question. ".you'll borrow." Jack watched smugly as Daniel's mouth closed in defeat.

"So Carter.you comin' over too?"

"Well..sir.I-"

"Oh come on, it'll be fine. I'll lend you some clothes to sleep in. And besides, Teal'c's going to sleep over too, right?"

Teal'c merely raised an eyebrow.

"Good!" Jack said before Teal'c's expression could be interpreted as something other than an acceptance to the invitation.

"But sir, what about the hotel?"

"Forget about it for tonight. I mean, look at Daniel!" Both pairs of eyes focused on the archaeologist who was slumped to the side, his face pressed up against the car window, sound asleep. Sam frowned at the sight.

"Good.it's settled then. Sleep over at my place." Jack smiled to himself.
Sam heard Jack grunt under Daniel's weight as he and Teal'c assisted the barely conscious archaeologist to the guest room upstairs. Sam cleared away any obstacles on the way as the three behind her slowly made their way up the stairs step by step. Looking back, she could tell that Daniel was trying his best to help them out, but in her opinion, he wasn't helping much.

"Daniel, how much did you drink?" Sam mumbled bitterly under her breath. She really didn't want an answer and she didn't get one. Sam couldn't help but feel a tinge of anger. Daniel had been irresponsible tonight. He had promised her that he would be there for her and if getting drunk and throwing up was his way of showing his support, then she didn't want to have anything to do with it.

When they finally made it to the guest room, they eased Daniel into a sitting position on the bed.

"Daniel.are you capable of getting ready for bed or do you need our help with that too?" Sam winced at her own tone, her words coming out as though she was addressing a wayward child. Daniel seemed to catch onto the anger in her voice and he looked up at her with a surprised expression.

The sound of footsteps from outside grew louder until the door opened to reveal her former CO. Jack stepped inside holding a pair of boxers and a white T-shirt. "Special delivery for a drunk and confused Dr. Jackson." He threw the clothes onto Daniel's lap, his expression that of annoyance. Sam could tell he was none too pleased with Daniel's performance tonight either. "Carter, Teal'c.why don't we give the man some privacy while I get you both settled for the night?"

Sam nodded and followed Teal'c into the hallway, closing the door behind her. Jack brought them to another door leading to a second guest room.

"Carter, this is your room so make yourself comfortable. There's a bathroom just across the hall. I'll get you a change of clothes to sleep in. Teal'c.with me." He motioned with his hand for Teal'c to follow. Sam smiled in gratitude and turned to glance at the room. It was quite large and there was a single bed close to the far wall. Sam sighed aloud. Why had she agreed to spend the night here when all of her stuff was sitting comfortably inside her hotel room? Leaning down, one by one she took off her high heels and wiggled her toes. It felt good to be rid of the stiletto heels. A knock on the door startled her. She rose to her feet and opened the door. Jack stood in the hall holding a large T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. A nice smile occupied his face.

"I hope these are okay. Just let me know if they're too big." He handed her the clothes and she accepted them gratefully. As he gave them to her, their fingers lightly brushed one another. Instead of ignoring the intimate contact, Jack continued to brush one of her fingers with his thumb, his eyes focused on her the entire time. "You know.I'm really glad you're here tonight. I've been meaning to talk to you about-"

"Sir." Sam interrupted him before he could say anything more. She couldn't bring herself to play their game anymore, the game of frozen feelings and constant restraint. ".I really think I need to get some sleep." She watched as his hand retracted from her own. He smiled, but even that simple gesture seemed strained to her.

"Goodnight, Carter. Don't sleep too late.don't want to miss my famous pancakes in the morning, now do you?"

Sam smiled and shook her head. "I guess not, sir," she said. "Thank you, sir."

Sam closed the door after him and sighed. She could feel her heart thumping heavily inside her chest, like a prisoner pounding on his cage. She wished she could talk to him again.like they used to.but tonight was not a good time. Too many things were on her mind and she needed to sleep it off.

Tomorrow, they would talk.

Suppressing a yawn, Sam reached behind her. Her fingers brushed against her scars and a shudder suddenly made its way down her body. Trying to ignore the bumpy terrain that was her skin, Sam reached for her buttons. When the first eight were undone, she slipped the gown down her body and stepped out of it cautiously. Finding a hanger, she hung it up in the empty closet. Sam put on the sweatpants and T-shirt and made her way to the bathroom across the hall. Taking the soap in her hands, she washed her face thoroughly rubbing her eyes with extra care to make sure she got rid of all the mascara. When she was satisfied with her task, she rinsed her mouth and went back to bed.
***Sam glanced nervously to her left, trying her hardest to forget about the hand that was roughly shoving her forward. The darkness accompanying them that night was making it harder for her to see the source of the whimpering beside her. A scrawny looking man in his mid seventies was crying and shouting words in a dialect that she could not recognize. His voice wavered as his skinny frame quivered with anxiety. For each sob, the man would receive a blow to the head. But even so, he continued to struggle against the guard holding him. The look of fear on the stranger's face told her all she needed to know: wherever it was they were headed was not going to be any place pleasant.

Sam's eyes moved to her right where they met with Daniel's. He too had noticed the panic-stricken man next to her. Despite the darkness, Sam could tell that Daniel was frightened. She could see it in his eyes. He probably knew where they were going. He probably knew what was going to happen. Daniel understood the Goa'uld language spoken by the people on this G-d forsaken planet. However, there was something else she saw in his eyes.

Guilt.

Daniel was feeling guilty.

But how could she tell him that it was not his fault that they had gotten caught.that there was nothing wrong in simply wanting to survive?! ?

Sam looked ahead and still saw nothing. It was too dark to identify anything other than a few scarce trees. However, she *did* notice the bitter cold surrounding her body and in response, wrapped her arms around herself to provide further warmth. Through the darkness, Sam could vaguely see that they were nearing a body of water of some kind. A hand on her shoulder suddenly forced her to stop walking.

//Greit'ak!//

The order was said harshly by one of the guards. Still unable to understand the dialect, Sam looked to Daniel for help.

//Greit'ak!//

The guard repeated the order once again, moving forward menacingly as if that simple act would make them comply. The sick man was the first to take action. With hands shaking violently, he took off his thin top and shivered in the cold. Daniel looked at her and mouthed the translation slowly so that she could understand.

'Strip'.

Sam's heart sank. She watched in horror as Daniel began to take off his own clothes. The guard, seeing that she still hadn't moved, yelled the order to her once again. A wave of anger crashed over her heart. They had already violated her once, she sure as hell wasn't going to let that happen again! With all her determination, Sam shook her head defiantly.

"Sam-" Daniel's plea was interrupted by a cry of pain. She looked in his direction only to see Daniel on his knees, his hands supporting his stomach.

Within seconds, she felt a crashing pain in the pit of her stomach too and soon she was on the ground next to Daniel, panting in pain.

//GREIT'AK!!!// Fingers grabbed hold of her hair and pulled her up until she was on her feet again. When she still didn't comply, the fingers pulled her head back even more violently. With no alternate solution, Sam started to undress. When she began pulling off her top, the fingers in her hair thankfully let go and she was free to pull the thin material over her head. Within minutes, Sam was only in her bra, now worn out and brown with dirt due to overuse. Glancing at Daniel, she could see that he was already nude, his hands covering his groin. Sam immediately looked away and reached behind her to undo the clasp on her bra. She felt her breasts fall and threw the bra to the ground. When her underwear joined the rest of her clothes, Sam felt her cheeks grow red with heat despite the cold wind. She hated feeling so exposed.so vulnerable. She could see that Daniel was averting his eyes away from her.giving her the privacy she needed. She smiled inwardly with gratitude.

The sick man was whimpering even more now, his entire body trembling.

//Ralt'ak!// The same hand on her back was now shoving her forward and soon her feet were touching the lake water. She jumped back with dread when she realized just how cold it was. They would surely freeze to death! But the guard wouldn't have any of it and with a grunt, he pushed her so hard she lost her balance and fell forward. She landed in the water with a splash, surprised that it was not shallow. An involuntary gasp left her lips as the cold water seeped into her skin. She could hear two similar splashes next to her. Her teeth chattered violently as she struggled to keep her head afloat.

Sam treaded water, forcing her limbs to move despite the freezing cold. She knew if they didn't get out soon, they would surely die of hypothermia. But the weapons aimed at their heads were reason enough to believe that they were not going anywhere. Daniel's eyes were fixed on hers in silent encouragement. She let her lips curve into a faint smile as she refused to break eye contact with him. He was all she had right now. Whether they would die that night or not, she was glad she had him by her side.

Sam was finding it harder and harder to breathe. Even though she knew she was still treading water, she was unaware of her legs moving under her. Her limbs were growing numb and she was soon conscious of the fact that her teeth were clicking together even louder now. 'Not good,' she thought.

After approximately five minutes, she began to hear panicked splashes from her left and she watched in horror as the sick man was in the midst of drowning. His head bobbed in and out of the water as his hands thrashed out in an attempt to grab hold of anything that could serve as support.

Soon, the man's head no longer broke the surface and there was nothing but calm water.

Before she could do anything, Daniel was already there, taking a deep breath and immersing himself under water. The moment his head disappeared, she could hear the guards yelling orders at each other. Sam tried to ignore them as she desperately searched for Daniel through the black water. Finally, Daniel re-emerged holding the weak man who was still alive but barely so. Sam's moment of relief was short-lived. One of the guards pointed his weapon at her head and addressed Daniel.

//Gelt'an kree!// When Daniel didn't obey, Sam could hear the staff weapon next to her ear activate. With dread, she watched as Daniel reluctantly let go of the man. She could see Daniel close his eyes in dismay as the old man sank into the black liquid without a struggle.

Daniel's face was strained as he swam to the shore and got out of the water, his entire body trembling from the cold. The moment his feet touched solid ground, a fist contacted Daniel's face. Daniel's head whipped back, his footing altered slightly by the blow. When Daniel regained his balance, he stared back at the Jaffa with rage burning in his eyes.

"You son of a bitch! That man did nothing to you!" Daniel spat in English, knowing the Jaffa would not understand him.

"Daniel, don't!" Sam yelled at her friend. Now was not the time to toy with their captors.

The Jaffa facing Daniel nodded his head at the two other Jaffa. They moved forward at his command and grabbed Daniel's arms, pulling them back at a painful angle.

"Oh yeah.I didn't see that one coming," Daniel said, the anger lacing his words.

Sam turned away when she heard the sound of a fist contacting bone and the grunt of pain that followed. When she looked back, Daniel was still upright and struggling against the guards holding him. There was a trail of blood marking its way down from his nose.

"He was drowning!" Daniel continued.

"Daniel!" Sam pleaded again with him, her lips still trembling from the freezing cold water.

Another hit.

"Sam.get out of here!!!" Daniel croaked in pain. When he saw that she hadn't moved he yelled again. "SAM, GO!"

The Jaffa, who did not understand what Daniel had said, payed no attention to her.

"GO!!!" Daniel repeated desperately.

Sam began to swim away, forcing her arms to pull her forward despite the fact that they were dead weights in the water. She was careful not to attract any attention to herself as she continued to gain distance. Thankfully, no one had noticed her escape.

When she was far enough from shore, Sam couldn't help but glance back at her friend in concern. The Jaffa now had him by the shoulders as he brought up a metal clad knee, catching Daniel directly in the face with its impact. It was the most frightening thing to see the effect the blow had on Daniel's body. He went down hard, his limbs taking on a rag doll quality. Helpless against the onslaught, Daniel was lifted upright between the two Jaffa. His head hung forward lifelessly, red blood spurting down his bare chest.

It was the last image Sam saw of her friend before she forced her body to swim away.***

Sam jerked awake, her eyes burning with tears. A hand was on her shoulder.

"Carter.Carter, look at me!"

Sam's head turned to face the voice. It was Jack. His face was filled with worry. She looked around and a moment of panic hit her as she could not recognize where she was.

"It's okay.you're in my guest room, remember? You were having a nightmare." Sam could feel her heart rate begin to slow and her shoulders relax. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she answered softly. "What time is it?"

"Time to go back to sleep. It's two-thirty in the morning. You want to tell me what that was all about?"

"I guess I was having a nightmare."

"About.?"

"I can't remember." She lied. She could tell by his face that he didn't believe her but was thankful when he didn't press the issue any further.

" 'Night, Carter."

"Goodnight, sir."

Jack turned off the lights and closed the door behind him. When she found herself alone again, Sam rolled over and sighed. A single tear had escaped her eye without her noticing. She brushed it away quickly, ashamed that a stupid flashback taking the form of a dream could spook her out so immensely.

Sam sighed again and sat up in bed. This was not going to work. She needed a glass of water. Getting up, Sam quietly left her room until her eyes fell upon the door adjacent to her own. For some reason, her feet took her in its direction, apparently intent on checking on Daniel. She softly approached the door and turned the doorknob gently. The room was dark and it took a few moments for her eyes to adjust. Tiptoeing inside, Sam stood next to the bed and examined her friend. Taking a step forward, she felt her leg hit something solid. When she saw what it was she had tripped on, she bent down and touched it gently. Sam allowed her fingers to trace the contours of the object. The rubber was smooth under her caress. She examined it with awe, amazed at how real it looked. A feeling of guilt robbed her of her rational judgement and she pulled her hand away at once. She had no right to touch it. 'It should have been me,' she thought as she felt her eyes begin to burn. She looked at Daniel again and took another step towards him. She wanted to see for the first time the damage that had been done to him. It wasn't that she hadn't seen the injury before, but it would be the first time she would see it without any bandages or gauze covering the evidence.

Sam reached hesitantly for the comforter and pulled it down slowly. Daniel didn't move as she uncovered more and more of his body. Finally, when she reached his waist, she pulled the cover down with one final swoop. Her knees suddenly weak, Sam had to sit down on the edge of the bed, her heart playing catch with her stomach. Her eyes would never get used to the sight. She stared at the rounded edge of skin that stopped at his thigh, the only proof that a leg had once occupied the space. Unable to stop herself, Sam reached out and brushed her fingertips lightly over the skin, taking in Janet's craftsmanship that had left Daniel with minimal scarring. Her fingers then outlined the indentations on his thigh. The marks were red and deep and she wondered if Daniel's prosthetic limb was fitted too tight. Picking up the rubber leg from where she had examined it, Sam felt the rough outline on the top that was made to fit around Daniel's thigh. In the morning, she'd ask him about it but in the meantime, she just wanted to watch him sleep.

***Sam opened heavy eyelids in response to the commotion next to her. She caught a quick glimpse at the clock on the wall. 2:20 a.m. This was going to be her third day in the infirmary and her second night being awoken by doctors yelling orders and machines beeping their facts. 'Probably a new patient,' she thought. Her mind still not sharp due to the drugs she had been given, it took Sam a few moments to take in her last thought. 'A new patient. Could it be Daniel? Could he have escaped?' Sam's heart thudded with excitement as she used both her hands to push her body forward. She groaned inwardly when she felt shooting needles fly down her back despite the morphine. Lying on her stomach, Sam was finding it hard to see with half her face hidden in her pillow. She craned her neck further but was disappointed to find that the curtain was surrounding most of the source of the hubbub. From her angle, she could only catch a slight glimpse at the patient's lower body. Her heart sank when she realized that it wasn't Daniel. The man next to her was missing a leg. Although Sam knew she should feel for the patient whose life would probably change forever, frustration at the fact that it was not her missing friend seemed to take priority.

Sam closed her eyes and tried to block out the noises around her.

"He's burning up, Dr. Fraiser"

"What's his temp?"

"105.8 degrees."

"BP?"

"90 over 60."

Sam could see the man's entire body shaking

"He's going into septic shock!"

Sam turned her head to the other side and squeezed her eyes even tighter.

'Too much blood and death,' Sam thought miserably to herself. In fact, she was getting sick of it all. She just wanted nothing more than to get out of this place.

Although Sam knew she should try and fall back asleep, sleep would not come.

Sam felt helpless here knowing that Daniel was still out there on the planet. It wasn't that she didn't trust General Hammond to make the right decision but she had a feeling that a rescue mission for one man was highly irrational. In the meantime, she had to focus on the positive.like the fact that her own CO had gone against the odds and had survived despite both Janet and Dr. Warner telling her it was highly unlikely he'd make it through the night. Teal'c, on the other hand, was fairing much better than herself and Colonel O'Neill.all thanks to his symbiote of course. He had come to see her many times between her bouts of unconsciousness. He had also been optimistic about Daniel, reminding her that he was a survivor. She had simply nodded her head at the comment, but her mind *knew* the truth. It was impossible to survive there.

Noises brought her out of her reverie. She turned her head to the side. The occupant on the bed was still shaking, his body wet from the sponge bath they had no doubt given him in. Sam felt for him.

Sam forced herself to close her eyes. However, not two seconds later, they shot open again, a scream caught at the back of her throat. Janet's next words would haunt her forever:

"Don't you give up on me, Daniel!"

Daniel!***

Sam's eyes snapped open when she felt a firm pressure on her shoulder. Confusion settled in when she focused on familiar blue eyes.

"Daniel?"

"Yeah.you were having a nightmare."

"What are you doing in my bed?"

"Ah.Sam, shouldn't I be asking you that question?"

Sam looked around only to find that she was not in the room Jack had assigned her. She was currently in Daniel's bed, her body under the covers along with his. It took a few seconds until she remembered her little field trip the night before.

Sam looked at Daniel and relaxed herself. She was pleased to note that he didn't seem the least bit uncomfortable despite the fact that he wasn't wearing his prosthetic limb.

"I don't remember falling asleep here," Sam muttered more to herself than to her friend.

Daniel smiled. "Well you can imagine my shock when I woke up to someone snoring in my bed."

"I don't snore!"

"Sam, you've been living in denial for six years now. It's time to face the .Hey!" Daniel laughed when he received a playful hit to his chest. Stilling suddenly, he closed his eyes and sniffed loudly. "Hey, do you smell that?"

"What?"

"Does that smell like pancakes to you?"

Sam's stomach grumbled in agreement.

"I guess that's a yes." Daniel laughed. "You ready to get up?"

"Not yet." Sam yawned and moved her body closer to Daniel's, revelling in the warmth of his friendship. Sam was shocked when she felt his arms embrace her and hold her close. The Daniel she had known for the last six years had never been one to offer physical comfort. She had always dated that back to his childhood. With no parents, Daniel had probably never been exposed to much physical contact in his early years. Either way, she was glad that he was opening up, even if it was only through action rather than talk.

"I'm so sorry about last night, Sam. I don't know what got into me."

"Daniel-"

"No, hear me out, Sam. I guess I was just a little overwhelmed. I guess being there, among all those familiar faces made me feel. insecure."

"Daniel, it's normal to feel like that after what we have gone through. But-"

"Yes, I know I was wrong to turn to the alcohol. But the truth is, I have no idea what came over me. I don't even like scotch!" Sam remained silent, unsure of what to tell him. She didn't know why he had acted that way either. "There's more." The tone in Daniel's voice told her that what he was about to say was important. She turned her body around so that she was now facing him. "Sam, why didn't anybody tell me that Jenkins made it out?"

"Major Jenkins? Daniel, he didn't make it out."

"Yes he did, Sam. He was there last night.at the banquet." Sam paused and creased her eyebrows in concentration. She couldn't remember seeing him there. "He was hardly recognizable, Sam. It was terrible. I don't know how he survived. His face was marred by burns."

"Oh my G-d.that was Jenkins?!" Sam remembered seeing the injured man from across the room.

"How did he get out, Sam? And why didn't anybody tell us?"

"I don't know." Suddenly, everything seemed to make sense about Daniel's behaviour.

A sudden knock on the door caught their attention.

"Come in!" Daniel called.

Teal'c opened the door and poked his head in. It seemed to take him a moment to acknowledge the sight of Sam in Daniel's bed before he spoke.

"O'Neill has prepared pancakes for breakfast."

"Thanks, Teal'c. We'll be right down." Teal'c nodded and left, closing the door behind him. "I hope he doesn't think we were-" Daniel began.

"Daniel!" Sam exclaimed in shock.

"What?"

"How could you suggest that?"

"Never mind. Come on, let's get downstairs." Sam nodded and got up. Daniel pushed himself to the edge of the bed and looked up at his friend.

"Um, Sam.do you think you can pass me my-" Daniel's voice was quiet as he motioned for his prosthetic limb. She picked up the leg and handed it to him, making sure she looked away as he prepared to put it on.

"I'll meet you downstairs, Daniel."

"Wait, Sam." She looked back at him. "Can you possibly ask Jack for a pair of sweat pants?" Sam looked down at the pair of boxers that he was presently showcasing.

"Sure, Daniel."

"Thanks!"

Daniel waited a few minutes until Sam came back with a pair of pants for him to wear. He thanked her again and waited until she left the room before he proceeded to put them on.

Sam smiled as she stared at the table in front of her. The kitchen table was set for four. A plate of hot pancakes sat in the middle of it all, their aroma permeating the entire house.

"Smells great, sir." She took a seat next to Teal'c.

"Did you expect anything less of me, Carter?" Jack smiled and put another plate piled with more pancakes on the table. "So. is Daniel going to bless us with his presence this morning?"

"I'm here, Jack." Daniel's voice was accompanied by heavy footsteps down the stairs.

"Take a seat and eat up."

Daniel sat down at the table and reached for one of the plates.

"So, how's the hangover, Daniel?"

"Actually, it's pretty much non-existent. I guess my little bout of nausea last night wasn't such a bad deal after all."

Jack finally joined them at the table. He watched his teammates eat in silence, only the occasional compliment regarding the pancakes muttered here and there. Jack's mind wandered back to a time when he couldn't get his team to shut up. The camaraderie among the four of them had been special: his constant banters with Daniel, Carter's intellectual discussions with Teal'c.he missed it all. Looking at the people around him that morning, they seemed to be mostly strangers to him now. In addition to his current thoughts, there was still something nibbling away at the back of his mind. Although he didn't want to, he knew he had to bring it up for discussion. They didn't have the time to ignore the subject any further. With all of his resolve, Jack brought forth the matter at hand.

"So.has anyone given thought yet to Hammond's request?" Three pairs of eyes suddenly looked up from their plates, apparently the subject matter had taken them by surprise. Just as he had expected, nobody said a word. Instead, he heard Sam's fork fall on her plate.

"I'll do it, sir," she announced aloud.

"Good," Jack said.

"I will take part as well," Teal'c said.

All eyes suddenly turned to Daniel.

"Five people's lives are at stake, right?"

"Right," Jack answered.

"Then we don't really have much of a choice here, do we? I'm in."

Jack smiled. For a second, it felt as though he was back in the company of his old team again. Another moment of silence passed until he continued. "Look, this is going to be a little different from before. As much as I love a geek with a PhD, no offense Daniel, I didn't let those shrinks in on everything that went down on 255. We're going to have to be really specific this time round. They'll need everything: descriptions of people, places, the surrounding perimeters. Teal'c, do you still remember how you got around that night?"

"I do, O'Neill."

"Good." Jack turned to the younger man beside him. "Daniel, you're good with faces.you're going to need to tell them as much as you can about the regulars.their daily routines, their mannerisms.everything. You got that?" Daniel nodded.

"Carter.you got a good look at those underground.things. I want both you and Daniel to remember as much as you can about them."

"Yes, sir."

"Good, I'll make the call to Hammond as soon as we're done here."

"Sir, maybe we can contact my dad. He may still have access to some memory devices. As much as I hate to admit it, they're our best shot at giving all the facts in raw form. It's worth a try, sir."

"Fine." Jack cringed and unconsciously rubbed a hand on his temple. "G-d I hate those things. They should really come with a warning."