Author's Notes:- Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.

Thanks to everyone for reviews and encouragement.

Melissa knocked for the third time.

"Come on," she muttered, "I know someone's in finally."

She knocked again.

Finally the door was yanked open, "Melissa?" Daniel asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Checking up on you," she replied, "My Mom's been trying to get a hold of you for the past few days."

"I've been ill," Daniel answered coldly, "I slept a lot."

"What about Ari?"

"Nick took her with him to the city so I could get better," Daniel frowned, "Melissa I'm back to work tomorrow. Whatever your mother wanted she can talk to me she can say then."

Melissa stared in confusion as he closed the door in her face.

"Okay, who was that?" she muttered walking home.

x

Daniel groaned; he knew he'd been really short with Melissa but he hadn't slept well last night. He was becoming sure Sha're was still sending him messages not to mention the new information that Nick's 'father' seemed to have a lot more information on what was happening than they did.

Nick had been out trying to find out more about the tablets all night and now he was in his own part of the house fuming over something.

"Dada," his daughter called wanting attention.

"Not now Ari," he sighed before instantly regretting it and picking her up.

She had a pout on her face not looking at him.

"I'm sorry," Daniel stroked her cheek, "Come on baby. Look at me. Come on."

Her blue eyes were wide staring at him a few tears welling, "You understand more than you should at this age. I wish I knew why, I wish I could understand," Daniel held her close to him softly kissing her head, "I'm sorry sweetie, Daddy is just really tired."

Sitting her down on her play-mat he lay down on his stomach watching her as she played, he really needed to sleep.

Nick rolled his shoulders to loosen them as he walked into the house. He'd taken a leave of absence from work for a few months till he could sort this out. He hadn't told Daniel about his thoughts on the other tablets yet, he was waiting till a friend had checked out the information for him. He headed to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of blood from the fridge taking a long drink.

"What are you doing back so early?" Daniel asked making Nick jump.

"Daniel, it's 3 am," Nick replied, "What are you doing up? Is Ari alright?"

"Ari's fine," Daniel told him, "I just can't sleep. So, something happen at work?"

"I've taken time off," Nick replied.

"Oh," Daniel shrugged before going to the other room and dropping onto the couch picking up his book again.

"Haven't you got classes tomorrow?" Nick frowned.

"I'll be fine," Daniel shrugged starting to read.

Nick shook his head, heading to his own room. He wanted to get some sleep himself so he could work some more on his problem. Daniel had been acting strangely since he's got back from helping his friends and especially since he'd found out LaCroix had more information than they did.

It seemed to bother Daniel more than he was admitting to Nick and Nick was beginning to wonder if getting in touch with Jack would help his young friend. He could see the special bond between the two men and was sure that Jack could get through to him but then this could jeopardise his own friendship with Daniel and if LaCroix was right that he was needed to help Daniel then that could make things more and more difficult.

Nick sighed; he would give it a few more days then make a decision.

"Mom, you have got to stop buying stuff for Ari," Melissa scolded looking at the huge teddy bear her mother was carrying.

"I couldn't resist," Adele smiled, "Isn't it gorgeous?"

"It's huge," Melissa grimaced slightly, "Why did you buy it again?"

Adele shrugged, "I adore that little girl. Besides it's not like we have any other little ones in the family."

"Mom, I'm not having kids till I'm at least thirty," Melissa reminded her.

"Then I get to spoil the closest thing I've got to a grandchild," Adele told her.

Melissa rolled her eyes as the phone rang. Adele handed her daughter the bear answering it.

"I have to go to work," Adele said, "Could you take this to Ari?"

"Mom!!"

"Please honey," Adele smiled, "I don't want the thing to be sitting around the house for days."

"Fine," Melissa cried, "Give me the stupid thing. I can't wait for University to start so I can get away from this nut-house."

Adele laughed at her daughter's bland tone before grabbing her coat and leaving.

x

Melissa could hear arguing as she knocked on the door.

"What?" Daniel yanked the door open before stopping in surprise seeing a teddy bear hiding its carrier.

"Delivery," Melissa poked her head out from behind it, "My mother bought it for Ari and sent me with it. Sorry to disturb you."

"Daniel," Nick yelled appearing beside him and halting, "Melissa."

"Could you watch Ari for a few minutes?" Daniel asked.

"Sure," Melissa said confused as the two men stepped back allowing her in.

She sat down beside Ari watching as they marched upstairs both fuming.

"Okay, something very strange is going on with those two," she said to the little girl, "Why did I feel like I walked into a war-zone?"

Ari threw her ball at Melissa who rolled it back to her making the girl laugh. Melissa frowned as she could hear the brothers arguing but it didn't sound like English, the doorbell interrupted her thoughts and she picked up Ari to answer the door.

"Hi," the man standing there said.

"Hi," Melissa answered, "Can I help you?"

"You would be Melissa," he nodded before smiling at Ari, "Hey Ari."

"Can I help you?" she repeated.

"Oh sorry," he laughed, "I'm Jack O'Neill, I'm a friend of Daniel is he here?"

"Yes," Melissa nodded suddenly recognising him from one of the pictures on the mantelpiece, "He and Nick are…well…talking."

Jack raised an eyebrow at her hesitation, "Talking?"

"Okay, maybe yelling at each other is a more accurate description," Melissa shrugged, "I'll tell him you were here."

"I'll wait," Jack said, "If you let me in."

"Okay," Melissa stepped back.

Ari reached out to Jack wanting to be held by him, Melissa released the little girl watching with a smile as Jack swung her round.

"Any idea what they're yelling about?" Jack asked.

"I can't speak French," Melissa shrugged, "Well maybe I can count to three but even then I get half of that wrong."

Jack gave a small laugh as he hugged Ari. Both he and Melissa looked up as Daniel came storming down the stairs.

"Jack?" Daniel stared at him.

"Thought I'd pop by for a visit," Jack grinned at him, "Have I come at a bad time?"

Daniel rubbed his hand across his eyes, "Damn," he muttered before sighing and turning to Melissa, "Thanks for watching Ari."

"No problem," she smiled, "I'll leave you to whatever."

Jack nodded at the young woman and waited until she was gone before turning back to Daniel.

"How did you find me?" Daniel asked, "Nick never told you where we actually were."

"You seem to forget Daniel that I do have an actual brain," Jack scolded him, "I was talking to Major Davis and he was telling me about getting called away from his vacation and how he couldn't really remember about the conversation he was having with some new guy in town. Then he talked about his sister and niece. I sort of took a guess."

"Go away Jack," Daniel took Ari and turned away.

"What were you and Nick arguing about?" Jack asked.

"It's none of your business," Daniel snapped, "Now go away."

"Fine," Jack shrugged.

Holding his daughter Daniel sunk to the couch and turned away as his friend walked away.

x

Nick opened the kitchen door letting Jack back in.

"Hi," Jack greeted him.

"Come on," Nick motioned him upstairs, "Before he realises you're still here. I'm not in the mood to argue with him again."

"I can understand that," Jack grinned, "Were you arguing in French to avoid letting Melissa overhear?"

Nick smiled, "I am French, or I was. It came out that way and Daniel reciprocated so we kept going."

They finally reached what was Nick's part of the house and Nick closed the door.

"He's not the same," Nick sighed, "Since he got back from seeing you all…"

"Let me guess," Jack leaned against the wall, "He's wandering the house at all hours, not able to sleep and still goes to work in the morning."

Nick nodded, "You've encountered this before."

"When Sha're was taken and when she died," Jack said sadly, "It's almost the anniversary of her death. That's why he's…Nick I'm due to go on a mission pretty soon I can't be here for him without letting the other's know I know where he is."

"I understand," Nick sighed, "But I don't think I can take your place."

"Nick, just let him rant at you when the time comes," Jack told him, "Let him get it off his chest, be his friend and hold him together until I can get back."

Nick nodded, "I promise."

"I'll be back as soon as I can," Jack told him, "See you later."

Daniel lay back in his new home smiling as Sha're leaned over him.

"You are laughing at me," she said.

"No," Daniel touched her face, "Just at how bizarre life is."

"What do you mean," she propped herself up on her elbow.

"Two weeks ago I lost everything, my career, my apartment, my credibility because I believed something I never thought I would be able to prove," he explained, "And now here I am on a different planet, I'm married and I couldn't care less about any of that."

Sha're trailed her other hand through his hair and along his cheek, "So you are happy to stay with us?"

"I'm ecstatic to be with you," Daniel replied, he moved and gently caught her mouth with his.

Sha're closed her eyes as Daniel kissed her.

"I love you," he murmured wrapping his arms around her pulling her close.

"I love you too my husband," Sha're breathed, "My Dan'iel."

x

Nick stood at the door watching Daniel sitting on the couch his knees pulled up to his chest his head resting on them as his tears fell.

"I don't remember Teal'c coming in," Daniel said suddenly, "I don't remember that because all I could see was what she was showing me."

Nick sat beside him not saying a word just letting him talk.

"I…I remember she told me about why Shifu was so special, why Ammonet had taken the Abydonians and she made me promise to save them both," Daniel sighed, "I don't think she ever realised that I loved him as my own. Then she kissed me. I can still feel her, I didn't want the moment to end but it did. Suddenly I was lying on the ground and she was across from me."

Daniel stopped talking his pain overwhelming him, he took a few deep breaths, "Her eyes glowed once before the Gould died in her then Sha're was staring at me. Her eyes were filled with so much pain but relief. I scrambled over to her but I couldn't find my voice."

Nick placed his hand on the younger man's shoulder trying to comfort and support him as best he could.

Daniel gave him a half-smile, "She told me she loved me, it was the first thing I taught her to say in English and French," he gave a soft half-laugh before bitterness filled his voice, "I couldn't say it back. I couldn't speak until it was too late. I never got to…to…to tell her…everything…I…" he broke off as his tears started to fall again.

"I'm sorry," Nick whispered rocking his friend, "Listen to me. She knew. Your wife knew how much you loved her. If I've learned anything from what you've told me then I know she knew that."

"I just want to talk to her again," Daniel sighed moving to stare at the ceiling, "To hold her in my arms, to let her be with Ari and Shifu. She never go to hold them, she never got to hold her children."

Sniffing back his tears Daniel stood up, "Thank you Nick. I'm going to check on Ari."

x

Nick watched Daniel leave the room and sighed, he wished he could find some way to change the past.

His cell phone rang and he pulled it out quickly, "Janette?"

"I have the information you asked for," she told him, "David knew you wanted it as fast as possible."

"So?"

"Patience Nicholas," she scolded playfully, "I will bring it to you tomorrow night."

"Have you…"

"I have not spoke to LaCroix for a while," Janette told him, "He is busy doing something out of the city. How is your friend?"

"Daniel's fine," Nick said not able to keep the sigh out of his voice, "Or he will be once I work out where we can find the other tablets. He isn't relishing the idea of LaCroix helping us."

"LaCroix has his reasons for helping," she reminded him.

"I'd be a lot happier if I knew what they were," Nick grimaced.

"I shall see you tomorrow Nicholas," Janette told him, "Do not worry yourself too much about this, at least not yet."

Nick frowned as she hung up before he could reply.

Jack sat staring at the stars during his watch. The rest of his team were sleeping until their watch, he'd taken the first one.

He was worried about how Daniel was handling today. The first anniversary was the worst one; he knew that well and not being there for his best friend annoyed him.

He hoped this routine mission went better than the last one, though that wasn't exactly difficult since he'd been grabbed by Apophis, so they could get home fast and he could make another trip to check up on Daniel, Nick and Ari. He knew Nick was a good friend to Daniel but Jack was the one person in the universe that knew Daniel completely. The only other person who could make that claim was Sha're and Jack knew Daniel was most likely reliving losing her. He'd done it when Charlie had died.

A noise made him reach for his zat spinning to where Jacob Carter appeared.

"Jacob?" he snapped, "What the hell are you doing here?"

Jacob frowned, "Martouf just found something very interesting. You have to come and see this."

"See what?" Jack demanded impatiently.

Jacob stared at him intently, "I think it's about Daniel and his daughter."

"What about them?" Jack started to feel uncomfortable.

"It looks like Ammonet created a weapon," Jacob told him, "And her name is Ari."