Author's Notes:- Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing and to everyone who's been so encouraging with this story.
Nick looked up from where he was still trying to feed Ari as the sound of footsteps encroached on his sensitive hearing, "There's someone coming."
"O'Neill," Teal'c called over the radio.
"What's up T?"
"Are you returning?"
"No," Jack told him, "Daniel's checking a few things out."
"Our position is compromised," Teal'c said before falling silent hearing footsteps, he switched off the radio so Jack's calls didn't give their position away.
"Go," Teal'c told Nick, "Take Ari to safety."
"I'll take all of us to safety," Nick said handing Ari to Teal'c, "I should be able to get us into the trees."
"How?" Teal'c asked confused.
Taking a hold of Teal'c's arms Nick lifted them off the ground, "Like this."
x
"What?" Daniel demanded as Jack stood calling to Teal'c his voice getting harsher with each call, "Jack what's going on?"
"Teal'c's switched off his radio," Jack told him, "Someone was heading to the camp. Daniel!!" Jack managed to grab Daniel's arm pulling him back before he sprinted to the camp, "If you go running in there then whoever it is will probably kill you. Nick can protect Ari."
Terror filled Daniel's eyes, "Jack, I can't…"
"Danny, take a few deep breaths," Jack soothed him, "We'll grab Carter and go help them."
At that moment Sam came running over to them, "We've got trouble."
"We know," Jack replied glibly before frowning, "More?"
"There's a Goa'uld Mother ship here," Sam reported, "It landed in the canyon over there that's why we couldn't see it."
"Then my daughter could be in the hands of a Gould," Daniel was getting more and more terrified.
"Can't you…I don't know feel where Ari is?" Jack asked.
"No," Daniel grimaced, "Ari gained that from Sha're. I can't do that."
"First, we find the other three," Jack ordered, "Then we find out which Gould did this massacre and make them pay."
Daniel could feel his whole body trembling with worry. If anything happened to Ari he'd never forgive himself.
Nick can protect her, Nick can protect her; he repeated to himself over and over again like a mantra.
Jack motioned for him to move to the other side of the clearing; Sam was already in position. Daniel felt his stomach clench seeing a group of Jaffa looking around their camp with no sign of his daughter.
Watching Jack through the trees Daniel saw the signal and fired his zat. The moment the last Jaffa had fallen Daniel ran into the middle of the campsite searching for some clue as to where Ari was.
"We are here," Teal'c called from above them.
All three craned up to look into the branches of the tree.
"How'd you get up there?" Jack asked.
"Nicholas Knight flew us up," Teal'c explained as he started to climb down.
Nick however gently brought him and Ari down handing her to Daniel the moment they landed. Daniel held her tightly to him relieved.
"Sir," Sam called from one of the Jaffa, "The Goa'uld is Apophis."
Daniel swallowed holding Ari tightly as things started to click into place for him.
"Let's move," Jack ordered, retrieving his pack.
Everyone grabbed their packs, Daniel fixed Ari into a sling so she was carried in front of him then made sure he had Ari's bag before following on as Jack led them towards the Mother ship.
x
"Sir," Sam moved to where Jack was crouched, "Are you sure we shouldn't send Daniel back to Earth with Ari?"
"He needs to do this," Jack told her, "And he says Ari needs to be here too. Carter, he wouldn't put her in any danger."
"You saw him when he thought the Jaffa had her," Sam argued, "She's all he has left of Sha're and it's Apophis who did all this."
"That kid is powerful," Jack reminded her, "Carter, we can't just send them back, it's forward only especially for Daniel."
Sam sighed and nodded.
"Okay," Jack started but stopped, as they were suddenly surrounded, "Ah crap."
"What is this?" the Jaffa demanded of the bag Daniel was trying to hold onto.
"It's things for changing her," Daniel replied, "Unless you want her screaming constantly then I have to keep them."
"Search it," the Jaffa ordered his underling.
The younger Jaffa rooted through the bag finding only diapers, a few toys, cream, powder and a few bottles of milk.
"What is this?" he demanded pulling out another small plastic bag that was tied shut.
"That's the dirty ones," Daniel told him blandly.
Jack managed to bite back a laugh at the way the Jaffa threw it back into the bag before roughly tossing it at Daniel.
"You may keep it," he snarled.
They marched out the doors to the prison shutting leaving all six of them. Daniel kept Ari on his lap despite her insistence to be placed down.
"Jack, Apophis is going to drag me in front of him," Daniel told him matter-of-factly, "Don't try to stop them taking me."
"Daniel, are you nuts?" Jack snapped.
"Trust me," Daniel told him, "Please."
"What about Ari?" Sam asked.
Before Daniel could answer the Jaffa reappeared, "You," he snarled at Daniel, "My Lord Apophis wants to see you."
"Don't worry," Daniel murmured to Jack handing Ari to him.
"No," the Jaffa snapped, "The child comes also."
"Not a chance," Daniel yelled.
He jumped as the Jaffa aimed the staff weapon at his daughter, "Bring her or she dies now."
Taking Ari back in his arms Daniel locked eyes with Jack before looking at Ari's bag set down beside Nick then turning and following the Jaffa.
x
Daniel stood waiting in the throne room for the Gould to make its appearance. Ari's head was resting against his neck while her fingers were gripping his collar; she could feel his worry and thankfully was staying as silent as possible.
"My Queen told me that you were the one," Apophis said as he strutted in, "That you and her host would be the way for me to destroy all other System Lords."
Daniel didn't say a word.
"My son shall allow me to destroy not only them but your puny planet also," Apophis smiled, "And it is all thanks to you."
"Your 'son'," Daniel replied harshly, "Is safe where you can't touch him."
Apophis smiled malevolently turning to his First Prime, "Take the child from him."
As the Jaffa moved towards him Daniel threw them away, turning to Apophis he was about to throw the Gould against the wall when white-hot pain shot through his skull. The pain was so intense he dropped to his knees, he tried to hold onto his daughter who had started to cry but she was ripped from his arms.
Daniel pressed his hand to his head, managing to look up to glare at Apophis who smiled smugly.
"Meet my son," Apophis said as a young boy walked to stand beside him, "I believe you named him Shifu."
Daniel stared in horror at the child, he looked about ten years old but Daniel knew for sure that Oma had Shifu. Then he remembered Sha're's message.
"What did Apophis do?"
Her dark eyes filled with sorrow, "He took a part of my son."
"Look over there," Sha're whispered in his ear.
Daniel turned to where Shifu sat on the chair and sat in the cot.
"You cloned him," Daniel spat.
"Until I find my true one," Apophis told him the superior smile returned; "Yet he still has all the power."
Daniel looked at the boy; he resembled his mother greatly making Daniel's heart ache.
Apophis rested his hand on the boy's shoulder, "To prove your loyalty to me."
"Yes Father?" the boy asked with wide eyes eager to please and help.
Apophis gave the boy a benevolent smile, "Kill the child."
"No," Daniel pulled himself to off the floor and for the first time ever he used his ability to grab his daughter. Ari flew across the room before the Jaffa could stop her and into Daniel's arms.
Shifu looked at Daniel holding Ari tightly and hesitated.
"Father, she is just a child," Shifu said confused.
"Kill her," Apophis ordered.
"Don't listen to him," Daniel called, "She's your sister."
The boy turned to Apophis and back to Daniel, "What?"
"I am your father," Apophis yelled, "She will kill me once she is old enough. You can stop her now."
"He is your father only through genetics," Daniel replied, "Your mother was hurt by him, she gave you to me to protect you. Don't make him turn you into something you're not."
"Your power was given to you by me," Apophis snapped.
"Your powers come from your mother and your sister," Daniel continued, "He's not all powerful, he's a parasite in the body of a scribe who just wants to die and be at peace."
"Kill her!!"
x
"We need to get out of this prison," Jack announced, "Any ideas?"
"A weapon would be useful," Teal'c told him.
"That might be easier than you think," Jack grinned, "Nick, toss me the bag."
Looking confused Nick threw Ari's bag to Jack who caught it and started rummaging around pulling out the tied plastic bag.
"Sir isn't that dirty diapers?" Sam asked with a wrinkled nose.
"Daniel's been zatting them," Jack grinned ripping the bag open to reveal a diaper which Jack opened to find a zat, "Good boy Danny."
"What is your plan O'Neill?" Teal'c asked.
"Nick, can you sort of float so they'll think you've gone?" Jack asked.
Nick nodded.
Jack explained his plan to the vampire who smiled before he lifted off from the floor. Sam stared slightly; she'd been too busy really to notice his decent from the trees but now she watched him float to the ceiling.
"Hey," Jack called to the guards coming towards them, "You know one of us has escaped."
The Jaffa opened the door and looked in to where Sam, Teal'c and Jack all stood completely unarmed. As soon as all four guards stepped in Nick swung down and fired at them. He took out three of the Jaffa; Sam swung round and kicked the final Jaffa in the stomach before knocking him unconscious.
"Nice Carter," Jack applauded silently before they all grabbed a zat, "Let's go."
x
Shifu stared at Daniel and Ari still caught up in his indecision.
"You knew my mother?" he asked.
"She was my wife," Daniel told him, "She was hurt by Apophis."
Shifu turned to Apophis, "Why would he tell me this if they are lies?"
"To distract you," Apophis said, "You are my son, kill them."
"Why haven't you just taken him as a host?" Daniel demanded of Apophis, "Is it something to do with the cloning process?"
"Silence."
"What don't you want him to know?" Daniel continued to goad, "He is a clone of the Harcesis child but the power he has comes from Sha're and that also includes her goodness. You can't force him to kill."
Apophis brought his hand up aiming the ribbon device at Daniel, "But I can kill you."
"No," Shifu stepped in front of Apophis, "Wait."
Apophis glared at the boy disdainfully, "You are not fit to be my son."
Before either Daniel or Shifu could react Apophis used the ribbon device to throw the child.
"No!!" Daniel screamed as the boy slammed against the wall before collapsing in a heap on the ground.
"Kill him," Apophis ordered the Jaffa.
As the Jaffa converged on Daniel who had Ari clasped to him several zat blasts preceded the rest of SG1 and Nick running in. Daniel scrambled over to the boy as Apophis made his escape.
x
"Why?" the boy questioned softly as Daniel leaned over him.
"He only wanted your power," Daniel gently stroked the boy's hair; Ari reached out and touched him too.
"Is she really my sister?" Shifu whispered as Nick joined them and took Ari from Daniel so Daniel could help Shifu.
"Yes," Daniel smiled, "She's mine and your mother's daughter. Now just hold on and we'll get you somewhere that will make you better."
"I do not think I can," Shifu told him, he stared deep into Daniel's eyes, "I wish you could have been my father."
"I am," Daniel told him desperation filling his voice, "We'll get you better and I will be your father. I promise just…just hang on."
Jack came running over, "The Jaffa seemed to have cleared out, do you want Teal'c to carry him?"
"I'll do it," Daniel gently pulled the child into his arms lifting him, "I'm taking you home with me. The Doctor will make you feel better, I promise."
Silence answered him.
"Shifu?" Daniel cried, as the boy's eyes stared blankly at him, "No!" Daniel bowed his head holding the child to him tears streaking down his face, "I'm sorry," Daniel whispered to the boy, "I'm so sorry."
"Daniel," Jack came to stand beside him, "We have to get Ari out of here."
Daniel nodded, "I want to bury him next to Sha're. He deserves to be with his mother."
Jack placed his hand on Daniel's shoulder as they started their long walk back to the Stargate.