Author's Notes:- Thanks to everyone who's reviewed.
We had so much fun doing this story at this point we had the plot under control. Kinda.
Daniel woke up slowly, not wanting to turn and open his eyes in case the beautiful woman, Sha're, was just part of some crazy dream. Deciding he was being ridiculous he opened his eyes and turned to find her watching him.
"Not a dream then Dan'iel," she spoke softly with a smile on her face and his heart skipped a beat.
She was so beautiful. He realised he needed to talk to the soldier more, Jack he had called himself. He said he knew Daniel well; he had called him a friend. He couldn't imagine being friends with anyone in the military, especially a man so obviously in control. He couldn't think of anyone less likely as a close friend, and yet, when he had looked into those deep brown eyes he had seen kindness. Eyes that softened when they looked at those he knew and hardened when he talked about the Goa'uld.
"Sha're, we need to talk to these people, we need to learn if we can trust them."
She nodded to him and began to fix her dress again. "If we learn we cannot, will you travel with me Dan'iel? I am alone here and a woman who travels without a man finds nothing but trouble."
It took Daniel a few seconds to translate her words and a few more for their meaning to sink in. She wanted to travel with him, be alone with him.
"It would be an honour Sha're, but first let us talk with the others. They may be able to help us understand why we are both here and what is happening."
x
At the noise of the door opening behind him, Jack spun round, quickly lowering his weapon when he saw Daniel and Sha're.
"Sorry guys, occupational hazard. Come get some coffee, freshly brewed."
Daniel was glad he had walked through first when the older man pointed a gun, although he was very impressed at the speed he moved. He just couldn't picture this man in his house or fitting into any aspect of his life. How on earth had they become friends?
"Coffee? I'd love a cup, and then you can fill me in on how on earth we met. Please don't be offended but you wouldn't fit in my social circle as it stands now."
Jack grinned; he couldn't help himself. "Well you are right there Danny, a few too many academics for my liking, and we can't really tell you much. You proved your theories and we started working together."
Daniel blinked. Prove his theories? With the military? "So we met on a project and became friends working together?"
"Erm, yes with the working, no with the friendship, at least not right away. You kinda left the area," Jack decided to leave out where he went, "And came back to help out when the Gould came back into the picture."
Daniel gave a deep sigh of satisfaction as he drank the coffee. It had been too long since his last cup. Maybe it would settle the headache that seemed to grow more with each hour. At a slight cough beside him he turned to Sha're grimacing. "Very bitter Dan'iel."
Daniel smiled and gently took the cup from her. "Could Sha're have some water instead? She finds coffee a little bitter."
"I have just the thing for her to try instead Daniel." Sam smiled as Daniel's head shot up; he hadn't heard her coming. "How about a mug of hot chocolate?"
"Hey, you never let me have any of your coveted stash!"
Daniel began to relax as he watched the easy banter between the two officers. If this was a ploy to build up trust they were very good actors.
"That's a really nice offer Sam, if you don't mind?"
"It would be my pleasure Daniel. While the water boils maybe you could ask us some questions. There isn't a lot we can tell you but feel free to ask anyway."
x
Martouf frowned.
"What's wrong?" Jolinar asked resting her hand on his shoulder.
"I can't get through," he sighed, "No one in the council is answering. I'm going to try and contact Selmak; she's coming to join us anyway."
"Good idea," Jolinar smiled before turning serious, "What do you think of their story?"
"Well as Colonel O'Neill pointed out they are using an Asgard craft," Martouf mused, "The presence of a Jaffa however is so unexpected and yet…Major Carter, there is a familiarity about her."
"I know," Jolinar replied, "It's clear she was once host to a Tok'ra but it's more than that."
"Selmak here," the answer to Martouf's call finally came.
"Selmak, where's the council?" Martouf asked instantly.
"They had to move again," Selmak replied, "What's so important?"
"Osiris's prisoners also had someone else looking for them," Jolinar explained, "From the future."
"You're kidding."
"No, apparently they're from seven years in the future," Martouf said, "They're using an Asgard vessel. Osiris is also from that time."
"I'll come and meet you," Selmak said, "Where are you?"
"Hold on and we'll find a central point," Martouf said.
Jolinar pulled up a map and found a planet for them to meet, "Ritan seems to be the best choice."
"I agree," Selmak said.
"We'll see you there soon," Martouf replied before cutting communications.
"Well?" Jack asked, as the Tok'ra rejoined them.
Jolinar sat across from him; "The Council have had to move to a new location however one of our most honoured Tok'ra will join us at Ritan."
"Who?" Sam asked.
"Selmak."
"Selmak?" Sam and Jack cried in unison before Jack started to laugh.
"I take it we're missing out on a joke," Daniel said softly but his voice had an edge.
"You had to be there," Jack told him.
x
Daniel frowned as he watched the others continue to talk every word they said was so carefully chosen. Every question he'd asked had been met by a 'we can't tell you', 'we don't know' or 'you don't want to know' making him more and more frustrated.
Placing his empty mug down Daniel gently touched Sha're's arm, "Do you want to go for a walk?"
Sha're nodded taking his offered hand.
"We're going for a walk," Daniel told Jack, "So you can talk about whatever you don't want us to hear."
Without letting Jack reply Daniel turned and led Sha're out of the room the door slamming behind them.
"You are angry," Sha're said as they walked along the stark grey corridor.
"No, not really," he sighed leaning against the wall, "They're just not telling us anything and they're expecting us to trust them."
"You do not trust them."
"Do you?"
Sha're stepped closer to him looking up into his eyes, "I trust you."
The confidence showing for him in her eyes was incredible to see and Daniel gently took her hand, slowly he turned it placing a gentle kiss on her palm.
"No matter what happens," he said, "We stick together."
"Together," Sha're repeated.
Daniel smiled and slipped his arms around her drawing her into a tight embrace, "I trust you too."
Jack sighed realising that Daniel was a hairs-breadth away from finding some way to get him and Sha're away from them. They hadn't gained his trust properly and Jack had to do something about it.
Motioning Sam to stay with their Tok'ra guests he headed into the corridor to try and talk to Daniel. He found his friend standing holding Sha're making Jack wish he could tell them what was coming but he didn't want to end up making the future any worse than it already was.
"Daniel," he interrupted them, "Look, I'm sorry we can't tell you much."
"How about anything?" Daniel snapped.
Jack sighed, "Okay, you don't trust me. Then ask me, ask me anything."
"Something you can answer?" Daniel asked him.
"Fine," Jack rolled his eyes, "Your parents were killed when you were eight years old."
"Something you could find out doing a check on my past," Daniel retorted feeling Sha're's hands stroking his arm comfortingly.
Jack dropped his gaze, "The first foster home you went to you refused to speak for the first two months. Every night your foster mom would sing to you and it made you feel safe."
Daniel stared at him tears filling his eyes.
"Dan'iel," Sha're gently stroked his cheek pulling him close to her.
Daniel stayed in her comforting embrace for a few moments before turning to Jack, "How did you know that?"
"Because you told me," Jack replied sharply before his voice softened, "You told me."
Sha're could feel Daniel shaking at the emotion running through him, he'd never told anyone anything like that. Not even Sarah when they were together.
"I'll be back in the cabin when you're ready," Jack said leaving them alone.
Daniel slid down the wall to sit on the floor, "This is insane."
Sha're knelt in front of him catching his face, "Was what he said true?"
"Yes," he whispered, "But I don't know how…why…"
"Shh," Sha're soothed wrapping her arms around him again, "Remember I will not let anything harm you."
Daniel rested in her warm embrace; he could so easily see himself spending the rest of his life with her. Pulling back finally he touched her cheek and smiled, "Thank you."
"So, do we trust them?" Sha're asked.
"I guess we do," Daniel sighed leaning his head against hers, "I guess we do."
x
Teal'c nodded to Jack as he joined him.
"Are we almost there, T?" Jack asked dropping into the free seat.
"We should rendezvous with Selmak soon," Teal'c replied, "How is Daniel Jackson?"
"I think I finally persuaded him he could trust us," Jack sighed, "But…"
"But?"
"I sort of walked in on him and Sha're having a moment," Jack groaned, "I wish we could let them remember this, each other and warn them about what's going to come."
"In doing this we may cause more harm than good," Teal'c replied, "I too wish we could find some way to allow them to remain together."
Jack frowned, "But we have to hit the reset button and make sure none of this ever happened."
Teal'c gave a Jack a long hard stare.
"What?"
"You believe if she was still alive he would not have left," Teal'c stated.
Jack shrugged, "If she was there he wouldn't have pulled half the stupid things he did."
"Things that on many occasions saved all our lives," Teal'c countered.
Before Jack could reply the ship was rocked by an explosion.
"What the hell?" Jack yelled jumping up.
"Selmak is being fired upon," Teal'c reported, "Even in our cloaked state we have been hit."
"Any damage?" another hit threw Jack into his seat again, "I'll take that as a probably."
Pulling himself up Jack ran to the cabin where everyone else turned to him for answers.
"Selmak's getting shot at, we're caught in the crossfire," Jack explained, "Carter check everything's working, take Martouf and Jolinar," he ordered before turning to Daniel and Sha're, "You two find something to hold onto."
Daniel nodded; one of the seats had a harness attached. Grabbing Sha're's arm he pulled her with him as he sat down and strapped himself in before wrapping his arms tightly around her waist holding onto her. Sha're finding herself in Daniel's lap when the ship started to rock again wrapped her arms around his neck burying her face against his long soft hair. Despite what was happening all around them Sha're had never felt safer.
x
Jack swore under his breath, "Why can't we catch a break with this mission?" he looked at Sam, "So, how much damage are we looking at exactly?"
Sam was silent for a moment, working diplomatically through options in her head, "Well sir, it is fixable and I'm sure I can get it all fixed, if we don't mind limping along for a while, but we'll need some components that we don't have spare on board. I looked at the diagnostics and I'm sure I could convert Gould parts, it's just that..."
"That we don't have any of those either correct?" Jack waited for her nod, "Which means some of us have to go back onto the Gould mother ship," another nod, "Wonderful. Okay, assemble the troops, we'd better make plans."
"Osiris my queen, one of your death gliders observed a cloaked Tok'ra vessel whilst on patrol. Shots were fired and the vessel was damaged. It was seen to land on the nearby moon but the gliders were unable to follow through the atmosphere without refuelling. Is this your command my Queen?"
Osiris smiled, "You have done well my messenger. But I think I will see this Tok'ra for myself. Let us take the whole ship and let the Tok'ra know what true power looks like before they die."
"As you desire."
Osiris watched the Jaffa bow and scrape his way from her presence. Usually this behaviour amused her but since she had seen Daniel she found this enjoyment to have tarnished.
"Is this your influence Sarah? Spoiling my fun?"
Sarah was silent. She dared not speak her true feelings for fear that Osiris would leave her body and have her killed. It had filled her with hope, seeing Daniel again. Perhaps they would beat Osiris and kill them both. And she would finally be free.
Jack waited until the group in front of him were silent before explaining his plan to them.
"Okay, I need everyone to listen carefully, and if we all do our bit we might just get out of here in time to rescue Selmak. Jolinar, you will be coming with me onto the mother ship, I need someone who can speak Gould and seeing as you were working there you are the perfect choice. Sam, I need you and Martouf to work on the ship, we need to get going as soon as possible, we don't know how Selmak is but I'd rather pick her up sooner than later. Teal'c, I need you in the cockpit monitoring us and able to transport us back in a second if things go south. Daniel, I need you and Sha're to stay here where it is safe. I know we haven't told you much but your lives are at danger and we are all here to protect you. Any questions?"
He waited a second then picked up his bag, "Right then kids, the best laid plans and all that. Jolinar, if you don't mind coming with me then I'll give you five minutes to grab your things. We have to make this fast people. Clock is ticking."
x
The rest of the group stood stunned, standing exactly where Jack had left them.
"The plan is wise but we must make haste."
Teal'c's words seemed to get them all moving their various ways although Martouf caught up with Jolinar as she headed to collect her things.
"My love, I do not want you to go. Let me go with the human in your place."
Jolinar smiled and placed her hand on his cheek, "But my place was on Osiris's ship as yours was with Apophis. You do not know the people my dearest, although the ship and the language are the same the Jaffa are not and we do not need suspicion aroused, particularly not now Selmak's ship has been seen. They will be more vigilant than usual. Now, I must make haste. Help Samantha to work on the ship but be careful, something about her makes me uneasy. Of them all I trust her the least."
x
Daniel led Sha're back along the corridor.
"Well it looks like we are the only ones without something to do. How about we get to know each other a little better seeing as no one else will talk to us? At least I can kill some time by spending time in the company of a very beautiful woman."
x
Jack peered back around the corner and was very relieved to find everyone moving purposefully around. Truth be told the plan wasn't foolproof but he hadn't wanted to give them a chance to bicker and argue before finally settling on his idea as a best of the worst scenario. He would much rather have had one of his team watch his back, but if Teal'c was seen there is no way the Jaffa would not recognise the first prime of another System Lord. Daniel in his present incarnation was useless, as he had none of his memories of the Gould let alone military tactics and hand signals. The Tok'ra needed to be split as well before they decided to set out on their own after Selmak. They needed to work together. They had discussed this for a long time after Daniel and Sha're had left the discussion. The past needed to be kept on its current path in order to prevent huge changes to the future. He wasn't a genius but even he could recognise that to change the past might result in one of the parallel universes they kept running in to. Upside, he might be married to Sam. Downside, they might all be dead with the Gould controlling earth or the Replicators for that matter. Jack shook these thoughts from his head as he set off to collect Jolinar. They needed to go.