A feeling of intense worry filled Jack as the 'gate shut down once the team - well, three quarters of it at least - was safely back to Earth. Jack stared over his shoulder the inactive ring with a mixture of anger and anxiety as he thought of Daniel, still on the other side, not knowing if he was dead or alive.

"…Jackson?"

Jack turned around to realise that Hammond was addressing him. Jack looked at Sam and Teal'c briefly and took a breath. "We've gotta go back, sir."

"What happened?"

"There was a storm, sir," Sam took over, sensing Jack's upset state that he was clearly trying to hide, "the walls by the ruin Daniel was examining were destroyed."

"It was too dangerous for us to attempt as rescue at the time," Jack explained quickly, his voice almost stern, "we have to go back." He walked down the ramp to join the others.

"The storm would make a rescue attempt much too hazardous at this time, General Hammond." Jack turned a glare on Teal'c at his contribution, but the Jaffa didn't seem to notice. Hammond nodded in an understanding.

"We'll send a MALP through to see if the storm has calmed. Then we'll judge whether a rescue is safe enough." He signalled to an SF who quickly left the room to prepare a MALP "At the moment, I'd like more details: Briefing room in ten minutes." Hammond quickly left the room, leaving SG-1 to disarm and freshen up. Jack led the way out of the 'gate room, his face a stone glare, and each footstep falling heavily.

*****

Five MALP communications later, and the rescue mission was still on hold. Jack sat in his usual place at the briefing table, for the third time since his team's return, with his head in his hands. He stared down at the table and waited for news of the sixth attempt. He had decided not to watch the footage for himself this time. He had seen it all before, and deep down he knew that this time would be no different. Still, he held hope.

Teal'c was his usual calm self, though at this moment he felt a sort of loss. He sat still, his hands clasped in front of him, resting on the table. He looked at nothing in particular.

Sam sat opposite Jack, watching him intently. She had learned from past experience not to disturb him when he was like this. He was well trained not to let his feelings get in the way of his assignments but, as Sam well knew, this was very different. She turned on hearing the sound of footsteps on metal, as Hammond made his way up the stairs. Sam knew straight away what he was going to say. She could tell from the General's face.

"Still not good news I'm afraid."

Jack felt his fist bang down hard on the table, attracting looks from everyone in the room. He let out a heavy, frustrated sigh before standing, and walking silently out of the room.

*****

Daniel's eyes flickered open. He slowly focussed through a large crack on the left lens of his glasses and shuffled to sit up. He took a look around, as if seeing the area for the first time. All around him were the rocks of what were once beautifully decorated walls. There was no rubble around him - as though it had somehow avoided him. The only structure still standing was a large pillar in front of him, covered in markings. He ignored it and slowly stood up, brushing himself down. He looked up into a clear blue sky and then around him again. Failing to come up with any explanation of what had gone on, he began to pick his way through the rubble, stumbling at odd points along the way, before he finally stood on a patch of grass to the East of the ruins, which was free of any form of destruction. He could see no one anywhere around, so he began to walk along a makeshift path, clearly made by travel through the grass, though of who or what, he had no idea.

In the distance he heard a sudden noise, and he turned around to see a massive circle of shining blue water in the distance. He turned on his heel and ran in the direction of the forest, as fast as his legs would carry him. Soon after, voices began to speak to him. He looked down at the black box in his upper pocket and pulled it out. "Daniel?" it said, "Do you read?" A look - a mixture of shock and fear - broke across Daniel's face. He threw the box on the floor, and continued running.

*****

From his hiding spot in the woods, he could faintly see three figures walking towards the pile of rubble he had come from. He wondered what they were doing, and watched them intently. One figure seemed to turn in his direction, and he instinctively ducked behind a large rock. After a minute or so, he peered back towards the rubble. The figures were walking towards him. He pushed himself up and ran again. The line across his vision from the broken glass was beginning to annoy him, so he pulled it away from his eyes, and threw it down, covering it with leaves. He looked up to see blurs of green and brown, and continued running towards them.

He stopped, out of breath, almost on the other side of the forest. He didn't know how long he had been running for; it seemed like hours. The figures were no longer following him, and he relaxed, sitting for several minutes before anything else disturbed him.

*****

"He's gone, sir."

"Gone?" Hammond asked, "Gone where? Another planet?"

"We don't think so," Sam said, "We found his glasses and his radio, but there was no sign of him."

"It would appear he had travelled into the forest, General Hammond," Teal'c put in.

Jack, the only person actually sat down in the briefing room, looked up. "There's no reason for him to go to another planet. He's still there somewhere. Recommend we send a UAV to search the area, sir."

Hammond nodded. "We'll send one within the hour. For now, I want you all to relax while we--"

Jack stood up "With all due respect sir, I can't relax! A member of my team is out there, and we don't know if he's dead or alive!" his voice had risen to a shout, but Hammond wasn't put off.

"And, at the moment, there's nothing we can do until we send a UAV."

"We're not doing enough!"

Hammond's voice rose to join Jack's level. "It's all we can do, Colonel."

"Jack stood, forcefully, ignoring Hammond's rank pulling.

"We have a man out there, General: a man valuable to this team, this project and this planet. I won't stand here and do nothing while he's out there in who knows what state!"

Hammond's voice became sterner as he began to speak. "I'm relieving you, colonel. You're clearly not fit to perform your duty. I want you to go home and come back when you've calmed down." Hammond turned and left the room before Jack had a chance to retort. Jack banged his fist down on the table and stormed out of the room, leaving Teal'c and Sam to exchange raised eyebrows and uncomfortable looks.