DISCLAIMER: The characters mentioned in this story are the property of Showtime and Gekko Film Corp. The Stargate, SG-1, the goa'uld and all other characters who have appeared in the series STARGATE SG-1 together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of the people who made them up. This fanfic is not intended as an infringement upon those rights and solely meant for entertainment. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author.

Through The Gate Backwards

Part four

'Dr Fraiser?' Hammond turned to the doctor who had just appeared in the briefing room. Daniel and Sam had been taken to the infirmary after breakfast for another exam before being turned over to the care of a couple of Janet's nurses while the rest of SG1 and the Tok'ra met with General Hammond.

'Sam and Daniel's behaviour indicates they are now around five years old,' Janet began. 'I am somewhat concerned at the effect this is having on their physical wellbeing. Their hearts are under a lot of strain, their motor functions are rapidly degrading and they are having problems focussing on anything for more than a few minutes.'

'They're five year olds, doctor,' Jack retorted.

'Yes, Colonel, but this is extreme even for five year olds,' Janet's face was grave as she continued. 'Sir, General Carter, I'm afraid that if we don't do something soon then their bodies will no longer be able to keep them alive.'

'How long?' Jacob kept his true feelings hidden, but it was easy to see how much of a strain this was for him.

'It's hard to say, no more than a couple of hours though.'

'The decision's made then,' Jacob said with finality. 'We take them back through the 'gate.'

'Shouldn't we at least think about this first?' Jack was surprised at the ease with which Jacob made his decision.

'Jack, we don't have time. It will take too long to arrange for Tok'ra symbiotes and the cryogenic process needs some preparation. We have to do something and taking them back through the 'gate is the only option available.'

Jack opened his mouth to argue, then his brain kicked in and he shut it again as he accepted that Jacob would do whatever he could do to save his daughter.

'General?' Jack looked to Hammond to give the go ahead.

'Very well,' Hammond authorised the mission. 'You can 'gate to P3X 6YJ, it's uninhabited. Dr Fraiser, I need you to go on this one. Dismissed.'

XOXOXOX

'Where are we going?' Sam whined as she tugged on Jacob's hand in the elevator.

'We're going on a little trip, it'll be fun,' Jacob smiled at her reassuringly. Sam scowled back at him, sensing that something wasn't right.

'But I was just beating Danny at snap,' Sam argued.

'Were not,' Daniel protested, looking to Jack for support.

'I don't know who was winning,' Jack eased the situation. 'How about singing something? What about 'Row row row your boat'?'

'Yeah!' Sam exclaimed as she dropped Jacob's hand and moved closer to Jack and Daniel.

'We have to sing it in rounds though,' Jack informed them. 'Ok, Jacob and Sam, you go first, then Daniel and I will join in.' Daniel beamed as he realised he was going to be singing with his 'pretend daddy.'

'Row row row your boat…' Jacob and Sam sang.

'Row row row your boat…' Jack and Daniel joined in at the right time.

The song continued as they reached level 28 and entered the 'gate room where Dr Fraiser, Teal'c and Darforth were waiting for them, to the amusement of everyone they passed, even General Hammond smiled fondly at this scene as he watched from the control room.

Sam and Daniel's voices faltered as they saw the huge metal ring standing in the middle of the room, Jack and Jacob falling silent with them.

'What's that?' Sam asked as she ran towards it to take a closer look, Daniel not far behind. At that moment, the gate started dialling and both of them stepped back rapidly, finding their respective carers and huddling behind them to watch what was going on.

'It's called a Stargate,' Jacob informed them, seeing that in spite of their curiosity both Sam and Daniel were unsure of what was going on. 'The dial turns around and locks seven of the symbols in place - watch carefully and count them as they lock.'

'Seven!' Daniel and Sam exclaimed as the seventh chevron locked having counted through the previous six, then, as the event horizon formed their mouths formed into big circles as they gazed in awe at the sight before them.

'Do we have to go through that?' Daniel asked curiously, his voice a little nervous.

'Yes,' Jack replied.

'Won't we get wet?'

'No, Daniel, it's not really water,' Jack tried to explain, looking towards Jacob to help him out.

'Tell you what, why don't you ask Sam to explain it to you when we get back?' Jacob smiled craftily at Jack.

'Ok.' Daniel sighed as he reluctantly agreed.

Teal'c began walking up the ramp, Jack made a move to follow but found his movement impeded by Daniel who had grabbed his arm and was refusing to let go.

'Daniel, I need to go with Teal'c,' Jack did his best to reassure Daniel. 'You'll be fine, you can follow with Dr Fraiser and Sam.' Daniel grasped Jack's arm even tighter and shook his head violently.

'No, I wanna go with you,' Daniel pleaded, looking appealingly into Jack's face. Jack sighed as he realised he wasn't going to win this one.

'We better be getting this on tape - Daniel is so never going to live this one down,' Jack mumbled before turning to smile at Daniel. 'Ok, you come with me. Garforth, will you go ahead with Teal'c please?'

Garforth bowed his head and did as he was asked. Jack counted to ten then waved Dr Fraiser to go through before Jacob and himself followed on with Sam and Daniel in tow.

As soon as they emerged on the planet Sam and Daniel dashed off to run around in the open air, enjoying the change of scenery. Sam was pretending to be a fighter plane, her arms spread wide making noises of a gun firing while Daniel merely ran circles around her as fast as he could.

Jack and Jacob stood watching them letting off steam for a few minutes before Jack called them back. Sam continued to be a plane and Daniel, after pausing for the briefest of moments, continued running in circles. This freedom was far too good a thing to give up without a fight.

'Samantha Carter, Daniel Jackson, get yourselves over here right now!' Jacob bellowed, startling even Jack at how loud Jacob had yelled, but it had the desired effect and Sam and Daniel raced up to them, slightly breathless and not the least bit repentant. Jacob shook his head in mock despair and spoke to the two of them.

'Ok, in a minute, we're going to turn the gate on again,' Jacob watched their faces carefully to make sure they were listening. 'We're going to count the seven symbols as they lock into place, then we go back through. Ok?' Sam and Daniel both nodded and followed Jacob and Jack to the DHD where Teal'c proceeded to dial the co-ordinates. While their attention was diverted, Dr Fraiser took the opportunity to check their pulse and temperature, pulling Jack and Jacob to one side once she had done so.

'Their pulses are highly erratic and they both have a temperature, we don't have much time. I'm also concerned that they could be vulnerable to the side effects Garforth informed us of. As soon as we're back, I want you to get them to the infirmary straight away.'

'Seven!' Two voices shouting brought the discussion to a close and Jacob went back to Sam and Daniel while Teal'c, Dr Fraiser and Garforth stepped through the 'gate.

Holding out an arm to prevent Sam and Daniel from racing through after them, he once again spoke to them.

'You two need to go around the other side of the 'gate and go back through that way, we'll meet you at the other end,' Jacob held his breath, not surprised at the reaction he got.

'I want to go with you daddy,' Sam wailed, tears falling down her face. 'Please can't I go with you?'

'Jack, you said you'd be my daddy,' Daniel was equally upset but was more successful in stopping the tears.

'I know Danny,' Jack told Daniel gravely, 'but you two need to do this. I can't tell you why now, but we'll explain later. You have to be brave, Danny.' Jack pulled Daniel away from Sam and Jacob and spoke in a conspiratorial whisper: 'Sammie needs you to be her friend right now. Will you help her?'

Daniel gulped a few times and nodded his head just as Jacob led Sam towards them.

'Sammie wants to race us back, Jack,' Jacob smiled. 'She thinks that they'll beat us - what do you say, we can't turn down a challenge like that can we?'

'Does the winner get to eat chocolate cake?' Sam asked eagerly, the tears drying up now.

'Yeah, sure, why not,' Jack agreed readily, already planning on how he would manage to get two large pieces of chocolate cake past Dr Fraiser's eagle eyes. 'Ready to go?' Two small nods responded and Jack and Jacob led the pair of them around to the other side of the 'gate, watching them as they held hands and stepped through, eyes closed tightly before going through the correct side themselves.