Yes I'm killing them off. Shakespeare did it to all his good characters and look at the popularity he got! But don't worry. SG1 have a record of not staying dead don't they? Thanks to all my fantastic reviewers hugs them all and please keep it up!

Jack stared down at the face of his friend; his hand still clamped around Daniel's wrist. He'd see that expression on people's faces before. When the muscles completely relaxed, and the eyes flattened slightly. No matter how they died, most appeared asleep. There was no need to shut Daniel's eyes at least. Good old Daniel, always saving him work. He looked up, almost effortlessly, feeling strangely light-headed. Teal'c met his gaze, and he could see his own shock mirrored there. Carter was staring, mesmerised at Daniel's face, still holding his hand. Bit late for that.

"He's gone." Her voice was empty, vacant, like the body in front of her.

Jack nodded, "Yeah." He dropped Daniel's arm, no, the body's arm, onto the floor and stood up. His team-mates, those remaining looked up at him. He slammed his fist into the wall, taking a grim satisfaction in the pain it sent through him.

"O'Neill!"

He ignored Teal'c, ignored Carter's protests, just carried on hitting the wall. It felt good. He felt something. Pain was good. A hand clutched his arm, he tried to pull away, but he couldn't.

"O'Neill you must desist from injuring yourself further." Quiet Teal'c what do you know about it.

"O'Neill!" the voice was louder, almost desperate. Teal'c was never desperate, he was grim, angry or calm. Never desperate. Jack turned away sinking down against the wall again, further from the Daniel. No, not Daniel, the corpse.

"Sir, we have to-"
"Have to what Carter?" His voice was harsh, angry. Good. Anger stopped him from wailing like a child. "What do we have to do?" she shook her head slightly, looked away. "God Daniel." This couldn't be happening. Teal'c and Carter were staring at him, wanting him tell them it's a lie, a trick. Sorry kids not today. Guess the universe finally beat us.

"Where's white-eyes then?" He finally settled for, letting his grief funnel off in a deep, aching, rage. "Why isn't she here to gloat?"

Teal'c shook his head, Carter said softly, "I don't know sir, maybe she's waiting till the trial is over."

Of course, one down three to go. Well two, if the alien were to be believed. Jack truly didn't care. In fact, he just wanted to curl up in a corner and bawl like a child. But Colonels in the United States Airforce didn't do that. They had a stiff upper lip. Like Daniel. No, don't hit the wall again.

"No…" What now?

God no.

Teal'c had been watching O'Neill, trying to think of something to say. Though he had lost many friends, he was still unused to the feelings that inevitably consumed him afterwards. The alien would pay for the life of Daniel Jackson. She would die, slowly and painfully.

He'd almost forgotten what awaited him when the first jolt of pain shot through him.

White-hot agony rolled like molten metal through his veins. There was a fireball in his stomach. They were torturing him again, his symbiote was gone, he couldn't survive this.

But the world didn't fade, and the pain kept increasing.

"Teal'c Buddy, try to relax, you're gonna be okay." Jack tried to assure his friend, and to ignore the evidence still lying behind him, still and cold. Carter looked to be in shock, sitting dazed next to Teal'c, her eyes vacant with horror. Jack didn't feel much better. His throbbing ribs reminded him he was still in bad shape from…how long ago had it been? Hours, days? What wouldn't he give for goa'uld army right now, something he could hurt, and destroy. Something physical he could fight against. Anything but this.

He looked down at his friend, he let Teal'c clutch his arm, maybe the pressure would ease his pain a little. Didn't seem to work though, and the Jaffa was nearly breaking his arm. He didn't care. At least Teal'c wasn't begging for the syringe, something Jack was infinitely grateful for. Small shudders ran like water through his friend, and Teal'c's face was contorted with agony. How much longer could he let him go on? "You've just got to hang in there, Hammond'll find a way to get us out of this in no time." Jack encouraged, aware of how untrue his words were likely to be. But what else could he do? Just watch him suffer? Carter was now holding his other arm, tears flowing freely from her eyes even as she said, "The colonel's right Teal'c, we'll make it. Just hang on."

Teal'c could not recall such pain in his life. Or if he could, he had long ago lost the concentration for such matters. Of course his symbiote was gone, he no longer possessed a Prim'ta. Tretonin, was that responsible for this. Lava was his blood-no, an alien, she did this. She murdered Daniel Jackson. Groaning, Teal'c clutched his stomach, he could not feel this pain and live surely! It was not stopping, even abating now. It came in a constant wave that never ended. He could have it end of course. O'Neill would grant him this, if he asked. By the true gods it was unendurable.

But his relief would cause Major Carter to suffer, and O'Neill would not forgive himself. He would endure it. Forever if necessary. Another spasm, he hoped he could.

It had been over an hour. Teal'c wasn't getting better. If anything he was getting worse. Carter was still sitting with him, muttering words of assurance and comfort, though the hope had long gone from her voice. Teal'c looked awful. His usually rich-brown face was grey and disfigured in pain. Some scary, god-forsaken part of him wanted to just give him the damn needle and be done with it. Let his friend rest in peace. But condemn Carter to this? How could he? He watched in surprise as Carter suddenly grabbed Teal'c hand, "Teal'c stop this."

He frowned, "Carter?"

She ignored him, very insubordinate Major, "Teal'c are you doing this for yourself? Is this what you want?"

"Carter!" what the heck was she trying to do? But Teal'c was looking at her, his gaze a haze of pain-filled liquid. "The truth Teal'c."

The Jaffa was hesitating, or was he just trying to get the strength to speak? Jack frankly didn't want to know. "I…I am…not." Dammit.

Carter was gentle, "For me? Because I don't need protecting Teal'c, I can meet my maker with the best of them."

"That's enough Major!"

"For…both of…you" Each word sounded like a knife wound. Teal'c was doing this for him? "O'Neill…would, blame…himself….for…my death." The Jaffa had turned his agonised, melting gaze to Carter, "I cannot….allow either of you…..further suffering."

Softly, "And we can't let you suffer, I can't let you suffer for me." Carter had a firm grip on his shaking hand now, "Do you want to carry on Teal'c?" Jack's heart fell through his boots as the Jaffa, slowly, painfully, shook his head. Carter would do this for him if he asked her too. She would obey orders, and doom herself to save him from his guilt, to save Teal'c from his suffering.

But he couldn't do that to her.

"Then you don't have to." He picked up one of the remaining syringes, and crouched by his friend. "You've kicked more goa'uld butt than anyone has a right to, I think you've earned a break." Teal'c wasn't smiling, but he would be if he could Jack knew. "Thank you…O'Neill." Not trusting himself to speak, Jack just nodded, and did the deed.

Almost instantly, the tension eased from Teal'c's muscles, the pain that had fractured his very soul was gone. He felt nothing, but an irresistible drowsiness, seeping though him. Dimly he could see Major Carter and O'Neill looking down at him. Major Carter was weeping. It was unlike her. The memories hovered, still in his reach, flooding him with grief and remorse. "I am sorry Major Carter, O'Neill" he managed, resisting to urge to sleep. Major Carter shook her head.

"You've done nothing wrong Teal'c," her voice shook with the slightest tremor, "Get some rest, I'll see you soon." The last words were low, but not fearful.

O'Neill was squeezing him arm, "Just sleep Buddy. Nothing to worry about here." His tone conveyed nothing but friendship and compassion. Perhaps he could rest now.

Everything was fading, but Teal'c was not afraid. There was nothing now, but a cool enveloping darkness, nothing.