Part Two

Where once was light
Now darkness falls
Where once was love
Love is no more
Don't say goodbye
Don't say I didn't try

These tears we cry
Are falling rain
For all the lies you told us
The hurt, the blame!
And we will weep to be so alone
We are lost
We can never go home

So in the end
I'll be what I will be
No loyal friend
Was ever there for me

Now we say goodbye
We say you didn't try

These tears you cry
Have come too late
Take back the lies
The hurt, the blame!

And you will weep
When you face the end alone
You are lost
You can never go home
You are lost
You can never go home

The young woman's groan echoed in the silence of the darkened cell, a frown brushing her pale features as she struggled to open her eyes. Pale blonde hair hung limply around her shoulders as she lifted her head, blinking in the darkness.

Licking her lips nervously she winced as her movements pulled on her bound hands, causing the rope to bite deeper into her skin, a fresh trickle of blood running down her hands to join the small puddle beneath them on the dull grey concrete floor.

"Hello??" Lillian O'Connell's voice was hoarse as she called out, unsure if she would gain an answer or not. Bracing herself, she swung her hair out of her face to get a better look at her surroundings in the near darkness. She had no doubt of who had taken her, the spell-casters and their kin had hunted her kind since the beginning, as long as their had been immortals on Earth. And she was a prime target for such and attack, unwilling or able to defend herself, she relied upon her elders to protect her from the darkness born from the dreams of mortals.

The war was ongoing though she would never know what it was to be a warrior in it. She was a healer, not a warrior, she would never spill blood on a battle field, she would eternally fight to pull people, mortal and immortal alike through illness and injury. She could never be a killer.

A fond smile touched her lips as she thought of Tom, her one true love, her soul-mate. She had no doubt he worried for her, in so many ways he reminded her of her father. They would both do anything to protect her. And they were both stubborn.

A single tear rolled down her pale cheek as she thought of how much worry and despair they would both be feeling, both feeling like they had failed her somehow. Both feeling like they could have done something to prevent her from being taken, something to keep her from the evil that stalked their every move. The evil her father battled to keep hidden from any mortals, gaze.

The war that her elders fought was being waged in the dark of the night, beyond mortal sight, and beyond histories memory, for it had once been fought in the light. And had cost her father his first love.

She bit her lip as the noise of rats going about their business invaded the space, fear gripping her heart as she wondered about the future. About what it would hold for them all.

"Daughter?" The question was whispered as Jack stared at his best friend, barely believing what he had said only moments before.

Daniel sighed, wincing. "Yeah. She's my daughter Jack." Ancient blue eyes full of worry and frustration met brown as Daniel waved a hand vaguely. "I have to get her back, if not for me than for Tom. And her mother." The last was a bare whisper as he turned away from them all.

Gabrielle had gone pale, green eyes widening. "Dear Gods, he was going to ask her wasn't he?" Her voice was soft and full of empathy.

Daniel nodded wordlessly. "The night they took her, he asked me last month, and we agreed it would be the best time." Daniel laughed bitterly. "The only problem with waiting for the right moment when you live lives like ours Gabrielle child, the right time is always the same time, they, make their move."

Xena winced squeezing her best friend's hand once more she pulled away. "I'll just finish packing and then we're gone." She paused glancing at the three mortals who were sat, thunder struck, "It's your choice, stay here or come with us, either way, we're leaving."

Nodding she moved out of the room, hand brushing Daniel's arm in comfort as she passed.

"We'll get her back, she's her mother's daughter, and 'Ana was one stubborn woman."

Daniel nodded softly before taking a deep breath and turning back to face his friends, meeting their gazes one by one.

"The people that took Lily are dangerous, they're the people I was protecting you, "He threw Jack a meaningful glance as he spoke the last, "from, it's your choice to make, either you're with us, or you're not, but I've already made my choice."

Teal'c inclined his head grimly. "I will assist you Daniel Jackson."

Sam glanced at her commanding officer hesitating, meeting her gaze Jack nodded solemnly. "We're with you Danny."

Gabrielle smiled lightly, exchanging a look with Daniel. "It's good to know." Taking a deep breath she turned to stare out the window. "I guess it's once more into the breech then."

The sound of the 'gate activating drew George Hammond into the control room to watch as the stone ring prepared for the incoming worm-hole. None of the SG teams were due back, but they were due visitors - the Tok'ra coming for a second round of talks on the subject of immortals and their safety. There was one blessing in the situation through, none of the members of SG-1 were present to hear the endlessly pointless talks. No matter what arguments their allies came up with Doctor Jackson still refused to leave earth for the 'safety' of the Tok'ra base or an Ausgart ship. He was always ready with some argument of his own on how both of their most powerful allies had problems of their own to deal with as it was without having to care for his safety as well.

George sighed as the worm hole settled watching as Jacob and Anise made their way down the ramp followed by a Tok'ra he hadn't seen before, but most likely had come to present yet another option for Doctor Jackson's safety.

It all seemed so wrong, unfair even, how could they make another person's decision for him?? How could they force an immortal man to live his life by their rules- a life that could well continue for an eternity beyond any of their own.

It seemed too much like locking him in a padded cell, only this time they would do it for his safety, not for the safety of those around him, or maybe that was wrong, maybe the reason Earth's off-world allies were so adamant about what should be done with the immortal in their midst was due to something else.

Maybe it was due to fear. A fear of what he could be capable of. Of the threat he could pose to them in some odd unbelievably twisted way, that only their alien minds could dream up. Perhaps they feared his age and wisdom was beyond their own, or that he could know of some of the things that they had kept hidden from the 'young' Tauri.

From what he had learned over the many years of dealing with all the different peoples they had met in the time the SGC had been working as they were, very little was impossible. If a circle of stone was capable of forming open worms holes which allowed the travel from one end of the universe to another in a split second, then what wasn't possible was a question that not even the PhD scientists of the SGC - the best and brightest, could answer.

George smiled warily as he met Jacob's gaze, preparing himself for the hours of explanations and suggestions that were no doubt about to be presented to him.

It looked like it was going to be another very long day.

Jack sat in the passenger side of the truck musing over the revelation that they had just had into the mystery that Daniel Jackson had become to them in less than a month. Not only was he an immortal but he also had kids, something that Jack had never really thought of conserving his 'best' friend. He had never seemed like a guy who had settled down and had kids and then left due to what ever circumstances, but than from what he had heard he wouldn't be surprised if Daniel's daughter's mother was dead. A fact that Jack realised disturbed him, the fact that Sha're wasn't the first woman that Daniel had lost, that he had out lived. How much more loss had Daniel experienced that they didn't know about? How many times had he had to watch someone he loved die of old age while he stood untouched by the rigors of time by their side?

Jack glanced sideways at his second in command wondering what she was thinking and whether it was all about Daniel, or if her mind was on someone else, or something else. It was the worse looking at Teal'c, very little of his thoughts or emotions played over his face, even if you did know him he was impossible to read at times.

"It's weird sir." Sam's voice suddenly invaded his thoughts, bringing him back to the present. "Daniel having a daughter."

Jack swallowed. "Yeah, it is."

Daniel frowned at Xena as she shifted in the seat for the third time in half as many minutes. They had an hour's drive left before they would reach Lily and Tom's house on the outskirts of the city in which they both worked. He had a feeling that her discomfort was centred around Jack, Sam and Teal'c. She had never really been attracted to 'mortal' relationships since her discovery that she was immortal, she had actively distanced herself from them, all of her serious relationships were formed with other immortals. On some level Gabrielle had done the same, becoming less of a member of the mortal world than before, an outsider who stepped in and out of the fold.

It was funny to think how each of them had distanced themselves in their own way, he had distanced himself differently, idly sharing companionship with mortals but always leaving them without all the information that they all seemed so keen to have. What his parents' were like, if he had any siblings, any children, most of it was answered vaguely, as he carefully crafted a past for himself each time that he had to start anew. This had been the one time that had been different, this time, thanks to a spell-caster, he had a real 'second' past to relive when asked about personal details. But he had still left a level of the unknown in his personal life, something that the mortals couldn't see, couldn't touch, until now. Now the people of the SGC where seeing an element of it, of the one thing that had always been his, hidden from their sights.

He sighed grounding himself in the present once more, knowing that concentrating on driving was a much more important thing, at present, as well as making sure that he could still see Jack's truck in the rear view mirror.

That had been Xena's one term, that they travelled in separate cars, immortals in one mortals in the other. She wasn't comfortable with them yet, and he wasn't honestly sure if she ever would be.

Amelia glowered at Will from across the room as she determinately ran her brush through her hair, clearing it of the tiny plaits that he had imposed on her while she had been asleep. It was bad enough without Will acting like his typical immature self.

It was fair enough to point out that falling asleep on the kitchen floor wasn't the best idea, that wasn't what bothered her. What bothered her was the fact that he had demurely continued to plait her hair, as through she wasn't even there.

It hadn't really been her fault that she had fallen asleep when she had anyway. Will and Tom had both insisted that she needed sleep and seen as she hadn't been able to reach a suitable state naturally she had turned to other means, namely sleeping pills.

Both men had informed her that it had been her own fault, but in truth she felt cheated, she hadn't expected them to work as quickly as they had, even if it had said on the label, most of the time that was wrong.

A heavy sigh escaped her lips as the brush caught on one of the plaits forcing her to move on it with her fingers. Blue eyes flicked upwards as Tom entered the room, still looking somewhat the worse for wear despite a long shower.

He was slightly better than he had been before Will had arrived, no longer as jumpy having gained a firmer hold upon his emotions. More than she would have expected from anyone in his situation, but then he did have the knowledge that she wasn't dead, for what it was worth.

His pale blue eyes met hers as he brushed past her into the kitchen in search of a snack to fill the emptiness that they all knew couldn't be filled by food.

Without hesitation she reached out and closed a hand around his upper arm, holding him back.

"We'll get her back Tom, and soon." The depth of emotion in his eyes was all the answer she needed as she released him to his fruitless search, praying to the gods that the others would arrive soon. That the waiting would be over for them. But things never seemed to be that simple for any of them. Not even love, she glanced towards Tom and bit her lip hard, especially not love.

Raven sighed leaning heavily on the wall as tears of frustration fan down her face. None of this should be happening, how could she have not seen what was happening?? How hadn't she stopped it before it had gotten this bad?

What was the worth of his so called love?? What had happened to the trust the openness, what had happened to the relationship she had been in only a few years before?

All the lies, all the things she had told herself, desperate not to loose him, promises she had made to herself while crying herself to sleep, what were they worth now.

Someone she loved was tied up in a room not far away and all she could do was cry and wallow in self-pity. What had happened to her? What had she allowed him to do in her own so called 'infinite wisdom'?

What was the worth of a love that seemed to be continually rotting away at her soul, destroying her beliefs, betraying her trust?

Was his love really worth all the pain?

She didn't know.

Will hung out of the door searching the road for the two cars that Ami had said had just pulled up, both with three people in. Odd considering they had only been expecting three people. Brown eyes settled on a tall black haired woman who had just climbed out of the passenger side of the first car. A smile touched his lips as he waved to her before turning his attention to the people who occupied the second car. He was certain that he didn't know any of them. Or at least as sure as he ever got that he had never met any of them before.

"Tintagel!" A very familiar voice hailed him from the direction of the first car as his teacher calmly made his way over, having locked and secured the vehicle while Will's attention had been on the others. Will turned meeting his teacher part way and exchanging a very masculine welcome, neatly ignoring the temptation to hug the old man who had easily become a father figure to him.

"They're here to help." Daniel's voice was soft as he followed Will's gaze in Jack's direction.

"They're mortal." The surprise in Will's voice didn't surprise him. It had been a long time since any mortal had been involved in immortal affairs.

Daniel nodded solemnly. "I trust them."

Teal'c raised an eyebrow watching Daniel and Will's quiet exchange as he waited for the others to join him. He hadn't shared his thoughts on the newest of revelation with the other mortal members of the team doubting that they would agree with him. Both where still recovering from the initial admission that he was an immortal, while Teal'c himself was long past it, he had long suspected that Daniel had had some experience with children, even had children of his own while watching him with Ry'ac or Cassandra or even the young girl Ally who had helped them a few years before. He had also wondered of the possibility that an immortal could have children, wondering if they were sterile as a side effect of their gift. His newest wonder was how many children his friend had and if they were all immortal.

Will's glance rested on Teal'c. "How much?"

Daniel frowned at the younger immortal, once his student. "With my life."

Will's head jerked round, brown eyes ever so slightly wider than before. "Then they're welcome."

Daniel nodded clapping him on the shoulder again before turning and heading down the steps to where the others where waiting knowing that he had to settle this all with his mortal friends before anything else could be done. Hopefully they wouldn't be too awkward.

Rhys lent over the sink warily splashing cold water into his face, erasing the evidence of the tears that she had so easily drawn from him, the one thought in his mind being whether it was worth this. Was carrying out Merritt's orders more important than Raven? More important than his well meant promises?

No nothing that the brat could ask him to do was ore important than her, she meant more to him than anything. More than he had ever imagined anything could.

She mattered enough that he had considering leaving this, giving up the fight and allowing her to re-take her place with her fellow chosen, but he couldn't. They would never allow it. They'd kill him for trying.

Wouldn't they???

Pale blue eyes met brown as Raven knelt in front of the chair, placing a gentle hand on the younger woman's arm. Lily shook her hair out of her face frowning as she mentally tried to place the familiar face before her.

"Rachael??" Her voice came out as a rasp due to lack of food or drink, a deep line forming between her thin eyebrows as she connected the face with a memory. A memory from her childhood.

Raven nodded softly running a gentle hand down the younger woman's face. "Yeah, honey it's me. How you doing?" A single tear ran down her pale cheek.

Lily swallowed smiling vaguely. "I've been better. I. I don't suppose you could," Her voice wavered along with her confidence as she realised that things might not be as they seemed. Friend could easily be foe.

Raven smiled sadly. "I'm sorry, I should have stopped this," She looked away for a moment before turning back. "Do you want some water??? I could get some for you?"

Lily smiled nodded softly. "Please."

Raven smiled standing up. "I'll help you as much as I can, you have my word."

Walking slowly away she hesitated turning back before opening the door. "I'll be back soon."

Lily winced as the door closed behind the other woman, remembering what she had been told. Rachael, known as Raven by all but a few, had been her sister's student, faithful and loyal to her fellows, but in love with a spell-caster. Lily sighed heavily. Love really didn't care about colour or creed. All it cared about was love.

Xena cast a measured glance at Daniel, gauging the situation before turning her attention to Gabrielle and Will knowing that her friend needed some time alone with his mortal friends. A breather, space to relate the situation to them, to explain why it was. Why it had to be the way it was. Her heart went out to him, knowing that he spent so much time protecting others that he rarely thought of himself in any real way. He had caused himself so much hurt while defending others, and yet he didn't stop, he continued to do what he thought was right no matter what.

All her life she had had moments of doubt, doubt that she was following the right path, until Gabrielle had come along, her best friend and soul mate had guided her, rid her of the doubts that still possessed her from time to time, never stopping her from doing what was right, even when she really wished she could. Even when they had nearly lost each other for ever.

That day was one she would always remember, it had caused them so much pain, had separated them for so long. Without Daniel's influence, she wondered what would have happened. Gabrielle had been so lost, there had been nothing that she could do to make the hurt go away, she hadn't known that it wasn't forever. Hadn't known that they would be where they were now, had never dreamed of it.

They owed the old man more than he could imagine, he had helped them through the worst time of their lives, and never asked for anything in return. The least they could do as give him this. Leave him to his own freedom. And prepare for the battle ahead. Especially now Will had found out where Lily was. The time would come soon enough, but there was time enough before hand.

Sighing Xena reached out to her friend, meeting Will's gaze and moving towards the house at the same time, hoping that they would both get her meaning. It was time they left the old man and his friends in peace, time to allow him to face them, for a moment, and get some kind of sign that they would be alright.

Daniel turned to face his three mortal friends as the others moved into the house, leaving them in privacy. Glancing at each of them in turn he memorised their expressions for future referral. Taking a deep breath he prepared himself for the onslaught.

"I know this is all a lot to take in, and I wish it didn't have to come out this way, but this is the way it is. I can't change that. I trust Will, Ami and Tom a lot, as much as I trust you guys, I've known them along time.

We've got to all work together so, Jack please, just let it go for now??? I know I should have told you sooner and I'm sorry I didn't, but it's hard okay?? I wanted to protect you guys, from this, all of it."

Daniel hesitated stuck for words. "If you want to say anything, just, say it now."

Sam glanced at the other two before taking a step forward and gently pulling Daniel into a hug. "As long as you tell us what we need to know, I'm okay with it." Pulling back slightly she met his gaze gently, carefully displaying her understanding. "I can't say that I didn't doubt you Daniel, that I don't still on some level, but I do know this. I'd trust you with my life."

Daniel gave her a sad smile and nodded his understanding before turning his attention to the other two.

"I share Major Carter's feeling Daniel Jackson. I would trust you with my life if the situation called for it." Daniel smiled at Teal'c as the Jaffa inclined his head.

Sighing, knowing that Jack would be the hardest to deal with, he turned his full attention onto the other man. "Jack???" His voice was soft, questioning as he watched emotions flicker across his 'best' friend's hardened features.

Brown eyes met blue, as Colonel Jack O'Neill's gaze met Daniel's. "I'm with you on this one, Danny."

Daniel smiled nodding before turning to lead them up the steps into the house, giving brief descriptions of Ami and Tom to save having to introduce them once they reached their destination, his thoughts on other things.

Like the knowledge that none of his mortals friends were ready for what they were about to be introduced to. The immoral war. A war that could, without a doubt, mother nightmares in even the stiffest, hardest mortal black ops trained colonel or ex-first prime of a false God.

A war that had begun so long ago that so few could remember a world without it.

The war that had taken the lives of so many loved ones. And would continue to.