Disclaimer Applies
Chapter 16
Jack knew that Thoth wouldn't give up Daniel without a fight.
Kicking, screaming—Thoth seemed to have latched onto all the pleasant traits of the archaeologist.
While Hammond attended to other matters, and Fraiser and Dalmar worked on helping the others in an adjoining room, Jack and the remaining members of SG-1 lent their hands in helping the Tok'ra with Daniel.
With a concentrated effort, Jack helped the orderlies hold Daniel in place as they lowered him onto a gurney while the Tok'ra began to prepare for the extraction. Daniel squirmed, flinging out his arms, jerking his legs, cursing in what had to be Goa'uld.
If the struggle wasn't bad enough, something else just beyond Thoth's physical fight troubled Jack. What if Thoth was telling the truth? What if he had done something to Daniel that they couldn't fix?
Can't think that way now, Jack told himself.
"Teal'c, I need a hand here."
"I do not want to go with them!" Thoth yelled again, pushing an orderly away. "I wish to live! He promised me!"
Jack grabbed at Daniel's wrist, only to be knocked away. Another orderly jumped to take his place, only to receive a blow from the back of Daniel's right hand.
"He promised me!" Thoth cried again. "We made an oath! I will not go with them! I will not allow you to do this! I have done nothing to warrant this!"
Jack jeered at him. "Oh yeah? I got a whole room of people in this infirmary that say otherwise." He swore, barely missing a swift kick to the groin. Jack grabbed him and shook him harshly. "Now don't make this any harder on yourself!"
"Jack?"
Jack froze, his heart hammering in his chest. Gone was the metallic voice. Gone was the—
"Daniel?" he asked hesitantly.
"I won't go with them!" Daniel shouted suddenly, thrusting his foot into Jack's stomach.
Jack gasped, and stumbled backward, crashing into Teal'c. While attempting to recover, Jack caught sight of Daniel lashing out on the orderlies, darting past Carter as she attempted to grab him, before he scurried onto the other side of the gurney. With strength Jack didn't know Daniel could possess, and he assumed belonged to the Goa'uld, he pushed the gurney forward, rolling over a few of the medical assistants, then another and another, effectively creating a quick barrier between himself and the rest of them.
Groaning and holding his stomach, Jack stumbled to his feet, reminding himself that if this was Daniel, he certainly was not in his right mind. He also reminded himself this could be another trick. Another damn Goa'uld trap.
"Daniel—"
"I won't go!" he yelled, backing away, his hands raised, palms flat as he faced them. "I won't go with the Tok'ra. I belong here."
"Daniel belongs here. You don't!" Jack snapped, not willing to be drawn into this game. "We're taking you out and that is it. It's over."
"I won't go. I won't go," Daniel muttered, his forehead glistening with sweat. "I promised. I promised." He stumbled back, nearly tripping over his own feet. "We won't go."
"Clearly, the toxin is having adverse reactions now," Akana stated, cautiously stepping forward.
Even Jack could agree with the Tok'ra, this once. Daniel's eyes were glassy, and he wasn't quite sure if Daniel or the parasite were really with them at all.
He glanced over to Carter and Teal'c who looked as anxious as he was. Carefully, they began to dislodge the tangled gurneys, keeping their gaze focused on Daniel.
"Daniel, listen to me," Jack said slowly, creeping over one of the gurneys, carefully settling himself on the other side. "I don't know what Thoth's telling you. I don't know what kind of deal you might have made. I don't know if you can hear me. But it's almost over, okay?"
Daniel or Thoth didn't answer. They remained standing in one spot, muttering softly, as Jack crept closer.
"Over?" Daniel finally asked. He wavered, but remained standing. "Huh?"
Jack crept a little closer. "Daniel, come on—"
"Self-preservation," Daniel muttered weakly.
Okay, Jack thought, regarding Daniel thoughtfully. The man was sweating profusely, his body trembling, while his gaze veered off into some unknown place. He was muttering to himself again, which even Jack knew was a bad sign. They needed to get that thing out of him now.
"We're going to help—"
"I am not weak!" Daniel yelled, holding his hands to his chest. "Why do you think that? I can do this…My own…control. Not what you think." He shook his head. "So much more. Can't you see? I don't need--I don't--I see you watch…you…with your eyes. And…them."
Jack shot a glance back at Carter, and then to Beltesh, looking for any sign here. He received no help at all, watching his own anxiety mirrored in their faces.
Daniel was cracking, and Jack definitely wasn't going to let that happen. Waving his hand, he signaled Akana to work faster.
"I don't need…that…no…not anymore…it's so…I can't…No!" Daniel moaned, shaking his head, licking his lips. "My own…alone…so lost…"
Inhaling sharply, Jack ventured another step, knowing that Teal'c and Carter were ready to move in behind him, if necessary. Jack prayed that the relative calmness would remain, and hoped no distractions came to rouse Daniel or Thoth from their insane mumblings.
"Not lost," he said in an attempt to soothe Daniel. "You're not alone. Just come—"
"I'm not talking to you!" Daniel shouted angrily, taking a step back, causing Jack to stop. "Why? Huh? Shhh."
Jack began again, this time lightly fingering the zat attached to his belt. Daniel clearly wasn't there, and he doubted he could count on Thoth to stay controlled. The glassiness in his friend's eyes told him the whole story.
One last try…
When Jack saw Daniel's limbs begin to jerk more violently, he started to press forward, this time more urgently, preparing himself for the worst. "Daniel, whatever he promised you, we can do better. That's my promise!"
Daniel blinked at him and Jack swore the man looked confused, even disoriented, until his face contorted with anger. Reflexively, Jack drew the zat, ready to fire.
"Can you?" came Thoth's metallic voice. "Can you, really?" Thoth scoffed, still holding his shaking hands to his chest. "How dare you. How dare you try and belittle our pain."
No more. No more of this "we" stuff.
"I'm taking you out of there!" Jack snarled, aiming his zat.
"Sir!" Carter called from behind him. "Don't shoot! We don't know—"
"Not now, Carter." Jack narrowed his eyes. "We've been at this dance for awhile now. You know it's over. I don't care what Daniel promised you. You don't matter."
"No!" Thoth took a step back. "This is not for you to decide! He wants me," Thoth said with a wicked grin. "Can you not understand that? He needs me. He doesn't need you any longer."
"You listen—"
"No, you listen. We have no need of you. No longer will you hurt us!"
Startled, Jack nearly lost his concentration. What? What had he just said? Damn snake.
"Not falling for it," Jack mumbled, cursing to himself as his voice betrayed him.
Thoth chuckled, shaking his head. "That's right. You. You cause him pain." His angry gaze fluttered to the rest of SG-1. "All of you."
"Shut up!" Jack yelled, pointing the zat. "Akana, get the damned thing ready to crush this bastard!"
"Guilty, Colonel?" Thoth straightened, ignoring the obvious stress on his trembling body. "I hold the knowledge now. I have the power to use it. I will use my wisdom for change." He smiled. "And Daniel will walk with me."
Jack shook his head refusing to accept Thoth's declaration. "No. Daniel won't—"
"We don't need help!" Thoth cried suddenly, touching his temple. Distracted, he swayed from left to right, nearly walking in a circle, his wild, unfocused gaze bouncing from wall to wall. "No…see. I-I-" Cursing, Thoth grabbed at his head, stumbling backwards, struggling to regroup before smiling weakly at Jack. "Do you not hear? Hear it? Daniel doesn't need you. He has no need of your empty promises. We will never make this mistake again. Never!"
Not going to fall for it, Jack thought, biting back a twinge of guilt. Games. All games.
"You asshole!" Jack shouted, jerking the zat gun. "You're just like the rest of them stinkin' snakes! And you try and preach all this 'love for the host' stuff, but you ain't worth shit!"
Thoth narrowed his eyes. "I protect him. I protect him from you."
"No you don't," Jack spat angrily. "You don't have the slightest clue what Daniel's feel-"
Jack stopped mid-sentence, his heart dropping like a stone into the pit of his stomach. Suddenly, he felt very ill, and amazingly light-headed, as if he would pass out at any minute. Thrown, distracted—he was unable to respond to the own cries in his mind.
Shocked, Jack felt his grip on the zat gun waver, and his vision went slightly out of focus.
Never let your guard down. Never show the enemy your hand. And most importantly, never let the enemy find your weakness.
When had he started wearing his heart on a sleeve?
He licked his lips, his tongue pushing absently at the bottom row of his teeth. Thoth stared back at him, but surprisingly, made no move to intercept him while his guard was down. Instead, Thoth frowned, cocking his head quizzically as he studied Jack.
"Sir!"
Jack swallowed hard, raising the zat gun levelly with Daniel. "I'm okay, Major," he reassured Carter, feeling amazingly detached.
Thoth's gaze did not leave Jack, and he still remained glued to his spot. The two continued to stare at each other, in silence, caught in some battle of the wills.
Jack's heart hammered harder, the noise filling his ears, the room. Thoth blinked a couple of times, the tension carved in his face. Jack swore he could hear Daniel's heart as well, pounding in rhythm with his.
"I had not known," Thoth said, his rough voice nearly a whisper. "I had looked beyond and did not see." He trembled, nearly losing his footing as he gazed openly at Jack. "But why? Why hide it? There is so much pain…"
Jack didn't know why. He didn't know why he did the things he did sometimes. He was a jerk. An idiot.
"Let him go," Jack said softly, but determinedly.
"I will not," Thoth replied defiantly. "He is still mine." His gaze passed Jack, to the rest of the silent onlookers in the room. "He is mine!"
"You must release him!" Akana shouted, her guttural voice bouncing off the walls of the infirmary room. "Your toxin will kill you both."
"I am not like them!" Thoth yelled, backing a little further from Jack.
"Thoth, your body is producing a toxin similar to the smaller symbiotes," Carter shouted to him. "Look at yourself! You have to have noticed the effects by now!"
"I am different." His eyes became panicked again, his movements back to that haphazard momentum that had plagued him before their "breakthrough."
"Thoth, listen to Carter!" Jack said, stepping forward again. "You're killing Daniel! And that's not acceptable to me!"
Thoth shook his head, curling in on himself. "You are wrong. I protect him. He is mine. I would not harm him."
"He's going to die if you don't get out of him now," Jack enunciated. "Let him go, Thoth."
"If you hold the compassion that you claim to possess, you must release DanielJackson immediately," Teal'c intoned.
Closer, Jack realized. Carter and Teal'c were moving in slowly, edging closer.
Stall him, Jack thought. Stall him until we can rush him without him panicking.
"I am not like the others!" Thoth maintained, backing against the wall. "I am not like them."
"But you are."
Jack frowned at the comment, turning his head slightly, only stealing a quick glance at the door before he returned his full concentration on Daniel.
Hammond had returned with company.
Jacob.
"Dad!"
"Hey, Sam," Jack heard Jacob say. Then, there was silence. "This is not Thoth," Selmak announced, sounding pissed.
"What?" Jack exclaimed, fighting the urge to whip around and glare at Selmak.
"What little do you know, esteemed Selmak," Thoth bit out sarcastically.
"And you are not Thoth," Selmak continued. "Thoth has been in the service of Anubis for over a year."
"Then who the hell are you?" Jack asked, feeling the anger rise again.
"I am who I am," Thoth grumbled, leaning on the wall for support, his glare as sharp as a dagger.
"Tartarus," Carter said suddenly, a hint of annoyance in her voice, most likely geared at herself. "I remember now. Damn, why didn't I think of this before?"
"Carter?" Jack asked cautiously, still venturing another step closer. Thoth made no move.
"While you were in Honduras."
Jack cringed, fighting against the memory. He'd almost lost him. Again.
"I recall now as well," Teal'c stated.
"Thoth was there, sir," he heard Carter say. "He was head of the cloning operation."
Jack understood. "The creep making all those super screw-ups."
Thoth appeared confused. He also looked like he was about to drown in his own sweat.
The light snapped on in Jack's head only a second before Carter spoke.
"Oh my God. You're a clone," Carter stated bluntly. "All of you."
Thoth chuckled weakly, bowing his head. "I go by many names…"
"Anubis has been cloning based on information only recently stolen from the Asgard," Teal'c reminded them. "We have surmised Thoth to be much older."
"My research has been ongoing for many years," Thoth said quietly. "Long before this 'incident' you speak of with Anubis." He sighed. "I must have been very desperate to join with Anubis."
"So you admit it?" Carter asked. Closer. She was much closer to Jack now. "You are a clone."
"I only did it for her," he whispered. "My years of study. My lab…all my research. It sickens me I would join with Anubis. When I saw Anubis' ships approaching…I did not want to believe it to be true. I did not want to believe. Not I. But to want…the Asgard technology must have been too tempting…" his voice trailed off longingly. Jack had the distinct impression they were going to lose him. "Nirrti was my best student. Oh, our research. So much time. So many failures." He choked back a sob. "I failed you, love. I failed again."
"We are losing him," Jack heard Akana state. "We must act quickly now."
"Failures," he murmured. "So many failures. I thought I had finally made one…so close." The water welled in his eyes. "So close…No…I don't wish to die. Please…"
Thoth slumped into a heap, his breathing erratic. The SGC personnel took their chance and moved in.
Jack grabbed Daniel, propping him up against the wall and allowing for his head to rest on his shoulder. Urgently, Jack snapped his fingers, motioning the Tok'ra to proceed, heartened when Teal'c and Carter joined him at his side.
"His pulse is weak," Carter announced, pressing into Daniel's neck and wrist. She gazed up worriedly at Jack. "We need a doctor. Janet's still in the other room with the other patients." She called over her shoulder. "Someone get Doctor Fraiser!"
Jack nodded. He felt Fraiser would want to be around for this.
"Teal'c, stand by and get ready to help me lift him." Jack peered over his shoulder, watching the Tok'ra and some of Fraiser's staff set up a new gurney to prepare for the extraction. "When I say—"
"Jack…"
Jack paused, nearly missing the whisper that passed through Daniel's lips. Without thinking, he leaned forward, close to Daniel's mouth. "Daniel?"
"O'Neill!" Teal'c shouted, pulling Jack back.
He felt Carter's hands on him as well. "Careful, sir."
They were right. He was losing it. He couldn't lose his cool now. Inhaling sharply, he held Daniel close—but away from his neck—and readied himself to hoist the younger man.
"I'm sorry."
"No, hey," he soothed, hoping this was really Daniel. Hell, he didn't care at this point. "Don't you even start with the guilt thing. You did nothing wrong."
Daniel breathed out, his breath rustling the collar of Jack's shirt. "So sorry, Jack. Forgive me."
Jack glanced over his shoulder again, cursing silently at the Tok'ra. He wished they'd get the lead out.
"S'okay. It's going to be all right soon."
"Tell Sam I'm sorry," Daniel continued, his eyes half open.
The sweat continued to trickle down his face. Or were those tears? Shit.
"Daniel," Carter said softly. "It's not your fault, okay? The Tok'ra are here. They're going remove the symbiote." Jack shifted his weight, allowing for Carter to move in closer. Smiling weakly, she reached over and squeezed Daniel's hand. "We're here for you, Daniel."
Jack wasn't sure Daniel even heard her.
"I'm sorry," he whispered again. "Tell Teal'c that I'm sorry."
"They're right here." Jack gestured to Carter and Teal'c. "Just-just stay with me okay?"
"There is nothing to forgive, DanielJackson." Teal'c came to Daniel's feet, pressing his legs together and awaiting Jack's signal. "Your friends are with you, DanielJackson."
Daniel's head rolled to the side, flopping unsteadily until he crashed back into Jack's chest. "I promised," he whispered. "I promised…You don't understand."
"We're going to help you, Danny," Jack said quietly, feeling the pain poke sharply at his chest. He ran his fingers through Daniel's wet hair. "Just—"
"No, you…No. I know. You don't understand," Daniel began to mutter, some of his words blurring incoherently. "I'm—I'm control. Not weak."
"Not at all. Never been weak." Jack glanced back, getting the green light from the Tok'ra.
"Sir," Carter began, reluctantly releasing Daniel's hand. "We're good to go."
"Alright, on the count—"
"No. No," Daniel mumbled. "You don't see? I'm-I'm teaching him. Like Shifu taught me." Daniel drew a raspy breath. "It's beautiful."
Jack exchanged a worriedly glances with both Carter and Teal'c. "We should do this," Jack said finally.
Carter nodded, and moved out of their way, making sure the path was clear for Daniel to brought to the nearest gurney.
Jack exhaled. Here goes nothing…
"Okay, Teal'c, now."
The two men grabbed Daniel, hoisting him up, and quickly backed to the gurney that was set up nearby. Daniel and Thoth made little protest, far too weakened by the toxins pumping in Daniel's blood, and mentally exhausted by the past few confrontations.
By the time they had secured Daniel, Jack realized Fraiser had entered the room, along with Dalmar, and quickly were joined by Jacob and Hammond. They met SG-1 by Daniel's bedside.
Jack didn't miss the syringe in Fraiser's hand.
"Good news, sir," Fraiser said with what sounded like relief. "The chemical Thoth gave us appears to be fighting the toxin in the others. Their vitals have already showed remarkable improvement."
"And the bugs?" Jack asked.
Fraiser shook her head. "Dying, Colonel. They won't make it."
"We believe they will dissolve into the blood system of your people," Dalmar stated calmly. "They should present no harm any longer."
Damn. Thoth had held up his part of the deal.
"We should administer the drug," Fraiser said, motioning to Daniel. "We don't want to wait until—Wait!" Fraiser shouted, handing the syringe to Carter. "He's seizing!"
Jack shot a look back to Daniel, watching with horror as the younger man was thrown into a fit of convulsions. Teal'c helped Akana and the orderlies roll Daniel onto his side and hold him in place, while keeping his mouth open and free as the foam bubbled at his lips.
It was awful. How many times did he have to go through this? How many times would they lose him?
Jack rubbed his face, shifting uneasily from side to side. One day, he wouldn't come back. It would be over.
"Okay. Okay. He's calming. Roll him back," Fraiser instructed, gently pushing Jack away. As they rolled Daniel onto his back, Jack found it hard to ignore his blank stare.
"Geez," he muttered.
"Sam?" Doctor Fraiser questioned.
Carter nodded, obviously distressed, as she passed the syringe back to Fraiser.
"That will not kill me," Thoth said weakly. "I am immune."
"You speak falsely," Akana stated coldly. "We shall see."
"Yes, you shall see," Thoth muttered. "There is no use studying it. You will not understand the science. You have lost a great asset in me."
"Well, in case you hadn't noticed, it's not you we care about," Jack said, eyeing him coolly.
Thoth nodded sadly.
"It will at least stop the toxin," Jacob added, standing by Carter's side.
"It will," Thoth admitted. He attempted a smile, but only coughed instead. "You are very wise Jacob/Selmak. I wish I had the opportunity to learn from you as you could have learned from me."
Could have? Jack didn't like the tone of this conversation.
"We'll have plenty of time to talk once we take you back with us," Jacob stated, crossing his arms. "So just hold onto that thought."
"I shall not survive the journey," he whispered weakly. "They have other designs for me."
"This is not true," muttered Beltesh. "He speaks nothing but lies."
"Speak no more," Selmak snapped angrily. He motioned to the cart that the Tok'ra had set up, and pointed to several odd alien contraptions. "This is not the time. We must assist Doctor Jackson. I will not stand by and let him suffer any longer."
Damn straight, Jack thought. "You heard the man. Respect your elders. Let's get this over with already."
Thoth sucked in a deep breath and nodded. "I do not wish to die. I could…do so much." He sobbed, allowing the tears to flow freely from Daniel's eyes. "But I am strong. I cannot change what fate holds for me now."
Thoth grabbed O'Neill's wrist, clutching it desperately with the last of his strength.
"My apologies, O'Neill," he whispered hoarsely. "I did not know. I did not understand."
Jack leaned over, uncomfortable, but unwilling to leave Daniel's side while he—or Thoth—laid on his deathbed.
"I did it only for her. Only to find a way to bring Ma'at back to me."
"Yeah, we know," Jack mumbled, not entirely sure what to say.
"I did not mean harm to your people. Nor did I mean to harm this one. He has shown me…many things," Thoth continued, his voice sounding more distant with each passing moment. "I-I did not understand. I did not understand his affection for you. For this place. For all of you." Thoth closed his eyes, a slight wheezing slipping from his lips.
Jack looked on, stunned. He was watching his friend die. Again. And even though he knew it was just the symbiote, it didn't make it any easier. Not at all.
Daniel, come on. Don't do this to me. Don't do this.
"There is much he feels but is unwilling to say to you," Thoth began again, opening his eyes. "I must say, for this, I am envious of Daniel. For all that he has, and for all those who love him…I had only wanted to taste it. Even for just a little while."
Thoth choked, causing Jack to stiffen, uneasy, as Daniel appeared to deteriorate more quickly. What exactly was the hold up?
"I have no ill feelings toward him. He had tried his best to save me. In a way, he has." Thoth smiled weakly before coughing again. "I shall never forget all he has taught me, as he has been taught by others. I will never forget him."
Jack stared at his friend, seeing through him to the parasite that inhabited him. Daniel had that special ability to see the good in everyone, and allowed that good to shine through them.
Jack still didn't trust this Goa'uld, or clone, to save his life. He wanted this over with as soon as possible. But there was a glimmer there; even Jack had it admit he saw it. That glimmer that Daniel brought to everyone and everything.
Wincing, Daniel shifted painfully, the sweat soaking his scrubs. Wide-eyed and slightly feverish, he glared at the Tok'ra, watching Akana and Jacob as they wheeled the equipment to the side of the bed. Shaking his head, he held out his palm, looking Jacob straight in the eye.
"I have no need of that," Thoth said quickly, breathlessly, as he sat up in the bed.
Jack frowned, about to protest the friggin' snake, when he was caught off guard by Teal'c's strong arm. Both he and Carter were quickly pushed away from Daniel, held back by Teal'c's massive form.
"Remain here," Teal'c warned them.
Jack didn't have a chance to comment otherwise. Jacob or Selmak was barking orders for Doc Fraiser and the rest of them to stay back, while Akana stood by the bedside. Dalmar quickly rushed to their side, holding the Coptic jar that held the dead symbiote clone. Without hesitating, Dalmar withdrew the limp parasite, handing it to Beltesh and held the jar forward.
Thoth nodded, the sweat dripping from his chin. Choking—no gagging—Thoth leaned forward, his chest heaving with every gasp. He squeezed his eyes shut, groaning with guttural pain. His eyes flashed open, glowing hauntingly with a soft white sadness while he murmured a faint alien plea.
Jack jerked, hearing the pained wail of the symbiote.
Dalmar pushed the jar towards Daniel. Then, suddenly, the symbiote leaped forward, bursting from Daniel's mouth with a splatter of blood, and jumped into the jar. Quickly, Dalmar covered the jar while Akana rushed to Daniel's side as his eyes rolled back and he collapsed limply onto the bed.
"It is done!" Akana yelled, motioning to Fraiser. "I need assistance!"
Akana had not even finished her sentence when Fraiser was by Daniel's side. She wiped the blood that was trickling down Daniel's cheek. She opened his mouth, and did her thing, causing Jack to cringe.
He didn't know what to do. He felt empty. Hollow. What if Daniel wasn't in there? What if they'd lost him again?
Shit, I can't think that. I can't.
Carter looked far worse than he. She was staring dazedly at Daniel, at the nurses and orderlies, as they worked feverishly over him.
All the while, the archaeologist did not stir. Nothing. Nothing at all.
"I'm going to have to ask you to stand back," Fraiser called over her shoulder.
Jack nodded, feeling numb as Teal'c lead him, and Carter, away from Daniel. Within minutes, a team of professionals swallowed him. And while Jack knew he was in the best of care, he couldn't help but feel anxious.
"Thoth released Daniel in the most honorable of ways," Selmak stated to them. "He did so of his own accord. You have my word that no harm will come to him once we leave this base."
"We appreciate the offer," General Hammond said as he walked over to them. He paused, glancing over to where Daniel lay. "What about Doctor Jackson?"
"He should be fine," Jacob commented. "He'll be unconscious for awhile, and he'll likely wake up with a major headache and some separation anxiety, but we'll help him get through the worst of it, George. You know I can't just leave him like that." He smiled and squeezed Carter's shoulder. "Besides, Selmak is pretty fond of him, too."
Jack grinned, though his thoughts were miles away. He couldn't help but dwell on some of the words Thoth has stated earlier, words that had lifted some of his guilt and anxiety to the surface.
He'd caused Daniel pain. Him. Out of all the people in the universe. Him.
It just wasn't right. He was supposed to protect Daniel. Daniel was under his command. Daniel was part of his "family."
"Sir? Are you okay?"
Jack nodded, shrugging off her hand from his shoulder. He really didn't care for much company right now. Let alone any sympathy for one of his screw-ups.
"Yeah, good. I'm good." Jack glanced back to Daniel and then to Beltesh and Dalmar. He noticed that they were packing away both the jar and the other parasite. "What's gonna happen to that dead one?"
"We will bring it back for study," Jacob said off-handedly. "With Thoth's help, we might be able to perfect his cloning techniques which would be beneficial to both the Tok'ra and the Tau'ri. Not to mention it might give us some insight into some of the work Anubis is doing on his Super Soldiers."
"If you don't mind, Jacob, I would like you, for all of us, to meet before you leave. We have a few details we need to iron out," stated Hammond.
"Of course, George. I'm not heading back to the High Council or the Alpha site yet anyway until I am sure everything is okay," he said, his gaze settling on Daniel. "Selmak is confident he'll be fine. It may just take some time."
Jack nodded, stealing another glance back at Daniel. Akana had gone to assist the other Tok'ra. Only Fraiser remained, checking on him, and appearing rather reluctant to leave his side.
Jack had to smile.
"He's stabilized," Akana informed them as Beltesh and Dalmar joined her. "We are confident Doctor Jackson will make a full recovery."
"Good," Hammond said evenly, though obviously pleased. "Now that that's settled, I'd like for you all to join me in the briefing room."
"Sir, with your permission, I'd like to stay here. You know, in case Daniel wakes up," Jack asked, holding his hands behind his back, his gaze never leaving Daniel's unmoving form.
"I would like to remain as well," Teal'c intoned.
"Me too, sir," Carter chimed in.
Hammond nodded, his gaze bouncing from one member of SG-1 to another. "Very well." He turned to the Tok'ra. "If you'd follow me, we can address any questions and concerns before you're on your way."
Dalmar bowed graciously, and nodded. Jacob joined Hammond, and the two generals led the remaining Tok'ra out of the infirmary.
Exhaling slowly, Jack took a moment to let himself deal with the events of the past few days.
It was over. Finally, just over. Now, they could concentrate on bigger things, more important things, and make sure they remained there for Daniel.
Glancing back, Jack noticed Teal'c had already set himself up beside Daniel's bed. Fraiser remained by Daniel's side, carefully adjusting his blankets and pillows for comfort. Carter…she watched on from afar, nervously biting on her fingers.
Suppressing a sigh, Jack made his way over to her, clearing his throat when he reached her. Surprisingly, she didn't turn to face him, but he knew she had acknowledged him just the same.
"Look, Carter, I'm sorry about—"
She just nodded. "I should have done more, sir."
He shook his head. He knew this would happen. "Carter—"
"Sir—"
He pressed her shoulder, giving her a quick gentle rub. "You did good, Major. You did good." He withdrew his head and pointed to the gurney. "Why don't you say we join them?"
She nodded quickly, exhaling as she walked.
It was going to be tough. For all of them. For Daniel. But they wouldn't leave his side.
The vigil began.