Author's Notes: After this, I have definitely one more scene where Daniel gets to see what could be possible, after that, I can either end the story or do more depending on what you want to see... let me know; I'm kind of impartial either way.

Daniel was in a new place, this one completely unfamiliar to him. Currently, he stood in a bedroom; it was fairly large and neat... as Daniel looked around, he saw a dark blue uniform hanging from a doorway. It was still in its dry-cleaning bag.

As Daniel moved around to further examine his surroundings, he realized he could hear sounds coming from some other room in the house; from the noises, he guessed it to be from downstairs... probably the kitchen.

Curious as to what was going on, Daniel went to investigate whose house he was in before hearing new noises. It was the soft plodding of small, socked feet, and it was getting closer.

Unsure what to do, Daniel just stood and stared at the doorway, even more confused when a blonde-haired boy opened the bedroom door and entered. Since the boy didn't register any shock at seeing a strange man in his home, Daniel guessed he was not a participant in this scene. He continued to observe as the boy walked stealthily but nervously toward the closet. He opened the door and awkwardly pulled over a chair that had been sat in front of a small desk; climbing on top of it, he reached an arm up and groped around the highest shelf. Finding what he was looking for, the boy pulled down a small, black box. It was then that Daniel's mind put all the pieces together and realized what he was seeing: this was Charlie. Jack's son, Charlie.

Daniel continued watching as the boy quietly stepped down from the chair. He moved over to the bed, where he set the box down and reached into his pocket. He removed a key and began fiddling with the lock. In spite of himself, Daniel found himself calling out.

"Charlie?" Daniel's instinct was to step in and do something, but his warning tone couldn't be heard. Daniel reminded himself that this wasn't real... that he wasn't really here... but he did have to stand by and watch. He looked around frantically for something that would help or at the very least get him out of this place as Charlie succeeded at his task and opened the box. As he reached a hand in, Daniel only had one thought: find Jack... or find Sara. They would probably not be able to hear or see him either, of course, but he had to try. Daniel bolted from the bedroom just as Charlie began his attempt at loading the magazine.

Coming to the landing, Daniel was relieved to see Jack already at the bottom of the stairs, greeting Sara as he removed his coat.

"Jack." Daniel willed him to move. "Come upstairs. Come upstairs!"

To Daniel's great relief, Jack asked the question.

"Where's Charlie?"

Sara moved back toward the kitchen. "Playing upstairs." She answered. "Be ready for dinner in half an hour."

Jack smiled and grabbed a bag he'd brought in with him. Climbing the stairs, he called out. "Charlie?"

Daniel urged his friend faster. "Jack – there's no time. Charlie – he's... please, Jack. Hurry. He's in your bedroom and he has your gun."

Reaching the landing, Jack veered off, presumably to Charlie's bedroom.

"No!" Daniel nearly shouted, not that it would've mattered. "Your bedroom! Your bedroom!"

Suddenly, Jack stopped. With a puzzled expression, he went to his own room. "Charlie?" He questioned again, stepping through the doorway.

Daniel followed and saw the absolute shock and horror etched all over Jack's face; there was an equal expression of fear on Charlie's.

"Charlie." Jack said calmly, never taking his eyes from the boy standing next to the bed, gun loaded and held in both hands. Jack set his bag gently and quietly down as he knelt on the carpet. "Charlie," he repeated, "put the gun gently on the bed."

"Dad –" Charlie began.

"Charlie!" Jack's tone was sharper this time. He softened a bit. "I need you to set the gun down on the bed, kiddo." He instructed. "and then come over here to me."

Charlie did as he was told and went cautiously to his father. Within an arm's reach, Jack pulled his son into a tight hug, letting out a huge sigh.

"I'm sorry, Dad." Came a small, muffled voice into Jack's shoulder.

"It's okay." Jack reassured. He held his son at arm's length. "But we're gonna have a long talk about this." He smoothed the boy's hair. "I'm very upset with you, Charlie, but it's okay."

Charlie nodded, not meeting the disappointed eyes of his father.

"Go to the kitchen and wait for me there. We'll tell your mother together."

Charlie nodded again and obeyed, leaving the room.

Jack remained where he was, on his knees on the floor, for several moments before getting up and sitting on the bed. He picked up the gun and pulled out the clip. Placing the gun itself back in the box and locked it, but the magazine he held in his hand along with the key. Elbows resting on his knees, Jack dropped his head and let out another massive sigh.

---

Mentally preparing himself, the shock of being returned to the semi-imprisonment wasn't quite so bad this time around.

Daniel sighed and licked his lips. "This just keeps getting more and more fun." he said dryly. Sitting down on his cot, Daniel dropped his own head into his hands, still trying to wrap his exhausted mind around what was happening. He looked up to the woman, hoping for some bit of straightforward truth.

She stared back, blankly.

Daniel dropped his head, defeated. "Could you at least tell me your name?" he muttered. He looked back up. "At the moment, it's just one more thing to add to the long list of circumstances that are going to drive me crazy, and, as you may imagine, I'd like to resolve that as quickly as possible."

"I have no name." She answered. "You may call me whatever you wish."

"No. No, no, no!" Daniel held up a twitchy hand. "Just... please..." he implored. "Give me a name to call you."

"Very well." the woman smiled. "You may call me Fortuna."

Daniel laughed a little crazily in spite of himself. "Fortuna?" He questioned. "That's... no... of course... that's very good." He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. "The Roman goddess of fate and chance." He nodded and sighed. "It's very... fitting, all things considered."