Thanks again to everyone that has given me feedback so far. The next few sections are in the works. I'm getting them done as quickly as I can. Hope this part is as enjoyable as the last chapter. I had quite a bit of fun writing this chapter, and the next few that are coming up, so I hope ya'll like it.

Daniel opened his eyes and the smell of burnt rubber and blood wafted over him. There was smoke coming from the engine and he and Jack were slumped forward in the now crumpled vehicle. Jack still hadn't regained consciousness and that had Daniel worried. Gingerly he unhooked himself from the seatbelt that was restraining him and leaned over to do the same for Jack. The colonel moaned softly and Daniel hurriedly continued to pry them both out of the car.

Several minutes later, he had achieved his goal and he had rested Jack against a nearby tree trunk and had gone back to see if he could their gear out of the vehicle. He had barely gotten the trunk open when he heard Jack call his name. Dropping everything he went to check on his injured friend.

"Easy Jack. Take it easy."

"What...happened?" Jack's voice was raspy and hoarse, and Daniel knew he must have taken a pretty hard hit when the car had crashed.

"The car is wrecked. I got you out. Let me get our stuff out, and I'll be right back."

Jack nodded weakly and closed his eyes again. The pain in his chest was almost unbearable. With his eyes closed he seemed to be able to focus off of it for a moment, but that moment didn't last long. A cold, dark feeling came over him and he knew there were dementors nearby. The logical side of his mind told him that they were too far away from the school for the dementors to be around, but he pushed the logic aside and dragged himself to his feet. He could just make out Daniel's frame reaching into the trunk of the car and stumbled towards him, his blurring vision making that task exceedingly difficult.

"Jack what are you doing?!" Daniel's voice echoed through the trees as he dropped the bag in his hand and grabbed Jack's already falling body.

"We...have to...get out...of here." Jack was already gasping for breath and Daniel rested him against the side of the car.

"Right now, this car isn't gong anywhere. We're going to have to walk the rest of the way."

His head groggy, Jack nodded and pointed to the bag Daniel had dropped in trying to catch him. "Need..."

The words escaped him and Daniel reached for the bag, trying to keep a hand on Jack's body as he did so. "Here, what do you need?"

Daniel opened the bag and began to fish through it, hoping he would figure out what Jack wanted. Luckily as he went through the items he found what he thought Jack was looking for. He ran his fingers along the slender piece of wood and then turned to Jack. The wizard nodded and reached out a shaky hand to take the wand.

Quickly Daniel turned back to the three bags on the ground and grabbed one of them and put it on his shoulders. He knew there was no way he could carry them all and help Jack move as well, so he kicked the other two aside and put an arm around Jack before starting into the nearby forest.

It was quiet in the forest, and the silence was enough to unnerve the archeologist as he pulled Jack along with him. The further into the forest, the darker it got and the more lost Daniel seemed to feel. Finally, Daniel collapsed against a tree to catch his breath and Jack blinked a few times trying to survey their surroundings. It took a moment for him to get his bearings straight, but once he did he couldn't help the sense of dread he began to feel.

"Where are we Jack?"

"We're in the forbidden forest." He coughed and brought his hand up to cover his mouth. "We have to keep moving. It isn't safe here. Daniel."

"Let's just catch our breath a minute and then we'll move." With a weak nod, Jack tried to sit up, but only succeeded in putting himself in more pain.

They waited a few minutes and then Daniel stood and bent down to help Jack to his feet. Again they began to move forward and Jack reached his wand out and spoke. "Lumos."

The tip of his wand lit up and the two could see a bit more of the ground in front of them which Daniel was thankful for. He led them deeper into the forest, letting Jack tell him which direction he needed to go. After what seemed like ages they both fell to the ground unable to keep going. A familiar feeling began to envelope Daniel and he scanned the area trying to figure out where it was coming from.

"The dementors are close. They sense us." Jack brought the tip of his wand to where he could see Daniel's face.

"What are we gonna do? You can't keep running like this. You're having trouble breathing as it is."

"If you go about three more miles North you'll be at Hogsmeade. You can get to Sirius-"

"I'm not leaving you here to possibly die or worse if those...things find you!" Jack shook his head.

"It's the best chance we've got, Danny."

Daniel furiously shook his head. "I won't leave you. I'm not leaving you behind."

With a weak smile, Jack nodded. He knew that look well. He seen it far too many times and it was never smart to argue with the man when he got that look in his eyes.

"Then what do you suggest?"

"I have no idea, Jack. This isn't exactly my home turf. I barely know where we are."

Again Jack coughed and Daniel was by his side to make sure he was alright. "Well this is just peachy. I can barely move and you're nursemaiding me."

"Someone has to. Doc Frasier wouldn't forgive me if you died out here."

Jack tried to laugh, but he pain in his chest made him wince. "Don't make me laugh."

"I'm guessing those ribs are broken?"

"Yeah. I'm thinking at least three or more. Hurts like a sonofabitch too." Daniel laughed solemnly and took a deep breath as he looked around the dark forest that surrounded them.

"There has to be another way. Those things are getting closer. I can feel that cold feeling getting stronger." Jack nodded as he sputtered out another cough. "There's nothing that can stop them?"

Jack looked quizzically at Daniel then a smile ghosted across his lips. "I think you might be onto something, Dannyboy."

Daniel was quickly on his feet as Jack motioned for help to stand. "What are you going to do?"

"There's only one creature the dementors won't go near. I'm just hoping I can get one of them to come near enough to us."

"What are you talking about?"

"If this...works...you'll see." Jack gritted his teeth as he leaned against Daniel for support. He slowly took his wand and waved it for a moment. The light on the end disappeared and both men were staring into the bleak darkness, and Jack began to speak again, this time he was using words that Daniel didn't quite understand. "Accium Quertus Nothas Learuim."

He repeated the words over and over again as he moved his wand. Finally he dropped the wand and fell to his knees, still chanting the words. The dark feeling of the dementors grew stronger until Daniel could barely move. Jack looked up and could see several of them coming towards them and he futilely reached for his wand and tried to ward them off with the Patronus charm. He was too weak though, and barely managed to light the end of his wand with the spell.

A scream echoed through his mind and his eyes began to close as the first dementor moved towards them. Instinctively Jack moved towards Daniel who was curled up in a ball a few feet from Jack. The younger man was shivering and nervously looking around whispering to himself, hoping the painful feeling would disappear. Jack placed an arm around his friend's body and tried one more time to conjure the Patronus charm. He managed a small patronus, but not near enough to stave off the several dementors that were already surrounding them.

"Jack, I hear their voices." Daniel was practically screaming as he grabbed his head and tried to pull away from Jack's grip. "Make them stop! I don't want to hear them! I can't stop it! Nooooo!!!"

Memories assaulted Jack as he watched Daniel writhe beneath him and he too began to shout as the dementors closed in around them.

"No! Not my son! Charlie!!!" Jack doubled over and rolled away from Daniel as the images of his son's death flashed through his mind.

Suddenly, there was a noise behind him. It sounded like hooves beating against the earth and a white light surrounded him. He opened his eyes for a moment and saw Daniel trying to move away from the light. The dementors began to scatter quickly, and a moment later the light dimmed and was gone, and Jack rolled over onto his side and stared up at the creature that had saved them.

It was a silvery white unicorn with golden hooves and shining horn in the center of its head. Proudly it raised its hooves and moved in front of Jack and Daniel's prone bodies. Jack coughed and grabbed his aching chest as his eyes began to drift shut.

When Jack opened his eyes again Daniel was running a cool cloth over his forehead and had a cup of water just touching his dry lips.

"Drink slowly, Jack. Take it easy. I'm not sure where we are, but whatever you did stopped those dementors pretty good." Jack smiled softly and shook his head.

"It wasn't me. It was them." He pointed just past the small pool of water where they were both resting and Daniel looked up.

The archeologist stared in surprise at the three unicorns looking back at them. "Are they real?"

"If they weren't we'd be worse than dead right now." Jack took another sip of water and allowed Daniel to help him sit up. He looked straight at the beautiful creatures watching them from afar and nodded to them. "Thank you."

Daniel was amazed as the creatures bowed their majestic frames in their direction and then slowly walked away. For the first time he could remember he was at a loss for words. Never before had he seen such creatures, but he hoped that he might again one day.

"They're pretty amazing aren't they?" Jack asked as he watched the emotions play across Daniel's face.

"I've never seen anything like it. They're beautiful. That doesn't even begin to describe them, but that's the only word I know to use."

"I know what you mean. The first time I saw one I was the same way. Honestly, I'm surprised you could see them. They don't usually let muggles see them at all."

Daniel raised an eyebrow quizzically. "Why?"

"They're afraid of muggles. Most that have seen them, try to hunt them. Some wizards and magic folk do the same, so usually they stay far away from anyone's sight."

Shaking his head sorrowfully, Daniel nodded. "I guess that makes sense, but why did they save us?"

"I called them to us."

"The words you were saying before I passed out?" Jack nodded and Daniel sighed. "How exactly did they stop them?"

"I don't really know. Unicorn's have a magic that's far stronger than any witch or wizard could hope to have."

"How did you know they'd help us?"

"The words I used were old magic. Something my grandmother taught me when I was a boy. Unicorns are protectors by nature. If you call to them, no matter what danger you're in, they'll protect you. Even a muggle can use the old magic and call a unicorn." Daniel was mesmerized by the tone of Jack's voice and he nodded as the older man spoke. "They're the most amazing creatures you'll ever come across. Be grateful they let you see them, you may never get the chance again. It's mostly children that get to see them. They're not as afraid of children as they are of adults."

"Well, now what are we gonna do? I have no idea where we are? Do you?"

Looking at their surroundings Jack shook his head. "Not really, but I think I can get us out of here if you can help me up."

A familiar voice made Jack turn with a start and he winced in pain as he did so. "You really are a stubborn fool sometimes, Corrigan."

"Firenze? What are you doing here?" Jack smiled at the Centaur that was approaching them, and Daniel struggled to pick his jaw up off the ground.

"The unicorns weren't the only ones that heard your call. It's not very often that we hear the old magic. Very few even know how to use it anymore." Firenze noticed Daniel's curious gaze and shook his head at Jack. "Why don't you introduce me to your friend."

"Oh, Daniel this is Firenze. Firenze this is my friend Daniel Jackson."

"You're a...a real...oh my god!" Daniel tried to gather himself enough to speak, but Firenze was already laughing hysterically, and Jack was only holding back because of the pain in his chest. "You're a centaur?"

"Yes, I am. And you're a human if I'm not mistaken, but quite a gifted one." Daniel blushed at the compliment and Firenze smiled as he turned to Jack. "You always chose your companions well, my friend. It's no wonder you are here now."

"What do you mean?" Daniel asked before Jack could speak.

"The knowledge of Sirius Black has not escaped us here in the forest. Jack would not leave a friend in need without attempting to aid him in some way. It is not in his nature."

Jack nodded at Firenze and slowly moved towards him with Daniel's help. "It's good to see you again, but shouldn't you be back with your brothers and sisters? They can't approve of you associating with us."

"That they do not, but we could not ignore the call of the old magic. The stars have spoken of it for days now. I did not know it would be you who would use it though. Even now, my brothers and sisters are watching us."

Curiously, Daniel turned his head to look around but saw nothing. "Why are they hiding?"

"Most Centaurs do not associate with humans of any kind. We are content to remain here in the forest watching the stars at night and minding our own business, which most humans have no concept of. It has been this way for centuries."

Jack stifled a laugh as more pain wracked his chest. "Don't start on the history lesson, Firenze. Daniel will never leave your side if you do."

"Jack?! I'm not that bad."

"Are so."

"Am not."

"Yes you are."

"Not."

"Are."

"I am not!" Daniel hung his head realizing how loud he had gotten and turned to the Centaur beside to them to apologize, but Firenze was already laughing at them both.

"You are quite the pair. Reminds me of you and your brother. He still comes into the forest to speak to us at times, though he misses your company."

"Severus still comes here? I had no idea." Firenze nodded to Jack and watched as the wizard lowered his head sorrowfully as he remembered his brother.

"Jack, are you alright?" Daniel asked as he watched the pained expression on Jack's face grow.

"Yeah, I was just remembering."

"I apologize for reminding you of such things. I know you have not been here in much time. Perhaps, it is best we move on if you are feeling better." Firenze stepped forward and placed a hand on Jack's shoulder to comfort him.

"Are you coming with us?" Jack asked as he curiously raised an eyebrow at the Centaur.

"For a short way. I will show you to the path that leads to Hogsmeade. You should be safe from there. I don't think the dementors will come after you for a while. The unicorns frightened them quite thoroughly."

Jack smirked. "That's good to know."

Daniel picked up their things while Firenze held onto Jack and then he moved to take hold of the Colonel, but Firenze put up a hand to stop him.

"I will take him as far as we are to go. You have much to carry in your pack." Nodding Daniel hefted the bag onto his shoulder and held it tightly as they walked through the forest, Jack leaning on Firenze.

The three walked for quite some time before the Centaur stopped. Daniel turned and gently pulled a weak Jack from Firenze's arms.

"Thank you. It was a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure was mine, Daniel Jackson. One day we will meet again, of this I am certain." Firenze turned to Jack who was limply holding on to Daniel's arm for support. "Take care, my friend. You have dark times ahead of you, but trust in your sight. It will not lead you astray."

Jack sighed and nodded. "Thanks. If you see my brother...keep an eye out for him."

"As always. I bid you good-bye now. Farewell." With that the Centaur turned on his hooves and started back into the dense forest.