…Epilogue…

General Hammond sat behind his desk calmly listening to his flagship team relaying the events of the previous few weeks in as much detail as they could muster. At first he'd thought it was all a lie, but as he watched the emotions play on each of their faces, he realized that they were in fact being as honest as they could. It all seemed so bizarre and yet when it came to SG-1 he'd learned to expect the unexpected, whether he understood it fully or not.

"You do realize this is a lot for me to swallow?" Hammond's voice bounced off the walls as SG-1 nodded quietly in response. "Where exactly is Colonel O'Neill?"

"He was taken into the forest to be helped. So far nothing has come of it, but the Centaurs seem hopeful that they're close to bringing him back." It was just like Daniel to sound optimistic when everyone else despaired.

Sighing the General dismissed the rest of SG-1 and once they had left his office he rested his head on the desk in front of him.

This was by far the wackiest story he'd ever heard, and considering SG-1's record that was quite impressive. Now all he had to do was come up with an explanation that the president would buy, as to why the second in command of the world's most top secret base is 'unavailable' to complete his duties…There really were days when he wished he'd retired like a normal person.

Outside Jack O'Neill's home three days later…

"Daniel?" A familiar voice called out and the archeologist nearly jumped out of his seat as he looked up from the book he was reading on the back porch.

"Where have you been?" Daniel asked as he retook his seat.

"Still hiding. I wanted to check in to see how Jack was doing. I sent an owl to Severus and Harry, but neither of them has responded."

"I don't know what to tell you, Sirius. The Centaurs aren't any closer to getting him back. They're still convinced that his soul is intact, but they can't seem to get him to wake up."

The wizard sighed and shook his head in frustration. "He saved my life, and Harry's too. Why did this have to happen?"

It was Daniel's turn to sigh and he reached out a hand and touched Sirius' shoulder as the wizard sank to the floor beside him.

"I've spent the last few days trying to figure that out, and I really don't know. Maybe that stuff he said in the forest was true."

Sirius buried his head in his hands. "Why did it have to be him? He's suffered so much already."

Daniel shook his head and Sirius looked up at him, the pain clearly written on his face. "I haven't given up on Firenze yet. There's still a chance. You have to believe that, Sirius."

Nodding the wizard pulled his knees up to his chest and rested his head in his arms. "If only it were as simple as believing. If only."

For a moment both men looked out at the pristinely cut yard, letting their silence speak volumes between them. One man hoping for the impossible, and the other searching for the hope to believe in that impossibility.

The End…

Well, this is the end of Secrets Undone. Throws hands up to block any rotten fruit that might get tossed my way> I promise a sequel is in the works. Ya'll will just have to bear with me while I try to get it finished.