PART FOUR 'Ok Lucy, we need you to give us some idea what we're gonna be up against when we rescue your brother.' Jack told her. He handed her the pad of paper that he'd taken from Daniel's pack. 'Do you think that you can sketch us a map of the area, including the area where your brother is being held.'

Lucy nodded slowly, giving him a suspicious look. 'Sure but why bother when I can show you where he is?'

'Your not coming.' He told her bluntly, 'it'll be too dangerous.'

'Forget it! Your not leaving me behind!!' Lucy glared at him angrily.

'You'll be safer if you wait here.'

Lucy stood up abruptly, only Teal'c didn't flinch away from her gaze as she looked at each of them. 'That's where you're wrong. I can fight better than any of you even Teal'c! You need me to come along, with 5 of us we stand a better chance of succeeding. I only asked for your help because I knew that I couldn't do it alone.' Seeing that they still needed convincing, she continued 'You forget that I have a healing factor.'

Jack sighed,

'That's not why I don't want you coming. We don't know what states your brother's in or even if he's alive.'

A look of confusion passed over her face before realisation dawned thanks to Jack's clumsy attempt at sending her some of his memories of the times when SG-1 had been captured. He tried to censor them but his lack of telepathic experience meant that Lucy picked up on memories that Jack didn't mean to give her. Amongst these were memories of his time in Iraq as a POW. Lucy realised that Jack wanted to spare her from knowing the extent of any injuries Ryan might have, but what Jack didn't realise was that he was relying on Ryan also having a healing factor.

'Ryan doesn't have a healing factor, he's only half Gondolian.'

Jack tried to hide his dismay at the revelation as Sam cut in. 'So half- Gondolians don't inherit the abilities you mentioned?'

'They do but only some of them and each person has a different combination. Ryan's doesn't include a healing factor.' Lucy explained before turning to Jack. 'You don't have to worry I've seen much worse.' Lucy watched as Jack wrestled with his decision, It went against everything he believed, to knowingly bring a child into danger. 'I've lived through worse too.' She added.

He looked at her in disbelief.

'I can show you.' She knew she had to convince him. 'But it means that you have to let me into your thoughts.'

Jack looked rather disturbed at having his thoughts examined.

'Look it's up to you. Either way I'm going.' She told him firmly. 'Alone if I have to!'

Daniel glanced at Jack. He knew his friend would never allow her to go alone, but he also knew that Jack not want anyone to get hurt. If having Lucy with them gave his team a better chance of survival and success then her might consider taking her along, even if she was a child, but he would need to be sure it was the right thing to do!

Before Jack could make a decision, Daniel jumped in. 'Why don't you show me, Jack'll believe me if I tell him that I think you should be allowed to come.'

'Daniel!' Jack warned.

'It's ok, I trust her.' Daniel tried to reassure him.

'That's not what I'm worried about.' Jack turned to Lucy 'What exactly are you going to do and what will it do to me?'

'Basically, I'll let you have access to my memories. I'll probably pick up on some of your surface thoughts, the things that are at the foremost of your mind. You'll probably find it harder to control your emotions for a few days, but there won't be any lasting effects.' Lucy paused and looked at Daniel. ' I'd rather it wasn't Daniel.'

'Why not?' Jack asked suspiciously.

Lucy hesitated.

'His thoughts are centred on Sha're. Emotionally he's not stable enough to deal with a telepathic bond.'

Jack nodded agreement.

Daniel looked relieved, even though his offer had been genuine.

Jack sighed,

'Ok, do it.'

SG-1 looked at him in surprise.

'You sure Jack?' Daniel gave him a concerned look.

Jack nodded and turned to Lucy.

'What do I do?'

Jack didn't want to take her in without knowing if she could handle it. Lucy sat down and motioned for the rest of them to do the same. Jack found himself between Lucy and Daniel who watched worriedly. He tried to give the young archaeologist a reassuring smile.

'Ok, I need you to clear your mind.' Lucy instructed.

Jack closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind. Suddenly he "felt" Lucy as she entered his mind. Acting instinctively, he tried to push her back out. Calm down Jack! I won't hurt you. Her thoughts came across clearly; you need to stay calm. Sam, Teal'c and Daniel watched with concern as Jack became visibly distressed.

'Lucy?' Daniel asked, worried about his friend.

'He's trying to fight me.' She explained. Taking Daniel's hand she placed it in Jack's. 'The physical contact should help to keep him grounded, so that he doesn't panic so much.'

Daniel placed his other hand on Jack's shoulder, rubbing it to ease the tension he felt there. 'Yeah, that's it.' Lucy encouraged seeing Jack begin to relax. Trying again to enter his mind, she found it much easier.

Jack could feel Daniel trying to keep him grounded as Lucy came back. Using Daniel as his lifeline, he tried not to pull away. Lucy gently let his thoughts merge with her own and he suddenly found himself looking out across a field.

Debris lay on the ground nearby, moving nearer revealed that it was the remains of a helicopter. Most of the main body of the helicopter was crushed beyond repair.

Jack was only just able to make out the body of the pilot. He was obviously dead, the blank stare of his eyes, so similar to Lucy's in colour, made him shiver. The bullet hole in the pilot's head made it obvious that he'd been dead before impact.

A sound snapped him from his thoughts. Looking towards the passenger area he felt his breath catch in his throat. He could make out the figures of 6 children. Two of who were obviously dead. He turned away, the sight reminding him of a similar memory involving his son. He felt Lucy at his side trying to offer him some comfort and apology. Sensing that she wanted to break the link he stopped her, indicating that he wanted to continue. He turned back to the children.

Another boy who looked to be about 6 looked badly injured. He was trapped beneath some of the wreckage. An 8-year-old girl, identical in appearance to the one who was dead, had started to climb out pass the other dead child. A boy slightly older than her followed. In his arms sat a 5-year-old girl. Jack instantly guessed who it was, Lucy confirmed that indeed it was her younger self. Noises could be heard on the other side of the field as people began to make their way across to the crash site . 'We gotta go!' yelled the boy, who obviously didn't want to be found. He handed Lucy over to the girl.

'What about Tony?' the girl asked.

The boy gave them a desperate look.

'We'll have to leave him. I'll try to come back for him later.'

The girl nodded, knowing he'd made the right decision.

'Come on!' he pulled them along, heading into the woods away from the people. They ran for a long time trying to escape their pursuers. Stopping for a rest he turned to his companions. 'We'd better split up. I'll go back for Tony. You take Lucy and see if you can find some help.' The boy ran back the way they'd come as the 2 girls watched before carrying on in the direction they'd been heading.

Hours later the older girl stopped and put Lucy down.

'What now?' the 5-year-old asked, wondering why the boy took so long to come back. She could sense the older girls worry. 'See that house?'

Lucy nodded.

'Go there, but don't mention anything about what just happened. They'll help you, you just need to tell them that you got lost in the woods.'

Lucy nodded her agreement, trusting the older girl. 'What about you?'

'I'm gonna go and find James.'

The girl gave her a quick hug then left. Lucy turned towards the farmhouse and Jack followed.

Suddenly the scene changed. Lucy was still at the farmhouse but Jack could see that she'd not had help. Lucy sat in what had to be the cellar. The room was dark and filthy. Her clothes were just as bad and Jack was quick to notice her injuries. She'd obviously been beaten and rather seriously. Only her healing factor was keeping her alive. Jack turned in shook as a man came down the stairs. Jack didn't like the look of him at all. Lucy, noticing the man tried to get as far away as possible.

Unthinkingly, Jack tried to stop him wanting to protect the young girl but the man just walked straight through him. 'No!' Jack yelled after him, his cry mirrored by Lucy's. Suddenly everything went black and Jack dropped to his knees in shock.

Slowly he became aware that he was back in his own body. He found himself in Daniel's arms.

'Jack?' Daniel asked softly, sensing his friend had returned. Jack reached a hand up to his face, not really surprised to find it wet, but rather embarrassed to find Sam and Teal'c watching him with concern.

'Just give me a minute Danny.' He tried to reassure his friend whose very worried expression had fixed on his own. After a few moments of trying to regain control of his emotions, he pulled away from Daniel's embrace. Jack turned to Lucy.

'How did you get away?'

'What you saw was the last time I saw him. I lashed out with my mind and killed him instantly.' Lucy told him quietly her voice full of guilt.

'You didn't do anything wrong, Lucy. You just did what you had to do to survive.' Jack began to realise just how dangerous Lucy could be without the proper guidance.

'I know.' She didn't sound convinced.

'Do you know what happened to the other kids?' Jack asked needing to know before going to find some solitude. He needed to sort his thoughts out before he made any decisions. Half his team probably already thought he was nuts!

'No, but Vicky's trying to find them.'

Daniel watched as his friend got up and went to his tent. Lucy gave them a quick explanation of what she'd shown Jack, leaving out most of the details.

'Would you like me to show you some of the Gondolian technology I have with me?' she asked Sam and Teal'c as Jack made a reappearance. Sam nodded, she knew that it would be best if Daniel were to go alone to speak to the Colonel to check that everything was ok. Go and talk to him, he needs you. Lucy told Daniel telepathically.

Daniel followed his friend out deeper in to the woods. 'Mind if I join you?' he asked falling into step with Jack.

Jack shrugged not looking at Daniel.

When they reached the lake, Jack sat on a nearby log. Daniel studied his friend carefully before sitting beside him.

Jack's eyes were reddened and his face pale. Daniel had never seen Jack cry before and to see the tears running down Jack's face earlier had shaken him. Such outbursts of emotion from Jack were non-existent, Daniel knew he must be pretty embarrassed.

They sat in companionable silence for a while before Daniel decided it was up to him to get things started. 'What happened?' he asked gently.

'Lucy told you.'

'She told us the bare facts.'

Jack shrugged unsure how to explain the horror of seeing the children in the helicopter. He guessed he owed Daniel an explanation for his earlier outburst.

Taking a deep breath, he plunged in.

'I think that the memory Lucy showed me, happened soon after the "experiment" Lucy told us about. Their helicopter was shot down as they made their escape.'

He paused momentarily before continuing 'The pilot died before impact and 2 of the kids were already dead when Lucy brought me to the scene.'

Daniel's concern grew as Jack's eyes filled with tears. 'Three kids, including Lucy, escaped, but they had to leave behind the youngest boy because of his injuries. Later they separated, but Lucy doesn't know what happened to the others who escaped with her. Lucy went to a nearby farm for help but....'

Jack struggled to continue as the tears he'd been struggling to hold back began to roll down his cheeks. He swiped at them as he continued, choking back a sob. 'If she'd been human, he'd have killed her.'

Daniel knew how hard it was for Jack to talk about it, so he didn't press for details. 'It's ok, Jack, she's ok.'

Daniel reached for his friend and gently pulled him close. He wasn't sure if Jack would accept the comfort, but he needn't have worried as Jack quickly relaxed into his embrace.

Daniel rocked him gently, giving Jack the comfort he seem to need so badly. It was something Jack rarely accepted, even from Daniel. The younger man knew that the Jack O'Neill who hid behind the tough military facade cared more than most people ever would. Children especially seemed to get through the facade that he'd learnt to put up over the years to protect himself but Daniel knew that somehow he'd also breached it.

Over the years he'd caught more and more glimpses of the real Jack. It showed just how much Jack must trust him, as he allowed Daniel to comfort him as he did. Lucy had been right; Jack's emotions were very near to the surface after the telepathic link. After a while Jack pulled away, wiping the tears from his face and feeling more than a little embarrassed. 'Sorry.'

'She's tough you know.' Daniel told him gently dismissing the apology as unimportant.

Jack looked over at him.

'Yeah, I know. She was so young though, they all were. Kids shouldn't have to live with things like that, noone should.'

'From what she told us. She's got a good family now. People who care about her a lot.' Daniel reminded him.

'Ya know, if that's true then where's her sister?' Jack asked him. 'You'd have thought that she would've come after her brother and Lucy wouldn't you?'

A voice behind them gave them a start.

'She can't.'

They spun round to see Lucy watching them. 'How long have you been there?' Jack asked annoyed that he hadn't heard her approach.

'A few minutes at most.' She told them ' I teleported, that's why you didn't hear me.'

'Ok...' Jack drawled 'so why don't you tell us why your sister isn't here?'

'She's disabled, Ryan and I do the physical stuff. Vicky does the research and keeps in contact with us. She sometimes comes with us, but only if we're sure it's safe.' Lucy explained 'She hates being left behind.'

Jack was left speechless.

'Why d'you come after us?' asked Daniel as it occurred to him that there must be a reason for her coming to see them. 'Oh, Sam wants to finish making our plans for tomorrow. I told her I'd fetch you as I wanted to check that Jack was ok.'

'I'm fine.' Jack stood up quickly, 'Let's go.' He gave Daniel a quick smile as they made their way back, reassuring his friend that he'd be fine.