"Is there anything else you can tell me?" General Hammond asked.

Colonel O'Neill shook his head. "No, Sir, that about sums up the trip."

Sam nodded. "They were just…there."

They couldn't really elaborate any further. Every single one of the Daniels that they had brought back were identical to the Daniel they knew. Even if all their mannerisms and behaviors weren't one hundred percent the same, they were close enough to remind her of the real Daniel.

"What about all the ones you brought back with you? Have they mentioned anything?"

"Nada," O'Neill muttered.

"They have not provided much information," Teal'c admitted.

"To be honest, Sir, I am not quite sure they really understand what is happening themselves," Sam added.

General Hammond pondered her words, pausing for only a moment before he spoke again. "How do you mean, Major?"

"Well, Sir, they made no move to hurt us, and they seem concerned over Daniel's welfare. So much so, in fact, they were reluctant to tell us they weren't Daniel until they were assured we would help him."

"She's right, Sir." Colonel O'Neill leaned over and clasped his hands on the table. "They're hiding something, and I don't know what, but they had nothing but Daniel on their minds." He shook his head. "But I agree with Carter. I don't even think they know what they're hiding."

"So where does that leave us?" Hammond asked. "Is this something set up by the Goa'uld? Any other threat from the planet?"

"There was no foreseeable threat on the planet, General Hammond," Teal'c said. "I do not believe the Goa'uld were involved with what happened to Daniel Jackson."

"So, what exactly are they?" Hammond was beginning to sound exasperated. "Clones? Alien life forms?"

Sam exhaled. Wouldn't they all like to know.

"Daniel," the colonel said simply. "They all act like him, in one way or another."

Teal'c cocked his head. "Yet, they refer to him as father."

"That's not normal," Hammond said sternly. "I'm not comfortable having a bunch of clones, or whatever they are, in this facility. We don't know anything about them at this point, if they have ulterior motives, or if they could become a danger at a later time." He pressed his lips together, staring at the three remaining members of SG-1. "You haven't given me much to go on."

"I know, Sir," Sam began, "but I don't think they'll try anything."

"And how did you come to this conclusion?"

Sam went to answer, but quickly shut her mouth. She really couldn't answer that justly. She glanced over to Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c, finding the same sentiment mirrored in their eyes, but they also appeared unable to explain it.

"Major?" General Hammond pressed.

"It's just a feeling," she replied, but quickly added, "but I'm sure—"

He shook his head, interrupting her before she could continue. "I'm sorry, Major, but—"

"Sir?"

General Hammond stopped, turning in his chair to gaze at Sergeant Siler. For a moment, Sam felt relief, able to formulate her thoughts and ideas more clearly, now that she wasn't as distracted.

But her relief dissipated when she caught sight of who was standing with Siler.

"Doctor Jackson?" General Hammond asked.

Daniel was standing quietly beside the sergeant, his ever-roving gaze scouting out the briefing room. Almost immediately, his gaze fell to the Stargate, his eyes widening as he stared at it.

And just as quickly, Sam felt her hopes dash, realizing this wasn't the Daniel she was hoping him to be.

"I'm one of them," he said at last, his gaze settling on General Hammond. "I was hoping to join the debriefing."

"I'm sorry, son, but I can't allow that."

"Why don't you go back and we'll talk to you when we're done," Colonel O'Neill said evenly.

"I don't mean to intrude, but I really feel like I can contribute," Daniel said, ignoring O'Neill's comment.

Sam eyed him closely for a moment, studying his features as he stood his ground. "You're Dan, right?"

He nodded. "Maybe once we start talking, I'll be able to fill in some of the missing pieces."

General Hammond was thinking hard; Sam could tell by the creases in his forehead. "Alright, son, take a seat." He motioned to the empty chair by Sam. "Why don't we take it from the top?"


Janet slammed down her pen and glared at Daniel. "Okay," she said. "What is the problem?"

Daniel shrugged, peering at her innocently over the rim of his glasses, while sending her a little smile. She didn't buy it for one second.

Daniel had been watching her for the past hour, sneaking little glances here and there before he'd scribble frantically in his notepad. At first, Janet had dismissed it as simple curiosity. But after the next several times, her patience was being to wear thin.

"Daniel," she said sternly. "I allowed you to stay in here as long as you weren't a distraction."

"I'm a distraction?" he asked, obviously amused. His eyes twinkled as he studied her closely. A little too closely. "You find me distracting? What about me is distracting?"

Janet knew better to even attempt to answer a question like that one. "Just-just keep still and let me do my job."

Why was she even tolerating this? She should just kick him out, as she did with Colonel O'Neill.

"I haven't said a word." His smile broadened and he winked before turning back to his notebook. His hands moved furiously over the pad. "I've been perfectly quiet…"

As his voice began to trail off, Daniel's strokes became elongated and more deliberate, hesitating just long enough for the sound of his breathing to come into perfect rhythm with his actions. Every few strokes, he would pause, holding the pen at an angle, slightly elevated above the paper, and focus his gaze inward. Then, he would catch her eye for a brief moment before beginning the whole process over again.

Janet swallowed hard, finding herself rising in her chair slightly. Tipping her head to the left, she attempted to sneak a peek at what Daniel was doing, and why he seemed to be so passionately involved in it.

Daniel stopped, his eyes slowly rolling upward, his gaze locking onto her. He didn't say anything, but instead just raised his eyebrows.

Sighing angrily, and more than a bit perturbed, Janet turned back to the medical charts she was evaluating. What was she? A schoolgirl? This was ridiculous. She was an adult woman. A doctor. She shouldn't be…acting this way.

Channeling her anger back into her job, she turned to the unconscious Daniel beside her. He continued to rest, his face pinched into a perpetual frown, as if even deep in his subconscious he was still thinking.

"You are curious, aren't you?" the Daniel seated across from her said.

Warily, she shot him a furtive glance, before gazing back at the presumed original. "I'm not curious."

"You want to see what I am doing, right?"

She breathed out, ignoring the mischievous glint in his eyes. "Not really."

"Okay," he said with a shrug, returning to his work.

Mentally kicking herself, she just stared at him. He had begun his ministrations again, now with even more care and ease, stopping to gasp slightly every time he paused.

Shaking her head, Janet returned to Daniel. The Daniel that currently was not getting under her skin. She checked his pulse, and then smoothed back his hair, pleased how much color had returned to his face.

"I can show you, if you like."

"I'm-I'm not curious," she repeated, stammering slightly. Turning away from Daniel she glared at the other straight in the eyes. "I don't know what you're up to, but—"

"I'm just here," he said with a soft voice. Quietly, he rose to his feet, with that smirk never leaving his face, as he came to meet her. A bit hesitantly, he tilted the notepad for her to see. "It's just…a little something."

Janet nearly lost her balance, grabbing onto Daniel's bedside for support. She had never seen anything quite like it, never something filled with so much passion and energy.

Something from Daniel.

Feeling some of her strength return, she grabbed the notepad, running her fingers over the sketch. There, blinking back at her, was her own face, duplicated in near perfect detail, the ink rounded in soft curves, her hair finished with fine detail. She was amazed how he'd even captured the emotions in her eyes. The picture seemed almost if it were alive.

"Daniel…"

"It's not finished," he told her, sliding up to her left. He pressed his hand against hers, securing her grip on the notepad. Casually, he slung his other arm over her shoulder, using his free hand to point at his sketch. "See? Right here." He tapped at the pad, sandwiching her between himself and the piece of art. "There's a lack of detail around the nose. When you think, your nose kinda scrunches up in this cute little way, and I—"

Janet cleared her throat, suddenly feeling awkward over the whole conversation. She dislodged herself from his hold, pressing a little closer to Daniel's bedside.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice nearly breaking. He steeled himself, backing away from her. "I shouldn't have gotten as close as I did. I forget that to you, I'm just some alien."

"No," she said softly, willing herself to take a step forward.

It wasn't that she feared him, or that he truly made her uncomfortable. In fact, having him close to her, sharing with her something so detailed and personal had made her feel special, and flattered. But, it also forced her to come to terms with some unsettling emotions of her own.

"No," she said again. "I don't see you just as an alien. You're very much like Daniel, in a way."

"But I'm not that Daniel," he said sourly.

The comment threw her for a moment, the anger laced with contempt. His eyes were burning, and the pain inside them was so great she almost felt it as well.

She couldn't understand why he felt so much resentment towards Daniel, or what the real source of his anger could be. But she did understand that he was more human than alien, and he carried the same kind of spark Daniel always had.

Cautiously, she came to him, and placed her hand on his arm. "You're your own person, Daniel. You may be like Daniel in many ways, but you are still you. No one can take that away from you. You don't need to try and be someone else."

"How do you know that?" he asked, his voice wavering. "No one knows what we are. We're not people. No one sees us as people. We're either him," he motioned to Daniel with disgust. "Or just some strange alien."

She rubbed his arm affectionately, shaking her head. "I just know, okay? Look," she said, taking his hand and bringing his notepad forward. "Look what you've accomplished. That is amazing and you did that on your own."

He chuckled, the laughter reaching his eyes. But it was only for a moment. "Not really," he muttered. "It's not that hard after you've studied and been forced to draw Egyptian hieroglyphs countless times."

She blinked, her mind struggling to wrap itself around that statement. "How? How could you know that if you're not Daniel?"

To this, he did not reply. He stared back at her, dumbfounded, as he searched for an answer.

"Daniel," she started, her voice rising as she became excited. "I need to ask you more questions about—"

"Wha?"

Janet jerked, hearing the broken voice from behind her. As she came to Daniel's beside, she felt a wave of relief pass over her, clutching his hand as he opened his eyes.

"Daniel?" She rubbed his arm soothingly. "Daniel, can you hear me?"

His response was a sleepy blink, his blue eyes focusing on her only for a moment before they wandered the infirmary. The eternal frown on his face only deepened. When his gaze came back to meet her again, she felt his hand squeeze her arm.

"Daniel?"

And squeeze. His eyes widened with shock, his gaze now fixed behind her.

Janet glanced at her shoulder, watching as the other Daniel stepped back, his own gaze a mix of horror and shock. He almost appeared afraid, moving farther and farther back, until he was behind his chair. Gone was the anger, the smugness, or even the mischief in eyes. He just stared, totally focused on Daniel.

Frowning, Janet reached her spare hand forward. "Hey, it's okay," she said. "He's—"

"Asleep again," he finished for her, sighing with relief.

He was, she thought, releasing Daniel from her grasp. Quietly, she placed his hand by his side, and allowed him the rest he needed. She couldn't imagine what was going through his mind, in those brief moments of lucidity when he gazed upon the face of himself. Was he aware enough to remember what happened on the planet? Or was his feverish state just complicating the problem?

Whatever the answer, Janet knew she would not know until Daniel awoke. But that didn't solve the other problem.

She took a cautious step toward the other Daniel. "Are you okay? What just happened back there?"

He shook his head, clearly agitated. "Nothing," he said quickly. "Nothing."

Without another word, he took his seat, clutching onto the notepad and hugging it close. After he took a few gulps of air, he seemed to relax, easing back into a comfortable position. Once again, he started scribbling on the notepad.

"Daniel…"

"No, I'm fine," he said curtly, refusing to look at her. "Just threw me a little, seeing him like that. That's all. I'm fine. He's fine. We're fine."

She knew in that instant, things weren't fine at all.

Going against her better judgment, she allowed for him to stay, but kept her sense more alert than ever, as she continued to plough through Daniel's latest mess.


"That's all I remember, I swear."

Jack chewed on the inside of his lip, eyeing Dan closely. His instincts didn't find anything deceitful about the man. In fact, Jack thought he was more confused than anything else. Then again, if Jack had woken up to find himself lying next to a man that looked just like him, he might feel a little confused, too.

"Nothing more?" Carter pressed, leaning in a little closer to Dan. "You just remember waking up next to Daniel?"

"And the two of you were covered in the alien substance?" Teal'c asked.

Dan shook his head. "It's all very hazy," he said distastefully. "Everything is becoming more and more distant."

When Jack thought Hammond couldn't look even more confused…

"That may have something to do with the fact their DNA has been altered," Carter explained.

"It could be," Dan admitted, rubbing his chin. "All I know is that I woke up near Daniel…and the others."

"And you said he was unconscious at the time?" Jack asked. "What about the other ones?"

"The same as myself. I can't speak for them…but I felt compelled to be near him. I knew he'd help me."

"How did you know that?" Hammond questioned.

Dan glanced quickly to Carter, then Jack and Teal'c, before moving his gaze to General Hammond. "I know this sounds foolish, but I just knew. He's…like a father to me."

Jack tried to hide his discomfort, but the whole thought was cringe worthy. These were adult men, nearly identical to Daniel and yet they called him their father. It just didn't sit well with him.

"That's what the first one said, the one you initially brought through the Gate, isn't it?"

Jack nodded to Hammond. "Yes, Sir. That one is still convinced Daniel's his father."

"Well, he is," Dan stated, rather defensively. "He's our father and we're extremely worried about him."

"Sorry to burst your bubble because I can tell you care for the guy," Jack said. "But, he's not your father. You see, children tend to be younger and don't look exactly like their parents. Plural."

Dan just glared at him.

"Well, that's not always the case, Sir," Carter said, stepping in. He could already imagine the wheels spinning in her head. "Some creatures reproduce by asexual reproduction."

Jack had nothing to say to that thought. Imagining Daniel reproducing…No, forget it. He didn't want to imagine Daniel reproducing in any capacity, let alone by himself.

"Well, forgive me for intervening, here, but this is important to me. I understand that you don't see me, or any of us for that matter, as a human, but I do." Dan picked at his fingertips, refusing to meet anyone's gaze. "And human beings to do not reproduce in that way."

"I understand how you perceive yourself," Hammond said, his tone soft and gentle. "But you have to look at our perspective, son. There are a total of five men on this base who are physically identical. Now, all five of you have had contact with an alien substance. Four of you have alien DNA. I have one man unconscious in the infirmary. And despite everything you've told us, we still don't have a clear idea of what happened."

Jack cocked his head, returning his attention to this Daniel. He knew that deflated look from past experience, but he also recognized the understanding in the other man's eyes.

Jack didn't like it. He got confused enough when it came to alternate realities. Tossing a half a dozen Daniels into the mix, all of which emulated him in some way, just threw him for a loop.

Finally, after a moment of silence, Dan nodded. "I know. I just—it doesn't make any sense to me."

"Maybe you're trying too hard," Jack offered, hating to see Daniel, any Daniel, feeling so blue. "Relax a little. Then, it'll come to you."

"Or maybe you're not trying hard enough," Sam countered.

Jack raised his eyebrow at that comment, not particularly fond of his second-in-command trying to out maneuver him. "Oh?" Jack asked, finding Hammond's curiosity had been piqued as well.

Dan didn't seem all that amused. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"Yes, Major, do you want to clarify that statement?" Hammond asked.

She nodded, the light sparkling in her eyes. "Well, Sir, I was thinking. What if, for some reason, Daniel here, and the others memories are suppressed somehow?" She paused, allowing for her statement to impact the rest of them. "Look at the first Daniel we brought through the Gate. He hasn't been able to tell us what happened on the planet. None of them have. What if, whatever happened, was traumatic enough for the Daniels to keep that memory repressed?"

"Using the first one is a bad example, Major," Jack said wearily. "He's got the mind of a child."

"But why?" Carter continued. "Why not the others? And why do the others all act in a particular manner? If they were true clones, wouldn't they all act the same?"

"I'd like to understand as well," Dan admitted. "There are so many unanswered questions."

"Indeed," Teal'c stated. "All appear to be DanielJackson but are not."

Teal'c couldn't have summed it up any better, in Jack's opinion.

"So, what are you suggesting?" General Hammond asked.

"Perhaps a session of kel'no'reem will bring forth the memories buried within the various DanielJacksons." Leaning forward slightly, Teal'c burrowed his gaze into Dan. "I can show you the techniques for mediation."

"That…might be our best shot, Sir," Carter admitted.

Hammond nodded. "Very well. But I want you to keep working on figuring out the purpose of that alien substance," he said to Carter before shifting his focus to Jack. "Colonel, round up the…Daniels and help get them situated in Teal'c's room."

"One of them won't be able to do it, Sir." Jack knew that one of the Daniel's would never have the attention span to sit and mediate, but he was uncomfortable with the only alternative. He might as well just come out and say it. "I'll keep an eye on him."

"Alright, Colonel. But stay on alert."

"Right."

The five of them rose to their feet, and headed for the exit.