"So, you're telling me you don't remember anything?" Riley asked Daniel, unimpressed.

"That's what I said the first few times…" he said, narrowing his eyes as he feigned another thoughtful face. "You want me to say it again?"

"Daniel," Colonel O'Neill warned again.

"What?" Daniel asked innocently. "We're just chatting." He motioned between himself and the major. "Just chatting."

"Hmm, well if you won't cooperate, I can always turn to your test results." Having said that, he reached his hand in his pocket and handed Janet a small slip of paper. "You'll find that request is signed and approved."

Janet didn't flitch. Glancing down, she studied the paper, acknowledging it did have the correct authorization on it. It seemed the NID and the personnel at Area 51 weren't taking any chances on Daniel's cooperation. Though, she suspected they would have requested his blood work even if he had given them everything they wanted.

Without protest, Janet walked over to her files, and pulled copies of Daniel's test and lab results. Glaring at Major Riley, she slapped the paperwork into his hands. The act didn't faze him; he just sent her another greasy smile.

"You won't find much there," she told him. "Doctor Jackson has made a full recovery. Whatever was plaguing him has left his system. There are no traces of the alien chemical in him at all and his DNA is sound and unaltered."

"So it seems," Riley mumbled, flipping through the pages. "Yet, just hours ago he lacked the mental capacity to interact with any of you on a normal basis."

"Daniel never interacts with us in a normal way," Colonel O'Neill said with a shrug. "What's your point?"

Riley crossed his arms and glared at O'Neill. "You're a regular comedian, you know that, Colonel?"

Janet saw the colonel stand in a way that could only be regarded as beaming. "Why thank you," he answered.

"But this isn't about you," Riley snapped. "I'm far more interested in the implications from Doctor Jackson's fall and apparent miraculous recovery."

Daniel grinned. "I'm cured!"

"Yes, and how did that happen exactly?"

"Exactly? I couldn't say," Daniel answered. "But when you wish for something hard enough…"

Major Riley flung his arms to the side and leaned over, nearly growling at Daniel. "If you don't cooperate, I can find a way to get your ass down to Area 51."

Janet inwardly cringed, watching as Daniel went to open his mouth again, but thankfully, Colonel O'Neill intervened in time. "You really shouldn't test him, Major. He's cranky."

"I'm not cranky," Daniel muttered.

O'Neill ignored him. "Look, he already said he couldn't remember anything and you've got your test results. Now why not get that back to your superiors and we can all get on with our lives."

Riley smiled. "You may think that you're smarter than the rest of us, but just because you have a higher rank doesn't make you the better of the two officers, Colonel."

"Mind rephrasing? Because that sounded suspiciously like something a major shouldn't be telling a colonel."

Riley raised his eyebrows. "Pulling rank of me, now, Colonel?" Before O'Neill could reply, he continued. "It doesn't matter. Doctor Fraiser, will you bring me that alien sample that was taken from the planet?"

When Janet didn't move, Riley pressed again. "It's all right there in the authorization, Doctor. Now why not do what you're told?"

"You can't talk to her like that," Daniel said, bringing the sheet closer to his waist. "Why don't you just take your information and go?"

Janet sighed, trying to hide her displeasure as she walked over to retrieve the jar that contained the last of the alien substance. Riley was right of course. He had full authorization to take the sample back with him, and she suspected it was only Hammond's influence that was keeping Daniel relatively safe.

She handed it to him and took a step back, moving closer to Daniel's side. Riley smiled, unperturbed by Janet's protective gesture and walked right up to Daniel. Snapping off the lid, he shoved the jar in his face.

"Touch it," he ordered, disregarding Daniel's disgust.

Daniel shied away, pressing hard against the back of the gurney, squeezing his eyes shut as he recoiled. Janet thought he was looking a little green, and his hands were beginning to tremble.

The colonel stepped up to stop the confrontation.

"What the hell? Are you nuts?" He pushed Riley back, giving Daniel room to breathe and time to recover. "Keep that closed."

"Just wanted to see for myself." Riley closed the jar. "I think I've seen enough. Where are the others?"

"Others?" O'Neill asked, opening his arms.

"Let's not play games, Colonel. The clones. Doctor Jackson's doubles."

Daniel blinked, sucking in a gulp of air. "I've been cloned?" Then, he broke into a grin, nearly laughing in the major's face. "Does the government want an army of me?

Riley shifted his weight, narrowing his eyes as he studied the three of them closely. "What are you up to exactly?"

When none of them answered, Riley turned on his heels and headed to door. "I'm going to talk to General Hammond," he called back before disappearing from sight.

O'Neill shook his head, glaring at Daniel and Janet. "That guy just doesn't know how to play the game," he said.

Daniel flipped off the covers, revealing his BDU pants, and hopped off the gurney to double check his laces. Satisfied, he pulled off the medical smock and smoothed out his tee shirt.

"Are you alright?' Janet asked him, examining his features carefully.

Daniel nodded, motioning his hand over to the nearby closet. "I'm okay. Just a little off. Nothing more than when I have a bad allergy attack. Could you hand me my jacket?"

She complied and walked over to the closet, sifting through to find his jacket. When she came back to the bedside, she found Colonel O'Neill assisting Daniel prepare to leave the infirmary.

"So, which one are you anyway?' O'Neill asked, taking his smock away.

Daniel grinned. "Your favorite, of course."

The colonel snickered. "Figures. I should have recognized the mouth on you."

"Hey," Daniel replied, sliding on the jacket and silently thanking Janet. He slid on his glasses. "Now you know how unbearable you are when you're like that."

Colonel O'Neill frowned, searching Janet for assistance. "I'm not—"

She smiled and nodded her head.

"Damn," he said. "Not important." He looked around a moment before he returned his gaze to the two of them. "Alright, I'm going to go and help out the others. When the two of you…are done, get him down to the Gateroom, alright?"

Janet blushed slightly, especially when O'Neill gave her a knowing sly little smirk. "Yes, Sir."

"Good." He raised his eyebrows at the two of them before heading to the door. "Time to go make sure Shiny doesn't get into too much trouble before we ship him back to Area 51." He chuckled and was gone.

"Must he always use nicknames," Daniel, smiling, with a subtle roll of his eyes.

Janet laughed softly. "It's just his way, I suppose."

"I suppose."

The two of them were silent for a moment, the laughter gone from their eyes. Solemn inevitability settled in its place, bringing a pressure and gloominess to the air that surrounded them. Janet felt as if she would suffocate from the oppression, lost in the thoughts of what would never be.

Daniel sensed her pain, and brought her close, cutting the distance between them. Quietly, he brought his hand up to her face, brushing aside some of the loose strands that had fallen from the twist that pulled her hair back, and then traced his finger down her jaw line. He took a step closer.

Janet knew she should speak. She knew that she should put an end to this simple flirtation before it went too far.

But she was tired, having expended her energy throughout this entire ordeal. She couldn't fight anymore and she wanted to give into the fantasy, even if it were truly only a dream that would vanish before it had a chance to blossom.

"Janet," he breathed, bringing his other hand to cup her face. "I know it's a lot to ask, but please, can I just have this one-this one request before I go?"

No, she wanted to say. No, let it go and let it never be. Could she face Daniel each day, seeing a mirror of what she had experienced in another life? In another man's arms? Could she really?

But she didn't deny him. Instead, she brought her hands to cover his, squeezing them gently. This was enough for him, just that simple acknowledgment. Breathing out, he leaned forward, bringing his head down as she reached upward.

The kiss was sweet, and moist, the smoothness of their lips brushing past each other in the most tantalizing way. In some respect, it felt so right, like they belonged and had always belonged, but on some other level there was just a hint of bitterness, reflecting the irony of their situation, and she knew it was wrong.

Sadly, she broke away and held back her tears, determined to hold onto her brave face in front of him. To her surprise, he did not scowl, or bite back disappointment. He only regarded her gently, and compassionately, like she'd just given him the greatest gift in the entire world.

She gasped, shaking, but refused to let the tears flow.

"Thank you," he said softly. "You've given me something to remember my whole life."

She didn't know what to say to that. She didn't know if she could respond.

He kept studying her, and then, as if he could see past her and into her turmoil, he shook his head, pressing a finger to her lips. "It's okay. Just be happy that you've made me happy."

"I wish you could stay," she said quickly, unsure how much longer she could rely on her strength.

"No." He shook his head, bringing his hands away, but squeezing her shoulders. "You don't have to say that for me. I know I'm not him. I'll never be him," he said sadly. Leaning forward, he brought his lips to her ear. "But remember one thing for me."

"What?" she whispered.

She felt him smile, his breath tickling her ear. "I feel everything he feels."

Allowing her to process that information, he took a step back, smiling at her. Then, without another word, he headed for the exit and on his way to a new life.

Numbly, she followed him, fighting to control all the conflicting emotions inside of her. The news was delightful but heartbreaking, and it took all her military and medical training to push them aside.

Unfortunately, she would have to confront them later. But now, she had to make sure she did her job.