Title: Affairs of the Heart
Author: Anaika Skywalker
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Don't own it, wish I did, I just like to play with them once and a while. I'll put them back when I'm finished. I promise.
Author's Note: Hi everyone, well things are getting back to normal around here, I'm figuring out my new laptop, my muse has been a good boy for the past few days and he's allow to go through the gate again. I really hate it when he whines. On a bright point, I just got season seven box set and have finally seen 'Fallen'. Which is a little weird, because here in Australia, we've just seen the last of season eight. After that ending, I can't wait to see what they do with season nine. Well enough of that, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Thanks to: Winjan: I have to admit I wasn't going to add any of the SG-1 story to my story, I was just going to mention it as I've done before. However after watching several of the episodes – I have from 1 to 7 on DVD, I decided to go head and do it. I'm glad you liked the blending. Pardon the pun. My muse hates that word and implantation, whoops said too much. Oh and just for the record, I don't think there will be any more mention of the NID.
Foxfur: Thanks for the heads up on those errors. Sorry about that, bad case of my beta not having enough time to read that chapter and having a new laptop. I hope to keep on top of them from now on, but one or two do occasionally slip through.
Starlite1: Thanks for loving the story, but I do have to ask. What Lemons? You've got me on that one. I can't get rid of what I don't know is there. Sorry.
Affairs of the HeartChapter Eight: Even Angel's fall
Colonel Jack O'Neill looked around where he was standing, he was in the Gate room, a deserted Gate room, but that's where he was. There was something unusual about it all though. It was just like he'd experienced when Daniel had been dying.
Dying! That was it. He remembered being evacuated from the base at Antarctica. So he was either dying or dreaming.
"You're not dreaming Jack."
He turned round only half believing who he saw. "Daniel?"
Daniel smiled and gave a little wave. "I go away and look what happens."
Jack looked around again, shoving his hands into the pants pockets of his blue fatigues. "So you're really here?" He was a little skeptical.
"I'm really here," Daniel stated. "I'm on another plane of existence but I'm here. Remember Oma Desala, the whole… glowing thing. You helped me out. I couldn't have done that without you by the way."
Jack shrugged. "So you're what…"
"I'm energy now."
He accepted that. "How's that working out for you?"
"Good actually… very…"
"Good." Jack finished off for him.
Daniel nodded. "Very good. You however…"
"Yeah well…" Jack pulled his hands free and sat on the ramp. "You know how it is when you're dying."
Daniel knew how things were with Jack. He sat next to him. "So how's Ceri?" He asked changing the subject for the moment.
"She's good, so is Callie. That daughter of yours is going to be a heart breaker one day," he answered. He looked to the man who had not only been his friend but apart of his family. "Ceri misses you a lot and when…."
"When?" his friend questioned and then asked. "Where is Ceri?"
Jack knew that look. "She was with SG-10 on an Archaeological survey," he answered. "I take it she's not here… I mean at the SGC?"
"Not yet, which means she doesn't know, Jack." Daniel said bluntly.
He winced. "I bet Hammond has contacted her by now and she's on her way," he offered, and then stated. "Come on Daniel, she's a big girl and she can handle herself. Teal'c's been teaching her Jaffa martial arts, as well as how to Kel'no'reem."
"Teal'c taught her to Kel'no'reem?"
"Yeah," Jack shrugged. "She likes doing it. Says it helps put her life into perspective."
Daniel could see how that would help Ceri. "Ooooh-kay."
"Look Daniel, with you gone, well Ceri has changed," Jack tired to explain. "She's trying to go on with her life. Every now and then she does something that makes everyone think she's a pain in the ass, but then again, so did you. Which is why we say she's having a 'Daniel moment'."
He laughed at that. "A Daniel moment?"
"Yeah," Jack chuckled a little. "Daniel, after you ascended, Ceri fell apart; she ended up on Abydos. It took her three months to come to terms with your death and even now I don't think she's fully done it."
"I know," Daniel admitted and he did, he'd been keeping tabs on his wife, even though he wasn't really supposed to. In fact he was keeping tabs on them on. "Sam is worried she's going to lose you."
"I thought she might be."
"She was lucky, taking her to Antarctica with you was risky, especially with her being pregnant."
"Yeah…" he said, and then asked the question that needed asking. "So am I going to see my son born? I mean you're here offering me ascension, right?"
"I'm only here to help you ascend, if that's what you want."
"Soooo," Jack said drawing it out. "You wana be my Oma?"
"You could put it that way. I mean I wouldn't, but maybe that's just me." Daniel answered plainly.
"Then what?"
"Then," he shrugged. "Then I don't know."
Jack looked at him surprised. "You don't know. I'm the one dying here and you don't know."
Daniel shrugged again, explaining. "Ascension doesn't make you all-knowing. I really… don't know."
"If I'm catchin the next plane of existence outta here, you gotta give me somethin."
Daniel sighed. "It's your journey. No one but you can choose what you become or the path you take. All I can promise you, is it will be an amazing journey," he told him with compassion, hearing his friend, his father-in-law muttering, adding. "Once you've released your burden."
"Daniel, so help me if you start talkin like Oma..."
"I'm not talking like Oma Desala," his friend said dryly.
"Sounds like it to me," Jack protested.
"No, no… see, Oma Desala would say something like… uh, if you know the candle is fire then the meal was cooked a long time ago or something like that."
"Why?"
"To open your mind."
Jack thought about that. "Though the candle burns in my house… there's nobody home."
Daniel chuckled. "More like, the lights are on but there's nobody home," he remarked and they both laughed. When they'd settled down, Daniel continued. "Jack, right now I can't imagine doing or being anything other then what I am," he said trying to explain what it was like for him at that moment. "I see things, I understand things in a way I never could have before. But I chose this. Even when Jacob was trying to heal me, I chose this."
Jack lent forward, reality setting in. "I don't won't to die, Daniel, I'm not ready to die," he said sincerely. "You were talking about an amazing journey; well I have that ahead of me. I'm going to be a dad again. I finally have everything I could ever want. I can't choose what you have. There's gotta be another way."
Daniel nodded, understanding what Jack was saying and what he wanted. "I can't interfere."
"You're interfering now," Jack pointed out.
"No I'm not. I'm consoling a friend."
Jack rolled his eyes. "Really," he drawled.
"Really," Daniel stated.
The Gate closed down after Dr. Ceri Jackson was through; she'd left the SG-10 on the planet continuing the survey. She walked down the ramp to the General. "Sir, what's going on?"
"It's the Colonel," he said gravely. "He's in the infirmary."
"What happened?"
"I'll explain on the way," he insisted. She nodded and followed him. Seeing Ceri come through the Gate had been haunting, for Hammond and everyone else who'd seen her, he supposed. Since her husband's death, and her sudden haircut she'd taken to wearing bandana's like Daniel had, in fact they were his. It caused quite a few heads to turn the first time she'd done it andeven after they were all use to it. He briefed her on what happened at the Antarctic base as they went. Concluding with. "We've contacted the Tok'ra, to see if they can help."
"Did you have Harm try the heal device?"
He nodded. "It didn't work, he said it's beyond the devices capabilities."
"So what do you think the Tok'ra can do?" She asked, answering her own question before he could. "Oh no. Dad wouldn't let them implant a symbiote, no matter what."
"It maybe his last chose, doctor."
"Then I pray your wrong, General," she said strongly as they entered the infirmary.
A SF was waiting for them, he took Ceri's vest and weapon, she thanked him and then continued on to the observation room that monitored the quarantine room her dad was in.
Sam was there; she went over and gave the linguist a hug. "Thank god you're here."
"I would of come earlier, but radio transmissions on PCX 8966 are lousy at the best of times." Ceri explained.
"You're here now."
They heard Dr. Frasier over the speakers, she and her staff wore biohazard suits. "Blood pressure's holding 80 over 40, I wanna do a manual and uh, get me the results of his latest blood work," she ordered.
"How's he doing?" Hammond asked Sam.
"They're doing everything they can, sir."
"We talked to the Tok'ra, they said this might be beyond their help, but they're sending someone anyway."
Ceri noted he didn't mention the offer of the symbiote.
"His best chance is Ayiana, sir. She managed to halt the virus completely in the rest of us." Sam concluded.
"Why hasn't she been able to stop it in herself?" The General inquired.
Janet answered that from the quarantine room, her voice coming over the speakers. "From what I've been able to learn so far, sir, the virus ultimately acts like cerebrospinal meningitis by attacking the brain. Despite the physical similarities, Ayiana's brain chemistry seems to be quite different from ours. I suppose it's possible she's able to trigger an immune response in us that she can't muster in herself once the disease reaches an end stage."
"What are he odds she'll survive?
Frasier gave her head a shake, the odds were not good, which mean the odds of Jack surviving were limited too. Sam squeezed her eyes shut and prayed, opening them when she felt Ceri's hand on her arm.
"Don't give up hope, Sam," she whispered.
"Doctor Jackson, have you had your post-mission physical?" Janet asked her.
"No."
"Then get it done."
Hammond saw the young woman going to protest. "Go on doctor, I'll stay with the Major."
"Yes sir," she agreed and left the room. She found Janet had come out and was waiting for her. "Doc."
She was pulling off the biohazard suit. "Lets talk."
Ceri agreed. "And the physical?"
"I can do both" she insisted and guided the linguist to another part of the infirmary. "What did the General tell you about Ayiana?"
"That's she's an Ancient, a few million years old," Ceri revealed as she sat up on the bed Janet gestured to, adding. "I'd like to see her."
"I was hoping you'd say that," the doctor responded. "You maybe able to find out how she can heal and …"
"See if I can do it?" Ceri finished.
"Yes." Janet saw the hesitation in the younger woman's silvery, gold eyes. "I realize it wouldn't be easy, but I know you'd do anything to save your dad."
Ceri nodded and then purposed a thought that popped into her head. "What about the antidote Atum created that makes the Ancient genes fight diseases?"
Janet frowned. "I never thought of it. My god, what kind of doctor am I?"
"Janet," Ceri sensed the doctor was mental beating herself up. "You can't think of everything."
"I should have thought of that," she stated. "Lets get this physical finished and I'll take a look at it."
"And I'll go talk to Ayiana.
Janet finished up quickly, suggesting the archaeologist take a shower. Ceri took it in good humor and hurried to the locker room. She showered and dressed, returning to the infirmary, meeting up with Jonas.
He greeted her warmly. "Hi doc."
"Hi Jonas, going to see Ayiana?"
"Yeah. You're welcome to join me," he insisted and saw her nod. "We really could have used your help in the Antarctic."
"From what I heard you did fine, Jonas," she praised.
He was a little embarrassed, shrugging. Outside the quarantine room, they put biohazard suits on over their fatigues and went inside. On hearing the heart monitor beeping in the background, froze Ceri on the spot, she took a deep breath as memories of her husbands death flooded through her, all brought on by the beep of the heart monitor.
Jonas was concerned. "Doctor Jackson? Are you all right?"
"Yeah," she pushed her own fears aside. "I'm fine."
As they approached the bed, Ayiana slowly opened her eyes, wrinkling her nose at the nasal cannula.
Jonas smiled. "Hey," he greeted tenderly. "I'm glad to see your awake, I had a feeling you were going to make it. Thanks for what you did for me; you didn't have to do that. Not for any of us," he saw her look to Ceri, curiously. "This is Dr. Ceri Jackson, she's a member of SG-1, like I am."
Ayiana frowned, grimacing in pain, her end was so near and yet she felt she had to hang on a little longer.
Ceri moved a little closer, smiling softly. "I want to thank you for what you did for Major Carter, she and her baby are fine because of you," she put her hand on Ayiana's arm and tried something. Telepathy. Thank you
There was surprise in Ayiana's eyes. You're a telepath?
Yes. I'm Tallisian, my ancestorswere Ancients, like you, she sent to her. I have Ancient genes. I need to know how you healed the others; I'm hoping I will be able to do it too. Colonel O'Neill is dying and we have no way of curing the virus he has.
I can show you, pass on the information. Ayiana told her and did it.
The force of the transfer made Ceri stumble and she felt herself being caught by Jonas. "What happened?" He asked.
"She showed me how she healed you, then passed on the knowledge so I can try it." Ceri told him. She concentrated on Ayiana once more. Thank you
Ayiana nodded, her breathing was becoming labored. Jonas noticed it. "Hey, take it easy," he said gently. "You've gotta get your strength back. We want you to live. I want you to live."
She weakly shook her head. "Sor-ry," she managed to say before losing consciousness. The regular beeping of the heart monitor became continuous and then flatelined.
"Ayiana!"
Medical personal in biohazard suits rushed into the room, Ceri managed to get Jonas out of the way, letting them work on Ayiana. Dr. Frasier rushed in also, back in her biohazard suit; she glanced quickly at Jonas and Ceri, seeing the shock on the Kelownan's face.
"She just, um…" he mumbled
Ceri sensed his pain and anguished, as they watched Janet and her team fight to save Ayiana's life. "Hang on Jonas," she whispered. But both of them jumped when the defibrillator was used, watching helplessly as Ayiana was shocked but didn't respond.
Janet saw she was fighting a battle she wasn't going to win. "All right I'm calling it," she said finally.
Ceri pulled a shocked Jonas from the room, pulling off the hood of the biohazard suit. "Jonas?"
He pulled off his own. "She trusted us to make her better," he said, pain laced his voice.
"I'm sorry Jonas," she could feel his pain, he had fallen hard for Ayiana, very hard. She drew him into her arms. "We can't save them all," she said gently. "I wish we could."
"I know, but it doesn't make it any easier," he stated.
"No it doesn't," she agreed. "It never does."
Jack looked away from the scene that had unfolded before him. He'd asked Daniel to let him see what was going on, he hadn't expected that.
"There's still a chance, Jack," Daniel said, he stood next to him.
"Yeah, if Ceri can understand what she was given, I may have one."
"If anyone can, it's Ceri."
"Yeah," Jack agreed, he turned and followed Daniel. They arrived in the observation room that over looked the quarantine room where his body lay. Seeing Sam sitting by the large windows watching. "This has got to work, Daniel," he said anguish. "I can't leave her alone."
"I'm sorry Jack, ascension maybe your only chance."
"To do what, Daniel," he snapped. "To watch my wife grieve for me from another plane of existence, to never touch her again or hold our son." He saw the pain in his friend's eyes, realizing what he'd just said. "Oh god, Danny, I'm sorry."
Daniel smiled sadly. "It's all right Jack, I didn't have a chose, but you do."
"No I don't, Daniel," he said sadly. "I'm dying and unless Ceri can heal me, you're right, ascension is my only chose."
Harm went into the observation room seeing Sam was still sitting by the window, she looked like she'd been crying. He sat down beside her. "Hey Sam."
She looked. "Hi Harm."
"How is he?"
"No change."
"I wish I could of done more, anything really."
Sam took his hand in hers, fresh tears threatened to fall. "It's all right, Harm. Jack knows you tried."
He still felt he should have been able to do more. "So where's Ceri, I thought she'd be here with you? I heard she was back."
Sam found that a little funny. "You're asking me where you sister is?" She asked and saw him shrug and smile. "She was, she went to see Ayiana. She and Jonas were there when Ayiana died."
"I really sorry to hear that."
Sam knew that. "She was on borrowed time from the beginning," she remarked. "Any how after Jonas headed off to his quarters, she went to mediate with Teal'c. She's hoping that Kel'no'reem will help her get a little perspective on the information Ayiana gave her. It maybe Jack's only hope."
"Yeah." He slipped his arm around her and they sat in silence for a moment. "You know Daniel told me something after I joined SG-1. I asked him why you explained things to all of us differently to the way you do with Jack and he said. 'Because Jack knows what she's talking about, he just doesn't like admitting that to her, and Sam likes to think she's pulling one over him'."
She laughed, hugging her arms around her body. Tears threatened to fall. "I never knew until just before we married that Jack had the degrees he did. He never told me, not once."
"He didn't do that to hurt you Sam."
"I know," she assured. "I do."
General Hammond arrived with the Council Thoran of the Tok'ra. "Major Samantha Carter, Commander Harmon Rabb," he waited until they'd stood and joined him and their guest. "This is Thoran of the Tok'ra."
"I spoke with your Doctor Frasier, I understand you used the hand device, Commander Rabb." Thoran stated, coming straight to business.
Harm nodded. "His condition is beyond the healing of the device."
The Tok'ra nodded understanding. Putting forth his proposal. "There is a symbiote who is in dire need of a host."
"What happened?" Sam asked.
"The former host was mortally wounded on assignment and the symbiote was unable to heal him. We believe that would not be the case with Colonel O'Neill. Physical trauma is much more difficult to deal with then disease." Thoran revealed bluntly.
"The problem is, Jack wouldn't chose to be blended with a Tok'ra," Harm pointed out. Next to him Sam nodded in agreement.
"I am aware of your husband's dislike for our kind, Major Carter. However I am surprised that you think he would choose death over blending. Or you would let that prejudice stop you from saving your husband."
"How dare you, I love my husband and I would do anything to save him," she said angrily. "You selfish son of a…"
She didn't finish, seeing Jonas came into the observation room, a little down, but better then what he had been. "Jonas."
"I just want to see how Colonel O'Neill was," he told her.
"Jonas, this is Thoran of the Tok'ra," Hammond introduced the two. "Thoran, this is Jonas Quinn. The Tok'ra are offering a symbiote in hopes that it can heal Colonel O'Neill."
"What does Colonel O'Neill have to say?" Jonas asked.
"He's in a coma," the General reported flatly. His next words were hard even for him to say. "The fact is we may be in the position of having to decide for him."
Sam didn't like that. "How can we do that?"
"No Tok'ra symbiote would choose to blend with an unwilling host permanently," Thoran assured and proposed. "Perhaps a temporary arrangement can be reached."
"What do you mean?" Hammond asked.
"The symbiote, Kanan, is someone I know well. I have no doubts that he be willing to blend with O'Neill, cure him, and then leave him again if another suitable host can be found."
"And if not?" Jonas asked.
"I assure you he would ultimately sacrifice himself rather then remain with an unwilling host," Thoran answered. "Kanan's former host died before he was able to reveal the details of what we believe was vital intelligence about the undercover mission he was on. I cannot stress enough how important that information could be."
Sam didn't want her husband to die, but the alternative was frightening. "Sir, I think it's obvious we all want to do anything we can to help Jack," she began, keeping her voice steady. "But I really think this is something we at least have to give him the opportunity to decided for himself."
"I agree."
Ceri and Teal'c came rushing into the room, having only over heard the last of the conversation. "There's another way," she stated. They all looked at her and Ceri addressed the General. "Sir, I think I can do it."
"Do what, Doctor Jackson?"
"Heal Colonel O'Neill," she stated. "I need to try. There's a catch though."
"Which is?" Harm asked.
"I have to go in there without a biohazard suit," she answered. "I need to be able to form a link and I can't do that if I can't touch him."
"I don't know if I can authorize that, Doctor Jackson."
"Sir this maybe dad's only chance."
"Should we not let Ceri Jackson try, General?" Teal'c put forth.
He sighed. "What if you're infected?"
"It's a risk I'm willing to take, sir." Ceri told him. "Sir, I have to try."
He saw she wasn't going to back down on this. "All right."
"Thank you sir," she said, and then rushed out of the observation room.
Thoran looked at the General in disbelief. "You really can't believe this will work?"
"When it comes to the determination of Doctor Jackson, I do." George Hammond stated bluntly.
"I guess it's almost over." Daniel said.
Jack nodded; they were back in the Gate room. "So what now?"
"Now your life continues," he said with a smile. "You were right, Jack, you're journey isn't over, not yet."
Jack was curious now. "What does that mean?"
"It means you have a lot to live for and if you need me, I'll always be there for you."
"Is that a promise?"
Daniel nodded. "It's a promise."
"So how do I go back?" Jack asked him.
Daniel put his hand on Jack's shoulder. "You're already going."
"I am?"
"You are." Daniel told him. "Goodbye Jack."
Mac and Harm came into the observation room, joining Sam, Teal'c, Jonas and the General. "Councilor Thoran has returned to the Tok'ra, he said his offer still stands if this doesn't work," the Commander revealed.
"We'll take our chances," the General stated.
Mac slipped her arm around Sam. "How are you holding up?"
"I'm," she paused, starting again. "I'm praying."
"We all are."
Jonas glanced to the Jaffa next to him. "She can do this, right?" He asked quietly.
"Indeed." Teal'c answered confidently.
In the quarantine room, Ceri stood next to Jack's bed, unlike Dr. Frasier, who was in there with her, she wasn't wearing a biohazard suit. She stood next to the bed, with one hand on Jack's chest and the other on his forehead, her eyes closed.
On insistence from Janet, she wore a heart monitor, so the doctor could monitor her vitals just as she was monitoring the Colonel's. The readings bothered Janet, Ceri's anyway. They were sporadic, sometimes even dangerous. From what she understood was happening, Ceri was drawing the virus out of the Colonel and into her own body, where she triggered her immune system, which in turn irradiated the virus.
Janet saw the Colonel's eyes flicker and then open, she smiled warmly. "Its all right Colonel, lie still," she saw his eyes look to his adopted daughter. "Ceri is healing you. Ayiana showed her how before she died." She read the next inquiry his eyes made. "Sam is fine, so is the baby."
He pulled the oxygen mask from his face. "Tired…"
"You would be, your body had been through a lot trying to fight off the virus," she said gently.
Ceri opened her eyes and gripped the bed as a wave of dizziness struck her. "Dad?"
"Hey," he managed a smiled. "You okay?"
"Yeah, very tired," she told him, her grip on the bed becoming stronger. "In fact, I think I'll pass out now," she said and did, right into her brother arms. He and Sam had come in as she began to speak. He scooped his sister up into his arms.
"Nice catch Commander," Janet praised. "Go settle her on a bed in the ward and I want to keep her in the infirmary over night, just in case."
"Sure doc," he agreed and carried her out, a nurse from outside going with him.
Sam preached on her husband's bed. "Hey Jack."
"Hey sweet thing," he said softly.
She lent over and kissed him, tears of happiness in her eyes.
"Don't cry," he said whipping her cheeks.
"It's hormones," she blamed grinning.
"I'll have you moved out of here in a few minutes, sir," Janet told him. "You should be feeling like your old self in a few days."
"Thanks doc," he mumbled barely able to keep his eyes open.
She saw that. "Get some rest Colonel."
He closed his eyes. "Said she'd do it, …" he muttered drifting off.
Sam looked at Janet, wondering what he'd meant by that.
Janet shrugged. "Stay with him, I'll go cheek on Ceri and then we'll have the Colonel moved too."
"Thanks Janet."
She smiled warmly and hurried out, her friends, her family was back together again and that was all that mattered. Well nearly all of them. As she walked away, she said a silent thank you to the one person she was sure had been watching over the Colonel.
In the observation room, General Hammond smiled. "I'll let the Tok'ra know we won't be needing the symbiote," he said cheerfully.
Teal bowed his head in acknowledgement and the General left. Beside him Mac and Jonas were grinning like a couple of kids.
A few hours later, Jack woke seeing his wife and two of his three-team mates huddled at the end of his bed, talking softly. "Hey, trying to sleep here."
They grinned, acknowledging him. "Hi Jack," Sam greeted.
"Colonel." Jonas said happily.
Teal'c bowed is head a little. "It is good to see you well again, O'Neill."
"Thanks T," he looked to his left, knowing his surrogate daughter was in the bed next to him, he didn't know how he knew, he just did. She was still asleep, curled up on her side, looking a whole lot younger then she was. "How is she?"
"She's fine," Sam said preaching on the bed. "Janet said she'll probable sleep all night, her body needs to regain its strength."
He put his hand on his wife's swelling stomach. "She saved my life again."
"It's becoming a habit."
"Again?" Jonas asked curiously.
"Ceri Jackson saved O'Neill's life by linking telepathically with him," Teal'c explained.
"Really? And the healing, she's done this before, right?"
"On Abydos, when she was pregnant," Jack said wearily. "It's a long story."
"I'd like to hear it," the Kelownan said eagerly
"I will tell it to Jonas Quinn," Teal'c volunteered and saw the young man eager. "We will take our leave, O'Neill."
"Night Teal'c," he bided.
"See you late, Colonel," Jonas said and followed the Jaffa out, asking question after question.
Jack saw his wife smile. "You should get some rest too."
"I will, now I know you're all right."
He rubbed his hand gently over her belly once more, thinking about the second chance he'd been given, or was it a third one. Still, he had it. "Sam," he looked up. "I was thinking," he hesitated; he wasn't quite ready to tell anyone about seeing Daniel yet, but there was something else he did want. "Could we name the baby after Daniel?"
She smiled, surprised but saw it was something he really wanted. "I think it's a wonderful idea," she agreed and lent over, so her lips were inches from his. "How about Daniel Jacob O'Neill?"
"I like it," he said, then kissed her, drawing her fully into his arms. "I love you Sam."
"I love you too, Jack."
She stayed for a little longer, but was eventually ushered out by Janet, the doctor ordering the Colonel to get some sleep before leaving herself.
After they were gone, Jack looked over at his sleeping daughter, she might not of been his by blood, but didn't mater she was his daughter. He looked back seeing who was standing next to his bed.
Daniel smiled warmly. 'I always seem to be saying goodbye to you.'
"Yeah, I noticed that. Why don't you stick around awhile?" Jack suggested, glancing quickly to Ceri. "There's someone here who would like to see you."
'I can't, really.' Daniel said crossing his arms against his chest.
"You're here now." Jack noted.
'Special occasion.'
"So this is it?"
'Yeah.'
"Not even for Christmas?" Jack asked him.
'No.'
"Groundhog Day?"
Daniel smiled, chuckling softly. 'Nooo.'
"I've got my journey, you've got yours?"
He nodded. 'Something like that, yeah,' he agreed. 'Look Jack, what's ahead of you is something very special and amazing. I know you missed out on a lot with Charlie, but this time it'll be different.'
"How do you know?" Jack inquired.
'You're just going to have to trust me.'
Jack smiled a little. "I can do that."
Daniel smiled again, he knew Jack trusted him; he'd trusted him when he'd been alive, and it was no different now. He looked over at his sleeping wife, she trusted him too and he missed her.
"Are you gonna be okay?" Jack asked him, seriously.
'Yeah,' Daniel answered. 'I'm going to be fine.'
On the bed next to him, Ceri woke, seeing her surrogate father awake. "Dad?"
Jack turned to her. "Hey sweetheart."
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," he glanced back to find Daniel was gone. He looked back to Ceri. "Thanks to you," he said aloud. But to himself he said. 'And you Danny-boy.'
She sat up, getting off the bed she went over to him, preaching on his bed, she hugged him, feeling his arms go round her. "I love you dad."
"I love you too sweetheart."
A little while later, the night nurse found them still like that. She smiled and walked back out, leaving the Colonel and archaeologist sleep.
P5X 4599 (A few months later)Commander Harmon Rabb ducked as part of the wall behind him exploded from a staff blast. He returned fire. "Damn it to hell," he swore and spoke into his radio. "Sierra Gulf One, do you copy? We're under heavy fire, repeat under heavy fire!"
Harm was suddenly very thankful for the earpiece, as Jack O'Neill's voice came over it: "Sierra Gulf two, we've got our own party to worry about. Open the Gate and go, we're on your six!"
"Negative sierra gulf one!" Harm shouted into his radio before taking out another Jaffa.
"Damn it Commander, that's an order!" Jack yelled back over the radio. "Open the god damn Gate and get your sorry sixes back home. We'll be right behind you."
"If anything happens to you Jack, Sam will have my ass, so move it!" Harm ordered him.
"We're moving. Get going sierra gulf two!"
Harm glanced around, his team was scatted around the gate, and the DHD was out in the open. Shit! At times like this he wished he'd taken more notice of what Ceri had told him about telekinesis. Telepathy he was good at, moving things with his mine, he was not so good at. Gritting his teeth he ran for the DHD. His team automatically started to lay down cover fire. He dialed out quickly and the Gate opened with a whoosh, he ducked behind the DHD.
Inside the SGC the alarm for an unscheduled off word activation went off, Gate room security raced into the gate room and set up defensive positions. The iris spiraling shut as the gate opened, Sgt. Harriman's voice coming over the speakers. "Unscheduled off world activation."
In the control room, Harriman saw the General enter. "It's SG-2's ID, sir. Receiving audio."
"On speaker." Hammond ordered.
Harm's voice came through. "Close quarters withdrawal. It's gotten ugly."
"Acknowledged, Commander. We'll be ready, just give us the word," he transmitted back and then informed the gate room troops. "Watch your friendlies. Safeties off. Clean targets. Clean backgrounds."
Harm's voice was still heard over the sound of staff blasts. "Damn it Jack, move your six…. SG-2 lets go. Base, this is it. We're on our way."
"Open the iris." Hammond ordered.
The iris opened as Sam and Mac rushed into the control room, standing next to the General. All reacted to the staff blasts hitting near the window. SG-2 raced through the Gate, Captain Davidson being supported by Rabb and Williams, a staff blast wound to his side. The med team quickly took him from them as the rest of his team took up defensive positions, getting him out of the gate room.
"SG-1 was right behind us!" Harm yelled back to the General in the control room, seeing Hammond nod before he concentrated on the gate.
They took out two Jaffa that came through, before a large boom was heard and O'Neill and Teal'c came flying through the gate, seconds later Quinn did, falling into the two of them.
Teal'c got to his feet and reefed his teammates up onto theirs. "Where is Ceri Jackson?"
"She was right behind me." Jonas said aguishly.
There was another large boom and the archaeologist came flying through, landing hard on the ramp she rolled to a stop before them. "Shut it down!" She shouted.
The iris spiral shut, a number of thumbs were heard against the closed iris.
Jonas helped her to her feet. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," she rubbed her shoulder, grinning. "What a ride."
He chuckled and patted her gently on the back.
General Hammond came into the Gate room along with Colonel Mackenzie and Major Carter. "Dr. Jackson, are you all right?"
"Yes sir," she answered. "A little battered and bruised but fine."
"Get checked out by Dr. Frasier, we'll debrief in one hour," he ordered.
"Yes sir."
"Nice work SG-1 and 2."
"It was nothing sir," Jack bragged. "Come a long kids."
Chuckling they followed him.
Mac looked to Sam, slipping her arm around her. "They have all the fun."
Sam sighed. "Sucks being left out, doesn't it?" She grumbled.
"Oh yeah," the Marine remarked and the two women grinned and walked out together.
General Hammond glanced up at the ramp, the corpsmen were removing the enemy Jaffa. Silently the General sighed in relief that both teams had made it back. He returned to his office and started on the paper work, writing up a report on the incident as it happened for him. By the time he was finished it was time for the briefing. He gathered the file and walked over to the door, opening it a little he stood watching those present.
All of SG-2 was there except for Captain Davidson, who was still in the infirmary, Read, Williams and Ryan were joking with Rabb, their CO taking it in his stride. O'Neill strolled in with Teal'c, the two chatting to themselves; they quickly joined in the bantering. Last to arrive were Dr. Jackson and Jonas Quinn, they happily joined the others.
Hammond still found it hard to see the two of them together, he was use to seeing Ceri Jackson with her husband, without Daniel, it always felt a little wrong. SG-1 just wasn't the same without him, even though they tried and Jonas was a good man. It wasn't the same.
Sighing again, Hammond walked out into the conference room and everyone took their seats, SG-1 to the left and SG-2 to the right. The General sat down. "All right people, what happened on P5X 4599?" They each gave their account of what happened in turn, giving him a full deal tailed report. "All right, write up your mission reports and have them on my desk by sixteen hundred, dismissed."
All stood, the General went back to his office. An Airman walked over to Ceri and handed her a written note and spoke quietly to her. She thanked him and read what it said, frowning a little.
Jonas arched an eyebrow. "Is something wrong?"
"I'm not sure," she stated, and then sort her surrogate father. "Dr. Langford wants to met?"
"Catherine?"
She nodded. "She asked for Daniel. The Airman didn't know what to tell her, so he said he'd pass the message on to Dr. Jackson."
"Come on," Jack said and gestured her to follow him. She did, going with him to the General's office. He knocked on the door and they went in. "Sir, can we have a word?"
"Of course Colonel."
"Ceri just got a message from Catherine Langford," Jack revealed. "Sir, didn't anyone tell her about Daniel?"
Hammond sat back in his chair. "No," he admitted. "To be honest, I never thought about it."
"Dr. Langford asked to met with Daniel sir," Ceri announced. "I'd like to meet with her, she should be told what happened to him."
"You've never met her, have you?" Jack asked her.
"No, but Daniel told me about her and what she did for him."
"I think it would be prudent for Dr. Langford to come here to us, Dr. Jackson," he declared. "For everyone."
"Yes sir," she handed him the note. "The Airman who took the message; took her number."
"I'll contact Dr. Langford and make arrangements," the General offered.
"Thank you sir."
They both left the office, Jack saw Ceri retreat into herself, just as Daniel use to do. "I'll be there with you when Catherine arrives."
"Thanks dad," she gave him a half heart smile and left the conference room.
Jonas came over to him. "Is Dr. Jackson all right, Colonel?"
"She will be, Jonas," he stated and left himself.
Hesitating only for a second, Jonas went after the archaeologist.
Harm had watched them leave, before following his team out; they headed for the infirmary to check on Captain Davidson. Being stopped by Dr. Frasier.
"Commander. Lieutenants," she greeted.
"How is Captain Davidson, doc?" Harm inquired.
"Resting well. He's going to be fine, the wound wasn't as bad as we first thought," she reported. Not at all intimidated by his height, she'd seen the Commander at his worst. "You can have five minutes, not more. Then out."
"Thanks doc."
"Commander," Janet held him back as the rest of his team hurried over to their friend, keeping her voice low. "Did something happen at the briefing?"
"Nothing unusual, why?" He asked.
"Ceri came in just before you all arrived and went straight to the room," she told him. "The room where…"
"I get it doc," he said and telepathically searched the base for Jack and Sam, both were on their way to the surface. He would deal with it on his own. "Jack and Sam are leaving, I'll go talk to her."
"Thank you, Commander."
He patted her on the shoulder and walked quickly over to his team. "Guys, I'll see you in a minute."
"Anything wrong, Commander?" Elliot Davidson asked. "I saw Dr. Jackson come through a few minutes ago."
"I'm going to find out," he stated, then warned lightly. "Behave yourselves or Frasier will be after you all."
"Yes sir," they all jeered.
He shook his head, chuckling as he walked away. He found the room he wanted, hearing Ceri talking he sensed Jonas was in there with her. He stood in the doorway, but didn't go in. Ceri was standing by the bed, her back to him. Jonas was on the other side of the bed.
"Janet went without sleep for three days, she did everything she could," she was saying. "In the end she didn't want to let him go."
"Neither did you," Jonas stated, he'd seen the Commander, but didn't acknowledge him and Harm didn't want him too, he could see that.
Ceri ran her hand over the bed. "I told Jacob to let him go," she said haunted. "I stood in this very spot, holding his hand and told Jacob to let him go."
Jonas walked round the bed to her. "You did what he wanted."
"It never stops the pain though, Jonas," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I stood here, holding on to Daniel's hand, knowing I gave up my ability to heal and watched my husband die."
He heard the regret, the anger and the sorrow in her voice. "You told me once I wasn't to blame myself for your husband's death. Don't you think you should do the same?"
She looked at him, seeing the sincerity, the shock from her brother, who was standing in the doorway watching. He was right, which hurt even more. She thought she'd finally put this all behind her, but she hadn't. "I didn't want him to die," she admitted, tears in her eyes. "I told him I didn't, but I lost him anyway."
Jonas drew her into his arms. "You didn't lose him, Ceri. He's in your heart and still very much a part of you. And you see him every time you look at Callie," he said gently, rubbing her back, letting her cry. He glanced over to the Naval officer, seeing Harm smile warmly and walk away.
Janet saw Harm re-enter the ward. "Commander?"
"Jonas is with her. Give them a minute," he told her. "Then call Teal'c."
"Teal'c?"
"Yeah, I have a feeling she shouldn't be alone tonight and Teal'c has taken upon himself to look after Ceri when she's down," he explained. "They usually head over to her place and watch the Star Wars trilogy, T stays the night and in the morning she's fine."
"I see. Thank you Commander."
"I didn't do anything, doc," Harm stated.
"You did, Commander. She knew you were there," she said sincerely. She saw him nodding, understanding; noting he didn't leave either. So she finished what she was going to say. "I signed his death certificate, Commander. I gave it to the General, he filed it away and then listed Daniel as MIA. I think in a way he hopes one day Daniel will come back to us."
"So do I, Janet." Harm told her solemnly and then headed over to his team.
The next morning Dr. Catherine Langford was escorted to the conference room; General Hammond, Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter-O'Neill welcomed her back. Both Jack and Sam hugged her.
She smiled happily, glancing around. "Where is Daniel?"
"Sit down doctor," the General insisted.
Catherine didn't argue, sitting down at the conference table with them. "What's going on, General?"
"Catherine," Jack began. "Daniel died. Sort off."
That shocked her, at first she thought they were joking but then she could see they weren't. "Sort off?"
"He ascended to a higher plane of existence."
"Then who did the Airman give my message too?" She demanded. "And why in the hell wasn't I informed earlier?"
"We're sorry, Catherine," Sam said gentle. "After Daniel's death/ascension, we were called away to help the Asgard and Daniel's wife didn't handle his death too well to start with, she packed up herself and their daughter and went to Abydos for three months."
"Wait," Catherine stopped her. "What wife? I didn't even know Daniel had gotten married again, let along had a daughter."
"That would be me," a gentle voice said from the stairs.
Catherine looked seeing a beautiful young woman come up the stairs carrying a toddler in her arms, putting her down a the top. The little girl was clearly Daniel's daughter; there was no doubting that.
"Dr. Ceri Jackson, Dr. Catherine Langford." General Hammond introduced.
"It's a pleasure to met you, Dr. Langford," Ceri said moving closer, her daughter's hand in hers. "Daniel told me so much about you."
"He never told me anything about you," Catherine stated bluntly.
Callie pulled at her mother's hand and broke away, going over to her grandfather. "Poppa."
Jack grinned and picked her up. "Hey sweet pea," he gave her a cuddle. Seeing Catherine's amused expression. "Ceri is my surrogate daughter."
As soon as the young woman sat next to her, her eyes fascinated Catherine. "You're not human."
"No, I'm Tallisian," she answered. "My planet was destroyed by the Goa'uld. I've made Earth my home."
"So the Airman gave you the message?"
"Yes, he didn't know what to tell you."
Catherine glanced over and saw Callie snuggled into her grandfather, smiling; she was so like her father. "She's adorable."
"She's her father's daughter," he said proudly. He tickled his granddaughter. "Callie, this is Catherine, she knew your daddy."
Callie looked at the elderly woman and tilted her head a little; her silvery blues looked questioningly at her, then to her mother.
Ceri smiled, receiving her daughter's telepathic inquiry; verbally Callie spoke as many words as any child her age. Telepathically she was more advanced, but still learning. "Catherine," she corrected vocally. "And yes she does have a nice smile."
That made the elder woman curious. "She didn't say anything?"
"Both Dr. Jackson and her daughter are telepathic." General Hammond explained.
"Dr. Langford, forgive me for being blunt," Ceri interrupted, coming to the point of the older woman's visit. "But in your message, you said you had something you though we should have?"
"Yes, and please call me Catherine," she insisted and saw the younger woman smiled. Gesturing the Airman over who carried the small box. She accepted it, removing two cloth wrapped items. "These were found at dig that is currently going on at the Valley of the Kings."
Ceri arched an eyebrow. "The search for Tutankhamen's stepmother's tomb?"
"Yes," she slid the first over to her. "I think you'll find them interesting. The first one contains the inscription of Ra, the second is a tablet with writing I've never seen before."
Hesitantly, Ceri unwrapped the cloth from the object, seeing what it was. "Oh God."
Jack saw what it was. "Is that what I think it is?"
She nodded. "The Eye of Ra, which means," she took the second and unwrapped it. "The tablet of the Ancients." She pushed back her chair and stood, walking over to the large window.
"You've seen these before?" Catherine asked, a little confused by the reaction.
"Daniel and Ceri found them on Abydos and brought them back here," Sam revealed. "An ascended Ancient named Lara, who's living with the Furlings, took them. She said we weren't ready and when the time came we wouldn't be ready then either."
Jack watched Ceri, the way she stood looking out at the Stargate, her arms crossed against her chest in deep though. She was doing it again, pulling a 'Daniel'. Damn he didn't need her in a funk right now. "Hey Space monkey 2," she turned giving him a look that was sooo Daniel. "Glad your back with us."
"Sorry dad," she returned to her seat, pulling the tablet closer. "The tablet talks about a city that the Ancients made lost."
"Made lost?" Catherine asked, trying to follow the young woman's line of though.
"Yes, I'm guessing they camouflaged it, removed all reference of it from written history," she paused and frown, then tilted her head as her daughter had done, deep in thought once again. Knowing what she needed. Jonas, can you get my Journal on the Ancients, third shelf fifth book in from the left? I'm in the conference room. She asked him telepathically and then run her fingers over the tablet. "The table refers to the city of the Ancients called Vis Uban as the place where the plague began that wiped them out. Vis Uban translate as place of great power, but I don't think it's the lost city."
"Wait," Catherine interrupted again. "You can read this?"
"Yes, it's in an old Ancient dialect, but yes."
"Ceri's ancestors were Ancients," Sam filed in. "During their contact with the Furlings, both Ceri and Daniel received a lot of knowledge concerning the Ancients and their abilities, neither retained the knowledge though, well not all of it."
"Then things got a little funky." Jack added. "But my girl reads Ancient."
Jonas came running up the stairs, going over to them. "Here you go Dr. Jackson."
"Thanks Jonas," she took the Journal and opened it, totally becoming enthralled with what she looking for.
Jack chuckled. "Jonas Quinn. Dr. Catherine Langford," he introduced the two.
Jonas recognized the name. "You recruited Daniel Jackson for the Stargate program, I read about that when I first arrived."
Catherine was surprised. "First arrived?"
"I'm not from Earth," he said casually and sat next to Ceri, looking over the tablet with her.
The elderly woman looked from the young man to Hammond. "Are we having an invasion that I don't know about, General?"
He chuckled. "Some times it feels like it."
"There are quiet a few of us aliens around," another voice remarked.
Catherine looked, seeing a Naval office came up the stairs with a woman. Both had silver, gold eyes, like Ceri's except the man's were also a blue.
"Dr. Catherine Langford. Commander Harmon Rabb and Alyn Merrick," Hammond introduced. "The Commander is half Tallisian and Dr. Jackson's half brother, Alyn is also Tallisian and Tok'ra. She's Callie's nanny."
Harm smiled. "Ma'am."
Alyn did also. "Hello, doctor," she greeted, and then addressed her young charge. "Come along young lady, the twins have arrived and are waiting your presence." Callie held out her arms, and was picked up by the Tok'ra. "Excuse me," she said, seeing Ceri was in a world of her own. "Tell Ceri, I've taken Callie, Jack. I doubt even telepathy would get though to her at the moment."
"Yeah, she's have a 'Daniel' moment," he smirked.
She chuckled at that, as the others grinned. "I can see that," she nodded to Hammond. "General."
"Alyn."
Carrying Callie, Alyn went back down the stairs, leaving them to their meeting.
Jonas could see where Ceri was going with her line of though. "If Vis Uban isn't the lost city, then where is it?"
"I don't know, well not yet," she remarked, looking up. Frowning as she noticed Harm was now there and Callie was gone.
"She's with Alyn," her bother filled in.
"Oh," she remarked and looked to the General. "Sir, I'd like to study the tablet further, the Eye though we need to lock up, the less who know it's here the better."
"Agreed," he stated. "But you'll have to hold back on your study of the tablet, doctor, you're accompanying SG-2 to P3X 231. Colonel, you and the rest of SG-1 are going to P3X 984 with Dr. Frasier and the medical team."
"Sir, with your permission, I'd like to use the healing device on Captain Davidson?" Harm requested.
Hammond nodded. "With tensions the way they are, I need all personal on their feet. Carry on, Commander."
"Aye sir," he stood and left.
Catherine was a little amazed. "I feel like I've been gone for a hundred years," she mused. "You let Navy Commanders use Goa'uld healing devices now?"
"Commander Rabb is blended with a Tok'ra Symbiote, as is his wife, Colonel Mackenzie." Sam explained. She looked to the General. "Sir, I'd recommend the Colonel going with SG-1, her services maybe needed. Tensions with the Jaffa are still strong and if anything happens she can assist Dr. Frasier."
Hammond agreed. "Very well," he pushed back his chair. "Dr. Langford, it was nice to see you again."
"The pleasure was all mind, General," she stood when he did. "Thank you for seeing me."
"I'll have an Airman escort you out."
"I'll do it sir," Sam volunteered standing.
"Very well, major." He said, and then left.
Ceri carefully rewrapped both the tablet and the Eye, picking up both and her journal. "It was nice to meet you, Catherine."
"It was nice to met you and Callie, Ceri. Please keep in touch," Catherine insisted.
"I will," she assured. She looked to her surrogate father as she stood. "I'll put this in the base safe, and the tablet in the one in my office."
"I'll do the Eye," he offered also getting to his feet.
She handed it over. "Excuse me," she said, and then left the conference room, Jonas going with her, the two chatting about the tablet.
Catherine smiled. "She is so…"
"Like Daniel," Sam finished.
"Yes."
"Daniel and Ceri were bonded, mind, body and soul," she explained. "Because of that, Ceri has picked up a lot of Daniel's mannerisms."
"In other words, every now and then she pulls a 'Daniel'," Jack remarked as they left the conference room. "It's nothing we can't handle."
"So," Catherine took Sam's arm. "Tell me why you're not going with SG-1 on this mission."
"I'm pregnant," she remarked patting her swollen stomach, hidden by her shirt.
That stopped them. "To whom?" The elderly woman asked, she hadn't even noticed that before.
"That would be me," Jack said proudly, adding. "Sam and I got married."
Catherine shook her head. "I am so out of the loop."
"Oh yeah," Jack smirked and they started walking again. "Fun finding out everything though, isn't it?"
She laughed. "I miss this place."
"Nar, you miss me."
"You too, Jack," she said and the three them laughed.
M5C – 973Gunnery Sergeant Victor Galendez looked around once more, shifting his HK a little, it was all clear. He headed back to the base camp, nodding to his CO who sat by the fire. "All clear sir."
"Get some coffee then, Gunny." Major Pete Rylands said rubbing his hands together to keep warm. Even with gloves on his hands were still cold. "I'd better go tell the doc to call it a night. If she gets sick, the Colonel will have my ass," his team chuckled as he stood. "Keep it clean when she returns guys," he warned, referring to their conversation.
"Yes sir," they all chanted, making him groan.
With HK in hand, Rylands walked up to the ruins, using only the light from attached to his scoop and the moon. Which was kind of funny considering they were on a moon, it was one of five in orbit around a green-blue planet similar to Earth. They'd found the ruins an hour away from the Stargate, requesting the assistance of Dr. Jackson, who had arrived with the Tok'ra Atum, whose host was former Naval Seal – Admiral AJ Chegwidden.
Ceri and Atum were standing on the far side of the ruins, looking over the abandon city they were to explore in the morning. "How did you do, it Atum, survive for so long on Earth?" She asked him.
"After Ra left Earth, I went from host to host for a while," he explained. "It became hard to remain hidden, so I instructed my host how to construct a stasis jar and I jumped out of him into the jar and went into stasis for a few thousand years, until the 1950's. When I was released and implanted into a boy who was terminally ill. My Egyptian host, it seemed passed the jar down though out his family, making sure the next person would be it's protector and know the secret, being sworn to protect it at all cost. The jar ended up in America and I saved my own protector. The boy, Jason, grew up and joined the Navy Seals, which is where he met AJ. They were in Vietnam together. Jason and AJ were on a recon mission, when both were injured, I couldn't save Jason, his injures were beyond my capabilities. So he told AJ about me and how his family had been protecting me from thousands of years, AJ agreed to be my host and I got a new host. I helped heal AJ, Jason died in his arms."
"I'm sorry."
He nodded. "After that, AJ and I became quiet a team."
Ceri sensed the Major coming, hugging herself against the cold. "And all the time, Harm was under AJ's command, you never once suspected he was half Tallisian?"
"No, Amon did an exceptional job of suppressing his son's abilities. Though AJ always did think Commander Rabb had uncanny luck."
Major Rylands came up to them. "Dr. Jackson, Atum. It's time to return to base camp," he saw the young woman going to protest, stopping her. "Doc, if you come down with a cold and get sick, my ass is toast. So please come back to base camp."
Atum chuckled. "I take it Colonel O'Neill has been making threats again."
"As Teal'c would say: Indeed," she remarked as they started back.
"Doc, every team leader who asks for your assistance knows the drill," Rylands revealed. "Colonel O'Neill doesn't have to threaten any more. Your safety is fore most in our minds, you're too valuable to the SGC to lose."
"Thank you, Major, I think."
"Don't get me wrong, doc, you can be a pain in the ass at times," the Major remarked, "but the Colonel O'Neill is right when he says, when you're right, then you usually are."
"Hi praise Dr. Jackson." Atum noted.
She agreed. "For a pain in the ass, you mean."
"Yes."
They laughed and continued on to the camp, the rest of SG-5 was huddled around the fire; they joined them.
Victor handed Ceri a cup of coffee. "Here you go doc," he offered and gave the Tok'ra operative one to. "Sir."
"You don't have to address me as sir, Gunny." Atum reminded.
"Sorry, sir. It' just every time I look at you I see Admiral Chegwidden," the Gunny remarked.
Atum gave control back to his host. "You don't have to call me, sir either, Gunny. I'm not in the Navy any more." AJ stated.
"Yes sir."
Ceri giggled. "I think you should give up, AJ. He'll never do it."
"You do get that opinion," he agreed and saw her shiver. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I just don't like the cold," she revealed. "Despite being from a cold planet." She shrugged. "It's a left over reaction from my bonding with Daniel."
"Will you be all right?"
She nodded. "Yeah."
He moved closer and put his arm around her, drawing her close. "How's that?"
"Better," she admitted. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, besides it's not everyday I get to snuggle up with a beautiful woman," he said with a grin.
"No takers among the Tok'ra, AJ?" Major Rylands inquired.
"No," he chuckled. "Well there is Anise." That made them all laugh. "Though it seems, she had a crush on Daniel and her host had one on Jack."
"That's one to many," the Major remarked.
"Oh yeah."
Ceri smiled. "Funny, she never made a move on either of them in my presence."
"That's because she wasn't game too," AJ remarked.
"You must admit, Doc, you do put forth an air of forcefulness with a P-90 in your hands." Lieutenant Steve Summers said with a grin.
She chuckled. "Thank you Lieutenant, that's very sweet."
"Careful doc, you'll give him a swelled head." His teammate, Corporal Timothy Read jeered. "He's hard to live with at the moment now."
Without thinking of the company she was in, Ceri remarked. "No getting any, Lieutenant?" Rylands almost spat out his coffee as the others laughed. She looked a little confused. "Did I say something wrong?"
"No Ma'am," Corporal David West snorted. "It's just the Major told us to mind our topic of conversation."
"Oh, sorry."
"It's fine, doc," Victor said and heckled his teammate. "He isn't getting any."
They all laughed, even the Lieutenant, until the Major put an end to it. "All right guys, that's enough."
"It's all right, Major," Ceri assured. "After all I do share a locker room with three guys."
"I thought the women have their own locker room now?" AJ stated.
"They do. However, I don't mind sharing one with the guys. After all at one point it was my father, his wife, my husband and best friend," she said calmly. "It was Jonas who found it uncomfortable to start with."
"So you really don't mind?" Read asked her.
"Not in the least. As long as you guys don't want to talk size, I'm fine."
Victor held up two fingers to show small and she responded by expressing large. He chuckled. "Not that you looked."
Ceri shrugged. "I'm a woman, Gunny, of course I looked. I just did it discreetly," she mused and they laughed some more.
"All right, that'll do, lets get some sleep," Rylands ordered. "West, you and I'll take first watch and then Galendez and Read. Summers, you'll take last watch with the Doc and Atum. Three hour shifts. Boots on people, I want to be able to move at a moments notice."
"Yes sir," all responded.
Rylands and West took watch as they others climbed into their sleeping bags, weapons at the ready. The fire would be kept going by those on watch, so everyone huddled around it as close as it was safe too.
Ceri slept on and off, she felt cold even though she lying next to AJ, he'd taken up position behind her without even saying anything. Though she had a feeling that was her surrogate father's influence.
When the Gunny and Read got up for their watch, Victor noticed she was awake. "You all right doc?"
"Cold," she said, her teeth chattering. "I hate the cold."
He saw the Major's concern and went over to her, kneeling he put his hand to her forehead. "You're not feverous, that's a good sign," he glanced to his CO and West, who had been relieved by Read. "Get some sleep sir, we'll be fine."
Rylands agreed and he and West climbed into their sleeping bags.
"Wants some coffee, doc?" Victor asked her quietly. "Might warm you up."
She nodded. "Thanks Vic." She sat up, unzipping her bag a little, bunching it around her waist.
He got the coffee going and then grabbed his spare jacket from his pack. "Put this on doc," he insisted and helped her with it, seeing her zip it up. "Better?"
"Yes, thanks."
Nodding he made them coffee, putting the warm mug into her gloved hands. "There you go doc."
"Ceri," she told him.
"Okay," he made a third cup. "I'll be back in a moment." He saw her nod; leaving his own coffee he took the extra cup over to Read.
The Corporal willingly took it. "The doc okay?" He asked silently. "I wouldn't like to see anything happen to Dr. J."
The Gunny was amused by the title. "She's fine, just don't let her hear you calling her that," he warned. "Dr. J was always her husband."
"I know," the younger man stated and glanced over to the archaeologist. "Do you think he's really gone, Gunny?"
"I don't know."
"It's not the same around the base without him," Read continued. "I know SG-1 tries to act like everything's fine, but it's not you know. I've seen Colonel O'Neill walk pass Dr. Jackson's office and he get this look in his eyes. They were real close, Gunny, him and Daniel Jackson. For a while there we even thought it was a 'don't ask, don't tell' situation between them. Even though the Colonel was always making eyes at Major Carter. It wasn't until the doc arrived that we saw differently."
Victor had let the man talk; it was obvious everyone at the SGC had been affected by Daniel Jackson's death/ascension. "Where ever Daniel Jackson is, Corporal. I'm sure he's happy and I'm positive he'd want everyone to go on with his or her lives. Even his wife."
Read nodded. "I'll handle things here, Gunny, go talk to her. She looks like she could use the company."
"Call if you need anything."
"Sure Gunny."
He went back to Ceri, sitting next to her; he picked up his coffee, shifting his HK to one side. "Feeling better?"
"Yes," she gave him a tried smile. "He's right, Gunny," she admitted quietly. "SG-1 isn't the same without Daniel. We try, but it isn't, even Jonas knows it." She edged closer to the man, she was so cold, inside and out.
"Daniel was unique," Victor said with compassion. "I didn't have the privilege of knowing him for as long as everyone else, but in the short time I did. I came to realize what kind of man he was. He was brilliant, kind and he always put others before himself." He didn't say anything as she moved closer, snuggling closer by laying down, with her head on his lap, her coffee cup at his feet. He knew she trusted him. "And he loved you more then I think I'd every seen a man love a woman. You and Callie were everything to him. And I think he took ascension, because he couldn't bare the thought of never being able to see you again."
She squeezed her eyes shut, but the tears escaped anyway. "For someone who knew Daniel for only a short time, you summed him up pretty well," she stated opening her eyes.
Victor smiled. "I'm a Marine, doc. It's my job," he mused and heard her chuckle quietly. "Get some sleep, doc." When she went to move he stopped her. "Stay, your warm."
"But you have watch."
"I'll be fine," he assured. "Sleep, I'll wake you when it's your turn."
"Okay, thanks Victor."
"No problem."
"Night."
"Night Ceri," he whispered, seeing her drift off. They remained that way until he woke her nearly three hours later. "Up and atom doc."
She woke a little disorientated. "Gunny."
"Morning doc, your turn."
She sat up, realizing they'd been that position all night. "Your legs must be asleep by now, you should have woken me earlier."
"I'm fine," he assured. Hell she wasn't that heavy.
She got out of her sleeping bag, standing. "Jump in Gunny, its nice and warm."
"Will in a minute, doc," he said standing and disappearing into the dark. Returning a few minutes later, seeing his former Co and Summers were now up. "Morning."
"Morning Gunny." AJ greeted instead of Atum.
"Gunny," Lt. Summers greeted also.
"Sir."
"Come on Gunny," Ceri insisted. "A warm bag is better then a cold one."
"Thanks," he accepted, he put the HK near by and climbed in, zipping it up. "Keep the fire burning doc."
"You've got it, Gunny," she said with a grin, getting her P-90. Since the incident on P5X 4599, the General had ordered her to carry one.
Read came in. "All clear, Lieutenant, Ma'am, sir."
"Take my bag, Corporal. It's still warm." AJ offered.
"Thank you sir," he accepted and did so.
"Get some coffee and wake up a little more, Lieutenant, Dr. Jackson and I will take a look around." AJ told Summers.
"Sir?" He went to protest.
"Lieutenant, I was a Navy SeAL," he reminded. "I can handle it."
"Yes sir."
Smiling, Ceri went with AJ; they walked around the perimeter of the camp. By the time they took a position, Summers was up and opposite them.
"You didn't get a lot of sleep last night," AJ noted.
Ceri shrugged. "Too cold."
"I can see that," he said, referring to the jacket.
"Teal'c told the Gunny to look after me before he left for his meeting with the Rebels on Kresh'tar, he knew I was coming on this mission," she revealed. "He likes the Gunny, they're both warriors, which is why he trusts me with him."
Atum took control of his host, with his permission. "You and Teal'c have developed a strong relationship."
"He was Daniel's friend and considered him a brother, so he feels it's his responsibility to look after me," she explained. "We've been there for each other in our darkest times. That creates a strong bond between two people. I trust Teal'c with my life and he trust me with his."
"Yes he does, AJ believes Teal'c would make a good SeAL."
Ceri smiled. "Yeah he would."
They stood there in silence for a little while, finally though AJ spoke again. "All this must of seemed alien to you when you first joined the SGC?"
"A little, my father kept me very sheltered, even though I was fighter pilot on my planet, I spent more time out of the cockpit, then in it," she admitted. "Joining SG-1, gave me the change to be a part of something special. I learnt so much, I wasn't just an Archaeologist who was also a pilot, I was apart of a team."
"So you learn to sleep rough, eat MRE's that taste nothing like they should, fire a multitude of weapons, speak a few more languages, learn military terms and put up with Marines," he remarked.
"Yes," she said with a smile. "I even got used to sleeping with my boots and vest on and a nine millimeter strapped to my thigh."
He chuckled. "I can see that."
She knew what he meant, seeing she had her vest on over her own jacket, as well as the Gunny's over them both. "Sometimes it's best to tackled the challengers life throws at you head first, instead of avoiding them."
"Yes it is." He agreed. "And you've done that."
She nodded. "We all have."
Stargate Command: Base Infirmary
"You're doing fine, sweetheart," Jack told his wife, during the night she'd gone into labor, and they were now getting to the end.
Sam grabbed hold of his shirt and pulled him closer. "You tell me that once more and I'm going to flatten you," she warned, gritting her teeth.
Janet chuckled. "Come on, Sam, push honey."
"I am," she snarled but did it.
"Here comes the head," Dr. Mitchell announced and he urged the Major on. "That's it Sam, push…. His shoulders are out… Here he is, Sam." He told her, and the baby cried; they quickly cleared his airway, a nurse wiping his face down, before wrapping him in a towel. "Come and cut the cord, dad."
Jack hesitated but with Sam's urging, did. The doctor then put his son in his arms and secured what cord was left attach with a small clip, wrapping the towel securely around the baby. "Congratulations, Colonel."
"Thanks, doc," he carried his son over to his wife, sitting beside her once more; he laid the baby in her arms. "Here he is, darlin."
She felt tears of happiness sting her eyes as her son's bright blue eyes looked up at her. "Hello Daniel," she greeted.
Janet was a little surprised. "Daniel?"
"Yeah, doc, Daniel Jacob O'Neill," Jack said proudly.
An hour and a half later, Sam was settled in the ward, feeling better after being allowed to take a shower, which she'd done while Jack got to bath his newborn son with the nurses help. Now though she was seated up in the bed, her son in her arms. Jack was seated beside her, is arms around her.
The General came in with Harm and Mac, the first thing Jack noted, was Harm was kited up for a mission.
"What's going on, sir?" He asked.
"Teal'c is over due for his contact. We can't raise him," the General reported. "I want you and Jonas to go with SG-2 to Kresh'tar and see what's going on." He informed. "I'm sorry, major."
"It's all right, sir," she assured, a little worried. She looked to her husband. "Bring him home, Jack."
"I will." He assured. He kissed her forehead, then his son's and went with Harm and the General.
Mac went closer, smiling a little. "He's gorgeous, Sam."
"Would you like a nurse?"
"I'd love one," she admitted and lifted the baby gentle from his mother's arms, sitting on the stool next to the bed. "What did you decide to call him?"
"Daniel Jacob," Sam revealed. "Danny or DJ."
Mac smiled again. "Hi Danny," she said softly, seeing bright blue eyes look up at her. "You're going to be a heart breaker like your daddy."
"Not to mention like his name sake, he already has the nurses swooning," Sam mused and they both laughed.
Alyn came in with Callie, the little girl holding tight to her nanny's hand. "Up for some visitors?"
"Sure."
Callie was put up on the bed near Sam; she looked at the baby in Mac's arms. "Anny?"
"Danny, yes sweetheart," Sam told her.
"Ittle."
Alyn chuckled. "You were smaller, Callie."
"Yes you were," Sam agreed. "But just as cute," she saw the little girl grin.
"Play?"
"Not yet, sweetheart, he's too little."
"Oh?"
They were still there twenty minutes later when the klaxons went off, signaling an unscheduled warm hole. "No ones due back yet?" Mac noted.
Then they heard it: "Med team to the gate room!"
Sam felt her stomach tighten; she looked to Mac, who had gotten to her feet, putting the baby in Alyn's arms. "Mac?"
"It's not Jack, Sam," she revealed. She didn't know how she knew, she just did. She could only tap into Harm's abilities when he was near. She looked to Callie; the little girl had tears in her eyes. "Honey," she went sat beside her. "What's wrong?"
"Mommy," the little girl said.
Mac drew her into her arms. "It'll be okay, sweetheart."
Alyn laid the baby back in his mother's arms. "I'll go see what I can find out," she told them and left the ward. As she did, the medical team rushed past with Ceri Jackson on a gurney, Janet was on there with her performing CPR, as they rushed toward surgery.
SG-5 and Atum came into the infirmary with the General.
"What happened?" She asked.
"We were ambushed by Jaffa," Major Rylands revealed. "The doc took a hit to the chest."
"This is my fault," the Gunny told them. "I gave her my jacket, they were aiming at us, damn it. They thought she was a Marine."
Atum put a hand on his shoulder. "It's not your fault, Gunny."
"Yes it is they weren't going after you, just us." He shrugged away from the Tok'ra.
The klaxons went off a second time, and they heard Sergeant Harriman's voice come over the speakers. "Med team to the gate room, repeat med team to the gate room."
Dr. Frasier ran towards them with a second team. "Out of the way!" She shouted and dashed between them, the med team on her heals.
Hammond looked to Major Rylands. "Keep me informed on Dr. Jackson's condition and stay out of the way."
"Yes sir."
He then headed out of the infirmary, going straight to the gate room, Teal'c and Bra'tac were being taken out on gurneys by the medical team. "What happened, Colonel?" He asked O'Neill, he and Jonas stood with SG-2 at the bottom of the ramp.
"It was a set-up form the get-go sir." Jack informed bluntly.
"The meeting of the rebel leaders?" The General asked.
"There was no meeting. It was an ambush."
"We found over a hundred rebel Jaffa dead," Harm filed in. "Everyone of them had their symbiotes removed, except one."
"Bra'tac," Jack supplied.
"He and Teal'c were the only warriors left alive." Jonas added.
"Teal'c left for this meeting over three days ago. How did he manage to survive that long without a symbiote?" Hammond asked them.
"Sir, it's possible Teal'c survived the ambush and used his own symbiote to keep both him and Bra'tac alive until we got there." Harm offered as explanation.
"He knew we'd show up as soon as he was late," Jonas put forth.
"Well how long can two Jaffa survive with only one symbiote between them?" The General inquired.
"We have no idea," Harm answered, he had a nagging feeling something else was going on. "Up until we arrived, we didn't even think it was possible."
"All right," Hammond rubbed his temples. "Report to the infirmary."
Now Jack had a feeling something was wrong. "Sir?"
"Dr. Jackson was brought back from M5C – 973 with a staff blast to the chest, she's in surgery as we speak."
"Shit," Jack swore and took off for the infirmary with Jonas and SG-2 behind him. They arrived in record time; Jack stalked over to Major Rylands and grabbed the man, throwing him against the wall, holding him there. "How in the hell did my daughter get hit by a staff blast, you were suppose to be looking after her?"
"Jack," Harm and Jonas both grabbed the Colonel and pulled him off the Major.
Galendez stepped in front of his CO. "Sir, if anyone is to blame, it's me."
"What are you talking about?" Jack asked him. He knew the Gunny would never intentionally hurt his daughter.
"Dr. Jackson was cold last night, I gave him my spare jacket to wear," the Gunny explained. "She still had it on when we went to look at the abandoned city, the Jaffa ambushed us. They fired on her because they thought she was a Marine."
"What?"
"The Jaffa opened fire on SG-5 and Dr. Jackson, but left me alone," AJ said solemnly. "But it wasn't the Gunny's fault. It was more then likely they were going to try and take Dr. Jackson and I alive. Because she had the jacket on, they thought she was a Marine."
Major Rylands moved from behind the Gunny. "Dr. Warner still has Dr. Jackson in surgery, he said it could be a while."
Jack nodded. "Sorry Pete."
"No problem, sir. I would have reacted the same way," he assured.
"We saw Teal'c and Bra'tac being brought in," AJ stated. "Were they hurt badly?"
"They've been surviving on one symbiote," Jonas informed. "Bra'tac's is gone."
"You're kidding?"
"No."
Atum took over. "I'll contact the Tok'ra and appraise them of the situation, they may have a solution."
"Thanks Atum," Jack said a little calmer, the whole situation was starting to sink in.
The Tok'ra nodded and left.
Ceri glanced around; she was in the gate room. Why she was in the gate room she didn't know. It wasn't until she felt a hand on her shoulder did it come to her. She turned and saw her husband. "Daniel," she hugged him, feeling his arms around her for the first time in a long time. "I've missed you so much."
"I've missed you too," he told her.
She stepped back. "Why am I here?"
"You're dying, Ceri," he informed and the scene around them changed, they were in a private room. On the bed attached to a lot of machines was her body. Jack and Sam were there. "You took a staff blast to the chest. Dr. Warner did all he could."
"Did Harm try the healing device?" She asked.
"It's the reason why you're still alive, but he couldn't heal you completely," Daniel informed. "The rest is up to you."
She turned. "You're here to offer me ascension," she saw him nod, looking back. "I'm that close to death?"
"You're hanging on," he told her. "And you're not the only one, I would have been here sooner, but I had to be there for Teal'c too."
"Teal'c?"
He took her hand and led her into another room, this one held Teal'c and Bra'tac. "They've survived for three days on one symbiote, but there is an answer for them. Jacob is on his way with it." He took her back to the deserted Gate room. "It's your journey that is my concern."
"I don't know if I can leave Callie alone, Daniel." Ceri admitted. "She's lost so much already."
"She won't be alone," he assured.
She went into his arms again. "I so tired."
"That's because your body is tired of fighting," he told her. "The staff blast did a lot of damage, more then the healing device could handle." He stroked her back. "I'm sorry."
"For what," she searched his eyes. "Isn't what's before me an amazing journey?"
"Yes, if that's what you want."
"And if it isn't?" She asked.
"There is a possibility you'll survive, you maybe able to pull through."
"How small a possibility?"
"Small," he admitted.
"Oh."
Jonas walked into the infirmary room, going over to where Teal'c and Bra'tac were on adjacent beds; Dr. Frasier was there with them. "How are they?"
Before the doctor could answer, Teal'c mumbled in his unconscious state. "Shauna…"
"Shauna?" Jonas queried.
"Shau'nac," Janet answered. "She was very important in Teal'c's life. You see when a Jaffa goes without a symbiote for any protracted length of time, at least according to Jaffa legend. His life flashes before his eyes," she explained, adding. "You know, it might help if you talked to him."
Jonas moved closer to the Jaffa. "Hey Teal'c," he stated. "You've gotta hang in there. I need you. You made me feel like one of the team. If there's anything I can do…"
For a quick second Teal'c opened his eyes and said clearly. "Don't worry about it, Probie. Go back to sleep." Then he closed his eyes again.
Jonas looked to Janet, confused. "Probie?"
Before she could answer, Jacob came in with Jack, Sam and the General.
"Dr. Frasier, what's their condition?" The Tok'ra asked her.
"They're critical. All three of them." She answered bluntly.
"Three?" Jack asked.
"Due to his advanced age and the face that his body is showing signs of rejecting the symbiote, Bra'tac had had to have it longer then Teal'c," Janet supplied. "Now it seems that the strain of keeping them both alive is too much for the symbiote. I don't think it could restore either of them at this point."
"Well, what about a healing device?" Jonas asked, he'd been wondering why the doctor hadn't asked Harm to use it.
"I brought something better." Jacob announced. "Something that could work as effectively as a symbiote. At least for the short term." He removed a vial and held it up.
Jack was curious. "What is it?"
"Tretonin." Sam told him as her father handed the vial to Janet, the doctor still wasn't happy with her being out of bed.
"The drug the Pangarans offered us?" Jonas asked.
"Whoa! That's ground Goa'uld, isn't it?" Jack stated the obvious.
"It's a little more refined than that, Jack, but yes," Jacob told him. "It's derived from Goa'uld symbiotes."
"It's supplanted the immune systems in the Pangarans, why couldn't it do the same for the Jaffa?" Sam asked rhetorically.
"I've already considered it," Janet announced. "For both them and Ceri. It won't work. The sample I studied was designed to take the place of a human immune system."
"We've since refined it specifically for Jaffa physiology," Jacob revealed. "The Tok'ra have been looking forward to an end to the Jaffa dependence on symbiotes for centuries now. We've been working on this Tretonin variant ever since you introduced us to the Pangarans. But it hasn't been tested." He told them. "And why would you want Tretonin for Ceri?"
"She was hit by staff blast, dad," Sam said softly. "A direct hit to the chest, she's dying."
"Oh Sammy, I'm sorry." He drew her into his arms, looking over to Jack. "Is there anything I can do?"
"No," he shook his head. "Harm's already tried."
"Sorry Jack."
"Yeah."
Janet cleared her throat. "As hard as it is. We need to make a decision about Teal'c," she closed her hand around the Tretonin. "Giving Teal'c and Bra'tac the Tretonin will ultimately make them depended on it as the Panagans are."
"Given time, we can solve that problem, but at least they'll be alive," Jacob stated, noting. "For Ceri though, the Tretonin won't work, even if she wasn't dying. Her physiology is just too different."
She sighed. "If I knew for a fact this is what Teal'c wanted…"
Sam saw her friend conflicted. "This could ultimately lead to freedom from Goa'uld oppression for all Jaffa. That's something that Teal'c and Bra'tac want more then anything."
Hammond made the decision. He didn't want to lose the two Jaffa any more then he did Ceri Jackson, but of the three, only two he had the power to make a chose. "Do it."
"Yes sir." Janet agreed.
Jack shoved his hands in his pants pockets. "Teal'c without junior. That's a concept."
"At least he'll be alive," Jonas said.
"Yeah… I have to see my daughter," Jack said and walked out.
Jonas felt all eyes on him. "I didn't mean it that way."
"He knows that, Jonas." Sam assured as they left. "Dad, can you get a message to Amon?"
"She's really that bad?" He asked and saw her nod. "All right, I'll send a message and if we're lucky he can be here in under an hour."
"I just hope she has that long," Hammond said. "So far it hasn't been good."
"They lost her twice on the operating table, if it wasn't for Harm, she'd already be gone," Sam added.
"I'll tell them to hurry," he gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze. "Then I'd like to see my grandson."
She managed a smile, nodding.
In his daughter's infirmary room, Jack sat on a stool next to her bed. He held her hand in his; begin careful of the IV that was replacing the blood she'd lost. Alyn had been here when he'd arrived, little Callie distressed over her mother being hurt. He'd hugged his granddaughter and insisted the nanny take her out of the room, which she did. He didn't want Callie there if the worst happened, he didn't want her to see her mother die.
He wiped a tear that escaped and slid down his check. "Don't die on me sweetheart," he whispered. "You have to meet little Danny." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly; closing his eyes he concentrated on making a telepathic link with her. Ceri?
Dad?
I'm here sweetheart.
I'm so tired, dad.
I know sweetheart, you have to hang on, we'll think of something, he told her.
He already has, she told him and the link was gone.
Jack frowned opening his eyes, not understanding. Who had thought of something? Harm? The Naval officer was asleep in the ward, exhausted from trying to heal his sister. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked, finding the Furling Ascended Ancient, Lara.
She smiled. 'You were expecting Daniel?'
He nodded. "I thought he'd be here."
'He is,' she said in her melodious voice. 'He's with her right now.'
Jack couldn't see Daniel, but took Lara at her word. "I don't want her to die, Lara," he told her, his voice thick with emotion. "She has so much to live for."
'I know,' the Ascended being agreed. 'However, Daniel will help her ascend if that's what she wants.'
"She's going to die, Lara, her options are limited," he said bluntly. "I can't stop that, can you?"
Lara hesitated. 'Yes, but it would mean crossing the line.'
"Then cross it."
'It's not that easy, Jack,' she admitted. 'The Others will know, they'll stop me.'
"So you won't do it? Damn it, Lara, she helped you. The least you can do is help her."
'I want to, but as I said, the Others will stop me. I could do more damage then good.'
"Try, please," he begged. "Please Lara. Don't let her die."
She took a deep breath and nodded. Putting her hands over where the wound was, she concentrated on healing the young woman. A pure white glow forming around them both, so bright that even Jack couldn't look any more.
Ceri pulled away from Daniel, putting a hand on her chest. "They're healing me, I can feel it."
Daniel frowned, realizing who it was, who was crossing the line. "Lara is."
"Lara?"
He nodded. "She's with you at this very moment," he revealed and became concerned. "They know she's doing it."
"Who Daniel?"
"The Others, they're going to try and stop her."
Ceri moved back into his arms, feeling the life follow back into her damaged body. "Daniel," she was suddenly frightened. Feeling dizzy. "Oh god."
"Ceri," he held her, he was losing her. "Ceri, I love you, always remember that."
"I do," she vowed. "I love you, Daniel."
He lent forward and kissed her, parting her lips, deepening the kiss. "I'll always love you." He promised her and then she was gone, torn from him, as he'd been torn from her.
Jack heard his daughter groan, behind him Janet, Harm, Sam and her father raced in with Amon and Mac, all of them seeing what he was.
Lara fought to stay, but she was losing, they were pulling her away. 'Nooo!' She screamed and was drawn away, disappearing.
Janet rushed over to Ceri, checking the reading on the monitor. "Blood pressure and heart rate are improving," she reported. "Ceri, honey can you hear me?" Ceri's eyes opened, filled with pain and confusion, looking from Janet to her surrogate father. "Why?" She said hoarsely.
Janet looked to Jack; she didn't know the answer to a question like that. He gave his daughter's hand a gentle squeeze. "I asked her too, I didn't want you to die."
He saw her close her eyes and the tears that slid from beneath them as she slipped back into unconsciousness.
Sam wrapped her arms around her husband, pulling him close.
"Was that who I think it was?" Harm asked.
"That depends if you think it was Lara, then yes." Jack told him.
"Who is Lara?" Amon asked.
"She's an Ascended being who was living with the Furlings. She helped Daniel and Ceri, when Ceri was pregnant with Callie." Harm explained.
"And she's healed, Ceri." Jacob stated.
"Well she's given her a seventy-five percent better chance then she had," Janet revealed. "She's not out of the woods yet."
"But she's not going to die?" Mac asked the obvious.
"No, she's not going to die." Janet said tenderly. "Dr. Jackson has beaten death, again."
General Hammond came in with Jonas, the two over heading the last statement. "I believe Dr. Frasier, anything is possible, when it comes to any archaeologist named Jackson."
She smiled. "Yes sir, it is."
Mac gave her husband a hug. "Comes from having those Rabb genes," she whispered to him.
"It certainly does, sweetheart," he agreed.
Later that night, after all the excitement was over and visitors were gone, some only from his room, Teal'c woke seeing Daniel Jackson at the end of his bed.
Daniel smiled, warmly. 'Hey, Teal'c.'
"Am I dreaming?"
'No, not this time,' Daniel assured him, knowing what Teal'c had been through in the last three days. 'It's late; everyone's gone home for the night. Well nearly everyone. I just wanted to make sure you're okay.'
"What of Bra'tac?"
'Bra'tac's fine. Thanks to you.' Daniel told him.
"And to you as well, I believe."
Daniel shook his head. 'No, no that was you,' he reassured. 'I don't know anyone that could have done what you did. You kept him alive for three days without ever thinking about yourself. Every time you gave up your symbiote, you knew it might be for the last time.'
"This experience has been very different for me. It seemed so real," he said referring to the dreams he'd experienced.
'Your mind took you where it needed to go to get you through this,' Daniel informed. 'I promise you this is real,' he smiled at the absurdity of that. 'You're just going to have to trust me on that.' He insisted. 'You go to sleep. When you wake up, everything is going to be fine.'
"Is that a promise, Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c asked him.
'That's a promise,' he vowed.
The Jaffa smiled. "You are wrong about one thing, Daniel Jackson," he stated. "There is another who could of kept Bra'tac alive, given the chance."
Daniel knew whom he meant. 'Yes, she could have.'
"You will watch over her?"
He nodded. 'I will, sleep now,' he said.
Teal'c closed his eyes, a nurse walked in second later, finding no one else in the room, but herself and the Jaffa. Shaking her head, she walked out again.
In a room further down, Daniel stood at his wife's side; she was asleep, peaceful, but not home free yet.
Another Ascended being came up beside him. 'It isn't easy, seeing her hurt.'
'No it's not Darien,' he told his wife's Ascended brother. 'As much as I can't admit to it, Lara did the right thing.'
'I know.' Darien agreed. 'We have to go.'
He nodded, leaning over he placed a kiss on his wife's lips. 'I love you.'
"I love you too, Danny," she mumbled in her sleep.
He smiled and straightened. Leaving with his Ascended brother-in-law, no one the wiser of their visit.
To be continued…. (So, good. Bad? Any ideas on how Daniel should decided to cross the line himself. I'd like to keep it close to the original story line, but it's getting a little hard. Any ideas appreciated. A.S.)
