This is the second in a series. I started it with the Carter-centered fic The Host, Part 1: Run. This story will cover many of the same events but from Daniel's POV. I think they will read better if you read Run first, though it may not be strictly necessary.

Enjoy and please review!

Something Of The Host Remains

"There will be no escape for you." With those words, Apophis stole Daniel's last hope. Daniel was on his knees, held there by the Goa'uld leader and two Jaffa guards. The remaining SG1 members were restrained by the shackles that held their hands overhead. Fully charged staff blasters were aimed at everyone's head.

Daniel knew the truth. This was going to happen. Apophis was going to take Daniel as a host. The young scholar was going to be turned into the stuff of nightmares and there was not a damn thing anyone could do about it.

In his heart, Daniel started to say goodbye to his team. Sam, Jack, and Teal'c made up Daniel's family. Orphaned as a child, Daniel had found solace and unlimited love with Shar'e, but it was only during his time at Stargate Command that he had learned what it was to have a home.

Daniel met Jack's eyes. "Please Jack," Daniel tried to communicate, "Please remember what you promised me."

Jack seemed to understand what was going through his friend's mind. He exploded at Apophis, "Damn it, you snake-headed freak! Let him go! Use me! Take me!"

"Jack no!" Daniel yelled. He could not, he would not let another person he cared about to fall under the power of the Goa'uld. "And I need to know that you will get me free," Daniel thought to himself. "Keep your promise!"

Daniel remembered the night that he made Jack promise. It was after Shar'e. After the fiasco with Kiera. When Daniel realized he was safe to cry. When he finally realized that he had to cry or he would go mad. Jack had been there while Daniel grieved. He offered no advice, no platitudes. No "I told you so's" over Kiera. Rather, Jack had just listened. Jack's compassionate silence had given Daniel the freedom to open up about his deepest hurts and fears. His fear that he was responsible for Shar'e's imprisonment in the hell named Amaunet. That is was his fault she had died. He would never fully know what she had suffered.

"I know that when Shar'e was taken, I begged to be taken with her. But now, I know what the Goa'uld are, I know what they do! If I were ever taken," he said with difficulty, "I would go insane. I would be trapped in my body, doing terrible things, but I could never get free. It would destroy me, but I would never be able to die. I could hurt so many people." There was a long pause. "I dream about it. I dream that I am in a room and people are dressing me. I cannot see what they are putting on me. And then they take me to a mirror and I see my face - and I see my eyes glow. That's when I know, I am Apophis. I dream it...at least once a week." Daniel took a deep breath. "Jack, if that ever does happen...if a Goa'uld does take me...I need you to promise me that you will kill me if you have to but please don't leave me like that!"

Jack stared at Daniel, shocked, "No, Daniel. It'll never come to that. We'll never let it happen."

"Jack please!" Daniel pleaded. "I have to know! I wish I had the courage to...if Teal'c hadn't killed Shar'e she would still be trapped. Now she's free -her soul is free! If that ever happens to me I need to know I won't be left - that I won't be left alone and trapped! Please Jack!"

"Okay, Daniel," Jack responded. "I'll get you freed."

"Whatever it takes?" Daniel drove his point home.

Jack spent a long moment staring at his friend, "Yes, Daniel. Whatever it takes. I'll kill you myself if I have to but you won't be alone. You'll be free."

With the promise secure Daniel broke, sobbing for hours. He grieved for his lost love and the future they should have had. He mourned the boy he had been and the innocence he had lost when Shar'e was taken from him.

After that, things started to get a little easier. Healing was slow and painful, but he was getting by.

But now this was what it was all going to come down to. Daniel gave Jack a long look and slowly, minutely, shook his head. "No Jack. You can't save me from this. Not yet. Just remember your promise."

Apophis spoke from behind Daniel. "Good, Daniel Jackson. Be brave for your friends. Defeating you will surely be my greatest victory."

Daniel closed his eyes and waited. "Please don't do this," a small, scared voice pleaded in Daniel's head. "I don't want this!" Daniel would not give the false god the satisfaction of hearing him beg, but his mind continued to pray...

The fangs of the Goa'uld symbiote tore into Daniel's neck. Instantly, poison began to gush through Daniel's brain and he screamed at the savage pain. He knew when the symbiote fully entered his neck. He could feel it chewing it's way through his central nervous system. Daniel's body began to thrash wildly breaking the Jaffas' hold on him in a futile attempt to escape this invasion, this conquest. He felt as though a black acid was destroying his mind, obliterating everything that was Daniel Jackson. In a desperate last attempt at salvation, Daniel threw himself down at the ground, slamming his head into the dias. His world went dark.

TBC