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Chapter Four: In Perspective, Out of Mind

Jack found him. It was the strangest thing, but he felt called to the basement. It took awhile for him to find his way there, especially since the area was all but abandoned. But there was Daniel, his voice barely audible behind the heavy steel door. Jack opened the door.

"What are you doing?"

Daniel spun around. "W-what? Huh?"

"I asked what you're doing."

The younger man looked nervous and at a loss for words. "I, um…I'm…um, I was…I mean, I saw…" He stopped and took a deep breath. "I can't help you."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that I can't help you. This problem that you have—those people on the other planet—I can't do anything about them."

"What on Earth are you talking about? Of course you can help them. Daniel, what are you doing down here?"

Jack took a step forward and Daniel moved back a step in response. He appeared very agitated. "Look, the person you want to help you was on that video; it's not me. We are totally different people. Your Daniel obviously knows a lot more than I do. I really think I should just go…somewhere. I don't know where, but not here."

Jack was shaking his head. "No, you're wrong. You need to be here and you know just as much as the Daniel on the video. I talked with Dr. Frasier and she said you can't remember because your brain…got upset and forgot. I don't know, she can explain it better. But it's psychological. You were just upset. He was upset. You know what I mean."

"So, I got hit on the head and my brain forgot on purpose?"

Jack nodded.

"Well, I'm not surprise; I can't say I blame him."

"What?"

"Your Daniel's life was terrible! I can't believe that I would ever do some of the things he did. I mean, he joined the military, he hides everything he finds from the world, he married an alien who wound up with a snake in her stomach, he isn't teaching or going out on digs—nothing is the way it should be. All of my plans are gone. Frankly, I'd have forgotten everything, too."

Jack looked stunned. He could not believe those words came out of Daniel's mouth. He felt himself grow angry. "Yeah, I guess your life sucks. But it's the only one you've got. And let me get some of those facts straight for you: The Daniel I knew was excited about every planet we went to. Every time he got to learn something new was a successful mission—whether he had to keep it to himself or not. The Daniel I knew did this job for two reasons: To protect Earth and find his wife. And that's one more thing, Daniel; don't you ever refer to Sha'uri that way again. She is your wife, and the man I knew loved her more than anything else. He loved his team, too, and there's no way he would give up on Sam and Teal'C. He would give his life for them. So you can think whatever you want about my Daniel's life, but I can tell you this: the guy that's gone AWOL in your head is ten times the man you are."

Daniel's jaw fell. After a minute, he regained some of his composure. "Well, I…I didn't…I mean I—I don't know if I should be flattered or angry." He sighed, obviously opting for the former. "It's so much. I never dreamt my life would be like this. I mean, it's as if I walked into a parallel universe."

"You've done that, too." Daniel just gaped. "You're supposed to be scared, Danny. But you're also supposed to get over it. At least ignore it until the job is done. You can't leave here and you can't quit. People are depending on you. And I'd like my friend back."

Daniel hung his head and his shoulders dropped. The room was very silent for a moment. "Well, I can't promise you your friend back, but I'll help you and Sam and Teal'C. I know I need to help save them; it's what's right and I'll do whatever it takes. But I can't promise anything about staying here when that's over."

Jack nodded and put an arm around Daniel's shoulder, guiding him out of the room. "Well, there's nothing like crossing a bridge when we come to it. And that bridge is quite a ways away."

Daniel and Jack sat down in Dr. Frasier's office. General Hammond was there but only acknowledged them with a nod and turned his attention back to the doctor. "How are you feeling?" she asked Daniel.

"My head hurts. I think I'm hungry."

"You think?"

He fidgeted in his seat. "Well, I'm not sure if I'm really hungry or if it's just because I didn't eat seven years ago."

"Why don't we get you some food either way," she suggested and picked up the phone. She asked a nurse to get some food from the cafeteria and bring in two aspirin as well. "Are you feeling less overwhelmed?"

"No. But I feel responsible; I want to help."

General Hammond took control of the conversation. "I'm glad you're feeling up to the task, Dr. Jackson. We only have a short time before Colonel O'Neill is scheduled to return to P3X-772 and time is crucial here. From what he has told me, I believe the information you have is invaluable."

"Sir," Janet interrupted. "An amnesia patient has no control over recovery. He is completely subject to chance. Pushing him to remember faster may cause added stress and hinder the process."

"So what do we do?"

She shrugged. "There isn't much else we can do but continue to introduce him to past memories. And of course try to find out the reason behind the amnesia. What mental trauma induced it? This case is very complicated."

They sat in quiet thoughtfulness until Daniel spoke up. "Whatever happened, it happened on that planet." He took a steadying breath. "Why don't I go back?"

"What? Are you kidding?" Jack demanded. "There's no way you're going back there! Don't be ridiculous."

"But I must have seen and heard everything of significance here—I don't think it gets more significant than what you've told me about my life. And you're right; I need to help Sam and Turk—Teal? Teal'C. Sam and Teal'C. Whether they're my friends or not I have the responsibility and I meant what I said: I'll do whatever it takes. Besides," he added with a weak smile, "you said I love going to new planets."

"Yeah, well, you didn't love nearly getting shot in the head or when I pushed you off the cliff. You're not going anywhere, Danny, and that's final."

General Hammond was nodding his agreement. "He's right, son. It's far too dangerous and I can't let you take the risk. If you can't remember in the next four hours, Colonel O'Neill will attempt the rescue alone."

"Sir, I must have done crazy stuff like this, otherwise I wouldn't have been on that planet in the first place. I want to help. I want to get this done. With all due respect to the Daniel you knew, I want to get back to the life I knew, or at least salvage the one I have. And you said that time is crucial."

The three officers looked at one another questioningly. Dr. Frasier knew that she had no medical reason to keep Daniel from such an important task. Besides the psychological issues, a concussion didn't constitute a serious head injury. For his part, General Hammond couldn't deny the critical time factor; the sooner they got to the planet, the better were their chances of a live rescue. Jack, too, was in a quandary. Did he risk Daniel for Sam and Teal'C on the chance that Daniel would remember once they got there?

"He's right," Janet admitted softly. "Time is of the essence and I don't think four hours is enough to figure out his psyche. Moreover, his chances of recovery are better in the place where he lost his memory than here."

Hammond turned to Jack. "Colonel?"

"You know I don't like this, Sir. We've already established that it's a hostile planet and, to be honest, Daniel wasn't real formidable before he lost his memory; I don't think he's prepared to shoot someone now."

"Shoot someone?"

Jack eyed his friend warily. "This is a search and rescue with people who have already neutralized two of our men. We're not borrowing a cup of sugar. If you go, you'll get a gun and you'll probably have to use it."

"Have I done it before?"

"Yes."

"Then I can do it again."

At that moment, when the tension couldn't get any stronger, the nurse walked in with a tray of food and two aspirin. She set it on Dr. Frasier's desk, smiled nervously at everyone, and left as quickly as she could. After a brief silence, General Hammond stood and looked sternly down at Daniel. "Eat up. You leave for P3X-772 in one hour."

Jack and Daniel stood in the Embarkation Room with an established wormhole. The Colonel looked determined, but Daniel was a mix of awe, excitement, and terror. In one short hour, he was equipped with a gun, radio, and numerous other necessities (most of which fit conveniently in the multi-pocketed vest they had provided). He was briefed on the Stargate's most basic principles and how to return home if he had to.

"Does it hurt?" he asked wondrously.

"The landings a little rough and it'll shake you up a bit. It gets better with practice. But that should be the least of your concerns."

General Hammond gave the order to go and the two men headed up the ramp. Jack stopped Daniel before going through. "Listen to me carefully: You will do what I tell you to do. You will go where I tell you to go. Do not wander off no matter what. If I tell you to shoot something, shoot it. Above all else, you will obey every order I give. Do you understand me?"

Daniel could only nod.

"Then lets go."

And Daniel jumped through the gate for the first time again.

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