"So, we're getting a little help from the Tok'ra, and Carter's convinced that they'll have the mirror in working order in less than a day," Jack told him from the doorway.
"Really? That's great. Finally some good news."
Daniel did his best to look as relieved and happy about that as was to be expected. He'd learned a lot, during these last few years. He'd been a lousy liar before, but now, he could easily fool these overly trusting people.
Jack was probably the most difficult case of them all. Daniel could see that the Jack and Daniel of this reality were just as close to each other as he had been to his Jack, so he had every reason to expect that Jack knew him really well. Jack had been going to and fro from open concern and friendliness to hostility and doubt. He might prove to be a problem later on. But probably not. If Daniel played this right, Jack wouldn't have the slightest doubt.
"Anyway, you doing all right?" Jack asked.
"Yeah. Pretty good, considering the circumstances... How's the search, anyway? Any trace of who or what's after me?" he had to check, to be sure.
Jack shook his head. "Sorry, but no. We've swept the entire base for any signs of invisible things, and found nothing. The Doc's gone over more than half of the staff and she's found nothing unusual, either. And even the Tok'ra didn't have any bright ideas. But I heard the Area 51 security tapes are finally here. I'm on my way to check them out."
This time, Daniel couldn't help letting a bit of his real feelings escape and show on his face. The security tapes... He wasn't exactly sure how clear they would be, but this was bad. Jack didn't notice anything off, though, since showing concern and worry over what he'd said made perfect sense.
"We'll catch this thing, Jackson. Don't you worry," Jack reassured him.
"I really hope so."
And they would. Daniel would take care of that. They certainly would.
"In the mean time... Just hang on. Anything you need, just ask. Well, within certain limits. Anything reasonable. Anyway. I'll pop in again when I've got more good news."
"Thanks."
As soon as the door had closed behind Jack, Daniel got up. He'd have to advance right now. If they'd figure out something from that tape and put him in the brig, all would be lost.
He went to the desk, and opened the first drawer. A notebook. Pens. Paper clips. He opened the next one. More desk accessories--and among them, scissors.
These people really were every bit as stupid as he thought. So quick to trust, so careless.
Daniel picked up the scissors and walked to the bathroom. He gazed at his reflection in the mirror. That long hair he'd never wanted to change. It was the way Sha're had first seen it. The way she had loved it. Now, it would have to go.
He worked slowly, taking his time, doing his best to reach a close resemblance to the style of this reality's Daniel. Luckily the color was about the same.
Though he was no barber, he thought it came out near perfect. He couldn't tell a difference between his image in the mirror, and his memory of that other him.
He left what remained of his old hair in the sink and on the floor.
Now, there was the unpleasant matter of dealing with the guards. He wasn't particularly looking forward to it. They were just guards. Innocent people just doing their jobs. So much for taking only one more life. It might have to be three. But those would be the last, he promised himself.
Daniel knocked on the door, and called, "I could use some help--if one of you could spare a moment-"
Jack had told him to ask for anything reasonable. Asking a guard to help him with something was definitely reasonable.
Daniel stood at the side of the door, where the one coming in wouldn't spot him instantly.
The door opened, and a guard entered. Before he had time to say a thing, before he could react, Daniel struck him in the neck with the scissors. The guard went down loudly, his cry for help coming out as a gurgling yelp. As fast as he could, Daniel knelt and grabbed the guard's knife. A gun would be better, quicker and more merciful, but it would be too loud inside these walls.
Just as Daniel had expected, the door opened again, and the second guard stepped in. He wasn't completely stupid--instead of kneeling to check out the first guard, he turned around to scan the room. But Daniel was faster. The second guard fell on top of his comrade, the first guard's knife deep in his chest.
As much as he hated to admit it, Daniel was getting awfully good at this.
The two guards were still twitching, still gasping, not quite dead. Daniel didn't mind that. Let them take their time. Let them make a mess. That wouldn't disturb his plan at all.
He went to the closet and got out a clean set of SGC overalls. He'd get more suitable clothing easily. The most important thing was not to have any suspicious bloodstains on him.
He wasn't sure if the second guard had been smart enough to call for help before he'd come in. Anyway, he certainly didn't have time to spare. He ran out of the room.
A few corridors away, he could slow down. He wasn't in a hurry anymore.
He was Daniel Jackson, and everyone in the SGC knew him.
"Carter? Aren't you supposed to be working on the mirror?" Jack was surprised to find her waiting for him in the room with the security camera tapes.
"Well, I figured I could take a short break. Thea and Nahet are trying to reconstruct some of their spare components so they'll match the broken mirror parts, and that's going to take a while. I can't do anything before they're finished."
"Did you look at the tape already?"
"No, I just got here."
"Let's see it, then."
The tape showed a plain storage room in Area 51, no furniture, just lots of alien stuff. The inactive quantum mirror stood near to one wall. Suddenly, it flashed, its surface became mirror-like, and Jackson emerged through it, one hand on the mirror, the other clutching his side.
It wasn't the clearest of images, it was a bit blurred at best. So, when there was another flash that engulfed the mirror, and then the mirror went off, Jack wasn't quite sure where it had come from. Still, he didn't think it came from the mirror itself.
"Carter--can we replay that in slow motion?"
She was already on it, rewinding the tape just a bit and then showing it frame by frame.
Jack focused his attention on Jackson's hands. He thought he saw something. Just the slightest movement of that hand cradling the gunshot wound on his side. The hand was holding something. It might be the remote for the mirror. It could also be a zat. Jack could swear it was the source of that flash that hit the mirror.
"Carter, are you seeing what I think I'm seeing?"
"Holy Hannah... Sir--it looks like he zatted it himself. But why would he do that? He had to know the mirror would be his only way out if he'd meet himself and face ECF!"
Jack frowned. Yeah, it made no sense. But he had a bad feeling about it. It clearly said that Jackson hadn't told them the whole story, and he had things to hide.
"Jackson's got a few really tough ones to answer..." Jack began, when the telephone rang. Right at the worst possible moment.
"O'Neill. This has better be really important," he answered it irritably. But it was.
"Can't think of many things more important than this, Colonel," the reply came in Doctor Fraiser's voice. "Teal'c just woke up, and he insists you come see him right now."
Jackson would have to wait a few more minutes. He was in the VIP room, and well guarded. He'd not be going anywhere.
Teal'c couldn't tell how long the darkness had lasted.
When he found his way to the light again and woke up in the infirmary, it took him a while to gather an understanding of what had happened, and why he was here.
He remembered how Jackson had entered his room, asked several questions, most of which he had found strange. A moment later, Jackson had become distressed and spoken of a possible intruder. And then, something had happened, someone had assaulted Teal'c, wounded his prim'ta too fast and too seriously for him to react at all.
That span of a few seconds when the attack had taken place kept playing over in his mind. He had not seen what had happened. Either Jackson had done something, or someone had done something to Jackson. The way he had lurched backwards and then forth reminded Teal'c strongly of something.
Doctor Fraiser had just stopped by his side, when he understood it.
Jackson had moved like someone thrusting with a sword--falling back for momentum, and then lunging forward. Jackson had struck him. There had been no one else in the room. Jackson's words had been treacherous, and meant to mislead Teal'c. Either Jackson had been possessed, or then he was truly nothing like the true Daniel Jackson.
Teal'c still did not know how long he had remained unconscious. Others might have been hurt already, if they had not caught Jackson yet.
He opened his eyes and stated loudly, "I must see Colonel O'Neill right now!"
He saw Doctor Fraiser start and back away. She had thought he was asleep.
"Teal'c! You're awake--how are you feeling?"
"It is irrelevant. You must inform O'Neill that I have important news."
The look on her face was defiant, but she nodded, and walked away.
Teal'c did not need to wait long. Soon, both Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter appeared at his bedside.
"Teal'c! Great to have you around again!" O'Neill greeted cheerfully. "Though, the Doc underlined it very strongly that we mustn't stress you too much. So, stay cool."
"Colonel O'Neill. I cannot cool down before I hear what has come of Jackson."
"See, the mirror was broken, so we haven't been able to send Jackson out. He's in his room right now, I suppose. I'm going to talk to him soon. He's so in trouble. We checked the security camera feed from Area 51, and it showed he's the one who broke the mirror."
"He is also the one responsible for my current condition."
"Whoa, T! You remember what happened? He attacked you?"
"I do remember, and it is quite clear," he assured them. "Have there been any other attacks? Any other injuries? Daniel Jackson is not here, but is he nevertheless fine?"
"There've been no new attacks, but about Daniel, well, that's relative... He was drowning himself in work in his lab when I last saw him."
"Shouldn't we call him and tell him Teal'c's awake?" Major Carter suggested.
"I'll do that," Doctor Fraiser replied instantly.
"I'm going to tell the guards to get that son-of-a-bitch Jackson and drag his sorry ass to a cell so I can get him..." Colonel O'Neill spoke.
They both stepped away, so Teal'c could not hear their voices anymore, only that of Major Carter, who was still standing by his side.
"God, Teal'c, you have no idea how good it feels to hear your voice again... And this soon, too! When they first brought you in, Janet couldn't promise us anything... I can't believe that Daniel--that Jackson could've done this to you..."
"I believe I was also mistaken about the alternate Daniel Jackson," he told her in a low voice.
Then, he heard Colonel O'Neill complain loudly, though he couldn't see O'Neill. "I can't believe this... Either they're too deep in a game of cards or asleep on duty, or then..."
"Daniel's not answering either," Doctor Fraiser's tone was softer, more worried than angry.
"I really don't like the look of this... Carter--you go check on Jackson. I'm going to see if Daniel's all right. Maybe he's just not in his lab anymore. Doc, if you could call Hammond and explain him what Teal'c's just told us."
They all went away, and left Teal'c alone. He felt useless again. He wanted to help them, but he could not. He knew he was still far too weak even to sit up, let alone engage in any physical activity.
He closed his eyes and began to meditate. He could not reach true kel'no'reem lying on this bed in this room, but he could still strive for greater harmony with his symbiote and help his body heal faster, as he waited for news.
Author's Announcement: I've actually written two chapters in one day! Whoo! This has to be some kind of a record! Also, I've got the next one figured out already, though I'm not sure I'll get it done this fast. And I'm telling you, if you think this one's a cliffhanger, just wait for the next... It'll be even worse. I'm evil. I know it. How else could I write stuff like this. :-p