Author's Notes - Thanks again to my beta Tomolas, for helping out once again – through unfortunately he couldn't help with my spelling in my author's notes (oophs – sorry!)
Sorry this took a little while, thanks for the comments – the last part of this story will be up soon, promise. And I may add the outtakes…depending. The rating goes up a little due to the content of this chapter, so beware!
Part Three –
When one is trying to do something beyond his known powers it is useless to seek the approval of friends. Friends are at their best in moments of defeat.
Henry Miller
Jack lent back in his seat glancing sideways through his window, watching the rain fall outside, taking comfort for a moment in the sound of his car's engine running as he waited for the light to turn green. So far Colonel Conway hadn't found any sign of their missing immortal. The only evidence that she had to place him in Colorado Springs was a five minute phone call that could have been from anywhere. Only Daniel had sworn that he was still in town. If he was honest, he didn't know if he wanted his 'friend' to be found or not, after all, did he really want it to go on as it had been recently. Moving away from the lights he frowned at the road in front of him. He had been in situations like this before, only, even then it had been different. Back in his black ops days it wasn't as much of a surprise when one of his team mates turned out to be someone or something else, too many were willing to sell out their fellows for a little money or security. Only thing was, Daniel hadn't betrayed them like that. He hadn't sold their secrets to the enemy; he wasn't a spy for another nation who wanted to get their hands on the Stargate. All he had done was lie to them about his age and his true identity and he had done that to protect them.
Pulling into the small motel's car park he frowned, turning off the engine and sitting back. It bothered him that his best friend had been lying to protect him. Wasn't that wrong? Weren't you supposed to be grateful to someone who had your best interests at heart? Sighing Jack scrubbed a hand warily over his eyes. It was time to be honest to himself at least. The truth was that he hated the idea that there was something that someone like Daniel thought an ex-black op colonel needed to be protected from. After all the things he had seen done, or even done himself, he had come to believe that there was nothing left that he needed to be protected from by anything other than some Kevlar or a personal defence field. He didn't like the idea that there was something on earth that he needed to be protected from. He didn't like it at all, especially considering that he didn't even really know what it was he needed to be protected from. It was a two fold problem. Firstly he didn't like being protected from something like you would a child, and secondly he didn't like not knowing what the bad thing hiding under his bed was.
"Sir?" Jack jumped slightly, turning to glare at this second in command as she lowered her hand after knocking on his window, silently freeing himself before stepping out of his car into the rain.
"Carter?" Sam flushed glancing towards the building to avoid meeting his glare.
"I was just wondering if you were going to come in, sir."
Jack snorted storming off towards the relative dry, angry with himself for wasting time when they didn't have any to waste.
Pushing through the glass door into the small reception, he idly noted the two NID agents who had claimed the staffs' attention. Walking over to stand next to Teal'c he waited for Conway to tell them why exactly she had called them to some cheap and barely hygienic motel on the edge of town. Carter followed silently, her damp blonde hair plastered to her forehead.
"Nice of you to finally join us colonel." Conway stepped out from behind the desk, her long blonde hair untouched by the rain, smiling that awful plastic smile.
"My pleasure. I don't suppose you feel like sharing that reason why you called us here?"
"Why do you think I called you here Colonel?" She snorted faintly, her eyes glinting, "For some reason Doctor Jackson booked and pre-paid for a room here for three nights."
Jack arched an eyebrow. "And yet you said he hadn't used his credit card?"
Conway's eyes narrowed. "He didn't, he used cash, but the man on the desk recognised the description."
Jack smiled coolly. "So what, you've had your men going to every cheap motel in town looking for a man fitting Doctor Jackson's description?"
Ignoring him she held up a key waving it in the air. "Feel like confirming this for me colonel?"
Jack glowered, plucking the key from her fingers and heading out towards the room in question, ignoring the grunt of indignation from the other colonel, determined not to react to the NID agent's attitude.
Sam winced as she obediently took the key off him and unlocked the door, gingerly avoiding touching it for too long. Pushing it open she glanced around the small room, her nose wrinkling a little at the stale smell of the place wondering how anyone could even consider staying in the place. Stepping inside to allow the others in behind her she headed towards the bathroom leaving the main room to the other two. Hesitating in front of the door she carefully covered her hand with the sleeve of her coat and held it up in front of her mouth. She grunted softly, shielding away from the smell as she stepped inside, reaching blindly for the toilet handle to flush the offender away. Glancing quickly over the surfaces she noted gratefully that the room wasn't being used by whoever had rented the rooms. Backing out carefully, she shut the door behind herself relieved to get away from the stench, into the slightly fresher smelling bedroom.
Teal'c arched an eyebrow watching Sam's reaction out of the corner of his eye as he searched the bedside table and underneath, leaving the cupboards to O'Neill. Pulling the drawers open he frowned, disgusted by the hygiene of some of the people of his adopted world, pushing the drawer closed he turned away, firm in his belief that the rooms where just another diversion for the NID to allow their friend to move freely. Teal'c cocked his head on one side, something catching his attention out of the corner of his eye.
"O'Neill."
Jack spun the pair of tights that he had found in the cupboard in his hand, eyebrows raised. "Teal'c?"
"I believe I have found something." Crouching next to the bed he pushed back the overhanging covers and pulled on the exposed corner of paper.
Jack rounded the bed, dropping the tights onto it before crouching down on a level with the other man to examine his find. "It's map of the city."
"With notes in Daniel's handwriting." Sam noted from her vantage point behind them.
Teal'c met Jack's gaze solemnly. "I believe Daniel Jackson left us directions."
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Epona shuddered minutely, dread building in the pit of her stomach, hating that she had no choice, that she couldn't do anything to stop what was happening. She had never disagreed with her mother before. She had always seen the wisdom in her actions, always been able to see what the good in them was, but this time she couldn't see it. All that she could see was a mistake. A huge mistake, a fatal mistake. She absently clenched her fists, not noticing when her nails drew blood, her frustration numbing the pain. How could her mother do this? Surely she had to realise what the cost was going to be. Andrew was no child. He was amongst the eldest of the Spell-casters and one of the most inventive. The only reason he had never really been a threat to Alastair and the others had been his hate for the game his mother played and his psychotic pleasures. The immortal sickened them all, his hunts well known and dreaded. When Andrew chose a victim he would spend years toying with them, working up to the point that he ended it, unless the victim was just a device to get to someone else.
Before whenever Andrew had thought one of the others was getting in the way of his games he would make an example. Be it a friend, lover or child, he knew how to deliver his message.
Epona shuddered as she remembered the last time Alastair had crossed Andrew's path and Andrew's choice of messenger. Alastair, like many of the other immortals who had lived a long time, rarely spoke of the mortals who had touched his life. Especially those who had paid the price for it, it was the reason why so many immortals refused to except mortal company, hiding away like Xena, as far from civilisation as they could, venturing out only to get what they needed to survive.
Epona smiled bitterly. She had always been proud of the fact that Alastair had never been one of those immortals, refusing to sit back and watch the world go by, determined to make what difference he could, no matter what it might cost him. She had by no means believed that she would regret never interfering in what he did, never suggesting that maybe under the circumstances he should pull back and leave it to the mortals. She now found herself doubting her own decisions, faced with a price that she had never thought she would have to deal with and unable to do anything about it. She snorted silently to herself, wondering what the mortals would think if they knew. A goddess who was unable to impose the change she wanted. It was almost laughable. Almost.
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The events of the last few months played over in Daniel's head as he cradled the mug of coffee in his hand, the mission to PR5-7896, his 'murder' by Simmons, Lily's kidnap, and finally the misguided Tok'ra Lin'Al's attempt to kidnap him. Much had happened in such a short period of time and now this. Glancing out at the rain he wondered if it was a kind of poetic justice under the circumstances. After all he was about to go after Andrew, one of the most dangerous Spell-casters that he knew, as a mortal and against Beatrice's vow. He sighed staring into the dark liquid wondering who exactly had thought up that twist. Immortal oaths were binding. No matter what happened if an immortal swore to do something they became the only one able to do it, or they were expected to die trying. It didn't seem especially fair, after all, mortals could get away with breaking promises so why couldn't an immortal? What made it so important that they were expected to keep a promise or die trying? Lifting the mug to his lips he smiled bitterly. It had been a long time since he had made any vows. You either learned to hold your tongue or you paid the price.
Beatrice had refused to take a permanent teacher, had refused to admit that there was anything she could possibly learn that could help her in the years ahead and now she was paying the price for her arrogance. He could still remember the day that she had made her vow, standing over the grave of her dearest friend, and the dread that had filled the pit of his stomach as she had spoken. He should have stopped her. He should have seen it coming, but he hadn't and the day had finally come for him to pay for his omission.
Draining the last dregs of coffee from the mug, he stood up, smiling his thanks to the young waitress and heading out into the damp night to face what he knew was coming.
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Bea watched silently as Miles paced, hands gripping the blade that rested across her knees, not wanting to think about what was happening. It had been a long time since she had felt this powerless, a long time since she had admitted that someone else was right and she was wrong. It had been a long time since she had had to face up to the consequences of her own actions, a long time since she had paid the price for a mistake. Leaning forward she sighed closing her eyes, one hand wandering to rub her swollen stomach, wishing she hadn't come. Wishing that she had listened to someone else for once instead of ignoring the warnings. Miles was angry with her, and Alastair was gone, unlikely to be seen again.
Bea shuddered swallowing against the bile threatening. She had never really considered what life was like for the elder immortals, the ones who had seen so much more than she could ever dream of seeing. She hated war. She had always avoided the battlefields when she could, hiding herself away until the battles were done and life was back to normal, or as close to normal as it could be. She'd never wanted to fight, never wanted to learn, but she had learned, because it was the only way that she would be able to see the murderer of her best friend brought to justice and that had seemed to be fair, a fair price to pay for vengeance, until now.
She couldn't stand the thought of being responsible for someone's death. She could not stand the thought of knowing that someone had died because of her. Only thing was, now there was absolutely nothing she could do to change it. This was her lesson. This someone's sick way of proving to her just how wrong she had been all these years. How wrong she had been not to ever stop to think. How wrong she'd been not to stop to listen. Wrong not to listen and learn the lessons the others had offered to teach her. Wrong to set herself above them.
The truth was she was nothing but a spoiled child used to getting her own way and that spoiled child was just about to learn the lesson that she should have learned a century ago and a bitter lesson it would be.
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Andrew smiled to himself happily humming an old show tune as he stared out into the night enjoying the weather and its irony. It was always a rainy day when he and the old man crossed each other's path. Rain was so helpful in washing away any evidence of such meetings. His smile widened as he remembered the last rainy day and its treasure. He snorted to himself shaking his head at the thought. She had hardly been a treasure, but then she had been a brilliant messenger, for his purpose. Long dirty blonde hair tied back in the no-nonsense manor that working woman of her type had preferred at the time, her clothes reeking of the stables that she loved, cheeks flushed from her ride, her hazel eyes wide with surprise as he had stepped out in front of her.
She had fought him. He would allow the woman that much grace, but, as every girl before her and since, he had won in the end. And as an extra bonus he had managed to persuade the old man that he wasn't worth the effort, until now.
Yet, where once, not so long ago he would have done his best to avoid an encounter with the elder immortal, all he felt was an unshakable confidence that it was a good day. No fear or dread of the other man's skill, just an unmistakable knowledge that those skills weren't so fearsome anymore, that the other man had some limitation that had never been there before. Gazing out of the window Andrew couldn't help but laugh as he thought of what the others would say when they heard. What his idiot brother and his aloft mother would think when they heard that he had managed to do what neither of them had managed, despite their best efforts. They wouldn't be so quick to alienate him when they learned how he had beaten Alastair. No, they'd respect him for once, finally see just how brilliant he really was.
Andrew smirked leaning back in his chair. Yes, he really did love rainy days.
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"This is a waste of time." Isabelle Conway waved a hand dismissively at the papers laid out on the briefing table. "None of this is of any use to us."
O'Neill glared at her across the table top, his back stiff ready for a confrontation. "What makes you say that colonel?"
"Why would Doctor Jackson leave us directions to find him colonel?" She snorted contemptuously, "Wouldn't that just be too easy?"
Carter shook her head. "I don't think so. Daniel contacted us before, to tell us he was still in Springs, this," She tapped the sheets of paper, "is his way of telling us where he's going to be."
Conway rolled her eyes. "He told the colonel that he didn't know if he would be seeing you again, and that you couldn't help him. Why would he let you know what he was doing?"
"We will be too late to prevent anything." Teal'c intoned solemnly gaze fixed on the marked map.
Jack frowned glancing at the map for a moment before groaning and leaning forward to rest his head in his hands.
"He knew that by the time we found this we wouldn't be in any position to change anything." Sam provided faintly, closing her eyes.
Hammond exhaled heavily through his nose, giving his officers a moment. "Colonels, get whatever equipment you feel you need together, I expect you to bring Doctor Jackson back here to face the consequences of his actions, by whatever means possible. Dismissed."
Watching mutely as the NID colonel breezed out of the room he held up a hand and motioned for the three remaining members of SG-1 to stay.
"Sir?" O'Neill questioned, the slight slump of his shoulders being clearest indication of how the situation was affecting him.
"I know how hard this is for you all, but the fact of the matter is Doctor Jackson could be a very real threat to the security of this programme and after everything that's happened recently, the brass are not happy that he has taken it upon himself to go AWOL. As such, once you locate him he's to be taken into custody."
Jack buried his head further into his hands not caring that he was being insubordinate, he had had enough. Too much was happening in too short a time frame.
"It feels like we're back to square one." Sam's voice was soft as she played with the map, not wanting to look at any of the others.
"Indeed." Teal'c rested a hand on her shoulder offering what comfort he could. "But we have succeeded prior to now, we shall do so again."
Hammond nodded grimly. "That we will son", or at least, he hoped so.
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The old military hospital building was just as dull as its successor, only the smell of disinfectant and sickness had faded over the years, leaving behind nothing but a faint scent that made the environment all the more unsettling. Daniel shuddered as he walked through a deserted ward, the odd bed or curtain railing the only sign that the place had ever been alive at all. He'd never liked hospitals, though that was something he preferred to keep to himself, not wanting the aggravation of having to try and explain to people why they gave him the creeps. It wasn't the smells, the sounds, or any one thing that he could put his finger on, he just couldn't feel comfortable in them, not even Doctor Fraiser's infirmary back at the base. Given the choice he would never go near one again, but he was well aware of just how hard it would be to avoid it with his luck. Following the main corridor the length of the building he searched for a way down into the basement, his gut instinct telling him that that was where he would find Andrew. The blue prints had shown five floors, plus the basement, which had been designed to house the isolation rooms, ensuring that any infections could easily be controlled, keeping all those infected in the one area. Checking his mental map he turned left off the main corridor and down towards the east stairwell, ignoring the nagging feeling of wariness. Reaching the top of the stairs he hesitated for a moment, bending over slightly to draw one of his sais from its sheath, before making his way carefully down the stairs, wary of a trap. He shuddered, remembering the last time he had been sneaking through an old abandoned building hunting for a spell-caster, it really wasn't turning out to be his decade.
He winced as his footsteps echoed in the empty corridor, trying his best to keep his mind from wandering from the matter at hand. He couldn't afford to slip up, couldn't afford to show Andrew just how pointless this all was. He couldn't decide what was worse, knowing what was about to happen, or not knowing what would happen afterwards.
Daniel hesitated, frowning as he felt a chill run up his spine, glancing behind not understanding the reaction. It wasn't cold. There wasn't anyone else in the corridor, nothing, only, a door off to his right. Taking one last glance backwards he tapped the door handle gently with the back of his hand before turning it, tightening his grip on the sai in his other hand as he stepped into the isolation room.
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Jack zipped up the front of his flack jacket swiftly, using his other hand to check his side-arm, before walking over to join the rest of the team by the van, ignoring the younger colonel's scathing glare. Only four of them were going in, the SFs that Conway had insisted on bringing were to secure the doors to ensure their target didn't escape. Glancing sideways at the imposing cement building that was once Colorado Springs' military hospital he couldn't help but wonder what had drawn his friend to such a place, not liking the similarities he was seeing with another time, not so long ago.
Shifting his weight slightly as his knee complained, the damp atmosphere not doing the old injury any good, he nodded mutely to his two team mates before meeting the cool gaze of the NID colonel. "You ready Conway?"
She smirked, sliding a bullet into the breach of her gun casually. "Whenever you are."
Jack fought the urge to roll his eyes. He turned away, waving the SFs into position as he led the way to the front entrance and stopping against the wall to one side of the door, signing for Teal'c to check it was clear. "I'm in command, think you can remember that colonel?"
"I can follow orders if that's what you mean, colonel."
Jack ignored her knowing full well what she was getting at and disliking her all the more. "Teal'c take point, Carter cover our six, stick together and stay aware, we're pretty much going in blind here kids."
His team mates nodded their understanding while Conway nodded grudgingly playing with her grip on her gun. Pulling his own he waved Teal'c ahead, waiting for Conway to follow before stepping through the doorway himself, he didn't trust her enough to have her at his back, he needed her where he could see her.
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Andrew smiled watching the movements of his guests in the TV monitors that sat up against the wall opposite, wondering if the old man knew that there were mortals on his tail, not that it mattered, Alastair was too far ahead of them for their arrival to make any difference, seen as they didn't have a clue where to start looking within the building, all seven floors of it. Turning away from the screen displaying the now empty entrance way his smile widened as he watched the old man stepped off the stairs into the corridor mere metres away, one of his weapons already out and ready. Leaning sideways Andrew casually pulled his own weapon, a 14 inch dirk from it's sheath holding it up to the light, watching his adversaries progress out of the corner of his eye. The old man didn't stand a chance. Andrew snorted cocking his head to one side. It was a shame really, after so many years of teaching his juniors how to handle themselves, so many years of being the best, the old man had finally lost. He was finally acting his age. The old man's time had finally come.
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Epona bit down on her bottom lip not even noticing when she drew blood, attention focused solely on the images in front of her. Her knuckles were white from the grip on her chair. She barely noticed the gentle supporting hand on her shoulder.
Belisama lent against the back of her sister's chair, offering what support she could, watching numbly as their mother's plan played out, not wanting to believe it was real. Alastair was mortal and facing off with Andrew, who he could not kill because of the vow that had been made by Beatrice. It was all wrong. None of it was right, none of it made sense, but then Danu loved being mysterious, delighting in tormenting them, doing things that made no sense to them and when questioned she always reminded them that she was their mother and she knew what she was doing.
Belisama closed her eyes against the tears that were threatening, hating her mother's arrogance. It was one thing to do something for the right reasons, it was another to do it just because you could. That was the lesson their mother had taught them all from a young age, but at some point in the millennia since she'd forgotten her own words, giving them all a taste of just what a lot of mortal children went through when they became adults. Seeing the true character of your parents, not just the façade they directed at their children.
Watching as one of her dearest friends walked into an impossible situation, unable to do anything to help him, she couldn't help but wonder if her mother had realised exactly what all this meant, if she had realised the full extent of the price of her actions. She hoped that she did because even considering that her mother had acted in ignorance hurt too much. She had to hope that her mother knew what she was doing, because if she didn't, she wouldn't have anything left to live for.
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Daniel let the door swing shut behind him, meeting Andrew's gaze silently, ready for what was to come, drawing his second sai out of it sheath as he stepped further into the room, never once looking away from the younger man. Andrew grinned leaning back in his chair tapping the tip of his blade against the concrete floor, not making any signs of moving from his seat.
"It's been a while."
Andrew's eyebrows raised and his grin widened. "A few centuries."
"Nice place, but the décor could be a bit more inspired."
Andrew laughed. "My someone's been hanging around mortals a little too much recently. Though I must say, they do look interesting."
Daniel's eyes narrowed, grip tightening on his blades. "You haven't changed."
"Unlike the rest of you, I've never seen any need to change and it doesn't seem to have affected my ability to fit in."
"As much as I'm enjoying this conversation, could we just skip it?"
Andrew smirked. "Why? Are you worried they'll interrupt something?" He waved a hand towards the screen that was tracking O'Neill's team's progress through the building.
Daniel smiled coolly shaking his head. "Not in the least, I'd just rather not waste time with pointless small talk. Unless it's a delaying tactic to hide your fear in which case, by all means feel free to continue until you feel comfortable with your fear."
"Ouch, was that supposed to make me mad?" Andrew sneered at Daniel, pushing up out of his chair. "Because if it was, it didn't work."
Daniel smiled. "And yet, you're standing."
Andrew smiled nodding slowly. "So I am."
Stalking across the room to stand in front of the TV Andrew tapped the screen idly, his back to Daniel, waiting for a few moments before turning back, disgust colouring his expression. "Anyone else would have made their move when my back was turned."
Daniel snorted. "Expected me to play right into your hands? Sorry to disappoint."
Andrew shrugged casually, starting to turn away before swinging around swiftly blade cutting through the air. Daniel caught the blade in the fork of one of his sais, twisting quickly in an attempt to dislodge the weapon from the other man's grip. Andrew stepped back, pulling his blade out, altering his grip to counteract Daniel's actions before attacking again, blade heading for Daniel's abdomen, only for it to be caught again by one of the sais. Undeterred Andrew continued his attacks, carefully testing the other man's defences, and his strength. Smiling grimly he pulled back for a moment, delighting in the fault he had found with his opponent, before continuing his attacks, neatly deflecting the few that were thrown back at him.
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Teal'c froze, his head tilted to one side listening, sure that he had heard something. He stiffened as the now familiar sound of metal blades hitting one another carried to him from elsewhere in the building. Ignoring the sounds of impatience coming from the NID colonel at his back, he glanced around trying to determine which direction the noise was coming from. Spotting the opening to a stair well off to his left he smiled faintly before signalling his intentions to his team mates behind, and leading them off towards the stairs to the basement.
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Daniel winced faintly as the impact of their blades jolted his muscles, ignoring the discomfort knowing he couldn't afford to think of anything other than his defence. Andrew knew his weapon well and could use it against two weapons with ease, but that wasn't the problem, the problem was that Andrew had an advantage that he wasn't even aware of. Daniel wasn't immortal any more, his body didn't work the same way any more. Two sleepless nights meant he was tired and eventually he wouldn't be up to meeting the other man's attacks to any effect. Andrew was still immortal, fully capable of keeping up his side of the fight for however long he needed to. It had been a long time since Daniel had had to fight as a mortal and what experience he had had was nothing compared to his millennia as an immortal. He wasn't used to feeling so physically worn and he had never realised that being immortal had changed him that much.
Daniel bit his lip, stepping backwards hurriedly to avoid Andrew's blade, flinching as it cut through the fabric of his shirt, exposing his chest from shoulder to waist, his sai turning the blade aside as the following cut headed for his other shoulder. Side stepping quickly he brought the sais up together to catch the blade, straining to keep it in the lock, only to fail and have one of the sais knocked out of his sweaty hand. Daniel blinked. He watched as the blade slid across the floor only to come to rest at Andrew's feet. Flexing his throbbing hand gingerly, he quickly changed his grip on his remaining weapon, doing his best to deflect Andrew's moves.
The sound of footsteps in the corridor outside the isolation room echoed hollowly and Daniel couldn't help but glance towards the monitors, hoping that he was wrong and they hadn't found them so soon. Gaze sticking on the monitors for a moment too long he flinched stumbling backwards, empty hand coming up to touch the shallow slice that ran across his chest, his gaze focusing on Andrew's now bloody blade. He'd let himself get distracted, momentarily forgetting that he was fighting for his life, his concern for O'Neill and the others overriding his other instincts. That was something he couldn't afford to do again. He needed to focus past the worry and the stinging pain from his wound, but it was getting harder.
Shaking his head faintly Daniel turned his attention back to Andrew, bringing his blade up and across just in time to block the next attack.
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Sam glanced backwards nervously, sure that they should have met some resistance before they had gotten this far, so close to wherever the noise was coming from. Frowning at the empty corridor, she sighed, swinging back around her gaze settling on the colonel's stiff back. It had been a long day, and the sound of metal on metal nearby was no comfort especially when she knew full well that her friend was involved, fighting some unknown aggressor that they knew nothing about. Glancing sideways as they walked past yet another empty corridor, she had to wonder why Daniel hadn't left them more information than just the location. Why he hadn't told them what exactly it was that he was up against, or rather, who? But then, he'd never really gone into much detail about anything in the last few months. When they'd gone to rescue his daughter all they'd known was where she was and that some other immortals were holding her captive. That had been it. Even then it had taken a while for them to find out that much. How he could go on telling them that all they had to do was ask and he'd answer any questions they had she didn't know, but then that promise had come later, too late. They should never have needed to ask , he should have told them anyway, that was what friends did, they talked, shared the important things with one an other, or at least that was how everyone liked to think friends should be. The truth was that everyone had something that they never told, some secret that they never knew how to share.
Reaching up to push a hand through her hair, she glanced ahead, to the door that Teal'c was headed for. Whatever it was that they were about to witness, she doubted it was going to be good. Whatever was happening, Daniel had been protecting them from, which meant they were already in far deeper than they should be. But there was one thing that was still bothering her. Daniel had left them directions. Directions that had led them to where they were. He had been determined to keep them out of it before, why would he leave them directions?
Sam shook her head, focusing on the situation at hand, adjusting her grip on her weapon as Teal'c pushed the door open and stepped inside. Glancing quickly around Sam nodded to O'Neill to follow the other two, waiting a minute before following herself. Stepping over the threshold, Sam froze, her blue eyes fixed on the glass viewing window and the old isolation room beyond. A chill ran down her spine. There was Daniel, bleeding from a chest wound, mindlessly deflecting the attacks aimed at him by his opponent, pale and sweating, in just his trousers and boots, a chain that she had never seen before handing openly around his neck, a single semi-forked blade in his right hand. Losing.
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Daniel grunted, wincing as his arm protested, the effort it took to deflect Andrew's blows wearing him down to the point that all he could think of was when the next move would come and how much movement he would have to coax out of his failing limbs. It was one thing to fight against a fresh opponent when you had only had a few hours sleep. It was another thing completely to try and keep up when you were slowly succumbing to exhaustion. It served him right, not considering his body's needs over the past week or so, not adjusting his routine to make up for the loss of his immortality. Stepping backwards he swore as he felt his left foot slip, know it was over, that nothing he could do now would turn the fight in his favour. Daniel yelped as his knee slammed into the hard floor, feeling the cartilage go, flinching he bent his other knee, kneeling on the floor in order to keep his balance as he vainly tried to keep Andrew's blade away from his body. Ignoring the small pool of blood forming around his ruined knee, he frowned as reality became inseparable from the nightmare from his past. Sharp pain laced through his abdomen as his assailants blade found it's mark, acting on instinct he drew his spare blade and lunged around, driving the knife in under her ribs, shaking Daniel blinked frowning at the blood that was now dripping from the tip of his sai, and the puncture wound in Andrew's side. Glancing upwards he couldn't help but smile at the expression of disbelieve marring Andrew's face, not knowing how he had managed to get through the other man's defences, Maeve gasped, hands dropping to cup the knife buried in her chest, shaking as blood leaked from the wound. Angry eyes met his as he was jerked out of the memory, as Andrew dipped to pick up the sai that Daniel had lost earlier, before bringing his dirk down in a arch towards Daniel's wrist, Daniel pulled back twisting the sai to catch the other blade, only to watch numbly as it flew out his hand to hit the wall. Blue eyes fixed on the bloody sword on the stone floor between him and his attacker, blood trickling down his leg from his own fatal wound even as she staggered backwards cursing before falling heavily to her knees. Blinding pain shot through his arm and he couldn't help but cry out. His left hand drifting to brush the hilt of the sai that Andrew had driven through his wrist, as he stared up at the other man incapable of separating the memories of his first death from what was actually happening, vaguely confused that it was Andrew standing over him not Maeve, with her cold green eyes and cropped brown hair. Shaking his head faintly he frowned, his eyes glassy as he stared upwards, waiting.
"I must say I'm disappointed, I'd always thought that the tales were true, that you were the 'great warrior' they all say you are. But as it turns out, you aren't. I don't, however, understand why you even came. Tell me old man, why did you come? Why didn't you kill me?" Pressing the other sai to Daniel's throat he lent forwards, pressing his cheek against Daniel's as he whispered in his ear, not realising that he was wasting his breath. "How would you like to die? Quickly, or slowly?" Pulling back to watch the expression on his fallen foe's face Andrew's grin faded to a scowl when he failed to get any reaction.
"Why?" Daniel breathed the question stuck in another place and another time, the backhand that Andrew answered his question with going unnoticed. "Because you forgot your place." The echo of Maeve's words sent a shiver down Daniel's spine, as he tried to push himself upright with his injured wrist, wincing as the pain drove him back to his knees. Blinking sluggishly up at Andrew he frowned at the sai trying to remember how Andrew had acquired it the first place.
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Jack winced as Daniel fell to his knees, knowing instantly that Daniel didn't have a chance. He wasn't going to be able to stand on the blown knee and he needed to move if he was to stand any chance of winning against his opponent. His eyes widened in horror as the man knocked Daniel's weapon out of his hand before driving an identical blade through his friend's right wrist, pulling back from the glass Jack turned pulling Teal'c with him back out of the observation room, towards the door that led into the isolation room it's self.
He wasn't about to stand and watch Daniel die when there was something he could do about it. He just wasn't ready to test what Daniel had told them before, about not being immortal any more. He wasn't ready to face the possibility of losing his friend, not when there was something he could do to stop it. All they had to do was get in there and deal with the guy who was holding a blade to Daniel's neck.
As his hand closed around the door handle, Jack idly noted Conway's presence behind him along with that of his team mates, before pushing through into the room, bringing his gun up and aiming it towards the man's head as he took in the scene in front of him, and the difference that the few seconds it had taken them to get from the observation room had made.
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Daniel gasped swallowing back bile as his left hand clutched desperately at his stomach, his wide blue eyes locked on the now bloody blade in Andrew's hand as he slid sideways, unable to find the strength to stay on his knees anymore. It hurt so much more than he had remembered, but it was still so familiar. Glancing down at the bloody tear in his stomach he started to pull his hand away only to push it back in harder as the movement only served to allow more blood to spill from the wound. Swallowing hard against the warmth rising he stared up at Andrew. He frowned as he watched the other man crumple to the floor as his own vision started to blur, the cold concrete room being replaced by another familiar room and the familiar face of his true love, long red hair falling loose around her shoulder as she knelt to pull him into her arms, a shaking hand gently stroking his face as she rocked him. Daniel smiled faintly, giving up the fight against the memories, not noticing as he was taken into the arms of another.
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The gunshot echoed in the room along with Conway's cry of denial as she took in the scene, blood pooling around Daniel Jackson as he sagged to the floor, the man responsible lying still a few feet away his own wound colouring the once grey floor. Stepping back to lean against the wall Isabelle swallowed hard against the lump in her throat, already trying to think of a way to explain it all to her superiors. It was bad enough that her predecessor had failed them, without her following suit. They would not be happy. On the other hand there was always another way to look at a situation. After all if Jackson failed to revive then it showed that it had all been a lie and the man had always been just a normal mortal man, who offered her superiors nothing, no secret cure for mortality or amazing test subject into the source of his immortality. It saved them the money and time that they would have otherwise wasted on those tests.
Her eyes wandered to the still body lying across the room and she smiled faintly. Maybe they would accept a substitute for the good doctor, one whose immortal status she would be able to confirm due to a first hand experience. Isabelle smiled, pulling her pistol and flicking off the safety. After what she'd seen the only way she was likely to be able to take him into custody was if she shot him again and moved him before he had time to revive. Glancing towards the door she frowned, wondering how she would be able to get him out of the building and to a secure location in time, or maybe the isolation room would be good enough on its own. Ignoring the remaining members of the SGC's flagship unit she moved to check the lock on the door before starting across the room to her catch, pleased that she had a suitable out, only to freeze, staring at the now empty space, the only sign that a body had even been there moments ago being the small pool of blood.
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Jack ignored the complaints from his knees as he knelt beside his friend. He reached out to pull Daniel's hand away from the wound only to freeze, not wanting to see the full extent of the damage, wanting to keep those few extra moments of ignorance for as long as he could. Swallowing hard he cupped Daniel's cheek gently in his hand, tilting his friend's head up so he could met his gaze, only to find himself staring into the eyes of a dying man, not the vibrant cerulean eyes so full of life and wisdom that he was used to seeing. Almost choking on the lump in his throat Jack gently manoeuvred his friend until he was cradled in his lap. He offered the only support he could think of as he carefully repositioned Daniel's arm to get a look at the wound only to wince and cover it again. Behind him he heard Carter gag, having caught a glimpse of the wound, but he blocked it out, determined not to think about it or what it meant. Rocking Daniel gently in his arms he glanced upwards for a minute as Teal'c's shadow feel over him, meeting the solemn warrior's gaze for a moment before turning his full attention back to the man in his arms. Daniel wasn't about to die. In a little while this would be nothing but a bad dream. Daniel's eyes would focus on him again and they would laugh about his latest brush with death and joke about the bets running about how many times he would die this year and whether he had beaten his personal best this year. Then, Daniel would be immortal and they would never have had that argument on Sunday about him not being immortal anymore. Daniel would never have doubted that he was going to see them again. He would have just warned them against coming after him and told them that he would be back soon, once he had dealt with business.
The problem was, it hadn't been a dream and Daniel's blood was quickly soaking into Jack's pant legs as it leaked from the tear in his stomach. His blue eyes began to glaze over in a way that had become all too familiar to Jack in his years in the field.
"Danny?"
Daniel blinked up at him sluggishly, his cloudy gaze locking onto Jack's face for a moment as he reached up to gently cup Jack's cheek. He smiled faintly before letting his arm drop, leaving a bloody trail behind. Swallowing hard he blinked again, his body slumping in Jack's grip, his injury taking its fatal toll on him. "It'll be alright, trust me."
Jack shook his head mutely, ignoring the dampness threatening at the corner of his eye, pulling his friend closer, not wanting to accept the soft words, or what they meant. "Damnit Daniel, look at me!"
Jack froze staring at his friend's still features, shaking his head again faintly. "Danny?" He patted his friend's cheek gently swallowing hard against the dread pitting in his stomach, determined to hold onto denial for a while longer. Daniel wasn't dead. He couldn't be dead.
Shaking his friend lightly he frowned when the still body in his arms didn't react, shaking a little harder only to have his motions stilled by a solid grip on his arm. Glancing sideways he mutely gave into Teal'c gentle prodding, allowing the other man to lift Daniel out of his grip, to lay him gently on the cold floor. He watched silently as Carter dropped to her knees to press a hand against the side of Daniel's neck, checking for a pulse before pulling away a hand clamped over her mouth, her eyes wide.
"Oh god."
Jack squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, before slipping a hand under Daniel again, ignoring Teal'c's protests, gently cradling the body of his friend to his chest, not wanting to let go, because that would mean that it was all over, that Daniel was truly gone.