Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters do not belong to me. I'm not related to the show in any way. I'm merely a fan who writes fanfics. "Rain" is solely mine.

Chapter Four

Major Paul Davis strode through the hallways of Pentagon with determination. His stride was sharp and disciplined; his face firm and alerted, yet there was something about him which not many in the Air Force noticed – a gentleness that was hidden in the depths of the blue uniform he wore.

In his hand was the file that was requested by General George Hammond. A file that contained information on a civilian he had befriended during his visits to the secret base known as the SGC and it was gripped in his hands like a lifeline as he made his way towards the jet that awaited him outside Washington DC.

It had taken him countless hours in two short days to complete the request, one he wouldn't deny to the SGC. For what they were doing, this sort of a request was a small price to pay.

But getting that information wasn't easy, he sighed, Colonel Simmons' disapproval had been discarded after he had pleaded with the ranks higher than Simmons and himself. Simmons had somehow gained the information about Daniel's current state and had tried to use it to his own advantage.

"Looking for something, Major" a voice startled him. Davis turned to look at Simmons standing quite calmly. Knowing the way Simmons worked, Davis wasn't about let his reasons for his presence be known to the Colonel.

Shaking his head in denial, "No, sir," and smartly placed the folder back, closing the cabinet. Davis was ready to walk out when Simmons' words caught him off-guard.

"It is well known that Dr. Jackson requires his friends help, Major." He placed his hands in the pockets of his trousers.

Narrowing his eyes at the door as well keeping calm he turned to Colonel Simmons. "I'm not sure where you got that idea from, Colonel." Davis was careful to not confirm any of the information and left the room.

Simmons chuckled sharply. "I'm sure you do, Major."

But now Davis – even he was dead on his feet – he was glad to be taking the information that was required and to be the one who would present it to General Hammond, a man of respect and gentle nature. Davis was glad to be working for the man; he thought of it as an honor that not many in his rank were able to receive.

Nor were many able to work effectively with Colonel O'Neill. Blending was the trick that was suited for a job like his. Each time he had visited, Davis' respect for the veteran officer had never faded; and his friendship with SG-1 grew stronger. As he boarded the plane, he pulled off his coat and he immediately picked up the phone and dialed the base. "This is Major Davis, please let the General know that I'm on my way," he said and hung up.

Now all he had to do was read the file during his flight and be ready to answer any questions that may arise. Aside from that, all he wanted to do was sleep around the clock, but that could wait till the current matter was dealt with.

Pouring himself a strong cup of coffee, Davis sat on the sofa and read the information he had gathered as the plane took off.

It had taken them two days on the road and a night in a motel before they had reached their destination. After getting freshened up and helping themselves with some sleep, Daniel and Teal'c stood in front of a small, marble gravestone with an angel statue on the top in Chicago.

Standing in deep silence as Daniel's memories ran, in and out at random, each bringing pain of different kind. Some made him laugh; with others he wanted to cry.

She had been his life, his joy.

Now forever gone.

Leaving an empty place in his heart that couldn't be filled…no matter how he tried. But in the years since she had been gone, he had learned to live with the sadness that the pouring rain brought him, or her unexpected laugher he heard in his head at times.

Since the Stargate Program had started he had been too busy to think of her. He supposed it served him right for not having her in his thoughts as he usually did.

Even Jack, who happens to be his best friend, didn't know. There had been times he had wanted to tell Jack, Sam, too, but the words wouldn't form.

When it came to Rain, he lied and lied well. A skill of survival for him as he was the last pillar of his family, he had to be strong.

"Daniel Jackson," Teal'c broke the silence, "What is the purpose of this?" He didn't understand the reason to stare at the small stone in silence.

"Oh…uh…" he was distracted. "Of what?" he blinked.

"Staying in silence."

"Well, uh…." He was himself unsure as to how to explain this to the Jaffa without sounding like an idiot. Instead of answering, he bended down and placed the pale pink roses he had brought next to the stone. "I love you," he whispered.

In his mind he could her reply; he gave a small smile before he got up to face Teal'c. "Well, tell you what, I buy you a drink Murray?"

Looking at Daniel's retreating, Teal'c tilted his head in bemusement. It was the Tau'ri's customs he didn't understand. Perhaps in time he would get used to their ways, not all but some. Making sure that the area was clear, he bended down and placed a small white rose he had next to the dozen of Daniel's roses before walking away. It was his way of paying respects to a child who never got to see the beauty of life and never would. It was sad indeed.

Heal well Daniel, he thought.

"Are you sure?" Hammond asked with authority after reading the file. It had taken him two hours to have a full read of Daniel's file and the one-page report that Davis had written himself.

Davis nodded. "Yes, sir," he confirmed. Now he was wide awake thanks to five cups of coffee he'd had during his flight. But the lack of sleep still did show.

"Well," Hammond conceded, "looks like Dr. Frasier was right," he huffed. His thoughts turned on the Daniel who had over time become a friend. Hammond couldn't imagine how hard it must have been for Daniel to lose one more member of his family. "How do you suppose we intend to go on about it?" he asked. He could command his teams for negotiations, battles among other military training.

He had a slight idea, but it had been years since he had been in his thirties. He had after all lost his wife.

Looking at Davis, Hammond could tell that the man needed rest; perhaps he should talk with Davis after the young officer got some sleep.

"Well, we do know that Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter would meet with Daniel and Teal'c, so…" he un-looped his hands and spaced them away, "We send them the information and hope for the best."

Hammond chuckled, "You don't seem as confident as you sound, Major."

"Permission to speak freely?" Hammond nodded. "Well, it's slightly hard to be confident with something like this"

"Why is that, Major?" the Commanding Officer asked. He knew of course, but he wanted to hear it from Davis himself. "Off the record."

Easing off, he shook his head. "It's a matter of personal emotions, sir. For someone to heal after losing a sibling is hard. From what you've told me, it seems that Dr. Jackson has a long road of recovery."

Looking at Davis with some surprise, Hammond nodded. "Speaking from personal experience, Major?"

Without blinking, Davis answered, "Yes sir," and the thought of his late wife he had lost to cancer two years ago. So, in a sense he could relate to Daniel's pain.

With a nod, Davis rose.

"Forward these to Colonel O'Neill's jet."

"Yes, General," he agreed.

"And, Major," he stopped Davis while he was half in and half out.

"Sir?"

"Get yourself to the sleeping quarters." Davis nodded. "That's an order, Major, not a request."

"Yes sir," Davis replied with his lips twitching, leaving behind the general shaking his head in amusement.

"Carter," Jack yelled, "this doohickey has sent us some information."

Trying hard to keep her smile at bay, Sam shook her head. "Yes, sir." She knew that the colonel referred to anything that worked as a doohickey, even the artifacts or working objects brought from other planets. Now it was the fax machine that was now the newest object in the colonel's doohickey list. She wondered if he ever stops calling everything a doohickey. Next would be the pen or the camera to be called that. But then again it wouldn't be Colonel O'Neill without saying 'Doohickey'. Chuckling, she took her copy of the information that was sent by General Hammond. "Information on Daniel?" she asked in confusion with her brows frowned.

Jack gave his signature headshake with an 'oh well' written on his face. "Apparently," he sighed, feeling something wasn't right. He began to read it and cursed when he read something that he didn't know about Daniel. "He's got some explaining to do," he growled.

"Explain what?" Confused Carter looked at Jack.

"Why he lied about not having a sister!" he exclaimed, "on his death bed too," he added with traces of humor.

"He might have had…"

He didn't let her finish. "She's was five years…" he trailed off, thinking of his own loss. Could be the same reason that Daniel never told him about Rain; while he never told Carter about losing Charlie. Sighing he ran his fingers through his hair and sat down.

Looking at her CO, she wondered what stopped him from proceeding further, "Sir?" When Jack looked at her, "Are you alright?" she asked.

"Oh yeah," he leaned back and stretched. "Peachy, just peachy Captain."

Carter could tell that he was pissed about it. She herself didn't understand the secrecy for Rain's death. But then again, she knew she hadn't lost a sibling so understanding Daniel's pain would be hard; but given she had lost her mother with whom she had been close and then she had some understanding.

Getting the Colonel calmed down was a major challenge. Huffing out a breath, she knew it would be one interesting journey. Hearing the Colonel cursing, she looked almost amused. With a shake of her head she read the report.

TBC………