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CHAPTER THREE

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"You okay, Teal'c?"

The big Jaffa looked down at his team mate. "I am well, Major Carter."

"You seem---distracted."

"I am not."

The woman pursed her lips then nodded once. "Okay," she replied simply.

Teal'c lifted his chin and clasped his hands behind his back as he walked. He'd left his staff weapon at the encampment that morning much to his unease, but O'Neill had insisted that no one carried a staff weapon on one's down-time.

He turned his head slightly to see the altar behind him.

"He'll be fine, Teal'c."

"Perhaps I should return."

"Daniel said he didn't need anymore help," replied the major. "And maybe he just wants a little time alone."

"Daniel Jackson has spent much of his time---alone recently, Major Carter."

"I've noticed. I've tried to get him to talk, but he just won't."

"As have I," said Teal'c dejectedly. He turned his attention back to the approaching tree line.

"He doesn't blame you, Teal'c."

The Jaffa inhaled deeply through his nose and raised his chin. "Perhaps he should."

Major Carter shook her head adamantly. "Daniel said you did the right thing."

"By terminating the life of Sha're."

"You did what you had to do, Teal'c and I, for one am grateful you made the choice you did. I know the colonel and everyone at the SGC agrees and even though Daniel doesn't necessarily 'agree', he understands."

"I have brought nothing but pain to Daniel Jackson, Major Carter, and yet he still offers me his trust and his friendship. I do not believe I am worthy of either."

"Teal'c---."

Teal'c abruptly halted his stride. "I will return to the altar."

Major Carter stopped and turned, her blue eyes full of empathy. "I'll see you at the camp later then," she replied without argument.

Teal'c bowed his head in acknowledgment then turned and strode back toward the altar. Since discovering that he'd been responsible for Sha're's fate from the beginning, he'd felt it not just his duty to watch over Daniel Jackson, but his distinct honor. The archeologist had been wary of Teal'c upon their initial meeting, but he'd never been angry at him. The Jaffa warrior wondered at his young friend's capacity to see beyond his own feelings, to honestly feel compassion for the man who'd cost him his beloved wife. They'd formed a friendship out of tragedy, a bond of brotherhood, and Teal'c felt it his privilege to protect that treasured bond.

"Hey, wait up!"

The Jaffa slowed his steps so that the major could join him.

"Figured maybe I'd go back, too."

Teal'c felt his lips curve slightly. "Indeed," he replied.

As he approached the altar, the Jaffa narrowed his eyes; he could see Daniel Jackson's backpack resting on the stone floor, a field journal lying next to it, but he saw no sign of the archeologist.

Teal'c fingered the radio tucked in his vest pocket. "O'Neill," he said. "Is Daniel Jackson with you?"

"Uh---no, he's at the altar."

"He is not. We have returned to find only his gear present."

"What?"

Teal'c turned and from where he stood, he could see O'Neill standing at the edge of the pond a good distance away.

"We seriously need to consider leashing that boy," muttered the colonel. "He's got to be there somewhere, Teal'c. We just left him a couple minutes ago. Maybe he ducked into the bushes for a---a break."

While Major Carter walked around the perimeter of the altar calling for Daniel Jackson, Teal'c moved forward and stepped up onto the stone floor. He froze; lying at the base of the wall were the archeologist's etching papers, strewn haphazardly about as if they'd just been dropped suddenly.

"He's not here," announced the major as she joined Teal'c near the wall. "Oh, my God." She knelt and pulled at one of the delicate sheets of paper. "Get the colonel, Teal'c, hurry."

Teal'c fingered his radio again. "O'Neill, your presence is required at the altar immediately."

"Roger that."

The Jaffa turned his head and watched as the colonel discarded the fishing apparatus he'd been holding and headed toward him at a dead run.

"How can this be?" wondered Major Carter.

Teal'c turned back to his team mate and knelt at her side. She was gripping one end of a single piece of paper, the other end caught seemingly within the wall. He lifted his gaze to the inscriptions and swallowed convulsively, the warning Daniel Jackson had read echoing through his mind.

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Daniel awoke slowly, aware of only the cold floor beneath him and the throbbing of his head.

"I apologize our first meeting wasn't under better circumstances."

The archeologist blinked into the gloom to see the outline of a very big man standing in the door way. He sat up, his eyes adjusting to the minimal light shining through high narrow windows.

The man stepped forward. "Allow me to introduce myself," he greeted. "I am Areszeus." He bowed his head slightly. "Also known as the demon of Chege---although I think that's a tad overdramatic." He shrugged broad, powerful shoulders. "You kill a few people and you're labeled a demon---now does that sound fair to you?"

Daniel's eyes widened. "I---um---really don't think the killing had anything to do with that label," he stammered out.

Areszeus smiled, displaying a row of pointed yellow teeth. "Are you inferring that I resemble a demon?" he asked. "A bald head and pointed ears do not a demon make."

"Maybe it's the---um---," began the archeologist as he circled his hand. "The clawed hands and the red eyes then?"

The demon appeared to ponder Daniel's words then he smiled again. "Perhaps you're right."

Areszeus stepped forward and the archeologist shifted quickly backwards on his haunches, a gut reaction to the size and breadth of the creature looming over him; the demon was at least a half foot taller than Teal'c.

"There's really no need to be afraid of me."

"How did I get here?"

"I brought you here."

"Uh---why?"

"You were able to read the warning," replied the demon simply.

Daniel swallowed convulsively. "Then this is your---your prison?"

Areszeus sighed dramatically. "Yes, yes I'm afraid it is. Interior decorators the Chegen were not."

The archeologist shuddered, a cold fear knotting in his stomach. "Where is this place?" he asked.

"I call it the---Realm of Infinite Darkness," replied the demon with theatrical flare. "Which as you'll notice isn't 'exactly' an apt description. There is always a minute amount of light shining through my windows."

"So I've noticed."

"The wall you've currently got yourself pressed against is the same wall you were staring at with such single-mindedness earlier. Well---the other side of it anyway."

"Then my friends are---?"

Areszeus raised a hand in front of his broad chest and appraised his long hooked claws admiringly. "They're not on the other side of the wall, if that's what you're thinking. Well, they are, but not in the way you might hope. You're no longer in their realm, boy. You're with me now."

Daniel felt the knot of fear tighten further. "Why?"

In a blur the demon reached down and gripped Daniel's neck. "You are here to free me," he hissed. He lifted the archeologist easily off the ground and drew him close, so close Daniel could smell the rancid breath gusting over his face.

"Uh---no, I don't think so," choked out the young man, his own fingers helplessly scrabbling at the ones clamped around his throat.

Areszeus smiled but his red eyes flared with anger. "Yes you will or this realm will be your final resting place."

Before Daniel could prepare, he felt his body tossed like a rag doll against the hard stone wall. He slid to the floor gasping for the breath that had been knocked from him.

Areszeus knelt in front of the archeologist drawing claws down the rock as he bent. "I am not an evil sort, boy," he cooed. "I only want my freedom." He reached out and gently brushed Daniel's light fringe of bangs off the young man's forehead. "And you can give it to me."

Daniel cleared his throat. "If you were able to pull me into this realm through the wall, why can't you just leave it? Why do you need me?"

"It would kill me," replied Areszeus. He raised his other hand and pulled back the deep red fabric of his robe.

Daniel swallowed the bile that threatened to rise; the hand and forearm were horribly scarred, fresh burns oozing, shining sickeningly in the gloom. The smell of charred flesh assailed Daniel's nostrils and he choked.

"The Chegen had wonderful senses of humor," continued Areszeus mildly. "However they underestimated my threshold of pain and the lengths that I would go to in order to gain my freedom." He stared wonderingly at his damaged skin. "Not many have visited my altar, but I've watched those who have."

"You see through the wall?"

"Of course," replied the demon incredulously. "Those who seem to understand the warning are invited to join me---like you were---although my guess is you aren't entirely 'thrilled' with the invitation."

"Good guess."

"Come with me."

The archeologist was yanked up off his haunches by a strength and ease that scared him. Areszeus all but dragged him out of the room by one arm and down a long dark dank corridor, the walls glistening with moisture. The smell was foul, the air heavy with mildew and death.

The demon hauled Daniel down a long row of stone steps at the bottom of which was a large opened cavern. The smell of decay was far worse and when Daniel saw the reason, he balked. Sitting against one wall was what remained of a man's body, his rotting legs splayed out before him, his head lolled awkwardly to one side. Beside him were two other bodies, the whiteness of their bare bones standing out stark against the cold dark stone behind them.

"Oh, God."

"Oh, don't mind them," said the demon with a dismissive wave of his injured hand. "They won't bother you."

"The others who were---'invited', I take it?"

Areszeus scowled. "The woman there, the one furthest to the left, she lasted the longest although she couldn't decipher the inscriptions she uncovered. The other two were simply wastes of my time."

"Inscriptions?"

The demon pulled Daniel toward the far wall opposite the steps. "These inscriptions," he said.

The archeologist narrowed his eyes in the gloom and saw a row of exposed symbols in the identical language in which the Chegen's warning had been written.

"This is my way out," announced Areszeus as he pointed his finger at the wall. "And this is how you will help me." He released his grip on Daniel's arm then clamped the hand over the young man's shoulder, the claws digging through the fabric of jacket and shirt to puncture the bare skin below.

"You want me to uncover the inscriptions?" gritted out the archeologist.

"Then decipher them, yes."

"You could do this," replied Daniel incredulously then he gasped, dropping to his knees as the claws dug deeper.

Areszeus bent to Daniel's ear. "Yet another example of Chegen humor, boy," he hissed. "I can't touch this wall---it's like touching an open flame for me. Only those from the other realms can touch it---those like you and the Chege. They put the inscriptions beneath this facade, told me it was my way out---knowing I could do absolutely nothing to get to it. And even if I did manage to expose their fancy words, theirs is a language I can not read."

Daniel clenched his jaw against the pain in his shoulder. "And you believed them?"

"As honest as you'll find, the Chegen were. They assured me their words would ease the fabric which separates this realm from yours to allow passage out." He drew closer, his breath hot and moist against Daniel's ear. "And they called 'me' evil. I've been here for over two hundred years, boy, with my means of escape staring me in the face every single day."

"You'll have to stare for a couple hundred more then because I won't help you."

Areszeus tightened his grip on the archeologist's shoulder. "You will, boy, or you will know pain the likes of which you've never endured before. You will stay down here. I will provide you with nourishment and water. You will not rest until I am able to step through that wall into your realm, is that clear?"

"I won't do it."

"Then perhaps one of your friends would---perhaps the pretty female. She's at the altar now; all I have to do is simply reach through---."

"Don't."

The demon shoved Daniel forward with frightening strength. "Then get busy, boy," he demanded. "I will return later to check on your progress. If I am not satisfied then you will suffer." He placed a gentle hand on the back of Daniel's head, his fingers carding through the short-cropped hair. "I want my freedom," he continued, his voice suddenly kind. "Can't you understand that?"

"Yes, I can," replied the archeologist truthfully.

Areszeus patted Daniel's head. "Then I suggest you get started."

The young man turned to watch the demon stride across the cavern then listened to his heavy footfalls as he climbed the stone steps. His gaze moved to the three bodies against the wall and he suddenly realized that would be his fate; to die alone in a cold dark world, in a realm his friends had no hope of reaching.

Daniel turned and sat, his hand moving to his blood-soaked shoulder. He dropped his head back against the exposed inscriptions and closed his eyes, knowing no matter what happened he would never---could never---release Areszeus from his prison.

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"So you're saying Dr. Jackson is in another---dimension? But how is that possible?"

Jack frowned at the MALP camera. "Beats me, sir, but that's what Carter thinks," he replied. "And frankly I think she's right; Daniel isn't here---here, here that is."

"Then the altar was---'is' a prison."

"That's what it's looking like, sir, yes."

"Colonel---."

Jack rubbed at the back of his neck. "I know, sir. It doesn't look good."

"Does Major Carter have any ideas?"

"Not at this time, General, but I was thinking---the Tollan. They have those wrist thingies that enable them to pass through solid walls and Omac took a real liking to Daniel. Maybe there's some way they can get to him."

"We have no way to contact the Tollan, Colonel."

"Then maybe we can get word to the Asgard. They're worlds ahead of us as far as technology goes. Maybe they have something that'll help."

"I'll try, Colonel."

"Don't try---," began Jack tersely then he sighed. "Sorry, General, it's just that---."

"I know, Jack," replied Hammond, his voice kind.

"Where Daniel is, sir---we can't help him. Hell, we don't even know if he's alive."

"We'll get him back, Jack. I'll send word out to the Tok'ra, I'll do anything and everything I can---you know that."

"Yes, sir, thank you, sir."

"I'll talk to you in two hours---maybe we'll have some good news by then. Hammond out."

Jack rubbed at his forehead. Daniel had already been gone three hours and he didn't know if he could go two more without any hope at all of finding his friend and bringing him home. He'd initially been unable to believe what Carter had told him; that Daniel was in another dimension. Along with Teal'c and SG-11, he'd searched the surrounding forest, even the shallow pond for the missing archeologist but to no avail.

Daniel was gone.

The colonel turned, his hands resting on the top of his P-90 which hung around his shoulders, and headed back to the altar. Why couldn't he have just stayed those few more minutes, he chastised himself as he walked. If he'd just stayed, then maybe he could have saved Daniel or at the very least, been taken with him.

He shook his head. Daniel was more than likely with some sort of an evil spirit and he was alone. Jack wondered what was happening to his friend at that moment, if he was still alive or if he was hurt and confused, wondering where his team mates were, wondering where Jack was. The young man had always relied on Jack, trusted Jack, and the colonel had promised himself after their first mission to Abydos that he would always be there to help his friend. And for the most part, he'd managed to keep that promise.

Except for this day; Jack had failed miserably on this day.

"What did General Hammond say, sir?"

Jack returned abruptly from his reverie to see Carter approaching him from the altar. He was only slightly surprised to find he had no real memory of crossing the two miles from the Stargate, so lost he'd been in his own thoughts.

The major fell into step at Jack's side, her worried blue eyes imploring him to give her good news.

"Not much, I'm afraid," the colonel replied. "He's putting word out to our allies and hopefully someone can get in touch with the Tollan or the Nox."

Carter pursed her lips and nodded. "It's a long shot, sir, but it's all we have right now."

"Damn it, Daniel," muttered Jack. "Where the hell are you?"

"Hawkins and SG-11 are packing up the camp and moving it here just in case---well, just in case Daniel comes back on his own, sir."

"Good."

"Sir, Narim left a device with me when he left, a sort of recorder. Maybe I can MacGyver it somehow, figure out a way to send out a signal with it."

"Do you really think a 'recorder' can be jerry-rigged, Major?"

Carter shook her head, her eyes downcast. "No, sir, but---I'm useless here, sir. If there's even the slightest chance I can understand the Tollan technology, maybe---."

Jack waved an impatient hand. "Go," he said sharply. "Just go then---MacGyver away, Carter."

"Yes, sir."

The colonel yanked his cap off and scrubbed his fingers through his short-cropped hair in frustration. He watched his second-in-command pick up her pack from where she'd left it propped against the altar steps; if anyone could find a way into another dimension, he knew it would be Carter. He gave her a tight smile as she passed him, slinging her pack up on her shoulders as she moved then Jack climbed the steps up onto the altar.

"O'Neill," greeted Teal'c solemnly.

"Whatcha doing, big guy?"

Teal'c lifted his chin and looked down his nose at the inscriptions on the wall, one hand gripping his staff weapon, his stance relaxed but ready. "I am waiting," he replied simply.

Jack moved to his friend's side, putting his cap back on with a harsh tug. "I'll wait with you if you don't mind."

"I do not."

The colonel gripped his P-90 and stared at the wall before him, the wall of a prison that held his friend somewhere nearby---yet so damned far away.

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Daniel sat back on his heels and eyed what was already exposed of the inscriptions. His insatiable curiosity was urging him to uncover more and he lifted a hand to ghost his fingertips over the last symbol, his fingers moving to touch the covering stone that hid the rest of the words from view. Then he dropped his hand back to his lap; he couldn't.

The archeologist pushed himself to his feet, the pain in his shoulder jolting him. Areszeus had clearly dug his claws deep, the warmth of the still oozing blood heating the palm of Daniel's hand as he reached to cover the wound beneath his jacket. The demon had told him he'd provide water and food and Daniel knew his first job would be to clean his injury; well, he amended, if Areszeus didn't kill him outright for not doing as he was told.

His eyes moved to the three bodies against the wall. He knew the first was female even before the demon had told him; the skeleton sharing its gender all too clearly. The second body wasn't humanoid, the spine elongated and curved. The being had been tall, at least as tall as Areszeus and Daniel wondered if he---she or possibly it had fought back. The third body was still all too clearly male and very much human. Daniel shook his head; three beings snatched from their lives into a world of death and gloom.

The archeologist turned his gaze from the corpses to look around the cavern. Against the opposite wall from the bodies was a cot, obviously the place where Areszeus allowed his 'visitors' to rest. Above the cot was a narrow window through which shone only a fragment of light. Daniel canted his head; he'd thought he was underground when the demon had brought him down the long staircase, but apparently he'd been wrong. He crossed the short distance to the cot then put a foot up on it, testing its strength. Tentatively, Daniel stood on the little bed, his feet placed on the supports. He craned his neck to see out the window.

"Oh, no."

The realization that Daniel was in another realm hit him like a physical blow. There was no 'outside' world, only swirling masses of black mist blowing over nothingness. In the endless sky hung two large moons, but their light shone over no land and no bodies of water, they only lit the prison in which Daniel was trapped.

"I've tried to complain about the view, but no one listens."

Daniel turned abruptly at the voice as he stumbled clumsily off the cot.

Areszeus' gaze moved to the inscriptions and anger flared in his red eyes. "You have not done as you were told," he hissed.

"I won't help you," replied Daniel with an air of defiance he had to fight to conjure.

The demon dropped off the final step and moved across the cavern with a grace that surprised the archeologist. He snatched Daniel by the throat with his burned hand and literally ripped the young man's jacket off with his other. Brutally and with unfathomable strength, Areszeus lifted Daniel from the ground, his eyes boring into the archeologist's as he crossed to where the bodies lay. He slammed Daniel against the wall with a force that made the young man yelp then turned him face first into the wall.

"You could have made this easy, boy."

"I've been told that I never make anything easy," replied Daniel. He struggled against the demon, the sound of snapping bones reaching his ears as his feet trampled on the skeleton beneath them. His wrists were forced into shackles embedded into the rock wall and stupidly Daniel could only think of how Jack would consider such an act so cliché.

The pain of the first strike against his back cleared that thought immediately; clichéd or not, the sting was very real.

The assault continued until Daniel could no longer hold himself up, his aching wrists taking his full weight as he collapsed. Then he felt a gentle hand on his nape then long fingers carding through his sweat-soaked hair; he closed his eyes to stop the sudden rush of tears.

"I don't want to hurt you, boy," whispered Areszeus kindly. "I didn't want to hurt any of you, but you left me no choice. I want my freedom."

Daniel opened his eyes and silently cursed the moisture that escaped to roll unheeded down his cheeks.

"You will remain here," continued the demon softly, his fingers still moving through the archeologist's hair. "I will return later and hopefully with time to think, you will decide on your proper course of action." The fingers tightened and Areszeus yanked Daniel's head back viciously. "If you don't, then I will leave you here to rot with the others and move on to one of your friends from the outside, understood?"

"Yes."

The fingers gentled again and Areszeus kissed Daniel's temple as if forgiving a recalcitrant child, the act sending a chill prickling over the young man's skin; not only was the demon plainly evil, but very clearly insane as well.

"Good, boy."

Daniel closed his eyes again and listened to Areszeus' footfalls as they grew distant then silence descended over him once more. He placed his feet under his body and managed to take the weight from his wrists, a gasp of pain escaping through clenched teeth. He leaned his cheek against the damp wall and tried to slow his breathing.

Although the pain from his back was blinding, he could not feel the moisture of blood against the cotton of his tee shirt. Whatever Areszeus had used, it apparently hadn't cut through his flesh. The archeologist's shoulder protested as he shifted his weight and from the heat that dribbled down his side, he knew those wounds were no doubt still bleeding.

Tears threatened again and Daniel cursed himself aloud for his weakness. He'd grown used to having Jack at his side and Sam and Teal'c, too, and even though a small despicable part of him wished they were there, he was more than thankful they weren't. He'd been strong all his life, been able to find that well of fortitude required to face whatever life handed him and his current situation was just another in which he'd have to reach deep inside to tap into that reserve again.

If Daniel Jackson was anything, he was a survivor.

The archeologist opened his eyes and turned his head to rest his other cheek against the wet wall. His gaze fell on the partially exposed inscriptions. Jack had always told him he'd be lousy at poker because he just couldn't bluff his opponent.

As Daniel's eyes slid over the symbols, he really hoped his friend was wrong.

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CONTINUED

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