Spoilers: "Jolinar's Memories" and "The Devil You Know"
Author's Note: Sorry this one took forever, I really do have a bunch of excuses, including the big storm we had where we had no power and school was even cancelled (lucky me!) But it's here now, so enjoy!
Also, thanks for all of the reviews, especially Janissima and MIH, your feedback was very helpful.
Previously:
"Dr. Ja- I mean Daniel!" Jessica turned around holding the book open with a huge grin in place. "You're never going to believe this! Whoever this person was," She turned the book so that its contents could be seen by Daniel. "They were an Ancient!"
"Mens Mentis"
-Chapter 4-
Daniel quickly closed the distance between them, and took the book from her. Sure enough, the pages were full of Ancient text. Although, it was handwritten, which caused the writing to be a little messier than usual.
"There are 5 other books here, too." Dr. Ryan said, nodding to the pile on the table.
"That doesn't make much sense, the Ancients were so technologically advanced, why isn't there any computers?" Daniel questioned. "These books may just be something this guy found on another planet, along with all of this other junk."
"Or girl." Jessica corrected him.
"Dr. Jackson?" Colonel Reynolds' voice crackled through the radio.
Daniel reached for his radio. "Go ahead."
"Dr. Lee found something you may find interesting."
"Daniel," Lee's excited voice replaced Reynolds'. "We're at the ruins, and this place was built by the Ancients!"
Daniel looked to Jessica who smiled back. "Are you positive?"
"Yes, unless another race of people dragged huge slabs of stones here with Ancient text on them."
"Are there any buildings still intact?"
"No, there's not much left."
Daniel's headache suddenly decided to pay a return visit, and he began massaging his temple with his free hand. "I'm going to come down there and take a look."
Reynolds' voice replied, "Take Teal'c with you, and leave Wilson with Felger and Ryan."
"Ok, we'll be there soon." Daniel let go of his radio.
"Are you ok?" Jessica asked, noticing his pained expression.
"Yeah, just a little headache."
'He looks very pale.'
"I'll be fine." Daniel insisted. He turned to look across the room. "Lieutenant Wilson." The lieutenant in question had discovered the paper-weight looking device, along with a second and third, and was juggling them. When he heard his name, Wilson stopped, and looked over at the archaeologist.
Daniel gave an irritated sigh. "Like the colonel said, you're staying here, and uh, please don't do that." He looked pointedly at the objects clasped in Wilson's hands.
The lieutenant nodded and put them down, and began to look around the room for something else to occupy his mind. Daniel was thankful that Wilson and Jack weren't on the same team.
Daniel pulled off his backpack, and placed the six books inside. His bag was practically overflowing with everything he'd found, plus the items that had been there. The books stuck out of the top, so he left the pack open, and replaced it on his back.
He gave Dr. Ryan and Dr. Felger quick instructions to continue looking for any writing, before leaving with Teal'c.
They walked the first five minutes in silence before Daniel heard Teal'c's deep, baritone voice. 'Can you still hear my thoughts, Daniel Jackson?'
Daniel nodded, "Yes, but the massive headache isn't exactly helping much."
"Perhaps we should return to the SGC if you are not feeling well." Teal'c suggested.
"No, I'm fine, it's just a headache." Daniel felt like it was the fiftieth time he'd spoken that sentence that day. Just as he'd finished speaking, though, the dull pain erupted, and he felt like his head were being attacked by a thousand needles. He gripped Teal'c's forearm as a wave of nausea threatened to overcome him.
"Daniel Jackson?"
Daniel held up an index finger to the Jaffa as he waited for the earth to stop spinning around him.
As quickly as it had come, the pain subsided, and Daniel released his hold on Teal'cs arm.
"I'm fine."
"I don not believe you are. We shall return through the Stargate immediately."
"I'm fine Teal'c! Honestly." Daniel insisted.
"We will return to the 'gate, Daniel Jackson, even if it is necessary that I carry you." He looked sternly at Daniel, who knew that it was not a good idea to argue with Teal'c when he had his mind set on something.
"Fine, but Dr. Lee needs to take pictures, and bring back anything that he can." Daniel pouted.
The pair turned around, and began heading back towards the 'gate.
"Colonel Reynolds," Teal'c spoke into the radio. "Daniel Jackson is feeling unwell; we are heading back towards the Stargate."
"Copy that, Teal'c."
"It's just a headache! Doesn't anybody listen?" Daniel protested to Doctor Fraiser as she checked his temperature.
'Hmm… no fever.'
"I'm not sick."
Janet sighed. "Fine, I'll give you something for the headache, if you actually wait here for it this time." She turned and walked away.
As Daniel was waiting, Teal'c entered the Infirmary. "What is Doctor Fraiser's prognosis?"
"It's nothing, just a headache."
Teal'c bowed his head. "Colonel O'Neill requests your attention in the Isolation Room."
"Thanks Teal'c." Daniel stood from the bed, grabbed his pack, and began to follow Teal'c out of the Infirmary.
"Daniel!"
Daniel turned around, smiling apologetically. "Sorry, Janet." The doctor shook her head, and handed Daniel two pills, and a paper cup filed with water. He took proffered objects, and swallowed the pills.
"I'm free to go, right?"
"Yes, Daniel." Janet replied reluctantly, taking the empty cup from his hand.
"Thank you." Daniel and Teal'c left, and headed down the hallway to the Isolation Room where Sam was. Teal'c led Daniel past the door to the room, and into the observation room where they found Jack sitting in a chair, staring through the glass into the adjacent room.
Daniel could hear Jack's distressed thoughts of being kicked out of the Isolation room by Janet. He was insisting to himself that he hadn't been harassing the nurse that much.
"How'd it go?" Jack asked as they walked in.
"Well, we found some books, and one looks like a private journal of sorts. I'm hoping they will have something about the device in them. I also brought back the device, and I'm thinking I could get Dr. Lee to take a look at it when he gets back." Daniel explained.
"So you do think it was a device that did this?"
"Well, yeah, there was no sign of anyone else had been there. I'm about to start looking at the books. Whoever wrote them, they were an Ancient." Daniel could barely hold in his excitement. There was still so much to learn about the ancient race of humans, and Daniel jumped at the opportunity to delve into Ancient text.
"That's great, Daniel." Jack replied non-committed.
Daniel realized he'd gotten a little over excited about what they'd found, and had completely forgotten, for the moment, that his friend was lying unconscious in the Isolation Room below them. "How's Sam?"
All three of the men turned to look down at Sam as Jack replied, "They've managed to keep her temperature down, but there's still nothing."
"I should get a start on these books then." Daniel said. "I'll let you know as soon as I find anything."
"May I be of assistance?" Teal'c offered.
"Thanks Teal'c, but there's not really anything you can do."
Teal'c bowed his head. "Then I shall remain here with O'Neill."
Daniel nodded and turned to leave.
'So, if you can hear me, which I'm still having doubts that you can, didn't you promise that you'd share this new ability with Fraiser once you got back from the planet?'
Daniel paused mid-stride, and turned around to look at Jack. "Jack, if I tell Janet that I'm hearing people's thoughts, she's going to lock me up in another room, and run all sorts of tests and scans."
"Well maybe she should."
"If I'm locked in a room, who's going to translate the books and help Sam?"
"Fine," Jack surrendered. "But if these headaches of yours get any worse, we're telling the doc."
"Ok, fine, I'm going to go take a look at these books now." Daniel left the room, and headed towards the elevators.
'The hills are alive, with the sound of music. With songs they have sung, for a thousand years…'
Daniel stopped, and looked at the airman passing by him. 'ookay.' He thought, raising an eyebrow.
"Daniel, wait"
He turned around to find Jack hurrying down the hallway with Teal'c only metres behind him.
"Come with me," Jack ordered, and walked into the Isolation Room.
Confused, Daniel obediently followed them into the room, and over to Sam's bed.
The nurse gave an exasperated sigh at the sight of Jack who paid no attention.
"Jack, what's going on?"
Jack leaned in towards Daniel and Teal'c, and spoke quietly so that the nurse couldn't hear. "If you can hear thoughts, then can't you hear anything from Carter?"
Daniel looked at Sam curiously. "I never thought of that."
"Well try it." Jack pushed.
Daniel nodded, and stepped closer to the bed.
"Anything?" Jack asked barely five seconds later. "Try harder." He responded after Daniel shook his head.
Daniel closed his eyes and tried to concentrate.
'I wonder if he hears anything. I hope this works… He doesn't look like he's hearing anything.'
"Maybe if you'd shut up, I might actually hear something!" Daniel snapped, causing Jack to flinch and the nurse across the room to jump, and cast them a glare. Teal'c merely raised an eyebrow.
"Sorry," Daniel mumbled. "Just stop thinking, ok?"
Once again, Daniel closed his eyes. After 30 seconds of nothing, he opened his eyes and shook his head. "Nothing."
"Well, that doesn't mean anything, right? People don't really think when they're sleeping." Jack said hopefully.
Daniel didn't respond. Instead, he looked down at Sam. He remembered the dream he'd had the night before.
"Well, you can go back to your office now. Sorry, I thought it was a good idea." Jack said glumly, interrupting his thoughts.
"It was worth trying."
A loud explosion had Daniel's eyes open, and alert instantly. He looked around in bewilderment, only to find an old TV switched on in the room, playing a very old action movie.
Drawing his eyes from the television, Daniel looked around the unfamiliar room. He'd half expected to find himself lying on his own couch in front of the TV, even though he didn't remember driving home in the first place.
Instead, Daniel was obviously in somebody else's lounge room; one with extremely old style furniture.
Hearing a door open, Daniel quickly stood up.
"Sam?" A deep, male voice called through the house.
A girl's voice, from behind Daniel in another room called, "In here."
Suddenly, a man walked into the room where Daniel was standing, and he was surprised to see that it was Jacob Carter.
The old General didn't notice him though, and he walked right by Daniel, and through another door.
Daniel, frowning, quickly followed Jacob through the door which led to a kitchen. A young girl with long blonde hair and blue eyes was placing some cookies on a plate. She looked up and smiled at Jacob, but the smile was quickly replaced by a frown of concern.
"Why are you crying?"
Daniel stepped into the room, and stood next to Jacob, and he could now see some differences in the man's face. He looked many years younger, and his hair a little browner. Tears were threatening to spill from his eyes.
"There was an accident." Jacob barely choked out.
Following Jacob's gaze, Daniel looked at the girl as she took in a shaky breath.
"Where's mum?"
"I finished work later than I thought. I was late to pick her up, so she took a cab…"
The girl shook her head. "No…" Tears slipped down her cheeks.
"There was an accident."
"Oh my god," Suddenly, Daniel realized what was going on. "Sam?"
The young girl, Sam, tore her bright blue eyes away from her father, and looked at Daniel. Her eyes widened in recognition, and as if it were only the first time she'd noticed him in the room.
"Daniel?"
A/N: ok, a lot will start to get explained next chapter, but I guess that you pretty much know what's going on. I'll try to get the next chapter out as soon as possible. Oh, and the Sound of Music part, sorry about that. I watched the movie, and had the songs stuck in my head forever! After I wrote this, though, it was gone. lol
Thanks for reading, and please review!