"Sir, with all due respect, this SUCKS!" Jack pinned the general with angry eyes as he paced the small office furiously.

Hammond was pulled tight, his chin raised as his military command mode resumed. "Colonel, I can assure you . . . "

Jack was in no mood for posturing. "Assure what? That everything will be fine? That we're doing all we can? BULLSHIT!" Below the conference room the gate stood defiantly, watching the proceedings above. Jack could only glare back. "He's missed the last two scheduled check-ins, no word, no nothing! Now what were you going to assure me about?"

"We're all concerned, Colonel . . . "

"We? Then why aren't we out there looking for him?"

"Because we have assurances that he's fine. And you know Dr. Jackson when he gets his head in something." The Texan twang was soothing, and was doing a good job of concealing the general's own doubts. But he knew better than to let the colonel go off half cocked.

But Jack was beyond half-cocked, and it was all he could do not to stick his face into Hammond's like a petulant child trying to make a point. "I don't believe this," he gritted in a low voice, "are you in on something here? Because normally you're the first one to send out a search and rescue. I know Daniel gets his head in things, and God knows he's stubborn and pigheaded and doesn't know what a watch is . . . "

"We have the assurance of the Tekani that he's fine," General Hammond reiterated. "They say he's found what he was looking for, and that they have reminded him to report in. Rather reluctantly, I might add, seems he's chewed more than one head for being interrupted. He's supposed to make contact within the next eight hours, which is what I came in here to tell you." The General straightened his shoulders. "Now, if that doesn't happen, rest assured I will send in the necessary reinforcements."

"General, have you ever known Daniel to miss a check in?"

"As a matter of fact, I have," Hammond responded patiently, "And so have you. Look, I'm keeping tabs on this, but for now I have to take their word for it."

"You mean because of the treaty."

"They were good to let us on their world at all, Colonel."

"That's crap! We're doing them a favor!" He stabbed his finger toward the Stargate in the disembarkation room. "I don't trust these people. Nothing but smoke and mirrors. I told Daniel not to go."

Hammond's expression softened for a moment. "You really think he would have listened?"

Jack checked himself. "Well . . . no. . . . "

"This was a chance for him to explore a culture that interested him, and he had the time to do so. We couldn't deny him the opportunity, and until now there was no reason not to trust them." Hammond's expression was grim. He hadn't told O'Neill of his last conversation with the archaeologist, and as much as he hoped the reason for the communications delay was due to the excitement of discovery, his instincts were beginning to tell him differently. Still he had said he would wait . . .

"So you admit you don't trust them."

Hammond sighed. "We wait for eight more hours. If there is no contact, I promise you'll be the first one through that gate to retrieve him."

Jack continued to glare, knowing Hammond would stare back unflinchingly, and he did. "Guess that'll have to be good enough then," Jack said in dissatisfaction. "But don't be surprised if I haunt the gate room."

"I'm surprised you're not there right now."

"Right." And Jack walked out.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Just thought I'd return the favor.

Daniel winced. The light was back, a stick was in his hand, Jack was standing against the far wall. "Wh-what are you talking about?" His head hurt.

You stayed by me. I stand by you.

Daniel gasped for breath. "You mean Ba'al?"

Knew you'd remember. Now relax.

"C-can't hurts too bad, t-too much . . . "

You have to.

Daniel managed a wry smile. "Since when do I listen to you?"

Good question. Jack squatted against the far wall. But if you don't listen to me now, you'll die.

"Then I die."

Now come on, what kind of attitude is that?

"Oh please, you're not Jack. You don't even sound like Jack. Jack's more sarcastic. You sound like a text book."

That would make sense. You know I'm not here. Maybe it's your head that sounds like a text book.

"Ah." Daniel sighed. "Perfect. That's what I thought, I'm going nuts."

Maybe you just don't want to hear sarcasm right now.

"From Jack? It's all he is. Wouldn't sound right otherwise."

Why do you tolerate him?

"Him? Or you?"

Both.

It was an odd question for Jack to ask him, about himself . . . or something like that. "I don't know. He's my friend." He winced. "We've been through a lot."

Then where is he now?

The doubt hurt more than the physical pain. "I dunno."

Shouldn't he have you out of here by now?

"Aren't you supposed to be helping? This isn't helping."

It's a logical question.

"He's busy. He doesn't know I'm here. He doesn't care. Hell, I don't know!"

That's what you think?

"I think I'm hurt! I think I want outta here, I think, no, I know I want outta here, and I want you to shut up!"

Okay . . . fine. The image vanished without any fanfare.

Daniel flipped his head around, and found the vision lost in darkness. No shadows, no sounds, there was nothing but his haggard breathing, lost in the room. He blinked, waited, then reached out. "No, no, wait. I was. . . Come back. . . Don't leave me here. . . ." Nothing happened. "Please, I can't do this. . ."

And in the darkness a small, worn voice groaned, "don't leave me here. . ."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Eight hours passed. Nine, with a message from the Tekani that Dr. Jackson would contact them shortly. Ten. At the eleventh hour, which Jack thought was both appropriate and terrifying, Hammond organized a team to go through the gate. That was when the chevrons activated and the large metal ring started to turn. Jack was about to wet his pants from impatience.

The event horizon formed explosively then settled to its usual calm. Two figures melted through, their fin-like hands clasped in front of them, oddly ridged faces holding a stiff expression that could in no way bode good tidings. Jack walked up to them, his hand braced on his P90, a reminder of just how fucking displeased he was with the situation. "Where's Daniel?"

Milak turned to him. His eyes bulged slightly, giving him the appearance of a startled deer. He twitched constantly and his voice squeaked. He was the last person Jack wanted to talk to while his nerves were on edge.

"He did not return?"

"Nooo," Jack said with false patience, "would I ask if he were here?"

"Dr. Jackson was sent back through." Milak fidgeted. "I don't understand."

"Look, no one came through. The gate's only opened once since he left, and that was to send a team out."

"To our planet?" Milak looked positively panicked.

"Nooo. . ." Jack responded again, slowly, "we do have a lot of other things going on. Much more important things."

"I see."

"If you thought Daniel was here, then why are you here?"

"We needed to verify."

Jack's eyes narrowed. "Verify what?" He turned as General Hammond approached, his eyes hard and unforgiving.

"I believe the two of you owe us an explanation," the general said, curtly. "I want to know where my archaeologist is, and I want to know now."

The creatures turn to look at each other. "We don't know."

Jack's brows rose. "Excuse me?"

"We lost contact. . ."

"I thought you thought he was here?"

"We were told. . ."

"Lost contact? For how long?" Hammond demanded.

"It has been more than seventeen of your hours since we last heard from him."

"Seventeen. . ." Jack was about to swing his P90 round and let loose, but Hammond cut him off.

He took a step toward the creatures, anger flowing tangibly from his expression to their hearts, which seized. "You said he would contact us within eight hours. You mean to tell me you didn't know where he was even then, and that he'd been missing for some time prior?"

"Please understand," Milak said, then hesitated. "No. Beru will explain."

"Beru?" Hammond asked sternly.

The other alien swallowed hard and pulled himself to his full height to muster confidence. Unfortunately that meant he now came to Jack's chest. "We were. . . embarrassed. Please understand that this has nothing to do with us, and that we come to ensure that our treaty. . ."

"Treaty be damned," Hammond snapped. "This is tantamount to kidnaping! We send our man out to you in good faith, he goes missing, and it takes you more than seventeen hours to tell us?"

"Please. . ." Beru sounded like a crying infant, "we did no wrong. He insisted we leave him alone. It wasn't unusual for him to be gone for five and six hours without contact. . . we assumed he would return, and didn't want to alarm you only to have him return. We meant no harm."

Hammond had heard enough. "Colonel, you have a go. At this point I'd say use whatever means necessary to find Dr. Jackson and bring him back." He glanced up at the window where Major Carter sat sullenly. "I'm sure the Major's wishes go with you."

"Can't bring the flu to an unknown world, sir. Tell her to get her ass in bed."

"I'm about to have Dr. Frasier tape her to the wall in the infirmary. Reports on the hour, Colonel. Good luck."