Just a short part today, I'm sorry. I thought it was better to get something out than make you wait. Thanks for the reviews - I'm glad you like what I've done so far.

Shadows of Fear – Part 5

Daniel was tired - more than tired – exhausted. And it wasn't the good kind of exhaustion with the knowledge you have achieved something with all the energy and brain power you've expended. No, it was the frustrating tiredness of failure.

There had been nothing found to explain Jack's sighting of a figure in his office. Not that Daniel had been able to help – he'd spent most of the time in his own office trying to concentrate on work and failing miserably. When he'd given up and left, Sam and her bevy of scientists were still fussing with equipment, but passing a determined and annoyed looking Janet in the corridor, he was pretty sure they too had been ordered to get some rest.

Over the course of the afternoon the base had returned to normal, with everyone going about their duties.

Except Jack, of course. Janet had sent Jack home, where hopefully he was now tucked up in bed, getting some much needed sleep – something Daniel hoped to emulate.

Flinging his keys onto the coffee table, Daniel switched on the lights and grimaced at the mess he saw in front of him. There hadn't been a time in the last six weeks that he'd been home for two days straight and his apartment showed the clear evidence of his neglect. Papers littered every surface.

Damn – he'd missed trash day again!

He had already begun to unzip his jacket when he realised the light on the answer phone was flashing. He switched it on.

"Hey, Daniel" Jack's voice sounded loud in the quiet of the night, its overly cheerful tone ringing loud alarm bells with Daniel. There was a pause as if the other man didn't know what to say next, "... guess you aren't there then ... Okay, catch you later ... Well, see you tomorrow I guess."

Daniel stared at the phone as he heard the click of the receiver being put down. It wasn't like Jack to make calls for no reason. And why would he have called so early, knowing Daniel would still be at the SGC?

He finished taking off his jacket and sat down, his mind still trying to find a reason for Jack's actions – besides the obvious one, of course. The idea that the hardened military man was nervous about being alone was ludicrous. Jack had seemed worried, but perfectly calm when he explained what had happened in his office – even a little embarrassed, which, given what Daniel had heard of the rumors flying around the base, was understandable.

The clock read 0025, far too late to be calling anyone. Whatever Jack had wanted, he'd find out in the morning.

Using his right foot, he pushed his left shoe off then hooked his sock-clad toes into the other one and soon had it off as well. He wiggled his toes, sighing with pleasure at the freedom he felt at such a simple action. He'd been on his feet most of the day, even after getting back from PX4-612.

A huge yawn almost split his face in two.

It was about time he copied Jack and got some sleep.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Clouds drifted across the moon, plunging O'Neill's bedroom into darkness.

He couldn't see her, God, he couldn't see her!

Bare feet murmured across the carpet, making just enough noise to be heard by ears straining for anything – any indication she was near.

His hand groped out, pulling the bedside lamp's cord, and dragging it towards him until the switch was felt beneath his fumbling fingers and he clicked it on.

This time, just when he hoped it would, nothing had changed. Hathor hadn't disappeared like Kawalsky or the Jaffa, instead she stood, her red hair almost flaming in the lamp light, looking down at him, small clouds of icy breath puffing out from her mouth and drifting across the short space that separated them.

He couldn't let it touch him!

Pushing his legs under him, Jack scrambled up and fled, all courage gone.

He made it to the living room and turned, panting, watching the hall for any sign he had been followed, but as the stillness stretched from seconds into minutes his pounding heart began to quiet.

The house was completely silent.

It had been a dream, more than likely brought on by the painkillers he'd taken. They had been a complete overkill, certainly not what he should have used to clear something as simple as a headache. He'd talk to Janet in the morning and see what she suggested.

Damn it, this had been a day filled with stupid decisions and over the top reactions. Whatever had spooked him back on the planet had a lot to answer for – if there had been anything there at all – he was beginning to strongly doubt there had been.

After another glance at the hallway, he padded into the kitchen, turning on the faucet. Out the window the bushes in his garden moved slowly as the breeze that had been blowing all day grew. Moonlight picked out shapes in patches and shadows twisted and changed, turning the familiar scene into something odd and half bewildering. He stood, watching, trying to make some sense of what he saw, waiting until the pieces fell back into place and became, once again, what he knew – garden furniture he sat at, bushes and scrubs he'd pruned, and trees that shaded him.

O'Neill shook his head, shifting his hands on the kitchen bench, but still staring out the window, the water gurgling unnoticed down the drain.

Maybe it was time he admitted he couldn't keep up any more, shouldn't be on active duty. A desk job was beginning to look more appealing by the minute.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Daniel had already pulled the covers down on his bed when he rethought his decision not to call Jack. It was only just after midnight, and Jack had always been a night owl. He was probably sitting up watching television right now in defiance of the doctor's orders.

And he had sounded rather strange on the phone. Not his normal self at all.

Daniel frowned, his eyes going to the receiver next to the bed.

After all, what could Jack do if Daniel did wake him? Yell at him? That was nothing new. Jack's yelling was a bit like water off a duck's back to Daniel these days.

He sat on the edge of the bed and picked up the phone, calling the familiar number.

When the ringing continued for what seemed like several minutes he began to rethink his decision, picturing the phone waking Jack from a sound, and obviously badly needed, sleep. He had almost given up, the receiver already nearly back on its base, when he caught the sound of Jack's voice on the line and snatched it up to his ear again, hurrying to speak.

"Hi, Jack. I hope I didn't wake you. I just got in and heard your message ..."

Pausing, he waited for his friend to say something. When Jack did, it was a somewhat distracted mumble – something dismissive about forgetting it, and Daniel decided to take the bull by the horns and damn the consequences.

"Would you like me to come over?"

He waited, finally getting an answer.

"Ah... If you want ..."

Every warning signal Daniel had ever heard was being rung by the quiet, unsure voice, so unlike Jack's, the hesitation, the obviously implied plea for help...

"I'll be there in ..."

There was a crash and a deep, overwhelmingly harrowing cry echoed in his ears, fading down to whimpered words.

"Oh … God, no ..."

Daniel dropped the phone and ran.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

TBC