-- SGC, Cheyenne Mountain --

Desperation played havoc with Daniel's nerves as he was beamed back to the SGC along with Felspre and the other two Asgards. Once the brilliant light array retracted, Daniel found himself in the hallway just outside the observation room that overlooked the surgery. The two Asgards, Kaln and Sveni were waiting and almost immediately all five Asgards huddled and began talking amongst themselves. Daniel stood back from the group and as he wondered what was happening he was also lost in his own frantic thoughts, 'How could the Asgards think that he was going to be able to help Sam and Jack?' His stomach ached as if he'd been kicked with a steel-toed boot as he frantically thought about their complete and unfounded confidence in his ability. An ability that he could not feel and hadn't been able to grasp since he'd returned from ascension.

Felspre turned and motioned the other Asgards to follow him as they gathered around Daniel.

"Dr. Jackson, I have just learned that Commander Thor is on the verge of being captured. He is still attempting to hold off his captors to give us time but he sent a message that an Asgard ship could be here soon."

"Where is he exactly?" Daniel inquired.

"He's on our other ship, 'The Daniel Jackson', a much slower ship so the pursuit won't last for much longer."

"What will the Asgards do if they do arrive here?" He waited almost afraid to hear the answer.

Felspre's large liquid eyes blinked slowly as he quietly replied, "They will attempt to halt our interference by whatever means available."

Daniel nodded and something then occurred to him, "Felspre, Just how many Asgards have joined your faction?"

Felspre paused before finally answering, "several thousand at the moment I believe."

"SEVERAL thousand!" Daniel's amazement was apparent. "I thought it was only a handful..."

"Yes. It started out small but it has grown rapidly and continues to grow. Commander Thor is well-respected on our world."

Felspre continued, "The surgery has begun; we need to return to the observatory". Again, Daniel's fierce expression was turned inward as he again just nodded and moved away from the group - his back to them.

Felspre sensed his fear and quietly approached the brooding man. "Doctor Jackson, the time is drawing very near but do not be afraid."

Daniel simply turned and gazed owlishly at the small being, "How can I NOT be afraid? If I don't have this... this ability then Jack's on his own and he'll probably..." and he could not continue.

The alien's dark eyes blinked twice as his monotone reply came across with soft conviction, "You have the power. It is so much a part of you that you don't sense it. It will be there when O'Neill needs it. Please believe this."

"I'm trying to, but I think that if anyone would KNOW if they had this power it would be me." Daniels' uncertainly reflected in his blue eyes.

"You will know. As with all great power, it only comes forth when it is truly required. The same will be true of General O'Neill. The healing power will present itself to him but only at the moment it is vital. General O'Neill has kept the ancient knowledge within him to some degree for two years yet he is not completely aware of all his capabilities."

Even in his despair and worry, Daniel had to smile briefly as he answered, "Felspre, you might be surprised at what Jack knows but doesn't disclose. If you looked up the word 'close-mouthed' in the dictionary you would see Jack O'Neill's smirking face."

Felspre nodded animatedly at his remark, "Yes. This has been my observation as well, Dr. Jackson. He's a very unusual human. Even when my monitors would tell me that he was in great pain, he would never admit to it."

"Yes, that's Jack... another word that describes him perfectly is 'stubborn' " Daniel said dryly and then inquired, "what are you monitors telling you now?"

"I can no longer monitor General O'Neill. This was lost earlier this morning evidently due to the spread of the knowledge. It is very upsetting to not be able to check on his condition."

Felspre looked as upset as an Asgard could when he said this. Daniel was once again confronted with the great regard the Asgards held for Jack - which had begun from the very first encounter and over the following years had only grown. Sam had mentioned the hero-worship that was bestowed on Jack on Othalla and how uncomfortable it had made him. Felspre was apparently the president of the Jack O'Neill fan club.

Daniel suddenly realized that he felt better. Taking a steadying breath he gathered his courage and then opened the observatory room door and entered. All five Asgards followed him in, still talking quietly yet agitatedly amongst themselves.

-- SG Command - Operating Room, a little earlier --

Jack sat at the head of Sam's surgical bed his thoughts turned inward as the medical staff rapidly prepared. The aching in his skull had settled somewhat as he had broken down and requested some meds from one of the medical staff. He felt strangely removed from his surroundings as if he was somehow breaking away from this reality and it felt oddly familiar. 'Come on Sam... You can fight this.' Was the mantra he kept repeating silently as he reached out and touched her smooth cheek. An electrical charge jerked his fingers back - not large but enough to make him grimace. 'Where had that come from?' He thought and then slowly touched her again, this time nothing.

Dr. Emerson was speaking and Jack frowned as he realized he was having some difficulty understanding him. Shaking his head slightly he concentrated and it became more lucid. His irrepressible dark humor was still intact as he wondered, 'Am I having a stroke? If I pass out, will the Asgards give me mouth-to-mouth? God I hope not.' He felt so alone in the bustling hubbub and wished that he had thought to ask permission for Daniel to be there with him and as he thought of him, his dark eyes glanced up toward the observation room only to see emptiness. 'Daniel where the hell are you?' He wondered silently and felt strangely disappointed in Daniel even as he told himself that Daniel would only have left for a good reason.

Dr. Emerson finished speaking which brought Jack's awareness back to him and found the Doctor's dark eyes on him, full of concern. "Holding up Sir?" He asked and once again, Jack - with difficulty, understood and simply nodded, his own dark brown eyes squinting in concentration. 'What is happening to me?' he asked himself even as he dug into his strong will to try and control and contain whatever it was.

"I don't have time for this kind of shit." He muttered and received a strange look from the nurse closest to him who asked questioningly,

"Sir?"

He opened his mouth to apologize for his language when he realized that he had spoken the sentence in Ancient.

He winced as he thought; 'better shut up before they throw me out for going crazy on them.' and managed to get out, "Nothing. Sorry." She just nodded wonderingly and returned to her task.

And just as quickly it began. From his vantage point Jack couldn't see the actual surgery, only the sheet swathed platform that rested on Sam and the profiles of the Doctors and nurses doing their jobs. Not that he even attempted to see the actual procedure - his intense eyes were resting solely on Sam's face, every now and then flicking to the different monitors as he took in every bit of information.

Movements above the room made him glance up to see Daniel entering the observation area once again, followed by the Asgards. He felt some of his worry lift at the sight, not realizing how much he had been depending on Daniel's support. 'If only Teal'c were here then things would be complete.' as he contemplated how much he missed the man he considered his brother in every way that counted. Daniel was considered the same, only the 'younger brother' -- someone he protected and valued for the differences between them; whereas Teal'c was his doppelganger, a warrior brother who understood him completely and almost intuitively as they were so much the same. Unexpectedly he was overcome with the certainty that he would never see him again. He shook himself and wondered at his melancholy thoughts and again felt the strangeness inside his mind, a vastness of intricacy welling up and overwhelming him. Determinedly he quelled the sensation and struggled to stay in the moment.

Then it happened... sheer minutes after the initial incision was made, she flat-lined. The monitor went off, its raucous alarm blaring and lights flashing. Jack's stool went careening backwards as he leaped to his feet his heart in his throat and then adroitly backed out of the way as a wall of people descended on Sam -- all the while his eyes everywhere as he watched the doctors and nurses move to get the equipment to revive her.

Doctor Lam seemed to be everywhere as she rapidly intubated her and had a nurse take over administering the oxygen all the while barking out calm orders on how many milligrams of Epi to give and directing another nurse on manually administering CPR, who began pushing on her breastbone as if to crush it. She explained to the room in general that the defibrillator could not be used - it would harm the baby and she then directed a nurse to charge it and hold it ready at 200.

Only Doctor Emerson and a single nurse continued on with the surgery - their intense concentration and focus was a marvel in the frenetic atmosphere. He never looked up or moved from his stance, his hands moving with rapid precision. Their goal was even more of a priority than before; to save the child and do it quickly -- totally focused on his work -- cutting, pushing, clasping, and opening the uterus. Getting to the baby before it could die with its mother.

Daniel steadied himself and valiantly concentrated to bring forth the power of the Ascended but nothing happened and so he tried again and again. His head felt as if it would explode -- but nothing...and he shuddered in sorrow.

Time seemed to slow for Daniel as he watched the professionals do everything they could in the small window of time they had to accomplish their job. The viewing room was in total silence - no one spoke - as they watched the drama below. Daniel didn't realize he was crying. Tears streamed silently down his face - he closed his eyes when he couldn't bear to watch as the look on Jack's face was beyond viewing. He hadn't given up. Ignored by the others in the room, he slipped back beside Sam's head and knelt where he could get as close as he could with one long hand on her cheek - and Daniel could see that he was talking - even as he couldn't hear him over the noisy room.

He forced himself to open his eyes. He had told Jack he was there for him as he had told Sam that he was there for her -- and so he was - standing above them looking down feeling helpless yet trying with all his might to send them his love and support through the power of his thoughts.

With an unbelievable swiftness the baby was delivered. Hardly visible as it was immediately swaddled by the assisting nurse who held it almost like a football under her arm and carried the bundle at a near run to the side table where she immediately began working over it -- her back to he room in general - as she suctioned fluids and massaged the soundless infant. Almost before the baby was out - Emerson yelled out 'I'M CLEAR" and the defibrillator paddles - already charged and waiting, were applied. Breaths held as all eyes were glued to the heart monitor as the line continued to scroll across without a blip. "Charge to 300" Dr. Lam stridently instructed and the paddles were applied again - and again every breath was held but to no avail. Daniel closed his eyes to hear Dr. Emerson's sad voice quietly ask,

"Do you want to call it?"

Doctor Lam didn't bother to answer as she commanded,

"Charge again, 350 ... Clear!" And the paddles were once again applied to Sam's chest. Not a human noise was heard except for Jack's low voice murmuring unintelligibly in his wife's ear. All eyes watched the monitor - and nothing changed. Again, Dr. Emerson spoke, "Dr. Lam... It's time."

Defeat was heavy in Carolyn Lam's voice as she quietly stated, "Call it. Time of Death... 09:00 hours."

It was as if time stopped for Jack. He was not even in the same plane of existence as the rest of the room. All sound was gone for him. Only Sam and he were there -- and one other, someone that he really didn't know yet. He felt hands on him, hands trying to pull him away from her, to no avail. He leaned over her, his breath on her cold cheek as he continued to talk to her. No one in the room understood the words, and they backed away.

End of Part 7 - Change Happens Again