Author's Note: Okay... at the end of the chapter, you'll have to read carefully to keep up with who is saying what (although the words should help)

OOOOOOOOOOO

"You're sure this will work?" Hammond asked.

Ian shrugged.

"I think so. I've only used the thing once…" he prudently didn't mention who he'd used it on, since the President of the United States was standing in the room listening to the plan as well. "But it should work with a symbiote just like it does with any other mind."

"Which is why we're thinking he should try it on the one in the infirmary, first," Sam said. "Just to make sure it works. We already know that one's a Goa'uld and not a Tok'ra."

"So no big loss if it permanently damages it," Jack said.

"We'll ask dad before we use it on him," Sam added.

"But not this Goa'uld," Jack said. It was fairly plain that he wouldn't be too upset if Ian's device killed the Goa'uld – as long as it didn't damage Ben in the process.

Hammond looked at the President, who shrugged.

"It's your base, George. I don't know anything about alien devices. If your people think it'll work, let them try it."

He knew enough to know that if they could use all their allies on this one, after all.

Hammond nodded and turned to Ian.

"You have a go, Lieutenant."

Ian didn't reply, he just turned and left the briefing room, with the others following him.

OOOOOOOOO

"Are you out of your mind?"

"Janet… the device won't hurt Ben…"

Fraiser scowled at Sam, crossing her arms.

"How do you know? Have you tried it on a host before?"

Sam shook her head.

"You know we haven't. But Ian says-"

"Ian's never used it on a host, either, Sam… I'm not willing to risk my patient on a maybe."

"He says there's no danger."

"Probably."

Ian stepped up, knowing that Sam wasn't going to be able to get anywhere in this particular argument. But he could.

"I'll keep an eye on what's going on with him, Doctor," he said. "If something starts to go wrong, I can heal him. You know I can."

Janet hesitated. She hadn't thought of that, although it was obvious Ian had. Ben meant a lot to Emmett, who was standing off to one side listening to the conversation with mixed expressions of hope and concern. Janet didn't want a decision she made to be responsible for him losing his young partner. She looked over at him, and Emmett nodded. He was all for anything that would help Ben, and if the device in Ian's hand could do it, then he should use it.

"Fine. But you keep an eye on things…"

Ian nodded.

"I will."

He'd already told her that he would, hadn't he?

"Do you need him sedated?"

"No. I'll keep him still."

Ian reached for the door, but Jack stopped him.

"You don't let that snake near you. Understood?"

He nodded.

"Don't worry, Jack."

OOOOOOOOO

Ben's head turned just a little as Ian entered the room, his eyes filled with rage and hatred.

"You will die for this impertinence!"

The voice was deep and loathing, and all Goa'uld.

Ian smiled.

"Fuck you."

Fully enraged, now, Ben struggled against his bonds, intent on nothing more than killing the boy who was taunting him. Ian let him struggle for a moment, but then brought his hand up, activating the device before the symbiote managed to hurt the host.

"That's enough…"

Much to the Goa'uld's shock, it found it was no longer able to move – either itself or the human it had possessed. It could only watch as the young human walked over to the bed and rested his hand on the host's chest.

"Fucked with the wrong people this time, didn't you?" Ian asked, as he shifted just a little and then activated the second part of the device.

It wasn't the same as it had been with Kinsey – and it wasn't the same as when he was in a healing bond with someone. There were two consciousnesses in the single body, and Ian brushed up against the human one first. He felt terror and mindless panic – and felt the consciousness try to reach him.

Kill me!

Feeling a compassion that no one would ever have believed him capable of (except his mother and maybe Sam) Ian made a soothing noise that only that one could hear.

It's going to be okay, buddy. Don't worry, okay? I'm going to take care of things…

It's terrible!

I know. Just hang in there, okay?

What are you going to do?

You'll see.

At least he should be able to, linked as he was to the symbiote. He'd probably even appreciate it.

The next conscious was completely different from the first. Where Ben was filled with horror and fear, the symbiote was filled with rage – and all of it was directed at Ian.

I'll kill you!

Not a chance.

I will!

Ian squelched it ruthlessly, forcing himself into the creature's twisted mind. It was immense, and convoluted, filled with memories from not only this host but also several others, all taken without permission and all scorned for their worthlessness. He could feel the symbiote following what he was doing, could feel the creature's rage at the invasion, and countered with a scorn of his own for a creature that had come to be at his mercy.

The symbiote answered with more fury, but Ian had seen all he needed to see and learned all he needed to learn - including things that surprised him. His own touch wasn't hurting it – and wasn't damaging the host.

I'll kill you!

Yeah, so you've said.

The other conscious was there, too, now, and this one screamed as well.

Kill it! Please!

Ian hesitated, and the symbiote felt it.

No!

Yes! Kill it!

It might be uncomfortable for you…

I don't care!

I'll kill him! I will!

I don't care! Kill it!

Are you sure?

Yes! Can you?

Yes. But I'll need to borrow something from you... it won't hurt you.

Anything!

All right. Shut up for a minute...