A/N: A few updates to previous chapters. Nothing major, just smoothing out of some sentences so they don't sound as awkward. Thank you, everyone, who took the time to read my story! I especially appreciate the reviews :)

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Daniel woke to a gnawing sensation that something was wrong. He lay still in an attempt to pinpoint the feeling. Pictures of people and places that held no meaning to him appeared in his mind, but when he tried to focus on one, it drifted and dispersed like a fading dream until nothing was left except a vague sense of loss. And, after a moment, even that was gone.

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Everyone stayed clear as Jack, Sam, and Jacob made their way to General Hammond's office. It could be because the SG personnel had heard, given the nature of how fast news travels on base, though most probably took the hint from the look on their faces.

The group, including Teal'c who was already waiting, found seats around Hammond's office. The exception being O'Neill, who chose to stand in the background. Hammond left his place from behind the desk to join them. It was almost an unconscious decision on his part to close the unspoken separation of his position - both literally and figuratively - from that of his subordinates and Jacob.

Jack was the first to speak after the door was shut. "What's this about Daniel being dead?" A beat, then, "Again."

After the conversation with his CO, the shock almost had Jack accepting the idea that Daniel was gone. It was while he tried to gather his scattered thoughts to relay the news to the Carters that he pulled himself up short. There was no way Daniel could be dead. Not while on Earth. Not with him alone and hundreds of miles from his team. Not when Jack was not there for his friend.

Hammond gave his 2IC a look, as if sensing the change in attitude from the carefully hidden grief on the phone to the man who was now questioning the validity of the claim.

"The details of the accident are being forwarded to me as we speak. What little I have learned was from the duty officer in charge of the investigation." The officer in question sounded bemused to be speaking with a general of the Air Force, after spending a full morning trying to locate a contact for Jackson in the first place.

"Accident?" Sam asked, still not quite believing. Jack could see she was having the same internal battle as himself. They had been told of Daniel's untimely demise too often to take it at face value.

"The rental he signed for was seen going over the bridge. Witnesses said it was as if he suddenly just lost control."

"Sabotage," Teal'c said, his voice deep with suppressed rage.

"I agree the circumstances surrounding the accident are unusual, but no signs of foul play were found from the recovered vehicle. Of course, the investigation is still underway," Hammond said.

SG-1 shared a look. "And Daniel?" Jack asked quietly, voicing their fears.

Hammond didn't know if it constituted good news or not, so he simply said, "No body was found. It was assumed the currents from the river below carried it-" Hammond quickly corrected himself, "him away."

Jack cheered up almost immediately. "Ha! There you go. We're just dealing with one temporarily misplaced archaeologist. Permission to join in on the S&R, sir."

"Jack," Hammond said, trying to find the most tactful way to keep the colonel grounded. "Dr. Jackson won't be the first, nor likely last, person to disappear in that river. They've lost people to it before. "

Before Jack could say something in return that he'd regret later, Sam jumped in, "Sir, we would like to be there all the same. We can't be sure of what happened until we find Daniel." She added grimly, "One way or another."

"I understand, Major, and I agree. All missions assigned to SG-1 have been postponed for the time being."

"Thank you, sir," Sam said.

"I am not giving SG-1 this investigation out of any personal consideration." Though the general secretly harbored hopes for Daniel's safe return, he had to be realistic in order to keep his people on track and not distracted by wild expectations."You are to look into the circumstances leading up to the accident; I need to know if it is in any way connected to the SGC. Let me reiterate: This is not a Search and Rescue. Let the local forces handle it."

"Yes, sir," Jack said as he stood to attention and gave Hammond a by-the-book salute.

Hammond softened a little. "Jack, I know what it sounds like, but this could have unforeseeable consequences for the SGC. We have to proceed with caution, not unfounded optimism."

"Understood, sir." Jack knew he was letting the personal nature of the situation take control. He made a conscious effort to rein in his anger and let military training take over. This would not be the first time the soldier in him took precedent over friendship. Yet, Jack couldn't help reflecting, Daniel being personally involved was never a handicap, but rather his strength.

"Good. Information will be given to each of you as I receive it. You leave within the hour."

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They arrived at the site with Hammond's instructions clear in their minds. Efficient and saying little, they interviewed witnesses, discussed the scene with investigators, and surveyed the area with quiet detachment. The only hint of what they were going through was the slight flicker of horror in Sam's eyes when they were shown the wreck. Anyone surviving a plunge into the river that did that to the vehicle was minimal at best.

Carter took a breath before turning to her teammates. "I'll put in a request to the general about bringing the vehicle to the base. It will take a while to go over the whole thing, even with a team."

O'Neill nodded and watched her walk away to make the call. It was the only thing they had to go on; little was found at the scene and the only concrete evidence the witnesses could provide was that the probability was high it was Daniel behind the wheel.

O'Neill asked Teal'c, "She was sure?"

"The description she gave of the driver matched that of Daniel Jackson. It was further confirmed when she positively identified him from his photo." Teal'c paused briefly before continuing, "In addition, she stated the reason she remembered was that he appeared to be 'really cute' and had hopes of catching his attention at the next stop light."

Jack couldn't help smiling briefly at that.

"Other witnesses, while not as detailed, gave support to her claim."

"Right. We're done here. Inform General Hammond of what we found, then we're moving on to the hotel."

Teal'c inclined his head and walked after Sam.

Jack turned to the detective who was assigned to them as liaison. "Have they made any progress in locating Dr. Jackson?" he asked with professional detachment, showing no hint of his concern.

The detective shook his head, "No, but we didn't have much hopes of finding him in the first place. The river's too deep and fast, the body could be miles away by now."

Jack gritted his teeth but didn't correct his use of the term 'body'. "How long will they continue the search?"

His counterpart shrugged. "I really don't know. It's a waste of time in any case." The detective looked over the rail guard to the deceptively calm river below. "We've lost five people to it within the last two years and only one was found, a week later. Not like this, of course. This is the most spectacular accident we've had in years. What's this guy to the military anyway?" The detective pulled back to look at O'Neill, then stumbled back a step at the look in his eyes.

"You tell them to keep looking," Jack ordered quietly. "I want hourly updates, do you understand?"

The man, suddenly fearful for his life, nodded.

Jack walked away in search of his team.