Vision Quest

Summary: With his vision deteriorating from multiple exposures to the Goa'uld hand device, Daniel has to reluctantly rely on his team in order to save the lives of SG-2 and bring SG-1 home safely.

Authors Note: If you have any suggestions, please let me know. I hope you enjoy and please review.

Disclaimer: Stargate Sg-1 and its characters are the property of Stargate (II) Productions, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author. This story may not be posted elsewhere without the consent of the author.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 1

Dr. Daniel Jackson, archeologist, linguist, cultural expert, and member of SG-1, sat in his car and stared across the parking lot. He squinted at this watch, then took a deep breath before opening the door. He walked deliberately across the pavement and stopped just outside the door. Tilting his chin to his chest, he took a deep breath and slowly released it. Then, Daniel Jackson, Ph.D. opened the door and stepped into the offices of Dr. Robert Allen, Optical Surgeon.

He knew he should be seeing Dr. Janet Frasier, M.D. the CMO for the base. Daniel admired Janet and had never trusted any doctor more, but some things just didn't need to be added to his file. He didn't want to cause unnecessary concern or attention to a problem that would have kept him out of the regular military had he ever had any urge to sign up. And since he wasn't, technically, required to submit all health-related problems to her, he wanted to control the information flow regarding this situation.

So, he had put off setting up an appointment to get his eyes checked. That was until they returned yesterday from P2R 695.

"Wow, that was a rough ride. Carter, what happened?"

Picking herself up off her hands and knees, Carter noticed that the rest of her team hadn't fared any better. "Well, sir, the radiation levels that were threatening our location could have had an effect on our trip, but I can't be sure without further ..."

Meanwhile, Daniel had long ago tuned her out. The entire room had gone black, yet nobody else mentioned it, or had reacted to it at all. Was he the only one to experience it. Wait -- silver sparkles. Okay. Oh, thank God. It's coming back.'

"Daniel … " Jack stepped into his widening field of vision. "Care to join us?"

"Huh."

"Daniel," he added impatiently as he turned at the open door, "Now would be nice.'

"Yes, … yes, I'll be right there."

That his vision returned less than 5 seconds after it had left did little to calm his racing mind. He hurried to catch up with his team on their way to the infirmary. He didn't want anyone to get the impression that he should be checked more thoroughly.

'Just get through the checkup. Keep quiet. Get out of here.'

Luckily Janet just went through the standard procedures. No broken bones, no sprains, no Goa'uld,. No other problems? Daniel glanced down, licked his lips, and looked straight into Janet's eyes to reply, "No". OK, that was it. Out the door – almost.

"Daniel," Sam caught up with Daniel as he, Jack and Teal'c left the locker room. "Did you want to continue where we left off on P2X 739? We need to confirm our theory before we can approach the Collendrans with the latest proposal."

This didn't elicit the response she expected, so she and tapped Daniel on the elbow. He was looking distracted today. "Something on your mind?"

"No" he answered quickly and just as quickly looked away, down the hall at the retreating figures of Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c.

"Well then, we better get started. Coming?"

"Um.. no."

"No?"

"No, … I, ah, … I can't do this right now."

"What, something you need to work on first?"

"No … well, yes. But I've got my notes at home. I think I'll get more done there tonight."

"Anything I can help you with?"

"No, thanks Sam. I'll … I'll see you tomorrow." Major Carter watched as Daniel dropped his head and disappeared down the hall.

She wasn't sure what he had to work on, but yesterday they had barely been able to tear him away from the project to even go to an archeological dig. Today he showed less interest in it than yesterday's MRE's. As she watched Daniel turn the corner, she shook her head. Oh well, she could always use more time on her own experiments.

Ferratti paced back and forth in front of the barrier. He sure hated to be in a situation where Colonel O'Neill and his team were needed to bail him out. How had this mission gone so bad?

Their captors, would-be allies, were a long way from being convinced of the benefit of a mutual alliance. In fact, the venomous look from their guard mirrored the reception they had received from the village leader, and did little to quell his growing unease with their situation. They had been given five tasks to perform to prove their worth to the village council. They had passed one easily and two by the skin of their teeth. Unfortunately, he knew only SG-1 would be able to get them the hell out of there. Which is exactly what it had become, minus the heat.

"Sa-am," Jack sing-songed as he caught up to Major Carter who was walking into line at the base cafeteria. "What time did you really finish up last night?"

"I hate to spoil my reputation, sir, but I actually turned in at 2200."

"And Daniel … ? I didn't see his name on the sign-in list this morning."

"Technically, he turned in right after you left. He said he had another project to work on, but his notes were at home."

"Okay, grab a quick breakfast and meet me in Daniel's office. I'm sure we'll find he fell asleep right here at his desk. I'll throw some coffee at him and some water on him, or vice versa. Meeting's been moved back to 1100, but we might as well make sure he's ready."

"Sir," Sam took one step backward to avoid a headlong crash into the colonel as he came flying around the corner with Teal'c close at his side, "Did you find …," but she was abruptly cut off.

"Does it look like we found him, Major?"

"We were not successful in accounting for the whereabouts of Daniel Jackson."

Sam put her tray down on the nearest empty table and picked up the phone. "Security," she paused, "did Dr. Jackson leave the complex last night?" She waited. "Thank you."

"Sir, he left right after we spoke last night."

O'Neill glanced at his watch. 1055. They couldn't wait for Daniel any longer. It was time for their meeting. Despite Daniel's obviously non-military background, he was never one to disregard mission briefings. "Let's go." He took one look at his worried team and headed off to General Hammond's office.

As Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter and Teal'c filed into the briefing room, Jack took one quick look around the room, hoping that Dr. Jackson had somehow simply missed them on the way up to the briefing. 1100 hours. At least general Hammond wasn't here yet. From the activity level in his office, at least what Jack had observed as he walked by gaining a quick nod from the general, he understood why. Generals had the luxury to be late for their own briefings. Civilian archeologists, on the other hand, did not. Where was he?

Jack paced. He got a cup of coffee, then paced some more. Then at 1115, he sat down heavily in his chair just as a voice rang out over the base PA. "Major Carter, call security."

"Major Carter," said an obviously amused voice at the other end of the phone, "I just thought you'd like to know that Dr. Jackson just signed in at our position. I've sent him down to you."

Sam sighed. She was sure that that officer had made Daniel's security check much more difficult than necessary. At least he was on his way in. She nodded to the colonel. "He's here sir."

"Oh yeah, just 90 minutes late with no call. There's going to be hell to pay for this one." But Jack was just as relieved as Sam, and was waiting to hear what excuse Daniel had for this.

"Where is the rest of your team, Colonel?" The general stepped into the briefing room. "We have a crisis situation going on and I need everyone here now."

"I sent Daniel back to my office for some … ahh, here he comes now."

"Jack, ... General Hammond … I … ah," he rushed on, "I'm sor…"

"Daniel," Jack gestured to the empty seat across from him. I told the general you were just retrieving those papers for me from my office." He looked hard at the folder Daniel was carrying and hoped he would take the hint.

Daniel looked slowly down at his personal and confidential medical file in the manila envelope and was sure he understood what Jack wanted him to do. No, he couldn't risk letting Jack see it.

But … Jack was obviously putting himself on the line in order to provide Daniel with a 'Get Out of Trouble Free' card on a rather major transgression.

"Ah…yes…here it is Jack. Umm, I do have to have it back when you're done." And with that he did the unthinkable, handed Jack O'Neill all the evidence needed to prove he could no longer be a member of SG-1.

As the general eyed him suspiciously, Jack decided his best course of action was to at least look interested in the file Daniel had handed to him. He flipped open the large envelope and began to pull out the contents when he was stopped by General Hammond's next statement.

"People, we have a situation here. Major Ferretti and his team had been overdue to check in for 6 hours…"

The official stamp jumped out at Jack. He hadn't meant to read it, of course. He was just trying to look like he was. The letterhead was in large bold type, "Dr. Martin Allen, Optical Surgeon.

His eyes involuntarily jumped to the next heading Dr. Daniel Jackson Medical Records, and without even meaning to, he'd dropped down to read the line that read, Diagnosis: Critical damage and tearing of both the right and left optical …. With a start, he shut the folder and dropped it back in the envelope. He glanced over at General Hammond who was busy passing out files detailing the limited information they had on Ferretti's situation. Sam was reading through hers, Teal'c was doing the same. Daniel … well, Daniel was staring right at him, accusingly. With a shrug, he slid the envelope across to him and turned to the new file at his right. Whatever problem Daniel had with his eyes, he was going to find out, right after this meeting.

Daniel seemed to understand this as well. He picked up the file the general had passed to him and was concentrating extremely hard on the text.

This was absurd, thought Daniel. He was kidding himself that he could continue to work with SG-1. He'd had a cab drop him off since he wouldn't risk driving. But after running to get back from his doctor's appointment and running up the stairs to the briefing room, he could see his vision receding again. He had reached the point where he could only read the file if he maneuvered it into an area of his vision where he could focus. He doubted that a hostile alien would be so kind to just stay where he could see him.

General Hammond cleared his throat and everyone looked over to him. "SG-2 has recently been able to make contact with us. The details are in front of you, but the overview is this. SG-2 will be forcibly detained on P3X-589 until they can prove that we are a civilization worthy of a trading and cultural alliance. They have asked, rather demanded, that we successfully complete five Lahaiki or 'challenges' before any agreement can be reached, and that includes the release of SG-2.

"What?"

"They want to be sure that we are advanced enough and apparently moral enough to witness their technology."

"And if not…?"

"Then those that have observed their technology will be killed."

"What the hell? Why would they want to do that?"

"Colonel. We don't understand that yet, other than they appear to be inordinately concerned that those they deem as "unholy and uncivilized" cultures would not be allowed to gain anything from their knowledge or technology."

"And so we're going there to free SG-2, and while we're at it make nice so we can get some new technology?" Jack looked at the General.

"What are the five tasks that we would be required to complete?" asked Teal'c.

"Well, according to Ferretti's message, his men have been able to accomplish the first three tasks; Physical Endurance, Mathematics, and Spatial Reasoning. Kensington has had no luck yet with Scientific Experimentation; apparently their science is quite a bit different from our own. Dr. Rothman has also had little success reading the Saishu, their holy scripture, so they have yet to pass the task of Spiritual and Moral Perception."

General Hammond paused, "SG-1 – you must realize that they may very well attempt to kill you if you fall short of their expectations. In fact, we don't really know what the Koainas have in store for you if they don't want you to return. Colonel O'Neill, I would prefer a diplomatic solution to this situation, but if this fails, your primary goal is to get both teams back unharmed. Plan accordingly." Turning to face Daniel, General Hammond added, "Dr. Jackson, do you have any comments?"

Daniel dropped his head as he felt everyone looking at him. "Not right now," he replied. He had to talk with Jack. The general was probably right. As long as he could read the material, he had a much better chance of translating it than Rothman. That is … unless Jack had already seen enough of the file. He may not want him to go. Door number one, go with the team, don't warn them about his vision, and put them all at risk, but hopefully save SG-2. Door number two, stay home, but probably lose SG-2 in the process. Door number three? Ahhh, … tell Jack that he was having some minor vision problems right now, and hope he would still allow him to go. He wouldn't need to elaborate about the possible long-term consequences. Jack could then prepare to have a half-blind archeologist on his team.

As long as there was a chance that he could decipher that book and help get SG-2 and SG-1 home before losing his vision entirely, he knew he'd have to do it.

It would have to do. Barring, of course, the opening of door number four, where SG-2 comes walking out of the Stargate right now, safe and sound. Now, if he could only struggle through the rest of this file.

General Hammond was continuing. "We must have at least one representative that can show our mastery of the two remaining areas. It took SG-2 two days to satisfy the physical fitness requirements. I understand they were quite demanding. They were also glad to have solved the mathematical and spatial reasoning requirements, but they cede the science and linguistics to you two." He looked straight at Major Carter and Dr. Jackson. Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c; you're our back-up plan if they don't pass the remaining tests."

"Do we have any information on what the scientific trial is? Do they have any preliminary theories on how to solve it?"

"Major Carter, the answers are yes and no. Ferretti's message relayed that they had been asked to study a technology and determine what it was and how to re-create it themselves. They had had no success in even opening up the sample, let alone attempting to reverse engineer it. They don't have any idea what its purpose is."

Daniel showed his first signs of life since entering the meeting. "General, can I at least look at a video of the Saishu so I can …

"Sorry, Dr. Jackson. They wouldn't allow recording of anything in their society in case we were found to be … lacking."

"Great."

"Sir," Sam jumped it, "how many specialists can we bring with us. I'm sure Janet and I can put together a team that …"

"Major Carter, I have every confidence that you will be able to decipher their technology. And, no … I cannot send any more of our personnel to a society who may, or may not, allow us to succeed."

"Thank you General Hammond," Jack threw both hands out and upwards in front of him "Has anyone else wondered if this is just a trap. I mean, I'm all for going in to retrieve SG-2, but who says we have to play by their rules. Let's just go in and take them home!"

"Jack, that will be our fallback position if our diplomatic efforts fail. We would like to gain some of their advanced technologies. Ferretti was quite impressed.

Jack glanced at the ceiling, but said no more. He looked over at Daniel who was tilting his file in front of him and then moving his head in different directions – almost as if he were trying to decipher an errant hieroglyph and wasn't sure which way up he should read it.

For a second, Daniel looked startled, then slowly, with what appeared to be a forced effort, his features resolved into an non-expressive mask . With a flat look, he stared straight across the table as he closed the file in front of him.

"Well, that's it gentlemen. Pull everything together that may help you with this mission and be ready to leave at 1400. Dismissed."

General Hammond stood and immediately left the room followed closely by Teal'c and Sam. Jack was almost out the door when he noticed that Daniel hadn't moved yet. Daniel was sorting his papers and had made no move to stand.

"I'll be right with you Carter," he waved her ahead, "I just want to have a word with Mr. Enthusiasm here."

Irritated, Daniel pushed his chair back and stood up. He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes before replacing them. He tilted his head and looked at Jack with a rather strained look on his face. Then, as if he'd come to a decision, he picked up his file and started to leave the room.

"Where are you going?"

"Jack, I should…"

"No, you should stay right here! What's your problem, Daniel? First you dropped the ball last night with Carter. What happened to your previous crusade for P2X 739? This morning you were inexcusably two hours late for a briefing that, thanks to Ferretti, got postponed … apparently just to save your behind … and now you just stare off into space. What is going on?" Jack glared at Daniel.

Daniel tilted his head to get a better view of Jack's face. Strange prismatic shapes and black spots kept the rest of his head hidden from view. It was now or never. They didn't have much time and Jack was already out of patience. Daniel licked his lips, glanced down and then looked right into Jack's eyes.

"I'm having some trouble with my vision."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "How much trouble?"

"Well, … I was at the doctor's this morning."

"Janet didn't say she'd seen you, I checked."

"I didn't go to see Janet. This is not something I wanted to have on my file …" He looked out the window in the direction of the Stargate.

"How much trouble?" Jack repeated as he stepped over to stand closer to Daniel.

"Enough. For the past,…well, actually since Ammonet used the ribbon device on me, I've been seeing occasional black spots in my peripheral vision."

"And what? You decided that it wasn't important enough to notify Janet, or even me?"

"Jack," he hung his head and turned to sit on the table. He looked weary. "Initially it was very intermittent and didn't affect me. It just started to get worse on P2R 695, and yesterday when we stepped back into the gate room …," his arms dropped to his lap.

"Yes?" He set his hand on his friend's shoulder and waited.

"I … I couldn't see … for about five seconds. That's all. I just decided that I better make an emergency appointment with …"

He was interrupted by Jack, "Dr. Martin Allen, Optical Surgeon?" When he saw Daniel's head pop up, he added, "I had to look like I was reading something. Doc's name, and a couple of rows below it, that's all I saw. What did he say?"

Now what could he get away with? He was never very good at lying, least of all to his teammates, to Jack.

"Ah, ah, ah … ," Jack waved his finger at the other man, "the truth Daniel, … all of it!"

"Well," he paused and then after a second or two forged ahead, "in order to try to restore my vision to, and I use the term loosely, 'normal', he will need to operate on both eyes." He looked at Jack.

"How soon?" Jack's face was like a sculpture, not a muscle moved and Daniel couldn't detect what he was thinking.

"Sometime in the next two weeks … in one week if something opens up."

Jack walked right next to where Daniel was sitting. "You blanked out again at the end of the meeting didn't you?"

Daniel dropped his eyes in resignation. "But it came back again a few seconds later."

Jack rested his hand on Daniel's shoulder and in a softer voice added, "More than a few, Daniel." He looked down at his teammate, his friend. "Scary, huh?"

"A little," Daniel replied casually, but the strain on his face belied his quick response.

"Yeah." Jack paused. "I'll tell General Hammond that you'll advise us from this end, that Rothman can handle it. I'll …"

"No, Jack!"

"No?"

"You know there's no one else that has as good a chance of deciphering that book. Rothman's good, but if he hasn't gotten anywhere with the translation yet, he probably won't be able to get it. With SG-2's, and now your lives on the line, I need to be the one to translate that book." He tilted his head up to Jack again. "I know I'll be a liability in the field, but …"

"No Daniel. What if we got out there, and you couldn't even see the text you're supposed to translate? What then?"

"What other choice do we have? If I have blackouts, they're only temporary. The black spots are intermittent. I'll rest and start again when my vision clears. Look, it's been acting like this for the past couple of weeks, what's a couple of more days? I need to help Ferretti – and you do know that this is the only way."

Jack shoved his hands into his pockets. Daniel was right. They had to rescue Ferretti and his team. Daniel and Carter were their best chance. But if he needed surgery, that meant that his eyes were borderline at best. Would this mission just exacerbate the problem? What if Daniel permanently lost his eyesight because of this? Jack hated to admit it, but if he were in Daniel's situation, as horrible as the alternative was, the death of all of SG-2 would be even worse. He would take the risk as well. Of course that was easy for him to say. He wasn't the one who was taking the risk.

He made his decision. "Alright, we get you there, you translate this Holy Book, and you go right home. No other duties, no looking around, no carrying or moving anything, just close your eyes and let us take over for you. Understood?" Daniel nodded. "And you are not a liability to us Daniel. If you weren't so desperately needed, we could leave you at home." Jack thought for a moment. "And … you know I will have to tell Sam and Teal'c. They need to know."

"I know, Jack." Daniel pushed his glasses up his nose, and stuck his hand in his pocket. He pulled out two migraine pills and swallowed them dry. "It's just something I don't want to discuss much right now."

"You know we'll have a long discussion about it as soon as we get back."

"Yes, Jack, I know," and under his breath he added "and I'm sure it will include lots of needles." He grabbed up his files and followed a partial Jack O'Neill out the door.