Thursday, December 17, 2020

After almost a year of staying on the base or wearing masks, Daniel felt almost the same anticipation walking toward the Gate as he'd felt on his first mission with Jack O'Neill. Only this time, he'd packed a duffel instead of just a mission backpack.

He was going to be living on another planet for the first time in almost three decades.

As the number rattled around in his skull, Daniel winced. Had it really been that long since his first trip to Abydos?

The reality of that settled into his bones heavier than normal. As did the sense of loss that always accompanied thoughts of Abydos.

He should really think about retiring when the COVID crisis was all said and done. Maybe step back from the away teams and focus his attention on his studies or overseeing the archaeological side of the Stargate program. It wouldn't take long to convince Jack that it was needed.

Daniel's lip lifted in amusement at the idea of his friend. Well, it might take longer than Daniel anticipated. Given Jack's unique way of fighting Daniel's suggestions. Sometimes, Daniel swore the man did it just to give Daniel a hard time about his passionate exploration of space.

"Jackson, you okay, man?" Mitchell rested a hand on his P-90 as they walked up the ramp to the gate. "You still look a little tired."

Daniel frowned at the colonel. "Dr. Lam cleared me for gate travel."

"Didn't say she didn't." Mitchell grabbed hold of Daniel's jacket before the archaeologist could step through. "But I'd rather know now if you're not up to this."

Daniel eyed Mitchell's hand. "I'm going through there, Cam. Don't try to stop me."

"Or you'll what?" Mitchell's expression grew serious. "The safety of this team is my responsibility, and if you're not fit to go out there—"

Daniel stepped out of Mitchell's grasp. "You're not going to find her without me. So, stop psychoanalyzing me, and let me go through."

Mitchell studied him for a long moment before he gestured toward the event horizon. "After you."

The tug on Daniel's molecules that always came after stepping through the gate felt almost like getting back in the pool after a long, cold winter. Refreshing. Unfamiliar. Like coming home.

On the other side of the gate, Reynolds stepped toward them. "Welcome to the Alpha Site, gentlemen. Major Hailey will walk you to your quarters and the archaeological lab, Dr. Jackson. You have a briefing at 1300 hours to bring you up to speed on the latest intel we've gathered on the Lucian Alliance and Vala Mal Doran."

The short, young blonde that Sam had mentored over the years stood in front of them with a serious eye. "Colonel Mitchell. Dr. Jackson. We'll be walking past the mess if you're hungry."

Daniel shook his head. His appetite had been next to nothing for several weeks now. "Just a place to drop this before getting to the lab is good."

Mitchell eyed Daniel as if trying to evaluate the archaeologist's emotional and mental fitness for the mission.

Daniel tried to ignore it. Though he didn't say it aloud, he was determined that he would go home in a body bag before they stopped him from finding Vala. Not after all of the hoops he'd had to jump through to get to this point.

They walked past the mess, and Daniel made a mental note about its location. Not that he'd spend much time there. Or in his quarters.

The two Air Force officers chatted back and forth, but Daniel was content to hang back and just follow. All while his mind plagued him with thoughts of Vala. Of how there'd been a time when he would have welcomed the quiet in his life right now. The guilt of that thought added to the heaviness of his mood.

Before long, Major Hailey opened one of the coded doors and revealed a sparse-looking room with two sets of bunk beds. "Well, gentlemen, here are your quarters for the next few weeks."

One of the bunks already seemed to have someone's things set up near it. If the style of the pack at the foot of the bed was any indication of who had claimed the bunk, Teal'c was already on the base.

That lifted Daniel's spirits substantially. He'd missed his friend. More than he could ever have said.

Major Hailey looked over at Daniel. "You wanted to see the lab?"

Before Daniel could drop his things and follow her down the corridor, however, a large, dark figure filled the doorframe. "Daniel Jackson. Colonel Mitchell."

"Hey, T!" Mitchell clapped the hulking man on the back. "You know, after having to do it so many times, you'd think I wouldn't get a thrill bringing the band back together, but here we are again. And it feels amazing. The same as it did the first time."

Daniel couldn't help but think of Sam, still in DC and recovering from the effects of having COVID last spring. Of Jack who had mentioned something about going back to the Pentagon in person after Christmas, once his vaccine had a chance to fully activate. Of Vala...

He held his tongue before he wished for the good ol' days. Still, he couldn't keep from thinking to himself just how good it would be to have the whole band back together.

"Daniel Jackson."

Daniel forced a smile to his lips as he shook Teal'c's hand. "Hi, Teal'c. Good to see you."

"Not gonna lie," Mitchell said with a laugh, "I feel a little naked without the mask and a little claustrophobic without social distancing."

Daniel's lip lifted in an appreciative chuckle.

"You are well, Daniel Jackson?"

Daniel nodded.

"Colonel Carter has recovered?"

Mitchell shifted. "Uh, that's still in progress, I think. She doesn't have the virus anymore, but she's still recovering from the damage it did."

Teal'c's jaw tensed. Apparently just as frustrated as the rest of the team that they hadn't been able to bring her any closer to returning to her normal self.

"How's your family?" Daniel was happy to change the subject. Anything to keep wallowing in all the bad news from home.

"They are well. Rya'c and Kar'yn have raised warriors worthy of respect."

Daniel half-laughed, imagining that Teal'c's son's offspring were not children but miniature soldiers. "Of course they have."

Teal'c seemed proud that he'd gotten Daniel to chuckle. Mitchell also appeared relieved that the archaeologist was starting to get back to normal.

Though Daniel didn't really feel normal again, he gestured out into the hallway. "That briefing is at 1300. What do you say we grab some lunch before that?"

Mitchell put his arms around Daniel and Teal'c's shoulders when they got out into the hallway. "Yep. Love getting the band back together."

That pang of loss reverberated through Daniel's chest again. Remembering the first time Mitchell had been excited to have succeeded. Sam had made a joke about an extra backup singer. Vala had taken offense...

Both women were absent from the team, though for different reasons.

Mitchell called to one of the airmen a few steps down the corridor and jogged to catch up with him, which apparently gave Teal'c the opening he'd been looking for.

"You appear weary, old friend."

Daniel heard the same affection in the Jaffa's tone that he had once used when addressing Bra'tac. That, in and of itself, was an honor Daniel couldn't put into words. He just shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged. "I'm putting one foot in front of the other, Teal'c. That's all I can manage right now."

Teal'c nodded. "We will locate Vala Mal Doran. I will not rest until we have done so."

Daniel patted the Jaffa on the shoulder. "I know, Teal'c, and I appreciate it. Really."

But even walking into the mess hall with one of his best friends didn't ease the ache that felt as entwined in his gate travels as the ancient cultures and languages he had mastered before coming to the Stargate Program.

He needed to find her. He wasn't sure how much longer he could carry the burden of searching...