I feel badly that this story is taking so long to finish! I have had major writer's block and realized it's gone on too long! I think there will only be one or two more chapters to the story. I apologize for how long this has taken - I've never been so bad about a story before. I'll try and finish this week and thank you (to anyone who's still reading) for your patience. Vini

Jack woke up slowly, and instantly knew where he was. The smells, the sounds, and above all, the gray ceiling tiles informed him he was in the SGC Infirmary.

He took a slow breath and realized he felt much better than he had the last time he was awake. He slowly lifted his arm – and knew that the IV attached to that arm was the reason for feeling no pain – and for that slightly floaty feeling.

He chuckled softly. Janet really did have him on the good stuff!

Carefully lifting his hand to his neck, he felt the thick bandages. He'd been fixed up – and the fact that there was no security must mean that Janet and Hammond were satisfied he hadn't been "Goa'ulded." Even though he'd known he'd killed Shesmu, he admitted to a feeling of relief to have it confirmed that he was snake-free.

He idly wondered what had happened to Burke, but the happy juice ensured he wasn't too concerned about his comrade. It was simply nice to lie here and not have to worry about anything, or to feel any pain.

His eyes slowly began to close as both the quiet and the floaty feeling drew him back to sleep. Before he'd gotten there completely however, the door opened and he heard the footsteps of his favorite doctor.

"Colonel!" she said gently. "I see you're awake. How are you feeling?"

He slowly turned his head – or maybe it was more accurate to say he tried to turn his head. The bandages restricted his movement so he only moved slightly. "Janet." The name came out muffled and he cleared his throat. "Janet. How long have I been here?"

"Almost 24 hours Colonel. You were exhausted – and you lost quite a bit of blood. I'm afraid that Goa'uld really tore you up."

He grimaced. "Am – I okay?"

"You're fine," she smiled. "I was able to clean out the wound and then Dr. Warner sewed you up. He was afraid you might need some reconstructive surgery – but by the time he was done things looked good. You'll have a scar, but it won't be as bad as I feared." She frowned slightly. "You seem to be healing remarkably fast."

He ignored that comment and instead redirected her thoughts by asking his normal, "when-in-the-Infirmary" question. "When can I leave?"

She shook her head, already prepared with her usual answer to the usual question. "When I say you can Colonel, and not a moment before!"

"Doc!" he whined.

She sighed. "If you do what I say and take it easy and you can get out of bed in a day. But you'll have to watch you don't overdo it. I don't want you splitting any of those stitches! And I'm afraid you won't be able to leave the Infirmary anyway. Hubbard's got people on the base. Right now we've let it be known that Lieutenant Forbes is here, under quarantine after having been exposed to an alien contagion. No one but Teal'c, Daniel and the General – oh, and Mr. Burke – know you're here. "

"Okay fine," he sighed. "I'll stay here, although I need a TV," he said. "At least I should be able to watch some hockey! Uh – by the way, where is Burke?"

"Agent Burke? He's been by a few times. He sat with you most of the morning but I finally sent him for something to eat. He thinks highly of you, Colonel."

"Yeah," Jack replied, looked a bit uncomfortable. "He can be a pain in the ass, but he's a good guy. He saved my life – a few times."

"Well then, he really is a good guy. Now, you're looking tired so why don't you go back to sleep. When you wake up I'm sure he'll be here – as will two other people who have been dying to speak with you."

"Teal'c and Daniel?" Jack grinned. "I'm looking forward to seeing them too. And Doc,"

"Yes?"

"Thanks!"

"You're welcome Colonel. Now sleep!"

"Yes Ma'am," he smiled, and closed his eyes. A few seconds later he was in the arms of Morpheus.

The next time he woke up his two best friends in the world (this world and any other) were sitting by his bed. Teal'c looked as if he were meditating, and Daniel was reading a book. He laughed softly. They were both so predictable.

"O'Neill, you are awake."

"Hiya Teal'c, Daniel. How are you guys doing?"

"We're fine Jack – it's you we've been worried about," Daniel answered, his brows creased with the concern he felt for his friend.

"I'm okay. Just had to get a few stitches."

"A few?" Daniel's eyebrow went up. "I heard that the Goa'uld practically tore your head off."

"Okay someone is exaggerating!" the Colonel exclaimed. "I assure you, my head stayed well attached."

"It was Agent Burke," Teal'c explained. "His story was very – graphic."

"Yeah," Jack grinned. "He was probably grossed out. He'd never seen a Goa'uld before."

"It must have been frightening," Daniel said gently. "I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"It's okay – I'm just glad I didn't get snaked."

"So tell us what happened?" Daniel wanted to know. "And who was the Goa'uld? And what happened to Hubbard?"

"Geesh – I just woke up Daniel!" But after raising his bed and taking a sip of water, Jack began to tell them all that had occurred. Burke had told some of the story, but Jack was able to flesh out the details. "As for the Goa'uld," he said, "his name was Shesmu. I'd never heard of him before."

"Shesmu was a relatively unknown god in the Egyptian pantheon," Daniel explained. "He was kind of a party god."

"A party god? You mean like Dionysus?"

"Kind of – at least the drinking part. He was the god of drink and wine presses. But he was also the god of blood and vengeance. He could be both really good, and really bad."

"Well this guy was really bad. He booby trapped all the weapons, and then he tried to kill me. Fortunately he was a pretty typical Goa'uld – too arrogant to realize he was fallible."

"They get to believing they are gods after so many years of being worshipped by everyone," Daniel agreed. "It's what led to their ultimate downfall."

"That and Sg1," Jack added with a grin.

"Yeah, and Sg1," Daniel agreed with a snort. "So what happens next?"

"Next?" Jack asked, his eyebrows raised.

"Yeah. You said you found evidence that shows this whole thing goes right to the top. So what's the next step?"

"As soon as I'm outta here I'm making a little trip to D.C.," he said. "I'm gonna go call on the President and tell him what I know."

"Are you sure that is wise, O'Neill?" Teal'c frowned.

"May not be wise, but I'm tired of this and want it to be over. I'll let him know I have the proof of his involvement and that of many in his cabinet. I'll also let him know I have the weapons."

"But you can't tell anyone about any of that – it's classified. He can just ignore you – or at the worst arrest you."

"True, but I have an ace up my sleeve!" Jack informed him.

"What is this "ace" O'Neill?" Teal'c wanted to know.

"Well, it's actually aces," Jack explained. "I'm gonna tell him about the Nox and the Asgard."

"What about them?" Daniel asked, confused. "I think he already knows about them."

"Yeah, but I'll explain that the Asgard aren't going to want to continue to keep their treaty with Earth if he doesn't resign. And the Nox won't be happy either."

"Do you really think they'll care that much about our internal politics?" Daniel wondered.

"Politics? No – but they do care about the galaxy," he said smugly.

"Jack – what aren't you telling us?" Daniel looked at his friend suspiciously.

"Well – remember what the Asgard said to me that time I had my head sucked?"

"Not really."

"About us becoming the Fifth Race."

"Oh yeah – that. What about it."

"Well – I think we're just about there."

"Just about – what do you mean?" Daniel frowned. "Why would -", he stopped and stared at Jack. "Do you mean that you -? Oh my God!"

"Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c asked, puzzled by Daniel's words. "I do not understand."

"It's Jack! The Ancient knowledge – what's happened to him. It's you," he turned back to O'Neill. "You're the next step. That's what the Asgard meant when they said you were special. Oh my God!"

Teal'c looked at O'Neill. "The next step?"

Jack sighed and looked vaguely uncomfortable. "Whatever happened to me – it changed me Teal'c. Uh – I think that's what they meant."

"Wow! And the Asgard aren't going to want to have a treaty with someone who tried to kill that next step in our evolution," Daniel nodded. "And especially someone who could help them with their cloning problems."

"I hope that's what they think," Jack nodded. "And I'm also going to contact the Nox and let them know. I'm pretty sure they'll be as concerned as the Asgard. I just wish I could get in touch with the Furlings," he sighed, looking distracted for a moment. He wondered if he could find out where they'd gone.

"We are no longer able to contact the Nox, O'Neill," Teal'c reminded him and brought him back to the discussion.

"What? Oh – I can," Jack smiled. "In fact, I think we should invite Lya and Antaeus and Thor and let them know what's going on. The President isn't going to want to have a bunch of pissed off aliens around."

When Jack explained to Hammond what he was proposing the General shook his head. "You're sure Jack?"

"No – but I think it's the best plan," he told Hammond. "The last thing the President is going to want is to lose our treaty with the Asgard. It would leave us too vulnerable to attack."

"You really think he'll be willing to resign?"

"I'll just make it too hard for him to do anything else."

In the end Hammond agreed to send word to Thor. After that was done Jack helped send another message through the gate – to the Nox. He didn't explain how he knew their address.

The next few days were tough on Jack. He couldn't leave the Infirmary, even though he was feeling better. He was bored and restless, which anyone who knew him would tell was the worst combination for Jack O'Neill. But the worst part was that he missed Sam dreadfully. He wanted to go back to Terasano and see her and hold her. He was so tired of everything!

"Hey, you okay O'Neill?"

He was sitting in a chair in his hospital room, a book – unopened – in his lap. He'd been thinking of Sam and their unborn child when he heard Burke speak.

Jack glanced up and grimaced. "Yeah – just wishing I could get out of here."

"Why don't you?"

"Some of Hubbard's people are on base. I'm afraid they'll contact the NID."

"Well then why don't you go back through the gate? They could sneak you out just like they sneaked us in."

Jack sighed. "I wish I could. I wanna go and see Sam. But the Asgard or Nox could show up at any time and I need to be here." Jack sighed and leaned his head back against his chair.

"Had enough of this?" Burke asked gently.

"Yeah – you have no idea. I just want this damn thing to be over and enjoy life with my family."

"You will Jack – and soon. It's almost over."

At that Jack looked up – and regarded the man who he had come to think of as another close friend. "What about you Burke? What are you going to do now?"

The other man let out a slow breath – and then gave a crooked grin. "I'm not sure. Somehow going back to work for the CIA seems a bit – flat. Do you think they'd have me here?"

"At the SGC?" Jack's eyebrow flew up. "Uh – you could ask Hammond. I'll put in a good word for you – if you really want it."

Burke gave a soft laugh. "Yeah – not sure I do. I'm kind of tired of all the excitement – and I expect working here would be worse. I'm -", he stopped and briefly closed his eyes.

"You're – what?" Jack asked.

"Well – I want to go and see my son," he said softly. "I want to get to know him."

"That's great!" Jack said.

"Yeah – but I'm not sure what Hillary will say."

"Tell her the truth," Jack told him softly. "She needs to know. And tell her you want to get to know your son."

Burke nodded. "I told the General I was leaving. I'm gonna head out tomorrow morning. I'll leave my contact information, so if you need me -. I – hate to leave when things are still up in the air, but - "

"I'll know where to find you," Jack nodded. "Look, everything is going to be fine here. And once this is all over, I'll give you a call and tell you what happened and find out how the visit goes with your son. There's really nothing for you to do – and you need to see your son."

Burke slowly stood. "Thank you Jack."

"Uh – I think I'm the one who owes you thanks," Jack told him. He held out his hand. "You know I can never repay you for all you've done."

Burke shook his hand, looking at O'Neill with a serious expression. A moment later that broke and he grinned. "Oh – I'll think of something! In the meantime, try and stay out of trouble."

"I will Burke – thanks!"

Jack watched as the other man walked away. He was going to miss him!

It was a couple of days before he heard from Thor and shortly thereafter he was transported up to Thor's ship, where not only the little alien was waiting, but so too was Lya of the Nox.

"O'Neill, it is good to see you well," Thor told him. "I hope that Samantha Carter is also well."

Jack frowned for a moment. "Yeah – she was fine when I left her. That's why I wanted to see you. I have a little problem I want to solve, and then I want to get back to her."

"What is your problem, O'Neill?"Lya asked gently.

An hour later Jack was standing in the Oval Office, looking at a shocked Henry Hayes. Daniel and Teal'c were by his side.

Jack snorted. It was time to end this.