A/N: Sorry this took so long – motivation has been broken but not to fear the 4th chapter has been started and I hope to have it up soon. Beta has been busy so she hasn't had a chance to look this one over! Sorry if it's a bit unpolished.

Chapter 3

"Put a rope around your neck and people will be glad to drag you by it." (proverb)

Guilt. It is a well-known fact that guilt is like poison. It consumes your soul, takes your honour and wraps you in shame. For a warrior it is one of the worst kinds of poison as it can eat you whole and take your honour away. The only cure is redemption, forgiveness and these remedies were something Teal'c craved. For a year now he was carrying this shameful mark and no amount of hope for reconciliation with his friend could ease this pain. He had so much blood on his hands from his time as first prime of Apophis. That shame he knew he would never get rid of but to have killed his best friend's wife? That blood does not wash off as easily. Teal'c watched a year ago and much time had gone by with endless missions and non-stop training sessions. It felt like a life he observed but not lived. The tiredness had infected his soul and hung around him like a long rope dragging him further down with dishonour.

They'd gotten the call from General Hammond about Daniel about an hour ago. The robbery sounded like a cowardly act and only fear could triumph from such actions. They had been informed that his injury was a severe concussion and as such he had been kept unconscious to prevent brain swelling by the hospital staff in London. Doctor Fraser was called as Daniel's medical records were all but sealed besides his basic medical information and medical allergy list.

Classified was the word so often used in the world of the SGC and even former staff had to be seen by medical people with the right level of clearance. Daniel was going to be transferred for the next few days to the nearest military hospital in London and the team had invited themselves along with the generals blessing. As he stared out of the canopy of the jet that they had commandeered out of Peterson air force base he wondered if Daniel would have allowed enough time to pass that he could help Teal'c restore his honour. Indeed it was time for broken lives to be mended and for his brother to return home.

When they arrived at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk Jack made his way to the USAF commander's office (a one Colonel Shields – who apparently had an impressive European record but not a clue about the really top secret operations) to pay his respects and request vehicles to get to the King Edwards Hospital in London. This was one of the closest military hospitals that was available and friendly to all militaries from around the world. They were officially there to 'deliver' the jets that they flew in to the base. Their orders were then to escort the good doctor to London. The meeting with the good colonel went about as well could be expected. There had been some eyebrow lifting about the necessity of escorting one doctor to a hospital in London and the necessity of a 3 man team to do so. To which Jack responded "She may be small but we need to provide protection." Colonel Shields lifted his green eyes to Jack and queried why she needed protection. Jack only answered "Oh it's not the doc who needs protection it's her patient. She'll murder him if he doesn't do as she tells him!" That got a chuckle and stopped the questions, which was all Jack required.

During the trip to London Jack spent time looking at his team. The year had been hard without Daniel. There had been too many losses of good people. There had also been so much loss of the comradeship that used to be so easy with Daniel to bond with. He was the heart and conscience of the team. Not that the team hadn't got any moral standing but Daniel was quicker to spot the wrongs of a society and pull the pieces together of a social puzzle staring them right in the face. Any replacements that they'd had just didn't seem the same - couldn't cut a problem the same way. Sam had suffered in Netu with memories of Jolinar. She didn't say anything just invested more and more of herself into her work. Jack was sure she would burn out soon and Teal'c was hiding more and more behind his impassive mask. He stuck to the routine and went through the motions of a day lest weakness slip through the facade.

Jack looked at his driver and shook his head. He was a brit but he was only 17 years old. Too young! Was he ever that young? Suddenly he could feel every year that he was within his bones and there was no comfort to be found in that.

He'd missed Daniel who had been his best friend and chief admiration of a pain in the ass who stood up to Jack. All the pretenders to Daniel's throne were either clueless or clearly awed by hero worship. Yep they needed Daniel back and this was a mission to ensure he returned. They were screwed! Daniel was still fighting the issue no matter how many calls or texts he would send. Still they had to try. Otherwise they were lost. Word of a new Goa'uld was making the rounds and there was a bounty out for a piece of Goa'uld tech that may or may not be on earth. This was Daniel's area of expertise and the Tok'ra had requested Jack to find it. Yep it was official without Daniel they were severely screwed.

The night of the robbery was a blur to Daniel. He just didn't know how long he had lost consciousness for. He remembered pain and then he remembered nothing else. The dreams during the blackness that came to him were of Nem and his quest for his mate Omeroka.

Standing in front of him was Nem only it was not Nem demanding answers. His aquatic body was stock still with confusion across his face. Daniel was leaning into him yelling. All he could hear was the pain and loss of his query. "What fate Shau'ri? Tell me! What fate Shau'ri?" The look on the face of his confused companion was infuriating. He felt his hands shaking the man fish with a muderous intent. The eyes of Nem widened when he saw something behind. Nem took a step back and pointed at what had startled him. Daniel snapped around at the apparition that had so scared Nem. It was Shau'ri dressed as Amaunet. Her look was imperious and her hand was raised with a hand device ready to use.

Daniel flinched at the image. Amaunet squeezed her eyes shut in confusion as the host (Shau'ri) in her took over. "Husband, hear me. I will not go until you have heard me. Do not turn away from me." Daniel 'felt himself turn his back to her. It was too painful to look at her. She was soft, beautiful and so much of what was good in his world. "Husband! Hear what I have to say. You need to go back to your travels! Husband listen to me!." Daniel felt a hand on his shoulder shaking him. It felt like Shau'ris touch but it was not gentle. Daniel fought it with conviction but the shaking continued. He could hear a groan. 'Leave me alone with my wife!'

"Daniel, can you hear me. Daniel!" Daniel's eyes snapped open and the person in front of him brought a reign of bitterness falling down on his heart. It was always bitterness now residing within his heart, the grief seemed to poison the goodness in him. He stared at the auburn hair and grim face of one doctor Janet Frasier. He had forgotten that clause in his contract – the one last tie to the programme and now it had come to haunt him. Oh look the ghost had stragglers! If had been just Janet he wouldn't have minded but behind her stood Jack, Teal'c and Sam. He turned his face away and stared out of the window. The skyline that he could see from the hospital confirmed he was still in London but that his team had arrived in very quick time.

"Janet, can you get them out of here. I'll speak to you because I have a rough idea why you are here. The rest I don't want to see" Daniel turned and surveyed the room. This was going to be a fight and he could tell. Daniel Let his eyes drift to Teal'c and the hate just radiated through him. Why had he come? He must have surely known he would not be welcome. He closed his eyes like a petulant child blocking out what was in front of him and turned his back on the people in the room.

Jacks eyes narrowed. "Ah fer cryin' out loud Daniel we heard you were hurt. You are still a member of this team for pete's sake". Jacks face was full of anger and pent up frustration. Jack felt the year of anger that he had been holding back finally catch up with him. If Daniel wanted a scrap - FINE! He had been waiting a year to knock some sense into the good doctor. If it meant that Janet was there to patch him up after he beat him black and blue then great. He'd been wrong about his joke to good Colonel Shields. Janet was probably better to protect Daniel from him! He let his anger flare and settle into molten steel. Stupid pain in the ass scientist! Geek! Nerd! It was good to see him alive. The call about the robbery had worried them all but his stubbornness about their presence reassured him that he would have a decent fight on their hands. Daniel was still Daniel even if the edges were tinged with a form of depression and a whole heap of bitterness. He'd soon get him drunk and sort that out!

It was Sam who spoke next. "Daniel, c'mon Daniel, we just wanted to be sure that you are alright. We care about you." Her blue eyes were showing something that Jack had not seen in a long while. Some form of emotion that just radiated out of her eyes. However it was what Jack saw within Daniels features made Jack want to smack Daniel there and then. What made him even angrier was the hurt that flashed so brightly in Sam's eyes.

Anger coiled low and dirty within Daniel. He could feel his fists balling. Care! How the hell could they care about him? If they had cared Shau'ri would be alive right now. If they had acted with zats instead of guns then she would still be alive. He turned around and looked directly at Janet ignoring Jack and the rest of them completely.

"Janet, could you please ask them to leave?" He pulled on his best puppy look. the kind that usually got him out of the infirmary instead of keeping him in. He knew even Janet wasn't completely immune to the look. There was a heave and sigh from Janet and Daniel knew he had won this round. Janet turned around to face the team and with one look the team walked out of the hospital room. Daniel was childishly pleased. He'd gotten his way like he knew he could. He turned around in his bed and looked to the skyline. It was dark and miserable in his eyes. There was nothing of beauty there and for once he was glad.

He felt Janet's eyes scrutinize him carefully and knew she would have a litany of questions for him. He just wasn't sure she would like the answers he would give her. So he continued to stare out the window biding his time until she could complete her examination and he could send her home. With Jack here that would be difficult he knew that and with Teal'c here as well he knew that only one of them would remain standing in a fight. He knew it was coming that Jack would get him blind drunk and they would hash it out like they always did either with words or fisticuffs. Either way they would end up under the good doctor's care within the next 48 to 36 hours. As soon as he could, Daniel would give them the slip he would go back to his flat and do the unthinkable. He would take the day off from work and hide. After all they didn't know where he lived - didn't they?