CHAPTER TEN
"NO!" Jack screamed at the top of his lungs. The offending party was obviously Daniel Jackson, who stood only two feet from Jack's mouth at the time of his outburst. Daniel had obviously been prepared for just such a response, though, and his argument was fast in coming.
"Jack, calm down, I just said I looked into it. And it would be Sam's choice." The gentle chiding in Daniel's voice reminded Jack that he really didn't have the right to decide something like this, but the General still had to let his objections be known, and he rapid fired back at Daniel.
"No. No way. No how. No. No freaking way, Daniel. Don't even think about it. No way. I won't let you do this. I won't let you give Carter that option. There has to be another way. She's strong. She'll fight this and win eventually. Don't ever, ever mention this to me again."
"Jack, I told you earlier. I already talked to the Tok'ra. There aren't any symbiotes available right now anyway. It's not an option, so there's no need to get all worked up."
"No need to get all worked up, Daniel? You've never had a snake in your head! I've had two, count them, two! Not an experience I want to repeat, and not one I would be willing to stand by and allow Carter to experience a second time." An involuntary shudder ran through Jack then, and Daniel couldn't help but be reminded of Jack's time after his blending with Kanan, when Ba'al had tortured him to death and then revived him God knows how many times in his sarcophagus. Daniel remembered Jack begging him to end it-it was one of only a few things he remembered from his time of ascension-and he sympathized with his friend's feelings on this, but Daniel also knew that the odds of Sam making a full recovery were not good. He was only trying to help, any way he could. Perhaps the Carter family was good host material for the Tok'ra. Jacob seemed to have had a peaceful existence after his joining with Selmak, and Sam was philosophical about her time with Jolinar now. It had been worth a shot, and if there had been a suitable symbiote available, Daniel would have talked to Sam about it. It was her choice, not Jack's. Sympathy be damned, he just wanted to help his friend.
With the Tok'ra avenue closed to him, the Asgard and Nox inexplicably unreachable, and the Free Jaffa having destroyed any accessible sarcophagi because of their ties to the Goa'uld and their way of life, all Daniel could do was vow that he would at least stand by and support Sam as she began the long physical therapy road in front of her. After all, Samantha Carter was one of the strongest, most determined people Daniel knew. Who knew where it would lead?