Teal'c rarely worried. He believed worrying was a waste of energy; it solved nothing and seldom improved any situation. Many times it wasn't as though anything could be done to affect the situation or outcome that was the object of the worry, and if something could be done, Teal'c believed wholeheartedly that it should just be done. It was a philosophy that had served him well so he was somewhat surprised by the heightened sense of foreboding he felt as he made his way to the infirmary. He was not worried, he assured himself; he was simply concerned.

Teal'c's respect for Jack O'Neill was boundless. The two men were similar in many ways; both warriors with a sense of honour and a passion to protect the people they loved. If the military man felt the alternative Doctor Jackson was hiding something, Teal'c trusted his friend was correct. He knew O'Neill wasn't certain though and the Colonel had asked Teal'c to question Jackson to make certain of his own doubts. Teal'c had agreed; it was important to establish whether their guest was a threat and the Jaffa knew he would not be swayed by the man's likeness to their Daniel Jackson.

The thought of his former team-mate brought a brief surge of grief. Teal'c felt the other man's loss still. They had grown close during the years they had worked together; closer than Teal'c had thought possible given their initial history, but the archaeologist had a generous and compassionate spirit. It had not surprised Teal'c that an Ascended being had deemed Daniel's soul worthy enough to accomplish and embrace enlightenment. He was pleased for his friend but saddened at losing him in his own life.

Time had eased the initial pain of loss for Teal'c; he had accepted his friend had moved on and so he had set aside his own grief and focused on the continuing battle; on supporting his friends as they grieved and adjusted to the Daniel-shaped hole in their lives. He was aware that the archaeologist's Ascension had hit their female team-mate particularly hard. It wasn't that O'Neill hadn't grieved but Teal'c was aware that Jack's pain had been offset by his involvement in Daniel's decision. He might not understand the choice the other man had made but O'Neill would honour it; Teal'c was of the same mind. They missed Daniel and mourned his loss but they were comforted by his Ascension.

Major Carter, on the other hand, had not been the least bit comforted. For her, Daniel had simply left them and she was devastated, angry and in pain. Teal'c was willing to admit that neither he nor O'Neill had properly been able to comfort her. He had tried but he conceded that he still had much to learn about Tau'ri emotions. He had believed, for instance, that the two Air Force officers would have turned to each other while they grieved but instead he had seen O'Neill retreat behind a wall of silence and the Major erect her own wall of hurt in response. A chasm had opened up between the two humans. Time and events had closed the distance between them but he couldn't help wondering if the arrival of their visitor would reopen it.

He reached the doorway of the infirmary room and hovered. Sam sat beside the bed quietly, her eyes pinned to the sleeping man. Teal'c took a moment to register how like Daniel he looked but it wasn't the similarities he dwelled upon, it was the differences. The hair was longer and kept in the style their Daniel had sported during the first two years of the Stargate programme; there were more lines that criss-crossed over the skin. He was thinner and while his muscles were toned they lacked the weight and bulk their own Daniel had added in the gym. It was not Daniel.

He let the disappointment roll through him and his dark eyes drifted back to Sam. The way she regarded the man in the bed, Teal'c rather doubted she saw the differences but rather the similarities; the colour of his hair, the shape of his face. There was a protective look in her eye that Teal'c knew well. She wasn't viewing this Daniel as a stranger; she was already viewing him as her friend. It was going to be a difficult time, Teal'c mused.

Sam looked up as though she sensed his regard and waved him into the room. She stood up and met him at the foot of the bed.

'How is Doctor Jackson?' Teal'c asked formally.

'He's OK.' Sam murmured in a low voice, anxious not to wake Daniel. 'He's sleeping again.' She folded her arms. 'Janet says he needs the rest to heal.'

'Colonel O'Neill informed me that he was a member of SG1 in his universe and knew me well.'

'Yes.' Sam nodded, her eyes dimming with sadness. 'You remember when you killed Chronos?'

Teal'c raised an eyebrow and bowed his head a little.

'Well, apparently, in the other universe you didn't make it.' Sam admitted. 'None of us did.'

Teal'c absorbed the information with a barely perceptible frown. He remembered the mission well; it was one he was hardly likely to forget – he had killed Chronos, his father's killer. It had also been a mission Daniel had missed as he had been off-world on a different mission at the time; that accounted for why the archaeologist had survived where they had not in the other universe, Teal'c considered.

'At least, you and the Colonel died on the mission.' Sam stared at Daniel. 'I was already dead.' She saw the question in his eyes. 'The computer entity thing; their Colonel had to kill me.'

Teal'c put the pieces together in his head; O'Neill had been crushed at the thought of killing the Major. If she had died…it was little wonder he had not returned from their next mission. 'He must have cared for you a great deal.' He murmured.

'We weren't together.' She blurted out abruptly.

He looked at her questioningly.

'The Colonel and I.' Sam expanded. 'We weren't together there.'

'You both occupied positions within the Air Force.' Teal'c said confidently.

'Yes.' Sam sighed and rubbed her arms as though to comfort herself. 'And I was married to Daniel.'

Teal'c's eyebrows shot up.

'Obviously things are very different there.' Sam said hurriedly.

'Indeed.' He knew Sam and Daniel cared for each other but he had never seen any sign that their feelings went beyond the familial relationship they seemed to enjoy. His gaze landed on the man in the bed. 'I assume the Colonel is unaware of this difference in our universes.'

Sam nodded unhappily. 'I should probably tell him but…I mean, it isn't really,' she sighed, 'it shouldn't matter.'

'Yet it does.' Teal'c stated, taking in the mixed emotions that chased across her face. He shifted his stance. 'Colonel O'Neill should be informed.'

'I know.' Sam straightened her shoulders as though preparing to head off and tell the Colonel that very moment.

'However, I do not believe you should be the bearer of this news.' Teal'c continued.

Sam looked at him sharply.

'I will inform him.' Teal'c said.

'Teal'c,' Sam gave him a sad smile, 'it's OK. I can do it.'

'I have no doubt of that, Major Carter,' Teal'c said, 'but this is a difficult time for us all. I would ask you to allow me to assist you in this.'

Sam hesitated only briefly before she nodded rapidly. She touched his arm gently. 'Thank you, Teal'c.' Her voice vibrated with relief. She shifted her weight from one leg to the other. 'Where is the Colonel anyway?'

'He is reporting to General Hammond.' Teal'c informed her. 'He is recommending we do not return to P1X465 given there may be Unas inhabiting the planet.'

'We'll have to go back if Daniel suffers entropic cascade failure.' Sam said.

Teal'c heard the catch in her voice and looked over at her quizzically.

'I was…I was just thinking if he gets it then it means our Daniel isn't really dead.' She flushed. 'Stupid, I know.'

'Not at all,' Teal'c said softly. 'He is not our Daniel Jackson.'

Sam flinched. 'I know that, Teal'c.'

The sharpness in her tone had him inwardly wincing. He inclined his head, the light bouncing off the smooth plane of his bald head. 'Forgive me, Major Carter.'

'No, I'm sorry, Teal'c.' Sam gave him a small smile and rubbed the back of her neck. 'I'm just tired and…' she sighed again. 'I know he isn't our Daniel, it's just…I wish he were, you know.'

'I know,' Teal'c comforted her, 'but I believe we would be wise to treat him with caution until we know more.'

She stared at him in surprise. 'He's just like our Daniel, Teal'c.'

'Yet evidently he is not.' Teal'c pointed out carefully. 'After all, you and Daniel Jackson have never to my knowledge engaged in…'

'OK, Teal'c,' Sam interrupted him, 'I get the message.' She turned away from him to look at their sleeping guest. 'It's just I don't think we should jump to the conclusion that he's evil.' Her lips twisted. 'After all, that would be a cliché and you know how the Colonel feels about those.'

Her words prompted a shared look of humour at the memory of the Colonel's quip when Sam's own alternative version had come through the quantum mirror.

'It must be strange for him.' She said, gesturing at Daniel.

'For what reason?' Teal'c asked quietly.

'Suddenly seeing us all alive again.' Sam responded. 'I mean, it's got to be as difficult for him as it is for us.' She left unspoken how difficult it was for her to see him; so like the good friend she had lost. She shook her head. 'He lost everyone.'

Teal'c felt his own compassion stir.

'I don't think I could have borne that amount of loss.' Sam continued softly.

He glanced over and his features softened. He knew instinctively she was thinking how close they had come to losing the Colonel both to the infection he had suffered and to the ordeal he had suffered at the hands of the Goa'uld Ba'al.

A sound by the door alerted them to the presence of an Airman. 'Sorry, ma'am.' The Airman apologised. 'Sergeant Siler has requested your presence in the gate room, ma'am. There's a problem with the gate.'

Sam looked back at the sleeping patient uncertainly.

'I will watch over him.' Teal'c promised. He didn't miss the flicker of relief that flitted through her blue eyes nor the grateful touch on his shoulder as she passed on her way out. He turned back to the bed and his features hardened. 'She has gone. You may stop pretending to sleep.'

Daniel's eyes opened reluctantly and he struggled into a sitting position. His blue eyes ran over the Jaffa. 'It's good to see you again, Teal'c.'

'I am not the Teal'c you knew.' Teal'c said firmly.

'No, you're not.' Daniel agreed. He gestured at the Jaffa. 'My Teal'c had hair.'

Teal'c arched an eyebrow.

'You don't trust me.' Daniel settled back on his pillows and regarded the Jaffa seriously.

'As you no doubt heard during your eavesdropping of my conversation with Major Carter.' Teal'c said harshly.

'Sorry about that.' Daniel said insincerely, his blue eyes flashing rebelliously.

Teal'c stared back at him evenly.

Daniel's bravado wilted under Teal'c's relentless gaze. 'Look, I am sorry.' He tugged his sheets closer. 'I started to come to, overheard what you were saying and couldn't help listening in.'

Teal'c's expression didn't alter. 'Why are you here?'

'I explained all this earlier.' Daniel protested.

'And now you will tell me.' Teal'c ordered. He remained standing at the foot of the bed; a looming figure in Daniel's direct eye-line.

'It was an accident,' Daniel began. 'I was on P1X465 studying the Unas alone…'

'I find that most unlikely.' Teal'c interjected.

'I wanted to get away and the SGC agreed that I could go.' Daniel shot back. 'They thought it would give them more knowledge about the Unas that they could use to build a weapon against them.'

'Continue.' Teal'c said.

'I've been studying them for a while and I'm always very careful. I make sure I stay away from their hunting grounds.' Daniel swallowed hard. 'They must have been scouting new territory; they took me by surprise.'

'How many?' Teal'c asked gravely.

'Three.' Daniel said quickly. 'I tried to get away.'

'You ran into the caves.' Teal'c stated.

'Yes.'

'Do the Unas not occupy the caves?' Teal'c asked, certain he had found the flaw in the other man's story.

'I was confused.' Daniel retorted. 'I was trying to hide.'

Teal'c was silent for a long moment; his disbelief evident. 'What happened when you entered the cave?'

'They caught up with me and I fell against a wall.' Daniel said defensively. 'I blacked out and when I came to, the Unas were gone.' He moved restlessly. 'I tried to get to the Stargate but I must have blacked out again.' He looked up at Teal'c defiantly. 'That's the truth.'

Teal'c stared back at him. 'You are lying.'

'Believe what you want.' Daniel sighed. 'I'm here now. Does it matter how I got here?'

'That depends.' Teal'c said. 'What are your intentions?'

'I don't have any intentions.' Daniel said with a short, hard laugh. 'No matter what you think, I didn't plan to come here.'

Teal'c felt the ring of truth to his words; if he was telling the truth about that, what exactly was the archaeologist lying about?

'Sam was wrong, you know.' Daniel said almost conversationally. 'It's not difficult for me at all. It really is good to see everyone again. It's like I've been given a second chance to be with you all again.'

'When my son, Rya'c was small, he had a young kra'vk, not dissimilar to your Earth animal of a rabbit.' Teal'c began. 'One morning, Drey'auc and I awoke to find that the kra'vk was dead. Rya'c was distraught and his mother insisted on obtaining another immediately to make him feel better.' He held Daniel's gaze. 'For a brief day, Rya'c was comforted by its presence. The next, however, he realised that although it looked like the kra'vk that he had lost, it was not the same animal. Eventually, he asked for it to be removed from our home; it only served as a reminder of the pet he had lost.'

'Nice story.' Daniel replied caustically. 'Did it really happen?'

Teal'c didn't deign to reply.

Daniel sighed. 'I was hoping we could be friends. After all, it's likely that I'm going to be staying.' He wrapped his arms over his chest. 'Your people aren't likely to return to the planet when there is the possibility of running into a tribe of Unas and your Daniel is dead; I'm not likely to suffer from entropic cascade failure.'

'Perhaps.' Teal'c allowed. 'Major Carter believes there is a chance you will because Daniel Jackson did not die; he Ascended.'

'I think she's wrong,' Daniel said bluntly, 'and so do you. She misses him; she wants him to be alive in some way still.' He smiled mockingly. 'Maybe they were closer than you think.'

Teal'c stiffened at the implication.

'She's very beautiful.' Daniel continued.

The Jaffa glowered at him. 'If you harm Major Carter…'

'I love her; I have no intention of harming her, Teal'c.' Daniel said, talking over him.

'See you do not,' Teal'c growled, 'or I will not hesitate to kill you.'

Daniel blanched.

'What's going on here?' Janet's voice broke into the tension. 'Teal'c, is everything alright?'

'Everything is well, Doctor Fraiser.' Teal'c confirmed.

'I'm just tired.' Daniel said quickly.

'You should be resting.' Janet ordered. She patted Teal'c's arm. 'I'm sorry, Teal'c, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave.'

Teal'c bowed his head in agreement as she moved to assist Daniel into a prone position. He caught the hint of triumph in the man's blue eyes and scowled as he walked out of infirmary room; the man was definitely not Daniel Jackson. Teal'c turned the corner and almost barrelled into the colonel.

'My apologies, O'Neill.' Teal'c said as he lurched to a halt.

'No harm done.' Jack said, recovering his breath. 'What's the rush?'

'I must speak with you on an urgent matter.' Teal'c said, straightening.

Jack nodded. 'What about…?' He waved down the corridor in the direction of the infirmary.

'Doctor Fraiser has requested Doctor Jackson is left to rest.' Teal'c confirmed.

'OK.' Jack gestured at an empty infirmary room. They went inside and Teal'c closed the door to give them privacy.

Jack pushed his hands in his pockets and looked at the Jaffa curiously. 'So, what's going on?'

Teal'c clasped his hands behind his back and regarded his friend seriously. 'Doctor Jackson was married to Major Carter in his universe.' He said bluntly, knowing there was no way of softening the information for the Colonel.

There was a moment of stunned silence.

Jack started laughing; he pulled one of his hands free and wagged a finger at the Jaffa. 'I have to admit you almost had me there for a minute, T.' He grinned. 'Carter and Daniel? That's funny.'

Teal'c's expression didn't change although his eyes filled with sympathy at the other man's automatic denial.

'You're kidding me, right, Teal'c?' Jack checked as the silence grew.

'I regret that I am not, O'Neill.' Teal'c said quietly.

Every trace of humour was wiped from Jack's face as he assimilated the information. 'Sam and Daniel?' He asked again incredulous. 'Really?'

'Obviously there are many differences between our two universes.' Teal'c informed him briskly, trying to provide the other man with some reassurance.

'Obviously.' Jack echoed. Sam and Daniel? He couldn't get his head around it. Daniel had always been head over heels in love with Sha're. In fact, he would bet money the younger man had still been in love with Sha're when he Ascended. And Sam? She had said she cared about him not Daniel during the za'tarc incident and she had asked him to take the symbiote because she couldn't bear to lose him – that had to mean something, didn't it?

But she had been devastated when Daniel had died. The thought hit him like a blow to the gut.

Jack whirled away from Teal'c and sat down heavily on a nearby stool. He rubbed his hair furiously. He looked up at Teal'c. 'Does Carter know?'

'She does.' Teal'c confirmed.

Jack crossed his arms over his chest, not wanting to ask how she had taken the news yet needing to know.

'I believe she finds the situation as unusual as you.' Teal'c said.

Jack felt some of the tension ebb out of him. He frowned suddenly. 'Wait. He said his second wife died. If that was Carter…?'

'It was.' Teal'c said. 'She was killed during the incident with the computer entity.'

'I killed her?' Jack asked shocked.

'Your counterpart.' Teal'c corrected. 'He and I apparently died in the following mission.'

Jack nodded understandingly. He remembered all too well the abyss that had faced him when he had thought he'd killed Sam. If she hadn't survived…he sighed. 'How's Carter doing with all this?'

'She feels compassion for Doctor Jackson's loss.' Teal'c said guardedly.

Jack felt his heart sink and pushed his personal feelings aside. There would be time to brood over everything later. 'Did you talk with him?'

'I did.' Teal'c gave a brief nod. 'I agree with your assessment. He is hiding something.'

'You don't think it was all this stuff about us dying and him being married to Carter?' Jack checked.

'I do not.'

'Any ideas what it is?' Jack pressed.

'No.' Teal'c admitted.

Jack pulled a face. 'Well, Hammond's ruled out anyone travelling to P1X465. He'll examine the decision again if there's entropic cascade failure.'

'That is unfortunate.' Teal'c murmured. 'I believe it would be best for Doctor Jackson to return to his own universe.'

'Yeah.' Jack stood up and walked over to the door. He hesitated for a second with his hand on the door handle. 'Keep an eye on him, Teal'c, and watch Carter's six.'

The Jaffa bowed his head. When he raised it, the Colonel had gone.

Teal'c allowed a small sigh to pass his lips. He wasn't worried, he assured himself again; only concerned. Very concerned.