EARTH—SGC

Tick … tock …

Tick … tock …

Tick …

Tock …

Each tick of the clock seemed slower than the previous one.

Tick …

Tock …

Jack kept glancing at his watch, wishing he could escape that slow tick-tocking menace in kel-no-reem as Teal'c was failing to do or recalibrating some electronic gadget like Carter was trying unsuccessfully to finish. Anything to try to get his mind off his worrying, even if everyone else wasn't having any luck either.

No transmission had been received from Angrboda.

Even Thor was becoming impatient. Twice, he had personally contacted Earth to tell them he'd heard nothing despite the fact that the SGC was monitoring every transmission the Asgard ship received.

"I can't concentrate," Sam complained. "I've just readjusted the same control three times, and it still isn't right."

"I, too, am finding it difficult to achieve kel-no-reem," Teal'c admitted.

Jack just tapped his fingers on the console.

Tick …

Tock …

"Sir," Sam tried to talk to Jack, tried to get some sort of response from him. "Perhaps we should contact Thor again. Maybe he's formulated a new plan to track Angrboda."

Tick …

Tock …

Even Teal'c attempted to draw Jack out. "O'Neill, Major Carter is correct. Thor has been investigating different methods of communicating with Angrboda. It is possible that he has succeeded and has not yet informed us."

Tick …

Tock …

Jack kept tapping his fingers.

"Colonel?"

"Carter, we've got some vengeful Asgard out there using Daniel to get revenge on Apophis, and Kasuf's mixed up in it somehow. Add all that to the fact that Daniel's out there without us as back-up. We don't know his condition because all we found were his cut up clothes on Abydos—put that all together and you've cooked up a pretty good recipe for trouble." Jack was getting positively huffy. Didn't they see how much trouble Daniel was probably in?

Teal'c unfolded his legs and stood up. Taking up his usual stance behind Jack, he said, "Daniel Jackson has been isolated and in danger in the past. He has always returned."

"Yeah, yeah, more or less in one piece," Jack agreed reluctantly. Daniel managed to return from the alternate universe by using his words and his wits. It was the same with Nem on Oannes. On Klorel's ship. Somehow, some way, Daniel always came back.

He just had to do it one more time.

The question was, could he?

The half-hour mark came. Thor's communication signal sounded.

"Yeah, Thor. Any news?" Jack asked.

"I have just received a transmission from Angrboda. Daniel Jackson is alive, but he is no longer on the Asgard ship. He has been transported to a safe planet."

Jack blew out a long breath. Not quite the news he was hoping for, but better than he was dreading. "Which one?"

"She did not indicate the location, only that Doctor Jackson is well but needs time to recuperate."

Recuperate? It was one thing when Janet Fraiser used that word, it was another when the little alien used it. "He's hurt?" There hadn't been much blood on the clothes … no, very little.

"I do not know, O'Neill. Angrboda did not sustain the transmission for a suitable length of time to explain fully."

Sam leaned over to the microphone. "Were you able to locate Angrboda's ship? We might be able to track Daniel from that position."

"Unfortunately, no. Even now, her ship is in flight and has left that area. I am certain that she will tell us of Doctor Jackson's condition as soon as it is safe to do so." Thor's voice indicated that he was convinced of that fact.

Teal'c, however, wasn't convinced. "What of Kasuf and the Abydonian woman that was taken with Daniel Jackson?"

"I do not know. Angrboda's message was very brief."

This wasn't good.

"So now what do we do?" Jack demanded.

"I promised you my help, O'Neill. I will keep that promise until Doctor Jackson is returned to you. I will continue to monitor for Angrboda and Loki's location as well as research any evidence that may lead to Doctor Jackson's location. I do believe that Angrboda was unable to give me any more information at this time due to pressing matters unknown to us. She will contact me again."

Thor signed off and Jack buried his head in his hands. Now he had more to worry about.

"Sir," Sam said quickly, "Daniel's safe. He may try to contact us."

Teal'c agreed. "Indeed. Daniel Jackson is most resourceful."

Jack stood up so fast, his chair skidded back and slammed into the wall. "Carter, Daniel's recuperating. That means he's been hurt. If the planet he's on even has a Stargate, Daniel doesn't' have his GDO. And even if he did, he'll know the signal's been locked out, so he wouldn't dial in. Then there's Kasuf. We don't know his status, but you can bet your ass that Daniel won't lose another member of his family to the snakeheads. Not if he has any say about it. And guess what? We can't help him!"

"We're doing all we can, sir," Sam pointed out.

"I know, Carter. But in case you haven't noticed, all we can is never good enough when it comes to Daniel."

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

CIMMERIA—BEHIND THOR'S HAMMER

Kasuf could feel the fear radiating from Varos. For hours, the symbiote had searched the caves for a means of escape but found nothing.

There was water teeming with strange creatures that Kasuf assumed were the sustenance that Thor had promised was there. Amidst the exploration of the caves, Kasuf remained silent. As angry as Varos was, he had temporarily forgotten his host. He believed that no Goa'uld could hold control indefinitely—didn't they have to sleep? If Kasuf waited long enough, he knew that there might be an opportunity to force them through the Hammer. For the moment, however, all he could do was be silent and wait.

Varos' search was relentless. Hour after hour, he walked the length of the caves. Several times, they had reached the Hammer and as yet had found no other way out. There was no way around, over or under the device. There was only through. And through meant freedom.

'Freedom? Do you truly believe that the Asgards will not kill you as well?' Varos' voice questioned him.

'….Thor himself said that the host may leave …'

'No. The Asgard will kill a host before allowing a Goa'uld to go free. If I die, then you will also.'

Kasuf fell back into silence. Dan'yer had told him the truth, and he would believe his good son before the lying taunts of demons.

Again, they reached the Hall of Mjolnir. Kasuf could see the exit from the cave; yet, despite the closeness, it might just as well have been on the other side of the galaxy. Kasuf still had found no weakness in the symbiote's control of his body. He couldn't regain control and take those few steps through the Hammer.

Kasuf knew that they might be trapped behind the Hammer for a long time indeed.

Noises from the outside quietly echoed through the Hall. Kasuf strained to hear through ears no longer hearing for him alone. He heard voices. And footsteps. And the sounds of leather pounding on rock—boots, perhaps? Moments later, five men in strange attire stood on the other side of the Hammer. They were watching him—no, they were watching Varos.

"Friends," Varos said, his voice trying to sound pleasant but Kasuf could hear the lies and sneers behind the words, "I am here by mistake. I would have never come to Cimmeria and violate the agreement between the Goa'uld and the Asgard. I would be grateful if you would allow me safe passage back to the Chappa'ai."

With a nod of his head, the leader of the humans directed them to enter the Hall. They passed through the Hammer unharmed, unsheathed their knives and surrounded him.

"That is why we are here, Eton. We are to take the freed one back to the village."

Seeing that this was not an escape, Varos attacked the nearest man. He grabbed him and threw him against the wall into unconsciousness. An angry Eton was strong, perhaps even stronger than four men. They had to regroup. Before he could grab another, Kasuf felt the symbiote's control slip slightly.

This was Kasuf's chance!

He was able to retake control of his body and took two steps close to the Hammer. Then he stood completely still as Varos tried to reclaim possession. Kasuf hoped that the villagers knew that he was fighting. He tried to take another step toward the Hammer, but he couldn't. Yet, those two seconds it took for Kasuf to take those two steps was enough for the four remaining conscious villagers to take hold of Varos and rush him toward the entrance.

He was caught up in a brilliant light as the Hammer sought out its intended victim. Kasuf could feel the symbiote's pain as it died, felt his own as if a thousand little knives carved through his brain and ignited every pain center in his body. He could hear the Hammer's death knell as it sounded throughout Varos' consciousness.

Then, as the Goa'uld's bane eradicated the Eton, the demon's dying screams echoed through the cave only to be replaced by Kasuf's own painful, tormented screams.

As the Hammer finished its work, as Kasuf fell to the ground free of the symbiote, his only thoughts were for his children. He was alive. Were they?

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

DWELLING

It was dark when Sha'uri roused from her deep sleep. Some sixth sense indicated that there were a few hours yet until dawn, but for the first time in a long time, she could embrace the darkness. Amaunet was gone, her mind her own once again, and she was free to enjoy the night.

Upon awakening, she was greeted with the one sight she had yearned to wake up to. Her Dan'yel lay there with her snuggled close. She could feel him with her own two hands. He wasn't just a memory. This was real! She had learned to not even hope for such a miracle. Every dream she had, Amaunet mocked and destroyed. Little by little, the demon pared away Sha'uri's hope that, one day, her Dan'yel would find her and destroy Amaunet. Little by little, Sha'uri nurtured the small ember of hope that she had kept hidden from the Goa'uld, nurtured and cared for it so it would never die out. That one ember was her love for her Dan'yel, and that was the one connection to her life that even Amaunet couldn't sever. Now, that small ember was not just a wish or dream. It was real. It had form and substance and was lying beside her sleeping soundly.

The last time Sha'uri had seen Dan'yel sleeping, his hair was long enough to fall across his eyes. She would gently move the hair away from the face she loved to look at. Now, his hair was short, more like O'Neill's. She had no trouble seeing him.

Amaunet had stolen her away from her Dan'yel, death had separated them, but it was Asgard vengeance that had brought her back. She wasn't going to question it, she wasn't going to second-guess any of it, she was just going to accept that she was alive and well and with her husband.

Second chances were rare.

Perhaps he felt her awaken, perhaps he sensed her eyes on him, but whatever the reason, Daniel woke up at that precise moment. Sha'uri had no idea what he was thinking, but had she been able to read his mind, she would have known that her husband's thoughts were almost mirror images of her own. Daniel was remembering the last time he woke with Sha'uri in his arms. It had been the morning of the day O'Neill's tissue box came through the small opening in the barricade they had built over the Stargate. They had both awakened early that morning, well before sunrise, but neither were inclined to leave the bed. In fact, there were more ample reasons to stay in bed, which they did.

Now, there they were, together. No Goa'ulds. No one listening. No one chasing them. No one hurting them. Just the two of them. They were fed, comfortable and somewhat rested after a harrowing ordeal. Was it only yesterday that all of this had started?

They looked at each other silently for a moment, perhaps both finally realizing that this was real and not another dream. But what do you say to someone you've wanted to talk to for three years but couldn't?

Tentatively, Sha'uri's hand strayed to Daniel's hair. "You cut your hair," she said approvingly.

Daniel smiled. By all the true gods, but she had missed that smile! "There's actually a story behind that," he answered. "Jack would be the one to ask about it, though."

"O'Neill? Why?" Not that Sha'uri had any objections to talking to O'Neill, but she could sense that her husband was just a little embarrassed over the issue. That meant there was something to laugh about, something to tease him about.

"I lost a bet, and I had to cut my hair. Jack loves telling that story."

Small talk. Idle conversation. There was so much they needed to discuss, but lying there like they were, acting as if they didn't have a care in the world, was more important. Morning would come soon enough and with it all the problems and concerns they would have to face. So, for that moment, they could pretend that all was right with the universe. For a little while, the Goa'ulds didn't exist. Apophis had never entered their lives. They were safe in their little house on Abydos. Kasuf and Skaara were sleeping in Kasuf's tent near the village square. For a little while, she would pretend.

As she cuddled closer to Daniel, he pulled the blankets up a little more. Their warm cocoon protected them from the slight chill in the night air, but they couldn't be protected from everything.

"He'll be all right," Daniel murmured quietly in response to her silent fears. "Gairwyn has sent some hunters. If Kasuf has gone through the Hammer, they'll find him and bring him to us. If he hasn't, they'll take him through." He looked directly in her eyes and smiled. "He'll be all right. And we'll find Skaara and the baby. We will."

Sha'uri had to believe. After all they had been through, after all they had survived, she had to believe. There was an understanding that the search wasn't over yet. It would never be over until all of their family was reunited again. "Apophis never once mentioned the baby."

"No. He didn't mention him to me either. The Goa'uld don't see children the way we do. They see them as weapons or a way to get more power. I guess all he sees is a potential host, not a baby."

"He's my son."

"And when we find him, we'll be the best parents we can be," Daniel said with a tender smile.

"I wish …" she started to say, then changed her mind. "I tried …" no, that wasn't right, either. "I am sorry, my Dan'yel." Was that what she was wanting to say?

"No, bene wa," Daniel clasped her tighter. It felt so good being in his arms again! "Nothing that has happened was our fault. It was Apophis and Amaunet's. And they're gone. It's just us now." That was the moment that everything seemed real to her. Amaunet was gone. Apophis was who-knew-where with Loki. They were free. It really wasn't a dream, it was real. "I just wish I could take away the last few years and make things good for you again."

Sha'uri could see the emotional pain reflected on her husband's face by the dim firelight. They had lost so much, regained so much. They both felt it. "We cannot change what has been, bene wa. Even in my prison, I knew you loved me and were searching for me. That alone made my life bearable. I could survive anything the demons did to me." The truth spoke loudly in her whispered words. "No matter what they did to me."

Daniel didn't say 'It shouldn't have happened.' That went without saying. "I would have done anything to—"

Sha'uri silenced him by placing her finger on his lips. "You did all that could be done, bene wa. Speak no more of this. It has happened. Now we are together. That is all that matters." They would leave the past for now. But she was right. They were together for the first time in three years.

She waited a moment, and then asked cautiously, "Can it be as it was before?"

"Just like before? I don't think so. I mean, I don't think you'd want to see what Kasuf's sister has done to our house back on Abydos."

I took a moment for Sha'uri to realize that he was teasing her. Almost. "Our aunt? What has she done?"

Looking rather sheepish, Daniel muttered, "Well, as I understand it, whenever she visited, Kasuf had to decide whether or not to welcome her into his tent or give her another place to sleep. And since we weren't there and our house was standing empty, he …" then he added very quickly, "let her stay there."

"In our house?" Was that anger? "Father let his sister be mistress of my house?" Oh, yes, that was anger, pure and simple. She turned over and propped herself up on her elbows. "I never wanted that woman in my house. I can be as good a hostess as anyone else, but for her to take over my home … and I'm not there … I'm going to have a long talk with Father when he returns."

Daniel couldn't help laughing. "Look at it from Kasuf's point of view. It was either that or let her stay in his tent. What would you have done?"

Laughing just as much, Sha'uri answered, "Anything to keep her out of my tent." She returned to the warmth of Daniel's embrace. It felt so good to laugh! Everything seemed new again! She had hope that she didn't have before. It was a chance at a future untainted by the demons.

Would everything else seem the same way?

There was one way to find out. "My Dan'yel, if I asked you for something, would you get it for me?"

"You can ask for anything, bene wa. I'll get it for you. What would you like? The sun? The moon? Sky? Stars? Planets?"

Now he was teasing her again. "No. Something much easier to get."

"Anything you want."

With a sly smile, she moved so she was reclining on his chest. She followed the outline of his forehead down to his nose, and then gently cupped his cheek in her palm. "A daughter." That was the gift she desired. A child they created.

"Just a daughter?" Daniel asked her, his voice teasing again. "What if a son is what I can get you?"

"I'll take both," she laughed.

It was so good to hear her laugh, and it not be in a dream. "I'll do what I can to get you both," he said as he yanked the blanket over their heads.

~o~o~o~

Gairwyn had found sleeping difficult and had taken a walk. Tomorrow, she would contact the Tau'ri. From the story Daniel and Sha'uri had told her, O'Neill did not know what had happened to them and undoubtedly did not realize that Daniel had been in danger all this time. He had returned to Abydos to help his father-in-law and found only danger instead.

Once her walk had taken her around the village and back to the small dwelling, she decided to check on her two special guests one last time before retiring again. She hesitated at first because she didn't want to wake them if they were asleep, then stopped when she heard voices coming from inside the small dwelling. She waited a respectful distance away. She hadn't wanted to disturb them if they didn't need anything. She knew that Sha'uri had been a prisoner for years and only freed from her Eton for a short time. She needed some time alone with her husband. For that reason, Gairwyn had left orders that they weren't to be disturbed until morning. Among other things, the two needed some rest. They were exhausted.

Then she heard the giggling.

And why not? She and her husband had been young lovers once. Young, in love, Daniel and Sha'uri were getting a second chance at life, and the Cimmerian believed that these two deserved it more than anyone she had ever met. Tomorrow, if their luck held true, Kasuf would be returned to them free of his Eton as well. That night, Gairwyn would keep a vigilant eye on the dwelling, protecting their privacy and keeping away the curious.

She could only hope that Kasuf was alive. For their sakes.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

DAY FOUR—CIMMERIA

Knock … knock … knock …

The gentle rapping carried over the quiet breathing of the slumbering couple.

Knock … knock … knock …

The rapping came a little louder, rousing one of the couple from a deep, sated sleep.

Knock … knock … knock …

"Daniel? Sha'uri?" Gairwyn called out quietly. "I've brought your morning meal."

Morning?

Already?

Sha'uri opened her eyes when her sleep-muddled mind registered the word meal. She was hungry again.

The early morning sunlight streamed through the high window, scattering muted sunbeams throughout the small room. One landed squarely on her husband's sleeping head, highlighting the lighter colored hairs into a shorter, wispier version of the same sight Sha'uri would gaze at on early Abydonian mornings. Her Dan'yel was deeply asleep, and not just as an after-effect from the removal of the symbiote. Loki had explained to her that the healing chamber could repair the damage the symbiote had inflicted and filter out the Blood Of Sokar, but sleep was the best cure. The Blood of Sokar depleted one's strength if left unchecked, and once it was filtered out, the full force of that strength depletion could be felt. Basically, Daniel was sleeping off the after-effects, a situation that had been denied him on Netu. Of course, their physical display earlier in the night only helped bring about an even deeper sleep. And had greatly increased Sha'uri's appetite.

Knock … knock … knock …

Sha'uri rose and wrapped a blanket around her. She hated the garish Goa'uld robes and refused to put them on. She had nothing else to wear. She hoped that problem would be remedied soon.

She moved quickly to the door and opened it as quietly as she could. She didn't want to disturb Daniel.

"Good morning, Gairwyn," Sha'uri greeted her new acquaintance warmly. She had already decided she liked the village mistress. It was so heart-warming to see someone smile at her, not cower in fear of the demon. She had heard once that it takes two people to make a smile. Now, Sha'uri believed it.

"Good morning," Gairwyn whispered in turn. She held out a basket and a large bundle. "I've brought you food and some clothes. I hope I haven't presumed too much."

"No, you haven't. Thank you." Sha'uri was stunned. Kindness from a stranger was another event she had not witnessed nor experienced in a long time. Truly grateful, she took both bundles saying, "You have been very kind to us. I wish we could repay you in some way."

"There is no need. Daniel is a friend, and there is no debt between friends. If the truth were to be known, we are ever in the debt of the people of Midgard for giving us back our history and helping restore Thor's Hammer. A place to sleep, some food and clean clothes are hardly ample recompense for all they have done."

Sha'uri understood completely. "My Dan'yel would tell you that there is no debt either. He gives from the goodness of his heart. He and O'Neill also gave my people the truth with no thought of repayment. My father often said …" her voice trailed off for a moment. Then, "Is there any news of my father? Is he safe?"

"I do not know," Gairwyn answered sympathetically, "but it is still early. It may be several hours before word is heard or the hunters return, but there is a chance they will return very soon. The Asgard have carved us new paths through the forest to reach the Hammer that take much less time to travel. If the hunters had no trouble, it won't be long."

Minutes? Hours? Sha'uri would have to endure the fear and the worry. Even though she knew what the Hammer was, what it could do …

Seeing Sha'uri's distress, Gairwyn quickly added, "My friend Kendra passed through Thor's Hammer. It destroyed the Eton within her. It will do the same for your father. All will be well."

"For the three of us, I hope so. I wish my brother and son were with us. They are still prisoners."

"Only for now. Your husband never ceased searching for you nor will he stop searching for them. He has a single-minded determination that I think is rare." Gairwyn stopped talking for a moment, as if not knowing what else to say, and then, "Is there anything else I may bring you? I know this small dwelling wasn't well-stocked for visitors."

Sha'uri glanced back into the small structure. Food, shelter, clothing, all were there in ample supply. Then she noticed the fire—or lack thereof. The embers had died, and the ashes were cold. The day promised to be warm, but the night's chill still bit the air. "Maybe some wood for the fire?"

"Of course. I'll leave some dry wood outside. And Sha'uri, please, ask for anything you want. The village knows you're here, and everyone wishes to help in any way they can." Gairwyn smiled again as she walked away.

Sha'uri took her armload inside, hastily shed the blanket and donned the Cimmerian clothes. In jerkin and breeches, she was dressed more like Gairwyn and felt more comfortable than she had for a very long time. Vague memories of pillowed couches and columned halls filled her mind. Sumptuous food, servants, exquisite clothes and vast gardens were abundant in Amaunet's world. Yet Sha'uri took no pleasure in the Goa'uldish trappings. Desperate as she was, she could see the waste in all the grandeur. Amaunet thought she deserved to be worshipped as a goddess, Sha'uri knew better. Demons were to be destroyed, not exalted.

Enough. She would think on the demons no more.

Her hands explored the clothes more closely. Leather and cloth, they felt much different than the clothes she had worn on Abydos. She appreciated the tighter fit and the comfortable boots. Of course, no well-brought up Abydonian woman would ever be seen wearing such inappropriate attire, but as her Dan'yel had often told her, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. An interesting expression that Sha'uri knew had helped Daniel adapt to other cultures in his many travels. She understood the concept better after having seen many cultures fall at Amaunet's feet, but now perhaps she could see different cultures at Daniel's side. Learn from them, study their ways, see the hand of friendship extended and not the hand of a demon reaching out to take life away.

She could do all that now. She was free, and she was alive.

"Apophis was right about one thing," she heard Daniel's voice say. "You are beautiful."

Daniel was smiling at her, but by the expression on his face, she could tell that Daniel had not just woken up. He had been lying there admiring the view. "But your opinion is not objective," she teased. "And a husband tells his wife such things."

"True, but a good husband means them," he teased back.

Sha'uri responded playfully by throwing his new clothes in his face. "Gairwyn brought us something more suitable to wear." She pulled the blanket off Daniel and sat down on the bed as he stood and dressed. She had her own chance to admire the view.