EARTH—SGC
"Why don't you get some sleep, Jack?"
Jack's head jerked up at the unexpected voice. He didn't say anything, just gave Hammond a sideways look and reached for a fresh cup of coffee.
"I've convinced Major Carter and Teal'c to try to get some sleep. Why don't you take a break? I'll stay here and wait for Thor's transmission and call you when we learn anything new." Hammond sounded as worried as the rest of SG-1, but even he was reaching the end of his patience with the lack of usable information from Thor and the Tok'ra. His patience for his first team and their behavior seemed unlimited at the moment, even in the face of Jack's unpredictable temper.
Jack drank his coffee silently, gathering his wits and his words about him. He didn't like the idea of disobeying the general's 'order,' but he wasn't leaving. "Sir, if it were any one of us out there, Daniel would be here trying to figure out the answer. Well, I don't have any answers, but I can be here for him. Even if that's all I can do for him."
Stubborn man, but he was right. Nothing stopped Daniel when he was determined to find someone he cared about.
"He can't lose Kasuf, too."
"Colonel?"
Jack poured another cup of coffee. He gave a wry grin when he realized that he was keeping the coffee maker as busy as Daniel usually did in moments like this. It was another way Jack could be there for him. Taking a sip, he realized that as strong as it was, the coffee wasn't going to be strong enough to keep him awake for much longer. The long tedious hours they'd been waiting for more news were wearing on him. "He just lost Sha'uri two months ago. The baby's disappeared. Skaara's still a host. Kasuf's like his own father. Angrboda hasn't exactly told us anything about Kasuf, and if Daniel loses him …"
"I know." Hammond stared down at the silent console's blinking lights. He didn't have to express verbally what he feared could happen. "I've been thinking about the identity of the woman taken with Doctor Jackson. Has he ever mentioned anyone close to the family?"
Close … close … Jack had seen first hand how well thought of Daniel and his family were. Kasuf had earned respect for himself as a young man, and his children were included in that high esteem. All his children, even his good son. They were well liked and had many friends if Daniel's goodbye to the Abydonians in the gate room that fateful day was any indication. "Sha'uri had a few close friends and relatives that Daniel knew pretty well. But it wouldn't matter who it was. She's an innocent person mixed up in all this. Daniel would have tried to protect her when the Jaffa came. He'll try to rescue her, too." The memory of a princess trying to throw herself off a cliff only to be stopped by Daniel flashed through Jack's mind. Yes, Daniel had done the right thing by trying to save a life, but the results … not for the first time did Jack think that maybe it would have been better if Daniel had let Shyla fall. Daniel's memories of the time he was addicted to the sarcophagus were scattered and confused, not quite whole. There were times when Daniel would have flashbacks of the sarcophagus, of what he said and did. He went through hell as a result of doing what his conscience dictated.
"Jack, he's safe. Somewhere." Hammond felt that if he said it enough times, he'd believe it. "He's recuperating or so Angrboda told Thor."
"Right. He's safe and recuperating," Jack agreed. "Then why are we all worried?"
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
CIMMERIA—FOREST PATH
Swaying.
Kasuf was swaying.
For a long while, that was all Kasuf was aware of—the gentle movement of rocking back and forth.
The pain was gone. The pain of the symbiote, the pain of the Hammer, the pain of Varos trying to take him with it as the Hammer did its work. All that was left was the echoing absence of unbearable torment.
But why was he swaying?
He forced his eyes open. He was being carried on a bier by two of the villagers who had pushed Varos through the Hammer. A third man was carrying the unfortunate man Varos had thrown against the wall over his shoulder. The fifth villager led the group along a wooded path.
His good son had been right. Cimmeria had been his deliverance. Yet were his children still prisoners?
He closed his eyes against the pain that was worse than any agony the demons could put him through and let the gentle swaying give him what comfort it could.
The swaying stopped momentarily, and Kasuf felt the bier being lowered to the ground. He felt a hand touch his forehead, and he opened his eyes to see one of the hunters looking down at him. "Rest for now," the hunter told him quietly. "We'll be at the village soon. We'll be able to help you more there."
~o~o~o~
Breakfast had been as delicious as supper the night before. Warm bread, juicy meats, fruits and a warm drink that could in no way replace coffee was a welcome repast. Quiet meals were as unheard of on Cimmeria as they were on Abydos. Daniel and Sha'uri indulged themselves in happy conversation as they ate and listened to the village begin welcoming the day.
Another simple pleasure to be enjoyed.
When the meal was nothing more than mere crumbs, the couple heard a tremendous commotion outside. A violent knocking on the door brought them both to their feet as Gairwyn ran inside, surprising them even more.
"The hunters are returning!" she cried happily. "They bring your father." Gairwyn was a very wise woman, wise enough to move out of the way as Daniel and Sha'uri ran past her.
Two hunters were assisting a third man who was having trouble walking. Two more hunters were carrying a reclining Kasuf between them.
Daniel reached Kasuf almost as soon as Sha'uri. The older man was dazed, mumbling incoherently, apologizing to anyone, no one about anything, nothing. And shivering. He was shivering, but not just because the weather was cooler than he was accustomed to. Daniel had a vague idea what Kasuf had suffered when he passed through the Hammer, but the pain he saw reflected in Kasuf's eyes was more than he could bear. The hosts suffered possession, deprivation, and torture—and still had to withstand the pain of the symbiote's death. Daniel vowed that he was going to talk to Thor about that … right after he talked with Loki.
"Father?" Sha'uri called to him but received no answer. Kasuf's gaze was unfocused, in pain. Sha'uri looked worriedly at Daniel. "Dan'yel? What can we do?"
Without speaking a word but with sympathetic smiles, the hunters transferred custody of their charge to the two visitors. Sha'uri and Daniel gently took Kasuf's arms, helped him to stand up and slowly led him back to the dwelling. "Let's get him inside. He's cold," Daniel said. Together, they took him in, sat him by the fire and wrapped him in a blanket. Gairwyn followed them in as she ordered more warming rocks to be brought and placed near his feet. Nothing seemed to stop the shivering.
"His coldness is also inside him," Gairwyn acknowledged. "The death of the Eton has left him empty inside. There is not much we can do for that. However, we will do what we can for his physical comfort. The hunters told me that they had to force the Eton through the Hammer. They wrapped Kasuf as warmly as they could before bringing him back, but his resistance is not strong enough now to withstand the cold weather."
The young girl who had prepared the dwelling the night before returned with a mug of warm, weak broth. Daniel let Kasuf lean against him as Sha'uri tilted the mug to Kasuf's lips. He drank reflexively, the warmth of the broth releasing the iron grip the cold had on him.
More seemed to bring him out of his stupor.
He blinked.
His eyes roamed around the room. His shivering lessened. He was more alert. Suddenly, Kasuf was with them. He reached up and cupped Sha'uri's cheek. "My daughter."
Sha'uri could not believe it. Her father knew her! "Yes, Father. It's me."
"You are yourself again," he said. How long had he waited to say that to her? Her sweet smile was answer enough. Kasuf turned his head toward Daniel. "My son? We are free?"
"Yes, Father. We're free. The Hammer destroyed the Goa'uld inside of you, Amaunet's dead and Apophis is with Loki."
"And Skaara?"
"I'm sorry, Good Father. Apophis sent him to bring the sarcophagus. Loki more or less told us that it would be against the rules to free him. He's not with us."
Kasuf's joy and grief couldn't be measured. He had two of his children back, one from the dead. There was hope.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
EARTH—SGC
Hammond had cajoled, convinced and threatened Jack into resting. The piece de resistance was when Hammond pushed his chair—his personal, private, comfortable, leather chair—from his office and pushed Jack into it. The colonel was asleep in a matter of minutes.
The general had also asked Doctor Fraiser to look in on Sam and Teal'c. The Jaffa had finally attained kel-no-reem, but Sam was sleeping sporadically and fitfully.
Thor needed to contact them soon.
"Sir," Sergeant Davis whispered. He didn't want to wake up Colonel O'Neill. Not yet, anyway. "Thor's contacting us."
The general quickly took the microphone. "Thor, this is General Hammond."
"General, Angrboda has transmitted a brief message. She and Loki are making the final dispensation of Apophis, and she could not afford the time for a full explanation. Once their present crisis is over, she will render a full disclosure of their actions."
"And Doctor Jackson?" Hammond asked quickly.
"All she would say is that he is well and will recover."
"Were you able to track her location?"
There was a pause. "They are in orbit around Netu. I am aware that Apophis is ruling Netu at the moment, and there is a history of incivility between him, Loki and Angrboda. I have no doubt that he will attempt some form of revenge before they depart Netu."
History of incivility? That had to be an understatement. "Thor, I don't know how aware you are of this fact, but there is a history of incivility between Apophis and Doctor Jackson. If he knows where Daniel is and is still wanting revenge—"
"Yes, General. I have been informed of their recent history. However, Angrboda has assured me all will be well with Doctor Jackson despite the recent events. I am traveling to Netu. I will continue investigating and contact you as soon as I ascertain Doctor Jackson's location." And the radio was silent.
Hammond glanced over at Jack whose eyes were wide open. They were both thinking the same thing.
Apophis had hurt Daniel.
There was no word about Kasuf and the Abydonian woman that had been taken.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
CIMMERIA
The midday meal was much quieter. Daniel and Sha'uri cared for Kasuf while Gairwyn tended to everything else. Kasuf had eaten a little, but he wasn't very responsive to conversation. That didn't stop his children from trying, though. Daniel talked, telling Kasuf about unimportant, ordinary things. Sha'uri told of all the things she wanted to do once they returned to Abydos, jokingly commenting on exactly who was mistress in her own house and how her aunt wasn't.
Kasuf finally just lay down, facing away from them. No amount of talk could elicit a response afterwards.
Gairwyn watched as the couple vainly attempted several times to get Kasuf to speak but were decidedly unsuccessful. Then, she had an idea. "Sha'uri, Daniel, the two of you have been inside too long. It's a beautiful day and the path leading down to the river is one that you might find enjoyable." She was subtly trying to get them to leave Kasuf for a while. Maybe it was a good idea, maybe not, but perhaps they'd have more luck reaching Kasuf if they tried a different approach. No one was expecting the elder to be recovered quickly, but just to know he wasn't internally separating himself from his children would be a great reassurance.
They didn't want to leave. Not yet. It was too soon for them to leave one alone, but Daniel reluctantly agreed. "Kasuf, Sha'uri and I will be outside if you need us. We won't be far."
"Dan'yel," Sha'uri protested.
"It's okay. I think he needs this for a little while."
Sha'uri kissed her father's forehead, then took Daniel's hand and left the small dwelling.
As they slowly walked toward the river, Daniel stopped suddenly, a look of absolute dread on his face.
"Dan'yel? What is wrong?"
"Jack. He doesn't know what's happened. He probably thinks I've been on Abydos arguing with the Council all this time. We were so busy yesterday and today, I haven't even thought about contacting him. He's going to be angry when he finds out what's been going on."
"O'Neill will be angry at the demons, my Dan'yel. Not at you."
Daniel wasn't looking forward to their first conversation. What was he going to say? Oh, hi, Jack. Sha'uri's alive, Amaunet's dead, and I had a little trouble with Apophis. How was your day?
It was all so confusing and complicated at times, simple and straightforward at others. Sha'uri was alive again, and Amaunet was dead. Kasuf taken as a host, and the symbiote killed by the Hammer. Apophis taking him as a host only to be removed and redeposited back into his former host. The poor scribe. As much as Daniel hated Apophis, he felt even more pity for the scribe. To be trapped by a monster like Apophis for thousands of years …
"When will you contact him?" Sha'uri asked.
"Later. Today. If Kasuf feels a little better. Jack will be on his best behavior if the two of you are there."
Sha'uri thought the idea was sound. Then again, "Gairwyn is the mistress of the village, and the Chappa'ai is in her keeping. It would be rude for us to presume to take a responsibility that she might consider hers. Perhaps Gairwyn should contact O'Neill."
That sounded even better.
~o~o~o~
The daytime warmth was in stark contrast to the preceding night's chill. Those who watched the weather foretold of warmer days coming. Gairwyn was grateful for that. Her guests seemed to enjoy the warmer temperatures.
Looking at Daniel and Sha'uri, watching them talk together, walk together, hold hands, Gairwyn still could not believe that three years and death itself had separated them. She also knew that they could make up for lost time when they were alone, so she would have to make sure that they were alone as much as possible. It wasn't much, but it was something she could do for them.
Now, she was determined to do something for Kasuf.
Gairwyn had already formed a favorable opinion of the Abydonian Elder from Daniel and Sha'uri's description of him. Seeing how much his children cared about him only increased her positive feelings for him. There was a great deal of love in that family, and just as appearances indicated, the members had not been able to share that with each other for a very long time. It showed.
Daniel and Sha'uri's new clothes were more suitable to the Cimmerian climate than their Eton garb had afforded them, but Kasuf was still dressed as the Eton. Gairwyn, holding a small bundle of clothes in her arms and gathering her courage, approached the dwelling. She hoped he'd talk to her. The only time Kasuf had spoken to her was a request to be left alone.
Well, Gairwyn didn't understand everything Kasuf had gone through, but she did understand pain. Time would help with the pain, but right now, maybe Gairwyn could help him in other ways.
She knocked on the door and waited. She didn't receive an answer. She hadn't expected one.
"Kasuf? It's Gairwyn. May I come in?"
Again, she was met with silence.
She pushed the door open. The fire burned in the hearth, the lamps still burned on the table, but the unmoving figure lying on the pallet exuded a darkness that no light could drive away.
She sat down on a chair next to the pallet. Still, Kasuf didn't move.
Preparing herself to carry on a conversation with someone's back, she said, "It's only been a few hours, but I was hoping you were awake. I've brought you some warmer clothes." Again, no answer. "I think my brother's clothes will fit. I know he wouldn't mind my giving them to you. I think the two of you would have been friends. You're a great deal like him." She glanced over at him, but Kasuf's eyes were still closed. She knew he wasn't asleep.
"He was the type of man who worried about his friends and family. He wouldn't wish on them the pain of seeing him suffer. When we were children, he fell out of a tree and broke his rib. I knew he was hurting, but he wouldn't let the pain show. Of course, I had to let him think that I didn't notice. That was difficult, but I did as he wished, just as your children are doing as you wish them to. But they are worried about you, which is why they are not far away." Did Kasuf's head move at that last sentence?
"I don't know what you have undergone. I will never be able to understand it, but your children can. They want to help you, but I think they could be happier for these first few days together if they knew you were healing. It would only take a few words from you, a little movement away from this bed, a fully eaten meal. This is their time to be together without worrying about the Etons, but it would be a happier time and an easier time for them with only an encouraging word from you."
Was this working? Was moving Kasuf's attention away from his own pain to his children's happiness going to rouse him from his depression at all?
Gairwyn placed the bundle of clothes at the foot of the pallet and then started to leave. Before she could take a step, Kasuf's voice, slightly raspy but no longer weak and tired, stopped her.
"The demon used me to betray my good son. I tricked him into coming to Abydos, and I couldn't stop them from resurrecting the demon Amaunet or stop Apophis from taking Dan'yer."
There was so much self-incrimination in his tone that it almost broke Gairwyn's heart.
"You did not betray your son or your daughter's memory. The Etons used you, but the Asgard Loki was also gaining his revenge. You, Daniel and Sha'uri were only pawns. Daniel is accepting no blame for Apophis' actions. Sha'uri is innocent of Amaunet's. They will not blame themselves nor will they blame you. You must not take another's crimes as your own."
Kasuf's eyes opened. Were those tears?
"I could not stop Varos," he said.
"Not alone, no." Gairwyn touched his shoulder and gently turned him toward her. "I have witnessed the strength of your family. Alone, each is strong, but together you have a bond that is unbreakable. Together, you defeated the Etons that held you prisoner, and together you will return to each other stronger than before."
Something she said seemed to rally Kasuf. He even sat up, albeit slowly. "We are strong together. We always have been, but we are not whole. My son, my grandson—"
"You must believe that they will be found. You must never give up hope."
"Hope is a very fragile thing," Kasuf muttered to himself.
"But it is all we have," Gairwyn agreed quietly. "And right now, there are two young people out there hoping that you're well or at least going to be."
Kasuf leaned his head back against the wall and sighed. "I will try for their sake if only to give them a few moment's peace."
Yes! Success! Gairwyn did reach him. Maybe it was too soon to expect a total healing, but it was a first step in that direction.
"Or give them time to produce a grandchild." Was that almost a smile on Kasuf's face?
Gairwyn almost laughed. "Kasuf, are you being rather manipulative?"
That was a smile on his face. It was a weak one, but it was a smile. "The one thing both of them wanted is a family. The demons interfered with that. I will not be another reason that prevents them from getting what they want."
"You love your children very much."
Kasuf's eyes seemed to become more alert. "They are my life. My son, Skaara, he is the rebellious one. Always exploring, always questioning, never still. He was a leader among the other children when he was a boy. I had always hoped that he would one day help lead our people. I could not have asked for a better son to be born to me."
"Sha'uri is even more independent than Skaara. Her bravery helped free our people from Ra. She led the rebellion that won us our freedom. In many respects, she is very much like her mother. Strong, beautiful, willful. I knew it would take a special man to win her heart."
"Daniel?" Gairwyn didn't really ask since she already knew the answer, but she couldn't let an opportunity to keep Kasuf talking escape. He seemed to be more alert.
"Yes. Dan'yer. He is the oldest son that was not born to me, but he is mine. My father once said that Dan'yer was Earth-born but had an Abydonian soul. The Chappa'ai was what brought his soul back to us. His life was merged with ours, and three years separation has not changed that. He always put our people before himself. I could not be prouder of him even if he were born of my blood."
Gairwyn could only agree. "I have always been impressed with him. He is not a soldier, yet he fights as one. He would risk much to save a stranger."
"He has. One of Ra's soldiers killed him when he stopped the Jaffa from killing O'Neill. Ra resurrected him in his sarcophagus."
"He is a very brave man."
"Yes," Kasuf said. "Very brave. And some would say very foolish."
"Who would say that? Surrendering your own life for another is a great sacrifice that few would make."
Kasuf smiled. "At that time, O'Neill and Dan'yer did not like each other. It is a long story indeed."
Long story? That would keep Kasuf talking. "I'd like to hear it if you would tell me."
And Kasuf began the full story of Daniel and O'Neill's first trip through the Chappa'ai. To Abydos.