AN: So I'm thinking I'm actually truly done this story. I'm a little unsure about this final chapter, since all the conversation comes directly from the episode. But I'm hoping seeing these scenes from Daniel's point of view will prove interesting. I hope you enjoy!

May thanks to The Cleric 007 for editing so quickly!

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from Stargate SG-1

Coming Back to the Light

"Well try!"

Jack's voice pierced the blackness and was the first thing Daniel heard as he weakly gasped for air. The pain rushed back in to fill the void, hollowing him out, making ever edge razor sharp. He couldn't move for fear of plummeting over the edge or tearing himself opened.

Confusion rode the edge of the whirlpool but he didn't care enough to try and understand what had happened too him. All he could remember was being without pain; it had happened, he didn't know how but the memory of it remained. And that moment of relief, no matter how brief, made living with it again a renewed hell.

Slowly his body shifted, rolling onto his side pulling knees tightly against his chest. It did nothing to ease the pain.

Daniel felt eyes watching him, the sensation penetrating the darkness. He scrambled on shaking limbs, trying to put distance between himself and this stranger. Blue eyes reluctantly opened to look around his surroundings; vaguely he recognized the temple he was sitting in. He had no memory of coming back to the planet but couldn't bring himself to wonder why it had happened.

Daniel saw a boy standing at the far end of the room where a strange light glowed. His face became familiar as the seconds ticked past. Loren, his name floated to the surface of Daniel's addled brain. The boy offered him a tentative smile, taking a careful step towards him.

The archeologist backed away, one hand raised to ward him off. He fell heavily onto the stairs that led up to the Stargate and quickly pulled in on himself. Daniel tucked his head into his arms and just tried to forget, to push it all away.

"Daniel Jackson," he heard his name spoken by a friendly voice.

"Yep," Jack said and Daniel felt him sit heavily beside him. "Had to bring him back." Daniel didn't bother to raise his head. "It was the only thing that was gonna keep him alive."

-Why didn't you just let me go?-­ he thought darkly; at least in death there was no pain.

"Sir, how long were you gone?" Sam asked.

Jack's shoulder brushed lightly against Daniel's and he was surprised to find he didn't want to pull away from the contact. "Few hours," Jack said easily. "Hammond tried to contact you."

"He did not," Teal'c intoned calmly.

It was Loren who spoke up then. "He did. I heard his voice."

"Where were we?" Carter asked, sounding very confused.

Daniel remained as he was, hunched and closed in but he listened, surprised to find the sound of his friends' voices was actually easing the pain. It was so very slow; he was afraid at first it was only his imagination, some wild hope that would soon be dashed yet again.

"In there," Loren said vaguely.

Sam let out a frustrated breath. "I can't explain it, Sir."

"Fraiser thinks we're all addicted to something here that alters our brain chemistry," Jack explained and Daniel found himself listening intently. "And dollars to doughnuts it's that damn light."

Daniel remembered the light, he'd lost hold of the it and all he'd been left with was darkness. He shivered at the memory, more than a little surprised to find the darkness was actually fading.

"Oh I don't see how that's possible," Sam replied.

"Hey," the Colonel said sharply. "You knew, didn't you?"

"No," Loren denied immediately.

"That's why you're not allowed in there," Jack continued undeterred.

Loren's voice sounded incredibly small. "My father said I was too young."

"Uh-uh," Jack could do unconvinced better than anyone.

"Sir, if it's the light itself then how did Daniel recover just by arriving on the planet?" Sam asked, her tone confused.

"I don't know Major," the Colonel said roughly. "But I want you to find out. Otherwise we're stuck here indefinitely and that's just not acceptable."

Daniel wasn't so sure how he felt about it; as the pain continued to ease he couldn't picture leaving again. If that's what caused this nightmare in the first place, Daniel wasn't eager to experience it again.

"Ahh screw it!" Jack said suddenly, getting back to his feet. "We're shutting that thing off."

"No," Loren's voice was panicked.

Jack's voice was firm. "You stay here."

"What are we looking for, Sir?" Sam's voice grew distant as she followed Jack from the room.

Alone once more, Daniel breathed deeply, feeling more like himself than he had in what felt like a very long time. The darkness continued to fade inch by inch, filling him with an almost euphoric sensation as his brain kicked back into gear. His memories were fuzzy at best; vaguely Daniel remember shouting at the General though he wasn't entirely sure why.

Finally raising his head, Daniel glanced around the temple. His vision was still blurred but, he realized quickly, he didn't have his glasses. Rubbing both hands down his face, Daniel tried to put it all together, to figure out what he needed to do first. Blue eyes flickered to Loren who was dividing his attention between Daniel and the room with the light.

He pulled his eyes away from the flickering glow, not willing to chance being pulled in even from this distance. They needed supplies. Getting to his feet, Daniel strode over to the DHD and quickly punched in the address for Earth.

Thanks for Reading!

Morganeth Taren'drel