Jackson kept checking the time. It was nearly seven o'clock, so his friends were probably already at O'Malley's waiting for him. He had kept stopping to enjoy the view on his way down, so time had gotten away from him. His last stop had been a few miles off the main road. He particularly enjoyed this spot. It had a great view and not too many people knew of it, so it was always quiet and a great place to stop. Now he was on his way back to the main road, and then it was only about twenty minutes to O'Malley's. Suddenly there was a loud pop and Jackson had a hard time controlling the car. "Argh crap!" The left front tire hit a rock and before there was time to react, the car flew over the embankment and down a small hill. "Argh crap!" was the last words from Jackson before it all went black.
"Where the hell is he?" O'Neill said as he looked questioningly at his friends. Each had tried calling Jackson, but all with the same results, voicemail. "It is so like him to be late. Any of you try calling the mountain yet? Maybe he went back to work," O'Neill questioned again. All of them just shook their heads, neither of them knowing what to make of Jackson not showing up. "He did mention that he might not be able to join us this weekend. Any of you know anything about that?" O'Neill said. Again, they all just shook their heads. They decided not to wait any longer and they ordered their meals. Still they were all worried about their friend. It was not like Jackson to just go away and not let them know that he would be gone. Usually, he would at least call back when he checked his voicemail. They ate their meals in quiet worry, and attempted to plan for the weekend. The evening ended and they all headed for their respective home. Carter giving Teal'c a ride to the mountain and asked him to check to see if Jackson had checked in, and to give her a call at home if he found out anything. Anything at all about their missing friend.
Swenson arrived at the home she shared with Jackson, and seeing that his car was not in the driveway, she got even more worried. The three members of SG-1 that she had had dinner with had seemed genuinely worried, and since they knew the doctor the best, the worry had rubbed off on her. When she made her way inside she decided to give his cell phone yet another try. Still nothing but the dreaded voicemail. She decided to call Carter to find out if maybe she had some news. She would rather call her, than call the mountain, as most people there would probably find it strange if she inquired about Jackson's whereabouts. Unfortunately, Carter had no news about Jackson. She had just gotten of the phone with Teal'c who had informed her that Jackson had not checked into the SGC since he had left around noon. Swenson got off the phone after promising Carter that she would call her when and if Jackson should show up at home. She did not feel like going to her room, so she decided to lie down on the couch and wait for her new friend to arrive home. She pulled the blanket up close to her chin and soon she drifted into a restless sleep. The nightmare was back, and she dreamt about her long dead husband. Except this time, it was different. The circumstances were the same, but the face of the young man in the coffin was not that of her late husband, instead it was Jackson's face she saw. She woke up with a startled scream, and tears flowing down her cheeks. She was not quite aware of where she was, and then she heard the phone. Moreover, it all became clear to her. She was on the couch in Jackson's living room, and Jackson was missing. She scrambled to get to the phone, hoping it was he who was calling home. "Hello?" she said as she picked up the receiver. "Heard anything yet?" she heard a worried voice ask. "O'Neill? No, I haven't. He didn't check into the SGC after leaving at noon, so he is not there. I am worried, has he ever done this before?" she asked. "Not unless he was in trouble," was O'Neill's short reply. "I let you get back to sleep. Let me know if you hear anything," he said as he hung up the phone. "Not unless he was in trouble?" she thought. "That doesn't sound good. Now I am really worried. I don't need this now." She kept thinking as she took the cordless phone and her cell phone and settled back down on the couch.
She woke up early the next morning as the sun peeked though the open shades. She immediately got to her legs and went to Jackson's bedroom to see if he had made it home. The room was empty, the bed was still made, and there was no sign that he had been there. She felt so helpless and frustrated. The phone rang as she was walking back towards the kitchen. She bolted to get the phone from the coffee table. With her heart pounding, she listened as O'Neill told that he had still not heard from Jackson. He told her that he would come to the house and spend the time with her there while they awaited news on their friend. He had already spoken with Carter and Teal'c and they would be waiting at the mountain. He had also spoken with General Hammond, and they have started to organize a search. However, since no one knew where to start looking, they would start by calling local hospitals, and then go from there.
When she hung up the phone, she was more frightened than worried. What frightened her the most was that SG-1 and the general was worried enough to start a search.
She decided that there was nothing she could do right now, so she went to take a shower.
Thirty minutes later O'Neill was knocking on the door, and when she opened it for him, she could tell that he had not had much sleep and that he was very worried. As he walked past her, he suddenly reached out and drew her into a tight hug. She was caught by surprise but after only a few seconds, she gave in and hugged the colonel back. They embraced each other for a couple of minutes, trying to find a little comfort in each other's arms. "Nice way for you to start your first week here with Jackson, huh?" O'Neill said as he let his arms fall to his sides. "No, not exactly what I had planned," she replied with a small smile. Together they walked to the kitchen to get some coffee started. Neither of them felt like eating, so when the coffee was done, they took their mugs to the living room and sat down to wait. Neither felt much like talking either. They were just taking comfort from each other, knowing that the best people were out there looking everywhere possible to find their friend.
At the SGC, all available personnel were hustling about, making phone calls, setting up a search, and trying to make themselves useful in the search for their favorite archaeologist. They were asking everyone who had ever been or were currently close with Jackson to find out if he had ever mentioned needing to go out of town or if there were any favorite locations, where they could start their search. They all came up empty handed. The phone calls to the hospitals and the local PD had all been useless. There had been no sign of Jackson since noon the previous day. The police did not want to get involved, as Jackson had not yet been missing long enough, so they could not file a missing person report. Despite the hustle and bustle, throughout the SGC, there was an eerie silence. Everyone, from the general down to the cooks in the commissary, was worried. They all had the memories of loosing their Dr. Jackson more than once, and no one willingly wanted to go through that again. This time it even seemed more serious to them all, as they wondered what could have happened. Previously, when he had died or gone missing, they all, more or less, knew what had happened. However, this time it was different. He had left the SGC, and no one had seen him since. Not knowing more grueling than knowing.
It was close to eight o'clock in the morning and O'Neill made yet another call to the SGC. He was starting to get frustrated, about not being able to do more. To help more with the search. As it was now he felt helpless, and all he could do was sit at Jackson's house and wait. He and Swenson had tried to carry on a conversation, but had soon found that it was impossible to even think of anything except hoping for the safe return of Jackson. As he got through to the SGC, he asked to speak with the general. He was put on hold, and as he waited, he grew more nervous. He was wondering why he was not put straight through. Something about it just didn't feel right.
"O'Neill. We may have something," was all the general said as he got on the line. "Sir? Did Daniel show up?" O'Neill asked full of hope. "I just got a call from Memorial; it seems that our boy is there. He is unconscious, but they found his Cheyenne Mountain ID and called here. They don't know what happened to him, he was found wandering down a road. In the ambulance en route to the hospital, he slipped into unconsciousness. You are closer to the hospital, could you run over there, and I will send backup ASAP." O'Neill listened with great relief as the general spoke and agreed to head to the hospital as quickly as he could get there. As he received the last instructions, he moved to put on his jacket and motioned to Swenson to get ready to leave.
O'Neill ushered Swenson to his truck as he explained the news to her. Although Jackson was unconscious, it was still good news. He was alive and they knew where he was.