Here's the new chapter. Hope you like it.

:K

Chapter 2

He had transformed into pure energy but he still could see his body exactly the way it was.

"It's strange at first, but you'll get used soon." Daniel looked up from his hands and saw Sasha. "Starting a new path is always difficult, like learning to walk again, you have to do it slowly and calmly."

"You said I could do more in this way, but I don't know how." He felt confused, and began regretting the decision he had made. But the other option was death, so in the end he had to accept that at least he was still alive, in an unconventional way. "If I have to learn everything again, how am I going to help my friends? How will I get to be more than what I am?"

They started strolling and suddenly a path flooded with fresh and green grass laid under their feet, flowers and fruit trees everywhere, birds singing and small animals wandering around.

"Where are we? Where did this place come from?" Daniel was fascinated. "I thought a nice and familiar sight would make you feel better." And then he remembered that the place was very similar to a park he used to go when he was a child. "Have you read my mind?"

"Yes, and you can do the same with me. Among those who are like us there are no secrets, we do not feel the need to hide what we think. No one judges us and sharing thoughts is the most natural thing that exits. For example, I know your parents died when you were a little boy; they were in a museum, am I correct? And an accident happened."

The young man looked astonished, because she spoke as if she had been there watching the scene that little Daniel Jackson witnessed. "I do not intend to make you feel bad, I just wanted to show you the powers that you might eventually develop if you are willing to learn."

"I want to learn, but I don't know if I like the idea of you knowing what I'm thinking all the time." He chuckled at the thought of how beautiful she was. "Do not be ashamed, Daniel, I am flattered by that thought. It's been a long time since I had encountered a very active and interesting mind like yours. It's fascinating, and a breath of fresh air."

He continued blushing, but shook his head and looked into her eyes. "You said you know what others think," she nodded. "So I'm sure there are more interesting minds than mine, full of wisdom and…"

"Do you think I want more wisdom?" She interrupted him laughing. "I already have more than enough, and if I want more I don't have to listen it in others minds, I can learn for myself."

"I didn't mean to offend you…"

"You haven't." They stopped and sat on a large flat rock, much like the one that had always been at the park, and where little Daniel sat alone reading. "You are a good man, and I know you are unable to do or say anything that might offend me."

"Sometimes I don't even realize." He confessed in a whisper. "Well, you can read my mind, what else? I guess there are many things you can do, like this," he said pointing to the beautiful landscape that extended before them. "How have you done?"

"I've taken the image from your mind and I have wished to create it." The surprise on his face made her laugh. "It's just an illusion, Daniel, but sometimes it is easy to feel like at home when everything around you is familiar. Tell me, would you feel relaxed trapped between four walls? Or in a white empty room?"

"No."

"Try it now."

"I don't know how." Everything was so new and strange that he was barely able to concentrate. "Yes, you can. Just close your eyes, think of something that makes you happy, and want it to be true. It's like asking a wish." Daniel did, closed his eyes and a picture formed in his mind. "Let the happy memories of that moment spread around your body, fill you with joy and love." She whispered softly, until Daniel finally opened his eyes.

"It has worked." He muttered surprised, because he didn't expect it to turn right.

"Where are we?" Sasha asked, although she already knew because she had read it in his mind.

"It's an excavation in Egypt; my parents brought me here for the first time when I was four. I was very excited, and my mother taught me to interpret hieroglyphics to understand the story that narrated." Bending down he grabbed a handful of sand in his hand and let out slowly. "It was so hot that the sweat from my forehead smeared my glasses, but I didn't care, I just wanted to learn and enjoy with my parents. I think it was here where I realized I wished to be an archaeologist. You know, explore ancient temples, discover stories no one else has read before and find treasures that have remained hidden for centuries."

"Treasures? Maybe you wanted to be a pirate." Daniel smiled, but shook his head. "No, for me to discover a treasure would be like to be Indiana Jones, but I'd send it to a museum so that everyone could see it. It has never interested me to find something valuable just to sell and get a benefit, no, mine is history and to share it with the rest of humanity."

"That is what I chose you." Sasha spoke though her eyes stared straight ahead as the breeze ruffled her hair. "There's no evil or selfish in your heart, and that is something unfortunately typical in your species. Humans are corrupted easily, you don't know how easy it is."

"Yeah, I know. Hey, do you think you could teach me to read your mind?" Sasha smiled at him and took his hands. "I don't need to, you only have to wish and it will happen. Close your eyes and free your mind of doubts and worries, and the rest will succeed naturally."

"Okay…"

For the first moments nothing happened; absolutely nothing, and Daniel was beginning to think it wouldn't be as simple as Sasha had told him. He'd get it with a little practice, but for now…

"Your mind is too busy to concentrate, Dr. Jackson." The young man waited for a reprimand but her voice was so sweet that it sounded more like a joke. "But don't worry, it will work, and very soon it will be much easier."

Sasha started walking towards the dunes without her feet sinking into the sand, and Daniel ran after her. "Hey, where are we going?"

"It's getting late and night desert air is too cold for me. Come, let us go to a place…warmer."

The sun was shining when they started walking and it was already dark when they went inside the pyramid. It had been hours but Daniel did not feel tired; in fact, he could have walked for days without experiencing any fatigue.

"I recognize this place."

"Of course." Sasha's words got him back to reality. "This is where everything began, isn't it?"

"This is Abydos." Daniel would recognize the place with a simple look. "Why are we here? What are we going to do here?"

Sasha sat down on one of the makeshift stone benches and watched all around her. "Like I said, there are many things you have to learn again, and coming back to a place so familiar and loved to you is part of the process. This was the first planet you came to after getting through the Stargate, and you found a powerful enemy in it, but also something very valuable."

"Sha're…" the young doctor murmured remembering his deceased wife. "Is this some kind of test?" He replied annoyed. "What am I doing here? Did you drag me to Abydos to torture me with the past?"

"Daniel, I told you I would never hurt you, but you must understand that every path has a beginning and an end; this is your beginning, and you need to learn from your past how to live the present and perhaps change the future. Now tell me, have you ever wished to come back here? I am positive there are many happy memories that will always accompany you, and Sha're is one of them."

Daniel wanted to yell and show he was furious, but after thinking about what Sasha said he knew she was right. Of course he had thought going back, many times, and he even was about to abandon the Stargate Command when Sha're died, because he just joined the team to release her of the demon that had her prisoner. In Abydos he lived experiences that he would never be able to forget, and found the love of his life, although future had reserved unpleasant surprises for him that would turn his existence into a nightmare.

"Sha're was a gift for me, and I didn't want to accept because I found it demeaning. As if she were a slave and… But everything changed so fast that I accepted her into my heart in just a few days. She was so special…she looked at me like no one has before, and her love for me was pure and sincere. Sha're was an exceptional and innocent being, incapable of causing harm, and I guess that's why she was chosen. Amonet's other hosts…were not good enough, and the Goa'uld did not accept any."

"But it accepted Sha're."

Daniel nodded. "Unfortunately yes." He slumped on the warm floor with his back against the stone wall. "Her father accepted what happened, and told me that I should do the same, but I could not. I loved her too much, and I swore to him that I'd release her of the monster that was inside her, and I guess I eventually did, but I didn't expect to lose her in the process."

"The feeling of loss is one of the most powerful emotions, Daniel; it can make you collapse or get you to go on, but it is a personal decision. Now you've accepted what happened to Sha're, and you continued with your life although you know you'll never forget her."

"I'll never forget her."

"Tell me how was your life with the inhabitants of this planet. I am convinced that it wasn't easy to adapt, leave your life in Earth behind, and give up everything you know. Your friends, your job, your family…"

"What family? My parents died and my grandfather didn't want to know anything about me. I left no family behind when I went through the Stargate." Sasha remained completely silent. "But yes, I missed a lot of things, and when Jack appeared on the planet I knew something wouldn't be right. He swore he wouldn't tell anyone that I decided to stay at Abydos, but the Goa'uld crossed the gate and took one of ours and killed the rest. Then I knew I couldn't be selfish and I didn't refuse to help them, not after everything they did for me."

"See, Daniel? Good and bad things took place here, and you have been able to accept them and continue living. As you are doing now. I know it wasn't easy to say goodbye to your friend and ask him not to do everything to save you. I saw how sad they were when they realized you wouldn't return with them, that there would be no more adventures and new planets to explore."

"You're depressing me." He joked.

"I am sorry, it was not my intention."

"But you have helped me to understand, and that's something I've been denying myself for a very a long time."

SG-1

Sam stood silently and watching the objects and artifacts that flooded Daniel's lab, while in her hands clutched his notebook and his round crystal glasses. It had only been a day since the "death" of his friend, and she could barely hold back the tears.

"Major Carter." General Hammond's voice startled her, but she didn't try to hide her pain. "Sir."

"The soldiers are thinking of conducting a funeral for Dr. Jackson's death." He said afflicted.

"With all due respect, sir, we don't know if he's dead. In fact, we know nothing at all. Daniel might be here right now, with us, but we can't see him. I have no knowledge about ascension, and I'm not sure what that actually means, so I prefer to think he keeps watching over us, but doing it in another way."

"You don't have to go if you don't want to, but some people will feel better doing this." Sam nodded and Hammond left.

SG-1

"She's so sad. I can't believe… She's tough, she doesn't surrender to adversity, and seeing her like this…it breaks my heart." Daniel wanted to touch her friend's shoulder but Sasha warned him that it wasn't a good idea. "I know that interact is banned, I haven't forgotten the rules, but it's so difficult."

"Your friends will learn to remember you and move on. They will find ways to remind you, you'll see that."

Daniel looked at Samantha touching his things, closing her eyes and remembering the good times she had spent with her friend. They were not always agree, but they respected each other and became good friends.

"I guess comforting her doesn't fix in the rules of helping them, right?" Sasha replied with a mere nod. "Of course. You always have to renounce to something important if you want to do something even more important. But friends are like family to me, and seeing them suffer in this way is incredibly painful." He stood in front of her, looking at her beautiful blue eyes flooded with tears. "I'm not…I wasn't a very normal person; in fact, I felt uncomfortable in social environments, but with Sam, Jack and Teal'c was never like that. I could do or say anything, no matter what they thought because I knew they'd never look at me like I was a freak. But now…not even that can help me feel better."

"Daniel, at least you can still be with them, stay at their side if you wish. Do you know how many people would give their life to get that?" He shrugged without opening his mouth. "The rules are not fair, I know, but if we interfere with humans then we'd be taking away their ability to decide for themselves; it would come a time when they wouldn't give a step without waiting for a signal from us, and then the human race as you know would end up disappearing into oblivion. Is that what you want to happen? Your friends would change so much that you couldn't recognize them; they'd become puppets moved by invisible threads, children hand guided every step of the way. There is a time for everything, Daniel, and sooner or later the child loose the hand that guides him to continue and face the fate that awaits him."

Daniel sighed heavily, but remained silent. "Come with me, it is time to go."