A Will to Survive
Chapter 5
It was as if all time had stopped as they all held their breath. Just watching the computer for an IDC was agonizing. Jack hadn't moved from his spot in the two minutes he had been standing there. Behind him Teal'c and Sam were stone still while Hammond held his ground beside him. The four of them watched and waited, hearts fluttering in nervous chests. For Jack it was quickly becoming the hardest moment in his life, as if waiting for life and death literally.
Come on, come on, he thought over and over.
Sam had her eyes closed as if fearing what may flash across the screen while Teal'c remained expressionless. The iris closed it all depended on that little set of numbers that separated friend from foe. But was it Daniel or someone else, or possibly an ally to give them good news. Nothing could be made certain until whoever or whatever on the other side finally completed the task of making themselves known. So they waited as patiently as they could while inside all five souls in the control room were on edge.
Suddenly Walter started his eyes instantly on the screen. Like in slow motion the numbers came one by one across the screen giving the technician just enough time to make sense of them. It all depended on the identification though, whether it was a true SG-1 code. Now Jack was shifting from one leg to another whether from his nerves that he kept so well hidden or the pain that continued to plague his knee. If it truly was pain than Hammond and his team had been feeling it too because they suddenly had an uncanny ability of mirroring the colonel's every move. Recognition lit up on Walter's face before he sighed, his whole body sagging as he dropped his eyes.
"IDC?" Hammond asked pensively.
"SG-15's IDC sir," Walter announced in a voice that betrayed his sadness.
"Open the iris," Hammond ordered in a soft voice.
The rug had been pulled out from under them. SG-15, not Daniel, their fears now being answered. For Jack it was like a bullet to the heart as the iris opened, watching those four members of the wrong team come through that wormhole. For them all it had been the final straw between holding it together and breaking down. It could be seen in Hammond's demeanor, as the former strong general seemed to have lost all his reserved energy. Shoulders dropping he gave one final glance to the occupants in the control room before walking back to his office.
No one said anything instead remaining silent as the reality finally hit. Daniel was lost and possibly never coming back. Now those words MIA made sense to them all. The klaxon had fooled them into thinking of a miracle just like another time before. For the SGC with SG-15's return it had become a normal day and while Daniel Jackson would be remembered they had to go on. For Sam her world had stopped with that one false alarm. Exchanging a glance with Jack and Teal'c she had to turn her head as her eyes glistened. Lowering her head she took the same route as Hammond and walked from the control room in the direction of the briefing room.
Jack and Teal'c were left alone to their thoughts, the Jaffa choosing to remain silent as Jack's breathing was the only thing heard. Jack knew Teal'c shared his same thoughts, still reeling from the reality of leaving a man behind. Just seeing that pain on Sam's face made it all that real, made it something he wished he could run from. But he couldn't run, he Colonel Jack O'Neill had to live up to his failure and remember where he went wrong. As he thought about this recent false alarm and lost hope Jack noticed Teal'c had left. Glancing up the stairs he knew exactly where his two teammates had gone, to the comfort of silence and solitude. So ignoring the pains in his body and soul he elected to join them, limping up the stairs to the briefing room. While any other time he would prefer to wallow in his self-pity it was time to be with his team to share in a grief.
It had failed, he had failed. It was no use there was no way he was going home. Sighing Daniel watched with dismay as the DHD powered down, no wormhole in sight, hot tears prickling his eyes. Unable to bear his weight any longer Daniel's legs, well leg, buckled. Complete utter exhaustion finally engulfed him as he slid down the DHD to the hot ground. It was official he was giving up. He was trapped here in the endless heat to wait to die.
Memories of a past mission, a suicide mission set up in attempt to end Apophis, that ended a lot better than any of them had planned came to mind. But this wasn't the case; there was no way off this planet in the middle of nowhere. Glancing up at the scorching sun Daniel could just make out the shadows the vultures had begun to make. Circling for the kill they waited for him to wither and die. After all these missions and near death scenarios it had come to this, a moon in the middle of nowhere with only a malfunctioning Stargate and birds.
Sitting back his head cracked lightly against the stone, as the strength seemed to rush from his body. All adrenaline of the past day was gone leaving him spent as he sat there. His little fall to the ground had reawakened the pains in his body beginning with his knee. Looking to what remained of his gear that laid beside him Daniel came to a decision. Dragging over his pack he dug through it until he came to the first aid kit. Opening up the small canvas bag his prior resolve at the use of narcotics was gone as he pulled out his last remaining morphine injector.
Uncapping both ends Daniel took a deep breath before setting it to his thigh. This was the final straw, the last moment of truth of any chance to return. Sighing he pushed down engaging the injector, wincing as the needle entered the muscle. Tossing the spent injector on the ground he lost the will to care. As he waited for the euphoria that would come Daniel made one last lucid decision. So unclipping his canteen Daniel set about to down the final remains of the water. Sitting like a broken puppet with his strings cut he wanted to cry, to get down on his knees and beg for mercy. A swift death not drawn out by the impending dehydration and heat stroke. Maybe he would do it himself with what little remained in his clip. No, he wouldn't go there even how low he had fallen.
Taking out one of his last power bars he nibbled on the chocolate as he sipped the water. It wasn't until about fifteen, for what he could guess, minutes later when the sudden euphoria hit. Spinning the narcotic hit twice as hard as the past two times summing up how dehydrated he must have been. It was almost like lights flashed before his vision creating a flashback worthy of the sixties, every pain and worry slowly dissolving away. Now he felt good, good enough to sit here and wait for what the Powers That Be had planned next.
It was official, according to Washington Daniel was now declared dead. Word had come after some so-called expert in Wormhole physics explained Sam's possible theory of lost matter in an Event Horizon to someone at the top. That person receiving the message none other than Senator Kinsey who took no time at all relaying it to all those in charge. Together they sat seething since Hammond had shared the news, first in the briefing room and now in Sam's lab. It wasn't that they were angry with Hammond; no they were quite happy with him after seeing the pure hatred on the general's face at the mention of Kinsey. Now the General was officially locked in his office having spent this time alone planning a memorial service. At least they weren't going to be cleaning any apartments any time soon because all four of them still refused to believe what Washington had been so quick to call.
"I don't believe it sir," Sam choked out changing some of her previous phrase said a day ago as she theorized Daniel's disappearance.
"You think I do?" Jack shot back his tone defensive.
"O'Neill," Teal'c warned sensing his agitation.
"Sorry Carter, I'm just….," he didn't really have to finish the statement they all knew.
"I still believe that Daniel Jackson would remain on living even without the proper resources," Teal'c said.
"There's still a good chance," Sam amended.
There was always chance, a very small chance that their friend had survived but it was still a chance. So what remained of SG-1 would be damned if they let any big wigs up in Washington who never took the time to understand declare him dead. Thankfully Hammond had the same idea because right after that near optimism with the Gate he called upon the Tok'ra and reinforced his order to find Daniel. Jacob had made it very clear that they would search until something came up, come hell or high water he would find Daniel.
"I will be in my quarters," Teal'c broke through the silence.
"I gotta go," Jack added before getting up painfully and limping out of Sam's lab.
After Jack left abruptly Teal'c followed but not before lowering his head towards Sam in his usual greeting. Jack was a mystery but she knew exactly where Teal'c was going, back to his quarters to sit quietly in kel'no'reem. She was left alone in her lab and to her thoughts, staring at that board she had set up with all the good possibilities. Walking back to the white board Sam continued to work the equations that seemed almost useless, eager to pull some miracle at the zero hour. It wasn't like Daniel hadn't done it before; he had pulled many miracles out of a hat with the rest of them. Maybe this was just one of those times, one moment declared dead while the other he was fooling them all by stepping through that Gate. But even with the odds against it Sam was willing to hold onto that hope.
Hope was something Daniel no longer possessed as he sat in the hot desert. Tossing back the few remaining sips of water Daniel was at the end of his rope. Head lolling side to side against the hard stone of the DHD Daniel stared up at the sun. He was wrought with pain and exhaustion, the sun sapping what little energy he had left. Then as quickly as it came it left, the exhaustion shifting into something different.
"That's it," Daniel's head snapped up as the thought came, hitting him like a train off the tracks. Energy, that's why it never worked. Thinking back to all those lectures Sam had drilled them with that he miraculously listened to. A wormhole needed a sufficient amount of energy to engage and sustain. That was the one thing the DHD lacked, the energy to engage the Stargate. It explained why the glyphs lit up and the Gate tried to spin. It had turned into the 'little Stargate that could' and Daniel had to make it work. Now it once again came down to his very weak engineering skills.
Slowly and carefully Daniel pushed up from the DHD trying to cause himself as little pain as possible. That adrenaline that had won over the morphine previously and had so quickly vanished recently had returned kicking in that innate fight or flight. Fighting his way back to hope Daniel ran over every variation of how to create this energy in his head. Over and over the ideas ran across his mind, thinking back to previous missions for a possible solution. The memory of Ernest's planet flashed in his mind, the idea fresh and promising. But he had no lightening rod nor lightening to create the energy out of thin air so another idea must be thought up and quickly. While the adrenaline was keeping him on his feet Daniel only had a short time before dehydration and agony won out bringing him right back where he started, waiting to die in the sun.
Energy didn't just create itself; it needed a catalyst, as Sam would say. But what could be the catalyst and ingredients from the nothing he possessed? That's when the thought came to him, the one idea that would even have Sam proud. The one thing that could provide enough energy to open the Gate, the same that had been taking his own energy little by little since being stranded on this planet: the sun. The only pitfall, how to harness the energy with what little supplies he had. That's when he remembered the one kit that had been his saving grace. A thermal blanket was standard in all SG first aid kits, being utilized for both hypothermia and to stave off shock. A thermal blanket that had a reflective side perfect for soaking up the sun's rays, like his very own homemade solar panel in a way.
The only problem he found was how to jury rig a set up that would work. Dragging the first aid kit to him Daniel yanked out the little square package that contained the thermal blanket and set it on the ground beside him. Pulling his combat knife from its sheath he used it to open the package, his burnt and cut hands almost useless now. Now all he needed was a wire to connect the panel to the main workings of the DHD to transmit the power to activate the Gate. That was the tricky part considering there was nothing that could be used or was there? Daniel leaned over a bit to peer inside of the DHD staring directly at the coils of wire that he had cut previously. The last item a soldering iron would have to be replaced with what was left of his cracked lenses. If there was a time for a record of the most MacGyvering on this little jaunt it was now. Actually this was becoming like learning Ancient all over again. Clicking his heels three times wasn't going to work this time.
With a flick of the wrist his knife was safely secured to the ground, the handle sticking up for easy access. Now Daniel could officially get to work, arranging the little supplies he had to make this work. Maneuvering himself on the ground it provided a clear entry into the DHD and with a few pulls on the wires Daniel loosened the cables that had previously locked up his way home. Freeing up one of the longer wires Daniel was able to create just enough slack in the sharp line to toss above the DHD. Dangling across the center crystal it was prepared to be hooked up.
Unfortunately hooking up his makeshift solar panel also meant he once again had to get to his feet, a task that seemed unreachable right now. A few breaths to gain his center Daniel grabbed onto the DHD for support to lever himself to his feet. His first attempt was less than successful as he fell back to the ground in an explosion of pain. The energy that he had possessed had finally slipped away leaving him exhausted but he had to prevail. And the only way to prevail was get to his feet so Daniel tried again. In one slow movement combined with agony Daniel levered himself to his feet leaning all of his weight on the DHD. His vision grayed once he was upright, exhaustion and pain overwhelming his senses. It took a moment but his vision finally cleared enough to continue on with the task.
Staring at the Gate with determination Daniel needed to make this work. The exhaustion clouding his mind he remembered what had been kept in his vest from before. Reaching into one of the pockets Daniel yanked out that little blister packet that held the final two caffeine tablets. Punching each into his hand Daniel tossed them in his mouth, chewing to hopefully achieve a rapid effect and wincing at the bitterness. Maybe they would work maybe not but at least Daniel would get the placebo effect of tricking his mind into thinking of the caffeine boost. It would take at least fifteen minutes to work giving him just enough time to set up before initiating his own zero hour rescue. But in that time he came up with a plan, a plan that may actually cause his death if carried out wrong. Considering his options Daniel knew three options could come of this. The first being his ultimate goal of returning to Earth while the other two offered up a little more scarier options. The second being ending up on another planet all together, one of which that may or may not include an SG team and a non-hostile environment. The third he didn't even want to think about, something that Sam had said in passing, being caught forever in the wormhole with no exit.
But he couldn't think about that now, the bad thoughts sucking every ounce of adrenaline in his system and leaving him spent. No, this had to work. He had to get home to his team because failure wasn't an option. Shaking out the thermal blanket Daniel strategically laid it across the DHD without covering the glyphs and center crystal. What extra covered the stone he cut as straight as possible with his knife, putting aside the scrap for use later if needed. Okay with thermal blanket laid out with silver side up and cord freed from its prison inside the DHD Daniel now had to think of a way to link the two to transmit the energy. He was no engineer so thinking of a way to make something out of nothing didn't come easy for him but if Jack could get out of some of the situations that he faced before so could he.
Finally he could feel the caffeine hit, creating just a little more energy in his system and speeding up his heart rate. Now the fight or flight was real, the stimulant boosting his body's natural response and heightening his senses. All rational thinking left his mind leaving Daniel with a more primitive, instinctual thought process. No longer did he rationalize and think through a solution, now he just did and hoped for the best. The horrible dryness of his parched throat, hungry stomach, and agonizing pain were the only motivators that kept him standing.
Cutting a slit in the blanket Daniel snaked the cord through it and situated it parallel on the silver reflective side. A thin metal, almost aluminum, film on the cord gave Daniel just the opening to be able to melt it to the surface of the thermal blanket, hopefully. Dismantling and utilizing small components from his useless GDO Daniel was able to build what could only be passed for a conductor to, if he calculated properly, conserve enough power to sustain an open wormhole. If his calculations paid off Daniel would pull off something that even Sam would be proud of.
With the makeshift rigging set up Daniel took out his 'weapon of choice'. Those cracked and damaged glasses that had come in handy in the past day during his captivity under the sun. Having taken them off before after his failed dialing sequence Daniel dug through the pocket he remembered putting them in satisfied when his hand hit the bent metal frames. Pulling out the damaged spectacles Daniel knew he had to make due with what he had. Multiple cracks in the right lens made any reflecting of light impossible but the left lens was somewhat intact save for a hairline crack on the side. If recollections of the past with glasses, the sun, and ants paid off Daniel could make this work. Besides the sun was just like the Egyptian sun he grew up with.
Positioning the lens over the wire, blanket, and GDO pieces Daniel had to maneuver the glasses just right for the refraction of light. He continued to tilt the glasses trying to find the sweet spot for the sun waiting for that little telltale smoke. He waited another minute until the little puff of white smoke began wafting off the wire. Daniel smiled at the success chuckling a little as his childhood trick paid off. A little bit longer and a little spark was seen, and low and behold a soldering iron was born. He could see the aluminum like substance of the cord and whatever metal that made up the GDO component begin to melt, acting like glue as it began adhering to the reflective surface of the thermal blanket. For an amateur he was a hell of a lot more innovative than he gave himself credit for.
For the first time since landing on this moon Daniel was thankful for the intense sun as it had done something nothing else could do, open a potential door home. Satisfied with the job he pulled the glasses away to admire his work. It was a messy job, nothing any engineer would be proud of but as an archeologist with no prior experience of creating things Daniel was happy with himself. He would have to tell Sam about it later comparing notes on what he considered an imperfect science and proving he had just the same skills as her physics degree or no physics degree.
Folding up the glasses and once again storing them in his vest pocket Daniel went to brush a hand over the new connections he created. Still hot from his makeshift soldering he winced, his fingers jerking back in response. The pain didn't matter anymore though as it had worked. MacGyver better watch out because Daniel Jackson was on a roll. Now for the interesting part waiting to see if his engineering had paid off. With the sun at its hottest peak it wouldn't take long, no more than ten minutes to build up enough power to establish a wormhole. His little jury-rigged conductor would hopefully hold the amount of energy needed to sustain that wormhole long enough for him to limp through it.
So as he waited for the solar panel to do its magic Daniel contemplated how he was actually going to cross the Gate without going splat on the other side. He had no working GDO, which meant he had no key to ensure that the iris would stay open. For all the SGC and Hammond knew he was a foreign intruder set to take over Earth. He had actually thought about dialing the Alpha Site or even another planet another SG team was stationed on but between the lapse of time and change of assignments Daniel had no guarantee that he would run into any colleagues on any other planet. So he had to make due with a very old fashioned idea of a GDO, one that would work if they were utilizing the Stargate system during the time it was first opened by Ernest Littlefield. Daniel pulled over his pack and took out the only thing he had left to save him, his very worn leather journal that came on every mission. Daniel opened the book to a bookmarked page and with a pen he found in his vest pocket began to write.
Jack sat on the bench in the locker room staring at the locker in front of him. For the second time since Daniel's disappearance Jack found himself in this very room contemplating his life. Why the locker room always become his place to escape and think over any other place at the base was lost on Jack but for some reason being here in the dead silence felt right. His locker door was open revealing those pictures he stared at before, during a time when more hope was held. But now these pictures seemed more like a memorial for the man he failed, or at least felt like he failed. A new picture had been tacked up right next to the one of his late son completing the little memorial he had set up.
Reaching into the top shelf Jack pulled the economy size bottle of Aspirin in his hands. Shaking out two tablets he swallowed them dry before replacing the bottle. The pain in his knee and back was nothing compared to that in his heart. He felt like his soul was bleeding for a man he considered a brother. Just another life lost, just another family member he let get too close only for him to fail. It was becoming a common problem for Jack that he had actually considered distancing himself from his team. But he knew Sam and Teal'c would have nothing about it eventually finding their way back to him whether he wanted it or not.
With a passing glance Jack looked at the locker beside his. One of which he doubted would be opened until Hammond ordered the mandatory cleanout. D. Jackson it read being the only thing truly left of the man besides his office. Jack actually knew the combination, Daniel having told him on numerous occasions when he was in the infirmary or otherwise busy but he did not dare open it. He knew the time would come when he had to do it but maybe he could keep putting it off. Tell Hammond that he had a prior commitment with Fraiser to avoid it. But he couldn't shoulder that burden onto Carter or Teal'c seeing that they were in the same state of grief as himself. Shutting the locker door Jack leaned back on the bench vaguely aware of the pains in his body as he continued to sit in silence.
The time had come for him to finally test his work. Hopefully his crazy idea would have a satisfactory result because if it didn't Daniel was prepared to lie down and die. Packing up his remaining supplies in his pack he was inclined to eat the final remaining power bar for just a little boost of energy. So unwrapping the foil wrapper he downed the chocolate bar in three bites groaning in enjoyment as it filled the void in his empty stomach. He was hungry, tired, dreadfully thirsty, and in a great deal of pain which meant only one thing: he was ready to go home.
With one final check that the repairs on the DHD were set including the connections of the wires to his jury-rigged solar panel Daniel was ready to try it out. His pack lying for easy access and the journal resting on the stone Daniel was satisfied that the actual Gate wasn't too far from the DHD because he doubted he could make it if it was. With a plea up to the heavens Daniel moved slowly and painfully into position. Pain shot through his battered body sucking his remaining adrenaline causing him to close his eyes and breathe. With one deep breath Daniel looked up with a new determination set on his face.
Moving his hand over the DHD it danced over the symbols. One after another he pushed them in order, his mind instantly recalling the familiar address. He held his breath not wanting to jinx himself but the glyphs lit up in time with his dialing. The road to home looked clearer than before, the Gate drawing from the energy of the sun. There's no place like home, there's no place like home…. It became a mantra in Daniel's head as he recalled the classic line. If only he could click his heels three times and poof. Five symbols down two to go and now Daniel really held his breath. The sixth came then the seventh then Daniel closed his eyes and waited for fate to answer.
The most beautiful sound followed, one that he forever took for granted no more. A loud whoosh and displacement of air caused Daniel to open his eyes to a sight that made him want to drop to his knees and thank the heavens. Sitting in front of him was a bright, blue shimmering wormhole that by all intensive purposes was currently stable. He did it! It worked! He was going home!
"It worked! It worked," Daniel couldn't help but shout out loud as his arms flew in the air.
Laughing a hearty and happy laugh Daniel loved the sight. Finally after two days of being stranded on a hellish moon of epic proportions he was going home. For all his lack of experience with fixing Stargate's and engineering something out of nothing Daniel did a good job. And as he noted before Sam would be proud. For an archeologist he made one hell of an astrophysicist and engineer so MacGyver eat your heart out for there was a new person in town. No more thinking about what was done, Daniel just wanted to be home already.
He was in the locker room still when it happened. Sitting on the bench sinking in self-pity and grief Jack was shaken from his revere as the klaxon sounded. Bouncing off the walls the sound had become an unwelcome one for the past two days. But Jack didn't distinguish between the grief it brought and possible happiness, he just took off towards the control room. Running as fast as he could with a bum knee Jack made it to the control room in record time. Sliding to a stop next to Hammond, who was already at his post behind Walter, Jack waited as the Gate began to spin.
"Unscheduled off-world activation! Incoming traveler!" Walter announced through the intercom.
"We don't know for sure Colonel," it was as if Hammond could read his mind as they waited.
"Then we wait," Jack ground out.
Footsteps could be heard from all directions behind him, some coming from up above while others rushed from below. Two sets came to Jack's ears and he had no question of whom they belonged to. After working with them for almost four years Jack could recognize his team even without turning around. Sam and Teal'c had bounded up the stairs to join him, coming to stand behind as they gazed out the window at the spinning Gate. Jack could feel Sam's apprehension as her nerves broadcasted loudly and could actually sense Teal'c unusually rattled calm. Maybe their miracle had come but the only thing they could do was wait.
Finally the seventh chevron locked and a splash extended out of the Gate. The splash evened out into that familiar puddle as the Event Horizon shimmered its beautiful hue of blue. Jack noticed that Hammond made no move to close the iris in an uncharacteristic show of trust. It could only mean that the general had expected the Tok'ra or even one of their other allies but given the lack of total power shut-down and failure of said iris the Asgard were high unlikely. So the Tok'ra it must be, Jacob Carter coming to share some news on their wayward friend. But until that IDC flashed across the screen or until Hammond finally became wary they waited for what was to come.
Looking at the shimmering wormhole it was a welcome sight. He had to make this quick because there was no telling how long the Gate would stay open. For good measure Daniel pulled on the bandana's that practically held his knee together, tightening the straps on his homemade splint. It wouldn't do much good seeing as how the only way his knee was actually going to get better was being put in a real brace which if all his hard work had paid off would happen soon.
Taking a deep breath and wincing as pain shot through his abused body Daniel stood straight. Reaching over the DHD for the book he grasped it in his hand as he slowly and painfully made his way closer to the DHD. At least the DHD had been in a strategic place because Daniel doubted being able to actually duck when it whooshed open. Limping towards the open wormhole Daniel couldn't resist touching the blue pool, doing much of the same as Sam the first time the Gate was opened if Jack's information was correct. He had truly done it, opened the Gate for the second time.
Opening the book Daniel made one final check of his writing before closing it. Holding it close to his side as he adjusted his footing Daniel was ready. Extending his hand with a flick of the wrist the journal went flying into the open wormhole for the other side to receive. As he watched the journal make its final journey Daniel closed his eyes against the exhaustion. He couldn't stop now no matter how tempting it may be. He was so close yet so far but in the end he would keep standing. For that was something SG-1 had taught him over the years, something Jack had taught him. When the deck was stacked against you, you played another hand.
Every muscle in his body was pulled taught, stress boiling over like an unwatched pot. Jack was so on edge that even those around him could feel his shaky nerves. He continued to stare at the Gate through the glass, watching for any sign of a traveler. Still the iris was closed, Hammond having not so much as relayed an order to close it. Any minute the order would come though that much Jack knew. While all in the control room wanted nothing more than for Daniel to step through that Gate a measure of safety always had to be taken. Already in the past Jack had seen and felt the unfortunate side effects that came from lowering ones guard. Even got an arrow through the arm to prove it.
But Hammond was going to give the order if his body language was any clue. Suddenly tensing up the general was uneasy, that hidden nervousness that Jack knew so well. Sam behind him would protest it the second it left the general's mouth because she was already stepping forward with Teal'c. But Hammond gave it a little longer, only a few seconds until something finally came through the Gate.
Flying out of the wormhole, the blue shimmering pool shifting in response, a book landed with a thud on the metal ramp. It confused them all that this object more than anything could have been sent through. The other three just stared at the glass, Hammond too shocked to even consider the iris. But Jack had other ideas as he raced out of the control room as fast as his knee could carry him. Racing to the embarkation room at a speed that betrayed his fear Jack made it in record time. Hammond had already given the order for the iris because out of his peripheral vision Jack could see that reinforced metal slide closed.
The main door couldn't have opened fast enough as Jack ran through at a semi-limp. Stepping up to the foreign object Jack slowly and painfully squatted down to pick it up. Holding the leather bound journal firmly in his hands he stood up slowly staring intently at the book. A faint idea came to mind but he was too anxious to think it through as Jack opened the journal up to the bookmarked page. Turning the page to the one intended to read Jack could only stare dumbly at the words written. On the weather worn page, in bold letters was written:
IT'S ME
-SPACEMONKEY
Jack just had to smile at his friend's whimsical approach, laugh at the name given to him by Jack himself that he had long protested. For once that goofy nickname given on a whim had paid off. There was no question who was on the other side, GDO or not. Only Daniel Jackson would know his team given nickname and use it as code. For once all their hoping for a miracle had worked. Daniel had returned, he was alive and coming home.
"Open the iris!" Jack screamed up to the control room.
"Colonel have you lost your mind?" Hammond shouted in return stepping up to him after having ran down from the control room not a minute behind Jack.
"It's Daniel look," Jack urged shoving the journal into Sam's hands.
Sam took the proffered book eyes skimming the pages with the powerful writing. Behind her Teal'c stood reading, an eyebrow rising in response for the words. If it was possible a small smile danced across the Jaffa's lips that didn't even compare to the all out grin that now appeared on Sam's. Laughing a laugh that was so similar to the last time Daniel had somehow come back from the dead all those years ago from Apophis's ship she couldn't hide her excitement.
"It's Daniel sir, he's alive. Read," Sam now pushed the book into Hammond's face who just had to look confused.
"What? I cannot lower the iris without a code," Hammond tried to protest even while reading the pages.
"Just look sir," Jack urged again.
"I'll be damned, it is him," Hammond said softly.
"Daniel Jackson is alive," Teal'c said the most enthusiasm he could muster.
"Lower the iris!" Hammond turned sharply to shout up to the control room before adding, "And get a medical team standing by!"
Walter didn't have to be told twice as his hand hit the control. He couldn't contain his smile after hearing the news. Out of them all in the control room he had never given up hope, couldn't really having been there every single time in the past when Daniel had returned from impossible odds. The only one of his peers to have believed him was Siler who was currently standing by the console with an equally happy smile. So as quick as he could make it Walter prepared the Gate for Daniel's arrival.
He was ready, more than ready actually, so he prepared himself. For two days Daniel had been the prisoner of this Godforsaken planet but now those chains had been broken. With hard work and his dogged determination Daniel had paved a way home. In the back of his mind that same pessimism, the same present for the past two days, remained still running through all the terrible possibilities that lay waiting on the other side of the wormhole. But he couldn't think that, this had worked and he was going home. GDO or no GDO his plan was a good one because if in fact the address worked and it was Earth Jack would understand in a heartbeat.
But there was only one way to find out. So gathering the remainder of his strength Daniel picked up his pack. Straightening with a wince he had to collect himself a moment as the pain threatened to bring him down. Vision graying and head swimming Daniel really didn't know if he was going to make it. Summoning what little was left of his reserves Daniel moved forward. He bent over one last time and carefully checked his jury rigged brace on his knee pleased to see that the metal bars and bandana's had done their part by holding up. So with one last tug on the fraying bandana Daniel now couldn't help the stifled cry that escaped his lips as his knee protested. But on the bright side, only a few steps until a heaping dose of morphine.
"Well, I hope they lowered the iris," Daniel's eyebrows shot up in question before he shrugged. "Well I guess there's only way to find out".
Daniel turned around before facing the wormhole, giving this hell the Goa'uld called a base a final look. Maybe one day, after Sam figured out the address, he would return to dig deeper into the true story behind this moon but it wouldn't be any day soon. Daniel took a deep breath, almost coughing from the superheated dry air and smiled. As Dorothea once said, there's no place like home.
"Here goes nothing," Daniel remarked as he turned back to the shimmering pool and with one final breath he released all air out of his lungs before taking the obligatory two shaky steps. With his eyes closed and load off his mind Daniel let the chill of the Event Horizon close around him leaving his hot and unforgiving prison behind.
Jack stood steadfast staring with unblinking eyes at the wormhole that shimmered before him. Only a sigh of relief from Sam was heard since Hammond had relayed his order not minutes before. The iris was open giving Daniel an open road home leaving Jack and the rest of his team with only one thing left to do: wait. Jack didn't know whether he was going to scold Daniel or hug him until his ribs broke for disappearing like he did. His reaction would probably be not unlike the same welcome Daniel gave him and Sam after their return from the arctic.
Finally their answer had come as the Event Horizon shifted. Then before their very eyes the one person noticeably absent these past two days had returned. Doing his very best impression of walking Daniel took two steps out of the wormhole before collapsing on the ramp in a broken heap. Jack didn't know whether to be amazed or fearful that Daniel had come through under his own prowess by just the way he looked. But he didn't even think as he raced forward, dropping to his knees even with the pain next to his former wayward teammate.
For Daniel the sensation of being swallowed up by the Stargate was the best he felt in days. The chill from the trip actually felt great against his hot and sunburned skin. Trying to come through on his own two feet only worked for about a step before his knees, or well knee, crumpled beneath him. While relieved what pain he had felt over the course of the two days multiplied as his body his the metal ramp. He could hear his name be shouted by at least four people, the air shifting around him as one body came to fall by his side.
"Daniel!" Jack called out the minute he hit the ramp.
"Daniel!" Sam's voice had followed a smile in her voice.
"Daniel Jackson," Teal'c intoned from behind right at the same time as Hammond's, "Dr. Jackson".
"Jack….Sam, Teal'c. You're okay," it was no longer a question as he gazed up at his team.
"Yeah Danny we're fine," Jack said softly.
Looking down at his friend Jack didn't need to be a doctor to see that Daniel was a mess. With the two-day old stubble gracing his chin, the bruises, and dotted wounds that bled he looked more like a POW. But in a way he was, a POW of some Goa'uld condemned planet. But what really made Jack's heart sink was Daniel's grossly swollen and misshapen right knee. It looked too much like his own after his failed parachute drop in the Middle East. Jack knew all too well how these injuries resulted, he had experienced it first hand twice. Flying through the Gate at mach 5 speed before landing on something solid.
But the circumstances were different if Daniel's sunburned hands and face were anything to go by. The lack of frostbite and chill to his skin told of a hot planet with one hell of a powerful sun. But then again the only one on his team with a higher tendency to burn besides Daniel was Sam. But Jack didn't think of any of that now as he slid a gentle hand under Daniel's shoulders. Looking down at the archeologist Jack didn't think Daniel was in any kind of immediate trouble judging by the euphoric smile plastered on his lips.
Daniel felt Jack's gentle hand slide underneath him, lifting him off the hard metal ramp if only a little. Relief washed over him as he took in his surroundings. No more was he boxed in by desert and destruction instead the concrete seemed to embrace him. His team was safe and uninjured which he couldn't say about himself. But something caught Daniel's eye, a white bandage that stuck out in stark contrast under the collar of Jack's BDU shirt. Something apparently happened in his absence that he would later find out from Sam. But the relief he felt overpowered any worry or stress that kept him down before. As he continued to gaze up Daniel could feel his vision begin to gray as the exhaustion pulled him under. Slowly his consciousness began to fade as he was now staring up at Jack under half-lidded eyes.
"Am I back in Kansas?" was the only logical question that came to his confused and exhausted mind.
"Yeah Danny, you're in Kansas. You're home," Jack had to laugh at the reference.
"You came back Daniel," he heard Sam say as Teal'c and Hammond remained quiet.
"Get that medical team in here now! And make sure Dr. Fraiser's with them," Hammond had ordered one of the SF's that stood guard.
"You're home Danny," Jack repeated this time a little softer.
"Good….that's good. There's….um….no place like home," Daniel slurred before the world faded around him engulfing him in blackness.
AN: Sorry this chapter took so long but school had other plans. The next and final chapter will be up as soon as I am able. Thanks!