A/N: Many thanks to everyone who is reading this! Hearing what you guys think about the many ways that the "Christmas Carol" plot could reflect in Daniel's story is very enlightening and entertaining!

Daniel's Christmas Carol

5.

As you might expect from an afterlife limbo, the deserted mine is just as I left it, except not so deserted any longer. I stare at the little alien in front of me, and feel my jaw go slack.

"Lya!"

"I have been waiting for you," she says with that serene Nox smile. Her voice sounds as calm as always. "I am your companion and your guide for the next part of this journey."

"Uh. Okay, don't get me wrong, I mean you're certainly a step up from Apophis…"—not that that's much of a compliment—"but what exactly are you doing here? Actually, what am I doing here?"

Shoulders straight and hands joined in her usual stance, she is standing in the middle of the mine, unfazed by the general murkiness.

"It is essential that you take this journey, Daniel Jackson. You cannot continue forward otherwise. You must revisit and reconsider…"

I know she's still talking, because I see her lips moving. But there's no way I can focus on what she's saying. Something is on my mind, a nagging doubt, so distracting that I cannot follow Lya's words…

"…crossroads and choices are all there for you to…"

…so irritating that I just have to get it off my chest…

"…and please, remember that your entire future may well depend on it…"

"Did you…do something to your hair?"

Lya gives me a bright smile and twirls a shiny, grassy lock around her finger.

"I straightened it! Conditioner, hair gloss and all those ingenious Earth care products have become quite popular on the Nox homeworld!"

"Uhm. It's very pretty."

I think I'm having a flash of lucidity, but this whole thing really makes no sense whatsoever.

***

"I am the Ghost of Christmas Present."

I think I'm getting a migraine.

"Come now, Daniel Jackson. As I said, you were late to arrive, and we must not tarry. I have a lesson to teach you, and you shall profit from it. Touch my robe."

"Eh…you're not wearing a robe."

Wow, I never thought I'd see that Jack-worthy eyeroll on Lya.

To my defence, she isn't wearing a robe! She's donning the usual Nox attire, that odd kind of dress that looks like a bunch of pastel-coloured fabrics randomly sewn together.

"Touch my dress, then, Daniel Jackson," she instructs with a long-suffering sigh. Looks like I'm forgiven. Better stay on her good side, before she pulls an Apophis on me.

So I reach out a hand and touch one of the fringes on her shoulder. The muddy walls, the waterhole, the rusty tools strewn around on the ground all vanish instantly, and so does the naquadah mine. We're standing in the middle of a deserted, grey-walled corridor now, with markings that read level—wait a second!

"It's the SGC! You brought me back to the SGC!" I could almost kiss her right now, only…

"—hang on, does this mean I failed the Ascended Ancients' test?"

Okay, so I'm happy to be back, but I'm a little offended—I mean, it's not like failing tests is something that happened to me very often! But Lya isn't saying anything, and instead she's started down the corridor. Well, better follow, I guess…no way am I letting her out of my sight after my last so-called guide ditched me.

God, I sound like Jack again.

***

A/N: So, this chapter is a little on the short side. But I struggled to divide the next part of the story in some way that made sense, and it was either very short, or very long. ;) For the interest of rounding up the chapters to a nice, fairytale-inspiring number like 7, I went ahead with this version! To make up, however, next part should be up tomorrow! Then the epilogue, and we're done! Do let me know how you're enjoying this little trip!:)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Myosotis