A few kind readers pointed out a big mistake - I wrote Hathor instead of Nirti! See what happens when you stay up too late writing. I've made the change as my mistake really bugged me. Other than that this chapter is the same so if you've already read it you don't need to look at this - although a review would be lovely!

Okay folks, one more chapter for today! The adventure continues.

Thank you so much to all those adding me to story alert and who are reviewing. I always read comments from other writers about how they appreciated reviews but didn't truly get it until writing my own story. It makes such a huge difference – so please, please, please, pretty please send me your reviews, comments, suggestions, constructive criticism! It is so greatly appreciated!

Apologies for some of the typos. I try to proof carefully but always seem to miss a few (which I hate!). I'm usually writing at night so am probably not at my sharpest.

"Destiny, what do you mean 'destiny'? We want to know what you've done with Jack and Sam."

"We have done nothing, we are the Guardians, nothing more. His fate, his destiny was written from the beginning."

"Okay –I'm getting really ticked off. Now I know what Jack always felt when listening to this kind of philosophical crap. Just tell us where our friends are. We don't care about fate or destiny. WE WANT OUR FRIENDS!"

"Indeed, Daniel Jackson speaks truly. You will tell us where the are now before we take action against you."

With that, Teal'c walked over to Tadeusz and stood towering over him. The Trelean elder began to jabber hysterically.

"No, no, we did nothing. We knew nothing about this. The Guardians simply told us we must invite O'Neill – that he was to come. We did not know he would be taken. We never meant any harm. Please, we are a peaceful people. The Guardians, we have never seen them hurt anyone. We simply thought they wished to honor O'Neill."

"Honor him. I don't understand this honor business. We thought it was because of his helping get rid of the System Lords – but that wasn't it, was it? Why were you – why were the Guardians - so interested in Jack before even meeting him? How did you know of him?"

Tadeusz did not seem to be able to speak. He simply stood, with his wife, shaking and crying – afraid that the humans were going to take the disappearance of their leader, and his woman, out on them.

The (what Daniel thought of as 'chief') Guardian spoke again.

"The man speaks honestly. The people here knew nothing. They are as they seem, peaceful, good people. They know nothing about O'Neill or the woman – only that they were asked to bring him to us."

"But why", asked Daniel. "We don't understand what you wanted with him, or how you knew of him."

The Guardian stood quietly for many minutes, contemplating the humans. It was if he was deciding whether to share with them what he knew or not. Daniel and Teal'c, both feeling as this was an important moment, stood in silence, waiting for the Guardian to speak. Finally, he (she? it?) began:

"The story begins many years ago, many years before the beginning of your world. In fact, near the beginning of all things - when life was still new throughout the universe."

Looking as if far into the distance the Guardian continued: "My people roamed the galaxies freely, discovering new worlds, new life. They learned, they taught, they experienced all that was part of life. There was no evil, no power, no desire to control, to hurt – only curiosity, the desire to know more. However, as knowledge grew, many began to desire other things, more base things. Some of my people wanted to use the knowledge to corrupt, to hold power over others. The desire for knowledge was no longer enough. These people wanted to destroy in order to feel stronger, more powerful."

Here the Guardian stopped, again looking as if into a distant past.

"Some of us knew that things were changing. The world, the universe was no longer a place of harmony or of balance. It had been corrupted. We knew, however, that there were too few of us who believed in the old ways, the first ways, to do anything. However, we did have one thing. One among us had a gift, a very rare gift. One had the ability to foresee."

"You mean he could tell the future?" asked Daniel.

"She could see what might be, what was possible. The actual future can never be seen as each individual has the ability to choose. There are infinite possibilities – but there are probabilities – and this is what she foresaw."

Okay, thought Daniel, I really wish Sam were here. This is more her thing.

"So, this 'forseer' saw what could be possible. Tell us, what was that. And, what does it have to do with Jack?"

"It may have nothing to do with him – it may have everything."

"Enough!" said Teal'c. "Speak plainly to us. You have taken our friends and now you are speaking in riddles. Tell us what we need to know."

"Yes", whispered the Guardian, "you have that right."

"The one who foresaw told us that wickedness and evil would continue to grow throughout the universe. Many would rise who would only be interested in power, in hurting others. Oh, there were still those who believed in good, but they too were often affected by the evil that surrounded them. We knew that one day this evil could grow to a point where it could not be stopped. That it would one day consume the universe until there was nothing left. The evil would turn on itself, and soon all would be lost, all would be gone."

Again, the Guardian stopped. It was almost as if he grew weaker as he spoke. Daniel and Teal'c suddenly noticed that the other Guardians, standing in behind their spokesperson (spokesalien?) looked like they were literally fading away. The two humans realized they had little time left.

"So what happened next. What else did she see?"

"She saw the possibility of one person, one being who could change things. That could bring the world back into harmony and ultimately defeat the evil that was devouring all that was good. Those of us who wished for this knew we had to do something – we had to help make this possibility a reality. We did not know in what future or when this person would come. We did not know who are what he – or she – would be. The foreseer only gave us signs of what to look for."

Now beginning to 'fade' himself, the Guardian began to speak more quickly.

"We came to this planet, in secret, to set up the Place of the Guardians. This place is the entranceway to another place not of this world or this time. We would wait here until one would come who would be this savior. The people of this planet – the Treleans as you call them – did not come for many millennia after we arrived. When people arrived before, we always ensured that they would leave. We would plant in their minds the desire to flee this place and not return".

"Is this what you did with the Priors? Is this why they left?"

"You speak of the ones who came recently – who tried to turn these people to the worship of false beings?"

"Yes – those are the ones."

"They were evil. Even though our purpose was never to interfere in the lives of the inhabitants of planets, when the Treleans arrived we realized they were a gentle people. We had been alone for so long, waiting and guarding the portal. We decided to let them stay and became their guides. It gave us another purpose and we were able to help them in some small way by ridding them of the ones you call the 'Priors'."

"Daniel Jackson, I believe we have discovered how the Treleans withstood the Ori. It was not, in fact, themselves but rather the Guardians who did this. Unfortunately, this does not appear that it will aid Earth."

"No Teal'c, I think you're correct. Unfortunately, right now I don't really care that much about the Ori – just about getting Jack and Sam back."

"Indeed Daniel Jackson, as do I."

The Guardian had now faded until almost nothing.

"When your team first arrived they spoke of this O'Neill – we knew instantly that he could be the one. He had defeated many enemies and he had the Ancient bloodline. We knew we must bring him here."

At this, the Guardian was now alone and the humans could no longer distinguish his features.

"I must go now. We have fulfilled our purpose. It is time for us to rest."

"Please, just a bit more. We need to know more in order to help our friends."

"You cannot help them Daniel Jackson. It is up to O'Neill now. The woman – I don't know. She was never foreseen and we do not know where she fits in. I can only tell you this, over the years there have been a few who we thought might be the one. In every case, however they failed. Many could not even get through the portal or, if they did, would be returned to us almost immediately – dead. The fact that O'Neill is gone, and we are being called home, makes us believe that he is, in fact, the one we have been waiting for."

"But what's happening to him? Where is he? Will he – they – be back?"

"I can say no more. It is time for me to join my brethren." With those words, the last of the Guardians faded out. There was now nothing left but an open field, surrounded by trees. Where the building had once stood was now a field of white flowers. The scene looked so peaceful, so serene and yet, to the humans, it was the place where they had last seen their friends.

Teal'c turned to Daniel and said: "Why do we not have Major Arndt return to earth with his team and report to General Landry. You and I can remain and see if we are able to locate O'Neill and Colonel Carter."

"Yes, I guess that's an idea Teal'c. I don't really know what else we can do. Major, why don't you return with the Treleans and have someone send back our supplies and some food and water. We'll camp out here for now. Then, return home and report to the General. We'll check in in 24 hours."

With that, SG8 left and Teal'c and Daniel waited to see if anything would happen that would lead them to their friends.

He didn't know how long he had been asleep. All he knew was that he felt awful. He realized, though, that he felt so much better than when that thing was in the room, that he shouldn't complain. In all his years – in all that he had gone through – he had never felt such intense pain as during those few minutes. He had really felt like he was going mad.

Even now, after resting, he still felt weak and shaky. He didn't think he could even stand if he had had to. His head was pounding and he continued to have the weird feeling his brain was too big. Not a problem he'd ever had before!

The one positive to this whole thing was that Sam was cuddled up against him – holding him tightly. Right now the last thing he was thinking of was passion or sex – he just really needed the closeness, the comfort of someone who cared (okay, be honest) loved him. He was afraid if he had been alone he would have broken down and cried like a baby!

Just then, he heard Sam begin to awaken. She stirred in his arms and he saw her eyes open and look directly into his. For a moment he could tell she didn't know where she was, or why she was pressed up close to him. Her expression was totally blank but he could see her furiously thinking, trying to put everything together. He saw the precise moment when she remembered what had happened. She pulled away from him and sat up quickly.

"God Sir, are you okay?"

"I'm feeling a little weak Carter" (understatement of the year!), "but I'm sure I'll be fine. I felt much better, however, when you were cuddling me."

She immediately turned pink – but then looked him straight in the eye and said:

"In better circumstances, Sir, I'd stay and enjoy that too! Right now, however, I need to take a look at you and we need to figure out what's going on."

With that, super efficient Colonel Carter pulled out what little she had in the way of supplies and began to clean him up. Although his face had regained some color, he was still very pale. The blood had dried on his face and down on his neck. Sam took a couple of wet wipes and proceeded to wipe the blood from his face.

"Do you have any idea what that was about, Sir? Did the alien try to communicate with you at all? It looked the whole time directly at you. It was as if it didn't know I was in the room."

"No, it – actually I think of her as a 'she' - didn't communicate with me, but the funny thing is that she somehow felt familiar. I can't quite describe it – it's as if I know her or should know her but I'm also sure I've never met her before. And believe me, she is one alien I hope never to see again!"

"What did you feel like when it was happening – and how do you feel now? I mean, I know you were in extreme pain, but can you describe it? I'm sorry Sir, I know this is hard – it's just we have so little to go on."

"It's okay Carter, I understand. Well, before we arrived at the Guardian's Building – and just after the alien 'appeared' I felt kind of weird. I can't really describe it except to say it felt like my brain was expanding, getting bigger – too big in fact for my skull. The pressure was incredible. After she entered, however, it got so much worse. Carter, I've never felt anything like that before. It was almost as if someone were reaching inside my skull with a hook and pulling pieces of my brain apart."

"General – Jack - that sounds horrible. I'm so sorry."

"Not your fault Carter. I knew you were trying to help but really, there was nothing you could do."

"Are you in pain now?"

"No, not pain exactly. Oh, I do have the headache from Netu – and I feel achy all over – but I'm not in 'pain' – not like when she was here. I do still feel strange, however. I don't know quite how to describe it. It's almost like someone is 'rearranging me' inside. Does that make any sense?"

"Yes, sort of. It's kind of the way I would describe what Nirti did to me that time – or at least to my DNA."

"Okay, not a happy thought. I really don't want to dissolve into a puddle any time soon!"

"So, what should we do Sir? I don't just want to wait for the alien lady to come back."

"Me neither, Carter, me neither! Let's see if we can try, once more, to get out of this room. I'm getting really tired of it!"

Carter immediately stood up but Jack had a little more trouble. He was still so shaky he eventually had to have Sam help him to his feet. Once up, he wobbled for a few seconds until he seemed to gather a bit of strength.

"Let's see what we can find." With that, Jack walked again towards one of the ever-changing walls. Unexpectedly, the wall seemed to open as he came nearer. It wasn't a door exactly – more just an open space in the wall.

"This looks like a way out Sam. You had better stick real close to me. I don't know what's going to happen and I don't want us to lose each other."

In the last few minutes Jack and been thinking. He was sure this whole scenario was a set up. The Treleans – or Guardians – or whoever, had obviously wanted him for some, as yet unexplained reason. He didn't think, however, that Sam had been part of the plan. The fact that the alien didn't seem to even realize she was there worried him. He expected that he was going to start finding out why he was here real soon. Sam might end up be considered expendable by whoever had captured him. He was going to do his damnedest to ensure that didn't happen.

"In fact, Sam, I think you had better hold my hand. That way we'll make sure we stay together."

That was a first, thought the Colonel. Oh well, who was she to complain. Anyway, it would give her a chance to be a support to Jack without him knowing. He still looked rather ill and unsteady on his feet. With that, she took his hand and together they walked forward.

As they passed through the hole in the wall they could see nothing ahead. It was as if they were walking into a dense fog. Carefully, one small step at a time, they walked forward. O'Neill, as always, insisted he go first.

The very second that they had both passed through the wall to the other side the scene changed. All of a sudden, the two of them were walking together down a street in suburbia, U.S.A.

"What the ….! Where the hell are we now", exploded Jack. "One minute we're on some alien planet, then in some psychedelic, 1960's LSD room and now we're in middle American. What is going on?"

At that point, however, he unexpectedly stopped. Sam heard him give a sharp intake of breath. He began to walk quickly ahead, still clasping her hand. She didn't think he even realized she was there anymore he was so intent on going some place ahead. She ended up being practically dragged along as he was moving so quickly.

Soon they came to a two-story clapboard house. It was very pretty, with flowers in the front and a few children's toys lying around. There was a bicycle on the lawn, as well as a skateboard and a ball and bat. In the back it looked like there was some kind of children's play fort.

Sam had no idea where they were but Jack obviously did from the way he was looking at the house. He slowly made his way up the front walk and up the stairs to the porch. He stood there, very still, holding her hand, when suddenly the door slammed open and out ran a little boy.

Oh my God, Sam thought, 'Charlie'! She recognized him from the pictures in Jack's house as well as the crystal entity episode.

"Daddy, you're home", the little boy shouted and threw his arms around Jack's legs.

After a slight pause, Jack, who looked completely stunned, muttered, "Charlie, is it really you?" He then dropped Sam's hand and knelt down to the boy's level, looking him in the eye. For a moment, no one moved. Blinking, Jack slowly reached out and touched the boy's face. He took a deep breath and grabbed him, hugging him for all he was worth.

Sam stood quietly, unsure of what was going on. She knew this wasn't really Charlie, it couldn't be. This could only be the aliens messing with Jack's mind again. He obviously believed it was Charlie – or at least was taking the opportunity to hold what seemed like his son - for one brief moment.

"Jack, this can't really be Charlie." Jack didn't respond, didn't even look at her. It was almost as if he no longer knew she was there. He simply continued to hold the little boy, rocking back and forth.

"Jack, please, we have to figure out what's going on. I know this is hard, but it can't really be Charlie."

Again, no reply.

The door opened right at that moment and out walked Sara O'Neill – again Carter recognized her from the pictures and having met her that once.

"Jack, you're home early! Come in, supper will be ready soon." With that, Sara reached out and kissed Jack on the cheek.

Jack, appearing a little dazed stood up and faced Sara. Much to Sam's dismay, he then leaned over and kissed Sara – a gentle kiss on the lips.

"Well then", he replied, "we'd better get in. I wouldn't want to spoil supper. I'm starved."

With that, he followed Charlie and Sara (or their alien doubles) into the house, leaving Sam all alone outside.