Here's the next chapter! To say thank you to all of my readers, I made this chapter like three times the size of normal chapters...so THANKS! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and please keep reviewing! I love to hear what you have to say! :) Enjoy the story!

"Incoming Wormhole!"

General George Hammond stepped up to the window, watching the Stargate turn with trepidation. There were no teams scheduled to return. This probably wasn't good. He could only pray that someone under his command hadn't been badly injured or even k-….. Just not a death. Anything, just not a death. Sometimes, the General wasn't sure he could handle this post. All the good men and women who had died, many of them his good friends. Deaths were his responsibility, because he sent them out there in the first place. How could he handle that? Hammond stopped himself there. A lot of good had been done, lives had been saved, in his time here and he only hoped that some of that was because he did his part. It makes it worth it.

"It's SG-1, sir."

"Open the iris." Hammond ordered immediately, his heart sinking, yet hope still sparking there. That didn't take long. I just hope they got everyone back in one piece, especially… Daniel.

Teal'c had just appeared on the ramp, the limp archaeologist in his arms. The rest of SG-1, followed by SG-6, then SG-3 filed in behind him. No one else appeared hurt, but Daniel looked like he had seen better days.

Hold on, Dr. Jackson. We just got you back, don't be checking out already.

…

"He is not injured, Dr. Frasier. Merely unconscious." Teal'c's steady voice made Jack move forward faster to intercept. He really needed to talk to Janet before she got too far.

"Hey doc."

Janet looked up at him, immediately noting Jack's slightly pale face and the shock he was trying so hard to hide. Clearly, something had happened.

Jack moved closer to her, whispering softly. "Keep your results secret. Keep only the people you must trust with you while you check him out. Just trust me. I'll explain as soon as I can."

At Janet's stare, Jack winced. "Janet. Please. It's for Daniel's protection. Trust me."

Janet gave a single nod, moved by his suddenly soft, yet passionate tone. Motioned the two men with the stretcher forward, she quickly helped them situate Daniel's limp body safely on it, then urged them off towards the Infirmary, following closely.

"Colonel."

Jack turned at Hammond's voice. The General had moved into the room and was watching him steadily. "He's okay, sir. Just a little roughed up." He answered the general's unasked question.

Hammond nodded, a quiet sigh of relief audible only to Jack. "Report in one hour, then."

"General." Jack called him back, moving closer, and carefully lowering his voice. "We need to talk. Topside, half an hour."

Hammond's eyebrows rose, but immediately saw the barely veiled concern in the Colonel's eyes and knew that this was serious. Jack was afraid of being overheard, that much was obvious. General nodded, then walked away stiffly. "Report in one hour, Colonel."

Jack hid his smile. Daniel's back was covered. With people like Frasier and Hammond on his side, Daniel would be safe. He would see to it. You owe me big time, Danny-boy. I don't remember anything in my contract about being the secretary to the local superhero. Definitely should get paid for this!

…

Half an hour later, Frasier and General Hammond had managed to sneak away, both on the pretense of doing something else. Jack and Teal'c were waiting for them, Carter watching over their still unconscious teammate.

"What is this all about, Jack?" Hammond asked, steadily.

Jack took a deep breath, running his hand through his hair, nervously. "Sir, Daniel…" Jack sighed heavily. "….the others decided to leave Daniel a few 'Welcome Home' gifts."

….

"You still think there could be a mole in the SGC, Jack?" Hammond didn't like this. At all. As if life wasn't complicated enough already, they now had to worry about the Trust. Again.

Jack shrugged. "I don't know. But I don't want to chance it. They are definitely keeping an eye on this place and if they got wind that Daniel suddenly had his own personal superpowers….."

"They would eat him." Teal'c finished. Hammond and Frasier threw him confused looks, but Jack only rolled his eyes.

"Trust food, Teal'c, Trust food."

"I'll keep my eyes open in the Infirmary, then. This could definitely cause some complications there."

"And I'll watch out higher up and make sure none of this spreads. Mission reports, everything will be wiped clean. This doesn't leave our group here, understood?"

Jack grinned, snapping a sharp salute. "Yes, sir!"

…..

A herd of buffalos had invaded the Infirmary. Daniel knew instantly where he was, having woken up here way too many times in the course of his time at the SGC. His eyes felt like they had been cemented shut, but the herd of buffalos required his immediate attention so he forced them open.

Ah. Herd of buffalos indeed. Daniel muffled his chuckle, so as not to wake up Jack, who was stretched out in the chair beside his bed, snoring very loudly.

A cold touch on his arm had him jerking around in surprise, to see an apologetic looking Janet standing on his other side.

"Sorry. He's been here for a while and refused to leave, even when I threatened him with big needles and an early physical."

Daniel's eyebrows rose at that.

Janet was smiling. "I think he was more worried about you than he wanted to admit. Especially after….." Janet shuddered. "….after the fire."

Daniel froze. How much did they tell her? Oh gosh. What are we going to tell people? My pant legs were burnt right off! They're not going to believe I wasn't injured by the fire…..

"Daniel." Janet's soft voice brought him out of his momentary panic. Her eyes were soft, her expression reassuring. "We've got it all covered, Daniel. You'll be fine. I promise."

Daniel's eyes widened, before he smiled gently up at her. Apparently, they told her everything. And she's okay with it. Oh, thank heavens. "Thank you, Janet."

"My pleasure, Daniel. Just be careful."

"Don't worry, doc, we've got his back."

Daniel jumped at the new voice that suddenly joined the conversation. At some point, the herd of buffalos had disappeared and Daniel had been too overwhelmed to notice it.

Janet nodded her acknowledgement at the Colonel before walking away to check on her other patients.

Jack met Daniel's gaze, a grin lighting up his face. "Hey there, sleepy-head. Nice of you to finally join the living."

Daniel rolled his eyes. "Thanks a lot, Jack."

The two friends sat in silence for a moment, before Jack suddenly spoke again, his lips barely moving, still staring at the floor, trying not to look obvious or draw attention to himself. "Daniel, why didn't you use your powers to escape?"

Daniel was silent a moment, images of the burning fire flashing across his mind, the terror, the pain, haunting him. "They weren't responding. I couldn't use them. It's like they weren't there at all. They're fine now, but…" Daniel sighed.

"They disappeared when you needed them most? That's sounds exactly like our wonderful ancient friends."

"No, Jack, I actually don't think that's it. I think it's because the new healing ability was…..I don't know... coming, starting, developing. Perhaps the other abilities had to….shut off…..go on a short hiatus, until the healing power finished. I don't know this, but that's my theory." Daniel made a face. "I'm kinda hoping not to have to test it again."

Jack sighed, leaning back in his chair. "You just can't do anything the easy way, can you?"

"I didn't exactly ask for this, Jack." Daniel pointed out in exasperation.

Jack shook his head. "I don't know, I think you get kicks out of this kind of stuff. You just pretend not to. I mean, why else would it always be you that this all ends up happening too?" Jack fought his grin at Daniel's slightly affronted expression.

"You think I like being a freak, Jack? I think we can call this bad luck. Everyone has it. I just…..I just have more of it than most."

No, Daniel, you get more of this crap than most because you are always on the front line, fighting so hard for everything you believe in. You're in the line of fire because you put yourself there to protect everyone else around you. Stupid hero. Jack thought fondly. "I know, Daniel. And, it's superhero, not freak." He added, throwing a knowing look at his friend.

With a shake of his head, Jack stood. "I'm going to go harass ol'doc Frasier and see if she'll let you out. I'm hungry and Carter and Teal'c are waiting for us."

Daniel sighed, a small exasperated smile on his face as he watched Jack walk away. "Stupid hero", huh? You're one to talk. I'm not the one who went charging into a village full of hostile natives to save a man that was already burning, am I, Jack?