Layonna could sense the creatures following her and knew instinctively who they were. From the beginning the Talosians who were changed sent out a signal that told of their presence. They were easier to keep track of when that happened and it had been bred into them since the dawn of time in her realm.

Mitchell was different; there was no doubt about that. He'd been fighting the changes from the beginning. Even when he'd passed the point of no return, he'd continued to fight as if his life meant something. Why couldn't he see what she offered and embrace the changes that were already happening. He would be so much better, so much stronger, and he could rule at her side until she grew tired of him.

Layonna knew many ways through the passage, but she'd kept them secret because it was against the laws of her people. She laughed at those words, because in spite of having been born here, she wasn't a part of this world or the Talosian world. It was something she'd discovered early in her life, but kept it to herself until she was strong enough to use her mind and powers against those around her.

Layonna knew if she kept ahead of Shanisia and the others, they would be forced to follow her to Talosia where they would be weakened. She could defeat them now, but she wanted to prove to the Talosians and Colonel Mitchell that they were helpless against her. She heard a series of clicks and beeps and understood what was being said. There were three of them following her, but that didn't mean anything, she would allow them to follow her at a distance until they made it through the passage. They would die as a reminder of her power and the Talosians would readily give up Cameron Mitchell to save themselves.

SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1

Janolia looked at her son, relieved that he was back with her, but she missed Shanisia so much her heart ached. They'd been helping transfer the injured to the hospital and were shocked to find many Talosians who'd hidden in separate buildings since the passage had opened between the realms. There were many who'd sought safety from both her city and the city they'd been at war with. They'd stopped their fighting in order to stay safe and Janolia hoped that when this was all over the need for fighting would also have ended.

"Mother, are you all right?"

"I am fine, Darishik, I simply miss your sister."

"She was well when last I saw her. Shanisia chose to stay and embrace the changes and we must respect that. I will miss her, but I am proud of her," Darishik said.

"Proud of her?"

"My sister always seemed weak to me, but she has proven that she is far stronger than I could ever dream of being. She embraced the changes in spite of what it meant. I chose to come back because this is the world I know, but Shanisia chose to go with the changes and that is something you should accept, Mother."

"I do accept her choice, Darishik, but I will miss her."

"Perhaps Colonel Carter's people can find a way for her and the others to come back and live on Talosia. If they can then we could have Shanisia and she would still be allowed her choice to remain a serpent."

"If only that were true…if only they could live here with us."

"They may be able to do that, Mother, after all this is where they belong and no matter what the changes there must be a way for all of us to live in harmony," Darishik offered.

"I hope you are right, My Son," Janolia said and turned to help a young woman with her child.

SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1

Samantha Carter looked up as Carolyn Lam exited the room where they'd placed Mitchell after the latest round of tests. She knew by the look on the doctor's face that the news wasn't good, but she needed to hear it for herself. "How is he, Carolyn?"

"Not good, Sam," Lam told her and sat down tiredly. "His temperature keeps going up. We're treating him with the equivalent of our Tylenol, but it's only slowing it down. I've run every kind of test I can think of and even did some Resandie and Beritonis suggested, but so far all we know is that his body is re-shaping itself."

"Why is it so hard on him?" Carter asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I've seen what happens to the Talosians that change and even those who fought it. None of them are in as much pain as Cam, nor did the changes seem so hard on them," Carter observed.

"I did notice that, and I think the problem lies in his physiology. We share a lot with the Talosians, but there are differences, and although they are subtle, they could be what's causing the trouble."

"Then we need to isolate the differences and find out how to make them work for Cam," Carter suggested as Teal'c and Jackson joined them. Both men carried large cups of coffee and handed one to each of the women. Sam listened as Lam quickly updated the duo with the same information she'd just shared with her.

"Okay, so if we isolate the differences is there any way to counteract the effects the changes are having on Mitchell?" Jackson asked.

"Maybe, it's a long shot, but right now it might be the only chance he has," Carolyn told them and stood up. "I need to speak with Resandie and see if this facility has the capability to do the tests we'll need."

"I'll go back and keep working with Marisiana and Donitalio. Maybe we missed something in the files or maybe they've found something else," Carter said.

"Sam, maybe I can help," Jackson suggested.

"Thanks, Daniel, we can use all the help we can get," Carter told him.

"I will stay with Colonel Mitchell," Teal'c told them and nodded when Carolyn pointed to the room where Mitchell rested. He stepped inside to find a Talosian and one of Carolyn Lam's nurses caring for his friend. Mitchell lay on his right side, his head elevated on several pillows, while the rest of his body seemed to be covered in sheets that formed a tent.

Teal'c had made many friends during his time at the SGC, but there were just a few that he considered above friendship. Master Bra'tac had once told him to choose his friends wisely because they would be the brothers who stood at his side instead of behind him. It had taken some time, but Cameron Mitchell had proven he could be a powerful warrior and that alone made him a valuable ally.

There were a lot of changes that he could see, but he knew Mitchell was still the same man inside. It was simply a matter of finding a way to reverse the effects forced upon his body and mind. He knew Colonel Carter and Dr. Lam would use all resources to return him to his physical form, and hoped there was no damage to his mind.

"You will not change into a serpent, Colonel Mitchell. You will continue to fight whatever is happening to you and when Colonel Carter and Dr. Lam find a solution you will laugh at what could have happened."

"Te…Teal'c…that you?"

"I thought you were sleeping, Colonel Mitchell."

"Can't sleep…feel like I'm burning up," Mitchell told him and forced his eyes open. There was nothing but a blurry shape where the Jaffa's voice came from and Cam did everything he could to focus on the man.

"Dr. Lam said your temperature is higher than she would like, but I believe you are strong enough to fight back. You are not a quitter, Cameron Mitchell. Even Master Bra'tac has seen past your sense of humor and sees the warrior soul hidden inside you. I do not believe he is wrong in that belief," Teal'c said.

"Thanks, Teal'c," Mitchell managed and grabbed the rail as his body shook with tremors so violent it made the bed shake. He felt Teal'c's hand on his shoulder and drew comfort from the simple gesture. He knew he could not take much more, but vowed to fight for the people he cared about, and for those who cared about him.

"Rest, Colonel Mitchell," Teal'c said when he felt the man go still beneath his touch. He hoped the others could find a way to reverse this before it was too late. He pulled a chair closer and sat down, but he didn't move his hand from the sleeping man's shoulder. It was a token of comfort, one meant for both of them, because he was not ready to lose this man…this brother.

SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1

Samantha Carter looked up from the console in time to see Daniel Jackson pour another strong cup of the Talosian version of coffee. It was close to espresso than coffee, and right now she knew she needed one just as badly as he did. She nodded when Daniel motioned with the pot and took the cup. Donitalio and Marisiana had fallen asleep on a cot in the corner, but not until they'd been forced to because they were dangerously exhausted.

Carter and Jackson walked outside and looked up at the sky. The stars shone brightly, the moon not yet in full view as birds and insects added to the night noises. The two remained silent for several minutes until Carter spoke softly.

"Have you ever wondered what life would be like if we hadn't discovered the Stargate?"

"Sometimes, but it's a moot point since we're way past the discovery and what it means to us as a race," Jackson told her.

"I guess…it's just that sometimes it seems like we pay a high price for the knowledge we've gained."

"With knowledge comes wisdom and with wisdom comes the experience we need to help others as well as ourselves."

"I know, but what happens when we find ourselves involved in disputes that are not of our making?" Carter asked.

"I guess it's a matter of finding a balance that works. If we can stop what's been happening to the Talosians then it's worth it."

Do we have the right to stop it?" Carter asked tiredly.

"Sam, tell me you don't agree with what's been happening here? It's not as if the Talosians agreed to crossing the realms and becoming creatures like Layonna."

"You know me better than that, Daniel. I'm not saying I agree with what's happening, but what of the serpents? Not Layonna…I don't believe she is one of them, but the Talosians who have embraced the changes should be allowed to do so."

"You mean Shanisia and the others?"

"Yes," Carter said.

"They should be given the choice. I'm pretty sure Janolia would be happy to welcome her daughter with open arms no matter what she looked like as long as she was still Shanisia."

"I think that's how most of them would feel if given the choice," Carter said and sighed tiredly as she sat on the white bench.

"We'll find a way to change him back, Sam."

"Will we, Daniel? Right now it seems like the more we try the worse things get for him," Carter observed.

"Don't tell me you're giving up on him?"

"No, I'm not giving up on him. We've got Carolyn and the Talosians working on finding a solution. You and I are working with two very gifted people in Donitalio and Marisiana and on top of that Cam is a lot like Jack…he'll never quit and neither will we," Carter said and stood up.

"Sam, we're both working on coffee, but I don't think it's going to last. We need to get some sleep and come at it with fresh eyes," Jackson told her and held up his hands when she looked like she was going to protest. "How many times have we missed something that seemed inconsequential because we were too tired to see what was right before our eyes?"

"I hate it when you're right," Carter said and followed Jackson inside. She glanced at the console, sighed tiredly, and moved to a door on the opposite side of the room. She lay down and closed her eyes, but sleep would be a long time in coming because she couldn't quite get the image of Cameron Mitchell's suffering out of her mind.

SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1

Layonna exited through the narrow opening and landed on her feet in the grassy meadow. She could see the lights of the Talosian city in the distance and smiled at the thought of taking Mitchell away from them while they slept. There was no doubt in her mind that she could do just that, but she wanted to prove just how little she feared them. She would wait until morning before spreading her wings wide and land outside the main hospital.

Mitchell would be there, because it was the only place that would have the facilities the humans would need to treat the injured. Mitchell wasn't really injured, but the changes were well underway and she knew he would be in incredible pain. She didn't remember much about her own transformation, but she did recall the excruciating pain caused by the changes in body structure.

Layonna understood that Mitchell's friends would do anything to stop her, but they were no match for her. That was not a simple boast on her part; she'd had years of experience at making her own changes, working them until she was better than the others of her kind. She wasn't even sure they could be compared to her anymore; because she'd evolved into something even they could not possibly understand.

Layonna began to walk toward the city, but she knew she would eventually take flight, simply because she despised walking when flying was so much easier. Still, it would make time go faster if she walked, and she smiled at the thought of making the human's pay for defying her.

SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1

Shanisia drew a shuddering breath as she exited the tunnel and stood in the darkness of her own world. She felt her companions move to stand on either side of her and knew they would not leave her to face Layonna on her own. Their loyalty was something she was not used to, because her life on Talosia was nothing spectacular.

Shanisia knew they needed to make up ground if they were going to reach the city in time to stop Layonna, but she was not sure they could defeat the creature. She heard a series of clicks and beeps, and understood what her fellow serpents were saying. They would not lose this fight, because to do so would mean a continuation of the events that had plagued Talosia for far too long.

Shanisia hoped her people would not see them as a threat, but she knew some would fear them as had always been the case. Perhaps if she could find her mother and brother, they would be able to dispel the fears of the past and embrace what they could have in the future. She hoped that could be done without causing more harm. With a simple gesture, she spread her wings and lifted off the ground with just a small displacement of the debris on the ground.

SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1

Teal'c had spent the night watching over his friend as the nurses continued to monitor his vitals. He'd known when Mitchell woke up, felt the tension in spite of the colonel trying to hide his discomfort. How much more could one man take? He wasn't sure of the answer, but he was sure Mitchell would push past the limits of the average human male.

"Teal'c how is he?"

"I would say he is resting, but I do not believe that is possible," Teal'c answered as Carter moved to the opposite side of the bed.

"He's stronger that we give him credit for," Carter observed.

"Indeed, I believe that is why you came back to the team," Teal'c told her.

"He could be persuasive," Carter said with a hint of a smile as she remembered her first meeting with Cameron Mitchell. He wasn't a man who took no for an answer and it hadn't been long before SG1 was back together, the only difference was their leader was no longer Jack O'Neill. It hadn't taken long for her to realize Cameron Mitchell was a lot like Jack O'Neill, especially when it came to protecting his team.

"Have you found anything that will help reverse the changes?"

"Nothing yet, but that won't stop us, Teal'c, we'll find a way…"

"I doubt that very much, Colonel Carter."

Teal'c and Carter turned at the sound of the voice and cursed when they recognized the figure standing in the doorway. She looked the same as she did the first day they'd seen her, yet there was an air of danger surrounding her.

"How did you get in here?" Carter snapped and moved to stand with Teal'c to shelter Mitchell from this creature.

"You still have no idea who you are dealing with, Colonel Carter, and for now I am willing to overlook that. I have come for my property and if he leaves with me voluntarily I will leave you all to your sad little world."

"We will not let you take him!" Carter said.

"You have no choice," Layonna said and lifted her hands. She used the destructive power of her gossamer wings to throw the humans across the room and made her way to the bed. She ran her taloned fingers across the scaly skin that glistened on his back and smiled as she spoke. "Colonel Mitchell, I know you are awake, so please do not waste my time."

"What d…do you want?" Mitchell managed.

"I believe you know why I am here, Colonel Mitchell. I can make the pain stop for you so the question now is whether you come with me peacefully or do I have to kill your friends before we leave?"

"You'll let th…them go?"

"They are inconsequential to me…"

"No, Cam, you can't…"

"I have to, Sam," Mitchell said as Layonna pulled the IV line from his arm.

"We will find another way, Colonel Mitchell!" Teal'c offered and tried to stand, but there was a force pressing down on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

"Not without her killing one of y…you," Mitchell said and sat up, dislodging the leads that were monitoring his vital signs.

"Are you running out on us, Cam?" Carter asked.

"No, I'm sa…saving your lives."

"What about your life? Isn't any human life worth the same as another's?" Carter asked, wondering where the hell the others were.

"Sam…I'm being…"

"Selfish…and you need to stop because I don't see you as being a sacrificial lamb so the rest of us can live! You're smarter than that so fight her, damn it!"

"Colonel Carter is right! She wins if you go with her now!" Teal'c said.

Mitchell looked at them and finally settled his gaze on the creature standing before him. It would be so easy to just give in and go with her, but he would be giving up everything that made him who he was. He could not do that to them and took a deep breath as he sensed the strength coming from Teal'c and Carter.

"It is time to leave, Colonel Mitchell," Layonna said.

"I don't think so," Mitchell snapped and pulled away.

"Then you sentence them to death and once I am through with them then I will take you anyway."

"There's something you should know about us, Layonna," Mitchell said, his voice stronger than it had any right to be.

"What would that be?"

"We don't go quietly into the night…we will not vanish without a fight…" Mitchell quoted from one of his favorite movies. He reached for Layonna and cried out when she pressed her talons deep into his chest.

"Then you will watch them die before we leave!" Layonna snarled and smiled when she used her strength and lifted Teal'c and Carter off the floor. "It would have been so much easier the other way, but it is more pleasurable to make you see how frail you humans really are!"

"Go to hell!" Mitchell snarled as blood pooled around the talons embedded in his chest. He felt the life draining from his body and silently prayed someone could stop Layonna before she killed everyone he cared about.

TBC

Author's note-Sorry for the delay, but with Christmas and the New Year things sort of got away from me. Thanks to all who reviewed an put this on favorites and alerts. It means a lot to me….Winnie