Daniel had been exposed to a massive dose of radiation and was dying. Painfully. Watching was almost as painful.

"No one wants to die, but if I had to chose how I die, helping people, even if they're idiots who never see or appreciate your efforts, is as good a way as any." Alexander muttered,.

"Indeed. It is a good death."

"If there's such a thing." Jack said.

"I'm not a philosopher, I could probably say something about life only having value because of death, but that doesn't change the fact that we're watching a family member die." Alexander said. "And why do I feel like I've done this before?"

Sam had managed to get ahold of her father and he was trying to heal Daniel, when suddenly Alexander felt himself pulled into a vision. Daniel and Jack were talking and a glowing ball of light was hovering near them. He recognized it as an Ascended, he wondered if it was the same one who'd helped Shi'fu, the Harcesis child.

"Greetings Alexander." The Ascended ball of light said. Daniel and Jack didn't seem to notice him.

"How did I get here?"

"I brought you here. "

"Why?"

"To give you a message. I believe you will find her again. It is about choice. Choice is often taken away from you both. But there will come a time when she will have a choice. I will ensure she understands her options."

"She? What she?"

"The one you dream of."

"She's real? Are they all real?"

"Yes. You are watching the brother of your father's heart die. You have seen the brother of your own heart die."

A chill went thru Alexander at that revelation.

"You know I've lost my memories?"

"You have lost nothing. They are still there. You lack only a trigger to bring them back. You will find your trigger, one day. Do not lose hope."

Alexander wondered what the trigger was and when he'd find it.

"Do you know when that will be or what it is?"

"I know what it is, as to when it will occur. When she makes her choice. It is not yet time for her to choose."

"When will it be time?"

"You must be patient. In the fullness of time, all will be revealed."

"Great, more Ascended riddles."

"If you were one of us, you would understand the restraints upon us."

"Self imposed, from what I understand."

"Necessary."

"Are you offering Daniel a choice? Is that why you're here?"

"It is why I came. Then I saw you. You need hope too."

"Has Daniel made his choice?"

"He has."

"He's going with you, isn't he? What you offer is very appealing to him."

"Your father is the heart of his team, as you would have been for yours, but the heart needs support as well. When it doesn't get it, it withers. You both offer support to others and ask nothing in return. That does not mean you do not need it. I can not help your chosen father, but you can."

"I'll be there for him. Daniel's like a younger brother to him. Wait, chosen father? What does that mean?"

"That too, is something you will one day know. For now, it is time to say goodbye."

And Alexander found himself back in the infirmary.

"Stop." Jack said. "He doesn't want this."

"Someone else say something." General Carter asked.

"He's right." Alexander said. "Daniel's ready to go. We may not be ready to let him go, but we do need to honor his choice."

"Indeed. Daniel Jackson has said he is ready for this to end."

General Carter disengaged the healing device. Daniel sucked in a deep breath and became a glowing ball of light.

They felt his love and compassion wash over them and then he was gone.

"Safe journeys, Daniel. I hope you find what you're looking for." Alexander said. "I hope I find what I'm looking for. I hope we all do. And that what we find, is everything we hope it could be."

Later Alexander sat in his apartment thinking about what the Ascended had said to him. His memories were just locked away, he'd get them back some day. The girl and the others were real, not just dreams. He'd find her again someday. And Jack was his chosen father. Chosen how? The DNA test said they were related. Did the Ascended mean that given a choice he'd choose Jack over the man he couldn't remember, the one that had apparently abused him? Maybe. That would make sense, but Alexander wasn't sure that was all of it. And maybe most important, when would he get the answers to his questions? What was the choice she would have to make and when would she make it?