The sun was rising slowly above the sand dunes, as Daniel stood with Steven and Sarah. Sarah carrying the small urn holding the ashes of their mentor.
Daniel remembered being so excited to get the position with David Jordan, he had read all the man's published work, and what he was working on was within Daniel's field of expertise. He had looked up to the other man so much, until the day Daniel explained his own theories and David had told Daniel that he was ruining his career. The argument that ensued meant Daniel left, headed to LA to give his lecture which…he sighed as his mind shied away from that.
"Do either of you want to say anything before we spread his ashes?" Sarah asked, breaking the silence.
"Thank you for all you taught me," Steven murmured.
Daniel sighed, "I'm sorry I left without saying goodbye and that I didn't come back."
He felt a hand on his arm, glancing round he saw Sarah who gave him a sad smile before she opened the urn.
"Goodbye, David," she said before allowing the ashes to fall out and the small group watched as they caught in the wind and disappeared into the sand.
x
Daniel stood watching the sun rise while David's ashes mixed with the sand, thinking back to how naïve he was back when he knew the man they'd just said goodbye to, how he'd never imagined what was in front of him. Part of him thought it would have been better if he'd just listened to David and stopped going down that path which led him to the SGC. But the thought of never knowing Sha're was one he couldn't contemplate.
Despite how things had ended, their relationship was the greatest thing he'd ever been a part of, including the SGC. He would never wish that away.
Closing his eyes, Daniel pictured Sha're for a moment, remembering her smile and knew if she was here then she would be holding his hand tightly comforting him on the loss of his former mentor.
"Daniel?" Sarah's voice intruded on his daydream, "We're heading back."
Taking a slow breath as Sha're dissolved from his mind's eye, Daniel opened his eyes and nodded, "Of course. I need to get something to eat before starting work today."
Heading back to the dig, he could hear them talking to one another but ignored them. He allowed his mind to float back to his wife, knowing it was a bad idea because once she was there, their last moments together were all he could think of.
x
"I'm sorry, my Dan'iel."
"No," he whispered, holding her close, "You did nothing wrong. Teal'c is going to get a healer from Earth, and they'll make you better. Then we'll be together again, and I have so much to show you, so many amazing things I want you to see."
She sighed softly, resting into his embrace, "The baby?"
Looking at the stillborn child laying the basket beside her, he lied, "Sleeping."
"I know he is not yours but…"
"He's yours," Daniel told her, "That means I love him no matter what."
A cry of pain escaped her lips and Daniel winced, doing all he could to comfort her, hoping that Teal'c managed to get help in time. Sha're looked up at him, her big brown eyes filled with pain and sadness.
"I love you, Dan'iel," she breathed and closed her eyes.
Realising she'd stopped breathing, Daniel cried, "Sha're…Sha're…Sha're…"
x
Waking up, barely managing to stop himself screaming her name, Daniel took in a shaky breath. He hadn't dreamt of the moment she'd died in a few months, but as always it froze him.
Apophis had forced a child upon her, hidden her on Abydos as the Goa'uld within her slept during the pregnancy, then Heru-Ur had come, torturing Sha're until Ammonet died inside her, leaving her in premature labour. Daniel had barely a second to think when he was dragged to Nagada by Nebu to his former home where Sha're was screaming in pain.
He'd delivered the child, but the boy hadn't survived. Daniel had hoped that Sha're would if Teal'c managed to get help to them in time.
Teal'c and Janet arrived three minutes too late.
Daniel named the baby boy Mel, after his father, as Sha're had once suggested they name their firstborn son, before burying them together, along with his dreams of a happy life.
Daniel knew it was stupid, but he blamed the SGC for being the reason he unburied the Stargate that day. He couldn't stay any longer, couldn't do it anymore and after getting his medical on his return from Abydos went to his office, wrote a resignation letter, collected the journal from his year on Abydos along with his picture of Sha're before leaving. He headed back to his cold apartment, packed a few things, made a call and booked a plane ticket.
x
"You're here early," Ahmed said.
Daniel hit the button to slow the treadmill.
As it stopped, he stepped off and turned to the other man, "Couldn't sleep."
"Again," Ahmed frowned concerned.
Daniel shook his head, "My former colleagues brought the ashes of my former mentor to scatter. It dredged up some memories which then meant I started thinking of all I'd lost."
"I have allowed you to avoid talking for far too long, Daniel," the older man said, "This is not healthy for you."
"I know," Daniel sighed, he dropped his head, "I know but…"
"But?"
"Sha're was my world," Daniel said, his eyes closed he didn't see Ahmed's surprise at these words. Daniel rarely talked about her, and although Ahmed knew he'd lost his wife had never told the older man her name, "I loved her more than I knew was possible and…" he paused knowing there was a lot he couldn't tell the other man and finally settled on, "She died in my arms. I failed her and because of that, all I could do was hold her as she died."
He felt tears well up in his eyes, forcing them back, he suddenly found Ahmed hugging him.
"I'm so sorry," the older man whispered, "I wish you had told me before now. I could have…I could have listened."
Pulling away, Daniel sat down, "I never expected to meet anyone like her. She was brilliant, her mind was so quick but she was also funny, kind and caring," he paused and smiled, "She was the most beautiful woman I've ever known. Her smile was like sunshine."
"I know it is hard but what happened was not your fault," Ahmed sat across from him, "And she would not want you to hide away from the world. You have grieved, Daniel now it is time to forgive yourself."
"The problem is I don't know how," Daniel sighed.
Ahmed rested his hand on Daniel's shoulder, "You have to start by taking a step back into the world. Contacting the friends you left behind might be a good idea."
Daniel frowned as he thought of the people he left behind; he did miss them, but he still couldn't get rid of the anger he felt at the thought of the SGC and the people there.
"But right now," Ahmed said, "That you've spoken about her is a good way to start."
Daniel smiled slightly at his friend, "Thank you."
"You should go and get something to eat," Ahmed noted, "It is early but not too early that you shall be able to get any more sleep."
Nodding Daniel started towards the changing room before he stopped and turned back, "Thanks, Ahmed. I've always been able to count on you."
"Your parents were like family to me," Ahmed reminded him, "Which means so are you. I am always here if you need me."
"He's going to notice we're still here," Steven murmured as he ate breakfast, "How are we explaining that we haven't left?"
Sarah shrugged, "We're in no rush to return home, and wanted to help for a few days."
Steven rolled his eyes, "He's never going to believe that."
"The amulet and tablet have both been dated as over ten thousand years old," Sarah reminded him, "Can you imagine what will happen if we're the ones to discover proof?"
Steven nodded, he could because it was all he wanted, to be hailed for making such a huge discovery, especially when they would be the ones to prove Daniel's theories rather than him.
He knew it was a bit petty, but he'd always been in Daniel's shadow, even after he left. The thing that was confusing him was Sarah's enthusiasm for doing this behind Daniel's back.
"Look," Sarah continued, "After breakfast we head to the co-ordinates it gave us and see what we find. If it's nothing, then we've wasted what? Half a day. But if it is something then we will be hailed above every single one of our heroes. Future archaeologists will study us, Steven."
He rolled his eyes and agreed, "Fine."
Sarah beamed at him, "Trust me, I'm sure there is something fantastic waiting for us."
x
Daniel finished the morning update and left the tent, frowning in confusion when he saw that Sarah and Steven were not only still here, but climbing into one of the jeeps for the dig.
"Gary," he turned to the intern nearby, "Where are they going?"
Gary frowned, "I don't know. They said they needed the jeep for a few hours. You told us to let them have whatever they need while here."
"I know," Daniel soothed the worried intern, "All the jeeps have locators on them, right?"
Gary nodded, "Yeah."
"Thanks," Daniel told him, "I will be talking to Mikki if anyone is looking for me."
Before Gary could reply, Daniel headed to the tent which housed the communication equipment.
"Mikki," he greeted the woman sitting there. Although in her early fifties, she didn't look it, Mikki's hair was dyed bright red, she had dark brown eyes and a sharp wit that Daniel liked. She was a genius in electronics and had a hand in fixing or patching most of the equipment in the site. Currently she had a screwdriver in her mouth and was pulling apart a radio, "Need you to tell me where jeep three is going."
She mumbled something around the screwdriver before realising he hadn't understood, putting the radio down she took it out and repeated, "They're heading out into the desert, away from the dig location."
"Let me see," Daniel moved to her side and frowned as he watched the jeep going somewhere it shouldn't be, "Where are they going?"
Mikki waited while he thought.
"Okay," Daniel said, "I'm going after them. Do you have a working radio I can use for you to keep me on the right track?"
Mikki chuckled at his question and retrieved one of the radios from the cupboard, "Checked this morning and fully charged."
"Thanks."
Leaving the tent, he headed over to where the jeeps where sitting, "Adam," he said to the man standing there, "I'm taking a jeep out to find out where our guests are away to. Get everyone to work and I'll join once I get back."
Adam nodded, "Sure. Is there an issue with your friends?"
"Former colleagues," Daniel corrected, "And right now I'm not sure."
Climbing into the jeep, Daniel set the radio on the passenger seat and headed out of the camp.
x
"This is insane," Steven breathed as he followed Sarah into the temple they'd found, "I can't believe we found this."
Sarah chuckled softly, "Come on, a little deeper inside and we can start documenting."
"Documenting what?" Steven asked bemused, since they hadn't brought any equipment with them.
"Yes," Daniel's annoyed voice came from behind them, "Documenting what?"
Steven spun and winced seeing him standing there, "Hey."
"Well," Sarah said, amusement filling her voice, "It looks like I have two new slaves."
"What?" Steven and Daniel asked in unison.
Daniel grabbed Steven's arm as Sarah's eyes glowed, "Move."
But before they could, the path behind them disappeared as a wall appeared from nowhere. Steven stared as Sarah lifted something off a shelf beside her and slid it onto her right hand. She turned it over and pressed the jewel on the back. Before they could react, rings appeared from nowhere surrounding them and light filled his vision.
x
Daniel felt his gut clench in fear as the Goa'uld inside Sarah activated the rings, he held himself rigid ready for whatever happened and frowned to find himself inside a ship.
"Still here after all this time," the thing inside Sarah said, stroking Sarah's hand along the bulkhead.
Steven was frozen in confusion, watching Sarah stroll around while Daniel was checking if there was any way he could reactivate the rings to get them out of there.
"My new slaves," Sarah turned to them, "Take a seat. Soon you will be witness to my ascension."
"Your what?" Steven demanded confused, "Sarah, what the hell are you doing?"
"She's not Sarah," Daniel stated, before adding at the Goa'uld's intrigued look, "Are you?"
"You are clever," it stated, "But she knows that about you. I am Osiris."
"Osiris?" Steven and Daniel demanded in unison.
The Goa'uld laughed, "Such tiny mortals, your world is going to change and if you are as clever as my hosts believes you to be then you shall learn to keep your mouths shut. You are now slaves, and you will only survive by my will."
"Sarah," Steven stated, taking a small step forward only to be blasted by the hand device against the back wall.
"Hey," Daniel snapped running to check on the other man, "You didn't have to do that."
Osiris gave him a smug smile and turned her attention to the controls, "You might want to hold on."