Author's Note - Here is the final chapter.
Hope you enjoy.
Daniel stood, looking into the glass coffin that held his wife's body. Staring at her and trying to remain focussed. It had been such a long time, including death and ascension since he'd seen her in more than just the one photograph he had or his rapidly fading dreams.
He felt a twinge in his shoulder, followed by another and another making him frown in thought.
"You know," Ilana said softly in his ear, appearing at his side, "There is a way for you to survive. Worship her, lead her followers, and she shall have a place for you at her side."
Daniel turned to her, "You think I will help the thing that took my wife from me? You really don't know me at all."
"You would rather throw away your life?" Ilana laughed in disbelief, "Instead of being the consort of a Goddess."
Daniel shook his head, "I would be capitulating to the thing that stole my wife's life, that stole our lives together." He looked at her, his eyes darkening as he stated icily, "If Ammonet wakes up, I will kill her."
"You think that you will have a chance to do anything?" Ilana asked amused, "If you do not join of your own free will, then you shall become one of the slaves."
"If you're thinking that you or she can use any of the hypno-dust stuff on me," Daniel noted, "Don't bother, I've been dosed with every kind there is. It doesn't work on me anymore."
Ilana frowned slightly letting Daniel know she hadn't expected his answer.
"So," Daniel said, knowing he needed to buy some time, "How did you end up on Earth? Because you didn't come through the Stargate."
"I did," she smirked at him, "But not the one you use."
"I'm guessing through the second gate when Russia had it," Daniel grimaced.
Ilana smirked, "They were not as diligent with their security as they thought they were. I was able to come through, move body and bring my Goddess here. I then moved to one of the delegates during the negotiations and returned here with them."
"That's how you knew I died," Daniel stated, "You were part of what became the IOA."
"I knew I could build the worshippers for my queen until the time came for her to return if you were no longer there, as others were not as likely to put together the pieces," Ilana stated.
Daniel folded his arms, "And when you realised, I was at the lecture, that I was still alive you were sure I would be able to get you access to a sarcophagus. Right?"
"You know that I don't need you," Ilana said, "I can take you over and get access to all you know."
"Except the Asgard gave us the ability to ensure no Goa'uld can take any member of the SGC over," Daniel lied.
Ilana laughed, "You are a fool."
Daniel licked his lips, "Actually, that would be you." He pressed his hand on the glass between him and his wife before turning and walking to the other side of the room, "Did you know that every member of the SGC who goes offworld or works on a ship has a tracker implanted so that they can be located no matter where they are?"
Ilana frowned.
"From your look, I'm guessing no," Daniel said, "And the brilliant people I work with, not only found me, but let me know they're on their way."
"Now I know you're lying," Ilana snapped, "Because I crushed your earpiece and even if you had a second one this place is protected from signals."
"True," Daniel replied, "But presumably only from signals that can be detected by Earth technology, maybe Gould. Not Asgard or Ancient."
Ilana frowned uncertainly.
"Someone has sent a morse code signal through my tracker and luckily," Daniel grinned, "It's one of the languages I know."
He ducked as the door exploded off its hinges and an SG team ran in, their weapons aimed at Ilana. Behind them Sam and Pete entered, both with weapons ready. Daniel nodded to them before he moved quickly to stop any of the soldiers disturbing the coffin.
"Be careful," he said, "Sam, you need to see this."
Confused Sam, with Pete, walked over to the glass box and looked inside.
"Holy Hannah," Sam cried, "Sha're."
Pete stared at the woman in the box for a moment before stating, "Should I ask or pretend I saw absolutely nothing."
"I'd appreciate the second," Daniel stated softly.
Pete let out a sigh and offered his hand to Daniel, who shook it quickly before he turned to Sam, "Thanks for your help in locating our missing person, and several others. We may need to contact the SGC for help deprogramming them, and I think you guys should get any classified material out of here while I deal with the less classified stuff."
Sam smiled at him, "Let us know if you need anything else for this. It was good to see you."
He smiled as she gave him a quick hug, "You too."
x
Sam could see Daniel was holding on by a thread at the moment when they beamed up to the Daedalus, but she knew until he was alone, he wouldn't break.
"Did it work?" Rodney's voice made them turn to see him walking towards him, "I wasn't sure if the signal would be detectable through the tracker."
"It worked, though took me a second to get it was a message," Daniel replied softly.
"Why are you still here?" Sam demanded, "Aren't you meant to be visiting your sister?"
Rodney shrugged, "Wanted to check we got him back before I left. It would annoy me otherwise."
Sam chuckled, "I believe that and will tell Sheppard when he asks that was the reason."
Rolling his eyes, Rodney glanced at the glass coffin Daniel was standing beside, "Is that…"
Sam gave a soft shake of her head, cutting him off before she turned to her friend, "Daniel, you need to get the infirmary."
He grimaced before nodding, "Don't remove her from this until I'm there. If she is going to die again, I need to be with her."
"I promise," Sam whispered, she was about to hug him, but his slight shift backwards stopped her, "Rodney, can you send him to the SGC?"
Silently Rodney activated the transport leaving them alone with the clear box that held Daniel's wife.
"I hate he has to go through this again," Sam sighed.
Rodney cleared his throat to get her attention and noted, "We know the Goa'uld steal their tech, and this looks a bit like the ancient stasis pods. After we found the older version of Elizabeth, Radek and I did some research on them. Before we just take her out, can I have a look to see what it's doing to her?"
"Why not?" Sam shrugged, "Just don't disconnect her until Daniel is here."
"I won't."
Jack could hear voices getting more excited as he walked towards the lab in the SGC where Carter and McKay had summoned him to. He found the two of them discussing something passing a tablet between them.
Jack coughed letting them know he was there.
"Sir," Carter said, "I'm glad you're here."
He nodded softly before moving to the long glass coffin that was sitting in the centre of the room. Looking down he saw the beautiful young woman who had started a rebellion against the god her people had worshipped for thousands of years and saved his life. Who had loved and been loved by his best friend. Who'd been dead for several years and yet looked as though she was only sleeping.
"We think we can wake her up," McKay broke through his thoughts.
Jack stared at him, "What?"
"Rodney studied the stasis chambers in Atlantis," Carter explained, "This appears to be similar to that as well as the sarcophagus. From what we can tell, without opening it, is since she's been inside her wounds have been healed. If we're right and they have, then it's possible that her brain functions were reactivated as well just as the sarcophagus would do. It's different technology, we think an earlier model which is why it's both clear and didn't just heal her completely."
Jack opened his mouth for a moment before closing it. Part of him knew he shouldn't agree without Daniel's say so. Technically Daniel was her next of kin and should be the one making these decisions, but Jack couldn't give his friend false hope.
Finally, he nodded, "Okay, open it and see if you can revive her. But if it doesn't work, we make no mention of what we attempted to Daniel. Ever. Got it?"
They both nodded, "Got it."
x
After calling the infirmary for an update on Daniel, Jack returned to the lab where McKay and Carter were working, both looking intent on whatever they were doing on opposite sides of the room.
"Well?" Jack asked, making them turn to him.
"We're about to open it," Sam said, "Once we do, it will let Dr Taggart assess if we're right about her injuries. If we are then we'll transfer her into the Asgard pod we brought down, then we'll activate the Asgard regeneration systems and hopefully…"
Jack nodded when she trailed off, "Okay, let's see what happens."
Rodney moved to the controls at the side of the coffin, tablet in one hand as he checked the readings. He glanced up at Sam, and asked, "Are you ready?"
"Do it," she told him.
Taking a breath, Rodney deactivated the stasis field and allowed the lid to open. He stepped back allowing Dr Taggart to come in and review the status of her patient.
Jack watched, holding his breath praying for a good outcome.
"Well," Rodney asked.
Taggart nodded, "All her injuries have been healed."
"I'm detecting brainwaves," Rodney called.
"Whose is it though?" Sam noted, "Because when she died there would have been two."
"Are you sensing any Goa'uld?" Jack asked,
Sam shook her head, "No, but the chamber could be masking it."
"Only one way to know," Rodney stated, "We wake her up."
Jack grimaced, "Is there no other way to find out?"
Sam shook her head, "Afraid not."
With a grimace, Jack moved to the locker on the wall and pulled out an intar, "Just in case."
"Okay," Rodney took a deep breath, "Let's do this. Activating the regeneration sequence."
Silence filled the room, the only sound the slight hum from the regenerator and Jack focussed on the face of the woman they were hoping would waken. He watched seeing her suddenly take in a deep breath, and her face scrunch as she was pulled back to consciousness.
"It worked," Sam said softly amazement filling her voice.
"But who's waking up?" Rodney asked
Jack moved to Sha're's side, his right hand holding the gun at his side, ready to fire if he had to.
The young woman opened her eyes, darting around, her breaths coming in short gasps. Jack moved into her view, seeing confusion but slight relief in her eyes,
"O…O…O'Neill," she croaked.
Smiling that it was definitely his friend's wife, Jack passed the weapon to Sam and caught Sha're's hand.
"You're okay," he soothed, taking the cup Taggart handed him, "Here, drink this."
She allowed him to place the straw in her mouth and drank the water.
"Thank you," she whispered when she finished.
Jack grinned, "It's so good to see you. I want you to relax, okay. I know you're confused and probably a little scared but you're safe here. I promise."
"Dan'iel?" she whispered.
"He's fine," Jack told her, seeing her relax at those words, "He's just being checked out by the doctor after getting himself in some trouble."
"What?" Sha're gasped slightly.
"Nothing bad," Jack assured, "Just Daniel being Daniel. You know what he's like, but I promise he's fine."
Sha're relaxed, smiling slightly at Jack's grin before saying, "I am free from my demon."
Jack stroked her hair comfortingly, "You are."
She closed her eyes for a moment before looking up at him once more with a smile, "I never dreamed this would be possible."
"Neither did I." he told her. He glanced over and saw Dr Taggart coming over with a gurney, "So, this is Dr Taggart. She's going to take you to our infirmary," he paused for a moment before explaining, "It's where our healers look after people who are sick and injured. Or have just come back."
Sha're glanced over to where the doctor waited.
"They'll take care of you," Jack told her, "And I'll go round up your wayward husband. Okay?"
Sha're nodded. Squeezing her hand, Jack stepped back allowing the doctor to move her onto the gurney. Once she was on her way to the infirmary, Jack nodded at Carter and McKay before he left the room, he couldn't wait to tell his best friend the good news.
Daniel stood gripping the edge of his desk, trying to get himself focussed before he returned to the Daedalus. Where he would sit by Sha're's side, hold his wife's hand and watch her die.
For the third time.
He wouldn't leave her alone at that moment, he would be with her, because it was all he could do now.
He just needed a couple of minutes to get in the right headspace, to be able to focus on being with her as a comforting presence and not screaming at the world how unfair this all was.
"Daniel," Jack's voice made him glance back to find his friend standing there.
"I didn't know if you would be able to come," Daniel said softly, not moving from his spot knowing Jack would understand why he wasn't looking at him.
He couldn't break until after. Jack wouldn't mind a houseguest for a few days while he got through this. But until it was over, he had to stay focussed.
"I just talked to Carter," Jack told him.
Daniel nodded, "I just need a few minutes before I let her go again. And I know what you're going to say."
"You do?"
"That maybe this is a good thing for me," Daniel continued, "That I'll be able to move on now, that I'll have proper closure and be able to find someone new." He shook his head, "But why do I have to? I'm content with my life and after all this time, I don't think I could share a home with anyone again."
"I…"
"You remarried your ex-wife," Daniel rolled his eyes cutting Jack off, "That doesn't count."
"Daniel…"
Shaking his head, Daniel cut his friend off again, "I'm hoping you'll be able to help me ensure she's buried with my parents. I can't take her home this time, so I want her to be with them. Where they can look after one another."
"Jackson," Jack snapped, making Daniel turn to him confused, softening his voice Jack stated, "Sha're's awake and asking for you."
Confused, Daniel asked, "What?"
"Carter, McKay and Taggart did a few tests on the coffin thing, it's a bit like the Ancient stasis pods and has some similar components to the sarcophagus, basically it healed her injuries and she's been in stasis," Jack explained, "They used the Asgard regeneration pod to bring her out of stasis."
Daniel stared at him, trying to find the words but they wouldn't come.
"I was with her when she woke up," Jack assured, "She's a little confused, but she's fine. I told her I'd come get you while Taggart took her to the infirmary."
Daniel continued to stare at his friend, absorbing the news. Finally, he ran out the room and down to the infirmary. He skidded to a stop just outside, where he could see inside but he couldn't be seen and there she was.
Sha're was sitting listening to the nurse who was taking Sha're's blood pressure explain what she was doing. Sha're looked nervous at the strange place she was in, but she was alive, and Daniel felt tears slip along his cheeks as he stared at her. It had been so long since they'd been together, so long that he'd had a hole in his heart where she should have been.
"She's real," Jack said softly from his side, "And needs you as much as you need her."
He turned to his best friend, "She's really here?"
Jack nodded.
Wiping his eyes and taking a deep shaking breath, Daniel stepped into the room.
"Dan'iel," relief filled Sha're's voice the moment she saw him.
When he reached the bed, Daniel rested his hand on her cheek and smiled, "I have missed you."
A brilliant smile touched her lips and Sha're slid her arms around his neck pulling him to her. Daniel kissed her softly before hugging her, burying his face in her hair and feeling her fingers gently slide through his.
"I miss your long hair," she whispered.
Daniel chuckled, "I'll grow it again." He pulled back and looked into her eyes, "I'll do anything you want."
Sighing Sha're pulled him close once more, "Just don't let me go."
"Never again," he promised.
x
Daniel sat with his arm wrapped around Sha're who was cuddled against him on the bed of the VIP room he used whenever he stayed on the base. She had been released from the infirmary with orders to see the doctor if she felt even slightly unwell then she was to come back to the infirmary.
Jack, Sam and Teal'c were sitting around the bed, finishing off their drinks from lunch.
"What happened with Ilana and the missing people?" Daniel asked.
"The Tok'ra came and degoulded Ilana," Jack told him.
"Good," Sha're said softly, "How is the host?"
Jack shrugged, "Being looked after. She was infected here on Earth, so had no frame of reference for what happened to her."
"If possible," Sha're said, "I would like to speak with her. I may be able to help."
Daniel frowned worriedly, "Are you sure?"
"I have been through the same thing," Sha're reminded him, "But I have you, she will have no one."
Pride shone in Daniel's eyes as he hugged her close before kissing her.
"As for the rest of the missing people," Sam took over, "They were dosed with Nishta, so we used an electric shock to free them. Pete has managed to get his superiors to agree that they speak to our people about what happened to them. It means we can ensure no information gets out we don't want people to know. He's also got a commendation for closing so many cases in one go."
Jack chuckled, "Nice to know we helped him in his career."
"Well thanks to him Sha're's home," Daniel noted, smiling as his wife hugged him "So I'm fine with him getting the credit."
Sam's phone rang, she frowned confused looking at who was calling, "It's Rodney." She moved away slightly before answering it.
Jack turned to the couple sitting on the bed, "I hear you've taken a few weeks off."
"For now," Daniel said, "But when Sha're is allowed out from the doctors' supervision we're going to travel a little."
"Travel?" Teal'c asked.
Sha're smiled, "To see some of the places that Dan'iel told me about."
"Once we get back," Daniel said, "I'm stepping down from SG1."
"You are?" Teal'c and Jack demanded in unison.
Daniel glanced at his wife who smiled at him before he replied, "I've so much more to keep me on Earth these days and a life I finally get to have."
"Do the final two members of SG1 know this yet?" Jack asked amused.
"Rodney," Sam stated sharply, "Hold on, just let me put you on speaker."
"Problems, McKay?" Jack demanded.
Irritation filled Rodney's voice as he asked, "Can you please tell my sister, the reason I was late getting to her house was because I was helping you with a project? And I wasn't doing anything dangerous or life threatening."
Jack chuckled, "Mrs Miller?"
"Listening in," Rodney's sister Jeannie replied.
"Rodney stuck around to help us," Jack assured her, "And was not in any situation life threatening. I assure you."
"See," the annoyed brother demanded.
They all chuckled, and Sam put the phone off speaker to finish the conversation with the other scientist.
"You didn't answer O'Neill's question," Teal'c noted to Daniel.
Daniel shrugged, "I'll tell them after we get back."
Sha're held her husband's hand and stated, "Right now we wish to be together without any drama or arguing. I know how hard this is for Dan'iel and those he now travels with may take the news badly. We agreed only those who understand without needing a long explanation why he has made this choice will know for now."
Jack watched the couple before looking at Sam and Teal'c, smiling at how far they'd come since the first day he'd stepped through the Stargate.
"That makes perfect sense," Jack stated, he raised his mug to her, "Welcome home, Sha're."
The others raised their drinks to her and repeated his sentiment.
Daniel smiled at his wife, who smiled back happy to be together and looking forward to their life together.