Friends and Enemies Part 4

By: Stacy L.

Captain Janet Fraiser, Doctor Samantha Carter and Colonel Jack O'Neill spoke with General Hammond regarding Daniel and his sudden arrival on the base. They explained to him that this man was not their Daniel but a man from an alternate reality. After explaining Daniel's sudden appearance at the SGC, after such a long absence, they asked for the opportunity to again travel back to PQR-189 and at least make an attempt at returning the man to his rightful time. At first General Hammond had a very hard time accepting what his team was telling him, but through the years he had learned to trust them. There were so many things out there that they still didn't know about. Yes, they had managed to get the Stargate working, with the help of Doctor Jackson, but there was an entire universe out there left undiscovered. It was really no surprise to him when they came to him speaking of alternate realities. Now if they would have come to him years ago with the same ideas he would have laughed them right out of the base. One thing he had learned since the beginning of the Stargate Project was that almost anything was possible.

Hammond agreed that they could travel to the planet that Daniel came from to help him return to his own reality. He told them to bring their Daniel back, even with a symbiote in him. Hammond told them to pack tranquilizer guns just in case the symbiote within Doctor Jackson was hostile. Daniel had tried, unsuccessfully, to convince the General that he had nothing to fear from the symbiote. He tried to explain to Hammond what a Tok'ra was and that he had nothing to fear but much like his own Hammond, the man wanted to take precautions to keep the people at the SGC safe. The team was scheduled to deploy within the hour. Hammond only hoped that their mission was a success...

General Hammond observed his team from the control room. He watched as two members of SG-1, and an alternate Doctor Jackson, walked up the ramp towards the activated Stargate. He was rather surprised to see that Jack and this Daniel were getting along. He was very proud of the members of the SGC and particularly of this team. He had doubts though as to whether this team would ever completely work together. Every member of O'Neill's team, including Doctor Jackson, was very important. They each had their own strengths; they just had to find a way to be able to work together. He had known that for the past four years SG-1 has been constantly bickering. The tensions between Doctor Jackson and Colonel O'Neill only made things so much worse for Doctor Fraiser and their newest member Captain James Vincent. Hammond only hoped that this man would stay with SG-1. No one wanted to work with SG-1 because of the high tensions flowing between Jackson and O'Neill. People would often stare at the team and wonder how they even survived from one mission to the next. None of them understood why Captain Fraiser also continued to stay with the team. It was very obvious to everyone that the team wasn't working out the way teams were supposed to. People couldn't fathom why Jackson even hung around when it was very obvious the Colonel hated the man. Yet, instead of leaving the team, Jackson remained and dealt with O'Neill's hatred of him. Maybe Jackson felt that he deserved all the verbal abuse and back lashings he had received from his CO every single day. No one knew why he stayed. Colonel O'Neill treated Doctor Jackson horribly. Why would the man still remain with SG-1 when he knew that his CO despised him? No one understood why. People also wondered why O'Neill had never requested Jackson be replaced. He couldn't stand Jackson yet he refused to demand a replacement for the archaeologist. No one understood what went on in the minds of the members of SG-1. The team itself was as complex as its members.

General Hammond found himself hoping and praying that this new change in O'Neill would remain permanent. The man was so cold and so closed off to everyone. He was too blind to even realize how much Doctor Jackson still cared for him. Hammond knew that Jackson could have left SG-1 a long time ago. In fact, he had even suggested Jackson put in for a transfer on several different occasions. Jackson would simply shake his head and say that he belonged with SG-1. He would stay with Jack O'Neill even if the man despised him. He would tell Hammond that he had to stay. Hammond could only shake his head in wonder at the man. Jackson was one strong son of a bitch to be able to take the abuse that O'Neill constantly heaped on him day in and day out. Of course, he had never seen O'Neill actually argue with Daniel or shove him around like was so often rumored did occur, but he suspected that O'Neill was very abusive towards Jackson. He was mainly verbally abusive, but every time he confronted Jackson about some rumor he had heard Jackson would deny it. He would defend O'Neill to the death. Hammond could never quite comprehend how the man could be so faithful to someone who despised him. Doctor Daniel Jackson was truly a very special person. One who didn't deserve the kind of abuse he so often received at the hands of his CO.

Hammond had liked Doctor Jackson from the beginning. He didn't warm up to Jackson right away, but it hadn't taken very long. He had been very uncertain whether a civilian could make it in a military operation. Jackson had quickly earned Hammond's respect. Hammond liked the kid a lot and even defended him often. Many members of the SGC would spread rumors around regarding Jackson; Hammond had quickly put a stop to that. People would joke about Jackson and treat him as if he wasn't really worth much all because of the way his CO treated him. Most of the members of the SGC figured that if Jackson would willingly allow his CO to treat him so horribly then they should also. When one saw a leader who treated a member of his team as if he was unimportant it wasn’t a surprise that others would follow in suit. Leadership by example was a very important factor when working with others. Leaders should try their best to demonstrate positive behaviors to those who weren't leaders. Colonel O'Neill was doing a piss poor job at leading by example. Hammond knew that he was a damned fine leader. O'Neill was one of the best but he was definitely not a positive role model for others to follow. No one should ever treat another the way O'Neill has been treating Jackson. No one!

Hammond had called O'Neill into his office numerous times regarding his behavior and actions towards Doctor Jackson and, for a while, the man would stop being so hateful but that would quickly come to an end. Hammond knew that he should just get rid of O'Neill because the man was so bitter, but he had hoped the man would find himself some how. He also sensed that Doctor Daniel Jackson just might be the one person who could change that very stubborn, angry Colonel if the man would just give the kid a chance.

The kid was very smart, and not just book smart either. His morals and values were very strong. He respected everyone and everything. He forgave easily and had infinite patience, especially when it came to one very irate Colonel. He had compassion and he treated everyone with respect and dignity...even those who hurt him. Daniel Jackson could forgive any indiscretion. He was one of those rare humans who were strongly needed but hard to come by. He was a very special person, indeed, but that special ness of Jackson's unfortunately came with a high price. He often ended up hurt, used and abused. Life was so unfair. Hammond couldn't comprehend how Jackson could still be so honest and compassionate after all he's been through and seen. The poor kid had a very rough childhood...parents died right in front of him when he was only eight...Then he was sent to foster homes where, more often than not, he was beaten and abused by the ones who were supposed to protect and care for him. He had escaped his horrible abuse by becoming engrossed in books.

Jackson had a passion for learning. He was always hungry for knowledge that was one of the reasons why Hammond had been more than a little willing to back up Jackson's request years ago for the SGC to start studying the cultures of the people they came into contact with. When the Stargate Program had first started the directive was simple: find and locate any possible allies and technology that Earth could use in their defense. Jackson had proposed that they also study the cultures and the people who inhabited each planet. Hammond had seen the passion in the young man's eyes and couldn't resist it. He stamped Jackson's request with his seal of approval and sent it off to the Oval Office in hopes that the President would also see the importance in studying the cultures his teams came into contact with. He smiled as he remembered the day he gave Jackson the President's decision on his proposal. The kid had thought he was called to his office to be reprimanded. Doctor Jackson stood there speechless when he had been told the good news. Then the kid smiled broadly, broader than Hammond had ever seen before. He had felt great when he saw how excited and happy Daniel was about the decision, and was glad that something had actually gone right for Jackson once.

Hammond noticed now that most people respected the man. Jackson was one of the few people who actually knew the names of every staff member in the SGC, even down to the janitors. He had made a point to get to know everyone and treated everyone as equals. His ability to quickly forgive and his unlimited amount of compassion is what drew people to him like a magnet. Daniel Jackson had one of those magnetic personalities. He was really easy to like once you got to know him. Most people's first impressions of Jackson were usually dead wrong. His quietness gave people the impression that he felt as if he were better than everyone. His high intelligence ended up intimidating others instead of impressing them. People placed the typical stereotypes on Jackson that most people tagged a "boy genius" would receive and that ended up making them not even want to get to know the man. Of course, Jackson couldn't help but talk to people. He quickly proved everyone wrong. He was not the person everyone had expected a brilliant scientist to be. He didn't view himself higher than anyone and he didn't judge people. Jackson was a very honest man. Hammond just wished that one day O'Neill would open his damned eyes and see just how lucky he was to have a friend like Daniel Jackson at his side. He knew that the reason Daniel never asked to leave SG-1, or to leave Jack, was because he still cared deeply for O'Neill and still felt that Jack was a friend and felt that Jack was obviously still worthy of forgiveness. It took a very strong, very special individual to do what Jackson has been doing the past four years of his life. It took a very strong man, indeed, to stand there and take the abuse but still care deeply for a man that he knew despised him. Doctor Jackson was an amazing human being.

General Hammond's eyes were drawn back to the Stargate as the three people stepped into the wormhole. All he could think of was to wish them good luck and to hope that everything would work out for the better. As he watched the iris on the gate close behind the travelers he turned and left the room. On his way to his office he spotted Doctor Carter quickly leaving the embarkation room. Where had she been standing? He had never even seen the woman standing down there, but seeing Doctor Carter exit the room proved that she had been there. She probably stayed in the embarkation room to watch the three depart. He cleared his throat then said, "Excuse me, Doctor?"

Doctor Carter halted turning to face General Hammond. She quickly responded, "Uh, yes sir. Do you need something?"

General Hammond stared at her momentarily. He couldn't help but notice the faintest trails of glimmering wetness that had streamed down the woman's face. He knew what those streams of moisture were from. He was very concerned for Doctor Carter. Ever since her husband's sudden disappearance she hasn't been the same. He could tell that she deeply loved her husband and that his absence was slowly tearing her apart. God, he hoped that Captain Fraiser and Colonel O'Neill wouldn't come back empty handed this time. They needed to locate Doctor Jackson and return him to his rightful place. Doctor Carter was a very strong woman, but General Hammond wasn't sure how much longer she could bear to be alone. How much longer could she stand there waiting for her husband to walk down that ramp? He shook his head and cleared his mind as he attempted to reassure her with words, "Doctor...they'll bring him back somehow. You have to know that they’ll do everything they can to get him back."

"Wha...What?"

Doctor Carter stared at General Hammond for only a few short moments. Was her face really that readable? She shook her head then focused on what General Hammond was saying. God, she had to get herself under control. She couldn't keep going on like this. The loss of her husband made her heart break in two. She had lost everyone...everyone who had ever meant anything to her. She had hoped that Daniel Jackson would be the one person who would never leave her. He had promised that he would never leave her and yet he was gone. She knew that his disappearance wasn't intentional, but it didn't make dealing with his absence any easier. She still searched for him. She often found herself staring into the night sky knowing that her husband was out there somewhere just not knowing where. She would always make her way some how to the embarkation room, as well. She wanted to be there when her husband finally returned to her. She kept returning again and again to that embarkation room getting her hopes up momentarily only to have them again dashed as some SG team would walk through the gate returning from a mission. She kept hoping and praying that one day she would look at that wall of rippling liquid, that made up the event horizon, and see Daniel walking through it. God Daniel, where the hell are you and why did you leave me? She knew that if he could be with her right now then he would be. Daniel loved her as much as she loved him. She just had a very hard time accepting that he wasn't here. She hoped that he would one day return to her.

She glanced up at the General as he continued, "Doctor Jackson would never willingly avoid his wife. He loves you too much to just disappear on you like that."

"But he's possessed now... He's not the same person."

"Doctor, I have known Daniel Jackson for a while now and I know that he’s strong. If he’s possessed by a Goa'uld he’s still alive. I know that he is. He just needs a little bit of help to escape the prison the Goa'uld placed him in. He's very strong, Doctor. I know if he could that he would be here with you right now."

"What if we can't...?"

"We have some ideas on how to separate the symbiote now. Doctor Jackson will be fine."

"Yes sir."

Sam swallowed hard wanting so much to believe the General but finding it very difficult. He said that they could separate her husband from the parasite that now inhabited him. But if they did separate him from that parasite would she get her husband back or just an empty shell of the man who used to be there? She shivered at those thoughts.

The alternate Daniel had told her that her husband could be saved and that he was still intact. He also told her that he might now be sharing his body with a Tok'ra. If that was the case he may not wish to be separated from the creature now inhabiting him. Could she accept her husband back into her life if he had another...being inside himself? Yes, she could. She knew that it would be a very difficult decision to make, if such was the case, but if she could get her Daniel back... she would do anything. She would even accept the symbiote within him. If he said that he didn't desire separation then she would willingly honor his decision. She loved him too much to force him to make a choice. She decided that when the time came she would listen to her husband and to what he was saying. She would honor his decision. She just wanted him back with her. She needed her husband with her. If she could only get her husband back by accepting the creature within him, as well, then she would do it. She looked up at General Hammond when the man's voice softened a bit as he suggested, "Doctor, maybe you should take the rest of the evening off. You look rather tired. I'll call you if there is any news."

"No thanks General, I think I'll just stay here."

"You know where to find me if you need anything...anything at all."

"Yes, I do."

She nodded then turned to head to her office. What she needed was some time alone. She needed time to think and time to deal with all the emotions that were struggling to the surface. She had fought hard not to allow the General to see her despair, her rage and her depression. She kept her feelings closed off. She refused to open up to anyone about how she felt. She had to remain strong. She knew that she was pushing herself, but she also knew that if she revealed just how much Daniel's disappearance has been affecting her then she would be told to take a forced leave. She didn't want to be forced to take a vacation. She needed to be here on the base in case her husband came through that gate. She wanted to be here when the day finally came.

Sam started to walk down the hallway towards her office aware that the General was watching her. Instead of looking back she picked up her pace. She could feel the tears threatening to spill over and didn't want to cry in the man's presence so she quickly made it to her infirmary and closed the door, closing out the world as she dealt with her despair over the loss of her husband.

Hammond watched as Doctor Carter walked towards her infirmary. She missed Daniel a lot; Hammond could tell that she did. She was very upset that her husband was missing, but she was handling herself very well under the circumstances. As he watched Doctor Carter enter her infirmary his mind flashed to thoughts of SG-1. Would their mission be a success? Would they be able to locate Doctor Jackson or would he remain missing in action a while longer? He hoped the man would be found soon. He shook his head sadly and sent a silent prayer to the heavens for the safe return of one Doctor Daniel Jackson then he entered his office and started his paperwork.

* * * *

Colonel Jack O'Neill was the first one to step out of the Stargate and onto PQR-189, followed closely by Doctor Jackson and Captain Fraiser. He didn’t know what to expect, but as his eyes beheld the planet's surface he was awed.

Daniel heard him mutter, "Whoa,” and smiled as he saw the man was eyeing up the ring of rocks. Daniel quickly made his way over to the man who looked so much like his friend but wasn't his Jack. Then he said, "It's amazing, isn't it Colonel?"

"This is so cool."

Daniel smirked in response to that comment. Captain Fraiser came up beside him asking, "So this is where you were...?"

"Switched? Yes."

"Wow..."

Daniel glanced at Captain Fraiser as her eyes filled with awe and excitement as she looked on the brilliant circle of stones. He found himself smiling stupidly as he enjoyed watching the expressions on their faces as they viewed the ring of rocks that enthralled him. Obviously he wasn't the only one who admired the ancient structures. It was nice to know that these two were admiring the rocks as much as he had. A thread of excitement and enchantment seemed to tinge the air around them as all three stared at the structure that looked very similar to Stonehenge. Daniel interrupted Captain Fraiser's thoughts saying, "Now you see why I couldn't resist investigating it."

"Yes, we most certainly do."

Colonel O'Neill was watching Jackson's face noticing that sense of wonder and curiosity that was so much a part of the young man. This alternate Daniel was so similar to his own Daniel that it was amazing. He saw that glint of excitement in those eyes as the young archaeologist stared intently at the awesome structure before them. Jack found that he hoped to see that same glint in his Daniel's eyes some time in the future. He quickly ended that thought saying, "Well kids let's get this show on the road."

"Yeah right," came Daniel's response.

Jack watched as the man started moving towards the structure. He could read the apprehension in the young man. He knew what was going on in the man's head. What if this didn't work? What if he couldn't get home? What if he was trapped in this reality forever? Jack found that he was hoping this would work. He watched as Doctor Jackson approached the ring of stones then hesitantly stepped into the center. Nothing happened. He noticed Jackson becoming increasingly more worried and fearful.

Captain Fraiser suddenly spoke up, "Doctor Jackson, are you all right?"

"It didn't work...Why? What am I forgetting?"

Jack watched the young man remembering how his Jackson used to be before that horrid trip to Abydos, a lot had changed in the last four years. A lot had changed between him and Doctor Jackson, as well. How had he let their relationship deteriorate so far? Jack could only shake his head feeling remorseful. He had done so many horrible things in the last four years and Jackson had been the recipient of most of those things. How could he ever repair a friendship that was so badly damaged? He wondered what possessed Jackson to remain under his command for so many years. As he watched this Daniel studying the markings on the pillars and trying to understand why he hadn't activated the...whatever sent him here he couldn't help but think of the friend he had so cruelly pushed away all those years ago.

Would this work? Would this mysterious ring of rocks successfully switch Daniel back? Would their Daniel be returned to them or would something else happen? Jack hoped that this would work. It had to work. This Daniel didn't belong in this reality. He needed to get back home.

Jack watched the man as he refused to give up. He could see Jackson's face contorted in deep concentration. He was thinking. He was trying to figure out why the ring of rocks hadn't done what they were supposed to do. He felt suddenly uneasy and tried to figure out why. He had no idea why he felt so edgy at the moment. He sensed that something was wrong. He tried to ignore the nagging hint of danger by glancing at Fraiser as she suggested to Daniel, "Perhaps you...wait, what were you doing right before it happened? Were you touching...?"

"Touching?"

Daniel jumped in sudden excitement scanning the pillar of hieroglyphs uttering, "Yes, this pillar...I was translating...then I stepped in the circle and..." He glanced up at Colonel O'Neill feeling a sudden sense of deja vu sweep over him as he saw the expression on the Colonel's face. Daniel could tell that the Colonel was suddenly very nervous. He commented, "That’s exactly how Jack looked right before..."

Daniel reached out and touched a hieroglyph, the same one he had been touching when he had arrived here. Suddenly bright light encircled him and blinded him. The light was so luminous that he had to clench his eyes tightly shut as the brightness seared at his vision. He became aware that he was suddenly falling fast. He felt himself impacting something...hard. His last clear thought before blackness swallowed him up was the ground...he must've struck the ground. Then he was aware of nothing but the encroaching darkness as he blacked out.

Captain Fraiser stared in shock as Daniel Jackson was suddenly enveloped in a brilliant white light. She tried to focus on him, tried to keep him in her line of sight, but it was too bright. She had to turn away and close her eyes. When she turned back Daniel Jackson was gone. She felt chills climb her spine as she noticed the man had vanished. Where the hell did he go? She spoke up half in fear, "Colonel?"

"Uh?" asked Jack as he tried to refocus waiting for his vision to clear.

"Colonel?"

"What?"

"He's gone, sir...Daniel's...gone."

Jack looked up quickly seeing no one but Captain Fraiser and an empty circle of brilliant rocks. Daniel Jackson was gone. Jack felt the loss stab at him again. Again he had found Daniel only to lose him once more. God, he found that he wanted so much to speak with his Daniel again. Even if his friend now was a host he found that he...actually missed him. He had to fix this. He had to repair their destroyed friendship, but could the friendship even be repaired after all the damage? He hoped so; God, he was such an ass.

Jack shook his head and jumped as Captain Fraiser gently touched his shoulder, placing a comforting hand there. Jack glanced up smiling at her gratefully. She smiled back. Well, maybe there was still hope...hope for him and Daniel and hope for his team. God, did he just say hope? What the hell was hope any way? How long has it been since he actually believed in it?

He prayed that he wasn't too late...that he hadn't come to his senses too late to do anything about his own stupidity...

Daniel, where are you?

As Jack wondered where Daniel was he became aware of just how hard his path to redemption would be. He had so many things he regretted and so many things to atone for. He wouldn't blame Jackson if the man hated him for the rest of his life.

Jack also knew that the darkness still was within him and he still automatically wanted to push people away instead of drawing them closer. He knew that he would hurt Daniel Jackson again he just hoped that he could some how dig his way out of the nearly impossibly deep hole he had managed to dig for himself over the course of the last four years.

* * * * * *

Doctor Daniel Jackson slowly awoke as he heard a whispered warning in the back of his mind, "You must get up. You are in danger, young one!"

Young one? What was going on? Who was talking to him? Where the hell was he? He tried to focus but his head throbbed. Was his head supposed to hurt like it was? He heard another warning, "GET UP!"

Daniel's eyes flew open in response to that demanding voice. The voice wasn't in his mind that time, no, it was near him, above him. He was no longer alone. He sat up quickly groaning as his world did a quick spiraling flop before his eyes. He closed his eyes as he tried to recall what had happened. He realized that there was ground underneath him. Then he sensed...a crowd, he felt crowded. He opened his eyes glancing upwards as a voice said, "Well, if it isn't the illustrious Doctor Daniel Jackson."

Before Daniel could fully register that this stranger knew his name he saw movement off to his left and felt something hard connect with his head. Daniel groaned loudly as sudden pain exploded across his left temple and behind his eyes. He started seeing bright light then he remembered... PQR-189, the stones… He had been in an alternate reality and now he was home...or somewhere close to home.

As that last thought entered Daniel's mind he could no longer focus as the invading blackness closed in on him again. He faintly heard a voice reassure him, "Do not be afraid, young one. I will get you help."

Then the possessive darkness reclaimed its victim seizing Daniel and again pulling him under into the endless abyss of unconsciousness…

The man who struck Daniel laughed victoriously as the young archaeologist slumped to the ground. What luck! He never, in a million years, would've expected to run into the annoying archaeologist his boss wanted to eventually procure. He had been surprised, at first, to see the man in the ring of stones. He moved in to investigate when he noticed whom the person was laying on the grass. He moved towards the man to get a closer look at his face and recognized him, immediately. Well, well the SGC's prized linguist/archaeologist/anthropologist had some how ended up here...alone. No sign of Colonel O'Neill or Major Carter and definitely no sign of that huge Jaffa, Teal'c. It was perfect. He never would've expected SG-1 to leave one of their members totally alone, but they had…well SG-1's loss and their gain. Besides they needed the man. He could read Goa'uld. In fact, he was the only person on Earth...other than that Jaffa, Teal'c, who knew the language. They needed a linguist and Doctor Jackson just happened to be the one they sought but expected never to get, such was not the case any longer. They had Doctor Daniel Jackson now and Murray wasn't about to let the man go. He looked up at one of his teammates and ordered, "Jameson, secure the good Doctor's wrists."

"With what?"

"Rope for now. Behind his back...tightly… He’s notorious for slipping through people's fingers. We need him."

Jameson bent down over the now unconscious archaeologist eyeing up the new gash across the man's temple. He could see that blood was already running down the side of the young man's head into his hair and down across his neck. Damn, that looked bad enough to cause a concussion! He quickly flipped the unconscious man onto his stomach and, drawing Jackson's arms behind his back, set to work lashing the young archaeologist's wrists together. After he was finished he glanced up at Murray who was now watching his other team members. Jameson shakily bent down over the young archaeologist preparing to lift the man up into his arms when Murray said, "Okay, dial us up!"

Jameson watched as Reid dialed Earth's address on the DHD and the rest of his team headed through the Stargate. Murray glanced back at him, and he quickly gathered the unconscious scientist up into his arms cradling him as if he were a child, one arm under Jackson's knees supporting his legs and the other across his shoulders and back. He inhaled sharply as Jackson's head lolled gently against his chest. He could hear the man's breathing and as he glanced down into the youthful face of Jackson he felt extremely guilty. My God, they were abducting the man for crying out loud! Stealing artifacts was one thing but abducting someone was something entirely different! He couldn't believe that he was doing this.

He heard his Commanding Officer holler for him to move it and quickly covered all emotion up. If he allowed his CO to see that he was now concerned for their prisoner he wouldn't be able to offer help that he was sure the man would eventually need. God, how had he gotten himself into this mess? He was aiding and abetting an abduction for crying out loud!

He found himself suddenly wondering where the hell was the rest of Jackson's team? Where the hell was SG-1, and why the hell would they leave their teammate behind? Did they even know or realize that Jackson was being abducted right under their noses? He doubted it and knowing that made him feel all the more uneasy. He knew his boss was in need of a translator. He was also in need of someone who could contact the higher technological races: the Asgard, the Tollan, the Nox, the Tok'ra...unfortunately those four races would never respond to them if they attempted contact, but if Jackson contacted them... He was sure they would respond if Jackson contacted them and knowing that didn't sit well with him, at all. He became a very valuable prisoner, indeed. One who would never willingly do anything his boss was positive he would.

Jameson knew how stubborn Jackson could be, and he also knew how protective the man could be...even of a race of beings he barely knew. His boss was sure Jackson would break. Jameson knew he wouldn't. If he sensed any danger for those beings he'd protect them at all costs, at the risk of his own life that was just how this young scientist was. He knew it and that would mean it would get very bad, very quickly for the young man. His boss didn't like the young scientist all that much. He was angry with Jackson for some past transgression he thought the man had caused. Jameson couldn't let them do this. He had to stop them. He had to help Jackson, but how?

His CO glared at him ordering him to move again. Jameson quickly complied stepping into the wormhole feeling his molecules, and that of the young man in his arms, breaking down as they were transferred from one planet to another. He knew Doctor Jackson was now in a lot of danger.

* * * * * *

Anubis sat in the SGC's break room continuing to drink the cup of coffee he had decided to treat his host to. He was aware that Jack O'Neill was observing him silently. He was curious as to what Colonel O'Neill was thinking about. He remained silent waiting for O'Neill to speak. He could sense that his host was now fully awake and also waiting patiently to see what the Colonel had to say.

Jack watched Anubis thinking of what Anubis had told him when he had first entered the break room. Anubis said that Daniel would soon be returning to this reality. God, he hoped so. He missed Daniel a lot.

Jack noticed how quiet the break room suddenly became and quickly focused on Anubis. As he looked up at Anubis he saw the man's face crease with worry and concern. Something was bothering Anubis, but what was it? Jack felt suddenly uneasy. Something wasn't right; something felt...off. There had to be something wrong. He tensed further when he saw the person before him, who looked so much like Daniel, was Daniel, just not...his Daniel, freeze up suddenly. Something felt very...wrong. He tensed even more when he saw the man before him pale and wince. Jack quickly asked, "Anubis, are you all right? Anubis? DANIEL?"

Anubis suddenly felt fear enter him. He knew on instinct that something was very wrong. His first instinct was that his host was in some sort of distress but as he focused inward he found his host was wide-awake and perfectly fine. He could only think of one other thing that could cause him to suddenly become so fearful: the other Daniel Jackson, the Daniel Jackson of this world, was in danger. He had sensed the danger earlier but his sense of foreboding didn't increase until only a few moments ago. He knew that Daniel had successfully returned to this reality. He returned to Earth only to stumble into the hands of someone who wanted him very much. He had tried to warn Daniel but hadn't been fast enough. He groaned as the pain in his head increased, and he knew that Daniel Jackson had just been knocked unconscious. He had to tell Colonel O'Neill what was happening, so he quickly informed, "He is in great danger. I tried to warn him, but I was not fast enough."

Jack felt the color drain from his face and felt fear seize him. He? What if...? Oh God, it was Daniel! It had to be! That would explain why he suddenly felt so damned scared for someone. Jack questioned, "Who...who’s in danger?"

"They are taking him through the Stargate...back to...Earth."

"WHAT? What the hell is going on?"

They? Who the hell were they? What the hell would they want with Daniel? He was sure that Daniel was in a lot of danger. He sensed it so strongly. Daniel needed his help. His instincts were shouting at him that his friend was in great danger and didn't have a lot of time left. Where the hell was Daniel?

Jack watched Anubis and waited on edge to see if Anubis could tell him anything else about his friend. Daniel's, or rather Anubis', eyes suddenly flew open as he answered, "Daniel Jackson is in great danger. He has just been taken by force from the planet of Tethys and brought back here."

"Tethys? PQR-189?"

"Yes."

What the hell was Daniel doing on that planet? Jack had a feeling that he had been trying to return to this reality, and some how he had ended up in danger. Had someone been lying in wait for him? No, that couldn't be. No one knew that Daniel was in another reality, no one except SG-1 and General Hammond, so no one could have been waiting for him. Which meant that Daniel had to run into these people upon his return to this reality.

Jack's fear and worry for his friend increased as he questioned, "What's going on?"

"Someone has caused Daniel Jackson pain and are now bringing him to Earth. He is in danger. I have foreseen that danger."

"What do you mean you have foreseen it?"

"They struck him to send him unconscious. They are planning to use him..."

"What? Use him?"

"Yes, to extract information from him... He will refuse. He will be punished. He will not give in. I have foreseen it."

"WHAT?"

How had this happened? Someone was now holding his friend prisoner and obviously they wanted something from Daniel. The only way they would even have a remote chance of extracting any information from him would be to... Jack swallowed hard as the answer formed in his mind...torture him for that information. Oh God, Daniel was really in danger now, for he already knew what would happen. Daniel would be tortured but would remain silent. His captors would quickly tire of attempting to extract information from him and getting nowhere. They would then resort to other means. They might find someone Daniel cares for to use against him or resort to...breaking bones. Either way Daniel would remain silent and probably eventually be killed for his refusal to cooperate. They had to get to Daniel before that happened.

Anubis interrupted Jack's cryptic thoughts by adding, "You must find him quickly."

No shit we must find him quickly! Jack didn't need Anubis to tell him how much danger Daniel was in. He knew how Daniel was, and he also knew that Daniel would not give in without a fight. Time was not on Daniel Jackson's side. His abductors would quickly tire of not getting anywhere, and Daniel would pay the ultimate price for remaining silent.

Jack focused on Anubis realizing that there were now two Daniel's in this reality, which meant that... If Daniel were really here wouldn't Anubis be experiencing the cascade tremors by now? Jack held onto that thin shred of hope as he asked, "If he's here how come you haven't...you know, felt the results of two of you...him in one world?"

"Several hours pass before entropic cascade failure..."

"Oh right. Seventy-two? No wait, at least forty-eight..."

Damn it, so much for wishful thinking. Daniel was in danger. Jack knew that he was and there was no way of denying that fact. He had to locate Daniel before it was too late. His thoughts were interrupted as Anubis questioned, "You know of such things?"

What the hell was Anubis talking about? Oh right the entropic cascade failure thing. Damn it but when he knew a member of his team was in danger his focus was usually the first thing to go. He had to stay focused. He couldn't afford not to. He rubbed his eyes and sighed replying, "Uh yes."

"But how?"

"We learned. We’ve had past experience with all that parallel world stuff."

"I see."

Anubis could tell that this Jack O'Neill was very worried about Daniel. He could tell that the man before him cared a lot for the young archaeologist. He knew that O'Neill was trying to find some way to deny that Daniel was in danger. He was trying to believe that Daniel was safe, but he knew the truth. Anubis could see it in O'Neill's eyes. The man knew, could some how sense, that Daniel Jackson was in danger and yet he still questioned, "Are you sure that Daniel...?"

"Yes Colonel O'Neill, I am sure."

Anubis didn't like dashing the man's hopes but there was no denying the truth of the matter. Daniel Jackson had successfully returned to his own reality, but now he was in great danger. He was being held against his will, and he had to be found.

Jack wondered how Anubis could possibly know that Daniel was back. How was that possible? He looked at Anubis asking, "But how is...?"

"I can sense him."

"Oh..."

Jack didn't know if he should believe Anubis or not. Of course, what reason would he have for lying? Besides everything in him was shouting at him that Daniel was in a lot of danger. Jack knew not to ignore his instincts because they were usually correct, so that meant Daniel was in danger but...that didn't make any sense. Daniel was fine. He had to be fine. He just had to be. Jack knew he was in danger and yet he struggled to convince himself that it wasn't true. He, of course, was failing miserably at the task.

Anubis watched the variety of expressions flashing across Colonel O'Neill's face. The man obviously didn't want to believe him about Daniel. Anubis knew he was asking O'Neill to believe the impossible. He told O'Neill that he knew Daniel was in danger because he could sense that Daniel was. O'Neill was struggling to accept what he has been told. He just hoped the man didn't take too long to realize that he was speaking the truth.

Daniel Jackson had limited time. He had foreseen the events...at least a sample of the events soon to take place. Daniel Jackson's abductors would be easy on the man...at first, but as he continued to deny them things would get very bad. The longer it took O'Neill to believe and comprehend what he's been told the worse it would be on Doctor Jackson. Of course not all of his visions were entirely accurate... He found himself hoping these weren't completely accurate for in the visions he saw the young man's death.

* * * *

As the klaxons clanked on the Stargate signaling the return of his team, Colonel Maybourne entered his gate room. He waited patiently for the return of his renegade team. He was excited to see what new technology they may have found on this newest planet.

His teams were to go in covert. Their jobs were simple...procure any new technology they could by either legal…or as often happened, illegal means. They had been shut down several years ago by one of the Stargate Command's best teams: SG-1. He had been foolish when he had hired Jack O'Neill. He had really thought the man had fallen from grace. Instead he was working, working with the Asgard and the Tok'ra to put an end to Maybourne's infiltrators. It took him so damned long to rebuild what O'Neill had destroyed in one fell swoop. He hadn't planned on rebuilding his renegade Black Ops forces but retirement tended to get a bit...old. He had been rebuilding for a while when someone else decided to join in on the action providing him with the money he needed to get the project going again. He started to get funding and that put him back in business. They were using a Stargate that was supposed to be shut down and lost. His work with the Russians had allowed him access to the gate he now owned.

Maybourne worked on correcting all possible errors and covering his tracks a lot better than before. His renegade teams have been in business for about a year now. His only problem was that they were limited on translators. Some of the artifacts brought back from the missions were left sitting in crates because they couldn't find anyone good enough to translate. They had several linguists but all of them failed to produce much. What he really needed was one of the top linguists, specifically one who was rather fluent in Goa'uld.

Maybourne knew of only two people on this entire Earth who could speak Goa'uld. One was a Jaffa, the other an annoying archaeologist. He had suggested that annoying archaeologist on several occasions, but no one was willing to abduct such a high priority member of the SGC plus he knew the man would probably never willingly translate a thing for him. Now, however, they were kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place. One in which that damned annoying scientist could be the only person on Earth capable of getting them free from that place. Damn it! He hated to think of having to go after the man. They might not have a choice though. It was either the linguist or the Jaffa, and he highly doubted the Jaffa would easily break. In fact, he doubted the annoying archaeologist would break that easily either. But if he had to choose he'd go after the scientist over the Jaffa...much better odds. Of course, there was another problem... If they decided to go for the good doctor they would have to get him at a time when he was away from Cheyenne Mountain...which unfortunately wasn't often. The man practically lived there. His house stayed empty for days at a time. He stayed at the SGC most of the time. Just their damned luck...they needed him and he was never home. He was a workaholic.

Maybourne had determined they would have to find someone else because there was no way they could get anywhere near that doctor. He would rather have the doctor though. Then he could kill two birds with one stone. He'd have a translator, he'd have someone of value to Jack O'Neill and he could get his revenge on Daniel Jackson for making him look like a fool. It would be perfect, but it would never happen.

He had been accompanying his teams occasionally off-world, but he had decided to remain behind on this mission. His team had been investigating the planet searching for technology they could use. Unlike other missions, no one had investigated this planet yet. His teams were actually excited. They'd be first to the planet and their visit would be untraceable. None of Cheyenne Mountain's people had been dispatched there yet. It was perfect. They could get in, locate the artifacts and steal them undetected. If the SGC dialed the planet in the future either they would be greeted or slaughtered for the missing technology that Maybourne's team had stolen. It was perfect.

Maybourne looked up as his team came through the gate. At first he didn't notice the unconscious man held in Jameson's arms, but when he saw him he raced up the ramp and to the team. All were accounted for so who was the man? When Maybourne's eyes fell on the unconscious man he could only stare. Murray smiled as Maybourne looked at the unconscious scientist being held by Jameson then said, "Colonel Maybourne, I brought you a gift."

Maybourne smiled as he looked down at the man in Jameson's arms. Doctor Daniel Jackson, the infamous boy wonder of the SGC. His day was definitely looking upward. He questioned, "How?"

"We stumbled across him. Poor man must have gotten hurt or something. He was unconscious when I first approached him. He came too a short time then I...clobbered him again."

"And SG-1?"

"That was the interesting part. His team was nowhere to be found. He was completely alone."

"He was alone? Are you positive?"

"Yes. No one else had been in the area."

"So how did he get there?"

"I don't know but he did and we need him so I...brought him along."

"I wonder what happened."

"Who cares we have him now. Where would you like me to go with him?"

"Go get Levinson... Have him take our guest to his room. Make sure his wrists remain shackled. He will prove to be an interesting challenge. We’ll have to persuade Doctor Jackson to willingly work for us."

"No problem, Colonel."

Maybourne couldn't help but smile broadly. So Doctor Jackson had been located after all. He had been alone on a planet. Maybourne wondered how the man ended up there. Had SG-1 lost him and got separated some how? He knew SG-1 would never abandon a member of their team so something must have happened. His luck was starting to improve finally! He told his team to get some rest then talked to Levinson explaining to him how he wanted things to go with the interrogation and coercion of Doctor Jackson. He would get Jackson's help or the man would die for refusing. Either way he’d finally have his revenge on the man who had made him look like a fool and nearly destroyed his career. He had waited so long and finally his chance at revenge was here.

* * * * * *

Doctor Samantha Carter ran into the embarkation room as she heard the speakers announcing, "Incoming travelers. Incoming travelers!"

She wondered if Colonel O'Neill and Captain Fraiser had been successful in their endeavor. She hoped that Daniel switched with his other self. She prayed that the ring of mystical stones would switch both Daniel's back to their own realities. She watched expectantly as the Stargate rumbled to life. She held her breath, hoping and praying that this time Daniel, her Daniel, would return to her. She missed him so badly it hurt. She needed him in her life and his loss weighed heavily on her heart. She missed her husband and prayed every day for his safe return.

She watched expectantly as first Captain Fraiser stepped through the gate followed closely behind by Colonel O'Neill. She waited hoping against all hope that a third person would soon exit the wormhole but as she looked at the unreadable faces of Captain Fraiser and Colonel O'Neill she knew that Daniel had not returned. Her heart fell and her spirits fell right along with it. God, Daniel where are you? I need you. You have to return to me, please. Daniel wasn't there, and she felt herself go a little bit numb at the continued loss of her husband, her love. They hadn't switched back. The rings must only be capable of transporting one individual to an alternate reality. Something else had been at work that day when her Daniel and the alternate Daniel had somehow switched places. Would she ever get her husband back? God, she hoped so.

Colonel O'Neill wasn't very happy to be returning back to Earth empty-handed. Daniel had disappeared. Colonel O'Neill could only hope and pray that the man had returned to the reality in which he had come from, but what happened to their Daniel? He was so sure they would get him back, but it hadn't happened. O'Neill never realized how much the sudden loss of the man he had vowed to hate and despise for so many years would weigh so heavily on his heart. He felt as if he failed Samantha Carter all over again. He was supposed to retrieve her husband and return him to her once again. Instead, he had lost the man...again.

O'Neill glanced at Doctor Carter in concern. She was taking this extremely hard. He could see it in her eyes. She needed her husband and felt lost without him. O'Neill knew just how she felt. He had lost his wife as well as his son. Loss was a very hard thing to accept...especially the loss of a loved one. He shook his head sadly no then said in a gentle voice, "Doctor Jackson accompanied us to Tethys, but when he entered the rings he was gone. No one else was there. I'm so sorry, Doctor Carter. I know how much you wanted to see him again."

Sam felt herself choking up. God, she wanted to cry so hard. It was just so unfair to lose someone you loved so much. Daniel was all she had left. Her mother had died when she was very young and her father...God her father had just died a year ago...cancer. Her brother had been killed in a car accident only nine months ago. All she had left was her husband and now he too was gone from her life. It was so unfair. Why did everyone she ever loved go away and leave her alone? Why? She held those tears of loss and mourning at bay saying, "Well...so...so..."

Captain Janet Fraiser watched her long-time friend as she dealt with the damaging blow. Janet knew how much Sam loved Daniel and how much he meant to her. She knew that when they returned without him it would break Sam's heart. She had prayed that they would find him again. Sam didn't deserve to lose him too. She had lost so much already. Please God don't take her husband from her. Please. You have to return him to her. You just have to, please. Janet sent that silent plea up into the heavens hoping against hope that the message would get through and that Sam's husband would return for her. He had to come back. He just had to. Janet said, "So now we have two Daniel's in one reality."

Sam jerked her head up in response to that statement. Could it be possible that he...? Oh God, could her Daniel still be...alive? She hoped so. Maybe he could do like this Daniel had done...Go to the planet and use the ring of rocks... It could be possible. She felt herself hope just a tiny bit. She didn't want to get her hopes up too high because if she was wrong and he had no way to return...then it would hit her harder than if she kept her hope at a minimum. She glanced up as Colonel O'Neill began to speak. Colonel O'Neill started adding, "Or he's dea..."

Captain Fraiser actually struck him. She didn't hit him hard, just enough to get his attention. As he looked into her eyes he saw Janet giving him a sharp, piercing glance and jerking her head quickly no. God, Jack, real smart just tell the poor woman that her husband could be dead, real smart move. God, you really have become one cold-hearted bastard over the last four years, haven't you? Jack yelled at himself a bit longer. How could he have been so stupid as to even want to say such a thing? Doctor Carter was grieving already and Captain Fraiser's comment had given the woman at least some small inkling of hope, so what the hell did he do? He tried to tell her that her husband could be dead. Real smart, dash the woman's hopes... Damn, he had his work cut out for him if he was ever to attempt to turn over a new leaf. He glanced up as Doctor Carter questioned, "Do you think he's alive, Janet?"

"Honestly? Yes. I believe he’s back in his reality. Our Daniel may be there, as well. If that’s the case then our Daniel will soon start to experience the tremors. He’ll have to get to us or he’ll die. I’m sure that Doctor Jackson will explain what has happened to those in his time and they will then allow our Daniel to travel to Tethys and return to us."

"I hope you're right. I really do," commented Sam sadly.

They knew how much her husband meant to her and knew how Sam struggled to trudge on through each day with Daniel's absence. They loved each other deeply and being separated for so long took its toll on Sam. She missed her husband and knew that even if he did return inhabited she’d still willingly accept him. She loved him so much that it hurt. Daniel was somewhere and Sam was sure that he still loved her, for if her husband were now dead she’d surely sense his absence.

She silently sent a plea to the heavens, 'Please bring him back to me, please.' Then she sent a silent message into the sky, into space and time, 'Daniel, my husband, my love, please come back to me. I need you.'

* * * * * *

Daniel Jackson groaned as reality began to sink in. God, his head throbbed. Why? What had happened? He tried to focus on his surroundings hoping the damned persistent throbbing ache in his mind would soon subside. He tried to focus on his present situation. His head hurt and his wrists hurt, but other than that he didn't notice any other present discomfort. Where was he? What had happened?

Daniel slowly opened his eyes clenching them tightly shut once again as the simple movement made his head ache and throb all the more. He became aware that he was lying on his left side. He opened his eyes again and suddenly it all came back in a flash: the Stargate, that alternate reality, his journey through the gate, awaking to an order and being knocked unconscious yet again. He could feel sticky wetness on the left side of his face where something had struck him hard...blood. He was bleeding, or rather had been, the blood was now mostly dry and a scab was starting to form over the cut on his temple. He opened his eyes even further then slowly sat up realizing suddenly that his hands were now chained together...behind his back. He yanked against the cold, metal manacles now imprisoning his wrists and cursed. Shit! He was in trouble now. Just where the hell was he and why was he here?

He glanced around the room feeling a sudden fear and worry take root in him. The room that now seemed to be serving as his cell was small enough to be a possible storage closet. The walls were made of gray cement bricks and the floor was also cemented, a basement possibly? He wasn't sure. As he continued to glance around he took notice of other features...no windows, one door and the door opened from the OUTSIDE. Oh great, just great one escape route! He would have to wait for someone to open that door before he could chance escape.

Where was he? Who wanted him? Why was he here? Daniel found more and more questions were filling his mind, and it made him angry that he had no answers. Obviously somebody needed him or else he wouldn't be in this locked room restrained. Someone needed him but for what purpose?

Daniel jumped as the one door suddenly opened. He watched as two burly men entered the room. Oh great, this day just keeps getting better and better. He wondered what these two idiots were visiting him for and had a fair idea. Just what he needed to make the day perfect: two men who were stronger than him pushing him around...just great.

Daniel glared at his newest visitors as they strode confidently over to him. They both approached him quickly. Daniel barely even acknowledged that they were now there. He welcomed them with an icy cold stare. The men of course ignored that stare and simply ordered "Get up."

"And if I don't?"

The two men suddenly grabbed his upper arms, on either side, yanking him abruptly to his feet. Daniel mentally groaned as he felt the intense grips on his upper arms and felt strong fingers digging painfully into his flesh. Well, he'd have some damned bruises for sure now. All right so sarcasm didn't exactly work with these two. Well, he was starting off on the right foot...shit! Way to go, Daniel! Piss off the men who are now holding you captive...smart thinking there, real smart.

Daniel mentally cursed as he was forced into movement. Damn it, they didn't need to drag him! He could keep up! Daniel felt his anger increase as he was dragged out of the room and down a very lengthy gray hallway.

He caught glimpses of the hall and noticed that there were several doors lining it on either side. He appeared to be in some sort of...warehouse or a storage facility of some kind.

He wasn't surprised at all when he was brought to a sudden halt in front of one of those doors. The thugs, who so kindly escorted him down the long hallway, opened the door and dragged him inside the room. They only released Daniel when they were ordered to.

Daniel glared at both of the men when they finally released him. He watched as they backed up giving him some space. Then he glanced up at the man who ordered him to be released. He glared at the man who was sitting with his back to him in a chair behind a huge oak desk. The man spoke without turning around to face his visitors, "Back away from him. Stand guard by the door."

The two thugs obediently did as they were commanded. Daniel then focused on the man at the desk still providing him with a view of his back. He watched as the man turned to face him, and didn't know what he was expecting...a familiar face, a face from his past, or a face of one of the enemies his team had made in their visits to other planets? He could honestly say that he had no idea who the hell the man before him was. Okay, so why the hell was he here? What the hell was going on? He wondered if maybe the man before him had made a mistake, grabbed the wrong person or...

"Doctor Daniel Jackson, welcome."

...not. Daniel mentally cursed. All right so it wasn't a case of mistaken identity, after all. Who the hell was this man and why had he brought him here? The man knew his name so obviously he had some reason for dragging him here, but what?

Daniel eyed the mysterious man up as he walked slowly around the desk approaching him while continuing, "We’ve all been hoping to get the chance to finally meet you."

"Why?" questioned Daniel as he watched the man suspiciously. The man knew who he was, so he had to have planned this abduction. But how could they have known that he’d end up alone on PQR-189? They had no knowledge that he had just traveled back from an alternate reality.

He sensed that these people had planned to eventually abduct him. They had just been lucky to stumble across him a little bit sooner than had been scheduled. Obviously luck was on their side because it sure as hell wasn't on his. Why was he here? The man interrupted his thoughts, "Because of your brilliance of course."

"Right... What the hell do you want? Why am I here? What...?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa...stop right there."

"What do you want with me?"

"I've been reading your file...quite an interesting read. Boy genius, brilliant scientist and archaeologist...knows over twenty different languages, most of those being of very dead cultures. Highly valued member of the SGC and of SG-1...quite a track record you have going for you there, Doctor..."

So the man has been reading about him has he? Well, that proved that this abduction was pre-planned just scheduled for another time. They had been very lucky to come across him alone. SG-1 was always close together, and they kept in constant contact when off-world. They never left a member behind no matter what, except that this time his team had been certain that he had been with them. He was certain that he switched places with the Daniel of that other reality. He was positive. So why would SG-1 remain behind when they already had their missing teammate with them? The answer was simple... they wouldn't. He was sure that they now knew he was switched. Anubis would have told them and seeing the symbiote in his alternate self has been consistently chatting with him he had no doubt that Anubis had convinced SG-1 of what really happened to their missing team member. They had no idea that he had returned. He had been grabbed immediately after his arrival. He had been knocked unconscious and only woke up a short time ago. There was no way anyone could have predicted that he’d be on PQR-189 at the perfect time to be abducted. He was sure that these people had just lucked out when finding him, but knowing that they had planned to abduct him at some time in the future didn't sit well with him, at all. He spoke up demanding, "What the hell do you want?"

"Don't like to play games much do you, Jackson? You'd rather get right to the point. I like that... I have a...proposition for you."

"A proposition? You bring me here, lock me in a room after knocking me unconscious, then chaining my wrists and you have a proposition for me? Oh please..."

"Yes. It's very simple really. All I need from you is...a bit of translation work and a few other minor things."

He watched his query as he informed Doctor Jackson of what he needed the man to do. Doctor Jackson eyed him up. He could see the intelligence shining in the man's eyes. Doctor Jackson was not a man to be taken lightly. He was very smart and was probably already thinking of a million ways to get out of this situation. He could see the man already assessing his situation and trying to figure out what was wanted from him. He could see his mind processing things at rapid fire. This man was very smart and not to be misjudged. He’d have to keep Doctor Jackson under tight surveillance and make it nearly impossible for him to have even a remote chance of escape. He could tell the man would prove to be a very challenging opponent, indeed. Jackson's voice broke through his train of thought as he questioned, "Translation work? So why not just ask me?"

"Because this work is...special and half the damned time you're off-world. I need some things translated. Will you help me?"

Daniel couldn't believe the audacity of the man. The man had the nerve to imprison him here and keep him restrained and confined in that damned room. He had been abducted forcibly against his will and brought to this place. Yet the one before him had the nerve to ask him to do something for him? That was bullshit! Total bullshit! The guy had some damned nerve!

Daniel glared at him responding, "Will I help you? After you abduct me, lock me in a room and knock me unconscious? No. The answer is no."

Daniel saw a dangerous glint enter the man's eyes as the man replied with barely contained anger edging his voice, "I would seriously consider this proposition, Doctor Jackson."

"I have. The answer is no."

"That is not an acceptable answer, Doctor Jackson. Listen to me; listen very carefully. Right now you’re a guest. You can either willingly help us or not...but I must warn you that if you should decide not to help us your stay here will be rather...painful. What I ask of you is not hard, Doctor Jackson. Now what will your choice be? Will you do it?"

"No."

What the hell was with this guy? Did he take him for a fool? Any idiot could tell that there was more to this whole thing then met the eye. The man was concealing something, and he had gone to some rather extreme lengths to bring him here. He didn't like the sudden warning bells that seemed to have gotten a lot louder in his mind since he awoke in that room. He was in trouble. He was sure of it.

The man continued, "Very foolish choice. I suggest you reconsider my offer."

"There’s nothing to consider. The answer is no."

The man before him smiled coldly continuing, "I had a feeling that you’d refuse, Doctor Jackson. A little time in your...room will help change your mind I’m sure. Gentlemen please show Doctor Jackson to his quarters then show him what happens to those who refuse to cooperate. Doctor Jackson, do you know what it's like to face day after day with no food or water?" he chuckled then continued in an icier tone of voice that was directed at the two men who so kindly escorted him here, "Make certain that no food and no water is delivered to our guest. When he decides to do what I want him to then you may provide him with such things."

Daniel couldn't help it as he replied sarcastically, "Starvation and dehydration? How original."

The man smiled evilly then lashed out quickly and without warning. He sucker punched Daniel in the gut. Daniel went down hard gasping for breath, slamming to his knees, breathing heavily. God! Well, he hadn't seen that one coming now had he? He really had to stop hanging around Jack. Sarcasm seemed to be a rather quick way to anger someone. Jack's sense of humor seemed to be rubbing off on him. He tried to regain his breathing when he felt himself being suddenly dragged to his feet, none too gently, and escorted out the door back down to the room that was now serving as his cell.

The thugs dragged him into the room then he felt the man on his left release his arm and stand before him while the other man to his right repositioned his hold grabbing Daniel's chained arms in a double arm bar.

Daniel yanked against him nearly breaking free when a kick was driven into his gut. He doubled over harshly at the waist, but didn't fall due to the man holding his arms so securely. If not for the thug holding him upright he would've definitely had another painful run in with the floor. He coughed violently nearly retching as the breath was stolen from his lungs. He barely had time to recover when he felt a hard, painful hand strike him viciously across the left side of his face. He felt his head jerk automatically to the right and could only groan in response. He could feel the stinging pain burning into his cheek from such a harsh slap. The slap was followed up quickly by a sucker punch to his right side. He groaned having limited time to recover even a small semblance from the cruel strikes. One strike would no sooner be delivered and another would connect shortly afterwards. He felt a second slap across the face realizing the strike was not open handed; it was fisted. He was punched and swore he saw stars erupt before his vision. He jerked against the one holding him, but the man refused to show him any mercy choosing, instead, to increase his painfully strong grip on his arms. Daniel screamed as a second kick was delivered to his gut and gasped inhaling sharply as he fell violently forward. He felt his legs buckle, but still didn’t meet the floor. He was still being held cruelly upright by the thug behind him. That time he felt himself dry heave in response to such a painful strike to his stomach. He heard the man before him clicking his tongue asking him if that strike hurt then he drove another kick directly into Daniel's stomach.

Daniel found he could no longer breathe and felt himself suddenly falling as the man behind him released his hold. His knees struck the cement floor first tearing open fresh scrapes and cuts. He felt his upper body flying forward and realized too late that he had no way to brace himself for the impact. His hands were still chained behind his back. He felt himself falling forward and groaned as his head struck the floor. His vision momentarily blurred but then refocused. He briefly saw more spots flashing before his eyes and found himself again choking. He started to dry heave, laboring to pull air into his struggling lungs. He didn't hear the two men laughing at his pain and suffering as they left his cell. He only could hear himself wheezing as he struggled with every breath.

Daniel didn't move choosing, instead, to just lie where he fell until the pain ebbed some. He quickly lost track of how long he remained laying on the floor. Then he decided he really needed to get up, so he slowly picked himself off of the floor of his cell and walked over to a corner of the room. He pressed his back into a corner then slid down the wall into a sitting position, allowing himself to begin to relax some. He then opened his eyes looking around. God, but his knees and his body hurt. He hadn't been beaten that badly, but he could still feel those damned bruises. He pulled his knees up to his chest noticing, for the first time, that the knees of his pants were now torn open. He could see the scraped, torn open flesh beneath his pants that was still bleeding some. Damn, he must've hit the floor harder than he thought. He leaned his head back against the wall closing his eyes. God, but he felt so tired. He briefly found himself wondering why that was when sleep descended upon him, and he fell willingly into the warm, comforting embrace of exhaustion.

* * * *

Jacob Carter glanced up as one of the elders of the Tok'ra Council approached him. He had come to Valhalla on a diplomatic mission never expecting to run into Cyrene, host to an old and wise Tok'ra. He had met her only briefly several months ago. She had been working as a spy on Valhalla. He watched as she neared him wondering why she decided to seek him out. She approached him quickly saying, "Jacob Carter, I am Cyrene."

"Yes, I know. We have met. Why have you sought me out?"

"I fear that I may have some distressing news."

Jacob focused on her completely waiting patiently for her to continue. When she said nothing else he questioned, "Regarding?"

"Regarding the Tau'ri."

"What is this news, Cyrene?"

"A rogue team of infiltrat