Author's Notes: The story is complete by itself but future sequels are possible.<br>
Many thanks to my wonderful beta, Cassie.<br>
Spoilers: Legacy, The Fifth Man, Summit, Last Stand<br>
Warnings: violence, language, some torture scenes, physical and mental Danny and Jack whumping, general badness, and Jack's cliches.

Chapter 1 - The Limvris

Deenesh enjoyed her position amongst the gods. She was very beautiful, with dark, sultry features. She either wore her long hair up so it didn't touch her neck or braided with curly locks bordering her face. She had been in the service of her god for longer than she could remember. So long, in fact, that she couldn't even remember which planet served as her home. It didn't matter. As a most trusted human slave or Lo'Taur, she received unequaled benefits compared to other slaves. Her Master, Nephthys, trusted her completely with the secrets of the gods. Often she attended gatherings where decisions were made as to which worlds would be dominated, who would live and who would die. The power of the gods was overwhelming, giving her an emotional rush of excitement to be privy to their conversations.

Today, Deenesh escorted her god, Nephthys, to a meeting of the Limvris. As she understood it, the nine gods comprising the Limvris were plotting the overthrow of the Goa'uld System Lords. There had been many battles for centuries against the System Lord's holdings, several significant enough to acquire valuable assets, both Jaffa and ships. But none of them were enough to bring the System Lords to their knees...until now. Nephthys had a proposal for the Limvris. Through an alliance with another very powerful Goa'uld, the husband of Nephthys' sister, Isis, Nephthys had acquired both technology and warriors to fight against the System Lords.

As Deenesh followed her Master through the long corridor towards the meeting room, she noticed the intricate gold inlay on the walls representing symbols of some sort. This beautiful structure which she had acquired through her new alliance was just one of the offerings that Nephthys would bring to the Limvris. She also intended to present her formidable powers of invisibility and mind control as powerful weapons against the System Lords or any others that stood in their way. Yes, Deenesh believed the Limvris would prevail in their attempts this time.

Inside the meeting chamber, Deenesh and her Master waited patiently until the remaining members of the Limvris appeared. Impressed by the regal appearance of the chamber, she felt a pang of admiration for her Master. Her Master had designed this chamber especially for this meeting, adding a beautiful, gold inlay design on the floor in the center of the chamber. Deenesh immediately recognized it as the Crest of the Limvris. One by one she watched the other gods arrive, each one stunning in their beauty and escorted by one human slave.

As the final Goa'uld arrived, the meeting began. Nephthys brought a stone tablet describing her battle plans. The plan was very well prepared, stunning in its simplicity, yet cunning enough to be successful. They would use their human slaves to infiltrate the System Lords' strongholds, to learn their secrets. Her alliance with a new powerful Goa'uld would seal their victory. She reached for the hand device to turn the page...

Deenesh saw them then, nine small, slimy, and vile looking "creatures". They escaped from the hand device, boring into her Master and the other Limvris through their skin. She could see the panic on their faces, the absolute terror, as pain ripped through them like lightening. She thought she heard someone exclaim "Ma'chello!" while others were grabbing their slaves, tugging them close, holding them next to their bodies. She presumed they were trying to protect them. Her Master reached out for her and held her tightly against her chest.

The last thing Deenesh remembered was the pain, searing pain at the base of her neck. Her screams drowned out the screams of the other slaves in the room. As the Goa'uld entering her body took over her mind as well, she reached down to her previous host, laying on the cold floor in the grips of a violent seizure. She removed the ribbon device from her former host's hand. Running towards the doorway, exiting the chamber with the other Goa'ulds in new bodies, she turned suddenly towards the door closing mechanism, using the ribbon device to permanently seal the chamber doorway, trapping the now nonGoa' ulded humans in the chamber to face insanity and starvation...

Chapter 2 - A Bad Day

With the knife at Daniel's throat, he knew he had very little time left. If only he could reach Sarah. Sarah would never harm him. They had been good friends, lovers in fact, but that was many years ago. Many years before Sarah's body had been taken by the Goa'uld Osiris. Daniel had to reach Sarah, she was his only hope.

"Sarah, it's me. Daniel."

Daniel could see the recognition in Sarah's eyes. She no longer saw the outward appearance of Yu's Lo'Taur, his human slave. She recognized him as Daniel. Briefly, very briefly, Sarah's essence shown through her faade of Osiris, giving him that moment of hesitation he needed to get away.

As Yu grabbed the knife in Osiris' hand, Daniel slipped through the Goa'uld's grasp. In a mad dash to the escape pod, Daniel noticed a blur of activity. A struggle for dominance ensued between the System Lords, Yu and Osiris, the knife blade gleaming. Osiris' interest wavered towards the escaping Daniel. Breaking free from Yu, Osiris desperately raced to the control panel, trying to thwart Daniel's escape attempt. As the Sarcophagus shaped pod sealed itself around Daniel, he held his breath, hoping, praying actually, that Osiris would be too late to stop him.

The last thing Daniel heard as his escape pod jettisoned into space was the scream. It sounded like Sarah's voice but Daniel knew differently. The horrible, caustic cry, seething with an unbridled hatred was controlled by the Goa'uld Osiris.

"Daniel Jackson!"

This was going to be a bad day...

"Leave it here with me."

Elliott bravely unveiled his plan to be captured by the approaching Jaffa, allowing them to take him to the 'gate under the premise that he could tell them the formula for the Goa'uld poison. As Jack listened, he realized that Elliott didn't have much of a choice, really. His symbiote, Lantash, could not repair the damage that Elliott had suffered during the fall of the Tok'ra tunnels on Revanna. Elliott was dying and there was nothing that Lantash could do to save Elliott or himself. Jack could hear Elliott's calm, confident voice revealing his plan to release the poison once he arrived at the 'gate, taking out as many Jaffa as possible so that SG-1 could avoid capture and escape through the 'gate. His voice, filled with emotion and pain, remained steady. Despite his tone of voice, Jack knew Elliott was scared, terrified, the fear evident in this young man's, no, soldier's eyes.

"He's happy now. He just wanted you to know how he felt."

Samantha Carter listened tearfully as Elliott told her that now Lantash and his former host, Martouf, would rest peacefully having revealed their secret feelings for Sam. Sam knew, had always known that Martouf cared way more than he should for Sam. She believed that Martouf's feelings reflected the fact that Sam had carried Jolinar, his lover of one hundred years, within her body. Although the joining was very brief by Tok'ra standards, Sam's mind had Jolinar's memories emblazoned in it forever. Sometimes Sam almost believed the memories, strong and vivid as they were, were her own. She felt the feelings of love between Jolinar and Martouf as though they were her own, as if she was truly in love with Martouf.

Then, it happened. Martouf had been subjected to Goa'uld mind control and became a Za'tarc, unbeknownst to anyone. Although the Tok'ra conducted extensive investigations at the SGC to try to preempt an attempt to kill the President of the United States, they failed to find the Za'tarc in time. During several desperate moments in the gate room, Sam, realized that Martouf was the Za'tarc. As he leveled his weapon on the President's party, Sam made a split second decision, the only decision she could have made. At that moment, at the moment she pointed her weapon at Martouf, emotions and memories swirled through her mind like a whirlpool. She found it difficult to distinguish between her own emotions and those of Jolinar. With tears in her eyes, she made the right decision, she pulled the trigger and her world was shattered. The Tok'ra were able to save the Goa'uld within Martouf, Lantash, but the mind and body which was Martouf was no more. His memories lived on through Lantash, but now they would soon be gone as well. Lantash was dying within Elliott's body now. A single tear spilled from Sam's eye to caress the softness of her cheek.

"I'll never forget him...or you." Sam's anguish at leaving Elliott/Lantash behind was clearly visible behind the warrior's mask that her face so often displayed. She would now grieve for three souls; Lantash, Martouf, and Elliott.

The rag tag group consisting of SG-1 minus Elliott plus Jacob Carter had taken cover from the encroaching Jaffa, having traveled about four miles from the Tok'ra long-range sensor where they had left Elliott. The Jaffa would reach Elliott and assume no other survivors. Teal'c's belief was that the Jaffa would then take Elliott to the Stargate to further interrogate him regarding the chemical composition of the poison, leading the Jaffa away from the rest of the group.

Lantash, sharing the body of Elliott, and Sam had reprogrammed the sensor's signal to let her father and Daniel know the group's location on the planet. These same sensors had been automatically sending a Tok'ra message warning all Tok'ra vessels to avoid the planet and assume no survivors from the ruthless attack on the rebel base. Without Jack's 'it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings' mentality and Sam's intelligence and ingenuity to reprogram the sensor message to transmit an SOS signal, Jacob Carter would have never diverted the Tel'tak. He and Daniel, escaping the Goa'uld summit meeting in the Hasaris system, would have never returned to the utterly destroyed Tok'ra base on Revanna if he hadn't received the SOS. He also wouldn't have crash-landed that same Tel'tak on the planet surface, either. Jacob made a mental note, if he planned to continue working with SG-1 in future missions, he would have to insist on adding seat belts on all Tok'ra vessels. The track record for SG-1 staying out of trouble was just too poor.

"Carter, you and Teal'c stay with Jacob here. Daniel and I will follow Elliott and his band of merry men at a safe distance." Jack O'Neill's attempt at humor to lighten to mood fell flat.

"Sir, what are you and Daniel going to do?" Major Carter said with an almost dried trail of tears on her face.

"We have to make sure Elliott is successful. I figure it will take us about, oh say," O'Neill looked at his watch, "five hours, give or take, to reach the gate from here. Jacob, how far does that poison spread and how much time does it take to dissipate to safe concentrations?"

Jacob paused for a moment, apparently accessing Selmak's knowledge on the subject. "Selmak says the poison is very potent in a radius of about one mile around the source. The concentration drops off depending on wind velocity, number of people inhaling the poison, and ambient air temperature. A good, safe guess is that Teal'c and I can return to the area an hour after the poison is released." Jacob looked introspective for a moment and then added, "Oh, and Selmak says that humans in the area will suffer only mild effects from the poison."

"Mild effects! Mild effects! And you didn't think that important enough to mention until now!" The Tok'ra's legendary propensity to withhold important facts relevant to their missions slapped Daniel in the face.

"We didn't think you needed to know," Jacob stated very nonchalantly.

"Didn't need to know? I didn't need to know?" Daniel was still visibly upset with Jacob. "Look, I was prepared to release that poison at the Goa'uld convention and you didn't think I needed to know about its effects to humans? Jeez!" Daniel gave Jack a sideways glance. Jack returned the glance with a shrug of his shoulders, a shake of his head, and the "ever suffering" look on his face that captured his feelings for the Tok'ra's subterfuge well.

"We told you it wouldn't kill you," Jacob started to become disinterested in the humans' need to always be told 'the whole truth and nothing but the truth'. The Tok'ra always explained the mission facts, at least as it suited their agendas.

"What kind of effects are we talking about anyway here?" Jack decided that he really needed to know.

"Dizziness, slight disorientation, jubilation disproportionate to the situation. Pretty much like consuming too many rum swizzles. Oh, and diarrhea."

"Oh, well, I shouldn't have any problems, then, as long as there is a porta-potty near the 'gate. If it was like having too many tequila shots, now that's another story! Been there, done that, don't remember! Actually, I do remember someone named Lola and...oh, no. Don't want to go there," Jack pulled a face as if he was recalling a bad memory. "Now, Daniel on the other hand is a cheap date! Give him a beer or two and he's lying in your lap...oh, no. Don't want to go there either."

"Jaaack, that is so not true!"

"Yes, it is."

"No, it's not."

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Hey, ask Teal'c! He's seen it happen, haven't you big guy?"

"Indeed, O'Neill. I have as well on occasion experienced a drunk Daniel Jackson in my lap," Teal'c deadpanned.

"Oh no, definitely don't want to go there," this time the words were from Daniel.

"So, rather mild effects. Just got to keep Daniel upright," Jack managed a sideways grin in Daniel's direction. "We need to follow Elliott to the 'gate. I'm not sure he will be strong enough to make it all the way. We can't take any chances. If he doesn't get to the 'gate with the Jaffa, we may have to instigate Plan B."

"And what is this 'Plan B', O'Neill?" Teal'c's strong voice asked.

"Sorry big guy, but if I told ya I'd have to kill ya! We'll check in every 30 minutes."

Teal'c's puzzled look, one eyebrow raised, followed O'Neill for quite some time until he and Daniel were out of sight. Returning his gaze to Major Carter, Teal'c questioned," Why could he not tell us of this 'Plan B' without penalty of death?"

Major Carter answered, a small smile touching her eyes. "Because he doesn't have a 'Plan B'...yet!"

Jack and Daniel walked in companionable silence away from the others. As much as Jack hated leaving Elliott behind to face the Jaffa alone, it was even worse realizing that he would have to watch him die, along with all the Jaffa, at the 'gate. He just wished he could've spared that sight from Daniel, but it couldn't be helped. Carter needed to stay here with her dad right now, and Selmak and Teal'c would be killed by the Tok'ra poison that Elliott intended to release once he reached the 'gate. They had to remain out of the range of the poison, waiting until it dissipated to a safe concentration.

Jack chose a direction that would take them off the beaten path towards the Stargate. He had no intention of getting ambushed by Jaffa along the way. It wasn't the most direct route, but figuring that Elliott would slow the Jaffas' pace, he knew that he and Daniel would reach the 'gate long before Elliott. Shortly into their trek, Jack and Daniel entered a forested area with many different types of trees but very few bushes. Daniel supposed the lack of low shrubbery was due to the trees' huge canopy of leaves and branches that nearly blocked the sunlight from reaching the ground. Nearly, but not totally. Where a few scattered rays were allowed to penetrate the canopy, Daniel could see small, colorful clumps of flowers, seeming to stretch their long, sinewy runners as far as possible to reach past the shady areas to the next clump of flowers in the sunlight. He thought they looked as though they were reaching out to encourage their neighboring flowers to hold on and not let the darkness prevent them from continuing to reach for the next patch of sunlight. His thoughts returned to Elliott's brave sacrifice for his friends. Perhaps it wasn't a sacrifice at all. Elliott merely represented the first clump of flowers in the light, reaching out through the dark patches to show his friends that they could reach past it and walk into the light.

Jack had Daniel take point as they walked, a position rarely held by the archeologist. Knowing that Elliott and his captors would be some distance behind them, Jack wanted to be prepared if he underestimated the speed at which the Jaffa could travel. With his hand lightly touching his P-90 at his hip, he kept a wary eye behind them. After a bit, Jack realized something was wrong, definitely wrong. Confident that they were out of earshot of potential enemies, Jack looked around contemplating the source of his unease. As his eyes scanned the woods surrounding them, he finally recognized the location of the trouble, directly in front of him.

Jack realized that the trouble was his teammate. Daniel was a bit too quiet for, well, Daniel. He'd hardly said two words since he and Jack had begun their trek to the 'gate, almost three hours ago now. The archeologist cum linguist cum anthropologist was never at a loss for words, much to Jack's dismay and frequent headaches, by the way. Jack thought he should've just left well enough alone...as they say 'silence is golden' and all that, but he knew that Daniel needed to come to grasps with the events that had unfolded for him these past several hours. Daniel had, in fact, volunteered...well, that isn't fair...been coerced, something the Tok'ra do well, into attending the System Lord's summit, posing as the System Lord Yu's faithful human servant. Although Jack had no idea why, he knew that Daniel had not delivered the poison as planned during the Goa'uld meeting. He was a bit surprised to find that Daniel still had it to give to Elliott. Hell, he'd relinquished the poison to Elliott without so much as a 'But, Jack?'. He had also noticed a slight trembling in the young man's hands.

"Daniel?" Jack hesitantly inquired, not sure he really wanted to open the floodgates just yet.

"Jack?" Daniel took a long time to answer Jack. He knew that Jack had questions, could see the concerned look in his eyes. On most days, Daniel would have welcomed the questions, but not today. Not this day. He was just too tired to share.

"What'cha thinking?"

"Oh, I dunno, Jack," Daniel replied in an exasperated voice. "Just that life sucks. We suck! How could we just leave Elliott behind to face those Jaffa and imminent death? I gave him the damned poison so he could commit suicide and take out a bunch of Jaffa in the process, and...and...", Daniel waved his hands in a flourish as if he could grasp the words he was looking for out of the air.

"Save our sorry asses?" Jack paused for several seconds to allow the words to sink in. "Look, Daniel, you know as well as I do that that was the only option."

"Yeah, I do, but ..." his voice trailed off as he ducked his head to avoid Jack's eyes.

"It still hurts like hell...I know. It's supposed to. Keeps you from forgetting about the sacrifices made for you." Jack paused for a moment, thinking of how many times in his past that he had made the same choices. How many others had died so he could live? Hell, even Daniel had died to save his sorry ass on Abydos, taking a blast that was meant for him!

Daniel's blue eyes caught Jack's brown ones, sharing a lifetime of sorrow without the need for words. After a few more minutes of silence, Jack decided to find out what else was bothering Daniel. Just what had happened on the space station?

"So Daniel. Give. What exactly happened at the snake convention? Never in a million years did I expect to see you come crashing to the ground in a Tok'ra ship! Boy, are they going to be pissed!" Jack's voice trailed off as he realized that, quite probably, a majority of the Tok'ra race had just been annihilated.

"Well, we got together, patted each other on the backs, had a party, oh and, we had some interesting appetizers. Quite a lot of fun! Oh and guess who crashed the party?" As Jack shrugged his shoulders, Daniel continued, "Osiris!"

Jack made a soft whistle, "Oooh, that bitch!" Although Jack hadn't accompanied Sam and Daniel on the "Osiris Mission", he had read the reports and attended the debriefing. He still felt a twinge of guilt for throwing his cell phone into the bushes at the lake, preventing any communications from the SGC that would have interrupted his fishing trip with Teal'c. He should've been there with Daniel when Osiris appeared in the body of Daniel's old girlfriend, Sarah.

"Son of a bitch, actually." Daniel made a slightly crooked smile.

"What?" Jack's look of bewilderment amused Daniel.

"Uh, Jack. Osiris, the snake, is male just like the Egyptian god. He just happens to inhabit Sarah's body now."

Jack's eyes narrowed as he deciphered the information Daniel had given him. "Oh, yeah, I guess that's right. What did she, uh, I mean he, uh, I mean...Oh, for crying out loud, what did the snake want?!"

Jack listened intently as Daniel described the events of the summit. The Goa'ulds were their typically egotistical, gaudy, ostentatious selves. The human slaves seemed quite content to serve their masters without question. Apparently, a rival Goa'uld had been diminishing their Jaffa armies and mother ships. As Daniel continued, discussing the ethical and more colorful parts of Goa'uld society, Jack's mind began to wander. Too much detail...way too much detail.

Jack was brought back to reality abruptly upon hearing Daniel's words, "They ate larval Goa'uld!"

"Huh? I thought you said something about appetizers?" Jack said with that crooked face look.

"Larvae, Jack. They ate Goa'uld larvae! No wonder the Goa'uld population is decreasing! What I can't figure out is why they would do that?"

"Ew! Remind me to decline their next social event!" Jack wanted to push further. "Daniel, why didn't you release the poison?"

"I was about to, really, but they were expecting an uninvited participant to the summit. I waited until that Goa'uld was in attendance."

Impatiently wanting to reach the punch line, Jack prodded, "I never liked twenty questions, Daniel! Cut to the chase, already!"

"Oh, what? You mean who...?" Jack rolled his eyes in his most irritated fashion. "Oh, yeah. Well, Osiris crashed the party."

"Yeah, you said that before Daniel. The question is not 'what' or 'who' but 'why'?"

"Oh, apparently he came as a messenger from Anubis. It seems Anubis wants to regain his status as System Lord. And to show his merit, he presented the System Lords with a gift...the destruction of the Tok'ra base...here." Daniel indicated their surroundings with an exaggerated wave of his hands. "Future plans are to demolish Earth to put in a super highway."

"Did Osiris recognize you?"

"Ah, yes. And no...and, and yes again. Osiris definitely recognized me at the summit meeting...definitely. But he didn't give me away. Later, he followed me to Yu's chambers and I used that drug thingy that I used on Yu. Osiris believed I was Yu's trusted servant."

Jack, his ever patient self, waited about two seconds for Daniel to continue. Not hearing more from Daniel during Jack's patiently allotted time, he impatiently pressed Daniel further. "Okay, that covers the 'yes' and 'no' part, Daniel. It's the 'yes again' that scares me."

"Oh, right, well... ItriedtocaptureOsirissoIcouldsaveSarah..." Daniel thought that perhaps he could defuse Jack by a rapid fire linguistic attack.

Jack already knew his archeologist was touched in the head, a little flaky, 'nutso'! But capturing Osiris...Jack would have to think of another synonym for crazy. Oh.

"You did what??"

"...but the attempt backfired," impressed that Jack actually avoided the linguistic attack enough to shoot back, Daniel continued without losing a beat. "I was able to reach Sarah briefly as Osiris was," Daniel cleared his throat, "choking me. I had to tell her who I was," Daniel finished looking away from Jack.

"Well, shit, Daniel! Now you pissed off a snake head AND told him who you are and where to find you! Peachy, just peachy!"

"Yeah, well, at least I was able to get off that ship...oh, look," Daniel said absently waving his hand in front of him, attempting to divert Jack's attention from his escapades with Osiris. "It's the Stargate."

Jack reached out to grab Daniel's arm as the young archeologist suddenly became weak kneed. The only words that escaped Daniel's mouth were "Oh. My. God!"

Jack looked ahead towards the Stargate, his military mind scouting the landscape for both offensive and defensive positions. He noticed that the 'gate sat in the center of a large, sandy area, which looked like an amphitheater, probably used by the original inhabitants of the planet as a sanctuary to worship their "gods". The ground from their current position to the 'gate was quite level but very exposed. Jack and Daniel had reached the edge of the tree line. From here forward there were no trees, shrubs, or old fallen down buildings which Daniel would probably call ruins lying around. Jack figured they were about 500 yards from their current position to the 'gate. The most impressive part of the landscaping, however, was the four Tel'taks, two of which had landed and two were still hovering over the base. Jack saw no less than 200 ground troops, each displaying a variety of weapons, predominantly staff weapons and zat guns. He also located the Jaffa armory, apparently setup outside the ships for instant weapon availability for the ground troops. Jack blinked his eyes. The armory resembled a large...no, that couldn't be right...a large surrey without the wheels? Jack looked again...yeah, definitely a surrey. No fringe on top, though.

He really hoped that Elliott would be successful.

"All righty then, let's hold up here for a bit." Jack giving his best impersonation of Jim Carrey. "We should be well hidden from the Jaffa, but I can still see the Stargate through my binoculars. We can watch for Elliott. It'll take a while for them to get this far. Besides, it's time for another radio check with Carter."

Daniel took in their current surroundings while Jack filled in his position with Carter. They had reached the tree line with nothing but sand, sand, and more sand between them and the Stargate. Okay, it wasn't actually sand. More like mud without the water, dirt. Damn, he really longed for some ruins to explore but he was out of luck this time. He noticed deep pits scattered about where the Goa'uld had apparently launched his preliminary air attack, trying to ferret out the Tok'ra from their tunnels. He could see the Jaffa base camp. For some strange reason he began to think of the musical Oklahoma. Well, that was really interesting...

Next Daniel noticed the Jaffa. They were all over the area. Trying to look at their situation from a military standpoint, he scanned for escape routes, ground cover, and hiding spots. Okay, so it wasn't difficult to figure out. Scouting the area for potential vantage points, he noted very little foliage between their current position and the 'gate. His attention was drawn back to their current location, still littered with pretty flowers where the sunlight made it through the trees.

Daniel noted ruefully that they had stopped at one of the dark patches.

Daniel listened to Jack communicating with Carter through the radios. After a brief update, the radio went silent. The two sat in silence for several more minutes, each lost in their own thoughts.

"So now what, Jack?"

"Now, we wait," Jack pulled out two MREs from his pack handing one to Daniel.

Chapter 3 - Not a Laughing Matter

They didn't have to wait long. As Jack and Daniel finished eating their MREs, Jack noticed a large group of Jaffa entering stage left, two of which were carrying a litter with Elliott along for the ride. Using a rapid series of hand motions, Jack silently communicated to Daniel the location of the Jaffa and his orders for Daniel to take cover behind a nearby tree. Daniel complied with the order but not without first silently mouthing to Jack, "Where are they going?". To which, Jack gave his similarly silent reply of "How the hell should I know?". Funny, Daniel thought, even though their exchange had been totally mimed, he felt like he could've heard Jack's exasperated response without looking at him. Daniel just gave a sheepish shrug back. Jack scurried to the same tree, squatting on the ground beside Daniel.

Using his binoculars, Jack could see the Jaffa talking with Elliott. They had stopped short of the armory. He imagined the words the kid would be saying. 'No other survivors. I can tell you the formula for the poison. It's right here in my vest pocket...'

Jack could see Elliott pulling out the slender vial containing the poison Daniel had given him. He held his breath, praying that nothing would go wrong.

Daniel, unable to keep his vow of silence, whispered to Jack, "He's got to have the strength to break open the vial so the contents will mix, releasing the chemical."

Jack pondered Daniel's comment. He winced as he saw the Jaffa nearest Elliott rip the vial from his hands and backhand Elliott across the face. He was beginning to think that this had been a horrible mistake. Fortunately, in the Jaffa's haste to chastise the young man, he apparently used the same hand that held the vial to backhand Elliott. He thought he could see pain on the Jaffa's face as he fell immediately to the ground, literally dead on his feet due to his close proximity to the poison. Jack glanced at Elliott, pleased to see the soldier died quickly, quietly, and finally at peace.

Without the binoculars, Daniel was unable to keep up with the action but, as the poison spread, it became readily obvious that something was happening. The Jaffa began dropping row by row as the poison dissipated in a circular pattern out from the source like a shock wave. These Jaffa didn't die quite as rapidly as those nearest the source. They fell to the ground and began writhing in the dirt. The four ships, their inhabitants possibly protected by the ships energy shields, took flight and left the area with screaming speed.

As the outermost Jaffa hit the dirt, Jack grabbed his radio to inform Carter.

"Carter."

"Yes, Sir."

"Lieutenant Elliott has hit his target. The poison is rapidly spreading. All Jaffa are on the ground but not all are dead yet."

"That's good news, Sir."

"Sir?" waiting for the reply that never came from the Colonel, Carter couldn't help but be a bit apprehensive. She knew there could be side effects for humans but no one truly knew how severe they could be.

"Sir!"

"Uh, Carter...everything's okay here. The poison wave has just reached us."

"Are you sure you're okay, Sir?" She thought she could hear crying on the other end of the radio.

"Uh, well, Daniel's in my lap, giggling hysterically. Tell Jacob he's gonna pay for this one." Still with his finger on the radio call button, leaving the line open for Carter to hear, Jack yelled a few choice words in Daniel's direction. "Oh, yeah, Jacob's gonna pay big time!"

"I'm trying to Jack...can't catch my breath," Daniel replied between guffaws. "I just can't...." The sentence was cut short as, once again, Daniel broke down laughing, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Oh, this isn't funny!" More chuckles followed the comment.

Briefly regaining his composure, Daniel wiped the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand. Sitting upright, leaning against the tree, he cautiously raised his gaze to meet Jack's eyes. Daniel, realizing that Jack appeared stoic and quite unaffected by the poison, gave a quick 'I'm sorry.'

As their eyes met, Jack couldn't contain himself any longer. "Shit, Daniel! If you breathe a word of this to Carter, so help me...I'll..." Jack found it very difficult to keep up the conversation as he was rocked with overpowering giggles. He felt like such a fool. Witnessing Jack's unexpected breakdown was too much for Daniel who, once again, found himself back in Jack's lap laughing hysterically. Jack playfully pushed him back down to the ground.

Several agonizing moments later, Jack's radio crackled, "Come in, Sir!"

"Yeah, Carter." The fits of hysterics had passed leaving Jack and Daniel clutching their stomachs from the receding pain caused by prolonged laughing jags. Jack made a quick assessment of the Jaffa base camp.

"All Jaffa at the base camp are dead. Four ships escaped the area so take precautions."

"Understood, Sir. Dad's feeling much better. We can probably begin heading towards the Stargate. It will take us about 4 hours to reach your current position. The poison will have dissipated sufficiently by then."

"Roger, that, Carter. Watch the woods. There may still be some Jaffa patrols out there. Radio check every 30 minutes. Daniel and I will secure the 'gate."

"Will do, Sir. Carter out."

"Daniel, you ready to move?" Jack queried, visibly pulling himself together.

"Yeah, I think so. Not feeling so great, though." Daniel thought that was quite an understatement. He felt like he'd been knocked down by a buffalo, stomped on a few times, and kicked in the head as the animal made its retreat. He briefly surveyed the base camp area, noting no movement whatsoever. It appeared the poison worked well.

They walked silently towards the Stargate, Jack's eyes constantly assessing their surroundings. They had to maneuver around the lifeless bodies making their way towards Elliott. Upon reaching the young soldier, Daniel glimpsed Jack's expression. He could see a mix of emotions pass over the colonel's face, respect, sorrow and admiration for Elliott apparent. That's when Daniel noticed Jack's physical appearance. The colonel had obviously been through hell and back during his brief time at the Tok'ra base. His clothes were worse for wear, quite filthy, and he had dark stubble indicating that he hadn't shaved for a couple of days.

Silently, Jack reached out to Elliott and removed his dog tags, cognizant of the "no one gets left behind" military philosophy. Sometimes the only way to fulfill that promise was to bring back the identification tags. Daniel stooped, placing his thumb and forefinger on Elliott's face to close his eyes. The soldier looked peaceful.

Standing up from Elliott, Jack looked at the devastation around him. Hundreds of Jaffa lay dead.

"Sweet. You know, I take back everything I've said about the Tok'ra! They and their poison really saved our asses this time!"

"Yeah, Jack, but at what cost?"

"Daniel, I don't care "what cost"! These Jaffa had every intention of killing us and destroying the Tok'ra base. They were not 'good people'." Jack made exaggerated quotes with his fingers in the air.

Turning to look at Daniel, Jack made a quick assessment of Daniel's attire. Not very conducive for combat, he noted. Daniel was still wearing the satin garb given to him by the Tok'ra for use at the Goa'uld summit meeting. The shirt was sleeveless, apparently affording little benefit from the low hanging branches and thorns they had encountered on their trek through the woods. Several scrapes and abrasions were visible on Daniel's arms. His pants were quite thin with no pockets or means to hide a weapon. Jack was grateful that they had not confronted any Jaffa along the way.

Jack reached down to retrieve a zat gun from one of the dead warriors. "Here, Daniel," Jack said as he planted the zat into Daniel's hands. "Hopefully, we won't need these but a boy scout should always be prepared."

Continuing to check bodies along the way, they eventually converged on the dais at the base of the stargate. Convinced that there was no present danger, Jack took a seat on the stairs with Daniel following suit. Jack had noted a couple of areas near the gate that could be used for defensive positions if that became necessary.

So far, this had been a piece of cake. Nothing was ever this easy for SG-1. Perhaps the gods had taken pity on them for once. They definitely deserved it after so many missions where a change of venue from the conference room to the infirmary for debriefings was required. Now, SG-1 was almost home free. Carter had reported their position at the last radio check and informed her commanding officer that the remaining team members would reach the 'gate in about an hour. Jack looked at his watch, noting ruefully that the last radio check was about 45 minutes ago.

"Damn! Carter missed her last check in. This is so not good." Pressing the call button, Jack bellowed into his radio, "Carter!" After a few seconds pause with no response, he tried again, "Carter! Report!"

A breathless female voice responded to him, "Sir, we're under attack!"

Chapter 4 - Disappearing Act

Major Samantha Carter's last communication with Colonel O'Neill was almost 30 minutes ago. Everything had been going well and they had made tremendous progress towards the 'gate. Teal'c took point with Carter bringing up the rear. Jacob Carter recovered remarkably quickly from his injuries acquired during his and Daniel's rapid descent to Revanna via Tel'tak thanks to his symbiote, Selmak. Sandwiched between Sam and Teal'c, Jacob kept a wary eye on the woods surrounding them. Sam figured they would be at the 'gate in another half-hour or so. She had become reticent throughout their journey, relieved that fears of Jaffa patrols were unfounded. Her thoughts shifted to her surroundings. She noticed that they had entered a particularly dark area of the forest where very little sunlight reached through the trees to light their path. There were several rather large boulders strewn along the way.

The ball of fire screaming past her nearly blinded her with its intensity.

"Take cover!" The command was totally unnecessary as Teal'c and Jacob had already sought refuge crouched behind the nearby boulders. Sam was isolated from them and took cover behind a large tree. She was still rather exposed and cringed as several more blasts aimed at her narrowly escaped hitting their target. Recognizing her predicament, Teal'c stood up and fired a series of blasts, providing Sam with much appreciated cover fire. She dashed into position next to her dad.

"How many?" Sam asked breathlessly.

"Probably four to six Jaffa. It's a small patrol used to retrieve anything of value once the enemy has been destroyed. They weren't expecting company." Jacob grimaced as another blast whizzed directly overhead.

Teal'c returned to a squatting position next to Jacob. "We are outnumbered, however, I have gravely injured two of them. I believe we are at a 'standoff', as you say."

"What's their position, Teal'c?" Sam knew they couldn't wait indefinitely. Neither side was firing any more and the silence was almost deafening. She nearly jumped out of her skin as her radio crackled. "Carter! Report!"

"Sir, we're under attack! Radio silence!" Sam knew the colonel would not be pleased with her abrupt end to their conversation but she didn't have the time to explain their situation. She also hoped that the Jaffa might have difficulty locating their position if they remained silent. The brief radio communication had destroyed all hope of maintaining anonymity as another staff blast struck the boulder they were hiding behind.

"Damn! We've got to do something!" Sam reached inside her vest pockets pulling out two grenades. "Dad, take one and throw it to the left side of the group. I'll launch this one to the right. Teal'c, lay cover fire to draw their attention. We go on three." Teal'c gave a minute nod, indicating his consent and understanding. Jacob's comment of "let's blow this joint" was a bit more to the point.

"Okay, on three. One," Sam and Jacob pulled the pins from their grenades. "two, three!"

Teal'c shot low, not aiming to kill and allowing the grenades to fly above the blasts. The grenades hit their target, creating an explosion that brought the remaining Jaffa to the ground, dead.

"I count four dead from the grenades," Sam commented after surveying the site of the explosions. "Teal'c, how many did you hit with the staff?"

"I eliminated two Jaffa in that direction," Teal'c indicated an area to the south of the grenade site. "That makes six," Jacob finished. "We've eliminated the immediate threat."

"Excellent. Now we just need to avoid any more patrols before we make it back to the 'gate. I'd better apprise Colonel O'Neill of our status. I think now would be a good time to quicken our pace."

"I concur."

"Indeed."

Dammit! Not only was Jack in the wrong place to help his teammates, he'd just been given the brush-off by his 2IC. Radio silence! He'd used that one a few times his self but it really sucked to be on the receiving end. He rapped his fingers impatiently against the shaft of his P-90 as he stood on the steps, craning his neck for any signs of battle in the woods.

"They'll be fine, Jack," Daniel's comment apparently intended to ease Jack's concern. He found it difficult to believe his own words.

"Yeah, I know," Jack paused his drumming on his weapon long enough to push the heels of his hands against his brow, massaging some of the stress from his face.

"Colonel O'Neill, come in." It was Carter's voice over the radio.

"Yeah, Carter. What happened?"

"We encountered a six man Jaffa patrol. The threat has been eliminated with no injuries to us. Dad believes we may run into more patrols so we've quicken our pace to the 'gate. ETA is about 10 minutes. Suggest you begin the dial up sequence in about 5. We may need to make a hasty retreat."

"Understood, Carter. Daniel will dial out in 5 minutes. Out."

Jack turned towards Daniel, preparing to retreat to the defensive positions he'd noticed earlier near the 'gate. "Come on, Daniel. Let's take cover..."

His thoughts went unsaid as the 'gate suddenly sprang into life. Jack and Daniel turned simultaneously towards the 'gate noticing that the chevrons were all lit, signaling an imminent wormhole activation. Jack knew there was a reason you should never use the 'gate stairs as a chair. He'd need to spell out the dangers of being too close to the 'gate in the SGC's protocol as soon as he got back to base.

Daniel looked perplexed, his mind trying to rapidly process the visual clues his eyes were receiving. "What the hell...?"

"Daniel, down now!" Jack shouted over the roar of the establishing wormhole. He shoved Daniel in the back, hard enough to throw the archeologist off the steps to the ground below. As Daniel hit the ground, his zat flew several feet from his hands. Stretching to reach the weapon, he felt a sudden weight on his back as Jack followed, none too gracefully, landing atop the sprawled man. As they disengaged themselves, the wormhole stabilized and three figures emerged through the event horizon.

"Daniel Jackson! You've made my mission too easy!" Jack and Daniel turned towards the familiar voice, recognizing it immediately as Osiris.

Covertly reaching to release the safety from his P-90, Jack never heard the next words as one of Osiris' Jaffa escorts fired a zat once. The sound of electrical static and the sight of Jack writhing in agony from the direct hit made Daniel wince in sympathy.

Daniel regained his composure enough to realize that he had to warn Sam. He really didn't want her walking into an ambush. He'd prefer an heroic rescue attempt at this point. Reaching for the call button on his radio, Daniel relayed his situation as quickly as possible, "Sam, Osiris and two Jaffa came through the 'gate. Jack's down and..." His transmission was cut short as Osiris delivered as strong backhand across his face, knocking him to the ground hard enough to cause the radio to be released from his grip to join his weapon several feet away. The sting from the slap on his cheekbone was brutal and he realized that he was bleeding from a cut created by a rather large ring on Osiris' hand. Spots of light danced before his eyes as he tried to hold on to consciousness.

One Jaffa was already dialing coordinates on the DHD. The other Jaffa moved to restrain Jack's hands behind his back. Daniel continued to lie down as if unconscious, while keeping a close watch on the coordinates. He used his fingers to scratch the coordinates into the dirt beneath him, hoping to hide his actions from the approaching Jaffa. The ground was hard and the symbols were etched deeply enough that Sam and Teal'c should be able to make them out. If only he could complete the last symbol before that Jaffa reached him to bind his hands...

Too late. He couldn't see the last symbol dialed in time to mark it in the ground. The Jaffa pulled him up roughly from the ground with a swift jerk to his left arm. Daniel hissed through clinched teeth, wondering if the force had dislocated his shoulder. His hands were bound tightly behind him and the Jaffa shoved him towards the now open wormhole.

He looked back over his shoulder hoping to see Sam and Teal'c come into view. Yes! He could see them now, just at the tree line. Osiris followed his gaze to his approaching teammates and suddenly rubbed the blue crystal on the ring that had caused Daniel so much pain. Daniel didn't give the gesture much thought as he silently prayed for his teammates to rescue them.

They didn't see him! He suddenly realized with an enveloping sense of dread that his teammates couldn't see him. How could that be, they were so close? Daniel tried calling out to Sam to no avail. Then Daniel remembered the blue crystal. "What have you done to them?" Daniel's words filled with hatred towards Osiris.

Osiris simply laughed and motioned at the Jaffa to bring Jack through the 'gate. Both Jaffa sauntered towards the still unconscious Jack, lifting him by his arms, and, quite literally, dragging him through the 'gate. Daniel gave a final seething glare at Osiris as she motioned for him to follow Jack. His words were very tight, escaping through clinched teeth, "What have you done?"

"Why, my dear Dr. Jackson. We are merely inside an invisibility screen from which neither light nor sound is reflected. It works much the same as a cloaking device. They cannot see our images or hear our voices," Osiris chuckled. "Quite a useful invention, don't you think?" She waved her zat in Daniel's direction.

"Well, I guess that depends on your point of view," Daniel replied wryly as he followed Jack through the wormhole.

The wormhole disengaged. Sam surveyed their surroundings, perplexed at their situation. She knew that the colonel and Daniel were at the 'gate with Osiris. She also heard the wormhole engage but there was no trace of anyone. "Where did they go?"

Teal'c began searching for signs to explain their teammates' disappearance. "There are footprints, here and here," Teal'c pointed to areas on the ground near the 'gate. "Someone was dragged from here through the 'gate," he continued, surveying for more clues. "And here is a radio and zat'ni'kitl. I cannot explain the inconsistency in the timing of the 'gate activation, however there is no doubt that Daniel Jackson and Colonel O'Neill were here."

"Teal'c!" Sam exclaimed excitedly. "Look over here. These appear to be symbols marked in the ground representing a 'gate address."

"Indeed. It appears that someone has left us a clue."

"They must have been made in a hurry. I'm having trouble making them all out and it looks like the sixth symbol is missing."

"That is unfortunate."

"At least it's something," Jacob Carter felt compelled to contribute to the conversation. "We've gotta go now, though. Take a mental note of the markings and let's get the hell out of dodge! We've got company!" He pointed towards the tree line at several Jaffa heading their way.

"Uh, right! Dad, you and Teal'c look at the symbols. I'll dial us home." Sam began entering symbols for home on the DHD. As the wormhole again roared into being, the three reluctantly made their way to the 'gate and home. They would find them, she knew they would. They had to.

Chapter 5 - "Aw hell, not again!"

Deenesh ran through the halls towards her Master's ship. She couldn't understand the feelings that assaulted her. She was running, yes, but she wasn't in control of the movement. It was as if she was disconnected somehow from her limbs. The voice in her mind grew louder and louder, pushing her conscious thoughts to their subconscious depths.

Deenesh was appalled by the cacophony of emotions invading her mind. Not her emotions but those of the others running alongside her. She could hear their thoughts, angry thoughts, seething hatred. She hated...no. It was not in Deenesh's nature to hate, yet there it was. Hatred for the System Lords, hatred for Ma'chello, even hatred directed towards her Master for allowing this summit meeting to be decimated by those who wished to kill the Goa'uld.

//Shut up, stupid girl!// Deenesh recognized it as the voice of Nephthys resounding in her head.

Deenesh was beginning to panic as her thoughts were pushed farther in the background of her mind. //I don't understand. What's happening?//

//The Limvris were attacked by those vile creatures. We had to escape. You are now my host. You are under my control. I will silence your mind, your voice. You will now do my will.//

//But I don't understand. It sounds as though a multitude of voices has entered my mind. Make it stop!// Deenesh knew that the thoughts racing about her mind were from many souls not just the voice of her god.

//You are hearing the thoughts of everyone around us. Your race was telepathic but you didn't have the mental capacity to use the power. What a waste! The best use for your kind was as slaves...until know.//

Nephthys recognized Deenesh's ability as soon as she entered her body and quickly squelched extraneous thoughts from her host. Nephthys envisioned the possibilities that her newfound talent offered. This telepathy would enhance her current capacity for controlling minds making her very powerful indeed. The System Lords will no longer control the Goa'ulds. Her alliance with Osiris will provide the means to finally destroy them.

As she entered the Tel'tak, Deenesh was overwhelmed by the silence, the voices disappearing as the door to the ship closed, isolating her from the others, leaving her alone to face her demon.

As they existed the wormhole, Daniel noticed that they appeared to be underground, the darkness illuminated only by the reflection of the wormhole into the large chamber. Unlike many other worlds, the Stargate here apparently held no reverence as a center of worship for the gods. This place felt like hell. It was sure hotter than it.

As Daniel stumbled down the stairs he shot a quick glance at the still unconscious Jack, slumped between the arms of the Jaffa. At the base of the stairs, the Jaffa relaxed their grip, allowing Jack's legs and feet to drag painfully along the rock floor. Another glimpse around the chamber revealed a rather large, cavernous room with lava pools bubbling their molten quarry and steam billowing upward through vents presumably leading to the surface. The walls appeared to be completely natural, large fissures opening into nothingness. He noticed the ambient air was unpleasantly warm with a distinctly sulfurous odor. Definitely not your typically Goa'uld palace dcor.

He visibly twitched at the sound of the 'gate deactivating. Expecting to be thrown into total darkness, Daniel was surprised to see faint lighting through an adjacent corridor. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he noticed a very faint bluish hue emanating from the chamber walls themselves. Temporarily lost in his thoughts, he looked longingly around the chamber, hoping to find clues to their location or at least some ancient drawings depicting the lifestyles of the local inhabitants, if there actually were any. His thoughts abruptly returned to his present situation with a fierce shove from the Jaffa. Stunned momentarily from the assault, he glanced over his shoulder to the offender. Viewing the indignant expression in the Jaffa's face and returning one of his own, he reluctantly turned to follow Osiris towards the corridor with the Jaffa bringing up the rear, still dragging Jack.

Daniel's thoughts returned to Revanna where the patches of sunlight broke through the trees, rendering mounds of pretty flowers. Curiously wondering what he'd find in that dimly lit corridor, Daniel walked in silence behind Osiris. No, no flowers in this place. Probably just thorns, he mused.

Entering the corridor, Daniel noticed that the lighting was iridescent and pulsating, not generator powered but totally natural lighting.

Crystals! He recognized the natural shapes. He surreptitiously glanced at the ring on Osiris' hand, the one that had caused the gouge across his cheekbone. The one that he suspected created the invisibility screen around them preventing Sam and Teal'c from seeing them. The crystal on the ring matched those in the walls. He speculated on the nature of the crystals, how they were formed, and if the energy they seemed to emit originated in the crystals themselves or was supplied somehow through the tunnel walls. Another glimpse at Osiris' ring proved his first theory wrong. The ring wasn't glowing.

They continued down the wide path for what seemed like an eternity. Daniel could tell that Jack was beginning to awaken by the soft moans coming from his direction. He knew that Jack was not fully conscious yet by the lack of the verbal onslaught that Daniel had come to expect from Jack. Jack's cutting sarcasm and criticism were quite notorious and often entertaining, as long as they weren't directed at you.

Daniel assumed this passageway must be a main artery from the Stargate to wherever it was they were heading. In fact, it very well could be the only artery to the 'gate. Daniel realized that that could mean nearly impossible odds of escaping via the Stargate. They most assuredly could be prevented from retreating through the passage unnoticed. Trying to ascertain any information about this route that might serve them later, Daniel was surprised to find their way abruptly forked into two darker and much narrower tunnels. With the wave of Osiris' hand, the Jaffa escorted Jack down the second tunnel. Another group of Jaffa joined Daniel and Osiris in the neighboring passageway.

"Hey, where are you taking him." Daniel tried to control his concern for Jack's safety by curbing the anxious tone from his voice, attempting to project instead a measure of curiosity.

"That is none of your concern, Dr. Jackson," Osiris' voice had a lilting pitch. "He will be 'entertained' separately from you. In fact, I believe I'll be joining you for tonight's entertainment...just like old times, eh?," the husky voice resonated with sexual undercurrents. "My host is quite fond of you. She also has some very interesting memories."

"Go to hell," Daniel's voice oozed defiance.

"Oh, my dear Dr. Jackson. But we're already there!" Osiris gave a calloused laugh.

With Osiris' nod to the Jaffa, Daniel was shoved roughly down the narrow passage. They seemed to be gaining altitude during their trek through this tunnel and the air was becoming noticeably cooler. He let his thoughts wander during their brief journey, not unusual for him after all. Although concerned for his own well-being, his greater concern was for Jack. Jack hadn't yet awakened fully from the zat blast, one not unlike so many they had encountered previously. Jack's stamina generally shortened his recovery time from the electric charge created by the zat considerably. For some reason this time he was taking much longer to come around, assuming he would recover at all. That thought plunged Daniel into his own darkness, helpless to aid his friend and hoping that his friend was okay.

As they rounded a corner, Daniel spied his prison. A shallow cell with no windows, no comforts, and no escape. Cut sharply into the rock face walls, the room was quite small and rather dank. Dim lighting was present and, this time, it appeared to be man- or rather Goa'uld-made. The Jaffa quickly chained Daniel's arms to an overhead restraint system consisting of what appeared to be a mechanical lifting device. Oh, great, height adjustable. Daniel prayed that the system was meant to accommodate prisoners of various heights, not to actually lift prisoners off the floor to dangle by their arms. Yeahsureyabetcha.

In an attempt to focus his sudden apprehension by role reversal, Daniel decided to question his captor, "Where are we? What do you want with us?" continuing to speak as though Jack was still present, refusing to consider any other possibilities.

"In due time, Daniel. In due time," Osiris caressed the young man's cheek. Daniel outwardly displayed stoicism at the touch although inwardly he was trembling. He only hoped that Sarah could control her emotions and memories of past experiences enough to assuage Osiris. He didn't want to think about what Osiris could do with some of Daniel's more personal past experiences. He and Sarah had shared some rather wild and potentially embarrassing moments, some of which he could barely remember himself due to the amount of alcohol consumed at the time.

"Prepare him!" Osiris bellowed at the Jaffa. Turning her gaze towards Daniel, Osiris' next comments filled Daniel with dread. "He must be ready for the evening's entertainment."

Daniel barely flinched as the Jaffa slowly removed his clothing. Trying to distance himself from the situation, Daniel began to think of Jack and their possibilities of escape. The Jaffa removed Daniel's shoes and socks first, moving next to his satin tank top, ripping the back and sleeves to be able to discard it with his manacles still attached. Next the Jaffa moved to the belt on Daniel's pants. Avoiding eye contact with his captors and trying his best to look disinterested in the proceedings, Daniel held his head high and focused his gaze on the door to his cell. He noticed a dark figure walk past, definitely female. Before his mind could completely process the image, he began to feel hands on his legs. One of the Jaffa pressed a symbol on the interior wall which started the winch above his arms to operate. He felt his arms lifted high above his head. Thankfully, the motion stopped before his feet left the ground.

Abruptly, his pants were ripped off him, yanked with enough force past his feet to overbalance him. His feet went out from under him, stretching his arms tautly as his body weight tugged on them. He winced from the sudden pain shooting down his arms but defiantly refused to show any fear. He quickly regained his composure as well as his footing, flinching ever so slightly as that hand began an upward caress, starting at his inner thigh and progressing towards his groin. After tracing lazy circles at the base of his crotch, the hand moved to lightly brush his manhood.

As fingers worked their way under the leg opening in his underwear, Daniel thought he might lose his composure. He forced his mind to focus on Jack. He and Jack had discussed "preferred" torture techniques in the past. They had actually made a "top ten" list. Daniel recognized several of those "top ten" items that applied to his current situation; 1) degrading by removing the victim's dignity, both mentally and physically, 2) depriving the victim of those things essential to human existence such as food, water, clothing, 3) threatening or attempting sexual relations or other depravities. Oh, and 4) actual mental and physical torture. He was having difficulty remembering the other six items, his mind diverted to the hand which now cupped his balls beneath the clothing.

"Enough!" Osiris, apparently enjoying the show, decided to cut off the entertainment for now before things got out of hand, so to speak. "Come. Leave him to his thoughts...for now," Osiris left the room smiling viciously with the Jaffa following.

'Well, at least I got to keep the underwear on this time,' Daniel mentally joked even though he was visibly trembling.

Jack gasped, his mind clawing its way up from his unconsciousness to interpret his current situation. He felt pain in his legs, unpleasant but not debilitating. He couldn't remember how he'd been hurt. Rapidly trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together, he remembered being on Revanna with Daniel waiting for Carter and Teal'c to reach the 'gate. They were under attack. He and Daniel were preparing to open the wormhole to Earth when Osiris'...

"Aw hell, not again!" As Jack came to full awareness in his cell he couldn't help thinking that this was so typical.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid! How could I have been so stupid!" Jack muttered to himself. He had relaxed his guard during their final hours on Revanna, assuming an air of confidence after the Goa'uld poison had so effectively done its job. His nonchalance had cost them their freedom. 'Their freedom', he thought. Shit! Where was Daniel? He remembered hearing voices, HIS voice before being dumped unceremoniously into this room. Daniel must be alive, he had to be. But where?

Jack began pacing the small confines of his room. Nice dcor, a bit gaudy, but what else would you expect from the Goa'uld. The room smelled a bit musty and the lighting wasn't too bright but the bed was a nice touch. He noticed a tray of food placed on a sidebar table and took a pear-shaped fruit to quench his appetite. After his second bite he prayed that he wasn't being stupid once again, that the food wasn't poisoned. He inwardly shrugged, deciding that he didn't care at this point since the fruit had such a delicious flavor. His thoughts digressed to Daniel, hoping he was receiving the same unexpected and not unpleasant welcome. It was nice to be treated well for a change. He only hoped the treatment didn't turn sour.

Lost in his thoughts, Jack was startled by the unexpected movement outside his door. Standing poised for attack, he waited patiently behind the door, planning to assault his would-be captor. As the door opened, he was taken aback at the appearance of a beautiful woman with dark features and glowing eyes. He paused for a moment, never completing his planned attack.

As the young woman entered the room, she glanced unconcerned in Jack's direction and proceeded to snatch a piece of fruit from the table for herself. Pausing to take several bites from the fruit, she finally turned her attention towards Jack.

Suddenly confused by his self thwarted escape plan, Jack looked nonplussed at the young woman. "Who are you?" he asked.

"I am Nephthys, goddess of the death which is not eternal, mistress of the gods, sister to Isis."

"And. So. Therefore." Jack regained his sarcastic tongue, waving his hand with each word spoken.

"And," Nephthys brushed by Jack as she spoke, "you are my honored guest. So," another touch from Nephthys' hand to Jack's face, "you will tell me everything I want to know about yourself and your companion. Therefore," she stopped directly in front of Jack, her face mere inches from his, "I will allow you the pleasure of serving me by lending your willing assistance in the destruction of Earth."

"Okay, let me think about that," Jack started casually. "No," his singsong voice answering after barely a second's pause. "This may come as a surprise to you but I'm so not honored to be your guest and I'll never help you destroy Earth so I suggest that you bring my teammate to me now before I break your slimy, good-for-nothing, Goa'uldy... "

Nephthys abruptly raised her hand to Jack stopping his words instantly. She spoke slowly to Jack, her tone beyond reproach, her eyes never wavering from his. "You are my honored guest."

Jack calmly repeated the words trance-like, "I am your honored guest."

"You will tell me everything I want to know," Nephthys continued.

"I will tell you everything you want to know," the words spilling ominously from Jack's mouth.

"You will assist me in the destruction of Earth."

"I will assist you in the destruction of Earth." Jack heard himself speak the words but his mind had difficulty processing their meaning.

Nephthys lowered her hand and resumed her casual perusal of Jack's room. Jack followed her with his eyes, still confused by his words but realizing that he would follow Nephthys' instructions to him.

"I trust you will be comfortable here." Nephthys' words reflected as a statement rather than a question.

"Yes, my Lord. I will." Jack's words haunted the deep recesses of his mind but he seemed to have no control over his conscious thoughts and behavior.

And with a satisfied nod of her head, Nephthys quickly left the room.

"Stop it! God, just stop it!" Daniel's screams came through clenched teeth. He was past trying to suppress his cries and into full blown verbalization of his pain. His cries didn't help the pain and only made his throat raw.

Unsure of exactly when his tormentors returned to visit him, Daniel suspected they'd been with him for about a half hour now although it seemed like much longer.

Left in his cell for several hours without food or water, he let his mind wander to what had gone so wrong to place him in this dire situation. Everything apparently. He and Jack been complacent regarding their position on Revanna, never expecting the 'gate to spring to life with an incoming wormhole. Their concern had been in response to guarding the 'gate against Jaffa patrols wishing to prevent egress through the 'gate. Incoming threats just hadn't been considered.

Of course Osiris knew that it was Daniel Jackson who had escaped her grasp on Yu's Tel'tak, he had told her so. Daniel knew of her alliance with Anubis having overhead her discussions to that fact while on the space station. He'd also heard her speak of the impending destruction of the Tok'ra base on Revanna and their further desire to destroy Earth. But why had Osiris followed him to Revanna? Certainly he was of little consequence to the allegiance between Osiris and Anubis, especially since Anubis had been reinstated as a System Lord. It just didn't make sense to him. Somehow, Osiris must've traveled to a nearby planet within the Stargate system to make an appearance on Revanna, retrieve Jack and himself, and take them almost literally to hell.

As his thoughts continued to wander, Daniel began to realize that his forearms hurt. In fact, he could feel heaviness and streaks of pain radiating from his arms to his shoulders. Envisioning his arms as disembodied links, Daniel attempted to quell the agonizing ache. It didn't help. His thoughts strayed back to Jack, hoping he was in better condition than himself. If Jack was conscious and alert, he would find a way to escape his captors. If anyone could, Jack would free them from this hellhole. As his thoughts returned to the present, Daniel could hear the faint sound of footsteps approaching. God, please let it be Jack...

Damn, no such luck. Two Jaffa entered his prison, one of them carrying an innocuous looking metal rod and three small discs. The Jaffa immediately walked over to Daniel and began placing the discs on his body, one on his temple, one on his left side, and one, unfortunately, at the base of his testicles. Without ever speaking a word, the Jaffa touched a symbol on the rod causing the tip to glow a deep crimson. As he touched the tip to the disc on Daniel's side, Daniel felt a searing pain throughout his body. The pain was like nothing he had ever experienced before. Originating from his side and radiating outwards to his extremities. Against closed eyelids he saw starbursts of colors, like fireworks, almost blinding in their intensity. Clenching his lips together to buffet against his desire to scream, Daniel tasted blood as he bit through his bottom lip. The pain, thank god, was only transitory, easing as soon as the rod was removed.

Daniel took a quick gasp of air, intending to flail a few accusatory words in his tormentors' direction, but was again silenced from speaking as the rod was raised to touch the disc at his temple. The only sounds he could form were screams that echoed out from his cell through the corridor.

"Stop it! God, just stop it!" Daniel's screams came through clenched teeth.

As though honoring his request, the rod was removed from his temple. The pain took longer to dissipate this time leaving Daniel with a pounding headache.

Osiris sauntered into the room, her casual words sounding alarm bells in Daniel's mind. "My dear Dr. Jackson, you had but to ask! Perhaps this will be more to your liking."

As Osiris completed the words, she took the rod from the Jaffa's hand, pressing a different symbol at its base, the tip of the rod now glowing a foreboding cerulean blue.

As Osiris raised the rod to his temple, Daniel flinched, his eyes narrowed, preparing for the pain to follow. He was taken aback by the touch, the expected pain replaced by something entirely different. It was warm but not too warm. His vision wavered as incredible sensations flooded his mind and body. He felt pleasure coursing through his veins, pumped by his heart to every part of his body, in a mind numbing onslaught of feelings that he could neither describe nor distance himself from. His mind was enveloped in a dark blue aura wrapping around his very being. The colors behind his eyelids returned, presenting themselves in a swirling, intermixing rainbow of pigments bleeding into each other reminding him of a tie dyed shirt he owned as a child. This feeling was pleasant, very pleasant. He found himself drowning in the emotions shrouding his essence.

"See, we have no wish to harm you. We can make this easy for you. Your choice, pleasure or pain." Gasping to release the breath he hadn't realized he was holding, Daniel reluctantly forced himself to utter the words, not enjoying the lack of control that the blue tipped rod was delivering to him. Quietly and reluctantly, Daniel spoke, "Stop. I can't...take... please, stop."

"As you wish," and Osiris removed the rod before the words completely left Daniel's mouth. He immediately felt the loss of its presence.

"What the hell do you want from me?" Daniel tried to regain his vehemence towards Osiris.

"You answer a few simple questions and I'll reward you appropriately," Osiris spoke while walking in slow circles around Daniel, lightly tracing her fingers across his torso as she moved. "Correct answers bring pleasure. Incorrect ones bring..." Daniel noticed the color change on the rod's tip as Osiris brought it up between his legs, contacting the disc on his groin through the clothing. He barely heard Osiris finish the sentence as excruciating pain assaulted his body once again.

"...pain."

When the rod was removed, Daniel was quite certain that he would have difficulty walking for some time. Yeah, like that was an option anyway.

"Now my dear Daniel," Osiris pressed her lips lightly against Daniel's ear while her free hand continued its exploration of his body. "We will talk."

Daniel stood stoically against her touch, staring at a distant point on the cell door. Once again he thought he saw a shadowy figure pass by the doorway. Of course, he may just be imagining things...

He was pacing again. How long had they been here? Glancing at his watch he realized that they had been imprisoned now for well over six hours.

Jack, his ever patient self, had been yelling for someone, ANYONE, to come to his room. He knew there were a couple of Jaffa guards outside his room but, other than them, he hadn't seen anyone since he'd awakened on this godforsaken planet, if it was a planet. The last thing he remembered was the zat blast enveloping him on Revanna. Shit! They'd been so close to escaping that damn planet. At least, Teal'c and Carter should have been able to return to the SGC. Carter won't stop looking until she finds them. That was something anyway.

"Could someone turn on a damn light! Jeez!" Jack bellowed through small opening in his door slamming a fist against it for emphasis.

At least he'd been treated well. He'd received food and water at regular intervals. He had a bed...well, really more of a cot, but it was better than laying on the rock floor. He'd even tried to rest for a bit but his concern for Daniel overshadowed his need for sleep. He wasn't really sure that Daniel had been captured. He had heard some very faint cries, screams actually, but that was several hours ago now. He really hoped they hadn't come from Daniel.

"Hey, I really need some information here!" Jack's voice resonated through the small room and down the adjacent hallway. Eyeing one of the Jaffa through his door porthole, Jack exclaimed, " Would you get your fucking snake-head leader in here now?!"

Receiving only a cold, impassive look from the Jaffa in response, Jack flung his half empty water glass at the door, shattering it into a million pieces.

"Anubis is awaiting word of our progress." Osiris drank deeply from the ornate goblet in her hand. With a snap of her fingers, her human slave refilled the glass.

"The System Lords are fools!" Nephthys scowled at the thought. "Anubis reinstated as a System Lord after the crimes he'd committed against them in the past? Preposterous! Such flagrant, insolent audacity could only be instrumented by him!"

"That is true, but the opportunity now presents itself for us."

"Indeed it does, my love," Nephthys responded. "We have only to play the humans against each other to set up the destruction of Earth."

"Yes," Osiris nodded in satisfaction. "Anubis will take the credit for the annihilation of the Tau'ri and we will tear the System Lords apart in the process."

Nephthys contemplated their plan in silence. It was almost too easy. The human known as O'Neill had already succumbed to her mind control. After several visits to his room, she had managed to degrade his conscious thoughts, taking bits and pieces of his essence and twisting them to serve her needs. His consciousness retained no memory of her visitations, of that she was sure. He would now be a pawn in their game, proving through his increasingly erratic behavior that it was Nephthys that controlled the game. She need only transfer her thoughts to him telepathically now to make him pliable without the need for actual physical contact. He would be her marionette and she, the puppet master.

It wasn't easy, though. O'Neill had a strong mind, able to resist her techniques for a while. Her wanton desire coupled with her newfound telepathic abilities, however, made her an indomitable force against the human. He eventually was swept out like a seashell by the ocean waves to ultimately be drowned in the immensity of her dominating influence.

"O'Neill is ready," Nephthys commented aloud. "What progress have you made with Dr. Jackson?"

"He is a very strong minded individual. I have yet to get him to divulge anything of interest, despite my best attempts," Osiris' grin spoke volumes regarding the hardship inflicted upon Dr. Jackson. "He rather seems to prefer the pain to the pleasure."

"Has he not succumbed to the pas'nel? Surely, he has given some useful information. Your techniques in ascertaining information from your victims is well renowned. "

"He has uttered nonsense!" Osiris stood up waving angry fists in the air. "It is difficult for me to believe that he is the scholar that my host claims him to be!"

"Perhaps that is what he wishes you to believe, my love." Nephthys rose placing a hand on Osiris' shoulder, pushing her gently back into the chair.

"Perhaps," Osiris responded indignantly. "I believe that Colonel O'Neill will be much more successful in retrieving what we want from Jackson."

"I agree. We will move the prisoners together in the morning. Even though your torture techniques failed to produce the desired results, I am confident that O'Neill's techniques will."

Chapter 6 - Dark Patches

'When will it stop! Got to stay alive. But how? Jack will help me.' Daniel couldn't believe the utter torment he'd been experiencing for the past... how long had it been anyway? It didn't matter, he had to survive. He only hoped Jack was fairing better than he was from the torture.

Daniel allowed his mind to drift away from the pain to assess his current dilemma. He was still hanging limply by his arms from the manacles above his head. He could feel the trickle of blood or something down his arms and across his chest. His back was riddled with small wounds from a device possessing razor-sharp needles protruding from its surface. He was sure he had suffered a few broken ribs as well. Adding to his distress, he also realized that he couldn't open his eyes.

Osiris had foregone using the pas'nel after that last color change to green. Daniel remembered the pas'nel touching his temple sporting a green aura but he had felt nothing. No pain, no pleasure, nothing, nada.

That was when the physical abuse began. Once the Jaffa expended their stock of torture devices, they resorted to using much more "primitive" behavior. He had been beaten physically and quite severely by the two Jaffa that accompanied Osiris to his "interviews". Recalling every biting question posed by Osiris, he knew that he had divulged nothing of value. It was actually quite difficult to say anything at times when the blows from the Jaffa increased to killing levels.

In an attempt to ascertain the Goa'uld's purpose, Daniel tried to bring Osiris' questions to the forefront. He immediately regretted the attempt. A flash of brilliant light passed behind his closed eyelids. Gasping as his senses were overloaded, he was suddenly and violently thrown into an unwanted flashback.

"So, Dr. Jackson. Are you ready to talk now?" Osiris smiled coyly at him as she raised her hand, extinguishing the blows from the Jaffa.

"Well," Daniel coughed, his voice raspy from his screams, "perhaps you could repeat the questions. I-I couldn't really hear them over all the screaming."

Daniel knew his sarcasm would eventually cost him, but for now he hoped his wit might forestall further attacks.

"Where is my mate, Isis?"

"Oh, yeah, that. I-I really don't know."

"Lies!" Osiris spat the words at Daniel. "How does this device work?" Osiris indicated the GDO in her hand. Daniel presumed it was Jack's since he hadn't brought one to the Goa'uld summit. "What are the codes to open the Chaapa'ai to your home world?"

"I can't recall." Daniel adopted the position often used by lawyers in a courtroom. Technically, under oath, this response wasn't considered a lie.

"Insolence! Your stubbornness will cost you and your friend dearly."

For a brief moment, Daniel feared that his impudence would have dire consequences not only for himself but also for Jack. He hoped his ill-treatment wasn't also being transferred to his friend. At least one of them would need the strength to attempt an escape and, by the looks of his current situation, that person wouldn't be Daniel.

Osiris abruptly left the room giving a slight nod to the waiting Jaffa. As the door to his cell closed behind her, Daniel's screams followed as the Jaffa ruthlessly abused his body and soul.

"God! Make this stop!" For the first time since the green tipped pas'nel touched him, Daniel actually opened his eyes, thrusting himself from the violent flashback. Looking around the cell, he felt dazed like someone awakening from a vivid dream. He was sweaty and panting heavily. The pain he had so graphically experienced earlier was nonexistent. Quickly re-assessing his own condition, he realized that he had no remnants from his abuse on his body. There were no bruises, no broken ribs, no blood.

"What the hell is going on here?" Daniel asked the room in general.

"You have finally returned from the visions."

Startled by the unexpected response, Daniel looked to see who was speaking to him. As he did, a Jaffa emerged from behind him.

Whispering with a husky voice in Daniel's ear, the Jaffa lightly brushed his face. "You see, your own mind can provide much more intense torture than any physical beating. And the mental anguish...well, it's only as limited as your imagination." A feral grin crossed the Jaffa's face as his hand roamed lower.

"See you in your dreams," the threat from the Jaffa made Daniel shiver.

Angry klaxons blared their message throughout Stargate Command. Revolving red lights stationed throughout the complex echoed the klaxons song, just in case the irritatingly loud sound from the sirens didn't capture your attention.

"Unscheduled off-world activation!" The voice over the speaker system was intoned with notes of worry, overshadowed by cautious optimism. Someone, either friend or foe, was attempting to travel to earth. No off-world SG teams were expected back at this time. Perhaps, just maybe, possibly...

Sam hit the floor running as soon as she heard the horns. Heading towards the gate room, she nearly collided with an equally fast moving, much larger object...Teal'c. They exchanged quick, hopeful glances as they continued their trek to Level 28 and the gate room. Reaching their destination, they were dismayed to find that SG-3 had returned home early after taking heavy casualties. Their mission had been to return to Revanna and search for more clues in the disappearance of Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Jackson. Shortly after their arrival on the planet, they were besieged by Anubis' Jaffa returning in their ships to secure the Stargate. SG-3 had taken heavy fire with three of their members hit by staff blasts. Fortunately, none of the injuries were life threatening. The medical team arrived promptly to escort the injured soldiers to the infirmary.

General Hammond bore a look of concern, not only for SG-3, but also for SG-1. Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Jackson had been missing in action for two days now and they were no closer to determining their whereabouts than they were when Major Carter and Teal'c first returned from Revanna through the wormhole. Major Carter and Teal'c had worked tirelessly on deciphering the markings they found near the DHD. Without that final symbol to work with, they had to interpolate and extrapolate potentially viable 'gate addresses. General Hammond eventually had to order Carter and Teal'c to leave the base and rest. Receiving heavy protests from the two remaining SG-1 members, the general resorted to much more devious measures. With Dr. Fraiser by his side holding two loaded syringes, he gave them a choice. They could remain on base and rest willingly or receive Dr. Fraiser's famous sleep inducing cocktail...their choice. As expected, they chose the former and retired to sleep in their offices. That was over six hours ago.

General Hammond glanced over at Major Carter and noticed a dispirited yet resigned expression on her face.

"Sir, the computer can continue to run through the permutations of possible 'gate addresses. If we substitute symbols for the missing symbol systematically, eliminating those locations that do not meet the criteria of proximity to Revanna, we can narrow the number of possible planets significantly."

"Once we locate potential planets, what do you propose we do then? I can't authorize sending SG teams to each planet for search and rescue without a clue as to what we would find there." General Hammond had to take the hard line here. He knew that there weren't that many addresses to search through -- they already had six symbols including the point of origin and since the missing symbol was apparently the last in the sequencing of the address, it shouldn't be too difficult to determine the coordinates. His concern was that the two men could have been transferred hundreds of miles from the Stargate after their arrival. Or worse, transported by interstellar travel or Stargate to an even different locale altogether. It would be like trying to find the proverbial "needle in a haystack".

"But sir, we can send a UAV through the 'gate to perform reconnaissance..." Major Carter's tone bordered on pleading.

"And then what, Major? For all we know they aren't near a 'gate or even on a planet for that matter. I need more intelligence before I can support sending troops or equipment through. Perhaps the Tok'ra can provide some insight as to what Osiris' purpose is? What she might have to gain by capturing Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Jackson?"

"Yes, Sir. My dad is convening with the High Council right now. They may have some operatives near Osiris or Anubis that could shed some light on the situation."

"Very well, Major. Keep me informed." The general turned to leave, planning to head to the infirmary to check on SG-3. He spared a glance back at Major Carter. "We'll find them, Major. "

"I know, sir. We have to," Major Carter responded dysphorically, keeping her final thoughts to herself. 'We just don't know what condition they might be in when we do.'

Jack watched Daniel pace their small confines of a cell. He'd been present during Daniel's last round with Osiris and he was taken aback by the outcome. He never believed it would be so easy for their captor. Daniel had told Osiris everything she wanted to know; the location of the Alpha site, the death of Isis in the second canopic jar on earth, the location of the Tok'ra base, the iris codes. Hell, he'd even taken the GDO from Osiris, showed her how to use the damn thing and gave it back to her, thank you very much! And all Osiris did was ask! No torture, no threats, no innuendo, just goddamned asked for crying out loud! He'd always given Daniel more credit than that. Thought he was strong, stubborn, immovable. Guess he'd have to re-evaluate his opinions of the man.

"Goddamn it, Daniel!" Jack tossed his rage outward at Daniel as Osiris and her escorts left the room. Furious beyond his imaginations, he lashed out through clenched teeth, "You little shit! Son of a bitch! What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

In two long strides, Daniel rapidly closed the gap between him and Jack to come within inches of Jack's face, his long index finger punctuating his response by jabbing painfully into Jack's chest. His next words sent Jack tumbling to the darkest reaches of his mind. In that resonant timbre characteristic of the Goa'uld, Daniel responded arrogantly, "Why, I'm going to be with Sarah again, Jack! Together, we'll rule Earth!"

Horrified, Jack looked Daniel in the eyes as Daniel mercilessly shook him. Daniel's eyes were glowing...

"Ah, God, no!" Jack awoke suddenly from the horrific nightmare to a vision of Daniel shaking him. He instinctively recoiled from the touch.

"Jack, oh thank God, you're finally awake! I was getting worried!" Daniel's voice was normal, not the voice of a Goa'uld, his eyes caring, and concern for Jack evident in his expressions.

"Whaaa? A dream?"

"Yeah, I think so. Must've been pretty bad by the noises you were making. Are you okay?" Jack continued to stare into Daniel's eyes. Nope, no glow.

"Oh, yeah. Can't say I've ever had dreams worse than this one. Very vivid and realistic. Are you sure it was a dream?" Jack tentatively questioned Daniel.

"Yeah, seems to be a frequent occurrence around here," Daniel paused to look around the room. "Nice place you got here, by the way."

"Ya think? How long have you been here?"

"You mean here," Daniel indicated the room. "Or...here." Daniel made a sweeping gesture with his hands to indicate the entire plant.

"I don't know. I guess I mean here, in this room."

"Uh," Daniel paused to look at his watch. It was almost mid-day. "Several hours now. Finally got something to eat. Did you know you've got a fruit tray over there?" Daniel glanced appreciatively to the sidebar.

"Yeah. Quite good. How long did you say I was asleep?"

"I didn't but you've been asleep the entire time I was here," Daniel sheepishly tried to clear up any confusion in the term, "uh, I mean, here in this room."

"But that can't be," Jack looked perplexed as if a sense of time was a totally foreign concept to him.

"Uh, why not?" Daniel responded with an equally perplexed expression as if Jack was a totally foreign concept to him.

"Because, Daniel, we've only been on this planet for a few hours and you weren't with me for most of the time!"

"Uh, Jack, I hate to break this to you but we've been captives on this planet or whatever it is for well over two days!"

"No. That can't be..." Jack's voice trailed off as he became more aware of his surroundings. Perusing the room that had been Jack's cell for, what, two days now, Jack felt the room was 'different' somehow.

"What the hell happened to that wall?" Jack pointedly addressed an area in the room that had once been a solid fixture. Now, he could see an additional cot and a couple of dilapidated chairs. No wall.

"What wall, Jack?"

"The one that was here, Daniel! A solid w-a-l-l, not curtains, not bars or a screen, definitely not open space, but a wall!"

"What?" Daniel sported a frown.

"What?" Jack echoed him, not really knowing what else to say. "Maybe I've been moved..."

"No, I don't think so. Listen, there's something very unusual going on here. I just can't quite figure it out yet." Jack could almost see the wheels turning in Daniel's mind. "Have you had any visitors?"

"No, no one. Been hollering for someone to tell me what the hell is going on, but no one has dropped by to say 'hi'."

"Hmmm. Are you sure about that, Jack?"

"Yeah, Daniel. Pretty sure," Jack said impatiently.

"Well, then, how did you get this?" Daniel raised his hand to touch a small silver disc on Jack's left temple.

Jack immediately reached up to meet Daniel's hand on his temple. "Damn, I have no idea. But it matches the one you have." Jack indicated the disc on the side of Daniel's head.

"Yeah, about that," Daniel raised his eyebrows. "Do you have any other discs on your body, say, maybe like this one?" Daniel indicated the one on his side.

Feeling under his shirt, Jack came up empty. "Nope, apparently not."

"Well," Daniel stammered, "how, uh, how about ..." Daniel's squinted eyes drifted lower towards Jack's crotch.

"You mean..." Jacked started, pausing as realization hit. "Oh, definitely not!" Jack looked stunned. "You?"

"Oh, yeah. Not a particular good place for one of those, I might add."

"Jeez, Daniel!" Jack whistled softly through his teeth. Finally emerging from the fog of sleep, Jack took in the sight of Daniel. He looked haggard with tired, dark circles under his eyes. His wrists had large raw wounds encircling them. "What's been happening to you...and...where's your shirt anyway?"

Daniel looked down at his naked chest. He still shuddered at the memory of his bloody chest, deep gashes and severe pain that he had experienced through his "visions". He'd hoped they truly were visions. The only other explanation for his rapid recovery would have been through the use of a sarcophagus and, to Daniel, that thought was terrifying.

"Oh, they stripped me for interrogation. You know, top ten torture techniques. Uh, number 2, I think... 'depriving the victim of those things essential to human existence'."

Jack beamed, "You actually listened to me!"

"I always listen to you, Jack. I just don't always do what you want me to." Pausing for a moment to remember what had happened to him these past two days, Daniel continued, "When they moved me out of my cell, they brought my pants here. Guess they didn't want me to be embarrassed around you."

Daniel allowed a small chuckle to sneak out at that thought.

"Um, Daniel," Jack returned to sit on his cot, motioning Daniel to follow him. This was not a subject to be broached standing up. "What did they do to you?" Jack surreptitiously checked Daniel out, looking for scars, burns, bruises -- any signs of torture. He found nothing, adding to his suspicions about Daniel's whereabouts for the past two days.

"Osiris paid me a visit. She wanted information... iris codes, Alpha base location, how to operate the GDO. You know, Interrogation 101." Daniel spoke quietly as if his memories were not particularly memorable.

"Uh, I think she asked about Isis."

Jack stood up, shocked with his mouth agape, looking anxiously at Daniel. The questions were identical to those Osiris asked Daniel in his dream. He knew he was being irrational. These questions were the obvious ones to be asked. But, still, he found himself eyeing Daniel with apprehension.

"Daniel, why would Osiris be so concerned about Isis? I mean, I understand her desire to know the iris codes, what with her need to destroy earth and all, but what's the connection between Osiris and Isis."

"Oh, you don't know, do you?" Daniel looked pensive. "Well, of course you don't know. You weren't there, were you."

"Where? I wasn't where?"

"In Chicago and later, Egypt, where Sam, Janet and I went to find Osiris after his canopic jar was found empty." Daniel stared at the back wall, clearly remembering the events uncovering the fact that his old girlfriend, Sarah, had been taken as a host by Osiris. Jack recalled the incident as well, through the missions reports. He had felt guilty for cutting off his ties to the SGC during his fishing trip with Teal'c. If he hadn't intentionally lost his cell phone battery, he could've been there for Daniel. He could've helped the young man talk through his grief at the loss of yet another friend to the Goa'uld. But, no. He had callously thought only of himself, never fully understanding why General Hammond allowed Daniel, Sam, and Janet to travel alone without military guard to Osiris' temple.

"You want the complete story or the "Reader's Digest" version?"

Jack's raised eyebrow was the only answer Daniel needed.

"Of course, what was I thinking... Osiris was the brother and husband of Isis."

Jack waited for Daniel to continue. And waited, and waited. "Okay, Daniel. A little too condensed."

Jack made a mental note that Daniel seemed quite pleased with himself. Fearing that he'd walked into a trap of Daniel's making, he laid back on the bed, resigned to be subjected to a long diatribe regarding Egyptology, mummies, and sand worms or other such nonsense. Maybe he could fall asleep..

"The Egyptian creation myth begins with the emergence of Ra, the sun god, from the ocean in the form of an egg or, in some writings, a flower. Ra brought forth four children: Geb, Shu, Nut, and Tefnut. Shu and Nut became manifestations of air and moisture. From Geb, the god of the earth, and Nut, goddess of the sky, were spawned four other gods: Osiris, Isis, Set or Seth, as we knew him, and Nepthys.

"These nine gods became known as the ennead or, loosely translated, "group of nine". Their center of worship was Heliopolis. The Heliopolitan ennead was one of several in Egyptian theology, and at times this grouping was superseded by other sets. Two notable alternatives were the ennead of the city of Memphis led by the god Ptah, and the ennead of Thebes, with Amon at its head. Not surprisingly, the pre-eminence of these variations coincided with their corresponding cities' political control of Egypt."

"Ah ah..." Jack enunciated sharply, waving his index finger in the air. "Daniel, your point?"

"Oh, yeah." Daniel looked distractedly at the floor beneath his feet. "Well, Isis died in the canopic jar and, as you know, we killed Seth. That leaves Osiris and his sister Nephthys. Nephthys was often thought of as the twin sister of Isis. Osiris obviously doesn't know the fate of his mate."

"You know," Jack returned to an upright position, "I think I've heard the name Nephthys before. What's the story on her?"

"You have?" Daniel's expression seemed skeptical, his eyebrows raised.

"Yea, I think so."

A slight chill crossed Daniel's skin as if someone had walked across his grave. Never liked that saying much. From the corner of his eye, he thought he spotted that dark shadowy figure outside the cell door. He turned rapidly to look but the figure was gone, if it was truly ever there to begin with. Only darkness remained.

"Daniel?" Jack tried and failed to catch Daniel's eyes with his.

Continuing, his pensive blue eyes resumed their search of the floor, "Nephthys, um..." Daniel paused, trying to recall the details on this particular goddess. "She wasn't as well-known as her siblings. Like Isis, she was thought to have great magical powers. She was the opposite of Isis in every respect. Isis was visible, symbolizing birth, growth, development, and vigor. Nephthys was invisible, symbolizing death, decay, diminution, and immobility. She was the darkness to Isis' light. Isis was the day, her twin sister the night. Nephthys personified darkness and her attributes were more passive than active.

"Isis' consort was the fertility god Osiris, while her sister's mate was the evil, and apparently sterile, god Seth. As the myth continues, Nephthys, wanting children, got Osiris drunk and took advantage of him. The two of them conceived the god Anubis. Seth consequently killed and dismembered Osiris for his transgressions. Nephthys helped Isis collect the pieces of Osiris' body and, together, they brought him back to life."

"Sarcophagus?" Jack found the conclusion of the Egyptian myth to fit perfectly with the Goa'uld technology.

"Apparently."

Jack's mind drifted back to his earlier nightmare...Daniel as a Goa'uld. How many times had they narrowly avoided just such an occurrence; Hathor's little game, Daniel's trek across a beautiful planet with an aboriginal Unas, affectionately called Chaka.

Come to think of it, Daniel wasn't exactly damaged from his recent ordeal as Osiris' prisoner. On the contrary, the man looked fine other than his wrists. He didn't believe that Osiris would question him without consequence. If Daniel truly kept Earth's secrets to himself as he claimed, he should have received strict and severe punishment from the Goa'uld.

Once again, Jack tried to catch the eyes of his friend, hoping to glean the answers to his questions there. Recalling Daniel's previous tryst with Osiris in Egypt, things suddenly became clearer. Daniel had LET Osiris leave Earth! He had a syringe full of the liquid from the canopic jar that kept the Goa'ulds in stasis, the liquid that should have rendered Osiris unconscious for transport back to the SGC. According to the mission report, Daniel had been able to inject Osiris with the liquid but she remained mostly unaffected. Her escape from Earth should have been impossible unless she was somehow aided.

And Daniel's most recent encounter with Osiris had led to their capture. A coincidence? Daniel had tried to capture Osiris during this last mission at the Goa'uld summit meeting. Yea, right. Just what was Daniel up to?

Briefly, he thought he noticed a glow...

"You know, Daniel," Jack's voice morphed into a more suspicious tone. "Just where the hell have you been since we've been here, Daniel?" Jack punctuated the name sharply. He stood to pace away from Daniel towards the far wall. "I bet you told that son of a bitch everything she wanted to know, didn't you, Daniel?" Reaching the wall, Jack turned to face Daniel while leaning against the wall for support. Daniel wore a mask of confusion at the harsh comments.

"I mean, her host was once your lover, wasn't she, Daniel? Did she convince you to divulge Earth's secrets? What did you get in return? A little quid pro quo, huh, Daniel?" Jack's voice continued to rise, exhibiting controlled anger bordering on hysteria. Daniel stood up from the cot, looking surprised and hurt at Jack's accusations. Still trying to rein in his emotions and shake off Jack's malicious verbal abuse, Daniel was totally unprepared for what took place next.

Within seconds, Jack closed the gap between himself and Daniel, his voice finally releasing the anger in all its fury. "You little shit! You told her the iris codes, didn't you!" Jack threw a sucker punch at Daniel knocking him swiftly to the floor. The surprised archeologist quickly regained his footing, and in a 'fight or flight' moment, Daniel made a hasty retreat to the back of the dark cell.

"Jack, what are you doing? What's wrong with you? There's something not right here...." Trying to reason with the crazed man, Daniel's words were cut short as Jack lunged at him, pinning Daniel's sore wrists to the wall with one hand, digging his right knee into Daniel's thigh to prevent movement from the frightened man. Jack's weight transferred from his pointed kneecap straight through to Daniel's thigh, bruising it. Daniel tried to push Jack aside but the man was immovable.

"What code did you give her?" the barely controlled fury resonating in Daniel's ear. Jack viciously shoved the elbow of his free hand into Daniel's abdomen. Daniel tried desperately to displace the older man by bucking and twisting, his motions only adding to the vehemence of the attack.

"Did she show you her sarcophagus, Daniel? I always knew you were a spineless, hopeless addict." Jack's brutal attack continued as he threw a fist across Daniel's jaw. " A muffled moan slipped from Daniel's lips.

"Was it worth it, Daniel? What did she promise you, Daniel?" Daniel squirmed and Jack had to reposition his body to prevent his prey from escaping, leaning his free arm into Daniel's throat.

"Jack, stop it! What the hell is wrong with you?" Tears of pain and frustration poured down Daniel's cheekbones. Something was definitely not right about this place and he had to get control of himself somehow if he was going to survive the attack by his 'best friend'.

"Oh, it's not me, Daniel. It's you! You little fuck! What did you tell Osiris about the Alpha Base?"

"God, Jack! I didn't say anything! I would never give away that information!" Daniel realized his own voice was now bordering on hysteria.

"Like hell you wouldn't. You've always been a bit libidinous. Anything for a good fuck, huh? How many has it been since you left Abydos anyway?" Jack briefly halted his barrage of punches to count Daniel's lovers.

"Let's see, first that chick in the Land of Light. Kind of wild and horny, that one.

"Second, Hathor. 'My beloved', my ass. Your claims that she raped you just don't make sense! You were all over her from the moment she showed up, tagging along like a lost puppy. You couldn't wait to get into her! And, from the looks of it, you must've gotten "into" her several times to produce that many "offspring". Not exactly "rape" in my book!."

Daniel gathered all his reserves to push Jack back with his body. Managing briefly to free himself and realizing he had no where to run, he took a defensive posture against the continuing assault.

Jack, enjoying the cat and mouse game, allowed Daniel a respite for the moment. He played the game well, scuffling forward just to judge Daniel's reaction. A quick jab here, a lunge there, never truly trying to make contact. "Okay, third, third... I know there's a third. Must be Shyla. 'Shyla, is it?' Always thought you enjoyed that sarcophagus a bit too much. What happens if you fuck inside that thing? Guess you get a double high, huh?" Jack lunged at Daniel, anticipating Daniel's counter maneuver. As Jack forged left again, Daniel dodged in the wrong direction. With a satisfied grunt, Jack's torso made contact and the two men crumbled to the rocky floor. Taking a moment to adjust his position, Jack once again secured Daniel.

"Jeez, Daniel! I thought you could fight better than that! Next thing I know you'll be balling like a big baby! What a geek!" Jack's feral grin confirmed that Jack was not in his right mind.

Laying astride Daniel on the floor, knees protesting the rocky surface, Jack continued his physical and verbal assault. Daniel could feel the thick spittle pelting his face as Jack's ire increased. "All right, there's more. ..Kera, 'Destroyer of Worlds'. God, do you know how to pick 'em! Must be a thrill to fuck 'em not knowing if you'll survive the experience."

"Who else, who else, who else. Oh, yeah, your latest fuck, Osiris! Bet that was something, seeing as Osiris used to have a male host. Kind of like fucking a man, woman, and snake all rolled into one package! You're pathetic, Daniel! Can't keep it in your pants! Flashing neon sign, here! Daniel Jackson sells his soul and his planet for a fucking good time!"

Jack punctuated his vicious words by shaking Daniel, carelessly allowing Daniel's head to bounce off the rock flooring with each shake.

"God, just please stop it!" Daniel's battered face and upper body screamed with each successive blow. Blood was now pouring from his nose and Daniel feared that it was broken. He felt the skin at the corner of his eye split open, his eyelid swelling closed. He knew the metallic taste filling his mouth was blood from his abused lower lip. His vision was blurred probably due to the displacement of the contact lenses he'd been wearing since the Goa'uld summit. No longer capable of producing words to express himself, Daniel allowed his tears of pain and humiliation to flow.

"I'm sure you never told her that, did you? Never told her to stop! Did you enjoy it Daniel? Just like old times with Sarah, huh? Did you fuck her in the sarcophagus?"

Daniel's mind reeled from the verbal spars. He knew Jack wasn't in his right mind. Jack would never hurt Daniel physically. Even the mental hurt that Daniel had experienced from Jack over the past few years was never so biting, so morally damning as these words. Daniel futilely tried to escape Jack's grip on his arms to ward off the blows. As the final blow struck below Daniel's right ear, Daniel thankfully fell into unconscious oblivion.

Jack paused to looked towards the door, now open with Nephthys standing at the threshold. She held a glowing green rod by her side.

"You have done well, my slave," the voice sounded devoid of emotion.

"Yes, my lord," were Jack's final words as his mind shut down. From the corner of his eye he noticed a green illumination moving towards his temple, touching him, and he plummeted into the dark abyss of unconsciousness.

Nephthys strolled down the darkened hallway towards her chambers. Curtly greeting her Jaffa guards at the entrance to her abode, she silently cursed her host. This one was strong, thought Nephthys, despite her naivete. A host's mind would normally be driven deep to the unconscious recesses, never permeating Nephthys' conscious thoughts. This host's mind, however, vehemently disagreed with the Goa'uld's treatment of her prisoners and attempted to lash out in her thoughts at every turn. It was becoming quite the nuisance but Nephthys was confident that she could effect its deliquescence.

As Nephthys entered her room, she noticed Osiris seated near a lavish table set with an assortment of edible delicacies. Several human slaves attended to her needs.

"How are the Tau'ri progressing? Has O'Neill been able to acquire any information from Dr. Jackson?" Osiris directed her question towards Nephthys.

"No, none at all. And he's doing an outstanding job of persuading Jackson, as well." Nephthys' expression displayed the epitome of arrogance.

"Nothing irreparable, I hope?" Osiris expressed a token concern for their captives.

"Not at all. And even if O'Neill succeeds in his assignment, we always have the sarcophagus to revive Dr. Jackson." A wicked smile spread across Nephthys' face touching her eyes.

"Excellent. Just as we'd hoped. Both subjects are responding to your mind control techniques as planned, then?" Osiris motioned for Nephthys to join her at the table.

"They are. It won't be long now, my love. We will have the Systems Lords right where we want them and use the Tau'ri as pawns in the game."

As Nephthys moved to sit at the table, she questioned, "Have you heard from Anubis regarding his situation?"

"Anubis is a pompous ass!" Osiris' expression exuded contempt. "He has the audacity to imply that we are incompetent in our abilities to extract information from the Tau'ri!"

"So, he is falling right into our trap as well, then..." a slow grin progressed across Nephthys' dark face.

"He is indeed, my love!" Osiris tone immediately shifted towards one of arrogance and self-satisfaction. "He is indeed!"

Jack's mind descended into a tumultuous darkness. Assuaged by flashbacks from his most current experience with the green light, he found it difficult to organize his memories enough to interpret their meanings. Following a bright white flash of light behind his closed eyelids, he plunged into the memories of his most recent visit by Nephthys, before Daniel was brought into his room.

"Are you ready to serve me, slave?" Nephthys steely voice revealed no emotion.

"Yes, my lord, Nephthys. Where is Daniel?" impatience and agitation apparent in Jack's voice. He shifted his weight from side to side, incapable of controlling the adrenaline rushing within him.

"Patience. He is being delivered to your room even as we speak. The traitor has sold his soul and his planet to Anubis. He has a rather amorous past with Osiris' host, you know."

Jack answered the question with a quick nod of his head, his anger at Daniel's predilection for sexual escapades rapidly reaching the boiling point.

"Osiris is nothing more than Anubis' puppet. She needed only lure Dr. Jackson into revealing information for her to deliver to Anubis. He was quite easily plied by her affections, telling her everything she asked. She is quite effective in the techniques of pain and pleasure. He most definitely enjoyed the pleasure, I might add. His screams of ecstasy reverberated through the tunnels. Surely you heard them?"

"Yes, my lord." Jack recalled the earlier screams he had overheard. How could he have ever believed they were Daniel's screams of pain? And to think he even sympathized with Daniel, futilely banging on the door of his room in an attempt to rescue the man. The screams he had mistaken for pain echoed in his mind. Not pain but the throes of ecstasy! He wouldn't let the little bastard mock his command position by giving into his proclivity for fucking someone on every planet! How dare he compromise their escape by, quite literally, getting in bed with the devil? He wouldn't let Daniel's behavior go unpunished.

"He must not be allowed to divulge any more secrets to Anubis, do you understand?" Nephthys' voice became cold. "You must determine what he revealed during his "sessions" with Osiris and prevent further insolence from him. You do know what you must do?" Nephthys' words intended to insight Jack's aggression.

"Yes, my lord. I must kill Daniel Jackson." Satisfied with the spoken words, Nephthys turned to leave Jack alone in his thoughts.

Panic seized Jack's mind as he struggled to climb up from his oblivion. He felt as if he was drowning, Nephthys' words accusing Daniel of unspeakable atrocities pushing him deep beneath the surface.

His mind suddenly surfaced enough for him to catch his breath in the dimly lit room as he struggled against his bindings. Bindings? When had he been tied to the bed frame anyway? Rapidly assessing this new information, he concluded that his hands were bound behind him, attached to the legs of the bed. He was in a very uncomfortable, seated position, his back against the bed. Looking down towards his legs, he was surprised to find they were free. Whoever had tied him up either didn't have much time or was a piss poor military man. Shit! As the fog in his head cleared, he realized that both accusations were correct. Daniel had tied him up, rapidly from the looks of things, and had fled to the farthest corner of the room.

"Oh, Daaanieel," Jack's voice was sickly sweet. "What'cha doing?"

"Jack, something's wrong here. I've got to have time to think." Daniel tried to hide his anxiousness at being this close to Jack in his present state of mind. He swiped his eyes with the back of his hand, grimacing as he contacted the cut on his eyebrow. His eye was almost swollen closed and he felt the beginnings of a headache throbbing behind his temple. Lowering his hand to his lap, he noticed the blood staining his hand from the wounds inflicted by Jack.

"Hey, come untie me and I'll overlook the insubordination charges," Jack continued speaking in a very nonchalant, calm, friendly voice.

"No, Jack. I can't do that."

"Well, why the hell not?" Daniel noted that Jack's temperament had swung rapidly from quietly composed to openly intense. Lashing out against his restraints, Jack jerked himself and the bed across the floor towards Daniel. No, definitely not in his right mind, Daniel thought as he hastily got to his feet.

"Jack, I think you've been drugged or something. Your behavior is very irrational." Daniel's voice begged Jack to listen, to comprehend the dangerous situation that they were trapped in.

"Damn it, Daniel! I've been tied to a frigging bed, by a member of my own team for crying out loud! Of course my behavior is irrational!" Jack continued to drag the bed closer to Daniel, using his feet for leverage against the hard floor. It almost looked comical, Daniel mused, except for the very real possibility that Jack would be able to free himself. Daniel had used Jack's belt to fasten his arms behind his back at the base of the bed. The ability of the restraint to stay intact was iffy at best, after all he wasn't a trained military man. And he knew that an archeologist was no match for a black ops trained colonel. Watching Jack's continued progression slowly across the room, dragging the bed behind him, Daniel decided to amend his last conclusion. No match for a crazed, black ops trained colonel.

"Daniel, let me go or I swear I'll kill you!"

"That's what I'm afraid of, Jack," Daniel sighed. In a daring move, Daniel leapt over Jack to land squarely on the bed. At least that should stop Jack's forward movement for a bit.

"Goddamn it, Daniel! What kind of game are you playing here? Let me go NOW!"

"Um, no. Listen, Jack, I've been thinking..." Daniel paused briefly to dodge the leg that kicked swiftly in his direction. "How do you know the name, Nephthys, anyhow?"

"What?" Jack resigned himself to communicate with Daniel while he secretly worked on releasing the belt holding him to the bed.

"Nephthys, Jack. You said you had heard the name before."

"I did? Guess you mentioned her in your report about Osiris." Jack knew that Daniel could think rings around him. His only hope was to play the game with Daniel until he could free himself.

"No, I've never mentioned her to you, Jack. Have you seen Nephthys here?"

"Couldn't say, Daniel. Per your own claims, my mental grasp of our situation is lacking. Oh, by the way, just what have you and Osiris been up to anyway? Given away any good secrets lately?" Jack quipped, his tone light but his eyes dark and obdurate.

"Jack, just concentrate for a minute, please. If Osiris and Nephthys are together here, we could be in grave danger. They would be a powerful force against anything in the way of their goals. And, right now, I'm afraid that their goal is the destruction of Earth."

"So, Daniel. What leads you to leap to this conclusion, huh?" Jack could feel the belt stretching as he wiggled his hands. If he could just use his fingers to slip the belt out of its clasp... "That intuitive Daniel Jackson logic that gets SG-1 into so much trouble on the best of days? It makes more sense to me that Daniel Jackson just sold out the human race to his former lover. Or is that current lover now?"

Daniel felt his strength ebbing from his body, the physical and emotional stresses of the past hour finally catching up with him. His beaten and bruised body ached terribly. The worst part was that his commanding officer and best friend had delivered the harsh blows to his body as well as his mind. Fear that he had lost Jack to the Goa'uld swept through his consciousness like wildfire. Although he was uncertain if Jack had been taken as a host, he knew that he was definitely under their control somehow.

Both he and Jack had been subjected to physical and mental torture facilitated by the silver discs on their bodies. What he couldn't understand was why Jack's memory of events was sketchy since they arrived on the godforsaken planet. Daniel struggled with the silver device at his temple. Perhaps it was similar to the Tok'ra memory device, just activated by different stimuli. Tugging desperately at the device, he managed to detach it from his head. Sharp, blinding pain ensued and for a moment Daniel thought he had passed out. Well, at least it didn't kill him. He started to remove the one on his side, gasping from the briefly debilitating pain as the disc disconnected. Okay, two down and one to go. Daniel touched the last disc positioned at his scrotum. After a short deliberation, he decided to keep that disc where it was...for now.

Daniel's mind continued to hypothesize the data he'd received thus far. Their situation resembled a puzzle, an enigma, and Daniel hadn't found all the pieces yet. He now believed implicitly that Osiris and Nephthys were both here, working together. There was just no way that Jack would have known anything about the goddess, Nephthys. Daniel recalled the myths regarding her. She generally stood back in the shadows while her sister, Isis, lead the way amongst the light. Isis was the force of life and rebirth; Nephthys, the tomb-dwelling goddess of death and sunset. The pieces started to fit for Daniel. It made sense that if Osiris and Nephthys were cohorts, Anubis would be involved as well. And, of course, Osiris had just facilitated Anubis' return to the status of System Lord!

Daniel was startled from his thoughts as he felt rather than heard the movement. With a triumphant cry, Jack released the bindings from his wrists and rose to stand by the bed looking down at Daniel. Daniel hastily scrambled off the bed to make his retreat but Jack had the element of surprise on his side. He dove at Daniel, throwing him backwards. The back of Daniel's knees hit something hard and he tumbled down to the ground. He heard the pop of ligaments as his ankle twisted severely. Unable to regain his footing, Daniel gazed upward into Jack's wild, demented face. He tried reaching with his arms to block the attack before realizing that his arms were pinned to the ground by Jack's legs. Panicking at the horror of their situation, he desperately fought to dislodge Jack from his chest.

"Jack, no! You don't want to hurt me. Jack!" Daniel pleaded with his commanding officer for his life.

The only sound from Jack came from deep within his throat, a guttural moan, as he wrapped the belt around Daniel's neck. Daniel noticed a mixture of emotions cross Jack's features and as the room went dark, Daniel thought he saw regret in Jack's eyes.

Chapter 7 - Flowers amongst the Darkness

The sound of klaxons once again resounded down the halls at Stargate Command. This time the alert was expected, however. Sam Carter and General Hammond were in the control room, patiently awaiting the arrival of Jacob Carter.

"Sir, it's the Tok'ra identification code," the young technician turned to face General Hammond as he spoke.

"Open the Iris!" General Hammond responded in a tired voice. It had now been three days since Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Jackson had been taken prisoner on Revanna. General Hammond held himself personally responsible for each man and women under his command, constantly aware that he sent these SG teams through the Stargate never truly knowing if they'd return. He weighed the variables presented to him on every mission, calculating the risks of failure versus the benefits of success. If the benefits outweighed the risks, General Hammond sent his teams through the Stargate away from the relative safety of the SGC to travel to often unknown dangers throughout the universe. He constantly prayed for his 'children' to return. Sometimes they didn't...

As he and Major Carter made their way to the gate room to greet their visitor, General Hammond took note of the darkness of the corridor. He needed to have Lt. Siler take a look at their lighting system.

As they passed through the door into the gate room, Sam dashed expectantly towards her father on the ramp. They immediately fell into an embrace that spoke volumes regarding their current situation. The human, er, Tok'ra, contact soothed Sam's frazzled nerves and allowed her to release some of the feelings of grief, despair, and frustration that she had been holding inside since her return from Revanna. She felt her body prickle with hope that the Tok'ra would have a clue to where the colonel and Daniel had been taken.

"I'm sorry, Sam. We don't have a clue to where Jack and Daniel have been taken," Jacob's voice was soft and full of regret. "What's left of the Tok'ra have been shuffling to set up a new base and, quite frankly not too interested in helping you. I was able to locate some intel on Osiris that might prove helpful, though."

General Hammond took Jacob's hand in a strong clasp, using his left hand to cover the back of Jacob's hand. "Let's discuss this in the briefing room. Major Carter, please ask Teal'c to join us there."

"Yes, Sir," Sam replied as she followed the men through the doorway, a sense of dread returning to fill her heart.

Jack looked at his unconscious friend through eyes blurred by tears. What had he done?

The initial shock that he had strangled his best friend, his team mate, using his own belt for crying out loud, hit Jack like a ton of bricks. After a few harrowing moments spent trying to revive Daniel after he'd slipped into unconsciousness, Jack finally allowed himself time to grieve. Daniel was alive, thank God, but the thought that his deadly intent had almost resulted in the diminution of Daniel's life force, threw Jack into a dark depression. After assuring himself that Daniel was alive, Jack retreated to a corner of their cell, fearful that the "other Jack", the Mr. Hyde to his Dr. Jeckyll, might return. He needed to distance himself from Daniel for Daniel's protection.

From the bed that had recently entrapped Jack, Daniel awoke to the sounds of quiet sobs. For a moment he thought they were his sobs, his body was in so much agony. His throat was raw and bruised and he had the beginnings of a terrible headache. As awareness returned slowly to him, he quickly assessed his pain. Yes, there was quite a bit of physical pain but he also recognized an incredible spiritual ache, the type of ache caused by witnessing violent acts of aggression towards you inflicted by someone that you cared for so deeply. The pain of knowing your best friend had intentionally tried to kill you and almost succeeded. The best friend who had saved your life so many times that you had lost track of them all. The best friend who'd shared his home and his life with you when you needed a place to stay. The best friend who knows you better than you know yourself. The best friend who shares his laughter as well as his bad jokes with you because you need to lighten up. The best friend who had comforted you during the darkest hours of your life, offering a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, and a voice to express sincere words of solace. The best friend whose tears occasionally echoed your own. The best friend who now sat silently weeping in the dimly lit corner of your shadowy cell.

"Jack," Daniel spoke hesitantly uncertain as to Jack's current mental state.

After several long moments, Jack replied using their standard rhetoric, his head never raising from his hands, "Daniel?"

"How are you doing, Jack?" Daniel rose to a sitting position on the bed, still wary, but extremely concerned for his friend as well.

"Well," a slight chuckle issued from Jack. "I should be asking you that question, Daniel. God, I am so sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me."

"Yeah, well." Daniel paused briefly lost in thought. He wanted, needed, to see Jack's face, his eyes, to see whether they currently housed his best friend or his worst enemy. "Look at me, Jack."

Jack slowly lifted his head from his hands and rose to his feet to be able to see the younger man still lying atop the bed. As his moist eyes met Daniel's, he suddenly felt a stabbing pain in his head. Grabbing his head with both hands, he sank in a heap to the floor as his mind plunged into another flashback.

//Jack could see his hands tugging at the belt, anger overshadowing all else. He could feel Daniel's gasps for breath rebounding throughout his chest. He didn't care. He knew Daniel had created an allegiance with Osiris against him and all humanity. He couldn't let Daniel get away with it.

As Daniel's movements beneath him quieted, Jack raised his gaze to those blue eyes that were the windows to Daniel's soul. Those expressive eyes that displayed anxiety, caring, and absolution towards Jack even as the shine in Daniel's eyes turned dull. Jack suddenly felt great remorse for his actions, relinquishing his grip on the belt as Daniel slipped into unconsciousness.

"Oh my God, Daniel! Please, Daniel. What have I done?" the words poured from Jack's mouth as he desperately felt for a pulse under Daniel's jaw. Finding none, he immediately began resuscitation, something he had performed several times throughout his life but never as a direct result of his careless actions. Tilting Daniel's head back to clear the air passage, Jack silently prayed that Daniel's neck wasn't swollen too badly. He pressed his lips against Daniel's while pinching his nostrils shut, breathing life back into the lifeless form. He moved to Daniel's chest to begin compressions, literally forcing the heart to release its trapped blood to travel throughout the body. One, two, three... Jack continued the compressions relentlessly...four, five, six...through shear will to bring Daniel back to him...seven, eight, nine... Another exhale of air into Daniel's mouth and Jack could see Daniel's chest rise. Great, no airway obstruction. After several repetitions of breathing and compressions, Jack paused to again search for a pulse and see if Daniel's chest would rise on its own. As Daniel finally heaved a breath, Jack released the one he'd been holding. Daniel was alive.

Still shaking and on the brink of tears, Jack sat back to drink in the sight of the young man. He looked horrible, a bloody mess from the beating. The area around his eyes had small red spots from ruptured capillaries. The same blemishes were visible on his neck above the crease caused by the belt. Jack gently touched Daniel's neck, palpating the flesh to determine the extent of the damage from the belt. He noticed some edema, minor as of yet but he knew that such injuries from strangulation often became worse over time. His hands moved to lightly touch the dark bruises on Daniel's face, their color harsh in contrast to the man's normal skin tones. He brushed the eye swollen shut now and the gash above it that still oozed blood. Jack had really done a number on the kid. He'd never forgive himself.

Jack gently lifted Daniel's body off the floor, cradling him as if he were a young child, and repositioned him on the bed. Jack tore a piece of cloth from the bed clothes and dipped it in a bowl of water on the sidebar. With genuine tenderness and care, Jack began cleaning the blood from Daniel's face and arms. His eyes grew bleary as his unabashed tears flowed freely down his face, leaving small puddles where they fell on Daniel's chest.

Jack thought he saw movement at the cell door and for a brief moment the rage tried to resurface within him. As he raised his right hand to strike at Daniel again, his emotions conflicted from the mutually exclusive impulses and desires raging within him. He flung himself off the bed running to distance himself from Daniel, fighting his inner turmoil to overcome the unwanted, destructive emotions threatening to reveal themselves again. Cowering in the corner, he silently wept.//

Jack returned to the present and felt comforting arms surrounding him. As soon as Jack fell to the ground, Daniel had pushed his concerns for his safety aside and went to Jack, holding him until the flashbacks ceased. Now, both men, racked by sobs, held each other tightly. As they regained their composure, Jack looked again into Daniel's blue eyes and for the first time since being sequestered, Daniel saw the eyes of his best friend.

Light from the corridor filtered into their small corner and Daniel's thoughts briefly strayed back to the planet, Revanna, and the pretty flowers in the sunlight. Daniel contemplated the similarity of their situation to the flowers. Battered and beaten, Daniel would have to be the strong one, like the runners between the flowers, helping Jack through this dark patch to reach the light. They hadn't quite reached the sunlight, but Daniel would never give up hope. He and Jack would work through this together. Whatever was happening to them, Daniel knew it was well orchestrated by the Goa'ulds. They would just have to figure out how to beat the Goa'ulds at their own game.

"Well, I have some bad news and some worse news," Jacob said as he surveyed the small group sitting around the large briefing room table, their faces so easily readable. He looked directly into his daughter's eyes and saw grief underlying her concerned expression. He knew that Sam had spent countless hours in simulations attempting to ascertain her team mates' location with no success. A glance at Teal'c revealed that the Jaffa had barely rested since his return from Revanna. The Jaffa's eyes mirrored Jacob's own frustration at the loss of the team mates, their friends. He knew that Teal'c would do anything possible to retrieve Jack and Daniel and had the courage necessary to fight for them. Turning towards General Hammond, Jacob witnessed the fatigue and remorse present in the General's eyes. He knew that George held each member of his command with high esteem and reverence, recognizing that they were highly trained, competent military and civilian men and women, yet realizing the fragility of life. He knew that George Hammond held himself personally responsible for the welfare of his people, carefully assessing each of the dangerous missions that he orders his people to pursue in the interests of mankind.

"Go ahead, Jacob," replied General Hammond.

"Okay, first the bad news...As you know, Osiris has Jack and Daniel but we don't know where. Osiris was last seen at the Goa'uld summit meeting where he was representing Anubis' interest in joining the System Lords."

"Right, Dad," said Sam, her inquisitive expression evident by her raised eyebrows. "Why did they allow Anubis to rejoin them anyway? They apparently ousted him originally for committing heinous crimes, even by Goa'uld standards."

"Yes, Sam, they did. We don't understand why they would have allowed him back, especially in light of the fact that he recently orchestrated the destruction of several Jaffa and ships owned by various System Lords. And from what Daniel relayed to me from those meetings, only one System Lord voted against Anubis."

"And that would be...?" In his absence, Sam continued the conversation thread as only Jack O'Neill could.

"Yu," Jacob deadpanned the old joke. "The System Lord Yu."

"Jacob, are you saying that the System Lords are indifferent about supporting such an untrustworthy ally as Anubis?" General Hammond couldn't believe that the Goa'uld would allow one of their own to attack them without appropriate reprisal.

"Well, all System Lords are a bit untrustworthy, Sir." Sam knew that the System Lords frequently turned against each other within their unwritten rules of engagement. That reasoning was the basis for the Tok'ra's adherence to the axiom "a single powerful Goa'uld is extremely dangerous".

"They are, Major Carter. Do you have more information, General Carter?" Although never outwardly displayed, Teal'c had a low tolerance for banter.

"Actually, no. Well, no facts anyway but there are a few suppositions," Jacob glanced around the room as he paused for dramatic effect. "Why do you suppose that Lord Yu opposed Anubis?"

"I'm assuming that he has a deeper knowledge or remembrance of Anubis' past transgressions?" Sam replied.

"Not really, Sam. The others knew how dangerous Anubis is."

"Hold your friends close and your enemies closer?" General Hammond supposed that the System Lords would just as soon kill their friends and their enemies.

"Maybe, George, but I have another suggestion. Yu was the only System Lord that Daniel touched besides Osiris with the substance isolated from the Reol. He used it to make Yu think Daniel was his trusted servant and later to prevent Osiris from recognizing him. We think that perhaps the System Lords were subjected to a type of mind control and that this substance somehow prevented Yu from being controlled."

"But, Dad, you said that Osiris was also exposed to the substance. Wouldn't that exempt your hypothesis?" The scientific possibilities had Sam on the edge of her chair.

"Probably, but if Osiris was part of the equation, then it wouldn't matter if he was affected anyway."

"True, but if Osiris is involved as well, what do they need with Ja...?"

"Now, just a minute here," General Hammond's booming voice effectively halted the discussion. "Jacob, you're not making sense. Mind control? Can the Goa'uld be overcome by something like that?"

"Yes, they can. A lesser known Goa'uld named Nephthys was once thought to hold the power to control the Goa'uld mind. She was a member of the Limvris."

"The nine Goa'uld who challenged the System Lords," Teal'c tone imparted authority.

"Correct," Jacob gave a slight nod towards Teal'c.

"But Dad, they were destroyed by Ma'chello's bugs," remembered Sam.

"Maybe. All I know is that it looks like the work of Nephthys."

"Would she have been at the summit?" Sam questioned her father.

"Shouldn't have been unless she was able to arrive covertly. You do know that she and Osiris are the parents of Anubis?" Jacob felt as though he'd dropped the proverbial bomb shell.

All eyes around the table immediately focused on Jacob. Several jaws dropped open and quick, questioning glances were exchanged.

"I do," said Teal'c quietly as all eyes suddenly turned towards him. Several quiet seconds passed before anyone could speak.

"So, I hear what you're telling me Jacob but I'm not sure I understand. Are you saying that this Nephthys and Osiris may be working together with Anubis? And what does that have to do with my missing men?" General Hammond found the news disturbing but still lacking answers.

"We think so. Since Jack and Daniel have been taken by Osiris, then it is reasonable to believe that they are also accompanied by Nephthys and possibly Anubis. Unfortunately, we have no idea where they might be," Jacob stood up and placed his hands in his pockets preparing to leave the briefing room.

"Great. If that's the bad news, I'm a little afraid to ask what's the worse news?" Sam timidly inquired.

"Anubis is planning to destroy Earth as a show of strength to the System Lords," Jacob stated matter-offactly as he headed out the door. Turning abruptly back toward the group, he added, "And before you ask, we don't know how or when. Just that it will be soon. Very soon."

A pin dropping could be heard as Jacob exited the room.

"Jack, we need to get out of here. I think Nephthys has you under some kind of mind control." Daniel spoke, his throat raw and sore from his recent trauma.

"Ya think?" cradling his head. "I keep have these feelings like, oh, I don't know...Like I want to kill you! Daniel, you need to get away from me, away from here."

"I'm not leaving without you, Jack. We need to think. What could be causing these feelings that you have?" Daniel paused to allow a coughing fit to pass. Afterwards, felt a bit light-headed.

Jack shook his head. "I haven't a clue. Look, you need to rest a bit, have something to eat or at least drink. Do you think you could handle that?"

"A drink might help." Daniel motioned towards the sidebar recently supplied with a new stash of fruit, juices, and water. "How is it that that thing replenishes itself, anyway?"

"I dunno. Haven't thought about it much."

"Perhaps it's the food that's tainted. I've had very little food or water since I've been here but you've been feasting like a king."

Jack felt the tension roiling inside him again. He stood up and pushed forward towards Daniel. "Daniel, are you suggesting that I've been insensitive to your needs? Your needs! He who has been consorting with Osiris! Do you really expect me to believe that you've been tortured, left without food or water? You're Osiris' new pet, for crying out loud!" Jack didn't realize that he had balled his hands into fists, his voice rising.

Stepping cautiously away from Jack, Daniel stretched his hands outward, palms upward, to show no aggression. "No, Jack. No. Just thinking that the food might be the problem...or...Jack! I feel like we're being watched constantly, like something very strange is going on here. Remember the cloaking device that Osiris had back at the Stargate?"

At Jack's head nod, Daniel continued, speaking in non-threatening, calming tones, "What if she is still using that here?" Daniel limped back towards the bed, his sprained ankle throbbing incessantly. "Jack, she could be coming and going without our noticing her."

"Damnit, Daniel! The door is always closed...and locked! In case you've forgotten, we're prisoners here...at least, I am!" Daniel noted that Jack was still very edgy, any wrong move on his part could be deadly.

With a wince of pain, Daniel climbed up onto the bed, distancing himself from Jack as much as possible in the small cell. Choosing to ignore Jack's last comment, Daniel continued, his voice hoarse, looking straight into Jack's eyes. "Jack, the door has been open occasionally, don't you remember?"

Jack pensively considered Daniel's comment. "Yeah, maybe. Haven't thought about it too much," Jack didn't miss the pained expression on Daniel's face. "You're limping."

"Yeah... Have you seen a dark figure lurking outside this room?" Daniel steered the discussion away from his current distress. Right now, understanding their situation was more important than reflecting on the abusiveness from Jack. He knew that Jack would need to explore his pain in order to heal...in order for them both to heal. But, right now, Daniel urgently needed to focus on problem solving, something that as a scientist, he knew how to do. Dealing with the emotional turmoil consuming both Jack and him was not going to be easy and Daniel wanted to save that until they returned to the relative safety of the SGC...if they returned.

Jack paused, contemplating, driving his irrational anger deep within his consciousness as the memories of his captivity took over. "Yeah, now that you mention it. I have seen someone...Oh, God, I remember!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Jack's face twisted in pain and he slumped, clutching his head. Flashes of light overtook Jack's mind as he desperately fought down his feelings of hatred towards Daniel. As Daniel carefully left the bed to approach Jack, he was surprised at what happened next. In a wink of an eye, Jack bounded to his feet and, with ferocious speed, stormed towards Daniel. Daniel retreated as rapidly as possible with his injuries, only to find himself pinned to the wall behind him.

Jack's face, mere inches from Daniel's, displayed a harsh mix of emotions, searing in their intensity. For a brief moment, Daniel felt fear. He knew that Jack could easily kill him in hand to hand combat, not that this could be considered combat. Daniel was effectively pinned to the wall, incapable of fighting back even if he wanted to. As blue eyes met brown ones, Daniel could see deep into his friend's soul, a soul conflicted in its desires of the moment. Jack raised his fist and Daniel closed his eyes, not wanting to see the utter hatred evident in Jack's haunted expression. A hatred that Daniel knew in his heart was not Jack's own but contrived and manipulated by a demon. Daniel felt his knees weaken as he heard rather than felt the sickening thud. As the shock of the vehemence and suddenness of the attack faded, Daniel realized that he was not the target of this latest blow. The wall behind him had suffered this time. He also noticed his friend lying unconscious at his feet.

//A beautiful woman entered his room but he couldn't see the beauty. By now all he saw was evil and those damned glowing eyes. Her name was Nephthys.

He'd been tortured for several hours now, the primary source of his pain being the silver disc placed at his temple. He told them nothing, of that he was certain. He was trained for Black Ops, torture was par for the course and he knew he would never tell them anything. He also remembered hearing Daniel's cries from the other side of their cell. Daniel was being double teamed, both by some lewd, salacious Jaffa who seemed to enjoy torturing Daniel, copping a feel whenever possible. And also by Osiris, her mental torture and mind games infiltrating their way into the archeologist's psyche. The young man had held up well to the abuse, never giving them any information. He felt proud of his team mate, his friend, but he also felt worthless and unable to stop the pain inflicted so thoughtlessly on Daniel. Some commanding officer he turned out to be.

He had to stop this. Deciding to play along with Nephthys, to focus the attention on himself rather than Daniel, he casually and quietly sold his soul to the devil. He grinned and waved at Nephthys as she entered the cell.

"So, you are ready to talk with me?" Nephthys sauntered towards the chair on which he was seated.

"Yes, I am. How's the weather? Looks pretty dark in here, no windows you know. You ever get sunlight on this plant, er, whatever it is? Hey, I know, let's remodel! Add some windows, let the sunlight in. What'dya say?"

"I'd rather talk about Daniel Jackson. You remember him?"

"Yeah, kinda do. He's the one making all that racket next door. Damn noisy neighbors. Never liked apartment dwelling myself." Jack intentionally kept the banter light, not willing to impart any concern towards his comrade that might later be used against them.

Nephthys approached him, lightly touching his face near the hairline, near the disc on his temple. "Daniel Jackson is not to be trusted. He has already made a deal with Osiris in exchange for his freedom."

"No, he wouldn't do that."

"Oh, can you be so certain? Osiris' host, Sarah, and Dr. Jackson were once lovers, you know. Can you trust this man?" Nephthys looked deep into his eyes trying to see his reaction. He fought hard to display his best poker face but her gaze bore into him, seeing straight through to his soul.

"Yes, yes I can."

"You would be foolish to do so. Can you not remember all the times that he has betrayed you and your planet?" Nephthys replaced her hand on his temple with the pas'nel, now glowing green. "Can you not remember the times that he has put you and your team in jeopardy for his pursuits of alien women? The times that he has argued against you and made secret alliances with your enemies and the enemies of Earth? Can you not remember, Jack O'Neill?"

The sensations swallowing his mind were intense and he fought against them. He knew that Daniel had never betrayed him or his planet, but was he really sure? Memories of past experiences assuaged his mind...were they all real? He couldn't tell. The sound of Nephthys' voice continued in his ear, a sing-song melody that prevented him from concentrating. Her voice resonated in his mind, recalling memories that he had long forgotten. Daniel was not to be trusted after all. The memories, his memories, couldn't be wrong, could they? And were they actually his memories of past missions or implanted recollections of untruths. He couldn't think, couldn't remember, couldn't...

As he slipped into unconsciousness, his eyes focused briefly on his team mate across the room...and Daniel's eyes glowed.//

Jack awoke to the sound of harsh breathing, not his own but Daniel's. He spotted Daniel once again lying atop the bed, apparently asleep, but the sound of his labored breathing concerned Jack. He hoped that Daniel's esophagus was not swelling closed from his injuries. Or worse, respiratory distress from ruptured capillaries caused by the strangulation. God, what had he done to his friend. Jack realized now that his mind was controlled by Nephthys and he had to break free, to return to sanity and lead Daniel and himself out of here. He needed to get medical attention for Daniel and he couldn't waste time on trivial problems like losing his mind to the devil. He had to be strong, had to regain control, but the more he fought for control of his mind, the more he experienced horrendous pain. Apparently, he wasn't supposed to want his mind back!

Unaware of his own moans, Jack was surprised to see Daniel watching him from his perch on the bed. "Jack, you need to remove the disc. I don't know if it's a conduit for supplying false memories or simply a means of controlling their subjects through pain but you need to get it out. It'll hurt like a son of a bitch, trust me, but just briefly. I removed mine several hours ago."

Jack gripped the disc tightly and pulled, trusting Daniel once again and freeing himself of the device. "God, Daniel. Every time I fight this thing, the pain is excruciating. And I don't mean that, whatever it is," Jack indicated the thin, circular object now located on the floor where he had dropped it. "Every time I pull my punches to keep from killing you, every time I try to fill my mind with good thoughts of you to replace the false ones that that bitch implanted, unwelcome thoughts that were shoved in there, it's like a knife is plunging through my head!"

"That's what they want, Jack. They don't want you to fight it but you have to!"

"I know, Daniel. If nothing else but for your safety. I know now...I have to fight this! I will fight this and succeed. I don't want to hurt you anymore." Seeing Daniel's face and hearing his raspy breaths was almost Jack's undoing, knowing that he had inflicted the pain with his own hands. "And we've got to get you some medical attention soon."

Jack stood and walked towards the bed, towards Daniel. And Daniel let him, seeing Jack now as a flower amongst the darkness, trusting Jack to overcome this mind control and lead them home. He knew he would be safe with Jack now. He no longer needed to be the runner, the one to bring them out of the darkness. He could see the light at the end of the tunnel, and Jack was standing in it, pulling him towards the light.

Together they would be okay.

Chapter 8 - Runners

"I see you've returned. How was your little soiree with Anubis?" Nephthys peered over at Osiris as he traversed the expansive chamber. Osiris had proceeded immediately upon his arrival from the Chaapai to their spacious abode deep within the tunnel system on the planet Heliopolis, aptly named for Nephthys' principal sanctuary on the Tau'ri world. Even on the Tau'ri world, she had been considered a lesser god, always cowering in the shadows of her sister, Isis, and her sister's husband, Osiris. This planet, this sanctuary, was now her own and she intended to eliminate anyone who would dare to deny her of this privilege, her rights.

Nephthys was quite proud of her accomplishments. Despite the dissolution of the Limvris after the fiasco at their last summit meeting, Nephthys continued to grow her meager holdings into the ornate lifestyle that she deserved. She had been able to acquire Jaffa from some of the other Limvris members, those that were unable to elude Ma'chello's insidious creatures before the chamber door was sealed, permitting them no escape. Afterwards, Nephthys returned to her haven, her sanctuary here on Heliopolis, where she remained hidden in her complex maze of underground tunnels housing the Chaapai with an above ground appearance resembling a pyramid structure. Her human slaves were very devoted and loyal to her and she ensured no rebellion by controlling their minds. She trusted no one outside her control, not the Limvris, certainly not the System Lords, not even her lover, Osiris.

She had amassed an army of over a hundred Jaffa warriors, small compared with the armies of the System Lords, but she had designs to increase her numbers by infiltrating Anubis' stronghold. She'd tested her perceived supernatural powers at the latest meeting of the System Lords in the Hasaris system with great success. No one suspected that she was there, not even her cohort, Osiris.

Osiris, what a fool! Osiris honestly believed that he had coerced all the System Lords to accept Anubis back into their fold, all but one. Nephthys had no clue as to why Yu had failed to succumb to her techniques. It didn't matter, she had still succeeded in her trickery to return Anubis to his full status as System Lord. Osiris had only been her pawn, unwittingly helping her ascertain her enemies weaknesses.

With a cocky air, Osiris strode to Nephthys' side, "Anubis is growing tired of our little escapades with the humans. He no longer waits for us to develop the humans for his purposes. He plans to destroy Earth as soon as he can complete his preparations, taking the credit for the devastation for only himself."

"That is good news indeed, my love. I trust you acquired the device?" Nephthys reached to stroke Osiris' face but Osiris intercepted her hand, his impatience evident.

"Of course, and they'll never know who took it...but we must move quickly now. The humans must return through the Chaapai before Anubis completes his plans. We must get there first." Osiris took a seat on the garish sofa across from Nephthys while servants attended to his needs.

"And what is Anubis' intentions? Does he have the means to force the Tau'ri shield to open, allowing passage through to Earth?"

"I believe he does. His Jaffa were able to retrieve the device that the Tau'ri use to send a signal through to Earth. The Tau'ri will open the shield, believing the incoming travelers to be the Tok'ra," Osiris' responded smugly, quite proud that he could deliver the knowledge of Anubis' intentions.

"I see," Nephthys purred. "So Anubis found and tortured a Tok'ra from their base on Revanna?"

"No. Anubis had a Goa'uld operative on that base already. How did you think he was able to pinpoint their location so quickly, my love?"

"How convenient," Nephthys raised her glass to Osiris before sipping the royal purple liquid deeply. "My complements on your ability to acquire this information from him."

"He was quite willing to help me, especially since I had coerced the System Lords into returning him to power. A little quid pro quo, I suppose."

"Of course, my love," Nephthys said with a sly grin. "I knew you could achieve that level of distinction through your actions on the space station," Nephthys stated, intentionally fueling Osiris' egomania. After several moment's pause, Nephthys rose and sat next to Osiris on the sofa, continuing her queries, "When do we send the humans back?"

"At daybreak tomorrow. They must believe that they have escaped on their own. You will take care of the "programming", I assume."

"Anything for you, love," Nephthys again reached to touch Osiris' face and, this time, Osiris let her. "Anything for you."

Nephthys would continue to play Osiris' game, still needing him as her confidant to succeed in her grand scheme. Osiris had proven to be a great asset to her through his negotiations with Anubis. But Nephthys would tip the scales in her favor soon. And not even Osiris knew of Nephthys' true intents.

"All right. It's what? Mid-afternoon?" Jack checked his watch that remained attached to his arm throughout this ordeal. "We'll rest until nightfall and then get the hell out of here." Jack had returned to the small corner of the room to rest, intending to keep his distance from Daniel as long as possible.

Both he and Daniel agreed that they should stay separated. Even though their room was rather small, the distance from corner to corner still gave Daniel a slight edge for the next time Jack attacked. And they knew there would be a next time, had already been a next time. In fact, Jack had attacked Daniel on at least three occasions in the past two hours, somehow managing to avoid harming him during the first two episodes...the last time Daniel hadn't been so lucky.

During that assault, Jack had caught Daniel off guard and tackled him to the ground, twisting his arms high behind his back. Daniel pleading for his life grounded Jack to reality and he mustered all his internal strength to fight down his false memories and paranoia fueling his desire to harm his team mate. After Jack released Daniel from his intense grasp, they discussed alternative methods of diffusing Jack's anger. It had been a difficult two hours for both of them, recognizing that the one way Jack could control his physical assaults without severe pain within himself was to lash out at Daniel verbally. The words were acrimonious and threatening, but Daniel could survive the words...he might not survive the alternative.

From that point, Jack began to focus on words rather than physical violence to alleviate his induced wrath. Hateful words and untruths. Vile abominations intended to seriously debase Daniel's entire being, chipping away at the solid foundation that was their friendship. And Jack hated those words, hated himself for saying them, hated Daniel for listening, knowing he would continue to deliver the abhorrent words for as long as it took. Sticks and stones and all. But Jack knew that words could hurt, wounding the very essence that is Daniel. Jack also knew that words wouldn't kill, praying that they would be able to regain that which the words threatened to take away. Hoping they could rebuild the foundation again.

Since the last physical attack, Daniel could see Jack improving and, although the words Jack flailed in his direction cut him like a knife, he noticed that Jack was not experiencing as much pain as he fought against his inner turmoil. He also noticed Jack's dark periods were coming less frequently. Yes, Daniel could handle the words, the taunts, knowing that together they would survive.

"And just when do you think nightfall will be? I mean, it's not like we can see outside, you know," Daniel had been trying to add some playful banter back into their conversation, carefully testing Jack's progress. Jack had even begun adding quips of his own again which Daniel never thought he'd be so happy to hear.

"We'll just have to go by the clock."

"So, do you have a plan to get us out of here?" Daniel repositioned on the bed, wincing at the pain the movement caused.

"Not much of one yet, but I'm working on it." Jack poured himself and Daniel some water from the everpresent pitcher on the sidebar in their room. Handing one glass to Daniel, Jack drank the refreshing liquid from the glass in his hand.

"Thanks," Daniel said as he took the proffered drink. "Okay...so, what do we have and what do we need?"

"Hey! That's my line!" Jack decided to sit at the foot of Daniel's bed as they discussed their plans. He knew he had to be careful, but he had become quite proficient at recognizing the signs of his rage flaring. Jack sought acceptance in the eyes of his friend and was almost surprised to see the warmth returned in those blue eyes along with the slight quiver of a smile.

"Well, it's not exclusive. Still waiting for the answer."

"Damn! I ask the questions, doesn't mean I can answer them," Jack paused looking around their close quarters. "Well, we've got squat... except for a mean son of a bitch colonel, and a bedraggled archeologist."

"Did you just say 'bedraggled'? Daniel gave Jack a quizzical look, his eyes squinting painfully.

"Did I? Guess some junk is still messed up in here, " Jack replied, pointing to his head.

"Yeah, guess so," Daniel took a slow, contemplative breath before continuing, "...the GDO."

"What?" Now Jack sported the quizzical look, eyebrows twisted and raised high.

"What?" Daniel's voice responded but his thoughts seemed elsewhere.

Jack shook his head to clear the cobwebs, "Daniel, we don't have a GDO."

"Exactly. Keep up with me, Jack."

Jack became concerned that perhaps there was more wrong with Daniel than just his physical injuries.

"Jack, we need a GDO."

"Oh, yeah, right. And a means to open the door and a map to the 'gate, yadda."

"I think I can find the 'gate."

"Really? You remember how we got here, to this room?" Jack knew he'd been unconscious upon exiting the 'gate and had no memories of anything about this place outside their room.

"Yeah...I think so."

"So, we need the GDO and a diversion to get someone to open the door," Jack took a few moments to assess his friend's condition. Daniel hadn't moved from the bed for quite a while and Jack suspected that it was because he was hurt worse than he let on.

"Daniel, do you think you can run?" Jack already knew the answer but needed to see how Daniel responded.

"Ah, no...but I can walk with help."

Damn, Jack thought. If Daniel was admitting to having difficulty and needing help to walk, he must really be in distress. Jack moved closer to Daniel intending to finally assess his team mate's condition. The ankle felt swollen and Jack could see bluish coloring at the base of Daniel's trousers. He manipulated the joint, checking for range of movement, hoping it wasn't fractured. He breathed a disappointed sigh as Daniel let out a quiet yelp.

"Damnit! You really need that ankle wrapped but there's nothing here that we can use. How's the breathing? Any dizziness or nausea?"

"Jack, I'm fine. Just need a little help if you want me to run."

"Yeah, right. Thought you said you needed help to walk."

"Whatever."

Amidst Daniel's weak protests, Jack continued his explorations of Daniel's injuries. He found a multitude of facial lacerations and contusions, but nothing too serious. The swollen eye would affect Daniel's peripheral vision and Jack didn't like the lump at the back of Daniel's head. Most disconcerting, though, was the sound of Daniel's breathing and the hoarse quality of his voice. Feeling the base of Daniel's neck he noticed some external swelling, not too bad yet but Jack would have to monitor Daniel for any signs of acute respiratory distress. Shaking his head, Jack stopped his evaluation and clutched his head with his hands.

Daniel realized the emotional stress that Jack was feeling and knew that it was harder for Jack than it was for him. Sure, he hurt terribly but he would recover from his injuries. He wasn't so certain about Jack's recovery. Daniel reached out to Jack, placing his hand on the older man's shoulder. Feeling the touch, Jack raised his head to face his friend, reaching out as well to Daniel.

After a very awkward pause, Daniel broke the silence, still resting his hand on Jack's shoulder, "So...?"

"So...," Jack swallowed deeply. "Okay, so basically we need to find the GDO. Last time I saw it Osiris had it."

"You saw it, Jack? When?"

"Kinda vague...in a flashback or something." Jack shifted his weight on the bed to a more comfortable position. He remembered that flashback well, actually, but didn't want to discuss it with Daniel. It was the flashback where Daniel's eyes glowed like a Goa'uld.

"Oh. Well, if we can't find the GDO, I'll need to figure out where else we can 'gate to and work our way back to Earth."

"Yeah, you do that. Sounds like a plan to me."

They hadn't attempted to keep their escape a secret, knowing that whoever could control their minds, would also be privy to their conversations. Jack left the bed to check the cell door and realized they were no longer being guarded by Jaffa. He felt they were being set-up somehow, but knew they had to leave this place. He had to get Daniel back to the SGC. Jack had really started fearing for his friend's health, listening to the painful, wheezing sounds coming from the other side of the room. Daniel's airway had been compromised to some extent and Jack really didn't want to have to perform a field tracheotomy, should it come to that. He wanted Daniel back safely in the infirmary. He returned to take a seat on the edge of the bed, not wanting Daniel to have to raise his voice to be heard.

The room was quiet while both men lost themselves in their private thoughts. Daniel broke the silence with a question that had been bothering him since Jack's last flashback, "Do you think we've been in this same room, I mean here, together, since we came through the Stargate?"

"What?" Jack sounded confused by the question, unsure where Daniel was leading the discussion.

"You said that you remembered hearing me, seeing me, when Nephthys visited you."

"Oh, yeah. If you can believe my, uh," Jack waved his right hand beside his head, "my deluded memories of the events."

"I think I do, Jack. We need to be very careful. I'm still not sure what game Osiris and Nephthys are playing here, but the consequences won't be pleasant...for anyone."

"Yeah..." Jack's voice trailed as his scattered memories slowly began to return to him. "Daniel?"

"Hmmm?" Daniel's eyes had flitted closed briefly as much needed sleep seemed eminently approaching.

"Would the Goa'uld ever work together? I mean, I thought they were pretty much megalomaniacs."

"They are. An alliance between two of them could be used as an advantage for achieving power, armies...um, slaves, hosts. But eventually one Goa'uld would get greedy, domineering...the results could be cataclysmic."

"Yeah, that's what I thought...Get some sleep Daniel. I'll work on our escape plan...and...staying over here, in my corner, not hurting anyone..." Jack waved back at Daniel as he retook his position across the room.

"Okay, Jack. I trust you. Oh, and uh, Jack?"

"Yes, Daniel?"

"If you do decide to kill me, could you do it quietly? I really need the rest." Jack noticed the twinkle had returned to Daniel's tired eyes, uh, eye.

"Sure. Wake you in three. Goodnight, Daniel."

"Goodnight, John-boy."

Jack silently prayed to the god of archeologists to help him get Daniel home safely.

Jack jolted at the sound of his watch alarm. It was time to make their move.

He'd formulated their escape plans before taking a brief, albeit much needed, nap. He also assumed that if he was asleep, he wouldn't be hurting Daniel anymore or himself. It was a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" scenario...when he thought about how he'd hurt Daniel, he suffered his own internal pain, selfhatred and disgust that he couldn't control his actions. If he thought about not hurting Daniel, especially when the urges and false memories reappeared, he suffered severe, physical pain that he tried not to show. He could at least spare Daniel from experiencing his pain too.

Gratefully, Jack had noticed that the desire to injure his team's archeologist had subsided. He hoped that the decline of his untoward emotions occurred because he was very good at overcoming mind control from past training and experiences. He feared, however, that whoever had planted the seeds of mistrust towards Daniel in his mind had already reaped the benefits from such action, plucking the saplings from his subconscious before they had time to flower. For what reason, though, he had no idea.

They needed to locate the GDO to open the iris. Hopefully, Hammond hadn't locked out their codes. Quickly assessing their situation, Jack glanced through the small opening on their cell door. No Jaffa. Damn, was that a good thing or a bad thing? Reaching for the opening mechanism, he twisted the symbol of a bird to test the lock. Not locked. Okay, so not a good thing. As he turned to approach Daniel still asleep on the bed at the farthest end of the room, he noticed a rectangular device with a keypad on top, definitely not your typical Goa'uld design. Nearing the device, he recognized it. The GDO. Well, how obvious could the Goa'ulds get? They wanted him and Daniel to return through the 'gate, but for what reason? Jack suddenly felt a terrible pang of impending dread as he lifted the GDO, placing it on his arm. What game was Nephthys and Osiris playing exactly?

Reaching the bed, he watched Daniel for a time, listening to his labored breathing, noting every cut, bruise, and abrasion that he'd delivered to his friend, and finally placing his hand on the younger man's shoulder to awaken him. Remnants of pain threatened to break the surface as he showed compassion for his friend, but Jack pushed them back, unwilling to let them win.

"Daniel, come on, it's time to go," Jack gently shook Daniel's shoulder to awaken him.

"Go 'way, wanna sleep," came the groggy response.

"Yeah, I know and hey, if it were up to me I'd say let's take some time off, go to a spa, get a massage, but I think our hosts have other ideas for us," Jack waved the GDO in Daniel's face.

Sitting up on the bed, Daniel looked at Jack in surprise, "Where, uh, how did you get that?"

"Hey, we don't want to be catching flies here," Jack placed his hand on Daniel's chin and pushed gently upward, forcing Daniel's bottom lip to, once again, touch his upper lip. "Looks like we've outstayed our welcome. Door's unlocked as well. No guards."

"This can't be a good thing...can it? I mean, I've been thinking about why Osiris might have captured us in the first place." Daniel shifted to a more comfortable position as Jack placed his rolled up jacket beneath Daniel's injured foot.

"And, anything come to mind?" Jack said, hoping for at least a plausible explanation.

"I have no idea," As Daniel became more alert, the haze of sleep clearing his mind, he continued, "Well, we know that Osiris and Nephthys are both here. Anubis plans to prove himself to the System Lords by destroying Earth," Daniel paused, contemplatively. "Anubis used Osiris to regain System Lord status, but for what reason?"

At Jack's shrug, Daniel continued excitedly, "Jack, what if the three of them are working together, like...like... a...oh, what's the word I'm looking for?"

"A gaggle of Goa'ulds?" Jack smiled inwardly at his intended obtuseness.

Daniel gave Jack his best ever-suffering glare then rolled his eyes heavenward before continuing, "No, more like a triad...or something."

"So...if one is bad and two are worse..."

"Then, three are...worser," Daniel frowned slightly at his choice of adjectives.

"Worser, Daniel? I thought you were the linguist."

"Sorry, guess some junk is still messed up in here." Daniel pointed to his head imitating a similar motion used by Jack earlier.

"So...they're allowing us to leave, to return to Earth."

"Apparently so. It's like Osiris is abetting Anubis, but to what end?" Daniel slowly and painfully began making his way off the bed, concerned that his ankle might not keep him upright.

"Well, hopefully not Earth's...end," Jack placed his arm around Daniel's waist just as the younger man's legs buckled, preventing his fall. "All I know is that we'd better be careful. Make sure no one and no thing gets through that 'gate besides us. Let's go!"

General Hammond stood at the base of the ramp anxiously awaiting the travelers. Jacob Carter and the Tok'ra known as Safdar exited the Stargate, apparently bringing information regarding the means that Anubis would employ against Earth. As the wormhole whooshed out of existence, General Hammond addressed the two Tok'ra, "I am glad you were able to get back with us so soon."

"Earth has little time," Safdar's statement was clear and succinct.

"Yes, of course. Please follow me. SG-1 is waiting for us in the briefing room."

They entered the conference room and immediately noticed the apprehensive stares from the personnel seated around the large oblong table. Upon taking his seat, General Hammond introduced Safdar to the group and motioned for him to begin his report.

"We have just received information from our operative aboard Anubis' vessel. The Tok'ra were infiltrated by a Goa'uld spy on Revanna. This spy communicated much information to Anubis regarding the Tok'ra and the Tau'ri, including the Tok'ra Iris codes."

Concerned glances were exchanged amongst the meeting participants.

"But they're no good to them without a GDO and we can easily modify the codes," Sam commented.

"You are correct, Major Carter, but unfortunately your "GDO" was also made available to Anubis by this spy."

General Hammond immediately called the control room to have them lock out the Tok'ra codes.

"That will take care of the immediate concern, General Hammond, however, I must warn you. Anubis is persistent AND he has captured two of your men, has he not?"

"Well, Osiris has, yes. But those men would rather die before giving out any information."

"That may be true...under normal circumstances." Safdar continued.

"And these are not normal circumstances..." Teal'c understood all too well the implications of their current situation.

"No, they are not," Safdar briefly acknowledged Teal'cs comment before turning to address the entire room. "With Nephthys potentially involved in their capture, they very well may compromise Earth even without their knowledge of having done so."

"Are you saying that we can't trust our fail safe device anymore? I've got three teams off-world plus half of SG-1 that will need to get home," General Hammond knew he would have to open the iris eventually.

"You should postpone their return until you ensure the security of your systems," Safdar's response was direct and to the point.

Hammond nodded his affirmation, "Major Carter, get word to those off-world teams to stay put but don't give them any more information...need to know only. Also, contact our allies that have valid iris codes and tell them their codes will be temporarily locked out... And figure out a more secure fail safe mechanism for controlling the Iris."

"Yes, Sir." Sam hurriedly gathered her belongings and scurried out the door.

"So, what is Anubis planning?" Jacob Carter had not had an opportunity to discuss the details with Safdar yet. Jacob had left Earth immediately upon relaying his message to the same group of people gathered around this table less than a day ago. Locating Safdar had not been easy but Jacob knew that this Tok'ra supervised the activities of several Tok'ra operatives. He'd hoped that Safdar had answers.

"He will send his operative disguised as Tok'ra through the Stargate to Earth using Tok'ra codes. The operative will activate an incendiary device acquired from a planet that Anubis recently conquered. The device is small and can be hidden anywhere but it is very destructive. The initial blast will destroy the immediate area through explosive forces. Various types of radiation particles will then propagate outward from the source in extremely high concentrations, killing everything in their path. It is a insidious device which carries explosive particles in the radiation stream set to detonate at predetermined future times and further propagate the deadly radiation. The device is capable of destroying a planet the size of Earth in a matter of days."

"Geez, how many of these devices does Anubis have?" Jacob questioned.

"It is unknown but we suspect he has only a small number. Most were destroyed during the conquest of the planet, along with the planet and its inhabitants. We do know that one of the devices has disappeared from Anubis' ship, but how or where it is now is still a mystery."

With Daniel leaning heavily against him, Jack peered into the corridor outside their prison, checking for movement, listening for sounds. Convinced that the passageway was clear, Jack turned to Daniel, "Okay, which way?"

Daniel selected the path to their right and Jack pulled him close to his side, supporting most of Daniel's weight. They cautiously made their way through the narrow tunnel, slipping several times as the flooring began a steady slope downward. They made the downward trek slowly, hugging the wall for support and pausing briefly as the path forked. Jack spotted two Jaffa guards at a distance down the intersecting passage and relayed his findings to Daniel without words. The archeologist understood the signals of his commanding officer and leaned back against the wall behind him. Daniel waved his hand with a back and forward motion, indicating the direction towards the 'gate was straight across the bisecting passage into the much darker tunnel beyond.

Jack knew that they would have to cross one at a time. The Jaffa would certainly see two figures but one may be able to slip by them. He also knew that Daniel had to go first. He hated sending the injured man into an unknown, dark hallway, but he couldn't risk those Jaffa attacking him. If Daniel stumbled on his way, Jack would do whatever was necessary to prevent Daniel from being recaptured.

Speaking in barely audible whispers, Jack communicated their next move to Daniel, "You go across first. Get far enough down that next passageway so that you're out of sight. I'll monitor these goons and follow as soon as I can." After a brief pause, Jack added, "Can you put any weight on that ankle?" Jack realized that Daniel's breathing was very raspy from their exertion and he had been leaning heavily against Jack, something Daniel would avoid doing at all costs if he could. He never wanted to be a burden.

"I'll be okay, Jack. Just hurts like a son of a bitch."

Jack didn't fail to notice the distressed look on Daniel's face even in the dimly lit corridor but, giving a brief head nod, he resumed his watch on the guards. When the Jaffa turned away from them, Jack saw their opportunity. "Okay, go!"

Daniel hobbled across the hallway and disappeared into the darkness without a sound. The Jaffa seemed oblivious to the movement. As Jack started to cross, the Jaffa abruptly turned back, now facing Jack once again. Damn, Jack thought. He'd have to wait a bit longer.

Daniel recognized this corridor as the one nearest the Stargate, the walls glowing with an eerie light. The crystals! He knew that Sam would be excited to have one of these to analyze. Knowing her, she'd probably be able to "reverse engineer" it for their use. Leave it to Sam to reverse engineer a natural substance that wasn't really engineered to begin with, Daniel mused. Noticing a small, loose crystal near him, he easily removed it from its spot in the wall and tucked it into his pocket. A silvery ball caught his eye, protruding slightly from the same location in the wall as the now pocketed crystal. He absently removed that object as well, adding it to his collection. Feeling a slight shiver down his spine and looking around the dark hallway, he thought he was being watched. But as quickly as the thought crossed his mind, it passed, and Daniel resumed patiently waiting for Jack, the silvery ball in his pocket forgotten.

Jack joined him shortly and the two resumed their trek to the 'gate with Daniel again leaning heavily into Jack for support. Daniel began to feel dizzy from hypoxia and stumbled abruptly to the ground pulling Jack down with him.

Startled from the rapid and unexpected descent, Jack let out a muffled cry. "Daniel, you okay?"

"Yeah, it's just so hot in here. It's difficult to breathe."

Jack reached out to touch Daniel's neck, looking for signs of increased swelling. Damn, he thought, as he lightly pressed the flesh around Daniel's throat. Swelling's worse but they were almost home. They could rest for a few moments before continuing.

"Yeah, the air smells sulfurous. Let's rest a moment. How much further to the 'gate?"

"Not far now. Jack, these crystals...I think they're what Osiris used to make us invisible to Sam and Teal'c back on Revanna."

"Ya think?" Jack helped Daniel sit upright with his back propped against the tunnel wall. He sat down next to Daniel, brushing shoulders as he did.

"Yeah, Osiris has a ring made from them that she rubbed just before Sam and Teal'c showed up. I've got one in my pocket for Sam."

"Sweet. How do you make it work? We might need it if the 'gate is guarded."

"I have no idea." Daniel rolled his eyes upward, wondering why Jack expected him to know such things.

"Right. Well, we'll just have to cross that bridge when we get there...Ready to go?" Jack patted Daniel's shoulder, prompting the younger man to his feet.

"Yeah, Jack. Let's go home."

The rest of their journey was brief and uninterrupted. Jack knew they were being allowed to escape, nothing had ever been this easy for them. No guards posted at the Stargate, everything was quiet...eerily quiet, he thought.

Propping Daniel against the DHD, Daniel input the coordinates for Earth and safety. As the wormhole engaged, the room reflected the bluish hues emanating from the 'gate like ocean waves on a sunlit day. Daniel entered the iris codes into the GDO before giving a nod to Jack.

Each man heaved a sigh of relief as Jack took one last glance around the cavernous room. "Let's go home."

As the men entered the wormhole, each one automatically sheltered their eyes, anticipating the light at the end of the tunnel.

Chapter 9 - Reaching for the Light

General Hammond dismissed the briefing participants, intending to see what progress Major Carter had made with locking out iris codes and notifying their off-world teams of their delay in returning home. He knew that none of the current off-world teams were in threatening situations other than SG-1 of course, a fact that eased his mind considerably. Jacob Carter and Safdar had followed the general, anticipating a delayed departure for themselves. They joined Major Carter in the control room just as the klaxons sounded their shrill tune once again.

A disembodied voice sounded over the speakers, "Unscheduled off-world activation."

Major Carter and General Hammond exchanged quick glances. "We were able to contact our allies and offworld teams, Sir. I'm not sure who that could be."

"Son?" General Hammond addressed the Lieutenant stationed at the computer station.

"I haven't got a signal yet, Sir. Wait...it's...SG-1?" Wide eyes looked upward towards the general.

"Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Jackson?" the general threw a questioning glance to the two Carters.

"It has to be, Sir," the younger Carter answered optimistically.

"They may have been compromised, George. We really have no idea what will be coming through the 'gate," the elder Carter cautioned.

"Sir, if it is them and we don't open the iris..." Sam's voice trailed off.

After a very brief hesitation, General Hammond made his decision, "Open the iris! And get a security force down there, now!" The General picked up a nearby phone to summon a medical team to the gate room, stationing them outside the blast doors until given an "all clear".

A scurry of activity ensued with the base's entire available security regiment converging on the gate room. Teal'c and Sam waited and watched the events unfolding from the relative security of the control room. Lights were dimmed in the gate room as was customary for an unscheduled activation. Better to see the enemy than for them to see you. With weapons directed towards the center of the wormhole, the tension in the room could be cut with a knife.

Moments later a son of a bitch colonel and his bedraggled archeologist spilled out of the wormhole. Jack wasted no time in barking out the order, "Close the iris!" As if on cue, the circular sheath enveloped the gate, blocking the wormhole until it finally shut down, while Daniel crumpled to his knees on the ramp.

Looking around the room for the first time since his arrival, Jack saw the assorted weapons pointed in his direction.

"Hey! Are those P-90s or are you just happy to see us?" Jack O'Neill said in his customary, sharp-witted style. Several armed guards rapidly traversed the ramp to surround the colonel and Dr. Jackson, while a very frustrated Jack O'Neill raised his eyes towards the control room.

"General, what's going on here? Daniel needs medical attention!"

General Hammond acknowledge the colonel's request with a slight nod and delivered the order to allow the medical team into the gate room. The medical team entered with General Hammond, the two Carters and Teal'c following moments later.

"Colonel O'Neill, we have a situation here. You will allow the security team to escort you and Dr. Jackson to the infirmary," General Hammond's voice boomed over the mayhem in the gate room. Jack opened his mouth as if to speak but the movement was abruptly halted by General Hammond.

"That's an order, Colonel! Any resistance will be considered a hostile action! Do you understand me?"

Jack nodded his affirmative and reluctantly held his hands up as the guards frisked him. Having completed their cursory evaluation of Daniel, the medical team motioned for the gurney to be brought up the ramp. General Hammond raised his hand to stop the gurney's forward progress, then waved the security detail over from O'Neill to Dr. Jackson.

"Oh, for crying out loud! The man's hurt!"

"Colonel, one more comment and you'll be up on subordination charges!" Hammond had no intentions of subjecting the base or the rest of the planet to some alien attack, no matter who might be delivering it.

Daniel glanced over to General Hammond adding, "General, Anubis knows the Tok'ra iris codes."

"We know that, son."

"We do? Shouldn't there have been a memo...?" Jack hated to be the last to know. In fact, his mind retraced recent events, unable to determine when he or Daniel would have found out that information. Perhaps his brain was still a bit foggy from their ordeal...

As the security team reached Daniel, a small blue crystal and a silver colored sphere slipped unnoticed from Daniel's hand to lay quietly hidden beneath the ramp.

Their short trip to the infirmary proved uneventful. Jack walked alongside Dr. Janet Fraiser despite the two goons tracking his every move. He took the brief respite to fill her in on Daniel's injuries; his physical abuse suffered at Jack's hands, the strangulation attempt, his near-death experience, and the twisting fall that damaged Daniel's ankle. He also advised Dr. Fraiser that he himself inflicted the injuries to his team mate while under some sort of mind control.

When they reached the infirmary, the doctor ordered a barrage of tests for each of the men to determine the true extent of their injuries and to uncover any residual psychological control that might be present, assuming she knew what to look for. Jacob Carter and Safdar had briefed Dr. Fraiser on the effects that they could expect on brainwave patterns and physiological changes, so she focused tests around their assumptions for starters.

Having completed all tests, she summoned General Hammond to the infirmary to brief him on SG-1's conditions, both mental and physical.

"Sir, the tests have come back on both Dr. Jackson and Colonel O'Neill with some very interesting results." Janet paused, waiting for permission to continue.

"Go ahead, Doctor," came the immediate response from General Hammond.

"Well, the test results for Colonel O'Neill indicate increased brainwave activity in the hippocampus," Janet typed on the computer in her office for a moment. The computer monitor displayed a colorful slide of Colonel O'Neill's brain with a concentration of colors greatest in one lobe of his brain. Janet pointed to this area as she continued her report, "Here. This region of the brain is associated with learning, memory, and possibly, emotion, which could account for his increased hostility towards Dr. Jackson. His brain chemistry also shows a marked increase in epinephrine, norepinephrine, phenylethylamine, and serotonin levels, any of which can result in increased aggression and feelings of paranoia. The good news is his levels have been decreasing steadily for the past three hours since his return and I expect they will return to normal levels by morning. Until then, sir, I recommend that he remain in the infirmary under guard. I've moved the colonel to a private room which we are keeping locked with two guards posted just outside. I'll run more tests in the morning and make a determination on his need for future treatment and confinement. But, if his levels continue improving at the current rate, he should be able to resume normal work activities tomorrow afternoon."

"Very good, Doctor. And the condition of Dr. Jackson?" Hammond prompted.

Janet touched a few more keys on the computer to display a similar slide of a brain, although with less color differentials. "His brain chemistry and brainwave activity appear normal. Based on his test results and reports from both him and the colonel regarding their captivity, I have no reason to believe that Dr. Jackson has been compromised," Janet concluded.

"And his physical injuries?"

"His physical injuries will heal. We had to give some emergent care for the edema in his neck but the medications I've prescribed seem to be controlling the swelling. He has no broken bones but I had to stitch a cut above his eye and butterfly bandage two other cuts. He has multiple lacerations and contusions over much of his face and body, and a mild concussion. His ankle isn't fractured but he has a second degree ligament sprain and it'll take some time for it to heal and the swelling to come down. I've wrapped the ankle to help with the pain but he needs to keep that leg propped up and stay off the ankle as much as possible for the next two weeks. " Janet closed the medical file on her desk.

General Hammond nodded his head understanding Dr. Fraiser's unspoken medical order that Dr. Jackson was to be taken off active-duty for at least two weeks.

"I also removed a small silver disc from his, uh...genitals that he claimed was used in torturing him. Colonel O'Neill corroborates Dr. Jackson's story, claiming to have had a similar device implanted at his temple. Dr. Jackson and the colonel stated that they removed other similar discs from their bodies while they were on the planet. I've sent this one to the lab for further analyses," Janet was obviously a little uncomfortable discussing the disc's location on Dr. Jackson and the hidden implications of having a device placed there for torture purposes.

"Could those devices have caused any of Colonel O'Neill's erratic behavior?"

"I can't say for sure, sir, but I believe so. The Goa'uld used those devices to subjugate their prisoners by inflicting pain, perhaps implanting false memories, and brainwashing. These techniques are quite effective means of controlling prisoners as I'm sure you are well aware. Along with the increased levels of brain chemicals that affect mood, aggressive behavior, and delusional feelings, I'd say the devices at least played some part in the mind control process, probably working in conjunction with an injection intended to alter blood chemistries... " Janet's voice trailed off as she realized that General Hammond had become restless.

"Then, are Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Jackson still susceptible to developing erratic behavior in the future?" Hammond interrupted the report, needing to know if his men could be considered threats to the SGC.

"No, I really don't think so, sir, based on the fact that Dr. Jackson has apparently not displayed any behavior abnormalities while on the planet or since their return. Also, his brain chemistry is within the normal tolerances. Colonel O'Neill's body is returning to normal quite rapidly which leads me to believe that leaving that planet has eliminated the problem. I don't anticipate any further issues once the colonel's CT and blood work return to normal. We'll know more once the test results are back on those discs," Janet felt quite confident in her decision.

"Very good, doctor. So what is your medical prognosis for Dr. Jackson?"

"Well, acute respiratory distress is often a factor in strangulation victims so I think we should continue to watch him in the infirmary for the next 24 hours. My main concern, however, is his emotional well-being. He and Colonel O'Neill will both need some counseling to help them deal with what has happened between them."

"I agree, doctor. So, Colonel O'Neill stays in isolation this evening until further testing shows no remaining effects from the mind control and Dr. Jackson stays under observation until tomorrow evening. Thank you for your report." General Hammond paraphrased Dr. Fraiser's report.

"Yes, Sir," was Dr. Fraiser's crisp response as she left her office to check on her patients.

Sam and Teal'c were at Daniel's bedside in the infirmary. It took a moment for Daniel to realize their presence as he awoke from sedation. He'd been comfortably asleep since their return over fourteen hours ago thanks to the help of Janet's 'happy juice'.

"So, the colonel did all this to you?" Sam empathized with Daniel, knowing that it must have been difficult for him to receive such a beating at the hands of a friend.

"Yeah, but you should see him when he's really mad," Daniel's joke fell flat as his team mates assessed his state.

"Maybe you shouldn't have taken that last beer away from him at dinner," Sam grinned, recalling the team dinner at Jack's house just prior to their last mission. They'd been happy, recounting humorous missions, and relaxing together as old friends. Jack had invited them over hoping to relieve the qualms of anxiety welling in the team's archeologist over his next solo mission. The Tok'ra needed someone that spoke fluent Goa'uld and was not Jaffa, so Daniel was the only choice.

Daniel had taken Jack's beer away after Jack, attempting to prove that he could speak Goa'uld, began spouting all the words he knew in the Goa'uld language over and over and over. Which was quite annoying, Sam remembered, considering the colonel only seemed to know five words, 'Kree, me mik'ta tao've'nu, mai'tac!' Actually quite impressive considering the colonel's level of inebriation. Sam thought the colonel was speaking gibberish, while Daniel insisted that Jack knew exactly what he was saying. Teal'c agreed with Daniel as he sat passively nearby wearing a slight grin. When Sam questioned what the words meant, Daniel translated to English, 'Hey, my ass is unbelievable, damnit! And he's saying them using the correct sentence structure.' Then, Daniel promptly removed the beer from Jack's hand. Jack changed his chant just for Daniel to, 'Ha'shak, kree!' with Daniel responding, 'Oh you are so full of it, O'Neill!' barely catching Jack as he passed out.

"Well, if I hadn't, he would've----," Daniel couldn't contain his grin as he remembered the same events.

"He was concerned about you, Daniel...about your mission," Sam knew her commanding officer's actions was his ploy to get Daniel to relax.

"Yeah, I know," Daniel paused contemplatively. "How is he anyway?"

"Better than ever. Pa'kree?" Jack strolled into the infirmary, apparently having overheard their conversation.

Sam looked to Daniel for a translation. "Oh, uh, he says 'What's up?'"

"Well, that explains the tongue sticking out and the head shake then, doesn't it." Sam grinned.

"It does not, Major Carter," Teal'c's expression dripped confusion. Teal'c found the actions of the Tau'ri an enigma at times.

"Television commercial," Daniel said absently to Teal'c then, without losing a beat, turned to address Jack, "So you've been released?"

"It would seem so. When can we spring you from this joint?"

Daniel shrugged as Sam relayed the message, "Janet said he can leave the infirmary this evening but she wants him to stay on base another night. General Hammond has assigned a VIP suite for him."

"Sweet. Can you get ShowTime in there? How about ESPN? Hockey?" Jack proceeded out of the infirmary, waving as he left. He had a report to deliver to General Hammond. Pausing at the doorway, Jack looked back at Daniel and said, "See ya at 2100 hours."

"Guess I'm having company," Daniel remarked to no one in particular.

An echo sounded down the hallway, "Yeasureyoubetcha."

The first thing Daniel noticed was that the VIP room was dimly lit. Funny, but he'd never realized how dark and gloomy these rooms were before. Surely the SGC had enough money in their budget to add a lamp or two.

He made himself comfortable, having already showered, shaved, and donned his favorite plaid shirt and sweat pants that he kept stashed in his locker for just this type of occasion. Sam and Teal'c had shared dinner with him in his room and had left almost an hour ago now. Although he felt tired, he was looking forward to spending some time with the real Jack O'Neill and not some hyped up version of Mr. Hyde. Looking at his watch he realized that he still had an hour before Jack showed up, so Daniel decided to take a nap. As he drifted off to sleep, the flashbacks began.

//He was so tired. How could they keep torturing him like this? He knew he couldn't take much more.

He saw Jack across the room talking with Nephthys and he couldn't believe the words he heard. Jack's personality changed abruptly when the Goa'uld raised her hand to him. He said that he would assist her in the destruction of Earth.

He'd witnessed Jack undergoing extreme torture for the past several hours, never once uttering any words other than his name, rank, and serial number. He saw Jack attached to an intravenous line, apparently to administer drugs directly into his blood stream. He worried for his friend's life, knowing first hand the vile and evil nature of the Goa'uld. But he had never expected Jack to acquiesce to Nephthys so completely, to utter the traitorous words against his world.

The demon known as Nephthys left Jack and sauntered over to him. He knew the pain of torture at Osiris' hand quite well now, but he hadn't been subjected to any pain inflicted by Nephthys, hadn't received any drugs...yet.

"My dear Dr. Jackson," the demon spoke. "Are you enjoying your stay?"

"Go to hell!" he said baring his teeth as if hoping to scare away the demon.

"Now, now. You'll only make it worse for your friend. We can relieve him of this suffering at any time, all you need do is ask."

"And what will you do with him?"

"Oh, we have no use for dead bodies, nor the desire to waste our time using the sarcophagus to awaken him. Three shots of a Zat'ni'k'tel will eliminate all traces."

"You wouldn't do that. You need him." He tried to keep his voice steady, calm. They had to need Jack for something. He couldn't bare to think of the other possibility.

"We do not. He is merely being conditioned to respond to known mind control techniques. He is nothing but a control subject to us."

"Then, let him go. Let him return through the Stargate. I'll stay here with you." He knew he was pleading...pleading for Jack's life.

"Oh, but we need to test out our new technique for controlling our subjects before employing it." An evil smile spread across her face.

"But I thought he was conditioned to respond to 'known' techniques."

"Yes, he is. But, my dear Dr. Jackson, you are our true test subject and responding quite well I might add."

"Test subject. How? For what?" The thought that he might already be under the Goa'uld mind control terrified him but he kept his expression cool and calm. Contrary to popular belief, he could play poker.

"You see, we no longer need to control our subjects through fear of punishment and chemical fluctuations in the body. We can control with simply our thoughts...kind of a 'thought to thought' transfer, if you will. O'Neill has been exposed to both types of control techniques, but you," Nephthys slowly encircled him, placing warm hands against his bare skin, "you have never received chemicals of any kind. Yet, you're mind is as pliant as his. And no one will ever realize that you are under my control. There's no change in bodily functions, your readings will all appear normal. The thoughts I have placed here," she scratched long fingernails slowly upward from his chest, across his neck and face, and finally resting at this temple, "you will believe to be your own. My desires are now your desires. My wish, your command..." the demon finished ominously.

As the demon turned to leave, he questioned once again, "Then why subject him to the torture, the drugs, if it's not necessary?"

"So your world will believe that only he has been affected. They will assume you to be the innocent victim. They'll never catch their mistake," she gave a short laugh, "...until it's too late." Turning to leave, Nephthys looked back at him briefly. "Whom do you serve?"

"I serve my lord Nephthys." came the innocent reply as Nephthys left fully satiated.//

Jack's knock on the door sounded promptly at 2100 hours, stirring Daniel from his fitful slumber. As he slowly regained awareness, Daniel summoned Jack into the room from his bed.

"Hey."

"Hey. I brought you something." Jack reached into his pocket and produced two objects, a blue crystal, and a silver sphere.

"Whaaaa? How?" Daniel seemed surprised that Jack delivered the objects to him. He thought he'd have to search them out himself.

"I saw how you secluded them in the gate room. Thought you might need them." Jack stated, innocently. "Thought you might need this too," Jack produced three weapons, a knife, a pistol, and a zat gun.

"Yeah...I do. Whom do you serve?" Daniel questioned as he found homes for the various weapons on his belt. He slipped the knife into the wrapping around his sprained ankle, carefully hidden by his pants' leg.

"I serve my lord, Nephthys, as do you." Jack immediately responded without conscious thought.

"Yes...Will you help me?"

"That is my intention." For a moment, Jack's face displayed quiet angst, feeling disgusted by his actions, by his role in the forthcoming scheme. He grimaced, the pain he suffered on the planet threatening to reclaim him, as he fought against the evil thoughts now deluding him. Inner turmoil between good and evil roiled momentarily before good finally succumbed to the evil. The pain disappeared.

"Very well. We don't have much time. My lord Nephthys is anticipating the annihilation of Earth to begin at daybreak. Any later and she will be unable to dominate the System Lords for power." Daniel spoke authoritatively. He was in charge now.

"Then we must act quickly...ow" His words trailed off as he fought once again to regain control of his mind. The real Jack O'Neill seemed lost, buried deep within his dark subconscious, while this version of himself reared its ugly head. Jack tried to climb to the surface, reaching for the light, but his dark side pushed him under once again.

He hated the System Lords and their unseemly audacity. They thought of themselves as gods even amongst their own kind. They reveled in their power, their wealth, their Jaffa and slaves, snubbing other Goa'ulds that they termed 'lesser'. The Limvris. The Limvris could have dominated and overthrown the System Lords if it hadn't been for that damned Ma'chello and his vile creatures that sent them running for their lives. He hated Anubis in particular, the Goa'uld so loathsome even the System Lords had him banished. Now, Anubis would be a catspaw for his lord's diversion. And, just as O'Neill was a pawn, Osiris too would be an unwitting dupe in Nephthys' game...His lord Nephthys.

Daniel checked his watch. It was midnight and the SGC was dark. He had dismissed O'Neill earlier, unsure whether the man's 'training' by Nephthys was totally successful. He recognized the conflict that O'Neill experienced, whether to submit or conquer, and he knew that he would eventually have to eliminate him. Hopefully, he could hold out until Daniel could detonate the device. If not, Daniel was prepared to do whatever necessary to accomplish his goal. If that meant killing O'Neill with his bare hands, so be it.

He was racing against time now. Nephthys' intended to humiliate Anubis by preventing him from destroying Earth, and the SGC had accomplished this goal quite successfully, sealing the iris against him. Next, Daniel needed to plant the seed that would blossom into an overwhelming destructive force, leaving death, and devastation across the Earth. He needed to reach the surface to eliminate any possibility that the mountain could be effectively sealed, preventing the explosive particulate from spreading. The particle stream had to be unconfined to allow proper propagation. Daniel related the device to a fireworks display, with various internal reactions and detonations resulting in additional bursts of color, although there would be no color with this device, obviously, only total annihilation. He needed to make his way upward stealthily, through crawlways instead of hallways, avoiding contact with any SGC personnel including Colonel O'Neill.

He could imagine how angry Anubis would be now, finally realizing that Osiris had stolen the weapon, the key to the annihilation of the Tau'ri, from his own hands and given it to Nephthys. That same small round object that Nephthys had given to him, leaving it in the tunnel nearest the Stargate on the planet.

And Osiris...Osiris would be outraged at the insolence of his lover, Nephthys, realizing that she intended to turn the tables against him as well. Anubis would attack Osiris for his betrayal, for his theft. The System Lords, demanding a show of strength from Anubis for reinstating him to their elite group, would wage war against Anubis for his deception, and against Osiris, who delivered the message that Anubis would destroy the Tau'ri. Nephthys controlled the Goa'ulds at the summit meeting, superimposing her thoughts to them, manipulating their wrath against Anubis and Osiris. The impending struggle for dominance amongst the System Lords will leave them weakened and vulnerable. His lord, Nephthys, and the remaining Limvris will then rise to conquer them, claiming that which was rightfully theirs.

Daniel made his way, unseen in the darkness, to the crawlway just beyond his VIP suite, beginning the long series of vertical climbs to the surface. Daniel knew his lord would succeed. He would see to it, intending to perform exceptionally, eventually giving his life for his lord before Earth's destruction began.

After being driven from Daniel's VIP suite, Jack walked aimlessly down the dimly lit corridor as pain assuaged him from all directions. Confusion. His mind was mired with it and his thoughts were not his own. They were his lord...no, the demon, Nephthys' thoughts. Waging an internal battle for control and blinded by the shear agony of the sensations welling within him, Jack ducked into a nearby storage room trying to regain his composure. As the door closed behind him, he immediately moaned in pain, sliding down the wall to rest on the floor beneath him. His head was on fire, searing pain starting in his brain and radiating outward through his nerve endings. He cradled his head in his hands.

He'd fought this once already back on the planet, overcoming the mind control which threatened to take his friend's life from him by his own hands. Daniel. What was going on here and why was he again facing this horrible pain? His body functions had returned to normal, blood work was fine, yet here he was in the throes of some demented mind game authored by Nephthys.

Daniel. His best friend, team mate, soul of SG-1. Martyr for the devil, for Nephthys. No! He wouldn't let Daniel destroy Earth or sacrifice himself for some Goa'uld bitch! He had to fight, had to regain control, push the evil thoughts pummeling his mind deep into his subconscious, and keep them there forever in the darkness. The real Jack needed to resurface to the light in order to save his friend. Despite the pain, Jack focused his thoughts on Daniel, vowing to save his young friend from eternal damnation, even if they both died in the process. Jack extinguished the pain as it rallied once again, finally succumbing to his body's overwhelming need for sleep.

Jack was awakened several hours later by a slight sound in the hallway. Instantly coming to full awareness, he was relieved that the pain seemed manageable. He cautiously cracked open the door, peering to see what had caused the noise. Damnit, Daniel.

Daniel was making his move and Jack had delivered the tools of Earth's destruction into his hands. All the years of black ops training returned to him as he quietly followed his friend. As Daniel entered the first shaft towards the surface, Jack focused on a tactical plan to intercept him. He couldn't risk sending in security teams...Daniel could detonate the device at a moment's notice, blowing them all to oblivion. The base was relatively vacant in the early morning hours, that was good. He didn't need someone getting to Daniel before he did, couldn't live with himself if someone killed his friend. But he realized that killing Daniel was something that might be unavoidable. He just knew, if it came down to that, that it should be him. As much as Jack despised that worse case scenario, he'd prefer that Daniel be relieved of his torment at the hands of his best friend.

His plan complete, Jack waited until Daniel had entered the shaft and closed the door behind him. None of the shafts went straight to the surface. Daniel would have to exit several levels up and enter another shaft to continue his ascent. Jack would be waiting for him there.

Exiting the elevator, Jack hid in the dark hallway, waiting for Daniel to appear. Daniel had the blue crystal, but Jack knew he wouldn't use it. The cocky, arrogance of the Goa'uld would eventually be their undoing and, right now, Daniel thought like the Goa'uld. He would believe himself as a god, invincible, not needing to use invisibility as a crutch. Jack's visions of Daniel with the glowing eyes weren't too far off, he mused sadly. His friend didn't have a snake in his head, but he just as well may have, for his thoughts and actions were emulating those of the Goa'uld. And Jack, praying that he would see the true Daniel again, feared the worst for his friend. Fearing he may have lost Daniel forever to the demon.

Jack knew it would be a tough climb for Daniel with his injured ankle and badly bruised hands suffered from warding off Jack's attacks back on the planet. He cowered in the shadows, weaponless, waiting for what was left of his friend. He knew he should have found a zat gun before pursuing Daniel but didn't have the time to spare. He only had one chance at this. From the VIP suite level, Daniel would climb four levels up, step to another cage ladder to ascend four more levels. He never had to leave the shaft and exit into the hallway to get to the next ladder. They were all concealed in the walls of the SGC. Sure, he could access the hallway if he wanted, but Jack knew he wouldn't. He'd just step off the ladder onto the adjacent platform where a subsequent ladder would be waiting.

Only on Level 6 would the man actually have to exit the enclosed shaft system. That crawl space dead ended at the base of the massive air filtering system supplying the mountain with purified, recycled breathing air. That's where Jack would make his move. Daniel had to traverse the open corridor for about twenty-five feet to access the next shaft to the surface. Jack decided not to chase Daniel through the ladder system if possible, fearing significant injuries and possibly accidental detonation of the bomb should Daniel fall.

Jack waited for a long time between the two access points, quietly listening for any sign of Daniel approaching this level. He still experienced the pain induced by disobeying Nephthys' will but he struggled silently against the evil voice, realizing that his thoughts were becoming his own. He'd had a lot of practice on the planet in subduing the treacherous thoughts planted in his mind, learning to recognize what was real and what wasn't. He'd suffered the pain associated with refusing to comply with those thoughts on the planet to protect his friend. He would do it again now for those same reasons; his friend deserved no less.

Jack heard a slight clanking sound near the crawlway, knowing it was Daniel approaching this level. He slipped further into the shadows and watched anxiously as the access door slowly creaked open and Daniel stepped out. Looking at Daniel's face, those windows to his soul, Jack was frightened by what he saw...evil. Dull, lifeless eyes harboring the evil mind of a Goa'uld, determined to complete his assignment.

He waited until Daniel was equal distance between the two crawl space access points before stepping out into view.

"Daniel. What'cha doing?" Jack approached him with his palms facing upward, trying to appear very nonthreatening. Jack's mind had already calculated the possible impending scenarios; 1. Daniel would surrender quietly, not very likely, 2. Daniel would run to the next shaft and Jack would have to tackle him or continue the chase in the crawlway, not very desirable, 3. Daniel would detonate the device here, failing his assignment but destroying the SGC, or 4. Daniel would choose to fight Jack, and unfortunately Daniel had all the weapons. Jack really was hoping for the first scenario.

"Jack. Get out of my way," Daniel responded with barely controlled anger.

"Can't do that, Daniel. I need to take you to the infirmary. You're sick," Jack winced in pain but maintained an outwardly calm appearance. He took a small non-threatening step towards Daniel.

"You're not going to stop me, Jack," Daniel's sounded determined. "Move out of my way."

"Nope. I don't want to hurt you, Daniel. You need help," Jack carefully monitored Daniel's right hand moving every so slightly towards his belt, towards the guns.

Daniel chuckled slyly, "No, I don't think so."

Suddenly, Daniel removed his zat gun from its position on his belt. Jack countered the attempt using his foot to kick the weapon from Daniel's hand. Daniel winced at the impact while the zat went flying down the hallway out of their immediately reach. Without losing a beat, Daniel brought the pistol to aim directly at Jack's face. Taking the chance that the real Daniel was still there somewhere, Jack lunged at the younger man's lower legs, throwing him off balance to come crashing down on top of Jack. The pistol dislodged from his hands enough to fall to the floor a scant few feet away. Both men scrambled to retrieve the weapon. Jack was able to hold Daniel back but the younger man's long fingers still reached towards the gun, barely touching the shaft. Jack knew that if Daniel got to the gun, the Goa'uld would win. Daniel would kill his best friend in cold blood shortly before the end of his own life. Jack, unable to reach the weapon with his hands, did the next best thing. He gave the weapon a swift kick, hard enough to send it sliding down the corridor away from the zat gun.

With an angry roar, Daniel jumped to his feet, intending to snag the weapon first. Jack unleashed his fury, fury at the Goa'uld for turning his friend into this monster, and harnessed it's power to prevent Daniel from achieving his goal. He slammed Daniel against the wall trying to catch the arms that were flailing at him. Daniel was stronger than he looked, Jack thought as the other man rallied enough to raise his knee quickly between Jack's legs, sending him into horrific pain. Somewhat distractedly he realized that Daniel had learned to defend himself well in an attack. Good. Well, not so good for Jack.

Daniel broke away, charging at a dead run for the next access door. So, Jack mused, scenarios #2 and #4. Jack groaned but wasted no time in regaining his feet and chasing after Daniel into the next crawl space. No one noticed the small silver object that rolled quietly across the floor to rest by a concrete column.

Jack entered the dark passageway. Looking upward, he saw Daniel climbing the ladder as quickly as he could, his swollen ankle causing his foot to slip from the rungs. Yet, the man was still climbing, the adrenaline rushing through his body was enough to drive him upward. Jack realized that Daniel was already outside his grasp and gaining distance.

"Hey, Daniel, wait up!" Jack received no answer, nor did he expect one.

Daniel looked upward trying to judge how much further he needed to climb. He'd already traveled about twenty feet upward through this shaft with only another forty or so to go. The access door at the surface was within the SGC's perimeter, but he knew it would still be monitored by video camera. Once he opened the door, it wouldn't matter anyway. He'd detonate the Goa'uld's weapon of mass destruction and his goal would be accomplished. He could see light filtering in at the top of the shaft, seeping in through the manhole cover, and realized that daybreak was upon them. He would still reach it in time to please his lord Nephthys.

Then, it happened. Daniel's battered ankle gave way with enough force to throw his body off balance. His hand slipped from the rungs.

Jack, hearing the clanging sound above him looked up in time to see his team's archeologist hurtling downward towards him. Shit. He reached upward with one hand, hoping to slow Daniel's descent. He caught the fabric of Daniel's clothing around his waist and pulled him close, enabling him to share half the ladder, using the rungs that Jack currently occupied. Jack received a kick in the head for his trouble as Daniel descended, but it was worth it. Couldn't let Danny die or inadvertently activate the bomb.

Jack never expected what happened next as Daniel produced the small knife that Jack had given him. With a wild, desperate expression on his face, Daniel thrust the knife into Jack's side.

"God, Daniel, why?" Jack gasped as he lost his grip on the ladder. Determined that Daniel would fail his assignment at any cost, Jack made his final command decision. If he couldn't stop Daniel, then they'd both go down together.

As Jack fell from the ladder, he gripped Daniel's injured ankle as tightly as possible, sending Daniel into a blinding pain and dislodging him from the ladder as well.

Both men plummeted down the darkened shaft, landing together, body parts entangled in a heap at its base.

Chapter 10 - Pretty Flowers

Something heavy was pressing down on his chest. He couldn't quite make out the sensation but he knew that it hurt a hell of a lot. Struggling, yet failing to open his eyes, Jack began to rely on his remaining four senses to decipher his situation.

Sense of touch...yeah, unfortunately that one was working overtime. He felt a heavy weight on top of him, a hard, cold surface beneath him, and a burning pain in his side. Oh, and his head was throbbing.

Sense of smell...well, not much to go on there. He could smell a musty odor, perhaps sweat, mingled with a more metallic scent. Yep, he recognized that one...it was blood, although whose blood was uncertain.

Sense of taste...oh, there was the blood. Must be his after all.

Sense of sound...steady breathing, that was a good thing, right? And not just his own breathing, but someone else's. Why did it sound so close? Oh, back to the heavy thing on top of him. Must be a body, but whose? His mind was still foggy about recent events.

Sense of sight...okay, he tried the eyes again, successfully this time. Oh, crap. Now he remembered. Daniel.

"Daniel," Jack tried to urge the other man to consciousness. He didn't know how much longer he could take the added weight on his body. Receiving no answer, Jack reached a hand out to shake Daniel.

A small moan issued from him as he slowly opened his eyes, "Jack? What...what happened?"

"I'd love to tell you but you've got to give me some air here." At the still puzzled look on Daniel's face, Jack added, "Get off me, Daniel!"

"Oh. Okay." The younger man shifted his weight to sit beside Jack, a difficult feat considering the very small enclosed space.

"Oh, God! I don't think I can move, Daniel. Are you okay?" Jack was still cautious about his team mate, fearing the man would return to his demented state at any moment, but there wasn't a whole hell of a lot he could do about it in his current condition.

"I think so. I tried to grab the rungs as I fell, must've slowed us down. Landed on something soft," Daniel attempted to lighten the situation. He was having difficulty seeing in the low lighting so he began feeling around to assess Jack's injuries. Running his hands across a sticky puddle next to Jack, Daniel's thoughts suddenly filled with images of recent events. He had been trying to escape, running away from Jack. He slipped and regained his footing near Jack. He remembered driving the knife into Jack's side...

"Oh, God, Jack! I stabbed you!" Daniel continued feeling around the floor as if frantically searching for something.

"Yeah, Daniel, you did. But it wasn't your fault. Open the access door and get help, okay?" Jack had noticed Daniel's movements and his fear returned. He knew what Daniel was searching for and he couldn't let him find it. With limited movements, Jack joined in the hunt, hoping to retrieve it before Daniel did.

As Daniel's hand finally contacted the knife, the demon regained control, and he raised the knife above Jack's chest, intending to complete what he'd started.

"Daniel, don't. You don't want to kill me, Daniel. Put the knife down." Jack calmly addressed his friend, not the demon that now presented itself. If he couldn't reach his friend, he wouldn't have to worry about how the world ended anyway. He wouldn't be around to witness it. Weak from blood loss, Jack struggled to move, positioning himself so he could look directly into Daniel's eyes. Those wild orbs terrified Jack in their intensity. As the knife came down, Jack closed his eyes. He couldn't bear to see the demon's eyes as he delivered the fatal blow.

Jack waited for the inevitable pain...and waited...and waited. With eyes still closed, he felt something wet splash on his cheek. Slowly, he opened one eye. What he saw in that face above him terrified him even more than the demon's face. He saw an intense struggle in his friend's expression, tears streaming down his cheeks. A mixture of emotions crossed Daniel's face as he waged an internal war against the evil, finally turning the knife towards himself. Upon failing his mission, that bitch Nephthys programmed Daniel to take his own life. Mustering every ounce of strength he had, Jack lunged for the knife, crying out his own pain as he grabbed Daniel's wrist and pressed against the tendon, forcing his hand to open and allow the knife to fall to the floor.

Even as Jack heard the sobs begin, he retrieved the knife, placing it under his body in case Daniel lost the fight.

Daniel sat, poised over Jack, staring at the blood on his hands...Jack's blood. "Oh, Jack. I tried to kill you! What..." Daniel stopped abruptly, moaning, as the pain from failing his lord assuaged his mind and body.

"Daniel, listen to me! You have to fight this. It's Nephthys! Don't let her win, Daniel!"

"It hurts, Jack. She wants me to kill you but I can't... I won't!" Jack slid up against the wall to wrap his arm around Daniel. He also took the opportunity of closeness to try to discretely find the bomb in Daniel's pockets. Nothing. Damnit!

The adrenaline rush gone for the moment, Jack began to feel the pain from the stabbing in his side. He feared he might lose consciousness but he knew he couldn't...not yet.

"You can do this, Daniel. " He held his best friend while the torrent of tears fell on his shoulder. Some of them were Daniel's.

The two men stayed this way until the emotional tide subsided to the point where conversation was possible again.

"I'm so sorry, Jack." Daniel kept his eyes downcast, his body trembling.

"For what?" Jack needed to see those blue eyes, needed to know that his friend was truly back. Cupping a hand beneath Daniel's chin, he gently tilted his face upward. The eyes showed great pain, not just emotional but physical as well. Daniel was obviously struggling against Nephthys' control, and the demon didn't like that.

"Well, for everything, you know, stabbing you and all."

"Nothing to apologize for Daniel. Not your fault. How're you doing?"

"It hurts. I still feel these desires that aren't mine. I don't know if I can continue to fight them." Daniel grimaced against his pain.

"Yes you can. Now...and I've got to trust you here... open the door and sound the nearest alarm. I think we need some help." Jack could see the darkness overtaking his vision. He wouldn't remain conscious much longer.

"Okay, Jack." As Daniel stood to leave, he paused, "Jack, I don't have it anymore."

"Don't have what?" Jack feared he knew the answer.

"The bomb. I don't know where it is. It's not on the floor around us."

"Damn." So Daniel had still been looking for the device, Jack thought. And what if he'd found it? Would he still attempt to complete Nephthys' assignment?

"Yeah. I think that's a good thing, Jack. I'm not really sure how I'll react if I find it."

"I know. Go. Get us some help."

Daniel nodded and left the crawl space and Jack behind. As he entered the corridor, he noticed the cleaning personnel sweeping. It must be morning. He slapped the red button that would bring security guards and help their way. Then he returned to Jack, needing the man as his anchor to himself...his real self.

When Daniel returned to Jack, he left the door open so light could filter into the space. What he saw horrified him. Blood pooled beneath Jack and smeared the wall where Jack had last positioned himself. It was bad. He was glad that Jack had finally lost consciousness.

Daniel looked at his own arms. Was that his blood there or Jack's? He finally realized that his arms really hurt after the fall, deeply scratched in his attempt to slow their descent. So, his blood as well.

He could vaguely hear the horns in the background of his thoughts. His urge to self-destruct was exceedingly great and he briefly entertained the idea of escape. Without the bomb, he couldn't complete his evil assignment, but he could end his suffering. He could comply with his lord Nephthys' final desire. He could kill himself.

As Daniel decided to leave while he could, he heard Jack's soft moans and raspy breaths. Again, Daniel struggled against his feelings for his best friend and his desires to flee. As his own pain induced by Nephthys became excruciating, his body finally made the decision for him and he joined Jack in the darkness of unconsciousness. He never heard the security team and, later, the medical team that escorted them to the relative safety of the infirmary.

Waking up alone in the infirmary, Jack rapidly tried to fill the void in his mind since the time he passed out. Looking to his side, he saw an IV bag filled with a red liquid. Must be blood. He also noticed another bag with clear liquid hanging nearby. Probably Janet's concoction of antibiotics and who knows what else. He quickly scanned the room for any signs of his teammate, but found the emptiness of the room disconcerting.

Trying to sit up, Jack frantically pushed the "call" button at his bedside, summoning both a nurse and Dr. Fraiser.

"Calm down, Colonel. You're fine and recovering in the infirmary," Dr. Fraiser spoke as she began the routine patient checks.

"How long?" Jack found it difficult to speak, his mouth felt like gritty from lack of water.

"How long what? How long have you been here?" Janet motioned to the nurse to bring Jack some ice chips. At Jack's nod, Janet continued, "One hour in surgery to repair the damage, another hour in recovery. And you've been back in the infirmary now for," Janet pushed the sleeve on her left arm up so she could look at her watch, "about three hours. I'll release you as soon as this blood bag is empty and you've had a meal. You were quite lucky. An inch lower and the knife would've penetrated your liver. An inch higher and you'd be breathing through a tube to compensate for a punctured lung. As it was, there was no organ damage, and, other than being light headed from blood loss, you should be back to your old congenial self pretty quickly, " Janet grinned at the joke. "What happened anyway?"

"Doesn't matter. Where's Daniel?" Jack couldn't suppress his consuming anxiety at Daniel's absence.

"Don't worry, he's fine. We bandaged his arms and released him about an hour after we found you." Janet turned to leave the room.

"No. Not okay. Janet, he's possessed." Jack began to panic, fearing for his friend's life in the aftermath of this whole, vile ordeal. He pushed the sheets off his body, not caring that he was rather exposed in the thin hospital gown that never seemed to have enough material to cover his backside.

"Wait a minute, Colonel. Slow down. What are you saying?" Janet placed her hand on Jack's shoulder, attempting to forestall his movement.

"Janet, he's under Goa'uld mind control. Tried to destroy earth. I stopped him this time but he is far from okay." Jack sat up, grimacing in pain while motioning to the nurse to help him.

"Colonel, you're delirious from the anesthetic. Please lay back down and relax. Daniel checked out fine after your return, remember? He never was under Goa'uld control." Janet shook her head at the guard who stepped into the room at the commotion, waving him back.

"No, you're wrong. It's a different kind of control. I thwarted his mission, luckily, but I'm afraid he'll attempt to...to... Oh, screw it! I need to speak with General Hammond, NOW! And find out where Daniel is!" Jack easily stepped into commander mode, giving orders that he expected to be followed.

"Okay, sir. I'll get General Hammond to come to the infirmary." Dr. Fraiser knew she was fighting a losing battle once Colonel O'Neill began delivering commands. She wondered how Daniel could stand up to the colonel when no one else could. Perhaps Colonel O'Neill allowed the insubordination from Daniel because of some underlying insecurity. Or, perhaps he allowed it because Daniel was usually right.

"And find out if Daniel is still on base!" Jack managed to stand beside his bed as the blood bag finally emptied itself. The nurse rapidly removed the IV line from his arm before he pulled it out himself.

"He's not, sir. I sent him home to rest." Janet moved to the nearest phone to summon General Hammond.

"Shit! Get Carter and Teal'c here ASAP." Jack turned to motion to the nurse, grasping the gown behind his back, "And get me some damn clothes!"

Jack was pacing by his infirmary bed. He felt better in his own clothes. The nurses had reapplied the pressure bandage to his side, helping alleviate the pull of his stitches. He knew, also, that he was under some Goa'uld control, minimal now thank God, but he had to continually keep his thoughts focused to prevent his dark side from resurfacing. He had explained the situation to General Hammond, Major Carter, Teal'c, and Dr. Fraiser already and was tiring of answering their questions.

"So, let me get this straight," General Hammond summarized. "Nephthys brainwashed Dr. Jackson rather than administering drugs to control him so that we wouldn't find the evidence in his system? Then, Dr. Jackson brought a weapon through the 'gate and we don't know where it is?"

"Yes, sir. And now that Daniel has failed his assignment, he will try to...he was programmed to kill himself after his mission, Sir." Jack found himself stumbling over the words; the thought of Daniel laying dead somewhere was almost his undoing.

"And are you affected as well, Colonel?" General Hammond questioned.

"I don't know...I think so. But I fought it back on that damn planet to keep from killing Daniel. I think that helped me to control the urges now." Jack's expression masked his true feelings. He still felt the push in his mind and the pain from refusing to follow the Goa'uld's wishes, but he knew he could control it. "Look, we're wasting time here. Time that Daniel doesn't have!"

"Now calm down, Jack. Teams are scouring the base to locate the bomb. I've got security looking for Dr. Jackson as we speak. We've checked the logs and he actually never left the base." General Hammond rarely used Jack's first name and almost never on base.

"That's good, sir, but I need to be the one who finds him. Otherwise, he may not hesitate to pull the trigger."

"Are you saying he'd be willing to kill to escape?"

"Yes, sir, if by escape you mean to the after life. Daniel will kill himself. He's already tried once with the knife, after he..." Jack waved his hands over his own knife wound, not wanting to say the words.

"How do I know you aren't still compromised, Colonel? I can't allow you to leave this room," the general wouldn't jeopardize his base for one individual, even if that individual was Dr. Jackson.

"Teal'c can come with me, keep an eye on me while I talk to Daniel," if there was still anyone left to talk to, Jack mused dryly.

"Sir, I'd like to contact my dad and Safdar. They indicated that the substance that Daniel used on Yu, uh, the System Lord Yu, might counteract the mind control." Sam's mind was racing with the possibility that the cure for Colonel O'Neill and Daniel may already be in their possession.

"That's right, Sam. I still have a small amount locked up in the lab. We're not sure what the side effects on humans might be, though." Janet stood patiently, waiting to be dismissed so she could run a few more experiments on the chemical compound.

"Like hell we're not!" Jack was beginning to lose his patience. "I've already been exposed to that stuff and so have you. It didn't seem to cause any problems." Jack turned to face Major Carter, speaking directly to her now. "Carter, why would they think that stuff could help anyway?"

"Lord Yu was the only System Lord to vote against Anubis returning to the position of System Lord. Dad believes that other System Lords were under Nephthys' control at the summit meeting. Only Lord Yu was exposed to the Re'ol chemical," Sam recalled.

"That's good enough for me!" Jack turned to address General Hammond. "Sir, request permission to search for Daniel."

"Permission granted as long as you take Teal'c with you." Jack turned to leave as General Hammond made his final comments, "Take a zat gun and a tranquilizer with you."

"Yes, sir!" Jack said curtly as he exited the infirmary heading towards the pharmacy to obtain the tranquilizer shot with Teal'c and Dr. Fraiser following closely.

Sam saluted the General as she left to contact the Tok'ra.

It wouldn't take long to find Daniel if you knew where to look and Jack knew exactly where to look for the archeologist. He knew that Daniel often sought the solace offered by the store room on Level 10; the room where the off-world artifacts were kept until they were catalogued and forwarded either to Daniel's archeological team of civilians on base or to Area 52. Jack knew that Daniel always lost a little part of himself whenever the artifacts were shipped to the NID.

Daniel often spent time in this storeroom committing each find to memory, tucking their secrets away to be recalled if necessary at the most critical opportunities. Jack had always admired Daniel's propensity for knowledge and his near perfect memory, although he'd never tell him so.

As he and Teal'c rounded the corner to the storeroom, Jack motioned Teal'c to wait outside the door. Proceeding cautiously, Jack opened the door to darkness. Pausing until his eyes adjusted to a small light source within the room, Jack looked around with trepidation, praying that he wasn't too late to save his friend.

Traversing the storage area, Jack wondered why it was so quiet. Perhaps he'd been wrong about where Daniel would retreat. Then he spotted the man, curled in on his self, shuddering in obvious distress.

Dropping immediately to his knees beside Daniel, Jack softly spoke, "Daniel, it's me." He wasn't sure if Daniel even knew he was there. His eyes looked so vacant and lost. He listened to the soft murmurs coming from his friend.

"Failed my lord. I'm sorry, worthless. Have to die. I know, I have to die." The murmurs continued but Jack didn't know what to say. He was thankful that Daniel hadn't done anything stupid yet although he wasn't sure why he hadn't. Maybe he was fighting Nephthys.

Just then, Daniel cried out in obvious pain. As Jack watched in horror, he saw his friend extract the needle from his thigh. Even as he gathered Daniel to him, he grabbed the empty syringe and called for Teal'c.

"Teal'c, take this to Fraiser. I'm not sure what it is but Daniel just pushed a whole hell of a lot of it into his leg!" Jack's voice was controlled but he was visibly trembling.

"I will summon help to this location." Teal'c took the syringe from Jack and bowed slightly.

"Damnit, Daniel! What did you do?" Jack shook Daniel lightly, trying to get his eyes to focus.

"Had to do it, Jack. Too much pain, too many desires. Still want to kill you." Daniel seemed far away, his voice weak and emotionless.

"That's not you, Danny! You wouldn't..." Jack needed to get Daniel to separate his essence from the demon Nephthys. He desperately wanted to bring Daniel back.

"I know but the drive is strong. Don't know if I could hold out much longer. Had to hold on until you got here. Knew you would save me." Daniel sounded very calm and relaxed, as though he had accepted his fate. That thought terrified Jack.

"God, Daniel. What did you give yourself?" Jack pulled his teammate close to hear Daniel's answer but there was no response as Daniel slipped into unconsciousness.

Nephthys, egotistical to a fault, contacted the remaining Limvris members to inform them of the impending destruction of the Tau'ri at her hands, resulting in the humiliation of Anubis. She advised them to make preparations to move against the System Lords, using their recent display of power as the guise for their true purpose.

She had successfully brainwashed her lover, Osiris, into believing that the System Lords were responsible for his exile in the canopic jar on Earth so many years ago, when in actuality it had been Nephthys along with her husband, Seth, who had banished Osiris and Isis to that everlasting fate. But now, she needed Osiris to do her bidding with the System Lords on her behalf since they would never debase themselves by dealing with the Limvris.

Osiris ignorantly played her game, never realizing the true danger in which he would find himself. Although the summit had disbanded, Osiris contacted two of the System Lords privately to request a meeting. Under Nephthys' direction, he informed Ba'al and Bastet about how the traitorous Anubis had spared the Tau'ri, thereby bringing the System Lords in direct opposition with Anubis. Osiris would also claim the destruction of the Tau'ri world as his own doing, following through with the task that Anubis was too weak to accomplish. The trap was set, and to the victor, Nephthys, the spoils.

Nephthys never anticipated the Ha'tak that silently proceeded towards Heliopolis.

Jack was performing CPR on Daniel for the second time in less than a week as the medical team arrived.

"Colonel O'Neill, let us take over," Dr. Fraiser gently pushed Jack aside as she gave orders to the technicians to administer drugs and start an IV line on Daniel.

Jack reluctantly complied with the request. "Doc, he stopped breathing almost as soon as he injected that stuff."

"I can imagine," Janet responded but her attention was focused on her patient. "I need to tube him! Get him on the gurney, stat!"

After some scrambling, the medical team had Daniel on the gurney as Dr. Fraiser began to intubate him.

"I need some Cricoid pressure," Dr. Fraiser said as the technician moved to the patient's neck, putting pressure in the right location to aid the doctor in inserting the tube.

"Got it! Now, bag him." Dr. Fraiser barked the orders as her staff complied. "Okay, that's good. Sats look better. Let's get him to the infirmary."

The team pushed the gurney down the corridor, but Janet stayed back to talk with Jack.

"He'll be all right, colonel. One of the nurses noticed a vial of morphine had disappeared. She didn't report it at first, thinking she had just misplaced it. When Teal'c showed up with the empty syringe, the nurse put two and two together. We ran a quick test to confirm that the syringe had contained morphine. I gave Daniel Narcan, which is an antidote for the morphine. It should work pretty quickly but he'll still be spending several days in my care."

"He passed out almost immediately after injecting it. He wasn't breathing."

Janet nodded her head, "That amount of morphine can cause immediate respiratory arrest and death if not treated quickly. I had to intubate him to force air into his lungs until the antidote can get into his system. He's a very lucky man that you were there. If he'd been alone..."

Jack lowered his eyes to the ground as they continued walking to the infirmary. "He said he knew I would save him. That he had waited until I was there. I didn't quite understand him at the time but I think I do now."

"He didn't want to die," Janet finished the thought. "Daniel's still in there somewhere. He'll make it."

"I hope so, Janet. I really hope so." Jack breathed a cautious sigh of relief for the first time in several days.

SG-1 minus Daniel gathered outside the base ICU waiting for word regarding their friend. A young airman approached quietly to inform them that General Hammond wanted to see them in the briefing room immediately. With an exasperated sigh, the weary team followed the airman down the corridor.

Upon entering the briefing room, Sam was relieved and somewhat anxious to see that her dad and Safdar had returned with news of the Re'ol chemical compound. She hoped the news was positive.

"We think it works on the brain receptors that control short term memory. Frequent exposure to the chemical is necessary to maintain the illusion of being someone else, much as the Re'ol used the chemical on SG-1 and Daniel used it on Yu and Osiris. The illusion is broken over time after the contact is lost. These same receptors may be used by Nephthys to control her victims. The chemical simply erases the memory of Nephthys' thoughts to counteract her control." Jacob Carter concluded his monologue with a flourish.

"But, you're not sure, are you." Sam could read her dad better than anyone else.

"No. But we don't think it can hurt." Safdar provided the response.

"You don't think it can hurt?" Dr. Fraiser was cautiously optimistic but never trusted the Tok'ra completely. Turning to address General Hammond, she added, "Sir, it hasn't been tested. I'm not sure what potential side effects it could have on humans."

"Use it on me," Colonel O'Neill offered. "I've been exposed before with no ill effects. I still fight Nephthys' thoughts constantly and I would know instantly if the substance worked. I'd really like to get that bitch out of my head!" Jack turned towards General Hammond and added sheepishly, "Sir."

Dr. Fraiser and Colonel O'Neill looked pleadingly towards General Hammond. After an extended silence, the General finally responded, "Okay, under one condition." The general looked from O'Neill to Fraiser and back again. "I want Colonel O'Neill to remain in the infirmary for at least 24 hours after administration of the drug to ensure that there are no harmful side effects."

"Ah, but sir!" Jack prepared to launch a protest.

General Hammond raised one long finger to Jack. "No discussion. Dismissed." The General left the room, followed by the Tok'ra.

A small smile tugged at the corners of Sam's mouth as she noticed Jack's open mouth and puzzled expression.

"Did he just slap me?"

"Yes, sir, I think so." Janet and Sam left the room giggling.

Jack followed slowly, shaking his head, "I guess Dad just grounded me. No television, no leaving the house. Wonder if I can sneak out the upstairs window after dark..."

Sam looked back as Jack followed them, "I think Mom's going to lock the doors and windows from the outside."

"Damn right!" Janet laughed as the trio and Teal'c continued down the corridor to the infirmary.

"Doh!" Jack exclaimed in his best Homer Simpson impersonation.

Jack O'Neill found himself in the infirmary once again, but thankfully, this time with his entire team present plus Dr. Fraiser. Jack had been ordered to stay there by General Hammond but it didn't mean he had to enjoy it. Actually, it didn't mean that anyone had to enjoy it, and Jack portrayed his normal obnoxious patient persona amplified twenty times. Dr. Fraiser was beginning to think it wasn't such a good idea to have agreed with the general on Jack's incarceration.

"Colonel O'Neill, if you don't stop harassing my nurses, I'll have to put you in isolation!" Janet used her best "no nonsense" tone of voice.

"Aw, Mom, can't I have any fun?" Jack felt the air turn icy from the cold glare he received from Dr. Fraiser.

As General Hammond strolled into the room, Dr. Fraiser answered his unasked question, "The Re'ol substance worked perfectly, General. Colonel O'Neill is back to his normal, albeit it testy, self, with no side effects from the chemical." Jack displayed his best 'Who me?' expression.

"Good," General Hammond glared at Jack as if to chastise him through his glare alone. "And Dr. Jackson?"

"We gave him the chemical about an hour ago, just after I removed his breathing tube. He's still a bit groggy from the morphine but I think he'll make a full recovery. He was lucky, sir." Dr. Fraiser delivered her report matter-of-factly.

Looking at the archeologist in the adjacent bed, Jack commented, "And you wouldn't believe the mouth on that man! Geez, and she calls me 'testy'!" Jack completed the sentence with a shrug.

"You are, Jack!" the man in the next bed stated. "And if you hadn't been giving a 'play by play' of the nurse removing that catheter, I wouldn't have had to say those words! I mean, really Jack, 'and it's outta there'?"

"Well, I can't watch 'real' sports in here. The least you can do is humor my need for entertainment!" Jack pouted.

"Do I look like a television to you? And the next time you yell 'score!' it better not be because I'm using a bedpan!" Daniel shook his head and rolled his eyes at his roommate.

"Hey, I'm just happy you hit it! You know, I've seen your bathroom floor!" Jack made a disgusted face at that thought.

"Oh, for crying out loud, Jack! You are so vulgar sometimes." Daniel punctuated the sentence with his hand movements.

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Guess we'd better get 'outta here'!" Sam chuckled as she completed the quotations in the air.

"Yeah, while the 'score' is still tied!" Janet added. The room suddenly emptied except for the two friends in the infirmary beds.

The room silenced as both men looked at each other, neither wishing to break the reverie. Finally, a quiet voice spoke out, just loud enough for the person in the next bed to hear.

"Glad you're back, Daniel. Missed you."

"Missed you, too, Jack. Oh, and Jack?"

"Hmmm?"

"Thanks for getting there in time."

"Yeahsureyoubetcha." This time the infamous O'Neill-ism was delivered in a very caring tone. "Snook 'ems," Jack completed the sentence with a wink.

His best friend simply shook his head and turned to admire the pretty flowers next to his bedside.

Miles away from Stargate Command a small silver sphere lay, tagged and catalogued, at the bottom of a file cabinet located down a long, dark corridor, amidst several hundred identical file cabinets.

~The End~
or is it just
~The Beginning~
?