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Part Three
Jack stared down at his sleeping friend, whose face was pale in the soft glow of the room. The small alien had remained with Daniel and Teal'c throughout the night, floating in the upper corner of the room every time Jack had come in to check on Daniel. Daniel's breathing was a little fast and laboured, but nowhere close to the distress he'd experienced the previous day. Jack assumed this time it was due to the poison coursing through his body.
The sounds of hoof beats and the creak of a wagon informed him that their ride was here.
“Daniel,” Jack said as he shook the sleeping man awake, feeling the heat of fever seeping through the blanket which covered him. Dull, watery eyes blinked at him, the momentary lack of recognition worrying Jack until a tiny smile twitched at the corner of Daniel's mouth. Jack sat down on the side of the bed, feeling so tired that he wished he could simply stretch out beside his friend.
“Jack?”
“Yeah, it's me. Sorry, we gotta get you up.” Jack shoved his hand beneath Daniel's back and lifted until Daniel was sitting, leaning heavily against him. Holding him tightly against his chest, he reached over and pulled Daniel's legs until his feet were on the floor. He knew this weakness was due to the poison but he hated seeing Daniel so helpless.
“Where we going?” Daniel asked, lifting his head to look at Jack.
“Outside. There's a wagon with a bed with your name on it. The aliens checked out the Stargate and confirmed that by the time the sun rises, the DHD will be fully charged. We're going home, Danny. And I hate to say this, but Fraiser's gonna be pissed.”
Daniel leaned his head back down onto Jack's shoulder. “Better let me escape now, before she starts sticking needles into my butt.”
Jack chuckled. “Ah, but it's me she's gonna be pissed at. I'm the one who was supposed to be watching your six.”
“But I'm still the one who's gonna get the needles,” Daniel groaned.
Jack tightened his grip and stood up, ignoring Daniel's whispered ‘sorry' when his legs buckled as Jack stood him on his feet. One of Kareeb's men had been standing by the door, waiting for this moment. He quickly moved and placed Daniel's free arm around his shoulder, helping to support the injured man. Together, they got him up the steps, down the alley and to the wagon, the little alien following behind.
Jack could see Teal'c and Carter helping with the other injured, getting them settled into the two wagons. There were three conveyances in total, but the third, smaller cart was carrying the two dead men home.
As he manhandled Daniel onto the thick mattress in the back of their wagon, Jack glanced over and saw that Captain Howard had been strapped to a make-shift backboard in the wagon next to him. The man had suffered a severe head injury and a possible neck and back injury. Major Thompson had a broken leg and ribs, with possible internal injuries, and the others, although badly battered and bruised, were at least ambulatory. Carter was going to ride with them, while Jack and Teal'c would ride with Daniel and one of the scientists.
Jack settled himself beside the makeshift bed as Teal'c and the astronomer shifted slightly to make room for him. The scientist looked battered, his face was bruised and his arm was in a sling. But he was sitting up, and in obvious better shape than half of SG-4.
The wagon lurched as the horses pulled away, and Jack saw Daniel's eyes open in bewilderment, glancing around the wagon.
“It's okay,” Jack soothed, placing his hand on his friend's shoulder. “We're going home, remember?”
“Yeah,” Daniel sighed, then winced as the wagon hit a pothole.
Jack leaned over the top of the conveyance and looked at the road. The aliens were flitting around in the sky, and the night was lit almost as clear as day. He could see the rocks and potholes littering the dirt track they were following and realized they were in for a rough ride.
“Here, this might be more comfortable,” Jack said as he slid his legs beneath Daniel's shoulders and manoeuvred his friend until he was lying against Jack's chest. He pulled the blankets up and wrapped an arm around Daniel's upper body, holding him steady. Daniel was still burning with fever, but he seemed a little more awake at the moment.
“Thanks,” Daniel said as the right wheel dropped hard, jarring Jack's back against the wooden boards.
“Hey, take it easy,” Jack called out to the driver. “We got injured people in here.”
Immediately the wagon slowed, and the ride became a little smoother.
“He stayed with me all night.” Jack looked at Daniel and saw his friend was staring at the lone little alien who was keeping pace with their wagon a few feet away. Jack had begun to recognize the colors and patterns of several of the aliens, they all had a ‘signature' and ‘tone' that appeared to be inherent to each. Jack was pretty sure Daniel was right and the one accompanying them was the one who'd been babysitting Daniel most of the night.
“Yeah, I think you're right. I saw him come out a few times and ‘talk' to the head Riamah.”
“Riamah? Is that what…”
“Yeah, that's what the shadow chasers call themselves. We couldn't get individual names out of them, but they do understand the concept. It looked like they were all worried about you.”
“Oh.” Daniel was still looking at the alien. “He helped with the pain. When Teal'c disinfected the wound, he took the pain away for a little while.”
“Sweet. I bet Fraiser might like a couple of them on her staff.” Jack shifted slightly, trying to find a comfortable position against the wooden back of the wagon. “They feel responsible for your injury. As does Kareeb. Did you know the poison that was on the knife was the weapon Kareeb's ancestors used to defeat the Goa'uld centuries ago?”
He felt Daniel try to turn to look at him, but his friend's muscles simply refused to obey him. Daniel swore under his breath, his breathing increasing with his attempted efforts.
“Hey, don't try to move. It's okay, I know you're feeling weird, but it'll wear off. The poison does something to the connection between your brain and your muscles. Carter spouted all the medical stuff at me, but I understood enough to realize that it severs the link between snake and host. It also suppresses the immune system, so both Jaffa and Goa'uld would quickly die either from their injuries or the poison.”
“Die?” Jack heard the worry in Daniel's voice.
“Yeah, but that would be at full strength. Kareeb assured us that there wasn't enough poison on the knife to do much damage to you except make you sick for a while.” He rubbed his hand along Daniel's shoulder in a soothing manner. “Anyway, the recipe for the poison was provided by the Riamah. And you know the thing about the Stargate not holding a charge? That was the aliens' doing also. The Goa'uld would ‘gate to the planet, the people here would attack them with poisonous darts and arrows, and the bad guys would be dead within twenty four hours, with no chance of being healed or reanimated by a sarcophagus.”
“Sounds like we could use a sample of the stuff ourselves.”
“Yeah, well, I asked. Very nicely.”
Jack felt Daniel harrumph and smiling, he gently tightened his grip around his friend in a one-handed hug.
“Well, I did. But they refused. Kareeb explained that the making of the poison is a secret held by the religious faction, and the local priest in charge wasn't willing to share.”
“My fault.”
“Well, I guess your stealing their crystal didn't enamour us to them, but we'll keep asking.”
Daniel remained quiet and Jack thought he'd fallen asleep, until he spoke again. “Aren't we going home?”
“Yes, but the Riamah are very curious about us and they want to learn more. They said they'll be here for another twelve days, before the planet moves out of range, so I'm gonna recommend to General Hammond that he send back a diplomatic team to talk with them during the time they're here.”
“And ask the aliens for the formula for the poison?”
“Well, yeah. If they can do so without insulting Kareeb's priests.”
“So Kareeb believes the Riamah.”
“Oh yeah. As soon as the Riamah began recounting a few ‘sacred stories', they had Kareeb and his people eating from the palms of their… tendrils.”
“What about ships?”
“What about ships.”
“The Goa'uld. Why didn't they attack with ships if the Stargate wasn't working?”
“Ah, right. There's some kind of energy given off by the aliens' home that just doesn't seem to sit right with engines. Seems every time a Goa'uld ship would even come close to this solar system, it would break down. They eventually just gave up.”
“So they'll be allies?”
“It sounds almost too good to be true, huh? But if they are willing to help us in our fight against the Goa'uld, it'll all be thanks to you, Danny. You got the people here talking with them, and now if our people can fit in a bit of quality time with that stone in the coming nights, we might have a new weapon or two.”
The night was darker now that they had moved away from the village. Only a few of the aliens were accompanying them back, their illumination enough to guide the horses on the darkened path to the Stargate. Jack saw Daniel close his eyes, and he knew their short conversation had tired his friend.
“Go to sleep,” he said softly. Daniel blinked up at Jack a moment, then he closed his eyes once more, his breathing evening out slightly as sleep overtook his battered body.
- - - - - -
“O'Neill.”
Jack grunted, hoping the voice would go away and let him sleep.
“O'Neill, you must wake now.”
Teal'c. Not a voice one usually associated with lazy mornings when one wanted to sleep in. Jack cracked an eye open and groaned at the stiffness of his neck and back. He tried to straighten up but a hot, heavy encumbering weight lying on top of him suddenly reminded him where he was.
“Daniel!” he exclaimed, waking up fully in an instant. Teal'c was looming over them, and he realized the wagon wasn't moving. There were only the three of them in it, and dawn was fast approaching. Jack spotted the large bulk of the Stargate off to the side, and knew they had reached their destination.
“We have arrived at the Stargate,” Teal'c informed him needlessly.
“Yeah, I can see that,” Jack groused. After checking on Daniel and seeing he hadn't gotten worse, he shifted in order to lay the slumbering man down onto the mattress and realized all his muscles had stiffened up considerably. “Hey, can you give me a hand here? My butt's asleep and I don't think my neck and shoulders are ever gonna be the same again.”
Teal'c gently lifted Daniel so that Jack could slide from underneath him. He moved to the edge of the wagon with difficulty and gratefully got down, stretching his back and legs. Teal'c hopped off lithely, Jack envying him his ease of movement. Teal'c joined the others in helping carry the injured SG team member to the ‘gate while Jack assessed their situation.
Several streaks of light flew across the brightening sky, while others floated placidly nearby. Jack noticed that their little companion was gone and he wondered when and why.
Jack judged the sun would be up in another fifteen minutes. He saw Carter examining the DHD and she nodded at him. They were ready, all they needed was for the sun to rise and they could dial home.
A bright green light came streaking towards them, stopping a few feet from Jack. He recognized the alien leader and he smiled, nodding at it. The light bobbed up and down a few times before floating over to the wagon. A smaller, familiar orange light followed behind a little more slowly and Jack supposed their little friend had gone back to town to inform its leader that they had arrived at their destination.
The leader went to Daniel and hovered over him, its color changing from green to blue to yellow, then back to green. Jack could even hear the change in pitch in the sounds it made as the colors shifted. He shook his head, thinking of these aliens' love of music, when they made such melodious sounds without realizing it.
The sun began creeping over the horizon, and the aliens began to fade as the sun caused them to become transparent. He saw the leader of the Riamah extend a semi-translucent tendril over Daniel's face, and his friend sighed in his sleep, a small smile curling on his lips. It rose up over the wagon, approaching Jack. As the day grew brighter, the alien grew harder to see. It extended a wisp of color over Jack's face and he felt a rush of emotions once more; comfort, safety, friendship and a sense of belonging. He realized the creature was telling him everything would be okay, and was inviting him to return. He widened his eyes in wonder, and smiled, his exhaustion forgotten for a couple of seconds.
“Yeah, I'll do my best to try and come back for a quick visit,” Jack said out loud, knowing it couldn't understand him without the translating crystal. It bobbed a few more times before disappearing completely in the sunlight. Jack wondered if they ever remained on the planet during the day, although the people here wouldn't be able to see them, unless they were in a darkened room.
“Sir,” Carter called out to him. “We're ready to dial Earth.”
“Go for it,” Jack yelled back. The Stargate began revolving as he climbed back into the wagon and pulled Daniel's mattress towards the tail of the conveyance. He heard the Stargate activate and was peripherally aware of SG-4 entering the wormhole, being helped to its edge by their wagons' drivers. The movement woke Daniel, and he stared at Jack dully.
By the time Jack and their driver had gotten Daniel into a seated position, most everyone had gone through the ‘gate and Teal'c was pushing the bodies of their dead personnel through it. Having finished his grisly duty, he came to help Jack and together they managed to half carry, half walk Daniel the few feet to their destination. Daniel sagged in their arms as they left the quiet, dew-strewn planet and stepped through the Stargate and into a medical bedlam.
At first glance all Jack could see were gurneys positioned haphazardly all over the Gateroom, and the white lab coats of the medical personnel as they hovered over the exhausted and injured returning men and women. As he and Teal'c lowered Daniel to the metallic ramp, Jack searched the sea of white uniforms, ignoring the two dead bodies which had been laid out at the bottom and to the right of the ramp. He looked for the petite powerhouse whom he knew Daniel was in desperate need of. He straightened while Teal'c remained kneeling with their now-unconscious friend. Jack met Doctor Fraiser's eyes across the room as she looked up at him from where she was working on Captain Howard, with Carter standing beside her.
He saw her eyes widen and her face go pale as she took in Daniel, lying at Jack's feet. He could have sworn she swayed a moment, then Carter touched her arm and spoke quietly to her, waving towards the three of them. Fraiser gave several quiet orders to her people and then rushed towards them. She knelt beside Daniel and examined him, then quickly had her people place him on a gurney while Jack and Teal'c gave her a list of Daniel's injuries. Jack watched as IVs were started and oxygen given before Daniel was rushed to the infirmary.
He watched as the gurney bearing his friend left the Gateroom. As the petite woman glanced around the room, eyeing the remaining personnel before following behind it, Jack snagged her sleeve.
“Doc, I forgot to mention that Daniel got really sick minutes after coming through the Stargate two days ago. We think he had some kind of allergic reaction to something, maybe the booster. He was better yesterday, but I think you'll need to test him for any unknown stuff he might have been exposed to.”
She turned to look at Jack and he could see she was upset about something.
“Sir, I need to talk to you later.” She bit her lip, and then looked over the dwindling number of people left in the room. “I have to get to the infirmary… I…”
“Doc, it was pretty bad. He lost consciousness and he stopped breathing. It took a few hours before he came out of it, but even then, he was really weak and tired for a while afterwards.”
“I know. We'll talk later, Colonel. Please, I have to go.” She rushed off before Jack could question her further.
Jack stopped as she rushed out of the room. He felt a presence beside him and turned to see General Hammond. “Sir,” he acknowledged.
“Colonel. It looks like you had a pretty hard time of it.”
“Yes, Sir, but it was really a sort of misunderstanding. It's a long story.” Jack gave him the pertinent details as they walked slowly towards the infirmary, and was relieved when the General informed him that they'd debrief the next day once he'd had some rest. They entered the medical area to see most of the beds in the section occupied. Jack sat on the nearest one, searching for Daniel and when he didn't see him, assumed he was being treated behind one of the curtained-off areas.
Jack sat quietly, enduring the standard physical examination while waiting for one of the doctors to come and give him the all clear. He was worried about Daniel, but knew he was in good hands. Something about what Fraiser had just said nagged at his tired mind. When the nurse finished with him, Jack stretched out on the bed and closed his eyes, feeling strangely peaceful and calm. He could hear the usual quiet chatter around him, and as his exhausted body slowly relaxed, the noise faded as he slid into healing sleep. He never felt or heard as Doctor Warner finished examining him, or when a nurse removed his boots and spread a blanket over him. But Fraiser's words, ‘I know', had followed him down into a dream-filled sleep where Daniel wasn't breathing as he floated in a bed of bright lights and Jack wasn't able to reach him.
- - - - - -
Jack opened his eyes slowly, realizing he was in the infirmary but not feeling the usual pain or fuzziness that normally accompanied his waking there. Actually, he felt pretty good, rested but hungry. He sat up, glancing around, and noted he was still dressed in his BDUs, and was in dire need of a shower.
“Good morning, Colonel. How are you feeling? You're looking a whole lot better after a twelve hour nap.” Janet Fraiser had come up behind him and rounded the bed, greeting Jack with a smile as he sat up, stretching.
“Morning, Doc. How's Daniel?” he asked without preamble.
“He's stable, and although his fever is still high, the poison in his system is showing signs of breaking down, so I'm hoping the antibiotics will start working soon on his infection.”
“Can I see him?” He bent down and began putting his boots on.
“Of course. You might want to take a shower and get something to eat beforehand, though.” She smiled to take the sting out of her words.
Jack paused while tying his laces, silently agreeing with her about the shower when he caught a whiff of himself. “Shower sounds good, but I'll take a minute with Daniel first. What about Howard?” Jack asked, remembering the severely injured Captain as he stood up and followed Fraiser to Daniel's bed.
“We're going to have to transfer him to the Academy Hospital . His injuries are too severe for me to treat here. I'm afraid his prognosis isn't good.”
Jack had known the younger man had been badly injured and he hoped the doctors at the hospital would be able to help him. He approached the curtained off area and pushed the heavy drapes aside. Carter was sitting beside Daniel's bed and she smiled at him as he slipped inside.
“Sir, I was just going to come wake you in a few minutes. General Hammond has scheduled our debriefing in an hour. You'll have time for a shower and some breakfast.”
He looked her over and noted that she looked rested and freshly showered. He nodded his thanks and turned his attention towards their friend. Daniel appeared to be sleeping peacefully, although that fact could be due to the medication being supplied through multiple IVs. Jack placed a finger on Daniel's cheek, wary of the oxygen mask, and felt the heat coming off of his body. Fraiser stopped beside Jack, her eyes scanning the equipment out of habit.
“Colonel,” Fraiser said softly as she turned pained eyes towards him. “You need to know… earlier when you said Daniel had gotten sick after arriving on the planet. I… we tried to stop you, Sir,” she said in a rush. “But Daniel had already left and by the time we'd gotten through to the Gateroom to inform you of our mistake, you'd already gone through the wormhole.”
Jack shook his head, a little confused at her words. “Mistake? You mean when Daniel collapsed— a mistake?”
“The booster shot!” Carter exclaimed, her eyes darting between Fraiser's and Jack's.
“Yes, it was an unfortunate mistake. The nurse giving Daniel the shot realized almost immediately what had happened, that she'd given him Versed instead of the inoculation. If Daniel hadn't been in such a rush, we could have stopped him, kept him in the infirmary, given him some Romazicon to counteract the effects of the Versed and watched him carefully for respiratory compromise. Chances are we wouldn't even have had to intubate him. But since the dose of Versed he received came on top of his normal antihistamines, together, both were sure to adversely affect his breathing.”
“That's a world of understatement. He stopped breathing, period.” Jack fisted his hands tightly, fighting back the memory of Daniel lying limp and helpless on the ground while Jack struggled to breathe for him.
Daniel made a soft sound in his throat and stirred. Carter spoke softly to him and placed a hand on his forehead. He quieted at her words and touch, and she picked up his hand, stroking the limp fingers.
Fraiser lowered her voice, whispering so not to disturb her patient further. “We had no way of warning you, Sir. We tried dialing the planet, but the chevrons wouldn't engage.” She looked at Jack, her brown expressive eyes haunted. “You kept him alive, Sir.”
“Yah,” Jack mouthed silently, thinking of the gut-clenching fear he'd gone through not knowing what was happening to Daniel at the time. If he'd at least known the effects the drug would have dissipated after a short time, he'd have had an easier time coping.
“How did this happen, Janet?” Carter's voice wasn't accusing, but as she held onto Daniel's hand, Jack could see how her fingers trembled slightly, waiting for the answer to her question.
Jack turned to Fraiser, knowing how efficiently and regulatory she ran her infirmary. Errors of this kind were definitely not run of the mill under Fraiser's domain.
“Murphy's Law, Sam. Daniel came rushing in at a time when we were all busy and that, coupled with one second of inattention when one of my nurses put down a pre-filled syringe meant for another patient led to her giving Daniel the wrong medication. It wasn't her fault, it wasn't Daniel's fault, it was just one of those unfortunate accidents that couldn't have happened at the worst, possible time.”
At her words, Jack could picture Daniel rushing pellmell into the infirmary, breathlessly asking for his shot while informing all that the Stargate was about to be opened and simultaneously apologizing to them for having to make them hurry. Jack was sure Fraiser had scolded Daniel about being so late and ignoring the reminders she had sent them all. He bit his lip, forcing himself to keep his temper in check. The petite doctor was right. It was nobody's fault. Except maybe Jack's. He should have made sure that Daniel had been up-to-date with the boosters.
“Will there be any adverse effects from the Versed?” Fraiser shook her head at Carter's question.
“No. He would simply have slept off its effects. I'm more worried about the infection in his wound right now.” With a nod to Jack, Fraiser left the area. Jack stood staring at Daniel for another minute before announcing he was off to the showers and that he'd meet Carter in the briefing room. His stomach gurgled, reminding him that he hadn't had much to eat in the past few days.
- - - - - -
The meeting with General Hammond had been long and wearisome, although Jack knew that part of the tedium had been mostly because he had wanted to be here at Daniel's bedside rather than meticulously going over the events of the past two days. He had missed Daniel's presence in the briefing room, and could have used Daniel's voice in arguing for a return visit to P3R 2823. And it all seemed to be for nothing since the General had advised them that he wasn't willing to send a diplomatic contingent there to talk to either the Riamah or the planet's inhabitants as the latter had murdered two persons and had severely injured one more.
Jack, Teal'c and Carter had argued for the need to return to the planet, and although the General had agreed that the opportunity for getting their hands on either a sample of the poison or its ingredients was alluring, he didn't deem it worth the risk of chancing the loss of more of his people.
Jack knew how important this new weapon could be for the SGC, and he was planning on arguing his case privately with the General a little later, maybe when news that Daniel was getting better would put the General in a more amenable mood.
And better he was. Daniel had broken into a heavy sweat a short while ago when his fever had finally broken, and although he hadn't woken yet, Fraiser had seemed inordinately pleased with what the medical equipment was telling her.
They'd been shooed out of Daniel's room while her medical staff cleaned him up and changed his bedding, and the three of them had gone for pie and coffee, going over possible arguments they could approach General Hammond with, carrying the conversation back to Daniel's bedside when they'd been permitted to return. They'd sat around his bed, talking softly, until they'd finally run out of ideas. All three now sat staring at the floor, trying to think up one more brilliant idea that would convince General Hammond to open the ‘gate to P3R 2823.
“Don't worry, he'll have to dial there to let it go home.”
Daniel's voice surprised all three, Sam's soft ‘Daniel' beating Jack's ‘Danny' by a fraction of a second. Clear blue eyes looked up at them, and Jack felt the grin on his face stretching cheek muscles which had been held too tightly clenched for far too long a time.
“What are you talking about?” Jack asked when all had told Daniel how glad they were to see him feeling better.
“We have a stowaway, Jack. Can't you hear him? He's been singing to me, keeping me company.”
“What?” Jack exclaimed as he glanced around the brightly-lit room, not seeing or hearing anything out of place. But he lifted a finger to quell Carter's comments, and closed his eyes, trying to listen beyond the hum of ventilation and medical machinery. It was faint, but yes, if he concentrated, he could hear the musical tinkle of one of the aliens.
“Carter, get the lights,” Jack ordered as he opened his eyes. As she rushed off to do his bidding, Jack noted Daniel was staring at him.
“Why'd you think he followed us here?” Jack asked him.
“I don't know. Maybe to check out what kind of people we really are?”
“If the being stayed here with you during your illness, DanielJackson, perhaps it simply wished to ensure your recovery.”
Jack thought back to the ease and peace with which he'd fallen asleep upon his return from the planet. “I think it paid me a visit, too,” he admitted quietly.
The lights suddenly went out, the area illuminated only by the soft reflection of the medical paraphernalia surrounding Daniel's bed. And the glow of the small, orange being which had kept Daniel company throughout his illness on the planet and which was now floating above Daniel's bed by the ceiling.
Jack stood and faced it, his hands spread out at his side. The being, realizing it was now visible, bobbed several times, changing color in its excitement.
“Oh my God!” Fraiser exclaimed from the room's edge as she stood beside Carter, staring wide-eyed at the glowing alien.
“Doc, go get the General. But don't sound the alarm. I don't think it's come here to hurt anyone.”
The being floated down from the ceiling and hovered near Daniel. It brought a tendril down to him and held it near Daniel's bandaged side, and a burst of sound came from it which Jack knew meant pleasure.
“I think he just gave me his all-clear,” Daniel said with a smile as the being floated back up to the ceiling.
“Colonel O'Neill.” Hammond 's voice was soft and he stood near the entrance to the infirmary. “So I take it this is one of the alien beings which caused such panic of P3R 2823?”
“Yes, General. I think it might have taken a shine to Daniel here, or maybe he's simply under orders to make sure Daniel got proper treatment. In any case, like I told you, I got the impression I had been requested to return to 2823 from the leader, and this is probably why. The Riamah wanted to make sure Tiny here got home okay.”
“And you say the two of you can hear it?” Hammond took several steps towards Daniel's bed, ignoring the alien and looking at Jack and Daniel to answer him.
“Yes, Sir,” Daniel answered softly. “Sam and Teal'c can't because they didn't communicate with them. His music is fainter now, maybe because I'm feeling better. But every time I woke up, I heard him singing to me, just like I knew when one of you guys was sitting here with me.”
When the General's eyes met Jack's, he nodded also. “He's hard to hear with all the other noises in here,” Jack said as he waved his hand at the equipment, “but now that I can see him, yeah, I can hear him.”
“You weren't aware of him until just now?”
“No, Sir. Not until Daniel pointed him out. And he's all but invisible in the light.”
“I see. Do you believe if we dial the Stargate in another twenty four hours, the alien will know well enough to return home through it?”
“Yes, Sir,” Carter replied. “Since these aliens helped the people of P3R 2823 modify the Stargate and DHD to prevent the Goa'uld from escaping once they were poisoned, I'm sure it'll understand that we're sending it home.”
“And I expect that you're going to request a diplomatic team return with it.” The General frowned at Jack, but before Jack could reply, Daniel answered.
“Yes, Sir. After all, they did request we send a diplomatic team to learn more about us. And since their world will be cut off from us in less than two weeks for about fifty more years, we really can't afford to lose this chance to learn about them. And maybe obtain some knowledge we can use against the Goa'uld in the interim.”
Hammond stared up at the alien, who floated easily near the ceiling, seemingly ignoring the people who were discussing it and its people. Daniel continued to argue his case to have a diplomatic team return to the planet for several more minutes when the alien suddenly zipped down to hover near Daniel. It blinked white and orange several times, the gentle music now coming fast and sharp as it placed itself in front of Daniel, as if it were trying to hide him from the General.
As everyone exclaimed over the alien's actions, Jack looked at Daniel and saw how tired his friend appeared to be. Fraiser must have noted the same thing because she moved past the alien and took Daniel's pulse while placing a hand on his cheek, testing for fever.
“I think our friend is trying to tell us that Daniel's had enough excitement for now,” she said as she pulled a blanket up and tucked it around Daniel's shoulders. Everyone quieted at her words and stared around the alien at Daniel, who seemed to have lost his energy now that he wasn't actively talking.
“Colonel, I want you and the rest of your team to brief SG-8 bright and early tomorrow morning. They'll be returning to P3R 2823, along with this little fellow, once their DHD is charged.” Hammond looked around the glowing ball at Daniel. “Get some rest, son. And I'm glad to see that you're feeling better.”
“Thanks,” Daniel mumbled. Jack could see Daniel fighting to stay awake, his eyelids heavy and drooping.
“We'll let you sleep,” Carter said as she kissed Daniel lightly on the forehead. “I'll come back later, k?”
“Mmmm.”
“As will I. Sleep well, DanielJackson.”
As the room began to clear, the alien resumed its place near the ceiling. Daniel closed his eyes and Jack could hear the soothing noises the alien was making. Jack was feeling sleepy himself; this thing was better than a sedative. It had been a long day. Pretty secure that Daniel and his guardian angel would be okay for the night, Jack headed for his assigned room, ready to bed down himself.
- - - - - -
Jack hung up the phone and returned to the living room where he and Daniel had been watching TV. Jack turned the volume down when he saw Daniel had fallen asleep on Jack's couch. He went over and spread an afghan over Daniel's sleeping form, glad to see his friend looking better. It was nearly suppertime, and although Jack had made some homemade vegetable soup earlier, he decided that along with a sandwich, it would be filling enough for them both.
As he prepared supper, Jack thought back to the events of the past week. Jack had accompanied SG-8 to the Gateroom, intent on seeing both the SG team and the little alien off. At General Hammond's orders, the lights in both the Gateroom and control room had been extinguished, and the little orange being was clearly visible as it flitted curiously around the large, cavernous room.
They had lost the little creature once the Stargate had erupted to life, but their computer equipment had clearly shown five life signs entering the Stargate. Jack had sent a little silent thank you after the retreating creature, curious as to what it would be reporting to its leader upon its return. He shook his head, looked up and grinned at General Hammond, and then returned to keep Daniel company and report to the sleeping man once he woke, that their friend had returned home.
Some of the shadows had lifted from Daniel's countenance once Fraiser had informed him that Daniel hadn't been responsible for his illness when he'd arrived on the planet. Jack and Fraiser had finally convinced Daniel that he wasn't responsible for the death of the two men, and that he wasn't to blame for getting sick and delaying SG-1's interaction with the aliens and inhabitants of the world.
Captain Howard had woken from his coma the very same day the alien left, mentioning later that he'd followed the sound of falling rain out of a deep, dark chasm. He still had serious neurological problems that might affect his going through the Stargate again, but at least the man had survived.
Now Daniel had been released to Jack's care for the next few days. Jack hoped that the news he'd gotten from General Hammond just now would be the trick to chase away the last of the shadows which occasionally haunted his younger friend.
- - - - - -
A streak of light flashing along the wall above the couch caught Daniel's eye and he sat up from his relaxed position on the couch, swearing at the pull of healing tissues as he pushed himself to his feet a little too quickly. Holding a hand to his side to stem the sudden pain, he excitedly searched the room for the alien, then slumped dejectedly when he realized the light had been from a car's headlights as it cruised down the street.
“You'd think after more than a week we'd stop looking for them,” Jack said from behind him. Daniel twirled a little too fast, startled, and a little embarrassed at being caught mistaking the light for the Riamah. Daniel sat back down with a groan and a sigh. He was recovering from the poisoning and infection and stab wound, but the healing was slower than he'd like. He'd just been released from the infirmary and was staying with Jack for a few days to recuperate. Jack came to sit beside Daniel and handed him a tray bearing his supper. He looked at the soup and sandwich, his appetite suddenly having fled.
“I did exactly what you just did for the first three days. Even found myself stopping the Avalanche and pulling over when I spotted an incredible sunset; lying in bed listening for their music; glancing up at the ceiling at the oddest times, just in case.” Jack smiled at Daniel and patted his knee, and suddenly Daniel didn't feel quite as self-conscious at having mistaken the lights.
He longed to be able to say goodbye to the aliens, and envied those SGC personnel who would be ‘gating to 2823 in two days for the huge farewell party the Riamah had asked for.
“You don't think Janet would…” Daniel sighed and picked up his spoon, dipping it into the soup and stirring the steaming liquid.
“I hate to tell you this, but you're not quite up to a three hour hike,” Jack said quietly.
“I know.” Daniel took a sip of soup, holding the heat of it in his mouth for a moment to counteract the chill of disappointment.
“So when the Riamah asked for you, Doc said only on the condition that the party was moved away from the village and to the Stargate itself, to avoid your having to make the journey.”
Daniel almost choked on the bite of ham and cheese sandwich that he'd been chewing. He turned incredulous eyes to Jack, and saw him grinning at Daniel.
“Everyone agreed. Doc said so long as you didn't get overly tired, and as long as she was invited also, there was no reason why you couldn't go.”
He quickly swallowed, the action difficult to achieve due to his haste.
“You're not trying to kid me, are you?” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he knew from the gentle smile on his friend's face that no, Jack had been serious. Daniel grinned, the aroma of the soup causing his stomach to rumble, reminding him that he was hungry and he needed to get his strength back before he was let off world again.
Daniel didn't know why these gentle creatures of light had affected him so. Perhaps it was the touching gesture that the leader had shown in its concern for Daniel. Maybe it was their intelligence, maybe it was simply the sheer beauty of their beings, from the sounds and colors they emitted. Maybe they were simply addictive to the human brain. In any case, he just knew that he had to say goodbye, that that final farewell would hopefully be more than enough to tide him over for the next fifty years, in which time, if he were still alive, he'd petition whoever was in charge of the Stargate to allow him to come back to 2823 and say hello to the returning aliens. He looked over at Jack, and saw the same determination on his face.
He just knew that sunsets, Aura Borealis and the sound of rain would have a whole new set of meanings for him until he was able to see the aliens once more. Their memories would chase the shadows away, bringing light and hope into his world whenever he thought of the gentle beings. Daniel looked forward to those next fifty years.
FINIS << BACK TO PART TWO
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