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CHAPTER FOUR

There was a lot for Daniel to do after he woke up from his nap.  Scared, confused, in shock, and grieving, the natives had all been put in an area at the edge of the base, except for the injured, who were being treated by the medical personnel stationed on base and those who had gone on the mission.  Daniel took it upon himself to calm the villagers down and explain what was going to happen to them.  All of them knew what he had done with the Stargate and listened to him with the same unwavering attention that they'd probably given to the Goa'uld who had ruled them.  But there was no fear of him, and not one of them treated him like he was some kind of god, for which Daniel was very grateful.  He spent hours with them, learning about their lives and their civilization, listening to some of their personal stories, getting to know them as individuals.  He also did something else for them.

Because of the superheated volcanic material all over the Stargate and DHD, the gate could not be used.  Someone had suggested washing the stuff away, but not only would it have caused a whole lot of steam, there was also concern that the wet ash would get inside the DHD and damage components.  Another had suggested using fire extinguishers to cool off the stuff, but Sergeant Siler and a couple of other techs were concerned about the effect that the sudden change in temperature would have on the Stargate and the DHD.  As it is, they were already concerned about what damage the tremendous heat was doing.  Therefore, everyone decided that they would have to wait for the stuff to cool on its own, at least enough that it would be less dangerous to handle.

Because of this, it was up to Daniel and his encyclopedic memory of planets the SGC had visited to decide where the best place would be to send the refugees.  Yes, it could have waited until after they'd contacted the SGC, but he didn't want them to have to wait any longer than necessary before being moved off the base and to a new home.  Also, because of the time he'd spent getting to know the people, who called themselves Eloanes, he felt that he was the most qualified to figure out where the best place for them to go would be.

Not wanting everyone to worry, Jacob had contacted the Tok'ra base with the communications device that the Tok'ra operatives had and asked them to pass on the message to the SGC that everybody was all right.  Even so, the SGC was glad to hear from the Alpha Site when they were finally able to dial out the next morning.  Upon getting a status report, Hammond sent through men in suits designed to withstand high temperatures to clear away the remainder of the ash and other volcanic debris.  Some technicians and equipment were also sent to test the Stargate and the DHD to make sure that they were undamaged.  After that, those who needed further medical attention were transported to the SGC.  Jack wanted Daniel to go, too, but he refused.  He had developed a rapport with the Eloanes and wanted to guide them to their new home.

Remembering his own desire to help the Enkarrans as much as he could, Jack didn't object too much about Daniel's insistence, though he was worried about his friend.  Daniel had gotten no sleep since his initial nap, and, as far as Jack knew, that nap had been all the sleep the archeologist had gotten since before all the stuff with the Prometheus and everything else began.  Jack also wondered if Daniel was still feeling the effects of lifting the Stargate.  There had been several times when the colonel was tempted to tie the younger man to a bed in order to force him to rest, but the fact that Daniel could easily break the ropes would have made it an exercise in futility.  Jack had then toyed with the idea of spiking Daniel's water with a sedative, but none of the medical personnel were willing to go along with the plan.  Jack had overheard one of them mutter that they weren't about to mess with a guy who could psychically bench press a Stargate.  That had led to Jack grumbling to himself about how everyone was now more afraid of an archeologist than of a superior officer who used to be in Black Ops.

If Jack had known that it took quite a few hours for Daniel's headache to go away, even with the painkillers he was given, he'd have tossed the archeologist through the Stargate along with the rest of the injured, which was the reason why Daniel didn't tell him.  The headache and the rest of his symptoms did go away eventually, so there was nothing to worry about, as far as he was concerned.

Once everything was taken care of in regards to clearing away the volcanic debris and transporting the wounded, Daniel sent his list of proposed planets to the SGC so that they could send UAVs through to make sure that conditions were still acceptable on the planets.  Normally, Daniel would have gone to the SGC to oversee the operation, but he knew that the instant he stepped through the gate, Janet would sink her claws into him and not let go until she was satisfied that he was okay . . . and maybe not even then.  So, he remained at the Alpha Site, spending more time with the Eloanes.

Another thing Daniel ended up doing during that time was something he had neither anticipated nor welcomed.  It turned out that the Jaffa who were there at the Alpha Site knew all about him, including the most recent use of his abilities.  The way they acted toward him told the archeologist very clearly that, in spite of Bra'tac's belief that the rebel Jaffa would get past their worshipful reaction to his abilities, many of them still viewed Daniel as something akin to a deity.

In an attempt to make it clear that he was only a man, Daniel spent a lot of time talking with them about ordinary things, asking about their families, telling them a little about himself, particularly things that would show that he was just as fallible as they were.  The Jaffa were not used to talking about things like that, being very private individuals, but, in time, some of them opened up a little.  Daniel's experiences with Teal'c helped him a lot.  In fact, Teal'c himself was a big help, giving Daniel advice on what to say and not say.  He had offered to join Daniel during the time the archeologist spent with the rebel Jaffa, but the linguist believed that it would be best if he did this alone.

Daniel was happy with the results of his efforts.  The Jaffa, not accustomed to speaking in such a way with someone who was considered to be a superior being, eventually began to treat him more like a friend and fellow warrior and less like someone to be revered like a god.  However, Daniel failed to see something else that was happening.  Jack and Teal'c did not.

Jack sat on a crate and watched Daniel laughing at something one of the Jaffa had said.  The Jaffa gave Daniel a big smile as several others looked on, also smiling.  Teal'c joined the colonel and watched as well.

"You know, I've seen Daniel make friends with people and creatures that wanted to tear his throat out only a few minutes earlier, and it never ceases to amaze me," Jack remarked.  "But what I'm seeing there is something a whole lot more."

"Indeed," Teal'c agreed.  "There is friendship but also deep veneration."

Jack nodded.  "Not long after I got my wings, I was put under the command of Colonel Mac Fulbright.  He was an extraordinary man.  Strong, intelligent, dedicated, and a brilliant tactician.  He really cared about his men, would get to know each and every one of them personally, invite them to his house for holiday parties and weekend BBQs in the summer.  We all loved him for it, and we would do absolutely anything for him.  We'd follow him into hell without a second's hesitation, not just because he was our C.O., but because he was our friend, and we admired and respected him so much.

"Colonel Fulbright's plane got shot down behind enemy lines one day.  The brass thought it was too risky for us to go in and get him, but there was no way that we were going to leave him out there.  So, we went in anyway."  Jack smiled.  "Got him out, too, though three of us sustained injuries, and the colonel himself had a bad leg wound.  We almost got court-martialed for that one because we'd gone against the decision of our superiors, but the colonel stepped forward and defended us, and we got out of it with the equivalent of a slap on the wrist.  The leg wound made it necessary for the colonel to retire, but even after he was no longer our C.O., he still invited us over to his house for parties."  He nodded his head at Daniel and the Jaffa.  "The look I see on the faces of those Jaffa is the same thing I saw on the faces of the guys who served under Colonel Fulbright."

Teal'c nodded.  "It is as you say.  The Goa'uld treat Jaffa as if they are merely tools to be used or cast away however they see fit.  Praise is seldom given, and punishment is without mercy.  They give us neither respect nor compassion.  This is how the Jaffa are accustomed to being treated by beings that they consider to be superior.  The rebel Jaffa know of Daniel Jackson's power, how he has destroyed an enemy Al'Kesh and lifted a Stargate with his mind.  These things make him seem like a god to them.  Yet, instead of acting as the Goa'uld do, he gives them friendship and treats them as respected equals.  Instead of this lowering their opinion of him, it heightens it further, for they feel a connection to him that no Jaffa ever felt toward a Goa'uld."

"They'd follow him into hell and never think twice."

"Indeed they would, O'Neill."

"How do you think this is going to affect things?"

"That I do not know."


Daniel finally got back the reports on the planets, which enabled him to choose one that he thought would be the best place for the Eloanes.  Though it was late afternoon there at the Alpha Site, on the Eloanes' new homeworld it was several hours earlier in the day, so Daniel decided it would be best to move them now.  Once the refugees were settled, he and his teammates would be heading back to the SGC.

Daniel was packing up his gear when Jacob came up to him.

"So, you're off to take them to their new home?" the Tok'ra asked.

"Uh huh.  Hopefully, it won't be too much of an adjustment for them."  Daniel looked over at the Eloanes.  "They've lost a lot.  Their homes, family, friends, their whole world.  They're never going to be able to go back.  I found out that there were other villages around the volcano.  I really hope that those people managed to get far enough away or that their villages were spared in the eruption.  We'll never know."  He nodded at the refugees.  "They'll never know.  All they'll be able to do is hope that the rest of their people are okay."  His voice grew even sadder.  "One of the men was betrothed to a woman in a neighboring village.  He'll never see her again."

Jacob rested a hand on Daniel's shoulder.  "We can't save everyone, Danny, no matter how much we may want to.  But right there," he pointed at the Eloanes, "right there are four-hundred and fifty-six people who would not be alive now if it wasn't for us, if it wasn't for you.  That's something to be pretty damn proud of."

Daniel smiled a little.  "Yeah, I guess it is."

Jacob studied the younger man's face.  "When's the last time you got any sleep?"

"A while, but I'm all right.  I'm used to long hours with no sleep."

Jacob shook his head in exasperation.  Daniel was just like Sam, never knowing when to just stop and relax.  The two of them would make quite a pair if they were a romantic couple, something that Jacob had to admit he wouldn't be unhappy about if it happened.

"Are you staying here?" the archeologist asked.

"Yes.  I need to get back to work on the Telchak project.  It's too important to delay any longer.  But I'm counting on you guys to keep me updated on your search for Sam.  Hopefully, the Tok'ra will have a ship available soon."

Daniel's gaze lifted to the clear, cloudless sky.  "It's been over a day and a half since it first happened.  I just hope that she's all right."

"I'd be willing to bet that she is.  My daughter's pretty capable when it comes to taking care of herself.  She always has been."

A soft smile touched Daniel's face.  "Yes, she is, better than I am."

Jacob looked at the younger man closely.  "You care about Sam a great deal."

Daniel nodded.  "She, Jack and Teal'c are my best friends.  Before I joined the SGC, I never had anyone I could call a best friend.  Now, I have three."

"My daughter loves you a lot, too."

Daniel smiled.  "She and I went out to dinner before she left to join the Prometheus.  It was great.  We hadn't done that, just the two of us, in a really long time.  I'd almost forgotten how we could talk for hours about everything under the sun."  His smile disappeared, and his eyes returned to the sky.  "I don't want to lose her."

Jacob took hold of Daniel's shoulder again.  "You won't, Daniel.  We won't."

Daniel cleared his throat.  "Well, I'd better get going.  It'll take us several hours to get the Eloanes settled in their new home."

Jacob shook the archeologist's hand.  "Take care, Daniel.  Don't go weightlifting any Stargates any time soon."

"I'll try to limit my weightlifting to the base gym, Jacob."

Jacob watched the archeologist leave, wondering if the suspicion that was growing in his mind was true and, if so, what it would mean to his daughter's future . . . if she lived.


It was after five a.m. Colorado time when Jack, Daniel and Teal'c exited the Earth Stargate.  Because of the early morning hour, General Hammond wasn't in yet, so it would be several hours before the debriefing took place, which was just fine with everyone, especially Daniel.  He was in desperate need of sleep.  He also really needed a long, hot shower.  Jack had more than once said the same thing about himself.  And there was something else Daniel needed to do before he could allow himself to rest.  He needed to look for Sam again.

Unfortunately, the three men could not bypass the post-mission physical.  Daniel had been hoping that it wouldn't be Janet who was on duty, but no such luck.  The archeologist suspected that she was there so early for the sole purpose of torturing him with more tests, which is exactly what she did.  She insisted on new scans, an EEG and bloodwork, totally ignoring Daniel's plea to just let him go home and sleep.

After being tested, scanned, poked and prodded yet again, Janet informed him that everything looked okay.

"Good.  Then I can go home," Daniel said, hopping off the exam table.

"Not so fast.  I want you to remain in the infirmary for a few hours for observation," Janet said.

"For what reason?" the archeologist asked.  "You just finished telling me that I'm all right."

"Yes, it's true that the scans didn't show any new intracerebral hemorrhaging or other damage, but you were in extreme pain, as well as suffering other physical symptoms.  Pain is the body's way of saying that something is wrong."

"How about if I just promise to stay on base?"  When Janet started to protest, Daniel hurriedly continued.  "Janet, please.  I can't stay in the infirmary."

The doctor heard the desperate plea in his voice and looked at him closely.  "Why?"

"Because . . . because I have to find Sam," Daniel replied.

Janet frowned in puzzlement.  "Find Sam?  You mean you want to join the SG teams that are searching planets for the Prometheus?"

"No.  I'd be of little use out there, just another pair of eyes and ears.  But, here, I can . . . I can try other things.  Twice, I've attempted to use my abilities to find her, and I've managed to see some things.  I need to keep trying."

"Daniel, you're exhausted.  How long has it been since you've slept?"

"Um . . . I'm not really sure.  Going from the time here to what it was on P9X-898, then to the Alpha Site, then to P8R-645, then back here again, I am way beyond jetlag."  He looked at his watch.  "Uh . . . it's been a while."

Janet's eyes narrowed.  "How long is a while?"

"Almost twenty-four hours."

"And how much sleep have you gotten since you came into work two days ago?"

Daniel licked his lips, knowing that he was in trouble.  "Around, uh, three, four hours . . . maybe."

Janet gave a tight little nod, the glint in her eyes a clear indication of her displeasure.  "So, in the past fifty hours or so you've gotten perhaps three hours of sleep?"

"Around that.  I've gone that long with not much sleep before Janet."

The doctor cocked an eyebrow.  "Oh, and have you also played catch with a thirty-two-ton Stargate before?"

Yep, he was right.  He was in big, big trouble.  He gave a sigh, awaiting the descent of her wrath.  "No, I can't say that I have."

There was a moment of silence before it came.

"Daniel, for a man who is a certified genius, you show an unbelievable lack of any form of intelligence when it comes to your own health and welfare."

Ouch.  Okay, so he probably deserved that.

"If I get an ulcer, your name will be on it."

Double ouch.  That one had made him feel about two feet tall.

"If Colonel O'Neill gets an ulcer, it will have your name on it."

Okay, now that was going too far.  It was bad enough that Jack blamed him for his grey hair.

"Janet, I'm sorry, okay?  I didn't do this deliberately.  When I came into work two days ago, I wasn't intending to rescue hundreds of people from a volcano, psychically weightlift a Stargate, relocate those same several hundred people to a new home, and spend hours making friends with a bunch of Jaffa who want to turn me into a god.  And I didn't know that the Prometheus, with one of my best friends onboard, was going to disappear, leaving me as possibly the only person who can find it."

Janet heard the strain in Daniel's voice and decided to back off, feeling a little sorry about the ulcer comment, which, of course, had been a lie since ulcers weren't really caused by stress, despite popular belief.  "All right.  I'm sorry.  I know that you've had to deal with a lot over these past two days.  I'm just concerned about you.  I'm not just your doctor, Daniel, I'm your friend, and, as your friend and your doctor, I'm saying that you need to slow down and let yourself rest, both mentally and physically."

Daniel rubbed a hand over his face wearily.  "I know, Janet, and I will.  I just need to try and find Sam, or at least learn if she's still okay.  I wouldn't be able to sleep until I do."

Janet let out a sigh.  "Okay, but, after you do, I am ordering you to get some sleep.  I will inform General Hammond and your teammates that they are not to disturb you for the next six hours.  You need a lot more sleep than that, but it will probably have to wait until tonight."  She thought of something.  "How long has it been since you've eaten?"

"We ate on P8R-645 a couple of hours before coming home.  I really don't think I could eat anything now.  I'm too tired."

"All right, but, as soon as you get up, I want you to eat a full meal with plenty of protein.  Understand?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good."

Daniel gave her a tired smile.  "Thanks, Janet."

A short while later, Daniel was in his quarters, freshly showered and shaved.  As soon as he sat on the bed, his mind and body started screaming at him that he needed sleep.  But he could not let himself rest until after he tried to find Sam again.  During all this time that he'd been off-world, anything could have happened to her and the Prometheus.

Lying down on the bed, Daniel slowed his brainwave pattern to the low theta frequency at which he'd had his previous visions.  Instead of trying to force the issue this time, he attempted a new tactic, letting his mind float as he kept the thought of Sam within it, seeking the feeling of her presence.

All at once, Daniel found himself inside the Prometheus.  Sam was walking down the hallway ahead of him.

"Sam!" he called.

The major paused.  She looked around as if she had heard or felt something.

"Is somebody here?" she asked.

"Sam, it's me.  It's Daniel.  I'm right here."

Sam kept looking around, turning in all directions.  "Hello!  Who's there?"

Daniel realized that Sam could neither see nor hear him, but she was feeling him, or at least feeling something that made her realize she was not alone.  This reminded him of the incident with the crystal skull on P7X-377, when his body was out of phase and nobody could see or hear him.  Both Sam and Teal'c had sensed his presence somehow.

"Sam, I know you can't hear me, but I'm here," he told her.  "We'll find you."

An expression of confusion and uncertainty filled Sam's face.  "Daniel?" she queried hesitantly.

Daniel's feeling of triumph was cut short as the vision vanished.  Desperately, he tried to get it back, but it was no use.  Angry and frustrated, he lay on the bed for several moments, staring at the ceiling.  Perhaps if he got some sleep, he'd have more success later.

Decision made, Daniel closed his eyes again and guided himself into a deep sleep.


Sam stood, unmoving, for several seconds after the feeling that someone was there had faded.  For a moment, she could have sworn that it was Daniel she was feeling.  Once before she had felt like this, when Daniel was thrown out of phase by the crystal skull.  All during the time that they couldn't see him, she had felt as if he was still there.  What she had just felt, however, was different, stronger in a way, but more . . . distant.  Was it possible that he was somehow psychically reaching out to her?  He hadn't demonstrated that kind of ability before, but that didn't mean that he couldn't do it.

Sam hoped that she was right since it gave her comfort to believe that Daniel was searching for her in that way.  He might even succeed.

Her spirits and her hopes a little higher, Sam continued on her way.


"Sam!"

The sound of Daniel's voice was still echoing in the room as he sat bolt upright, gasping for air.  As his senses came back to him, he ran a hand over his face, thinking about the dream he'd just had.  Something told him that it had been more than just a dream.  If that was true. . . .

Daniel swung his legs around and hurriedly put on his shoes.  He left his quarters and headed straight to Hammond's office.

"Doctor Jackson?  Aren't you supposed to be getting some sleep?" the man asked.

"I was, sir, but I had another dream.  General, something is wrong with the hull of the Prometheus.  It's corroding or something.  It's going to fail if something isn't done.  I-I don't know if this is something that's happening now or if it's in the future.  I couldn't tell.  But, regardless, the hull is going to fail."

"I'm afraid that there's nothing we can do, Doctor Jackson," Hammond said regretfully.  "The Tok'ra still have no ships available, and the Asgard are not responding to our calls."

Daniel started to pace.  "I'm even more positive that Sam is alone on the Prometheus.  I keep thinking about that alien ship that I saw.  Maybe whoever was onboard took the rest of the crew prisoner, and Sam got away somehow.  Now, she's trapped on the Prometheus, which is disabled.  There's something else, though, something I can't quite put my finger on.  It's like. . . ."  He sighed in frustration.  "I don't know."

Hammond got up from his chair and came around the desk.  "I understand your frustration, Doctor Jackson.  A great many men and women who are under my command are lost out there, and I have no way of retrieving them.  All we can do right now is wait."

Daniel halted, an expression of determination on his face.  "Maybe there is something more that we can do, something I can do."

"What do you mean?"

"I'd like to contact the Tok'ra, sir."

"For what reason?"

"Jacob said that all of their ships are on missions now.  I have to wonder how important those missions are, if they'd be willing to make a little . . . trade."

Hammond frowned.  "Trade?"

Daniel turned and looked at him.  "They want me, General.  They want to use my skills on missions.  I told Jacob that I'd help them out, but only for missions that I thought were important enough to take the risk.  What if I remove that qualifier, tell them that I'll go on whatever mission they want me to as long as it doesn't interfere with a mission for the SGC?  In exchange, they'll pull one of their ships off a present mission and go find the Prometheus."

"I could not allow that, Doctor Jackson," the general said.  "There is no telling how much danger you would be putting yourself in.  This mission you just returned from proves that you must take great care in the use of your abilities.  Doctor Fraiser said that you were very fortunate that you didn't sustain more damage."

"I doubt that they'd have me moving Stargates around."

"Nevertheless, I cannot give my permission for that."

"But—"

"That is my final word on the matter, Doctor Jackson.  I will not allow you to sell yourself to the Tok'ra."

Daniel felt his desperation take hold.  "And what if Sam and all of the other crew of the Prometheus die because you said no?  Will you still think it was the right decision?"

General Hammond did not answer.  If every member of the Prometheus crew died because of his decision, he would never forgive himself.  And he knew that the man standing before him would bear the guilt in his own heart as well, though it would not have been his fault.  Yet how could he be party to the archeologist giving himself to the Tok'ra for them to use as they pleased?  It would be unconscionable.

"I'll consider the matter, Doctor Jackson," Hammond finally said, knowing that he'd have a tough decision to make now.

"Thank you," Daniel responded.  Then he turned and walked out of the office, leaving Hammond with the heavy burden of deciding what he was going to do.

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