Fall into Evil
by zoodenizen

Prologue

He raced down the hall, seconds ahead of his pursuers, and ducked into a storage room. As he locked the door he felt a hand close around his shoulder from behind. Unable to see anything in the dark room, he spun around and took a swing at the unknown owner of the hand.

He missed and the force of his swing caused him to stumble forward. He regained his balance and waited for a sound or movement from the anonymous interloper.

After a moment, he heard a deep voice quietly say, "O'Neill."

He recognized that voice. "Teal'c?"

"You are correct, O'Neill."

"What the hell?! Not that I'm not happy to see you...or, actually, hear you but what are you doing here?" Suddenly suspicious, he said, "I'm not going back. You'll have to kill me."

"I'm not here to capture you. I am, in fact, here to assist you."

"Really?"

"I do not disagree with your actions."

"Oh."

"You must leave this place immediately or you will be imprisoned."

"I know."

His eyes had adjusted enough to make out the faint outline of his friend, so he wasn't surprised when a large, strong hand gripped his own. He was, however, surprised by the object Teal'c placed in his hand.

"What...?"

"It is the control for the Quantum Mirror, O'Neill."

Of course, that was why he'd come to this particular room, after all. It was where the Quantum Mirror was being stored while the SGC's scientists ran some tests. Hammond had wanted it destroyed after the last time unexpected visitors had come through, judging it to be a danger, but he'd been over-ruled by the President, at the behest of Kinsey and his NID cronies. At the time he'd been as pissed as Hammond that it would still be around but now he was very glad that it still existed.

He looked over at the Teal'c-shaped shadow on his left and said, "Thank you."

The shadow shifted and Jack was sure that Teal'c was bowing his head in acceptance of Jack's thanks, or maybe he was just projecting.

"You must go now, before you are discovered." As if on cue, Jack heard the sound of running feet. Looked like the SFs had doubled back. He definitely had to go now or he'd never be able to leave.

He looked down at the controller in his hand and switched the mirror on. The room was suddenly much brighter. He looked up and saw what appeared to be a sunny meadow reflected back through the mirror.

He stepped toward the mirror but stopped to look back at his friend. The only one of his team that was still alive. "It never should have happened, if only..."

"It is too late for regrets. The past is already done. Now, it is time to look towards the future."

Jack nodded then asked, "What about you? If they find out that you helped me..."

"They will not find out and I will be well. Now you must go."

"Yeah, but..."

Teal'c shoved a pack into Jack's hands and pushed him at the mirror before he had the chance to finish his sentence. Apparently, the Big Guy was done with the chit-chat. Struggling to hang onto the pack without dropping the controller, Jack stumbled into the mirror and immediately felt a static charge.

He looked up and found himself facing the reflection of Teal'c standing alone in a darkened storeroom. Teal'c raised his hand in farewell. Jack dropped the pack and raised his own hand to say goodbye. Then he switched off the mirror and turned to face his new reality.

What the hell am I going to do now?

Chapter 1

Daniel typed in the address for the ABZU bibliography. Hopefully, he'd find the reference that he needed for the translation he was doing. Once again he wished that the budget for books and research materials was just half as much as the budget for guns. If it was then he'd never have to resort to desperate internet searches again.

The door to his office suddenly flew open and the force of nature otherwise known as Colonel Jack O'Neill, with two Ls, burst into the room.

"Hey, Daniel," he said in an entirely too breezy tone.

Suspicious, Daniel greeted his friend. "Jack."

Jack rolled his eyes, evidently picking up on Daniel's wariness, and sat down on the corner of Daniel's desk, just barely avoiding the delicate artifact sitting on its surface.

"Don't look at me like that."

Now, it was Daniel's turn to roll his eyes. "You only say my name in that tone of voice when you want something."

Jack feigned an entirely unconvincing look of distress. "Do you really...," he began only to be interrupted by the sound of klaxons going off.

They both stood and headed for the 'gate room at a fast trot. Unscheduled off-world activations were never a good thing.

When they reached the control room, there was no sign of anything unusual happening. Before they even had a chance to say anything, Sgt. Harriman said, "You better go up to the briefing room. The General sent for Major Carter and Teal'c, too."

Daniel looked over at Jack, wondering what was going on. Jack shrugged and headed for the stairs. "It's probably those damn Tok'ra again," Jack said over his shoulder as he climbed. "Whatever suicidal mission they want to send us on this time...well, they can just forget it. When was the last time that they did anything for us, huh?"

***

Still fuming, and all set to give the Tok'ra a piece of his mind, Jack wasn't at all prepared for who their visitor turned out to be. His sudden stop caused Daniel to crash into him from behind and grab onto his jacket, probably to keep from falling back down the stairs. For a moment he had Daniel's firm, warm body pressed along the length of his own, but he was too shocked by what was in front of him to truly enjoy it.

"Jack? What's going on?" Daniel asked, after, unfortunately, peeling himself off of Jack. He peered around Jack to see what the problem was then said, "Oh!"

"You coming in? Or do you plan on standing there all day with your mouth hanging open? You'd think you'd never seen a USAF colonel before."

Jack snapped to attention and glared at...himself. "What are you doing here? Never mind. Whatever you want the answer's 'no'. So you can turn right around and go back to wherever you came from."

"Colonel O'Neill," Hammond verbally reprimanded him.

At the same time, Daniel said, "Jack," in an indignant tone.

Jack didn't care.

And he didn't move when Daniel gave him a small push. No way was he moving. The Fake Jack was looking at Daniel, or trying to look at him -- it wasn't easy to do with Jack concealing Daniel, in a way that Jack didn't like at all. It was entirely too...hungry. No way was he letting FJ anywhere near his Daniel. FJ would just have to get his own drop dead gorgeous archeologist. This one was taken.

Well not "taken". Not precisely. Not in the way that Jack wanted to take him. Or be taken. Whatever. But still...

"Colonel, take a seat," Hammond said.

Reluctantly pulling his thoughts back to the situation at hand, he'd much rather be fantasizing about Daniel than facing a double of himself, Jack realized that he better cool it. When Hammond used that tone of voice, Jack had damn well better do exactly as he was told or he'd be scrubbing latrines with a toothbrush, or something equally humiliating.

Wishing that they were somewhere else, Jack reached behind him and pulled Daniel over to the table. Daniel looked entirely too interested in their visitor and their visitor was entirely too interested in Daniel, so Jack maneuvered Daniel into the chair to the right of Hammond, who was in his usual place at the head of the conference table, and sat down on Daniel's right. He watched as FJ sat down on Hammond's left, in the seat opposite Daniel. FJ's eyes never once strayed from Daniel. Jack felt like growling but, remembering the mood that Hammond was in, refrained.

"I know that this is pretty shocking," FJ said. To Daniel.

"Oh, no. Not really," Daniel replied. "Um...it's...I've met another Jack before. We all have," he said and waved his hand indicating the others in the room. "Except for General Hammond. In fact, I've met two other Jack's. Are you...um...from another reality or...a..."

"Robot?" FJ asked.

Daniel smiled. "Yeah. A robot."

FJ smiled back. "Nope. Not a robot. I came through one of these mirror thingies that transport you to different realities. Since you've mentioned meeting other non-robot Jacks, I take it you know about the mirrors?"

"We do, but how did you get here?" Daniel looked at Hammond. "I thought our mirror had been destroyed?" He turned back to FJ. "And didn't you come through the 'gate?"

"It was destroyed," Hammond said. "It seems that our visitor came through another mirror."

"Another mirror?" Daniel said excitedly. "That's..."

"Dangerous," Jack said, completing Daniel's sentence.

"That wasn't what I was going to say," Daniel said, obviously annoyed.

"I know."

"I agree. It is dangerous," Hammond said.

"Speaking of dangerous," Jack said. "What's he doing here?" Jack looked right at FJ. "Or should I say, what do you want?"

Jack didn't miss the way FJ's eyes quickly shifted to Daniel then back to Jack when Jack asked him what he wanted.

Like hell!

"Whatever it is, we're not interested. Find someone else to save your asses."

"I'm not here for help. It's too late for that."

Jack glared at his double. You better not be here for Daniel 'cause you'll get him over my dead body, prick. 

"Too late?" Daniel asked.

"Holy Hannah."

Everyone turned to look towards the doorway. Carter and Teal'c were standing there. Carter looked shocked and Teal'c's eyebrow was arched nearly as high as it would go.

FJ didn't seem to be as enamored of Jack's 2IC as he was with Jack's Daniel, if the narrow eyed stare was any indication. Jack frowned; there was something wrong here.

"Major. Teal'c." Hammond greeted them. "Have a seat. We were just about to debrief Colonel O'Neill."

"The other O'Neill." Jack pointed out helpfully.

"I think they figured that out on their own," FJ snarked at him.

Jack opened his mouth to deliver a truly cutting response. But, before he could speak, Carter said, "This is the first time we've met a Jack from an alternate reality. You are from an alternate reality, right?"

"Yes."

"How did you come to be here, O'Neill?" Teal'c asked.

"Yes. Do tell." Jack said. He folded his hands in front of him and put on his "Listening Face".

"Please. You said that it was too late for your world. Are you sure there's nothing that can be done? What happened?" Daniel said all heartfelt sympathy and curiosity.

FJ smiled sadly at him. "I wish there was something that you could do." He reached out across the table as if to touch Daniel but subsided when he caught the "Touch Him and Die" glare that Jack sent his way.

FJ pulled himself together and focused his attention on General Hammond.

"Doctor Daniel Jackson opened our Stargate eight years ago. It took him two weeks to do what no one, including our Carter, had been able to do despite spending years trying.

"Doctor Jackson, myself, and our team went through the Stargate to Abydos. We encountered natives and a Goa'uld known as Ra..."

Jack listened intently to FJ's tale. It was remarkably similar to theirs. In fact, they seemed to be identical.

"It sounds like your experiences have paralleled our own," Carter said, stating the obvious.

"Then we may be in grave danger," Teal'c said.

Jack figured that Teal'c, probably like the rest of them, was remembering Daniel's visit to an alternate reality several years ago and how the destruction of that reality's SGC had allowed Daniel to save their own planet.

And that reality hadn't been anywhere near as similar to their own reality as this one was.

"Tell us what happened," Jack said.

"Anubis attacked. He'd appropriated some Asgaurd tech and used it to take over the SGC. I intended to go through the mirror and get help but...there wasn't anything left to save. This isn't my first trip through the mirror. I've been to three different realities before this one. The first trip was to try to save my own world. The next two were to try to find a new home."

"That's terrible," Carter said. "With so many possible combinations of factors the probability of finding a world where Colonel O'Neill is dead or doesn't exist but is still similar enough for you to settle comfortably is..."

"Damned unlikely," Jack said.

Daniel kicked him under the table. He looked over at Daniel, trying out his best "What did I do?" expression.

Daniel frowned at him, unmoved by Jack's wounded look.

Turning back to FJ, Daniel said, "This must be very hard for you."

"It is. Harder than anything I've ever had to do before."

"Is there anything that we can do to help?" Daniel said, looking at Hammond. "Sir?" He looked at Jack then back at Hammond. "There must be something."

"He can't stay here, son. We've already got a Jack O'Neill."

"One is quite sufficient," Teal'c solemnly pronounced.

"Hey!"

Daniel grinned at Jack's outrage. "True. One Jack O'Neill does seem to be all any universe should have to handle," he said.

This time Jack kicked Daniel.

Daniel's smile never wavered and actually grew wider. Jack felt a fluttering sensation in the pit of his stomach that was his usual reaction to a smile from Daniel.

His happiness abruptly faded, though, when he saw the wistful, longing look in FJ's eyes. He's not just looking for a new place to settle. He's looking for a new Daniel to settle with. Well, he's not getting this one. No way, no how.

"Unfortunately, he can only stay here for 48 hours before he starts to suffer from Entropic Cascade Failure," Carter said. "How long have you been in this reality?"

"I know that I can't stay here." He looked at Daniel and smiled sadly. "There's nothing that can be done. I just have to keep searching."

"Colonel?"

"Yes, sir." Two colonels said at the same time.

Hammond smiled and looked at FJ. "We need to know how much time you have before we have to get you back through the mirror. I'd like to know everything that you can tell us about Anubis's attack in your reality."

"I don't have much time left. But, I could give all the info to someone on the way to the mirror. It's a bit of a hike. Perhaps, Daniel..."

"Perhaps, SG1," Jack said. He looked at Hammond. "SG1 will be the team escorting him to a brand new reality. Right, Sir?"

"Yes. I intended to send SG1 and it looks like you'll be heading out immediately." Hammond stood. "Dismissed."

Jack and the rest of SG1 stood and began heading towards the locker rooms to gear up. Jack made sure that Daniel was ahead of him. No way was he letting FJ get too close.

At the doorway, he stopped and waited for his double.

"Good luck, son. I hope you find what you're looking for," Hammond said.

"Thank you, Sir." FJ saluted Hammond and, after Hammond returned the salute, walked towards Jack.

They stared each other down until Daniel's impatient voice interrupted them. "Jack, are you coming?"

"On my way," FJ said and moved to join Daniel. Jack cut in front of him and trotted over to Daniel's side.

"I was giving you a head start on gearing up. You know how I hate waiting in the Gateroom for you to finish primping."

Daniel snorted, "Yeah, right."

Feigning indignation, Jack said, "Are you calling me a liar?"

Daniel gave him a sideways look from under his lashes and every thought vanished from Jack's mind as all the blood in his body rushed south. That look should not be legal outside of a bedroom.

"Noooo," Daniel drawled out, "You know I'd never do something like that."

For a moment, Jack thought Daniel was commenting on Jack's thoughts about filthy looks, bedrooms, and what he and Daniel could be doing with both. Luckily, he caught a glimpse of FJ drooling over Daniel and the sudden rush of anger cleared his Daniel induced fog.

"Come on. Let's get to the locker room. The faster we get ready, the faster we can get this joker out of here," Jack said. He grabbed a now frowning Daniel by the elbow and towed him along.

He'd apologize to Daniel for his rude behavior later. Right now, he wanted this interloper out of here. The sooner the better.

Chapter 2

Daniel stepped out of the wormhole and into a sunlit, forested glade. It looked as peaceful and pristine as it had seemed on the video feed from the UAV. It was hard to believe that people had lived, worked, and died here. They must have, though, or they wouldn't have seen the ruins of a small village and the remains of a temple about six kilometers away.

According to the alternate reality version of Jack, or FJ -- as Jack was calling him, the Quantum Mirror was located inside the temple. They'd been able to verify that the planet, or at least what they'd seen of it, had been abandoned a very long time ago.

And now, less than an hour after they'd examined the UAV footage they were stepping out onto a new world. He pulled out his clip-on sunglasses and fitted them over his glasses while he waited for everyone to arrive.

The two Jacks were the last ones to step out of the wormhole and were getting along wonderfully, if the way they were sneering at each other was any indication.

Daniel grinned at Teal'c and said, "Some things never change."

Teal'c inclined his head in agreement.

"All right, kids, let's get this show on the road. Move 'em out," Jack said and they headed out, automatically moving into position. FJ wound up walking between Jack and Sam but he didn't look happy about it. He was making Daniel a little nervous -- partly because of his odd behavior, Daniel hadn't missed the strange looks FJ'd been giving him or the animosity he seemed to feel for Sam, and partly because he was armed to the teeth with a P-90 and a rifle.

After forty-five minutes spent hiking silently along a narrow, overgrown trail, following his teammates and FJ, Daniel paused to adjust a strap on his pack and surreptitiously eyed FJ. There was something really wrong about the man. He wasn't quite sure why he felt so concerned but he did.

He sighed and tried to figure out the Jack-shaped puzzle without tripping over his own feet. Whoever said walking and chewing gum was hard should try hiking through a dense, hilly forest while most of his attention was somewhere else.

He probably shouldn't be worrying about it. No one else seemed uneasy, except Jack, and his wariness was probably because of his discomfort with doubles of himself. Besides, the man would be gone shortly.

But he couldn't seem to convince himself to let it go.

It seemed, to him, as if Jack was more than just uncomfortable.

And, there was more to it than just Jack's reaction.

For one thing they'd been hiking through this forest for nearly an hour and FJ still hadn't told them anything about Anubis's attack. Every time he brought it up FJ somehow shifted the conversation away to another topic. Usually, they wound up talking about something involving Daniel's own life and interests.

At which point Jack would butt in and the conversation would dry up.

Also, FJ was ignoring Sam. He never spoke to her directly or even indirectly. If she talked to him or asked him a question, he acted as if he hadn't heard her speak.

And yet, he was still so much like the Jack of this reality. He had the same mannerisms, used the same expressions. He even had the same sense of humor.

Because they were so much alike, it was almost as if Jack, his Jack, was the one acting shifty and treating Sam like a pariah. It was creepy and left him feeling edgy.

Daniel returned his attention to the trail in front of him just in time to avoid smacking his head on a small tree branch. He swerved and stumbled then found himself supported by a strong, familiar hand. Sort of.

"You alright?" FJ asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Daniel replied absentmindedly. He looked ahead to see the rest of his teammates ahead of them. When had that happened? And how had FJ ended up behind him?

"You seem a little distracted. Something bothering you?"

It was such a Jack thing to say and do; Jack was always looking out for him and worrying about him. It was one of the reasons why he loved Jack.

But he wasn't going to think about that. His feelings for Jack -- his unrequited feelings -- were a topic that he avoided at all costs because dwelling on something that could never be would only cause him pain. And he was no masochist.

FJ was still holding onto his arm. It felt good, like it always did. Except it was the wrong Jack holding onto him. Daniel looked into FJ's eyes and wondered if he should tell FJ about his concerns. It was probably nothing, right? Just his over active imagination acting up. And FJ was so much like his Jack. He couldn't possibly be dangerous.

But, then again, he wasn't Daniel's Jack. He could be very dangerous.

Decision made, for the moment, Daniel smiled and lied. "No. Nothing's bothering me. I really am fine."

FJ appeared to study him for a moment, openly skeptical. Jack always could read him like a book, right from the very beginning when he told General West that Daniel was full of shit.

FJ opened his mouth, as if to speak, but he never got the chance. Jack appeared out of nowhere and slid in between them. "What's the holdup? You alright, Daniel?" Daniel could read the unspoken "This Guy Bothering You?" look in Jack's eyes.

Daniel sighed and repeated what he'd said a moment ago, practically word for word, "I'm fine, Jack. I tripped, that's all." He felt like a damsel in need of rescue by a dashing knight.

Jack looked back and forth between Daniel and FJ. "You're sure?"

"I'm sure," Daniel said. He was beginning to get annoyed. Jack's concern was nice the first time but it was starting to get old. How many times did he have to say that he was OK? "I'm a grown man and fully capable of taking care of myself, Jack. Stop treating me like a child."

 He stalked off, fuming, and joined Teal'c and Sam, who were waiting up ahead. Jack and his alternate reality twin could baby-sit each other for a while.

Already agitated, he almost turned around when he got close enough to see that Sam, once again, had that Look on her face -- the one that clearly showed how jealous and unhappy she was whenever Jack fussed over him or paid too much attention to him. He was in no mood for it. He was just as in love with Jack as she and he didn't begrudge her the attention that Jack gave her. And he had more reason than she did to be jealous; after all, Jack was straight. She actually had a chance.

He didn't blame Sam for feeling the way that she did. However, he could and did blame her for how she reacted to those feelings. If he didn't hold it against her when Jack looked out for her, why did she seem to resent every bit of non-professional attention that Jack paid to him?

And he missed their friendship. He missed bouncing ideas of each other and standing together to get more time on missions for the "science stuff", as Jack called it. He missed the late nights at the SGC talking about everything and nothing. Now, he was lucky if she could spare him a moment or two, on occasion, if she wasn't too busy.

It had all ended when she started seeing him as a rival for Jack's time, attention, and affection.

After one last look at Sam's unfriendly face, he turned away and leaned against a tree trunk, staring off into the forest.

Teal'c walked over to stand directly in his line of sight. "I believe that providing the two O'Neill's with a vat of Jello could provide much entertainment for us, Daniel Jackson," he said.

Daniel couldn't speak for a moment. The image of two Jack's wrestling around in Jello was...was...either incredibly hot or utterly ridiculous. He decided to dwell on the absurdity of the situation, it would be better for his health, and started laughing. "We could set it up at the SGC and charge admission."

"I believe we would become quite wealthy."

"What's going on over here?" Jack said, suddenly appearing at Daniel's side and sounding suspicious. He looked back and forth between Daniel and Teal'c. "What have you been saying about me?"

"We were not discussing you, O'Neill. Daniel Jackson and I were discussing a more entertaining topic."

"Hey, nothing's more entertaining than me," Jack said. He smiled endearingly and waggled his eyebrows.

Daniel snorted.

"Sir?" Sam interrupted their conversation. "We should really get moving."

Jack sighed. "You're right." He patted Daniel on the shoulder, wagged his finger at Teal'c, and motioned Sam to head out.

Sam waited for Jack to catch up to her so they could walk together and Teal'c followed them. Daniel turned to watch FJ's approach. Only...he wasn't there.

FJ's disappearance wasn't good. In fact, he was absolutely certain that it was very, very bad.

***

Jack moved stealthily through the trees. They had probably realized that he was missing by now. Would they hunt for him? Leave? Continue on to the mirror? If it was him, he would keep going to the mirror. Complete the mission.

He was counting on this reality's Jack to do the same.

The sound of a twig snapping caused him to pause and look back. He scanned the forest behind him, searching for the source of the disturbance. Nothing. Probably some harmless woodland creature. No need to worry about large carnivores or pursuit. He didn't have any reason to believe that there were predators here that would view him as a meal and if there were...well...there wasn't much he could do about it until it happened. No amount of worrying would change that. As for pursuit, Jack wouldn't split up his team. It would be too risky.

Or would he? Would he leave Daniel under Carter's protection while he and Teal'c hunted their missing visitor?

He damn well better not or two people would die this afternoon, because he had to keep Daniel safe.

He had to keep it from happening again. Daniel wouldn't be lost to her selfishness ever again. Not so long as he had breath in his body.

He started walking again. There was a clearing not too far ahead. It was several hundred yards above the trail that SG1 was following and provided the perfect vantage point for hidden observation.

Or assassination.

He chuckled humorlessly. Who would have thought that his life would come to this? The man he'd been just a few weeks ago would never have recognized this stranger trudging through the woods, intending to commit cold-blooded murder. He'd done some damned distasteful things in the past but this...this was where he'd always drawn the line.

Yet, he felt at peace with his decision. He might regret the way he'd changed but he didn't, and wouldn't, regret the decision to act. This was far too important. What happened to him didn't matter, not anymore. He was dead anyway; he'd died with Daniel on a distant planet and he'd been killed by Her.

All that mattered was keeping Daniel safe.

Even if Daniel would never condone what he'd done. What he would do again and again and again, until it was finished.

Jack felt the sting of tears in his eyes --tears that he refused to shed. After all, everyone knew corpses didn't cry.

Daniel! I miss you so much!

It was killing him to be so close and yet so far from the man that he loved beyond all reason.

Twice now he'd found an alternate reality close to his own and both times the Daniel's of those worlds were out of reach.

All he'd wanted was to spend the rest of his life with a beautiful, passionate, willful linguist.

And look what he'd gotten instead.

The galaxy was out to get him. There was no doubt about it.

Finally reaching his destination, he pulled out his binocs and checked his line of sight.

He focused in on the faint trail clearly revealed to his sight. "Perfect."

He checked his watch and calculated times and distances in his head. He should have more than enough time to get set up, since the trail SG1 was following wasn't the most direct route to the temple with the mirror. It looped back and forth a few times, so he was now ahead of them.

He wouldn't fail this time.

As he assembled the rifle that he'd acquired in the last reality he'd visited he started felling an itchy, tingling sensation between his shoulder blades. He tensed.

He was being watched.

Predator? Or Jack?

Or was it Teal'c? No. If this Teal'c was anything like his then he'd never feel or hear Teal'c coming until it was too late.

Still holding the assembled rifle at the ready, and without turning around, he called out, "I know you're back there. You might as well come out."

Hearing movement behind him, he slowly turned to face the person approaching and got quite a shock.

It was Daniel, looking ill at ease and aiming a Beretta at him.

"Daniel?" He lowered the rifle. Whatever happened here, he'd never shoot Daniel. "What are you doing here?"

"I think I should be asking you that," Daniel said, his eyes flicking back and forth between Jack and the rifle.

"I must be losing my touch. I never knew you were behind me."

"Teal'c's been teaching me a few things."

"I'm impressed."

"Why don't you reward my accomplishment by telling me what you intend to do with that rifle."

He was up Shit Creek without a paddle right now because Daniel would never stand by and let him shoot Carter.

He couldn't hurt Daniel. He couldn't. Except...that's what he'd have to do if he wanted to finish what he started. Daniel would recover from being knocked out but he wouldn't recover when Carter killed him.

He'd need to get Daniel closer, though, before he could act. He didn't want to risk either of them getting shot during a struggle for the gun. If he could get within arm's reach then he could disarm and disable Daniel without difficulty.

He slowly shifted his grip on the rifle until he was holding it loosely by the butt. "I'm dropping the rifle. OK?" He said.

Daniel nodded his head. Jack dropped the rifle into the dirt and stepped sideways, away from the gun. "I put down mine, why don't you put down yours," Jack said.

Daniel visibly hesitated. "This gun is the only thing keeping you from attacking or killing me," he finally said, gun still trained steadily on Jack. "Right?"

Daniel was looking at Jack in much the same way as he'd looked at Hathor when she'd been calling him "beloved" and waving a snake in his face. It broke Jack's heart. "Daniel..." He started, and then stopped. What was he supposed to say? How did he get that look out of Daniel's eyes? It was killing him to see fear in Daniel's beautiful blue eyes when Daniel was looking at him. Daniel should never be afraid of him. Never.

"You don't understand," he said and winced at the plaintive tone in his voice.

It had a positive effect on Daniel, though, because the look of fear left his eyes. He lowered his gun slightly and said, "What don't I understand." His voice was soft and compassionate. Jack started to hope that he could still complete his mission.

Jack wasn't the Jack that Daniel knew but he was willing to bet that, just like he couldn't look at this Daniel and not see his lover, Daniel couldn't look at him without seeing his friend. That would work to his advantage because Daniel trusted Jack. He wouldn't easily believe that Jack would kill any or all of his teammates, not without reason. Daniel would want to understand and would believe that he could talk Jack out of it. He couldn't, not this time, but Daniel didn't know that. And maybe, just maybe, he could convince Daniel that it had to be done.

He collapsed down onto his knees. Eyes focused on the ground in front of him, he said, "I have to do this. It's the only way to be sure."

Daniel stepped closer. Out of the corner of his eye Jack could see Daniel lower his arm down against his side. He still held the gun but now it was pointed at the ground instead of Jack.

"Jack." He licked his lips and took another step closer.

Jack waited. A few steps more and he'd be able to take Daniel down.

Daniel stopped moving and, wondering why, Jack looked up into his eyes. Daniel looked wary again. "What's wrong?"

"You're up to something."

Jack tried his best to look harmless. "No I'm not."

"Yes you are," Daniel said and started to take a step back.

"Wait!" Jack said. "Please, Daniel. I promise; I won't hurt you."

Daniel stayed where he was, unmoving, his eyes focused intently on Jack's for several long seconds. Finally, he sighed and knelt down on the ground near Jack.

Jack smiled fondly at him. "You always did have more heart than sense," he said.

Daniel tensed and said, "Thank you. I think."

Jack stayed where he was and Daniel relaxed. "What do you need to be sure of, Jack, and why do you need a gun to do it?"

Jack shook his head unaccountably amused. "You always were a persistent son-of-a-bitch."

Daniel responded by arching an eyebrow.

"You've been hanging around Teal'c too much."

Daniel leaned forward. "Jack, please. Talk to me," he said earnestly.

Jack rubbed the heels of his hands over his forehead and thought about what to say. He'd never told anyone about the events that led to him traveling through the mirror. Losing Daniel and the reasons for that loss were two of the worst moments in his life, right up there with Charlie's death.

Of course, Daniel had always been the one person he could open up to. He'd always been able to tell Daniel everything. But how did he tell this Daniel about his own Daniel's death?

He was startled out of his thoughts by a softly spoken, "Jack," and the feel of a hand on his shoulder. He shuddered and just barely resisted the urge to bury himself in Daniel's arms.

"I don't know where to start."  

Help me, Daniel. I can't do this without you. I can't do any of it without you.

Eyes still covered, he felt Daniel's hand stroking over the ball of his shoulder in a soothing, comforting motion. For a moment, he allowed himself to pretend that he was back home with his lover.

//\\//\\

He lowered his hands and reached out to take Daniel into his arms. 

They'd taken advantage of this rare opportunity for a vacation to spend the week alone up at Jack's cabin. Without a soul within miles they could be themselves without fear of exposure. He knew how hard it was for Daniel to have to lie to everyone. 

Someday when the time was right, he'd retire from saving the world and the two of them could finally come out of the closet.

"Are you alright?" Daniel asked as he wrapped his arms around Jack's waist.

Jack hugged him tight. "How could anything possibly be wrong? We've got a whole week to do nothing but make love and fish."

Daniel laughed. "I'm glad that I rate higher than fishing."

Jack kissed Daniel. "There wasn't ever a doubt."

"Well, since I seem to be more appealing than fishing," Daniel said and leaned in to trail kisses along Jack's jaw from chin to ear. "Perhaps I could convince you...," he continued before sucking Jack's earlobe into his mouth. Jack shuddered and started walking backwards, away from the edge of the dock, intending to pull Daniel down onto the grass.

"No convincing necessary," he said breathlessly.

"Jack."

"Mmm."

"Jack?"

//\\//\\

"Jack?!"

Abruptly yanked out of his daydream, Jack blinked his eyes and stared stupidly at Daniel for a few seconds.

"Where were you?" Daniel asked.

"I'm losing my mind."

"You're hurting," Daniel said. Jack could hear the distress in his voice. Daniel always did feel another's pain as if it were his own.

"I miss him," he choked out through a throat that suddenly felt too tight. "He's dead. I lost the best part of my life and it was all because of her."

"Her? Who...?" Daniel looked down at the barely visible trail, then at the rifle that was lying in the dirt.

"You're talking about Sam, aren't you?"

He'd known Daniel for years and it still amazed him how easily Daniel made those intuitive leaps. Sitting here, with Daniel, it was hard to believe that his lover was dead -- not when he could just reach out and touch...

He shifted closer and reached out with both hands, grabbing Daniel's face. Daniel gasped and tried to pull away but Jack held on. He hauled Daniel in close and kissed him with all the pent up, desperate passion in his soul.

Daniel made a single protest that was muffled by Jack's mouth. Jack took advantage of Daniel's parted lips to deepen the kiss and Daniel began to respond, meeting Jack's passion with equal measure. Soon they were both drowning

Daniel tasted so good, exactly like he remembered. . God! It had been so long since he'd had more than memories and dreams!

They separated long moments later, gasping for air. Jack couldn't think of the last time he'd wanted something as badly as he wanted Daniel right here and now.

But then, like a bucket of ice cold water, he remembered the last time he'd wanted something this desperately.

He pulled away from Daniel.

"We were lovers," he said, although he was pretty sure that Daniel had already figured that out on his own. The brain melting kiss they'd just shared was a dead give away.

Daniel's eyes lost their dazed look and focused onto Jack's.

"No. 'Lovers' isn't strong enough to describe what we were to each other. You were everything...I can't believe that I'm saying this, but you were my soul mate. Being with you felt so right. I think I knew, almost from the moment we first met, that you were going to change my life. I just never realized how much or how deeply."

Jack touched his fingers to his lips. "I still remember our first kiss."

"Tell me about it," Daniel said softly.

//\\//\\

Jack stepped out of the wormhole and enjoyed the split second of silence. He knew that Daniel would start back up the moment he stepped out into the gateroom.

A moment later he was proved right when Daniel walked out of the event horizon and continued from where he'd left off back on Kellowna.

"I'm perfectly capable of talking to the Kellownans about the naquadria, Jack. There was no reason to make us come back to the SGC and send SG9 in our place. We were already there. We already know the situation..."

Jack finally shut him up by covering Daniel's mouth with his hand.

"mmph..."

"Oh, fer cryin' out loud, Daniel. This wasn't my idea, alright? Tell it to Hammond."

Speaking of Hammond...

Jack turned; hand still over Daniel's mouth. "Sir," he said. Greeting his CO, who was standing at the foot of the ramp, smiling.

"I'd say it's good to be back but I'd be lying."

Daniel shook off Jack's hand, glared at him, and then turned to Hammond. "General, I..."

Hammond held up a hand, stopping Daniel's words. Shit! Why didn't that ever work for him?

"I'm sorry, son. The Pentagon insisted. They're very excited about this naquadria. I tried to tell them that you would get them a sample but they insisted that the diplomats do the negotiating."

"I understand," Daniel said in a tone of that conveyed exactly the opposite and stalked out of the room.

"Thank you, sir," Jack said and followed Daniel out of the room, Carter and Teal'c right behind him.

***

"Any news," Jack asked as he joined Hammond and his team in the control room.

SG9 had been on Kellowna for three days now. Major Kovacek had reported in regularly, updating them on SG9's progress, until last night. SG9 had now missed two check-ins.

"No, Sir," Carter said. "We're going to dial out now."

Jack nodded his head and waited for the chevrons to engage and the wormhole to stabilize. He couldn't help thinking that whatever had happened to SG9 could have happened to SG1, if Hammond hadn't recalled them.

Several minutes later a Kellownan representative, a man named Jonas, was seated at the conference table in the briefing room telling them about a tragic accident. The naquadria bomb that the Kellownan scientists had been working on -- Daniel had warned them that they were heading for a disaster -- had exploded. SG9 had been right there at Ground Zero when it happened. They'd been taking the tour that Daniel had been scheduled to go on. Hundreds of people had been killed. Thousands more had been injured and the long term effects were unknown, although it looked like war was imminent.

Jonas offered his condolences -- and a sample of the naquadria as compensation for their loss -- then he went back home.

Jack barely refrained from telling him not to let the wormhole hit him on the ass on his way out.

Daniel was torn up, like always. He never had learned to take loss of life easily. Thank God. Teal'c was as stoic as ever. He had learned, just like Jack, to accept loss of life as the cost of doing business. Carter looked a little shaken but she was tough. She'd be fine.

Jack, on the other hand, wasn't fine. He couldn't get the thought out of his head that it could have been Daniel on that tour. It could have been Daniel that died. If Daniel had managed to convince Hammond to let him stay...

Jack could have lost him.

Before he'd ever had him.

He'd been in love with Daniel for a long time now. He'd known that he was in love with Daniel for the past few months. He was almost positive that Daniel felt the same way. He had been thinking that in a few years he'd be ready for retirement, his knees wouldn't hold out forever and he wasn't interested in a desk job. He planned on approaching Daniel then. But now...if he didn't act now then he might never have the chance, and he wanted that chance more than he'd wanted anything in a very, very long time.

It was time to screw up his courage and act.

***

Jack fumbled with his keys and nearly dropped them. He didn't think he'd ever been this nervous, not even the first time he'd felt up Sharon Tanner in the back of the gym.

He finally managed to unlock his front door and gestured for Daniel to precede him inside.

Daniel gave him a funny look but otherwise didn't comment on Jack's odd behavior.

He immediately headed for the kitchen and his fridge. There was a bottle of Sam Adams in there with his name on it. The way he was feeling, he'd need some liquid courage to get him through this. The only reason he wasn't heading for the scotch was because he didn't want to get drunk. Daniel would never take him seriously if he slurred out a confession of love. Besides, Daniel deserved better.

He probably deserved better than a broken down, old colonel, too. But if he was stupid enough to fall for Jack, Jack certainly wasn't stupid enough to let him go.

"Jack?" Daniel said from behind him and Jack nearly jumped out of his skin. He quickly turned around, fridge wide open and just barely avoided dropping the unopened beer he was holding in his hand.

"What's going on?"

"Umm, going on? What do you mean? Nothing's going on." Christ. He was babbling. He never babbled.

Daniel leaned back against the wall and just looked at Jack. He didn't need to say anything. It was ridiculously obvious that there was something wrong.

"Beer?" Jack offered. Daniel, predictably, shook his head. Jack closed the fridge and headed into the living room. Daniel made way for him and then followed behind. They'd done this enough times for Daniel to know that waiting patiently for Jack to talk was the only way to get him to open up when something was bothering him.

They both settled down onto the couch and Jack sipped at his beer trying to figure out what to say and how to say it.

Daniel started worrying at his lower lip, causing the temperature in the room to rise by several degrees and Jack's thought processes to short-circuit.

"Stop that," he said, without thinking.

Daniel looked over at him and said, "Stop what?"

Jack indicated Daniel's mouth by waving his bottle at it and said, "That nibbling thing. It's...distracting."

"Jack," Daniel said. "Are you...Do...umm..."

"I'm in love with you," Jack blurted out like some kind of simpleton.

Daniel gaped at him. Jack took a big, hasty gulp of his beer and nearly asphyxiated himself.

When he was done coughing and choking, he realized that Daniel was practically sitting in his lap, pounding on his back.

He waved Daniel off. "I'm OK. I'm OK. There's no need to pound on me anymore."

Daniel blushed and yanked his hand and arm away as if he'd been burned. Jack put what was left of his beer on the coffee table and looked at Daniel's profile. "Well?"

"I'm in love with you, too," Daniel said to his lap.

Jack's breath caught in his throat for a moment. As much as he'd thought that Daniel loved him, he still never really believed that he'd ever hear Daniel say those words.

He reached out with a trembling hand and turned Daniel's face to look at him. Unsure what to say, he decided not to speak at all and leaned over to capture the full, lush lips that he'd been dreaming about for the past five months.

//\\//\\

Jack smiled broadly, lost in the memory of that night -- the first time that he'd made love to Daniel.

"It was amazing." He said and reached out to stroke his index finger down Daniel's cheek. "You were amazing. We were amazing. Perfect."

"Not me," Daniel said softly and pulled away from Jack's touch.

"What?" Jack said stupidly before realizing what Daniel was talking about. This wasn't his Daniel. His Daniel was dead. Killed by someone that he had trusted, someone who would commit the same crime over and over again if Jack didn't stop her.

They didn't have a lot of time. The rest of SG1 would be coming soon and he still had a mission to complete.

Jack clasped Daniel's hands in his own. He was going to need the strength he gained from Daniel's touch if he was going to get through this next part.

He closed his eyes and allowed himself to remember the events leading up to Daniel's death.

//\\//\\

Life was sweet. For the first time in years, he was feeling on top of the world. Usually this was the point in time where everything went to Hell in a hand basket but he couldn't seem to bring himself to worry about it.

He saved the planet on a regular basis, traveled to new and exotic locales almost daily, and he was cohabitating, unofficially, with a dashing archeologist who could do things with his tongue and hands that never failed to make Jack scream in pleasure.

Life was sooo very sweet.

"It's wonderful to see you getting so much enjoyment out of ancient ruins, Jack."

Jack turned away from the mural that he was facing to look at his dashing archeologist, who was kneeling on the floor, on the other side of the building, examining some scribbles.

"The day that I get any enjoyment out of rocks and pillars is the day that the men in clean, white coats come to take me away," Jack said with a grin.

Daniel sighed in mock disappointment. "You have no taste, Jack. Absolutely, no taste at all."

"Hah! I'll have you know I have excellent taste. I chose you, didn't I?"

Daniel smiled sweetly up at him. "The exception that proves the rule."

Jack opened his mouth to respond but at that moment he heard the sound of the Stargate activating. He spoke into his radio. "Carter, report."

The MALP had shown a deserted planet except for a small, ancient, stone building. There were no signs of anyone having been to the planet in years, so there was no reason for anyone to be coming through the 'gate right now. They were only there because Daniel believed this old building had something to do with the Ancients and there were some funky energy readings here that had nearly made Carter wet her pants.

When they'd arrived on the planet he'd left Carter and Teal'c to poke around near the 'gate in an attempt to isolate the energy readings that Carter swore weren't coming from the lone sign of civilization on the entire planet. He wasn't going to argue with her though, she'd been a little tetchy lately for some inexplicable reason. He'd simply left her to her investigating, with Teal'c as backup, and accompanied Daniel to the squat, smallish building a few hundred yards from the 'gate.

"I don't know, Sir," Sam's voice said.

"You and Teal'c take cover. We'll hold our position here." There wasn't time to join Carter and Teal'c in the trees that lined the route between them and the Stargate. They'd have to wait and hope that if their uninvited guests were hostile, they'd also be few. He wouldn't want to run this particular gauntlet while staff weapons fired at him.

"Already done, Sir."

"Good." He moved into position on one side of the doorway, facing the Stargate, and hoped like hell that they weren't about to face down a battalion of Jaffa. If they did, then their access to the 'gate was going to be cut off and there was no way out of here.

He spotted Daniel out of the corner of his eye, Beretta at the ready, crouched down on the other side of the doorway.

Jack wasn't going to let the universe fuck him over this time. They were going to make it out of here alive, damnit.

At that moment a half dozen Jaffa stepped out of the wormhole. "Shit," Jack muttered under his breath. He couldn't make out the symbols on their foreheads, not that it mattered. They had yet to meet a Goa'uld who believed in peace, love, and Rock n Roll.

The Jaffa fanned out and began walking towards the building that he and Daniel were currently occupying. They were out of options now.

Teal'c opened fire with his staff weapon taking out two of the Jaffa before they had a chance to respond. He heard Carter open fire with her P-90, taking out a third.

The three remaining Jaffa ducked into the trees and began returning fire.

They were cut off from the 'gate, just like he figured and, the way he saw it, they had two choices.

They could try to out wait the Jaffa. They were scheduled to check-in less than 90 minutes from now. That meant waiting -- an option that he didn't like at all. There were too many things that could go wrong, too many opportunities for disaster.

 That left option number two. They were going to have to make a break for it. It was probably the best chance they would have to make it out alive.

Jack banged his head against the wall. There was only one way to pull this off and it meant sending Daniel out into the line of fire.

It would work out. They'd done it before on the planet where they'd acquired Nyan. They could do it again.

And when they got home, Jack was heading straight into General Hammond's office and resigning his commission. He couldn't do this anymore.

He broke radio silence long enough to quietly outline their plan and then they made their move.

Teal'c and Sam continued firing into the trees, laying down cover fire. Daniel broke for the 'gate at top speed with Jack right behind him acting as a human shield. They made it to the DHD and Daniel started dialing. Jack was beginning to think that they were going to make out of here without injury when something punched into his shoulder slamming him into Daniel's back. Daniel never even hesitated and Jack watched him hit the last glyph right before everything slid sideways and then went black.

//\\//\\

Jack opened his eyes and saw the sorrow and understanding in Daniel's eyes. "It's not what you think," he said.

"I think there's more to this than you feeling guilty because your Daniel was killed while following your orders."

"You're right."

//\\//\\

The first thing that Jack became aware of was an intense pain radiating out from his shoulder and down through his back. The next thing he became aware of was a hand holding his own.

Without thinking, he opened his mouth and managed to croak out Daniel's name.

The hand in his tensed and a voice said, "Jack?"

But the voice wasn't Daniel's, it was, "Carter?" Why was she using his first name? Where was Daniel?

He turned his head and cracked open his eyes. "Wh...Wh..."

Carter quickly reached for a cup on the table beside his bed. "I've got it, Sir." She brought the cup up to his lips so that he could sip its contents up through the straw.

After taking a few sips, he turned his head and Carter placed it back on the table.

"Where's Daniel?" He asked.

Carter frowned. "I think I better get Janet," she said and walked away.

He watched her disappear around a privacy curtain, mind slowly coming to a horrific conclusion.

When Janet appeared, with Carter in tow, a moment later, he said, "Where's Daniel? How badly was he hit?"

Janet didn't even need to speak. He saw the awful truth written all over her face.

Daniel was dead.

He had to give Janet credit; she didn't try to sugar-coat it or brush him off. "I'm sorry, Colonel. Daniel didn't make it."

"Where is he? I want to see him." He was suddenly reminded of a similar scene, years ago, where Daniel had been demanding to see Sha're's body -- unwilling or unable to believe that she was gone until he'd seen the proof with his own two eyes.

It wasn't real until he could no longer deny the truth.

Janet shook her head. Before she could speak, she was interrupted by General Hammond's arrival.

He strode into the room loaded for bear and he didn't even seem to notice that Jack was awake and aware. "Major Carter, you are to accompany me to the briefing room immediately."

Carter looked worried. "I don't understand." She looked back at Jack and squared her shoulders. "I'd like to stay with Colonel O'Neill, Sir."

"I don't particularly care what you'd like, Major. Now, you can either come with me willingly or I can have you escorted there by SFs. The choice is yours."

Carter's lips thinned and she looked liked she was going to defy Hammond's command. Janet put her hand on Carter's arm. Carter looked at her and the two of them traded looks. Apparently, Janet managed to "talk" some sense into her because she nodded her head and stomped out of the room without once looking at Hammond.

"What the hell's going on here?" Jack asked weakly.

Hammond looked at him sadly. "I wish I could tell you, Colonel, but I'm not quite sure myself."

//\\//\\

"The next few days were mostly a blur. I was too doped up on pain meds to be very lucid. And I don't think that they wanted to burden me with the truth anyway. It might be why they kept me doped up.

"But they couldn't keep me in the dark forever."

//\\//\\

"Get off me," Jack shouted angrily and slapped at Janet.

"Colonel," she said in a tone that would normally quell him into instant obedience. Not this time though.

"Don't use that tone with me. You've kept me drugged into a coma for long enough. I'm leaving now whether you like it on not. I want answers, Doctor."

Janet sighed and capped the needle she'd been planning to inject into Jack's IV. "I'll ask General Hammond to come down and talk to you. Is that good enough?"

"For now," Jack said sullenly, eyeing Janet warily until she, and her needle, disappeared from sight. He'd had enough of this imprisonment. He wanted to know what was going on. He'd give Hammond fifteen minutes to get down here and start explaining or he was walking out of here and finding the answers he wanted on his own.

It had been days since Carter had been escorted out of the infirmary. Days since he'd been told that Daniel...

He restlessly fingered the IV embedded in his hand and watched the clock.

Exactly nine minutes and thirty-seven seconds later Hammond walked into the infirmary. Jack watched him sit down in the chair at Jack's bedside. The only reason why Jack hadn't jumped on him and demanded answers the second he walked into view was because Hammond looked old, like he had the weight of the galaxy on his shoulders.

Jack had a really bad feeling that he knew what Hammond was going to say.

"There's no easy way to say this, Colonel. It's ugly and no one's walking away from this clean."

He took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and looked directly at Jack.

"When you went down on P3X-111 Major Carter broke cover and pulled you to safety. Her actions allowed one of the attacking Jaffa to fire on Doctor Jackson. He was hit in the back but managed to complete the dialing sequence. Major Carter sent Teal'c through the Stargate, carrying you to safety. When she came through the Stargate herself a few moments later, she claimed that she had confirmed Doctor Jackson's death."

Jack flinched.

"Colonel?"

"Go on. I want to hear the rest." Actually, he was pretty sure that he didn't want to hear the rest but he knew that he needed to hear it.

"Major Carter lied. When we sent SG2 back through the 'gate to retrieve Doctor Jackson's body, he was still alive. He died on the gateroom ramp one hour and twenty-five minutes after Major Carter left him. Teal'c stated that the Jaffa most likely left Doctor Jackson alive as the bait in a trap, assuming that we would return to save him. SG2 reported a large number of Jaffa were guarding the 'gate when they went through, far more than the three that Teal'c reported initially."

Jack barely heard Hammond's words beyond "Carter lied" and "he died on the gateroom ramp". She killed him. As surely as if she'd put a bullet in his brain.

She killed him.

"Why? Why would she...Carter never panicked under fire before. Why now?"

Hammond sighed. "Under questioning, she admitted to the lie. She said that she was certain he was dead, that no one could have survived a wound that severe. Our medical personnel disagree. They believe that they could have saved him if he'd been brought back to the SGC at the same time you were."

"Why? Damnit! Tell me why," Jack demanded. He needed to know the reasons behind her actions. It was important that he understand why he'd lost Daniel. Somehow...maybe...if he knew why he might be able to accept it and forgive. Because, right now, all he wanted to do was get a gun, hunt down Carter and kill her -- like she killed Daniel.

"I can only speculate, Colonel. She insisted that it was a logical, though incorrect, decision made in the heat of battle. However..." Hammond stopped and shook his head, looking incredibly weary. "I've served my country as a USAF officer for more than thirty years. I've met and served with some of the most heroic and exceptional people alive. The people of this command leave them all in the dust. The things that we do here...there's never been any single endeavor that was more dangerous or more important than Stargate Command. I truly believe that the future of our world is in our hands, Colonel.

"I forgot for a time that the men and women of this command are human beings with frailties and conceits just like the rest of the human race. I allowed a situation to continue that should never have been because I believed that this would be the exception. That the people involved were too good to fail.

"I was wrong. They did fail."

"I don't understand."

"Surely, you can't have failed to see how Major Carter feels about you, Colonel."

"Feels? What does that...Wait. Are you saying that she..."

"...Was directly responsible for Doctor Jackson being injured and then left him to die because she was more concerned with saving you."

Jack was rendered speechless by a rage so all encompassing that he couldn't seem to think straight.

The same three thought kept flashing through his mind over and over on an endless loop.

Daniel was dead.

Sam was responsible.

He was responsible.

Daniel was dead...

Over and over and over again until he felt like screaming.

He heard movement and felt something against his skin and then everything, blessedly, went dark.

***

Jack walked down the corridor towards the armory. He felt calm, almost serene. He remembered this feeling. After Charlie died, he'd felt the same way.

Once he'd gotten his orders and made his decision to die, anyway.

There were no orders this time. It was all on him but he'd made his decision; he knew what he had to do.

He had to kill Carter.

It had been six months since Daniel died and the SGC would never be the same.

Hammond had retired. He claimed that he was ready to enjoy civilian life but Jack knew the truth. He'd blamed himself for what happened of P3X-111, as he should. He'd known about Carter's feelings, knew that she was breaking regs but he'd done nothing. He needed to accept his responsibility and he had. Jack had no score to settle there.

The NID had used the scandal that resulted from Carter's court-martial to take control of the SGC. They'd installed a puppet general as head of the SGC. He'd immediately instituted a number of changes. The SGC was no longer Earth's best hope for the future; it was now a means of acquiring bigger and better weapons of mass destruction. He figured they had less than a year before things blew up in their faces, pun most definitely intended, and they managed to wipe out the planet. One way or another. He'd leave them to it.

Teal'c was planning to go back to Chulak. He was going to rejoin Bra'tac and continue his people's fight for freedom. Daniel would have approved and Jack wished him luck. He was the only one involved in this mess with clean hands.

Carter's court-martial had resulted in her dishonorable discharge and a five month prison term. She'd been released yesterday and was already back at the SGC. The NID puppet had hired her as a civilian contractor -- said she was a "national treasure" and would be "invaluable to the continued operation" of the SGC.

What a crock of shit. She was a brilliant scientist who could backwards engineer virtually any bit of alien tech brought through the 'gate and she was selfish enough to accept the job. She'd traded her soul for the opportunity to be close to him. The NID puppet had made a point of telling Jack that she hadn't agreed to come back until they'd told her that Jack was still a part of the program. He seemed to think that it wasn't just "feelings" between them but that they were actually having an affair.

Jack allowed him his delusion because it served Jack's best interests. He needed them to think that they had a way to control him or he'd be out on his ear and his plan required that he act while on base.

He took a Beretta from the armory, supposedly for target practice, and headed for Carter's lab. He'd planned everything down to the very last detail but had still left room for surprises. He wasn't a brilliant tactician for nothing.

He walked into Carter's lab and closed the door. Carter looked up and smiled. "Jack," she said happily. "I was just about to look for you."

Without saying a word, he raised the gun in his hand and aimed it at her head.

Her smile had barely started to slip when he pulled the trigger. The sound echoed loudly in the enclosed space, causing Jack's ears to ring. Carter slumped to the ground with a small, neat hole in the center of her forehead. He went over and checked for a pulse. Finding none, he rose and slipped out of the room. He walked past several gaping scientists, gun still in the hand hanging at his side, and didn't start running until he was around the corner.

He didn't have much time. The SFs would be after him within moments. He needed to get to the Quantum Mirror. It was his only means of escape and he'd decided that he wanted to escape. Maybe he could find Daniel again in another reality.

And if he did, he would make sure that no one, especially Carter, could take Daniel away from him again.

//\\//\\

Daniel had a death grip on his hands and seemed to be in shock.

"Pretty heady stuff, huh?" Jack said.

"I can't...It doesn't seem possible...Sam?!"

Jack smiled sadly. "That's what happened. I know you always want to see the best in people and you think she's your friend but she left you there to die."

Daniel's eyes widened. "That's why you're up here with a rifle. You're going to kill Sam because you think you need to in order to protect me."

Desperate to make Daniel understand, even though he knew it was probably useless, Jack said, "I have to do this, Daniel. It's her or you and I choose you."

"You're wrong Jack. This isn't your Sam and I'm not your Daniel. We're different people and what happened in your reality..."

"...Will happen in this one, too. Eventually. You know how similar our realities are and the Carter of this reality is just as in love with the Jack of this reality as mine was with me."

Daniel opened his mouth to speak but Jack cut him off.

"She'll do the same thing. You'll be in the middle of a fire-fight and she'll put your life at risk to protect his."

Daniel got that stubborn look on his face, the one that said he'd come to a decision and wasn't going to take "no" for an answer. "You can't know that and you can't do this. You're not a murderer."

"I can, Daniel, and I have."

"Jack," Daniel said, entreaty in his voice. "Please, don't do this. You already exacted retribution. The guilty parties have paid. You don't need to kill anyone else. Sam, this Sam, hasn't done anything to deserve it."

"I knew you wouldn't understand. You have faith in everyone, but this time that faith is going to get you killed." He grabbed Daniel by the shoulders and shook him, hard. "Don't you see that? This is for your own good."

"You're hurting me, Jack."

Jack quickly let go of Daniel and buried his face in his hands. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Daniel pulled Jack's hands away from his face and wiped away tears that Jack didn't even know he was shedding. It looked like corpses could cry, after all.

"Oh, Jack," Daniel said quietly. Jack wrapped his arms around Daniel, crushing Daniel against him, hanging on as if his life depended on it. Daniel stroked his hands soothingly up and down Jack's back.

"Jack, you need to let this go. It's killing you."

Jack didn't want to hear it. This quest was the only thing he had left of Daniel. He couldn't let it go; it would be like losing Daniel all over again. It was this or death.

He pulled away, but just far enough to look into emotion-filled blue eyes.

It was too much. He moaned Daniel's name and captured Daniel's delectable mouth in another desperate kiss. Daniel responded with equal passion, tightening his arms around Jack doing his best to eat Jack alive.

When they broke for air he gasped out his need, "Please, Daniel, please...," and buried his face in Daniel's neck, breathing in his lover's scent.

"It's alright. I understand," Daniel said and then he kissed Jack.

Jack lost himself in the kiss, letting everything else fade away to be dealt with later. He had Daniel in his arms once again. Nothing else mattered.

He began to strip away Daniel's jacket and vest, desperate to feel his lover's skin. Daniel responded in kind, pulling off Jack's jacket and t-shirt.

When they were both naked from the waist up, they slowed down long enough to explore and savor. Jack took advantage of nearly two years worth of knowledge of Daniel's body to bring his lover to the edge and over before they'd even gotten their pants off.

He'd missed that lost, effortful look that Daniel got when he was coming.

Daniel collapsed against his chest, panting. Jack stroked his hands down Daniel's back and into his pants, caressing as much of the bare skin of Daniel's ass as he could reach.

He pushed Daniel onto his back and stroked his hands down Daniel's chest, pausing at each of Daniel's nipples to tease and torment. Daniel moaned and arched up to get more of Jack's touch. His hands reached for Jack's belt and began to undo it.

Recognizing a good idea when he saw one, Jack began to strip Daniel of his pants and underwear. He continued to lick and suck at Daniel's chest and stomach as he removed the last of Daniel's clothes. He pulled away long enough to finish removing his own clothing and boots and to dig a bottle of sunscreen out of his pack.

Daniel watched him with hungry, heavy-lidded eyes. Jack's breath caught in his throat as he watched Daniel slowly slide his hand down his chest, over his stomach, and along the length of his cock. He began to lazily masturbate himself, eyes never leaving Jack's. It was one of the most erotic things Jack had ever seen. Unable to resist any longer he dropped down onto his hands and knees above Daniel, eyes level with that beautiful cock. He moved Daniel's hand away and captured the tip of the hot, swollen flesh in his mouth. Daniel cried out his name and arched upwards at the first touch of Jack's mouth to his flesh and Jack shifted position so he could pin Daniel's hips.

He licked his way around the semi-hard cock and then swiftly swallowed it down whole. Daniel writhed in his grip, moaning, and Jack used his tongue and just a hint of teeth to bring Daniel back to readiness.

When he felt that Daniel was nearly ready to come, he pulled away with a last lick. Daniel's head was thrashing back and forth and he was gasping out words in a language that Jack didn't recognize, but he recognized that tone. Daniel was desperate and begging for it and Jack was going to give it to him.

He popped the top on the sunscreen and squeezed out a generous amount into his hand. He quickly slicked up his rock hard cock. He then coated his fingers before locating Daniel's pucker sliding a finger inside. Daniel tensed, then relaxed and began rocking his hips against Jack's finger.

Jack could feel his whole body shaking with need. He wasn't going to last much longer.

He added a second finger and then a third, stroking them over Daniel's prostate again and again. Daniel was sobbing with need and Jack was right there with him.

He removed his fingers and positioned himself at the entrance to Daniel's body. "Daniel," he moaned out and slid inside Daniel's tight, welcoming heat.

He stroked all the way in and stopped. Panting with exertion, he held himself still giving Daniel time to adjust.

Time that Daniel apparently didn't want because he wrapped his legs around Jack's back and arched up, trying to get Jack deeper.

Jack broke and began to pound into his lover's body. He felt Daniel's muscle tense and heard Daniel cry out as he exploded. Unable to hold back any longer he thrust into Daniel one last time, hard and deep, and joined his lover in completion.

He collapsed down on top of Daniel and closed his eyes, too drained to worry about crushing the man beneath him.

His last thought before he lost consciousness was that it was the perfect way to say goodbye.