Chapter Forty
"You gotta be kidding me." Jack said, looking down his gun at Myomis, the real Myomis, as the Oannes snarled back at him.
"Ah." Daniel grunted despite the claws in his neck. "Don't- Not a good time to get him angry, Jack." Myomis pulled him closer, arching him backward. Daniel's face went white as his broken ribs protested and Myomis's hand closed even tighter around his throat.
"Daniel?" Jack asked, gun still focused on Myomis. Daniel was looking up at the ceiling, mouth opening and closing, unable to speak.
Daniel went limp as Myomis lurched forward and climbed out of the coffin, still holding him as a shield. Daniel's hands were wrapped around Myomis's arm, trying to gain back a little breathing room. The Oannes was tall, standing almost seven feet. His skin was a faint green, and his eyes were a brilliant blue, without any white to them. He hissed at Jack, revealing sharp teeth. Despite the obvious threat, Jack took a step forward. "Drop him, now." He repeated. "Fulton." He called to the sergeant. "Translate."
"Yes, sir." Fulton lowered his weapon and dropped to his knees, going through his books. "Colonel, I can't speak Akkadian as well as Doctor Haller, and-"
"Just try."
Fulton stumbled through some words. Myomis growled, shaking Daniel roughly.
"I- Sir, I don't know. Trick?"
"No." Jack shook his head. "Myomis." Taking a chance, Jack lowered his weapon. He pointed at the Oannes. "Myomis." He then pointed at Daniel. "Myomis."
"La! Myomis."
Daniel's knees gave way, only Myomis holding him up. "Colonel, we need to get to Doctor Jackson." Janet spoke quietly, but tersely.
"I know. Fulton?"
"Trying, sir." Fulton looked up from his book and tried a different phrase.
In his peripheral vision, Jack watched Makepeace's team and their trainees. Pascal and Weaver were armed again.
"Myomis, drop him." Jack spread his hands wide. "Drop him."
Myomis, the real Myomis, hesitated. His confusion was evident. He wrapped one arm around Daniel's chest, the other hand still around his throat. Daniel was almost completely limp.
"Colonel." Janet repeated again as one of Daniel's hands released its grip and dropped.
"I can take him out, Colonel. One shot." Makepeace said, causing Myomis to turn and snarl at him.
"Damn it, no. I said back off. Fulton!"
The sergeant was ready, speaking hesitatingly. Myomis paused, but did not look convinced.
"Good, keep going."
"I'm trying, sir. Akkadian-English reference books don't have listings for 'awakened genetic memory' though."
Jack gritted his teeth as a headache started behind his eyes. "Keep going."
Fulton nodded and continued on. Myomis was not convinced, but not as aggressive.
Jack shook his head, trying to clear it as the pain suddenly spiked. "Colonel?" Makepeace asked.
"I'm fine." He grated, grinding a knuckle into his eye.
"Colonel? What's happening?" Janet was next to him. "Sir, can you speak English?"
"What?" He frowned at her, only realising then that he was no longer speaking in his usual voice, or language. "Do-" Jack's eyes closed as pain overwhelmed him. When he opened his eyes again, he had somehow completely changed. Janet stepped back as she looked at the grim expression on his face.
Myomis stepped back, dragging Daniel.
"La, Myomis. La." Jack's voice was calm. Myomis flinched as Jack stepped forward, speaking rapid Akkadian. Myomis started shaking his head.
"La." He whispered. "Nedu, la."
"Doctor?" Makepeace whispered, stepping over to her. "What the hell?"
"I…" Janet looked at him. "I think Colonel O'Neill has been replaced by his dormant Oannes personality."
Myomis reached the same conclusion at the same time. His eyes went wide and he shook his head more vehemently. Daniel's body hit the floor softly as Myomis released him and stumbled back against the wall before sliding to the floor. As evidence of how firmly Jack was taken over by Nedu, he simply stepped over Daniel on his way to Myomis.
"Colonel?" Janet whispered to his back, before seizing the opportunity. She dropped to her knees and crawled out to Daniel. Fulton immediately joined her and together, they dragged the unresponsive archaeologist back.
Janet began her examination as Makepeace stepped in front of her. Jack dropped to his knees before Myomis, the Nedu personality speaking fluently to Myomis.
"Doctor, what do we do?" Makepeace asked.
"Your guess is as good as mine, Colonel." Janet answered. "It looks as though Nedu has the colonel under his control."
"This is the personality that attacked Doctor Jackson?"
Janet paused, her hands probing Daniel's throat and chest as she checked his breathing. "Yes."
Makepeace's weapon wavered between the Oannes and Jack. "Damn."
"If it's any comfort, he doesn't look threatening to us." Fulton added. "He seems to be trying to help."
"Can you understand him?"
"No, sir. They're speaking too fast."
"Colonel, we need to get Doctor Jackson back through the Stargate. I need to monitor him."
Makepeace mulled his options over silently. On the floor, Nedu leaned forward, placing the palm of one hand against Myomis's cheek before rising to his feet. "Myomis šemûm." He nodded and closed his eyes, abruptly losing his balance and staggering sideways.
"Nedu?" Janet asked, worried.
"Fulton." Makepeace said, weapon still on Jack.
"Uh… uh. The word 'šemûm' means to listen… to hear successfully."
"Oy." Jack shook his head.
"Colonel?" Janet said, relief evident in her voice.
"What the hell? Daniel?" Jack looked at his team-mate and then up at Makepeace, still aiming a weapon at him. "Makepeace?"
"Colonel." Makepeace replied calmly. "You weren't yourself."
Jack frowned and then turned to look at Myomis, staring intently at all of them. "Aw crap." He looked back at Daniel. "I didn't-"
"No. No, sir. This was Myomis's doing."
"Ah. Anâku Myomis makhâtsum." The Oannes rose to his knees and bowed his head.
"Fulton?" Both Jack and Makepeace spoke in unison.
"He says he was the one who attacked Myomis. I think… I think he understands now."
"Sir, we need to get Doctor Jackson back to the SGC."
"Daniel." Everyone turned as Myomis spoke. The Oannes rose quickly, standing to his full height despite the guns trained on him. "Anâku paqâdum." Myomis stared intently at Jack, before saying, "Please".
"Whoa." Jack stepped back. "Did he-?"
"Yeah." Fulton's jaw dropped.
"English?"
"Yes, sir. He says he wants to take care of Daniel."
"That's ominous."
"No, sir. It's the good kind of care."
Moving slowly, trying to reduce the perceived threat, Myomis stepped forward with his hands raised.
"Colonel?" Makepeace asked, his weapon still pointed at Myomis.
"Stand down." Jack watched Myomis crouch next to Daniel. "I don't think he means any harm. Well, any more harm."
Myomis touched Daniel's cheek once and then looked him over. Still suspicious, Janet kept one hand on Daniel's chest and stared at him.
"Dannatum sinnishtum." Myomis looked over at Janet and smiled.
"Wh- What?" Janet looked at Fulton.
"I think he called you a strong woman, Ma'am."
Myomis looked around and paused, as if thinking. "Jack." He waved him over. "Jack." Myomis was clearly frustrated by his inability to communicate. He hissed through his teeth and then making up his mind, he slid one arm under Daniel's shoulders, one under his knees and then stood up with a grunt.
"Whoa now, hold it." Jack grabbed Daniel's arm, prepared for a tug o' war. Myomis hissed at him, but irritated rather than threatening. He spoke rapidly in Akkadian, looking over at Fulton.
"Wait, wait." Fulton frantically flipped through his books. "Just wait."
"Anâku paqâdum Daniel." He jerked his head sideways. "Daniel."
Shouldering past Jack, Myomis walked over to the tomb.
"Oh no, now, hold on." Jack grabbed his arm. "No way. Call me crazy, but I don't think Daniel will be all that thrilled about waking up in 4,000 years."
Myomis looked at him, puzzled. "Daniel." He repeated, leaning toward the tomb.
"Yeah, Daniel, in the tomb. I said 'no'."
"Nedu, mušallimānu." Myomis spoke slowly, probably for Fulton's benefit.
"Uh." Jack looked around.
"The translation is 'healer', sir."
"Jack, nagâsum." Myomis's eyes bored into Jack's. "Nagâsum."
Jack stared at him before giving his head a sharp nod. "Yeah. Do it." He stepped back.
"Colonel?" Janet stepped forward.
"Enough, Doc. Let him do it."
"Sir, I cannot stress enough that I don't know-"
Jack leaned over to speak to Janet, trying to block out the other soldiers. "Listen, he's not doing very well. You know it, and I know it. We gotta get him down those stairs, back to the other group and back to the Stargate. He-" Jack stopped and looked away.
Janet straightened up and nodded. "Yes, sir." She said quietly.
Jack looked over at Myomis. "Do it."
The Oannes might not have understood the words, but he understood the tone. Nodding once, he placed Daniel into the tomb, carefully folding his arms over his chest and straightening his legs. He touched Daniel's forehead with his fingertips before nodding to himself and touching a button on the side of the tomb.
With a soft noise, the tomb slid shut. Myomis selected the buttons carefully, his claws making light clicking noises on the hard surface of the tomb. When the sequence was complete, he sighed and started to sag.
"Whoa." Jack stepped forward and grabbed Myomis as the Oannes' head dropped and he started to list sideways. "Doc."
"Lower him to the ground." Fulton and Janet each stepped forward to assist. The three of them managed to get Myomis to a sitting position, propped up against the tomb.
"He okay?"
"I have no idea, Colonel. I'm assuming his physiology is close to that of humans, but he is quite obviously an alien species. I have no idea what is normal for them. If I had to guess, I'd say he probably got light headed." She checked him over, sticking to the routine, even without a baseline to use.
"Yeah, probably a little out of shape after 4,000 years in a box." Makepeace drawled. "Speaking of which-"
"I know. Here's hoping that box works a little faster on Daniel." Jack stood up, taking off and repositioning his baseball cap. "I know."
"Colonel, perhaps we should advise the other camp. We could be looking at days here." Janet said, still checking over Myomis.
"Days." Jack looked around. He pointed at Myomis. "Fulton, can he tell us how long?"
"Uh, yes. I hope so, sir." Fulton looked through his books, trying some halting words in Akkadian.
For his part, Myomis gave a faint smile and turned his head to the side, touching a small glowing green disc on the side of the tomb.
"Jack." He said softly. Jack looked down at him, frowning as Myomis held up his hand, fingers spread. "Daniel." One by one, Myomis folded his fingers inward, until only his index finger remained. As he curled it into a fist, finishing the countdown, the tomb made a slight whirring noise and began to open.
"Nice." Jack breathed, stepping forward. "Daniel?"
Everyone jumped as Daniel took a huge breath and sat bolt upright. Janet was the first to recover, checking his pulse, and looking him over.
"He's healed."
Daniel put his hands on his chest, squinting as he looked around, despite the glasses still perched precariously on the end of his nose. "What happened? Why am I in the maṣallu?" He mixed the Akkadian and English fluently, attempting to keep a reasonable tone of voice.
"Myomis?" Jack hazarded.
"Yes?" The Oannes replied in Daniel's voice.
"Daniel?"
"Yes?" Daniel frowned up at Jack. "What?"
"Which one?"
"What?"
"Who are you?"
"Jack."
"Oh no, I'm Jack."
"What?"
"No. Who."
"What?" Daniel looked around before leaning in and speaking in a low voice. "Jack. Are you alright?"
"He's fine." Janet interrupted. "Well, it looks like the healing device had no effect on your personalities."
"Personalities. Myomis!" Daniel looked around, remembering.
Jack discretely pointed downward where Myomis sat. The Oannes smiled slightly before pushing himself upright and standing.
"Myomis." Daniel smiled. "This- This is incredible."
"Daniel." Myomis spoke in rapid Akkadian. Unlike Fulton, Daniel had no trouble keeping up. His and Myomis's merged memories were helping him become near fluent. Without breaking stride, Myomis helped him out of the tomb, steadying him as he stood up.
"Daniel?" Jack attempted to break in to the conversation, only to be ignored. "Oh, Daniel?" Jack sing-songed. Daniel and Myomis broke off and turned to look at him.
"Listen, guys, I know you have a lot of catching up to do, and I'm not saying that I'm not amazed as anything but there's the small matter of Daniel's health and a tomb opening in a few hours a few miles away. So, once Janet gives Daniel and Myomis and… Myomis Mark Two a clean bill of health, what say we move this little shindig back to Carter and Teal'c."
"Oh, right. I better tell him." Daniel turned back to Myomis and spoke again.
Everyone watched Myomis's expression change from interest to flat out wonder. He nodded vigorously and looked around for the exit.
"It looks like he's ready." Jack said dryly.
- - - - -
It took far longer to go down the stairs from the tomb than it had to ascend them. Fulton, a compulsive worrier and their lead climber, monitored every step they took down the crumbling edifice. Myomis, due to his size and the fact that they really weren't expecting him, had to have a climbing harness rigged up for him and Fulton hovered constantly, fearful of it failing.
Finally, they reached the ground. Once the climbing gear was repacked and Janet had checked on Daniel, Jack and Myomis to her satisfaction, the group continued their trek back to the first site and the other half of the team.
About two minutes away from the other site, Jack called a halt.
"Carter, come in."
"Colonel?"
"Yeah. We're almost back to your location. Advising of increased party size."
"Sir? I-" Sam's voice was confused.
"The tomb was not empty. We brought someone back with us. Just don't want you guys to… over-react."
"Someone, sir?"
"A good someone, Carter. ETA two minutes. Just don't blast us or anything."
"Yes, sir." Carter's hesitant tone promised nothing.
- - - - -
As they entered the first camp, Jack was greeted by the business end of Teal'c's staff weapon.
"Whoa." He jumped back, gun up.
"Hey guys." Daniel said cheerfully. "What's up?"
Carter stood behind Teal'c, gun also ready. "A good someone, sir?"
"You know, Carter." Jack began in a clearly forced pleasant tone. "When I radioed ahead, it was to give you a heads up, not to give you time to shoot me."
"Yes sir." Sam was good, by-the-book soldier. "I appreciate that, sir. As you no doubt remember, there was the possibility of a Goa'uld in that chamber and we needed to take appropriate precautions."
Sam's breath drew in sharply as Myomis pushed past the others, impatient to get to the Omoroca tomb. Myomis halted when he saw the other soldiers in the room, but his attention focused immediately on Sam.
"Myomis?" Sam asked, gun dropping.
"Lamashtu?" Myomis stepped forward as Sam scrambled backward. Daniel grabbed Myomis by the sleeve, speaking rapid Akkadian.
Haller, mouth wide open, stared between Carter and Myomis, with occasional stops at Daniel. "Captain? This is Myomis?"
"I-" Sam was confused. "I don't know why I said that."
"Probably Lamashtu is starting to integrate in to your conscious mind in a manner similar to Doctor Jackson and Myomis. You're starting to have more access to Lamashtu's memory." Janet tossed out a theory.
"I just looked at him, and I knew."
Daniel, meanwhile, had succeeded in relaying to Myomis that Sam, while genetically similar to Lamashtu, did not have Lamashtu's memories. With obvious reluctance, Myomis nodded and forced himself to look away.
Teal'c still kept his staff weapon trained on Myomis.
"Hey, big guy. It's okay." Jack waved a hand. He's not a Goa'uld. He's the real deal. Our Myomis recognised him- himself, whatever."
"Wow. What are we going to tell General Hammond?" Carter asked as Teal'c nodded and lowered his staff weapon.
"We tell him the truth." Jack hazarded.
"Yes." Daniel replied with a mildly sarcastic tone. "Let's tell him. 'Well, General Hammond, against doctor's orders, we scaled the other tomb. Doctor Jackson was again unable to control his alter ego, who then opened a previously unsealed tomb and got himself nearly killed in the process when it released a hostile alien. Our mission commander's mind was taken over by a formerly hostile alien influence. Guns were drawn and eventually the aliens were talked down. Doctor Jackson was then thrown into an unknown alien device in the vain hopes that it would heal body and fractured mind.' That about got it?"
No one knew quite how to reply to that until Jack spoke. "So, a slightly modified version of the truth. Isn't that why we bring you along, Doctor Diplomat?"
Daniel's mouth opened and closed as he was left without a retort.
"It's true?" Sam said, hand returning to her gun nervously.
"Well, in a manner of speaking." Jack waved his hands dismissively. "It's not important. What is important is how you knew all that, Daniel. Weren't you unconscious?" He spun around to face Daniel.
Daniel looked around. "Myomis told me."
"If you're unconscious, then he's-"
Daniel's head jerked subtly sideways. "The real one, Jack."
They all rotated slowly to look at the seven foot tall alien that had somehow managed to be overlooked through the exchange. Myomis, on the other hand, was still ignoring them, engrossed in the Omoroca tomb.
Daniel pushed his way through his team-mates and spoke in rapid Akkadian to Myomis. They conversed for a few seconds.
"It's her." Daniel said. "It's really Omoroca."
"We know." Sam smiled. "You told us before."
"Well, yeah but he confirms it." Realising that none of his team had doubted him, Daniel flushed a little. To cover it, he cleared his throat and said rapidly. "So, General Hammond's report?"
As if he had given a signal, their radios beeped and Hammond's voice came over the comm. "SG1, this is Hammond. Do you copy?"
Everyone swivelled to look at Daniel who did his best helpless shrug.
Still glaring at Daniel, Jack pressed his radio button and spoke. "Yes, sir. Colonel O'Neill here."
"Colonel. Sorry for the interruption. How goes the mission?"
"Well sir. I-" Jack looked around. "I think Daniel should fill you in."
"What?" Daniel squawked. Jack made a 'hurry up' gesture at him. Daniel's eyes shot around the room before he fixed on a point in the distance. "General." He attempted a neutral tone.
"Doctor Jackson. How are you?"
"I'm good, sir. I'm actually, um, pretty good." Daniel decided to barrel right to the point. "We opened one of the tombs, sir."
"Congratulations, Doctor. That is, of course, the object of your mission."
Daniel licked his lip. "Not that tomb." Jack winced.
"I see." The General spoke after a long pause. "Colonel O'Neill." The name was a clear order.
"Yes sir." Jack responded immediately.
"I don't recall opening a second tomb on your mission orders."
"Not exactly, sir." Jack cleared his throat. "I sent Fulton and Makepeace's team to investigate. Daniel was able to start the opening sequence on Omoroca's tomb."
"Not long to go, General." Daniel broke in.
"I see."
"They were able to confirm that there was a tomb there and that one of the keys we brought with us would potentially unlock the other tomb. So, Daniel checked it out."
"And Doctor Fraiser agreed with this?" Hammond's tone was glacial.
Janet pursed her lips. "Yes, sir. I accompanied them."
Hammond sighed. "Alright. What did you find."
"Myomis, sir." Jack answered.
"What about him, Colonel?"
"No, sir. We found him. The alien one. The one from the stories. The one who gave Daniel the memories."
There was a long pause. Long enough to make Jack ask tentatively. "General?"
"I'm here. This- That's good news, Colonel." There was another pause. "Colonel, I'd like you to send a team to the Stargate immediately. Nem is here with us, and I believe he'd like to join you for the next tomb opening."
Myomis's head shot up at the name 'Nem'. "Daniel?"
Patiently, Daniel explained what was happening. Myomis responded with a pointed-tooth grin.
"Yes, sir." Jack replied. "Makepeace and his team will meet Nem at the gate, ASAP."
Hammond appeared appeased. "And Colonel?"
"Yes, sir?"
"I expect a full report from all parties when you return." The steel was back in his tone. Jack tensed up.
"Absolutely, General."
Jack signalled for Makepeace's team to move out.
- - - - -
They spent the next two hours with Daniel and Myomis attempting to teach the real Myomis some basic English. Jack was amazed. If he'd thought Daniel's Myomis learned quickly, this new guy put them all to shame.
"How do they do that?" He asked, finally too curious.
"Ah, it's a form of, for lack of a better word, telepathy." Daniel replied. "Not true telepathy, he's not reading thoughts or anything, but they can sense meanings to words. It's difficult to explain. He can literally use our surface thoughts like a dictionary, reading the words he needs from them, and understanding the context. Nem did it to me when I was his captive. At first, my thoughts were on communicating. He was able to pull enough words from my mind to ask me what language I spoke. Then, he gave me translation puzzles. Not so much an effort to get me to translate, I mean he certainly didn't need me to tell him the laws of Babylon, but to make me focus my thoughts on something other than escape or communicating. It gave him a broader linguistic scope to work with. He was able to use that to communicate with me." Daniel's rapid-fire ideas wound down.
"That makes no sense." Jack spoke slowly in contrast. He held up a hand as Daniel looked ready to continue the explanation. "But I believe you anyway. Let's just say he learns quickly."
"Colonel O'Neill? This is Makepeace."
"Makepeace? Report." Jack thumbed the radio button.
"ETA five minutes."
"Roger that. O'Neill out."
"Alright, Daddy's on his way." Jack looked back at Daniel and Myomis… and Myomis. It was amazing how the new alien fit right in. He and Daniel's Myomis had the same personality and mannerisms, so it was like watching some especially creepy twins when Daniel's Myomis and the real Myomis spoke to each other.
And then, of course, was the issue of Daniel and his Myomis's increasing integration. It was getting harder and harder to tell the pair apart. Myomis's accent had all but disappeared, and Daniel's understanding of Oannes and Akkadian was nearly fluent. In fact, about the only way to tell the difference now was by some mannerisms and the occasional odd cadence to Myomis's speech. It was all getting too close for comfort for Jack and he had a feeling that he and Nem would soon be having a 'talk' about Daniel's future appointment with an Oannes head-sucker.
"Colonel O'Neill?" Makepeace's rough voice broke his trance and he looked around. Makepeace tensed as Myomis scrambled to his feet, Daniel following shortly after.
"Abi!" Myomis burst out as Nem entered the chamber.
Although he had been warned by Hammond that Myomis was present, Nem still seemed shaken by the appearance of a son he thought dead for nearly 2,000 years.
"Myomis." He whispered as his son dropped to one knee before him. Nem bade Myomis stand, and took his son's face in his hands. Myomis leaned forward, and they touched their foreheads together.
With everyone focussed on the reunited pair, only Jack saw the bittersweet smile cross Daniel's lips.
- - - - -
Out of respect for Nem and Myomis, everyone including Daniel kept their distance over the next hour, allowing the two to speak. They busied themselves with menial tasks, securing the perimeter, cleaning up the tomb. Daniel and Haller made notes for a short time before Daniel gave up, unable to feign enthusiasm.
Jack dropped to the floor next to Daniel, who had taken to leaning against Omoroca's tomb, watching the countdown. Sam and Teal'c were next to him, trying to remain unobtrusive.
"So, did the new guy remember anything about how he got into the tomb?" Jack asked.
"First thing I asked him." Daniel shook his head. "He has only the memories I possess." The barest hint of an accent was all that told Jack that Myomis had spoken the second sentence.
"So no thoughts on that?"
"Oh, plenty of thoughts." Daniel checked the countdown as he replied. "Myomis obviously doesn't remember his death, although he remembers the injuries that lead to it. Unlike Omoroca whose healing cycle was interrupted, Myomis was fully healed."
"Okay?" Jack led him on.
"Meaning that someone, obviously, pulled his body from the rubble when they pulled the Omoroca tomb from the rubble. They were unable to open the Omoroca tomb because they lacked the keys and the genetic signature."
"Well, who were the possibilities for healing him?" Sam asked.
"Any of the Goa'uld present that day." Daniel shrugged. "My guess would be Ea or even Belus. It would be in their nature to do such a thing." Again, Daniel and Myomis traded sentences effortlessly.
"I assume his goal would be to continue his experiments on one of the few family members to escape the Oannes birthright." Teal'c hazarded a guess.
"Exactly. Ea's obsession was perfection. I'm guessing that at some point the gene activated and Belus changed to resemble Nem. For someone as vain as he was, it was probably unthinkable."
"They continued their experiments." Sam winced.
"Yes. On Myomis's sleeping body."
"In the same manner as Pazuzu with Lamashtu's body." Teal'c finished.
"Exactly."
"So, looking at Ea, they obviously didn't solve the problem." Jack stretched his legs out.
"I've been thinking about that. At some point, traffic between the Oannes and Earth must have been cut off, or why did Ea not simply leave? He may never have been privy to any answers Belus found." Daniel spoke hesitantly. "There is another option."
"Oh?" Sam was curious.
"The temple where we found Myomis was dedicated not to Myomis or even Belus, but to Nabu, Belus's son and to a lesser extent, Sarpanitu, Nabu's mother."
"Oh God." Sam got it first.
"Yes." For the sake of Jack and Teal'c who had not yet caught up, he explained. "It may be that Myomis, not Belus is the father of Nabu."
"This would explain how the Myomis within Daniel Jackson has memories of his death." Teal'c nodded.
"A bit grim, but yes. Conception would have occurred after Myomis's 'death', so any progeny would have the genetic memory of the death."
"Wait, so you and Carter aren't…" Jack waved his hands.
"We're descended from half siblings. Sam's memories of Lamashtu come from Meslantaea or Lugal-Irra. If we're right, then mine would come from Nabu. Different mothers but they all had Myomis as the father, hence Sam could trigger the same genetic locks that I could."
Jack shook his head, confused. "But why would he do that?"
"Perfection." Teal'c answered.
"Yeah, but not for him. Forgive me Myomis, but your family doesn't seem to be the overly loving type, present company excluded of course."
"Of course." Myomis smiled before Daniel took over again. "No, you're right though. This one I think we can place squarely on the shoulders of the Goa'uld. Belus and Marduk were a pair but still, Goa'uld seek, or prefer beauty. Some would probably like the Oannes form with the genetic defect, but as you can tell by Belus and Ea's attitude toward experimentation, they most definitely did not. The Goa'uld were never in complete control of the Oannes, but they could no doubt suggest a course of action that could lead to this."
"So how does making a 'perfect' child help the Oannes?" Sam asked.
"Well, it doesn't. But the Goa'uld…" Daniel trailed off and let everyone fill in the gaps themselves.
"Ew." This time, Jack got it first. "So the Goa'uld jumps ship and takes up in Junior. The snake gets his perfection."
"Exactly." Daniel nods.
"So what does the historical record say about Nabu then?" Sam asked.
"Patron god of scribes. By all accounts, a wise and learned god."
"I'm not hearing a lot of death and destruction here." Jack said.
"Nope, he seems to lack some of the more charming traits of the Goa'uld." Daniel replied.
"Meaning maybe they never got him."
"Well, this is all speculation."
"This is amazing, Daniel. Myomis could have another son out there." Sam was excited by the prospect. "Have you told him?"
Daniel grimaced. "Not yet. He's a little preoccupied." He leaned back and checked the countdown. "And about to become even more so." He gestured for everyone to get up. Jack rose smoothly and offered him a hand up, which he took gratefully.
"Myomis, Nem. She's waking up."
The Oannes left off their discussion and immediately came over to the tomb.
"Daniel. Thank you for… this gift. What… you have done… here." Nem inclined his head in a bow as he spoke.
"It was our pleasure." Daniel smiled, backing away as the tomb made a series of low beeps.
Although he clearly wanted to say more, Nem's attention was taken by the tomb slowly sliding open.
Daniel kept backing away until his back hit the wall. He could feel Myomis's longing to be with Nem and Omoroca like a physical ache in his chest. At the same time, Myomis felt like nothing more than a ghost, observing as the 'real' Myomis stood in the place that could have once been his.
Everyone jumped as Omoroca sat up with a gasp as she looked around the room. Like Myomis, she was human in appearance, and could be considered an exotic beauty. Her hair was long and straight and a deep blue-black. Also like Myomis, her wide eyes were solid blue, with no white in them. Her skin was a light green.
Unlike Myomis's awakening, Omoroca had her family by her side and with a delighted sound, Nem folded her into his arms for the first time in thousands of years.
Daniel felt tears well up in his eyes watching them. Jack and Teal'c were the stern soldiers while Sam gave him a nudge with her elbow.
"I am not crying in front of Marines." She whispered to him, giving him a little wink, no tears evident. Her smile faltered as a tear spilled out of his eye, as he watched the reunion. "Daniel?" She said uncertainly. Then it dawned on her. "Oh, Myomis. Go to them."
"I cannot." Myomis whispered sadly. "I am just a memory."
He said nothing more. Unsure what to do, Sam dropped her arm to her side and squeezed Daniel's forearm, offering what reassurance she could. On Daniel's other side, Jack came and leaned against the wall, shoulder to shoulder with Daniel. He said nothing, but he felt Daniel's weight shift subtly to lean on his for a moment. Next to Sam, Teal'c nodded, his gaze sweeping over his team with approval.
- - - - -
It was a few long moments before the family managed to compose themselves long enough to make their way to SG1.
"This… is beyond anything…" Nem began.
"No, no. We're just glad we could help." Daniel demurred. He caught Myomis's eye. "I am very happy for you."
Jack grimaced, realising that it was not Daniel who spoke.
Omoroca gasped, walking forward. She opened her arms wide and folded Daniel into a hug.
He resisted for a long moment, spine rigid. This was a place he dared not go, not as Daniel and not as the memory of Myomis. Finally, Omoroca whispered the word that caused his resolve to crumble. "Ummi." Son.
With a long sigh, Daniel folded into her arms and buried his head on her shoulder.
- - - - -
SG1 gave the family as much time as they needed, including Daniel and the memory of Myomis, but finally, reality intruded.
"SG1, this is Hammond. Please respond."
Jack walked over to the entrance to the large chamber. "Sir, this is O'Neill."
"Colonel, report."
Jack swung back to look at the happy scene. Omoroca and Nem spoke quietly while Janet checked out Omoroca. Makepeace and the Marines were off to the side. Daniel, the Myomises, Fulton and Haller were chatting with the remainder of SG1. He allowed himself a rare smile.
"It worked, sir. Omoroca's awake. Myomis is awake. Nem's here. Doctor Fraiser is checking them out, but so far so good."
"Excellent. Congratulations to all of you. Job very well done." He paused. "How are Doctor Jackson and our Myomis?"
Our Myomis. Jack thought about that. Yes, he did feel a certain kinship with the ghost in Daniel's cranium. "It's a bit rough on them, sir, I think. But, hopefully things are coming to a close too."
"Alright, Colonel. We'll follow up on that when you're back at the SGC."
"Yes sir, just waiting for the family reunion to wind down a bit and for Fraiser to clear the new arrivals for gate travel and we'll be en route."
"We'll keep the lights on, Colonel." Jack heard the strong note of Hammond's approval, even through the crackling radio.
"You always do, sir. Thank you. Over and out."
He looked back at the large group in the tomb. "So? Everyone ready to move this party to somewhere cool and, well, cool?"
"As best I can tell, accounting for alien physiology, they seem to check out sir." Fraiser returned her penlight and her stethoscope to her medical kit as she stood.
"Alright. Nem, Omoroca and Myomis, General Hammond would take it as a personal favour if you'd drop by." Neither Omoroca nor Myomis fully understood his words, but Nem nodded slowly.
"Yes. We have much to… discuss." He rasped.
Jack made a sweeping motion. "Makepeace? After you."
- - - - -
The walk back to the Stargate was draining for all concerned. Omoroca and Myomis were noticeably listing as Daniel punched in the address for home.
Still, they made it through the gate and down the ramp, where Hammond stood in formal dress. He waited for the wormhole to close before he drew himself up to full height and spoke.
"Omoroca and Myomis. I am General George Hammond. On behalf of every member of the SGC, I welcome you to Earth. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." Daniel translated things as they went along.
"I can never… repay… this debt." Nem put a clawed hand to his own chest and bowed his head. "You have given me… more than I ever… dreamed possible." He looked back over Omoroca and Myomis.
"It was our pleasure, and it is my sincere hope that relations between us will continue to prosper. I feel that we have much to learn from each other."
Jack looked around as Hammond made the first forays into diplomatic relations with Nem and the Oannes. Full house on hand to watch this. Soldiers were crammed into every square inch of the gate room, many in formal dress.
His gaze was caught by one soldier with long blonde hair. Hair in a noticeably non-regulation style. He frowned, looking closer. The face was familiar. She held up a hand, showing non-regulation jewellery. Then it clicked.
His gun was out before he could remember drawing it. He vaguely heard Carter's startled 'Sir?' before he'd taken aim.
"Drop the weapon and put your hands up!" In one quick move, Teal'c assessed the situation and stepped between Hammond and Jack's target.
"What the-?" Came Hammond's surprised question. Daniel looked around.
"Oh God. The blonde woman. Ea's assistant. What is-?"
His words were cut off as the woman took aim at Omoroca and Nem. Sam pushed them out of the way, and the pulsing blast barely missed them, spinning around several soldiers caught in the line of fire.
The woman was grabbed by the soldiers next to her, only to have her activate the weapon again and hurl them away.
A group of soldiers surrounded Hammond and bustled him to safety. A second group surrounded the Oannes and attempted to get them to safety. Easier said than done as they refused to move.
Jack took aim and fired at the blonde, catching her in the shoulder. Blood trickled from the wound, but she took no notice of it, hissing at him and raising her hand.
Barely aware of the impact, Jack felt himself flying backward over the ramp railings. He hit the ground stunned, the breath knocked out of him, his gun scrabbling away. Like the Goa'uld, the woman was using a stun weapon. It relied on a percussive force to knock an enemy down, disabling instead of killing.
He looked over as she took aim again, this time at the Oannes and…
"Daniel." He croaked as the archaeologist tackled the blonde woman, slamming her to the ground. She struggled as he tried to keep a grip on her. The struggle ended as she got one hand free and placed it against his side, activating the weapon and hurling him sideways into a wall.
Nem roared as Daniel hit the wall with a dull thud and dropped to the ground. Holding up one hand, Omoroca fired a similar weapon, catching the woman. The blonde woman slid sideways, curling up against Daniel with the weapon placed flat against his temple, the threat obvious. As everyone halted, assessing, she touched a small button on a bracelet that had been hidden under her long sleeves.
Taking advantage of her distraction, Teal'c fired his staff weapon, hitting her in the chest. She crumpled to the floor, eyes staring.
"Get Daniel… away from her." Nem said.
Sam jumped to obey, running over to Daniel and grabbing his arms, she dragged him back to Nem. As she did, a bright ring of light descended over the blonde woman. When it faded away, she was gone.
"What the-?" Sam crouched to check on Daniel, who was sitting up, wide-eyed.
"Teleportation device." Nem said slowly. "If he had remained… next to her… he would have been… taken."
"Ow." Said Jack and Daniel simultaneously as each struggled to stand up. Teal'c knelt next to Jack, while Sam assisted Daniel.
Taking a hand piece much like Omoroca's from Nem, Myomis knelt next to Daniel who was having trouble focusing.
"Whoa." Sam said in a warning tone as Myomis activated the device. But, instead of the devastating concussion, a yellow light was emitted which slid over Daniel, eliminating the bruising where ever it touched.
Omoroca knelt next to Jack and repeated the same process, healing his bruises and injuries quickly.
"We really need some of whatever those are." Sam whispered to Teal'c.
When SG1 was healed, the duo went to each of the remaining soldiers and healed them as well. Hammond returned to the gate room and surveyed the area.
"What in God's name…"
"Ea, sir." Despite being healed, Jack rose cautiously to his feet. "Rather, his assistant."
"He must have been trying to kill Omoroca and Nem."
"No." Nem shook his head slowly. "He was after… you." Hammond had advised Nem of Ea's attack on SG1 before sending him offworld to Borsippa.
"Me?" Daniel looked around. "Uh, no offence, but there's about a million ways in which he could have gotten me a lot easier than that."
"I think this was… an act of… desperation." Nem turned to face Hammond. I believe he… intended to take myself or… my mate. Failing that… he wanted Daniel."
"Okay, you I can understand, but not me."
"Are you kidding? The guy was practically drooling over you before." Jack said.
"Yeah, but there has to be an easier way."
"Daniel… he seeks both you… and the knowledge of… my son." Nem spoke.
"Well, that could be right. I mean, you guys have barely left the base since the whole," Jack waved his hands. "Thing started."
"And with the return of… my mate and… my son… I will fulfill my… oath."
"Oath?" Daniel frowned.
"I shall once again… make the Myomis inside… sleep, Daniel."
"Oh." Daniel sounded less than pleased at the prospect.
"For now… I would like to take… my family home." Nem turned to face Hammond. "We shall speak again… tomorrow. Send your people… to me."
Hammond nodded. "I understand."
"Daniel must stay… under guard. Allow none but… those he knows… near him."
"That's true, General. She can't have acted alone. They could try it again." Jack shifted uneasily at the prospect.
Myomis stepped up to Daniel, wordlessly offering him a thin, seemingly blank metal strip. "This… stops." He managed before shrugging at his poor vocabulary.
"This will stop… any transporter… devices." Nem clarified.
"Like a jamming device?" Sam asked.
Nem squinted at her, and Sam was uncomfortably reminded of Daniel's words how the Oannes could use thoughts and read them to understand other languages. Despite her nervousness over the prospect of having her thoughts read, she did her best to imaging the word 'jamming'.
Nem nodded. "Exactly."
"I shall stand guard over Daniel Jackson." Teal'c announced.
"Well, first, you'll all go to the infirmary." Janet offered a counter-proposal.
Reluctantly, they said their farewells to the Oannes and watched them leave through the wormhole. Despite the healing, Janet ushered them all to the infirmary for a checkup. After that, she sent Daniel to isolation with Teal'c to guard him. Jack and Sam each took a VIP room near by, and the team settled in for some well deserved rest.
Chapter Forty-One
"Rise and shine!" Jack opened the door to Daniel's isolation room.
"Sleeping." Daniel grumbled.
"Not any more." Jack pointed out reasonably.
"Shoot 'im, Teal'c." Daniel ordered sleepily.
"Too late, he listens to me, not you. I already sent him to get some breakfast. Time to get up. Hammond's got us booked for an early morning wormhole to Oannes. Nem will do his little-" Jack shook his hands on either side of his head. "Brain sucking thing and life will be back to normal."
Daniel forced himself to sit upright and squinted at Jack. "I've… I've been thinking about that." He wagged a finger at Jack as he looked for his glasses.
"No. No thinking. Just doing. Wormhole, brain-suck, home for dinner."
"I don't think so, Jack."
"What?"
"I said I don't think so."
"Yeah, and I said 'what?'."
"It's just that- I think Myomis could really help us."
"Yeah, sure. I buy that. And hey, after this, he's only a wormhole away."
"No, I mean, always."
"As in, you keep the memories."
"Yeah. I mean, we have the personality thing under control now. Janet can monitor the side effects."
"And if you, say, have a stroke on a planet half way across the galaxy because of your little 'complication' there, then what?"
"Jack, I could die a hundred different ways any time I go through the gate."
Jack waved his hand dismissively. "Daniel, we need this to happen because you and Myomis are blending too well. You're becoming more like him every day."
"Well, he's not such a bad guy. You seem to get along."
"That's beside the point. We don't need another egghead who speaks fluent Akkadian."
"Well, technically, we don't have anyone who speaks fluent Akkadian." Daniel caught Jack's glare. "Which is neither here nor there, but-"
"But, we do need you, Daniel."
"Well, I'll still be here."
"Mostly. Here's the thing. I said you're becoming more like him. I did not say he's becoming more like you. Alright, that's the problem. We need someone to think things though. Your buddy there thinks with his fists. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that in theory, but maybe, on occasion, we need someone who thinks first."
Daniel looked unconvinced.
"Dammit, Daniel, this is your personality we're talking about. Your mind. The guy Sha're married, the one Kasuf calls his 'good son'. These people did not do this for Myomis, they did it for Daniel Jackson. How can you just throw your whole personality away?"
"The knowledge he holds is more important than-" Daniel broke off.
"More important than you? No, Daniel, it isn't. You know what? Goa'uld know a hell of a lot. We don't run around shoving them in our skulls, do we? I can't believe we're having this conversation. Listen. I'll tell you this much. I will personally see that you get grounded until you decide to go through with this. I'm taking Doctor Daniel Jackson through that gate, or I'm taking nobody."
That said, Jack turned and left the isolation room, leaving Daniel to mull over his options.
- - - - -
"Colonel O'Neill, what's the delay?" Hammond's voice came over the intercom.
"Just waiting on Daniel and Teal'c, sir." He had sent Teal'c back to watch over Daniel while the archaeologist pondered his future.
"We are here, O'Neill." Teal'c said as he and Daniel entered, fully geared, from the side doors.
"Excellent. Daniel, you ready to go?"
Refusing to meet his eye, Daniel merely nodded.
At Jack's signal, Harriman dialled Oannes and SG1 stepped through.
- - - - -
They were greeted on the other side by Nem. He bowed deeply as they arrived. "Welcome. I have arranged… transportation." He pointed to a small submarine-like vehicle. "I have made all… of the… arrangements."
"Excellent." Jack rubbed his hands. "All aboard."
On the way back to Nem's ship, they spoke about the attempted abduction.
"We ran all the SGC personnel through the logs last night. So far, aside from the blonde, two other SGC members are missing. One of them is a gate guard. We figured he was paid off or otherwise duped into allowing the blonde to pass." Sam explained.
"And the blonde in question?" Daniel asked. "Do we have a name yet?"
"Not yet. She was using the ID of Sergeant Lisa Johannsen. A new transfer to the SGC. No one knew her well enough to catch the difference. We've searched her residence and her files. Impeccable record, empty house. No signs of a struggle."
Jack shook his head. "Nasty. But at least after today one of her main motivations for going after Daniel will be eliminated."
He looked at Daniel, who still declined to comment.
Nem watched with ancient eyes, but did not speak.
- - - - -
Once at Nem's home, SG1 were shown to a waiting room of sorts. Omoroca herself attended them. She had changed from the tattered gown she had been entombed in, to a long, flowing Oannes dress. Myomis was there as well, in a sharply tailored outfit.
"Well, don't you two clean up nicely." Jack grinned.
"I wish to thank you." Omoroca spoke haltingly. "You have saved my family." She bowed to them. Daniel scrambled to his feet.
"Oh, no. We- we're happy to help."
"Well, that and the little mental time-bombs your husband stuck in our heads." Jack smiled as Omoroca looked at him, confused.
Daniel waved him away and spoke in Akkadian, obviously being a lot more diplomatic. Omoroca gave him the same sharp toothed smile that Myomis possessed and curtseyed before leaving them to prepare.
Myomis, meanwhile, still had eyes for Sam. He bowed to her, and in the best traditions of Earth, lightly kissed her hands. Sam blushed at the treatment. "Ah, you know, this isn't me you like. In a few minutes, you'll see."
Myomis smiled.
Nem chose that time to reappear. "I am prepared for the first. Who shall it be?"
"Me!" Sam blurted out, a fraction of a second ahead of Jack and Teal'c. Daniel said nothing.
"Samantha. You shall be first. Come. You may watch… if you like." Nem told the other three.
"I shall." Teal'c said solemnly.
Nem spoke to Myomis in Oannes, and the tall alien bowed again and left as Nem ushered Sam and Teal'c to the machines.
Daniel and Jack spent a number of long minutes in painful silence. Finally, Daniel could stand it no longer.
"Jack…" Daniel looked pained.
Picking up their argument from the spot they had left it on Earth, Jack spoke as if no time had elapsed. "Daniel, this is the right thing to do. Myomis, the real Myomis is alive. This isn't fair to him."
"He has Myomis's memories, his dreams. How much more do you need to really be alive?"
"He is not alive, okay? Daniel, he's a fluke of genetics. He's a ghost."
"Jack!" Daniel crossed his arms over his chest and turned away. "He's alive. He misses his wife. He loves his children. He hates the Goa'uld."
"Dammit, Myomis. You tell him."
"I am not alive, yet I am to convince Daniel of this?" Myomis's voice was amused, quirking Daniel's eyebrows up in a 'oh yeah, dispute this gesture'. Jack grimaced, and looked away. Myomis continued speaking. "He is correct, Daniel." Daniel shook his head. Jack looked away. This loose sharing that the duo had developed could still creep him out. Watching the archaeologist carry out an animated discussion with… himself. Oy.
"Jack. Leave us please. We need to talk."
O'Neill was about to reply when Nem appeared. "I am ready for you." He rasped.
Jack looked up. "Uh, yeah. I'll just leave you… two alone with… you." He ducked his head and fled before things got even more convoluted.
"Daniel." The archaeologist shook with the internal turmoil.
- - - - -
Everyone looked up as Daniel made his way back to his friends.
"Daniel?" Jack took a cautious step forward. He was rewarded with a small nod. Jack had just completed the procedure himself. It was no worse than a dentist's chair to him. A lot of preparing for pain, but no real pain. He was left with a mild headache and a humming noise in one ear.
"Are you… prepared?" Myomis, the 'real' Myomis stepped up. The Oannes received a nod all his own.
Daniel made his way to the chair again. Jack's face tightened up as the younger man sat gingerly down, eyes on his shoes.
"The machine will… suppress the memories of… Myomis." Nem spoke laboriously, placing one clawed hand on Daniel's forehead. "You will be… yourself once more. There will be… pain. I am sorry. I cannot lessen it."
Jack frowned as Daniel nodded again. He wanted to hear Daniel speak. In fact, he was pretty sure that Daniel would have a lot of talking to do after this little jaunt. Daniel sighed and closed his eyes, tilting his head back. Nem secured the colourless straps around Daniel's forehead and jaw again. Daniel spread his fingers and smoothed down the fabric on his thighs.
"We will begin." Nem pushed down on the odd yellow lever that controlled the machine. Daniel flinched. Jack stepped forward a half step, and then halted. The humming increased in tone. Daniel made a low growling noise, pulling against the straps. The humming got louder. Daniel hissed through his teeth and Jack's expression turned to horror.
"Myomis!" He cried out. The alien inside Daniel was in control. What the hell was the memory up to? Jack took a step forward, only to run into Omoroca. The Oannes grabbed him by the upper arm and pinned him. He craned his neck, trying to peer over her shoulder as Daniel cried out. He shoved ineffectually at his captor. "Dammit, let me go. What the hell is that ghost doing to him?"
"Jack." Daniel, really Daniel, groaned. One hand flailed out, seeking contact. "Oh, God. Make him stop." Daniel's back arched and he squirmed in the restraints.
Myomis and Nem looked at each other over Daniel's body. Myomis put a hand on Daniel's arm and spoke softly to him. Daniel tried to shake his head in denial. Myomis nodded rapidly, smoothing his hair back from Daniel's forehead. Myomis and Nem exchanged looks again and Myomis nodded. Nem turned back to the machine and touched the panel again. The humming noise increased. This time, Daniel's eyes scrunched shut and he gave a soft cry. "Jack!"
The colonel faked one way, then the other and quickly got past Omoroca. Myomis gave ground, allowing Jack to take Daniel's hand. As Jack reached up for the restraints around Daniel's head, Nem stepped back in, pushing Jack's hand away.
"No, Jack. He must finish."
"So help me, Nem, if Daniel…"
Nem shook his head, cutting Jack off. "He would not finish. Myomis inside Daniel took control. He made Daniel… come to this chair. Daniel does not want…" The Oannes trailed off, looking away.
"Doesn't want to be alone." Jack finished for him, running his hands through his hair. "Damn it." He stepped close to Daniel, putting his hands on either side of Daniel's face. "Daniel!" He said, trying to catch the other man's attention. Daniel groaned and tilted his head back. "Daniel!" Jack tried again. The archaeologist's eyes opened and he looked blearily at his commanding officer.
"Jack?"
"Hey." Jack grinned. "Let it go, Daniel. You're okay." He got a small shake of the head in return, the restraints tightening around Daniel's forehead. Jack looked up at Nem and then back down. "You are not alone, okay. Carter, Teal'c, Hammond, Fraiser… hell, half the base lives for your power point presentations. Don't make me go back there without you."
Myomis moved over to the head of the bench and touched Daniel's forehead. He summoned every bit of English he had learned on Borsippa and spoke slowly. "I will be within, Daniel, but Myomis-inside-Daniel needs peace. It is what I want. You need your people. I miss mine. Mother… here, father… here."
Jack gripped Daniel's hand again as Daniel gave a small nod and closed his eyes. Nem took that as his cue and increased the power of the machine again. Instead of reacting to the pain, Daniel gave a little sigh and slumped, unconscious.
- - - - -
"Jack?" Daniel blinked and sat up. As he guessed, Jack was seated by his bedside, if a hard plastic slab could be called a 'bed'.
"Hey." Jack stood up and hovered. "How you doing?"
"Someone stuck a spike through my head." He said blearily, attempting to focus.
"Nah, you got the special treatment. I guess you and Myomis were a little too tightly wound to be easily separated. Nem says he's sorry, if that helps." Jack's tone of voice suggested that as far as he was concerned, it had not helped.
Daniel ignored him, turning his thoughts inward, testing his memory. He still had all the memories they had shared but, he tried to 'remember' Myomis and Lamashtu's wedding day, something he hadn't shared before.
Nothing.
"Myomis?" He said out loud, wondering if he would get an answer.
"I am here, Daniel." Daniel clapped a hand over his own mouth and looked at Jack.
"I didn't…" He trailed off as Jack made a little gesture to the side.
Daniel slowly turned to find Myomis, the 'real' Myomis smiling back at him.
"You look much different from this angle, Daniel. From the outside, as it were."
"Myomis?" Daniel frowned. "Well of course you are, but my Myomis?"
"Your reluctance to release me nearly caused some complications. I thought it best to save the memories of the time we had. I had them transferred to my mind."
"So you know?"
"Everything I knew when I was inside you." He shrugged. "As well as everything I knew before. For me, it was not one mind over-writing the other. It was the repairing of a fractured mind. Allowing me my freedom has made me whole."
Daniel looked down. "I feel so selfish now."
Myomis stood. "No. Daniel, it was we who were selfish. My father and I. All the things we put you and your friends through. You could have died." His voice turned soft. "I can never thank you enough for what you have done for us. But, I would like to make you an offer."
"What?" Both Jack and Daniel spoke in unison.
"Stay with us, Daniel."
"Wh- What?" Daniel's jaw dropped open.
"Stay with us. You are like a brother to me. Stay with us. We will search for your mate, repay our debt to you."
"Now, one minute." Jack began.
"Jack, Daniel is your friend, yes. He is now family to us. Allow us to help him."
Jack shut his mouth then. This had to be Daniel's choice. Protecting his mind was one thing, arguing over his happiness was another. If he forced Daniel into a choice, Daniel would only come to resent him later.
Daniel smiled softly, a little wistfully. "You're doing what I did by trying to keep Myomis in my mind. We were both clinging to the family but, I have obligations. I have responsibilities. I can't- I can't stay. Thank you though."
Myomis touched his hand to Daniel's cheek. "We are in your debt."
"Tell you what, give us a ride to the surface and send us on our way, and we'll call it even." Jack turned as the door opened, revealing Carter and Teal'c.
"Hi Daniel."
"Daniel Jackson."
Daniel smiled as he got to his feet. "Hey guys."
"Everything good?" Sam's eyes flickered between Myomis and Daniel.
"Yeah. Bit of a headache. Guys? I think I'd really like to go home."
Jack grinned, an honest to God grin. "SG1, let's head home."
- - - - -
Memorandum Confidential
From: Dr. D. Mackenzie
To: Gen. G. Hammond, SGC
Re: Dr. D. Jackson
General Hammond, please find enclosed my final evaluation of Doctor Jackson. We have concluded our follow-up therapy sessions. It is my professional opinion that Doctor Jackson has recovered well from his experiences with the Oannes technology.
I am uncertain at this time if the symptoms he was expressing were a result of the use of the technology, or if the Oannes machine was simply able to suppress the first signs of a schizoid or dissociative personality. I will be keeping watch in the future for the return of these symptoms. The next occurrence may require more direct intervention.
Dr. Jackson is quite insistent that he is fit and capable, and should be returned to active status as soon as possible. I will continue monitoring his condition very closely for a few weeks, should a relapse occur. At this time, I can see no medical reason to keep him confined to the base. I concur with Doctor Jackson, and recommend that he be allowed to return to the field.
As an aside, I have included a proposal with this evaluation. I would like to set up a study to evaluate the SGC personnel on a regular basis. I am concerned about potential exacerbation of certain medical conditions as a result of gate travel. Studying Doctor Jackson's post-mission chemical profile has led me to speculate that gate travel may have a detrimental effect on the production of dopamine and neural transmitters. This would be a long term, low level study. I am available to discuss any questions you may have.
D. Mackenzie MD, PhD, FACP
- - - - -
Note: And… we're done. As always, my profound thanks to Pettygrew, without whom I wouldn't have started writing and without whom I wouldn't have finished this.
A huge round of thanks to all of you who wrote in an enjoyed this and pushed me forward. I really appreciate all you've done. Four hundred pages to finish a story I thought would be told in a tenth of that volume.
You've probably guessed this by now, but this will be my last SG1 fic. I have enjoyed my time here, but I am ready to move on. I've been working on original stuff now. Who knows where it will go, but I'm going to try it.
This is the final version of this fic. Those of you who read it in its original form will note that the character of Emma has been removed. I like Em, but she did not fit into this story. I feel more comfortable with this version of it, and I honestly like it better. I hope you have enjoyed this.
/bow
Thank you all for reading this far. I am humbled.
Thel.