"You are not going to Japan, and that's final!"

Daniel sighed. He'd woken up about an hour after Jack and co. brought him back through the gate, and after Dr. Frazier had taken a look at him and deemed him healthy, he was given a set of fatigues and led to the debriefing room, where General Hammond and SG-1 were already sitting, waiting for him.

Personally, Daniel was a little insulted by the escort, but he did understand it. They couldn't be sure how much he remembered of the SGC, and, more importantly, they couldn't be sure he wasn't a threat. He couldn't count the times somebody familiar had run through the Stargate, only to be an imposter. There was nothing to indicate that this wasn't the case, except Jack's word. Fortunately for him, Jack O'Neil's word was highly valued by General Hammond.

"General Hammond," Daniel started, pursing his lips and jiggling a pencil nervously, "we are the only organization in the world that has any experience with this type of thing."

"That we know of," Jack added.

"Not helping!" Daniel muttered. "My point is, I'm the only one who can help these people. I have to go!"

"Daniel," Jack said, standing and beginning to pace, "don't get me wrong, I'm happy to see you back. But don't you think this little scheme of yours is a little, oh, I don't know, suspicious?"

"Daniel, Jack's right," Sam added. "The last time you came back, you couldn't remember anything of your past life."

Daniel sighed. "Yes, but last time was different," he said. "Last time, the Others sent me back and hid my memories from me. They didn't want me interfering. This time I came back on my own, because I knew I needed help."

"To do what, Dr. Jackson?" Hammond demanded. "From what I understand, you and these 'Others' don't get along very well. Why is this thing so important that you have to carry it out even after you've come back?"

"There's kids involved!" Daniel suddenly shot out of his seat, nearly shouting he was so agitated. "They can't be older than sixteen, and they're being possessed by creatures they know nothing about! They must be terrified! One boy was even injured by the one he plays host to!"

"These creatures sound like Goa'uld," Teal'c mused. "I believe Daniel Jackson is right. They must be stopped."

Daniel nearly smiled and stopped his jittering. At least he had Teal'c on his side now. "Yes," he agreed, "they're like Goa'uld. They're not," he made sure to point out, "but they sure act like it."

Hammond sighed and leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed and a thoughtful look on his face. "If I agree to this," he started, but Jack interrupted before he could finish.

"It's a bad idea, sir," the colonel advised. Daniel groaned and buried his head in his arms, but Jack ignored him and went on. "We don't know what happened to him while he was Ascended. This could be some sort of trap."

"I'm aware of that, Colonel," Hammond snapped. "We're only talking ifs right now. If I agree to this," he went on, "how the hell am I going to explain what we're doing on Japanese soil?"

Daniel wanted so very badly to point out that the politic side of things was Hammond's job and not his, but he was already skating on thin ice. "Who says the Japanese government has to know?" he hinted. He immediately regretted it.

Hammond put his hands on the table and nearly rose from his chair. "Dr. Jackson, are you

suggesting—"

"A covert operation?" Daniel finished. "Yes, sir, I am."

"I cannot sanction-" Hammond had barely started before he was interrupted again, this time by Sam.

"It has been done before," she said, then blushed when she realized she'd cut the general off. "Sorry," she began, but Hammond waved his hand, indicating that she go on. "There have been covert operations executed by the SGC before. They've all been offworld, but it's been done."

Hammond sighed, shaking his head. "Daniel," he said, "I sympathize with your situation, believe me. But it's simply out of our jurisdiction. There will be no more discussion of this matter."

Daniel opened his mouth to protest, but Hammond gave him a warning look and he quickly looked away, scowling at the yellow legal pad in front of him. He let the others talk now, his only order of business having been shot down. Well, it wasn't like he was incapable of saving those kids himself. At least, that's what he tried to convince himself. Surely there was a way without the help of the SGC. He barely paid attention to the rest of the meeting, until he heard Hammond say his name again.

"I'm sorry, what sir?"

"I said," Hammond repeated testily, "that I'm offering you your job back." Daniel opened his mouth, not entirely sure how he'd answer the general. He loved his job at the SGC, but he wouldn't be able to go to Japan if he was assigned to another SG team. He didn't think he could live with himself if he just left those kids alone. Fortunately, he was spared from having to give the general an answer he didn't want to give, when Hammond held up his hand. "Now, I'm not saying you have to accept right now. Take a week to think about it, then get back to me.

"In fact," Hammond went on, "you've all worked hard the past few months. Why don't all of you take a week off?"

"We would appreciate the break, sir." Jack sat up in his seat, giving the general a look Daniel couldn't quite read.

"Then it's settled." Hammond stood, regarding Daniel and the rest of SG-1. "I'll see you all in a week. Dismissed."

Confused as to what had just happened, Daniel got up and followed Jack out the door. He and the rest of SG-1 headed straight for the locker room, and, having no where else to go and wanting answers, Daniel followed. "So," he said. "That was a fun conversation."

"Stop talking," Jack snapped.

They were all quiet after that, until they reached the locker room. Teal'c wandered around to make sure there was no one in there, and at the Jaffa's nod, Jack started the impromptu team meeting. "Alright, we've got a week to get this thing done," he said. "I still think it's a bad idea, but Daniel's got the general convinced, so why not. I've never been to Japan."

"Wait," Daniel said. "What? I thought Hammond said no."

"He did," Jack agreed. "Officially. Apparently he wants this one off the record. Now," he gave Daniel a searching look, "you've got the information. Why don't you fill us in on what we're dealing with."

Daniel blinked. Then he smiled, and recounted what he'd been doing in Japan.

0000000000

Daniel met the others at the airport the next morning, minus one member of the team. "What happened to the new guy?" he asked, his brow furrowed as he tried to remember his replacement's name. Giving up, he shrugged and went on to address his other source of confusion. "And how did we get tickets so fast?"

"Because we're just that awesome," Jack replied. "And newbie couldn't make it. Said he didn't want to get in trouble this early into his new job. Whatever that means."

Daniel shrugged and hefted his duffel bag further up his shoulder. He allowed Jack and the others to go ahead of him, relieved the new guy wasn't coming. He wasn't sure how the new addition would work with their team dynamic, and he personally liked it just the way it was. It was better that way.

Passengers were already boarding when they reached the right terminal. Daniel looked at his ticket and inwardly groaned. Sam beat him to voicing his complaint, though.

"We're flying coach?" The major raised her eyebrows.

"What?" Jack asked. "You wanted first class, you should've bought your own ticket."

As Daniel expected, the problems started when they boarded the plane. The seats were arranged four to a row, allowing SG-1 a row to themselves, but there was little room in the aisle. Daniel had no problem maneuvering, and neither did Sam or Jack, but Teal'c had trouble getting his bulk from one point to another. It was especially problematic, since Teal'c was at the front of their group.

"Hey, what's the hold up?" someone behind them demanded.

"Just a second!" Daniel called over his shoulder, then turned back to the dilemma in front of him. "Come on, Teal'c," he hissed. "What's the matter?"

"I believe I am stuck, Daniel Jackson." To prove it, Teal'c tried to jerk his legs forward, but all that happened was some sort of shuffling that did not get the big man very far.

"Hurry it up." Jack peeked around to put his own two cents in. "There's a crowd forming back here."

"We're working on it," Daniel snapped. "Try moving sideways," he suggested, but Teal'c turned to glare at him.

"I cannot move my legs, Daniel Jackson."

Daniel sighed and glanced down to assess the situation. Somehow, Teal'c's muscular legs had gotten caught between two armrests. "Hang on." He reached down to see if he couldn't move the armrest up, thus freeing Teal'c. After pushing at it a couple times, it wouldn't budge, so with his other hand he pressed against Teal'c's leg for better purchase.

Under his palm, Teal'c tensed. "Daniel Jackson, what are you doing?"

"Helping," Daniel grunted. Teal'c leaned away from the seat to give Daniel more room, and probably to help make the situation slightly less awkward, and with just a couple more thrusts the armrest gave way and Teal'c could again move. "Alright, now just move this way..." Daniel positioned Teal'c's legs the way he wanted and straightened up, giving the perplexed Jaffa a brief grin. "And now we can go."

This time Teal'c took Daniel's suggestion. Daniel relaxed, just a fraction, as they started moving faster and the people in the back started calming down as they found their seats.

SG-1's row was the furthest one in. Daniel sighed in relief and as quickly as possible stuffed his carry-on bag in the compartment above the seats before Sam or Jack could get antsy again, then took his seat beside Teal'c. Then came Sam and Jack, and things would've been fine, if not for the fact that, just as they were about to take off, a new problem made itself apparent.

Teal'c crossed and recrossed his legs, shifting against Daniel. "You alright?" Daniel asked, against his better judgment.

"This chair is very small."

Daniel sighed and sank deeper into his seat. "Yeah, welcome to coach."

It was going to be a long flight.