PART TWELVE
When Daniel had to, he could really move – fast. Right now his feet pounded the hard concrete floor as he purposefully strode towards Hammond’s office. Without knocking, he barged right on in interrupting Hammond, Peterson and Hofftom, who were planning the rescue mission to Px3-989.
“Doctor Jackson?” the general looked at him with great surprise. It was uncharacteristic of Daniel to enter the office without first knocking. The flushed face on the young archaeologist also alerted the General to a problem.
Daniel prattled, urgently, “Sir, I need to go through the gate to Px3-989 and-”
Hammond held his hand up, stemming Jackson’s next sentence. “No can do, Doctor. I’m deploying SG-5 to go and retrieve the both Major Carter and Colonel O’Neill. The Colonel is coming home whether he has completed that mission or not!”
Daniel shook his head vigorously. “No, Sir!” He tried to calm his breathing with swallowing.
Surprised by the disrespect, Hammond frowned and squeaked, “No? Doctor?”
“Sir, all due respect and all that, but-” the younger man pointed towards the Gate room. “I’m probably the only person who needs to go through that gate to retrieve both of them!”
“You are? Now what makes you think that, son?” Hammond rested his folded arms onto his desk and looked up at the tall anthropologist.
Daniel’s pink lips tightened into thin white lines. “I can’t disclose that right now, Sir, but believe me…” He eyed the two young officers then met Hammond’s bewildered gaze. “I can get both Jack and Sam home, safely.”
“I must say, Doctor Jackson, that this whole episode's been very..”
“I know,” Daniel muttered, clamping his eyes closed momentarily. “And no one wants it to end more than me," he said, holding Hammond’s attention. “Let me go there and bring them home.”
“On your own?” Peterson questioned Daniel with his usual low regard for civilians on the base. Hofftom glared at him and the Lieutenant fell quiet.
Daniel didn’t bother to look at either of them. He bowed his head, tapped his fingertips on Hammond’s desk and said, “Yes!” firmly. When he raised his face again he stared right at Hammond once more. “Let me go.”
“You can't possibly go in there without suitable back up.." Hofftom said, concerned for the archaeologist's safety.
“I will go with him,” Teal’c said as he entered the room. Daniel spun around to see his friend give him a supportive, knowing smile with a gentle bow of his head. Daniel was reassured in that one gesture that Teal'c understood what had transpired between the clone and the colonel, and was still willing to back his team, and support Daniel.
Hammond looked between the two men in front of him, then at Peterson and Hofftom, off to the side of them. He shrugged, threw his hands in the air and said, “God knows what’s going on over there, but I trust the two of you. You have my permission to go through, but if you’re not back with Colonel O’Neill and Major Carter within half an hour, I’m sending in SG-5.”
Daniel nodded sharply and Teal’c bowed slightly. “Thank you, Sir!” Daniel said as he backed up slightly then turned to leave the room. Hammond sat back in his chair and looked at the remaining two officers. “Be ready to join SG-5 in thirty minutes, if you have to.”
Peterson and Hofftom both saluted the General before leaving his office. Hammond sat forward, head in his hands, and wondered about the events of the past twenty four hours.
*
Jack was returning from his little room on the third level when he spotted Daniel at the computer.
“Where’s Carter?” he asked.
“I don’t know.” The clone responded casually without taking his eyes off the computer display before him. “She said something about needing to be alone for a while, to think about.. you know.. us,” Daniel said, pulling a face slightly. Jack sighed as he settled onto the edge of the table beside the chair. The clone immediately left his work and slid his hands up Jack’s thighs, circling them in towards his groin. With a wanton smile, the clone said, “Let’s hope she’s gone a while. I could use being alone with you for a few moments.” His long fingers swiped over Jack’s cock, encouraging it to life.
“Daniel,” Jack said regretfully as he took the hand away. The clone rose to his feet and stood between Jack’s knees.
“Come on, Jack. If it’s going to end, let’s end it with a bang..” He leaned in and kissed Jack’s throat tenderly, making his way up to his ear. “I know you still want me. Your dick’s telling me…” He said, rubbing his front against Jack’s growing erection.
The older man sighed sadly as he inched back from Daniel’s face. “We can’t. Carter might return at any moment.”
“So? You’re about to kill me, what’s it going to hurt for her to wait a while.”
“I’m not going to kill you..”
“You’re going back-” Daniel palmed Jack’s face lovingly and brushed his thumb across the thin bottom lip.
“That doesn’t mean I’m switching you off.”
The clone frowned. “What do you mean?”
“We’ve made contact with the Land of Light. You can go there. They’ll welcome you. You’ll have company whenever you need it.”
The blue eyes softened, as if he knew Jack wouldn’t get it. He looked at him like a beloved child. “I don’t want their company, I want yours,” he said as he leaned in and kissed delicately across his cheek to his lips. “I only want you, Jack.” He pressed his mouth over Jack’s and they kissed deeply until Jack pushed him away. “I love you,” Daniel said, then closed his eyes when he saw the look cross Jack’s features.
“Daniel..” Jack groaned as he pushed the clone off him again and tried to step away.
Daniel caught his hand and stroked it as he said, “You’re wrong, it’s not just your clone I love anymore, it’s you-” He stared at Jack’s mouth as he moved into position in front of him and professed, once again, “I love you, Jack.”
The colonel stared back at Daniel’s face, seeing the love shining bright in the blue orbs.
*
As the gate burst to life Daniel tightened the strap on his thigh that secured his Baretta to him. With an exchange of looks the men knew they were ready. Daniel inhaled a deep breath as he tried to calm his racing heart then he followed Teal'c up the ramp.
“Remember,” Hammond’s voice boomed through the room, “Thirty minutes, Doctor!”
Daniel muttered something about feeling like Cinderella and stepped through the shimmering surface.
They were not greeted on the other side as Daniel had expected. The place seemed abandoned and immediately his skin began to crawl. Where were the others?
His fingers tightened around his Baretta as he looked at Teal’c. The Jaffa silently indicated that he would go in one direction so Daniel nodded, indicating he would go in the other. As they fanned out, Daniel took the ramp that led him to the computer area.
There was no one there but Jack’s gun still laid on top of the monitor. Daniel raised his brow at that then moved further along the corridor. He came to the first door, released it and peered inside. It was much like Daniel expected the place to be, patched or broken. He stepped out and the door slid shut behind him. He crossed over to the other door and saw that the release was missing. He was trying to find a way to open it when he heard footsteps behind him. As he turned, he saw Teal’c come along the corridor.
“I found no sign of them,” the Jaffa reported.
Daniel nodded then jerked his chin towards the broken lock. “Think you can get this open?” He stepped back to give Teal’c room.
After attempting several ways of getting the door to open, including brute strength, Teal’c shook his head and said, “I can not.”
Daniel shrugged. “Okay, probably nothing in there anyway,” he said before moving away. As Teal’c made ready to follow him, he heard a muffled noise beyond the door.
“Daniel!” he called and Daniel turned and came back to him. “I believe there is something inside.” He tried again to open the door.
Daniel came back and pounded his fist on the door. “Hello? Anyone in there?”
He searched the floor for anything that might help them release it, and he found the broken bit of the release mechanism. “Teal’c!” He said, holding up the damaged pole.
Teal’c looked at the way the metal was torn then looked at his friend. Suddenly, and without words, both men knew the urgency of their task. Teal’c and Daniel both worked on the door and soon it slid open, requiring Teal’c strength to fully pull it apart.
Daniel rushed in and saw Sam lying on the floor. “Sam!” he cried out as he hurried to her, putting his gun on the black bed in order to assist her to roll over. When he saw her face he winced. She’d taken a pretty hard blow to her jaw, causing it to swell badly, and deep purple bruising ran along her cheek to her ear. Her ear had blood on it, a sure sign that she had been concussed by the fall.
“What happened?” Teal’c asked as he crouched beside her.
Still dazed and slightly concussed, Carter said, through swollen lips, “Daniel..” She gripped Daniel’s top and pulled on him with all her strength. “Jack’s leaving earth for him… you have to stop him…”
Daniel frowned. “What do you mean?”
But Sam’s eyes fluttered shut and she fainted. Teal’c and Daniel exchanged looks then Daniel said, “Get her back to the SGC. She needs medical help.”
“You will need back up,” Teal’c argued even as he raised Carter to her feet. She wobbled slightly and he hooked his arm around her waist to steady her.
“Don’t argue with me, Teal’c. Just get her back there.”
“I will return to assist you,” Teal’c promised as he carried Sam from the room.
Daniel took a moment. He closed his eyes and blew a deep breath from his nose. If he hadn’t managed to find Jack and get the hell out of here before Teal’c could get back, it was most likely he wasn’t going to, ever. He straightened his shoulders, reached down for his gun and held it tightly in his fist as he made his way, cautiously, from the room. In a distance he heard the gate fire up. He checked the next room. The Jack clone was on the bed against the far wall. He moved over to it, just to check that it was actually a clone and when he peered beneath the sheet all he saw was broken wires and tubing. It was the clone and he gave a deep sigh of relief at that fact.
“Well, you’re here, so where the hell is he?”
“Who?”
The voice made all the hairs on Daniel’s neck stand on end. Slowly he turned around and came face to face with his synthetic.
“Where the hell is Jack?” Daniel asked.
“I’m fine thanks and how about you?”
Daniel’s hand clamped tightly around his gun as he hissed, “I’m here to take Jack home.”
The clone smiled amiably. “Sure. But I think that decision’s his to make.”
“Where is he?”
“Ah,” Daniel’s eyes raised towards the ceiling then he seemed to fight back a smile as he said, “He’s resting right now..”
“If you’ve hurt him..” Daniel threatened.
The clone scoffed loudly. “Why on earth would I hurt him?” He cocked his head when he heard a distant sound. “The gate?”
Daniel’s face turned steely. “Teal’c’s taking Sam home. What did you do to her?”
“Nothing,” the clone said, almost managing to look surprised.
“Cut the crap,” Daniel hissed again. “I know you!”
The clone’s happy, friendly demeanor vanished; coldness filled the blue eyes and the gentle mouth turned into a tight white line. “Of course you do, I’m you.”
“You’re not me! I wouldn’t hurt..” Daniel started to surreptitiously make his way to the door, hoping that the clone didn’t notice.
Sounding as if he was already tired of the game, Daniel said, “You would hurt anyone who got in your way. You have all your life. I have all my life.... You can’t lie to me, you know," he sounded as though he were trying to remind the organic of their undeniable connection. "I know what you’re capable of.”
Daniel swallowed hard. His throat was beginning to hurt. “I’m not capable of hurting people..”
“You hurt Apophis pretty easily.”
Daniel clamped his eyes tightly. “Anyone I care about!”
“Come on..” the clone taunted. “Don’t tell me that you don’t want to push Sam clean across the room sometimes when she starts in with that flirting with Jack.”
Daniel looked away.
“See, I knew it was in you!”
“I wouldn’t hurt her!”
The clone’s face darkened. “Of course you would! You’re sick of seeing everyone else get what they damn well want in life while you’re left behind.”
“No!” Daniel covered his ears, unwilling to listen to his dark side. He noticed that he was within an arms length to the door and hoped that the release on this side still worked.
“People get in your way…” The clone continued as he moved over to the dead Jack, and touched his face lovingly.
Daniel was about to reach for the door when the clone’s words halted him. Suddenly he realized what had happened here. “The others!”
The clone continued to caress Jack’s face. “They got in the way.” He turned the moment Daniel started to reach for the door, so the organic ceased all movement for fear that the clone would stop him before he could get away from him.
“You killed Teal'c?” Daniel was amazed he had the power to do that kind of thing.
With a tilt of the head, the clone explained, “Jack loved him.” He ran his fingers through the light brown hair that Jack had. “He kept saying he didn’t,” he said, as he stared down at the handsome face. “But I knew did.” He looked up at Daniel again, stopping his movements once more.
“What about Sam?” Daniel knew, from his conversation, that Sam had liked him. Surely the clone wasn’t jealous of her?
“Oh, undeniable attraction there.” Daniel seemed to be scolding the dead clone lovingly.
Shaking his head, Daniel said softly, “Jack doesn’t love Sam! He never did.”
A twitch of a smile turned up one corner of the clone’s mouth as he continued to gaze down at Jack. ‘Women can be very persuasive when they want something."
The clone seemed focused on the dead clone now, as if speaking to him not Daniel. The organic Daniel seized the moment to turn for the door release but the sorrowful words uttered by the clone halted him once more.
“After all, why would Jack want to be with me if he could have her or Teal'c?” This time with the truth and not out of fear of being caught that had Daniel immobile.
The clone’s words cut through him, reminding him of the insecurities he had two years ago. The ones that stopped him from ever letting Jack know how he truly felt about him. The same ones that still ate at him today, though to a lesser extent. Closing his eyes, Daniel leaned to rest his forehead against his hand on the release bar. After a moment to collect his thoughts, Daniel said quietly, “Listen, this is stupid. None of us are threats to you.”
The clone took a step towards the back of Daniel. “Says you!”
Daniel felt the presence and swung around, surprised and scared, to find the clone so close now. “Sam said something about Jack leaving earth for you…”
A mixture of confusion, anger and hope swept over the clone’s features. “Oh god!” He exploded angrily as he reached out for the front of Daniel’s top. “Why do you lie to me!?”
Daniel was choked by the tight garment. “I’m not lying to you! He told Sam..” The constriction grew as the clone tightened his grip. In desperation, Daniel said, “He doesn’t love me. I don’t love him!”
Shaking Daniel, and dislodging the glasses from his face, the clone screamed, “I know you! I know when you’re lying!” He brought the back of his hand up and slapped Daniel across the face, much like he had with Sam. Due to the angle, Daniel merely spun the man on the spot from the force, but as he hadn’t struck under the jaw Daniel wasn’t knocked unconscious. Daniel touched his hand to his face though and brought away bloodied fingers. He spat blood from his mouth then straightened up to stand before the clone once more. Suddenly he swung around, hit the release and was out of the room before the clone realized.
Daniel stumbled along the walkway, still dazed by the blow. The clone took strong strides behind him. Anger flashed in the clone’s eyes as he came after Daniel, telling him, “You really are so stupid!”
He reached the bruised man and hit him again, this time forcing Daniel to double up over one of the side rails. The archeologist held on dearly as he hung upside down over the side of the walkway, staring down to the abyss below him. He heard the clang of the clone’s feet behind him and struck out with his foot, hoping to surprise the clone. It seemed to work and Daniel managed to scurry back onto the walkway, away from the danger, before the clone regained his feet.
But Daniel was still at the disadvantage. Now he was on his butt, sitting at the feet of the recovered clone, and completely at its mercy.
The riled clone raised his hand to strike him again. “Do you think I don’t know that you crinkle up your nose when you lie!”
Throwing his hands over his head in a feeble attempt to thwart off the blow, Daniel cried out, “Okay, so I do still love him!”
This confession angered the clone even more and he suddenly gripped Daniel by the throat and dragged him, kicking and gagging, to his feet. Without losing grip the clone tossed Daniel like a rag doll towards the edge of the walk way but before he could carry out his implied threat Jack’s voice echoed throughout the complex. Both Daniel and the clone looked around and saw Jack part way up the stairs on the other side of the landing.
The clone stared at him, immobilized by the look of horror on Jack’s face, but the second Jack continued to climb up towards them, the clone set his jaw and squeezed Daniel’s throat more tightly. Daniel gagged, his face turned red as the life was slowly stifled from him.
Daniel only had one chance, and he knew it. He raised his foot again and shoved it as hard as he could into the gut of the clone. The surprise worked and the clone lost grip, dropping Daniel as he stumbled backwards. As Daniel fell in a heap on the mesh ramp, gagging and gasping for air, he saw the clone slam into the railing then topple backwards over the edge, arms and legs flailing as he fell.
The scream was as horrific as the loud clangs each time the falling body struck another level below them. Daniel fell to the ramp, his hands at his battered throat, still unable to regain his breath. Jack, who’d witnessed the last part of the fight, had called to Daniel as he watched the clone go over the edge. Now he dropped to his knees beside his friend and slipped his arm across Daniel’s back, helping him to sit up. In the distance, the sound of the gate starting up echoed loudly.
“I’m sorry,” Daniel rasped through his swollen throat as Jack checked his damage. The older man trembled as he sunk from his knees to his butt beside his friend.
“Are you okay?” he asked shakily. The blue eyes closed slowly as Daniel gave a slight nod. Another chevron locked into place on the gate as Jack helped Daniel to his feet.
Daniel had damaged his foot as he fell to the ramp and he was unable to put any weight onto it. Jack slipped his arm around Daniel’s waist as he helped his friend towards the steps that led down to the Stargate.
“Jack.. I..”
Jack shushed Daniel with a shake of his head. He took his time in helping Daniel down the steps then he slipped his arm around his waist again and helped him hobble to the gate. By the time they reached it, the gate was bursting to life. SG-5, led by Teal’c, exited the shimmering horizon but stopped when they saw Jack and Daniel at the DHD. Teal’c stepped over to his friends.
“The clone’s dead,” Daniel told him but Jack shook his head.
“No, he isn’t.” He relinquished Daniel to Teal’c then turned. “I’ll handle it.” He said forlornly.
“Jack?” Daniel whispered softly through swollen lips.
Jack looked at him, his gaze taking in the damage done to his good-looking friend. “He’s not dead. He has to be switched off.” He patted Daniel’s shoulder gently. “You go with Teal’c. I won’t be long.” Jack turned and walked away, his whole stance was that of a man going to bring bad news to a beloved friend.
Daniel looked at Teal’c who said, “We must get you back to the SGC.”
Daniel looked to where Jack was becoming a distant blur without his glasses on. “No,” he told Teal’c. “Jack needs a friend. You all go back. Tell Hammond we’ll be there soon.”
Teal’c was about to argue but he could see the determination in Daniel’s eyes. “As you wish,” he said with a slight bow of his head. “O’Neill!” He called to Jack and caused him to stop. Daniel patted Teal’c’s chest before he limped away from him. Teal’c watched as Jack waited for Daniel to catch up to him, all the while Peterson dialed up home and the gate burst to life.
*
Jack watched the last of the Rescue team leave then he turned to the man beside him.
“Why?”
Daniel shrugged and attempted a smile until it hurt too much. “You need a friend.”
Jack shook his head. “God, Danny, I’m so..”
Daniel silenced Jack with his hand to his mouth. “Don’t. It wasn’t your fault.”
“Not my fault? For gods sake, look at yourself!”
“I have been!” Daniel winced as they took their first step towards the stairs. Jack frowned at him.
“I don’t understand what happened?”
Daniel rolled his eyes. “Something was wrong with the clone. He killed Teal'c and Sam, and probably Harlan too.”
“No way!” Jack’s eyes went wide. “Why would he?”
“Jealousy.” Daniel said, gliding himself down the stairs carefully, Jack ready to catch him if he fell.
“Jealousy?”
“He thought his Jack was in love with Teal'c, so he got rid of him, obviously. He also told me that you, or rather your clone, was attracted to Sam.”
Screwing up his face, Jack helped Daniel down the next flight of stairs, the battered man hoping to finally stop walking soon. Stopping to catch his breath, Daniel winced with pain as he sat on a step. Jack sunk to his knee and checked out the ankle. He looked up from his crouched position, and Daniel looked down at him.
“You stay here. I’ll retrieve him myself. You can't keep walking on that ankle!”
“Jack, I’m.. “
“For crying out loud, Daniel, just.. for once… do what I say?”
Nodding, the anthropologist sank to the mesh floor, sitting down. Jack gave a small smile before heading off down the next 11 flights to where the clone laid broken on the ground.
*
Approaching Daniel carefully, Jack felt a burning at the back of his throat as the blue eyes look at him through the long hair.
“I’m sorry,” the damaged clone’s voice was different now, more mechanical. White viscous fluid leaked from his nose, ear and mouth.
Jack crouched down to touch the battered body. “It wasn’t your fault. It’s all Harlan’s fault!”
Daniel’s face screwed up and Jack hugged him. “Shhh, it’s okay. I’m taking you back to Jack and then I’ll switch you off.”
Blinking, the clone looked up at him. “Thanks, Jack. For everything.”
Nodding, Jack didn’t really want to say it was alright, because it wasn’t. Two of his good friends were nearly killed by this machine, but Jack couldn’t blame him personally. Gingerly lifting the crumpled clone into his arms, Jack stood slowly then he looked at the ground that the clone had been resting on. ““I’ll come back for your other half,” he said, referring to the legs that remained in a tangle of wire mess on the floor.
The clone didn’t take his gaze from Jack’s face. “Why bother? Just switch me off, I’m so tired-” He laid his face against Jack’s shoulder.
Jack felt tears sting the back of his nose and eyes as he buried his face into the soft tawny hair. He inhaled sadly then started to climb the stairs. The clone never once took his face off Jack’s shoulder or looked at the organic as they caught up to him. Instead, he stayed gripping Jack’s neck tightly, his face buried against the colonel’s throat.
Jack carefully laid the half clone onto the table beside the Jack clone and helped him locate Jack’s hands so that they could hold hands. “Are you sure about your legs?
The clone closed his eyes in a nod. He turned his face to look at Jack then smiled as he drew his hand down the cheek.
“I’ll get.. going..” Jack started to back up but the clone reached for his hand.
“Tell him..” he whispered fluidly, as he glanced towards the doorway.
With a sad smile, Jack shrugged. “I think he already knows by now.”
The clone looked at him and gave him a warm, gentle smile. “Tell him anyway, Jack. He should hear it from you.” More white liquid leaked from the corner of Daniel's mouth as he spoke
Shaking his head, Jack reached out, brushing the long hair from the blue eyes for one last time.
“Bye, Danny.”
The clone turned his face to kiss the palm. “Bye, Jack.”
Turning to go, Jack stopped when he saw Daniel by the door. They didn’t say a word as the door slid shut and Jack strode down the corridor to the main computer. Daniel silently moved in behind him and watched as Jack moved the toggle, seeing the green light on the screen fade out to red. After a few moments, Jack lowered his face as he took in a deep breath.
Daniel reached out and touched his hand to his friends back. “I’m sorry Jack.”
With a slight shrug, the colonel straightened up. “Yeap...” he said, stepping passed Daniel and going back to the room to ensure the clone was turned off.
When he returned he was rubbing his fingers over his palms as if to dry them. As he went passed Daniel again, he felt a hand go out and touch his arm. He stopped and looked at his friend. “Don’t say it.” Jack shook his head then slipped his arm around Daniel’s waist as he helped his friend go back to the gate.
“What’s going to happen with this world?” Daniel asked quietly as he looked over Jack’s shoulder, back at all the metal and cold steel. Jack’s eyes flicked around then he turned his face to look at Daniel.
“I’ll come back, set a bomb. Nothing can be left of this place. He’s right. They know too much..”
Daniel lowered his eyes as he thought about Jack having to come back here and do that.
“Thanks for coming to my rescue, Daniel,” Jack said still sounding numb by the recent events.
“I’m sorry it ended like this for you.”
Rolling his eyes as he pressed the last chevron, Jack looked up at the flash of light. He turned his face to look at Daniel. The light played off the bruised face but Jack could still see Daniel’s beauty.
Daniel met the intense scrutiny with a small smile. “Take me home, Jack,” he said.
The colonel frowned then helped his battered friend up the steps to the awaiting gate.
< THE END>
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