Note: This is a sequel to an early story, Retribution, and will make a whole lot more sense if you've read that story first.

Disclaimer: Stargate Sg-1 and its characters are the property of Stargate (II) Productions, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author. This story may not be posted elsewhere without the consent of the author.

The Face of a Friend, Part 3

"Tell me one more time how that cabin managed to catch fire?" the park ranger regarded Daniel and Josiah suspiciously.

"I need to make a phone call," Daniel said, as he stared out glumly from the small cell.

"Why am I in here?  I told you he started the fire," Josiah grumbled.

"With your kerosene," the park ranger replied.

"He tricked me," Josiah said.

"Starting a fire like that in a state park..."

"I know, I know.  I could go to jail for a very, very long time.  I think, however, you owe me at least one call," Daniel pleaded.

"You've been watching too many cop shows, son.  I don't have to do anything.  You're not officially under arrest - but you will be as soon as someone from the Colorado Springs PD gets here.  They can give you your call."

"This is a matter of life and death," Daniel said.  "Come on!  Why would I have done this otherwise?  I have to get word to someone before people get hurt."  He sighed in frustration at the ranger's expression.  "One call." 

Sam and Jack lowered Teal'c to the ground, and Jack checked out the cave briefly.  "Looks okay," he confirmed, going back to where Sam was trying to make a pillow out of her vest for Teal'c head.  "How's he doing?"

"It doesn't look fatal.  I think his symbiote can probably heal him - but it's going to take a while," she said, looking around the small cave.  "You think we'll be safe here?"

"Safe as we'll be anywhere.  I'm going to go back for our supplies," he said, checking his P-90 briefly.  "You stay put."

"Sir, do you think that's wise?  We heard an explosion.  There are probably still Jaffa around here."

"And if we're going to dig in, Major, we'll need supplies.  Don't worry - I'll stay out of sight," he said, ducking back into the woods as Sam stared after him worriedly.

Janet walked to the door of Daniel's office, pushing it open gently when her knock received no answer.   Her eyes took in the mess with dismay.  "Daniel?" she asked, walking in.  Her shoes crunched the broken bits of pottery that littered the floor.

Daniel was sitting in a corner of the office, contemplating another artifact.  As if he hadn't heard her, he suddenly flung it angrily against the wall, where it exploded into bits.

"Daniel," Janet said, laying a hand on his shoulder.  "Mind calling a cease fire?" she joked weakly.

He didn't respond, so she took a seat beside him.  "I heard what happened," she said, her own throat tightening a little.  "I'm sorry.  I know how difficult this must be..."

"You have no fucking idea how difficult this is," he hissed, flinging another vase against the wall violently.

Janet winced.  "They were my friends too, Daniel.  If there's anything that any of us can do..."

"There is."  He stood, going to his desk.  "You can leave me the hell alone."  He shoved some paperwork into his backpack, then started for the door.  

Janet was at his side in a moment.  "Daniel, I don't think it's a good idea for you to leave right now," she said, laying a hand on his arm.

"I really don't care what you think," he shot back.

"Besides, they may need to ask you some more questions about what happened...."  He started to pull away again, and her grasp tightened.  "And as your doctor, I don't think you're in any shape to drive yourself home right now - never mind being alone."

"So you're going to detain me for medical reasons?" he said.

"If it comes to that.  Daniel, I'm just concerned about you...." she started, then yelped a little as he grabbed her arm.  "Daniel?" she started, before he clapped a hand over her mouth.

General Hammond looked up from his work as his phone began ringing.  He picked it up and answered.  "General Hammond."

"General - thank God," Daniel said.  "I didn't know if you'd answer."

"Daniel - what can I do for you?" he asked.

"Lock down the mountain - now.  And have someone take...me... into custody."

"What?" General Hammond asked in surprise.

"General, for the past two weeks, someone has been impersonating me at the SGC.  I can't go into a lot of detail now," Daniel glanced over to where the park ranger and Josiah were giving him incredulous glances, "but you have to stop him before he leaves the mountain."

"Listen, I don't know who you are, but this isn't funny," General Hammond said.  "I don't appreciate prank phone calls."

"If this is a prank call, General - then how did I get this number?" Daniel replied.  "I know this sounds crazy.  I'm at the ranger station on Blue Canyon Road.  Send someone to get me - I'll prove it to you...."  He heard the click of the receiver on the other end, and pulled back in surprise.  "He hung up on me," Daniel said.

The park ranger took back the phone.  "You've had your one call - now sit down," he said.

General Hammond put the phone down on the cradle, then picked it up again after a short pause.  "Have the mountain shut down temporarily - no one in or out.  And find out where Dr. Jackson is - I want to see him in my office."  

A moment later the phone rang again.  "He signed out at 15:10?" General Hammond said.  "Alert base security - and I want someone to go to Dr. Jackson's apartment and bring him back to base if he's there.  I also want the authorities in town notified that if his vehicle is spotted, he is to be detained until we can send someone to escort him back to base.  Call me the moment you hear anything."  

He then dialed the base operator.  "Get me the ranger station on Blue Canyon Road."  The phone rang, and was answered by the station's ranger.  "This is General George Hammond of the US Air Force.  Do you have someone claiming to be a Dr. Daniel Jackson there?" General Hammond asked.

"That's who he says he is," the park ranger said, looking over at Daniel, who'd raised his head hopefully.  

"When did you take him into custody?"  Hammond asked.

"About 3:00 p.m. today.  Claims he's been held prisoner for the last two weeks."

"What does he look like?" Hammond continued.

"Young guy, about six feet tall, brown hair, blue eyes.  Very persistent - hasn't shut up since we brought him in..."

"Do you have a helicopter pad there?" General Hammond interrupted.

"Yes, sir," the park ranger said, looking over at Daniel.

"We'll be sending over a helicopter to retrieve him momentarily.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask them of the sergeant who will accompany the pilot.  And if Dr. Jackson needs anything, please accommodate him."

General Hammond himself was waiting as Daniel was escorted back into the base.  His eyes raked over Daniel, noting his exhausted appearance with concern.  A park ranger's uniform hung off him, obviously the wrong size.  It only added to the overall look of gauntness.  Whatever had happened to Daniel the past two weeks hadn't been easy for him to endure.

Daniel saw General Hammond's worried look and gestured at his clothes.  "It was all they had and my own clothes were a little...."

"Son, are you all right?" Hammond said, going to him.

"I'm fine, sir.  Is SG-1...." his face fell as General Hammond shook his head.

"They're missing in action.  We're preparing to send SG-2 and SG-3 in after them."

An airman approached, her hand moving toward her service revolver when she saw Daniel.  

"It's okay, airman.  This is the real Dr. Jackson, not the imposter we've been looking for.  Did you have a message for me?" General Hammond said.

"General Hammond, sir.  We were continuing to search the base as you requested, and when we searched Dr. Jackson's office, we found Dr. Fraiser."

"Oh my God," Daniel said, the color draining completely from his face.  

The airman was quick to reassure him.  "She's okay, sir.  Just some bruises.  She says Dr. Jackson overpowered her and tied her up.  The 'other' Dr. Jackson," she said, with a glance at Daniel.  

He gave her a nod.  "Dismissed."  He turned to Daniel.  "Let's get up to the briefing room so that you can tell us just who we're chasing."

Daniel nodded in response, willing his heart to stop racing.

"He's coming around, sir."

Teal'c looked up into Sam's face, then over at Jack.

"How're you doing, big guy?" Jack said, giving his arm a squeeze.

"Daniel Jackson - is he here?" Teal'c said suddenly in alarm.

Sam and Jack exchanged a glance.  "No, Teal'c - he was gone when we arrived.  He said something about following the Jaffa who'd attacked you through the Stargate," Jack said.  "Can you remember anything about what happened?"

Teal'c's face hardened.  "I remember everything that happened - starting with the fact that there were no Jaffa."

"Dr. Jackson, I can't allow you to return to that planet," General Hammond said.

"Why not?" Daniel said.

"Well, for one, you look like hell.  You just told me you've been held prisoner for almost two weeks.  I think you need some rest."

"I would agree," Janet said.  She'd recovered sufficiently to join General Hammond and Majors Ferretti and Griff in the briefing room with Daniel.    

"I'm fine, and General - I need to go back there," he said, ignoring the throbbing pain in his feet.  His story of the last two weeks had been mostly complete.

"Son, we may be looking for bodies," General Hammond said quietly.   

"I know," Daniel said, forcing down the bile in his throat.  "But if there's a chance they're still alive....."

General Hammond debated the issue in his mind.  "I'll only allow it if you stay put near the gate.  Major Ferretti, I'm holding you personally responsible for making sure that he does."

Ferretti groaned internally at the command.  "Yes, sir."

"I'll only allow it if you promise me that you're feeling up to this," Janet said, giving Daniel a hard stare.

"I'm fine," he assured her.

"Clean up and get yourself into BDUs, and meet SG-2 and SG-3 back here in an hour," Hammond said to Daniel, who nodded in relief.

Daniel looked around the locker room, and sighed.  He'd managed to get here when no one was around.  As quickly as he could, he stripped off his clothes and shoes, pulling off the matted mess of bandages along with his socks and throwing the whole mess in the garbage.  He then limped to the showers, cursing a little at the flaring pain that shot through his feet at every step.  He took the fastest shower of his life, roughly scrubbing off the dirt and sweat before carefully lifting each foot, allowing the water to wash clean the blood covering the bottom of his feet.  He cursed in every language he knew as the water found its way inside every raw cut.

Finally satisfied that they were as clean as he could make them, he shut off the water and toweled himself off quickly.  Praying that no one would come in as he fumbled with the locker room's first aid kit, he pulled out the supplies he needed and made his way to the bench beside his locker.  He smeared the kit's oily antiseptic cream on both feet and rewrapped them carefully, taping down the gauze pads firmly.  He pulled on his socks gently over the bandages, then managed to get himself dressed without his feet touching the floor again.

He then eyed the heavy boots he'd have to wear.  Knowing it had to be done, he ground his teeth as he pulled them on, tightening the laces down with a vengeance.  He then hobbled over to the showers with his towel, wiping up the trail of blood splotches on the floor and stowing the soiled towel in the bottom of his locker only seconds before Ferretti walked in, followed by the rest of SG-2 and SG-3.

"Done already, Daniel?" Ferretti asked.

"Yeah, well - I had some things I wanted to check before I left..."

"How about checking out the commissary first?  You look like you could use something to eat before you go," Ferretti said, noticing Daniel's pale face.

"I'm not very hungry, but thanks," Daniel said, with a small smile.  "I'll see you in a half hour."

"Sure he's up to this mission?" Smith asked Ferretti, after Daniel had gone.  "He doesn't look so good."

"How would you look if you thought your whole team might be lying dead on some planet?" Ferretti answered him, effectively silencing any other comments.

Sam sighed in relief as she saw Jack come back over the rise in front of the cave, hauling their packs with him.  

"Teal'c?" he asked, crawling into the cave, dragging the packs in after him.

"Resting - I think he's going to be fine."  She paused, looking down at Teal'c.  "I just can't believe Daniel would do this, sir."

Jack took off his hat and rubbed a hand through his hair tiredly.  "A lot of things don't make sense about Daniel lately, Major."

"Jack, do you read?" Daniel's voice coming out of Jack's radio startled him.  He made no move to answer it.

"Should we..." Sam started.

"Not yet, Major," Jack said, ignoring the radio.

Lieutenant Smith kept a wary eye on the surrounding woods as he and Daniel stood guard at the gate.  Behind them, the naquada reactor hummed quietly, their guarantee of being able to fire up the gate when they were ready to leave.  Another member of SG-3 was pacing a wide perimeter, just out of their sight.  Initial reconnaissance had confirmed that there were no Jaffa to be found, at least nearby.  It seemed likely the Jaffa were a concoction of Major Pirelli, who'd rigged up the bomb that had destroyed the MALP and staged the battle scene they'd observed earlier.

None of this made any of the men feel better, and the longer they went without any word from the rest of SG-1, the more their feelings of unease had grown.  No one had responded to their frequent radio calls, and a search of the area had turned up nothing.  

Smith looked over at Daniel, who was staring off into the distance with a haunted look.  He'd grown steadily paler as time had passed, and now, in Smith's opinion, he looked almost feverish.  He started to ask Daniel if it wouldn't be better for him to return home when he heard a noise off to his right.  

"Did you hear that?" he said to Daniel, looking around.  "It almost sounded like..."

"...a cry for help," Daniel finished, starting to head toward the sound.

"Whoa, whoa - Major Ferretti will have my ass if you leave this gate - just stay here.  I'll check it out," Smith said, moving out toward the trees.

Daniel paced around, watching Smith look through the surrounding bushes and trees carefully.  Then he froze as an arm wrapped around his neck, pulling him backwards.  Another hand appeared near his chin, holding a knife. 

"Hello, Daniel," Jack whispered in his ear.  

Daniel relaxed.  "Jack - you scared the shit out of me..."

"Move," Jack said, grabbing one of Daniel's arms and propelling him forward.  The knife didn't budge as they eased their way out of the stone plaza.  

"You're not kidding, are you?" Daniel whispered, as they made their way quickly over the rough rocks surrounding the gate, causing pain to shoot up Daniel's legs as the cuts on his feet flared.

Jack didn't answer, and as they disappeared, Daniel realized that he was very much a prisoner.

After a few moments of searching, Smith made his way back to the gate, looking around in concern when he didn't find Daniel.  His worst fears were confirmed, and he clicked on his radio.  "Daniel?" he said.  "Do you read?"

Jack, hearing the radio click on, grabbed it out of Daniel's vest with one hand, and without pausing, flung it into the woods as they walked.  Another quick motion took Daniel's revolver and then his knife disappeared as well.

Ferretti, hearing Smith's radio call, clicked on his own radio.  "Smith, don't tell me you've lost Daniel."

"Sir, I was just checking out...."

"Damn," Ferretti cursed, looking around at the rest of the team.  "Well - at least we know someone is here.  Let's just hope it's SG-1."

"I'm glad you're okay," Daniel said as he and Jack made their way over the rocks.

No answer.  Not one to give up easily, Daniel continued.  "Are Sam and Teal'c...."

Jack's grasp tightened on his arm.  "You tell me," he said to Daniel.

"Are they alive?  Did he hurt them?  Damn it, Jack - will you stop a minute and let me explain?"

"You can explain later," Jack said, urging him ahead.  Daniel stopped, digging in his heels.

"No, I don't think so," he said, catching his breath.  He forced himself to ignore the knife under his chin as he carefully lowered himself to a fallen tree, taking the weight off his abused feet.  He didn't move as Jack carefully made his way to stand in front of him.  

They stared at each other for a moment before Jack spoke.  "So talk...explain," he said, leaning back against a tree.  His relaxed pose didn't make Daniel think for a minute he was letting down his guard.  But Daniel had done all the resisting he'd planned to do.

"Are they alive?" Daniel asked again.

"Where did you go after you left Teal'c to die?" Jack said almost casually.

A stab of panic went through Daniel.  "Where did I...you mean where did he go?" he started.  "Back to the SGC - he went back to the SGC."

"What 'he'?" Jack asked.  "Your evil twin?"

"Jack, you have to believe me - that wasn't me."  He continued as Jack regarded him silently.  "So Teal'c is dead?"

"You'd miss him?" Jack said.  

"That's out of line," Daniel said angrily.

"So was attacking Teal'c," Jack hissed.  "What happened to you, Daniel?"

"I didn't do anything!  I wasn't here," Daniel insisted.

"Give me something other than that!" Jack spat out.  "Tell me it was some sort of mind control, or drug-induced trance, or temporary insanity - because you were here, Daniel.  That much I know."

"It was Nick Pirelli.  Jack," Daniel began to plead as Jack looked away in disgust.  "He was impersonating me.  For the last two weeks, I haven't even been at the SGC."

"If that's true, then he was a goddamned genius of disguise," Jack said.  

Daniel closed his eyes for a moment, then began again.  "Jack, do you remember when the SGC was taken over by those aliens, who impersonated us, took on our identities."  Jack's eyes narrowed as he continued.  "Area 51 kept those devices, and learned how to use them.  Pirelli was assigned to Area 51.  That's how he did it."

Jack's hooded eyes didn't give Daniel any indication of whether or not his argument was having any effect.  "Please tell me that Teal'c is still alive - that I'm not too late," Daniel finished.

In response, Jack took out restraints and bound Daniel's feet and hands.  Without a word, he left him and disappeared in the woods.

"I guess I should have pleaded insanity," Daniel said to the empty air as he tested his restraints.

Go to Part 4

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