Note: This is the third (and last) in a series of stories (Retribution and Face of a Friend were the first two).  It will make a whole lot more sense if you've read those stories first.

No Second Chances, Part 4

Jack finally managed to struggle free of his captors, and lurched forward, coming to rest by Daniel's side on the floor.  All of his training told him he was too late.  Daniel's eyes stared sightlessly back into his own, and after a moment, he managed to reach a shaking hand toward his face to close them.

Then just as abruptly, he pulled back as the image of Daniel wavered.  As he watched in shock, the image sputtered and died, leaving him kneeling beside Forrester, the NID agent who had been sent to take care of Pirelli.  Behind him, Alex had only a moment to curse in rage before a series of zat blasts brought him and the remaining men to the floor.

Hammond strode forward, along with Major Carter and a team of SGC guards.  The fact that the zats were still being pointed at him wasn't lost on Jack.  

"Well, it's about time...."  Jack started, but was silenced.

"Escort him outside while we search the rest of the building," General Hammond said curtly.  "We'll deal with this at the SGC."

"What - you don't think it's me?"  Jack said in surprise.

"We have to consider that possibility, sir," Sam said apologetically.  "Especially since we don't know where the real Daniel is right now," she said, with a glance at the bloodied body of the NID agent.

"I don't believe this!  Bring Teal'c out here, I'll recite every bad joke I know in the ancients' language," Jack said.

"Colonel, you should know that Teal'c is off-world right now with SG-15," General Hammond said.

Jack cursed himself; he did know that.  In the rush of everything going on...  "So what - you want me to prove I'm not Pirelli?"  He pulled off his t-shirt and flung it aside, then started unzipping his pants.

"Colonel..." General Hammond started as Jack bent down to take off his boots, his unzipped pants sliding down around his hips. 

One boot hit the floor.  "I don't have time for a lot of questions, General," he said, jerking off the other boot and pulling down his pants.  Two more fast jerks and his socks had followed his boots and pants.  With a wince, he pushed his boxers down over his hips, stepping out of them but holding onto them protectively.  He did a fast 360 degree turn, trying to ignore the fact that he was buck naked in front of Carter, Hammond and a team of fully armed soldiers - in a not-so-warm warehouse.

"Okay?" Jack demanded.  "If you want to look any closer..."

"We believe you, Colonel O'Neill," General Hammond said with relief.  "Do you know what might have happened to Dr. Jackson?"

Jack motioned back to where Forrester was laying on the floor.  "This man was sent to take out Pirelli.  I'm guessing that Pirelli managed to overpower him and disguise him as Daniel.  Which means..."

"Pirelli has Daniel," Sam said.  "For what reason, sir?"

"I think I might know," Jack said, with quiet alarm.  "Sir, we have to get back to the SGC."

"We'll leave men here to round up the others, and I'll alert the base," Hammond agreed.  "You and Major Carter are with me."

Jack climbed back into his boxers in relief, and grabbed his t-shirt as he followed General Hammond outside.  He put it on, then turned as he heard Sam clear her throat.  Wordlessly, she handed him back his pants.

"Thanks, Carter," he said uncomfortably, taking them.  

Thirty minutes earlier....

"Daniel."  Daniel looked up in surprise as keys rattled in the lock.  "Daniel - you in there?"

"Jack?" he managed weakly, as Jack pushed open the door and came in, kneeling quickly by Daniel's side.

"Yeah - you ready to get out of here?" he said, draping one arm around his shoulder.

Daniel sighed as relief flooded through him.  Jack had done it.  He'd found some way to get back to him, to get him out of here.  Almost over....  His thoughts were quickly replaced by the numbing jolt of pain that shot through his body as he was lifted to his feet.  "Shit, you could have warned me!" he said, as he swayed uncertainly.

"Sorry - we just have to get out of here - fast," he said, walking to the door.

"Pirelli?" Daniel managed to ask.

"I stuffed him in a storage room," he said.  "Let's get out of here." 

They made their way outside to where Jack's truck was parked.  Daniel sighed in relief as they reached the vehicle, then stopped.  "We've got to tell the SGC these guys are here - warn them before they realize we're gone."

"What the hell do you mean?" Jack said.  "We need to get out of here."

"Jack, if Pirelli manages to escape, this whole thing could happen all over again.  We can prevent that."

"We'll call from the road - now get in," Jack said frantically, looking around him.  "If they catch us before we leave here, it's a mute point."  He fumbled with the keys.  "Go around to the other side," he said, then looked up when Daniel didn't move.  "Daniel...."  his sentence was cut off as Daniel shoved him to the ground as a gunshot rang out.  He heard another shot ricochet off the truck door as he scrambled to safety around the back of the truck, dragging Daniel by the collar after him.

He listened quietly a moment, then sprang up, firing quickly over the truck's bed.  A dull thud nearby confirmed that he'd hit his target, and he quickly fired again over to his right as another bullet shattered the truck's back window.  A few moments later he allowed himself to breathe, and risked a look.  Both assailants were down.

"Okay - get in," he said, turning back to Daniel.  Then he caught a look at his face, and the hand holding his side.  "Shit," he said, bending over to look under Daniel's hand.

"It's okay - it just grazed me.  I'm fine," Daniel ground out, as Jack helped him to his feet.

"Grazed, my ass.  I swear, Jackson, is your hide destined to catch every bullet that's even remotely fired in your direction?" he said.  He cursed softly and left Daniel to go around to the other side of the truck and retrieve the keys from where they'd fallen by the door.  "Hang in there - we'll get you back to Doc Fraiser in no time."

"Jack, what are you talking about?  Doctor Fraiser's no longer with the SGC.  Left to take that posting in Washington," Daniel said, breathing heavily as he leaned against the truck.

Jack walked around to his side, grasping his arm gently as he opened the door.  "Force of habit," he said.  "Hard to remember she's gone," he finished.

Daniel broke free of the grasp he was in, and tried to get away.  Almost immediately he found himself thrust up against the truck, and couldn't hold back a choked groan. 

"Figured it out, did you?" Pirelli said.  He put his hand over Daniel's mouth before he could call out for help.  "If I had the choice I'd leave you here, you know that?" he said harshly, his hand still against Daniel's mouth.  He drew back his other fist and drove it into Daniel's wound twice in quick succession.  Daniel arched up in agony, his scream of pain cut off by Pirelli's hand.  One more blow and he slumped into merciful unconsciousness, and Pirelli hauled him into the truck, where he slipped halfway off the seat into the floor.  He then quickly took his place behind the wheel and drove off.  "Cheyenne Mountain, next stop," he mumbled, glancing over at Daniel.

Daniel jerked awake, gasping at the jagged burst of pain that ripped through his stomach.  He'd fallen half off the seat of the truck into the floor, and struggled to pull himself up.  Pirelli grabbed his arm and pulled him the rest of the way onto the seat. 

"I thought you were going to die on me, Jackson," he heard Jack's voice in his ear.  

Daniel ground his teeth at the spiraling agony that shot though his abdomen.  "And spend my last moments on Earth with you, Pirelli?  Not an option."

"We're almost there," he said.  "The infirmary's just a few minutes away."   

"Why do you care?" Daniel said.

"I don't - but you should.  That's a pretty nasty-looking wound in your gut."

"Thanks for the diagnosis," Daniel managed, slumping against the truck's door.

"How did you figure out it was me?" Pirelli said a moment later.

"I suspected when you freed me back in the warehouse," Daniel ground out, trying to hold some sort of pressure on his wound.  Blood squeezed out from beneath his fingers as he tried to pull his t-shirt together over the hole in his side.  "I figured my chances to prove it one way or the other were better when I wasn't being held prisoner."

"Yeah - my accomplices caught onto the fact that I wasn't being very forceful in my interrogations," Pirelli confirmed.

"Right," Daniel said with a harsh laugh, then stiffened.  "What happened to Jack?"

"Well, you'll be happy to know that my soft spot extends to him as well.  I released him before I came for you.  I didn't actually plan for things to happen like this, but it kind of went to shit in a hurry.  I had to improvise."

"What now?"  Daniel said.  "Because I can't believe you're really taking me to the mountain."

"Oh, you're wrong there, Jackson.  The mountain is the only place to take you.  If I want to get away once and for all."

"You really think you can make it off-world - through the Stargate?" Daniel asked in surprise.  "It's impossible."

"The impossible just takes a little longer," he said, then paused before speaking again.  "Ever since I met you, Jackson, you've been getting in the way of my objectives.  You managed to turn my team against me and cause the SGC to take away my command.  You and O'Neill got me assigned out of the SGC entirely.  You managed to defeat my objective of removing you from your team and the SGC, although I have to take some satisfaction in the fact that I was able to walk out of the SGC without being caught.  But this time - for once, Jackson - you're going to help me achieve my objectives," he said, pulling into a parking lot and stopping the truck with a jolt.  

Daniel felt cool air on his face as Pirelli's door opened and shut, and nearly fell flat on the ground when his own door was opened a moment later.  He squinted up, the lights of the parking lot garishly bright.  Only a faint glow of pink stained the horizon, and the mountain looming ahead of them stood out in dark relief.  His head spun as he clutched the edge of the door for support.   

"Why don't you just give yourself up?" Daniel said.  "There's still time."

"That's my backup plan, but I'm not out of options yet," he said, pulling Daniel out of the truck and flinging an arm around him to keep him upright.  "You just have to make it to the guard station.  They can radio the infirmary from there.  Of course, you'll be unconscious before we get there.  Can't have you blowing my cover."

"I'll stay conscious...if it kills me," Daniel gasped.  "I won't let you get into the mountain."

"That's commendable, but you're wrong," Pirelli said.  His hand slipped down from Daniel's waist, and before Daniel could react, he'd plunged his fingers deep into the wound.  The effect was immediate; a red-hot stab of pain forced a cry from Daniel as he stumbled forward, nearly falling.  Pirelli thrust again, and Daniel writhed in his grasp, fighting to get away.  His ragged cries carried all the way to the guard station, and two guards double-timed their way to them.  Daniel saw them through a blinding haze of pain and fought to stay conscious as Pirelli again thrust his hand into the wound, tearing at the opening.  Pirelli allowed him to collapse and he landed hard on his back, which protested at the sudden impact with the parking lot's asphalt.

"Colonel O'Neill, sir!" one of the guards finally reached them.  Pirelli had knelt by Daniel and transferred his hands over the wound, holding pressure on it.  The guards couldn't tell that he was also continuing to drill a finger into the wound, causing Daniel to fight against his hand.  

"Radio the infirmary," Pirelli ordered, his face full of concern as he continued to "nurse" Daniel.  "He's been shot."

Daniel grabbed the arm of the nearest guard, and Pirelli spoke to him in a soothing tone.  "It's okay, Daniel.  They're here to help."  He looked up at the guard, his face clearly showing his distress at Daniel's condition.  "He's in a lot of pain," he said, motioning to him to hold Daniel's hands to his sides.  "Make sure he doesn't hurt himself."

"It's okay, Dr. Jackson," the guard said, holding his arms immobile as Daniel continued to fight.  "Someone will be right here."  He looked over at Pirelli.  "He really looks like he's hurting."

Daniel's struggled to speak, choking out the words.  "Pirelli....don't let him...."  Another blinding stab of pain shot through him, and he arched up.  I can't, he thought to himself,  I can't let him in the mountain......

"Just relax, Doctor," the guard said soothingly.

"Let go, Daniel," he heard the voice in his ear, so like Jack's.  God, he wanted to believe it was him, but the tearing pain accompanying it told him otherwise.  He tried to speak again, but the darkness overwhelmed him, sucking him under.  

He slumped gently, and the guard released his arms.  "What was he saying, sir - about Pirelli?" he asked.

"Pirelli's the one who did this, airman," Pirelli said.  "Where's that medical team?"

"I'll go check, sir," he said, standing to confer with the other guard.  Pirelli smiled in satisfaction, and wiped the blood from his fingers onto Daniel's pants as he waited for the medical team.

Colonel Simmons glanced around as he entered the infirmary.  There was one guard on duty, standing over Colonel O'Neill, and Simmons shook his head in disapproval.  Safeguards, General?  You did say you had them?  He went to where Jack was sitting wearily in a plastic chair as Janet's team worked around him.   

"Colonel O'Neill," Simmons said.  He motioned for the guard to leave.  "You may leave, airman.  In General Hammond's absence, I can take care of questioning Colonel O'Neill."  The guard saluted and left, and Simmons motioned for Jack to stand.  "Let's take a walk, Colonel."

They left the infirmary, and walked until they came to an unused corridor.  Simmons waved Jack into an empty office.  "So, Colonel - can you tell me what the hell happened here?"

"Pirelli, sir.  He managed to capture us on the way to my cabin.  It took us a while, but we finally were able to get free.  Daniel was wounded in the escape," he said, running a hand wearily over his face.  "I don't know if he's going to make it."

"And Pirelli?" Simmons pushed on.

"Still out there, Colonel," he said wearily.  "I hope you've put the base on alert?"

"We have, Colonel.  How could Pirelli have found out about your trip?"

"Someone on the inside must have tipped Pirelli off.  I'm betting it's Adams - he was the only one who looked the least bit sorry when Pirelli was assigned off-base," Jack continued.

Simmons nodded.  "I'll report this information to General Hammond, once he returns."

"Kind of reckless, wasn't it, bringing me here alone?" Jack asked, looking around the empty room.  "What if I'm not who I say I am?"

"I know you're not who you say you are, Pirelli," Simmons spat out.  As Pirelli turned and gave him a mocking smile, he continued.  "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"You really didn't think I'd trust you and your guys to find me a nice little tropical island to retire to, did you?  All for just handing over those devices and taking care of Jackson and O'Neill?"  Pirelli said.

"You're a fool," Simmons said.  "And to come back here, where you knew you'd be discovered?"

"This is my only escape route," he said, his face becoming serious.  "I'll never get away from everyone who's after me here on Earth.  But out there - even you won't be able to find me."

"You'll never get to the gateroom," Simmons scoffed.

"Don't underestimate me, Colonel.  Oh wait - you already did that," he said, with another smile.  Before Simmons could react, he'd slammed him hard to the floor.

"I would kill you, but then you wouldn't have to explain how you let this happen," he said, before rendering him unconscious.  He stood, hauling Simmons into a corner of the room.  Then he drew his pistol, and eased the door open.

Standing in front of him was Jack O'Neill.  "Fancy meeting you here," Jack said, raising his sidearm.

The Stargate spun into existence, splashing its puddle of energy into the gateroom.  As SG-2 prepared to go up the ramp, the door to the gateroom slid open, and Jack walked in, fully kitted out for an off-world mission.

Major Ferretti turned in surprise as Jack walked up.  "Aren't you supposed to be on vacation, sir?" 

"I was - Daniel caught some damn bug.  So I figured I'd come back to base rather than kick around at home.  Hammond gave me permission to tag along with your team," he said, as the other members of SG-2 disappeared through the wormhole.

"Sir?" he said in surprise.  At that moment, the base's sirens went off.

"Probably nothing," Pirelli said, "Those damn sirens go off all the time.  So what are we waiting for, Major?"  

Ferretti glanced up at the control room, where Sergeant Davis was giving him a quizzical look.  "No disrespect intended, sir - but I need to clear this with General Hammond," he said.  He then looked down at the gun pointed at his midsection.

"This is all the clearance you need," Pirelli said. "Move, Major."

Ferretti drew in a deep breath.  "No, sir.  I can't let you do that."

"You'll be dead before you hit the floor, Major, and I'll still have time to get through that wormhole," Pirelli said.

"I wouldn't bet on it, sir.  Davis has some fast fingers," Ferretti said, holding his ground.

"It's not worth your life, Ferretti.  Just let me through."

"I can't do that, Colonel O'Neill."

"I'm ordering you, Major."  Pirelli's hand tightened on the gun as he glared at Ferretti.

"And I'm disobeying that order, sir," he said.  Behind him, the door to the gateroom slid open again.  Pirelli swung his weapon around, firing, and Jack and Sam dodged back around the doors.

In the control room, Davis heard the shots and immediately hit the controls for the iris.  Hearing it start to close, Pirelli turned, racing up the ramp as Ferretti raised his gun.  Shots rang out, hitting his legs, but he still stumbled forward.  The iris snapped shut with a hiss, and Pirelli fell to the ramp, still clutching the gun.

Jack eased forward, gun raised.  "It's over, Pirelli," he said.  "Drop it."  He watched tensely as Pirelli met his eyes, then raised his gun, squeezing the trigger.  The shot went wild as Jack fired twice, both shots neatly catching him in the chest.  After a pause, Pirelli fell backward, letting the gun fall out of his grasp and dangle loosely on its strap.

Sam and Ferretti covered Jack as he went to Pirelli, checking him briefly.  "Medical team," he said, and Sam complied.

Pirelli looked up at Jack with a bitter smile.  Jack reached inside his shirt, pulling off the device.  The image of Jack sputtered and died, and Pirelli's real face came into focus.

"Jackson made it, right?" Pirelli managed.

"Daniel's going to be fine," Jack replied, as he was pushed out of the way of the medical team.

"I saved his life, you know - remember that," Pirelli gasped out, and before Jack could reply, the medical team clasped a mask over his mouth.  They worked with him briefly before rushing him out of the gateroom, leaving Jack and the others standing in silence.

Jack tossed the device on the floor and fired, the bullet shattering it into a million pieces.  Ignoring the startled glances of everyone around him, he turned and went to the infirmary, with Sam close behind him.

Janet met them at the door.  "Daniel's still in surgery with Dr. Warner, Colonel.  You can see him as soon as we have him in recovery."

"Pirelli?" Jack ground out.

Janet shook her head.  "He died on the way here, Colonel."

Daniel opened his eyes warily, focusing on the person sitting beside his bed.  "Jack?" he asked weakly, not daring to move.

"Yeah, Daniel - it's me," he said, leaning closer.  "How do you feel?  I guess that's a stupid question," he finished.

"Please tell me you're who I think you are," Daniel said softly in the ancients' language.

Jack smiled softly.  "It's me, Daniel," he answered in kind.  "You're safe here."

"Pirelli?" Daniel asked, switching back to English.

"Dead," Jack answered quietly.  "He tried to get to the Stargate, but didn't make it."   

"Was anyone hurt?" Daniel asked in concern. 

Jack laid a hand on his forehead comfortingly as he answered.  "Got a pain-in-the-ass colonel with a bump on his head, but he'll be fine.  Just one person was seriously injured - had us all worried."

"Who?" Daniel asked.

"You, Daniel," Jack chided him.  "You don't think you count?"  His face grew dark with anger.  "Dr. Fraiser told me what happened.  How Pirelli basically tried to turn that bullet wound inside out."

"He didn't want me to be conscious when we got to the base," Daniel said quietly.  "And I wasn't," he finished with a sigh.  "I let him get through."

"Daniel, stop.  If anyone's to blame, it's me.  I let that bastard out of my sight and he nearly killed you."

"For all the damage he did, Jack - he did save my life, in a way.  He could have killed me before we got to the mountain," Daniel said weakly.

"Yeah - why do I think that somehow was part of his plan?" Jack said quietly.  "He thought he could make it to the Stargate.  Almost did, in fact."

"You had to kill him, didn't you?" Daniel asked quietly.

Jack nodded, his eyes glued to the floor.  "There wasn't any other way."  He thought of the NID, and how they had thwarted yet another of their plans.  This latest incident would only make the two of them more of a concern for that illustrious group. Shit, it was hard enough to stay alive when they went through the Stargate, without worrying about watching their backs on Earth.  He never thought he'd say it, but life had been much simpler when it was only the Goa'uld they had to watch out for.  Daniel brought him out of his thoughts a moment later.

"You think this means that we don't get our vacation?" he asked.  "Because I really, really could use a vacation."

Jack forced himself to smile.  "Hell, no - we'll still get our vacation.  In fact, I think I'll ask for two weeks this time, not just one.  Two whole weeks in a row," he said.  

"I thought you'd like a copy of my report," Simmons said, tossing a file on General Hammond's desk.  He made no move to pick it up, or even glance at it.  "I believe the situation with Major Pirelli to have been mishandled from the beginning.  The resulting string of bad decisions and poor judgment has resulted in multiple injuries, some of which could have easily been fatal for Dr. Jackson.  It also brings into question the security of this base and the procedures in place to ensure that security."  He shook his head in disgust.  "If I were you, I would plan to address these questions in due time."

"I do plan to address them," Hammond said quietly.  "Maybe you'd like a copy of my report," he said, tossing a file toward Simmons.  "In it, I describe how you removed Major Pirelli from the infirmary where he was under guard, which resulted in his subduing you and managing to get very close to escape.  I also firmly believe that if you had not done this, Major Pirelli would have been taken into custody alive.  Perhaps you should be prepared to address some questions as well, Colonel."

Simmons gave the file a single glance before turning on his heel and leaving the office.  After staring at his retreating back a moment, Hammond picked up the file he had left and tossed it in the trash before returning to his work.

A moment later, he was interrupted again by a knock, and Jack eased inside the office quietly.  He sat down without a word, not speaking for a moment.  "So how is he?" Jack finally said.

"Doctor Fraiser stabilized him, and is continuing to treat him.  The wounds to his legs were minor, and the vest stopped both of the bullets you fired.  He'll remain here in the mountain in custody for the time being."

Jack nodded.  "Think he'll tell us anything we can use against the NID?"

"Time will tell, Colonel.  He certainly has everything to lose if he doesn't.  You made that quite clear when you set up the scenario in the gateroom."

"Yeah, well - he took some liberties with that scenario.  He wasn't supposed to make a run for the gate before I arrived," Jack grumbled.  "He's lucky that Ferretti didn't shoot to kill."

"And he paid for it.  Now we wait and see how cooperative he'll be about telling us what he knows about the NID," Hammond said.  "Are you sure that you don't want to tell Daniel what really happened to Pirelli?"

Jack stared down at his feet for a moment before looking up at General Hammond.  His mouth tightened to a thin line.  "No.  I don't want him to know that bastard is still alive, even if he will be in custody the rest of his life."  He got to his feet, then turned before leaving the office.  "I'm going back to the infirmary - would you like..."

General Hammond got to this feet.  "Yes, I'd like to see Dr. Jackson very much," he said, clasping a hand on Jack's shoulder as the two of them left.