"Jacob and Anise are talking to Doc Frasier about the separation - they should be ready to go by tomorrow," Jack said, joining Daniel as he stood quietly in the empty briefing room, looking out the window down into the gateroom.  Jack had hovered around Daniel ever since they had returned, trying to draw him out.  He'd barely spoken a word to anyone since they arrived.

"Thanks for letting me know," Daniel said softly, his eyes not leaving the Stargate.

"Soon it will just be you in there," Jack said, tapping his forehead.

Daniel nodded once, his eyes not meeting Jack's.

"So....what's it like?" Jack asked, trying to keep him talking.   

"It's like having you inside my head twenty-four hours a day," Daniel said after a moment.

"That bad?" Jack replied.

"Yeah," Daniel said with a small smile, then became serious again.  "Jack, do you think..." he paused for a moment before continuing.  "Could this be the path I'm supposed to follow?  My way of helping Earth, helping the Tok'ra, defeat the Goa'uld?"

"You're having second thoughts about the separation, Daniel?" Jack asked, searching his face.  "I thought this was what you wanted."  

Daniel looked over at him.  "I don't know what I want right now, Jack.  The more time that passes..."  He paused, looking away.  "Think of what the SGC could gain.  Thoth knows so much..."

"After everything, after all the Goa'uld have done to you," Jack said.  "You can't seriously be considering keeping that snake, can you?"

"He's Tok'ra, Jack - not Goa'uld," Daniel corrected.

"I've been dealing with the Tok'ra for a while now, Daniel, and one thing is becoming crystal clear to me.  The only difference between the two of them is that they're on opposite sides of a war.  We just happen to be on the same side as the Tok'ra," he said.

Daniel spun around, his eyes glowing with an intensity that caused Jack to step backwards.  "Never compare me to the Goa'uld again," Thoth said, advancing on him.  

"I take it 'we' are not amused?" Jack said, backing up a few steps.

"I do not know why Daniel allows you to treat him with such condescension - with so little regard for his worth to you and your world," Thoth continued.

"That's not true," Jack said, "and Daniel knows it.  He knows his value to me, SG-1, and the entire SGC.  That's why I'm fighting to get him back, you arrogant son of a bitch.  And I may be at a disadvantage because I'm not inside his head, but if he stays joined with you it won't be because he didn't know how much we value him.  How much we...I...need him," Jack finished. 

He stood his ground as his arm was grasped, but found the touch more gentle than threatening.

"Jack, I know," Daniel said.  "It's not necessary for you to explain anything to me."

"Yeah, Daniel - it is necessary.  And I don't do it often enough, I know," Jack said, closing a hand over Daniel's as he spoke.  "You see what you think Thoth has made you, has given you.  And I only see what he's gaining by having you as a host.  Nothing's going to convince me that the one standing to lose the most if you two are separated is Thoth."

He pulled away to leave, but turned at the doorway.  "But it's your decision, Daniel.  Not mine - and definitely not his," Jack said firmly as he left.

Daniel watched him go, and after a few moments, went back to sit at his briefing room table, his head in his hands.  Unaccustomed to the silence, he sought out Thoth.  I can't believe Jack rendered you speechless, he said.

After a moment he was answered.  There is a first time for everything.  Besides, there is no reason for me to say anything, Thoth continued.  You have made your choice, have you not?

Yes, Daniel replied. 

Jack and Daniel sat together in his office, the silence hanging heavily in the air after Daniel told Jack of his decision.

"You sure about this?" Jack said, looking over at him.  In response, Daniel stood up, pacing around the room.  

"Yes," Daniel said shortly, his words clipped.  "I'm sure.  Even though this is the hardest decision I've ever had to make."

They both looked up as Jacob entered, and Daniel squared his shoulders, his mouth set in a hard line.

"We are prepared to perform the separation," Selmak said. Jack looked expectantly over at Daniel, surprised to see the look of pain that crossed his face suddenly.

"Daniel?" he said, laying a hand on his shoulder. "You heard the man."

Daniel looked toward Jacob, who gave him a sympathetic glance.

"Daniel, this is not going to be easy," Selmak said. "When Thoth leaves you, there will be feelings and memories that he was able to keep buried while you were joined that will have to be dealt with."

Daniel remembered Sam's experience with Jolinar.  "I understand," he said quietly.

"That's what we're here for," Jack said. "So get the damn snake out of him, will ya?"

Daniel paused a moment, a faraway look in his eyes.

"Daniel?" Jacob asked, after a moment.

"I'm ready - I was just...." Daniel stopped. "Saying goodbye," he said softly.  He turned to walk out of the room, with Jacob following.  Jack stopped Jacob as he was leaving.

"We'll do our best, Jack - but there's always a risk," Jacob said before Jack could speak.

"Yeah," Jack said,  "It's just - he's been through enough, Jacob.  I just want this one thing to go right, you know?"

"I know," he said, giving Jack a brief smile before he left.

"Daniel?"  

Daniel winced, and opened his eyes, trying hard to focus on who was speaking.  "Jack?" he whispered, his voice rough.

"You okay?" Jack asked, trying not to seem as concerned as he was.  From the way Daniel was squinting up at him, he probably couldn't have seen the concern on his face anyway - hell, he probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between him and Carter right now if he hadn't spoken.

Daniel nodded, and Jack handed him a cup of water, which he gratefully drank.  "So was it a success?" he asked.

"You tell us," Jack replied, motioning to Dr. Frasier, who came over to check Daniel's vital signs.

"I guess so - I don't remember much of what happened," he said, wincing as Dr. Frasier put a cold stethoscope on his chest.

"You blacked out right before the separation started," she said, checking his monitor.  "I think the symbiote actually wanted to spare you any pain associated with his leaving your body."

"Not to mention the ugly memory," Jack finished.  "He's fine, too, by the way - before you ask."

Daniel nodded.  "Has he received a new host?"

"They're waiting until they return to the Tok'ra's home planet - apparently he's being a little picky about the choice of a new host," Dr. Frasier said with a smile.

Daniel managed a small smile, then his face became serious.  He put his hands to his temples and shut his eyes briefly.

"Daniel?" Jack asked, but Daniel silenced him with a wave of his hand.  "I'm okay, I just...," he said, looking up at them, his eyes full of absolute shock.

"What is it?" Jack said, his stomach twisting in a knot.  Great, he thought.  Couldn't he have just one night's peace before he had to deal with all that crap?

"It's just - God, the memories, Jack." He sat up a little straighter.  

Dr. Frasier looked over at Jack before touching Daniel's hand softly.  "Daniel, we know that the memories of what you've been through must be...."

"No," Daniel interrupted her.  "You don't understand.  These aren't my memories - they're Thoth's.  He was shielding me from most of them when we were...."  He winced, leaning back in the bed.  "Images, voices, languages I've never known before....there's so much that I've never been able to understand, that he knew.  That he's given to me," Daniel finished.  "Is he still here?  Thoth?"

"Yes," Dr. Frasier said reluctantly, "But I want you to...." she shook her head as he jumped up and left the infirmary,  "..stay in bed," she finished.

Jack got up to follow Daniel, and found him alone with Anise and Jacob outside the gateroom.  Jacob held a tank where Thoth was contained.  The sight of the symbiote writhing around in the liquid, peering out at Daniel, made an uncontrollable shiver go up Jack's spine.  It didn't seem to bother Daniel as he knelt and placed his hand on the tank's side, then looked over at Jacob.  "I know he can't hear me, but can you tell him - thank you."

Jacob nodded.  "I'll tell him.  But - I think he knows, Daniel."

Jack walked to Daniel's side as the two - well, actually three - Tok'ra left the base.  He stood sillently until Daniel turned to him.  "So, did Dr. Frasier sent you after me?" Daniel finally said.

"Something like that.  Are you going to be okay?" he asked, as the two of them turned to go back to the infirmary.

Daniel nodded slowly.  "I think I am, Jack.  Yeah, I am going to be okay," he said.

"Let's just keep the quests to a minimum for a while,"  Jack said.  "I'm really getting too old for quests."

Daniel gave him a small smile.  "I can handle that," he said.

"SG-1 to the gateroom."

Daniel looked up as the page came across the intercom.  With a sigh, he laid down the notes he'd been working on and made his way to the gateroom, meeting up with Jack in the elevator.  

"So what do you think it is this time?  I say strange readings from the MALP we sent over to P94-039," Jack said.

Daniel shook his head.  "I say the Tok'ra."  They walked out of the elevator and  down to the gateroom, where Sam and Teal'c were already talking to Jacob.  

Jack gave Daniel a disgusted look and dug a ten dollar bill out of his pocket.  Slapping the money into Daniel's hand, he walked forward.  "Jacob - to what do we owe this visit?"

"Well, actually - we came to see Daniel," he said with a smile.  Jack then noticed the "we" he was talking about.  Accompanying Jacob was another of the Tok'ra - a younger man who towered over all of them, and whose blond hair fell past his shoulders.  He gave Daniel a smile.

"Thoth?" Daniel asked, causing Jack to look over at him in surprise.

"Hello, Daniel," Thoth said, coming forward to take his hand.

"Well, I see they managed to find you a host," Daniel said.  "He's certainly...ah..."

"Big," Jack offered.  "Blond," he continued.  "The Fabio of the Tok'ra,"  he mumbled to Jacob, who grinned.  Daniel fought to keep a straight face.

"I let my wife pick out my host," he said to Daniel, with a mock sorrowful shake of his head.  "Women.  She said to tell you hello, by the way."

Daniel smiled uncomfortably.  "So - what can we do for you?" he asked.

"Actually, I came to give you something," Thoth said, pulling a tablet and a page turning device from a pouch hanging on his belt.  "It is only right that you should have it."

Daniel took the tablet and device, then looked up in surprise.  "This isn't..." he started.

"Not the original, no - that I am keeping. It was, after all, my journal.  This is a copy."

"With a little editing - given the military's propensity for backward engineering, I had Thoth remove any references to Goa'uld technology," Jacob said, ignoring Jack's exasperated look. 

"This is incredible," Daniel said in wonder, turning the first few pages using the device.  "There must be years of reading here."

"Something to do in your spare time," Thoth said.  "There is much here on the Goa'uld - their history, myths, religion, songs, science - anything that I could document about the culture during my many years in Ra's court.  I hope that it will in some way aid you, if not in defeating the Goa'uld - at least in understanding them."

"Know your enemy," Daniel said in agreement.  He wrinkled his brow a little.  "What language is this?  I can read it, but I can't place what it is."

"It has never been spoken or written by anyone but me.  I created it - and only you and I can understand it.  At least, for now," he said, watching as a slow smile spread across Daniel's face.

"A completely new language?" he asked Thoth.  "What is it called?" he asked, going back to the tablet again.

"You decide what to name it," Thoth said, clasping him on the shoulder.  "This is only a small repayment of the debt I owe you.  Until our paths cross again, Daniel.  Thank you," he said sincerely.

SG-1 watched as Jacob and Thoth left through the wormhole.  Daniel clasped the tablet, hardly believing what he held.

"The Book of Thoth," Sam said, giving Daniel a smile.

"You have obtained the object of your quest at last," Teal'c said with satisfaction.

"By reading it, you will learn the language of the beasts, how to see the wind and how to hear the sun, the secrets of the gods and the songs of the stars," Jack recited.  "So the story said."

The rest of SG-1 looked over at Jack in surprise. 

"And you guys think I never listen when Daniel's doing one of his presentations," Jack said, with a smug smile on his face. 

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