An unintentional groan escaped as Daniel rolled onto his back, the pain in his head that had been unbearable moments earlier when he'd first began to regain consciousness was now a dull continuous throbbing. Raising a hand to rub his eyes hoping they would focus soon, he realized his wrists were bound together. What the hell was going on? Where was Jack and...oh yeah he hadn't been with SG-1 this time. Gunfire, he remembered gunfire and...what...he couldn't remember...concentrating hurt. Damn it was cold.

"Well, well it's about damn time you decided to join us." Daniel jumped at the sound of the voice, unaware of anyone else near by. "The captain was startin to get a little impatient." The voice had a distinct southern drawl that reminded him of an archeologist he'd once worked with from Georgia.

"Who are you?"

"Don't matter." Daniel fought the wave of nausea that washed over him as the owner of the voice jerked him to his feet dragging him towards what appeared to be the opening of a cave. As his eyes adjusted slightly, he could make out several figures around a large fire that pushed back the blackness of night.

"Welcome Dr. Jackson! Would you care for a cup of coffee?" The man who now addressed Daniel towered over him by a good four inches, his features indescernable as he had his back to the fire.

"What I would like, is to know what the hell is going on?" Daniel licked dry lips, his voice sounding rasping in his own ears. "Who are you and what do you want?"

"All in due time doctor. Here have a seat by the fire. The nights here get damn cold." He helped his prisoner to a seat on a large log, carefully placing a metal cup in his shaky hands. "Drink. It's not very strong as we now have to conserve our supplies but it will help warm your insides."

"How do you know me?" Daniel tried another tactic taking a small sip to stop the sand storm that seemed to have settled in his throat.

"Are you kidding? The boy genius of the SGC. A member of the original team that destroyed Ra and defeated Apophis." There was a cruelty to the man's laughter as he pulled up a camp chair near Daniel. "Anyone who knows anything about the Stargate knows of O'Neill's pet archeologist."

"Okay, so who the hell are you?" Daniel hoped he didn't look as startled as he felt by the man's unexpected knowledge.

"Captain William Hayes United States Air Force at your service." The man bowed his head mockingly. "Is the coffee to your satisfaction?"

"It'll do. What do you want from me?"

"Your knowledge of the Stargate."

"I don't understand."

"It's a well known fact Daniel that you know more about the Stargate than anyone...well anyone we can contact at the moment anyway. You probably know the addresses of most of the planets in the entire system as well as knowing which ones are technologically advanced and which are most likely to accept our leadership."

Daniel studied the man as closely as his blurry vision would allow. Most people would probably consider him handsome even allowing for the jagged scar that ran from his temple to his square chin. His black hair was slightly longer than military issue but neatly trimmed as was his mustache and goatee but it was his eyes that sent a shiver through Daniel. They were steel grey and cold as concrete in winter, without a hint of life in them. "You Dr. Jackson are going to take us to one of those worlds."

Dr. Fraiser pushed the wheelchair to the end of the table, adjusting the IV that hung over her patient's head, feeding much needed painkillers into his veins, before taking a seat. They could see the white bandage that covered his chest beneath the hospital robe and his pale complexion made his freckles and red hair even more prominent.

"Dr. Frasier do you think this is wise?" Hammond questioned. Janet quickly explained that the bullet had done no major damage and that when he came out of the anesthesia he had been insistant upon immediately speaking with the general. O'Neill noticed the color drain from Benson's face much as it had from Airman Bennings a few moments earlier.

"Sergeant Blaine, are you sure-"

"Yes sir." Blaine interrupted, wincing slightly. They knew it must be important for Janet to have agreed to bring him to the briefing room. "I want to make an official report on our mission to PXJ737."

"Son, considering the circumstances I'm sure this can wait until you're feeling-"

"No sir it can't!" The sergeant interrupted again. "I'm sorry sir but it might be to late for Dr. Jackson if we wait."

"Sergeant, I'm sorry but I have to inform you that Daniel Jackson was killed trying to-"

"No sir he wasn't!"

The video recorder that had taped Major Benson's version of the mission report was quickly readjusted and a new tape slipped into the machine while the sergeant listened to the audio version of Benson's report.

"My name is Sergeant Thomas Blaine, USAF, assigned to unit SG-7 of Stargate Command Cheyenne Mountain Colorado."

"Sergeant, we all understand the pain you must be enduring at the moment so just give us the short version and later when you're better able we can fill in the details."

"Thank you sir but I'm alright...thanks to Dr. Jackson." Taking as deep a breath as possible without causing himself more pain, the man focused on Major Benson, his expression one of disgust. "Just as the major reported the data from the UAV was correct and we reached the site of the castle without incident. However he was wrong when he said that there was no sign of human life on the planet. I myself saw several distinct footprints and I know for a fact Dr. Jackson pointed out what was obviously the remains of a campfire and not an ancient one either."

"What was the major's response to these observations?"

"He shrugged it off as being unimportant and since we saw no other signs of human occupation I don't think any of us thought about it again until we were on our way back to the gate. I informed the major of what I thought was a shadow moving among the trees." He stopped once more, letting the medication ease the pain, before continuing. "Major Jenson told me I was letting my imagination run away with me."

"How long was it until the ambush began?"

"Just a few moments sir. When the firefight started, I saw Bennings duck behind several trees and I dove for cover behind some bushes on the opposite side of the trail."

"Where was Daniel?" Once again O'Neill asked the question, his eyes never leaving Jenson's face.

"He was behind the major when the firing first started. After taking cover, I scanned the area, Dr. Jackson was behind a large boulder...he kept yelling at the major to get down but Jenson just stood there like he was nailed to the ground or something."

"He froze?"

"Yes sir. If Dr. Jackson hadn't knocked him down and dragged him behind that boulder he wouldn't be here to make a false report."

They listened as the sergeant told how after he had been hit, Daniel had bobbed and weaved, ducking for cover until he reached the injured man's side.

"You'd have thought the man was career military." Even O'Neill had to smile at the sergeant's comment. While returning fire Daniel had used the medikit in his BDU's to tend the wound in Blaine's chest, repeatedly calling for Jenson's help. Major Jenson seemed to have pulled himself together and finally worked his way to where the sergeant lay when one of the snipers suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"I kept waiting for the major to fire but he just watched, he had the gun pointed but he didn't pull the trigger. The guy...used the gun to knock Dr. Jackson senseless before he dragged him off." The sergeant was getting weaker and they could see that Janet was about to put an end to the briefing. "I'm sorry Colonel, Dr. Jackson didn't have a chance to defend himself. I tried but I couldn't...raise...raise my...weapon."

"Thank you Sergeant Blaine." General Hammond rose and walking to the far end of the table placed a hand on the man's shoulder. "Dr. Fraiser is going to take you to the infirmary now and I'm ordering you to rest and do whatever it takes to get back on your feet."

"Thank you sir."

"You bastard!" O'Neill exploded as soon as the door closed. Carter and Teal'c, sensing the colonel wouldn't be able to contain his rage were prepared, each grabbing an arm when he attempted to leap for the subordinate officer. "You cowardly son of a bitch!"

"Stand down Colonel!" General Hammond roared. "SG-1 you and SG-2 will prepare to leave immediately for PXJ737 on a rescue and retrieval operation."

"You better pray Daniel's alive and well or I personally will see your chicken shit ass nailed to the wall." O'Neill aimed the barely audible words at Jenson while the general called for security guards to escort the major to his quarters where he was to be confined until further notice.