'I'm coming Danny. You just hold on. I'm coming.'

"Jack!" Daniel's eyes jerked opened to nothingness. Total and and absolute blackness. Oh God! He knew his eyes were open and even if it were night he should be able to make out the shapes of trees, see the stars overhead or...he wiggled the fingers of his still bound hands...nothing. Daniel swallowed the fear rising in his throat. He was blind! He was blind! Push back the panic. If you panic you can't think and if you can't think you're as good as dead. Don't panic! Think! Concentrate! Remember!

He'd been traveling deeper into the woods looking for something to use as a landmark. The boulder. Even if Hayes or one of his men spotted the 'D' scratched in the rock with the gun barrel, hopefully it would still take time to figure out which way Daniel had gone. The storm had disolved into a gentle rain when he turned left weaving through the trees, his energy and strength diminishing rapidly, each breath relaying agony through his battered body. The distinct sound of voices calling out to each other, calling his name, scouring the woods to take him back to Hayes; back to be punished, pushed him onward. He couldn't remember ever being as tired, sore or cold as he was at that moment. He just had to stay out of Hayes' hands until Jack arrived.

Jack was always there when Daniel needed him. Whether it was saving Daniel from a misunderstanding with natives offworld or sleeping on Daniel's couch so he could chase away the nightmares that haunted his sleep. Jack was always there. The wise cracking, military mother hen of SG-1 who made sure his team returned safe and more or less in one piece. The career officer who bitched and moaned about Daniel's insistance on interacting with the natives on missions but would willingly lay his life on the line to protect an innocent. His friend who let few people see beyond the hard ass, by the book (which he constantly threw away) image he'd spent years cultivating.

The ground had suddenly vanished under Daniel's feet and with a scream of fear, he found himself tumbling ass over teakettle to the bottom of a deep ravine crashing to a halt among several sturdy shrubs, the breath rushing from his lungs, pain shooting up his leg. Just what he needed, a new pain. Maybe it would take his mind off the rest of his aching body. A few feet away he had seen the half exposed roots of an enormous tree creating a fairly dry place where he might not be spotted, at least from above. Gritting his teeth to keep from releasing the pain in screams, he had dragged himself to the indentation in the hillside, and pulling the handgun from his pocket, thanking God it was still there, had curled himself into a ball to wait. At least he was out of the rain.

"Kramer, take these assholes and head back for the gate. Bennings you go with them and get some rest." Ferretti checked the ropes that bound the ragtag remains of Hayes' renegade unit to each other. It had been sheer luck that the SGC had come on each member seperately as they too searched for Jackson. Two, including Hayes had insisted on a firefight and died as a result. At least they knew Daniel was still alive or had been when they arrived. One of the airmen, answered the question that had bugged Ferretti since receiving the details of this search and rescue. Why hadn't the renegades killed the rest of SG-7? Of course, a team failing to return would have brought searchers either way. They had to have known, one way or the other, Hammond would send another team though the gate. As it turned out, that's exactly what they had counted on. Fearing Hayes, they had reported SG-7 dead and buried but seeing Jenson's reaction during the battle preceding Daniel's kidnapping, they had realized he'd lie and their attempt to return home, even if that meant prison, was probably in vain.

Almost forty eight hours and still no sign of Daniel. O'Neill looked out on his feet but Ferretti knew he wouldn't rest until they found their friend. He'd always admired the colonel. His ability to assess a situation, find a solution and bring his team home safe and sound. His loyalty to his men and country. His get it done no matter what it takes attitude but until Daniel, Ferretti couldn't really say he'd liked the man. Daniel's friendship had brought about a change in Jack and he feared what would happen if Daniel no longer existed. "I'm going with SG-1."

"Yes sir. Good luck sir." The lieutenant saluted smartly before ordering SG-2 to move out.

Assess the situation. The blindness was probably caused by a severe concussion which meant he would more than likely regain his eyesight as his head healed. A concussion also meant he couldn't let himself fall asleep again. Fall alseep and he might not wake up. Daniel couldn't see but he could still hear. Hayes' men hadn't exactly been trying to conceal the fact that they were looking for him so unless they changed tactics he would be able to hear them coming. Damn it was cold! The scientist forced himself to take shallow breaths to ease the pain in his chest. Just hold on. Jack was coming.

"Colonel!" O'Neill jerked around at Carter's shout. He and Teal'c had been examining the broken branches left by someone staggering through the underbrush. Unfortunately the Jaffa warrior couldn't assure him it was their youngest teammate. Carter stood with Ferretti, flashlight in one hand, running her fingers over a large boulder. The sun had finally decided to show it's face, a fact O'Neill wasn't sure ever happened on this planet, peeking hapazardly through the dense forest,barely breaking the darkness. "Am I crazy sir or is that what I think it is?"

A 'D'! It was a 'D' scratched in the side of the enormous rock. Just like one of his hieroglyphs, Daniel was always going on about. With a whoop of joy, Jack grabbed Carter giving his startled major a quick kiss. "Okay Teal'c your turn."

"I do not wish to be kissed O'Neill." The large man took a step backward.

"I think he means it's up to you to use those tracking skills of yours and tell us which way Daniel went." Ferretti explained, trying not to snicker. Until now he didn't think anything could break through the Jaffa's impassive expression. They waited as Teal'c carefully searched the ground surrounding the boulder, careful not to move, thereby destroying any evidence that would lead them to their lost friend.

"This way."

He was so cold, he couldn't stop his teeth from chattering. So tired. No don't sleep. Can't sleep. Daniel curled into a tighter ball. He'd already covered himself with as much leaves and woodland debries as he could reach, trying to retain his body heat. He wouldn't feel the cold if he slept. At least not as much. What was that? Was that voices? Leaves moved by footsteps? Above him. On the ridge. Don't move. Remain silent. There it was again. Closer! Working their way to the bottom of the ravine. They'd found him but he'd be damned if he was going out without a fight. Jack wouldn't give up without a fight and neither would he. He'd take as many of the bastards with him as possible. Listen. Aim at the sound.

"Son of a bitch!" Grapping his arm where the bullet had taken a slice out of his bicep, Ferretti dove for cover, rolling behind a stand of saplings. Several more shots rang out as the others scrambled for cover. "I thought we got all the bastards." Carter shrugged, ripping a strip from his jacket for a tourniquet.

"Everyone okay." O'Neill automatically rolled his right as another bullet buried itself in the tree he'd chosen to hide behind.

"O'Neill," Teal'c whispered loudly, pointing to a position a hundred feet in front of them, "it is Daniel Jackson that fires upon us."

"Damnit!" Reaching for the radio mic attached to his shoulder, he tried to remember how many shots the multiple Phd had already fired and wondered how many rounds the weapon had held when Daniel confisgated it. "Do not return fire! Repeat! Do not return fire! It's Daniel!"

"Daniel!...Daniel it's Jack!" He called. Slipping the strap over his head, he passed the automatic weapon to Teal'c. "Daniel can you hear me? It's Jack buddy. It's time to go home....Daniel!" Receiving no answer, Jack slowly rose to his knees trying to see into the darkness under the tree roots. No movement. No sound, no response of any kind. Standing he approached cautiously, just as he would have a frightened animal, speaking softly, keeping his voice soothing. Still no movement. No sign of recognition. Two more steps.

He was running before he realized it. Dropping to his knees beside the body half buried in the leaves. "Daniel?...Daniel can you hear me?" Gently rolling the man onto his back, he barely glanced up as the others joined him. "Daniel? Talk to me buddy."

Taking advantage of his unconscious state, Carter quickly examined and bandaged as many of Daniel's wounds as the medikits would allow. After applying a pressure bandage to the large gash on his leg, Teal'c volunteered his shirt and tearing it into strips she carefully wrapped his ribs. Slicing through the ropes around his chafed wrists, Jack eased him into a sitting position, gently wrapping the shivering body in an emergency blanket.

"Ja'k!" Before he could respond, Daniel began to struggle.

"Right here Daniel...Look at me Danny boy...Look at me!" O'Neill was shocked by the sheer terror shining in the blue eyes as his best friend weakly tried to push away the arms that encircled him. "Easy Danny boy...it's us....Just take it easy." Whether from reassurance or lack of energy Daniel slowly stopped fighting the arms that held him.

"C-an't...can't see...Ja'k" Stunned, tears sliding down his cheeks, Jack's arms automatically tightened around his friend.

"It's gonna be okay Daniel...Everything's gonna be just fine." He soothed feeling the younger man slowly begin to relax.

"Wanna...go home Ja'k...wanna go home."

Tucking the covers more tightly around his friend, Jack eased himself into the chair, smiling at the luxurious feel of cushions surrounding his body. Tired of hearing him complain about how uncomfortable the hard plastic chairs in the infirmary were, Janet had bought the beat up old arm chair at a yard sale and hauled it through the corridors of Cheyenne Mountain, carefully situating it beside the bed she laughingly referred to as the Daniel Jackson suite. A sign on the wall above the chair declared it the Jack O'Neill Seat of Honor. Glancing at his sedated friend, Jack's smile widened. Daniel was going to be fine. There would be no serious side effects from exposure. The blindness would disappear with the concussion. The ribs would heal, the bruises fade and if O'Neill had his way, his friend would never again be assigned to any unit other than SG-1 where his family could take care of him.

That's All Folks.