Jack O'Neill lurched over and frantically looked around, his panicked gaze freezing on the sight of Daniel Jackson laying in a crumpled heap, covered with blood. Attempting to stand, the soldier collapsed back to the ground, and dragging his fearful gaze from his friend, he focused on his own legs. Broken, jagged edges of bone shown like bloody ivory where they had torn through his skin. Yet, he felt no pain.

"Shock," his mind registered the word but he disregarded his own injuries. Reaching out, Jack clawed at the cold, hard ground, dragging himself inch by painful inch toward Daniel.

When had things taken such a wrong turn? For cryin' out loud, it was just supposed to be a routine re-con mission. No one had mentioned they'd be stepping smack in the middle of a civil war. No one had warned them. But they had. Both sides believing SG-1 was there to aid the other.

Daniel had been injured at the onset. A metal projectile fired from one of the native's crude weapons had lodged in his back near his spine. They had been afraid to move or even treat him with their limited medical supplies. At Jack's order, Carter and Teal'c had returned home, leaving him to protect Daniel until they could return with medical aid and reinforcements. Jack had made the scientist as comfortable as he could next to the DHD and stood guard, but the locals had backed off. "To regroup," his military mind sniped.

Then from out of no where they had attacked! Suddenly, viciously and without warning, the air filled with the ammunition from their crude but deadly weapons. Jack huddled over Daniel, safeguarding him as much as possible. Hoping to protect the young man from additional injury.

Something made a screaming sound as it passed overhead and O'Neill felt the concussion before he heard the blast. It projected him into the air, tossing him like a child's rag doll, several yards from where Daniel lay. He felt both legs snap like twigs on impact with the hard ground. Jack lay, the wind knocked from his body, fighting the hovering darkness which threatened to pull him into its waiting arms. The locals, satisfied the interlopers were dead or dying vanished into the trees to fight amongst themselves.

Fighting the abrupt overpowering distress which washed over his body, Jack looked at Daniel. The scientist was lying on his stomach, his pale, blood-streaked face turned toward Jack. As the soldier looked closer, he saw glistening red blood streaming down over the green of Daniel's BDU's, running down, pooling in an ever widening puddle beside the younger man.

"Hang on Daniel," Jack called out, pleading as he continued to inch himself over the ground. "Hang on..." The scientist must have heard him for he saw the long lashes flicker over the blue eyes, unguarded by his glasses which lay broken beside him.

"Ja-ack...can't...move..." he slurred out, his colorless face grimacing in pain.

Jack's brown eyes widened in fear. Had the kid's spine been damaged further by the explosion? "Just lay still,...Danny, just lay still." He tried to keep the pleading timbre from his voice, not wanting Daniel to realize how alarmed he really felt.

"J-Jack....hrts..." Daniel endeavored to move and moaned aloud as a wrenching grimace of anguish washed over his bloodless features.

Slowly, oh so slowly, the pain so very visable on his face, his blood soaked hand came up and he reached out beseechingly toward O'Neill. "Ja...ack...."

Jack pounded the ground in frustration as he hitched his torn body along the uneven gravel track surrounding the DHD. Just another couple of yards.

"Danny?...C'mom Danny look at me!" He ordered trying to keep the young scholar's attention centered on him.

The long, fan like lashes fluttered and the blue, pain glazed eyes locked with his panicked brown ones. "ack..." The word was nothing more than a sigh as his eyelids slowly fluttered....and closed.

"NO!" Jack beat both fists into the rock, unmindful of the stones which ripped into his hands. Battling, he threw himself those last yards, hauling himself up next to the scientist.

Pushing into a sitting position, he dragged the young man onto his lap, shaking him gently. "Daniel...Danny..." His voice broke as he pleadingly sobbed, "Dan...ny....NOOOO!"

There was no response and laying his blood covered hand on the man's chest, Jack realized it was still. Daniel couldn't hear him. Would never hear him again! Clutching the bloody body to his chest, Jack sat rocking his friend, keening his unbearable sorrow to the heavens.

He wasn't aware of the passing time as he sat holding his friend. Finally, he gently eased the body down, cradling the fair head in his lap. Daniel's alabaster face was blood covered, but pain free and oh so peaceful. Jack tenderly brushed a long strand of golden hair back from Daniel's forehead, his fingers lingering, resting on the soft tangle of the scientist's long hair. Tears welled and flowed down his cheeks as his unmanageable sobs broke the dusky stillness.

Jack was unaware of the gate spinning behind him, of the chevrons locking into place. Not even the loud kawoosh of the event horizon surging forth before settling into place distracted him. Carter, Teal'c and the SG-5 Marines, armed to the teeth exited the Stargate.

"Colonel?" Carter's voice called out to him. "Colonel?"

His eyes were locked on the young man in his arms, on that gentle, trusting soul Jack had been so proud to call his friend. His dark sorrow filled eyes flickered. Had he? Had he ever called Daniel 'friend' or had he just taken it for granted the young man knew?

Casting back through the memories of their missions together, he could not grasp a single time when he had put their relationship under the vocal context of the word 'friend'. Yet, he knew in his heart, Daniel had been just that. More than just that geeky civilian scientist who tagged along on their military missions through the Stargate. Daniel was indeed his nearest and dearest friend.

Jack had never told him. Had been to apprehensive, to acknowledge that he needed someone. Too unwilling to admit he longed for companionship. Even just someone to talk to who didn't condemn or judge him. Someone who just let him be Jack O'Neill.

That somebody had been Daniel. No strings. No lies. No pretense. Just a soft-hearted, kind individual who listened when Jack needed to talk, talked when Jack needed to hear and passed no judgment.

"Space Monkey." That was the only time, he had relaxed enough to acknowledge the kid had struck a chord in his heart. Not before and never since had Jack ever spoken of friendship..." He closed his eyes. Now...the grievous reality soaked in...Daniel would never know.