Daniel's foot pressed harder on the accelerator, tears blurring the scenery that whizzed past the car window. He didn't know where he was going. He didn't really care. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered anymore! Jack was gone and nothing would ever matter to him again. As if in a trance, he drove aimlessly, no goal in mind, just getting away from the mountain and the people who meant well. But they couldn't help him. No one could help him from the feelings of darkness and loss which threatened to drown him. Only one person had ever been able to always reach beyond the walls of loneliness that surrounded him, and that one person was gone forever.

When he finally drew his attention back to reality, he found himself in a very familiar driveway. Subconsiously he had found his way to his friend's empty house. Something about it drew him like a magnet and using the key Jack had happily bestowed upon him, he entered.

Daniel wandered through the silent house, his gaze on all too familiar sights as he ran his fingertips lightly over the numerous tapes of Jack's video collection. Movies, hockey games, any sport he could, the older man had taped and then shared. Daniel had lost track of the nights he had spent in this house, watching those tapes Jack found so fascinating. How many of those nights Jack had insisted he sleep in the spare bedroom rather than go back to his lonely apartment and the memories held there? And how many of those nights had the older man been there to banish the nightmares which haunted the younger man's sleep. This place had become Daniel's haven... and now it was the closest he could get to his friend, here, amongst the things Jack had found precious and dear. Items the Air Force would soon pack and either ship to Sarah or store away in some forgotten warehouse.

His liquid blue eyed gaze came to rest on a familiar picture, framed and displayed proudly on the mantel. Its match graced Daniel's own mantle in a place of honor. The framed shot showed Jack with his arm casually draped about the younger man's shoulders, both their faces lit with joy at finding the other alive and well after the attack on Apophis' ship. Sam had taken the shot at the victory celebration and she had thoughtfully had copies made and framed for both of them.

Not even aware he still held it, or why, Daniel clutched the folded flag tighter, as he wandered outside the house, climbing the ladder to the roof. He curled up in Jack's chair on the observatory deck and silently, his tears began to fall. Jack had loved the stars. He had once admitted to Daniel he found a strange solace in their distant twinkling, as if Charlie was winking down at him. Knowing his fascination with astronomy Daniel had always wondered why Jack hadn't ended up at NASA. More nights than he could count, they had sat on this roof, while the soldier pointed out one constellation or another and Daniel described in great detail the mythology behind the names. They'd sat on this deck in the darkness and talked about the future. Or some nights, they just silently enjoyed each other's company. But this night, with those same silently twinkling stars above, Daniel was left alone to face the future. Alone. Just like always....no, not always. The last four years Jack had been standing at his side, helping him face an uncertain future and often painful present. Jack had been there.

He squeezed his eyes shut, the images flashing through his mind transporting him back through time and space....

Much like the Nox planet, PQ5483 seemed fairly primitive. There was no indications of Goa'uld and although the people seemed to come in one size, huge, while suspicious of the gate travelers they hadn't appeared particularly aggressive, leading them into the center of town where their leader apparently held court. Rooshan was the biggest person, Daniel had even seen in his life, excluding Nick's alien. Standing well over eight feet tall, the man had glared at the strangers as if they were mere bugs under his feet. It had been obvious from the beginning the man didn't believe Daniel's normal spiel about being peaceful travelers.

"Forget it Daniel, this is getting us nowhere." Jack had shrugged. "It was nice meeting you folks but-" Before he could finish the sentence Jack had staggered against Daniel, his hand reaching frantically for the small dart that protuded from the side of his neck.

"Jack?!...Jack!!" Stunned, Daniel had eased the colonel to the ground, cradling him as the older man struggled to draw breath into his lungs "Jack! Stay with me....Come on....breath damnit! Stay with me Jack!!!"

"D-Da-Danny...." The name was nothing more than a whisper with Jack's last heartbeat.

"Jack?....Jack!" Roughly jerked away from his friend's body and rushed to the gate Daniel had struggled and fought every step of the way trying desperately to return to his friend's side. Manhandled, bruised and bullied the three members of SG-1 had been forceably thrown back through the gate.

Now here he was silent and hurting in a place that no longer seemed like home. Teal'c had somberly explained to the scientist how Siler and Carter had worked around the clock for nearly two days trying to redial the coordinates for PQ5483 to no avail. It was if the Stargate had vanished without a trace leaving them without the means of even retrieving Jack's body.

*****

Ferretti had followed Daniel's frenzied drive down the mountain, terrified the kid was going to end up going over the steep side but it hadn't surprised him when they'd ended up at Jack's home. He knew the kid was hurting and needed to be as close to his friend as possible. Sitting across the street, he waited. He'd make sure Daniel got home safely. It was the least he could do for Jack.

The sun was peeking over the mountains shining on a bright new day when he saw Daniel wearily stumble to his car. He watched and waited as the kid had sat for several minutes, his head resting on the steering wheel. Finally he seemed to work up the energy to turn the ignition and make the twenty minute drive to his own apartment. As Daniel pulled out of the driveway, Ferretti started his car and pulled away from the curb to follow.

*****

Almost sleep walking and still in shock, clutching the flag, his last reminder of Jack, Daniel twisted the knob on the deadbolt Jack had insisted he have installed. Since the colonel was the only other person with a key, he was sure not to be disturbed. Moving to the balcony doors, he pulled the drapes, effectively blocking out the morning sun. A sun Jack would never greet again. A morning sun that shone on another empty day without his best friend. Daniel carefully placed the flag in the center of the coffee table and haphazardly tossed some flakes into the fish tank before wearily sinking onto the couch. Mental exhaustion caught up with him and despite his best efforts Daniel fell into a restless sleep, disturbed by visions of his dying friend's face and last words. He wasn't sure how long he'd dozed before the ringing of the phone forced his eyes open.

Awakening to the memory of Jack's voice calling his name, and the vision of the soldier's brown eyes begging for his help, Daniel exploded off the couch. In a fit of rage, railing against the fates which seemed to delight in destroying everything he loved, he violently trashed the apartment. He tried to release the pain and despair by sweeping books, CDs, tapes and collectables from the shelves, smashing dishes against the walls and overturning furniture. But all the destruction did little to ease the pain and emptiness he felt. It wasn't just the loss of Jack, but the sorrow at losing his parents, his career, his wife, and now this blow...the loss of his dearest friend.

The incessant ringing of the phone jarred him back to reality and he stood, panting heavily, unaware of the silent tears flowing from his eyes. With a savage yank, he jerked the phone plug from the wall, effectively silencing the annoying ringing. As he turned, his gaze swept over the devastation, absently noting the only things untouched were the picture on the mantle, the aquarium, and the coffee table where the flag and his journal still rested.