"What if it's the wrong one?" His mind sniped as he pulled off his glasses and rubbed at burning eyes. Leaning back against the cold stone wall Daniel closed his eyes....still waiting. Why had he failed in this most important question?

Sensing movement, Daniel straightened and looked around to see Teal'c standing beside him, watching him with a somber expression.

How would the loss of O'Neill affect the quiet Jaffa? Guilt flooded through Daniel, flushing his face a bright red. He wasn't the only one who would be losing a friend.

Teal'c spoke softly, "General Hammond wishes you in the control room."

"Yeah sure...just give me a minute, huh?" He slowly removed his glasses and cleaned them, rubbing at his eyes to swipe away the wetness, before replacing them and moving up the steps to where the general waited.

Carter and Graham were working at the controls. Daniel paid little attention other than to mutter "...isn't good." when Carter said something negative. He focused on the gate below and the general, for whatever reason, didn't bother him.

The gate suddenly began to spin. A chevron glowed, locking into place. Daniel willed the others to light as well and slowly, taking a lifetime, another did. Another chevron glowed, then another and another and the message flashed on the terminal screen,

'Inbound Traveler'

"Please," he prayed. "Please."

His breath caught as the flux kawooshed outward before peacefully settling back into place. Daniel saw the soldiers below ready their weapons. What would come through the gate? An alien? Jack? Jack's body?

His blue eyes glued on the gate, he wasn't even aware when Teal'c moved closer to him, waiting to see, or perhaps to offer quiet support if it were needed instead. A ripple formed and a figure stepped through the watery blue flux.

"Jack..."

Was it truly Jack, whole and complete once again? Daniel raced down the steps and hurried to the end of the gate ramp. His breath caught in his throat as the man moved toward him and stopped, looking at him with tired but clear, rational eyes.

"I'm back." Two words that sounded like heaven.

Daniel couldn't help himself, the curiousity overwhelming, he had to know. "What happened?"

He didn't hear much of what the soldier was saying other than "...meaning of life stuff..." and "...be all right..." Yeah they would be all right. Now.

The colonel sighed wearily and started to move past the scientist to step off the ramp. As he did he lurched and Daniel reached out, his arm automatically going about the other man's waist to support him.

Jack turned to look at him, his dark eyes weary, staring for a long moment into the concerned blue eyes of the archaeologist before softly uttering "Thanks Daniel." Muttering something further, his legs collapsed.

Daniel caught him and cradling his friend in his arms, slowly, gently lowered the man to the floor. Teal'c loomed over them questioning. "What did he say Daniel Jackson?"

As Doctor Fraiser and the others rushed into the room, a small smile flickered over the young man's face. Daniel's eyes were liquid bright as he looked up to the answer. "He said I could turn the lights out now...he's home."