Jack...Daniel glanced at the unconscious man beside him. They were such opposites, yet from what Daniel knew of the colonel's past, maybe they weren't that different. Always a loner, opening up to others when he met and married Sarah. Thriving when he became a father and then retreating to his former self, pulling away from Sarah and letting the dark side of his nature take control when Charlie died. That first mission through the Stargate, one that he hadn't planned to return from, had probably saved his life.

As they had with Daniel the people of Abydos had helped him survive, had given him a reason to live, gave him the will to fight the demons that haunted him. Struggling to his feet, he took several deep breaths, blinking against the perspiration that stung his eyes. One foot in front of the other until we reach the Stargate.

How had this man become so important in his life? Someone Daniel strived to please and whose respect he craved. This soldier who had spent his adult life serving his country. This man who had given so much, had lost so much and sacrificed so much. Like Shar're, like the people of Abydos, Jack had accepted Daniel, offering his help in finding the man's wife, made a place for him on his team and at the SGC. Whether he knew it or not, he had given Daniel a home and a family. Jack had repeatedly shown his confidence in Daniel and the young man was determined that this was one time he wouldn't let him down, no matter what.

Daniel ran his hand through his hair in frustration watching the blood soak through the last of the gauze strips covering Jack's shoulder. Damnit! Jack was getting weaker with each passing hour and by Daniel's best estimate they wouldn't reach the gate until midmorning. As exhausted as he was Daniel would have happily walked the rest of the night to get Jack the help he needed, except he was afraid of getting lost, of missing the gate in the dark. Damn he hated the dark! Why couldn't he stop the bleeding? How could Jack stand these things? It was like eating dirt. Daniel's bleary gaze fell to the knife as he sliced open the MRE before traveling to the small fire. Cauterization. Cauterizing the wound would stop the bleeding. How dangerous would it be to cauterize it with the bullet still in his chest? It didn't matter.

Without further thought, he lay the knife blade in the fire, his fingers traveling to the shirt pocket. Maybe the last of the morphine would help. Put Jack into a deep enough sleep to lessen the pain. The pocket was empty! Where was it?! Frantically he searched the area, his fingers desperately feeling through the grass for the smooth glass tube and plastic plunger. DAMNIT! Where was it? Discouraged, he finally rocked back on his heels wrapping his arms around his legs resting his head on his knees. It could have fallen out of his pocket anywhere.

"Danny?"

"You must have some sixth sense when it comes to food...or what the military calls food...I just opened dinner." He tried to sound cheerful, failing miserably.

"Not very...hungry." Jack smiled weakly. "I could use a-a beer though...How you doin?" He waved a weak hand at Daniel's own wound.

"I told ya it's just a scratch." He tossed the package aside, opting for one of the chocolate bars he'd stashed in his pack. "Some vacation. We didn't even have any fresh fish for breakfast." His half hearted attempt at a smile faded and he fidgeted as his gaze fell to the knife once again, it's blade beginning to glow a bright red. How could he even think of putting the blade-

"Talk to me Daniel." Jack rasped. "You look worse than I feel."

"I...you're..."

"Spit it...out Danny boy."

"You're still bleeding Jack and the only way I can think to stop it is...is..." Daniel almost choked on the words, "to cauterize it." Jack's eyes closed momentarily before meeting Daniel's frightened gaze steadily.

"Do what you have to do."

"It's gonna hurt like hell Jack."

"News flash...it already does."

Jack refused to look away, grimacing against the pain as Daniel removed the blood soaked cloth and gently washed the wound, reaching for the knife with trembling fingers. Jack watched the wave of emotions play across his friend's face. If it was at all possible, Daniel looked even younger and more vulnerable than Jack had ever seen him, his crystaline blue eyes full of anguish at the thought of the pain he knew Jack was going to suffer at his hand. The hand that held the knife was shaking so badly, Jack feared he'd cut himself. Searching for and finding Daniel's left hand, Jack gripped it trying to muster a reassuring smile.

Daniel's eyes went from the knife to the hand that gripped his weakly and back again, tears spilling down his flushed cheeks.

"It's okay...do it."

"I...can't!" The simple words were filled with such apprehension and remorse they tore at Jack's soul.

"Yes you can Danny boy...It'll be alright...I pro-mise."

"Jack-"

"Do it!" For one second, he sounded like the angry colonel who'd brought a bomb to Abydos. A man who expected his orders followed immediately and without question.

"I'm sorry." Jack's scream of agony as he pressed the fiery blade to the torn, bleeding skin drowned out Daniel's sorrowful words. Daniel thought the bones in his hand would surely be crushed as the grip that only moments before had been so weak, tightened and the smell of burning flesh filled his nostrils. Suddenly Jack's body went completely lax, his head rolling to one side as blessed unconsciousness replaced the white hot hell of seconds before. Tossing the knife away in disgust, Daniel staggered into the bushes and vomited, dry heaves following the scant contents of his stomach.

Something was calling him out of the warm comfort of the blackness that surrounded him. Calling him back to the pain. Fighting to bring his vision into focus Jack realized it was still night, the moon hanging high in the star filled sky, the fire that had crackled so warmly earlier now nothing but embers. The blanket wrapped around his shivering form, Daniel lay next to him, his head near Jack's waist, his kness curled to his chest in a childlike gesture of self protection. A shaft of pain twisted Jack's chest as the sleep filled words registered. 'Don't leave me Jack. You promised.' Jack forced his arm to move until his hand was resting against Daniel's tousled mane of hair.

"I'm here Dannyboy...I'm still here." He wasn't sure if the words actually made it past his lips, his last thought before darkness pulled him down again was to wonder why Daniel was shivering when the kid felt so damn warm.