Jack stood staring down at the operating table, through the glass of the observation room, knowing if he sat down he probably wouldn't be able to get up again. He was so damn tired! The exhaustion that seeped bone deep, forced him to concentrate on remaining upright. That particular feat wasn't as hard as it should have been. All he had to do was think about his friend's bloody battered face, as the archaeologist lay, trapped beneath the stones in the lower level of the temple.

His heart had shattered seeing the trail Daniel's tears had left through the blood and dirt. Tears of pain....or something else? It was evident the scientist had been conscious sometime during the ordeal and Jack knew he had to have been terrified, perhaps thinking Thorp wouldn't even bother to search for him until it was too late. And, with bitter self recrimination, Jack couldn't help but think Daniel's loss of trust in him would have left the young man wondering if anyone would care enough to search for him.

Even working as quickly as humanly possible, it had taken two more hours before Teal'c and Daniel were freed, stablized and lifted out into the fresh air to the accompaniment of cheers from exhausted volunteers.

Dr. Warner had tended the worse of Teal'c's injuries, pronouncing his condition stable enough for the five mile journey back the gate. With Janet's instructions and assurance they would follow as soon as possible, the doctor had accompanied their Jaffa friend home.

Daniel hadn't been so lucky. Unhappily, Fraiser had used the field hospital to perform emergency surgery, taking the time only to do what was absolutely necessary so they could move him. Damnit! They'd lost him twice, once on the planet, then as they exited the event horizon. Now here he was, under the knife again as Janet and her med team fought to repair the rest of his traumatized body.

"Colonel?"

"How's Teal'c?" He didn't look at Sam, afraid if he looked away from the broken body on the table below him, half hidden by tubes and medical equipment, his friend would slip away from him forever.

"He's still unconscious. Dr. Warner says his symbiant is helping, but he thinks the larvea may have suffered trauma and...and at the moment, it's just wait and see."

"Damn!!!" Scrubbing his hand through his hair, O'Neill leaned his forehead against the glass, letting the tears slide down his cheeks. This was his fault. He'd seen the condition of that temple. Why hadn't he insisted the mission be brought to a halt until the site could be shored up? He'd let his anger take control. His anger at Thorp for what he was sure the man had done to Daniel and his anger at Daniel for not insisting Jack listen. For cryin' out loud, why hadn't he taken the time to listen to Daniel?

Now because of him, his two closest friends were fighting for their lifes. Jack had chosen to ignore his instincts. His inner voice had warned him, his two friends were in possible danger. He hadn't wanted to listen.

Trapped in a web of guilt and regret, irrationally he had blamed Daniel for his mixed emotions. It was true, the house was bugged, Mayborne listening to determine everything with O'Neill was on the up and up but Jack hadn't expected Daniel to show up. Hadn't expected the young man to worry about him. Maybe he could have handled it better. Was there some way he could have convinced Daniel, and in effect Mayborne, of the sincerity of his beliefs without destroying the archaeologist's own belief's in not only Jack but himself as well.

The only thing Daniel ever complained about was never having enough time to study his artifacts and translations, however, he questioned everything. When first joining SG-1 he had driven O'Neill to distraction, with questions concerning why the military did such and such this way when it seemed to be simpler that way. This time, as he had in the beginning, when the scholar came to him with a military based problem, Jack brushed it aside as too trivial, thinking somehow in the back of his mind, it had to be the scientist's fault for not understanding the military way. He hadn't wanted to hear another officer in the SGC berated or downgraded. Lately O'Neill hadn't felt good about a lifestyle that had forced him to lie to those he felt closest to, no matter what the reason. Some part of him wanted it to be Daniel's fault, not the military...his way of life. Yet, somehow, it seemed Daniel had known his thoughts and feelings and no matter what, the scientist was always there to back him up. That's what a friend did. Clearly, Jack could see, it had been a one way street. Was it any wonder Daniel no longer trusted him?

"Sir, Janet will make sure they're okay. She's the best and...." Sam's voice broke as her own tears began to fall.

Jack pulled her into an embrace holding her, his hand rubbing gentle circles on her back, until the tears subsided. Embarrassed, Carter pulled away, swiping angrily at the offending tear stains, unable to look at him as she quickly began apologizing for her weakness.

He shook his head. "Go get some sleep Sam. I'll wake you as soon as we know anything." Before she could protest, he made it an order, threatening to put her on report if he found her anywhere but asleep in her quarters. Jack understood, like himself she wanted to be there for Daniel and Teal'c, but he also knew like her commanding officer the Major was damn near out on her feet.

Seeing Janet slowly remove her surgical cap and mask, her hands gripping the defibulator with fatigue, the only piece of equipment he recognized, Jack's heart nearly stopped, and his lungs refused to work. His tears flowed freely as he waited for the attending nurse to pull the sheet over Daniel's face. He nearly dropped to his knees as relief washed over him in waves when the petite doctor wearily raised her head giving him a small smile of assurance. Daniel was alive! For the moment, his friend was still hanging on to life.

Hurrying down the stairs, Jack was waiting when the Frasier stumbled from the surgical theater, exhaustion clearly making her movements difficult.

"Janet?" That one simple word, her name, held so many questions, so much anxiety, so much hope. He wanted to hear her tell him Daniel would be up and around in no time, wanted her to say everything was going to be fine and his friend would be his old verbose self by the time the colonel reached the infirmary.

"Jack."

'Oh God!' His heart was suddenly having trouble keeping a steady rhythm. Always the professional, Janet rarely called him by his first name when on duty. 'Daniel's going to die! She wouldn't call you Jack if the news were good. He's going to die and she's trying to make it easier for you!" He searched her face for confirmation of the thoughts racing through his mind with lightening speed.

"He's in a coma. We repaired the internal damage, removed his spleen, reinflated his lung...." The world tilted and the room became an out of control roller coaster as she continued to rattle off the list of injuries and treatments, but the soldier didn't hear anything after coma. Coma? O'Neill didn't need her to tell him the ramifications of a coma. He knew what she'd say. Daniel could come out of it tomorrow, next week or.....never. He could wake up fine or he may have some sort of brain damage.

"Jack?....Colonel?" He forced himself to focus on what she was saying. "Get some rest, Jack...It's gonna take a while to get him situated. You can see him after that."

******

With Carter silently at his side, Jack headed for the briefing room. He had been more than a little surprised to wake up in the infirmary bed, curled under a blanket, Daniel's bed on one side, Teal'c's on the other. Janet had explained the nurses thought it would be easier to move him from the chair to the bed rather than try and make him leave altogether.

When had he fallen asleep? The last thing he remembered was sitting in the chair, staring at Daniel's still form, hypnotized by the pump of the respirator helping his young friend breath. Daniel's face was swollen and bruised beyond recognition, stark white gauze encircled his head, covering the large gash on his forehead, his left arm encased in plastered, his right leg immoblized, the ankle swathed in thick bandages covering the incisions where the steel pins were inserted to hold the bones together. Too many injuries to list. Too many injuries that could still take his young friend away from him forever.

Awakening, Jack had jumped from the bed, his eyes traveling over the machines monitoring his youngest teammate's condition. The air had rushed from O'Neill's lungs in an enormous sigh of relief at the steady beeping of the heart monitor.

"Janet says other than running a slight temperature, there's no change." Startled by the voice, the colonel realized he hadn't even noticed his second in command seated in his chair.

No change. Still lost in the unknown world of a coma. Still lost to them. Stepping to the bed, he had searched the peaceful face, pale beneath the bruises, hoping for a some sign Daniel was making his way back. "How's Teal'c?"

"His vital signs have improved a little but-"

"But it's still wait and see?"

"Yes, sir." Her hushed voice seemed extremely loud in a room where the only sounds were being made by machines. "Sir, General Hammond would like us to report to the briefing room in an hour....I'll stay with them if you'd like to get cleaned up."

*****

As Sam had made her way back to the infirmary she couldn't help but notice how empty the corridors seemed for early afternoon. Most of the exhausted personnel who had returned from P3J7795 were catching up on much needed sleep. She had momentarily stopped by O'Neill's quarters, not really expecting to find the colonel but, there was always that one in a million chance. Carter knew exactly where he'd be, in the chair next to Daniel's bed.

Carter wasn't sure exactly what was going on between the soldier and the scholar. They kept things professional and friendly but there was definate strain which even she could feel. Both she and Teal'c had noticed the colonel's usually endless well of patience with Daniel had come dangerously close to drying up. And Daniel who always went to his best friend with his troubles and joys had begun to withdraw into himself.

Sam had noticed the change in the colonel and the scholar's relationship beginning during that stolen techno mess. They had all understood the reason for the deception and had forgiven the two ranking officers of the SGC, but it had taken awhile for that feeling of being untrustworthy to disolve. She knew Daniel had gone to the colonel's home, and although he never spoke of what happened, Sam didn't think she would ever forget the look of betrayal in his eyes when he returned.

Now,the blonde major saw the guilt and sorrow as if written in ink on the face of SG-1's team leader. She knew he feared never having the chance to completely repair the friendship he valued above all else.

*****

Jack watched Thorp leave the debriefing, feeling angrier and more frustrated than ever. He knew Hammond was pissed and fully expected to be formally reprimanded, but at the moment he truly didn't give a damn!

The other colonel had sat across from O'Neill, in Daniel's usual seat, listening to Airman Mason and Sergeant Wright give their reports with such an overbearing arrogance Jack had to fight the urge not to throw the man through the window to the gateroom below. It was as if Thorp knew no one would speak against him. Assuredly, no one would hold him responsible for the death of one man and possible deaths of two others.

Jack had returned his attention to the man seated across the table, his hands resting lightly on the paper bag Sergeant Wright had given him before exiting, saying he thought Daniel would like them. He'd been aware of the small smiles exchanged between Hammond and Carter. It seemed everyone at the complex was aware of Daniel's obsession.

"Chocolate walnut?" The colonel had simply nodded at the general.

"I have a few questions of my own, sir, if you don't mind." Jack hadn't waited for his commanding officer's permission before continuing. "Questions like, how Lt. Peterson ended up at the bottom of a cliff he shouldn't have been anywhere near in the first place. Why, according to his medical records, did that same lieutenant have injuries not caused from the fall that killed him. Questions like, why Colonel Thorp didn't take the proper precautions before having the men under his command begin work under dangerous conditions. Questions like why Daniel was sporting a huge bruise on-"

"Am I being accused of something, sir?" Thorp had asked Hammond, his tone filled with cool arrogance.

"You're damn right you are!" O'Neill's outburst had drowned out the general's assurances they were merely trying to discover all the circumstances which had brought about such tragedy on what should have been a routine mission.

"That will be quite enough, Colonel O'Neill!!" The quiet, angry words had been more effective than if Hammond had released his own frustration in a roar.

"With your permission, sir, I would like to answer O'Neill's questions." Thorp had met Jack's steady gaze. "I understand just how upset the colonel must be, but he should realize it was one of my men that died and although Jackson and the Jaffa are normally assigned to SG-1 they were also under my command, however, there's still a chance they will recover."

"We all know how broken up you are about that!" Jack snarled bitterly. "And their names are Daniel and Teal'c!"

"One more word, Colonel, and you'll be placed on report!" Hammond's threat did as much good at defusing the situation as a cup of water on a housefire.

Jack had glanced quickly at his second in command, feeling Carter's knee pressed tightly against his leg in warning, a silent unseen message his attitude wasn't helping anyone and could possibly cause more trouble, had helped Jack get his emotions under control. Her expression was one of military impassivity but her blue eyes clearly said she had something to tell him....later....alone.

"First, General Hammond, Colonel O'Neill, I want you to know, although as teamleader I take full responsibilty, the consequences of this mission were merely due to a series of unfortunate circumstances. To answer your first question, O'Neill, I will state again, I have no idea why Lt. Peterson was at the cliff rather than remaining at his post. Secondly, we all know medical science is not exact. I've read Dr. Frasier's report. She stated some of the injuries didn't seem consistant with a fall. The way I see it that indicates doubt, meaning they could very well have come from the fall that unfortunately killed him."

Jack had clenched his jaw, swallowing the sarcastic retort that sprang to his lips when Carter once again pressed her knee against his leg.

"As for why the proper precautions weren't taken, sir, I'm not an engineer, nor do I know anything about ancient ruins. I relied on Jackson's expertise in that area. After all, he was the archaeologist on this project. Finally, if I remember correctly, you asked Jackson how he acquired that bruise you're so upset about and he replied, he had fallen." The man finally turned his gaze to Hammond. "If there is nothing else at the moment, sir, having just returned, I haven't had the chance to stop by the infirmary and check on Jackson and the Jaffa."

"Don't bother, there's no change." Jack had muttered, receiving a warning glare from Hammond.

*****

"Sir, I apologize for-"

"Don't!" Hammond slammed a fist against the table, the fire of rage flaring in his eyes. "That man is lying through his teeth."

"Sir?"

"Do I have the word senile tattooed on my forehead?!" Both Jack and Sam fought the laughter threatening to burst from their lips at the rhetorical question. Neither had seen the commander of SGC so furious or flustered at anyone other than SG-1. "That officer," the word was spit out with distaste, "stood in the gateroom three days ago, asking for permission to send Mason and Wright back to the planet because he wasn't pleased with the idea of Dr. Jackson and Teal'c being alone considering the temple seemed unstable."

"Sir," Jack refilled everyones coffee cups, taking the opportunity to think of a diplomatic form for his question. There was no diplomatic form, at least not one he could think of. Daniel was the diplomat of the group. "If you knew he was lying, why didn't you call him on it? You know as well as I do, he's more than likely lying about everything else."

"For the simple fact, Colonel, other than considering the temple unstable we can't prove he's lying about anything. That's what investigations are for." They waited as Hammond rocked back in his chair, his fingers templed, his brow furrowed in thought. "Considering we actually have no evidence against Colonel Thorp, until we hear from Dr. Jackson and Teal'c regarding the incidents on P3J7795 I have no choice but to let the reports stand on their own merit. For the moment," he stressed, adding, "however, I'm posting a twenty four hour guard in the infirmary." The unspoken implication was clear. "In the meantime, keep your eyes and ears open. Dismissed."

"Major Carter." The general's voice stayed Sam's hand as she reached for the door. "I trust the next time you have a problem with a senior officer such as Thorp, you will report to me immediately." It was Hammond's turn to hide a smile as the major's blue eyes widened, her stunned gaze momentarily traveling to O'Neill before answering affirmatively.

Jack looked even more surprised then Carter, his mouth moving soundlessly, his eyebrows raised as he barely shook his head. "That will be all."

"I swear I didn't give him a name." Jack adamantly announced as soon as the door closed behind them.

"Yes, sir." Carter smiled. "Colonel, I'd like your permission to talk to Mason and Wright again. There's something in their statements that's bothering me. They-"

"Fine....whatever." It was obvious his mind was once again on his friends in the infirmary. "By the way, when you get a chance, run out and buy some Chocolate walnut cookies."

"But...." She glanced at the bag in his hand.

"This isn't cookies." He shook his head, uncertain himself why he had lied to the general.