Jack pulled his troubled gaze from the sedated figure on the bed, his brown eyes locking with those of the petite doctor. "You're what?!" He repeated.

"Colonel...we are going to have to transfer him."

O'Neill shook his head. "Can't we keep him here, in the infirmary?....Or...one of the ISO rooms!" Frasier shook her head. "It's just not possible, Colonel. Daniel needs professional help that, frankly, I'm not qualified to handle. Dr. McKenzie is, however, and he believes Dr. Jackson should be taken to where he can receive the best care possible."

"Ol' Vulture," Jack bitterly muttered under his breath. "McKenzie's a quack! He's always had it in for the program, hanging around, waiting for some small mistake so he can close us down and you know as well as I do, he's always had it in for Daniel. I think.."

Janet cut him short. "It doesn't matter what you think Jack. McKenzie's the doctor and I'm afraid General Hammond agrees with him. It's just to dangerous to keep Daniel here."

Jack snorted. "Dangerous?...Daniel?" He almost laughed out loud. The idea of his mild mannered friend who saw the good in everyone, being a danger to anyone was too ludicruous to consider.

"What if he had gotten to the embarkation room while the gate was activated? What if he went beserk in the computer room or the power station? Out of control, he could create havoc, Colonel, and you know it! He's just too much of a risk to this mountain."

"So, you're just giving up on him and sending him away. Sending him off to be taken care of by strangers!" Jack's troubled eyes traveled back to his youngest teammate. His best friend. "That's what folks have done with him all his life, ya know. Handed him off to strangers, like he was nothing more than....We're his friends, for cryin out loud! There must be something we can do to help him!...Anything!"

"Pray, Jack, pray."

Digust at her answer was written all over his strong features. "You're a medical doctor, I'd have thought you could come up with a more scientific response than that."

Janet's eyes darkened. "Look, Colonel, I don't like this any more than you do. If Daniel's condition is caused by gate travel, I should have seen it coming. I didn't! He came to me complaining of headaches, I just passed it off as nothing. As normal. Just exactly what I do with you." She straightened to her full height. Even in heels, she was still inches below the soldier's stubborn chin. "Maybe I should run some tests on you."

"I'm absolutely fine," he snapped. "It's Daniel we're concerned about here!"

"If you're really that concerned, then let McKenzie do his job! Let him find the cause and maybe he can help Daniel. Isn't that what you want. What we all want?....Daniel better and back to his old self?"

"Then there's hope for him?" Jack asked expectantly.

"Of course there is," she sighed. "Once we determine the cause...with treatment and medication...there's always hope."

Jack held up a hand in the air between them, his throat constricting, sensing there was more she wasn't saying. "But?"

Janet couldn't meet his eyes, knowing her next words might very well destroy him. The close friendship between the soldier and the scientist was well known throughout the SGC. They were a matched pair, perfectly balancing each other. "He probably won't be allowed back here, Jack."

"What?!" The one word exploded from his lips.

"Certain medical restrictions apply to government projects and if drugs are what it takes for Daniel to maintain his .....sanity, I'm not sure..."

"Bullshit!!!"

"Answer me honestly, Jack...Would you want him on an offworld mission, knowing he may suddenly freak out, seeing ghosts and Goa'uld at every turn. He'd be a liability to you and an endangerment to your team and you know Hammond would never assign someone who isn't one hundred percent fit!" She placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Do you really believe Daniel would want that?"

"Lose your sanity because of your job, then lose your job," Jack muttered resentfully as he turned his back to her, moving to stare down at the peaceful face of his sedated friend. Maybe she was right. Maybe he should pray for a miracle.

Guilt crashed down on Jack as the memory of a time when he, himself, had gone off his rocker surfaced. He shuddered remembering how he had assaulted the gentle man now laying before him. He had lost control knocking Daniel into a shelf, continuing to punch him even though the smaller man didn't try to defend himself, kicking him as personnel pulled Jack away, dragging him to the infirmary. Yet it had been Daniel who had gone back to the dark side of Tupelo's world in a valiant attempt to find a cure for the virus which afflicted him. The mild young man had faced the dark side of human nature, putting his own life at risk for his friends.

Now Jack couldn't even return the favor. He knew of no way to fight this thing...this sickness in Daniel's mind. It wasn't something he could bodily attack, or shoot or bomb, Jack's usual manner of dealing with an enemy. The only person who could attack this enemy was Daniel and it appeared as if he were already too far over the edge to recognize the battle he had to fight.

Jack pulled the chair closer to the bed, knowing the one thing he could do was be there for his friend. Offer support. Let the kid know Jack wouldn't abandon him. Somehow it didn't seem enough. He wanted, needed to do something physical to help. A tight bitter smile touched his lips for a moment as the thought of beating the crap out of McKenzie flittered through his mind. While it would certainly make O'Neill feel better, it would do little to help Daniel.

Janet was right. After all they'd been through, after all the horrors they'd faced these last few months, they were entitled to a miracle. For the first time since Charlie's death, Jack found himself sending a silent prayer to the heavens.