With no sign of McKenzie and a few words to a duty nurse, Jack wrangled directions to Daniel's room.

His steps slowed as he approached the door, suddenly uncertain they were doing the correct thing. What if McKenzie was right for once and this would only cause Daniel more harm? As if reading his mind Carter gave him a weak smile, slowly nodding her head. ,p> "I think we should see him, Colonel. At least long enough to let him know we're here...that we care...that you haven't abandoned him. Sometimes that can make all the difference in the world." A mental flash surfaced in her mind of the comfort she gotten knowing her friends were there for her after being taken over by Jolinar.

Jack squared his shoulders, muttering, "Here goes nothing..." and pushed open the door.

His hand still on the knob, Jack froze. He felt Carter bump into him, heard her choke back a cry of sadness, but Jack couldn't take his eyes off the sight in front of him. Forcing his muscles to move, he stepped awkwardly into the room, allowing Sam to pass. Swallowing hard, he whispered, "Hey Danny..."

For one instant, the scientist tilted his head to one side, licking his lips, and blinking several times as he tried to focus on the two soldiers.

Carter hesitantly stepped closer, desperately trying to ignore the leather straps confining their friend to the bed.

"How you doing Daniel?" She managed to choke out, fighting to keep her tears under control as she took in her teammate's, pale face and dispirited demeanor.

Daniel's crystalline blue eyes wildly roamed the room, refusing to meet their worried stares, shaking his head. Slowly the tears began to flow down his pale cheeks, his shimmering liquid eyes seeking Jack.

"T-they...th-think I...I'm crazy..." His voice sounded so small and lost. "He-help m-me Jack....Please...you...pr-promised."

It was the pathetic cry of a lost and frightened child and it caused Jack to avert his own suddenly shimmering eyes.

"Damnit!" He swore under his breath, swallowing the oversized lump in his throat and fighting the tears threatening to spill down his cheeks. He hated to admit they should have listened to McKenzie. Jack hadn't realized how seeing Daniel this way would affect him, knowing there was nothing he could do to help. "Carter..."

With a teary eyed ghost of a smile, Sam moved closer, but before Jack could stop her, she automatically reaching out to pat Daniel's arm. Both soldiers jumped at Daniel's sudden wail of terror.

"Nooooo!!!! Go way!....You're with them....A Goa'uld....gonna-gonna k-kill us all....NOOOO!!!!" He cringed away as far as the bindings would allow, a look of sheer terror twisting his features, his voice rising to a high pitched scream.

"Carter, back off!" Jack ordered, moving up beside her. His presence only deepened Daniel's anxiety, causing him to cry out in fear, straining to escape.

"Daniel," The younger man gave no sign of hearing him. "Danny...we won't hurt you. We're not Goa'uld," Jack tried to reassure him.

"I saw..." the scientist screamed again, trying to wiggle off the bed, "I SAW..."

"What the hell?"

Shaking his head helplessly, Jack moved aside allowing McKenzie and his aides access to their patient. He watched in silent frustration as Daniel struggled wildly, cringing as the men roughly manhandled his friend once more. He watched as the tranquilizer needle plunged into Daniel's arm, the younger man struggling against the hands and leather restraints until the drug finally took effect.

He was aware of Carter standing silently against the wall, watching with teary eyes. They were powerless, their presence only seeming to upset Daniel further and shaking his head, guilt surging through his veins at causing his young friend such distress, Jack rushed from the room, knowing Carter would follow.

Two endless days passed. Hammond kept the exploration teams planet side, anxiously awaiting the results of Dr. McKenzie's tests. If prolonged gate travel had been the cause of Daniel's current problems he wasn't about to excerbate it.

SG-1 stewed as they too impatiently awaited word. Carter and Teal'c busied themselves cataloguing the items they had found on the last mission, a job normally performed by their youngest teammate.

Carter found herself often turning to question, "Daniel do you.." before realizing the sandy haired scientist wasn't at her side.

Teal'c would study her somberly, and nod his understanding, his voice gentle as he admitted he, too, missed the verbose scientist.

The waiting was hardest on O'Neill. A man of action, it killed him to have to stand idly by doing nothing while the fate of his best friend hung in the balance. On more than one occasion, he found his way to the scientist's office. Sitting in Daniel's chair, his eyes would roam the room, taking in the various books and artifacts which were so much a part of Daniel. More than once his gaze would settle on the computer screen, watching the dancing Egyptians, awaiting the younger man's return, a fear settling in him with the realization they might have a very, very long wait.

Sitting in this room, his thoughts often turned to when the alien blueprints had been downloaded into his brain and how scared he was, positive he was losing his mind. It had been Daniel who had helped him maintain his sanity. Stubbornly refusing to give up, Daniel had helped him hold on when Jack had felt his sanity slipping away. Now the shoe was on the other foot and there was nothing Jack could do to help the kid. Nothing but wait! Wait and pray!

It was late on the third night when Hammond finally summoned the remaining team members of SG-1 to the briefing room. The corridors were nearly empty, the other teams and crews enjoying downtime.

With somber expressions, the three settled around the table each unconsciously glancing at Daniel's empty chair. Jack frowned when McKenzie and Frasier entered, the scowl deepening when the psychatrist settled into the seat normally occupied by their friend. A quick glance at Carter and Teal'c confirmed they, too, were displeased with the doctor's choice of seats but all three held their tongues and waited.

"Dr. McKenzie has concluded his tests on Dr. Jackson." Hammond began.

"And?" Carter pressed anxiously, knowing none of them wanted to wait a second longer than necessary for news of their youngest teammate.

"I can find no underlying cause for Dr. Jackson's ill rational behavior. His dopamine levels have stabilized, yet he still insists he sees things which aren't there and continues to exhibit all the signs of extreme schizophrenia. I've had to increase the dosage of his daily medication just to keep him calm."

Jack impatiently waved a hand in the air. "So what you're saying, doctor, is Daniel's no better, but you don't have the foggiest idea what the hell is wrong with him."