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Sacrifice & Reward
by
William S. Moore

Chapter Twenty-Nine

It was several hours before the doctor would allow anyone into Daniel’s room. After he had gotten the results back on all of the blood tests, x-rays, cat scans, MRIs, and other tests, he gave Daniel the thumbs up on health and allowed him to go to his own quarters with restriction to base.

Daniel was sitting on his bed in his quarters when there was a knock on his door. Getting up to answer it, he found Jack and Teal’c standing on the other side with a large steaming cup of Starbucks coffee in Tealc’s hands. Waiving them in, Daniel took the proffered cup of miracle drink from Teal’c and sipped at it as if he had never had the stuff before. Jack and Teal’c only looked at one another and smiled.

Once Daniel had had a few minutes to enjoy his coffee, Jack cleared his throat.

“It is good to have you back with us Dannyboy.” Jack said with honesty. “It was difficult to see you in the infirmary like that for the past six months.”

“Indeed.” Teal’c chimed in. “It was not an experience I would care to repeat any time soon.”

“Listen, none of what happened was your fault Daniel.” Jack picked up the conversation. “I mean, things happened that you could not control. You did what was necessary and what was right when you killed those Gould and Jaffa.” He finished with a smirk.

“You acted with honor, DanielJackson.” Teal’c intoned. “You did what you could and protected the lives of your friend and allies. No more and no less than that could be asked of any warrior.”

“Thank you guys.” Daniel said holding up his hand to stall their speech. “I am not happy with doing what I did, but I would probably do it again if I had to…though without the extra glowing energy thing.”

“I only wished that I had been able to save Janet.” Daniel said looking down at his hands. “I cared for her very much, I loved her you know.”

“We know Daniel.” Jack said with sympathy. “But you did what you could, given the situation. Do not beat yourself up over it.”

“I am trying Jack, really I am.” Daniel said shrugging. “But, it is hard, you know. I cared for her deeply. I have not allowed my self to care for someone that deeply since Sha’re.”

“Someone once taught me that to love is to accept the pain of loss.” Jack said staring at his feet. “This person taught me that it is better to continue to attempt to love than to close your self off from it after a loss.” He finished staring right into Daniel’s eyes.

“Well, Teal’c and I are going to go so that you can have some time. For us it has been six months since Janet was lost, but it has not been for you.” Jack said shrugging his shoulders. “Call if you need anything.”

Jack and Teal’c turned to walk out the door when Daniel put his left hand on Jack’s shoulder and extended his right in invitation. Jack shook Daniel’s hand and then pulled him into a tight hug. Teal’c bowed towards Daniel with his right arm across his chest, as Daniel returned the gesture.

Once the door had closed behind the two departing figures, Daniel sat down on the bed and stared at the coffee cup he had picked back up off the desk. For several long moments he let his mind play around the events that had only recently happened for him, but had been half a year for everyone else. So much time gone, so many lives lost. Was it really worth it…fighting the good fight?

A knock on his door broke Daniel out of his reverie. Standing and opening the door he found Leya alone on the other side. Standing aside, Daniel motioned with his hands for her to enter and closed the door behind her once she was in the room.

“A lot troubles your mind, Daniel.” Leya began as she studied the puzzled look on Daniel’s face. “You mind called out to me and that is why I am here. It is good to see that you are once again with us on this plane. Do not trouble yourself with the thoughts about what can not be changed, but know that there is still far more ahead that needs your attention and the way that only you deal with them.”

“Yeah, I was just thinking to myself whether or not I should even continue to fight.” Daniel said nearly in a whisper. “I mean, I enjoy going to other places and seeing the cultures that others believe to be long gone…but, is it worth all of the death we see and the pain we have all felt?”

“Only you can answer that question for your self Daniel. But, I offer this to you…without your efforts, there would be many more dead that are now alive. You have lived through the pain that has been inflicted and have remained as you are.” Leya spoke sagely. “Even though you do not feel that any of it has made a difference, it has made more impact that you can know. Your ways are not those of the Nox, but they do make a difference, especially in the lives of those that you meet and those that you save.”

Leya walked over to Daniel and took his hands in hers while staring up into his eyes. “You have taught my people that to do nothing is to allow for evil to go unchallenged. We do not fight openly, but we are doing what we can to help again those that hurt others.”

Staring into Leya’s doe eyes and listening to what she said, Daniel found himself at a loss for words. Did she mean that the Nox were no longer being strictly isolationist in the conflict?

“Nafrayu and I will be leaving shortly, but I wanted to stop by and talk to you about that which ways so heavily on your mind.” Leya said with a sad smile as she cocked her head sideways. “Do not worry about seeing us off, I think there are others the want to see you badly and you need to speak with them.”

“Thank you for all you have done for me, Leya, you and Nafrayu.” Daniel said still holding her hands in his. “I would not be here if not for you both.”

“You are welcome Daniel.” Leya said squeezing Daniel’s hands a little more. “Now we must go, stay here though…those that seek you will not be long.”

With that, Leya released Daniel’s hands and stepped to the door. Casting a smile back over her shoulder, Leya opened the door and found Nafrayu waiting for her. The two Nox made their way to the elevator and the Stargate that waited to transport them home.

Daniel stood staring at the open door for several seconds before he stepped over to it to close the seemingly empty corridor. No sooner had his fingers wrapped around the door knob than Anise and Sam both came into view walking his direction. Stilling his motion, Daniel watched as the image kept oscillating between Anise and Freya as they each took turns controlling their shared body…something that he was going to have to get used to seeing. It did not escape his attention that Sam was not in her BDUs, nor was Freya/Anise in their Tok’ra uniform.

It took only a few seconds for them to reach his door and it as kind of funny to him to see the startled expressions on their faces.

“Sorry Daniel, where you headed out?” Sam asked.

“Nah,” Daniel said shaking his head, “Leya just left and told me not to go anywhere, that I would have visitors soon.”

“Oh, then may we come in?” Freya asked.

Smiling, Daniel stepped aside to let all three in. As he watched, the women took seats on the end of the bed and left room for him to sit between them. Closing the door, Daniel leaned his back against the door and relaxed while waiting for one of them to start.

The End of
Sacrifice & Reward
by Will

This story along with all original characters and situations were created for entertainment purposes only. All stories remain the property of their respective authors and have been donated to the Daniel Jackson Library by Will and may not be transferred outside of this URL without his consent.