Suggested Rating: for young adult and older readers

Category: alternate universe, angst, drama, Daniel/Janet friendship and romance

Setting: Season 8

Synopsis: The arrival of a visitor from a parallel universe provides opportunity for Daniel to pay back what he felt was owed to a friend – but what happens if he actually follows through?

Spoiler Warning: Includes projected situations for season 8, some based on revealed season 8 spoilers on Gateworld as of April 2004.

Author’s Comments: There’ve been rumors that Brad Wright may be penning an AU story for season 8. Of course, Daniel/Janet fans are hoping against all odds that this particular story just might bring back our favorite doctor, but the idea got me thinking… what could be a plausible scenario for Janet to really show up again in season 8? This story is the result of that musing. As for how plausible it really is… well, you’ll have to decide. Oh, and I’ll warn you up front that the medical scenario I create for this story is a little bit “out there” – I confess to not having any detailed medical knowledge. Realizing that what I came up with may be entirely unrealistic, I apologize to those of you who may be doctors or nurses. Just willingly suspend your disbelief as much as you can. <g> Thanks to Glenda for what little bit of medical know-how she shared with me. And thanks, as always, to my friend and beta reader Sonia, for helping me to make this even better than it would have been!

DISCLAIMER: All publicly recognizable characters and places (the Stargate SG-1 stuff) are the property of MGM, World Gekko Corp and Double Secret Productions. This piece of fan fiction was created for entertainment only and no infringement on copyrights or trademarks was intended. Previously unrecognized characters and places, and this story, are copyrighted to the author. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

CHOICES

- by Michelle Lunsford (June 2004)

Colonel Samantha Carter looked at the shimmering event horizon where her friends had just stepped through. It had been a few months since she’d taken command of SG-1 but she still hadn’t adjusted to the feel of it. Making her way up the steps toward the platform she wondered if she’d ever completely adjust. It had been one thing to be responsible for her part as a member of the team and even to take charge from time to time – but to regularly lead that team was something entirely different. Now she felt personally responsible for aspects she’d never considered before. What was she leading her team into with this new mission? Would they gain any real value from this expedition? Were those under her command still finding fulfillment in their role now that she had taken charge?

Sighing to herself, Carter strode through the Stargate, her body becoming immediately transferred into energy. Within the same instant she was transferred back into matter again, and then stepped through the other side onto a stone platform. Automatically her eyes began scanning the surroundings. Continuing to survey the room she descended the hewn steps and, with a distinctive sucking sound, the wormhole disengaged behind her.

“It appears to be just as the MALP relay displayed,” Teal’c said, his calm monotone echoing in the large chamber as Carter moved up beside him.

She glanced around again, squinting at the beams of sunlight that shone from windows cut at regular intervals along the walls. ‘Yes,’ she thought with some disappointment, ‘just as the MALP had shown – one huge and very empty chamber.’

“Well,” she muttered under her breath, “so much for the possibility of this developing into an interesting morning.”

“This is amazing!” Daniel’s voice, full of excitement, sounded from somewhere behind her.

Carter turned and caught a glimpse of Teal’c’s arched eyebrow response. Smiling to herself at the Jaffa’s customary amusement regarding Daniel’s enthusiasm, she looked around and spotted the archaeologist farther into the chamber. He was inspecting the walls, video camera in hand. Her curiosity engaged now, she walked over to see what had garnered his attention.

“What is it?”

“A mixture of symbols.” Daniel’s eyes never strayed from the stone walls as he rapidly rattled on, “There’s Ancient, Asgard, and I think this,” he pointed to a mass of script that was unfamiliar to her, “may be some text from the Furlings.”

“Is it anything like what we encountered on Ernest’s planet?” Carter asked, her voice softening slightly as she recalled the reunion of Ernest and Catherine that had resulted from that mission.

“You mean that ‘meaning of life stuff’?” Daniel quipped, the hint of a grin pulling at the corner of his mouth. “I’ll have to work on the translations back at the base, but just at first glance I’d have to say this is something different.”

Carter nodded, not entirely certain what to make of that. “Well, record as much as you can. Teal’c and I are going to have a look around.”

She rejoined the Jaffa and they began a systematic search of the chamber. The entire place was constructed of stone, the walls rising at least 16 or 17 feet above them. The windows Carter had noticed earlier appeared to be the only source of light, although there were a few odd shaped structures spaced throughout that looked as if they had once served as torches. The Stargate sat near one end, but there appeared to be no other entrance or exit to the room.

The chamber was roughly rectangular in shape, with the two long walls being the only source of the writings that so enthralled Daniel. At the far end opposite the Gate the room did open up slightly, extending off each side into two smaller alcoves. The area to the right was bare except for a few straw mats that looked as if they had seen entirely too much use. However, a thick layer of dust over both mats and floor was a fair indication that no one had used them recently.

“Looks like this may have served as some kind of sleeping area,” Carter commented, kicking lightly at one of the mats with a booted foot.

“I concur,” Teal’c replied. “Although I admit I am at a loss as to the purpose of the remainder of this structure.”

“Let’s check out that other alcove, see if it reveals something more,” she suggested, leading the way.

They crossed the main chamber again and Carter noticed Daniel was still preoccupied with the walls – although it did look as if he’d made progress in his recording. The left anteroom was slightly lower than the rest of the chamber, necessitating a trip down a short flight of stairs. Carter noted it was cooler at this level and much darker, since there were no windows. She fished out her military issue flashlight, switched it on and cast the beam around the room. It was joined seconds later by a beam from Teal’c’s light and Carter took advantage of the increased visibility to study her new surroundings.

This alcove appeared to be completely empty and as Carter continued to survey the room she felt a distinct sigh of disappointment forming. Suddenly her light flickered across something in one corner of the room.

“Teal’c, point your light over here,” she instructed, focusing her own beam directly into the corner. As he did so the object became fully illuminated and Carter felt the skin on the back of her neck tingle. “Is that what I think it is?”

“I am… unsure,” Teal’c finally replied, his own tone reflecting a touch of disbelief.

She took a couple of cautious steps closer to the object. It was shaped a little different, and was probably four or five inches shorter, but otherwise it looked identical to the one Daniel had first discovered on P3R-233.

“Could there be two such devices in existence?” Teal’c asked.

Carter shrugged. “I don’t know. The existence of one was pretty phenomenal.” She took another step closer. “But after all the things we’ve seen over the years I’m not willing to write it off as completely impossible.”

A thought suddenly came to mind and Carter turned her torch aside, casting the light around the room again. “If it is another Quantum Mirror,” she began, “then there should be a hand-held control device somewhere.”

A few minutes of thorough searching produced no such device. Carter could feel that frustrating sense of disappointment tugging at her again.

“I suppose the last residents of this place could have taken it with them,” she suggested into the ensuing silence.

“Or perhaps it is hidden in a secret panel, or stored elsewhere in this structure,” Teal’c offered.

She nodded absently, her mind already turning in other directions. The real question was what were they going to do about this new discovery? General Hammond had ordered the first Mirror destroyed, and not without good reason. And yet, they’d never gotten a chance to really study the device. The scientist in her had always wondered what might have been revealed from such a piece of astounding technology.

“Well, the Mirror will have to stay where it is for now,” she said, finally coming to her decision. “We’ll head back to the SGC, give a report of what we think we’ve found, and decide what to do about it from there.”

“Very well,” Teal’c replied, and she caught the slight movement of his nod in the reflection from his flashlight.

She turned toward the stairs. ‘I hope Daniel has finished his recording,’ she thought. If not then she had the unenviable task of having to order him away from his current source of fascination. ‘Yeah,’ she reflected wryly, ‘sometimes being in command really stinks.’

Just as she reached the steps Carter heard a faint whop noise, followed immediately by Teal’c’s curt, “Colonel Carter!”

“What is it?” she questioned, spinning around.

“I thought I detected a flash of light from the object,” Teal’c answered. “As if the Mirror had been activated.”

His torch was already focused back into the corner of the room and Carter added her own beam. But their light merely reflected off the mirrored surface, preventing her from actually seeing anything. She held her breath, straining to see and listen.

There was a second whop, followed by an unmistakable glimmer of light from the Mirror. And where seconds before their flashlights had revealed nothing, a figure now stood before them. Reflexively, Carter’s weapon came up, the muzzle of her automatic falling in line with the beam of her flashlight.

“Don’t shoot!” A steady voice hastily pleaded. A pair of hands – one of them holding tightly to a control device for the Mirror – rose above the figure’s head. Large brown eyes blinked at the bright beams being thrown from the pair of flashlights. “I assure you that I come in peace and mean no harm.”

Carter’s immediate recognition of both the figure and its voice hit her like a punch in the gut. She stood frozen in shock for a couple of heartbeats before military training kicked in and took control. ‘You have to play it safe – don’t assume anything,’ she silently ordered herself. She closed her eyes momentarily in concentration. Not sensing any Goa’uld presence in the figure, she breathed a sigh of relief. Then, in her best military voice, she asked, “Who are you?”

“My name is Doctor Janet Frasier,” the figure replied. “And I must get to this universe’s equivalent of the command center for the Stargate program – I must get there immediately.”

~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~

Janet stood perfectly still, forcing her breathing into a steady rhythm. The intensity of the flashlight beams aimed her direction prevented her from being able to see the other people in the room, but the sound of the woman’s voice had been unmistakable.

‘Careful’, her inner voice warned. ‘It doesn’t necessarily mean you can trust her.’ In the few discussions about alternate realities she’d had with her universe’s version of Samantha Carter one thing had been made painfully clear – you could never be certain what scenario existed in the parallel universe you encountered. As the seconds of silence continued to tick past another thought ran through Janet’s mind. ‘And if this Sam Carter is anything at all like my friend, then she’s probably thinking the exact same thing about me right now.’

“Please,” Janet finally broke the silence. “I don’t have a lot of time.”

“One thing at a time, Doctor Frasier,” came the reply.

Janet heard the clear sense of caution in Carter’s tone and fought against a sigh of exasperation. She really did not have time for this.

“I’ve just come from a parallel universe,” Janet went on, purposefully keeping her voice neutral. “And I’m guessing that unless this is the first time you’ve encountered a Quantum Mirror you know exactly what I’m talking about.”

There was no response.

“And you’ll also know that I only have a certain amount of time before my own life is in danger,” Janet added.

She couldn’t be certain but it seemed as if Carter’s flashlight wavered, ever so slightly.

“If it’s entropic cascade failure you’re concerned about, then don’t be,” Carter replied.

The implication of the statement hit Janet immediately – the Doctor Frasier in this universe was dead. But it was the tightness in Carter’s voice that had given her the real clue.

“I’m sorry, Sam,” Janet said softly, slowly lowering her hands. “I know she was a good friend.”

Another tense heartbeat passed before Carter’s beam of light lowered completely.

“Yes,” Sam admitted. “She was.”

Janet released a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. For the first time since activating the Mirror she began to believe this hadn’t been one huge mistake after all.

“Why have you come?” a deep voice unexpectedly questioned from her left. Janet recognized it as Teal’c. She also noticed he had not yet chosen to lower his flashlight, which still prevented her from seeing much of anything.

“Because I need your help,” Janet answered.

“What kind of help?” That was Carter, and a hint of caution had returned to her tone.

Battling a growing sense of frustration, Janet decided it was up to her to take the next step in this delicate dance of trust. “Someone I care about very much is dying,” she began. “But his counterpart in this universe – if he’s still alive – can save him.”

When no additional questions or comments were forthcoming she decided to force their hand. Using what she knew was her best doctor voice, Janet leveled her gaze in their direction and said, “Listen, this is not something I really feel comfortable discussing at gunpoint. So either let me go, and I’ll return through the Mirror, or take me to your Stargate facility where we can decide what to do.”

Although she couldn’t clearly see them, Janet stood firm and stared down the figures she knew were opposite her.

“Okay, we go to the Stargate,” Carter eventually declared. “Teal’c, please escort Doctor Frasier.”

At Carter’s command the Jaffa lowered his flashlight. Janet blinked. As her eyes adjusted to the sudden dimness, she glanced around and got her first real look at the parallel versions of her friends. Their uniforms were identical to those used by the SGD, right down to the arm patch insignias. All weapons also appeared the same. There were, however, a few changes. She’d never seen Teal’c with hair.

“Please come with me,” Teal’c instructed, stepping along side her.

Taking a deep breath, she nodded once and headed up the stairs after Carter. As they reached the top and rounded the corner, Janet wasn’t too surprised to see a chamber like the one Daniel had described when they’d found the second Quantum Mirror in her universe. But she wasn’t at all prepared for the sight of the figure, squatting in the middle of that chamber, his attention directed at something in his backpack.

“Good, you’re finished,” Carter commented, apparently having noticed him as well.

“Um, actually I was just looking for another blank tape,” Daniel replied, continuing to rummage in his bag. “The one I was using was already mostly full from our last mission, and I still have the entire wall along the left side of the camber to record – ah, here we go…”

“Sorry Daniel, but we have to return to the SGC,” Carter said as she walked past him on her way toward the Gate.

Janet stared ahead, aware that each step was taking her closer.

“Come on,” Daniel appealed, standing up as he worked the blank tape into his recorder. “Just fifteen more minutes.”

Instead of answering Carter simply began punching in coordinates on the DHD. Janet felt her heartbeat quicken. Just a few more steps and they’d be right beside him.

The wormhole engaged with it’s characteristic swoosh.

“Okay, five minutes then,” Daniel pleaded at Carter’s back. But she only turned and gave a negative shake of her head.

“We must depart immediately,” Teal’c added as they approached.

“What? Why?” Daniel inquired, spinning around to face the Jaffa.

Without another word they stepped past him. Janet caught the shocked expression that fell across his face at seeing her, heard his baffled “Janet?” a few seconds later. Following Teal’c up the steps to the Gate, she paused long enough to glance over her shoulder. A thousand questions were reflected in his eyes and Janet longed to stop then and there to answer every one of them. But the Jaffa was gently pulling on her arm, indicating it was time to go.

“We’ve found another Quantum Mirror,” Janet heard Carter say by way of explanation. Then she stepped through and let the wormhole envelop her.

~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~

General Jack O’Neill leaned back, linked his arms across his chest, and allowed his gaze to work its way around the long briefing room table. His newest SG-1 commander was meeting that gaze directly, but was also choosing not to reveal anything in her expression. Not surprising, considering both he and Carter were still adjusting to their altered roles of leadership. Daniel was looking vaguely his direction, but the expression on his face was one Jack had long ago come to recognize as meaning the archaeologist’s mind was running down any number of tangents elsewhere. Teal’c was focused on some blank spot of wall just over Daniel’s head. And their… guest was very pointedly staring at the table.

‘It’s times like this when I really wish Hammond was back in charge,’ Jack reflected wearily to himself. He took a deep breath, let it out slowly. ‘Heck, at times like this I even wish that Weir woman was back in charge.’ Shaking his head, he forged ahead.

“Let me get this straight,” Jack began, uncrossing his arms and sitting upright in the chair again. “Carter and Teal’c found another Quantum Mirror while Daniel was busy recording alien scribbles on the wall. And Doctor Frasier,” here he paused to let his eyes fall on the woman in question. It was too strange to see her sitting there. “—she came through the Mirror, and you all decided to come back here to figure out what to do about all this?”

Tension built as everyone purposefully avoided looking at everyone else.

“Um,” Daniel interrupted the silence, holding up a finger to make his point, “actually, I didn’t have anything to do with the last part of that decision.”

Jack shot the archaeologist his best that was so not helpful look.

“Sorry,” Daniel murmured, his attention shifting to fiddling with the pen in his hand.

“Sir,” Carter began, leveling her gaze at him across the table. “It was my decision to trust Doctor Frasier, and allow her to return with us. I felt it was important to offer her the opportunity to explain herself.”

‘I know that’ he thought silently, holding the Colonel’s gaze. ‘And I trust your instincts, Carter. But how much of that decision was influenced by the fact that this is Janet here – or at least a reasonable version of Janet?’ Glancing across the table at the doctor Jack felt a new wave of weariness wash over him. ‘And how much will my decision be threatened by the same?’

Rubbing a hand across his face, O’Neill took another deep breath. “Alright,” he acquiesced. “You wanted a chance to explain yourself, Doc – you got it.”

Jack watched as the woman who hadn’t spoken once since their arrival finally raised her eyes to meet his. The same sense of fortitude and caring he’d always perceived in the Janet Frasier he’d known was reflected in those eyes. And, except for the different hairstyle, she looked exactly like the woman who had died just a few months ago. He waited, noticing that she swallowed and raised her chin slightly. It was a perfect reproduction of the body language Jack recalled their own Janet doing, whenever she was carefully weighing her words.

“In my universe, on a recent mission, the members of SG-1 encountered an alien virus and – unknown to them at the time – brought it back through the Stargate. It was severe, but it spread slowly and fortunately we were able to get it under control and develop a vaccine.”

Frasier paused, looking to him for some kind of response. Jack nodded and waved a hand, encouraging her to continue.

“Everyone recovered except… except for one member of the team.” Her voice faltered slightly and her eyes momentarily flicked toward the table. “We tried everything, but for reasons I was unable to determine the antibodies simply did not respond in this one case.”

Jack noted she was purposefully avoiding naming her mysterious patient. ‘Has to be some reason for that,’ he considered. ‘And that does not give me a very good feeling right now.’

Silence lingered until the sound of someone clearing her throat drew Jack’s attention toward his right.

“You mentioned, back in the chamber, that this person’s counterpart – in our universe – could save this particular patient,” Carter said, her gaze settling on the woman across from her.

Janet nodded.

“I confess, I’m no medical doctor,” Carter continued, “but if your antidote doesn’t work on the person there, how is the counterpart supposed to help? Our experience with people from parallel universes indicates that they are identical, right down to their DNA.”

Janet’s gaze faltered again and Jack noticed she was beginning to fidget imperceptibly with her fingers. ‘Here it comes,’ he thought, steeling himself.

“As I said, we were unable to determine exactly why the antidote didn’t work in this one case. But I believe that a blood transfusion may help to alleviate the problem, so that the antidote will have a chance to work.”

Jack blinked, his mind attempting to work through that. Admittedly, he was slower than the others to comprehend these kinds of things, but he was pretty sure that based on what Carter had just said, Frasier’s answer made no sense at all.

“I’m sorry, but I still don’t understand,” Daniel interjected from his end of the table. “If everything is identical, including the DNA, then how is something like that going to help? I mean, aren’t you essentially proposing to replace the patient’s blood with more of the same, identical blood?”

“In one sense, yes,” Janet conceded. O’Neill didn’t miss that she failed to meet Daniel’s gaze, choosing to look at him instead. Something about that put him on alert. “However--” she hesitated, and Jack’s simmering sense of apprehension ratcheted up a notch. “At one point in the past he experienced some severe physical trauma. While he did eventually recover, there have been residual effects of that trauma. It’s not anything that affects his day to day life, but it does play out in other ways, particularly at the cellular level, in his blood chemistry. It’s my belief that if his counterpart from a parallel universe didn’t suffer from this same trauma, then he likewise won’t have the residual effects.”

“How could you be certain the universe you encountered would contain such a scenario?” Teal’c questioned, turning to stare point blank at the doctor.

“I couldn’t,” Janet acknowledged, her eyes drifting once more to the table. When she spoke again her voice was so soft that O’Neill had to strain to hear. “But I hoped that even if he’d experienced the same trauma, maybe something would be different. Even the slightest variation might give us a chance. It was a long shot but I… I had to try.”

‘In other words,’ Jack mused, ‘you were desperate.’ Which meant there was more to this story than their visitor was telling. And the more he thought about it, the less and less Frasier’s explanation was making sense – and it wasn’t just because he didn’t grasp all the medical nuances of the situation. Based on what had been said, if the circumstance were reversed, he knew he never would’ve approved such a mission for his CMO.

Jack sighed heavily as the revelation of his own thoughts took shape. He leaned forward slightly, fixing his attention on the petite doctor. “Who gave you the order to go through the Quantum Mirror?” he quietly asked, fairly certain he already knew the answer.

Frasier’s head snapped up and her eyes locked with his. He saw the confirmation in her expression long before she replied. “In my universe General Hammond is still in command of the SGD. However, after fully considering all the options and the implications, he decided it was not worth the risk. So your guess is correct, Sir. I’m not here in any official capacity.” She paused, long enough to take one deep breath. “In fact, my coming through the Mirror was in direct violation of the order I was given.”

The question begged to be asked, although he knew he was not going to like the answer. “Doctor Frasier, considering we’re all here to determine – at least in part – whether or not you can be trusted, I want you to be very careful in answering this next question,” O’Neill said. Resting both hands flat, palms down on the table, he forced his voice to be calm and even. “Why did you choose to disobey a direct order and come here?”

Janet’s eyes closed and she turned away. It appeared to Jack as if she were battling some internal demon. When she finally opened her eyes, the doctor fixed her gaze rigidly ahead, staring right through Colonel Carter.

“Because,’ Janet answered, her voice quivering slightly, “the patient I hope to save is my husband.”

‘This just gets better and better,’ O’Neill thought sarcastically. The doctor was purposefully avoiding his gaze now and he had the sudden impulse to bury his face in his hands in the vague hope that it would make all this madness just disappear. There was another question he knew needed to be asked now, and as before he already had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach regarding the answer. A hasty glance down the table confirmed his suspicion that he wasn’t the only one. Daniel had gone a shade paler than normal, his own gaze wandering anywhere except in Janet’s direction.

“Okay,” Jack said, fighting the urge to drum his fingers against the table. “I’m thinking we’ve all made a pretty fair guess by now, but just to be sure, don’t you think it’s about time you told us specifically who this patient is?”

He had to give her credit. This time Janet didn’t even flinch.

“Doctor Jackson,” she said evenly.

The obvious strain in the room seemed to quadruple with her confession. Jack pinched the bridge of his nose and did a mental ten-count. “Understand that what I’m about to say is in no way meant to indicate that I’m seriously considering offering any assistance in this crazy scheme,” he began. “But I want you to explain to me what exactly is involved in this transfusion you want to do.”

“It will need to be a direct patient to patient transfusion,” Janet slowly turned her gaze back toward the General as she spoke. Her voice and demeanor were calm again, as if dropping into discussion of medical details served as some type of safety net for her. “Therefore, if you did agree to help, then your Doctor Jackson would have to come through the Mirror to my universe.”

Jack grimaced. He’d been hoping, albeit without much confidence, that maybe all Frasier needed was a couple samples of Daniel’s blood. ‘So much for that idea,’ he reflected bitterly.

“The procedure is simple and safe,” Janet went on. “However Doctor Jackson will need time to recuperate afterward.”

“How much time?” Jack inquired.

“Well, there will need to be adequate prep time, plus time for the procedure itself, combined with recovery - if everything goes well, we’re looking at between 45-50 hours total.”

“What?” Carter’s stupefaction echoed in her tone. “Daniel will be vulnerable to the possibility of entropic cascade failure within 48 hours – possibly even less.”

“And what if everything doesn’t go well?” O’Neill demanded brusquely. He hadn’t liked the casual way Frasier had let that comment slip. No, he hadn’t liked it at all.

Her expression reflected a hint of apology, but her voice remained even and unrepentant. “As with any surgical procedure, there is always risk involved. However, the danger posed to your Doctor Jackson is minimal.”

“Um, excuse me,” Daniel interrupted, an audible hardness in his voice. “Do you think we could stop discussing this as if I’m suddenly not in the room?”

O’Neill knew immediately where his friend was going to go with this – could see it clearly in the man’s expression – and he did not want to get into an exchange with his friend right now. “Daniel--,” he pressed in a warning tone.

“Jack--” the younger man fired right back at him.

The General held up a finger in further admonishment, but as usual it did no good.

“I think that I deserve to have some say in this,” Daniel began, leaning forward slightly in preparation to make some point, “and--”

Jack hastily cut him off. “Daniel!” He was fairly certain that Daniel was about to make some spiel that was as influenced by emotion as it was by reason, and he just didn’t think he could handle it at the moment. He fixed the archaeologist with a hard look. “I promise that I will hear you out…,” he paused, carefully enunciating each word, “but not right now.”

Daniel silently held his gaze, obviously seething, but eventually he nodded and turned away.

“Sir,” Carter began, her voice tight.

Jack cut her off with a raised finger as well. The tension that had been building in the room ever since this meeting began had reached a climax, and emotions were definitely coming into play now. What he needed – what they all needed – was time to cool down and get some perspective here. He knew that a leader didn’t always have the luxury to take such time, but maybe he did have that opportunity in this instance.

“I have just one other question, for now,” he said to Frasier. “Exactly how serious is the condition of the Daniel in your universe?”

Janet bit at her lower lip. “He was stable when I left, but the prognosis wasn’t good. He’d already experienced several bouts of unconsciousness.” Jack couldn’t be sure, but it appeared as if her eyes were misting. “By now I’m pretty sure he’s required at least some level of life-support.”

Jack swallowed, hating what he had to ask next. “How long?”

Janet shook her head. “There’s no way to be sure. But at best…” This time, tears actually fell and her shoulders heaved in a defeated shrug. “Maybe two or three days.”

O’Neill stared at the smaller woman quietly struggling to maintain her composure. He felt a prickling of compassion and, seeing the figure that looked so much like their own Janet Frasier, he wished there was some way to offer her a gesture of comfort. But such an action would probably be inadequate, not to mention highly inappropriate. Relying on his customary show them nothing and stick to responsibility defenses, he pushed the notion aside.

“Airman,” he nodded at one of the SFs standing at attention off to one side. “Please escort Doctor Frasier to the VIP quarters. And see to it that she has everything she needs.”

“Yes Sir,” the man promptly replied.

Silently Janet stood and followed the SF out of the room.

“Dismissed,” Jack said, even before the echoes of their footsteps dissipated. Without another word he stood and turned toward his office, not daring to see the expressions of doubt and worry on the faces of his three friends.

~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~

Teal’c made his way silently down the hall, hands clasped casually behind his back. As he rounded the corner and entered the familiar lab he was not at all surprised to find its occupant half concealed among a pile of books, papers, and artifacts – and completely lost in thought.

“Daniel Jackson,” he greeted when the man failed to notice his presence.

“Oh, hi Teal’c,” Daniel replied, glancing up somewhat sheepishly. “Sorry, I guess my mind was somewhere else. What can I do for you?”

“Actually my purpose here is to determine if I can be of assistance to you,” the Jaffa answered, inclining his head slightly. Seeing the archaeologist respond with one of his typical raised eyebrow expressions he continued, “It is my understanding that in circumstances such as these people often feel the need to discuss the matter with a friend.”

Daniel ran a hand through his hair and managed a slight smile. “Thanks, Teal’c. But I have a sneaking suspicion that the person I really need to talk to is presently under guard in the VIP quarters.”

‘As I suspected,’ Teal’c mused silently. ‘And likewise I suspect you’ll require a small amount of goading to actually follow through on that notion.’ He stepped further into the room, retrieved a stool and sat opposite his friend. Opting to go with his customary direct approach he met Daniel’s gaze openly and said, “Then why are you not doing so?”

The archaeologist blinked several times before answering. “Um, yeah, sure. It’s been just a few months since a very good friend of mine died and now her identical twin shows up and announces she’s married to my identical twin in their universe. So I’ll just pop down there and ask ‘so how’s it going?’ or something equally ridiculous.”

Teal’c fought not to smile. He understood full well the delicate nature of Daniel’s current dilemma, but sometimes he really enjoyed playing the naïve and oblivious role for the benefit of his friends.

“I do not believe you would engage in ridiculous conversation of any kind, Daniel Jackson, especially not in this instance.”

Daniel sighed. “I know. Sorry. Just venting I guess.”

The Jaffa nodded as he thought, ‘That’s why I’m here.’

“To be honest, I’m not sure what I’d say,” Daniel admitted. “My gut instinct is to help her – to just go with her. I mean, forget that it’s my counterpart in a parallel universe – if I can help save someone’s life, with minimal threat to my own, I should do it – right?”

Teal’c merely returned the young man’s gaze. He’d learned over the years that a question wasn’t always asked because someone wanted an answer.

“But I know what Jack is going to say,” Daniel went on. He stood and began to pace the length of his desk. “I can practically hear his voice in my head. ‘The risk is too high for such an unpredictable outcome – I will not allow one of my people to be exposed like that.’” He paused, turned to look straight at the Jaffa. “But surely I should be the one allowed to make that call.”

“General O’Neill has a responsibility to those under his command, both military and civilian,” Teal’c pointed out. He knew he was playing what the Tauri referred to as devil’s advocate, but felt certain it was what his friend needed at the moment.

He watched as the younger man worked his mouth in an expression of irritated resignation. “I know,” Daniel conceded, resuming his pacing. “But if I don’t go, and that Daniel dies, then I have to live with always wondering if I could have saved him.”

“As does General O’Neill,” Teal’c said.

Daniel halted, his gaze drifting back to the Jaffa. He sighed and nodded in acquiescence.

“Perhaps you should not be so quick to assume O’Neill will prevent your accompanying Doctor Frasier to her universe,” Teal’c said, titling his head slightly. “The thoughts and concerns you are experiencing due to the appearance of someone who is so like our deceased friend are similarly being experienced by O’Neill. His judgment is being influenced by feelings resembling your own.”

Retaking his seat Daniel reached for one of the small pieces of stone on his desk and began absently turning it in his hands. “That’s the real problem, isn’t it? Just seeing her… it’s like facing the grief all over again.”

Images and feelings washed over Teal’c in waves. “Indeed,” he agreed, his voice suddenly soft.

“And the idea of them being married in their universe…” Daniel shook his head as the rock continued its dance between his fingers. “I don’t think awkward even begins to cover it.”

Teal’c nodded but said nothing. A new thought occurred to him but he waited a handful of heartbeats before voicing it.

“Perhaps it would be beneficial to consider this from Doctor Frasier’s point of view.”

Daniel raised his head and met the Jaffa’s stoic expression with a curious one. “How so?” he asked, setting the artifact aside.

“She described her Daniel Jackson’s condition as most serious,” Teal’c reminded. “One could assume that when she last saw her husband it was not a pleasant circumstance. No doubt her encountering you in this universe, completely healthy, encompasses its own difficulties for her.”

“Well, I hadn’t actually thought of it like that,” Daniel admitted.

Teal’c watched his friend closely. The younger man was glancing at the mass of items on his desk but his mind was clearly traveling paths elsewhere. The Jaffa thought he recognized the beginnings of a familiar pattern – Daniel was working through his own thoughts and their brief conversation had most likely provided the impetus necessary for the archaeologist to carry through on his original intention. If there was one thing he had learned about Daniel Jackson it was that often all the archaeologist needed in order to become convinced to do something was an excuse.

“I believe your original assessment was correct,” Teal’c said, offering a faint smile as he stood. “It is almost eighteen-hundred. I am certain someone has seen to it that a meal will be provided for our guest. However, it is possible she would be more appreciative if such provision was delivered by a…” he paused, seeking the right word. No, this was not the same Janet Frasier they had known, but the term still seemed applicable. “--by a friend.”

This time the younger man actually smiled. “Maybe you’re right, Teal’c.”

With one final nod the Jaffa exited the lab, leaving his friend to his task.

~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~

Carefully balancing the two trays he’d picked up from the commissary, Daniel made his way toward the VIP quarters. As soon a he stepped past the turn in the hall he spotted the SF standing guard. The young airman gave one sharp nod of recognition at his approach.

“Um, excuse me,” Daniel addressed the guard as casually as he could manage. Tilting his head to indicate the locked door he asked, “Would you mind…?”

A glimmer of curiosity passed across the SF’s features before he managed to mask it and quickly reply, “Of course, sir.” He swiped a security card through the slot and rapped on the door a couple of times with his knuckles before turning the knob.

“Thank you,” Daniel said as he stepped past.

He glanced into the room and saw Janet standing in front of the dresser mirror. She was clad in the same Air Force uniform she’d worn since stepping through the Mirror but her lab coat had been discarded across the bed. Her hands were raised to her head and it took Daniel a moment to figure out she was working with her hair. Her head cocked slightly and he realized she’d caught sight of his reflection. The eyes of her image in the mirror locked with his and a smile began at the corner of her mouth.

“I figured you’d make your way down here to see me sooner or later,” she said, returning her attention to the coil of hair.

Daniel blinked, taken off guard by the bluntness of her statement. He suddenly felt unsettled and, not for the first time, wondered if coming here hadn’t been such a good idea. He wasn’t entirely sure how to take her comment but even before he could contemplate how to ask her what she meant, Janet was speaking again.

“Is it meal time already?” she asked, pulling the last few pins from her hair.

“Um, yeah,” Daniel said. Taking a deep breath he stepped farther into the room. The door closed behind him with a click that sounded inordinately loud to his ears. Attempting to appear nonchalant he crossed the room and placed the trays on the room’s single table.

He turned around to see that Janet had finally completed her task. The twist of hair that had been so perfectly wound on top of her head now fell in a cascade of brunette tresses around her shoulders. He could remember when their Janet had once had longer hair, but both military and medical regulations had required she wear it off the collar. Daniel realized he’d never really had much opportunity to see Janet with her hair down and found himself surprised by how much it altered the appearance of the woman standing before him. It looked thick and soft with a healthy glow that shone in the light. It framed her face bewitchingly, especially in the way the shorter tendrils curled about her neck. Several seconds of silence passed before he became aware that he was openly staring at her. Shoving his hands in his pockets he quickly glanced away.

“I’ve been feeling a slight headache coming on,” she said. Her voice was soft, almost apologetic, and Daniel found his gaze being drawn back to her. She gave a half-shrug before adding, “I thought it might help to let it down for a while.”

“Oh,” Daniel replied, continuing to fight his growing sense of unease. “Um, I can get you something from the infirmary, for the headache I mean.”

Janet shook her head lightly. “No, that’s okay. It’s not too bad – probably just the tension caused by all this stress.”

An odd sort of smile passed her lips then, almost as if she was sharing a joke with herself. Something in the reaction struck Daniel as being significant, although he couldn’t for the life of him imagine what it might mean.

“Well, I’m starving,” Janet said, suddenly changing the subject. She took a couple of steps toward the table, closing the distance between them. “Although I don’t think I’m quite that hungry,” she said, an obvious trace of amusement coloring her tone as she waved a hand at the duo of trays on the table.

“Oh, I-- I thought that maybe-- that is, perhaps--” Daniel worked his mouth in irritation at his own faltering before finally admitting with a shrug, “I thought you might like some company.”

The smile that had flashed earlier revealed itself again. “I’d like that very much.”

He continued to stand there, feeling decidedly uncomfortable – a sensation that was not helped in the least when Janet purposefully crossed her arms and silently scrutinized him.

“I’m making you uncomfortable,” she said at last.

“No, no, no,” he answered hastily, but upon seeing her respond with one arched eyebrow he amended, “Well, maybe just a little.”

Janet frowned slightly and looked away. “I’m sorry. That’s not my intention.”

“I know,” Daniel reassured, taking a step towards her. As her eyes sought his again he searched for some way to explain what he was feeling. “It’s just that the Janet I knew... she was a friend – a very dear friend. But there was nothing else between us.”

She nodded. “I see.”

“And it hasn’t been that long…” he paused, waiting for the familiar sting of grief to subside. “It’s been less than four months since she died.”

A look of compassion so sincere fell across her face then that Daniel felt as if his heart skipped a beat.

“I had no idea it was so recent,” she said, her voice almost reverent. She reached out and tenderly laid a hand on his arm. “Oh Daniel, I am so sorry.”

He didn’t understand why, but something about the way she spoke his name was unlike he’d ever heard it uttered before. And as she held his gaze Daniel was again struck by the earnestness of her expression. He was still experiencing a sense of discomfort being near her but for the first time since this bizarre business had started he thought he caught an inkling of why his counterpart had chosen this woman as his wife.

“Thank you,” he said, offering a slight smile.

Janet dropped her hand and stepped away, her attention turning toward the meal trays as she sat down. “Actually that explains something.”

Grateful she’d chosen to shift the conversation once again Daniel took the seat across from her and asked, “What’s that?”

“I haven’t had any visitors since I was brought to these quarters,” she replied. “Well, except for your Doctor Smith. But she only came at General O’Neill’s request.”

“Let me guess,” Daniel began. “He wanted to get a second opinion?”

“Something like that,” she said, taking a knife and fork to her meal.

Daniel nodded. He really hadn’t expected any less from Jack. “What did Doctor Smith say?”

“She agreed with my assessment that the risk of the procedure itself is minimal. But weighed against the threat of entropic cascade failure, and in light of the improbability that a transfusion will actually make a difference, she didn’t believe it was advisable to actually agree to the procedure.”

He considered that for a moment. “Is it really that far-fetched, your idea about the transfusion?”

She glanced up and steadily returned his gaze. “You mean how desperate am I?”

He opened his mouth to contradict her interpretation but she quickly waved away his protest.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to deny it, or apologize for it. The truth is that it is a pretty far-fetched idea. But…” she hesitated, pushing with her fork at one of the vegetables on her plate. “It’s not completely outside the realm of possibility. And when you love someone as much as I love him...”

‘You’d do anything to save him,’ he thought silently. It was certainly a sentiment he understood.

“I’m sorry,” she muttered, reaching for her glass of water.

“It’s okay,” Daniel assured. He searched for some way to redirect the discussion and latched onto something she’d said before. “You mentioned not having any visitors – how exactly is that explained by our Doctor Frasier’s death occurring so recently?”

“Well, I just kept getting the feeling that people were purposefully avoiding me,” she explained, having regained her composure. “I mean, I anticipated there being some sense of walking on eggshells, because of the whole alternate reality thing, but nothing of this magnitude. Now I understand that people are keeping their distance because the grief is still so distinct.”

Daniel nodded. That certainly made sense. After all, it was part of the litany of excuses he’d given himself for avoiding to see her until now. Still the idea that she’d been sequestered here all day, without anyone even dropping by to see if she was okay, rankled his sensibilities.

“Well, I’m sorry no one else has come to see you,” he said sincerely.

She smiled in reply, the action once again leaving Daniel with a slight feeling of unease. But it passed more quickly this time. They ate in companionable silence as the seconds ticked past.

“Daniel,” Janet began after a while, her voice a little hesitant. “There’s something I’d like to ask you.”

Daniel paused, his fork halted in mid-air. His mind raced as he considered the myriad questions she might pose, as well as the difficulty he’d undoubtedly experience in attempting to answer. But this was part of the reason he’d come – so they could talk. Taking a steadying breath he raised the bite of food to his mouth and slowly nodded.

“I know this won’t be easy for you,” she said softly, “and I’ll understand if you don’t want to tell me. But… I’d like to know how she died.”

Once she’d finally asked, the request didn’t surprise him at all. In fact, he’d expected it to come up sooner or later.

“It was in the line of duty,” he began. “SG-13 had been on a survey mission to P3X-666 when they fell under attack. One of the airmen was wounded and couldn’t be moved so SG-1 and a medical team were sent to retrieve them.”

“And Doctor Frasier was sent as part of the medical team?” she asked.

Daniel nodded.

Janet blinked in mild surprise. “The airman’s condition must have been pretty severe if it required the attention of your CMO.”

“Yes,” Daniel agreed. “And I’m sure