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There are two major story lines in this episode, possibly three. Jack and San go to Washington to receive the ‘Air Medal’, I’m not even going to pretend I know anything about the American air force so don’t ask me what an Air Medal is! Jack runs into a reporter who knows an awful lot about the Stargate project and is then killed in a car ‘accident.’ Sam discovers her father is dying of cancer. ...awww and the last thing he wants to do is see Sam fulfil her childhood dream of joining NASA, even though she doesn’t want to. (It’s true parents don’t realise that their children grow up and can have different dreams....no prizes for guessing what/who Sam dreams about...but now I’m just babbling again, aren’t I? Sorry!!) The plot that I’m gonna be focusing on is Daniel going to Abydos, ofcourse!!
SG1 is in a briefing viewing MALP footage of Kasuf near the Abydos Stargate. It has been one Abydonian year since Daniel promised to find Sha’re and he wants to go back so “At least I can tell her father that I haven’t given up, that I won’t give up!” Cute! He assures General Hammond that he “couldn’t possibly be safer than in the company of Teal’c” so the General agrees, actually he never really seemed to have a problem with it in the first place!
On arriving to Abydos he bows down in front of Kasuf and apologises for returning without Sha’re. He says “I fear my search will continue for many seasons.” Kasuf just asks him (and Teal’c) to follow him. It turns out that Sha’re is closer than he thinks, like in the next room close!! His first scene with Sha’re in a year is of course worth sharing, so here it is. Oh the looks and sound of his voice is very important in this scene, I’ve tried my best to capture it. My recommendation though is go rewatch it...there are very few better examples of Daniel deeply hurting!! awwww!
Daniel: Sha’re!! *We sees that she is pregnant. Teal’c gets his Zat gun ready*
Kasuf: No *Stands in front of Sha’re* Take my life in exchange.
Daniel: *Puts his hand on Teal’c, restraining him from firing* (as if he could restrain Teal’c!! LOL) Nobody’s killing anybody *sounds very authorative*
Teal’c: Sha’re is no longer you’re daughter.
Daniel: Kasuf, we’re in danger. How long has she been here?
Kasuf: More than a season.
Daniel: What?? *Mainly shock and concern. Maybe a little upset that he didn’t come back before!*
Kasuf: Why are we in danger?
Sha’re: Husband!
Daniel: I am Sha’re’s husband. Who are you?
Sha’re: My Danielle please. *Walks forward*
Teal’c: *Points his Zat at her again* Come no further.
Kasuf: Good son *gestures at Sha’re* Do you’re eyes not see?
Daniel: Sha’re has been taken by a Goa’uld. A....demon now lives within her. One of great power and evil. Kasuf looks at Sha’re.
Sha’re: He speaks the truth father.
Kasuf: You said you had returned to me.
Sha’re: And I have.
Daniel: *shouts* STOP IT!...Just stop it. You can’t fool me. I know what you are. I’ve seen what you are!
Sha’re: Please believe me.
Daniel: NO!!
Sha’re: The demon sleeps because I am with child. *We’re graced by a REALLY painful Daniel look* Hear me husband. The Goa’uld that has stolen my soul is called Amonet. She sleeps for the sake of the child.
Daniel: Why?
Sha’re: If she awakens, the child will come forth still born.
Teal’c: I have never known a Goa’uld to father a human child.
Daniel: Apophis is the father? *a way, way painful look and he sounded completely disbelieving* (uhh Daniel, you’ve been away from her for a year, you didn’t think it was yours did you?? See love does odd things!)
Sha’re: *In tears* YES!!
Teal’c: Then Apophis is here also.
Sha’re: No he has hidden me away....he does not want to reveal the true purpose of this child to his enemies.
Daniel: What true purpose? *Technically a question but it sounded to me that there was more anger than curiosity in his voice*
Sha’re: *Struggles to speak. Doesn’t say anything though*
Daniel: Sha’re what does Apophis want with a human child.
Sha’re: *Still choking back tears* He wishes the child to one day become his new host.
Daniel: Is that true? *Sha’re doesn’t answer so he looks towards Teal’c. He doesn’t seem to know either* Sha’re *very long pause...(you think it still hurts him to say her name?)* is that true?
Sha’re: Yes *by now she’s not even trying to hold the tears back (poor girl!)*
Several emotions seem to flutter across Daniel face, and in those ever revealing eyes of his! Damn! I think it was something along the lines of (I’m not a pyschologist, by the way!) shock-he shakes his head ever so slightly; confusion; speechlessness-it really does look like he’s gonna say something more than once but he doesn’t, either because he just doesn’t know what to say or is completely tired and doesn’t want to hear anymore. He smiles a very bitter, maybe ironic, definitely mirthless smile. Very odd for Daniel. He shakes his head normally-maybe a sign that he’s given up? And then walks out, without looking at Sha’re! Actually his eyes seem focused on the fascinating piece of ground in front of him for most of the time. He glances around for a second but doesn’t look at anything in particular.
Afterwards Kasuf is comforting a distraught Sha’re who thinks that “Daniel no longer loves me!” (you idiot this is all because he loves you....just excuse me whilst i go cry for a while!) Teal’c puts her straight though “You are incorrect. DanielJackson cares for you greatly.” We then find out that Sha’re has Amonet’s memories.
Teal’c goes to tell Daniel about this and finds him sitting in the sand with his glasses in his hand, looking intently at his hands and almost crying. After Teal’c tells him, his response is “so, so, so what?”
Teal’c: It may be of great strategic value to have access to the Goa’uld genetic memory even for a few days.
Daniel: What? Access?? Do you know who it is we’re talking about here?? *his voice is breaking audibly!! AWW
It just gets worse a few minutes later.
Teal’c: The knowledge she possess may one day save your world.
Daniel: “I DON’T CARE!” *ouch, how undaniel is that? Is this the same guy who only a few months before convinced Senator Kinsey he was totally insane and was still insisting that SG1 transport to the Goa’uld world in order to SAVE Earth?? Like I said Love is a really strange thing...not speaking from any personal experiences here, only Daniel’s! “.....I will NOT put her through that TOO! I’m sorry! *Unfortunately he doesn’t look sorry!* Teal’c picks up on this and tries telling him that it’s what’s best for Sha’re. Daniel goes from looking really unsure to contemplative and decides that he’ll ask her but first wants “a moment alone with my wife.” Ohh another Daniel/Sha’re scene....what fun!
Sha’re: You hate me!
Daniel: No! No! I love you
Sha’re: Will you forgive me?? (When I first watched this I thought what’s she apologising for, after all it’s not her fault that she has a Goa’uld in her head and that Amonet is having Apophis’s child. But since then I read a really disturbing fanfic, sorry can’t remember the title or author, I do remember something that Jack said something like ‘I’m no biologist but if Amonet has to be dormant during the pregnancy doesn’t it also make sense that she had to be dormant during....you know...creating new life’ In which case Ahhhhhhhhhhh and yes the not nice person (sorry had to erase the actual word i was thinking...angelfire!)should be apologising. anyway enough of my babble I’ll get on with it!
Daniel: God *Hugs her* There’s nothing to forgive!
Sha’re: I’m sooo ashamed.
Daniel: *not hugging her anymore but still close to her, both facing the same direction i.e. not towards each other* I hate what’s been done to you. I hate what Apophis plans for the child growing inside of you. Look at me....*she turns around to face him* I love you. I love you, everything else. *this time we get a real smile...god he’s sooo cute!*
Sha’re: Will you stay?
Daniel: I can’t *she looks heart broken (I guess she was!)* Because I want you to come home with me. *hug again!!*
Now Daniel is telling both Sha’re and Kasuf what it’ll be like if she agrees to come “I will be there all the time! I won’t let them hurt you.” and “I won’t pretend this is going to be easy. But at least this way Apophis won’t be able to hurt you or your child ever again!” He won’t let Kasuf order her to come, he wants her to decide for herself but she agrees! (hey if Daniel made me an offer like that, I’d agree! LOL)
They are just about to go through the gate and live happily ever after when...a Goa’uld ship approaches. They all think that it’s Apophis and Sha’re suddenly moves away from Daniel and Teal’c.
Daniel: * true concern* Sha’re what’s wrong.
Sha’re/Amonet: *Her eyes glow* My lord comes for me. (hey what about the kid being still born if you returned!)
Daniel: *Teal’c points that trusty Zat at her again* NO!!! *About as sure as I’ve ever seen Daniel be about anything!* Sha’re fight this thing. You have to hold on a little longer please.
It works Sha’re is back but the Goa’uld ship induces early labour. The ship is already there so they don’t have time to leave through the gate. We find out that it’s actually Heru-ur who wants Apophis’s queen and child.
Daniel tries to reassure Sha’re telling her “we’re safe here”. Teal’c is quick to disagree but Daniel dismisses him with “Well I am not leaving her.” Teal’c tries to argue some more (sorry this scene has completely gone out of my head!!) Daniel just repeats “I said I’m not leaving her!” Teal’c sees that it’s no use so decides he may as well help as much as he can. And Sha’re finally realises “You do love me!”
Kasuf is being ‘questioned’ by a horse guard who wants to know where Sha’re is. Kasuf is not sharing but being punished for it. Enter Teal’c who rescues him (yes the Zat gun, I’m beginning to think he’s lost interest in his staff weapon!) He then steals the Jaffa’s costume!!
Back to Daniel and Sha’re and she seems, understandably, to be fighting the delivery.
Sha’re: The demon will come back. I will lose you.
Daniel: I LOVE you. I will ALWAYS love you. Do you understand? The Goa’uld will never be able to take that from us. Do you understand? NEVER.
Sha’re gives birth, her final words, as Sha’re whispered “Forgive me!” Daniel takes a look at the newly born child and exclaims in delight “It’s a boy!!” He then remembers what this means and repeats dismayed “It’s a boy”
Enter Teal’c again, complete with horse guard outfit. “Give me the child of Apophis” By this time there are definite tears for Daniel darling too. I don’t suppose it was because he thought he had to give up the child to the horse guard since it was pretty obvious from the voice that it was Teal’c so it must be Sha’re/Amonet’s fault. They give the boy to Kasuf and Daniel reassure him too “Sha’re is strong, good father. She will not give up. And neither will I!”
Teal’c, still in his new found outfit, takes Daniel to Heru-ur and says that Amonet and the child have been taken by Apophis’s serpent guards. Daniel tries to form an alliance with Heru-ur, against their common enemy Apophis. But apparently Heru-ur has never heard ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend’ because he spouts some rubbish about how he’ll destroy us once he’s finished with Apophis! He is about to use the ribbon device when the Stargate engages and he thinks it’s Apophis so they all get ready. Instead it’s Jack and Sam and with the inside help of Teal’c (Daniel was trying to help, but poor babe just got pushed aside. Even in such a painful episode they can’t leave out good old fashioned Daniel whumping! Anyway, they manage to get Heru-ur to leave.
Just as Jack is about to get an explanation of this “lengthy tale” the stargate engages again and Teal’c informs our newcomers that’s it’s Apophis. They all take cover. Apophis arrives and tells his Jaffa to find Amonet but she saves them the trouble. She then tells Apophis that the child was stolen by Heru-ur, which is what she believes. She expects him to be angry and I think so does Daniel but he’s really very gentle, caresses her cheek *VERY VERY painful Daniel look* Arm in arm Apophis and Amonet leave but not before Amonet gets the chance to look straight at Daniel and Teal’c and not say a thing.
They all come out of hiding and Jack asks with a lot of concern by jack standards “You all right??” Daniel replies “No, no I’m not. But I will be” hmmm not perfect i guess but still better than over a year ago when he lost Sha’re the first time, he didn’t seem to be able to answer that question so it’s progress!